Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Lenovo’s Glasses T1 put an extra display in your pocket

Last year, we got to check out Lenovo’s ThinkReality A3 glasses, which can connect to your PC and add multiple displays on the go. But Think is a business brand, and now the company has something that’s made for consumers, the Lenovo Glasses T1. Unlike the ThinkReality A3, items shown in the view aren’t anchored to points in space, so your view will move with you.

Lenovo Glasses T1 experience

But the experience is tailored more to consumers, for both work and play. It supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and when you’re connecting to a PC, you’re still going to get an extra desktop. When you’re connecting to a phone, however, you’ll get Motorola’s Ready For experience. While the press release specifically calls out connecting to a Motorola phone for that, Lenovo tells me that since the compute and storage is actually on the device (the wired connection is just for power) rather than the phone, the experience is the same no matter what phone you connect it to.

Augmented reality glasses on a table

Ready For is an experience that Motorola developed for second screens. It’s a special UI that’s made for navigating all of your entertainment apps, such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and so on. Or, it can be specially for gaming. You can simply pair an Xbox controller, and you can play games that are running natively or streaming from the cloud using something like Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The benefit is that the headset puts all of this on a virtual big screen in front of you. This is all thanks to a device that fits in your pocket or a small bag, so you can get this big screen experience from wherever you go.

Lenovo Glasses T1 specs

As for what’s inside, Lenovo didn’t talk about what kind of compute it’s using. The spec sheet only notes two 1,920×1,080 Micro LED 60Hz displays and high-fidelity built-in speakers. It doesn’t even say how heavy it is, although when I tried it, it was pretty light and comfortable.

Prescription lenses in Lenovo Glasses T1

Of course, it also comes with a variety of replaceable nose pads for extra comfort, and there are inserts that you can get with prescription lenses, for those that need glasses.

Lenovo Glasses T1 pricing and availability

Lenovo says that its Glasses T1 are coming to China later on this year, and then they’ll show up in select markets in 2023. Unfortunately, pricing isn’t public just yet, so we’ll have to wait and see on that.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this is the use of Motorola’s Ready For environment. Being owned by Lenovo, Motorola has been working to leverage the specific advantages that’s offered by working together. After all, Lenovo is one of few companies that make both PCs and smartphones. Apple, Samsung, and Huawei have all done a tremendous job of creating a strong, seamless ecosystem, and now Lenovo/Motorola is aiming to do the same.

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Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 is bigger, better, and way more powerful

Today, Lenovo is announcing the ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2, a product that’s been a long time in the making. While the first generation felt very much like a proof of concept, as so many first-gen products do, Gen 2 feels so much more refined.

The concept of a foldable from Lenovo was announced in May 2019, with the actual product shipping in late 2020. Back then, Microsoft was still working on the Surface Neo, and alongside that, a version of Windows 10 that was designed for dual-screen and foldable devices called Windows 10X. Lenovo shipped the ThinkPad X1 Fold with Windows 10 Pro, promising a Windows 10X version later on when the OS was ready. Unfortunately, Windows 10X was eventually killed off, along with Microsoft’s own Surface Neo (my own sources say Neo is dead; there’s no official confirmation from Microsoft).

The original ThinkPad X1 Fold has a wide range of shortcomings, and the OS was just the first. It was one of very few PCs to ship with Intel’s Lakefield processors, which debuted the company’s hybrid technology, laying the groundwork for everything it’s doing today, but wasn’t very good.

The ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 comes with proper Intel 12th-gen mobile processors, along with Windows 11, a larger display, and more. It seems to fix all of the pain points of the original.

Intel 12th-gen is a game-changer

The Lakefield processors used previously were bad, really bad. The Core i5-L16G7 only had five cores, and out of those, just one was a performance core. It had a 7W TDP, which sounds like an old Y-series chip, but I’m here to tell you that it was even worse than that.

Foldable PC in clamshell mode

The processors in the ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 are Intel 12th-gen U9 processors. Lenovo hasn’t confirmed SKUs, but you’ll likely see the Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1260U, both of which are 9W 10-core chips with two P-cores, eight E-cores, and a total of 12 threads.

There’s also a big boost in graphics. The Iris Xe graphics included have 96 execution units, and it’s clocked at 950MHz.

This all means that while the original ThinkPad X1 Fold was more like a toy that you could show your friends, this one is built for proper productivity.

The screen is a lot bigger

The OLED screen is now 16.3 inches, which is huge compared to the 13.3-inch display on the original. It’s still 4:3, and the new resolution is 2,560×2,024. The reason that it’s 4:3 is the same; if you fold the screen into a clamshell orientation, you get a 12-inch 3:2. Also impressive is that brightness comes in at 600 nits, which is always nice.

ThinkPad X1 Fold in vertical mode

The larger screen also comes with a broader redesign. The screen closes close to flat now, whereas previously there was enough of a gap to fit the keyboard inside of the folded PC. Now, there’s a bit of space around the bezels so the screen isn’t lying flat against itself. The keyboard and a new kickstand magnetically attaches to the back of the folded PC.

