Realme’s next cheap phone gets Samsung tech that even the Galaxy S22 Ultra didn’t

It's no secret that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra didn't bring any camera hardware upgrades over the S21 Ultra, but a newer version of those phones' main sensor has been announced, and curiously it's debuting in an upcoming cheap phone from Realme.

This announcement comes from the up-and-coming Chinese phone company itself, which has confirmed via a press release that the upcoming Realme 9 will be the first mobile with the 108MP Samsung ISOCELL HM6 camera sensor.

The latest two Samsung Galaxy S Ultras used the 108MP HM3 (there wasn't an HM4 or HM5), and they were notably the only phones to use this super-powered phone sensor.

This is a big win for Realme, which has been growing rapidly in the last few months, and the Realme 9 could continue this rise - if it's any good.

We don't know when it's coming out, but the Realme 9 Pro Plus landed recently and it impressed us a lot - judging by the names, the upcoming phone will likely be a more affordable version of that.


Analysis: will the Realme 9 beat the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

It's worth pointing out that the HM6 isn't necessarily better than the HM3, as Samsung's ISOCELL sensors aren't always straightforward improvements over each other. While the HM1 and HM3 were both big sensors exclusive to Samsung's phones, the HM2 was smaller and was used by loads of other brands.

We don't have enough information on the HM6 to know if it's better or worse than the HM3 - but it doesn't matter. The Realme 9 won't beat the super-powered Samsung flagship for photography.

That's because the Realme 9 is destined to be a cheap phone, given that the name alone tells us it'll be more affordable than the low-cost Realme 9 Pro Plus. So while the handset might have a high-res main camera, that doesn't mean it'll have equivalent sensors for its other rear cameras.

Great camera phones don't just have one amazing camera, they have loads, so photographers can get great snaps with a wider field-of-view, from a distance, or up close. You need periscope, ultra-wide, macro and more lenses for that.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has four rear cameras, so it's great for a range of situations. That kind of array costs lots of money though, which is why the Ultra is a premium phone. The Realme 9, costing a lot less, just can't match that hardware.

So the Realme 9 won't match the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (unless Realme surprises us by launching this as a $1,000+ mobile, but that's not likely at all). But it could still be the best budget camera phone.

Posted in Uncategorised

Xiaomi’s new cheap phones bring super-fast charging and 5G at a surprisingly low price

Xiaomi has just unveiled three new phones under its Redmi sub-brand, and between them they pack a number of eye-catching features.

The top model is the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G, which supports 120W charging. That’s enough to get its 4,500mAh battery from zero to 100% in just 15 minutes, and has the vast majority of phones beat – even top-end flagships like the Xiaomi 12. The phone also comes with a 120W charger in the box, so you won’t have to spend extra.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G additionally has a 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a high maximum brightness of 1,200 nits.

There’s a triple-lens camera on the back, with a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP telemacro one, while around the front it has a 16MP snapper.

Other features include a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, a choice of 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage. Prices start at $369 (around £280 / AU$490), and it’s set to go on sale globally from April 6.

A Redmi Note 11S 5G shown in three different shades

A Redmi Note 11S 5G (Image credit: Xiaomi)

Then there’s the Redmi Note 11S 5G, which is a step down but still has some solid specs, like a 6.6-inch 1080 x 2400 screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging, a Dimensity 810 chipset, 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, and a triple-lens camera, with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP telemacro.

This one starts at $249 (roughly £190 / AU$330) and will also be sold globally from April 6.

Finally, there’s the Redmi 10 5G, which stands out primarily for being an incredibly cheap way to get a 5G phone, as it starts at just $199 (approximately £150 / AU$265).

Beyond that, the Redmi 10 5G has a 6.58-inch 1080 x 2408 screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging, a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, a 5MP camera on the front, a Dimensity 700 chipset, 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage. There’s no word on when this one will ship, but presumably soon.

A Redmi 10 5G in Aurora Green

A Redmi 10 5G  (Image credit: Xiaomi)

Analysis: ‘global’ availability, but some regions may be left out

While Xiaomi claims these phones will be launched globally, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to buy them.

We know that all three are coming to the UK, but the likes of the US and Australia are less certain. In fact, few Xiaomi phones come to the US, so don’t be surprised if these don’t land there, despite the US pricing above (which is sometimes given even when US availability isn’t planned). Australia is more likely to get them, but that too is unconfirmed at the time of writing.

Still, if you’re after one of the best cheap phones there are loads of other options, so you shouldn’t miss out too much.

