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The Pixel 9 will be one of the first phones in line for the new feature
Android phones are getting a new Motion Cues feature
The feature should help combat motion sickness when reading in cars
iPhones recently got a similar feature in iOS 18
If you were paying attention to theiOS 18launch, you may have noticed a new Vehicle Motion Cues feature that promises to help to combat car sickness. There’s now an Android equivalent on the way – and we just got a better idea of how it’s going to work.
The folks over atAndroid Policedid some digging into theGoogle PlayServices code on Android, discovering that the featureGoogleis planning – called, apparently, Motion Cues – is almost ready to be rolled out.
With a few tweaks, the Android Police team was able to get the feature working: You get a simpleMotion Cuestoggle switch, plus anAuto-enable when Drivingoption that has the feature kick in whenever your phone thinks you’re in a car.
As on iOS, the feature puts small black dots at the edge of the screen, which then move to match the motion of the vehicle you’re in. The idea is to remove the disconnect between your body feeling movement and your eyes seeing something fixed and stationary.
The hidden screens enabled by Android Police(Image credit: Android Police)
Google hasn’t said anything officially yet, so we don’t know when this feature is going to be pushed out – we might not see it untilAndroid 16arrives around mid-2025, though it could also be part of an Android 15 update. The feature wasfirst spotted last month.
When it does turn up, you’ll be able to activate it through the Quick Settings panel, Android Police reports – so with a quick one-finger or two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen you can turn it on and try and ward off any nausea.
Here’s howApple describesits own feature: “With Vehicle Motion Cues, animated dots on the edges of the screen represent changes in vehicle motion to help reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content.”
That “sensory conflict” happens when there’s a disconnect between what you see and what you feel, and Motion Cues should help – not just in cars, but in other places where you might get motion sickness (on a boat, for example).
Apple Intelligence has released the most exciting update yet, iOS 18.2 will appear on the best iphones.
The new update brings a whole host of Apple Intelligence features, including toChatGPTintegration with Siri, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence to the iPhone. It also adds language support for other regions such as the UK and Australia, officially launching Apple’s AI in those countries.
We’ve got a lot to talk about and a lot to think about as we take you through the biggest iOS launch of the year, where Apple Intelligence is taking a big step toward becoming the most important part of the iPhone user experience.
iOS 18.2: Everything you need to know at a glance
iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 arrive on eligible devices today: The next major Apple Intelligence update is here, bringing some of the most-anticipated Apple AI features to devices.
Genmoji: Apple’s AI-generated emojis are set to be one of the most popular new additions to the iPhone, allowing you to send any emoji you can think of to friends and family, at the tap of a button.
Image Playground: Apple’s AI image generator lets you create images in multiple styles simply from a text input. There is a new standalone app, as well as ways to access from within apps like Notes and Messages.
ChatGPT: You can now use ChatGPT directly from within Siri, allowing you to ask OpenAI’s chatbot difficult prompts that Apple’s voice assistant might not have the answer to.
Visual Intelligence: An iPhone 16-exclusive Apple Intelligence feature that lets you snap a photo of anything and searching for more information via Google or ChatGPT. This feature is tied to Camera Control.
Mail overhaul: The Mail app now has categories and uses Apple Intelligence to determine if an email is important enough to prioritize.
Apple Intelligence now in the UK: iOS 18.2 adds localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK, giving even more users around the world powerful new ways to use their iPhone, iPad, and Mac
If you’ve updated and are wondering where you find the ChatGPT integration for Siri, you’ve come to the right place. After updating to iOS 18.2 on an iPhone, you’ll want to head over to Settings and then select “Apple Intelligence & Siri” if you’re using United States English on the device.
Apple packs a lot into this menu, but you’ll scroll down to Extensions and then select “ChatGPT” – it should be the only option. Within there, right at the top, you turn on “Use ChatGPT,” and further down, you will have the option to sign into your ChatGPT account if you have one, but this isn’t required.
You’ll find that when you ask Siri for something that the personal assistant deems best answered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, it will ask if you want to use ChatGPT. This is deafult and pretty transparent, it’s also a neat way to see what Siri’s new powers are. If you prefer not to confirm that each time, you can deselect the “Confirm ChatGPT Requests” option here, but know it’s on by default.
(Image credit: Apple)
2.12 December 2024 at 4:09 am
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s SVP of Marketing, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share one of his Image Playground creations. “The Joswiak pups look good all drawn up by Image Playground, don’t you think?” the post reads, and we’d concur that they look pretty darn cute.