You can also use the PC is more modes. You can stand it up horizontally, and now you can stand it up vertically. The Bluetooth keyboard also attaches magnetically (if you want to), so it’s not just standing out there in the open. Of course, if you fold the screen, you can place the keyboard inside, and the screen will automatically adjust to show its contents in the top portion.

There’s a real keyboard now

What’s nice about a larger display is that it can now fit a larger keyboard. This keyboard is full-size, and the keys are a proper 1.35mm. I was told that it’s the same keyboard that you’d find on a ThinkPad X1 Nano.

Top down view of ThinkPad keyboard

The touchpad is different though. This keyboard has a haptic touchpad, more similar to the ThinkPad Z-series. The physical buttons that you’d normally see there are replaced by haptic buttons. That means that you can press them as buttons, or you can use them for extra touchpad real estate.

The new keyboard is a major difference from the last one. For one thing, the keyboard on Gen 1 was much smaller, having to fit inside of a folded 13.3-inch display. There was also no TrackPoint; indeed, it was actually the only ThinkPad keyboard not to include one.

The rest of the redesign

The ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 isn’t covered in leather like its predecessor was. The cover is now Recycled PET Woven Performance fabric, so the whole thing has a very different feel to it.

Angled view of ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2

There are three USB Type-C ports, two of which are Thunderbolt 4. You’ll also find a nano-SIM slot, because Lenovo is once again offering 5G options for the ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2.

The webcam is 5MP, which is really nice to see. It’s combined with an IR camera for facial recognition, and Lenovo is using Intel Visual Sensing Controller (VSC) to automatically adjust orientation, so no matter how you’re looking at it, it should unlock your PC.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 pricing and availability

If you’re really looking forward to getting your hands on a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2, you won’t have to wait for that long. It’s going to be available in November.

It’s not going to be cheap though. It’s going to start at $2,499. While that does sound expensive, it’s the same price as the original ThinkPad X1 Fold. Given that the price of computers are increasing across the board, the price can be considered a bit of an improvement.

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Lenovo’s new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook has a fast 120Hz display

Lenovo has launched a new Chromebook, two new Android tablets, and a new series of monitors at the IFA show in Berlin. The new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook is Lenovo’s first 16-inch Chromebook with a 120Hz display. Alongside it is the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11 which are getting slight technical improvements. Capping out the announcements are five monitors, focused on the needs of both gamers as well as those looking to stay productive.

IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

The highlight of the announcements for most people will be the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook. This is a significant addition to Lenovo’s Chromebook lineup, as it’s the first that is 16-inches in size, but it doesn’t have a launch date or price in the United States. It is a decently specced machine, though.

The IdeaPad 5i Chromebook sports a 2.5K resolution borderless display, with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which will make the content on the screen look fluent and fast. This refresh rate isn’t quite common on Chromebooks, either, which makes it extra special.

Powering the device are Intel Core i3-1215U or Intel Pentium 8505 CPUs and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, you can choose between an eMMC or an SSD. the eMMC options include 64GB or 128GB, and traditional SSDs will come in 256GB or 512GB.

There’s also an FHD webcam on board, and two user-facing speakers for added immersive feeling. Weight comes in at 4.10 pounds and the Chromebook is about 0.8 inches thick. Ports range from 2 USB-A Type-C ports, 2 USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) and Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen)

The other two addition’s in Lenovo’s IFA launch are the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11. The Tab P11 Pro will start at $400 and will come in September 2022. The Tab P11 will start at $250 and will come in January 2023. Both of these are generational improvements with slight jumps in processing power.

The Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen will be Lenovo’s new flagship Android tablet, replacing the first generation when launched. It keeps a lot of the same design features as the first version but gets a bump in specs. Now onboard is the MediaTek 1300T SoC which Lenovo says can offer 120% more power than the last generation. RAM and storage options will range from 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The screen is still bright and vibrant, keeping an 11.2-inch 2.5K resolution OLED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The optional keyboard case is also unchanged, as is the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. Ports are just a single USB Type C, which was a complaint that wasn’t addressed from the last generation.

The Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen is the cheaper version of the P11 Pro. It comes with the MediaTek Helio G99 under the hood, for a 50% boost in power between generations. RAM and storage options include 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has a slightly less vibrant IPS display, but in a lower 2K resolution but still with the 120Hz refresh rate.

Both tablets are guaranteed to get two major Android OS updates up to Android 14. Lenovo will also include a subscription to Nebo, which is a note-taking, and drawing, app. MyScript is also included, which is a calculation tool.

Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor

As for the gaming monitor, Lenovo is launching the Legion Y32p- 30. This is a 31.5-inch display that has a 144Hz refresh rate, and 0.2ms response time. Of course, it’s 4K resolution, too, and has some bonus features like a sensor that can detect the brightness to adjust the screen for the best viewing depending on the time of day. RGB lights can be found under the bezel, too. The main ports include 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB Type-C.