Posted in Uncategorised

Ericsson prepares for shareholder backlash at AGM

Ericsson is facing a possible shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting (AGM) this week amid discontent surrounding the way the company has handled an investigation into alleged payments to ISIS terrorists in Iraq.

Activist investor Cevian Capital and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund are among those who will vote against a motion that would limit Ericsson board members’ responsibility over the incident, which came to light last month.

In 2016, the Swedish telecoms equipment manufacturer settled a US Department of Justice (DoJ) probe into alleged payments in five other countries but failed to disclose another investigation into similar activity in Iraq.

Ericsson AGM

The company has admitted that it may have made payments to ISIS in order to gain access to transport routes in Iraq, but was unable to identify the ultimate recipient nor any Ericsson employee involved.

This conclusion has dissatisfied both investors, given the negative impact to Ericsson’s reputation and share price, and the US, which has suggested the firm could have breached the terms of its 2016 settlement.

Under Swedish company law, it is customary for shareholders to approve the actions of the chief executive over the past twelve months. However, if a group representing 10% of investors does not do so, board members can be exposed to legal action.

Cevian and others say Ericsson has not been sufficiently transparent about the issue and so could not make an informed decision on the matter

Ericsson said it would comment after the AGM, but in a statement last week outlined its support for chief executive Börje Ekholm and its measures to address the matter. This includes the appointment of a new chief legal officer to lead a review into the process and to identify any shortcomings.

“While Ericsson since 2017 has taken significant steps in improving the culture of ethics and compliance, further efforts are underway to help ensure that the company operates at all times ethically and with integrity including in relation to the current issues before the DOJ,” said Ronnie Leten, chairman of the board.

“CEO Börje Ekholm has the full confidence of the board, not only in regard to driving the company’s performance, but also in regard to the ethical and compliance transformation of the organisation, which he continues to lead.”

 

Via The Times

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iPhone 14 release is reportedly on schedule, but you should wait for the iPhone 15

It looks as if the iPhone 14 is on track for a launch in September, as following trial production which reportedly began on schedule in February, we’re now hearing that the phone has entered the engineering validation stage.

That’s according to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, who, in a note seen by 9to5Mac, claims to have learned this via a supply chain survey. We weren’t particularly expecting delays but they’re always possible, especially in the age of Covid, so this is a reassuring sign.

Pu shared other details of the iPhone 14 range too, saying that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will get a new 48MP main camera, as we’ve heard before, and that the entry-level model will have a larger screen than last year (due to there reportedly being no iPhone 14 mini).

Pu also adds that the starting price of the iPhone 14 is likely to be similar to that of the iPhone 13, a phone which begins at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349. This also is something that we’ve heard before.

However, while that all sounds promising – and likely, given that most of this has been rumored repeatedly – the iPhone 15 range could be in for even bigger upgrades.

According to Pu, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely have a periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, up from 3x optical zoom on current models. Which again, is something that other sources have also pointed to.

And away from iPhones, Pu has claimed that Apple will equip some 2024 iPads with OLED screens. Specifically, Apple will apparently bring this display technology to 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, which are sizes we’re currently only seeing used by the iPad Pro range.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the iPad Pro range that gets OLED screens though, since future iPad Pros might have larger screens, so we could see the iPad Air range perhaps move up to the current Pro sizing.


iPhone 13 Pro

An iPhone 13 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar)

Analysis: is the iPhone 15 worth waiting for?

Given that the iPhone 15 will possibly have a big camera upgrade, you might be wondering whether it’s worth skipping the iPhone 14 and waiting for that – assuming you don’t upgrade your phone every year.

So, should you? Well, it’s much too early to definitively answer that, since we don’t even know for sure what the iPhone 14 range will offer, let alone the iPhone 15.

But the key upgrades this year are looking likely to be limited to the Pro models, and to take the form of camera cut-outs in place of a notch (so a change in design), and a 48MP main camera, in place of the current 12MP one.

As for the iPhone 15, the Pro models there may have 5x optical zoom, and will perhaps hide Face ID under the display (meaning just one small punch-hole cut-out would be needed).

So for both years we might be looking at changes to the design and the camera, with the iPhone 15 Pro likely being far better on both fronts. But with potentially significant upgrades this year too, it likely won’t be a mistake to buy in September – at least if you’re going Pro. The standard iPhone 14 so far sounds far less exciting.

Posted in Uncategorised

iPhone 14 release is reportedly on schedule, but you should wait for the iPhone 15

It looks as if the iPhone 14 is on track for a launch in September, as following trial production which reportedly began on schedule in February, we’re now hearing that the phone has entered the engineering validation stage.