If you’re curious where to find Image Playground, it’ll appear as a new app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac after you install iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia. It’s a unique icon, basically a furry white cat with a holographic purple hue for an icon. But much like other text-to-image generators, your ask is Image Playground’s command, and there are even some preset options.
Genmoji, more Writing Tools, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16! New Apple Intelligence features are here! The Joswiak pups look good all drawn up by Image Playground, don’t you think? pic.twitter.com/obbX6QknizDecember 11, 2024
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook also celebrated the launch of Apple Intelligence’s next set of features on X, but didn’t share an Image Playground.
New Apple Intelligence features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac are here: Image Playground and Genmoji, more dynamic Writing Tools, integration to ChatGPT, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16! It’s personal, integrated, and built to protect user privacy at every step.December 11, 2024
3.12 December 2024 at 2:35 am
iOS 18.2 rollout is starting
(Image credit: Apple)
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of iOS 18.2 – maybe to create custom emojis with Genmoji or to get a supercharged answer from Siri courtesy of ChatGPT – it’s beginning to hit eligible devices, at least on the East Coast of the United States here in New Jersey.
On an iPhone 16, the update comes in at 7.83 GB, which is pretty sizeable, especially for a dot software upgrade. As we’ve listed below, iOS 18.2 ushers in the next set of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and enhanced writing tools.
Of course, the first step to getting any of these new features is to download and install the latest version, then opt in to Apple Intelligence. While there is no waitlist for these image generation tools, your Apple device will need to download the specific models for Genmoji and Image Playground. It’s best to be on Wi-Fi for that to be quicker, but once set, you can get to generating.
4.12 December 2024 at 12:38 am
(Image credit: Apple)
If you need a reminder on what devices are compatible with Apple Intelligence, here’s what you need to own:
I thought iOS 18.2 was supposed to be released already today 😕 pic.twitter.com/BpnYLAzPxvDecember 11, 2024
Still no sign of the iOS 18.2 update, and some users on X are getting frustrated. I expect the new operating systems to arrive in the next few hours, so just remain patient as it’s definitely going to launch today.
I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of iOS 18.2, as I was incredibly impressed with just how feature-rich it was when I installed the developer beta last month. iOS 18.2 is what iOS 18 should’ve been, but we’ve just had to wait a few months to get it.
6.12 December 2024 at 12:19 am
(Image credit: Apple)
So… These are some Genmojis of me with my Frenchie, Kermit. As a huge fan of the Muppets and frogs, I also decided to make one of a French bulldog next to a frog. I’ve been using the Genmojis of me with my dog since I first created them about a month ago, who doesn’t want a custom emoji with their pet?
I’m surprised at how good a job Apple Intelligence did with these, I’m a bald man with a beard so it’s easy to recreate my likeness in emoji form, but even then it still manages to look like me. Good job Apple.
7.11 December 2024 at 11:58 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
I noticed a weird issue with the ChatGPT extension that might impact some of you installing iOS 18.2 today.
If you used our workaround to access Apple Intelligence early in the UK, when you decide to change your language back from US English to UK English,you might notice ChatGPT disappear.
If this happens all you need to do is change the region of your iPhone too and ChatGPT should reappear. This issue left me scratching my head for weeks, so I’m glad I managed to find the reason why and share it with you all.
8.11 December 2024 at 11:53 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Are you keeping up? My hands are trying to.
If you’re in the UK, Australia, or one of the other countries I mentioned below, today is the first day you can use Apple Intelligence without needing a workaround.
So not only are you getting access to everything I listed below as part of iOS 18.2 but you’re also getting Writing Tools, Clean Up, a Siri redesign, Notification summaries, and other Apple Intelligence benefits sprinkled throughout your iPhone’s operating system.
It might seem like there’s too much getting added all at once, but don’t worry Apple wants you to use Apple Intelligence when you need it, so expect to see the features pop up naturally throughout iOS rather than you having to look for them.
That has to be everything right? Nope, iOS 18.2 brings a massive overhaul to the Mail app using Apple Intelligence to create Categories that help you determine just how important an email actually is.
I’ve found this update to Mail genuinely useful and have actually reverted back to using Mail over the Gmail app for the first time in ages. Not only do you get Apple Intelligence summaries built-in, but AI will also decide if an email is important and prioritize it over everything else in your inbox.
If you don’t like the way it works, you can always revert back to a more traditional Mail layout.
10.11 December 2024 at 11:43 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
There’s also Image Wand, which allows you to circle anything you’ve drawn in the Notes app and use Apple Intelligence to turn it into an AI generated image.
