A retail store may have leaked the launch date of the MacBook Air M2

Apple introduced the all-new MacBook Air (2022) during WWDC22. The reveal was made along with that of iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. This year’s Dub Dub conference brought plenty of exciting and fresh changes to the table. This applies in both the software and hardware departments. For example, the iPhone Lock Screen has introduced widget and advanced customization support. Meanwhile, M1 iPads can now handle resizable app windows. Perhaps one of the more thrilling announcements, though, is that of the M2-powered MacBook Air. We got a redesigned chassis with MagSafe 3 charging support and more finish options. That’s not to mention the upgraded display, including a notch to house the 1080p webcam. Apple didn’t share much regarding this anticipated notebook’s release date. It only shared that it would happen at some point in July. A new report now reveals the potential launch date of the MacBook Air M2.

According to MacRumors, a retail store has leaked the launch date of the redesigned MacBook Air (2022). If the report is, in fact, accurate, customers will be able to get their hands on it starting Friday, July 15. Pre-order are expected to go live a week earlier, on July 8. Of course, these dates will vary depending on your region. That’s because Apple usually makes new products available in the United States, Canada, some European countries, and a few other regions before the rest of the world.

The new MacBook Air (2022) has a 13.6-inch screen, packs the M2 chip, features a fanless design, and comes in four finishes to pick from. For $1,199, you get to choose between a Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, or Silver unit. The M1 model from 2020 remains on sale for those who’d rather spend less on an Apple notebook.

Apple MacBook Air (2022)

This 2022 Apple notebook offers the M2 chip and a redesigned chassis with MagSafe support. Best Buy can notify you when it's available.

View on Best Buy

Do you plan on buying the Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: MacRumors

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Pixel’s Car Crash Detection feature might soon make its way to other Android devices

Google recently rolled out an update for the Personal Safety app on Pixel devices. A teardown of the latest release has revealed new strings suggesting that the Pixel-exclusive Car Crash Detection feature might soon make its way to other Android phones.

The following strings in Personal Safety v2022.05.25 (via Mishaal Rahman) clearly mention “nonpixel” in the string names, suggesting that the Car Crash Detection feature might not be a Pixel-exclusive offering for long.

crash_settings_check_user_status_body_text_nonpixel

crash_settings_emergency_alert_body_text_nonpixel

crash_settings_footnote_nonpixel

For the unaware, the Car Crash Detection feature is currently only available on Google’s Pixel devices, and it uses the location, motion sensors, and ambient audio to detect a car crash. Once it detects a crash, it plays a loud sound and asks users if they need any help. In case of no response, it automatically dials 911 and shares your phone’s location. Interestingly, the feature works even when the Personal Safety app is not in use.

I don’t know what arrangement Google has with OEMs, but they may be sharing the source code for the nanoapp which OEMs will then have to compile, sign, and integrate into their builds.

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) June 28, 2022

Although Google hasn’t shared any details about the rollout so far, Mishaal Rahman speculates that it might not roll out to all non-Pixel devices at once. That’s because the feature relies on a Context Hub Runtime Environment (CHRE) nanoapp, which OEMs have to compile, sign, and integrate into their software releases. Since Google currently doesn’t mandate OEMs to implement CHRE on their builds, the Car Crash Detection feature might see a limited release on some non-Pixel devices. But that could change if Google mandates CHRE implementation.

At the moment, it isn’t clear how Google plans to bring Car Crash Detection to non-Pixel devices. The company could either provide OEMs with the source code for the nanoapp or offer a precompiled version to help OEMs easily integrate it into their software releases. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we have more details.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 vs OnePlus 9RT: Samsung’s flagship takes on OnePlus’s affordable flagship

Buying a flagship smartphone in 2022 shouldn’t cost you a fortune. There are plenty of options to explore that offer a top-notch flagship smartphone experience while being reasonably priced. Take, for example, the OnePlus 9RT, which can be had for ~$699 and has all the bells and whistles you expect from a modern-day flagship, including a gorgeous display, capable main cameras, and flagship processor. But how does it compare to a seasoned flagship phone like the Galaxy S22? There’s only one way to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Vs OnePlus 9RT: Specifications

