Samsung Gaming Hub is now live

During CES 2022, Samsung announced its Gaming Hub platform, introducing the world to its new gaming strategy going forward for its Smart TVs and monitors. Today, Samsung’s platform goes live, debuting on its Smart TVs for 2022 and its Smart Monitor Series.

No downloads required

Samsung Gaming Hub will bring game streaming content without the need for extra hardware add-ons. The firm has partnered with some of the biggest in the gaming industry like Xbox, Nvidia, Google, and more. That means users will have access to hundreds of games at the touch of a button.

As mentioned previously, in order to take advantage of Gaming Hub, you’ll need to have one of Samsung’s latest TVs or its Smart Monitor Series. The company states:

“Players will be able to easily browse and discover games from the widest selection available, regardless of platform.”

Despite not being powered by any additional hardware, Samsung Gaming Hub is fully fleshed out thanks to Tizen OS and its optimizations. The combination of software and hardware offers “advanced motion enhancements and latency reducing technology”.

Furthermore, the new TV models also “introduce faster decoding and optimized buffer control technology”, reducing the input lag of the previous model by an average of 30 percent. Samsung also utilizes AI upscaling technology in order to bring the best possible experience when it comes to 4K and 8K content.

In addition to being able to access a wide range of gaming services, the service will also offer support for accessories like Bluetooth controllers and wireless headsets. These devices will seamlessly connect to each supported service within Gaming Hub, without the need to be individually paired to service.

Samsung Gaming Hub is now available with instant access to Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Google Stadia, Utomik, Twitch, YouTube, and Spotify. Support for Amazon Luna will arrive at a later date.

Source: Samsung

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A retail store may have leaked the launch date of the MacBook Air M2

Apple introduced the all-new MacBook Air (2022) during WWDC22. The reveal was made along with that of iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. This year’s Dub Dub conference brought plenty of exciting and fresh changes to the table. This applies in both the software and hardware departments. For example, the iPhone Lock Screen has introduced widget and advanced customization support. Meanwhile, M1 iPads can now handle resizable app windows. Perhaps one of the more thrilling announcements, though, is that of the M2-powered MacBook Air. We got a redesigned chassis with MagSafe 3 charging support and more finish options. That’s not to mention the upgraded display, including a notch to house the 1080p webcam. Apple didn’t share much regarding this anticipated notebook’s release date. It only shared that it would happen at some point in July. A new report now reveals the potential launch date of the MacBook Air M2.

According to MacRumors, a retail store has leaked the launch date of the redesigned MacBook Air (2022). If the report is, in fact, accurate, customers will be able to get their hands on it starting Friday, July 15. Pre-order are expected to go live a week earlier, on July 8. Of course, these dates will vary depending on your region. That’s because Apple usually makes new products available in the United States, Canada, some European countries, and a few other regions before the rest of the world.

The new MacBook Air (2022) has a 13.6-inch screen, packs the M2 chip, features a fanless design, and comes in four finishes to pick from. For $1,199, you get to choose between a Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, or Silver unit. The M1 model from 2020 remains on sale for those who’d rather spend less on an Apple notebook.

Apple MacBook Air (2022)

This 2022 Apple notebook offers the M2 chip and a redesigned chassis with MagSafe support. Best Buy can notify you when it's available.

View on Best Buy

Do you plan on buying the Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: MacRumors

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Pixel’s Car Crash Detection feature might soon make its way to other Android devices

Google recently rolled out an update for the Personal Safety app on Pixel devices. A teardown of the latest release has revealed new strings suggesting that the Pixel-exclusive Car Crash Detection feature might soon make its way to other Android phones.

The following strings in Personal Safety v2022.05.25 (via Mishaal Rahman) clearly mention “nonpixel” in the string names, suggesting that the Car Crash Detection feature might not be a Pixel-exclusive offering for long.

crash_settings_check_user_status_body_text_nonpixel

crash_settings_emergency_alert_body_text_nonpixel

crash_settings_footnote_nonpixel

For the unaware, the Car Crash Detection feature is currently only available on Google’s Pixel devices, and it uses the location, motion sensors, and ambient audio to detect a car crash. Once it detects a crash, it plays a loud sound and asks users if they need any help. In case of no response, it automatically dials 911 and shares your phone’s location. Interestingly, the feature works even when the Personal Safety app is not in use.

