Apple’s new iPad 2022 gives the popular entry-level tablet a much-needed revamped design. Now with a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, A14 Bionic, USB-C port and advanced cameras, the 10th generation iPad looks very familiar with another popular Apple tablet: the iPad Air.
Of course, the latest iPad Air 2022 now comes with the mighty M1 chip. Not so long ago, however, the iPad Air 2020 also featured the impressive A14 Bionic, which now powers the new iPad 10. With the same design, the same 10.9-inch display, Touch ID side buttons, and 12MP front and rear cameras, the updated entry-level iPad is closer than ever to the iPad Air.
With its similarities, the iPad 10 seems like a great, affordable option at $449/£499, while the iPad Air with the M1 is $599/£669. However, the standard iPad lacks some features compared to the iPad Air.
This includes the display. While both iPads offer 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (2360 x 1640) LED panels, each offering 500 nits of brightness, the iPad 10 only supports sRGB color overlay, which is in contrast to iPads that offer the industry-standard DCI-P3 wide color gamut Air is different.
What’s more, the new iPad’s display doesn’t have an anti-reflective coating like the iPad Air, which helps reduce glare. Plus, the iPad Air’s display is fully laminated, while the iPad 10 isn’t.
Another feature missing from the 10th-generation iPad is support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, as it only supported Apple’s first stylus. To make matters worse, since the first Apple Pencil charged via the Lightning port, users needed to use an adapter to connect the stylus to the iPad‘s newer USB-C port.
iPad 2022 still impressive
While potential buyers may lose some features, the iPad 10 still brings an interesting update. On the one hand, users will get the same front-facing 12MP ultra-wide camera as the iPad Air, but this time it’s in the top center of the display in landscape mode, meaning users won’t appear to be staring at the video call side. Also, expect the same 12MP wide-angle camera lens on the front.
What’s more, in the absence of the Home button in sight, you get the handy side button with Touch ID. The iPad 2022 (9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches, 1.05 pounds) also has a similar slim and lightweight form factor to the iPad Air (9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches, 1.02 pounds).
Apple has announced an update to its iPad Pro, bringing the powerful Apple M2 chip from the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) to the tablet. The new Pro tablet won’t get the fancy colors of the new iPad 10th-gen models, but it does offer some fancy new features for the Apple Pencil 2, as well as enhancements to media recording and playback, thanks to the M2. The iPad Pro is available for pre-order now and will hit store shelves on October 26.
The iPad Pro is powered by the Apple M2 chip, which will include new image processing and media engines that can enhance video capture and editing. The iPad Pro will be able to capture ProRes video, but the camera itself hasn’t gotten an upgrade from the previous model’s Pro camera array. You still get the same 12MP main camera and 10MP ultra-wide-angle lens, with a 12MP selfie camera on the front.
The Apple Pencil 2 gets some new tricks with the updated iPad Pro. When the Pencil is 12mm above the screen and closer, the iPad Pro can detect its presence and enable a new hover feature. These seem to be aimed primarily at the art and drawing genres, but Apple says the iPad Pro will grow a text box when it detects a pencil, giving you more room to write.
Thanks to the performance of the new Apple M2 chip, the new iPad Pro will convert writing to text faster. Processing cores will only be 15% faster, which is a modest upgrade, but there will also be a more significant boost in Neural Engine performance. The Neural Engine is part of a chipset that handles machine learning tasks, including tasks such as speech recognition and handwriting detection.
Apple has made a major upgrade to the iPad‘s networking capabilities. The new tablet will support Wi-Fi 6E, a “fast lane” flavor of Wi-Fi 6 that uses its own radio frequency band. Even the iPhone 14 Pro lacks this Wi-Fi capability, but other new phones like the Google Pixel 7 Pro support it. The iPad Pro also gets more radio frequency bands for 5G compatibility.
