Just the other day a report emerged that showed Apple might have been right to end the iPhone mini line with the iPhone 13 mini. But Apple’s absence doesn’t mean the end of small phones, as alumni from the Pebble smartwatch team are looking to create a compact Android handset.

They’ve formed a community project (not even a company yet) called the Small Android Phone, but there’s a lot of talent on board, including Pebble’s founder Eric Migicovsky, alongside other Pebble alumni.

As per an interview with The Verge, it also sounds like this project is well on the way to becoming a reality. While not much seems to be set in stone yet, the team have a lot of ideas, including various possible camera designs, with the goal of making it look “very uniquely recognizable and very iconic” according to Alex De Stasio, who previously worked as an industrial designer at Pebble, Go Pro, and elsewhere.

You can see how some of these potential camera designs look in the image below. Whatever design the team ultimately goes with, the hardware would likely include a sensor of around 50MP, according to Benjamin Bryant, who also previously worked at Pebble.

That would likely be paired with camera software that the team produces itself, with the goal – according to Bryant – of “something that’s going to result in photos that look good.”

As for the rest of the phone’s body, De Stasio claims they’re aiming for “a nice soft slab, that’s very high quality, very nicely put together, very solid feeling, and that just has very soft details that feel really nice on your fingers.” Lots of materials are apparently being considered for it, but the team’s focus will be on attention to detail, rather than unusual materials (looking at you, OnePlus).

The chipset also hasn’t been decided upon, but the choice seems to be between either the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, which was the best Android phone chipset of last year but isn’t quite the best anymore, or “a yet-to-be-released mid-tier Qualcomm chip,” according to Bryant.

Even the name of this small phone hasn’t been decided on yet, but some possibilities put forward include Pico, Atom, Bud, Mato, and of course Pebble, among many other options.

Now for the less good news: Bryant claims that it’s likely to cost around $850 (roughly £690 / AU$1,265). For reference, the iPhone 13 mini currently starts at $599 / £649 / AU$1,049, and even at launch it was less expensive than this proposed price.

The Asus Zenfone 9, which is one of the most recent compact  Android phones, also costs less, with a starting price of $699 / £699 / AU$1,199. So this planned small phone could be a hard sell.

An experiment worth doing

There are good and understandable reasons for the likely high price of this unnamed phone. For one thing, the team hopes to work with a “tier one” manufacturer, so hopefully the construction will be high quality.

Also, this isn’t aimed at being a mainstream device. The price above is based on pre-orders of around 50,000 units, which is a tiny number compared to big-name phones.

If more people pre-order, then the price will likely lower, and it also sounds like the price may drop for future units, once the phone is out; with Bryant saying “the bet is there’s enough people willing to overpay for a phone. That can get it out the door, and then we’ll move down to the market price for the phone.”

So in a sense, this a call for people who lament the lack of small phones to support one, and show that such devices can be viable. So far, the project's website cites over 38,000 supports, meaning there's a ways to go before they reach their goal of 50,000 and that's not to mention the even greater hurdle of turning those supporting fans into paying customers.

If this device succeeds, then it could show that there is still an appetite for the best small phones, though it sounds like this will probably always be a niche device – which is fine if that’s what the team are planning for. But niche isn’t a word Apple seems very interested in when it comes to smartphones, so whether this succeeds or fails, it probably won’t convince Apple to build another iPhone mini.

A new version of the OnePlus 11 is on the way – and it’ll be built out of something other than glass or metal.

That’s according to OnePlus China president Li Jie, who revealed the news on the social media site Weibo. "OnePlus 11 is about to launch a ‘special product’, which once again challenges the ‘impossible’ in the industry,” Jie said “It is built with unprecedented materials and craftsmanship, making each mobile phone unique and leading the flagship quality again."  

There were no further details as to exactly what the phone will be made from, but interestingly the post included an image of a OnePlus 11 superimposed over the planet Jupiter. Suffice to say, this doesn't look to be a market-ready version of the OnePlus 11 Concept phone we went hands-on with at MWC 2023, with integrated liquid cooling.

The OnePlus 11 is currently sold with a rear made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and a metal frame running its edge, much like the best Samsung phones are, and indeed as the likes of the Google Pixel 7 is. 

 So, why Jupiter? 

Assuming OnePlus isn't going to pull off a sci-fi feat and make a phone entirely out of gas (though some might find their marketing full of hot air), the question of the day is what the Jupiter reference indicates. And indeed, how that then tallies with the choice of material.

