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Hopefully we’ll have more than a single compatible model by this time next year.
Android phones have been the first to feature a bunch of notable standards. They were the first to support 4G, 5G, USB-C (way back in 2015 no less) and in-screen fingerprint sensors. And when it comes to wireless charging, you can trace that lineage all the way back to the Samsung Galaxy S3 from 2012 (though the webOS-poweered Palm Pre and its Touchstone charger is the true OG). Unfortunately, when it came to adding support for the Qi2 wireless charging standard to devices in 2024, it feels like Android phone makers were stuck on outdated patch notes.
The Qi2 standard was officially announced in early 2023 during CES. We even gave it an award, as the spec looked to bring 15-watt wireless charging (and possibly more in future revisions), improved safety and critically the introduction of Magnetic Power Profiles that make it a cinch to align and attach compatible charging pads. In essence, Qi2 was set to bring the simplicity and ease of use iPhone owners enjoy with MagSafe products to the Android ecosystem.
Not a single phone from any of the top three Android phone makers in the US (Samsung, Google and Motorola) offered support for Qi2 in 2024.
Even more surprising is that in a rare move for a company that likes keeping its tech siloed neatly inside the walls of its ecosystem, Apple shared core parts of the MagSafe spec with other members of theWireless Power Consortium(which is the governing body that oversees the Qi and Qi2 standards) to speed up development and interoperability. So you’d think after seeing the convenience and popularity of MagSafe accessories among iPhone users, Android phone makers would have rushed out to add Qi2 to as many devices as possible. But nearly two full years after the spec was finalized, the grand total of Android handsets that support Qi2 stands at one:the HMD Skyline.
At this point, you might be saying that product development cycles are multi-year processes that are difficult to change prior to launch. And in most cases, you’d probably be right. But let’s be honest, it’s not like Samsung, Google, Lenovo and others didn’t see this coming. Like Apple, practically all of the big Android phone makers are also members of the WPC, so they would have known about the development of Qi2 long before it was officially announced. On top of that, the first iPhone with MagSafe was the iPhone 12, which came out four years ago. So even if we assume that the first time Samsung, Google et al were presented with the idea of a magnetic wireless charging system was during Apple’s keynote in the fall of 2020, you’d imagine that’s still more than enough time to engineer similar technology for use on today’s Galaxy and Pixel handsets.
The HMD Skyline was the only Android phone to feature Qi2 this year.
For manufacturers, another concern when adopting a new standard is that there may not be enough accessories and other compatible peripherals on sale to make implementation of new tech worth it. We’ve seen this in the past with modular phones like theLG G5andMoto Z Forceline and the funky palm-reading tech on theLG G8. However, because Qi2 and MagSafe gadgets arelargely interchangeable, there’s already a huge market of options likeAnker’s MagGo lineof power banks, which are some of my current favorite portable battery packs.
Another annoyance is that some phones like theRazr PlusandPixel 9 Pro Foldwill evenstick magneticallyto some Qi2 accessories and may even suck down a tiny bit of juice. Unfortunately, this is more of a coincidence caused by the magnets used to help keep foldables open or closed, rather than an intentional use case. This means that even though these devices may appear to support Qi2 at first glance, accessories don’t maintain a firm grip and often slide off even in what appear to be ideal circumstances. Even cases that claim to add support for Qi2 are hit or miss, resulting in a poor experience for Android phone owners hoping to recreate the magic of MagSafe on their own. It’s really a shame, because it almost feels like with a few small tweaks Google, Moto and others could unlocked Qi2 support on a wider range of devices without a ton of extra effort or cost.
The lack of Qi2 support on Android phones is preventing users from enjoying a huge range of handy charging accessories.
Unfortunately, while many Chinese phone makers have avoided Qi2 up until this point, that’s sort of to be expected with manufacturers like Oppo often favoring proprietary tech like its65-watt AirVOOC wirelesscharging instead of more widely accessible industry standard. And because the Galaxy S24 family came out at the very beginning of 2024, Samsung didn’t have quite as much time to add Qi2 to its current flagship lineup as Google, which launched the Pixel 9 series just a few months ago. Regardless, this still doesn’t explain the general reluctance of OEMs to adopt what I’d argue is one of the most meaningful upgrades in accessibility and general usability you can add to a smartphone today.
But the most frustrating thing is that six months ago, our friends at batterymappondered why we hadyet to see any Qi2 Android phones. And as we’re nearing the end of the year, there’s still only a single model trying to spark hope that 2025 will be different. So kudos to HMD for doing what Samsung, Google et al. couldn’t be bothered to figure out. Now I’m just worried that if things don’t change next year, one of the most promising standards could end up in the graveyard (at least for Android phones) before ever getting a chance to thrive.
The best Amazfit smartwatch offers both value and smarts, plus comes in various styles and sizes for all budgets.
Finding an Android smartwatch that meets all your needs isn’t always easy, especially if you’re being inundated with timely deals. Fortunately, there is an Amazfit smartwatch for just about every budget and activity need imaginable.
The Amazfit smartwatch lineup may not be as massive or popular as some other big names like Fitbit and Garmin, but it’s still impressive. Additionally, these watches are among the most affordable options out there without skimping on the premium specs and features you need.
The Amazfit GTS 4 stands out as the best Amazfit smartwatch — as well as thebest budget smartwatch for students— for many reasons. It’s attractive, easy to use, reasonably priced, and packed with key features. If it’s not for you, there are some other great options from which to choose.
+Onboard dual-band GPS, mic, and speakers +Heart rate and SpO2 monitoring +150 different sports modes +Fashion-forward design +Up to 14 days of battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Proprietary bands aren’t great -Slightly expensive
The Amazfit GTR 4 is a superb choice for users who don’t want to sacrifice their love of fashion just because they’re buying a smartwatch. You get a classic yet modern design that’s perfect for daily wear, with a lightweight aluminum case and a bright 1.43-inch AMOLED display that’s easy to navigate. It has a rotating crown on the side for easy navigation.
While there are some other Amazfit smartwatches with better battery life, the GTR 4 still does a good job. It claims up to 14 days battery life, but with notifications enabled, always-on mode, and background health tracking, you’ll likely come closer to eight days of juice, which still isn’t bad at all. It boasts a 5 ATM water resistance rating and excellent fitness tracking that includes over 150 sports modes. Some other features include heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and more.
To put it simply, if you’re seeking afitness smartwatchthat’s still very aesthetically pleasing, you’ll likely be quite happy with the Amazfit GTR 4. Much like any other Amazfit smartwatch, you can’t answer text messages as there’s no on-screen keyboard. You can, however, answer calls since the GTR 4 has speakers and a microphone.
+160+ sport modes +Built-in GPS +Bright and crisp AMOLED display +Extra-long battery life +Military-grade durability
Reasons to avoid
-Might be too large for some wrists -Steep price tag -No speakers
At almost 48mm in diameter, theAmazfit T-Rex Ultrais not messing around. The polycarbonate watch body is available in two unique colors, including Desert Black and Sahara. The 1.3-inch AMOLED display has a touchscreen for easy navigation. There are also four side buttons that you can use to navigate the watch if that’s your preferred method. The best thing about this design, especially for outdoor enthusiasts, is its military-grade durability. This is easily one of the toughest watches out there as it has passed 15 military-grade tests as opposed to 12 on the originalAmazfit T-Rex.
No matter where you’re headed or how long you plan to be there, this is also one of the best Amazfit smartwatches for long battery life. With typical use, you can expect this beast to last for up to 20 days. Those who will be heavily using their smartwatch can expect to average around 12 days. In continuous GPS mode, the battery will last for 28 hours, and you can get as much as 80 hours from the endurance GPS mode. You also get an incredible water resistance rating. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra can handle a depth of up to 100 meters, also known as 10 ATM water resistance.
Speaking of tracking, most users will be happy with the health and activity features of the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra. You’ll have over 160 sports modes to choose from, including basics like outdoor cycling, treadmill, trail running, and walking. You can also record more specific activities like hiking, climbing, hunting, and more. During a workout, you’ll also be able to track your route with the built-in advanced GPS. There’s also heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring.
