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Google’s March feature drop is here, bringing scam detection alerts for texts and calls to Pixel users.
The Pixel Watch 3 will receive its Loss of Pulse detection feature by the “end of March,” but users should soon receive its Menstrual Cycle tracking and prediction.
The feature drop expands Find My Device app’s usefulness for locations while users on Verizon and T-Mobile see a Satellite SOS expansion.
March is here, and so is Google’s expected feature drop for Pixels and Pixel Watches for all eligible users.
The year’s first feature drop brings a load of new Pixel features, beginning with AI-powered scam detection. In a press release, Google informs Pixel 6 and newer devices are receiving suspicious text alerts. The company says these devices will leverage on-device AI to “flag text patterns commonly associated with scams.” The post states these safety measures should help protect users from having their personal information fall into the hands of wrongdoers.
Similarly,Pixel 9 devicesin the U.S. are picking up the same scam protection measures for calls in the U.S. Google says its on-device AI will monitor for “conversation patterns” that scammers typically use to safeguard you and your information. Like texting, this feature is hitting Pixel 9 devices today (Mar. 4).
Google’s Find My Device app now lets users share their location with “trusted contacts.” Dubbed “Live Location,” users can show where they are with a contact who can view it on a map from their phone or tablet.
Pixel Fold users are getting a small update, which brings video recording support to Dual Screen. Google states users can now utilize the phone’s cover display to view what’s being recorded. Elsewhere, Pixel 9 Pro Fold owners grab Add Me for Dual Screen, the AI-powered feature that lets you smartly edit yourself or others into a group photo.
(Image credit: Google)
Meanwhile, Pixel 9 devices receive gain support for multiple cameras for streaming. Google states you can “Connect your Pixel phone with a GoPro or other Pixel phone camera, and use popular social apps to stream from different angles.”
Satellite communication capabilities are being expanded in March, with Google stating its Pixel Satellite SOS is arriving in Europe, Canada, and more for the Pixel 9. This lets users who’ve gone out of cell service range to remain connected with family and the world around them. Google states users should understand that this is arriving in beta, so there may be issues.
Pixel 9 series users are also getting in on satellite messaging via Verizon and T-Mobile.
Google’s AI software Gemini is coming to two new countries: Japan and Germany. The post states both areas can enjoyPixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Pixel AI Weather, and more through the Pixel 9 series.
Google’s Pixel Watch isn’t being ignored this month as leading off the March feature drop is the arrival of its Loss of Pulse detection. It wasrecently reportedthat the FDA had signaled its approval of Google’s new life emergency feature which, according to the company, will begin rolling out in the U.S. “by the end of March.”
Google reiterates this approval, stating it has “received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for our Loss of Pulse Detection feature starting with Pixel Watch 3.” If your Pixel Watch 3 cannot detect your heart beat anymore, it will automatically call emergency services if it’s unable to reach you first.
Another major addition is Menstrual Cycle tracking on thePixel Watch 3. Users can now log their period, view cycle status, or see a prediction about the next one from the Watch 3.
All Pixel Watches are picking up better step accuracy. Google states its wearables will now better detect when you’ve “deviated” from your typical walking patterns to avoid a miscount. It hopes this can better aid users trying to hit their walking goals and see more reliable daily insights.
Google is also expanding its Automatic Bedtime mode to the Pixel Watch 2. Through this, the watch will try and detect when you’ve fallen asleep and “turn off your watch face and disable notifications to minimize distractions.” Pixel Watches are also receiving new media playback control actions such as fast forward, rewind, playback speed, and playback queue controls.
Lastly, the Pixel Recorder app’s auto-transcribe function is hitting Pixel 6 and newer phones, as well as Google’s Pixel Watches and Tablets.
What if your laptop could get a full hour’s worth of charge simply by leaving it in sunlight for 20 minutes? That’s the promise of Lenovo’s latest concept laptop, a Yoga model featuring a photovoltaic solar panel on the rear of the screen, converting light into charge for the laptop’s battery.
I’ve seen a lot of great concept devices from Lenovo and other laptop makers at events likeMWC 2025, and I’m usually pretty excited about them. So let me be absolutely, unequivocally clear about this one:
I am curious as to whether the Lenovo logo in the middle affects the solar panel’s performance…
I’m serious. To be honest, I can’t believe it took this long for a tech company to strap a solar panel to the back of an ultrabook. We need more of this. It feels like such a straightforward idea; naturally, the Yoga Solar PC can be charged conventionally via a cable, but just being able to close the lid and let it soak in the solar rays is brilliant – and basically ensures that you’ll never be stranded without any charge again (unless it’s the middle of the night, I suppose).
I can’t be the only one who’s gone on a trip or even just off to work, only to find that I’ve forgotten my laptop charger. Thus begins that stressful game of watching the battery life tick down, turning on efficiency mode, lowering the brightness, and praying.
But with Lenovo’s Solar Yoga? I could just leave it on a windowsill for an hour while I have lunch, and come back to a freshly-charged battery.
It’s also just a general triumph of eco-friendly engineering. The solar panel on the rear of the display (which, incidentally, doesn’t appear to make the laptop noticeably thicker than Lenovo’s other Yoga ultrabooks) offers an energy conversion rate of more than 24%, which is among the very best you’ll see inanytype of photovoltaic solar cells.
