Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a have been discontinued to make way for the Google Pixel 5a 5G

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The latest information confirms that Google will discontinue the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 to make more room for the Google Pixel 5a 5G

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Best Android phones in 2021 so far

If you’re looking to upgrade your phone, you’ve come to the right…

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Pixel 5 graphics performance almost doubled after April security update

When Google launched the Pixel 5 last year, a lot of questions were asked about the strategy of not going with a flagship chip and settling for the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7y65G SoC. Although it is a fairly capable processor – and I can attest to it after having used the OnePlus Nord and LG Velvet – the Pixel 5 oddly returned some sub-par results in synthetic GPU performance tests. Well, it appears that the April security update that Google started rolling out yesterday has fixed that issue.

Andrei Frumusanu from AnandTech, who extensively benchmarked the Pixel 5 in January, noted in a tweet that the ‘performance has been essentially doubled’ and is now in line, or even better, than a few other phones with the same Snapdragon 865 SoC inside. While it comes a sigh of relief for Pixel 5 owners who experienced the performance bottleneck, it is surprising – and disappointing – to see that it took Google so long to fix the issue on its top-of-the-line phone.

Talking about the sub-par benchmark scores of the Pixel 5, here’s what Andrei originally wrote in his article:

“I’m not exactly sure what Google has done here to the Snapdragon 765, but something is definitely very different compared to other devices employing the same chipset. The Pixel 5 here posts significantly lower performance than a comparable LG Velvet or an OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G, with some of the scores even coming in at half performance.”
Andrei went on to add that the gaming performance on the Pixel 5 was ‘just horrible’ and that playing a modern AAA game like Genshin Impact was a ‘horrendous’ experience. And that even when the graphics presets were set to the lowest, the gaming experience was not up to the mark. Where the Pixel lacked in raw power, it made up for it with its clean software that frequently gets new features and a reliable pair of cameras.
However, the camera hardware is not as versatile as rival phones in the same price bracket, and competitors like Apple and Google are really closing in on the signature ‘Pixel camera superiority’ – if that is even a thing. Google is following in the footsteps of Apple and is reportedly going to equip the upcoming Pixel 6 with a self-designed chip made in collaboration with Samsung. It remains to be seen whether Google can outperform Qualcomm and achieve the same level of hardware-software harmony as iPhones.

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Get a Google Pixel 3 and more Android devices for as low as $120

We start today’s deals selection with some amazing discounts on Google Pixel devices. You can currently get a new Google Pixel 3 or the larger 3XL variant with 64GB of storage space for as low as $120. If you want the previous Pixel 2 variants, they start at $80. However, these phones aren’t new. They are ‘Grade A Refurbished’ devices, and they can be found only at Woot.com.

And since we’re already talking about Google refurbished devices, we must also include some options that are also available over at Amazon.com. You can find the Google Pixel 5 with 128GB of storage space for kist $629.10 with $69.90 savings if you go for the Just Black color option or $668 in case you go for the Clearly White variant. Now, all the devices we just mentioned are fully unlocked, but we also see that the Google Pixel 4 with 64GB of storage in Clearly White is selling for $239 after receiving a $160.99 discount, but be warned, this is a Verizon locked device. Still, if you’re looking for a new Google Pixel 4, you can also get it for $482 with $317 savings.

 

You can also find some nice deals on Samsung devices, as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series and the Galaxy S21 Ultra are getting a $200 discount over at Amazon.com. This means you can get the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for $1,100 and the Galaxy Note 20 for $800. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is going for $1,000 after the $200 discount, but you can also go for the smaller Galaxy S21 that’s now available for $700, which translates into $100 savings.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also getting a $100 discount, which means you can grab one for $600, which are some pretty decent savings. However, you can save big time on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the Galaxy S21 series, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. You can still get your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 for just $325, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is selling for $100, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra is available for $300 after an eligible trade-in.

 

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Save up to 30 percent on OtterBox and Apple cases right now.

