Google says that the feature will enable spontaneous connections with colleagues that you otherwise would make by casually bumping in the hallway or a break room, back in the pre-pandemic days.

Google Meet calling is a seamless experience of initiating a video or audio call between one or more participants, complementing more structured, scheduled video meetings. Our intention is to bring Meet calling to all the natural endpoints in Workspace where you’d initiate an ad-hoc call including chats, people cards, and spaces, but this will come first to one-to-one chats within the Gmail mobile app.

Once the feature is rolled out, users will be able to call their Workspace colleagues directly from the Gmail app. Doing this will ring their colleague's device, presuming that they already have the Gmail app installed. It might not seem quite the same as a spontaneous hallway conversation, but it is definitely a great way of learning about topics that might not come up in structured meetings.

Google also added a bunch of other updates in Workspace. It introduced "Spaces" which is an expanded version of Rooms. Instead of starting an email chain or scheduling a meeting, teams can come together and collaborate in Spaces to move projects and talk about topics. Google is also streamlining the user interface of Gmail for easy access of inbox, chats, spaces and meetings, all from a single location.

The company also unveiled two new all-in-one video conferencing devices. The One Desk 27 is a 27-inch device that is perfect for small shared spaces while the One Board 65 is a 65-inch 4K device that turns any room or space into a video collaboration hub.

With all these updates, Google is turning Gmail into a complete tool for collaboration, similar to what Microsoft has been doing with Outlook all these years. However, this makes dedicated apps like Google Meet seem obsolete. Whichever might be the case, Google has been putting a lot of work into Gmail in recent years which is great news for both companies and consumers.

Google is adding support for voice calls in the Gmail app

Latest Microsoft Launcher update brings new features and bug fixes

It has Android 11 and an SoC that would be at home in a 2020 flagship smartphone.

The Lenovo P12 Pro, pictured with its keyboard, pen, and kickstand case.

First image of article image gallery. Please visit the source link to see all images.

Android tablets are coming back—honestly—and next out of the gate with a flagship iPad Pro-style tablet (after Xiaomi) is Lenovo. Say hello to the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, a $609.99 high-end Android tablet with an optional pen, kickstand case, and clip-on keyboard.

In the low-competition world of Android tablets, the P12 Pro looks pretty good. A 12.6-inch, 2500x1600 (16:10) OLED display dominates the front of the device, while the frame and back are aluminum. It's rare to see the Snapdragon 870 SoC that powers the device, but the chip represents a small clock increase to the Snapdragon 865 from 2020 flagship smartphones. It's a 7 nm chip with four Cortex A77 cores and four Cortex A55 cores. The starter model comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and an upgraded SKU comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

There's a 10,200 mAh battery, a fingerprint reader integrated into the side power button, a USB-C port with 45 W Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 compatibility, Wi-Fi up to version 6 (802.11ax) with a 2x2 MIMO antenna, and a microSD slot. There are four speakers, but you'll need to use the included USB-C-to-3.5 mm adapter if you want to use normal headphones. For cameras, you get a front 8 MP sensor and a ToF sensor (presumably for face unlock), plus two rear cameras, a 13 MP main camera and a 5 MP wide-angle. The device ships with Android 11.

If you can't tell from the pictures, there are a few accessories for the P12 Pro, none of which we have pricing info for. Four pogo pins on the bottom of the tablet handle power and communication with the clip-on keyboard. This is a full-size keyboard and trackpad combo, and Lenovo is promising "a satisfying 1.3 mm key travel with a compact 19.0 mm key pitch reminiscent of our beloved, bouncier keyboard technologies." That's on par with many of Lenovo's laptop keyboards. The "Lenovo Precision Pen 3" can magnetically attach to the side of the tablet, where it can be wirelessly charged. You can also use the pen buttons as a remote control for the camera or music player. A kickstand folio case is available as well.

With the P12 Pro, Lenovo is also launching "Project Unity," a Windows and Android pairing system that lets you use your Lenovo tablet as a wireless second monitor for your Lenovo Windows PC. If you're wedded to the Lenovo hardware ecosystem, you can do things like sharing documents across devices or using pen input on your Windows PC via the Android tablet.

There are still a lot of pricing questions for the P12 Pro and its accessories. The base model—Wi-Fi only, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage—will be $609.99 in North America and launches in October. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will get a cellular version of the tablet, which is not coming to North America, starting at €899.

