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Don’t choose wrong when it comes to your Apple Watch size
Apple Watch Series 10 42mm
Smaller, cheaper
The 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 is lighter, cheaper, and less bulky than its larger counterpart. But you’ll miss out on a more expansive display.
For
Smaller
Lighter
Cheaper
Against
Display size
Harder to type on
Apple Watch Series 10 46mm
Bigger. Better?
The larger 46mm option is more expensive than the 42mm, but you’ll get a much larger display that’s easier to read and easier to type on.
For
Much bigger display
Easier to read
Easier to type on
Against
Heavier
Bulkier
More expensive
If you’re eyeing up Apple’s new Apple Watch Series 10, then one of the most important choices you’ll make when buying it is choosing between its 42mm and 46mm case sizes.
Apple’s mainstream flagship wearable for 2024 comes in two distinct sizes, both larger than in previous years. While the difference in shape and size might sound obvious, picking between the sizes does impact your purchase more than you might think.
A larger Apple Watch is going to offer more battery life and a larger display but at the cost of more weight and cash. A larger watch size will also be easier to type on thanks to its larger keyboard, but a smaller one will be less intrusive and is less likely to get scratched or bumped. As you can see, there’s more to this choice than you might think, so here’s everything you need to know before you hit “buy”.
The mm size of an Apple Watch refers to the vertical height of the watch case, which means you need a few more stats to compare the overall dimensions of the watch and the size of the display case.
Specs
42mm
46mm
Price
From $399
$429
Height
42mm
46mm
Width
39mm
39mm
Depth
9.7mm
9.7mm
Pixels
374 x 446
416 x 496
Sq mm display
989
1220
Weight
30
36.4
Weight + Cellular
29.3
35.3
Weight titanium
34.4
41.6
Battery life
18 hours (36 hours low power)
18 hours (36 hours low power)
Evidently, 4mm on paper quickly translates to a significantly larger display size: that’s a whopping 23% larger on the 46mm compared to the 42mm. While neither Watch is huge, these models mark a significant increase over the sizes of previous models, some 30% larger than the Series 6 design, and 9% larger than last year’s Apple Watch Series 9.
The difference in display is sizeable, and worthy of consideration before you make your pick. Both Watch models offer a Retina OLED display, so pixels won’t be distinguishable to the naked eye, but the larger 46mm version offers much more display real estate.
Apple Watch 42mm vs 46mm: Thickness and weight
(Image credit: Future) There is no difference between either model when it comes to thickness, both measure 9.7mm in depth, significantly less than Apple Watch models in previous years. As you might expect, the larger Watch does come with some extra weight, roughly 6 grams across every model, but that’s hardly enough to write home about. If you must have the lightest Watch possible, the smaller one is best, but the trade-off in display size probably isn’t worth it.
Apple Watch 42mm vs 46mm: Wrist sizes
(Image credit: Future)
Apple has always been quick to dispel the notion that its smaller and larger Apple Watch models are a simple ‘his and hers’ division. Instead, Apple focuses on wrist size. The 46mm Watch is posed as a watch for 140-245mm wrists (circumference, presumably), while the 42mm version fits 130-200mm wrists. No doubt, the larger Watch will feel obtrusive and uncomfortable on a more slender wrist, and it might not even fit properly depending on the type of band you have. Conversely, a 42mm Watch will fit on any wrist, but it could end up looking comically small for those with bigger arms.
Apple Watch 42mm vs 46mm: Battle of the bands
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to band selection, it doesn’t really matter which Apple Watch size you choose. Pretty much every band made by Apple and third-party retailers comes in both sizes, either 42mm or 46mm, so picking one size or the other won’t limit you here. However, if you already own an Apple Watch or any Apple Watch bands, it’s important to get this selection right.
The 42mm Apple Watch is this year’s new “small” Apple Watch. That means that bands made for the 38mm, 40mm, or the 41mm Watch will work with this year’s new model. 46mm is the new “large” model and will work with bands made for the 44mm, 45mm, and even the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra series. Every band in our best Apple Watch band selection will work: just make sure you get the right size.
Apple Watch 42mm vs 46mm: Battery life
You might assume that a bigger Apple Watch will have more battery life, because the battery is larger. However, it has to power a larger display. As such, Apple doesn’t list any variance in battery life between the two sizes. Both are rated for up to 18 hours of regular use, or 36 hours inwatchOS 11’s Low Power Mode. Both also feature the same 0-80% in 30 minutes fast charging, too. There might be a tiny advantage to a larger watch in terms of battery life, but the gains are so marginal you shouldn’t let it influence your decision.