Glass, ceramic, metal, leather, vegan-leather, and polycarbonate are all options that have already been used by other phones – so it would be surprising if OnePlus chose any of those. A few people have suggested marble, based on the look of Jupiter. The planet, from a distance, does resemble marble, which isn't a far cry from ceramic – a material that parent company Oppo already uses.

A design similar to the signature brown of the Oppo Find X6 could find its way to global markets, after all, with this new material as its medium. A OnePlus 11 in marble would be rather marbellous (please clap) and something we haven't seen yet in a phone. Of course, there's also only a slight chance that it will come to Australian, European, and US markets anyway with a China-only rollout far more likely.

Fortunately, the company’s latest flagship is great even without fancy new materials. As our OnePlus 11 review makes clear, it has a powerful camera, fast charging, and excellent performance, and deserves its place in our list of the best phones currently available, as a result.  

Apple’s iOS 16.3.1 update brought basic bug fixes to iCloud and Siri, but the company’s next software patch, iOS 16.4, looks set to introduce more 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. 

Voice Isolation is actually a feature that’s been available for some time on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls, made through apps like WhatsApp, but Apple says the tool will finally be making its way to cellular iPhone calls with iOS 16.4, which is expected to begin rolling out "later this Spring" (in other words, sometime between March and June 2023). 

Apple has also confirmed that Voice Isolation will be compatible with every iPhone model released alongside or after the iPhone SE (2020), so every one of the best iPhones looks set to benefit from the helpful feature. 

Once iOS 16.4 does arrive, Voice Isolation can be activated by swiping down the top right of the screen (to access the Control Center), tapping Mic Mode, then Voice Isolation. Thankfully, the feature will remain active for future calls, so you won’t need to repeat the above process every time. 

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. 

If you haven’t yet updated your iPhone to the latest version of iOS, read our guide on how to update your iPhone to iOS 16. Once you’ve done that, check our tips on how to create the best iOS 16 Lock Screen for your iPhone.

Huawei is launching the foldable Huawei Mate X3 tomorrow (March 23) alongside the flagship Huawei P60, but, as is often the case with smartphone launches, there might not be much to reveal, as many of the Huawei Mate X3’s specs have already been leaked.

The latest on that front comes from reputable leaker Digital Chat Station, who, posting on Weibo (via GSMArena), claims that the Mate X3 has a 7.8-inch foldable screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a triple-lens camera setup that includes a 50MP primary sensor and a periscope zoom lens.

They also claim that the Huawei Mate X3 offers wireless charging and IPX8 water resistance, meaning it’s got the same sort of water resistance rating as most high-end phones, but no dust resistance. This is also the same rating as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 have.

Finally, Digital Chat Station claims that the hinge will allow this phone to open at multiple different angles – so you won’t have to choose between fully open and fully closed.

This only provides a partial picture of the Huawei Mate X3, but PriceBaba has additionally spotted a supposed benchmark listing for this phone, which mentions a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and 12GB of RAM.

That should make this a powerful phone, but one that's a step behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagships we’re now seeing. So, the Huawei Mate X3 will probably be more of a rival to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 than the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Earlier leaks fill in the gaps

These aren’t the first Huawei Mate X3 specs leaks, with earlier leaks pointing to a 6.45-inch OLED cover screen and a 4,800mAh battery with 66W charging.

What this phone almost certainly won’t have is 5G, as sanctions against Huawei have prevented it from putting 5G capabilities in its devices. So, you’ll probably be limited to 4G connectivity, which is a shame on a high-end device in 2023.

Still, if the price is right, then that could be a sacrifice worth making. We should have a clearer idea of that once this phone is unveiled on Wednesday, March 23, though this appears to just be a launch for China, so global pricing and availability details probably won’t be shared.

Hopefully, a global launch will soon follow, because even without 5G, the Huawei Mate X3 could rank among the best foldable phones.

Apple will debut iOS 17 in a few months to the not-quite-as-new-anymore iPhone 14 and select older phones. The update is expected to bring changes to Apple’s first-party apps and improve the operating system overall.

Though competitor Google has already released Android 14 for testing (and teased a little of what it’s going to be about), Apple typically keeps completely mum on what to expect from the newest iOS till its debut at WWDC (its annual developer conference), which often takes place in June each year. Select other features will be revealed with the launch of the iPhone 15, later this year, likely in September.

