If you are using iOS 14 or earlier, go to Settings and tap on your name, then tap Find My and turn off Find My iPhone. Tap Apple ID at the top left, go back and scroll down to the bottom to tap Sign Out. You will have to enter your password and tap Sign Out again.
Now you’re ready to wipe the iPhone. Go to Settings > General and scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. You’ll be asked to confirm, and it may take a few minutes to complete the process.
How to Factory-Reset Your Android Phone
Start by backing up your Android phone, then remove any MicroSD cards and your SIM card. Remember to use the backup function in specific apps (like WhatsApp) and to transfer codes from apps like Google Authenticator.
Android has an anti-theft measure called Factory Reset Protection (FRP). It means that even after you wipe an Android phone, you need the last Google account login to set it up again. It should only kick in if you use the recovery menu to wipe your phone, but here’s how to disable FRP anyway. Remove your Google account (we recommend removing all of your accounts at the same time). Different Android manufacturers have slightly different menus, so your options may vary.
On a Google Pixel, you can do this in Settings by tapping Passwords and accounts. Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings and select Accounts and backup, then Manage accounts. Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account.
Now you can wipe the Android phone, but this process is also slightly different depending on who made your phone. On a Google Pixel, for example, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) > Erase all data (you will need to enter your PIN), and finally Erase all data again.
On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > General Management > Reset, and choose Factory Data Reset. Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset, then Delete all (you may need to enter your Samsung account details).
Other Android phones will have similar options to what we have listed here, but if you can’t find them, head to the manufacturer’s website to find a guide.
ESR Wireless Car Charger for $22: It is very affordable, has strong magnets that work well with MagSafe iPhones, and charges at up to 15 watts, but I’m not keen on the superfluous logo and lights, and I have my doubts about the durability of this charger. It plugs into the ball joint of the vent or dash mount provided, but I had trouble with the vent attachment.
Nomad USB-C Car Charger for $60: It’s expensive and bulky, but this dual-port Power Delivery charger slots into your car socket and can supply 70 watts from either USB-C port. If you use both, the top blue port gives you 50 watts and the bottom supplies 20 watts.
iOttie Aivo View Dash Cam for $150: With a sleek, compact design, the iOttie Aivo View looks the part and records video at up to 1,600p and 30 frames per second. There’s a Bluetooth remote button to trigger recordings, and it supports Alexa for voice commands, but I found the app flaky and very slow to download videos.
Vantrue Element 1 Dash Cam for $150: This dinky dashcam from Vantrue records crisp video at up to 1,440p and 30 frames per second with support for HDR. It also has a park mode and built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, but I could not get the app to connect, so I had to remove the microSD card to review the footage.
NextBase 222 Dash Cam for $60: This basic dashcam works reasonably well and has the same design as NextBase’s more expensive models with a color screen on the back. But it can only record at 1080p and 30 frames per second, and I found it hard to read license plates at night. It does support parking mode, but there’s no GPS, so videos lack information on coordinates and speed.
NextBase 522GW Dash Cam for $219: If your budget won’t stretch to the 622GW above, this is the next model down, and it boasts many of the same features, including parking mode, Alexa, and the optional emergency SOS subscription. Video tops out at 1,440p and 30 fps, there’s no what3words support, and nighttime performance is nowhere near as good, but this is probably your best option in this price bracket.
iOttie Velox MagSafe Wireless Charging Car Mount for $42: Our previous pick for the best MagSafe vent mount isn’t just classy but also rock solid. It’s similar to the Belkin listed above but maxes out at 7.5 watts. If you don’t mind the slower charging speed, you can save money by choosing this mount.
Joyroom MagSafe Vent Mount Charger for $27: Here’s another wireless charging MagSafe vent mount for iPhones. It holds MagSafe iPhones and cases securely, and emits a soft blue light to make it easy to find in the dark (it turns off when you mount your iPhone). It is a solid option to have your iPhone in landscape orientation, but is not suitable for heavier Max models. Joyroom claims it charges at 15 watts, but it only charged my iPhone 14 Pro at 7.5 watts.
Mophie Dual USB-C Car Charger for $35: This is a solid dual USB-C port charger that only misses out on a spot above because it maxes out at 40 watts. It supports Power Delivery, has a durable aluminum finish, and there’s a handy grippy texture that makes it easy to remove.
We’re only spending more and more time staring at our smartphones, and over the past few years, tech companies have tried to offer salves to this very problem they created. Apple and Google launched tools within their respective mobile operating systems to curb screen time. Devices like the Light Phone, designed to act as a secondary phone with limited features so you’re not staring at Instagram when you’re at a social gathering, are enjoying some popularity. This kind of digital-detox mentality is also behind a wave of AI-powered gadgets like the Humane Ai Pin, which promises to offload some smartphone-native tasks to voice controls on a screenless interface.
The latest to hop on the trend is The Boring Phone, announced today ahead of Milan Design Week. The company manufacturing it is Human Mobile Devices (HMD), better known as the company making Nokia-branded phones since 2017 thanks to a licensing partnership. The Boring Phone is cute, transparent, and retrolicious. But it is not a phone you can buy.
The Boring Phone is all retro vibes. Even the Heineken ad is lo-fi.
Courtesy of HMD
At Mobile World Congress in February 2024, the Finnish company announced it was leaning in on the Human Mobile Devices branding versus the acronym HMD and that it would broaden its scope by collaborating with other brands outside of Nokia as a white-label phone manufacturer. The big announcement at the time was the Barbie flip phone—stemming from a partnership with Mattel—coming this summer. We don’t have any new details about that device, but The Boring Phone hails from a collaboration with Heineken (yes, the beer brand) and fashion brand Bodega.
This feature phone (colloquially referred to as “dumb” phones) can only text and make phone calls. There’s a camera, Dual SIM support, 4G connectivity, a headphone jack, and a Micro USB port for charging. The battery can last a week in standby time, but there are no apps. Except Snake. Yes, you can play Snake on this gadget.
Bodega is behind the design, citing the rise of “Newtro” (new and retro) as inspiration with Gen Z—the modernization of popular gadgets from the 1980s and ’90s. That has resulted in a transparent flip phone with holographic stickers and green accents in a nod to the Heineken partnership. Honestly, the look of this handset is half the reason I’m writing this piece. It’s gorgeous.
Other perks to being a Backbone+ subscriber include game capture, recording, and editing tools for folks who like to share content on social media. There are promotions, like free months of Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass, in-game content for titles like Diablo Immortal, and 30 percent off new Backbone products and accessories.
Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a cost. Yet another subscription is a hard sell nowadays. As nice as it is to have a single portal, shelling out for Backbone+ may not be worthwhile for everyone. If the one-stop shop interface for all your games is included as part of the free app, it would be easy to recommend, but $50 a year is too much to pay for folks who don’t care about the other functionality or promotions.
That old expectation that mobile games should be free is persistent. Most folks are yet to be sold on alternative models to in-app purchases and advertising, like Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass. The latest rumors suggest Apple Arcade’s future is in doubt. That is a shame because, in my experience as a subscriber to both, they are a great way to discover titles worth playing. Discoverability remains a big problem for mobile games.
Breaking Down Barriers
Khaira kicked off Backbone because of the gaming sessions he had with friends. In a house full of consoles and gaming PCs, smartphones were the common denominator where they could all play Fortnite together after work. With the console wars raging and all the non-gaming giants trying to break in, what happens next is tough to predict. But the shift towards a subscription model and the platform agnosticism in mobile feels increasingly inevitable.
When the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, recently addressed the console exclusivity issue, where certain games are only available on one console, he said, “It’s not about games in service of a device, but rather the devices people want to play on should be in service of making the games as big and popular as they possibly could be.”
Whether you want to play games on your Xbox, PlayStation, gaming PC, or smartphone, it looks like that choice is opening up. The new Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile game promises to connect up to 120 players across console, PC, and mobile platforms. Activision says more than 50 million players pre-downloaded the game, and Backbone is offering perks and in-game items for subscribers (plus releasing a Prestige Edition controller to commemorate the launch).
Beyond crossplay, which enables people to play games together on different devices, we are starting to see more cross-progression, carrying your video game progress from one platform to another. Making games available anywhere makes them more accessible, allowing us all to play more. That has to be a good thing.
That was Apple CEO Tim Cook’s famous response at Vox’s 2022 Code Conference, when a reporter complained that her mother couldn’t see the videos she texted to her mom’s Android phone because they were grainy and slow.
It’s also a quip that US Attorney General Merrick Garland quoted – and sharply criticized – Thursday at a press conference announcing the Justice Department’s landmark antitrust lawsuit against Apple, in which the Biden administration and 16 states allege Apple is illegally abusing the iPhone’s monopoly power in the smartphone market.
