It’s hard to sell people on the idea of an iPhone Mini or any small smartphone, for that matter. My colleague Ben Sin noted this in his article discussing the death of the iPhone Mini and why Apple didn’t invest in making an iPhone 14 Mini. But ever since I’ve had access to mobile phones, I’ve always hunted out compact devices, and for the most part, I’ve enjoyed them.
But as phones got better and companies started to really focus on the things that mattered, there was less experimentation and small phones faded into the background, and for a good reason. So imagine my surprise when Apple, of all companies, announced the iPhone Mini 12 back in 2020. The most surprising thing about the phone was that it didn’t really sacrifice a lot when compared to the flagship. So, with the release of the iPhone 12 Mini, I traded in my iPhone 11 Pro Max for something considerably smaller, and it was a great decision for that time.
Going from a Pro Max to a Mini
So let me try and set the stage so I can try to give you a better idea of why I moved onto the iPhone Mini. During my time with the phone, I was doing heavy commutes using public transit and wearing formal attire doing so. So every day, I’d wear slacks, and this is when I started to question my use of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Every day, the phone would be a terrible fit in my pocket, a hulking mass that would bulge in my pants, often popping out whenever I sat down. The phone was heavy, and it just didn’t really fit my lifestyle.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the huge display. But there was just something about the size that really started bothering me. As luck would have it, Apple would announce the iPhone 12 Mini, and to put it lightly, I was ecstatic. I really couldn’t believe that all of the rumors up until that point actually panned out, and the company was offering a smaller iPhone packed with plenty of power.
So, of course, I ordered it, and when it arrived, I was over the moon. This thing was so tiny and light and felt great in hand. Oh, and the pocket feel of the phone was excellent, snuggly nestled in deep, without the worry of ever popping out. While I did miss having a large display, I started to quickly adapt to the smaller size screen of the Mini and found that it was more than enough for my daily use.
Although the battery life wasn’t as great as what you’d find in the Pro model iPhone, it was more than enough for my day-to-day use. But then again, I’m not the most intense smartphone user, mainly using a few social media and messaging apps, music for a few hours, navigation, translation, and some YouTube. Of course, this behavior could vary depending on the day, but you kind of get how I used the phone and can understand that with my use, I rarely had to run to the charger in the middle of the day.
The Mini was perfect for me
Now, the hard part is trying to explain why the iPhone Mini was the perfect phone for me. For me, it was a combination of things. Of course, there’s the size of the iPhone and its inherent capabilities. But what really pushed it over the edge was that it provided a lot of the features and capabilities of the top-end iPhone without sacrificing a lot. I really thought the experience would be a world apart, but it was pretty much identical. When you put certain parts of the phone side by side, of course, there are differences, but in real-world use, I didn’t really feel unsatisfied. I also think one of the more interesting points was that I had an Apple Watch. Since I relied on the Apple Watch for a lot of my interactions, it kept the phone in my pocket until I really needed it the most. The smartwatch complemented the smartphone smartly.
So knowing this, it begs the question, did it have to be an iPhone Mini? What about a different supported phone like the iPhone SE or iPhone X? I mean, sure, it could be done, but going with something older means sacrificing some quality of life enhancements, and plus, those phones are actually larger than the iPhone Mini. What about just going with a cellular version of the Apple Watch? Here we can probably all agree this is going too far, and you’d be sacrificing way too much.
In the end, the iPhone Mini struck the perfect balance for me, straddling the fine line that not many smaller smartphones can achieve.
You might be asking, are you still using an iPhone Mini in 2022? The answer is no, and it’s not because Apple discontinued the series, I just simply moved on to something that fits my needs better right now. That’s the beauty of choice — there will probably never be a perfect smartphone, but we can find something that works, fulfilling most of our needs, regardless of size, shape, or even platform.
But, if Apple ever revisits the Mini series and just happens to make a Pro version, would I buy it? You bet – because the iPhone Mini was the perfect phone for me.
The iPhone 13 Mini is perhaps the last in Apple's mini phone experiment, so you might want to buy this now while you can. Don't be fooled by the tiny size -- this thing still packs a punch in 2022.
The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra is a new and unique form factor for Lenovo, being a workstation that’s about half the size of a typical small form factor (SFF) machine. It’s closer to something like HP’s Z2 Mini, but it can actually go a bit further in terms of performance. Despite its compact size, it’s packing up to 125W processors and powerful Nvidia graphics, and it’s designed to be easy to get inside it, so you can always upgrade things like the memory, storage, or CPU.