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We usually don’t cover case deals since we’re more focused on flagship phones and some of the best devices available in the market. We usually have separate posts for the best cases for some of the hottest phones around, but we couldn’t turn a blind eye to the latest deals that will help you protect your investment. We will first head over to OtterBox, where there’s a 20 percent discount sitewide, with discounts that will go up to 30 percent on discontinued items. So yes, that means that every case for Samsung, Apple, Google, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, and more are on sale.

For example, if you want a new case for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, you can get one starting at $31.96, which translates into $7.99 savings. Cases for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also start at $31.96 with the same $7.99 discount, and there are several options to choose from.

If you’re looking for a new case for your Google Pixel 5 or your Pixel 4a, you can also find it here, starting at $31.96 after a $20 discount. Well, by this time, you’ve figured out that most case options will start for $31.99, but if you want a case for your OnePlus 8T, you will have fewer options to choose from, and these start at $39.96, down from its regular $49.95 price tag. And yes, OtterBox also has a nice selection of cases for the latest iPhone 12 lineup.

Now, since we’re already talking about Apple, you should also head over to Amazon.com, where cases for the iPhone 11 lineup are also on sale. You can get a case for your device starting at just $16.47, if you go for the Apple Silicone Case for the iPhone 11 Pro in Black with $22.53 savings, or get the leather case in its (Product) RED color option for $30 after a $19 discount. The Apple Leather Folio for the iPhone 11 Pro Mac is getting a $51 discount, which leaves it available for just $78. And there are several options to choose from. Maybe you should head over to the Apple deals landing page to check out every deal available since you will also find the Apple Smart Battery Case, the 20W USB-C Power Adapter, Apple’s MagSafe Charger, and more on sale.

The post Save up to 30 percent on OtterBox and Apple cases right now. appeared first on Pocketnow.

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Pocketnow Daily: Apple Event LEAKED! Here’s What You Should Expect! (video)

Apple’s latest iPad Air, HP Chromebooks and more on sale today

The Google Pixel 5, OtterBox cases and more devices are on sale today

As expected, let’s end the week with deals. Starting with the Google Pixel 5 and Amazon which is currently 150 dollars off. That leaves the entry level model for 789 with free shipping involved. If you really want a Pixel, the Pixel 4 is also available for 250 dollars off its original price tag, leaving it at 549 dollars. The Sony Xperia 1 Mark II which we know a lot of you like is 102 dollars off, leaving it at 1098 and yeah, that’s still pretty expensive. The OnePlus 8T is still 60 dollars off, leaving it at 689 dollars shipped which is a pretty ok deal. If you’re looking for an iPad, the new iPad Air which I’m currently rocking is 50 dollars off, leaving it at 699 dollars. Samsung’s trade-in deals are still available, leaving the Galaxy S21 Ultra for just 499 dollars and giving you 250 dollars in instant credit, but if you have an eligible device. We have more deals on Google Nest Speakers, Hisense TVs which are some of my favorites, plus Chromebooks and more.

ASUS ROG Phone 5 to launch on March 10

Moving on to the ASUS ROG Phone 5 and yes, they’ll be pulling a OnePlus and skipping the number 4. For the past couple of weeks we’ve been getting a ton of leaks and rumors, including Geekbench listings and teasers from the company. Now when you go to the ASUS ROG Phone 5 landing page, it has a countdown that ends in 18 days and 20 hours at the time when Diego was writing the script. So yes, we’ll be getting this phone on March 10 at 6:00AM ET. The ROG Phone 5 is tipped to bring a 6.78 inch display, powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, a 6000 mAh battery, running on Android 11. According to the leaks we should also be getting a dot matrix display on the rear panel, kind of like the panel you get on some ROG Gaming Laptops. We don’t have any price tags just yet, but we hope ASUS surprises us with some wow factors as, is it just me or it sounds kind of boring?

Malware targeting Apple’s new M1 Macs has already been spotted in the wild

Let’s talk about Apple Silicon Macs but, not for the reasons you would typically expect. We have a new report from a Mac security researcher cited by Wired, that explains in detail how malware is being adapted and recompiled to run natively on M1 Macs. He discovered the first one to be a Safari Extension called “GoSearch22” which was originally written to run on x86 Intel Macs. As they usually do, it presents itself as a regular Safari extension but, it collects your data and serves you a ton of banners and pop up ads, including ones that link you to malicious websites with malware. Now, the writer mentions that since malware is still at an early stage, antivirus scanners are not detecting the malware as easily and effectively as they do on Intel Macs as most of the tools haven’t been adapted or are simply not available just yet. Of course, all of this is bound to change as Apple expands their line-up.. Hopefully very soon.. And developers start patching these up and bringing antivirus software. We’ll make sure to link to the report in the description as, it’s still pretty interesting.