Specification	Google Pixel 6 Pro	OnePlus 9RT
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus back Gorilla Glass Victus front	Glass back Metallic frame
Dimensions & Weight	146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm 168 gram	163.2 x 73.2 x 8.7mm 197g
Display	6.1-inch AMOLED 2X Display 2340 x 1080, 425 ppi HDR10+ certified 120Hz refresh rate Always On Display	6.62-inch FHD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 600Hz touch sampling rate 1300nits peak brightness 1000000:1 contrast ratio 100% DCI-P3 coverage HDR10+
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (the US, China, India, and other regions) Exynos 2200 (Europe, South America, and other regions)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 1x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex X1-based) Prime core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A78-based) Performance cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz Adreno 660 GPU
RAM & Storage	8GB RAM 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage	8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Battery & Charging	3,700mAh 25W Wired fast charging (charger not included in box) 15W wireless charging	4,500mAh 65W fast charging support
Security	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP wide, f/1.8 Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f.2.2 Tertiary: 10MP telephoto, 3x optical	Primary: 50MP Sony IMX 766, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 16MP, f/2.2 Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
Front Camera(s)	10MP	16MP, f/2.4
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot	USB Type-C port No headphone jack No microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz) Bluetooth v5.2	5G LTE Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1
Software	Android 12 with One UI 4.1 Four major Android OS updates promised Five years of security patches	OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11
Other Features	IP68 water and dust protection Dual SIM	Vapor cooling chamber Alert slider

Design & Display

Both the Galaxy S22 and the OnePlus 9RT are great-looking phones. The Galaxy S22 is on the smaller side, measuring 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and weighing just 168g. It features a minimalistic design with rounded corners and a flat aluminum middle frame, which looks a lot like the current iPhone. The camera island on the back is the most striking element of the Galaxy S22. Both front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.

The OnePlus 9RT looks less exciting than the Galaxy S22, but it’s also made with premium materials, featuring aluminum side rails and a glass back. The back has a silky texture which feels nice to touch. OnePlus has also done a great job with the weight distribution, so the phone is comfortable to hold. OnePlus’ signature alert slider is placed on the right side, while the rectangular camera island on the back houses three cameras.

The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The OnePlus 9RT, on the other hand, has a bigger 6.62-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both phones can reach up to 1300 nits in auto-brightness mode, offer 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and support HDR10+ content.

While both displays are neck to neck in terms of raw numbers, the Galaxy S22 has a superior panel compared to the older Samsung E4 panel used by the OnePlus 9RT. The difference is certainly not huge, and unless you have trained eyes and have used a lot of flagships, you’re unlikely to notice

Camera

On paper, both phones boast capable camera hardware. The Galaxy S22 features a triple camera system, comprising a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto zoom lens with 3x optical zoom. For the OnePlus 9RT, we’re looking at a 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP macro lens.

As you can see, the Galaxy S22 has superior hardware as it offers a 10MP zoom lens. You won’t get crazy good zooming like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it gets the job done. The OnePlus 9RT doesn’t have a dedicated zoom camera, so any zooming you do will be digital, and the final image may not look as sharp.

The Galaxy S22 and OnePlus 9RT both have a 50MP main shooter. In good lighting conditions, both phones produce sharp images with high dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. But in low-light and dark conditions, the Galaxy S22 is much better and more reliable than the OnePlus 9RT.

The OnePlus 9RT’s 16MP ultra-wide camera is nothing to write home about. It produces serviceable photos in broad daylight, but its low light performance leaves a lot to be desired.

Galaxy S22 camera samples

OnePlus 9RT camera samples

Overall, the Galaxy S22 has a more versatile and reliable camera system. It offers significantly better low-light performance, a better ultra-wide camera, and a dedicated zoom lens. But for a device that costs nearly half the price of the Galaxy S22, the OnePlus 9RT still delivers an impressive camera performance.

Performance

The Galaxy S22 is powered by the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, although it is also sold with the Exynos 2200 SoC in regions where the OnePlus 9RT is not sold in. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 9RT opts for the last year’s Snapdragon 888 SoC. The Galaxy S22 has the OnePlus 9RT beat here as it’s using the newer and more powerful chipset. In particular, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers 10% faster CPU and GPU performance while reducing the peak power consumption by up to 20%. But make no mistake: the Snapdragon 888 chipset inside the OnePlus 9RT is no slouch and can easily hold its own against other Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered phones. OnePlus also puts a lot of effort into optimizing OxygenOS, so the OnePlus 9RT should feel as fast and smooth as any high-end flagship in real-world usage.

The OnePlus 9RT also has a large vapor cooling champer to keep thermals in check during intensive workloads such as gaming.

Battery and Charging

The OnePlus 9RT picks up an easy win here, featuring a larger 4,500mAh battery to the Galaxy S22’s measly 3,7000mAh cell. If you’re a heavy user, the Galaxy S22 will struggle to last you through the day. The OnePlus 9RT doesn’t have an extraordinary battery life by any means, but it will at least get you through the day.

