We’ve heard rumors for a while now that Apple could be working on a foldable iPhone and a foldable iMac/iPad hybrid. Now, it sounds like both devices might launch in 2026.
While it’s hard to go wrong with any of today’s top-tier smartphones, ending up with the best bang for your buck or splitting the mid-range wheat from the chaff is still often a case of deciphering a phone’s spec sheet. This already laborious task isn’t helped by the marketing gobbledegook thrown around by various brands in a bid to make their otherwise mediocre handsets stand out. Just what the heck is “virtual RAM” anyhow?
To help, let’s break down all the key smartphone specifications and highlight what to look out for — and what to ignore — when making your next purchase.
We’ll start with the processor (or SoC) first. Weirdly, this is both the most and least important aspect of your phone, depending on what you expect from your next handset. If you have to have the absolute best performance, features, and networking capabilities, then a flagship chip is a must, but often these features are surplus to requirements.
There are too many chipsets to get into them all, but virtually every smartphone processor built since the turn of the decade is ample for running key mobile tasks: browsing Facebook, scrolling Insta, that sort of thing. Google’s Pixel range is a prime example of smartphones that don’t pack the absolutely fastest processors around yet still offer one of the best mobile experiences in their price brackets. It’s more about what your phone can do than what it benchmarks. That said, I’d urge everyone to avoid the bottom-of-the-barrel processors you’ll still find in ultra-affordable handsets, if it can be helped. Anything that lists itself as little more than an “octa-core” processor is still probably bad news.
Ignore core counts and GHz; you need to look at a chip's broader capabilities.
iPhones, of course, all sport high-end chips, so there’s little issue (or choice) here anyway. If you want to be sure of top-tier Android performance, stick to flagship-grade chips from the big players. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 and 8S, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9___, Samsung’s Exynos 2___, and Google’s Tensor series are all rock solid, even if you pick a model that’s a generation or two old at this point. High-end mobile gamers, however, will find the latest features, such as ray tracing, and the fastest performance on the latest processors, such as a phone with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is also a boon for heavy multitaskers and those who edit their photos and videos on the go. It’s those less mainstream use cases that really benefit from focusing on the processor as a key component, but even then, you have to consider thermals and cooling as well, and bigger phones tend to do better at that.
If you’re on a tighter budget, sliding down to the Snapdragon 7 or even 6 series, along with MediaTek’s more recent Dimensity 8XXX range, is a fair compromise that won’t disappoint on the networking or security fronts, and even AI capabilities are quickly making their way down to these price points.
How does the phone perform under stress, and does it have the gaming, AI, or other features you want?
Of course, you can get pretty granular on all the internal processor differences. CPU core counts and microarchitectures for general processing, GPU for gaming and other graphics, ISP capabilities for pictures and video, and the latest trends in NPUs for AI. While interesting from an enthusiast standpoint, we can’t mix and match these parts ourselves, and it would be a waste of time to make a purchasing decision based on specs like clock speed GHz or AI TOPS. It’s less of a headache to follow the general portfolio trends outlined above and pay attention to the on-device features that a given handset is capable of and maybe a benchmark or two if you need higher-end performance.
The bottom line is that picking the best processor used to matter a lot more than it does today. However, elite gaming and AI are starting to shift focus back to the flagship-tier chipsets once more.
For most people, their smartphone is their primary camera. As such, navigating this increasingly complex area of a modern smartphone is a must, but it isn’t easy. First, let’s dive through the key terms.
We could dive deeper into autofocus technologies (make sure your wide lens has AF at least!), backplane types, and the like, but that’s getting too deep into the weeds for this article and probably shouldn’t sway your entire phone choice unless you’re after something very, very specific. Instead, the next step is to look at what camera lenses the phone has. These typically fall into five categories: ultrawide, wide/primary, telephoto, periscope, and macro.
99% of the time, a dedicated macro camera is just there to pad out the numbers. They’re usually low resolution, tiny, and basically bad. Pretend the phone doesn’t have it; you’ll likely forget about it anyway. A wide and ultrawide pairing is most common in the mid-range market, offering a step back to fit more in but lacking long-range or truly portrait-friendly capabilities. Telephoto and periscope are two different ways of building a zoom camera; the latter bounces light off a mirror or two, creating a longer focal length but losing some light in the process. Ultra-premium phones regularly offer two zoom cameras to cover multiple distances with high quality. 3x to 5x is good for portraits and nearby subjects, while 10x will capture those concert stages. There are no strict winners here; take your pick based on the type of photos you typically take.
Just like the processor, how much physical storage space (in gigabytes or GB) you need depends on how you use your phone. If you just make calls, check emails, and browse the same four websites, you can probably get away with a smaller storage option. But if you’re a gamer, photographer, or meme archivist, you’ll need a more forgiving amount of space.
Even though it’s still often the base configuration, 128GB isn’t all that much storage in the age of mass media and mobile photography. Subtracting the size of the OS and some apps, you might be lucky to be left with 80GB free for other content. That’s the equivalent of roughly 10,000 8MB JPEG photos, 20,000 four-minute MP3 tracks, or 80 hours of compressed 1080p video. That sounds like a lot, but bringing years of old pictures and whatever else to a new phone eats further into this. While you can mitigate physical limitations with cloud storage, that’s an expensive solution in the long term.
If you’re the designated family photographer, I recommend 256GB at minimum. You might even want to future-proof your purchase with 512GB, though those upfront prices can be eyewatering.
The other factor to consider is storage speed. While most flagships use the fastest storage available (UFS 4 at the time of writing), budget options often use slightly slower versions like UFS 3.1 or even 2.0. Mostly, this will marginally affect large app or game loading times or your phone’s ability to record very high-resolution (4K or 8K) video, which is less of a requirement for budget models anyway. I’d avoid anything still listed with eMMC storage, as that’s positively outdated.
Display technology has long been a battleground between the senses and snake oil. There’s a load we could get into here, from aspect ratios and contrast to sub-pixel layouts and refresh rates. Let’s hit those key terms again.
A huge amount of technology is packed into the latest smartphone displays, and picking out exactly what you want depends on what you need from a display. Higher refresh rates will be most important if you’re a doom-scroller or gamer. If you like to read while commuting, a robust and reliable outdoor peak brightness will be key. Or if you find displays give you a headache while reading in the dark, grab one with a higher PWM rate.
Your phone’s temporary storage, or RAM, is further down this list but nonetheless important, particularly if you’re eyeballing a phone for AI or gaming. 8GB of RAM has been and remains plenty for most mobile multitasking use cases, but if you want to keep lots of apps and games open or run trailblazing AI features from Gemini Nano, you’ll want 12GB or even more.
Equally, those demanding use cases want RAM that’s quick. At the time of writing, LPDDR5X is the fastest available type of RAM, but LPDDR4X is still fine for a budget model where basic multitasking is more important than loading up Genshin Impact.
There is a recent gimmick to be aware of here, though: virtual RAM. You might also see this listed as Dynamic RAM, Memory Expansion, or such, but the idea is the same. This is essentially swap space that stores unused programs in a portion of your main internal storage rather than in RAM. The benefit is that fewer apps will close if you fill up your regular RAM, but storage is slower than RAM, so there’s absolutely no performance benefit for AI or gaming. Virtual RAM is useful for phones with a small amount of real memory, but only to a point, and is not a replacement for proper RAM.
RAM is more important for AI phones. Gloss over virtual RAM, it's not a cure-all.
Virtual RAM allows companies to claim a phone has very large amounts of memory, such as 24GB, but the split may only be 12GB real RAM and 12GB virtual. That’s fine, but there’s not a huge benefit to virtual RAM, especially in such huge sizes. Always check the fine print, particularly on mid-rangers from China, where this trend is more prevalent, and make sure you buy a phone with a healthy chunk of physical RAM.
While we’re on the subject of inflated numbers, charging power has to be one of the biggest minefields to navigate in recent memory. It’s not just the Chinese brands claiming 100W or 200W that can catch you out; even Google’s Pixel 6 was caught playing fast and loose.
But more power equals faster charging, right? Well, yes, in theory, but are you measuring at the plug or the phone, how long can you sustain that power, and under what conditions? If I had a dollar for every ultra-high-wattage phone I’ve tested that failed to maintain peak power for more than two minutes, well, I wouldn’t be rich, but you get the idea. If you live in a warm country, these effects will be even worse. Even if you can hit 100W, so what if you’re confined to the in-box charger or bricks from one specific brand? While high power and fast times are nice, we should consider the battery longevity, real charge times, and ecosystem and e-waste trade-offs.
Forget 200W, grab a phone that charges nicely with third-party plugs and power banks.
What’s most important, in my book, is how quickly a phone charges via the USB Power Delivery standard — the default protocol for charging over USB-C. If your phone plays nicely with USB PD (and the newer USB PD PPS), it’ll charge quickly with virtually any modern plug. Around 45W takes even the largest batteries from empty to full in an hour or so, while 65W is properly fast for a phone and suitable for many laptops. 30W or below is on the slower side but still far better than many of the aforementioned proprietary brands that can sit at 18W or under when not using their special blend of brick and cable. Similarly, a phone with Qi or Qi2 wireless charging will play nicely with a range of accessories, even if it charges slower than proprietary standards.
Finally, a word on battery capacity (in mAh). This is too dependent on handset size and other specifications to give a definitive guide. However, 4,000mAh should see most users through a single day, while around 5,000mAh is better for gamers and power users. If you know you use your phone a lot, it’s better to err on the side of a bigger battery.
After um-ing and ah-ing about the internals, you should also consider the external hardware protecting your phone. There are two main things to ponder: screen/glass protection and water/dust resistance.
We have a handy guide on IP ratings. Broadly speaking, some level of water protection is a must. Accidents happen, and you’ll be glad you invested in an IP rating when “someone” spills coffee all over that expensive new purchase. We’d suggest an IP54 rating as the bare minimum, with an IP68 rating being the golden standard when spending money on upper-mid and flagship smartphones.
Likewise, glass protection can be the difference between “few!” and “$100s” down the drain and hours wasted organizing a screen replacement. Corning Gorilla Glass is the industry standard, with Victus 2 and Gorilla Armor being the strongest options around. Apple uses Corning’s Ceramic Shield, which touts a similar, if not superior, hardening process, and there are various other industry players offering their own flavors. Comparing the various glass types is fraught with difficulties, but newer tends to be better, so we suggest not picking a phone with anything too dated. Of course, something is better than nothing at all. Oh, and be sure to check if there’s a difference between front and back protection, if your phone has a glass back. There usually is, but you don’t want to trade down too far and end up with a smashed case.
I’d place less emphasis on any metal parts mentioned. While these can marginally affect a phone’s weight, aluminum, titanium, or others offer little to no indication of a phone’s ability to withstand drops or bends, as we’ve seen countless times over the years.
If you’ve seen our latest Google Pixel 9 exclusive, the phone’s Tensor G4 processor is set to be the smallest change to the series so far. While peak performance has never been a Tensor accolade, there’s little to no upgrade in the chip’s cornerstone AI capabilities either. The Tensor G4 reportedly features exactly the same third-generation TPU, codenamed “rio,” running at the same clock speed as the Tensor G3. The reason is that Google reportedly missed deadlines for a more potent custom chipset, which will now have to wait until the Pixel 10, and had to hastily cobble together an improved Tensor for the Pixel 9 series.
If this holds true, surely the Pixel 8 series should be able to run all of the Pixel 9’s upcoming AI features? Well, the CPU and GPU upgrades appear to be nowhere near big enough to make a meaningful difference to any AI processing, the DSP that runs camera algorithms is the same as last gen, and the identical TPU is the core that binds Google’s on-device AI capabilities together.
I’d argue that the Tensor G4 shares so many core similarities to the G3 that (virtually) the only reason why Google won’t bring its latest features, such as AddMe and Pixel Screenshots, to the Pixel 8 series, at least not in a hurry, is to upsell the Pixel 9. There’s no denying that bringing such features to the Pixel 8 would make Google’s best-ever flagship even more compelling but might undermine launch excitement about the new models, despite the camera and other hardware upgrades. This raises a big question: Just how committed is Google to backporting features via Feature Drops?
Virtually, the only reason Google won't bring the Pixel 9's latest AI features to the Pixel 8 series is to upsell the Pixel 9.
Google’s history with Feature Drops is pretty hit-and-miss. While it has brought plenty of new features to the Pixel lineup over time, we’re still waiting on some of the bigger promises like Zoom Enhance. There’s no guarantee that all of Google’s latest AI features will even be available for the Pixel 9 at launch, so any hope of features making their way back to the Pixel 8 series in a timely manner feels remote. Still, the similarities between the Tensor G4 and G3 make this all the more possible than in previous years, so here’s hoping that, even if there’s a reasonable delay, we see as many Pixel 9 AI features on the Pixel 8 as possible.
There’s one exception to all this — RAM. On-device AI is RAM heavy; it’s the reason the lower-specced Pixel 8 didn’t initially ship with Gemini Nano, while the 8 Pro’s larger 12GB RAM pool made it possible. According to leaks, the Pixel 9 is expected to ship with 12GB of RAM, and the Pro models will all receive a boost to 16GB. That’s a lot more memory than the baseline Pixel 8, but 12GB matches the capabilities of the Pixel 8 Pro. Once again, then, it looks like the more affordable Pixel 8 stands to miss out, but Google’s previous premium model should be capable of matching the Pixel 9. However, just how broken up Google’s AI feature set will become across models remains to be seen.
The Pixel 8's 8GB RAM might be too small, but the 8 Pro is capable of matching the base Pixel 9.
Even so, a processor with few upgrades cuts through the usual inter-generational barrier and puts Google and the Pixel series in an interesting position. Can Google rely on the superb hardware upgrades alone to sell the Pixel 9 while using this opportunity to show that the best software features can transcend generations? We’re already questioning whether seven years of updates really mean the same thing as seven years of cutting-edge features. Google could put the Pixel series on the map as an evolving platform for the industry’s best AI technology, regardless of which generation you buy in. But it’ll have to sacrifice a little Pixel 9 prestige to do so.
There are many obvious benefits to wearing a finger-based fitness tracker, which explains why shoppers have clamored for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. However, fingers are high-contact body parts. From grabbing to pushing to pulling and lifting, it’s hard to protect smart rings from potentially damaging interactions.
I’m no Olympian, but I do foray into various fitness activities, and in my months of testing the Samsung Galaxy Ring, Oura Ring, and other smart rings, I’ve discovered that there are specific exercises that I can’t do or would rather not do while wearing them. Here they are, in no particular order, and I hope that this list helps you decide whether a smart ring is a good fit for your exercise tracking or not.
Personally, I also remove my smart ring when showering and doing the dishes. According to the manufacturers, this isn’t necessary, but I find both tasks more comfortable with naked hands. I also remove my ring when prepping certain foods. Rolling meatballs and hand-mixing cookie dough are two that come to mind immediately. I don’t make bread, but I watch The Great British Baking Show, and I imagine I’d take my ring off to knead dough if ever a contestant.
Some users report removing their smart ring for yard work, such as lawn mowing or gardening with a shovel. I can imagine how these chores might be uncomfortable depending on your grip and the boniness of your finger. Meanwhile, Samsung warns users that their Galaxy Ring might not work properly in close proximity to magnets. Both Oura and Samsung advise users not to wear their smart ring on the same finger or adjacent to fingers with other metal rings. Oura claims their devices are safe for saunas, hot tubs, ice baths, and cryotherapy tanks. Samsung issues more conservative warnings and urges Galaxy Ring users not to “expose it to sudden temperature changes in environments such as saunas and steam rooms.”
In other words, there are many scenarios to consider when trying to keep your smart ring safe from damage — and your hands safe from pain. Depending on your preferred workouts, it’s worth thinking through a ring’s limitations before investing in one.
I got my first Fitbit nearly a decade ago. Back then, you could argue that Fitbit was a proprietary eponym — a brand name that inadvertently became synonymous with similar products due to its success or popularity. This couldn’t be further from the case in 2024. The company’s decline started well before Google’s acquisition three years ago, but stalwart Fitbit fans will argue that Mountain View’s influence is the reason for its continued downfall. I’d argue that it’s a little more complicated than that.
When Fitbit was founded in the late 2000s, it was one of a few companies that seriously considered the fitness tracker space a budding technology segment. Initial products weren’t feature-packed, but the brand built a loyal following by introducing heart rate tracking technology at a time when few other consumer products did. Following its growing success, Fitbit listed publicly in 2015, making it one of the year’s hottest IPOs. However, that initial searing heat would dissipate rapidly in the coming years due to low sales, encroaching competition from Apple and others, and a series of troubled launches.
Understandably, when Google came knocking at the end of 2019, a wounded Fitbit was more than happy to listen. I’m sure that plenty of Fitbit users were, too. The company was faltering; financial and developmental backing from a tech giant would be a big shot in the arm. The deal was completed in January 2021, ushering in the Google Fitbit era.
In reality, Google hasn’t been the greatest custodian of the fitness marque. Its priority has been implementing Fitbit’s smarts into its own refreshed health push rather than accommodating those already part of the ecosystem. Since it changed hands to Mountain View in 2021, Fitbit users have seen sweeping changes to the platform. While Google has integrated the Fitbit platform and technology with its Pixel Watch series, it has gutted other aspects of the overall experience to align with its vision.
It killed the popular Challenges, Adventures, Trophies, and Open Groups — fan-favorite gamification and social features. A few months later, it introduced a divisive app update with Google’s design language, lots of white space, and a layout that makes quick glances at key metrics a challenge.
Google's priority has been consuming Fitbit's smarts into its own health push rather than accommodating existing users.
Despite a loud and incessant user outcry, Google’s changes didn’t stop there. At the end of 2023, Google announced Fitbit’s exit from over 30 markets, more than halving its regional availability, to align the brand with Google’s own official product presence. This move was perhaps the most painful of Google’s decisions thus far, at least for me. It stripped the Fitbit brand from regions like South Africa, where it had operated for decades.
