The Google Pixel Fold is now official, though you won't be able to buy it until next month, and it sounds as though the company is open to the idea of developing foldables in other form factors in the future as well.

This comes from Google Pixel product manager George Hwang speaking to Tom's Guide at Google I/O 2023: in response to a question about flip foldables, Hwang said that the Pixel team is "definitely looking" at "different types of devices, different types of technologies".

This is by no means a confirmation that Google is bringing out a Pixel Flip in the near future, something like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 or the Motorola Razr 2022 – but Google certainly seems open to bringing out other foldables in the future.

Focus on the Fold

In the same interview, Hwang said that the team at Google was currently very much focused on making sure that the Pixel Fold is the best it can be – "from the design to the apps as well as the cameras" in his words.

That suggests that the classic foldable form factor is going to be the one that keeps Google busy for the foreseeable future. It's by no means easy to get right, and it makes sense to try and perfect the Google Fold before moving on to the Google Flip.

Several manufacturers in our list of the best foldable phones make foldables in two different form factors – Samsung being the perfect example – and it means that those in the market for a new foldable have more than one type to choose from.

Analysis: setting foldable standards

Tom's Guide previously published another article off the back of its interview with Google Pixel product manager George Hwang, and it gives us more context to the development and the launch of the Google Pixel Fold, unveiled on May 10.

"Our focus was on ensuring that we brought the best device all around," says Hwang, producing a handset that would deliver the "greatest experience for a foldable phone to our users" – and that meant reworking the architecture of the device from scratch, redesigning components such as the cameras to suit.

Google is claiming that the Pixel Fold has the most durable hinge on a foldable yet, based on an extensive testing process. The outer display was designed to give the most phone-like experience possible too, so that users only have to open up the foldable when they need the full 7.6-inch display.

As for why Google is so far behind Samsung on foldables – with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 imminent – Hwang says it was a question of getting the right hardware, software, and apps in place and working together. From our first impressions, we'd say Google got the combination just about right.

I thought I’d never met Carl Pei before, but he told me we did so years ago when he, along with Pete Lau, was launching OnePlus, the company he left to found Nothing Tech. I honestly don’t remember, though I do recall how intrigued we all were at this Android upstart.

Now, years later, he’s CEO of this still new and closely watched mobile technology startup. 

After a splashy launch of the glyph-backed Nothing Phone 1, everyone is eagerly awaiting the small company’s second act: the Nothing Phone 2, which will be its first major smartphone launch in the US. Most expect it to arrive in the middle of the year. No one outside of Nothing knows what it will look like or what technology it will pack inside, beyond promises of more premium components (I see you Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1).

I’ve been critical of the company but am also curious. So when I got the invite for a casual Nothing meet-up in a trendy Brooklyn bar, with a promise that Pei would be there, I jumped at the chance.

Pei showed up without fanfare, dressed in a large puffy black down jacket that somehow made him look younger than his 33 years.

Someone introduced me to Pei and after he reminded me we sort of knew each other, we quickly fell into a deep and lengthy discussion about the phone market.

There was no expectation that I was conducting an official interview, which meant I didn’t take notes and wouldn’t be quoting Pei at length. Still, after we were done I jotted down some recollections and insights that I can share here.

Naturally, I asked Pei if he had the Nothing Phone 2 on him. He did, but wouldn’t show it to me.

When I asked if this would iterate on the previous design or head in a new direction, Pei wouldn’t say.

What he did tell me, though, is that Nothing has no plans or illusions about dominating the US phone market. Pei said that Apple has it pretty much locked up (much more so now than when he started at OnePlus).

Pei talked a lot about the need to innovate, but always within the practical limits of his small company.

Nothing is based in the UK, but has small teams in China, Taiwan, and Europe. It manufacturers in India. Nothing is well diversified in this way. It’s also backed, in part, by Google, which probably appreciates the way Nothing pushes the boundaries of Android phone design.

We talked about the Nothing Phone glyph and while I complimented how it could, with light, show you the status of your charge, Pei clearly didn’t think the transparent back had enough utility, at least not yet.

We dug into apex smartphone features such as fast charging, fast chips, and powerful cameras. But Pei said everyone is doing all that and trying to match competitors beat for beat is no way for it to survive. He described his company as, more or less, a tiny fish in an ocean.

I mentioned how I love the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for its 10x optical zoom, but Pei said his team is too small to compete in camera innovation.

Instead, Pei’s plan is really the long game. Sell, for a time, boutique phones and build a technology brand around them. Not one that pushes the limits of feasibility and believability like Humane wearables, but one that points to the next phase of computing, whatever that is.

Pei’s Nothing will carefully walk the tightrope between innovation and viability. It will swing hard but never too far.

There’s no doubt that there will be something interesting and special about the Nothing Phone 2, but not something that will make it impractical.

To support this slow, steady innovation creep, Nothing will expand in the markets where it has the best chance of, if not winning, growth. India is such a market. Other emerging markets, though, like Africa, might not be such a good bet because they’re looking for truly cheap phones and do not care about features like a see-through back.

Pei is optimistic about the Nothing Phone 2 and told me development is going well. What it’s developing into, well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

We've got more leaks of the upcoming Motorola Razr 2023 foldable to bring you – and it looks as though the smaller screen on the outside of the device is going to be capable of running full apps and even supporting a keyboard.