Apple Watch 42mm vs 46mm: Which should you buy?
(Image credit: Future)
As you can see, the difference between the 42mm and 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 is fairly slim. There aren’t any specific technical or feature differences between the two, so it’s all about taste, aesthetics, and the amount of bulk you want to carry around on your wrist. If you want a larger display that’s easier to read and type on and don’t mind the extra bulk or the more expensive price tag, pick the 46mm. If you want a smaller, less obtrusive Apple Watch, or you’re trying to save money, the 42mm is probably for you.
In a move that bridges luxury automotive engineering with wearable technology, Mercedes-Benz has just transformed the Apple Watch into a sophisticated car key. The prestigious automaker today unveiled its highly anticipated Apple Watch app, marking a significant shift in how owners interact with their vehicles.
Smart Features for the Modern Driver
The app’s capabilities extend far beyond basic remote control. Owners can now monitor their vehicle’s vital statistics, including real-time fuel or battery levels and remaining range, with just a glance at their wrist. Perhaps most impressively, the app includes an intelligent vehicle locator that not only pinpoints your parked Mercedes but also provides turn-by-turn walking directions to reach it.
For those adventures off the beaten path, Mercedes has implemented a clever solution: when traditional mapping isn’t available, the app switches to a virtual compass mode, ensuring you can always find your way back to your vehicle.
While the future of car control may be here, there are some requirements to note. The app works with Apple Watch models running watchOS 9 or later and requires the Mercedes-Benz mobile app on a paired iPhone. Additionally, these smart features are limited to Mercedes-Benz vehicles from 2019 onwards, with specific capabilities varying based on model and trim level.
The app’s launch responds directly to customer demand for more seamless vehicle interaction. “This new integration allows owners to interact with their vehicles seamlessly, without needing to access their smartphone,” Mercedes-Benz stated in today’s announcement.
With this release, Mercedes-Benz isn’t just launching an app – they’re redefining the relationship between luxury cars and personal technology, making vehicle management as simple as checking the time. The app is available for download now through theApple Watch App Store, marking another step forward in the integration of automotive luxury and wearable tech.
Google thinks huddles will “reduce meeting fatigue.”
What you need to know
Google first previewed “huddles,” a quick way to start instant audio conversations in Google Chat, in 2023.
Huddles are now coming to Google Chat users in select Google Workspace tiers.
They are instant-on audio calls that Google says will help “reduce meeting fatigue” for workers.
Google Chatis making quick conversations simpler with “huddles,” which are audio-first calls that resemble a Slack feature of the same name. Huddles are instant-on, and will significantly reduce the friction between Google Chat andGoogle Meet. Instead of needing to switch from Chat to Meet to start a quick video call, users will now be able to start a huddle from Google Chat in an instant.
The feature was initially previewed in 2023, but it’s only now rolling out to selectGoogle Workspacetiers. Business Starter, Standard, and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus; Frontline Starter and Standard; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits will all be able to use huddles in Google Chat.
Although huddles are clearly intended to be an audio-first method of communication, users can also share their screen or use video to get their message across. Additionally, the button for huddles in Google Chat is joined by options for phone calls and Meet video calls, so there are still plenty of options. Huddles are entirely powered by Google Meet, and are simply integrated with Chat. Google says that employees in workspaces that don’t enable Google Meet can join huddles, but can’t create them.
To start a huddle, click theVideoicon in the Google Chat toolbar, which will open a dropdown menu. Here, you’ll see options forCall,Meet, andhuddle. Select theStart a huddleoption to begin the call, which begins as audio-only. All members of the Google Chat space or chat will receive a message that reads:[user] has started a huddle, click “Join” to enter the huddle.
“Huddles help to reduce meeting fatigue for hybrid workers, and eliminates the need for lengthy discussions over email or in Chat,” Google explains in aposton the Google Workspace Blog. “Instead of jumping out of the conversation and into a meeting, huddles integrates directly and smoothly into the Chat experience.”
This feature is rolling out now for users on rapid releaseGoogle Workspacedomains. Users on Google Workspace domains with scheduled releases won’t start seeing this feature until Jan. 6, 2025.
It’s a big oopsie, but we get to see what more is on the way.