Lenovo clones the iPad Pro with the $610 P12 Pro

(To view the article's image gallery, please visit the above link)

The update does not bring any UI changes to the browser, unlike on the desktop where it brings Vertical Tab improvements, but it does bring a number of under the hood changes, such as the removal of 3DES in TLS and policies to bypass ClickOnce and DirectInvoke prompts, and of course a number of security improvements.

Microsoft has recently merged the code base for the desktop and mobile versions, meaning features can flow more easily from the desktop to the mobile client. Previously the Edge for Android browser was stuck on Chromium 77, which is far from ideal for security.

You can download the latest version of Edge for Android from the Google Play store here.

via Techdows

Microsoft updates Edge for Android to Edge 93

You can see the image and copy that accompanied the invitation above. As usual, the invitation doesn't reveal much about what to expect. It does note that the event will be an online video stream and not an in-person gathering.

That said, we know more or less what to expect. Apple has held an event like this during the same week every year for a while now, and the announcements have always focused primarily on two products: the iPhone and the Apple Watch. This year, rumors abound of an updated version of Apple's AirPods wireless earbuds, too.

The new iPhones are expected to come in the same four sizes as last year's models: 5.4 and 6.1 inches for the standard iPhone, and 6.1 and 6.7 inches for the "Pro" models, which have to date included improved camera systems and more expensive materials. Each of the new phones is expected to come with a new, faster A15 processor designed by Apple.

Some leakers have claimed that there will be a smaller notch in the screen than other recent iPhones and that at least some of the new phones will sport 120 Hz displays similar to the iPad Pro and some high-end Android smartphones.

The new Apple Watch isn't expected to have any major new sensors, but it is due for a modest redesign.

While there have been several reliable reports that Apple is also preparing to release new Macs and iPads, the company has in the past often announced those products at another event later in the year, so as not to steal thunder from the iPhone, arguably Apple's most important product.

New iPhones also herald the release of a new version of iOS. Apple teased iOS 15 at its developer conference earlier this year. It's currently in beta, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a Golden Master release candidate hit in close proximity to the event.

As always, we'll be covering the event live next Tuesday.

California streaming: Apple’s next big event is on September 14

WhatsApp is working on a way to make it easier to search by date, meaning you can cut down on extraneous hits and zero in faster on important information.

The company has been working on the feature since November last year, and the development is ongoing.

Here is how it works.

 

 

 

 

When doing a search, users will be able to press the calendar icon, and can then use the date scroller to scroll to hits on a particular date.

The feature is being developed on iOS but will presumable also come to Android in due time.

WhatsApp is working on a Search by Date feature

Most Android smartphones receive security and software updates for about two to three years before users are urged to buy new devices. And while Google and Samsung are trying to release these updates more frequently, there are times when these updates can be quite delayed.

Apple sometimes provides updates more regularly for a slightly more extended period. However, neither provides support for up to five or even seven years.

This move from the EU to extend the support period to five years is meant to help the environment by keeping your phone for a longer period. Research has shown that extending the smartphone lifespan by even one year can save as much carbon emissions as removing two million cars off the road.

If we remove the environmental reason for this request for a moment, we can consider the security implications. Setting a longer period for security and software updates can heavily bolster mobile security. According to StatCounter's August 2021 usage share data, slightly more than 40% of Android users run 9.0 Pie or older on their smartphones. This is a substantial number of people who are now vulnerable to attacks because their phones no longer receive the relevant security patches.

However, the EU and now the German Federal Government's proposals are not being met with a lot of enthusiasm. DigitalEurope, which consists of Apple, Samsung, and Google, is actively arguing against both the EU and German proposals. While Apple usually releases about five years' worth of updates, Google Android devices are generally closer to 2.5 years of updates. Even Samsung only agreed to four years' worth of updates at the beginning of 2021.

DigitalEurope is actively pushing for less strict requirements. Among other things, they want to cap software updates at three years and require that only batteries and screens be sold as parts instead of providing camera modules and other spare parts as well.

The EU's proposal to include support, security, and software updates for five years will take effect in 2023. We will have to monitor the situation to see if it will be five or seven years in the end or if DigitalEurope gets some leniency on these proposed extensions.

Closing words

This new requirement for phone makers to provide at least five years worth of security and software updates can mean that you can keep your phone for much longer. This, in turn, can have significant benefits for mobile security and the environment. It remains to be seen for how long the period will be extended, and I look forward to seeing how this matter unfolds.

