Along with the new Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro comes an interesting addition to the status bar â a silence mode icon next to the time. Fortunately, Apple has included a way to hide silent bell icon on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, hereâs how.
The Action button sits in the same place as the side switch on previous iPhone models and works with a long press.
The default is set to turn silent mode on and off. But even if you customize the Action button to control something else, a new silent bell icon shows in the iPhone 15 Pro status bar right next to the time.
Spotted by MKBHD, the good news is thereâs a quick fix in Settings to remove the silent mode icon.
PSA for everyone who leaves their phones on silent and is about to get an iPhone 15 Pro: You can turn off the annoying permanent silent indicator in settings. Youâre welcome pic.twitter.com/FcOT8mnQMT
Open the Settings app on your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max
Choose Sounds & Haptics near the top
Tap the second toggle down next to Show in Status Bar to hide silent bell
Hereâs how it looks to hide the silent bell icon on iPhone 15 Pro:
And if you havenât customized your Action button yet, navigate to Settings > Action button. Here are the options for the new button:
Silent mode (default)
Focus mode
Camera
Flashlight
Voice Memo
Shortcut
Accessibility features like magnifier and more
No Action
Translate will arrive with an update âlater this yearâ
If you change the Action button to activate something other than silent mode, you can turn silent on/off from Control Center or Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
iOS 17 iPhone StandBy: How to use and customize the smart display feature
One of the headlining new features with iOS 17 is a smart landscape display mode for iPhone when itâs charging. Coming with different clock faces, widgets, access to photos, and more, hereâs how to use and customize the iOS 17 iPhone Standby display.
iOS 17 comes with a number of changes across Messages, FaceTime, the Phone experience, and much more.
But one of the most attention-grabbing features will likely be the new iPhone StandBy view that turns the smartphone into a mini smart display.
Hereâs how StandBy works.
iOS 17 iPhone StandBy: How to use and customize
Make sure youâre running iOS 17
With your iPhone screen locked, place it in landscape on an upright charger (the mode wonât work on flat or low-angle chargers or when your screen is unlocked â and it must be charging)
iPhone StandBy will automatically appear â the feature is enabled by default
StandBy works on any iPhone that can run iOS 17 but youâll need to tap the screen to see the clock, widgets, photos, etc. â iPhone 14/15 Pro/Pro Max with always-on will always show the StandBy display
The classic analog clock plus calendar widget on the right is the default StandBy view, swipe up on either to change them
Press and hold on either one to add or remove widgets
On the first StandBy view, do a big swipe from right to left to change views
Press and hold on the other StandBy views to customize them
iOS 17 iPhone StandBy supports Live Activities, Siri, incoming calls, and larger notifications
StandBy remembers your âpreferred viewâ and dims to red and night
You can tweak StandBy settings by heading to Settings > StandBy
Check out our round-up of the latest third-party apps to include StandBy widget support
Hereâs how iOS 17 iPhone StandBy looks in use:
The first time you place your locked iPhone horizontally on an upright charger, youâll see a welcome splash screen.
Now youâll see this as the default StandBy view:
Swipe up on either the clock face or calendar to get more options (the calendar is a smart stack suggestion by default):
To customize this StandBy screen further, press and hold on the left or right widget. Now you can remove options or tap the + icon in the top left to add widgets:
From the first StandBy clock/widget view, you can swipe from right to left to get to the Photos StandBy view:
And swipe again to get different the last view that features different customizable clock faces:
iPhone StandBy on Nomad Stand One MagSafe Charger
Press and hold on any of these to customize their color schemes but you canât add widgets to these clock faces.
But you can tap the ââŚ.â icon in the top center to access music at any time which presents a nice media UI:
And so it doesnât disturb sleep, iPhone StandBy for those with always-on displays will automatically dim to red at night:
iPhone 15 Pro Max back glass cracks within seconds in new durability test
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature an all-new chassis design made out of what Apple says is grade 5 titanium. A drop test video yesterday raised early concerns about the durability of this new design, particularly as related to the new curved edges.
Now, JerryRigEverything has posted his annual durability test with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and he has some concernsâŚ
Throughout the durability test, we can see the new grade 5 titanium put through scratch testing, heating testing, sandpaper, and more. As expected, the titanium does indeed scratch when you take a knife to it. The matte back glass, however, is far more scratch resistant.
The display also fares quite well during the scratch testing as well, as do the three camera covers on the back of the iPhone 15 Pro. But things get more interesting pretty quickly.
âItâs time to see if the new blended aluminum titanium grafted hybrid structure compromises the structural integrity of the iPhone 15 Pro Max,â JerryRigEverything says as he starts to put pressure on the device. Within just a few seconds, you hear a snap and the back glass has completely shattered.
âI did not see that one coming,â he says. âYouâve been watching me durability test smartphones for about 11 years now, and most phones do not break. iPhones especially do not break, like ever. And [the iPhone 15 Pro Maxâs] snap was abnormally quick.â
Internally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max survives the test. The screen and frame of the device are also both unscathed. Itâs just the back glass that succumbs to the pressure.
JerryRigEverything speculates that this could be due to the titanium having five times the amount of tensile strength as aluminum, leading to the glass back not being able to withstand even small amounts pressure and flex. On the bright side, Apple has made it far cheaper to replace the iPhone 15 Proâs back glass this year.
You can check out the video below for the full details. Itâs a fascinating look at the iPhone 15 Proâs new design, but also with some interesting tidbits about titanium itself.
In David Guettaâs hit song âTitaniumâ from 2011, Sia sang: âYou shoot me down, but I wonât fall. I am titanium.â It looks like the same canât be said for Appleâs version of titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 15 Plus takes the crown in battery life test, beating all previous iPhone models
Following the iPhone 15 release on Friday, the first battery test results are coming in. Apple touted the efficiency of the 3nm A17 Pro chip, so anticipation was high for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max to take the top spot.