I don’t know what arrangement Google has with OEMs, but they may be sharing the source code for the nanoapp which OEMs will then have to compile, sign, and integrate into their builds.

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) June 28, 2022

Although Google hasn’t shared any details about the rollout so far, Mishaal Rahman speculates that it might not roll out to all non-Pixel devices at once. That’s because the feature relies on a Context Hub Runtime Environment (CHRE) nanoapp, which OEMs have to compile, sign, and integrate into their software releases. Since Google currently doesn’t mandate OEMs to implement CHRE on their builds, the Car Crash Detection feature might see a limited release on some non-Pixel devices. But that could change if Google mandates CHRE implementation.

At the moment, it isn’t clear how Google plans to bring Car Crash Detection to non-Pixel devices. The company could either provide OEMs with the source code for the nanoapp or offer a precompiled version to help OEMs easily integrate it into their software releases. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we have more details.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 vs OnePlus 9RT: Samsung’s flagship takes on OnePlus’s affordable flagship

Buying a flagship smartphone in 2022 shouldn’t cost you a fortune. There are plenty of options to explore that offer a top-notch flagship smartphone experience while being reasonably priced. Take, for example, the OnePlus 9RT, which can be had for ~$699 and has all the bells and whistles you expect from a modern-day flagship, including a gorgeous display, capable main cameras, and flagship processor. But how does it compare to a seasoned flagship phone like the Galaxy S22? There’s only one way to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Vs OnePlus 9RT: Specifications

Specification	Google Pixel 6 Pro	OnePlus 9RT
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus back Gorilla Glass Victus front	Glass back Metallic frame
Dimensions & Weight	146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm 168 gram	163.2 x 73.2 x 8.7mm 197g
Display	6.1-inch AMOLED 2X Display 2340 x 1080, 425 ppi HDR10+ certified 120Hz refresh rate Always On Display	6.62-inch FHD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 600Hz touch sampling rate 1300nits peak brightness 1000000:1 contrast ratio 100% DCI-P3 coverage HDR10+
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (the US, China, India, and other regions) Exynos 2200 (Europe, South America, and other regions)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 1x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex X1-based) Prime core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A78-based) Performance cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 (ARM Cortex A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz Adreno 660 GPU
RAM & Storage	8GB RAM 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage	8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Battery & Charging	3,700mAh 25W Wired fast charging (charger not included in box) 15W wireless charging	4,500mAh 65W fast charging support
Security	Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP wide, f/1.8 Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f.2.2 Tertiary: 10MP telephoto, 3x optical	Primary: 50MP Sony IMX 766, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide: 16MP, f/2.2 Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
Front Camera(s)	10MP	16MP, f/2.4
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot	USB Type-C port No headphone jack No microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz) Bluetooth v5.2	5G LTE Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1
Software	Android 12 with One UI 4.1 Four major Android OS updates promised Five years of security patches	OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11
Other Features	IP68 water and dust protection Dual SIM	Vapor cooling chamber Alert slider

Design & Display

Both the Galaxy S22 and the OnePlus 9RT are great-looking phones. The Galaxy S22 is on the smaller side, measuring 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and weighing just 168g. It features a minimalistic design with rounded corners and a flat aluminum middle frame, which looks a lot like the current iPhone. The camera island on the back is the most striking element of the Galaxy S22. Both front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.

The OnePlus 9RT looks less exciting than the Galaxy S22, but it’s also made with premium materials, featuring aluminum side rails and a glass back. The back has a silky texture which feels nice to touch. OnePlus has also done a great job with the weight distribution, so the phone is comfortable to hold. OnePlus’ signature alert slider is placed on the right side, while the rectangular camera island on the back houses three cameras.

The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The OnePlus 9RT, on the other hand, has a bigger 6.62-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both phones can reach up to 1300 nits in auto-brightness mode, offer 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and support HDR10+ content.

While both displays are neck to neck in terms of raw numbers, the Galaxy S22 has a superior panel compared to the older Samsung E4 panel used by the OnePlus 9RT. The difference is certainly not huge, and unless you have trained eyes and have used a lot of flagships, you’re unlikely to notice

Camera

On paper, both phones boast capable camera hardware. The Galaxy S22 features a triple camera system, comprising a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto zoom lens with 3x optical zoom. For the OnePlus 9RT, we’re looking at a 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP macro lens.

