Lenovo’s new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook has a fast 120Hz display

Lenovo has launched a new Chromebook, two new Android tablets, and a new series of monitors at the IFA show in Berlin. The new IdeaPad 5i Chromebook is Lenovo’s first 16-inch Chromebook with a 120Hz display. Alongside it is the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11 which are getting slight technical improvements. Capping out the announcements are five monitors, focused on the needs of both gamers as well as those looking to stay productive.

IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

The highlight of the announcements for most people will be the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook. This is a significant addition to Lenovo’s Chromebook lineup, as it’s the first that is 16-inches in size, but it doesn’t have a launch date or price in the United States. It is a decently specced machine, though.

The IdeaPad 5i Chromebook sports a 2.5K resolution borderless display, with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which will make the content on the screen look fluent and fast. This refresh rate isn’t quite common on Chromebooks, either, which makes it extra special.

Powering the device are Intel Core i3-1215U or Intel Pentium 8505 CPUs and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, you can choose between an eMMC or an SSD. the eMMC options include 64GB or 128GB, and traditional SSDs will come in 256GB or 512GB.

There’s also an FHD webcam on board, and two user-facing speakers for added immersive feeling. Weight comes in at 4.10 pounds and the Chromebook is about 0.8 inches thick. Ports range from 2 USB-A Type-C ports, 2 USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) and Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen)

The other two addition’s in Lenovo’s IFA launch are the second generation Tab P11 Pro and Lenovo Tab P11. The Tab P11 Pro will start at $400 and will come in September 2022. The Tab P11 will start at $250 and will come in January 2023. Both of these are generational improvements with slight jumps in processing power.

The Tab P11 Pro 2nd Gen will be Lenovo’s new flagship Android tablet, replacing the first generation when launched. It keeps a lot of the same design features as the first version but gets a bump in specs. Now onboard is the MediaTek 1300T SoC which Lenovo says can offer 120% more power than the last generation. RAM and storage options will range from 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The screen is still bright and vibrant, keeping an 11.2-inch 2.5K resolution OLED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The optional keyboard case is also unchanged, as is the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. Ports are just a single USB Type C, which was a complaint that wasn’t addressed from the last generation.

The Lenovo Tab P11 2nd Gen is the cheaper version of the P11 Pro. It comes with the MediaTek Helio G99 under the hood, for a 50% boost in power between generations. RAM and storage options include 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has a slightly less vibrant IPS display, but in a lower 2K resolution but still with the 120Hz refresh rate.

Both tablets are guaranteed to get two major Android OS updates up to Android 14. Lenovo will also include a subscription to Nebo, which is a note-taking, and drawing, app. MyScript is also included, which is a calculation tool.

Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor

As for the gaming monitor, Lenovo is launching the Legion Y32p- 30. This is a 31.5-inch display that has a 144Hz refresh rate, and 0.2ms response time. Of course, it’s 4K resolution, too, and has some bonus features like a sensor that can detect the brightness to adjust the screen for the best viewing depending on the time of day. RGB lights can be found under the bezel, too. The main ports include 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB Type-C.

Note that Lenovo is including joystick navigation on this monitor. This has been a top requested feature and makes navigating the menus easier. The stand is ergonomic and can swivel, pivot, and move up and down. A cell phone holder is included at the bottom front of the stand for convenience.

The Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor is expected to start at $750. It will come in December of 2022.

New ThinkVision Monitors

Capping out Lenovo’s announcements are a series of new ThinkVision monitors. The notables on the list include the T34w-30, T32p-30, and the S25e-30.

If that confused you, don’t worry. Of the bunch, the most interesting is the ThinkVision T34w-30. This monitor is a 34-inch WQHD resolution display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 1500R curve. This is a widescreen display for multitasking, which is why the refresh rate will cap out at 60Hz. Ports include USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4.

The ThinkVision T32p-30, meanwhile, is a new Lenovo monitor catered more toward everyday users. With slim bezels, it has a 31.5-inch panel tuned at 4K resolution.

Last up is the ThinkVision S25e-30. This is a monitor for small businesses. It sports a 24.5-inch panel at 1920 x 1080 resolution. The monitor can cover 99% sRGB color gamut and has a 75Hz refresh rate. Connectivity options include VGA, HDMI 1.4, and 3.5 mm audio out.