Indeed, the Pro Max outlasted all previous iPhones in Mrwhosethebossâs test. But it was actually bested by the 15 Plus, which racked up more than 13 hours screen on time, and now holds the title of longest iPhone battery life on record.
Appleâs own tech specs page reports battery life in terms of longevity for continuous audio playback and video playback sessions. According to Appleâs numbers, the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasts the longest on streaming video playback with 25 hours compared to 20 hours for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Plus.
However, on audio playback, the Max is rated for 95 hours while the Plus hits triple digits at 100 hours. Appleâs numbers give a decent benchmark to compare across models, but itâs hard to deduce real-world battery life times from them, as day-to-day phone usage is usually more taxing than just watching video or playing music.
Mrwhosetheboss attempts to simulate a more realistic daily usage pattern, cycling through power draining activities like watching TikTok videos, Zoom video chat, recording video in the camera, and playing games. The phone screen stays on the entire time until the battery is depleted and it turns off.
The previous title holder was the iPhone 13 Pro Max, as battery life dipped a little with the 14 series. As seen in the video, all iPhone 15 models beat out their previous-generation counterpart.
Of the newest generation phones, the iPhone 15 Pro died first, followed by the iPhone 15. The 15 Pro lasted for 9 hours and 20 minutes. The base iPhone 15 endured another half an hour, clocking in at just under 10 hours of runtime.
The 15 Pro Max easily lapped the field, staying alive for another hour and a half of battery life, hitting 11 hours and 41 minutes. The 15 Plus almost beat the Max by the same margin though, achieving a staggering 13 hours and 19 minutes in the test.
The previous best performer, the 13 Pro Max, managed 11 hours and 19 minutes in contrast.
Apple has identified an iOS 17 bug which may affect the iPhone 15 upgrade experience today. During iPhone setup, the Transfer from another iPhone option may fail and leave your new iPhone in a state where it is stuck booting on the Apple logo black screen. Hereâs what to do if that happens to you.
The bug affects iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro as these phones ship with iOS 17 preinstalled. However, it may also affect anyone switching phones that are running iOS 17 and use the transfer data option.
If you encounter the bug, during the transfer of apps and data, the new iPhone will get stuck in a boot loop on the Apple logo screen.
To resolve the issue, Apple says that you need to put the device into DFU mode and restore it using a computer.
To do this, connect your iPhone to a PC or Mac using a cable. Press the volume up, press the volume down, and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding the side button while iPhone reboots until it displays an icon on the screen that represents a computer and cable. It will look similar to this:
After you get the iPhone into DFU state, it will then show on your computer through the Finder, or through iTunes if you are connecting to a Windows PC (or older version of macOS). In Finder/iTunes, you will be able to Restore or Update; press the Restore button to reset the phone.
After the phone has been restored, you can start the setup process again. There may be an additional software update available.
Finally, you can try again. If you are upgrading to an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you can set up using transfer data or iCloud backup. The aforementioned software update will have fixed the iOS 17 bug, so you can safely transfer data again and finish new iPhone setup.
However, if you are upgrading to an iPhone model earlier than the 15 series, a fix for the transfer data glitch is not yet available.
So, Apple recommends that you update using iCloud Backup instead. Make sure your previous iPhone has a recent iCloud backup complete (you can force this by going to Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup -> Back Up Now). Then, on your new iPhone, start iPhone set up and choose the âFrom iCloud Backupâ option when it asks how you want to transfer your data to your new phone. Your iPhone should then finish setup successfully.
These steps are described in an Apple support document, which first revealed the existence of this iOS 17 glitch.
How to turn on double tap-like gesture control on almost any Apple Watch
One of the main new features of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is something called âdouble tapâ which lets users control the wearable by pinching their thumb and pointer finger. While the full functionality and new UI of the feature are indeed limited to the newest hardware, anyone with Apple Watch Series 3 and later can turn on double tap-like gestures to get the feature working for many of the same use cases right now, hereâs how.
Hereâs how Apple describes the new double tap gesture for Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2:
With a new double tap gesture, users can easily control Apple Watch Series 9 using just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly and conveniently perform many of the most common actions on Apple Watch Series 9.
Apple says the new capability is made possible with the updated Neural Engine in the S9 SiP thatâs able to better process data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart rate sensor. Apple isnât launching double tap for the new wearables right away but says the feature is arriving in October with a software update.
While itâs not exactly the same as the official double tap capability, Apple previously launched Accessibility features for Apple Watch Series 3 and later called AssistiveTouch and quick actions. These allow anyone to control their watch with gestures like a pinch, double pinch (same as double tap), clench, and double clench.
How to use double tap on any Apple Watch
Option 1 â quick actions
Open the Watch app on your iPhone
Swipe down and choose Accessibility
Swipe down and tap Quick Actions (under Motor)
Tap On at the top to turn it on
Now, when available, youâll be prompted to double pinch to perform a quick action
If you miss the prompt, keep your eye out for buttons that have a blue outline â that signifies you can use a double pinch/tap to select it
Iâve found this to work most of the time with an Apple Watch Ultra but sometimes Iâll have to do the double pinch (tap) gesture a second time for it to be recognized.
Quick actions are a neat way to check out what double tap is like. It doesnât include all of the capabilities. For instance, Apple has shown that the official double tap with Series 9 and Ultra 2 includes the option to move from your watch face to the new widget UI, scroll through widgets and more with your double tap gesture.
However, many features are the same between the quick actions available for almost any Apple Watch and the new double tap thatâs limited to the newest watches. Those include the ability to answer and end calls, take pictures with the camera control app, control workouts, and much more.
Here are two examples of quick actions in use:
Option 2 â AssistiveTouch
This is the full-featured gesture control thatâs designed for those who have upper limb differences â but it can be used by anyone. It goes beyond both quick actions and the upcoming double tap feature.
