Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

Comparison of Nothing Phone 3a Lite and Moto G Power 2025: Affordable Smartphone Face-off

The Nothing Phone 3a Lite and Moto G Power 2025 represent two cost-effective smartphones that deliver reliable performance for individuals aiming to cut back on expenses without losing important features. Both models are priced below $300, making them appealing choices for budget-conscious consumers.

The Nothing Phone 3a Lite is mainly available in the U.K. and select European regions. It boasts a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED HDR10+ screen with a resolution of 2,392 x 1,084 and can achieve a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. This smartphone is crafted to assist in minimizing screen time with its distinct Glyph interface, which employs light patterns for notifications to lessen interruptions. It incorporates a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, and storage choices of 128GB or 256GB, expandable up to 2TB. The device is equipped with a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 16MP front-facing camera. It includes 5G compatibility, features a 5,000mAh battery with fast charging capabilities, and operates on Nothing OS 3.5 powered by Android 15.

Conversely, the Moto G Power 2025 is sold in North America and offers a 6.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2,388 x 1,080 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is driven by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, also featuring 8GB of RAM, and comes with 128GB of storage, expandable up to 1TB. This phone is recognized for its sturdiness, holding an IP68 and IP69 rating for protection against dust and water. It sports a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide/macro vision lens, and a 16MP front camera. The Moto G Power 2025 supports wireless charging and contains a 5,000mAh battery with Motorola TurboPower charging technology. It operates on Android 15 with Hello UX, incorporating features such as gesture controls and ThinkShield security.

To conclude, both the Nothing Phone 3a Lite and Moto G Power 2025 provide excellent value for their cost, each offering unique features that cater to various user preferences. The Nothing Phone 3a Lite is suited for those who wish to lessen screen time and appreciate a distinctive design, while the Moto G Power 2025 is ideal for users who emphasize durability and battery longevity.

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Save Cash on My Preferred Chromebook Prior to Black Friday

This Chromebook justifies its price, even without any discounts.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Thanksgiving hasn’t even arrived, and we’ve already encountered some amazing Black Friday offers on Chromebooks. Now, you can get $45 off my top pick for the year, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14.

This promotion is from Lenovo, specifically for the highest-end variant. It features 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage paired with the Kompanio Ultra 910 and a stunning 14-inch OLED screen.

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Nvidia’s Shield TV Gets Fresh Software Update Following Ten Years

Nvidia maintains long-term assistance for Shield TV.

(Image credit: Android Central)

Key information

  • Nvidia has rolled out a new Shield Experience 9.2.2 update, ensuring continued support for the long-standing Shield TV.
  • This update emphasizes stability enhancements and resolves several user-reported issues related to quality of life.
  • New accessibility features feature a pairing alert sound and an interface for modifying timeout settings.

Notice

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Mint Mobile’s Black Friday Promotion Provides 50% Discount on All Unlimited Plans

My preferred MVNO is back with a fresh holiday promotion.

(Image credit: Android Central)

To be completely transparent: I’m an avid enthusiast of Mint Mobile offers, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating the Black Friday promotion from the T-Mobile-affiliated MVNO. Luckily for me, the provider didn’t let me down. Visit Mint Mobile’s website immediately and you’ll receive a flat 50% discount when you enroll in the Unlimited plan, reducing the data plan price to $15 a month.

In contrast to some Mint Mobile promotions that necessitate paying for a full year of service ahead of time, all three of the MVNO’s Unlimited plans will provide you with the 50% discount, whether you opt for 3, 6, or 12 months of service. There’s no need to purchase a device for this Black Friday offer, allowing you to savor months of limitless T-Mobile-supported wireless for as low as 45 dollars right now. Indeed, it’s that fantastic.

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Google Launches Legal Action Against Significant Phishing Network Aiming at Millions

This is the first time a lawsuit is being filed against ‘Lighthouse’.

(Image credit: Google)

Essential insights

  • Google initiates a lawsuit targeting ‘Lighthouse’ Phishing-as-a-Service impacting over 1 million global victims.
  • The firm pushes for bipartisan legislation to address scam threats within the U.S. Congress.
  • Google has rolled out new tools to assist users in identifying and steering clear of scams efficiently.

