Here’s our first look at the flagship Xiaomi 11T smartphone

Last month we learned that Xiaomi was preparing to launch a new affordable flagship under its T series dubbed Xiaomi 11T Pro. Shortly after that, the Chinese company announced that it was going to hold a global launch event on September 15. Though Xiaomi hasn’t revealed which products it will unveil at the event, the evidence so far suggests that the Xiaomi 11T lineup will most likely be there. The Xiaomi 11T Pro will be the first global smartphone without the Mi branding, and ahead of its official launch, a new leak has given us the first look at the phone’s design.

Leaked renders of the Xiaomi 11T Pro and Xiaomi 11T come courtesy of Ishaan Agarwal and 91Mobiles, giving us our very first look at the design of the upcoming phones. As you can see in the renders below, the rectangular camera module on the back holds three camera sensors, with an LED flash, 108MP AI camera branding, and what seems like a multi-dot laser focus sensor. Over on the front, the phone has a centered hole-punch to accommodate the selfie camera module. Both regular and Pro models are said to feature the same design and will come in Meteorite Gray, Celestial Blue, and Moonlight White colors.

Separately, the Vietnamese tech YouTube channel The Pixel has also released high-quality renders of the Xiaomi 11T Pro, which match Ishaan’s renders.

Remember the guy leaked the Xiaomi 11T Pro? Welp, he’s back with a…that’s right! High res renders based on what he saw in real life (to protect the source). Side fingerprint, glass metal sandwich design, triple 108MP cam.https://t.co/OfWA6hGeUT https://t.co/T4rE3KBXhJ pic.twitter.com/chNVmSLkD6

— Chun (@chunvn8888) August 31, 2021

In terms of internals, a previous leak revealed that the Xiaomi 11T Pro would feature an AMOLED 120Hz display, Snapdragon 888 chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. The regular Xiaomi 11T will reportedly have an OLED 120Hz display and pack a MediaTek chipset. With the official launch just around the corner, we won’t have to wait too long to learn more about Xiaomi’s latest affordable flagships.

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Exclusive: The Infinix Zero X will have a Nexus 4-like speckled back cover

In July this year, MediaTek launched two new budget-friendly SoCs — the Helio G96 and the Helio G88. Early last month, Hong Kong-based smartphone OEM Infinix teased that it would soon launch the first phone featuring the new Helio G96 chipset. While the company is yet to unveil the device, we’ve obtained exclusive images of the phone that give us a great look at its Nexus 4-like design. The upcoming phone will likely be called the Infinix Zero X, and here’s what it looks like.

As you can see in the attached image, the Infinix Zero X features a speckled back cover like the Nexus 4 with a rectangular camera island in the top right corner and Infinix branding at the bottom. The camera island includes three sensors, one large and two small, along with an LED flash.

Over on the front, the device features a nearly bezel-less flat display with a centered hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. While we don’t have images of the Infinix Zero X from other angles, we can see that its volume rocker and power button are on the right edge. Since the older Infinix Note 10 featured a US Type-C port and a headphone jack, we expect the upcoming model to retain these ports. However, we can’t confirm that at the moment.

Although we don’t have any concrete information about the Infinix Zero X’s hardware right now, Infinix’s teaser suggests that the device will pack MediaTek’s Helio G96 chipset. We believe the device could feature a 120Hz high refresh rate display, a large 5,000mAh battery with fast charging support, and a stereo speaker setup. Its cameras could be a step up from the Infinix Note 10, which featured a 48MP+2MP+2MP setup on the back and a 16MP selfie shooter on the front. On the software front, the phone will likely run Android 11 out of the box.

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Microsoft is booting ineligible Windows 11 PCs out of the Windows Insider Program

When Microsoft originally announced Windows 11, it was quickly discovered that Microsoft had made some drastic changes to the system requirements. Most importantly, there are some strict requirements on which CPUs are supported by the new OS. When it came down to testing in the Windows Insider Program, however, the Redmond firm wasn’t quite as strict.

Here’s how it worked. If you were in the Dev channel prior to the announcement, you’d be allowed to stay up until Windows 11 comes out. Once it’s out, you have to roll back to Windows 10 or you’ll be in an unsupported state, assuming your PC is ineligible (obviously, if your PC is eligible, you’re good to go). For Beta channel Insiders, they were kicked off of the Beta channel and placed into Release Preview for Windows 10 21H2 testing.

Now, Microsoft has started kicking unsupported PCs out of the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program. If you’re in the Dev channel and your CPU isn’t on the supported list, you’ll likely find that you have to go back to Windows 10 in order to keep receiving updates.

Microsoft has now dropped ineligible systems from the Insider program and tells them to install Windows 10. pic.twitter.com/zfALanmcuq

— BetaWiki (@BetaWiki) August 31, 2021

The transition to the new system requirements hasn’t been an entirely smooth one, but there’s a good reason that things are the way they are. Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2 are all enablement packages that build on top of version 2004. But since the spring of 2020, Microsoft has still been releasing prerelease builds in the Dev channel, with none of those features actually shipping in Windows 10. Those prerelease builds eventually became Windows 11.