The OnePlus 9RT also blows the Galaxy S22 out of the water when it comes to the charging speed, offering super 67W wired fast charging. The Galaxy S22 tops out at 25W but does support wireless charging, which is missing on the OnePlus 9RT.

Software

The Galaxy S22 runs Android out of the box with One UI 4 on top. Samsung promises up to four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, putting even Google Pixel to shame. The OnePlus 9RT ships with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 but is upgradable to Android 12, although many users dislike the Android 12 upgrade on OnePlus devices. OnePlus promises three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, which, while not as impressive as Samsung’s, is still better than what some other affordable flagships on the market offer.

Conclusion

Choosing between the OnePlus 9RT and Galaxy S22 is one of the easiest decisions you’ll make. There’s a significant price gap between the two, and both phones cater to different audiences. The Galaxy S22 starts at ₹72,999, while the OnePlus 9RT is priced at ₹42,999. It’s not a fair comparison at all, and your answer is more than likely dictated by your budget.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The vanilla Galaxy S22 offers a beautiful AMOLED display and capable flagship-grade cameras.

Buy from Samsung

The Galaxy S22 has a better display, a faster chipset, and more versatile and capable cameras. It handily beats the OnePlus 9RT in all areas except the battery life and charging speed. It also gives you the best software support on the market, and Samsung generally offers good exchange rates should you decide to jump to a newer Galaxy flagship later down the road. You can also check out the best deals on the Galaxy S22 to save money.

OnePlus 9RT

The OnePlus 9RT offers flagship hardware at an affordable price.

Buy from Amazon

If the budget is the constraint, the OnePlus 9RT is a no-brainer. It’s one of the best value-for-money flagships in the Indian market, and when you factor in deals and cashback, it looks even more enticing. You get a beautiful AMOLED display, flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset, capable main shooter, and blazing fast charging speed.

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Xiaomi will launch the Mi Band 7 Pro early next month, here’s what it looks like

After launching the Mi Band 7 this May, Xiaomi is now gearing up to launch a Pro variant of the popular fitness tracker. The company has shared a short teaser of the Mi Band 7 Pro ahead of its official launch and confirmed that it would land with the Xiaomi 12S series early next month.

In a recent post on Weibo, Xiaomi shared a short teaser video of the upcoming Mi Band 7 Pro. The video gives us our first look at the premium fitness tracker, which features a much larger display and better build quality than the non-Pro variant. At first glance, the premium fitness tracker looks a lot like the Redmi Smart Band Pro. However, unlike the Redmi Smart Band Pro, the Mi Band 7 Pro appears to have a more premium metal chassis.

While Xiaomi’s teaser video doesn’t reveal much else about the Mi Band 7 Pro, renowned leaker Digital Chat Station has shared a couple of renders that shed some more light on the fitness tracker. The leaked renders reveal that Xiaomi will launch the Mi Band 7 Pro in two color variants — one featuring a gold bezel around the display and a white band, while the other featuring a gunmetal bezel around the display and a black strap. Both models will come with traditional watch-style bands, unlike the Redmi Smart Band Pro.

As mentioned earlier, Xiaomi will unveil the Mi Band 7 Pro alongside the Xiaomi 12S series on July 4. The premium fitness tracker will likely offer all the features found on its more affordable non-Pro counterpart, along with a couple of extras. However, we currently don’t have any info on the additional features it may offer. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.

What do you think of the Mi Band 7 Pro’s design? Are you a fan of the new form factor, or do you think it looks a bit odd? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Weibo (1,2)

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Pixel Buds A-Series update fixes buggy Bass slider

In December last year, Google rolled out a firmware update for its affordable TWS earbuds — the Pixel Buds A-Series. The update introduced a couple of new features, including a new slider to adjust the bass, a Loudness compensation toggle, improved device switching capabilities, and more. However, since the rollout, we’ve seen several reports about users facing issues with the new Bass slider. Google is now finally addressing the issue with a new Pixel Buds A-Series update.

In a recent post on the Google Pixel Buds Help community forums, Google announced the latest firmware update for the Pixel Buds A-Series. As mentioned earlier, the update (firmware version 3.415) addresses the “toggle button issues with the EQ/bass slider feature where the bass effect continued to revert to original.” It has already started rolling out to Pixel Buds A-Series users worldwide, and Google says that it should reach all users over the course of the next two weeks.

Once the update reaches your device, it should automatically make its way to your Pixel Buds A-Series the next time you use them with a device running Android 6.0 or later. Google says that this process takes about ten minutes and it shouldn’t affect usability. The update will be installed the next time you place the Pixel Buds A-Series in the charging case. Google further notes that the update will only be installed if the earbuds and charging case have sufficient battery life and it may take multiple attempts for the update to complete.