Note that Lenovo is including joystick navigation on this monitor. This has been a top requested feature and makes navigating the menus easier. The stand is ergonomic and can swivel, pivot, and move up and down. A cell phone holder is included at the bottom front of the stand for convenience.

The Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor is expected to start at $750. It will come in December of 2022.

New ThinkVision Monitors

Capping out Lenovo’s announcements are a series of new ThinkVision monitors. The notables on the list include the T34w-30, T32p-30, and the S25e-30.

If that confused you, don’t worry. Of the bunch, the most interesting is the ThinkVision T34w-30. This monitor is a 34-inch WQHD resolution display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 1500R curve. This is a widescreen display for multitasking, which is why the refresh rate will cap out at 60Hz. Ports include USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4.

The ThinkVision T32p-30, meanwhile, is a new Lenovo monitor catered more toward everyday users. With slim bezels, it has a 31.5-inch panel tuned at 4K resolution.

Last up is the ThinkVision S25e-30. This is a monitor for small businesses. It sports a 24.5-inch panel at 1920 x 1080 resolution. The monitor can cover 99% sRGB color gamut and has a 75Hz refresh rate. Connectivity options include VGA, HDMI 1.4, and 3.5 mm audio out.

The ThinkVision T34w-30 Monitor starts at $849.00 and is expected to become available in January 2023. The ThinkVision S25e-30 starts at $179 and will come in January 2023. Lastly, the ThinkVision S25e-30 will start at $849 and will come out in January 2023.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro may relocate privacy indicators to the hole-and-pill cutout

Rumors have been swirling since the beginning of the year about Apple replacing its iconic notch with a hole-and-pill cutout on the iPhone 14 Pro. As we get closer to the announcement of the next iPhones, we are hearing more and more news about how Apple may utilize the new design. While filling in the cutout with black seemed like a strange idea initially, we are getting new details about how Apple may use the blacked-out area.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will use the newly created space between the hole-and-pill to relocate the green and orange indicators that are currently on the iOS status bar. If you’re unfamiliar with these indicators, they were added in iOS 14, giving users a visual representation of when the microphone or camera was in use. If the camera was in use, a green indicator dot appeared in the status bar. The same would apply to the microphone, with an orange indicator appearing in the status bar when in use.

Pill and Hole Cut out with dots and revamped camera app for iPhone 14 Pro

The problem with the current design is that both indicators cannot appear simultaneously, even if the camera and microphone are being used. If you are using an app that utilizes both, it turns orange and quickly shifts to green. The source states that with the upcoming change, iOS will be able to show both indicators at once. Additionally, Apple plans to allow users to tap on these indicators to see a list of which apps are using or have used the camera or microphone.

Furthermore, Apple may also redesign the Camera app, moving the advanced features to the top of the display. Currently, they reside in a sub-menu near the bottom near the shutter button. The change will give users more screen real estate, dedicating more of the display to the camera’s live preview. The source indicates that these new changes are being tested and that Apple plans to implement them in a future version of iOS. But, since they are in testing, there is always a possibility that they could be removed. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to find out, as Apple will hold its “Far Out” event on September 7.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro may use the hole-and-pill cutout to relocate privacy indicators.


Source: 9to5Mac

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Going forward, Oppo will stop including chargers with some of its products

Over the past few years, many smartphone manufacturers have stopped including charging adapters with their phones. Apple is perhaps best known for being one of the first to start this trend, and soon many followed. While Oppo was a long time hold out, the company has now confirmed that it will also abandon the charger, withholding it from some of its products that will be released over the coming year.

The news was shared during the company’s European launch event of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro, the Reno 8, and the Reno 8 Lite. Billy Zhang, who is Oppo’s vice president of overseas sales and services, relayed the new strategy to press in attendance, stating, “We will take the charger out of the box in the next year for several products. We have a plan.” Oppo is in a precarious position considering that it has been working on and building up its proprietary charging technology, VOOC, and Super VOOC, since 2014. The company has included the adapters with many of its phones, allowing its devices to charge faster and more efficiently than the competition.

Zhang addressed this by stating, “It’s not that easy for consumers to get access to [SuperVOOC chargers], so we have to keep it in the box. However, as we are expanding our business operations, we are looking to taking chargers out of the box and put them in the store so that our users are able to buy the chargers and continue using them even when they upgrade their devices.” Unfortunately, Zhang didn’t dive any further into the subject, so it is unknown as of now what products will be affected. Of course, “the plan” could involve any number of moves, that will undoubtedly require numerous considerations.

As Oppo aligns itself with other companies by removing charging adapters from its products over the coming year, Zhang didn’t explain why the company was shifting its strategy. But like most of its competitors, the reason is usually linked to environmental reasons. Apple first announced it was removing chargers from its boxes with the launch of the iPhone 12. At the time, the company cited that:

Power adapters use the largest amounts of certain materials. Using smaller, lighter packaging lets us fit up to 70% more iPhone boxes per shipping pallet, which helps further reduce our carbon footprint. Eliminating power adapters from device packaging lets us avoid more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road for a year. Leaving out those adapters was a bold change for Apple and a necessary one for our planet.