That means that when Microsoft decided on the new system requirements, it had to think of a solution for all of the Windows Insiders that wouldn’t qualify for Windows 11, but were already running prerelease builds. After all, you can’t deliver an OTA update from build 20xxx to build 19xxx. The general rule is that if the build number goes down, you have to do a factory reset.

Because of this, the Redmond company decided to let Insiders on the Dev channel tag along for Windows 11 testing. Obviously, those users were used for telemetry. When Microsoft said it would consider Intel seventh-gen and AMD Zen processors for Windows 11 support, it got to look at data from all of the Insiders that were still able to run Windows 11. That’s how the firm came up with stats saying that supported PCs had a 99.8% crash-free experience, while unsupported PCs has 52% more crashes (which really only means that it’s a 99.7% crash-free experience).

But now, that run of testing has come to an end. It’s never fun when you have to reset your PC, but that’s the risk of the Insider Program.

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Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 19044.1202 to the Release Preview channel

Today, Microsoft is releasing another cumulative update for Windows 10 users in the Release Preview channel of the Insider Program. The update is KB5005101, and you’ll get it whether you’re on Windows 10 version 21H1 or version 21H2. That means that the build number will end up being 19043.1202 or 19044.1202, respectively.

It comes with just one fix:

• We fixed an issue that causes the Windows Update settings page to stop responding after you download an optional update.

If you’re on the Release Preview ring, it’s actually not possible to enroll in Windows 10 version 21H2 testing. This is something that’s reserved for Insiders that were on the Beta channel and didn’t meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. They got booted and pushed to Release Preview. And for some reason, those are the only people allowed to test Windows 10 version 21H2.

Presumably, at some point, Microsoft will open up 21H2 testing to everyone that wants it. The company gets weird about the Release Preview ring though. It was testing new 20H2 updates up until June, even though 21H1 had been in production for months. That’s right; you could have a newer version of Windows 10 in production than you could in the Release Preview ring. Actually, that will probably happen again when 21H2 ships later on this year.

Windows 10 version 21H2 will be coming later this year, and frankly, Microsoft isn’t talking too much about it. The big focus is on Windows 11, and that’s no surprise. There aren’t any major new features in 21H2 either. It’s just an enablement package that lights up a few things and bumps up the build number.

Microsoft will probably continue to do that too. For those that either don’t want or don’t meet the requirements for Windows 11, Windows 10 is going to be supported until 2025. The Redmond firm hasn’t confirmed whether it’s going to continue to deliver Windows 10 feature updates over the next four years, or if it will just provide cumulative updates over that period.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro: Which ANC TWS earbuds should you buy?

Samsung has built an ecosystem around its products similar to what Apple has done over the years. When you buy a Samsung phone, you can also buy the Galaxy Watch 4 along with it to track your workouts and the Galaxy Buds 2 for your audio needs. Similarly, when you buy an iPhone, you can pick up the Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods Pro. If you’re looking to get a pair of wireless earbuds, you can take a look at our list of the best TWS earphones out there or if you’re particularly confused between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the AirPods Pro, we’ll help you decide which one is best for you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro Specs

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Buds 2	Apple AirPods Pro
Dimensions & Weight	Earbuds: 17×20.9×21.1mm Case: 50×50.2×27.8mm Weight: 5g Earbuds, 41.2g Case	Earbuds: 24×30.9×21.8mm Case: 60.6×45.2×21.7mm Weight: 5.4g Earbuds, 45.6g Case
ANC	3 levels of ambient sound control Transparent mode Machine Learning solutions to cut-off sound	Single ANC mode Transparency mode
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.0
Battery & Charging	Buds – 61mAh Case – 472mAh 20 hours playback time with case USB-C Port Qi Wireless charging	5 hours The case contains 6 additional charges Lightning port Qi wireless charging
IP Rating	IPX2	IPX4
Colors	White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender	White
Price	$149	$249

Build and Design

Let’s first talk about the cases of both earbuds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have a rectangular case, and the AirPods Pro have a slightly more rounded case with a lid that’s easier to open with one hand. Both cases are made of plastic and have a white exterior. The internal compartment inside the Galaxy Buds 2 is based on the color you pick.

The AirPods Pro is slightly more pocketable due to the design but neither of the two earbuds are bulky and can easily be carried around in your pocket.

Moving to the earbuds themselves, there’s a distinct change in how both earbuds look. The AirPods Pro has an elongated stem while the Galaxy Buds 2 has a stem-less design. Both earbuds are of the in-ear type and include silicone ear tips. Looks are always subjective so there’s no definite winner. Pick the one you personally like.

Sound Quality and ANC

The Galaxy Buds 2 are extremely similar to the more premium Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, and the Galaxy Buds Pro is one of our top recommendations for a pair of TWS earbuds. The sound signature leans slightly towards the bass-heavy side but it’s something most people will like. The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, has a very balanced sound signature. Both earbuds have support for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) that improves your listening experience.

The ANC on the AirPods Pro is slightly more effective than the one on the Galaxy Buds 2. Even during calls, the AirPods Pro cancels out more background noise when compared to the Galaxy Buds 2. If you’re going to be traveling on a plane, the AirPods Pro will surely give you a quieter experience. Both earphones also have a transparency mode that can be used to amplify external sounds.