-No third-party apps -No music storage -No mic or speaker
When you’re entering the smartwatch world for the first time, you may not want to be overwhelmed by features that aren’t beneficial to you. If you want a great starter watch, consider theAmazfit GTS 4 Mini. It’s not too expensive yet it’s still loaded with features that will help you learn the ins and outs of owning a wearable. It offers an attractive design in a rectangular-shaped case that’s made of aluminum. You also get a brilliant AMOLED display and touchscreen that’s perfect for quick navigation.
Similar to the other options on this list, the battery life on the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini can vary depending on usage. It should last for up to a week with typical use. It weighs less than 20 grams, so it’s one of the lightest wearables on the market. If you’re a fitness enthusiast or you simply have a tiny wrist, this is one of the best Amazfit smartwatches you can buy. Speaking of which, you get great health and fitness features, including GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, 120+ sport modes, and blood oxygen monitoring.
Considering the low price tag, you probably won’t be too surprised to learn about some of the drawbacks. For starters, there’s no support for third-party apps. This might not be a deal-breaker for beginners, but it’s still worth noting. You can control your smartphone’s music, but you don’t have storage on the watch for songs. If you can live without these extras, you may have just met your smartwatch match.
Best overall
(Image credit: Amazfit)
4. Amazfit GTS 4
Best overall
Specifications
Display size:1.75-inch AMOLED (390×450)
Processor:Unknown
Storage:2.3GB
Battery life:16 days (8 w/ heavy use)
Water-resistant:✔️ (5ATM)
LTE:🚫
GPS:✔️ (Dual-band)
NFC:🚫
Sensors:HRM, SpO2
Reasons to buy
+Onboard GPS +Speakers and mic +Solid fitness tracking +8-day battery life +Amazon Alexa built-in +Heart-rate and SpO2 sensors
Reasons to avoid
-No NFC payments -No third-party app support
When you’re searching for a robust lifestyle smartwatch that’s also equipped with solid fitness tracking and smart features, the Amazfit GTS 4 is the best Amazfit smartwatch you can buy. It’s easily one of thebest cheap smartwatches for Android. It looks similar to the GTS 4 Mini but it comes in a larger case. It also cuts back on the bezel, so you get a larger display area. The rotating crown allows for smooth and easy UI navigation, too.
As is the case with most smartwatches, overall battery life will vary depending on usage, but you can expect eight days with typical use. The battery-saver mode allows you to stretch the battery life up to 16 days.
There are several key features that make this watch so desirable, including built-in dual-band GPS, heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, stress monitoring, sleep tracking, and so on. There are also over 150 sports modes such as outdoor running, walking, outdoor cycling, treadmill, pool swimming, and elliptical.
It works with Alexa for voice assistance both online and offline, which can be mighty convenient at times. Whether you’re starting a workout or asking a general question, your watch will respond quickly and efficiently. Since the GTS 4 has a mic and speakers onboard, you get replies on the watch. This also means you can answer phone calls right from your wrist.
While NFC payments are popular on smartwatches these days, that feature is not available on the U.S. version of this watch. Another drawback is that other than Amazfit’s native apps, there is no third-party app support. This means you can’t access any of the cool Wear OS apps found in the Google Play Store. Further, if you want something chunkier with a little more battery life, theAmazfit GTR 4 might be betterfor you.
Best value
(Image credit: Amazfit)
5. Amazfit Bip 3
Best value
Specifications
Display size:1.69-inch AMOLED (240×280)
Processor:Unknown
Storage:🚫
Battery life:14 days (7 w/ heavy use)
Water-resistant:✔️ (5ATM)
LTE:🚫
GPS:🚫
NFC:🚫
Sensors:HRM, SpO2
Reasons to buy
+60+ sport modes +Up to 14 days of battery life +Alexa built-in +5 ATM water resistance +Super affordable
Reasons to avoid
-Notifications are a bit clunky -No music storage on the watch -No onboard GPS or Wi-Fi
When you want a solid set of smartwatch features but don’t want to break the bank in the process, take a look at the Amazfit Bip 3. It offers the lovely rectangular design that many users have come to prefer. You get a 44mm polycarbonate case that’s not too large or bulky, weighing just 33 grams. It has a 1.69-inch full-color TFT display, so it won’t be as sharp as a watch with an AMOLED display. The Bip 3 is available in Black, Blue, and Pink.
The 14-day battery life is as long as some of the more expensive Amazfit watches on this list, which is impressive. When you compare that to competitors that last for a day or two, this is a great accomplishment. There are 60+ sports modes to choose from on the Amazfit Bip 3, including outdoor running, treadmill running, and outdoor cycling. You’ll also find some rather unique sports modes like yoga, cricket, table tennis, and basketball.
There are some disadvantages to the Amazfit Bip 3, including clunky notifications that are spaced out and hard to read at times. You also won’t have music storage on the watch. When using the Alexa built-in feature, it relies on your phone’s connection, which isn’t always as seamless as it should be.
Best battery life
6. Amazfit GTR Mini
Best battery life
Specifications
Display size:1.28-inch AMOLED (416×416)
Processor:Unknown
Storage:🚫
Battery life:14 days (7 w/ heavy use)
Water-resistant:✔️ (5ATM)
LTE:🚫
GPS:✔️ (Dual-band)
NFC:🚫
Sensors:HRM, SpO2
Reasons to buy
+Extremely lightweight and comfortable +120+ sport modes +Advanced GPS tracking +Fantastic price +14 days of battery life +Alexa onboard
Reasons to avoid
-No speakers or mic -Lack of app support -Pretty big
If you need all the fitness tracking and smartwatch features you can get, you’ll love theAmazfit GTR Mini. This improved model comes in a large 43mm case, which makes it one of the bigger watches in the Amazfit lineup. It has a sturdy stainless steel body combined with reinforced plastic, which keeps it light without the strap.
The watch comes with a 20mm interchangeable silicone sports band that can handle all of your intense activities. You can use the touch-enabled 1.28-inch AMOLED display to navigate your watch or the side button if you prefer.
The Amazfit GTR Mini gives you seven days of battery life with typical usage. You also have several different GPS modes to choose from depending on what type of activity you’re doing and how long you need your battery to last. You’ll have 5 ATM water resistance, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and local music storage.
There’s an unprecedented number of sports modes on this watch — easily over 120. All of the basics are present, including walking, treadmill, trail running, cycling, and swimming. There are also more specific sports modes for serious athletes, like multisport, triathlon, football, rowing, tennis, climbing, and so on.
You’ll also be able to measure your fitness level, recovery time, and training load. It’s perfect for athletes who want to improve their performance. Some users might appreciate the generous size, but it may not be ideal for those with tiny wrists. Finally, the lack of speakers and a mic is a bummer on a wearable of this magnitude. The smartwatch also lacks third-party app support. You won’t find an app store, but it does offer widget options, including a stopwatch, compass, alarm, and weather.
Most powerful
7. Amazfit Falcon
Most powerful
Specifications
Display size:1.28-inch AMOLED (416×416)
Processor:Unknown
Storage:2.3GB
Battery life:14 days (7 w/ heavy use)
Water-resistant:✔️ (20ATM)
LTE:🚫
GPS:✔️ (Dual-band)
NFC:🚫
Sensors:HRM, SpO2
Reasons to buy
+Fantastic build quality with 20 ATM waterproofing +Smooth and feature-rich software +Excellent health and fitness features +Great battery life +Dual-band & 6 satellite positioning systems
Reasons to avoid
-The bezel around the display is large -Eye-wateringly expensive -No Google Play Store
Amazfit doesn’t have many ultra-premium smartwatches, but the ones it does make are superb for fitness tracking. The Amazfit Falcon is one such watch and it gives you every imaginable health and fitness feature under the sun. We wenthands-on with the Falconand were impressed with its high-grade titanium chassis and superb battery life.
The Amazfit Falcon has military-grade resistance to nature’s elements, so you can partake in any sort of rigorous outdoor activity with ease. It uses Zepp OS 3.0 which comes with a ton of advanced features for working out, over 150 sports modes, and health monitoring such as blood oxygen levels and heart rate. The smartwatch has an AI coach built-in to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Although the Amazfit Falcon is incredibly expensive, it could be the right fit for a sports professional or military personnel. It has a touch screen but you can navigate the wearable using the two side buttons as well.
