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Microsoft has notified users of itsMicrosoft 365 suitein six countries about hefty price increases when renewing their subscriptions.
The company claims that the increases are necessary to ensure that Microsoft customers are among the first to access powerful AI features in its apps.
Last week, subscribers in Asia received emails about the upcoming price increases. An annual Microsoft 365 Family subscription in Australia will increase from AU$139 to AU$179 (converted from 83.57 euros to 107.64 euros) when renewed, an increase of nearly 29 percent. For Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions, the price will rise from AU$109 to AU$159 (from 65.55 euros to 95.61 euros), an increase of nearly 46 percent. Microsoft’s Australian website currently displays these prices as standard. The price increases have been announced for Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
New features added
A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the price changes reflect the extensive subscription benefits Microsoft has added over the past 12 years, including advanced security with Microsoft Defender and creative tools such as Clipchamp. This is in addition to numerous improvements in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. According to the spokesperson, the price changes also include new features such as Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Designer.
The spokesperson added that the enhancements are not mandatory. Subscribers can opt for a cheaper version of Microsoft 365 without Copilot.
A Microsoft 365 Classic option is available without the price increases, but many users report it is difficult to find. For example, the alternative appears only when cancelling a subscription. And users find the process confusing or cumbersome. Even with search engines like Bing (from Microsoft) and Google, finding details about this suite proves difficult.
In March 2024, however, Microsoft didpromise tooffer Office editions under perpetual licenses, albeit without associated cloud services.
The announcement provoked many negative reactions online. Users accused Microsoft of inflating prices. Microsoft has not answered whether these price increases will be implemented elsewhere. It is also unclear whether the price increases will affect business licenses. The company stated that the goal of the changes is to listen, learn, and improve based on customer feedback.
Microsoft has pledged to invest as much as $80 billion in datacenters by 2025, primarily for AI applications. The cost of these investments appears to be passed on to customers. However, this is meeting resistance, especially since many AI features Microsoft offers are available for free from other providers.
We tested out the Doogee S200 – a relatively rugged smartphone with a cool mecha-design.
Verdict The Doogee S200 is a durable device that’s unashamedly chunky, heavy, and with an eye-catching futuristic style. There are plenty of built-in features that make it ideal for most on-site work, or for hiking, and camping, although the specs are not the most rugged I’ve ever seen. A brawler, not a tank.
Pros
+Rugged design
+Futuristic ‘mecha’ style
+100MP camera
+Night vision
+Toolbag of apps
Cons
-Not the toughest specs
-May be too big for some
-Speakers are somewhat tinny
The Doogee S200 is a heavyweight rugged phone – and I mean heavyweight. I weighed this beast at 369g, and it feels it in the hand. Bold, chunky, and the absolute opposite of unassuming as a phone can be. But then, that’s what you want from a ruggedized phone. You want it to feel like it can take a battering, survive a long drop.
On that score, the S200 certainly looks and feels the part. How does it measure up in terms of robustness and durability against thebest rugged phonesmy team and I regularly review? I put it to the test.
The Doogee S200 is widely available from the official site andAmazon. On the official Doogee site, it retails for $412, which puts it at the upper-end of the mid-range compared to rivals.
Front: 20MPRear: 100 MP AI camera, 20 MP, (night vision)
OS:
Android 14
Biometrics:
Fingerprint
Dimensions:
7.07 x 3.25 x 0.63in (179.5 x 82.5 x 16mm)
Battery:
10100 mAh (33W fast charge)
Weight:
369g
Accessories
See site
Doogee S200: Design
(Image credit: Doogee)
There’s something delightfully futuristic about the design of the Doogee S200, with its hard lines and poker-straight cutaway edges. Like it’s been built by robots. Specifically, those created by Skynet.
The front screen is protected by the ubiquitous Corning Gorilla Glass – not the hardiest of all screens, but acceptable at this price. A 20MP front camera is centrally placed at the top of the display. Where the buttons and ports rest along the side, we have screwed-in alloy strips to offer extra protection to these moving (or rather, moveable) parts and resist bending under pressure. I quite like the feel of these buttons – they’re almost flush against the phone, thick in appearance, but with a soft, springy feel when depressed – so you know your press has been registered, even without looking. Better still, on the left side, beneath the dual SIM card port is a custom button, which can be personalized for three selected quick actions for one click, double-click, and long press. At the bottom, you’ll find the charging port, suitably covered with a rubber gasket to guard against dust and leaks.
Flip over the phone and the rear is equally aggressive in design. with the speaker and microphone shielded by aerospace-grade alloy casing cut with what look like exhaust ports of the sort you might find on a mobile workstation or gaming PC. Dominating this space is the 1.32in circular AMOLED screen. And it’s one of the best features of the phone. Bright and vivid, this display can be used as a clock-face, act as a compass, and more. Flanking this screen are three cameras and an infra-red flash lamp.
So, we know the S200 feels heavy in the hand, and with dimensions of 179.5 x 82.5 x 16mm (7.07 x 3.25 x 0.63in), you’re going to need large hands to fully wrap around the device. I have considerably average-sized hands, and found the most comfortable holding position was to have the phone laying flat against my fingers, with the tips peeking around the side. This isn’t the most secure hold, of course, but otherwise operating the S200 worked well in this position.
In terms of protection, the Doogee S200 is rated for IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD 810. This is pretty standard for most of the rugged phones we’ve tested here, making it dust-proof, waterproof, and drop-proof.
Running on Android 14, I found performance to be excellent. I’m always a bit wary of rugged phones, which can sometimes focus more on the hardware than the software. It’s all very well being able to hurl the phone at a brick wall or see it run over by a steamroller, but if operation is sluggish, it’s enough to make you want to cut it up with a chainsaw.
Thankfully, those issues aren’t apparent in the Doogee S200. Performance is smooth, apps open quickly, and I experienced no problems in everyday operation. But then, I expected good results here, since the phone is specced with a Mediatek Dimensity 7050 processor and 32GB RAM (my review unit came with the maximum 32GB, although 12GB RAM is the base amount – still more than enough to power most apps and general use).
