Reports suggest that Samsung may be using ceramic as the back panel material instead of glass (or a combination of the two). The Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to measure just 5.84mm, making it even thinner than the iPhone 17 Air. Now, reliable tipster IceUniverse on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has reiterated some information about the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge.

As for the weight of the device, the Galaxy S25 Edge is claimed to have a confirmed weight of 162 grams, which partially corroborates a previous report. Earlier it was tipped that the Galaxy S25 Edge will weigh less than the Galaxy S25, but it is now expected to have the same weight. However, while the Galaxy S25 is 7.2mm thick, the Galaxy S25 Edge will have the same weight, but a slimmer profile.

The leakster also confirms that the device will measure 5.84mm, and the price of the device will remain similar to that of the Galaxy S25+. This means that the price could start at $999. So, Galaxy fans will get two options to choose from for the same price point.

Previously, it has been tipped that the Galaxy S25 Edge will pack a 200MP primary and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The bezel on the device could measure 1.32mm with ProScaler support. Sadly, the battery on the device is a disappointment, as rumors suggest that it could be a 3,900 mAh battery. For comparison, the Tecno Spark Slim—the industry's slimmest phone at 5.75mm—packs a 5,200 mAh battery as unveiled during the MWC 2025.

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The iPad 11 is quite a minor spec bump over the previous generation. It is powered by the A16 processor with faster CPU and GPU performance. However, those chips are likely binned as they only have five cores (the A14 in the iPad 10 and the A13 in the iPad 9 have six cores). Despite that, Apple still promises a 30% CPU performance increase over the A14 and a 50% increase over the A13.

Another change over the previous-gen iPad is a little increase in display size. It is now a proper 11-inch tablet, while the iPad 10 has a 10.9-inch display. However, the resolution is the same (so are the physical dimensions of both iPads).

For most users, the iPad 11 is a no-brainer choice, especially if they are buying their first iPad or upgrading from seriously old and unsupported iPads. You get more performance and more storage in the cheapest configuration over the iPad 10. With that in mind, the iPad 10 is also a good pick, but only if you are on a tight budget. You can find the iPad 10 for as little as $279, and in this price bracket, a $70 is a notable difference. The A14 chip is still good for daily iPad usage, so the only reasonable concern here is storage—make sure you are ok with having only 64GB, which might be a bit tough to swallow in 2025.

Also, neither is good for you if you want an iPad with Apple Intelligence (not sure if there are such users, but still). The iPad 11 has the A16 processor, which does not support Apple's AI feature suite. In this regard, you will be much better with a discounted iPad Air M2.

Here are the differences between the iPad 11 (A16, 2025) and the iPad 10 (A14, 2022):

• A slightly bigger display: 11 inches instead of 10.9 inches (still not fully laminated).
• A newer, more powerful processor, albeit with five cores instead of six.
• 128GB in the base model and a new 512GB max configuration.
• 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB.
• Bluetooth 5.3 support.
• Smart HDR 4 for the rear-facing camera
• Cheaper: $349 instead of $449.

And here is a detailed spec-by-spec comparison (changes highlighted in bold):

The new iPad is now available for preorder, with shipments scheduled for March 12, 2025.

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The new MacBook Air now starts at just $999 for the 13-inch model and $1,199 for the 15-inch model. Both sizes are powered by the M4 processor and 16GB of RAM (up to 32GB of unified memory). Besides raw performance improvements (up to two times faster than the M1), the chip offers solid energy efficiency, with Apple promising up to 18 hours on a single charge.

Thanks to a newer processor, the MacBook Air can now power two 6K displays with its built-in display on. Previous-gen MacBook Air laptops could only power two external monitors if the built-in display was closed and turned off.

As for more visible changes, the MacBook Air is now available in a new Sky Blue color. Apple calls it "beautiful, metallic light blue that creates a dynamic gradient when light reflects off of." Other color options include the previous Midnight, Starlight, and Silver (all four variants come with color-matching MagSafe cables).

Another hardware improvement in the new MacBook Air is the updated webcam. It is now a 12MP Center Stage camera that can keep you in the frame as you move around, plus it supports Desk View—a special feature that can simultaneously display you and something on your desk.

Other than that, the new MacBook Air remains the same laptop as before with its four and six speakers, TouchID in the power button, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe 3, a 500 nits Liquid Retina Display, and more.

The new M4-powered MacBook Air is now available for preorder starting at $999 for the base 13-inch configuration with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. The 15-inch variant starts at $1,199, and you can spec these laptops up to 2TB of storage and 32GB of unified memory.

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While Samsung has officially refrained from commenting on the stable One UI 7 release timeline, it was recently reported that a few more beta updates were in the queue before the stable update was released. Finally, Samsung has come forward and officially announced, bringing good news for Galaxy users waiting for the stable One UI 7 update.

In an official newsroom post, Samsung not only confirmed the beta program for older Galaxy models, such as the Galaxy Z Flip6, Fold6, Galaxy S23 series, Tab S10 series, and A55 but also shared that the stable One UI 7 update will start rolling out in April. The first device to pick up the stable One UI 7 update will be the Galaxy S24 series.

Regarding the beta program, the One UI 7 beta program for the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 will start on March 6 in India, Korea, the UK, and the US. The update will follow suit to other older devices.