As you can see, the Galaxy S22 has superior hardware as it offers a 10MP zoom lens. You won’t get crazy good zooming like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it gets the job done. The OnePlus 9RT doesn’t have a dedicated zoom camera, so any zooming you do will be digital, and the final image may not look as sharp.

The Galaxy S22 and OnePlus 9RT both have a 50MP main shooter. In good lighting conditions, both phones produce sharp images with high dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. But in low-light and dark conditions, the Galaxy S22 is much better and more reliable than the OnePlus 9RT.

The OnePlus 9RT’s 16MP ultra-wide camera is nothing to write home about. It produces serviceable photos in broad daylight, but its low light performance leaves a lot to be desired.

Galaxy S22 camera samples

OnePlus 9RT camera samples

Overall, the Galaxy S22 has a more versatile and reliable camera system. It offers significantly better low-light performance, a better ultra-wide camera, and a dedicated zoom lens. But for a device that costs nearly half the price of the Galaxy S22, the OnePlus 9RT still delivers an impressive camera performance.

Performance

The Galaxy S22 is powered by the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, although it is also sold with the Exynos 2200 SoC in regions where the OnePlus 9RT is not sold in. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 9RT opts for the last year’s Snapdragon 888 SoC. The Galaxy S22 has the OnePlus 9RT beat here as it’s using the newer and more powerful chipset. In particular, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers 10% faster CPU and GPU performance while reducing the peak power consumption by up to 20%. But make no mistake: the Snapdragon 888 chipset inside the OnePlus 9RT is no slouch and can easily hold its own against other Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered phones. OnePlus also puts a lot of effort into optimizing OxygenOS, so the OnePlus 9RT should feel as fast and smooth as any high-end flagship in real-world usage.

The OnePlus 9RT also has a large vapor cooling champer to keep thermals in check during intensive workloads such as gaming.

Battery and Charging

The OnePlus 9RT picks up an easy win here, featuring a larger 4,500mAh battery to the Galaxy S22’s measly 3,7000mAh cell. If you’re a heavy user, the Galaxy S22 will struggle to last you through the day. The OnePlus 9RT doesn’t have an extraordinary battery life by any means, but it will at least get you through the day.

The OnePlus 9RT also blows the Galaxy S22 out of the water when it comes to the charging speed, offering super 67W wired fast charging. The Galaxy S22 tops out at 25W but does support wireless charging, which is missing on the OnePlus 9RT.

Software

The Galaxy S22 runs Android out of the box with One UI 4 on top. Samsung promises up to four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, putting even Google Pixel to shame. The OnePlus 9RT ships with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 but is upgradable to Android 12, although many users dislike the Android 12 upgrade on OnePlus devices. OnePlus promises three years of OS updates and four years of security updates, which, while not as impressive as Samsung’s, is still better than what some other affordable flagships on the market offer.

Conclusion

Choosing between the OnePlus 9RT and Galaxy S22 is one of the easiest decisions you’ll make. There’s a significant price gap between the two, and both phones cater to different audiences. The Galaxy S22 starts at ₹72,999, while the OnePlus 9RT is priced at ₹42,999. It’s not a fair comparison at all, and your answer is more than likely dictated by your budget.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The vanilla Galaxy S22 offers a beautiful AMOLED display and capable flagship-grade cameras.

Buy from Samsung

The Galaxy S22 has a better display, a faster chipset, and more versatile and capable cameras. It handily beats the OnePlus 9RT in all areas except the battery life and charging speed. It also gives you the best software support on the market, and Samsung generally offers good exchange rates should you decide to jump to a newer Galaxy flagship later down the road. You can also check out the best deals on the Galaxy S22 to save money.

OnePlus 9RT

The OnePlus 9RT offers flagship hardware at an affordable price.

Buy from Amazon

If the budget is the constraint, the OnePlus 9RT is a no-brainer. It’s one of the best value-for-money flagships in the Indian market, and when you factor in deals and cashback, it looks even more enticing. You get a beautiful AMOLED display, flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset, capable main shooter, and blazing fast charging speed.

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Xiaomi will launch the Mi Band 7 Pro early next month, here’s what it looks like

After launching the Mi Band 7 this May, Xiaomi is now gearing up to launch a Pro variant of the popular fitness tracker. The company has shared a short teaser of the Mi Band 7 Pro ahead of its official launch and confirmed that it would land with the Xiaomi 12S series early next month.

