The next feature that WhatsApp plans to bring to the masses makes it possible to pin channels. After gaining Channels a while ago, WhatsApp desperately needs a way to declutter long list of channels that some users have joined.
The ability to pin channels in WhatsApp is now in the works, WABetaInfo reports. The new feature popped up in version 2.24.4.3 of WhatsApp for Android, which means it’s actively being tested and should be rolled out to everyone if developers decide to give it the green light.
As noted in the report, the new feature will probably be implemented with a slightly different interface for channels, which will reportedly look like the interface of the chats tab.
Credits – WABetaInfo
Naturally, there’s no guarantee that this feature will make it in the stable version of WhatsApp, although chances are that it will be available in some form in the not-so-distant future. Stay tuned for more info about WhatsApp’s upcoming features.
An intrusion set called FIN7 has been known to be operating since 2015 and is composed of Russian-speaking members. This threat group also pretends to be a company that recruits IT experts to hide their illegal activities.
Targets of this threat group include retail, hospitality, and food service industries within different geographical areas such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France. This group also affiliates members from other notorious threat actors such as BlackBasta, Lockbit, Darkside, and REvil.
The toolset arsenal used by them is called “Carbanak,” which includes malware like loaders, ransomware, or backdoors alongside a great part of custom malware (e.g., Carbanak Backdoor, Domino Loader, Domino Backdoor, DiceLoader, etc.).
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Among these, Diceloader is known to have been used for a long time and is still being used by the threat group. It is dropped using a PowerShell script with specific obfuscation and other malware of their toolset. This small-sized malware is capable of several functionalities that can perform various malicious actions.
DiceLoader execution (Source: Sekoia)
DiceLoader Malware Attacking Corporates
The loader is a DLL that uses the “Reflective DLL Injection” module to inject the Diceloader main entry point into another process memory. The first function of this Diceloader is to set up the principal data structures and mechanisms for future executions.
It allocates four empty linked lists for connecting each part of the program to structure the data in memory. After this, the loader starts multiple threads, including threads, to receive, parse, and format incoming TCP packets from C2 servers and reads the SEIKO report.
Obfuscation Methods
Diceloader has two obfuscation methods. One is to deobfuscate the configuration C2 (IP address and Port), and the other is to deobfuscate the network communication. The first obfuscation method uses an XOR operation with a fixed key length of 31 bytes.
The second method uses a much more complex XOR obfuscation function with each byte (Cx) XORed with a byte of the key (Kx). To explain further, the second obfuscation is used twice, with a fixed key stored in the PE for the first time and with a key sent by the C2 at the runtime on the second time.
Fingerprint
The loader gathers victims’ system information and generates a unique identifier by concatenating the MAC address, the username, and the computer name and hashing them together. This fingerprint information is then sent to the C2 server.
Researchers created a fake Diceloader C2 for further investigation, revealing the communication type between the malware and the C2 server. The Diceloader received data from its C2 after declaring itself to the server with a unique sequence of bytes.
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The global variant of the HONOR Magic6 Pro will launch during this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The original launch took place in China last month. That being said, HONOR has started sharing tidbits about the device. Following the ‘freezer test’, the company now talked more about the camera system on the HONOR Magic6 Pro, the AI-powered ‘Falcon Camera System’.
The HONOR Magic6 Pro camera system got detailed by the company
The company says this phone comes with a range of industry-first features. It includes a customized HDR sensor with ultra-large dynamic range capabilities, and an ultra-large variable aperture (f/1.4-f/2.0). That’s the main camera, basically.
On top of that, this smartphone comes with a 180-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. That camera offers 2.5x optical zoom and can reach truly high zoom ranges. It remains to be seen what will the performance be like, though.
The third camera is a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit with a 122-degree FoV. That one seems to be the least impressive out of the three, but it does look good on paper. It’ll be interesting to test out, that’s for sure.
This camera system “harnesses the power of AI”
HONOR says that this phone “harnesses the power of AI technology to deliver an extraordinary photography experience”. HONOR made improvements to dynamic range, light sensitivity, long-range vision, and dynamic visuals here. This camera setup has been heavily customized.
The company is using a new Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator, which combines autofocus and optical image stabilization functionalities. HONOR also quotes “industry-leading focus speed for every complicated snapshot scenario”.
This camera setup comes with the Sport Portrait Algorithm, which should allow you to capture portrait shots with a natural bokeh effect even in fast-moving scenarios. HONOR utilizes binocular depth estimation and sports portrait segmentations so that it precisely adjusts the background with a natural bokeh effect. It utilizes main and telephoto cameras at the same time for such shots.
The periscope telephoto camera has been significantly improved
HONOR believes that a zoom distance between 2.5x-10x is “highly favored by photographers”, and that’s true, for specific shots. Therefore, HONOR “has taken significant strides in enhancing its telephoto lens”. It provides a 400% enhancement in light sensing, says the company. That is compared to “flagship products from other market players”, though HONOR didn’t specify anything. This camera can combine 16 light-capturing pixels into a larger one with an equivalent pixel size of 2.24um.
The main camera offers an “800% improvement in dynamic range”. We’re not sure compared to what, though, the company didn’t share any details regarding that. This phone is also equipped with 2-frame HDR support. What’s even more interesting, HONOR claims that the main camera here can capture 22% more light than Sony’s IMX989 1-inch camera sensor.
