The latest Google Messages change is very small, but it goes a long way. Google is now rolling out a change to message pinning within Google Messages, and some of you will greatly appreciate it.
Google Messages doubles the number of chats you can pin
Google is now upping the number of conversations you can pin in Google Messages. Up until now, the limit was 10, but following this update/change, you’ll be able to pin up to 20 of them. So Google is essentially doubling the previous number. As a reminder, the original number was 3, so that came a long way.
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Needless to say, this is not the most exciting update out there, but it’s a useful fun. Not many people pin over 10 conversations, but those of you who do will find this very useful.
Pinning is a very useful tool as it keeps your important conversations front and center. You can pin them in a certain way and thus have them in the same spot at all times, just like you’d set up your apps on your home screen.
The vast majority of people have an X number of people they talk to on a regular basis, which is why pinning is so useful. Simply pin the ones you care about most, and that’s it.
You can do the same for group chats
In case you’re wondering, yes, this feature does work for group chats as well, it’s not limited to 1-on-1 conversations.
If you’re wondering how to pin a conversation, it’s quite easy. Find a convo you’d like to pin and then press and hold it until the top menu changes (from the Messages home page). Once that happens, you’ll see new icons, one of which will be the pushpin icon. Tap it and that’s it. You can do the same to reverse the process.
This seems to be a server-side change on Google’s part, by the way. Just make sure you’re on the latest version of the app. The changes is already available to us, so it should be coming to you soon, if it hasn’t rolled out already.
Much like the OnePlus 12, which we talked about yesterday, the OnePlus 13R is now getting Android 16 as well. OxygenOS 16 is coming installed on top of Android 16, of course, and the update is now rolling out in India.
Android 16-based OxygenOS 16 starts rolling out to the OnePlus 13R
As is usually the case, this update will soon reach many other markets, if it hasn’t already by the time you’re reading this. This particular update is marked as ‘CPH2691_16.0.0.205(EX01)’ in the country. That number could differ a bit in other markets.
Having said that, the changelog for the update is quite extensive. We’ll talk about some changes below, while you can find the full changelog here. There’s plenty to check out there.
OnePlus made a lot of changes to animations with this update. System apps now display animations that begin and end at intuitive places. Your interactions with the UI should feel smoother thanks to this.
Seamless status bar transitions have been added as well. Charging and fingerprint animations have been improved “with organic light wave patterns that mimic natural movements”. Exit animations for top-row apps should now feel smoother, and much more. Plenty of animation-based changes have been made.
Trinity Engine’s goal is to maintain smooth performance at all times
The Trinity Engine now optimizes workload and resources on the fly, says OnePlus. Its goal is to maintain smooth performance across videos, gaming, and extended camera use. Photo albums will also load faster, while power saving mode now features tiered performance management that adapts to battery life.
OnePlus is also adding ‘Mind Assistant’ to the Mind Space home page with this update. You can ask it to search your saved content, with options to favorite, copy, and much more.
Photos, Notes, Recorder, Writer, and more apps have not only received visual updates, but functional ones too. OnePlus has added plenty of AI improvements to everything as well.
You can now set motion photos & videos as your wallpaper
Speaking of AI, the company’s AI-powered Flux themes have been updated, too. You can now set motion photos and videos as your wallpaper with AI-powered depth effects. That’s just one change that OnePlus made, plenty more are listed in the changelog.
You’ll also get some camera improvements with this update, and the same goes for the Game Assistant. This is a huge update, and its goal is to improve your experience of using the OnePlus 13R.
A trusted source has decided to set the record straight regarding the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera and battery setups. A lot of misinformation is circulating the web at the moment, so he decided to clear things up.
Here’s what the Galaxy S26 Ultra will offer in the camera department
The information comes from Ice Universe, by the way, one of the most prominent tipsters around. Let’s focus on the camera first, as that’s what he talked about first.
A rumor yesterday claimed that Samsung will use a 12-megapixel telephoto camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, different from what the Galaxy S25 Ultra is offering, with a larger sensor. That’s simply not true, says Ice Universe.
He says that Samsung will not only offer a 10-megapixel telephoto camera again, but it will use an even smaller sensor. The 10-megapixel unit in the Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a 1/3.52-inch sensor, which is tiny by today’s standards. Well, the new one will use a 1/3.94-inch sensor, an even smaller one. That camera will have an f/2.4 aperture lens and offer 3x optical zoom.
Three out of our cameras will use the same sensors
The tipster did mention the other three cameras, too, which will mostly remain unchanged. The same sensors will be used, it seems. A 200-megapixel main camera (f/1.4 aperture, 1/1.3-inch sensor size, 0.6um pixel size) will be used. It will have a wider aperture, but the sensor size is unchanged.
A 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.9 aperture, 1/2.52-inch sensor size, 0.7um pixel size) will sit on the back too. That one is identical to the one on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The last camera on the back will be a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (f/2.9 aperture, 1/2.52-inch sensor size, 0.7um pixel size, 5x optical zoom). That sensor size is also unchanged, but the aperture is wider than on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Two out of four cameras will have wider apertures
So, to recap. Main, ultrawide, and periscope telephoto cameras will remain unchanged in terms of sensors. However, main and periscope telephoto cameras will offer wider aperture lenses, which is a good thing. The telephoto camera sensor will be even smaller this time around. The tipster seems to be 100% sure of his information.
The battery capacity will remain the same
He also mentioned that the battery capacity will be 5,000mAh. The tipster claims that the rumors that mention a 5,400mAh battery pack are false. He says that the 5,000mAh unit was “finalized long ago.”
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to arrive on February 25, if the latest rumor is to be believed. It’s allegedly postponed from its expected January launch date. This is what the Galaxy S26 Ultra will look like, by the way.
The time has come to compare the two most powerful smartphones Google has to offer at the moment. We’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro. These are the company’s large-format flagship and a compact flagship. These two smartphones are extremely similar. The main difference between them is in the display and battery categories, mostly due to the size difference.
The two phones share the vast majority of their internals, while they also look the same, save for the size difference. These two do have a lot to offer, though, so it should be interesting comparing them. We’ll kick things off by listing the specs of both phones, and will then move to their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio sections.
30W wired, 25W Qi2 wireless (charger not included)
30W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless (charger not included)
Colors
Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian
Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian
View Specifications
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Design
These two smartphones look basically the same. The size is the only difference design-wise. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is notably larger due to a considerably larger display. That makes it heavier too, of course. It is considerably taller and wider, while the two phones have the same thickness. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is also 25 grams heavier in comparison. Both phones are made out of aluminum and glass.
You’ll notice a flat display on both phones, with a centered display camera hole up top. The bezels around both displays are thin and uniform, though not as thin as some of the competitors offer. On the right side, you’ll notice the power/lock button, which sits above the volume rocker keys. Those are the only physical buttons on both of these smartphones. The frame is flat on both phones, though it does curve up a bit towards the edges.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice a camera bar on both phones. That is a pill-shaped camera bar, which does protrude on the back quite a bit. It’s also placed in a horizontal layout. Three cameras sit inside both camera bars, and those cameras are also identical. Google’s logo sits at the very middle of the backplate on both devices, while the backplate is flat on both phones. These two phones are slippery, and they are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it offers an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here, while the peak brightness this display offers is 3,300 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%, while the resolution the display offers is 2992 x 1344 pixels. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, while the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning protects the panel.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Google Pixel 10 Pro, on the flip side, has a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is also flat, and it also supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). The peak brightness here is also 3,300 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 88% as well, but slightly lower than on the larger model. The resolution here is 2856 x 1280 pixels, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this panel.
These two displays are on the same playing field, you’re getting basically the same experience on both devices, but in different sizes. Both displays are more than sharp enough, while they’re also quite vivid. They do get plenty bright when you need them to, while the touch response is good as well. The viewing angles are also great. There’s really not much to complain about here, in all honesty.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Performance
The Google Tensor G5 is the very first Tensor processor made by TSMC. That chip is included inside both of these smartphones, actually, and it’s a 3nm chip. That processor is backed by 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside both phones, while both smartphones also come with UFS 4.0 flash storage. Neither phone supports storage expansion, though, so whichever model you end up getting is the one you’ll be stuck with.
One thing to note is that the base 128GB storage variant of the Pixel 10 Pro has UFS 3.1 storage, not UFS 4.0. We have no idea why Google opted to do that, but it’s something to take into consideration when getting the device. The difference is definitely not obvious when using the phone, but it is a part of future-proofing the phone, in case you want to keep it for years to come.
The two phones deliver the same performance, basically. They’re quite snappy during regular use, no doubt about that. Google did a great job of optimizing this chip for both smartphones. They also do a good job on the gaming front, but they’re not made for gaming. There are better options out there, options that get less hot while gaming. They never started overheating, but they did get quite warm while we were gaming, especially when it came to more demanding titles.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Battery
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL includes a 5,200mAh battery on the inside. The Pixel 10 Pro, on the flip side, has a 4,870mAh battery. When we compare them directly, yes, the Pixel 10 Pro XL does offer better battery life, but the difference is not as big as you’d think. In fact, it’s minimal. Both smartphones did well when it comes to battery life, and for almost anyone, they’ll be able to last until the end of the day.
However, when you compare them with some of the newest flagships from China, which have much larger silicone-carbon batteries, they simply cannot compete. Many of those phones are two-day phones for many people, so… there you go. Still, the battery life these two phones offer is really good, and we don’t think that anyone will get particularly disappointed, unless you’re coming from a top-tier battery life smartphone.
What about charging? The Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 45W wired, 25W Qi2 wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The Pixel 10 Pro, on the flip side, supports 30W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL takes around an hour and 20 minutes to fully charge, while it will take the Pixel 10 Pro around 10 minutes more, well, slightly less. Neither phone ships with a charger, though, so keep that in mind.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Cameras
These two smartphones have completely identical camera setups. That goes for both their rear and front-facing offerings, and yes, they do provide the same results because of that, as their software is basically identical, too. There are three cameras included on the back of both phones, with a single camera placed on the front.
A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV) and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom). On the front, you’ll find a 42-megapixel camera on both devices, and that is an ultrawide camera.
Both smartphones do a good job when it comes to pictures, though they’re not as consistent as we expected. At times, the images do end up looking a bit darker than they should. You’re getting contrasty pictures here, as you’d expect out of Pixel phones, so the colors are not the most accurate out there. That also ties into the consistency that I mentioned. These are definitely not the best cameras out there, not even close, but they get the job done, and most people will be more than happy with their performance.
Audio
Both smartphones feature stereo speakers. In fact, those speakers are very close when it comes to loudness and sound quality output. Yes, the ones on the Pixel 10 Pro XL are technically a bit louder, but that’s not something you’d notice during regular use.
There is no audio jack on either of these two smartphones. You can use their Type-C ports, though, if you’d like, for the same purpose. If you prefer wireless audio, however, both phones are equipped with Bluetooth 6.0.
The OnePlus 12 is now getting the Android 16-based OxygenOS 16 update. Do note that the rollout is starting in India, though. If everything goes well, it will quickly spread to other markets. As if there are no major bugs or something like that.