In case the update is still not installed for some reason, you can trigger the process manually by navigating to the Firmware Update section in the Pixel Buds app and selecting the “Update available” option while the earbuds are in the charging case with the lid open.

Have you received the latest Pixel Buds A-series update? Does it successfully address the Bass slider bug? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Google Pixel Buds Help
Via: 9to5Google

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Sony Xperia Pro 1 IV: Which camera smartphone should you buy?

The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Sony Xperia 1 IV are two unique flagships, standing in stark contrast in pretty much every area, from design and display to their approach to photography. They’re great options for anyone who doesn’t want to go with the mainstream options such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or the OnePlus 10 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro was unveiled last year, while the Sony Xperia 1 IV arrived in May this year. If you’re having a hard time deciding which one is the best for you, read on as it’s time to pit the computational photography king against the phone with one of the best camera hardware.

Google Pixel 6 Pro Vs Sony Xperia 1 IV: Specifications

Specification	Google Pixel 6 Pro	Sony Xperia 1 IV
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back IP68 rating	Metal and glass sandwich Gorilla Glass Victus front and back IP68 rating
Dimensions & Weight	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm 210g	166 x 72 x 8.9mm 211g
Display	6.7-inch OLED 1,440 x 3,120 pixels HDR10+ certified Variable refresh rate between 60Hz to 120Hz	6.5-inch 4K OLED HDR (3840 x 1644) 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate 100% DCI-P3 HDR BT.2020 (Rec.2020) D65 White point 21:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
SoC	Google Tensor chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 1x ARM Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz 3x ARM Cortex-A710 @ 2.50GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A510 @ 1.80GHz Adreno 730 GPU 4nm process
RAM & Storage	8GB/12GB RAM 128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage	12GB RAM 256GB/512GB storage
Battery & Charging	5,004 mAh battery 30W fast wired charging Wireless charging Charger not included	5,000 mAh battery 30W fast charger (inside the box) Wireless charging Reverse wireless charging
Security	Optical in-display fingerprint sensor	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP main, f/1.9, 1/1.31″, OIS, binned Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 48MP periscope, 4x optical zoom	Camera setup: Primary: 12MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.7″, 1.8µm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 16mm, 1/2.6″, Dual Pixel PDAF Tertiary: 12MP periscope, f/2.3-2.8, 85mm-125mm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Quaternary: 3D iToF sensor Features: ZEISS optics 120fps read out speed (all lenses) 20fps AF/AE tracking burst with noise reduction (all lenses) 60fps continuous AF/AE calculations Real-time Eye AF (all lenses)
Front Camera(s)	11MP, f/2.2/1.22μm	12MP
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot	USB Type-C port 3.5mm headphone jack Dedicated microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers	Full range front-firing stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res Audio 360 Reality Audio (through speakers) 360 Spatial Sound (over headphones)
Connectivity	5G: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz) Bluetooth v5.2 NFC GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou	5G (Sub-6Hz) Bluetooth 5.x 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi NFC GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Software	Android 12 with Pixel Launcher	Android 12 out of the box
Other Features	Single physical SIM Four major Android OS updates promised Five years of security patches	MicroSD card support Dedicated camera shutter button

Design & Display

The design is the biggest and most notable difference between the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV. The Pixel 6 Pro comes across as a bold, eye-catching device with all its curves and vibrant colors. The Sony Xperia 1 IV, in contrast, looks as boring as an unbuttered toast.

Sony’s design has evolved little since the introduction of the first Xperia 1 II. If you were to put the Xperia 1 II, Xperia, Xperia 1 III, and Xperia 1 IV side by side, you’d be hard-pressed to find any noticeable difference. The Xperia 1 IV is a rectangular glass-and-metal slab featuring a narrow aspect ratio and a no-notch display. The back houses a rectangular camera strip, while the right frame is home to the power button, volume keys, and the dedicated shutter button.

The Pixel phones have always been unique and interesting in the design department, and the Pixel 6 Pro is certainly the best-looking device that Google has ever produced. The dual-tone play and the large rectangular strip resembling a visor are stand-out elements of the Pixel 6 Pro, making the phone stand out from the crowd and giving it a bit of character.

Both the Sony Xperia 1 IV and Pixel 6 Pro sport high refresh rate OLED displays. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.71-inch LTPO AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and a centered hole punch.

