Android Automotive, Google's operating system for cars, has historically been pretty niche, and only a handful of high-profile cars like the Polestar 2 have used it. Now, though, Android Automotive is going mainstream, and we're starting to see some of the biggest car manufacturers roll out Google's operating system across entire lineups.

 

Today, we're looking at the 2022 GMC Yukon, but really, this is General Motors' Android Automotive system, and you'll see it rolled out across most of GM's lineup in the future. The same basic setup powers the Hummer EV1, and with all of the parts-sharing that goes on at GM, expect to see this system pop up in Chevys, GMCs, Cadillacs, and Buicks. With Ford and Honda jumping into the Android Automotive ecosystem in the near future, Google's car OS will soon be everywhere.

 

Let's get the usual disclaimer out of the way: This article is not about Android Auto, Google's tethered phone app and competitor to Apple's CarPlay. Android Automotive, fully spelled out (it's sometimes branded as "Google Built-In"), means the car is one big Android device. A computer runs the car's infotainment system, and that computer runs Android. Even if you have an iPhone in your pocket, that won't change the OS your car runs (it does support CarPlay, though). For most models, buying General Motors will mean buying an Android Car. You'll see an on-screen message pop up during setup saying, "By using this car, you agree to Google's terms of service."

 

This is one of the first screens the car shows from a fresh reset. If you don't want to agree to Google's terms of service, call an Uber.

 

You don't get much in the way of privacy options. You'd probably never block apps like Google Maps from using your location.

 

The idea here makes some sort of sense. Consumers want their car infotainment system to look and work more like a smartphone does, so why not just load the vehicle with a smartphone OS? Then you can get all the smooth-scrolling, touchscreen-based swipe navigation that people have come to expect from a modern computer. Android Automotive is a Google-blessed OS, and like phone companies, manufacturers like Ford, GM, and Volvo sign deals with Google to license the OS and a slew of Google apps. This car has onboard Google Maps, probably the biggest killer app in the automotive industry. You also get Google Assistant voice commands and the Google Play Store for cars, allowing easy access to apps like Spotify and other media players.

The hardware: Four screens, three operating systems

Reviewing a car computer is a strange proposition because the hardware is always so old. Car development takes around five years, and when the cars finally get to market, the computer hardware isn't that exciting. The hardware for our Android Car system—which is internally called "General Motors Infotainment 3.7," or "gminfo37"—is a 5-year-old Intel Atom A3960 SoC with an Intel HD Graphics 500 GPU, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of flash storage.

 

This is not uniquely a GM problem, and the same CPU exists in the Polestar 2—though that system has only 4GB of RAM—so we'll classify both cars as "first-generation Android Automotive hardware." The age of the hardware is notable, though. Android Automotive doesn't let you sideload apps into a production car, but look up Atom A3960 Geekbench scores, and you'll see that the computer in this $78,000 vehicle is barely faster than a $35 Raspberry Pi 4. The GMC Yukon and Polestar 2 both feature one of the slowest CPUs you can buy today in any form factor.

 

I'm sure the Atom A3960 went through a lengthy certification process to ensure it can survive the heat and vibration of a tough car environment, but it's disappointing to see GMC shipping what are basically budget PC parts from 2016. Even if the five-year hardware delay is unavoidable, the company could have started with mid-range or high-end 2016 Intel hardware rather than cheap Atom parts.

 

Android Automotive goes mainstream: A review of GM’s new infotainment system

The Lenovo Tab Extreme will let you overcome your iPad envy.

The screen floats above the keyboard. You can also spot the dual USB-C ports in this picture.

The back. The keyboard connects to the pogo pins for power and sticks on with magnets.

The screen. Those are some pretty slim bezels. I'm sure that's a good thing for a tablet you need to hold.

Lenovo Tab Extreme takes on the iPad Pro, complete with Magic Keyboard clone

Weather app image courtesy: Apple

Apple shuts down Dark Sky for iOS permanently

The default weather app in iOS relied on Yahoo! Weather as the source for weather related data until iOS 8 was released in 2014, when it switched providers to The Weather Channel. Apple acquired Dark Sky in March 2020, and discontinued the Android and Wear OS apps in August 2020. This also lead to the end of the weather forecasts and maps that were available on Dark Sky's website. The only good news from this was that the weather provider's API continued to be supported, which meant that other apps could use it. That's changing soon, though.

An announcement on the app's website says that the Dark Sky iOS app is no longer available (from December 31st, 2022). The Dark Sky API will reach end of support on March 31, 2023, so any app that relies on it will have to switch to a different weather data provider.

So why did Apple shut down Dark Sky for iOS? The Cupertino company wanted to integrate the app's functionalities in its own app, with the WeatherKit API. It is implemented in the Apple Weather app for iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura.

Apple's Weather app isn't half bad, I use the widget everyday on my MacBook, and occasionally on my iPad. The app's animations are nice, and the temperature readings are fairly accurate. However, the forecast information that it shows can be a bit of a wild hit-and-miss. This really depends on your location. I have seen days when the app predicted a good chance of precipitation, while in reality it would actually be quite sunny, or vice-versa. Of course, you can't blame the app for inaccurate forecasts since it pulls the data from a dedicated weather provider, which is usually a third-party service. You can read about it on Apple's website. That's the problem with Apple Weather, you can't change the provider to a different source. The only option is to ditch the app completely, and use something else.

The reason why Dark Sky was so popular was because of its accuracy, especially in the U.S. It was well known for its down-to-the-minute precipitation forecasts and alerts, so you would get a notification a few minutes before it started to rain.  It's easy to see why users could be upset that Dark Sky has been sunsetted.

If you want an app that is similar to Dark Sky, take a look at Carrot Weather. It has a free ad-supported version for Android and iOS, and also supports Apple Watch complications. Some features are locked behind the premium subscription. Oh, and watch out for the ad banners, they can be weird and funny. It is worth noting that the Android version of Carrot Weather has not been updated in 2 years, but it works fine.

For users who prefer a web app, a developer (via Hacker News) has created a website called Merry Sky, it resembles Dark Sky. It's quite good, and uses the Pirate Weather API as its source.

Did you use Dark Sky? Which app are you switching to?

Apple shuts down the Dark Sky weather app for iOS permanently

At Tom’s Guide, we’re constantly on the lookout for new features that will help us to get the most out of Apple’s iPhone. After all, they are regarded as being some of the best phones around and, as each new version of the iOS is launched, we delve deeper and deeper to see what’s hidden within. We're never usually disappointed either, as it seems every time we look for a new hack or hidden feature, there's one to be found.

As 2022 draws to a close, we've rounded up 11 of our favorite iPhone hacks that we've covered in the last year, which we think will help turn you into an iPhone power user. These hacks range from minor tweaks, to major features and clever workarounds. They'll all help you get the most out of your iPhone, whether you're using it for karaoke or photo editing, whether you've dropped your phone down the toilet or suddenly regret sending that angry text to your boss. 

Here are 11 iPhone hidden features to turn you into a power user.

11 iPhone hidden features to turn you into a power user

Just a quick note before we start: some of the features we're covering below arrived with iOS 16 or later. As such, to use all of the hacks we discuss, you'll want to make sure your iPhone is fully up to date. If you haven't already, check out our guide on how to update an iPhone, where we walk you through getting everything up to date.

1. Use Apple Music Sing for portable karaoke

Arriving as part of the iOS 16.2 update just in time for Christmas and the New Year celebrations, a new feature in the Apple Music app — Apple Music Sing — goes beyond simply displaying a song's lyrics. It allows you to turn down the volume of the vocals so that you can hear yourself singing over the top, giving you an amazing karaoke experience. What's more, it works with tens of millions of songs. All you need to do is pick a song, tap the tune that is playing and select the Lyrics icon in the bottom-left corner. Then tap and hold the Apple Sing icon and adjust the vocal volume. 

Read our full guide on how to use Apple Music Sing karaoke on your iPhone and iPad.

(Image credit: Future)

2. Lift a subject out of a photo using Visual Look Up

There was a time when we could spend ages in Photoshop carefully cutting out the subject of a photograph and removing the background. Not any more. We now have a fabulous new tool in Visual Look Up that lets you select an image — maybe one stored in your camera roll or in Safari or Quick Look — and simply tap and hold on the subject. You will then be able to tap the Share button and either select Share or choose Copy. In either case, only the subject will be shared or copied and it should have been neatly cut away from the background. 

Read our full guide on how to lift a subject out of a photo using iOS 16 Visual Look Up.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Stop spam texts on iPhone

Do you need to pick up a parcel and pay the cost of postage? Have you suddenly won a prize for a competition you didn't enter? Chances are, the answer to both is "no", but those spam texts can be very persistent. While you can block a sender's number, it's more effective to turn on the spam filter for Messages which certainly makes iPhone usage more pleasurable for us. Open Settings and tap Messages, then scroll down to Message Filtering and tap the Filter Unknown Senders toggle to on.