Going forward, Oppo will also have to make bold decisions, deciding on what devices will and will not include charging adapters. While it is a big move for the company, one can only wait and see how its customer will react.


Source: Android Police

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How to customize notification settings on Windows 11

Notifications can be a hugely important feature on our laptops, just like they are on our smartphones. They let us know when something needs our attention, and if you get distracted easily, that can help you stay on track. However, as we install more and more apps, notifications are constantly competing for our attention, and sometimes you just want to focus. Thankfully, you can customize notification settings in a variety of ways on Windows 11, and we’re here to help.

In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the options you have to customize notifications on Windows 11. These can help you make notifications less intrusive and allow you to focus on what’s truly important to you. With that established, let’s get right into it.

Navigate this article:

Customize general notification settings

Let’s start with the basics of notification settings. First off, if you want to get to notification settings on Windows 11, there are two ways to do it. The quickest way is to right-click the date and time section in the corner of your taskbar, then choose Notification settings.

Screenshot of the context menu that appears when you right-click the date and time section of the taskbar in Windows 11. The notification settings option is highlighted by a red outline.

Alternatively, you can use the Start menu to open the Settings app, then choose Notifications in the System section (which opens by default).

Here, you’re presented with an overview of your notification settings. You can disable notifications altogether, or click the first option, Notifications, to expand a drop-down menu. This menu has some additional options, such as turning off notification sounds. You can also choose whether you want notifications to show up on the lock screen, including a specific setting for reminders and incoming calls. Below that, there’s Focus assist, the Windows equivalent of Do not disturb. We’ll look at that in a bit.

The top of the Notifications page in the Windows 11 Settings app

You can also enable or disable notifications for each app. The apps shown here are only the ones that have sent you at least one notification, so the list may not show apps you just installed. You can click each app to go into more specific settings for that app, but we’ll explore that later.

At the bottom of the page, you can also find settings for certain notifications from the Windows system itself. For example, you can turn off suggestions on how to use certain features, or whether you want to see the Windows welcome experience after installing a new feature update. This welcome experience can teach you about new features in the update, so it can be useful, but it’s not for everyone.

Screenshott of the bottom of the Notifications page in the Windows 11 Settings app. Notification settings for Windows features are highlighted with a red outline.

Focus assist

Focus assist is the Windows 11 equivalent of Do not disturb, and it can block almost all incoming notifications as long as it’s enabled. When you clock the Focus assist option in the page shown above, you can customize various settings related to that feature. For starters, you can choose to leave it off, or use the Priority or Alarm settings. Priority mode lets you choose certain notifications that can break through Focus assist, while Alarm mode only lets alarms through.

There’s also an option here to let you see notifications you missed while Focus assist was on. With this enabled, when you disable Focus assist, you’ll see a notification with a summary of everything you missed.

Screenshot of the Windows 11 Focus assist settings page

Below these options, you a section for automatic rules, which are certain situations where Focus assist will kick in automatically. There are options to enable it during a specific time of the day, along with more special rules, such as when you’re duplicating your display or while running a full-screen app. These can be useful so you don’t get awkward notifications while you’re presenting your screen, or if you don’t want to get interrupted while playing a game. Oddly enough, there’s also a rule to disable notifications for the first hour after installing a feature update, and it’s enabled by default.

If you click any of these rules, you can choose whether you want Focus assist to turn on in Priority mode or Alarm mode, and you can also choose whether you want to be notified when Focus assist is enabled automatically.

Screenshot of the Windows 11 Settings app displaying the configuration page for the automatic rule that enables focus assist when duplicating the display.

Customizing your priority list

As mentioned above, one of the options Focus assist offers is called Priority, and this allows select apps to still send notifications if you consider them important. If you click Customize priority list, you can choose to allow VoIP calls to come through, as well as reminders. Then, of course, you can choose specific apps you want to add to your priority list, so notifications from those apps are always shown. A few apps are added by default, but you can remove them or add some others.

Screenshot of the Focus assist priority list settings in the Windows 11 Setttings app

There’s also a section on this page to allow notifications from certain people to break through. This is based on the People app, however, which is basically unusable nowadays, and it only includes Outlook contacts. It doesn’t even work with Microsoft Teams contacts, despite the app being built into Windows 11.

Customize per-app notification settings in Windows 11

Finally, let’s talk about notification settings for individual apps. As we mentioned above, the notifications settings page (Settings -> System -> Notifications) lets you turn notifications on or off for each app. However, you can also click an app’s name to see more detailed notification settings for that app.

For example. let’s go with Microsoft Teams, since it’s built into Windows 11. When you open the notification settings for that app, you see a few options. First off, you can choose whether you want notification banners to show up – those are the little pop-ups that show up on the bottom right corner of your screen. You can also choose whether you want those notifications to be visible in the notification center, which you can open by clicking the date and time on your taskbar (or by pressing the Windows key and N on your keyboard).