The iPad Pro is an expensive beast, sitting at the top of Apple’s massive tablet pyramid. Prices start at $799/£899/AU$1,399 for the 11-inch model, or you can buy it for $999/£1,079/AU$1,649 over 5G. You can get started for just $1,099 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, or $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,149 for 5G.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro gives you a more advanced display than the 11-inch iPad Pro. You get Apple’s XDR branding, which includes a mini-LED backlight with local dimming. Both monitors have the same 264ppi pixel density.
The iPad Pro update isn’t the most exciting. The processor is only slightly faster. The pen hover feature is similar to what we saw on Samsung Galaxy Note II phones in 2012, and we didn’t find them useful at the time either. So what’s new?
The Apple M2 chip isn’t a bragging chipset, but it will power the major new features in iPad OS 16.1. The new Stage Manager feature will make multitasking useful on the iPad, a historic struggle. New external monitor support will let you connect a monitor to your iPad instead of just using the iPad as an external monitor.
Apple has long said the iPad is a full-fledged computer, and now we’re seeing them get closer in newer operating systems. Of course, all new iPads will get the same iPadOS, but the new iPad Pro will only do a better job of helping the iPad tablet get closer to the iPad desktop status.
The Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 are two high-end Android watches aimed at targeting Apple Watch dominance in the smartwatch space. Both run the latest version of Wear OS, have circular displays, track similar workouts and have many similar fitness sensors. But how do these two Android watches compare when used in the real world, not just by looking at specs on paper? Let’s take a look at it in detail below!
Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5 design and screens
The Google Pixel Watch features a curved screen for a sleek look, with a digital crown and side buttons. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a flat screen with two side buttons. It’s not a crown, but a virtual touch bezel around the screen. Move your finger around the bezel to navigate between menus and options.
Comfort-wise, the Pixel Watch looks and feels better on my small 152mm wrist, especially for sleep tracking, but may be too small for some wrists. That might immediately get you looking for a bigger watch and put the Galaxy Watch 5 in your favor.
The bezel around the Pixel Watch’s screen does a lot of work, but it’s only really noticeable when you have a lighter watch face in the background. Don’t forget that if your hands are sweaty or wet, especially during a workout, physical controls like the Pixel Watch’s crown are easier to control, unlike the Galaxy Watch 5’s touch bezel, which has nothing on you The fingers simply don’t work well when hydrated.
Each has a bright OLED screen that maxes out at 1,000 nits. This means they are all very easy to see in direct sunlight. They can also stay on all the time, if you want to avoid lifting your wrist or tapping the screen.
Water resistance is a feature of both watches, but only the Galaxy Watch 5 has an official IP68 rating, making it dust and water resistant. The Pixel Watch is water resistant to 5ATM or 50 meters.
Both have speakers and microphones: you can take calls, dictate messages, and hear notifications read aloud, but only the Galaxy Watch 5 lets you play music from the speakers.
Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5 health and fitness features
Both watches have all the basics: tracking steps, calories, sleep, and many types of exercise. The Pixel Watch relies heavily on Fitbit’s interface and ecosystem for exercise tracking, so you’ll find all of your health data integrated in the Fitbit app. Galaxy Watch 5 uses the Samsung Health app. You can also choose to use Google Fit on either, but you’ll get the most powerful experience with each company’s proprietary app.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 5 can automatically detect outdoor activities like walking and running. It’s something I miss so much when using the Pixel Watch because it can’t do it — although other Fitbit trackers can.
The Galaxy Watch 5 also has some additional sensors that might be appreciated, such as bioimpedance for measuring body composition. There is also a temperature sensor, but it was not active when comparing. There’s also an ECG or EKG app, but you’ll need a Galaxy phone to use it unless you sideload the Health Monitor app on another Android phone.
The Pixel Watch also has an EKG, but it works on any Android phone. Both watches also feature blood oxygen trackers, which aren’t yet enabled on the Pixel Watch. It also doesn’t have high and low heart rate alerts or irregular heart rhythm alerts like the Galaxy Watch 5.