The beta program will be available for Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 in India, Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. starting from March 6, rolling out to more devices within the month1 including Galaxy S23 series, Tab S10 series and A55. Users can apply to join the beta program via Samsung Members. Official update of One UI 7 will be available within April.

The One UI 7 update brings a lot of new enhancements, and AI features, and is considered one of the biggest One UI updates ever released by Samsung. In related news, a reliable tipster has also shared that Samsung might skip One UI 7 point releases, such as the One UI 7.1 and One UI 7.1.1, and directly release the One UI 8 update.

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Thousands of people lose money or sensitive information via text messages. The Google Messages app on Android now comes with AI-powered Scam Detection, allowing users to easily block and report these messages. Google Messages can now display a real-time warning to the user when it detects conversational text patterns commonly associated with scams in SMS, MMS, and RCS messages. Also, this feature will work only for messages from non-contacts, and all the processing is done on-device.

This new Scam Detection feature in Google Messages is launching in English first in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and will expand to more countries soon. Google also announced the expanded availability of Scam Detection for calls to all English-speaking Pixel 9+ users in the U.S.

The Find My Device app now allows users to share their live location with others. For example, if you are planning a meetup, everyone can share their live location with others, keeping everyone updated on their whereabouts.

Google is bringing more games to Android Auto. Users can now download Farm Heroes Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing to their smartphones and access them in Android Auto.

Google Chrome’s price tracking feature will allow you to check a product’s price history, track price drops, or compare prices across the web. Users can access this feature by tapping the “Price is low” notification in the Chrome address bar. This feature is available in the U.S. with compatible products and websites. Users should also have the “Make Searches and Browsing Better” setting enabled in Chrome.

In addition to the above Android features, Pixel owners will be getting the following features as part of the March Pixel Drop:

• Gemini Live upgrade with improved understanding and multilingual conversation in over 45 languages.
• Multimodal capabilities in Gemini Live for Pixel 6 and newer and Pixel Fold devices. Gemini Live through live video and screen sharing is coming to Gemini Advanced users in the coming weeks.
• Suggestions feature in the Pixel Screenshots app for automatic screen organization.
• Pixel Studio for creating unique images of people in English, Japanese, and German (Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro only).
• AI-powered summaries in the Recorder app for Japanese speakers.
• Satellite SOS expansion to Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and Canada.
• Loss of Pulse Detection on Pixel Watch 3 (U.S. only).
• On-device menstrual tracking on Pixel Watch 3.
• Improved step tracking accuracy on Pixel Watch.
• Auto-bedtime Mode expansion to Pixel Watch 2.
• Dual Screen Preview support for video recording (Pixel Fold).
• Add Me with Dual Screen Preview (Pixel 9 Pro Fold).
• Connected Cameras for streaming to social media platforms from different angles. Available on Pixel 9 phones only, using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect with Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phone cameras and GoPro HERO10 Black or newer cameras. Compatible apps include Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
• Transfer recordings to the current Pixel phone with automatic transcription.
• Gboard's new Voice Toolbar for easy voice-to-type access.
• Customizable Pixel Modes.
• New actions on Pixel Watch for audio content control.

These updates demonstrate Google's commitment to improving user experience and security across Android and Pixel devices.

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One of the biggest improvements in the iPad Air is the graphics performance. Thanks to the M3 chip, the iPad Air gets new features such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Apple says that the iPad Air with M3 chip is four times better at rendering graphics than the M1 model. Additionally, the Neural Engine is also 60% faster, enhancing AI-powered tasks like image editing and smart searches.

Apple Intelligence is also at the core of handling all the AI features. The new iPad Air includes Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools, smarter Siri interactions, ChatGPT integration in Siri, etc.

A new Magic Keyboard has also been launched. The redesigned Magic Keyboard has a larger trackpad, a new function row for quick controls, and a magnetic attachment. The Magic Keyboard starts at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch version.

As far as the pricing of the iPad Air with M3, Apple has kept the same price as last year for both sizes: $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Pre-orders are open now, and the devices will be available starting March 12. The standard iPad is also getting an upgrade with an A16 chip and more storage for the same price.

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The new iPad 11 is visually identical to its predecessor with the A14 chip, which was announced in 2022. What is new is the processor and storage—the iPad 11 now uses the Apple A16 chip and double the storage of the previous-gen iPad. Also, the display is just a tad bigger—it is now 11 inches instead of 10.9 inches (the resolution and refresh rate are unchanged).

Apple says the A16 processor in the iPad 11 is about 30% faster than the A14 in the iPad 10. Those with the iPad 9 powered by the A13 processor can expect a more significant performance upgrade—up to 50% in "overall performance." Also, in a typical Apple fashion, the company boasts massive performance gains over competitors: up to six times faster than "the best selling Android tablet" with the Snapdragon 695 processor.

Interestingly, despite the CPU bump, the new entry-level iPad does not support Apple Intelligence. These features are only available on the new iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

As for storage, Apple's most affordable tablet now has 128GB, double the 64GB of the iPad 10. In addition, Apple doubled the maximum amount of storage, allowing you to spec this 10-inch tablet with up to 512GB.

The iPad 11 starts at $349 for the base configuration with Wi-Fi only and 128GB. The 256GB variant costs $449, and the 512GB variant will set you back $649. Wi-Fi + Cellular options with 5G are also available, but they will add $100 or $150 (upper-spec models) to the final price. You can now preorder the new iPad, and it will be available on March 12, 2025.