The massive lawsuit against one of the world’s largest companies claims Apple is breaking the law by carefully curating its app store and customer experience, designed to lure customers in and keep them buying Apple products and services – to the exclusion of competitors.
Apple, in a statement, said it disagreed with the lawsuit and would fight it vigorously.
“This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets,” the company said.
If successful, the suit could force Apple to loosen some of the restrictions it has placed on its “walled garden” approach to hardware and software. It could be made to open up its iPhone to alternative app stores and its technologies like iMessage with Android phones.
The Justice Department, in its complaint, highlighted five ways it says Apple is abusing its dominant position to the detriment of Americans.
Green bubbles
With iMessage, Apple created an enhanced text messaging service that allows people to seamlessly communicate with one another, sending rich text, high-quality video and audio that uploads almost instantly – as long as it’s sent to another iPhone customer.
When those messages get sent to people with Android phones, they appear grainy, they can be slow to load, and they can miss out on key features like emoji responses, editing functionality and end-to-end encryption. The dreaded “green bubbles” that mark Android users within iMessage – and particularly the lower-quality performance – are illegal, the Justice Department alleges.
“As any iPhone user who has ever seen a green text message, or received a tiny, grainy video can attest — Apple’s anticompetitive conduct also includes making it more difficult for iPhone users to message with users of non-Apple products,” Garland said on Thursday. “As a result, iPhone users perceive rival smartphones as being lower quality because the experience of messaging friends and family who do not own iPhones is worse — even though Apple is the one responsible for breaking cross-platform messaging. And it does so intentionally.”
Apple last year said it would adopt a new standard of technology for communication with Android phones that will open up some, but not all, of those features. The green bubbles will remain.
Apple Pay exclusivity
Apple helped revolutionize the way we pay for things, tying customers’ credit cards to technology inside iPhones to make payments more secure and seamless. And Apple takes a tiny payment for each transaction.
But Apple Pay is the only way iPhone owners can pay for stuff using that technology on an iPhone. Apple, citing security reasons, doesn’t allow third-party apps to access the chip that allows for iPhones to make mobile payments. It also could entice some customers to stick with iPhones when they’d otherwise switch to a competitor, the lawsuit alleges.
“Apple also deprives users of the benefits and innovations third-party wallets would provide,” the Justice Department said in its complaint. “Cross-platform digital wallets would offer an easier, more seamless, and potentially more secure way for users to switch from the iPhone to another smartphone.”
Making rivals less useful than Apple Watch
Apple Watch, one of Apple’s most successful products, is not compatible with Android phones – on purpose, the Justice Department alleges.
Although some smartwatches work seamlessly with any kind of smartphone, Apple Watches, a market leader, require iPhones to operate. That locks customers into Apple’s ecosystem of hardware and software, forcing Apple Watch customers to buy iPhones.
“Apple uses smartwatches, a costly accessory, to prevent iPhone customers from choosing other phones,” the Justice Department said in its complaint. “Having copied the idea of a smartwatch from third-party developers, Apple now prevents those developers from innovating and limits the Apple Watch to the iPhone to prevent a negative ‘impact to iPhone sales.’”
Banning third-party app stores
The only way to get apps on an iPhone is through Apple’s proprietary app store. Apple has long claimed that its approach to maintaining what apps can and cannot be used on an iPhone helps customers. It prevents spam and harmful apps, Apple says.
It forces apps into Apple’s onerous limitations and expensive 30% commissions, the Justice Department argues. And it limits competition.
For example, the Justice Department cites cloud-based gaming app stores as a service that Apple illegally prevents from appearing on an iPhone. Companies that want to stream games to customers have to load each individual game to the app store, which prevents companies from marketing and selling potentially powerful and popular competitive technology to customers.
Restricting super apps
Apple forces app developers to write code specifically for its operating system, restricting developers from coding using universal languages that could offer a single app experience across any device.
That prevents apps from becoming “super apps” – apps that run identically on Apple’s iOS iPhone operating system and Google’s Android OS. Apple also restricts “mini programs” – apps within apps that effectively run on the web. The Justice Department says that requirement locks developers into Apple’s system.
“Since at least 2017, Apple has arbitrarily imposed exclusionary requirements that unnecessarily and unjustifiably restrict mini programs and super apps,” the Justice Department said in its complaint. “Apple exerted its control over app distribution to stifle others’ innovation.”
February 3, 2016 – A jury orders Apple to pay $626 million in damages after finding that iMessage, FaceTime and other Apple software infringed on another company’s patents. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2010 by the company VirnetX, accuses Apple of violating four patents, which mostly involve methods for real-time communications over the Internet.
February 16, 2016 –Apple refuses to comply with a California judge’s order to assist the FBI in hacking the iPhone of the San Bernardino gunman. A public letter signed by Cook states why the company is refusing to abide by the government’s demands.
August 30, 2016 – The European Union rules that Apple must pay Ireland $14.5 billion in back taxes. According to the EU, Ireland had been giving the tech company a break on taxes for more than two decades. Ireland’s finance minister issues a statement criticizing the EU’s ruling and declares that the country does not play favorites with a lower tax rate for certain companies. In a letter, Cook says he anticipates the EU’s tax ruling will be reversed on appeal.
September 12, 2017 – Apple unveils the iPhone X, alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus – all of which support wireless charging. The iPhone X will also feature facial detection technology, no home button, a 3D camera and an edge-to-edge screen.
November 18, 2020 –Apple agrees to pay $113 million to settle an investigation by states including California and Arizona over how Apple wasn’t transparent about its iPhone battery problems that led to unexpected device shutdowns.
The Honor Magic 6 Pro is a strange phone. It folds innovative new AI features, secure 3D face unlock, cutting-edge battery tech, and a powerful camera into an expensively sleek body. But the MagicOS software is buggy, the camera is inconsistent, and it’s one of the most expensive Android phones on the market. (It’s also not officially available in the US.)
While the Honor Magic 6 Pro has delighted and impressed me over the past couple of weeks, it has also frustrated and confused me. It can be oh-so-slick one minute and trip up the next. So is it smoke and mirrors or innovative magic? The answer seems to be a bit of both. If you crave innovation and don’t mind a few quirks, the Honor Magic 6 Pro delivers.
Now With More AI
At the launch, Honor talked up the AI-powered features in the Magic 6 Pro, a lot. We tried Honor’s eye-tracking at MWC, where my colleague glanced at commands in an Alfa Romeo app to start and stop the car and even have it drive forward and back. When this rolls out, it will let you do slightly more mundane things, like expand a notification with a glance when your hands are full.
While eye-tracking is not available yet, there were a couple of AI features I played with for my review. Magic Text lets you quickly extract text from an image. If there’s a phone number in there, you can tap to dial it. You can also drag and drop extracted text into another app. So far, so handy.
With Magic Portal, you can touch and drag content, such as a passage of text, an image, or a screenshot, over to the right and drop it into another app, like Gmail or Notes. The screen you are in folds away, and a vertical row of possible apps appears on the right as you hover. It can be useful for stuff like addresses, which you can drag into Maps for directions. It looks super slick, but I’m not sure how often you’ll remember to use it.
These new features hint at how much more important AI will become on our phones. It’s worth noting that they are processed on-device using Honor’s MagicLM, its very own large language model. Honor is also working on a new AI-powered tool that can use your photos and text prompts to generate video, which sounds intriguing and leads us neatly to the other headline feature of the Magic 6 Pro: the camera.
Classy Camera
Crazy-big, powerful cameras are all the rage in China’s flagship phones (see the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Oppo Find X7 Ultra, and Nubia Z60 Ultra). The Honor Magic 6 Pro is no exception. It has a 50-megapixel main lens with a variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/2.0), a 180-megapixel periscope telephoto lens that offers 2.5X optical zoom but goes up to 100X digitally, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide. Around the front is a 50-megapixel camera paired with a 3D depth camera in a central pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen.
The telephoto lens is easily my favorite thing about the camera. While it technically only supports 2.5X optical zoom, it can achieve 5X lossless zoom by cropping shots from the 180-megapixel lens. The 5X zoom shots I took with the Magic 6 Pro are my favorites, capturing bags of detail and realistic colors. The main camera is also solid, with impressive dynamic range, depth of field, and good low-light performance.
Color inconsistencies and some weird processing mar an otherwise excellent camera. The weakest link is the ultrawide, which lacks the optical image stabilization present in the other lenses, sometimes stretches the edges of shots, goes overboard with smoothening, and dials the color vibrancy way up. The color matching across the trio is generally poor, and the processing is sometimes heavy-handed, ironing out the noise but veering into oil painting territory, particularly if you zoom in beyond 5X.