This comes from well-known tipster Evan Blass (via 9to5Google), who has posted a pile of images and videos of the flip phone ahead of its official unveiling. We can see apps and games running full screen on the cover display, and a keyboard popping up.

There's what looks like a mapping app on show here, as well as an app that appears to be TikTok. One of the videos shows a user tapping away on the cover screen keyboard to respond to a contact in an instant message conversation.

On the cover

These photos and videos look very much like official promotional materials designed by Motorola, so we'll probably see something like them when the phone is unveiled. That's rumored to be happening around August time, a year after the Razr 2022.

This sort of full app support for the cover display is a welcome feature: it matches what we've seen on previous Razr flip foldables, and it's something that you don't get on similar phones from other manufacturers (like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4).

From what we've heard so far, it sounds as though the 2023 version of the Motorola Razr is going to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor, and we've already seen pictures of the handset showing off the larger cover screen this time around.

Analysis: what's in a name?

Evan Blass is a leaker with a strong track record and we don't have any reason to doubt the information and the media that he shares. In the same tweet thread as the images and video, Blass has also outlined how the branding of the Razr 2023 is going to work.

As has been hinted at previously, we're apparently going to get two Razr models in 2023, differing in terms of specs and price, if not design. Blass says that the more premium phone will be the Razr Plus in the US and the Razr 40 Ultra everywhere else.

That Razr 40 Ultra name has come up before. Presumably the standard models will be the Razr in the US and the Razr 40 in other regions – we'll have to wait and see which of the rumored specs apply to which of the handsets.

It's a somewhat confusing approach, and we're not entirely sure the reason for it – but it's something Motorola has been doing for years. The recent Motorola Edge 40 Pro, for example, is known as the Edge Plus in the United States.

Google will finally be updating the App Pairs feature for the native version of Android 14, giving users a way to save certain split-screen apps on their phone.

For those who need a refresher, App Pair is a multitasking tool allowing Android owners to open two apps, place them side-by-side, and interact with them at the same time. The annoying thing was you couldn’t save them on Pixel hardware, so you had to redo the pairing every time you closed them. That is, until this latest leak, which was discovered by freelance tech journalist Mishaal Rahman who shared his findings on Twitter. 

He came across a “launcher flag” digging through the files of the second Android 14 beta “that, when enabled, surfaces” a new ‘Save app pair’ option “in the context menu of split-screened apps”. Rahman states the selection doesn’t work at the moment, but he does expect it to work as intended later down the line. There’s no indication in his findings whether or not the feature will be available with the launch of Android 14, however.

Now you may be asking: “doesn’t this already exist on Android?” Yes, it does. The problem was split-screen saving was never available on the base version of Android OS nor on Pixel. It's something usually added by third parties to their respective tech. Samsung, for example, gave users the ability to save app pairings from the get-go when it introduced its own rendition of App Pairs to Galaxy phones back in 2017. Pixel devices, for whatever reason, have lagged behind.  

Improved multi-tasking

Staying on this thread of Google playing catch up, industry leaker Nail Sadykov discovered another new multitasking feature in the latest Android 14 beta. This time, the operating system will allow you to “use system navigation” while dragging and dropping items. So, you’ll be able to grab a photo from one app, “open another, [then] drop it there” without much hassle. It also works with text. Highlighting a string of words lets you move them to somewhere else, effectively eliminating the need for copying and pasting.

Just like Rahman’s findings, the improved drag and drop tool does exist on other smartphones from iOS to Oppo hardware. It's just that Google has been a little slow on the uptake. Hopefully, these quality-of-life updates will appear on the Pixel 8. While they’re not the most game-changing additions, the small stuff does add up, and it can turn an okay device into something special. 

Speaking of the Pixel 8, a recent leak for the Pro model reveals it may be getting a thermometer of all things. It’ll be next to the camera lenses on the rear. We're not sure what Google intends to do by adding a thermometer to Pixel, which seems a pretty random inclusion.

Once you’re done catching up on our coverage of Google's next flagship, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best Pixel handsets for 2023 if you’re looking to upgrade. 

Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, recently confirmed on Twitter the upcoming Nothing Phone (2) will run on the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 mobile platform.

This reveal comes a couple months after initial rumors hinting at the chipset’s inclusion, which raised some eyebrows at the time. Some questioned the decision to equip the company’s new flagship smartphone with last year's tech instead of the latest advancements, which is what Samsung did with the Galaxy S23. Pei, seemingly aware of these concerns, followed up the announcement with a Twitter thread explaining the reasoning behind the company’s decision to go with the older hardware. He states “it’s not just about speed – it’s about the complete package.” 

Potential features

Pei states the camera on the Nothing Phone (2) will support Raw HDR image files and 4K video recording at 60 FPS. This is thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 sporting “an 18-bit Image Signal Processor (ISP) capable of capturing over 4,000 times more camera data” than the Nothing Phone (1). He’s also quite confident in the chipset’s efficient “power consumption and heat management”, calling it “best-in-class”.

It is interesting to point out Pei understands that the Phone (2) won’t be a powerhouse. The thread goes on to say the company is prioritizing the “user experience over being first in the specs race.” But at the very least, the flagship device will see an 80 percent boost in overall performance compared to the Phone (1) so improvements are indeed being made. Speed just isn’t a priority for them which is probably the smarter move.

