You know what a smartphone is and most likely what an iPhone is. But you might not know what it means when someone refers to Android. In a confusing world of technology, Android holds an important place, though it can be a tricky to get your head round why. Here’s the basics on Android, where we explain what it is, where it is from and how to determine either which Android version or Android phones are the best. What is Android? Android is the general name of an operating system used on many smartphones and tablets. An operating system is basically what appears on the screen on a touchscreen ..read more

Currently, if you want to call someone on WhatsApp, you have to save the target person as a contact first. But WABetaInfo, a site that specialises in discovering upcoming WhatsApp features, has discovered an exciting change in Beta 2.24.9.28 for Android: the ability to call any phone number – not just those saved as a contact. So, what will this look like? According to WABetaInfo, it’ll take the form of a simple dialler screen, just like you’ll find in your regular Phone app. As the screenshot below shows, it consists of the usual set of numbers and a green button to start the call. WABeta ..read more

Living in London restricts what I can do when it comes to testing wearables. After all, there are only so many pilates classes and lido swims I can take a device on to test its endurance and capabilities.   However, OnePlus’ most recent launch of the Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition in Helsinki, Finland, gave me the opportinity to truly push a device to its limits. The watch I tested is a more lifestyle-focused version of its flagship wearable, which launched back in February 2024.   To test this smartwatch, I went on the following: a fat bike ride (bike riding with fat tires, if you’re ..read more

With the buzz surrounding the Xiaomi 14 series having faded away, users’ eyes start to turn to Xiaomi’s forthcoming flagship range, the Xiaomi 15 series. The most promising rumour so far is that these devices could mark the debut of Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset. However, there’s also some whispers about other potential innovations and enhancements. Here’s everything we know so far about the Xiaomi 15 series, including its release date, pricing and potential features. When will the Xiaomi 15 be released? Xiaomi is yet to reveal any news regarding its next generation of flagsh ..read more

Xiaomi might be best known in Europe for its flagship phones, but many of the company’s more affordable phones are also worth considering. A prime example of this in 2023 was the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro, which cost £549/€549 and £649/€649 respectively, yet offered an array of premium features. So, what can we expect from Xiaomi’s next set of mid-range smartphones. There are already plenty of rumours regarding what the Xiaomi 14T series will bring to the table. Here’s everything we know so far. When will the Xiaomi 14T be released? Nothing concrete has been revealed regarding the launch da ..read more

There’s no legal age to buy a phone for your child, unlike driving a car. You’ll shoulder the cost, but a phone can be in a child’s hands at any age. However, the choice of which phone is best for kids and its cost isn’t really the main issue for parents. And getting a good SIM plans for kids isn’t too much of a problem either. Instead, the main issue is of timing. At what age is a child ready for a phone of their own, and should it be a basic phone? If so, when are they ready for a smartphone? If you’re a parent or carer of a child, here’s what you need to be aware of. What are the risks of ..read more

So, you want a new phone. Where do you start? For most people, it should software. And on modern smartphones, there are really only two options: Android or iOS, which runs on the iPhone. The debate on which is better has raged ever since both platforms became popular. Ultimately, which will better suit you depends on a range of different factors, which we’ll run through in this article. By the end of it, you’ll have a clear idea of what are the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms, which will make your decision easier. Of course, if you’re already set on one or the other, or alread ..read more

After owning almost every version of the iPhone since 2011, three months ago I ditched my iPhone 14 Pro for a Pixel 8 Pro. As a cross-platform user, I was tired of Apple’s restrictive policies, particularly their stranglehold on text messaging with iMessage. Happy as I had been with the iOS experience – including the iPhone’s seamless integration with my MacBook, Apple Watch, iPad, and Apple TV – that experience broke down rapidly on my Windows and Linux PCs. What began as a minor annoyance at having to switch to another device every time I wanted to text someone gradually grew into a nagging ..read more

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE is anticipated to be a budget-friendly foldable phone, fulfilling a demand since the original Galaxy Fold’s release in 2019.  Despite previous denials from Samsung, recent rumours and reports suggest its arrival later this year. They also hint at a cheaper price point, a camera setup similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and compromises in components like the battery and display to cut costs.  Here’s everything we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE.  When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold FE be released? We don’t have any official informatio ..read more

The Pixel 8 series’ Tensor G3 chipset marks a significant advancement over previous iterations of Google’s chipset for phones and tablets. Despite speculation about Google transitioning from Samsung to TSMC on the manufacturing side, a recent report indicates that the Tensor G4 will continue to be produced by Samsung, albeit on an upgraded process. While improvements are expected, ultimately the new chipset may be more of minor update than a genuine upgrade Here’s everything we know about Google’s Tensor G4 chipset at this point. When will the Google Tensor G4 launch? The Tensor G3 powers Goo ..read more