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

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

IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 Gaming Monitor

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

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

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

New ThinkVision Monitors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Source: 9to5Mac

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Going forward, Oppo will stop including chargers with some of its products

Over the past few years, many smartphone manufacturers have stopped including charging adapters with their phones. Apple is perhaps best known for being one of the first to start this trend, and soon many followed. While Oppo was a long time hold out, the company has now confirmed that it will also abandon the charger, withholding it from some of its products that will be released over the coming year.

The news was shared during the company’s European launch event of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro, the Reno 8, and the Reno 8 Lite. Billy Zhang, who is Oppo’s vice president of overseas sales and services, relayed the new strategy to press in attendance, stating, “We will take the charger out of the box in the next year for several products. We have a plan.” Oppo is in a precarious position considering that it has been working on and building up its proprietary charging technology, VOOC, and Super VOOC, since 2014. The company has included the adapters with many of its phones, allowing its devices to charge faster and more efficiently than the competition.

Zhang addressed this by stating, “It’s not that easy for consumers to get access to [SuperVOOC chargers], so we have to keep it in the box. However, as we are expanding our business operations, we are looking to taking chargers out of the box and put them in the store so that our users are able to buy the chargers and continue using them even when they upgrade their devices.” Unfortunately, Zhang didn’t dive any further into the subject, so it is unknown as of now what products will be affected. Of course, “the plan” could involve any number of moves, that will undoubtedly require numerous considerations.

As Oppo aligns itself with other companies by removing charging adapters from its products over the coming year, Zhang didn’t explain why the company was shifting its strategy. But like most of its competitors, the reason is usually linked to environmental reasons. Apple first announced it was removing chargers from its boxes with the launch of the iPhone 12. At the time, the company cited that:

“Power adapters use the largest amounts of certain materials. Using smaller, lighter packaging lets us fit up to 70% more iPhone boxes per shipping pallet, which helps further reduce our carbon footprint. Eliminating power adapters from device packaging lets us avoid more than 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road for a year. Leaving out those adapters was a bold change for Apple and a necessary one for our planet.”

Going forward, Oppo will also have to make bold decisions, deciding on what devices will and will not include charging adapters. While it is a big move for the company, one can only wait and see how its customer will react.

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Source: Android Police

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Arm is suing Qualcomm over the Nuvia acquisition

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

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

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

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

Nuvia is a key part of Qualcomm’s plans

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

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

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

Nuvia chips aren’t set to arrive until next year

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

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

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

Source: Arm

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How to customize notification settings on Windows 11

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

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

Navigate this article:

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

Customize general notification settings

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

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

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

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

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

Focus assist

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

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

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

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

Customizing your priority list

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

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

Customize per-app notification settings in Windows 11

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

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

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

Notification settings in Windows 11 version 22H2

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

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

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

Focus

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

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

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

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Garmin’s upcoming Venu Sq 2 lineup could feature a larger AMOLED display

After announcing the premium Forerunner 955 Solar and Forerunner 255 series this June, Garmin is reportedly gearing up to give its affordable Venu Sq line a refresh. Although the company has not shared any details about the upcoming smartwatches, a new leak has revealed quite a few details about the unannounced Venu Sq 2 and Venu Sq 2 – Music Edition.

According to noted leaker Roland Quandt (via WinFuture), Garmin will switch out the LCD on the previous models with a slightly larger 1.41-inch AMOLED panel with a 360 x 360p resolution. The panel will reportedly be 17 percent brighter than the one on the older models, which should result in better visibility in direct sunlight. The upcoming smartwatches will also offer improved battery life; up to 11 days on a single charge, up from a maximum of six days on the previous models.

Garmin Venu Sq 2 – Music Edition

In terms of fitness tracking features, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 and Venu Sq 2 -Music Edition will offer heart rate monitoring, step tracking, sleep monitoring with extensive sleep analytics, an SpO2 sensor, and 25 built-in activity modes for various indoor and outdoor sports. The smartwatches will also feature several workouts to help users perform yoga, strength training, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and Pilates. Users will also get the option to create their own workouts and store them on the watch.