Both have built-in GPS, and they each lock onto a signal within about five seconds of being out. Compared to controlling the phone, the Pixel Watch is more accurate at calculating distance, but things like step count and pace are all within the same range of each other.
The heart rate sensor on the Pixel Watch is also closer in accuracy to a chest strap than the Galaxy Watch 5; if I want the best results from my cardio, the Pixel is my watch of choice.
Sleep tracking was also excellent on the Pixel Watch, and not only was the sleep score more reflective of my overall sleep quality, but the Galaxy Watch 5 continued to give me shockingly low blood oxygen at night.
Pixel Watch vs Galaxy Watch 5 battery life comparison
For general use, including always-on display, notifications, and a one-hour GPS workout, I got 21 hours on the Galaxy Watch 5 version and up to 20 hours on the Pixel Watch. Typically, you’ll need to charge both before tracking sleep, especially if the Pixel Watch’s battery life drops by more than 20 percent overnight.
The Galaxy Watch 5 supports reverse wireless charging, so you can put it on the back of some Samsung phones to charge it. The Samsung watch went from flat to 45% in 30 minutes and took about 1.5 hours to reach 100%. The Pixel Watch charges at a comparable rate, taking at least 30 minutes for the same 45% charge and about 1.5 hours to 100%. Neither comes with a USB-C charging brick.
If you’re planning to upgrade to one of Apple’s new iPhones, you’ll definitely want to know the iPhone 14’s battery life, and results vary by model. Of course, there are many ways to measure battery life, but we’ll use our own tests to evaluate each phone to see which one is good enough to make our best phone battery life list. Let’s take a look below!
In our battery test, the regular iPhone 14 lasted a solid but unobtrusive 9 hours and 28 minutes. We think anything over 11.5 hours is great.
Apple’s 6.1-inch phone has a relatively small 3,279 mAh battery, but it actually outpaces the Galaxy S22’s larger 3,700 mAh battery, which has a runtime of 8:02.
The Google Pixel 7 has an average battery life of 7 hours and 14 minutes, which is a sizable 4,355 mAh battery. So overall, the iPhone 14 beats the smaller flagship phones in terms of battery life.
iPhone 14 Plus battery life
Apple dropped the iPhone mini model from the iPhone 14 Plus lineup this year, and it’s proving to be a good option for those looking for a big screen and long battery life at a low price.
The iPhone 14 Plus and its 4,325 mAh battery lasted up to 11 hours and 57 minutes of web browsing over a 5G network. That’s more than enough for our best phone battery life list, and it’s significantly higher than the 10:26 result from the Galaxy S22 Plus’ 4,500 mAh battery. So you get about 1.5 hours more battery life compared to a phone of the same size from Samsung.
The Pixel 7 Pro didn’t even come close, as it averaged just 7:54 in the 5 battery tests, and that’s using a 5,000 mAh battery.
iPhone 14 Pro battery life
The iPhone 14 Pro’s 3,200 mAh battery drained in 10 hours and 13 minutes, compared to 9:28 for the regular iPhone 14 and its 3,279 mAh battery.
Now, you might be wondering why when the iPhone 14 Pro has the same size display and the iPhone 14 Pro has a slightly smaller battery, they last longer than the regular iPhone 14. I have several theories.
First, the iPhone 14 Pro has a more efficient 4nm A16 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 14 has an older A15 Bionic chip. The iPhone 14 Pro can dynamically adjust its screen refresh rate from 120Hz to 1Hz, while the iPhone 14 stays at 60Hz. When the action on the screen is static, dropping to 1Hz can improve battery life.
iPhone 14 Pro Max battery life
When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the clear champion. Its 4,323 mAh battery lasted an epic 13 hours and 39 minutes on average. That’s more than 3 hours more than the 10:18 runtime of the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery.
