OnePlus' hype machine is rumbling into action - the company likes to slowly drip-feed information before each phone launch, and the OnePlus 10T is currently getting the treatment. We recently learnt about its launch date (August 3), and now the company has confirmed a load of camera specs for the 10T too.

This comes from the OnePlus Community forum, where the company posted a long thread, taking a deep-dive into the 10T's rear camera hardware and processing abilities.

We now know that the main camera sports a 50MP resolution, using Sony's IMX766 sensor. We've seen loads of affordable phones utilize this sensor, as it performs admirably well in low-light conditions. OnePlus' sister-brand, Realme, has utilized it to great effect in budget mobiles like the Realme C35 and Realme 9 Pro Plus.

Recently, we saw the Nothing Phone 1 use this sensor too. This was the debut smartphone of tech startup Nothing, which was formed by OnePlus' co-founder Carl Pei, and there's certainly a bit of rivalry between the two brands.

Joining that main camera are two additional sensors, one with an ultra-wide lens and the other with a macro one, and we're a little more apprehensive about these. Nearly every budget phone goes with a 'high-res main camera, low-res ultra-wide, useless macro/depth sensor' combination, and it sounds like the OnePlus 10T will be just the same.

This particular lens combination usually doesn't bring as much photographic versatility to the overall experience, especially compared to what a telephoto or periscope lens would offer, however, even though such zoom modules are often more expensive, phone makers seem to prefer to ship more affordable phones with mediocre secondary and tertiary sensors, rather then serve them up with the solo (more capable) primary snapper.

One other thing of note, is that the OnePlus 10T won't continue the Hasselblad partnership that the last few generations of the company's flagships (including the OnePlus 10 Pro) have had. The company says this is because "we wanted to offer an ultimate performance flagship smartphone experience at the device’s chosen price point." which likely means that the Hasselblad branding would have cost the company too much to be worth it.

Analysis: if the price is right...

We generally see OnePlus' T series phones launch as updated versions of the existing flagship model of a respective year, but with slight improvements across a few areas. As such, they generally cost as much as - or more than - their earlier-in-the-year counterparts.

We're hoping that's not going to be the case for the OnePlus 10T - lots of the leaks, and now these confirmed specs, make it seem a lot more like a mid-range device with a powerful heart, than an enhanced OnePlus 10 Pro.

That makes sense given the aforementioned Nothing Phone rivalry, as that mobile costs £399 / €469 / AU$749, which is a lot less than the 10 Pro did, when it first launched. 

So although the camera specs may inspire a mixed reception, if the phone has a competitive price, it might be worth writing off just yet. Perhaps we'll see a main-series OnePlus device on our list of the best cheap phones, for once.

After months of hype and marketing, the Nothing Phone 1 is finally on sale - this is the first Android phone from a company called - weirdly - Nothing, and it's been a modest hit with reviewers.

In our own review, we said it had "been made using more than just a check-list of me-too features; with a rear design unlike anything else on the market, features – like the Glyph Interface lighting on its back – that offer intrigue and whimsy, and an otherwise well-rounded and capable set of features and hardware", and awarded it four out of five stars.

Well, the handset is now on sale - you can pick it up from Amazon. It costs £399 / €469 / AU$749 so it's fairly affordable as smartphones go, though do note that it's not going on sale in the US.

The phone has some high-end specs that make that price sound quite surprising - it has a FHD+ 120Hz display, and two rear 50MP cameras, for example. It does have some cut corners to justify that lower cost though, like its mid-range chipset and smaller battery.

Analysis: an iPhone 14 for those who can't wait

If you're interested in buying the new iPhone 14 but don't want to wait for ages until it launches (or want an Android equivalent), the Nothing Phone 1 could be a good alternative.

The device has a similar design to Apple's recent mobiles, with flat angular edges, and offers a somewhat comparable photography experience, with a main and ultra-wide angle on the back.

Sure, the Nothing handset runs Android while the iPhone has iOS, and this will likely be the most noticeable difference for most people.

But we also imagine that the iPhone's starting price will be a lot higher than the Nothing Phone 1's, which may sway some buyers.

We don't know much about the iPhone 14 just yet, because it's expected to launch in mid-September, and we can't properly compare the phones until then. But we can compare the Nothing Phone 1 to the iPhone 13, and they do have a lot in common.