More turmoil came this month when the company shut down Fitbit’s online dashboard. It was the only other way users could view their Fitbit stats, input data, and control their devices beyond the app. Google’s forced shutdown and lack of a genuine web-based successor further alienated established users and gave those who explicitly relied on the interface no alternative. The requirement for Fitbit users to migrate to Google accounts is also rapidly approaching, forcing those with legacy Fitbit accounts to merge them with their Google profiles. Many users don’t want to serve Google their medical history.
Sure, these are arguably all fixable issues. Google could always revise its market availability, tinker with the app, or allow Fitbit accounts to remain siloed. These problems are small compared to the real issue: Fitbit’s waning hardware appeal. The devices released since Google’s acquisition make Fitbit’s place in Google’s wearable strategy more apparent.
There have been eight major device launches under the Fitbit banner since 2021, most notably the Charge 5, Versa 4, and Sense 2. The former launched without issue, but the fitness tracker has been plagued by software update issues that left many users’ devices bricked. Fitbit acknowledged the issue by July 2023. A year later, the company has yet to implement a fix.
Google-merger issues are small compared to Fitbit’s waning hardware appeal.
In 2023, the flagship Fitbit Sense 2 and second-string Versa 4 were the first smartwatches to debut under Google’s wing; however, they were a shadow of their predecessors. While the Sense 2 gained all-day stress monitoring and the Versa 4 a cleaner design, their support for third-party apps, smartphone media controls, and Google Assistant were stripped from the devices to artificially set the Pixel Watch apart as the range’s flagship.
With the Pixel Watch 2 following on in 2023 and no new Sense or Versa model released since, Google’s wearable strategy is pretty clear — Fitbit is no longer a serious hardware company. There’s a clear lack of vision at the top end of Fitbit’s range. While the Charge series is likely to continue, the Sense and Versa lines’ future is bleak.
There’s no doubt that Fitbit has changed under Google’s leadership. However, it’s worth noting that Fitbit has had some successes during this period, too.
Fitbit’s last significant device, the Charge 6, is among its best launches in years. Instead of stripping features from the troubled Charge 5, it took users’ issues to heart, replaced the idiotic touch-sensitive button with a physical pusher, updated its core health tracking accuracy, and introduced Google apps that were previously limited to smartwatches. This launch gave us a glimmer of hope — it proved that Fitbit under Google is still willing to build on its core tenets.
Since then, Google also rolled out the Ace LTE, not only Fitbit’s first connected smartwatch, but one that injects a fun new take on fitness tracking that would be great on adult devices, too. A Fitbit device with a personality in 2024? Is this really Google’s Fitbit?
To be contrarian for a moment, Fitbit's app redesign is growing on me.
Google has since rolled out more of its apps to the Sense 2 and Versa 4. Yes, it’s slow progress, but progress nonetheless.
To be contrarian for a moment, Fitbit’s app redesign is growing on me. It’s lacking compared to Samsung Health and Garmin Connect, but it’s zippy, easier to navigate, and more pleasant to look at. Last week, I strapped on the Sense 2 in preparation for this piece, and in terms of fit and comfort, I often forgot I was even wearing it. Stuck in bed with a bout of flu, the watch kept me up to speed with my sleep quality, rising resting heart rate, and spiking temperature. As a Galaxy Watch user for the past few years, I missed these intricate insights. Anecdotally, Fitbit offers more nuance when tracking and transcribing these metrics. It’s clear that Fitbit still excels in core areas that once made me a fan.
We’re quick to judge Google, and who can blame us? The list of properties the company has spawned or bought and then culled is lengthy and lengthening annually. Naturally, Fitbit users are wondering if it will soon join the pile, and there’s evidence that Google prefers to cut features rather than transform them. There’s no ignoring the building chorus of users taking to Reddit and other forums to air their displeasure at Google’s influence over Fitbit. And yes, Google’s interest in Fitbit is more aligned with its eponymous products, molding it into a platform for its smartwatches and neglecting the users it adopted. Still, I don’t believe it’s binning Fitbit any time soon.
Google continues to update Fitbit’s devices. This month, it rolled out Versa 4 and Sense 2 updates, including reworked heart rate tracking and GPS accuracy, YouTube Music control support, and other quality-of-life updates. Even the Inspire 3, the company’s cheapest tracker, saw some love. Google is also planning broader generative AI updates within the Fitbit app, providing users with data-based insights.
So, to answer my initial question: no. Google hasn't ruined Fitbit, but it's well on its way.
All this suggests that Google is trying to keep Fitbit alive, but it’s obvious that the brand, its legacy users, and new Fitbit-branded hardware are not the priority. That is understandable. Google’s Pixel Watch series has proved successful, while Wear OS is stronger than ever. However, the more Google focuses on future Pixel Watch buyers, the more this approach will push the users it inherited away from the platform it’s trying to build. Fitbit remains a popular brand with swathes of users globally. Google risks alienating and losing the trust of these users in the long run for short-term gain with its Pixel Watch series. There aren’t many Fitbit alternatives in the $100 to $250 segment, and if Google remains parsimonious, it may relinquish this market to the likes of Garmin and Xiaomi.
So, to answer my initial question: no. Google hasn’t ruined Fitbit, but it’s well on its way. Fitbit is the company that got me into wearables, but I will likely never buy another device from the brand. Judging by Fitbit forums and other online communities, many users feel the same way.
Earlier this week, we divulged a list of ways to make your phone last longer. Those tips can extend the lifetime of your device, but the unstoppable march of time eventually brings all things to an end. One day it’ll be obvious that you have no choice but to ditch that faithful companion, and we can help you decide when the time is right. Here are ten clear signs you need to upgrade your phone.
You might see articles like this one that tell you that poor battery or full storage are signs you need to replace your handset. We’re not going to cover those things here. If you want to switch devices because of poor battery life, it’s your call, but both that and the storage issue are fairly easily remedied without resorting to an upgrade. You can read the aforementioned article to find out how. What we’re talking about here are terminal issues for your poor old phone.
Your phone will slow down over time for a number of reasons. There are plenty of measures you can take to speed it up again, but the performance of your device is only going in one direction overall. This affects every aspect of your use, and it’ll eventually become so intolerable that you’ll know it’s time to switch.
Here are just a handful of signs that your device’s performance is suffering:
The updates that your phone receives from the manufacturer are crucial for keeping it viable as your daily driver. This represents something of a built-in redundancy for your device, which can understandably frustrate buyers. It’s also a factor that you need to consider when saving money on previous-generation smartphones.
The biggest smartphone manufacturers have heeded these consumer concerns and moved towards longer periods of update support for their handsets in recent years. It’s a smart move, but there will come a day when your phone gets its last update, and things can start going south quite quickly after that.
Here are some of the reasons why losing update support means that it might be time to upgrade your phone:
You may want to consider upgrading your phone before you start to face these issues, especially if you plan to sell it once you have a replacement. A phone that is beyond it’s last update is going to command a much smaller resale fee.
We’re not just talking about a crack in the glass here — that can be very annoying, but if it’s just the glass protection for the phone screen, your phone is probably fully functional. In terms of drops or impact, you face real problems if the damage goes as deep as the actual LCD or OLED display beneath the glass. This can render part or all of the screen unusable. Also, unlike the glass, it’s often extremely expensive to replace the screen of the device. Unless you only got the phone recently, these high repair costs might make it more financially prudent to upgrade your phone and write off the loss.
Even if you’re careful with your phone and protect it with a case and screen protector, there are a number of ways that your phone screen can break down eventually. For instance, all or part of the touchscreen could stop responding, dead pixels could start to appear, or your device may succumb to screen burn in. The dilemma you’re then faced with is the same as if you’d smashed it: fork out hundreds of dollars in replacing the screen, or move on to a new model.
The ability to shoot high-quality photos and videos is one of the most important aspects of a phone to many people. If the camera on your handset is no longer up to scratch, it’s often another of those problems that range from a pricey fix to a phone upgrade.
There are some phone camera issues that are relatively easily remedied. If it’s a scratch or dirt around the glass, it might be a fairly easy fix at your local service center. Other problems with the camera can be caused by larger issues that we’ve already touched on like the app responding slowly or crashing due to the phone’s overall performance diminishing.
Then there are complications specific to the camera array that could render your device a shadow of its former self. These include the camera sensor degrading over time due to exposure to light and environmental conditions, mechanical parts in the autofocus system wearing out, and similar hardware failures. Like with the screen, a busted camera array is often so expensive to sort out that it might be time for that phone upgrade.
It might sound antiquated in 2024, but you sometimes want to use your phone as a phone. This requires two delicate parts of the hardware to be in good working order: the speaker and the microphone. Even if you’re Gen Z and allergic to the idea of actually giving someone a call, losing the mic means the end of voice notes. Without the speaker, you’re not going to be streaming the sound on TikTok or YouTube anytime soon without a pair of headphones.
There are dozens of reasons why either your mic or speaker can stop working, and quite a lot of them a fixable. You might even be able to remedy it yourself if either has become clogged with dust or debris or if the problem lies in some sort of software failure. An intermittent or crackling sound might be attributable to a loose connection in your device, which a professional at your local service center may be able to sort out.
For all these reasons, diagnosis is needed before a phone upgrade. But if there’s a fundamental hardware failure causing one of the issues, the time to bid the device farewell may have arrived.
Connectivity issues could mean that your phone is on its last legs. However, even more so than the sound issues, it’s essential to rule out all other possibilities first. Connectivity problems are almost always related to something else. It could be an issue with software compatibility, your network provider, your Wi-Fi router, something interfering with the signal, or any number of other factors..
If you’ve exhausted all other avenues of inquiry, the issues might stem from a hardware fault in your device. Which bit of the hardware depends on where you’re struggling with connectivity. It could be the antenna, the Bluetooth module, the GPS component, or something else. Whatever it is, you’re back at that same dilemma: a potentially expensive fix or phone upgrade time.
It’s obvious to say, but if you can no longer charge your phone, its best use-case is as a bookend or a doorstop. Some charging issues are easily fixable, but some will mean a phone upgrade is more practical. An increasing number of phones have both wired and wireless charging options now, so a failure to charge via cable isn’t as fatal as it used to be, although it does limit your options if you can only charge wirelessly.
If you’re trying to charge with a cable and find it only works from certain angles, it could be that the prongs on the charging port are misaligned, or you have a loose connection. Dirt and debris can also contribute to charging problems. You can try to clean the ports, check the cable you’re using is working properly, or see if a professional can see an obvious issue that isn’t too expensive to fix. Charging issues could also relate to the battery rather than the connection itself. This is easier to diagnose on a phone that can also be charged wirelessly.
More serious charging issues can be related to damaged circuitry within the phone. If wired charging is your only option, this means either an expensive repair bill or upgrade time. If wireless is an option, then you could soldier on with it and accept that you’ll have slower top-up times and fewer opportunities, as you don’t find many wireless chargers out and about. If both your wired and wireless charging capabilities are suffering from circuitry problems, it’s pretty much game over for the device.
All phones heat up with use, especially if you’re running resource-intensive apps or games for extended periods. Sunlight, a faulty charger, software issues, and a defective battery are among other reasons why your phone might be getting hot. A bit of heating up is normal, and a lot of heating up for any of the aforementioned reasons is something you can address.
If you’ve ruled out those types of issues and your phone is still overheating when you’re not using many resources, it could be an internal hardware problem, such as defective components or poor thermal management. That’s probably the point at which it’s time to upgrade your phone.
We’ve already mentioned that struggling performance can cause individual apps to crash or the phone to freeze. An even more ominous sign that your phone is on the way out is if it either shuts off or restarts at random intervals. It could even get stuck in a cycle of continuous restarting without fully booting up.
This could be due to a number of issues that have cropped up throughout this article. Overheating, battery issues, and software glitches can all cause your handset to go a bit haywire in this way. Malware can be another culprit. You’ll probably need your local service center to get to the bottom of it. The worst news they can deliver after an inspection is that the source of the issue is a failing motherboard or damaged components. While they might be fixable for a high price, you might just decide to write it off at that point.
You know that your device is about to bite the dust if it’s started becoming warped or bulged. This might be caused by a specific component, like the battery expanding. It could also be a result of an accidental drop or general overheating.
Whatever the reason, you can’t just hammer it back into shape like a dented car hood. Smartphones are highly refined pieces of equipment, and becoming misshapen can have all sorts of bad consequences. These include significant safety hazards, such as leaking, overheating, or even exploding. There’s also a higher risk of components being damaged and reduced functionality.
You can have the local expert take a look at the damage if you like, but don’t get your hopes up and keep an eye out for a good deal on your next handset.
I’ve owned an NVIDIA Shield TV streaming box since early 2020, and it was a fantastic experience for the first couple of years. This was largely due to a steady stream of updates (until the last year or two), plenty of features, and good performance.
Unfortunately, my Shield TV hasn’t received updates in a long time. But an even bigger problem was the fact that performance degraded to horrible levels in the last 12 months or so. So, I went back to the most basic tech trick ever to fix it.
It’s not uncommon for Android TV boxes to see a major drop in performance over time, owing to their modest specs to begin with. However, my Shield TV tube was on another level when it came to performance degradation, despite its slightly above-average specs.
The biggest issue I had with the box was massive lag. Simply navigating system menus, Prime Video, and Netflix became a huge pain. It got to the point where there was as much as ten seconds of lag between tapping a button on the remote and seeing the action take place on the screen. That’s not an exaggeration, by the way. Another major problem I had with my Shield TV was extremely juddery video playback in the aforementioned streaming apps.
Multi-second lag and juddery video playback were ruining my Shield TV experience.
All of this made for a truly frustrating experience in the last year or so, particularly in the last couple of months. I tried clearing the cache of various apps to no avail. Reboots didn’t work, either. My next path of action was a tried-and-tested solution. I decided to factory reset my Shield TV.
The thought of having to set things up again initially deterred me from a factory reset. After all, signing in to apps via Android TV can be a tedious process. But I reached the end of my tether and decided to just go ahead and wipe the Shield TV earlier this month.
I had enough foresight to store APKs on my Shield TV’s microSD card for apps that I sideloaded (e.g. streaming apps that aren’t available in my region). But perhaps one of the more notable revelations was that signing into these apps wasn’t a major pain at all. I’d totally forgotten that many streaming apps now let you sign in to the TV app by entering a code on your phone instead of manually typing credentials. This included Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and more. It’s clearly been a while since I’ve set up an Android TV box.
I still needed to set up streaming over the local network via VLC media player (Plex stopped working for me for some reason), but I could always log into my Shield TV from the Windows file explorer to transfer files if need be. For now, I’m 90% of the way there as far as my setup and restore processes are concerned.
Newsflash: Resetting a buggy tech product might fix those bugs.
What about the all-important performance, though? Now that the dust has settled, I’m glad to report that performance has improved in a big way. I still see the occasional jitter and rare bout of lag, but it’s a far cry from just a few weeks ago. Needless to say, you might want to factory reset your own Android TV box if it’s suffering from major performance issues. It’s not a silver bullet by any means, but it’s an obvious, time-tested option that can really make a big difference.
Quick Share is Samsung’s own file-sharing feature, allowing you to locally share files between Galaxy phones. Samsung also lets users share content between non-Galaxy devices over the internet, and it turns out the Galaxy maker is doubling the daily sharing limit for files shared over the web.
Quick Share lets users share files to non-Galaxy devices over the internet, but there is a 5GB individual file size limit and a 5GB daily transfer limit. That’s changing this week (h/t: @theonecid on X) as Samsung has increased the daily transfer limit to 10GB while also bumping up the individual file size limit to 10GB. This was also confirmed by the official Quick Share page. Check out the screenshot below.
We’re glad to see this transfer limit boost as it makes Samsung Quick Share a more useful file transfer service. So you don’t have to rely on a third-party transfer app if you want to send larger files to an iPhone, Mac, or something different altogether.
In any event, you can update the Samsung Quick Share app (version 13.6.51.13) via the Galaxy Store to take advantage of the raised file transfer limits. The app store listing also notes two other changes: displaying the total file size for the recipient in the incoming pop-up menu and showing up to two lines for nearby device names.
Move over Olympics, there’s a new game in town. If you’ve been eagerly waiting to watch your favorite die-for-money, get-killed-for-sport game show (I know I have), then we’ve got great news in store for you. Also, have a look at the date announcement above — for a little peek at what’s to come.
Read on to find out everything we know about the Squid Game season 2 release date, plot speculations, and cast additions.
Mark your calendars, because Squid Game Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on December 26, 2024. This Christmas gift from Netflix comes more than three years after the first season debuted in September 2021.
Season 2 will feature a mix of familiar faces and new additions to the cast. Returning stars include Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man, Gong Yoo as the Recruiter, and Wi Ha-jun as Hwang Jun-ho.
New cast members joining the series include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yu-ri, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, and Won Ji-an.
In the first season, we were introduced to Seong Gi-hun, a divorced chauffeur and gambling addict struggling with debt. He, along with 455 other cash-strapped contestants, accepted an invitation to compete in a mysterious survival game with a grand prize of 45.6 billion won (approximately $38 million USD). The games, based on traditional Korean children’s games, turned deadly as losers faced fatal consequences.
After surviving the brutal competition and emerging as the winner, Gi-hun was left traumatized and conflicted about using his newfound wealth. The season ended with him making a last-minute decision to stay in Korea and confront the game’s organizers, rather than boarding a flight to see his daughter in the United States.
Now clearly, season 2 will follow Gi-hun’s quest for answers and justice.
According to the official synopsis, “Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 remains determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport. Using this fortune to fund his search, Gi-hun starts with the most obvious of places: look for the man in a sharp suit playing ddakji in the subway.”
