Google’s Pixel Watch will reportedly have single-day battery life

The long-awaited Google Pixel Watch was finally unveiled at this year’s Google I/O, though the company was particularly cagey about its specifications. There’s been a drip-feed of Pixel Watch leaks over the past while since then, kick-started by a device reportedly being found in a restaurant right before its I/O debut. We’ve heard that it’ll pack an older Exynos chipset for starters, and we’ve also heard that it may have a 300 mAh battery and LTE connectivity support. Now we’re hearing that the Pixel Watch may have single-day battery life, an estimate that Google is said to have made internally.

The report comes from 9to5Google, citing sources from within the company. They were unable to ascertain under what conditions those estimates are, with the biggest question being as to whether or not an always-on display was enabled. It also doesn’t mention whether or not that day includes a night of sleep tracking or not. Plenty of Wear OS watches have poor battery life, but they’ll last you a day, a night of sleep tracking, and then expect you to charge it up in the morning while you get ready. Sometimes, you can stretch them out until the following evening.

As a result, a day of battery life isn’t too unreasonable for a Wear OS smartwatch, as other smartwatches often manage to tout about the same. It’s only devices from the likes of Huawei, Amazfit, OPPO, and more with their own proprietary operating systems that can pull much longer battery life from their watches.

However, the problem may become particularly ugly when it comes to charging. According to the report, the Google Pixel Watch will not offer fast charging with its USB-C to the magnetic dock charging cradle. It’s “nowhere near” as fast as the Apple Watch 7 which charges to full in 75 minutes, or up to 75% in 45 minutes. That’s the worst part, as while a watch with single-day battery life isn’t great, having to wait a long time for it to charge may mean it’s out of the running for anyone looking to pick up Google’s first smartwatch offering. 9to5Google says it reportedly takes up to 110 minutes to charge to full, which is an insanely long time.

Think about it this way: let’s say that usage time includes using your watch for the day, sleeping, then needing to charge it. That means to charge your watch fully for the day (and to use it for sleep tracking that night), you’ll need to charge it for just shy of two whole hours in the morning when you wake up. That’s just not feasible for a lot of people.

We’ll be waiting to see if these estimates from Google come to fruition, or if the company was just being conservative in its guesses. It’s definitely not a good sign for the Pixel Watch, though.

---

Source: 9to5Google

The post Google’s Pixel Watch will reportedly have single-day battery life appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/FCjB97a
via IFTTT

Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition Unboxing: An Android phone wrapped in a ninja scroll

Earlier this year, Realme launched a Dragonball Z-themed variant of the Realme GT Neo 2 phone, and now the Realme GT Neo 3 has also got the manga/anime-themed variant treatment. This time the manga/anime is Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto, which ran from 1999 to 2014.

Other than a new backside paint job, a themed UI and a really cool packaging, the Naruto Edition is identical to the standard model, so this article will focus solely on the unboxing experience and quick look at the UI. You can check out our Realme GT Neo 3 review to learn more about how the phone performs overall.

---

Realme GT Neo 3: Specifications

Specification	Realme GT Neo 3
Dimensions & Weight	163.3 x 75.6 x 8.2mm 188g
Display	6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 100% DCI-P3 coverage Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 8100 5G Mali-G610 MC6 GPU
RAM & Storage	6GB/8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh with 150W fast charging support
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP Sony IMX766, f/1.88, OIS Ultra-wide: 8MP, f/2.25, 119.7° FOV Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
Front Camera(s)	16MP, f/2.45
Port(s)	USB Type-C
Audio	Dual speakers Dolby Atmos certification Hi-Res Audio certification
Connectivity	Dual SIM 5G+5G 4G LTE 360° NFC Wi-Fi Bluetooth GPS/AGPS, Beidou, Glonass, QZSS, Galileo
Software	Realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12
Colors	Asphalt Black Sprint White Nitro Blue

About this article: Realme sent my colleague Rich Woods and me each a unit of the Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition. Realme did not have any input in this article.

---

Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition: What’s in the bo.. uh, what’s in the scroll?

I have been vocal in my critique of unnecessary phone variants that are often just a new paint job (like the “Product Red” iPhones or Olympic Edition Galaxy S devices). To me, brands have to put more effort than just slapping a logo or a new color, and this Naruto edition gets off to a good start with an unusual packaging: it comes in a package that looks like a giant ninja scroll that can be seen in the manga/anime.

This packaging is mostly made of plastic and rubber, with the burgundy flap made of faux leather. The outside of the scroll has a nice inscribed logo that adds to the feeling like some effort has been made to manufacture this thing.

There’s a buckle that unravels the scroll. I thought this was how the phone would be revealed like I’d unravel to find the phone wrapped inside. But nope — the scroll is purely decoration, it just unfolds looking like a dinner table placemat. Instead, one end of the core opens up like a drawer to reveal the phone box.

The box is covered by a cardboard sleeve housing a warranty paper and a SIM ejector tool that’s also Naruto-themed.

Lift the cardboard flap and the phone is inside, along with a transparent silicon case, a 150W charging brick, and a USB-C cable. The silicon case is a generic one with no special design, but the charging brick gets an orange paint job to match the back of the phone, which has been painted to look like the titular character Naruto’s outfit.

In promotional images, there appears to be a Naruto-themed portable battery along with some stickers included with the package; but neither my colleague Rich nor I got them — the photo below shows everything that was included in our packages. Perhaps we did not get the final retail unit? I have reached out to Realme but have not heard back. I’ll update this article if/when I do.

The visually striking “metallic” camera module appears to be just a paint job over the original phone’s glass camera module — despite the visuals depicting bolts and etching, there is no texture that can be felt by the finger.