Lenovo also designed a ‘Dynamic Solar Tracking system’, which continually monitors the influx of electricity and adjusts the laptop’s battery consumption to prioritize the solar energy to better preserve your battery life.
Despite packing an entirely new energy source atop its lid, this laptop is still impressively thin and light.
Solar-powered devices aren’t a new thing, of course – fellow laptop manufacturerAcersells afoldable 200W solar panelthat you can hook up to a power bank, ideal for charging your devices when you’re out in nature (or in aMad Max-style apocalypse). But the Yoga Solar PC is the first ultrabook in the world with a fully-integrated solar power solution – and even though it’s just a concept right now, it’s one that Iseriouslyhope makes it beyond the prototyping phase.
Having handled the device in person at MWC, it certainly looks and feels like it could be retail-ready. I can practically picture myself taking this bad boy camping, or even just down to the cafe.
Alright, okay, as much as Ilovethis, I will admit that there are some potential stumbling blocks to this sort of tech being widely implemented in our laptops. For starters, solar panels aren’t exactly the most durable things in the world – and I have to imagine that replacing an integrated panel like this would be a costly and difficult affair. Having a laptop with glass on theoutsidedoes feel a little bit like a recipe for disaster. Drop it once, and it might be game over.
Heat buildup also feels like a natural problem here. After all, you generally don’t want your laptop to be too hot. But surprisingly, Lenovo had the Yoga Solar PC sitting under a bright lamp on their stand at the expo (presumably for hours at a time), and while the back panel itself was a bit warm to the touch, the rest of the laptop didn’t feel hot at all. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that a metal exterior lid would probably cook your laptopmoreif you left it out in the sun.
The Yoga Solar PC is also partially constructed with recycled and eco-friendly materials.
Lastly, I suspect that if it were to make it to general production, the Yoga Solar PC would beveryexpensive. I’ve looked into getting solar panels installed on my house – and sure, this is just one solar panel, and it’s a lot smaller, but it’s also part of the laptop chassis rather than a standalone item – oh, and these Yoga laptops aren’t exactly bargain-basement hardware to begin with.
Still, as someone who enjoys a good foray into the great outdoors, I think this proof-of-concept is a fantastic idea and I’d gladly throw money at Lenovo to own one. A laptop that’s more eco-friendlyandcan save my bacon if I forget my charger? Sign me up.
Your PC’s CPU utilization reading is about to become more accurate.
Microsoft just released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360 to the Dev and Beta Channels, with Windows Task Manager getting a minor but important upgrade. According to the Windows Blog, “Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools.” So, if you get this update, the Details tab of the Task Manager should now more accurately show you your PC’s current CPU utilization.
The function has previously been criticized for its inaccuracy because it based its computational charts on your computer’s base clock, not its actual or boost frequency. That means Task Manager was showing you a lower CPU utilization value versus what it actually used because it based its computation on your processor’s slower base clock. So, if it used all of your processor’s resources, you would often find that your CPU utilization went above 100% in the Details tab, adding the numbers manually.
You will not see this happen if you look at the CPU graph in the Performance tab, though, as Windows limits it to 100% CPU load even if its computation is already above the number. The issue gets worse if you go under the hood of your PC and underclock your processor. Task Manager will never report that your CPU is already at 100% utilization, even if it’s already at max performance based on the frequency numbers that you set.
This inaccuracy is missed by most Windows users, which is probably the reason why Microsoft did not bother fixing it for a long time. After all, if you know enough to care about your CPU utilization and tinker with your processor’s frequencies, you also know that you could easily download third-party monitoring apps like Process Explorer.
But finally, enthusiasts will finally get their wish if this Dev and Beta Channel update will make it to the main release. This update ensures that Task Manager will be as accurate as possible, and you can rely on it to show you your PC’s actual performance, even if it’s pushing its processor way above the base frequency that Intel or AMD said it would have. It will still retain the old reading, though, for backward compatibility and rename it as CPU Utility.
Despite all its shortcomings, we appreciate the minor improvements that Microsoft releases with its updates. For example, itupdated how Task Manager reports RAM speedsfrom MHz to the more technically accurate MT/s in May 2024. While these updates will likely not impact the majority of Windows users, they will appease the tech enthusiasts who still stick with the operating system, finally giving them readings that are as accurate as possible.
Tim Cook just teased that something’s in the AIR this week
It’s not an event invite, but rather a video teaser for something new
If rumors are right, we could see a new MacBook Air with M4 or a new iPad
Hot off the heels of fresh rumors about a MacBook Air refresh with the latest, super-speedy M4 chip,AppleCEOTim Cookis teasing that there is something in the ‘AIR’ this week. It’s likely a very smart choice of words, but this all but confirms that there is at least an Apple launch on the horizon.
As with the tease for what turned out to be theiPhone 16e, Tim Cook took to X (formerly Twitter), writing “This week.” and then a six-second teaser video. While it doesn’t show any product, it flashes one word individually at a time, writing out: There’s something in the AIR. And that points to two of Apple’s products – the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and the iPad Air.
Hinting at speed is the fact that something slides through the word Air, causing a ripple effect. That could be a new MacBook Air or an iPad Air, likely with some improved performance courtesy of Apple Silicon.
