While the OnePlus 10 is the company's next big flashy flagship launch, we're also looking forward to the next addition to its mid-range line at some point in mid-2022: the OnePlus Nord 2.

Nord is OnePlus' family of affordable and middle-priced Android phones, designed to offer useful features to people whose budgets don't stretch to the company's pricey powerhouses. 

We've seen the original OnePlus Nord and Nord 2 joined by a whole host of spin-offs including the Nord CE, Nord N10, Nord N100, Nord N200 and more. But the Nord 3 is expected to be the next big addition to the range, coming likely in the middle of the year.

So far, we haven't heard any rumors about the OnePlus Nord 3, so we don't really know what to expect from it. We've got a good idea of what we'd like to see though, based on past mobiles and the current state of the Android phone market, so while we wait for news we've shared that wish-list below.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The third generation of mid-range OnePlus phones
• When is it out? Likely mid-2022
• How much will it cost? Probably around £399 (about $550, AU$750)

OnePlus Nord 3 release date and price

Based on precedent, we'll likely see the OnePlus Nord 3 announced and released in the middle few months of the year. The original and second-gen models were both unveiled in July, so that seems like the obvious pick, but it could be a little earlier or later too.

When we get nearer to July, we'll likely hear some rumors regarding specific dates.

In terms of price, we also have to wait until nearer the time for some leaks, but we can look at past performance for a good idea.

The Nord and Nord 2 launched for £379 (around $480, AU$680) and £399 (about $550, AU$750) respectively, so a price in that ballpark is very likely.

The previous phones in the family haven't launched in the US or Australia though, so don't hold your breath for launches in those regions.

What we want to see

1. A higher display refresh rate

Display refresh rate refers to how many times per second a smartphone's display updates - while 60Hz (or 60 times per second) used to be used in basically all phones, the last few years has seen a move up to 120Hz, or even 144Hz for a select few mobiles.

When a refresh rate is higher, motion looks smoother, which is beneficial for streaming content or playing games, but even just for swiping between menus and home pages.

Now, many budget and most mid-range and premium phones use at least 120Hz, but the previous OnePlus Nord phones have been outliers, sticking with 90Hz.

We'd like to see the OnePlus Nord 3 make the jump to 120Hz, to match other mobiles at the same price point - and just so the mobile feels better to use.

2. Some Hasselblad camera tricks

For its flagship series, OnePlus has partnered with camera company Hasselblad, so these phones have optimized cameras with extra features that make them fantastic for photography. We'd like to see the fruits of this relationship come to the Nord series too.

Some of the OnePlus 10 camera modes include a Hasselblad Pro Mode, like your normal smartphone camera Pro Mode, but which captures in a higher color profile, and saves in a version of RAW which is more space-efficient. Another mode is a Pro equivalent for video which lets you tweak settings while you're shooting.

Even if the mid-range Nord 3 can't handle flashy and intensive camera tricks, we'd like to see some camera features which elevate the phone over same-price competitors.

3. No app throttling

OnePlus found itself in hot water in mid-2021 when users discovered that the OxygenOS software used by its phones secretly throttled popular apps (this means it reduced how much of the processing power they could access). 

Some of the few apps not throttled were benchmarking apps (that tells you how much processing power a phone has), and the company didn't admit this was happening until it had already been discovered, which obviously wasn't a good look for the brand.

The eventual resolution of the furore was that a toggle was introduced in the settings so you can turn off throttling if you like, but it's still turned on by default, so most people won't ever notice and will just think they have a slow phone.

We'd like the company to remove this throttling feature, or at the very least have it off by default (OnePlus says having it on saves battery life, something disputed by user reports).

4. An easier-to-buy range of colors

You could buy the OnePlus Nord 2 in blue, gray or green (as well as in a weird Pac-Man design) but there was a catch - not all versions were available in all regions.

Green was exclusive to India, while blue is only available for certain memory configurations of the phone, at least in the UK. And that's on top of the fact that both the gray and blue options are a little boring, at least in this writer's opinion.