The ThinkVision T34w-30 Monitor starts at $849.00 and is expected to become available in January 2023. The ThinkVision S25e-30 starts at $179 and will come in January 2023. Lastly, the ThinkVision S25e-30 will start at $849 and will come out in January 2023.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro may relocate privacy indicators to the hole-and-pill cutout

Rumors have been swirling since the beginning of the year about Apple replacing its iconic notch with a hole-and-pill cutout on the iPhone 14 Pro. As we get closer to the announcement of the next iPhones, we are hearing more and more news about how Apple may utilize the new design. While filling in the cutout with black seemed like a strange idea initially, we are getting new details about how Apple may use the blacked-out area.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will use the newly created space between the hole-and-pill to relocate the green and orange indicators that are currently on the iOS status bar. If you’re unfamiliar with these indicators, they were added in iOS 14, giving users a visual representation of when the microphone or camera was in use. If the camera was in use, a green indicator dot appeared in the status bar. The same would apply to the microphone, with an orange indicator appearing in the status bar when in use.

The problem with the current design is that both indicators cannot appear simultaneously, even if the camera and microphone are being used. If you are using an app that utilizes both, it turns orange and quickly shifts to green. The source states that with the upcoming change, iOS will be able to show both indicators at once. Additionally, Apple plans to allow users to tap on these indicators to see a list of which apps are using or have used the camera or microphone.

Furthermore, Apple may also redesign the Camera app, moving the advanced features to the top of the display. Currently, they reside in a sub-menu near the bottom near the shutter button. The change will give users more screen real estate, dedicating more of the display to the camera’s live preview. The source indicates that these new changes are being tested and that Apple plans to implement them in a future version of iOS. But, since they are in testing, there is always a possibility that they could be removed. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to find out, as Apple will hold its “Far Out” event on September 7.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro may use the hole-and-pill cutout to relocate privacy indicators.

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Source: 9to5Mac

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Arm is suing Qualcomm over the Nuvia acquisition

Arm is suing one of its biggest partners, the company announced today. The action is against Qualcomm, and it’s related to the firm’s acquisition of Nuvia, saying that Qualcomm sought to transfer Nuvia’s licenses without its consent.

According to Arm, Nuvia’s licenses expired back in March, and Arm attempted to resolve the issue. That means that Qualcomm has allegedly broken its agreement. At the time of this writing, Qualcomm has not responded to our requests for comment.

What Arm is seeking here is for Qualcomm to effectively throw out any chip designs that have been made by Nuvia since the company was acquired. It’s a big ask, since Qualcomm acquired the firm for $1.4 billion.

“Arm takes pride in our role as innovator of the world’s most critical semiconductor IP and the billions of devices that run on Arm,” said Arm in a statement. “These technological achievements have required years of research and significant costs and should be recognized and respected. As an intellectual property company, it is incumbent upon us to protect our rights and the rights of our ecosystem. We will work vigorously to protect what is rightfully ours and we are confident that the courts will agree with us.”

Nuvia is a key part of Qualcomm’s plans

The reason Qualcomm spent so much money is because Nuvia is a major, major part of its plans moving forward. With all of its current products, Qualcomm doesn’t design its own chips. It licenses the design from Arm, and those designs are usually announced earlier in the year.

Nuvia would allow Qualcomm to make proper custom Arm chips, only using the instruction set instead of the full design. This is how Apple already operates with its entire suite of products, which are currently shining a light on the market for how good custom Arm processors can be, and what’s lacking from the competition.

The Nuvia acquisition doesn’t just let Qualcomm compete with Apple though. It also helps in competing with Intel and AMD. All of these other major chip-vendors design their processors from the ground up. They’re not relying on a design from someone else. Owning that full stack puts Qualcomm on a level playing field.

Nuvia chips aren’t set to arrive until next year

When Qualcomm bought Nuvia, it said that the first custom chips – which are for laptops and aimed to compete with Apple’s M1 – would begin sampling with OEMs in the second half of 2022. OEMs do require 12-18 months with a chip before a laptop comes to market, so while the chip is well into development, it wouldn’t arrive until at least the second half of 2023. But because of the stage of development, the idea that Qualcomm might have to just throw it in the trash is a big deal.

Other companies, like MediaTek, are still licensing Arm’s designs, and MediaTek is one of several companies looking to enter the Windows laptop space once an exclusivity deal between Microsoft and Qualcomm expires. If it does turn out that Qualcomm can’t use its Nuvia design, it would surely be a win for MediaTek.

Qualcomm is holding its Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui this year, and this time it will be a little earlier, in November. We’re not likely to see a proper chip announcement based on Nuvia’s technology, no matter how this case turns out. It’s still too early.

Source: Arm

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How to customize notification settings on Windows 11

Notifications can be a hugely important feature on our laptops, just like they are on our smartphones. They let us know when something needs our attention, and if you get distracted easily, that can help you stay on track. However, as we install more and more apps, notifications are constantly competing for our attention, and sometimes you just want to focus. Thankfully, you can customize notification settings in a variety of ways on Windows 11, and we’re here to help.

