The Samsung Galaxy A54 just hit store shelves this morning, and yet there’s already an outstanding Verizon deal that makes the cheap Android phone even cheaper. Pick up the Galaxy A54 and add a line with any unlimited plan at Verizon (excluding Welcome Unlimited), and the Big Three carrier will hook you up with an excellent $139.99 off (opens in new tab) — no trade-in required and no strings attached.
That discount is enough to knock the price of the phone down to a mere $10 per month for 36 months, or about as much as two cups of coffee these days. This is a pretty impressive offer when you consider that the phone was literally just released today (April 6th), and it’s already in the running for the top spot in our best cheap Android phones list.
The best Samsung Galaxy A54 deal so far
Just like its predecessor, the A53, Samsung’s newest A Series phone packs a ton of near-flagship-level specs into a reliable mid-range package. I’m talking about features like a smooth-as-butter AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the efficient Exynos 1380 chipset, and some of the same AI-powered camera technology found in the S23 series. Plus you’ll get four guaranteed OS upgrades and five years of security updates, enough to make the A54 your go-to device for a good long while.
If you’re not a Verizon customer or you’re simply looking for a different kind of promotion, check out our new guide to the best Samsung Galaxy A54 deals of the month, where you’ll find trade-in discounts, free gift cards, and more.
Google has released Android 13 Quarterly Platform Release 3 Beta 2.1 for Pixel devices.
The update is rather minor, only focusing on providing “Modem updates.”
It’s unclear whether this is just to improve performance or is related to vulnerabilities discovered in Samsung’s Exynos processors.
As we get closer to Google I/O 2023, the company is steadily working on releasing new updates for some of the best Android phones. We’re expecting a new build of Android 14 in the near future, but until then, Google has released the Android 13 Quarterly Platform Release 3 (QPR3) Beta 2.1 update.
Since this is a “point” update, this is focused on just a small portion of your device. In fact, the only change detailed by Google is “Modem updates.” What’s unclear is whether this is designed to address any connectivity issues that Pixel owners might be dealing with.
The mention of “modem updates” comes closely after the discovery of vulnerabilities found by Google’s Project Zero team in relation to Samsung Exynos modems. A report was published in March detailing “eighteen 0-day vulnerabilities in devices comprising Samsung Exynos modems.” That said, Google apparently addressed the vulnerabilities with the March 2023 Pixel update.
This might sound a bit weird to some, but because Google is working so closely with Samsung on the Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 use Samsung modems. Four of the 18 vulnerabilities were said to “allow attackers to make an Internet-to-baseband remote code execution.”
Unfortunately, unless more information is provided, there’s a chance that we might not know exactly what “improvements” we’re getting with this seemingly minor modem update. Nevertheless, Android 13 QPR3 Beta 2.1 is rolling out to owners of the Pixel 4a and newer, including the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
In the meantime, Google has yet to release the April 2023 update to Pixel smartphones, even though it was expected to arrive earlier this week. The new beta also does not include the latest security patch. That said, it’s likely the update isn’t too far behind, although the March update did arrive late for many.
Still holds up
New phones have hit the market since the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro were released in 2022. However, these are still two of the best phones that money can buy, giving you plenty of power and an incredible camera system.
The next flagship smartwatch from Samsung will likely be bigger.
The Galaxy Watch 6 models are tipped to have bigger screens this year.
The 40mm model will sport a 1.31-inch screen, and the 44mm model could equip a 1.47-inch dial.
The Galaxy Watch 6 is probably the next most anticipated product launch from Samsung besides the foldables. While we look forward to the launch later this year, tipster Ice Universe from Twitter has shared some interesting details of the upcoming Galaxy Watch 6.
The Galaxy Watch 5 from last year was regarded as the best Android smartwatch that Samsung has ever made. It came in two sizes, 44mm and 40mm. The successor is said to follow in the footsteps but with bigger screens and a noticeable bump in resolution, notes the tipster.
The 44mm Galaxy Watch 6 will likely feature a 1.47-inch screen with a 480 x 480 resolution. In comparison, the Watch 5 had a 1.4-inch screen and 450 x 450 resolution. Similarly, the 40mm Galaxy Watch 6 will have a 1.31-inch dial with 432 x 432 resolution. The predecessor had a smaller 1.2-inch screen aided by 396 x 396 resolution.