Gi-hun’s pursuit of the truth will not be easy — how is that fun? The synopsis continues, “But when his efforts finally yield results, the path toward taking down the organization proves to be deadlier than he imagined: to end the game, he needs to re-enter it.”
Can we expect another round of intense, life-or-death games, possibly with Gi-hun participating once again? This time with the goal of exposing and destroying the organization from within, of course.
Front Man is back, so maybe we’ll be seeing more of the game’s inner workings and hierarchy. We may learn more about his backstory and how he came to oversee the games after being a previous winner himself.
New cast members are joining, so it’s very likely that fresh characters will bring their own stories and motivations to the series. These new players will likely face the same brutal challenges and moral dilemmas that made the first season so compelling.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has promised that the new season will be worth the wait. Enough said.
Squid Game Season 2 will be exclusively available on Netflix. As with the first season, it’s likely that all episodes will be released at once, for you to binge-watch.
Netflix has also announced that a third and final season of Squid Game is planned for release in 2025, so you have even more to look forward to in the future.
The exact number of episodes for Season 2 has not been officially announced. Season 1 had 9 episodes, so it’s possible Season 2 will have a similar number.
Yes, several key cast members are returning, including Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man, and Gong Yoo as the Recruiter.
Yes, several new actors are joining the cast, including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, and others.
The iPhone 15 series all offer the same 12MP selfie camera, but it seems like Apple could change things up with the iPhone 17 line in 2025.
MacRumors obtained a research note from Apple analyst Jeff Pu, and the analyst asserts that all four iPhone 17 models will pack a 24MP selfie camera. This camera is said to offer six plastic lens elements.
There’s no word on other details (e.g. sensor size, pixel size), but this could be a handy upgrade. Many phones offer selfie cameras with a wide field of view (ideal for group selfies), but also let you crop in for more conventional selfies. So a higher resolution selfie camera could make for more detailed cropped selfies.
A higher resolution selfie camera could also potentially make for improved low-light snaps via pixel binning. Although a pixel-binned 24MP shot is equivalent to an 8MP snap.
This wouldn’t be the highest resolution selfie camera in the smartphone space, as we’ve previously seen phones with 32MP, 40MP, and even 50MP selfie cameras. Samsung, in particular, offered a 40MP selfie camera on its Ultra phones. But the Galaxy S24 Ultra has since reverted to a 12MP lens. So we’re curious to see what’s the megapixel sweet spot for selfie cameras.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 leaked in a big way a few days ago, as renders and specs were posted online. Now, a veteran source has revealed apparent pricing information for the new wireless earbuds.
This week’s list has a lot of great picks. We’ve got a thriller starring Emma Myers and a very, very well-received Batman rendition. Let’s get started!
Feel free to click on any links that pique your interest.
Remember Enid from Wednesday? She’s back again. This teen mystery thriller follows high school student Pippa as she investigates a 5-year-old murder case for her senior project. The small English town of Little Kilton was rocked when popular 17-year-old Andie Bell disappeared, presumed murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh.
But Pip has always felt something was off about the case. As she digs deeper, interviewing witnesses and uncovering secrets, Pip realizes the truth is far more twisted than anyone imagined. With help from Sal’s brother Ravi, Pip follows a trail of clues that puts her in increasing danger.
Rob Lowe and his real-life son John Owen Lowe star in this workplace comedy as an eccentric biotech genius and his more grounded son. In Season 2, Ellis Dragon is determined to keep his son Jackson in the family company, even as Jackson seeks independence. When Jackson accepts a job offer from rival tech mogul Peter Martin, Ellis goes to extreme lengths to bring him back into the fold.
Meanwhile, the eccentric staff at Dragon deal with new additions like Anna’s awful stepdaughter intern Georgia. The show balances father-son dynamics with quirky office antics.
This noir-inspired animated series brings Batman back to his pulp detective roots. Set in a 1930s-esque Gotham City, it follows a Batman early in his career, voiced with gravelly intensity by Hamish Linklater. The Dark Knight faces off against classic villains reimagined for this era, including Minnie Driver as a gender-swapped Penguin.
The show’s full of moody visuals and complex emotions rare in superhero fare. Weekly cases are balanced with season-long arcs exploring Bruce Wayne’s psychology and Gotham’s criminal underworld. For fans seeking a more grounded, noir take on the Caped Crusader, this series delivers in style.
The beloved animated sci-fi comedy returns for its 12th season, picking up with the Planet Express crew in the year 3023. In the premiere, Bender gets caught up in the NFT craze, selling off “the concept of Bender” before realizing he’s lost his identity. He travels to Mexico to rediscover his robot roots, encountering his extended family.
The sci-fi parodies and quirky character dynamics remain entertaining. For fans of the long-running series, this is a great show.
Set in 1971 Mexico City, this Spanish-language drama follows the formation of the city’s first all-female police unit. Four women from different backgrounds join the force: glamorous mother María, her activist sister Valentina, socially awkward Ángeles, and optimistic Gabina. But they soon realize they’re being used as a PR stunt to distract from the police’s failure to catch a serial killer dubbed “the Undresser”.
As the women fight for respect and equality within the department, María begins her own secret investigation into the murders. The show blends feminist themes with a chilling serial killer plotline, creating an uneven but compelling tone.
This true crime docuseries explores how an inexperienced FBI agent brought down Mexico’s largest drug cartel through their unlikely connection to American quarter horse racing. In 2009, José Treviño Morales, brother of two Los Zetas cartel bosses, began buying expensive racehorses and winning major races. FBI agent Scott Lawson, on his first posting in Texas, realized this was a rare chance to take down cartel leaders through a money laundering investigation.
The series follows Lawson’s meticulous work building a case, tapping phones, and following money trails. It offers an interesting look at how cartels operate across borders.
Missed our other lists? Here’s a quick recap. Also, check out our list of streaming movies if you’re in the mood for something longer this weekend.
Following a significant time jump, Spencer James finds himself on the cusp of NFL stardom after a stellar college football season. Along with the pressures of potential draft picks and Heisman Trophy buzz, he must also confront the changes in his relationship with Olivia, who’s been studying abroad. Meanwhile, Jordan grapples with jealousy over Spencer’s success while planning his wedding to Layla.
The friend group, still residing at the Malibu beach house, faces new challenges including parenthood for Asher and Jaymee. As the characters prepare for life after college, they’ll need to balance their ambitions, relationships, and the evolving dynamics of their tight-knit “vortex”.
Las Encinas welcomes a new academic year fraught with danger and intrigue. The arrival of siblings Emilia and Héctor Krawietz, who are heading the alumni association, sets off a chain of events that affects every student. As usual, a shocking murder rocks the school community.
Old rivalries reignite and new alliances form as the students navigate love, betrayal, and the high-stakes world of Spain’s most elite private school. There are some familiar faces and compelling new characters, with this season showing you the lengths some will go to protect their secrets.
Hosted by Kate Upton, this fashion competition series challenges designers to create tour outfits for music stars. Each week, a different celebrity guest judge tasks the contestants with designing a show-stopping look for their next tour. With mentors Marina Toybina and Laurieann Gibson offering guidance, the designers must balance creativity, functionality, and the artist’s unique style.
The competition kicks off with a high-stakes elimination challenge, designing for dancers, before moving on to outfitting JoJo Siwa. As the season progresses, tensions rise and alliances form, with designers voting to eliminate their peers. With $100,000 on the line, who will have what it takes to dress the biggest names in music?
In this reimagining of Terry Gilliam’s classic film, 11-year-old history enthusiast Kevin discovers his bedroom is a portal to different eras. He joins a group of time-traveling thieves led by the sarcastic Penelope, who has stolen a map from the Supreme Being. As they hop through time, visiting places like Stonehenge under construction and the Trojan Horse, they’re pursued by the nefarious Pure Evil.
Kevin must use his historical knowledge to navigate dangerous situations while Pure Evil plots to steal the map and wreak havoc across time. Filled with witty humor and fantastical adventures, this series blends historical facts with imaginative storytelling for viewers of all ages.
This four-part documentary series delves into the complex legacy of baseball legend Pete Rose. Known as “Charlie Hustle” for his relentless playing style, Rose is very successful. He’s also known for his controversial fall from grace.
The series explores Rose’s journey from being a beloved player to his permanent ineligibility from baseball due to gambling. Through extensive interviews, including with Rose, the documentary examines the events leading to his ban, his years of denial, and the ongoing debate about his potential Hall of Fame induction.
Returning to the steamy landscape of Far North Queensland, ex-cop Ted Conkaffey and private investigator Amanda Pharrell find themselves in the middle of a new mystery. It’s a dangerous environment, and the duo must confront not only the case at hand but also their own personal demons.
With Ted still grappling with his past and Amanda’s unconventional methods raising eyebrows, their partnership is put to the test. Expect more crocodile encounters, local eccentrics, and the unique blend of suspense and dark humor that made the first season a hit.
This is it, the final season. Seoul remains a nightmarish landscape where the battle between humans and monsters continues to rage. Hyun-su grapples with his dual nature as half-human and half-monster, his internal struggle physically manifested in his one powerful, unwieldy wing.
The series introduces the concept of “neohumans,” a development that could potentially shift the balance of the ongoing war. On the monster side, those who have transformed are out for blood and possibly revenge, presenting new and terrifying challenges for the human survivors. The series promises to explore more monster designs, from creatures with ventriloquist dummy-like faces to beings with tentacles instead of facial features.
For the first time in the series’s history, the participants are fully aware of what they’ve signed up for — don’t have sex, win a cash prize. The stakes are higher than ever, with the prize money increasing to $250,000. The most exciting addition to the cast is “Bad Lana,” a mischievous counterpart to the show’s AI host, Lana. While Lana typically enforces the no-contact rules, Bad Lana introduces periods where everything from kissing to sex is permitted without incurring fines.
This twist adds a new layer of temptation and strategy to the game. The two naughtiest contestants are sent to “banishment quarters,” where they’re made to perform mundane tasks like counting paperclips and can pay to spy on their crushes through a TV monitor. Despite these new elements, the core of the show remains intact. Expect complicated love quads, couple-swapping, and the usual ways to obtain sexual gratification without reducing the prize fund.
The second season of this adult animated series based on the Marvel Comics character continues the story of a Japanese snow monkey turned assassin. The season opens with a significant plot point: ghost assassin Bryce has been granted 48 hours in his physical body and has a crucial mission to complete within this limited timeframe.
Meanwhile, the titular Hit-Monkey finds himself at a crossroads. He meets new friends who help him question his future and whether he wants to continue his life as a killer. This internal conflict forms a significant part of the season’s emotional core, with Tatasciore’s nuanced vocal performance conveying Monkey’s complex emotions through grunts and body language.
True crime fans, unite. This series explores how the victim’s digital footprints, like social media posts, private messages, and online activity, provide crucial evidence that led to their killers’ capture. It also explores more traditional forms of evidence left behind by victims, such as diaries and letters. They’re literally solving their own crimes from beyond the grave.
The series combines interviews with family members, friends, and law enforcement officials with reenactments and real footage from victims’ social media accounts. You get a comprehensive look at each case, from the initial disappearance or discovery of the crime to the eventual resolution and its impact on the community.
This one’s for the history buffs. Set against the backdrop of the Roman Empire at its height, the series explores the lives of various characters across the social spectrum, from the highest echelons of power to the lowliest slaves. The story revolves around the construction of the Colosseum, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian.
As the massive amphitheater takes shape, political intrigue unfolds among the Roman elite. Vespasian’s two sons, Titus and Domitian, vie for their father’s favor and the right to succeed him as Emperor. Titus, the warrior, is seen as better equipped to deal with external threats, while Domitian, the political animal, is considered more adept at handling internal strife. At the heart of the series are the gladiatorial games themselves.
The show stars Natalie Portman in her first major television role as Maddie Schwartz, a housewife and mother who reinvents herself as an investigative journalist. The story begins with Maddie’s decision to leave her comfortable but unfulfilling domestic life. Inspired by the disappearance of a local girl, Tessie Fine, Maddie becomes involved in the investigation, awakening her long-dormant ambitions and setting her on a new path.
As Maddie pursues her newfound calling, she becomes fixated on another case: the mysterious death of Cleo Sherwood (Moses Ingram), a young Black woman whose body is found in a city park lake. The official narrative dismisses Cleo’s death, but Maddie is convinced there’s more to the story and is determined to uncover the truth.
God and Satan find themselves stripped of their powers and trapped on Earth in the bodies of feuding house cats. A little ironic that God is voiced by Tom Ellis who played Lucifer….on, well, Lucifer. Coincidence? Adopted by an endearingly oddball family, these not-so-divine felines lead their hapless humans through an increasingly bizarre parade of misadventures.
Vampire pug takeovers, time-traveling sharks, condemned cetacean souls reincarnated as theme park overlords — no plot point is too weird or random for this whirlwind of comic fantasy. With dizzying non-sequiturs, genre parodies, and groan-worthy gags whizzing by at a breakneck pace, Exploding Kittens takes the anything-goes absurdity of animation to delirious new heights. Supremely silly, slyly smart, and purr-fectly profane, it’s the cat’s meow for fans of over-the-top humor.
Update: August 2, 2024 (5 PM ET): We’ve updated our Pixel Watch 3 rumor hub with the latest leaks, including official promo material, expected US pricing, and information on every type and color of band that will be available.
Original article: Google got off to a slightly rocky start when it released its first smartwatch in 2022, but it didn’t take the company long to find its way. While the Google Pixel Watch 2 remains a great watch, it’s only a matter of time before a successor arrives. Below we discuss all the Google Pixel Watch 3 rumors we know so far, as well as changes we hope to see from the next-gen watch.
It’ll be a little while before Google officially confirms its plans for a successor, but there will definitely be another Pixel Watch. The company has invested heavily in wearables with its acquisition of Fitbit, and it’s clear it has big ambitions for its in-house watch. Lending even further support to this notion, there are already a few rumors about the Pixel Watch 3. While we still don’t know a ton about it, rumors suggest it will look very similar to its predecessor, though it will allegedly come in two sizes this time around. This would be a welcome change for those who prefer more options.
Although there have only been two releases so far, the Pixel Watch has thus far always launched alongside the Pixel series in October. However, this year, the Pixel 9 series is launching on August 13, so we expect the Pixel Watch 3 to make an appearance at this event too.
Recently leaked renders have finally given us a closer look at the Pixel Watch 3 design. If you were hoping for something new, the next watch looks virtually identical to what came before it. There’s the same 1.2-inch display and rotating crown, though the body is slightly thicker now as a result of the slight battery increase and likely due to the addition of new components like UWB.
Initial reports claimed that the Pixel Watch 3 may measure 40.79 x 40.73 x 14mm, versus the Pixel Watch 2‘s body size of 41 x 41 x 12.3mm. However, we eventually learned that Google is making a second, bigger model. There will still be the same 41mm variant as always, but the bigger model is said to have a 1.45-inch screen and a 45mm dial. Though Google has yet to confirm it, rumors claim the bigger model will go by the name Pixel Watch 3 XL.
One thing that sticks out with the Pixel Watch’s design is the massive bezels. But thankfully, Google will be reducing the size of these bezels in the third iteration. According to our own sources, both models of the Pixel Watch 3 will feature 4.5mm bezels. In comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 had 5.5mm bezels. In the graphic below, you can see how much of an upgrade this will be.
Staying on the subject of the screen, we’re hearing that both models will sport a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. This bumps the total nits up by 1,000 compared to the last generation. We’ve compiled all the display specs we have so far below:
| Pixel Watch 2 - codename eos/aurora | Pixel Watch 3 (41 mm) - codename selene/helios | Pixel Watch 3 (45 mm) - codename luna/sol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size | 30x30 mm | 32x32 mm | 36x36 mm |
| Bezel width | 5.5 mm | 4.5 mm | 4.5 mm |
| Screen resolution | 384x384 px | 408x408 px | 456x456 px |
| Brightness (declared) | 1,000 nits | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
As for colors, you’ll have a couple of options to choose from. You can see these options included in the table below.
| Pixel Watch 2 | Pixel Watch 3 (41 mm) | Pixel Watch 3 (45 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Silver case / Bay band | Silver case / Rose Quartz | Hazel case / Hazel band |
| Black case / Obsidian band | Black case / Obsidian band | Black case / Obsidian band |
| Gold case / Hazel band | Gold case / Hazel band | - |
| Silver case / Porcelain band | Silver case / Porcelain band | Silver case / Porcelain band |
In late July, a leak corroborated the case colors and bands we reported in the table above. However, that leak went a step further by revealing every band that will be available for Google’s next smartwatch. These bands include:
Apparently, the 45mm model will miss out on the metal mesh band, stretch band, metal slim band, and two-tone leather band. It’s also mentioned that the new performance band has been delayed until the end of October.
There have been a few rumors and leaks about the Pixel Watch 3, including our own original reporting. Let us dive into everything we know about actual hardware and software changes.
More than one report suggests the Pixel Watch 3 will include an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for short-range communication and location tracking. If you remember, UWB was also rumored to be in the Pixel Watch 2, but it was removed at the last minute. However, a source inside Google confirmed to Android Authority that it will indeed be in the Pixel Watch 3. Moreover, UWB support was recently spotted in FCC listings as well.
We still don’t have any information on how Google plans to use the technology, but we can speculate. One of the more obvious use cases would be precise device finding. As we recently reported, Google might be working on adding UWB support to the Find My Device app. Another possibility could be unlocking your car using Digital Car Key, which is already supported by BMW, Hyundai, and Kia, and many other manufacturers. Additionally, it may even be used to unlock the device, as indicated by teardown of the Play Services app.
The Pixel Watch 3 may also feature a slightly increased battery capacity. Before you get too excited, Android Headlines claims the new standard model will include a 307mAh battery, which is only 1mAh higher than its predecessor. However, our own report mentions a 310mAh battery, which still isn’t that much of a difference. The bigger model, on the other hand, is believed to have a 420mAh cell.