OnePlus 9 Pro might use an LTPO display to enable adaptive refresh rate

Let’s talk about the OnePlus 9 Series as, we’re getting pretty close to it. So far, the leaks for the OnePlus 9 have been kind of calm, I mean of course we had the design heavily leaked last week but for the other features, things have been kinda quiet. Now, we have a new tweet from Max Jambor that shines some light on what we could expect from the 9 Pro’s display. In his typical fashion, he didn’t share much on the tweet but it brings an image with the words, 9 Pro LTPO, on top of a display that looks like it’s scrolling at a high refresh rate. This also means that we should expect the 9 Pro to feature adaptive refresh rate like we get on the Galaxy S21 Series. For those of you who don’t know, this feature uses software to automatically change your refresh rate, depending on what you’re doing with the phone and giving you better battery life in the process. According to the guys over at PhoneArena, Jambor also confirmed that the regular OnePlus 9 won’t bring this feature, but it should still bring 120Hz. Now, according to surveys on OnePlus fans, they like their display permanently set at 120Hz so, this might be kind of a turn off for them but I mean, high refresh rate, better battery life.. Sounds good to me.

Story of the day:

Apple reportedly locks March 16 event to launch new iPads, and possibly, AirTags too!

And finally, for the hottest news today let’s talk Apple, as we’re just a few days away from March and we’re expecting to get a lot of products at this March Event. We have a new report from Korea’s Economic Daily News that claims that Cupertino will be having their Event Virtually on March 16th. Now, Apple has recently been doing this event a little later but, this date actually makes sense. See, according to the report the main focus here will be the new iPad Pros, and the original iPad Pro was announced on March 18 back in the day. Speaking of that iPad Pro, the report mentions that we shouldn’t expect a complete redesign, pretty much like what the leaks have pointed out but, this iPad could finally bring mini-LED displays and it will most likely be the first 5G iPad. And along with 5G we could also be getting additional built in magnets for new accessories. Apparently we could also be getting a new iPad mini which could be getting a larger display by shrinking down the bezels, at least to the older iPad Air’s level of course. The report also mentions that we could get a One More Thing moment to Tag along with.. AirTags. These trackers have been on the leaks since 2019 and according to trusted sources, they’re finally set to release. Other tipsters claim that we could also get new AirPods but, those rumors are kinda shaky.
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The Google Pixel 5, OtterBox cases and more devices are on sale today

We start today’s deals with the latest Google Pixel 5 that’s getting a $159 discount, leaving the international Unlocked version in Just Black with 128GB of storage, 6GB RAM, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor for $790. However, this version will only work on GSM networks, so no luck for Verizon and Sprint users. Now, you can also go for its predecessor, as the Google Pixel 4 is also on sale, and you can grab yours for $549 after a very compelling $250 discount. Still, this version comes with just 64GB storage, but you can grab the 128GB version for $613 with $286 savings.

Now, you can also grab the latest OnePlus 8T for $689 with $60 savings. This is the Aquamarine Green colored, US version of the device with 256GB storage, 12GB RAM, a 120Hz Fluid Display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, and a quad-camera setup that features a 48MP primary shooter. Now, you can get the same device in Lunar Silver, but this variant is currently selling for $696.50 after a $52.50 discount. And if you’re a Sony fan, you can get one Amazon or B&H for $1,098 with $100 or $101.99 savings depending on where you look. This device comes with a triple camera system with Zeiss optics, a beautiful 21:9 CinemaWide 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display, and 256GB of storage space.