The company also shared some images that show off ‘sportography’ capabilities here. HONOR partnered up with Cécilia Berder, a well-known saber fencer. You can see her in action in the images below. As a reminder, the HONOR Magic6 series will be globally announced on February 25. We’re not sure if the regular Magic6 will arrive with it.
Google’s apps don’t always offer the same features on iOS and Android, but the Mountain View company is trying to not keep any important functionality exclusive to just one platform for too long.
In that regard, one of the Google Maps features that was only available for iOS users was the weather and AQI widget overlay that provided much needed information in real-time.
Now the feature is finally making its way to Android, 9to5google reports. The update is rolling out in waves, so you’ll know that you got the feature if you see a small rectangular box in the top-left corner of the app.
Credits – 9to5google
It’s a very small box that only shows the temperature and AQI (air quality index). However, you can tap on the box for more detailed weather information, including a 12-hour forecast. The AQI part of the small widget shows the existing Air Quality map layer if you tap on it.
Keep in mind that if you select anything else in the app, the weather box will disappear. Apparently, this update has started rolling out to Android users for a few weeks now, but it’s only been recently that Google decided to expand its availability, so expect it to arrive very soon if you don’t have it yet.
Update: The Google Pixel 4a 5G is no longer receiving new updates from Google. The last update was pushed out in November 2023. If you still own a Pixel 4a 5G, you might want to look at upgrading your phone to avoid any security issues. Check out our Best Android smartphones for some options.
The Google Pixel 4a 5G is here as the company’s “budget” 5G smartphone for 2020. It was announced on September 30 in a virtual event. And went on sale on November 19.
Google made sure that its Pixel lineup was very confusing this year, with the Pixel 4a, 4a, 5G, and Pixel 5. Essentially, the Pixel 4a 5G was the Pixel 5, and the Pixel 5 was going to be the Pixel 5S. But then the pandemic happened, and Google made some changes. Giving us the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. All of which are very similar in specs, build, and features. So we are here to help you with your purchasing decision and to find you the best Pixel for your needs. And that might just be the Pixel 4a 5G.
You’ll find everything that you need to know about the Google Pixel 4a 5G here, including the price, where to buy the Pixel 4a 5G, release date, new features, and much more.
There is a second variant of the Pixel 4a 5G for Verizon, which costs $599, and we’ll talk a bit more about that later.
The Pixel 4a 5G went up for pre-order on October 29 and will be available for purchase on November 19.
This price pits the Pixel 4a 5G in the sub-$500 smartphone range, which has become very good over the last few years. It also makes it one of the cheapest 5G smartphones on the market today.
As of right now, you can only pre-order the Pixel 4a 5G from the Google Store.
That will change in the near future, however, as the device becomes available from other carriers, including Verizon and AT&T.
After November 19, when the Pixel 4a 5G becomes available everywhere, it’ll be available from the Google Store, Amazon, Verizon, AT&T and Best Buy.
What carriers support the Pixel 4a 5G?
All three US carriers support the Pixel 4a 5G. That includes AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
MVNOs like Xfinity Mobile, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Straight Talk, and others will also support the Pixel 4a 5G – as long as you purchase the unlocked model.
Similar to previous years, even though every carrier might not be selling the Pixel 4a 5G (we know AT&T and Verizon will be), it will still work with them all.
Does it support 5G on my carrier?
The Pixel 4a 5G comes in two variants. There’s an unlocked variant that supports Sub-6 5G from all three carriers. And there is a second model, the Pixel 4a 5G UW, which is almost exclusive to Verizon, as it supports its mmWave network.
The Pixel 4a 5G UW is also $100 more because it supports mmWave. This is a trend that we have seen with other smartphones that were made specifically for Verizon’s 5G network. And unlike the Pixel 5, everyone won’t have to pay that “5G tax” for Verizon customers.
For most people, the regular, unlocked Pixel 4a 5G will be plenty fine. Since mmWave 5G is pretty tough to find these days. That is because mmWave does not cover as much area as low band 5G does. But that is what gives you those crazy fast speeds.
Do I need a 5G phone in 2020?
The simple answer is no.
We’ve been pretty firm in every review we have published in 2020, that you shouldn’t buy a phone for 5G. You should buy it for other reasons, like the camera, battery life, etc. And if it is a 5G phone, then that’s an added bonus.
5G is not built out that well in the US. And for most people, even if they have 5G coverage, it may not be faster than 4G LTE. And that’s because most people have access to low-band 5G, which is slower but covers more area. And not mmWave, which covers very little area, but provides crazy fast speeds – we’ve seen up to 3Gbps on mmWave networks.
Basically, don’t buy the Pixel 4a 5G for 5G, buy it for the other features it boasts.
What colors is it available in?
Much like the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a 5G is only available in one color – Just Black.
Google decided to keep it simple this year with its Pixel 4a models, sticking with one storage and one color variant. Which is also what helps keep the price down on the Pixel 4a 5G. And that is always appreciated.
Unlike the Pixel 4a, the 4a 5G model has a white power button. Instead of a faint mint colored power button. It’s still unique, but not as fun as the cheaper Pixel 4a.
What comes in the box?
In the box with the Pixel 4a 5G, you’ll find the Pixel 4a 5G right on top of course.
