5G

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.

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.

Samsung has taken the wraps off the mid-range Exynos 1380 and the Exyno 1330 SoCs. Meant to power the company’s low-to-mid-end offerings, both Exynos chips are rocking an octa-core big.LITTLE design, ARM Mali G68 GPUs, 5G modems, and support for high refresh rate FHD+ displays.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Potentially attractive Galaxy-series Android smartphones such as the A54 and A34 5G are thought to launch soon. Now, evidence that they could be joined by even more budget-friendly devices has emerged. They are depicted as 4G/LTE-only versions of the A14, which might be joined by a slightly bigger A24 sibling on the international market in 2023.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (or S23+) has launched as a more affordable, if less powerful, alternative to the top-end S23 Ultra. Then again, it has the same all-Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum build as the flagship model, albeit with a completely flat display. A vlogger sets out to see if it makes a difference in putting it through the same drop test protocol as in an identical prior video with the Ultra model.

Tecno asserts that its Phantom V Fold will prove a worthy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 challenger on its MWC 2023 debut. Nevertheless, the OEM may not have intended to reveal details on its new, allegedly custom, hinge and design prior to this event. The foldable device is also now projected to be relatively light for its class.

Telefónica has just launched services based on its recently-secured mmWave 5G spectrum, and that it has made it consumer-ready with the help of technology from Ericsson and Qualcomm. The partners will demonstrate their achievement at MWC 2023. They assert that mmWave is the ideal solution for high-performance connectivity for densely populated areas.

The Xiaomi 13 Pro is without doubt a very good smartphone. Although the Chinese manufacturer has meanwhile adjusted the price of its premium smartphone series to the competition á la Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Xiaomi continues to impose the limitations of an entry-level phone.

iQOO asserts that the Android smartphone it has just launched in India brings up-to-date 4 nanometer (nm) processing to that market. It also offers a 120Hz display, nearly top-end RAM and fast 120W charging. Nevertheless, the new device may not be all some consumers may have hoped for.

Users who participated in Nothing's beta program are now receiving the Android 13-based Nothing OS 1.5 update. Nothing Phone (1) users on stable Android 12 should ideally receive it in the coming days.

MediaTek touts its latest Dimensity 7200 mobile processor as a platform in which power savings meet "peak power". Like its 9200 flagship sibling, it is a 4 nanometer (nm) chipset, and is also rated to bring specs from current top-end smartphones to more mid-tier devices. They include support for potentially faster 5G, up-to-144Hz displays and 200MP camera sensors.

Realme has strongly hinted at world-beating charging to be found in a successor to its GT2 Android flagship smartphone line-up of 2022. The GT3 240W's debut as part of the OEM's MWC 2023 exhibition has now been confirmed. Despite its new name, there are suspicions that its design and hardware will have been seen before.

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X75 5G modem-RF system with support for 5G Advanced, which aims maximize 5G's potential into extended reality, accurate GPS, enhanced mobility, improved coverage, and more. The Snapdragon X75 5G modem now includes an AI processor that is 2.5x more powerful than the one in the Snapdragon X70. Qualcomm also introduced the Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 3 that combines the X75 with Wi-Fi 7 and extended range mmWave and sub-6 GHz for indoor use.

The flagship Magic5 series is tipped to debut in Barcelona during MWC 2023 - however, Honor has just revealed that their new Lite variant will be there to usher them into the same region ahead of time. It has a 120Hz AMOLED display and the OEM's latest rear camera hump for mid-rangers - however, it contains lenses that one might not hope to see in its premium siblings.

Ex-OnePlus CEO Carl Pei has not held a position at that company for more than two years now. The executive has just made a public return to its hardware - albeit as a reviewer. Pei compares the new flagship 11 to the inaugural smartphone from his own new Android brand, the Nothing phone (1), and offers some opinions and insights on OnePlus and its changes since he left the OEM.

The Motorola Moto X40 is the world's only smartphone with a 156Hz display driven by the new flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. However, it is only officially available in China - for now. It is thought to take on different names for both the US and European markets, both of which have surfaced in the same potential pre-launch leak.

OnePlus has just introduced the world's first 7:5 aspect-ratio screen for tablets along with its first-gen Pad. The inaugural ReadFit display is driven by the "ultra-efficient" Dimensity 9000 Plus SoC, backed for enhanced power as well as connectivity, particularly outdoors. The OnePlus Pad is also designed to support "immersive" quad-speaker audio, fast SuperVOOC charging and stylus/keyboard use out of the box.

The Galaxy A54 5G is said to launch alongside some of its upcoming 2023 mid-range Samsung siblings soon, especially after its latest cameo in a new certification that often presages global availability. It seems it will be joined by an M-series counterpart that might launch as an alternative in some markets - even though the two devices might have very similar specs.

The Galaxy A34 is allegedly set to launch later in 2023, alongside other devices that might include the non-5G version of the A14. They have been spotted in new leaks that seem to confirm their respective connectivity specs, and may also hint at widespread availability for the two upcoming low- to mid-tier Android smartphones.

The Xiaomi 13's global launch is a highly anticipated event. The phone performed well in our review and has been improved in many areas. Here you will find out what these improvements are, where the phone is still lacking and why it may be worthwhile to be a little more patient.