We'd like to see OnePlus embrace the bright, colorful and energetic, like what Samsung did for the Galaxy S20 FE with its huge range of vibrant hues. Let's see reds and oranges and yellows, or maybe something a little weird like the color-changing gold and blue of the Vivo V23 from OnePlus' sister company.

5. Another crossover

As we mentioned, the OnePlus Nord 2 was available in a Pac-Man edition with a dot-patterned rear which glowed in the dark, as well as software full of Easter eggs for the popular vintage game.

That's not the only crossover OnePlus has enjoyed either, with multiple Cyberpunk 2077 devices and McLaren editions of some of its phones too.

We'd like to see the Nord 3 get something fun too, and maybe more recent than the ancient Pac-Man or maligned CyberPunk 2077. What about Starfield? Or The Witcher?

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Deutsche Telekom is reportedly exploring the possibility of selling or spinning off its tower assets in Europe, becoming the latest mobile operator to seek ways to monetise its passive network infrastructure.

Bloomberg says the German operator is working with advisers on a series of possibilities – including a strategic partnership with another major European telecoms group, possibly Vodafone or Orange.

Vodafone has already spun off its tower assets into Vantage Towers, which went public last year, and a formal tie up with either operator would either establish or strengthen a major player in the European market.

Tower sale

Discussions with infrastructure firm Cellnex have also reportedly taken place, opening the possibility of the Spanish company adding German and Central European assets its ever growing portfolio of sites across the continent. Cellnex has acquired the majority of Three’s parent company CK Hutchison’s tower assets in Europe, however a deal in the UK has yet to be approved by regulators.

All four parties have been contacted for comment by TechRadar Pro.

Many operators have sought to either sell or spin off their tower assets in recent years, hoping to raise funds to invest in new networks. A sale generates immediate capital, while a separate entity or joint-venture can be more effective at monetising the infrastructure than if it stays in house.

Meanwhile, private equity firms and third party investors who can take a long term view appreciate the predictable returns and the scope for growth given the expected explosion in demand for mobile data and 5G services.  

• If you're looking for a new contract then take a look at the best Vodafone mobile deals 

Via Bloomberg

Just over four months after the smartphones were released, Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro users are able to watch Netflix in HD and HDR on their device.

The confirmation came on January 27, with Netflix changing its support page to include the Google Pixel 6 phones – as well as the Google Pixel 5a – as HD and HDR compatible devices (via SlashGear).

The change comes even later for Pixel 5a owners, with that smartphone releasing six months ago in August 2021. It’s not clear why the latest Pixel phones – especially the Pixel 5a – took so long to be whitelisted by Netflix, but any issues appear to have been resolved.

Now Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro users can put their OLED displays to good use and enjoy crisp images from the TV streaming service.

This change won’t affect Netflix subscribers at the Basic level, though, as it only includes standard-definition content for $9.99 / £5.99 / AU$10.99 per month.

If you want to view HD content you’ll need to be a Standard subscriber ($15.49 / £8.99 / AU$16.99 per month) or have a Premium subscription ($19.99 / £13.99 / $22.99 per month). 

Interestingly, even though the Premium tier includes access to UHD (or 4K) video, the newly whitelisted Pixel phones are incapable of showing it at its full resolution.

Despite this, the Pixel 6’s FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) and the Pixel 6 Pro’s QHD+ (3120 x 1440) displays could at least take advantage of the clarity brought by a downscaled 4K image compared to an upscaled HD one.

• Check out: the best Android apps of 2022

At this point there’s no shortage of Google Pixel 6a leaks, but it seems that Google itself wanted to get in on the act, as it’s mentioned the Pixel 6a by name in a coloring book.

This unusual leak was found in a coloring book that the company sent out to select members of its Pixel Superfans program. The book contains images of a number of Google products for fans to color in, and in a ‘featured products’ index at the back it mentions that the Pixel 6a can be found on pages 6-7.

Sadly, the Google Pixel 6a isn’t to be found on those pages, or reportedly any other page, but the mention of it suggests that it’s in the works, and that it will be called the Pixel 6a.