Amazfit really went the extra mile with the Falcon, which is why it has theworld’s first watch face coded by ChatGPT. This doesn’t make up for the lack of third-party apps, but it’s nice to see an Amazfit smartwatch one-up the likes of theGalaxy Watch 7andPixel Watch 3. Samsung and Google’s wearables have to rely on a roundabout way toget ChatGPT on Wear OS.
How to choose
Amazfit has such a great selection of smartwatches from which to choose. Howdoyou choose the right one? As with any smartwatch, the first thing to ask yourself is why you’re getting it. Is it to keep track of steps, specific sports or activities, or get a good handle on your overall health and wellness? Then consider what else you want to do with it. Do you need access to third-party apps? Do you want to clearly read notifications and have the ability to answer calls or texts right from your wrist? Do you want to load music directly onto the watch?
Go through your checklist of desired features, including the must-haves and need-to-haves. Then run through this list and eliminate or highlight models one-by-one. Pretty soon, you’ll end up with one or two models from which to decide. From there, it might come down to price and design: which fits better both on your wrist and with your lifestyle and for your pocketbook?
The good news is that Amazfit has a smartwatch for just about everybody. Whether you’re focused on fitness, fashion, or a bit of both, you can find a model that will have everything you need. However, if you’re looking for the absolute best Amazfit smartwatch, we highly recommend the GTS 4. It has a sleek design, is packed with fitness tracking features, and you can’t beat the battery life.
To recap, the Amazfit GTS 4 is equipped with over 150 sport modes, built-in GPS, sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, Amazon Alexa built-in, and a microphone and speaker so you can answer calls. It’s not the type of watch that you’ll have to charge every night, either. In fact, you’ll likely only have to charge this watch every week or so depending on how heavily you use your device and its key features.
Regardless of what your preferences are, it’s more than likely that you can find an Amazfit smartwatch to meet them. Whether you’re a professional athlete looking to track your workouts and improve endurance, a runner training for the next big 5K, or a first-time user who’s just getting started in the smartwatch world, there’s bound to be a fitness-focused wearable from Amazfit that’s perfect for you.
This extra layer of security ensures no one can tamper with your sensitive data when you’re travelling.
Google’s Pixel line of smartphones is being regularly updated with new features, and theDecember 2024 Pixel feature dropexpanded the safety and security features of Pixel phones even further. Identity Check is a new beta feature that forces you to perform a biometric authentication whenever you make any sensitive action on a Pixel phone away from your home or workplace.
This can include actions like accessing saved passkeys or app passwords, changing the PIN, and so on. It’s a super-handy feature to have when traveling as it prevents unwanted people from compromising the security of your Pixel device, making thebest Android phoneseven better.
Since Identity Check is still in beta, it’s not available in the stable version ofAndroid 15. You’ll need toregisteryour Pixel device for the Android Beta for Pixel program, after which you’ll automatically get theAndroid 15 QPR2 Betaupdate on your phone.
2. TapGoogleand then theAll Servicesbutton below your email ID.
3. Scroll a bit till you seeTheft protectionunder thePersonal & device safetysub-menu. (Alternatively, you can navigate toSecurity & privacy > Device unlockto access Theft protection.)
4. Just below the animated image, you should seeIdentity Check.
5. The setup screen gives you some basic information about how it works and even how you can disable it if you choose to later. TapNext.
6. You’ll see a checklist of some of the prerequisites that are needed in order to enable Identity Check. If you’ve not done some, like set a screen lock or biometrics, you’ll be prompted to complete those steps.
7. You’ll also need toadd a few trusted placesthat you frequent. Identity Check should not kick in if you try to change a password in one of the trusted places.
8. Once you see check marks for all the requirements, tapDone.
9. On the final Identity Check screen, enable theUse Identity checktoggle.
Note:If you don’t want to install Android beta on your daily driver Pixel device, you’ll have to wait till Identity Check is out of beta and included in the stable version of Android 15 via a future update.
Pixels now have added security for your sensitive information when you travel
With features like Identity Check, Google is really doubling down on privacy and security for its Pixel devices. You can add any number of trusted places that you frequent to avoid unnecessary authentication steps before you can perform any sensitive actions. Google specifies that Identity Check will only work on devices that support Class 3 biometrics. If you don’t see that option under Theft Protection, then your device doesn’t support it.
Google has specified all the sensitive actions that would trigger Identity Check and require additional biometric authentication. They are as follows:
Access saved passwords and passkeys using Google Password Manager.
Autofill passwords in apps from Google Password Manager (except Chrome).
Change screen lock, PIN, pattern, and password.
Change Fingerprint or Face Unlock.
If you do a Factory reset.
Turn off Find My Device.
Turn off any theft protection features.
View trusted places.
Set up a new device with your current device.
Add or remove a Google Account.
Access Developer options.
This added layer of protection should give you peace of mind if someone tries to access some of your phone’s security settings when you’re traveling. It’s not just new features that are being added with Google’s update, though. TheDecember security patch for Pixelsincluded several fixes for audio stability and performance in some situations for Pixel 6 toPixel 9series devices. Other display and camera issues were also addressed with this update.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best Android watch of 2024. We’ll help you decide if keeping the Watch 6 or upgrading to the Watch Ultra is better.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best Android watches of the year, and with the year winding down, you may be deciding whether to grab one as a last-minute holiday gift, whether to yourself or someone else — or if you should choose an alternative like the Pixel Watch 3 or OnePlus Watch 2.
OurGalaxy Watch 7 reviewlargely had a healthy range of positives and only a couple of nitpicky complaints, saying it lacked “pizazz.” You might be bored of its appearance without a Galaxy Watch 7 Classic or Pro as an alternative. But you can be assured that it’s a very good smartwatch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Price, availability, and models
The Galaxy Watch 7 was announced on July 10 and shipped to customers on July 24; you can order it from Samsung.com, Amazon, Best Buy, and select U.S. carriers. TheGalaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch Ultra shipped out on the same date.
After the Galaxy Watch 5 and 6 both got minor price bumps, the Galaxy Watch 7 remains at the same price point as last year: $299 for the 40mm Watch 7 and $329 for the 44mm Watch 7. Samsung lets you upgrade to an LTE version for $50 extra.
Both Galaxy Watch 7 sizes ship in Green. The 40mm Watch 7 also has a Cream option, while the 44mm Watch 7 has a Silver option. You can choose a Sport, Fabric, or Athleisure watch band as your default option.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Specs and sensors
Category
Galaxy Watch 7 40mm
Galaxy Watch 7 44mm
Display
1.3-inch Super AMOLED, 432 x 432 resolution, sapphire crystal
1.5-inch Super AMOLED, 480 x 480 resolution, sapphire crystal
The Exynos W1000 is Samsung’s first 3-nanometer CPU used in a smartwatch, built with five cores instead of the usual dual-core design: one Arm Cortex-A78 and four Cortex-A55 clocked at 1.6GHz. Samsung promises it loads apps 2.7x faster than the Exynos W930 in the Galaxy Watch 6, while outperforming it in single-core and multicore benchmarks by “3.4x and 3.7x, respectively.”
Samsung told us that much of that extra processing power goes into the revamped health sensor array. Although the Galaxy Watch 7 tracks the exact same data as theGalaxy Watch 5or Watch 6, the bottom sensor has 13 LEDs for heart rate and blood oxygen readings instead of four LEDs. Samsung says this new “multi-optical path” gives the Watch 7 94% accuracy during high-intensity workouts, compared to 88% on the last generation.
OurGalaxy Watch Ultra fitness testshowed real-world improvements in heart rate accuracy during workouts, and the Galaxy Watch 7 has the same sensor array, so this health & fitness reliability applies to both watches.
Most smartwatches have red, green, and infrared LEDs for capturing your health data, but Samsung addedblue, yellow, violet, and ultraviolet LEDsto the Galaxy Watch 7 to “pursue unexplored aspects of health monitoring on wearables.” The Watch 7 and Ultra launched with an experimental metric called AGEs Index that Samsung says is “one of the many new advanced features planned” with these LEDs.
Unfortunately, the new metric isn’t especially useful — we found that Samsung gave everyone near-identical AGEs Index scores regardless of differences in health — and we don’t know what to expect from future health metrics yet.
