Android

Google has certified three new Google Pixel smartphone model numbers with the FCC, GWKK3, GHL1X and G0DZQ. All variants of the same device, the three model numbers are likely to represent the Pixel 7a or Pixel Fold, which should both arrive this spring with the Google Tensor G2 chipset.

Samsung has made the 4G/LTE-only version of its Galaxy A14, a new affordable Android smartphone, official today in Malaysia. Its hardware compromises go even beyond its last-gen connectivity to keep its budget appeal flying; then again, it has launched with the upgraded design of its 5G counterpart.

After teasing what appeared to be a foldable smartphone at the OnePlus 11 announcement event, OnePlus has confirmed that the company will release its first foldable later this year. While details are sparse at this time, OnePlus promised to release more information over the coming months.

Xiaomi continues its race with Realme to create the fastest smartphone technology possible. While both companies may have cracked 200 W, Xiaomi now claims that a new version of HyperCharge peaks at 300 W. Controlled tests suggest otherwise, but 300 W HyperCharge can still take a 4,100 mAh battery from 0-100% in 5 minutes.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 series will soon be available in Europe. A leaker has now shared photos and a datasheet concerning all models destined for release, ranging from the Redmi Note 12 to the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus, with the Redmi Note 12 5G and Redmi Note 12 Pro in between.

Honor has demonstrated its first silicon carbon battery, which it claims is over 10% more energy dense than typical lithium-ion batteries. The Magic5 Pro may even ship with the new battery technology in China, too.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra Concept relies on an exposed sensor with a 1-inch format, over which Xiaomi attaches Leica M full-frame lenses. A comparison between the Xiaomi 12S Ultra Concept and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max highlights what a US$43,000 smartphone can do and some of its shortcomings.

Google has presented new features for Android 13 and Wear OS 3. With focus paid to the likes of the Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Watch, Google has also enabled its Fast Pair technology on Chromebooks, among other changes

A potential launch date for the Motorola Razr (2023) has leaked online. If correct, it would see the Razr (2023) launch months before its predecessor did last year. The Razr (2023) will build on the Razr (2022) with a much larger cover display and a refined design.

Honor has introduced the Magic5 as part of its MWC 2023 presentation. According to the company, the Magic5 will be available in Q2 2023 with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 120 Hz and high-resolution display, modern cameras and a larger battery, among other features.

Honor has presented the Magic5 Pro as part of its MWC 2023 showcase. Revealed alongside the Magic Vs and the Magic 5, the Magic5 Pro will take on the likes of the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Pro when it arrives next quarter. While the Magic5 Pro will be cheaper than both its competitors, it will still retail for over €1,000.

Xiaomi has released the Xiaomi 13 Pro outside China. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a force to be reckoned with thanks to its flagship hardware and the Sony IMX989 from the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is not far off the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of pricing, though.

The Honor Magic Vs has been launched globally with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, SoC, 7.9-inch OLED screen, 512 GB storage, 50 MP triple rear cameras and a 5,000 mAh battery. It will be available for purchase sometime in Q2, 2023, for €1,599.

The Xiaomi 13 Lite is the global version of the Xiaomi CIVI 2. As such, the Xiaomi 13 Lite has a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and a 6.55-inch AMOLED display. However, it also means that the Xiaomi 13 Lite launches with Android 12, not Android 13. Xiaomi has downgraded the Xiaomi 13 Lite in one area compared to the CIVI 2 too.

OnePlus is showing off its much-hyped OnePlus 11 Concept phone at MWC 2023. The OnePlus 11 Concept features Active CryoFlux, which is OnePlus speak for liquid cooling technology powered by micro piezeoelectric motors. The CryoFlux flows along a glowing LED-lit pipeline along the back of the phone and around the camera module giving the phone a distinctive futuristic appeal.

Qualcomm has announced partnerships with some of the best-known OEMs in the Android smartphone world to bring Snapdragon Satellite connectivity to next-gen consumer-grade handsets. The new "two-way capable messaging solution" will be compatible with SoCs for multiple tiers of the smartphone market, and may be used for purposes besides emergency texts.