The 6.72in screen here is also very nice to use. Boasting a 1080×2400 resolution and 1400:1 contrast ratio that is excellent in dark environments and outdoors in direct sunlight. It even features a 120Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for on-the-go gaming. There’s also a Game Mode, which sounds good, but does little beyond keeping your games in a library and turning off notifications.
In any case, I downloaded a handful of games to see if the phone could keep up when reaction time is a factor.Call of DutyMobileplayed flawlessly here, as didMarioKart Tour. These more or less mirrored tests on aGooglePixel 5. However, duringNeed for Speed: No Limitsthere were occasional frame-rate drops and lagging when the screen became busy or animations were too fast. Still, the high refresh rate is a nice extra where available to have, and much higher than you’ll find on most traditional phones. Just set realistic expectations here – you do not have a rugged Steam Deck in your hands.
Finally, the S200 sports a 10100 mAh battery. Not the biggest battery I’ve seen in a phone like this, and I would’ve liked to see wireless charging to round-out the package. But it’s good for general use, especially when combined with the 33W fast-charging.
Performance:4 / 5
Doogee S200: In use
As a rugged phone, the Doogee S200 performs exactly as you’d expect. I’ve hurled it down stairs and out of first-floor windows and drowned it in the bath, and it’s still chugging along. It’s rated to a 1.8m drop, which isn’t particularly high but offers some protection should it slip from a gloved hand. I tested out a drop at this height, and the phone survived as expected. I chanced myarm, tossing it higher, the phone falling further. There were no visible signs of wear, but I probably wouldn’t want to do this too often. The Doogee S200 feels rugged only up to a point. A rowdy brawler, but not a tank.
As a smartphone, it performs well and without issue. Connectivity, which includes Wi-Fi 6 and NFC, is also welcome. Out of the box, the phone is loaded with a range of apps and extras designed for on-site work. This includes Glove Mode, located in Settings, and the Toolbag App. It’s here where you can access a range of essential worksite tools, such as compass, ruler, and digital spirit level. I particularly like this, as it means the phone is ready for the jobsite straight away, no messing about.
I quite enjoyed the addition of the rear circular subscreen. Though not a game-changer by any means, I appreciated the ability to glance at the clock regardless of which way I was holding the S200. Alongside the time, it felt very smooth swiping through the other options on the subscreen, such as music player controls and calendar. Disappointingly, as far as I could tell, there’s no way to customize which apps are displayed here. Through the MiniScreen Subscreen Settings, you’re free to set a range of clock faces – I went for analogue in this sea of digital – or make your own. It’s basic, but fun. You can also change how to wake the miniscreen.
I found the 100MP camera is nice – not the highest megapixel camera around, but distinctly higher than many devices we’ve tested from rivals like Oukitel, where 64MP is more common. Elsewhere, the night vision camera proved exceptional and, for many workers, I can see this becoming a go-to mid-range rugged phone for this feature alone. Gaming and media playback was good, with colors crisp and vivid on the fair-sized screen. However, I did find the speakers only adequate – these are the typical tinny phone speakers, the smartphone standard, with very little bass. Overall, in use, the Doogee S200 delivered exactly the sort of experience I’d expect from a phone of this price and in this category.
In use:4 / 5
Doogee S200: Final verdict
The Doogee S200 is, very literally, a solid smartphone, built for rugged use. True, the specs aren’t the toughest and hardiest out there – and for genuinely hostile environments, I’d think twice about taking it on the job. However, for general use on worksites, or hiking and camping, the S200 is more than robust enough. Yes, it’s big and heavy – that’s part of its charm, alongside the cyber-futuristic mecha-style design, its sliced corners and exposed rivets on the side. If you want a phone that’s durable, built to go up against the elements, and still looks great doing it, there’s a lot to recommend here.
Buy it if…
You want a rugged phone with plenty of features If you want a big, chunky, robust smartphone with good performance and 5G, the Doogee S200 ticks plenty of boxes.
You want a built-in compass and night vision This phone boasts a night vision camera and compass amongst a host of tools and features that’ll be welcome on any jobsite.
Don’t buy it if…
You don’t need a durable phone However nice it is, there’s no good reason to pick up this phone unless you need a ruggedized device that’ll take a few knocks.You want a lightweight device The Doogee S200 is unashamedly big and heavy, whichever way you measure it. Not one for slipping away in a tight pocket or handbag.
HMD has removed all Nokia-branded smartphones from its website, signaling the end of Nokia’s presence in the smartphone market.
Feature phones under the Nokia brand are still available for purchase, distinguishing them from the now-unavailable smartphones.
Despite the disappearance of Nokia smartphones, the company remains active in various other technological fields and projects, potentially allowing for more focus on non-phone endeavors.
For several years now, rumors have swirled that Nokia would be leaving the phone space. The iconic company, most known for the jokes around its supposedly indestructible phones, has struggled to maintain its presence in the smartphone market. In 2017, HMD purchased the rights to make Nokia-branded devices. And despitereassurances as recently as August, it seems that Nokia smartphones are no longer an option. They have all been listed as unavailable on theHMD websiteand moved to a separate section from HMD’s smartphones.
The page displays links and images to over a dozen different Nokia smartphones and tablets, but clicking any of those will show a barebones summary with a message saying, “This phone is no longer available.” HMD has rearranged the site to place more focus on its own devices. There has been no official statement regarding the change, but it seems that HMD has thrown in the towel on trying to keep the brand alive. However, there is one important thing to note: Only Nokia-branded smartphones are gone. Feature phones — or “dumb” phones — are still available for purchase, at least for now.
This potentially marks a major change in the smartphone industry, but it doesn’t mean Nokia as a brand is going anywhere. Nokia is involved in a lot more than just phones; it also provides technology to a huge range of different fields and is even working on a collaborative project with several other companies to put a cellular network on the moon. If Nokia backs out of the phone game, it will open up more resources for the company to devote to its other projects.