Notification settings for the Microsoft Teams app on Windows 11

Other options let you hide notification contents on the lock screen, so people can’t see your notifications without entering your password or PIN. You can also turn off notification sounds and choose the priority level of notifications from that app. A higher priority means notifications will be shown at the top of the notification center, and if you receive multiple high-priority notifications, you can also see up to three of them pop up on screen at once, as opposed to just one for normal notifications.

Notification settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

So far, we’ve talked about the notification settings in the original release of Windows 11, but you may already be running Windows 11 version 22H2. This is the first feature update to Windows 11, and it comes with a few important changes to notification settings. In this version, if you go to the notification settings page (Settings  -> System -> Notifications), things look a bit different, but most of the functionality is the same.

For starters, Focus assist has been renamed to Do not disturb, so it aligns with what you probably already know from other platforms. It’s been simplified, too, so it’s either on or off, and you can no longer choose between Priority or Alarms mode. Plus, all the Do not disturb settings are now directly available in the notifications page, without taking you to a separate page entirely.

Sreenshot of notification settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

It’s also worth noting that the page where you customize the priority list has been updated with a new design, and it removes the useless People section we mentioned above.

Priority list settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

Focus

Something new you will notice in the new Notifications page is the Focus option. This is where you can choose options related to focus sessions, a feature that was introduced with Windows 11 as part of the Clock app. In this page, you can start a focus session, choose how long it will last, and hide taskbar notification badges and flashing (when an app on the taskbar turns orange to get your attention).

Focus settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

When you start a focus session, it will enable the settings you choose on this page. You can learn more about the Clock app with focus sessions in our deep dive if you’re interested in that.


And that’s all you need to know about how to customize notification settings on your Windows 11 PC. If you’re keen on learning more about Windows 11, we have a few other guides for you. We have an general guide on how to use Windows 11 as a whole, which is a great starting point for new users.

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Does the Google Pixel 6a support wireless and reverse wireless charging?

The Google Pixel 6a is officially here, and it’s essentially a watered-down version of the flagship Pixel 6. For $150 less (you can save even more with amazing deals that often bring it down to below $400), the Pixel 6a offers the same design and flagship Tensor SoC as the Pixel 6. But to arrive at that cheaper price tag, Google had to cut some corners, and as a result, the Pixel 6a doesn’t offer many of the niceties offered by the flagship Pixels. For one, the affordable model drops the higher refresh rate panel and settles for the standard 60Hz display. And instead of cutting-edge camera hardware, the Pixel 6a packs classic cameras. Moreover, Pixel 6a also misses out on wireless charging.

While the Pixel 6a brings several notable upgrades over previous Pixel A phones, wireless charging isn’t one of them. If wireless charging support ranks high on your priority list, you would be better off going with the Pixel 6, which offers 21W fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The lack of wireless charging support wouldn’t have been a huge deal if the Pixel 6a offered at least faster wired charging speeds. But that’s not the case. The phone tops out at 18W, which is anything but fast. As we noted in our review, the phone takes about two hours to go from 0% to 100%. Not to mention you don’t get a charger inside the box. Thankfully, the Pixel 6a’s 4,410mAh battery is able to provide full-day of usage.

The Pixel 6a not offering wireless charging support isn’t that surprising considering its price. Wireless charging convenience is still a rarity in mid-range phones and is usually only found in more expensive flagship phones.

    Google Pixel 6a
    The Pixel 6a offers a well-rounded hardware package, including a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, Tensor SoC, and capable cameras.

If you can look past the charging limitations, the Pixel 6a has plenty to offer, including a bold design, powerful cameras, a thoughtful software experience, and long software support. If you have just bought the Pixel 6a, be sure to pick up a protective case for it. We have also rounded up the best Pixel 6a accessories, which feature our best picks for chargers, cases, earbuds, and more.

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These are the Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals in 2022

Samsung unleashed the Galaxy Z Fold 4 upon the world during its Unpacked event in August 2022. This foldable smartphone packs plenty of breathtaking technologies that make it such a tempting purchase at $1,799. When you unbox it, you will find a 7.6-inch main screen and a 6.2-inch cover screen — both of which support 120Hz refresh rates. In the camera department, you get a 10MP selfie camera, 4MP under-display camera, and a triple rear camera system. Said system packs a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP wide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens. It truly is a beast in the display and camera departments. Now, you must be wondering how to get your hands on this precious device. Below is a list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (2022) deals currently available. Don’t forget to protect it with a case, too!

Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 Unlocked deals

Samsung.com

As you might’ve guessed, Samsung is indeed selling this device and it’s now available to purchase for those who are interested. Through Samsung.com, you get to choose between Graygreen, Beige, Phantom Black, and an exclusive Burgundy finish. The pre-order perks are not available for this device anymore, but you can still get some solid trade-in deals with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T variants purchased from Samsung.com. Just like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you can also save up to 30-percent on a bundle that includes the new Galaxy Watch 5 series smartwatches and the new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Those who are conscious of the phone’s durability can also get up to three months of free Samsung Care Plus while opting for a monthly protection plan for the device. Samsung is also known to offer some in-store credits for purchasing products from its website, so we suggest checking Samsung.com before visiting other retailers.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Samsung is offering good trade-in deals along with some other perks for the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Best Buy

Best Buy is carrying both the unlocked as well as carrier-locked variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 4! The device is available in all three colors and you can even pick the right storage variant for you as they’re all readily available. Best Buy isn’t offering a lot of perks for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 now, but you can still trade in your older device to save some money on your big purchase.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Through Best Buy, you get to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and get some of your money back through an eligible trade-in.