I could see Image Wand being incredibly useful for students, who want to bring their drawings to live alongside lecture notes or other study info.
It’s also a great tool to show to kids, allowing them to see magic as basic drawings become full images right in front of their very own eyes.
Image Wand is very cool, and I actually think it might end up being more useful than Image Playground, just because of how you access it.
11.11 December 2024 at 11:38 pm
And another one…
(Image credit: Apple)
Yep that’s right there’s even more new Apple Intelligence additions as part of iOS 18.2. Genmoji isn’t the only image generator built into iOS now, Apple also added a new app called Image Playground.
Image Playground is Apple’s attempt at the best AI image generator, and it can be used throughout your iPhone’s operating system. Simply choose your prompt, choose your art style, and watch as Apple Intelligence creates some image magic.
If you don’t use AI image generators like MidJourney, I don’t expect you to get much use out of Image Playground. That said, it’s a nice to have and it’s very simple to use. Who says no to extra features, right?
12.11 December 2024 at 11:32 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
The features keep on coming. iOS 18.2 adds ChatGPT to Siri, allowing you to ask OpenAI’s chatbot anything you want, when Siri doesn’t quite cut it.
The ChatGPT extension can be accessed at any time through Siri by simply asking a question or using Type to Siri. If Siri can’t answer the specific prompt, it will give you the option to access ChatGPT.
There’s a couple of settings that allow you to bypass the request so you don’t need to approve access to ChatGPT every time you want to use it, but Apple has included an option that requires your approval every single time – just to be extra cautious.
ChatGPT as part of iOS is a massive update and one that I think many Apple users never really expected to see. It’s quite incredible to think that we now have access to one of the world’s best AI chatbots directly from Siri, and best of all, it works seamlessly.
13.11 December 2024 at 11:28 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Next up, Visual Intelligence.
This new Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18.2 is exclusive to thebest iPhones, specifically the iPhone 16 lineup. It’s similar to Google Lens, but built by Apple and directly tied into the new Camera Control on the latest iPhones.
Simply hold down on Camera Control, then take a photo of anything and either ask ChatGPT for more information or search for information with Google. I think the fact that you can launch Visual Intelligence whenever you want makes it a very compelling feature and one that many might fall in love with.
14.11 December 2024 at 11:23 pm
(Image credit: Future / Apple)
Let’s go through each of the big new Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhone with iOS 18.2, starting with my personal favorite, Genmoji.
I’ve been using Genmoji for a few weeks now and I think it’s the best Apple Intelligence feature to get started with, purely because it’s so much fun!
I’ve had a blast creating emojis of a frog on a skateboard, a frog driving a car, and even a frog playing the drums. My favorite way to use Genmoji, however, is by creating emojis based on my photos alongside my French Bulldog, Kermit.
Honestly, I think most of my friends are starting to block my number because Genmoji is becoming my sole means of communication. Maybe I should try and tone it down. But where’s the fun in that?
Genmoji is an absolute blast and I advise anyone installing iOS 18.2 to give it a try.
15.11 December 2024 at 11:18 pm
Apple Intelligence has arrived (in some countries)
Oh, and if you’re in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, or the UK, you can now access Apple Intelligence without any workarounds.
That’s right, Apple Intelligence is now officially out in more countries worldwide with support for localized languages. Apple says additional languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be coming throughout the year, with an initial set arriving in a software update in April.
16.11 December 2024 at 11:13 pm
(Image credit: Apple)
Where shall we start?iOS 18.2 is rolling out today alongside iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2. The new update brings Genmoji, Apple’s generative AI emojis, to iPhone and iPad (sorry Mac users you’ll need to wait a little longer), as well as major upgrades to Siri that allow you to ask ChatGPT directly from your favorite voice assistant.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also an AI image generator called Image Playground, as well as Visual Intelligence, an exclusive iPhone 16 feature.
It can all get a bit overwhelming, considering just how much is launching as part of iOS 18.2, but fret not, I’ve been using Apple Intelligence for months and I’ve got you covered.
It might be hard to believe, but we’re just 14 days away from Christmas. The holiday season is here, and I’d bet you’re already spinning your favorite Christmas songs on your preferred music service, like Spotify orAppleMusic, but there is a change in the wind with how your next favorite holiday song might be recorded.
Alongsidereleasing iOS 18.2 for the iPhone, Apple is dropping a major update for Voice Memos, which Michael Bublé thinks is “going to change the way we make music, forever.” Voice Memos has long been used to record tracks, jam sessions, and even ideas for songs by artists, but now the app supports layered Voice Memos recording.