This will take more time to learn but includes four gestures to control watchOS â pinch, double pinch, clench, and double clench. It also includes an action menu that can be invoked by a gesture that allows you to control almost any aspect of the wearable.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone
Swipe down and choose Accessibility
Swipe down and tap AssistiveTouch (under Motor)
Tap the toggle at the top to turn it on
Now tap Hand Gestures, and toggle those on at the top
Now you can customize what pinch, double pinch, clench, and double clench do
With AssistiveTouch, the default gesture for âactivationâ and the action menu is a double clench, you can change that at the bottom of the Hand Gestures menu
Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 battery life: Hereâs what you get
Apple has officially unveiled its Series 9 and Ultra 2 wearables with updated Apple Silicon, new capabilities, and more. But how about runtime? Hereâs what to expect with Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 battery life.
A big battery life bump arrived for most Apple Watches last year with watchOS 9 getting a Low Power mode for the wearable. That doubled the standard 18-hour battery to 36 hours.
And the original Apple Watch Ultra jumped onto the scene with a 36-hour normal battery life and up to 60 hours of use with Low Power mode and its own special option to use âFewer GPS and Heart Rate Readingsâ setting.
Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 battery life
Now Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are here and as it happens, the Series 9 keeps the same 18/36 hour battery life.
While the Ultra 2 has the same 36-hour battery as its predecessor, itâs more efficient with Low Power mode for a 72-hour battery rating (12 hours more than the original Ultra).
Hereâs how Apple describes the Ultra 2 battery life:
âBattery life for days. When youâre on the second day of a backpacking trip, the final leg of a triathlon, or diving along a coral reef, the last thing you want to think about is running out of battery. With Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can take on almost anything and have energy to spare.â
Hereâs how the all-new Apple Watch Weather app in watchOS 10 looks and works
Arriving with watchOS 10 is a redesigned Weather app that looks great, includes more weather metrics, and makes better use of the Apple Watch display to show more information. Follow along for how the new Apple Watch weather app works in watchOS 10.
Up until now, the native Weather app on Apple Watch has had a somewhat bland UI with limited meteorological data.
That changes as Weather in watchOS 10 brings an all-new design that looks sharp and is more immersive and informative.
Apple says the overhaul makes better use of the Apple Watch display. There are now eight weather data categories you can view on your wrist (instead of three) with the main, hourly, or 10-day forecast UI. And the background of the app reflects the current weather conditions.
While there is a lot to love about the new Weather experience on Apple Watch, Apple does have some trust to rebuild when it comes to the Weather appâs general accuracy and reliability. Hopefully, thatâs dialed in soon đ. Letâs jump in!
How the new Apple Watch Weather app works in watchOS 10
watchOS 10 is available now in beta â but keep in mind if you do install it on your Apple Watch thereâs no way to downgrade to watchOS 9.
When you first open the Weather app in watchOS 10, youâll see the main âConditionâ screen
That includes time at the top, location, cloud cover, current temp plus high and low, UV index, wind, and AQI
Swipe or scroll up to see an hourly look at sun/cloud forecast, and keep going to see the 10-day forecast
Tap the center of your screen to move through the different weather metrics
Or tap the cloud icon in the top right to change the weather data youâre viewing, which now includes:
Condition, Temperature, Precipitation, Wind, Ultraviolet Index, Visibility, Humidity, and Air Quality index
Tap the three-line icon in the top left corner to change location or add new ones
Hereâs how the new Apple Watch Weather app works and looks in watchOS 10:
Swipe or scroll on the main âConditionâ screen to see the hourly forecast for sun/clouds as well as the 10-day forecast.
When you tap the screen, youâll cycle through the eight different weather metrics. Hereâs what it looks like to see all the data with the circular hourly UI:
If thereâs a specific weather metric you want to look at, the fastest way to see it is by tapping the cloud (or other) icon in the top right corner:
Hereâs a look at the eight different weather metrics with the main view (again, tap the screen to move through the data:
And here are all those metrics with the 10-day forecast view:
Severe weather alerts will show up on the main Apple Watch Weather app screen with the ability to tap to read the full announcement:
With a brand-new design that really makes use of the Apple Watch display, five additional weather metrics, and a much-improved overall UI, I think the new Weather app in watchOS 10 delivers an impressive experience.
Nokia G20 : A long-lasting budget phone with one too many compromises
When it comes to the best cheap Android phones, most fall somewhere in the $250â$350 range and offer similar specs and speeds. Outside of special deals, not too many “good” smartphones with decent components can cost less than that. But Nokia wants to undercut that class of smartphones with the $200 Nokia G20 and $150 Nokia G10.
Nokia sells its fair share of cheap and mid-range phones, known for their stock Android software, guaranteed updates, and striking designs. Where the Nokia G20 stands out is its giant 5,050mAh battery, which is rated to last two or three days of standard use. That kind of longevity in such a cheap phone â cheaper than the Moto G Power, one of our favorite long-lasting phones â is a pretty great perk. Unfortunately, the G20 has some cheap hardware and obsolete wireless standards that hold it back from greatness.
Comparing the Nokia G20 vs. Nokia G10, the G20 wins handily, making it worth the $50 extra to boost performance and specs. But after testing the G20 for a week, hoping it would surprise me, I can’t fully recommend it unless you’re on a strict budget and really want a massive battery and display. Some consistent issues cancel out its surprising upsides.
Following the Nokia G10 in late April, the Nokia G20 shipped out on July 1, 2021, in the United States. Also available in India and Europe, the G20 can be found on most major retailer sites, plus Nokia’s site. It currently sells for $199 / ÂŁ135 / âš12,990. The phone is unlocked by default; while it’s compatible with some US carriers â including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Cricket â it won’t work with Verizon or Sprint.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Nokia G20: The competition
Compared to the other best Nokia phones, the Nokia G20 handily beats other sub-$200 handsets like the Nokia 1.3 and 2.3. The Nokia 5.3 technically has a faster processor and similarly massive display, but it still runs on Android 10, has a smaller battery, and will get one fewer year of support if you buy it now. You could consider the Nokia 5.4, which has an FHD+ display and a better Snapdragon for slightly more money, but it too will get about a day less of battery life and hasn’t updated to Android 11 yet.