It’s not clear whether this was an intentional tease or – more likely – a mistake, but it’s arguably the best evidence yet of the Pixel 6a’s existence.

Whatever the case, we probably won’t get an official look at the Pixel 6a until at least May, as that’s when it’s rumored to be landing – though the Pixel 5a landed in August 2021, so there’s a chance we’ll be waiting until August of this year.

In the meantime, if you want to have a look through the coloring book for yourself then you can, as a digital version of it can be found at colors.withgoogle.com.

Analysis: there’s a long history of companies leaking their own products

As unusual as it is to find the Pixel 6a mentioned in a coloring book of all places, it’s not so unusual to see a company accidentally mention or show a product early.

For example, Samsung recently listed the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (along with prices) on one of its websites before the phone had been announced, and a few years ago it similarly mentioned the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 range, along with some key features, on one of its websites ahead of announcement.

Over the years we’ve also seen similar leaks from Sony, Huawei and other companies, not to mention major retailers like Amazon, which has leaked both its own products and those of other brands.

So this is just the latest in a long line of companies getting ahead of themselves and revealing products before it was time.

• We're also waiting for the Google Pixel 7

Via DroidLife

Apple's next iOS 15 update might make it possible to unlock your phone without taking off your mask. iOS 15.4 beta, released to developers on Thursday, shows the new security feature as a new FaceID option.

In a sign that Apple, like the rest of us, knows masks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the California tech giant is, according to the iOS 15.4 beta, working on a new way to read your face and unlock your phone.

This update, which appears under Settings, Face ID & Passcode, was spotted by, among others, Brandon Butch on Twitter, and verified by TechRadar. It will let you select the option of reading the portion of your face that appears above the mask for facial recognition. 

Essentially, the system will use the identifying features of your eyes and the area around them to identify you and, if it's a match, unlock your phone.

This is not like the current two-factor authentication system Apple is currently using to help mask-wearers unlock their iPhones, and that was introduced with iOS 14.5. In that case, instead of waiting for the iPhone's Face ID to fail, it automatically unlocks your iPhone if you're wearing your Apple Watch with you for authentication.

In the current iOS 15.4 beta, there is a warning on the Face ID setting page that says, "Face ID is most accurate when it's set up for full-face recognition only."

Even though the system will be able to recognize your masked face, it doesn't require that you wear a mask during setup.

Current Face ID registration requires you to look at the screen and rotate your head around in a slow, clockwise fashion as the TrueDepth module on your iPhone scans your face. It takes two rounds of this before your face is in the system. You cannot register more than one face. So, this is about using whatever face registration you have or setting it up to recognize both your unmasked and masked face.

There is still the option, by the way, to continue using only mask-free face recognition. The mask-wearing Face ID capabilities can be turned on and off in the settings.

As with all beta software, this is all subject to change. iOS developer betas go through multiple rounds and updates before being released to the general public. The language on the page could change, as could the Face ID with a Masks functionality. It might even disappear altogether.

• 20 iOS 11 tips and tricks you need to know to master your iPhone or iPad

Apple's next iOS 15 update might make it possible to unlock your phone without taking off your mask. iOS 15.4 beta, released to developers on Thursday, shows the new security feature as a new FaceID option.

In a sign that Apple, like the rest of us, knows masks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the California tech giant is, according to the iOS 15.4 beta, working on a new way to read your face and unlock your phone.

This update, which appears under Settings, Face ID & Passcode, was spotted by, among others, Brandon Butch on Twitter, and verified by TechRadar. It will let you select the option of reading the portion of your face that appears above the mask for facial recognition. 

Essentially, the system will use the identifying features of your eyes and the area around them to identify you and, if it's a match, unlock your phone.

This is not like the current two-factor authentication system Apple is currently using to help mask-wearers unlock their iPhones, and that was introduced with iOS 14.5. In that case, instead of waiting for the iPhone's Face ID to fail, it automatically unlocks your iPhone if you're wearing your Apple Watch with you for authentication.

