Posts Tagged: phones
Phones In The US Might Start Showing Lock Screen Ads Soon
Glance, a “smart lock screen” popular on budget phones in Asia, is ready to jump into the US market with a subscription-based model.
TalkAndroid
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15
Thinking about buying the iPhone 15? Wait! Here are five other alternatives you should consider instead.
Digital Trends
HMD’s first phones just leaked, and I’m mighty disappointed
HMD teased us with some peppy designs earlier this year. But fresh leaks revealing its new Pulse phones simply hurt my heart.
Digital Trends
OnePlus and Oppo Phones Will Get Gemini Ultra Later in 2024
Flagship phones from Oppo and OnePlus look set to adopt the Google Gemini Ultra model on their devices, and to be the first to do so.
TalkAndroid
A Vertical Scrolling App Drawer Is Coming To Samsung Phones
Samsung users have been crying out for the option of having a vertical scrolling app drawer and it’s finally being prepped for launch.
TalkAndroid
These Xiaomi Phones Will Get The HyperOS update
HyperOS is coming to Xiaomi smartphones and tablets soon. Find out if your device is eligible.
TalkAndroid
How to block a number on Android phones and iPhones
No matter what type of smartphone you’re using, we can help you avoid all of those pesky robo and sales calls. Here’s how to block a number on any smartphone.
Digital Trends
The top 7 bestselling phones of 2023 were all … you guessed it
One brand dominated the top 10 chart for bestselling smartphones in 2023, according to data released this week by research firm Counterpoint.
Digital Trends
These Galaxy AI Features Coming To Older Samsung Phones
Samsung has made it clear that some of their awesome Galaxy AI features will be making it to older smartphones, but we just found out which features made the cut.
TalkAndroid
Explained: How Cases Work On Foldable Phones
Whether it is a fold or a flip, using cases on them is all just a matter of preserving their best gimmick.
TalkAndroid
Using an iPhone 15 showed me something Android phones get wrong
My time with the iPhone 15 has taught me that I love smaller flagship phones. But it seems only Apple offers what I now want: a top-tier smaller smartphone.
Digital Trends
These MMGuardian Phones Have Parental Control Built-in
Parental Control specialists MMGuardian have teamed up with Samsung to launch a trio of smartphones with the child safety software baked-in.
TalkAndroid
Why 2023 was such a special year for Android phones
Flagship Android phones have been good for many years, but in 2023, they did something truly special.
Digital Trends
Qualcomm’s newest chip will bring AI to cheaper Android phones
Qualcomm’s new midrange processor, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, will make its way to Android phones that will be announced toward the end of this year.
Digital Trends
Bad news – Some Galaxy S24 phones will be powered by an Exynos processor
We know. Exynos processors aren’t what many Samsung fans want to see powering the brands’ next range of flagship smartphones. We get it, and stand resolutely with you. But, after going all in on Qualcomm’s excellent Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the Galaxy S23 series, it seems that Samsung is regressing to the policy of […]
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I turned my iPhone into one of 2023’s coolest Android phones
Want to make your iPhone look like one of the coolest Android phones from this year? I’ll show you how.
Digital Trends
Motorola’s cheap Razr could change folding phones forever
The Motorola Razr (2023) may well be the first foldable flip phone to come at a reasonable midrange price, and that excites me. It should excite you too.
Digital Trends
IFA 2023: the coolest phones and smartwatches we’ve seen
Although IFA is not as significant for mobile devices nowadays, a few smartphones and wearables are receiving attention at this year’s event.
Digital Trends
Your $1,000 smartphone is a bad deal. These cheap phones prove it
Thousand-dollar phones are commonplace in 2023. But these cheap phones will make you think twice before spending that kind of money on a smartphone again.
Digital Trends
These Back-to-School deals from TCL bring big savings on phones, tablets, and TVs
Here with a bunch of savings on back-to-school essentials is TCL with deals on a number of its latest devices ranging from phones to tablets to smart TVs. Whether its studying, watching TV, or keeping in touch, there’s something for everyone and we’ve got the details for you after the break. TCL 40 XL The TCL 40 XL […]
Come comment on this article: These Back-to-School deals from TCL bring big savings on phones, tablets, and TVs
Google’s future Pixel phones just got hit with bad news
The Tensor chips in recent Pixel phones have been problematic, to say the least. And it looks like that won’t be changing for a while.
Digital Trends
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 brings faster 5G to budget phones
Qualcomm is upping its performance game with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 mobile platform — a new chip that promises to improve the next generation of budget phones.