Thus, you may want to look outside of Nokia’s phones if you want a stock Android phone with a similar price. The Moto G Power 2020 hits the same notes as the G20 with its 5,000mAh battery and reliable cameras, with the bonus of Verizon and Sprint compatibility. Its main downside: It still runs Android 10 and will stop at Android 11, giving it much less longevity.
For reliable stock Android performance, you certainly can’t go wrong with a Pixel 4a, which tops our list of the best cheap Android phones. It’ll immediately get Android 12 in September and receive an Android 13 the following year, has more RAM and a faster processor, and it hits FHD+. The downside is that you get a much smaller screen and battery for almost double the price. You also might want to wait until the Pixel 5a comes out for even faster speeds.
NOKIA G20: SHOULD YOU BUY IT?
You should buy this if …
You need long battery life
A 5,050mAh battery and an energy-efficient display and chipset help this phone last longer than almost any rival phone today.
You’re on a strict budget
Other more expensive phones may be better, but you really can’t expect better specs or performance at this low price point.
You want your phone to last for years
With security updates through 2024 and a battery that’ll last even when it loses some capacity, the Nokia G20 will spare you from buying another phone for a good while.
You shouldn’t buy this if…
Your carrier is Verizon or Sprint
Unlike more mainstream brands that support as many carriers as possible, Nokia focuses on GSM-based carriers only, at the expense of some of the most popular carriers.
You care about gaming specs or display resolution
You can find smartphones for slightly more money with FHD+ displays, 90Hz refresh rates, and faster processors. The G20 is better suited for casual use.
You want more protective features
There’s no water or dust resistance, nor Gorilla Glass on the Nokia G20. It does come with a cheap case and pre-installed screen protector, but other phones offer better protection.
The Nokia G20 is a bundle of promising features that never quite coalesces into a perfect budget product, mainly thanks to its wimpy processor. It’s a shame because it has so many perks in a single cheap package: a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual SIM, NFC support, side fingerprint sensor, dedicated Google Assistant button, a powerful 48MP camera, and (of course) a workhorse of a battery. That’s a pretty impressive list for such a cheap phone.
3.5Â out of 5
It was a struggle to choose a definitive rating for this phone. I found myself annoyed by the slight delays when opening apps or looking up information. Still, I had to recognize that I’ve grown accustomed to faster phones that cost much more and that this phone will work perfectly well for thrifty people who aren’t quite so impatient as I am. For its price range, it’s about as good as you could expect; but if you can afford it, I’d expand my price range beyond the Nokia G20.
Nokia G20
Bottom line:Â The Nokia G20 offers a massive battery and display size on a phone with stock Android 11 and no bloatware to speak of. So if you’re looking for a simple Android smartphone that competently completes any task you need, the G20 could work for you. But keep in mind you get what you pay for, and other faster smartphones are available if you don’t mind the extra cost.
The Nokia G20 has a genuinely impressive battery that barely drains when idle and should remain functional for days. Its satisfyingly simple stock Android software, striking design, and decent main camera all add up to a more-than-respectable package for a $200 phone. But its slow chipset, last-gen Wi-Fi support, and low-resolution display undermine the experience. Anyone willing to spend just a bit more can likely find something better.
Samsung has been continually expanding both the A-series and the M-series lineup of smartphones. They might compete in the same pricing but the M-series is different as this one packs different specs inside also this smartphone series is online-only. Today, weâre gonna review the Samsung Galaxy M23 5G, one of their most affordable smartphones with 5G inside.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Design and construction
The one that we got for review comes in Green and I do like the shade that they used here as it doesnât look cheap and despite having a plastic build on the smartphone, I do like the feel of it when Iâm holding the smartphone.
Speaking of holding the smartphone, the ergonomics are pretty good as we got here the curves on the side and itâs also light to the hand. However, the frame of this one is also plastic which makes it less premium just like the A-series smartphones.
On the right, the smartphone comes with the power button and also the volume rocker and the power button of the smartphone also serves as the fingerprint scanner for security.
For the ports, the smartphone comes with USB-C port, and it also supports up to 25W of fast charging which might not be the fastest in the market, but it will do its job definitely along with the 5000mAh battery of the smartphone.
As for the battery, they did a pretty good job as well as weâre getting a long battery life and it can definitely last up to a day or two depending on your usage. But as for me, I was only able to use the smartphone for a single day due to heavy usage. But it still is a heavyweight in the battery series. Â In our PC Mark Work 2.0 Battery test, we got a score of 11 hours and 57 minutes which is great
Software and performance
The Samsung Galaxy M23 5G runs on the latest One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 and I can say that this one does have a smooth and carefree UI. Everything was smooth and the colors and icons on the smartphone were really fine and easy to the eyes. Thankfully, there were less apps that are preinstalled on the smartphone.
For the performance, the Samsung Galaxy M23 5G comes with Snapdragon 750 5G. Itâs not new and weâve seen this before on other smartphones from Samsung as well and it was initially pegged for midrangers to have a 5G connectivity inside and while the chipset might fall a little bit behind the Snapdragon 695, the Snapdragon 750 5G is still a very decent one for its affordable price tag.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M23 5G is a very decent smartphone from the Korean company. While there are some drawbacks including the lack of the AMOLED display, the performance that we got on the smartphone is decent enough. We got 5G inside and the camera of the smartphone is decent enough to be used for everyday usage.
The battery of the smartphone is pretty good as well and the competitive pricing of this one makes it more interesting.
The OnePlus 11 this year comes without a Pro model, so the vanilla has a tough job carrying the weight of two devices. After all, it has to convince older OnePlus 9 users, for example, and those using the Pro. And it appears that the company was able to splice the two versions into one.