I’m a fan of this machine. The compact size makes it really easy to fit into a limited workspace like mine, but it still packs quite a lot of power and a solid supply of ports. If you need a machine for heavier workloads like video or 3D rendering without having it take up a lot of space on your desk, this is a good option, and it’s priced very competitively.
Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra: Pricing and availability
The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra is available directly from Lenovo starting at $1,299 MSRP
Lenovo launched the ThinkStation P360 Ultra in June, and it came at a starting price of $1,299, which is very reasonable for this kind of machine. My configuration is significantly more advanced than the base model, and it’s priced at $2,833.95 at B&H Photo. Lenovo is almost always running some kind of sale on its website, though so you’re likely to find it for less than that. This specific configuration isn’t yet available on Lenovo’s website, but you can get a very similar configuration with double the RAM for a lower price than what’s available at B&H Photo.
As per usual with most workstations, you can buy it from Lenovo’s own website and other resellers that specialize in business-to-business sales.
Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra: Specs
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900 vPro (16 cores, 24 threads, up to 5GHz, 30MB cache)
Graphics
Nvidia RTX A2000 (12GB GDDR6, 70W)
Memory
32GB (1 x 32GB) DDR5 4800MHz
Four DDR5 SODIMM slots, dual-channel capable
Storage
1TB NVMe PCIe 4 SSD
Two M.2 PCIe 4 slots, One 2.5-inch SATA HDD slot
Ports
Front
2 x Thunderbolt 4
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
3.5mm combo audio jack
Rear
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
3 x DisplayPort 1.2
1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet
1 x 1Gb Ethernet
Wi-Fi antenna slot
GPU: 4 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4a
Connectivity
Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 160Mhz
Bluetooth 5.1
Audio
Single speaker
Power supply
300W (external), 90% efficient
Dimensions
86 x 223 x 202 mm (3.4 x 8.7 x 7.9 in)
3.9 liter chassis
Weight
7.94lbs (3.6kg) for maximum configuration
Color
Black
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Price
$2833.95
Design: It’s perfect for small desks
The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra comes in a small four-liter chassis that fits in almost any desk
It has a pretty good selection of ports for something this size
Lenovo really touts the tiny design of this workstation as one of its biggest selling points, and frankly, it’s justified. At under four liters in volume, this is a really small machine, and even though I have a fairly small desk, it fits very well next to my two monitors. The company touts this as an industry-first form factor, but it’s not too far off from something like the HP Z2 Mini workstation in terms of size. Still, that doesn’t detract from this being a very compact machine.
Part of the reason for that is that the power supply is external, and it’s definitely on the larger side. It’s a 300W unit, so that’s to be expected. In addition to making the PC smaller, this also helps with cooling since it removes another source of heat from the chassis.
This is an all-black machine with just one or two red accents, which are very familiar if you’ve used any other Think device. On a ThinkPad, I generally find these accents a bit outdated, but they’re very minor here, and they fit well. The chassis also has rubber feet on two sides so you can use the PC vertically or horizontally without having the case scratch against the floor or wherever you keep it.
As for the ports, it’s got a pretty nice setup, too. On the front, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, along with one USB Type-A port and a 3.5mm combo headphone jack. Thunderbolt support might come in handy if you want to plug in an external GPU later down the line or you opted for a lower-tier model, and it can also be used for docking stations, or any accessories that use USB-C.
The back has a latch that lets you remove pretty much all the internals.
Most of the ports are on the back, and it’s a pretty expansive setup for this machine. You get two Ethernet ports (one with 2.5Gbps speeds, one with 1Gbps), four USB Type-A ports (all USB 3.2 Gen 2), a Wi-Fi antenna port (though Wi-Fi works without it), and three DisplayPort 1.2 ports to connect to a display. There are also four extra Mini DisplayPort 1.4a connectors on the GPU, which is generally what you’ll want to use. The GPU ports will depend on your configuration – the Nvidia T400 only has three of them.
The back also has a latch that lets you remove pretty much all the internals from the chassis without any tools. All of the components slide right out, and from there, you can tear away at the PC to install upgrades. You’ll notice that memory slots are pretty easily accessible, but most other components do require some tools. Still, everything is technically removable and replaceable, including the GPU and CPU.
One thing I find interesting about this machine is that actually has a built-in speaker. It’s just one, and obviously not meant to be a fantastic audio experience, but it’s there in case you’re setting this PC up with a monitor that doesn’t have speakers. I actually ended up preferring this to the speakers built into my cheap monitor, but that says more about the monitor than the computer.
I should also mention that Lenovo shipped this machine to me with a fairly basic USB mouse and keyboard. These get the job done, and the keyboard is actually pretty comfortable to type on. It has a full-size design and all the keys you’d expect without any unnecessary extras.
