Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features, news, compatible phones and what it can do

If you’re a fan of Android phones then the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a big deal, as this upcoming chipset will almost certainly power many of the best Android phones of 2022.

The latest innovation from Qualcomm is now here after the company introduced its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform at its annual Tech Summit event. This is the new chipset that we expect to see powering a lot of the top-end phones in 2022 and beyond. 

Flights and accommodation for this launch event were funded by Qualcomm, but the views reflect the writer's own independent opinion.

It's the sequel to the Snapdragon 888 (and its sibling the Snapdragon 888 Plus) that was introduced in 2020 and featured on smartphones like the Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, Oppo Find X3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11.

That means we'll likely see it included in the next iterations of those phones, so we expect manufacturers like Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Realme and many more to include this chipset in their absolute best smartphones.

This is top-end power, so it's reserved for the most expensive devices. If you're a smartphone fan, you've likely noticed that the new chipset also has a new naming structure, too. We expected this to be called the Snapdragon 898, but Qualcomm moved to what it believes is a more "simplified" naming structure.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next top-end Android chipset from Qualcomm
  • When is it out? Expect it in phones very soon

Which phones will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1?

A lot of phones are likely to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and five devices have been confirmed so far. They are the Xiaomi 12, a new Motorola Edge handset, Oppo's upcoming flagship, the next flagship OnePlus phone and the Realme GT 2 Pro.

The Xiaomi 12 is the first phone that will feature the chipset, while we expect that new OnePlus and Oppo phones will be the rumored OnePlus 10 and Find X4. The new Motorola Edge is a touch more complicated, and we have reason to believe it'll be a China-only device.

Rumored handset include the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, which will reportedly use this chipset in either most or all parts of the world. That’s a change, as typically Samsung splits its Galaxy S models between the latest Snapdragon and the latest Exynos.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 range is likely to land in February, but before that we could see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12 in December (though that launch will probably only be for China, with the rest of the world getting it later).

Xiaomi Mi 11

The successor to the Xiaomi Mi 11 could be one of the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones (Image credit: Future)

Leaks also suggest that the Huawei P60 range could use this chipset. That’s slightly surprising as Huawei usually makes its own, but the US trade ban has complicated things there. Finally, there’s also evidence of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 being used in at least one Vivo phone.

Beyond the leaks and rumors, we also expect other phones like Sony Xperia 1 IV to use this chipset, based on past form, as probably will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, and many other phones.

Don't expect Pixel phones in 2022 to be using this as it's likely Google will continue using its own Tensor chipset. One oddity is a rumor that Samsung won't be using its Exynos chipsets in certain models of the Galaxy S22.

Basically, if you buy a high-end Android smartphone in 2022, there’s a good chance the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will be at its heart.

What does it do?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is designed to offer a top-end flagship experience. Be aware though, not every manufacturer will use each of the features below.

A lot of the new features we talk about are now are an option for manufacturers to implement, but not every phone maker in 2022 will decide to introduce each of the below features. So don't expect these features to be guaranteed in your smartphone when you unpackage it in 2022.

How powerful is it?

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Ziad Asghar, VP of Product Management at Qualcomm, told TechRadar during a briefing that the new chipset introduces, "The biggest changes that we've ever brought about in a product." 

That's a big claim (and one we'd expect Qualcomm to make) so we'll be breaking down every feature we've learned about so far.

First off, the CPU has been improved by being 20% faster than the last generation; it also offers 30% power savings. That should hopefully result in better overall performance on your smartphone, and perhaps longer battery life.

The CPU (central processing unit) is the brains of your phone for everyday tasks such as booting up and running apps, or navigating around your phone's operating system. Improvements to the CPU performance should mean your phone is slicker and speedier than previous generations.

Those stats aren't the biggest jump in numbers we've seen from a new Qualcomm platform, but the Snapdragon 888 Plus was already one of the most powerful chips on the market so we didn't expect a huge improvement here.

Artificial intelligence features also remain a focus for Qualcomm, and the company is partnering with Google Cloud to introduce its Cloud Vertex AI Neural Architecture Search features into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform.

A Qualcomm spokesperson said, "It allows [manufacturers] to apply Neural Architecture Search techniques, and would let [manufacturers] be able to optimize the model to the fullest extent to be able to get the most optimal models for best accuracy".

Essentially, you should expect the best possible artifical intelligence features from this latest Snapdragon platform. Plugging in Google Cloud's features should only offer improvements here, but it's currently unclear what exactly this will offer.

New camera features

Most of the exciting improvements for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1are in the camera, which opens up a whole new variety of features for manufacturers to introduce to your smartphone's snapper.

The image signal processor (ISP) has been improved on this chip with it introducing 4,096 times more camera data than previous models. It was previously a 14-bit ISP on the Snapdragon 888, and this features an 18-bit one.

Those four extra bits allow for improved dynamic range, which should mean you'll be able to take photos with brighter bright areas and darker dark areas.

Faster shooting in burst mode is now possible, and Qualcomm has doubled the number of photos you can take in quick succession. For example, in one second you can now take 240 12MP photos using the burst mode features.

Wide-angle photography may also be improved on your next phone. A new de-warp technology and Chromatic Aberration Correction have been introduced here, and they're designed to improve wide-angle shots.

Facial recognition technology has been improved on the latest Snapdragon with the company saying it's faster and more accurate than ever. We've yet to get any hard data specifically on that claim, though.

The company says it will better track the position of your nose, mouth, eyes, eyebrows, jawline and more. There are more than 300 facial landmarks now being used by the platform, but we're not clear on how many were used on previous generations.

The platform allows for you to shoot in 8K HDR for the very first time, and that's both HDR 10 and HDR 10 Plus. Not many smartphones currently offer 8K video recording – and it's rare you'll find a screen that is capable of making use of the footage – but it's a useful feature for future smartphones.

Sticking on video recording, and a new feature called Video Super-Resolution for Extreme Zoom should mean that your phone's telephoto camera can record better video. It's rare you'd want to shoot video at long distances, but this could be better on future smartphones.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

The final video feature is a new bokeh engine that will allow for the blurred effect on the rear of your portrait shots. This will be like how it works on Portrait mode on many top-end smartphones, but the capability here is up to 4K video.

We've seen this introduced on the iPhone 13 series previously, although it was called Cinematic Mode. It'll be interesting to see which Android manufacturer includes this feature first.

Another big camera feature is the fact you can record video, but also take photos at the same time. This is up to 8K HDR video, while the camera also takes 64MP shots. It's not entirely clear how this would be implemented yet, but it's a feature you may find helpful when shooting certain moments that you also want photographs of.

Finally, you'll also be able to shoot in 18-bit RAW for the first time. This is likely a feature that will appeal to true camera enthusiasts who want to export raw images for editing.

What does it change for gaming?

Another big improvement is in gaming, which introduces an AI engine that offers 4x faster artificial intelligence performance than the Snapdragon 888. It'll be interesting to see how this works in real life.

The Adreno GPU is 30% faster than the last-gen chipset, while the Vulkan is 60% faster. That essentially means you'll be getting into your games quicker, and they should run better than your previous smartphones.

A new feature called Adreno Frame Motion Engine will allow you to double the frame rate in the games you're playing while maintaining the same power levels. Qualcomm also confirmed the feature would allow you to keep playing at the same frame rate, but you'd be using half the power.

There are further gaming features to be introduced on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but we haven't heard about them in full yet. Expect to see more in this article at a later date.

Every other feature we've heard about so far

A new always-on camera is an impressive introduction with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The idea here is your phone's camera would be able to constantly be running, and then software developers can introduce new features to make use of that.

As an example, Qualcomm suggested you could unlock your phone without having to press a button to start a facial recognition process.

Another example, and perhaps a more interesting implementation, would be for security purposes. The camera would be able to monitor if anyone is looking over your shoulder while you're using certain apps. If you're looking at confidential files, it would then be able to lock your phone to ensure no one else is able to peek over your shoulder.

That would only be possible for certain uses (for example, someone looking at an angle would likely not be picked up by the camera) but it's an interesting feature that could be useful.

There are improvements for audio, too. For example, Qualcomm is introduced CD lossless audio and Bluetooth LE audio into the platform for the first time.

Plus, a new feature called Android Ready SE is designed to allow you to include identification documents on your smartphone. This would allow for this process to be done securely, but there is little detail on how that would look for the average person.