Followed by the USB-C charging brick and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging. There is also the usual assortment of paperwork and a SIM ejection tool. Unfortunately there are no more Team Pixel stickers. Google seems to have stopped offering those after the Pixel 3 series in 2018.
Thankfully, there is a charger in the box with this one. It’s an 18W charger, so not quite as fast as some of the competition, but still fast enough. And at least it comes with a charger, unlike the $999 iPhone 12 Pro.
What are the specs of the Pixel 4a 5G?
Google Pixel 5
Screen size
6.2-inch FHD+ OLED
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB
Cameras
12.2MP main sensor, 16MP ultra-wide sensor 8MP front-facing sensor
Battery
3800mAh
Price
$499
Release Date
November 19
Where’s the Pixel 4a 5G review?
You can read our review of the Pixel 4a 5G right here.
But the TL;DR of the review is that this is a really impressive phone for $500. Google fixed a lot of the things we complained about with the Pixel 4 series last year. Which was mainly battery life. It can last you a day and a half, if not a bit longer. Which is truly impressive.
We called it “The best Pixel for the money”, and we believe it is the best Pixel for most people. Out of the three models that Google unveiled this year.
Google was actually pretty quiet about new features on the Pixel 4a 5G (and Pixel 5) this year. There are plenty of new features, but not nearly as much as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 had when they were announced. This could partly be due to the fact that the Pixel 4a 5G is much more affordable this year.
Night Sight Portrait Mode
As always, the biggest new features are within the camera. And this year, it has a few new camera features available, like Night Sight Portrait Mode. Google has essentially taken two of its most popular camera modes and combined them into a single mode. That’s Night Sight and Portrait Mode. Allowing you to get some great selfies, at night. And with most of us doing bonfires now that it is starting to get cold, you can get some really cool looking night selfies out of the Pixel 4a 5G camera.
Though, the images that Google released to show off this feature, don’t look all that great. So these may not be stunning. But still cool that it can be done.
Cinematic Pans
Google is finally taking video seriously this year with the Pixel 4a 5G. It has added Cinematic Pans, so creators can really use this phone to make videos.
The Pixel team took a feature that creators use quite a bit in their videos and built it into the phone. Something that would normally need a gimbal to be done properly. Basically, Google is taking its OIS to a whole new level with the Pixel 4a 5G, and this Cinematic Pans feature. It is slowing down your video to 2X, so that it can get those smooth and crisp shots.
4K60 video recording
Speaking of video, Google also added a much requested feature for video. And that’s 4K60. Last year with the Pixel 4, many were shocked that it was not included. After all, the sensor and the processor were both capable of 4K60, but Google had a few reasons why it was left off. Stating that no one wanted it, it took up to much storage (remember Pixel 4 came in 64GB and 128GB models), etc.
But this year, 4K60 is here. Allowing you to get some really smooth video in 4K on this smartphone, making for an interesting way to make videos. Of course, it will use up more storage, but since the Pixel 4a 5G comes with 128GB of storage, that shouldn’t be a big issue. You can also offload these to Google Photos to make more room.
Hold for Me with Google Assistant
Outside of the camera features, there are a few others included. Like the new “Hold for Me” feature with Google Assistant. If you’ve ever called your ISP, wireless carrier, or really any other company, you’ve probably been put on hold for a while until someone can answer your call.
Well, now instead of having to sit there and listen to their terrible hold music, Google Assistant can do that for you. It’ll sit on hold for you, and let you know when someone is on the line to speak with you. So you can keep going about your day. It’s a fairly simple feature, but a very useful one.
There are plenty of other features available on the Pixel 4a 5G as well. Some of which will be coming to older Pixel devices via a feature drop in the coming months.
Does it have a headphone jack?
In 2020, this is a question that has kind of run its course. Most smartphones don’t have a headphone jack.
But the Pixel 4a 5G isn’t most smartphones. The Pixel 4a 5G does indeed have a headphone jack. It is located on the top of the phone, and you can plug in your favorite pair of wired earbuds into this phone. For many, that’s better than using Bluetooth earbuds – as that is another battery you need to charge.
Thankfully, Google has decided to keep the headphone jack on the cheaper, Pixel 4a models.
Is the Pixel 4a 5G environmentally friendly?
Much like the other hardware products that Google released this year, the Pixel 4a 5G is also environmentally friendly. It is made almost entirely from recycled plastic. And the fabric cases for the Pixel 4a 5G are also made entirely from recycled plastic and fabric.
That makes it a lot easier to purchase the Pixel 4a 5G and not worry about it being bad for the environment. For those that are environmentally-conscious, that is definitely a good thing. It also continues Google’s trend of moving to a more environmentally friendly company.
Should I buy this over the other Pixels launched this year?
The three Pixel smartphones that Google launched this year are very similar in specs, build quality and features. But range from $349 to $699. We believe that the Pixel 4a 5G is the best Pixel for the money.
This is because it boasts most of the features from the Pixel 5, minus the wireless charging and the aluminum backside. And you’re also getting a slightly larger display, with great battery life. Now you do lose out on the 90Hz display, which for most people that isn’t going to matter. Even the new iPhones don’t have a high-refresh rate display, and they are far more expensive.