In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the options you have to customize notifications on Windows 11. These can help you make notifications less intrusive and allow you to focus on what’s truly important to you. With that established, let’s get right into it.

Navigate this article:

• General notification settings
• Focus assist
  • Priority list
• Per-app notification settings
• Changes in Windows 11 version 22H2
  • Focus

Customize general notification settings

Let’s start with the basics of notification settings. First off, if you want to get to notification settings on Windows 11, there are two ways to do it. The quickest way is to right-click the date and time section in the corner of your taskbar, then choose Notification settings.

Alternatively, you can use the Start menu to open the Settings app, then choose Notifications in the System section (which opens by default).

Here, you’re presented with an overview of your notification settings. You can disable notifications altogether, or click the first option, Notifications, to expand a drop-down menu. This menu has some additional options, such as turning off notification sounds. You can also choose whether you want notifications to show up on the lock screen, including a specific setting for reminders and incoming calls. Below that, there’s Focus assist, the Windows equivalent of Do not disturb. We’ll look at that in a bit.

You can also enable or disable notifications for each app. The apps shown here are only the ones that have sent you at least one notification, so the list may not show apps you just installed. You can click each app to go into more specific settings for that app, but we’ll explore that later.

At the bottom of the page, you can also find settings for certain notifications from the Windows system itself. For example, you can turn off suggestions on how to use certain features, or whether you want to see the Windows welcome experience after installing a new feature update. This welcome experience can teach you about new features in the update, so it can be useful, but it’s not for everyone.

Focus assist

Focus assist is the Windows 11 equivalent of Do not disturb, and it can block almost all incoming notifications as long as it’s enabled. When you clock the Focus assist option in the page shown above, you can customize various settings related to that feature. For starters, you can choose to leave it off, or use the Priority or Alarm settings. Priority mode lets you choose certain notifications that can break through Focus assist, while Alarm mode only lets alarms through.

There’s also an option here to let you see notifications you missed while Focus assist was on. With this enabled, when you disable Focus assist, you’ll see a notification with a summary of everything you missed.

Below these options, you a section for automatic rules, which are certain situations where Focus assist will kick in automatically. There are options to enable it during a specific time of the day, along with more special rules, such as when you’re duplicating your display or while running a full-screen app. These can be useful so you don’t get awkward notifications while you’re presenting your screen, or if you don’t want to get interrupted while playing a game. Oddly enough, there’s also a rule to disable notifications for the first hour after installing a feature update, and it’s enabled by default.

If you click any of these rules, you can choose whether you want Focus assist to turn on in Priority mode or Alarm mode, and you can also choose whether you want to be notified when Focus assist is enabled automatically.

Customizing your priority list

As mentioned above, one of the options Focus assist offers is called Priority, and this allows select apps to still send notifications if you consider them important. If you click Customize priority list, you can choose to allow VoIP calls to come through, as well as reminders. Then, of course, you can choose specific apps you want to add to your priority list, so notifications from those apps are always shown. A few apps are added by default, but you can remove them or add some others.

There’s also a section on this page to allow notifications from certain people to break through. This is based on the People app, however, which is basically unusable nowadays, and it only includes Outlook contacts. It doesn’t even work with Microsoft Teams contacts, despite the app being built into Windows 11.

Customize per-app notification settings in Windows 11

Finally, let’s talk about notification settings for individual apps. As we mentioned above, the notifications settings page (Settings -> System -> Notifications) lets you turn notifications on or off for each app. However, you can also click an app’s name to see more detailed notification settings for that app.

For example. let’s go with Microsoft Teams, since it’s built into Windows 11. When you open the notification settings for that app, you see a few options. First off, you can choose whether you want notification banners to show up – those are the little pop-ups that show up on the bottom right corner of your screen. You can also choose whether you want those notifications to be visible in the notification center, which you can open by clicking the date and time on your taskbar (or by pressing the Windows key and N on your keyboard).

Other options let you hide notification contents on the lock screen, so people can’t see your notifications without entering your password or PIN. You can also turn off notification sounds and choose the priority level of notifications from that app. A higher priority means notifications will be shown at the top of the notification center, and if you receive multiple high-priority notifications, you can also see up to three of them pop up on screen at once, as opposed to just one for normal notifications.

Notification settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

So far, we’ve talked about the notification settings in the original release of Windows 11, but you may already be running Windows 11 version 22H2. This is the first feature update to Windows 11, and it comes with a few important changes to notification settings. In this version, if you go to the notification settings page (Settings  -> System -> Notifications), things look a bit different, but most of the functionality is the same.