These increases alone won’t amount to drastically improved battery life; however, a more efficient SoC might do the trick. It’s believed that the Watch 3 will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with a customer processor. This makes sense since Qualcomm has yet to make a W6 chip. Maybe someday we’ll see an in-house Google chip hit the Pixel Watch too? Again, that’s all just speculation and definitely unlikely for the Pixel Watch 3, at least.
In the last few days, Android Headlines has leaked the official promo material for the Pixel Watch 3 series, confirming many of the rumors we have been hearing so far. It’s all but confirmed that the Pixel Watch 3 will be available in two sizes: a 41mm model, matching the current Pixel Watch 2, and a larger 45mm variant. The 41mm model will feature a 10% larger screen (presumably owing to the thinner bezels), while the 45mm variant is touting a “40% larger screen” compared to the Watch 2.
Both models will utilize Google’s “Actua” display technology, offering 2,000 nits of peak brightness, double that of the Pixel Watch 2. The leaked images also mention an “ultra-responsive” display, suggesting a potentially higher refresh rate. Battery life is expected to remain consistent with previous models, offering up to 24 hours with always-on display and 36 hours in Battery Saver Mode. The 41mm model claims 20% faster charging compared to the Pixel Watch 2, which is a welcome addition.
Leaked images also reveal new software features for the Pixel Watch 3, such as Nest doorbell and camera feeds directly on the watch face, allowing for convenient real-time monitoring. Runners will benefit from creating custom runs, competing against previous workouts, and receiving live feedback on their form, cadence, and stride.
Existing features like controlling the phone’s camera and using Google Wallet for contactless payments will remain. A new “Morning Brief” feature will summarize key health and fitness data each morning. While the leak does not mention Gemini-based AI features, it’s likely that the Pixel Watch 3 will incorporate Google’s AI capabilities in some way.
The Pixel Watch series has cost $349 since the beginning, though the LTE variant is always slightly higher at $399. Despite recent price increases in the tech industry due to the current economic environment, we initially anticipated that the Pixel Watch 3 would maintain its usual pricing. After all, most watches of this caliber continue to hover around this price range.
There might be bad news, though. Our first price leaks came via French outlet Dealabs, and an increase could be on the cards for Europe. The outlet reported that the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 Wi-Fi model will set you back €399 (~$436), while the 45mm Wi-Fi model could cost €449 (~$491). Want cellular connectivity? Then these prices could increase to €499 (~$546) and €549 (~$601) respectively.
Thankfully, a more recent leak, courtesy of Android Headlines, did give us some good news about the Pixel Watch 3’s US pricing. The report suggests the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will be priced at $349 for the WiFi-only model and $449 for the LTE model in the US. While the WiFi model’s price remains the same as last year’s, the LTE model’s price is a $50 bump over its predecessor. Google could be doing this to make space for the Pixel Watch 3 XL, which is said to be priced at $399 for the WiFi model and $499 for the LTE model.
If you’re interested in a Google-made watch, the Pixel Watch 2 is already a great watch and has plenty of life ahead of it. However, with just a few days left until Google’s August launch event, it would be wise to wait and see what Google has in store for us. If nothing else, the introduction of the Pixel Watch 3 could certainly give you an even better deal on the Watch 2.
Not impressed by the Pixel Watch series? The most obvious alternative on the Android side of the fence is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series (). For those who don’t mind switching to an iPhone in the process, the Apple Watch Series 9 () is also a worthwhile alternative.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market and has a long list of great features. Of course, nothing is perfect. Here’s our wishlist for what I’d like to see from the Google Pixel Watch 3.
The Pixel Watch faced significant durability issues, particularly with its display, mostly due to the relatively thin glass used. The Pixel Watch 2 saw slight improvements in glass quality, yet there have been numerous reports from consumers and reviewers indicating that the watch remains fairly easy to damage. Compounding the issue is the watch’s nearly impossible self-repair process, forcing owners to rely solely on Google Pixel Watch Customer Support for repairs. This not only adds inconvenience but also results in being without the watch for an extended period.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 presents an opportunity to address these durability concerns definitively. Opting for thicker, more durable glass appears to be the most straightforward solution. Although this may slightly increase the device’s bulk, weight, and cost, it represents a worthwhile trade-off for enhanced durability.
Garmin, Apple, and Samsung all typically offer multiple sizes for their watches, but the same can’t be said for Google. The Pixel Watch 2 comes in just one size: 41mm. While that might be perfect for many, some of us have big wrists or just want a larger display or better battery life, even if it means it’s slightly heftier to wear.
The solution is simple, Google should add a 45mm option to the Pixel Watch 3. This would appeal to those who want a bigger display or a larger size that better complements their wrist size.
The good news is that, as we mentioned in the rumor section above, Google is very likely to do just that.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 adopts a fairly reserved approach to case colors, opting for metallic shades of gold, black, and silver. Personally, I align with Henry Ford’s sentiment, believing black to be the only color anyone ever needs (half kidding), though I suspect my opinion might be a minority. Several smartwatches on the market offer a more diverse palette of unique shades. Apple, in particular, excels in this area with its Apple Watch Series 9, which is available in shades like Product Red and Pink.
If Google aims for the Pixel Watch 3 to stand out, incorporating a splash of color seems like a straightforward strategy. Perhaps Google could draw inspiration from its Pixel phone series and introduce colors such as Rose or Bay Blue, or bring back old Pixel favorites like Oh So Orange. I had the latter color on my Pixel back in the day, despite the fact I almost always get black phones. It just stood out in a way that was hard to ignore.
Here’s hoping the Pixel Watch 3 can do the same with its case colorway in 2024. Unfortunately no rumors indicate this is happening, but it’s still early enough that we can’t say for sure.
I really appreciate the Safety Signal feature on the Pixel Watch 2. In essence, it allows you to use SOS cellular features in an emergency without needing an active LTE cellular plan. Although this feature necessitates an additional $50 for the LTE model, it’s a minor sacrifice for the peace of mind it provides.
It’s always possible to find yourself on a hike or run with a dead phone. Having a backup solution for emergencies is reassuring. However, the requirement to pay for the Fitbit Premium subscription is less appealing. Although Premium costs only $10 a month, there are cellular plans for watches that start at a similar price point. Moreover, unlike a full cellphone plan, this service is only functional in emergencies.
I believe Google should cover the costs for emergency services and offer this feature for free to Pixel Watch 3 LTE users. This would position Google uniquely in the market, providing a standout feature that no other brand offers for free. While Apple and a few other brands have SOS features, they all require an active (and paid) cellular connection.
In our own Pixel Watch 2 review, we found the watch’s GPS to be fairly inconsistent compared to other fitness trackers and devices. For example, during our testing, we found that the GPS would disappear and yet still keep claiming it was tracking. The distance reported would be inaccurate compared to devices like the Apple Watch. Not a great look for a watch that is clearly aimed at fitness thanks to its association with Fitbit technology. Simply put, I feel Google needs to upgrade its GPS sensor for the Pixel Watch 3.
Are you looking to get a Sony PlayStation 5 console? These are very rarely discounted, so it’s always a treat to come across a good deal on Sony’s popular console. If you’ve been on the fence about getting yourself one, right now, you can save $50 on a PlayStation 5 Slim, whether you get the disc model or the Digital Edition. This brings the PS5 disc model to $449, and the PS5 Digital Edition to $399.
We’re back with a new list of movies to catch up on this weekend. We have a long-awaited Zendaya starrer and a very interesting horror movie.
A group of friends carelessly breaks a sacred rule during a tarot card reading, unknowingly unleashing an evil entity trapped within the cursed cards. As they start dying one by one in mysterious and frightening ways, they realize they’re in a desperate race against time. Each friend faces their nightmare based on the tarot card they drew.
The movie aims for suspense and scares, relying heavily on jump scares and an eerie atmosphere.
Set 300 years after the previous films, this movie shows a world where apes have become the dominant species and humans are considered wild creatures. A young chimpanzee named Noa starts a dangerous journey to rescue his clan after they’re kidnapped by a tyrannical ape ruler named Proximus Caesar.
Along the way, Noa befriends a human girl who can speak and a wise orangutan who teaches him about the legendary ape leader Caesar.
Michael Keaton stars as Knox, a skilled hitman diagnosed with dementia. As his memories begin to slip away, Knox’s estranged son Miles shows up at his door, covered in blood after killing his teenage daughter’s adult abuser. Desperate to help his son before losing his mind completely, Knox uses his criminal expertise to cover up the crime.
With a detective closing in and his mind deteriorating, Knox races against time to protect his son and possibly find redemption.
This Indonesian thriller follows Detective Sanja, a skilled investigator from Jakarta, as she’s assigned to a perplexing case in the remote border region between Indonesia and Malaysia.
The case becomes more complicated as it ties into human trafficking operations and corruption among local officials.
Adding to the intrigue is the presence of a malevolent forest spirit that seems to be influencing events. Sanja must navigate unfamiliar territory, both literally and figuratively, as she investigates a series of gruesome murders.
Set in the high-stakes world of professional tennis, this movie centers on a love triangle between three characters. Zendaya plays Tashi, a former tennis prodigy whose promising career was cut short by an injury. She’s now married to Art, a once-gifted player now struggling on the pro circuit. The third point of the triangle is Patrick, Art’s childhood friend and former tennis rival.
The narrative jumps between different periods, revealing how their relationships and tennis careers have intertwined and complicated over the years. As Art and Patrick face off in an important tournament, with Tashi coaching her husband, past tensions and unresolved feelings resurface.
Here’s a quick roundup of our previous lists, if you missed them. Also, if you’re in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Cyprus, this romantic drama follows John Allman, a famous but burnt-out rockstar seeking solitude. He purchases a cliffside house, hoping for peace, but instead discovers it’s a notorious suicide spot. As John grapples with this morbid revelation, he reconnects with Sia, a local doctor and former flame.
The film interweaves themes of second chances, family dynamics, and the healing power of music, all while John tries to prevent more tragedies at his new home. The story promises a unique blend of romance, personal redemption, and unexpectedly dark undertones in a picturesque Mediterranean setting.
This latest installment in the beloved franchise sees the Spengler family relocating to New York City. They join forces with the original Ghostbusters team to face a chilling new threat. An ancient evil entity named Garraka, capable of freezing the entire world, has been unleashed.
The film promises a mix of nostalgia and fresh energy as the multi-generational team races against time to prevent a new Ice Age. Expect a blend of spooky comedy, state-of-the-art special effects, and callbacks to the original films.
This documentary tells the story of Rudolf Höss, infamous commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, from the perspective of his descendants. The film centers on Hans Jürgen Hoss, Rudolf’s son, now in his late 80s, as he reflects on his childhood spent living next to the concentration camp.
Interwoven with Hans’ story is that of his own son, Kai, a pastor grappling with his family’s notorious history. The documentary also features Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, an Auschwitz survivor, and her daughter Maya, exploring how trauma is passed down through generations on both sides. Through intimate interviews and archival footage, the film examines guilt, denial, and the ongoing impact of the Holocaust on subsequent generations, raising profound questions about how we confront and process historical atrocities.
This neo-noir thriller takes place in a gritty New Mexico town in the year 1989 and revolves around Lou, who is a gym manager involved in an endless cycle of violence and small-town boredom. However, her life turns dramatically when Jackie, a bodybuilder heading to Las Vegas for a contest comes into her life. The two quickly become heavily attracted to each other — this blossoms into an affair based on mutual goals, steeped in desire.
This film promises a gritty, visceral exploration of passion, power, and what one can do to escape circumstances.
This psychological thriller tells the story of Jules, a talented drag performer whose life is ruined by a brutal homophobic assault. Preston, his attacker, meanwhile struggles with the fact that he himself is gay. Seizing this opportunity, Jules initiates a sexual relationship with Preston, initially motivated by revenge.
However, as their intimacy deepens, the lines between vengeance, attraction, and understanding begin to blur. The film explores complex themes of identity, masculinity, and the cyclical nature of violence, all while maintaining a taut, suspenseful atmosphere.
Jan, a humble bicycle shop owner starts dating Pia, a wealthy pet photographer. Jan is invited to Pia’s game night with her rich friends. Among the well-off people, Jan feels inferior and cannot comfortably fit in as they play bizarre and awkward games.
Dares and challenges escalate with each subsequent round during this unforgettable night. To protect his relationship with Pia and navigate through an upper-class game night while remaining true to himself, Jan must learn how to survive among this ruling class. This romantic comedy explores class divides and relationship drama through the lens of an increasingly chaotic game night gone wrong.
JJ looks forward to living quietly after retiring from CIA work. He’s taken Sophie under his care. JJ is well-equipped for Sophie’s school choir trip to Italy, I mean, he’s overqualified, isn’t he? He does have a background in international affairs. But he soon finds himself in over his head dealing with teenage drama and crushes.
Meanwhile, he stumbles onto a nefarious plot involving hidden nukes that he must foil. Sophie gets pulled into the action, complicating her equations with her peers. As JJ races to stop the villains from blowing up the Vatican, he must also navigate the treacherous waters of teenage relationships and emotions.
This intimate documentary explores the life and career of legendary actress Faye Dunaway. Known for her iconic roles in films like Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, we reflect on her meteoric rise to fame in the 1960s and 70s. The film covers her most memorable performances while also delving into her reputation as a difficult diva.
Fellow actors like Sharon Stone and Mickey Rourke share anecdotes about working with the famously intense star. The documentary doesn’t shy away from career missteps like Mommie Dearest, allowing Dunaway to offer her perspective on the film’s legacy. At 83, Dunaway looks back on her life with honesty and humor, grappling with both her triumphs and regrets in Hollywood.
Riley, a young woman who just got out of rehab for her eating and sex addiction problems, struggles with staying healthy in New York City. During her first night of freedom, she meets Ethan, who has also been recently released from prison. Despite her therapist’s advice to avoid relationships for a year, Riley and Ethan feel an intense bond between them.
As Ethan falls deeper in love, Riley grapples with her own insecurities and self-destructive behaviors. The film explores themes of addiction, co-dependency, and learning to love oneself through Riley and Ethan’s complicated relationship. With support from quirky side characters, Riley must confront her demons and figure out how to truly connect with others.
In a post-apocalyptic world, Paul lives on an isolated farm with his teenage twin sons, Joseph and Thomas. They’ve adapted to a life of constant vigilance, barricading themselves inside each night to protect against mysterious and terrifying creatures that roam in the darkness. When Thomas gets stranded outside after dark, Paul ventures out to save him, setting off a chain of horrifying events.
The family soon discovers the true nature of the monstrous beings hunting them — nightmarish hybrids that are part primate, part alien, with an ever-evolving and increasingly grotesque design. As they fight for survival, Joseph must step up to protect his family while uncovering the secrets of this new world.
Ace Ngubeni is a smooth-talking professional lobola negotiator in South Africa, posing as a fake family member to help clients with traditional marriage negotiations. His skills are put to the ultimate test when he takes on a new client, Duke, who wants to marry Zandi. The catch? Ace and Zandi have met before, and they have a complicated romantic history.
As Ace finds himself falling for Zandi again while trying to negotiate on Duke’s behalf, hilarious complications ensue. The film offers a comedic look at modern romance colliding with cultural traditions, as Ace must navigate tricky family dynamics, his own conflicted feelings, and the intricacies of lobola negotiations.
This emotionally charged drama from Tyler Perry follows the life of Ava, a successful bank professional whose world falls apart when her husband unceremoniously walks away from a marriage that once seemed to hold so much potential. Ava fights for her relationship with him.
With painful secrets exposed, Ava now has to gather the personal strength needed to confront the past and start rebuilding a new life. Through his poignant script, Perry explores complex relationships, coming to terms with emotional scars and accepting opportunities for redemption.
Google might soon introduce drag-and-drop functionality in the Chrome for Android browser. This feature is already present on the desktop version and certainly saves time for the average user. Given this, launching it for Android is a logical next step that could help improve one’s browsing experience and productivity on the platform.
According to MSPoweruser, this functionality will debut in Chrome for Android’s Dev channel (version 129). Once it’s launched, you’ll be able to move files from one location to another within your browser, as well as from your browser to other apps. The outlet spotted the commit “Enable DragDropFiles for M129” on Chromium, which is why it’s reasonable to expect that this feature will be available for testing shortly.
Furthermore, per the code in the screenshot below, we expect it to be enabled by default in the upcoming release.
In related news, the outlet also spotted a change to the Recent Searches feature in the same Dev channel update. The commit “Enable requesting related searches” suggests that you’ll be able to see related searches as you type. While there’s no guarantee that this feature will be rolled out broadly in the stable channel, the Mountain View tech giant might just do so if user feedback is promising and it significantly improves the user experience.
Never in my life did I think I would see affordable laptops get so good. And they get even cheaper when discounts hit! Take this ASUS VivoBook 14 as an example. This laptop is already cheap at $430, but you can get it for only $220 right now. That’s about a 48% discount!
Get the ASUS VivoBook 14 for a mere $220
This offer is available from Best Buy, and it only applies to the Quiet Blue color model. It is listed as part of a 48-hour flash sale, which ends this Saturday.
I am just amazed at what you can get these days for a measly $220. This is a Windows laptop with some pretty nice specs. It comes with a 12th-generation Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, which is more than good enough for casual users, and can even handle some light gaming.
Other specs are pretty nice, too. It has a 128GB SSD, which isn’t much, but you could always take all the money you saved and get an external SSD, or rely more on cloud services. The 14-inch screen has an LED panel with a Full HD 1,080p resolution. It even comes with Wi-Fi 6E support. It could be an excellent laptop for the kids, or a casual user.
Again, this is a 48-hour flash sale, so you have to make up your mind quickly, before the deal ends. You have until tomorrow. Heck, it is such a good deal I am considering getting one, myself.