In the current iOS 15.4 beta, there is a warning on the Face ID setting page that says, "Face ID is most accurate when it's set up for full-face recognition only."

Even though the system will be able to recognize your masked face, it doesn't require that you wear a mask during setup.

Current Face ID registration requires you to look at the screen and rotate your head around in a slow, clockwise fashion as the TrueDepth module on your iPhone scans your face. It takes two rounds of this before your face is in the system. You cannot register more than one face. So, this is about using whatever face registration you have or setting it up to recognize both your unmasked and masked face.

There is still the option, by the way, to continue using only mask-free face recognition. The mask-wearing Face ID capabilities can be turned on and off in the settings.

As with all beta software, this is all subject to change. iOS developer betas go through multiple rounds and updates before being released to the general public. The language on the page could change, as could the Face ID with a Masks functionality. It might even disappear altogether.

• 20 iOS 11 tips and tricks you need to know to master your iPhone or iPad

We’ve only just got iOS 15.3, but now we’ve also seen what could be a major iOS 16 feature, in the form of big, interactive widgets.

LeaksApplePro has shared an image of how these might look, as you can see below. They appear to house numerous normal widgets, and can house not just app widgets, but also Control Center toggles and other shortcuts.

According to the source, these widgets are referred to as InfoShack internally, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’d launch with this name.

Notably, the design of the icons in this widget is a lot more like those in macOS Monterey than in iOS 15, so if this is accurate it’s possible that iOS will also be getting redesigned icons, bringing the operating system more in line with how thing looks on Mac.

However, it’s worth taking this leak with a serious helping of salt, because – as spotted by Phone Arena – the Apple TV remote toggle shows a picture that’s nothing like either the current iOS one, or the actual Apple TV remote.

Given that the current Apple TV remote icon looks just like the real thing, it seems unlikely that Apple would change the design – unless it’s also releasing a new physical Apple TV remote. That’s possible, but it also makes us very skeptical of this leak.

The source also claims that there’s a lot of work to do and things could change, so even if the leak is genuine, it might not reflect what iOS 16 ultimately contains.

Analysis: what we know about iOS 16 so far

iOS 16 will probably be unveiled at WWDC in June, though it likely won’t launch in finished form until September, so there’s a long wait yet.

Unsurprisingly then we’ve heard very little about it so far, though we have heard that Apple might be dropping support for the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and the original iPhone SE, leaving them stuck on iOS 15.

But beyond that this new leak is about all the iOS 16 information that we have, and we’re not terribly convinced by it. Hopefully lots more details about this upcoming software will leak before long though, so keep an eye on TechRadar for all the news as it happens.

• Stock up on the best free iPhone apps

We’ve only just got iOS 15.3, but now we’ve also seen what could be a major iOS 16 feature, in the form of big, interactive widgets.

LeaksApplePro has shared an image of how these might look, as you can see below. They appear to house numerous normal widgets, and can house not just app widgets, but also Control Center toggles and other shortcuts.

According to the source, these widgets are referred to as InfoShack internally, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’d launch with this name.

Notably, the design of the icons in this widget is a lot more like those in macOS Monterey than in iOS 15, so if this is accurate it’s possible that iOS will also be getting redesigned icons, bringing the operating system more in line with how thing looks on Mac.

However, it’s worth taking this leak with a serious helping of salt, because – as spotted by Phone Arena – the Apple TV remote toggle shows a picture that’s nothing like either the current iOS one, or the actual Apple TV remote.

Given that the current Apple TV remote icon looks just like the real thing, it seems unlikely that Apple would change the design – unless it’s also releasing a new physical Apple TV remote. That’s possible, but it also makes us very skeptical of this leak.

The source also claims that there’s a lot of work to do and things could change, so even if the leak is genuine, it might not reflect what iOS 16 ultimately contains.

Analysis: what we know about iOS 16 so far

iOS 16 will probably be unveiled at WWDC in June, though it likely won’t launch in finished form until September, so there’s a long wait yet.

