Android

Xiaomi has lifted the lid on the POCO M5s, an affordable smartphone that starts at €209 in the Eurozone. Available in three colours and three storage options, the POCO M5s also has a MediaTek Helio G95 chipset and an AMOLED display running at 60 Hz.

JerryRigEverything has now disassembled the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, destroying the smartphone in the process. Not only has Samsung tweaked the device's form factor compared to the Galaxy Z Fold3, it has also simplified its hinge mechanism and the protection for its large foldable display.

According to findings within Android source code, Google's first Pixel-branded tablet may not be a flagship like the Pixel 7 or the Pixel 7 Pro. Instead, the Pixel Tablet could even be a budget tablet, albeit with a first-generation Google Tensor processor.

The Tour ONE M2s are JBL's latest headphones, and as such feature large drivers enhanced with the brand's "PRO" and "Spatial" Sound features. They have an up-to-date wireless standard and are rated for lengthy battery life, although it is at its best when their new, "true" adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) is turned off.

JBL touts its latest Tour-series wireless earbuds as the world's first to come with their own touchscreen. The case-mounted LED panel is capable of displaying music controls as well as those for the PRO 2's advanced active noise-cancelling (ANC) functions. The case is also rated for up to 30 hours of additional play-time, while the earbuds pack "true adaptive" "immersive" JBL Spatial Sound.

An OPPO representative has confirmed that the original packaging for some of its smartphones will no longer contain power bricks, starting in 2023. Instead, consumers who need the SuperVOOC accessories the new devices might need for their full charging speeds may have to buy them from the OEM. The announcement may thus overshadow the European launch of the Reno8 series somewhat.

The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are expected to debut next month and the larger, more expensive Pixel 7 Pro has now made its first appearance in the flesh, in the form of a leaked unboxing video shared by a retail store in Bangladesh.

It seems that Motorola is close to revealing the Edge 30 Ultra, its next flagship smartphone for global audiences. While Motorola has not confirmed the device's launch date yet, the ever-reliable Evan Blass has leaked a promotional video on Twitter. Not only does the video confirm the device's name, but it also confirms numerous details, like the presence of a 200 MP camera sensor.

The Xiaomi "13 Ultra" is currently believed to become the first premium smartphone to launch with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 top-end SoC and Sony's ground-breaking 1-inch sensor for mobile devices, the IMX989. However, according to a reliable source, it will hardly be the only device on the market with the same specs in the near future, a prospect that might allow its class-leading camera spec to start appearing in new devices starting at under US$600 in China before too long.

One of Honor's top executives has been inspired by the recent sighting of a double rainbow over Beijing to drop a teaser for a new Android smartphone from this OEM with a design that apparently echoes the meme-worthy phenomenon. The teaser has given rise to rumors of a new top-end model that could match even the Xiaomi 12S Ultra in terms of camera specs.

According to word on the grapevine, Vivo will bring a new foldable phone to the market shortly. This device, the Vivo X Fold S or Vivo X Fold Plus, will compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 in the Chinese market and new leaks have now revealed most details of the premium foldable ahead of its launch.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has starred in a new unofficial fan-made concept video and in some concept renderings dressed in a Galaxy Z Fold4 beige. The S23 Ultra in this clip has been created with the latest leaks and rumors in mind, which means it has a flatter display than the S22 Ultra with a more angular – and attractive – look to it.

Honor has brought the 5G variant of the Honor X8 to Europe, having unveiled it July. Equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, the Honor X8 5G also has a fast display, a Snapdragon 480 Plus chipset, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, among other features. The Honor X8 5G is available from €269, just €20 more than the Honor X8 4G.

YouTuber Zack Nelson has put the Galaxy Z Fold4 through an even tougher set of tests than most other smartphones on his JerryRigEverything channel. Not only does the smartphone have to deal with his usual attempts to bend and burn the device, but it also gets subjected to having dirt mashed against its surfaces and hinges. Surprisingly, the Galaxy Z Fold4 withstands all attempts to damage it.

