Google Messages will support WhatsApp video calls

Google Messages is working on an intriguing integration with WhatsApp. As revealed through an APK teardown of the latest version of the Google Messages app, the ability to make a WhatsApp video call directly from Messages is coming. If both you and the person you're chatting with in Messages have WhatsApp, you'll get a new option in the top right menu: a video icon, which, if you tap, says WhatsApp Video Call. Tapping on that will directly initiate the video call in WhatsApp. This is currently only for one-on-one chats. For group chats (or if the contact you're talking to one-on-one...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_messages_will_support_whatsapp_video_calls-news-66448.php

Oppo Find N5 emerges in official-looking renders

Oppo has been on a teaser rampage for its upcoming Find N5 foldable. The device is expected to launch in China by February 20 and it will eventually make its way to global markets as the OnePlus Open 2. We now have our best look at the phone from a series of official-looking images shared by Evan Blass (@evleaks). Find N5 will be the thinnest foldable once it launches, with a rumored thickness of just 4.2mm in its unfolded state. For reference, the current slimmest commercially available foldable - Honor's Magic V3 is 4.35mm thick. We can see the device will be available in purple...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_n5_emerges_in_officiallooking_renders-news-66446.php

Apple ordered to issue backdoor to users' encrypted data by UK government

Security officials from the United Kingdom have reportedly ordered Apple to implement a backdoor giving access to encrypted iCloud backups of its users worldwide. As disclosed by The Washington Post, Apple received a technical capability notice from the UK Home Secretary’s office last month based on the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016 which expanded the surveillance powers of the British intelligence agencies and police. As per the document, which is still not officially shared, Apple is required to offer unlimited access to end-to-end encrypted files uploaded by users worldwide and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ordered_to_issue_backdoor_to_users_encrypted_data_by_uk_government_-news-66439.php

Acer's Predator Helios Neo 18 AI and 16 AI bring RTX 5070 Ti

Acer used a Counter-Strike tournament in Katowice, Poland, as the debut stage for its two latest laptops - the Helios Neo 16 AI and Helios Neo 18 AI. The pair boasts up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 275H CPU, 64GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and Nvidia's new RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU, as well as high-speed OLED displays. Both also have the 5th gen AeroBlade 3D fans, vector heat pipes, and liquid metal thermal grease applied to the SoC. Starting with the Predator Helios Neo 18 AI, as the name suggests, it packs an 18-inch display - three 2560x1600px WQXGA models, and a 1920x1200px WUXGA one....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/acers_predator_helios_neo_18_ai_and_16_ai_bring_rtx_5070_ti-news-66438.php

Samsung Galaxy S25+ review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s25_plus-review-2795.php

Amazon Alexa is getting a generative AI upgrade later this month

Amazon was an early mover in the “digital assistant” field with Alexa, which was backed by cheap but capable hardware – smart speakers, smart displays and plenty of accessories for them. But it has let Alexa stagnate for several years now, both in terms of features and profitability. Now, Amazon will leverage the massive improvements that generative AI has brought to the table to make Alexa smarter. This will be done in partnership with Anthropic, makers of the Claude AI, according to insiders who spoke with Reuters (Amazon has invested $8 billion in Anthropic). The models in the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_alexa_is_getting_a_generative_ai_upgrade_later_this_month-news-66417.php

Realme P3 Pro spotted on Geekbench ahead of launch

The Realme P3 series is due to launch in India later this month and we now have another sighting of the Pro model ahead of launch. The device (RMX5032) was spotted on Geekbench with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip and 12GB RAM at the helm. Realme P3 Pro (RMX5032) on Geekbench Realme P3 Pro scored 1195 single-core score and a 3309 multi-core score, which is in line with other phones equipped with the same chip. Geekbench also confirmed Android 15 on the software front, presumably running with Realme UI 6 on top. The non-Pro variant of the phone was also spotted on Geekbench...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_p3_pro_spotted_on_geekbench_ahead_of_launch_-news-66418.php

You can now watch Warner Bros. movies for free on YouTube

There are a lot of streaming services out there, each with its own monthly subscription fee, and those fees add up quickly. But, if you just want to watch a random selection of full-length movies, you can now do just that for free on YouTube. Warner Bros. has added a random (and we do mean random) selection of its movies to a YouTube playlist, which currently has 31 of them. You can check the playlist out below. Titles such as Michael Collins, City Heat, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Chaos Theory, Waiting for Guffman, The Wind and the Lion, American Ninja V, Mutiny on the Bounty,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_now_watch_warner_bros_movies_for_free_on_youtube-news-66419.php