Germany is pushing phone makers to offer at least 7 years of updates

The processor is expected to be built on a 4nm process and to feature a much-upgraded GPU.

Now some benchmarks for the processor has shown up on Geekbench.

 

 

 

The benchmark shows the processor features a Cortex-X2 Super Core running at 2.42GHz, three 2.17GHz Cortex-A710 Power cores, and four efficiency 1.79GHz Cortex-A510 cores.

It confirms the GPU is the Andreno 730, which is expected to be a big step up from the Andreno 660 in the Snapdragon 888.

The scores are considerably lower than for the Snapdragon 888, but this likely because the processor is being severely throttled.

The chipset appears to be tested on a Vivo device, but there are rumours that the device will show up in the upcoming Huawei P60.

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 888 processor in December 2020, and will likely announce their new flagship around the same time this year.

via Techradar

Next generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 benchmark shows up on Geekbench

Google Clock users are complaining that the app on their Pixel handsets is unreliable, often failing to register alarms.

Users of the Pixel 3, 4a and 5 report that despite setting alarms, the app appears to be forgetting them, with the alarms not showing as “upcoming” and not going off as scheduled. For some reason, they still show up as “missed” afterwards, however.

The issue is showing up on Reddit and also in reviews of the app. One review notes:

“This was my favorite alarm app for years. The last two weeks I have been late to school and work because it stopped working. I even set an alarm and sat there and watched for it to go off… all that happened was my phone screen turned on. (Yes my volume was up). No notification, nothing. I have no other choice than to delete it and find a new alarm app. I am surprised that Google hasn’t fixed this bug yet. Obviously by the number of bad reviews in the last few days I’m not crazy.”

Google appears to be aware of the issue and is working on a fix.

via PhoneArena, SamMobile

Unreliable Google Clock app is letting users sleep in

Users say Pixel 3s are unable to boot into Android or do anything useful at all.

A growing number of Pixel 3 and 3 XL users say their phones are dying an early death. For months, reports have been piling up on Google's issue tracker, support forums, and Reddit, all saying basically the same thing: one day, the phones suddenly stop working and become completely unresponsive. The phones can't boot into Android and will only show a Qualcomm recovery mode called "Emergency Download (EDL) mode."

The phones that display EDL mode are completely useless bricks. Some Googlers in the support thread are asking for Android-generated bug reports, which collect a ton of diagnostic data about running processes. But users can't submit those reports, because the phones won't boot into Android. The normal tricks used to flash a fresh version of Android onto the devices won't work, as users can't get out of EDL mode and into the normal bootloader, where they can use the standard recommended flashing tools like "fastboot" or Google's slick, new browser-based Android Flash Tool.

EDL mode is rarely used in the Android hacking and recovery scene, but it's meant for recovery, presumably before any of the standard Android boot and recovery chain gets loaded onto the phone. When plugged into a PC, phones in EDL mode will identify as "QUSB_BULK_CID," followed by a serial number. The PC software that communicates with EDL mode is called "QPST," or the "Qualcomm Product Support Tool," and could theoretically attempt to flash a new copy of Android onto the Pixel 3, assuming you could get the full NAND image in the right format. Google admirably provides dozens of Pixel 3 system images for download, but they're meant for the normal Android flashing tools, not QPST.

Getting the right files still probably wouldn't solve anything. We can only speculate about what the problem is, but reports of phones dying over the course of several months and a complete lack of recoverability indicate that the issue is not due to a software update. This sounds a lot like a batch of hardware components with a poor shelf life. It's all very reminiscent of the bootloop problems that plagued LG phones for years, including the Google-branded LG Nexus 5X. In that case, phones would suddenly stop booting thanks to poor solder joints between the board and the CPU.

The Pixel 3 marked the start of Google being a more independent hardware company (instead of partnering with various competing Android OEMs), and most reports peg the Pixel 3 as being manufactured by Foxconn. The Pixel 3 was released at the end of 2018 and continued to sell for about 18 months, so whether you are still under the two-year warranty or not will depend on when you bought your phone. Google recently extended the Pixel 4 XL warranty to three years due to certain hardware issues, such as random reboots and a quickly draining battery. It would be nice to see the company provide the same support for Pixel 3 owners.

