Android

Although the Xiaomi Pad 5, Pad 5 Pro 5G, and Pad 5 Pro WiFi will all receive MIUI 15, there is also a bit of a problem with this future update. According to the Chinese OEM, these slates will only get Android 13-based MIUI 15 updates, and there are no plans for releasing firmware based on Android 14 for them.

The Xiaomi 13T combines a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultra chipset with a 144 Hz AMOLED display, a 5,000 mAh battery and a 50 MP primary camera with OIS. With promised OS updates until Android 17, security patch updates until 2028 and a €649 MSRP, the Xiaomi 13T is well-placed to take on most contemporary smartphones.

The Xiaomi 13T Pro has now arrived globally, as have the Xiaomi 13T, Watch 2 Pro and Smart Band 8. Equipped with a 144 Hz AMOLED display and a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is also available with 1 TB of storage and 16 GB of RAM.

Everyone is currently suffering from Google Pixel fever, but the next round of smartphone innovations starts just a few weeks after the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro see the light of day. Qualcomm launches the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in October, and shortly after Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are supposed to set new standards, for example in terms of cameras and display quality.

A leaker has already revealed the complete product pages of Google's next-generation flagships ahead of their official launches. Arriving on October 4, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will contain numerous changes from their predecessors, including new ultra-bright displays.

Xiaomi's next vanilla flagship Android smartphone now has even better odds of launching with a long overdue charging upgrade. The 14 may have been certified to use the same new power brick as the top-end 13 Ultra: an accessory equipped with gallium nitride (GaN) technology and a single USB port.

Samsung has now introduced the Galaxy A05 and Galaxy A05s, two successors to the Galaxy A04. Arriving with different SoCs and display resolutions, the pair share 5,000 mAh batteries, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of expandable storage and 50 MP primary cameras.

UK and US starting prices for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have now surfaced online. Reportedly, the Pixel 8 will cost more than its predecessor in both markets, with the UK also receiving a £150 uplift for the Pixel 8 Pro. Google will once again bundle a free smartwatch for those who pre-order its Pro smartphone, though.

The Galaxy A05s is thought to launch as one of Samsung's cheapest new smartphones of 2024. Now, according to a new tip, potential customers might have an idea of what to expect for their money already. That specs list now includes a well-worn 4G/LTE-only Qualcomm processor, a screen of decent resolution and an amount of RAM that could be described as moderate at best.

Google is a little over a week away from delivering the Pixel Watch 2. In the meantime, UK pricing has leaked online, as has an official promotional video that compares various upgrades from the original Pixel Watch.

The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is huge in several regards. In our test, the Samsung tablet scores with its slim construction that looks even more spectacular due to its size. Also aside from the case, we cannot find many negatives about the Tab S9 Ultra.

A new leak says Google plans to support the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro for seven years. It isn't specified if the phones will get major software updates for that long, but monthly security patches will be guaranteed.

A new leak has shed light on some of the camera features bought forth by the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. It lets users scrub ambient noise from their videos, change facial expressions via the app, and more.

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is an inexpensive and family-friendly 11-inch tablet that scores with a bright display, good mid-range performance and long battery life. However, Google services, including Google Play, are not part of the package. If you install them later, which works just fine, you also lose the warranty for the tablet.

There may be evidence of the next generation of smartphone design out there, even if it comes from a slightly unexpected quarter. An upcoming Motorola device is depicted as ditching the usual multi-layer rear camera hump for a smooth, almost bubble-like housing for dual lenses, one of which might be for a 50MP camera.

ColorOS is a custom version of Android officially developed by OPPO - however, that might not stop the OEM becoming more like iOS 17 in its upcoming major upgrade. Its latest betas are now said to have integrated Dynamic Island-style animations, even though its selfie cameras are of a different style. That may not be the only iPhone-like software tweak within the ColorOS 14 UI.

According to early reports, Samsung is already developing a follow-up to the Galaxy A54. Reportedly, while Samsung will equip the Galaxy A55 with a 50 MP primary camera, along with an Exynos 1480 chipset that could contain an AMD-based GPU.

The Tecno Phantom V Flip is one of the cheapest clamshell foldables around, following the release of the Motorola Razr 40 earlier this year. Eventually available in Europe, the handset will arrive first in India, where Tecno has priced it at INR 49,999 (~US$601).

NIO has confirmed that it has made its own smartphone for fans of its premium automotive experience. The inaugural Phone is equipped with some high-end features to match those from the Samsung Galaxy S series and even the newest iPhones, although they are geared for close integration with first-party cars in this case.

Hands-on photos of the Pixel 8a have appeared online, courtesy of a reliable leaker. Leaking possibly 8 months before the device's release, the photos reveal a departure from the design of Pixel 7a. While relatively thick bezels remain, the Pixel 8a has a more curved look than its predecessor.

A renowned leaker has revealed the first set of official Galaxy Tab S9 FE series images. Likely arriving later this year alongside the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy Buds FE, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus retain premium-looking designs with slim display bezels, metal housings and S Pen support.

Xiaomi has revealed the Redmi Note 13 5G in China, where it starts for just CNY 1,099 (~US$151). Equipped with a bright AMOLED display, the Redmi Note 13 5G also has a 108 MP primary camera, a 5,000 mAh battery and a modern MediaTek Dimensity chipset, among other features.

Google Play Console listings have confirmed earlier rumours about the Galaxy S23 FE launching in Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200 flavours. Both phones have an FHD+ screen, 8 GB RAM and run Android 13.

