OnePlus 10 Pro leak points to incredibly fast charging speeds, and we’re all for it

One of the big phones of 2022 is bound to be the OnePlus 10, or at least its Pro sibling, and if a new leak is to be believed, it could have incredibly fast charging speeds. 

Prolific leaker Digital Chat Station shared a few specs of the upcoming phone on Twitter, and thanks to previous leaks, we've heard them all before; a 6.7-inch 2K 120Hz screen, a 48MP+50MP+8MP camera array, a 32MP selfie snapper, it's not news to us.

But in a follow-up tweet, DCS did share something new: apparently the phone will get 80W wired powering and 50W wireless charging. While the cable-free speed is the same as on the OnePlus 9 Pro, that 80W powering is a jump above the 65W in its predecessor.

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While some flagships get snappy powering, few brands are really embracing super-fast charging like 80W, though a few Xiaomi phones do hit 120W. 

The exact OnePlus 10 Pro charging speed will depend on the battery size, but 80W will likely get the phone from empty to full in under 20 minutes, presuming it has a battery capacity of around 4,500mAh, which is likely for flagship phones.

That's assuming OnePlus lets the full 80W power flow - fast charging can often damage a battery, so some companies introduce software and hardware solutions to mitigate the problems, which can affect powering speed a little.


Opinion: yes, all the speed please

I can be a forgetful person when it comes to... everything.

I almost always forget my wallet when I leave my flat. I never remember to put the bins out on time. I keep forgetting to buy Christmas gifts and there's only 9 days left on the advent calendar at the time of writing.

Something I religiously forget to do is charge my phone. I'm bad at keeping a rhythm of charging it every night or at certain times, and the 'low battery' pop-up has become my best friend.

That can be terrible when phones have slow charging speeds, and need to be powered up overnight. I almost never remember to plug in the thing so it's at full power when I leave my flat to go to work, or meet people, which can be a real problem.

That's why fast charging speeds are so important - when I've tested phones that power up in under half an hour, I no longer need to remember to plug them in overnight. That waking-up thought of "oh no, I forgot to charge my phone..." continues into "... but if I plug it in now, it'll be at 50% by the time I've eaten my breakfast."

So I'm all for fast charging - if brands can reduce the time I need to power my phone up for, they'll also reduce the amount of time I spend studiously avoiding the device so it doesn't run out of power when I'm out and about.

There are some stipulations though. Some people aren't me (sadly), and they have a rhythm of powering up overnight. Certain mobiles have smart charging, so they work out your daily wake-up time and slowly charge so they only hit 100% when you normally rise - this means they're not plugged in while fully charged, as that can damage the battery.

Methods like this ensure fast charging can help people who need it, without hindering those who don't, and I'd like to see the OnePlus 10 Pro use this feature if 80W really is the way forward.

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EE is upgrading 2,000 rural 4G sites

EE says it will upgrade its 4G network in more than 2,000 sites by June 2024 as part of its commitment to the Shared Rural Network (SRN).

SRN is a government and industry initiative to improve rural coverage across the UK. A deal was struck last year between the government and the country’s four major operators – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – to build new sites and share infrastructure in areas in the country that don’t have access to all four networks.

Operators will invest £530 million to open up and share their infrastructure and pay each other a fee for access.

Shared Rural Network 4G

Meanwhile, the government promised to provide up to £500 million to build new masts in ‘total not spots’ where there is no 4G coverage from any operator. The aim is to reach 95% of the UK landmass by 2025.

EE says it has already upgraded 853 sites since the agreement was struck and will make every site included in this latest phase of the programme available to other operators so they can extend the coverage of their network.

“Today we’ve made a renewed commitment to boost rural connectivity, helping improve mobile performance regardless of location,” declared BT CEO Philip Jansen. “The investment BT has made in rural areas means we have the infrastructure in place to extend our 4G coverage footprint even further, minimising the number of new sites we need to build to ensure everyone has access to reliable connectivity. 

"EE is still the only provider of 4G coverage in many places across the UK, and we encourage other operators to recognise the opportunity sharing our sites offers to fill gaps in their networks.”

SRN commitments are subject to oversight from Ofcom, which will have the power to issue fines of up to 10% of an operator’s gross revenue if they fail to meet their targets.

 

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This new version of Android 12 will make cheap phones run much faster

Google confirmed Android 12 way back in June, but it's taken until now for the company to reveal a 'Go Edition' of the software, which is designed for low-end smartphones with less processing power. 