The Xperia 1 IV features a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with 3840 x 1644 resolution and a 21:9 tall aspect ratio. The panel has no cutout or notch, so you get the full unobtrusive view. As impressive as it may sound, 4K resolution on a tiny smartphone screen is overkill. Even in a side-by-side comparison, you’re unlike to spot a difference between a QHD panel and a 4K panel. But yeah, if you want to consume 4K HDR content on a smartphone, the Xperia 1 IV is the only device on the market that can do it.

Also, the Xperia 1 IV panel is brighter than the Pixel 6 Pro, so it will be easier to use outside on sunny days. Overall, we think the Xperia 1 IV has a better panel than the Pixel 6 Pro. It’s brighter, has no notch, and offers more resolution.

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Cameras

Both the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV are camera-focused devices. The Pixel 6 Pro offers a triple camera setup, featuring a 50MP f/1.9 Samsung GN1 main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 114-degree field-of-view, and a 48MP periscope lens with 4x optical zoom. The Pixel 6 Pro also offers several neat camera tricks such as Magic Eraser, Action Pan, Real Tone, and astrophotography mode.

Pixel 6 Pro camera samples

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has three 12MP shooters. There’s a 12MP main shooter with a 24mm equivalent focal length, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 12MP periscope zoom lens that can smoothly switch between different focal lengths between 85mm (3.5x) and 125mm (5.2x). Finally, there’s also a ToF sensor for collecting depth data. All three lenses offer 120fps read-out speeds, Real-time Eye AF, 20fps burst shooting with HDR, and 60fps continuous autofocus and auto-exposure calculations.

Sony Xperia 1 IV

There’s no doubt both devices pack some impressive camera hardware. However, there’s a stark difference when it comes to their approach to photography. While the Pixel 6 Pro leans heavily on computational photography and post-processing, the Xperia 1 IV puts you in the driver’s seat and gives you greater control over the final output of your shot.

For most average users, the Pixel 6 Pro is the best choice. The Pixel 6 Pro consistently produces stellar photos across all lighting conditions, thanks to its amazing computational photography prowess. It’s one of the best point-and-shoot cameras smartphones, and the effort needed for an amazing click is very low.

However, if you’re a photographer or content creator who knows what they are doing, you might get more mileage out of the Xperia 1 IV, as it gives you sophisticated manual camera controls and more control over the image output. You no longer have an AI choosing the right settings for you — instead, you do that yourself, and there’s a certain freedom to such manual control.

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Performance

Both phones also differ when it comes to the processing package. The Pixel 6 Pro uses Googe’s in-house Tensor SoC, which was uniquely developed and optimized for the phone. It features two Arm Cortex-X1 cores, two Cortex-A76 cores, and four Cortex-A55 power-saving cores. In addition, the chipset also features several other components that are used for on-device machine learning, AI-powered features, and camera processing. These include the Tensor Processing Unit, Low-power Context Hub, Titan M2 security chip, and IMage Signalling Processor (ISP).

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, featuring a 1x Arm Cortex-X1 core clocked at 3.0GHz, 3x Cortex-A710 cores running at 2.50GHz and 4x Cortex-A510 cores at 1.8GHz. The chipset is paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Both phones pack 12GB of RAM. The Pixel 6 gives you three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, while you can pick the Xperia 1 IV with 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Whether you pick the Pixel or the Xperia, you have nothing to worry about the general performance. Both perform at a flagship level in day-to-day tasks. But note that both phones are susceptible to overheating on hot days and during heavy gaming since they don’t have a sophisticated cooling system.

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Battery & Charging

Both the Pixel 6 Pro and Xperia 1 IV pack large 5,000mAh batteries. The charging speed is also the same, with both devices supporting 30W fast wired charging, which is on the conservative side when we have phones like the OnePlus 10 Pro topping out at 80W. Wireless charging support is also available on both devices. As you can see, both phones are neck to neck in the department. However, the Pixel 6 Pro enjoys an upper hand when it comes to real-world performance. That’s mainly because the QHD panel of the Pixel 6 Pro is less taxing on the battery than the Xperia’s 4K panel. In addition, the Pixel’s panel supports LTPO technology, which allows it to lower the display refresh rate to 10Hz to save power.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 IV: Which one should you buy?

As you can see, the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV are two capable flagships with powerful cameras. But if we had to choose one, it would be the Pixel 6 Pro. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the perfect flagship for most mainstream buyers. It looks great, has a beautiful display, and its camera performance is among the very best. Add in Google’s amazing software support with four guaranteed OS updates, and you’ve got yourself a pretty great deal.

Sony Xperia 1 IV

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a powerful camera-focused flagship with a breathtaking 4K display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.