It’ll be a while until we get more details of iOS 17, but we do have some idea of what the next version of iOS could look like, and below you can read up on what we already know, as well as a brief wish list of what we’d love to see from the new update, when it does eventually break cover.

As more rumors and reports emerge with fleshed-out details, we’ll be updating this article, so make sure to check back for further details regularly. 

iOS 17: Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next big update for iOS – the iPhone's operating system
• When does it come out? Expected to drop in the middle of September
• How much does it cost? It'll be a free upgrade
• Which phones are supported? As yet unknown. Likely the iPhone XS and newer

iOS 17 release date

iOS 17 is expected to be released on or around the middle of September, to coincide with the expected iPhone 15 launch. Before that, Apple will unveil iOS 17 at WWDC in June. The dates for WWDC haven’t been released yet, but we assume the announcement will be made sometime in the next few weeks.

Shortly after WWDC, Apple will release two beta versions of iOS – a developer preview, and a public build. The public beta is often reliable enough to use on a daily phone about a month or two after the program starts.

iOS 17 expected features

When it comes to iOS 17’s features, one thing we can be reasonably sure about is that we won’t see a lot of big additions, like the lock screen or home screen widget upgrades that came with previous releases.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – who’s a fairly reliable leaker of all things Apple – the company is allowing iOS and macOS to take a back seat this year, as it works on its new mixed-reality headset. This means that while there will be some new features, there won’t be as many as there might ordinarily be; with the company shifting focus to a new and potentially exciting product category. 

“Apple’s focus on the xrOS operating system – along with iOS 16 snags – has also cost it some new features in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, the next major iPhone and iPad software updates. That software, codenamed Dawn, may have fewer major changes than originally planned,” Gurman said in his Power On newsletter. 

Apple’s iOS updates often feature improvements to first-party apps, including Music and Messages. The Messages app is reportedly in line for a redesign this year, but details are light, at present. As for big changes to things like notifications, the company doesn’t typically overhaul its interface in the same way Google does every few years, but there are still a few changes we’d like to see.  

iOS 17 feature wish list

Super Siri

ChatGPT is taking the world by storm, and Google and Microsoft have been quick to react. Apple set the world on fire with the launch of Siri, alongside the iPhone 4S, but the digital assistant still has yet to reach its full potential. As generative AI models grow in popularity, the large and very engaged iPhone user base would give Apple an advantage over its competitors, if it launched its own GPT-powered chatbot.

Improved notifications

This particular wish comes as standard – and goes ungranted – with every Apple update. The company has worked to slightly tweak iOS notifications every year, but they’re still horribly mediocre. There’s limited notification bundling or quick-reply support, and actionable notifications are still few and far between compared to Android.

Every year, we hope that Apple will bring Notification Center up to par – and every year Apple does the equivalent of placing a smiley band-aid on a gaping wound. Sometimes, Apple likes to do things its own way, and that’s fine; in this case, however, it's time for the company to swallow its pride and do the done thing.

RCS support 

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is gaining popularity on Android phones. It essentially turns basic SMS messaging into the equivalent of more modern apps, like iMessage or Facebook Messenger. Now, it’s not necessary for Apple to make RCS work on iPhones, but it would be better than the plain old SMS we currently have.

You can see when someone's typing, get read receipts, send larger files and more. It’s an emerging standard – much like USB-C – and in countries where texting via the Messages app is more common than something like WhatsApp or Telegram, there’s no downside to upgrading the Messages experience for everyone, as iOS users who prefer not to enable iMessage for one reason or another will also to make use of RCS' additional functionality without compromise. 

Russian officials involved in the country’s 2024 presidential election have been told that they must not use iPhones because of the reported risk of inteference from Western intelligence.

The country’s daily politics and business newspaper, Kommersant, reported that officials have until April 1 to find alternative devices.

The news came from Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, who made the announcement at a government-organized seminar.

iPhones banned for Russian officials

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that “smartphones should not be used for official business,” indicating that the country’s lack of trust isn’t specifically centered around Apple, adding: “any smartphone has a fairly transparent mechanism.”

The Moscow Times reports that the announcement was the “final word” of a discussion that had been taking place for several weeks.

A source familiar with the decision told Kommersant that the Kremlin may even offer to buy alternative devices for affected iPhone users to make the shift away from American technology easier.