For starters, Focus assist has been renamed to Do not disturb, so it aligns with what you probably already know from other platforms. It’s been simplified, too, so it’s either on or off, and you can no longer choose between Priority or Alarms mode. Plus, all the Do not disturb settings are now directly available in the notifications page, without taking you to a separate page entirely.

It’s also worth noting that the page where you customize the priority list has been updated with a new design, and it removes the useless People section we mentioned above.

Focus

Something new you will notice in the new Notifications page is the Focus option. This is where you can choose options related to focus sessions, a feature that was introduced with Windows 11 as part of the Clock app. In this page, you can start a focus session, choose how long it will last, and hide taskbar notification badges and flashing (when an app on the taskbar turns orange to get your attention).

When you start a focus session, it will enable the settings you choose on this page. You can learn more about the Clock app with focus sessions in our deep dive if you’re interested in that.

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And that’s all you need to know about how to customize notification settings on your Windows 11 PC. If you’re keen on learning more about Windows 11, we have a few other guides for you. We have an general guide on how to use Windows 11 as a whole, which is a great starting point for new users.

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Two great Android value-flagship options

Samsung’s base model of the Galaxy S22 has been one of the best “affordable flagships” for most of 2022, but a new challenger arrives in the form of the OnePlus 10T, which brings a newer top-of-the-line Qualcomm chip, along with the usual 120Hz OLED displays and premium build quality, at a slightly lower price point.

OnePlus 10T

The OnePlus 10T is a new almost flagship that punches way above its price range.

View at OnePlus

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is Samsung's base model flagship phone, and while it loses the awesome zoom lens and S-Pen, it's still a very good flagship phone.

View at Samsung

Navigate this article:

• Specifications
• Design and Hardware
• Software
• Performance
• Which phone is for you?

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Specifications

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy S22	OnePlus 10T
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back	Plastic mid-frame Gorilla Glass 5 front and back
Dimensions & Weight	146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm 168 gram	163 x 75.37 x 8.75mm 203.5g
Display	6.1″ AMOLED 1080 x 2340 pixels variable refresh rate up to 120Hz	6.7-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate with adaptive refresh rate (60Hz/90Hz/120Hz) Corning Gorilla Glass 5
	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (US, China, India and other regions) Exynos 2200 (Europe, South America and other regions)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
RAM & Storage	8GB RAM 128GB/256GB	8GB 128GB/256GB
Battery & Charging	3,700mAh 25W Wired fast charging (charger not included in box) 15W wireless charging	4,800mAh 125W wired fast charging support (North America) 150W wired fast charging support (International)
Security	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner	Optical in-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP wide, f/1.8 Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f.2.2 Tertiary: 10MP telephoto, 3x optical	Primary: 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX766, OIS Ultra-wide: 8MP f/2.2, 119.9-degree FoV Macro: 2MP
Front Camera(s)	10MP	16MP
Port(s)	USB-C	USB-C
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G (mmWave) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.2 NFC	5G (mmWave) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.1 NFC
Software	OneUI 4.3 over Android 12	OxygenOS over Android 12
Other Features	Dual physical SIM	Dual physical SIM

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Hardware and Design

Both the OnePlus 10T and Galaxy S22 sport a cool-looking design in which one side of the camera module blends into the frame. Although I personally like the OnePlus’ look a bit more, I must give credit to Samsung for pioneering this design, as it first debuted in 2021’s Galaxy S21 series. The Galaxy S22 is a typical glass-and-aluminum slab, while the OnePlus 10T uses glass front and back too, but the frame is plastic.

Samsung’s phone also has a slightly newer version of Gorilla Glass reinforcement (Victus), while the OnePlus 10T uses Gorilla Glass 5. If you want to get a case for your OnePlus 10T, we have curated a selection of the best cases here.  We got you covered if you want S22 cases too.

Display

The OnePlus 10T is a much bigger device, thanks to its 6.7-inch screen compared to the Galaxy S22’s 6.1-incher. Both screens look great, 120Hz panel using some of the latest OLED technology for deep blacks and punchy reds. But the Galaxy S22’s screen is a tad better, with a bit higher maximum brightness and a larger range of variation between refresh rates (as low as 24Hz all the way to 120Hz).

The OnePlus 10T panel is no slouch, it’s also vibrant with zippy animations (and its refresh rate can be either 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz). But the Galaxy S22 screen takes the win by a hair.

SoC, memory, and battery

Since the Galaxy S22 came out at the beginning of the year, it runs on a slightly older chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, compared to the 8 Plus Gen 1 powering the OnePlus 10T. The newer Plus chip is marginally more powerful but noticeably more energy efficient. This, plus the much larger battery cell in the 10T (4,800 mAh) means OnePlus’ phone gets better battery life than the Galaxy S22’s 3,700 mAh battery.