We usually tackle Samsung Galaxy S21 deals when we’re talking about phones, but now we will focus on protective cases for your new Galaxy device. OtterBox cases are getting up to $13 off on various models for the Galaxy S21 series. First, the OtterBox Symmetry Series Case for Galaxy S21 is available for $38.54 with 11.41 savings, or grab the S21+ version for $36.49 with a $13.46 discount. The OtterBox Commuter Series Case for the Galaxy S21 Ultra is getting an $8.32 discount, meaning that you can get yours for $31. 63, and there are many more OtterBox cases on sale, so take a look at the complete listing below. Plus, you can still get the Galaxy S21 for just $75 or the Galaxy S21 Ultra for $215 over at Samsung.com.

The post The Google Pixel 5, OtterBox cases and more devices are on sale today appeared first on Pocketnow.

February Security update will fix issues on the Google Pixel 5 and more

Google has started to send its latest Android Pixel Security Update OTA, which is meant to help solve several issues in the Google Pixel 5 and previous models. This February 2021 update is ready for every Google Pixel phone running on Android 11.

“We have provided the monthly Android / Pixel update for February 2021. All supported Pixel devices running Android 11 will receive these software updates as part of the February 2021 update, which begins rolling out to users today. We encourage you to check your Android version and update to receive the latest features.”

It seems that your Google Pixel 5 will soon start to work like it’s supposed to, once again. The latest February 2021 Security Update is making its way to help fix touch sensitivity issues on both your Pixel 5 and the Google Pixel 4a 5G. These issues started to appear after users installed the December 2020 update, and it would make the phones miss touch input from time to time. The Google Pixel 3 will also benefit from this firmware update, as some devices were presenting an issue with sensors not being detected after being booted-up.

The Google Pixel 5 will also get better coverage and faster network speeds, as the FCC has approved an update for this device and for the LG Wing 5G that will enable the C-band in the United States. Now, since we’re mentioning the LG Wing, you may want to know that only the Verizon and AT&T versions, as the T-Mobile version is not included on the list. This update is expected to be simple, as these devices have the necessary hardware to support C-band connectivity. Now, the C-band doesn’t allow 5G speeds since it was recently auctioned off. The auction results will be made public next month, but it seems that Verizon was the carrier that managed to get the largest piece of the pie.

Source Support Google

Via GSM Arena

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Galaxy S21 vs Pixel 5: Should you go with Samsung or Google in 2021?

Samsung Galaxy S21 is finally here. One of the most highly anticipated Android flagships of the year, the Galaxy S21 arrives rocking a new design, blazing-fast internals, better imaging capabilities, and of course, a host of new software tricks. Starting at $800, the Galaxy S21 goes up against a venerable opponent that has received a ton of acclaim  – the Google Pixel 5. The Pixel smartphones come with our own unique set of advantages, and Pixel 5 is no exception. Torn between the two new Samsung flagship and Google’s offering? This Galaxy S21 vs Pixel 5 comparison will certainly help answer some of your questions:

Design

The Galaxy S21 flaunts a fresh new design, thanks to a redesigned rear camera island that appears to meet the metallic sides seamlessly. The new approach looks fresh and makes the Galaxy S21 stand out, especially the dual-tone approach taken by the purple color option. The build is again IP68-certified, which means the handle dunking in a bucket of water without any issues.

Galaxy S21 series

Authentication on the Galaxy S21 is handled by an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display. However, Samsung has made a cost-cutting decision here that will leave many buyers who’ve spent north of $800 on the Samsung flagship. The company has decided to use plastic for making the Galaxy S21, while its pricier Plus and Ultra siblings stick with metal and glass.

Drawbacks aside, the Galaxy S21 comes equipped with AKG-tuned stereo speakers to provide an immersive audio output. Another aesthetic change is that the Galaxy S21 rocks a flat panel, unlike the curved screen on its predecessor. The bezels, on the other hand, have shrunk further, giving the Galaxy S21 an even more appealing look. As for color options, you can choose between Phantom Grey, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, and Phantom Pink color options. 

pocketnow google pixel 5

Coming to Google Pixel 5, it is made out of plastic with a grippy matte texture on the rear panel. The bezels on the Google flagship are uniformly thin and give it a clean look, while the front camera hole-punch is located on the left corner unlike the top-center approach taken by the Galaxy S21. As for color options, you can choose between Just Black and Sorta Sage tricks, but the former is the one you should pick. Trust me, it looks stunning!