US imposes a 10% tariff on products imported from China, which might be bad news for Apple

If you’ve been paying attention to international news, you are probably sick of hearing the word “tariff”. Unfortunately, you’ll be hearing it even more – President Trump’s 10% tariffs on all products imported from China went into effect on Tuesday. That’s bad news for Apple, which manufactures most of its iPhones, iPads, Macs and other products in the country. It’s not yet clear how this will impact the prices of Apple devices. Apple has moved part of its production to India and now even makes iPhone Pros there (previously, only non-Pro models were made in India). And it is now doing...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/us_imposes_a_10_tariff_on_products_imported_from_china_which_might_be_bad_news_for_apple-news-66397.php

This is how thin the Oppo Find N5 and OnePlus Open 2 will be

Oppo is unveiling the Find N5 foldable smartphone in a couple of weeks, and this is widely expected to get a global launch as the OnePlus Open 2. Now, a new rumor tells us just how thin the upcoming device will be. According to a tipster over on X, when unfolded, the Find N5 (and OnePlus Open 2) will be just 4.2mm thick. To put that into perspective, the Honor Magic V3 is 4.35mm thick when unfolded, and that device is currently the thinnest of the traditional book-type foldables (the Huawei Mate XT goes to an insane 3.6mm but it folds twice, making it an unfair comparison). Oppo Find N3...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/this_is_how_thin_the_oppo_find_n5_and_oneplus_open_2_will_be-news-66399.php

Last chance to snatch the Galaxy S25 Ultra pre-order bonus

If you’ve been eyeing a brand-new Galaxy S25 Ultra, then you have until Friday, February 7, to take advantage of Samsung’s pre-order bonuses. The offers include total savings of over $1,250, including up to $900 instant trade-in credit and up to $350 Samsung Credits for qualifying purchases on Samsung.com or the Shop Samsung App. The more enticing offer is the free storage upgrade, which gets you 512GB for the price of the baseline 256GB trim. You can head this way to check out the offers. If you’re still unsure whether the Galaxy S25 Ultra is worth it, our detailed written...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/last_chance_to_snatch_the_galaxy_s25_ultra_preorder_bonus-news-66400.php

vivo X200 Ultra camera specs leak again, an intriguing software tweak is coming

vivo's X200 Ultra will be its all-out camera flagship for 2025, to compete with Xiaomi's 15 Ultra and Oppo's Find X8 Ultra. Today in a since-deleted Weibo post, prolific Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station has given us the details about the X200 Ultra's camera system, once again. So, it has a 50 MP main camera with a 1/1.28" type sensor, a 50 MP ultrawide with a 1/1.28" type sensor, and a 200 MP periscope telephoto camera with a 1/1.4" type sensor. Interestingly, the prototypes apparently have the ultrawide camera at 1x in the viewfinder, while the main camera is 1.5x. vivo X200 Ultra...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x200_ultra_camera_specs_leak_again_an_intriguing_software_tweak_is_coming-news-66396.php

Galaxy S25 Ultra replacement S Pens are $49 a pop despite lacking Bluetooth

Samsung infamously removed Bluetooth capabilities from Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen. The official reasoning is that only 1% of S24 Ultra users were using the Bluetooth-related features on their phones but a lot of long-time Ultra and formerly Galaxy Note users are not too happy with the change. Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen on Samsung US Samsung has now listed the official Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen on its online store and it costs $49 – exactly the same price as the Galaxy S24 Ultra S Pen which features Bluetooth functionality and a gyroscope sensor. The Bluetooth-enabled S Pens of the past...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s25_ultra_replacement_s_pens_are_49_a_pop_despite_lacking_bluetooth-news-66381.php