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A recently launched budget phone, the Galaxy F06 runs Android 15-based One UI 7.0 out of the box. It is the One UI 7.0 Core version, designed for budget phones. Nonetheless, it is still One UI 7.0—adding insult to injury for those eagerly awaiting the stable One UI 7.0 update.

While the One UI 7.0 update mystery is still gloomy, some promising news has surfaced from reliable tipster IceUniverse. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), IceUniverse said that Samsung may skip the One UI 7.1 and One UI 7.1.1 updates and instead jump directly to One UI 8.0. This means that after the One UI 7.0 stable update, the next version will be the One UI 8.0 update.

Since the source of this information isn't known, we would suggest you take this piece of information with a grain of salt. But if true, this would be a big move from Samsung and can be looked at as a consolation for the delayed One UI 7.0 update rollout.

Samsung has been rolling out One UI x.1 and X.1.1 updates for the past several years. However, this year, the company might directly switch to the next generation of One UI and break a tradition. Given the already delayed rollout of One UI 7.0, skipping minor updates would make much sense, as there seems to be little justification for introducing them at this stage.

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Samsung has announced three new Galaxy A series smartphones, the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G. These devices introduce a suite of AI-powered tools under the banner of "Awesome Intelligence," powered by One UI 7. This includes an upgraded Circle to Search that can identify phone numbers, email addresses, URLs, and music playing nearby with a long press on the navigation bar.

Each model is equipped with a triple-camera system featuring a 50MP main sensor, with the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G also including a 10-bit HDR front lens for enhanced selfie quality. The Galaxy A56 5G further offers a 12MP ultra-wide lens. Additional camera features include Best Face for optimising group shots, Nightography improvements with Low Noise Mode on the selfie camera, as well as Object Eraser and customisable Filters for photo editing.

Furthermore, the Galaxy A56 5G and A36 5G boast a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with brightness levels reaching up to 1200 nits, and both models are powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging and Super Fast Charge 2.0 technology. The Galaxy A56 5G is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset, while the Galaxy A36 5G is equipped with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, both of which feature larger vapor chambers for improved thermal management.

In terms of durability, the Galaxy A26 5G, along with the A36 5G and A56 5G, comes with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and an advanced Corning Glass cover is used to guard against scratches and cracks. The devices will receive up to six generations of Android OS and One UI updates, in addition to six years of security updates.

In addition, security features include Samsung Knox Vault, enhanced theft detection and additional security settings, while Galaxy A56 5G Enterprise Edition offers extended support for business users with seven years of security updates, a three-year warranty, a two-year product lifecycle guarantee, and a one-year licence to the Knox Suite. You may find more details on the official press release here on Samsung's website.

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In an official post, Qualcomm announced that it has partnered with Google to offer OEMs the ability to provide support for up to eight years of OS and security updates. The first devices to benefit from this extended software update support will be Android smartphones powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset running Android 15.

The support will also extend to devices powered by the new Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chipsets launching later this year. The longer software update support window will allow users to get the most out of their investments in smartphones and extend the device's lifespan. Android OEMs will also have the opportunity to offer the latest features to their users throughout those eight years.

Additionally, the program will also include two upgrades to the mobile platform’s Android Common Kernel (ACK). This is important because the Kernel is the core of Android OS, and updating the ACK kernel will ensure OEMs can provide security updates for the entire eight-year period.

Seang Chau, VP and GM of Android Platform said, "Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.’s efforts to extend the lifespan of Android devices are a key step for increasing the longevity of smartphones. Through this collaboration, OEMs can more seamlessly update the software and security on their devices, ensuring a more secure and long-lasting Android experience for our users."

Qualcomm also noted that while it has paved the way for eight years of software update support, it will ultimately be up to Android manufacturers to decide which smartphones will take advantage of the extended update support.

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However, subsequent reports have pointed towards the fact that Apple may go ahead with a book-style foldable after all. Recently, details about the display of the Apple foldable surfaced suggesting that the foldable will feature a 5.49-inch outer screen and a 7.74-inch inner screen.

The latest information about the Apple foldable display is quite interesting, as the company has reportedly managed to eliminate the long-standing issue of display creases on foldable phones. According to Korean news outlet ETNews, Apple will be finalizing its component suppliers by the end of April this year for the foldable iPhone.

This also hints that Apple may be close to entering production of the foldable iPhone, with large-scale production likely beginning in the second half of 2025. The report also indicates that Samsung Display will be supplying the screens for Apple's foldable, corroborating a previous leak.

A source close to the matter stated, "Apple has decided to eliminate the crease at all costs, regardless of price, to differentiate its foldable phone from existing models. I understand that they eliminated the crease with new properties." It was previously reported that Apple wanted some technological uniqueness before entering the foldable market, and this could be exactly what they might have been looking for.

Display crease has been one of the biggest challenges for foldable phones. Despite years in the foldable smartphone market, brands like Samsung, Huawei, OPPO, and others haven't managed to eliminate them. Apple might have just beaten them to it.

Furthermore, the report states that Apple has opted for an inward folding design—essentially a book-style design—with US-based Corning providing UTG (ultra-thin glass) for the display. US-based Amphenol, which supplied hinges for MacBook Pro models, might supply the hinge mechanism for the foldable iPhone. Apple may release its first iPhone foldable in the second half of 2026.