Though it might not be a significant differentiating factor from the previous models, it is still interesting to see the change on paper until we get a hand on the actual device. Ice Universe further hinted at a possible Classic version of the aforementioned Galaxy Watch 6 models; however, there is no mention of the alleged Pro variant.
Early this year, Ice Universe shared some insights into the Galaxy Watch 6’s design. Unlike the predecessor, which sported a flat display, the Watch 6 is likely coming with a curved glass design. It is an exciting change to see as Samsung is said to be opting for the new design, as most Galaxy Watch devices have had flat displays from the start.
Additionally, Ice Universe seems to suggest that we might get smaller bezels, as an earlier Tweet states that “the screen proportion has finally been improved.”
100% confirmed, Exclusive: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 has increased the screen size of the dial to 1.47 inches, and the resolution has also been correspondingly improved, which means that the screen proportion has finally been improved.April 4, 2023
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Other earlier reports have also pointed out that we could see bigger batteries on the 40mm and 44mm Galaxy Watch 6 models. The former is said to feature a 300mAh battery, and the latter with a 425mAh battery capacity. In comparison, the same models of the Galaxy Watch 5 involve 284mAh and 410mAh battery capacities.
Considering the expected and rumored specs, it is plausible to assume that this year’s Galaxy Watch 6 models will be bigger on the inside and out.
Smartwatch deals: Best Buy (opens in new tab) | Walmart (opens in new tab) | Amazon (opens in new tab) | Samsung (opens in new tab) | Dell (opens in new tab)
Samsung recently updated older Galaxy phones with features introduced on the Galaxy S23.
The company is apparently preparing to bring more camera and gallery features to older Galaxy phones.
These include the Image Clipper, Pro modes for the selfie camera, 300x speed Astro Hyperlapse, and more.
Samsung looks set to continue bringing more camera features to its older Galaxy models.
On Thursday, a Samsung community moderator (opens in new tab) outlined a plan to update more devices with features from the Galaxy S23 series (via SamMobile). Some features have already arrived via the last feature expansion Samsung issued via One UI 5.1. However, it seems more are set to arrive soon, which should excite some Galaxy owners.
One of the features includes the Image Clipper that launched alongside the Galaxy S23, which allows users to select and lift a subject from an image. It was previously suggested that the feature might arrive on older phones like the Galaxy S22 series, and it seems we may not have to wait much longer. Other devices set to receive this particular feature include the S series phones back to the Galaxy S20, the Note 20 series, and Samsung’s foldable phones sans the original Galaxy Fold.
Samsung is also bringing Expert RAW and Pro modes to the selfie camera on the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Z Fold 4, as well as a 300x speed Astro Hyperlapse feature, which will additionally arrive on the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
Lastly, Samsung is expanding additional Expert RAW features and improved lens switching to more phones, although that last one is currently under review and hasn’t been finalized.
Support for each feature depends on the phone, and you can view the complete list on the community post (opens in new tab). However, while we know which features are coming to which phones, what remains a mystery is when these features will arrive.
Meanwhile, Galaxy S23 owners were just treated to a big camera update that brought several improvements to Samsung’s latest flagships. That update is currently rolling out.
Samsung put an “Ultra” in the name because this phone is just that. It has a massive 120Hz display and built-in S Pen for note-taking, a fast Snapdragon chipset with all the power you could need, and an impressive 200MP camera for extra detail in every shot.
Xiaomi has confirmed the existence of an Ultra variant of its latest flagship phone series.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is set to make its debut later this month.
In the coming months, the phone will also make its way to global markets.
The Xiaomi 13 series made its debut in China late last year, with both the standard and Pro models boasting Leica co-branded cameras. Their Ultra sibling was a no-show back then, but Xiaomi has confirmed that the top-tier variant will see the light of day this month.
In a tweet, the Chinese phone maker revealed that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be unveiled in April. Like its smaller siblings, the upcoming device will carry on Xiaomi and Leica’s collaboration, which kicked off in 2022 with the launch of the Xiaomi 12 series.
Marking another milestone for the strategic cooperation between Xiaomi and @leica_camera, and the mobile photography world. Debuting this April, #Xiaomi13Ultra will be available in global markets in the coming months. https://t.co/ljTyEmFbGKApril 6, 2023
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Xiaomi has also confirmed that the handset will be available in global markets in the coming months, as did the vanilla Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro. This does not come as a huge surprise, given that Xiaomi founder and CEO, Lei Jun, promised the same last year (opens in new tab) seemingly to address the limited availability of its flagship series’ Ultra models.
