LG doesn’t make phones but it’s Android 13 update arrives before Motorola

LG has kept its promise to update its premium handsets despite shutting up shop a few years ago. The company is rolling out Android 13 to the LG V60 ThinQ on T-Mobile. It is expected to arrive on other carriers in the coming weeks.

According to a changelog shared on an LG V60 group on reddit, a recent software update includes Android 13, with accompanying bug fixes and security updates. 

Android 13 was very much a behind-the-scenes update for all but a few Android phones. Still, LG's customers on Reddit have reported increased performance, and those security updates are definitely going to be handy.

Upon shutting down its mobile division in 2021, LG shared that it would be updating select premium smartphones for up to three years after their release. This marks the third year for the LG V60 ThinQ, and therefore most likely its final update. 

The LG Wing phone, the last premium handset from LG’s phone division, got an Android 12 update in September, 2022, and hopefully that phone will be elligible for an Android 13 update. 

LG Wing 5G

The LG Wing should also get an Android 13 update (Image credit: Future)

In all, LG said it would keep updating its G series, V series, VELVET, and Wing phones for three updates after it shut down its phones team in 2020. Certain 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series were due for only two years of updates, so it is unlikely those phones will get a new Android system moving forward.

Promise kept

It's not often that Android manufacturers dish out timely updates to older flagships. It's even more heartening when a manufacturer that no longer sells phones keeps to its word with no easy marketing benefit. LG did well keeping its phones with Android 12 up to date, and while we doubted it would keep up with Android 13, the company has honored its promises so far.

It's worth noting that the LG V60 ThinQ will be getting Android 13 before more contemporary phones like the Motorola Edge 30. That says a lot about both companies involved.

A photo of the Motorola Edge 30

Still waiting for 13 on our Motorola Edge 30 (Image credit: Basil Kronfli)

Other than the LGV60, the LG Velvet is also expected to pick up Android 13 this year. That phone was the company's last Android flagship and received rave reviews.

If getting the latest software update is important to you, we can recommendmany of the best foldables and best Android phones that you can buy today, whichget great updates. LG's time was good, but even this update is a reminder that its time is over.

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Motorola’s next flagships impress in specs leak and look to be going global

The Motorola Edge 40 and Edge 40 Pro have leaked, courtesy of MySmartPrice which cites a source with direct knowledge of the official specs. The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is expected to essentially be the same phone as the Moto X40, which has already launched in China, while the Motorola Edge 40 will be a brand-new device.

According to the rumor, the Edge 40 Pro will have a lot of the X40’s specs, which would mean a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. Cameras-wise, the Moto X40 packs three rear cameras; a 50MP main shooter, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto, plus a 60MP front-facing camera. All this is powered by a 4,600mAh battery, with 125W fast charging.

Since the Moto X40 is already out in the wild, the specs can be assumed to be more or less accurate, based in the notion that Motorola is essentially going to package this same device for international markets. 

The standard Edge 40, on the other hand, is expected to be an all-new phone – complete with an as-yet-unannounced MediaTek Dimensity 8020 chip – and is likely to be a step down from the Pro in all aspects. The display is said to be 6.55 inches, with a 144Hz refresh rate, while the rear camera setup is reportedly comprised of a 50MP main camera, accompanied by a 13MP ultrawide. According to the leak, it’ll have 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a 4,400mAh battery and 68W charging rounding out the specs. Of course, we’ll take all this all with a pinch of salt until the phones are officially announced.

Powerful hardware isn't Motorola's weakness

If these reports are true, Motorola looks set to continue its streak of putting out excellent hardware. We were impressed by last year’s Edge 30 Ultra – in our Motorola Edge 30 Ultra review we praised it as one of the best Android phones so far – and the clean Android user experience means that many people are going to be pleased with it.

Where Motorola has floundered in the past is with software updates. The company has yet to roll out Android 13 to its flagships, even with the public beta of Android 14 due to roll out in the coming weeks. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.

Motorola is expected to release the Edge 40 and Edge 40 Pro sometime around April, with sales opening in May in Europe, based on the previous Edge 30 and Edge 30 Pro. A Moto Edge (2023) might also come to the U.S. around that time.  

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Oppo and OnePlus deny that they’re leaving Europe. Confirmed

This morning, this story spoke about a singular fresh-faced rumor, suggesting that both Oppo and sibling phone maker OnePlus, would suddenly and unexpectedly be pulling out of European markets. We reached out to both brands for confirmation and, as such, this story now includes their formal responses.

If you'd asked yesterday, we'd have said everything looks to be sunshine and rainbows at both OnePlus and Oppo. OnePlus recently launched the OnePlus 11 – a noteworthy improvement on its predecessor, which is in contention for best phone of 2023.

And Oppo not only showcased its newest flagship line – the Oppo Find X6 series – but broke into the international foldable market with the one of the best foldables around (check out our Oppo Find N2 Flip review for the full breakdown) a little over a month ago.

With all this in mind, not to mention a successful MWC trade show – in which both brands had some of the most interesting things on the show floor to showcase – we were left perplexed when one established tipster claimed that both companies were supposedly considering pulling the ripcord on their European presence, in a Tweet.