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Now, CAD renders of the alleged Galaxy Z Fold7 have surfaced, and at first glance, the device looks strikingly similar to last year's Galaxy Z Fold6. The renders, courtesy of a collaboration between reliable leaker OnLeaks and Android Headlines, also reveal some interesting information about the device.

Reportedly, the Galaxy Z Fold7 will measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded. Interestingly, when folded, it is tipped to measure just 9.5mm, including the camera bump. And when you take the camera bump out of the equation, it measures around 9mm. While the device may look similar to the Galaxy Z Fold6, based on the leaked measurements, it is about 1.1mm thinner than the Z Fold6, and even 0.4mm thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition.

Despite its slim design, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is still not thin enough to beat the world's thinnest book-style foldable, the recently launched OPPO Find N5, which measures just 4.2mm. The report also adds that the Galaxy Z Fold7 will feature an 8.2-inch inner display, and 6.5-inch outer display, corroborating a previous leak.

Coming to the dimensions of the device, it is tipped to measure 158.4 x 143.1 x 4.5mm, suggesting a wider display than last year. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor could power this year's foldable, but the battery is rumored to stay at 4,400mAh, the same as last year's Galaxy Z Fold6.

The cameras are expected to get an upgrade with a 200MP primary sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto cameras on the back. There is a rumor that Samsung may install a digitizer inside the Galaxy Z Fold7, however, the company is expected to ditch its old technology in favor of AES technology, used in Apple Pencil.

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Early graphics benchmarks of the iPhone 16e have appeared on the web, suggesting that the lower GPU count has affected its performance up to some extent. The device with the identifier "iPhone 17,5" running iOS 18.3.1 achieved a Geekbench Metal score of 24188, first spotted by MySmartPrice. That's a drop of about 13% compared to the Metal scores of iPhone 16 (27669) and iPhone 16 Plus (27772).

However, it may not translate to a noticeable difference in everyday usage, considering the binned A18 chip still has a 6-core GPU. Apple claims the 4-core GPU still has the muscles to handle "stunning graphics performance and unlocks next-level mobile gaming on the go, enabling graphically demanding AAA titles and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting and reflections."

The benchmark results also reveal that the iPhone 16e has 8GB RAM inside, fueling previous estimates about its memory capacity. It is also the minimum requirement to run Apple Intelligence, as senior executive Johny Srouji confirmed last year.

Meanwhile, there is still a question mark around the size of the battery Apple has fitted into the device. Apple has managed to bump the battery life to 26 hours for video playback, four hours more than the iPhone 16 and up to 12 hours longer than previous models, including the iPhone SE 3 and SE 2.

Apple said it will put the iPhone 16e up for pre-orders on February 21 at 5 am PST, and the device will be available from February 28. We will get a better idea of how the lower GPU count affects graphics-hungry workloads and everyday tasks once the device gets into the hands of more users.

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Now, details about the processor on the Galaxy Z Fold7 FE have popped up. According to The Bell, Samsung has begun the mass production of the 3nm Exynos 2500 processor. It is the same processor, which due to low yield, was scrapped last year. This is why, Samsung had to release the Galaxy S25 series globally with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.

However, it appears that Samsung is more confident in the Exynos 2500's supply this time, even though reports suggest that the yield is still less than 50%. Samsung is tipped to use this SoC inside the Galaxy Z Fold7. But the report doesn't confirm whether it will be the flagship Galaxy Z Fold7 or the affordable Galaxy Z Fold7 FE. Industry sources suggest that it would be the Galaxy Z Fold7 FE.

Additionally, it is expected that the Galaxy S25 FE will also be powered by the Exynos 2500 processor, which corroborates a previous leak. Reportedly, with an initial production volume set at 5,000 units per month, Wafer testing could start as early as March, handled by Nepas Arc and Doosan Tesna.

An official familiar with Samsung Electronics' MX division said, "Considering that Samsung Electronics' MX division will unveil a new Galaxy foldable product in July or August, Exynos 2500 production should be completed by April at the latest." Another official claimed that "The initial quantity is 5,000 units per month, but it will decrease to 3,000 to 3,500 units per month in the future."

Furthermore, Samsung Electronics is also working on stabilizing the yield of the Exynos 2600 processor, which will be built on the 2nm process. If all goes well, next year's Galaxy S26 series will be equipped with an Exynos 2600 processor.

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Now, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some inside information, suggesting that the shift by Apple to its in-house modem could happen as early as this year. According to a new post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kuo said that all upcoming iPhone 17 models—including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max—will be equipped with Apple-designed Wi-Fi chips.

Previously, Kuo suggested that at least one model in the iPhone 17 series could feature an in-house modem, and the company is expected to transition to in-house chips over the next three years. However, as per the latest information, after ditching Qualcomm with the iPhone 16e, Apple is all set to part ways with Broadcom's Wi-Fi chips.

Currently, all iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 series feature Broadcom's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. Kuo noted that almost all 2025 iPhone 17 models, "will feature Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chips." The switch to Apple's in-house chips will not only help in cost reduction for Apple but "will enhance connectivity across Apple devices."

