Foldable phones don’t come cheap, but the good news is that if you’ve always wanted one but were understandably hesitant to pay $2,000 for one, then you’re in luck. This is because right now, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is enjoying a (close to) $400 discount on Amazon.

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The phone is normally priced at $1,919.99, but right now it has been discounted by 19%, bringing its price down to $1,549.97! This is an absolute steal, especially when you consider the fact that despite it being 2023, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is still one of the best foldable smartphones out there right now.

Also, with its massive discount, it makes it a more appealing purchase compared to newer foldables like Google’s Pixel Fold. So if you want to save big, now’s your chance to do so!

Sale

SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 4 Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone,...

• FLEX MODE: Free up your hands with Flex Mode on the Galaxy Z Fold4; This smartphone stands on its own so you can take notes...
• HANDS FREE VIDEO: Don’t stay stuck to your cellphone; Set up your phone in Flex Mode and check off your to-dos while...

−$204.00 $1,715.99

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Whenever Samsung launches one of their flagship phones, the company usually chooses locations like the US or Europe to host its event. But this year, Samsung could be keeping things close to home.

According to a report from Yonhap News, when reporters attended the Samsung Ho-Am Award Ceremony at the Shilla Hotel, they asked Lee Young-hee, the President of Samsung DX division’s Global Marketing Center, about the rumors of the company’s plan to host the next Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea.

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Lee then responded by saying that Seoul is “meaningful and important” to the company, which suggests that the rumors could be true. Lee did not provide any specific dates for the event, but the rumors are claiming that it could take place this summer, around the 26th of July, which is earlier than Samsung typically hosts its second Unpacked event of the year.

We had previously heard the rumors that Samsung could be planning on pushing up the launch of their next-gen foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, as they don’t want Google’s newly-launched Pixel Fold to get all the attention. Whether or not that turns out to be true remains to be seen, but if the July launch is true, we won’t have to wait too long for Samsung to start sending out invites.

Source: SamMobile

Sale

SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 4

• FLEX MODE: Free up your hands with Flex Mode on the Galaxy Z Fold4; This smartphone stands on its own so you can take notes...
• HANDS FREE VIDEO: Don’t stay stuck to your cellphone; Set up your phone in Flex Mode and check off your to-dos while...

−$204.00 $1,715.99

See on Amazon

Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.

Qualcomm usually announces their flagship chipsets towards the end of the year, and that chipset will then be used in devices launching the following year. But it looks like Qualcomm has moved up the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The company has announced on its website that they will be hosting the 2023 Snapdragon Summit from the 24-26th of October. While there was no mention of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, there’s a pretty good chance that the chipset will be announced then. This is also earlier than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which was announced in the middle of November last year.

At the moment, not much is known about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. But if you recall, there was a rumor from last month which suggested that Qualcomm could be moving away from the current core configuration in favor of a new one.

Prior to this, Qualcomm used the 1+2+2+3 core configuration in both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Gen 2 models, but with the Gen 3, the company could be moving to the 1+5+2 configuration. This means that there will be greater emphasis on the “middle” cores, where it is expected to consist of 1x Cortex-X4 prime core, 5x Cortex-A720 cores, and 2x Cortex-A520 cores.

While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is expected to be used in 2024’s smartphones, tipster Digital Chat Station mentioned on Weibo that the Xiaomi 14 could be the first phone to do so and that it will debut this November.

Most people think that zoom camera lenses are to photograph objects from far away and that is their only purpose. While that is true to a certain extent, zoom lenses aren’t just limited to that and can be used for other things, like portraits, where a zoom lens helps to flatten the image to give it a more unique look.

If you are a fan of zoom lenses, then you might be interested to learn that for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung might actually be increasing the zoom for the phone’s camera. The Galaxy S23 Ultra currently has an optical zoom of 3x, but the report from Galaxy Club has suggested that it might be bumped up to 5x.

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We’ve already seen how powerful Samsung’s zoom lenses can be. Following the launch of the Galaxy S23 series, we’ve seen many videos of people, especially at concerts, taking crisp videos like they were seated in the front row, but in reality were actually standing pretty far. If Samsung were to bump it up to 5x, we imagine that the results will be even more spectacular, and could open up the door to more photography and videography possibilities.

