Android Authority भारत

See the secondary display on the next ROG Phone in action - Android Authority

It looks like the phone will borrow from Asus's Zephyrus G14 laptop.

• A new video suggests the back of the next ROG Phone will sport a secondary display.
• Like the AniMe Matrix screen on the Zephyrus G14, it looks like youll be able to customize it to display different information.

WhatsApp has been asked to withdraw controversial privacy policy changes - Android Authority

India's IT ministry has reportedly written a 'strongly worded' letter to WhatsApp's CEO.

• The Indian government has reportedly asked WhatsApp to withdraw its latest policy changes.
• It has asked WhatsApp to reconsider information privacy, freedom of choice, and data security.
• The IT ministry apparently conveyed the message in a strongly worded letter.

The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus do at least one thing better than the Ultra - Android Authority

It looks like 2020 might be repeating itself in this regard.

• Samsungs Galaxy S21 Ultra lacks true 960fps super slow-motion recording.
• The firms cheaper S21 models offer this feature though.

LG QNED vs Samsung Neo QLED next-gen display tech explained - Android Authority

LG QNED and Samsung Neo QLED display technology aim to improve LCD LED TV image quality. Here's how they do it.

CES 2021 is just beginning, and LG and Samsung have already outlined their next-gen display technologies powering 2021s high-end TVs. LG is backing its QNED technology, while Samsung is peddling Neo QLED as the next best thing. Both boast improved colors, peak brightness, and contrast ratios for HDR content, and will come in 4K and 8K resolutions. They should therefore look pretty great. But what, if any, differences are there between these two technologies? Which should you have your eye on for your next TV? Lets dive deeper to find out. A quick recap on TV display improvements LGs QNED is a mini-LED based display technology. The best way to understand what this means is to go back to LCD LED TVs that have become common in the market over the past few years. LCD technology produces colors by filtering a common backlight. The drawback of original LCD technology is that backlight bleeds into dark pixels, lowering the contrast ratio. This means blacks are never completely off with LCD. It results in inferior contrast ratios compared to rival OLED panels, which is a noticeable drawback for HDR content. To combat this, LED TVs introduce multiple backlights with local dimming. Splitting the backlight into multiple lights, each of which dims individually, improves the overall contrast ratio. Darker areas of the screen can be dimmed or turned off, while colors and whites still benefit from a brighter backlight behind them. There are different ways to arrange the backlights to achieve dimming, each with its own pros and cons. Full-array local dimming with a grid of backlights behind the screen is the best but most expensive option. Edge-based dimming is cheaper but inferior looking. See also:OLED vs LCD display technology: Whats the difference? Yet, even with full-array local dimming, the number of dimming zones remains a limiting factor. LED TVs often exhibit a halo or blooming artifact between adjacent lit and unlit zones. Details smaller than the backlight size, such as bright stars in a dark sky, dont benefit from the enhanced contrast ratio. They can appear washed out compared to the broader image. Increasing the number of dimming zones helps smooth out these errors and improve performance, but makes panels more expensive. You have to turn to OLED for per-pixel-dimming capabilities, but LCD is closing the contrast ratio gap. This is where LGs QNED technology comes in. LG QNED explained LG QNED is the companys first-ever mini-LED TV technology. This extends the transmissive LCD LED formula weve discussed, with 2,500 local dimming zones and up to almost 30,000 mini-LEDs per panel on its 8K model. The crux of the breakthrough is the small size and density of the mini-LED backlights. This greatly increases the number of local dimming zones for an improved contrast ratio and a reduction in bloom artifacts. LG promises a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and a 120Hz refresh rate with this technology. The crux of the breakthrough is the small