Android

Google reportedly intends to start blocking the installation of apps that have been developed for older versions of Android soon. These changes are slated to come into effect with the next major upgrade to the operating system, and is touted to enhance security both on and off the Play Store.

TCL has loaded the Ion X up with a nostalgic combination of smartphone features: a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm jack and a removable battery. Then again, its display and internal specs are on the low-end side, and it will not get 5G on its Metro service in the US. Accordingly, it goes for just under US$120 via its new carrier.

Teclast has refreshed the M40 Pro with a different chipset, more RAM and faster storage. Now called the M40 Pro 2023, the 10.1-inch tablet also runs Android 12, rather than the older Android 11 that Teclast saddled with the original M40 Pro.

Samsung has yet to formally unveil its first flagship smartphones of 2023 - nevertheless, Corning has just gone ahead and revealed that they will launch as the world's first devices with second-gen Gorilla Glass Victus. Ironically, more first-party cases for the same upcoming handsets have also just leaked out.

Google may still be a few months away from unveiling the Pixel Tablet. However, developer Kuba Wojciechowski has revealed more specifications and details about the tablet and its accompanying accessories. Reputedly, Google has developed two dock accessories, but there will only be one Pixel Tablet variant available and no Pro model.

OnePlus has teased the release of its first tablet. As expected, the OnePlus Pad will launch alongside the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R and the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The company has also revealed the tablet's design, confirming earlier leaks.

The Chuwi will be one of the cheapest Android 12 tablets available when it launches in the next few weeks. It sacrifices a bit of performance for that attractive 10.5-inch 1200p touchscreen, however.

The Razer Edge is now orderable in Wi-Fi-only and 5G variants. Both variants feature the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 chipset, a 144 Hz AMOLED display and a 5,000 mAh battery, among other components. The Razer Edge starts at US$399.99 and rises to US$599.99 for the 5G edition.

OPPO is thought to launch an X6 series of flagship smartphones based on the new top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Now, thanks to a new leak, they are said to have a sibling with the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC instead. It has allegedly been certified by Chinese authorities ahead of its launch.

Sony has just unleashed its latest Walkman ZX- and A-series audio players on the United States market. They consist of the NW-ZX707 and more affordable NW-A306, both of which are rated for extended battery life, relatively large displays and support for high-res audio. They also both support Android and are "fully" Wi-Fi compatible for potentially audiophile-grade streaming and downloading.

Rumour has it that OnePlus will unveil its first tablet in under two weeks. In the meantime, render images from a reliable source have shown what the so-called OnePlus Pad could look like. The same leak reveals a few specifications too, as well as the tablet's large single rear-facing camera.

The Doogee V Max is now available to order. Launching in three colours, the V Max features a mid-range MediaTek chipset and is IP69K certified. While the V Max retails for US$749.99, Doogee is selling it at a US$190 discount for US$459.99. The company will also include a complimentary smartwatch or AJ01 Bluetooth glasses for those who order the Doogee V Max before February 12.

OnePlus has just announced that its fans will see more during its upcoming Cloud11 global launch event than previously expected. The company originally scheduled it in order to unveil the flagship 11 and matching Buds Pro 2, and now intends to debut further products alongside them. They seem to include the 11R that will be exclusive to India, as well as the OEM's first-gen tablet also headed to regions such as North America.

Xiaomi has certified a member of the POCO F5 series with the FCC, indicating its intentions to sell the device in North America. Seemingly the POCO F5 or POCO F5 Pro, the device will be available with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, plus an unnamed Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. The 23013PC75G will not feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, though.

The Poco X5 Pro is set to launch shortly. As brought to light by a user on Twitter, it appears a promotional video aired during ad intervals for the movie Pathaan in India has confirmed the launch date for the Poco X4 Pro's successor.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series may not land with significant hardware upgrades over last year's phones but they'll still manage to cost quite a bit more, with a price hike in the region of €100 expected across the board in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

OnePlus 11 pricing has leaked for the Eurozone. The handset will soon be available in two storage variants, but an ongoing patent dispute between OnePlus and Nokia will prevent the OnePlus 11 from being sold in Germany. Amazon US has confirmed a specification change for North American models too, as well as when pre-orders will open.

Meizu is expected to make a comeback in the Chinese Android flagship smartphone market in 2023, possibly with the unique selling point of first-party integration with cars such as Geely's Zeekr1. Now, a new patent reportedly filed by the company may point to its iPhone-esque design, albeit with a very different camera hump.

Garmin has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally given its ECG App for the Venu 2 Plus a go. Therefore, its units in this country can now use the electrocardiography hardware found in their wearable for the first time. Users can view their "revolutionary" cardiac graphs right on their wrist or sync them to the Connect smartphone app.

The Abxylute will be another 7-inch Android gaming handheld. Apparently launching later this quarter for US$200, the Abxylute will look to take on the likes of the Logitech G Cloud as a cloud gaming-first device.

Motorola has announced the Moto E13, a cheaper option to the also new Moto G13, Moto G23, Moto G53 and Moto G73. The Moto E13 features the same chipset as the Moto E32, as well as a 5,000 mAh battery and Android 13 (Go Edition), among other things.

Motorola has presented four new smartphones under the Moto G series. The Moto G13, Moto G23, Moto G53 and Moto G73 are all orderable now in the Eurozone. Motorola intends to offer the four smartphones in select Asian and Latin American countries, too.