The platform also includes the most advanced Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, so you may be able to experience a slightly faster Wi-Fi connection on your next smartphone.

Finally, 5G is improving on the Gen 1, but we've yet to hear many specifics about the features. Qualcomm has said this platform supports up to 10Gbps, which is likely to keep you connected without any concerns.

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features, news, compatible phones and what it can do

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If you’re a fan of Android phones then the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a big deal, as this upcoming chipset will almost certainly power many of the best Android phones of 2022.

The latest innovation from Qualcomm is now here after the company introduced its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform at its annual Tech Summit event. This is the new chipset that we expect to see powering a lot of the top-end phones in 2022 and beyond. 

Flights and accommodation for this launch event were funded by Qualcomm, but the views reflect the writer's own honest opinion.

It's the sequel to the Snapdragon 888 (and its sibling the Snapdragon 888 Plus) that was introduced in 2020 and featured on smartphones like the Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, Oppo Find X3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11.

That means we'll likely see it included in the next iterations of those phones, so we expect manufacturers like Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Realme and many more to include this chipset in their absolute best smartphones.

This is top-end power, so it's reserved for the most expensive devices. If you're a smartphone fan, you've likely noticed that the new chipset also has a new naming structure, too. We expected this to be called the Snapdragon 898, but Qualcomm moved to what it believes is a more “simplified” naming structure.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next top-end Android chipset from Qualcomm
  • When is it out? Expect it in phones in January 2022

Which phones will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1?

A lot of phones are likely to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and many of them have already been rumored. These include the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, which will reportedly use this chipset in either most or all parts of the world.

That’s a change, as typically Samsung splits its Galaxy S models between the latest Snapdragon and the latest Exynos.

So far, no manufacturers have confirmed compatibility with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. However, we can almost guarantee you'll see this chipset on a lot of top-end smartphones in 2021.

We'll include confirmed models here when we hear more, but we've yet to see any manufacturers state whether they'll be using the new chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 range is likely to land in February, but before that we could see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Xiaomi 12 in December (though that launch will probably only be for China, with the rest of the world getting it later).

Xiaomi Mi 11

The successor to the Xiaomi Mi 11 could be one of the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones (Image credit: Future)

A leak suggests a Motorola phone could join the Xiaomi 12 as one of the first with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, possibly also launching before the end of 2021. That leak didn’t name the phone, but more recently another source claimed that the high-end Motorola Edge 30 Ultra will land this year with that chipset.

Leaks also suggest that the Huawei P60 range could use this chipset. That’s slightly surprising as Huawei usually makes its own, but the US trade ban has complicated things there. Finally, there’s also evidence of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 being used in at least one Vivo phone.

Beyond the leaks and rumors, we also expect the OnePlus 10 and Sony Xperia 1 IV to use this chipset, based on past form, as probably will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, and many other phones.

Don't expect Pixel phones in 2022 to be using this as it's likely Google will continue using its own Tensor chipset. One oddity is a rumor that Samsung won't be using its Exynos chipsets in certain models of the Galaxy S22.

Basically, if you buy a high-end Android smartphone in 2022, there’s a good chance the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will be at its heart.

What does it do?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is designed to offer a top-end flagship experience. Be aware though, not every manufacturer will use each of the features below.

A lot of the new features we talk about are now are an option for manufacturers to implement, but not every phone maker in 2022 will decide to introduce each of the below features. So don't expect these features to be guaranteed in your smartphone when you unpackage it in 2022.

How powerful is it?

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Ziad Asghar, VP of Product Management at Qualcomm, told TechRadar during a briefing that the new chipset introduces, “The biggest changes that we've ever brought about in a product.” 

That's a big claim (and one we'd expect Qualcomm to make) so we'll be breaking down every feature we've learned about so far.

First off, the CPU has been improved by being 20% faster than the last generation; it also offers 30% power savings. That should hopefully result in better overall performance on your smartphone, and perhaps longer battery life.

The CPU (central processing unit) is the brains of your phone for everyday tasks such as booting up and running apps, or navigating around your phone's operating system. Improvements to the CPU performance should mean your phone is slicker and speedier than previous generations.

Those stats aren't the biggest jump in numbers we've seen from a new Qualcomm platform, but the Snapdragon 888 Plus was already one of the most powerful chips on the market so we didn't expect a huge improvement here.

Artificial intelligence features also remain a focus for Qualcomm, and the company is partnering with Google Cloud to introduce its Cloud Vertex AI Neural Architecture Search features into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform.

A Qualcomm spokesperson said, “It allows [manufacturers] to apply Neural Architecture Search techniques, and would let [manufacturers] be able to optimize the model to the fullest extent to be able to get the most optimal models for best accuracy”.

Essentially, you should expect the best possible artifical intelligence features from this latest Snapdragon platform. Plugging in Google Cloud's features should only offer improvements here, but it's currently unclear what exactly this will offer.

New camera features

Most of the exciting improvements for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1are in the camera, which opens up a whole new variety of features for manufacturers to introduce to your smartphone's snapper.

The image signal processor (ISP) has been improved on this chip with it introducing 4,096 times more camera data than previous models. It was previously a 14-bit ISP on the Snapdragon 888, and this features an 18-bit one.

Those four extra bits allow for improved dynamic range, which should mean you'll be able to take photos with brighter bright areas and darker dark areas.

Faster shooting in burst mode is now possible, and Qualcomm has doubled the number of photos you can take in quick succession. For example, in one second you can now take 240 12MP photos using the burst mode features.

Wide-angle photography may also be improved on your next phone. A new de-warp technology and Chromatic Aberration Correction have been introduced here, and they're designed to improve wide-angle shots.

Facial recognition technology has been improved on the latest Snapdragon with the company saying it's faster and more accurate than ever. We've yet to get any hard data specifically on that claim, though.

The company says it will better track the position of your nose, mouth, eyes, eyebrows, jawline and more. There are more than 300 facial landmarks now being used by the platform, but we're not clear on how many were used on previous generations.

The platform allows for you to shoot in 8K HDR for the very first time, and that's both HDR 10 and HDR 10 Plus. Not many smartphones currently offer 8K video recording – and it's rare you'll find a screen that is capable of making use of the footage – but it's a useful feature for future smartphones.

Sticking on video recording, and a new feature called Video Super-Resolution for Extreme Zoom should mean that your phone's telephoto camera can record better video. It's rare you'd want to shoot video at long distances, but this could be better on future smartphones.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

The final video feature is a new bokeh engine that will allow for the blurred effect on the rear of your portrait shots. This will be like how it works on Portrait mode on many top-end smartphones, but the capability here is up to 4K video.

We've seen this introduced on the iPhone 13 series previously, although it was called Cinematic Mode. It'll be interesting to see which Android manufacturer includes this feature first.

Another big camera feature is the fact you can record video, but also take photos at the same time. This is up to 8K HDR video, while the camera also takes 64MP shots. It's not entirely clear how this would be implemented yet, but it's a feature you may find helpful when shooting certain moments that you also want photographs of.

Finally, you'll also be able to shoot in 18-bit RAW for the first time. This is likely a feature that will appeal to true camera enthusiasts who want to export raw images for editing.

What does it change for gaming?

Another big improvement is in gaming, which introduces an AI engine that offers 4x faster artificial intelligence performance than the Snapdragon 888. It'll be interesting to see how this works in real life.

The Adreno GPU is 30% faster than the last-gen chipset, while the Vulkan is 60% faster. That essentially means you'll be getting into your games quicker, and they should run better than your previous smartphones.

A new feature called Adreno Frame Motion Engine will allow you to double the frame rate in the games you're playing while maintaining the same power levels. Qualcomm also confirmed the feature would allow you to keep playing at the same frame rate, but you'd be using half the power.

There are further gaming features to be introduced on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but we haven't heard about them in full yet. Expect to see more in this article at a later date.

Every other feature we've heard about so far

A new always-on camera is an impressive introduction with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The idea here is your phone's camera would be able to constantly be running, and then software developers can introduce new features to make use of that.

As an example, Qualcomm suggested you could unlock your phone without having to press a button to start a facial recognition process.

Another example, and perhaps a more interesting implementation, would be for security purposes. The camera would be able to monitor if anyone is looking over your shoulder while you're using certain apps. If you're looking at confidential files, it would then be able to lock your phone to ensure no one else is able to peek over your shoulder.

