READ: The Honor Magic 6 Pro makes its global debut

As such, the device received DXOMARK’s Gold Labels for both its rear and selfie cameras for photographic capabilities, and also scored 155 in audio quality testing, 157 in display quality testing, and 157 for battery endurance. With that said, the company did take a moment to highlight the phone’s impressive test scores. Bond Zhang, CEO at HONOR UK comments:

“We are incredibly proud of the HONOR Magic6 Pro’s remarkable achievements and the recognition from DXOMARK with five 2024 Gold labels. This is a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with smartphones… The HONOR Magic6 Pro embodies our vision of delivering an unparalleled user experience, combining cutting-edge technology with user-centric design.”

In terms of hardware specifications, the Honor Magic 6 Pro comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, accompanied by 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, as well as a 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED display with a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. It also features a 5,600mAh battery and a triple camera setup with a 50MP main, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 180MP periscope telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom.

The post The Honor Magic 6 Pro Bags a Grandslam in DXOMARK’s Benchmark Tests appeared first on Phandroid.

In terms of hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes in a sleek metal body, which encases a large 10.9-inch display that’s ideal for movie, web browsing, games, and more. It also comes with 128GB of internal storage, as well as a bundled stylus that makes it ideal for taking notes in class, or doodling sketches in your free time. You can check it out using the link below.

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−$80.00 $369.99

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The post Grab the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for $80 Less! appeared first on Phandroid.

READ: Gemini Nano will not be coming to the Pixel 8

With that being said however, recent news that the base model Pixel 8 will be missing out on Gemini Nano (due to supposed hardware limitations) has cast a bit of doubt on Google’s dedication to its mobile AI prospects. Yes, one could argue that the company was clear about certain features being locked away on the Pixel 8 Pro, but given that a ton of its AI features are cloud-based for the most part, the Pixel 8 seems like it could at least handle Gemini Nano despite the lesser amount of RAM inside, which many are suspecting might be the cause of this limitation.

This is only further fuelled by the fact that Google managed to bring over its “Circle to Search” function to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro (both of which come with older Tensor hardware), and has seemingly confirmed that the Pixel’s battery stats page will be exclusive for the midrange Pixel 8a and future handsets once they launch – another locked-away feature, at least at the time of this writing.

it’s quite unfortunate that the Pixel 8 is getting left behind this early into its advertised seven-year lifespan

For a flagship phone with a heavy emphasis on software updates as part of its major selling points, it’s quite unfortunate that the Pixel 8 is getting left behind this early into its advertised seven-year lifespan – just five months, actually. As someone who owns a Pixel 8 (and has always had Pixel phones as his main devices), this doesn’t exactly put a lot of confidence into owning the product, and given Google’s track record with services such as Stadia and Pixel Pass (to name a couple) it brings back some rather unpleasant memories.

We also have to consider what other companies are doing at the moment – Qualcomm and MediaTek are pumping out chipsets which are capable of on-device AI, albeit with a little software optimization on behalf of the respective smartphone brand. Google has had its headstart with Tensor and the Pixel 8, and it’s a shame if it were to “nerf” the Pixel 8, especially in a day and age where generative AI is on nearly every new smart device.

Looking at the bright side though, there’s still a chance that things could change. Going back to the arrival of Circle to Search on the Pixel 7, it is possible for Google to bring newer software features to older devices. Take for example Magic Eraser – once touted as an exclusive Pixel editing feature, it’s since become available for different devices, and all users need to do is sign up for a Google One subscription to get it on an older Pixel, Samsung, or even an iPhone.

READ: The “Circle to Search” Feature Finally Arrives for Older Pixel Phones

With that in mind, who’s to say that Gemini Nano won’t arrive for the Pixel 8? Maybe there’s some sort of planned surprise update, but should the folks at Mountain View decide to do so, they should keep in mind that the race for AI is already underway – and no one’s slowing down for Google.

The post How is Google a Leader in AI, if the Pixel 8 is Already Left Behind? appeared first on Phandroid.