Meizu is reportedly heading back to the Android market with smartphones based on the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in 2023. The Pro variant of this alleged 20 series may have been captured in a new live image that points to a highly original, possibly emoji-inspired, rear camera hump for the putative flagship device. It is also now said to launch with a new version of its Flyme UI out of the box.

Realme's inaugural, official Coca-Cola Limited Edition smartphone has been unveiled as a 10 Pro 5G that goes for more than a standard SKU with the exact same specs. It does, at least, come in new and exclusive packaging full of on-theme souvenirs. Only 1000 units of this box will be available for sale on the Indian market later in February 2023.

Some Galaxy S22 Ultra owners may be wondering if an upgrade to that former flagship phablet's new 23-series counterpart is a worthwhile upgrade, especially in terms of the alleged edge offered by incremental design changes that involve updated Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back of the device. Some experienced YouTubers may have come up with the answer to that question.

The Realme GT Neo5 has launched with a flat, "flagship-grade" 1.5K screen of 144Hz in refresh rate, 1,200 nits of peak brightness and 1,500Hz in touch-sampling rate included. It can combine this speedy display with the Android smartphone market's new top charging rate of 240W, not to mention up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage. Then again, for consumers who prioritize battery size or savings, there is also the Neo5 150W.

We recently reviewed the Lenovo Tab P11 5G and were quite taken with the fairly inexpensive tablet, which you can even use to make phone calls. Our findings are summed up for you here.

NR-Light is a new type of 5G pitched at moderate-bandwidth applications that fall between those like SIM-enabled broadband devices and, for example, the things of IoT systems. Qualcomm has just introduced the first modem and RF system specifically for it. The Snapdragon X35 may thus be found in next-gen, upgraded counterparts to current 4G/LTE smartwatches, AR glasses and perhaps even laptops.

Xiaomi has almost inevitably teamed up with Hello Kitty for a version of the Civi 2 Android smartphone fashioned after the famous cat-person character. It is the same price as a standard SKU of the same device, albeit with reduced availability and a new release date. Then again, it is also now the only Civi 2 with a photochromic rear panel.

The TV 65 Q2 Pro is OnePlus' latest smart home product for the Indian market. It offers a new 4K QLED "home theater experience", driven at 120Hz by a MediaTek processor. The Q2 Pro comes with its own in-built Horizon soundbar co-engineered with Dynaudio, Gamma Engine Ultra motion optimizations and HDMI 2.1. The new Google TV has been unveiled alongside an unexpected inaugural addition to the OnePlus connected-device ecosystem.

The 11R has just been unveiled as the latest OnePlus smartphone exclusive to India. It has been revealed as a way to get at the latest Android flagship look (albeit not all of the specs) at about 70% of the cost of a new 11. It is now joined in its R series by equally market-specific version of the OEM's new flagship TWS earbuds.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supposedly scored 1,930 and 6,236 in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests. The SoC will allegedly feature a 1+5+2 core configuration and be 20% more power-efficient compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

OPPO is now said to have a third-gen foldable Android flagship with a potentially significant camera upgrade in the works. The "Find N3" could thus emerge more powerful than many other top-end devices in these terms, and make it one of a very small handful of devices in its category with the same spec. The device could emerge looking a lot like its conventional counterpart, the Find X6 Pro.

Tecno has announced that it is coming to MWC 2023 with its first ever flexible-display mobile device. The Phantom V Fold is officially backed to rival devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, albeit with a different processor that will also make it a world first by default. The chipset should also confer 5G and Bluetooth 5.3 on the upcoming "large-screen" phablet.

The Nothing Phone (2) will reportedly pack a high-end unannounced Snapdragon 8 series SoC from Qualcomm, a 120 Hz AMOLED screen, a 5,000 mAh battery and 12 GB RAM. Nothing supposedly plans to launch it sometime in Q3 2023.

Samsung's latest Galaxy S23-series flagship Android smartphones have been released to pre-order in India via several channels, Amazon included. They start at ~US$970 on that site, rising to at least ~US$1,515 for the top-end Ultra option. Then again, for those who would be content with their 2022 counterparts, they are now available at discounts of up to 38% right now.

Honor will unleash its Magic5 line of devices as potential Samsung Galaxy S23 series rivals at MWC 2023. The OEM has yet to hint at the flagship Android smartphones' specs in detail - however, the Chinese regulator 3C has reportedly done some of this work already, spoiling their charging upgrades year-on-year - or lack thereof, that is.

The Pad 2 - widely suspected to be OPPO's version of the OnePlus Pad - has been all but proven to exist through its appearance by name in a new leak. This database listing might confirm that the Pad 2 will connect to Bluetooth using MediaTek silicon - however, the exact identity of its Dimensity-series SoC still remains somewhat of a mystery.

The 13 Ultra is expected to launch as Xiaomi's next top-end Android phablet soon. Now, its latest leak purports to spill more details on its rear camera thought to debut as the latest 50MP 1-inch monster from its series. These two cutting-edge specs are now also thought to be joined by a third, although its selfie counterpart may fail to improve compared to that of the current 13 Pro flagship.