In a recent post on Weibo, Xiaomi shared a short teaser video of the upcoming Mi Band 7 Pro. The video gives us our first look at the premium fitness tracker, which features a much larger display and better build quality than the non-Pro variant. At first glance, the premium fitness tracker looks a lot like the Redmi Smart Band Pro. However, unlike the Redmi Smart Band Pro, the Mi Band 7 Pro appears to have a more premium metal chassis.

While Xiaomi’s teaser video doesn’t reveal much else about the Mi Band 7 Pro, renowned leaker Digital Chat Station has shared a couple of renders that shed some more light on the fitness tracker. The leaked renders reveal that Xiaomi will launch the Mi Band 7 Pro in two color variants — one featuring a gold bezel around the display and a white band, while the other featuring a gunmetal bezel around the display and a black strap. Both models will come with traditional watch-style bands, unlike the Redmi Smart Band Pro.

As mentioned earlier, Xiaomi will unveil the Mi Band 7 Pro alongside the Xiaomi 12S series on July 4. The premium fitness tracker will likely offer all the features found on its more affordable non-Pro counterpart, along with a couple of extras. However, we currently don’t have any info on the additional features it may offer. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.

What do you think of the Mi Band 7 Pro’s design? Are you a fan of the new form factor, or do you think it looks a bit odd? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Weibo (1,2)

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Pixel Buds A-Series update fixes buggy Bass slider

In December last year, Google rolled out a firmware update for its affordable TWS earbuds — the Pixel Buds A-Series. The update introduced a couple of new features, including a new slider to adjust the bass, a Loudness compensation toggle, improved device switching capabilities, and more. However, since the rollout, we’ve seen several reports about users facing issues with the new Bass slider. Google is now finally addressing the issue with a new Pixel Buds A-Series update.

In a recent post on the Google Pixel Buds Help community forums, Google announced the latest firmware update for the Pixel Buds A-Series. As mentioned earlier, the update (firmware version 3.415) addresses the “toggle button issues with the EQ/bass slider feature where the bass effect continued to revert to original.” It has already started rolling out to Pixel Buds A-Series users worldwide, and Google says that it should reach all users over the course of the next two weeks.

Once the update reaches your device, it should automatically make its way to your Pixel Buds A-Series the next time you use them with a device running Android 6.0 or later. Google says that this process takes about ten minutes and it shouldn’t affect usability. The update will be installed the next time you place the Pixel Buds A-Series in the charging case. Google further notes that the update will only be installed if the earbuds and charging case have sufficient battery life and it may take multiple attempts for the update to complete.

In case the update is still not installed for some reason, you can trigger the process manually by navigating to the Firmware Update section in the Pixel Buds app and selecting the “Update available” option while the earbuds are in the charging case with the lid open.

Have you received the latest Pixel Buds A-series update? Does it successfully address the Bass slider bug? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Source: Google Pixel Buds Help
Via: 9to5Google

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Sony Xperia Pro 1 IV: Which camera smartphone should you buy?

The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Sony Xperia 1 IV are two unique flagships, standing in stark contrast in pretty much every area, from design and display to their approach to photography. They’re great options for anyone who doesn’t want to go with the mainstream options such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or the OnePlus 10 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro was unveiled last year, while the Sony Xperia 1 IV arrived in May this year. If you’re having a hard time deciding which one is the best for you, read on as it’s time to pit the computational photography king against the phone with one of the best camera hardware.