While current iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7, they come with limited specifications. However, this year's iPhone 17 could leverage Wi-Fi 7's 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously, enabling faster data transfer, better coverage, and reduced latency

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“It’s important to remember that if your bundled phone contract includes a handset, you’re essentially ‘paying it off’ with your monthly phone bills,” said Ernest Doku, Uswitch mobiles expert, “Once your initial contract ends, you’ve contractually finished paying off the phone. However, this won’t be reflected in your monthly payments, and you’ll continue to pay the same amount as before, if not more. If you already own a phone, switching to a SIM-only contract can save you a significant amount of money in the long run: they typically offer lower monthly rates since you’re not paying for a new phone.”

If you are not sure if you're out of contract yet, Uswitch advises texting ‘INFO’ to 85075 to find out. If you find that you are out of contract, you can hop onto mobile comparison websites, not necessarily Uswitch, to find the best deal that fits your needs. Also, it's worth asking friends and family which provider they are with, as you could both get perks by using a referral link.

Furthermore, Ofcom has made changes over the last several years aimed at making it really easy to switch to another provider and take your phone number with you. It's really as simple as following these three steps:

1. Text 'PAC' to 65075 for free, and you'll get a message back with your PAC code within two hours.
2. Find a deal you want to switch to and give your new network your PAC code.
3. The network will now transfer your number over to your new SIM, job done!

With the United Kingdom potentially on the verge of a recession and unemployment on the rise since last August, saving money where you can is a very prudent action. There are plenty of comparison websites available; just search for a 'mobile comparison website' in your preferred search engine and look for a website that you can trust.

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Apple is getting ready to show its newest device during an event on Wednesday, February 19th. Tim Cook revealed the date in a post on X, saying “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family,” alongside a GIF of the Apple logo.

Apple is widely expected to reveal the latest generation of its iPhone SE, which hasn’t seen a refresh since 2022. Last week, a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the device will likely arrive in the “coming days.” Rumors suggest that it will come with some significant design changes, including a bigger screen, no home screen button, and Face ID instead of Touch ID.

It’s also rumored to feature an A18 chip that will enable Apple Intelligence and may come with the company’s first in-house cellular modem, according to Bloomberg. Leaks suggest that the iPhone SE could have an Action button too, and a single camera on its rear.

Correction, February 13th: A previous version of the article incorrectly stated the iPhone SE is rumored to have Touch ID, but it’s actually expected to have Face ID.

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Now, a fresh leak gives us a peek at the alleged color options of the upcoming Google Pixel 9a. According to Android Headlines, the Pixel 9a will be offered in Peony, Iris, Obsidian, and Porcelain colors. Notably, the device's frame appears to match the color of the phone.

The leaked images showcase the purported Google Pixel 9a from all angles. On the back, the flushed camera module will house dual cameras, tipped to be a 48MP primary and 13MP ultrawide lens. The Google Pixel 9a is expected to be powered by the Tensor G4 chipset and paired with 8GB of RAM.

Here's the Pixel 9a in different colors:

Gallery: Google Pixel 9a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The device is expected to go on sale on March 26. This year, the Pixel 9a might cost $40 extra in the USA compared to the Pixel 8a, with a similar price increase anticipated in the UK and European markets. Reportedly, the 128GB model of the Pixel 9a could cost $499, the same as the Pixel 8a. However, the 256GB model is rumored to cost $599, up from the Pixel 8a's $559.

The Pixel 9a could feature a 6.3-inch Actua AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate plus 2,700 nits and a resolution of 1080x2424 (FHD+). It could be juiced by a 5,100 mAh battery, making it the largest battery in a Pixel phone to date. Google may keep the charging speeds at 23W wired and 7.5W wireless.

The mid-range smartphone market is expected to heat up, as Apple is also rumored to debut its mid-range iPhone SE 4 soon. The iPhone SE 4 is speculated to feature a complete design overhaul, rock a 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera, and use the A18 chipset with support for Apple Intelligence.

Images via Android Headlines

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According to FNNews (via Jukanlosreve on X), Samsung is working on introducing silicon carbon batteries, which would allow the company to fit bigger batteries inside their next-generation smartphones. This could mean that the Samsung Galaxy S26 series could feature a 6,000-7,000 mAh battery. Reportedly, silicon carbon batteries are compact and allow for higher energy storage efficiency.

This wouldn't be the first time a Samsung phone features a 6,000-7,000 mAh capacity battery. The company's M-series and F-series phones, such as the Galaxy M51, are known to feature huge-capacity batteries. However, if Samsung uses silicon carbon batteries, the Galaxy S26 would become its first flagship series to include such a high-capacity battery.

While this technology may be new for Samsung, Chinese OEMs such as Xiaomi, VIVO, and ZTE have already started using silicon carbon batteries in their smartphones. The devices feature batteries between 6,000-7,000 mAh with fast charging speeds of 80W to 100W.

Although Samsung may not introduce 80W or 100W fast charging support on its flagship devices, the next generation phones will likely feature larger batteries exceeding 5,000 mAh. Internal sources show that Samsung Electronics is likely to increase the battery capacity inside their next-generation phones.

A Samsung official also stated, "If silicon anode material is used, the capacity increases, but there is a lifespan issue, so improvement is necessary. It has not been confirmed, but we are studying various improvement measures."

A Chinese IT tipster who goes by the name Ai Bingzhou also reports the Galaxy S26 series would be the first to be equipped with silicon carbon batteries.