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In his post, shared on the morning of March 27, Max Jambor dropped a metaphorical bomb, claiming that both brands were bowing out of Europe; starting with key markets including Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands. Soon after, he followed it up with another post claiming an official statement would follow, however, no such statement has appeared via Jambor's Twitter feed, at the time of writing.

Instead, TechRadar decided to approach our contacts at both brands to get confirmation from the source, with OnePlus promptly responding with the following:

"OnePlus will not exit from Europe and the UK and maintains stable operations in local markets. OnePlus will continue to invest in Europe and provide more innovative product and solutions for its users."

OnePlus 11 Concept phone back lighting

The OnePlus 11 liquid cooling concept from MWC 2023 (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)

Considering the company's recent releases and plenty more plans seemingly in the works to expand its reach, not reduce it – like a premium OnePlus foldable and the rumored OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite weeks or even days away from release, based on leaks – such a departure would have been wildly out of character and ill-timed on OnePlus' part.


What about Oppo?

As for Oppo, while the company's new flagship is still finding its feet (check out our hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review for more on that), generally there seems to be a clear and confident strategy in place, with devices in prominent positions with retailers and carriers, significant investment in marketing and an ongoing stream of noteworthy devices making their way to market.

While we were left waiting a little longer for Oppo's formal response, here's what we heard back when asking for comment in regards to Jambor's original post:

"Oppo and OnePlus are committed to all the existing European markets. We had a great start in 2023 with the successful launches of several products in Europe and have a line-up of upcoming products for the rest of the year. As always, OPPO and OnePlus will continue to provide more innovative products and the best-in-class service for users moving forward."

So there you have it. Despite a not-insignificant raised eyebrow when the initial rumor broke, on the contrary, it would seem that neither Oppo, nor OnePlus has formal plans to leave the UK or European markets that their products already range in; debunking Jambor's original claim in totality.

Note: Updates to this story include a revised title and opening paragraph to reflect the formal response from both brands we'd subsequently received after the story's original publication, as well as revised copy after the 'What about Oppo?' subheading, following the company's official quote.

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iOS 16.4 is rolling out now – here are 7 ways it’ll boost your iPhone

It looks like iOS 17 is going to be a bigger iPhone update than we first thought, but before that lands we have iOS 16.4 to look forward to – and that update has just started rolling out.

Naturally, iOS 16.4's changes are a little more incremental than the bigger ones we saw in iOS 16, which arrived back in September 2022 and delivered an overhauled Home app, new lock screen features, and some fresh fonts and themes.

But there are some notable improvements in iOS 16.4, particularly if you're a fan of Apple's Podcasts or Shortcuts apps, new emojis, or keeping up with the latest news. The update also brings the promise of clearer phone calls and some HomeKit tweaks that should make it more reliable when controlling your compatible smart home tech.

Combine all of these upgrades with the recent announcement of Apple Music Classical, which lands on March 28, and iPhone fans will see some pretty tasty upgrades over the coming days. Here are the seven biggest upgrades in iOS 16.4 to look out for when it lands this week.

iOS 16.4 release date: when will it be available?

We knew iOS 16.4 would be rolling out this week, as a release candidate version was given to beta testers on March 21. And sure enough, the software update has just started rolling out.

An iPhone on an orange background showing the iOS 16.4 update screen

(Image credit: Future)

With Apple Music Classical also now appearing on some iPhones as we head into its March 28 release, Apple fans have some new treats to test out. 

If you like the sound of the latter and aren't seeing the iOS 16.4 update yet, fear not it only needs iOS 15.4 or later to run.

7 new features coming to your iPhone in iOS 16.4

1. Push notifications from web apps

An iPhone on an orange background showing a web app push notification

(Image credit: Apple)

If you like to keep up with the latest news from your favorite web apps – which live in your browser, rather than the home screen – then iOS 16.4 could be a handy update for you.

You can already add web app shortcuts to your homescreen (when on the website, just tap the arrow button in the top right, then choose 'Add to Home Screen'). But unlike native apps, these shortcuts haven't been able to send your push notifications – this will change in iOS 16.4.

If you choose to allow notifications, they'll appear just like the ones for apps you've installed, including on your lock screen, in notification center and on a paired Apple Watch, if you have one. Interestingly, you'll also be able to add web apps to your home screen from third-party browsers (rather than just Safari).

It's a feature that could get overwhelming if you grant too many permissions, but you'll be able to manage them in them in the Notifications settings menu.

2. A ton of new emojis

Four emojis from iOS 16.4

(Image credit: Apple)

You can never have too many emojis to choose from – and fortunately iOS 16.4 is adding 21 new options to our messaging arsenals.

Fittingly for our troubled times, we're getting a shaking face emoji, which looks handy for expressing shock or confusion at troubling news. Fans of animal emojis are also well catered for in iOS 16.4, with a donkey, moose, goose and jellyfish all joining the fray.

A slightly antagonistic 'pushing hand' emoji will also arrive to help you swiftly reject suggestions, while an array of new hearts (including pink, grey and light blue) will be on hand to help you patch up any offense you've just caused.

3. Clearer cellular phone calls

An iPhone on an orange background showing FaceTime audio options

(Image credit: Apple)

Perhaps the biggest quality-of-life upgrade coming with iOS 16.4 is Voice Isolation for cellular calls, which will help reduce ambient noise during your phone calls.

