Latest news with #PhoneArena
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Phone Arena
Banned in Japan, big in the US: the Google Pixel 7 is making this T-Mobile user so happy
Avid PhoneArena readers know that the Pixel 7 series have just been barred from selling in Japan, but back at home, this phone makes some T-Mobile users happy. The reason? It downloads stuff quickly. Like, lightning-fast on your age (and the state of your memory), you may, or you may not remember, but downloading a 4 MB file from the Internet was a nightmare once upon a time. The screeching, buzzing sounds from the phone modem were terrible, it sounded like somebody was trying to summon a digital demon. The sound aside, the sheer speed was so low that people from 2025 would get nervous a quarter of a century, things have shifted dramatically – and not just for desktop computers that have wired connection to the Internet. No, even phones like the good ol' Pixel 7 can achieve amazing high speeds. For example, a Reddit user by the nickname of jtowndtk shares that his trusty Pixel 7 achieved 325.59 Mbps (for download): Image source – Reddit A 5G speed of 325.59 Mbps on T-Mobile is excellent and likely indicates you're connected to its mid-band Ultra Capacity network, which offers a strong balance of speed and coverage. This is like the sweet spot of their 5G service: it's faster than regular 5G and covers more areas than the superfast but hard-to-find version. It supports great speeds for things like streaming, gaming, and downloading without needing to be in a specific spot like a big city center. It uses special frequencies that balance speed and coverage, so more people can enjoy fast and reliable internet on their phones in more places. If your phone shows "Ultra Capacity 5G," you're likely getting some of the best performance T-Mobile has to offer. At such a speed, one can easily stream 4K video, enjoy smooth online and cloud gaming, make high-quality HD video calls or download a 1 GB file in about 25–30 seconds. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
It's about time! Google Clock's latest version rolls out along with Pixel Weather changes
One of the most used native apps on Android just might be the Clock app. Every Android phone has the app and it is often used to set timers and alarms. While it isn't used for long sessions, it is accessed several times a day. Google is in the process of rolling out Google Clock version 7.14. The update continues to make the Timer Starter widget exclusive to Pixel devices (it debuted on the Pixel Tablet before getting added to Pixel phones). The widget is preset with the last three timers you set for your alarm and a "+" button to create a new timer. To place the widget on your Pixel phone long-press on an empty area of screen real estate and on the pop-up that appears, tap on Widgets. Scroll down to Clock and tap on it. Scroll down to Timer Starter. Press on it and a "+Add" button will appear. Tap on the button and the widget will be placed on your Pixel's home screen. You can now start a timer faster with the widget than by using your voice to set one. The Timer Starter widget is available on Pixels only, and the weather condition icons lose color on the Clock app. | Image credit-PhoneArena The Google Clock 7.14 app also uses Material 3 switches in the Alarm tab and the Settings menu list. There is also a minor but noticeable change in the Clock tab. Whether it's your home time zone at the top of the screen or the individual countries you are following, there is a change to the icons showing the current weather conditions. Previously, the weather condition icons were shown in color (for example, the sun would be yellow). Now, all of the current weather condition icons are in gray. They might not stand out as they previously did but on the other hand, they are not as distracting. The Settings menu uses Material 3 in the toggle switches. | Image credit-PhoneArena While the update is rolling out now to those running version 7.14 of the Google Clock app, you can see where you stand by going to Settings > Apps > See all xxx apps > Clock . Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and check the version of the app listed. To reiterate, you want it to be over 7.14. If it is under version 7.14, you can delete the app from your phone and reinstall it from the Play Store with the latest version number by tapping on this link. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
New Galaxy Buds looks ready to last longer than any before
Samsung is getting ready to drop a bunch of new devices, but before the big Unpacked event, it looks like we are getting a new set of Galaxy Buds. The new Galaxy Buds Core are now officially confirmed and according to a new listing , the model will have the longest battery life Samsung has ever put in a pair of earbuds. Without Active Noise Cancellation turned on, Samsung claims up to 35 hours of playtime. That could actually beat the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in real-world use – especially if you are someone who doesn't care much for ANC and just wants something that lasts. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review: a massive rework And even with ANC enabled, they are promised to last 21 hours, which is still pretty solid. There is a 65mAh battery in each bud and the case battery capacity is 500mAh. For reference, that is more than what most budget earbuds offer. For example, the CMF Buds 2 Plus costs $79 and features a 53mAh battery in each earbud, plus a 460mAh battery in the charging case. Samsung promises up to 35 hours of playtime without ANC. | Image credit – Samsung And yeah, for people who spend a lot of time commuting, traveling or just vibing to podcasts or music all day, long battery life is one of the few things that actually matters more than fancy features. If Samsung nails the price, these could be a sleeper hit for everyday users. Core = budget? Probably The Galaxy Buds Core will be available in White and Black. | Image credit – Samsung Just from the name alone – Core – you can tell these are meant to be simple, no-nonsense buds that stick to the essentials. Think Galaxy Buds FE vibes. Those launched last year at $99 and rumors suggest the Buds Core will be positioned even cheaper than that. And honestly, they kind of have to be. Because let's face it: the regular Galaxy