This allows you to layer a vocal recording on top of an existing instrument-based track, all with just your iPhone. However, you will need a new one, specifically aniPhone 16 ProoriPhone 16 Pro Maxwith an A18 Pro chip inside. With just that one device, you can play the existing instrumental backing track out of your iPhone’s speakers and use the onboard microphones to record your vocals in real time.
In fact, that’s how Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce, and producer Greg Wells recorded vocals for their new Christmas song,Maybe This Christmas, on an iPhone 16 Pro within Voice Memos. After recording, and during the process, the A18 Pro chip isolates just the vocals by using AI and ML models – likely similar to what Apple uses within Logic Pro for separating instruments, but the big difference is that this is for everyone, free on the top of the line iPhone.
Apple even released a bit of a behind-the-scenes story with Pearce, Wells, and Bublé alongside announcing that layered Voice Memos were rolling out. You can see a bit of the process, including the recording on the iPhone, but also thoughts on the broader impact. Bublé is bullish on it and says, “If an artist has a moment of inspiration, being unencumbered by the traditional studio experience becomes the advantage, not the limitation.”
After completing a layered recording within Voice Memos, the result is two tracks – one with vocals and one with instruments, that will sync across your Apple devices within the app or that can be exported to another tool like Logic Pro for additional mixing or recordings. And thanks to a fresh update for Apple’s pro-mixing tool for the Mac and iPad, you can also easily send that base instrumental layer to Voice Memos.
So, say inspiration strikes, and you write down lyrics in notes. Ask your band for the base track; they can record it in Logic and send it to you, and you can layer down sweet, soulful vocals on your iPhone. It’s pretty nuts.
Of course, if you’d rather listen to the new holiday song,“Maybe This Christmas” is streaming now on Apple Music, mixed with Spatial Audio. Assuming you’ve updated to iOS 18.2, you’ll see this new feature within Voice Memos alongside some major new Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji and Image Playground.
And as far as Christmas tracks, I’m still spinningBruce Springsteen’s ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’… who knows, maybe he and E Street will rerecord with Voice Memos and include the historic Clarence Clemons saxophone solo.
Overall Winner and Mammals Category Winner — ‘Stuck Squirrel’ by Milko Marchetti | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners were announced today at the competition’s Awards Night at the Oxo Gallery in London. Photographer Milko Marchetti is this year’s overall winner, thanks to his excellent and hilarious image of a red squirrel stuck in a tree, aptly named “Stuck Squirrel.”
Marchetti bested a record number of photographers this year, as the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards received over 9,000 images, the highest total in its decade of existence.
The competition says the final selection was challenging this year, with only a few points separating the top five entries. Ultimately, Marchetti’s hilarious image won out.
“I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy, but this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide,” the photographer says. “Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!”
For his victory, Marchetti receives a once-in-a-lifetime safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, with Alex Walker’s Serian, plus a unique handmade trophy from the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania. Marchetti also gets a new photography bag from Think Tank.
When Marchetti received a call from Tom Sullam, co-founder of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards alongside Paul Joynson-Hicks, Marchetti says he shouted, “Wow,” over and over while jumping for joy.
“Looking at the beautiful finalists’ photos, I would never have thought I would be the chosen one. What can I say — I am so, so happy,” the winning photographer adds.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti’s outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024. His image, ‘Stuck Squirrel,’ brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting,” says Stefan Maier, General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe. “This year’s competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion. We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards.”
Alongside Marchetti’s overall winning photo, the judges selected additional category winners, plus special award winners. All these winning images are featured below.
Insect Category Winner — ‘Mantis Flamenca’ by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Reptile Category Winner — ‘Frog in a Balloon’ by Eberhard Ehmke | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Bird Category Winner — ‘Whiskered Tern Crash On Landing’ by Damyan Petkov | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Fish and Other Aquatic Animals Category Winner — ‘Unexpected Role Swap’ by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
People’s Choice Winner — ‘Shake, Ruffle, Rattle, and Roll’ by Tapani Linnanmäki | 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners will be on exhibit at the Oxo Gallery in London from December 11-15 and arefeatured on the competition’s website.
Get the most out of T-Mobile’s 5G network with these phones.