This 6.7-inch iPhone should easily last you a day or more without recharging. It even outlasted the similarly sized iPhone 14 Plus by about 1.5 hours.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is finally here, and we have a new high-end flagship contender for 2022. But how does it compare to one of the best top phones of 2021, the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
While you might think of the iPhone 14 Pro Max as a natural, more contemporary competitor, it’s significantly more expensive than the Pixel 7 Pro. Will the iPhone 13 Pro Max be a better value option? Let’s take a look at the difference between them!
Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max prices and availability
The Pixel 7 Pro will be available on October 13, 2022. Pricing starts at $899 for the 128GB model.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max will be released on September 24, 2021. At launch, the 128GB model was priced at $1,099.
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max design comparison
Google‘s unique camera visor is back for another year, spanning from one edge of the phone to the other. The 2022 model makes that visor a shiny piece of aluminum, rather than glass, and now appears to emerge from the edge of the device.
The Pixel 7 Pro is a classic kit. Its greenish-gray hue matches perfectly with the gold bezel and camera module. You can also get snow and obsidian options if you want.
Apple’s color options for the 13 Pro Max include Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, and Alpine Green.
At 162.9 x 76.55 x 8.9 mm, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is taller, narrower and thicker than the iPhone 13 Pro Max at 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm. At 212 grams, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also light at 238 grams.
Both phones are IP68 certified, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max is tested to withstand greater depths, has a more scratch-resistant ceramic shield covering the display, and a better-quality stainless steel bezel. The Pixel 7 Pro features Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back, and aluminum rims.
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max display comparison
Both phones feature 6.7-inch OLED displays with a variable 120Hz refresh rate that can be dropped to 10Hz.
However, the Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is sharper, with a 1440 x 3120 (QHD+) output that compares favorably to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 1284 x 2778 resolution. Google’s screen has also gotten brighter, offering a peak brightness output of 1500nits instead of the iPhone’s 1200nits equivalent. Google is also offering an in-display fingerprint sensor option to complement the new facial recognition system, an option Apple continues to resist.
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max camera comparison
The Pixel 7 Pro features a 50MP main camera sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 48MP telephoto sensor with OIS.
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max offers three 12MP sensors, with the main sensor backed by a more advanced sensor-shift stabilization system. Telephoto is supported by normal OIS, just like the Pixel.
Google wins at telephoto, not necessarily because of the higher pixel count, but because it can reach 5x optical zoom. Apple’s telephoto can only extend to 3 times. Beyond this level of optical zoom, the Pixel 7 Pro can reach a digital zoom range of 30x, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only reach 15x.
Both ultrawide sensors support macro shots, which is an interesting parallel via a dedicated auto mode.
Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max specs and performance
The Pixel 7 Pro runs on Google’s new Tensor G2 processor, which isn’t much of an improvement over the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip.
It still lags far behind the iPhone 13 Pro Max and its A15 Bionic chip in raw CPU and GPU output, although the latter chip itself has been replaced.
What Google will point to in Tensor G2, however, is its advanced machine learning capabilities. It supports unique features like real-time voice transcription, as well as supernaturally clear voice calls and the aforementioned photo deblurring. Google also claims the new processors are more power efficient than before. It’s manufactured using the 4nm standard, which is more efficient than the 5nm production method Apple used on the 13 Pro Max.
Apple offers four storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Google only offers 128GB, 256GB and 512GB to choose from.
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max battery comparison
The Pixel 7 Pro has a 5,000mAh battery, which is significantly larger than the 4,352mAh battery in the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Apple’s systems are traditionally more frugal, so a direct comparison of battery size is meaningless. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can handle a full day of intensive use with a third of the tank remaining.
Google is apparently closing that gap with the Pixel 7 Pro. Its new Tensor G2 chip is more efficient, and Google claims the 7 Pro can last up to 24 hours on a single charge. The company has also implemented a new extreme power saving mode in which the phone can reportedly last a full 72 hours.