The OnePlus 12 is now getting Android 16-based OxygenOS 16 update with many changes
In India, the update is marked as CPH2573_16.0.0.201(EX01). Things could be different in other markets, of course. OnePlus also published a rather lengthy changelog for this OnePlus 12 update, which is not surprising.
We’ll talk about some of the features in the article, while you can check out the full changelog by clicking here. It’s over at the company’s official website, and it really is lengthy.
Various animations have been updated
OxygenOS 16 brings an update to the animation system. System apps will now display animations that begin and end at intuitive places, says OnePlus. That should make the whole experience both look and feel smoother.
Drag-and-drop animations for Home screen icons, widgets, folders, and Smart Sidebar have been updated. A seamless status bar transition when you open a notification drawer or Quick Settings is now here too.
Charging and fingerprint animations have been updated with organic light wave patterns that mimic natural movement. A ton of other animations have been revamped, you’ll find more info about that in the full changelog.
Trinity Engine will keep the phone running smooth, while some camera changes are also included
Trinity Engine delivers a number of improvements, too. It optimizes workload and resources on the fly, and thus maintains smooth performance across video, gaming, and extended camera use.
It also enhances steady gaming performance through intelligent analysis and prioritization of key computational tasks. Photo albums will also load faster thanks to it, while the power saving mode has also been improved.
OnePlus has also brought a ton of AI changes with this update. Those changes related to Photos, Notes, Recorder, Writer, and much more. The camera performance has been improved too, in a number of ways, and so on.
Huawei has just announced its own ultra-thin phone to compete with the likes of the iPhone Air, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Motorola Edge 70. The name of the phone is the Huawei Mate 70 Air, and it’s the thickest of the bunch.
Huawei’s ultra-thin phone is a bit thicker than its competitors, for a good reason
Don’t get us wrong, this phone is far from thick, but it’s thicker than the other three devices. It is 6.6mm thick, not counting the camera bump. The iPhone Air is 5.6mm thick, the Galaxy S25 Edge measures 5.8mm, while the Motorola Edge 70 is 5.9mm thick.
Having said that, the Huawei Mate 70 Air includes a much larger battery than all those phones. It comes with a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon unit, which dwarves the offerings of the other three phones. Many would say that a small thickness tradeoff is more than worth it.
It supports 66W charging
Speaking of which, the phone supports 66W wired charging and 5W reverse wired charging. Wireless charging is not supported here, which is to be expected. The phone weighs 208 grams, and it includes a gigantic display, actually.
The Huawei Mate 70 Air features a 7-inch 2760 x 1320 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also IP68/IP69 certified for water and dust resistance, so it offers great ingress protection.
The Huawei Kirin 9020A processor fuels the 12GB RAM model of the phone, while the 16GB RAM variant is fueled by the Kirin 9020B chip. HarmonyOS 5.1 comes pre-installed on the device.
There are three cameras on the back + a color sensor
A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.8 aperture, OIS) is backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 12-megapixel RYYB telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, OIS). There is also a 1.5–megapixel color sensor on the back. On the front, you’ll find a 10.7-megapixel selfie shooter.
The Huawei Mate 70 Air also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.2 with LE: Hi-Res audio is supported too, as is NFC, of course. The phone comes in black, gray, and white colors, which have fancy names in China.
The pricing for the Huawei Mate 70 Air starts at CNY4,199 ($590). It remains to be seen if this phone will make its way to markets outside of China.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra rumors have been all over the place. Some rumors said there won’t be any camera upgrades, while others teased unrealistic upgrades. Well, a new one has just appeared, saying that Samsung will make only one change to the camera hardware of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Samsung could make some camera changes to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but minor ones
The information comes from ‘yawn’, a tipster, who shared the information on X. Out of all the cameras on the phone, only the telephoto one will get an upgrade, it seems. That’s in line with one previous rumor.
The main camera will still be a 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP2 unit. A 50-megapixel ultrawide camera will remain, with the ISOCELL JN3 sensor. Samsung will also retain the 50-megapixel IMX854 periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
The 10-megapixel telephoto unit will get an upgrade, however. Samsung is aiming to use a 12-megapixel ISOCELL S5K3LD sensor for that camera and provide 3x optical zoom to users. That will replace the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera that has been around since the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Wider apertures for main and periscope telephoto cameras could be included too
Do note that the main camera and the periscope camera could end up offering wider apertures this time around. That’s also just a rumor at this point, and it conflicts with some other information, so… we’ll have to wait and see.
These do seem like rather minor improvements. There are quite a few phones out there that will have better and newer camera hardware than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, if this ends up being the case.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series, including the ‘Ultra’ model, is said to utilize a dual chip strategy. Qualcomm said that around 75% of Galaxy S26 series units will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the remaining 25% are expected to utilize the Exynos 2600 chip.
All three phones are tipped to arrive in Q1 next year. They were initially expected to launch in January, but based on the latest information, February 25 could be the launch date.
During its Q4 2025 Earnings Call, Qualcomm revealed some interesting information about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. The company said that it will supply “about 75%” chips for the Galaxy S26 smartphones.
Qualcomm says that the vast majority of Galaxy S26 phones will use its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip
That information goes against a previous report which claimed that around half of Galaxy S26 series phones will utilize the Exynos 2600 processor. Based on this information, around 25% of phones will use Samsung’s Exynos chip.
Qualcomm said: “On Galaxy S25, we got 100%. Our assumption for any new Galaxy is always going to be 75%. That is our assumption for Galaxy S26.”
The company seems quite confident this will be the case, and if someone should know (other than Samsung), then it’s Qualcomm. It seems like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will be used in quite a few Samsung Galaxy S26 series phones.
The Exynos 2600 hasn’t even been announced yet. There have been some reports of yield issues, which could be one of the reasons why so many phones will utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Exynos 2600 seems to be a major improvement over its predecessor
The Exynos 2600, based on reports and benchmarks, is a major improvement over its predecessor, though. That chip could finally compete with the best out there.-We’ll wait for it to actually arrive in order to see how it performs.
This will be Samsung’s first 2nm GAA chipset. It even managed to outperform the Apple A19 Pro when it comes to the ‘performance per watt’ metric. It will be interesting to see it in action, that’s for sure.
Now, regarding the Galaxy S26 series. Those three phones were expected to arrive in January. Based on the latest information, however, they will launch towards the end of February. February 25 is mentioned as the launch date, and the event is allegedly taking place in San Francisco.
Earlier this year, reports started saying Google will add its AI Mode to Chrome. Last month, Google upgraded AI Mode in Google Search, and now, it’s finally arriving to Chrome, as expected.
AI Mode has made its way to Google Chrome
Google has confirmed that “Chrome enters a new era with AI”, as the company is adding AI Mode right to the landing page. This is Google’s “most powerful AI search experience”, and it’s now landing on both Android and iOS.
The company says that the feature is becoming available today in the US. Google did promise that this AI Mode shortcut will soon be coming to 160 new countries and other languages. That includes Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and more. That also goes for desktop and mobile platforms.
With that being said, Google is adding the AI Mode button right under the regular search bar in Chrome. Whenever you open a ‘New Tab’ page in Chrome, you’ll see it waiting for you, as shown below.
AI Mode, needless to say, will allow you to “ask more complex, multi-part questions, and then dive even deeper into a topic with follow-up questions and relevant links.”
AI Mode recently got a major upgrade
Earlier in the article, we mentioned that AI Mode in Search got an upgrade not long ago. Google updated it with visual and conversational capabilities powered by Gemini 2.5. That update allowed users to search naturally, start with an image, and refine queries to get rich visual results.
All that is available here as well, of course. This AI Mode addition to Chrome is basically just a shortcut addition. Once you tap it, you’ll have all the benefits that AI Mode search delivers, of course.
We presume this is a server-side change for Google, the addition of this shortcut. Just make sure you’re on the latest version of Chrome, and you’re good to go. If you’re in the US, you should be seeing the change soon, if it’s not already there by the time you’re seeing this.
The OnePlus 13 is technically still OnePlus‘ flagship, as the global variant of the OnePlus 15 still didn’t arrive at the time of writing this article. If you’re planning to hold onto the OnePlus 13 for the foreseeable future, you may be looking for a great case to slap on it. Well, that’s why we’re here, we’re here to talk about some of the best OnePlus 13 cases and accessories.
While this list will be more focused on cases, we’ll also throw in some other accessories for good measure. There are nowhere near as many good third-party cases for this phone as they are for various iPhones and Samsung phones, simply due to the popularity factor. OnePlus does have a number of its own accessories to offer for the OnePlus 13, and in all honesty, quite a few of them are quite great, so that’s something you’ll see listed here for sure.
Best Official OnePlus 13 Case
OnePlus has three outstanding cases for the OnePlus 13, but we had to pick one here. We went for the Sandstone Magnetic Case, as that’s the one most people will likely go for. It’s both classic and new at the same time.
Sandstone Magnetic Case
$24.99
The Sandstone Magnetic Case for OnePlus 13 is probably the best option for most people. Not only is it a throwback to the original OnePlus smartphone, but it offers plenty of protection, and adds grip to the table as well. This is not a thick caser per se, but it’s not super thin either.
The Sandstone Magnetic Case comes in one color only, black. It also adds magnets to the table. The OnePlus 13 on its own does not have magnets on the inside, but they are included in this case. That way you can take advantage of a range of both first-party and third-party accessories. Yes, you can utilize wireless charging through this case, via OnePlus Mag.
Colors: Black
Magnets: Yes
Build Materials: TPU
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: N/A
Other: Extra corner protection
Buy from OnePlus
Best OnePlus 13 Case for Extra Protection
Spigen is both well-known and loved amongst smartphone users, and the company does have a very nice case to offer for the OnePlus 13. The case in question is called the ‘Ultra Hybrid’, and it offers plenty of protection.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid
$14.99
If you want plenty of protection for you OnePlus 13 smartphone, and don’t mind a bit of extra bulk, the Ultra Hybrid case from Spigen is a great way to go. This case comes with military-grade drop protection via Air Cushion Technology, and has a clear back to show off your smartphone.
It is infused with blue resin for longer-lasting clarity, while it also has raised edges for the screen and camera protection. It is compatible with wireless charging, so there’s no problem in that area, though magnets are not included. It also adds a bit of grip to the equation as well.
Colors: Black
Magnets: No
Build Materials: Polycarbonate, TPU
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: 166.9 x 80.5 x 13.5 mm
Weight: 34 grams
Other: Military-grade protection, Air Cushion Technology
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Best Wood Grain OnePlus 13 Case
If you simply love the way wood grain cases look, we have a perfect case for you. It actually comes directly from OnePlus, and it’s called the Wood Grain Magnetic Case.
Wood Grain Magnetic Case
$39.99
OnePlus is well-known for its wood pattern cases. They were available for a number of smartphones from the company’s lineup. The Wood Grain Magnetic Case for the OnePlus 13 is an ideal continuation of the idea. It’s a half-pack case, and it does come with magnets built-in, as its name suggests. Therefore, you can take advantage of the OnePlus Mag charging.