Garmin Venu Sq 2

In addition, both Garmin Venu Sq 2 models will offer contactless payment support via NFC, integrated GPS tracking, and water resistance up to 5atm. The Music Edition model will also let users store audio content from services like Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music on the smartwatch. As far as the pricing is concerned, Quandt says that the regular Garmin Venu Sq 2 will go on sale for €269 (~$269), while the Music Edition model will be available for €299 (~$299). The leaked renders suggest that both models will be available in three colorways.

Currently, Garmin has not announced a launch date for the Venu Sq 2 lineup. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as the smartwatches go on sale.

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Via: WinFuture

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Microsoft adds 14 new functions to Excel and more in August

As we’re nearing the end of the month, Microsoft has rounded up the new features it added to Excel during August. These roundups include features for users in the stable channel, as well as Insider channels, and they cover all platforms Excel is available on. One of the highlights this month is the general availability of 14 new functions, mostly focused on text manipulation and dynamic arrays.

Starting with those new functions – which are available across the web, Windows, macOS, and mobile versions of Excel – they’ve been available to Insiders since March, but now they’re rolling out to everyone. Two new functions are TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER, which let you output text from a cell only up to or from a specific point, simplifying the information in them. There’s also a TEXTSPLIT function that lets you split the text in one cell into two or more cells.

Other functions are related to dynamic arrays, which are also a relatively recent feature in Excel. These new functions let you combine, reshape, or resize arrays, so you can organize your data in a way that’s easier to understand.

Aside from this, the bulk of the changes seem to be in Excel for the web. The bigger changes including support for editing spreadsheets with legacy shared workbook features, as well as legacy data connections. Excel for the web also now supports Power Queries for Groups and you can also now create PivotTables that link directly to Power BI datasets. That last feature is also available in Excel for Windows if you’re in the Office Insider Beta channel.

The web version of Excel also now has a multi-line formula bar, and it supports rich text formatting in cells, so you can apply formatting changes only to specific parts of a cell.  Microsoft has also made it easier to delete data series from a chart by simply clicking the data series and pressing the Backspace key on your keyboard.  Finally, you can also now sort rows by color or icon.

On other platforms, most of the changes are exclusive to Office Insiders. If you’re in the Current Channel Preview on Windows, you can also use the new Show changes button, which lets you see the history of changes made to the entire workbook.

On Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, you can now display images directly inside a cell using the new IMAGE function to link to an image resource, as long as you’re in the Beta channel.

And that’s about it for the new Excel features Microsoft added in August. If you’re not an Office Insider, most of these features will likely be available in the next month or two, but we’ll have to wait to know for sure. Of course, as we’ve mentioned, the new features in Excel on the web are available to everyone now.

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Source: Microsoft

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These are the Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals in 2022

Samsung unleashed the Galaxy Z Fold 4 upon the world during its Unpacked event in August 2022. This foldable smartphone packs plenty of breathtaking technologies that make it such a tempting purchase at $1,799. When you unbox it, you will find a 7.6-inch main screen and a 6.2-inch cover screen — both of which support 120Hz refresh rates. In the camera department, you get a 10MP selfie camera, 4MP under-display camera, and a triple rear camera system. Said system packs a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP wide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens. It truly is a beast in the display and camera departments. Now, you must be wondering how to get your hands on this precious device. Below is a list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (2022) deals currently available. Don’t forget to protect it with a case, too!

Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 Unlocked deals

Samsung.com

As you might’ve guessed, Samsung is indeed selling this device and it’s now available to purchase for those who are interested. Through Samsung.com, you get to choose between Graygreen, Beige, Phantom Black, and an exclusive Burgundy finish. The pre-order perks are not available for this device anymore, but you can still get some solid trade-in deals with Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T variants purchased from Samsung.com. Just like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you can also save up to 30-percent on a bundle that includes the new Galaxy Watch 5 series smartwatches and the new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Those who are conscious of the phone’s durability can also get up to three months of free Samsung Care Plus while opting for a monthly protection plan for the device. Samsung is also known to offer some in-store credits for purchasing products from its website, so we suggest checking Samsung.com before visiting other retailers.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Samsung is offering good trade-in deals along with some other perks for the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Buy from Samsung

Best Buy

Best Buy is carrying both the unlocked as well as carrier-locked variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 4! The device is available in all three colors and you can even pick the right storage variant for you as they’re all readily available. Best Buy isn’t offering a lot of perks for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 now, but you can still trade in your older device to save some money on your big purchase.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Through Best Buy, you get to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and get some of your money back through an eligible trade-in.

