Do you ever look at your Android phone and think, “Yea, this is great…why would I want to upgrade again?” Qualcomm has an answer for that with their new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 mobile platforms, which aim to bring amazing features and speed to future phones!
Everyone loves the idea of full virtual reality, but the really interesting future is in augmented reality. With this, you’re still seeing the world around you, but you’re getting an overlay of new details, from inventory management to pretending you’re catching Pokemon. Qualcomm wants to push AR to new heights with their Snapdragon XR2 Platform, and it offers some really exciting potential!
With its unique, oversized Hasselblad-branded camera array, large capacity battery, super-fast recharging capabilities, top-of-the-line processor, and brilliant 6.7″ display, the OnePlus 10 Pro might be the perfect marriage of utility and style. Read on to see if this latest OnePlus is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for.
Realme has built a loyal following by offering higher-end features not generally found on moderately priced smartphones, and with the realme GT 2 Pro, they’ve created a true flagship that won’t break the bank. Loaded with features, including the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform, a large AMOLED display with an adaptive 1~120Hz refresh rate, a massive battery, and plenty of RAM, the GT 2 Pro is one of the best Android smartphone options available anywhere.
Qualcomm announced their new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 computer platform at the Snapdragon Summit in December. PCs with the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 computer platform promise to be always on and always connected, so their users can work anywhere without sacrificing productivity, connectivity, collaboration, or security. The first computer to employ this new technology is Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X13s Gen 1!
One of the most visually stunning and spec-loaded flagship smartphones released last year was the OPPO Find X3 Pro, and the just-announced OPPO Find X5 Pro promises to be a worthy successor. The Find X5 Pro boasts a clean and modern style, flagship specifications, a huge battery, and top-of-the-line cameras that include enhanced Hasselblad Natural Color Calibration and Master Filters.
Realme became its own brand, independent of OPPO in 2018; since then, the Chinese company has become a force in its own right. Currently listed as a top-5 smartphone vendor in 30 global markets and six regions, part of realme’s success has come from its firm commitment to make well-designed, aesthetically pleasing smartphones that have competitive features rarely found in similarly-priced devices. The latest models in their lineup are the just-announced realme 9 Pro+ and realme 9 Pro; realme has sent them in for us to check out, so here’s a hands-on look at both devices.
This morning, Samsung held their Galaxy Unpacked event to introduce the Galaxy S22, S22+, and the new S22 Ultra. This latest Samsung S series flagship lineup boasts big batteries, excellent cameras, and fast processors. If you are a Galaxy Note fan, you’ll be relieved to find that the Note lives on in the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which now sports a built-in S Pen. By meshing the Ultra’s large display, flagship specs, and pro-grade cameras with the Note S Pen’s siloed convenience and note-taking functionality, Samsung has created a smartphone that might just offer the best of both worlds.
OnePlus has swiftly built a reputation for its high-quality, usually quite affordable Android smartphones. They consistently pack high-performance and incredible cameras into each generation. The newest addition, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, will bring power, battery life, and an extraordinary Hasselblad camera array that will raise the bar to a whole new level!
Fresh from the 2021 Snapdragon Summit and the announcement of Qualcomm’s latest flagship mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, an announcement has come that the realme GT 2 Pro will be using it. Launching in China today, this latest smartphone is realme’s most premium flagship yet.
Cleer makes some fabulous over-the-ear headphones. Until now, however, they had a bit of an identity problem. Their wired Next headphones cost $699.99, while the next expensive offering, the wireless Flow 2, is $199.99. With the introduction of the $249.99 Cleer ALPHA wireless over-the-ear headphones, they have begun to fill in that large, untapped pricepoint in the middle.
We’d all like to think that when severe weather hits, we’ll be prepared. We’ll have food, water, and candles ready and waiting with enough notice. But if there isn’t a plan in place for providing emergency power during sustained blackouts, there’s still an important issue that needs to be addressed. Planning ahead and getting a 1100W OUPES Portable Power Station will give you peace of mind; when the power goes out, you’ll be able to keep your essential devices powered. It’s also handy for camping and other off-grid outdoor activities.
We covered the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform announced at the Snapdragon Tech Summit yesterday. Today, the flagship Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 and the entry-tier Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 Compute Platforms have just been announced. And now, computing on the go is about to get even more powerful, connected, and efficient!
At the yearly Snapdragon Summit, we’ve come to expect news regarding Qualcomm’s upcoming mobile platforms that will be powering soon-to-be-released flagship mobile devices, and this year was no exception; we now have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform to anticipate. Building on the success of the Snapdragon 888+ 5G system on chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is touted as able to deliver even faster 5G speeds, create more impressive photographs and video, take AI experiences to new levels, and yes, it will also provide more visually stimulating and immersive gaming experiences.
I hadn’t used Shure headphones in quite some time, so I was excited when the opportunity to review the Shure AONIC 215 Gen 2 True Wireless Earphones. This system pairs detachable AONIC 215 sound isolating earphones with Shure’s second-generation wireless adapter set. The sound is impressive, but the unique approach Shure took may not be for everyone.
I covered a brief history of Samsung’s journey that led us to the Galaxy Z Fold3 yesterday; let’s pick up where we left off. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 ships in a surprisingly small, shallow box. Being used to so many smartphones coming in much larger packaging, this was kind of refreshing. Most people I know either throw the boxes away anyway or store them somewhere until they eventually sell their phone on eBay, anticipating their next upgrade. I’m fine with the slightly austere packaging, even on such a pricy phone.
If a large display with a fast refresh rate, a speedy processor, and a solid camera for content creation on the go is essential to you, then you’ll want to take a look at the two new Xiaomi 11T series devices launched today. Both the 11T and the 11T Pro offer what Xiaomi calls “Cinemagic” cameras; they say you can leave the expensive video and photography equipment at home (or better yet, not buy it in the first place), go out and explore and get your best shots. Best of all, both phones are affordable.
The realme GT Explorer Master Edition has a solidly built glass slab design with an aluminum frame, as we’ve seen from just about every other brand’s flagship smartphone, or you can opt for something a bit different if you get it in the Voyager Gray option. As I catch myself admiring this smartphone’s expensive feel, brilliant display, and curved edges, I have to remind myself that with starting price of $499 for the 8GB RAM with 256GB user memory version, the GT Explorer Master Edition is a very decently priced flagship device. Who is realme? And why should you consider…
Today’s Galaxy Unpacked event introduced the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. Samsung has made these third-generation foldables more durable — they are even water-resistant now. So if you’ve considered the previous generations of the Galaxy Z folding smartphones but weren’t quite compelled to buy one yet — whether because of their prohibitive prices, their perceived delicateness, or because you felt the technology was still too new — I suspect that you’ll be interested in today’s reveal.
In case you weren’t aware, in March, Qualcomm set up a program called Snapdragon Insiders. It all kicked off with a simple video done by Christiano R. Amon, the President and (at the time) CEO-Elect of Qualcomm. Amon promised access to Qualcomm experts, the latest updates from Snapdragon, and tech-reader collaborations. Months have passed; Amon is now the CEO of Qualcomm, and the Snapdragon Insiders program now has 1.6 million members. To celebrate, today they are announcing their first Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders that utilizes the best Snapdragon has to offer in a mobile experience.
If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive 5G-capable smartphone, you might want to check out the OnePlus Nord N200 5G that’s just been announced. Priced at $239.99 in the US, it’s a great value.