Wired charging speeds on both phones are impressive. The iPhone 13 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro top out at just 23W.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro officially launched on October 13, so you might be wondering how to get the most out of your shiny new Google flagship. The truth is, there are a lot of new features to try out this year, but some need to be enabled or found first.
We’ve collected all the important information you need to know. If you’re using a Pixel 6, some of these features may also appear on your phone. Without further ado, here are 11 features you can enable and disable on the Pixel 7.
Feature to enable
Call me directly
This feature will transcribe the options in the automated voice message menu so you don’t have to memorize them. Now, the new version will show them before the voice even speaks them, while adding more numbers.
But you have to open it first. Open the Phone app, then tap the overflow menu in the upper-right corner, then tap Settings. Under the Auxiliary section, go to Direct My Call. Toggles the Direct My Call and Faster menu options.
Photo deblur
Photo Unblur is a new feature in this year’s Google Pixel 7. This is a self-explanatory add-on that lets you clear some less fortunate images. It even works with old photos in your Google Photos library.
First, open the blurred photo. Select the Edit button on the bottom bar, then swipe to Tool Options. You’ll get three options, one of which is Unblur. Doing this, the Pixel 7 will do everything it can to clean up the image.
Face unlock
You may be prompted to enable it during initial setup, but if you skip it, you can easily re-enable it. Head to Settings > Security > Face & Fingerprint Unlock. Enter your PIN and tap Face Unlock.
Active stabilization
Active stabilization is Google’s answer to Apple’s mode of action. It effectively enhances video stabilization, allowing you to get smoother video when you or your subject is in motion. To use this feature, open the camera app and swipe to Video. Click the little hand shake icon to the right of the video mode selector. In the menu that appears, select Active.
Assistant continues the conversation
When you query Google Assistant, you don’t have to keep saying “Hey, Google” every time to continue the query? This isn’t unique to the Pixel 7, but it’s a nice feature. Note: If you start a new query after a pause, you still need to activate the phrase. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Assistant and tap the toggle for Continue Conversation.
Extra dim
Tired of your phone display burning your eyes at night? If you want, the Pixel 7 can give you that extra dimness. To turn this feature on, go to Settings > Accessibility. Under the Display section, you can click the “Extra Dim” toggle here, or select the option to see more information and customize it.
Car accident detection
With this feature turned on, your Pixel 7 can detect if you’ve been in a car accident and call emergency services and emergency contacts. To turn it on, go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Crash Detection. If you are not already logged into Personal Safety, you will be asked to do so.
Save photos to locked folder
Android 13 introduces Locked Folders for Google Photos, allowing you to store sensitive pictures safely from prying eyes. Pixel 7 can save pictures directly to it without you having to do it manually.
All you need to do is open the camera app and look for the grey button next to the shutter button. Press and hold it to bring up a menu of where you want to save the photo. The selected locked folder. Remember that you need to set up a locked folder first.
Common faces
If you have Top Shot enabled in your camera app, you can choose to use common faces. This feature prioritizes the people you photograph the most. Google says it helps prioritize skin tones and more accurately recommend the best photos from Top Shot. Frequent face data is stored locally. To enable it, go to Camera > Settings > Common Faces.
Features to Disable
QHD+ on Pixel 7 Pro
The Pixel 7 Pro has a QHD+ display, but you can set it to FHD+ if you want to save some battery. (Pixel 7 only works as FHD+ mode.) This may have been done for you when you set up your phone, but if not, here’s how to switch between the two resolutions. Open Settings and go to Display. Scroll down to Screen Resolution and tap it. Choose a high resolution.
Header
Google has its own version of Live Photos called Top Shot. Your Pixel shoots a very short video to capture more of the shutter button presses. Sometimes it’s neat, especially when the phone suggests the best frame for the final photo. But it gets annoying. Fortunately, it’s easy to close.