Additional Features and Battery Life

Both sets of earbuds have support for custom gestures. The Galaxy Buds 2 have touch controls whereas the AirPods Pro have a stem that’s pressure-sensitive. You can skip tracks, toggle ANC, and customize gestures to your liking on both earbuds. The AirPods Pro has one additional feature here and that’s the ability to auto-pause music when you remove the earbuds from your ears. The Galaxy Buds 2 misses out on this feature. Both earphones can be worn to the gym or while working without any issues.

While both sets of earbuds can be paired to any smartphone, the AirPods Pro works best when paired with an iOS device. You can’t change the controls or update the firmware of your AirPods Pro without an iPhone. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 also works best with an Android device, more so a Samsung phone. You can however use the AirPods Pro with minimal functionality with an Android device and similarly, the Galaxy Buds 2 with iOS.

In terms of battery life, both the Galaxy Buds 2 and the AirPods Pro are similar when it comes to the battery on the earbuds themselves. Both offer a playback time of about five hours with ANC turned on. The AirPods Pro’s battery life is slightly better when you include the case as well. The Galaxy Buds 2 can be charged up to four times with the case whereas the AirPods Pro can be charged up to six times. Both cases have support for Qi Wireless Charging.

Which earphones should you buy?

Depending on what phone you use, the choice is simple. If you use an iPhone and are already in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro makes complete sense. If you have a Mac, an iPad, and an Apple Watch along with your iPhone, you can experience seamless connectivity between the devices. You also get Spatial audio support with the AirPods Pro when used with an iPhone.

If you have an Android device, getting the AirPods Pro doesn’t really make a lot of sense since you won’t be able to use them to their full potential. Plus, they are also a bit on the expensive side, and you can get equivalent and even better options for Android. The Galaxy Buds 2 should be your pick if you’re an Android user and moreso if you have a Samsung phone.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The Galaxy Buds 2 is Samsung's latest pair of TWS earphones with ANC.

View at Samsung

The AirPods Pro were launched for $249 but are now selling for about $179 which is just $30 more than the Galaxy Buds 2. At that price, they’re absolutely worth it, but you still have to deal with some ripples from the ecosystem lock-in.

Apple AirPods Pro

If you're into the Apple ecosystem, you just can't go wrong with the AirPods Pro for your audio needs.

View at Amazon

If you’re picking up a pair of the Galaxy Buds 2, make sure you protect them with a good case.

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Jabra’s new Elite 3 and Elite 7 wireless earbuds offer ANC and better voice calls

If you’re looking to buy a pair of true wireless earbuds, there’s no shortage of options on the market. Most TWS earbuds have few unique features, so purchase decisions often come down to one or more key features, the pricing, and the brand behind the product. Danish brand Jabra has one of the audio product lineups, and the company today unveiled three new wireless earbuds in its Jabra Elite range: the Jabra Elite 3, Jabra Elite 7 Active, and Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

All of these earbuds are controlled through Jabra’s MySound+ app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and can be paired to both Android and iOS devices. All three products support Google Fast Pair, instant Alexa activation, and one-touch Spotify playback on Android. The earbuds also support activating Siri on iOS and Google Assistant on Android.

In terms of design, these earbuds feature silicone ear tips and an oval-shaped case with a USB-C charging port, though the case and earbuds come in different colors depending on the model.

Jabra Elite 3

The Jabra Elite 3 is the most affordable out of the trio, retailing for only $79. These earbuds have 6mm speakers, 4 microphones, access to Jabra’s music equalizer, support for Qualcomm’s aptX codec, 7 hours of battery life (28 total hours including the charging case), fast charging (10 minutes of charging gives 1 hour of playback), HearThrough awareness, active noise cancellation, IP55 rating. The Elite 3 comes in 4 colors — Lilac, Light Beige, Dark Grey, and Navy — and goes on sale tomorrow, September 1st, through Best Buy and Amazon.

Jabra Elite 3

The Jabra Elite 3 are entry-level true wireless earbuds with an advertised 7 hours of battery life and ANC, retailing for $79.

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Best Buy

Jabra Elite 7 Series

The new Jabra Elite 7 Pro and Active are more premium offerings from the company, and their price reflects that. The Elite 7 Active retails for $179, while the Elite 7 Pro retails for $199. Both products offer adjustable active noise cancellation, 9 hours of battery life (35 hours total including the charging case), fast charging (5 minutes of charging yields 1.2 hours of playback), 4 microphones, 6mm speakers, and 11 levels of sound modes (including HearThrough.)

The Elite 7 Pro feature Jabra’s new MultiSensor Voice for improved call clarity in noisy environments. This tech takes advantage of the two VPU bone conduction sensors and the 4 microphones in the Jabra Elite 7 Pro to filter wind noise and transmit your voice via jawbone vibrations.

The Elite 7 Active, on the other hand, come with Jabra’s ShakeGrip coating, a liquid silicone rubber ear tip, and a wing free design to ensure the earbuds never fall out of your ears while you’re working out. They don’t have bone conduction sensors, but they do still filter wind from calls thanks to a mesh over the microphones.