Now you can open Messages and select Known Senders. Problem solved. 

Read our full guide on how to stop spam texts on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

4. Identify any plant with your iPhone camera

Whether you're trying to identify a beautiful perennial this winter, or a colorful annual once the weather warms again, you can thanks to Visual Look Up (the same set of tools that lets you lift images from the background). With Visual Look Up's identification feature, you can identify the species of flowers and plants without spending ages trying to describe them using the Google search engine. All you need to do is open the Camera app, take a photo of a plant and then view the image in the Photos app. When you swipe up from the bottom of the image, you can tap Look Up and check the results for a match. 

Read our full guide on how to identify any plant on iPhone. You can also use the feature to identify any dog breed on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

5. Delete multiple contacts to save time

As many of you will have found, it hasn't historically been easy to delete multiple contacts on iPhone, but the introduction of iOS 16 has made life a bit simpler. So long as your contacts are in a batch (in other words, they're next to each other in a list), you can open the Contacts app (or launch the Phone app and tap Contacts). Then use two fingers to tap one contact and drag up or down to highlight any adjacent ones you wish to remove. When you let go, you can long press this block and tap Delete Contacts. Sure it's not the most elegant solution but it was a hack that came in handy for us. 

Read our full guide on how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

6. Clear your iPhone's RAM to speed it up

Don't forget that your iPhone is a pocket computer and, as such, you will need to do a little admin work on the device every now and then to ensure it remains in tip-top shape. Of course, there is a limit: your iPhone is ageing and, over time, its performance will dip. But if you clear your phone's Random Access Memory (RAM), then you will free up more space for the storage of short term data and that can make everything run a little quicker. The trick is to create a virtual Home button, access a secret power user shutdown menu and hold down on the virtual Home button. 

It's a little complicated, so you'll want to read our full guide on how to clear RAM on iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

7. Eject water from your iPhone's speakers

Dropped your phone down the toilet? Not a problem, right? It's water resistant, after all. Wrong. Water resistance is only designed for short term exposure to water. You can still cause damage to a water resistant phone by not ensuring it is fully dried after a dip. An important thing to do is to vibrate the speakers to ensure any trapped water within those is expelled, as you'd do on an Apple Watch. You can do this with a simple shortcut. Just visit Shortcuts Gallery(opens in new tab) in Safari, select Get Shortcut and tap Add Shortcut. You can now say, “Hey Siri, water eject” and tap Begin Water Ejection. 

Read our full guide on how to eject water from an iPhone using a Siri Shortcut.

(Image credit: Future)

8. Customize how notifications appear

With iOS 16, notifications moved to the bottom of the lock screen and, instead of appearing as a list, they are now stacked on top of one another. You don't have to keep it this way and can change this to your liking. You can revert back to the classical list format if you wish or you can stack your notifications to only see how many you have — the idea being you need to tap to see what they are. To do this, launch the Settings app and tap Notifications then select one of the modes to use from the section at the top of the screen. 

Read our full guide on how to change the way iPhone notifications are displayed in iOS 16.

(Image credit: Future)

9. Unsend a text message you regret

We've all done it, haven't we? Sent a text to someone and then instantly regretted it. Is your boss really going to find out what you think? Argh! With iOS 16, you don't need to worry, because there's now an “unsend” option that remains active for two minutes. Once you've sent a text, tap and hold the message then select Undo Send. So ok, the recipient will be told that you've removed the text and they may wonder why, but this is a feature that could just save you a heap of embarrassment (or your job!). 

Read our full guide on how to unsend a text message in iOS 16 Messages.

(Image credit: Future)

10. Undo edits like a pro in iOS Photos

Before iOS 16, undoing a single edit wasn't possible. You would need to manually undo a change, tap Cancel to discard changes made since the last save or go nuclear and select Revert to remove every change you'd make so that you could start over.

But now, when you tap Edit on a photo and make a change, you only need to tap the back arrow to undo the change. You can also, if you wish, tap the forward arrow to redo the change. Ultimately, though, you're going to be saving a heap of time and a lot of frustration. 

Read our full guide on how to quickly undo edits in iOS Photos.

(Image credit: Future)

11. Copy and paste edits like a pro in iOS Photos

Photographers have also been raving over another iOS 16 addition: the ability to copy and paste image edits in Photos. You're able to make an adjustment to one image and then apply it to an entire batch if you wish. Once you have found an image you want to work with, tap Edit. Make your adjustments and after you tap Done, select the three-dots icon and tap Copy Edits. When you are making changes to another image, tap the three-dots icon again and tap Paste Edits. This is a feature found on professional editing software to speed up production workflows, so it's definitely worth getting to grips with this one and seeing how it works if you're a keen iPhone photographer.

Read our full guide on how to copy and paste edits in iOS Photos.

(Image credit: Future)

And there you have it. You can now do even more with your iPhone than you may have imagined. But the fun doesn't stop there. Keeping coming back to Tom's Guide and you learn much more about your device, such as how to remove the wallpaper from your iPhone 14 Pro's always on display, how to measure someone's height instantly, how to turn off background app refresh and save battery, and how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone.

Source

For all Android users, Google has added a new Highlights tab to its contact management service - Google Contacts. With this change, the Contacts app has become a three-tab app that includes the Contacts tab, the Highlights tab, and Fix & Manage tab. Moreover, these three tabs make up the items of the main list view.

Located at the bottom of the Contacts app screen, the Highlights tab accommodates comfortably between the Contacts tab and the Fix & manage tab. Upon switching to it, you’ll also find a dedicated section for Favorites and Recent.

As the name suggests, Favorites lets you mark some of the frequently used contacts as important by looking for them using the search bar and then adding them to favorites from the top-right corner.

On the other hand, Recent includes contacts that can be put into two separate tab lists, namely Viewed recently and Added recently. Both give access to your most recent contacts so that you can find them quickly rather than having to scroll through the entire list of contacts.

Also, if you are not aware, you can use the Google Contacts app to back up your contacts and sync them across all your devices. This helps you keep your contacts organized and up to date.

Source: 9to5Google.

Google Contacts adds a new Highlights tab for Android users

According to the famed leaker Ice universe, Samsung is planning to hold its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1. Previous reports already suggested that the alleged Galaxy S23 series will debut at the Unpacked event instead of CES 2023. There is not enough clarity over whether Unpacked 2023 will be an in-person event given that the COVID-19 situation is not that intense, except, of course, in China.

Galaxy S22, the predecessor of S23, was also launched in February at an Unpacked event this year. Usually, Samsung makes its major hardware announcements at Unpacked events, so it will not be surprising to see the S23 series debuting at Galaxy Unpacked 2023. However, it will be interesting to see what else Samsung announces alongside the S23 at the event.

As for the Galaxy S23 series rumors, it is likely to include Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra. All of them are expected to pack the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and ditch the Exynos chipset entirely. Rumor also has it that the 'Ultra' model will have a 200MP primary rear camera, which can help users take sharper photos than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Accompanying it will be a 12MP ultrawide and dual 10MP telephoto shooters. The S23 will likely have 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage.

Are you planning to replace your existing flagship phone with a new one? If yes, are you considering switching to the upcoming Galaxy S23? Let us know in the comments.

Here is when Samsung will launch the Galaxy S23 series

There's potentially some good news about the Samsung Galaxy S23 models Samsung is planning to release next year, though you might not have noticed amid the clamor about a potential release date delay for the new flagships. But could it also mean there's a chance you could be paying less than expected for at least one of the new models?

Price drops on phones are always welcome developments. But at a time when costs on seemingly everything are on the rise, a lower-cost Galaxy flagship would be a particularly promising bit of news.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. First, let's digest the rumor, which comes from a tweet by a leaker called The Galox(opens in new tab) who's proven to be reasonably accurate with past claims. In the tweet, the leaker claims a delay in the Galaxy S23 rollout, as Samsung executives have yet to settle on pricing for the upcoming phones.

"Deciding on a price for the devices is delaying this release," The Galox writes. "If it was up to me, $799, $899 & $1199 would be the prices."

Now that's hardly a definitive claim about price cuts, I'll grant you. If anything, Samsung's internal debate could be about whether it needs to raise prices because of rising component costs. We won't know for certain until that rumored February release — or perhaps earlier if a more concrete rumor surfaces between now and then.

But the speculation about a potential drop in pricing got me thinking — it really would make sense for Samsung to drop the Galaxy S23 Plus' price if the phone maker can swing it.

Why a Galaxy S23 Plus price drop makes sense

Consider the landscape for the best Android phones. Samsung dominates the market quite comfortably, both with its midrange models and flagship handsets. One way in which rival phone makers have tried to compete is on price, offering phones that are comparable in features to the Galaxy S series while costing less — a lot less in some cases.

