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lundi 27 décembre 2021

These are the best laptops with USB-C charging in 2022

Despite having a name like Universal Serial Bus, USB ports haven’t always been that universal. With different sizes and capabilities for different devices, it was only when USB Type-C came around that we started getting closer to a truly universal connector. These days, pretty much every non-Apple smartphone comes with USB Type-C port for charging, but what about your laptop? One of the big benefits of a universal port is that you can use one charger for all your devices, so it makes total sense to want a laptop that supports USB-C charging.

In this list, we’ve done exactly that. We’ve rounded up some of the best laptops you can buy that have a USB Type-C port for charging, and preferably come with a USB Type-C charger in the box already. Because your phone’s USB charger is probably not fast enough to charge your laptop, it may be easier to use a laptop charger for all your devices instead of a phone charger. Most premium laptops support USB charging by now, so you have a lot of choices here. Without further ado, here’s our list.

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Best overall: Dell XPS 13 9310

The Dell XPS 13 9310 took the XDA award for the best ultrabook of 2021, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is an ultra-compact, yet powerful and capable laptop with a fantastic display, design, and of course, USB-C charging.

First off, the Dell XPS 13 comes with Intel’s 11th-generation Core processors, up to a Core i7-1195G7. This is Intel’s most powerful 15W processor, featuring four cores, eight threads, and boost speeds up to 5GHz. Plus, of course, it has Intel Iris Xe graphics, so you can run some light GPU workloads on this laptop out of the box. You can complement that with up to 32GB of RAM and up to a large 2TB SSD, so it’s fair to say you’re not short on performance or storage space.

The XPS 13 also has a fantastic display, which is a 13.4-inch panel in the 16:10 aspect ratio. You have three configurations to choose from here, with the base level being a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) panel, which is already fairly sharp for a 13-inch laptop. If you want more, though, you can upgrade to a stunning 3.5K (3456 x 2160) OLED panel, giving you both incredible sharpness, fantastic contrast ratios, and vivid colors. If you want the highest resolution and you do color-sensitive work, then there’s an Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) option that’s even sharper and covers 100% of Adobe RGB. Both the OLED and UHD+ options also support touch input.

The biggest downfall of the XPS 13 (and the rest of the XPS lineup) is its webcam. To keep bezels as small as possible, Dell designed a tiny 2.25mm camera with 720p resolution. That’s impressive, but it means image quality simply isn’t great, even compared to other 720p cameras. You might want to check out our list of the best webcams if that’s important to you. There’s also no Windows Hello facial recognition, though you do get a fingerprint sensor if you want an easy way to unlock your PC.

The XPS 13 also gets points for its design, which is very compact, including just 14.8mm of thickness. It’s a bit heavier than you might think, starting at 2.64lbs, but that’s not to say it’s hard to carry around. What’s really cool about the XPS 13 is that it comes in two great color options. One of them comes with a dark silver exterior (called platinum) and a black carbon fiber keyboard deck, and the other comes with a light silver exterior (called frost) and an arctic white keyboard deck made from woven glass fiber composite. The use of unique materials gives the XPS 13 a lot of character, and while both models look classy, they’re also unique enough to stick out.

Coming around to the ports, the Dell XPS 13 has two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C ports, both of which support charging, which means you can plug in the charger from whatever side you prefer. That’s always nice to have so you can set up in different places more easily. Aside from that, the XPS 13 has a headphone jack and a microSD card reader, so you don’t get a ton of ports, but it’s basically what you’d expect for something this compact. You can always connect a Thunderbolt dock if you need a ton of extra peripherals.

This is easily one of the best laptops around, and that’s been true of the XPS family for a while. You can’t go wrong with this one. You can buy it at Amazon below or find more configurations on Dell’s website.

    Dell XPS 13
    The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best ultrabooks on the market, featuring a compact design and high-end performance.

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Best convertible with USB-C charging: Surface Laptop Studio

Display pulled forward on Surface Laptop Studio

The Surface Laptop Studio is a brand-new product from Microsoft this year, but it quickly jumped to the top of our favorite laptops. This is a very unique convertible with powerful specs and a form factor that’s one of the coolest things around — in my opinion, at least.

Starting with performance, the Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful Surface yet, and it comes packing Intel’s new H35-series processors, up to a Core i7-11370H. This is a 35W processor with four cores, eight threads, and up to 4.8GHz clock speeds, and because of that higher power rating, it’s also more powerful than a typical laptop. It also includes Intel Iris Xe graphics, but if that’s not enough power for you, the Core i7 model of this laptop also includes an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, so you can feasibly play some games and run more demanding tasks on it. Aside from that, you can configure the Surface Laptop Studio with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, making for a very powerful machine all around.

You also get a great display with the Surface Laptop Studio. This is a 14.4-inch panel, and it comes in the signature 3:2 aspect ratio of Surface devices, which is slightly taller than even 16:10 displays. This one is also very sharp, coming in a 2400 x 1600 resolution, and it supports Dolby Vision, too. One thing that makes this panel unique is that it’s one of the few non-gaming laptops that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, so animations, transitions, and other motion will look much smoother on this screen. Being a convertible, touch and pen support are obviously included, but if you have a Surface Slim Pen 2, you also get haptic feedback while drawing in certain apps, making it feel like a real pen on real paper.