Reports of Pixel 3s bricking with “EDL” message are growing

App store owners won't be able to lock developers into their 30 percent fees.

South Korea law forces Google and Apple to open up app store payments

"After the latest update to the Google Search App on Android, the users of certain mobile phones are experiencing difficulty in receiving and making calls," a Google community manager said earlier today.

The company has released an update that should likely fix this known issue on impacted Android devices.

"We are currently looking into the matter and have released a new version of the app which should address the issue," Google added.

While most users' phones will automatically install the Google app update the search giant published on Sunday, those who have disabled automatic updates on their device will have to install it manually from the Google Play Store.

However, given that the Google Android app has over 5 billion installs worldwide, some percentage of users are likely still affected even with automatic updates toggled on.

To ensure that you have the latest version installed on your phone, you need to follow these steps to update it manually: 

1. Search for the 'Google' app on 'Google Play' (or click here).
2. Tap the Update button.

LG devices likely the ones affected by the bug

While Google did not share the Android phone models impacted by this Google app bug, user reports over the weekend have only mentioned LG devices such as LG G7, LG G7 ThinQ, LG V40 ThinQ, and LG Q70.

Users confirmed Google's findings, saying that they could only make calls after reaching out to their carriers' support team and uninstalling or updating the buggy Google app version.

"You need a lot more vigilance on QA for your updates so they the patch/update doesn't disable my phone's ability to make and receive calls," one user said in a review published today. "Like the last one did this patch/update fixed it, BUT it should of NEVER HAPPENED with proper QA."

Even though some have confirmed that Google's latest update has fixed the issue blocking their calls, others had to remove the app altogether to restore their phones' call feature.

"The phone worked fine before the update, no longer worked after the update and works again once I uninstalled the update," a user reported. "The update seems to cause the problem, as stated in my previous review."

A Google spokesperson was not available for comment when BleepingComputer reached out for a list of impacted Android phone models earlier today.

Google App bug blocks Android users from receiving, making calls

According to the company, the sound problems impact a low percentage of iPhone 12 models that were made over six months between October 2020 and April 2021.

"Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro devices may experience sound issues due to a component that might fail on the receiver module," the company said in a new support document.

"Affected devices were manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021. If your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro does not emit sound from the receiver when you make or receive calls, it may be eligible for service."

Customers with iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro exhibiting sound issues can request to have them serviced for free through:

• an Apple Authorized Service Provider,
• an Apple Retail Store,
• or the Apple Repair Center after arranging mail-in service through Apple Support.

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max units not eligible

Before asking to have their phones fixed, customers are advised to back up their iPhone to iCloud or their computer. 

Apple also provides detailed guidance on preparing iPhones before taking them for service to an Apple Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or carrier.

According to Apple, the list of devices eligible for this new service program does not include iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max models.

Additionally, this free-of-charge service program only covers impacted iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro units two years after the first retail sale.

"If your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro has any damage which impairs the ability to complete the repair, such as a cracked screen, that issue will need to be resolved prior to the service," the company added. "In some cases, there may be a cost associated with the additional repair."

Last October, Apple launched another service program to address AirPods Pro sound issues, including crackling or static sounds increasing in loud environments and faulty Active Noise Cancellation.

Apple launches service program for iPhone 12 no sound issues

The iPhone 13 could have satellite connectivity

UWB has been pioneered by Apple and is used for things like its Airtags location tracker and for keyless entry to some cars. It is also present in devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Z Fold 3 and Xiaomi Mi Mix 4.

Now Google themselves leaked that the Google Pixel 6 will support the technology, via a recent code change to the Android 12 AOSP Gerrit which notes:

Since we are now creating an AOSP HAL for uwb. Rename Pixel specific internal UWB HAL from Android S to hal_uwb_vendor to avoid conflicts with the AOSP HAL sepolicy rules that are going to be added in Android T.

The code basically confirms that a Pixel, very likely the Google Pixel 6, has a Hardware Abstraction Layer for UWB, which would only be necessary if Google is expecting to offer the feature.

UWB is still a minor smartphone feature but should become much more useful in a few years.

The Google Pixel 6 series smartphones will feature a new industrial design and an upgraded rear camera system. The improved sensors and lenses of the new camera system are placed in the camera bar.

Also, these devices have new materials and finishes. The Pixel 6 Pro will come with a light polished aluminium frame while the Pixel 6 will have a matte aluminium finish.

