Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is on the way

Samsung is working on a Galaxy Watch FE, which means 2024 could be more FE-ified than any other year before it, considering we've also recently heard mumblings about a Galaxy Z Fold FE and Galaxy Z Flip FE and the S24 FE arriving too. The Watch FE is said to have specs very similar to those of the Galaxy Watch4 from 2021, which is anything but encouraging-sounding. A while back a rumor claimed Samsung would launch a Galaxy Watch4 (2024) model, but it looks like this has since been renamed as Galaxy Watch FE. Samsung Galaxy Watch4 The Watch FE will have the model numbers SM-R866F,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_watch_fe_is_on_the_way-news-62334.php

Google's Phone app will soon let you look up unknown numbers

You have a missed call, but it's not from one of your contacts, just a random number. Before deciding whether to call back, wouldn't you want to know exactly who called? That's the idea behind services like Truecaller, and now Google seems to be wanting to join the 'unknown number lookup' game inside its Phone app. An option to do just that, labeled as "Lookup" under numbers from your call log that aren't in your contacts, has been spotted in the Google Phone app beta version 127.0.620688474. When you tap on "Lookup", you get a list of apps on your device that can handle the 'Web...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/googles_phone_app_will_soon_let_you_lookup_unknown_numbers-news-62332.php

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

With the recent global release of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, those on a quest for the ultimate cameraphone are presented with another option. Coming from a lineage of camera excellence, the Xiaomi builds on it with seemingly minor but, in fact, tangible improvements in the telephoto capabilities. Also in the zoom department is where the latest top-end Samsung made its most significant generational change. The Galaxy S24 Ultra replaced the old model's 10x zoom unit with a larger-sensor 5x one, making a comparison with the Xiaomi all the more natural. The Galaxy is quite possibly the most...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_14_ultra_vs_samsung_galaxy_s24_ultra_review_battery_camera_price_compared-news-62268.php

Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) are the earbuds launching on April 18

Nothing has recently revealed that it's announcing something on April 18, and today the company has let us know exactly what to expect: the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a). Those are not typos, we're not talking about the Nothing Ear (3). Ahead of this launch, the company has decided to reset its naming scheme and strip back the numbers it has so far been using to underscore each generation of each product. By giving up on the numbers, Nothing says it can "center the focus around the product and the unique experience it delivers for each user". We started Nothing with audio in 2021 and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nothing_ear_and_nothing_ear_a_are_the_earbuds_launching_on_april_18-news-62333.php

Samsung acknowledges Galaxy S23 touchscreen issue on One UI 6.1, says it's Google's fault

Samsung started rolling out the update to One UI 6.1 for the Galaxy S23 family in late March, and since getting it, a lot of people have been complaining about touchscreen issues. Namely, the touchscreen on these devices sometimes doesn't register touch input properly, and one has to tap multiple times to get a touch registered. Naturally, this is extremely annoying, and now Samsung has finally acknowledged the problem, but there's a twist. According to the Korean company, this is pretty much Google's fault, as apparently the issue is being caused by the Google app's Discover feed, which...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_acknowledges_galaxy_s23_touchscreen_issue_on_one_ui_61_says_its_googles_fault-news-62311.php

Is the Google Pixel 8a hiding in plain sight?

We know the Pixel 8a is coming and we have a good idea of what to expect - Tensor G3 chip, 8 GB of RAM, 128/256 GB of storage, 120 Hz display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness. It will look very similar to the Pixel 8, and it will likely be a bit more expensive than the 7a. However, if this leak proves correct, Google may be closer to announcing the 8a than we expected. A Google Fi Wireless ad that seemingly shows the Pixel 8a front and center. The reasoning is that the Porcelain phone doesn't have the mic hole in the same spot as the Pixel 8 (between the cameras and the LED). It...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/is_the_google_pixel_8a_hiding_in_plain_sight-news-62309.php

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE and Z Flip FE both coming, chipsets revealed

Samsung has long been rumored to come out with two Galaxy Z Fold6 models this year, with an announcement most likely taking place in early to mid-July. Rumors haven't yet agreed on whether we'll see a Fold6 and a Fold6 Ultra, or a Fold6 and a Fold6 FE, however, so that's still up in the air. To complicate things further, now a new rumor out of China claims Samsung will launch both a Galaxy Z Fold FE and a Galaxy Z Flip FE. And it's also giving us dimensions and chipsets for both. Buckle up, for this could be a wild ride. So, allegedly, the Galaxy Z Fold FE, when folded, will measure...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/rumor_samsung_galaxy_z_fold_fe_and_z_flip_fe_both_coming_chipsets_revealed-news-62310.php

Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. Google Pixel 8

If you are in the market for a compact flagship in the first half of this year, you are probably eyeing the Samsung Galaxy S24, Google Pixel 8 or Xiaomi 14. But with the Xiaomi 14 asking a price premium, this leaves the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 8 as the more sensible duo. Table of Contents: Design Display Battery Life Charging Speaker Test Performance Cameras Verdict The two handsets have similar hardware and dimensions, so we can see why some users would find it hard to make a choice, so let's dive in. For starters, you can compare the complete specs...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s24_vs_google_pixel_8_review_battery_camera_price_compared-news-62189.php

Google's Circle to Search now does instant language translation

Last week Google rolled out Circle to Search for the Pixel 6 family and the Pixel 7a, and in the same announcement it also revealed that Circle to Search would be getting an instant translation feature in the future. This is now appearing to be rolling out. The translation happens in-line, with the translated text entirely replacing the original one, as you can see in the quick video below. It's all very simple really, you invoke Circle to Search the usual way, then simply tap on the new Translate icon that shows up to the right of the Google bar. And voila! It's all translated. Circle...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/googles_circle_to_search_now_does_instant_language_translation-news-62296.php

Spotify plans to raise prices this year and introduce new plans

Spotify is preparing a revamp of its plans and prices, according to a new report from Bloomberg. This will include price hikes in a few major markets, and there will also be a new plan that doesn't include audiobooks. The prices will go up by about $1 per month for individual plans to $2 per month for the family plans and duo plans in the UK, Australia, Pakistan, and two other unnamed markets, the report says. In the US, its largest market, a price hike is coming "later this year", according to "people familiar with the matter". The higher pricing will allegedly help cover the cost...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/spotify_plans_to_raise_prices_this_year_and_introduce_new_plans-news-62295.php

Oura preempts Samsung's Galaxy Ring with new features for its rings

Samsung is launching the Galaxy Ring this year, most likely in July, and that will shake up the smart ring market, thus far dominated by Oura. So Oura seems to be preparing for the huge competition it will face from the Korean behemoth. Today it's launched a new Labs section in its app, where it plans to test new features and get user feedback - perhaps it wants to differentiate itself from Samsung based on these. The Labs section is currently only rolling out for iOS, and the first new Labs feature is Symptom Radar, which tracks strain markers on your body to detect an onset of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oura_is_getting_ready_for_samsungs_galaxy_ring_by_launching_new_features_for_its_rings-news-62294.php

Apple Pencil 3 to bring new squeeze gesture

Apple is rumored to finally bring a true successor to its second-generation Apple Pencil with support for a new squeeze gesture. This development was discovered by 9to5Mac inside the iPadOS 17.5 beta source code and suggests that the squeeze gesture can be used to trigger quick actions including text fields, stickers, signatures, and adding shapes within Notes and other creative apps. Apple Pencil 3 concept render (@MajinBuOfficial) The new leak suggests that Apple may add a pressure sensor on the Apple Pencil 3’s surface. Apple Pencil 3 is also rumored to be compatible with the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_pencil_3_rumored_to_bring_new_squeeze_gesture-news-62288.php

vivo V30 SE and iQOO Pad 2 Pro show up in the Google Play Console

vivo launched the V30 and V30 Pro back in February, and the two phones have been available since early March. But now it looks like the company is working on a third member of the family, namely the V30 SE. This handset was spotted in the Google Play Console. The listing shows that the phone has the model number V2327, and it comes with a 1080x2400 resolution screen with 440 ppi pixel density. It runs Android 14, undoubtedly with vivo's Funtouch OS 14 on top. Interestingly, the "Variants" section of the listing tells us that the V30 SE will in fact be a rebranded iteration of the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v30_se_and_iqoo_pad_2_pro_show_up_in_the_google_play_console-news-62279.php

Beats Fit Pro Alo Yoga edition announced

Beats and Alo Yoga have announced a new collaboration with a special edition Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds. These come in a new Black Sparkle color with a chrome interior inside the charging case, an embossed Alo logo and a pearlized Beats logo on the buds. Beats Fit Pro Alo Yoga edition Beats Fit Pro are Apple’s flagship in-ear sports earbuds and feature winged ear tips for a secure fit, spatial audio with head tracking and Apple’s H1 chip. Pricing is set at $200/€250/£220. The Alo Yoga Beats Fit Pro will be available from April 4 online from Apple and Alo Yoga and also at...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/beats_fit_pro_alo_yoga_edition_announced__-news-62277.php