The OnePlus 10 Pro really wowed us when it came out earlier this year, thanks to vastly improved cameras, excellent battery life and an eye-catching design. It also debuted with an $899 starting price, which is $100 less than the Galaxy S22 Plus costs. (The OnePlus 10 Pro's price has since dropped even further, especially with the launch of the OnePlus 11 now slated for February.)

That's not the only phone to come in at $100 less than the Galaxy S22 Plus, though. The Pixel 7 Pro also starts at $899, and you get great cameras — better cameras than the S22 Plus, in fact — along with a Tensor processor that delivers some unique software experiences, thanks to its speedy use of machine learning.

The Pixel 7 Pro (left) matches a lot of features found on more expensive phones like the Galaxy 22 Ultra (right). (Image credit: Future)

It's debatable how much attention Samsung pays to Android phone makers that command a fraction of its market share. But I'm willing to bet that Samsung does pay a lot of attention of Apple, the other big player in the smartphone world, at least when it comes to the U.S.

Price tags are features, too

Like Samsung, Apple has a $999 phone — the iPhone 14 Pro. And that phone saw some big changes from its predecessor, including a more robust main camera and a Dynamic Island feature that replaces the iPhone's notch. Shoppers have reportedly responded, with the Pro models of Apple's iPhone 14 family said to generate the most attention and sales. (Apple, of course, does not break out sales by models, so we're forced to rely on reports for that.)

Unlike the iPhone 14 Pro, though, the Galaxy S23 Plus is not expected to be a big departure from its predecessor. Use the latest rumors to make a Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22 comparison, and you'll find both the standard and Plus models aren't do for major revisions. We're expecting a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in those phones, and it's possible the front camera could get a boost to 12MP. Other potential Galaxy S23 changes include satellite connectivity for emergency messaging and an improved fingerprint reader — welcome additions, sure, but hardly the big updates that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is supposed to be getting.

I wonder if those Samsung executives reportedly debating pricing have looked at Apple's $999 iPhone 14 Pro, which delivers many new capabilities, and their own upcoming Galaxy S23 Plus, which brings comparatively fewer changes, and concluded that the S23 Plus suffers from that comparison. If so, maybe The Galox's dream of an $899 Galaxy S23 Plus model isn't so far-fetched at all.

Alleged dummy units for the Galaxy S23 lineup (Image credit: SlashLeaks)

My thinking here is that Samsung would stick with $799 as the starting price for its entry-level Galaxy S23 — it's hard to go much lower on price without bumping into the upper end of the midrange Galaxy A models. But dropping the price of the Galaxy S23 Plus gives Samsung a hook for generating interest in that phone even if the new additions are relatively modest. That would also free up Samsung to charge top dollar for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, since it's likely to deliver more premium features for an audience willing to pay up for that particular model.

Galaxy S23 Plus price: Outlook

I don't claim any special insight into Samsung's thinking here. For all I know, the internal debate among executives is whether they can get away with a price hike. (My guess? Probably not, without alienating some would-be buyers.) All I'm arguing here is that a lower cost Galaxy S23 Plus makes a lot of sense, especially if Samsung wants to upsell shoppers who might otherwise pay less for an entry-level Galaxy.

It should be a while before Galaxy S23 prices come in to focus. But I hope that Samsung remembers that phone prices don't always have to move in an upward direction. In this case, going against the grain could help the Galaxy S23 Plus stand out from the crowd.

Source

If there's one thing that we learned from the launch of the iPhone 14, it's that Apple is creating more space between the regular iPhones and the Pro lineup.

As you'll see in our iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have lots of features the standard iPhones lack. We're talking about everything from the Dynamic Island and always-on display to the new 48MP main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro. 

I'm telling you right now that the iPhone 15 is going to have to be a lot more "Pro" for people to care — and for it to not feel like a consolation prize. Here are 5 upgrades iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus need to stand out. 

USB-C

(Image credit: Ivan Shenets | Shutterstock)

The good news is that Apple is rumored to offer USB-C across the lineup for the iPhone 15 series, as it needs to comply with a EU rule mandating the charging standard by the end of 2024. Apple has already said it is switching to USB-C, even though it has not given the exact timetable. Our money is on the iPhone 15 series in 2023.

There is one wrinkle, though. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra are tipped to offer faster transfer speeds than the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. As long as they all offer speedier charging speeds — an area where Apple has fallen behind Android phones — I'll be happy. 

Faster refresh rate (seriously)

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Yes, I know Apple calls its panel ProMotion on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max, but that doesn't mean iPhone 15 owners should have to live with a slower refreshing panel. I'm sorry, but in 2023, the 60Hz phone display found on the standard iPhone is not going to cut it. 

I'm sorry, but in 2023 a 60Hz phone display is not going to cut it.

The iPhone 15 could find a middle ground and offer a 90Hz display, which would make for smoother scrolling and animations. Heck, the Pixel 7 sports a 90Hz display for just $599, or $200 less than the iPhone 14. Or Apple could offer a 120Hz panel that isn't dynamic, where it can't scale all the way down to 1Hz. But I doubt that would happen. 

Telephoto zoom

(Image credit: @jonjuhan/Twitter)

Before you write off this idea as too Pro, please hear me out. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra are tipped to get an upgrade to a new periscope zoom camera, which could offer an optical zoom in the 5x to 6x range. This would allow the Pro phones to close the gap with the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

So where would that leave the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus? I would very much like Apple to hand down the telephoto zoom on the current iPhone 14 Pros to the iPhone 15 lineup. So you'd get a 3x optical zoom and 15x digital zoom. 

The regular Galaxy S22 packs a telephoto lens for $799 with 3x zoom and 30x digital zoom. So why can't the iPhone 15? Even if this doesn't happen, it's nice that the iPhone 15 is rumored to get the same 48MP main sensor(opens in new tab) as the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. 

Dynamic Island

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Here's one rumor that could very well come true. The regular iPhone 15 is tipped to feature the same Dynamic Island(opens in new tab) as the iPhone 14 Pro series. This replacement for the notch delivers real-time alerts and Live activities on the fly,

which is pretty clever. And Apple has opened up this feature to developers, so you can get things like sports scores on the go.

I'm pretty confident the Dynamic Island will trickle down to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus so Apple can make the most of this feature and more developers get on board with optimizing their apps to take full advantage. 

Longer battery life

After testing all four models of the iPhone 14 for battery life(opens in new tab) , it was clear that the regular iPhone 14 was bringing up the rear. It lasted for a decent-but-not-great 9 hours and 28 minutes. That beat the Galaxy S22 (8:02) and Pixel 7 (7:14), but the iPhone 14 Pro turned in a longer 10:13.

Assuming that the iPhone 15 gets the hand-me-down A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro series, it should be able to last longer on a charge. The iPhone 14 Plus lasted a very good 11:57, but that was still a ways behind the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which endured for 13:39 and made our best phone battery life list. 

Source

New extensions in Firefox for Android

• Firefox Relay
• Tampermonkey
• Read Aloud
• AdNauseum
• ClearURLs

Firefox Relay

Firefox Relay is an email alias service from Mozilla, that lets you mask your real email address when you submit it to a website. When a mail arrives in your Firefox Relay inbox, it sends a notification to your real email. This is very useful if you want to subscribe to newsletters without exposing your actual mail ID. It supports mails up to 10MB in size, including attachments.

Tampermonkey

Script extensions like Tampermonkey are a great way to customize the appearance and functionality of a website, all you need to do is subscribe to a specific list, and let the add-on do the rest. Tampermonkey is not open source, it used to be until version 2.9. I'm not sure why Mozilla had to choose it over Violentmonkey and Greasemonkey, perhaps they choose the add-on that is more popular.

Read Aloud : A Text to Speech Voice Reader

I mentioned Read Aloud as one of the best text to speech extensions for Chrome. Visit a website, access the add-on's UI and listen to the web page instead of reading it. It also supports reading selected text, has a few voice options, and over 40 languages to choose from. It even works offline.

AdNauseam

AdNauseum is a fork of uBlock Origin, with some extra features. In a nutshell, it blocks ads just like the original add-on, but also silently simulates clicks on every ad that it blocked to confuse the trackers. The idea is to prevent user's from being profiled by sites. The concept seems interesting, though I'm not sure how it is better than just blocking ads.

ClearURLs

The ClearURLs add-on that removes tracking elements from links, to help protect your privacy. This is a great way to prevent trackers in search results and affiliate links from following you around the web. If you have uBlockOrigin, you don't need to use the ClearURLs extension, as the former supports removeparam, to remove query parameters from URLS.

You can subscribe to one of the following lists: ClearURLs for uBo, or the Actually Legitimate URL Shortener Tool. Or you may simply enable AdGuard's URL Tracking Protection from uBlock Origin's filter lists page.

All five extensions are now available in the latest version of Firefox for Android Nightly. You can download it from the Google Play Store, GitHub, or Mozilla's servers. More extensions are welcome, but users would appreciate it more if Firefox allowed them to install whatever they want. Of course, you can do that by creating a custom add-on collection in Firefox for Android Nighly and the Beta channels.

