How to customize the double-tap action on the Apple Pencil 2

The Apple Pencil 2 is a great accessory for artists and heavy note-takers. It offers some smart features that make it stand out, when compared to regular/dumb styli. For example, you get handwriting recognition, pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and more. One of the notable perks of using this smart stylus is its double-tap action. By default, when you double tap its side — towards the tip of the Pencil — it switches between the eraser and the tool you’re using. Of course, you’ll need to be in an app that supports this gesture. Plenty of popular doodling apps have already adopted this API, and it works seamlessly. However, what if you want double-tapping to do something else or nothing at all, that’s possible. Here’s how to customize the double-tap action on the Apple Pencil 2.

Customizing the double-tap action on the Apple Pencil 2

• Make sure you have Bluetooth turned on — otherwise the relevant options won’t show up in the steps that follow.

• Launch the Settings app on the iPad you’ve paired the Apple Pencil 2.

• Scroll down to the Apple Pencil section, and select it.

• There you will find the list of actions you can set for the double-tap gesture, and you can remap it at any given point. These options are:
  • Switch Between Current Tool and Eraser
  • Switch Between Current Tool and Last Used
  • Show Color Palette
  • Show Ink Attributes
  • Off
• Once you select one of these five options, the remapping will immediately take effect.
• Voila! To test the different actions, you can launch the built-in Apple Notes app — as it supports this feature.

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The Apple Pencil 2 is a great addition to consider if you have plans to buy an iPad. There are also great iPad games out there that support this smart stylus. So you can take advantage of it while being both productive and unproductive.

Apple Pencil 2

The Apple Pencil 2 pairs to compatible iPads magnetically and charges wirelessly through the same mechanism.

View on Best Buy

Which of the available double-tap actions will you choose, and why? Let us know in the comments section below.

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These are the Best Google Pixel 6a Deals in 2022

The Google Pixel 6a is one of the best cheap Android phones you can buy in 2022. It checks a lot of the right boxes to offer a great value for money for those who are looking to buy a smartphone in the US where there aren’t a lot of budget options. This particular phone ends up competing for the same piece of the pie as the Apple iPhone SE 3 and Samsung Galaxy A53. The Google Pixel 6a for $449 is already a pretty good deal, but we suggest keeping an eye on some great offers to bring down the price further and use the extra cash to buy some Pixel 6a accessories or cases.

The pre-orders for the Google Pixel 6a went live in the US and the UK on July 21 before it went on sale on July 28. The device is available to purchase from all major retailers and carriers. There are a bunch of places you can buy the Pixel 6a from, but we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can grab for right now below:

Best Google Pixel 6a Unlocked Deals

If you’re looking to pick up a carrier-unlocked version of the Pixel 6a, then we recommend looking at some major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store. All the Pixel 6a listings are already live, and you can find the relevant links below:

Google Store

The Google Store remains one of the best places to pick up the Pixel 6a. All color variants of the device are available via the Google Store at the time of writing this article. Notably, Google is offering some good trade-in deals and $50 in-store credit with each purchase, making it cheaper for you to buy its latest mid-ranger.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google Store continues to remain one of the places to buy the unlocked variants of the Pixel phones as they're usually available in stock.

See at Google

Amazon.com

The Pixel 6a is also available to purchase on Amazon, so this is also a great place to check if the phone is available in stock. You can take advantage of your Prime membership to get faster and free deliveries, or even use your Amazon credits to pick up the phone. The unlocked variant of the Pixel 6a carries the same $449 price tag on Amazon.

Google Pixel 6a

Amazon also has all color variants of the Pixel 6a in stock at the time of writing this article. This is also a good place to buy the phone and take advantage of your Prime membership or available credits.

Buy from Amazon

Best Buy

Best Buy is also one of the best places to pick up the unlocked variant of Google Pixel 6a. It’s available to purchase for the same price, and you also get a $50 gift card with your purchase, making it an excellent deal. You can always use the gift card to buy some of the best cases for the Pixel 6a from Best Buy.

Google Pixel 6a

Best Buy is offering a $50 gift card with every purchase of the Pixel 6a, making it one of the best retailers to buy the phone from.

