Android

Allegedly, Xiaomi is considering bringing the CIVI 2 to market outside China not only as the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE but also the Xiaomi 13 Lite. If correct, it would see Xiaomi offer the same handset across multiple smartphone generations with no internal changes. Currently, the CIVI 2 is one of the only smartphones that features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.

Some leaked promotional material from KT suggests that Samsung could announce the Galaxy S23 series on January 5. Subscribers can supposedly pre-order the smartphones on December 23 and get a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for their efforts.

Numerous screen protectors for next year's Samsung Galaxy S23 series have emerged via Ice Universe. Following on from various CAD-based renders, the images show what the front of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will look like, excluding their centre-mounted front-facing cameras.

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro are billed to launch before the end of the year, and will likely be among the first batch of phones to adopt Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Details of the Xiaomi 13 Pro have now leaked online, touting a 1-inch type IMX989 50 MP primary camera and other impressive bits of hardware.

The Fan Edition or FE variant of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series has remained on One UI 4 based on Android 12 since its launch. Now, however, "test builds" of a major upgrade for the flagship-alternative smartphone have allegedly been detected online. They are slated to elevate the latest FE to the newest software experience its OEM can offer.

Realme has now confirmed that its upcoming 10 4G smartphone will be powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 processor on its launch. The OEM asserts that this "best-in-class" chipset has propelled its new entry-level device to just over 400,000 on the AnTuTu benchmark. Meanwhile, a less official leak purports to outline how much it will cost to own this "highest-scoring" performance in Europe.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Discovery Edition debuted a few days ago in China as the fastest-charging smartphone the world has ever seen, with its 210 W brick being advertised as able to charge the phone fully in just nine minutes. The mid-range phone has now been put through a charging test, with results not quite matching Xiaomi's claims but still well ahead of the competition.

Ulefone's latest rugged smartphone boasts the "latest" Lepton 3.5 thermal imaging tech from FLIR in one of its rear-facing shooters. It is joined by a 108MP sensor as a 'normal' main camera, and also steps up to an FHD+ 120Hz display kept on with a 9,600mAh battery that even has fast charging in this generation. The rugged device has a 5G MediaTek Dimensity chipset - then again, it still runs Android 12.

OPPO's well-received first-gen foldable Android smartphone, the Find N, is now linked to an equally flexible successor. Its latest leak paints this "N2" as more of a refresh with a slightly updated SoC that drives screens with potentially upgraded specs. Then again, the newer model might come with more subtle design tweaks that might make it easier to use day to day.

Redmi's alleged plans to launch a 2023 version of the pre-existing Note 11 Pro seemed confusing enough even before the new 12 series became official. Nevertheless, the Xiaomi brand is still said to go right ahead with the use of this product name, especially as a device with an allegedly corresponding model number has just shown up on Geekbench, increasingly obsolescent specs and all.

Huawei has now started selling the Mate 50 Pro in Europe. Still the company’s current flagship, the Mate 50 Pro has arrived in Europe for €100 less than Huawei advertised it for last month. Arguably one of the best camera flagships released this year, the lack of Google Mobile Services still presents the same issues for most audiences outside China.

Vivo has confirmed initial details about the camera hardware it plans to include in the upcoming X90 smartphone series. With the X90 Pro Plus rumoured to feature four high-megapixel cameras, Vivo has hinted that the entire X90 series will feature primary cameras with 77% more light-sensitive sensors, as well as Zeiss lenses and support from AI to maximise image quality.

Based on a new leak, it seems that Vivo's next flagship smartphone will rely on four high-resolution rear-facing cameras. With a periscope zoom camera outputting at 64 MP, the Vivo X90 Pro Plus will also contain a 1-inch sensor in the form of the Sony IMX989V.

Sony has announced a new over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade for its Xperia PRO-I smartphone. It adds an option to live-stream directly from the Videography Pro app for the device's camera UI, which might make its use on social media apps easier and more effective. The update also gives the Android flagship a quicker way to re-map a first-party grip/tripod accessory's custom button.

The G60 is one of Nokia's first Android smartphones to upgrade to a 120Hz display in 2022. Now, its appearance on the HMD Global brand's official Indian website hints that it will bring that spec with it to its new market. The device may be available in 2 colorways on its new launch, and already promises "longevity" in terms of software support.