Buy from Amazon

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Google Pixel 6 Pro runs on Google's in-house Tensor SoC and packs powerful cameras.

Buy from Amazon

However, if you don’t mind the hefty $1,600 price tag and value features like a 3.5 audio jack, notch-less display, micro SD card slot, and manual camera controls, the Xperia 1 IV is a fantastic option.

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Steam Deck internal memory mod could negatively impact the console

If you’ve been thinking about modifying the internal storage of your Steam Deck, it seems like you might not want to do that. Lawrence Yang, who is part of the Valve design team, commented on modifications popping up online and cautioned against this.

According to Yang, “the charger IC gets very hot” which is a great reason why heat dissipation elements should be kept in place. The problem comes from a PC Gamer article that showed off a mod being performed by Twitter user TheSmcelrea. The user proceeded to move thermal pads in order to fit a NVMe PCIe M.2 2242 card. Yang states that while it might appear to work, but the aforementioned M.2 drive isn’t meant to be used in the Steam Deck and that it draws more power. Because of this, it can also get much hotter than what the Steam Deck is meant to accommodate. All of this combined can shorten the life of the console.

A NVMe PCIe M.2 2242 card will fit, but it’s not meant for the Steam Deck

Of course, if you need more space, there are options. The easiest being to just pop in a microSD card into the Steam Deck. In various tests, it is shown that external cards work relatively well when it comes to read and write speeds. If you insist on upgrading the internal storage, you’ll want to try and find one that is compatible with the console’s NVMe PCIe M.2 2230 slot. These are not the fastest, but the are affordable and available through various retailers.

Recently, Valve announced that it would complete Q2 pre-orders of the Steam Deck and start shipping Q3 2022 orders. The firm also announced that it would be increasing shipments of the console in Q3, more than doubling the current weekly output. This is great news for anyone still waiting to get their hands on a Steam Deck console.

Source: Lawrence Yang (Twitter)

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Sony’s InZone brand delivers new headphones and monitors aimed at gamers

Today, Sony announced InZone, a new gaming brand that puts its focus into audio and visual products. Sony states that the main concept of the brand is “Immersion and Victory”. The firm announced a total of five products, two monitors and three headsets.

The InZone M9 and InZone M3 are both 27-inch monitors. The InZone M9 features 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 144Hz. It also features Full-Array Local Dimming, DisplayHDR 600 certification, Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and more. The InZone M3 features 1080p resolution with a refresh rate of 240Hz. It also offers a 1ms response time and variable refresh rate. Both monitors feature the same shape and design, with lots of space under the monitor to setup a gaming space.

The InZone H9 is a wireless headphone, featuring noise-cancelling capabilities, 360 spatial audio, and a comfortable design thanks to its use of a wide head band and supple leather earpads. Sony has likened the product quality to its highly popular Sony WH-1000XM5. The InZone H7 are also wireless, while the InZone H3 are wired – both feature 360 spatial audio and nylon materials for its earpads. Each of the headphones features a design that offers low side pressure, which means that they can be worn for hours without fatigue.

For more details about each product, you can head to Sony’s InZone product page. Although Sony did not announce pricing or availability during its presentation, the products are now available directly from Sony for pre-order in the United States and the UK. The devices are expected to ship towards the beginning of July.

Currently, pricing from the Sony UK site is as follows:

• The InZone H3 is priced at £89
• The InZone H7 is priced at £199
• The InZone H9 is priced at £269
• The InZone M3 is unavailable
• The InZone M9 is priced at £999

Currently, pricing from the Sony US site is as follows:

• The InZone H3 is priced at $99
• The InZone H7 is priced at $229
• The InZone H9 is priced at $299
• The InZone M3 is unavailable
• The InZone M9 is unavailable

Source: Sony (YouTube)

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Latest Ambient Music Mod update brings support for armv7 devices and several bug fixes

After rolling out a massive update for the Ambient Music Mod earlier this month, XDA Recognized Developer Quinny899 has now released a fresh update for the mod. The latest release brings support for armv7 devices, several bug fixes, and a couple of new customization features.