Unsurprisingly then we’ve heard very little about it so far, though we have heard that Apple might be dropping support for the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and the original iPhone SE, leaving them stuck on iOS 15.

But beyond that this new leak is about all the iOS 16 information that we have, and we’re not terribly convinced by it. Hopefully lots more details about this upcoming software will leak before long though, so keep an eye on TechRadar for all the news as it happens.

• Stock up on the best free iPhone apps

We’ve only just got iOS 15.3, but now we’ve also seen what could be a major iOS 16 feature, in the form of big, interactive widgets.

LeaksApplePro has shared an image of how these might look, as you can see below. They appear to house numerous normal widgets, and can house not just app widgets, but also Control Center toggles and other shortcuts.

According to the source, these widgets are referred to as InfoShack internally, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’d launch with this name.

Notably, the design of the icons in this widget is a lot more like those in macOS Monterey than in iOS 15, so if this is accurate it’s possible that iOS will also be getting redesigned icons, bringing the operating system more in line with how thing looks on Mac.

However, it’s worth taking this leak with a serious helping of salt, because – as spotted by Phone Arena – the Apple TV remote toggle shows a picture that’s nothing like either the current iOS one, or the actual Apple TV remote.

Given that the current Apple TV remote icon looks just like the real thing, it seems unlikely that Apple would change the design – unless it’s also releasing a new physical Apple TV remote. That’s possible, but it also makes us very skeptical of this leak.

The source also claims that there’s a lot of work to do and things could change, so even if the leak is genuine, it might not reflect what iOS 16 ultimately contains.

Analysis: what we know about iOS 16 so far

iOS 16 will probably be unveiled at WWDC in June, though it likely won’t launch in finished form until September, so there’s a long wait yet.

Unsurprisingly then we’ve heard very little about it so far, though we have heard that Apple might be dropping support for the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and the original iPhone SE, leaving them stuck on iOS 15.

But beyond that this new leak is about all the iOS 16 information that we have, and we’re not terribly convinced by it. Hopefully lots more details about this upcoming software will leak before long though, so keep an eye on TechRadar for all the news as it happens.

• Stock up on the best free iPhone apps

If you’re thinking of buying the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra then it might be worth making a decision as soon as it goes up for pre-order, because the phone could be in short supply.

That’s according to South Korean leaker Dohyun Kim, who tweeted that buyers might be waiting up to three months for their phone to be delivered. That’s because apparently Samsung is expecting the S22 Ultra to be in extremely high demand, massively outstripping the company’s initial supply of the handset.

You might be skeptical that such a premium phone would prove that desirable, but consider that it could appeal to fans of both the Ultra range and the Note range if the rumors surrounding its Note-like design are accurate, and that’s a lot of people.

That said, Kim doesn’t sound certain that the supply problems will be quite as bad as their tweet suggested, noting that delivery will only take three months “if bad.”

Even if the delay isn’t that long though, some amount of delay is probably likely for some buyers if Kim’s information is right. Though they don’t have much of a track record yet, so we’d take this with a pinch of salt anyway.

Opinion: stock shortages are likely

Given the ongoing chipset shortage – a situation that may have contributed to the cancellation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 and the delay of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – it’s entirely possible that Samsung hasn’t been able to build as many Galaxy S22 range units as it would have liked, and that ongoing supply could be hampered.

So supply shortages for any or all models in the range were always a distinct possibility, especially as the Samsung Galaxy S22 range is likely to include the most popular Android phones of 2022.

Whether the Galaxy S22 Ultra in particular will struggle largely depends on how many units of that Samsung has built, and we can’t really comment on that beyond what the source above has said.

But the upshot is that if you’re after any phone in the range, it’s probably worth getting your order in fast once you’re able, or resigning yourself to a potentially very long wait.

• These are the best Samsung phones

Via Phone Arena

If you’re thinking of buying the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra then it might be worth making a decision as soon as it goes up for pre-order, because the phone could be in short supply.