This case is made of silver PET, while it “preserves the organic touch”. The case is 1.5mm thick at its thinnest point, and its raised edges do add additional protection for the screen and the camera. This case, thanks to its finish, is notably different than basically any other out there.
Colors: Wood Brown
Magnets: Yes
Build Materials: Silver PET
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: 1.5mm thick
Weight: N/A
Other: Added display & camera protection
Buy from OnePlus
Our Favorite OnePlus 13 Case
If we had to choose only one OnePlus 13 case to use, it would be OnePlus’ official Aramid Fiber Magnetic Case. It’s just so good in pretty much every way.
Aramid Fiber Magnetic Case
$39.99
As mentioned in the intro, OnePlus has a handful of really compelling official cases, and this Aramid Fiber one is our favorite. Not only does it lookg reat, with that red camera accent, but it adds plenty of grip to the tablet. That’s not all, though, as this case also offers plenty of protection too. It protects both the display and the camera island.
On top of that, magnets are built into it, and the case does bring OnePlus Mag support to the phone. The case is made from high-strength aramid fiber, says the company, and it can “withstand drops and impacts”. It is only 1.3mm thick, so it’s definitely not too thick or anything like that. It’s a perfect blend, actually.
Colors: Blue with a red accent
Magnets: Yes
Build Materials: High-strength aramid fiber
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: 1.3mm thick
Weight: N/A
Other: Added display & camera protection
Buy from OnePlus
Best Power Bank for the OnePlus 13
If you’re looking for a power bank for the OnePlus 13, OnePlus has its own, and it’s magnetic. This 5,000mAh power bank is arguably the best choice you can make for this phone.
OnePlus Slim Magnetic Power Bank
$69.99
The OnePlus Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5,000mAh is the ideal choice for a power bank if you’re using one of the company’s cases. Why? Well, it’s magnetic, so it can magnetize to the back of your case, and charge your phone when you need it to. This power bank is quite compact aka slim, and it doesn’t weight much at all.
It comes in a single color, gray, and it is 8.8mm thick, while it weighs 120 grams. It’s actually very pleasant to hold even when it’s not magnetized to the back of the device, the design here is very nice, for a power bank. It also comes with a 4-bar power status in form of LEDs, so that you always know what its charge status is.
Colors: Gray
Magnetic: Yes
Build Materials: Aluminum
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: 8.8mm thick
Weight: 120 grams
Other: LED battery status, compatible with Android & iPhone
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Best Magnetic Charger for the OnePlus 13
If you’re already using one of OnePlus’ cases with magnets, getting the OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W magnetic charger is the way to go.
OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger
$79.99
If you love wireless charging, this accessory is a must have for your OnePlus 13 handset. The OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger takes advantage of the phone’s ability to charger wirelessly at 50W. Using a case with the device is needed in order to take advantage of this accessory’s magnetic properties.
The AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger can fully charge your phone in only 75 minutes… wirelessly. That’s faster than what many phones can achieve via a wire. OnePlus included multiple cooling technologies here, so that it avoids overheating, while the accessory itself comes in a white color only.
Colors: White
Magnetic: Yes
Build Materials: Plastic
Recycled materials: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: N/A
Other: 4 cooling technologies, high charging efficiency
Buy from OnePlus
Best Card Holder for the OnePlus 13
OnePlus made its own card holder for the OnePlus 13, and only is it magnetic, but it comes with a stand on it, too. It’s one of our favorite card holders ever, as far as smartphone card holders go.
OnePlus Magnetic Card Holder with Stand
$24.99
If you’re using one of OnePlus’ cases for the OnePlus 13, and you like rocking a small wallet on the back of your phone, the OnePlus Magnetic Card Holder with Stand is a great option. This wallet is made out of vegan leather, and you can fit three cards in there, though depending on the type of cards.
This wallet is magnetic, and it comes with a stand as well. The stand is flat with the wallet when you’re not using it, but it’s very easy to pop out. That wallet also gives you some additional grip, which is always nice to have. It’s also quite light, so you don’t have to worry about added bulk.
Ice Universe, one of the most prominent tipsters out there, is back with another leak. This time around, he’s showing us what the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will look like next to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, thanks to tempered glass screen protectors.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra screen protector gets compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max & Galaxy S25 Ultra
If you check out the image below, you’ll see the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s and Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen protectors side-by-side. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has noticeably rounder corners in comparison. It’s moving further and further away from the sharp corners Samsung used in the Note line. Next to it you can see a mockup of the Galaxy S26 Ultra posing side-by-side with the Galaxy S25 Ultra render.
In the image below, you can see that same Galaxy S26 Ultra tempered glass screen protector, but this time next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s screen protector. When we compare these two, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has noticeably curvier corners.
Not only that, but this screen protector indicates that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have thinner bezels too. Both phones offer thin bezels, though, and they’re uniform as well.
Samsung’s new flagship will be a bit taller and wider than its predecessor
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will be taller and wider than its predecessor, in case you’re wondering. It will be 163.4mm tall, compared to 162.8mm of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It will be 0.3mm wider than its predecessor at 77.9mm. The display size will remain the same at 6.9 inches.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be a bit thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though. Well, if we don’t count the camera bump, which will be thicker this time around. It’s said to weigh 217 grams, so it will be a bit lighter than its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is tipped to launch towards the end of February next year, not in January. A recent report claims that Samsung may end up raising the prices after all, it remains to be seen.
The Motorola Edge 70, the company’s ultra-thin phone, is finally official, a couple of weeks after the Moto X70 Air. Just to be clear, the Motorola Edge 70 is a global version of the Moto X70 Air. The Moto X70 Air launched in China on October 16.
The Motorola Edge 70, the company’s ultra-thin phone, goes global
This is a global version of the Moto X70 Air, and it has been announced for the UK and Europe. Those of you who live in the US, we have some bad news, as this thing won’t be coming to the States. Motorola’s head of global product marketing said that the Motorola Edge 70 “will not be a US device.”
The price in Europe is €799, while in the UK the phone costs £699. That translates to around $920, in case you’re wondering. This phone is a direct competitor to the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air, of course.
The Motorola Edge 70 has a soft-touch back and offers way more grip than either of the two aforementioned phones. It has two cameras on the back, and a flat display with a centered display camera hole up top.
It is slightly thicker than competitors from Samsung and Apple
Motorola’s new ultra-slim smartphone is slightly thicker than the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air. At 5.9mm, it is 0.1mm thicker than Samsung’s handset, and 0.3mm thicker than the iPhone Air.
The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, while the phone offers 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. A 4,800mAh battery sits on the inside of the device, while 68W wired and 15W wireless charging is supported.
Android 16 comes pre-installed here, and Motorola is promising software support and security upgrades all the way until 2031. A 50-megapixel main camera sits on the back, and it’s backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit.
It includes a 120Hz display and IP69 rating
The phone’s display measures 6.7 inches, and it’s a 120Hz OLED panel with a 1220p+ resolution. That display also gets quite bright when you need it to, and it has a fingerprint scanner underneath it. The display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 7i, while the phone is IP69 certified.
The Motorola Edge 70 comes in PANTONE Lily Pad, Pantone Gadget Gray, and PANTONE Bronze Green colors. You can purchase the phone as we speak in the UK and in parts of Europe, starting at £699 / €799.
In this article, we’ll be comparing the most powerful smartphone Google has to offer with one of the most powerful offerings from Samsung. In other words, this is the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+ comparison. We’ve already compared the Pixel 10 Pro XL with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in case you’re more interested in that comparison, as the ‘Ultra’ model is the most powerful one Samsung has to offer.
In any case, as per usual, we’ll be listing the specs of both phones first. Following that, we’ll compare the two phones across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. Both of these phones are large-format smartphones, and they do have some things in common… not a lot, though. Let’s get to it.
Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue Black
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Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+: Design
Both of these smartphones are made out of metal and glass. In fact, they both use aluminum for their frames. They also have similar shapes, as the corner curvature is similar. It’s a bit more pronounced on the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. Both smartphones offer flat displays, flat backplates, and a flat frame all around. There is a display camera hole on both displays, and it’s centered up top. The one on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ is a bit smaller and placed higher. The bezels around both displays are thin and uniform, but they’re thinner on the Galaxy S25+, noticeably.
On the right side of both smartphones, you’ll find their power/lock and volume rocker buttons. Those are also the only buttons available on the two devices. The power/lock button sits above the volume up and down keys on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, it’s the other way around on the Galaxy S25+. Both frames curve a little bit towards the edges, the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s a bit more than the Galaxy S25+’s.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice noticeably different backplates. While both backplates are flat, the camera setups are all different. The Pixel 10 Pro XL features a pill-shaped camera bar with three cameras on the inside. The Galaxy S25+ includes three vertically-aligned cameras in the top-left corners, each of which protrudes directly from the backplate. The camera setups protrude on the backs of both phones.
Both of these smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. The Pixel 10 Pro XL does have a slightly larger display, while it’s taller, wider, and thicker than the Galaxy S25+. It is also 42 grams heavier, which is quite a difference. Both phones are slippery in the hand, by the way.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+: Display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here, while the display’s peak brightness is 3,300 nits. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 88%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The Pixel 10 Pro XL offers a resolution of 2992 x 1344, while the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the panel.
Samsung Galaxy S25+
The Samsung Galaxy S25+, on the other hand, has a 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That panel is also flat, and it also supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported, and the peak brightness here is 2,600 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 91.8%, while the resolution is 3120 x 1440 pixels. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, while the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this display.
Both of these panels are great, actually. They’re on the same playing field. You’re getting very sharp and very bright panels here, which offer an adaptive refresh rate. They’re very smooth and quite vivid as well. The viewing angles are great on both of them. The Pixel 10 Pro XL can technically get a bit brighter, but both of them do get bright enough. They also offer the exact same screen protection.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+: Performance
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is fueled by the Google Tensor G5 processor. That is the very first Tensor chip made by TSMC, and it’s a 3nm processor. It is paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and UFS 4.0 flash storage is also used by Google. The Galaxy S25+ is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, a 3nm processor from Samsung. That chip is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. Neither phone supports storage expansion, by the way.
You’ll be glad to know that both smartphones offer great performance. They’re very smooth in day-to-day performance, there is no lag or anything like that. The Galaxy S25+ may be a hair faster in some situations, but it all depends. It does have a more powerful chip, but the Tensor G5 is really well-optimized for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The bottom line is, you can expect great performance from both of them.
What about gaming, though? Well, you can play basically any game on either of these two phones. The thing is, the Galaxy S25+ is a bit better when it comes to demanding games. Its processor is the main reason why, actually. Still, if you’re just a casual gamer and don’t play demanding games all that often, it doesn’t really matter. Both phones do get quite warm, by the way, during gaming, but they do not overheat or anything like that, at least in our experience.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+: Battery
You’ll find a 5,200mAh battery inside the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Galaxy S25+, on the flip side, is using a 4,900mAh battery. The Pixel 10 Pro XL may have a larger battery, but the Galaxy S25+ offers better battery life. The difference is not monumental, but it’s something you’ll definitely notice. We were able to get around an hour more of screen-on time on the Galaxy S25+ in comparison, most of the time.