In the main viewfinder of the camera app, tap the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner. The second option is Top Shot: Off, Auto, and On. Set it to your preference.
The MacBook Air M2 and Surface Laptop 5, both come with ultra-sleek designs, a powerful power bank under the hood, and the battery life that keeps these machines for hours on the battlefield. Let’s take a look at the differences between them and who will win.
Starting at $999/£999, the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 is very similar to last year’s Surface Laptop 4.
Unlike the M1-powered MacBook Air with the $999/£999 deal sticker, the MacBook Air M2 starts at $1,199/£1,249.
MACBOOK AIR M2 AND SURFACE LAPTOP 5: DESIGN
The MacBook Air M2 and Surface Laptop 5 have a lot in common in terms of design. This year, however, Apple revamped the Air’s design to make it look more like its MacBook Pro 14 sibling.
Microsoft isn’t confusing the design of its new Surface Laptops, sticking with its famously refined all-aluminum chassis. But Apple’s redesigned MacBook Air now has more prominent bezels on the Surface. That said, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in two sizes: 13.5 inches and 15 inches. Whether you’re after something more portable or need a larger monitor, Microsoft has options for you.
The MacBook Air M2 measures 12 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches and weighs just 2.7 pounds. The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 is slightly larger and heavier, measuring 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 inches and weighing 2.8 pounds. Of course, the 15 inches is bigger, measuring 13.4 by 9.6 by 0.58 inches and weighing 3.4 pounds.
The design shift presented by the MacBook Air M2 makes the Surface Laptop 5 look a bit dated now, as it offers a lighter, smaller laptop with a larger display.
To be sure, ultralight laptops don’t have a ton of ports to choose from, but Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 5 has one that gives it an edge.
Both the 13.5-inch and 15-inch Surface Laptop models feature a USB-C port that supports USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, as well as a USB-A 3.1 slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port. Not many, but at least one USB-A port to connect a range of traditional PC peripherals.
As for the MacBook Air M2, you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack and MagSafe charger. You get an extra Thunderbolt port, but we all need a USB-A port sometimes.
MACBOOK AIR M2 AND SURFACE LAPTOP 5: DISPLAY
The display is an essential part of any premium laptop, and the MacBook Air M2 and Surface Laptop 5 feature dazzling panels.
Either 13.5 inches or 15 inches. In the Surface Laptop 5, Microsoft brought more of the same, except with minor changes to the 15-inch model.
We’ll see the same 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen that supports 10-point multi-touch, but supports Dolby Vision IQ. However, the 15-inch model is slightly different, offering a 15-inch PixelSense touchscreen compared to last year’s model. They’ll still see the iconic 3:2 aspect ratio.
We haven’t tested the Surface Laptop 5, but given that it’s the same as the Surface Laptop 4, we know it’s a great panel that will stand up to anything without OLED.
The MacBook now has a 13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 pixel Liquid Retina display. When we measured the color reproduction of the MacBook Air M2, the Air recorded 75.9 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. When it comes to brightness, the MacBook Air shines. It averaged 489 nits compared to the M1’s 366 nits. That beats the Surface Laptop 4’s 349 nits, so the next model will need to bump up its brightness capabilities to match it.
This year, Microsoft installed its acclaimed 12th-generation Intel CPUs in both the 13.5-inch and 15-inch Surface Laptop 5 models.
There are two options for the 13.5-inch model, including a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor or an i7-1255U CPU, while the 15-inch laptop comes with an i7-1255U chip. However, for commercial sales, you can expect an Intel 12th Gen i5-1245U CPU or i7-1265U processor. Microsoft claims it is 50% faster than its predecessor.
In the Handbrake test, the Air M2 transcoded 4K video to 1080p in 7 minutes and 52 seconds, beating the 10-minute average. When we ran the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, the M2 Air’s 1TB SSD had a read speed of 2,800.1 megabytes per second, while the M1 Air hit 2,692.9MBps.