As you can expect from Google, the new Pixel 6 devices will be running Android 12 with the new Material You design language.

Google also revealed that Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be powered by the new Tensor SoC, Google’s first custom-built SoC specifically for Pixel phones. You can learn more about it here.

via XDA-Dev

More evidence that Google Pixel 6 will have Ultra Wide Band (UWB) support

The Geekbench report, which can be seen here, shows the Surface Duo 2 scoring a single-core score of 1,091 and a multi-core score of 3,517. For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has scores of 972 and 3052, respectively. Similarly, the OnePlus 9R charts at 940 and 2,970, respectively. While this would indicate decent performance from the Surface Duo 2, it is important to note that Geekbench scores aren't necessarily indicative of real-world performance, and can be quite easily manipulated in a device's favor.

Perhaps the more interesting bits are related to the device's internals. The benchmark indicates that the Surface Duo 2 will boast a Snapdragon 888 chipset and 8GB of RAM. This is sizeable upgrade over the Surface Duo which launched with Snapdragon 855 and 6GB of RAM. At the time of running the benchmark, it was purportedly running Android 11, but of course, this could change by the time that Android 12 hits general availability and the Surface Duo 2 hits the market.

Again, it is important to remember that specifications on Geekbench can be doctored, but Windows Central has confirmed that these are indeed the Surface Duo 2's specifications. Other known specifications of the handset include a triple-camera array containing a standard main camera, a telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide shooter. This is a major upgrade over the disappointing camera present in the first-generation Surface Duo.

Given the internals of the Surface Duo 2, we can expect the device to launch towards the end of the calendar year. That said, pricing will once be a key factor in terms of how the market responds to the handset. We talked in detail about how, at its $1,399 launch price, the Surface Duo was tragically overpriced. Microsoft has been offering massive discounts on the handset quite frequently since its launch.

Surface Duo 2 benchmarks confirm Snapdragon 888 SoC and 8GB of RAM

So far, there are no apparent changes to the Android 12.4 OS. This means the latest release is probably just to fix a few of the bugs. This release is also a very small release at only 6MB, possibly indicating a last bug squashing before the final stable release, which should be coming in mid to late September.

Beta 4.1 fixes a boot loop issue that irritated users, along with a fix that now allows your Android 12 device to connect to a VPN. Other issues addressed with this bug fix include fixing the heads-up functionality, which means that notifications now pop up immediately.

Here is the full list of bug fixes that have been release:

• As mentioned they fixed issues where some devices ended up in a boot loop after restarting.
• Also, they fixed the heads-up notifications not appearing.
• They addressed issues where certain device volume controls sometimes did not work when casting.
• They fixed Face Unlock not working on some devices.
• They addressed the issues that kept users from granting the Nearby Devices permission to the Phone app.
• As brought up briefly, they fixed issues where, after connecting the phone to a VPN, the phone could not connect to the internet.

If you are already part of the Android 12 beta program, you will receive an OTA to install this latest update. However, if you want to test out the latest version of Android 12, you can also manually download the OTA and flash it to your device to install and test it.

Many of us were hoping that the next release would be the ‘Release Candidate’, which would indicate that the stable release is next. However, bug fixes are a critical part of the process and cannot be overlooked.

Closing words

Google has released a minor update for Android 12 beta 4, which aims to correct a few bugs that users were experiencing. While bug fixes are critical to ensuring that a stable release is possible, I look forward to the stable release coming, hopefully, at the end of September.

Android 12.4.1 released to fix some bugs

During the announcement, Samsung revealed that their processing-in-memory (PIM) tech was coming to RAM. This is on top of the technology landing in DRAM modules and the already improved high-bandwidth memory.

In the press release, Samsung mentioned that their LPDDR5-PIM technology will be able to provide independent AI capabilities without relying on data center connectivity. They also reported that during simulation testing the LPDDR5-PIM more than doubled the performance, while reducing energy usage by over 60% when used in voice recognition, translation, and chatbot apps.

At first glance, this sounds great as it will be improving machine learning performance quite significantly. However, there are still a few questions that have not yet been answered by Samsung.

For one, at this stage, it is unclear whether PIM is an actual processor that will be attached to the RAM module. Or is it a suite of algorithms and optimizations? If it is a real chip, will third-party developers and OEMs be able to access it for their own needs? Effectively spreading the smart RAM to other Android or iOS devices.