We see the OnePlus 11 as a strange mixture between the OnePlus 10 Pro and the OnePlus 10T from last year. Compared to the Pro, it has a couple of notable downgrades, but in the context of the 10T, it offers a substantial upgrade. For example, the OnePlus 11 is now equipped with a third-generation LTPO OLED display with support for Dolby Vision and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also bumps up the resolution to QHD+.
Of course, the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is running all those pixels and is paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The camera department gets a solid upgrade too – 2x telephoto camera with a big 32MP sensor and the ultrawide is now 48MP with support for autofocus. Moreover, the 11 is now featuring the Hasselblad Color Calibration, which wasn’t present in the 10T from last year. Oh, and the alert slider is back!
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Wireless charging is off the menu this year, but we get 100W fast charging almost everywhere except in the US where it’s 80W, which is nonetheless a welcome upgrade in both markets. It should fill up the battery from flat to full in just 25 minutes.
Other standout features include advanced cooling hardware, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos-tuned display and speakers, respectively. This should allow for immersive multimedia and gaming experience on the go. Of course, we put that to the test in the following pages, so make sure to stick around and find out whether this year’s OnePlus phone is worth your hard-earned money.
Unboxing the OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 comes in a standard OnePlus-styled big, red box containing all the usual stuff like user manuals, USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and the appropriate 100W-rated charger. Interestingly enough, the OnePlus 10 Pro last year came with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but OnePlus said that due to users’ feedback, they decided to switch back to USB-A as most sockets and PCs still have the older standard giving them more flexibility.
There’s no protective case this time around. Only Chinese customers get an extra case.
Competition
According to OnePlus, the 11 is missing the Pro designation from its name, not because they don’t believe it’s a Pro model, but rather because there’s only one OnePlus 11 phone (except for the 11R). However, the pricing and the feature set speak for themselves. The OnePlus 11 is a clear step down from the 10 Pro from last year in some aspects, but it also asks a bit less at launch – $699/âŹ849. On one hand, it’s pretty competitive, but on the other, you can find quite a few adequate alternatives. It’s considerably more expensive than the OnePlus 10T as it’s a more capable phone overall, while being more attractive than the 10 Pro as it carries most of its high-end features.
In the context of the 2023 flagships, the OnePlus 11 is kind of a flagship killer, even. The Samsung Galaxy S23 came out pretty pricey, and the Xiaomi 13 Pro is expected to be around the âŹ1,000 mark (educated guess).
One of the few proper flagship phones that undercut the OnePlus 11 is the Pixel 7 Pro. In our opinion, the latter is the more desirable option if photography is your top priority. It has a better overall camera experience with superb performance and further zoom reach (5x). It also has a brighter display, IP68 certification against dust/water (higher rating than OnePlus 11’s IP64) and a clean Android. Because let’s face it, if you came here looking for that good old OnePlus experience, the Pixel 7 Pro will probably cater better to your needs.
Google Pixel 7 Pro ⢠Motorola Edge 30 Ultra ⢠Realme GT2 Pro
On the other hand, the OnePlus 11 is more powerful; it offers better sustained performance under load and lower surface temperatures, substantially faster wired charging and longer battery life too.
Another clean Android alternative is the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, which also checks all the boxes and sells for a bit over âŹ700. Charging is almost as fast, the display is faster and brighter and almost as quick to charge, while using a more widely spread charging protocol. OnePlus’ contender, though, has the upper hand with better overall camera experience (particularly the telephoto and ultrawide).
Surely, the Realme GT2 Pro is due for an upgrade already, given that its initial release was exactly one year ago, but its price makes it a very lucrative alternative to the OnePlus 11. It runs the same software, offers a similar level of camera experience (better ultrawide, albeit no telephoto), excellent LTPO2 OLED panel, fast charging and outstanding battery life. It’s the same size as the OnePlus 11 too, minus the premium build.
OnePlus 10 Pro ⢠Oppo Find X5 Pro
Now, the hard part. Should you get the OnePlus 10 Pro or the OnePlus 11? After the recent price cuts, the newly announced 11 is just âŹ10 cheaper, going by OnePlus’ official web store, but third-party retailers will sell you the Pro for a little over âŹ700. Still, like most things in life, it depends.
The 10 Pro has fast wireless charging but marginally slower cable charging. It also has a longer reach with a 3x zoom (but not as good quality). And it’s got the nicer overall ultrawide camera, but no AF.
The rest of the hardware and overall experience is pretty much identical, for all intents and purposes. The upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 isn’t negligible, but it would go unnoticed by the vast majority of users. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still a very capable SoC.
All in all, one could make a case that the OnePlus 11 is just a more affordable version of the 10 Pro (going by the launch prices of both phones). That’s not to say the OnePlus 11 isn’t a competitive handset in the context of H1 2023.
Verdict
After years of uncertain releases, the OnePlus 11 seems to have a good chance of winning over many fans this year. It’s a competitive upper-tier phone with little missing from its specs sheet. It has a cutting-edge LTPO3 AMOLED panel, the latest hardware from Qualcomm, good overall camera experience in both day and night, long battery life, blazing-fast charging, nice-sounding stereo speakers and great sustained performance.
Sure, the OnePlus 11 isn’t flagship-level in some aspects, but it doesn’t need to be. In the context of its pricing, it’s a well-rounded phone with little to complain about. A better variable refresh rate handling would be nice as this current implementation produces issues with some apps, and we would love to see OnePlus finally catch up with the competition in terms of zoom level – 2x doesn’t cut it on a flagship in 2023. But that handicap is true for Oppo’s flagships, too, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.
Finally, the software changes will surely be polarizing. The new OxygenOS 13 has nothing in common with the older versions, and OnePlus clearly isn’t sticking to its promise about keeping true to its roots in this regard. While we like ColorOS in general, we would have liked at least some of OxygenOS’ native features retained. Right now, there’s little to no reason to opt for OnePlus’ smartphones because Oppo and Realme phones are already running the exactly the same software. OyxgenOS is what defined OnePlus for all those years.