This feature is already available on apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, which you've probably noticed tend to sound better than cellular calls. But now it's finally coming to cellular calls – to access it, you'll just need to swipe down the top-right of the screen (to access the Control Center), tapping Mic Mode, then Voice Isolation.

Apple has also confirmed that Voice Isolation will be compatible with every iPhone model released alongside or after the iPhone SE (2020), which means most of the best iPhones will benefit, too.

4. An improved Podcasts app

Two iPhone showing the new Podcasts app in iOS 16.4

(Image credit: Apple)

If you mainly feed your podcast habit in Apple's default Podcasts app rather than third-party ones, you'll see several small improvements to the overall experience in iOS 16.4.

Firstly, it'll become easier to find shows that are part of wider channels or networks. When you follow a show that's part of a channel (for example, a network that produces multiple shows, like Bloomberg or the BBC), you'll be able to see it in a new dedicated Channels section in your podcast Library.

This is handy, given that many podcasts are now part of wider networks that produce several shows around similar themes. When you tap on a channel, you'll see the shows you follow at the top, plus any subscription options that are available for that network.

An in-car screen showing Podcasts on Apple CarPlay

(Image credit: Apple)

Elsewhere, the app's 'Up Next' queue will include more options to help you manage it. These will include the option of rejecting an episode from Up Next, or touching and holding to show its artwork.

If you listen to the Podcasts app while commuting in your car, you'll also finally be able to access your Up Next and Recently Played queues in the CarPlay's 'Listen Now' section. An overhauled Browse tab will also show you hand-picked podcast recommendations to help you find your next podcast addiction.

5. A boost for Apple HomeKit

Two iPhones showing Apple HomeKit settings

(Image credit: Apple)

If you've found Apple HomeKit to be a little buggy and consistent with certain devices, iOS 16.4 could deliver some improved performance.

According to MacRumors, the software includes a HomeKit architecture update that was removed from iOS 16.2 due to some additional bugs that it unfortunately introduced. 

But the HomeKit update, which apple first announced during the launch of iOS 16, will seemingly return in iOS 16.4, and promises to bring more reliable communication between your Apple devices and your smart home kit.

The release also includes both manual and automatic software update support for Matter accessories, which are starting to arrive from the likes of IKEA. This means you should be able to update these accessories from within Apple's Home app.

6. New options for Shortcuts

Two iPhones showing new options in Apple's Shortcuts app

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple's Shortcuts app lets you combine multiple actions from different apps with one tap. For example, you could make one that turns on your iPhone's 'Do Not Disturb' function, then automatically switches it off when you leave a particular location.

In iOS 16.4, Apple is adding a lot more options to these Shortcuts to help you cook up some new automation recipes. Some of the new 'actions' include locking your device's screen, shutting it down, setting a VPN, silencing unknown callers or automatically triggering Night Shift, which automatically pushes the colors of your screen to the warmer end of the spectrum to make it easier on your eyes.

These features can also be useful if your favorite app lacks a particular option in its settings menu, as it lets you automate an action (for example, 'set True Tone') when opening the app.

7. Apple Books animations

An iPhone on an orange background showing the Apple Books app

(Image credit: Apple)

This one's strictly for fans of the Apple Books app, so a little niche. But if that's you, Apple is bringing back a strangely satisfying animation to the app with iOS 16.4 – the 'curl' page-turn effect.

For some reason, this animation – which mimics a page being turned over – was removed in iOS 16. But if you've missed seeing your digital pages turning in the Books app, you'll be happy to see that effect return when you upgrade to iOS 16.4.

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iOS 17 will be a bigger iPhone update than we first thought

Apple is expected to debut iOS 17 later this year, and the latest intelligence suggests that the software update could be more substantial than we thought. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had previously reported that development on the Apple VR headset would lead to “fewer major changes” for iOS 17, but the seasoned Apple expert now claims that the upcoming update will actually provide several of users’ “most requested features.”

“When Apple set out to develop iOS 17, the initial thinking was to call it a tuneup release – one focused more on fixing bugs and improving performance than adding new features,” Gurman writes in his latest newsletter. “The hope was to avoid the problems of iOS 16, an ambitious update that suffered from missed deadlines and a buggy start. But later in the development process, the strategy changed. 

“The iOS 17 release is now expected to boast several ‘nice to have’ features, even if it lacks a tentpole improvement like last year's revamped lock screen. The goal of the software, codenamed Dawn, is to check off several of users' most requested features.”

As Gurman notes, it’s unlikely that iOS 17 will introduce any major overhauls to the experience of using the best iPhones, since much of the high-hanging fruit – personalized iOS lock screens, custom keyboards and so on – has been fulfilled by Apple in recent years. 

Google Maps widget in iOS 16

iOS 16 finally introduced personalized lock screens (Image credit: TechRadar)

Instead, iOS 17 will more likely offer a range of significant updates to existing iPhone features and apps, like CarPlay, Siri and Messages. 

As for things we’d like to see introduced with iOS 17, our seven wishes for iOS 17 guide contains calls for a redesigned Control Center, universal battery widgets and better picture-in-picture controls. 