There is a lot of competition in this space now though, with OnePlus launching its Nord series of smartphones. Like the Nord, Nord N10 and even the Nord N100 (which is actually about half the price of the Pixel 4a 5G). Of course, we also have plenty of Motorola phones in this price range too. However, from a value proposition, the Pixel 4a 5G is the best Pixel to buy in 2020. And possibly even the best phone to buy this year. Considering all of the features it has, at this price point.
Update: The last phone to launch with the Snapdragon 888 was the RealMe GT2 released in 2022. This is no longer the latest and greatest from Qualcomm. For more on the latest Qualcomm chipsets, check out the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Qualcomm announced its latest high-end mobile processor, the Snapdragon 888, on December 1, 2020. This is the chipset that will power most high-end Android smartphones in 2021. Many manufacturers like OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, LG, Xiaomi, and many others have already announced that they will be using the Snapdragon 888 and releasing phones with this chipset at the beginning of 2021.
These days, the newer silicon doesn’t make a huge difference in day-to-day usage, though companies like Qualcomm will throw out all kinds of numbers to show you that it is indeed better than the previous generation silicon. And Qualcomm is actually touting some big numbers, considering the fact that the clock speed on all of the cores in the Snapdragon 888 is the same as the Snapdragon 865 released last year. So how is that possible?
Here, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Snapdragon 888 and what you can expect from this chipset and smartphones in 2021.
Why is it called the Snapdragon 888 instead of 875?
Most people expected the next premium processor from Qualcomm to be the Snapdragon 875. The previous models were the Snapdragon 865, 855, 845, and 835. But every few years, Qualcomm changes its name. For instance, a few years ago, after the Snapdragon 821, many were expecting the Snapdragon 830, and instead, we got the Snapdragon 835. The reasoning behind that change was basically that a higher number is better, and they got that data from a small internal poll at Qualcomm.
The reasoning behind going with the Snapdragon 888 is a bit different, though. The number eight is known as a lucky number in both India and China. Two markets that are very important to Qualcomm. And since the Snapdragon 800-series has been its highest-end chipset for more than a decade now, Qualcomm decided to go all in. Calling it the Snapdragon 888. A slightly better reason than changing the naming scheme with the Snapdragon 835 a few years ago.
Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11a/b/g/n
Charging
Quick Charge 4+ Quick Charge AI
Quick Charge 4+ Quick Charge AI
Camera Support
200MP single shot 84MP single with zero shutter lag 64MP+25MP with zero shutter lag Triple 24MP with zero shutter lag Hybrid AF 10-bit HEIF image capture HDR video multi-frame noise reduction Real-time object classification, segmentation, and replacement
200MP single shot 64MP with zero shutter lag 25MP dual camera with zero shutter lag Hybrid AF HDR video multi-frame noise reduction Real-time object classification, segmentation, and replacement
Video Capture
8K @ 30fps 4K UHD @ 120fps 720p @ 960fps
8K @ 30fps 4K UHD @ 120fps 720p @ 960fps
Video Playback
8K 4K HDR up to 120fps H.265 and VP9 video decoder 360 degree
8K 4K HDR up to 120fps H.265 and VP9 video decoder 360 degree
First Available
Q1 2021
Q1 2020
What’s new in the CPU?
On paper, the clock speeds of the Snapdragon 888 are the same as the 865. Topping out at 2.84GHz. But the cores that are being used are a bit different.
With the Snapdragon 888, the high-performance core is now a Cortex-X1 CPU core. This is a bigger, more powerful and more power-hungry core from ARM. This core is said to provide around a 23% boost over the Cortex-A78, which is ARM’s latest architecture – also used on three other cores on the Snapdragon 888.
Finally, making up the other four cores of this new chipset, are the Cortex-A55. A tried and true core that Qualcomm (and many other mobile chipset makers) have been using for years. This marks the first time that Qualcomm has used three different cores in its flagship processor.
Essentially, thanks to the addition of the Cortex-X1, we’re getting ever more power out of the Snapdragon 888, when compared to the Snapdragon 865. It’ll mostly be used for gaming, and doing other power-intensive tasks. While your phone will mostly be running on the slower Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz to preserve battery life.
What’s important to note here, is that while the clock speeds are the same as last year’s Snapdragon chipset, with the 888 we should see slightly better performance, with much better battery life. That’s something we can all appreciate, especially with 5G.
The Adreno 680 GPU
Qualcomm has long made its own GPU’s, instead of using an ARM GPU like Samsung does in its Exynos chipsets. And the Adreno GPU has always been pretty impressive.
With the new Adreno 680 GPU, we’re looking at a 35% boost to performance, which is the biggest boost that Qualcomm has provided on its GPU in many years. On top of that big performance boost, Qualcomm is also touting a 25% improvement in battery efficiency.
The Adreno 680 also includes new machine learning instructions, which is going to allow for up to 43% faster AI performance. Including 4-input mixed-precision dot product and wave matrix multiple for 16- and 32-bit floating-point numbers.
Improved 5G
Improved 5G support was expected, and the Snapdragon 888 brings the third-generation of Qualcomm’s 5G modem – the Snapdragon X60 5G modem. It is pretty similar to the previous X55 modem, on the spec sheet. But with plenty of improvements. It can handle peak mmWave speeds of up to 7.5Gbps down and 3Gbps up. Now these numbers you will likely never see, unless you are in perfect conditions. But it is nice to see that it can get that fast.