In a detailed blog post, Google provided some details about how it has improved this version of its software from Android 11 Go. Besides faster app launches, the blog says Android 12 Go will also prolong battery life on low-end devices. This could be a boon for regions with bustling cheap phone markets.

This isn't the first Go Edition we've seen from Google - it typically makes a barebones version of its newest operating system (OS) for phones that can't run the full-fat version, and Android 12 Go is just the latest.

Knowing how Google goes about providing its updates, we may be well into 2022 before the Android 12 Go edition arrives on phones, and we don't know which phones will be compatible, or launch with the software - we'll have to wait and find out.

What does Android 12 Go edition bring?

According to Google, Android 12 Go brings a faster, smarter and more privacy-friendly experience to users. The company claims that the new OS will launch apps up to 30% faster and that animations will be smoother too. 

In addition, Google says that the updated version would again feature the Android 12 SplashScreen API that allows developers to program something eye-catching when the apps are actually loading up. This means you're not staring at a blank screen for ages.

The company also promises that some tweaks in the updated version of its OS will extend the battery life of devices. It would achieve this by hibernating apps if they're not used for extended periods of time - users would be notified when it happens though. 

Another welcome update is that the updated Files Go app will allow recoveries within 30 days if you accidentally delete something. This results in better utilization of storage space as people won't need to worry about removing stuff by mistake. 

The updated Android 12 Go edition also provides users with the option to listen to news and translate any on-screen content into their preferred language. This feature isn't actually available on 'standard' Android 12, curiously. 

Users will also be able to use Nearby Share and Google Play to share data directly with other devices. The Android 12 Go edition also allows an easy switch to a guest profile before such sharing as well as an instant reset of that profile once the shared information is used and exited. 

Finally, the new Android 12 privacy dashboard also makes an appearance on this toned-down version of the operating system. Thus, users can now get a snapshot of apps that are accessing sensitive data.

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Oppo Find N fixes the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3’s main foldable phone problem

Well, another big Chinese tech company has thrown its hat into the foldable-phone ring. The Oppo Find N is the first flexing handset from the popular brand, launched at the company's annual Inno Day where it shows off its latest developments.

This new Oppo phone is a book-style folder, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, with a big screen when the device is unfolded, and a tiny outer display for when the mobile is closed.

But arriving three generations after Samsung's foldable, Oppo clearly took inspiration from the legacy Fold family – in particular, it fixed what was so annoying about using Samsung's device.

We got to take the Oppo Find N for a bit of a spin here in the UAE, and we immediately enjoyed using it more than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – mainly because it solved a key issue with that device.

Sadly, this phone will only go on sale in China, but hopefully a Find N2 will come out globally in the future.

Oppo Find N

(Image credit: Future)

What's the Oppo Find N like

As far as using the phone goes, we just got to get our hands on it for a short while. Full disclosure, the phone didn't have any Google apps because of the Chinese software on it.

The outer screen is, for want of a better word, cute – at only 5.49 inches across it's very compact, which might appeal to people who don't like giant phones. We found it fine for quickly checking messages or browsing social media. One great thing about the outer display was that it didn't encourage you to open the phone for almost every function like the Samsung Z Fold 3 does. 

Despite the small frame, the phone isn't exactly dainty when held in this way. The body folds into itself, so it's pretty thick. You can open it up to see the bigger 7.1-inch display and then its thickness comparable to your average phone - but also sized like a mini-tablet.

We found this bigger display much more useful for typing, as the keyboard was stretched over a bigger area, and if we were using the phone for a longer period of time it was pleasant to view this larger display.

While the inner display issue an LTPO display which can do from 1-120Hz and a touch-sampling rate of 1000Hz, the outer display is just a 60Hz panel.  That being said both displays have a peak brightness of 1000 nits. 

Oppo Find N

(Image credit: Future)

Let's blitz through some other specs of the phone quickly. There's a 4,500mAh battery, 33W wired charging which isn't exactly fast though, nor is the 15W wireless or 10W reverse wireless powering, but the latter two are nice extras at least.

The chipset is the Snapdragon 888, the most powerful Android chipset of 2021, paired with 12GB RAM and 256/512GB storage. That makes it pretty snappy, and we played a few games on the big screen which felt fluid. We were particularly impressed by how, when we switched screens, the phone wouldn't lag or stutter and you could jump into the same app on the second display.

Regarding the cameras, there's a 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide and 13MP telephoto snapper on the rear – if you know Oppo, you know its phones are great for photography, and the Find N is no exception.

For selfies, you've got the same 32MP selfie snapper in a punch-hole in the outer and inner displays, but weirdly, we found portraits taken on the camera embedded in the main display were much better looking than those taken on the smaller screen.