Google Pixel 6 Pro Vs Sony Xperia 1 IV: Specifications

Specification	Google Pixel 6 Pro	Sony Xperia 1 IV
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back IP68 rating	Metal and glass sandwich Gorilla Glass Victus front and back IP68 rating
Dimensions & Weight	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm 210g	166 x 72 x 8.9mm 211g
Display	6.7-inch OLED 1,440 x 3,120 pixels HDR10+ certified Variable refresh rate between 60Hz to 120Hz	6.5-inch 4K OLED HDR (3840 x 1644) 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate 100% DCI-P3 HDR BT.2020 (Rec.2020) D65 White point 21:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
SoC	Google Tensor chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 1x ARM Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz 3x ARM Cortex-A710 @ 2.50GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A510 @ 1.80GHz Adreno 730 GPU 4nm process
RAM & Storage	8GB/12GB RAM 128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage	12GB RAM 256GB/512GB storage
Battery & Charging	5,004 mAh battery 30W fast wired charging Wireless charging Charger not included	5,000 mAh battery 30W fast charger (inside the box) Wireless charging Reverse wireless charging
Security	Optical in-display fingerprint sensor	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP main, f/1.9, 1/1.31″, OIS, binned Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 48MP periscope, 4x optical zoom	Camera setup: Primary: 12MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.7″, 1.8µm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 16mm, 1/2.6″, Dual Pixel PDAF Tertiary: 12MP periscope, f/2.3-2.8, 85mm-125mm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Quaternary: 3D iToF sensor Features: ZEISS optics 120fps read out speed (all lenses) 20fps AF/AE tracking burst with noise reduction (all lenses) 60fps continuous AF/AE calculations Real-time Eye AF (all lenses)
Front Camera(s)	11MP, f/2.2/1.22μm	12MP
Port(s)	USB Type-C No headphone jack No microSD card slot	USB Type-C port 3.5mm headphone jack Dedicated microSD card slot
Audio	Stereo speakers	Full range front-firing stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res Audio 360 Reality Audio (through speakers) 360 Spatial Sound (over headphones)
Connectivity	5G: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4/5/6GHz) Bluetooth v5.2 NFC GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou	5G (Sub-6Hz) Bluetooth 5.x 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi NFC GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Software	Android 12 with Pixel Launcher	Android 12 out of the box
Other Features	Single physical SIM Four major Android OS updates promised Five years of security patches	MicroSD card support Dedicated camera shutter button

Design & Display

The design is the biggest and most notable difference between the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV. The Pixel 6 Pro comes across as a bold, eye-catching device with all its curves and vibrant colors. The Sony Xperia 1 IV, in contrast, looks as boring as an unbuttered toast.

Sony’s design has evolved little since the introduction of the first Xperia 1 II. If you were to put the Xperia 1 II, Xperia, Xperia 1 III, and Xperia 1 IV side by side, you’d be hard-pressed to find any noticeable difference. The Xperia 1 IV is a rectangular glass-and-metal slab featuring a narrow aspect ratio and a no-notch display. The back houses a rectangular camera strip, while the right frame is home to the power button, volume keys, and the dedicated shutter button.

The Pixel phones have always been unique and interesting in the design department, and the Pixel 6 Pro is certainly the best-looking device that Google has ever produced. The dual-tone play and the large rectangular strip resembling a visor are stand-out elements of the Pixel 6 Pro, making the phone stand out from the crowd and giving it a bit of character.

Both the Sony Xperia 1 IV and Pixel 6 Pro sport high refresh rate OLED displays. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.71-inch LTPO AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and a centered hole punch.

The Xperia 1 IV features a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with 3840 x 1644 resolution and a 21:9 tall aspect ratio. The panel has no cutout or notch, so you get the full unobtrusive view. As impressive as it may sound, 4K resolution on a tiny smartphone screen is overkill. Even in a side-by-side comparison, you’re unlike to spot a difference between a QHD panel and a 4K panel. But yeah, if you want to consume 4K HDR content on a smartphone, the Xperia 1 IV is the only device on the market that can do it.

Also, the Xperia 1 IV panel is brighter than the Pixel 6 Pro, so it will be easier to use outside on sunny days. Overall, we think the Xperia 1 IV has a better panel than the Pixel 6 Pro. It’s brighter, has no notch, and offers more resolution.

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Cameras

Both the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV are camera-focused devices. The Pixel 6 Pro offers a triple camera setup, featuring a 50MP f/1.9 Samsung GN1 main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 114-degree field-of-view, and a 48MP periscope lens with 4x optical zoom. The Pixel 6 Pro also offers several neat camera tricks such as Magic Eraser, Action Pan, Real Tone, and astrophotography mode.

Pixel 6 Pro camera samples

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has three 12MP shooters. There’s a 12MP main shooter with a 24mm equivalent focal length, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 12MP periscope zoom lens that can smoothly switch between different focal lengths between 85mm (3.5x) and 125mm (5.2x). Finally, there’s also a ToF sensor for collecting depth data. All three lenses offer 120fps read-out speeds, Real-time Eye AF, 20fps burst shooting with HDR, and 60fps continuous autofocus and auto-exposure calculations.

Sony Xperia 1 IV

There’s no doubt both devices pack some impressive camera hardware. However, there’s a stark difference when it comes to their approach to photography. While the Pixel 6 Pro leans heavily on computational photography and post-processing, the Xperia 1 IV puts you in the driver’s seat and gives you greater control over the final output of your shot.