That would only be possible for certain uses (for example, someone looking at an angle would likely not be picked up by the camera) but it's an interesting feature that could be useful.

There are improvements for audio, too. For example, Qualcomm is introduced CD lossless audio and Bluetooth LE audio into the platform for the first time.

Plus, a new feature called Android Ready SE is designed to allow you to include identification documents on your smartphone. This would allow for this process to be done securely, but there is little detail on how that would look for the average person.

The platform also includes the most advanced Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, so you may be able to experience a slightly faster Wi-Fi connection on your next smartphone.

Finally, 5G is improving on the Gen 1, but we've yet to hear many specifics about the features. Qualcomm has said this platform supports up to 10Gbps, which is likely to keep you connected without any concerns.

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All the new smartphones we still expect will launch this year

Some tech companies aren't letting the last few weeks of 2021 go to waste, even launching new smartphones in the run-up to Christmas.

While some new phone releases are confirmed events, others are rumors that may or may not happen in the next few weeks. Accordingly, we've created a list of new smartphone launches based on the likelihood they'll actually happen in December of 2021.

Of course, none of these releases will be as big as what we'll see in the first few months of 2022. The giant tech conferences, CES in January and MWC in late February/early March, will likely coincide with massive phone launches like the releases of Samsung Galaxy S22, OnePlus 10 and Oppo Find X4. It's hard not to get excited by those!

Still, there are phones in our December 2021 list that are intriguing enough to entice more than a few tech fans.

Phones we'll almost definitely see

Honor 50

The Honor 50, the predecessor to the Honor 60 (Image credit: Future)

Honor 60

We know the Honor 60 is launching, and it's happening very soon: December 1, to be exact.

This China-only launch of the phone will likely be followed by a global release in a few weeks' time. That means we'll soon see the phone in all of its technical glory, but might not know its price until the global launch.

The Honor 60 is the brand's next mid-range phone, following in the footsteps of the recently unveiled Honor 50. We don't expect the 60 to come with too many upgrades since it has only been six months since the last iteration was first released.

The Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone with its Vlog Monitor accessory

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony Xperia Pro-I

This is another confirmed December release, but we already saw the official launch of Sony's Xperia Pro-I earlier in 2021.

The Sony Xperia Pro-I is a super-premium mobile designed specifically for photographers. This phone has fantastic cameras and also works as a second display for many of Sony's cameras. The Xperia Pro-I is launching on December 2 in the UK and December 10 in the US.

The phone will be expensive, at $1,799 / £1,599 (around AU$2,400), but keep in mind that it's designed for professional photographers, and not your average phone fan.

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

The Motorola Edge 20 Pro is currently Moto's top-end smartphone (Image credit: Future)

Motorola's next smartphone

While this launch hasn't technically been confirmed, we've heard so many rumors about Motorola's plan to release a top-end smartphone by the end of 2021 that we had to include it in this section.

Top chipset maker Qualcomm is expected to soon launch its new premium processor, and we've heard rumors that Motorola is eager to release the first phone using it. This means they might release a new phone by the end of this year, in close competition with Xiaomi, who also has a phone on this list.

We don't know if the new device is the Moto G200 or the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, both of which are rumored to launch in the next few months. Either way, we'd be very shocked if Motorola didn't release another smartphone by the end of the year.


Phones we'll possibly see:

Xiaomi Mi 11

The Xiaomi Mi 11, the company's flagship for 2021. (Image credit: Future)

Xiaomi 12

The Xiaomi Mi 11 was launched in the last days of 2020 at a China-only event before getting a global unveiling in February of this year. We think it's possible Xiaomi will repeat that timing with their Xiaomi 12, but there are others who think the mobile might launch in January. For this reason, we've put this device in the 'possibly' section.

This is Xiaomi's next flagship phone, and the first main-series device since it dropped its 'Mi' branding. We're expecting top specs and a premium design, but we don't actually know all that much about the device yet.

Either way, of all the phones on this list, the Xiaomi 12 will likely end up as one of the biggest releases of the year — regardless of which year it launches. When it does show up, it's definitely a phone we'll be reporting on so stay tuned.

Oppo X 2021

The Oppo X 2021, a rollable smartphone from Oppo. (Image credit: Future)

Oppo foldable phone

There was a rumor that Oppo would launch its first foldable phone in November 2021. Clearly, that didn't happen, but it's possible the launch was just delayed by a few weeks.

A December Oppo release would line up with the company's annual Inno Day, where it shows off new tech innovations that later feature on its devices. Inno Day was in December in 2019, November in 2020, and we still have yet to hear about 2021's Inno Day.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Oppo foldable phone at Inno Day 2021, but we have low expectations the release will happen before the end of the year.  

Nokia X20

The Nokia X20 is one example of HMD Global's X line. (Image credit: Future)

The Nokia X50

Early in 2021, we heard about a flagship phone from HMD Global called the Nokia X50, which was likely to follow 2019's Nokia 9 PureView in place of the rumored Nokia 10. According to the rumors we heard, this X50 would launch by the end of 2021.

Rumors about top-end phones from HMD Global rarely pan out, which means this whisper alone isn't enough to keep an X50 launch on the 'possibly' list. But, we also know that at some point during 2021, HMD Global changed the way it named its phones.

Currently, there are Nokia C, G and X phones, with entries at each level being respectively more premium. Taking this into consideration, a mid-range Nokia X50 is far more likely than a premium one. So if there is another Nokia phone out this year, there's a good chance it's an X50 with mid-range specs and a low price.

Admittedly, that's not a lot to go on, but a Nokia X50 launch is still more likely than releases for some of the other devices on this list.


Phones we probably won't see:

The Samsung Galaxy S21 face down on a table.

The Samsung Galaxy S21, the predecessor to the S22. (Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy S22

Earlier in 2021, a few rumors suggested we could see the Samsung Galaxy S22 in late December, which would buck the usual trend of Samsung's phones launching in January or February of each year.

A December release might have made sense as a response to the cancellation of the Galaxy S21 FE, while positioning the S22 as a more formidable rival of both the iPhone 13 and the Xiaomi 12. But scrapping the Galaxy S21 FE was also only a rumor, and it seems likely that handset will launch after all.

We don't think the S22 will launch in December, but because of some talk in the domain, we had to include it on this list.

Google Pixel 6 event

The Google Pixel 6 was expected to launch with a foldable equivalent. (Image credit: Google)

Google Pixel Fold

We heard quite a few rumors about the Google Pixel Fold in the build-up to the Pixel 6 launch, and we were excited about the possible coming of Google's first foldable smartphone. But sadly, that never came to be.

Still, it's impossible to totally rule out the existence of this phone since several big-profile leakers said the device was coming. One of those leakers also expected other companies, like Oppo, Xiaomi and Vivo, to launch foldable phones by the end of 2021, but with the ongoing chipset shortage affecting the tech world, we're not holding our breath.

Vivo X60 Pro

The Vivo X60 Pro, one of the brand's only globally-released smartphones. (Image credit: Future)

Vivo foldable phone

As mentioned above, Vivo is another smartphone maker that was expected to release a foldable phone in 2021, but of all the new phone rumors we've heard, we'd say this launch is the least likely to happen. The primary reason is that Vivo is not an established enough smartphone company to start working on a flashy foldable.

Still, we won't rule this potential phone release out completely since Vivo is owned by BBK Electronics, which also owns Oppo, OnePlus and Realme, companies we've seen share tech developments. It's possible that through collaborative work, Vivo might just surprise us with a foldable smartphone earlier than expected. But over the next few weeks? Hardly likely.

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Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit 2021 live blog: new gaming device and Snapdragon 8cx

Christiano Amon

Qualcomm CEO Christiano Amon on stage at Tech Summit 2021 (Image credit: Qualcomm)

Some of the biggest upcoming phones of 2022 are likely to feature the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset that was revealed at Tech Summit 2021, but that's not all we heard about at the show.

The keynotes for Tech Summit 2021 are now over. We've heard about the company's new Snapdragon 8cx platform for laptops, as well as a new Nintendo Switch-like gaming dev kit for mobile gaming developers.

Flights and accommodation for this launch event were funded by Qualcomm, but the views reflect the writer's own independent opinion.

Below you'll find all the biggest announcements from Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit 2021, and that is followed by our live blog so you can see how each of the keynotes went down.