The only textured part of the phone’s back that you can feel by touch are the three “whiskers” on each side, right underneath the camera module — this is referencing the same marks on the main character’s face (I am not familiar with the story of Naruto, but a Google search shows these are not whiskers, but in fact “marks created by a mystical nine-tailed fox”).

Boot up the phone and you’ll go through the exact same setup screens like any other Realme phone, but once you get to the home screen, you see Realme has designed a themed UI with Naruto wallpapers and themed icons. The icons have a very manga look, which is cool, but makes the phone screen look very busy.

Other than the themed icons and Naruto wallpapers (there are just three new in total), the rest of the software appears identical to Realme UI. Jump into settings, and the page looks exactly the same, likewise with the camera app. Also worth mentioning that, because this phone is only released in China, for now, there are no Google apps that come out of the box, but they can be installed easily directly from Realme’s app store or a trusted third-party source.

That’s about it as far as what sets this phone apart from the normal version of the Realme GT Neo 3. Everything else, from the Dimensity 8100 5G SoC to the “triple” lens camera array — I put quote marks in the word triple because one of the three lenses is a useless 2MP sensor so really just look at the camera system as a dual-camera system covering wide and ultra-wide. The display looks good, charging is insanely fast, and so on — it’s the same phone as the regular Realme GT Neo 3.

Priced at CNY 2,799 ($415) in China (this phone is only sold in China for now), it’s a really fair price for a phone that should appeal to fans of Naruto or collectors in general. There’s no word on if and when this special edition makes its way out of China.

The post Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition Unboxing: An Android phone wrapped in a ninja scroll appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/Ek4pdO1
via IFTTT

MIUI introduces several new foldable features for the Mi Mix Fold

MIUI already has several useful features for foldable devices, including a home screen dock, split-screen multitasking, and floating windows for apps. But as we noted in our review of the Mi Mix Fold last year, MIUI can definitely use some work to enhance the experience for large screen devices. Xiaomi is well aware of the situation, and it has now released a new MIUI 13 beta build based on Android 12 for the Mi Mix Fold, introducing a plethora of new foldable features and improvements.

Most notably, the latest build introduces a revamped desktop layout for the inner display, while the dual-screen desktop has also been optimized. The overall multitasking experience has been updated as well, with improvements to parallel windows and free-form windows. Users can use a three-finger gesture to quickly enter split-screen or open a split-screen combination with one click. Next up, Control Center has a revised layout, and you can now swipe left and right to easily switch between Control Center and the notification center.

There are improvements to the keyboard as well, including a new 9-key dual-column keyboard form and dual GV keyboard form. Finally, system apps such as Files Manager, Gallery, Theme, Recorder, Calendar, Clock, and more have been updated with optimized page structure and layout.

If you’re a proud owner of the Mi Mix Fold and want to try out the new foldable features, you can download the MIUI 13 Closed Beta build from the link below. Note that you’ll have to flash the build using TWRP to bypass the MIUI beta account whitelisting.

Download MIUI 13 Closed Beta build based on Android 12 for the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold

Here are all the new foldable features and improvements for the Mi Mix Fold:

• System
  • Added the function of adjusting the display layout of the in-app screen
  • Added in-screen classic navigation keys to support center/left/right display
  • Optimize the default configuration of parallel window applications
• Status Bar
  • Support sliding up and down the blank area on the side of the notification bar
• Desktop
  • The internal screen layout of the desktop is completely new, and the dual-screen desktop is more efficient
  • Added in-screen taskbar support to display recent tasks
• Theme
  • Added folding screen exclusive theme
  • Optimize font usage process
• Gallery
  • Optimize the display effect of core pages
  • Added map album entry
• File Manager
  • Added left and right column layouts on the inner screen, making browsing on a large screen more efficient
  • Optimize the grouping method of recent page files
  • Added the ability to hide pictures in recent pages
  • Added mobile page classification entry editing function
• Recorder
  • Optimize page structure and layout
  • Optimize the display effect of core pages
  • Optimize recording title display and renaming logic
  • Added one-click copy function to convert text
  • Added recording mark serial number display
• Calendar
  • Added calendar subscription service
  • Optimize page structure and layout
  • Optimize the display effect of core pages
• Recent Tasks
  • Optimize the form of the recent task card in the small window split screen
• Clock
  • Optimize clock view layout
• Calculator
  • Optimize the key design of computing keyboard
  • Optimize the tax credit function and merge it into the conversion page
  • Added conversion keyboard calculation function
  • Optimize history storage logic
• Lock Screen
  • When the internal screen is unlocked, the function of entering the password by hand is added
• Free window
  • Added global sidebar shortcut function
  • Added support for opening two small windows at the same time
  • Added three-finger gesture horizontal swipe to quickly enter split screen
  • Added support for adding split-screen combination icons to the desktop in the taskbar on the desktop
  • Added desktop support to open split screen combination with one click
• Control Center
  • Added support for swiping left and right between the control center and notification center
  • New control center interface layout revision
  • Remove the classic control center style
• Notes
  • Added widescreen layout settings to support switching between column and tile modes
• Input
  • Added separate keyboard form
  • Added dual GV keyboard form
  • Added 9-key dual-column keyboard form, supporting left and right hand switching
• Small Widget
  • The widget function has a new look, new widgets can be added to the negative screen and the desktop, and support dragging and dropping each other
  • Added widget center to provide rich widget resources “Pinch the desktop with two fingers to enter”
  • Added system application widgets such as clock, weather, photo album, etc.
  • Cards in the negative one screen support free drag and drop sorting

---

Thanks to XDA Senior Member kacskrz for the tip!

The post MIUI introduces several new foldable features for the Mi Mix Fold appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/I6NSe4M
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A73 5G: Which Galaxy A-series phone to buy?