size and density of the mini-LED backlights. The Q part of LGs QNED moniker stands for quantum dot, which deals with the color filtering parts of the display. The full title is Quantum NanoCell Emitting Diode. Remember, QNED is still a filter-based LCD technology at its heart and filters block light resulting in less saturated colors. Quantum dot technology enhances/replaces the traditional colored photoresists in an LCD color filter with submicroscopic conducting nanocrystals. In LGs case, QNED uses its in-house NanoCell material to shape the spectral power of the backlight, which is then filtered through a quantum-dot enhancement film. Read more:What you need to know about Quantum Dot displays In a nutshell, quantum dot reduces the light loss and crosstalk from traditional LCD color filters. This results in more vivid colors and a wider gamut. Combined with a large number of small locally dimmed backlights, the LG QNED should do a decent job at taking on expensive OLED HDR displays. Note that OLED remains LGs premium TV technology even with the announcement of QNED, which now sits between LGs NanoCell and OLED ranges. Samsung Neo QLED explained Just like LGs QNED, Samsungs Neo QLED is a transmissive mini-LED backlighting technology. The Q in QLED also stands for quantum. With Samsungs Neo QLED, this is related to its Quantum Matrix Technology and its picture optimizing Neo Quantum Processor. Confusing, I know. Samsung is using a quantum-dot layer for enhanced colors, promising 100% reproduction of the DCI-P3 color space. The standout feature of Samsungs technology, much like LG, is the smaller backlight LEDs. Samsungs new Quantum Mini LED is 1/40 the height of its previous design, allowing for a major increase in density. Samsung hasnt provided exact numbers for the number of dimming zones on these TVs. To achieve this, the company removes the packaging and lens from the LED chip, replacing it with a new ultra-thin microlayer to guide the LED light. Samsung shrunk its mini-LED backlights to 1/40 their previous height. Samsungs Quantum Matrix technology boasts precise dimming, enhanced local power distribution, and a new Black Detail Boost option to extract more detail from dark areas. Meanwhile, the Neo Quantum Processor offers 16 different neural network models trained for content upscaling. This should help make the most of the TVs 4K and 8K resolutions, even with older content. Other Neo QLED features include 12-bit steps of LED brightness control for local dimming, although this doesnt necessarily mean the panel supports 12-bit HDR content. Its likely leveraged after Samsungs processing chain instead. Samsungs Nano QLED TVs will also sport 120Hz refresh rates and Nvidia G-Sync support to match frame rates when gaming. In the same press release, Samsung mentioned its emissive micro-LED technology too (not to be confused with transmissive mini-LED). These TVs will be available in 110-inch, 99-inch, and smaller sizes at the end of 2021. However, this certainly wont be a mainstream affordable product any time soon. Read more:What is MicroLED and how it can change display technology? LG QNED vs Samsung Neo QLED Both LG and Samsung are banking on smaller, denser mini-LED backlight technologies to close the quality gap between more affordable LCD TVs and their premium-tier OLED ranges. While there are bound to be differences in image quality, wed have to look at both brands side-by-side to draw any definitive comparisons. An interesting point of comparison between LG and Samsungs latest technology is the LCD color filter layer used. While we dont know what panel layer LG Display is using, its likely sticking with In-Plane Switching (IPS) based on previous releases. Samsung has already transitioned to Vertically Aligned LCD, which delivers better contrast than traditional IPS at the expense of narrower viewing angles. This HDR contrast versus viewing angle compromise could be the biggest discernible difference between the two. While there are important hardware and software differences between LGs QNED and Samsungs Neo QLED, the two share a fundamentally similar approach to solving LCDs contrast and color deficit with OLED TVs. If youve been looking for a near OLED quality TV without the eye-watering price tag, keep an eye out for TVs powered by these technologies throughout 2021.