Galaxy Z Fold learning points

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series has always felt a bit weird to use, for one key reason. You don't notice it when you're using the smaller outer display, but the issue rears its ugly head when you're using the bigger main screen.

You see, Samsung really hasn't cracked the screen crease issue. When you're using the phone, there's a very noticeable bump across the middle of the display where it folds.

Oppo Find N

(Image credit: Future)

Depending on what you're doing, this can be a slight nuisance or a real issue, and it's one of the main reasons we'd recommend avoiding the early-gen Samsung foldables.

So what about the Oppo Find N? Well, this is that 'main foldable phone problem' we mentioned in the introduction.

There's no screen crease on Oppo's foldable phone – you can run your finger over the display without being able to work out where it joins together. It's a startlingly smooth experience for people who've used the Galaxy Fold, and it makes swiping between menus or playing games just a bit more pleasant.

Oppo's Flexion Hinge brings together 136 components and the 'water-drop hinge' offers an almost invisible crease. The upper most layer on the inner display, also known as Oppo's Serene display, is their Flexion Ultra-thin glass.

Admittedly 'screen crease' won't sound like a huge concern for people who've never used a foldable phone before, but it affects your everyday experience with the phone.

The first few generations of foldable phones were (understandably) riddled with problems that are unique to this new design, like hinge durability issues and a lack of bespoke software, as well as this crease issue. 

However, now that these flexing mobiles have been around a while, it's about time that companies found ways to solve these issues – Oppo has clearly done this with the Find N, and now Samsung needs to follow suit.

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This super affordable Samsung S20 FE deal offers £21 bills and gives you £100 cashback

If you want to buy a top-of-the-line Samsung smartphone, you probably know by now that they aren't exactly what you'd call cheap. Even for the best Samsung Galaxy S21 deals out there, you're looking at monthly bills of £30 upwards.

But that doesn't mean that you have to give up and buy some Android manufacturer you've never heard of. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was pretty much designed for your use case - a person who wants to buy a high-quality Samsung smartphone, without having to hemorrhage money every month for the next two years.

And right now, it's retailer Mobile Phones Direct that has the most eye-catching tariff out there. Pay £50 at the start for your new S20 FE handset and then prepare your best smug face knowing that your monthly bill will be a mere £21 per month. That rate bags you 10GB of data every month on O2 (that will be plenty for the needs of most people) together with absolutely unlimited calls and texts.

Plus, for a limited time, you also have the opportunity to claim £100 cashback from Samsung.

Below you'll find full details of this fantastic Samsung Galaxy S20 FE deal, together with more information on how to claim your cashback, and more details on what you can expect from this smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: at Mobile Phones Direct | O2 | £49.99 upfront | 10GB data | unlimited mins & texts | 24 months | £21/pm
A 5G-ready Samsung smartphone with a 6.5-inch full HD+ display and triple main camera set up for only £21 per month? You're definitely in bargain territory with this tariff from Mobile Phones Direct, that will package up 10GB of monthly data on the ever-popular O2 network.

How to claim your cashback from Samsung

Once you've purchased the above offer - or, indeed, any other Samsung Galaxy S20 FE deal - you then have to head over to the special page on the Samsung website here within 60 days of purchase.

After that it's just a case of following the prompts onsite, starting with the big, fat CLAIM NOW button. You'll need to upload a proof of purchase and a photo showing the product's serial number. So there are a couple of hoops to jump through, but well worth it for that £100 cashback bonus!

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

(Image credit: TechRadar)

How good is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (which stands for 'Fan Edition') essentially takes the key features of Samsung's 2020 flagship phones and packages them into a more affordable shell.

Straight off the bat, it's important to note the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE plays host to perhaps its elder sibling's most exciting feature. Yes, the S20 FE has that beautifully fluid 120Hz refresh rate to play around with on its 6.5-inch Infinity-O Full HD+ display.

Powering the device, you'll find a top-tier processor that we found to deliver an exceptional performance from launching apps and snapping photos, to more demanding tasks like gaming.

Let's not forget the snapper here. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a triple-array camera, including a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 12MP wide angle camera and 12MP telephoto lens.

Read more:

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iPhone 14 Pro may get a 48MP camera, and a big performance upgrade

The iPhone 13 series isn't even three months old, but our attention has already turned to Apple's 2022 series of smartphones that we expect to feature the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

According to a new report, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max may be set for a major camera upgrade that includes a 48MP main camera. That's up from the 12MP camera on the last few generations of Pro iPhones.