For the unaware, Ambient Music Mod is a handy Xposed-Magisk module that brings Pixel’s “Now Playing” feature to non-Pixel devices. With the v2 release, the mod received a massive overhaul with new features and support for non-rooted devices running Android 12 or higher. Now, it has received another update with a couple of noteworthy changes. Check out the section below for a quick rundown of all the changes in Ambient Music Mod v2.0.3:

Ambient Music Mod v2.0.3 changes:

• Added armv7 support
• Fixed crashes on Android 10
• Fixed an issue where some tracks were not showing up in the track list or in the track count (US database is actually 69k tracks, not 53k)
• Added an option to change the lockscreen overlay text color
• The lockscreen overlay text now has a slight shadow, improving visibility
• Added coaching for updates, which should prevent rate-limit issues. You can force an update check (ignoring cache) by swiping to refresh
• Enabled landscape orientation
• Fixed background crashes in Now Playing, which may help download issues
• Improved Magisk On Demand module overlay installing, which may fix bootloops on some devices

You can download the latest release from the developer’s GitHub page by following the link below. If you face any issues, you can share your feedback in the mod’s XDA forums thread. Check out our Ambient Music Mod v2 hands-on preview for more details on the mod.

Download Ambient Music Mod v2.0.3 || Ambient Music Mod XDA forums thread

Have you tried the Ambient Music Mod on your device? How’s your experience been so far? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Steam Deck shipments more than doubled for upcoming pre-orders

Good news for those patiently waiting for a Steam Deck. Valve has announced through its Twitter account that it has finished the last batch of Q2 shipments and is on track to begin shipping its Q3 reservations. In addition, Valve has revealed that it will also be shipping more than double its previous pre-order volume each week in Q3 2022.

Those who reserved a Steam Deck and are in the Q3 2022 reservation window can expect an email from Valve starting June 30. On top of this exciting news, the company has indicated that the production of the device has “picked up.” This means that going forward, the company will be shipping more than double the amount of consoles every week during the third quarter of 2022.

While optimistic, the company does state to be patient, as it will take some time for the wave of Q3 emails to go out. Naturally, if you are anxious and can’t wait, you can always log in to your Steam account to check the status of your reservation. Although this is great news for those that pre-ordered the device, there is still no word about the Steam Deck Docking Station that was delayed due to a parts shortage. Hopefully, Valve will shed more light on this soon.

Valve has made strides with its console, offering new Windows drivers, despite its stance on loading unsupported operating systems on its console. The firm has also partnered with iFixit, just in case you need to repair your device, it now offers official replacement parts. Furthermore, it has updated its firmware to version 3.2, bringing improvements to fan controls, refresh rate, and frame rate controls. Finally, the firm has continually increased compatibility with its existing game library. If you still haven’t ordered your Steam Deck due to the shipping delays, you might want to order it right away if you want to get it in time for the holiday season.

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Source: Steam Deck (Twitter)

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Jabra Elite 85T: Which TWS should you choose?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the Jabra Elite 85T are two of the best true wireless earbuds on the market, offering great sound, ergonomic designs, and effective ANC. The Galaxy Buds 2 was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Meanwhile, the Jabra Elite 85T came out in 2020 and is comparatively older than the Galaxy Buds 2. However, Jabra continues to promote it as the flagship product. Both earbuds have strengths and weaknesses, but which one comes out on top? We find out in this head-to-head comparison.

Galaxy Buds 2 Vs. Jabra Elite 85T: Specifications

Specification	Galaxy Buds 2	Jabra Elite 85T
Build and Weight	17 x 20.9mm (earbud) 50.2 x 50 x 27.8mm (case) 5g (earbud) 41.2g (earbud)	23.1 x 19.0 x 16.2mm (earbud) 64.8 x 41.1 x 28.5mm (charging case) 7g (earbud) 45.1 (charging case)
Audio	Dynamic 2-way speakers 11mm Woofer 6.5mm Tweeter	12mm dynamic drivers
ANC	Yes, ANC supported 3 levels of ambient sound control Ambient sound/transparency mode Machine Learning solutions to cut-off sound	Yes, ANC supported HearThrough (transparency) mode Adjustable mode
Microphone	3 microphones (each earbud)	3 microphones (each earbud)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.1
Battery & charging	5 hours of playback with ANC 20 hours of total playback (with charging case)	5.5 hours of playback with ANC 31 hours of total playback (with charging case)
IP rating	IPX2	IPX4
Colors	White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender	Titanium Black, Gold Beige, Copper Black, Grey

Design, comfort, and IP rating

On paper, the Galaxy Buds 2 and Jabra Elite 85T both promise to be lightweight and comfortable. But looking at the numbers, the Galaxy Buds 2 have an edge here as they weigh just 5g making them 2g lighter than the Elite 85T. As far as looks are concerned, both earphones follow a similar design, but the Galaxy Buds 2 look more modern and eye-catching thanks to their rounded design that extends to the charging case.

The Jabra Elite 85T has oblong ear tips along with an earwax guard that prevents dirt, debris, and gunk from blocking the speaker grille. The Galaxy Buds 2 goes with the standard circular ear tips. To help you choose the appropriate tip, Samsung’s app also has an ear tip test.