Buy from Best Buy

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Best Google Pixel 6a Carrier deals

The Google Pixel 6a is also available to purchase directly from major carriers in the US. So if you prefer buying your smartphones directly from carriers in the US like Verizon, AT&T, etc. then you can do so to enjoy some of their lucrative monthly payment plans. We’ve rounded up some of the best Google Pixel 6a carrier deals below for you to check out:

Verizon

Verizon carries the mmWave 5G model of the Pixel 6a which is why it costs $50 more than the retail version. You buy the device for $499 or $13.66/month with the Verizon device payment method. The carrier is waving off the $35 activation fee for online purchases and activation, so that’s good. Verizon is also offering some great 5G unlimited plans with which you can even get a Pixel 6a for free.

Google Pixel 6a

You'll pay slightly more for the Pixel 6a when you buy it from Verizon, but you'll get the device with mmWave support. The carrier is also offering the phone for free with some unlimited plans, so be sure to check it out.

Buy from Verizon

AT&T

You’ll have to make peace with the non-mmWave variant of the Pixel 6a if you buy it from AT&T. You’ll get a Pixel 6a that supports “mid-band 5G+” from the carrier, and it’ll cost you $449.  You can also sign up for an unlimited plan and score the Pixel 6a for just $2 monthly payment for 36 months.

Google Pixel 6a

AT&T is offering the brand new Pixel 6a for $2/month with no trade-in required. All you have to do is sign up for an unlimited plan.

Buy from AT&T

Google Fi

Both new and existing Google Fi members can purchase the Pixel 6a for as low as $10/month. You get to keep the Pixel 6a for two years, and there’s no trade-in required either. The Google Fi listing says $15/month for the Pixel 6a, but you can decline the phone protection insurance to bring the price down to $10/month.

Google Pixel 6a

Purchase the Google Pixel 6a from Google Fi and only pay $10/month as a part of their upgrade program.

Buy from Google Fi

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is offering a free unit of Pixel 6a when you buy it with a new line along with a monthly payment plan. You essentially get a promotion worth $449 via 24 monthly bill credits. Existing customers, on the other hand, can get up to $300 off on the Pixel 6a with an eligible phone to trade.

Google Pixel 6a

Get a free Pixel 6a from T-Mobile with a new line or get up to $300 off on the phone as an existing customer with an eligible phone to trade.

Buy from T-Mobile

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The Google Pixel 6a is a great device for most people who are looking to spend as little as possible to get a reliable mid-ranger. But we suggest you check out the Pixel 6 if you don’t mind spending a bit more to get a significantly better experience overall. You can also read our Pixel 6 Pro review to see if you want to go big on your purchase and get the best Pixel experience.

The post These are the Best Google Pixel 6a Deals in 2022 appeared first on XDA.

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Amazon Fire 7 (2022) vs Amazon Fire 7 (2019): What’s upgraded on Amazon’s popular tablet?

The Fire 7 is Amazon’s best-selling tablet. It doesn’t have high-end specs or an exquisite design, and most certainly does not aim to compete against the best iPads or the best Android tablets. But thanks to its dirt-cheap price, it has remained a highly popular option among budget-conscious buyers. It’s the perfect option for anyone who wants a basic tablet for browsing the web, watching Netflix, and reading books. It also makes for a great kids’ tablet with its rich app ecosystem and extensive parental controls. Amazon refreshed the entry-level tablet earlier this year with new hardware, bringing a powerful chipset, more RAM and storage, USB-C, and a large battery.

If you’re rocking the Fire 7 (2019), you might wonder if you should upgrade to the newer model. Here’s everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Amazon Fire 7 (2022) Vs Fire 7 (2019): Specifications

	Fire 7 (2022)	Fire 7 (2019)
Build	Plastic body	Plastic body
Dimensions and Weight	180.68mm x 117.59mm x 9.67mm 282g	163.1 x 74.9 x 8.3mm 189g
Display	7-inch IPS LCD 1024 x 600 Max brightness: 300 nits	7-inch IPS LCD 1024 x 600 Max brightness: 300 nits
SoC	MediaTek MT8168V/B ARM Cortex-A53 (2GHz) GPU: Mali-G52 3EE MC 1	MediaTek 8163 processor Quad-core CPU (1.3GHz)
RAM and Storage	2GB LPDDR4 RAM 16GB or 32GB microSD up to 1TB	1GB RAM 16GB/32GB MicroSD card up to 512GB
Battery and Charging	3,750 mAh 5W wired charger in the box 10 hours of battery life	7 hours of battery
Security	No fingerprint scanner	No fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	2MP	2MP
Front Camera(s)	2MP 720p video recording	2MP 720p video recording
Ports	USB-C 3.5mm audio jack	MicroUSB 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi dual-band (2.4GHz + 5GHz) Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi dual-band (2.4GHz + 5GHz) Bluetooth 4.1
Software	Fire OS 8 based on Android 11	Fire OS 7 based on Android 9
Price	Starting at $59.99	$49.99