Amazon

If Amazon is your retailer of choice, you can now buy the unlocked version of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 through it. This way, you can use the smartphone without committing to a particular carrier.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Amazon seems to have the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in stock right now. You can choose between two storage capacities and three finishes.

Walmart

Walmart is selling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in different color and storage capacity options. Though, the device will only work with an AT&T plan or a Verizon one — depending on the carrier you choose. On Walmart, you can buy either of the two variants through monthly installments.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Walmart has the AT&T and Verizon versions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. The two editions are locked to the respective carriers' networks.

Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 Carrier deals

fold 4

Verizon

Verizon is also selling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and it’s offering some perks of its own. For starters, you get to pay through 36 monthly installments of $49 — if you’d rather not pay $1,799 on day one. Additionally, you can get up to $800 in Verizon credit with an eligible trade-in.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    If Verizon is your carrier of choice, it also is offering good trade in deals and installment payment options.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is also selling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in all three colors and two storage options. You can pay for it through $50 installments over the period of 36 months, but remember that the remaining balance on the device will become due if/when you cancel wireless service. Additionally, you can also trade in your older device to save more or get the Magenta MAX line to save $1,000 on your purchase.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    If T-Mobile is the carrier you depend on, it also is offering exclusive perks and the option to pay through installments.

AT&T

If AT&T is your go-to carrier, then you can buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4 today, too! You can pay through $50 monthly installments and claim some of your money back through trade-in credit.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Through AT&T, you also get to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4, assuming it's your carrier of choice.

Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile also has the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 up for grabs right now. You can pay in full or over the course of 24 months. Though, it’s only available in two colors

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    Xfinity Mobile is selling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in two colors and two storage capacities. You can pay through installments or in full.

Spectrum Mobile

Spectrum Mobile is also an option if you want to buy a carrier-locked unit of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. You can get up to $500 back through an eligible trade-in, which is a good way to save some money on your purchase. Similar to other carriers and retailers, you get to choose between three finishes and pay through monthly installments.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    You can get a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 through Spectrum Mobile and save on your purchase through a trade-in.

US Cellular

Similar to other retailers and carriers, US Cellular is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in three colors. There are no trade-in options to be seen but you can choose to pay through monthly installments with an eligible plan if you don’t want to pay the full price upfront.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
    US Cellular is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in all three color options and two storage variants.

We will update the list of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals once we spot more listings. If one of the currently-listed deals grabs your attention, claim it before it’s gone. Additionally, if you wait too long, you might face shipping delays — as the supplies start running out.

Will you be buying this foldable smartphone? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post These are the Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals in 2022 appeared first on XDA.



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These are the Best Android Phones under $500 in 2022!

The budget smartphone segment has matured quite a bit over the last few years. Now, even the sub-$500 Android phones can provide a great experience, and you don’t need to shell out for a flagship to get decent performance. We’ve seen several excellent affordable smartphones launch this year, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, it’s a great time to get one. We’ve picked the best Android phones under $500 that you can consider in your buying decision.

Here are some of the best cheap phones you can buy right now in the US. We’ll also sneak in some non-US devices that are good enough to actually be worth importing, although we’ll mostly focus on devices that will work in the American market.

Navigate this guide:

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53

Galaxy A53

If you want the best smartphone that can do it all and will continue to receive software updates for a long time, look no further than the Galaxy A53 5G. The Galaxy A53 5G picks up where the Galaxy A53 left off. It packs a bigger battery, a faster chipset, and a tweaked design. The Galaxy A53 is a minor refresh, so if you are rocking the Galaxy A52, there’s probably no need to upgrade. What makes the Galaxy A53 so great is that it backs up the amazing hardware with equally great software support. Samsung promises up to four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates, which is not only unheard of in this price range but also beats the best flagships out there, including Google’s own Pixel 6 series.

Launched at $449, the Galaxy A53 has now come down to $349, making it even more attractive. You get a beautiful 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 800 nits brightness. This is one of the best panels you can get for under $500. It gets plenty bright and offers punchy colors.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A53 packs Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Galaxy A53 houses the same camera setup as its predecessor, featuring a 64MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and two 5MP depth and macro shooters. As we noted in our review, the phone delivers excellent photos in good lighting conditions, and it also fares surprisingly well in low light and at night. The phone’s large 5,000mAh battery won’t quit in the middle of the day and supports 25W fast charging.

If you like to hold onto your smartphones for a long period, the Galaxy A53 is an excellent value-for-money option as not only you’re getting the best-in-class hardware but also the best-in-class software support.