That’s according to South Korean leaker Dohyun Kim, who tweeted that buyers might be waiting up to three months for their phone to be delivered. That’s because apparently Samsung is expecting the S22 Ultra to be in extremely high demand, massively outstripping the company’s initial supply of the handset.

You might be skeptical that such a premium phone would prove that desirable, but consider that it could appeal to fans of both the Ultra range and the Note range if the rumors surrounding its Note-like design are accurate, and that’s a lot of people.

That said, Kim doesn’t sound certain that the supply problems will be quite as bad as their tweet suggested, noting that delivery will only take three months “if bad.”

Even if the delay isn’t that long though, some amount of delay is probably likely for some buyers if Kim’s information is right. Though they don’t have much of a track record yet, so we’d take this with a pinch of salt anyway.

Opinion: stock shortages are likely

Given the ongoing chipset shortage – a situation that may have contributed to the cancellation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 and the delay of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – it’s entirely possible that Samsung hasn’t been able to build as many Galaxy S22 range units as it would have liked, and that ongoing supply could be hampered.

So supply shortages for any or all models in the range were always a distinct possibility, especially as the Samsung Galaxy S22 range is likely to include the most popular Android phones of 2022.

Whether the Galaxy S22 Ultra in particular will struggle largely depends on how many units of that Samsung has built, and we can’t really comment on that beyond what the source above has said.

But the upshot is that if you’re after any phone in the range, it’s probably worth getting your order in fast once you’re able, or resigning yourself to a potentially very long wait.

• These are the best Samsung phones

Via Phone Arena

We’re expecting big changes for the iPhone 14 range, and one of those changes might affect the humble SIM card, as the iPhone 14 might not have a removable one – or at least some versions of it might not.

This is according to Emma Mohr-McClune, a Technology Service Director at GlobalData, who claims that Apple will probably launch an eSIM-only variant of one or more iPhone 14 models.

Current iPhones already have an eSIM (that being a digital SIM card, rather than a physical one that you can swap out), but they also have a slot for a physical SIM card. So if Mohr-McClune is right, that slot might be removed on a version of the iPhone 14.

Apparently it’s likely that this model would mostly be sold direct from Apple, albeit partnered with mobile networks, while a dual-SIM version with both physical and eSIMs would remain the mainstream option.

From the sounds of things this is more a prediction than any sort of inside information, so we’d certainly take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s been rumored for a while that Apple will eventually move to eSIM-only.

So this approach would make sense, providing a smoother, more gradual transition to an eSIM-only future.

Analysis: eSIMs are the future, and that’s a good thing

It’s likely only a matter of time until Apple ditches physical SIM cards. Beyond rumors that this will happen, the fact that eSIMs have been present in its phones for years suggests that it sees these as the future.

That’s a good thing too, as eSIMs have lots of advantages over physical ones. They take up less space than a traditional SIM card, so that space can be used for other components, or they can allow for a smaller device. eSIMs can also theoretically support multiple networks at the same time, and allow you to switch network without switching a physical SIM card.

So they’re a slicker, more modern solution than the SIM cards most of us are still using currently. But they need both networks and consumers to fully embrace them, and a big company like Apple pushing for that is likely to speed the process up.

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Via BGR

Huawei has announced the launch of the new Huawei P50 Pro and its latest foldable phone, the Huawei P50 Pocket in the region.

Pablo Ning, President of Huawei Consumer Business Group - Middle East and Africa said “We are glad to bring the new Huawei P50 Pro and Huawei P50 Pocket to our users in the region as we remain committed to the pursuit of the best quality, aesthetics and photography experiences.

The new Huawei P50 Pro returns to the philosophies that sit at the heart of flagship phones with a True-Form Dual-Matrix Camera and exquisite design while the Huawei P50 Pocket brings fashion, beauty and tech innovations into the fold with Huawei IMAGE™, whilst its all-new hinge design enables the smartphone to fold seamlessly into a slim and pocketable form”

The Huawei P50 Pro features a Dual-Matrix Camera system to deliver exceptional images. It also features XD Fusion Pro, an improved solution that incorporates a new Super Colour Filter System, True-Chroma Image Engine and Super HDR technology to significantly improve detail, colour and dynamic range. With a 200x zoom range, it allows you to capture photos of any object regardless of distance.