The Kremlin subsequently advised iPhone users to replace them with Android devices, though even these may one day be banned as the country shifts to Chinese and Russian devices.

Many expect this to be the precursor to a larger move toward Aurora, a Linux-based mobile OS developed by the Russian telecoms giant Rostelecom’s subsidiary, Open Mobile Platform (though derived from a Finnish OS).

However, political scientist Nikolai Mironov sees no political incentive behind the decision to ban officials from using iPhones, citing a “purely pragmatic solution” and “no mass rejection of ‘unfriendly’ brands.”

The country has already sought to ban other Western technologies, like video conferencing platform Zoom, from official use in favor of home-grown alternatives, and while sanctions may have initially sent a tremor through the country the Kremlin is clearly adapting and overcoming many of the recent challenges it has faced.

• Check out the best VPNs and best proxies

Microsoft-owned Xbox could be bringing its own app store to your Android and Apple phone according to the company’s gaming chief, Phil Spencer. If it does, we could see some of our favorite apps and games get cheaper on mobile.

Microsoft currently offers a few mobile gaming experiences, such as Minecraft and Xbox Game Pass streaming, but its new efforts could see you turning to its own store rather than the iPhone’s App Store or the Android Google Play Store.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Phil Spencer said “We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen.” This means it’ll need to continue its console and PC gaming efforts, but also expand its mobile efforts.

However, Xbox’s mobile game store launch isn’t yet guaranteed. Spencer explained that the launch can only happen if two things happen first.

For starters, Microsoft needs to complete its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The takeover – which was announced over a year ago on January 18, 2022 – hasn’t yet been finalized as regulatory bodies across the globe are still investigating if it would give Microsoft too much of an advantage over rivals such as Sony. Alongside Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4, Activision Blizzard owns a slew of mobile games (including Candy Crush, Hearthstone, and Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!) which the Xbox Game Store would need to rely on to fill out its catalog.

Additionally, the Xbox app store would rely on the enforcement of the EU's Digital Markets Act and other regulations. These new rules – which were passed in December 2022 but won’t be enforced until March 2024 – should force Apple to open up its iPhone platforms to alternative app stores. However, Apple looks set to only make changes in Europe where the rules apply.

App Store, Xbox game store, what’s the difference?

Does it really matter where you get your mobile games and apps from? Is there going to be that big a difference between Apple's App Store and Microsoft’s Xbox store? We don’t know for certain, but an Xbox store launch could result in cheaper prices and more apps.

Apple and Google currently take a cut of the revenue made by apps on their mobile stores – 15% for smaller developers and 30% for larger ones. However, if Microsoft was releasing its own apps on its own store it wouldn’t need to take a cut as it would make 100% of the revenue, so it could lower prices for the same services.

As these games would potentially be more profitable – as Microsoft wouldn’t have to share the revenue with anyone – we could also see it launch more new games and apps that are exclusive to its platform. Microsoft would have a large library of properties to work with (from Halo, to Call of Duty, to Spyro, to Fallout, as well as its Microsoft 365 productivity apps) so it could very likely find something to spin out for its new store.

There's another potential benefit. At the moment, if you buy games from the Apple App Store for your iPhone, and then decide to switch to an Android phone later, then you'd have to re-buy your apps and games from the Google Play Store. This, of course, happens if you go from Android to iPhone. However, if the Microsoft app store is cross platform, it may mean you'd only have to buy them once. 

We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but if Microsoft launches its own Xbox store on mobile don’t be surprised if others like Epic Games and Spotify – vocal opponents to the App Store’s 30% revenue cut – look to do the same.

Don't want to wait for Xbox to launch its own app store? Here are the best iPhone games and best iPhone apps you can download today.

We’re all but certain that Apple plans to embrace USB-C with its upcoming iPhone 15 line, and new rumors suggest that the company’s proprietary USB-C chargers will offer faster charging speeds than accessories produced by other manufacturers. 

We’ve already reported on claims that Apple will be implementing MFi (‘Made for iPhone’) certification on its range of USB-C accessories, and seasoned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now reports that these Apple-produced chargers will indeed enable faster charging speeds for the iPhone 15 and its siblings. 

That sounds like good news, but since Apple no longer includes chargers in the box with iPhone purchases, you’ll almost certainly have to fork out extra cash for one of the company’s proprietary charging accessories if you want to get the most from your iPhone 15. 