The mouse is also very basic, with left, right, and middle buttons. Some extra side buttons would be welcome, but you can’t ask for much more with bundled accessories.
Performance
Our review unit comes with an Intel Core i9-12900 and an Nvidia GeForce RTX A2000 GPU, but you can go higher
It supports up to 128GB of memory and has two M.2 SSD slots
Officially, the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra comes with up to an Intel Core i9-12900K, which is a very power-hungry 125W CPU for a machine of this size. Our configuration is a bit more tame, sticking with a 65W Core i9-12900, along with an Nvidia RTX A2000 desktop GPU with 70W of total power. If you want more power, the top tier configuration is an Nvidia RTX A5000 Laptop GPU, which has 115W of total power. Indeed, the power limitations on this machine are similar to what you might find on a powerful laptop, rather than a desktop.
Even with this combination, though, this is a powerful machine. Even though the GPU isn’t meant for gaming, I found it pretty suitable in my (admittedly limited) testing. My monitor is Full HD, so I tried to play some Gears 5 at Ultra settings and got a fairly consistent 60 frames per second, and the same goes for games like Doom Eternal and Halo Infinite, all running at their highest presets. I also tried Forza Horizon 5, which has an Extreme preset that’s a bit more demanding. The framerate in this setting was generally around 40fps in busier scenes, though it could get closer to 50fps. When I turned the graphics settings down to Ultra, I could get a consistent 60 frames per second.
CPU performance is right on par with bigger machines that have the same processor, like the Intel NUC 12 Extreme.
Of course, a more likely workload for this machine is video rendering, so I tried to export an 8K video using DaVinci Resolve. The video itself is 4 minutes and 2 seconds long, and the total render time was 6 minutes and 46 seconds. That’s pretty fast for this kind of workload, though it’s hard not to look over at Apple’s Mac Studio here. In our review of the Mac Studio, this same workload was done in just one minute and 22 seconds using DaVinci Resolve. Of course, that was on a machine that costs nearly $4,000, but you also have to consider how much smaller that PC is. Intel-based machines just can’t match the balance of power, performance, and thermals that Apple has with its custom silicon. That’s not Lenovo’s fault, but it’s something to consider.
Naturally, we have to look at benchmarks, too. I ran the usual set of benchmarks on the ThinkStation P360 Ultra, and it’s about what you’d expect for this hardware.
As you can see, CPU performance is right on par with bigger machines that have the same processor, like the Intel NUC 12 Extreme. Of course, it’s still far behind the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip, but that’s no surprise at this point. Apple really changed the landscape for tiny, powerful machines. As for GPU performance, you can also tell it’s nowhere near the same level as top-tier PCs. In fact, even a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti still manages much better performance than the RTX A2000. This GPU has a much lower power budget than those cards, though, so that’s absolutely to be expected, too. Keep in mind, this whole system only has a 300W power supply.
My configuration of the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra also came with 32GB of RAM, and unfortunately, it’s on a single stick. The PC does support dual-channel memory, but I can’t benefit from it in this configuration. Testing the memory with MaxxMem2, it seems like speeds are about what you might expect for DDR5 RAM at 4800MHz, except for the write score, which was oddly low.
Meanwhile, the PCIe 4.0 SSD included in the package performs very well for the most part, though it’s not the fastest PCIe 4.0 around.
Particularly, some of the random read/write results seem noticeably lower than other PCs with PCIe 4.0 SSDs, which is a bit strange. I also had somewhat inconsistent results for random reads and writes.
Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra?
The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra is obviously not a machine meant for everyone, but it does a good job of delivering what it promises. It has quite a bit of performance, and its smaller size doesn’t come with a lot of sacrifices, at least on the CPU side. It’s a great compact workstation that delivers strong performance for all kinds of tasks, even if it can’t quite match the power of bigger and more power-hungry machines.
You should buy the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra if:
You want a compact machine that can handle demanding workloads
You care about being able to upgrade and repair the PC easily
You shouldn’t buy the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra if you:
Are looking for the most powerful workstation
Want an extra-small device for more basic tasks
The Mac Studio fits your budget and workloads
A big hurdle if you want to buy this machine is going to be pricing, but that’s true of most workstations. This isn’t a cheap computer, but the performance and upgradeability you get are great, especially considering its size.
The foldable smartphone scene is in such an odd place right now. Samsung has a virtual monopoly on the global foldable scene, except for one important, but somewhat insular country: China. Within China, there are a half dozen foldable alternatives to Samsung’s foldables, and they all have sleeker and better-looking hardware.