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Valve’s Latest VR Headset Enhances Hybrid Gaming Experience through Steam Deck Integration and Android App Sideloading: An Evaluation Against Quest 3

The Strength of Steam: All Within a Surprisingly Lightweight and Nimble VR Headset

The gaming community is buzzing with excitement for Valve’s newest creation, the Steam Frame. This innovative standalone VR headset is set to transform how gamers engage with their beloved titles, providing an effortless fusion of VR and non-VR experiences. With the Steam Frame, Valve seeks to deliver the strength of Steam in an unexpectedly lightweight and nimble form, making it an essential item for every gaming aficionado.

Valve’s Steam Frame is conceptualized as a “Steam Deck for your face,” enabling users to access their complete Steam library, regardless of their preference for VR or conventional gaming. This adaptability is revolutionary, granting gamers the liberty to play what they desire, in the manner they choose, and wherever they wish. The headset’s capability to operate both VR and non-VR games makes it a formidable addition to any gamer’s arsenal.

One of the notable aspects of the Steam Frame is its modular architecture. The front module, containing the lenses and computing components, is easily detachable and weighs merely 190g. This design decision not only makes the headset extraordinarily lightweight but also guarantees its durability by facilitating straightforward upgrades and upkeep.

The hardware of the Steam Frame is striking, featuring a 144Hz display and integrated eye tracking, making it ideal for PCVR gaming. Valve has also incorporated a dedicated streaming USB stick, which allows for high-quality wireless streaming from a PC to the headset. This guarantees seamless gameplay devoid of network traffic issues, a frequent inconvenience with other wireless VR systems.

While the Steam Frame shines in many aspects, it does possess certain drawbacks. Currently, the headset only supports black and white passthrough vision, which may discourage some users from employing it for non-VR gaming. However, Valve has engineered the headset with a port for camera attachments, indicating that color passthrough could be forthcoming.

The Steam Frame is poised to contend with other VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3, which provides full-color passthrough and a robust catalog of AAA VR games. However, the Steam Frame’s capability to execute Android applications and its modular structure provide it with a distinct advantage in the marketplace.

In summary, the Steam Frame signifies a major advancement in VR technology, offering gamers unmatched versatility and access to their cherished Steam titles. Whether you’re a VR enthusiast or a mainstream gamer, the Steam Frame is set to become a vital component of your gaming setup, bringing the strength of Steam into a lightweight and agile headset.

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Best Buy Provides More Than 50% Off on 15.6-Inch Acer Chromebook During Early Black Friday Event

A sizable laptop along with a protective case for merely $119.

(Image credit: Credit: Acer)

There are numerous Chromebook offers available this season, yet it’s rare to encounter one this remarkable. Currently, Best Buy is promoting the Acer Chromebook 315 and a complimentary laptop sleeve at more than 50% off, reducing the cost to just $119.

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Google Unveils Innovative AI Shopping Tools for a Smooth Holiday Experience

**Agentic Shopping, ‘Purchase for Me,’ and Shop with Gemini**

As the festive season nears, Google unveils cutting-edge tools to elevate your shopping journey with AI assistance. The Gemini platform aims to optimize your holiday shopping by providing real-time inventory updates and an agentic checkout experience. These brand-new functionalities are crafted to enhance product discovery, price monitoring, and overall ease for shoppers.

**Key Information**

– Google debuts Gemini tools for effortless holiday shopping experiences powered by AI.
– Real-time inventory updates and agentic checkout simplify your holiday purchasing journey.
– Innovative shopping features boost product discovery, price monitoring, and convenience for shoppers.

**AI-Driven Conversational Shopping Has Arrived**

Google’s AI Mode enables users to have in-depth conversations about products, akin to speaking with a store representative. This capability allows users to articulate precisely what they seek, receiving thorough results that encompass images, prices, reviews, and inventory data. This method assists users in making swift and confident purchasing choices.

For instance, you might ask for “snug sweaters for a happy hour in cozy autumn hues” and receive purchasable images. Likewise, inquiring about “moisturizers suitable for your skin type” will present several options with insights from reviews, facilitating a quick grasp of product distinctions.