To be clear: if claims regarding Apple’s MFi certification prove accurate you’ll still be able to use third-party USB-C chargers to power your iPhone 15, but these accessories won’t work their magic quite as quickly as a comparable chargers bought directly from Apple.

Currently, Apple sells two USB-C chargers: a 20W model for $19 / £19 / AU$29, and a 35W dual-port model for $59 / £69 / AU$89. It’s not yet clear whether these existing accessories will offer optimum iPhone 15 charging speeds, but since Apple reportedly expects shipments of the former to increase by 120% with the launch of the iPhone 15 (per Kuo), there’s a good chance that they will. 

That said, we’d also expect to see a handful of new iPhone-specific USB-C charging accessories launched alongside the new phones. 

As always, it’s worth taking these USB-C rumors with a pinch of salt. After all, there’s reason to doubt that Apple will implement any form of charging restrictions given that the company’s existing USB-C ports – which have been around since the iPad Pro 11 (2018) – have no such limitations (or optimizations, depending on your perspective). 

In terms of what else we expect to see introduced with the iPhone 15 line, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are rumored to inherit a handful of high-end features from the iPhone 14 Pro – including its Dynamic Island and high-res 48MP camera – though the latter’s ProMotion technology and always-on display functionality are unlikely to make it to those handsets. 

We’ll be keeping 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. 

The iPhone mini line only lasted two generations. There was an iPhone 12 mini followed by an iPhone 13 mini, but then Apple went in the opposite direction and launched a larger iPhone 14 Plus, instead of an iPhone 14 mini. While compact phone fans may lament that decision, it seems it was probably the correct one.

A recent Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) report – via Phone Arena – has tracked iPhone 14 series display units, and found that panel shipments for the iPhone 14 Plus over the last 11 months are 59% higher than they were during the same period last year for the iPhone 13 mini.

Now, that number won’t be exactly the same as the number of units of each model that have actually been sold, but Apple isn’t going to be ordering more panels than it needs or expects to need. So it seems fairly conclusive that the iPhone 14 Plus is selling far better than the iPhone 13 mini did at this stage in its lifespan.

The obvious takeaway from this then is that there’s not much appetite for small phones compared to large ones. Of course, some people still buy compact handsets though, so it’s a shame they might have increasingly few options.

This report also found that panel shipments for the iPhone 14 series are 2% higher than they were for the iPhone 13 line at this point last year, so the new phones are likely selling marginally better as a whole.

It’s not all good news for the iPhone 14 Plus

While the iPhone 14 Plus appears to be doing much better than the iPhone 13 mini, it still doesn’t look like a sales success, as the Pro models appear to be by far the biggest sellers.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 36% share of iPhone 14 series panel shipments, the iPhone 14 Pro has a 28% share, the iPhone 14 a 25% share, and the iPhone 14 Plus an 11% share.

Compared to their predecessors, that amounts to a 23% boost for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, a 22% increase for the iPhone 14 Pro, and a 36% decrease for the iPhone 14. So it seems people have an appetite for the best phones they can get, currently. Then again, this change is probably as much to do with Apple delivering a rather uninspiring iPhone 14 as anything else.

There’s no iPhone 13 Plus to compare the current model to, but if panel shipments for the iPhone 14 are down by 36% compared to the iPhone 13, and yet still more than twice as many panels are being shipped for it as for the iPhone 14 Plus, it doesn’t paint a very rosy picture for the Plus.

As such, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Plus line doesn’t stick around for long, just like the mini line didn’t. Leaks suggest we will at least get an iPhone 15 Plus, but it might actually be cheaper than the current model, in an attempt to make it sell better.

A new iPhone 15 Pro leak suggests the incoming smartphone could jettison a design feature that's been ever-present on iPhones: the mute switch.

As spotted by Mac Rumors, the leaker ShrimpApplePro has posted a video that was leaked on China's equivalent of TikTok, which shows some new CAD (Computer-Aided Design) images of the iPhone 15 Pro series. And this video suggests the 'Pro' models in the iPhone 15 series could make some significant button tweaks.

The images support earlier rumors that the next-gen phones will replace the traditional dual volume buttons with one single button. And more controversially, it seems the 'mute switch', which has been around since the original iPhone in 2007, will now be turned into a button instead.