Samsung has a long list of smartphones in the mid-range segment as a part of its Galaxy A-series. And if one thing we know after comparing a handful of these phones with each other, is that they all offer a very similar package overall. That being said, the Galaxy A73 5G is currently the top model in the company’s new 2022 A-series trio. It’s powered by a different chipset than the one used inside both the Galaxy A53 5G and the Galaxy A33 5G. It also sports better cameras, among other things. But is there enough to distinguish it from the Galaxy A53 5G? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out. Let’s take a quick look at the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A73 5G comparison to find out how they stack up against each other.

Navigate this article:

• Specifications
• Design and build quality
• Display
• Internal hardware
• Camera
• Which one should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A73 5G: Specifications

Here’s a quick look at the specifications of each phone to find out what they bring to the table:

Specification	Samsung Galaxy A53 5G	Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
Build	Plastic body Gorilla Glass 5 front panel IP67 water/dust resistance	Plastic body Gorilla Glass 5 front panel IP67 water/dust resistance
Dimensions & Weight	159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm 189 g	163.7 x 76.1 x 7.6mm 181g
Display	6.5-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate	6.7-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate
SoC	Samsung Exynos 1280	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
RAM & Storage	6GB/8GB RAM 128GB/256GB internal storage microSD card slot (up to 1TB)	6GB/8GB RAM 128GB/256GB flash storage MicroSD card support
Battery & Charging	5,000mAh battery 25W Super Fast Charging  No charger in box	5,000mAh battery 25W Super Fast Charging No charger in box
Security	Fingerprint sensor	Fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera(s)	64MP f/1.8 Main (with OIS) 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-wide 5MP f/2.4 Depth sensor 5MP f/2.4 Macro	108MP Quad Pixel f/1.79 12MP ultrawide 5MP macro lens 5MP depth lens
Front Camera(s)	32MP f/2.2	32MP f/2.2
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack	USB Type-C No headphone jack
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4G+5GHz) Bluetooth 5.1	5G Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi dual-band WiFi 802.11.b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Software	One UI 4.1 (Android 12)	One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Other Features	Four years of major OS upgrades Five years of security updates	Four years of major OS upgrades Five years of security updates

As we’ve seen in some of our previous Galaxy A-series device comparisons, there aren’t too many differences between these two phones. We’re looking at different chipsets running under the hood, and the Galaxy A73 5G also has a different set of optics.

Design and Build Quality

When talking about the design, it’s safe to say that both the Galaxy A53 5G and the Galaxy A73 5G seem like they’re cut from the same cloth. We’re looking at slightly different dimensions and color options, but that’s about it. They’re both made out of plastic and have a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front to protect the display. They look pretty much the same from both the front as well as the back. They even have the same camera bump that eases and melts into the rest of the phone’s back, kind of like how OPPO does it for the Find X5 Pro. You’ll definitely have a hard time differentiating between the two while looking at them from the back.

As for the dimension, the Galaxy A73 5G is slightly taller and wider than the Galaxy A53 5G. That being said, it’s also a bit thinner and lighter than the Galaxy A53 5G, making up for a really comfortable grip in the hand. The Galaxy A73 5G measures 7.6 mm in thickness and weighs 181 grams while the Galaxy A53 5G measures 8.1 mm in thickness and weighs 189 grams. Samsung is also selling both phones in different colors. You can buy the Galaxy A73 5G in Awesome Mint, Awesome Gray, and Awesome White colorways, whereas the Galaxy A53 5G is available to purchase in Awesome Black, White, Blue, and Orange color options.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G are also on the same lines when it comes to durability. They both carry an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so they should be able to withstand the occasional splashes of water and dust particles. But what we don’t necessarily like about the new Galaxy A-series phones is that they lack a 3.5mm headphone jack. This means you are forced to either use USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter or switch to wireless earphones. As we’ve mentioned in many of our previous Galaxy A53 5G comparisons, the lack of the headphone jack is a step backward from the older A-series phones, and it’s something that users in this range may miss.

Since there’s not a lot of difference between the two in the design and build quality department, we think your purchase decision boils down to the overall footprint of these devices. If you don’t mind using a slightly taller phone then go with the Galaxy A73 5G. You’re not particularly missing out on much besides the headphone jack with either phone, so keep that in mind.

Display

All the new Galaxy A-series phones rock Samsung’s Super AMOLED Infinity-O display. The same is the case for these phones too, but we’re looking at a slight difference in the physical size. The Galaxy A53 5G has a smaller 6.5-inch FHD display than the Galaxy A73 5G’s 6.7-inch screen. But besides that, these are practically the same panels with a max resolution of up to 1080 x 2400 pixels. The Galaxy A53 5G is bound to have a slightly higher pixel-per-inch (PPI) count but they’re virtually the same when it comes to the sharpness. Both phones also have support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, unlike the Galaxy A33 5G which tops out at 90Hz.

Samsung is using Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front to protect the display on these phones. We’re also looking at the same amount of bezels around the display. They’re not as thin as the ones on the flagship phones but are still thin enough to make them look modern. You also get a center-aligned punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. Samsung is known to use high-quality displays on its smartphones, so you can expect to see a good panel on both of these phones. As we mentioned in our Galaxy A53 5G hands-on piece, this display looks good for the most part, with bright and punchy colors. There’s also an in-display fingerprint scanner on both phones for authentication, so no physical scanner anywhere else on the body.

Internal Hardware

One of the main differences between the two phones in this comparison is the processors. Samsung is using its in-house Exynos 1280 chipset for the Galaxy A53 5G while the Galaxy A73 5G is rocking the Snapdragon 778G chip. The Exynos 1280 features two performance-oriented Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz and power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores running at 2GHz. The Snapdragon 778G has some of its cores clocked at 2.4GHz and others at 1.8GHz. In case you’re wondering, the Snapdragon 778G is the more powerful chip out of the two, so expect the A73 5G to score better in benchmarking applications. That’s not to say the Exynos 1280 is a bad chipset by any means. You’re probably not going to see a noticeable difference between the two when it comes to day-to-day usage.