One of Motorola's next budget smartphones has surfaced online. Billed as the Moto G Play (2022), the handset is rumoured to rely on an entry-level MediaTek Helio chipset, along with a 5,000 mAh battery and a large but 720p display.

Motorola appears to be preparing to release the Edge X40, rumoured to be arriving next year globally as the Edge 40 Pro. Although the Edge X40 has three rear-facing cameras like its predecessor, Motorola has tweaked its rear design and has switched over to using curved displays with minimal bezels.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will feature a 200 MP camera. Contrary to prior takes, it appears the Galaxy S22 Ultra's successor could still deliver excellent camera performance from that sensor, in spite of its reported technical inferiority to sensors like the Sony IMX989 expected to dominate the flagship space next year.

OnePlus has now released a timeline for its OxygenOS 13 beta roll-out. The schedule "approximately" outlines which devices will become eligible for the official preview builds of the brand's Android 13-based software, and when. It shows that the 10T is the next flagship-series variant in this queue, along with the Nord 2T, and has a potentially welcome Easter egg for Nord N20 SE owners.

The Realme 10 and its siblings are the subject of new leaks suggesting that they will replace their 2022 9-series counterparts. Now, the putative mid-range Android smartphones' brand now hints that they will launch soon - before the end of the year, even. The devices are now also officially touted to make advancements in three key areas.

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 12 Racing Edition in China, a limited edition Redmi Note 12 series model. Available for CNY 2,599 (~US$362) in Xiaomi's home market, the Racing Edition sports a unique-looking back panel amid a few other design changes.

Redmi has introduced its 2022 budget tablet in its native market of China today (October 27, 2022) alongside the new Note 12 series of smartphones. The metal unibody slate has a 10.6-inch 2K 90Hz display, quad speakers and up-to-date MIUI Pad 13 software, yet will be released for less than US$160 as a special offer for the upcoming 11.11 sales event.

Xiaomi has unveiled new fast charging technology with the Redmi Note 12 Pro Discovery Edition. Equipped with a 4,300 mAh battery, the Redmi Note 12 Pro Discovery Edition boasts 210 W fast charging for just 9-minute recharge times.

After a week of teasers, Xiaomi has now launched the Redmi Note 12 series in China. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus will likely be considered the most interesting of the bunch, thanks to its new, impressive 200 MP main camera and a starting price tag that converts into less than US$300.

The Redmi Note 12 has arrived, the entry-level model in the new Redmi Note 12 series. Equipped with the same display as the Redmi Note 12 Pro, the Redmi Note 12 also has Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset, a 5,000 mAh battery and a 48 MP camera. The Redmi Note 12 starts at CNY 1,199 (~US$167) in China, but an international launch remains pending at this stage.

Xiaomi has introduced the Redmi Note 12 Pro in China, where it starts at CNY 1,699 (~US$237) with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Available with up to 12 GB of RAM, the Redmi Note 12 Pro has the MediaTek Dimensity 1080, a 50 MP camera with OIS and a 5,000 mAh battery that supports OIS, among other features.

Nothing has issued Nothing OS 1.1.6 for the Phone (1). Available now as an over-the-air (OTA) download, Nothing OS 1.1.6 contains a surprising number of changes and improvements, considering its download size.

Complete datasheets for three Redmi Note 12 series models have leaked, roughly a day before their introduction. Consisting of the Redmi Note 12 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus and the Redmi Note 12 Explorer Edition, the trio all feature enticing specifications. For some reason, the Redmi Note 12 is missing, which is expected to be the fourth initial member in the Redmi Note 12 series.

Microsoft has made good on its promise to release Android 12L for the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. Available as a 3.2 GB download, the update brings many new features and changes for both devices, including Microsoft's Fluent design language.

Carl Pei's tech company Nothing has just introduced the ear (stick) as the second in its line of audio accessories. The product's individual earbuds look a lot like those of the inaugural ear (1); however, the OEM asserts that they come with upgraded drivers, an improved Clear Voice algorithm for calls and a reduced weight. On that note, the ear (stick) gets its name from the radical shift in charging case, also rated to extend the buds' total battery life, compared to its predecessor.