Welcome to our Tech Summit 2021 coverage where you'll be among the first to hear about everything that happens at today's keynote. 

If you're interested in what features may debut on 2022 Android smartphones, this is the place to be. We expect this next chipset to feature in flagship handsets from a variety of top-end phone makers.

Qualcomm has confirmed it will reveal its new premium tier mobile platform today, although we don't know its name. Qualcomm says we can also expect announcements in "AI, gaming, and connectivity".

You can watch along with the big keynote using the YouTube embed below. The event is set to start at 3PM PST / 6PM EST / 11PM GMT (or 10AM AEDT on Wednesday, December 1).

Expect this live blog to fully kick into gear when we start to hear announcements on stage from Qualcomm. We'll be typing as fast as we can to give you the latest from the show.

Over 60 phones used the Snapdragon 888 platform that was revealed in 2020, and that includes a lot of big name devices. A lot of those devices then went on to feature in our ranking of the world's very best smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series, Asus Rog Phone 5, OnePlus 9 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 series, Sony Xperia 1 III, Oppo Find X3 Pro, ZTE Axon 30 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3 and many other devices featured that chipset.

Logically, we'd expect 2022's best smartphones to also feature this next-gen platform... when they're revealed. Whether we'll hear from any of those manufacturers today remains to be seen. 

2021 has to be a big year for Qualcomm as it has seen tough competition throughout the last 12 months. The new MediaTek 9000 Dimensity SoC was revealed less than two weeks ago, and many have agreed it seems like a major step up for that brand that has traditionally lagged a little behind Qualcomm's technology.

The iPhone chipset - that's the A15 Bionic - has proved strong in the iPhone 13 series, and Google's new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro both feature the company's first attempt at its own chipset. That's called the Tensor, and it likely means Google won't be using the new Qualcomm chipset in its 2022 devices.

Lots is changing within the chipset space, so Qualcomm will likely be looking to today to make a serious impact with its announcements.

Apologies for the delay, we've just got into the room ready for the event to start. It hasn't started yet, so bare with us while we wait for the big launch to begin.

Before the event starts, we can introduce you to our coverage of the big event. We've learned lots about the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is the name of the new platform.

You can read more about the chipset in its full form below, and we'll have more updates coming live as the event gets underway.

Here we go, the music has started and the event is about to begin. We'll be talking you through everything as it happens on stage, but here's a reminder to check out our full coverage of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 below.

Don McGuire, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm has just taken to the stage, and he's talking about how happy he is to be running live events again. 

This does feel odd being at an actual tech launch again after almost two years of virtual launches.

McGuire is talking us through how the Snapdragon brand is the number one global smartphone mobile processor brand. On stage, we can see adverts for the OnePlus 9, Oppo Find X3 Pro, Samsung phones, Xiaomi phones, Redmi phones and Black Shark.

Could that be a hint at where the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will be next year? It could be, but we've yet to hear anything official from any brands.

Why isn't this new chipset called the Snapdragon 898? Qualcomm is changing it up in 2021, and we've spoken directly to a few of the company's representatives about why this has changed.

Lightning-fast connectivity, cutting-edge performance and immersive experiences are the three main pillars of today's announcement. That's according to Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm's CEO who is talking on stage right now.

Most of this is prelude so far, so we're going to talk more about this name for the next-gen chipset. So why has this happened, and why is now the right time for Qualcomm to do this?

Ziad Asghar, VP of Product Management at Qualcomm, told TechRadar, “People know that 8 is basically the highest tier that we have. So we thought let’s simplify this – let’s call it the Snapdragon 8.

“This one will be called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and then as we go further we’ll call it Gen 2, Gen 3 and so on. I think it really simplifies it, and you don’t have to remember three numbers.”

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Debra Marich, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Qualcomm, told TechRadar during a briefing for the new chipset, "We're strengthening our Snapdragon brand as a standalone product brand for consumers, and we'll be leveraging the equity we've built in the last Snapdragon brand for the past 10 years."

Christano is now moving onto the technology inside the new chipset, and it includes a Snapdragon X65 5G modem-RF. It features up to 10Gbps download speeds, but the company is also keen to work on upload speeds as well.

3.5 Gbps uploads are possible with this next-gen chip. An example of what that really means is coming up on stage... and it's an 8K live video call that is being done over a 5G connection on Verizon.

The quality seemed good throughout the video call, even blown up on a massive screen in front of us. This isn't a gamechanging use case for most people, but it proves that improved upload speeds are an important innovation for the next stage of 5G.

What else would fast upload speeds mean? It'll open up further possibilities than just upload videos to your Instagram faster than ever. We're thinking about how this could have an impact on augmented reality experiences and more.

5G mmWave download speeds are 19x faster than sub-6 5G technology in the US. That's according to stats that Qualcomm has shown on stage - we missed the source - and that's why the company is making a big point about its push for improved mmWave features.

We're moving onto the camera, and this is where things get exciting. Qualcomm is talking about how the rear camera is one of the biggest reasons people upgrade their smartphone so the company needs to get this right.

It's right, especially when many of the best camera phones of 2021 didn't feature a Qualcomm chipset inside. The iPhone 13 series remains one of the big contenders for that title, while the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro both have a fantastic camera experience with its new Tensor chip inside.

8K video was just played on screen, and this new platform allows for 8K HDR on a smartphone for the first time. Whether any manufacturers include this features remains to be seen.

Christiano has moved onto Snapdragon Sound, and he has just announced this is the first chipset to include streaming lossless CD audio over Bluetooth. Musician JP Saxe is now on stage to talk about what this technology means for him.

Many camera features were skipped over in the launch, but there are lots of innovations you can read about in our full coverage. A few of the higlights are below:

  • An 18-bit ISP
  • Burst mode is capable of up to 240 12MP photos a second
  • A new bokeh for video mode
  • Improvements for wide-angle photography
  • Video Super-Resolution for Extreme Zoom

A sketch on stage with Christano and JP Saxe saw the musician playing a song called "This is How CEOs Make Fun of Muscians" on a ukulele. It was one of the oddest things we've seen during a Qualcomm launch, but it was genuinely quite funny.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

We're onto mobile gaming. So far, we're hearing lots about why mobile gaming is so big, why it's important for the company to innovate in this area and more. Translation: Qualcomm is going even bigger on mobile gaming in 2021 and beyond.

Qualcomm is announcing a partnership with ESL, which is the world's biggest eSports company. 

Craig Levine, co-CEO of ESL, in now on stage. Levine has said the two companies will announce "something really big next year", so we don't really know what this partnership means yet.

Google Pixel 6 Pro being held in a hand.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Well... here's a surprise. Hiroshi Lockheimer from Google has just entered the stage. We didn't expect Google to be represented on stage, especially as the company moved away from Qualcomm for its Pixel phones in 2021.

Qualcomm just showed a range of logos on stage for companies that use its products, and it may be we see these are the manufacturers that will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

The manufacturers mentioned were Vivo, OnePlus, Asus, Sony, Sharp, Motorola, HTC, Lenovo, Nubia, Meizu, Black Shark, Leica, Kyocera, iQoo, Xiaomi, Oppo, Honor, Samsung, ZTE, Poco, Realme, Redmi, Fujitsu and HMD Global.

This isn't a gurantee that all the new flagships from these companies will be using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and we have also listed almost every smartphone maker on the planet.

We didn't get any meaty announcements from Google there. It seemed it was to further confirm that the two companies are still working together, despite Google moving to its new chipset.

It was the first time we've heard Google IO 2022 mentioned, which we expect to happen in May 2022. The company hasn't confirmed plans yet, but that heavily suggests it'll be taking place next year.

It's not a surprise, but the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 looks physically similar to the Snapdragon 888. Nevertheless, below are some great photos of the new chipset so you can see it in the real world.

See more

Qualcomm has been running through all the features we've heard about over the last hour or so. This feels like it may be finishing up, so that may be the end of the opening keynote.

We'll have more news throughout the rest of the day as we learn more about the new mobile platform and other announcements from Qualcomm.

Whoops, that wasn't the end. Qualcomm is now confirming the name of the new chipset (something we'd already told you) and it's the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The idea here is that future generations will be called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Gen 3 and so on.

For its lower tier products, they'll follow a similar structure. For example, the 700 series will now be called the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and so on.