Starting today, the beta version of music videos on Spotify will be available albeit with a limited catalog of music videos, including songs from artists like Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, to name a few. As such, this is a much-welcome call back to the times when music videos dominated the airwaves, especially on channels like MTV.

With that in mind, watching videos on your Spotify app is pretty easy, given that you’re in one of the supported markets. Here’s how to watch videos:

• Log into your Spotify app via iOS, Android, desktop, or TV device
• Select the “Switch to Video” toggle for supported music tracks (the music video will start playing from the beginning within the Now Playing view).
• To return to background listening, simply press “Switch to Audio”
• Music videos will play in both portrait and landscape mode

With all that being said, we’re hoping that more music videos get added into the feature, especially from other genres and less mainstream artists, given Spotify’s rather large library.

Source: Spotify

The post Music Videos are Now Available on Spotify – Here’s How to Watch Them appeared first on Phandroid.

EDITORIAL: The Problem with Portable Gaming Handhelds in 2023

In a somewhat surprising move, Lenovo has just announced expanded availability for the Lenovo Legion Tab, an Android tablet which is designed for gaming performance. Originally launched in China, the tablet features an 8.8-inch display, and is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, in addition to 12GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage, and a 6550 mAh battery. The tablet also features Lenovo’s custom cooling system, as well as haptic feedback for gaming sessions.

In a way, the Legion tablet does remind us of the earlier days of dedicated gaming tablets such as the NVIDIA Shield Tablet, which also offered gaming-centric features. Although in a time when Android gaming portables have evolved to include physical controls and other such features, Lenovo’s decision to launch a tablet specifically made for gaming does leave us wondering what its strategy is here, especially when the company already has a portable gaming handheld.

In any case, the Lenovo Legion Tab will soon arrive for select markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, for an SRP of €599.

Source: Lenovo

The post Lenovo’s Legion Gaming Tablet Harks Back to a Long-lost Era appeared first on Phandroid.

The whole package is powered by a 4,000mAh battery along with 15W wired fast charging support. We have already the best fast chargers you can get for the device but you may not have the option to use them all the time. This is where having a power bank helps you out. Check out these best Samsung Galaxy A21 power banks to buy in 2024.

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Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh Power Bank

This is a 10,000mAh power bank with slim profile. It has two USB-C and a microUSB port. There is one more USB-C port but it can only be used for input. You get PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies here as well. Available in Black and White color options.

−$1.80 $16.19

See on Amazon

Sale

Anker PowerCore Essential 20,000mAh Power Bank

This 20,000mAh Anker power bank has a USB-C port and a microUSB port. It can deliver up to 15W charging speed and charge two devices simultaneously. PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies help with optimized charging. Choose from White and Black colors.

−$2.98 $39.99

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Sale

Baseus 20,000mAh Power Bank

This Baseus power bank comes with a 65W PD USB-C port and dual 30W Quick Charge USB-A ports. It also has to USB ports for output. Its battery capacity is 20,000mAh and has an LED display that shows the remaining battery, charging voltage, and charging current. Available in Blue and Black colors.

−$20.00 $59.99

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INIU 10,000mAh Power Bank

It is claimed to be the thinnest 10,000mAh power bank at 0.5-inch thickness. It has a single USB-C port with both input and output support. It keeps overheating in check while charging devices. Available in five different color options.

−$12.00 $17.99

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Pxwaxpy 30,800mAh Power Bank

This is a 30,800mAh power bank with three ports to charge three devices simultaneously. It supports Quick Charge 4.0 and 25W PD fast charging technology. Its circular LCD display shows the current battery level of the power bank. You can choose from six different colors.

$31.95

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Miady 10,000mAh Power Bank (2-pack)

This is a combo pack from Miady where you get two 10,000mAh power banks. It has dual USB output ports and dual USB-C input/output ports. You will get one power bank in White and another in Black.