You can record smooth video in 4K at up to 60 frames per second with any of the main camera lenses. The autofocus is swift, and there’s a Movie mode option for a more cinematic feel. There’s also a Pro mode in the camera if you want to shoot RAW or dig deeper into the settings. Selfies taken with the front-facing camera are above average, and it can also capture 4K video, though it tops out at 30 fps. The Honor Magic 6 Pro can snap lovely photos, but I had to delete misfires a little too often.
Meet the latest addition to the Samsung Galaxy family – the Galaxy A35 5G. Packed with cutting-edge features and designed to deliver an exceptional mobile experience, this smartphone is set to redefine the way you interact with your device. From its stunning display to its powerful camera system, let’s delve into what makes the Galaxy A35 5G stand out from the crowd.
Immersive Visuals and Seamless Performance
At the heart of the Galaxy A35 5G is its impressive 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display. Boasting vibrant colors and crisp details, this screen is perfect for streaming your favorite movies, browsing social media, or playing the latest mobile games. Plus, with Vision Booster technology, the display automatically adjusts to your surroundings, ensuring optimal brightness and clarity in any lighting conditions.
Under the hood, the Galaxy A35 5G is powered by a powerful processor and 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the configuration. Whether you’re multitasking between apps or streaming high-definition content, this smartphone delivers smooth and responsive performance without any lag or slowdowns. And with support for 5G connectivity, you can enjoy lightning-fast download speeds and seamless online gaming and video streaming experiences.
Capture Every Moment in Stunning Detail
Say goodbye to blurry or washed-out photos – the Galaxy A35 5G comes equipped with a versatile camera system that lets you capture every moment with precision and clarity. Featuring a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), this smartphone ensures that your photos are sharp and blur-free, even in low-light conditions.
But the Galaxy A35 5G isn’t just about still photography. With its 8MP ultra-wide camera and 5MP macro camera, you can explore new perspectives and capture breathtaking landscapes or intricate details up close. And for all the selfie enthusiasts out there, the 13MP front camera lets you snap stunning self-portraits with ease.
Security and Long-Term Support
When it comes to protecting your personal data, the Galaxy A35 5G has you covered. With Samsung Knox security built-in, your device is safeguarded against threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring peace of mind wherever you go. Plus, with up to four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, you can rest assured that your smartphone will stay up-to-date and secure for years to come.
In conclusion, the Galaxy A35 5G is more than just a smartphone – it’s your gateway to next-gen mobile experience. With its stunning display, powerful camera system, and robust security features, this device offers everything you need to stay connected, entertained, and productive on the go. So why wait? Upgrade to the Galaxy A35 5G today and elevate your mobile experience to new heights.
In today’s hyperconnected world, having a smartphone that keeps pace with your lifestyle is non-negotiable. Enter the Galaxy A55 5G – Samsung’s latest offering that promises to redefine the way you experience mobile technology. Bursting with cutting-edge features and ingenious innovations, this device is poised to set a new standard for what users can expect from their smartphones.
1. Advanced Photography Capabilities
Say goodbye to blurry, poorly lit photos – the Galaxy A55 5G takes mobile photography to new heights. Equipped with enhanced Nightography, capturing clear and vibrant images in low-light conditions has never been easier. Whether you’re snapping shots of a sunset or capturing precious moments with friends and family at night, the Galaxy A55 5G ensures every photo is picture-perfect.
But it doesn’t stop there. Thanks to its advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP), this smartphone delivers stunning low-light images like never before seen on the Galaxy A series. From Night Portrait mode to 12-bit HDR video, you can trust the Galaxy A55 5G to make every moment shine, regardless of lighting conditions.
2. Stunning Display for Immersive Viewing
Get ready to immerse yourself in your favorite content like never before. The Galaxy A55 5G features a Super AMOLED display that boasts astonishing clarity in Full High Definition. Whether you’re streaming the latest shows, browsing social media, or playing your favorite games, every detail comes to life on the Galaxy A55 5G’s 6.6-inch screen.
And with Vision Booster technology, the display adjusts to your surroundings, ensuring optimal brightness and clarity in any lighting conditions. From bright outdoor environments to dimly lit rooms, you can count on the Galaxy A55 5G to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience every time.
3. Unrivaled Security Features
Your privacy and security are paramount, which is why the Galaxy A55 5G comes equipped with Samsung Knox Vault – one of Samsung’s most innovative flagship security features. This hardware-based and tamper-resistant security solution offers comprehensive protection against both hardware and software attacks.
Samsung Knox Vault creates a secure execution environment that is physically isolated from the system’s main processor and memory, ensuring the safety of your most critical data. From lock screen credentials to device encryption keys, you can rest easy knowing that your personal information is secure.
4. Future-Proof Performance and Connectivity
Stay ahead of the curve with the Galaxy A55 5G‘s future-proof performance and connectivity. Powered by Android 14 and One UI 6.1, this smartphone delivers a seamless and intuitive user experience. And with up to 120Hz refresh rate, you can enjoy smooth scrolling and fluid transitions like never before.
But that’s not all – the Galaxy A55 5G is fully compatible with the ever-expanding Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, allowing you to seamlessly integrate with other Galaxy devices. Whether you’re tracking your fitness goals with Galaxy Fit3 or enjoying hands-free calling with Galaxy Buds FE, the Galaxy A55 5G ensures a connected experience like no other.
In conclusion, the Galaxy A55 5G is more than just a smartphone – it’s a gateway to a world of possibilities. With its advanced photography capabilities, stunning display, unrivaled security features, and future-proof performance, this device is designed to elevate your mobile experience to new heights. So why wait? Unlock your potential with the Galaxy A55 5G today.
In the ever-evolving tech landscape, the integration of smart devices into our daily lives has become more of an expectation than a luxury. Among these innovative gadgets, one category that stands out for its versatility and user engagement is tablets. Specifically, the emergence of the smart tablet as a dynamic tool for both productivity and entertainment has significantly changed how we interact with digital content. Today, we’re delving into an exciting addition to this category: the 8-inch MTK6592 Octa-core Smart Tablet, a device that promises to redefine the benchmarks for what a tablet can do. This remarkable tablet is not just any ordinary device; it’s a gateway to a smarter, more connected world.
The Essence of Smart Home Integration
In the realm of smart home technology, a smart home tablet acts as the central hub for managing and controlling a myriad of smart devices. With this 8-inch Android tablet, users gain the ability to seamlessly integrate their digital lifestyle with their living environment. Whether it’s adjusting lighting, streaming music, or monitoring security cameras, this tablet computer brings the convenience of smart home management right to your fingertips.
Design and Aesthetics A standout feature of this device is its 6.9mm ultra-thin metal body, which not only offers a sleek and modern aesthetic but also ensures that it is remarkably lightweight and portable. The design exudes elegance and sophistication, making it a stylish addition to any setting, be it a professional workspace or a cozy living room.
Visual and Audio Experience The tablet boasts an 8-inch high-definition stunning screen, offering vivid and vibrant visuals that bring your content to life. Whether you’re streaming your favorite TV shows, browsing through photos, or reading an e-book, the clarity and detail of the display enhance every interaction. Accompanying this visual feast is the 3D stereo surround sound, providing an immersive audio experience that complements the high-quality visuals. This combination of stellar audio-visual capabilities makes it not only the best android tablet for media consumption but also a formidable contender for the best drawing tablet, given its precise color representation and responsive touch interface.
Performance and Specifications Under the hood, the tablet is powered by an MTK6592 Octa-core processor, accompanied by 1GB of RAM and 16GB of ROM. This configuration ensures smooth and efficient performance across various applications, from casual browsing to more demanding tasks. The Android operating system further enhances this performance, offering a user-friendly interface and access to a vast library of apps and games.
Equipped with a 3000mAh/5V battery, the tablet strikes a balance between power and efficiency, providing ample battery life for extended usage sessions. This is particularly beneficial for users who are always on the move, as it minimizes the need for frequent recharging.
Camera Capabilities In today’s digital age, camera capabilities are an essential consideration for any smart device. This tablet features a rear camera with 2 million pixels and a front camera with 300,000 pixels. While these specifications might not rival those of high-end smartphones, they are more than adequate for video conferencing, capturing quick snaps, and various augmented reality applications.
Connectivity and Future Prospects As a smart home tablet, connectivity is a key aspect of its design. The device supports multiple connectivity options, ensuring that users can easily link up with other smart devices, share content, and stay connected with the world. Looking ahead, the potential for this tablet to integrate further with IoT (Internet of Things) devices and services is immense, promising even more personalized and efficient ways to manage our digital and physical environments.