Honor has released the Honor 70 in Europe, its answer to the Nothing Phone (1). Equipped with a Snapdragon 778G Plus chipset and a 120 Hz OLED display, the Honor 70 also features three high-resolution cameras and a 4,800 mAh battery. The Honor 70 comes in three colours and ships with Magic UI 6.1 based on Android 12.

Honor has confirmed the launch of its 12-inch Android tablet outside China. From today, the Honor Pad 8 will be orderable in Europe with a 2K display, a 7,250 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 680 chipset, among other features.

Google has updated the Android Beta Program following the release of the Android 13, an update that has only landed on Pixel smartphones so far. Also affecting future Android 13 updates, the list now omits the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, which are both yet to reach their third birthdays.

Huawei is bringing the MatePad Pro 11 tablet to the European market at IFA 2022. The MatePad Pro 11 features an 11-inch 120 Hz OLED panel and comes with features that aid multitasking such as Huawei M-Pencil and the ability to multitask between four apps at once. The tablet also features a 13+8 MP dual-camera setup and is the first tablet to come with Huawei Notes app pre-installed.

A new leak now purports to show off the Redmi Pad and Xiaomi 12T Pro ahead of launch. The latter appears to sport a 200 MP camera just as rumored, with a rear design language consistent with other Xiaomi 12 series phones this year.

HMD Global has introduced the Nokia T21 as part of its IFA 2022 showcase. Equipped with an 8,200 mAh battery and a 10.4-inch display, the Nokia T21 runs Android 12 and should receive three years of software coverage with two OS updates. HMD Global has priced the tablet attractively, starting with a 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage configuration.

Samsung has now made the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro official as the latest addition to its "extreme" (and extremely business-like) line of slates. It has launched with an upgrade to sub-6GHz 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E, and even supports "private 4G/LTE" bands on top of that. Its 10-inch display runs off a battery that is user-replaceable and supports fast-charging via a POGO-pin interface.

Asus has confirmed that the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate will launch later in September 2022. The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus-powered flagship Android smartphone is tipped to debut alongside an additional vanilla 6D variant on that date. The new leak also purports to reveal how both devices will look on their unveiling.

HMD Global is taking its strategy of releasing affordable, midrange/low-end smartphones that promise good battery life and build quality a bit further with the launch of the Nokia X30 5G and Nokia G60 5G phones. Both phones pack Snapdragon 695 SoCs, bigger power packs than their predecessors, and 3 years of OS updates.

Lenovo has upgraded the Tab P11 Pro with a new MediaTek Kompanio 1300T SoC, Android 12L, an 8,000 mAh battery, and more. The tablet will be available for purchase in September starting at EUR 499 (US$499).

The Lenovo Tab P11 has been upgraded with a new MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and an 11.5-inch 2K IPS LCD panel clocked at 120 Hz. Other specs include 6 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 7,700 mAh battery. It will hit shelves in early 2023 for EUR 349 (US$349).

According to reports, Google has set a price for the Pixel Watch, its long-awaited Wear OS smartwatch. Launching later this year, the Pixel Watch should be available in Bluetooth and LTE variants, as well as in various colours and finishes. Reputedly, the Pixel Watch could be even more expensive than the Galaxy Watch5, despite relying on the older Exynos 9110 chipset.

The Redmi Pad will be Xiaomi's first truly budget tablet and is expected to take on devices like the Realme Pad X and the OPPO Pad Air. More details of the affordable tablet have now also been revealed, with an alleged MediaTek Helio G99 beneath the hood being one notable takeaway.

More leaks have emerged online of Logitech's first gaming handheld. Revealed as the Logitech G Cloud, the device will rely on an older mid-range chipset with a large battery and a 1080p display, among other features.

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy A04s, a new entry-level smartphone with plenty of upgrades compared to the Galaxy A04. Not only has Samsung included a faster display in the Galaxy A04s, but it has also equipped the device with a more modern SoC than the Galaxy A04 and an additional rear-facing camera.