$19.99

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UGREEN 145W 25,000mAh Power Bank

If budget is not a constraint for you, we suggest you have a look at this UGREEN power bank. It has 25,000mAh capacity and deliver up to 145W charging speed. It has dual USB-C ports for input/output and a microUSB port for output. It can charge all your devices including laptops. There is an LED display on the side that shows current battery level.

−$49.00 $80.99

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Romoss 30,000mAh Power Bank

This 30,000mAh power bank from Romoss comes with three input and three output ports. It even has a lightning input port. You can charge up to three devices simultaneously. Its supported peak charging speed is 18W PD.

−$3.00 $39.99

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The post Best Samsung Galaxy A21 power banks you can get in 2024 appeared first on Phandroid.

Buy On Amazon

The Bluetooth speaker is currently on sale where it’s enjoying a 27% discount. The speakers are normally priced at $219, but after the discount, it brings it down to $159, saving you $60 in the process. This is a pretty good Bose speaker deal especially at that price and for the features you’ll be getting.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) features 360-degree audio. It boasts a 13-hour battery life and is IP55 rated for dust and water resistance. This means that if you want a portable Bluetooth speaker for parties, this could be a great option. So, if you think that these are the speakers for you, then be sure to head on over to Amazon and get in on this 27% discount today!

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−$60.00 $159.00

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The post Get 27% off the Bose SoundLink Revolve in this KILLER deal! appeared first on Phandroid.

According to a recently-discovered patent filed at the USPTO, Microsoft is exploring the idea of creating a true foldable smartphone. The form factor itself isn’t too exciting. Based on the drawings, it looks like your typical foldable. What’s more interesting is the fact that Microsoft filed it, and also how they plan to address durability issues with the hinge.

The patent describes a new hinge system that comes with a “spine cover plate”. This new mechanism basically covers the hinge of the phone when the screen is folded. This will help protect it from damage and also dust and debris that can cause issues. It will also result in a phone that’s thinner, easier to hold, and could hide the crease of the display.

Before you get too excited, note that this is just a patent. Companies like Microsoft file patents all the time to protect ideas and intellectual property. It is no way indicative of the company’s plans. Also, given how Microsoft ended software support for the Surface Duo back in 2023, we’re not sure what the future is like for the lineup. We did hear rumors that the Surface Duo 3 could be a true foldable, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The post Could a “true” foldable Surface Duo smartphone be in the works? appeared first on Phandroid.

READ: Poco X6, X6 Pro, and M6 Pro mid-range smartphones announced

Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, the POCO X6 Neo also comes with a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a main dual-lens camera setup with a 108MP main sensor, 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage with an option for 12/256GB, as well as a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. For software, the phone ships with Android 14 onboard, albeit bundled with a ton of Xiaomi-exclusive apps and software functions.

Surprisingly, the phone also features expandable micro SD storage support and a 3.5mm headphone jack, both of which are rare sights on most smartphones these days. The POCO X6 Neo is available in several colors including Astral Black, Horizon Blue, and Martian Orange.

Source: Flipkart

The post Xiaomi Expands the POCO Family with the X6 Neo appeared first on Phandroid.

Speaking to Harish Jonnalagadda of Android Central, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis basically told the publication that the company doesn’t think it’s the right time yet. According to Evangelidis, it seems that he feels that the company is still quite young and they need to be “strategic about our efforts”.

He acknowledges that some level of presence in the US is necessary, it isn’t the right time to go all-in. The Nothing Phone (1) also largely skipped the US market. It was available to purchase as a “beta” device instead of a mainstream gadget. The Nothing Phone (2) is still the only phone to be commercially available stateside, so it was surprising that Nothing decided that the Nothing Phone (2a) would kind of skip the US market again.

We’re not sure when Nothing will go all-in in the US market. Maybe that will happen with the Nothing Phone (3) which should be launching later this year, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The post Nothing is in no rush to launch its phones in the US appeared first on Phandroid.

The report points at code strings in which a TikTok app called “TikTok Photos” was referenced. Based on the name, it’s safe to say that this will be a photo sharing app.