The Jabra Elite 7 Active and Pro will be available starting October 1st, costing $179 and $199 respectively. The Active comes in a single greenish color, while the Pro comes in Gold Beige and Black.

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The Galaxy Book Fold may be Samsung’s first laptop with a foldable display

Samsung has been making waves in the past few weeks thanks to its foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. However, while the company has been making foldable phones for a couple of years, it’s never made a laptop with a foldable display. That could be set to change, as references to a Samsung Galaxy Book Fold device have been spotted online.

The information comes from well-known leakster Ice Universe on Twitter, who shared a screenshot with the name of the device. It’s called the Galaxy Book Fold 17, suggesting it sports a 17-inch display. The font used in the image is similar to what’s found throughout Samsung’s website, but there doesn’t seem to be a public page with this text.

However, this does throw us back to May of this year, when Samsung Display teased a device exactly like this. During the SID Display Week 2021 event, the company showed off a number of form factors enabled by OLED displays. That included, you guessed it, a 17-inch foldable laptop. You can see that video below, with the 17-inch laptop concept showing up at around the 52-second mark. 17 inches would be the size when the display is unfolded, and it could be folded into two smaller displays.

Samsung has also teased other innovative concepts with OLED displays, like an under-display camera for laptops. That was first teased all the way back in January, but we ended up seeing that technology first on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

While laptops with foldable displays are rare, this isn’t the first one we’ve ever seen, since Lenovo has attempted this with the ThinkPad X1 Fold. That device was plagued by middling performance, courtesy of the Intel Lakefield chipset inside. Lakefield was Intel’s attempt at having powerful cores and efficient cores in the same package, but it didn’t work out in the best way. However, the upcoming Intel Alder Lake processors seem to be a significantly better take on that concept, so hopefully we’ll see more and better devices with this form factor.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much else to go off of. We’ll have to wait and see if and when Samsung announces the Galaxy Book Fold. The company has been making some great Windows laptops like the Galaxy Book Go and Book Pro, so it would be interesting to see more innovative devices as well.

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Today only: Wi-Fi routers and extenders from Netgear are up to 26% off

The rise in working from home has led many of us to realize our Wi-Fi networks are terrible. There’s inevitably one room where the signal is too weak, or the whole network slows to a crawl when someone starts up Netflix. Thankfully, Netgear has discounted some of its routers and extenders in a one-day sale on Amazon, making today a great time to upgrade your Wi-Fi.

First up is the Netgear AX1800, which is built for homes up to 1,500 sq. ft. with full support for Wi-Fi 6. It’s currently priced at $74.99 right now, a decent savings from the usual price of $90-100. The router is a decent option for smaller homes, especially for under $100, but support for the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard is missing.

Netgear R6700AX Router

This Wi-Fi 6 router is an excellent option for smaller homes, where mesh systems aren't really needed.

Buy at Amazon

Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

This router has a powerful gaming-focused interface and more LAN connectors, but it doesn't support Wi-Fi 5.

Buy at Amazon

Netgear WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extender (EAX15)

This can help extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi network, with full support for Wi-Fi 6.

Buy at Amazon

The other router on sale is the Nighthawk Pro XR500, which delivers faster speeds than the above-mentioned AX1800, and also has a more customizable dashboard. The sale price is $159.99, and the router usually goes for around $190-200. Even though this model has fast speeds on paper, it can’t broadcast a Wi-Fi 6 network, so you might have connectivity problems if you have many other Wi-Fi signals around you (e.g. you live in an apartment complex).

Finally, Netgear is selling its Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Range Extender for $89.99, down from the usual price of $129.99. This is mostly intended to be used with existing Wi-Fi 6 networks, but it will work with just about any router or network. It’s dual-band, not tri-band, so speeds will be lower than a signal coming from your primary router — but that doesn’t matter too much if your router can’t reach a certain area in the first place.

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HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Battle of the Chrome OS tablets

HP recently unveiled the new Chromebook x2 11, available from Best Buy and HP’s own website later this month. The Chromebook x2 11 is the first new Chrome OS tablet we’ve seen in quite some time. It looks like a compelling product, but it’s always a good idea to consider all available options. On the other hand, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite a bit more affordable. In this comparison, we’ll take a look at how these Chrome OS tablets differ and which one you should buy today.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Specifications

Specification	HP Chromebook x2 11	Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Dimensions & Weight	9.94″ x 6.96″ x 0.3″ 2.57 lbs	9.44″ x 6.29″ x 0.29″ (tablet only) 0.99lbs (tablet only)
Display	11″ 2160 x 1440 (Full HD+) IPS LED Touchscreen	10.1″ FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS 400 nits Touchscreen
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform 8 core Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU	MediaTek Helio P60T Processor (2.00 GHz, 8 Cores, 8 Threads) Integrated ARM G72 MP3 800GHz
RAM & Storage	8GB RAM 64GB eMMc storage	4GB LPDDR4X on board Up t0 128GB eMMc
Battery & Charging	2-cell Lithium-Ion	Up to 10 hours Estimated based on lower brightness settings
Security	H1 Secure Microcontroller Fingerprint scanner	Titan C Security Chip
Front camera	5MP camera	2 MP fixed-focus with LED indicator
World-facing camera	HP Wide Vision 8MP camera	8 MP auto-focus
Port(s)	2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps 3.5mm headphone jack microSD card reader	1x USB-C (Gen 2) 5-point pogo pins
Audio	Audio by Bang & Olufsen with dual speakers Built-in microphone	2 x Dolby Audi0 speakers Smart amp
Connectivity	Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.0	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO, 2×2, 2.4GHz/5GHz dual band Bluetooth 4.2
Software	Chrome OS	Chrome OS
Other Features	Detachable keyboard USI pen support Starts at $599	Detachable keyboard Pen included in select models Starts at $219