Mozilla's announcement says that it will bring other add-ons to Firefox for Android in the future. The developers are currently focusing on implementing Manifest V3 support for the WebExtensions API on desktop, and will begin working on the mobile version of the same in 2023. The blog post also explains that MV3 will offer the ability to split extension into their own processes, which in turn will support better handling of process restarts. This seems to refer to how Android closes apps in the background to optimize the user experience, Manifest V3 may help the browser handle those better.

Source

This is not the first time that Mozilla extended support for more extensions. Back in 2020, Mozilla added five more extensions to the list of supported extensions in Firefox for Android.

Mozilla restricted access to browser extensions in the new Firefox for Android mobile browser that the organization launched in 2020. Even today, less than 20 extensions are available officially for the mobile browser. Beta and Nightly versions of Firefox support custom extensions lists, which users may use to make other extensions available.

Mozilla has not added that option yet to Firefox for Android Stable. You may check out our guides for Firefox Beta for Android and Firefox Nightly for Android that explain how to add custom add-on collections.

For a long time, it looked as if extensions would remain limited in Firefox Stable for Android. Mozilla's recent announcement about the addition of the five extensions hints that this may change in the not-so-distant future.

"Indeed our goal is to design MV3 for mobile in such a manner we’re able to open up the discoverability of mobile extensions beyond the short list available today."

It is a vague statement but it confirms that Mozilla has plans to bring more mobile extensions to Firefox for Android. Whether that includes unlocking most of the extensions available or just a careful selection of compatible extensions remains to be seen.

Work on Manifest V3 adoption in Firefox for Android begins in 2023, and this is a prerequisite for improving extensions support.

Firefox for Android has been downloaded more than 100 million times on Google Play. The browser has a rating of 4.6 currently, which beats Google Chrome (4.1) but not Microsoft Edge (4.7).

Source

PineTab 2 is another try at a Linux-based tablet, without the 2020 supply crunch

If you want another reminder of the big iPhone vs. Android differences, consider how differently operating system updates are treated by the platforms' users. iOS updates garner a lot of attention — something I'd like to see happen on the Android side of things.

Hype for Android tends to die down following the big annual update, unless Google announces major changes, such as with Android 12L a year ago. Normally, however, we tend to forget about updates until the quarterly Pixel Feature Drops roll around — and those are exclusive to Google's phones, so they won't make it to the main Android codebase. 

Perhaps Android updates tend to be lower profile because Google doesn't tend to do very much with the minor updates. That's a contrast to Apple, which often introduces several new features in iOS point releases, whether it's to finally deliver on promised additions or roll out entirely new capabilities. For example, this week's iOS 16.2 update brought the new Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, iCloud Advanced Data Protection, new lock screen widgets, and adjustments to the always-on display feature for the iPhone 14 Pro.

I cannot remember a time in recent memory where an Android point release brought as many new features as what we saw from iOS 16.2. The Android 4 Jelly Bean days come to mind, but that was a decade ago. (Feel old yet?) Modern Android relies on monthly security patches and those Feature Drops I mentioned earlier to keep people sated until the next big version comes out.

But as proven by the most recent Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1, Google has started experimenting in between major launches. Normally, new features wait until the Developer Previews come around, though you see most of them in the pre-launch betas following the annual Google I/O conference.

It's hard to say that this latest Android 13 beta is unprecedented because I honestly can't recall every single post-launch beta in the history of the OS. But it stands out to me. The beta added several features such as lock screen customizations, an official desktop mode, and other smaller ones. All of that would normally be saved for Android 14, so I'm pretty excited that we might get these things before late next year. (Google could decide to not ship all of these features in a production release.)

Even if Google managed to get betas up to the standard iOS has set, I don't think people outside of hardcore fans would even bat an eye. Part of that has to do with the scope of the iPhone's popularity in comparison to the Pixel's — the latter is statistically insignificant compared to Apple's mobile portfolio.

It shouldn't be that way because anything in the Android codebase could come to other non-Pixel phones, like the Galaxy S, OnePlus, and Xiaomi devices of the world. That alone should get people interested.

If Google continues with what it's done for QPR2 Beta 1 with future post-launch betas, I think more people owe it to themselves to pay attention. Who knows what will come to your non-Pixel phone eventually.

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As you may know, all web browsers on iPhones and iPads are based on the WebKit engine, including Apple's Safari app. Why? For security reasons, that's what the Cupertino company claims, that its engine and its sandbox restrictions are more secure than others.

This bizarre restriction, imposed by the company, could be revoked. Mark Gurman's article on Bloomberg (paywalled), which was spotted by Macrumors, says that Apple is considering removing the requirement for web browsers on iOS and iPadOS.

This could finally allow Mozilla to use its Gecko engine for Firefox on iOS, and similarly Google's Blink engine for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, etc. Hopefully, Vivaldi will show up to the party too. It remains to be seen whether Apple will allow web browsers to support extensions. Or could it see that as an app downloading scripts and restrict them? If so, Mozilla could bypass this by bundling uBlock Origin with Firefox. Let's not jump to conclusions too quickly, eh?

So, why is this happening?

We can thank the European Union for that. A month ago, the EU passed a law called the Digital Markets Act, that requires gatekeepers (controllers of large online platforms) including Apple, Microsoft, and Google, to allow users to install apps from third-party sources. This will free users from the restrictions of the App Store, you will be able to sideload apps on your iPhone and iPad. It will also provide developers some relief, as they could host their apps elsewhere, without paying a 30% commission fee to Apple.

The law comes in to effect in 2024, and Apple is preparing to allow other app stores on its devices. But what does this have to do with browsers being restricted to WebKit? Browser makers and web developers have found the restriction to be anticompetitive. Even the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) criticized Apple and Google for their browser's duopoly.  WebKit's limitations prevent developers from bringing features that are available on other platforms to iOS. All of this technically falls under the gatekeeping law, so Apple's hand may actually be forced here.

Gurman also mentions that Apple is working on opening more of its APIs to third-party apps. The Silicon Valley giant is yet to come to a decision regarding allowing its Messages app and iMessage to work with third-party services, this is something which the Digital Markets Act has made mandatory. Google took a swipe at Apple for not adopting RCS, it remains to be seen where the iMessage situation is headed to. Interestingly, Apple may also allow third-party apps to access more camera technologies and the NFC chip, the latter is used for Apple Pay and Wallet.

I barely use my iPad, not just because I prefer browsing on my MacBook, but also because of how terrible Safari is compared to other browsers. Firefox with uBlock Origin may be the motivation I need to start using my iPad again. Speaking of which, if you want the content blocker on your iPhone or iPad, you can use Orion web browser, I tested the macOS version. Though it is based on Webkit, it allows you to install Firefox and Chrome extensions.

First the EU passed a law to make the USB-C connector to be the standard one on all phones from 2023 (bye bye Lightning), then they told gatekeepers not to restrict users from side-loading apps, which could now result in freedom for browsers, and choices for users. More of this, please.

Apple may drop the WebKit requirement for web browsers on iOS

Let’s face it: Google Maps is a great mapping service that might be all you’ll ever need depending on where you live or which places you visit. If you’re looking for a similarly full-fledged mapping service on Android, you're basically out of luck, even with an abundance of more specialized services out there. In fact, many third-party developers rely on Google Maps data for their projects. The Linux Foundation and a number of other companies recognize that this Google domination is a problem, and are teaming up to create a collaborative alternative with open source at its core.

The Linux Foundation has announced that the initiative launches as Overture Maps (via TechCrunch). Together with its partners Amazon Web Services (AWS), Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, the foundation wants to “enable current and next-generation map products by creating reliable, easy-to-use, and interoperable open map data as a shared asset that can strengthen mapping services worldwide.”

The project is targeted at developers and companies that want to create their own mapping systems on top of the data provided by the foundation. In the beginning, the service will offer basic layers only, like buildings and roads. It’s supposed to evolve to provide a better resolution and more accuracy, and the Linux Foundation promises that at some point, it will also provide routing data, 3D buildings, and “places” information.

Overture relies on different existing data sources and is supposed to be used as a complementary addition to OpenStreetMap, the community-created alternative to Google Maps.

Spatial information will also be available at some point, which explains how Facebook parent company Meta fits into this initiative. The company could rely on this data to power some of its VR and AR applications.

Notably missing from the collaboration are Apple and Google, which both offer mapping services of their own.

The approach is drastically different from Google, which is a single entity that holds power over its map product and how third-party developers can use it. It’s possible that the open, collaborative approach will prove more viable in the future as regulators watch gatekeepers and monopolies with increasing scrutiny.

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Multiple reports point to Apple releasing an iPhone 15 Ultra in 2023, which would presumably replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple already has an Ultra device in its lineup in the Apple Watch Ultra, which commands a $400 premium over the Apple Watch 8.