The Surface Laptop Studio also has the benefit of having one of the better webcams you can find on a laptop. It’s a Full HD camera, which isn’t new to Surface devices in general, but it is new to the Surface Laptop range. That higher-resolution camera means you’ll look better during video calls and meetings, which is especially important nowadays. The camera also supports Windows Hello facial recognition, as most Surface devices do.

What truly makes the Surface Laptop Studio stand out is its design. It’s a convertible, yes, but it doesn’t rotate 360 degrees on a single hinge. Instead, it has a second hinge beyond the display, and you can use that to pull the screen closer to you (as seen above), you fold the display down over the keyboard base to turn it into a canvas for note-taking or artistic work. It’s genuinely cool, and easier to go from one stance to another than a traditional convertible. As for portability, the Surface Laptop Studio measures in at 18.94mm, and it starts at 3.87lbs of weight. It’s fairly lightweight for the specs inside, but it doesn’t stand out on that front.

Finally, in terms of ports, the Surface Laptop Studio does support USB Type-C charging, but it doesn’t come. Out of the box, it uses the Surface Connect port to charge, but it does have two Thunderbolt 4 ports you can use for charging if you want to. You might need to buy a high-power charger, though, especially if you choose the Core i7 model. Aside from those three ports, there’s a headphone jack, which means the Surface Laptop Studio doesn’t offer a ton of variety, but the inclusion of Thunderbolt support helps make up for it.

Personally speaking, the Surface Laptop Studio is my favorite device on this list, and it’s a truly great laptop, It may be lacking some ports, but between the performance, the unique form factor, and the display, this is one of the very best laptops you can buy today.

    Surface Laptop Studio
    The Surface Laptop Studio is a powerful convertible laptop with a unique form factor and a great display. You'll need your own USB-C charger, though.

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Also great: HP Spectre x360 14

We may love the Surface Laptop Studio’s form factor, but if you’re a bigger fan of traditional convertibles, we’ve got you covered, too. The HP Spectre x360 14 is one of HP’s most recent additions to the lineup, and it gets enough right that it might just be the best one in the family.

First things first, the HP SPectre x360 is powered by Intel’s 11th-generation Core processors up to a Core i7-1165G7, which has four cores, eight threads, and boost speeds up to 4.7GHz. This is a 15W processor, on par with the Dell XPS 13 mentioned above, albeit slightly slower, and it also includes Intel Iris Xe graphics. In addition to that, you can configure the Sectre x360 14 with up to 16GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, giving you plenty of storage and enough memory to multitask without a problem.

In terms of the display, the Spectre x360 14 comes with a 13.5-inch panel, and it’s the first (and so far, only) Spectre to use the tall 3:2 aspect ratio. This means the laptop is as wide as its 13-inch sibling but as tall as the 15-inch model. The base configuration comes with a Full HD+ (1920 x 1280) panel, which is already sharp enough for a display of this size. If you want an even better display, you can upgrade to a “3K2K” (3000 x 2000) OLED display, which is sharper and offers all the benefits of an OLED panel, like true blacks and high contrast ratios. Both panels have 400 nits of brightness, so they should be usably outdoors without a problem.

The Spectre x360’s webcam suffers from a similar problem to the Dell XPS 13. To shrink the bezels as much as possible, HP used a tiny 720p webcam that doesn’t produce very good images in video calls and meetings. At least HP found space for a Windows Hello facial recognition camera, though, and that’s in addition to a fingerprint reader, so you can use whatever method you prefer to unlock your laptop.

Design-wise, HP’s Spectre lineup is one of the most unique ones around, and that holds true with the Spectre x360 14. The “nightfall black” and “Poseidon blue” variants of this laptop use a dual-tone look. Most surfaces of the laptop are either black or dark blue, but the edges and hinges of the laptop use copper (in the black model) or gold (in the blue model) accents, giving the laptop a much more premium feel. You can also get the natural silver model if you want something more subdued, though. The laptop also has iconic angular edges and trimmed-off corners below the display, contributing to an even more unique look. As for portability, the Spectre x360 14 weighs 2.95lbs and measures just over 17mm in thickness.

As for ports, the HP Spectre x360 has two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports that can be used for charging, and while they’re both on the same side, one of them is in one of the cut-off corners, which makes it a bit more accessible from both sides. You also get one USB Type-A port for legacy peripherals, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. This covers most of the basics for a laptop of this size, and you’re only missing a traditional display output, meaning you might need an adapter to connect external monitors.

This is a stellar convertible laptop with high-end performance, a stunning design, a great display, and a decent supply of ports including USB-C charging. You can’t ask for much more than that.

    HP Spectre x360 14
    With a stunning and relatively light design, high-end specs, and a great display, the HP Spectre x360 14 is a simply fantastic convertible.

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Best business laptop with USB-C charging: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9

Front view of ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9

Lenovo’s ThinkPad lineup is home to some of the most iconic business laptops out there, and none is more iconic than the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It’s one of the oldest laptops in the family, but Lenovo has done a great job of modernizing it while still keeping what makes a ThinkPad so well-known.

Starting with performance, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 comes with 11th-generation 15W processors from Intel, maxing out with an Intel Core i7-1185G7 with vPro. Intel vPro processors include extra security features for businesses, and are generally a bit faster than the non-vPro models, too. This one is a quad-core, eight-thread model with boost speeds up to 4.8GHz, and of course, Iris Xe graphics. In addition to that, you can configure it with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, giving you plenty of performance and space for your files.