Apple is all but certain to debut iOS 17‌ at its annual WWDC developer conference in June, with the update expected to begin rolling out to users sometime in September, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 15 line.

A more imminent update

WhatsApp logo on iPhone 14 screen

(Image credit: Shutterstock / DenPhotos)

More imminently, Apple’s next software patch, iOS 16.4, will introduce tangible improvements to the ways in which your iPhone handles everyday tasks. 

Among the features set to arrive with iOS 16.4 is Voice Isolation; a neat little tool that blocks out ambient noise during cellular calls to prioritize the quality of your voice. In other words, you’ll soon be able to better hear the person you're chatting with over the phone, and they’ll be able to better hear you, too.

Other features expected to arrive with iOS 16.4 include push notifications for web apps, a ton of new emojis, an improved Podcasts app and bug fixes for Apple HomeKit. We’ve rounded up five super-useful features coming to your iPhone in iOS 16.4 in a separate article, so head there for a more detailed breakdown.

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Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate leak points to big specs but a small upgrade

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate was always going to have high-end specs, and now we have an idea of just how high-end, as a leak has revealed many of the supposed specs for both this and the standard Asus ROG Phone 7.

According to leaker Abhishek Yadav on Twitter (via Phone Arena), both of these Asus ROG Phone 7 models have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, run Android 13, and come with a trio of rear-facing cameras; with a 50MP IMX766 primary snapper, a 13MP ultrawide, and an 8MP macro sensor.

They also apparently both have a 32MP front-facing camera, and come in at 173 x 77 x 10.3mm and 239g.

On top of that, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is said to have a massive 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Based on past form, it’s likely that will be the only configuration this phone is available in.

They don’t mention the RAM and storage of the standard Asus ROG Phone 7, but do note that this is apparently the only difference between the standard phone and the Ultimate. They also claim that there won’t be an Asus ROG Phone 7 Pro.

This makes for a strong selection of specs, and you can see these along with previously rumored specs in the table below.

Great specs, but not much of an upgrade

Based on this latest specs leak, the Asus ROG Phone 7 and, in particular, the 7 Ultimate sound like very powerful phones. But the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro actually comes with even more RAM at 18GB, paired with 512GB of storage.

The Asus ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro also have the same weight and dimensions as the new phones will apparently have, suggesting that they’ll be physically very similar devices. Here's hoping for some accessory cross-compatibility.

The main camera sensor hasn’t been upgraded either, if this leak is right, and the ultrawide apparently has the same number of megapixels, though it remains to be seen whether the sensor is the same.

So what’s being upgraded? The macro camera here is likely better, as the Asus ROG Phone 6 series has just a 5MP unit, and likewise the selfie camera on those phones is only 12MP. So the photography experience might be slightly improved on the Asus ROG Phone 7 series.

The main upgrade though looks to simply be the chipset, which is reportedly a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 here. That should provide a significant power boost compared to the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 found in the current models, but that’s also about the bare minimum you’d expect from a new model.

Previously rumored specs don’t point to much of an upgrade either, with older leaks suggesting the screen size, resolution, refresh rate, battery capacity, and charging speed will all be about the same as before too.

So while the Asus ROG Phone 7 – and especially the 7 Ultimate – will probably rank among the very best gaming phones, they might not be worth buying if you already have a ROG Phone 6 series handset. We’ll have a clearer idea soon, as Asus is unveiling these phones on April 13.

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An incoming Android tweak stops your phone from blinding you in the dark

We're still some way off from getting any real news about Android 14 from Google, but the tweaks and updates are still appearing for Android 13 – and one that's apparently in the pipeline will stop your phone's screen from blinding you in the dark.

As spotted by Mishaal Rahman (via Phandroid), the code for the next Android update looks to include a feature that will sense the ambient light conditions around a smartphone even when the screen is switched off.

So, the next time you lock your phone, go somewhere that's a lot darker, and then unlock it again, you won't be blinded by the previous brightness setting. The phone will recognize it's now in a darker environment and adjust the brightness accordingly, assuming of course you have the brightness set to adjust itself automatically.

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On the way

If you have a Pixel phone from Google, you'll find the screen brightness options in the Display section of Settings, though for now this feature isn't enabled, and is indeed only in the Android 13 QPR2 beta release that isn't widely available yet.

That QPR stands for Quarterly Platform Release, so the extra option may appear as part of an Android 13 update in the next few months. Alternatively, Google's software development team might decide to hold it over to Android 14, which is due to be officially unveiled at Google IO 2023 in May.

Let's hope it does indeed arrive at some point, as it's a useful tweak – as you'll know if you've ever locked your phone in a bright environment (outdoors in the sun, for instance), and then unlocked it in a darker environment (such as a theater).


Analysis: the ever-changing mobile OSes

We're now very familiar with the idea of Apple, Google, Samsung and other phone manufacturers pushing out regular updates for their mobile operating systems. These updates can add features, squash bugs, and more besides.

The example we have above shows how tweaks can be useful even if they're small. This fixes a very real annoyance that a lot of people are going to come across on a regular basis, and it means Android is going to be better to use.

It also shows the benefit of mobile OS updates appearing throughout the year, rather than in one hefty chunk on one particular date. When it comes to iPhones, we're now up to iOS 16.3, and there have been lots of improvements since iOS 16 launched in September 2022.