The teaser, which was posted at 10:54AM ET on March 3, 2025, comes a day afterBloomberg’s Mark Gurman sharedthat Apple’s planned refresh for the MacBook Air with the M4 chip could come as soon as this week.
Apple initially launched the M4 chip in May of 2024 with the iPad Pro and then brought it to theiMac,Mac mini, and MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) in October of 2024. So you could say it’s about time to arrive in Apple’s most popular and portable laptop, the MacBook Air.
We’re not expecting a wildly different design with the new MacBook Air, but the M4 chip could speed up tasks thanks to an improved CPU and GPU, and it could also be better at Apple Intelligence thanks to bigger leaps with the Neural Engine. It should also help stretch the battery life even further.
Tim Cook also chose an important set of words that have some history at Apple. You might recall that before Steve Jobs pulled the original MacBook Air out of the manila envelope, the event was teased with the sub-line, “2008 There’s something in the air.” This time around, there is extra emphasis on theAIR.
Considering thatthis tease from Apple doesn’t specify one new additionto the family, we could be getting more than one new product from the Cupertino-based tech giant.
According to recent reports, Apple is also preparing anupgraded iPad Air and a new entry-level iPad, likely the 12th gen. Apple refreshed the iPad Air, bringing down Face ID and a design that was more similar to the iPad Pro in May of 2024, but it could be improving performance by either the M3 or M4 chip, as well as new accessories.
Regarding the base entry-level iPad, it should also see a speed improvement, but rumors suggest that will be about it. In the same report as the MacBook Air, Bloomberg noted that the iPad launches could be further out.
We’ll know more soon, though, as Apple says the news will be made this week. Of course, stick with TechRadar for the latest as we break down whatever Apple has in store. In the meantime, I’m asking Siri to play a Phil Collins classic –In The Air Tonight.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 has taken a step closer to launch. This time, colour options have surfaced in a new leak, following appearances at various regulatory bodies.
Sony appears set to offer the WH-1000XM6 in three colour options, predecessor pictured. (Image source: Sony)
The WH-1000XM6 has been a long time coming. With past WH-1000X generations, Sony typically waited two years before bringing out a new model. This time around, it seems that the gap between theWH-1000XM5and its successor could span three years.
Reportedly, Sony has left the WH-1000X series on the back burner to coordinate its release year with the WF-1000X in-ear series. No evidence has yet emerged of a WF-1000XM6 though, in comparison to the WH-1000XM6.
To that end, The Walkman Blog has noticed a new sighting of the latter online. This time, the WH-1000XM6 has reached importers, which refer to the headphones by their YY2984 model number.
Predictably, the image lists details like 2.4 GHz Bluetooth support, which is in line with existing expectations. Additionally, the import listings imply that Sony has created three launch colour options, denoted by BM, LM and SM for Black, Platinum Silver and Midnight Blue, respectively. Other details remain unknown for now, although we may see Sony refreshing other over-ear headphones first before it moves onto the WH-1000XM6.
With outstanding cameras and the hardware to match, the 15 Ultra is easily one of the best phones of 2025.
Verdict
Xiaomi is bringing sizeable upgrades to the 15 Ultra; there’s a new 200MP telephoto camera that takes amazing photos, a bigger 5410mAh battery that lasts over a day, and the latest hardware currently available. There’s still a 1-inch sensor at the back, and it continues to take breathtaking photos most of the time. Combine that with a brighter AMOLED panel and better software optimization, and the 15 Ultra is a delight to use. There are issues with overheating at times and the camera being inconsistent with HDR imagery, but on the whole, the 15 Ultra is without a doubt one of the best phones I used in 2025.
Pros
+Outstanding main camera
+200MP tele lens is magnificent
+Vibrant AMOLED with good customizability
+Great in-hand feel
+Class-leading internals
+Battery lasts over a day with ease
Cons
-Overheating issues
-Camera is inconsistent at times
-Software is still buggy
-No IP69 ingress protection
I like using Xiaomi’s Ultra models, and I called theXiaomi 14 Ultramy favorite phone of 2024. That may have been a bit premature considering I liked theFind X7 UltraandVivo X100 Ultraa bit better, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the 14 Ultra continues to be a standout phone.
Xiaomi isn’t changing things too much with the 15 Ultra, which is a good thing. The phone retains a massive 1-inch main camera, and you get a new 200MP tele lens that’s outstanding (it uses the same Samsung HP9 imaging sensor as theVivo X200 Pro). There’s a bigger battery that lasts over a day, all the high-res audio codecs you need, and all the extras you’d want in a 2025 flagship.
I used the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for a month, and that’s a rarity in itself — I test most phones for a week or two before writing the review, so I was able to really get a feel for the device this time around. My key takeaway is that the phone has one of the best camera packages of 2025; it does a better job than its predecessor, and the introduction of the 200MP lens at the back means you get cleaner shots at 4x and much better portrait imagery.
That said, some of the issues that plagued the Xiaomi 14 Ultra are present on the 15 Ultra as well. As good as the cameras are on the phone, they can be inconsistent, particularly when shooting HDR images. Xiaomi addressed this to an extent by rolling out software updates on the 14 Ultra, and it will likely do the same with the 15 Ultra — I’ll share an update once that goes live.