Digital Trends
Best cheap phones in 2023: our 7 favorite ones for tight budgets
Here are the best cheap phones for those on a tight budget. Find out what you can get for around $ 500 or less as we highlight the best budget smartphones.
Digital Trends
How we test phones
Curious about how we test the numerous smartphone releases each year to inform you whether it’s a good purchase or not? Here’s how our process goes.
Digital Trends
Samsung’s Self-Repair program for Galaxy phones and laptops is live in Europe
It’s been live in the US for some time now but Samsung’s Self-Repair program has finally been made available in Europe. Unlike the US, however, Samsung hasn’t partnered up with iFixit and is instead hosting the instructions and repair kits (from Rexio Care) on its own site. The news means that Galaxy owners will be […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Self-Repair program for Galaxy phones and laptops is live in Europe
‘Unpacking’ heads to phones and tablets later this year
After arriving on PC in the fall of 2021, Unpacking is finally heading to mobile devices. Developer Witch Beam Games revealed today during the Wholesome Direct showcase that it plans to release its breakout game on phones and tablets later this year. The studio didn’t say exactly when the title would arrive on mobile devices, nor if it plans to release Unpacking on both iOS and Android, but judging from the trailer it shared, Apple devices are a lock.
Hope you all were paying attention during #WholesomeDirect, because we had a pretty big announcement—that’s right, ✨ UNPACKING IS COMING TO PHONES AND TABLETS!! ✨ We can’t wait for you all to experience it and take Unpacking with you on the go later this year! 📦 🔜 📱 pic.twitter.com/Y1tEr3vlnZ
— Unpacking 📦 plushies AVAILABLE now! (@UnpackingALife) June 10, 2023
Notably, the announcement comes after Unpacking Master, a nearly identical copy of Unpacking that featured ads and in-app microtransactions, briefly topped the App Store charts at the start of last year before it was pulled by Apple. The incident highlighted the difficulty small studios have in preventing copycat developers from stealing their work. If you’re the impatient type, Unpacking is currently available to play on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/unpacking-heads-to-phones-and-tablets-later-this-year-192946616.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Check out AT&T’s Mother’s Day deals on phones, tablets, and a bunch of accessories
Mother’s Day is coming up and don’t worry, you’ve still got time to get a little something special for your Mom before the big day although we all know the best gift is simply to visit or call if possible. Here with a slew of gift options is AT&T with deals on phones, tablets, smartwatches, […]
Come comment on this article: Check out AT&T’s Mother’s Day deals on phones, tablets, and a bunch of accessories
This is what happens when you compare 4 phones in an 800MP camera test
We put four smartphones with 200MP cameras up against each other in a mega, 800MP total camera comparison. The winner was difficult to choose.
Digital Trends
Lenovo just killed its Legion gaming phones, and that’s a shame
Legion gaming phones have always been solid devices, but Lenovo says that it won’t be making any more of them.
Digital Trends
France bans TikTok (and Candy Crush) from government phones
It's no shock to see another country banning TikTok from government phones, but France is taking the restrictions a step further. Le Mondereports the French government is banning "recreational" apps like TikTok, Twitter, Netflix and even Candy Crush from public servants' devices. The apps represent cybersecurity risks that could jeopardize data for both the employees and the administration, according to the office of public service minister Stanislas Guerini.
The government hasn't provided an exact list of banned apps. However, Guerini said certain there could be some exceptions for the sake of necessary communication. This won't prevent a social media team from posting content, in other words. The ban takes effect immediately, but the penalties for defying the rule can be decided at the "managerial level," Guerini's office says. The approach doesn't affect personal devices.
The clampdown comes after the US federal government, dozens of states, Canada, the European Commission and the UK have banned TikTok on their workers' devices. In those cases, the rationale has been similar: officials are worried the Chinese government could collect data about important individuals, spread propaganda and compel ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) to hand over sensitive information.
TikTok has repeatedly denied collaborating with the Chinese government. In testimony before a House committee yesterday, CEO Shou Chew said ByteDance was "not an agent of China" and that American user data wouldn't be accessible to staff in other countries by the time a migration project wraps up later this year.
The French policy, however, isn't aimed at any one country or app category. Instead, it represents a general concern that entertainment apps may put government data at unnecessary risk. That's not so hot for employees hoping to watch Netflix during lunch, but it may reassure politicians worried employees might inadvertently expose info through their social media accounts.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/france-bans-tiktok-and-candy-crush-from-government-phones-170434409.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 will debut in mid-range phones this month
Qualcomm has unveiled its latest chipset that will power a wealth of mid-range phones starting later this month. Redmi and Realme are among the brands that will use the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset.