Lei Jun, Founder and CEO of Xiaomi is now on stage in the form of a video, and he has confirmed the Xiaomi 12 will be the first to use the new chipset. He also said the product "will be available soon".

Rumors suggest we may be seeing the 12 introduced during December. That'll likely be a China-only launch, if the company follows its normal cadence of launches. We'll then probably see it introduced in further markets at a later date.

That's the end of the big show. The keynote is now over, and we're expecting to learn further details about the new platform as the rest of this week goes on. 

Below, you'll find all of our coverage on the event so far. We may be back soon with futher detail about the chip, if there's anything interesting in the next element of the event.

We're back, and it's to tell you that a new Motorola Edge phone is coming. Ruben Castano, Head of Customer Experiences at Motorola, said, "All the experiences you saw today will be available very soon on an upcoming Motorola Edge device.

"In fact, in just a few days we will reveal one of the very first smartphones to launch on this new Snapdragon 8 platform in China."

That quote suggests this device may be exclusive to those in China, so this may not be a handset you're able to buy. Previously, Motorola has introduced some smartphones in China and then brought them to other countries under new names at a later date.

Bit more Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 news for you, and it's another smartphone you may be able to buy. Oppo's next flagship - highly likely to be the Find X4 - is now confirmed to feature the new Qualcomm chipset.

Day 2 is underway at Tech Summit 2021, and we're waiting on the company's second keynote. It is set to start at 3PM PST / 6PM EST / 11PM GMT (or 10AM AEDT on Thursday, December 2).

Below, you can tune into the event when it starts later today. We'll be talking you through all the biggest announcements in this live blog as we're live at the tech show.

What can you expect today? Qualcomm has yet to confirm anything firm, but a representative for the company has called it the "Snapdragon Beyond The Smartphone" keynote.

The company's website gives us more detail where it says, "Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon’s keynote discusses his vision for the intelligent edge and Qualcomm’s role across Infrastructure (5G + Wi-Fi 6), Compute, Handheld Gaming, Auto, and more."

Since yesterday's big show, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has been confirmed for two new products. The first is the next flagship phone from OnePlus, which we believe will be called the OnePlus 10.

That's according to the company's CEO, who confirmed the new Qualcomm chip will be in its next device.

The upcoming Realme GT 2 Pro is also confirmed to be using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This is the first time Realme has made a flagship phone, so we're excited to see what this is able to do.

Here we are again. Today's big show has yet to begin, but we're not able to tell you all about today's announcements.

There are two biggies you need to know about. There's a new computing platform called the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xc Gen 3 that has debuted today. You can read all about that here.

Meantwhile, Qualcomm has also announced its first ever mobile gaming dev kit. It's made in collaboration with Razer, and it is something you won't be able to buy yourself. This is design as a device for developers to use to make the most of the Qualcomm platform.

We are now in the room for day 2's keynote, and we're just waiting for it to begin. Expect the show to begin in the next few minutes, and we may soon hear more detail about each of these new announcements.

I expect them to start off with the new computing products.

Don McGuire, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Qualcomm is now on stage. It's time for the preamble. It's clear today is around other products that aren't mobile.

Christiano is talking about the metaverse as part of the opening for this show. Qualcomm is outlining its intention that it wants to be the company that will be supplying the devices for the eventual metaverse.

"Snapdragon is your ticket to the metaverse", according to the rear screen at the moment.

Andrew Bosworth, CTO and Head of Reality Labs at Meta has just appeared on stage inside the company's own VR video calling app. That's the one we saw earlier this year when Facebook originally changed its name to Meta.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit 2021

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm and Meta seem to be working closely together on upcoming projects. 

There's nothing firm here about any clear announcements, but they're talking about how devices powered by Qualcomm are allowing for the metaverse to come to fruition.

The new Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 gaming platform has just been revealed on stage. The below is the new mobile gaming console that Qualcomm has made, but be warned that this is just dev kit for the timebeing.

Qualcomm Razer Snapdragon G3X

(Image credit: Quallcomm / Razer)

It sort of looks like a smartphone in between an Xbox controlle. It's called the Snapdragon G3x handheld developer kit. The idea here is that it'll allow gaming studios to ready their games ahead of the new chipset being made available.

Qualcomm is moving quickly here, and we're onto Automotive announcements.

Advanced driver-assisted systems is the topic on stage right now. IF you're new to the concept, it's a variety of technology that can help improve road use. 

This is a future concept, but it seems to be becoming more of a reality. Qualcomm is announcing a new platform called Snapdragon digital chassis.

The idea is this is a platform that car manufactrers can build upon to create smarter car tech. It's made up of smaller ections called car-to-cloud, ride platform, cockpit platform and auto connectivity.

Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer for Windows devices at Microsoft is on stage now talking about the relationship with Qualcomm. There isn't much here to share, but the two companies are working closely together as you probably already realize.

Miguel Nunes, VP of Product Management at Qualcomm, has entered the stage. He is about to talk us through the company's new computing platform, which you can learn about in our coverage of it so far.

This noise suppression technology has worked really well during demos I've seen this week. It is designed to cut out noises such as sirens, typing or other people (such as children crying).

If it works as well as I've seen in demos, I'm super excited to see it come to smartphones and laptops. This is also a feature on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 smartphone chipset, so it isn't just for laptops.

We're coming to the end of this week's keynotes, so don't expect many more announcements from Qualcomm. There are other elements happening at Tech Summit 2021, but this is the end of the big livestreamed shows.

Expect further news on TechRadar from the show throughout the rest of the week, but the new reveals are mostly out there.

The show is definetly wrapping up. We've heard from a variety of OEMs right now such as Microsoft, Lenovo and Acer. Thisfeels like the end of the big reveal, and Qualcomm's keynotes this week.

I take that back, Micah Knapp is here to talk about mobile gaming some more.

The Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 is the company's new gaming platform, and it's what you'll find inside the company's new Developer Kit.

The screen says it comes with support for cooling fans, intergrated game controller support, display out to TV, 5G connectivity and more.

Justin Cooney, Razer's Global Director of Business Development and Partnerships has just walked on stage. Razer and Qualcomm have worked together on that developer kit.

They're talking us through how developers can use the kit. I've played with the kit for a little while, and it's truly impressive. It does feel like a smartphone put between an Xbox controller but it was comfortable to play.

Thing is, you won't be able to play this. This is just for developers, and we may have to wait a while for any other third-party manufacturers to make a consumer device like this.

That's it - it's the end of the show. Thank you for joining us over the last two days. We may be sharing more here with you over the next few days as we publish more articles around Qualcomm's new technologies, but this is the end of the company's keynotes.

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Huawei could launch a foldable phone to rival the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

Huawei has already dabbled in foldable phones with the Huawei Mate Xs and Mate X2, but it could be changing direction with its next effort: the latest rumor is that Huawei will soon launch a clamshell device in the vein of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

This leak comes via sources on Chinese social media platform Weibo (via Notebookcheck.net), and mass production has apparently already started on the new phone. That means it could be officially unveiled before the end of the year.

We don't have much more information about what this clamshell phone is going to look like, though it's apparently the manufacture of a simplified hinge that has revealed the device's existence. Let's hope a simpler hinge means a lower price too.

A simplified hinge

The only other detail we get from this particular source is that the foldable phone will come with a "fashionable" design and a "rich" color scheme (if Google Translate can be trusted). It sounds as though the new clamshell will be made to catch the eye.

This is by no means the first time we've heard rumors of a clamshell Huawei foldable phone – we saw patents for this device over a year ago. More recent leaks have suggested that the upcoming handset could be called the Huawei Mate V when it appears.

Due to the ongoing trade restrictions that the US is imposing on Huawei, it is going to have to settle for 4G technology for the time being. The Huawei Mate V could well come running a 4G version of the Snapdragon 888 when it makes its debut.


Analysis: a tale of two form factors

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

However you like your foldable phone – as a clamshell you can snap shut, or as a device that opens up like an electronic book – the main appeal is the same. You've got a fully functioning, full size phone that also fits neatly in your pocket.

There's a lot that's different in terms of these two form factors though. The phone-to-tablet transformation ultimately gives you much more in the way of screen space: the display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, for example, measures a rather impressive 7.6 inches when opened out.

The clamshell form factor, meanwhile, is much more about keeping the dimensions of the device down and making it more convenient to use. The likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Motorola Razr can be operated with one hand, you'll notice (and can be locked with a pleasing snap as well).