View on Best Buy

Amazon

If Amazon is your retailer of choice, you can now buy the unlocked version of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 through it. This way, you can use the smartphone without committing to a particular carrier.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Amazon seems to have the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in stock right now. You can choose between two storage capacities and three finishes.

View on Amazon

Walmart

Walmart is selling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in different color and storage capacity options. Though, the device will only work with an AT&T plan or a Verizon one — depending on the carrier you choose. On Walmart, you can buy either of the two variants through monthly installments.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Walmart has the AT&T and Verizon versions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. The two editions are locked to the respective carriers' networks.

View on Walmart (AT&T)

View on Walmart (Verizon)

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Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 Carrier deals

Verizon

Verizon is also selling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and it’s offering some perks of its own. For starters, you get to pay through 36 monthly installments of $49 — if you’d rather not pay $1,799 on day one. Additionally, you can get up to $800 in Verizon credit with an eligible trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

If Verizon is your carrier of choice, it also is offering good trade in deals and installment payment options.

View on Verizon

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is also selling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in all three colors and two storage options. You can pay for it through $50 installments over the period of 36 months, but remember that the remaining balance on the device will become due if/when you cancel wireless service. Additionally, you can also trade in your older device to save more or get the Magenta MAX line to save $1,000 on your purchase.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

If T-Mobile is the carrier you depend on, it also is offering exclusive perks and the option to pay through installments.

View on T-Mobile

AT&T

If AT&T is your go-to carrier, then you can buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4 today, too! You can pay through $50 monthly installments and claim some of your money back through trade-in credit.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Through AT&T, you also get to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4, assuming it's your carrier of choice.

View on AT&T

Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile also has the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 up for grabs right now. You can pay in full or over the course of 24 months. Though, it’s only available in two colors

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Xfinity Mobile is selling the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in two colors and two storage capacities. You can pay through installments or in full.

View on Xfinity Mobile

Spectrum Mobile

Spectrum Mobile is also an option if you want to buy a carrier-locked unit of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. You can get up to $500 back through an eligible trade-in, which is a good way to save some money on your purchase. Similar to other carriers and retailers, you get to choose between three finishes and pay through monthly installments.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

You can get a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 through Spectrum Mobile and save on your purchase through a trade-in.

View on Spectrum Mobile

US Cellular

Similar to other retailers and carriers, US Cellular is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in three colors. There are no trade-in options to be seen but you can choose to pay through monthly installments with an eligible plan if you don’t want to pay the full price upfront.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

US Cellular is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in all three color options and two storage variants.

View on US Cellular

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We will update the list of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals once we spot more listings. If one of the currently-listed deals grabs your attention, claim it before it’s gone. Additionally, if you wait too long, you might face shipping delays — as the supplies start running out.

Will you be buying this foldable smartphone? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post These are the Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals in 2022 appeared first on XDA.

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

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

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

Navigate this guide:

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

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A53

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

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

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

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

Samsung Galaxy A53

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

Buy from Samsung

Best camera: Pixel 6a

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

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

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

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

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

Google Pixel 6a

The Google 6a packs Tensor SoC and excellent cameras.

Buy from Google Store

Best performance: OnePlus 9

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

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

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

OnePlus 9

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

Buy from OnePlus

Best bang for the buck: OnePlus 8T

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

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

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

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

OnePlus 8T

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

Buy at Amazon

Best Compact: iPhone SE 3 (2022)

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

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

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

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

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

Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)

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

Buy from Best Buy

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

Best Newcomer: TCL 20 Pro 5G

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

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

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

TCL 20 Pro 5G

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

View at Amazon

Best Innovation: ZTE Axon 30

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

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

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

ZTE Axon 30

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

Buy from Amazon

Honorable Mention: OnePlus Nord 2T

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

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

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

OnePlus Nord 2T

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

Buy from Amazon UK

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

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

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