Sennheiser Accentum Plus wireless headphones review

The Accentum Plus are Sennheiser's newest pair of noise-canceling headphones. They are one of the two new pairs of headphones that are part of the company's new mid-range Accentum range, the other one simply being titled the Sennheiser Accentum. The Plus model features a few extra features such as touch controls, adaptive ANC, wear detection, etc., and costs a bit more. That's the model we will be focusing on today. Design and comfort The Accentum Plus are a full-sized pair of circumaural headphones. The headphones feature an all-black design with full plastic construction that has...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sennheiser_accentum_plus_wireless_headphones_review-news-62243.php

Apple might have to let iPhone users uninstall the Photos app because of EU rules

EU’s Digital Markets Act is proving to be a nightmare for Apple. You may have followed the back and forth on deciding just how third-party app stores will work, but there’s more to it than that. For example, Apple is supposed to show a browser choice screen, similar to what Microsoft had to do with Windows a decade ago. And that’s not the end of it either. John Gruber of Daring Fireball noticed comments by Margrethe Vestager, who leads the EC’s “Europe Fit for the Digital Age” initiative. They suggest that Apple must provide not only a choice of which apps to install and use – but also...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_might_have_to_let_iphone_users_uninstall_the_photos_app_because_of_eu_rules-news-62276.php

Redmi A3x is coming to India and global markets soon

Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi launched the entry-level A3 back in February, and it looks like this month it's going to come out with a slightly modified version of that phone called Redmi A3x. This has been caught in a database showing its name and two model numbers, one for the Indian market, the other for global markets - so we even know where it will launch. The Redmi A3x will have the model number 24048RN6CG globally, and 24048RN6CI in India, as "G" and "I" are the suffixes for those markets for Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices. The "2404" part of the string strongly hints at a launch...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_a3x_is_coming_to_india_and_global_markets_soon-news-62260.php

Sony Xperia 1 VI may have exactly the same cameras as its predecessor

Sony's Xperia 1 VI has so far been rumored to sport a different aspect ratio for its screen, foregoing the long-standing 21:9. The new phone should be a little bit less tall and a tad wider, and apparently the company may even give up on the 4K resolution that no other smartphone maker has adopted. So those are some interesting changes, but if you were also hoping for refreshed camera hardware, a new rumor claims you'll be very disappointed. According to mumblings on Weibo, the Xperia 1 VI will ship with the exact same rear cameras as its predecessor. Sony Xperia 1 V So we're...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_1_vi_may_have_exactly_the_same_cameras_as_its_predecessor-news-62259.php

vivo X100 hands-on review

The vivo X100 Pro launched in China last year, but only began its international rollout this year. We reviewed the vivo X100 Pro and found it to be yet another impressive cameraphone from vivo. Alongside that, vivo also launched the vivo X100, which comes with some nice upgrades over the X90. We used the vivo X100 for over a month, and here's what we found about it. Design The vivo X100 packs a 6.78" FullHD+ curved AMOLED display having a 120Hz screen refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness. It also has a centered punch-hole for the 32MP selfie camera and a fingerprint reader...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x100_hands_on_review-news-62242.php

Microsoft unbundles Teams from Office globally

Microsoft has decided to unbundle Teams from Office at a global level, according to a new Reuters report today. The move comes around half a year after the company did the exact same thing for EU markets, at that time wanting to avert a possible antitrust fine from the EU. Now this is going global, so Teams will no longer be bundled with Microsoft 365 and Office 365, which it's been a part of since 2017. A Microsoft spokesperson said: To ensure clarity for our customers, we are extending the steps we took last year to unbundle Teams from M365 and O365 in the European Economic Area...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_unbundles_teams_from_office_globally-news-62257.php

Xiaomi Watch 2 in for review

Xiaomi's excellent Watch 2 Pro is among the best watches available right now. At just €249 with LTE, it's definately one of the best deals around. But the Xiaomi Watch 2 may just be a better one. The Xiaomi Watch 2 has all the features of the Pro but with a lighter aluminum body, no rotating crown, and a flush top glass. Oh, and it starts at just €199. But the biggest difference is that the Watch 2 lacks LTE - you'd need to go for the Pro if you want to be able to leave your phone behind. The Xiaomi Watch 2 ships with a TPU strap (either grey or black), and a magnetic proprietary...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_watch_2_in_for_review-news-62150.php