The latest such device to hit the market is the third-generation Motorola Razr. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Razr folds completely flat, has a crease-free display, and has a larger outside cover screen that can show and do more. In my opinion, it simply looks better.
But two factors keep the new Razr from being a real competitor: First, it’s only selling in China, for now, so the Galaxy Z Flip 4 still has no competition everywhere else. Second, Motorola’s software, particularly when it comes to the cameras, is not good.
There is a good chance the 2022 Razr will eventually make it stateside because previous Razrs have sold internationally. But unless Motorola can improve its software by then, it won’t be a serious challenger to Samsung’s foldable, which is a shame.
This phone is only selling in China right now, but if and when this does reach the US, it will immediately give the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 some much needed competition.
About this review: I purchased the Motorola Razr (2022) for personal use. This review was written after using the retail unit for over two weeks.
Motorola Razr 2022: Hardware and Design
The first two Razr foldables were clear homages to the original “dumb phone” era Razr, with a design that, when unfolded, keeps a similar shape to their ancestor. That meant, however, a thick chin bezel that protruded from the face of the device, and an overall wedge-like shape that felt wider than modern phones.
The older, second-gen Razr (right) next to a Galaxy Z Flip 4.
This new Razr ditches that form factor, going with a design that looks just like a modern slab phone when unfolded. Instead of the bulky chin, we now have uniform bezels. The screen size has increased significantly, from the 6.2-inches before to 6.7-inches now. But because this is a clamshell foldable, the new Razr still feels very pocketable and compact, measuring just 91.6mm x 72.6mm x 16mm.
The device is noticeably wider than the Z Flip 4, however, because the Razr’s 21:9 aspect ratio is not as elongated as the Flip 4’s 22:9.
The Motorola Razr (top) and Galaxy Z Flip 4 (bottom).
The wider width doesn’t bother me, as the Razr in folded form can still fit into my dress shirt pocket or small jacket pockets. At 200g, the weight is not bothersome. In fact, I prefer Motorola’s wider aspect ratio, because I find the Z Flip 4’s main screen a bit narrow for two-thumb typers such as myself.
Motorola (left); Samsung (right).
Displays
The Razr’s 6.7-inch foldable plastic OLED display has a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and it’s very pleasing to the eyes. Colors are vibrant, animations are ultra-fluid, and unlike Samsung’s Flip 4, there’s no harsh crease halfway down the screen. Motorola is actually the first company to solve the creasing issue by designing a hinge that has a small cavity into which the folding screen can tuck. The small cavity gives the display room for a softer fold, instead of a harsh flat fold.
Razr (left), Flip 4 (right).
The secondary panel on the outside is a traditional glass OLED, measuring 2.7-inches diagonally, with a resolution of 573 x 800. It’s noticeably taller than the Flip 4’s cover screen, which shows more information.
Unlike the Flip 4, which by default only shows widgets, Motorola is giving the Razr’s outside screen free reign to show whatever it wants — meaning you can open any app on it. However, most apps look absurd on such a cramped, landscape screen. But some apps do work, like YouTube, and basic navigation in Google Maps.
I suppose there aren’t many situations where one would want to use the outside screen for YouTube — you might as well just unfold and watch on the larger screen — but I can see being able to access Google Maps and even Slack on the outside screen as quite useful. Sometimes I only need just a tiny bit of information and I don’t want to unfold the device. This is actually my biggest gripe with Samsung’s Flip series — ultimately, it’s just a normal phone that requires an extra step before you can really use it.
Hinge: Can stay in place but not as sturdy
The Razr 2022’s hinge can stay mid-way folded, which opens up hands-free use cases, but the hinge here is nowhere near as sturdy as the Flip 4’s. If I leave the Razr in L-shape like the photo above on a table, and I tap on the bottom screen with some force, the top half wobbles, like a budget laptop. There is no such movement in the Flip 4, whose hinge is rock steady.
Like the Flip 4, the Razr’s camera apps and YouTube app will adapt to Flex Mode by pushing the main content to the top half while the bottom half display slightly less important information.
Silicon, memory, battery, and other bits
Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 with 12GB of RAM is the combo here, and both pack more than enough power for a device of this type. The usage of Qualcomm’s latest silicon is good news because the battery here isn’t large at 3,500 mAh (though it’s still a big step up from the 2,800 mAh of the previous Razr). Haptics are mushy and soft, but there is a solid set of stereo speakers.