The 8-inch MTK6592 Octa-core Smart Tablet is not just another android tablet; it is a remarkable tablet that stands at the intersection of design, performance, and innovation. With its 6.9mm ultra-thin metal body, 8-inch high-definition stunning screen, and 3D stereo surround sound, it sets new standards for what a tablet computer should be. Whether you’re in the market for the best android tablet, the best drawing tablet, or a central device for your smart home ecosystem, this tablet covers all bases with elegance and efficiency. As technology continues to evolve, more tablets are paving the way for a smarter, more connected future.
You might have an idea of which smartphone you want to buy next. But there are more options than ever before that are solid — plenty of companies are making stellar handsets nowadays, at similar prices, all with comparable feature sets. That said, the choice isn’t always cut-and-dry. If you know you want an iPhone, your decision-making process is a bit easier. If you’re an Android person, you have even more options to choose from and more questions to answer before you spend any money. At Engadget, we review phones regularly and have tested dozens over the years; so far for 2024, our top picks remain the same as they were last year, with Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Google’s Pixel 8 handsets sitting at the top of the list. Whether you’ve had your eye on them, one of Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 phones or another device, we’re here to help you decide which is the best phone to buy this year.
Android or iOS?
When you’re searching for the best smartphone, it becomes clear that each OS has its pros and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it super easy to share data between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off phone calls or music from one device to another. At the same time, you’re effectively locked in, as services like Apple Messages aren’t available on other platforms.
As for Android, there’s a much wider range of handsets from companies like Google, Samsung, Sony and more. However, Android phones don’t enjoy that same length of software support and often have lower trade-in values. In short, there’s no wrong answer. However, you will want to consider how your phone will fit in with the rest of your devices. So unless you’re really fed up with one OS and willing to learn another, it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone (or vice versa) – especially if everyone else in your household is using the same platform.
Cameras
Since your cell phone often pulls double duty as your primary camera, figuring out what kind of photo tools you want is key. Nowadays, practically every mobile phone can take a great picture in bright light. But if you want a long optical zoom, you’ll probably have to upgrade to a more expensive device.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Mid-range phones often only have two rear cameras (a primary wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide camera) and can sometimes struggle in low-light situations. Each phone maker also has various features that might be a better fit for your style, with Apple offering four different color presets on the latest iPhones, while Google’s Pixel 8 comes with neat tools like dedicated long exposure and Action Pan modes.
Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7?
The good news is that in 2024, most phones have at least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and support for some kind of 5G connectivity. However, if you want the fastest wireless speeds possible, it’s going to cost you a little extra. For example, on certain networks, mmWave 5G offers up to gigabit download speeds, less latency and better bandwidth. But mmWave 5G also requires more sophisticated (and pricier) modems, which means support for it is often missing on less expensive devices, even those like the unlocked version of the Pixel 8.
On the bright side, mmWave 5G isn’t as widely available as other versions of 5G, so depending on where you live and what network you’re on, you may not be missing out on much right now if you buy a phone that doesn’t support it. It’s a similar situation for Wi-Fi 7, which is available on some high-end handsets like the Galaxy S24, but harder to find on cheaper devices. Wi-Fi 7 also requires you to have a compatible router, so unless you know you need it or have a specific use case in mind, the lack of support for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when looking for a new phone.
Other features to consider
Because not everyone agrees on what makes the best phone, you should think about any other specs that might be extra important for you. Mobile gamers will almost certainly appreciate the 120Hz refresh rates you get on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Alternatively, if long battery life is important, you’ll probably want to go with a larger iPhone or an Android phone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in size. Meanwhile, if you find yourself juggling a lot of devices, it can be really nice to have a phone that supports reverse wireless charging, which on Samsung phones even lets you recharge the company’s Galaxy Watches.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Screen size: 6.7-inch | Storage capacity: Up to 1TB | SIM support: Dual eSim | Battery Life: About two days
The changes to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max may seem small when considered on their own, but together they add up to more than the sum of their parts. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in particular, the smaller, lighter titanium build means it might be within the realm of consideration for many shoppers for the first time. It’s no longer sharp and hefty like a weapon, but still has one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market.
The larger handset also gets a new 5x telephoto camera that helps it catch up to flagships on the Android side, which have had zoom lenses for years. Though Apple doesn’t outclass the competition on photography, it’s certainly closed the gap and you’ll find great cameras on both the Pro and Pro Max. They also have updated portrait effects and editing tools, so photography is improved whether you’re shooting faraway subjects or something just in front of you.
Both iPhone 15 Pro models have the new Action Button and USB-C charging, the latter of which will be more meaningful in a couple of years when the world presumably ditches Lightning at last. The Action Button, meanwhile, takes the often unused mute slider and gives you the option of mapping a frequently used shortcut to it, so you can quickly launch the camera, flashlight, voice recorder or magnifier. Having this many ways to configure the Action Button means it’s far more useful to more people than a simple toggle for silencing your phone.
This year’s A17 Pro chip not only brings excellent performance, but its six-core GPU also enables console-level gaming and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for realistic lighting effects. Later this year, you can dig into titles like Resident Evil Village and, in early 2024, Assassin’s CreedMirage on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. You’ll also get a second-generation ultra wideband chip for improved precision object location, and reverse USB charging so you can power up your accessories in a pinch.
When you consider all these features as a whole, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are not just a solid upgrade from their predecessors, they’re also among the best phones around. – Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
Pros
Smaller and lighter than previous Pro Maxes
Useful zoom cameras
USB-C is the way of the future
Long-lasting battery
Reverse charging via USB-C
Cons
Action button is hard to reach on the larger handset
The last two generations of Pixels offered a ton of value, combining smart features with solid hardware. But on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google has done some serious leveling up thanks to its new Tensor G3 chip, brighter displays, upgraded cameras and a range of useful AI tools. Peak brightness now sits at 2,000 or 2,400 nits, depending on the model, while still producing realistic colors. And that’s while actually seeing battery life increase between 20 to 25 percent compared to last year’s devices.
The Pixel 8’s cameras also take in more light, so your photos and videos look even better. And with the arrival of features like Best Take and Magic Editor, there are even more ways to create the perfect shot. The Google Assistant is also more capable now due to newfound abilities like more accurate voice typing, the ability to summarize or read new articles aloud and proofreading your texts. But, perhaps most importantly, with Google committing to seven years of software support – longer than pretty much any other Android phone on the market – the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are in it for the long haul. – Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
The $500 Pixel 7a delivers everything we look for in a great affordable phone. New features include a faster Tensor G2 chip, a smoother 90Hz display and for the first time on one of Google’s A-series phones: support for wireless charging. And with a refreshed design with IP67 water resistance, it looks and feels like the standard Pixel 7 but for $100 less. You also get great support thanks to five years of security updates and at least three OS upgrades. The phone’s only shortcomings are rather small and include a lack of a dedicated zoom lens and no support for mmWave 5G (unless you purchase a slightly more expensive $550 model from Verizon). – S.R.
With an A15 Bionic chip and iOS 15, the latest Apple iPhone SE is possibly the most powerful phone you can find for under $450. Sure, it has a dated design, but some folks might actually appreciate the retro look. The best thing about the iPhone SE is its home button: It’s the only new iPhone to have Touch ID. And though it only has a single rear camera, the SE still takes solid pictures. If you can get over the small, low-res screen, the iPhone SE will serve you well. It’s also really the only sub-$500 option for iOS diehards.
If you’re open to considering Android and want to spend less than $400, consider something from Samsung’s Galaxy A-series or the OnePlus Nord N20. Those looking to spend even less can check out the Moto G Power – just be prepared to compromise on features like display and cameras at these lower price points. – C.L.
Thanks to a new suite of sensors including a 50-MP main cam, a 48-MP ultra-wide and a 48-MP telephoto camera with a 5x zoom, the Pixel 8 Pro shoots sharper and more detailed pics than ever. Tack on Google’s excellent HDR+ processing, its class-leading Night Sight mode and features like Action Pan, and you get a smartphone that can capture high-quality images in practically any situation. But what pushes the Pixel 8 Pro to the top is its latest batch of AI-powered editing tools. Best Take allows you to pick the best expression for each person’s face from a selection of images. Meanwhile, Magic Editor makes it super simple to remove distracting subjects, recompose your shot, or move things around, with AI helping to fill in any holes. For video, Audio Magic Eraser can drastically cut down on ambient noise from wind, traffic and other sources. Between upgraded hardware and sophisticated machine-learning tools, the Pixel 8 Pro is the complete package for capturing photos and videos. – S.R.