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Design and display

Starting off with design and build, these tablets are similar in a number of ways. First, the HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet are both true detachable devices. This is something to take note of, especially since the keyboards can add some bulk on convertibles when used in tablet mode. Both tablets have similar weights, if you don’t include the detachable keyboard when measuring the HP Chromebook x2 11. The Duet is a bit lighter when both keyboard cases are attached.

One thing to mention here is we don’t know if HP is including the Chromebook x2 11’s keyboard in their weight calculation. This would mean the true weight of the device as a tablet could be a bit different than what’s shown in the specs sheet. This is something we’ll test and update when we review the HP Chromebook x2 11 ourselves. The nice thing is HP includes the detachable keyboard in the base price of the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is made from an aluminum alloy. On the other hand, Lenovo Chromebook Duets have an attractive, albeit mostly plastic build.  Sliding on the keyboard case, you get a fabric texture for grip when carrying around the Duet. There’s no doubt the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the more premium device, but the Lenovo Duet looks nice enough.

Both of these tablets also support pen input. The HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet both support the USI pen standard. HP actually includes the USI pen with the Chromebook x2 11, which attaches to the tablet magnetically. The USI pen for the Duet is included with certain models, otherwise you can buy it separately or as a third-party option from Amazon.

One key difference worth noting is the lack of biometric security on the Duet. This is somewhat expected at the $329 price point, but still a bit disappointing. The HP Chromebook x2 11 thankfully does feature a fingerprint scanner. This is refreshing to see as many high-end Chromebooks leave off biometric security options that improve user experience.

As for the displays, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the clear winner here. With a higher resolution FHD+ panel the Chromebook x2 11 looks much sharper, though both tablets offer sufficient brightness. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is simply outmatched in this category.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Keyboard and pen support

With the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the detachable keyboard is included in the price with all models. The HP Chromebook x2 11 includes both the detachable keyboard as well as the magnetically attached USI pen. With the Duet, certain models include the USI pen, while others do not. This means the price difference between these two tablets can actually be a little less if you need the pen support anyway.

When it comes to keyboard quality, much is still unknown about the HP Chromebook x2 11. The initial reviews of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet keyboard were mixed. Many reviewers found the keyboard to be a bit small and cramped — if you have large hands, that might not be ideal. The Chromebook x2 11 keyboard layout looks nice, but we can’t say for sure how good it is until we test it out.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Performance and battery

If you’re looking for the performance winner on paper, that’s the HP Chromebook x2 11 quite handily. Although we don’t know much about real-world performance just yet, the newer Snapdragon 7c in HP’s tablet will handily outscore the MediaTek processor inside the CM3 in benchmarks.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite underpowered with the MediaTek Helio P60T inside. You can get by for basic web browsing and light productivity, but any serious multi-tasking will be quite difficult. If you want to do any type of gaming or run powerful Linux apps, the Duet is not the right Chrome tablet for you. It seems likely the HP Chromebook x2 11 will take the crown in overall performance on paper and in practice, something we can and will test in our review.

In theory, both devices get similar battery ratings from their respective OEMs. The Duet reviews indicate the Lenovo tablet gets about 10 hours of real world use, with over 12 hours if you’re only browsing the web. This is fairly common to see and we would typically expect similar battery life from the HP Chromebook x2 11. One thing that might improve battery life however, is the Snapdragon 7c processor inside the Chromebook x2 11. If HP optimized the tablet to take advantage of the 7c’s capabilities, we could see significantly improved battery life.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Cameras and audio

Over the course of the last 18 months, video calling rose to prominence thanks to the ongoing pandemic. Most Chromebooks still have mediocre 720p webcams and don’t feature a rear camera at all.

Camera quality is an outstanding feature on the HP Chromebook x2 11 and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. HP and Lenovo feature FHD or FHD+ resolution cameras on both the front and back. The HP Chromebook x2 11 features a 5 MP front camera and 8MP wide-vision rear camera. As for the Duet, it comes with an 8 MP rear camera and 2MP front camera for video calls.

In the age of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, these cameras are a big deal. Fortunately, both of these Chrome OS tablets are up to the task when it comes to video calling.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 has dual speakers tuned by Bang and Olufsen, so this tablet should perform admirably when it comes to audio. Speakers on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet are also quite impressive, with a dual setup as well. It’s quite impressive what Lenovo accomplished on the Duet in terms of audio for such a low price.