Ol' reliable

If Nothing were to install the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 into the Phone (2), the price tag would most likely shoot up a considerable amount – not to mention all the bugs the users will have to deal with. An expensive phone would also fly in the face of its consumer base. After all, the company has carved a niche for itself as an affordable option to high-tech smartphones like the aforementioned Galaxy S23.

And as Pei states, the Gen 1 platform “has been thoroughly tested and continuously optimized through numerous updates since its introduction”, so it’s not like people are getting the dog days or anything. You could even argue customers will be using the chipset in its prime.

We should mention a recent report from tech news site Inverse claims Nothing OS is getting a redesign in order to be more distinct. The system has been criticized in the past for being a “mostly stock Android experience with a few sprinkles of Nothing’s custom dot matrix font”. According to Inverse, the new user interface will break from the “established grid layout”. However, there weren’t any screenshots showing off the redesign nor could the report confirm that it’ll end up on the upcoming device.

The Nothing Phone (2) is set to launch later this summer.

• TechRadar's list of the best Android phones 2023: top Google-powered phones

Google’s Pixel Pro 8 might benefit from a new built-in thermometer, if the latest leak from the grapevine proves correct.

Android Police spotted a leaked video, purportedly of the next-gen Pixel Pro, which comes from 91mobiles and @Za_Raczke on Twitter, showing off the handset front and back – and that new sensor.

The video clip (which you can watch below) is about the sensor which measures your body temperature. You use it by holding the sensor close to your skin, and basically moving it across your forehead to your temple.

The smartphone’s temperature sensor can be used on objects, too, not just your body.

We can see that the design of the Google Pixel Pro 8 is very much in the same vein as the Pixel Pro 7. There are slight differences, like the rear camera configuration, which has all the cameras grouped together in the pill housing (but the raised strip across the back with the cameras in it remains the same).

We can expect more leaks on the Pixel Pro 8 in the near future as @Za_Raczke tells us that “this is only the beginning”.

Analysis: Tepid take

This is a bit of an odd one. The leak tells us Google is pretty much treading the same path as the Pixel Pro 7 with the Pro 8, and the major addition into the mix here is one that’s, well, of dubious value – or at least a niche thing.

Okay, so there are times when it’s useful to take your temperature, like when you’re ill, just to make sure you aren’t really burning up. But you can just use a thermometer for those (likely) pretty rare occasions – although admittedly, scanning your skin is a less intrusive way of going about measuring your temperature than a traditional (stick under your tongue) thermometer.

It’s quick and convenient, certainly – providing you don’t get misreads and have to do it repeatedly. Accuracy will, of course, be key to how this new feature goes down, and past implementations of temperature sensors on phones haven’t exactly been a big hit (like the Galaxy S4, way, way back).

In short, this all seems a bit out of left field. Is a thermometer top of your wish-list for the next Google Pixel Pro? Is it even on your wish-list for that matter? Nope, ours neither. Ahh, well.

The Android vs iPhone debate – or rather, the Android vs iOS debate - has raged for as long as both operating systems have been out in the wild, but new figures suggest one camp will be the much happier of the two in 2023. 

According to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the last 12 months have seen Apple lure more users away from Android than at any other point in the last five years. The research institute found that, from March 2022 to March 2023, 15% of individuals who purchased an iPhone indicated that they had switched from an Android phone. 

In other words: iPhones are winning the war. But why? In this article, we highlight five possible reasons – some objective, some subjective – why Android phones continue to lose so much ground to Apple’s pocket-sized marvels. 

1. iPhones offer longer software support

The strongest hold iPhones have over Android phones is their superior longevity. Apple generally supports new iPhones with iOS updates for five or six years after their release, and those updates come to all devices in one fell swoop. Sure, the oldest devices don’t always support every new feature of a given iOS update, but their security and basic functionality are maintained to a high standard for an impressively long time (there’s a reason why you still see so many banged-up iPhone 8s knocking around).  

Android phones, on the other hand, aren’t supported for anywhere near as long as iPhones. Samsung, for instance, offers four years of software updates and five years of security updates for the best Samsung phones, while Google offers Pixel users three years of software updates (and the same security commitment). You do the math: you’re able to use iPhones for longer.

As TechRadar’s US Mobiles Editor, Philip Berne – a loyal Android fan – recently wrote in an article pleading with Google to give Android its day in the sun at Google I/O 2023: “We respect things that are reliable. We respect products that last and last, proving their value. We respect devices that exceed our expectations and don’t let us down. 

“If I buy an iPhone 14 today, I know that Apple will support it for five or six years to come, maybe more. [...] That’s long enough to be a hand-me-down, which is game-changing when a phone costs so much. I can use my iPhone 14 Pro for 3 years, then give it to my child to keep for another few years. I know that I’ll have the same parental locks and protection that I have today because Apple will keep updating.

“If I buy a Samsung or Google phone today, the best I can hope for is four years of updates, and that’s only if I buy the best phones. If I buy anything less, that lifespan for support gets cut considerably.”

2. iPhones offer better resale value 

As a by-product of their superior longevity, iPhones offer better resale value than Android phones. They’re smarter investments for those who regularly chop and change their devices, being some of the most expensive phones to buy second-hand.

Take the iPhone 13 series, for example. At launch, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro cost $799 / £779 / AU$1,349 and $999 / £949 / AU$1,699, respectively. Two years later, and you’re still able to get around 75% of that cost back, depending on your chosen marketplace.  