If the brightness feature does indeed make it into the next Android update, it's difficult to predict exactly when your phone might get it – a lot of it depends on the manufacturer of your phone, and Google's own Pixel handsets are going to be first in line, as usual.

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Insta360 teases new challenger for DJI’s class-leading smartphone gimbal

Action camera brand Insta360 is entering new territory as it’s set to reveal what appears to be a new smartphone gimbal on March 29.

The 20-second teaser video doesn’t reveal a whole lot, but there are a few clues that we can use to paint a picture. For starters, the device will sport a small screen on the handle and some kind of folding mechanism for easier storage. Smartphones will sit on the gimbal via a magnetic clasp. In between the handle and clasp, it looks like there is a control panel with a wheel for changing various shooting modes on the side. The trailer zooms past this portion so it’s hard to tell what it has exactly.

Arguably the most revealing aspect of the teaser, though, is those shooting modes. Each one is represented by an acronym, and although Insta360 doesn’t directly say what they represent, we have a pretty good idea.  “F” is for Follow Mode giving full freedom of control to move the gimbal however you want. “PF” for Pan Follow Mode locking the gimbal to a horizontal plane. And Auto Mode to automatically track a subject. But what confuses us the most is the fourth one, FPV Mode (presumably meaning First-Person View).

Edge above the competition

Other reports make the argument FPV Mode could mean the gimbal has the ability to connect to the camera of an external device, namely a drone, and see that view through a smartphone. Drones like the DJI FPV have the ability to connect their camera to the DJI Goggles 2 headset giving people an “immersive flying experience”. Insta360 doesn’t sell any drones itself so it’s possible the company will offer third-party support instead. 

Assuming that this is the case, this would give the gimbal a unique edge over the competition by being more flexible. To have the same experience with DJI, you have to purchase the company's FPV drone and Goggles 2. Outside of some special online sale, you’re looking at over $1500 in equipment. Being able to see a drone’s viewpoint on a smartphone through a gimbal sounds like an interesting prospect.

But at the end of the day, we don’t know for sure. We’ll just have to wait until Insta360’s event on the 29th to get the full story. In the meantime, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best drones for 2023 across different budgets. 

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A new Samsung folding phone could deliver a bigger screen – and more problems

Samsung could be set to expand its folding phones lineup this year with an all-new model that has two hinges instead of one – and it could offer a tablet-sized display.

Currently, Samsung offers two options for people wanting to pick up a folding phone. Its clamshell Z Flip models look like regular smartphones when open, but you can fold them in half to store them in a more compact space, while its Z Fold devices open up like a book, and are a little bulkier but offers users a larger screen than a typical phone.

This rumored tri-fold phone would effectively be an expansion of the existing Z Fold line – adding an extra folding panel so that we can carry around an even larger screen in our pockets.

Back in December 2021, Samsung patents emerged detailing a tri-fold phone, and at MWC 2023 Samsung Display (the screen-focused arm of Samsung) demoed a tri-folding Flex G display. Now tipster Yogesh Brar has claimed that Samsung could be putting this tech into action in its own devices this year (via Android Authority).

Leaks like this should always be taken with a pinch of salt, but based on the evidence it does seem likely that Samsung will launch a tri-folding phone sometime in the future, if not in 2023.

Is tri-fold a fold too far? 

A tri-folding phone would have its fair share of advantages and disadvantages.

Compared to Samsung’s existing Flip and Fold phones, a tri-fold handset should be able to offer a screen size that’s on par with some tablets. What’s more, when the device is in its closed form a tri-fold device could still offer users an outer screen that's the size of a typical phone display, depending on how it closes up; other foldables typically offer very small displays, with limited functionality, when folded, but a tri-fold could have one of its three panels exposed.

Two Samsung Flex G displays showcasing a tri-fold display

(Image credit: Samsung Display)

That said, adding an extra panel would mean the device is bulkier than the two-paneled Z Fold, which might harm its appeal as a ‘compact’ option. What’s more, folding displays are typically able to withstand less wear and tear compared to typical smartphone screens because of the material they’re made from – so while having a screen constantly exposed may make the device more useful, it could also make it more prone to damage.

On that note, while Samsung has put in a lot of effort to reduce the weakness caused by folds in phones, they’re still not perfect. Adding an extra fold would also add an additional source of potential problems which could make its tri-fold phone more hassle than its worth.

But if and when such a product does come out (from Samsung or one of its competitors) it could well join our ranks of the best foldable phones, so be sure to check back here for our thoughts.

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The iPhone 15’s Dynamic Island will be more powerful in one small way

We’ve long suspected that every phone in the upcoming iPhone 15 line will be inheriting the Dynamic Island from the iPhone 14 Pro (and Pro Max), but we’re now hearing that the new phones’ digital notches won’t be identical to the ones currently featured on Apple’s flagship devices. 

According to a tweet from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor will be integrated inside the ‌Dynamic Island itself, rather than positioned below it (as on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max). 

The proximity sensor is used to detect when you raise your iPhone to your ear. When triggered, the sensor shuts off the screen, so you don’t end up accidentally putting your boss on hold or hanging up on your Grandma.