Outside of that and the occasional overheating, I don’t have any problems with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and while I’m waiting to see what OPPO and Vivo do with their Ultra models, the phone sets a high bar for mobile imaging in 2025.
Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 15 Ultra on February 27 in China, with a global launch at Mobile World Congress on March 2. The device will make its way to India, the U.K., and other global markets where Xiaomi has a presence. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is sold in two storage sizes: 16GB/512GB and 16GB/1TB.
The 15 Ultra is going on sale globally for €1,499, and this is the configuration that comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Xiaomi also has the standard model going on sale, and that model will cost €999 globally.
After years of constantly switching designs of its phones, Xiaomi finally has a semblance of a unified design language — at least on its Ultra models. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra looks nearly identical to its predecessor, and I how the aluminum mid-frame blends seamlessly into the glass back. You still get flat sides, but like last year, the beveled design where the mid-frame meets the back ensures the device isn’t uncomfortable to hold.
Coming in at 9.4mm, the 15 Ultra is noticeably thicker than most other 2025 phones — Vivo’s X200 Pro and the Find X8 Pro are just 8.2mm while featuring even bigger batteries. This was the case last year on the 14 Ultra as well, and if anything, I think the thicker profile makes holding the phone a little easier.
Also, the sides have a matte texture, and they don’t pick up any smudges. The beveled design along with rounded edges and matte coating combine to create a great in-hand feel, and even though it’s on the heavier end of the scale at 226g, Xiaomi nailed the weight distribution — the 15 Ultra doesn’t feel unwieldy in the least.
The design at the back is dominated by the massive camera island, and it looks a little cleaner than last year (which really isn’t saying much). The 200MP tele lens sits at the top next to the Leica branding, with the other three modules located below. There isn’t a gold accent encircling the island this time, with Xiaomi instead using the same material as the mid-frame. This makes the design of the camera island look cohesive, and even though it’s a sizeable unit (it takes up most of the width at the back), there’s no wobble when using the phone on a table.
Xiaomi did a good job with the design this year, introducing a distinctive two-tone finish with the leather-backed models that make the 15 Ultra look like classic DSLR cameras. I got the white model with a glass back, and while it doesn’t have as much design flair, the color option has a swirling pattern underneath the glass that gives it a little elegance, and the texture makes it great to hold.
Alongside a better design, the 15 Ultra has much better durability. The phone uses Xiaomi’s custom glass solution, and it is effective against tumbles. Other than a week of travel where I put the phone in the bundled case (I didn’t want to push my luck), I used the 15 Ultra without a case, and it held up incredibly well to the rigors of daily use. In spite of a dozen tumbles in the month I used the phone — two from the dining table — it didn’t pick up any visible damage.
On the subject of resilience, the 15 Ultra has IP68 ingress protection, and you shouldn’t have any issues using the device in the bath or at the pool. While most 2025 phones have IP69 protection in addition to IP68, the 15 Ultra misses out in that area. Still, it isn’t an issue in regular use.
The power and volume buttons are located on the right, and the textured coating on the power button is intact this year. The positioning of the buttons is ideal, as is the fingerprint sensor — it’s located at just the right place to unlock the device even while using it one-handed. On that note, Xiaomi switched to an ultrasonic module this year, and while I’m generally not a fan of these sensors — they’re unreliable outside of Vivo and iQOO phones — I didn’t have any problems on the device. It is fast to authenticate and doesn’t have any issues even when you use the phone with wet fingers.
Overall, the 15 Ultra has one of the best-looking designs of the year, and while it is bulkier and heavier than its immediate rivals, Xiaomi did a great job with the in-hand feel, and it is comfortable to hold and use.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Display
Xiaomi likes using 6.73-inch AMOLED panels on its Ultra devices, and that’s been the case starting with the 12S Ultra back in 2022. The 15 Ultra retains the same size, but the panel gets a little brighter than last year. It still has 120Hz refresh, and goes up to 3200 nits in HDR content, but it’s in outdoor use where the device excels — the AMOLED panel gets bright enough that even under harsh sunlight, there are no issues viewing the screen.
As always, Xiaomi did a great job calibrating the panel out of the box, and it has vibrant colors and excellent contrast. You have a good amount of customizability when it comes to adjusting the color balance — I used the original colour Pro mode — and you can have the balance change dynamically based on ambient light.
Just like its predecessor, the 15 Ultra handles HDR content really well, delivering saturated colors and good brightness levels. The built-in sound isn’t that loud this year — you don’t get an identical stereo channel at the top — but it is still decent enough for casual gaming and media playback in general.
The phone has one of the best reading modes of any device; Xiaomi lets you set up custom colors or switch to a monochrome mode, and you can schedule it to kick in at a particular time or enable it automatically when you open an app. You get an always-on mode as well, and while Xiaomi’s always-on styles aren’t quite as extensive as what you get in ColorOS, you get a good selection nonetheless.
The 15 Ultra uses Xiaomi’s custom Shield Glass 2.0 solution, and it is effective at safeguarding the panel against tumbles and scratches. I don’t see any visible scratches on the panel after a month of use, and it weathered a dozen tumbles with ease.