While Samsung didn’t make a ton of changes to the Z Fold 5, it’s still the best big flexible phone on the market. As before, you get native stylus support, IPX8 water resistance (good for dunks of up to five feet for 30 minutes) and of course, a stunning 7.6-inch main display. New for 2023 is a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, improved brightness, expanded multitasking capabilities and most importantly, a completely redesigned hinge. Not only does Samsung’s new Flex hinge eliminate the gap between the two sides of the phone when it’s closed (to help keep dust out), it also makes the phone thinner (down to 13.4mm from 15.8mm), which is a nice change for what was already a somewhat bulky device. The biggest issue remains its price: Samsung’s latest flagship foldable remains exorbitantly expensive at $1,800. — S.R.
If you’re shopping for a foldable in the US, you actually have choices now. The clear winner of that race in the flip-phone category, though, continues to be Samsung. While Motorola’s Razr+ gave the Galaxy Z Flip series some serious competition, it still wasn’t good enough. With this year’s Z Flip 5, Samsung brought a larger external display that’s more functional than previous generations. You’ll have to jump through a few hoops to enable full-sized apps and maximize the experience on that screen, but once you do, the Flip 5 realizes its potential.
This year, Samsung also updated the hinges on its Z series, using a new dual-rail structure that’s supposed to better diffuse impact than before. It also creates a water drop-shaped crease that the company says results in less stress on the screen, which should improve overall durability. Even if your Flip does break, Samsung is better positioned to handle repairs than any other foldable maker in the US, since it’s the most established player here.
The Flip 5 also has superior cameras compared to the Moto Razr+, delivering richer, more saturated colors in daylight. Of course, don’t expect flagship-level pictures from any flip-style foldable. The Flip 5 pales in comparison to the likes of the latest iPhone or Pixel in low light, but for the most part, its pictures will be good enough for Instagram. Plus, you’ll have a lot more fun snapping selfies or group photos with a foldable, since it can act as its own tripod when flexed and you can see yourself in the external display. And don’t forget Samsung’s handy open-palm gesture that triggers a camera timer, which will make capturing stills or videos much easier from a distance.
When it’s time to kick back on your couch, the Flip 5 also delivers. It has the fastest processor on a foldable and a vibrant internal screen that refreshes at up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and animations. It doesn’t have the longest battery life, especially when compared to non-folding flagships like the Galaxy S23. But if you don’t mind charging your phone whenever you’re near an outlet, and a flipping foldable is on your shopping list, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best foldable with this form factor. — C.L.
Pros
Useful external screen
Compact when folded
New hinge enables gapless design
Cons
A lot of settings to dig through to maximize use
Short battery life compared to typical Android phones
For its latest super-premium phone, Samsung gave the S24 Ultra a more durable titanium frame, faster performance thanks to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a much longer battery life. The company also tweaked its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom so it’s more usable in a wider range of situations. But the biggest upgrade is a new full suite of AI tools, which includes the ability to proofread texts, edit images and transcribe recordings. And when you tack on the best display available on a phone today and a built-in stylus, you have a very compelling flagship handset. Unfortunately, starting at $1,300, the S24 Ultra is a bit too expensive to recommend to anyone without deep pockets.
OnePlus 12
While the OnePlus 12 wasn’t able to unseat the latest Pixel, it’s worth mentioning because it offers powerful specs for the money. It features a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a big and bright 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED screen and the best battery life we’ve seen on any phone to date. OnePlus also brought back support for wireless charging for the first time in several generations, along with a good (but not great) IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. And even though its huge camera module looks a bit ungainly, its photos are surprisingly sharp. But the best thing is that, with a starting price of $800, the OnePlus 12 costs $200 less than a Pixel 8 Pro or a similarly specced S24+.
FAQs
How do I know which smartphone is the best for me?
While choosing the best smartphone can be challenging, it mostly comes down to how you plan on using the device. All of the best phones available now get the basics right — you’ll be able to make calls, text and access the internet without many hiccups. If your smartphone is your most used gadget, you may want to consider paying for a device on the higher end of the price spectrum. That will get you better overall performance, higher-quality cameras and a phone that will last for many years. If you don’t use your phone for everything, you may be able to compromise on performance and extra perks and spend less on a still-capable handset.
How much is a smartphone?
Smartphones range in price from $300 to over $1,500. The best budget phones available now will usually compromise on overall performance, design, camera prowess and extra features to keep costs down. On the flip side, the most expensive phones will have powerful processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most people will find a phone that fits their needs somewhere in the middle of that wide price range — we’ve found that most of the best smartphones available right now cost between $500 and $1,000.
What can you do on a smartphone?
Smartphones are essentially small, portable computers that let you do things like check email, browse social media, follow map directions, make contactless payments and more. This is all on top of the basics like making phone calls and texting, which we’ve come to expect in all modern cell phones. Smartphones have also mostly replaced compact cameras thanks to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the fact that most smartphones today as just as portable, if not more so, as compact cameras.
How long do smartphones last?
Smartphones can last years and people are holding on to their phones longer now than ever before. Software updates and battery life are two of the biggest factors that can affect phone longevity. Apple promises five years worth of software updates for its latest iPhones, and Google promises the same for its Pixel phones. Samsung phones will get four years worth of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your phone can deteriorate over time as you use and recharge your phone on a regular basis.
Samsung has launched its 2024 midrange phone lineup, which combines weaker specs and feature sets with more alluring prices than its flagship handsets. The Galaxy A55 and A35 have 6.6-inch Super AMOLED displays. For the first time in its budget handsets, the company included Knox Vault, a walled-off security section that debuted in the Galaxy S21.
Both Android 14-running phones have FHD+ (2220×1080) displays (374 pixels per inch) and variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. Like last year’s Galaxy A54, both include Samsung’s Vision Booster feature, which adjusts the screen’s tone mapping based on ambient lighting conditions. Their 6.6-inch diagonal measurements (not accounting for rounded corners) are a slight bump up from the A54’s 6.4 inches.
Samsung’s official materials didn’t list the phones’ processors, but Android Policereports the A55 uses an Exynos 1480, while the A35 settles for a slower Exynos 1380. RAM comes in different configurations: 8GB or 12GB in the A55 and 6GB or 8GB in the cheaper A35. Your storage options are 128GB or 256GB in each handset, but only the A55 has a microSD card slot.
Galaxy A35 (Samsung)
In addition to performance, cameras will be one of the primary differences between the two phones. The pair has three rear cameras, each with a 50MP main camera and a 5MP macro lens. But the more expensive A55 uses a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, while the A35 has a more pedestrian 8MP ultra-wide lens. In addition, the A55 has a 32MP front-facing camera, compared to the A35’s 13MP front shooter. Both use optical image stabilization (OIS) and video digital image stabilization (VDIS) to offset camera shake.
Unsurprisingly, neither phone appears to include the generative AI features Samsung uses to differentiate the Galaxy S24 series (and older flagships, via software updates). The closest you may get in this price range is the company’s “advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP)” for better photography in low-light conditions, included only on the A55.
Samsung didn’t list the phones’ build material in its press release and official specs, but Android Police says the A55 is the company’s first midrange phone with a metal frame. (Last year’s Galaxy A54 used plastic.) Engadget reached out to Samsung to clarify, and we’ll update this article if we hear back.
The handsets each have a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung estimates two days of battery life, but this could vary greatly depending on usage.
US pricing and launch dates aren’t yet available. However, Samsung says the A55 will start at £439 (US$562) in the UK, while the A35 will begin at £339 ($434). Samsung lists a March 20 release date for both handsets in the UK.
Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023 for $200: My main problem with Motorola phones is that there’s no NFC (6/10, WIRED Review), which means you can’t use them to pay your ticket fare on the off chance you left your wallet at home. Motorola also only promises one OS upgrade (with three years of security updates). You can get a much better deal with the devices above. However, there is a headphone jack, a microSD card to expand the 256 GB of storage, and a charger in the box.
The Nokia G400 5G (6/10, WIRED Review) is a fine phone, but its software policy just isn’t as good as our top recommended devices above and its performance can be stuttery when you juggle multiple apps. The Nokia G100 was OK until the display started locking up and wouldn’t accept touch input. I tried a second unit and ran into the same issue. I have also tested the Doogee S89 Pro, a rugged smartphone. While I didn’t run into any glaring flaws, it’s a pain in the butt to carry around and uncomfortable in the hand, too. Sure, there’s a massive 12,000-mAh battery, but it didn’t last as long as I expected. The company has a spotty record with software updates, too.
Sort of. Any of our top picks are excellent choices, but if you can wait until May or June, we’ll have a broader lineup to choose from. Motorola will likely unveil more of its budget Moto G lineup soon. TCL will release its 50-series this summer, HMD Global might have some budget devices in tow by July, and we will likely see a Pixel 8A at Google I/O in May.