Both phones come with 8GB of RAM and storage starting at 128GB. The OnePlus 10T can double both RAM and storage to 16GB and 256GB, while the Galaxy S22 can only double storage — the RAM stays at 8GB. It shouldn’t matter much to be honest, as 8GB RAM is more than plenty in 2022.

Cameras

The Galaxy S22 comes with a triple-lens system with three actual useful lenses covering the wide, ultra-wide, and 3x zoom focal range. The main camera is a 50MP Samsung GN5 sensor with a 1/1.5-inch image sensor size, and the camera is used to capture sharp pixel-binned images. The ultra-wide is a 12MP shooter with a wide 122-degree FoV, and finally, a 10MP 3x telephoto zoom lens.

The OnePlus 10T also has a trio of rear-facing cameras, but one of the lenses is the rather useless 2MP macro sensor that’s more for show. The 8MP ultra-wide sensor is also a bit low in pixel count, so images are softer in low-light scenes. But at least the 10T’s main camera is good: a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with the same 1/1.5-inch image sensor size as the Galaxy S22’s main camera. In terms of main camera performance, both phones are very good and just about neck and neck. But the Galaxy S22 clearly wins in zoom and ultra-wide photography.

The 10T also takes a slight win in selfies, as its 16MP shooter is not more pixel-dense, but OnePlus doesn’t apply heavy skin brightening filters the way Samsung’s phones all do. Still, overall, the Galaxy S22 camera system is superior.

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Software

Android 12 is the name of the game here for both phones, and each runs on the company’s own Android skin. Samsung’s OneUI is more feature-packed, allowing you to open apps in a resizable floating window and output a PC-like layout to an external display. But OnePlus’ OxygenOS is a more visually mesmerizing UI, with animations that look not only faster but more fluid to the eyes. A lot of this is an illusion — OxygenOS has always prioritized how animations look, but I can’t deny basic smartphone tasks like jumping in and out of apps, or even bringing down the notification tray, appears more pleasing to my eyes in OnePlus phones than Samsung phones. However, the inability to open apps in a floating window (you can only do split-screen multi-tasking on OxygenOS) is a bit limiting for someone who likes to multi-task often such as myself.

Neither software get in the way of core Android much, so all the usual Android 12 features are here. Ultimately, this comes down to preference: do you want beautiful, buttery smooth animations, or more features? Samsung DeX has proven legitimately useful at times when I’m trying to do work on the road.

One final benefit for Samsung: the South Korean tech giant promises at least four years of Android software updates, while OnePlus is only guaranteeing three years. If you use your phone for years at a time, this could play a factor.

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Performance

Other than battery life — which is a clear win for the OnePlus 10T due to having a more efficient chip and larger battery size — general performance will be similar for both phones, despite the OnePlus 10T running on a slightly more capable chip, with a 7% better CPU clock speed and 10% more efficient GPU. The reality is you won’t see the difference doing 99% of normal daily tasks like texting, emailing, or reading words on a website.

Both phones have excellent haptics and stereo speakers, though the OnePlus 10T is a better media consumption or gaming device due to having a larger screen and a bit more efficient GPU. The Galaxy S22 is superior as a multi-tasking productivity machine, however, due to OneUI’s ability to open apps in resizable windows and Samsung DeX.

If you care about benchmarks, the OnePlus 10T obviously scores higher in Geekbench due to having the newer chip. You can see in the screenshots below the newer Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 particularly wins in multi-core performance. Either way, these are both very much flagship-level phones and they are not lacking in power.

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OnePlus 10T vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Which phone should you buy?

The OnePlus 10T is a bit more affordable at $649 compared to the Galaxy S22’s $799. However, the latter is Samsung’s official retail price, there are deals on Amazon that lowers the Galaxy S22 to $699. The OnePlus 10T may have some deals too, so do check around.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is Samsung's base model flagship phone, and while it loses the awesome zoom lens and S-Pen, it's still a very good flagship phone.

View at Samsung

Whether saving $50-$150 is a big deal or not depends on your spending power. We do think the Galaxy S22 is a slightly more polished device due to having a better camera system, brighter screen, and longer guaranteed years of software updates, but the OnePlus 10T has more fluid animations, a larger screen for media consumption, and better battery life.

OnePlus 10T

The OnePlus 10T is a new almost flagship that punches way above its price range.

View at OnePlus

Either way, both phones are very good and if you’re on the market for a flagship-level phone but don’t want to pay close to $1,000, either of these will serve you well. If you want me to share which phone I would pick, I would pick the OnePlus 10T if the price gap is $150, but I’d take the Galaxy S22 if the price gap is just $50.