The Google Pixel 8a is already one of the best affordable smartphones around, offering great value at a great $499 price point. Deals come often in the tech world, though, and Google’s budget offering is getting a really nice $100 discount right now, bringing the cost down to just $399.
Get the Google Pixel 8a for just $399
This offer is available from Amazon, and the discount applies to the following color variants: Porcelain and Bay. The Obsidian and Aloe models are excluded, but these are currently going for $449, which is still a pretty good discount.
At $499, the Google Pixel 8a is a fantastic proposition, but at $399, it is a total steal. The device is pretty close to being considered a high-end device. For starters, the performance is pretty amazing, considering it has a Google Tensor G3 processor and 8GB of RAM. It’s also packed with a great camera system, primarily because of Google’s AI smarts in computational photography. We were also fans of the OLED screen, which displays rich colors and deep blacks. Not to mention, it has a 120Hz refresh rate, a very nice treat for such an affordable handset.
We were also quite surprised by the battery life improvements, thanks to the Tensor G3 optimizations and slightly larger battery compared to the Pixel 7a. You can learn all about our Pixel 8a battery tests here. And if you want a phone for the long haul, Google is promising seven years of updates with the Pixel 8a, including both Android upgrades and security patches.
This is actually a record-low price tag for the Google Pixel 8a. We’ve never seen the price go this low in the past, and we’re not sure how long the deal will last. If you’ve made up your mind on buying this phone, go get it as soon as possible. The offer might end soon!
What’s the best Zelda game? (Wrong answers only.) Chances are, either Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom are right up there at the top of your list, and why wouldn’t they be? The open-world action-adventure games have emerged as landmark Switch titles, earning themselves legions of loyal fans. If you’re the sort of gamers who likes broadcasting your fandom, Nintendo’s got some new Zelda-themed earbuds to check out.
Let’s rip this bandage off early: Nintendo is not making these wireless Bluetooth earbuds available everywhere. Nintendo UK announced their availability there and in Ireland, but just like all the rest of the themed wireless earbuds up for sale abroad, you can’t get these from the Nintendo Store in the US. Why not? Your guess is as good as ours, but it’s worth remembering that the Switch’s relationship with Bluetooth has been shaky at best, with initial support taking over four years to arrive following the console’s launch.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the UK, you can order these Zelda earbuds in white, black or green — although that green option looks like it’s already out of stock. All three sell for about £35 (~$45), the same you’d pay for Nintendo’s similarly branded Mario, Pokémon, Splatoon, or Animal Crossing earbuds. This isn’t the first time Nintendo has sold Zelda earbuds, and a slightly less ornate black colorway has been available for a couple years. Compared to that, the two-toned look of the new white and green options particularly pops. It might have been interesting to see the manufacturer really lean into the Zelda connection — elf-ear earbuds do exist, after all — but something like that’s only going to resonate with really select fans.
Will you be importing a pair? Hoping you can find one of your next trip to England? Or just get content living without Zelda-enhanced earbuds in your life?
(The correct answer was A Link to the Past Randomizer, BTW.)
OnePlus has confirmed that it will launch a new version of its flagship foldable on August 7. In the days leading up to the launch, the company revealed that the OnePlus Open Apex Edition will come in a new Crimson Shadown colorway with a faux leather finish, feature enhanced storage, and offer new AI image editing capabilities. In addition, OnePlus has now confirmed that the upcoming model will come with a new VIP mode.
OnePlus recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that the OnePlus Open Apex Edition will offer a new VIP mode for enhanced privacy. Although the company has not shared any details about this mode, we believe it will likely be the same as the VIP mode on the OPPO Find N3 and Find X7 Ultra.
Top-tier privacy at the tip of your finger with the VIP Mode #OnePlusOpen Apex Edition.
Know more: https://t.co/QKe7XVjmDf pic.twitter.com/DZMkDRumQR
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) August 2, 2024
The video included in OnePlus’ post confirms this, as it’s a clip of the VIP mode animation from the aforementioned OPPO devices. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that the VIP mode on the OnePlus Open Apex Edition will allow users to easily disable the camera, microphone, and location access using the alert slider.
We don’t expect to see any major hardware improvements on the Apex Edition model. OnePlus is likely reserving those for the OnePlus Open 2, which is slated to arrive sometime next year.
There’s little denying that Apple’s Air Tag has helped make Bluetooth trackers more mainstream than ever before, and a lot of this is due to its great network and support for extra features like UWB for precision accuracy. The new Google Find My Device network aims to offer a lot of the same improvements as Apple, but there’s still a lack of decent trackers available. Thankfully the arrival of the Moto Tag helps rectify this issue.
The Moto Tag was first announced in late June but the device is now officially available starting today. Unfortunately, it’s still unavailable on sites like Amazon, though you can get a four-pack for $99 right now from Motorola’s website, which will give you two units in Starlight Blue and 2 in Sage Green. You can also get an individual tracker for $29 but the only color currently available is Sage Green.
As you’ve likely gathered, the Moto Tag is essentially a clone of the Air Tag, at least in terms of design. This might seem like a blatant rip-off and you might be right, but this is actually a good thing for consumers because the Moto Tag’s design makes it fully compatible with the majority of Air Tag accessories. It’s also priced the same and has a few useful extras, such as a built-in button that lets you use it as a remote shutter for any Android device. Unlike every other Android tracker out there, there’s even a UWB chip inside.
This chip should allow you to communicate with other UWB devices for better tracking, but from what we can gather, Find My Device doesn’t formally support UWB yet. What does this mean? It’s possible the feature will be formally announced by Google soon, or that Motorola will require an in-house app for extra UWB functionality. Regardless, this is looking to be the best Android Bluetooth tracker on the market so far.
We’re less than two weeks away from Made by Google 2024, Google’s annual hardware event, where it’s expected to announce new Pixel phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and potentially other devices. As is tradition at this point, practically every detail about the four phones that Google is expected to unveil in the Pixel 9 series has already leaked. At this point, we’re just waiting to get our own hands on one, but given that we’re so close to launch, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that there are already several people out there with one. In fact, someone was just casually spotted using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at a Starbucks in Taiwan.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, in case you aren’t aware, is Google’s second-generation foldable phone, and it’s set to be fully unveiled at the company’s upcoming hardware event. From the ample information that’s leaked as well as the official renders that Google has shared, it’s clear that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will have a narrower profile than its predecessor. This is clearly discernible in a picture of the device that someone posted to a private Facebook group. This picture was allegedly taken at a Starbucks somewhere in Taiwan, though we don’t have any more information about where it was taken, who took the photo, or who was using the device. We also only have a single shot of the device, which makes sense as clearly, the person who took the photo was trying to be sneaky.
Given the phone’s distinctive camera bump and conspicuous “G” logo emblazoned on the official case, it’s no surprise it was recognized out in the wild. While there’s nothing new we can learn from this photo, it is technically our first real-world look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in one of its official cases. Although the phone itself appears to be the Obsidian (black) model, the case seems to be for the Porcelain (off-white) model. It’s hard to tell exactly how thick the case is from this photo alone, but it appears to be thick enough to make the device sit flat on a table. Without this case, I’d imagine that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be a bit wobbly when it’s placed on a table.
The photo also shows off other aspects of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, including how it looks from the rear when unfolded, its squarish camera bump, taller cover display with a hole-punch camera, and side buttons. We can also see what appear to be cutouts at the top for a microphone and speaker. Thanks to the deluge of leaks in the last few weeks, we don’t need to use our imaginations to guess what the rest of the phone looks like. We also don’t need to make guesses about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s internal specifications, including its cameras and displays, nor do we need to wait to find out its features or pricing. Our dedicated Pixel 9 Pro Fold rumor hub has all the details on Google’s upcoming foldable phone if you’re interested in learning more. Now, we just need to wait a couple more weeks to get a unit in our own hands.
Thanks to JING on X for the tip!
It would be an understatement to say that we know a lot about the Pixel Watch 3 already. Not only did Android Authority reveal exclusive specs and design details earlier last month based on an inside source, but we’ve seen even more rumors in the weeks since. If you still haven’t seen enough, a new leak from Android Headlines brings us what appears to be the official promo video.
The new video is actually in Spanish, but it’s pretty easy to follow along. To be fair, there’s really nothing here anyhow. Recently leaked promo materials already gave us a deeper look at some of the same features this video showcases. Still, it’s nice to have a more interactive look at the Watch, as video is just more expressive than photos in this case.
The new promo not only confirms the watch will come in 41mm and 45mm sizes, but it also gives us a better look at a few new fitness features. Specifically, there are a few new features aimed at runners, such as a new Cardio Load feature, real-time advice during a run, and a new mode that lets you challenge your personal best run. The promo also focuses on the new Morning Brief notification, which will include things like a “Readiness Score” and will give you all the info you need to get started with your day.
The video doesn’t give us anything else, but thankfully we can fill in the blanks due to the plethora of existing rumors.
The Pixel Watch 3 is expected to arrive on August 13 and while we don’t have all the official specs yet, it’s very likely it will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5, at least if the rumors prove accurate. Besides coming in two form factors, you can also expect the same 24-hour battery life as its predecessor. While we would have liked to see greater battery life, the good news is UWB is supposedly coming to the Pixel Watch series for real this time. This feature was previously tested for the Watch 2, but more evidence suggests it is actually happening this time. Be sure to check out our Pixel Watch 3 rumor guide for even more details on the upcoming watch.
Update, August 2, 2024 (04:10 PM ET): Google has reached out to us with a message of reassurance:
Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services.
Of course, the key word there is “known” versions, and as the team at Cleafy reported, BingoMod is still evolving and working on new tricks to evade detection. Play Protect isn’t going to rest on its laurels, either, so expect this cat-and-mouse game to continue. And for your own part, keep using best practices when it comes to sourcing your apps.
Original article, August 2, 2024 (11:44 AM ET): Getting malware on your smartphone is just a recipe for a bad day, but even within that misery there’s a spectrum of how awful things will be. Some malware may be interested in exploiting its position on your device to send spam texts or mine crypto. But the really dangerous stuff just wants to straight-up steal from you, and the example we’re checking out today has a particularly nasty going-away present for your phone when it’s done.
A remote access trojan (RAT) dubbed BingoMod was first spotted back in May by the researchers at Cleafy (via BleepingComputer). The software is largely spread via SMS-based phishing, where it masquerades as a security tool — one of the icons the app dresses itself up with is that from AVG antivirus. Once on your phone, it requests access to Android Accessibility Services, which it uses to get its hooks in for remotely controlling your device.
Once established, the malware’s goal is setting up money transfers. It steals login data with a keylogger, and confirmation codes by intercepting SMS. And then when it has the credentials and access it needs, the threat actor controlling the malware can start transferring all your savings away. With language support for English, Romanian, and Italian, the app seems targeted at European users, and circumstantial evidence suggests Romanian devs may be behind it.
All this sounds bad, but not that different from plenty of malware, right? Well, BingoMod, it seems, is a little paranoid about being found out. Besides the numerous tricks it uses to evade automatic detection, it’s got a doomsday weapon it’s ready to deploy after achieving its goals and wiping your accounts clean: it wipes your phone.
While BingoMod supports a built-in command for wiping data, that’s limited to external storage, which isn’t going to get it very far. Instead, Cleafy’s team suspects that the people controlling the malware remotely are manually executing these wipes when they’re done stealing from you, just like you’d do yourself before getting rid of an old phone. Presumably, that’s in the goal of destroying evidence of the hack — losing your personal data is just collateral damage.
That’s a fresh kind of awful that we would be very happy never having to deal with. The good news is that you really don’t have to. Get your apps from official sources, don’t install software from sketchy text messages, and you’ll be well on your way to not losing all your data in a malware attack.
Google announced a new School time feature with the Fitbit Ace LTE earlier this year to help students focus on learning during school hours. The company now plans to bring the feature to more devices, including Android phones, tablets, and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup.
For the unaware, the School time feature switches the device to a new home screen with limited functionality in order to avoid distractions during classes. The feature works a bit like focus mode on Android and prevents kids from using non-essential apps.
Google says that the feature will gradually roll out to more devices over the next year. Once it’s available, parents will be able to schedule School time on their kids’ devices using the Family Link app. The app will also let parents select which apps are available when School time is active and choose specific contacts that can call or text their kids’ devices.
Along with School time, Google is also working on bringing new parental control features for teens. These include new supervision features for YouTube that will show parents their teens’ activity on the platform and Family Link supervision for kids of all ages. The YouTube supervision features will roll out with an update later this summer.
Currently, Google has not shared a definite release timeline for the School time feature. We’ll let you know as soon as it starts showing up on more device types.
If you have read receipts enabled in Google Messages, then you know they normally appear below the text bubble when you’re in an RCS conversation. But it looks like Google could be considering moving them to another place.
In Google Messages, read receipts are sandwiched between the time/date and RCS encryption lock icon located underneath the text bubble. Read receipts come in four states: a timer, single check, double check, and color-filled double check. These states mean the message is being sent, the message was sent, the message was received, and the message was read, respectively. While the placement of read receipts is fairly visible, they could move to an even more prominent place.
Spotted by 9to5Google, it appears Google has begun testing a redesign in the Messages app. That redesign relocates read receipts, placing them inside the text bubble instead of below it. You can see in the images below a screenshot of the current version on the left and the redesign on the right.
In the redesign, the read receipts appear in a circle sitting inside the text bubble. The circle is slightly lighter than the text bubble itself, allowing it to stand out. According to the outlet, this redesign allows read receipts to appear on every message instead of only appearing below the most recent message. The publication says there’s only been one report of this redesign, so far.
This isn’t the only change that has come to the app recently. Just last week, it was discovered that Google was pushing out face filters for some users.
If you’ve been streaming the latest shows or movies on Prime, you’ve likely noticed that ads are now part of your streaming experience. This change, introduced earlier in the year, is part of a broader strategy to boost Amazon’s advertising revenue. However, the retailer’s effort has yet to pay off, with the actual gains from its ad segment falling short of analysts’ expectations.
In the second quarter of the fiscal year, Amazon’s ad business grew by only 20% — this has been the slowest growth rate for the company’s ad segment in years (via The Information). As expected from such an announcement, the company’s share price dropped at market open. But what’s surprising is that the second quarter — April to June — was the first complete period to include revenue from video ads.
For a few months now, users have been seeing ads by default when streaming on Prime — that is, unless they agree to pay more for the ad-free plan. During a recent call with reporters, Brian Olsavsky, the Chief Financial Officer of Amazon, emphasized that, as of now, sponsored product ads, which refer to merchant-sponsored ads that appear on the top of your Amazon search page, will continue to be the core focus of Amazon’s ad businesses.
Amazon has taken a more gradual approach to introducing ads in its video platform, which we can only assume is to avoid alienating customers who had gotten used to an ad-free experience on Prime Video. That said, the company now has plenty of new streaming content in the works, which might just help in the success of its ad-supported model, as well as attracting new customers.
Although Amazon’s video ads business has made some pretty significant strides and is coming up strong against competitors like YouTube, its overall ad business is still fairly reliant on traditional merchant-sponsored ads on the Amazon app.
At Android Authority, we are huge fans of Android phones. However, since we cover the entire mobile landscape, you might be surprised to learn that some of the people who work here don’t use Android phones as their daily drivers. Yes, we have a few traitors iPhone users in our midst, and they help us get a broader look at the Android versus iOS competition.
You might be surprised, though, to learn that many of our readers also use iPhones. In fact, after Android, iOS is the operating system most used to visit our site, even more so than Windows! Don’t believe me? Check out the chart below, which represents a typical month of Android Authority visits:
With all this in mind, it would make sense that some of our iOS-based readers used to be Android fans but have since made the switch to the iPhone but are still keeping an eye on Google’s mobile adventures. That got us curious, and in an effort to dig deeper, we ran a poll asking if people had jumped ship from Android to iOS and why.
We ran this poll here at Android Authority but also on our X and YouTube profiles. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most interesting answers. We think this is a really cool and interesting look into what might need some work within Android. After all, if Google and/or Android OEMs addressed some of these complaints, maybe these people would still be Android users.
Let’s dive in!
Overall, there were a few recurring themes for the answers we saw. We’re going to organize the comments by those themes and give you some examples. Let’s start with one of the most significant differentiators between Android and iOS: privacy.
On X, user Shafty023 summarized their reason for switching very succinctly:
Privacy is a huge one. Done with having Google see and know everything about me via my phone.
It is true that iPhones approach data privacy a bit differently than Android phones. The main difference is money: Although both companies are collecting user data, Apple’s revenue doesn’t rely on that data, while Google’s primary source of income is selling that data. That being said, Android phones have come a long way for privacy, and there are ways to “de-Google” an Android phone, such as by flashing Graphene OS. But it’s still true that if privacy is your main area of concern, you’re probably going to be happier on an iPhone.
Another X user, DarkLordWaffles, agrees:
Google is primarily an ad agency. They approach all business decisions from that perspective. Apple primarily a hardware company. Different design philosophies
And BaritoneGuy even claims to have read the fine print:
Privacy. Plain and simple. I actually spent the time to read all the squinty print before I switched. I went from Blackberry to Windows phone to Samsung and then Apple. If I could get an Android phone without the Google stuff I would like that, but if you want the phone to be functional then that is not possible.
In the United States, one of the most significant aspects of the iPhone keeping users from switching is iMessage. For reasons I won’t get into here, people in the US have not adopted platform-agnostic chat apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) nearly as much as the rest of the world has. This leaves iPhone users dependent on iMessage. It’s only logical that this allure would tempt Android users to make the switch to an iPhone.
On YouTube, here’s what Nathan1Sixteen had to say on that:
Because I got tired of my friends complaining about my text message bubble color
This references so-called “green bubble hate,” a US phenomenon in which people get angry at Android users for “ruining” group chats within iMessage. Considering we primarily use our phones as communication machines, can you really blame someone for using the operating system that is best for communicating with friends and family?