Nonetheless, if you don’t care about the current state of OxygenOS or you are completely new to OnePlus’ ecosystem, we see no reason not to get the OnePlus 11. It’s a solid all-rounder that would ultimately become even more desirable with time as the price settles in.
Pros
Distinctive design with great ergonomics (feels thin and light in hand).
Superb 120Hz LTPO3 AMOLED display with granular HRR control and great color accuracy.
Excellent battery life.
100W SuperVOOC charging speeds are almost unrivaled.
Excellent sustained performance and thermals.
Good overall camera experience day and night.
Cons
OxygenOS is just ColorOS at this point, and fans will miss some OnePlus features.
Display has issues with the HDR and adaptive refresh rate.
What do you improve on a phone that’s already the default option in its class and competition is either very region-limited or, if widely available, just not popular enough to be a serious threat? Well, not a lot, Samsung says with its Galaxy Z Flip5.
The latest-gen foldables from the Korean company tread carefully, but the Flip does still feel like the more meaningful generational step up. That’s mostly due to the fact that the clamshell is treated to a much-needed cover screen upgrade, the new larger unit greatly improving usefulness (with some caveats). The other major development is in the hinge design, so the Flip5 finally folds flat, as opposed to forming an edge. And that’s mostly it.
Sure, the Flip5 comes with a new chipset – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 goes without saying. The base storage has been doubled to 256GB, which is also a most welcome change. Minor tweaks can be spotted in the camera system, but it remains essentially the same. Similarly, the internal display may have gotten a brightness boost, but that too is hardly a groundbreaking update.
But perhaps expectations for disruptive changes are unrealistic, and the Z Flip5 brings just the right amount of differences and improvements to make it a worthy successor. That’s what we’ll be trying to find out on the following pages.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 unboxing
The Z Flip5’s retail package packs no surprises. The half-height black box features a small stylized likeness of the handset, color-matched to the actual unit inside.
The list of accessories included is predictably short, too. After the removal of the charger from the box with the S21 generation, Galaxies typically ship with just a USB-C cable and nothing else. Well, that, and a SIM eject pin, of course. But let’s shift our focus where it belongs – on to the handset.
Competition
We kicked this review off, stating that the Galaxy Z Flip5 has no real competition, but that’s only sort of true. While it is, indeed, the go-to option if you’re out for a clamshell foldable, the breed does offer alternatives. And depending on what got you zeroing in on the small bendy Samsung in the first place, you might find what you’re looking for in a conventional bar phone.
The Z Flip5 technically starts at $1000/âŹ1200, but still-ongoing pre-order discounts, bundles, and promotions can sweeten the deal. Indeed, when you consider that a Z Flip4 now goes for a little over half that, it’s hard to swallow paying the full MSRP for a Z Flip5. Admittedly, the new cover display is a lot more useful, the gapless design looks nicer, the extra battery life is appreciated, and the cameras are a tiny bit better if still the same. But the last generation is about as cool and is almost as good in most respects. Perhaps the Flip4 could still build a case for itself, with price at the foundation.
Old one vs. New one
The Razr 40 Ultra (or Razr+ 2023 in North America), on the other hand, won’t be saving you any cash. It does have some pros over the Galaxy, though – for example, larger, higher-refresh rate displays in and out, plus the fact that the cover one is fancier-looking and the internal one has a smoother crease. The Razr arguably has a better software implementation for the outer display too, if you want to run real apps there. The Ultra’s ultrawide is more versatile thanks to its autofocusing capability, but that’s about all the camera advantages the Moto has – we’d pick the Galaxy for cameraphone use. The Galaxy’s IPX8 water resistance is also a solid argument in its favor, as is the beefier chipset and, believe it or not, the faster charging.
That just about exhausts the list of globally available high-end clamshell foldables, but there are a couple of other options from China that you could entertain getting – conveniently, each of them called Flip.
The vivo X Flip has unmatched battery life in the class, and is quite likely the best camera system on a small-size foldable. Those two points might make it worthwhile to go through the hoops needed for importing one from China, though unforeseeable issues in long-term use may end up ruining the experience. The Find N2 Flip sounds less enticing. White it does snatch a victory in battery life, the Find’s camera isn’t as capable as the Galaxy’s, and we reckon it’s not worth the trouble.
Which then brings us to the plain old flat non-bendable phones – if you’re after a Z Flip5, maybe you just don’t like to stuff large handsets in your pockets, and a foldable is only one of the ways to avoid that. Another road to that destination is the Galaxy S23 – Samsung’s smallest-size conventional high-end phone. You’ll get everything that’s good about the Flip, plus a slightly better zoom camera, a bit longer battery life, and DeX. And money in the bank too – the S23 starts at around âŹ650, but you can splurge and get the 256GB version for âŹ100 more, and be far from the Flip5’s price tag.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 ⢠Motorola Razr 40 Ultra ⢠vivo X Flip ⢠Oppo Find N2 Flip ⢠Samsung Galaxy S23
Verdict
Samsung may not be having the leading market share in the Chinese foldable scene, but we can’t imagine the bendy Galaxies are anything close to being threatened elsewhere. In that sense, Samsung didn’t have to bring dramatic improvements to this year’s lineup, so they didn’t.
That said, the Z Flip5, in particular, comes with two meaningful and significant upgrades. The gapless folding design is finally here, so the handset no longer looks like a prototype – it’s sexier this way but also simply more compact. The other thing is the cover display – the new one is large enough to actually be useful for a change.
Alongside those two major developments, we’re getting a handful of small ones that add up. The new chipset deserves a mention even if it was a given, but it’s also at least partially responsible for the improved battery life compared to the previous generation – it has to be, since battery capacity has remained the same. Similarly, the camera hardware is unchanged, yet the 5 takes better pictures than the 4.