Xiaomi 15 Ultra camera specs 'confirmed' by new rumor

Xiaomi's 15 Ultra will be very much focused on the cameras, pun absolutely intended. Today a new rumor from a tipster on X reiterates the device's camera setup, which we've already heard of before. Still, this 'confirmation' of sorts does help cement the idea that the phone will really ship with these cameras. So, let's take a look. The 50 MP main shooter will be using Sony's 1-inch type Lytia LYT-900 sensor. The 50 MP ultrawide will use Samsung's ISOCELL JN5 sensor. The 50 MP 3x optical zoom telephoto camera will use Sony's IMX858 sensor, and finally, the main upgrade - the 200 MP 4.3x...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_15_ultra_camera_specs_confirmed_by_new_rumor-news-66378.php

Apple Invites is now official

Over the weekend a rumor claimed Apple would launch its very own event invite service, and this is now official as Apple Invites. It's a new iPhone app that lets you create custom invites for any occasion. You can create and share invites, RSVP, contribute to Shared Albums, and engage with Apple Music playlists. Apple Invites is now available from the App Store for all iPhones running iOS 18 or later, and it's also accessible on the web through icloud.com/invites. iCloud+ subscribers can create invites (which anyone can RSVP to) regardless of whether they have an Apple Account or Apple...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_invites_is_now_official-news-66380.php

iQOO Neo 10R's launch date leaks

Earlier today we brought you official images of the upcoming iQOO Neo 10R, shared by the brand itself. iQOO hasn't yet revealed when the phone is going to be launched, but a new leak tells us just that. Apparently, the launch date is February 20 in India. The phone is very likely to be a rebranded iQOO Z9 Turbo Endurance Edition, which comes with a 6.78-inch 1260x2800 AMOLED touchscreen with 144 Hz refresh rate, a dual rear camera system (50 MP main with OIS, 8 MP ultrawide), a 16 MP selfie snapper, and a 6,400 mAh battery with support for 80W wired charging. iQOO Z9 Turbo Endurance...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_neo_10rs_launch_date_leaks-news-66363.php

Apple Music is now $2.99 for six months for new subscribers

Apple Music has a pretty awesome deal for those who want to try it out. You can now get six months of service for just $2.99. That's not $2.99 per month, by the way, it's $2.99 in total for the first six months. You just need to be a new subscriber, and eligible, though it's unclear what the eligibility criteria might be. It's pretty likely that this offer is, at least currently, limited to the US. We've previously seen Tidal come up with similar offers in other countries, where you'd pay a very small amount for at least two months of service. Anyway, if you've always wanted to try...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_music_is_now_299_for_six_months_for_new_subscribers-news-66366.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to borrow this feature from the Galaxy Z Fold line

Samsung has just started shipping the Galaxy S25 devices, and we're already turning our attention to the next generation - specifically, the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This is already in the early prototyping stage, and said prototypes are missing a visible selfie camera cutout in their displays. This, according to a tipster over on X, means that Samsung wants to go with an under-display camera for its next slab-style flagship smartphone. The Korean company is already using such a unit in its Galaxy Z Fold line for the folding display, but we do hope that the quality will be immensely improved for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_ultra_to_borrow_this_feature_from_the_galaxy_z_fold_line-news-66365.php

Nothing Phone (3a) is getting a camera button

Nothing is launching its highly-anticipated Phone (3a) on March 4, and the teaser campaign is in full swing. The latest bit of news comes in the form of a teaser image for the phone, which will feature a dedicated camera button on the side. The new button should act as a fast toggle for launching the camera app and as a shutter for snapping photos and videos. Nothing Phone (3a) power and camera buttons Phone (3a) is expected to focus on the camera performance with a triple camera setup headlined by a 50MP 2x telephoto lens - a first for the Nothing brand. The telephoto sensor is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nothing_phone_3a_is_getting_a_camera_button-news-66361.php

Gurman: Apple to launch an event-planning service called Confetti

Apple will introduce a new iCloud service designed for events and invitations. This service will differ from Calendar and is set to launch “this coming week," as reported by Mark Gurman in his latest weekly podcast "On Demand" for Bloomberg. The service would be called "Confetti" and will be a "new way to invite people to parties, functions, and meetings." The arrival of the service is tied to the iOS 18.3 launch, which started rolling out last week, in the final days of January. The new invites service was already spotted by 9to5Mac in the OS beta code, and it seems like there...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gurman_apple_to_launch_an_eventplanning_service_called_confetti-news-66350.php

Top 10 trending phones of week 5

As we wave January goodbye the Galaxy S25 series' grip on our trending chart is only slightly loosened. The Ultra member of the new flagship trio is still the most popular phone in our database by a landslide, but the vanilla in second is falling back into the pack. [#InlinePriceWidget, 13322, 1#] The Galaxy A55 even managed to climb back onto the final podium spot, overtaking the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge in fourth and the Galaxy S24 Ultra in fifth. So all things considered, another impressive showing by Samsung, taking the entire top 5. The Poco X7 Pro and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_trending_phones_of_week_5-news-66349.php

Is Samsung thinking of ditching the S Pen in future Galaxy S Ultras?