Consider Last Year’s Flagship Phones
If none of these phones have the features you want or they aren’t as powerful as you’d like, your best option is to look for last year’s flagship smartphones, which might be steeply discounted. Sometimes they’re easy to find, but manufacturers may stop selling them altogether. Keep in mind that you’ll lose a year of software support, but that’s often still better than the software support available on cheap phones anyway. The OnePlus 11, for example, has dipped as low as $499. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 has started to creep down toward $600.
5G is the latest cellular network and it’s widespread enough that you should try to stick to phones that support it. It’s not completely replacing 4G LTE, so you’ll see this in your status bar as you roam around the country. You can read more about it here, but in short, 5G comes in two major types: sub-6 and millimeter wave (mmWave). The latter is usually only available in flagship phones and allows you to access superfast speeds, but you’ll rarely encounter mmWave (think select areas in major cities and certain venues, like stadiums and airports). Sub-6 isn’t much faster than 4G LTE, but it has a broader range and is more widely accessible these days. Most of the smartphones we recommend here support sub-6 5G, even ones as low as $200.
Check Network Compatibility
If you buy an unlocked phone on this list and try to take it to one of your wireless carrier’s retail stores, they may tell you it isn’t compatible with the network. It likely is. Just use a paper clip or SIM ejection tool to pop the SIM card out of your current phone, then slide that SIM into your new phone. If it doesn’t work at first, reboot the phone or wait a couple of hours.
If you need a new SIM, try ordering one online from your carrier or see if they’ll give you a SIM when you activate a line in the store (if you’re starting coverage). Tell them you have a phone. Many times, reps will want to sell you a phone; that’s one potential reason they might hassle you into buying a different device in the store. Having said that, please make sure whatever phone you buy will work on your wireless network. Listings on retailers like Amazon should state clearly which networks a device will be compatible with. Also, make sure the listing says the phone is being sold “unlocked.”
In another example, Yue asks the phone to find a gift for his grandma who cannot get out of bed. It generated an interface with several products within carousels, and each row had a brief explanation of why the product might be a good fit. He settled on the Kindle.
Yue then did a long-press on the product card to ask another query: “What is the screen made of?” The phone generated the answer as a paragraph of text below (notably with no sources), and when he then asked to watch unboxing videos, it added a row of YouTube videos on the topic.
This wizardry is reminiscent of Siri cofounder Dag Kittlaus’ onstage demo of Viv way back in 2016, which was designed to be a conversational smart layer that let users interact with various services. His live demo also included asking by voice the digital assistant to book him a hotel room in Palm Springs. Clearly mighty impressed, Samsung snapped up Viv later that same year, and we’ve not really seen anything of it since.
You can get a pretty good glimpse of how Brain Technologies’ tech works with its app, Natural AI, which it released in 2020. Yue says his company pioneered the large action models that can enable a digital AI assistant to execute tasks. Since the company had an early start, its AI can purportedly generate interfaces for more than 4 million functions it has trained since 2016. That should cover almost anything you can do on a computing device. “Instead of going to apps, apps come to you,” he says.
But Yue doesn’t think we’re moving away from apps just yet. That’s why this concept device is still an Android phone. If you don’t want to converse with the AI, you can access apps just like normal. The touchscreen isn’t going away either, and he believes this concept is the right combination of AI and a graphical interface.
Brain Technologies has apparently already received tremendous interest from other manufacturers, and Yue says it’s the only AI company the Emerson Collective (Laurene Powell Jobs’ venture capital firm) has invested in. It seems almost inevitable that we’ll see its generated interfaces in more kinds of devices in the future.
“Everything is app-centric,” Yue says. “We’re trying to build a human-centric future. We’re trying to give people more power in this relationship. At the end of the day, whatever the next best interface is, wins.”
Sierra, a startup developing AI-powered agents to “elevate the customer experience” for big companies including WeightWatchers, Sonos, and SiriusXM, is of a similar view, stating that, in the future, a company’s AI version of itself will be just as, if not more, important as its app or website. “It’s going to completely change the way companies exist digitally,” says Bret Taylor, who left his job as co-CEO of Salesforce to start Sierra.
Human After All
The founders of A Phone, A Friend—Tomas Ramanauskas and Tomas Dirvonskas—echoed the same sentiments on making phones more personal with the help of AI. “We think that AI gives an opportunity to humanize this relationship to actually make it more human instead of just this cold, transactional, attention economy kind of thing,” Ramanauskas says.
It fell in the toilet. Your clumsy partner knocked a glass of water onto it. You forgot it was in your pocket when you jumped into the pool. That’s just a few of the hundreds of ways your phone could come into life-threatening contact with liquid. Now what? Well, definitely don’t stick it in rice.
Fortunately, waterproofing has become mostly standard on modern phones. New iPhones, Samsung Galaxy devices, and Google’s newest Pixel phones all feature some degree of water resistance or waterproofing. How well a phone resists water is measured on an IP (or Ingress Protection) scale. If your phone is rated with a high number, like IP67 or IP68 protection, congratulations, it’s probably going to be fine if you drop it in the tub. If it’s got a lower rating, or none at all, you should prepare for the worst before you start chilling in the hot tub with your trusty Sidekick. And if your phone gets dropped into salt water or chlorinated water, it’s doubly important to dry it off right away regardless of its IP rating.
So when your phone decides to take a dive, as soon as you’re done freaking out, you’ll probably begin frantically tapping all the buttons, blowing on it, stuffing it into a sack of rice, or blasting it with a hair dryer to quickly get rid of all that water. While those are all well-meaning actions, guess what? Each of those is totally the wrong approach. Here’s the right way to rescue your water-damaged smartphone.
First, retrieve it as quickly as possible. If your phone is still in the bottom of the jacuzzi or the toilet, get it out ASAP. The longer it’s in the liquid, the greater the likelihood of damage will be.
Once the device is no longer submerged, power it off right away. Don’t try to press any of the other buttons or load any apps, just switch it off. Remove the case if you have one. If you have a phone with a removable battery, pop the battery out. You want to cut off power in the device as quickly as possible to prevent the possibility of a short circuit. Most of today’s smartphones don’t have removable batteries, but if yours lets you pop the battery out, do that.
Why No Rice?
If you search the internet or ask a friend, a common piece of advice you’ll hear is to stuff your device in a bag of rice. Don’t do that. Rice was never really a reliable option, but now companies are outright warning against it.
Apple officially pooh-poohs the rice option for dealing with wet phones on its Support site. While uncooked rice is absorbent, it’s incapable of collecting all the moisture hidden deep within your phone. Also, the rice gets mushy and sticky as it absorbs the water, and then you could wind up with gummy bits of rice stuck in your phone’s seams, speaker cavities, and ports.
What to Do
The only solid shot at rescuing your drowned device is patience. As Apple suggests, try keeping your phone in a dry area and gently tapping the device with the connection port facing down to jostle any drops out of there.
Do not blow-dry your wet phone or stick it in the oven. Excessive heat can damage the delicate electronics inside. What you should do is give the naked, case-free phone a quick wipe with a clean towel, making sure no water accidentally ends up draining into its charging port, SIM or MicroSD slots, or headphone jack (if your phone still has one). Chances are, you’re not going to be able to get the water out of there.
Don’t blast it with a can of compressed air, lest you blow water deeper into the phone or damage the sensitive bits inside the phone’s charging port. Also don’t try to blow any water out with your mouth; you’ll risk similar damage, and you’ll probably just get more spit in there.
Plan Ahead
Of course, for the accident-prone and careful alike, it’s a good idea to be prepared for this inevitable phone-soaking well ahead of any actual accidents. The smartest option is to keep synthetic desiccants (drying agents) on-hand. These usually take the form of those small, square packets that you find packed with electronics. You know, the “DO NOT EAT” stuff. These packets typically contain little beads of silica gel, which absorbs moisture around them. They work more quickly and efficiently than rice, and they are far less messy.
You might as well hoard the packets you’re already getting for free. Start now: Every time you see a loose desiccant packet in a box with a new hard drive, a pair of earbuds, or whatever, pull it out and save it in an airtight container. (You can also buy desiccant packets in bulk.) Dump them all into a plastic or glass container you’re certain has an air-tight seal. After you’ve collected a bunch of them, you have an emergency phone-rescue pod ready to go. Just drop the dunked phone into the container so it’s surrounded by packets, seal the container, and wait 24 to 48 hours. (Reminder: Do not eat the packets.)
The trick to all of these methods is that for the desiccant to do its magic, it needs to be in a sealed container so that it can absorb water only from your phone, and not from the outside air. Also, you need to have enough of the desiccant present to absorb all the water.
Following these tips, there’s a good chance your phone could survive its untimely spill. But if it spends an especially long time underwater, you could be out of options. In which case, maybe it’s finally time to get yourself a waterproof phone.