One area in which we see the Exynos 1280 perform better than the Snapdragon 778G is power efficiency. That’s because the Exynos chip powering the Galaxy A53 5G is fabricated on the 5nm node compared to the 6nm node of the SD 778G. Again, it’s probably not going to make a significant difference for everyone but is still worth making a note of. It’s particularly important because both phones pack a 5,000 mAh battery inside. We expect the A53 5G to have better battery life thanks to the more power-efficient chip as well as a slightly smaller display. You get 25W fast charging support with both phones, but neither of them comes bundled with a charger inside the box.

The base variant of both the Galaxy A53 5G and the Galaxy A73 5G comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You can also pick up the 8GB + 256GB configuration for additional RAM and storage. Both devices also support expandable storage via a microSD card, so that’s good. You can add up to a 1TB microSD card to both phones but keep in mind that it’s a hybrid slot which means you can’t add a secondary SIM card if you are to use the slot for an SD card.

Camera

The camera is another area in which you’ll find some differences between the two phones. On the back of the Galaxy A53 5G is a camera system that includes a 64MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and a pair of 5MP sensors for macro and depth. The Galaxy A73 5G also offers the same versatility but we’re looking at a different main camera in the form of a 108MP f/1.8 primary sensor with OIS. Since the rest of the optics are the same, it comes down to the difference in the main sensor. We expect the A73 5G’s 108MP shooter to capture better-looking images with more details and low noise. In fact, we expect this 108MP sensor to perform better in low-light, which the Galaxy A53 5G is known to struggle a little bit, even with OIS. Both phones rock a 32MP camera on the front for selfies.

On the video front, these two devices can record 4K footage @30fps, so no difference there. We haven’t had a chance to sample the Galaxy A73 5G’s cameras, but you can check out some shots captured using the Galaxy A53 5G below.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G camera samples

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A73 5G: Which one should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and the Galaxy A73 5G are both great phones for the price. There’s not a lot of difference between the two in terms of the design and aesthetics, but you’ll see some parity in performance and the camera department. The company has also done a pretty good job on the software front for all these A-series mid-range phones. The Galaxy A73 5G runs One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 out of the box, and it’ll get the same duration of software support as the Galaxy A53 5G. But before we give our final verdict, it’s worth mentioning that the Galaxy A73 5G isn’t available to purchase in the US. So if you are shopping for a phone in the States then you’re limited to just the Galaxy A53 5G.

But if you’re looking to buy these phones outside the US where they’re available, or if you’re simply curious to know which one’s better, then we’d say the Galaxy A73 5G offers a better experience overall. Yes, it’s a relatively taller phone but it’s also both thinner and lighter than the A53 5G, which should make it very comfortable to grip and use. Not to mention, the SD778G is also a better-performing chip overall, albeit not as power-efficient. You also get arguably a better camera system with the Galaxy A73 5G, which is great. All things considered, it’s safe to say that the Galaxy A73 5G offers a more well-rounded experience. So if you don’t mind spending a little more on the things that we just mentioned, then look no further than the Galaxy A73 5G.

But if you don’t mind trading some of those features in favor of an affordable price tag, then we think the A53 5G is the way to go. It may look a little less powerful on paper compared to the A73 5G, but you still get a lot of value for your money for spending $450. The Galaxy A73 5G can be had for ₹47,490 in India, which roughly translates to around $610 at the time of writing this article. The Galaxy A53 5G, for instance, is priced at ₹40,999 in India, which is roughly around $530. A direct currency conversation isn’t the best way to judge a particular phone’s value, but it gives you an idea of what to expect.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The Galaxy A53 offers a modern design, large screen and battery at an affordable price

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G offers slightly better hardware when compared with the Galaxy A53 5G. But it's not available to purchase in the US.

See at Samsung

If you’ve decided to stick with the Galaxy A53 5G, then be sure to stop by our collection of the best deals for it. You can use the money you saved using those deals to pick up a good quality case from our collection of the best Galaxy A53 5G cases.

So, which phone are you planning to buy? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below.

The post Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A73 5G: Which Galaxy A-series phone to buy? appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/7C2T3Mp
via IFTTT

Does the Samsung Galaxy A53 support 5G networks?

The new Samsung Galaxy A53 stands as one of the best smartphones in the midrange market. For $449, the company is offering a decent in-house processor, a big 5,000 mAh battery for all-day battery life, a good set of cameras, and more. There’s definitely a lot to like about his particular phone, especially in the US where there aren’t too many phones to compete with it. You can learn more about it in our Galaxy A53 hands-on piece, in which we also compare it with Apple’s iPhone SE (2022) for the US market. Now, you must be wondering — does the new Samsung Galaxy A53 support 5G networks? Well, the simple answer to that question is, yes.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G support

All models of the Samsung Galaxy A53 support 5G. This is regardless of the variant you pick, that too in any region. But just like other 5G-supported smartphones, the Galaxy A53 supports different 5G bands in different regions. One of the best things about the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is that it connects to both Sub-6 and mmWave networks. Sub-6 5G, in case you are wondering, has the best coverage out of any 5G band, but that comes at a cost of a less dramatic speed upgrade. mmWave networks, while limited to short distances, benefit most from extremely high bandwidth. This is important to consider because you won’t receive 5G signals if your variant of the phone doesn’t have support for that particular wireless spectrum. For those of you who are curious, the Samsung Galaxy A53 supports the following popular 5G bands in the US: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n28, n40, n41, n66, n77, and n78.

