Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Unveils Superior AI Features and Enhanced Video Capture

Android smartphones are on the verge of significantly enhancing their ability to understand your needs and the timing of those needs.

Qualcomm has unveiled the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, designed to power flagship smartphones in 2026. This 3nm chip boasts two prime cores operating at 4.6GHz and six performance cores peaking at 3.62GHz. An enhanced NPU is promising a sophisticated level of on-device agentic AI with diminished dependence on cloud services. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 facilitates video recording via the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec.

Qualcomm has rolled out the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, constructed with Oryon cores. This chip is tailored for high-performance flagship Android devices, focusing on agentic AI and more robust creator-oriented functionalities.

The new 3nm chip provides a notable 20% increase in CPU performance, housing two prime cores at 4.6GHz and six performance cores tailored for energy-efficient tasks. In comparison, the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite features prime cores at 4.32 GHz, and the Galaxy variant can attain speeds of up to 4.47 GHz.

This is further supported by a swifter Adreno GPU, which Qualcomm claims can offer a 23% performance enhancement while reducing power consumption by 20%, enhancing your gaming experience while alleviating battery concerns.

One of the primary emphases for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is its Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which facilitates more advanced AI functionalities. With a 37% quicker NPU, Qualcomm aims to introduce a broader range of on-device agentic AI features. This implies your smartphone should be capable of anticipating your actions and providing context-based recommendations.

Consider what Google aims to achieve with Tensor on the Pixel 10 and features like Magic Cue that present useful, context-aware prompts within your applications. We might observe this trend in numerous smartphones in the future.

“With continuous on-device learning and real-time sensing, multimodal AI models comprehend the user, facilitating proactive recommendations and enhancing situation-based prompts—all while user data remains on the device.”

Qualcomm asserts that integrated agentic features will empower AI assistants to perform actions on your behalf based on your behaviors, preferences, and more, akin to what is currently evident with Chrome. This is also something Motorola hinted at with its Large Action Model, so the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should be equipped to realize this. The highlight is that this can occur with on-device AI processing, leading to lower battery strain and safeguarding your data.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 presents native compatibility for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, enabling devices to capture near-lossless video quality for versatile editing. Devices will also benefit from enhanced video capture, courtesy of a computational video pipeline aimed at context-aware adjustments of footage, alongside professional-grade audio capture facilitated by Snapdragon Audio Sense.

Additional specifications include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, UFS 4.1, and Quick Charge 5.

Qualcomm states that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will be incorporated into devices from Honor, iQOO, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, POCO, Realme, REDMI, RedMagic, ROG, Samsung, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE. The first smartphones with this technology are expected to debut very soon.

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The Pixel Watch Application Unveils M3 Expressive Transformation for Android Users

The update was observed beginning to roll out today (Sep 24), prompting users to monitor the Play Store.

Pixel Watch users are set for an enjoyable week, as sources indicate Google is deploying its new Android design to its specific app. It seems that the update has only just begun to arrive, as a report from 9to5Google points out the Material 3 Expressive transformations users on Android will experience. The app’s interior showcases more substantial design changes, including a vertical, pill-shaped array of essential Pixel Watch features. The update positions Fitbit, Personal Safety, Gemini, and Google Wallet directly above your device’s image.

Below that image, users will locate their connectivity details, battery level, and the last synchronization time with Fitbit’s services.

The sleek containers for UI components that Google has introduced across Android are also evident in the revamped Pixel Watch app. As part of the “main” feature array, users will discover Watch Faces and Tiles prior to scrolling down into their Settings. These new containers and discreet line dividers are consistently present throughout the app, particularly when navigating through your tiles and other sub-menus.

The Pixel Watch app icon has been refreshed in this update (there’s no need for concern). The publication observes that users will notice a more prominent Pixel Watch illustration featuring a blue and purple blend, as Google shifts away from its traditional four-color scheme.

M3 Expressive finally arrives in the main app

The article mentions that the update has commenced rolling out today (Sep 24) through the Play Store. It may take a little time for your device to receive it, but it should start showing up more as the week progresses.

It seems that the Pixel Watch app is last in line for these wearable Material 3 Expressive updates, as Wear OS 6 has already adorned the model with the new aesthetic. M3 Expressive provided a striking redesign to watches, introducing new visuals and significantly smoother animations across the board. A noteworthy point to highlight is that M3 Expressive complements the circular shapes of the Pixel Watch, giving the experience a more complete and immersive feel wherever you go.