It seems that Samsung will officially announce One UI 7 shortly. (Image source: Samsung)
What you need to know
Samsung trips up and accidentally posts its One UI 7 details early on a Spanish website.
The software is preparing to bring additional features to “Sketch to Image” and “Portrait Studio” like watercolor, 3D cartoon, and more.
Once again, the page reportedly highlighted previously rumored parental controls and previewed the updated icons and notification panel changes.
Samsung has reportedly delayed its Beta Program for One UI 7 to December.
There’s a lot of hype (and anticipation) surrounding One UI 7, but Samsung might’ve slipped up with this one.
Spotted by X tipsterChunvn, Samsung’s Spanish website variant might’ve accidentally published its complete One UI 7 details early. The publication quickly jumped on things and managed to capture a series of videos before Samsung took it down.
The One UI 7-centric page highlighted several features like Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio. Neither of these features is new; however, the next OS upgrade is set to take them further. According to the page, One UI 7 will improve Sketch to Image by giving it “3D Cartoon, Sketch, and Watercolor” options. The brief video captured showcases the ability of a user to draw a simple, flat image before tapping “generate.”
The example given seemingly shows the watercolor option selected. After a brief wait time, One UI 7’s AI will produce your desired drawing. The website reportedly offered extra details, stating that a watermark would be added to anything “generated with AI.” Moreover, edited images will become a resized product of “up to 12MP.”
Portrait Studio seems primed to pick up options similar to Sketch to Image. The post states Samsung will provide “3D Cartoon, Cartoon, and Sketch” options alongside a “Live Effects” feature. The page reportedly stated Live Effects will add “depth” and “perspective.”
The early One UI 7 highlights page also showcased the software’s revamped icons,notifications and Quick Settings panel split, and ongoing activity alert. We’ve seen most of this repeatedly; however, the ongoing alert is a large, pill-shaped icon nestled at the bottom of your device’s lock screen.
It will seemingly give users a clear view of their lock screen — but notifications will likely take up the space under the date.
We’ve seen additional (supposed) One UI 7 features leaked previously, likeparental and AI-focused features. However, with the latest accidentally posted One UI 7 page by Samsung, it seems these features are inbound. It was reported in October that the software would give parents better agency over their child’s online safety. They would have tools to block websites alongside tools to cut off access to certain apps.
Samsung’s accidental post seemingly confirms these features, as well as the additional AI features for Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio.
It seems like we’ve been waiting for One UI 7 forever — and the wait hasonly been extendedas Samsung pushed its beta back even more. Reports claim that the Korean OEM encountered additional problems within its software, which have forced it to delay the Beta Program until “the first week of December.”
With heady upgrades and outstanding battery life, the iQOO 13 is proof that you don’t need to shell out ridiculous amounts of money to get a terrific phone.
Verdict The iQOO 13 has considerable upgrades: you get a larger AMOLED panel, and it gets noticeably brighter. It has the latest Qualcomm hardware, and it is a gaming powerhouse. And then there’s the battery; the massive 6,150mAh unit lasts two days between charges, and you get 120W charging. The cameras are much better than previous years as well, and you get four Android OS updates. Where’s the catch, you ask? There isn’t one. Sure, the cameras may not be on par with the best phones, but that’s about the only limitation.
Pros
+Standout performance
+Much better AMOLED panel with QHD resolution
+Unbelievable battery life with 120W charging
+Terrific cameras
+Long-term software updates
+IP68/IP69 ingress protection
Cons
-Cameras not on par with other flagships
-Limited global availability
-Misses out on 3x zoom
Most brands are starting to roll out their flagships earlier this year; the Find X8 Pro is now available globally, the Vivo X200 is set to make its debut shortly, and other phones aren’t far behind. Vivo sub-brand iQOO is also getting in on the action, launching the iQOO 13 a month early.
The iQOO 13 retains a similar design as its predecessor, but it comes with a bigger 6.82-inch panel — the same size as theOnePlus 13, incidentally — and you get all-new cameras at the back alongside the latest Qualcomm hardware, and a massive 6,150mAh battery with silicon-carbon tech.
Clearly, iQOO is making a habit out of delivering significant upgrades on a yearly basis, and while I used the iQOO 12 extensively throughout the course of 2024, the iQOO 13 is considerably better in key areas. Thankfully, what hasn’t changed is the brand’s value-focused positioning — the iQOO 13 is the most affordable phone powered by Qualcomm’s new silicon, and that alone makes it worthy of consideration.