2021 could be the year smartphone prices are finally kept in check - Android Authority

After years of price hikes, a lot of 2021 smartphones could be decidedly more affordable.

As rough as 2020 was for just about everyone, there was a silver lining for smartphone fans: prices for genuinely good phones came tumbling down. While there was an early spike due to premium 5G phones, it was budget devices, affordable flagships, and super mid-range phones that defined the year, including the Pixel 4a, iPhone SE, and Galaxy S20 FE. Smartphones under $700 were already hot, but they quickly became the stars. There are signs that will continue through 2021. Many of the smartphones that arrived in 2020 will still be current for a while, of course. However, there are also hints phone makers are taking lessons from last year into account. From early indications, 2021 will be the year smartphone makers learn to rein in their previously soaring prices. Whether its due to shifting trends or sheer necessity, you might not have to pay $1,000 or more to have a powerful handset in your pocket. Affordable smartphones will remain hot in 2021 One of the likeliest motivators is a simple one: if devices in a given category are selling well, companies will make more products like them. There are certainly signs that at least some of these more affordable phones are very popular. Wave7 Research principal Jeff Moore noted that the Galaxy S20 FE was one of the hottest-selling phones at US carriers by late 2020, displacing the Galaxy A51 and even the regular Galaxy S20 line. LG credited mass tier phones like the Velvet for improved summer sales. The iPhone SE, meanwhile, was a rare bright spot at the grimmest point in the early pandemic. Buyers have a clear preference for more affordable smartphones, whether its due to pandemic-related pressure or simple thrift. It would be foolish for brands to ignore that in 2021. See also:What to expect from smartphones in 2021 You might even see some early signs of that awareness. Its not completely surprising that Chinese phones like Xiaomis new Mi 11 will have very aggressive prices given their home market, but thats still a positive sign for the first Snapdragon 888 phone to launch anywhere in the world. Perhaps Qualcomms flagship silicon wont drive prices up quite so high this time around. Case in point, Samsung is rumored to be lowering Galaxy S21 prices by as much as $150 versus the S20 range. And if history is any indication, certain phones might create a ripple effect causing rivals to feel forced to keep prices down. Like it or not, the fast-yet-more-affordable iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are bound to influence pricing and features across the industry. If theyre selling well (and they likely are), you can expect to see a wave of 2021 Android smartphones that deliver a similar mix of top-tier performance with a sub-$800 price tag. The pandemic might not leave much choice Theres also a simple (if harsh) reality at work: the COVID-19 pandemic will likely continue to dampen enthusiasm for expensive smartphones, even if vaccines help reestablish some semblance of normalcy in 2021. While there are signs of recovery, many people are still without jobs or have had to accept lasting pay cuts. Thats bound to limit spending power. Companies will have to take that into account if they expect to sell smartphones in 2021. Its difficult to justify a premium device (or any device at all) when you may have to stretch your budget further than youd ever anticipated. The success of budget phones at the start of the pandemic likely reflects that cost-conscious mindset. Related:Did smartphones get a lot more expensive in 2020? Lets look at the numbers People might not be willing to spend even if they still have good incomes, for that matter. If youre working from home and otherwise staying in as much as possible, why buy a premium, 5G-enabled phone that wont live up to its potential? A $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a tough sell when youll only be using it to check your social feeds on the couch. More affordable, focused devices will make more sense until its once again safe to commute to the office or take photos at a concert. Lower-priced phones are more than good enough Smartphone makers might not be quick to publicly acknowledge it, but they may have to accept that mid-range phones in 2021 will be good enough for many people. You no longer need to buy the most expensive model to feel like youre getting a powerful device. The aforementioned Galaxy S20 FE Android Authoritys 2020 smartphone of the year, no less may be the quintessential example. While it wont outperform high-end 2021 smartphones, it remains a fast, full-featured handset that takes quality photos and otherwise fares well against more expensive alternatives. Why pay more for a regular S20, or even the S21, when the S20 FE nails the fundamentals? The Pixel 5 is another strong example. Google took a slightly different approach with its relatively underpowered super mid-ranger, but still managed to cram in practical premium features like wireless charging and water resistance while retaining an affordable price tag. This isnt to say youre wrong for coveting the latest and greatest devices with Snapdragon 888 chips and powerful cameras. Theyll still be amazing for gaming and multitasking. And yes, the eventual end to the pandemic should make it easier to justify high-end phones once again. For a growing number of people, though, theres precious little reason to buy more than a modestly-priced phone and vendors may have a tough time arguing otherwise.

5 things we want to see from Xiaomi in 2021 - Android Authority

Xiaomi did great in 2020, but it'll need to up its game in 2021 to hold its own against the competition.