At this point, what happens next for Nokia is anyone’s guess. The company almost has a nostalgic presence in the market as one of the first big names in the smartphone game, but after multiple attempts to save the brand over the last few years, perhaps it’s time for Nokia to concede the fight to the current market leaders.
The USB-IF introduces a simplified labeling system that shows data transfer speeds and power delivery capabilities directly on devices and cables. It replaces complex technical terms like “USB4 v2” with clear indicators like “USB 80Gbps”.
USB-IF simplifies port labeling with new speed-based logos (Image source: Chenlenic)
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) hasrolled outa new logo system that ditches complicated jargon in favor of straightforward, speed-focused labels. Rather than relying on technical terms like “USB4 v2,” the updated scheme displays transfer rates front and center, so you’ll see devices labeled “USB 80Gbps” or “USB 40Gbps.”
This clearer approach also applies to cables, which now highlight both data speeds and power delivery. Cables meeting the latest standards can show charging capabilities up to 240W—perfect for powering heavier-duty setups like multi-device charging stations.
The move comes after years of confusion, especially when USB 3.2 debuted in 2017 with terms such as “Gen 2×2” and “SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps.” With previous labels like USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), Gen 2 (10Gbps), and Gen 2×2 (20Gbps), it was tough for consumers to figure out which specs they were actually getting.
Laptop makers may soon get on board, too. Dell, for instance, is reportedly considering adopting these simpler port labels in its products. The hope is that users won’t have to dig through spec sheets or read the fine print just to figure out which cable or device they need.
For example, here’s a USB4 cable labeled “USB 80Gbps”: Chenlenic USB4 Cable.
These are the smartphones with the best phone battery life based on our tests
If you had asked me a few years ago what I considered to be the weakness of modern smartphones compared to older phones, I’d have said the battery. When you look at phones from before modern smartphones, the batteries would last days compared to hours of smartphones.
However, we have seen some amazing progress when it comes to modern smartphone battery longevity. There are now smartphones that don’t need to be charged throughout the day and can happily run without issue for more than 16 hours. And the figures to be the case throughout 2025, as the latest top-of-the-line silicon includes power management features among its top benefits.
So far we’ve tested two devices that run onQualcomm’sSnapdragon 8 Elitechipset. Both of those phones — theAsus ROG Phone 9 Proand theOnePlus 13— finish first and second on our list of long-lasting phones. With more Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones on the way, we expect the top of our best phone battery life list to get very crowded very soon.
For a phone to even be considered for inclusion on our list of long-lasting devices, it needs to hold a charge for at least 14 hours while surfing the web. Even then, you may not make the cut as the Motorola Razr Plus 2024turned in a time of 14 hours and 10 minutes and just missed cracking the top 15. That’s still pretty impressive, given that the Razr is a foldable device, and those phones have traditionally struggled with battery life.
The test numbers we use in the above chart reflect the results we got when testing each phone at their default setting for a display’s refresh rate. Often, that means a phone can adjust that rate during our test. We believe that using the default setting is the best way to get comparable results, but since we also test at different refresh rate settings to see what impact that can have on battery life, we’ll note in the write-ups below when phones produced significantly different results after adjusting the refresh rate on their displays.
We’ve also adjusted the times of some recently released phones as we’ve had a chance to run additional battery tests on them. The numbers in our battery life rankings reflect averages calculated from multiple tests.
Best phone battery life at a glance (hours:minutes)
Asuscontinues to set the battery life standard with its ROG phones. The latest entry, the ROG Phone 9 Pro pushes things out even further, with the phone posting an average time of 20 hours and 34 minutes on our battery test. That time came with the phone’s display set to an adaptive refresh rate. Locking the screen at its highest refresh rate — 165Hz — did put a hit on battery life, cutting the ROG Phone’s performance by nearly 6 hours. But even that 15-hour, 41-minute time would have put the ROG Phone 9 Pro in 10th place on our best phone battery life list.
Yes, the big battery inside the ROG Phone 9 Pro helps provide multi-day battery life. But the 5,800 mAh power pack has some help from the power-efficientSnapdragon 8 Elitechip running the show. This chipset figures to power a lot of top Android phones coming out in the next year, so the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery performance is an exciting preview of what to expect even if you’re not necessarily inclined to get a gaming phone.
On the charging front, support fot 65W means you can top off the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery quickly. In our tests, we got a drained phone to a 74% charge after 30 minutes. Combine that charging speed with the epic battery life, and you’ll never need to worry about a gaming session cut short.
2. OnePlus 13 (19:45)
The first major flagship phone released in 2025 also delivers impressive battery life, as the OnePlus 13 approaches the 20-hour mark on our battery test. Certainly, the 6,000 mAh power pack plays a big role in that longevity, but like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, the OnePlus flagship reaps the benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and its more efficient performance.
You’ll also get blazing fast charging speeds — 80W in in the U.S. and 100W in other parts of the world. Using an 80W charger in our testing, we got a drained OnePlus 13 up to a 92% charge after 30 minutes. Wireless charging is fast, too, with the OnePlus 13 supporting 50W wireless speeds.
3. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (18:48)
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro has been surpassed by its successor, even if the older phone’s 18 hour, 48 minute time on our test still impresses. If you can find the phone at a discount, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is still a good gaming option when you don’t want battery life concerns interrupting your gameplay.
While the ROG Phone 9 Pro made a big lead ahead of the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s time, this model improved on its successor by just 16 minutes on our test. Of course, the ROG Phone 8 Pro did that with a smaller battery than its predecessor, making its result look even more impressive.
Like the ROG Phone 9 Pro, you get a 65W charger with the ROG Phone 8 Pro, and charging results were similar — 71% on a drained phone after 30 minutes of charging. By 50 minutes, the phone was completely charged. So you’re never really out of the game with this long-lasting phone from Asus at your side.