We are also not yet sure how powerful this technology will be. Would it be able to handle more advanced tasks like image processing and computer vision? Many smartphones already have chipsets that are capable of running advanced machine learning tasks. Most flagships also have AI silicon to further improve these features. This makes us wonder if PIM-enabled RAM with some grunt would enable OEMs for budget phones to go with cheaper silicon and let the smart RAM do most of the work.

Currently, there is no expected release date for Samsung’s smart RAM. However, Samsung is aiming to completely standardize PIM technology in the first half of 2022.

Closing words

Samsung’s smart RAM sounds like a great addition and would help to improve the performance of a wide range of apps. However, I can’t help noticing that there are still a few questions unanswered. I look forward to seeing what light Samsung's next release will shed on these questions.

Your Android phone may be getting ‘smart’ RAM

Facebook is integrating Messenger back into Facebook, but with a twist

Here's more evidence that WhatsApp for iPad is finally close to launch

Google has already discontinued the Pixel 5

Latest iOS 15 beta for developers walks back radical Safari URL bar redesign

 

Google's done it again. For the third year in a row, it has made the best smartphone that does everything most people need. The new Pixel 5A 5G is nearly identical to the $499 Pixel 4A 5G that arrived late in 2020, but at $449, this new handset is now the best deal in Androidland. For well under $500, you get an unrivaled camera system, a large OLED screen, smooth performance, smart software, and nearly two days of battery life between charges. 

 

The pandemic has stymied Google's budget Pixel in many ways. The 5A is only launching in the US and Japan and comes in just one color—Mostly Black—due to supply chain woes. (There are some fun colored cases to make up for it.) This is also partly why Google is reusing the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G that was in the 5A's predecessor, as well as only loading the new phone with 6 gigabytes of RAM. You should not expect a leap in performance. 

 

What's more disheartening is that it only comes in one size. Typically, the affordable A-series Pixels come in standard and XL sizes. First came the Pixel 3A and Pixel 3A XL. Last year's Pixel 4A was one of the smallest Android phones around and was later joined by the larger Pixel 4A 5G. In 2021, there's no luxury of choice. You're stuck with a big 6.3-inch screen. Small-phone lovers, take some solace in this: Google still hopes to sell the compact Pixel 4A as long as it can secure the components to manufacture it. That's great news, as it remains a killer deal at $349. 

 

None of this matters if you just want a good phone that won't drain your wallet. The Pixel 5A is the best phone for most people, and while the competition is stiffer than ever, it still leads the scene. 

 

If It Ain't Broke

 

The guts of the Pixel 5A 5G are nearly identical to those in the Pixel 4A 5G—they share the aforementioned processor and RAM, have 128 gigabytes of storage, the same exact 12-megapixel main camera, 16-megapixel ultrawide, and 8-megapixel selfie shooter, plus the usual accouterments like NFC for contactless Google Pay, a rear fingerprint sensor, a headphone jack, and stereo speakers.

 

However, the housing around all of these components has changed. The plastic unibody has been ditched in favor of aluminum, making the phone more durable. The power button still has an accent color, but it's now ridged, making it easier for your finger to distinguish between the power button and the volume rocker while the device is in your pocket. The phone's rated as IP67 water-resistant as well, which means a quick dip in the pool won't fry it.

 

The OLED screen is bright and colorful with inky blacks—many sub-$500 phones use LCD panels, so this is most definitely a visual treat. The display is slightly bigger than the one on the 4A 5G, and the resolution (2,400 by 1,080 pixels) and aspect ratio (20:9) have been bumped to match. It makes the 5A a smidge narrower and taller. Don't worry, it's nowhere near as gigantic as phones like the iPhone 12 Pro Max or Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra, but you still might struggle to reach parts of the screen with your thumb when using the phone with one hand. I did, and I have big paws.

 

The phone is thicker too, but for good reason. Google has stuffed a 4,680-mAh battery inside, the biggest in a Pixel phone yet. That translates to nearly two-day battery life with average use. I had to plug in around 7 pm on the second day. That's not as impressive as phones like the Moto G Stylus 5G ($400), but it's still excellent. I'm all for not having to plug in a phone every night. Sadly, you won't find any wireless charging here, which is rarely included on budget and mid-range phones like this one.