Samsung has taken a cautious approach to increasing battery capacity, especially since it produces smartphones on a much larger scale. Ensuring product stability is a key priority, as the company wants to avoid another Galaxy Note7-like situation.

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It was earlier tipped that the Galaxy S25 Edge could be around 6.4mm thin. However, the latest leak now suggests that Samsung's slim phone will be even thinner than Apple's upcoming slim iPhone, the iPhone 17 Air/Slim.

According to reliable leaker OnLeaks (via SmartPrix), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be just 5.84mm thin, making it significantly thinner than the rumored 6.25mm thickness of the iPhone 17 Air/Slim. Reportedly, the iPhone 17 Air/Slim forced Samsung to redesign the Galaxy S25 Edge, leading the company to ditch the previously rumored triple-camera setup. The device is now tipped to feature a 200MP primary and a 50MP ultrawide camera.

Now, another trusted leaker, PandaFlashPro on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has shared what they claim to be "confirmed" specifications for the Galaxy S25 Edge. The alleged specifications are as follows:

• Selfie camera:12MP
• Main camera: 200MP
• Display: 1.32mm display bezel with ProScaler support, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits of peak brightness, Under-Display fingerprint scanner
• Charging: 25W wired charging
• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 3.2 port,
• Other features: 12GB RAM, UFS 4.0 storage, Armor Aluminum frame, Thinner Vapor Chamber than Galaxy S25

Recently, a CQC certification revealed that the phone may feature a 3,900mAh battery. The phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and could be priced below $1,299. It remains to be seen if Samsung will equip the Galaxy S25 Edge with satellite connectivity features as its other Galaxy S25 siblings or not. Since these specs are not official, we would advise you to take the information with a pinch of salt.

Image via Depositphotos.com

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The rumor mill's most reliable sources have been pointing to a refresh for Apple's low-end $429 iPhone SE to land early this year, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the launch could be coming "as early as next week."

The new fourth-generation iPhone SE ought to be the device's first significant makeover since 2020. It's said to be adopting a design similar to the iPhone 14—one of the iPhones with Face ID in a display notch, rather than inside the Dynamic Island—but with the internationally mandated USB-C port that was first added to the iPhone 15.

We don't know much about its internal specs, but like older iPhone SE models it will likely stick to a single-lens rear camera. Some reporting suggests the phone's 6.1-inch display model could shift to OLED to match the rest of the iPhone lineup, dropping the LCD panel technology from older models. It should also support Apple Intelligence, which would most likely mean either an A17 Pro chip (like the iPad mini 6 just got) or an A18 like in the iPhone 16. Both of these include 8GB of RAM, a consistent requirement for Apple Intelligence across the entire iPhone, iPad, and Mac lineup.

Gurman suggests that Apple could raise the $429 starting price of the new iPhone SE to reflect the updated design. He also says that Apple's supplies of the $599 iPhone 14 are running low at Apple's stores—the 14 has already been discontinued in some countries over its lack of USB-C port, and it's possible Apple could be planning to replace both the iPhone 14 and the old SE with the new SE.

Apple's third-generation iPhone SE is nearly three years old, but its design (including its dimensions, screen size, Home button, and Lightning port) hearkens all the way back to 2014's iPhone 6. Put 2017's iPhone 8 and 2022's iPhone SE on a table next to each other, and almost no one could tell the difference. These days, it feels like a thoroughly second-class iPhone experience, and a newer design is overdue.

Other Apple products allegedly due for an early 2025 release include the M4 MacBook Airs and a next-generation Apple TV, which, like the iPhone SE, was also last refreshed in 2022. Gurman has also said that a low-end iPad and a new iPad Air will arrive "during the first half of 2025" and updated Mac Pro and Mac Studio models to arrive sometime this year as well. Apple is also said to be making progress on its own smart display, expanding its smart speaker efforts beyond the aging HomePod and HomePod mini.

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According to the leak, Google may start pre-orders for the Pixel 9a in Europe starting March 19, with the device going on sale from March 26. Notably, the release timeline for the Pixel 9a is similar to what was previously leaked for the US.

Coming to the pricing of the device, it was earlier tipped (via Android Headlines) that Google may increase the price of the Pixel 9a by $40 compared to the Pixel 8a. The 128GB model of the Pixel 9a is speculated to cost $499, while the 256GB model could cost around $599. While the price of the 128GB model is the same as the Pixel 8a, the Pixel 9a might cost $40 more, i.e., $599, for the 256GB model, as the 256GB model of the Pixel 8a was priced at $559.

Now, according to Dealabs, the Pixel 9a could cost €549 for the base 128GB model in Europe, whereas it will cost £499 in the UK—the same price as its predecessor. However, for the 256GB model, both Europe and the UK will get a similar £40/€40 price hike as in the US ($40). So, the 256GB model will cost £599/€649 in the UK and Europe, respectively. While both storage and RAM models will be offered in Obsidian and Iris colors, the base model of the Pixel 9a is tipped to get two new color options—Porcelain and Peony.

As for the specs, the Google Pixel 9a is expected to be powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, feature a 6.3-inch Actua AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate plus 2,700 nits, and a resolution of 1080x2424 (FHD+), a 48MP + 13MP dual camera setup, and a 5,100mAh battery inside. There are also rumors that the Pixel 9a could offer an IP68 rating and a 13MP selfie camera.