For comparison, Samsung’s 2021 flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, cost $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 at launch and retails for some 60% less on the second-hand market in 2021 (and that’s going by eBay – where used iPhones cost the most). 

3. iPhones offer iMessage 

iPhones offer iMessage whereas Android phones don’t. Why does this matter to people? It’s hard to say for sure, but we suspect that the reasons go beyond a simple preference for blue-colored messaging bubbles. 

Rather than just being a fancy version of SMS (Short Message Service), iMessage behaves in a similar way to Facebook Messenger. Messages, photos, and videos sent between iPhone users use Wi-Fi and data instead of eating into users’ text message plans, and this dissociation with cellular networks allows for a bevy of iMessage-specific features. You can react and reply to iMessages, translate them, and even send money in the Messages app using Apple Cash.

None of this is possible through basic SMS messaging, and although a new communication standard – RCS (Rich Communication Service) – may eventually improve the messaging experience between Android and iOS devices, Apple has so far shown an (understandable) reluctance to level the playing field. 

4. iPhones are more popular with young people

We’ll rip the band-aid off: iPhones are still seen as cooler than Android phones in 2023. Why? It’s hard to say, but their popularity among young people is undeniable. 

As Phil puts it in his aforementioned article: “The Wall Street Journal says that Gen Z leads the charge toward Apple dominance. I can personally attest to that, as my son is 14 and he has an iPhone 11. It is not his first iPhone 11, it’s his third, since he’s broken a couple over the years.

“Every time he breaks his iPhone I ask if he wants to trade it for something else. ‘A better iPhone?’ He asks. Well, no, I explain. A Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus. See, Samsung will give you good money for your iPhone, even if it’s broken, and all you have to do is switch...

“He waves me off with a flap of his hand. This conversation ended before it began. He wouldn’t switch from his iPhone. There’s no chance, I needn’t suggest it. He can’t even explain why. His friends all have iPhones. Does it bother him when a friend shows up with a green bubble in a chat? He doesn’t know, because it hasn’t happened yet.” Ouch. 

5. iPhones boast a better app selection 

This one’s a little subjective, but iPhones offer a better app selection than Android phones. To be clear: we’re not talking about numbers here – in fact, some reports have it that the Google Play Store boasts almost two million more apps than Apple’s App Store. But the unprovable truth is that App Store apps tend to be of a higher quality than their Google Play counterparts. 

Why? There are two reasons, in our book. The first is that app developers typically make more money through iOS, so they prioritize the App Store when it comes to the speed and polish of their products. The second is that Apple’s App Store offers a larger selection of pro-level creativity and productivity apps – those which are optimized for the respective screen sizes of the iPhone and iPad, whereas Android tablet apps are not always optimized. 

The takeaway

It's no secret that Google faces an uphill battle if it hopes to close the gap between Apple and its iOS-powered iPhones, not least because popularity breeds more popularity. The more people that use iPhones, the more popular iPhones become – and it's not a great look when those users continue to defect from Android in increasing numbers.

So, what can Android developers do to stop the exodus? They should start by taking a leaf out of Apple's book and streamlining the whole operating system. The first time you boot up an Android phone, you're met with tons of garbage – games, in-house apps, third-party apps – that just aren't of any interest to most people. Who needs two photo gallery apps, anyway? 

To its credit, Android is definitely a more versatile platform than iOS, but great customization shouldn't come at the expense of usability, and there's no denying that Apple has nailed down the 'anyone can use this' aesthetic of iOS. Your grandma or teenage daughter probably wouldn't have a hard time setting up a new iPhone straight out of the box, but Android phones are still seen as much more complex devices filled with options and shortcuts that baffle and deter the unfamiliar user.

Finally, there's the "Which Android are you using?" question. Because Android is available from a wide variety of handset manufacturers, there's no telling which version of Android you'll get. With iPhone, if you buy a new one, it will have the latest version of iOS. Even if you get a used one, you can instantly – assuming it supports it – upgrade to the latest version. Android may never catch up to Apple if it can't get every partner (and the carriers who often control updates) on the same page.

BT has announced it will be reducing its workforce by up to 40% by the end of the decade. Given that its current workforce of employees and contractors is roughly 130,000 strong, that would mean up to 55,000 people may be laid off. 

BT Chief Executive Officer Philip Jansen said that by the end of this decade, the company will have a "much smaller workforce" and a "significantly reduced cost base". In the next decade, BT will be “a leaner business with a brighter future,” Jansen added.

The media are also saying that BT is focused on expanding its fiber network which, unlike the current copper network, will be more reliable and would require less maintenance. Just migrating to fiber could help BT reduce its workforce by 15,000 people. 

New hardware and software

Furthermore, BT will be adding more artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for its customer support department, which will also help it cut down on staff. Finally, general company restructuring will also help it reduce its workforce.

In its latest yearly earnings report, the company reported a 12% decrease in profit, hitting £1.7bn.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Vodafone is looking to reduce its workforce by roughly 10%, or 11,000 jobs. The process would take roughly three years. Vodafone's new CEO Margherita della Valle said the company was looking to “simplify” itself, and job cuts are part of that plan, as she claims the company’s performance “has not been good enough”. 

"To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change,” she said. "My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organization, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness."

The company recently reported €45.7 billion in sales, a small rise, but also reported a fall in pre-tax profits, leading analysts to expect a “broadly flat” financial year for the company. 