We've finally heard when the OnePlus 10T will launch, as the company has confirmed that its next flagship phone will debut on August 3 at an event in New York City.

This is the first time OnePlus has hosted a physical launch since the OnePlus 7T line in 2019, though we've no doubt that it'll be live-streamed around the world for all the people who can't attend the show.

This upcoming handset is likely going to be a more affordable take on the OnePlus 10 Pro, from the rumors we've heard so far, which is good since that device didn't actually come alongside a non-Pro version.

OnePlus actually has confirmed one spec for the upcoming Android phone - it'll apparently have a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which is a more top-end chip than the 10 Pro had - but leaks suggest the brand will cut corners in the display and camera department in order to keep the cost low.

An image was also shared to accompany the announcement, which you've already seen as it's at the top of this article.

A quiet few months

Compared to most phones from the company, the OnePlus 10T has leaked surprisingly little, and we're still waiting to hear major rumors about the thing, though some image leaks have given us a convincing look at the mobile.

It doesn't help that OnePlus has been uncommonly tight-lipped about the device. Usually, it spends months teasing and hinting towards its new mobiles, but for the 10T, we haven't heard much at all. With that in mind, we're surprised by how soon the New York launch is.

We've only got a few weeks to go until the launch event so OnePlus still could tease some important details about the phone - we'll let you know everything it does, in anticipation of this new flagship OnePlus phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra sits at the top of our list of the best smartphones, but maybe it's too good, because it sounds like another Samsung phone was canceled just so that the company could build more Ultra units.

This comes from Korean website The Elec, which published a report on the fate of the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE, based on information from sources in the supply chain. This upcoming Android phone was expected to be a budget version of the Galaxy S22, but some rumors say that it's been canceled.

According to the site, the Galaxy S22 FE definitely has been canceled, and the S22 Ultra is to blame – Samsung has apparently decided to prioritize the Ultra when it comes to producing smartphone chipsets, and given that we're in the tail end of a silicon shortage, it sounds like it couldn't make enough for the FE too.

The Elec says that Samsung planned to build three million S22 FE units, but it's instead putting these chipsets towards more Ultra units. The site does say that this isn't the end of the line for the Fan Edition line though, with a version of the Samsung Galaxy S23 still expected next year.

Fan Edition models usually have weaker specs than their full-fat siblings, particularly in the camera and design departments, but they do generally have the same chipsets – that's why Samsung can easily use the stock it had prepared for the S22 FE on the S22 Ultra instead.

We can only assume that the S22 Ultra's popularity has taken Samsung by surprise – if the company was expecting this stylus-toting phone to sell this well, it likely wouldn't have drawn up plans for an S22 FE in the first place, knowing that it wouldn't have the chipset supply for both.

Analysis: an intriguing shift to the expensive

Given that many countries are experiencing a cost of living crisis currently, it's a little surprising that Samsung is canceling its mid-range phone in favor of its super-expensive one. 

With lots of phone series, mid-range spin-offs of premium models have the potential to be quite popular – just look at Apple's iPhone SE or Google's Pixel A lines as proof.

However, a persistent issue with Samsung's Galaxy  FE phones has been that they offer similar experiences to the middling members of its more affordable A range, yet come attached to much higher prices. 

The Samsung Galaxy A53 came out just months after the S21 FE launched, yet had a much more competitive price and specs list, for example – it's no wonder that Samsung has doubts about the S22 FE.

There's also the curious fact that phone fans are apparently still happy to spend huge amounts of money on aspirational smartphones, despite the cost of living issues – just look at how popular iPhones remain despite their high pricing.

If you own a Samsung phone, there's now one more way to take fantastic pictures on your mobile, and it doesn't cost you a penny.

The company has just released a new app called Galaxy Enhance-X, which you can download on Samsung phones using the Galaxy store – it's a free app but it does need 123MB of free space (which really isn't that much).

Galaxy Enhance-X is both an AI upscaling and editing app, so it has a range of functions to help increase the fidelity of your photos.

It can upscale the resolution and quality of a photo, remove imperfections in a scene, fix blurry elements in an image, and allows for more conventional edits too, like brightness and HDR (high dynamic range) adjustment.