While that might not sound like an earth-shattering design change, it would likely divide opinion – particularly among those who are used to the mute switch and volume buttons having a very different feel and action, for 'no look' tweaking.

The rumors also suggest that both the volume and mute buttons will use haptic feedback, rather than mechanical movement, to provide the sensation of a button press. That's something we're increasingly seeing across both smartphones and laptops, with Apple possibly hell-bent on making everything a haptic experience.

If you don't like the sound of these button changes, you'll be pleased to hear that they seemingly won't be coming to every new iPhone this year. The rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models will continue to have two separate volume buttons and a mute switch if you want to rely on your usual iPhone muscle memory.

A sound decision?

Removing the mute switch on the new iPhone 15 Pro series might be seen as a retrograde design step – after all, generations of iPhone users are familiar with the switch's distinctly different feel from the volume buttons.

But there could also be a method to Apple's apparent meddling. An additional button on the side of the iPhone 15 Pro series could open the door to some software customization that could see it become a little more versatile.

If the mute function was simply toggled on or off in software instead, that button could morph into, for example, a very distinct camera shutter button, which is currently the role played by the 'volume up' button. Because the latter feels similar to its 'volume down' counterpart, it's easy to press the wrong button when taking snaps.

Of course, this is all speculation right now, but if Apple is indeed changing a design feature that's been present on the iPhone for 15 years, then it likely has a good functional reason for doing so, beyond the simple need for a design refresh.

There's still lots of time for further leaks to emerge in the run-up to the iPhone 15 series' expected launch in the first half of September, so expect to see more design hints – including the prospect of the iPhone 15 Pro Max having the thinnest bezels ever – in the coming months.

A vulnerability has been discovered affecting Google Pixel users with a vulnerability that could have exposed users’ most sensitive information and may continue to do so in certain cases.

Though Google issued a fix to CVE-2023-21036 in its March update, the high-risk vulnerability has been allowing hackers to undo many edits made to images on Pixel devices.

It specifically relates to the Markup feature, which allows users to edit photos such as to eliminate sensitive information from images like bank cards, either by cropping certain aspects or applying visual layers over elements.

Pixel Markup vulnerability

According to reverse engineers Simon Aarons and David Buchanan, who discovered the issue, with an edited - and seemingly secure - image, a malicious actor could in some cases reverse such edits to expose sensitive information in a vulnerability that’s being dubbed ‘acropalypse.’

While many of us prefer sharing images via channels that prefer some or all of their metadata, such as Discord, this has proven less secure, exposing the vulnerability. It’s worth mentioning that Discord fixed the issue in mid-January 2023. By contrast, platforms like Twitter process images in a different way in turn leaving edits un-reversible. 

The flaw stems from Android 9 Pie which coincides with the Pixel 3 family, meaning that 4, 5, 6, and latest 7 model families are also said to have been affected.

Given the age of some devices, only the Pixel 4a and newer currently receive security updates leaving some earlier models including the 4 and everything before it without official support, thus still vulnerable.

Furthermore, edited screenshots sent before updates were rolled out remain vulnerable and as such, should be removed where possible.

TechRadar Pro has asked Google to confirm whether there are still any devices that continue to expose the vulnerability, and if so, whether they will be patched.

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Satellite connectivity is a marquee feature of every phone in Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup, but the US government has outlined new plans to make phone-to-satellite linking more accessible to more users in the near future. 

As spotted by PhoneArena, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has submitted a proposal that would allow mobile carriers like Verizon and AT&T to team up with satellite operators in order to provide mobile coverage in otherwise signal-less areas. 

Right now, Apple’s partnership with satellite telecommunications company Globalstar allows its latest iPhones to establish connections with satellites through a feature called ‘Emergency SOS via satellite’ (which we've tested for ourselves). All four iPhone 14 models boast high-tech components that interact with Apple-owned ground stations, where staff are on hand to field emergency calls from users in the US, UK, Canada, France, Ireland and Germany.

In other words, the existing infrastructure for smartphone-based satellite connectivity is, for the most part, owned and operated by Apple, which is a reality the US government hopes to change. 

Samsung is expected to debut comparable phone-to-satellite capabilities with its Samsung Galaxy S24 line next year, but again, the Korean company will use Qualcomm's proprietary Snapdragon Satellite service to make that happen. 

The US government, then, has proposed a system in which “non-geostationary orbit satellites [get] leases from terrestrial spectrum owners.” In layman’s terms, that means satellite companies and mobile carriers working together to provide coverage in areas without existing Wi-Fi or cellular coverage. 

