Android

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.

Xiaomi has started rolling out a major update to the Pad 5, one it’s most popular tablets. Not only has the tablet received MIUI 14, but it has also received Android 13. Android 13 and MIUI 14 bring several new features to the Xiaomi Pad 5, such as new widgets and 'Super Icons'.

A new leak says Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC will power the now-uncancelled Galaxy S23 FE. Its other specs are unknown at this point, but the smartphone is slated for a Q3 2023 launch.

Android 13 for the Nothing phone (1) has been "officially" released to all users of the OEM's inaugural device. The Carl Pei-led OEM asserts that it offers "our smoothest, most secure user experience" thus far, with updated apps, system tweaks and features. They include more customizations for the Glyph interface, potentially improved privacy controls and general system stability upgrades.

A new rumour online says Samsung plans to diversify its foldable lineup by introducing Ultra variants for the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip. A tri-folding tablet and a "Galaxy Z Tab" are also in the pipeline, along with new mid-range Galaxy K smartphones and a new high-end Galaxy S Premium variant.

According to a reliable leaker, Samsung is working towards updating the design of the Galaxy Z Flip, one-half of the Galaxy Z series. Reputedly, the Galaxy Z Flip5 will adopt a vertical cover display, eschewing the horizontal ones found in previous Galaxy Z Flip models. The Galaxy Z Flip5 is rumoured to contain a larger cover display than even the Oppo Find N2 Flip, which has just arrived in Europe.

Google is expected to launch its first foldable later this year, commonly thought of as the Pixel Fold. While Google's first attempt at a foldable is expected to be closer to the Oppo Find N2 in form factor, a new rumour alleges that it will also be heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold4. The additional weight will allow Google to install larger batteries while maintaining a thinner frame than Samsung's most recent foldable.

Redmi is set to debut a number of its new models globally. These phones include the Redmi 12C, Redmi A2, and multiple Redmi Note 12 series variants, with a new leak now providing insight into their pricing in the European market.

Motorola has submitted the global version of the Moto X40 to the Google Play Console ahead of the device's release. To be offered as the Edge 40 Pro in most countries and the Edge Plus (2023) in North America, the device has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a 165 Hz display and high-resolution cameras, among other features.

WhatsApp has been working on a feature in which a video chat can be put into picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, albeit as a beta only. However, it has now been made available to the stable channel of its iOS-compatible version. Meanwhile, its beta counterpart has also just added the ability to share photos in HD as well as SD.

A European retailer has listed the Xiaomi 13 Lite ahead of its imminent launch. Revealed alongside the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the Xiaomi 13 Lite will ship with a modern Snapdragon processor but an outdated version of Android.

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro are not due to launch outside China until February 26. However, a retailer has listed both models, confirming European pricing and colours in the process. The retailer has also provided full datasheets for the global versions of the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro.

Samsung has just started rolling out One UI 5.1 to older flagships ranging from the Galaxy S20 to the Galaxy S22 series. While the OS update works well on the new Galaxy S23 series, there are mounting complaints of various issues experienced with One UI 5.1 on older flagships, such as reduced battery life and other bugs.

OnePlus' next concept smartphone is slated to be unveiled during MWC 2023. The OEM has chosen to show its design off ahead of this event, however, revealing certain differences between it and the standard flagship 11 on which it is based. For a start, its camera hump and rear panel stand out with new integrated LED lighting.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the newest devices to appear on the latest version of Geekbench for Android. The new v6.0.0 iteration of the benchmark adds some new metrics by which to assess single- and multi-core performance, while dropping others from the previous version. It seems the benchmark will still be just as valuable a source of potential leaks, however.

The POCO C55 is on the verge of launching as Xiaomi looks to bring the Redmi 12C to other markets. Launching tomorrow, the POCO C55 will be available with the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, as well as a 'leather-like stitch design', among other features.

The Chinese safety regulator 3C has approved 2 new devices from OPPO thought to launch as the OEM's next flagship Android smartphones. If so, the new leak offers some insight as to how fast the Find X6 series will charge. The top-end Pro model might match the new OnePlus 11 in this regard, whereas the vanilla X6 will not.

While the upcoming global release of the Xiaomi 13 series may be Xiaomi's current focus, the company will release a slew of other premium phones in the year, and a new leak has now provided insight into Xiaomi's plans—or lack thereof—for the Xiaomi 13S and Xiaomi 13T series.