It’s also worth mentioning that Samsung hasn’t mentioned anything about a 4G version of the Galaxy A53 smartphone. But its predecessor had a 4G variant, so there still exists a slim chance that the Galaxy A53 gets a 4G variant in the future too. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any information around that variant to update this article with relevant information. So for now, you can only buy the 5G variant of the Galaxy A53, even if you don’t plan on using 5G networks. We suggest you switch from 5G to LTE by heading over to your phone’s cellular settings to avoid excessive battery drain as it goes hunting for 5G signals.

Closing Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is one of the best options out there right now if you are looking to buy a reliable mid-range smartphone in the US. It offers plenty of good features, and it supports 5G too which means you’re not going to miss out on the latest wireless connectivity either. You can pick up a unit of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G via the link below. But before that, be sure to take a look at our Galaxy A53 5G deals page to see if you can find some good deals to save money on your purchase. You can use that to buy your phone a good quality case, like the ones you can find in our collection of the best Galaxy A53 cases.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with support for 5G. It also supports a lot of popular 5G bands.

See at Samsung

The post Does the Samsung Galaxy A53 support 5G networks? appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/6XsZdEe
via IFTTT

Google’s upcoming Pixel Tablet could offer stylus support

After years of neglect, Google is finally getting serious about Android tablets. Google’s first real effort in recent years for large screen devices came in Android 12L, which brought along some much-needed UI optimizations for tablets and foldables. But many felt that Google should lead by the example and release its own Android tablet to showcase its commitment to large form factor. At Google I/O 2022, Google gave us the first look at the Pixel Tablet, a widescreen Android tablet that will arrive sometime in 2023. While details about the tablet’s hardware remain scarce at this point, it looks like it could arrive with USI pen support.

A Google tablet codenamed Tangor has been spotted on the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) website. The listing confirms that the tablet in question has been certified by USI as being compliant with the USI Stylus and the Device specification. Sadly, the listing doesn’t reveal much beyond the device codename. We aren’t aware of any other Google tablet in the works besides the Pixel Tablet, so it’s highly likely this is the upcoming Google tablet.

For the unaware, USI is an organization that maintains a standard specification for interoperable styluses that can work on a wide variety of touchscreen devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Google has been a member of USI since 2018 and has already added support for USI in Chrome OS.

The Google Pixel Tablet supporting USI styluses will indeed be a great thing, allowing Android apps to support exciting new use cases on tablet form factor. The team behind Android tablets has already expressed interest in pen input. “If tablets really are going to become this new device for people to be creative and productive, what new apps would take advantage of people who may be doing things stylus-enabled out of the gate?” said Google’s CTO of tablets, Rich Miner, during The Android Show livestream in March.

---

Source: NuGiz

Via: 9to5Google

The post Google’s upcoming Pixel Tablet could offer stylus support appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/a2ZpNyr
via IFTTT

How to clean your phone’s speaker grille

It doesn’t take long for dust, dirt, and debris to find their way into all of the nooks and crannies of your phone, irrespective of whether it is an Android flagship or an iPhone. If your phone speaker has started to sound a bit muffled, or the grille is looking a bit furry around the edges, then it’s probably time to give it a clean. Here’s how to clean your phone’s speaker grille.

How to clean your phone’s speaker grille with things around the house

While there are definitely advantages to having the right tools to clean your phone, you can also get good results using things you probably already have lying around the house. 

Sticky Tape

Sticky tape is surprisingly versatile and is great for getting surface dust and dirt off your phone’s speaker grille. Simply tear a piece off and loop it around your finger and then gently dab your phone’s speaker grille.

Blu Tack

Blu Tack or any other non-branded adhesive putty is also a pretty good way to get the dust out of your phone speaker grille. While sticky tape fails to get inside the tiny holes of the grille, adhesive putty will morph into the right shape, allowing it to lift dirt from deeper within the speaker.

Be very careful when using Blu Tack or putty to clean your phone as pushing it in too deep can end up causing more harm than good –  especially if it breaks off inside!

Cotton Buds

Image Credit: Pexels

While they may not be very good at cleaning your ears, cotton buds make a good alternative to the sponges found in professional phone cleaning kits. Use a dry cotton bud to lift surface dust, and apply a spritz of alcohol cleaner to lift away more stubborn grime. 

Toothbrush/Interdental Brush

Image Credit: Unsplash

Last but not least, when it comes to getting dust and dirt out of your phone’s speaker grille, a toothbrush or interdental brush can get into the smallest of spaces. Angle the bristles into the tiny holes of your speaker grille and carefully brush the dirt away. Be careful not to force the bristles too hard, and remember you’re trying to lift the dirt away, not jam it in further. Interdental brushes can also come in handy for cleaning deep down between the keys of your mechanical keyboard.

How to clean your phone’s speaker grille the professional way

If you’re looking to do things in a more professional way, then there’s no shortage of phone cleaning kits available on the internet. Generally speaking, these contain a combination of the following:

Compressed Air

Image Credit: Flikr

Compressed air is one of the safest ways to remove dust from hard-to-reach or delicate places such as your phone’s speaker grille. Some cleaning kits come with a squeezy rubber air duster, while others may come with a can of pressurized air. Whichever you choose, place the nozzle near your speaker grille and blast the dust away.

Cleaning Sponges

Professional cleaning sponges come in a wide range of sizes and shapes because they’re designed to fit into all of your phone’s hard-to-reach places. While cotton buds can shed lint, cleaning sponges are static-free which makes them a better choice if you don’t mind buying some.

You can use dry sponges to wipe away any build-up of dust, and then gently spritz them with alcohol-based cleaning spray to remove any more stubborn grime.