This comes from an analyst, so take it with a pinch of salt for now. However, Haitong International Securities believes these new upgrades will be ready to land on the Pro models of 2022's iPhones.

This was according to a note that was seen by MacRumors, and it matches what we've previously heard from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that earlier this year predicted an upgrade to a 48MP camera.

The new report says it'll be paired with 12MP ultra-wide and telephoto cameras, which matches what we've seen on the last few generations of iPhone.

The new note comes with an additional tidbit, which is that Apple may be upgrading to 8GB of RAM in the new Pro models. Previously, Apple has included 6GB of RAM as a maximum in its iPhone models.

8GB of RAM would better match what we see in Android phones - although we commonly now see more than that in those - and may mean Apple can make some performance improvements.

None of this is certain, and there's likely to be a few changes to the iPhone 14 series as we wait for the next-gen Apple phones. We currently expect to hear about the new handsets in September 2022, but we'll likely hear plenty more rumors and leaks before then.


Opinion: It's not all about megapixels

This rumored camera upgrade for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is exciting, but I'd like to hear a few more details before I truly get my hopes up for the iPhone 14 series.

Apple's iPhone 13 series featured some of the best camera phones on the market, and upgrading to a higher megapixel camera is unlikely to harm Apple's camera prowess.

In fact, this could make Apple's camera performance even better than we've seen in the past, but I'm more excited to hear about new features.

One leak has previously claimed the camera will include 8K video recording. That feature isn't particularly exciting for me as someone who doesn't have an easy way to watch 8K footage, but I'm keen to learn what else the phones might bring.

2021 brought features like Cinematic Mode, so we may see some exciting introductions on the iPhone 14 range that do similar for Apple's camera capabilities.

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Apple and Google have ‘vice-like’ grip on UK smartphone users

UK regulators have suggested Apple and Google hold a “vice-like” grip over how consumers use their smartphones and what content they are able to access, limiting competition and potentially increasing prices.

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the market earlier this year to see if the two companies, which have an effective duopoly, had too much control over the operating system, app store, and web browser experience.

Its provisional findings state that when a person buys an iPhone or an Android device, they are effectively tied into that ecosystem with little choice but to participate if they want to benefit from the full functionality of their handset.

Apple App Store investigation

Apple’s iOS is effectively a closed shop with no third-party application stores permitted, while Google benefits from pre-installed applications as per the terms of its arrangements with vendor partners.

Both stores charge app developers commission on sales, arguing that this was necessary to maintain quality and security. In Apple's case, the App Store is the only way to distribute applications on iOS, meaning it has a huge amount of control over the type of software that can be used. 

The CMA says this in effect means the two companies leverage their market power to create barriers to entry and force consumer and developers to work within their respective frameworks.

“Apple and Google have developed a vice-like grip over how we use mobile phones and we’re concerned that it’s causing millions of people across the UK to lose out,” said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA.

“Most people know that Apple and Google are the main players when it comes to choosing a phone. But it can be easy to forget that they set all the rules too – from determining which apps are available on their app stores, to making it difficult for us to switch to alternative browsers on our phones. This control can limit innovation and choice, and lead to higher prices – none of which is good news for users.

“Any intervention must tackle the firms’ substantial market power across the key areas of operating systems, app stores and browsers. We think that the best way to do this is through the Digital Markets Unit when it receives powers from government.”

Potential remedies include making it easier to switch between iOS and Android without losing data or functionality, the ability to install applications without using the App Store or Google Play, and the ability for developers to offer alternative payment systems to the ones uses by the two companies. The CMA also wants to make it easier to choose an alternative browser to Safari or Chrome.

Many technology firms have become the subject of probes by European regulators in recent times, with authorities increasingly aware of the role and influence of digital services on both the economy and society.  

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Get $800 off the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 without a trade-in today – here’s how

Best Buy has just launched an awesome promotion on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 today, offering activation rebates of up to $800 and a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 for those who pick up a device on an eligible carrier.

Yep, that's correct - no trade-ins are needed here with these Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals at Best Buy - just an activation on an eligible carrier. This is easily the biggest saving yet on this device if you're one of the unlucky few out there who doesn't have that valuable old phone ready to hand over. 

Interestingly, Best Buy doesn't specify what carriers are actually 'eligible' in the promotional fine print. It does, however, generally only stock carrier devices on the big three - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - so we assume those are your choices here. Be aware, it does say in the fine print that savings may differ from carrier to carrier though, so your mileage may vary here.