A more exciting upgrade is dual-band GPS, which triangulates your position from multiple satellite angles to avoid obstacles like buildings, foliage, or mountains. It’s vital for accurate outdoor workout results, and it’s rare to find in affordable smartwatches. Thankfully, this new GPS system did excellently in our fitness test, living up to Samsung’s promises.
Samsung also gave the Galaxy Watch 7 32GB of storage. That might sound like overkill, but we noticed that the Galaxy Watch 6’s 16GB of storage was closer to 6GB thanks to the default OS. With extra storage, you’ll have plenty of space for large music playlists or podcasts, if you like to leave your phone at home during walks or workouts. It also leaves room for all thebest Wear OS appsyou could want.
All of the recent Galaxy Watches have or will receive One UI 6 Watch soon, based on the latestWear OS 5update. So these features aren’t necessarilyspecificto the Galaxy Watch 7, but they’re worth explaining for anyone unfamiliar withWear OS watchesor considering another brand like thePixel Watch 3with “stock” Wear OS software.
The Galaxy Watch 7 offers an Energy Score, calculated by Galaxy AI algorithms based on your recent sleep, stress, and activity data, indicating if your poor sleep or hard activities are impacting your body, and tracking new metrics like movement during sleep or sleep latency.
Galaxy AI also takes your Watch 7 data and generates wellness tips for how to improve your health, tracking specific metrics like your resting heart rate over time to help you judge your progress. Plus, the Watch 7 has FDA-approved sleep apnea detection.
Another new Galaxy AI feature is AI-powered suggested replies, making it potentially easier to respond to your Google or Samsung Messages without having to pull out your phone or type on the small QWERTY keyboard. You’ll need a Galaxy phone to use these, however.
While past Galaxy Watches had shortcut gestures like double-tap in the accessibility menu, One UI 6 Watch makes those gestures more readily available to all users.
As for the biggest changes, we’ve already noted how the new Exynos W1000 beats the Exynos W930. However, our Galaxy Watch 7 reviewer noted that, while “this is the zippiest smartwatch I’ve ever used,” she’s “not seeing” the 2.7x boost over the Galaxy Watch 6 that Samsung promises. “In the day-to-day, it’s faster, but not noticeably.”
We think the Exynos W1000’s biggest impact is its efficiency; despite having the same battery capacity as the Watch 6, the Watch 7 consistently lasts about two days per charge, while the Watch 6 falls closer to 1 to 1.5 days. We suspect the Watch 7 will stand the test of time a little better.
As we said above, the Galaxy Watch 7 will deliver more accurate heart rate and GPS results. OurGalaxy Watch 6 fitness testdisappointed us, so we welcomed these upgrades, but if you’re not much of an athlete or just don’t need exact results, then you don’t necessarily need the Galaxy Watch 7.
The Galaxy Watch 7 launched withWear OS 5and the One UI 6 Watch skin and will get consistent software updates through summer 2028. Theofficial Wear OS 5 rolloutbegan on November 19 for the Galaxy Watch 6 series, with older models receiving it by early December.
As mentioned above, the Galaxy Watch 7 has more HR LEDs and LEDcolorsthan the Watch 6. Although Samsung’s first use of these sensors — the AGEs Index — didn’t impress us, their team has promised future health metrics using this data, which the Galaxy Watch 6 won’t be able to access. It’s a vague reason to upgrade, but still worth mentioning.
The Watch 6 and 7 have nearly identical weights—the Watch 7 40mm and 44mm weigh 0.1g and 0.5g less, respectively—but Samsung notes that the newer watch is 0.7mm thicker, and its measurement doesn’t include the sensor array. The extra LEDs make the Watch 7 sensor bump more dome-like, so it “sits slightly higher on your wrist” than the Watch 6, according to our reviewer.
Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Watch Ultra
Despite the $350 price gap between the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, the two watches aren’t all that different, aside from the obvious design differences.
The Watch 7 Ultra uses titanium grade 4 instead of aluminum, with a 47mm case that weighs 60.5g without the strap (26.7g more than the larger Watch 7). It feels significantly heavierandmeasures 2.4mm thicker; while you can wear the Galaxy Watch 7 for sleep tracking relatively comfortably, that won’t apply to the Watch Ultra.
Both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 7 44mm have 1.5-inch, 480×480 AMOLED displays, so there’s no visual upgrade except for a brightness boost from 2,000 to 3,000 nits on the flagship watch.
Like the Watch 7, the Watch Ultra has a digital bezel along the display edge. Unfortunately, while the Ultra’s side button is a crown,it’s inactiveso you can’t scroll through menus. On the other hand, the Quick Button lets you pause and restart workouts quickly instead of having to swipe through menus with sweaty fingertips.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra has the same 590mAh battery as theWatch 5 Pro, or 165mAh extra capacity compared to the Watch 7 44mm. On paper, Samsung says the Ultra lasts 60 hours with AOD, but our reviewer found it lasts closer to 48 hours with it. Still, that matches what the Watch 7 hitswithoutAOD; for the most battery life possible, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the clear choice.
Like the Watch 7, it has 2GB/32GB memory and an Exynos W1000 CPU, plus the same sensors. The upgraded LEDs and dual-band GPS are the same, too. The Galaxy Watch Ultra has LTE capabilities built in, while you must pay extra for it on the Watch 7.
Mainly, you’re paying for some serious ruggedness. The Galaxy Watch Ultra passes the ISO22810 diving standard for 10 minutes in water at 100-meter depth. It has an 85-decibel siren and Samsung’s promise that it can survive elevations up to 29,527 feet or temperatures between -4°F and 131°F (-20ºC to 55ºC).
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7?
The main reasons to buy the Galaxy Watch 7 if you have a Watch 6 are the faster processor, more accurate health data, pinpointed GPS, and extra storage. Admittedly, the last three are more niche features that some users won’t need; the Exynos chip is the key upgrade, giving the watch more compute headroom that’ll make future Wear OS updates run more smoothly.
If you don’t like certain aspects of the Watch 6 like the design or digital bezel, that hasn’t changed with the Watch 7. Unless you want to hold out for theGalaxy Watch 8(which is rumored to switch to a squircle) or pay double the price for the Watch Ultra, your only other option is to look into the otherbest Android smartwatcheson the market.
We’ve seen reports of”ghost notifications” on the Galaxy Watch 7in recent weeks. We hope that Samsung will find the source of these and fix them, as it’s a bad look for this Wear OS watch to buzz users constantly with nonexistent notifications. Otherwise, most users have had few complaints about the Galaxy Watch 7’s software.
The X200 Pro has one of the best camera packages around, and the rest of the phone is pretty good too.
Verdict Vivo didn’t make too many changes to the X200 Pro, and that’s a good thing. You still get terrific cameras and a versatile auxiliary package that includes a 200MP telephoto lens from the X100 Ultra, and it shoots groundbreaking portrait photos. The new design is great to hold, the AMOLED panel gets noticeably brighter than the X100 Pro, there’s even more power, and the phone lasts two days thanks to a bigger battery. If you’re in the market for a flagship and want something that has the best camera package, the X200 Pro should be at the top of your list.
Pros
+Outstanding cameras
+The best telephoto lens you’ll find today
+Elegant design
+Class-leading battery life with 90W bundled charger
+Incredibly powerful
+IP68/IP69 ingress protection
+Good software features
Cons
-Selfie camera is average
-Won’t get as many software updates as Pixel 9 Pro XL
-Limited global availability
I’ve always enjoyed using Vivo’s X series devices, but it wasn’t until theX90 Prothat the brand really started showcasing what it can do on the imaging side of things. Vivo turned that up a notch earlier this year with theX100 Pro; the phone continues to have one of the best camera packages around, and it’s only bested by the China-exclusiveX100 Ultra— no small feat.
While the X100 Ultra is the best phone camera I’ve ever used, the fact that it isn’t available globally makes it a non-starter. Thankfully, Vivo is addressing that with the introduction of the X200 Pro. The phone has the same 200MP telephoto lens as the Ultra, and it also takes magnificent portrait shots. You get a new 50MP main camera, and while it doesn’t have a 1-inch sensor like the X100 Pro or Ultra, it takes standout photos and videos in challenging scenarios.