4. OnePlus 12R (18:08)
TheOnePlus 13Ris on its way, but for now, the OnePlus 12R delivers the best battery life of any midrange model. If you need to squeeze even more battery life out of the phone, you can adjust its refresh rate, as that produced a result a few minutes shy of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro’s pace, which was the standard back when we tested the 12R last year.
A chunky 5,500 mAh battery helps this phone last throughout the day and then some on a single charge, but credit should also go to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which powers many of the other devices on our best phone battery life list.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be an older chipset, especially with Snapdragon 8 Elite phones now emerging, but that’s what allows OnePlus to offer the 12R at such a low price, particularly in the U.S. You can buy a $499 model with 128GB of storage in the U.S., while the OnePlus 12R starts at $599 for 256GB of storage in other parts of the world.
Even with that lower price, the OnePlus 12R doesn’t skimp on OnePlus’ trademark fast-charging. With 80W wired charging speeds in the U.S., we got the phone to a 96% charge after 30 minutes. Don’t expect wireless charging, though.
5. iPhone 16 Pro Max (17:17)
Additional testing dropped the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s average time from its high of 18:06 to 17:17, but don’t be disappointed by that. This is still the longest-lasting phone Apple has ever offered.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max not only features a larger battery, but the A18 Pro silicon running the show exhibits excellent energy efficiency. TheiPhone 16 Proalso runs on an A18 Pro chipset, and it just missed making our list even though it has a much smaller battery than the Pro Max.
Despite reports that 45W charging might be possible the iPhone 16 Pro Max is limited to 30W charging speeds, which helps it get to a respectable if not overwhelming 55% charge after 30 minutes.
6. OnePlus 12 (17:05)
The OnePlus 12 gives way to the OnePlus 13, not only as the latest flagship phone from the phone maker but also in terms of battery life. It may finish 2.5 hours behind its successor on our battery test, but the OnePlus 12’s time of 17-plus hours is nothing to readily dismiss — this is a long-lasting phone that makes the most of its 5,400 mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Curiously, locking the display’s refresh rate at 120Hz adds another half-hour or so to the test result, instead of the default adaptive setting.
Unlike the OnePlus 12R and 13R, the OnePlus 12 offers wireless charging, which makes its welcome return to OnePlus’ flagships. Wired charging supports 80W speeds in the U.S., compared to 50W wireless speeds.
7. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra (17:01)
At this point, it would be a surprise if Asusdidn’tproduce a long-lasting phone. The Zenfone 11 Ultra joins the last two ROG Phones in dominating our battery life rankings. In the case of the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the phone average just over 17 hours on our battery test with its 6.78-inch display set to an automatic refresh rate. In some test runs, the Zenfone got very close to the 18-hour mark, so count on all-day battery with this device.
Even better, the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s appeal goes beyond endurance and gaming, as Asus has equipped the phone with an especially bright and colorful display. We appreciate how a 6-axis gimbal boosts the stability of the phone’s 50MP main camera, even if we wish that the photo-processing capabilities were a little more refined. You can enjoy 65W wired charging, too, though you will need to provide your own charger to take full advantage of that feature.
8. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (16:45)
Meet the longest-lasting Samsung flagship phone we’ve ever tested — at least until the Snapdragon 8 Elite-poweredGalaxy S25models arrive later this month. The Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 15 minutes shy of the 17-hour mark, beating out last year’s flagship phone from Motorola by nearly an hour. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 2.5 hours ahead of the best performing iPhone 15 model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has since come along to take the S24 Ultra’s long-lasting flagship crown.
Samsung didn’t increase the battery size in the Galaxy S24 Ultra — it remains at 5,000 mAh. So we have to credit the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering the phone for its excellent efficiency. It’s also worth noting we recorded that time with the S24 Ultra’s adaptive refresh rate turned on, so the Qualcomm chipset does a great job managing power.
Charging speeds remain at 45W, but we managed to get a 71% charge after 30 minutes using a 45W USB-C charger. Samsung doesn’t include such a charger with its phone, so if you want top charging speeds, you’ll need to pick up this accessory on your own.
9. iPhone 16 Plus (16:29)
The iPhone 15 Plus wowed us last year by offering 14 hours and 14 minutes of battery life — exceeding the performance of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the process. While the iPhone 16 Plus finished behind the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it did gain a considerable boost to its longevity over its predecessor.
Specifically, the new model posts a 2 hour-plus gain in our battery test, which is pretty impressive for a phone that already held out a long time on a charge. Credit is likely split between the improved power efficiency of the A18 chipset inside the iPhone 16 Plus and the fact that Apple equipped the phone with a bigger battery. (Just how big, Apple hasn’t said, but expect that information to come out, once people get a chance to teardown the phone.)
As for charging, you’re looking at regaining 55% in 30 minutes, which matches the charging results we recorded with Apple’s more expensive Pro models.
10. Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (15:58)
The Galaxy S24 Plus lasts about an hour less than the slightly larger Galaxy S24 Ultra on a charge, though if you turn off the adaptive refresh rate on the Plus, you wind up with Ultra-like longevity. Even finishing just shy of 16 hours with the adaptive refresh rate turned on is an excellentresult for a phone with a 4,900 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. (At least in North America — S24 Plus models in the rest of the world use Exynos 2400 silicon.)
Charging speeds haven’t changed from the Galaxy S23 Plus, as the S24 Plus charges at 45W wired. With a compatible charger, we got a drained Galaxy S24 Plus to a 72% charge in 30 minutes, similar to what we saw with the S24 Ultra.
11. Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (15:01)
Motorola’s G series phones have a strong reputation for lasting a long-time on a charge. The best of the bunch from this year’s batch of G series updates is the Moto G Stylus. It lasted a little more than 15 hours on our test, and that was with the 6.7-inch display’s refresh rate alternating between 60Hz and 120Hz. Turn off that default feature, and you can push that average time to 15 hours and 55 minutes.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) gives you more than just a massive battery and fast 30W charging speeds. It comes with a built-in stylus that’s useful for scribbling notes or sketching on the phone’s display. The Moto G Stylus may lack some processing muscle and its cameras are passable at best, but for less than $400, you get a bright display, a stylish design and all the battery life you could ask for.