Conclusion

This is a really tough one to call. While the HP Chromebook x2 11 has a premium build and comes with some high-end features, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet offers lots of value for under $250. If you plan to do a lot of Android gaming or need to type for longer periods of time, it’s probably a good idea to go with the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The Duet is a great option if you just want to consume media and handle the occasional productivity task, for a much lower price. Either way, the Lenovo Chromebook was definitively one of the best Chromebooks of 2020. The HP Chromebook x2 11 looks poised to be one of the best Chromebooks of 2021.

HP Chromebook x2 11

The HP Chromebook x2 11 combines the power of Chrome OS with the portability of a traditional tablet. You can work anywhere thanks to the optional 4G LTE capability. This is the new top of the line Chrome OS tablet experience.

See at HP

See at Best Buy

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks you can buy today, and what's more, you're not going to need to break the bank to pick one up.

Buy at Amazon

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Apple is working on letting users send emergency messages from remote locations

Apple’s future iPhone lineup may let users send emergency messages to first responders and contacts when there’s no cellular connectivity, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The report dismisses the widely circulated rumor that the iPhone 13 would support Low Earth Orbit satellite communication connectivity and enable users to text and call over a satellite network. Instead, Mark Gurman says that Apple is working on two emergency messaging tools that won’t be ready to be shipped until next year.

The first feature, called Emergency Message via Satellite, will be integrated right into the Message app and allow users to text emergency services or friends and family over a satellite network when there’s no cellular connectivity. It will appear as a third protocol — alongside SMS and iMessage — inside the Message app. Messages sent using this option will appear as gray bubbles — instead of the usual green and blue bubbles —  so that they can be quickly identified. The report says the users will be able to text their emergency contacts simply by typing “Emergency SOS” in the recipient field. Emergency texts will even bypass the Do Not Disturb mode on the recipient’s phone.

Meanwhile, the second emergency feature will allow iPhone users to report crises like plane crashes or fires and quickly get help. The feature will also be able to collect more specific information like if the user needs search-and-rescue services, if the crisis involves weapons, and if someone has suffered a traumatic injury. The feature can also automatically send details like the user’s location, medical history, age, height and weight, and so on to concerned authorities.

As per the report, the new emergency messaging tools won’t be ready at least until next year. As such, they are unlikely to debut on the upcoming iPhone 13 series, which is reportedly launching next month.

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Featured image by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash

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EcoFlow’s September Sale Has Big Discounts on Portable Power Stations

EcoFlow is kicking off a huge September sale featuring their best portable power stations. EcoFlow specializes in products that are designed to keep your electricity flowing, in the event of a power outage or off-grid situations. Some of their best DELTA and RIVER power stations are discounted throughout September, giving you an opportunity to invest in one of these important disaster-prevention solutions. Don’t wait for the power to go out, get a portable power station now and take advantage of these deals.

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EcoFlow RIVER Pro

MSRP: $649

Sale: $549

Need a little extra juice for those extended getaways? The EcoFlow RIVER Pro is designed for longer vacations away from the grid. Fast recharge times allow you to spend minimal time worrying about your power, and more time enjoying nature.

EcoFlow River Pro

Step into the wild with a massive 720Wh of battery capacity. RIVER Pro is the powerhouse for your off-grid adventure. Keep up to 10 devices powered on at once and recharge in record times via car (in 8 hrs), solar (4-8 hrs), or standard AC outlets (in 96 mins).

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER Max

MSRP: $549

Sale: $449

The RIVER Max is the best solution for weekend getaways where you’ll be away from the power grid. It’s small and light enough to fit in the back of any vehicle, with the rest of your camping gear. Use the host of outlets to make sure all of your devices are powered, even large appliances.

EcoFlow River Max

Double the capacity of the RIVER with RIVER Max and keep all your devices powered on at once on your weekend getaway. With a detachable extra battery, you have up to 576Wh of capacity that can be fully recharged in 1.6 hours, which is the fastest on the market. You can also power up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel

MSRP: $449

SALE: $329

The EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel is designed to produce maximum power at any time of the day when paired with an EcoFlow power station. The solar panel has a high conversion efficiency of 21-22% and can fully charge a RIVER Pro in 6-12 hours. It is portable, foldable, and compact, weighing only 15.4lbs / 7kg.

EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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EcoFlow DELTA + 160W Solar Panel

MSRP: $1,848

Sale: $1,599

Consider getting the full solution of the power station and a solar panel, to help you keep the lights on during an unforeseeable amount of time. The combination of EcoFlow’s 160W solar panel and the DELTA, can help you be completely power-independent. While this is a great solution for emergencies, it can also be a good way to bring power to a barn, shed, or any type of structure that isn’t hooked up to the grid.

EcoFlow DELTA + 160W Solar Panel

The EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel has a high conversion efficiency of 21-22%. Combine the 160W Solar Panel with an EcoFlow Power station to enjoy improved solar charging in cold and cloudy environments (fully recharged in 10.5 to 21 hours).

Purchase options:

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

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This is the perfect opportunity to get started with your disaster planning or off-grid adventures. Because of EcoFlow’s modular design in all of their products, you can always expand on an entry-level setup. These deals will be available through September, so take advantage of them while you can.