The fact that many of the best T-Mobile phones also happen to be some of the best Android phones you can find in general, isn’t exactly surprising, as excellent device compatibility is one of the biggest advantages the ‘Un-carrier’ enjoys over its rivals. However, this also means that finding the right smartphone for your needs can often be quite a difficult task, whether you’re a new T-Mobile customer or have been one for years. Fret not, as we’ve done the hard work and rounded up some of the finest options to make things a bit easier for you.
Arguably the most important thing to ensure while picking an Android phone for yourself is to make sure that it offers all the features you need, at a price that fits your budget. If money is no object and you simply want the best, we have no qualms recommending the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, our overall top pick. It’s a fully loaded flagship that offers just about everything (and then some) you could possibly think of and will serve you well for years to come.
As an alternative, you can also consider the Google Pixel 9 which has incredible cameras, a laundry list of AI-based tools, and more, at a price that’s fairly reasonable for a device of its class. Of course, not everyone can (or wants to) shell out a fortune for a phone, and that’s where affordable options such as the OnePlus Nord N30 5G come into the picture. Sure, it’s a little old at this point and won’t get much in terms of software updates—but you do get goodies like stereo speakers, blazing fast wired charging, and even a 3.5mm audio port—all at an unbeatable price.
Battery & Charging:5,000mAh, 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Top-of-the-line hardware +Versatile camera system +Titanium frame is sturdier and lightweight +Seven years of OS and security updates +Full S Pen stylus support
Reasons to avoid
-Extremely expensive -AI features require cloud-based processing
Packed with more powerhouse features than you’re probably ever going to use, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is hands down the best Android phone you can use with T-Mobile’s network right now. It sports a gorgeous 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel that now comes with an anti-reflective coating for an even better viewing experience. Of course, you also get full support for the integrated S Pen stylus.
The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, complete with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. It also features a versatile quad-lens camera system that offers everything from pro-mode photography to 8K video recording. Other notable additions include an IP68 certification, NFC, and a solid 5,000mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging support. Oh, and did we mention the seven years of OS and security updates?
Battery & Charging:4,492mAh, 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Comfortable design +Flagship-level camera +120Hz AMOLED display +Seven years of Pixel updates +Great AI features
Reasons to avoid
-Charging should be faster -Display is awful for PWM-sensitive users
TheGoogle Pixel 8arefines Google’s budget formula even further with better features and upgraded hardware. It’s a lot lighter than the Pixel 7a, and coupled with the more rounded design, feels more comfortable to hold. The Pixel 8a gets Google’s ‘Actua’ display which is now brighter and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. We also finally get a 256GB storage option for the first time. The big upgrade of course is the Tensor G3 SoC, which is also found in the premium Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The rear 64MP and 13MP cameras continue to deliver stellar performance, as expected from a Pixel smartphone.
Since this is a Pixel, you can also look forward to top-tier software support. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Google has gone out of its way to transform the Pixel 8a into a premium mid-range smartphone. There are even a few (relatively) premium features such as an IP67 certification and 7.5W wireless charging included in the mix.
Battery & Charging:4,000mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Refined, squared-off design +Compact enough for one-handed use +Seven years of OS and security updates +Great camera performance +Lots of color options to choose from
Reasons to avoid
-Still comes with 8GB of RAM -Galaxy AI features won’t be free forever
Comparing theSamsung Galaxy S24 vs. S23, you’ll find that it’s a (relatively) minor upgrade over the last-gen model. That said, the new smartphone has a lot of goodies and is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a top-tier device that can be used with one hand. The Galaxy S24 has a refined design with flat edges that give it a squared-off look. You get a slightly bigger 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED panel, but due to even slimmer bezels, the phone’s overall physical footprint has largely stayed unchanged compared to its predecessor.
The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and comes with 8GB of RAM and up to 25GB of onboard storage. You get a triple-lens camera setup at the back that excels at capturing both photos and videos. Available in a range of funky colors, the Galaxy S24 is backed by a 4,000mAh battery having both wired and wireless charging support.
Battery & Charging:4,700mAh, 27W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Premium design and solid build quality +Bright and vibrant 120Hz display +Full of AI-powered features +Seven years of OS and security updates +IP68 rating for dust and water resistance
Reasons to avoid
-No telephoto sensor -Gemini Live will cost extra
Although it does cost a $100 more than the previous-gen model, the Google Pixel 9 packs in quite a few improvements that make it an excellent value flagship. Sporting a squared-off design, the new smartphone is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 SoC and comes with 12GB of RAM. The software experience continues to be top-of-the-line, filled with a wide range of AI-based enhancements. You get Android 14 out of the box, along with a promise of up to seven years of OS and security updates.