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As Kuo notes, the new sensor arrangement is unlikely to result in any material difference to the appearance or functionality of the iPhone 15 versus the iPhone 14 Pro, but the former's Dynamic Island will technically be more advanced than the latter's given the inclusion of a previously isolated sensor. 

If nothing else, the news adds further credence to the suggestion that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will indeed be getting the Dynamic Island, which is one of our favorite features on Apple’s latest Pro-grade handsets. Both phones are also expected to inherit the iPhone 14 Prо’s high-res 48MP camera. 

Dynamic Island swipe

The Dynamic Island in action on the iPhone 14 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Apple giveth and Apple taketh away

However, for every one-time premium feature heading to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, there seem to be two even-more-premium features heading to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone 15 Ultra

For instance, a top-of-the-line chip upgrade – likely in the form of an A17 Bionic – will inevitably be made exclusive to Apple’s most expensive iPhones, with recent leaks hinting that this processor could make these handsets as fast as some of the best MacBooks. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, by contrast, are expected to inherit last year’s A16 Bionic.

A titanium frame and periscope camera have also been touted as arriving with the iPhone 15 Ultra. In other words, Apple’s Pro-level iPhones are set to get even more Pro, while its more affordable all-rounders continue to play catch-up. 

We’ll be staying abreast of all the latest iPhone 15 news, rumors and leaks, as and when they surface, so stay tuned to TechRadar for the most up-to-date info on what's likely to be 2023’s hottest smartphone launch. 

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The Asus ROG Phone 7 is launching in April and could be the best gaming phone

The Asus ROG Phone 6D currently sits in the top spot of our best gaming phones guide, but it probably won’t do for long, as the Asus ROG Phone 7 is being unveiled on April 13.

Asus itself confirmed as much in a tweet, adding that this launch will kick off at 8am ET / 5am PT / 1pm BST / 10pm AEST. The tweet also confirms that you’ll be able to watch this launch live on the Asus ROG website, which currently has a countdown to the event. We imagine it will also be streamed on YouTube, but that hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Of course, we’ll be covering the launch in full here at TechRadar too, so you can also head back here for all the announcements and our in-depth analysis.

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The tweet and site don’t provide any real clues about what the Asus ROG Phone 7 might offer, but we already know some things, and others have leaked.

A phone of beastly specs

Asus itself has previously said that one or more of its upcoming phones will use the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, found in other Android powerhouses, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and the OnePlus 11.

Though the company has additionally suggested that it will use the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 in at least one phone, and we don’t know for sure which will power the ROG Phone 7. That’s a similarly high-end chipset though.

As for leaks, the Asus ROG Phone 7 has seemingly been benchmarked on Geekbench multiple times, with the phone listed as having a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 16GB of RAM; so that's the silicon which seems most likely.

One of those listings was shared by leaker @Gadgetsdata, who additionally claims that the phone has a 6.8-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen, with a 165Hz refresh rate, an under-display fingerprint sensor and a 6,000mAh battery, with 65W fast charging.

However, while the event invite and the above leak only mention the Asus ROG Phone 7 specifically, it’s likely that there will be more than one model. Based on past form and other leaks, we’ll probably also see an Asus ROG Phone 7 Pro and an Asus ROG Phone 7D, with some variations in specs.

From what we’ve heard so far, it sounds like the ROG Phone 7 itself might not be a vast improvement on the Asus ROG Phone 6 series, other than packing an upgraded chipset. So hopefully the Pro model – if there is one – is more of a step up. 

Still, either way, one of these phones will likely be the best gaming phone, at least until Xiaomi launches a successor to the Black Shark 5 Pro.

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Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus debuts with 120W fast charging and 200MP camera

Xiaomi subsidiary Redmi has just introduced the Note 12 Series; its latest flagship line of products. It’s not technically a true flagship tier of devices, but that’s what the latest Xiaomi 13 is for. Rather, the Note 12 series continues the brand's efforts to nail down the most important features of a smartphone while dialling down on unnecessary niceties.

The Redmi Note 12 series is made up of four phones: the Redmi Note 12, Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G, with the Note 12, 12 5G and 12 Pro Plus 5G set to go on sale in the UK on March 24 (at retailers including Xiaomi, Argos, Very and Amazon UK), while the regional availability of the 12 Pro 5G is still to be confirmed.

Pricing starts at £219 (approximately $270 / AU$400) for the standard Note 12, £279 (approximately $345 / AU$510) for the baseline Note 12 5G, £339 (approximately $420 / AU$620) for the Note 12 Pro 5G and £449 (approximately $550 / AU$820) for the Note 12 Pro Plus 5G.

Though all four phones appear similar on the face of it, there are differences between them. All the phones sport the 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, with the differences showing beyond that. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus uses Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both sides, as does the Redmi Note 12 Pro. The Note 12 and 12 5G sport older Gorilla Glass 3, and only on the front.