Design and display: Not much has changed

As far as the design is concerned, the new Fire 7 (2022) looks identical to the previous model. It still has chunky bezels around its display and an all-plastic build. We would have liked it if Amazon gave the tablet a makeover and shrunk those bezels for a more modern look, but it seems we’ll have to wait for the next upgrade for that to come true. It’s certainly not the worst-looking tablet, and if you don’t like the boring Black color, you can also go with Denim and Rose colorways.

Dimensions and weight are the same as the last model, and so is the position of the power button, volume keys, and the 3.5mm audio jack. But there’s one big change. The ancient microUSB port is finally gone, replaced by the USB-C port for a more convenient charging experience.

Amazon Fire 7 tablet

The tablet’s display is unchanged from the last model, which is disappointing because that display wasn’t that great in the first place. It’s pretty low-res, dull, and quite dim. It is a 7-inch display with a resolution of just 600 x 1024, working out to 170 pixels per inch. It’s not even HD (720p), and you can easily pick out individual pixels. The max brightness is 300 nits, which is fine for indoor usage but too low for using the device under direct sunlight.

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Upgraded performance, more RAM

The Fire 7 2022 may not look much different than the last model from the outside, but its innards have been upgraded with more powerful parts. The new Fire 7 (2022) is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT8168V/B chipset, featuring four Arm Cortex-A53 cores clocked 2.0GHz. Amazon says the new processor is up to 30% faster than the one in the Fire 7 (2019), which packed a quad-core CPU running at 1.3GHz. The RAM has also been upgraded from 1GB to 2GB which means the new model can hold more apps in the memory and should offer a better multitasking experience.

While these improvements are welcome additions, the real-world performance of the tablet remains underwhelming. In Geekbench, the tablet scored just 166 and 525 points in single-core and multi-core tests. The bottom line: Tasks that don’t demand a lot of power, such as web browsing, media streaming, and reading books, should be fine but don’t expect to run graphics-intensive games on this hardware.

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Longer battery life but still painfully slow charging speed

The new Fire 7 (2022) rocks the same 2MP front and rear cameras as the Fire 7 (2019); as you would expect, they’re not great. The single speaker is also unchanged. However, the battery sees a big update. Amazon says the new model packs a larger battery that lasts up to 10 hours, a marked improvement over the 2019 model’s 7 hours of battery life. In the real world, the tablet lives up to its promise. In our video streaming test, the Fire 7 lasted 10 hours and 26 minutes before running out of power. Although the new tablet uses the USB-C port, its charging speed is still painfully slow. With the bundled 5W charger, it takes roughly four hours to fully charge the device. Thankfully, you can use a fast charger to cut the charging time in half.

Software is another area where the Fire 7 (2022) has an advantage over the previous generation. It ships with the new Fire OS 8 based on Android 11. Meanwhile, the 2019 version runs Fire OS 7 based on Android 9 Pie. Fire OS 8 brings many new features and changes, including a system-wide dark mode, the ability to access GPS/location in the background, one-time permissions for apps requesting access to location, microphone, and camera, and other under-the-hood improvements.

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Fire 7 (2022) vs Fire 7 (2019): Should you upgrade?

Amazon Fire 7 (2022)

The Fire 7 (2022) offers a 7-inch display, a faster chipset, and up to 10 hours of battery life.

Buy from Amazon

From the outside, the Fire 7 (2022) looks pretty identical to its predecessor. However, both devices diverge quite a lot internally. The new 2022 release brings several notable upgrades, including a faster chipset, more storage, a switch to USB-C, a longer battery life, and newer software. However, these improvements come with a price bump; the new model starts at $59.99, which is $10 more than the last model. In our opinion, improved performance, more RAM and storage, and USB-C make the Fire 7 (2022) a worthy upgrade over the Fire (2019). However, we can’t help but feel that Amazon should have fitted the tablet with a better display. If media streaming is your primary use case, we recommend picking up the Fire 8 HD or Fire 10 HD, both of which have superior displays. Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Fire 7 Vs Fire 8 HD Vs Fire  10 to find out which Fire tablet is best for you.

