Phones

Realme has just launched its new low-cost C55 smartphone, and with it the company is pivoting its budget C series to a slightly more premium position with a greater focus on design than before. The Realme C55 has also grabbed attention thanks to its "Mini Capsule" feature, which introduces some new functionality that hasn't been seen before on Android devices. You can read our launch coverage of the C55 including prices, launch offers and sale dates, and also check out our full hands-on first impressions of the device and…

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Samsung has unveiled its first UWB chip, the Exynos Connect U100. And with this new chip, the South Korean firm has also announced its Exynos Connect branding for semiconductor chips that offer short-range wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB. We expect more such wireless connectivity chips to be added to the Exynos Connect lineup in the future. Exynos Connect U100 has single-digit centimeter accuracy Exynos Connect U100 offers UWB connectivity with single-digit centimeter accuracy and precise…

ChatGPT has dominated headlines for months, but not everyone wants to open up their browser just to talk to an AI chatbot. Starting a conversation with ChatGPT should be easier, which is why TextGPT might be a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in generative AI. As its name suggests, TextGPT is a service that brings ChatGPT directly to the messages app on your phone. When you sign up for TextGPT, you can chat with the generative AI chatbot as much as you want without a login, a subscription, or an API…

While governments around the world are racing to place restrictions on TikTok over perceived espionage and security concerns, Kremlin leaders in Moscow have their sights set on another target: smartphones. The officials, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant, have advised staff involved with President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 presidential re-election campaign to ditch iPhones—any U.S.-made phone, really—in favor of more “secure” alternatives over fears of potential interference from Western intelligence agencies. Russian…

What does water proofing a phone mean? Phone manufacturers can decide to build phones to be dusta and water resistant. This is measured with what is known as an IP rating, a system we explain fully in this article. In the system, the first number up to 6 denotes the dust proof level, and the second number the waterproof level. When it comes to smartphones, 8 is the highest you can go, which means you should look out for IP68 if you want the most peace of mind near water with your phone. IP68 means the…

A siren-like alert will be sent to mobile phone users across the UK next month to test a new public warning system over life-threatening events such as severe weather events, the British government announced on Sunday. A UK-wide alerts test will take place in the early evening of Sunday, April 23, which will see people receive a test message on their mobile phones. The government said the new Emergency Alerts will be used very rarely, only being sent where there is an immediate risk to people's lives, so people may not…

June Wan/ZDNetTwo very serious vulnerabilities were discovered recently by Google's Project Zero that directly affect Android phones made by Google and Samsung. The vulnerabilities are both tagged as "severe," which means they require immediate patching, otherwise you could be at risk.It might sound like hyperbole, but this time around it's on the mark. Exynos chipset vulnerabilityThe first vulnerability (and decidedly the worst) affects Exynos modems. There are four vulnerabilities that can cause serious problems…

Google Camera 8.8, the latest version of Google's camera app for Pixel handsets, is rolling out to older smartphone models. The update brings performance improvements to the company's camera app. Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners will see improvements while using the Night Sight feature to see reduced noise in images with the help of machine learning technology. The update is available for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, and adds camera stability and performance improvements in certain conditions.According to a 9to5Google…

When Apple removed the headphone jack and bundled earphones from iPhones seven years ago, most Android OEMs laughed it off, only to remove those things from their own phones just a couple of years later. The same happened with the smartphone charger bundled in the box. Now, almost all high-end Android smartphones lack a headphone jack and a bundled charger, and that trend is coming soon to affordable Galaxy devices. Galaxy A14 reportedly doesn’t come with a charger in the box According to tipster Ahmed Qwaider, the…