    Samsung Galaxy A53
    The Galaxy A53 offers a beautiful AMOLED display, Exynos 1280 chipset, and five years of software support.

Best camera: Pixel 6a

Pixel 6a in hand

The Pixel A series has long offered the best features of flagship Google phones at an affordable price tag. The new Pixel 6a is no different. It’s the best cheap phone from Google yet, bringing several notable improvements over previous phones. While old Pixel A phones featured unassuming designs, the Pixel 6a packs a bold design that stands out from the crowd. The Pixel 6a also packs Google’s in-house Tensor SoC, the same flagship chipset that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 6a was launched at $449, but it has already seen price drops several times, bringing it down to $400. The Pixel 6a’s biggest strength is the flagship Tensor SoC, providing fast performance and enhancing features like voice dictation and Now Playing using on-device machine learning. The camera performance is excellent as always, but it’s sad to see Google not equipping the phone with the same camera sensors as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. You get the same 12MP primary shooter found on all previous Pixel A phones.

The display is one of the weakest links of the Pixel 6a. While the 6.1-inch OLED panel offers good saturation, deep blacks, and sufficient brightness, it lacks a higher refresh rate. If you’re coming from a phone with a 60Hz display, this is unlikely to notice this difference, but it is nevertheless an odd omission given every phone at this price point at least offers a 90Hz display.

The phone packs a 4,410mAh battery which will easily last you a whole day. However, the 18W charging speed is nothing to write home about, and it also doesn’t help that Google doesn’t include a charger inside the box.

Software is a strong suit of the Pixel 6a. The phone runs a near-stock version of Android 12 with the Material You theme and is guaranteed to receive OS updates at least until Android 15.

    Google Pixel 6a
    The Google 6a packs Tensor SoC and excellent cameras.

Best performance: OnePlus 9

OnePlus 9 in hand showing off Astral Black back color

If flagship-grade performance is what you’re after, the OnePlus 9 5G might just fit the bill. Although more than a year old at this point, OnePlus’ last year’s flagship still packs a powerful punch and can easily hold its own against any Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered flagship. But performance is not the only great thing about the OnePlus 9 5G. It also has capable Hasselblad-branded cameras, a bright, beautiful display, and a super-fast charging speed.

Originally launched at $730, the phone is often on sale for $499 on Amazon and OnePlus.com, making it an enticing option for anyone looking for an affordable flagship. You get a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1100 nits brightness. On the inside, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 888 chipset, paired with 8GB/12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The back houses a 48MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP monochrome lens. You also get a large 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support. The phone ships with Android 11 out of the box, but you can update it to the latest OxygenOS 12 software based on Android 12.

From design and performance to cameras and charging speed, you’re getting nothing short of a flagship experience here. OnePlus has promised three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, meaning the phone will remain up to date with the latest software innovations.

    OnePlus 9
    The OnePlus 9 is one of the best affordable flagships, packing Snapdragon 888 and capable cameras.

Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T

OnePlus 8T Rear Side XDA

The OnePlus 8T launched in 2020, and while it may have been outshined by the OnePlus 8 Pro, it was still an amazing phone in its own right. It has a Snapdragon 865 processor, which is still a very capable mobile processor even though the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are already making the rounds. This was one of the phones that showed OnePlus was still able to deliver excellent bang for the buck, with prices for flagship smartphones in a seemingly permanent upward trend. It also enjoys amazing developer support in our forums, making it an amazing deal for enthusiasts.

You get an excellent 6.55-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The phone can be paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. Cameras are not flagship-grade, but they’re far better than any similarly priced mid-ranger out there. You get a 48MP primary shooter, a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome lens.

The OnePlus 8T packs a sizeable 4,500mAh battery and offers 65W Warp Charge support. It lacks wireless charging, though. On the software front, the phone runs Android 11 out of the box, but an update to Android 12 with OxygenOS 12 is already available for the device.

It was an amazing device then and still an amazing device now for the price, even with the OnePlus 9 series available and the OnePlus 10 right around the corner. It’s available on the OnePlus website and on Amazon right now for $349, making it an excellent deal for a last-gen flagship.

    OnePlus 8T
    At $349, you're getting one of the best devices of 2020, with a Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12 GB of RAM, and a 120Hz display. The new launches by OnePlus have only made it an even better deal now than ever.

Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)

iPhone SE 3 2022 setup 28

While the general smartphone trend is towards larger displays and smaller bezels, there are plenty of people who still prefer compact, mini phones. But compact phones often mean sacrificing power and performance. That’s not the case with the iPhone SE (2022). Featuring the flagship A15 Bionic chipset, the iPhone SE packs the same firepower as the iPhone 13 lineup in a compact, one-hand-friendly package.

The iPhone SE 2022 features a ridiculously small 4.7-inch display with chunky top and bottom bezels. And with its iPhone 8-era design, it looks rather outdated. Except for the flagship A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t have much going for in the hardware department. It packs a 720p display with a 60Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 wide color gamut support, and True Tone enhancements.