In a way, Galaxy Enhance-X is Samsung's own spin on a mobile version of Photoshop, letting you fix faux pas in your shot in a way that the built-in Gallery app – or Google Photos – can't. It's also a new worthwhile-looking free alternative to a number of powerful paid apps, saving users money without missing out on functionality.

Most Samsung phones are great for mobile photography, so you might not have many issues with the shots you take, straight out of the camera app, if you do, however, this new tool could help.

Good for non-Samsung photos

Enhance-X works with any photo on your Samsung phone, not just snaps captured using the device's own camera; so it could be a really handy tool for fixing grainy pictures that you might have transferred over from older phones.

The ability to bring this AI-enhanced editing to older photos is a powerful prospect, meaning faded family photos can be given new life and memories that you might want to go so far as to print out can be preserved to a higher degree of quality.

All you need to do is send yourself such pictures, using either cloud storage, a USB cable, wirelessly or by way of a messaging app, and you'll then be able to upscale and improve them using AI, just like any other snap already on your phone.

This isn't a huge upgrade that will change the way you use your Samsung Galaxy, but we can see its potential as a popular tools for shutterbugs. And with its relatively small download size, there's no harm in getting it onto your device – it could make the shots from your great camera phone even better.

One of the Google Pixel 6's big selling points is its camera software, and a great example of it is the Magic Eraser feature, which was a big selling point for the Pixel upon its release.

Magic Eraser lets you digitally select background elements in your photos to remove them - AI fills in the gaps to scrub out things like people, stray branches, or animals that you don't want cluttering up your shot.

However, not many people know something important about Magic Eraser. While you do need a Pixel 6 series phone to get it to work, you can actually use the effect on any image.

Google Photos to the rescue

You'd be right for thinking you'd need a Pixel 6 to use Google's Magic Eraser tool, but logically, you'd also think that you'd only be able to use the trick with pictures taken on the phone.

That's not the case though. To edit a photo with it, you need to open up the Google Photos app, and as I discovered recently when booting up this program and seeing older snaps, you can also edit your older pictures stored in Photos.

Plus, you can even import pictures into Google Photos from your PC or an alternative smartphone, and still edit them. You just need to be sure to do the editing on your Pixel.

This could be great if you've taken a good-looking picture in the past that was ruined by something in the background, or if you own multiple devices and want to ensure there's a way for you to edit out unwanted elements on snaps taken on other devices.

So it's not about the camera

It seems that none of the information captured by the Pixel's camera is actually used in the AI cropping. Instead, Photos just analyzes the picture and works out what should fill in the gap.

For example, if you're trying to remove an item in a grassy field, the feature will see the grass around it and copy the same textures over. The same happens for objects in the sea or the sky, for example.

Issues arise when you try to remove an object that sits over a border though, as the phone sometimes can't work out what should be in the background.

Magic Eraser is basically a slightly-less efficient version of Adobe Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill. However, if you own a Pixel, Magic Eraser is free, while Photoshop certainly isn't.

The Google Pixel phones are still fantastic devices, and since you can use Magic Eraser on non-Pixel images, they're also useful to complement other camera phones.

We've heard enough iPhone 14 leaks to make it sound like the most exciting iPhone update in a while, and according to a new report from China, Apple is expecting it to sell very well.

This comes from the publication Sina Finance - the site is reporting that Apple is telling its suppliers that initial sales for the iPhone 14 will be higher than those for the iPhone 13.

That's a high expectation, especially because the iPhone 13 sold well, despite global phone sales dropping off throughout the year.

It's worth pointing out that this regards initial sales - so for people who buy the phones straight away and don't wait for a while to pick them up.

If the iPhone 14 is set to launch in September - when iPhones generally do - it's likely that production has started already.

Analysis: a big upgrade

If Apple has confidence in the iPhone 14 selling well, then this points toward it being a big upgrade over its predecessor. This is something leaks have pointed to, especially for the Pro model.

We're expecting a much higher-res main camera, a punch-hole front camera, a titanium frame, a bigger battery and an improved chipset over the standard device.

Those changes will make it, both specs-wise and design-wise, a distinct phone from the iPhone 13 Pro - it's likely that even people who don't follow mobile news will understand how the 14 Pro is an upgrade.