That’s according to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, who, in a note seen by 9to5Mac, claims to have learned this via a supply chain survey. We weren’t particularly expecting delays but they’re always possible, especially in the age of Covid, so this is a reassuring sign.

Pu shared other details of the iPhone 14 range too, saying that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will get a new 48MP main camera, as we’ve heard before, and that the entry-level model will have a larger screen than last year (due to there reportedly being no iPhone 14 mini).

Pu also adds that the starting price of the iPhone 14 is likely to be similar to that of the iPhone 13, a phone which begins at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349. This also is something that we’ve heard before.

However, while that all sounds promising – and likely, given that most of this has been rumored repeatedly – the iPhone 15 range could be in for even bigger upgrades.

According to Pu, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely have a periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, up from 3x optical zoom on current models. Which again, is something that other sources have also pointed to.

And away from iPhones, Pu has claimed that Apple will equip some 2024 iPads with OLED screens. Specifically, Apple will apparently bring this display technology to 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, which are sizes we’re currently only seeing used by the iPad Pro range.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the iPad Pro range that gets OLED screens though, since future iPad Pros might have larger screens, so we could see the iPad Air range perhaps move up to the current Pro sizing.


iPhone 13 Pro

An iPhone 13 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar)

Analysis: is the iPhone 15 worth waiting for?

Given that the iPhone 15 will possibly have a big camera upgrade, you might be wondering whether it’s worth skipping the iPhone 14 and waiting for that – assuming you don’t upgrade your phone every year.

So, should you? Well, it’s much too early to definitively answer that, since we don’t even know for sure what the iPhone 14 range will offer, let alone the iPhone 15.

But the key upgrades this year are looking likely to be limited to the Pro models, and to take the form of camera cut-outs in place of a notch (so a change in design), and a 48MP main camera, in place of the current 12MP one.

As for the iPhone 15, the Pro models there may have 5x optical zoom, and will perhaps hide Face ID under the display (meaning just one small punch-hole cut-out would be needed).

So for both years we might be looking at changes to the design and the camera, with the iPhone 15 Pro likely being far better on both fronts. But with potentially significant upgrades this year too, it likely won’t be a mistake to buy in September – at least if you’re going Pro. The standard iPhone 14 so far sounds far less exciting.

Posted in Uncategorised

Apple cuts iPhone SE and AirPods orders in case of slump in demand

Apple has reportedly lowered production orders for the recently launched iPhone SE and its AirPods wireless earphones amid concerns that demand for its devices will decline due to wider economic challenges.

The Cupertino-based company released the revamped version of its mid-range handset earlier this month, the first in the line to include 5G compatibility. It is also the first iPhone to be made from carbon-neutral aluminium.

Apple had hoped the device would expand its reach and market share, building on the strong performance of the iPhone 13 range launched in late in 2021.

iPhone SE demand

However, according to Nikkei, the firm plans to manufacture 20% fewer iPhone SE handsets than previously planned, while the number of AirPods units made will be lowered by ten million across the whole year.

The supposed concern is that the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could compound market challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Global lockdowns lowered consumer demand, closed retail outlets, and created a component shortage from which the mobile industry is yet to fully recover.

Now, consumers face rising food and energy prices and may refrain from making exceptional purchases such as a new smartphone and retain their existing device. Others may decide to opt for a cheaper alternative to Apple’s iPhone range.

Apple has already stopped shipments of its products to Russia, where it is the third largest manufacturer with 16% of the market.

The company has been contacted for comment.

Via Nikkei

Posted in Uncategorised

Apple cuts iPhone SE and AirPods orders in case of slump in demand

Apple has reportedly lowered production orders for the recently launched iPhone SE and its AirPods wireless earphones amid concerns that demand for its devices will decline due to wider economic challenges.

The Cupertino-based company released the revamped version of its mid-range handset earlier this month, the first in the line to include 5G compatibility. It is also the first iPhone to be made from carbon-neutral aluminium.

Apple had hoped the device would expand its reach and market share, building on the strong performance of the iPhone 13 range launched in late in 2021.

iPhone SE demand

However, according to Nikkei, the firm plans to manufacture 20% fewer iPhone SE handsets than previously planned, while the number of AirPods units made will be lowered by ten million across the whole year.

The supposed concern is that the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could compound market challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Global lockdowns lowered consumer demand, closed retail outlets, and created a component shortage from which the mobile industry is yet to fully recover.

Now, consumers face rising food and energy prices and may refrain from making exceptional purchases such as a new smartphone and retain their existing device. Others may decide to opt for a cheaper alternative to Apple’s iPhone range.

