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jeudi 4 août 2022

LG partners with Google to offer three months of Stadia Pro for free on select smart TVs

In December last year, Google extended Stadia support to LG smart TVs running webOS 5.0 and above with a new app released on the LG Content Store. In a bid to attract more users to the game streaming service, LG has now partnered with Google to offer three months of Stadia Pro for free on select models. Interestingly, the offer is available for both new and existing Stadia Pro subscribers.

According to LG, the new Stadia Pro promotion is available on all LG smart TVs running webOS 5.0 or above in all the 22 countries where Google offers its cloud-gaming service. For the unaware, Stadia Pro offers users access to over fifty games with new titles added each month, along with unique discounts on additional titles and add-on content. With the subscription, users can stream games in HDR at 4K resolution at 60 FPS and experience immersive 5.1 channel surround sound.

LG Stadia Pro promotional offer banner full.

The following LG smart TVs are eligible for the promotion. If your TV is on the list, you can claim the offer by heading over to the LG Content Store and clicking on the Stadia Pro offer banner. You can then scan the following QR code using your smartphone to redeem the offer. As mentioned earlier, the Stadia Pro promotion is available for both new and existing Stadia Pro users. You can redeem it until January 31, 2023.

LG smart TVs eligible for the Stadia Pro promotion

  • 2022 models
    • OLED: 42LX1QPUA, 42LX3QPUA, 48LX1QPUA, 55LX1QPUA, 65ART90EPQA, OLED42C2AUA, OLED42C2PUA, OLED48A2AUA, OLED48A2PUA, OLED48C2AUA, OLED48C2PUA, OLED55A2AUA, OLED55A2PUA, OLED55B2AUA, OLED55B2PUA, OLED55C2AUA, OLED55C2PUA, OLED55G2PUA, OLED65A2AUA, OLED65A2PUA, OLED65B2AUA, OLED65B2PUA, OLED65C2AUA, OLED65C2PUA, OLED65G2PUA, OLED77A2AUA, OLED77A2PUA, OLED77B2AUA, OLED77B2PUA, OLED77C2AUA, OLED77C2PUA, OLED77G2PUA, OLED77Z2PUA, OLED83C2AUA, OLED83C2PUA, OLED83G2PUA, OLED88Z2PUA, OLED97G2PUA
    • QNED: 50QNED80AQA, 50QNED80UQA, 55QNED80AQA, 55QNED80UQA, 55QNED85AQA, 55QNED85UQA, 65QNED80AQA, 65QNED80UQA, 65QNED83UPA, 65QNED85AQA, 65QNED85UQA, 65QNED90UQA, 65QNED99UQA, 75QNED80AQA, 75QNED80UQA, 75QNED83UPA, 75QNED85AQA, 75QNED85UQA, 75QNED90UQA, 75QNED99UQA, 86QNED80AQA, 86QNED80UQA, 86QNED83UPA, 86QNED85AQA, 86QNED85UQA, 86QNED90UQA, 86QNED99UQA
    • Nano Cell: 43NANO75UQA, 50NANO75UQA, 50NANO80AQA, 55NANO75UQA, 55NANO80AQA, 65NANO75UQA, 65NANO80AQA, 70NANO75UQA, 75NANO75UQA, 75NANO80AQA, 86NANO75UQA
    • UHD: 43UQ7070ZUD, 43UQ7590PUB, 43UQ8000AUB, 43UQ9000PUD, 50UQ7070ZUE, 50UQ7570PUA, 50UQ7570PUJ, 50UQ8000AUB, 50UQ9000PUD, 55UP7050ZUA, 55UQ7070ZUE, 55UQ7570PUA, 55UQ7570PUJ, 55UQ8000AUB, 55UQ9000PUD, 65UP7050ZUA, 65UQ7070ZUE, 65UQ7570PUA, 65UQ7570PUJ, 65UQ8000AUB, 65UQ9000PUD, 70UQ7070ZUD, 70UQ7590PUB, 70UQ8000AUB, 70UQ9000PUD, 75UP7300PUC, 75UQ7070ZUD, 75UQ7590PUB, 75UQ8000AUB, 75UQ9000PUD, 86UQ7070ZUD, 86UQ7590PUD, 86UQ8000AUB, 86UQ9000PUD