Cameras: Slow shutter, bad processing
The Motorola Razr 2022’s camera hardware is much improved over the previous generation. The main camera is a 50MP, f/1.9 sensor with a relatively large 1/1.55-inch image sensor, a big step up from the small sensored 48MP main shooter from before. There’s also the addition of a 13MP ultra-wide camera which was a notable omission in previous Razrs. Wrapping up the camera package is a 32MP front-facing camera. You can also, of course, use the screen as a viewfinder so you can shoot selfies with the main camera system.
These camera hardware look impressive on paper, but unfortunately Motorola needs to improve its camera software. The processing right now can be hit and miss, with images sometimes blowing out lights abruptly even. There’s also a really bad phantom shutter bug that sees the camera snapping photos on its own. If I look at Razr’s photo gallery now, for every three photos I snapped myself, there’s one or two shots I did not snap, and it’s usually pointing at the ground, or a blurry mess because I was moving my arms as the camera was snapping away.
When the stars align — if I’m holding perfectly still, the lighting is good, the camera shutter button isn’t wonking out, I can get some impressive shots. But it’s a very hit-and-miss experience with more misses than hits, lending to some frustration.
Motorola Razr 2022: Software, Performance and Battery Life
The Razr runs Android 12, with Motorola’s MyUI Android skin on top, and I quite like the UI in terms of aesthetics and features. It looks close to Pixel’s version of Android, but it has more customization options. Perhaps too much. Virtually every shortcut gesture I can think of, from double tap to wake/lock screen, multi-finger swipes for screenshots, double tap buttons to launch apps, are all here. Plus there are these quirky Motorola-specific gestures like making a chop or twist motion with the phone twice to trigger an action.
The Motorola Razr 2022 right now is recommended as an enthusiast-only device for anyone living outside China
Animations are buttery smooth with very few stutters, and overall smartphone usage is fine, except for the camera experience. The aforementioned phantom shutterbug is persistent, and another reviewer who purchased one confirmed his unit has the same problem.
Battery life is okay on this phone. I am a heavy user who’s constantly on social media, texting, streaming Spotify, and I shoot a lot of videos, which I usually cut on the spot via the app PowerDirector to upload to Instagram, and the Razr cannot last a full day for me. I’d say for heavy usage like mine, this phone is good for about 10-11 hours of use on a single charge. But lighter users could get a full day out of it. A 30W charger is included with the package, so overall, I am okay with the battery performance.
Should you buy the Motorola Razr 2022?
You should buy the Motorola Razr 2022 if:
You like clamshell foldables but don’t want to go Samsung for whatever reason
You really like Motorola phones and don’t mind importing or a poor camera experience
You should not buy the Motorola Razr 2022 if:
You care about camera performance
You don’t want to bother importing
The Motorola Razr 2022 right now is recommended as an enthusiast-only device for anyone living outside China, because it requires importing, which marks up from the roughly $900 price and loses warranty. Since Motorola had released its previous foldables internationally before, there is a chance this third generation Razr will see a global release, but Motorola will have to figure out the camera situation before it becomes a suitable, viable alternative to the highly polished Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
This phone is only selling in China right now, but if and when this does reach the US, it will immediately give the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 some much needed competition.
Back in September 2022, Apple launched the all-new iPhone 14 line. This time around, the Cupertino firm clearly distinguished between the regular and Pro variants. In an attempt to boost Pro sales, it went ahead and included most of the exciting changes on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max iPhones. Meanwhile, the regular 14 and 14 Plus variants barely pack any exciting new offerings. So if you’re planning to get a 2022 Apple phone, you might want to buy an iPhone 14 Pro. That’s to experience the latest and greatest an iPhone has to offer. Don’t forget to grab a case, too, as back glass repairs are costly. Now, let’s shift our attention to the next year with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro aren’t launching anytime soon — as you might’ve guessed. The tech overlord recently released a fresh batch of high-end iPhones. The next batch is still months away. Nonetheless, we have heard some rumors revolving around them. We additionally hope to see certain features introduced on the highest-end models. Let’s dig into 2023’s iPhone 15 Pro models.
iPhone 15 Pro: Naming scheme
For the past few years, Apple has been resorting to the following naming scheme: iPhone Mini, iPhone, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max. On the iPhone 14 lineup, the company dropped the Mini variant in favor of a larger, 6.7-inch Plus model. In 2023, things could be changing again, too.
Rumors point to the possibility of Apple dropping the Pro Max label and introducing an Ultra edition. The highest-end variant would reportedly have its own exclusive features as well — rather than being a larger Pro model. So the end result could potentially be: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Ultra.
Release: Not in 2022
As you might already know, the iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra won’t be available until at least late 2023. Apple typically releases its premium iPhone set in September, and the iPhone 15’s case should be no different. That’s assuming the company doesn’t face unexpected shortages or obstacles. When exactly will these new iPhones launch? We can’t tell until the company invites press members to the event. That typically occurs a week or two before the launch takes place.