 

As the name implies, there's sub-6 5G connectivity again. I've yet to see any major benefits from being on a 5G network over 4G LTE, so it's not a reason to upgrade. One quirk: There's no C-band 5G support. It's a group of frequencies that carriers like AT&T and Verizon are going to utilize by the end of the year to (supposedly) deliver better 5G availability and speeds. Phones like Samsung's Galaxy A52 5G ($500) include C-band 5G support, so it would have been nice to see it here on the Pixel for some future-proofing. 

 

Regardless, one of the biggest reasons I can recommend you buy this phone is the performance. Like previous A-series Pixels, you can comfortably run pretty much any app or game, and you'll rarely encounter any slowdowns. I was able to play one of the most graphically demanding mobile games, Genshin Impact, and it was hardly frustratingly slow. (Granted, I had to play it with the Low graphics option, but the game still looked fantastic.)     

 

Then there's the software. As is standard with Pixel phones of every stripe, Google has included some genuinely smart and helpful features that you won't find on any other line of phones. Call Screen is my favorite; I can screen calls from unknown numbers so I never have to answer a pesky robocall. The voice recorder app is another saving grace—it automatically (and accurately!) transcribes spoken-voice recordings and backs them up online. But my all-time favorite remains Now Playing, which automatically detects music in your surroundings and lets you know the artist and song name, even if you're offline. I've discovered so many artists through this feature that it's the first thing I turn on in every Pixel I use. I've rounded up all the smart features here in our Pixel guide if you want to hear about the others. 

 

The Pixel 5A comes with three years of security updates and three Android OS upgrades, which is more than most of the budget competition. Samsung's the only Android manufacturer that recently began outpacing Google here, promising four years of security updates. Hopefully, Google plans on matching or exceeding that, but at the very least, you will get additional software features every quarter as part of Google's “Feature Drops,” which might even include new tricks from the upcoming Google Pixel 6. 

 

Unrivaled Cameras

 

The cameras on the 5A aren't any different from what's on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G, but Google's photo processing software continues to improve. That means you're getting flagship-quality photos without spending a fortune. (That includes some of the new video features Google introduced last year too.) Seriously, I've been testing the Pixel 5A alongside Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip3, a $1,000 phone, and I frequently prefer Google's results. 

Thanks to Night Sight, a dedicated nighttime mode in the camera app that stitches multiple images together taken at different exposures, you can capture detailed low-light photos that beat images from phones that sell for twice the price. Put this thing on a tripod and point it at the sky in a dark enough area, and you can even snap the stars with the Pixel's Astrophotography mode. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better ultrawide camera at this price range too. Most ultrawide cameras on budget and mid-range phones fail spectacularly when night falls, but not the Pixel's. 

 

I also compared the camera to the $400 Moto G Stylus 5G, and while Motorola's phone did surprisingly well, the Pixel exceeded it in almost every test. This remains the best camera under $500, and that's another cornerstone of what makes the 5A such a mass-appeal phone. 

Crown Pixel

 

As I mentioned earlier, there are a few features you'll find on other phones that are absent here. One of them is a high screen refresh rate. Most phones have 60 Hz screens, meaning the display refreshes images 60 times per second. The current trend is to bump this up to 90 or 120 Hz so that the display shows you 90 or 120 frames per second, which makes the screen look and feel more responsive. It's a small but nice perk, and one that's becoming common even on sub-$300 phones. Considering that Google introduced a 90-Hz screen to last year's Pixel 5, I expected to see it here. Alas.

 

There wasn't much else I missed. For the third year in a row, Google proves you don't need to drop anything close to $1,000 for a great smartphone. Sure, the Pixel 5A isn't exciting. It doesn't fold, there are no flashy colors, and it doesn't bring anything new to the table. I'd have liked to see the company push the bar. But if what you get is an exceptionally reliable phone that still leads the pack, then that's priceless.

 

Pixel 5A preorders open today, and the phone fully arrives on the market on August 26. It works on all major US carriers, even if it's not directly sold by them. You do get a charger in the box, but just know that this will be the last Pixel to include one. Google's going the way of Apple and Samsung and nixing the power adapter on its phones in the interest of curbing electronic waste.

Review: Google Pixel 5A

Google today officially announced the Pixel 5a, a device that the company confirmed the existence of earlier this year. Unlike the Pixel 4a lineup that was offered in LTE and 5G variants, the Pixel 5a will come with 5G support as standard. As for the device itself, it is a mild upgrade over the Pixel 4a 5G, but there are a few noteworthy improvements.