Updated Fed. 20, 2024 to reflect that Apple has outright warned against putting your phone in rice on its support pages. Again, rice is not a great option.
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At IFA last September, I encountered the Honor Magic V2 for the first time, which debuted in China in July 2023. The recipient of one of our Best of IFA 2023 Awards, the Magic V2 went global on Jan 26, 2024. Comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open in size and performance, this foldable phone features a thinner and lighter chassis. Honor also unveiled the Porsche Design version at the Leipzig, Germany, launch event, and we will publish the review soon.
Some people expressed reservations about last year’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. However, the Magic V2 remains potent, with 16GB RAM and 256/512GB storage options. Its standout feature is being the thinnest and lightest large foldable on the market, coupled with good camera performance for such a slim body.
Competition, Price, and Availability
From a display quality and computing power point of view, the Honor Magic V2 is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, except for its lack of a waterproofing IP rating (the Fold 5 is IP X8), its thinner chassis, and its significantly faster charging speed.
The Magic V2’s display and SoC are also similar to the thicker Oneplus Open, except for the camera performance.
Thinner and lighter than all its foldable counterparts, the Magic V2 looks like a standard 8-inch high-end smartphone, making it an appealing option for travel, doubling as a tablet for content consumption or work. At Ubergizmo, we are seriously considering ditching our phone and tablet combo for the Magic V2, due to our intense traveling schedule.
However, its multitasking feature lags behind the heavier Z Fold 5, which also offers additional functionalities with the optional new Z Fold 5 S Pen and the S Pen Pro (including air actions and remote control only for the latter).
Launching without Android 14, its update program remains similar to the competition. The HONOR Magic V2 is priced at £1,699.99 in the UK, and €1,999 in select E.U. countries (approximately $2,150). We recommend buying the Honor 66W fast charger with your order,in some countries like the UK, it is offered as a bundled gift (as of today).It costs only €1 in Germany (as of today), instead of the €29.90 price offered on the Honor France website (instead of the regular €49.90 price, as of today).
Design
The Honor Magic V2 stands out for its key design elements, notably its thin chassis at 10.1 mm / 237 g (or 9.9 mm / 231g for the vegan leather version), surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (13.4mm, 253g), the Pixel Fold (12.1mm, 283g), and the OnePlus Open (11.7-11.9mm, 239-245g).
Unfolded, it measures only 4.7 mm or 4.8 mm (glass-finish version), which is only 1 mm thicker than regular smartphones such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is 8.25mm and 221 grams.
The build quality is excellent, and we consider the Honor Magic V2 one of the best-designed foldable phones, featuring an elegant purple shade for the glass finish version (our review unit).
“THE BUILD QUALITY IS EXCELLENT, AND WE CONSIDER THE HONOR MAGIC V2 ONE OF THE BEST-DESIGNED FOLDABLE PHONES”
The folding experience is smoother than the Z Fold 5. However, unlike the Samsung’s large foldable, it lacks a 45-degree folding position, which is a minimal trade-off. The redesigned hinge eliminates gaps, making the phone ultra-thin while reducing crease depth.
The package includes a case with a built-in kickstand, usable in various orientations, maintaining the Magic V2’s thinner profile compared to the Z Fold 5, even with the case attached.
Displays
The Honor Magic V2 features a 6.43-inch OLED display on the front with a resolution of 1060 x 2376,a 120Hz refresh rate, and a theoretical peak brightness of 2,500 nits.
Internally, it houses a nearly square gorgeous 7.92-inch display with a resolution of 2156 x 2344, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a claimed peak brightness of 1,600 nits. HONOR highlights its 3840Hz PWM dimming tech, potentially aiding users prone to eye strain during prolonged phone use.
The external screen mirrors the size of a regular smartphone with a curved right edge, while the internal crease is barely noticeable during media consumption or gaming. Tested for 400,000 folding cycles, equivalent to 10 years of folding 100 times daily.
Camera
The Magic V2 has a typical triple rear camera, including a 50-megapixel main, a 20-megapixel telephoto with a 2.5x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide. There is a 16 MP punch-hole selfie camera on each screen, capable of shooting 4K video at 30 fps. The rear camera can shoot 4K video at 60 fps.
Primary camera night:
Primary (wide) camera – 25 mm equivalent – night shot
The Magic V2 has a slightly less performing primary camera at night compared to the other large foldable phones. However, it does a good job overall, and the results are satisfactory for such a thin chassis.
The Magic V2 night picture quality is closest to the Pixel Fold, but the details are slightly more blurry, partially because of the strong filtering and sharpening algorithms, especially if you zoom in close or crop the photos. Besides that, the camera does a great job of capturing natural colors and preserving the mood of the night scene as you see it. The lighting remains natural and on-point and captures in a predictable way.
Overall, the camera has good performance both in low light and in bright daylight. We could not calculate Ubergizmo’s HW camera score due to a lack of specific metadata in the photos we shot, so we cannot compare the hardware camera system against the other foldable phones we tested. We will try to get the info and update the review accordingly.
Primary (wide) camera – 25 mm equivalent
Ultrawide camera:
Day: The sunset shot is really interesting because it challenges the camera to simultaneously capture details and high-dynamic range. The Magic V2 did well with the HDR and details capture (including texture) in our tests. However, it has a tendency to overshoot the exposure settings and other filters, making the final photo look a little unnatural (too bright/vivid) compared to what your eyes see.
Night: At night, the Magic V2 Ultrawide camera does a good job of preserving the lighting, color, and mood of the scene. However, the ultrawide camera module is not as powerful as the primary (wide) camera, and the texture of certain materials can be difficult to preserve. In this scene, the Ultrawide shot is comparable to what we obtained with the OnePlus Open.
Zoom camera:
The 2.5X zoom of the Magic V2 is more suited to capture portrait photos than competing with telephoto cameras that feature 6X or 10X optical zooms. At long-range (10X), the camera will rely on digital zooming, making small details relatively blurry compared to the extreme zoom cameras. That aside, the general 2.5X zoom image quality is quite good, but like it is generally the case with this camera, the photos can sometimes look less natural due to how the exposure is set and how filters are being applied.
Telephoto camera 2.5X optical zoom shot at sunset
Camera conclusion:
The Magic V2 rear camera system’s photo quality is impressive if you consider how thin the chassis is. Indeed, mobile cameras need as much depth (thickness) as possible to host the camera lenses, and HONOR seems to have successfully balanced phone design and camera quality.
Honor commits to providing five years of security patches and four years of Android updates for the Magic V2, aligning with Samsung and OnePlus’ assurances for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open, respectively. Google’s Pixel Fold guarantees three years of Android version updates and five years of security patches. While the Magic V2 ships with Android 13, one update is required to bring it up to date with Android 14. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Magic V2 is yet to receive an Android 14 update.
It houses last year’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with configurations of up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage (expandable to 1TB in the Porsche Design variant).
Perceived Performance
Performance remains fluid in daily usage, including 3D gaming (I tried a few games).
Measured Performance
CPU performance
As you can see from the charts, the Honor Magic V2 has excellent performance in the context of foldable phones despite its amazing thinness. This is probably due to Honor’s efforts to produce an advanced cooling system called Ultra-thin Bionic Cooling System. According to the company, the new cooling technology combines an ultra-thin vapor chamber, ultra-high thermal conductivity graphite, thermal conductivity gel, and copper foil.
It ranks among the highest CPU performance, which typically ensures that apps load fast and most tasks are completed faster.
GPU performance
From a graphics standpoint, the scores are also very high, making it a high performer for general graphics (GPU performance) but also games. Keep in mind that with lengthy gaming sessions, the heat will eventually build up. That’s why all dedicated gaming systems are inherently thicker with extra cooling.
Battery
Battery capacity
Despite its ultrathin chassis measuring 4.7 or 4.8 mm, the Magic V2 impressively integrates a 5000 mAh battery (the biggest for a foldable phone), thanks to its two-part silicon carbon battery technology.
Debuting as the thinnest dual Silicon-carbon Batteries, averaging only 2.72mm in thickness, the innovative battery system extends its cycle life by 40%, according to HONOR.
It incorporates an electrochemical system that enhances longevity and features HONOR’s low-voltage charge energy-gathering technology for enhanced power output at the same voltage as graphite-based batteries.
With regular use, connected to both 5G and Wi-Fi, the Magic V2 should last at least a full day on one charge. During my review, which was conducted solely on Wi-Fi (without 5G) with intermittent use, the battery lasted for three days. I cannot vouch for battery life as battery drainage highly varies depending on usage, with browsing and email having minimal impact compared to extreme workloads such as intense photo shoots, video streaming, or 3D gaming sessions. As usual, the battery’s capacity (in mAh) is your best indicator for potential battery life.