And just like the Galaxy S21, the Google Pixel 5 also comes with an IP68 dust and water resistance certification. However, there are is another difference between the Samsung and Google offerings. The Pixel 5 has a rear-mounted physical fingerprint sensor which can also be used to see the notifications with a downward swipe gesture. 

Display

Galaxy S21 Ultra display

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S21 with a 6.7-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits. There is a layer of Gorilla Glass 7 on the front for protection. The display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, however, the refresh rate value can go as low as 48Hz depending on the content you’re watching. Samsung is sticking with the Infinity-O design language, which means the selfie camera hole-punch is located in the middle alongside the top edge. 

As for Pixel 5, it features a smaller 6-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) display that translates to a slightly higher pixel density of 421PPI. The display, however, offers a lower refresh rate of 90Hz. However, I can say from personal experience that the difference between 90Hz and 120Hz is hard to notice with the naked eyes, unlike the discernible gap between the experience on a 60Hz vs 90Hz screen. The hole punch cutout on Google’s offering is located in the top-left corner. 

Internals

Now, this is one area where the Galaxy S21 is miles ahead of the Pixel 5 in terms of on-paper firepower. Samsung has equipped its latest flagship with Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC that ticks in tandem with 8 gigs of RAM and 128GB / 256GB of onboard storage. Unfortunately, there is no scope for storage expansion. However, in some regions, Samsung will offer an Exynos 2100-powered model that is also based on the 5nm process and offers 5G support.

Google Pixel 5 rear pocketnow

Switching over to the Pixel 5, Google has armed with the octa-core Snapdragon 765G processor. It is paired with a healthy 8GB RAM and 128GB of non-expandable internal storage. There is also the in-house Titan M security chip inside for handling and storing sensitive data. 

Now, the Snapdragon 888 SoC powering the Galaxy S121 is far ahead of the Snapdragon 765G chip inside the Pixel 5. Even the most demanding games will run at their peak graphics settings on the Samsung device and will continue to do so for at least the next couple of years.

The Snapdragon 765G inside the Google offering is quite capable on its own, but it does face a performance bottleneck when it comes to graphics-intensive that push the graphics prowess of a smartphone chip to its limits. For day-to-day activities though, the Pixel 5 will run as smoothly as any other Android flagship chip out there. 

Here’s a detailed specs comparison of the Galaxy S21 against the Google Pixel 5:

Samsung Galaxy S21Google Pixel 5
6.2-inch Infinity-O
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
FHD + (2400 x 1080 pixels)
120Hz refresh rate
1300 nit peak brightness
421 PPI pixel density
Gorilla Glass 7
6.0-inch
FHD+ (1080 x 2340) Flexible OLED
19.5:9 aspect ratio
432 ppi pixel density
HDR support
90Hz refresh rate
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Exynos 2100
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
8GB RAM8 GB LPDDR4x RAM
128GB / 256GB storage128 GB storage
12MP primary camera
(f/1.8, 1/1.76-inch, 1.8µm, OIS)
12MP ultra-wide camera
(f/2.2, 120°, 1/2.55-inch, 1.4µm)
64MP telephoto camera
(f/2.0, 1/1.76-inch, 0.8µm,
OIS)
3x hybrid optical zoom
12.2MP primary camera
(f/1.7, OIS, 77° FOV, 1.4μm)
16MP ultra-wide camera
(f/2.2, 107° FOV, 1.0μm)
4K at 30/60 FPS
8K at 30 FPS
FHD at 30/60/120 FPS
Slo-mo HD at 960 FPS
4K at 30/60 FPS
FHD at 30/60/120 FPS
Slo-mo HD at 240 FPS
10 MP front camera
(f/2.2, 80°, 1/3.24-inch, 1.22µm)
8MP front camera
(f/2.0, 1.12μm, 83° FOV)
4,000 mAh4080 mAh
Grey, Pink, Purple, WhiteJust Black, Sorta Sage
IP68 certified
Wireless PowerShare
Dual-SIM (Nano + e-SIM)
IP68 certified
18W fast charging (USB-PD 2.0)
Qi wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging
151.7×71.2×7.9 mm144.7×70.4×8.0 mm
171 grams151 grams
5G, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC,
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
5G, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC,
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
(Note: This table is best viewed in landscape mode on mobile)