Apple has already stopped shipments of its products to Russia, where it is the third largest manufacturer with 16% of the market.

The company has been contacted for comment.

Via Nikkei

Posted in Uncategorised

Live in the US? You’re getting a worse OnePlus 10 Pro

The OnePlus 10 Pro is launching in just a few short days, at least for a global audience - it debuted in China in January. Because of that early launch, we know nearly everything about the phone - but turns out, if you live in the US, you need to forget one of those specs.

In a post on the OnePlus forums, the company has gone through a few of the specs, including the phone's chipset and cooling system - we knew all of this already. Also mentioned is the charging speed, and there's some new information there.

While we know the phone has 80W fast charging, apparently it won't in the US. According to the company "North American devices come with 65W SUPERVOOC wired charging". In the comments, the company justifies that "this is because 80W SUPERVOOC does not currently support 110 or 120-volt AC power – the typical standard for power outlets in the region."

So, if you live in the US, we're sorry to say that you're missing out on 80W fast charging. Admittedly that's still fast, when you consider Apple and Samsung which still stick with incredibly low powering speeds, but it's still a shame when you consider the speeds you're missing out on. 

According to OnePlus, 80W powers the phone to full in 32 minutes. You're obviously not getting that same time with 65W, instead we'd expect a full charge within around 45 minutes.


Analysis: still no rivals

If you live in the US, it's fine to be disappointed by the OnePlus 10 Pro downgrade - especially because, for some people, fast charging is a hugely important aspect of a phone.

Think for a minute though: what alternative do you have? 

Chinese phone brands are the ones pioneering fast charging, with Xiaomi, Realme and Oppo all touting incredibly quick powering speeds. But you know something else about Chinese phone brands? Very few of them sell in the US - none of those three companies do.

So if you want really fast charging on a smartphone, and live in the States, you don't really have any other choices.

Some super phone fans might be getting ready to write an email: "actually, gaming phones have faster charging," and that's totally true - but those are quite niche devices. If you wanted the OnePlus 10 Pro for, say, its chic design, impressive cameras or distinct lack of garish LED lights on the back, a gaming phone isn't what you want.

If you've never tried 80W charging, 65W won't disappoint you anyway, because you've got nothing to compare it to. But let's hope the OnePlus 10 Pro is a little bit more affordable than it would have been, to compensate for this downgraded feature.

Posted in Uncategorised

That rumored iPhone subscription service just doesn’t make any sense

A report broke last week about a new iPhone subscription service - according to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a way to get iPhones in your hands, without you having to pay a hefty one-off fee (or giving loads of money to cell companies).

This would apparently start with iPhones, but roll out to other Apple devices later down the road, and would let many more people get their hands on an iDevice, since it's easier to break down the cost into monthly payments, rather than see it as one huge lump sum.

However since TechRadar's team covered the news when it broke last week, I've been unable to stop scratching my head (no, it's not headlice) - I just don't understand what's happening here.

It's already a service

The main question I kept asking myself is: "isn't that already a thing?".

It is. Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program lets you pay monthly to get your hands on a new iPhone - it starts at $30 or equivalent for the iPhone 13 mini, and goes up to $45 for the 13 Pro Max, and when the iPhone 14 comes out you'll be able to upgrade to that.

At that price, you're basically getting an iPhone for around 2/3 the cost of buying it outright for a year - but for many people, that's a convenient way to do it. 

Sure, that price doesn't include your SIM card or connectivity, but depending on your network, that doesn't cost too much more.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max (Image credit: TechRadar)

And that's not the only option you have, if you want to 'subscribe' to an iPhone - ever heard of a thing called 'carrier plans'? 

Yep, one of the oldest concepts in smartphone history let you pay a fee every month in exchange for a smartphone - sure, they're not exactly comparable in terms of price, but in terms of concept, they absolutely are. 

Is this a case of Apple re-inventing something that already exists?

So rumors of Apple's 'new' subscription service have me a little confused - how is this any different to the myriad similar services out there? 

The whole package

Apple is already way too fond of its subscription services, having approximately 10 million of them. There's Apple Fitness, TV Plus, iCloud+. Arcade, Music - the list goes on (okay, not to 10million, but there are too many to easily remember). 

Apple One is the overarching subscription service for if you want them all, which subscribes you to loads of other subscription services (PSA: if you're getting sick of the phrase 'subscription service' now, we don't recommend reading the rest of this article on subscription services).