• Check out the best cheap mobile phone plans

Via: BBC

The Google Pixel 7a was unveiled at Google I/O 2023 and is available to buy now – but is this mid-ranger the right buy for your next smartphone? Or would your money be better spent elsewhere? We're here to help you make the right call.

You get the Tensor G2 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage with the Pixel 7a. It has a 6.1-inch, 90Hz screen with a  2,400 x 1,080 pixel resolution, while the camera on the back of the device is a dual-lens 64MP+13MP affair. It's available in Snow (white), Charcoal (gray), Sea (blue), and Coral (orange).

Not bad specs at all, but the successor to the Google Pixel 6a is no different to any other smartphone in that it has its strengths and weaknesses – and it's important to weigh them up before you commit to a purchase.

3 reasons to buy the Pixel 7a

1. It's as powerful as the Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7a comes running the same Tensor G2 processor that you'll find inside the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, which means you can expect the same kind of performance as well (albeit with less RAM). When a mid-range phone runs as fast as the current flagship in the same range, it's a strong selling point for the handset.

In our Pixel 7a review, we said that the phone performed "incredibly well", and it's clearly one of the main reasons to buy the phone rather than skip it. You'll have no problem editing photos, playing games, and putting the phone up against other demanding tasks.

Every mid-range phone is a series of trade-offs to get the price down from the flagship level, and we're pleased that Google has decided not to compromise on the chipset inside the Pixel 7a. It also means the phone should last you several years before you start to notice any sluggishness or slowing down.

2. It's available at a mid-range price

The Pixel 7a comes in at an official price of $499 / £449 / AU$749 – not bargain basement, but nowhere near the money you'll pay for a top-end flagship. For comparison, the Pixel 7 Pro costs $999 / £949 / AU$1,599 if you go with the model with the most internal storage, which is more or less double the money.

You can make a substantial saving on the Pixel 7a, and bear in mind that it has the same processor as the Pixel 7 Pro, as we've just mentioned. Over time we might see even more in the way of discounts and special offers applied to the phone, too.

As always when considering a phone upgrade, you need to balance how much you can (or want) to spend, against the sort of performance levels and features that you want in return for your investment. When it comes to the Pixel 7a, Google has managed that balance pretty well, and you shouldn't be disappointed by the value.

3. It has Pixel exclusives in Android

If you don't own a Pixel phone then you might not know that Google adds some exclusive features to the version of Android that it loads on these phones, including the Pixel 7a. This is a reason to buy the Pixel 7a as opposed to something from another manufacturer like Apple or Samsung.

For example, you get a Now Playing lock screen widget that identifies songs that are playing, Shazam-style. There's a Recorder app for quickly recording and automatically transcribing audio, and a special Night Sight low-light mode available in the camera.

Speaking of software, bear in mind too that Pixel phones always get Android updates first: When Android 14 rolls out to the masses later this year, you can be sure that the Pixel 7a is going to be one of the first in line to get it – which means you'll be get all the latest features and security fixes as quickly as possible.

3 reasons to skip the Pixel 7a

1. The battery life isn't great

The battery inside the Google Pixel 7a has a capacity of 4,385 mAh, and based on our testing, it's rarely able to last a full day between charges. Having to plug in a smartphone every night isn't great, but it's better than having to hunt around for a charger and a mains socket during the day as well.

Wireless charging is offered, which is good, but the wired charging tops out at 18W: not only are you going to have to recharge the Pixel 7a regularly, you're going to have to wait a while for the battery to replenish, too – 45 minutes or so to get from zero to 50%.

It may be that you have phone chargers available at all times of the day, and you're not particularly fussed about battery life. However, we think it's a priority for a lot of people when it comes to smartphones – and if you don't want to have battery anxiety on a regular basis, it might be best to pass on the Pixel 7a.

2. You only get three years of updates

We've already talked up the benefits of Android on a Pixel phone, so it's time to mention one of the negatives: the Pixel 7a is only guaranteed to get software updates for three years, which means after that point you won't be getting any new features and won't have access to the latest version of Android.

It's worth mentioning that you get security updates for another couple of years after that, so you won't suddenly become a prime target for hackers. As far as the main Android updates go though, it's three years and then that's it.

Compare this to iPhones, which get six years of guaranteed updates: buy an iPhone 15 later this year, and you'll still be getting new versions of iOS in 2029. Perhaps you think you'll be upgrading from the Pixel 7a inside three years anyway, but it's a factor to consider.

3. The Pixel 8 will be here soon

Google hasn't said anything official about the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 8 Pro, but we're certain that they must be on the way. If these phones arrive a year after the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro made their bow, then we're looking at a launch around October time (and we might get the Pixel Watch 2 appearing at the same event).

We should see a step up in power, assuming Google will have its Tensor G3 processor ready by then, and according to rumors the Pixel 8 phones could come with up to 12GB of RAM. In other words, they're likely to be significantly more powerful than the Pixel 7a.

There are always new phones around the corner, of course, so you can't keep putting off an upgrade for this reason alone – but if you have the capacity in your budget, and you want a true flagship as your phone of choice, then it might be worth skipping the temptations of the Pixel 7a and waiting for the Pixel 8 instead.

The Google Pixel 7a was unveiled at Google I/O 2023 and is available to buy now – but is this mid-ranger the right buy for your next smartphone? Or would your money be better spent elsewhere? We're here to help you make the right call.