The Snapdragon X60 modem also brings in sub-6GHz FDD and TDD carrier aggregation, and aggregation across sub-6GHz and mmWave bands. So you should see even faster speeds on the X60. This is because it will allow for data to be sent over low-band, sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrum all at once.
This year, the Snapdragon X60 is an integrated modem. Basically meaning that the X60 is on the Snapdragon 888 instead of being external. What this means is that it takes up less room inside your phone which can be used for battery. It also helps to eliminate overheating concerns.
Much like the Snapdragon 865 last year, every phone with the 888 is going to be a 5G phone. Unless the OEM decides to deactivate the 5G modem, like Sony planned to do in the US on the Xperia 5 II.
So we’re looking at even better 5G performance coming in 2021. That should mean faster speeds and better battery life. As long as the carriers have built out 5G everywhere.
Better AI performance
You may not always think of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as parts of a processor, but the processor is what allows them to work throughout your phone. And Qualcomm made some big changes in both aspects.
With the Snapdragon 888, Qualcomm has “fused” the scalar, tensor and vector processing units inside the Hexagon 780 DSP, along with 16X the amount of shared memory. This is going to make it much more efficient.
In fact, we’re looking at up to a 1000x improvement to hand-off-time moving workloads between the three processor types. The scalar processor also sees a huge 50% performance improvement. And Tensor has double the compute capacity compared to the previous generation.
With Qualcomm’s decision to combine the CPU, GPU and DSP capabilities, it claims a 3x improvement to AI performance per watt. As well as 26TOPs of overall AI compute. Making it a 73% increase from the Snapdragon 865 released last year.
The new Qualcomm AI Engine Direct is also coming with the Snapdragon 888. This will act as an entry point for Android NN, TensorFlow Lite and Qualcomm SDKs. Helping developers take full advantage of the Snapdragon 888 capabilities. No matter which framework they are using.
Camera improvements on the Snapdragon 888
Included in the Snapdragon 888 is the new Spectra 580 ISP. This Image Signal Processor is what allows your phone to take brilliant photos, even more than the lens and sensor themselves.
The Spectra 580 moves from a dual to a triple processor setup. This is going to allow for three concurrent processing chains at once. And those can be used to capture simultaneous video streams from three cameras or perform real-time processing on three separate image sensors at once. Throughput has also been improved from 2 to 2.7 gigapixels per second. That’s a 35% improvement to processing capabilities.
This is also going to give us faster image shooting and processing. Meaning that we shouldn’t have to wait for the camera to process the image, with the Snapdragon 888. This new ISP is said to be 35% faster when it comes to processing.
There is also now support for 10-bit HDR image capture when using HEIF. This is going to make the HDR video captured on your smartphone even more impressive, specifically when you are viewing it on a HDR monitor.
Spectra 580 is able to capture 120 12-megapixel images per second and low-light images down to 0.1 lux.
Qualcomm has also added a lot of new AI algorithms for auto-focus, auto-exposure and auto-white balance. Making it easier than ever for someone to just point and shoot their photos.
The Spectra 580 is super important for smartphone photography. It’s part of the entire setup for taking better photos on your smartphone. And adding support for new features makes it easier for OEMs to add new features to their cameras, without impacting performance or battery life. So this ISP is a big deal.
Snapdragon Elite Gaming improvements
There’s a few improvements to Snapdragon Elite Gaming too. For one, it now supports 144Hz displays. However, there are very few games that support 120Hz right now, and likely even less that will support 144Hz. At least for now. It also supports 10-bit HDR gaming at up to 144fps. Which is also now up to 20% more efficient compared to the Adreno 650.
Additionally, it adds the Qualcomm Game Quick Touch. This is a feature designed to lower touch response latency. Which can be up to 20% on 60fps games and up to 10% on 120fps games. The best part about this is that there is no work needed from developers to make this happen. Users will benefit from this as soon as they get a phone with the Snapdragon 888 chipset inside.
The new Adreno 660 GPU si also not going to throttle at all while you’re gaming. As Qualcomm now claims a better sustained peak performance. Which is actually a really big deal. While the Adreno GPUs have always been good at not throttling, when playing very intensive games, it would start to throttle after a while. That won’t be the case with the Adreno 660, thankfully.
Qualcomm is also bringing variable rate shading (VRS) to mobile, with the Snapdragon 888. This is a feature that is now pretty common on PC and the latest gaming consoles, so it’s a big deal to see it on a smartphone in your pocket. This technique is designed to reduce GPU workloads by giving game developers better control over how frames are rendered. For example, if there’s something that is in the background, that frame can be rendered in a lower fidelity, giving the bulk of the GPU resources to rendering foreground objects. Making it more efficient.
When to expect the first smartphones with the Snapdragon 888?
As usual, the first smartphones with the new Snapdragon 888 chipset are set to come out in Q1 2021. We know a couple of them that will be among the first, which include the Xiaomi Mi 11 series.
Though the schedule for 2021 is a bit messed up, largely thanks to COVID-19. Where Mobile World Congress was moved from the end of February to the end of June. Which means that a lot of companies may move their launches up to CES in mid-January. Samsung is one that is doing just that, according to rumors. Though Samsung was not on the list of the 14 OEMs that are set to use the Snapdragon 888 next year.