Apple Event 2020

(Image credit: Apple)

The company could add iPhones as another notch to its belt by weaving them into the existing packages - perhaps a new tier of Apple One could get you a new iPhone as well as Arcade and Music, or a new iPad alongside TV Plus, or an Apple Watch paired with Fitness.

It could also be a hardware-only scheme, netting you an iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad all in one bundle, for the ultimate Apple fan.

Whichever way you spin it though, this option wouldn't exactly be cheap - we're talking several hundreds of dollars leaving your account each month to just get the latest hardware, if that's what comes to pass. 

And that's a problem, given how many subscription services are vying for your attention.

Ownership vs loanership

TechRadar's Editor in Chief, Gareth Beavis, pointed out to me that this iPhone subscription service could just be a phone hire purchase scheme, where you contribute over time until you've paid off the cost of your iPhone.

This is a common thing for personal vehicles - well, I've been told, but I'm under 30 so won't ever get to experience it. But I don't think that's what Apple would go for.

iPhone SE 2022

(Image credit: Future)

The current iPhone Upgrade Program doesn't offer you the phone to keep once you've paid off its fee - you keep changing devices, and keep paying Apple, essentially on a leasing scheme.

A hire purchase model doesn't fit into the subscription scheme that we're used to - other than vehicles, how often do you get to rent something for money, then keep it afterwards? 

Do I get to keep my Xbox Games Pass games when I've subscribed long enough? Or my favorite Netflix films when I've watched them enough times? That's actually even the case for vehicles now - some electric vehicles can be bought on permanent lease, where you're constantly paying for the privilege of driving them.

You don't really buy things anymore - you subscribe to them and lose them when you want to stop paying. You spend for access, not ownership. That's where capitalism has pushed us, and I don't see Apple bucking this trend.

Subscription burnout

There are far too many subscription platforms around these days - a problem which a new iPhone subscription plan would contribute to. Sure, this isn't a new thing by any means - there's evidence that news subscription services were used as early as the 16th Century in Germany - but it's hard to deny that there's been a recent rise in the 'pay little and often' means of buying things.

An Apple presentation showing the iPad Pro playing Devil May Cry connected to a PS5 DualSense controller

(Image credit: Apple)

But when does it end? At what point do we say "I've got too many services, I don't need another one"? 

It can't be far off - I recently reached my limit, canceling my Playstation Plus (mainly because it's gotten a bit rubbish, as my colleague eloquently explains here), and I think it's just the first in a big personal purge.

Of course, since you're not putting as much thought into what you spend on, this is great for the companies, and that could help Apple get more of its expensive smartphones into buyers' hands.

It would also help with buyers' remorse, as you could realize you've got Apple crazy and then just give it all back and watch your bank balance return to health. Yes, you've already spent and own nothing, and you can't now sell anything to recoup it, but it means that you can try things out much easier.

But with many other iPhone and smartphone subscription services already existing, and the busy landscape of subscription services greatly reaching tipping point, I'm struggling to understand - or get excited for - another Apple one.

Posted in Uncategorised

Twitter down: social media website and app aren’t working – again

It feels like every other week that the internet breaks - you've guessed it (from the headline), Twitter is down.

The social media giant is unavailable to loads of users - trying to access the web page brings up the message "Something went wrong. Try reloading.", and the app won't refresh with newer tweets.

Reports on downdetector.co.uk jumped up into the thousands within minutes of the outage - it's worth pointing out that, while the reports also rose on downdetector.com (in the US), they didn't rise by nearly as much.

It sounds like a limited issue, as lots of TechRadar team members haven't had an issue. Saying that the sheer number of Downdetector reports shows that something is up.

Not only is the main Twitter feed down, but other Twitter sites are down too, like its Help site.

We just wanted to post a funny joke, and now we've discovered that Twitter isn't working. We're investigating.

Judging by reports from Downdetector and TechRadar's US team, the outage is affecting far fewer people in the US than in the UK - it seems mainly a British problem. Well, we can add that to the list after Freddos costing more, Magnums getting smaller and the whole cost of living thing.

In the UK, DownDetector reports more than 4,000 reports in the last few minutes. That's a huge number given how many we normally see - even for the major outages that affect multiple websites, we usually see one or two thousand reports.

This outage has come less than six weeks after the last Twitter outage.

That was a smaller one, as the main Twitter feed would load, but Tweets wouldn't - so you could see them, but not click on them or interact with them. 

Now, you can't see anything - it's radio silence.

Usually when there's an internet outage, people turn to Twitter to look for answers. That's... a little harder now.