Honestly, that’s all you need to know about the X200 Pro — it brings the best features of the X100 Ultra to a global audience, and takes photos of the same caliber. That alone makes the phone immediately worthy of consideration, and you get plenty of other extras, including a new design, brighter AMOLED panel, more efficient MediaTek hardware, a much bigger 6000mAh silicon battery, and IP69 ingress protection.
I used the global model of the X200 Pro for a week, and here’s why I think this is the camera phone to beat in 2025.
Vivo unveiled the X200, X200 Pro, and X200 Pro mini in China in October 2024, and the phones made their global debut on December 12 in India. Vivo isn’t bringing the X200 Pro mini outside China, but the X200 and X200 Pro are available in global markets, starting with select regions in Asia over the coming weeks. I got used to the 1TB model of the X100 Ultra, but Vivo isn’t bringing that storage variant to global markets; the X200 Pro is instead sold in a single 16GB/512GB configuration outside China. This 16GB/512GB variant is now available in India for ₹94,999 ($1,120). The standard X200 is also on sale in the country at ₹65,999 ($778) for the 12GB/256GB configuration, and Vivo has an additional 16GB/512GB model that costs ₹71,999 ($849).
Most Android manufacturers have switched to iPhone-esque designs, and Vivo isn’t immune to the trend either. The X200 Pro has a distinctly boxier design with flat sides, and it doesn’t look as elegant as the X100 Pro. While I still prefer devices with smooth curves, I will admit that Vivo did a good job with the design; the phone is much more comfortable to hold than the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Predictably, the camera island dominates attention at the back; Vivo has steadily increased the size of the housing over the last three years as it slotted in bigger camera sensors, and the module on the X200 Pro stretches nearly across the width of the device. I would have liked the interior of the housing to have the same color as the back — like the OnePlus 12 — but Vivo went with a standard black design. That said, the ring encircling the camera housing differentiates the design a little bit.
I got the Titanium variant of the device, and it feels great to hold and use. The dull grey sheen makes the device look understated, and the back glass has a satin texture that’s much better than the usual glossy finishes, and it minimizes smudges. The sides are made out of aluminum, with Vivo mimicking the feel of titanium.
The design is cleaner than previous years, with Vivo eschewing the various taglines and metal-etched accouterments it added on the X90 Pro and X100 Pro. The overall aesthetic feels mature, and while the grey model doesn’t attract attention as much, the blue option is the way to go if you want a color that stands out.
Thankfully, Vivo put the ultrasound fingerprint module higher up this time around, and I didn’t run into any issues accessing it. While I prefer optical modules, Vivo is using a Goodix sensor that’s among the best around; it’s fast to authenticate, and doesn’t have any problems with oily or wet fingers.
Coming in at 228g, the X200 Pro is one of the heaviest phones I used recently, as well as the biggest; that said, Vivo did a great job with the weight distribution, and even though it has massive cameras at the back, it doesn’t feel unwieldy in the least. I now put cases on phones that have flat sides as I don’t like the in-hand feel, but I didn’t have to do so on the X200 Pro; although it has a flatter design, the beveled edges and subtle curves at the back where it meets the mid-frame make it much easier to hold and use.
The power and volume buttons have better tactility than the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Find X8 Pro, and the rest of the ports are standard: you get a dual-SIM tray, IR blaster, and dual stereo sound. The X200 Pro picks up IP68 and IP69 ingress protection, giving it added resilience against water jets. While I didn’t test that yet, the phone fell into a bowl of chutney and came away unscathed, and that’s good enough for my use case (I eat a lot of chutney).
The X200 Pro retains the 6.78-inch size as its predecessor, and you get the same 2800 x 1260 resolution. What’s different this time is the brightness; it manages to hit 4500 nits in HDR content, and there’s an easily noticeable difference in daily use as well.
What’s particularly great is that the X200 Pro got just as bright as the X100 Ultra in outdoor use, and in my testing, only the Pixel 9 Pro XL managed to outmatch the device. It does a much better job in this area than the X100 Pro, and it’s evident when using the phones next to each other. You get the usual LTPO tech, and the phone gets 2160Hz PWM dimming at all brightness levels, giving it a distinct edge over Google and Samsung phones.
While it doesn’t have anywhere close to the same curvature as previous models, the panel has a very subtle curve around the sides that makes it a little better to use. Colors and contrast levels are excellent out of the box, and like all high-end phones, you get a great range of customizability in tweaking the color balance. Vivo has useful eye protection features as well, including an anti-fatigue mode and automatic blue light filter.
There’s a decent selection of always-on styles too, and the phone has a smooth transition from the lock screen to the home screen, which is something you’ll see on ColorOS as well. I didn’t have any issues streaming HDR content on the phone, and after a dozen hours of gaming, there were no problems in this regard either. The onboard sound is better than the X100 Pro, and you get a good stereo effect.
The only issue with the panel is that the oleophobic coating is starting to wear out after just a week of use; my daily usage hasn’t differed, but the top edge has a visible line where there’s no coating, and that’s troublesome. By contrast, the X100 Pro has been in regular use throughout 2024, and it doesn’t have any issues with the coating. I saw a similar occurrence on theFind X8 Protoo, and I’ll provide an update once either brand confirms what the problem might be — it could just be the coating that was used on these two devices.
Vivo X200 Pro: Performance
While the X100 Ultra switched to Qualcomm hardware, Vivo is clearly intent on using MediaTek’s Dimensity on the rest of the X100 series, and that’s a good decision. The X200 Pro uses the Dimensity 9400 — same as the Find X8 Pro — and it is fantastic in daily use. I didn’t see any slowdowns or lag, and it handled gaming without breaking a sweat. The phone tends to get a little hotter than the Find X8 Pro, but just by two degrees Celsius. The stability score of 49% in 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light test is on the lower end of the scale, but thankfully, you won’t see any jitter even in demanding games, and while it throttles in extended gaming sessions, it still delivers steady framerates. With 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage onboard, you don’t have to worry about multitasking or storage issues.
Category
Pixel 9 Pro XL
Vivo X200 Pro
iQOO 13
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)
13028
15731
16043
PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)
10322
13716
16307
PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)
7606
5823
6899
PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)
15582
24744
20445
PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)
19293
13582
39044
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
1895
2381
2954
Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
4111
7175
6650
Geekbench AI (Quantized Score)
2620
2436
3915
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (score)
2483
6070
4514
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)
14.865
36.35
27.025
3DMark Solar Bay (score)
NA
11021
7287
3DMark Solar Bay (FPS)
NA
41.91
27.695
Given that the iQOO 13 also runs Funtouch OS and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite instead, we can see how the two devices differ. Obviously, there’s no difference between the two in regular use, but the iQOO 13 holds up a little better in gaming — it doesn’t throttle as early. Other than that, you get a similar level of performance. I didn’t see any issues with cellular connectivity, but calls were garbled at times; I’m not sure if this was down to where I was at the time or the cellular signal, but I don’t usually run into this problem, so thought to highlight it. There’s the usual LDAC and LHDC codecs in addition to AptX HD, and you get dual-band GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port based on the USB 3.2 standard. The new vibration motor has exquisite feedback, and it makes using the device that much more engaging. Overall, there isn’t much amiss with the X200 Pro in this area, and it is has one of the best hardware packages around.
Vivo X200 Pro: Battery life
Like most other 2025 flagships, the X200 Pro picks up a huge battery, with Vivo slotting in a 6000mAh unit inside the device. It also usessilicon-carbon techto deliver better density, and the increased size along with better efficiency allows it to last two days. Even with heavy use, I only had to charge the phone every other day, and it’s liberating.
There’s no battery anxiety whatsoever with the device, and when you need to plug it in, the X200 Pro uses Vivo’s 90W charging standard, and the requisite charger is bundled in the package. It takes just under 50 minutes to charge the battery, and it’s on par with the best phones in this area.
Vivo X200 Pro: Cameras
The X200 Pro gets a new 50MP Sony Lytia-818 imaging sensor with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, and while it isn’t as big as the 1-inch sensor on the X100 Pro, it does a great job in its own right. The highlight is the inclusion of the 200MP Samsung HP9 telephoto lens, which is the same one used in the X100 Ultra to great effect. The wide-angle lens is a 50MP Samsung JN1, which is unchanged from last year, as is the 32MP front module.