If you're not interested in Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals then we've got another nice bonus piece of news today - the unlocked version of this device is also on sale at Amazon for just $1,349.99 right now. That's the cheapest price yet and a discount that beats the previous record of $1,499 from Cyber Monday. It is, of course, more expensive than the Best Buy option but it's a great choice if you don't want to commit to a lengthy postpaid plan.

Outside the US? Check out the best prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in your region just below.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $999.99 at Best Buy
Save up to $800 on a Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Best Buy today and score yourself a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 on the side. To be eligible for this saving, you'll need to be activating the device on an eligible carrier - most likely a postpaid plan at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - and bear in mind that savings might vary from carrier to carrier. On the plus side, no trade-ins are needed here to get your saving! Just a simple activation rebate. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $1,349.99 at Amazon
Save $450 -
If you're not down to activate your device on a carrier then you can also find a significant discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Amazon today. This price is the lowest we've ever seen for an unlocked device and an absolute steal overall. It's even lower than this device's cost over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, for context.

  • Best Buy - check out all of today's cell phone deals at this retailer
  • Amazon - also offering great prices on unlocked Android devices today

Interested in what the carrier's themselves are offering? We'd recommend checking out our main Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals page. Alternatively, head on over to our best cell phone deals page to see options on other devices. 

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Get $800 off the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 without a trade-in today – here’s how

Best Buy has just launched an awesome promotion on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 today, offering activation rebates of up to $800 and a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 for those who pick up a device on an eligible carrier.

Yep, that's correct - no trade-ins are needed here with these Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals at Best Buy - just an activation on an eligible carrier. This is easily the biggest saving yet on this device if you're one of the unlucky few out there who doesn't have that valuable old phone ready to hand over. 

Interestingly, Best Buy doesn't specify what carriers are actually 'eligible' in the promotional fine print. It does, however, generally only stock carrier devices on the big three - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - so we assume those are your choices here. Be aware, it does say in the fine print that savings may differ from carrier to carrier though, so your mileage may vary here.

If you're not interested in Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals then we've got another nice bonus piece of news today - the unlocked version of this device is also on sale at Amazon for just $1,349.99 right now. That's the cheapest price yet and a discount that beats the previous record of $1,499 from Cyber Monday. It is, of course, more expensive than the Best Buy option but it's a great choice if you don't want to commit to a lengthy postpaid plan.

Outside the US? Check out the best prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in your region just below.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $999.99 at Best Buy
Save up to $800 on a Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Best Buy today and score yourself a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 on the side. To be eligible for this saving, you'll need to be activating the device on an eligible carrier - most likely a postpaid plan at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - and bear in mind that savings might vary from carrier to carrier. On the plus side, no trade-ins are needed here to get your saving! Just a simple activation rebate. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $1,349.99 at Amazon
Save $450 -
If you're not down to activate your device on a carrier then you can also find a significant discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Amazon today. This price is the lowest we've ever seen for an unlocked device and an absolute steal overall. It's even lower than this device's cost over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, for context.

  • Best Buy - check out all of today's cell phone deals at this retailer
  • Amazon - also offering great prices on unlocked Android devices today

Interested in what the carrier's themselves are offering? We'd recommend checking out our main Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals page. Alternatively, head on over to our best cell phone deals page to see options on other devices. 

Posted in Uncategorised

Get $800 off the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 without a trade-in today – here’s how

Best Buy has just launched an awesome promotion on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 today, offering activation rebates of up to $800 and a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 for those who pick up a device on an eligible carrier.

Yep, that's correct - no trade-ins are needed here with these Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals at Best Buy - just an activation on an eligible carrier. This is easily the biggest saving yet on this device if you're one of the unlucky few out there who doesn't have that valuable old phone ready to hand over. 

Interestingly, Best Buy doesn't specify what carriers are actually 'eligible' in the promotional fine print. It does, however, generally only stock carrier devices on the big three - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - so we assume those are your choices here. Be aware, it does say in the fine print that savings may differ from carrier to carrier though, so your mileage may vary here.

If you're not interested in Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals then we've got another nice bonus piece of news today - the unlocked version of this device is also on sale at Amazon for just $1,349.99 right now. That's the cheapest price yet and a discount that beats the previous record of $1,499 from Cyber Monday. It is, of course, more expensive than the Best Buy option but it's a great choice if you don't want to commit to a lengthy postpaid plan.