The Google Pixel 9 features a dual-lens primary camera system, comprising a 50MP wide-angle sensor and a 48MP ultrawide module. the setup is capable of producing some truly amazing photos, and there are a lot of AI-powered tools (e.g., Magic Editor) to play with. You get all the modern connectivity and I/O options, and the smartphone is backed by a 4,700mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support.
Best mid-ranger
5. Samsung Galaxy A54
Best mid-ranger
Specifications
Display:6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 1080×2340 pixels resolution
Chipset / SoC:Exynos 1380
RAM:6GB/8GB
Storage:128GB/256GB, with microSD expansion
Cameras:50MP + 12MP + 5MP (rear), 32MP (front)
OS:Android 13 (preinstalled)
Battery & Charging:5,000mAh, 25W wired charging
Reasons to buy
+Vivid, 120Hz display +Decent camera quality +Great value for money +Four years of OS and five years of security updates +Full support for Galaxy ecosystem
Reasons to avoid
-Uninspiring gaming performance -Plastic build feels a bit cheap
Picking up right where its predecessor left off, theSamsung Galaxy A54delivers rock-solid everyday performance and a number of thoughtful features, all at a very reasonable price. The mid-range smartphone features a big 5,000mAh battery, a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, and will get four years of major OS updates as well as five years of security updates. This makes it a future-proof smartphone, even when you consider the fact that it’s a bit dated at this point.
On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy A54 doesn’t miss out on support for the Galaxy ecosystem either. You get an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, an in-display fingerprint sensor, 25W wired charging, NFC, stereo speakers, and much more.
Battery & Charging:4,400mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Ideal for split-screen multitasking +Full support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus +Top-of-the-line hardware specifications +Seven years of OS and security updates +IP48 rating for improved ingress protection
Reasons to avoid
-Camera hardware isn’t anything new -Extremely expensive
Easily one of thebest foldable phonesavailable out there, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an ultra-premium smartphone that can do it all. It sports a 7.6-inch folding Dynamic AMOLED display that makes split-screen multitasking a sheer delight. It’s complemented by an outer 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel that’s just as great. The smartphone is backed by an IP48 rating for better ingress protection and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and 12GB of RAM, so everything works as it should.
Being a full-featured flagship, theSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6comes with a triple-lens primary camera system. It’s comprised of a 50MP wide-angle unit, a 10MP telephoto module (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. It runs Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 (based on Android 14) out of the box and just like all of the company’s other high-end phones, will receive up to seven years of major OS and security updates. It is backed by a 4,400mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support.
Battery & Charging:5,400mAh, 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
Reasons to buy
+Top-of-the-line performance with improved heat dissipation +Outstanding camera quality +Four years of OS and five years of security updates +Super-fast charging speeds +Premium design
Reasons to avoid
-Curved display won’t be to everyone’s liking -Somewhat glitchy software experience
With the OnePlus 12, the company seems to have gotten its mojo back. Sure, it’s not without its flaws, but there’s a lot to like here. The phone’s 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display is, quite literally, one of its biggest highlights, as it can hit an astounding peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Not just that, ‘Aqua Touch’ technology allows the screen to register touch input even when it’s wet.
Powered by Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen SoC and up to 16GB of RAM, theOnePlus 12excels at handling demanding tasks like heavy gaming. It also has an improved cooling system for better thermal efficiency. The phone comes with up to 512GB of internal storage and has an excellent triple-lens rear camera system. You get amazing battery life too, and the 5,400mAh battery can be charged at super-fast speeds.
One of the best Pixel AI features could come to Galaxy phones
Samsung’s already beting big on AI, and judging from what we’ve seen of theOne UI 7 betathat’s not going to slow down anytime soon. The question is what sort of extra AI is on the way in One UI 7 and Galaxy S25? According to one rumor we could see Samsung copyone of the best AI features from Google’s Pixel series.
According to Ice Universe over onWeibo, Samsung is working on a version ofGoogle’s Audio Magic Eraser — and will be coming in the “next version” of One UI 7. Whether that means the next beta, or the final version that’ sounds like it’s launching alongsideGalaxy S25in January, isn’t entirely clear.
Ice Universe even posted a screenshot that seems to have come from a Samsung phone, with a description that sounds exactly like a version of Audio Magic Eraser. According to Google Translate the feature is called “Audio Eraser”, with the English description claiming that it will “eliminate distracting noise in videos” — reducing the volume of voices, wind and other things.