Xiaomi is no stranger to delivering a great hardware package, and you get Qualcomm’s latest silicon under the hood along with 16GB of RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of the latest UFS 4.1 storage. I’m using the 16GB/512GB model, and I didn’t run into any issues in daily use; there’s no lag whatsoever, and Xiaomi did a good job optimizing the software.
The 15 Ultra has much better fluidity than its predecessor, and it makes using the device fun. It handles gaming with relative ease as well, and I got reliable framerates in demanding titles without any noticeable jitter or lag. While Xiaomi is using a bigger vapor chamber this year, overheating continues to be a problem on the 15 Ultra; the device gets hotter than the X200 Pro, and it has the same issues as the Qualcomm-powered Magic 7 Pro.
Category
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Honor Magic 7 Pro
Vivo X200 Pro
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
2963
2965
2381
Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
8989
6342
7175
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)
18531
21008
15731
PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)
20117
24889
13716
PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)
8189
8072
5823
PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)
20898
27504
24744
PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)
35083
40642
13582
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (score)
5834
6391
6070
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)
34.93
38.27
36.35
3DMark Solar Bay (score)
10006
11298
11021
3DMark Solar Bay (FPS)
38.05
42.96
41.91
Geekbench AI (Quantized Score)
3587
2115
2436
In fact, the phone got so hot that I wasn’t able to run 3DMark’s Steel Nomad stress test; the synthetic workload was abandoned at the halfway point, with a message saying the device overheated. This was an issue on last year’s 14 Ultra as well, and it’s clear that Xiaomi needs to tweak its thermal management. While overheating is a problem in demanding titles, the device didn’t exit a game mid-way — that was only during a 3DMark run — and there isn’t excessive throttling.
The rest of the hardware is outstanding; I didn’t see any issues with cellular or network connectivity, and calls went through without any problems. The phone gets LHDC in addition to Qualcomm’s AptX Adaptive and AptX HD codecs, and it even has Bluetooth 6.0.
The vibration motor is among the best around, and it delivers granular feedback while using the keyboard or navigating the interface. Qualcomm-based phones in general tend to run hotter than the Dimensity 9400-powered Find X8 Pro and Vivo X200 Pro, and that’s true of the 15 Ultra as well; that said, it still does a fantastic job at gaming.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Battery life
Xiaomi boosted the battery on the 15 Ultra, with the device now featuring a 5410mAh unit. As a result, it lasts considerably longer than its predecessor, and I didn’t have to worry about battery anxiety even while traveling. It isn’t as good as the X200 Pro in this regard — I’m beginning to think that no device can measure up to Vivo’s offering in 2025 — but it does a great job in its own right, and I only had to charge the device every day and a half on average.
Like its Chinese rivals, the 15 Ultra uses asilicon-carbide batteryto great effect, and you get better density and longevity. Xiaomi didn’t change the charging tech, so the phone has the same 90W fast charging over USB PD as last year, and it even goes up to 80W wirelessly, but I wasn’t able to test this particular mode as Xiaomi still doesn’t sell the requisite charger outside China.
You get the usual safeguards, including optimized charging and an 80% charging limit, and it takes just over 50 minutes to charge the unit from flat. Even with heavy use involving several house of navigation and gaming, the phone lasted a day without breaking a sweat, and while it may not be the longest-lasting phone I used in 2025, it comes close.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Cameras
Xiaomi continues to deliver an outstanding camera package with the 15 Ultra, and at the heart of the imaging system is the 1-inch Sony LYT-900 module. It isn’t a variable lens this time and is locked to f/1.63, and it retains OIS. The sensor is similar to what Xiaomi used to great effect last year, and honestly, I’m glad the brand didn’t change anything in this area.
A key differentiator this year is the debut of the 200MP Samsung HP9 module that handles telephoto duties up to 4.3x and beyond, and it is without a doubt the best sensor in this category — Vivo’s X200 Pro has the same lens. It’s joined by a 50MP Sony IMX858 tele lens, and a 50MP Samsung JN5 wide-angle module. Both tele shooters get OIS as standard, and up front there’s a 32MP camera with autofocus.
The camera interface is unchanged, so I’m not going to talk about it too much. Like last year, you get the ability to shoot 4K60 via all the rear cameras, and the ability to do so from 0.6x to 4.3x is pretty great. You even get 4K120 with the main camera and 200MP lens, and it is a unique advantage that you don’t get with any other phone.
Xiaomi is once again leveraging Leica optics and tuning, and you get two shooting profiles: Leica Authentic and Vibrant. The Authentic mode has a slight vignette and renders accurate details, but I like the tonal balance of the Vibrant mode, so that’s what I used.
As you can imagine, the 15 Ultra takes amazing photos in daylight situations. There’s good color balance and dynamic range, and there are no issues with foliage rendition or white balance. Colors aren’t too saturated either, but you get a good vibrancy that makes the image stand out when sharing on social media.
The wide-angle lens does a great job, and it manages to take detailed shots even in low-light situations. You get a similar color balance as the main camera, and I didn’t have any issues taking wide-angle shots.