The latest model of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon improves the display by switching to a taller 16:10 aspect ratio from the previous 16:9 panel, which is great for productivity. The base model is a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS panel with 400 nits of brightness, but you can go all the way to an Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) model with HDR support and 500 nits. Some FHD+ configurations also include touch support and a privacy guard to prevent others from seeing what’s on your screen.

The webcam on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a 720p camera, though it’s not super small like the ones we saw above. Windows Hello facial recognition isn’t included by default in the base model, but you can add it as an option. You also get a fingerprint reader, which is included by default with the laptop.

One thing that hasn’t changed what the latest X1 Carbon is the iconic ThinkPad look. The classic black chassis with red accents is still here, as are features like the pointing stick and duplicate mouse buttons above the touchpad and the rounded keyboard keys. It’s been modernized, though, so the laptop measures just 14.9mm thick and weighs 2.49lbs in the base configuration. You get all the ThinkPad features you know in a very portable package, which is great. Also, if you get the Ultra HD+ display, the lid of the laptop comes covered in black carbon fiber for a more unique look.

For ports, you get two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C connections with support for charging (though they’re both on the same side), plus two USB Type-A ports (3.2 Gen 1), HDMI 2.0, and a headphone jack. Like many business laptops, you also get the option for LTE or 5G connectivity, and that adds a nano SIM slot to the laptop, too. Cellular network support means you can stay connected to the internet wherever you go, and that can be very useful.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 nails all the basics of a business laptop, with great performance, a classic design, a tall screen, and lots of ports. You can buy it at Best Buy below, but you can find more configurations on Lenovo’s website.

    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
    The lnewest ThinkPad X1 Carbon has modern specs, a tall display, and a lightweight design while keeping everything you love about ThinkPads.

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Best gaming laptop with USB-C charging: ASUS ROG Flow X13

ASUS ROG Flow X13 running Forza 4

While many gaming laptops technically support USB-C charging, the amount of power they consume usually far exceeds the power that USB Power Delivery supports (until the recent announcement of 240W USB charging, at least). Because of that, most gaming laptops don’t fit on this list all that well, but the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is an exception.

That’s because, performance-wise, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 isn’t up there with other gaming laptops. But that’s not to say it’s slow by any means. It comes with AMD’s 35W Ryzen processors, up to a Ryzen 9 5980HS, which is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with boost speeds up to 4.8GHz. That’s one of the fastest laptop processors around, but it doesn’t use as much power as some others. That’s paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, also rated for 35W, giving you solid performance to play most modern games at decent frame rates, though it will obviously vary from game to game. Aside from that, you get up to 32GB of RAM (not upgradeable) and a 1TB SSD, so you have quite a bit of space for games and files.

If you want more gaming performance, you can buy this laptop alongside the ROG Xg Mobile, an external GPU enclosure containing a GeForce RTX 3080 plus more ports to expand the connectivity on the laptop. Keep in mind this uses a proprietary connector, and Thunderbolt-based external GPUs won’t work here.

For a gaming laptop, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 has an uncommon display, being a 13.4-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The base model is a Full HD+ (1920 x 1080) panel and it has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother gaming (and motion in general), though there’s also an option for an Ultra HD+ 60Hz panel if you prefer the higher resolution. Despite being a gaming laptop, it’s also a convertible, and that means the display supports touch and pen input, and a pen is even included in the box in some models. That makes this a very versatile laptop, though, and that’s great.

The webcam on the ROG Flow X13 is a 720p camera, as you might have expected, and it doesn’t support Windows Hello facial recognition. That’s not uncommon for gaming laptops, and thankfully, you do get a fingerprint reader built into the power button on the side of the laptop. That should make unlocking your PC a bit easier.

Coming to the design, the ROG Flow X13 is very subdued for a gaming laptop, depending on the model you get. It’s an all-black laptop with a striped pattern running through the chassis, but the ASUS ROG branding on the lid does have an RGB light in some models. The keyboard is only backlit in white, so it looks professional on that front, too. It’s also very thin and light for a gaming laptop, weighing 2.87lbs and measuring 15.8mm in thickness.

For ports, the ROG Flow X13 counts two USB Type-c (3.2 Gen 2 ports), both of which can charge the laptop, and they’re on different sides of the laptop, too. The charger goes up to 100W, so it should be able to keep the laptop charged even under load. You also get one USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 2), HDMI 2.0b, and a headphone jack. One of the USB Type-C ports is also part of the ROG Xg mobile interface to connect the external GPU, if you choose to get it. Naturally, Thunderbolt support isn’t available because this is an AMD laptop, but this is still a solid setup.

This is a gaming laptop for those who don’t need the absolute most performance, but it’s a fantastic choice all the same. It can run just about any modern game and it’s also great for productivity and all kinds of tasks. This is the only laptop on this list I’ve personally bought and own, and I definitely recommend it.

    ASUS ROG Flow X13
    For those who want a gaming laptop that's also versatile and easy to take anywhere, the ROG Flow X13 is an absolutely fantastic laptop.