Qualcomm announced that 14 manufacturers will be releasing Snapdragon 888-powered smartphones in 2021. Including ASUS, Black Shark, Lenovo, LG, Meizu, Motorola, Nubia, Realme, OnePlus, OPPO, Sharp, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE.
2021 is shaping up to be an exciting year for smartphones, thanks to the Snapdragon 888.
Update: The Google Pixel 5 is no longer receiving new updates from Google. The last update was pushed out in October 2023. If you still own a Pixel 5, you might want to look at upgrading your phone to avoid any security issues. Check out our Best Android smartphones for some options.
The Google Pixel 5 was announced by Google on September 30, in a virtual event. It’s the follow-up to one of 2019’s worst smartphones, the Pixel 4.
With the Pixel 5, Google opted to go back to the basics and make a cheaper smartphone that included all of the fundamentals. So instead of having the latest bleeding-edge silicon inside or having the biggest and best screen, Google opted for specs that everyone can love. That includes a slightly slower processor and a smaller display, but keeping the same great camera that Pixel has been known for. The Pixel 5 isn’t here to compete with Apple and Samsung but to be a cheaper alternative to those two smartphone giants.
You’ll find everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 5 here. From the release date to the specs, to pricing, availability, and everything in between.
How much does the Pixel 5 cost?
The Google Pixel 5 costs $699 in the US and £599 in the UK and most other places.
It also comes in one storage variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. And only two colors. So there isn’t a better model that you can spend more on to get better specs, unlike in previous years.
That brings it back down to a price we haven’t seen for the flagship Pixel since the original Pixel in 2016. The Pixel was $699 and the Pixel XL was $769. Those were simpler times. It’s good to see it being brought down to a more affordable price, when we have other smartphones that are crossing the $1,200 mark nowadays.
Should I wait for a price drop?
Pixels always get some sort of price drop, shortly after they go on sale. And that’s because these phones are not big sellers like the Galaxy S20 or Note 20 series. And carriers are looking to move these. At launch, Verizon has some pretty good deals on the Pixel 5, but it is likely to drop even further on Black Friday in November. You could ideally see the Pixel 5 go as low as $500 then.
No matter the phone, prices always drop as soon as a month after its launch. So do keep that in mind before picking one up. Especially if you’re looking to get one at a pretty cheap price.
Best Buy will be selling the Pixel 5 for $499 on Black Friday – but there is a caveat. This price is only available if you activate it on Verizon the same day.
Where can I buy the Google Pixel 5?
The Pixel 5 is now available for purchase, as of October 29, 2020.
It is available from Best Buy, Amazon, Google Store, and Verizon in the US. Verizon (and Google Fi) are the only carriers officially selling it, but it is going to work on all three carriers. As this is an unlocked smartphone and supports both mmWave and Sub-6 5G networks.
In the US, the Pixel 5 is supported by all three major carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. That also includes any MVNOs that run on those networks, like Straight Talk, Cricket, and such.
It also supports all 5G networks in the US. Including Verizon’s mmWave network.
Which carriers will sell the Pixel 5?
So far, only Verizon has opened pre-orders for the Pixel 5. But AT&T has confirmed to AndroidHeadlines that it will be carrying the Pixel 5 (and Pixel 4a 5G) as well. Though pricing and pre-order availability has not been confirmed just yet. T-Mobile has not said a word about the new Pixels. So it’s possible that they could be opting not to sell either device.
Verizon has always been a big partner for Google with the Pixel devices, having the exclusive for the first three years and spending tens of millions, advertising the phones. But, even if the carriers are not selling the Pixel 5, you can still pick it up from Google and use it on your carrier. Since it is being sold unlocked. All you need to do is pop in your SIM card and you’re all set.
What colors does the Pixel 5 come in?
Google is offering it in two colors this year: Just Black and Sorta Sage. Unfortunately, there isn’t a white color this time around, as there has been for every Pixel device, ever. But you are getting the plain black that a lot of people love, along with an exciting color in Sorta Sage, which is sort of a darker green color on the Pixel 5.
It’s possible that the Pixel 5 is not coming in white because it’s using a metal-ish back. And doing white would have been tough and possibly discolored a lot sooner than one would want.
What are the specs of the Google Pixel 5?
Many refer to the Pixel 5 as being a mid-range smartphone, and well, that’s their opinion. This is still a very capable smartphone, even without Qualcomm’s most powerful chipset on the market. The specs are pretty much what you’d expect for the Pixel 5 though.
Google Pixel 5
Screen size
6-inch FHD+ OLED 90Hz
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB
Cameras
12.2MP main sensor, 16MP ultra-wide sensor 8MP front-facing sensor
Battery
4000mAh
Price
$699
Release Date
October 15 outside of US/October 29 for US
What new features does the Pixel 5 have?
Google was actually pretty quiet about new features on the Pixel 5 this year. There are plenty of new features, but not nearly as much as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 had when they were announced. This could partly be due to the fact that the Pixel 5 is much more affordable this year.
Night Sight Portrait Mode
As always, the biggest new features are within the camera. And this year, it has a few new camera features available, like Night Sight Portrait Mode. Google has essentially taken two of its most popular camera modes and combined them into a single mode. That’s Night Sight and Portrait Mode. Allowing you to get some great selfies, at night. And with most of us doing bonfires now that it is starting to get cold, you can get some really cool looking night selfies out of the Pixel 5 camera.