You get the Tensor G2 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage with the Pixel 7a. It has a 6.1-inch, 90Hz screen with a  2,400 x 1,080 pixel resolution, while the camera on the back of the device is a dual-lens 64MP+13MP affair. It's available in Snow (white), Charcoal (gray), Sea (blue), and Coral (orange).

Not bad specs at all, but the successor to the Google Pixel 6a is no different to any other smartphone in that it has its strengths and weaknesses – and it's important to weigh them up before you commit to a purchase.

3 reasons to buy the Pixel 7a

1. It's as powerful as the Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7a comes running the same Tensor G2 processor that you'll find inside the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, which means you can expect the same kind of performance as well (albeit with less RAM). When a mid-range phone runs as fast as the current flagship in the same range, it's a strong selling point for the handset.

In our Pixel 7a review, we said that the phone performed "incredibly well", and it's clearly one of the main reasons to buy the phone rather than skip it. You'll have no problem editing photos, playing games, and putting the phone up against other demanding tasks.

Every mid-range phone is a series of trade-offs to get the price down from the flagship level, and we're pleased that Google has decided not to compromise on the chipset inside the Pixel 7a. It also means the phone should last you several years before you start to notice any sluggishness or slowing down.

2. It's available at a mid-range price

The Pixel 7a comes in at an official price of $499 / £449 / AU$749 – not bargain basement, but nowhere near the money you'll pay for a top-end flagship. For comparison, the Pixel 7 Pro costs $999 / £949 / AU$1,599 if you go with the model with the most internal storage, which is more or less double the money.

You can make a substantial saving on the Pixel 7a, and bear in mind that it has the same processor as the Pixel 7 Pro, as we've just mentioned. Over time we might see even more in the way of discounts and special offers applied to the phone, too.

As always when considering a phone upgrade, you need to balance how much you can (or want) to spend, against the sort of performance levels and features that you want in return for your investment. When it comes to the Pixel 7a, Google has managed that balance pretty well, and you shouldn't be disappointed by the value.

3. It has Pixel exclusives in Android

If you don't own a Pixel phone then you might not know that Google adds some exclusive features to the version of Android that it loads on these phones, including the Pixel 7a. This is a reason to buy the Pixel 7a as opposed to something from another manufacturer like Apple or Samsung.

For example, you get a Now Playing lock screen widget that identifies songs that are playing, Shazam-style. There's a Recorder app for quickly recording and automatically transcribing audio, and a special Night Sight low-light mode available in the camera.

Speaking of software, bear in mind too that Pixel phones always get Android updates first: When Android 14 rolls out to the masses later this year, you can be sure that the Pixel 7a is going to be one of the first in line to get it – which means you'll be get all the latest features and security fixes as quickly as possible.

3 reasons to skip the Pixel 7a

1. The battery life isn't great

The battery inside the Google Pixel 7a has a capacity of 4,385 mAh, and based on our testing, it's rarely able to last a full day between charges. Having to plug in a smartphone every night isn't great, but it's better than having to hunt around for a charger and a mains socket during the day as well.

Wireless charging is offered, which is good, but the wired charging tops out at 18W: not only are you going to have to recharge the Pixel 7a regularly, you're going to have to wait a while for the battery to replenish, too – 45 minutes or so to get from zero to 50%.

It may be that you have phone chargers available at all times of the day, and you're not particularly fussed about battery life. However, we think it's a priority for a lot of people when it comes to smartphones – and if you don't want to have battery anxiety on a regular basis, it might be best to pass on the Pixel 7a.

2. You only get three years of updates

We've already talked up the benefits of Android on a Pixel phone, so it's time to mention one of the negatives: the Pixel 7a is only guaranteed to get software updates for three years, which means after that point you won't be getting any new features and won't have access to the latest version of Android.

It's worth mentioning that you get security updates for another couple of years after that, so you won't suddenly become a prime target for hackers. As far as the main Android updates go though, it's three years and then that's it.

Compare this to iPhones, which get six years of guaranteed updates: buy an iPhone 15 later this year, and you'll still be getting new versions of iOS in 2029. Perhaps you think you'll be upgrading from the Pixel 7a inside three years anyway, but it's a factor to consider.

3. The Pixel 8 will be here soon

Google hasn't said anything official about the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 8 Pro, but we're certain that they must be on the way. If these phones arrive a year after the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro made their bow, then we're looking at a launch around October time (and we might get the Pixel Watch 2 appearing at the same event).

We should see a step up in power, assuming Google will have its Tensor G3 processor ready by then, and according to rumors the Pixel 8 phones could come with up to 12GB of RAM. In other words, they're likely to be significantly more powerful than the Pixel 7a.

There are always new phones around the corner, of course, so you can't keep putting off an upgrade for this reason alone – but if you have the capacity in your budget, and you want a true flagship as your phone of choice, then it might be worth skipping the temptations of the Pixel 7a and waiting for the Pixel 8 instead.

Google Pixel phones could soon get a built-in mode that helps them compete the best dash cams, albeit with some practical limitations.

A new report from 9to5Google has discovered a hidden feature called 'Dashcam' in the Personal Safety app that's on Google Pixel phones and some other Android phones, including the Nothing Phone 1.

The site managed to take the new feature for a spin, finding that it records video (and also audio) while you're on the road. Like dash cams, the idea is that your phone could capture footage or evidence that might prove helpful if you're involved in an accident.