12. CMF Phone 1 (14:47)
There’s a lot about the CMF Phone 1 from Nothing that will take you by surprise, whether it’s the low price or the handset’s modular design that lets you attach different cases and accessories to its back. But high on the list of welcome surprises is just how long this phone can last on a charge.
In our testing, the CMF Phone 1 was able to scroll the web continuously for 14 hours and 47 minutes. It achieved that average with its display locked on the default High setting, which supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Go with the Standard setting that turns off the faster refresh rate, and you can squeeze more batter life out of the CMF Phone 1, as we managed to get results that topped 15 hours.
Nothing includes support for 33W wired charging, which helps a drained phone get up to 62% capacity after 30 minutes. All this comes in a phone that costs less than $300 — a very good bargain for a long-lasting device with more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
13. Moto G 5G 2024 (14:36)
One of the least expensive entries on our best phone battery life list, the Moto G 5G (2024) proves once again that Motorola’s G series of budget phones can be counted on to last a while on a charge. In this case, the latest edition of the Moto G 5G lasted more than 14.5 hours — and that time was recorded with the phone’s 6.6-inch display set to its automatic refresh rate that can scale up to 120Hz.
A fast-refreshing display and long battery life underscore the value of the Moto G 5G, which costs just $199. You’ll make some trade-offs for that price — mostly in processor speed and photo quality — but longevity isn’t something you need to worry about sacrificing.
14. Nothing Phone 2a (14:28)
With the arrival of the CMF Phone 1, theNothing Phone2a is no longer Nothing’s least expensive option nor its longest-lasting device. And yet, the Nothing Phone 2a is still a battery champion, thanks to the tandem of a 5,000 mAh power pack and a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset that helped it turn in a time of 14 hours and 28 minutes on our battery testing. Turning of the default adaptive refresh rate, and going with the High setting improves the time to 15 hours.
Fast-charging is something you typically don’t find on cheaper phones, and yet the Nothing Phone 2a can charge at 45W with a wired connection. For less than $350, that’s an impressive set of power management features.
15. iPhone 15 Plus (14:14)
The iPhone 16 phones may offer Apple’s latest and greatest hardware, but don’t overlook the iPhone 15 Plus from a year ago if you’re in the market for an Apple phone but don’t want to pay top dollar. The iPhone 15 Plus lasted longer than both the newer iPhone 16 Pro (just barely) and theiPhone 16on our battery test, and it’s available for the same $799 that Apple charges for the iPhone 16. Not bad if you want a bigger screen and don’t mind missing out on Apple Intelligence features.
Charging speeds are less impressive, though you could say that about most iPhones. A half-hour of charging refilled the phones battery to just 39%.
The HMD OffGrid, like Motorola Defy, is a rugged, phone-connected satellite tool for SOS and messaging.
(Image credit: HMD)
What you need to know
The HMD OffGrid satellite accessory supports 2-way SMS messaging, live tracking, check-in messages, and SOS requests through an Android or iOS phone.
It supports coverage in North America, Europe, and Austalia/ New Zealand.
It costs $199 for the device, plus either $79/year or $15/month for satellite depending on the level of service.
It has three-day battery life, MIL-STD-810H durability, and a companion app for messaging.
HMD Global, the brand behind recent Nokia smartphones, is branching out to satellite messaging. It announced the HMD OffGrid at CES 2025, a satellite accessory for smartphones that looks and performs similar to theMotorola Defy satellite linkreleased in 2023.
The HMD OffGrid uses L Band satellite via Viasat and Skylo (the Defy uses the latter service). It sends messages, voice notes, and check-ins to friends and family from the OffGrid app.
Your SMS messages will be sent from your phone number, so no one else needs to download an app to communicate with you. And real-time tracking will let you share your GPS-based location with up to 5 contacts — via a shared link — by pressing a button on the OffGrid.
While the HMD OffGrid is rated to last three or four days per charge, that’s only with messages and check-ins at regular 30-minute intervals. While it has 10-day standby battery, it will last only a day or two if you’re continuously using GPS and satellite for automatic 3-minute check-ins.
Most importantly for anyone using this satellite dongle in signal-free areas, it supports SOS signals via the device’s dedicated SOS button. Pressing it triggers a series of questions via Focus Point International, the 24/7 emergency service, such as “Are you alone?”, “Where are you?”, and “What happened?”
If necessary, Focus Point will send Overwatch x Rescue services to render aid as needed and foot the bill to rescue you — though you’ll have to pay your own medical bills.
The satellite service covers the mainland and up to 70 miles away from the coast in participating areas like the Americas, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand — with more territories coming “throughout 2025,” HMD says.
“HMD OffGrid is a new, affordable, portable and easy-to-use offering that’s both empoweing and reliable — especially when it matters the most,” says HMD Chairman and CEO Jean-Francis Baril. “Whether you’re hiking in the mountains or skiing off-piste, HMD OffGrid ensures you’re never truly off grid.”
(Image credit: HMD)
The HMD OffGrid is IP68 dust- and water-resistant, as well as rated for MIL-STD-810H ruggedness. It weighs 60g (2.1oz) and has a dedicated spot for a carabiner, if you want to hang it off of a backpack. It seems very convenient to bring on an overland trip, though we have the same design concern as we did with the Defy: the exposed SOS button seems a bit too easy to press without a cover. Other satellite devices we’ve tested like theGarmin GPSMAP 67imake you remove a protective cover from the SOS button.
Aside from the $199 upfront cost for the OffGrid, you’ll need to pay for HMD Unlimited or HMD Freedom to make this more than a paperweight. Unlimited costs $14.99/month for limitless texts and check-ins, while Freedom costs $79.99/year with a 350-character limit for texts, $0.10 per location check-in, and a $20 activation fee.