MACBOOK AIR M2 AND SURFACE LAPTOP 5: BATTERY LIFE
Microsoft is likely to stand out when it comes to battery life, as it claims several hours more than the MacBook Air M2’s 14 hours, 6 minutes.
Microsoft says the Surface Laptop 5 13.5 offers up to 18 hours of battery life, while the 15-inch option offers up to 17 hours of battery life.
The Surface Laptop 5 also had to outperform the Air’s fast-charging capabilities. In our tests, using the 67W power adapter, the Air was able to get 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Surface Laptop comes with a 60W power supply, which means it might not be that fast.
Samsung’s Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series phones dominate our list of the best Android phones, and with One UI 5 just around the corner, your smartphone will get even cooler. In addition to camera improvements to Pro Mode and Zoom, some of the updates to the software overlay include 16 preset color themes based on the user’s current wallpaper. Expect to see more new features when One UI 5 hits your phone.
While Samsung is still working out the bugs, we expect to see Samsung’s latest One UI update soon. If you’re currently using the beta version, you’re almost certainly going to have some glitches. We’re here with top tips and workarounds for Samsung’s upcoming skins.
1 One UI 5’s Focus Mode accidentally restricts important applications
If you use Focus Mode with the One UI 5 beta, you may notice unexpected and important apps being blocked. During our testing, Focus mode blocked apps, including Phone, Telegram, Galaxy Wearable, and Settings.
Workaround: Currently, there are two ways to resolve this issue. You use the remote factory reset option from a browser or another Samsung device. If you go this route, it’s best to make sure you backup everything on Samsung Cloud beforehand. Another option is to avoid focus mode entirely.
2. One UI 5 crashes intermittently
Some Samsung One UI 5 beta users have reported intermittent crashes. This can happen at any time, from using various apps to changing settings, using Air Command or acknowledging notifications.
Fix: According to the moderators of the Samsung One UI 5 beta discussion board, the best way to fix this is to wipe the cache partition. Doing so will delete temporary files that can cause problems with your device. Here are some steps according to beta moderators:
1. Turn off your phone.
2. Press and hold the volume up key and side key.
3. When the Android logo is displayed, release both keys.
4. The Install system update message may appear briefly before the Android Recovery menu option appears.
5. Press the Volume Down key a few times to highlight Wipe Cache Partition.
6. Press the side key to select.
7. Press the volume down key to highlight Yes, then press the side key to select.
8. Once the process is complete, Reboot System will now be highlighted.
With the launch of the One UI 5 beta, Samsung issued a notice that Samsung Pay or Google Pay will not work. It makes sense that Google Pay doesn’t work because the beta program software is not certified by Google. Meanwhile, there were bug reports about Samsung Pay during the first run of the beta.
Possible workaround: Simple device restart if you are the best option. If that doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall Samsung Pay. If that fails, it may be beneficial to avoid contactless payments until the functionality is patched.
4. You may not be able to upload data to Google Drive
The most popular cloud storage solution for Android is Google Drive. Users can upload and download photos and videos from anywhere. Google Drive is also compatible with other Google Workspace apps, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Many One UI 5 beta users complained that uploads and downloads were extremely slow and couldn’t do it.
Possible workaround: There is no good solution to this problem. You could try wiping the cache partition, but that’s not guaranteed to fix. If the problem persists, you may need to downgrade to OneUI 4.
5. One UI 5 has a lot of weird Notification bugs
A UI 5 beta also introduced improvements to the quick toggle/notification area. This includes new notification permissions that require apps to ask before sending notifications as well as new media player notifications and clipboard feature updates. So far, multiple bugs have been reported with the new notification system. Users have been talking about flickering issues, slow notifications, and notification panels not appearing.