The iQOO 13 was unveiled in China on October 30, and the phone made its global debut on November 28. It is now available in Indonesia, and will be making its way to India on December 3. The global variant is available in 12GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB editions, and both models feature LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. I’ll have details of Indian pricing shortly, but in Indonesia, the iQOO 13 costs 9,999,000 IDR for the 12GB/256GB version, and 11,999,000 IDR for the 16GB/512GB edition.
iQOO 13: Design
The iQOO 13 is virtually indistinguishable to its predecessor in terms of the design. Both phones share the same overall aesthetic, and you even get the same camera island, albeit with a few minor differences. The biggest change at the back is that the LED flash module now sits within the camera island, creating a cleaner overall look.
Other than that, the iQOO branding and the brand’s tagline — Fascination Meets Innovation — alongside the BMW M livery is now positioned on the left. Outside of these two changes, the design is identical. The camera island is marginally bigger on the iQOO 13, but you’ll only notice that if you’re using it alongside the iQOO 12.
I don’t mind that iQOO retained the same design this time; the iQOO 13 looks just as elegant as its predecessor, and the white color variant (it’s called Legend) is striking. While the phone still has flat sides, it has subtle bevels where it meets the back, and that makes using the phone much more comfortable. It’s a small thing, but you easily notice the difference when switching between the iQOO 12 and 13.
The sides are made out of aluminum, and the glossy coat isn’t to my liking. Thankfully, the glass back has a matte texture that feels great, and it doesn’t pick up smudges. The phone itself is a smidgen wider than the iQOO 12, and that’s because it has a larger 6.82-inch panel. Considering the increase in size, it’s good to see iQOO retaining similar dimensions.
But the most impressive achievement is that the phone is 0.4mm thinner while still featuring a massive 6,150mAh battery — 1,150mAh more than the iQOO 12. It is 10g heavier, and while you notice the added heft, it isn’t unwieldy, and it’s still 8g lighter than the Pixel 9 Pro XL while giving you a much bigger battery.
The power and volume buttons are on the right, and you get the USB-C port and SIM card tray at the bottom. The iQOO 13 has stereo sound, and you get a dedicated channel up top that makes a considerable difference. The IR blaster is also located at the top, and it holds up just as well as other Vivo and iQOO phones I used.
Interestingly, iQOO went with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor this time around, and unlike the module on Samsung phones, it is actually usable and fast. It’s using a Goodix sensor — like Vivo phones — and I didn’t see any issues with authentication. Notably, it is positioned just right to access one-handed, unlike several devices I tested this year (looking at you,Find X8 Pro).
Another area where the iQOO 13 has a considerable advantage is ingress protection; the device has IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance as standard, and that’s on par with thebest Android phones.On the whole, the iQOO 13 is one of the better-looking devices around, and while you don’t get a brand-new design, the device is still stylish.
Although the design itself hasn’t changed, an area where the iQOO 13 has a considerable upgrade is the screen. You now get a bigger 6.82-inch AMOLED panel, and the refresh rate is increased to 144Hz, but that’s in select use cases — most of the time, it’s down to the standard 120Hz. The panel is noticeably brighter than last year — going up to 1800 nits in HBM mode — and while it doesn’t quite match the Pixel 9 Pro XL in this regard, there are zero issues using it under harsh sunlight.
What’s great about this generation is that the bezels are even thinner, and that is easily noticeable when viewing the iQOO 13 next to its predecessor. The razor-thin bezels make gaming and streaming content that much more immersive, and on that note, I didn’t see any issues with HDR content in Netflix or YouTube.
There’s stereo sound as well, and it gets loud and detailed enough that I didn’t see any issues in regular use. Color vibrancy is decent out of the box, although the hues on my unit tended to skew a little cooler. Thankfully, you get the ability to manually adjust color warmth, and switch to Bright or Professional modes. You even get the ability to dynamically adjust colors based on ambient light.
The panel has QHD resolution this time (3168 x 1440), and the increased pixel density makes a difference in daily use — you get two additional lines of text while browsing. Another trait I like is the suite of eye protection features iQOO is rolling out with this generation; the iQOO 13 has 2592Hz PWM dimming at all brightness levels, making it a great choice if you’re sensitive to DC dimming. It also has something called anti-fatigue brightness adjustment, which basically tweaks brightness levels over time to reduce strain.