In a world where multi-setup cameras are all the rage, the iPhone SE 2022 only packs a single 12MP camera. But the powerful A15 chipset, Smart HDR 4, and Deep Fusion compensate for the outdated camera hardware. As Ben noted in his review, the phone produces great shots as long as lighting conditions are favorable, with photos showing above-average dynamic range and on-point colors. However, the camera struggles quite a bit when shooting in tricky lighting conditions, such as low-light settings.

Another area of concern is the battery life, as the iPhone SE’s tiny 2,018mAh battery struggles to last a full day under heavy load. And on top of that, the phone also charges very slowly, with the max charging speed topping out at 18W. Since it’s an iPhone, you have nothing to worry about software support. At the very least, you can expect Apple to provide up to four to five years of software updates.

If you don’t care about the looks and want a solid compact phone under $500 that you can hold onto for years, the iPhone SE 2022 is the best option, without a doubt.

    Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)
    The iPhone SE 3 (2022) is the best compact phone on the market, packing powerful A15 chipset and a 4.7-inch display.

The iPhone SE 3 can also be considered as a contender for the best performant phone under $500, thanks to its flagship chip. But performance seen in the vacuum of a chip only does not paint a true picture. The smaller low refresh rate display does not lend to the best user experience that would take advantage of all that power under the hood, so you’re better off opting for a more rounded option if you’re looking for performance.

Best Newcomer: TCL 20 Pro 5G

TCL 20 Pro 5G

TCL might not be the first brand you think about when choosing a smartphone, but as it turns out, they’re bigger than you think. They manufactured a lot of devices from BlackBerry quite recently, for example, and they also made the newest Palm ultra-small Android phone. This time, they’re making phones under their own brand. We got to know them last year with the TCL 10L and the TCL 10 Pro, both of which got a state-side release, and while they’ve been out in the market for several months and successors are already on the way, I’m still counting TCL as a “newcomer” because their brand name is still relatively unknown. TCL is now coming back to the market with the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

The TCL 10 Pro comes with a Snapdragon 750G, a very capable mid-range processor, and a marked upgrade over the previous Snapdragon 675 in the previous TCL 10 Pro (and an upgrade that also means the phone supports 5G connectivity), up to 6 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, making it one of the best cheap phones under $500. The phone is running Android 11 with TCL’s own UI on top, and we expect it to get Android 12 once that’s out as well.

TCL is a rising player in smartphones in the USA, and their latest offering is an amazing proposition for what a lot of people will be using a smartphone for.

    TCL 20 Pro 5G
    The TCL 20 Pro 5G retails for $499 and brings excellent value to the table with a Snapdragon 750G, quad cameras on the back, a stunning display, up to 256 GB of storage, and 5G support. It's a fan favorite on Amazon, and we can see why.

Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30

Usually, smartphones that cost under $500 play it safe and stick to the tried and tested hardware. That means you don’t often see cool innovations on these mid-range devices. But the ZTE Axon 30 is an exception to that rule. The phone features an under-display camera, which allows it to have an almost seamless display without any cutouts or holes. The Axon 20 was technically the first smartphone to bring an under-display camera to the market. However, it was far from perfect and produced blurry photos. The new Axon 30 addresses many of these issues and represents a big qualitative leap over its predecessor. The second-gen under-display camera is no longer visible to the naked eye. You get a large 6.9-inch seamless display without a notch or cutout.

Beyond the under-display camera and the notchless camera, there’s plenty to like about the Axon 30. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 870 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. As far as general performance is concerned, you have nothing to worry about.

As for cameras, the 64MP primary shooter is dependable and capable of producing stellar photos with a wide dynamic range and accurate colors. But ZTE’s claimed improvements and enhancements, the selfie camera is still disappointing, producing blurry images with quite a bit of bloom.

    ZTE Axon 30
    The ZTE Axon 30 packs an under-display selfie camera and Snapdragon 870.

Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

OnePlus Nord 2T held in-hand

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an updated version of the highly successful Nord 2. It’s a fantastic mid-range smartphone. The only problem is the phone is restricted to Europe and India, like its predecessor. So instead of being one of our top picks, the phone has been relegated to honorable mentions. Furthermore, if you want the phone in the US, you’ll have to import it, which is a hassle and increases the device’s cost.

From a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display to 65W fast charging support, the Nord 2T comes with all the right things. The new model packs an even faster chipset. It’s powered by MediaTek 1300 SoC, a tiny step up from the MediaTek 1200 on the Nord 2. The camera system is unchanged, with the phone still packing the same 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. While the Nord 2T packs the same 4,500mAh battery, the charging speed has been boosted from 65W to 80W.

The phone’s software, which now includes the elements of Color OS, also doesn’t disappoint and will be appreciated by many people.

    OnePlus Nord 2T
    The OnePlus 2T is an updated version of the well-received Nord 2, offering a more powerful chipset, new design and faster charging speed.

These are the options we can recommend for different needs under the $500 price tag. Do you agree with our choices? What would you choose under the different categories? Let us know in the comments below.

The post These are the Best Android Phones under $500 in 2022! appeared first on XDA.



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