For most average users, the Pixel 6 Pro is the best choice. The Pixel 6 Pro consistently produces stellar photos across all lighting conditions, thanks to its amazing computational photography prowess. It’s one of the best point-and-shoot cameras smartphones, and the effort needed for an amazing click is very low.

However, if you’re a photographer or content creator who knows what they are doing, you might get more mileage out of the Xperia 1 IV, as it gives you sophisticated manual camera controls and more control over the image output. You no longer have an AI choosing the right settings for you — instead, you do that yourself, and there’s a certain freedom to such manual control.

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Performance

Both phones also differ when it comes to the processing package. The Pixel 6 Pro uses Googe’s in-house Tensor SoC, which was uniquely developed and optimized for the phone. It features two Arm Cortex-X1 cores, two Cortex-A76 cores, and four Cortex-A55 power-saving cores. In addition, the chipset also features several other components that are used for on-device machine learning, AI-powered features, and camera processing. These include the Tensor Processing Unit, Low-power Context Hub, Titan M2 security chip, and IMage Signalling Processor (ISP).

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, featuring a 1x Arm Cortex-X1 core clocked at 3.0GHz, 3x Cortex-A710 cores running at 2.50GHz and 4x Cortex-A510 cores at 1.8GHz. The chipset is paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Both phones pack 12GB of RAM. The Pixel 6 gives you three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, while you can pick the Xperia 1 IV with 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Whether you pick the Pixel or the Xperia, you have nothing to worry about the general performance. Both perform at a flagship level in day-to-day tasks. But note that both phones are susceptible to overheating on hot days and during heavy gaming since they don’t have a sophisticated cooling system.

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Battery & Charging

Both the Pixel 6 Pro and Xperia 1 IV pack large 5,000mAh batteries. The charging speed is also the same, with both devices supporting 30W fast wired charging, which is on the conservative side when we have phones like the OnePlus 10 Pro topping out at 80W. Wireless charging support is also available on both devices. As you can see, both phones are neck to neck in the department. However, the Pixel 6 Pro enjoys an upper hand when it comes to real-world performance. That’s mainly because the QHD panel of the Pixel 6 Pro is less taxing on the battery than the Xperia’s 4K panel. In addition, the Pixel’s panel supports LTPO technology, which allows it to lower the display refresh rate to 10Hz to save power.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 IV: Which one should you buy?

As you can see, the Pixel 6 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 IV are two capable flagships with powerful cameras. But if we had to choose one, it would be the Pixel 6 Pro. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the perfect flagship for most mainstream buyers. It looks great, has a beautiful display, and its camera performance is among the very best. Add in Google’s amazing software support with four guaranteed OS updates, and you’ve got yourself a pretty great deal.

Sony Xperia 1 IV

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a powerful camera-focused flagship with a breathtaking 4K display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.

Buy from Amazon

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Google Pixel 6 Pro runs on Google's in-house Tensor SoC and packs powerful cameras.

Buy from Amazon

However, if you don’t mind the hefty $1,600 price tag and value features like a 3.5 audio jack, notch-less display, micro SD card slot, and manual camera controls, the Xperia 1 IV is a fantastic option.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Xiaomi Mi 11X: Which value flagship should you buy?

Xiaomi launched the Mi 11X and the Mi 11X Pro last year in India to conquer the country’s premium phone market. The Mi 11X, in particular, was an exciting phone because it had the power to dent the long-standing dominance of many devices in the sub-premium flagship segment with its ₹30,000 (~$390) price tag. But it’s been well over a year since the Mi 11X debuted in India. Does it still have what it takes to go against some other value flagships of 2022? Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to find out. In this article, we’ll pit the Xiaomi Mi 11X against Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE to find out which one is worth buying in 2022.