Image via Android Headlines

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In the wider tablet market as a whole, Canalys reported that worldwide tablet shipments rose by 9.2% compared to 2023. There were 147.6 million units shipped in 2024. Canalys said growth was seen in all regions except North America.

“As the PC market pivots toward a commercial refresh cycle, there is also a recovery in demand for tablets,” said Himani Mukka, Research Manager at Canalys. “A recent Canalys survey of channel partners found that 52% of those that sell commercial tablets expect their shipments to increase in 2025, with 32% expecting flat performance and just 16% anticipating a decline.”

With the figures in for 2024, we can see how much of the market share the top five tablet vendors managed to capture. In first place with the iPad is Apple, which holds 38.6% of the market share. The second is Samsung, which is 18.8%; the third is Huawei, at 7.3%; Lenovo is fourth at 7.1%; Xiaomi is fifth at 6.2%; and others make up 22% of the market.

All of these players saw annual growth. Xiaomi had the highest at 73.1%, while Others declined by 0.1%, suggesting that the big five are entrenching their positions in the tablet market. Apple saw moderate growth of 5.3%, and Samsung saw 8.2%.

A rumor from December suggested that Apple could be working on a big iPad with a folding display with a potential release in 2028. It'll be interesting to see what Apple's market share will be by then and whether such a device would help the iPad lineup stay popular.

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It's ironic, but we here at WIRED have long been fans of wireless charging. Not having to fumble with cables is nice! Most wireless charging devices these days follow the Qi (pronounced chee) standard, which has taken its time reaching ubiquity. (The user experience has not always been great.) The Wireless Power Consortium, which manages the charging protocol, announced the next-generation version called Qi2 in early 2023, and we're finally starting to see devices supporting it. It promises perfect alignment, with the potential for accessories to bridge the Android and iPhone divide.

Sadly, Qi2 has not rolled out as quickly or widely as we expected this year. As of August 2024, there is only one Qi2-certified Android phone, the HMD Skyline (6/10, WIRED Review), and we were dismayed to find that it did not work with some older Qi chargers. Is Qi2 coming unstuck?

What Is Qi2?

Qi2 is the new open wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), and it brings important upgrades over the original Qi standard. The headline is the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), which is based on Apple’s MagSafe technology. (Apple was involved in developing the Qi2 standard.) This allows Qi2-branded devices to add a ring of magnets to ensure perfect alignment with chargers and allow for faster charging speeds.

There is another standard, the nonmagnetic wireless charging Extended Power Profile (EPP). This has led to some confusion. Per WPC's Paul Golden, EPP refers to a device that complies with the specification, but it is not officially Qi2 and thus cannot use the logo or be referred to as a Qi2 device. Golden told WIRED in an email that such devices “would carry the Qi logo, not Qi2, and packaging and/or marketing materials have a required statement that the device does not contain magnets. Any device labeled Qi2 is MPP and must include magnets.”

Qi2 is also fully backward compatible, so you can charge an older Qi Android phone or MagSafe iPhone on a Qi2 charger. We have tested several, and this seems to hold true. We also expected any old Qi chargers to charge Qi2 devices, albeit at slower speeds, but it turns out that is not true. The HMD Skyline, for example, did not work with several old Qi chargers we tested, and it seems this may be par for the course. We will have to wait for more Qi2 phones to find out, but with heavyweights like Google and Samsung failing to adopt Qi2 in their latest flagships it might be awhile.

Benefits of Qi2

Wireless charging with Qi2 brings several improvements over the original Qi standard.

Greater efficiency: Wireless charging relies on electromagnetic coils. One or more induction coils in the charging base create a magnetic field and transmit energy. A smaller coil in your phone or other device harvests it. The coils must be aligned for energy to flow between them and the magnets in the new Magnetic Power Profile ensure perfect alignment so less power is lost. When coils are misaligned, energy is often lost as heat, which is also not good for battery health.

Faster charging: The Qi standard was originally limited to 5-watt charging speeds, but Qi2 allows certified phones to charge at 15 watts (just like MagSafe). We expect this charging rate to increase as the Wireless Power Consortium works to improve the Qi2 standard, but probably not until 2025. Some manufacturers already offer speedier wireless charging, such as OnePlus and Xiaomi, but you have to use a specific wireless charger to see those gains.

Wider compatibility for accessories: Any Qi2 charger can charge any Qi2 device, so you can buy a single charger capable of juicing up an iPhone or Android phone. For Qi-supporting phones that lack magnets, you will likely soon be able to buy a case with a magnetic ring that works with Qi2 (as you can currently with MagSafe). Sadly, the outlook for old Qi chargers and MagSafe accessories is not as bright, because some of them won't work with Qi2 phones and you likely won't know until you try them.

Other improvements Qi2 brings over Qi include wider device compatibility (from tablets to wearables), adaptive charging so chargers can talk to devices to supply the power they need instead of having a fixed power output, and enhanced safety with better heat management and foreign object detection.

Expect a Delayed Wave of Qi2 Devices

Before a device can bear the Qi2 logo, the Wireless Power Consortium must certify it in its independent labs. The MPP Qi2 specification includes charging rate, magnet strength, and device compatibility. The Qi2 logo promises that the device meets the WPC’s exacting standards. It is likely that, as with the original Qi standard, there will soon be devices available that have not passed through the official Qi2 certification process.