Display: 2022-esque
With the introduction of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max came the birth of the controversial Dynamic Island. While some users are fascinated by the way it behaves and adapts to the on-screen content, many others despise its very existence. The good/bad news — depending on the user category you fall into — is that the Dynamic Island is likely here to stay. All of the iPhone 15 models will reportedly feature this software/hardware magic. So whether you buy a regular iPhone 15 or a Pro/Ultra one — it will likely include this floating landmark.
We expect the Always-On Display (AOD) feature to remain supported exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro/Ultra models. It’s also unlikely Apple will drop 120Hz ProMotion support on the highest-end models — as the company typically doesn’t devolve. Expectedly, we also believe the iPhone 15 Pro will have a 6.1-inch screen, while the Ultra goes for a 6.7-inch one. Ultimately, we aren’t expecting any display upgrades in the Pro department.
Ports: 2023 is the Type-C year
With the EU forcing phone manufacturers to adopt a common charging port, we’re almost sure Apple will make the switch in 2023. The iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra could replace the eon-old Lightning port with a USB Type-C one. This would allow users to carry fewer cables when moving around — as most recent gadgets recharge through the USB Type-C standards. Some people argue that Lightning is more durable than USB Type-C. While this might be true, the latter supports faster data transfer speeds.
In the ports department, we expect Apple to still exclude the physical SIM tray in the U.S. The Cupertino company could even potentially expand this change to more regions that are ready for the eSIM-only solution. While I personally doubt Apple will force the entire world to depend on the eSIM-only execution in 2023, it could possibly roll out this change in the upcoming years.
Charging: Will Apple reverse into the future?
For years, Apple has supported wired and wireless charging on iPhones. The highest-end models get both Qi and MagSafe support, allowing users to choose the option they prefer. That’s in addition to wired connections through the Lightning port. The iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra will reportedly finally make the switch to USB Type-C — as the EU forces all phone manufacturers to adopt this port. Additionally, we can safely assume that the 2023 iPhones will support the Qi and MagSafe wireless charging standards. With Apple likely dropping Lightning, one charging-related item remains on our wishlist.
Certain manufacturers, including Samsung, have supported reverse wireless charging on their phones for years now. For the unfamiliar, this feature allows users to turn the back of their phones into a Qi pad. This makes charging wireless earbuds or smartwatches easy when on the go. We only hope Apple introduces it on the iPhone 15 series, even if it turns out to be a Pro/Ultra exclusive.
Pro-cessor: A fragmented iPhone 15 series
Apple started including year-old chipsets on regular iPhones with the launch of the 14 series. So while the iPhone 14 Pro models got a taste of 2022’s A16 Bionic chip, the regular 14 and 14 Plus had to settle for 2021’s A15 Bionic. We expect the iPhone maker to adopt this strategy indefinitely — in an attempt to further boost Pro sales. This would mean that only the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Ultra will get the upcoming A17 Bionic chip. The regular models will likely stick to the A16.
While there still isn’t any rumor about the matter, Apple could also include a tweaked A17 Bionic chip in the Ultra variant to further boost it. With the company trying to further try to highlight what each model can do, it would only make sense for the Ultra to have boosted internals that goes beyond the larger screen size and the camera exclusives — which I will get to next.
Camera: The Ultra could feature Supercalifragilistic Zoom
Considering Apple just upgraded the Wide lens from 12MP to 48MP, we don’t expect it to see major changes in 2023. Of course, we could see new camera shooting modes or relevant gimmicks. However, there seemingly aren’t any reports regarding a major camera overhaul. In 2023, though, Apple might start distinguishing between its Pro iPhone models — starting with the camera hardware.
The larger iPhone 15 Pro (potentially iPhone 15 Ultra) is rumored to have an all-new periscope lens. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6x optical zoom range and supports up to 15x digital zoom. If the company introduces a periscope lens on the Ultra variant, we could see a wider optical zoom range, allowing users to retain acceptable photographic qualities when shooting far subjects. I’m almost sure the feature will also have a ridiculous marketing name — assuming it actually debuts.
Bottom Line: Apple could further redefine what a Pro iPhone 15 is
In 2022, Apple started heavily distinguishing between the regular and Pro iPhones. Though, apart from the screen size difference, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are pretty much identical. Similarly, users would only buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max if they want the larger display on a Pro unit. It seems that this will be changing in 2023.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus might not have any differences apart from the screen/battery sizes. However, the Pro models might start disintegrating into their own separate identities. By rebranding the Pro Max to Ultra and potentially adopting camera (and possibly other) exclusivities, the iPhone 14 Pro could become a “mid-range” premium iPhone — as the Ultra steals the highest-end crown, and leaves the 15 and 15 Plus with the “low-end” tag.