**AI Provides Real-Time Inventory Updates**

Google’s Agentic AI can now locate products available nearby, removing the necessity for several store inquiries. By searching for items “in my vicinity” and opting for “Let Google Call,” AI will reach out to local retailers to verify availability, pricing, and deals. You’ll receive an email or message with the details, including local stock from the Shopping Graph. This feature utilizes Duplex technology, enhanced by a Gemini model upgrade, to pinpoint the best stores, recommend inquiries, and summarize discussions into key insights.

**Never Miss Deals on Your Preferred Items**

Google’s “agentic checkout” feature employs price tracking to assist you in acquiring desired items within your financial plan. You can monitor an item by size, color, and price preferences, receiving alerts when prices drop on sites such as Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and select Shopify vendors. Google will subsequently purchase it for you via Google Pay, after securing necessary permissions. This feature integrates Gemini models and the Shopping Graph, saving you time and money this holiday season.

These agentic shopping functionalities are available in the U.S. starting today (Nov. 13), with intentions to roll out to additional countries shortly.

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OnePlus 15 Evaluation: A Fusion of iPhone Attributes and Distinct Brand Brilliance

The OnePlus 15 represents a substantial enhancement compared to its predecessor, the OnePlus 13, bringing improvements in several essential aspects. It boasts a quicker processor, a remarkable 165Hz OLED screen, enhanced camera performance, and a more resilient construction. Despite these upgrades, the phone’s launch is slightly eclipsed by its bland design, the exclusion of certain hallmark OnePlus characteristics, and sporadic software glitches. Still, the OnePlus 15 distinguishes itself as an outstanding flagship device, featuring remarkable battery longevity, ultra-rapid charging options, and notable operating system functionalities.

**Pros:**
– Sturdy construction with IP69K rating
– Flat screen with excellent eye protection features
– Excellent for gaming with responsive touch and 165Hz refresh rate
– Superb battery duration and charging efficiency
– Impressive camera performance
– Six years of software updates

**Cons:**
– Absence of alert slider and a commonplace design
– Missing Qi2 magnets
– Can overheat during stress testing
– Software may experience bugs

The OnePlus 15 is set for global preorders starting November 13, with an official release on November 18. The starting price is $899 USD for the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage is available for $999 USD. Customers who preorder can receive a complimentary bonus item, like the OnePlus Watch 3, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, OnePlus AIRVOOC 50W Magnetic Charger, or a OnePlus 15 Phone Case, by ordering from OnePlus.com. The phone will be sold at OnePlus.com, Amazon, and Best Buy once U.S. availability is verified.

The design of the OnePlus 15 has shifted toward a more commonplace aesthetic, similar to the OnePlus 13S, which has faced some criticism for its resemblance to the iPhone. The Alert Slider has been substituted with a customizable Plus Key, which has limited functions. Despite these modifications, the phone upholds OnePlus’s reputation for speed and seamlessness, showcasing the best battery performance in a flagship phone, an impressive 165Hz OLED display, and a camera that performs admirably despite a hardware downgrade.

The display of the phone stands out, offering excellent brightness, image clarity, and eye-friendly features. However, the flat edges of the design might not suit everyone’s comfort, and the absence of built-in magnets for Qi2 charging is a downside. The OnePlus 15 excels in performance, featuring a large battery that provides nearly three days of usage along with remarkable charging speeds. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor guarantees top-notch performance, though some thermal challenges may occur during demanding tasks.

Operating on Android 16-based Oxygen OS 16, the OnePlus 15 introduces various AI functionalities and customization possibilities. Nevertheless, some users might find the iOS-like UI elements unappealing. The phone guarantees four OS updates and six years of security updates, ensuring lasting support.

Regarding camera functionality, the OnePlus 15 provides excellent image quality, even with certain hardware reductions. Remarkable features such as 4K120 video recording stand out, although telephoto performance might trail behind competitors at greater zoom levels.

In summary, the OnePlus 15 is a robust competitor in the flagship smartphone arena, presenting impressive performance, battery longevity, and display quality. However, its design decisions and software issues might not attract every user.