Outside the US? Check out the best prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in your region just below.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $999.99 at Best Buy
Save up to $800 on a Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Best Buy today and score yourself a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 on the side. To be eligible for this saving, you'll need to be activating the device on an eligible carrier - most likely a postpaid plan at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - and bear in mind that savings might vary from carrier to carrier. On the plus side, no trade-ins are needed here to get your saving! Just a simple activation rebate. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: $1,799 $1,349.99 at Amazon
Save $450 -
If you're not down to activate your device on a carrier then you can also find a significant discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at Amazon today. This price is the lowest we've ever seen for an unlocked device and an absolute steal overall. It's even lower than this device's cost over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, for context.

  • Best Buy - check out all of today's cell phone deals at this retailer
  • Amazon - also offering great prices on unlocked Android devices today

Interested in what the carrier's themselves are offering? We'd recommend checking out our main Galaxy Z Fold 3 deals page. Alternatively, head on over to our best cell phone deals page to see options on other devices. 

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New Xiaomi 12 Ultra renders show what that massive camera could look like

Leaks on the upcoming Xiaomi 12 series are trickling in quite frequently to reveal what the family of phones may have in store for us. The new lineup is expected to include many variants but the alleged Ultra model particularly piques our interest.

Recently, a bunch of protective cases for the entire Xiaomi 12 range leaked, revealing how the rear panel of the respective phones could look like. Among these leaked pictures, the protective case of the Xiaomi 12 Ultra caught our attention because of a big camera cutout and the absence of a secondary display.

The protective cases show a space for a giant camera module on the back with eight cutouts in total. The biggest one is circular and resides right in the middle of this giant module. 

It is fair to surmise that other camera sensors will fit right inside the remaining cutouts. This is surprising, because the phone’s predecessor only had three rear cameras.

Now LetsGoDigital, in collaboration with the graphic designer Technizo Concept, conceptualized the below renders of the Xiaomi 12 Ultra based on these leaked protective cases to give us an idea of what the device could look like when it appears. 

Pictures showing Xiaomi 12 Ultra 3D concept renders

(Image credit: LetsGoDigital)

The Dutch website has also shared a video that shows the speculated look of the front of the phone. It has imagined the smartphone in both white and black.

Take these renders with a pinch of salt as we're still unclear on the exact design, but this is the best look yet at what those protective cases suggest the Mi 12 series will eventually look like.

The exact specs of the Xiaomi 12 Ultra remain unknown, but the site claims that a reliable tipster named Teme was able to share the necessary details to make the render. The source also said the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could feature a 50MP wide-angle camera.

This could be the Samsung ISOCell GN5 image sensor that enables improved Dual Pixel Pro autofocus. It is the successor of the ISOCell GN2, which was used in the Mi 11 Ultra phone. 

The secondary camera could be a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens and the third could be a periscope telephoto zoom lens. Judging by the 11 Ultra, it will likely have 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and 120x digital zoom.

Pictures showing Xiaomi 12 Ultra 3D concept renders

(Image credit: LetsGoDigital)

Details on the fourth camera remain unknown at the moment. What appears to the right of the fourth camera is unknown as well. Other sensors to the right could feature dToF laser autofocus system. On the bottom there could be a triple LED flash as seen on Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra as well.

It is worth mentioning that the same tipster previously commented that Xiaomi has struck a deal with Leica. So, we believe the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could show the prowess of this partnership.

The concept renders also show a rounded display with a punch-hole cutout on the top-center of the screen. As per the site, it is possible to see a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with QHD Plus resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The site suspects the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could feature Harmon Kardon speakers for a high-quality sound experience. Other suspected specifications include Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, Android 12 and a powerful battery with 120W fast-charging tech.

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Oppo Find X4 could be one of the best camera phones thanks to this new chip

We're used to premium Oppo phones being fantastic photography tools, and we already know one thing that could set the Oppo Find X4 above its competition as a top-spec camera phone.

At the company's Inno Day 2022, an annual event in which it shows off its latest tech innovations, one of the things discussed was the MariSilicon X neural processing unit (NPU).

This is a chip that Oppo has designed that provides lots of extra AI power, mainly used for camera functions. Lots of Oppo's unveiling was chock-full of tech jargon, but there are a few key takeaways that could make the MariSilicon X a useful addition to phones.

Firstly, the chip is very power efficient - Oppo says it's the best in its class for conserving energy - which means when your mobile is doing an AI-intensive task, like optimizing a photo you just took, it won't drain as much power.

The MariSilicon X will speed up AI camera tricks in general, and that's set to be most noticeable for AI processing on 4K video - Oppo says the chip will process 20x as many frames per second, with half the power consumption it'd otherwise take, which should make optimized video much easier to shoot.