Even with all its limitations and drawbacks, there’s no denying that the Fire 7 (2022) is one of the best cheap Android tablets out there. Amazon also offers a special Kids variant of the Fire 7 (2022) that comes with a rugged case and a 2-year guarantee.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which flagship phone to buy?

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Plus and the Google Pixel 6 Pro are two of the best premium flagship phones you can buy in 2022. The Galaxy S22 Plus sits in the middle between the smaller Galaxy S22 and the more premium Galaxy S22 Ultra in the lineup this year. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, represents the best of what Google has to offer in the smartphone space in 2022. From powerful internals to excellent software support, there’s a lot to like about each of these phones but they’re not created equal. You’re bound to lean towards one or the other depending on your expectations, so let’s take a look at the Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro comparison to find out which one’s better to buy in 2022.

Navigate this article:

• Specifications
• Design and display
• Hardware and cameras
• Cameras
• Which one to buy?

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Specifications

Before we begin this comparison, let’s take a quick look at the specifications to find out what each of these devices brings to the table:

Specification	Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus	Google Pixel 6 Pro
Build	Armor aluminum frame Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ IP68 dust and water resistance	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back IP68 rating
Dimensions & Weight	157.4 x 75.8 x 7.6mm 196g	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm 210g
Display	6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ (1080 x 2340) 10-120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate 1750 nits	6.7-inch OLED 1,440 x 3,120 pixels HDR10+ certified Variable refresh rate between 60Hz to 120Hz
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Exynos 2200	Google Tensor chipset
RAM & Storage	8GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB	8GB/12GB RAM 128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh 45W wired fast charging support 15W wireless charging support 4.5W reverse wireless charging Charger not included	5,004 mAh battery 30W fast wired charging Wireless charging Charger not included
Security	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor	Optical in-display fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP, 1.0µm, 85° FoV, 23mm, f/1.8, DPAF, OIS Ultra-wide: 12MP, 1.4µm, 120° FoV, 13mm, f/2.2 Telephoto: 10MP, 1.0µm, 36° FoV, 69mm, f/2.4, OIS, 3x optical zoom	Primary: 50MP main, f/1.9, 1/1.31″, OIS, binned Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 48MP periscope, 4x optical zoom
Front Camera(s)	10MP, 1.22µm, f/2.2, 80° FoV	11MP, f/2.2/1.22μm
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G (mmWave/sub6) 4G LTE Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 NFC	5G (mmWave/sub6) 4G LTE Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 NFC
Software	One UI 4.1 based on Android 12	Android 12 with Pixel Launcher
Other Features	Promised four Android OS upgrades Promised five years of security patches	Four major Android OS updates promised Five years of security patches

Both the Galaxy S22 Plus and the Pixel 6 Pro, as you can see, offer a good set of internals for the price. But there’s a lot more to a phone than just a bunch of numbers on paper, so let’s dive a little deeper to find out which one’s worth your money.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Design and Display

The Galaxy S22 Plus borrows a lot from its predecessor in the design department, which is why it looks very similar to the Galaxy S21 Plus. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro represents the new design language and it looks entirely different from anything we’ve seen from Google in the past. Design is entirely subjective, so we’ll leave it up to you to decide which one’s better. But as far as the details are concerned, the Galaxy S22 Plus sports a flat back panel and side frame, but the contoured camera bump makes a comeback this year. The Galaxy S22 Plus is available to purchase in a variety of colors — Phantom Black, Green, Phantom White, Pink Gold, Graphite, Cream, Sky Blue, Violet — and we think they all look and feel equally premium.

Meanwhile, Google’s Pixel 6 Pro has a pretty unique design, with its camera visor being the main attraction. The camera bump on the Pixel 6 Pro is significantly bigger compared to the one on the Galaxy S22 Plus. But it runs across the entire device horizontally, meaning the device doesn’t wobble on the desk while laying flat. It also looks like Thomas Bangalter’s Daft Punk helmet, which is pretty cool too. But as we mentioned in our Google Pixel 6 Pro review, the device feels rather unwieldy to hold in one hand. We also found it to be very slippery and our Stormy Black model attracted a lot of fingerprints and smudges too. The Pixel 6 Pro is available in three colors — Sorta Sunny, Cloudy White, and Stormy Black — and all have a dual-tone finish.