OnePlus and Qualcomm have teamed up to make the former's new flagship smartphone the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered device compatible with Snapdragon Spaces, a developer's resource for augmented reality (AR) applications. The partners assert that it allows the 11 to fully unlock the potential of the latest Qualcomm Wireless AR Wireless Smart Viewers, and to stage "an AR concert" during MWC 2023.

While Qualcomm is unlikely to launch a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2, the company looks set to debut the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 1 soon, with a new leak now revealing when the sub-premium chipset can be expected to launch.

In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, the well-rounded 11-inch Android tablet is also equipped with 6GB of RAM and a solid mid-range MediaTek SoC, which means that the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2 offers a lot of value considering its heavily discounted sale price of US$275.

Nokia touts the G22 as the first Android smartphone of its series to launch with QuickFix technology, in that it is designed to make teardowns and battery replacements easier for the user compared to its predecessor. Whether this new focus on sustainability helps distract from the similarity between the new device and its predecessor in other potentially crucial areas remains to be seen.

The inkNote Color+ is a new Android tablet that claims to be the first with a 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink display. While the tablet is primarily designed for reading documents and books, it also supports pen input and runs a modified version of Android 11, which allows it to support some Android apps.

Some CAD renders of the upcoming Sony Xperia 10 V have surfaced online. Its design is identical to the Xperia 10 IV, complete with a vertical camera layout, thick bezels and a 3.5 mm audio jack at the top.

NIO has rolled a new feature to some of its electric vehicles that allows them to use certain smartphones as their keys. The feature is available on a certain number of devices from the brands OnePlus, OPPO and Vivo only, some high-end models such as the Find N2 foldable flagship included.

According to a new report, the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 will finally adopt the increasingly popular waterdrop hinge design seen on foldables like the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 and OPPO Find N2 series. That design choice will not come at the cost of ingress protection either, with both Samsung foldables seemingly set to retain their IPX8 ratings.

The latest CAT-branded rugged smartphone will be on display during MWC 2023 with MediaTek's new NTN chip for satellite connectivity as well as the same OEM's Dimensity 930 SoC. The S75 augments its new spec with a 120Hz display, triple rear cameras and what should be decent battery life. Then again, a user may have to add an extra monthly plan to unlock all the new comms the device can support.

The FCC has confirmed a few features of Mobvoi's next-generation TicWatch Pro smartwatch. Thought to be called the TicWatch Pro 5, the smartwatch will have a larger battery than any in the TicWatch Pro 3 series.

It appears that Xiaomi will turbocharge its pre-order bonus for the forthcoming Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro. While the company has previously offered complimentary wearables and even tablets to entice people to pre-order its new flagships, a leaker has discovered references to a Xiaomi TV P1E Smart TV being thrown in with Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro pre-orders in France.

OnePlus China's president has posted a new and cryptic Weibo teaser that has led to speculation that the OEM has another version of the Ace 2, an alternative to the flagship 11, in the works. This variant is said to get even further away from premium pricing, albeit with potential compromises to its camera quality and charging speed.

According to new reports, Xiaomi will use the POCO F5 to bring the Redmi Note 12 Turbo to global audiences. Reputedly, the handset will contain the Snapdragon SM7475 chipset and has already been spotted on IMEI databases as 23049PCD8G.

Word on the grapevine claims the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is expected to be built on TSMC's 4nm node, and will launch earlier than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 did this year. A new leak has now provided more insight into when the flagship chipset, as well as Xiaomi's upcoming Xiaomi 14 series, will debut.

Google is bringing its Magic Eraser feature to all recent smartphones, including iPhones. Rolling out through the Google Photos app, the feature will only be available to Google One subscribers. Google Photos also gains a HDR effect for video recordings; print orders now come with free shipping in multiple markets too.