Cameras

Cameras of Galaxy S21

The camera department is where the Galaxy S21 overshadows the Pixel 5 in terms of versatility and raw capabilities. The Samsung flagship comes equipped with an optically-stabilized 12MP primary camera, sitting alongside a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera that provides 3x optical zoom output. On the front, is a 10MP selfie snapper. The device can capture 8K videos and slo-mo HD clips at 960fps frame rate. 

Pixel 5, on the other hand, only has two cameras at the back. You get an optically-stabilized 12.2MP primary camera that sits alongside a 16MP wide-angle snapper. Selfie and video calling duties are handled by an 8MP camera. On the Google offering, video capture is capped at 60FPS ay 4K resolution, while slo-mo HD videos can only go up to 240FPS. 

It goes without saying that camera hardware is only half the picture, as the actual performance also depends on how well the camera sensor has been optimized and the imaging software behind it. The Pixel 5 has been praised for its photography prowess, but it would be too early to pass a verdict right now. We’ll soon be doing an in-depth Galaxy S21 review to see how well its cameras perform and whether it can top the Pixel 5. So, stay tuned for that!

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S21 Phantom Black

The Galaxy S21 comes with a 4,000mAh battery that supports wired fast charging as well as wireless charging. And thanks to Reverse Power Share, you can also use the phone to charge other devices as well. Pixel 5 features a 4,080mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging, wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging for juicing up other accessories.  

Software

Now, this is another major deciding factor for those looking to buy a premium feature. The Galaxy S21 runs Android 11-based One UI 3.1 skin that offers a deep level of customization and a ton of useful features. The Pixel 5, on the other hand, boots the purest form of Android 11 with a host of Pixel-exclusive tricks in tow. 

A major advantage of going with the Pixel 5 is that you will receive three assured Android upgrades and monthly security updates as well as feature drops for adding new tricks on a regular basis. However, One UI 3.1 offers its own set of additional features that you’ll miss out on stock Android. But do keep in mind that the update situation with Samsung phones often comes with its own fair share of delays. 

Pricing

As for the pricing part, the Samsung Galaxy S21 starts at $799.99, while the Google Pixel 5 will set you back by a minimum of $649.99 a pop. Given their asking price, both the phones offer a terrific value for your money. So, it would ultimately boil down to how much firepower you want (in which case the Galaxy S21 wins), or if you desire a perfectly capable phone without spending too much, then the Pixel 5 is just about the best choice in that segment.

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Google kills Astrophotography mode for wide-angle camera on Pixel smartphones

So, after years of complaints and feverish requests from Pixel owners, Google finally added an ultra-wide camera to its phones – starting with the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Both the phones have since received a warm reception for their camera prowess. However, it appears that one feature that wasn’t so stellar was astrophotography mode when used with the ultra-wide camera, which is apparently why Google has decided to disable it. 

Quality issues appears to be the culprit here

Yes, if you own a Pixel 5 or a Pixel 4a 5G, you can no longer click long-exposure shots of the night sky with the astrophotography mode using the ultra-wide angle camera. “On Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5, astrophotography only works on zoom settings equal to or greater than 1x,” Google mentions on an official support page

As per a 9to5Google report, the change was made back in November with the rollout of Google Camera v8.1 update. Earlier, it was possible to switch to a 0.6x zoom level for astrophotography mode, which handed over the imaging responsibility from the main sensor to the ultrawide camera. Now, users see a warning at the top which says “Zoom to 1x for astrophotography” at the top and the option to switch to the wide-angle lens has been removing entirely.

READ MORE: Google’s 5G Pixels get new Adaptive features, older Pixels also receive a ton of cool tricks

Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G owners are now left with two options only – click an astrophotography mode shot of the night sky using the main camera without any magnification, or get a slightly magnified shot with a 2x zoom output that is digitally cropped. The reason for killing the astrophotography mode for the wide-angle camera on Pixel smartphones appears to have been linked to poor quality.