    • FHD: 27ART10AKPL
    • HD: 32LQ630BAUA, 32LQ630BPUA
  • 2021 models:
    • OLED: OLED48A1AUA, OLED48A1PUA, OLED48C1AUB, OLED48C1PUB, OLED55A1AUA, OLED55A1PUA, OLED55B1PUA, OLED55C1AUB, OLED55C1PUB, OLED55G1PUA, OLED65A1AUA, OLED65A1PUA, OLED65B1PUA, OLED65C1AUB, OLED65C1PUB, OLED65G1PUA, OLED65R1PUA, OLED77A1AUA, OLED77A1PUA, OLED77B1PUA, OLED77C1AUB, OLED77C1PUB, OLED77G1PUA, OLED83C1AUA, OLED83C1PUA
    • QNED: 65QNED90UPA, 65QNED99UPA, 75QNED90UPA, 75QNED99UPA, 86QNED90UPA, 86QNED99UPA
    • Nano Cell: 43NANO75UPA, 50NANO75UPA, 50NANO80UPA, 55NANO75UPA, 55NANO80UPA, 55NANO85APA, 55NANO90UPA,  65NANO75UPA, 65NANO80UPA, 65NANO85APA, 65NANO90UPA, 65NANO99UPA, 70NANO75UPA, 75NANO75UPA, 75NANO80UPA, 75NANO85APA, 75NANO90UPA, 75NANO99UPA, 86NANO75UPA, 86NANO85APA, 86NANO90UPA, 86NANO99UPA
    • UHD: 43UN6955ZUF, 43UP7000PUA, 43UP7560AUD, 43UP7670PUC, 43UP8000PUA, 43UP8000PUR, 50UN6955ZUF, 50UP7000PUA, 50UP7560AUD, 50UP7670PUC, 50UP8000PUA, 50UP8000PUR, 55UN6955ZUF, 55UP7000PUA, 55UP7560AUD, 55UP7670PUC, 55UP8000PUA, 55UP8000PUR, 60UP8000PUA, 60UP8000PUR, 65UN6955ZUF, 65UN9000AUJ, 65UP7000PUA, 65UP7560AUD, 65UP7670PUC, 65UP8000PUA, 65UP8000PUR, 70UN6955ZUC, 70UP7070PUE, 70UP7570AUD, 70UP7670PUB, 70UP8070PUA, 70UP8070PUR, 75UN6955ZUD, 75UN9070AUD, 75UP7070PUD, 75UP7570AUE, 75UP7670PUB, 75UP8070PUA, 75UP8070PUR, 82UP8770PUA, 86UN9070AUD, 86UP8770PUA
  • 2020 models:
    • OLED: OLED48CXAUB, OLED48CXPUB, OLED55BXAUA, OLED55BXPUA, OLED55CXAUA, OLED55CXPUA, OLED55GXPUA, OLED65BXAUA, OLED65BXPUA, OLED65CXAUA, OLED65CXPUA, OLED65GXPUA, OLED65WXPUA, OLED77CXAUA, OLED77CXPUA, OLED77GXPUA, OLED77ZXPUA, OLED88ZXPUA
    • Nano Cell: 49NANO85UNA, 55NANO81ANA, 55NANO85UNA, 55NANO85UNF, 55NANO90UNA, 65NANO81ANA, 65NANO85UNA, 65NANO85UNF, 65NANO90UNA, 65NANO91ANA, 65NANO95UNA, 65NANO99UNA, 75NANO80UNA, 75NANO85UNA, 75NANO90UNA, 75NANO91ANA, 75NANO95UNA, 75NANO97UNA, 75NANO99UNA, 86NANO90UNA, 86NANO91ANA
    • UHD: 43UN6950ZUA, 43UN7000PUB, 43UN7300AUD, 43UN7300PUF, 50UN6950ZUF, 50UN7000PUC, 50UN7300AUD, 50UN7300PUF, 55UN6950ZUA, 55UN7000PUB, 55UN7300AUD, 55UN7300PUF, 60UN7000PUB, 65UN6950ZUA, 65UN7000PUD, 65UN7300AUD, 65UN7300PUF, 65UN8500AUJ, 65UN8500PUI, 70UN6950ZUA, 70UN7070PUA, 70UN7370PUC, 75UN6950ZUD, 75UN6970PUD, 75UN7070PUC, 75UN7370AUH, 75UN7370PUE, 75UN8570AUD, 75UN8570PUC, 82UN8570AUD, 82UN8570PUC, 86UN8570AUD, 86UN8570PUC

You can enjoy Stadia Pro on your LG smart TV using a wide range of controllers, including popular wired USB controllers, like the Nvidia Shield controller and the Xbox 360 controller, and wireless Bluetooth controllers, like the Sony Dualshock4 controller and the Xbox One S/Series X controller.