X user ERosener had similar sentiments:
I love android. But until RCS is widely available on iOS I have had to move back to my iPhone to be more compatible with family and friends. Pathetic, I know.
This user is referencing Rich Communications Services (RCS), which is how many US-based Android users communicate with one another. It’s essentially iMessage, but for Android. Thankfully, Apple is going to incorporate RCS into iOS 18 this year, which will allow iPhone users to better communicate with Android users. However, those green bubbles aren’t going anywhere, and iPhone-to-iPhone communication will still be superior to iPhone-to-Android communication.
On a related note, another X user, ArtoriasAkai, doesn’t mention iMessage but does talk about how apps on iOS tend to be better and more polished:
I switched because of the apps. Standard and downloaded apps are just better on iOS. Both in polish and function. I got tired of hunting for the good apps on Android. Often the better/best apps cost money on Android.
This is because app development for iOS is more streamlined than for Android. For example, developers only need to worry about one hardware company instead of dozens and also only need to work with a fairly limited set of screen sizes and hardware specs, at least when compared to the thousands of Android phones out there.
Since Apple tightly controls its hardware, it shouldn’t be surprising that its broader ecosystem consists of devices that all work very well with one another. While most of the integrations Apple offers can be replicated with Android phones, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, etc., Apple’s “it just works” ethos is undeniably alluring.
X user DigiDynamo000 elaborates on this:
The reason was more towards the ecosystem itself and how it worked well with my workflow. Though I recognize that on a 1:1 comparison, Android is the superior of the platforms.
Apple also dominates certain categories, such as tablets and smartwatches. Simply put, the Android tablet industry is dwarfed by the iPad and very few Android-compatible smartwatches can truly meet the level of the Apple Watch. X user ThatTim5 is keenly aware of that last point:
The Apple Watch. All the other smartwatches wasn’t [sic] that good.
While Google’s Wear OS (which is based on Android) has made big strides in the past few years, the company wasted too much time before taking smartwatches seriously. Because of this, Google is the David in a traditional David vs Goliath story when it comes to the Apple Watch — and if you want an Apple Watch, you must own an iPhone.
The aesthetic appeal of a smartphone is subjective, for sure, but some differences are objectively more useful. One example is ease of use: a phone that is really big is going to be difficult for a person with smaller hands to use. This has been a significant problem in the Android world because buying a compact Android phone has generally forced you to make significant compromises on performance and features. Meanwhile, the sizing of iPhones allows you to get big and small phones without losing out on many features.
Android Authority reader Phil Scadden sums it up like this:
It is possible to buy a quality phone that still fits in your pocket with iOS. Hard to buy an android less than 6.4 inches
Obviously, there are plenty of Android phones out there with sub-6.4-inch displays. But how many of them are just as good as their 6.8-inch counterparts? Not many. Hopefully, the Pixel 9 series will help fix this problem in the Android world since the Pixel 9 Pro is poised to be smaller but still offer all the same features as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Outside of sizing, the physical features of a phone can also come into play. Android Authority reader Warden mentioned the Action Button on iPhones, a feature that doesn’t have much representation in the Android world:
Action button has been very convenient.
Granted, there are phones out there with buttons similar to the Action Button, but they are not as widespread, nor are they as easily customizable.
Speaking of the convenience of the Action Button, it turns out that that word — convenience — came up quite a bit in some of these comments. For some people, it wasn’t a question of wanting to leave Android as much as a need to do so.
X user Kozjegyzo is a good example of this:
Because everything is Apple first with our company. Both hardware and software. So I had to. It’s not as bad as I thought but I kinda wanna go back to Android as a daily driver…
X user Danield011 has similar sentiments:
Just conveniences as all my family has iPhones
Finally, on YouTube, TechnoLawyer is in the same boat:
Because of my kids having iPhones. So mainly for iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Cash, and my oldest daughter’s use of Apple Notes to make lists and the sharing of said notes. If it weren’t for my kids, I think I’d have a Nothing Phone.
Keep this all in mind next time you wonder why someone would ever use an iPhone over Android. It might be that they simply have no choice.
Those are a lot of the reasons why some Android Authority fans have jumped ship to the iPhone. What do you think? What should Android do to address some of these concerns? Let us know in the comments below!
T-Mobile rebranded its popular T-Mobile Tuesdays app earlier this year with the introduction of T Life. Initially, T Life worked just like the original T-Mobile Tuesdays app, but after the latest update you’ll find the T Life and T-Mobile apps have essentially the same UI and feature set. As first spotted by Android Police, both apps are now on version 10.0 and there’s even the same setup wizard and feature tour.
It might seem odd that T-Mobile would provide nearly identical app experiences in two different packages, but odds are the company felt two apps were redundant. According to a T-Mobile employee who goes by the name JMiKey on Reddit, the plan was always to consolidate everything under one roof with T Life being the one central app for all things, including home internet, discounts, plan settings, and much more. For now, the company is supposedly just unifying the two apps so customers don’t have to make an immediate change.
We’ve reached out to T-Mobile for further clarification and confirmation and will update this post if we hear anything back, but this makes sense. For one, the T Life tagline is “one app to rule them all”, so T-Mobile is just making good on that promise. It’s also a move that’s pretty common. For example, Verizon has also consolidated all its services into one app, including internet access and cellular service. Not only does this save development resources for the company, but it’s easier for the customers too.
We should note that while the functionality of the two apps is the same, the T Life app is loaded with ads. Meanwhile, the T-Mobile app takes a lighter approach here. This isn’t too surprising, as we’ve seen companies get more aggressive with ad revenue over the last few years and so pushing more ads into the new app isn’t anything out of the ordinary.
What’s harder to figure out is why T-Mobile didn’t just phase out the T-Mobile Tuesdays app and migrate everything over to the T-Mobile app. Maybe they feel the name T Life is trendier? Regardless, you might wonder if you really need both apps. The answer is no. We’d recommend deleting the T-Mobile app, especially since it may eventually be phased out and you’d be forced to go back to the T Life app.
Samsung’s mobile division (MX) seems to be in hot water for aping Apple’s design language with the new Galaxy Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra. In addition to facing flak from fans, Samsung MX has reportedly drawn the ire of Samsung Electronics’ Chairman Jay Y. Lee.
As per a recent report from Korean media outlet AjuNews (via SamMobile), Lee recently ordered Samsung MX to reevaluate its plans and took strict action against some executives, including the division’s President TM Roh.
Insiders familiar with the developments have revealed that Lee “stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”
In case you’re not in the loop, the entire controversy stems from Samsung’s design choices for the new Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. These devices bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra.
With the new earbuds, Samsung has moved away from its iconic bean-shaped design and opted for an AirPods-like design with stems. The charging case is also nearly identical, and Samsung has even implemented pinch and swipe gestures similar to the AirPods.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s boxy and chunky design with orange accents makes it look a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. The orange quick button on the side and the strap choices also resemble Apple’s top-end smartwatch.
On top of the copied designs, Samsung also faced quality control issues with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company was forced to suspend sales when early buyers reported various issues with the earbuds, including fragile ear tips that were prone to tearing. This seems to have been another cause for concern for the group’s chairman.
These developments could force Samsung MX to reevaluate its recent choices and do better with upcoming products. However, we’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things unfold as the next major Galaxy launch is still a few months away.
I was one of the few Samsung Galaxy Ultra defenders before its launch. The early leaked images had some covering their children’s eyes, but I gazed on, intrigued by the quirky styling. In my original opinion piece, I stated that Samsung’s “chunky and brutish styling” could theoretically allow more room to innovate. However, the new ultra-expensive Samsung wearable hasn’t done much to maximize its divisive design. And if anything, I’ve been left disappointed by an overpriced smartwatch that doesn’t bring anything revolutionary to my wrist.
A few weeks before its debut, I wrote that Samsung’s exciting new design and thicker body could allow for more innovative packaging, including space for a larger battery and a host of additional kit. Of course, this was well before any tangible details of the device were available. However, Samsung has opted for a more conservative approach than I had hoped, which doesn’t maximize the design’s potential.
Despite its revised design, it uses the same size battery as the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and the same size display as the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic — two older, cheaper, and more approachable smartwatches.
Unless you're planning a trek up Everest or a dive along the Great Barrier Reef, you'll never test the watch's 10ATM durability or altitude/temperature credentials.
Samsung would argue that the new Ultra design allows for a theoretically indestructible smartwatch thanks to its grade 4 titanium shell and protective display bumpers. Unless you plan a trek up Everest or a dive along the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll never test the watch’s 10ATM durability or altitude/temperature credentials. If anything, the more extreme users this watch is trying to attract will likely opt for specialized equipment. The lack of a meaningful battery capacity upgrade and broader display to match the larger dial disappoints general users like me.
Beyond its divisive skin, most of the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s core new features are software-based, making the hardware largely redundant. Granted, it features a third button, an emergency siren, more LEDs for better health tracking, and a new strap fastening system. However, most users will gain more tangible benefits from Wear OS 5, which will land on Samsung’s older watches in due course.
Additionally, it shares its internals with the cheaper Galaxy Watch 7. Most new features, including Energy Score, sleep apnea monitoring, and Galaxy AI-powered features, will still require a Galaxy smartphone, making upgrading a fruitless prospect for other Android phone users.
More importantly — and as the most glaring strike against the Ultra — its upgrades are not worth the steep asking price. At $649, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the most expensive Samsung smartwatch, dwarfing its predecessors by hundreds of dollars.
If you can’t quantify that number, here’s a more tangible comparison. You can purchase two Galaxy Watch 7 models for $50 less than one Galaxy Watch Ultra. You can also purchase the Galaxy Ring and one Galaxy Watch 7 for just $50 more than the Ultra. And here’s the real kicker: I can buy a Galaxy S24 Plus in South Africa for the same price as the Galaxy Watch Ultra. This won’t be true in every region, but it demonstrates how inflated the smartwatch’s price is.
If you want a rugged Samsung smartwatch, grab a Galaxy Watch 7 and slap a case on it. You'll save hundreds.
The Galaxy Watch 7 should provide the same core experience, with the same chipset, the same software and fitness tracking smarts, and the same Galaxy AI features at a much lower price. The 44mm model also shares its display with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. I’d even argue that the key differences between the two models, namely the titanium build, the larger battery, and the third button, aren’t that significant either.
If you want a rugged Samsung smartwatch, grab a Galaxy Watch 7 and slap a case on it. You’ll save hundreds. Ironically, browsing various forums this week, I’ve seen so many users shrouding their Galaxy Watch Ultra in a case anyway.
I’ve argued that the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is also a much smarter investment if you’re looking for an outdoor smartwatch with more endurance and durability. Although it’s two years older and has dated hardware, the wearable makes a lot more financial sense.
This brings me to my final point: the Galaxy Watch Ultra lacks a clear identity.
Despite its durability badges, it isn’t an extreme outdoor watch or an easy-wear smartwatch. It sits in an awkward middle ground between the two. It’s competing with the Apple Watch Ultra but can’t pair with iPhones. It’s adopted stylings from Garmin, but it can’t hold a candle to its fitness tracking metrics or battery life.
Unlike its Ultra phone, Samsung's Ultra watch doesn't stretch the limits of features or design.
Samsung markets the Ultra as a tough, impact-ready smartwatch with Galaxy AI smarts, but all that means is it’s a Galaxy Watch 7 in an armored shell. Yes, the smartwatch features give the Galaxy Ultra a leg up against its Apple and Garmin rivals. However, these features aren’t unique to the Samsung smartwatch line.
Unlike its Ultra smartphone line, Samsung’s Ultra watch doesn’t stretch the limits of features and design as I hoped it would. I want to believe that Samsung is planning sweeping upgrades in the future and that this iterative upgrade is only part of its larger plan. Perhaps I expected too much and saw a striking design with big possibilities. Either way, what Samsung is selling has left me wanting more or demanding a more reasonable price.
There is no shortage of great Android games available online, but there may be some that you feel could use a few changes — a few modifications. Modified or modded Android games and apps are a thing, but before you hop online and download them, there are some details you should know.
In this guide, we’ll cover modded Android games that aren’t supported by the developer and community mods that are encouraged by the developer or publisher. Although they may appear similar, there are important differences. Here’s everything you need to know about modded Android games.
As the intro mentions, there are two breeds of modded Android games. First, there are original titles that are modified and redistributed as an APK or an altered version of an entire game. Second, there are games that allow and support mods from community members.
Let’s discuss the first idea in more detail. Modded Android games (available as APK files) are altered, unofficial versions of a published and available title. These modifications can introduce new details, alter existing items or design details, or unlock things usually gated behind level locks or in-game currency. In short, a modded Android game uses an existing title as a base and builds on it.
It’s essential to know where the mod comes from, who the modder is, and whether the original game developer allows mods. Tinkering with and distributing another person’s digital property without permission can have potential legal implications.
In short, a modded Android game uses an existing title as a base and builds on it.
Alternatively, a developer may approve mods, and the game itself may be built around this idea, but this ultimately comes down to the game creator. To give a PC and console example, Bethesda actively encourages users to create mods for Fallout 4. However, the game has a built-in system and a developer-approved creation kit to facilitate this. Generally, modified Android games lack these aspects, but some exceptions exist. Stardew Valley developer ConcernedApe actively welcomes community mods through a dedicated mod loader and repository.
Modded Android games offer many apparent benefits. Most obviously, mods allow users more control of their gaming experience than the developer could offer or intended initially.
As an example, for those who hate grinding, mods can break down level locks and other walls within the game, making all content available immediately and without the need to earn any of these privileges. Modded games can also give the player unlimited in-game currency or limit the need for real-world currency in pay-to-play titles. Mods may also remove other aspects of a title, including an unlock fee, trackers, or advertising.
Mods allow users more control of their gaming experience, beyond what the developer originally intended.
Community mods to a game that supports them may also offer advantages. They may tweak some items of a title that a developer hasn’t addressed, like a bug, a gameplay mechanic that doesn’t work, or other factors, like colors, audio, or character design. Mods can make existing titles more challenging, lengthening the game’s life and improving replayability. For developers, opening mod support gives the community agency and encourages a more active, involved user base.
The original developer does not usually sign off on a modified APK, so there’s an inherent risk of downloading a modded Android game. While the developer is usually a trusted figure recognized within the community, these APK modders are not and may have ill intent. There’s always the possibility that a modded game could readjust in-app purchases or add malware to the game itself. This may not always be the case, but the issue is that you cannot know for sure. As a result, it’s not safe to download modded game APKs from third parties. Importantly, you also risk getting banned for using modded Android games that require an online connection.
There's an inherent risk downloading a modded Android game, as you can't guarantee the modder's intentions.
Alternatively, if you download mods for a game that supports them from a trusted repository backed by the developer, you shouldn’t encounter any issues. These mods rely on crowdsourced approval and ratings, so users will call out truly nefarious or problematic mods. There’s no room to hide in a community mod repository for popular games. That said, ensure you read reviews of any mod you plan to install. Do your research.
It’s generally easy to find modded Android games wrapped up as an APK file online, but you won’t find them on any of the major app stores, including F-Droid or the Google Play Store. You’ll generally have to scour the internet and visit various forums to find modded files. I don’t recommend installing redistributed modified APK games, so I won’t mention any sources for these in this guide.
I will say that Reddit’s r/moddedandroidapps is a good place to start, especially if you’re searching for a general discussion of modified apps, recommendations, and further guidance. Although the subreddit is centered around all modified Android apps, there are frequent discussions about modified games.
There are many mods for popular games, but be sure to check if the game allows mods before installing them. You’ll find approved mods on several trusted repositories online. Nexus Mods is perhaps the most widely recommended, but some games have dedicated repositories. Stardew Valley’s SMAPI lets users easily search for and install mods on Android and other platforms.
Modded Android games are usually distributed as single APK files, which allows users to install them through a third-party file manager. Our guide to installing third-party apps without the Play Store covers this process in detail. Alternatively, the APK may be distributed in pieces. In this case, you’ll need an app to piece and install the game together. Split APK Installer is a decent app for accomplishing this.
Each game that supports mods will have its own installation method. If you’re lucky, the developer will outline the process. Some games, such as the aforementioned Stardew Valley, make this process easy as pie. It relies on a dedicated mod installer, making it easy for users to search for and add mods to the original game. Other titles, like Baldur’s Gate, may have you trawling through its developer’s forums for an answer.
There aren’t many surprises left with the upcoming Google Pixel 9 series, but I was pleased to learn that the Pixel 9 Pro XL will sport faster charging when it launches in just a few days time. Initially, I was drawn to the obvious appeal of a smaller and more pocketable Pro, but faster charging is seriously pulling me towards the XL.
See, I love my Pixel 8 Pro but it’s still painfully slow to fully charge, despite gradual generational improvements. My phone floats worryingly below the 50% mark most of the time (it’s on 31% right now) — the Battery Saver chime no longer phases me, and I’m no stranger to Google’s Extreme Battery Saver prompt either. Battery anxiety? What’s battery anxiety?
It’s not that the phone’s battery life is bad — far from it. The “problem” is that I only ever leave my Pixel to charge for half an hour or so at a time, but the phone takes about 80 minutes to fill. This isn’t an issue on work days when I have a charger close by, but I’ve lost count of the weekends I’ve silently prayed to the battery gods to extend 10% into a couple more hours.
Faster charging means the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the pick for chaotic chargers (like me).
I can go a whole week without my Pixel hitting 100% charge, which I know is abnormal. I could charge my phone overnight like a regular person (sometimes I do), but I’m afflicted with doom-scrolling my way through the night (the curse of a restless toddler) and rolling like a crocodile after eventually passing out from boredom. It’s a recipe for a USB-C necklace.