HMD also mentioned that it would offer some sort of enterprise program for the OffGrid with unique features, though it didn’t go into too much detail.
While more phones and carriers are adding satellite messaging or SOS services, from the iPhone 14 andPixel 9 ProtoVerizon phones, something like the HMD OffGrid or Motorola Defy gives you satellite access without tying it to a specific device.
Given that the Defy has generally received middling reviews and had to weather the bankrupcy of Bullitt Satellite Messaging — which was acquired by another company in 2024 — I’m sure outdoorsy folk will appreciate the HMD OffGrid as a potential alternative. The main question will be whether the satellite coverage and messaging works as intended.
Motorola has started improving the worst part about its devices, and that is software updates. Last year, it started offering five years of Android upgrades to some models, which is a big jump from its previous update policy. The brand has also been struggling with timely update rollouts, which seems to have improved this year withAndroid 15.
Motorola was quick enough to bring Android 15 beta to some models, including the Edge 50 Fusion. It began the stable rollout in December, starting with Edge 50 models, which has now expanded to more devices. For easy rollout tracking, I’ve created a list of Motorola phones below that are getting the stable Android 15 update.
Motorola phones getting the Android 15 update
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
Motorola Edge 50 Pro
Motorola Edge 50 Neo
Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)
The list will grow as Motorola pushes the Android 15 update to more devices. We’ll periodically update the list when new devices receive the update.
If you have any of the devices on the list and are still waiting for Android 15, you can manually check for updates by going toSettings > System updatesand tapping onCheck for updates. Please note that the updates are rolled out in batches, so they may take a few days to reach your device.
If you are unsure about the Android 15 eligibility for your Motorola phone, check the list below.
Motorola phones that are eligible for Android 15 update
While the official rollout has begun, Motorola still hasn’t released a list of devices that will be upgraded to Android 15. However, thanks toAndroid Spotlightfor digging deeper into the support pages to find this valuable information.
Motorola may bring the Android 15 to even more devices. However, as of writing this post, the official support pages only confirm the update eligibility for these devices.
POCO teamed up with Marvel to create a limited-edition model of the X7 Pro, and it looks amazing.
POCO continues to make the best budget phones, and the manufacturer is doing things a little differently with its latest launch. The X7 and X7 Pro are now available globally, and the latter model is particularly interesting, as POCO teamed up with Marvel to release an exclusive variant of the device, dubbed the POCO X7 Pro Iron Man Edition.
I’m a big fan of these limited-edition models, and OnePlus used to do a terrific job rolling out unique designs in the past with the likes of theOnePlus 5T Star Wars,OnePlus 6 Avengers, OnePlus 6T and7T Pro McLarenmodels, and theNord 2 Pac-Manvariant. It’s exciting to see POCO get in on the action with the X7 Pro, and what’s notable here is that the brand is doing so on a budget phone, making the device much more accessible to a wider audience.
That said, POCO isn’t launching the X7 Pro Iron Man Edition in India, its biggest consumer market — the phone is instead debuting in select Asian countries. It is available in a single 12GB/512GB model, and costs $399. The base model of the X7 Pro, meanwhile, costs $299, with the 512GB model selling at $369, so you’re basically paying $30 additionally for the Iron Man Edition.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about the design. POCO clearly paid a lot of attention to small details, with the SIM card ejector in the box styled to look like an Arc Reactor.
The packaging itself is done really well, and it has a “mechanical lift structure” that’s meant to mimic the feel of “donning Stark’s armor,” and you get a cutout highlighting blueprints of Iron Man’s suit. There’s a case included in the box that does a good job reinforcing the device while simultaneously showing off that design at the back.
Coming to the phone itself, the X7 Pro Iron Man Edition has a distinctive back design with red and gold hues, with the Iron Man helmet prominently highlighted. The helmet is housed within a stylized Arc Reactor, and the rest of the back has a “3D relief enhanced with platinum detailing” that does a great job accentuating the design.
POCO used a tiered system to create a sense of dimension to the design at the back, and the effect is rather interesting. “Thanks to the sophisticated layout of the tiered platinum serrations inside, the shining finish has been perfected for an even brighter, more sparkling look, creating a sense of dimensionality that mirrors the detailed craftsmanship of Stark’s engineering. While using a combination of matte and gloss finishes with a sparkling sand texture, the helmet reflects a subtle brilliance under light, while the Arc Reactor’s intricate patterns appear both powerful and precise.”
While my immediate reaction after taking the device out of the box was that it looked a little tacky, I don’t feel the same after using the phone for a week. POCO did a great job with the overall aesthetic of the X7 Pro Iron Man Edition, and the red accents around the cameras at the back and the power button distinguish the design quite a bit. You also get the Avengers logo at the bottom with the POCO logo located at the top, and both of these are decked out in gold, adding a nice bit of contrast.
The sides have a boxier design, but there are subtle curves, and I didn’t see any issues with usability. That’s mostly down to the matte texture on the sides, which just makes it easier to hold and use the device. Other niceties include custom backgrounds and an icon pack that has red borders, which is preinstalled. While I like the backgrounds, the icon pack is too distracting, and thankfully, you can easily switch it out.
The rest of the hardware is identical to the X7 Pro. You get a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh and 1920Hz DC dimming, and it is backed by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i.
Category
POCO X7 Pro
OnePlus Nord 4
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)
12575
13396
PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)
11853
12604
PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)
5450
7233
PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)
18952
13304
PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)
11180
20533
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
1573
1000
Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
5580
3849
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (score)
1868
2845
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)
11.19
17.035
The phone is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 Ultra, and you get 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The phone doesn’t run demanding games at the highest setting, but it is decent enough in its category, and I didn’t see many issues in this area. I’ll go into much more detail in my review, but as a teaser, I’m including synthetic testing scores above.