The Galaxy S22 Plus is both thinner and lighter compared to the Google Pixel 6 Pro. It measures 7.6mm in thickness and weighs 196 grams compared to the Pixel 6 Pro which measures 8.9 mm in thickness and weighs 210 grams. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is also the taller device with a slightly bigger display, so keep that in mind. Neither of them has a headphone jack or a microSD card slot for storage expansion, so all you get is a USB Type-C port on the bottom. Samsung is using an armor aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back of the Galaxy S22 Plus, and it comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Pixel 6 Pro also comes with an Aluminum mid-frame, but it uses Gorilla Glass Victus for the front and back panels.

Moving over to the front, both the Galaxy S22 Plus and the Google Pixel 6 Pro have an AMOLED panel with a centrally aligned punch hole camera cutout. The display on the Galaxy S22 Plus is slightly smaller coming in at 6.6-inches while the Pixel 6 Pro sports a 6.7-inch panel. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display is also relatively sharper as it offers a QHD (3,120 x 1,440) resolution compared to the Galaxy S22 Plus’ FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) resolution. The display on the Pixel 6 Pro is also curved, while the Galaxy S22 Plus has a flat panel. Both displays, however, support adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz, so no differences there. Despite the differences in display specs, we think both panels look great for day-to-day usage and even for media consumption. The Galaxy S22 Plus also has uniform bezels around the display, if that’s something you care about.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Hardware and cameras

The Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200 chipset depending on where you buy it from. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, comes with Google’s tensor chip. Qualcomm’s snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is better in terms of the overall performance, but you’re probably not going to notice the difference in day-to-day usage. Even the Exynos 2200 comes out on top with its general performance, but there’s plenty to like about the Tensor chip too. It should also be able to handle more demanding tasks such as gaming with ease. The Samsung Galaxy 22 Plus, however, tops out at 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, with no microSD card support for storage expansion. The Google Pixel 6 Pro can be purchased with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, so it’s better for those who want more memory and storage out of the box.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro also wins in the battery and charging department. Google has packed the Pixel 6 Pro with a massive 5,004mAh battery with support for fast-charging up to 30W which takes about an hour to fully charge. And as we mentioned in our review, the Pixel 6 Pro tends to heat up while charging and it throttles the charging speed if/when the temperature gets roughly above 35°C (95°F). The phone can handle up to 23W of wireless charging speeds without any issues though. The Galaxy S22 Plus gets a relatively smaller 4,500mAh battery inside, which is even smaller than the Galaxy S21’s battery from last year. However, it supports charging speeds of up to 45W provided you use a USB PD PPS-enabled charger. It’ll only hit 15W on wireless charging though, so keep that in mind. Both phones, in case you’re wondering, don’t come with a charger inside the box, meaning you’ll have to buy one separately.

On the software side, the Galaxy S22 Plus runs OneUI 4.1 out of the box. It’s based on Android 12 and offers a bunch of customization options and some other features. Samsung’s OneUI software has improved a lot over the years, but you’re not going to get a stock Android experience with the Galaxy S22 Plus. The Pixel 6 Pro is the phone to buy if you want an unadulterated version of Android 12 software. As for the optics, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus sports a triple camera setup at the back which includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Google Pixel 6 Pro features a 50MP main sensor with a wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom.

Both phones are capable of capturing some stunning photos in both daytime and night. There are inconsistencies when you switch between the lens, but the photos coming out of both phones have great colors and a good amount of details. We’ll leave some camera samples captured using both phones below for you to check out.

For selfies, the Pixel 6 Pro uses an 11.1 MP sensor with a 94-degree FoV while the Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a 40MP sensor with 80-degree FoV. The Galaxy S22 Plus has a slight advantage when it comes to video recording as it supports 8K video recording at 24fps or 4K recording at up to 60fps. The Pixel 6 Pro tops out at 4K resolution at 60fps. The Galaxy S22 Plus also lets you record 4K videos at 60fps using the front camera, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro’s front-facing camera can only do 4K at 30fps.

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera samples:

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus camera samples:

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which one to buy?