Navigate this article:

• Specifications
• Design & display
• Performance
• Camera
• Which one should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Xiaomi Mi 11X: Specifications

Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at the specifications to find out what each of these phones brings to the table:

Specification	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE	Xiaomi Mi 11X
Build	Plastic back Metal frame IP68 rating	Gorilla Glass 5 back Plastic frame No IP rating
Dimensions & Weight	155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9mm 177g	163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm 196g
Display	6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2340 x 1080p 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate Gorilla Glass Victus front glass	6.67-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2400 x 1080 120Hz refresh rate 360Hz touch sampling rate Gorilla Glass 5 front glass
SoC	USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 International: Exynos 2100	Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
RAM & Storage	6GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB	6GB + 128GB 8GB + 128GB
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh 25W fast charging 15W Qi wireless charging Reverse wireless charging	4,520mAh battery 33W wired fast charging No wireless charging support
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner Samsung Knox	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner AI Face Unlock
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 12MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 123° FoV Tertiary: 8MP telephoto, f/2.4, 3X optical, 30X space zoom, OIS	Primary: 48MP f/1.79, 1.6μm large pixel(4-in-1) Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, FOV 119° Tertiary: 5MP telemacro camera, f/2.4, AF (3cm-7cm)
Front Camera(s)	32MP, f/2,2	20MP, f/2.45
Port(s)	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
Audio	Stereo Speakers Dolby Atmos	Dual speakers Dolby Atmos
Connectivity	Sub6/mmWave 5G 4G LTE Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/x Bluetooth	5G NR (Sub-6GHz) 4G LTE Bluetooth WiFi 802.11.b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Software	OneUI 4.0 based on Android 12	MIUI 12 with Android 11

Looking at the table, it’s safe to say that both phones look very similar on paper when it comes to the specifications. That being said, there are some noteworthy differences between the two in the real world. Let’s dive a little deep into the comparison to find out if the Xiaomi Mi 11X is worth picking up over the Galaxy S21 FE.

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Design & Display

There are a lot of differences between Xiaomi’s M11X and the Galaxy S21 FE, and it all starts with the design. The Mi 11X has a glass design with Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides, giving it a premium look and feel overall. The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, is unapologetic in how plasticky it looks. The Galaxy S21 FE’s back panel, complete with its camera module is made out of polycarbonate. Samsung knows how to mold plastic phones in a way it doesn’t feel cheap but we’d say the Mi 11X is still the way to go if you don’t want to compromise on the build quality.

The overall footprint of the Galaxy S21 FE is a little bit smaller compared to the Mi 11X. Not to mention, it’s also a few grams lighter thanks to its polycarbonate body. What we like more about the Galaxy S21 FE is that you get all the nice-to-have extras like the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Qi wireless charging, and more. So if those features are crucial to your day-to-day usage, then you might want to consider buying the Galaxy S21 FE over the Mi 11X. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is also available in more color options. You can get it in Graphite, White, Lavender, or Olive colorway while the Mi 11X is available in Black, White, and Silver colors.

Moving over to the front, you get a 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with the Galaxy S21 FE, and a 6.67-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with the Mi 11X. Both panels support a maximum resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S21 FE’s display either works at 60Hz or 120Hz whereas the Mi 11X supports adaptive refresh rate switching, meaning it can operate at 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz based on the content. Both are AMOLED panels, so you’re bound to get a very similar experience overall when it comes to traits like contrast ratio, deep blacks, color reproduction, and more. They’re both using HDR10+ certified panels, so you can playback HDR content on apps like YouTube and Netflix.

It’s also worth pointing out that the Galaxy S21 FE sports an in-display fingerprint scanner whereas Xiaomi has opted for a side-mounted scanner that’s embedded on the power button. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker for those who’re considering the Mi 11X. It mostly comes down to personal preference when it comes to the placement of the biometric scanners. Some prefer it on the display, while others may like it on the side as long as it’s easier to reach.

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Hardware and Performance

We’re looking at as much as a ₹25,000 price difference between these two phones which also means you make some compromises in the specifications department by choosing the Mi 11X. Xiaomi’s contender in this comparison is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 SoC which is relatively older than the Galaxy S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 chips. The Snapdragon 870 SoC is probably not going to win any battle against the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100, but that’s not to say it’s a bad chipset. You should be able to get through most of your day-to-day workload without a hitch.

The base variants of both phones pack 6GB of RAM with an optional 8GB upgrade, but the Mi 11X tops out at 128GB storage while the Galaxy S21 FE comes with up to 256GB storage. Since you can’t a microSD card to expand the storage on either of these devices, it may be worth looking at the Galaxy S21 FE if you tend to use a lot of apps or take a lot of photos and videos.