Samsung has decided that it wants to cover both bases with its foldable phone range, and it would appear that Huawei is about to follow suit – and as always, more hardware on the market means a wider choice of devices for consumers to pick from.

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Sony’s PS4 phone controller patent isn’t enough to get us excited for its mobile games

It's no secret that Sony is looking to push harder into mobile games in the near future, and we've been waiting to see what that actually means. Now a new patent for some mobile gaming hardware might give us our first clue.

As spotted by VideoGamesChronicle, Sony's Japanese arm was recently granted a patent for a mobile phone games controller that looks similar to the PS4 Dualshock (pictured above), except it sandwiches a smartphone.

This dual-controller smartphone gaming peripheral design is something we've seen before, notably with the Razer Kishi which has proven somewhat popular. The real difference here is how much like a PS4 controller the thing looks, and you're apparently meant to use grips like on the PS4 controller, and not just hold the side of the accessory like with the Kishi or most other mobile controllers.

This is just a patent, so a finished product might look quite different (or not come at all). With its big push into mobile gaming, it's no surprise Sony is considering hardware to work with smartphones, though a patent doesn't guarantee a physical device is coming.

However we hope Sony's big drive into smartphone gaming isn't limited to hardware, because that's not what mobile games need right now.


Analysis: it's in the software

The major thing limiting people from enjoying big-franchise games on their smartphones isn't the hardware. Phones are sometimes more powerful than laptops now, and game controller accessories have been a thing for a while – some gaming phones even have built-in triggers.

No, the real thing that stops the enjoyment of triple-A mobile games is the serious lack of actual top-end games to play.

Sure, we sometimes see popular indie titles ported over to mobile and tablet, but until we see the next Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed launch on smartphones, mobile gaming will still have a long way to go.

You might be saying 'triple-A games won't play on phones like that', but such a statement is provably false. Streaming services like Google Stadia and Amazon Luna let you stream big-title games from the internet, onto your tiny little smartphone.

The problem is that game streaming services are rather temperamental, and still require great internet connection to enjoy – you can't boot up Cyberpunk 2077 when you're on the underground or Elder Scrolls 6 when you're out in the countryside.

But it proves the mobile form factor works for traditional console games – there just needs to be a way to get them to play offline on standard smartphones. With each new year of mobiles getting more and more powerful, it'll become more and more feasible in the coming years.

We just hope Sony's pledge to focus more on mobile games results in more genuine console-like experiences, not endless-runners like Crash Bandicoot On The Run or card games like the new Wipeout.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 camera specs detailed in new leak

The Samsung Galaxy S22 phones are going to be heading our way early in 2022, and we just got some new information about what to expect from the camera setup on the two more affordable models: the standard S22 and the S22 Plus.

According to well-known tipster @UniverseIce, both of these phones are going to come with the same front and rear camera configurations. On the back, the camera modules will be led by a main 50MP camera, with a 1/1.57-inch sensor, 1µm pixels, and an aperture size of F1.8.

That will apparently be accompanied by a 3x optical zoom 10MP telephoto camera bringing with it a 1/3.94-inch sensor, 1µm pixels, and an aperture size of F2.4. Rounding out the triple-lens rear camera will be a 12MP ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor, 1.4µm pixels, F2.2 aperture).

See more

Going ultra

Then there's the selfie camera around the front – this is said to be a 10MP camera with a 1/3.24-inch sensor, 1.4µm pixels, and an F2.2 aperture. As per previous leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S range of phones won't be making the switch to in-display selfie cameras until 2023 at least.

The same source also confirms the screen sizes for these two phones that we were already expecting: the Samsung Galaxy S22 is going to come with a 6.06-inch display, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is said to have a 6.55-inch screen attached.

This particular leak doesn't mention anything about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, but from previous rumors it looks as though we'll get a 108MP main camera as well as 10x optical zoom in a quad-lens rear array – so significantly better than the other two handsets in this range.


Analysis: the S22 cameras come into focus

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus. (Image credit: TechRadar)

There's always a certain point in the rumor cycle for a particular smartphone when we start to get the same information over and over again from different sources. That means we're able to be more certain that these leaks are in fact accurate.

It looks as though we're starting to get to that point with the Galaxy S22, and in particular the camera modules. A rear camera of 50MP+12MP+10MP now looks very likely, with 3x optical zoom and ultrawide capabilities, plus a 10MP selfie camera on the front.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus brought with them 64MP+12MP+12MP rear camera arrays, but megapixels aren't everything: Samsung will be hoping to improve image quality and light capture with tweaks to the sizes of the sensors and individual pixels.

We should know for sure at some point in February. The word on the Samsung street is that the launch of the Galaxy S22 series has been pushed back to the second month in 2022 in order to make room for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE in January.

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Xiaomi’s new cheap phone is familiar for a reason

Although the year is nearing its end, tech companies aren't slowing down, and the launch of a new Xiaomi phone shows there are still devices to look out for. This new device is the Redmi Note 11T, which was just unveiled in India, and you'd be forgiven for finding it strangely familiar.

That's because the new Note 11T is more than a dead ringer for the Redmi Note 11 in most ways – it's basically the same phone. That device was unveiled in China in early November, and the T variant is just the same device renamed for India.

The one key shift in the Note 11T is the design: instead of having flat edges like the Note 11, it uses a more traditional curved frame.

Could we eventually see this phone available more widely? Almost definitely – Redmi has a habit of staggering its phone launches around the world, so we wouldn't be surprised if the Note 11 line lands in Europe and the UK at some point in the next few months.

Who knows what it'll be called though. Redmi phone names get switched around and substituted for different regions, so we'll have to wait to see which devices show up.


Analysis: A worthy budget phone... for 2022

The Redmi Note 11 or Note 11T has a 6.6-inch FHD+ 90Hz screen, 50MP main camera, 33W charging, a Dimensity 810 chipset and 5G compatibility.

All in all, it sounds like a decent budget phone, though that of course depends on its price when it launches globally.

We wouldn't expect the phone to launch in Europe in 2021 though – it's too close to Christmas for a new phone line to get unveiled, at least a big one like a family from Redmi.

Instead, maybe we'll see it come in early 2022 – it could be a good complement to the anticipated Xiaomi 12, which will likely be a premium device. We'd imagine a late January or early February launch is most likely, possibly to coincide with the MWC 2022 mobile phone conference which will happen towards the end of the second month.

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Realme GT 2 looks weirdly like the Google Pixel 6, according to leaked renders

When the Google Pixel 6 was unveiled lots of people mocked its weirdly-large horizontal camera bump – but apparently that didn't put off Realme, as it sounds like the next flagship phone from the company could have a similar design.

Shortly after Realme unveiled the 'GT 2 Pro' name for its next smartphone, which will apparently be the brand's "first and most premium flagship phone" according to its CEO, a leaker provided some pictures of what the device could look like.

Popular leaker Onleaks provided these pictures to 91mobiles, and they show green and white versions of the GT 2 Pro – no word on the non-Pro version, but many Chinese manufacturers tend to make more of a song and dance about their top-end devices.

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We've seen quite a few Android phones with horizontal camera bumps, but like the Pixel 6, the GT 2 Pro's lens-home sticks a fair way out from the back fo the device.

As well as providing these images, OnLeaks shared some specs for the phone: apparently it'll have a 6.8-inch WQHD+ screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP main camera joined by a 50MP ultra-wide and 8MP telephoto snapper, a 32GB selfie camera, 12GB RAM, the next top-end Snapdragon chipset and 125W fast charging.

A rough price is provided at $799 (around £600, AU$1,120) – that's the cost the Galaxy S21 launched at, so the GT 2 Pro seems like a close rival for that mobile. It's worth pointing out that Realme doesn't see its devices in the US though, yet at least.

Analysis: a strange design side-step

Image 1 of 3

Realme GT

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3

Realme GT Neo 2

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3

Das Realme GT Master Edition mit dem Gesicht auf einem Holztisch liegend.

(Image credit: Future / Franziska Schaub)

One of the most distinguishing things about the first wave of Realme GT phones was their designs – above you can see a gallery showing the original, the GT Neo 2 and the GT Master Edition.

They've all got noteworthy appearances, with the stripes and bold colors of the first two and the ridged suitcase style of the third.