Charging speed
The Honor Magic V2 charges 71% of its 5000 mAh battery in 30 minutes with the optional €30 66W charger (free or €1 bundle in some markets). This is similar to the OnePlus Open charging time of 79% in 30 minutes for its 4805 mAh battery (with the included OnePlus 67W fast-charger). By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 charges 49% in 30 minutes with its optional 50W Samsung charger.
Conclusion
The Honor V2 delivers impressive build quality and display quality in the thinnest and lightest foldable form factor on the market.
This unique feature should convince people reluctant to carry thicker and heavier smartphones to try the folding smartphone experience. Travelers should consider switching to the Magic V2 as it can also be used as a tablet for productivity and entertainment during flights.
Although the camera performance is slightly below the one found in competitive devices, it is excellent for such a thin chassis.
Some text
Highs
Super thin and light designed for a foldable
Large and bright displays for the lightweight
Good camera system for such a thin body
Support 66W SuperCharge fast charging (71% in 30 min with optional 66W charger)
5000 mAh highest battery capacity for a large foldable phone
Lows
No waterproof IP rating
No wireless charging
Last year Android 13
Expensive (charger not included in all countries)
Not available in the U.S., you have to buy it overseas (UK, Germany, France…)
When Apple announced the iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs called it a “revolutionary product” in a handset category that he said needed to be reinvented.
Now, nearly two decades and 42 models later, the iPhone is one of the world’s most popular phones. Apple has sold over 2.3 billion units of the iPhone and has over 1.5 billion active users, according to research from Demand Sage.
The original iPhone was released in June 2007 and exclusively sold with AT&T for $499.
The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiling the first iPhone in 2007.
David Paul Morris | Getty Images News | Getty Images
“Investors were optimistic about the impact that it could have with Apple,” said Deepwater Asset’s Gene Munster. “The initial data that came out from AT&T was a disappointment from that first few days of sales. I remember talking to investors after that first weekend, and the general sense was that this product, in one investor’s words, was dead on arrival.”
Apple sold 1.4 million iPhones in 2007 with 80% of the sales coming in Q4. In the same year Nokia, the maker of the iconic Nokia 3310, sold 7.4 million mobile phones in Q4 alone.
“Nokia was seen as unstoppable, unbeatable,” said CNBC technology reporter Kif Leswing.
JAPAN – FEBRUARY 15: The Nokia 3310 Launched on the 1st September 2000
Science & Society Picture Library | SSPL| Getty Images
“The investing community largely took this as something that is going to be a much more difficult market for Apple to really crack,” said Munster.
Things started to shift for Apple in 2008 when it launched the App Store. This helped spur a new wave of modern tech companies like Uber and put Apple ahead of its competitors.
“The App Store allowed your phone to become a lot more,” said Munster. “That was the piece, that insight, other phone manufacturers didn’t see that coming.”
Apple saw increased iPhone unit sales in the years following the App Store. The company hit a major milestone — more than 50 million units sold — in 2011, with the help of the iPhone 4s. The company sold 72 million units that year. By 2015, Apple was selling over 200 million iPhone units yearly.
“I don’t think there’s any question the iPhone set the standard that really almost all phones have followed since then,” said Computer History Museum’s Marc Weber. “The App Store was a huge thing and Android basically followed that model with the Play Store.”
Apple recently surpassed Samsung, one of its biggest competitors, as the world’s smartphone leader for the first time. According to data from the International Data Corp., Apple holds just over 20% of the global market share, a spot that Samsung held since 2010.
“There was a period from 2008 to 2015 where Apple needed to worry about what Samsung was going to do with Android. Their market share was actually declining globally,” said Munster. “But, what Apple has been the master at is building the ecosystem. I can’t imagine a scenario where Samsung can build a suite of products that is going to disrupt the Apple ecosystem.”
“AI is going to be critical to humanity, and it’s going to be a critical feature inside of iPhones,” said Munster. “Apple uses AI to make the products work better with organizing photos, with helping organize emails, and potentially doing things around text organization. But for the most part is that the iPhone doesn’t capture, doesn’t really capture the full opportunity. Far from it when it comes to AI.”
Genius Bar who? According to analysts, smartphones may be able to fix themselves within the next few years.
According to analyst firm CCS Insight, smartphones with “self-healing” capabilities may hit the market as early as 2028, CNBC reported.
The concept involves applying “nano-coating” on the display surface, which can repair minor scratches by creating a new material when exposed to air — kind of like reptiles that can regenerate wounded limbs or repair skin layers.
“This is not in the realms of science fiction, it can be done,” Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told CNBC. “I think the biggest challenge with this is setting expectations correctly.”
Though similar concepts have been explored by companies like LG, Motorola, and Apple, there are challenges in mass-scale implementation, including research and development costs and educating consumers about the extent of self-repair capabilities.
The focus is on fixing minor cosmetic damages rather than major structural issues, Wood added.
These “self-healing” smartphones have been in the works since at least 2017, according to data presented at a meeting of the American Chemistry Society.
A Polestar 4 electric SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China.
Meizu is not a major smartphone player in China with companies like Apple and Oppo among the biggest. And the Polestar smartphone would not be an attempt to grow market share.
Instead, the unusual step of an EV company launching a smartphone comes from a desire from automakers to make the car like a mobile phone on wheels.
“Where you have an opportunity to link these two worlds, without any border … then you can really have a seamless transition,” Ingenlath said.
You can imagine a world where you’re using an app on your phone and you enter the car and that same app is displayed on the car’s dashboard screen, for example.
“I still have problems to get, you know, an SMS displayed,” Ingenlath said of the frustrations with current technology.
Ingenlath added that the phone will be a “premium” device. Meizu is known in China for more mid-tier devices. This will help Meizu push into the high-end device market for handsets too, Ingenlath said.
While it is still unusual for car companies to launch phones, the idea is gaining some traction. Chinese EV start-up Nio plans to launch its first self-developed mobile phone in September.
There are lots of reasons this could make sense specifically in the world’s second largest economy.
It’s not just good enough to bring a great European design to China, you have to be very, very special about what you offer to the market when it comes to software.
Thomas Ingenlath
CEO of Polestar
Firstly, there is no Google Android mobile operating system. This means that automakers can customize the operating system on their phone and the car to sync up. For example, Meizu has its own operating system called FlyMe. And the company is making an operating system for Polestar cars based on this.
The smartphone that Polestar releases is also likely to have a similar OS which will make integration seamless.
“It’s not just good enough to bring a great European design to China, you have to be very, very special about what you offer to the market when it comes to software,” Ingenlath said.
“Many OEMs are following Geely and potentially other future players such as Apple if they come up with their own car with their smartphone to provide a holistic and tighter connected experience in every aspect of mobility,” Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC.
An OEM is an original equipment manufacturer and refers to car manufacturers.
Shah said the smartphone would also allow Polestar to bundle software, apps, services and features such as remotely controlling or turning on the car with a phone.
Launching a phone could also help carmakers learn more about their customers’ habits, Shah added.
The Polestar 4 is on sale in China for 349,800 Chinese yuan ($47,890) — that’s more expensive than Tesla’s Model Y which starts at 263,900 yuan.
The Polestar 4 is being positioned as “more premium, more luxurious” than the Model Y, Ingenlath said.
The CEO said Polestar’s customers come from German carmakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz and that the car is being positioned more as a competitor to cars like the Porsche Macan.
In a dreary smartphone market, Apple Inc. could do something it’s never done before.
The consumer-electronics giant has a chance to finish the year as the global leader in smartphone shipments for the first time, according to analysts at Counterpoint Research.
Consumers continue to hold on to their smartphones for longer, one reason that the Counterpoint team expects overall shipments to fall 6% this year, to 1.15 billion units. That would be the lowest level in a decade.
“But we’re watching [the fourth quarter] with interest because the iPhone 15 launch is a window for carriers to steal high-value customers,” Jeff Fieldhack, Counterpoint’s North America research director, said in a release.
With a big base of current iPhone 12 owners due for upgrades, “promos are going to be aggressive, leaving Apple in a good spot.”
Counterpoint notes that premium smartphones have been picking up share within the market and called out China as a region where that trend holds true. Apple AAPL, -0.12%
focuses on the premium market and is expected to debut its next lineup of devices, the iPhone 15 family, in September, and sales likely will begin later that month or in early October.
Projections from Counterpoint put Apple the closest its ever been to capturing the top spot. “We’re talking about a spread that’s literally a few days’ worth of sales,” Fieldhack said. “Assuming Apple doesn’t run into production problems like it did last year, it’s really a toss-up at this point.”
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. 005930, +0.45%
was the market leader in shipments last year, and it held the top spot in the first quarter of this year.