Besides the new design, Wear OS 6 was a substantial enhancement over its predecessor. New watch faces and Gemini were among the standout features, in addition to upgraded media controls for your music.

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HP Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Now $180 Discounted at Best Buy

The 14-inch HP Chromebook Plus x360 is an adaptable and budget-friendly choice for those in search of a touchscreen laptop with generous storage capacity. This device is equipped with a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen display and features a flexible hinge, enabling it to function as both a laptop and a tablet. With 256GB of storage, it provides ample space for the requirements of most users.

Currently offered at a reduced price of $450 at Best Buy, this Chromebook is driven by an Intel Core i3 processor and includes 8GB of RAM, delivering satisfactory multitasking performance. It is especially ideal for students, professionals on the move, and visual creators who can take advantage of its touchscreen and stylus support.

The Chromebook operates on Chrome OS, recognized for its ease of use and effectiveness, and features a battery that can last the entirety of a workday. It also offers quick charging, achieving 50% in roughly 45 minutes through its USB-C charging port. Additional connectivity options consist of another USB-C port, a USB-A port, and a headphone/microphone jack.

While it may not be ideal for gaming or resource-heavy tasks, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 stands out in the sub-$500 segment, delivering a solid mix of performance and versatility for daily tasks.

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Samsung Slashes Galaxy S25 Ultra Pricing by $700 in Strategic Response to Apple

You will also receive a complimentary storage enhancement!

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Although the iPhone 17 series may be capturing the spotlight, if Apple’s new releases don’t impress you, I’ve just discovered a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offer that deserves your focus.

Order through Samsung’s website with an eligible trade-in to receive up to $700 off the powerful Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you opt out of the trade-in option, you’ll still qualify for a direct $250 discount on the phone. To further enhance this offer, Samsung is also providing a complimentary upgrade to 512GB of storage. That’s an added value of $120!

We’ve come across numerous Galaxy S25

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Xiaomi’s 15T Pro: An Amazing Smartphone with One Disadvantage

Android Central Assessment






Xiaomi has revamped the 15T and 15T Pro, equipping both devices with a sleek design that truly resembles a flagship. The cameras are impressive individually, and the device covers all the essentials: it boasts IP68 water and dust resistance, a vivid AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a large battery supporting rapid charging. However, the software is not the most up-to-date — the phone currently operates on Android 15 — and requires significant updates, which reduces the appeal of an otherwise outstanding smartphone.

Advantages

  • +

    Significantly improved design compared to earlier models

  • +

    Performance on par with most flagship devices

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    Exceptional cameras with quality secondary lenses

  • +

    Vibrant AMOLED display at 144Hz refresh rate

  • +

    Excellent battery performance

  • +

    IP68 rated for dust and water resistance

Drawbacks

  • Ships with Android 15 pre-installed

  • No information available on the release of Android 16

  • Charger not included in the box

  • Not available in every global market

Google Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: Is the upgrade justified?

  • Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: A lot can change in two years
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    Features That Have Emerged Indicate Enhanced Google Docs Experience for Android Users

    These speculated modifications are apparently circulating within Google’s test environment.

    Google is allegedly experimenting with several tweaks for its Docs application on Android, including a more smartphone-optimized positioning for the formatting tool. This tool might find its place in the bottom toolbar, alongside an additional enhancement for the app’s search capability, potentially introducing filters to improve file discoverability. Google Docs received a significant upgrade that integrated Gemini for Android users, enabling them to summarize lengthy documents and obtain responses to their inquiries.

    It appears that Google is developing a future upgrade for its Docs application on Android that could significantly enhance the user experience.

    These rumored modifications were identified by Android Authority in a recent version of the Google Docs app for Android. There are two primary updates that Google is said to be testing, one of which entails a more smartphone-optimized (one-handed) redesign. According to the publication, this redesign pertains to the formatting tool of the Docs app. Google has been seen relocating this tool to the lower part of the app’s UI, within the toolbar that generally contains options like bold, italics, bullet points, and more.

    The article even mentions a notification that Google could issue once this update goes live, which points users to the new location of the formatting tool.

    The lower bar is also experiencing a minor, yet beneficial, modification. In collaboration with the informant AssembleDebug, the article indicates that the toolbar at the base of a Doc on Android might be “horizontally scrollable.”

    Another more notable update observed in testing pertains to new search filters in Docs for Android. These filters can be utilized in searches within the application, encompassing options for file type, owner (file creator), and modification date (last changed). Classifying content by type will reveal any stored documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.