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra, in particular, deserves to be on the roster of the top Android phones, except that it’s not available outside of China.
With the Xiaomi 13 Ultra getting a global launch, both Xiaomi and Leica are touting several exciting upgrades for the handset. In a separate tweet (opens in new tab), the Germany-based camera maker teased “the most perfect Summicron lens ever created in the field of mobile imaging.” Summicron is, of course, Leica’s branding for its camera lenses.
While neither company went into specifics about the 13 Ultra’s imaging prowess, a recent leak claimed that Xiaomi’s top-end flagship phone would boast four 50MP sensors on the back.
In contrast, the Xiaomi 13 Pro only has a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 50MP main shooter, a 50MP telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The Ultra model could go a step further by adding another 50MP zoom lens.
Previous rumors also suggested that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which isn’t surprising given that its siblings use the same processor.
A report claims Samsung is aiming to reveal a new Galaxy SmartTag device in the second half of 2023.
The new tracking tag may offer a larger wireless range, stronger security, and a louder alert sound.
The next SmartTag may integrate with SmartThings devices a little deeper by controlling lights and your smart TV.
Samsung’s second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023 may hold more details.
As consumers clamor to obtain item trackers to keep track of their things, Samsung appears to be close to releasing its next iteration.
Korean news website Naver reports that the company will release a second-generation Galaxy Smart Tag in the second half of 2023. The site credits a person close to the subject matter in saying the next product may deliver a longer wireless range and stronger security features to “prevent unauthorized tracking.”
Another apparent source of the outlet stated the next Samsung-made smart tag could include a higher-quality internal speaker for a louder “I’m over here” sound. The new tag may also feature similar SmartThings integration as the Galaxy SmartTag+, which allows you to control your smart home appliances such as lights (dimming them) or even your smart TV.
The next-generation SmartTag may have a larger battery packed into it when compared to the company’s last release. While it’s unknown just how long the battery life may be, the Galaxy SmartTag+ contains a non-rechargeable battery that lasts around five months. Ideally, if this area is receiving improvements, consumers should have a longer stretch of time to go without concern.
Furthermore, while the SmartTag+ was launched nearly two years ago, that product was ultra-wideband (UWB) based. With that sort of connectivity, the SmartTag+ could provide a more accurate position of your lost device and better tracking capabilities above the original SmartTag.
Samsung would probably continue to feature this UWB connectivity in its next SmartTag iteration as it would keep it in good competition with Apple’s AirTag.
This new Galaxy SmartTag is just one of the many products we’re looking to gain more information on later this year. Naver’s report mentions that the next tag iteration will allegedly be revealed alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Buds 3.
It’s suggested all of this will take place during Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event later this year. If we’re taking clues from last year’s, perhaps we can expect to learn more about the next Galaxy SmartTag and other devices around August.
Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag+ is equipped with ultra-wideband connectivity to offer consumers precise locations and accurate tracking when locating their devices. The SmartTag+ can last up to five months with its non-rechargeable battery which you can attach to a keychain or bag to ensure your items are always under a watchful eye.
A new leak suggests Google if working on a “Find My Device” feature similar to Apple’s version for iPhones.
Pixel devices are rumored to see “Pixel Power-off Finder” as the feature’s name, allowing users to find their phone even when it’s off.
Rumor has it this requires specific hardware retuning so the Bluetooth chip always remains on and it could come with the Pixel 8 series.
Losing your smartphone is never fun, and it looks like Google is working on a feature improvement to help calm our rapidly beating hearts.
Leaker Kuba Wojciechowski spilled some details about Google’s new “Find My Device” network it’s looking to craft for Android devices (via 91Mobiles). Allegedly, the new feature in question has the running name of “Pixel Power-off Finder” for Google-made phones, and will allow users to find their lost Android device even if it’s turned off. The leaked source code apparently has a new Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) definition with the string “hardware.google.bluetooth.power_off_finder.”
This string of code seems to suggest the device’s Bluetooth chip will be kept on — so users can always find their device — due to precomputed Finger Network keys keeping it active. Pieces of the feature’s code were apparently found in an early version of Android 14 shared with OEMs enrolled in the Early Access Program (EAP).
💦 Leak: Google is working on a device-finding feature for future Pixel phones that works even when the phone is turned off, akin to iPhones. More details: https://t.co/LkdexHCi0GApril 6, 2023
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The leak states this feature would require hardware support to keep the Bluetooth chip active if the device is powered down. With the Pixel 8 in our sights for later this year, perhaps this is something consumers will be treated to with its hardware advancements, as it appears unclear if previous phones, like the Pixel 7 Pro, will have this.