A new leak has now revealed most relevant hardware details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Screenshots from the Device Info HW app on a rogue unit of the S23 Ultra confirm the presence of the 200 MP ISOCELL HP2, new ultra-wide-angle and selfie camera sensors, and most importantly, a special variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Press images of the Samsung Galaxy M54 have leaked online ahead of the device's official launch. Sporting a different design to the Galaxy M53, the Galaxy M54 is expected to land shortly after Samsung presents the Galaxy S23 series.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is projected to arrive as an upgrade on the OEM's current Leica-branded flagship Android smartphone, the 12S Ultra, soon. Now, according to the latest tips, it has surfaced in a way that reveals its Chinese- and global-market model numbers. On that note, there is potential bad news for Indian fans of super-premium camera-heavy mobile devices to be found in this new leak.

Pricing and specifications have leaked for the Moto G13, another upcoming Moto Gx3 series smartphone. The Moto G13 will match the Moto G23 in many areas, albeit for an alleged 25% lower starting price.

According to a new leak, Xiaomi is currently working on its next-gen mainstream tablets. These devices, expected to be the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Xiaomi 6 Pro, are tipped to debut with Snapdragon 800-series SoCs and could launch in Q2 alongside the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Leaks have highlighted the Moto G23, one of Motorola's forthcoming mid-range smartphones for 2023. Reputedly, the Motorola Moto G23 will be available in three colourways, all from €199 with 128 GB of storage. Other specifications have leaked too, including the device's SoC.

Following the hands-on leaks of the Galaxy S23 Ultra yesterday, camera samples from the February 1-bound flagship have now also leaked, showcasing the phone's apparently improved low-light and zoom camera performance.

BOOX touts its latest 13.3-inch Android e-reader as one with the GPU power to confer the "Super Refresh Technology" necessary to make different tasks such as scrolling or note-taking as "smooth" as it can. The Tab X also benefits from a "clearer" screen and a "larger" battery, despite also being slimmer than its last-gen counterpart of the same size and starting price.

Xiaomi has begun distributing MIUI 14 to the Xiaomi 12, having already made the Xiaomi 12 Lite eligible for the Android 13-based update. With promised design and performance improvements, MIUI 14 should be a breath of fresh air for devices released with MIUI 13. MIUI 14 eligibility should soon expand to the Redmi K50 series, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 12S series and Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, too.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra has now made its first live appearance ahead of its February 1 launch. The flagship phone was outed by a retail store, allegedly in Nicaragua, with the store showcasing the phone's design in a hands-on video as well as sharing an early zoom camera test.

Xiaomi's main mobile device sub-brand Redmi is said to augment its new Note 12 line of smartphones with a new Turbo Edition soon. The variant is thought to resemble its siblings in some ways, albeit with potentially better and newer specs than some. It is also now tipped to launch with hardware missing from the series thus far.

The Galaxy A14 is Samsung's first Android smartphone of 2023, and may end up becoming one of its most affordable handsets of the year. Now, as a new teardown video has demonstrated, it may also be one of the OEM's most user-serviceable devices for some time, having dropped one of the most independent repair-unfriendly internal assembly features out there.

The Realme GT Neo 5 is already being touted as its brand's next smartphone with the most premium charging tech as an option at launch. Now, according to a new leak, this new spec will be paired to those geared for speed in other areas as well. They may include generous amounts of RAM, an OLED display and the latest software out of the box.

The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro is not for weak arms. After all, the tablet weighs at least 674 grams and even more with the protective case and pen. But it also offers many unusual advantages.

A next-generation TicWatch Pro smartwatch is nearing release. Launching later this year with the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset, the TicWatch Pro 5 will also contain a digital crown as Mobvoi looks to update the looks of the TicWatch Pro series. The TicWatch Pro 5 will be one of the first smartwatches to launch with Wear OS 3, too.

OnePlus has debuted the China-only version of its new flagship Android smartphone with faster charging compared to its 10 Pro predecessor. However, according to the latest leaks, this is not to be the case for all regions on the 11's upcoming global launch. The spec downgrade is, yet again, projected to affect potential buyers in the US and Canada.

Honor is now confirmed to hold an exhibition at the upcoming MWC 2023 event. This news has led to speculation that the OEM will debut its latest Magic5 series of Android flagship smartphones during the event. The potentially premium devices allegedly have a new launch teaser with wording that indicates their intention to go toe-to-toe with Samsung's Galaxy S23 line-up.

The POCO X5 is moving closer to release, with the upcoming handset seen being used by an Indian international cricketer. Due for release in multiple markets, the POCO X5 is expected to be a re-branded Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition with a Snapdragon 778G chipset, a 120 Hz OLED display and three rear-facing cameras, among other features.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will come equipped with a new 200 MP camera. This sensor, the ISOCELL HP2, has a physical size of 1/1.3", falling short of a type 1-inch sensor like the IMX989 on phones like the Vivo X90 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Pro. Apparently, Samsung has a reason for that decision.

AYA NEO has showcased the Pocket AIR, its first Android-based gaming handheld. Available later this year, the Pocket AIR will feature a 5.5-inch OLED display and an ARM-based chipset, among other features.

RedMagic touts its latest premium smartphone as a serious device for serious Android gamers. It is also now the first 2023 flagship to undergo the famous JerryRigEverything durability test on YouTube. Can it keep its under-display selfie camera, active fan-powered cooling and iPhone-esque chassis together under this onslaught?

While the US market is yet to receive phones with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the flagship chipset can be expected to be something of a monster, with class-leading GPU performance over even Apple's A16 Bionic on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max being confirmed by both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming tests.

ASUS has released Android 13 updates for its last-generation flagship smartphones. Available to download now as an OTA or a full update package, WW-33.0210.0210.210 brings the Zenfone 8, ASUS 8z and the Zenfone 8 Flip up from Android 12 in what could be their final major OS update.