Though, the images that Google released to show off this feature, don’t look all that great. So these may not be stunning. But still cool that it can be done.
Cinematic Pans
Google is finally taking video seriously this year with the Pixel 5. It has added Cinematic Pans, so creators can really use this phone to make videos.
The Pixel team took a feature that creators use quite a bit in their videos and built it into the phone. Something that would normally need a gimbal to be done properly. Basically, Google is taking its OIS to a whole new level with the Pixel 5, and this Cinematic Pans feature. It is slowing down your video to 2X, so that it can get those smooth and crisp shots.
4K60 video recording
Speaking of video, Google also added a much requested feature for video. And that’s 4K60. Last year with the Pixel 4, many were shocked that it was not included. After all, the sensor and the processor were both capable of 4K60, but Google had a few reasons why it was left off. Stating that no one wanted it, it took up to much storage (remember Pixel 4 came in 64GB and 128GB models), etc.
But this year, 4K60 is here. Allowing you to get some really smooth video in 4K on this smartphone, making for an interesting way to make videos. Of course, it will use up more storage, but since the Pixel 5 comes with 128GB of storage, that shouldn’t be a big issue. You can also offload these to Google Photos to make more room.
Hold for Me with Google Assistant
Outside of the camera features, there are a few others included. Like the new “Hold for Me” feature with Google Assistant. If you’ve ever called your ISP, wireless carrier, or really any other company, you’ve probably been put on hold for a while until someone can answer your call.
Well, now instead of having to sit there and listen to their terrible hold music, Google Assistant can do that for you. It’ll sit on hold for you, and let you know when someone is on the line to speak with you. So you can keep going about your day. It’s a fairly simple feature, but a very useful one.
There are plenty of other features available on the Pixel 5 as well. Some of which will be coming to older Pixel devices via a feature drop in the coming months.
Is the Pixel 5 environmentally friendly?
Google has been working to eliminate e-waste lately, and with its new products, they are mostly made from recycled materials. Including the Pixel 5. So if you’re worried about the environment, you can purchase the Pixel 5 without worrying about it being bad for the environment.
The cases that Google is selling for the Pixel 5 are also made from 100% recycled fabric too.
Pixel 5 isn’t the first product from Google to be made from recycled materials. The Chromecast and Nest Audio announced the same day, are made 100% from recycled materials. The Pixel 4a announced in August is also partly made from recycled materials, as well as the Pixel 4a fabric cases. So Google is doing its part to help the environment, and eliminate e-waste, without taking out your charger when you buy a new phone.
What cases are available for the Pixel 5?
There are plenty of cases available already for the Pixel 5. And we’ve rounded up the ten best cases here.
Google also has its usual fabric cases available, which are made from 100% recycled fabric. So they are good for the environment. And they also come in a few different colors to match the Just Black and Sorta Sage color of the Pixel 5. They are available in green chameleon, blue confetti, static grey and basically black. All of which would look good on either color of the Pixel 5.
Google Pixel 5 Fabric Cases – Green Chameleon
Where’s the Pixel 5 XL?
There is no Pixel 5 XL.
Google had initially planned on releasing two Pixel 5’s this year, but never a Pixel 5 XL. It planned on a Pixel 5 and a more high-end, premium Pixel 5s. Those turned out to be the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, as the year progressed, due to the pandemic and the economic downturn though.
All three of this year’s Pixels are actually fairly small in size. Ranging from 5.8-inches to 6.2-inches. If you want a larger phone, you’ll need to grab a Samsung smartphone, unfortunately. Or you can get one of Motorola’s newer devices like the Edge+ if you want a bigger screen with a nearly stock version of Android.
Should I buy this over the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G?
That really depends on what you want. The Pixel 4a series are plastic smartphones, while the Pixel 5 is metal coated in paint for some wireless charging trickery. But if you’re debating on getting the Pixel 5, the Pixel 4a 5G might be more your speed.
There’s not a lot of differences between the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. It has the same cameras, it has a slightly larger display, a little bit less RAM and a slightly smaller battery. Otherwise it is mostly the same. Not to mention $200 cheaper – unless you are planning to get the Verizon model, which is going to be $599.
At this price point however, there are a few other phones that are really good contenders for your next smartphone. Like the Galaxy S20 FE, which is also $699 and discounted in a lot of places already. It sports better specs – like the Snapdragon 865 chipset and 120Hz display – and comes in more colors. The OnePlus 8T is also coming soon and it is pegged to be around the same price. It’ll also likely come with better specs than the Pixel 5, knowing OnePlus’ way of faster than fast.
This $700 price point is becoming a very popular price point as of late, and there’s a lot of new contenders coming in here. So you aren’t going to have to spend a grand to get a good new smartphone.
A new leak gives us an even better look at the ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra
If you check out the gallery below the article, you’ll see six new images. They’re not showing us anything we haven’t seen yesterday, but these are better images than the ones that surfaced. Also, they’re giving us a better look at the front side of the phone.
As you can see, the ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra will resemble the ASUS ROG Phone 8 series quite a bit. The camera island won’t be cut off in the bottom-right corner, while ROG branding will also be missing. The backplate will look different, and have a specific pattern with lines on it, as shown in the images.