As per a user complaint on the official forums, the astrophotography mode results achieved by the wide-angle camera are far worse compared to those captured by the main snapper. Have a look at this thread to see for yourself. However, it is unclear if Google will fix the quality issues and bring back the capability on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4a 5G anytime soon.

The post Google kills Astrophotography mode for wide-angle camera on Pixel smartphones appeared first on Pocketnow.

Is there a new Google Pixel 5 Pro on the way?

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The Google Pixel 5 was one of Google’s first devices to arrive without a larger ‘XL’ variant. Google also decided to go with a less powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor instead of the Snapdragon 875, which is found in this year’s flagship devices. However, there may be a reason for these changes, as it seems that we could have leaks of what seems to be a new Google Pixel 5 Pro.

December has arrived with leaks of a couple of ‘new’ Google Pixel smartphones. The first one was a new Google Pixel XE, and now, we get leaked images of what could be a new Google Pixel 5 Pro. The leaked images of the alleged device were posted at SlashLeaks, where we can clearly read the Pixel 5 Pro under the Model & hardware and under the Device name sections. We also get to see a new front panel that doesn’t show a selfie camera anywhere, suggesting an under-display selfie camera.




However, these Google Pixel 5 Pro images should be taken with a huge amount of salt, as there is no further information about them. Maybe the only reliable information could come from the date and time reflected on the device when the images were captured. Another important detail is that the phone has been built on Qualcomm’s Kona platform, which means the Snapdragon 865 or 865+, which wouldn’t be so bad, but let’s remember that the SD 865 was launched some time ago. If we were going to get a real ‘Pro’ device, we would most likely see it arrive with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor under the hood.

Now, there may be a logical explanation for these images, as we could be seeing pictures of another device using Pixel Experience. Whatever the case, we don’t advise you to hold your breath waiting for this device, as we could just be looking at the creation of someone who was bored and wanted a good laugh.

Source SlashLeaks

Via Notebookcheck

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Apple’s M1 MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy devices and more on Cyber Monday

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We start today’s Cyber Monday deals with Apple’s MacBook lineup. We first head over to B&H, where we find the 13-inch MacBook Pro starting at $1,199 after a $100 discount. This variant will feature Apple’s latest M1 8-Core processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256 SSD. Savings can go all the way up to $150 depending on the model you go for, and the best part is that we also find the MacBook Air with Apple’s M1 processor starting at $899 with $100 savings.

If you’d rather go for the 16-inch Intel-powered MacBooks, they’re getting up to $400 off in its Intel Core i9 version with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage space, leaving it at $2,399. Or get the same amount of RAM with an Intel Core i7 processor and 256GB storage for $2,099 with $300 savings.

Samsung had some amazing deals on its Galaxy smartphones during Black Friday, but these deals have just gotten better with Cyber Monday. We see that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 can be yours for just $999.99 with an eligible trade-in, but you can also get $100 Samsung Credit for eligible accessories, and you can also save $100 extra with the Samsung Discount program. In other words, you can get yours for just $800!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, the Galaxy Note 20, and the Galaxy S20 series are also getting a similar treatment. The Galaxy Z Flip 5G can be yours starting at $300 with $1,000 savings with an eligible trade-in, and you get $100 Samsung Credit for accessories and $72.50 extra savings with the Samsung Discount program. The Galaxy Note 20 and the S20 series also give you a $100 Samsung Credit and $150 discounts, to which you can add $550 and $460 savings respectively with an eligible trade-in, and you also save some more with Samsung’s Discount program.

If you’re looking for other smartphone options, the Google Pixel 5 and 3a are also on sale. The latest Google Pixel 5 with 5G is currently getting a $50 discount, which leaves the 128GB Unlocked version in Just Black for $649. Now, the Google Pixel 3a is getting some interesting deals. If you go to Amazon, you will find it for $369 with a $30 discount in its 64GB version. However, there’s an even better Cyber Monday deal for this device at B&H, where you can get it for just $239 if you act fast.