When it comes to controls, both earbuds take a different approach; the Galaxy Buds 2 have touch gestures, so there’s a chance that they might sometimes register accidental or false taps. You’re unlikely to run into this issue on the Jabra Elite 85T as they use good old physical buttons, but that also means you need to apply a slight pressure to activate them, risking them unsettling from your ears.

Both earbuds have an IP rating for water and sweat protection, but Jabra Elite 85T fare better as they merit an IPX4 rating as compared to the IPX2-certified Galaxy Buds 2. That means they’re better suited for intense workouts and outdoor activity.

Sound quality, ANC, and calling experience

Both earbuds differ when it comes to the audio driver setup. The Galaxy Buds 2 features dynamic two-way speakers, consisting of an 11mm woofer for bass and midrange and a 6.5mm tweeter to handle high frequencies. The Jabra Elite 85T has the more traditional setup, featuring a single 12mm dynamic driver in each earbud. The Galaxy Buds 2 clearly have superior hardware, but remember that a lot depends on the audio tuning.

Should you not like the sound quality out of the box, both Samsung and Jabra give you a lot of customization options via their companion apps, allowing you to tweak the audio to your liking and play around with different sound profiles.

Coming to active noise cancellation (ANC), both earbuds claim to deliver powerful ANC performance. Samsung says the Galaxy Buds 2 can reduce the external noise by up to 98% though that doesn’t mean they can completely isolate you from the outside world — you’ll still hear people’s voices and high-pitched noise.

The Jabra Elite 85T has a dedicated processor for noise cancellation, and you can control the level of ANC from the Sound+ app. They also have pressure relief vents to reduce pressure build-up in the ear caused by the tight seal and ANC.

Both earbuds offer adjustable transparency or ambient mode to let you easily listen to surrounding sounds and people’s voices without taking off the earphones. For calling, the Galaxy Buds 2 use two beam-forming microphones and a built-in voice pickup unit. In addition, there’s a machine-learning-based solution that cuts down on external sound.

The Jabra Elite 85T use similar beam-forming microphones along with advanced wind-protection and noise reduction algorithms to cancel out wind noise and unwanted surround sound.

Battery life & other features

In terms of battery life, we’re looking at 5 hours of play time with the Galaxy Buds 2 with ANC on and 5.5 hours with the Jabra Elite 85T. While these numbers are close, the Galaxy Buds 2 lag behind when it comes to total endurance, delivering up to 20 hours of playback with the charging case. That’s 11 hours short of what the Jabra Elite 85T promises (up to 31 hours with the case). Both earbuds offer Qi wireless charging and USB-C wired charging.

Other notable highlights of the Galaxy Buds 2 include Bluetooth 5.2 support, IPX2 rating, 360 Audio, Bixby/Assistant integration, and support for SBC, AAC, and Samsung Scalable codecs.

As for the Jabra Elite 85T, you get Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, multipoint support, SBC and AAC codecs, IPX4 rating, and Assistant/Siri support.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Buds 2 and Jabra Elite 85T are both capable true wireless earbuds with a solid set of features. But overall, we think the Galaxy Buds 2 are a better deal as they’re reasonably priced and offer the best bang for your buck. Originally launched at $149, they’re often on sale for $100-110 on Amazon (also check out the best Galaxy Buds 2 cases). The ecosystem integration with Samsung Galaxy smartphones also makes them a good option if you have a Samsung device. If you want solid battery life and are planning to use your earbuds for intense physical activity, then Jabra Elite 85T fit the bill better. They have IPX4 water resistance (Vs. IPX2 on the Galaxy Buds 2) and provide up to 31 hours of playback. Their original price is $229 but is routinely on sale for $149.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The Galaxy Buds 2 offer effective ANC, two-way speakers, and up to 20 hours of battery life

Buy from Amazon

Jabra Elite 85T

The Jabra Elite 85T are premium true wireless earbuds with 12mm dynamic drivers, powerful ANC, and 31 hours of battery life.

Buy from Amazon

Here’s a quick rundown of what we like and dislike about both earphones.

What we like about the Galaxy Buds 2:

• Lightweight and eye-catching
• Superior audio driver setup
• Effective ANC and ambient sound mode

What we don’t like:

• Subpar total battery life
• Lack of iOS app support

What we like about the Jabra Elite 85T:

• Ergonomic design
• Long-lasting battery life
• IPX4 rating

What we don’t like:

• A bit dated look
• Expensive

Which earphone would you pick? Let us know in the comments below!

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