It also comes with a bigger screen and battery, while remaining lighter and slimmer. The Huawei P50 Pro has a 3D True-Chroma 6.6-inch curved glass display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a single unobtrusive punch hole camera in the middle of the display. It’s also IP68 certified for dust and water resistance and incorporates a 4,360mAh battery, while also supporting 66W Huawei SuperCharge and 50W Wireless Huawei SuperCharge.

The Huawei P50 Pro is powered by Huawei’s EMUI 12 software, and features the brand’s Super Device integration that lets you wirelessly connect to compatible Huawei tablets and laptops to exchange information and files easily.

Fashionably foldable

The Huawei P50 Pocket meanwhile, is a foldable smartphone that incorporates a new hinge down the middle for extra durability and a less visible screen crease. To make this phone truly stand out, Huawei teamed up with couture designer Iris Van Herpen to create an advanced 3D micro-sculpture design on the white version of the device.

The Huawei P50 Pocket’s circular Cover Screen supports the display of notifications, schedule, calendar, music, weather, and control of other features. Use it to quickly check on notifications, control your music, or choose between a range of available widgets. Both phones bundle with Huawei’s AppGallery for all your app needs.

Pre-orders, Price and availability in the UAE

The Huawei P50 Pro will be available in two premium finishes – Cocoa Gold and Golden Black at a price of AED 3,999 with pre-order in the UAE starting on January 27th including gifts worth of AED 1,359 – Huawei WATCH GT2 Pro, Petal One free subscription package, 1-Year Warranty (Multi-Country Support) and other VIP services such as door to door service, 2-times free film service, 1-time laser engraving. 

Huawei P50 Pocket in White will be available at a price AED 5,099 and Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition at a price of AED 6,299 with pre-order starting on February 3rd with gifts worth AED 1,959 - Huawei WATCH 3, Petal One free subscription package, 1-Year Warranty (Multi-Country Support) and other VIP services such as door to door service, 1-time laser engraving.

The new flagship devices will be available for pre-orders from Huawei’s e-shop, Huawei Experience Stores and across select retailers.

• These are the best phones of 2022 so far

iOS 15.3 is here, hot on the heels of iOS 15.2, and unlike that last update there aren't a huge amount of new features here. iOS 15.3 is a much smaller update than its predecessor – one which is limited to bug fixes, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't download it.

We had originally thought that Apple may have been keeping things quiet, but now the official changelog has landed we can confirm there aren't any major new features in this new software.

Bug fixes are the name of the game here, and they're here to fix some pretty hefty bugs. We'll have to wait for either iOS 15.4 or iOS 16 to see big new features for iPhone.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The latest iOS release
• When is it out? Right now
• How much will it cost? It’s free

iOS 15.3 release date and compatibility

iOS 15.3 began rolling out to iPhones around the world on January 26, 2022. You should now be able to download the software to your smartphone, and you can do that by following our how to upgrade iOS guide.

In terms of compatibility, if your iPhone can run any version of iOS 15 then it will be able to run iOS 15.3. 

That means you’ll be able to get it on everything from the iPhone 6S onwards, including the iPhone SE (2020) and the original iPhone SE, as well as the iPod touch (7th gen).

iOS 15.3 features

Below we'll talk you through the tweaks that come with iOS 15.3, but remember these are mostly bug fixes rather than brand new features.

A Safari bug fix

Earlier in January, a major Safari security flaw was publicized. It allowed for browsing data to be leaked if you have Google accounts on Safari, and this new update is being used to fix that issue.

It was said to be an issue with Apple's WebKit and how it used the IndexedDB Javascript API. Essentially this allowed for malicious websites to spy on your browsing history.

If you use Safari or Google Chrome, we'd heavily recommend updating to iOS 15.3 as soon as possible to make sure this is all fixed.