A big part of what makes the 15 Ultra great is its ability to take wonderful telephoto shots. The inclusion of two lenses means you get a 3x mode at 70mm focal length and 4.3x at 100mm focal length, with the phone relying on in-sensor zoom via the main camera to deliver 2x shots. Shots at 3x and 4.3x have excellent rendition and detail, and the device manages to take the same caliber of photos in low-light situations as well.
Another bonus is that you get good versatility when it comes to portrait imagery. This is where the Vivo X200 Pro comes into its own, and while the 15 Ultra takes detailed shots, there are issues. I noticed instances where it struggled with background segmentation and dialing in on the subject.
There are inconsistencies with HDR, with noticeable blooming at times. These problems should be straightforward to address with software updates, and I’ll revisit this section in a month to see if the issues are sorted out. Clearly, the hardware is among the best of any phone available today, and Xiaomi just needs to dial in the tuning a little bit to make the device reach its potential.
Don’t get me wrong; the 15 Ultra delivers terrific photos in just about any scenario — it’s just that having used the X100 Ultra and the X200 Pro, I know what the underlying hardware is able to achieve. But even as things stand, the 15 Ultra does enough to measure up against the X200 Pro, and it easily outshines the Galaxy S25 Ultra andPixel 9 Pro XL.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Software
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with the latest iteration of the brand’s software, and it is based onAndroid 15. While there isn’t any visual difference, the UI has much better optimization, and this is immediately evident when using the phone.
As is the case with every new Xiaomi phone, the software has its share of quirks. I got notification alerts even after enabling DND, so I had to manually decrease notification volume to not get constantly distracted by the device. Push notifications haven’t been an issue (thankfully), but Xiaomi still doesn’t do a good job with floating notifications, and I had to routinely pull down the shade to see incoming one-time codes and messages.
Like all other phone brands, Xiaomi is baking AI features into its software, and that includes the usual image editing tools like object eraser and the ability to remove reflections in photos. Both features are decent in their own right, but I still think ColorOS has the edge in this regard. The only AI-backed utility that I like is the built-in transcribing feature in the Recorder. It did a good job transcribing audio on the fly, and I intend to use it extensively at MWC.
Other than that, there isn’t much else to talk about with the software. Xiaomi is clearly in need of an overhaul, and while you get a decent amount of customizability, the UI as a whole doesn’t look as clean as ColorOS or even Funtouch OS.
When it comes to updates, the 15 Ultra will get four guaranteed Android OS updates alongside five years of security updates, and that’s in line with what Xiaomi delivers on all of its high-end phones. Xiaomi at at the bottom of the list when it comes to rolling out platform updates, and that’s something the brand needs to address.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: The alternatives
I still think Vivo is doing a better job when it comes to tuning the cameras on its devices, and while theX200 Prodoesn’t have a 1-inch sensor, it manages to take fantastic photos and videos. It has the same 200MP tele lens, and I got outstanding portrait shots with the device — so much so that I used it instead of my mirrorless. I’m interesting in seeing what Vivo is able to deliver this year with the X200 Ultra, but outside of that device, I don’t think there’s anything else that has the ability to go up against the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera might.
TheFind X8 Prois a good alternative to consider, and unlike the X200 Pro, it is available in the U.K. and other western markets. It has a clean design, a vibrant AMOLED, great battery life, and the quartet of 50MP cameras at the back takes excellent photos and videos.
In a similar vein, Honor’sMagic 7 Procombines great cameras with high-end internals. Honor leads the industry with its eye-comfort tech, and while the cameras on the device aren’t quite as good as the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, they have clear advantages when shooting photos of moving objects and AI-assisted rendering.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
You want the latest internals and good gaming potential
You need one of the best camera packages around
You want reliable battery life and fast charging
You need a phone with a standout design
You shouldn’t buy this if:
You want timely software updates and a clean UI
You want a phone that doesn’t heat up too much
The 15 Ultra solidifies Xiaomi’s position in the flagship category. The phone doesn’t differ too much to its predecessor, but you get a brighter AMOLED panel, better-looking design that’s easier to hold and use, and a bigger battery that lasts a day and a half.
The phone includes a year’s worth of tuning upgrades on the camera side of things, and the difference is evident. The introduction of a 200MP tele lens gives it a distinct advantage, and it takes much better portrait shots than last year’s model. Image quality is inconsistent at times, and this was an issue on the 14 Ultra as well — that’s one of the reasons why I prefer Vivo’s tuning these days. Having said that, the 15 Ultra has one of the strongest camera packages, and it takes outstanding photos and videos most of the time.
Like previous years, Xiaomi’s software is the only real limitation on the device; the brand needs to do a better job cleaning up the interface, and deliver new features. Xiaomi has shown that it can optimize its phones just as well as its Chinese rivals, and it now needs to prove that it can do the same with a visual redesign.
Overall though, the 15 Ultra has been a delight to use. I could have written this review after using the device for just a week, and in spite of its software foibles, I enjoyed using the 15 Ultra so much that I stuck with it throughout the month. The only other phone that impressed me as much this year was the X200 Pro, and just like Vivo’s flagship, Xiaomi did a standout job with the 15 Ultra, and it is among my favorite phones of 2025.
Infinix announced a tiny, vertically folding tri-fold concept.
(Image credit: Infinix)
What you need to know
Infinix enters the tri-fold segment with the Zero Mini Tri-Fold, featuring dual vertical hinges for a three-way fold.