Cleaning Brushes

As with cleaning sponges, cleaning brushes are the professional version of your toothbrush or an interdental brush. They’re designed to be stiff enough to work without causing damage and come in lots of different sizes to ensure they fit into all of the small spaces on your phone.

Cleaning Putty

Lastly, if you want to use the professional version of Blu Tack, then invest in some cleaning putty. Cleaning putty is designed to be flexible and sticky while leaving no residue. It’s also reusable and can be used to clean your Macbook or other laptops and to remove dust and debris from your keyboard too.

Removing dust from your phone speaker

For best results, you’ll want to use a combination of the above to remove the dust and dirt from your phone’s speaker grille. Start by blowing or brushing away the loose fibers, then go in for a deeper clean with some putty before sponging away any remaining residue. If you’re looking to clean deeper still then consider taking your device to a professional who can open it up and clean the speaker grille from the inside out.

The post How to clean your phone’s speaker grille appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/0gf2k3X
via IFTTT

Why I might never buy a graphics card for gaming ever again

The newest, hottest, best graphics cards are remarkable. Even five years ago, were we really expecting the sort of performance we can get right now? PC gamers and custom builders have never had it better. Well, assuming you can even buy one. But I’m looking at the current landscape and thinking I might never buy a new graphics card for gaming ever again and be happy.

This isn’t a sudden realization, it’s actually a thought that first entered my mind a few years ago. A number of different things have all come together and I’m finally ready to commit. I think.

2022 might well be the time to call it a day chasing graphics cards.

The price is offputting

Almost five years ago I spent a not insignificant £670 on a new Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti. I was so excited to get that thing hooked up inside my Alienware Aurora gaming PC and it didn’t disappoint. Even upgrading from a GTX 1070 there was a tangible increase in performance and the visual quality I could enjoy. It was expensive, but it was worth it.

Graphics cards are getting really expensive even without recent shortages.

Fast forward five years and we’re only just starting to see stocks of graphics cards come back. A combination of global chip shortages and crypto bros scalping every available unit left gamers frustrated. Those you could buy were sold at a premium. But even those that aren’t are still expensive.

In the UK where I live you’re looking at about £400 for an RTX 3060 right now. It’s a fantastic graphics card, I have one in my collection of PC parts. But it’s not even technically the “mid-range” anymore and it’s that price. The last graphics card I bought at launch was an AMD RX 5700 and that was £370 at the time. But even AMD cards don’t really have price on their side anymore.

I want to focus on the Nvidia RTX 3080, specifically. I don’t have one, right now they’re at least £800, and not even the highest performer in the Team Green stable. But it’s an important card to me, because thanks to the cloud, I can now play my games with one.

The cloud is the answer?

When I first started dabbling in cloud gaming I wondered if it really could replace PC gaming in the future. It’s not exactly the same – I’m not going to pretend it is – but right now, it’s close enough. The technology has come on so far in the last few years that I think I’m about ready.

I’ve written previously about how good Google Stadia is, and more recently about playing Fortnite on a smartphone with the power of an RTX 3080. The latter is what has started to make me seriously consider this as a reality, not just a dream.

Nvidia GeForce Now has a tier that offers its players the chance to play games on an RTX 3080. It’s the most expensive tier, sure, but compared to actually buying an RTX 3080 you would get about five years’ use from it for the same money. And Nvidia is bound to keep upgrading it. But the simple fact is this: My cloud gaming PC is more powerful than my local gaming PC.

Rise of the Tomb Raider on the RTX 3080 tier of Nvidia GeForce Now

I’m currently using an RTX 2080 inside my personal gaming PC and it’s still absolutely fine. But there will come a time it won’t be, even if it’s a number of years away. Nvidia provides RTX 2080 power on its regular tiers, so even on that, my cloud gaming PC is on par with my own.

Getting fiber helped but the requirements are within reach of many.

For me, the killer feature I was waiting on is fiber. Finally, I’m in a position to jump fully into the cloud. But it’s also why I’m won’t diminish the importance of local hardware. Previously I had fairly slow broadband. Enough to enjoy a spot of cloud gaming, but only if nobody else was home. So for everyone, it’s definitely not the answer. Though I have to say, the 40mbps base requirement for the RTX 3080 tier is pleasantly surprising. And for that, you get to play at up to 120 FPS. In most cases, higher than I can play locally. And every month more and more of my PC library finds its way into GeForce Now.

GeForce Now is certainly the most alluring cloud platform for PC gamers. I play games everywhere, but I see the appeal. The fact your library comes from Steam, Epic, or Ubisoft, all titles you’ve bought but use someone else’s PC to play. Or your phone. TV, iPad, Chromebook, web browser, there have never been more ways to play PC games. Stadia and GeForce Now both support keyboard and mouse, too.

How I game has changed

As I’ve grown older so to have my gaming habits. I’ve never locked myself into one platform, and that’ll never change, but I have fallen out of love with certain types of games. I rarely bother with competitive multiplayer titles anymore, I’m playing games that my young son can enjoy with me and I’m playing more casually, picking up for a short period and then going to do something else.

But the other big change has been getting a Steam Deck. I really do think it’s a game-changer.

I haven't played anything on my gaming PC since the Steam Deck arrived.

It might take a generation or two of hardware, but Valve has built a winner. I’m playing games in my catalog finally that I’d ignored for years. Sat on the sofa, in a coffee shop, and even in the car while I wait to pick up my kids. That falling out of love with PC gaming because I didn’t want to sit at my desk after work, reversed somewhat with the arrival of the Steam Deck.

The cloud is also a solid companion to the Steam Deck, too. Linux gaming is superb these days, but there are still those titles that just don’t work. If I want to play a little Destiny 2 on the couch, I can do so through the browser.