That's not the case with these Realme GT 2 Pro renders though – judging by the pictures, the handset looks a lot more generic and standard. It's a shame, because at TechRadar we're big fans of interesting-looking phones, and found the GT a refreshingly novel device.

Plus, it doesn't seem like we're getting a vegan leather Realme GT 2 Pro, despite how nice that felt in the hand for the GT.

Perhaps the 'standard' Realme GT 2 will have some more design elements in keeping with the original entry in the series, but we'll have to wait to find out.

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European operators want tech firms to help fund 5G and fibre rollouts

Several of Europe’s largest telecommunications firms have called for large technology companies to contribute to the cost of rolling out fibre and 5G across the continent, arguing that the current situation is unsustainable.

Although next generation networks offer significant opportunities for operators to increase revenues through faster speeds and new services – particularly in the business market – there is increasing dissatisfaction among operators about the present situation.

They argue that services such as Netflix, Facebook, and YouTube benefit greatly from investments in network infrastructure without sharing the associated risk, effort, and expense of construction.

European operators 

Furthermore, they believe it is these services that are driving huge growth in network traffic that makes such upgrades necessary.

In a letter signed by the chief executives of Telefonica, Orange, KPN, BT, Telekom Austria, Vivacom, Proximus, Telenor, Altice Portugal, Telia and Swisscom seen by Reuters, they said:  

"A large and increasing part of network traffic is generated and monetized by big tech platforms, but it requires continuous, intensive network investment and planning by the telecommunications sector.

"This model – which enables EU citizens to enjoy the fruits of the digital transformation – can only be sustainable if such big tech platforms also contribute fairly to network costs.”

The letter also criticises the high cost of spectrum auctions and plans by the EU to scrap charges on calls made between member states, arguing both measures also restrict their abilities to invest in networks.

Earlier this month, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, TIM and Vodafone urged EU policymakers to help fund developments in OpenRAN R&D and testing and to incentivise supply chain diversity by lowering the barriers to entry.

Via Reuters

If you're looking for a new phone then you should check out our best 5G mobile phone deals 

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These are the five must-have SIM only deals from the Cyber Monday sales

Yes, Black Friday has now passed but that doesn't mean you can't still get a big saving on a SIM plan! As the Black Friday sales pass, we instantly roll straight into Cyber Monday.

And the great news is that most of the leading SIM only deals from Friday are still going strong. There are big discounts available from EE, Three, and a host of different MVNOs.

Overall, the number one spot has to go to Three. Its 100GB of data plan has crashed down to just £12 a month - a price unmatched by any other network. Or alternatively for a few quid extra, Smarty's unlimited plan now comes in at one of the cheapest prices ever of £15 a month.

There are also incredibly affordable prices from Lebara at £2.50 a month, as well as some big data options from both EE and O2. We've listed all of these Cyber Monday SIM plans below.

The best Cyber Monday SIM only deals

Three SIM | 12 months | 100GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £12 a month
Once again, Three has dominated both Black Friday and Cyber Monday with the best overall SIM plan. With this deal, you'll only pay £12 a month while getting 100GB of data each month. For that price, you will not be able to get more data than that plus, this is a 5G-enabled SIM too.

Lebara SIM | 1 month rolling | 2GB data | unlimited calls and texts | £2.50 a month for six months
Lebara is absolutely dominating Cyber Monday when it comes to cheap SIM plans. With this deal, it takes the spot of cheapest price, costing just £2.50 a month for the first six. After that, your prices will only go up to £5. For that price you get 2GB of data and, Lebara's rolling contracts allow you to leave at any time.

Smarty SIM | 1 month rolling | unlimited data, calls and texts | £16 a month
If you're in the market for an unlimited data SIM plan this Cyber Monday, Smarty will be the way to go. It is the cheapest unlimited offer on the market and one of the lowest prices ever at £15 a month. The only cheaper option than that comes from Lebara's £12.50 price...but that will only last for six months before doubling in price.

EE | 24 months | 160GB data | unlimited calls & texts | 5G ready | £20 a month
EE is going to be an obvious choice this Cyber Monday - it is the UK's fastest and most popular network after all! If you're in the market for an EE SIM, this 160GB of data option will be the obvious choice, costing just £20 a month for all of that data.

O2 | 24 months | 250GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £20 a month + free Disney Plus
O2 very rarely cuts its prices so it really is worth making the most of the Cyber Monday discounts. With this plan, you'll pay £20 a month while getting 250GB of data. While that alone is quite a strong offer, O2 goes the extra step by also throwing in a free Disney Plus subscription with you plan.

  • Still looking for a new phone? Check our best SIM-free phone price guide
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra case images show off its weird new camera design

The design of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has been extensively leaked now, with even case makers getting in on the act, and the latest selection of images do a good job of showing off the likely look.

Shared by @UniverseIce (a leaker with a solid track record) the images below show the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in (and out of) a transparent case. The phone is shown in a purple shade – so that might be one of the colors that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be sold in.

Beyond the color, you’ll note the curved edges, the Samsung logo, and on the bottom edge you can make out an S Pen slot, while on the left side there's volume and power buttons.

Image 1 of 2

An unofficial image of a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra next to a case

(Image credit: @UniverseIce)
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An unofficial image of a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in a case

(Image credit: @UniverseIce)

The camera though is arguably the most notable design feature. It includes four lenses, a flash and a laser autofocus sensor, with everything except the flash jutting out of the back of the phone.

The design here exactly lines up with what we've seen before, and while some early leaks suggested the Galaxy S22 Ultra's camera might be housed in a block rather than the individual lenses sticking out, it looks increasingly like the design shown above is actually what we'll get, with every recent leak showing this.

We would of course take this with a pinch of salt though, as it’s not clear where these images were sourced, and even if they’ve come straight from a case maker it’s still possible that they’re based on leaks rather than inside information.

Opinion: a change, but not for the better

The new camera design shown on these unofficial Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra images is quite a change from the setup Samsung used on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. That has a rectangular metal camera block housing the lenses, and the color of this provides a contrast with the rest of the back.

Here, not only do you not get the contrast, but the lenses arguably look a bit more awkward, and potentially more vulnerable to damage.

It also seems slightly odd that the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S22 range – from what we’ve seen so far – appears to stick with the old camera design.

Changing the design could make sense, given that Samsung has used similar camera blocks for a couple of years now, but we’re just not sold on the specific way it’s seemingly been changed here – or the fact that only model appears to have a new camera design.

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These are the 10 mobile phone deals that are dominating the Cyber Monday sales

Missed out on a big saving from the Black Friday sale? Not to worry, the Cyber Monday sales have now arrived and with them, a whole of host of new discounts on top Apple and Android smartphones.

Just like during Black Friday last week, we're seeing the biggest savings today on the most popular flagship devices. This includes the Google Pixel 6, Samsung Galaxy S21 series and iPhone 13 range.

These devices rarely see significant reductions in price making today the perfect time to get them. Below we've picked out the 10 best Cyber Monday phone deals this year for you to compare.

The 10 best Cyber Monday phone deals

iPhone 13: at Mobiles.co.uk | Vodafone | £150 upfront (with code 10OFF) | 200GB data | unlimited minutes and texts | £32/pm
This is a fantastic iPhone 13 deal, offering one of the best overall prices we've seen so far. Yes, you do have to spend a lot upfront, paying a full £150 (with the code 10OFF) but after that, you'll be left with monthly of just £32. For that price, you'll get a massive 200GB of data on the Vodafone network. 

iPhone 12 mini: at Fonehouse | Three | £49 upfront | unlimited data, minutes and texts | £28pm
The iPhone 12 mini came way down in price over Black Friday and this fantastic price has remained for Cyber Monday. For a completely unlimited data, calls and texts plan, you'll only pay £49 upfront and £28 a month - a price we haven't seen beaten for this handset.

iPhone 11: at iD Mobile | FREE upfront | 20GB data | unlimited texts and minutes | £30.99pm £27.99pm
iD Mobile pulled out an absolute winner for the iPhone 11 this year, offering a 20GB of data plan for only £27.99 a month. If you don't mind going for a slightly older iPhone, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better cheap iPhone tariff than this right now.