As you might expect, the chipset isn't quite as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it appears to offer a notable upgrade over the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. Qualcomm says the CPU will deliver a performance improvement of over 50 percent, with speeds of up to 2.91GHz. The company claims the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 will offer improvements in GPU performance (by two times) and power efficiency (by 13 percent) as well. Moreover, Qualcomm says that "on-device AI is integrated across the entire platform."
You can expect over twice the AI performance compared with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and 40 percent better per-watt performance, Qualcomm says. AI Super Resolution is said to be capable of upscaling game visuals and photos from 1080p to 4K resolution.
Other gaming features include volumetric rendering, which adds particle graphics such as fog and smoke. Auto variable rate shading should help to boost performance and power by rendering content that's in focus at full resolution and limiting the background of a scene to a lower resolution, according to Qualcomm. The company claims that Snapdragon Sound with Qualcomm aptX will deliver lossless music streaming and lag-free gaming audio too.
The chipset supports photo captures up to 200MP, along with HDR video capture with triple exposure from two cameras at the same time. Thanks to 18-bit Triple ISP support, it could be easier to capture better images in very low light. Qualcomm says devices using the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 can capture 30 images and blend the best parts of them into a single shot to provide you with brighter, clearer and more colorful photos.
On the connectivity front, there's support for 4G and 5G dual SIMs, along with download speeds of up to 4.4 Gbps over a data network thanks to the new X62 5G modem. As for WiFi, Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 will enable download speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/qualcomms-snapdragon-7-gen-2-will-debut-in-mid-range-phones-this-month-060023883.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
The new MediaTek Dimensity 7200 brings high-end tech to midrange phones
MediaTek has launched the midrange Dimensity 7200 processor, which uses techniques and technology taken from its flagship Dimensity 9200 processor.
Digital Trends
The best web browsers for Android phones and tablets [2023]
Apps are synonymous with smartphones, but you’re still going to need a good web browser. Sometimes a site doesn’t have an app yet, or you just prefer Reddit’s web interface. And since some of the best web browsers for Android feature extension and add-on support, you can get a very good experience from a more […]
Come comment on this article: The best web browsers for Android phones and tablets [2023]
The best flip phones in 2023: 7 picks we think you’ll love
Flip phones have always been the go-to for talk and text — but today’s flips have games, apps, and web surfing. We rounded up the best that you can buy in 2023.
Digital Trends
These are the Motorola phones that will eventually get the Android 13 update
Motorola isn’t quite the source for timely updates as it was years ago but the brand has finally shared a list of the devices that it plans to update to Android 13. When? Motorola is a little vague on the timing and merely says in “early 2023”. Still, it’s good news if you own one […]
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Xiaomi’s 13 Pro is an early look at 2023’s flagship phones
Xiaomi's 13 series flagship smartphones are here, and as usual, they're loaded with the latest technology and features. With the 13 and 13 Pro, Xiaomi is the second manufacturer to use Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, following Vivo with the X90 Pro and IQOO 11 series. They also have new camera modules with improved image quality, ultra-fast charging and more.
As with the previous models, the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro have separate designs. The 13 Pro uses a wrap-around 6.73-inch 2K+ AMOLED screen (3,200 x 1,400) with vegan leather or ceramic back versions. Meanwhile, the 13 has a flat 6.36-inch 2,400 x 1,080 AMOLED display, iPhone-like aluminum sides and either glass or leather back options. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform offers hardware accelerated ray-tracing and improved gaming performance, so both phones have 120Hz displays to keep up.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has top-flight camera specs, too. It packs a 50-megapixel (MP) f/1.9 main camera with a Type 1-inch sensor (like other Type 1-inch sensors it's really only 8.8 x 13.2mm, but still significantly larger than with most smartphones). It also includes a 50MP 3.2 zoom camera (75mm equivalent) with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a floating lens, as pictured above. Finally, it has a 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera (14mm equivalent), and 32MP punch-hole selfie cam.
The Xiaomi 13 (below), meanwhile, has the same selfie camera, a 50MP f/1.8 OIS main camera with a smaller sensor, a 10MP 3.2x zoom OIS zoom camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide (15mm equivalent) camera.