Performance on the Steam Deck has proved that you don’t need a stupidly powerful, stupidly expensive graphics card to have a good time. You could say the same about the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. PC gaming used to feel like the absolute best way to play, now, it just feels like a massive money pit. And I’m not sure it’s worth it anymore.

---

I’m enjoying gaming again, more than ever before, and it has nothing to do with having splurged on a new, insanely powerful graphics card. By embracing the cloud I can play amazing-looking, high-frame-rate games on a Chromebook. Or my iPad. Or there’s the Steam Deck, which is the only way I’ve played local PC games since it arrived at the end of March.

As rumors begin to swirl about Nvidia’s next stupidly powerful graphics cards, I’m not really interested anymore. At least not beyond a professional capacity. I admit that my situation lends well to this and that not everyone is in a position to rely on the cloud or a handheld PC yet.

But I’m actually really excited. Much like buying an EV, it feels like I’m taking a step into the future. All the big players are getting into streaming and Valve has made handhelds exciting again. Nvidia can keep making crazy powerful graphics cards and filling their server cabinets with them while they’re at it. All this awesome technology is making gaming accessible to wider audiences, and that’s alright by me.

The post Why I might never buy a graphics card for gaming ever again appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/6Vct7WM
via IFTTT

These Kindle models will lose access to the Kindle Store starting August 17

This week, Amazon sent out a notice to several Kindle users who still have a few older Kindle models linked to their accounts. As per the notice, select models will lose access to the Kindle Store starting August 17, preventing users from browsing, purchasing, or borrowing books using the older devices. That might seem like the end of the road for those rocking one of the EoL e-readers, but there’s still some hope. Read on to learn which models are losing support for the Kindle Store and how you can still get new books on them after the August deadline.

Amazon is dropping support for the following Kindle e-readers starting August 17:

• Kindle (2nd-gen) International
• Kindle DX International
• Kindle Keyboard
• Kindle (4th-gen)
• Kindle (5th-gen)

If you own any of the Kindle models mentioned above, you won’t be able to browse, purchase, or borrow books from the Kindle Store starting August 17. However, according to Good e-Reader, you should still be able to access existing books and have new ones delivered to these models from Amazon’s website.

This is the first time Amazon is completely cutting off store access for older Kindle models. Sadly, the company has not provided a reason for this change. The announcement comes just weeks after Amazon announced ePub support for its modern lineup of Kindle e-readers.

Do you own any of the aforementioned Kindle models? What do you plan on doing after August 17? Will you purchase a new Kindle, or will you stick with your old faithful e-reader and purchase books from Amazon’s website? We highly recommend the new Kindle with a built-in front light, if it’s the former. The ad-supported version will only set you back $89.99, which is nothing short of a bargain. For those who don’t like its tiny 6-inch display, we recommend the brand new Kindle Paperwhite. It brings a larger 6.8-inch display to the table for a small premium of just $50.

---

Via: Good e-Reader

The post These Kindle models will lose access to the Kindle Store starting August 17 appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/sNTn0om
via IFTTT

How to create a Stereo Speaker Pair with Amazon Echo

The Amazon Echo range makes up some of the best smart speakers you can buy, and they’re designed to be great on their own. But you don’t have to settle for just using one. They’re awesome for multi-room music. And likewise, you can pair two up and enjoy stereo audio. This is good for music and podcasts but also to give an Amazon Fire TV a bit more in the sound department. Echo smart speakers can be used to create an affordable, but good-quality home entertainment system. If the idea of using a stereo pair of Amazon Echo speakers appeals to you, here’s how to set it all up.

Before you begin

Before you begin, it goes without saying that you need two Amazon Echo speakers. You also need to have two of the same model for this to work. So, if you’re using a 3rd Gen and 4th Gen Echo Dot, like in the image above, you won’t be able to create a stereo pair.

You can create a stereo pair out of mostly whatever Echo speakers you currently have access to, it’s supported across the range. The only limitation is that the very oldest Amazon Echos don’t support the feature, but at present anything from the 2nd Gen onwards should be good to go.

As long as they’re set up and linked to your home network, you’re good. The two speakers will also need to be grouped together in the same room in your Alexa app, if they’re listed in different locations you won’t be able to select them. You’ll also need the Alexa app on your smartphone. The Windows app is more limited, so you’ll want your phone handy for this.

How to create a stereo pair with Amazon Echo

Assuming you have both Echos set up and connected to your home network the rest is easy. Grab your phone, open the Alexa app and follow these steps.

1. Select the Devices tab in the app.
2. Hit the + button in the top right-hand corner.
3. Tap on Combine speakers.
4. Choose the bottom option for Stereo pair/subwoofer.
5. Choose the two speakers you want to combine.
6. Tap Next.
7. Choose either the left or right channel for your first speaker, the app will automatically assign the other.

After a short wait, the two Echos will be paired together into a new group. Alternatively, you can instigate a stereo pair from within the settings for any of your existing Echo devices.

In this new group, you can tap on the individual speakers and change their channel if you need to. Sound will now come from both speakers at the same time. Likewise, if you ask Alexa to turn the volume up or down, once paired, both Echos will adjust in sync. But, not everything you do with your Echo supports stereo.

For example, if you ask Alexa a question, only one speaker will answer, usually the one that’s physically closest to you. Some skills are also restricted to just one speaker for audio. But mostly you would be doing this for music anyway, and in that instance, you’ll now get glorious stereo sound.

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

The Amazon Echo is the best all-around smart speaker for most people with a nice design, great sound and the immense power of the Alexa ecosystem at its disposal.

See at Amazon

The post How to create a Stereo Speaker Pair with Amazon Echo appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/IRxBDKz
via IFTTT

LineageOS 19 adds support for the OnePlus 5/5T, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite LTE

Want to breathe new life into an old phone you have lying around? Sick of the dated OEM skin on your device and want to try something new? If you have a OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T, or the LTE variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, then you’re in luck. The owners of these devices can now install official LineageOS 19 builds, the latest version of LineageOS based on Android 12.