That being said, it should be taken with a grain of salt for now. The Galaxy S24 series is still quite a long way off from being announced, so only time will tell if this rumor will pan out.

Source: GalaxyClub.nl

SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone,...

• CAPTURE THE NIGHT IN LOW LIGHT: Whether you’re headed to a concert or romantic night out, there’s no such thing as bad...
• HIGHEST PHONE CAMERA RESOLUTION: Create crystal-clear content worth sharing with Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200MP camera — the...

$1,199.99

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The Motorola RAZR+ (2023) is officially official! There have been plenty of leaks and rumors over the past few months, but we finally had a chance to use the phone and get a feel for what it has to offer. We don’t have our review unit in hand quite yet (it should be here in about a week), but we did manage to capture a few dozen photo and video samples with the new device to see how its cameras perform.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a full camera test with the RAZR+ (2023) since we only had about an hour to use the device and did not have the opportunity to capture any low-light photo or video samples. We plan on doing our usual camera test with the new RAZR as soon as our review unit arrive, so make sure you check back in soon.

Take a look at the photo and video samples and let us know what you think of the camera system on the Motorola RAZR+ (2023).

Motorola RAZR+ (2023) camera specs

• 12MP (main), 4K video at up to 60fps
• 13MP (ultrawide/macro), 4K video at up to 30fps
• 32MP (selfie), 4K video at up to 60fps

The original Motorola Razr was launched more than a decade ago and when it launched, the hype was real. This is because back then, feature phones weren’t as stylishly designed, nor were they as thin compared to the Razr, at least back in the day.

The Razr has since been revisited in recent years and reimagined as a foldable phone. For fans of the Razr, you might be interested to learn that Motorola has officially taken the wraps off its later iteration in the form of the Razr+ (also known as the Razr 40 Ultra for global markets).

One of the biggest and most notable changes in the Razr+ over its predecessors would be its external display. Motorola has given it a massive upgrade, bumping it up to 3.6-inches where it basically takes up half of the phone’s outer shell. To leverage this new external display, Motorola will also be introducing new software experiences like Panels, which allows users to prioritize what they see. Users will also be able to customize it with new wallpapers and clock styles, play games, and for Spotify users, there will even be a dedicated Spotify panel.

Inside, the display has also been given an upgrade from 6.7-inches to 6.9-inches while boasting a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. Under the hood, this is where it is a little disappointing. The Razr+ is being powered by 2022’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This doesn’t mean that it won’t be capable or powerful, it’s just that for a 2023 flagship, we would have loved to see it use newer technology.

In the camera department, the Razr+ will feature a dual camera setup on the back with a 12MP main and a 13MP wide. One thing we should note is that the 2022 Razr actually came with a 50MP main, so on paper it sounds like the use of a 12MP sensor is a “downgrade”, but in reality your experience should be the same, if not better.

This is because Motorola has adopted a higher quality sensor with a larger pixel size. The Razr+ has a pixel size of 1.4µm, versus the 2022 Razr’s 1.0µm. This means that the pixels will be able to collect more light (more data) despite its resolution being lower. Plus, megapixels aren’t everything, especially since most of us upload photos to social media where they are compressed or viewed on small screens. The larger pixels also means that in theory, it should be able to snap better photos in low-light settings.

Last but not least, the Moto Razr+ will pack a 3,800mAh battery. This is actually smaller than the Razr 2023, but this is due to the inclusion of the larger external display which forced Motorola to make some compromises.

The Moto Razr+ will be available for pre-order in the US starting on the 16th of June where it will be priced at $999.99.

Foldable display technology is still relatively new compared to the displays found in more traditional smartphones. Plus, the construction of foldables is more complex than your non-foldable smartphone. Add this all together and you’ve got yourself a device that’s usually priced well above the price range of the masses.

While there have been reports that Samsung might be looking to launch a foldable phone that’s affordable, it appears that Motorola could have beaten them to the punch with the launch of their latest smartphone, the Moto Razr 2023.