If the proposal is approved, new phones won’t need dedicated, Apple-style components to establish connections with satellites. Instead, the onus will be on mobile carriers to facilitate those connections. 

Of course, mobile carriers will almost certainly charge higher fees for plans that allow for emergency satellite connection, but it’s exciting to think that such a premium smartphone feature – one currently reserved for the best iPhones and, more recently, the Motorola Defy 2 – could soon become more widely available. 

It’s also worth noting that Apple hasn't yet confirmed whether its ‘Emergency SOS via satellite’ feature will remain free to iPhone 14 users indefinitely. The potentially life-saving technology is currently available free-of-charge for two years, but Apple may opt to implement subscription fees or one-time charges for iPhone 14 owners using the feature after their ‘free trial’ periods have expired. 

Apple’s decision on the above will likely steer the wider mobile industry’s approach to satellite connectivity. Satellites are expensive business, and phone manufacturers will surely discourage users from trying to communicate via satellite in anything other than emergency situations. 

It's great news, though, that more people might soon be given the option to make emergency calls when they need to. 

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max might just have the thinnest bezels ever seen on a smartphone, if a new rumor turns out to be correct.

This claim has been floated by Ice Universe, a well-known leaker on Twitter, who reckons that the bezel width of the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be 1.55mm.

As Ice Universe points out, that compares to the current record holder for the thinnest display bezels, which is the Xiaomi 13 at 1.81mm - a fact that helps make that handset look very slick indeed.

MacRumors, which spotted the tweet, clarifies that the Xiaomi 13 actually has 1.61mm bezels on three sides – it’s 1.81mm on the bottom edge only – but at any rate, Apple is still set to best either measurement (in theory).

If the 1.55mm bezel width comes to fruition, bearing in mind that the iPhone 14 Pro is 2.17mm, that’ll mean Apple will have slimmed down its smartphone by almost 30%, no mean feat.

This certainly wouldn’t harm the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s quest to look even more premium, and it’ll doubtless make for some nice bragging rights to stick in marketing materials.

The source is a relatively reliable one here, and of course, we’ve already heard from the rumor mill that both iPhone 15 Pro models could get thinner bezels (with curved edges), which lends weight to this speculation.

Analysis: A seriously smart looking handset – but at what cost?

Assuming this is Apple’s intention, bezels that are nearly a third slimmer - and indeed, the thinnest in the world - will obviously make for a PR selling point, as mentioned. But do we really need this?

That’s a rather subjective thing. Some may fret over whether incredibly trim bezels might not help on the fragility front. Others may feel that the iPhone already has pretty svelte bezels, and that this is a needless ‘upgrade’. To be fair to Apple, though, slimming down the bezels to almost a vanishing point level will likely boost the aesthetic appeal in terms of premium expectations. And here’s where we get a bit worried that this could be tied up in matching premium pricing.

Recently, buzz from the grapevine has indicated that Apple intends to increase the price tags on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (which, at least in the US, would be the first price hike for Apple’s top-end handsets since the iPhone X debuted way back in 2017).

And this news of a record-breaking display, bezel-wise, is another hint that the bill of materials for the iPhone 15 Pro models is going to be pushed up – and that the retail price tag could follow that lead.

Other rumors that point to the premium nature of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display include speculation that it might use a next-gen Samsung panel which could be super-bright and seriously high quality. And furthermore, we’ve been hearing about a way speedier A17 Bionic SoC, more RAM (8GB, up from 6GB) for the iPhone 15 Pro versions, plus a periscope camera (for better optical zoom). Oh, and there’s the small matter of that titanium frame also weighing in to increase manufacturing costs…

So, the price of the iPhone 15 Pro models is set to go up? Yes, we can believe that, particularly when you consider the specter of inflation, and the fact that there’s been no price movement at the high-end for Apple’s smartphones in six years (in the US, anyway).

Indeed, the more we hear on the grapevine about Apple pushing for this new feature, or jazzing up this or that element of the chassis or display or camera, the more it seems that a price hike is starting to look not just likely, but pretty much inevitable, at least for Pro versions of the next-gen iPhone. The vanilla flavors may be a different story - but either way, we'll almost certainly need to wait until September to find out.