Buds 3 are already priced at $99 in the US and those should offer better sound and ANC. So, if the Core model wants to make a splash, it needs to land well below that. Still, the lower price doesn't mean you will be missing out on features – these will come with Galaxy AI tools like Real-time Interpreter and Live Translate. Interpreter lets you keep your earbuds in and stay fully engaged in the conversation while Galaxy AI handles real-time translations. Having Galaxy AI Interpreter and Live Translate is a game changer as you can hear translations on the spot – without needing to look at the screen of your smartphone. | Image credit – PhoneArena From what we have heard, this model might not launch in the US at all, which would be a shame. But hey, so far, Samsung hasn't confirmed anything about US availability and we might hear more at the next Unpacked event on July 9 in New York. There is even a chance we will get our first official look at Samsung's long-rumored tri-foldable phone and maybe – just maybe – the next-gen Galaxy Ring. Bottom line: this event is going to be loaded with hardware reveals and the Buds Core might be the quiet little standout – especially if all you care about is reliable, long-lasting audio without breaking the bank. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Galaxy S26 Ultra may lose something big – and gain something magnetic
Samsung's next flagship model, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is now starting to show up more and more in leaks and rumors. Now, a new rumor from tipster @PandaFlashPro on X indicates Samsung may have a different S Pen tech for the Galaxy S26 Ultra . Apparently, if this rumor is correct, Samsung may remove the S Pen digitizer in order to start offering phones with Qi2 magnetic backs. Galaxy S Ultra phones have used an S Pen digitizer for years. Theoretically, if Samsung removes it, this would mean there's more space in the device for other modules. One of the reasons for this alleged removal could be the Qi2 compatibility. Right now, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is Qi2 Ready, which means it has the ability to use magnetic cases, but it doesn't have magnets in its body, unlike phones like the iPhone 15. If Samsung adopts the complete standard, this would make the Galaxy S26 Ultra feature magnets in its rear panel, just like MagSafe on Apple iPhones. PandaFlashPro's post on X. | Screenshot Credit – PhoneArena Another potential reason for the removal of the digitizer could be similar to what is rumored for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7. Yep, thinness. If the company removes the S Pen digitizer, it can make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a thin phone. However, that would require much more than removing the digitizer. However, it's worth noting that removing the digitizer doesn't mean there won't be an S Pen. It's possible that the new S Pen for the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be similar to the new one rumored for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The foldable phone is expected to be announced in just a couple of weeks, on July 9, and maybe we'll learn more about the new S Pen (if these rumors are correct) then. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung's flagship for next year, expected sometime in early 2026. The phone may be accompanied by a Galaxy S26 Edge and may feature more RAM. It will battle the yet-unannounced iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max for the title of the best flagship phone. Meanwhile, there are rumors indicating Samsung may be making moves to get rid of the S Pen on the Ultra models entirely in the future. Although these are all still rumors and nothing is set in stone, I can't help but think it may not be a great idea, as most Samsung fans seem to like the S Pen and would want it to stay. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
Gemini Live just added a key feature for talking quietly with your Android phone
Gemini Live on Android now supports captions, giving users a quieter way to interact with the assistant. This update has started rolling out more broadly through the Google app version 16.23, available on both the stable and beta channels. When you start a Gemini Live session, a captions button now appears in the top-right corner. Tapping it brings up a floating box that shows a text version of Gemini's spoken responses. The captions appear in the middle of the screen and stay fixed in place. They do not show what you're saying in real time, but that transcript can still be found at the end of the session. Captions only appear when you're using the full-screen Live interface. If you exit that screen during a session, the captions disappear, but they will return if you re-enter before the session ends. Once enabled, the captions setting stays active for future conversations, so you don't need to turn it on each time. A new 'Caption preferences' menu has also been added to Gemini's settings. It's located under the 'Interrupt Live responses' toggle and links to the system-level caption settings. This gives users a bit more control over how the captions appear. Gemini Live now with captions. | Image credit — PhoneArena Before this update, Gemini Live required the phone's volume to be at a certain level. If your volume was too low, you couldn't start a conversation at all. That limitation is now gone. You can speak your prompt out loud and simply read the reply, which can be helpful in quiet places or when you don't have headphones. The idea behind Gemini Live is to create a more natural voice conversation with AI, but there are clearly situations where hearing a spoken response isn't ideal. Whether you're in a quiet room or just prefer reading over listening, the new captions option gives users more flexibility. This update may not seem major, but it addresses a real-world limitation. It shows that Google is continuing to adjust Gemini Live based on how people actually use it. If you don't see the feature yet, force-stopping the Google app in your phone's settings might help trigger the update. In my opinion this is a practical change that improves usability. Gemini Live still has room to grow, but small updates like this help make it more convenient and accessible in everyday use. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