In some ways this is kind of funny. With the rise of TikTok, Instagram introduced a new Reels feature that allowed creators to create TikTok-like content on their platform. In fact, to encourage users to use Reels, Instagram went as far as modifying its algorithm. This is so that videos with the TikTok watermark won’t be promoted on its platform.

Other platforms have also introduced their own version of TikTok, like YouTube with YouTube Shorts. There’s no word on when this new TikTok Photos app will launch, but it could be an uphill battle. Instagram is a very well-established platform especially for photos, so we’re not sure if TikTok Photos will have what it takes to challenge the crown.

The post TikTok could be building their own Instagram clone appeared first on Phandroid.

Buy On Amazon

Thanks to this amazing smartphone deal, the Pixel 8 can now be yours for only $450. For context, a brand new unit would have cost you $700, so you’ll be saving yourself $250 in the process. This is quite a substantial amount, especially in today’s economy! Of course, it should be noted that this is for a renewed version for the handset.

This means that it is basically a refurbished phone. Don’t worry, though. It is backed by Amazon’s Renewed standards which means that it has been inspected and tested to ensure it is in good working condition. If you don’t mind a second-hand smartphone, then this deal for the Pixel 8 is definitely worth taking a look at for one of the best Android phones of 2023.

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The post This deal for a renewed Google Pixel 8 is TOO CHEAP to pass up! appeared first on Phandroid.

According to the leaked specs, the Mix Fold 4 will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is a given since we expect the majority of flagships to use this chipset for 2024. It is also rumored to come with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The post also claims that it will feature support for two-way satellite communication.

It will also feature a “high-density larger battery”, although the exact size is unknown. But in terms of charging, it could be quite a beast with 100W speeds. The cameras on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 are rumored to include a 50MP fixed large aperture alongside a new periscope lens.

Digital Chat Station is also claiming that Xiaomi has improved on the structure of the phone. It has been strengthened with a new and improved hinge, so it should in theory last longer. It could also come with better water-resistance. Xiaomi launched their last foldable back in August 2023. So if they’re keeping to the timeline, we should see the Mix Fold 4 later this year.

The post The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 could steal Samsung’s throne appeared first on Phandroid.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, it appears that the Apple Vision Pro has managed to find a place in an operating theater. During a spinal repair of a patient, a surgical team used the headset. Note that the surgeon did not use the headset. Instead, it was the scrub nurse where the device was used to help keep track of the procedure and help choose the right tools.

The idea behind using the Vision Pro during surgery was to cut down on guesswork and reduce the chance of human error. This is according to Syed Aftab, the surgeon in question. By having all the details of the operation superimposed over reality, it allowed the team to work efficiently together. This can be crucial especially when working with medical staff they have never worked with before.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen commercial technology being used in unexpected situations. For example, the Microsoft Kinect which was created as a gaming device had previously also been used for medical procedures. We’re not sure if this is what Apple intends for the Vision Pro. But it could be a potential area that Apple could tap into if it doesn’t pick up on the consumer front.

The post Someone found an unexpected use for the Apple Vision Pro appeared first on Phandroid.

This comes in the form of a new “Web Distribution” feature. Basically what this means is that developers will now be able to distribute iOS apps directly from their website. Users will not need to download and install a third-party app store just to get these apps. Instead, they can just download them directly from the developer’s website.

If that sounds familiar, it is because it is more or less similar to how Android users sideload apps. This is useful and efficient because users who might only need one app won’t have to go through the process of downloading a brand new app store just to get it. The downside is that developers who choose to use this method will have to pay Apple’s Core Technology Fee.

The apps will also need to abide by Apple’s notorization guidelines, and the website the app is downloaded from has to be registered in App Store Connect. It seems that there are more hoops to jump through, but like we said, it does seem more convenient than downloading an entire store just for a single app.

This new feature isn’t live yet. Apple says that it will be launching this Spring. Another thing to note is that it still only applies to users in the EU. The rest of us can only hope that Apple will implement this sideloading apps feature for iPhone users in the rest of the world.

The post This update just made Apple’s iPhones more like Android appeared first on Phandroid.