(Image credit: Ice Universe / Samsung)
As you can see in the image, it also shows a number of volume bars. It’s possible this may give users finer control over the sound in their videos, allowing them to restrict certain sounds, while only subtly altering others. Presumably, like Google’s version, this feature will also offer automatic sound adjustment, based on what the AI thinks will sound best for the video in question.
We don’t know very much about how Samsung’s Audio Eraser will work, or how different it might be to the one currently available on Pixel 9 Pro. That upgraded version of Audio Magic Eraser lets you differentiate between different voices, and choose which ones can be heard or muted. Considering Google and Samsung have partnered on AI in the past, such as debuting Circle to Search on Galaxy S24, it’s possible that there could be some collaboration here.
Then again that collaboration might not extend to certain things, like Audio Eraser. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens when the feature arrives.
One UI 7 beta is available to install onGalaxy S24devices, provided you’re a member of the One UI beta program. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is expected to launch at aGalaxy Unpacked event on January 23, and no doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more about the final version of One UI 7 at the same time.
It’s still early days in the Pixel 10 leak cycle: besides a major specs leak about the Tensor G5 and G6, we haven’t even seen any leaked CAD models. But it won’t be long before more information trickles out. The first Pixel 10 case has appeared in the wild, offering some clues regarding the design of Pixel 9’s successor.
Barely 8 months before the expected launch of the Google Pixel 10, a case supposedly provides a first look at the phone’s camera design. (Image source: Google)
This really came as a surprise. Sonny Dickson, the X user usually known for Apple leaks, hassharedan initial image of a phone case allegedly designed to fit thePixel 9’s successor (see below). It is anyone’s guess whether this is real or not. Although we are currently unable to verify this, the leaker has a good reputation at least in the Apple community. It remains to be seen whether his Google leaks are just as reliable.
At any rate, the case looks very similar to those intended for the Pixel 9. The upper quarter of the case features a large horizontal cutout for the camera visor, which has always seen some slight change in appearance over the previous few Pixel generations. The case design suggests that the general Pixel camera design is going to stay the same. However, this naturally doesn’t reveal any details regarding potential changes in features.
Additionally, the leak suggests that the Pixel 10’s chassis will continue to sport rounded corners. Not much else can be gleaned from this leak right now. Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that some third-party company is brazen enough to “think up” a Pixel 10 without solid basis. It is certainly unusual for pictures of a finished case to make the rounds before leakers like @OnLeaks provide their CAD-based renderings. Perhaps this marks the start of further design leaks for the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro in the upcoming weeks.
We’re preparing to go deep into this Nokia wormhole
A new official Nokia Design Archive will tell the story of its classic phones
We’ll get the history of Nokia’s best handsets plus ‘unseen prototypes’
The online portal will fully launch on January 15, 2025
For those of us who remember the pre-smartphone era, classic Nokia phones still pack a big emotional punch – and a new online Nokia museum promises to take us all down a nostalgic wormhole into the Finnish company’s heyday.
The Nokia Design Archive, which will launch on January 15, 2025, promises to be way more than just a gallery showing some of thebest phones of all time. According to the Aalto University, which curates the museum, the online portal will include “never-before-seen material” and “unseen prototypes. “
The Design Archive sounds like just the kind of epic distraction we’ll need in January. It’ll include over 700 stories about all the weird and wonderful phones Nokia made from the mid-90s to 2017 whenMicrosoftsold Nokia to HMD Global.
That list will include the Nokia 3310 ‘brick phone’ to the Nokia 8810 ‘banana phone’ from The Matrix. Still, we’re actually more intrigued by the “previously unseen ideas, prototypes and processes” promised by the Aalto University.
The years of peak Nokia saw some wild designs (see the Nokia 7280 ‘lipstick phone’), so we’re fascinated to see what sketches and ideas the Finnish company didn’t actually bring to life.
As Kaisu Savola, the project’s Post doctoral researcher, Dept. of Design, notes:“Nokia was in a similar position in the 90s asSamsungorAppleare today. When we started the project, the focus was on objects. As we began going through the material, we soon realized that it was about people.”
The Nokia Design Archive is shaping up to be a fun and potentially tear-jerking ride – you’ll be able to find it on theAalto University’s websitefrom January 15.
In these days of Android and iPhone dominance, it’s hard to appreciate now just how dominant Nokia was in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Design Archive will serve as both a nostalgia trip and a reminder of how quickly tech giants can fall.
At first, the online portal will only contain a fraction of the stories, images and prototypes licensed from Microsoft Mobile. The Aalto University says it’ll be working through a repository containing over 20,000 items and 959GB worth of born-digital files to tell Nokia’s story.