The feature sounds pretty practical, as your phone is apparently still fully usable while the 'Dashcam' recording is enabled. This means you can still use apps like Google Maps in full-screen mode for navigation, or just lock your phone to preserve battery life while it's recording.

Just like many dash cams, your Pixel phone will also apparently be able to automatically record your journeys. During setup, there's an option to have recordings start automatically when you connect to a particular Bluetooth device (for example, your car stereo or Android Auto system) and finish when you disconnect.

Naturally, you'd need to have a dashboard mount to take full advantage of the new feature. The most popular spots for dash cams tend to be just under the rear-view mirror, or lower down near where the windscreen meets the dashboard. Either way, it needs to avoid obstructing your view in order to remain road legal.

Overall, the dash cam feature sounds potentially very handy for Pixel owners who are regular drivers. Not only do Pixel phones rank among the best camera phones, the latest versions of Android have also delivered features like HDR video, which could help them match high-end dash cams for image quality.

But there are also some potential limitations. One is overheating – Google recently had to rush out a fix for overheating Pixel 7 and 6 phones, and the prospect of simultaneously recording even low-res video alongside other apps on a hot dashboard could be too much for some phones.

The other is storage, with continuous video recording likely to quickly eat up gigabytes of space that you may need for apps, photos, games or offline music. The 9to5Google report says that recordings are auto-deleted after three days and that videos are compressed to 30MB per minute, but that could still be highly demanding for older Android phones.

Analysis: There's still a place for dedicated dash cams

Using a phone as a dash cam isn't a completely new concept – there are already several Android apps, including Nexar AI and Smart Dash Cam, that let you achieve something similar to this rumored new 'Dashcam' mode in Android. But the bigger question is whether the overall idea is a good one in practice.

Despite the incredible power and versatility of the best phones, there is still definitely a place for dedicated devices in some situations. One of those is action cameras, which can be handy stunt doubles for your main phone when you need to shoot video, and the other is dash cams.

This new Android 'dashcam' feature could well negate the need for many people to buy a basic dash cam, but more premium models – like the Nextbase 622GW and Nexar Pro – do still bring advantages. 

One is that they come with road-specific features like polarizing filters and twin cameras, which give you the ability to record what's happening behind your car. Some also bring extra security features like break-in alerts.

But the other is that they also allow you to keep your phone's battery life and storage preserved, while permanently sitting on your car dashboard as a potential deterrent for thieves who don't want to be recorded. If you go for a professional installation, they can also take their power directly from your car's battery without needing to be recharged.

Still, we're certainly looking forward to Google's built-in dash cam mode for Android phones, which looks to be in its advanced stages and could perhaps land as part of Android 14.

If you’re already rocking one of the best iPhones, we recently advised you to think twice about splashing the cash on the iPhone 15 Pro and instead wait for the iPhone 16 Pro – and now we’ve got some advice for prospective iPhone 14 Pro buyers. 

Apple’s latest flagship is indisputably one of the best phones money can buy in 2023, but at a base price of $999 / £1,099 / AU$1,749, it doesn’t come cheap. The standard iPhone 14 starts at a much more reasonable $799 / £849 / AU$1,339 – and we suspect that you’ll soon be able to get your hands on the iPhone 14 Pro’s premium features for a similar price. 

Enter the iPhone 15. Apple is expected to unveil its latest vanilla flagship, alongside the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra, in September this year, and rumors indicate that the upcoming device will be an iPhone 14 Pro in all but name. 

Essentially, the iPhone 15 is hotly tipped to get three of the iPhone 14 Pro’s defining features: the Dynamic Island, the super-fast A16 Bionic processor, and a 48MP main camera. Couple these with a rumored redesign of the phone’s chassis – all four iPhone 15 models are expected to get iPhone 11-style curved edges and slimmer bezels – and the base iPhone 15 sounds like it’ll offer Pro-level features in a swanky new design package.

Not every iPhone 14 Pro feature will come to the vanilla iPhone 15, mind. The device is expected to retain the static 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 14, with Apple’s ProMotion technology – which allows for a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra. 

The phone likely won’t inherit the iPhone 14 Pro’s advanced camera features, either, despite the presence of a 48MP main lens on the base-model iPhone 15. 

That said, with Apple set to replace the Lightning port with USB-C ports on the entire iPhone 15 line, the base iPhone 15 will actually be a more versatile handset than the iPhone 14 Pro (if you’re someone who regularly finds yourself without a Lightning cable to hand). 

As mentioned, we expect the iPhone 15 to match the iPhone 14 in terms of price, so a starting figure of $799 / £849 / AU$1,339 for the 128GB model seems likely. However, other manufacturers – including Samsung and Oppo – have opted to forgo 128GB storage options with their respective 2023 flagships, so the iPhone 15 could start at $899 / £959 / AU$1,579 (for the 256GB model), but this would still be $200 / £250 / AU$320 less than the equivalent iPhone 14 Pro. 

Suffice to say, the repackaging of old features into new product offerings has proven an extremely lucrative business strategy for Apple throughout the years – though it’s worth remembering that we as consumers have benefited, too. 

If you’re someone who watches Apple’s annual iPhone launches with excitement, only to be disappointed by the unattainable pricing of the company’s latest and greatest handsets, you can usually bet that – in 12 months’ time – you’ll be able to get your hands on what were previously Pro features in a vanilla-branded successor. 