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Best 17-inch laptop with USB-C charging: LG gram 17

Fans of larger laptops can sometimes have it tough when it comes to finding a thin and light laptop, but the LG gram 17 is perfect for those users. It’s a capable laptop with great battery life, solid performance, and a surprisingly lightweight design.

The LG gram 17 is powered by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, with four cores, eight threads, and boost speeds up to 4.7GHz, plus Intel Iris Xe graphics built-in. It’s a high-end laptop, but it’s using 15W processors, which allows it to be as light as it is. It also comes with up to 16GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, so multi-tasking shouldn’t be a problem, and you shouldn’t have to worry about running out of space for your files.

As you’d probably expect from the name, the LG gram 17 comes with a 17-inch display, and it has a 16:10 aspect ratio. That helps the screen feel that much bigger, and with a very sharp Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) resolution, it makes great use of the available space. The high pixel density and size mean you get a lot of space for multiple apps at once, making multitasking easier. The display also covers 99% of DCI-P3, so it’s great for creative professionals.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gram 17 still comes with a 720p webcam, and it doesn’t support Windows Hello facial recognition, either. Instead, there’s a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, which admittedly does make it fairly easy to unlock the PC whenever you need it.

What’s most impressive about the LG gram 17 is just how light it is, weighing under 3lbs. Sure, we’ve seen other laptops on this list be that light, but they have way smaller screens, so this is still very impressive. It’s also fairly thin, measuring 17.78mm, and overall, it’s a laptop you can take anywhere, while still giving you a big canvas to work on. This is thanks to a build that mostly uses magnesium, compared to the more typical aluminum laptops. While we’re on the topic of design, it’s worth noting the gram 17 also has a number pad, which some users might find useful.

And for ports, the LG gram packs two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports with support for charging (both on the same side, unfortunately), two USB Type-A (3.2 Gen 2) ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. That covers just about any basic need you might have, and it’s a solid setup to boot. It’d be nice if the charging ports were on different sides, but that’s arguably a minor detail.

The LG gram 17 isn’t the most powerful 17-inch laptop out there, but it’s one of the most portable, and that’s its biggest focus. It still delivers a premium experience and it can go with you anywhere.

    LG gram 17
    The LG gram 17 is a 17-inch laptop for those who work on the go, featuring a lightweight design and long-lasting battery that can be charged over USB-C.

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Best tablet: Surface Pro 8

Angled view of Surface Pro 8

There aren’t a whole lot of great Windows tablets out there, but the ones that exist are very good. Still, the Surface Pro 8 stands out from the pack, not only featuring high-end specs and a great display, but also Thunderbolt support for the first time.

Performance-wise, the Surface Pro 8 is on par with other ultrabooks, starting with 11th-generation Intel Core processors up to a Core i7-1185G7. As we’ve mentioned before, this is a quad-core, eight-thread processor that can boost up to 4.8GHz as needed and also includes Iris Xe graphics for some light GPU workloads. You can also configure the Surface Pro 8 with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, so it definitely doesn’t fall short just because it’s a tablet.

One of the areas where the Surface Pro 8 shines is its display (no pun intended). This is a 13-inch panel in the signature 3:2 aspect ratio we know Surface devices for, and it’s a very sharp panel at 2880 x 1920 resolution, which is the standard across all configurations. Of course, it supports touch and pen input, and just like the Surface Laptop Studio, you get haptic feedback in the Surface Slim Pen 2 when you use it with this tablet. Also, this is the only Windows tablet that supports a 120Hz refresh rate for the display (though it’s set to 60Hz out of the box), and it also supports Dolby Vision.

Another strength of the Surface Pro 8 is in its cameras. The front-facing webcam on the Pro 8 is a 5MP sensor, and it supports 1080p video, making it one of the best webcams you’ll find on any laptop out there. It also supports Windows Hello facial recognition, as most Surface devices do. In addition to that, you get another camera on the back, this one being a 10MP camera with 4K video recording. If you’re taking lots of video calls, this is a fantastic device.

Being a tablet with no keyboard out of the box, the Surface Pro 8 is one of the more portable devices on this list. It weighs just 1.96lbs, and it measures 9.3mm thin, so this is a device you can truly take anywhere without much hassle. Even if you add a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, this is still one of the most portable devices on this list.

In terms of ports, the Surface Pro 8 suffers from the same problem most Surface devices do. It does have two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports with charging support, but the default charging method is using the Surface Connect port and the charger that comes in the box. Those are also the only ports on this tablet aside from a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you don’t have a ton of options unless you get a dock or adapter. For a tablet, that’s not bad, but it falls a little short as a PC.

Despite its shortcomings, the Surface Pro 8 is a fantastic Windows tablet with high-end specs and a great display and cameras, making it great for everything from working to consuming media.

    Surface Pro 8
    The Surface Pro 8 is one of the best Windows tablets out there, featuring high-end specs and a modern design.

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Best budget laptop with USB-C charging: HP Pavilion Aero

Angled view of HP Pavilion Aero 13

Finally, what if you want a great affordable laptop that supports USB-C charging? The HP Pavilion Aero might be the answer, seeing as it’s one of the best budget laptops you can buy in general. It doesn’t come with a USB Type-C charger in the box, but it does support it.