Vivo uses a custom V3+ imaging module in conjunction with the Dimensity 9400, and this allows the brand to eke out better detail with HDR video. The X200 Pro has 4K60 Dolby Vision video out of all the sensors and focal lengths at the back, and the phone does a standout job with video in general. There’s portrait video, 10-bit LOG, and a street mode that adds a noticeable vignette to resultant shots.
The camera interface itself hasn’t changed, and you get a decent number of shooting modes and filters. Vivo’s collaboration with Zeiss is evident in the portrait shots and tonal balance of the photos, and you can pick between three styles: Vivid, Textured, and Zeiss Natural. The Vivid mode has the best colors, and that’s the one I used as default when testing the X200 Pro.
As you’d imagine, there are no issues with photos taken in daylight conditions. The X200 Pro does a great job preserving detail, and you get vibrant colors with excellent dynamic range and white balance. While the sensor itself isn’t as large as last year, tweaks to the tuning allows the X200 Pro to deliver a similar caliber of photos.
The main camera does an incredible job in low-light conditions as well, delivering accurate colors and details. Honestly, I don’t have anything to fault with the main camera, and the X200 Pro delivers everything I need — photo quality is always consistent, it does a good job with fast-moving objects, and there’s no shutter lag whatsoever.
The biggest change this time is the 200MP telephoto lens; it goes up to 3.7x via optical zoom and has OIS, and while the increased focal length is obviously useful, where the lens truly shines is at portrait shots. The X200 Pro takes delightful portrait shots, with class-leading segmentation and bokeh. The best part about the mode is that you get to choose between five focal lengths, giving you plenty of options to frame a subject.
Although the wide-angle lens is an older sensor, it does a decent enough job most of the time. It’s only in demanding low-light scenarios that you can make out its limitations, but in all other shooting conditions, it delivers usable photos. The only quibble I have in this area is that the selfie lens isn’t quite up to scratch. It’s still a decent module and takes good photos, but it doesn’t have the same quality as the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Vivo should have switched to a newer sensor.
Outside of that, the X200 Pro has what is arguably one of the strongest camera packages, and the combination of the 50MP main lens and versatile zoom lens gives it a distinct advantage. I’m intrigued to see what Vivo does with the X200 Ultra, because barring that, I don’t see any other device outmatching the X200 Pro in 2025.
Vivo X200 Pro: Software
I like what Vivo is doing on the software side of things. The X200 Pro runs Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, and it is different enough to ColorOS 15 and its derivatives that you don’t feel like you’re using the same UI. The interface is clean and optimized incredibly well to take advantage of the hardware, and I now prefer it to ColorOS or MIUI — a big deal considering its iOS-esque heritage.
I don’t have any negatives in this area; I didn’t see any problems with push notifications or errant crashes, and the UI was fluid in the week I used the device. That’s just with this device; as mentioned earlier, I used the X100 Pro as a secondary phone for much of 2024, and didn’t run into any issues there either.
Like every other interface, you get a decent amount of AI-backed utilities, including Circle to Search, AI note summarization, transcribing, and translation. Whether they’re actually usable is down to your needs; I don’t see the point of most AI tools in their current state, and the only one I use with any regularity is the transcribe feature that lets me convert audio to text.
Vivo does a good job with software updates, and the X100 Pro picked up consistent updates over the course of the year. The X200 Pro will receive four Android OS updates along with six years of security updates, and while that’s not on par with Google and Samsung, it is in line with what other Chinese manufacturers are doing.
Vivo X200 Pro: The competition
The Find X8 Pro is the closest rival to the X200 Pro, with both phones featuring the same MediaTek Dimensity platform and delivering standout cameras. With the X200 Pro confined to Asian markets, the Find X8 Pro is a viable choice if you need a device with versatile cameras. While Vivo’s phone has the edge at portrait shots and zoom, the Find X8 Pro does a great job on its own. I like Vivo’s color tuning better, and Funtouch OS is better to use than the most recent iteration of ColorOS, so the X200 Pro wins out.
Vivo X200 Pro: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
You need one of the best camera packages available today
You want a fantastic telephoto lens
You need a phone that takes stunning portrait shots
You want class-leading battery life
You need the latest hardware
You shouldn’t buy this if:
You need the best selfie camera
You want long-term updates similar to the Pixel 9 Pro XL
You need a device that’s sold in the U.S. or U.K.
Vivo didn’t need to change too many things with the X100 Pro, and thankfully, the brand retained the best features from the device. The X200 Pro has one of the best camera packages you’ll find today, and the addition of the 200MP telephoto lens gives it a distinct advantage. The portrait shots you get out of the phone are truly incredible, and while the X100 Ultra still has a slender edge, it isn’t much.
I like everything else about the phone. The AMOLED panel is among the best I’ve used, the hardware is on par with the best from Qualcomm, and the battery lasts two days between charges. The software is great to use as well, and Funtouch OS 15 delivers a good balance between a fluid UI and plenty of customizability.
The only point of contention is that the selfie camera isn’t quite on the same level as other flagships. And with the phone limited to Asian countries, there’s no reliable way to get a hold of it in the U.S. or U.K., and that’s a real shame. But if you’re in a country where the device is sold by Vivo, you should consider picking it up.
Having used the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Find X8 Pro in the last three months, I’m convinced that the X200 Pro has the best cameras of the lot, and my SIM is staying put in this device long after the review is done.
Both the Garmin Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 support the new beta.
Garmin has dropped a new beta for the Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 range
New features including Sail Race and Jumpmaster Activities
It also includes a slew of fixes and tweaks
Garminhas rolled out a brand new beta for its Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 smartwatch ranges, with a slew of bug fixes, tweaks, and a couple of new features for early adopters.
The new update, announced onGarmin’s website, is available for the Fenix 8 AMOLED 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm; Fenix 8 Solar 47mm and 51mm; Enduro 3; and Fenix E.
Users enrolled in the Public Beta program can download the update from the ‘Check for Updates’ section of their Garmin wearable.
Version 13.12 brings 40 different new features, tweaks, and bug fixes to Garmin’s top two rugged smartwatches, the Fenix 8 and the Enduro 3. A word of warning, however, Garmin says the new beta for the Fenix 8 will disable the ECG and Dive feature, but that they will be made available again “on versions of beta software that we anticipate becoming Live updates.” The company hasn’t said why the beta disables these features, although the Dive issue could be related to problems with the Fenix 8 crashing when dunked in cold water.
If you’re still interested, here’s a look at everything new in the latest beta.
The headline new features include Garmin’s new CIQ System 8 with support for new Connect IQ apps, watch faces, and data fields.
There are big upgrades for sailers, including a new Sail Race Activity and a new Trolling Motor app so you can sync up to your boat’s motor. The beta also adds the Jumpmaster skydiving Activity, and there are new Insight Hints coming to the Health and Fitness app.
Finally, Garmin is adding a Stress Card to the Gaming Activity, and a respiration graph to the Meditation Activity Summary.
In the last year, I’ve taken up a new, rewarding hobby with astrophotography. Today’sbest phonesmake it easier than ever before to get breathtaking shots of the night sky, which is why I want to share my favorite shots from each of the flagship phones I’ve tested throughout the year.
These include theiPhone 16 Pro Max,Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra,Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, andOnePlus 12— many of which top batterymap’sbest camera phonesguide. They’re there for many reasons, but I will agree that the quality of images for astrophotography requires more than just the physical hardware. Plus, there’s a certain level of patience needed to get just the right images.
Most people don’t even know that these flagship phones are capable of capturing stuff besides the moon, stars, and constellations. As you’ll see, I’ve been able to image other deep space objects with their telephoto cameras — like nebulas and even some galaxies. Here’s all of my favorite shots.
Before I dive into it, I captured all the astrophotography images with each phone on separate occasions. Since astrophotography requires the phones to be extremely still with their long exposure, often upwards of 30 seconds, it’s not feasible for me to capture the same targets with each device. That’s why the images are from different days.
Secondly, it’s worth investing in a tripod and phone holder to capture astrophotography with phones. I’d recommend keeping them as close to the ground as possible because sometimes a slight gust of wind can ruin a shot. And finally, you’ll want to use the timer function to eliminate any shake when you’re hitting the shutter button.