As for the battery life, you get a 4,500 mAh battery with both phones (4,520 mAh with the Mi 11X to be specific) which we think should be enough to get you through a day’s worth of use. Your mileage is, of course, bound to vary based on your usage, but a 4,500 mAh battery is pretty much what we get with most phones these days. The Mi 11X, however, supports faster charging. You get support for up to 33W fast-charging with the Mi 11X whereas the Galaxy S21 FE can only do 25W charging. Xiaomi even bundles a 33W fast charging brick inside the box with the Mi 11X. The Galaxy S21 FE doesn’t even come with a charger inside the box, let alone a fast-charging one. Samsung tends to lose the fast-charging battle against most phones and it’s no different in this case against the Mi 11X. That being said, the Galaxy S21 FE supports wireless charging which the Mi 11X doesn’t.

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Camera

Both the Galaxy S21 FE and the Xiaomi Mi 11X are also packed with a different set of optics at the back. You get a potent primary sensor with both of these phones that’s capable of taking some really good shots. It’s a 12MP f/1.8 sensor on the Galaxy S21 FE going against the 48MP f/1.79 sensor on the Mi 11X. Both phones can capture some really good-looking photos with the primary sensor, especially during the day when there’s enough light in the scene. As an overall package, however, the Galaxy S21 FE’s advanced camera system seems more practical. Both of them have an ultra-wide sensor as a secondary sensor — a 12MP f/2.2 sensor with 123degree FOV with the Galaxy S21 FE and an 8MP f/2.2 sensor with a 119-degree FOV with the Mi 11X.

Lastly, the Galaxy S21 FE sports an 8MP telephoto lens with support for up to 3X optical zoom. Meanwhile, the Mi 11X sports a 5MP telemacro lens instead of a telephoto sensor. While the macro lens has its advantages, we think the telephoto lens is more practical and comes in handy in more situations than a macro lens. We couldn’t take both phones out for a spin and capture the same set of photos for a side-by-side comparison, but we’re leaving some camera samples captured using both phones below, so be sure to take a look. The Mi 11X sports a 20 MP, f/2.5 selfie camera whereas the Galaxy S21 FE sports a 32 MP, f/2.2 on the front. On the video front, the Galaxy S21 FE can record 4K videos at 30 or 60fps but the Mi 11X tops out at 30fps for 4K videos.

Xiaomi Mi 11X camera samples:

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE camera samples:

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Xiaomi Mi 11X: Which one should you buy?

It must be noted that there’s a price difference of around ₹25,000 (roughly $320) between the two — the Galaxy S21 FE retails for ₹54,999, while the Xiaomi Mi 11X is currently going for ₹29,999 in India. The Mi 11X is a no-brainer for those working with a tight budget for this purchase. Despite being the cheaper and a relatively older phone in this comparison, we think the Mi 11X is still pretty good for everything it brings to the table. It may not have the most powerful internals or the best camera setup out there right now, but it’s still pretty good considering its asking price. We think the Mi 11X is great for those who don’t have any qualms about using a phone with a relatively older chip and “just” 128GB of storage. Yes, the Galaxy S21 FE is more powerful and has a better camera system overall, but the Mi 11X offers a lot of value with things like an all-glass design, a beautiful Super AMOLED, and a 33W fast-charger inside the box.

Outside of the relatively small set of compromises, we think the Mi 11X offers a great experience overall for a significantly cheaper price. It also runs MIUI 13 based on Android 12 and has at least a couple more major OS updates in its belt before giving up. That’s not to say the Galaxy S21 FE is a bad phone, though. It just happens to be the more expensive phone in this comparison which may not be the go-to option for most people on a budget. But if you don’t mind spending as much as ₹25,000 more then Galaxy S21 FE will get you better internals and more advanced optics along with Samsung’s promise of up to four major Android OS updates. You also get additional features like an IP rating and support for wireless charging. It mostly comes down to your personal preference and your purchasing power, but it’s tough to go wrong with either of these phones.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is arguably the better phone in this comparison as long as you don't mind paying its asking price.

Buy from Samsung

Xiaomi Mi 11X

Xiaomi's Mi 11X comes with a small set of compromises but it offers an excellent value for money.

Buy from Amazon India

So which smartphone out of these two are you planning to buy? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below. If you’re leaning towards the more expensive Galaxy S21 FE, then see if you can find some deals by heading over to our Galaxy S21 FE deals page. You can use those savings to grab yourself one of the best cases or some other accessories for your phone.

The post Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Xiaomi Mi 11X: Which value flagship should you buy? appeared first on XDA.

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