The Razr 2023 is one of two foldables announced by Motorola, but unlike its flagship Razr+ sibling, the Razr 2023 will be packing some mid-range hardware. Design wise, the Razr 2023 will be more or less the same as the Razr+ save for its smaller external display, but it is under the hood where the major differences are.

The Razr 2023 will be packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and will come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Its external display measures 1.5-inches while its inner display has a 6.9-inch FHD+ pOLED screen and a 144Hz refresh rate. On the camera side of things, the Razr 2023 will feature a 64MP main shooter that is accompanied by a 13MP wide-angle lens, while the front-facing shooter has a 32MP sensor.

It will also pack a 4,200mAh battery with support for 30W of TurboPower fast-charging. While pricing of the Razr 2023 has yet to be officially confirmed, given its specs it shouldn’t be priced more than the Razr+, making it a potentially more affordable foldable phone when it launches in the coming months.

In today’s world of modern vehicles with smart capabilities, it’s not uncommon to see features that you’d usually get on smartphones become available for cars. With that in mind, we’ve seen a lot of manufacturers take this route, offering passengers more features at their fingertips.

It’s safe to say that Polestar is one of these manufacturers – the company’s decision to integrate more Google software services with its vehicular software platform has so far been consistent, with the manufacturer adding another signature Google app in its latest software update.

More specifically, the software update comes with version number P2.9, and will finally bring over the YouTube app for Polestar owners. This new update will be available entirely via an OTA download, so users are urged to check if they can now get their hands on the new software patch.

This new development adds more Google software integration to compatible Polestar vehicles, as the manufacturer uses Android Automotive in its EVs. The update will come to models including the Polestar 2, and the company adds that the update will bring an updated version of Apple CarPlay onboard, which will be able to to project Apple Maps onto the instrument cluster.

Source: The Verge

If you’re a frequent user of the Google Wallet app and are in the United States, then you might be pleased to know that the app will be able to accommodate new types of cards and IDs soon, according to an update published by Google.

More specifically, Google Wallet will soon be able to incorporate additional pass types. For example, users will soon be able to take photos of cards with barcodes or QR codes on them, and create a secure digital version for use within the app. Additionally, users will also be able to add health insurance cards to the app, by way of a collaboration between Google and Humana. Users in the UK will be able to save their National Insurance Number to their Wallet from the HMRC app.

These types of cards will come with a “private pass” label as they do contain sensitive information, and Google says that users will have to verify their identity to be able to use these types of cards, either through PIN codes or biometrics.

Furthermore, users with Maryland IDs or driver’s licenses will be able to add their card to Google Wallet, although it should be noted that their device must be running Android 8.0 or later, with device lock enabled. This feature will soon be available for residents of Arizona, Colorado and Georgia as well.

Google adds that users of Google Messages with RCS enabled will be able to complete their check-in process entirely in the Messages app. A user’s boarding pass or train ticket will be sent directly to their Messages app and from there, users can save it to their Wallet. Google says that this feature will begin rolling this out with Vietnam Airlines and Renfe train lines in Spain.

Finally, Google will begin introducing corporate badges in Google Wallet later this year, which will provide employees convenient and secure access to buildings and such. Local transit passes will soon be available in more territories as well – for example, users Germany can now save a Deutschlandticket purchased at select transit agencies to their Wallet and conveniently access all local public transport nationwide.

Users are urged to keep an eye out for when these updates begin rolling out to their respective devices.

Source: Google

While smartwatches are a great way to integrate fitness features and smart OS capabilities into a single device, they’re often expensive and lack impressive battery endurance. In this case, users might want to go instead for a fitness band, which doesn’t skip out on health-tracking functions and battery life.

With that in mind, you might want to go instead for a more modest tracker from Fitbit. In particular, Fitbit’s Charge 5 manages to get a lot of things right – it tracks your workouts, sleep, SpO2 and heart rate, and can even keep an eye on users’ ECG metrics. The Charge 5 also packs GPS functionality and a touch screen, all in a sleek and minimalist design that goes beyond the plastic builds seen on most fitness trackers out on the market.

It’s currently on sale right now, and you can check it out using the link below.

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Fitbit Charge 5

The Fitbit Charge 5 packs all the fitness tracking essentials, all in an attractive minimalist design.