While the Galaxy S22 Plus and the Pixel 6 Pro are both fighting for the same piece of the pie, they’re two entirely different phones with unique features. The Galaxy S22 Plus is the embodiment of the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach, as it borrows a lot from its predecessor, the Galaxy S21 Plus. We’re looking at an incremental upgrade with the Galaxy S22 Plus but there’s still plenty to like here. You get a new 50MP sensor and upgraded chips to go against the newer flagships on the market. It’s a solid all-rounder that’ll perform well for many years to come. The Google Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, represents the best of what Google has to offer in the smartphone space. It has an entirely new design and comes with Google’s new Tensor chip too.

We’re looking at a $100 difference in price between the two phones — the Google Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899 in the US whereas the Galaxy S22 Plus is priced at $999 for the base model. The Pixel 6 Pro may not be as powerful as the Galaxy S22 Plus, but it offers a great package overall with a unique design, an excellent set of cameras, and reliable performance for day-to-day usage. You also get more memory and storage options and stock Android with the Pixel 6 Pro compared to the Galaxy S22 Plus, so keep that in mind.

For $100 more, the Galaxy S22 Plus delivers better performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200 chipset. But you only get a 1080p display, a smaller battery, and limited memory and storage compared to the Google Pixel 6 Pro. It does, however, come with tried-and-tested hardware and is promised to receive four years’ worth of major platform updates. The Pixel 6 Pro, in comparison, is slated to receive three years of OS upgrades, meaning Samsung beat Google at its own game with the Galaxy S series flagship phones this year.

It’s tough to pick a definite winner in this comparison, but you’re bound to experience the best of what Android has to offer with either of these phones. If you’re leaning toward trying a phone with a unique design and a reliable set of cameras, the Pixel 6 Pro is the way to go.  But if you don’t mind spending slightly more on Samsung’s tried and tested formula to get a great all-rounder, then you’ll love the Galaxy S22 Plus. Either way, you’re not buying a bad phone, so pick the one based on your preferences.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the latest and greatest flagship smartphone from Google, and it has a lot to love.

Buy from Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

If you're not looking for the bells and whistles provided by the Ultra, the Galaxy S22 Plus is one of the best Android flagship phone that you can buy, with a premium camera experience, a 120Hz AMOLED display, and more.

Buy from Samsung

So which Android flagship are you planning to buy? Let us know by dropping a comment down below. Also, be sure to check out our Galaxy S22 Plus deals and Google Pixel 6 Pro’s deals page to see if you can save some money on your purchase. You can always use some extra savings to splurge on good-quality cases. You can find some solid options in our collection of the best Galaxy S22 Plus cases or the Google Pixel 6 Pro cases.

The post Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which flagship phone to buy? appeared first on XDA.

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Don’t Miss the Early Bird Sale on the New REDMAGIC 7S Pro

REDMAGIC is back with another entry into their line of amazing gaming phones. The REDMAGIC S7 Pro is the latest device to be released, powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, a true full-screen display, the best cooling system on a gaming smartphone, and all the best gaming features, for an unrivaled gaming experience.

With specs that put this phone in the high-end gaming device category, the design sports a look that matches the gaming aesthetic. Staying true to the REDMAGIC theme, this phone has the tagline “Armored for Victory”. The REDMAGIC S7 Pro manages to incorporate all of the best features of mobile gaming, into one impressive device.

Get the early bird offer for the REDMAGIC S7 Pro – Buy a $1 coupon and get $30 off of your purchase.

REDMAGIC S7 Pro – Armored for Victory

Since this phone prioritizes performance, REDMAGIC made sure to include the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 which results in a smooth user experience in every aspect. On top of that, a dedicated gaming chip called the Red Core 1 is included. The combination of these two chips makes for a next-level device that pushes Android gaming to its limits. It’s an all-around powerhouse of a phone.

Design options include SUPERNOVA, MERCURY, and OBSIDIAN. These options don’t only differ in color but have entirely different looks that are unique to each model.

REDMAGIC S7 Pro in SUPERNOVA [left], OBSIDIAN [center], and MERCURY [right].

With zero-throttling performance, you are getting the absolute maximum out of the included specs. With this system, a powerful cooling solution is included to keep your phone from getting hot during long gaming sessions. ICE 10.0
is the multi-dimensional cooling system in charge of maintaining cool temperatures. This uses ten layers of heat dissipation materials, along with a super quiet 20,000 RPM turbo fan.