    Cohesively linking all this is Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language, which the informant claims to have been identified in the tests. Android’s new design language has been gradually integrating into an increasing number of Google applications, so this potential shift isn’t particularly unexpected.

    It remains unclear when users will be able to access this update, as the modifications were noted following an APK teardown of v1.25.381.00.90.

    Google recently showed some affection to its Android users with a Docs update, as Gemini rolled out. Android users received Gemini’s intelligence for swift document summaries and the AI’s capability to respond to questions about their files. Additionally, Gemini’s functionality could assist users in quickly drafting by organizing their initial thoughts into a more workable format.

    Gemini’s presence in Google’s Workspace applications didn’t end there, as a substantial AI release offered personalized suggestions based on individual user data for Calendar, Gmail, Keep, and more.

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    Chrome for Android Unveils Audio Summaries Feature Comparable to NotebookLM

    Disregard those outdated, mechanical ‘Read aloud’ voices. Google Chrome on Android unveils a fresh function known as Audio Overviews, converting extensive articles into captivating, podcast-like discussions. This breakthrough employs AI to summarize content into a fluid dialogue between two virtual presenters, departing from dull text-to-speech. The functionality, included in Chrome’s newest update, enhances Google’s NotebookLM and Gemini initiatives. To utilize it, navigate to a webpage, click the menu, and choose “Listen to this page.” This dialogic format is ideal for lengthy articles, providing a more approachable and enjoyable listening experience, particularly for individuals with visual impairments or users on the move. The rollout occurs progressively, ensuring any problems are resolved prior to broader release.

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    Unearthed Photo Unveils Moto Edge 70’s Updated Aesthetics and Improved Camera Capabilities

    Could this be the path Motorola takes with its upcoming Edge model?

    What you should know

    – A recent leak about the Moto Edge 70 indicates the company has made some changes to the previously anticipated design.
    – It appears the phone might feature a flat display and flat edges, unlike the Edge 2025 and Edge 2024, which had curved edges.
    – The camera setup is reportedly slightly modified, as it doesn’t align perfectly with the corner, and its lenses appear to be raised with colored highlights.
    – Earlier speculation had suggested the Edge 70 would closely resemble the Edge 2025 and Edge 2024 in design, but that notion seems to have become outdated.

    It has been several months since any news on the next-generation Moto Edge emerged, but this new leak asserts that the company has made subtle design changes.

    A new leak on X, shared by tipster Evan Blass, claims to feature Motorola’s impending promotional content for the Moto Edge 70 (via Android Headlines). The visuals highlight the purported phone from the side, showcasing its display and camera setup. The leak indicates that the Edge 70 will include a flat display with rounded corners—a design trend that is now prevalent in the market.

    The image is also promoting the notion that the phone will be sleek, stating, “impossibly thin and incredibly tough.”

    Examining the rear panel, the camera setup is somewhat distinct from what we have seen from Motorola this year with the Moto Edge 2025 (Edge 60) and even the Edge 2024 (Edge 50). Rather than being positioned in the top left corner, the camera array occupies a space further into the back panel, creating a gap between it and the edge. It looks like the Edge 70 may have three cameras on its slightly elevated array.

    Moreover, Motorola may have some colored accents planned for the device. The suspected promotional material indicates that the camera might be raised above the array, similar to what is observed with Samsung devices. Those elevated lenses could feature colored rings around them.

    Have the rumors shifted?

    We began hearing about Motorola’s next Edge series device back in May. At that time, the rumors pointed in a different direction, as discussions suggested the device would remain akin to what we’ve observed this year with the Edge 60 and with the Edge 50 in 2024. Rumors indicated Motorola was sticking with its curved-edge display and a camera system located in the corner on the phone’s back.

    The alleged renderings from that period supported these claims, showcasing lenses that were flush with the array, not elevated as has been suggested today.

    It’s challenging to determine which direction we are heading, particularly since current rumors are inconsistent. As for the launch timeframe, nothing is really definitive. Earlier rumors indicated we might see it this month, potentially around September 24. That’s just a day away, and Motorola hasn’t really promoted a new Edge model lately. Thus, we will have to wait for further developments.

    There were additional rumors mentioned in those earlier leaks, such as the Edge 70 potentially featuring MediaTek’s Dimensity 7000 SoC and 12GB of RAM. The predecessor of the Edge included a 50MP primary lens, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide lens, so speculation suggests we may see something similar once more.

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