Note that you will have to enable auto-renew with a valid form of payment on your Google Account to redeem the offer. You will have to manually cancel the subscription if you don’t want to continue it after the promotion ends.


Source: LG
Via: 9to5Google

The post LG partners with Google to offer three months of Stadia Pro for free on select smart TVs appeared first on XDA.



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mercredi 3 août 2022

Samsung Gaming Hub now supports over 1000 games thanks to Amazon Luna addition

While traditional gaming via consoles or PC will continue to dominate, game streaming services are having a moment, offering an alternative way to play video games on the go or at home. Samsung Gaming Hub was released towards the end of June and allows 2022 Samsung Smart TV and Smart Monitor series owners instant access to an extensive library of streaming games from leading game streaming services. Today, Samsung announced it is adding Amazon Luna to its Gaming Hub platform, ushering in even more games into the service.

Amazon Luna was only recently made available to those in the US. Several different tiers are available, with the lowest costing $2.99 a month and the highest costing $17.99 a month. Some examples of tiers include a retro tier, a family tier, and even a tier with Ubisoft. There is also a free tier included with an Amazon Prime membership. Each offers a different assortment of games that change each month.

Previously, Samsung Gaming Hub partners included heavy hitters like Xbox, Nvidia, Google Stadia, Utomik, and others. With Amazon Luna becoming a partner, consumers will have more options, gaining access to over 250 or so additional games. While the number is impressive, Samsung Gaming Hub now has a total offering of over 1000 games. This is quite impressive.

Thanks to optimizations from Samsung’s Tizen software, Samsung Gaming Hub provides crisp graphics and solid performance. While you can play without a proper controller using your smartphone, Gaming Hub offers support for external hardware, which means you can also pair up your existing Amazon Luna controller to the service for the best experience. Gaming Hub users can seamlessly connect their Amazon Luna controller or other supported controllers without issues. Like magic, controllers automatically connect to each supported service without needing individual pairing. Gaming Hub will also support media streaming with services like Spotify and YouTube.


Source: Samsung

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T-Mobile OnePlus 8 and 8T finally updated to OxygenOS 12

In March, OnePlus released the first stable OxygenOS 12 update for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8T. The update was an important one, bringing Android 12 to both handsets. While some rejoiced with the new update, others, like those in the United States, wondered when their handsets would be updated. After several months, T-Mobile has finally released the update, making it available as an over-the-air (OTA) download.

XDA Forums: OnePlus 8OnePlus 8T

The notes for the update are relatively sparse, relaying that the update will upgrade the OS from its current state to Android 12. In addition, it also contains the July 2022 Android security update. The build number for the OnePlus 8 version is IN2017_11_C.41, while the build number for the OnePlus 8T update is KB2007_11_C.41.

The Android 12 is an important one, bringing many changes not only cosmetically but also under the hood.  Perhaps what users will notice first is the improved user interface. Android 12 utilizes Google’s Material You, bringing dynamic color theming. Dynamic theming will make customizing a breeze, automatically sampling colors from your wallpaper and injecting them into icons and system menus.

Android 12 for OnePlus 8 on T-Mobile

Image credit: OnePlus Reddit member u/CityKid2100

A new privacy dashboard gives users more control over their personal information. You can even deny camera and microphone access for specific apps. There are also improved accessibility tools, with one allowing you to dim the screen lower than what was previously allowed. While this all sounds impressive, this is just the tip of the iceberg, with so many more additional improvements in every corner of the OS.

The update should be rolling out OTA, but there is a chance that it could take longer to reach your phone. If you want to update now, you can sideload the updates using our download links below.

Download:

Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer mlgmxyysd and XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links!


Source: Reddit (OnePlus), OnePlus Community Forums

The post T-Mobile OnePlus 8 and 8T finally updated to OxygenOS 12 appeared first on XDA.



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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.

iPadOS 16 Home Screen with Settings app highlighted

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

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

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

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

  • 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.

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.

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

The post How to customize the double-tap action on the Apple Pencil 2 appeared first on XDA.



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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

Fire 7 (2019) tablet in black color

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

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.


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.


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.


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.

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:

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.


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

Galaxy S22 Plus in four colors

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.

Google Pixel 6 Pro back with G logo

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.

Front of smartphone screen with camera cutout

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.

full front of the Google Pixel 6 Pro running Android 12 QPR3 Beta 2

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.


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.

Camera viewfinder on Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

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:

Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Camera sample from Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

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.
    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.

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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