−$24.45 $125.50

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The majority of smartphones these days come with support for wireless charging. The good news is that Google is expected to maintain that feature in the upcoming Pixel 8, but don’t get your hopes up at seeing an upgrade in that department.

This is according to a report from 9to5Google in which they spotted the Pixel 8 being listed on the Wireless Power Consortium’s (WPC) website. Based on the listing, it has been suggested that the Pixel 8 will continue to use the same Qi wireless charging standard as its predecessor, meaning that it will charge at a max rate of 12W.

Why is this important? This is because at the start of 2023, the WPC officially unveiled the next iteration of its Qi standard called Qi2. As 9to5Google notes, given that the standard was only announced this year, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Pixel 8 might not support it as presumably development of the handset began much earlier, and now it might be too late for Google to switch things out.

We’re not sure if this is such a bad thing though. For the most part wireless charging is more about convenience rather than speed, which means that whether or not a phone uses the current Qi standard or the new Qi2 standard, it still functions more or less the same where you can enjoy the same wireless convenience.

It is possible that maybe this listing isn’t 100% accurate and that Google could adopt Qi2 for the Pixel 8, but either way we’ll have to wait and see.

Source: 9to5Google

Just because a person might have used an iPhone for years doesn’t mean that they will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The same can also be said for Android, where even the most hardcore Android users might one day just jump ship and leave for Apple’s iPhone.

The question is, why would they? After all, one of the main reasons why Android users don’t like the iPhone is Apple’s walled garden approach which is more restrictive compared to Android, but yet at the end of the day, some do. Turns out there’s a reason, according to a recent survey conducted by the folks at CIRP.

As it turns out, the main reason why Android users might leave Google’s ecosystem for the iPhone is due to what CIRP says are “prior phone problems”. This basically means that the user’s current phone did not serve them as well as they would have liked, it started to age and needed repairs, or there were issues that ultimately affected their experience.

It’s an interesting reason but one that’s not hard to understand. There are dozens of brands making Android phones, with each trying to make their devices unique by using different hardware combinations and also introducing exclusive software features. This means that while some users might be perfectly happy with one brand, users of another brand might be having a bad experience.

Maybe it could be due to poor customer support, or updates that take forever which means some users get left behind while other users get to enjoy the latest Android experience, and so on.

But what about you? Have you switched over from Android to iPhone, and what was your reason for doing so?

Source: 9to5Mac

New smartphone designs and new hardware features are reasons to get excited over technology, but since it’s not realistic to buy a new phone or tablet or watch every year, software updates are just as important as they introduce new and better ways we can use our devices.

The good news for Android and Wear OS users is that Google has recently announced a bunch of new features that will be part of an upcoming update, so here’s what you can expect.

For starters, one of the new features Google will be introducing to Android to improve literacy is “Reading practice”. This helps users improve things like their vocabulary and comprehension skills. It will also be able to pronounce words so you know how to say them correctly.

Google will also be introducing three new Android widgets in the form of Google TV, Google Finance where you can now track selected stocks, and also get headlines that have been curated daily from Google News. There will also be new tiles and watch face shortcuts on Wear OS for Spotify, giving users another way of controlling their music from their wrist.

Another fun feature that users can look forward to are updates to the Emoji Kitchen, where users will now be able to combine more emojis for fun combinations that they can use in their messages.

Last but not least, and this is kind of a big one, is that Google is now rolling out its dark web report to more users in the US. What this does is that it scans the dark web to see if your Gmail address might have been exposed, as well as provide users with tips on how they can better protect themselves.

These updates and changes are in the process of being rolled out, so keep an eye out for it on your device.

Source: Google

Reckless drivers have always been a problem ever since cars were invented, but these days, technology has enabled us to protect ourselves in the event that an accident happens, and this comes in the form of dash cams.

With the help of dash cams, we can continuously monitor the road in front of us and behind us and record everything that’s happening. This means that in the event of an accident, we have video footage that might help get us out of trouble, especially if the other party is denying any wrongdoing.

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If you are in the market for a dash cam, then you’re in luck because REDTIGER’s F7N 4K dash cam is currently enjoying a 41% discount, knocking its price down from $209.99 down to a much more affordable $118.99. It offers both front and rear recordings up to 4K in resolution, and it even sports a 3.16-inch display. All in all, it’s a pretty good deal and might be worth checking out.