Other bug fixes

There are other bug fixes within iOS 15.3. Perhaps the biggest – aside from the Safari changes – is something called the IOMobileFrameBuffer bug. It allowed malicious apps to execute code with kernel privileges on certain devices.

Some users have reported being impacted by this bug, so we'd recommend updating as soon as possible to avoid this security flaw.

Other fixes include vulnerabilities with features such as iCloud, Crash Reporter and ColorSync. These are all minor bugs as there's no knowledge of them being exploited.

Want to know more? You can dive into Apple's security documentation for iOS 15.3 here.

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There wasn’t much about the Samsung Galaxy S22 range that we didn’t have a good idea about at this point, and now there’s even less, as a huge leak has revealed just about every detail of these phones.

Coming from WinFuture, this covers a whole lot of ground that we already know, but it fills in some gaps too, and generally reiterates a lot of rumors, further suggesting that they’re accurate.

So then, all three phones apparently use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset in the US and an Exynos 2200 in Europe. They’re also all said to run Android 12, have 120Hz refresh rates, use tough Gorilla Glass Victus to protect their screens, and to be IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.

As for what differs, the standard Samsung Galaxy S22 apparently has a 6.1-inch 1080 x 2340 AMOLED screen with a brightness of up to 1500 nits, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus supposedly ups the size to 6.6 inches and the brightness to 1750 nits. From there, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ups the size to 6.8 inches and the resolution to 1440 x 3080.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is also said to be the only one of the three with a curved screen, and its refresh rate can apparently drop as low as 1Hz, while the other two have a minimum of 10Hz.

All three phones apparently have at least 8GB of RAM and a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage, but the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is said to additionally have configurations with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

As for the battery, there’s apparently a 3,700mAh one in the Samsung Galaxy S22, a 4,500mAh one in the Galaxy S22 Plus, and a 5,000mAh one in the S22 Ultra. Colors for the two cheaper models are said to include black, white, pink gold and green, while for the Ultra the choice is apparently between black, white, burgundy and green.

On to the camera, and the setup is identical across the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus, with both phones apparently having a 50MP f/1.8 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one (with a 120-degree field of view), and a 10MP telephoto one with 3x optical zoom. Around the front there’s supposedly a 10MP f/2.2 camera.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra on the other hand is listed as having the same ultra-wide but a 108MP f/1.8 main camera, a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto (with 3x optical zoom), and a 10MP f/4.9 telephoto (with 10x optical zoom), along with a 40MP f/2.2 camera on the front.

Dimensions and weight apparently come in at 146.0 x 70.6 x 7.6mm and 167g for the Galaxy S22, 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.64mm and 195g for the S22 Plus, and 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm and 227g for the S22 Ultra.

We also have pricing in euros here, but it lines up with an earlier leak, with the Samsung Galaxy S22 apparently starting at €849, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus at €1,049, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra at €1,249.

We haven’t included conversions here as those are the same European starting prices as the Samsung Galaxy S21 range, meaning the prices elsewhere will probably be much the same too.

For reference, that means around $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 for the S22, $999 / £949 / AU$1,549 for the S22 Plus, and $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 for the S22 Ultra. Though the Galaxy S21 Ultra came with more RAM for that price than you’re apparently getting here, at 12GB rather than 8GB.

Finally, this source also includes supposedly official images, some of which you can see above. These entirely line up with what we’ve seen before, complete with an S Pen stylus for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

We’d still take all of this with a pinch of salt, but with most of these details having now leaked repeatedly they’re likely accurate.

Analysis: a big February 9 event with nothing to reveal

Samsung has confirmed that it’s holding a big launch event on February 9 where we’re fully expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, yet as you’ve probably gathered by now it’s unlikely to include much that we haven’t seen or heard already.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 range is also expected to be announced here, but that’s been leaked almost as extensively, so again, surprises will probably be minimal.

Still, at least we’ll be one step closer to actually having these devices in our hands and being able to really put them to the test.

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