Clearly, I’m a quick-top-up guy more suited to the blazing-fast speeds of a OnePlus handset than Google’s conservative approach, but I can’t leave that Pixel camera and software behind. I long for a Pixel that can hit 70% after 30 minutes on the plug rather than 50% to keep those Battery Saver notifications at bay. Thankfully, that’s exactly what the Pixel 9 Pro XL promises. Unfortunately, the smaller Pixel 9 and 9 Pro will only hit 55% in half an hour, exactly the same as I recorded for the current-gen models.
C'mon Google, why leave the broader Pixel 9 series stuck with sluggish power levels?
We still don’t know the exact power level, but the info we have suggests that the Pixel 9 Pro XL has roughly 5-6W more peak power than the 8 Pro, so something like 33W. The Pixel 8 Pro pulls around 27W from the wall, by comparison. The only downside is that you’ll need Google’s new 45W charger to hit those levels unless you already have a powerful USB PD PSS plug lying around.
| Charging speed in the reports | Advertised charging speed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel 9 | 24.12 W | ? |
| Pixel 9 Pro | 25.20 W | ? |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL | 32.67 W | ? |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold | 20.25 W | ? |
| Pixel 8 | 24.66 W | 27 W |
| Pixel 8 Pro | 26.91 W | 30 W |
| Pixel Fold | 22.5 W | 23 W? |
33W is not a huge jump and probably won’t reduce the phone’s time to full by all that much. It’s certainly not going to rival the likes of SuperVOOC-powered phones and maybe not even Samsung’s 45W Galaxy S24 Ultra. I’d still like to see the Pixel series as a whole charge much faster too, but it looks like that’s not happening this year.
Still, a boost to the early stages should leave chaotic chargers like me with more juice in the tank from just a quick top-up. I’d be happy with that. Pixel 9 Pro XL it is then, I suppose.
Everyone loves an underdog story. Names like Rudy, Rocky, and Bilbo get us to root for the undersized, underpowered hero in the face of unthinkable odds every time. For a while, my favorite underdog story was the one where Motorola, the original king of the flip phone, tried to reclaim its crown from Samsung. It pitted the Razr against the Galaxy Z Flip, hoping that nostalgia, a slightly bigger cover screen, and a cleaner Android skin would take it back to the top.
At first, it didn’t work. Samsung grabbed all of the headlines for its Galaxy Z Flip series, drawing me into the world of flip phones. Then, Motorola skipped a year or two, practicing and creating the training montage that every good underdog flick needs. Now, Motorola is back with its second Razr Plus, and I don’t think it’s an underdog anymore. The Motorola Razr Plus (2024) vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is finally a flip phone title match.
Falling in love with a flip phone is all about how you use the big screen — or rather, the not-so-big screen. And when it comes to the Motorola Razr Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the cover screens are about as different as can be. Where Samsung’s experience is locked down and measured, Motorola’s is open and flexible. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 forces apps into a smaller, square window within its folder-shaped panel, while the Razr Plus allows them to stretch across its entire display, even if the camera cutouts are in the way. Somehow, the acceptance of imperfection is what wins me over.
I understand why Samsung didn’t change its latest Flex Window from the 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel it introduced on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 — most people still haven’t tried a flip phone, let alone purchased one. Unfortunately, that also means it hasn’t fixed what people (or at least I) didn’t like about the complicated software experience, either. Good Lock is still a requirement if you want to put more than Maps, YouTube, and Google Messages (not Samsung Messages) in your app drawer. I, of course, jumped through the hoops to get the rest of my apps on the Flex Window, but I had to reference the guide I wrote a year ago explaining how to do it. It feels like an over-engineered solution to a problem that Motorola just ignored — the fact that apps optimized for tall, thin phone displays won’t run perfectly on short, square cover screens.
Sorry, Samsung, but one app drawer is always better than two.
To its credit, Samsung has an excellent set of widgets on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. They’re set up so that you can combine multiple widgets on each panel of the Flex Window, making it almost feel like a giant Galaxy Watch or a small Nest display. One or two — like Spotify — need a layout all their own, but I can appreciate having my calendar, weather forecast, and easy access to a voice recorder all on one page, even if they don’t offer as much information right up front.
And yet, I still think I like Motorola’s experience better. The Razr Plus gained some extra real estate for 2024, stretching from 3.6 inches to an even 4-inch AMOLED panel that covers almost the entire top of the phone. It’s an overpowered display, combining a variable 165Hz refresh rate with up to 2,400 nits of peak brightness and packing in nearly 100 more pixels per inch than its Samsung rival. Motorola’s cameras are less intrusive, too, sitting in lower, rounded housings instead of Samsung’s relatively tall, color-matched rings.
Design and specs aside, I prefer Motorola’s cover screen because of the software experience and its willingness to embrace imperfection. Yes, it sounds backward, but it’s true. I just finished saying how tall, thin apps don’t work as well on short, square displays, but Motorola at least lets them try with as much of its display as possible. You can add any app to your cover screen drawer with a simple flip of a toggle, and Motorola programmed a button to push apps above the camera cutouts should they block parts of the interface. It lets me doom scroll through Instagram, catch up on House of the Dragon on a display it was never meant to be seen on, and try to outscore fellow tech journalists in Freekick Football without opening my phone.
Samsung doesn’t get all the credit for the best widgets, either. Although Motorola’s aren’t quite as flexible — you can’t put several on one page — they offer far more information upfront. When I set up my Razr Plus, it came with games, access to my contacts, my calendar, and the weather right out of the box — oh, and just one app drawer to worry about. The Galaxy Z Flip 6, on the other hand, gave me a weather widget in the corner of one panel, leaving me to do the rest on my own. Some people might love that flexibility, but it could create a steep learning curve for those who’ve never used a flip phone.
Even though I don’t think the Razr Plus is an underdog anymore, part of that mentality still exists within the phone. Specifically, the fact that underdogs usually have to be clever and try new things to outsmart their opponent, be it Chick Hicks, Davy Jones, or the Globo Gym Purple Cobras. To its credit, Motorola decided to think differently about the cameras on its latest Razr Plus. I’m just not sure if this is a winning strategy.
Instead of sticking with the wide and ultrawide combination that we’re used to on flip phones — well, and any other dual-camera device — Motorola decided to double down on portrait mode. It upgraded its 12MP primary camera to a sharper 50MP sensor, then ditched the reliable 13MP ultrawide camera for a 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. Normally, I’d be thrilled since I’m not the biggest believer in the ultrawide field of view, but there’s something about a telephoto sensor in this form factor that doesn’t feel quite right.
Motorola went all-in on portrait mode... only to limit its cover screen to 1x zoom.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that a dual-camera flip phone can zoom in as far as the triple-camera Galaxy S24, but that’s not where phones like this are at their strongest. I prefer to use the Razr Plus and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 closed, treating their large primary sensors like super-powered selfie cameras. But when I do that, I rarely exceed 0.5x or 1x zoom — neither of which needs a telephoto sensor. Perhaps more confusingly, the Razr Plus won’t let you zoom beyond 1x on its cover screen, saving all of its portrait power for when the phone is open.
Samsung, on the other hand, follows the underdog vs rival story perfectly (at least in Hollywood terms). It knows what works, and it stuck with it. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 packs the wide and ultrawide camera pairing that it’s had since the beginning, this time with a higher-resolution 50MP primary sensor for the bulk of your shooting. Sure, it has smaller individual pixels and bins by default (Motorola does, too), but the swap means that Samsung can crop its sensor for 2x optical zoom. Oh, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 lets you zoom in on the cover screen, no telephoto sensor required.
Samsung’s flip phone finally supports Expert RAW now, too, in case you want even more control over your camera settings. Though, once again, it’s more fun to pull up the front cameras and snap away. And, if you’re going to do that, Samsung’s Auto Zoom makes it much easier to frame your shot and automatically zoom before you use a gesture to take your photo. It’s not lightning fast — the camera takes a second or two to identify you — but it’s made life significantly easier when lining up pictures with friends.
Here are just a few shots and some of my thoughts from both cameras:
It feels somewhat unfair to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 that I’ve spent more time with the Motorola Razr Plus, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. The Razr Plus has come with me for several adventures, including its own launch event in Brooklyn, a trip to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery here in Baltimore, and a stop at an Orioles game. I’ve put it through its paces at all of my stops, and I’ve picked up on a few things. For starters, I’m still not convinced that it needs a telephoto camera. Sure, it’s capable of 2x optical zoom, but everything beyond 4x is pretty much digital, and it all looks pretty rough. The 30x image of a player at home plate looks closer to a painting, which isn’t a great thing.
The Razr Plus struggles a bit with shadows, too. In the second row of photos, it’s tough to pick out the centers of the metal flowers around the archway, and the Razr Plus darkened my friend Derrek’s face even though we took a selfie in the middle of a bright warehouse. But hey, I used a Razr to take a picture of Paris Hilton, the original Razr influencer, so that’s something.
As mentioned, I haven’t spent quite as long with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but it’s long enough to notice a few things. For starters, I definitely missed having an ultrawide angle during my time with the Razr Plus. Living in a tall city, there are plenty of times when you want to fit just a little bit more in your shot. Also, Samsung definitely skews to a darker color profile. The mural of a jaguar is lighter in real life, and the statue of two lacrosse players is as well. Sometimes, the darker hues work out for Samsung — its greens are still extremely punchy, but I don’t think I’d call it true to life.
Things like recording video from either side and taking selfies on the internal cameras generally come out in the wash. The Razr Plus (2024) and Galaxy Z Flip 6 support up to 4K video at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps, and HDR10 Plus from their primary cameras, both with optical image stabilization. Motorola’s 32MP punch hole selfie camera and Samsung’s 10MP option are both fine, too, but I’ve hardly used either one because of how much better the primary cameras are.
Our ex-underdog still has one major limitation in its quest to dethrone the Galaxy Z Flip 6, though — its chipset can’t quite keep up. While both the Razr Plus and Galaxy Z Flip 6 ship with the same base RAM and storage (12GB and 256GB, respectively), the modified configuration of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is no match for Samsung’s overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. In film terms, Anakin Skywalker’s podracer doesn’t get the same thrust from its engines as Sebulba’s.
As we all know, Anakin wins the Boonta Eve Classic in the end, but it’s not down to raw power. If it were, he’d lose every time, just like the Razr Plus does in most of our benchmarking tests against the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The difference isn’t always a big one — the single-core Geekbench 6 and PC Mark tests were relatively close — but Samsung’s flip phone opens a much wider gap regarding graphics. Its performance in the Wild Life test started at triple the score of the Razr Plus, and even after 20 runs, it remained more than 50% higher than its competitor. Much of the gap in graphics performance comes back to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 using an older GPU, so sometimes it pays to grab the latest chipset.
Of course, it’s not all bad news for the Razr Plus. It still puts in a solid shift and feels capable of making it through a mixed day of usage — so long as you trust the cover display for lighter tasks. Honestly, you’re probably not going to notice too many of the gains from Samsung’s more powerful chipset anyway — it might be a hair quicker here and there, but both chipsets are perfectly capable of cruising through day-to-day tasks like web browsing, answering emails, and a little bit of gaming anyway.
Where the Razr Plus does make up some significant ground is in its battery life and charging setup. Like Anakin, it might not be more powerful, but it can run longer and return to full strength quicker. Both the Razr Plus and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 pack 4,000mAh batteries, and in our battery drain test, Samsung’s flip phone only ran away in one category: 4K video playback. It more than doubled the Razr Plus’ performance, which is great news if you watch a lot of high-resolution videos, but Motorola came out at least slightly ahead in Zoom calling, web browsing, camera snapping, and even gaming battery life, a mix of which you’re more likely to do throughout the day.
Motorola also keeps its edge (pun intended) when it comes to charging. The Razr Plus (2024) offers Galaxy S24 Ultra-level 45W wired TurboPower charging, which easily beats the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s 25W wired speed with a compatible charger. Both tie in 15W wireless charging, though Motorola has a slight advantage in reverse wireless speeds, too, at 5W instead of 4.5W.
Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about 2024’s buzzword of the year — AI. One of the most important pieces of both Samsung’s and Motorola’s choice in the chipset is that both Snapdragon models support on-device AI features. From there, it’s up to the two companies to see how quickly they can roll out their respective features.
So far, like every underdog story worth its salt, Samsung is winning. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is further ahead in all manner of Galaxy AI-powered features, with things like Auto Zoom, Sketch to Image, and Portrait Studio debuting in One UI 6.1.1. They’re new additions on top of Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Photo Assist, which Samsung introduced in previous generations. I’ve only really come to trust Circle to Search and Auto Zoom, as they feel the most straightforward, though I’ll also generate a wallpaper here and there — if you still want to classify that as exciting, on-device AI.
On the Razr Plus, Moto AI needs to catch up. Right now, Motorola is only ready to offer a few of its generative features, including two forms of wallpaper generation called Style Sync and Magic Canvas. It also has a couple of camera wrinkles — Adaptive Stabilization and Action Shot — but the best of its on-device power is coming… eventually. Remember that it took Motorola over a year to bring Android 14 to its previous Razr Plus, so who knows when “eventually” could be.
There are plenty of ways to end an underdog story. Rudy sacks the quarterback, Rocky wins the fight, and Luke Skywalker blows up the Death Star (or defeats the emperor, take your pick of Star Wars film). No matter which one you prefer, there still has to be a winner. And, despite its more useful pair of cameras, more powerful chipset, and longer update commitment, I can’t bring myself to pick the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Yes, it’s an excellent phone and easily Samsung’s most complete Galaxy Z Flip to date, but it also feels like a phone stuck spinning its wheels.
There are so many things that Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 has in its corner. It has a better ecosystem of accessories, an almost infinitely customizable software experience, and a build quality that’s worthy of a museum display, and yet it feels too surgical and precise for my liking. There are phones I think should feel like well-oiled machines, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, but they’re the opposite of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Instead, this phone should be leaning on its uniqueness and embracing the fact that it’s smaller and more portable than a Klondike Bar.
Samsung's flip phone feels like a tool, but I prefer the imperfect flexibility of the Razr Plus.
Which is exactly what the Razr Plus does. Motorola’s top-end flip phone is less powerful, won’t get seven years of updates, and has cameras that make almost no sense in this form factor, and yet it’s by far the more enjoyable to use. The Razr Plus’ rounded frame is comfortable to hold and use for hours on end, while its vegan leather (or suede) back panel adds a softness and a pop of color that reminds me of the Motorola of old. I didn’t have to jump through any hoops to add an app drawer to the cover screen, nor did I have to reorganize the preloaded widgets — I just fired up the Razr Plus and got to exploring until my battery died. Then, I charged it back up at a speed that Samsung reserves only for products named Ultra.
Of course, I can’t speak for everyone. I know some Samsung die-hards will only consider the Galaxy Z Flip when they pick up a flip phone. They’ll happily spend the extra cash (Samsung bumped its price by $100) to stay within the Galaxy ecosystem. However, I will keep returning to the Razr Plus as long as Motorola continues to embrace the fun side of Android.
Google is constantly bringing new features to Google Photos, giving you more tools to edit desired snaps. What if you need to edit a photo you just saw in your Memories? Well, the company is working on an easier way to edit these older snaps.
An Android Authority teardown of the Google Photos app (version 6.93) has revealed that Google could bring an edit button to photos in Memories. That means you can quickly edit an old photo by tapping the Edit icon directly in Memories. That’s much easier than the current solution, which sees you tap the three-dot-menu > View day, scroll to the relevant photo in your timeline, and then tap the Edit icon. Check out the first image below, which shows the newly added Edit icon.
Our video below also gives a better idea of how this editing shortcut works in Memories. More specifically, tapping the icon takes you to the usual editing menu, featuring a host of tools for you to play with.
In any event, this would be a great timesaver if you frequently share old photos. It’s also a very convenient addition if you’d like to quickly try out more modern editing features (e.g. Magic Editor) on older images.
This isn’t the only upcoming Google Photos feature we’ve uncovered in recent days. We also discovered that Google is working on an “enhance photo” button in the sharing menu prior to actually sharing a snap. We also uncovered a “Show more” option for faces, allowing you to see more of a specific face.
We’ve been expecting the Samsung One UI 7 beta program to launch for a while now, but it looks like we have to wait a little longer for the new Samsung software. However, a long-time leaker has just posted a lengthy One UI 7 changelog.
Ice Universe posted an apparent One UI 7 changelog on Weibo, and there are loads of tweaks and additions worth knowing. Check out the machine-translated screenshot below.
There are several notable visual changes worth highlighting, such as new system app icons, a new battery icon and charging animation, a new camera app UI, and new animations.
Ice Universe also asserts that you can choose between separate or unified dropdown menus for notifications and quick settings. That’s good news as earlier leaks suggested Samsung could switch to separate dropdown menus in One UI 7. So we’re glad to hear we might be given a choice between the two styles.
Other notable One UI 7 tweaks mentioned by the leaker include more desktop widgets, more lockscreen widgets, and large folder support. The latter in particular is a staple on some Android phones from rival brands.
One of the more underrated Samsung Keyboard features is support for extensions. Unfortunately, it looks like the company has shut down several big-name extensions.
Samsung removed some notable extensions from its keyboard app (h/t: SamMobile), namely Grammarly, Spotify, and YouTube.
The Grammarly extension looked out for typos and other grammatical errors as you typed. Meanwhile, the Spotify add-on let you search for and share links to songs without visiting the Spotify app. Finally, the YouTube extension lets you search for and share videos without hopping into YouTube.
There’s no word on why Samsung dropped these extensions, although comments in videos online suggest the change was made several months ago. Nevertheless, this is still a disappointing turn of events as Samsung Keyboard was one of the few keyboard apps with third-party extension support.
We’ve asked Samsung why it removed these extensions from Samsung Keyboard. We’ll update the article if/when the manufacturer gets back to us.