The 13 Pro offers impressive 120W charging (more than many laptops), bringing the 4,820mAh battery from zero to a 100 percent charge in just 19 minutes. That's fast, but still significantly slower than Redmi's Note 12 Discovery Edition. Wireless charging happens at "just" 50 watts, or 36 minutes to a full charge. The Xiaomi 13, has a slightly smaller 4,500 mAh battery and is limited to 67W wired charging (38 minutes to 100 percent) and 50W wireless charging (48 minutes to a full charge).
Other features include LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage on both models (8GB and 128GB up to 12GB and 512GB on both models), Dolby Atmos on the Pro model and Leica camera tech. For the latter, Xiaomi and Leica built a color model based on 4,700 scenes, presumably allowing for improved accuracy. Prices start at 4,999 yuan ($ 720) for the Xiaomi 13 Pro and 3,999 yuan ($ 570) for the Xiaomi 13. Those are seriously good prices for such high spec phones, but as usual, you likely won't be able to buy them in North America.
MediaTek’s new Dimensity 8200 brings flagship performance to cheaper phones
MediaTek’s latest is the Dimensity 8200, an upper-midrange SoC based on the 4nm process that offers a tri-cluster CPU design with some impressive camera chops.
Digital Trends
December’s Feature Drop adds a bunch of new features to Android phones
Google has posted the details on its latest Feature Drop which brings a host of new features including Reading Mode, more Emoji Kitchen options, additional styles for Google Photos, the ability to share your Digital Car Key, and a YouTube Search Widget. We’ve got the details for you after the break. Google TV Google has […]
Come comment on this article: December’s Feature Drop adds a bunch of new features to Android phones
The best phones for kids in 2022
Finding a cell phone for your kid is challenging. Check out our selection of the best cell phones for kids, so you can find the right device for your child.
Digital Trends
Android 13 Go Edition brings the Material You look to entry-level phones
Google’s Material You design language has been available since Android 12, but you wouldn’t know it if you bought an entry Go Edition phone stuck with the old look. Thankfully, Google is finally bringing that aesthetic to lower-cost handset. The newly announced Android 13 Go Edition brings Material You to these basic devices for the first time, giving you color themes that reflect your wallpaper as well as an overall more stylish appearance.
It should also be easier to keep your phone up to date. Android 13 Go Edition adds Google Play System Updates that, like on the ‘full’ platform, ensure you get critical patches without waiting for your manufacturer to push the new code. This could help fix security flaws in a hurry, of course, but it will also keep your device current without chewing up the frequently limited storage on budget phones.
The new Go version adds Discover to help browse a curated list of news stories and other content. Some of Android 13’s subtler improvements are available here, including notification permissions and per-app language preferences.
The first Android 13 Go Edition phones won’t be available until sometime in 2023. With that said, Google notes the release is as much a symbol of Go’s expansion as it is a technical improvement. There are now more than 250 million monthly active Android Go devices. While that pales in comparison to the 3 billion total active devices reported at I/O 2022, it suggests the concept of a highly-optimized, more accessible Android OS is here to stay.
More than 5 billion mobile phones to become waste this year
Friday marks International E-Waste Day and this year its organizers want us to think about how we deal with smaller gadgets that we no longer use.
Mobile | Digital Trends
Google wants you to know Android apps aren’t just for phones anymore
Google has released an update to the Play Store to help Android fans more easily discover and manage apps for smartwatches, smart TVs, and cars.
Android | Digital Trends
Our phones are more addictive than ever — is there a way back?
Smartphone applications are often designed to be addictive, but there’s a growing movement to replace those designs with less addictive alternatives.
Android | Digital Trends
The best folding phones for 2022
The foldable smartphone was a flawed novelty only a few years ago, but recent models have truly married innovative design with solid reliability and usability.
Mobile | Digital Trends
How to customize a Samsung phone’s notification sounds
Would you prefer to get different alert sounds from your Samsung phone? Here’s how to change the noises your notifications make and find the perfect option.
Mobile | Digital Trends
The best OnePlus phones for 2022
OnePlus has built quite the tech empire over the last few years, with a wider array of models than ever. We break down the best that OnePlus has to offer.
Mobile | Digital Trends
These are the OnePlus phones that will get updated to OxygenOS 13
While it was a little strange that OxygenOS 13 was announced alongside the OnePlus 10T which comes with OxygenOS 12.1 out of the box, we should see the new Android 13-based software roll out to a bunch of devices over the coming months. Surprisingly, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro have made it on to […]
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