So Apple may not be too wrong if it expects people will be interested in the new phones - but will they buy them? Well, that really depends on the price, something that consumers are going to be conscious of given the cost of living crisis going on at the moment.

In fact, the price could be the most important deciding metric for the device, dictating both its sales and if it'll get a spot on our list of the best smartphones.

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 only came in three, pretty business-like color options, it sounds like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 could branch out and get some more interesting shades.

This comes from prolific leaker Evan Blass, who Tweeted out a list of storage and color options for the upcoming foldable phone. Blass is one of the most reliable leakers working right now, though as with all pre-release smartphone info, take this with a pinch of salt.

According to Blass, there will be four different colors for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 - black, gray/green, beige and burgundy - for comparison, the Fold 3 had black, green and silver.

So beige and burgundy are totally new for the Z Fold 4, and it's likely that the gray/green option will be distinct from the green or silver Z Fold 3 models - and all these new additions sound like more fun, vibrant shades than on the preceeding phone.

Sure, you're not getting any super-bright tones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE got, or even the wide pastel range of the Galaxy S22, but it's still something.

Storage sizes leaked too

Blass' information also contains storage size information for the four shades of phone, though it's not exactly ground-breaking. Apparently, there will be 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions for all.

That is, except for burgundy apparently, which is said to miss out on the smaller 128GB version.

There's no mention of any 1TB model, despite leaks suggesting that one could come along, but that's understandable since that was a tentative piece of information.

However there's no mention of any special edition models like a Thom Browne or Bespoke Edition version of the device either, despite the fact that we'd expect those - this could suggest that Blass' information only reflects launch configurations, with more due to go on sale further down the line.

We'll have to wait to find out. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expected to debut alongside the Z Flip 4 sometime in August 2022, so we don't have much longer to wait. Hopefully, we'll be able to update our list of the best foldable phones soon.

If you're looking to buy a small phone, one of the only companies that really services you is Apple, with devices like its iPhone 13 mini giving you lots of power in a compact body.

But it sounds like one of the few other names on the scene is gearing up to launch another product: the Asus Zenfone 9, which we've already heard a few leaks about, has been confirmed for a July 28 launch date.

The launch is due to take place at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 9am ACT, at simultaneous events in New York, Berlin and Taipei.

This is likely to be a pretty mini phone - not only did an early leak say it'd have a 5.9-inch screen, but we can literally see it in someone's hand in the above teaser image, and it's clearly not a massive mobile.

The above image seems to tease some functions of the phone - there's a camera, a games console, a loudspeaker, a telescope, some more things that we really can't place. There's no front-facing camera in some of the images that Asus has shared, like the above one, but in others it is present - so don't expect an under-display camera (UDC).

We'll bring you more information on this phone as it comes out, particularly around the July 28 launch.

Analysis: taking over from Apple

While Apple is currently the key player in the small-phone space, that likely isn't going to last for much longer.

Rumors point to the iPhone 14 not coming with a mini version, marking the end of Apple's jaunt with compact phones (other than its SE devices).

If that turns out to be true, fans of small devices will have to look elsewhere - and that's going to be a challenge, because very, very few phone makers opt to make sub-6-inch devices.

Asus will likely be one of the few brands catering to that need, so the Zenfone 9 could prove to be very popular - maybe it'll hit our list of the best smartphones.

Via GSMArena

If you're a big fan of Samsung phones, then look no further: loads of the biggest and best phones from the Korean brand are temporarily cheaper. So if you've been looking to pick up a new handset, now is the best time.

These handsets, discounted for the Prime Day deals, range from top-end ones like the Galaxy S22 Ultra to budget ones like the Galaxy A53. There's something for everyone if you're a fan of Samsung phones. You'll even find some discounted foldables.

• Prime Day deals: see all the best early offers right here.

Some of these range from amazing deals - like the S22 Ultra's discount - to some middling ones, like the two FE models. But we haven't included anything that's outright a bad deal.

Also, we've arranged this in - well, not quite the same order as our list of the best Samsung phones. No, this writer has decided to order them by his favorite.

All three modern Galaxy S22 models (the S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra) are included in the deals list. These devices are the company's newest trio of flagships for 2022, so you're getting the most up-to-date tech.

The Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 are the company's two latest folding phones, and it's nice to see price cuts on these, as they're quite expensive devices.

Also included are the S20 FE and S21 FE, budget spins on the respective non-FE versions, and the A53. These three are all more affordable alternatives to the top-end models, but they still bring lots of top Samsung features despite the lower price.

So whatever budget you have, there's something here for you.

Not in the US? Here are some Samsung phone deals in your region.

If you're a fan of cheap phones, then you're really going to like what Motorola is offering right now, because for Amazon Prime Day it's reduced the price of plenty of its already-affordable mobiles.

These Prime Day deals cover loads of the best Motorola phones, particularly from its affordable G and mid-range Edge families. There are plenty of newer and some older phones, with the aging mobiles getting big enough discounts to make sure they're just as tempting as the newer ones.

• Prime Day deals: see all the best early offers right here.

These aren't the only Prime Day phone deals out there, but since Motorola is the champ in the budget phone sector, the deals below will likely be the best ones for lots of you.

Motorola phone deals

So, should you pick a newer or older mobile?

Well, you're probably presuming that newer is better, and it's true that when you compare like-for-like models, like the 2021 and 2022 versions of the Moto G Power for instance, the newer model has better specs.

But because 2020 and 2021 handsets are seeing bigger price cuts, that might make the older versions more tempting for many people.

Take the Motorola Edge for example - this was launched in 2020, so it's not exactly new, but it debuted for a premium price. Two years on, it's a lot more affordable, letting people who want a top-end-feeling phone but are on a budget get a chance.

So make sure to think long and hard about whether you need a newer handset, or will be happy with an older one.

The main thing getting in the way of foldable phones' eventual popularity is how expensive these devices currently cost - but a huge price cut could make Samsung's newest duo much more tempting buys.

Amazon's Prime Day deals have brought the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 down to its lowest price - that's a saving of over $700 compared to the price it launched at last fall.

• Prime Day deals: see all the best early offers right here.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is also enjoying a sizeable discount, with the $300 price cut bringing it down to match (but not beat) the previous lowest price we'd seen.

We imagine these deals will sell out quickly, because of the high-profile nature of the reductions. That being said, they are pricey phones even with the price cuts, and there may be other Prime Day phone deals for you if you're on a budget.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a 'book-type' foldable, and that means it starts like a standard smartphone and unfolds into a larger tablet-esque device.

The Z Flip 3 is the opposite - from a standard phone shape, you can fold it down into a smaller and more readily pocketable device.

Both are tempting to different types of users - and we imagine most people know which is for them just by reading those descriptions.

Don't live in the US? Well it's very possible that the Sony Xperia 1 IV hasn't been launched in your country yet, as it comes out in the US on September 1. But here are some deals for it in other regions:

If you're looking to the Prime Day phone deals for a great discount, you're going to be in for a mixed bag. Seasons like Amazon's discount days or Black Friday never bring as great discounts as they do on things like Kindles or robot vacuums.

That being said, there are still Prime Day deals on smartphones and accessories, and if you do need to buy a new mobile, you might as well check out the discounts that Amazon is offering.

• See all phone deals at Amazon.com
• See all phone deals at Amazon.co.uk

Some phone brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus have decided to offer big savings on all their latest products; other brands are showing discounts on their top-end phones, with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra seeing a rare and much-needed discount. So there's definitely money to be saved.

To save you from wading off all the '"1% off!" and similar deals, we've decided to pick out the best discounts we've found in the Prime Day sales - we've tested each and every one of these, and we promise we're not sharing any terrible deals here.

Amazon Prime Day phone deals in the US

Amazon Prime Day phone deals in the UK

More of the best phone deals on Prime Day

Do you need Amazon Prime to buy Prime Day phone deals?

Technically yes for 'official' Prime Day deals, however, most of the prices above are for both Prime members and non-Prime members. That said, if you're not already a Prime member it's not a bad time to sign up. There's a 30-day free trial that we've just linked below that will score you free expedited delivery and full access to exclusive discounts on hundreds of other items in the Prime Day sale.

• See the best Amazon Prime Day TV deals
• See the best Amazon Prime Day laptop deals
• See the best Amazon Prime Day Kindle deals
• See the best Amazon Prime Day iPad