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The OnePlus 15 Screen: Pioneering Smart Eye Care Capabilities and Ultra-Smooth Refresh Rate Establish New Quality Benchmarks, Competing with Samsung and Apple

With a 165Hz refresh rate, numerous eye care features, and an innovative touch response chip, this smartphone display is the most remarkable to date.

It’s difficult to accept that a smartphone display could surpass the current offerings, yet the OnePlus 15 is set to amaze once more with its 165Hz refresh rate, new eye-friendly enhancements, and an OLED panel engineered for maximum impact.

OnePlus is intensely dedicated to speed and gaming performance, providing a display that aligns more with “gaming phone quality” than with a standard smartphone. This includes not only the elevated refresh rate but also a specific touch response chip and a new fluid frame generation capability for compatible games, like Call of Duty Mobile.

OnePlus isn’t marketing this display as ultrabright, despite noticeable brightness improvements, and it is not following Samsung’s lead in using an anti-glare layer on the screen. How do the features compare? Let’s examine, and remember to check our complete OnePlus 15 review to see how the rest of the device excels.

Eye comfort and brightness

The OnePlus 15 features the latest TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care certification, incorporating a flicker-free and low blue light-emitting display. Brightness and dimming strategies are crucial for eye comfort, particularly in low-light conditions. Many devices, including the Pixel 10 Pro, employ low-frequency PWM dimming, which can be uncomfortable for some users.

The OnePlus 15 is exceptionally comfortable due to OnePlus’s adoption of DC dimming at medium to high brightness levels and 2160Hz PWM dimming at low brightness levels. Furthermore, the display’s modulation rate is impressively low, approximately one-third of that found in the OnePlus 13.

However, OnePlus does not provide dimming options for this display, so what you see is what you get.

OLEDs produce their own light, resulting in a decrease in brightness each time the image refreshes, known as modulation. Devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 do not manage this brightness reduction at all, leading to a harsh strobing effect at a 100% brightness drop every cycle.

The OnePlus 15 effectively regulates this brightness reduction to a maximum of 35%, making the drop much less severe and comfortable for most individuals.

OnePlus introduced its first “reduce white point” accessibility feature with the Android 16-based Oxygen OS 16 update, which diminishes the peak brightness of the display for sensitive users. I’ve found maintaining an 80% reduction in the white point renders this the most comfortable flagship display I’ve encountered to date.

Additionally, OnePlus launched its first-ever Motion Cues feature in Oxygen OS 16, adding moving dots to the sides of the display for individuals who suffer from motion sickness. This is a tactic seen in Honor’s recent devices, and it’s an excellent option for those prone to motion sickness.

Users seeking the highest peak brightness will appreciate this display. It slightly outshines the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display without resorting to unpleasant flickering PWM dimming like Samsung’s implementation but falls short of matching the brightness of the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL’s displays.

All these displays provide ample brightness for outdoor use, though OnePlus hasn’t incorporated an anti-glare filter like Samsung’s S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. Nevertheless, with the OnePlus 15’s fully flat display design, it should be relatively easy to find a quality tempered glass screen protector featuring an anti-glare layer.

Thanks to the high-frequency PWM dimming rate, viewing this display in complete darkness won’t strain your eyes. It also scales down to 1 nit by default or as low as 0.5 nits when the “reduce white point” feature is activated. That’s the dimmest I have ever observed a smartphone display to achieve.

Finally, the OnePlus 15’s OLED display exhibits no mura, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display. Mura reflects how uniformly pixels are lit, a particularly vital aspect for an OLED screen.

As shown in the picture above, a consistent 50% grey image yields perfectly uniform pixel illumination when inspected through a macro lens. Displays with inferior mura may appear grainy, especially at low brightness levels, which has been a recurring criticism from Galaxy S24 and S25 users throughout the years.

Gaming, refresh rate, and resolution

Some worries were expressed regarding OnePlus’s choice of a higher refresh rate display, as it meant sacrificing some screen resolution. However, even at a reduced resolution of 2772 x 1272 pixels — compared to 3168 x 1440 on the One

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