The phone sports a large 6.34-inch OLED display with a Full HD resolution. The display houses a punch-hole cut-out for the front-facing 8MP shooter. The camera setup at the rear is similar to that of the 4a 5G, with a 12.2MP unit doing the main camera duties accompanied by the 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The cameras bring the features expected from the latest Pixel phones such as Portrait Light and astrophotography prowess. The firm adds that the device sports a metal “premium unibody design”.

The first of the significant additions made to the device comes in the way of an IP67 rating, the first A-series phone to be certified for water and dust resistance. The other improvement, which is a welcome one, is a larger battery. The phone sports a 4,680mAh battery, up from the 4a 5G’s 3,800mAh capacity, making it the largest on a Pixel phone yet.

The Pixel 5a 5G retains the Snapdragon 765G SoC from its predecessor. Unlike the upcoming Pixel 6 that debuts the search giant’s new Tensor SoC, the more affordable offering sticks to Qualcomm’s mid-range chip. The device also comes with the firm’s Titan M security chip. Other specifications include 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

The specs that differentiate the 5a 5G from the Pixel 5 include the lack of a 90Hz screen and support for wireless charging. While the device could have benefitted from the increase in battery capacity had the firm introduced a higher refresh rate display, it could have overshadowed the Pixel 5, which is the more premium offering.

The Pixel 5a 5G is available for pre-order from the Google Store starting today in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., the device can be had for an asking price of $449. The mid-ranger is available only in the ‘Mostly Black’ color that sports “forest green undertones and an olive-colored Power button”. The firm, however, is selling $29 cases in four color options: Black Moss, Maybe Moon, Likely Lime, and Partially Pink.

Google's Pixel 5a 5G is official, sports an IP67 rating and a large battery

Xiaomi is the latest company to show renewed interest in Android tablets.

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro, definitely using a design that has never been used before, especially not by any fruit-named companies.

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Android tablets are totally coming back, right? Google has launched a few tablet apps lately after years of neglect, it gave talks at Google I/O on how to design tablets apps, and the Android 12 developer preview shows that the company is working on a taskbar-like UI for big-screen devices. Now, the world's most popular Android device manufacturer, Xiaomi, is releasing an Android tablet for the first time in three years.

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 Pro seems just a little inspired by Apple's flagship tablet, the iPad Pro. Xiaomi regularly produces wild, technology-packed designs, but at times, it also falls back into its old ways of being an Apple clone manufacturer. This is one of those times.

The company's new tablet has an 11-inch, 120 Hz, 2560×1600 LCD and is relatively high-end, with a Snapdragon 870 SoC (that's a 7 nm chip with four Cortex A77 cores and four Cortex A55 cores). The base unit comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with options for 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There's an 8600 mAh battery, NFC, a side fingerprint reader/power button, Wi-Fi 6 support, a USB-C port, and a whopping eight speakers, all split between the left and right sides. The frame and back are both aluminum, and the tablet weighs 515 g.

The one part of the design you could complain about is the front camera, which is on the left side of the device in landscape mode, so it's not very useful for landscape video calls. The placement is especially strange because the keyboard accessory, side speakers, and side fingerprint reader all encourage landscape use as the primary mode. The reason for the odd camera location might be support for the pen accessory, which uses the top edge of the tablet (in landscape) to magnetically attach and wirelessly charge.

Cloning Apple is certainly a bad Xiaomi habit, but the company is also keeping its good habits—namely, releasing decent hardware for low prices. The Mi Pad 5 Pro starts at CNY 2,499 (~$386), or about half the price of the entry-level 11-inch iPad Pro, which is $799. There's also a cellular version with a presumably better primary rear camera (50MP versus 13MP), the Mi Pad 5 Pro 5G, which clocks in at about $540—still around half the price of the $1,000 cellular iPad Pro. Xiaomi is also selling iPad-style accessories, like a keyboard for about $62, which is way cheaper than the $300 Magic keyboard for the iPad. A stylus sells for about $62, smoking the $129 Apple Pencil when it comes to price. There are probably a million ways the iPad Pro is faster and more polished than Xiaomi's offering, but for half the price, many consumers will consider it close enough.

For now, all these prices are converted from CNY, since the device is currently only sold in China. That's where all Xiaomi devices start out, though, and they usually get wider rollouts.

Xiaomi clones the iPad Pro for half the price: $386

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