Your mileage may vary, of course, as each of us uses our phones differently, but the Galaxy S25+ was constantly able to provide better battery life in comparison, since the first time we started using the two phones. Neither phone has phenomenal battery life, however, there are phones out there that offer more in that regard. In direct comparison, however, the Galaxy S25+ is a step above the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
In addition to having better battery life, the Galaxy S25+ also charges a bit faster in comparison. The Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 30W wired, 25W Qi2 wireless, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Galaxy S25+, on the other hand, supports 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has magnets built in. The Galaxy S25+ can be fully charged in an hour, while it takes the Pixel 10 Pro XL around an hour and 20 minutes to fully charge. Do note that neither phone comes with a charger in the box.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25+: Cameras
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features three cameras on the back. A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV). The third camera on the back is a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ also has three cameras on the back. Its 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor size) is backed by a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 120-degree FoV). The third camera on the back of the Galaxy S25+ is a 10-megapixel telephoto unit (1/3.94-inch sensor size, 3x optical zoom).
While both of these smartphones take good pictures, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the clear winner for us. The Galaxy S25+ still takes images that can be a bit oversaturated, and it’s still not as consistent as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, even though the Pixel 10 Pro XL is arguably less consistent than its predecessor. Google’s phone also does a better job with ultrawide and telephoto shots, not to mention that it’s better for low-light photography.
Audio
Both of these phones have stereo speakers. They are actually quite similar in both terms of loudness and audio output quality. There’s really not much difference between them. Both setups are quite good.
There is no audio jack on either of these two smartphones. You can hook up your wired headphones via the Type-C port, if you want, though. Alternatively, the Pixel 10 Pro XL supports Bluetooth 6.0, while the Galaxy S25+ offers Bluetooth 5.4.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, the very first Galaxy S FE smartphone, has reached the end of life and received its very last update. The October 2025 Android security update is probably its last, unless Samsung decides to prolonge its software support for some reason.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has reached the end-of-life after 5 years of updates
The Galaxy S20 FE was announced back in September 2020 and released a month later. It became quite popular straight from launch, as it really did offer a lot for the price. That changed with some of its successors, but the first one was extremely compelling.
Samsung promised three major Android OS updates and five years’ worth of security updates. That was Samsung’s promise, and the company delivered. Some of you may not have received the October 2025 Android update yet, and if that’s the case, it’s coming your way. That update started rolling out last month.
If you still own this smartphone, it may be a good idea to upgrade at this point. Security update are a necessity in this day and age. If you’re looking to stay in the Galaxy S FE family, well, the Galaxy S25 FE is available.
Samsung promises 7 years of major Android OS & security update for the Galaxy S25 FE
That is the latest phone in the series, and it both launched and became available back in September. Samsung has promised to deliver 7 years of major OS and security updates for that phone.
So, the Galaxy S25 FE will have an even longer update cycle than its predecessor. The vast majority of you won’t even be keeping it around for that long. Such commitment when it comes to updates is always great to see.
The Galaxy S25 FE is considerably more expensive than the Galaxy S20 FE, though. You can always trade your Galaxy S20 FE and get a discount for the Galaxy S25 FE. You can save up to $200 by trading it, in the US, things will differ in other markets.
Samsung has just detailed its November 2025 Android security patch. The company says that this patch addresses 34 vulnerabilities in total, when looking at both Google’s and Samsung’s patches.
Samsung’s November 2025 Android security update delivers fixes for 34 vulnerabilities
To be more accurate, 25 vulnerabilities are getting addressed on Google’s part, while Samsung is adding 9 patches of its own for One UI specifically. This info is coming a bit earlier than usual, though not too early, as we have stepped into November.
With that being said, two out of 25 vulnerabilities discovered in the Android OS are classified as critical-risk. The rest of the patches are marked as ‘high-risk’ ones.
Out of the two critical vulnerabilities discovered, one affects Android versions dating back to Android 13. The other affects only Android 16, in case you were wondering. No low-risk or moderate vulnerabilities are mentioned this time around.
Samsung also included 11 fixes for flaws related to Exynos SoCs
Now, on top of these 34 fixes for software vulnerabilities, Samsung also included 11 fixes for flaws related to its Exynos chips. Most Exynos chips made from 2019 to 2024 are affected, it seems.
This update will start rolling out to Samsung’s smartphones very soon. The rollout could already be on the way by the time you’re reading this, who knows. We’ll let you know once that happens, as per usual.
Samsung’s newest smartphones will be first in line, as per usual, even though Samsung didn’t confirm anything just yet. The Samsung Galaxy S25 series will almost certainly get it first, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphones.
This update is all about security, by the way. Samsung did not mention any new features or anything of the sort. Following the One UI 8 update rollout, the company is back to focusing on security updates.
Samsung’s very first tri-fold smartphone was showcased during the K-Tech Showcase recently. It was placed behind the glass, though, and we didn’t get to see it properly. Well, that has just changed, as a video just appeared. Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone is still behind glass, but the video does provide a much better look at it.
New video gives us the best look yet at Samsung’s first tri-fold phone
If you check out the video below, courtesy of OMG Electronics and SUBUSUNEWS, you’ll see this phone from all sides, including its thickness when folded.
The video confirms that the phone, when fully folded, offers a 6.5-inch display. When it’s fully unfolded, you get a 10-inch panel. That’s on par with what the reports have been saying.
As you’ll see in the video, this phone has a different folding mechanism than the Huawei Mate XT and Mate XTs. Those two phones include a single display, while Samsung’s handset has a separate display on the back, which activates when you fully fold the phone. Both left and right sides of this tri-fold smartphone fold inward, thus properly protecting the main display.
The video shows the phone’s back side, and cover display
The video also shows the back side of the phone when it’s fully expanded, and it basically looks like an expanded Galaxy Z Fold 7. That was to be expected, and it’s not a bad thing at all. You’re still getting three rear cameras.
You’ll also get to see its thickness when fully folded
If you check out the image below, you’ll see the thickness of the phone when folded. We still don’t know how thick it is exactly, though.
Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone was tipped to launch during the APEC Summit, but that did not happen. The company did confirm that it’s coming before the end of the year, though.
That smartphone could arrive to the US after all. There will be another global model out there, but we’re still not sure if it’s coming to Europe or not. It’s easily possible it will arrive to the US after it makes its way to Korea and China, but we’ll see.
You’ll find tons of different Bluetooth headphones on the market. A lot of companies make them, and they range from forgettable to actually great. There are also a number of different models, with different features, and so on. Just to be clear, we’re talking about over-ear headphones here, not in-ear ones, or any other variant. The topic is best Bluetooth headphones, not earphones or anything like that.
In this article, we’ll make a bunch of suggestions for you, depending on what you need and what your budget is. As mentioned already, there really are many choices, and we’ll do our best to hand-pick some solid recommendations for you. You’ll find a total of 16 different headphones on the list, covering basically every segment. We’ll try to help you get the right audio output for your needs. With that being said, let’s get down to it, shall we?
Best Bluetooth Headphones Overall
There are so, so many options when it comes to Bluetooth headphones out there, but we had to pick one that stand above the rest. The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are likely the best buy for most people, when it comes to high-end Bluetooth headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM6
$458
The Sony WX-1000XM6 headphones are the latest and greatest headphones Sony has to offer. They are likely the best pick for most people who have over $400 to spend on headphones. These headphones have that stealthy look that people love so much, and offer great sound, not to mention outstanding ANC.
They come with touch panels on each side, and some physical buttons too, not to mention an audio jack. There are 12 microphones included on them, and a brand new audio processor. They offer proper bass and LDAC codec is also a part of the offering. They are made mostly out of plastic, but Sony seemingly did a far better job with the hinge this time around, thus fixing the main problem of the XM5s. They weigh 254 grams, but they don’t feel heavy on the head, not to mention that they earcups are very comfortable.
Multiport Bluetooth feature is also here, as you can connect two devices to the headphones at the same time and just between them. Speak-to-Chat feature is also included, as is 360 Reality Audio. You can also customize the EQ here, and so much more.
Other: 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth multi-port, ANC, Ambient Mode, 12 microphones, Hi-Res audio, AI audio features, protective case included
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Best Bluetooth Headphones for Comfort
There are many very comfortable headphones on the market, but for us, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd gen headphones take the cake. They not only look ultra-premium, but they’re also very comfortable to use for long periods of time.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen)
$449
Bose has its own flagship headphones to offer, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd-gen. These headphones are actually brand new, and they’re also very comfortable. Using them for long periods of time is not a problem at all. They have that premium look with a combo of plastic, eco leather, and metal.
These do offer spatial audio, and active noise canceling (ANC), of course. They also offer a 30-hour battery life, similar to the Sony XM6s. The ‘Aware Mode’ is also available here, no to mention that you’re getting lossless USB audio here.
They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, while a carrying case is also a part of the package. They weighs 254 grams, so they’re not too heavy either. Multiport Bluetooth connectivity is also included, and much more.
Colors: Black, Desert Gold, Driftwood Sand, Midnight Violet, White
Build Materials: Plastic, metal, eco-leather
Dimensions: 213.6 × 155.4 × 55.6 mm
Weight: 254 grams
Other: 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth multiport, ANC, Ambient Mode, audio jack, protective case included
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Best Bluetooth Headphones for Sound Quality
If you’re looking for the very best sound quality amongst Bluetooth headphones, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones are the way to go. These premium-looking headphones have plenty to offer in that department.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
$449
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones offer outstanding sound quality. They have the most neutral and natural sound out of all the offerings here. 40mm custom drivers definitely have something to dow ith that. Bass here extends to 20Hz and midrange is quite transparent, which is very nice to see.
These headphones also have a very effective ANC, as they can reduce ambient noise by approximately 30dB. That’s lower than the Sony XM6s and Bose’s premium offerings, but still, it’s quite effective. The arms here are made out of carbon fiber to lower the weight, and they are also IP54 rated. You can take these to the gym without a problem.
It is worth noting that they’re still a bit heavier than the previous two models on the list at 307 grams. Still, they’re quite comfortable to use. They offer a 30-hour battery life range, with ANC, of course. EQ settings are available, of course, along with much more.
Colors: Indigo Blue, Anthracite Black, Canvas White, Frost Blue
If you’re an audiophile and would like to get a great pair of Bluetooth headphones but not spend upwards of $1,000, we have just the product for you. Focal Bathys are a great pair of headphones for $699, and they also look quite unique.
Focal Bathys
$699
Audophiles are always on the lookout for the best of the best, and the Focal Bathys definitely fit the bill. They offer outstanding audio capacilities, not to mention that they look great too. The design sure is unique, and the headphones are made out of refined real leather and microfiber, amongst other materials.
Earpads are very comfortable, and do a great job when it comes to isolation. They come with custom 40mm aluminum-magnesium M-shaped drivers, which provide outstanding dynamics and sound detail. Bass extends to 15Hz, while midrange is transparent and nice.