The Apple Watch Ultra sports a larger and brighter display, a more durable titanium frame, longer battery life and a dedicated action button among other upgrades. And based on the leaks so far, the iPhone 15 Ultra should have some at least a few exclusive features of its own.

Recently, one leaker tipped what seems like an obscenely high price for the next top-end iPhone, saying that the iPhone 15 Ultra could cost $100 to $200 more more than the previous model. That would put the iPhone 15 Ultra at $1,199 or possibly even $1,299. For those scoring at home, that would be the same price as a MacBook Pro M2. 

But I actually think the iPhone 15 Ultra could be worth the premium if Apple delivers a truly unique and differentiated flagship. Here’s why.

New titanium design

 (Image credit: @jonjuhan/Twitter)

The iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to feature a titanium chassis, at least for the device's side rails. This would be an upgrade over the stainless steel used for the past few generations of Pro iPhones.

The benefit of titanium is that it’s approximately three to four times stronger than stainless steel while also being lighter. However, titanium is known for being more expensive than steel. So Apple will need to demonstrate that the added durability of titanium will be worth it to shoppers, and I’m sure that a titanium device will be put through various drop tests by reviewers. 

We’ve also heard that the iPhone 15 could feature a more curved design, but it’s not clear whether this will apply to iPhone 15 Ultra or the entire lineup. It would certainly be another way for the Ultra to stand out. 

Powerful periscope zoom

(Image credit: 4RMD/YouTube)

This is long overdue, but the iPhone 15 Ultra is tipped to feature a periscope lens capable of 5x or 6x optical zoom. By comparison, the Google Pixel 7 Pro features a 5x optical zoom and the Galaxy S22 Ultra has dual telephoto zoom lenses of 3x and 10x.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max could only go up to 3x optical zoom, so this would be a very welcome upgrade for the iPhone 15 Ultra. We’re also assuming the digital zoom would increase for this model, as the iPhone 14 Pro series currently maxes out at 15x. I would be shocked if Apple didn’t go to at least 30x to better compete against Google (30x) and Samsung (up to 100x). 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max definitely struggled in our camera zoom shootout versus the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra, so a periscope zoom is easily No. 1 on our list of exciting enhancements. 

Dual front cameras

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

This is kind of a weird iPhone 15 Ultra rumor but it could happen. Twitter leaker MajinBu claims the Ultra will offer two front cameras. It's not unheard of for handsets to offer two front cameras, providing wide-angle option for fitting in more people or more background on selfies. A second front lens could also enable improved self-portraits and provide better performance in augmented reality apps.

While this rumor could come true, we have to wonder what it would mean for the design of the Dynamic Island, which has replaced the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is where you can get live alerts and other activities updates on the fly. Would the Dynamic Island grow as a result, and would it just be too big?

Double the storage

It’s kind of a no-brainer that the iPhone 15 Ultra will offer at least 256GB of storage to start. This was one of our complaints about the iPhone 14 Pro series — that 128GB is just not very Pro in this day and age when people are shooting 48MP ProRAW photos with your phones and recording 4K video. And the iPhone 15 Ultra could up this to 8K video, which takes up even more room.

Some of the pricing rumors have tied a higher starting storage with the hike, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also rumored to start with 256GB. 

USB-C with faster transfers

 (Imag credit: Ivan Shene | Shutterstock)

All four iPhone 15 models are tipped to feature USB-C connectivity — especially now that Apple has a 2024 deadline to ditch Lightning for USB-C form the EU. However, only the Pro/Ultra models are expected to offer USB-C ports capable of higher speed data transfers, likely using the USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 standard.

This would make if faster to transfer photos, videos and other files to your MacBook Pro or other PC. And it could enable the iPhone 15 Ultra to be used with an external display or other accessories that support high-speed data connections. We're just not sure whether this perk will be exclusive to the Ultra or not. 

Bottom line

When you add all of the rumored upgrades together, including a tougher and sleeker titanium design, periscope zoom camera and double the storage, the iPhone 15 Ultra could very well sell for $1,199 or even $1,299. And I’m telling you right now that people will be willing to pay that price.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra already costs $1,199, so Apple jumping from $1,099 for the iPhone 14 Pro Ultra up to $1,199 doesn’t seem far fetched at all. It’s the even bigger possible leap to $1,299 that could rub even the most fervent early adopters the wrong way, especially if the economy remains shaky through the fall.

So a pricier iPhone 15 Ultra sounds like a big gamble, but it could ultimately pay off for users — and Apple. 

Source

This week the kings of the Middle Kingdom issued directives to address some of the biggest annoyances associated with smartphones applications: copycat apps and bloatware.

On Monday the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) launched a campaign it said would "rectify chaos" in smartphone apps by cracking down on several behaviors such as publication of "copycat apps" that use logos, pictures or text similar to existing apps to deceive users and potentially collect personal data and app subscription fees.

The CAC also also plans to rectify dodgy ranking practices, and apps that lure people in with sexually suggestive or vulgar home pages. Apps distributed by QR code, rather than through app stores, are also in trouble.

But wait, there's more! CAC will prevent auto downloads or installations without user consent. Apps that misrepresent their function or content are in the firing line as well.

As are apps that tempt users with promises of making money.

Excessive pop-ups, functions that serve as an obstacle to removing apps or forced renewals, and fake free trials are all on their way out.

In the usual style of the CAC, the regulator did not specify how it would accomplish its goals, instead using phrases like "severely punish," "strictly regulate," and "crack down."

Given the Authoritarian nature of the regime, though, these terms should be taken pretty much at face value.

Beijing has also decided to tackle pre-installed undeletable bloatware.

On Wednesday, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in conjunction with the CAC, said it would take action to regulate pre-installed apps on smartphones, requiring them to be "user first" and of "minimum necessity," as to "respect and protect users' right to know and choose."

Which, to be honest, doesn't sound all that Communist.

The rules require manufacturers to ensure that pre-installed software can be deleted – other than the Phone app, an app that drives voice and video recording, a TXT program, contact lists, browsers, and app stores.

"Violations of this notice shall be dealt with in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," states the notice.

Sadly, the regulations probably don't apply to designed-in-China phones distributed outside the Middle Kingdom. But at least behind the Great Firewall, netizens splashing out on new phones will have less bloatware to deal with, and fewer reasons to worry that apps aren't what they seem.

So how bad could Communism be, really?®

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According to a report from Bloomberg (paywall), Apple has decided to comply with the EU legislation by allowing third-party app stores and sideloading apps on iOS. However, app developers may not be able to bypass Apple's controversial 30 percent fees, as Apple still plans to charge a fee even with sideloading in iOS. For users, Apple devices and services will be much more open than they are currently.

Sideloading of apps, however, will not come at the cost of lesser security, as Apple is considering implementing security requirements such as verification. This is the same way Apple ensures safety while still giving users access to apps outside the Mac App Store.

Not only is Apple considering allowing third-party app stores on iOS but also providing deeper access to iOS. This will lead to third-party developers getting access to camera technologies. Apple will reportedly lift some restrictions on NFC too, which will allow Apple Pay alternatives to debut on the iOS App Store. Changes are also expected to come to web browsing engines and other areas of Apple's software to comply with the EU legislation.

Last year, Microsoft also made changes to its Store policies to allow third-party app stores in Windows 11. But its rationale behind that move differs from why Apple is relaxing some of its App Store rules. Also worth mentioning is that Microsoft allows developers to use third-party payment mechanisms without paying Microsoft a fee.

As for Apple, the company has until March 6, 2024, to comply with the EU's rules, but the tech firm hopes to bring a more open App Store before the deadline. The company expects to implement the changes in iOS 17 in 2023. However, these changes are reportedly designed to go into effect in the EU region initially.

via Macrumors

Report: Apple iPhones will finally allow sideloading third-party apps

Google went its own way with the Pixel's chipset last year, introducing the Tensor G1 with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. When those phones launched, a lot of people, including us here at Tom's Guide, criticized the relatively weak performance when compared to other flagships at the time.

Fast forward to 2022 with the Tensor G2 powering the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Google made a lot of strides in terms of performance, but the new chip still lags behind Qualcomm and Apple. 

But I think we as an industry, and as Android enthusiasts, have looked at Google's new venture wrong. It's not about the Geekbench or 3DMark numbers. It's about what the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) — the part Google added to the system-on-chip — can do. Here's what I mean.

Numbers don't always tell the full story

When we look at Tensor's numbers in synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench and 3DMark Wild Life, they aren't all that impressive. Compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, such as what you find in the Galaxy S22, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro lag behind by a few hundred points.

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

But looking at the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, the gap widens. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 scored 1,328 in single-core and 3,831 in multicore. The Pixel 7 Pro managed just 1,060 and 3,046, respectively. And don't get us started on the delta between the latest Google flagship and the iPhone 14 Pro.

No, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are not powerhouses on the level of Apple or any Android phone using the latest Qualcomm silicon. But they aren't meant to be. Google isn't chasing the performance crown.