Despite being affordable, the HP Pavilion Aero doesn’t lack in performance, It comes with AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series processors, starting with a Ryzen 5 5600U in the base model. That’s already a 6-core, 12-thread processor that can boost up to 4.2GHz, so performance definitely isn’t lacking here. You can upgrade to a Ryzen 7 if you can afford it though. The base model also includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for storage, which is a solid combination for an affordable laptop, though again, you can go up to 16GB and 1TB, respectively, depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

The display is another area where HP didn’t cheap out. This is a 13.3-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio — a rare sight in laptops at this price — and it comes in Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution out of the box, too. If that’s not impressive enough, you can upgrade to a Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) panel for just $30. And it’s a 400-nit panel in both variants, so outdoor visibility isn’t a problem, something you can’t say of a lot of other cheap laptops.

Corners have to be cut somewhere, though, and the camera here is a 720p sensor without Windows Hello facial recognition. That’s not to say you’re completely out of options, though, you do get a fingerprint reader built-in. While that’s not something exclusive to the Pavilion Aero, it could easily have been left out considering everything else on offer here, so it’s great to see it made the cut.

Back on a positive note, the HP Pavilion Aero is also a very lightweight and portable laptop, another area that affordable laptops tend to struggle with. It weighs less than 2.2lbs thanks to its magnesium chassis, and it’s just over 17mm thick. This is also a unique laptop in the sense that it gives you four color options to choose from. They’re all fairly subdued, but you get to choose something that fits your style, and that’s always good.

Finally, the port selection on the HP Pavilion Aero includes one USB-C port (3.2 Gen 2) with support for charging, two USB Type-A (3.2 Gen 1) ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. The default charger uses a proprietary barrel port, but if you happen to have a powerful USB-C charging brick already, then you can use it with this laptop.

With a launch price of $750, the HP Pavilion Aero was a fantastic mainstream laptop already, but now that it’s often heavily discounted (at writing time, it costs $550), this is a steal. We definitely recommend this laptop if you’re on a tight budget and want a great experience.

    HP Pavilion Aero
    The HP Pavilion Aero is an affordable laptop that doesn't compromise on power or portability.

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And those are what we’d consider the best laptops with USB-C charging you can buy right now. Many of these come with a USB Type-C charger in the box, while others might require you to buy one separately, but they all support it to some extent. We chose the Dell XPS 13 for the top of this list because it’s simply the best ultrabook of the year, thanks to a very compact design, high-end specs, a great display, and two very distinct looks to suit your taste. Personally speaking, the Surface Laptop Studio is my favorite device on this list, though, and you’re bound to have your own preference. All of these are great laptops and you can’t go wrong with them.

If you’re looking for something else in your next laptop, you may want to check out our list of the best 5G-enabled laptops you can buy today.

The post These are the best laptops with USB-C charging in 2022 appeared first on xda-developers.



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Xiaomi Watch S1 confirmed to launch alongside the Xiaomi 12 series

Xiaomi is all set to unveil its latest flagship lineup, Xiaomi 12, in a launch event on December 28. But turns out the Chinese smartphone maker has more in store for us than just the new smartphone hardware; At tomorrow’s launch event, the company will also be launching a brand new smartwatch called the Xiaomi Watch S1.

In a teaser released earlier today (via XiaomiUI), Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi Watch S1 will launch alongside the Xiaomi 12 series on December 28. The teaser shows the smartwatch sporting a round dial and two buttons on the right frame. We can also see a flat display and a glimpse of the back which likely houses an array of sensors.

Xiaomi Watch S1 teaser Xiaomi Watch S1 teaser showing two buttons Xiaomi Watch S1 display

 

Xiaomi didn’t reveal anything about the smartwatch’s hardware or software features. In any case, we can expect the Xiaomi Watch S1 to offer numerous improvements over the company’s existing watches, including improved heart rate monitoring, expansive health-tracking features, GPS support, better display and battery life, and more.

If the Mi Watch Color and Mi Watch Revolve Active are any indications, the Xiaomi Watch S1 will likely carry an affordable price tag. With the official launch event less than 24 hours away, we won’t have to wait long to find out more about the new smartwatch.

The Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12 Pro will undoubtedly be the main highlights of tomorrow’s launch event. Thanks to multiple teasers and a steady stream of leaks over the past few weeks, we already know a lot about the Xiaomi 12 series. Both phones will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship SoC, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and run the latest version of Xiaomi’s custom skin, MIUI 13, out of the box. The Xiaomi 12 Pro in particular is expected to feature a 6.73-inch AMOLED 120Hz display with Dolby Vision support, triple 50MP rear cameras, a 32MP selfie camera, and a 4,600mAh battery with 120W fast wired and 50W fast wireless charging support.

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OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and Nord 2 receive new OxygenOS updates with December 2021 security patches

OnePlus has started rolling out OxygenOS 11.0.10.10 to the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The update follows the OxygenOS 11.0.9.9 release, which introduced the October 2021 security patches to the device duo. The latest build, on the other hand, brings the December 2021 security patches and a couple of little, but important fixes. The OnePlus Nord 2 has also picked up a new OxygenOS stable update in the form of A.15 with the latest set of Android security patches.