Samsung is the king of the smartphone stylus - not only does it have the most models that support one, but the S Pen is deeply integrated into its Galaxies. And it's nowhere better than in the Galaxy S Ultra flagships. That's because the Galaxy S22 Ultra was the spiritual successor to the last Galaxy Note, essentially merging the Note and S Ultra lineups together. But Samsung removed the Bluetooth and gyroscope from the S Pen for the Galaxy S25 Ultra - features it added in 2018 - which signals that the S Pen may be on its way out. Citing its own survey, Samsung says that only 1% of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/is_samsung_thinking_of_ditching_the_s_pen_in_future_galaxy_s_ultras-news-66273.php

Deals: Galaxy S25 series deals get even better, Honor 200 Pro gets a 42% discount

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series was announced and went on pre-order last week, but since then Amazon has sweetened the pot. Well, technically, the phones are already available, so this isn’t a pre-order deal, but it is a great one. The Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra all have a free storage upgrade – that means 256GB for the vanilla model and 512GB for the other two. On top of that, there is a £100 discount at checkout and, if that wasn’t enough, there is a £100 credit too. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra free...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_galaxy_s25_series_deals_get_even_better_honor_200_pro_gets_a_42_discount-news-66333.php

Weekly poll: are you using the S Pen's remote control functions?

The S Pen was first introduced in 2011 with the original Galaxy Note – this original design was a passive device that relied on a Wacom layer in the Note device itself to track its position and, later on, things like pressure too. Then in 2018 the Galaxy Note9 added a battery and Bluetooth connectivity to the S Pen, allowing it to trigger actions remotely. In the camera, for example, a single press would take a photo, a double press would switch between cameras. You could also advance photos in the Gallery app, go to the next slide in PowerPoint, control music players and so on, all with...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_are_you_using_the_s_pens_remote_control_functions-news-66305.php

Weekly poll results: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra may be in trouble, vanilla S25 could be a hit

The pre-order window for the new Samsung Galaxy S25 flagship trio is closing and the first units are on their way to their new owners – if they haven’t arrived already. But will Samsung start 2025 with strong sales like it did 2024? The results from last week’s poll show cause for concern – the new models are perceived as only minor upgrades over previous generations of S-phones, so many are considering not upgrading this year or seeking out an older model. There is some good news too, though not what we expected. The Galaxy S24 Ultra outsold the S23 Ultra and was the most popular model...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_the_samsung_galaxy_s25_ultra_may_be_in_trouble_vanilla_s25_could_be_a_hit-news-66312.php

Asus NUC 14 Pro AI mini PC review

The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI is the latest mini PC from the Taiwanese brand. This particular model was announced in December of last year and was the first mini PC to feature Intel's new Core Ultra processors (Series 2) along with Microsoft Copilot+. The model we have here today is the flagship variant with the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V with 32GB of LPDDR5X memory. Asus sells this device as a barebones PC, meaning it does not include storage out of the box but our unit did come with 1TB SSD included for testing. Before going further into the testing, it's worth noting the price. It's a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_nuc_14_pro_ai_mini_pc_review-news-66346.php

OpenAI releases o3-mini as its 'most cost-efficient model' in reasoning series

The OpenAI o3-mini, previewed in December 2024, has been released by OpenAI as its "most cost-efficient model" in its reasoning series. The o3-mini's strength lies in science, math, and coding, and it's optimized for STEM reasoning. OpenAI says that o3-mini provides a specialized alternative for tech domains that require speed and precision, and with medium reasoning efforts, it matches the o1's performance in science, math, and coding while delivering faster responses. The company also said that o3-mini was 24% faster than o1-mini in A/B testing, with an average response time of 7.7s...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/openai_o3_mini_released-news-66347.php