2020 was a great year for Xiaomi. Not only did it breakthrough into the third-place globally for smartphone shipments, but overseas sales now contribute 55% to the companys bottom line. This bodes very well for the brands global strategy entering 2021. Xiaomi also took a much stronger focus on the premium end of the market. Stellar phones like the Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and the Mi 10T, made its devices legitimate competition for current incumbents like Samsung. In fact, while the South Korean manufacturer inched towards the value flagship segment with its own excellent Galaxy S20 FE, Xiaomi took a sure step towards the premium. In India, Xiaomi is distancing itself from being just an entry-level segment player by spinning off Redmi into its own entity. Meanwhile, Poco, yet another Xiaomi subsidiary, reinvented itself as a separate brand. Suffice it to say that the brand had a lot going on for it in 2020, and this paid dividends in its growing market share. However, maintaining momentum is equally important. Strong competition is bound to bring its own challenges. Heres what we want to see from Xiaomi in 2021. Read our other 2021 wishlists: 1. A more cohesive brand identity In 2020, Xiaomi distanced itself from the budget player image it had inadvertently cultivated over the years. While the Redmi series remains the bread and butter of the brand, Xiaomi released a series of hits in the Mi 10 series of phones. However, its a long way to the top. Especially in India, the manufacturer has its work cut out for it. Unlike European markets, Xiaomis budget phones in India and China ship with an ever-increasing loadout of third party apps. Now, I get the reasoning for this. Pre-loaded apps and interstitial ads help offset hardware costs and allow them to hit those appealing price points. With the average selling price of smartphones in India hovering around Rs. 11,500 in India, this is the experience that most Xiaomi buyers are used to. However, it sets a bad precedent for higher-end Xiaomi phones that do not have any ads. While positive consumer sentiment for the Mi 10 series suggests that Xiaomi is gradually changing mindsets, it could do a much better job of conveying the right message for its high-end smartphones. This is necessary if it wants to truly stand out against brands like OnePlus. Read more: Can phone-makers dial the rebranding down a bit? This brings me to Poco. Despite being spun off into its own entity, the brand has issued a curious mix of rebranded Redmi products and the one-off original design. This mixed-signaling does little to build brand confidence. It is also detrimental to building a unique brand identity. Poco needs a series of original hits backed by its unique flavor of ad-free MIUI to have an impact. Elsewhere, the Redmi K series has languished in India with no new release since the K20 Pro in 2019. Incidentally, the Chinese Redmi K30 Pro got rebranded to the Poco F2 Pro. This brings us back to the lack of a well-differentiated brand identity. Definite room for improvement there. 2. A leaner portfolio Tying into the entire issue of mixed signaling is Xiaomis constant rehashing of phones with minor variations. The company released as many as eight variants in the Redmi 9 series in 2020 and added another this week. Sure, some of them were more alike than others, but a cluttered product portfolio does not help the customer. A leaner portfolio with a more focused approach towards product differentiation would serve the brand well going into 2021. 3. Reduced bloatware Xiaomis Redmi lineup has been extremely successful on the back of its exceptional value proposition. However, a common thread amongst the hardware line-up is the presence of just a bit too much bloat. This problem is exacerbated in markets like India. There, the company doubles down on the third-party additions and incessant advertising. When notification spam gets detrimental to the user experience, it might be time to reconsider the brand strategy. Software partnerships and associated advertising are essential to hitting the rock-bottom prices Xiaomi achieves with the Redmi line-up. However, when the pop-ups get to a point that they are detrimental to the user experience, perhaps it is time to reconsider the strategy. Read more: How to remove ads from MIUI The company has taken steps towards allowing most of these apps to be removed. Nevertheless, I wouldnt mind a one-click switch to remove pre-loaded applications. It might be expecting too much from the brand to offer a slightly higher priced SKU without the advertisements. An in-software purchase that offers a clean slate might be the solution its looking for. 4. Expand the ecosystem Xiaomi has a formidable ecosystem portfolio of products in China. From instant translators to keyboards, and even rice cookers, the company has made investments into hundreds of portfolio brands. That has allowed it to cultivate an array of products that would surprise you. If youre curious about some of the more out there products, weve got a list of some of the most interesting products made by Xiaomi. In India, the company is already the largest smart television vendor. It has even dipped its toes into the competitive value laptop segment. Elsewhere, the companys Mi Band portfolio has long been a fast seller. In the US, the company has a select offering of audio products, streaming boxes, and more. Going forward, Id like to see more of the companys ecosystem portfolio available globally. Xiaomi has already dabbled in the crowdfunding model for products like the Mi Robot Vacuum Mop P. The Share Save platform was also an interesting foray towards making products available to a wider audience. Bringing this to global markets could be an effective way to test the waters before a widespread category launch. In fact, with brands like Huawei increasing their focus on an ecosystem beyond just phones, a wider release of these products could help Xiaomi get a leg up on the competition in 2021. 5. Foldable future Xiaomi has long been rumored to be working on not one, but three different foldable devices. Among them is the canceled Mi Mix Alpha which had a unique take on foldables with its wrap-around screen. There also was an early prototype shown off way back in 2019, and a bevy of patents. It is clear that the company has been dabbling in a range of foldable smartphones. Between Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei doubling down on a foldable future, it is only a matter of time that we see Xiaomi enter the mix. A recent rumor suggests that Xiaomi is finally getting ready to enter the market with not just one, but all three varieties of foldable phones in-folding, out-folding, and a clamshell. While it remains to be seen if Xiaomi will try to commoditize foldable smartphones as it has with its well-priced flagships, the phones would be a clear fit in its upward trajectory into the premium segment. You tell us: What do you want to see from Xiaomi in 2021? What would you like to see from Xiaomi in 2021? Let us know via the poll below. You can also add your own thoughts via the comments section.

Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag could be a Tile-like tracker, photos just leaked - Android Authority

It looks like Samsung might beat Apple to the punch when it comes to launching a Tile clone.

• A certification authority just posted images of a product likely to be called a Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag.
• We assume that this is a Tile-like tracker designed to help you keep track of things you own.
• Its very possible this tracker product could launch alongside the Galaxy S21 series in mid-January.

Xiaomi Mi 11 to offer night mode video, could pack astrophotography mode - Android Authority

A sample video suggests Xiaomi's night mode video option could do for videos what night mode did for photos.

• The Xiaomi Mi 11 series will offer a night mode for video recording.
• This offers much brighter footage in low-light conditions.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra hits FCC, S-Pen support confirmed - Android Authority

The filing also confirms an S-Pen feature for the new phone.

• The Galaxy S21 Ultra has landed in the FCC database.
• Samsungs filing also confirms S-Pen support in the new phone.

Smartphone prices in 2020: How much did they increase? - Android Authority

Smartphones have become more expensive in recent years, but did this hold true in 2020?

The very best smartphone hardware can be expensive, and increasingly so based on recent yearly trends. Its been a couple of years since phones broke the $1,000 price barrier, and it feels like prices have continued on their upward trajectory. But was this actually true in 2020? To investigate prices, weve tracked average flagship smartphone prices from Apple, Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, LG, and Sony from over the past year. Weve also recorded the prices for affordable entry-level models, such as those with smaller memory configurations and lower specs, as well as ultra-premium tier products. The results are interesting. See also:The best budget phones you can currently buy The results Lets jump right into the results. First, lets take a look at the broad trends from the brands weve tracked. Our data collection shows a noticeable increase in the typical price of the most expensive flagship models from across 2020. However, there was a barely noticeable increase in prices of affordable models and, interestingly, the average flagship price from these brands. This is partly due to some manufacturers switching from premium to affordable flagship pricing models over the course of the year. Handsets like the LG Velvet and Google Pixel 5 certainly dont fit into the premium model category anymore but did affect the average price for flagship phones in 2020. So, whats the big picture? Well, ultra-premium 5G phones from a number of brands were certainly more expensive than last year. The very best hardware on the market cost more than ever, with an average price increase of ~$110 compared to last year. Likewise, some entry-level phones saw similar price hikes, particularly when it comes to Chinese brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus. 5G, it seems, pushed prices up for high-performing handsets. You could definitely spend more on a flagship phone in 2020, but you didn't have to. However, Samsung and a few other brands made the entry point into their ecosystems a little more affordable. In addition, a small number of companies opted for slightly less processing power and even lower prices, including the aforementioned handsets from LG and Google. This helped keep the average flagship price lower than otherwise expected. If you werent enticed by 512GB Ultra models, flagship phones in 2020 didnt really cost any more than in 2019. Ultimately though, theres quite a big variation in price differences when we turn our attention to specific brands. So lets dive a little deeper into the data. Which smartphone brand raised its prices the most in 2020? While average smartphone prices increased marginally, there was a much greater diversity of pricing strategies in 2020 compared to 2019. Broadly speaking, a lot of manufacturers indeed put their prices up in 2020. However, its worth taking a minute to look through the graph below a couple of times, as there were quite a lot of variations and intricacies to each OEMs pricing strategy. Samsungs Galaxy S line has now become a little more affordable, but only because of the addition of the $700 Galaxy S20 FE. This model is actually cheaper than the $750 Galaxy S10e. A 512GB Galaxy S20 Plus costs $1,299, and the equivalent Ultra will set you back $1,499. Thats more than the $1,250 price tag of the Galaxy S10 Plus. However, Samsung did offer a 1TB S10 version last year costing a whopping $1,600. Its a similar picture for Samsungs Galaxy Note range. The Galaxy Note 20 is $50 more expensive than the Note 10 series across all storage capacities. Related:The Galaxy S20 FE was Samsungs most important phone of 2020 Samsung wasnt the only brand to increase prices in 2020. The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro cost $40 and $140 more than their predecessors, respectively. The OnePlus 8T also cost $150 more than the 7T. The 7T Pro wasnt released in the US but would have been about $80 more than the 8T. Xiaomis Mi flagships, despite being primarily targeted at China, were more expensive than last year too. The Sony Xperia 1 II also saw an even more noticeable $250 price hike between 2019 and 2020 compared to its predecessor. There's a greater range of pricing strategies in 2020, thanks to super mid-tier phones. Perhaps unexpectedly, Apple didnt increase its prices over the same period. The iPhone 12 costs exactly the same as the iPhone 11, despite the move to 5G. Googles highest-end Pixel, on the other hand, was actually cheaper than last year. The Pixel 5 is more affordable than both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, albeit with more mid-range hardware in tow. Likewise, LGs Velvet was also cheaper than the LG G8 and G8X, owing to its more affordable processor. Overall, the trend seems to be that high-end 5G smartphones mostly became a little more expensive over the past 12 months. However, these price hikes were offset by a growing market for affordable flagships that traded down some specs to save hundreds off their retail price. While some brands still remain attached to the old expensive flagship paradigm, others started experimenting well below the $1,000 mark a positive sign for 2021 and beyond. Are smartphones getting more expensive? So, did smartphone prices increase in 2020? Yes and no. Its somewhat complicated. Typical price tags continued on a gentle upward trend but this was mostly being pulled along by the most expensive models. Already pricey 512GB models mostly become more expensive. The average 5G premium model now costs more than $1,000. However, virtually every brand retains a more affordable entry point too. The prevalence of Pro, Ultra, and other flagship variants highlight the wide range of market segments that manufacturers are trying to cover. The average premium model now costs more than $1,000. Brands seem acutely aware that many consumers are unwilling to pay in excess of $1,000 for a high-end phone. Affordable models like Samsungs Galaxy S20 FE and Apples iPhone 12 are the most likely to ship in bulk compared to their more expensive siblings. At the same time, 2020 also saw a growth in the more affordable super mid-tier market, exemplified by the Pixel 5. These sub-$700 phones with 5G networking, great features, and sturdy designs offer everything you need for a top-tier experience without breaking the bank. You could definitely spend more on an ultra-premium flagship phone in 2020 than in 2019 or 2018. However, the market is now also flush with new affordable flagships that offer equally good, if not better, value for money than phones launched in previous years.