OnePlus 8 OxygenOS 11.0.10.10 OTA OnePlus Nord 2 OxygenOS A.15 OTA
Screenshot credit: OnePlus Community member AMALVPILLAI and praveen.chinnala

According to the announcement posts on the OnePlus Community forums, the latest OxygenOS updates for the aforementioned devices come with the following changes:

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro

  • System
    • Optimized the UI display of Settings interface
    • Fixed the issue that Google Assistant and Gpay doesn’t display as expected in the Setup Wizard
    • Fixed the low probability issue of WhatsApp crash
    • Updated Android security patch to 2021.12

OnePlus Nord 2

  • System
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.12
    • Fixed known issues and improved system stability
  • Camera
    • Improved video stability when AI Video Enhancement is on
  • Bluetooth
    • Fixed the issue of unclear calls on connected Bluetooth devices

As a customary practice, OnePlus is rolling out the updates in a staged fashion, so it will only reach a handful of users at first. Once the company confirms that there aren’t any major issues with the update, it should start rolling out to more users. Notably, the OnePlus 8T hasn’t received any new update yet, although it is usually serviced alongside the regular 8 series.

XDA Forums: OnePlus 8 || OnePlus 8 Pro || OnePlus Nord 2


Download the latest stable Oxygen OS update for the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and Nord 2

In case you don’t want to wait for the OTA update, you can download the firmware package from the links provided below and flash it manually.

OnePlus 8

OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus Nord 2


Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links!

The post OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and Nord 2 receive new OxygenOS updates with December 2021 security patches appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google Fit now allows you to measure your heart rate using your iPhone’s camera

Earlier this year, Google introduced the ability to measure your respiratory and heart rates on some Android phones. The feature allows users to take advantage of their phone’s cameras to make the measurements — without needing a smartwatch. These very welcome additions have finally made it to the Google Fit app on iOS. iPhone users can now measure their respiratory and heart rates without needing an Apple Watch.

Google Fit heart respiratory rate iPhone

As per a 9to5Google report, Google has rolled out these new features to iPhone users. On the main Home tab of the Fit app, you will find two new buttons to initiate either of the processes. The company warns you, though, that you shouldn’t use these readings for medical purposes. If you believe you might have a heart condition, you must consult a medical doctor immediately.

To measure your heart rate, the app prompts you to place your finger on the rear camera of your iPhone and apply some pressure. You must sit in a well-lit area for more accurate readings. Alternatively, you can use the flashlight toggle included on that screen. The process takes about half a minute, and you should remain still during it. It’s worth noting that this feature works even if you’re offline.

For a respiratory rate measurement, the Google Fit app asks you to place your phone on a stable surface and sit in front of it. It will then use your front camera to detect movements of your face and chest. You must remain still and breathe as you would normally do for a more accurate result.

Both of these features can be used if your app is up to date. If you don’t see the new buttons in the Home section, try force quitting the app. If you still don’t see them, you could try reinstalling the Google Fit app. It’s available for free on the App Store, and it supports Apple’s HealthKit to sync data between the two services.

Do you track your respiratory and/or heart rates? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha based on Android 12 is here for the Mi 10T, OnePlus 7 Pro, and more

The Paranoid Android team started working on Paranoid Android Sapphire shortly after Google dropped the Android 12 source code. Late last month, the team released the first builds of Paranoid Android Sapphire based on Android 12 for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. A week later, the team followed up with alpha builds of Android 12 for a few more devices, including the latest OnePlus flagship, Xiaomi Mi 10, and more. And now they have added some new devices to the build roaster.

Android 12 Custom ROM List: Unofficially update your Android smartphone!

Paranoid Android Sapphire alpha builds based on Android 12 are now available for the Xiaomi Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, OnePlus 7 Pro, and OnePlus 7T.

If you own any of the above devices and want to try out Android 12, head over to the respective forum thread linked below where you find the ROM zip and detailed step-by-step installation instructions. The ROM is based on the Code Aurora Forum Android base and incorporates the latest performance and battery optimizations for Qualcomm platforms.

Download Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha:

Once you have downloaded the ROM, put the zip file in the root directory of the internal storage and reboot to the recovery. Select “fastboot update aospa-*-image.zip” from within the recovery to initiate the installation. After flashing the ROM, wipe user data and reboot the device. Note that this is an alpha release, so the overall software experience may be a little rough around the edges.

XDA Forums: OnePlus 7 Pro || OnePlus 7T || Xiaomi Mi 10T / Mi 10T Pro|| 

If your device isn’t listed above and you still want to try out Android 12, you should check out our comprehensive list of Android 12 custom ROMs.

The post Paranoid Android Sapphire Alpha based on Android 12 is here for the Mi 10T, OnePlus 7 Pro, and more appeared first on xda-developers.



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Android 13 “Tiramisu”: Everything we know so far about Google’s next big update!

Android 12 was one of the biggest updates to Android in a long time. Google finally gave the most popular mobile platform a much-needed visual overhaul with Material You. While Android 12 was announced recently and debuted with the Pixel 6 series, the new OS has already started making its way to several phones including older Pixel devices and Samsung flagships. In fact, Android 12L, the next iteration of Android specifically meant for foldables and tablets isn’t too far away either. Speaking of the next iteration, we already have fair bits of information related to the next big Android update — Android 13 — so we wanted to collect everything in one place. Here’s everything we know about Android 13 so far!

Navigate this article:


When is Android 13 releasing?