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Does the Google Pixel 6a support wireless and reverse wireless charging?

The Google Pixel 6a is officially here, and it’s essentially a watered-down version of the flagship Pixel 6. For $150 less (you can save even more with amazing deals that often bring it down to below $400), the Pixel 6a offers the same design and flagship Tensor SoC as the Pixel 6. But to arrive at that cheaper price tag, Google had to cut some corners, and as a result, the Pixel 6a doesn’t offer many of the niceties offered by the flagship Pixels. For one, the affordable model drops the higher refresh rate panel and settles for the standard 60Hz display. And instead of cutting-edge camera hardware, the Pixel 6a packs classic cameras. Moreover, Pixel 6a also misses out on wireless charging.

While the Pixel 6a brings several notable upgrades over previous Pixel A phones, wireless charging isn’t one of them. If wireless charging support ranks high on your priority list, you would be better off going with the Pixel 6, which offers 21W fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The lack of wireless charging support wouldn’t have been a huge deal if the Pixel 6a offered at least faster wired charging speeds. But that’s not the case. The phone tops out at 18W, which is anything but fast. As we noted in our review, the phone takes about two hours to go from 0% to 100%. Not to mention you don’t get a charger inside the box. Thankfully, the Pixel 6a’s 4,410mAh battery is able to provide full-day of usage.

The Pixel 6a not offering wireless charging support isn’t that surprising considering its price. Wireless charging convenience is still a rarity in mid-range phones and is usually only found in more expensive flagship phones.

Google Pixel 6a

The Pixel 6a offers a well-rounded hardware package, including a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, Tensor SoC, and capable cameras.

Buy from Amazon

If you can look past the charging limitations, the Pixel 6a has plenty to offer, including a bold design, powerful cameras, a thoughtful software experience, and long software support. If you have just bought the Pixel 6a, be sure to pick up a protective case for it. We have also rounded up the best Pixel 6a accessories, which feature our best picks for chargers, cases, earbuds, and more.

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These are the Best Android Phones under $500 in 2022!

The budget smartphone segment has matured quite a bit over the last few years. Now, even the sub-$500 Android phones can provide a great experience, and you don’t need to shell out for a flagship to get decent performance. We’ve seen several excellent affordable smartphones launch this year, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, it’s a great time to get one. We’ve picked the best Android phones under $500 that you can consider in your buying decision.

Here are some of the best cheap phones you can buy right now in the US. We’ll also sneak in some non-US devices that are good enough to actually be worth importing, although we’ll mostly focus on devices that will work in the American market.

Navigate this guide:

• Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53
• Best Camera: Google Pixel 6a
• Best Performance: OnePlus 9
• Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T
• Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)
• Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30
• Best phone with a stylus: Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
• Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53

If you want the best smartphone that can do it all and will continue to receive software updates for a long time, look no further than the Galaxy A53 5G. The Galaxy A53 5G picks up where the Galaxy A53 left off. It packs a bigger battery, a faster chipset, and a tweaked design. The Galaxy A53 is a minor refresh, so if you are rocking the Galaxy A52, there’s probably no need to upgrade. What makes the Galaxy A53 so great is that it backs up the amazing hardware with equally great software support. Samsung promises up to four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates, which is not only unheard of in this price range but also beats the best flagships out there, including Google’s own Pixel 6 series.

Launched at $449, the Galaxy A53 has now come down to $349, making it even more attractive. You get a beautiful 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 800 nits brightness. This is one of the best panels you can get for under $500. It gets plenty bright and offers punchy colors.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A53 packs Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Galaxy A53 houses the same camera setup as its predecessor, featuring a 64MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and two 5MP depth and macro shooters. As we noted in our review, the phone delivers excellent photos in good lighting conditions, and it also fares surprisingly well in low light and at night. The phone’s large 5,000mAh battery won’t quit in the middle of the day and supports 25W fast charging.

If you like to hold onto your smartphones for a long period, the Galaxy A53 is an excellent value-for-money option as not only you’re getting the best-in-class hardware but also the best-in-class software support.

Samsung Galaxy A53

The Galaxy A53 offers a beautiful AMOLED display, Exynos 1280 chipset, and five years of software support.

Buy from Samsung

Best camera: Pixel 6a

The Pixel A series has long offered the best features of flagship Google phones at an affordable price tag. The new Pixel 6a is no different. It’s the best cheap phone from Google yet, bringing several notable improvements over previous phones. While old Pixel A phones featured unassuming designs, the Pixel 6a packs a bold design that stands out from the crowd. The Pixel 6a also packs Google’s in-house Tensor SoC, the same flagship chipset that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 6a was launched at $449, but it has already seen price drops several times, bringing it down to $400. The Pixel 6a’s biggest strength is the flagship Tensor SoC, providing fast performance and enhancing features like voice dictation and Now Playing using on-device machine learning. The camera performance is excellent as always, but it’s sad to see Google not equipping the phone with the same camera sensors as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. You get the same 12MP primary shooter found on all previous Pixel A phones.