Top 10 trending phones of week 13

Samsung Galaxy A55 completed a hat-trick of trending chart victories in week 13 and still holds a comfortable advantage of the Redmi Note 13 Pro, which rose to second place. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gets the bronze medal as the Infinix Note 40 Pro slips off the podium and into fourth place. Redmi Note 13 picked up a lot of steam and is sitting in fifth now, followed by a trio of Samsung Galaxy phones. Interestingly the newly announced M55 only managed a seventh place, between the A35 and A54. Perhaps the limited initial availability reduced its appeal and it may fare better should it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_trending_phones_of_week_13-news-62244.php

Pixel 9 renders leak, vivo X Fold3, Galaxy M55 official, Week 13 in review

Another week down, let's recap. Our Galaxy A55 battery life test came out, confirming the phone brings a big improvement in battery life over its incredibly popular predecessor. We saw fresh renders of the Google Pixel 9, the smallest in Google's upcoming lineup. The 9 will offer a 6.03-inch display (presumably 120Hz OLED) compared to the 6.1-inch Pixel 9 Pro and 6.5-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. The other key difference on the vanilla Pixel 9 is the dual camera setup compared to the three shooters on both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. vivo unveiled the X Fold3 and the X Fold3 Pro.The vivo...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/pixel_9_renders_leak_vivo_x_fold3_galaxy_m55_official_week_13_in_review-news-62230.php

Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ battery life test results

As we continue preparing the full Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ review, we decided to share the battery results from our tests. The device runs on a Helio G99 chipset and is built around a big 6.78-inch OLED panel running at 120Hz. It is among the largest screens in this price range and that certainly impacts battery life quite a bit. Still, it seems the 5,000 mAh battery inside handles it quite well. The Spark 20 Pro+ achieved an Active Use Score of 11:56h, which is just above average for this class. It has a particularly good web browsing endurance, but gaming drains its battery quicker than...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tecno_spark_20_pro_battery_life_results_are_ready-news-62232.php

Weekly poll results: the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra does not spark joy

Asus had carved out a niche for its Zenfone series – small premium phones with relatively large batteries, 3.5mm headphone jacks and more customization options than you can shake a stick at. And now it has thrown it all away. Last week’s poll shows that 30% of those who cast their vote are waiting for a small Zenfone 11 (and we don’t even know if such a phone exists). Then a whopping 41% of voters think that the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra just isn’t all that good. Interest might pick up if the prices drop, but Asus phones rarely get serious discounts. Who is this phone for, anyway?...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_the_asus_zenfone_11_ultra_does_not_spark_joy-news-62194.php

WhatsApp gets a bottom navbar on Android for easy navigation

WhatsApp has announced a new bottom navigation bar for Android users, which replaces the older top navbar that had four tabs for Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls. The new navbar, which is "closer to your thumbs and easy on the eyes," also has four sections for Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls. However, their order has been changed, and Status is now called "Updates." Moreover, all four sections now have icons. Previously, only the Communities tab had an icon. Besides, while the older navbar was green, the new navbar is white. Old navbar • New navbar WhatsApp said it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_new_bottom_navigation_bar_android-news-62239.php

Deals: Galaxy S24 also drops in price, Best Buy has iPad deals this weekend

Last week we looked at offers on unlocked Galaxy S24 flagships – the S24+ started at $850 and the S24 Ultra was $1,150. Those offers are still available, by the way, but they lacked the vanilla Galaxy S24. If you have your heart set on the smallest Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S24 starts at $750. Note that this is with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage (not 12/256GB like the other two). There’s no option for 12GB of RAM, but you could get 256GB storage for $810. But that’s just $50 less than a 12/256GB S24+. We found the same offer on Amazon and Best Buy, so pick the retailer you...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_galaxy_s24_also_drops_in_price_best_buy_has_ipad_deals_this_weekend-news-62223.php

Testing Airalo and Yesim travel eSIMs in London

Traveling is synonymous with planning and for us here at GSMArena, that also includes figuring out how to deal with roaming fees when we step abroad as we need an uninterrupted internet connection at all times. With embedded-SIM (eSIM) support now widely available on phones, tablets, and smartwatches picking up a travel data plan is a quick and easy process and we got the chance to test out travel eSIM plans from Airalo and Yesim during a week-long trip to London. The convenience of downloading a travel eSIM plan and then having instant mobile data as soon as you get off the plane...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/testing_airalo_and_yesim_travel_esims_in_london-news-62233.php