The overall size and shape of the phone are the same, and the camera island on the back is also very similar. Every camera sensor on the inside, and the LED flash also, are in the same spot as on the ASUS ROG Phone 8.
The phone will offer flat sides, and it’ll be a lot bigger than the ZenFone 10
You’ll be getting flat sides here, with a centered display camera hole. All physical buttons will be on the right-hand side, while the display will be flat. The bezels will also be quite thin.
It seems like this phone will be made out of metal and glass. ASUS will be ditching the more grippy material it used on the ZenFone 9 and ZenFone 10. There’s still no word on the more compact variant of this device, let’s hope that ASUS is not done with compact flagships.
In any case, you’ll notice three cameras inside the camera island on the back. That camera island does protrude quite a bit. Yesterday’s leak did also shed some information on the phone’s specs.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be included, and 65W charging will be supported
A 6.78-inch fullHD+ 144Hz display will be included, as will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SOC. Three cameras will sit on the back, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).
Up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM will be included, along with a 5,500mAh battery. 65W wired and 15W wireless charging was also mentioned, as was an audio jack. We still don’t know when is this phone coming, but chances are it won’t be long at this point.
Google Chat mobile now lets you “star” important messages for quick access. The new feature is rolling out to both iOS and Android apps. It should be available to all users within the next few days. Make sure to update the app to the latest version.
You can now star messages in Google Chat
Google introduced the ability to star messages on Chat on the desktop in November 2023. The company said the new tool will help you “stay on top of your most important messages.” You can star any message in Chat for easy access via a shortcut in the navigation panel. The feature comes in handy when you need to come back to a message later.
This function is now rolling out to Google Chat on mobile. The latest version of the app—both the standalone app and the integrated experience in Gmail—lets you long-press on a message to star it. You will find the new “Star” option in the context menu. The tool works in one-to-one conversations, group chats, and Spaces conversations.
You can star any message on Google Chat, including those you have sent. Starred messages are marked with a star icon next to the timestamp. If you want to unstar a message, long-press on it and select Unstar. The feature works the same way on Android and iOS. On the desktop version, you have to hover the cursor over a message for the context menu, click on More (three vertical dots), and select Star/Unstar.
To access your starred messages, tap the three-dot More button at the end of the floating bar in the bottom navigation menu. You will get a new sheet with Mentions and Starred. Select the latter and you will see all your starred messages across conversations. You can select a message to open the conversation and follow up with a reply if required.
The new feature is now rolling out to users
The ability to star messages is available with version 2024.01.21.x of the Google Chat app for Android. The new version is rolling out to users via the Google Play Store. Users with an iPhone or iPad will also get the feature with the latest version of the app. This follows the recent redesign of the bottom floating bar, which added an overflow button to accommodate the Starred menu. Google could have placed Mentions and Starred on the navigation menu itself for easier reach, but here we are.
The OnePlus 12 and OnePlus12R have just hit the market, and they’ve proven to be very popular devices. However, OnePlus has more devices in the pipeline. Thanks to 91Mobiles, we have renders of a mystery OnePlus device, and it looks like it might be a rather capable Nord device.
The OnePlus 12 is the latest flagship release by OnePlus. It’s a sign that the company is going back to its roots and giving people a true flagship experience. Check out our OnePlus 12 Review if you want to learn more about it. If you are looking for an even more affordable version of the OnePlus 12, you can check out our OnePlus 12R review. This is a more budget-friendly phone that’s still running some flagship specs.
Renders of a mystery OnePlus device have popped up
Right now, we know very little about this device other than its model number CPH2613. The only thing we can tell from the model number is the fact that it’s a Nord phone. The CPH in the model number is also present in phones such as the OnePlus Nord N30 (Review), OnePlus Nord N300, and OnePlus Nord N20. Since we’re in a new Year, and we’re just getting these renders now, it’s possible that this phone could be the start of the OnePlus Nord 4 Series (Nord 4, Nord N40, Nord N400, if that’s the naming convention the company chooses).
As for the information we got from the renders, it looks like this phone will be a pretty big departure from the Nord phones we got last year. We see the camera package sitting on the left side of the phone housed in a pill-shaped cut-out. This contrasts the individual circular camera cutouts we got last year. The cameras will sit in the vertical orientation.
We’re not sure if this is just an artistic embellishment, but we see what looks like a metallic sheen on the back of the phone. That could point to this phone having glossy glass on the back. However, we’re not sure if that’s accurate to the actual phone or just part of the render.
On the front of the phone, we see something rather special, the indication of an under-display fingerprint scanner. Again, we’re not sure if this is just the render, but it looks like it’ll be placed pretty low on the screen.
The render also shows us what will be present on the sides of the phone, and it’s all pretty standard. We see the volume and power buttons on the side with what looks like a headphone jack up top. On the bottom, we see the SIM tray, speaker grill, and charging port.
We also have camera information
Aside from the renders, we have information about this phone’s cameras. These charts are from the Camera FV5 certification. From these charts, it appears that this phone will have a 50-megapixel main camera that bins down to 12.6 megapixels. It will have an f/1.8 aperture with OIS at EIS. Up front, we’re looking at a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an F/2.4 aperture and EIS.
Right now, there’s not too much information about this phone. However, it just shows that this phone is in the works, and we will be getting more information on it as time goes on.