You can get up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC one here, and the awareness mode is also included. A full charge takes around 3 hours, while there are two noise cancelling modes that you can choose from. There’s also a DAC mode with wired connection, while these weigh 350 grams.
Colors: Silver
Build Materials: Refined real leather, microfiber, metal, plastic
Dimensions: 240.0 × 214.9 × 85.1 mm
Weight: 350 grams
Other: 30-hour battery life with ANC, Ambient Mode, audio jack, two ANC modes, premium custom drivers, Bluetooth 5.1
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Best Value Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re looking for the best value Bluetooth headphones, and you’re still looking for a high-end offering, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 fit the bill. They’re not cheap, but they do offer a lot for the price, especially if you grab them at a discount. They are discounted frequently, and quite considerably.
Sennheiser Momentum 4
$449.95 (now $330)
If you like Sennheiser products, and would like to get a great pair of Bluetooth headphones from the company… the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is the way to go. These headphones have that nice, understated look that many people appreciate. They are not attention-grabbing, and yet people will notice them.
They come with an audiophile-inspired 4mmm transducer system and aptX Adaptive. You can personalize the sound to your liking via the company’s app, as the EQ is integrated. You’ll find various presets and sound modes at your disposal. A very compelling ANC mode is included here, and the same goes for the adjustable transparency mode.
They offer up to 60 hours of playback, while fast charging is also included in the package. Out of the box, they offer bass-forward tuning, though you can change that, of course. Various codecs are support, and the ANC is really good too.
If you’re aiming for Bluetooth headphones that cost less than $200, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are for you. These are quite old at this point, but they’re still regarded as one of the best headphones out there, and are still sold by Sony. They’re considerably more expensive than $200, but are often discounted below that point. So, aim for that discount.
Sony WH-1000XM4
$348 (now $198)
These may even be considered as the best value headphones in general, not just for previous-gen models. They’re easy to recommend, that’s for sure, and can easily go head-to-head with newer models from Sony. They fold, and have touch pads on the sides. You can get up to 30 hours (38 hours with ANC off) of play time from these, and they come with an LDAC codes support.
Great ANC support is included here, and the QN1 processor is still quite competitive. These also have a great transparency mode to offer. They use a dual noise sensor technology, and have the speak-to-chat functionality. Call quality is also very good here, while multiport Bluetooth connection is also on offer. You can connect these headphones to multiple devices at the same time.
Colors: Black, Silver, Midnight Blue
Build Materials: Eco leather, plastic, metal
Dimensions: 190 mm (height)
Weight: 255 grams
Other: 38-hour battery life, ANC, Ambient Mode, foldability, AI beamforming, Hi-Res audio, carrying case
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Best Luxury Design Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re on the lookout for a pair of great-looking headphones that look like a luxury product, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are a great choice.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
$799
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are very, very nice-looking headphones. They do seem like a luxury piece of tech, and many of you will dig this design, that’s for sure. They’re not focused only on design, however, these headphones have plenty to offer in the sound department too.
They come with custom 40mm carbon-cone drivers, and they offer impressively wide soundstage. Bass extends to 20Hz, while the midrange is transparent, and the vocals are natural. The ANC is good, though not the best, at least compared to some other models on the list. It reduces ambient noise approximately 20-30dB.
These headphones come with diamond-cut aluminum arms, and genuine Nappa leather. The company also used memory foam earpads, and several other premium materials. They also offer up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on, and more.
Colors: Onyx Black, Warm Stone
Build Materials: Aluminum, genuine leather
Dimensions: 48.0 × 156.5 × 206.2 mm
Weight: 314 grams
Other: 30-hour battery life with ANC, Ambient Mode, protective case, custom 40mm drivers
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Best Budget Flagship Bluetooth Headphones
If you want headphones that shoot well above their price tag, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 fit the bill. These are great considering the price, especially with one of their frequent discounts.
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
$149.99
Chances are that many of you have heard of the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 headphones. These are often mentioned as a great choice for the price, especially when they’re discounted. Discounts go to as low as $90. Even at their original price they’re a solid choice, let alone a price that is that low.
These headphones come with rather compelling ANC capability, and solid sound quality. Bass elevation extends to 20Hz, while mids are clear, as are vocals. LDAC support is included here, while you’re getting a customizable EQ option too, of course. They are made out of plastic, but they don’t seem all that cheap, plus they fold.
These headphones weigh 294 grams, while you can get up to 50 hours of use time with ANC on, which is great battery life. They go to as high as 65 hours with ANC off. They offer 5 noise canceling levels, and generally have a lot to offer.
Colors: Blue, White, Black
Build Materials: Plastic, aluminum
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: 292 grams
Other: 65-hour battery life, 50-hour battery life with ANC, Ambient Mode, Multiport Connection, customizable EQ
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Best Headphones for Apple Users
For Apple users, the Apple AirPods Max headphones are always a great choice. There’s no denying these are great, even though many would say overpriced. Still, they’re a great choice, especially for Apple users.
Apple AirPods Max
$549.99
The Apple AirPods Max are usually the go-to choice for Apple users. There are arguably better options out there for that amount of money, regardless whether you’re an Apple user or not, but these are great headphones regardless. They also look very nice, and kind of unique too.
Apple used aluminum here, along with plastic and some other materials to make these headphones look nice. Aluminum earcups are combined with a stainless steel frame, and memory foam earpacs. Apple also through some mesh in. These weigh 386.2 grams, so they’re not exactly the lightest headphones on the list, but they’re still very comfortable.
They offer spatial audio, and very good sound output. Apple uses custom 40mm dynamic rivers here, and the bass extends to 20Hz. Midrange is clear and natural, and so are the vocals. In terms of battery life, you can get up to 20 hours of use with ANC on. That’s notably worse than many offerings here, but still, it will be good enough for most people.
Colors: Midnight, Blue, Orange, Purple, Starlight
Build Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, mesh
Dimensions: 187.3 x 168.6 x 83.4 mm
Weight: 386.2 grams
Other: 20-hour battery life with ANC, spatial audio, adaptive EQ, Transparency mode,
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Best Hidden Gem Bluetooth Headphones
Many of you probably haven’t heard of the Technics EAH-A800 headphones, and yet they’re a great choice at their price point. If you like how they look, they’re definitely worth considering.
Technics EAH-A800
$226
The Technics EAH-A800 headphones offer balanced sound, and a rather inconspicuous design. An aluminum headband is combined with synthetic leather earpads, which are well-padded. These headphones weigh 298 grams, and have a good clamping force. They’re not too tight nor too loose.
These headphones are often recommended by audiophiles, despite the fact many people haven’t heard of them. Not as audiophile headphones, but as headphones for regular people who appreciate good sound. They have custom 40mm drivers, and deliver an impressive soundstage. Instrument separation is excellent, and the bass extends to 20Hz. The vocals are natural. They do come with LDAC codec support.
They weigh 298 grams, and can provide great battery life of 50 hours with ANC on, and 60 with ANC off. not many headphones can say that for themselves.
Other: 60-hour battery life, 50 hours with ANC on, custom 40mm drivers, quick charge, Multiport Pairing
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Best Super Budget Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re aiming to pay less than $100 for a pair of headphones, the Anker Soundcore Space One are a great choice… and often discounted.
Anker Soundcore Space One
$99
The Anker Soundcore Space One have a great price point considering what they offer. For $99, and often less than that, you can get headphones with effective ANC, elevated bass, and solid sound output. Mids are slightly recessed, but the vocals are clear here. Treble extends to 15Hz, in case you’re wondering.
These headphones offer hybrid ANC which reduces ambient noise 25-28dB. That is outstanding considering the price tag here. The headphones are made mostly out of plastic, but they don’t feel cheap, not at all. They weigh 265 grams, and can provide 55 hours of battery life with ANC off. With ANC on, you can get up to 40 hours of battery life.
Colors: Abyss Black, Cloud Pink, Latte Cream, Sky Blue
Build Materials: Plastic, synthetic leather
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: 265 grams
Other: 55-hour battery life, 40 hours with ANC on, hybrid ANC, Hi-Res audio, 40mm dynamic drivers
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Best Ultra-Compact Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re looking for a more compact model of headphones, the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC do the trick. They’re not much smaller than what you’d expect, but still, there is a difference… plus they won’t break the bank.
JLab JBuds Lux ANC
$79.99
The JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones don’t have the best sound around, but it’s still good enough. They’re kind of bass-heavy, but there are plenty of people who like that, so… there you go. Mids are a bit recessed, while there’s no LDAC support here.
These headphones offer Hybrid ANC support, and it can reduce ambient noise 22-25dB. They’re made out of plastic, but feel good to hold and use, and they also fold. The JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones weigh 235 grams, and have very soft foam cushions. The clamping force is light, but also strong enough.
They offer outstanding battery life too. The company says you can get 40 hours of use time with ANC on. JLab also quotes 70 hours of use with ANC off.
Colors: Cloud White, Sage, Graphite, Mauve
Build Materials: Plastic, synthetic leather
Dimensions: 189.7 × 155.7 × 82.0 mm
Weight: 235 grams
Other: 70-hour battery life, 40 hours with ANC on, hybrid ANC, Aware Mode, Spatial Audio, Bluetooth 5.4
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Best Multi-Mode ANC Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re looking for multi-mode Bluetooth headphones and don’t want to overpay, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are a great option. They offer different ANC profiles for different environments.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
$79.99
When it comes to sound, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are bass-forward. Bass can overwhelm mids at times, while the vocals sit in the back a bit too. The sound is, in general, good, though. ANC here can reduce ambient noise approximately 24-28dB, depending on the mode you’re using.
These headphones are made mainly out of plastic, while synthetic leather is also a part of the mix. They are comfortable, though, and the padding on the earpads is good. The weight here is 260 grams. The company claims you can get 60 hours of play time with ANC off, and 40 hours with ANC on.
Colors: Absolute Black, Beige, Blue, Pink
Build Materials: Plastic, synthetic leather
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: 260 grams
Other: 60 hours of use battery life, 40 hours with ANC on, 40mm Silk Drivers, hybrid ANC, travel case included
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Best Premium Feel Sub-$150 Bluetooth Headphones
If you can’t go over the $150 level when it comes to price, the AKG N700NC M2 headphones are a great option. They’re not the best at anything, but they’re good at pretty much everything.
AKG N700NC M2
$149
The AKG N700NC M2 headphones are a solid option at $149. These headphones offer balanced sound output, though they are a bit mids-forward. There is no LDAC or aptX support, though, which is not surprising at this price range. They do offer adaptive ANC, though, which reduces ambient noise approximately 22-26dB.
These headphones do look more expensive, though. They come with metal hinges and slider, and the entire build is a combination of metal and plastic. They do fold, and the earpads are made out of genuine leather. That’s quite surprising considering the price here. A hard-shell case i also included, while the headphones weigh 277 grams. You can get 36 hours of play time with ANC on.