The Galaxy Flips have been steadily evolving, and with the Z Flip5, Samsung is approaching that point where it would need to do something big soon. For this year, however, we think a cover display and hinge will do. We’d be happy recommending the Galaxy Z Flip5 – just be sure to either grab one of the early promos or wait a couple of months for the inevitable price drops.
Pros
Finally – gapless design.
IPX8-rated for water resistance.
Large and useful cover display with potential for further software tweaks.
OnePlus‘ latest flagship offering is here. After launching in China in 2022, we wondered when the rest of the world would see the new OnePlus flagship. Alas, the OnePlus 10 Pro is now available outside of China, and we are having our rounds with it. It includes the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a larger battery, a new selfie camera, and an updated ultrawide camera.
On paper, these updates feel more like they should belong to a vanilla OnePlus 10, with more significant upgrades reserved for the “Pro” model. The recent rumor of a OnePlus 10 “Ultra” to arrive later this year is starting to make more sense – speculatively, of course.
Update, 26 Aug 2022:Â A OnePlus 10 Pro unit made its way to our HQ and we jumped at the opportunity to fill in some of the gaps left from the review. Those include the loudspeaker test, photo and video samples from the usual locations, and entries in our Photo and Video compare tools. You can find the new additions on the respective pages.
In any case, we hope to see improvements in battery life, and we’re happy to finally see an updated 32 MP selfie camera module. We’re also excited to test out the new 150-degree ultrawide camera, and we wonder if we’ll see improvements in the main camera’s image processing despite the 10 Pro using the exact same main camera as the 9 Pro.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The display panel is the same as that of the 9 Pro. It is rated for 1300 nits of peak brightness, and it has HDR10+ support and a variable 120Hz refresh rate that optimizes battery life by switching down to as low as 1Hz. One new tidbit for the 10 Pro is Dual Calibration, which means OnePlus has color-calibrated the panel at both 500 and 100 nits – for more consistent accuracy across brightness levels.
In North America, OnePlus is launching the 10 Pro with a single memory configuration of 8GB + 128GB, though there are plans to bring the 12GB + 256GB variant to the market sometime in the future (India and EU get the 12GB + 256GB at launch). Otherwise, there’s no vanilla 10 variant, and OnePlus has been mum as to why that is. We will reserve all judgments for the end of the review, so let’s dive into OnePlus’ flagship option and find out what makes it stand out.
Unboxing
The OnePlus 10 Pro comes in standard OnePlus packaging affair: a sturdy red box with all the essentials included. Our North American variant didn’t include a protective case (despite there being a space for it in the box), but it did include a USB OTG adapter (USB-A to USB-C) for transferring data from an old device. Recent OnePlus flagships never included this in North America.
The package includes OnePlus stickers, documentation, SIM-eject tool, 65W SuperVOOC charging adapter, and USB-C to C cable.
If you were to pick up the phone in, say, India, you’d get an 80W SuperVOOC fast charger. This charger has a USB-A port instead of USB-C and is thus incapable of supporting USB-Power Delivery standard. This charger can only fast charge OnePlus and Oppo phones, but everything else will get the standard 10W, making it much less useful compared to the 65W model.
Competition
In North America, the OnePlus 10 Pro is positioned at $899, which goes head to head with the Google Pixel 6 Pro, and it sits between two iPhone 13 models, and two Galaxy S22 models. Overseas, OnePlus sees competition from Chinese brands Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Realme.
Google Pixel 6 Pro ⢠Realme GT2 Pro ⢠Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G ⢠Oppo Find X5 Pro
The Google Pixel 6 Pro features Google’s camera prowess and updates directly from Google. It has the stock Android 12 experience, though Google has had a few software snafus with delayed updates and new bugs that come with each update. Of the two, we think the 6 Pro has a more consistent software experience considering OnePlus’ recent and inconsistent rebranding of OxygenOS.
Realme’s GT2 Pro is identical to the 10 Pro in many ways. It has the same display, same chipset, same battery and 65W charging, but its triple camera setup is different due to the lack of a telephoto camera. Still, if you wanted to save a few bucks, you could get an identical smartphone with even similar software, as Realme UI 3 is derivative of ColorOS – which invaded the real OxygenOS starting with version 12.
Samsung’s Galaxy S22/S22+ feature(s) a more complete and consistent software experience. Both offer capable camera suites and yield great battery life, though the OnePlus 10 Pro will certainly charge faster. If you’re looking for an ecosystem to be a part of on the Android front, Samsung’s is a great choice.
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is similarly equipped with its triple cameras and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In our first-impressions review, we noted that the Find X5 Pro didn’t feel like much of an upgrade over the Find X3 Pro, which is kind of how we feel about the 10 Pro relative to the 9 Pro. We might even suggest you can save some bucks if you manage to find a 9 Pro at a discount.
Although the Huawei P50 Pro doesn’t include Google services, it does offer a competitive camera suite. If you can also get over the fact that there’s no 5G connectivity and battery life isn’t up to par with competitors, the P50 does have beautiful hardware.
The iPhone 13 Pro is chosen for its camera and video capabilities, as well as its software suite and excellent interoperability with Apple’s ecosystem of products. If you’re coming from an iPhone and looking to switch to Android, OnePlus does offer a way to transfer data in, but only offers the option to transfer from an iCloud account.
OnePlus 9 Pro ⢠Huawei P50 Pro ⢠Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Verdict
So far, the OnePlus flagship had a different launch from previous years. Aside from not launching a vanilla OnePlus 10 model, the brand staggered its Chinese launch from the rest of the world by several weeks. Plus, with recent reports of a OnePlus 10 Ultra coming later this year, perhaps the company is restructuring its brand strategy as it figures out how to cope with its unification of OnePlus and Oppo’s resources.
We (and OnePlus fans alike) have been disappointed by the most recent release of OxygenOS. It feels like OnePlus grasped at a bunch of elements of ColorOS and stuffed them into a package, and pretended that it was still OxygenOS. We’re happy to hear that OnePlus has taken the feedback from its community on this, but users won’t see the brand’s undoing of the ColorOS-ification of OxygenOS until Android 13 comes out in the later part of the year.