Sure, our wallets – not to mention the environment – would probably be better off if Apple released iPhones every two or three years, with each new model bringing genuine innovation to the table, but unfortunately, that’s not the way capitalism works.

We’ll be staying abreast of all the latest iPhone 15 news, rumors and leaks as we approach the line’s presumed September announcement, so stay tuned to TechRadar for the details.

Degenerative diseases can steal not just mobility, but the ability to communicate. It's estimated that 80%-to-90% of those with ALS will suffer some form of speech impairment. Soon, however, their iPhone may be able to give not just the power of speech, but the ability to communicate with loved ones in their own voice.

This week and in recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 18), Apple announced a collection of new iPhone, iPad, and Mac accessibility features, including the ability to have your LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad use the Magnifier app to read any text you point to (think greeting cards, instructions), Live speech, which reads out whatever you type on the phone, and Personal Voice.

Developed in cooperation with Team Gleason a non-profit ALS awareness foundation, Personal Voice, could be most exciting because instead of the iPhone using one of its pre-made Siri voices (Australian, English, different genders), it uses a synthesized version of your own voice to say whatever you type in.

A quick training

To train the system, which Apple plans to ship later this year, you position yourself about 6-to-10 inches from the iPhone's microphone and then repeat a series of randomly-selected sentences. That's apparently enough to train the iPhone's onboard machine learning (ML) and enable the handset to repeat in your synthetically-generated voice whatever you type.

Since the system is designed to help those losing their voices due to motor or cognitive impairment, the training is also flexible. If you can't do a 15-minute training session, you can stop and start until you've made it through all the sentences. In addition, the training system is self-guided, so there's no screen-tapping necessary.

While the system is not designed as a voice-over system, you can use Personal Vocie to save often-used phrases like "How are you?" "Thank you," and "Where is the bathroom?"

Personal Voice will live under Settings/Accessibility on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac and works with any of these devices running Apple silicon. For now, it only supports English.

The AI-powered accessibility feature joins a host of other on-device Assistive Access features that include redesigned and customizable home screens with larger buttons and text, combined voice call and FaceTime page that lets someone choose the easiest way for them to communicate, and streamlined interfaces in Music, Camera, and Photos.

In a release on the new features, ALS Advocate and Team Gleason board member Philip Green said, At the end of the day, the most important thing is being able to communicate with friends and family.” Green who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, added, “If you can tell them you love them, in a voice that sounds like you, it makes all the difference in the world.”

There might not be too much longer to wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, as a leak suggests that both phones could be unveiled on July 26.

This comes from South Korean site Chosun (via Android Authority), which cites the tech industry as the source of this date.

Apparently, the next Samsung Unpacked event will happen then, with both phones in attendance. If it does, we’d see an earlier launch than normal, as Samsung’s foldables typically land in mid-August.

You should of course take this date with a pinch of salt, especially as this would be a bit earlier than normal, but we’ve heard similar claims elsewhere. Back in April, leaker @Tech_Reve claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 might land in July, and shortly after that, SamMobile claimed we’d see them in the last week of July – which fits with July 26.

Still shipping in August

All that said, that almost certainly won’t be when these phones actually ship, with Chosun saying that August 11 is the date when you’ll actually be able to get them in your hands. That too would be earlier than normal though.

Finally, this report adds that the unveiling will apparently happen in South Korea, which would be a change for Samsung, as it typically launches its foldables at an event in the US.

Of course, wherever the event is held it’s sure to be streamed live online, so you’ll be able to tune in from anywhere in the world, and we’ll be covering all the announcements here at TechRadar too.

It’s looking to be a big year for foldable phones, as we’ve already had the Google Pixel Fold and the Oppo Find N2 Flip, and there’s still the Motorola Razr 2023, the first OnePlus foldable phone, and likely the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 to come.

So Samsung is going to have some steep competition if it wants to take the best foldable phone crown.

There might not be too much longer to wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, as a leak suggests that both phones could be unveiled on July 26.

This comes from South Korean site Chosun (via Android Authority), which cites the tech industry as the source of this date.

Apparently, the next Samsung Unpacked event will happen then, with both phones in attendance. If it does, we’d see an earlier launch than normal, as Samsung’s foldables typically land in mid-August.

You should of course take this date with a pinch of salt, especially as this would be a bit earlier than normal, but we’ve heard similar claims elsewhere. Back in April, leaker @Tech_Reve claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 might land in July, and shortly after that, SamMobile claimed we’d see them in the last week of July – which fits with July 26.

Still shipping in August

All that said, that almost certainly won’t be when these phones actually ship, with Chosun saying that August 11 is the date when you’ll actually be able to get them in your hands. That too would be earlier than normal though.

Finally, this report adds that the unveiling will apparently happen in South Korea, which would be a change for Samsung, as it typically launches its foldables at an event in the US.

Of course, wherever the event is held it’s sure to be streamed live online, so you’ll be able to tune in from anywhere in the world, and we’ll be covering all the announcements here at TechRadar too.

It’s looking to be a big year for foldable phones, as we’ve already had the Google Pixel Fold and the Oppo Find N2 Flip, and there’s still the Motorola Razr 2023, the first OnePlus foldable phone, and likely the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 to come.

So Samsung is going to have some steep competition if it wants to take the best foldable phone crown.