While we can all comfortably name the top two players in the global smartphone market — it’s Samsung and Apple if you had any doubt at all — things get a lot tougher as we go lower down the order. Given their popularity in the US, you’d think Google, OnePlus, and Motorola are safe bets. Instead, rounding out the list are two phone makers you might have heard of, Xiaomi and vivo. But much harder to place, and is yet the fifth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, is Transsion. Beating out the likes of HUAWEI and OPPO in the global market, Transsion has had an impressive rise, which is only set to continue. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Transsion Holdings is a Chinese smartphone maker based out of Shenzen and started doing business back in 2006. Unlike most of its Chinese counterparts, though, Transsion doesn’t sell phones in its huge home market. Instead, the company entered the African market in 2008, selling feature phones at first before releasing its first smartphone in 2014.
With its brands, Infinix, Tecno, and Itel, the company found immense popularity in emerging markets in Africa. It quickly rose to become the “smartphone king of Africa,” with a market share of close to 50% in 2021, and now hovers at around the 40% mark. Transsion duplicated this success in other emerging markets like Pakistan and Bangladesh, enjoying majority or near majority market share in both. With the company’s eyes set on the rest of the world, it has since entered more than 70 emerging markets in Central and South America, the Middle East, and Asia, including India, where it hopes to take on and replicate the immense popularity of Xiaomi.
With rapid expansion comes impressive growth, with its 9% global market share, according to Canalys, now putting it in fifth place and right on the back of vivo and closing the gap to the top three — Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi — that are at 18%, 16%, and 15%, respectively. It’s understandable that, despite being relatively unknown outside of Africa and other emerging markets, Transsion made the list of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2024.
Given the markets it focuses on, it’s no surprise that the majority of Transsion’s smartphones are affordable. And by affordable, we mean that most Infinix, Techo, and Itel phones start at well under $200, with some going as low as under $50 while offering specs comparable to or better than what you’d find among the best cheap phones in the US.
Let’s take the Tecno Spark 20 Pro as an example. It has a Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a mid-range MediaTek processor, 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, a 5,000mAh battery, and a triple camera setup headlined by a 108MP primary unit. Specs aren’t everything, of course, but that’s pretty impressive for a phone priced at around $170.
And while your Pixel 8a trudges along at 18W charging, the Spark 20 Pro comes with nearly double the charging speed at 33W. Which, I should point out, is actually quite slow for a company that showcased a concept phone in 2021 with 160W charging (a full charge in 10 minutes!). Tecno’s other slightly more expensive smartphones come with 70W fast charging.
Infinix’s gaming phone, the GT20 Pro, has a Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging, JBL speakers, multiple gaming modes, and a 108MP primary camera. While the spec sheet gives thousand-dollar phones a run for their money, the GT20 Pro is priced at around $300 in India.
There are too many smartphones across all three brands to talk about them all, but the general gist is that these phones are far more feature-packed than what their price points suggest. You’ll also get gorgeous colorways and unique designs — no boring black, white, or metal here.
Transsion is following a similar path to Xiaomi when it comes to its smartphone portfolio. While affordable phones are its backbone, it is slowly dipping its toes into more premium segments. Tecno seems to be the go-to brand for this, and it joins the ranks of Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and others with its own foldables, the Phantom V Flip and Phantom V Fold. Both, while by far the most expensive phones the company offers, are priced at around $600 and $1,000, respectively, undercutting all the other Flips and Folds by a huge margin. Tecno also looks at cutting-edge technology, showing off cool tech in concept phones with color-changing backs and rollable displays.
Transsion has stayed away from the US market so far. Despite holding a global launch event for the Tecno CAMON 19 in New York a couple of years ago, the phone was never officially released in the US.
There are indications that things might be changing, like an FCC listing for the Infinix GT20 Pro earlier this year. While this usually indicates a US launch, the phone was released in India and other markets but not in North America. That may yet change, with a phone like the GT20 Pro ideal to take on gaming phones from RedMagic and ASUS. However, there’s no concrete indication about Transsion’s plans to release any of its smartphones in the US yet.
Transsion will admittedly have a hard time breaking into a rather saturated market like the US. It will lack the brand recognition and distribution capabilities that power players, even in the affordable categories, have — carrier deals are definitely necessary if you hope to find success in the US. Transsion also doesn’t offer high-end phones like Samsung and Apple. And even if they do release them, success isn’t a guarantee. Just look at OnePlus. While decently popular, it hasn’t been able to break into the US market nearly as easily as it has in Europe and India.
Update: August 2, 2024 (2:00 AM ET): We have updated our Google Pixel 9 rumor hub with newly leaked information about the Pixel 9 line’s release date and more renders.
The Google Pixel 8 series is Google’s best flagship series to date, topping the charts for some of the best Android phones you can buy. But we’re mere weeks away from the launch of the Pixel 9 series, and four of them are expected this time around. What is new with the upcoming generation, and are they exciting upgrades? Let’s jump right in and discuss everything we know about the Google Pixel 9 series!
The Google Pixel 9 series and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are less than two weeks away from release, and we’ve already seen a smorgasbord of leaked renders and real-world media. Now, a trusted source has posted some high-quality renders of the devices.
The Made by Google 2024 event is right around the corner, and we’re expecting to see Google unveil the Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (previously presumed to be called the Pixel Fold 2). While Google has confirmed the name and design of the phones, and the event has been confirmed for August 13, 2024, it seems that customers will have to wait a while before they can get their hands on the phone, especially with the new foldable.
A leak by Android Headlines claims that the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available for pre-order right after the launch keynote ends, so about 2 pm ET on August 13. Companies usually have about a week or so between pre-orders and open sales, and similarly, Google is expected to begin open sales on August 22.
The shipping dates for the other devices get a bit interesting. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is said to go on sale on September 4, giving us more than half a month between the official launch and device availability. And if you were looking to get your hands on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, those are expected to go on sale on September 26, about a month and a half after the announcement. The leak does not cover shipping dates for the Pixel Watch 3.
Google is holding its Made by Google event earlier this year, which will likely put pressure on many different launch timelines. A wild leak also suggested that the Pixel 9 series could launch with Android 14 instead of Android 15, so it appears that Google is hurrying up quite a bit to get its products out. Google usually launches new Pixels and the new Android version in October, so an August launch is two months too early. We expect these timelines to smoothen out in the coming years as the rest of Google grows accustomed to an August launch.
Are you looking for a laptop that can handle your gaming, creative, and all other tasks? These usually come with higher-end specs, which naturally makes them more expensive. Here at Android Authority, we’re always searching high and low for the hottest deals, and today, we have a couple of great laptop discounts for you.
You can save $330 on the HP Victus 15 gaming laptop, bringing the price down to just $550. If you want something more powerful, there’s also a $300 discount on the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, slashing the cost to $1,200.
There is no better time to switch to Simple Mobile, as the Verizon-powered MVNO is offering some hard-to-beat deals right now. If you thought Simple Mobile was already affordable, it’s taking things to another level by offering three times the data on all its non-unlimited plans, without raising the prices.
Of course, these extra gigabytes aren’t available to everyone, and there are some requirements you must meet.
Simple Mobile also mentions this offer is available “for a limited time.” This means you might miss out on triple the gigabytes if you wait too long.
Again, to take advantage of this offer, you’ll have to go to an authorized retail location. Use the button below to find your nearest Simple Mobile store.
As if that wasn’t enough savings, Simple Mobile is also introducing new benefits to Lifeline customers. Among them is an extra $10 discount on any of these plans. You’ll need to qualify to enter this program, though, and it requires an application.
The tricky part is qualifying for Lifeline, but Simple Mobile mentions people getting any of the following assistance programs qualify automatically:
You can try to apply, even if you don’t receive any assistance from these programs. Regardless, the application is available straight from SimpleMobileLifeline.com. You can also go to your nearest Simple Mobile authorized retailer location and use a physical QR code to apply.
A couple years back, it felt like everything in tech was metaverse-this, metaverse-that. Buzzwords have a way of absolutely derailing the attention of the tech industry, whether we’re talking about AI or NFTs. For a little while in there, lots of players were looking to capitalize on the potential of Web3 — the idea of bringing proper decentralization to the internet, breaking down barriers, and enabling everyone to publish and access content on a level playing field. Fast forward to 2024, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Web3 has lost nearly all of its momentum. Well, don’t tell that to Telegram, as the service announces the latest updates to its app — including a new Web3-enabled browser.
Telegram is sharing a ton of new functionality coming to its apps across platforms, including the ability to gift Telegram Stars to your friends, choose specific thumbnails for video stories, and even to brighten up your screen for extra illumination when filming with your selfie cam. But the one the company leads with is this new in-app browser, which it feels particularly proud about.
Your phone already has a perfectly good browser? Yeah, ours too. But Telegram seems to be targeting its very most dedicated users here, as the selling points are largely about its ability to keep you deeply enmeshed in its own ecosystem, jumping between tabs, messages, and the service’s mini-apps, all while you avoid distraction from anything that’s not Telegram.
What about that Web3 business? Telegram creator Nikolai Durov is also behind The Open Network (TON), the decentralized network this new browser is ready to tap into. While that sort of integration is admittedly probably exposing the project to more potential users than ever before, we’re still not sure where the demand is — what are they going to be looking for on TON that they haven’t found elsewhere?
Finally, speaking of those mini-apps we mentioned earlier, Telegram has built a new app store to help you find some. Just look for an Apps tab in Search to get started discovering.
It seems like 2024 will be remembered as the year when every tech giant raced to make its version of AI chatbot a staple of our daily lives. While Google Gemini and ChatGPT are currently the top contenders, Meta has been slowly integrating Meta AI into its popular apps — Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp — making it easier than ever to chat with Meta’s take on an AI chatbot.
But what about the rest of us who don’t have the patience to type in long, tedious prompts for AI chatbots? I’m glad you asked because WaBetaInfo has uncovered a new feature in the WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.24.16.10) that will allow users to send voice messages to Meta AI. Previously, communication with Meta AI was limited to text and image-based interactions.
A screenshot shared by the publication gives us a glimpse of what this might look like, with a voice message button appearing right in the Meta AI chat interface. This suggests that sending voice messages to Meta AI could work very similarly to how it works in regular conversations. While there are no details about the languages that Meta AI will support for voice messaging, given WhatsApp’s popularity in South Asian countries, Meta is likely to prioritize multilingual support.
The big question now is whether the new voice chat feature will enable Meta AI to perform specific functions within WhatsApp, such as replying to messages or suggesting responses, or if it will primarily act as a general voice assistant for tasks like web searches and recommendations. If it leans towards the latter, Meta AI may face stiff competition from the default voice assistants that our smartphones already come with.
We’ll be eager to see how this new feature unfolds in the coming months. The voice chat feature is currently available to a limited number of beta testers, but it should soon be available to a broader user base.
Looking at it from far enough away, being a YouTube creator seems like the best job in the world: film yourself doing what you love, share it with millions of viewers who hold similar interests, and watch the views (and those ad dollars) roll in. Of course, in reality, it can be much more of a frantic hustle, where you’re constantly trying to appease not just Google’s ever-changing algorithms, but fickle viewer habits, as well. If the situation weren’t difficult enough, YouTube has a reputation for aggressively going after accounts it perceives as violating it polices, often with a “shoot suspend first, ask questions later” attitude. To the great relief of YouTubers everywhere, Google is finally making some creator-friendly changes to the way it handles suspensions.
Today we’re talking specifically about the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), for monetized creators who hit the eligibility thresholds. Being accepted into and remaining part of the YPP is critical for creators whose livelihood depends on their videos, so getting suspended from it threatens to be devastating. Historically, Google would respond to policy violations by suspending accounts from YPP, and only then offering creators who felt wronged a chance to file an appeal. But going forward, in some cases, at least, Google will give creators the chance to make that case for an appeal prior to actually suspending the account.
Depending on what kind of violation we’re talking about, that sounds like it makes a lot of sense, and for more minor stuff, or situations that feel ambiguous, it may not be worth upsetting a creator’s income stream while an investigation is underway. In its announcement, Google explains that this new practice will only apply to “certain policy violations,” which sure seems to leave the door open for immediate suspension in response to the most problematic policy violations. We’ve reached out to Google in an attempt to learn exactly where that line might be, and will update you if we hear of any specifics.
Google also clarifies that early appeals “won’t be available for all suspensions to start with, but we hope to expand this over time.” We’re not sure if that means that Google intends to expand that list of “certain” violations to include more of them, or that only a subset of creator accounts will be able to make early appeals at all while Google gets this change going. Once again, we’ve asked Google to shed some light on these details, and hope to update you with what we learn.
It’s always nice to get some freebies with your electronics purchases, and today Amazon is giving customers a little treat with the purchase of an Amazon Echo speaker. Anyone who gets the Amazon Echo Pop, Echo Dot, Echo, or Echo Spot, will get a free Sengled Smart Color Bulb at no extra price. That’s a $20 value!
Get the Amazon Echo Pop with Sengled Smart Color Bulb for $40
Get the Amazon Echo Dot with Sengled Smart Color Bulb for $50
Only weeks ago, OnePlus held its Summer Launch Event, during which it unveiled four new products. Before the event, it was thought that one of the announcements would be for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, but the company launched the Nord Buds 3 Pro instead. If you were disappointed by the OnePlus Buds Pro 3’s absence, then this new wireless earbuds leak is for you.
The folks over at Smartprix have divulged a slew of new information and images for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. According to the outlet, the flagship earbuds will come in two colors: Midnight Opus (black) and Lunar Radiance (gold).
We can see from the images that the case appears to have a leather texture in the front, with a pairing button on the side. The earbuds seem to mimic the case’s style with a glossy stem and matte finish for the earbuds and ear tips. Additionally, the case has a USB-C port on the bottom and the earbuds have an engraved L and R for easy identification.
Speaking of the case, its dimensions are 6.5 x 5.2 x 2.6cm with a weight of 61 grams. Together with the case, earbuds are said to last up to 43 hours, which is a four-hour increase compared to the current generation. Additionally, you’ll get five hours of playback after just 10 minutes of charging. Other notable specs include an IP55 rating and Bluetooth 5.4.
In regards to sound, the earbuds reportedly come with a dual driver setup that features an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter. These buds have a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and support an LHDC 5.0 audio codec with 24-bit/192 kHz audio. Meanwhile, these earbuds are said to have a slight improvement in noise cancelation, moving up to 50db from 49db. Finally, OnePlus has fit in a Dynaudio EQ, which will provide EQ presets tuned for specific music genres.
The last part of the leak mentions dual connection support. This means the earbuds will be able to connect with two different devices at the same time.
The outlet predicts that the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 will cost around ₹12,000 in India. Converted in US currency, this would be about $143. It’s important to note that the price in India could be different than the price that will be listed in the US. For comparison, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 launched at $179 in the US.
Google is finally rolling out the Maps bottom bar redesign it first showcased at I/O this May. The simplified design briefly appeared for some users earlier this year, but it’s now widely available with Google Maps for Android version 11.138.x.
Google Maps’ bottom bar previously featured five tabs: Explore, Go, Saved, Contribute, and Updates. As you can see in the following screenshots, the redesigned bottom bar has just three tabs: Explore, You, and Contribute.
9to5Google reports that the Explore and Contribute tabs still offer the same functionality as before, but the new You tab now includes features previously offered in the Go, Saved and Updates tabs. The You tab is essentially a renamed version of the old Saved tab, and it’s largely the same in terms of the UI and features. However, it now also offers features from the Go and Updates tabs.
The Go tab’s features are now condensed into a new “Saved trips” option in the Your lists section on the You tab, and it gives you quick access to your favorite trips. Similarly, the notifications and messages options from the Updates tab have found a new place in the top right corner of the You tab.
The bottom bar refresh follows Google Maps’ new sheet-based redesign, which rolled out to users last month. It replaces full-screen UI elements with new sheets that float above the map and make more efficient use of the screen real estate. The updated Google Maps UI with the floating sheets and compact bottom bar is currently limited to Android. It’s not clear when these changes will make it to the iOS version of the app.
If you’re looking to get a great foldable phone, here’s a deal you won’t be able to beat. Total Wireless is currently offering the brand-new Motorola Razr 2024 for only $79! You’ll have to meet some requirements to get this price, but even if you don’t, all other customers can get it for just $199, which is still a fantastic deal considering the regular price is $700.
Get the Motorola Razr 2024 for $79
All customers can get the Motorola Razr 2024 from Total Wireless at just $200. Only those who meet specific requirements can get it for just $79. You’ll have to verify your identity, sign up for either the Total 5G Unlimited or 5G+ Unlimited plans, transfer your number to a new Total Wireless account, and sign up for Auto Pay. Total Wireless also mentions this is a limited-time deal and that you can only get two devices per account using this offer. It’s also only available in gray, so you’ll miss out on the other colors available for the Razr 2024.
The Motorola Razr 2024 is a great device. The manufacturer has upgraded the external screen to a much larger 3.6-inch panel, as opposed to the tiny window in the Motorola Razr 2023. And while this is no high-end competitor, it is packed with specs that should keep most users happy.
The MediaTek Dimensity 7300X and 8GB of RAM will keep performance running smoothly unless you start running super-intensive tasks. The device comes with a very nice 6.9-inch Full HD Plus pOLED display. It also has a 4,200mAh battery, and pretty fast 30W charging, as well as 15W wireless charging. We loved the clean software, the leather-like design, and the improved cameras. You can read all about our impressions in our full Motorola Razr and Razr Plus review.
Of course, you’ll have to keep in mind that this deal is exclusive to Total Wireless subscribers, which is owned by Verizon. This means the device will be locked to said carrier. And if you want to get the phone at the $79 price, you’ll need either the Total 5G Unlimited or 5G+ Unlimited plans. These cost $50 or $60 a month, respectively.
Total Wireless is very clear about the fact that this is a limited-time deal, and it is only available “while supplies last.” You might want to sign up for this deal sooner rather than later, just to make sure you don’t miss it.
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