Development on the foldable iPhone apparently continues as a recently discovered patent application suggests Apple is looking for a way to better protect its device from falls.

Available on the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the application is called Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques For Protecting Screen Using Drop Detection. Quite a mouthful, but it does succinctly describe how Apple may aim to minimize damage to the screen. As it’s described, the device will have some kind of sensor inside like an accelerometer. If it detects the iPhone is falling, the sensor will signal an “electronically adjustable latching mechanism” to quickly snap the phone shut.

The application does hint the mechanism may not close all the way if the iPhone is too close to the ground leaving it partially open. But that’s fine as according to the patent, “even folding the display to an angle less [than] 180 degrees can [still] afford some protection”. At the very least, the impact will be on the sides instead of directly on the screen.

Exploring new tech

Another angle Apple is looking at in the application is the hinge. The foldable iPhone may consist of two separate screens that connect to each other when the device is unfolded instead of having a normal hinge in the middle. So when the phone is closed, the top screen detaches itself from the bottom which is supposed to aid in protection. It’s hard to say for sure because the document doesn’t describe how things will exactly work. Rather, the application explains how things may work on the phone.

Large portions of the patent document talk about the capabilities of the foldable iPhone. For example, the sensor behind the fall protection may consist of “accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and/or other components'' to detect motion. However, Apple doesn’t directly point to any specific technology. What’s most important to the company is that the internal mechanisms are able to detect when the fall speed “exceeds a predetermined threshold” in order to automatically snap shut. Whether or not the device is actually able to register a fall fast enough to close completely remains to be seen. 

Availability

Rumors of a foldable iPhone have been circulating on the internet for about three years now. Throughout that time, other patents have leaked and we’ve gotten to see the device concept change in real time. One design “had two hinges for a hypothetical three displays” allowing the phone to fold in a Z-shaped formation. While another prototype experimented with an Electronic Paper Display. However, don’t hold your breath on the “iPhone Fold” coming out anytime soon. The latest leaks point to a 2025 release so you have plenty of time to save up for what’s probably going to be a very expensive smartphone. 

If you want something now, check out TechRadar’s list of the best foldable phones for 2023. 

Google’s Pixel Fold is set to be priced competitively compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, according to a new leak. This follows earlier rumors that claimed the Pixel Fold would be priced at around $1,700 when it's announced in May at Google I/O 2023.

The same leaker also suggests that the Pixel 7a is likely to be the same price as the Pixel 6a (or a little higher.) 

The latest rumors come from Yogesh Brar, a notable tipster who’s proven fairly reliable over the years. Brar says the Pixel Fold will cost between $1,300 and $1,500 (so roughly £1,100 to £1,200 or AU$1,900 to AU$2,200), while the Pixel 7a will cost between $450 and $500 (that’s about £370 to £410 or AU$670 to AU$745).

The Pixel 6a launched at $450 / £399 / AU$749 (though you can find it for much cheaper now with some great deals), so the rumored price is in line with what we’d expect. That upper $500 limit would also make a bit of sense, as elsewhere we’ve heard that Google plans to improve the materials used in the phone, as well as upgrade the chip to the Tensor G2, and slotting in new camera sensors. 

The Pixel Fold price rumor is a lot more interesting. Though that price is certainly well north of a grand in both the US and UK, if we take this rumor at face value, it suggests the Fold’s price is being positioned to lower the prohibitive entry cost of foldables – in the US and Europe, at least, especially vertically-folding larger folding phones. 

 Lowering the barrier to entry 

While some clamshell foldables – think Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 or Oppo’s Flip N2 Flip – have cost around $1,000 / £800 or even less, Galaxy Fold-style foldables have been pitched closer to $2,000 / £1,700, although that price has been edging lower and lower as more companies enter the market.

The Honor Magic Vs costs $1,700, £1,400 / AU$2,500, according to quick Google conversions, while the Tecno Phantom V Fold will set you back around $1,100 / £900 / AU$1600. If Brar is on the mark, the Pixel Fold will fall somewhere in the middle of that range. 

Foldables as a category have been getting stronger year over year, with Google’s Android 12L and Android 13 improvements going a long way toward enhancing the foldable user experience. As Google prepares Android 14, to further improve on the OS’s foldable support, with tools for developers to build or improve existing apps to work better on foldables, the Pixel Fold will mark the company’s fully enthusiastic embrace of this form factor – and an accessible price point would be the icing on the cake.