We looked at Facebook, but Twitter itself hasn't posted there for several months. Last time it did, it was a screenshot of a Tweet about cats. What is this, 2007?

Facebook is a bit more community-focused though, so it's harder to see what people in the wider world are saying.

Reddit to the rescue though:

is_twitter_down_for_anyone_else_in_uk from r/Twitter

There's no official comment, but there are people from around the world commenting to say that Reddit isn't working for them.

Unfortunately, because Reddit's support and news room sites are all hosted by the media giant itself, they're not working either.

We're seeing a growing number of reports of outages from the US, but TechRadar's team based there hasn't seen anything.

It's likely that a server in Europe is at fault, which is why it's so much more of an issue for our UK readers than our US ones.

But we're waiting to find out from Twitter to see what's going on.

Oppo Find X5 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

Reports are well over 4,000 at the moment.

For context, the baseline is 3. That's a big difference.

Oh wait - Twitter is back! (for me at least)

This suggests the end of the outage could be here - just in time for you to return to work after your lunch break. What bad luck.

DownDetector reports for Twitter problems are finally going down - it looks like the outage could really be over.

It's not a steep plummet of reports, which suggests some people are still finding problems with their desktop site or phone app, but this at least tells us that the initial problem is being solved.

We've been looking to see if Twitter itself has commented on the outage - so far we can't see anything from any of its official accounts.

Saying that, it's got about a billion of its own accounts for different regions, aspects of the site and more, so it's very possible that one of them has posted, and we just haven't found it yet.

Well, this was a short outage - down and up again within the course of an hour.

We'd prefer internet outages not to happen at all, but if they've got to happen, we like them when they're just gone for a short while like now.

Posted in Uncategorised

Leaked iPhone 14 schematics point to an upgraded camera with a huge bump

Just a few days ago, iPhone 14 Pro Max schematics were shared online by noted leaker Max Weinbach which indicate that we can expect an even larger camera bump on Apple's upcoming handset.

According to the schematics, the camera bump on the Cupertino company's next Pro Max handset will stick out even further than the current iPhone 13 Pro Max, increasing from 3.60mm to 4.17mm.

See more

As detailed by MacRumors, the camera module's other dimensions will also be upsized on the forthcoming device by around five percent, with its height jumping from 36.24mm to 38.21mm, and its width expanding from 35.01mm to 36.73mm.

Now, we're talking about a difference of 1-2 millimetres here, which is far from what anyone would consider a deal-breaker. That said, a deeper camera module does mean users who want their device to lie down flat without rocking will need a bulkier phone case.

What does this mean for the iPhone 14 Pro's camera?

Given the IPhone 14 Pro Max's alleged increase in camera module size, we have to assume the Apple's upcoming flagship will receive a significant camera upgrade, and it turns out that trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that is absolutely the case.

Kuo took to Twitter in response to a tweet about Weinbach's leaked schematics, stating that the increase in module size is due to Apple's "upgrading the wide camera to 48MP" on the iPhone 14's Pro and Pro Max models – a rather considerable step up from the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max's current 12MP offering.

See more

The analyst went on to explain that "The diagonal length of 48MP CIS (Contact Image Sensors) will increase by 25-35%, and the height of 48MP's 7P lens will increase by 5-10%."

Of course, none of this is written in stone just yet, and we won't know for sure if there's any to truth this leak until its expected launch in September. However, if the leak does turn out to be true, we think these alleged camera upgrades would absolutely make the module's size increase well worth it.

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The Google Pixel 6 is now free with the latest Verizon deals – here’s how to get it

Looking for a powerful Android device on a budget? You can now get the fantastic Google Pixel 6 for free with a new line on an unlimited 5G data plan with this week's latest Verizon deals.

Yep, that's a flagship device worth $699 upfront for free - without the need for a pesky trade in. Up until now, every Verizon deal on this particular device has either featured said trade-in rebates or the carrier's well-known buy-one get-one free promotion, which is a very pricey affair indeed.

It's worth noting that while the device is free here, you'll still need to be signing up for one of the carrier's high-end unlimited data 5G plans. These can set you back anywhere from $45 to $80 per month per line depending on how many lines you have, so definitely factor in this cost before you jump in with this promotion on the Google Pixel 6. 

Caveats aside, getting such a powerful (and popular) Android device for free at a major carrier is a real scoop. Even though the big news this weekend are the pre-orders for the latest iPhone SE 2022 deals, we'd say this is quite possibly the strongest deal on the entire Verizon site right now. 

Note, if you'd prefer something a little more premium, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is also going cheap right now at Verizon at just $5 per month with an unlimited plan. While not free, this is another fantastic no-trade-in-needed promo at the carrier.