There’s also a circular polarized tech, which claims to reduce dry eyes and fatigue by decreasing the glare coming from the panel. As is the case with all phones in this category, you get LTPO as standard, and the panel is able to go down to 1Hz when viewing images or in always-on mode. On that subject, you get always-on styles similar to most Vivo phones running Funtouch OS, but there are a few unique to iQOO.
Obviously, a big selling point of the iQOO 13 is that it comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. Although most phones powered by the silicon cost upwards of $1,000, the iQOO 13 has the distinction of being the most affordable of the lot, coming in at the equivalent of $630.
Without burying the lede too much, what I can tell you right now is that the iQOO 13 is a performance beast. It blazes through daily use cases without breaking a sweat, and it handles demanding games just as well. I didn’t see any issues with overheating, and while the phone is on the conservative side with thermals, it doesn’t throttle anywhere as early as its predecessor.
Category
OPPO Find X8 Pro
iQOO 13
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)
16435
16043
PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)
19410
16307
PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)
6834
6899
PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)
14464
20445
PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)
31693
39044
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
2747
2954
Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
8404
6650
Geekbench AI (Quantized Score)
1946
3915
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (score)
6176
4514
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)
36.985
27.025
3DMark Solar Bay (score)
9308
7287
3DMark Solar Bay (FPS)
35.395
27.695
The iQOO 13 scored significantly higher than the Dimensity 9400-based Find X8 Pro in Geekbench 6’s single and multi-core tests, and it was twice as fast in Geekbench AI. While it doesn’t quite measure up in 3DMark tests, it managed a better stability score of 75.9% in the demanding Steel Nomad Light stress test, and didn’t go beyond 42 degrees Celsius.
While most games are still locked to 60fps, there are select titles that go up to 90fps and beyond. Interestingly, iQOO uses a custom Q2 chip to upscale games and boost framerates, and it does a great job in this regard. What I like the most is that it reduces jitter by maintaining a steady framerate, with the feature similar to what NVIDIA and AMD offer with G-Sync and FreeSync.
I’m using the 16GB/512GB model of the iQOO 13, and I didn’t run into any issues with the storage or memory. Multitasking is handled effortlessly, and the software is stable and optimized to take advantage of the silicon. You get the entire suite of AptX codecs, and there’s Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and dual-band GPS.
The vibration motor has been overhauled, and it delivers much better feedback this time around. You can adjust the intensity of the feedback, and while the Find X8 Pro and Vivo X100 Ultra still have an edge in this area, there is a noticeable difference over the iQOO 12.
The iQOO 13 comes with a huge 6,150mAh battery, although the Indian variant has a slightly smaller 6,000mAh battery. The increased battery size along with the efficiency gains of Qualcomm’s latest silicon means you get a huge uptick in battery life, and I got at least two days of use between charges. Even with heavy use, I didn’t have to charge the iQOO 13 within the two-day window; it is one of the best devices I used in this regard.
The increase in battery size is attributed to the switch to asilicon-carbon anode. Going this route allows brands to increase battery density, and that’s why most Chinese-branded phones in 2025 have heady gains in this area. The limitation is that there’s a single cell, but as the iQOO 13 uses Vivo’s 120W charging tech, it takes just 34 minutes to fully charge the device.
It went up to the 50% mark in just 14 minutes, taking another 20 minutes to get the rest of the way. Honestly, if you need two-day battery life and the best charging tech currently available, the iQOO 13 is hard to beat.
iQOO 13: Cameras
The iQOO 13 gets a trio of 50MP cameras at the back, including a 50MP Sony IMX921 with 1/1.56-inch sensor and OIS, 50MP Samsung JN1 wide-angle lens with autofocus, and a 50MP Sony IMX816 telephoto with 2x optical zoom and OIS. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the cameras are identical to the Vivo V40 Pro — and the V30 Pro. The front camera is different, and it’s using a 32MP module.
The camera interface itself is identical to last year; you get the shooting modes in a grid at the bottom, and you can easily switch between the various lenses. The phone has a Humanistic street mode that boosts the contrast and adds a heavy vignette to the shots, resulting in images that look very different to what you get from the regular modes.
When it comes to videos, all the lenses at the back can shoot 4K60, and that’s good to see. There’s decent stabilization, and while the resultant footage isn’t quite on the same level as other flagships I used, it is better than the iQOO 12.
