Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

Samsung’s Tailored Exynos Processor Anticipated to Lower Galaxy S26 Series Cost

This price reduction may be merely a sidenote in the expansive landscape of what the chip can genuinely provide.

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Essential information

  • Sources suggest that Samsung’s Exynos 2600, which could power the Galaxy S26 in select markets, may lead to a modest price reduction of around ~$20 to ~$30.
  • The foreign publication notes concerns regarding the chip’s actual performance in smartphones, even though it is being produced using the 2nm technology.
  • Previous speculations indicated that the Exynos 2600 might not be available in all markets, likely limited to European and (possibly) South Korean users.

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Analysis of Redmagic 11 Pro: Fluid Cooling Boosts Efficiency, Delivers Outstanding Battery Longevity, and Unexpected Cost

**Android Central Verdict: Redmagic 11 Pro**

The Redmagic 11 Pro offers the most budget-friendly route to experience top-notch smartphone hardware currently on the market. Featuring the latest Qualcomm chip and an impressive 7,500mAh battery, this device is a genuine powerhouse, complete with all the essentials for a gaming smartphone: it includes ultrasonic triggers on one side, a 3.5mm headphone jack, liquid cooling, and an integrated fan. The outcome is a gaming phone that delivers pure enjoyment, and Redmagic has executed it flawlessly. Sure, the cameras are just average, and software updates are scarce, but at $699, the price is far lower than conventional flagship devices.

**Pros:**
– Bold design that’s bound to attract attention
– Large 144Hz AMOLED display with no noticeable notch
– Exceptional performance
– Impressive battery longevity with 80W charging
– Liquid cooling makes a significant impact
– Incredible value for money
– IPX8 water resistance rating
– 3.5mm headphone jack and ultrasonic triggers

**Cons:**
– Cameras are relatively average
– Lacks eSIM capability
– Limited software updates expected
– Concerns about the durability of glass protection

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Judge Throws Out Monopoly Accusations Against Meta, Exonerating Company from Social Media Charges

A federal judge in the U.S. has determined that Meta, the parent entity of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has not infringed upon antitrust regulations concerning its social media platforms. On November 18, Judge James Boasberg dismissed allegations made by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claiming that Meta maintained a monopoly in the social media sector following its purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp. The judge concluded that Meta does not have monopolistic power in the related market, highlighting the competitive environment influenced by platforms such as TikTok.

The ruling pointed out that Instagram and WhatsApp have been adapting to enhance their competitiveness against TikTok, a widely-used application owned by ByteDance. Judge Boasberg acknowledged that TikTok’s presence in the market, occasionally regarded as an entertainment platform, played a role in the conclusion to dismiss the FTC’s allegations. The judge referred to TikTok’s temporary shutdown in the U.S. earlier in 2025, which allegedly benefited Instagram and WhatsApp, further reinforcing the idea that Meta’s applications are not monopolistic.

Meta’s leaders, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg, have maintained that their platforms fulfill distinct functions within the social media environment. They contend that the acquisitions were meant to enrich and expand the platforms rather than to monopolize the market.

The ruling also addressed TikTok’s legal issues in the U.S., where it encountered possible bans and discussions regarding divestiture. The judge mentioned a comparable incident in India in 2020, when TikTok was prohibited, and users considered Instagram and WhatsApp as similar alternatives. This context bolstered the decision to reject the FTC’s allegations against Meta.

In summary, the ruling emphasizes the evolving character of the social media industry and the continuous rivalry among significant platforms.

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Anticipated OnePlus Smartwatch: Possible Launch of the Slim Watch 4

OnePlus is creating excitement with the introduction of three new devices: the OnePlus 15R smartphone, a fresh smartwatch, and a tablet. The OnePlus 15R is anticipated to serve as a cost-effective alternative to the OnePlus 15, in line with the approach taken by the OnePlus 13R. Information regarding the smartwatch is still limited, but OnePlus is providing a £50 discount on the watch for those who sign up for their newsletter. Furthermore, one lucky subscriber will be awarded a complimentary smartwatch. The event to unveil these devices is expected to take place on December 17.

The promotion for the smartwatch on OnePlus’s UK site displays a silhouette of the device, suggesting a design that might be influenced by the Oppo Watch S. This Oppo model is recognized for its slim design and outstanding battery life, which could indicate analogous features for the OnePlus watch. The new smartwatch may be called the OnePlus Watch 4 or perhaps a lighter variant such as the OnePlus Watch 3R.