Apple’s iPhone 15 range supports Qi2, and accessory makers like Anker, Belkin, Nomad, and Mophie have all released Qi2 wireless chargers. You can expect a much wider range of Qi2 accessories to land soon, and we expect some more Android manufacturers to jump on board in 2025. Phones typically have a two-year lead time, so that may account for the delay in Qi2 adoption in 2024. The WPC hopes that Qi2 will unify wireless charging and finally provide the universal global standard we have been waiting for, but we are no longer feeling quite so optimistic.

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What exactly is wrong with the batteries in some of Google's Pixel 4a phones still out there? Google has not really said. Now that many Pixel 4a owners are experiencing drastically reduced battery life after an uncommon update for an end-of-life phone, they are facing a strange array of options with no path back to the phone they had.

Google's "Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program," announced in early January, told owners that an automatic update would, for some "Impacted Devices," reduce their battery's runtime and charging performance. "Impacted" customers could choose, within one year's time, between three "appeasement" options: sending in the phone for a battery replacement, getting $50 or the equivalent in their location, or receiving $100 in credit in the Google Store toward a new Pixel phone. No safety or hazard issue was mentioned in the support document.

Ars has reached out to Google about the Pixel 4a battery updates and appeasement options provided and will update this post with any response.

The curious kernel

Google did not explain why only certain devices were affected, but Hector Martin—of Asahi Linux, open source Kinect drivers, and other fame—took apart the update's binary kernel and has some guesses.

Martin points out that the updated Pixel 4a kernel has these interesting characteristics:

• It seems to have been built by a Google engineer "on their personal machine, not the proper buildsystem."
• There is no source provided, as would normally be required of a Linux kernel build, though it may only need to be provided on request under the GNU General Public License.
• The maximum charge voltage of certain battery profiles changes from 4.44 volts to 3.95, which would mean batteries cannot charge to anywhere near their former potential.
• There are two main battery profiles, with distinct "ATL" and "LSN" markers; Martin suggests they relate to Amperex Technology Limited and Lishen, manufacturers of battery cells.
• LSN-tagged batteries assigned the "debug" profile can see capacity reduced from 3,080 milliamp hours (mAh) to 1,539 mAh.

Two hours on a charge or less

One Ars staffer who had a Pixel 4a still in use received the update. They saw their battery life drop from "Still working" to "Two hours on a charge," in their estimation. They had chosen the Google Store credit option before the update arrived and before the battery life drop became apparent. Once chosen, a different appeasement option could not be selected.

Others have noted all but unusable battery life on their phones, as seen on subreddit threads and blog summaries.

Even technically savvy Pixel owners will have a hard time avoiding the update. Google last week removed all of the Pixel 4a's factory images from its website, preventing owners from rolling back their firmware without having to go hunting for an image (or convert to a third-party offering, like LineageOS). With no source and debug code posted for the tweaked kernel, third-party firmware providers cannot easily incorporate the battery fixes.

Some Pixel 4a owners have reported that, even after a battery swap, their devices have the same limited battery capacity. This would affirm Martin's suggestion of a faulty battery cell type and that batteries with those same cells are still being used in replacements. (Martin's post provides serial numbers one can look for on the battery part to indicate the cell manufacturer.)

$30 per year to receive $50

As seen on a wiki page on the Pixel 4a battery program hosted by repair advocate and YouTube creator Louis Rossman, and noted by Pixel 4a owners on Reddit (and the Ars staffer), the $50 credit offered by Google is paid out through vendor Payoneer.

Signing up to be paid through Payoneer requires providing a Social Security number or other identification, birth date, and checking account details to a financial services firm most non-business owners would not recognize. Payoneer notes on its site that it charges a $30 annual account fee for accounts that receive less than $2,000 in 12 months. It is seemingly left up to Pixel 4a owners to close out their Payoneer accounts after receiving their credits.

Choosing the $100 Google Store credit might seem the better option, but there is a caveat there, too. The discount applies only to Pixel phones and only to devices that are not otherwise on sale.

The big question: Why?

As we noted when Google first announced the update, a lot of Pixel 4a batteries are now four to five years old. Some have been kept as secondary (or "junk drawer") phones, and many are already at diminished capacity, especially when at low charge levels and in cold conditions. If every Pixel phone this old received a battery-minded final update, intended to prevent sudden shutdowns (akin to Apple's originally unannounced iPhone slow-down fixes), there wouldn't be quite the amount of outcry and confusion there is now.

But Google has not said why certain Pixel 4a phones are "Impacted Devices" and others are not. It has not clarified what issue is so notable or severe as to push an automatic update to a phone from 2020, such that its battery life is all but decimated. No news or community reports have surfaced yet of Pixel 4a devices causing fires, or even simply failing to function, after four years. It's an automatic update with a strong fix, but for what?

Google's support page only states that the update will "improve the stability of their battery's performance." This is true in the sense that, if you stop using a severely capped Pixel 4a entirely, its battery can provide a stable amount of output (none) into the future.

Google support staff have suggested to more than one 4a owner that yet another future update could force a factory reset and automatic update. That hasn't come to pass, at least in the timelines suggested by support staff. But all of this raises the question as to how this confusing process is better than a traditional recall, if there really is some kind of danger, to device or human, with a certain set of batteries.

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