The display is one of the weakest links of the Pixel 6a. While the 6.1-inch OLED panel offers good saturation, deep blacks, and sufficient brightness, it lacks a higher refresh rate. If you’re coming from a phone with a 60Hz display, this is unlikely to notice this difference, but it is nevertheless an odd omission given every phone at this price point at least offers a 90Hz display.

The phone packs a 4,410mAh battery which will easily last you a whole day. However, the 18W charging speed is nothing to write home about, and it also doesn’t help that Google doesn’t include a charger inside the box.

Software is a strong suit of the Pixel 6a. The phone runs a near-stock version of Android 12 with the Material You theme and is guaranteed to receive OS updates at least until Android 15.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google 6a packs Tensor SoC and excellent cameras.

Buy from Google Store

Best performance: OnePlus 9

If flagship-grade performance is what you’re after, the OnePlus 9 5G might just fit the bill. Although more than a year old at this point, OnePlus’ last year’s flagship still packs a powerful punch and can easily hold its own against any Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered flagship. But performance is not the only great thing about the OnePlus 9 5G. It also has capable Hasselblad-branded cameras, a bright, beautiful display, and a super-fast charging speed.

Originally launched at $730, the phone is often on sale for $499 on Amazon and OnePlus.com, making it an enticing option for anyone looking for an affordable flagship. You get a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1100 nits brightness. On the inside, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 888 chipset, paired with 8GB/12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The back houses a 48MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP monochrome lens. You also get a large 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support. The phone ships with Android 11 out of the box, but you can update it to the latest OxygenOS 12 software based on Android 12.

From design and performance to cameras and charging speed, you’re getting nothing short of a flagship experience here. OnePlus has promised three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, meaning the phone will remain up to date with the latest software innovations.

OnePlus 9

The OnePlus 9 is one of the best affordable flagships, packing Snapdragon 888 and capable cameras.

Buy from OnePlus

Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T

The OnePlus 8T launched in 2020, and while it may have been outshined by the OnePlus 8 Pro, it was still an amazing phone in its own right. It has a Snapdragon 865 processor, which is still a very capable mobile processor even though the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are already making the rounds. This was one of the phones that showed OnePlus was still able to deliver excellent bang for the buck, with prices for flagship smartphones in a seemingly permanent upward trend. It also enjoys amazing developer support in our forums, making it an amazing deal for enthusiasts.

You get an excellent 6.55-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The phone can be paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. Cameras are not flagship-grade, but they’re far better than any similarly priced mid-ranger out there. You get a 48MP primary shooter, a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome lens.

The OnePlus 8T packs a sizeable 4,500mAh battery and offers 65W Warp Charge support. It lacks wireless charging, though. On the software front, the phone runs Android 11 out of the box, but an update to Android 12 with OxygenOS 12 is already available for the device.

It was an amazing device then and still an amazing device now for the price, even with the OnePlus 9 series available and the OnePlus 10 right around the corner. It’s available on the OnePlus website and on Amazon right now for $349, making it an excellent deal for a last-gen flagship.

OnePlus 8T

At $349, you're getting one of the best devices of 2020, with a Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12 GB of RAM, and a 120Hz display. The new launches by OnePlus have only made it an even better deal now than ever.

Buy at Amazon

Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)

While the general smartphone trend is towards larger displays and smaller bezels, there are plenty of people who still prefer compact, mini phones. But compact phones often mean sacrificing power and performance. That’s not the case with the iPhone SE (2022). Featuring the flagship A15 Bionic chipset, the iPhone SE packs the same firepower as the iPhone 13 lineup in a compact, one-hand-friendly package.

The iPhone SE 2022 features a ridiculously small 4.7-inch display with chunky top and bottom bezels. And with its iPhone 8-era design, it looks rather outdated. Except for the flagship A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone SE (2022) doesn’t have much going for in the hardware department. It packs a 720p display with a 60Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 wide color gamut support, and True Tone enhancements.

In a world where multi-setup cameras are all the rage, the iPhone SE 2022 only packs a single 12MP camera. But the powerful A15 chipset, Smart HDR 4, and Deep Fusion compensate for the outdated camera hardware. As Ben noted in his review, the phone produces great shots as long as lighting conditions are favorable, with photos showing above-average dynamic range and on-point colors. However, the camera struggles quite a bit when shooting in tricky lighting conditions, such as low-light settings.