Google's Chromecast will support Apple TV Plus, even though your phone doesn't - Android Authority

It's one of the few streaming devices that supports all major video services.

• Googles new Chromecast with Google TV will support Apple TV Plus in early 2021.
• You can watch subscription shows as well as your Apple movie purchases and channels.
• Android phones are still out of luck, however.

The Weekly Authority: Knowing the Note limits, lucky 888 for Qualcomm, and more - Android Authority

'It's the end of the Note as we know it, and I feel fine,' plus, the week's news, leaks, Snapdragon 888 coverage, and more!

Welcome back to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority series that recaps the top Android and tech news from the week and what it all means. Tristan Rayner at the stylus, and Im talking all about the Samsung Galaxy Note series and the S Pen. But first Popular News Plenty of important news this week, none more so than what youre getting from the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon.

• Samsungs Galaxy S21 might be much cheaper than its predecessor, which is a welcome prospect. Its still starting at a supposed $849, and up to $1,299 for the S21 Ultra model, but the S20 Ultra was $100 more than that. Discounts are always welcome! The problem? The iPhone 12 starts at $829 for the SIM-free model ($879 for 128GB storage, though).
• Spotify launched its 2020 Wrapped campaign for the year, which blew up on social media. People really like to see their music stats and share insights. Id be amazed if Spotify didnt try to amplify this success in different ways, not just annually.
• And Warner Bros set its entire 2021 movie roster to debut on HBO Max along with cinemas including Dune, Matrix 4, the new Space Jam, and The Suicide Squad, to go with the already announced Wonder Woman 24.

• Xbox Series X review: The Xbox Series X is basically brilliant but youre banking on the future being full of classic games, because theres none yet. Its a pretty safe bet, at least by Ollie Cragg.
• And heres a different one: Nurvv Run review, smart insoles that might help you with your form, if you can tolerate the slight oddness of them by Jimmy Westenberg. (I need to ask Jiimmy if they can help me get from laptop to fridge with better form)

• Smartphones: Moto G Power (which had at least a 50% price drop), Pixel 4a, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, and the Google Pixel 5. The Galaxy S20 was the best selling higher-end flagship.
• Popular gadgets: Google Nest Wifi router 2-pack, Samsung Evo 512GB microSDXC cards, and, interestingly, the Nintendo Switch Pro controller (which I own and love, too!).
• Headphones and earbuds: Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2, Sony WH-1000XM4, and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.