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REDTIGER F7N 4K Dual Dash Cam Built-in WiFi GPS Front 4K/2.5K and Rear...

• [Ultra HD 4K+1080P Dual Dash Cam] Featuring top quality 4K front camera and 1080p rear cam, the REDTIGER dashcam is able to...
• [Built-in GPS Tracking & Wi-Fi Connection] The built-in GPS module enables the dash cam to precisely pinpoint the vehicle’s...

−$82.00 $118.99

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Despite being a year old, the iPhone 13 Pro is a great flagship smartphone to have even in 2023. It delivers superb performance, thanks to the Apple A15 Bionic processor. There is a Super Retina XDR OLED display for immersive media consumption and a 12-megapixel triple camera setup with superb camera quality.

There is a 3,095mAh battery with 23W wired fast charging and wireless charging support so that you can quickly charge your iPhone whenever running out of juice. But what about situations where you do not have a charger or a wall socket around? This is where having a power bank can help you big time. A power bank lets you charge your phone anytime using a charging cable.

Here are the best power banks for the iPhone 13 Pro that you can buy in 2023.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

It is the official Apple MagSafe power bank that snaps to the back of the iPhone. It can deliver up to 15W wireless charging. There is a Lightning connector and LED indicator lights.

$95.00

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Belkin 10,000mAh 3-port Power Bank

This is a 10,000mAh power bank with three ports. It has dual USB-A ports and a USB-C port. The power output will be 12W and 15W respectively. It will deliver a combined 15W output when all three ports are in use. It has four LED indicator lights.

$29.99

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Belkin 10,000mAh Wireless Power Bank

It is a MagSafe compatible power bank that snaps to the back of your iPhone and charges it wirelessly. It has a 10,000mAh capacity with a charging power output of 7.5W. Its USB-C port can deliver up to 18W charging speed.

$59.99

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Anker PowerCore 321 5,000mAh Wireless Charger

This slim, compact wireless power bank comes with 5,000mAh capacity and 7.5W charging speed. It snaps to iPhone's back magnetically and can be recharged while charging the phone. Available in five different color options.

$31.99

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Baseus 20,000mAh Power Bank

This 20,000mAh power bank from Baseus can deliver up to 65W charging speed. It has a USB-C port, dual USB-A port, and a microUSB port. There are three output ports and two input ports. It has a display to show relevant information like battery level, charging voltage, and charging current.

−$20.00 $59.99

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Baseus 6,000mAh Wireless Charger

It is a compact, lightweight power bank with 6,000mAh capacity. It can deliver 20W wired fast charging and 7.5W wireless charging. It has a USB-C port and comes with USB-C to USB-C cable. Available in Pearl White and Deep Black colors.

$36.99

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Mophie 10,000mAh Power Bank

This 10,000mAh power bank comes with an in-built Lightning cable. You can use USB-A port to charge another device at the same time. Three LED indicator lights are present on the side.

$49.95

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Mophie Powerstation 6,000mAh Power Bank

This is a lightweight power bank with 6,000mAh capacity. It has a USB-C port and a USB-A port where the former can deliver up to 18W fast charging. There are three LED indicator lights on the side.

$24.95

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Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running

Samsung’s launch of its Gaming Hub platform a while back was accompanied with promises from the company for an expanded library of games, and the gradual addition of more service partners to the platform. With that in mind, Samsung recently announced that nearly 3,000 games will now be accessible to select Samsung smart TVs and monitors.

The announcement coincides with the launch of Antstream Arcade and Blacknut for the Gaming Hub partner lineup, in addition to pre-existing partnerships with Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, and Utomik. This new development brings over 1,400 games with arcade classics from Antstream Arcade, and over 500 premium family titles and exclusive games from Blacknut.

Antstream Arcade specializes in giving gamers access to retro gaming classics such as Galaga and Double Dragon, which can now be accessed through the Gaming Hub feature on your Samsung TV or monitor (provided that it is a compatible model). It’s also currently offering 12 months of access to the platform for $12, a significant discount to play the platform’s extensive catalog of retro games.