It’s too early for Google to give us a release date of Android 13 since Android 12 has just been announced a couple of months back. However, based on the timeline of previous Android releases, we can assume that the stable version of Android 13 could be announced in Q4, 2022. However, before the stable release, we will have a series of Developer Previews preceding it which will be available much sooner.

Android 13 Developer Preview

Every year, Google releases Developer Previews for its upcoming Android version update so that developers and users can test the software before a stable version is rolled out to the public. Developer previews include some upcoming features and keep improving as and when newer versions are released. Again, we don’t have a confirmed timeline for the Android 13 Developer Preview but the first build should ideally be out in early 2022. The Android 11 and Android 12 Developer Preview program started in February which is good reason to assume that the Android 13 Developer Previews should also start rolling out sometime in February 2022.

Apart from being available to install on Pixel devices, you will also be able to flash the Android 13 Developer Preview onto other devices via GSI. However, Developer Previews are not meant to be used as daily drivers since they contain a ton of bugs and glitches. They’re mainly software meant for developers to begin platform migration for their apps and services.

Android 13 Beta

Developer Previews are generally succeeded by Beta builds that are slightly more polished and closer to the real deal. This is also the stage where various OEMs start their beta programs and let you try Android 13 with their custom skins on top. Again, these versions are also unstable and are not recommended for the average consumer. Beta builds, however, are a good way to get a glimpse of what the final update for your phone might look like. Beta releases usually coincide with Google I/O, which in turn is usually held in the middle of May every year. If Google sticks to its trends, we hope to see the first Android 13 Betas roll out in May 2022.

Android 13 Beta with Platform Stability

A few Beta versions in, we should see Android 13 achieving Platform Stability which means that the Android 13 SDK, NDK APIs, app-facing surfaces, platform behaviors, and even restrictions on non-SDK interfaces have been finalized. There will be no further changes in terms of how Android 13 behaves or how APIs function in the betas that follow. This is the closest version to a stable release and should ideally come out 1-2 months prior to the stable build. Android 12’s Platform Stability Beta released in August 2021, so we can presume a similar timeline for 2022 for Android 13.

Android 13 Stable

This is the finalized Android 13 release that will hit supported devices. Usually, Google’s Pixel series get updated first, followed by phones from other OEMs. The timeline for the stable release of the new Android version usually coincides with the release of a new Pixel smartphone. Based on past trends, we expect to see Android 13 and a presumed Pixel 7 series launch in October 2022.


Will my device get Android 13?

Pixel 6 Pro back

Well, this totally depends on what device you have. Flagship phones from renowned brands have a good chance of getting the Android 13 update, especially if the phone is relatively recent. Based on its update promises, Google will officially update these devices to Android 13:

  • Pixel 6
  • Pixel 6 Pro
  • Pixel 5
  • Pixel 5a (5G)
  • Pixel 4
  • Pixel 4 XL
  • Pixel 4a
  • Pixel 4a (5G)

Samsung has announced that it would update quite a few of its devices for up to three years, so if you have a recent Samsung flagship or upper-midrange phone, you should ideally get the Android 13 update. LG had also shared a list of devices that would be updated to Android 13 despite the fact that the brand has now shut down its smartphone division. Just like Samsung, OnePlus also announced that it would be updating its flagships for three generations, so a recent OnePlus phone should also ensure you an update to Android 13. Of course, the list of devices that will get the Android 13 update isn’t just limited to this. However, it completely depends on the OEM whether or not they want to provide an update to the phone you have. There’s also the question of when the update arrives since software update and timely software update are two different concepts.


What will Android 13 be called?

Android has had a sweet past and has matured considerably to become the OS that it is currently. Initial versions of Android were named after desserts and the tradition continued till Android 9 Pie. With Android 1o though, Google stopped referring to Android releases with dessert names and instead just stuck to the version number.

Android 13 Tiramisu

However, every Android release has an internal codename which still happens to be named after a dessert. Supposedly, Android 13 would go by the name of Tiramisu internally. Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored Italian dessert and is frequently seen as a flavored adaptation onto cakes, icecreams, and other desserts.

These have been the dessert names (internal or public) of all the Android versions so far:

  1. Android 1.5: Cupcake
  2. Android 1.6: Donut
  3. Android 2.0: Eclair
  4. Android 2.2: Froyo
  5. Android 2.3: Gingerbread
  6. Android 3.0: Honeycomb
  7. Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich
  8. Android 4.1: Jelly Bean
  9. Android 4.4: KitKat
  10. Android 5.0: Lollipop
  11. Android 6.0: Marshmallow
  12. Android 7.0: Nougat
  13. Android 8.0: Oreo
  14. Android 9: Pie
  15. Android 10: Quince Tart
  16. Android 11: Red Velvet Cake
  17. Android 12: Snow Cone
  18. Android 13: Tiramisu

Android 13 New Features and Changes

Needless to say, every Android version upgrade brings with it a host of new features and changes. Some may be monumental, others may be minor and under the hood. Android 12 brought about a radical redesign that was long overdue. So, we’re expecting Android 13 to not be all that different in terms of looks compared to Android 12. It’s also very early to comment about any new features that would be coming to Android 13. However, there are slight glimpses of what we can expect from the new Android update next year.