The recent rumors of a OnePlus 10 “Ultra” are what gives us hope for the brand in 2022. Otherwise, the OnePlus 10 Pro feels like it could have been the vanilla 10 model. Disappointments aside, we were quite impressed with the thermal handling and the raw performance of the OnePlus 10 Pro. There are enough features to keep semi-serious gamers happy.
But by far the most perplexing aspect of this phone is the camera. While the camera is good in general, we expected some upgrade over the previous year’s model. Except, there’s none to be found here. In fact, the camera system is quite simply worse than the OnePlus 9 Pro due to downgrading of the ultra-wide camera. While the quality difference isn’t massive, it is still objectively and measurably worse and also drops the macro functionality in favor of a frankly pointless fisheye effect.
If you are ready to drop $899 on a OnePlus 10 Pro, you might consider that paying a bit more will get you a more polished and more consistent experience somewhere else, but we would also say that the OnePlus 10 Pro is still worth considering. The 10 Pro is certainly a strong contender, but that might depend on who you ask. If you’re looking to buy into an expansive ecosystem, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, the 10 Pro does have a capable all-around camera with enough features to keep photographers and casual picture-takers happy while also catering to content creators who appreciate a color-accurate display.
Pros
Distinctive design with premium finish.
Superb 120Hz LTPO2 AMOLED display with granular HRR control and great color-accuracy.
Competitive battery life.
80W SuperVOOC charging speeds are excellent.
Excellent sustained performance and thermals.
Reliably good performance from the primary camera.
Cons
No formal IP rating outside US.
OxygenOS 12 no longer has that OnePlus fan-favorite look and feel.
Ultra wide is not at the level of last year’s model and also lacks AF or Macro.
Most games limited to 60Hz refresh rate.
Front camera and telephoto camera only offer 1080p video recording.
80W charger shipped globally is not much faster than 65W charger in the US, and it doesn’t support USB-PD for fast charging your other devices.
You can charge your Apple Watch or AirPods using the new iPhone 15âs USB-C port
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Proditch Appleâs proprietary Lightning connector in favor of USB-C, and that change has a few side effects. Perhaps most notably, you can now use the iPhone 15âs USB-C port to quickly add more juice to your Apple Watch or AirPods.
Apple made a brief mention of this during the âWonderlustâ keynote yesterday. In practice, the feature works exactly as you would expect it to. You can connect your AirPods or Apple Watch to the iPhone 15âs USB-C port, and theyâll instantly start to charge.
This works via a USB-C to Apple Watch charging puck, via a USB-C to USB-C cable for the new AirPods Pro, and via a USB-C to Lightning cable for older AirPods.
Apple has reportedly been working on reverse wireless charging for years, a feature that would let you charge up AirPods and Apple Watch by placing them on the back of your iPhone. This feature still hasnât seen the light of day, but the support for power-out via the new USB-C port is a great interim solution.
Thereâs no word on the charging speed provided to AirPods or Apple Watch via the iPhone 15âs USB-C port. Itâs important to note that this feature will only work with AirPods and Apple Watch, so you canât just plug in any device to the USB-C port and expect your iPhone to charge it.
Weâll have to do more testing to see just how big of an impact using your iPhone to charge your AirPods or Apple Watch will have on battery life. AirPods and Apple Watch have smaller batteries in comparison to the iPhone.
Hereâs what you can do with the iPhone 15 Pro Action button
After living its entire life with a side switch, the iPhone has evolved to feature a programmable Action button with the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Hereâs a look at all the ways you can customize the iPhone Action button.
Apple Watch Ultra received the Action button last year and this time around itâs the iPhoneâs turn with the 15 Pro and Pro Max.
The Action button sits in the same place as the side switch on previous iPhones and is used with a long press.
Apple notes that when you change the Action button to something other than controlling Silent mode, you can head to Control Center or use Focus modes to change your ringer.
Customize the iPhone Action button
In iOS 17, head to Settings > Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and you can set the Action button to launch:
Silent mode (default)
Focus mode
Camera
Flashlight
Voice Memo
Magnifier and other Accessibility features
Shortcut
Translate (arriving with an update âlater this yearâ)
While there are eight main features the Action button can control, being able to set it to control Accessibility shortcuts or run a custom shortcut from the Shortcuts app is huge. That means the possibilities are pretty much endless.
Some features make use of the Action button once youâre in an app too. For example, if you launch the Camera with the Action button, you can press it again to take pictures. If you launch a Voice Memo recording, you can use the Action button to stop the recording, etc.
PSA: Apple Card financing not available for carrier-free iPhone 15 orders
Last month, Apple discontinued Apple Card financing for iPhones purchased without a carrier connection. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, that change applies to the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.
What this means is that in order to use Apple Card Monthly Installments to buy an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you must connect that phone to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.
Previously, Apple allowed buyers to purchase an iPhone with the âConnect to a carrier laterâ option. This option means users are free to use the iPhone without a cellular connection or via any carrier of their choosing. For instance, you could connect an iPhone purchased with this option to a carrier such as Mint Mobile or Google Fi.
That âConnect to a carrier laterâ option is no longer available for iPhones purchased with Apple Card Monthly Installments. Instead, your new iPhone 15 Pro will require you to connect to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at the time of setup. Note that the iPhones will still be unlocked, but the carrier connection will be required at the time of setup.
Apple points out this new requirement on the purchase page for iPhone 15. âCarrier connection with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon is required to purchase with Apple Card Monthly Installments,â the company explains. âAn iPhone purchased with ACMI is always unlocked, so you can switch carriers at any time.â
As said when first wrote about this change in June, itâs a huge bummer for Apple Card users. The ability to finance Apple hardware purchases is one of the biggest selling points of the Apple Card, and this change puts a big restriction on the most popular Apple hardware purchase.