OnePlus has been rumored to add a Watch to its mid-range Nord series of devices, although its alleged product name has never been confirmed - until now. It is part of the OEM's new Bluetooth SIG registration for a device confirmed as a wearable, and, thus, now much more likely to debut soon.

Samsung's registration of a new device with the FCC has led to speculation that the tablet in question is the next in the rugged Galaxy Tab Active line. It is slated to launch with choices of Wi-Fi 6E-only or 5G connectivity. It has also been certified to use NFC and Bluetooth 5.2, and might charge at 25W.

Android 13 supports Bluetooth LE Audio by default, although some features are Bluetooth chip reliant rather than being available to every Android smartphone. A recent Android Open Source Project code change suggests that Google is planning to bring higher fidelity Bluetooth LE Audio to the Pixel 7 series, including next year's Pixel 7a.

Google Research has presented RawNeRF, an AI-based camera software that dramatically improves the results of low-light images. Perhaps a taste of what is to come for future Google Pixel smartphones, RawNeRF eclipses what Google Night Sight can currently achieve.

A YouTuber has demonstrated how to bring a slice of Windows 11 and Windows Phone to the Galaxy Z Fold4, one of Samsung's latest foldable smartphones. Surprisingly, Samsung makes it easy to run two launchers simultaneously, with one serving the cover display and the other running when the foldable display is active.

Samsung has unveiled a new UI based on Android 12L for the Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Ultra and S8 Plus. Therefore, the flagship tablets will have access to many of the same new features found on the new Galaxy Z Fold4 premium foldable device, its Taskbar included. The new firmware also contains an up-to-date security patch.

The Motorola Edge 30 Neo is thought to launch soon as a potentially affordable Android smartphone with a 120Hz P-OLED display. Now, the device's latest leak purports to offer a glimpse of this screen for the first time. It is depicted as having a punch-hole selfie camera and a high-end look to its edges.

Poco has now officially confirmed a launch date for its next smartphones. The company will launch the Poco M5 and Poco M5s on September 5 globally, with the Poco M5s potentially set to be absent from the Indian launch.

Samsung has confirmed today that a bunch of new camera upgrades are arriving on the Galaxy S22 devices with a new software update. The update brings with it enhanced QR code scanning as well as image quality improvements, including better night mode photos.

Asus now looks to have officially announced a launch date for its next smartphone, the ROG Phone 6D. The gaming phone slots into the ROG Phone 6 series, and is heavily rumored to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ instead of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on the ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro.

The World Intellectual Property Organization has shared patent drawings of a Google 'foldable device with bezel located camera'. Thought to be the Pixel Fold or the Pixel Notepad, patent drawings highlight Google's work towards developing an 'ultra-micro-hole camera', a rumoured feature to avoid using punch-hole or under-display camera solutions.

After reports last week claimed the OnePlus 11 Pro would be a rebadged OPPO Find X6 Pro, the same source has now provided some camera specifications of the Find X6 Pro+—and the OnePlus 11 Pro by extension, potentially.

Xiaomi has released a second-gen Mix Fold with its most advanced flexible display to date. However, its owners may be advised to look after it, as all that 120Hz Samsung AMOLED may make it very expensive to fix. Replacing its main screen may cost about half as much as the flagship smartphone itself.

The Asus Zenfone 9 is the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-powered smartphone to get an Android 13 beta program. It invites users to upgrade to the device's latest software in advance of its official release. Then again, there are some caveats, including the increased possibility of bugs and general instability; in addition, a user need to apply to get access to a download.

The Google Pixel 8 is expected to make its debut in late 2023 but appears to already be in the works. Word on the grapevine indicates that the chipset for the Pixel 8 series, the third-gen Tensor, is in development. Sadly, though, it will seemingly be built by Samsung in spite of TSMC's rightful, recent dominance.

OnePlus' latest audio accessories might be a potentially welcome throwback thanks to their lesser-spotted non-wireless interface. Now, Nord-series fans in India will be able to buy these earphones through Amazon or the OEM's own web-store soon. The Wired 3.5mm also boast OnePlus' magnetic clips and physical in-line controls.