Once you master these techniques, you simply need to switch to their respective night modes and select the longest exposure time.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you’re going to shoot astrophotography with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I’d recommend switching to its Pro Mode and manually setting the shutter speed and ISO. In the first shot of the gallery below, I do like how the overall image is brightened to see the details in the tree’s branches, but the sky itself is a bit overexposed given how dark it looks in real life. Still, I love all the twinkling stars it’s able to capture.
In the second astrophotography image with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I used Pro Mode to try and capture M42: The Great Orion Nebula. This is one of my favorite shots because the night sky is properly exposed, with less of the banding effect of the night shot one. And since I used a longer exposure, it manages to keep the noise down by shooting at a lower ISO.
And finally, there’s the last closeup shot of the Great Orion Nebula with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom. While I could’ve maxed it out 100x zoom, I chose not to in order to preserve the details. I think it does an excellent job of defining the gases that are coming from the nebula, which with the naked eye just looks like an ordinary twinkling star — but the S24 Ultra captures it in greater detail.
Apple’s flagship is a low light beast, and these astrophotography snapshots I captured with the iPhone 16 Pro Max proves that. Starting with its 48MP main camera, it’s the only flagship phone I’ve tested this year that can capture a galaxy. With it pointed straight up into the air, I was able to capture M31 Andromeda Galaxy — complete with its wispy trails. You’ll have to look very close in the first image below, but it’s there.
Next up, I want to point out how it captures The Great Orion Nebula with its 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. I surmise that the clearer skies above me that evening attributed to what’s arguably my favorite astrophotography shot with these flagships, mainly because the nebula is better defined.
For my last pick, it’s the shot of M45 The Pleiades — which on that night was right above my garage. There’s a lot I love about this photo because not only are the seven main stars of the cluster visible with the main camera, but the colors of the leaves on the tree remain true-to-life.
OnePlus 12
Even though its flagships have often underperformed against its main rivals in the low light department, I will admit that the OnePlus 12 can get some respectable looking astrophotography images. The first one I tried getting of Jupiter in the night sky is a perfect example, especially when I was contending against the strong moonlight from the Moon. The overall shot may look underexposed compared to the brighter captures of the other phones here, but enough to give it a realistic look.
The second image in the gallery below is of M45 The Pleiades, which initially I thought was captured by its 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. But for some reason it stuck with the 50MP main camera, which I suspect is simply due to the low light conditions. Given how effective OnePlus leverages pixel binning here, I think it still pulls off an excellent shot.
Going back to M42 The Great Orion Nebula, the OnePlus 12’s main camera again captures an image that’s more underexposed, but it doesn’t have the banding effect that I tend to see with the night modes on other phones.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
There’s a reason why I saved the Pixel 9 Pro XL for last. Out of all the phones I’ve tested, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is my favorite for astrophotography. Not only does it have an excellent 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, but there’s a dedicated astrophotography mode that pushes the exposure to 4 minutes — resulting in a neat timelapse video to complement the image it captures. The first shot of M45 The Pleiades below shows a few rolling clouds overhead, while still showing the movement of M45.
With an unobstructed view of Jupiter, I love how this shot from the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s main camera also manages to expose some of the nearby stars. If you look to the south-east, there’s the Great Orion Nebula — while the seven stars of The Pleiades are visible to the north-east.
In order to better show off its telephoto capabilities with astrophotography, I pointed the Pixel 9 Pro XL towards the Great Orion Nebula and used its 5x optical zoom for a closer look. Needless to say that I’m astounded by what it sees, unlike my own eyes that merely see the famous star cluster as a smudgy blob in the sky. Not only is Orion’s Belt clearly captured in the 5x zoom photo, but I really love how the nebula itself is exposed.
Sony stakes its claim in the ultra-competitive Bluetooth speaker arena Tested at NZ$349.95
Verdict The Sony LinkBuds Speaker is well made, simple to use and nice to listen to, even if it lacks the sonic punch to keep up with the class leaders
Pros
+Cohesive, balanced sound
+Plenty of textural insight
+Solid feature set and outstanding battery life
Cons
-Could sound more punchy and exciting
-Small size means compromises in bass delivery
-Faces extremely tough competition at this level
Sony’s LinkBuds line is made up of, as the name suggests, various pairs of wireless earbuds. Open ring designs, in-ear models, sporty types, there isn’t a set definition for what a LinkBud is exactly, but the single unifying constant has always been that they go into, or sometimes sit just outside of, the human ear.
There is, however, an exception. There’s one member of the LinkBuds family which, despite having the word ‘buds’ in its name, looks like it may have been adopted into the clan, as it isn’t a pair of wireless earbuds but a portable Bluetooth speaker. The Sony LinkBuds Speaker is the apparent anomaly in this expanding family, yet while it distinguishes itself by taking on a completely different form from the rest of its siblings, this is a product that’s clearly aimed at the same crowd that Sony was targeting with its Olivia Rodrigo-backed LinkBuds Fit: hip, trendy youngsters who want great sound on the go.
Sony has already attempted to break the JBL stranglehold at this level with its four-star ULT Field 1, a similarly-priced performer that couldn’t quite topple the might of the JBL Flip 6 or Charge 5. It’s a tough nut to crack, so maybe the Japanese audio titan has found the winning formula – or dare we say ‘missing Link’ – with this latest attempt.
Currently priced at NZ$349.95/ AU$199, the Sony LinkBuds Speaker (SRS-LS1) has jumped straight into the lion’s den. This is the realm occupied by some of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, speakers that are only getting more affordable as their respective prices drop with time.
Build & design
Sony LinkBuds Speaker tech specs
Power 18 Watts
Bluetooth? Yes, 5.2 (SBC and AAC)
Mains-powered or battery-powered Battery-powered
Battery life 25 hours
Features Sony Auto Switch, hands-free calling, IPX4 rating, stereo pairing
Connections USB-C (charging cradle)
Dimensions (hwd) 11 x 8.4 x 9cm
Weight 520g
Finishes x 2 (black, white)
Around the same height as a standard deodorant can, albeit a little fatter, Sony’s compact speaker is built to sit conveniently on your desk, perch on a nearby shelf or be thrown inside an accommodating rucksack as you take it on your travels.
If you’re planning on bringing the LinkBuds Speaker out with you, we have little doubt that its chunky, robust build will keep it intact. AnIPX4 waterproof ratingis a little disappointing when compared with the IP67 ratings of its rugged JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 rivals, but it’ll do the job of keeping your speaker protected against drizzle and the occasional splash of water, but it won’t necessarily protect against dust ingress or full liquid immersion. Maybe not one for pool parties, then.
IP rating aside, we’re otherwise confident that, given our time with the LinkBuds Speaker, its solid, robust build will be enough to handle the bumps and scrapes that inevitably come with being a portable Bluetooth companion. The built-in carry loop, meanwhile, also feels as though it can handle the speaker’s 520g weight without losing integrity where the loop meets the main body.
Not that you’llnecessarilywant to have the LinkBuds Speaker out and about with you all the time. The unit’s tightly woven exterior mesh does seem to harbour dirt if exposed to mud and grime, and we’d certainly recommend getting the Sony in black if you’re planning on using it as a frequent portable – we find that handsome off-white finish is fairly susceptible to stains and marks.
The LinkBuds Speaker keeps things relatively minimalist design-wise, opting for an all-over speaker mesh design with few embellishments or adornments. That said, you’ll find four main control buttons at the top: two plus and minus signs for volume adjustment alongside a play/pause control and a preset button for quickly accessing streaming services such asSpotifyorAmazon Music. At the bottom of the speaker’s rear side sits a small power control and a covered USB-C port, although the LinkBuds Speaker also comes with a supplied wireless charging pad for faster juicing.
Features
A key benefit of Sony’s latest Bluetooth portable is that it’s designed to work with the extended LinkBuds family of products. One of the speaker’s party pieces is its seamless interconnectivity with the extended LinkBuds earbuds line, letting you flit between buds and speaker automatically as your tunes play. Put your compatible LinkBuds into their charging case and the speaker takes over musical playback automatically, but once the buds are out of their shelter and in your ears, the audio switches to the buds and the speaker takes a well-earned break. It’s a neat trick that works smoothly every time we try it with our LinkBuds Fit test pair via Bluetooth.