MediaTek and Motorola have teamed up in a bid to shoulder Apple, Qualcomm and SpaceX aside in terms of consumer-grade mobile devices with satellite-phone features. The 2023 Defy Series' new solution promises potentially critical advantages over existing services, running in the foreground and improved connectivity included.

According to new reports, Xiaomi is preparing to release the CIVI 3 in as little as two months, even though it is only just on the verge of bringing the CIVI 2 to market outside China as the Xiaomi 13 Lite. Reputedly, the Xiaomi CIVI 3 will feature a faster chipset than its predecessor and the same Sony IMX800 primary camera found in the Xiaomi 13.

Reportedly, Samsung plans to improve the feature set of its flagship tablet series. Rather than solely focusing on improved performance and visuals, Samsung is expected to finally bring dust and waterproofing to the Galaxy Tab S series with the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

Qualcomm AI Research reports that it has made an on-device version of a generative AI text-to-image converter that works on Android smartphones. This was done using the OEM's AI Engine and the Hexagon Processor that is part of the new flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and resulted in the fastest example of AI image-generation on a mobile device yet.

The OnePlus Nord 3 is rumoured to pack a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, a 6.7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED screen, a 5,000 mAh battery with 80 W fast charging support and 50 MP triple rear cameras. OnePlus will supposedly launch the smartphone sometime in June or July 2023.

Targeting outdoor lovers like most of its siblings, the Doogee S100 has just been unveiled with a MediaTek Helio G99 processor inside, 66 W fast charging, as well as no less than 12 GB of memory and 256 GB UFS 2.2 storage. This MIL-STD-810H-certified handset is expected to launch in the second half of March.

Samsung is preparing to release the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54, two mid-range smartphones that look like the new Galaxy S23 series from a distance. The pair will come with large batteries, long update support and bright colour options.

POCO has introduced the C55 in India, where it will be available from INR 9,499 (~US$115) on February 28. The POCO C55 comes with a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, up to 6 GB of RAM and a 50 MP primary camera, among other features.

Samsung's new top-end smartphone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, has now starred in its own iFixit assessment video. The group has found that it and the rest of its series exhibit "hardware upgrades" - internally, that is. They make the devices more independent repair-friendly and easier to take apart.

The Xiaomi Pad 5 series launched back in 2021. Xiaomi is finally set to bring the successors to the tablets in the coming months, with word on the grapevine touting SoC and display upgrades, while providing some information on a potential launch timeframe.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has commented on the state of the Xiaomi 13S series. With the Xiaomi 13 series launching earlier than their predecessors last year, Xiaomi may have also been expected to bring the Xiaomi 13S, Xiaomi 13S Pro and even a Xiaomi 13S Ultra to market.

Leaks have outlined the design of the Razr 2023 or Razr (2023). While Samsung has made minor alterations to the design of the Galaxy Z Flip series in recent years, Motorola is set to overhaul the Razr again with the 2023 edition. The Motorola Razr 2023 could even steal a march on the Oppo Find N2 Flip and its huge cover display.

Vivo is now said to have begun work on a second-gen X Fold, a device believed to be the first of its kind to launch with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor found in new flagships such as the OnePlus 11. That is not where the alleged significant upgrades end, either.

With a premium build, a high-res display driven by the new and top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, fast 120W charging and intriguing audio specs that might even extend to front-firing speakers, the "Black Shark 6" seems like a compelling entry into the 2023 Android gaming smartphone ring. Then again, the putative next-gen device may yet never see the light of day.

Ulefone has announced that it has a new 10.1-inch FHD+ tablet for sale. The Tab A8 aims for a high-end appearance with support for 4G/LTE as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a slim metallic unibody and an unavoidably Xiaomi 13-esque camera hump - however, its internal specs knocks it down to a more affordable tier of the mobile device market. Then again, it has a headphone jack - just not normally where you'd expect to find one.

The upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is expected to outperform the A16 Bionic in terms of CPU. It appears, however, that Apple's next-gen chipset, the A17 Bionic has secured production priority on TSMC's 3 nm node, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9300 seemingly set to continue on TSMC's 4 nm processes.