Blacknut is an online video game streaming service that offers instant access to more than 500 games with a monthly subscription, that includes five simultaneously accessible player profiles as well as a game library available on a variety of screens. Blacknut also offers new users a 15-day free trial to check out its catalog and play games on select 2022 and 2023 Samsung TVs.

Additionally, Antstream will be running a Samsung global tournament to coincide with this launch, offering players a chance to win a lifetime subscription of Antstream and to win one of three annual subscriptions. Interested gamers can enter the tournament at antstream.com.

Source: Samsung

A few days back, we published our review of the Pixel 7a, Google’s newest mid-range Android entry. As far as “affordable” smartphones are concerned, the Pixel 7a manages to get a lot of things right, and it packs some much-welcome hardware upgrades, which serve to redefine what can expect from midrange and flagship phones.

Based on our time using it however, it’s clear that the Pixel 7a has its faults – after all, no smartphone is perfect. As with any other device out there, its weak points should be taken into consideration, especially for folks looking to upgrade to the 7a, or who are curious about what Pixel devices have to offer. So terrific camera and software aside, what exactly does the Pixel 7a need to work on? Let’s take a look.

Battery Endurance

Battery performance is probably one of the most subjective use cases when it comes to Android devices, as each owner will have their own preferences in terms of apps, tasks, and other day-to-day usage scenarios.  In my case however, the Pixel 7a seems to come with some of the same issues that were present on its more premium sibling, the Pixel 7. In a way this is to be expected, as both phones feature the same Tensor G2 chipset and the same software.

More specifically, the phone’s battery does have some trouble keeping up with the kind of usage that I require of my phones. Having lived around London, my daily smartphone usage typically consists of constant data and location access, especially since I tend to use navigation apps like Google Maps and City Mapper on a frequent basis. Couple this with a high display brightness and music streaming when outdoors, and you have a guaranteed recipe for considerable battery drain. 

I wasn’t getting the 4-5 hours of SoT that I managed to on earlier Pixel devices… and this was admittedly frustrating.

With that being said, I was never able to push the phone beyond four hours of screen on time. SoT is a subjective way of measuring battery performance, although I’d like to think that it paints a picture of an individual’s daily usage. In this particular scenario, my battery had dropped to the 20% range, just after 3 and a half hours of usage. I wasn’t getting the 4-5 hours of SoT that I managed to on earlier Pixel devices like the 3a, 4a and even the 6, and this was admittedly frustrating.

Even our own Nick Gray had some qualms about the Pixel 7a, particularly in terms of battery calibration. On one occasion, the 7a’s battery indicator dropped instantly from three to two percent, and within five seconds dropped to one percent, at which point the phone immediately shut off.

Thermal Management

Smartphones tend to get warm, especially during a lot of use. The Pixel 7a is definitely no exception in this regard, and the phone does tend to get a bit hotter than most. It’s an experience that I’ve had before on the Pixel 7, and it once again rears its ugly head on the 7a.

This wouldn’t be much of a problem if the phone got warm during heavy tasks such as gaming – however the 7a has a habit of heating up with even basic usage, such as web browsing and social media apps for example. Fortunately, one could mitigate this issue by switching over to a Wifi connection, which drastically reduces heating. In cases where Wifi isn’t available though, I’ve had to put up with less-than-ideal thermal scenarios when using the phone.

It should also be said that Google recently launched an update that addresses the heating issues that users have been having with their Pixel phones, and hopefully this improves how the Pixel 7a performs moving forward.

Other Issues

At the risk of sounding like an obsessive nit-picker, I do think that there are some other issues that the Pixel 7a comes with, that can hopefully be fixed by software optimizations from Google – after all, the company does pride the Pixel phones as being software-centric, offering users with a smarter experience rather than full-on raw performance and power.

…at the end of the day, the Pixel 7a’s strengths still lie with its stellar point-and-shoot capabilities, and a software experience that sets it apart from competing devices.

There are times when the adaptive brightness setting for the display doesn’t automatically kick in, forcing you to manually adjust the display brightness. It’s an issue that we’ve seen before on older Pixel devices, and it’s somewhat annoying that it’s still present on what a brand-new device from Google. There’s also the issue of the extremely slow charging speed, although to be fair this is more of a hardware limitation, but one that will be a point of consideration for discerning buyers.