Colors: Black
Build Materials: Metal, plastic, genuine leather
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: 277 grams
Other: 36 hours of use time with ANC on, 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 4.2, foldable
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Best Mainstream Budget Bluetooth Headphones
We have another recommendation under $150, the JBL Tune 760NC. These are great mainstream Bluetooth headphones which you can get without breaking the bank.
JBL Tune 760NC
$144.95
The JBL Tune 760NC headphones are a bit bass-heavy. That’s not surprising for JBL headhpones, though. They’re great for pop/EDM, that’s for sure. The JBL app does offer EQ adjustment, and there is no AAC or SBC support here. That’s not exactly surprising at this price point.
They do offer active noise cancelation (ANC), as they can reduce ambient noise approximately 20-24dB. So, not the best, but not bad either. They do offer the aware mode, of course, and they’re made out mostly out of plastic. These headphones do fold, however, and are actually quite portable. The earpads use synthetic leather, and offer solid padding. These weigh 220 grams, and promise 35 hours of use with ANC on.
Colors: Black, Blue, White, Pink
Build Materials: Plastic, synthetic leather
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: 220 grams
Other: 50 hours of use with ANC off, 35 hours with ANC on, 40mm drivers, foldable
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Best Ultra-Budget Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re not looking to spend over $100 on a pair of headphones, or even over $70, we have just the product for you. The Sony WH-CH520 are a great option at the $70 price tag, the best one, we’d say.
Sony WH-CH520
$69.99
First and foremost, do note that these headphones do not offer active noise cancelation (ANC). That’s a shame, but it is what it is at this price point. They are quite compact, though, easy to carry around. The sound quality is not bad, not at all. They offer balanced sound with slight bass elevation. Mids are clear.
They are quite lightweight at 147 grams, though they are made entirely out of plastic. Despite that, however, they do feel good to hold and use. These headphones do note fold, however. You can get 50 hours of playback from these headphones, which is not bad at all. EQ customizaton is also on offer, as is multiport Bluetooth connectivity.
Most popular tablets these days are quite large. Why? Well, because phones have gotten larger over time as well, not to mention that foldable phones are a thing these days as well. So, it’s not that odd to see a 12-inch or 13-inch tablets out there, in fact, those are the most popular ones. We’re here to review one such tablet, the HONOR MagicPad 3. This one has a 13.3-inch display, and it’s quite interesting.
Just to be clear, there’s also a ‘Pro’ version of this tablet, though that one launched very recently, months after the regular version. With that being said, the regular version will be more than enough for most people, not to mention that this is a global version of the tablet we’re talking about. The ‘Pro’ model did not arrive to markets outside of China yet, and we don’t know if it will at all. With that being said, I’ve used the MagicPad 3 for a while now, and I’m ready to share my thoughts. Let’s get to it.
HONOR MagicPad 3
Rating
starstarstarstarstar_emptystar
£599.99 ($800)
HONOR’s MagicPad 3 gets the basics right — power, display, and endurance.
Pros
Great build quality
Vibrant and sharp display
Very good performance
Plenty of features that take advantage of the display size
Class-leading battery life
Mature OS which is finally consistent
Outstanding case/keyboard accessory you can buy separately
Cons
No fingerprint scanner
Poor camera performance
Software support
HONOR supplied us with a review unit of the HONOR MagicPad 3, but didn’t have a say in our opinion, nor did they see this review before you. We’ve been using the device for about two weeks before forming an opinion.
Buy from HONOR
HONOR MagicPad 3 Specs
Display Size
13.3 inches
Display Resolution
3200 x 2136
Refresh Rate
165Hz
Dimensions
293.88 x 201.38 x 5.79 mm
Weight
595 grams
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM
16GB RAM
Storage
512GB
Battery
12,450mAh
Charging
68W wired (charger not included)
OS
Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0.1
Main Camera
13MP (f/2.0 aperture)
Macro Camera
2MP (f/2.4 aperture)
Front-Facing Camera
9MP (f/2.2 aperture)
Network and Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Water Resistance
N/A
Colors
Gray, White
View Device Specs
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Design
The HONOR MagicPad 3 is a large, 13.3-inch tablet. If all you used thus far are tablets up to 10-11 inches, you’ll be quite surprised. That extra screen real estate can come in handy, but… the device is quite a bit bigger. The good news is that its bezels are quite thin, so it’s smaller than it could have been. Don’t worry, they’re not too thin, you can properly grip the tablet, no problem. With that being said, the MagicPad 3 is made out of metal, aluminum, to be more precise. It offers a metal unibody build. In all honesty, this is probably a better choice for tablets than placing a huge glass panel on the back. There’s a reason why so many companies prefer it.
The bezels are thin
There is no display camera hole on the display, HONOR opted to place that camera on the bezel, which is great. It’s placed so that you use it in landscape form, though, on the right bezels when you’re holding it upright. The sides of the tablets are flat, and the device is quite thin at 5.8mm. The power/lock button sits at the top of the tablet (when you hold it in portrait mode), and the volume up and down buttons are close, but on the right side. This is a Wi-Fi only tablet, by the way, there is no cellular connection, and thus no SIM card tray. There is also no expandable storage here.
If we flip it over, you’ll notice two cameras in the top-left corner. Once again, I’m talking from a portrait perspective. An LED flash is placed next to those two cameras, and all that sits on top of a slightly raised platform. HONOR’s logo is placed in the middle, though it has a landscape orientation. When you hold the device in portrait mode, it will be in the wrong direction. Way below that logo, at the bottom of the back side, you’ll notice three pogo pins. This is used for the keyboard/case accessory that HONOR also sent us. We’ll talk about that in the next section.
It is a large, metal-clad tablet
The device measures 293.9 x 201.4 x 5.8mm, just so you get the idea of how large the device is. It weighs 595 grams, which is not heavy for a tablet of that size, but a lot heavier than a phone, naturally. It all depends on how much experience you have using tablets. There is no protection against water and dust here, so be careful. The device also has eight speakers, which we’ll talk more in the audio section, but you’ll notice most of them on the frame all around the device. All in all, the HONOR MagicPad 3 is a well-designed chunk of metal that you’ll likely like using. It is quite slippery, though, so that’s something else that you should get ready for.
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Accessories
If you end up getting this tablet, we’d wholeheartedly recommend you to get HONOR’s official case for it. It is sold separately, but you get the case, keyboard, and stand all in one. The accessory is called the HONOR MagicPad 3 Smart Touch Keyboard, and it’s great. In all honesty, I’m so used to using tablets with cases like these, that I cannot imagine using it without it. I rarely even take it out, but you can easily do that thanks to magnets, it could not be simpler.
This accessory connects via pogo pins, instantly
The tablet immediately connected to the case via the pogo pins, I didn’t have to connect anything manually. The back side of the case, which magnetizes to the tablet, can be folded right down the middle, and that part acts as a kickstand. The case does add much-needed grip to the table. It has that rubberized feel, but it’s very nice to the touch at the same time. The keyboard itself is nicer than you’d think. It’s a nice chicklet-style keyboard with more than enough travel. Well, those of you who are used to using a mechanical keyboard will have complaints, but if you’re used to a laptop keyboard, you’ll be fine.
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Display
The HONOR MagicPad 3 features a 13.3-inch LCD display. No, it’s not an OLED panel, but it’s still great, to say the least. You’re getting a 3200 x 2136 resolution here, so it’s ultra-bright. It has great viewing angles, and you can easily see it in the sunlight as well. Brightness was never na issue during my testing. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 91%, the display is very immersive. The bezels are thin, but they’re not too thin. I’d say that HONOR nailed the screen-to-body ratio here, actually. it’s just right.
This is a 165Hz panel
Does it offer a high refresh rate? Yes, for sure. It can go up to 165Hz at most, and down to 30Hz when needed. It has 7 levels of refresh rate, actually, in case you were wondering. So, yes, it’s not an OLED display, and those of you who are used to OLED panels will notice that. The colors on this display are great, and I did not wish for an OLED display at any point, if I’m being honest. I had a great time with what HONOR is offering here. Yes, an OLED panel would probably offer better color accuracy, but it’s not like you’ll be doing color grading on this display.
This display also protects your eyes
HONOR also refers to this display as the ‘Eye Comfort Display’, as it has the company’s eye comfort tech, which is effective only in certain applications, though. The display can project 1.07 billion colors, and it’s a flicker-free display as well. There’s really not much more you can ask for when it comes to a tablet display. The touch response was good, as per usual, and I also didn’t notice that the display is picking up smudges more than any other display in this price range. There’s not much to complain about here.
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels the HONOR MagicPad 3. That is not the latest and greatest chip HONOR could have used, that’s for sure. However, it was Qualcomm’s flagship offering a couple of years back, and it’s still a powerful 4nm chip. That, combined with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, makes for a nice package here. I used this tablet for almost two weeks, and I never felt like it needed more muscles or anything like that.
The performance is on a high level
Regardless of whether we’re talking about regular users or power users, the HONOR MagicPad 3 held its own. It was smooth through-and-through, even when I dove into heavier multitasking with small app windows, split screen, and so on. Yes, there was a dropped frame here and there, as is the case with every device, but lag was not a part of the experience, that’s for sure. I expected such performance, so there was no surprise in that area.
HONOR has also improved the cooling system in this tablet, so that it can cope better with graphically-intensive tasks. By that I mainly mean games, as games are almost the only thing that can push this table to the distance in terms of system strain. I’ve tested Call of Duty: Mobile, Subway Surfers, and Chess on it, while as an added bonus, I pushed some Genshin Impact as well. I usually do only three games on devices, but in this case I made an exception.
You can game on this tablet, easily
I did not experience lag or a noticeable dip in performance with either of those games, though I did notice more dropped frames in Genshin Impact. That did not surprise me, but still, the overall experience was quite positive. You can easily use this tablet for gaming, if that’s what you’re about, it’s not a problem whatsoever. To cut a long story short, performance is not something you should worry about here, at least not at this point in time.
Benchmarks:
Geekbench:
Device
Single-Core
Multi-Core
GPU
HONOR MagicPad 3
2,206
6,790
14,464
OnePlus Pad 3
2994
9044
19,178
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
2191
7358
12204
3D Mark (Wildlife Extreme Stress Test):
Device
Best Loop
Lowest Loop
Stability
HONOR MagicPad 3
5,163
3,705
71.8%
OnePlus Pad 3
6,639
5,485
82.6%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
N/A
N/A
N/A
Capcut video export:
Device
Time to export (seconds)
HONOR MagicPad 3
6.67
OnePlus Pad 3
N/A
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
N/A
Thermals:
3D Mark (Wildlife Extreme Stress Test):
Device
Temperature (F)
HONOR MagicPad 3
96
OnePlus Pad 3
93
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
99.8
Genshin Impact:
Device
Temperature (F)
HONOR MagicPad 3
96
OnePlus Pad 3
N/A
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
N/A
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Battery Life
The HONOR MagicPad 3 packs in a 12,450mAh battery, which is more than enough, actually. Just for comparison’s sake, this battery is larger than what the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has to offer, despite the fact that tablet has a larger display. It packs in an 11,600mAh battery pack. On the other hand, the MagicPad 2, shipped with a 10,050mAh battery and a slightly smaller display. So, from the spec standpoint, it’s more than enough, what about in actual use, as that’s what matters? Well, the same thing applies, basically.