The concept’s outward-folding design lets it attach to fitness gear and bikes, adding extra versatility.
Its dual-screen setup enables real-time translation, multitasking, and a pro-level camera experience.
Infinix is finally jumping in with its own tri-fold design, called the Zero Mini Tri-Fold, which boasts dual vertical hinges that let it fold three ways.
The Infinix Zero Mini concept introduces triple-fold design, powered by dual vertical hinges. Unlike your typicalfoldable phonesthat just stretch into bigger screens, Infinix’s latest concept phone can switch between being a compact phone, a fitness gadget you can wear, and a portable camera setup, according to the company’spress release.
With its outward-folding design, the Zero Mini goes beyond a regular phone. It can attach to fitness gear and bikes, making it even more versatile.
The Zero Mini’s outward-folding design gives you a dual-screen setup that’s perfect for multitasking. It can handle real-time translation and display content at the same time.
When it’s time to snap some photos, the setup doubles as a pro-level camera system. You get crisp, high-res shots with the main lens while using the second screen to nail the perfect frame.
The prototype sports a hole-punch display and packs a dual-camera setup.
Currently, theHuawei Mate XT is the only triple-folding smartphoneyou can actually buy.
Meanwhile, Samsung isdipping its toes into the tri-fold concept too, working on a book-style foldable phone of its own. The South Korean tech giant gave us a sneak peek of what’s in the works at its Galaxy Unpacked event back in January of this year.
Infinix is keeping the details under wraps for now, meaning there’s no word on a release date or specs for the Zero Series Mini. But rumor has it we’ll get the full scoop at Mobile World Congress 2025.
An NHL official is shown wearing an Apple Watch with a custom app to help track game and penalty time.Getty Images/Courtesy of the NHL
Apple and the NHL are collaborating to give its officials Apple Watches
They’ll be used in an outdoor game for the first time on March 1
A custom app can give officials countdowns and even tell them which players are in the penalty box
Appleand the National Hockey League (NHL) have announced the next step in a partnership that has seen officials across the league equipped with thebest Apple Watchesin order to assist them in officiating games.
Announced by theNHL, officials will wear Apple Watches and use a custom NHL Watch Comms App during an outdoor game for the first time, specifically the match between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, March 1.
The NHL says that officials across the league have been using the technology on a widespread scale, with nearly all officials wearing a watch this season.
In fact, they’ve been using and refining it for a few seasons. The Apple Watches come with a custom app developed by Presidio, offering real-time in-game notifications.
The NHL Watch Comms App showing the imminent end of two penalties.Courtesy of the NHL
The NHL says that communication between officials is difficult during games because of crowd noise and the electric pace of games. An outdoor environment makes that even more challenging, the biggest one being the lack of a scoreboard hanging above center ice, which limits how officials can keep track of game timing and situations.The NHL has future plans to expand the tech, including adding support for direct communications between the four officials on the ice, other arena officials, and officials at the league HQ in Toronto. Apple Watch may even facilitate communication between officials and coaches in the future.
Officials wearing the watch get haptic notifications during the game, including game clock and penalty clock countdowns, and even the jersey numbers of which players are in the penalty box at any given time.
NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation David Lehanski says the league has a 90 percent participation rate among officials using the tech. The NHL has been collaborating with Apple for a number of years, notably using iPad and Mac to deliver real-time videos to coaches and players in game for the past eight years.
Veteran video call app Skype will apparently be fully switched off by May this year, according to a string of code in the latest Skype for Windows preview, spotted byXDADevelopersreaders and verified by staff members.
In place of Skype, the string suggests usingMicrosoft Teams, also noting how many of your contacts already use Teams to convince you to make the jump.
Skype first launched in 2003, and has been part of Microsoft’s stable since 2011. While it enjoyed some attention post-acquisition, including integration into Windows 10, the introduction of Microsoft Teams in 2017 spelled the beginning of the end for the Estonian-built app.
Teams is already responsible for the death of Skype for Business in 2021. And with Teams video chats built into the original Windows 11 interface (though removed in later updates), Microsoft’s clearly been wanting to make Teams its single video call solution for both personal and professional use. We just thought we’d have longer to say goodbye, given that Skype for Business took almost two years to completely vanish.
A screenshot of code from a February 2025 build of Skype for Windows preview shows that the service will shut down in May(Image credit: XDADevelopers)
I’m sure many of you reading this have fond memories of using Skype at some point in the last two and a bit decades, but I’d wager mine are a little fresher than yours. That’s because basically every Sunday since I left home in 2012, I’ve been using Skype to call my parents.
While newer and better video call services have appeared in the intervening time, such as Apple’s FaceTime, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger’s video call options, or Google Meet, Zoom and of course Microsoft Teams for business-focused applications, Skype remained our app of choice. Even if cutting Skype looks good on Microsoft’s financial spread sheet, I still can’t imagine it’s going to do much for Teams’ non-business use rates. I myself can’t imagine switching to Teams for my weekly family calls, and expect we’ll settle for WhatsApp or FaceTime.