The iQOO 13 takes fantastic photos in daylight scenarios, producing shots with great dynamic range and color accuracy. Just like the V40 Pro, foliage doesn’t have the best definition, but outside of that, I don’t have any issues with the camera as such. The phone does just as well in low-light shots, and while you don’t get quite the same color vibrancy as theVivo X100 Ultra,X100 Pro, Find X8 Pro, or other flagships, it delivers usable photos.
The wide-angle lens also does a great job in its own right, as does the 2x lens. Obviously, having a 3x zoom lens would be ideal, but you miss out on that, and while I got usable shots at up to 5x, it isn’t the same as having a dedicated optical zoom lens with a greater zoom factor. The auxiliary lenses don’t quite measure up at low-light, and this is where you see the biggest difference to the likes of the X100 Pro.
Ultimately, the iQOO 13 posts a strong showing, and while I put the phone one tier below other flagships, it does a much better job than its predecessor, and it is one of the best in this category. Yes, you’ll get better photos out of the Vivo X100 Pro or the Find X8 Pro, but you’ll also need to shell out much more cash.
There isn’t much to talk about on the software front. The iQOO 13 runs Vivo’s Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15 out of the box, and while it is technically new, the UI is visually unchanged to last year. You get the same notification pane, similar styling throughout, and the same customizability.
That said, the interface is fluid, and notably, it doesn’t feel quite as iOS-esque as ColorOS 15, and that’s an ironic turnaround considering the software’s roots. Anyway, what you need to know is that the styling isn’t cumbersome, and you get useful extras, including floating windows, a smart sidebar, and easy multitasking.
Interestingly, there’s an RGB LED ring around the rear camera island dubbed Monster Halo, and it can be used for anything from notification and call alerts to battery notifications, and an atmospheric mode that cycles lighting effects. Look, I’m all-in on RGB lighting, but I didn’t use this feature as much as it involves putting the phone face-down on a table, and I don’t do that. But I’ll have to admit that it is very cool, and you can customize colors and effects by going into the settings — it’s called Dynamic light.
The only annoyance I ran into is that Funtouch is still a bit aggressive with memory management, so you’ll need to go into the settings to disable optimization to get timely push notifications. Outside of that, I didn’t see many problems. As is the case with every phone, you get a suite of AI-enabled features, and these mostly involve image editing — similar to Magic Eraser on the Pixels.
There’s good news on the update side of things as well, with iQOO guaranteeing four Android OS updates alongside five years of security updates to the iQOO 13. That’s one platform update more than what the iQOO 12 will pick up, and it’s good to see iQOO matching Vivo in this regard. The phone picked up two software updates with stability tweaks and the latest security update, and it’s good to see iQOO’s phones getting the same level of attention as their Vivo siblings.
iQOO 13: The competition
The 2025 launch cycle is about to heat up, and the iQOO 13 is going up against the OnePlus 13. That device also has a massive battery and 6.82-inch AMOLED panel, and it should take better photos. It comes down to what it costs in countries like India, but it is unlikely to deliver the same value as the iQOO 13.
Although the X100 Pro is considerably more costly, it has one of the best camera packages of the year. If that’s a key consideration, I’d recommend getting the X100 Pro instead; otherwise, the iQOO 13 is the better bargain by a long shot.
iQOO 13: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
You need the latest Qualcomm hardware
You need the best battery life
You want a phone for gaming
You need a big AMOLED panel that’s eye-friendly
You want good cameras
You shouldn’t buy this if:
You need the best telephoto lenses
You want the best low-light photos
Ultimately, the iQOO 13 reinforces the fact that you don’t need to spend north of $1,000 to get flagship-tier quality. The phone has the latest Qualcomm hardware, a high-quality AMOLED display with useful features, fluid software, and it will pick up long-term software updates.
The phone does a brilliant job at gaming, and it isn’t hard to see why — iQOO is clearly targeting a younger audience with the device, and the unique additions allow you get stable framerates without worrying about overheating. On that note, the battery life is the best of any device I used this year, and you’ll only need to charge the phone every two days on average.
There are decent upgrades with the cameras as well, and while the iQOO 13 doesn’t quite measure up to the Find X8 Pro or Vivo X100 Ultra, it is much better than its predecessor in this regard, and that’s an achievement in and of itself. Overall, if you need the best hardware but don’t want to shell out quite as much cash, the iQOO 13 is the best choice.
Upcoming Apple Watches may be able to measure blood pressure in a non-optical and innovative way, but it remains unclear if and when Apple will actually implement the technology.
