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Graphic: Vicky Leta / GO MediaWhile 2023 was a big year in consumer tech and had some clever innovations to show off, not everything was a smash hit, to say the least. Whether it was subpar performance, a troubled launch, or a glaring design flaw, these products disappointed us the most. This year’s picks, like the Apple iMac or the GoPro Hero 12, aren’t categorically terrible products, but they left us completely underwhelmed and wanting more. As you’ll see, failing to live up to the hype could be just as much a letdown…

Photo: Kyle Barr / GizmodoFoldables really came into the spotlight in 2023. It was the first year that companies like Motorola and Google decided to deliver their own products to the still-infant foldable market, though with mixed results. Despite the domineering presence of Samsung, which released its fifth generation Galaxy Flips and Folds this year, OnePlus, with its OnePlus Open, turned the tables on every other company with good, old-fashioned, solid design. It all comes down to the smooth folding, unfolding action,…

Screenshot: MicrosoftAndroid users might soon be able to turn their smartphones into a webcam for their PCs via Microsoft’s Link to Windows app, according to Android Authority. “Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedSome background for folks who need it. Microsoft Phone Link, formerly Your Phone, is Microsoft’s phone emulator, allowing users to link their Android and iOS devices to their PCs. Android Authority did an APK teardown of the Link to Windows app’s code, which showed “features that may arrive on a…

It’s almost December, which means all the major apps and tech companies are wrapping up the year with an attempt at reflection. As tradition calls, the annual Google Play Best of App Awards have been announced for 2023. Sure, there are a few notable new titles on the list, and I’ll point them out in a bit. But first, let’s take a closer look at the Play Store’s vastly underplayed hit of the year, which comes from its competition.“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedChatGPT is Android’s users’ choice app.…

Samsung Internet seems so confused about its identity that it includes a screenshot from Google Chrome on its Microsoft Store listing.Screenshot: Kyle Barr / GizmodoThere must have been at least a handful of people around the world who were desperate to use the browser that comes baked into Samsung phones on their PCs. Well, if you’re one of those odd individuals, rejoice. Without any formal announcement, Samsung Internet hit the Microsoft Store page Wednesday with an incredibly brief description: “Samsung Internet…

For many of us, the holidays are when we level-up devices for ourselves and our loved ones, because pretty much everything is on sale. It’s right after Apple, Google, and Samsung have refreshed their offerings. As Gizmodo’s resident smartphone expert, I think this is the best time to toss out the old and swap in the new—but only if it’s truly time for an upgrade. Every piece of hardware that hit my desk in 2023 felt like a launch that was finally substantial enough to justify moving on from a three-, four-, or…

Screenshot: NothingThe mobile class divide between the iPhone blue bubble and the Android green bubble might need regulators to settle things in the future, but Nothing has another solution coming soon. Video Chat - From Sci-Fi to Sci-FactNothing Chats is an upcoming messaging app for the Nothing Phone (2) that lets Android users drop their green bubbles for the sleek blue bubble from Apple. Developed by Sunbird, the app requires users to log in with their Apple ID or create a new account, and once set, they will be able…

Safety is a major selling point in a society that profits from fear-mongering, so I’m scratching my head about the canceled plans for Android’s version of satellite connectivity.Is Google's New $1,800 Pixel Phone Worth It? | Gizmodo ReviewQualcomm, the maker of the most popular chip powering Android devices, planned to sell the capability for satellite connectivity to the manufacturers. At the start of the year, it showed off its ability to journalists and had several smartphone makers on board, including Xiaomi,…

I’m an image goblin. I can’t help it: I see something funny or cute, and I’ll scrape it from the internet to share with friends and family, far and wide. But I often forget that I saved the image to a particular phone until the next day, and by then, I’m usually at my PC, working with another batch of devices. The iPhone SE Offers Almost Everything You Want In An iPhoneFortunately, Google’s answer to Apple’s AirDrop has made it convenient to shuffle files between my computers, phones, and tablets without tethering a cable…

Photo: Florence Ion | GizmodoAlthough it can’t compare to the performance of flagship devices from Apple or Samsung, our biggest complaint with the user-repairable Fairphone 4 was that it’s not available in the United States. That’s about to change, but those who’ve been patiently waiting two years for the Fairphone 4 to come to the US might be disappointed with what they’re getting.The iPhone SE Offers Almost Everything You Want In An iPhoneIf you’re unfamiliar with the device, the idea behind the user-repairable…