Weekly poll: can the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro finally get you to switch to Team Google?

The Pixel phones were supposed to be Android’s answer to the iPhone, the definitive hardware and software combo from the platform. However, unimpressive software support and troubled hardware meant they never achieved that goal. Or perhaps just not until now. With the Pixel 8 series it finally feels that Google is serious about making phones. It’s a big commitment – 7 years of software support (both OS updates and security patches), longer than even Apple offers, which was so far the leader in the market (and nearly as long as Fairphone, which is a bit player). The phones themselves are...

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Weekly poll results: Xiaomi 13T Pro is more popular than the 13T, both need good reviews

Based on last week’s poll 22% of people feel that the €150 premium for the Xiaomi 13T Pro is well worth it for the additional features over the vanilla 13T. That is not to say that the vanilla phone is undesirable, of course. However, the Xiaomi 13T needs good reviews because right now there is a nearly even split between people who are ready to buy one and people who are holding off to see how the phone performs in testing. Our review is on the way, so stay tuned. Comparing the two models shows that the Pro model has a faster chipset (Dimensity 9200+ vs. Dimensity 8200 Ultra) and...

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Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in for review

Xiaomi’s Smart/Mi Band series has reached legendary status in the world of inexpensive smart wearables with the right amount of health and activity tracking features at an enticingly low asking price. Not to mention the bevy of first and third-party band options and multiple-week battery life. We’ve now got a Smart Band 8 review unit and these are our first impressions ahead of our detailed review. Band 8 gets an updated metal frame and a new watchband attachment mechanism which attaches directly to the tracker. There’s an audible click when swapping between bands via the attachment...

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Week 40 in review: Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro and Galaxy S23 FE arrive

Google unveiled the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro alongside the Pixel Watch 2 this week. The Pixel 8 duo packs the Tensor G3 chipset - a 4nm unit with a Cortex-X3 primer core and faster AI. The Pixel 8 Pro has a new 48MP ultrawide camera, while the Pixel 8 has a new 12MP ultrawide, a smaller 6.2-inch display that refreshes faster at 120Hz. Both phones are on sale now. The Google Pixel Watch 2 comes with the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 with 2GB of RAM and a slightly bigger battery that promises 24 hours of use. The Galaxy S23 FE packs a 50MP wide camera, 8MP 3x zoom, 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP selfie...

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Samsung Galaxy Ring unlikely to go official with the Galaxy S24 series in Q1 2024

The Samsung Galaxy Ring, rumored to go official in January 2024 with the Galaxy S24 lineup, is now expected to be unveiled in Q3 2024 or Q1 2025, reports Korean publication The Elec. The publication claims that the Samsung Galaxy Ring's design isn't finalized, and the Ring, in its current stage, supports multiple features but is too large for commercialization. Samsung is expected to reduce the Galaxy Ring's size while implementing as many functions as possible. Oura Ring Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy Ring won't be sold in just one size since the Korean conglomerate is working on...

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OnePlus Watch 2 tipped to launch in 2024

OnePlus launched its first smartwatch, called OnePlus Watch, in March 2021, which was more of a glorified fitness tracker than a proper smartwatch. OnePlus no longer sells the OnePlus Watch through its official website, but we hear the brand will launch its successor next year. Word comes from tipster Max Jambor, who claimed the OnePlus Watch 2 will be launched in 2024 with a round design. Jambor also claimed the Watch 2 "will be better," which is hardly news since that's what is expected from newer models anyway. OnePlus Watch We don't have a specific timeframe for the OnePlus...

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Funtouch OS 14 launched, here's a list of vivo and iQOO smartphones eligible for the upgrade

vivo released the Android 14 beta for the vivo X90 Pro in May and announced the Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14 Preview Program for the smartphone in September. Today, vivo officially launched Funtouch OS 14 and shared a list of vivo smartphones eligible for the upgrade in India along with the timeline for the rollout of the beta version. The list includes 30+ smartphones, with the vivo X90 and X90 Pro getting beta updates in mid-October. These will be followed by the X80 Pro in mid-November, with the X80, V29 Pro, V29, V27 Pro, and V27 receiving the updates in December. You can check...

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