So what is the point of Tensor? I'm glad you asked.

What is Tensor actually for?

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google has outright said Tensor is meant for AI, and the proof is in the pudding. I've hailed the Pixel 7 Pro as the smartest phone ever. It can do things that seemed impossible on a smartphone just a few years ago — the Pixel 5, as much as I love it, did not inspire much confidence, which made the Pixel 6 such a revelation.

Tensor is designed to show off Google's software prowess.

With features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Call Suite, and the fantastic Assistant upgrades, the Pixel 7 Pro has no equal when it comes to AI and machine learning on a smartphone. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone 14 Pro comes very close, like being able to copy or translate text from basically anything or pulling the subject out of a photo to paste elsewhere. But Google has the edge.

Tensor is designed to show off Google's software prowess. It's the showcase for Assistant's future, the computational photography magic that we see get better each year, and the future of how we interact with a smartphone.

Tensor outlook

Tensor is what makes Pixels unique in an ocean of same-y phones. It's more than just the design. (Though, the camera bar does draw a lot of attention.) Although it is a great device in its own right, the Galaxy S22 Ultra struggles to catch up to the Pixel 7 Pro in pushing the smartphone forward, despite features such as the S Pen.

I get a lot of joy out of using the Pixel 7 Pro, more than any other phone released this year. And no, it's not a perfect phone. The battery life is inexcusable. The display could be brighter. Charging is still slow.

But Tensor is one the most exciting things to happen in this industry in a long while and I can't believe I've been looking at it the wrong way this whole time. I look forward to seeing Tensor G3 and what it can do in 2023.

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What is new in iOS 16.2?

Here are the changes in iOS 16.2:

• Apple Music Sing. Apple Music has received a dedicated karaoke mode, allowing you to sing along with millions of your favorite songs. You can sing with the original artist, solo, or mix it up. Finally, the app now features enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics that let users follow along with the music easier.

• Freeform. iOS 16.2 delivers a new app for creative collaboration on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Customers can draw on a flexible canvas using various tools and add files, images, stickers, and more.

• Encrypted iCloud Backups. The latest iOS version adds end-to-end encryption support to more iCloud data categories (23 total).

• Improved Lock Screen and always-on display. iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max customers can now hide the wallpaper and notifications on the always-on display. There are also new sleep and medications widgets for the Lock Screen (available on all compatible iPhones).

• Game Center Updates. SharePlay now supports Game Center, allowing you to play multiplayer games with others during FaceTime calls. Also, the new Activity Widget is here to let you know what your friends are playing and their latest achievements.

• Apple TV and Live Activities. The Live Activities feature allows you to follow your favorite teams and receive live scores on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max).

• Home. iOS 16.2 delivers communication reliability and efficiency between smart home accessories and Apple devices.

And here are the most notable bug fixes:

• Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text

• Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari

• News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location

• Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note

• AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content

• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
• Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made

What iPhones support iOS 16.2?

iOS 16.2 is available for all iPhones capable of running iOS 16. They include the following models:

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022
• iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max

You can download iOS 16.2 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

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If you were to draw up a list of the best phones to come out in the past year, Google's Pixel phones would rankly very highly. But write down a list of the top-selling phones, and Google's handsets would be hard to find.

It's a dilemma that's faced Google ever since the original Pixel phone debuted in 2016, but the question has only become more pointed as each subsequent handset brought further refinements to the lineup: Google makes great phones with the Pixels — why aren't more people using them?

"Google has invested heavily to build the Pixel brand, but in comparison to Apple and Samsung it still has a mountain to climb," agreed Ben Wood, chief analyst and chief marketing officer at CCS Insight. "The brand has resonated well with technology enthusiasts, but getting broader adoption is challenging."

 (Image credit: Future)

This year's Pixel releases have really highlighted the gap between what Google's phones deliver and how that translates (or fails to) to smartphone sales. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have received extremely favorable reviews, with their cameras gaining the usual enthusiastic praise. For me, though, the phone of the year was the Google Pixel 6a, a midrange offering that delivered one of the best camera phones for the money while also using its Tensor chipset to power experiences unique to Google's phones.

Those particular models are selling better than previous Pixels, but Google's share of the smartphone market is still just a ripple when compared to the likes of Apple and Samsung. Market research firm Canalys puts Google fifth in U.S. phone market share, with just a 1.7% sliver of the market for the the third quarter of 2022.

"Pixel is still a rounding error in the overall market," said Avi Greengart, lead analyst at Techsponential.

Here's a closer look at why the Pixel should be making a bigger splash in the smartphone world than it does now and whether that trend can change for Google in a market dominated by the iPhone and various Galaxy flagships.

What Google got right with the Pixel in 2022

In six years of Pixel releases, Google has built a reputation for equipping its phones with a superior camera experience, with computational photography augmenting and improving upon what the phone's lenses capture.

After upgrading the main camera on its flagship phones to a 50MP shooter with 2021's Pixel 6 releases, Google made only modest changes to the camera setup with the Pixel 7. The front camera on its latest phones saw an upgrade to a 10.8MP sensor with a wider field of view. Even with the minimal hardware improvements, both Pixel 7 models could still go toe-to-toe with any top camera phone — see our iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro camera shootout for a look at just how evenly matched these two devices are when it comes to mobile photography.

 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Hardware is only a small part of the story when it comes to the Pixel's camera prowess. Google's phones also benefit from the company's expertise with computational photography, as we've seen with a number of photo-processing and editing features rolled out to the Pixels. 

We're thinking of the Magic Eraser tool introduced with the Pixel 6 and enhanced for the Pixel 6a to not only remove unwanted objects and people from photos but to also make them less prominent. The Pixel 7's Photo Unblur tool can sharpen up the faces in photos — even ones shot by entirely different phones. And I've been impresed with how the upgraded SuperRes Zoom feature on the Pixel 7 lets me zoom in for clear shots without a lot of artifiacts even though Google's standard phone has no dedicated telephoto lens.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Some of these photographic features benefit from the Google-built Tensor processor that's been powering Pixel phones since the Pixel 6 last year. (As Apple does with the iPhone SE, Google even includes its own silicon in its budget phone, so the Pixel 6a uses the same Tensor chipset introduced in the Pixel 6.) The newer Tensor G2 silicon inside the Pixel 7 models introduces even more unique features, including call management and improved transcription and translation.

As impressive an addition as the Tensor chipset has been to Google's phone lineup, it's not the sort of thing that resonates with a larger audience. "We see little evidence consumers care that much about the chipset in their devices," Wood said. "Design, battery life, camera capabilities and other anchor features typically drive consumer purchasing decisions for smartphones."

Still, Wood added, Tensor gives the Pixel an edge over other Android devices "as it allows [the Pixel] to have much deeper integration between hardware and software."

It's an assessment that Greengart shares. "Your average consumer doesn’t pay too much attention to silicon specifics, but the fact that Google is designing its own processors — and calling out that it dedicates more attention to AI — is a differentiator," he said.

Google's market share — small, but growing

Even that differentiating factor hasn't been enough to elevate the Pixel's profile among smartphone buyers. In terms of global market share, to call the Pixel's sales a drop in the bucket would be to seriously over-estimate the size of drops.

Market-research firm IDC puts the Pixel's share of the global smartphone market at 0.8% for the third quarter of 2022. Focus in on the U.S. market — the biggest source of Pixel sales for Google — and that figure jumps to a still small 5%. That's well behind Apple (47.2%) and Samsung (25%), which account for more than 70% of the smartphones sold in the U.S. by IDC's calculations.

As stark as those numbers may be, they're actually on the rise. The 2.3 million phones Google shipped in the third quarter was the biggest tally ever for that three-month period, IDC said. (And that number doesn't take into account any Pixel 7 sales, since those phones launched in October.) That's 334% growth year over year for Google's global market share.

"[Google has] had challenges, and it remains to some degree, but they're trying to improve upon them," said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC.

What needs to change for future Pixels?

Put another way, the Pixel's struggles to gain much of a foothold in the market come down to brand awareness. Google may be widely recognized for its search engine, Popal pointed out, but phones are another matter altogether.

"Despite rave reviews, Google’s biggest challenge in gaining share, globally and in the US, has been weaker marketing and presence with carriers, areas that are currently dominated by Apple and Samsung," Popal added "Pixel is not yet a household brand like Samsung or Apple."

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google may be trying to change that, analysts say. The Pixel 7 has benefitted from Google's biggest marketing push to date, CCS Insight's Wood said, as the tech giant looks to grow the Pixel's audience beyond the kind of tech enthusiasts who've been responsible for most Pixel device sale.

Wood added that past Pixel releases have been hit by supply constraints, particularly outside the US, along with negative publicity around technical issues with past Pixel versions. "The good news is that the Pixel 7 phones appear to have overcome some of these issues, and this will definitely improve Google’s reputation with key sales channels and consumers," Wood said.