The Apple Watch may get a blood pressure measurement feature. (Image source: Daniel Schmidt)
That Apple is currently working on ways to measure blood pressure isno secret. In fact, such a feature would not necessarily catapult Apple to the top of the wearable manufacturers in this respect, but instead put the company on par withHuawei with its direct measurementorSamsung with its optical measurement. That said, a newpatent (PDF)from Apple has now emerged, which describes a new way of measuring blood pressure with a watch.
How the blood pressure measurement is supposed to work becomes clear when studying the flow chart. An inflatable chamber is first filled, which, together with a sensing chamber and a pressure sensor, work to detect the resulting ‘vibrations’ that occur in the user’s blood flow. In simple terms: Blood pressure is the externally applied pressure required to stop blood flow.Korotkoff sounds, the sounds or ‘vibrations’ that are emitted when pressure is applied to blood flow via a non-invasive procedure, can then be measured.
The patent mentions that the chamber is filled with liquid – what advantages liquid offers instead of air is not immediately clear, as liquids, unlike gases (and ultimately air) are considered incompressible. As always, just because Apple is patenting a particular technology does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented in the nextApple Watchor even at all.
The OnePlus 12 has only recently received Android 15 via its first stable OxygenOS 15 update. However, OnePlus has now started issuing a fresh OxygenOS 15 update that adds new AI features and other changes.
(The OnePlus 12 will soon gain new AI features globally.)
Hardly any time has passed since OnePlusbrought Android 15to theOnePlus 12, which arrived as OxygenOS 15.0.0.204, 15.0.0.205 and 15.0.0.206 for OnePlus’ European, North American and Indian software development channels, respectively. For context, the OnePlus 12 remains its most recent flagship outside of China. The company treats fans in its home market to the newer OnePlus 13 though, which contains various upgrades over its predecessor.
Typically, OnePlus would not follow up on a major software release for a while, particularly when it comes to a device like the OnePlus 12, a last-generation flagship. However, a second OxygenOS 15 build has now arrived with a whole heap of changes not present in those that OnePlus distributed at the start of the month.
Please note that OxygenOS 15.0.0.305 is only being offered across OnePlus’ Indian software branch for the moment. With that being said, the company hopes to offer equivalent updates next week in other markets. On top of that, one must have already updated their OnePlus 12 to Oxygen OS 15.0.0.206 before being offered OxygenOS 15.0.0.305.
At any rate, the latter introduces in-house AI Notes and AI Retouch software, which OnePlus has described in the changelog below. Moreover, the new update adds the option of sharing live photos with nearby iOS devices, a version of which Oppo recently showcased for itsFind X8 series global launch. Furthermore, OnePlus has fixed an issue that caused some apps to crash unexpectedly. Please see the full changelog below for more details.
Introduces the Enhance clarity feature to enhance the clarity of cropped, distant, or low-quality photos.
Introduces the Unblur feature to restore details, colors, and lighting in blurry photos, making it easier to capture those precious moments of your pets, children, and more.
Introduces the Remove reflections feature to effortlessly remove glass reflections for clearer, more authentic photos through windows.
AI Notes
Introduces the new AI writing suite which includes the continue writing, polish, and optimize style AI writing features to assist you in drafting and enhancing content, unleashing your creativity in an instant.
Introduces the Format feature to organize scattered information into well-organized content to make it more visually appealing and easier to read.
Introduces the Clean up feature to remove filler words from voice notes to make sentences more coherent while retaining the original audio.
Communication & interconnection
Now you can easily share live photos with iOS devices nearby.
Improves the stability and expands the compatibility of Bluetooth connections.
System
Contacts can now be switched to a floating window.
Photos can now recognize boarding passes and add them to Google Wallet.
Apps in large folders can now be displayed in 3 × 3 grids.
Fixes an issue that might cause some apps to crash.
Fixes a display issue where some app icons might overlap with other elements when pulling down the Quick Settings in the Photos app after restarting the phone.
Integrates the November 2024 Android security patch to enhance system security.
If you were among those who purchased a new iPhone in 2022, your device might now feel a little less helpful, at least in emergency situations.
That’s because the two-year free trial of Apple’s Emergency SOS Satellite feature, a groundbreaking technology introduced with theiPhone 14 series, has officially expired.
While Apple has granted users an additional year of free access, the clock is ticking, and the long-term cost of the service remains a mystery.