There are other video tricks too - you'll be able to shoot in 4K in night mode, capture 20-bit RAW (so videos with loads of color data, useful for editors and color graders) and lossless RAW that doesn't lose detail just because it's shot on mobile.

So when could we test a phone using the NPU? Oppo confirmed it'd launch with the Find X series in 2022 - the company didn't name a phone, but that's almost definitely the Find X4 - and the wording of the company's response suggests it could come to other mobiles too.


Analysis: useful for professionals, not everyone else

If you have no idea what RAW is, don't understand the importance of 20-bit color, and don't know what's being lost in lossless shooting, the benefits of the MariSilicon X won't really affect you at all.

The chip ensures you'll be able to collect loads of data using the cameras, which will be fantastic for people who like to take their captured photos and videos into an edit software before sharing them with the world.

In particular, the chip will be useful for professionals who like to spend ages tinkering with a color grade, or fiddle with a shoot's crop in post-processing.

If you just want to take Insta-worthy selfies, portraits and other shots, and want to be able to capture them from your phone and throw them onto the web quickly, you probably don't need a MariSilicon X phone. Your average handset is probably just fine for that, especially if you download a free editing app (or just use the built-in tools in many social media platforms).

But it's likely we'll see the MariSilicon X used in the Oppo Find X4 Pro - the Find X3 Pro was the one of its generation with the cool tools, after all - and that Pro literally stands for 'professional'. Only people who make money from photos or videos, really need the extra functionality the new NPU brings.

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Apple’s Digital Legacy feature goes live in iOS 15.2

Your Apple ID data now has a place to go when you die, provided you use Apple’s new Digital Legacy service to designate up to five people who can access all of your files after you pass into the great beyond.

Promised during Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June, the Digital Legacy feature arrives today as part of the iOS 15.2 update (which also adds the Apple Music Siri-only plan). It's a simple idea to ensure that whatever data you’ve amassed from your years of using Apple devices and that’s stored under your Apple ID – and backed up to Apple’s cloud – isn’t lost forever when you die.

This is not like giving someone your iPhone PIN number. Since the assumption is that you’re no longer around to manage your affairs or retrieve important data, it’s full access to virtually everything stored with the ID. The list includes, among other things, iCloud-stored photos, notes, email, contacts, calendars, iCloud Drive files, backups, health data, and even Safari Bookmarks. Yeah, it’s a lot.

Apple does not let you choose what a Legacy Contact can and cannot see from your data. So maybe clean it up a bit right now. 

How does it work?

There are now settings within iOS to identify up to five legacy data contacts who will receive a notification asking them if they accept. You’ll find out if they agree. Those that do get an access key that will store inside their own Apple ID settings.

If you die, the Legacy Contacts can enter the ID on Apple’s Digital Legacy page or through the iPhone's Legacy Contact page and access everything. They also must provide proof of your demise—meaning a death certificate.

Apple Legacy Contact Setting

Apple's Setting page that lets you add new Legacy Contacts. (Image credit: Future)

Analysis: What happens when you're gone?

The question of what happens to our digital corpus when we die is by no means a new one. Facebook, for instance, lets loved ones create memorialized accounts for dead relatives, which is one way to preserve all Uncle Lou's "Cat plays piano" posts. Twitter will work with family members to convert control of accounts to estate holders (or deactivate them). Though, I think all bets are off if you didn’t designate an executor before you died.

However, the broader question of what to do with crucial data is one we are only beginning to grapple with. I suggest reading  Digital legacy: Take Control of Your Online Afterlife, by Daniel Sieberg and Rikard Steiber, the founders of the digital legacy preservation platform GoodTrust. Their book explores the serious digital afterlife questions most of us now face, and how we’re probably not facing them at all.

"This is a much-needed feature both for Apple and its consumers. Trying to get your photos out of Apple iCloud, for a deceased loved one, is a mess today as consumers need to prove both that the deceased loved one has passed away, and that the requesting person is the legal beneficiary of the account. In many cases, Apple may require a court order instructing Apple to deliver photos owned by the deceased to the surviving family," said Steiber who serves as GoodTrust's CEO.

If you want to get started on identifying Legacy Contacts, you can follow these simple steps. However, I suggest you contact those family members first. No need to freak them out with discussions of your death—which we hope is not happening any time soon.

On your iPhone, open Settings and select your Apple ID at the top of the screen. Then select Password & Security, and the Legacy Contact. There, you’ll find the option to add new Legacy Contacts. These can be friends, family, or, I guess, anyone you want to designate that you trust with your digital legacy.