OnePlus’s earlier watches have merged Wear OS with a custom RTOS, achieving a mix of performance and battery endurance. Nonetheless, the brand has encountered hurdles with prompt software updates, which might affect the new watch’s reception. If the upcoming smartwatch can fulfill its promise of a stylish design and excellent battery life, it could emerge as a formidable player in the Android smartwatch arena.

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Configuring and Personalizing Gemini Raise for Communication on Pixel Watch 4

Activating it during the initial setup of the Watch 4 is simple, but here’s how to switch it on or off — as well as adjust the motion and volume sensitivity.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Gemini Raise to Talk is among my preferred features on the Google Pixel Watch 4. I never appreciated draining battery life with the always-listening “Hey Google” command, nor did I like pressing the side button for every inquiry. Now, if I wish to ask Gemini to check my schedule or set a timer, I simply lift my wrist and begin speaking.

Google aims for Pixel Watch 4 users to take advantage of Raise to Talk, making it easily accessible during setup. However, if you bypassed all the menus during the onboarding process, I can guide you to the location of the Gemini Raise to Talk toggle.

More critically, if you have activated Gemini Raise to Talk but find it’s not as sensitive as you desire — or if you are experiencing false activations — I will indicate where to adjust your settings to fit your preferences.

“Focus Friend and Pokémon TCG Pocket Honored in Google Play’s Best of 2025 Awards”

This year, enthusiasts of Pokémon, Disney character racers, and many others secure the leading positions.

(Image credit: Google)

Essential Information

  • The Google Play Store has revealed its annual “Best Of” winners, featuring Focus Friend by Hank Green as the Best Overall app and Pokémon TCG Pocket honored as the Best Game.
  • Winning Best Multi-device app is Luminar, while Disney Speedstorm is celebrated as the top game in the same category.
  • This year, Google emphasizes the various enhancements made to the Play Store, many of which focus on elevating the gaming experience for users.

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Cloudflare Service Interruption Impacts Online Platforms: ChatGPT, X, Spotify, and Many Prominent Websites Affected

You’re not alone — Cloudflare disrupts numerous major sites, here’s the explanation

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

If you’ve not been miraculously exempt from the Internal Server Error 500, you are likely aware that many websites online aren’t functioning properly today. The cause behind this is a significant outage at Cloudflare, a major internet infrastructure provider that supports a multitude of large websites and platforms.

As one of the most dependable infrastructure providers, Cloudflare’s Content Delivery Network has consistently facilitated the replication of websites across various servers globally, ensuring swift loading times for users everywhere.

Nevertheless, its pivotal role in powering numerous popular apps, websites, and services also positions it as a crucial bottleneck when issues arise, like this morning. This is what occurred, the impacted websites, and Cloudflare’s somewhat inconsistent history regarding these particular attacks.

Guide for Configuring Safety and Emergency Functions on the Pixel Watch 4

It takes just a few moments to make sure that your loved ones are informed in the event of an emergency, and that responders have the ability to access your medical and insurance details.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 and earlier models encourage you to establish critical safety and emergency functions. Since you likely bypassed this step to dive into using your new smartwatch, assistance is needed now to activate these features, ensuring your Watch 4 can request help during an emergency, even when there’s no cellular signal.

You are able to update your emergency and medical information in two locations. On your Pixel Watch 4, swipe down from the primary watch face, tap the Settings gear icon, and scroll down to the Safety & Emergency section. Alternatively, in the Pixel Watch mobile application, if your smartwatch is connected via Bluetooth, you can locate the same Safety & Emergency section under Settings on the main app screen.

Certain functions of the Pixel Watch 4 are automated; others necessitate prior manual configuration, such as Safety Check. This guide walks you through the surprisingly extensive array of safety features on the Watch 4 that can provide you and your family reassurance — or possibly save your life.