Samsung has announced that Maintenance Mode will start to become a part of One UI worldwide from the current v5 iteration. It allows a user to secure the personal or sensitive data found on a smartphone they need to send off for repair, and recover it only when it is back in their hands. Then again, it will be available on certain Galaxy S21- and S22-series units thus far.

Vivo has announced Funtouch 13 as the latest UI for its smartphones. It is intended for those devices sold in markets such as India and Europe, and is based on up-to-date Android 13. Its rollout starts with a series of public betas, mainly available to flagships such as the X80 and X70 Pro Plus, although some mid-rangers such as those from the V and T series are in line alongside them for the upcoming November 2022 phase of this program.

It is no secret that Google has more Pixel 7 series in development than it has revealed so far. Now, a new leak has revealed initial details about a model known internally as the Pixel G10. Thought to be the rumoured Pixel 7 Ultra, the G10 could also be an early sighting of next autumn's Pixel 8 Pro.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 has made its AnTuTu debut with an overall score of 1,266,102 points. It is over 10% faster than the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. MediaTek is rumoured to unveil the SoC sometime in November.

iFixit has disassembled the Pixel Watch to see how Google's inaugural smartwatch looks from the inside. Surprisingly, only some components can be replaced if they break, although Google has included some innovations in its first-generation smartwatch.

Evan Blass has shared an initial render of 'Geneva', another unreleased Motorola smartphone. Seemingly a member of the Moto G series, the smartphone will offer stylus support, among other features.

Samsung has released a new app that brings greater control of its stock camera app for Galaxy smartphones. Available as Camera Assistant, the app allows you to prevent auto lens switching and disable Samsung's picture softening algorithm, for example.

By February 2023, Samsung hopes to have distributed One UI 5 to at least 49 smartphones and tablets across its product range. Based on Android 13, One UI 5 will reach the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra this month before heading to other current and previous flagships next month, including the Galaxy Tab S8 series.

The Realme 9 is a 2022 Android smartphone that launched with a distinctive Sunburst Gold color option. Now, a new leak suggests that its 4G/LTE-only successor will drop it for more traditional gradient finishes. Meanwhile, the 10 series is now tipped to get higher-resolution main rear cameras and 5,000mAh batteries across the board.

Motorola has now made the Razr 22 official as a product on some European versions of its website. The new clamshell smartphone is touted as a design icon redefined thanks to the enlarged 2.7-inch cover screen to go with its up-to-144Hz main 6.7-inch OLED display, both driven by an up-to-date Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC. Then again, its global variant has arrived in just 1 RAM/storage SKU that barely competes with its Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 rival in terms of zero-day cost.

OnePlus' Ace Pro (the Chinese-market version of its latest 10T flagship Android smartphone refresh) will be available as a new, official Genshin Impact Limited Edition soon. Its pre-orders are set for the same week in which the brand will hype its upcoming Black Friday sale in the US and Canada with event such as Mystery Box sales.

Google has introduced Android 13 (Go Edition), a new version of its latest OS intended for budget smartphones. Adapted for its 'Material You' design language, Android 13 (Go Edition) contains several changes and improved customisation options, mirroring the regular Android 13.

Xiaomi has now confirmed more details of its imminent Redmi Note 12 series. The lineup will play host to MediaTek's new Dimensity 1080 5G chipset, and at least one model in the series will feature the all-new 200 MP ISOCELL HPX camera sensor.

Vivo's press conference for the next generation of flagship-grade, Zeiss-branded, mobile camera solutions of today (October 24, 2022) has met with an initial leak suggesting how they will look in devices such as the rumored X90 premium Android smartphone series. They are touted to come with upgraded low-light and portrait performance, as well as a new dedicated image signal processor (ISP).

Samsung's official US webstore is holding a multi-day event during which a consumer can buy a new Galaxy S22-series device with 256GB of internal storage for the price of a 128GB base model. There are also deals on the new top-end Galaxy Z Fold4, as well as potentially improved trade-in offers.

Ulefone has just introduced a new smartphone as one that a user could throw around a construction site with impunity, yet offer a high-end experience at the same time. To this end, the Armor 17 Pro packs a number of unusually premium specs for its brand, a 120Hz display, a 108MP main rear camera and fast charging with magnetic wireless charging included. On the other hand, it also rocks a 4G/LTE-only MediaTek SoC and runs Android 12.