Those already using Apple’s Family Sharing will have an easier time adding Family members to the list. However, only family members over the age of 13 can access your account using a legacy key. It's also just as easy to remove your ex from your legacy Contacts. You follow the same path to Legacy Contacts, choose the contact name, and more options to remove them as a contact.

As I noted above, the key stores automatically on the legacy holder’s iPhone but if they're not using the latest version of iOS or on a different platform (Android, anyone?) you can print out the legacy key or make it a PDF and send it to them. They might also want to keep it somewhere secure (like a shared Safe Deposit Box).

After you access the account, you'll basically have to manage it like another active Apple ID, including 2-factor authentication for up to three years, at which point you'll lose access to the account and its data.

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Every Samsung Galaxy S22 model caught on camera and spotted on a Samsung site

Just a handful of hours ago we saw a leaked photo of the Samsung Galaxy S22, and also saw mention of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s model number on an official Samsung website, but now we’re seeing the same things for every Galaxy S22 model.

Starting with the photographs, leaked images have been shared by tech journalist and leaker Yogesh Brar on Twitter, showing the Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra from the back, in both black and white shades.

As you can see, the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus look similar both to each other and to their predecessors, with the main differences being a glossy (rather than matte) finish on the back, and camera lenses that protrude beyond the camera block.

A leaked photo showing the Samsung Galaxy S22 range

(Image credit: Yogesh Brar)

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra meanwhile looks very different, with a more angular construction and lenses that sit independently on the rear, rather than being housed in a camera block.

It’s a design that in all cases matches up with what we’ve seen before, however we’d still take this leak with a pinch of salt, especially as the Galaxy S22 Ultra in these images doesn’t appear to have a periscope lens, which we’re almost certain the finished phone will.

But that might just mean these are dummy units or non-final handsets, rather than them being completely wrong.

Elsewhere, GSMArena has spotted model numbers linked to the Galaxy S22 (SM-S901U) and Galaxy S22 Plus (SM-S906U) on Samsung’s Chinese website. That’s as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which as mentioned was spotted earlier.


A leaked photo showing the Samsung Galaxy S22 range

(Image credit: Yogesh Brar)

Opinion: the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra looks the worst of the three

While the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra looks set to be by far the best and most exciting of the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, visually it might not impress.

If leaks are right then Samsung has changed things up for this phone, giving it a more rectangular, Note-like design than the rest of the range. Some may like that, but it’s inevitably a bit boxy.

Worse, the camera design for some reason lacks the block that Samsung is seemingly using for the rest of the range (and which it used for the Galaxy S21 range), meaning the back is all one color, and less interesting for it – though we’re not fans of the raised lenses on any of these phones.

Finally, with a matte back, Samsung is seemingly marking the Galaxy S22 Ultra as the safe, serious, and even visually boring model, while the others are far shinier.

This of course is entirely subjective, but so far, we don’t much like what we’re seeing. Thankfully with its rumored S Pen stylus and powerful camera, the Galaxy S22 Ultra should be less disappointing from a specs perspective.

Via SamMobile

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Three Business hopes digital transformation will accelerate growth

Three has completed the first phase of a multi-million-pound investment in its B2B division’s digital infrastructure, claiming the new platform will allow it to better serve its business customers.

The operator has traditionally lagged behind its rivals in the business segment of the UK market but is now devoting significant resources to expand its share.

Back in 2020 it hired Mike Tomlinson as managing director of Three Business, while the company has recently grown its partner network to include Sprint, Business Mobiles, Yappl (A1 Comms) and Get Connected to expand its reach.

Three Business IT

Three Business says it has had to build out its IT infrastructure from scratch, but the advantage of this is that it has been able to take advantage of a wide range of digitally-native technologies. Technical partners include Amdocs, DocuSign, Adobe, Tariffcom, and Astute.

Specifically, Three claims the platform will ensure it can be flexible and responsive enough to respond to changing demands, while ensuring a consistent and improved experience across its telesales, digital sales, partner, and retail channels.

The new technological ecosystem will go live in January for all new customers with existing customers migrated over the course of the next 12 months. Meanwhile, one hundred new roles at Three Business will be created, with more expected in the new year.

“This year the market response to Three Business has been amazing and we clearly have a significant role to play over the next five years and beyond,” said Tomlinson. “To support our channel and customer experience we have completed phase one of our digital transformation providing a much improved modern, reliable business infrastructure.  We now have an innovative, digital platform upon which our future propositions will be launched and we look forward to sharing more exciting news throughout 2022.”

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