Workaround: You can find several possible solutions on the Samsung One 5 discussion board. The first is to make sure notification reminders are turned on through the settings. If that doesn’t work, restart the device. If none of these solutions work, you will need to wipe the cache partition
6. Battery life isn’t great
If you’ve ever downloaded the beta, you probably won’t be surprised when we tell you that One UI 5 will drain your battery life. Samsung‘s discussion boards have had various discussions around this issue, but here’s the gist: some Samsung One UI 5 beta users are reporting poor battery life.
Possible workaround: Your best bet is to open the Settings app, select “Battery & device maintenance,” and go through the various options to see if there’s an opportunity to extend battery life. Improvements can take a charge cycle or so, and we don’t think you’ll see dramatic improvements by tweaking the settings.
If you didn’t already know, Apple added the ability to add a handful of widgets to the lock screen as part of its massive iOS 16 lock screen customization update. Third-party apps are just starting to introduce their own lock screen widgets, Google has added these for Gmail, Chrome, Google Drive and Google News, and now we have new widgets for Google Maps and regular Google apps .
You can choose between two types of lock screen widgets. The first is for frequent travel and acts as a shortcut to one of your favorite locations. Another is a quick search option that quickly scans your area for a specific type of business or service, similar to the chip you’ll find at the top of your Google Maps home screen.
As lock screen widgets, these buttons will be available when you wake your iPhone and are on the relevant lock screen. If you own an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max, you’ll be able to access widgets from the always-on display at any time.
While Apple would no doubt prefer you to use its own Maps app, the truth is that Google Maps is just as widely used on the iPhone, if not more. Additionally, Apple Maps doesn’t currently offer a lock screen widget, which means if you want the fastest way to map your way home or to a nearby coffee shop, Google Maps is your best bet.
If you want to add these Google Maps lock screen widgets to your own iPhone, you can follow the steps below.
How to Add the Google Maps Widget to Your Lock Screen in iOS 16
1. Sign in to the App Store to make sure the Google Maps app is up to date. You are looking for 6.40 or later, otherwise you won’t have any widgets.
2. In order for the iPhone to recognize that new widgets are available, please open the Google Maps application at least once before attempting to add a widget.
3. By tapping and holding the lock screen with the phone unlocked, or by opening the lock screen customization through the settings menu. Click Customize, then Lock Screen to get to where we can add widgets.
4. Tap the box below the clock to open the widget of your choice, then scroll down to Google Maps and tap it.
5. Now select the “Frequent Travel” or “Search” widget and tap or drag it to snap it into place.
6. The “Frequent Travel” widget defaults to your home address and the “Search” widget defaults to the Google Maps search box. If you want to change it, click on the widget when it’s in place and choose a new option from the menu that appears.
7. After sorting, tap Done in the upper right corner to confirm your location. You are all done!
If you have an iPhone and PC, it’s now easier and faster to access photos and videos from your Apple devices. A PC isn’t the only place you can access your iPhone content right now; you can also interact with your photos and videos using any Xbox device, such as the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. You might be wondering, “This is great news! But how do I get started?” Luckily, we have a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
How to sync your iCloud photos and videos with the Windows 11 Photos app
There’s no way, but if you want to access your iCloud content on your PC, you’ll have to upgrade to Windows 11 (here’s how to install Windows 11). Once you’re ready for Windows 11, follow the instructions below to access your iPhone’s photos and videos on your PC.
1. Click the Microsoft Store icon on the Windows 11 desktop taskbar.
2. Type “iCloud” in the search bar and press Enter. This should open the iCloud for Windows app.
3. Click Get.
4. After installation, click Libraries.
5. Scroll down to iCloud, and then click Turn On.
6. You may receive a message: “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” Click “Yes”.
7. Enter your Apple ID and password.
8. For 2FA, you will be asked to enter a verification code sent to your Apple device.
9. After verification, the iCloud app will appear. Click Apply.
10. Next, click on the Photos app on the taskbar and you should see your iCloud photos and videos fully integrated with your Windows content by scrolling through the Favorites tab.