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 13 Pro in China, its mid-tier offering between the Redmi Note 13 5G and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. The Redmi Note 13 Pro features some of the same hardware as its Pro Plus sibling but in a cheaper overall package that also houses Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset.

Guaranteed to receive software updates for half a decade, the Google Pixel 7 Pro has been around for less than a year but is already available for consistent discounts of almost 30%. The 256 GB variant is down to the lowest price in 30 days thanks to a 25% discount, the 128 GB version drops by 28%, and the 512 GB model is 23% off.

Xiaomi has presented the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, the premier model in its new Redmi Note 13 series. Featuring plenty of changes from last year's model, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a curved display, IP68 certification and 120 W fast charging capabilities, all for CNY 1,899 (~US$261) in China.

Early renders for the Samsung Galaxy A15 have surfaced online before the device's official release. Sporting a new frame, Samsung's decision to meld the design languages of its Galaxy A and Galaxy S series suggests that the Galaxy A15 could resemble next year's Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus too.

ONYX is finally selling the BOOX Palma freely, a 159 x 80 x 8 mm and 170 g E-reader with a 6.13-inch display. Available in black or white finishes, the ONYX BOOX Palma can access the Google Play Store through Android 11, which it supports with an octa-core Qualcomm chipset, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of expandable storage.

Black Shark - which started out as Xiaomi's gaming smartphone division - has heralded its "new gaming era" with the Green Ghost controller. It boasts ALPS joysticks for enhanced "durability" and "2,000-level accuracy". It has been joined by a new smartwatch, open-ear earbuds and a new MagCooler 3 Pro in the brand's updated web-store.

A reliable leaker has revealed what appears to be full European pricing for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series. Allegedly starting at €529, the series is said to be available for up to €899 as the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus with 256 GB of storage and 5G connectivity.

It appears that OnePlus is finally ready to officially launch its first foldable smartphone. First teased in July, a well-known leaker has now exclusively revealed the global launch date of the OnePlus Open. Meanwhile, a first look at its Oppo counterpart's retail packaging has emerged online too.

Early evidence of what appears to be the Redmi K70 Pro has turned up on Geekbench. Benchmarked as Xiaomi 23117RK66C, the device features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 16 GB of RAM and is being actively developed running Android 14.

Google has already confirmed its plan to release the Pixel Watch 2 in a few weeks. In the meantime, a new report alleges that the smartwatch has a skin temperature sensor, a new EDA sensor and various features from the Fitbit ecosystem.

The Poco F5 impressed us in our test thanks to its great total package. Its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 delivers awesome performance for a phone below US$500 and great efficiency. The Poco F5 only really features one weakness for a mid-range phone.

The Teclast P85T is an 8-inch tablet powered by an Allwinner A523 chipset, 4 GB of RAM and a 5,000 mAh battery. Available for US$79.99, the Teclast P85T ships with Android 13 and can be purchased with a first-party folio case.

Xiaomi is moving ever closer to releasing the Watch 2 Pro, its first Wear OS-based smartwatch in three years. While the company has not confirmed a launch date yet, a new leak points to a September 26 introduction for the Watch 2 Pro alongside the Xiaomi 13T series in Berlin. The same leak has also detailed several highlights of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, including a Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chipset and a 500 mAh battery.

Xiaomi has quietly begun pushing Android 14 updates to some of its current flagship smartphones globally. First in line are the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, which are now eligible via MIUI 14 Stable Beta builds, the final step before the company begins a full software rollout.

In another case of interesting smartphones with limited regional availability, Honor has announced a new version of its X40 GT. The Android smartphone's new Racing Edition can now be reserved in new colorways and with more RAM than the original. On the other hand, a next-gen version might be on the way.

Honor has now released the V Purse in China, a wraparound foldable that the company originally billed as a prototype. The Honor V Purse starts at CNY 5,999 (~US$826) with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, but only comes with the outdated Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset.

OnePlus has revealed plans to expand eligibility for its OxygenOS 14 Open Beta program. Previously open to just the OnePlus 11, the company's Android 14-based public beta builds will be available on another five devices from next month, with a further eleven following in November.

Although it uses the Unisoc Tiger T606 processor, which arrived in 2019, the Oscal Pad 15 is a new tablet that ships loaded with Android 13-based software. Its highlights include a generous 8,280 mAh battery, a pair of 13/16 MP cameras, as well as 256 GB storage space. Early bird prices start at US$149.99.

The Cubot Tab 40 is a budget tablet based around a Unisoc Tiger T616 chipset and a 10.4-inch display. Available now for as little as US$109.99, the Cubot Tab 40 also has 8 GB of RAM and comes pre-installed with Android 13.

It appears that Motorola is preparing to freshen up its Android tablet portfolio. According to a reliable leaker, the company has developed the Moto Tab G84, a direct replacement for the Moto Tab G70 that retains its predecessor's core design.

After equipping its Ultra models with 10x zoom lenses starting with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung finally looks set to eschew its long-range zoom hardware on the Galaxy S24 Ultra in exchange for a new, powerful 5x zoom lens.

Samsung already uses a 200-megapixel sensor as the main camera in the Galaxy S23 Ultra and has added 2x crop zoom in high quality via software. Now it's time for the next big step, which had already been hinted at in leaks: The first 200-megapixel telephoto camera is coming, whether only from Vivo and Honor is unclear. Such a change could also be imminent in the Galaxy S24 Ultra.