Coming to the cameras, there’s a 50MP Sony IMX882 that serves as the main shooter, and it’s joined by an 8MP wide-angle, with POCO sensibly choosing to limit the device to two good sensors. There’s a 6000mAh battery with 90W charging, and interestingly enough, the Indian model of the X7 Pro gets a bigger 6500mAh battery. The Iron Man Edition is based on the global variant, so it has a 6000mAh battery. Rounding out the hardware, you get IP68 ingress protection, NFC, IR blaster, and a decent vibration motor.
On the software side of things, the phone runsAndroid 15out of the box, which gives it a distinct edge over theRedmi Note 14 Pro+, a device that costs $150 more.
Overall, I really like what POCO did with the X7 Pro Iron Man Edition. The brand put a lot of thought into the design of the phone as well as the packaging, and it doesn’t have an absurd premium over the standard X7 Pro. I would have liked to see the device in India, but outside of that, I don’t really have anything to fault with the device — it is one of the best limited-edition models I used recently.
Bypass charging ensures your smartphone runs cool and smooth during extended gaming, keeping battery health in check. Here’s when and why to use it.
In the world of smartphones, where power and performance go hand in hand, a new feature is making waves — bypass charging. While this might sound like a technical term, its purpose is quite straightforward. Essentially, bypass charging is a gamer-first feature, designed to help keep your smartphone cool, prolong battery health, and ensure your device performs at its peak, especially during intense gaming sessions.
What Is Bypass Charging?
Bypass charging, also known as direct power supply on some devices, ensures that your smartphone draws power directly from the charger rather than the battery while charging. This feature is gaining traction, especially in high-end and gaming-centric phones, where charging speeds are fast and continuous gameplay can lead to overheating.
The key benefit? It reduces the strain on your phone’s battery duringgaming marathonsor long charging sessions. In a typical charging scenario, power goes first to the battery and then gets distributed to the device’s components like the screen and processor. With bypass charging, power flows directly from the charger to the components, preventing unnecessary heat generation.
If you’ve ever played a mobile game while charging, you may have noticed your phone heating up. This isn’t just uncomfortable—it can also cause your device to throttle performance. Thermal throttling occurs when your smartphone reduces its processing power to avoid overheating, often leading to laggy gameplay and slower performance.
With bypass charging, the need for your battery to handle charging and powering the device is eliminated. The result? Less heat, more stable performance, and a longer lifespan for your battery.
Who Should Use Bypass Charging?
Bypass charging is particularly useful for gamers and heavy smartphone users. If you’re someone who spends hours on end playing mobile games or using your phone for performance-intensive tasks, bypass charging will be a game-changer. Not only will it help keep your phone cool, but it also reduces the risk of damaging the battery in the long run.
However, it’s worth noting that bypass charging isn’t a universal solution for all phone users. It’s specifically for those who need to push their phones to the limit without worrying about battery heating or performance throttling.
Different smartphone brands implement bypass charging in various ways. OnGoogle Pixeldevices, for example, bypass charging can be enabled only once the battery reaches 80% charge. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra allows it to be activated during gaming, without any percentage restrictions.
To activate bypass charging on your device, make sure you’re using the recommended charger. This is crucial to ensure that your phone is getting enough power to operate at its best. When you enable bypass charging, the battery remains at a consistent level, and the phone uses the charger’s direct supply to power everything.
But keep in mind, bypass charging should be limited to high-performance tasks like gaming. If used excessively, it can lead to long-term power supply issues or wear on your charger.
The Long-Term Benefits
While bypass charging is most beneficial for gamers, it can also help your smartphone in the long run. By reducing the strain on the battery, this feature helps preserve its health, ensuring that your device remains efficient for years. The less your battery has to work under high temperatures, the longer it stays in good condition.
Bypass charging is a feature that’s making a significant impact on how smartphones manage power during intense activities. It’s an essential tool for gamers and users who demand the best from their phones. If you’re someone who wants to avoid overheating and maintain optimal performance, bypass charging might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Five years on, Nikon’s given its Z series baby a boost
Left: Nikon Z50.Right: Nikon Z50 II
Five years is a long time in the world of cameras. So you might expect to find more novelty on the spec sheet of the Z50 II, an entry-level mirrorless model released in November 2024 – half a decade after the original Z50. Yet a quick comparison reveals that it has the same 20.9MP APS-C sensor, the same mechanical burst speeds and the same ISO range. And like the first-generation model, it also lacks in-body image stabilization.
On first impression, then, the headline numbers don’t do much to justify an upgrade from the Z50. But there’s a lot more to the Z50 II than meets the eye. Dig a little deeper, like we did in ourin-depth review, and you’ll discover that Nikon’s made a number of crucial improvements for the Z50 II.
Some of these changes make the shooting experience better, like the introduction of a vari-angle touchscreen and deeper grip. Others bolster its appeal for videographers, such as support for 10-bit N-log video. And the most significant turbocharges its performance: an Expeed 7 processor equips the Z50 II with flagship subject detection autofocus skills and 30fps electronic burst speeds.
Taken together, these add up to a much more powerful hybrid for beginners. We think the Z50 II is one of the best entry-level mirrorless cameras, at a price that represents fantastic value. There are certainly some compelling reasons to consider upgrading if you already own the Z50. Let’s explore them.
Chief among the upgrades for the Z50 II is its engine: under the hood now lives Nikon’s Expeed 7 processor – the same chip found in the flagshipZ9. Despite being an entry-level model in the Z series line-up, this equips the Z50 II with some serious power. That’s especially true when it comes to autofocus.
Like the Z50, the Z50 II has a 209-point hybrid autofocus system. Thanks to that top-tier chip, though, it benefits from class-leading subject detection skills. While the original Z50 did a solid job of detecting human faces with its Eye AF, the Z50 II is on another level.
It has nine separate modes for different subjects, including people, animals and vehicles. You can also use the automatic mode to recognize and track a number of subjects in a single scene. Based on our review, it delivers the kind of speed and accuracy usually reserved for much pricier full-frame models.