"Google has been putting money behind television advertising and its influencer program," Greengart agreed. "But it still needs to do more at retail."

You may remember that the original Pixel was either sold unlocked or exclusively through Verizon. That put Google at a disadvantage relative to other phones, since most U.S. shoppers get their handset directly from a wireless carrier. With subsequent releases Google has added more carrier support — you can now buy the Pixel 7 from any of the three major wireless providers — but Google still finds itself playing catch-up with other phone makers on that front.

Of course, there's a question as to just how much Google wants to catch up with other Android devices. "Competing with your own channels is always a huge risk," Wood said. "It is the same dilemma Microsoft has faced with its Surface products. Like Microsoft, we suspect that Google is keen to 'show the art of the possible' via Pixel devices in order to provide a reference point for other Android phone makers."

Greengart puts it another way: "Google would love to take share away from Apple, but it does not want to destabilize Android by hurting Samsung, its largest licensee."

What's next for Pixel

If that's the case, expect Google to continue to look for ways to keep the Pixel among the top camera phones, as that's an area where the Pixel can provide a rather compelling alternative to the iPhone. Tensor-powered AI features also give Google a way to stand out from the smartphone crowd, perhaps earning a second look from iPhone owners who remain unimpressed with the Siri assistant.

We won't have to wait long for Google's next move. The Pixel 7a is likely to make an appearance toward the middle of 2023, with the latest midrange model likely to adopt the Tensor G2 chipset introduced in the Pixel 7. Beyond that, next fall should see the release of another round of Pixel flagships, with the likely focus on yet another new Tensor chipset plus more camera improvements.

It may not be enough to vault Google past others in the smartphone market. But it could help the Pixel continue to gain a wider audience.

Source

We don’t expect the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to launch until early 2023, and a new specs leak tells us even more about this eagerly anticipated flagship. Talk of a 200MP camera has us seriously expecting the S23 Ultra to be one of the best camera phones on the market when it launches, especially if the first 200MP photo is anything to go by. 

New information on the S23 Ultra’s specs has emerged from China’s TENAA certification agency via SamMobile(opens in new tab). Similar to this FCC, this regulatory body has published the certification details of the upcoming flagship, some of which we anticipated while some have us scratching our heads. 

Most of the specs match our expectations. The 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED panel found on the S22 Ultra returns but there is no word yet on the expected 2100 nits brightness that would give the S23 Ultra the brightest display ever. We will of course test it once we get hands-on. 

Under the hood, it seems as though Samsung have included three CPU clusters, running at 3.36GHz, 2.8GHz, and 2GHz — this matches the specs of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm that other sources have predicted. A choice of 8GB and 12GB RAM allays one of our fears that 8GB would be the only available option. One element Samsung seems to be generous with is internal memory. TENAA’s figures suggest a 256GB minimum. The Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max start at 128GB. 

The biggest discrepancies between industry rumors and these certification specs come when discussing the four cameras, not the 200MP main sensor but the two telephoto lenses. Previous sources have been certain that these two will be the 10MP sensors featured on the S22 Ultra. This new listing points to two 12MP zoom cameras, but as SamMobile notes the spec listing may say that resolution instead of 10MP because Samsung upscales to 12MP.

This appears to be a downgrade but in reality, is just a quirk of how batteries are listed. We should expect the battery to match the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Last but not least, the listing shows dimensions of 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and a weight of 233g, which is just slightly taller and wider than the S22 Ultra (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm). 

Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra looks to be shaping up as a worthy successor to one of the best phones on the market. See our Samsung Galaxy S23 hub and Galaxy S23 Ultra page for all the latest rumors and leaks. 

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It's still only 2022, but that's not stopping Android manufacturers from launching their big flagship phones that will sell for the majority of next year. After Vivo's launch last month, the new OEM to launch a phone with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC is Xiaomi, simply named Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro. These two models represent big (6.73-inch) and small (6.36-inch) phones with different designs.

The smaller phone is more interesting because—hey look, it's an iPhone! Xiaomi is fond of copying Apple, and with the flat-sided perimeter band and square camera block, it's hard to see the Xiaomi 13 as anything other than an iPhone. It looks much better than the curved-sided Xiaomi 13 Pro, but that's just because the iPhone's flat sides also look good. (I remain shocked that no Android OEM has copied the dynamic island yet.) The bigger "Pro" model is more of a generic Samsung-style design with curved screen edges and a beveled ring around the phone. The one Pro-model design flourish is swapping out the glass back panel for ceramic.

Both phones get the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. This is a 4 nm chip with an ARM Cortex X3, two Cortex A715 CPUs, two Cortex A710 CPUs, and three Cortex A510 CPUs. Like we talked about during the chip's launch, this mix of four different core designs is a weird, non-standard layout designed to extend 32-bit support for another year. ARM wants to kill 32-bit, but Qualcomm and Android aren't ready yet.

As for the other specs, the Pro has a 6.73-inch, 120 Hz, 3200×1440 OLED display, while the smaller model has a 6.36-inch, 120 Hz, 2400×1080 OLED. Both come with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. The Pro model has a 4820 mAh battery and 120 W wired charging, while the base model has a 4500 mAh battery and 67 W charging. Both have 50 W wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6E (not the optional Wi-Fi 7 support on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, sadly), and IP68 dust and water resistance.

The camera block on both models is basically the same footprint as an iPhone but in a cleaner grid layout, with one big lens covering all three cameras. There is a small dividing line between each lens, which will hopefully stop the glare you can get from one big continuous piece of glass. The Pro model gets a 50 MP, 1-inch Sony IMX989 as the main sensor, along with a 50 MP wide-angle and a 50 MP telephoto. The non-pro model has a much smaller 1/1.49-inch sensor for the main camera, along with a 10 MP telephoto and 12 MP ultrawide.

These phones will never hit the US market, but they usually get some kind of European release. For now, they are in China starting at 3,999 yuan (~$573) for the base Xiaomi 13 and 4,999 yuan (~$717) for the Pro model.

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What is new in the December 2022 update for the Surface Duo 2?

Here are the details about the latest firmware update for Microsoft's second-gen dual-screen smartphone:

You can install software and firmware updates for the Surface Duo 2 by heading to Settings > System Update. You can also try swapping Android 12L with Windows 11 thanks to the recently updated drivers, but the project is still in its infancy and far from being ready for daily use.

If you own the original Surface Duo, check out what is new in the December 2022 update in our separate article.

Microsoft fixes the bug breaking calling on Surface Duo 2

iOS 16.2 should be the final big update to the iPhone's operating system this year, and it's now expected in the coming week. iOS 16.1 brought some big changes to the iPhone when Apple released that software update. But a new iOS 16 update is already in the works that will bring a new app to the iPhone along with other enhancements.

The arrival of a new Freeform app leads the changes in iOS 16.2, which also includes some other under-the-hood enhancements to other apps and features. Since then we have also got an iOS 16.2 beta 2, which added a Medications widget for the Lock Screen, Apple News integration for the Weather app and a new Dynamic Island update only for iPhone 14 Pro users. Plus, 16.2 should bring the arrival of Apple Music Sing, Apple Music's fun new karaoke mode.

Here's what we know so far about iOS 16.2 in terms of new features for your iPhone.

iOS 16.2: Apple Music Sing

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Music Sing is a new built-in karaoke mode for Apple Music users and is currently slated to arrive later this month. It will likely come with the iOS 16.2 update. While you won't get this karaoke mode for every song in Apple's 100 million-plus song library, it promises to be a lot of fun on eligible tracks.

iOS 16.2 Advanced Data Protection

(Image credit: Apple)

Advanced Data Protection has already started rolling out through the Apple Beta Software Program, but it's now expected to come with iOS 16.2 or early next year. This security feature brings end-to-end encryption to Apple's iCloud storage service, which is a massive win for iPhone users. While it won't encrypt Mail, Contacts or Calendar data, this is an extra level of data security for a lot of your most sensitive information.

iOS 16.2: Always-on display improvements

 (Image credit: MacRumors)

iOS 16 added the Always-on display to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, bringing it in line with its Android competitors. This allowed users to view the time, sports scores, Calendar notifications and more, all without needing to unlock their phones. Now, iOS 16.2 is expected to let you disable the wallpaper and/or notifications(opens in new tab) on the Always-on display. While this may not be a big feature for everyone, it can clear clutter from the Always-on display, giving you just what you need and nothing more.

iOS 16.2 AirDrop

 (Image credit: Future)

AirDrop allows you to share files from your iPhone to another — no cable needed. Now Apple is changing things up by limiting the ability to receive an AirDrop(opens in new tab) from "Everyone" to only work for 10 minutes.