OnePlus 5 and 5T

The OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T are nearly five years old, hence you may be itching to try a custom ROM out to expand functionality anyway. The official LineageOS builds for the device duo come courtesy of developers trautamaki and snc.

Download LineageOS 19 for OnePlus 5 || Download LineageOS 19 for OnePlus 5T

Before you proceed to install the ROM, make sure your phone has the latest OxygenOS 10 firmware installed. For more details, head over to the thread linked below.

LineageOS 19 for OnePlus 5 and 5T — XDA Discussion Thread

---

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite LTE

The Wi-Fi-only variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite recently received official support from LineageOS, and now it’s the time for the LTE model. Notably, you must update to the One UI 4.1 OTA release (or manually flash the firmware) before installing the LineageOS release.

Download LineageOS 19 for Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite LTE

Gaining support for the latest version of LineageOS will no doubt inject some new life into this Samsung tablet. This build is maintained by developers haggertk and Linux4.

LineageOS 19 for Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite — XDA Discussion Thread

---

To install LineageOS 19, you’ll need an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery installed on your device. Matter of fact, the LineageOS team does provide a recovery image to make the transition as seamless as possible. Remember to take a backup of your data before starting the process or you may lose it during the installation.

Next, you’ll also need to flash a Google apps (GApps) package since it’s not bundled with the ROM. If you’re not sure, check out our guide on how to pick and install the right GApps package for your device. To learn more about what the latest version of LineageOS brings to the table, be sure to check out our hands-on review of LineageOS 19.

The post LineageOS 19 adds support for the OnePlus 5/5T, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite LTE appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/r8EIqVs
via IFTTT

OnePlus Nord 2 gets OxygenOS 12 Open Beta 2 with May 2022 patches, Fortnite crash fix, and more

Towards the end of last month, OnePlus rolled out the first OxygenOS 12 Open Beta based on Android 12 for the OnePlus Nord 2. The update came with a UI refresh, new Canvas AOD features, and more for the OEM’s first MediaTek device. The company is now rolling out OxygenOS 12 Open Beta 2 for the Nord 2, featuring several system optimizations, camera improvements, and an updated security patch.

The second Android 12-based Open Beta release has started rolling out to the OnePlus Nord 2 in the form of software version C.04. According to the changelog, the new build includes the following changes:

• System
  • Fixed the issue that the lock screen interface displayed abnormally when charging
  • Fixed the issue that the screen brightness displayed abnormally in certain scenarios
  • Fixed the occasional issue that the desktop text displayed abnormally in certain scenarios
• Camera
  • Optimized the anti-shake effect when shooting videos
  • Optimized the speed of enabling Camera in certain scenarios
• Others
  • Fixed the issue of abnormal crash when enabling Fortnite

Although not explicitly mentioned in the changelog, OnePlus also bumps the underlying Android security patch level to May 2022 with this update. At the time of reporting, there is no official announcement thread for the release, hence we can’t list the known issues present in this build.

OnePlus Nord 2 XDA Forums

---

Download OxygenOS 12 Open Beta 2 for the OnePlus Nord 2

If you’re already running the Open Beta 1 release on your device, you should receive the OTA update notification soon. Keep in mind that the Indian edition of the Nord 2 is the only eligible variant for the beta.

Notably, OnePlus is utilizing a feature called “component OTA” for delivering the new build. There is no single ZIP anymore, as the incremental update package is being delivered as a set of partition-specific deltas. Although we have the download links, we have yet to come across a simplified manual installation process.

• OnePlus Nord 2
  • India
    • Open Beta 2 (DN2101_11.C.04)
      • Component (my_manifest)
      • Component (my_product)
      • Component (my_bigball)
      • Component (my_stock)
      • Component (my_heytap)
      • Component (my_carrier)
      • Component (system_vendor)
      • Component (my_region)

Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer mlgmxyysd for the download links!

---

Source: OnePlus Community Forums

The post OnePlus Nord 2 gets OxygenOS 12 Open Beta 2 with May 2022 patches, Fortnite crash fix, and more appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/qNE2UVk
via IFTTT

Play Store app listings start showing a new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section

Google is reportedly rolling out a new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section on app listings on the Play Store, which highlights whether an app is compatible with your active devices or not. This new section is currently available for a handful of users running version 30.6.16-21 of the Play Store app.

According to 9to5Google, the new ‘Compatible for your active devices’ section appears within the ‘About this app’ section on app listings. As shown in the attached screenshots, it can be found right at the bottom of the app info section. A description for the section states that it “shows you whether this app works on your devices. You’ll only see devices that are linked to your Google Account and that have been active in the last 30 days.”

Screenshots: 9to5Google

The new section should list your current phone at the top, followed by any active Wear OS watches and Android/Google TV devices. The section shows Compatibility, Version, Download Size, and Required OS for each active device. It’s worth mentioning that the Required OS section first appeared as ‘Android OS’ within the App info section in February this year. Google has now renamed it and moved it to the new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section.

As mentioned earlier, the new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section is only available for a handful of users at the moment. It is available on my Galaxy S22 Ultra running Play Store version 30.6.16-21, but not on any of my other devices. This leads us to believe that Google could be rolling it out in a phased manner. However, we have no official confirmation from the company on the matter. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we have more information.

What do you think of the new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section? Do you think it’s a helpful addition for users who have multiple phones, Wear OS smartwatches, and Google/Android TV devices connected to their Google account? Let us know in the comments section below.

---

Via: 9to5Google

The post Play Store app listings start showing a new ‘Compatibility for your active devices’ section appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/cndU9VS
via IFTTT