Multi-user NFC Payments

You would be aware of the fact that Android has had multi-user support for quite a while now. You can create multiple profiles for different users on a single Android device so as to not share any personal data with all users. However, there are some constraints on what secondary user profiles can do, one of them being the inability to make NFC payments. Contactless payments via NFC are quite common in various parts of the world. However, even on Android 12, you cannot make NFC payments via secondary user profiles.

Switching profiles in Android 12 Android 12 NFC Settings on owner profile Android 12 Contactless payment settings on owner profile

That’s expected to change with Android 13 as per some commits on the AOSP Gerrit, as secondary user profiles may be allowed to make NFC payments. This can be really useful if you share a single device with different members of the family or with your friends. Again, this is still in the early stages so it may change as we get closer to the Android 13 launch.

Native support for DNS over HTTPS

Private DNS setting found under Network & Internet Select Private DNS mode in Android 12

Currently, Android only has support for DNS over TLS, more commonly known as DoT. A code change in AOSP suggests that with Android 13, support for DNS over HTTPS of DoH will be added. If you want to know the difference between the two, DoT uses TLS to encrypt DNS traffic while DoH uses HTTP or HTTP/2 protocols giving it a slight advantage in terms of privacy.

Disable Background App limitations

Android 12 introduced a new background app limiter known as PhantomProcessKiller which is essentially an aggressive background process killer. If you’re a power user, you surely don’t want your background processes to be killed, even if it means extra RAM and battery usage. It seems like Google has realized this, and we may see a toggle to disable this background app limitation feature on Android 13. Google has submitted a patch to AOSP that adds a toggle in Developer Options to turn off the Phantom Process monitoring, indicating that we may see this feature on Android 13.

Full Support for Bluetooth LE Audio

Android 12 includes the necessary foundation for Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, a new standard for low power audio transmission over Bluetooth. However, there’s still no complete support for BLE Audio transmission currently. This is supposedly going to change with Android 13. Recent commits submitted to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) suggest that full support for BLE Audio could finally be coming in Android 13.

Google has merged the commit to add an LC3 codec type for Bluetooth A2DP. LC3 stands for Low Complexity Communications Codec and is a high-quality, low-power audio codec that promises to deliver good audio quality audio. This is quite big since until now, Bluetooth LE was only used for data transmission and not audio transmission.

App Languages

As per some reports, Google is working on a new feature codenamed Panlingual that allows users to set different languages for each app. This will surely be a godsend for multilingual users who want to use certain apps in specific languages. The report says that users will find a new option under Languages & Input named App Languages from where one can assign a language to a specific app.

Android 13 App Locale feature Android 13 App Locale feature Android 13 App Locale feature Android 13 App Locale feature

However, note that the feature is still in its early stages and since Android 13 is still far away, there may be some changes to the way it works. Currently, there are certain apps like Google Maps that allow you to change the language inside the app. But a per-app control even for third-party apps is something a lot of users across the world will appreciate.

Runtime Permission for Notifications

If you hate getting too many notifications on your phone from unwanted apps, this feature is going to be your savior on Android 13. Currently, any app can send you notifications, even for promotions, that can end up being spam.

Notifications Runtime Permission on Android 13 Notifications Runtime Permission on Android 13

Android 13 adds a new runtime permission “POST_NOTIFICATIONS” for notifications. This means that notifications could become an opt-in feature on Android 13 while you’re setting up an app. Users may be able to choose whether they want to allow an app to send a notification to their device in a fashion similar to how they choose to allow other permissions like Location and Camera access when a newly installed app is opened for the first time.

TARE: The Android Resource Economy

Android 13 is supposedly going to bring a new energy management feature that will let apps make the best use of the available battery life on your device. TARE primarily focuses on energy-use management on the device, with the feature working through AlarmManager and JobScheduler policies.

Android 13's TARE: The Android Resource Economy Android 13's TARE: The Android Resource Economy Android 13's TARE: The Android Resource Economy Android 13's TARE: The Android Resource Economy

To put it in simple words, it could be that TARE introduces a form of currency that is tied to the battery level of the device. Google will be awarding credits to apps based on how depleted the battery is, and apps can then use these credits as payments for the opportunity to perform tasks. Essentially, Google will be setting limits to how many tasks an app can schedule through JobScheduler and AlarmManager depending on the battery level and the needs of the app. We should know more about TARE and how it works in the coming weeks after official documentation from Google is out.

Lock Screen Clock Layouts

Up until now, the clock on Android was situated only in one fixed position on the lockscreen. While some custom skins like Samsung’s One UI provided an option to customize the clock’s position, there was no such option in AOSP. However, that’s set to change with Android 13.

Android 13 Lockscreen Clock layout Android 13 Lockscreen Clock layout Android 13 Lockscreen Clock layout

Currently, the clock is displayed in a huge font at the center of the lockscreen on Android 12. When notifications arrive, the clock shifts to the top-left corner of the screen in a single line. Once the notifications are dismissed, it goes back to occupy the majority of the space on the lock screen. With Android 13, Google may give you the option to change the clock style on the lock screen and change the layout by default.

It may also be possible that this feature is coming to Android 12L so you might not have to wait for too long after all if you want to reduce the size of the clock on your lock screen.


That’s pretty much everything we know so far about Android 13. Note that we will continue to update the article as and when more new features and changes in Android 13 come to light. Given that Android 12 was a substantial update, what are your expectations from Android 13? What new features would like to see on the upcoming version of Android? Let us know in the comments below!

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