Outside the US? Check out today's best Google Pixel 6 deals in your region just below.

Google Pixel 6 free at Verizon

Google Pixel 6: free with a new unlimited data line at Verizon
No trade-in needed: This week's Google Pixel 6 deals from Verizon are easily the best yet from the carrier. Right now, the carrier is giving this device (worth $699 upfront) away for absolutely free when you pick one up with a new line on an eligible unlimited data plan. Considering you needed to trade-in a device to get such a good deal before, this is an absolutely stellar bargain in our eyes.

Google Pixel 6 Pro: $5/mo with a new unlimited data line at Verizon
No trade-in needed: While not free, Verizon's latest Google Pixel 6 Pro deals are giving the device away for just $5 per month under the same terms right now. No need to trade here - just pick up the device with a new line on an eligible unlimited data plan and you'll pay just $180 in total over a 36 month duration. Considering the saving here adds up to $719, we'd say this is one killer deal all round.


For more promotions on these fantastic devices, head on over to our main Google Pixel 6 deals page. We're also comparing these offers to other brands over at our weekly roundups of the best Verizon deals and cell phone deals.

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Buying the new iPhone SE 3? Your old accessories might still fit

Buying a new smartphone can be expensive, especially one from Apple like the new iPhone SE 3, and that's because you end up buying loads of extras like a contract, case, portable charger and the like.

Well, if you're buying iPhone SE 3 deals some of that doesn't have to be the case, at least if you're upgrading from the iPhone SE 2, iPhone 7 or iPhone 8.

That's because the new iPhone has the same build as its predecessor, which in turn was based on a design Apple used years prior for some main-series iPhones.

These devices are all the same size, with an unmoved camera bump and Lightning Port, and with the same display too.

As a result, most iPhone 8 cases will fit the new iPhone SE, so even if you're changing phones you can stick with your trusty protector.

You can see this on Apple's website, for example with this iPhone SE Silicone Case. In the Compatibility section, the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models are listed as well as the seventh- and eight-generation iPhones.

We've got a list of the best iPhone SE cases here, for if you're interested in a brand-new case, but if you're upgrading from one of those other devices, you might as well wear out your old case first.

Other accessories are cross-compatible too including wallet folios, wired and wireless chargers and headphones, so if you are coming from one of those aforementioned devices, you could save a bit of money on the usual upgrades.

Of course, if you have any other iPhone or an Android device, you're out of luck. But this is a useful bonus for certain Apple users, not an expected measure in the smartphone world, so that's not the end of the world.

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Xiaomi 12 launch: 4 things we expect and 3 things we don’t

The Xiaomi 12 is about to go global, with a global launch planned for March 15, and it won’t just be the Xiaomi 12 itself that we see on that date.

A teaser for the event mentions the Xiaomi 12 ‘series’, so more than one phone will be getting a global launch, and given that several members of the Xiaomi 12 family have already landed in China, we have a good idea of what.

But Xiaomi might not stop with just the phones it’s launched in China, as there are whispers of other members of the Xiaomi 12 family too.

Below then, we’ve listed every known or rumored Xiaomi 12 model – starting with the ones that we expect to see on March 15 and followed by those that we don’t.

Four things we expect to see

The following four things all have a good shot of being shown at the Xiaomi 12 launch. In fact some of them will certainly be seen.

Xiaomi 12

Xiaomi 12

A Xiaomi 12 (Image credit: Xiaomi )

It wouldn’t be the Xiaomi 12 launch without the Xiaomi 12, so of course that will make an appearance, and as it’s already been unveiled in China we know exactly what to expect from it – other than price and availability details.

The Xiaomi 12 has a top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, a triple-lens camera led by a 50MP sensor, a 4,500mAh battery with 67W charging, and a 6.28-inch 1080 x 2400 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Xiaomi 12 Pro

A Xiaomi 12 Pro from the front and back

The Xiaomi 12 Pro (Image credit: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi 12 Pro was unveiled alongside the Xiaomi 12 in China so we’re fully expecting to see it get a global launch alongside its sibling too, though there’s an outside chance that it might not, depending on the company's international strategy.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro has a 6.73-inch 1440 x 3200 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, a 4,600mAh battery with remarkably speedy 120W charging, and a triple-lens camera, with 50MP sensors for main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses.

Xiaomi 12X

Xiaomi 12X

The Xiaomi 12X (Image credit: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi 12X was the third and final model in the range unveiled in China, and we’re a lot less sure that this one will get a global launch.