Those files will also include futuristic concepts that Nokia never managed to create – for example, a pair of virtual reality glasses – that give us a glimpse of how the company might have developed if touchscreen smartphones hadn’t eclipsed it.
I still remember going to the launch of the Nokia N83 in 2006 and being told to refer to the Symbian Series 60 device as a “multimedia computer” rather than a phone. Nokia had the technology, but it didn’t always know how to market it to a mass audience – and the iPhone soon changed the game.
The Nokia Design Archive should, then, be a fascinating look behind the curtain of the Finnish company’s inner workings in its glory days before then – and some of its wildest concept ideas, too.
The Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are eligible.
What you need to know
Samsung’s upcoming One UI 7 update, based on Android 15, has experienced numerous delays, but a beta is available now.
The update is expected to debut near or alongside the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in January.
One UI 7 adds new features like theNow Bar, newcamera toggles, and persistentWriting Tools.
Samsung today announced that,after numerous delays, the first One UI 7 beta is now available for theSamsung Galaxy S24 series. The company says that Samsung Members can apply for access to the One UI 7 beta starting today to gain early access to the Android 15-based update. Otherwise, the upgrade is expected to launch early next year alongside the upcomingSamsung Galaxy S25 series, as the company confirms One UI 7 will release publicly in the first quarter of 2025.
One UI 7is set to launch with “upcoming Galaxy S series devices,” but will arrive on other Galaxy devices as part of a gradual rollout. For now, the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are the only three models known for certain to be eligible for the One UI 7 beta immediately. It’s possible that the beta could be expanded to include the Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6.
As was expected, Samsung is doubling down onGalaxy AIwith One UI 7. It’s specifically trying to compete with Apple Intelligence with more system-wide software tools. For example, Writing Tools — a set of generative AI-based grammar and writing options — are now able to be used anywhere without needing to switch apps.
Additionally, Samsung touts that One UI 7 will bring “more intuitive interaction and greater personalization,” with AI at the heart of it.
Samsung also shared a few details about the new features One UI 7 will bring. ANow Barwill become a new part of the One UI lock screen, making it possible for users to see important notifications dynamically without needing to open their phone. Additionally, the Camera app in One UI 7 is getting a boost, as the viewfinder now includes new buttons, controls, and modes. In another Apple Intelligence-inspired feature,Call Transcriptwill automatically transcribe recorded calls in 20 supported languages.
A few security improvements add aKnox Matrix dashboardthat lets users view their connected devices in one place,Credential Syncs, and a new recovery method for data transfers.
You can apply to gain access to the One UI 7 beta and test these features for yourself by becoming a Samsung Member if you have a Galaxy S24 series device.
The best smartphone of 2024, at least in the eyes of a well-known tech YouTuber, is not even on the market in Europe yet and was only recently officially unveiled. For the first time, smartphones that have been launched in China in recent weeks are playing a role in an YouTube awards ceremony.
The award ceremony for the best smartphones of 2024 hosted by YouTuber Arun Maini (aka MrWhosetheboss) names some surprising winners. (Image source: MrWhosetheboss)
Up to now, we’ve been used to seeing award shows like this on Marques Brownlee’s MKBHD channel. In recent years, however, the well-known tech YouTuber has been facingincreasing competition from other YouTube tech aficionados and in 2024 Arun Maini, better known as MrWhosetheBoss, has beaten the currently somewhat controversial YouTuber from the USA to the punch.
Which is fine for us as the Brit offers a somewhat more European perspective of the smartphone market, which certainly makes for surprises in his awards video. Although many of the candidates are not available on the US market, they are certainly available in Europe, albeit sometimes a little late. All categories and winners of the YouTube awards ceremony are listed at the end of the article, but those wanting to first see the video without spoilers can click on the video below.
Such rankings usually only include smartphones that were launched on the European or US market. Arun breaks with this tradition and awards four categories to fairly new smartphones that were only launched a few weeks ago and some of which are not even available in Europe yet. Thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite, the ROG Phone 9 Pro blows all other competing models out of the water.
However, the surprise of this award ceremony is theVivo X200 Pro, which is currently only available in China and several Asian countries. Not only does it steal the title of “Best Smartphone 2024” from Samsung and Apple, it is also the only candidate to win in several categories. It is also striking that Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro does not get a mention in any category, but these awards are of course always somewhat subjective.
The best smartphones of 2024 (according to MrWhosetheboss)