Do you plan on buying an iPhone 15 model? If so, which will you go for, and why? Let us know in the comments section below.
There is a misconception that Apple’s AirPods should only be used with iPhones. Some believe AirPods lose too many features when paired with a non-iPhone to be worth it, while some erroneously believe AirPods won’t even work at all with an Android device.
I can attest to the fact that that’s not the case, as I have been using the AirPods Max for over a year, and they’re usually paired with an Android smartphone. The same applies to the new AirPods Pro 2: I have been using these for the past two weeks, but only the first half of that period was paired with an iPhone. The rest of the time it’s been paired to either a Xiaomi 12S Ultra or a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. And for me personally, the experience has been perfectly fine. There are indeed some features lost when I use AirPods with an Android, but most of them don’t matter too much to me. Your mileage may vary.
How to pair an AirPods Pro 2 (or any AirPods) with an Android
One immediate benefit you lose when you use the AirPods Pro 2 (or any AirPods) with an Android device is you lose the somewhat seamless one-tap pairing process that you get within the Apple ecosystem. When you’re on an iPhone and a new (or previously unpaired to your device) set of AirPods Pro 2 is near, as soon as the AirPods case lid is opened, your iPhone should get a pop-up card asking if you want to pair. One tap to confirm, and the AirPods Pro 2 are not only paired to your iPhone, but also to any other iOS device you have that’s using the same Apple ID.
You don’t get that with an Android device. To pair an Airpods with an Android smartphone:
You must manually long press the small button on the back of the AirPods Pro 2 case, and wait for the case’s indicator light to flash white, which means the AirPods Pro 2 is now in pairing mode.
Go into the Bluetooth settings of your Android device
Find the AirPods listed, and tap to pair.
A pop-up window will then ask you to grant permission for the AirPods Pro access to your contacts and call history.
So instead of a one-tap process that takes half a second, pairing an AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device becomes a multi-step, 10-second process. The good news is you only have to do this one time. Afterward, the AirPods Pro 2 will automatically connect to your Android device as soon as you take them out of the case.
I have been using the AirPods Pro 2 with the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Xiaomi 12T Pro, and before that, I had been using my AirPods Max with at least a dozen Android devices from brands ranging from Google to Huawei, and I have never had any issue with audio playback or audio quality. I am no audiophile, but the sound coming from the AirPods Pro 2 sounds identical whether I’m paired to an Apple or Samsung device.
The core fundamental functionality of AirPods Pro 2 works perfectly fine for me on Android devices, including switching from ANC to transparency mode via a long press of the AirPods stem or adjusting volume with swipes. If your Android phone supports it, you can even access Google Assistant via the “Hey Google” voice command. I could do this on an international version of the Xiaomi 12T Pro perfectly fine.
What features do you lose when you pair an AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device?
As mentioned, you lose out on the seamless one-tap pairing during the first pairing process. That is only a one-time minor hassle that really shouldn’t matter to anyone. But there are other features lost that may matter to you. These are:
Automatic ear detection
Spatial Audio
Customization of AirPods control
Apple Find My network
Automatic Ear Detection
Automatic ear detection is a feature most should be familiar with: the AirPods Pro 2 (and all previous AirPods) uses a proximity sensor to detect when the earbuds have been removed from your ear, and will pause music or video automatically anytime you take out the AirPods. I can see this being a very useful feature for many people, but it’s not for me. I fiddle with my earbuds often when they’re inside my ear, and I dislike the music stopping every time I wiggle them loose for even a split second.
Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio is when the AirPods Pro 2 would keep track of your head movement and adapt the audio playback to simulate the effect of a 360-degree listening experience. Turn your head right, for example, and audio from the left side would become stronger because your left ear is more “exposed” to the music “in front of you.” The AirPods Pro 2 also offers personalized spatial audio, with the iPhone using its TrueDepth camera system to scan your ear canal for a “more personalized sound.” I don’t really hear the difference, to be honest before and post the ear scan.
Spatial Audio is not a must-have feature, and it’s not for everyone, but it can add to the music experience. I enjoy using it when I’m in a room, but not so much when I’m walking around town.
AirPods control optimization
The third feature lost is the ability to customize AirPods controls. If you’re paired with an iPhone, you can jump into settings and change what a long press of the stem does, for example. I assigned the left long press to Siri while keeping the right long press toggling between ANC or transparency mode. I can also add a neutral listening mode without ANC or transparency.