But we’re including it in this section because MySmartPrice claims to have learned European pricing for the phone from “industry sources.” Of course, there wouldn’t be European pricing for it if it wasn’t getting a wider launch – though this is just a leak for now, so we’d take it with a pinch of salt.

In any case, the Xiaomi 12X is an almost identical phone to the standard Xiaomi 12, just with a slightly less powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, and therefore also a lower price.

Given how similar this device is it seems a bit niche, which is why we remain slightly skeptical that it will get a global launch, but leaks do suggest it might.

Xiaomi 12 Lite

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite review

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The Xiaomi 12 Lite hasn’t been unveiled anywhere yet, so we’re less sure that we’ll see this than any of the phones above, but it’s rumored to exist, and appears to have been certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which is something that would typically happen shortly before a launch in Europe.

The Xiaomi 12 Lite is rumored to have a 6.55-inch 1080 x 2400 screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-lens camera including a 64MP main sensor, and a mid-range Snapdragon 7-series chipset.

Three things we don’t expect to see

There are several other rumored members of the Xiaomi 12 range, but we’re not expecting to see them on March 15, as explained below.

Xiaomi 12 Ultra

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra (Image credit: Future)

There have been numerous rumors of a Xiaomi 12 Ultra, designed to sit above even the Xiaomi 12 Pro. The existence of this phone would make sense too, since there was a Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.

But current leaks suggest it won’t land before July, and there’s some question over whether this phone even exists. So if it launches at all it probably won’t do for at least four months yet. The main upgrade with this phone could be the camera, with talk of up to seven lenses on the rear.

Xiaomi 12 Ultra Enhanced

Even the Xiaomi 12 Ultra might not be the top model in the Xiaomi 12 range, as there are also whispers of a Xiaomi 12 Ultra Enhanced.

We don’t know anything about this phone yet, so it’s not clear what ways it would be enhanced in, but since we doubt we’ll see the Xiaomi 12 Ultra on March 15, we’re even less convinced we’ll see the Xiaomi 12 Ultra Enhanced.

As there’s so little information on this phone it may well not exist anyway, and if it does it might not end up being widely available, as it sounds like it could be a niche – and expensive – device.

Xiaomi 12 Mini

There’s also talk of a Xiaomi 12 Mini, but with most of the leaks being conflicting or sketchy, we’re not at all convinced that this is a real device, especially as the Xiaomi 12 itself is already fairly compact.

We’d be surprised if this launches at all, and even more so if it lands at the upcoming event, as we haven’t heard any suggestions that it will arrive there.

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Why your usual Wordle strategy isn’t working today, according to a linguistics professor

If you’ve found today’s Wordle answer more difficult than most, you’re not alone. Puzzle #256 has proven so tough, in fact, that we’ve been live-blogging the internet’s reactions to the latest headache-inducing five-letter term. 

But why is today's answer proving trickier than others? TechRadar spoke to Dr Matthew Voice, an Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics at the UK’s University of Warwick, to find out the science behind the struggle. 

Naturally, we’ll be divulging the solution to today’s puzzle below, so turn back now if you’re committed to weathering the latest Wordle alone. 

Ok, here goes. Today’s Wordle answer is WATCH. Yep, little old WATCH – by all accounts, a fairly simple, universally-accepted noun and verb. Don’t worry, we’re kicking ourselves too. But Professor Voice explains that there is some genuine reasoning behind why you (and we) may not have been so quick on the draw this week.

“[In your live blog] you've already talked about _ATCH as a kind of trap. This is an example of an n-gram, i.e. a group of letters of a length (n) that commonly cluster together. So this is an n-gram with a length of four letters: a quadrigram,” Professor Voice tells us. 

“Using [this] Project Gutenberg data, it's interesting to note that _ATCH isn't listed as one of the most common quadrigrams in English overall, but the [same] data considers words of all lengths, rather than just the five letters Wordle is limited to. I don't know of any corpus exclusively composed of common 5 letter words, but it might be the case that _ATCH happens to be particularly productive for that length.”

Understand your quadrigrams

“The other thing to mention,” Professor Voice adds, “would be that the quadrigram _ATCH is made up of smaller n-grams, like the bigram AT, which is extremely common in English. So we're seeing a lot of common building blocks in one word, which means that sorting individual letters might not be narrowing down people's guesses as much as it would with other words.”

So there you have it. WATCH may in fact be too simple a word, after all – so much so that your usual method of deduction doesn’t account for the myriad possible solutions. 

Here's hoping tomorrow's answer is a little more... difficult?

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