This rumored feature is giving us Apple vibes with its own “Find My Device” for lost iPhones, which can also be located if the device is turned off. It’s also suggested that Google is taking another page out of the Cupertino-based company’s playbook by creating a vast network of Android device locator tags along with an AirTag-like locator codenamed “Grogu.”
This device is rumored to include optional support for UWB (ultra-wideband connectivity), as well, something also spotted in recent FCC documents for the Pixel Tablet.
If this is the direction Google is moving with its next wave of Android products, hopefully, we’ll hear more about this and the hardware capability at I/O 2023. The big event is scheduled for a little over a month away on May 10.
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro is powered by the company’s strong Tensor G2 chip for swift and powerful performance for all your apps and scrolling. The Pixel 7 Pro delivers an amazing array of cameras paired with an exciting pack of photo editing tools. If you’re a fan of smart home devices, you can control everything from the palm of your hand, too.
Interacting with WhatsApp might soon get handier later this year.
Meta-owned messaging service is testing a new bottom navigation bar with its latest beta.
It brings the Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls tabs to the bottom.
WhatsApp is constantly in the process of rolling out new features on the messaging platform. The latest findings in the latest beta version of the app indicate WhatsApp is working on a new UI element change similar to other platforms owned by Meta.
As noted by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out a new update for its beta version, including a significantly new UI interface. Currently, after opening the app, users are greeted with four main segments placed at the top: Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls tab. This has been the scenario for quite some time now.
According to the WBI report, that is subject to change with the new beta rollout as they are being shifted to the bottom side of the app for Android devices. This matches the iOS version of WhatsApp and follows Google’s Material You’s uniformity across several default apps, like Google Clock or other social media apps like Instagram and Facebook.
(Image credit: WABetaInfo)
The new bottom navigation bar is tested on WhatsApp beta bearing the 2.23.8.4 version from Play Store. The feature might take a while to hit the public in the coming weeks.
WBI implies this new navigation bar has been the most requested feature amongst users as it can be convenient to navigate within the app. It likely works well with large-screen phones as it eliminates the need to reach the top with fingers during engaging in conversations or groups.
As mentioned, WhatsApp is always on the lookout to add features and privacy-related preferences to stay with its competing messaging apps like Telegram and Signal.
Not very long ago, a Meta-owned messaging service was also seen working on locking individual chats feature with either a fingerprint or a passcode. The latter form of authentication is currently available for the entire app.
Providing the same level of protection for individual conversations, including photos and videos, in addition to the app’s end-to-end encryption, would give users more privacy-focused options to play with on the messaging platform.
The release date has arrived, which means the Samsung Galaxy A54 deals are beginning to pour in. If you want to get your hands on this mid-range smartphone and save some money in the process, you’ve come to the right place: all of the best offers on the web can be found below.
The latest in Samsung’s affordable A series, the Galaxy A54 has everything you could ever want in a cheap Android phone (or any phone, for that matter), such as a vibrant 6.4-inch AMOLED 120Hz display, a massive 5,000mAh battery, and the same AI-powered camera features that you’d expect to find in a flagship. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is also set to receive four OS upgrades and five years of security updates, which means you could be using this mid-range smartphone for many years to come. Retailing for around $449.99, the Galaxy A54 was already affordable, but the deals below can make the cheap phone even cheaper. If you don’t find anything today, check back later — we’ll keep adding new deals as they go live.
While some have said over the years that VR will be the next great medium of entertainment — that it will replace all current types of games and ways we watch movies and TV — I think they were dead wrong.
Back in 1980, years before I was born, a song titled “Video killed the radio star” made waves when it launched alongside the new Music Television channel, better known today as MTV. It more than just suggested that music videos would replace audio-only music, ushering in a new visual era of music.
Over the years, music videos and audio-only music live both converged and separated lives with apps like YouTube Music (opens in new tab) that continually blur the lines between the two seemingly disparate mediums. Spotify’s recent TikTok-style redesign (opens in new tab) further proves that neither video nor radio killed each other. They are stronger in symbiosis.
Likewise, we won’t be seeing some future where everyone wears a VR headset all the time and only plays VR games. As gaming has grown, so, too, have the ways people play games. Once upon a time, people only played games on a monitor or TV. These days, anything with a display can play games, and that reality isn’t changing any time soon. VR offers a more physical way to interact with your games, but not everyone wants to move that much all the time and that’s just fine.