There’s more to the LinkBuds Speaker than its eagerness to cooperate with its Sony stablemates. A healthy battery life is vital for portable units of this kind, and the small Bluetooth speaker duly furnishes us with 25 hours of playback time, a monster figure that overshadows the 12 hours granted by the JBL Flip 6 and 20 hours provided by the more substantial JBL Charge 5.
You can use the LinkBuds Speaker to handle incoming voice calls, a feature that’s noticeably absent from the rival Flip 6. Sony’s champion does an admirable job, with voices coming through clearly on the part of the recipient while being reproduced ably on the other end thanks to the speaker’s built-in microphone.
(Image credit: Sony)
Sony has clearly made efforts elsewhere to make sure that the LinkBuds Speaker is easy to use and capable of keeping up with its competitors. Stereo pairing allows for two speakers to be hooked up together simultaneously, whereas quick access is genuinely handy for getting music playing from your favourite app at the touch of a button. Wireless connectivity is handled byBluetooth 5.2, though the LinkBuds Speaker only supportsSBC and AAC codecs– there’s none of theLDACcompatibility you’ll find with most of Sony’s wireless earbuds.
Setting which music service you’d like to delve into is done via the newly revamped Sony SoundConnect app, the same platform you’ll use for handling most of the brand’s new wireless speakers and headphones. It’s still not the most intuitive service you’ll find, but access to a customisable five-band equaliser, plus control of features such as quick access (to help you jump straight into your streaming service of choice) and stereo pairing, help the SoundConnect app earn its stripes.
Sony’s wireless wonder uses a two-way speaker system consisting of a 16mm tweeter and a 48x56mm balanced mid/bass driver to produce what its maker describes as “impressive bass and clear vocals with less distortion”. Passive radiators work in unison with the mid/bass for more powerful bass reproduction, whereas Sony’s ‘Sound Diffusion Processor’ aims to ensure that the sound produced is spread out evenly rather than simply fired in a single direction.
While it’s not the most expansive listen, Sony makes good on its promise of omnidirectionality, and you’ll receive a consistent quality and timbre of sound no matter where you stand in relation to the speaker itself. Textural quality abounds, with perhaps the LinkBuds Speaker’s strongest card to play being its impressive levels of midrange detail. When going up against the JBL Flip 6, we discern a noticeably more authentic reproduction of the sombre guitar on The Killers’Christmas In LAthrough the Sony than we do with the JBL.
The LinkBuds Speaker also evidences a talent for vocal reproduction. It’s easy for a speaker of this size to make voices – be they Corey Taylor or Camilla Cabello – sound generic or drab, a trap the Sony does well to avoid. Michael Stipe’s charmingly reedy singing on REM’sNightswimmingis a heartfelt performance through the Sony, while Stephen Fry’s narration of PG Wodehouse’sRight Ho, Jeevesis packed with playful élan.
The Sony’s knack for detail is tempered nicely by a restrained, well-organised character that gives tracks a mature, even-handed flavour. There’s no flabby bass to be found at the bottom or screeching trebles ready to loosen a couple of your fillings, and while a tad more punch and rhythmic drive wouldn’t go amiss, the LinkBuds Speaker treads lightly to avoid spilling sounds into areas they don’t belong. Play Muse’sMadnessthrough the Sony and you’ll notice just how clean and fuss-free the composition is, an impressive feat for a relatively small speaker.
That love of order and refinement does leave the Sony feeling just a tad restrained, however, with most of the sonic sacrifices coming at the lower end. There’s not a great deal of punch from a speaker that prefers to keep things relatively clean and lightweight, and bassheads especially may become frustrated by a lack of lower-end oomph from heavier hip-hop and rock tracks. This is where the five-star Flip 6 and Charge 5 rivals pull ahead, offering the punch and power that the slightly lean Sony lacks. The JBLs certainly go further dynamically – the crashes and bashes amid the pandemonium ofHans Zimmer’sThe Battlearrive with more weight and gusto than they do via the Sony. If you like punch and verve to your tracks, the LinkBuds Speaker may not be to your taste.
Verdict
The Sony LinkBuds Speaker has its charms. It’s a portable, feature-rich and nicely-made Bluetooth speaker which digs out plenty of detail, even if the class leaders grant you a good deal more sonic punch and lower-end clout. Those rivals are perhaps better suited to getting the party started, but the Sony’s refinement and knack for organisation means that it shouldn’t be dismissed as a mere stick in the mud.
The last few iPhone updates have brought a lot of changes with them. Just take a look atiOS 18.2: It introduced a ton of AI-powered features that had never before been available. If you have an older phone, it’s easy to worry that its hardware won’t be up to snuff for the next round of updates. For now, you can breathe easy: If your iPhone can handle iOS 18, then it should also work with iOS 19, according to a new leak.
The news comes from theFrench site iPhoneSoft. Although Apple guarantees five years of support for its devices, some devices get supported for longer periods of time, but this tip suggests that any phone currently capable of downloading and installing iOS 18 will also work with iOS 19, although some features could be limited.
Restricting features to expand update compatibility is nothing new. It’s already a part of the iPhone update cycle; this last update introduced Apple Intelligence features that only the most recent iPhones can use. Even an iPhone 14 is too outdated to handle it.
The leak says that any device from the iPhone XR or newer will be compatible. This includes the iPhone XS, XS Max, and the 2020 iPhone SE. It also includes the iPhone 11 and forward. However, some iPads will be left behind with the launch of iPadOS 19.
The iPad Mini 5th gen, iPad 8th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, and iPad Pro 2018 or later will all be compatible with the next update. Any devices that predate these will lack the power needed to run iOS 19.
The continued compatibility, even with phones as far back as 2018, suggests that iOS 19 might not be a major shift from what the current version can do. It’s likely that Apple will steer more toward Apple Intelligence features, utilizing the existing platform.
Google drops Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an AI model that thinks on its feet.
What you need to know
Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking lets you see how it tackles tough problems, giving you a peek into its thought process.
Unlike OpenAI’s o1 model, which keeps things hidden, Gemini spells out its reasoning, making it easier to follow and avoid AI mistakes.
This approach helps Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking handle tougher challenges better than the standard version.
The model is free to try on Google’s AI Studio, though it has a 32,767-token limit.
Google has introduced Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, an experimental AI model that lays out how it tackles tough problems in order to let you peek into its thought process and make it easier to see how it works.
Gemini 2.0Flash Thinking blends Flash tech’s speed with the reasoning chops of OpenAI’s o1 model. The difference is thatGeminispells out its thought process, while o1 keeps things behind the curtain. That clear breakdown makes it a win for anyone needing to follow complex reasoning and dodge surprise AI slip-ups.
This unique approach helps it outshine the standardGemini 2.0 Flashon tougher challenges.
Logan Kilpatrick, head of product for AI Studio, calls this model a big first step in Google’s push for smarter AI reasoning. Unlike most AI systems, these reasoning models can self-check their work, reducing common errors. The trade-off is that it takes a bit longer to get answers—sometimes seconds or even minutes.
Google DeepMind’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, showed off on X some capabilities of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking.
Want to see Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking in action? Check out this demo where the model solves a physics problem and explains its reasoning. pic.twitter.com/Nl0hYj7ZFS
The demo featured the AI solving tough physics problems by breaking them into smaller steps, showcasing its knack for methodical problem-solving and delivering solid, reliable results.
In another demo from Kilpatrick, the model shows off its impressive reasoning skills by combining visual and text data to solve a problem. It highlights how well the model can process and blend info from different sources.
While early demos have shown some missteps or missed details, it’s important to remember that this model is still in its early stages. Even so, these first impressions highlight the impressive potential of the DeepMind AI architecture.
The new model is free for everyone to try on Google’s AI Studio platform. That said, it has a 32,767-token limit, so it’s a bit capped compared to other versions. Still, it’s impressive how quickly it handles tricky problems that usually leave regular AI models scratching their heads.
The Find X8 Pro is the closest rival to the X200 Pro, with both phones featuring the same MediaTek Dimensity platform and delivering standout cameras. With the X200 Pro confined to Asian markets, the Find X8 Pro is a viable choice if you need a device with versatile cameras. While Vivo’s phone has the edge at portrait shots and zoom, the Find X8 Pro does a great job on its own. I like Vivo’s color tuning better, and Funtouch OS is better to use than the most recent iteration of ColorOS, so the X200 Pro wins out.