Apple Watch deals are still live, and you can find several models on sale. You can find an Apple Watch Series 6 for just $350 with $49 discounts in its GPS-only 40mm version. The 44mm version with cellular connectivity starts at $480 with the same $49 discount. The Apple Watch SE can be yours starting at $259 in its 40mm GPS-only version or get the 44mm version for $289, both with $20 savings.

We then move on to Smart TVs, as we have several Cyber Monday options from Vizio for you to consider. The 65-inch OLED 4K UHD SmartCast TV is currently getting a $500 discount, leaving it just $1,500. Next up is the 65-inch 5K HDR Smart TV that’s selling for $970 with $230 savings. The 65-inch Class M-Series Quantum Series LED 4K is $100 off, which means you can get yours for $600, and the Vizio 70-inch Class V-Series LED 4K UHD SmartCast TV can be yours for just $550 with $110 savings.

If you’re looking for a new Echo device, Amazon is discounting its Gen4 Echo Dot by $21, leaving it at just $28.99. The new Echo is getting a $30 discount, which leaves it at just $70, the Echo Dot with a clock is selling for $39, and you can also get yourself a new Echo Show on sale. The Echo Show 5 is $45 while the Echo Show 8 is selling for $65, both with 50% discounts.

Other Cyber Monday deals include PowerA’s enhanced wired controller for Nintendo Switch with a Hylian Shield theme for $15 with $10 savings. You can also get a Nintendo Switch Deluxe travel case Poke Ball edition for $10, with $10 savings. The PowerA Stealth case kit for Nintendo Switch Lite with Pokemon expressions is selling for $9.84 with $5 savings. Apple’s Powerbeats and Powerbeats Pro are also on sale. You can grab a pair for $99 and $160 with $50.95 and $90 savings, respectively.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, Apple’s latest iPad Pro and more on sale today

You can already start taking advantage of tons of early Black Friday deals. We will start today’s deals with a vast selection of discounts over at Samsung.com, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. you can currently get yours for just $1,000 when you trade in an eligible device. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G can be yours for just $250, or get the Ultra variant for $550, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G at just $140, The Galaxy S20 for $390, Galaxy S20+ for $540, and the S20 Ultra for $740 with trade-in.

iPad Pro mini-LED

Moving onto your favorite Apple discounts, Apple’s 12.9-inch and 11-inch iPad Pro models are also on sale. The 12.9-inch version is getting a $150 discount in its Wi-Fi + Cellular version with 1TB storage, which leaves it at $1,499 or get the Wi-Fi only version with 128GB storage for $900 with $99 savings. The smaller 11-inch version with Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity and 512GB storage is selling for $1,150 with a $99 discount, and the Wi-Fi only version with half the storage space can be yours for $800 with the same $99 discount.
Now, if you’re looking for the previous iPad Pro model, there’s a huge sale at B&H Photo Video, with some iPad Pro models starting at $799 with $350 savings, so take a look and see if there’s anything that fits your needs.

You can also get interesting deals on OnePlus products right now, as the OnePlus 8 Pro with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage can be yours for $799 with $100 savings, and you also get a pair of OnePlus Buds for free. The OnePlus 8 is selling for $599, down from its regular $799 price tag with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
The OnePlus 7T T-Mobile edition is up for grabs for $349 with 128GB storage and 8GB with $150 savings, and you also get a pair of OnePlus Bullets Wireless for free. You can also go for the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for $699 with a $200 discount, and you get a pair of OnePlus Bud included for free upon purchase.

Google products are also on sale, as you can currently get a Google Pixel 5 with 128GB storage for $649 with $50 savings. The Google Home Max is selling for $149 with $150 savings, and the Nest Hub 7 can be yours for $50 after a $40 discount. The second-gen Google Nest Wi-Fi Router is getting a $30 discount, which leaves it at $139.

Finally, the Apple Watch Series 6 40mm version with cellular and GPS with a gold stainless steel case and gold Milanese loop is getting a $120 discount, leaving it at $629. If you want the GPS only version, you can get the PRODUCT RED version for $330 with $69 savings. The Apple Watch SE 44mm GPS-only variant is selling for $289 with a $20 discount, while last year’s Apple Watch Nike Series 5 is currently available for $249 with $250 savings.

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