With all that being said, I don’t think that it’s fair to say that the phone isn’t entirely usable – at the end of the day, the Pixel 7a’s strengths still lie with its stellar point-and-shoot capabilities, and a software experience that sets it apart from competing devices. Given its more “affordable” status in the Pixel lineup, there will be some grievances with the 7a, although we do hope that Google addresses these through future updates.

What do you think? Have you had issues with your Pixel 7a? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more on the Pixel 7a!

• How to Reset your Pixel 7a
• Best Slim Cases for the Pixel 7a
• Pixel 7a: 5 Accessories to get Started!

One of the points of contention with smartwatches has less to do with functionality, but the fact that they need to be charged. Some models might need charging on a daily basis, while others might last a couple of weeks, but ultimately this still pales in comparison to traditional watches that can last for years.

That being said, if battery is a huge priority to you when it comes to wearables, Garmin’s got a couple of new models you might be interested in. The company has recently taken the wraps off a couple of brand new smartwatches – the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix 2 Pro. While there are now two new models, they do share at least one similarity in that they both have support for solar charging.

What this means is that if you find yourself constantly outdoors, you can rely on solar energy to help boost the overall battery life of your smartwatch. As far as general battery life is concerned, the Epix 2 Pro is said to be capable of going up to 16 days in smartwatch mode, while the Fenix 7 Pro is rated at a whopping 22 days.

As for their specs and features, here’s where it gets a bit interesting. Both models are actually kind of similar to each other, with the main difference being in their displays. The Epix 2 Pro will feature an AMOLED display, while the Fenix 7 Pro uses a Memory-In-Pixel display which is more energy-efficient, which might explain why it lasts longer too.

Both watches will also come with brand new optical heart rate sensors, and there is also a flashlight mode, strobe lighting for when you’re running at night, along with shaded-relief maps, weather overlays, and more. If you’re keen on picking up either model, the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro is priced starting at $800 for the 42mm model, while the Epix 2 Pro will retail for $900 for the 42mm model.

If you’re looking for mesh WiFi routers, Google’s Nest WiFi Pro is one of the best mesh routers out there right now, especially if you’re a fan of Google and love being part of their ecosystem. It is also incredibly simple to setup which makes it quite a joy to use.

That being said, it’s not perfect. There are issues with all gadgets out there, but thankfully in the latest update to the router, Google will be addressing some bugs as well as introducing performance improvements to the mesh router that should hopefully make your overall experience a lot better.

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Some of the fixes Google has introduced as part of its May update is fixing the reported speeds for those with 500Mbps or faster connections. It will also improve mesh speed test results consistency, and will also improve the overall performance, security, and stability of the routers.

The update should be rolling out as we speak, but if you’re not sure if your Nest WiFi Pro might have automatically updated itself, just launch the Google Home app, go to its Devices page, tap on the Nest WiFi Pro and check its software version. If you’ve already updated, you should have the firmware version 1.63.355999. If it’s anything older, then you will need to update it.

Source: 9to5Google

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Remember a few years ago when Apple’s iMessage had some kind of weird bug where if certain characters were sent, it would cause the app to crash? It looks like WhatsApp is now plagued by a similar issue.

This is according to a tweet by Brute Bee on Twitter where they revealed that simply sending the link “wa.me/settings” would cause WhatsApp on Android to crash. It’s kind of weird because prior to this, WhatsApp had no trouble handling links, and now this link which will open WhatsApp’s settings should be the least of WhatsApp’s issues.

https://twitter.com/BruteBee/status/1663169721263431681

We would understand if there were weird/special characters involved that might make the app act up, but this is just a normal link to the WhatsApp’s settings so it shouldn’t have been an issue to begin with. That being said, for now there is a temporary workaround and that is to simply delete the chat with the link.

We know that some of you might not want to delete the chat because it might have meaning or history to you, so the alternative would be to simply access WhatsApp through the web where this problem is non-existent. At the moment it appears to only affect WhatsApp on Android devices, but either way hopefully the folks at Meta will have a fix for it soon.