We thank EcoFlow for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

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Apple Music is adding classical music content from Primephonic

Apple has acquired Primephonic, a classical music streaming service, and the company plans to integrate the app’s functionality and playlists into Apple Music. A release shared by Apple reveals that Apple Music subscribers will soon be able to enjoy a significantly improved classical music experience. The company also plans to add better browsing and search capabilities, by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, and other new features to Apple Music in the coming months.

Talking about the acquisition, Oliver Schusser, VP of Apple Music and Beats, said, “We love and have a deep respect for classical music, and Primephonic has become a fan favorite for classical enthusiasts. Together, we’re bringing great new classical features to Apple Music, and in the near future, we’ll deliver a dedicated classical experience that will truly be the best in the world.”

The release further reveals that Primephonic is no longer accepting new subscribers and the service will be taken offline starting September 7th. Next year, Apple plans to launch a dedicated classical music app, which will feature Primephonic’s classical user interface and a host of additional features.

If you’re an exiting Primephonic subscriber, you’ll receive a prorated refund back to the original payment method based on the days left in your subscription. You will also get six months of Apple Music for free. This will give you access to all of Primephonic’s classical albums in lossless formats, along with hundreds of classical albums in Apple Music’s Spatial Audio. Primephonic will send out emails to current subscribers with additional details and a link to redeem the free Apple Music subscription in the coming days. For more information, check out the FAQ section on Primephonic’s website.

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Bose’s new QuietComfort 45 headphones offer better ANC capabilities and a 24-hour battery life

In July this year, we first got wind of Bose’s new noise-canceling headphones — the Bose QuietComfort 45. An FCC certification listing of the headphones gave us a good look at their design and highlighted some features. Earlier this month, we spotted the headphones in another leak, which revealed more details about its features and pricing. Bose has now finally announced the QC45 headphones, and they’re everything the leaks chalked them up to be.

Although the new Bose QuietComfort 45 (or QC45) headphones look a lot like the older QC35 II, they come with a couple of new features. The headphones offer (via The Verge) improved noise cancellation, a new transparency mode called “Aware Mode” to help you hear your surroundings, upgraded calling performance, and longer battery life.

Bose claims that the new QC45 offers significantly better noise-canceling performance than the QC35 II, especially in the mid-range frequencies, making them a great pick for commuters. However, unlike the more premium Bose 700, the QC45 only offers two noise-canceling modes — quiet and aware. The headphones also boast of better microphone performance, thanks to a beam form array that helps with voice isolation on calls and a rejection array that cancels out distracting nearby sounds. In addition, the Bose QC45 offer multipoint pairing support for two connections simultaneously.

As mentioned earlier, the Bose QC45s also offer better battery life than the older model. Bose claims that the headphones can last up to 24 hours on a single charge. The headphones also offer fast charging support, with a fifteen-minute charge adding three hours of playback time.

The Bose QC45 headphones are already available for pre-order on the company’s website. The headphones will go on sale in the US starting September 23rd, and they will be available in two colorways — black and white smoke — for $329. You can pre-order the headphones right away by following the link below.

Bose QuietComfort 45

The QuietComfort 45 are Bose's latest noise-canceling headphones that offer better ANC and longer battery life than the previous model.

Pre-order at Bose

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One UI 3.1.1 update brings new features to older Samsung foldables

Samsung’s latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, launched with One UI 3.1.1. The software release packed several new features to enhance the foldable experience, including multi-active window and natural window switching support, a pinned Taskbar, the ability to customize app aspect ratio, and more. Samsung is now rolling out One UI 3.1.1 to older devices, bringing these new features to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Z Flip, and the Galaxy Fold.

In a recent blog post, the company announced that it will start rolling out One UI 3.1.1 to older Galaxy foldables starting August 31. The update will bring the following features to the devices:

Drag & split

With One UI 3.1.1, users with older Galaxy Z series devices will be able to easily open links in a split-screen view by dragging them to the edge of the screen. The feature will work with Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, My Files, Messages, MS Office, OneNote, OneDrive, and more.

Drag & split support will be available on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Galaxy Z Fold, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and the Galaxy Z Flip with the One UI 3.1.1 update.

Multi-active window & Natural window switching

Multi-active window support will let you open up to three apps simultaneously on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the original Galaxy Fold. The feature will also let you adjust the height and width of all open windows to suit your needs. In addition, the Natural window switching feature will let you easily reorient open apps by dragging and placing them in any layout you want.

Unlike Drag & split, multi-active window and natural window switching will not be available on the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the Galaxy Z Flip.

Set aspect ratio for apps

One UI 3.1.1 will also let users set a custom aspect ratio for all apps, allowing them to make the most out of the foldable displays. As you can see in the attached image, the feature will let you set a custom aspect ratio for apps like Instagram, so that it covers the entire foldable display.

As with the multi-active window and natural window switching features, the ability to set custom aspect ratios for apps will be limited to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the original Galaxy Fold.

Pinned taskbar

Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Fold users will also get the ability to pin apps to a persistent taskbar with the One UI 3.1.1 update. This will let you easily access your most frequently used apps on the home screen. Additionally, the feature will let you switch between your favorite apps without the need to head back to the home screen or the app drawer.

The feature will not be available on the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the Galaxy Z Flip.