The error of zero-sum thinking
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
If you’re a gamer, chances are you’ve seen the meme “do you guys not have phones?” It originated from BlizzCon 2018 when the developers of Diablo Immortal were booed upon announcing (opens in new tab) that Immortal was a mobile-only entry in the series.
As if one wing of the massive Activision Blizzard empire couldn’t simultaneously develop both a mobile-only and PC/console-only version of the storied franchise.
The best part is that all of them did have phones and, more than likely — based on the money Activision Blizzard made off the game — all of them played Diablo Immortal. Now, we’re treated with Diablo IV, a “proper” entry in the series that fans have already started to enjoy on their PCs and consoles.
It’s this zero-sum thinking that is killing discourse in the video game industry and, ultimately, causing a lot of strife where none actually exists. In economic terms, a zero-sum game is one in which a win for one side is a direct loss for the other side.
It’s a spilling over of political tribalistic behavior that pretends that there are only a finite number of seats of power in the gaming world and that your favorite video game company has to have the most seats to win.
The video game industry is large enough to accommodate different tastes in games without affecting the success of others.
Wake-up call: there is no ceiling here. All of us can play and have fun. The only winners are the gamers — who get to have more fun than ever before — and the developers that get to keep making the games they love because of all the new opportunities.
VR presents a new way to get more physically involved and active by being in the game. Just as handheld gaming machines or smartphones let players take games on the go, VR gives gamers another way to play a game that’s different from just sitting on the couch. But it’s also OK if you just want to sit on the couch. That’s why traditional gaming isn’t going anywhere.
So why am I bringing this up now? This week, a new study came out that, as CNBC (opens in new tab) editorialized, means that teenagers “aren’t interested in VR” because only 4% of them play daily.
So I posted about it on Twitter and received a lot of feedback.
With so many ways to play games these days, does *anyone* use any piece of hardware every single day? Yet another dumb, meaningless metric used to smear VR. https://t.co/KocZZJsflVApril 5, 2023
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The responses run the gamut from folks who are completely uneducated about the success of the Quest (opens in new tab) (and the fact that it’s been outselling the Xbox Series X|S since both systems’ debut) to Xbox fanboys accusing me of somehow being a Sony fanboy because I support VR, and everything in-between.
It’s a dizzying thread that ate up the majority of my morning and made me realize just how deep this zero-sum type of thinking runs.
Again, it’s as if the demise of VR — whether that’s Meta itself or the entire medium — will somehow usher in a new era of dominance for games played on a 2D display.
But that’s not how it works.
A history of growth
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
The graphic above is an old one I made for an article I published a year ago, but it illustrates a good point. Some people will look at this graph and see only the idea that their color is winning.
Good for you, I hope you enjoy the feeling of false success earned by being an armchair quarterback.
For the rest of us, however, the graph above means one thing: gaming continues to grow, and the thing we love to pass our time with is only getting bigger, better, and more varied than ever before.
Gaming continues to grow, becoming bigger, better, and more varied than ever before.
Case in point, let’s take a look at the sales of consoles (opens in new tab) in the early days:
(Image credit: Android Central)
While we could get in the weeds and have several conversations around trends in the chart above, I want to focus on the most important column: the total number of gamers.
As each generation progresses and a new contender enters, one particular company might sell more or less than the other but the number of people buying consoles only grows as competition increases. More choices mean that more niches are being filled and, as a result, more people are willing to spend money on games built by developers who love telling stories and pushing the medium forward as an art.
More choices means more gamers and, thus, more games. Just try to enjoy them instead of fighting about it, ok?
The same goes for VR, mobile gaming, handheld gaming, or whatever niche or segment you want to break the market into. No matter how many people buy one system or regularly play one type of game, the rest of the medium doesn’t suffer from it.
Just because there are 6.5 billion smartphones (opens in new tab) being used in the world doesn’t mean that no one plays games on a TV or a computer anymore. Just because the PlayStation sells more than the Xbox doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the next Halo game.
People will play games on the device it makes the most sense for them in the moment. Unique experiences like VR headsets and dedicated gaming phones (opens in new tab) offer more opportunities, not fewer.
As the old saying goes: “can’t we just all get along”?
Forget “the metaverse” and try some great VR games on the Quest 2, the easiest and most affordable way to play the best VR games around.