While your games will certainly perform well with a setup like this, they’ll look even better with the new full screen no-notch display. At 6.8″, the 1080×2400 resolution display has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The selfie camera is hidden beneath the display for an interrupted viewing experience.

REDMAGIC S7 Pro options:

• 12GB RAM + 256GB (OBSIDIAN)
• 18GB RAM + 512GB (MERCURY)
• 18GB RAM + 512GB (SUPERNOVA)

The 5,000mAh battery uses fast charge technology with a 65W capacity. This will keep you charged throughout the day as you enjoy many of the gaming-specific features like the double x-axis linear motor, the RGB gaming lights, the MAGIC GPU, and the 520 Hz shoulder triggers.

Launch Date and Early Bird Sale

The official launch of this phone takes place on the 26th of July, with orders beginning on August 2nd. In fact, if you place your order between the 2nd and the 9th, you can take advantage of early bird pricing!

Early Bird Sale Begins: August 2, 2022
Open Sales Begin: August 9, 2022

REDMAGIC 7S Pro Product Page

Get the Early Bird Sale here

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Valve releases SteamOS 3.3 and Steam Client updates

Valve has made SteamOS 3.3 available to the public through its stable channel. The update was previously only available in beta and preview channels. The latest version of SteamOS offers many new updates that improve audio, playing modes, stability, and more. Let’s explore what updates come to the console with SteamOS 3.3.

Since this update has so many improvements,  we will focus on the more important ones. If you want to see the full list, head to the source link below. First and foremost, the UI gets a lot of new additions, like a scheduled night mode, excess temperature notification, reimplementation of adaptive brightness toggle, and improvements to colors when playing via the Remote Play client. Valve also fixed some issues with keyboards and added support for more languages like Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

The Steam Deck software update channel has three options: stable, beta, and preview. The stable channel is the best option for most users, providing the latest stable release of Steam Client and SteamOS. The beta channel offers new features for testing and provides the latest Steam Client beta and the latest stable version of SteamOS. Finally, the preview channel will be for those that want to live dangerously, as the channel tests system-level features and provide the latest Steam Client beta and SteamOS beta.

Like previous updates, SteamOS 3.3 has many stability and performance updates. The update also brings new features to docked and desktop modes. In addition, the graphics driver, wireless driver, and controller firmware have been updated. Again, there are many small revisions in the latest update, so if you want to check it out in detail, please hit the source link. Valve has done a great job so far with supporting its new console. While it has gotten into the hands of many, the company recently announced that it aims to fulfill all current pre-orders by the end of the year.

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Source: Steam Deck 

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Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro pre-order and release dates revealed

The Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 7 were announced towards the tail end of Google I/O 2022. The company showed off both handsets and even teased some of its details. While this was pretty exciting, the hype has since died down considerably. Thankfully, new information about the handsets has been revealed, and it looks like the two devices finally have a release date.

Jon Prosser, better known for his Apple intel, revealed that the Google 7 handsets would launch mid-October. According to his trusted and reputable sources, both phones will be available for pre-order starting on October 6 and will later go on sale starting on October 13. Furthermore, Prosser doubled down on the dates, stating that he previously leaked accurate information about the release dates for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

As far as official information goes, Google has shared images and renders of the phones, the latter of which can be seen in the attached videos. The design of the phones is quite polarizing, but Google is leaning into its unique design, which started with the Pixel 6 devices. The rear has a unique visor that houses the phone’s cameras. When it comes to its internal components, as of now, what is known is that Google will debut its next-generation Tensor processor. When released, these smartphones should become formidable handsets in the Android space, especially since they should be running Android 13 at launch.

Google is also expected to release its Google Pixel Watch. The smartwatch was teased during Google I/O 2022. While not much is known about the wearable, we have a few details. The device will have a circular AMOLED display and physical crown. It is rumored to be powered by an older generation Samsung chipset, packing 1.5GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

One advantage it might have compared to its competitors is that it will likely run Wear OS 3. Despite the OS being announced quite some time ago, it has yet to arrive on many wearables. For now, we will have to be patient, as Google hasn’t even announced a date for its event that will reportedly occur sometime in the fall. Luckily, there are other events ahead, most notably Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked, taking place next week on August 10.

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Source: Front Page Tech

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