Cameras and charging are two other points of focus for the lineup. Naturally, the Note 12 Pro and Pro Plus come in the lead here. The Pro Plus gets a 200MP primary camera while the Pro gets the same 50MP Sony IMX766 you’ll find in the phenomenal Oppo Find X5 Pro. The Redmi Note 12 and Note 12 5G also get 48MP and 50MP cameras, respectively but the company didn’t specify which particular sensors are at play. Tertiary cameras for all agree on an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The front varies between 16MP for the Pro devices and 13MP for the non-Pro devices.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus in Blue

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus (Image credit: Xiaomi)

Charging-wise, the Redmi Note 12 Pro and Pro Plus take the lead on this, with a 5,000mAh battery and amazing 67W and 120W peak charging speeds, respectively. That’s not as fast as the Realme GT 3 (what is right now?), but they’ll certainly leave your iPhone or Samsung in the dust. The Note 12 and Note 12 5G aren’t quite as fast, but 33W should still be plenty for most people. At least they all come with in-box chargers.

It’s a mixed bag when it comes to the rest of it. The Pro Plus and Pro have powerful MediaTek 1080 processors paired with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, while the Note 12 sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 685 and the Note 12 5G rocks the chip maker’s latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 1; again with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. The non-Pro models are also microSD expandable, up to 1TB.

They all have the latest MIUI 14 user experience, which would be a plus if all but the Redmi Note 12 weren’t based on Android 12 as opposed to the more recent Android 13. Vibrant finishes are here aplenty; with black, white, blue, and green colorways present, depending on which device you pick.


 A formidable lineup  

Redmi Note 12 in Green

The Redmi Note 12 (Image credit: Redmi )

The Redmi Note 12 series continues the company’s goal of making powerful devices affordable. Certainly, the likes of Google’s Pixel 6a operates as one of the best cheap phones you can buy, but you can get a lot more from the (presumably) similarly-priced Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus.

A 120Hz display, for example, is still a flagship feature for the likes of Apple and Google, and neither company has gotten close to a 200MP sensor yet. There are many reasons why one would thumb their nose down at the somewhat unsophisticated, brute-force approach Redmi takes with its devices, but there’s no denying the brand has its finger on the pulse, and is incredibly responsive to the needs of the markets it serves, meaning these have to potential to find their way onto our list of the best Xiaomi phones, if all goes well during review.

The Redmi Note 12 and the Redmi Note 12 Pro may not be as good, but if you need a big screen, a fast-charging phone that lasts all day, and a decent camera that captures a lot of detail, there are few phones which look as good in this category.

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Smartphone market expected to disappoint – again

Economic uncertainty, improved build quality, and an increasing appeal for sustainable living will hurt the global smartphone market, while at the same time propelling the worldwide used phone market to new heights, according to a new market forecast from analysts CSS Insight.

The company expects mobile phone shipments to hit 1.35 billion units in 2023, down 4% from last year, reaching the absolute lowest annual level for the past ten years. Of those devices, 1.16 billion will be new devices.

For Marina Koytcheva, Vice President of Forecasting at CCS Insight, this is because people are happy to keep their devices with them longer. Also, with the global economy having wild swings due to Covid-19, the Russian invasion, and the looming global recession, they’re not as keen on heavy investments in top-tier devices. 

Growing second-hand demand

But people still like mobile phones, so they’re increasingly turning towards used options.

"The market for second-hand devices is forecast to continue growing in 2023 as people seek value-for-money options in the face of a weak economy and choose pre-owned phones to support a more environmentally friendly lifestyle", commented Parul Saxena, Senior Analyst at CCS Insight. 

CSS Insights believes that this year, 330 million used devices will be sold, with a “growing proportion” coming in through organized channels.

Some new smartphones will still perform well, the researchers believe. Namely, 5G-enabled devices will show relatively strong demand, possibly reaching 700 million shipments this year. That would mean that more than one in every two phones sold will be a 5G-enabled device.

The entire market might pick up somewhat next year, the researchers concluded, but it’s highly unlikely to reach the heights of the mid 2010’s, when almost two billion new devices were sold every year. The second-hand market is growing too strong to allow it, they argue.

In fact, by 2027, the proportion of all sales going to used devices is likely to double.

"Our research shows that mobile phones remain the most loved connected device that people own. But that doesn't mean that consumers want to keep buying phones as often as before, or purchase brand-new devices. Post-pandemic consumer behavior has changed, and the industry needs to adapt to the new reality," Koytcheva concludes.

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TikTok ban: will the app be banned in the US and how would that work?

TikTok's infinite stream of lip-sync videos, illusions, and air fryer recipes might seem innocent enough, but the app is now facing the very serious threat of a US ban.

Over the past few months, TikTok has been in the eye of a political storm that has seen it banned from government devices in the US, the EU, and now the UK. But it's the very real prospect of an outright TikTok ban in the US that's worrying the app's millions of users.

The US government, including the current Biden administration, has been investigating TikTok and its relationship to its China-based parent company for several years now.

The app has responded to allegations that it collects and stores the data of American users by making several changes, including moving all of its US data to Oracle's servers. But none of this has sated US concerns that the app poses a national security threat and the TikTok CEO will soon appear before Congress to defend the app.

So what does this all mean for TikTok's hundreds of millions of global users, and in particular the 150 million who live in the US? Here's everything you need to know about the prospect of a TIkTok ban in the US.

Why is the TikTok ban potentially happening?

The main accusation behind the potential TikTok ban in the US is that the app poses a threat to national security. But wait, aren't most TikTok videos just frivolous video game walkthroughs and TV show clips?