The battery life is great
No, the battery life is not good, it’s great. Even if you’re a power user, this tablet will just keep going, I don’t know how else to say it. I was able to get well over 11 hours of screen-on-time on a single charge. Yes, even when I was pushing it with multitasking, gaming, and so on. That battery pack is more than enough to keep the lights on even for the most demanding users. If you’re not pushing it with demanding use, you can go well above those 11 hours I mentioned.
What about standby? Well, that’s not really an issue either, not at all. I’m not a prominent tablet user, not at all. I noticed that after 3 days of not using the device, the battery life dropped only around 7%, which is not bad at all. There’s really nothing to complain about when it comes to battery life here, not at all. The HONOR MagicPad 3 delivers, easily, and yes, that is a silicon-carbon battery that HONOR used.
You can fully hcarge it in around an hour and a half
What about charging? Well, HONOR included 66W charging here, which is faster than what the rivals offer. Charging this 12,450mAh battery for half an hour will get you over 40% of charge. Things do slow down once you go over 50%, however, so a full charge takes about an hour and a half. That’s great, actually, as you do have to keep in mind that this is a huge battery. Besides, the tablet offers outstanding battery life, so you won’t really find yourself complaining about that at all. You’ll be able to charge it whenever you want, without worrying about the battery life or charging. Just note that a charger is not included in the box.
Device
Battery life
Charging
HONOR MagicPad 3
17:52:12
1:29:55
OnePlus Pad 3
N/A
N/A
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
N/A
N/A
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Camera
Up until now, everything looks great, right? Well, the same cannot be said about the camera performance here. Granted, not many of you expect much from that section when it comes to tablets, and neither do I. Whenever I get to review a tablet and need to grab some camera samples from outdoors, I feel odd. Taking pictures with tablets is kind of frowned upon. Chances are you can get far better shots with your phone, so… why not?
There are two cameras included on the back, but they’re… forgetable
There are two cameras on the back of this tablet, a 13-megapixel main camera (f/2.0 aperture) and a 2-megapixel macro camera (f/2.4 aperture). Both of those cameras offer fixed focus, by the way, not autofocus. That’s noticeable when you’re using them. The main camera is not that good, and 2-megapixel macro cameras should not be used on devices at all, tablets and phones alike. Let’s talk about the performance.
You’ll see some camera samples taken during the day and night below. I never have high expectations from cameras on tablets, for a good reason. They’re not that necessary to begin with. Yes, you can take a picture with this tablet, but you shouldn’t. The images during the day lack color, and they seem to be a bit muddy. The white balance is not the best either, and the colors are off in general. Depending on the scene, reflections could also be a problem.
We don’t recommend using these cameras for low-light shots
When it comes to nighttime shots, they’re even worse, expectedly. The images do turn out noisy, and too dark, though that depends on how much light is in the shot, of course. The details are lacking in such scenarios as well, and the colors are all over the place as well. This may sound bad, but as I said, that’s not surprising. The focus here is definitely not on the cameras, nor should it be. This tablet has a lot to offer in the ways that actually matter. The rear cameras are here if you need them, but you should avoid using them, as on any tablet.
The front-facing camera is nothing to write home about, but it’s good enough if you need to take a quick video call or something like that. It’s not exactly great for taking selfies, but you can do that, if you really need to. The video recording in general is not that great, in case you’re wondering.
Camera samples (day):
Camera samples (night):
4K video recording thermals:
Device
5 minutes (F)
10 minutes (F)
HONOR MagicPad 3
86.2
89.5
OnePlus Pad 3
N/A
N/A
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
N/A
N/A
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Software
The HONOR MagicPad 3 comes with Android 15 out of the box, with HONOR’s MagicOS 9.0.1 skin on top of it. Thanks to MagicOS 9.0.1, it’s a completely different experience than you’d get with stock Android. Some of you will like it, others not so much, but MagicOS did improve over the last few years… quite a bit. There are also quite a few features included here that take advantage of that large display.
Multi-Flex feature is great
Let’s start with the basics, though. You can choose between a setup with the app drawer, or without it. There is a dock at the bottom, which contains your favorite app (customizable), and the last apps you’ve used on the right. You do have some options when it comes to this dock, but not a lot. You can also include an option for floating apps down there, which you can enable to run apps in windows, basically. This is great to use when you have the keyboard attached. It kind of feels like you’re using a tablet, in a way, and it works great. You can see a three-window layout below. It’s great for multitasking. This mode is called ‘Multi-Flex’.
You have your standard notification shade and quick toggles setup here. By default, it’s separate, but you can change that via the settings. Swiping from the top-left corner will lead you to the notification shade, while swiping from the top-right corner leads you to the quick toggles menu. It’s all standard stuff many of you will be used to. MagicOS 9 does have a different look, though, but it does look modern. The UI is also a lot more consistent when it comes to design, that it used to be, which is always good to see.
The App Extender feature is also included, as are various HONOR AI features
Let’s talk more about the MagicOS 9 features, shall we? In addition to floating windows, you also have the ‘App Extender’ feature. This basically allows you to display an app in dual windows, for multitasking purposes, or as a fixed-ratio single window. This feature is limited to only some applications, though, so keep that in mind.
HONOR is all about AI lately. Well, it has been for years. There is a separate menu in the settings on MagicOS 9 that is called ‘HONOR AI’. This menu has a number of AI features that you can take advantage of, and it explains how you can use them. It’s very user-friendly, actually, HONOR did a great job of presenting this. Options like Magic Sidebar, Magic Text, Magic Portal, AI Subtitles, AI Writing, and AI Deepfake Detection are included here.
Magic Sidebar & Magic Portal are especially useful
Magic Sidebar, for example, is a feature that allows you to swipe inward from the edge of the screen, from where you can launch apps in split-screen mode or floating windows. You’ll also get some AI recommendations here if you enable that feature. The ‘Magic Text’ option allows you to extract text from an image, while the ‘Magic Portal’ is kind of a clipboard on steroids. For example, you can grab a quick screenshot with your knuckle and then move it to the Magic Portal, which appears to the side. It will stay there so that you can use it later on, if you want. There are a lot of useful features here.
HONOR also allows you to utilize themes, use the ‘Magazine Unlock’ feature for some great wallpapers, change the font, play around with icons (though not regular third-party icon packs from the Google Play Store), and so on. MagicOS really did become a truly compelling Android skin. It feels great to use, very smooth and very consistent, while it’s also packed with features. You may not use all of them, but many of you will be glad they’re there.
The software support won’t be long
One thing worth noting is that the tablet won’t get great software support, quite the contrary. HONOR promised at least one major Android OS update and two years of security updates. The company could opt to offer better/longer support, but it did not promise anything beyond this, so… there you go.
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Audio
Alright, what about the audio aspect? Well, the HONOR MagicPad 3 is actually pretty great in that area. Why? Well, there are 8 speakers included on this device. If, on top of that, you flip the switch for HONOR Spatial Audio, you’ll have a great time with the audio output here. You’ll get the feeling of a wide soundstage, and really impressive loudness and sound in general, much better than a phone can provide. If you decide to step away from Spatial Audio, the sound will sound weaker, and will be kind of centered. Either way, we’d recommend taking advantage of that setting, that’s for sure.
The device is also equipped with Bluetooth 5.4. In other words, you can connect your wireless headphones that way, and be done with it. It’s not the latest version of Bluetooth, but almost. Everything worked well on our end. We did not experience any disconnects or anything like that, so… just as you’d expect.
HONOR MagicPad 3 Review: Should you buy it?
Should you buy the HONOR MagicPad 3? Well, yes, actually. If it’s within your budget, you’ll hardly find a better tablet. This one offers great performance, great build quality, outstanding battery life, and a great case that you can get for it, amongst other things. MagicOS 9.0.1 is a great UI to have on the tablet, and there’s really not much we can complain about here. Yes, an OLED display would be a better option in terms of color accuracy, but the one we have here is great regardless, and 99% of you won’t really care. Yes, the cameras could be better, but that’s arguably the least important aspect of a tablet. Everything that matters here is… well, great. This is an easy recommendation.
You should buy the HONOR MagicPad 3 if you:
Want a large-screen tablet
Appreciate good, all-metal build quality
Like using multiple apps on the screen at the same time
Need a tablet that will offer really good performance
Don’t want to pay a premium for a tablet
Need a great keyboard accessory
Use your tablets a lot during the day
Like using MagicOS, and appreciate the features it offers
The world’s first smartphone with two 200MP cameras could go global after all. The device in question is the Vivo X300 Ultra, which is expected to launch next year.
The world’s first smartphone with two 200MP cameras could get a global version after all
Why do we think it will get a global version? Well, it popped up in the GSMA database. The phone appeared with a different model name, which does not match the model names Vivo uses in China.
The model name in question is the V2562. That suggests that a global version will be available. Those are great news, as the same was not the case with the Vivo X200 Ultra. That phone is still considered to be the best camera smartphone by many people.
As a reminder, the Vivo X300 and Vivo X300 Pro launched recently, and both phones have global versions. Well, the Vivo X300 Ultra will join them next year, it would seem.
That smartphone is tipped to arrive in early Q2 2026. Its predecessor launched in April this year, so we’re expecting the Vivo X300 Ultra to follow in April 2026. That’s just a wild guess, however, we’ll have to wait and see. The global version could also launch at a later date, who knows.
The Vivo X200 Ultra is still one of the most exciting camera smartphones
Now, this phone is rumored to become the world’s first smartphone with two 200MP cameras. The Vivo X200 Ultra has one 200-megapixel camera, its periscope telephoto unit. That phone has great sensor sizes on all three cameras. Its main camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor size, while the ultrawide and telephoto units use 1/1.4-inch sensors.
If you add Vivo’s image processing and ZEISS on top of that, you get a really outstanding camera package. That’s what makes us excited about the Vivo X300 Ultra, people have high expectations.
The phone will likely be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, as its predecessor used the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It will have high-end specs all around, including a gigantic silicon-carbon battery, and blazing fast wired and wireless charging.
A new Samsung Galaxy S26 series leak has just surfaced, indicating the size difference between the three phones. Tempered glass screen protectors have surfaced online, as they were shared by a well-known source.
New Galaxy S26 leaks highlights the size difference between phones
This image, showing all three screen protectors, comes from Ice Universe, a well-known tipster. If you check out the image below, you’ll see them yourself, and you can clearly see the size differences.
The Galaxy S26 will be the smallest, followed by the Galaxy S26+, and then the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which will be the largest smartphone in the series. It seems like Samsung really did ditch the Galaxy S26 Pro name and will go with the Galaxy S26. The same goes for the Galaxy S26 Edge, as the Galaxy S26+ will launch instead.
In any case, this image also reveals that all three phones will have flat displays and rounded corners. They will also have a centered display camera hole at the top of their displays, which is not indicated here, of course.