Along with the features mentioned above, One UI 3.1.1 for older Galaxy foldables will also give users the ability to rotate all apps, view certain apps in a split-screen view, force Flex Mode on unsupported apps, and mirror the cover screen with the main screen. For more details about the new features, check out Samsung’s official announcement post by following the link above.

It’s worth noting that Samsung has also started rolling out One UI 3.1.1 to a host of other devices, including the Galaxy S10 series, the Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy Note 10 series, the Galaxy Note 20 series, and the Galaxy A52 5G. However, the features mentioned above are not available on these devices.

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The Windows 11 release date is officially set for October 5

Today, Microsoft is announcing that the official Windows 11 release date is October 5. Of course, as Microsoft has said this whole time, it’s not coming to everyone on day one. It’s going to be a staged rollout.

First of all, new hardware with Windows 11 is going to start being released in October. You’ll also see newer eligible devices receive the update in the very beginning. As Microsoft tests more devices, it will expand the rollout, and it’s expected to be offered to everyone by mid-2022.

You’ll also need to make sure that you have a compatible CPU. In fact, a lot of system requirements have changed this time around, but the requirement of an Intel eighth-gen or newer, AMD Zen 2 or newer, or Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 or newer processor is the biggest one. TPM 2.0 is also a requirement, but that’s been a requirement on new PCs since 2016, long before any of the supported processors shipped.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you can always install via an ISO image, but then you might not get updates. The alternative is to stay on Windows 10, and even if you do that, you’ll still be supported until October 14, 2025.

Obviously, there are a whole bunch of new features that are coming in Windows 11, the most obvious being an all-new design. You’re going to see a brand-new Start Menu and a centered taskbar. There are rounded corners throughout the OS, and with that new subtle look, there are more subtle system sounds, such as when you change the volume. It also comes with new gaming features with features like DirectStorage and Auto HDR, features that were previously exclusive to the latest generation of Xbox consoles.

There’s even more in terms of design though. You can now have different wallpapers in virtual desktops. You’ll also find an all-new Widgets section, which is mostly News and Interests under a new banner and a new design. Snap Layouts lets you hover your mouse over the maximize button to snap in different parts of the display, and then there are Snap Groups to call up groups of windows. Windows 11 is also optimized for touch, letting you use gestures on the screen that you’re already used to from the touchpad.

Teams Chat is new too. You’ll find the icon in the taskbar, and you can use it to chat with friends, even if they’re not using Teams. One feature that was promised that won’t arrive in time is Android app support. That’s coming later this year.

The Windows 11 release date is October 5. As mentioned, there’s going to be new hardware as well, and stuff being sold now is already being billed as ready for Windows 11. Microsoft noted in its blog post that this is a great time to buy a new PC, and that’s the whole idea behind the new requirements, although the company also outlined things like improved performance and fewer crashes.

While it’s going to be a slow, staged rollout, you’ll still be able to use tools like the Media Creation Tool to install Windows 11 on your machine early.

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Android app support in Windows 11 delayed, likely until next year

When Microsoft announced Windows 11 earlier this year, it unveiled a lot of exciting new features. For example, it comes with an all-new design, Snap Layouts, Teams Chat, and a lot more. But one of the most interesting features in Windows 11 was that it was going to support Android apps by way of the Amazon Appstore. After the announcement, both Teams Chat and Android app support weren’t in the original previews. But while Teams Chat has been there for a little while now, Android apps still aren’t, and Microsoft confirmed today that the feature isn’t going to be in Windows 11 at launch either.

As of Tuesday morning, there are no more secrets left around Windows 11. Microsoft announced the Windows 11 release date, and it confirmed the features that will be included. Android apps is not one of those features. Specifically, the blog post said that the feature will arrive for Windows Insiders in the coming months, which is exactly the terminology that Microsoft used to describe Android app availability back in June when the first Windows 11 preview was released.

And while Microsoft has continuously said that it’s going to bring Android app support to Windows 11 users later this year, it’s remained tight-lipped about specifics. And yes, the Redmond firm regularly says it’s bringing things to users when it actually means that those things are only coming to Windows Insiders, as misleading as that may be.

I had already heard from sources that Android apps in Windows 11 were delayed. What I wasn’t sure about (and I’m still not sure about) is if the delay comes from development of the Windows Subsystem for Android, or if it comes from Amazon’s end of things with building Appstore integration into the Microsoft Store. I suspect that it’s the latter, as it’s no secret that Microsoft employees have been testing out Android apps on their own devices for a long time now.

There are a few things that can happen here. Microsoft could wait until fall 2022 to release the feature. After all, Windows 11 is only going to be once a year, unlike the biannual schedule that Windows 10 had. It’s possible that the Redmond firm could hold the feature back as a big hero feature for the major update. It’s also possible that Android app support could be delivered as a separate update. The Windows Subsystem for Android could be delivered through Windows Update, and the Amazon Appstore could show up in the Microsoft Store.

Either way, it seems like actual Windows 11 users – meaning those that aren’t beta testers – won’t be seeing Android app support until next year. It’s bad news for those that were looking forward to it. After all, it means that in order to get it, you’ll have to commit to the Windows Insider Program, which can lead you to having a potentially unstable machine for a whole year until next year’s Windows 11 update. Or, you can just buy an Android tablet.

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