Don’t knock the iPhone 16e for having just one camera
Soon after theiPhone 16ewas officially announced, I expressed doubt about theiPhone 16e cameracompeting against some of thebest camera phoneson the market. Namely, I feared that Apple’s decision to stick with a single rear camera would make the 16e less compelling compared to the dual and triple camera setups I see in many other similarly priced phones.
That’s why I’m doing this 10-round photo shootout with the iPhone 16e vsiPhone 16vsiPhone SE 2022— let’s see exactly how good the new iPhone 16e is compared to some of thebest iPhones.
On paper, I prefer the utility of the iPhone 16’s dual camera setup — which consists of a 48MP main shooter paired with a 12MP ultrawide. It inherently has an advantage because its ultrawide camera is more suitable for landscape photography and group photos. In contrast, the iPhone 16e features a single 48MP main camera, while the iPhone SE 2022 has just a 12MP main camera.
I captured a bunch of scenes to best illustrate how each camera handles different scenarios, then I compared the results on my computer to see them all side-by-side with one another. That way, I can better spot their differences to ultimately tell you which has the best performance.
Picture order：iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: daytime
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone se 2022
Starting with these sets of photos I snapped down by the beach near me, all the shots look fantastic. Upon closer inspection though, it’s hard to discredit the iPhone SE 2022 because zooming into the building in the far background reveals that it captures details just as well as its newer counterparts. However, it’s ultimately the iPhone 16e that gets my vote due to its warmer color temperature.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Dynamic Range
The photos above prove why the iPhone SE 2022 is still a capable camera phone in 2025, mainly because of its wide dynamic range performance.
With the sun nearly overhead, the shadowed areas of the gazebo and surrounding townhomes in the background are still visible with the iPhone SE 2022’s shot, but both the iPhone 16 and 16e better expose those shadowed areas.
It’s not a huge bump, but it’s enough for me to notice when I zoom into the rocks underneath the gazebo.
Winner:iPhone 16 & 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Colors
Clearly, the iPhone 16e has a penchant for producing bolder color tones, which leads to noticeable saturation in the shots of the bruschetta above. I personally like the vibrant reds of the tomato pieces, but the iPhone 16’s colors are more true-to-life. The red has a more balanced tone, which is why I prefer its color science.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Macro
One of the challenges with capturing macro photos with all three iPhones is trying to find their minimal focal distance. It’s rather tough to tell when I’m tapping the screen and trying to discern if the image is in focus where I want it to be.
What’s apparent is that I can get a lot closer to a subject with the iPhone 16, resulting in more detailed macro photos. You can see it in the shots above in how the iPhone 16 better defines the details in the exposed wood railing.
Both the iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 2022 can still capture outstanding looking closeups, but this one goes to the iPhone 16.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: 2x zoom
Now comes the fun part: zooming. That’s because all three phones rely on their main camera for all zooming, but the iPhone 16 and 16e leverage special techniques that give their zooms optical-like quality.
Right away, it’s evident that the iPhone SE 2022 is at a big disadvantage with zooming because it’s effectively a digital zoom. The wooden sign in the photos above doesn’t have the same amount of detail I see with the iPhone 16 and 16e’s shots. But between the two of them, I’m giving it to the iPhone 16e because of its warmer tone.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: 10x zoom
Image processing truly becomes important at further zoom levels because it can expose details that are otherwise hidden in the shot. This is true for the iPhone 16e, since it’s able to catch more of the wooden textures of the sign at 10x zoom. I see it in the green painted portion of the wooden sign and the post to the right of the yellow emblem.
The iPhone SE 2022 tops out at 5x zoom, so it doesn’t have nearly as much definition.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Nighttime
I think all three phones are capable of delivering acceptable low light photos, but only when there are strong light sources in the scene. The shots above at the parking lot prove this as the much older iPhone SE 2022 manages to match its younger siblings in terms of overall brightness and exposure.
However, zooming into the scene reveals it’s not as good at neutralizing the exposure with the highlights — which I can see with the brightly lit signs in the background. The iPhone 16 clearly does the best job because most of the signs are still visible and not overblown like the iPhone 16e.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Low light
Besides zooming, the other area where I see substantial differences in all phones is low light — and these shots prove it. In the near pitch dark conditions of my backyard, you can see how the iPhone SE 2022 fails at brightening up the scene. It doesn’t help when the details are muddy and indistinct.
In contrast, the iPhone 16 and 16e do an amazing job of brightening the scene. It almost looks like an ambient light source is shining on the tree, but this is the magic of their night modes. Even though the iPhone 16 has a slightly brighter exposure, zooming in reveals better definition and clarity with the iPhone 16e. And for these reasons, it gets my vote.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Verdict
I’m looking forward to capturing even more photos with the iPhone 16e in order to get a better feel of how it performs consistently. In this iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022 photo shootout, I’m surprised that the iPhone 16e wins more categories than the iPhone 16.
What impresses me the most is how the 16e actually performs better than the iPhone 16 in low light and zooming, two areas I didn’t think it could win. Yet, it proves how image processing techniques can really get the most out of a phone’s camera. However, I still can’t count out the iPhone 16 because of the extra utility it offers — like a proper ultrawide camera that’s better suited for macrophotography and capturing more of the scene.
And not surprisingly, there’s a big gap in performance between the iPhone SE 2022 and its spiritual successor in the iPhone 16e.