These screen protectors also show how thin the bezels will be
These screen protectors also indicate that the bezels around the displays will be quite thin on all three devices. In fact, they indicate that the phones will have bezels that are of the same thickness.
All three of these smartphones were first expected to arrive in early January, but that won’t be happening, it seems. Samsung allegedly decided to postone their launch. There could be several reasons why, but last-minute changes and the Exynos 2600 chip yield could have something to do with it.
The three devices are not expected to arrive in late February. February 25 is the date, if the latest report is to be believed. The devices will allegedly launch in San Francisco, in the US. That’s where the global launch will take place. Samsung still didn’t confirm anything, of course, it’s still too early.
Samsung’s upcoming tri-fold smartphone is all over the news lately. Another report just surfaced claiming that it will make a global launch. In other words, it doesn’t seem like it will remain exclusive to China, Korea, and several other countries in that part of the world.
Samsung certifies a global version of its first tri-fold foldable smartphone
Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone has surfaced on Bluetooth SIG, and based on what we’ve seen there, it will make its way to both the US and Europe. The Samsung D6390, SM-D639U, SM-D639U1, SM-D639N, and SM-D639B variants appeared.
The first two models mentioned here are aiming for China and South Korea markets. The third and fourth models are aiming to launch in the US, these are carrier-locked and unlocked models. The SM-D639B, on the other hand, is the international variant.
Now, don’t get too excited if you’re expecting the device to launch in Europe. We still cannot confirm that, even though it’s a possibility. Based on the latest report from a trusted source, the US, China, and South Korea will get the phone, along with the UAE. Taiwan and Singapore are also likely launch markets for the phone.
Their Bluetooth certification did not reveral any other information, though. Well, other than signaling there could be some differences between them, but we don’t have any specific information at the moment.
That phone’s design was partially shown very recently
Samsung showcased this smartphone recently at the K-Tech Showcase in Korea. It was expected to fully launch at the APEC Summit, but that did not happen. Samsung did confirm that the phone is coming by the end of the year, though.
Samsung will not be the first company to launch it, however. Huawei already has two tri-fold smartphones out there, the Mate XT and Mate XTs. Their availability is not exactly wide, however.
The very first tri-fold handset from Samsung is tipped to have a 10-inch display when fully unfolded, along with 8-inch panel when unfolded halfway, and a 6.5-inch panel when fully folded. The device will also be quite expensive.
This time around, we’re comparing the very best smartphone from Google with its predecessor from two years ago. In other words, we’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro. The design language is similar, but still, these two phones do look notably different, while the internals have changed as well. Many of you who are using the Pixel 8 Pro are probably considering upgrading after two years, so… the Pixel 10 Pro XL may be the right choice.
As per usual, we’ll first list the specs of both smartphones, and will then move to compare them across a number of other categories. We’ll be comparing their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. There’s plenty to talk about here, so, let’s get started, shall we?
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Design
Both of these phones are made out of metal and glass, and while their design languages are kind of similar, they’re far from being the same. Both phones include flat displays with a centered display camera hole up top. The one on the Google Pixel 8 Pro is placed a bit higher in comparison. Both devices also have thin and uniform bezels around the display. Those bezels are slightly thinner on the newer model, but not by much. The Pixel 10 Pro XL’s corners are also rounded a bit more.
The Pixel 10 Pro Xl has a flat frame, which curves up towards the edges, just a little bit. The Pixel 8 Pro’s frame is not flat at all, it curves. Both smartphones include their physical keys on the right-hand side. The power/lock button sits above the volume rocker keys on both smartphones.
If we flip them around, you’ll be able to spot even more differences. While both smartphones have camera bars, they’re notably different. The one on the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a pill shape, and it’s not connected to the frame on the side. The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera bar curves towards the frame and connects to it. The cutout inside it is pill-shaped, though. Both of those camera bars do protrude on the back.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is 19 grams heavier in comparison, while the height, width, and thickness of the two phones are almost the same. Both smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Both phones are also quite slippery.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here, while the peak brightness is 3,200 nits. The resolution is 2992 x 1344 pixels, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 88%. The display aspect ratio here is 20:9, while the display is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
The Pixel 8 Pro, on the flip side, includes a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is also flat, and it supports HDR10+ content. The peak brightness here is 2,400 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 87%. The resolution on offer is 2992 x 1344 pixels, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. This display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 by Corning as well.
The main benefit of the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s display, in comparison with the Pixel 8 Pro’s, is its brightness. That panel is notably brighter. Both displays offer the same resolution, though, and both are quite vivid and have good viewing angles. The touch response is also quite good, actually. There’s not much to complain about here, as both displays are solid, but the brightness difference will be noticeable, especially in direct sunlight.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Performance
The Google Tensor G5 processor fuels the Pixel 10 Pro XL. That is Google’s newest and most powerful chip. It is the first processor made by TSMC, and it’s a 3nm processor. That chip is combined with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside this phone, while Google opted to use UFS 4.0 flash storage this time around.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, is fueled by the Google Tensor G3 chip. That is a 4nm processor, and it is combined with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside this phone. The storage that Google opted for here is UFS 3.1. Just to be clear, neither phone supports storage expansion.
Now, the performance that both smartphones offer is really good. Yes, when you compare them directly, you will notice a difference. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a bit faster, but the Pixel 8 Pro still does a great job when it comes to day-to-day use, that’s for sure. That’s not the (main) reason to upgrade, at least not in our opinion.
What about gaming? The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the better choice for gaming, that’s for sure. It does get less warm, and it does have more powerful hardware to push demanding games. Neither of these two phones is made for gaming, however, so… keep that in mind.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Battery
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL comes with a 5,200mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 Pro includes a 5,050mAh unit. The Pixel 10 Pro XL does have a slightly larger display in comparison, even though that chip is supposed to be more power-efficient. While the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL does offer better battery life in comparison, the difference is not huge. Both of them offer good battery life, generally speaking, though they cannot compete with the best battery life smartphones out there, not at all.
For the most part, we managed to go through our whole day without charging either phone. If you’re a power user, however, that may be an issue, it all depends on how much you’re pushing the two phones. The Pixel 10 Pro XL can pull out around 1 hour extra of screen-on time, but not more than that, at least in our experience. Your mileage may vary, though, of course. Don’t expect them to go the distance as some of the competitors, which, granted, have battery packs with a lot more capacity.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 45W wired, 25W wireless (magnetic, Qi2), and reverse wired charging. The Pixel 8 Pro supports 30W wired, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. Despite the fact the Pixel 10 Pro XL technically has faster peak charging, both smartphones will take around an hour and 20 minutes to fully charge. Do note that neither comes with a charger, though, so you’ll have to supply that.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features three cameras on the back. A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV). There is also a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom) included on the back.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, also has three cameras on the back. It includes a 50-megapixel main camera, with the same 1/1.31-inch camera sensor on the back. A 48-megapixel ultrawide camera is included, but with a smaller 1/2.0-inch camera sensor and 126-degree FoV. The periscope telephoto camera is the same as on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, actually, it’s identical.
Google did not really do much in terms of general photo quality in two years. In fact, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera performance was more reliable and more relevant when it launched. The Pixel 10 Pro XL had issues with balance out of the box, though Google did fix some things. While both of these phones provide contrasty images that look good, and have a ton of additional AI tools to help you, they cannot really go head-to-head with the best camera smartphones in the market, not at all.
Audio
Both smartphones are equipped with stereo speakers. The ones on the Pixel 10 Pro XL are louder than the ones on the Pixel 8 Pro, though. The difference is not big, but some of you will notice it.
There is no audio jack on either one of these two smartphones. You can use their Type-C ports to connect your wired headphones, though. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also supports Bluetooth 6.0 for wireless connectivity, while the Pixel 8 Pro comes with Bluetooth 5.3.
The OnePlus 15 just arrived, and yet plenty of information regarding the OnePlus 15T just surfaced. The OnePlus 15T is expected to succeed the OnePlus 13T, which was announced back in April. So the OnePlus 15T is not expected to drop anytime soon.
With that being said, Digital Chat Station, a well-known tipster, just shared some of the OnePlus 15T specs. Do note that this information is based on an engineering prototype.
The OnePlus 15T will utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a 6.31-inch display
According to what he said, the phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. In other words, it’ll utilize the same chip as the OnePlus 15. This will be the company’s compact flagship, in a way.
The OnePlus 15T is tipped to utilize a 6.31-inch 1.5K display, which will be an OLED panel. That display will be flat, and its bezels will be both thin and uniform. Below the display, OnePlus will include an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
The phone will be IP68 certified, while the battery details have still not been confirmed. The tipster did note that the engineering sample does have a battery starting with 7, so it’s at least a 7,000mAh unit. That’s plenty for basically any smartphone, let alone a compact one.
This phone looks like a true compact powerhouse… on paper
Based on these specs, the OnePlus 15T will be a true compact powerhouse. It could actually become the world’s most powerful compact smartphone, based on what we’ve seen here. We still don’t have the complete image, though, of course.
We’re hoping that OnePlus will opt to launch the OnePlus 15T in more markets this time around. The OnePlus 13T was announced in China, and then re-released in India as the OnePlus 13s. It did not make its way to Europe or the US. Pushing that phone to those two markets would create plenty of competition for Apple, Samsung, and Google.
The OnePlus 15T is expected to arrive in the first half of next year. It could arrive towards the end of April, just like its predecessor, but it remains to be seen.
OPPO’s next flagship foldable smartphone, the Find N6, could become the world’s first foldable smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. That is not surprising at all, actually.
The OPPO Find N6 could be the first foldable phone to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC
The information comes from Digital Chat Station, one of China’s most prominent tipsters. He went to Weibo to share the information. The chip information is not the only detail he shared, though. The tipster shared the key specifications of the OPPO Find N6, actually.
He claims that the phone will feature an 8.1-inch main, foldable display. A 6.6-inch cover display will also be used. The phone is tipped to utilize a 6,000mAh+ silicon-carbon battery as well. It will once again have a much larger battery than what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers.
The cameras will also be improved
A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s LYT-808 sensor) is tipped. That is a 1/1.4-inch sensor size, by the way, and an improvement over what the Find N5 delivered. An ultrawide camera will also be used, but no details were shared. The third camera on the back will be a periscope telephoto unit (3x optical zoom), and there will be a multispectral sensor as well.
Android 16 will come pre-installed on the device, along with OPPO’s ColorOS 16 skin. A customizable button will replace the alert slider, while a side-facing fingerprint scanner will be included, too. It will double as power/lock key.
“Full water resistance” is also tipped
The tipster also claims that the phone will offer “full water resistance”, meaning full protection. We’re not sure what rating will it be exactly, but that’s good to hear.
Wireless charging will be supported too, as was on the Find N5. The last piece of information that the tipster shared has to do with weight and thickness. The OPPO Find N6 will be even thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which is immensely thin and light for a foldable of that size.
The OPPO Find N6 will probably arrive in Q1 2026. The Find N5 landed in February this year, so we’re expecting a similar timeframe for the launch of its successor. That’s not something that Digital Chat Station mentioned, however.
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