Apple’s Emergency SOS Satellite feature debuted in November 2022, positioning the company as a leader in integrating satellite telecommunications into flagship phones.
Powered by a partnership with Globalstar, the technology enables users to connect with emergency services or share their location via theFind My appin areas without cellular or WiFi coverage.
When theiPhone 14,iPhone 14 Plus,iPhone 14 ProandiPhone 14 Pro Maxlaunched, Apple promised a free two-year trial of the Emergency SOS Satellite feature. That period has now come to an end.
We don’t expect this device to actually see the light of day.
What you need to know
Samsung has filed a patent for a foldable gaming handheld console.
Based on the included patent drawings, the handheld would be somewhat similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but includes space for gaming controls.
The patent was originally filed in 2022 but was just granted on November 11.
It’s not all that often that we cover patents, but Samsung might be cooking up something rather exciting. As of November 11, Samsung was granted a patent for an “electronic games console,” as the91mobilesspotted a listing that appeared on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website.
According to thelisting, Samsung Display Co., Ltd. filed for the patent in September 2022, and it was registered as of November 12. Unsurprisingly, there aren’t any other specifics about the internals of this handheld.
However, there are a variety of patent drawings that were published, giving us an idea of how it might work. At first glance, this handheld looks pretty similar to theGalaxy Z Flip 6, with a couple of major differences.
The first of which is that the screen faces outward, a concept that we have yet to see Samsung implement outside of some concept designs to showcase at various trade shows. In fact, the only companies to really venture down that path have been Huawei and Honor, as theHonor V Pursewas released in 2023, whileHuawei’s Mate XTtri-foldable phone was revealed in September.
Durability concerns likely play a big part in why we haven’t seen outward-folding phones, making this potential gaming handheld even more intriguing. Adding to the intrigue is how you interpret the patent drawings. On one hand, it looks like it features one screen, but a couple of the drawings indicate that there might actually be two different screens that join together when unfolded.
Then again, we could be looking at two differentgaming handhelds, with one that folds, and another one that doesn’t. If it is indeed two different handhelds, it would help explain the differences in controls when looking at Figure 2 and Figure 3.
While it’s easy to get excited about Samsung potentially releasing a gaming handheld, we have to take this with a massive grain of salt. For one, it’s only a patent, and we know that companies file patents for devices that never see the light of day.
Then, there’s the whole concern about what the future holds for Samsung’s current crop of foldable phones.Rumors suggestthat Samsung sold less than 300,000Galaxy Z Fold 6devices in the first two weeks, falling far short of the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
In October, the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition was released in South Korea,reportedly selling throughall three batches of pre-orders. While that might be the case, there’s no way of knowing how many devices Samsung actually manufactured for release, especially since it was limited to certain regions.
On top of that, rumors continue to swirl around Samsung potentially releasing a tri-foldable competitor to the Mate XT. However, if sales are as bad as reports make it seem, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Samsung decided to cut its losses and dropfoldable phonesfor good.
Let’s hope that’s not the case, and that this newly-discovered foldable gaming handheld actually comes to fruition.
(Image credit: Google) Google likes to experiment with artificial intelligence. We’ve had live DJ tools, podcast creators and a way to create custom lettering. Now its engineers have turned their sights to the world of chess with GenChess, a new experiment that lets you design custom pieces using the Imagen model.
GenChess is built on top of the Imagen 3 artificial intelligence image generation model from Google DeepMind. This also powers the ImageFX experiment and image creation in the Gemini chatbot. It is a very impressive model that can create everything from photorealism to design.
You can create either a classical chess set that adheres more to the original shapes, or a creative one that is a little more experimental in design. After you create your own the AI will come up with a suitable competitor set and you can play a timed game.
GenChess uses AI to personalize the 1,500-year-old game by giving you a simple way to create custom sets. You can then play against the computer.
It uses the Imagen 3 AI image generation model and some clever prompting techniques to customize the set. The initial prompt is fairly restrictive. Google provides the bulk of the prompt but you can switch between classic and creative, and add a descriptor at the end.
(Image credit: Google GenChess/Future AI)
My favorite part is that it also tries to create a matching opponent. When I gave it Mars as a prompt, it generated an opponent set that reflected Venus. When I gave it dogs on the beach, it gave me cats on a catwalk as the opponent.
As both a millennial and someone in the chess club at school, I couldn’t resist creating a set made to look like avocado toast. Google gave me bacon and eggs as an opponent. I lost the game.