Yes, but the problem is less the content and more what TikTok might allegedly be doing with the underlying data it gathers – about your likes and comments, and also where you are in the world and who you interact with.

For example, in February FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed "extreme" concern about the potential for China to "weaponize" data gathered from TikTok's US-based fans. 

This stems from the fact that TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance – and Chinese law allows its government to force any company to hand over data they're holding on their servers.

TikTok and YouTube apps side-by-side on an iPhone

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Koshiro K)

Another accusation made by Wray was that the Chinese government could strong-arm TikTok in a way that would allow it to "control the recommendation algorithm", therefore giving it huge potential influence given that more people than ever get their news from TikTok and YouTube.

While there's currently no hard evidence of either practice being widespread TikTok, it does (like Facebook and Instagram) collect a lot of user data. Last year, four employees were also fired from TikTok's parent company ByteDance for allegedly gathering usage data of US journalists.

List of data collected by TikTok

A list of data that TikTok collects about you from The Washington Post. (Image credit: The Washington Post)

Whether or not this all poses enough of a security risk for the US government to take the unprecedented step of a complete TikTok ban remains to be seen. On March 7, a new bill made it easier for the US government to ban apps that pose a national security risk. 

But on March 22 the TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew argued that the app has "never shared US users data" and has a "responsibility to protect" its 150 million US users.

How would a TikTok ban work?

We've actually already seen the most likely way that a TikTok ban would work in practice. Back in September 2020, the US Department of Commerce issued a ban that ordered both Apple and Google to remove TikTok and WeChat from their US app stores.

This ban was ultimately blocked by a federal judge and eventually revoked by President Biden last year, but the incident gives us a taste of what could happen if TikTok's owners refuse to divest their stakes in the app. 

A girl with the dark side tiktok promoting social network with a smartphone in hand.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Ti Vla)

If US users can't download TikTok from the iOS or Android app stores, that would cut them off from future updates. And after a while, this would likely result in the app no longer working on their smartphones.

It may also be possible for the US government to prevent TikTok access by identifying your IP address and preventing access to the web version of the app. But it isn't yet clear if that's on the cards, and there would be potential ways around this...

Is there a way around a potential TikTok Ban?

While a ban on TikTok appearing in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store would be a major roadblock to using the app in the US, there could be potential workarounds if that happened.

The most obvious way would be to use one of the best mobile VPNs to change your location (at least in the eyes of your ISP). While this would come at a monthly cost, the method could work as long as you choose a server that's based in a country where TikTok isn't banned.

TikTok

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Our top mobile VPN right now is ExpressVPN, though NordVPN and Surfshark are also good choices. That said, there is a chance that even these VPNs may not be able to circumvent a TikTok ban in the US.

TikTok says that it "collects your approximate location information based on your device or network information, such as SIM card and IP address". In theory, this means that your device could still use that rough location data to ban you from using the service. 

If that's the case, your best hope may be the emergence of spin-off TikTok apps, which is what happened in India when the country banned the app in 2020.

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This new Google Maps feature is like next-gen Street View – and it’s rolling out now

Immersive View, the interactive Google Maps feature first announced at Google I/O 2022, is finally rolling out. The feature will initially be available for London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, and is set to go live for more cities in the coming months. 

Immersive View uses a combination of Street View and aerial imagery to present digital, real-time representations of cities in Google Maps, and Google has confirmed that users in Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, and Venice will soon be able to access the innovative navigational tool. 

Despite having offices in New York and London, we haven’t yet been able to access (and therefore test) Immersive View for ourselves, which suggests Google is rolling out the new feature on an area-by-area basis (likely due to the significant amount of data-crunching required to implement it on a large scale). Some Reddit users have shared images of Immersive View in action, though, so we know it’s currently live in certain neighborhoods.

See more

In addition to giving you an aerial view of – and real-time crowd, weather, and traffic information for – famous landmarks, Immersive View also highlights essential places like shops, ATMs, and restaurants in your area by using your phone’s camera. 

Again, Google has already begun the rollout of this sub-feature – dubbed Search with Live View – in London, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo, but Barcelona, Dublin, and Madrid are next on the agenda. 

Google Maps Live View and EV charging stations filter

Search with Live View is coming to Google Maps in Barcelona, Dublin and Madrid (Image credit: Google)

Indoor Live View – a Google Maps feature that displays AR-powered arrows to help you find the closest restrooms, lounges, taxi stands, car rentals and other indoor spots – is likewise expanding to more regions. This particular feature has been around in the US, Zurich and Tokyo since 2021, but Google is now planning on making more than 1,000 new airports, train stations and malls across Barcelona, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Paris, Prague, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei compatible with Indoor Live View. 

In other words, Google’s Immersive View Google Maps features are coming to more users in more regions than ever over the next few months – so keep checking your Google Maps app to see what new options are available. 

We’d suggest you connect to Wi-Fi before testing any of those features, mind. One Redditor has pointed out that Immersive View ate up 2GB of data in just half an hour, so those with limited mobile data should use Google Maps cautiously. 

For more Google Maps content, check out our roundup of 10 things you didn't know Google Maps could do, as well as our head-to-head comparison of Apple Maps vs. Google Maps.

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