Find My
The last one may be important for most people: the AirPods Pro 2 can connect to Apple’s Find My network, meaning if you allow it to, you can track its location if they’re misplaced. You can even set up alerts that pop up on your iPhone anytime your AirPods Pro 2 are too far from your phone.
Should you buy an AirPods Pro 2 if you don’t own an Apple device at all?
As I mentioned at the beginning, these lost features when the AirPods are paired to Android devices are not dealbreakers for me, hence why I’ve been using the AirPods Max, and recently, AirPods Pro 2, with Android devices for a year without complaints. However, I am a unique case because I do own multiple Apple devices, including a MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max along with several Android phones. So while my AirPods are used with Android devices when I’m out and about, when I’m at home working off a MacBook, I do enjoy the AirPods and Apple seamless connectivity.
Ultimately, I would phrase it like this: don’t go out of your way to buy AirPods Pro 2 if you are a full-time Android user who doesn’t own a single Apple device. But if you are an Android user with an iPad or Mac at home, or if you’re an Android user who has been gifted/given a pair of AirPods, do give them a shot. They’re still good earbuds, just not the best choice to pursue on your own outside the Apple ecosystem. Instead, you can pick up some other recommended earbuds to use on Android.
The new Google Pixel Watch is finally here and it comes with a lot of health and fitness tracking features courtesy of Fitbit. If you’re into water sports activities or if you just happen to sweat a lot during a workout, then you must be wondering whether the new Pixel Watch carries an IP rating or if it’s waterproof. Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what we’re going to detail in this post.
The Google Pixel Watch has a 5ATM water resistance rating
Just like a lot of other wearables on the market, Google’s new Pixel Watch is not entirely waterproof. That said, it comes with a 5ATM water resistance rating, meaning it should handle sweat during workouts, and occasional dips in the pool without any issues. The 5ATM water resistance rating essentially means the Pixel Watch can withstand water pressures up to 50 meters (164 feet) in depth. Just to put things into perspective, the Apple Watch Series 8 is also water resistant up to 50 meters whereas the rugged Apple Watch Ultra is resistant up to 100 meters.
While the Pixel Watch can perfectly handle the occasional splashes of water, it’s worth noting that water resistance will gradually reduce due to normal wear and tear. Similarly, frequent drops and bumps on a hard surface may open some cracks or gaps in the casing, thereby making it less water-resistant. Just be wary of all these things and avoid unnecessary exposure to water. The Pixel Watch — unlike a lot of other smartwatches — does not have an official IP rating for dust and water resistance, so keep that in mind.
Lastly, Google also warns that not all watch bands can handle water, so it’s best to pick up the ones that stand up well to immersion and splashes. The company also recommends drying both the watch as well as the bands after exposure to liquid to protect the watch, bands, and your skin from any reaction.
The Google Pixel Watch is now up for grabs in the United States. It starts at $350 for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi variant, but there are a bunch of great Pixel Watch deals out there that’ll save you a lot of money.
Apple launched the AirPods Pro 2 back in September 2022. The second-gen edition includes some decent upgrades that first-gen users might appreciate. These include a new Find My case speaker, Apple Watch charger support, and a boosted H2 chipset. The H2 chip enables a new Adaptive Transparency mode and stronger Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The former allows you to hear surrounding sounds, minus loud noise. Meanwhile, the latter is allegedly twice as effective as that on the first-gen model. If you plan to buy the AirPods Pro 2, you must be wondering — does the H2 chip also enable lossless audio playback? Here’s everything you need to know about this matter in particular.
No lossless audio support on the AirPods Pro 2
Unfortunately, the AirPods Pro 2 don’t support lossless audio playback. Apple seemingly doesn’t state the highest audio quality they support. However, they certainly do not include lossless audio support. This means you’ll be limited to compressed, lossy audio formats. This is totally expected — considering Bluetooth connections aren’t reliable for lossless format delivery. Nonetheless, many people can’t tell the difference between lossy and lossless music. So this might not make a big difference to you.
The AirPods Pro 2 support Dolby Atmos content. This means you get to listen to compatible music and TV tracks in spatial audio. They also support head tracking — so the audio playback adapts to the way you move your head. This makes the listening experience infinitely more immersive. That’s especially true when you enable Active Noise Cancellation. By isolating yourself from the real world and enabling spatial audio with head tracking, it feels like you’re actually there at the recording studio. It’s not lossless audio, but it sure is realistic.
The AirPods Pro 2 support Active Noise Cancellation, Dolby Atmos content, and wireless charging. They pack plenty of offerings, despite their compact build.