Another area of concern is the battery life, as the iPhone SE’s tiny 2,018mAh battery struggles to last a full day under heavy load. And on top of that, the phone also charges very slowly, with the max charging speed topping out at 18W. Since it’s an iPhone, you have nothing to worry about software support. At the very least, you can expect Apple to provide up to four to five years of software updates.

If you don’t care about the looks and want a solid compact phone under $500 that you can hold onto for years, the iPhone SE 2022 is the best option, without a doubt.

Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)

The iPhone SE 3 (2022) is the best compact phone on the market, packing powerful A15 chipset and a 4.7-inch display.

Buy from Best Buy

The iPhone SE 3 can also be considered as a contender for the best performant phone under $500, thanks to its flagship chip. But performance seen in the vacuum of a chip only does not paint a true picture. The smaller low refresh rate display does not lend to the best user experience that would take advantage of all that power under the hood, so you’re better off opting for a more rounded option if you’re looking for performance.

Best Newcomer: TCL 20 Pro 5G

TCL might not be the first brand you think about when choosing a smartphone, but as it turns out, they’re bigger than you think. They manufactured a lot of devices from BlackBerry quite recently, for example, and they also made the newest Palm ultra-small Android phone. This time, they’re making phones under their own brand. We got to know them last year with the TCL 10L and the TCL 10 Pro, both of which got a state-side release, and while they’ve been out in the market for several months and successors are already on the way, I’m still counting TCL as a “newcomer” because their brand name is still relatively unknown. TCL is now coming back to the market with the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

The TCL 10 Pro comes with a Snapdragon 750G, a very capable mid-range processor, and a marked upgrade over the previous Snapdragon 675 in the previous TCL 10 Pro (and an upgrade that also means the phone supports 5G connectivity), up to 6 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, making it one of the best cheap phones under $500. The phone is running Android 11 with TCL’s own UI on top, and we expect it to get Android 12 once that’s out as well.

TCL is a rising player in smartphones in the USA, and their latest offering is an amazing proposition for what a lot of people will be using a smartphone for.

TCL 20 Pro 5G

The TCL 20 Pro 5G retails for $499 and brings excellent value to the table with a Snapdragon 750G, quad cameras on the back, a stunning display, up to 256 GB of storage, and 5G support. It's a fan favorite on Amazon, and we can see why.

View at Amazon

Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30

Usually, smartphones that cost under $500 play it safe and stick to the tried and tested hardware. That means you don’t often see cool innovations on these mid-range devices. But the ZTE Axon 30 is an exception to that rule. The phone features an under-display camera, which allows it to have an almost seamless display without any cutouts or holes. The Axon 20 was technically the first smartphone to bring an under-display camera to the market. However, it was far from perfect and produced blurry photos. The new Axon 30 addresses many of these issues and represents a big qualitative leap over its predecessor. The second-gen under-display camera is no longer visible to the naked eye. You get a large 6.9-inch seamless display without a notch or cutout.

Beyond the under-display camera and the notchless camera, there’s plenty to like about the Axon 30. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 870 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 flash storage. As far as general performance is concerned, you have nothing to worry about.

As for cameras, the 64MP primary shooter is dependable and capable of producing stellar photos with a wide dynamic range and accurate colors. But ZTE’s claimed improvements and enhancements, the selfie camera is still disappointing, producing blurry images with quite a bit of bloom.

ZTE Axon 30

The ZTE Axon 30 packs an under-display selfie camera and Snapdragon 870.

Buy from Amazon

Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an updated version of the highly successful Nord 2. It’s a fantastic mid-range smartphone. The only problem is the phone is restricted to Europe and India, like its predecessor. So instead of being one of our top picks, the phone has been relegated to honorable mentions. Furthermore, if you want the phone in the US, you’ll have to import it, which is a hassle and increases the device’s cost.

From a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display to 65W fast charging support, the Nord 2T comes with all the right things. The new model packs an even faster chipset. It’s powered by MediaTek 1300 SoC, a tiny step up from the MediaTek 1200 on the Nord 2. The camera system is unchanged, with the phone still packing the same 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. While the Nord 2T packs the same 4,500mAh battery, the charging speed has been boosted from 65W to 80W.

The phone’s software, which now includes the elements of Color OS, also doesn’t disappoint and will be appreciated by many people.

OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus 2T is an updated version of the well-received Nord 2, offering a more powerful chipset, new design and faster charging speed.

Buy from Amazon UK

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These are the options we can recommend for different needs under the $500 price tag. Do you agree with our choices? What would you choose under the different categories? Let us know in the comments below.

The post These are the Best Android Phones under $500 in 2022! appeared first on XDA.

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