Configure and personalize Emergency SOS on the Pixel Watch 4

1. On your Watch 4 (or previous Pixel Watch model), access Settings, scroll to Safety & Emergency, and select Emergency SOS. If it’s not enabled already, switch the feature on.
2. Tap on Ways to initiate SOS. By default, you have to press the crown five times, then press and hold the screen for three seconds. Alternatively, you can set the Watch 4 to Automatically call; after the five button presses, it’ll contact 911 after a five-second pause.
– If you opt for the latter, decide whether to toggle Play a sound on or off; it’s a loud alert to notify you that it’s about to make a call, with a cancellation option displayed.
3. Finally, select Who to call for assistance. By default, Emergency SOS connects you to Emergency services, but you can opt for a personal contact instead by tapping Manage contacts and selecting an option from your saved contacts.

Switching to a personal contact makes Emergency SOS feel less “official.” You can quickly reach out to family members for help, without incurring ambulance fees or involving law enforcement, but there’s no assurance they will answer promptly as 911 would.

I suggest keeping 911 as the default choice. You can depend on the Personal Safety app to inform family members.

Select what information is shared during an emergency

1. Press the crown and open the Personal Safety app.
2. Scroll down to Emergency info access.
3. Tap Share during emergency call to permit “Emergency Location Service” to share your GPS location and Medical Info with emergency responders.
4. Back in the main app view, tap Emergency contacts to manage your contacts; tap Add contact to include more or use the trash icon to delete contacts.
5. In the primary app view, select Medical Info and then Edit on phone.
6. On your paired device, you can input your date of birth, blood type, height, weight, allergies, pregnancy status, medications, address, organ donor status, and any other medical details. This information will be shared if you enabled “Share during emergency call” above.

Using the Personal Safety app for Safety Checks or Emergency Sharing

If you frequent the gym at night, return late from campus, or face any situation where you have concerns for your safety, the Pixel Watch’s Personal Safety app is a proactive solution to manage those worries.

1. Launch the Personal Safety app from the app drawer, then select Emergency Sharing.
2. Under “Share with,” toggle specific emergency contacts on or off, then tap Share real-time location.

Your contacts will receive an SMS reading, “You’re receiving this message because you’re an emergency contact for [Your name]. [Name] is sharing their real-time location with you: URL. Please call or text

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Best Buy Provides More than $140 Discounts on Meta Quest 3S Acquisition

The Black Friday offers are truly starting to ramp up at Best Buy.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

To be truthful, when I reported on the Black Friday Meta Quest offers yesterday, I had no clue that Best Buy was about to overshadow every other retailer with an amazing deal of its own. Live and learn, right?

As of this morning, if you purchase the Meta Quest 3S 128GB during the festive sale Best Buy will provide you with a $50 discount off the price

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Battery Life Span of the Google Pixel 10

Will You Require Additional Portable Chargers?

Following the launch of the Google Pixel 10 series, numerous users are curious about the necessity of acquiring more portable chargers to ensure their devices remain powered throughout the day. The Pixel 10 lineup, encompassing the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, features remarkable battery life and charging performance, but is this sufficient to negate the requirement for extra charging accessories?

Battery Performance of the Google Pixel 10 Series

The Google Pixel 10 series is built to deliver significant enhancements in battery life compared to earlier models. All three versions are rated to last a minimum of 24 hours on a single charge with typical usage. When Extreme Battery Saver is activated, Google asserts the devices can endure for up to 100 hours. The Pixel 10 is equipped with a 4,970mAh battery, the Pixel 10 Pro contains a 4,870mAh battery, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL is fitted with a 5,200mAh battery.

Charging Features

Although the Pixel 10 series provides satisfactory battery longevity, the charging features are another important aspect to take into account. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro support 25W wired charging, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL can handle up to 40W. Utilizing a 30W USB-C PPS charger, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro can achieve up to 55% charge in 30 minutes, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL can reach around 70% with a 45W charger.

Wireless charging is present across the entire lineup, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL enabling faster 25W wireless charging due to the Qi2.2 standard, while the other models are capped at 15W.

Is There a Need for More Portable Chargers?

Considering the enhanced battery life and charging speeds, the necessity for extra portable chargers might diminish for many users. Nevertheless, for those who are often traveling or extensively using their phones throughout the day, having a portable charger can still serve as a practical backup. The Pixel 10 Pro XL, with its larger battery and quicker charging features, is the optimal choice for those focusing on battery duration.

Ultimately, whether you need additional portable chargers hinges on your usage habits and way of life. If you frequently find yourself depleting your battery, investing in a portable charger could offer reassurance and convenience.

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