This feature change is not without controversy. Apple initially made the change only in China, allegedly at the request of the Chinese government to limit the communication abilities of protestors. Now it looks like the entire world can only leave themselves open to receiving an AirDrop for 10 minutes at a time unless they want to keep it between contacts.

iOS 16.2: Freeform

Maybe you forgot about Freeform, an app that Apple first previewed during its Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Apple touts Freeform as a brainstorming and collaboration tool, with the app serving as a kind of mobile whiteboard that people can work on together in real-time.

Freeform running on an iPad (Image credit: Apple)

Freeform seems to be primarily geared toward the iPad, taking advantage of that device's larger screen space. Indeed, Freeform also debuts on the iPadOS 16.2 Beta 1 release, which arrived at the same time as the iOS 16.2 update. However, Freeform is designed to work on multiple Apple devices, which is why it's also included in both iOS 16.2 and the new macOS Ventura beta.

Apple's release notes for iOS 16.2 Beta 1(opens in new tab) warn of some known issues with Freeform that require workarounds for deleting boards while offline and adding or removing collaborators when changing share settings. It's a reminder that this is very much a beta release, with a lot of fine-tuning in the works between now and when iOS 16.2 gets a general release.

Our Alex Wawro went hands-on with Freeform(opens in new tab), and he thinks it's a whiteboard app he'll actually use. 

iOS 16.2: Regional Weather app Apple News stories

 (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

If you open the iOS Weather app, and the current conditions are related to an ongoing news story, then an Apple News widget will pop up to allow you to read more about what's going on in the News app.

This feature currently seems limited to certain U.S. locations, but hopefully once this feature leaves beta it'll work anywhere.

iOS 16.2: Dynamic Island upgrade for iPhone 14 Pro

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

iOS 16.2 has a new Dynamic Island upgrade that will now keep the Wi-Fi icon and signal bars in view while playing music on the iPhone 14 Pro. Earlier, if a user was listening to music on the iPhone 14 Pro, Dynamic Island would show the Now Playing track along with the battery icon and either the signal icon or the Wi-Fi. With this update, the island will shrink down in width and all three icons will now be visible when music is played. It will also have a sleek animation that will set it in place. 

iOS 16.2: Expanded ProMotion support

iPhones with 120Hz displays — that's the assorted iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models — get a performance boost. Apple's release notes say that animated layout changes now happen at 120Hz on ProMotion displays.

iOS 16.2: New Home app architecture

Home has received a lot of attention in iOS 16, first with an all-new design that makes it easier to view and control smart home accessories. The iOS 16.1 update brought support for Matter, an interoperability protocol backed by Google, Amazon and Apple that should help different devices work together.

The changes keep coming in iOS 16.2, which is going to usher in a new architecture for the Home app. Apple says the change will bring faster, more reliable performance, though we'll have to see it in action before we can see what that means for everyday use.

iOS 16.2: Live Activities changes

 (Image credit: Apple)

Live Activities also just appeared in iOS 16.1, but there will be some enhancements to the feature in iOS 16.2. As a reminder, Live Activities are alerts that appear on the lock screen (or around the Dynamic Island if you've got an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max) that give you ongoing updates for things like sports scores, delivery statuses and timers.

9to5Mac reports(opens in new tab) that it's seen code that will allow Live Activities to request updates at shorter intervals, which would boost the frequency of updates to the alerts. Apparently, that feature isn't yet live in iOS 16.2 Beta 1, though.

Another report, this one from MacRumors, claims that Live Activities integration with select sporting events(opens in new tab) in the TV app has returned in the iOS 16.2 beta; it had briefly been a part of the iOS 16.1 beta. 

According to MacRumors, you'll be able to tap a Follow button on supported games in the TV app to have score updates displayed on the lock screen or in the Dynamic Island. Supported events include MLB and NBA games as well as Premiere League matches in the U.S. 

iOS 16.2: Accidental Emergency SOS call reporting

If you accidentally trigger your iPhone's Emergency SOS call feature, iOS 16.2 Beta 1 apparently adds a way to report an unintentional call. An iOS 16.2 user took to Twitter(opens in new tab) to say that such a feature appeared when they inadvertently launched an Emergency SOS call on their iPhone.

iOS 16.2: Sleep widget and Medications widgets

 (Image credit: Future)

iOS 16.2 beta 1 added a Sleep Lock Screen widget to iOS, which allows users to view their sleep-tracking data from the Lock Screen. A Sleep Home Screen widget has existed since iOS 15 but with the Lock Screen becoming more integral to iOS, the Sleep widget is getting ported over.

iOS 16.2 beta 2 brings a health widget of its own into the mix. Medications was a widget that had been hinted at previously but was unavailable before this latest beta. Now, iOS 16.2 beta 2 users can track their medication from the Lock Screen. If you take a fair amount of medications, this can be a highly useful feature given the complexities of many medication schedules.

iOS 16.2: Custom Accessibility Mode

(Image credit: 9to5Mac)

In its ongoing efforts to ensure anyone can use an iPhone, Apple's working on a new Custom Accessibility mode that can drastically simplify the iOS layout.

Enabling this mode replaces the default "Springboard" iOS home screen layout with a simpler one made up of a large grid of icons. Unlocking the phone can also be set to require a touch-and-hold input, and no matter where you are in the phone, an obvious Back button is available at the bottom of the screen at all times.

There are also options to enlarge on-screen text, disable volume buttons, and to make changes to individual apps and the iOS Emergency SOS service. 

iOS 16.2: Improved Messages search and other features

 (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Aside from these larger feature updates, there are also potentially some minor changes coming to iOS 16.2. According to MacRumors(opens in new tab) the new version of the mobile operating system will allow you to keyword search for photos in Messages based on the content (i.e. dog, cat, etc.). It will also bring SharePlay support to GameCenter so you can play games with people while you're on a FaceTime call with them.

iOS 16.2: Resolved issues

According to Apple's iOS release notes(opens in new tab), it has fixed a couple of issues with this newest beta. There was an issue typing in Chinese Pinyin that has been resolved, as well as an issue with the TV app not properly working. Finally, SwiftUI, which is an app-building tool from Apple, had some issues with animations that have been resolved in iOS 16.2 beta 2.

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The Samsung Galaxy S23 series has been tipped to get a 25% improvement in 8K video recording, which could see it further increase Samsung’s lead over rival phones such as the iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro. 

Tech tipster Ice Universe(opens in new tab) has claimed that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will come with a 30 frames per second recording mode for its 8K video capture. That equates to a 25% boost over the 8K@24 fps the Galaxy S22 range provides. Comparatively, rival flagship phones tend to top out at 4K and 60 fps.

Well that would be a fair reaction, as to a certain extent being able to record 8K footage on a smartphone is arguably a specs boast more than anything practical. And while the likes of the iPhone 14 Pro Max sticks with 4K video capture, we’ve found that it and its predecessors tend to offer far superior video recording — in terms of colors, clarity and quality — than pretty much every one of the best Android phones.

Samsung Galaxy S23 could lead an 8K video charge

Dig a little deeper and there’s more than meets the eye to this rumor. First off, the iPhone 14 Pro was expected to have an 8K video mode, which would indicate Apple may have some interest in that area. But that never happened.

Comparatively, Samsung has had 8K video recording for several generations of Galaxy S-series phones. That means in the resolution stakes it’s had the edge over Apple phones and arguably offers a more future-proof recording option for a time when 8K TVs become widespread.

Offering a higher resolution video is also handy for some content creators who want as detailed footage as possible and can then downsample to 4K or even 1080p, but have more room to play with things during the edit; higher resolution video basically means more data on tap. One might argue that such creators would use a dedicated camera. But sometimes the best camera you have is the one you have on you at the time, and more often than not that’s a smartphone.

Now if the Galaxy S23 range gets a 30 fps 8K video recording option, it further boosts the flexibility of recording at that resolution. Some YouTubers like MKBHD tout 30 fps as the best frame rate for video; it seemingly offers a smoother experience than 24 fps recording but avoids the potentially ‘soap opera’ effect of recording at 60 fps.

So bolstering 8K video recording could make the Galaxy S23 range the phones of choice for serious content creators. Though, I’d like to see Samsung improve some of its video processing so the end results compete with Apple’s video chops.

And this could also be quite a niche feature for the Galaxy S23 range, aimed at power users. But then again, I suspect it’s power users who would be attracted to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially as it's touted to get a 200-megapixel camera, which should deliver sharper and more detailed photos.

For the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus, 8k@30 fps video recording could be overkill. But it’s always nice to have the option.

Other Galaxy S23 Upgrades

As for other Galaxy S23 upgrades, the rumors have the smaller Galaxy S23 phones tipped to get a design that’s reminiscent of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. While on the specs side, the major upgrade will be a new chip in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is set to get the new chip, and the aforementioned 200MP camera. But don’t expect any radical design changes or huge hardware upgrades on the rest of the cameras; an even brighter display does seem promising though.

We are expecting to see the Galaxy S23 revealed early February, with the phones being released soon after. What will be interesting is to see what Samsung can bring to the table on the software side in order to keep its S-series phones near the top of our best phones list.

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