Google Pixel 6: at iD Mobile | £29 upfront | unlimited data, minutes and texts | £26.99/pm
The Google Pixel 6 has been a popular device over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend but, no deal comes close to this one. iD Mobile is offering a completely unlimited data, calls and texts plan for only £26.99 a month. If you're interested in getting the Google Pixel 6, we would snatch up this deal before it's gone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: at Samsung | SIM-free |  £949 £799
Despite being one of Samsung's newest devices, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 saw a massive discount in the Black Friday sales and, continues to stay discounted for Cyber Monday. Right now you will save £150. That's an especially impressive saving considering this was a pretty affordable device before the discount!

Samsung Galaxy S21: SIM-free | £769 £649
Like the Z Fold, the Samsung Galaxy S21 also saw a big SIM-free discount in this year's sales. You can save £120 on the price, getting you a powerful Samsung device at a really affordable price point. However, it is worth noting that this is not the lowest price we've ever seen it fall.

OnePlus 9 | 8GB RAM | 128GB storage: £629 £449 at Amazon (save £180)
While Samsung, Google and Apple stole the limelight this year, OnePlus has had some really strong discounts too. One of the best is on the OnePlus 9 where you can save an impressive £180. That leaves you paying just £449 for a device with some truly impressive specs on-board.

12GB RAM | 256GB storage: £729 £529 at Amazon (save £200)

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: at Fonehouse | Three | £29 upfront | 100GB data | unlimited calls and texts | £52pm
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra hasn't seen that many discounts in this year's sale but overall, this is the best deal this Cyber Monday. It gets you a 100GB of data plan for only £29 upfront and then £52 a month after that. Considering how expensive this device is, that's a really solid saving.

Samsung Galaxy A22 | Virgin | 2GB data | Free upfront | £24 a month + Nintendo Switch OLED
This offer from Virgin is a bit different. You'll get the Samsung Galaxy A22 with 2GB of data but also, Virgin will throw in a free Nintendo Switch OLED. Despite the free console and phone, that only comes in at £24 a month! If the 2GB of data cap is too low for you as well, you can simply upgrade for a few quid more each month.

Three SIM | 12 month contract | 100GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £12 a month
Yes, not technically a phone deal but an offer that needs shouting out! Three launched the leading SIM only deal this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offering up a 100GB of data plan for only £12 a month. For that price, most other SIM plans would get you a lot less data than that.

TechRadar is scouring every retailer and rounding up all the top deals over the Black Friday period, and we’ve put all the best Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals in easy-to-navigate articles to help you find the bargains you’re looking for.

More Black Friday deals in the UK

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Save up to 30% on popular Anker accessories this Cyber Monday

The Cyber Monday deals are rolling out, and Cyber Monday Anker deals are always some of the best and most popular. The brand makes top-notch accessories that are also great value, from portable chargers and power banks to speakers from its Soundcore line, and they're even better value when the Cyber Monday sales come around.

This Cyber Monday, Anker deals will get you up to 30% off on accessories and audio devices. Those looking for a power bank and portable charger combo, for example, can save $23 on Anker's PowerCore Essential 20000, while if you're working from home you can grab a heavily-discounted Anker PowerConf S3 Bluetooth Speakerphone. (Not in the US? Scroll to the bottom of this article to find the best Cyber Monday Anker deals where you are.)

We're seeing discounts of up to 47% in savings on eufy products as well, if you're looking for something from Anker's smart-home line. Below we've rounded up all the Cyber Monday Anker deals on the brand's roster of accessories.

Today's best Anker Cyber Monday deals

Anker is no stranger to excellent value, offering products that are robust, reliable, and reasonably priced. This Cyber Monday, they're an even better value with up to 30% off in Cyber Monday discounts.

Anker Portable Charger, PowerCore Essential 20000: $74.99 $52.49 at Amazon
Save $22.50
– The Anker Power Core Essential 20000 offers a ton of juice on the go, so you can keep your phones or tablets topped up. It has 18W power delivery, so it can fast-charge some devices. And, Anker includes the charging brick and cable you need to keep this battery pack topped up.

Anker PowerConf S3 Bluetooth Speakerphone: $99.99 $79.99 at Amazon
Save $20
– Upgrade your audio when you're in meetings with the Anker PowerConf S3. This handy Bluetooth speaker features six microphones to help pick up your voice as well as the voices of anyone else at the table with you. The mics even make it easier to pick up distant voices, so you can pace the floor while having a call. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures stable connections, and a 24-hour battery life means you don't have to worry about getting cut off mid-call.

Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker: $39.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Save $10
– You can jam out with Anker's Soundcore 2 portable Bluetooth speaker on the cheap this Cyber Monday. You can enjoy 12W stereo sound with play times up to 24 hours. Plus, the Anker Soundcore 2 is water-resistant, so you're good to take it to the beach or get caught in the rain. 

Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger: $39.99 $29.74 at Amazon
Save $10.25
– This compact little unit from Anker lets you take 13,000mAh of charge with you in a device you can slide into your pocket. All that juice could fully charge a phone or two easily, and with two USB ports for power output you can charge two phones at the same time.

Anker Nano Charger 20W PIQ 3.0: $29.99 $23.99 at Amazon
Save $6
– Need a powerful little charger but on a tight budget? You can get Anker's Nano Charger for just $24 with this Cyber Monday deal. This unit is tiny, but it can supply charge at up to 20W. This deal adds extra value by including a six-foot USB-C-to-Lightning cable in the package, which you'd pay more than $12 for separately.

Anker New Nylon USB C to USB C Cable (2-pack): $17.99 $11.99 at Amazon
Save $6
– You can pick up some handy USB-C cables at a discount on Cyber Monday. This deal will give you a pair of long, six-foot braided cables. They support basic data transfer and robust power delivery at up to 60W. Anker also offers a few different colors.

Need a shorter cable? You can grab the 3.3-foot pack instead.

Anker Portable Charger, PowerCore Slim 10000 Power Bank: $21.99 $15.29 at Amazon
Save $6.70
– Compact power on the go is available with the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000. You'll get a healthy helping of extra juice to fully recharge pretty much any smartphone. It can even charge at up to 12W for a quicker top up for your phone. 

Anker USB C to Lightning Cable: $14.99 $10.19 at Amazon
Save $4.80
– Apple might charge a lot for its Lightning charging cables, but for Cyber Monday, Anker won't. You can pick up this six-foot cable to keep your iPhone, AirPods, or iPads charged up, and it'll cost you just $12. It also supports Power Delivery for faster charging with compatible devices.

Anker New Nylon USB-C to Lightning Charging Cord: $18.99 $13.59 at Amazon
Save $5.40
– Need an extra charging cable for your Apple devices? Anker has you covered with its robust, nylon USB-C-to-Lightning cable. This model is affordable yet still six feet long, and it supports PD fast-charging. It's even MFi certified, so you know it's good to go with your devices. You can find discounts on other sizes as well if you need a shorter cable.

More Anker deals

No matter where you live, you'll find all the best Cyber Monday deals on Anker power and audio products from around the web below. 

More Black Friday deals

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus just dropped to its lowest price ever… again

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series have been the smartphone highlights this Black Friday season, and a new deal for Cyber Monday means the Plus model has hit its best price yet.

We've seen the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus hit the $750 mark a few months ago (and earlier this month too) and now a deal in the Amazon Cyber Monday sales has seen it reach that low price again.

This is a lot to spend in one go for your next smartphone, but it's the absolute best price we've ever seen for it. Not happy with dropping $750 at once? Check out our collection of the best Cyber Monday phone deals and best Cyber Monday iPhone deals.

Not in the US? Scroll down for deals in your region.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus Cyber Monday deals

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus 128GB: $999.99 $749.99 at Amazon
Save $250
– This Cyber Monday deal is bringing back the same savings that were available on Black Friday, letting you get a second chance to score the bigger Galaxy S21 Plus for just $749. That's a solid price for a solid phone, which has an astounding display, capable performance, and a handy array of cameras. This is just for the silver and purple colors.

Need more storage? You can grab the 256GB version for $799.99 at Amazon 

Other Samsung Galaxy S21 series deals

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 128GB: $1195.99 $949.99 at Amazon
Save $246
– You won't find many smartphones as capable and powerful as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It's screen is huge and even offers a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz to help you save battery life and enjoy smooth visuals at the same time. The camera system is also incredibly versatile.
Note: this isn't its lowest price, we've seen it at $899.99 in the past. This is the best price we can see right now, though.

More Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus deals

No matter where you live, you'll find all the lowest prices for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus below.

More Cyber Monday deals

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