In short, the Z50 II is in a different league to the Z50 when it comes to autofocus performance. If you want a camera that can keep fast-moving subjects in sharp focus, the Z50 II is worth the upgrade.
Both the Z50 and the Z50 II are tidily designed mirrorless cameras, with neat proportions which make them easy to travel with. In our review of the original Z50, we praised its control layout and ergonomic grip, while noting that some buttons had been omitted in order to save space.
The Nikon Z50 II is actually marginally larger than the Z50, and heavier by 70g. We think that’s an improvement: it feels reassuringly solid in the hand, yet also more comfortable to hold, thanks to a deeper grip. The refinements are minor but meaningful, making the Z50 II a more enjoyable camera to shoot with.
The same can be said of its control layout, which is closer to those of its full-frame cousins. Several functions which had to be accessed virtually on the Z50 now have dedicated buttons on the Z50 II: you’ll find a zoom button, a display button and a drive button on the back of the camera.
There’s also a new Picture Controls button on the top plate, which gives easy access to Nikon’s customizable library of color presets. More than a fad, it’s a creative addition for beginners, which can also be reprogrammed to serve as a function button. For enthusiasts who value a tactile interface with plenty of direct-access controls, the Z50 II offers more flexibility to grow.
The Z50 was a capable entry-level stills camera that could also shoot decent4K/30p footage. That changes with the Z50 II, which boasts the recording chops of a proper hybrid. It can shoot 4K/60p video, albeit with a 1.5x crop, while uncropped 4K footage is captured at 30fps, oversampled from 5.6K.
The upgrades go beyond frame rates. The Z50 II is Nikon’s first APS-C camera to support 10-bit N-log video, including the option to use RED Luts color profiles – fruit of Nikon’s acquisition of pro cinema camera maker, RED Digital Cameras, in 2024. This unlocks a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to color grading, making the Z50 II a much more versatile tool for aspiring filmmakers.
There’s also a new Product Review mode, which makes it easy for novice influencers to create content where the focus shifts smoothly from presenter to product. Together with the move to a vari-angle touchscreen, plus the addition of a headphone port for real-time audio monitoring, the Z50 II is more powerful recording tool across the board.
If you already own the Z50 and you only shoot casual video, there’s no reason to upgrade. But if you’ve found yourself exploring videography alongside your stills photography, the Z50 II offers a whole lot more.
4. Upgraded displays
Left: The Nikon Z50’s flip screen.Right: The Nikon Z50 II’s vari-angle screen.
The sensor isn’t the only thing with the same resolution across two generations of the Z50: the rear touchscreen is still a 1.04m-dot display, while theOLEDviewfinder remains a 0.39-inch, 2.36m-dot number. But those figures tell only half the story.
The EVF on the Z50 II is twice as bright, with up to 1000 nits peak brightness. In practise, that means your eyes have to do less work when adjusting from bright ambient conditions to the display inside the viewfinder. A small but noticeable improvement.
More significant are the changes to the rear display. It’s slightly bigger than the panel on the Z50 (3.2 inches plays 3 inches) and the interface helpfully rotates when you’re shooting in portrait orientation. Crucially, Nikon has also ditched the flip-down design of the Z50’s display in favor of a fully articulating setup.
Where the tilting screen of the original would be obstructed by a tripod, the vari-angle display of the Z50 II offers full flexibility for framing from the front, side and even underneath. If you regularly shoot on the move or record video with your camera mounted to a tripod, this change will make a significant difference.
5. Faster shooting
Left: Nikon Z50.Right: Nikon Z50 II
Burst speeds won’t be a dealbreaker for every photographer, but if action is one of the genres you like to cover, the Z50 II easily wins that race. Burst speeds with the mechanical shutter max out at the same rate as the Z50: 11fps. But thanks to that Expeed 7 processor, it has a secret weapon.
A new High-Speed Frame Capture+ mode allows the Z50 II to shoot stills at up to 30fps with the electronic shutter. In our tests, we did encounter some rolling shutter in this mode. Nevertheless, it leaves the Z50 in the dust when it comes to firing off continuous bursts.
The Z50 II is faster in other ways, too. Where the Z50’s performance is fettered by its UHS-I SD card slot, the Z50 II benefits from support for UHS-II cards, meaning faster read and write speeds. Its wired interface has also been upgraded from micro USB to USB-C, which means 5Gbit/s transfer rates.
Taken altogether, these enhancements make the Z50 II an altogether speedier camera to shoot and work with. The Z50 was no slouch, but if you’ll regularly push it to its limits, the Z50 II is the faster horse.
Closing thought: Do you need II?
If you’re choosing between the Z50 and the Z50 II, the answer is clear: the latter is more powerful, more enjoyable to shoot with and more versatile for recording video. It’s a fantastic entry-level mirrorless hybrid for beginners and one that represents excellent value.
The argument for upgrading is less black and white if you already own a Z50. Whether the improvements warrant a switch will depend on what and how you like to shoot. If you’re mainly into landscapes, for example, there’s not really a compelling reason to upgrade. The Z50 II handles noise slightly better, but it fundamentally captures stills with the same sensor.
On the other hand, if you’re into action or wildlife photography, the enhancements delivered by the Expeed 7 processor are significant. Subject detection autofocus is right up there with the top models in Nikon’s Z series range, making the Z50 II a genuinely capable choice for tracking and shooting fast-moving subjects.
Equally, if you feel held back by the video capabilities of the Z50, the Z50 II has the specs to satisfy a keen learner. It’s every bit a genuine hybrid, with a range of features for filmmaking. Whether you want to monitor audio in real time or try your hand at color grading, the Z50 II will let you do it.
Other refinements, such as new buttons and a vari-angle touchscreen, don’t justify an upgrade on their own. But taken as a package of improvements, the Z50 II is every bit the better camera. If you like what the Z50 offers but want something that’s faster and more versatile, there’s a strong case for switching.
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Image source: USB-IF
Image source: USB-IF
