You can also buy the Galaxy S21 FE in this exclusive blue color

When Samsung announced its mid-range Galaxy S21 FE at CES last week, there were four colors on display, three of which are the playful, bright pastel kind that we at XDA adore. Well, not even a week in and a new navy blue colorway has popped up, but it is exclusive to Best Buy.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is an excellent mid-ranger that comes in fun colors, including the new exclusive navy blue colorway.

View at Best Buy

 

We can see that, just like the other colorways, the aluminum frame has been painted to match the plastic back. The navy blue is a bit understated compared to the olive and lavender colors but serves as a happy medium between those two and the more standard black and white colorways that were shown off at CES.

Best Buy is selling the new navy colorway in both unlocked and carrier models (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) at the same $699 price as other colors.

The S21 FE, in case you are unaware, is the so-called “Fan Edition” version of the Galaxy S21 series, and the point of this series is to sell previously flagship Galaxy S phones at a more affordable price. The S21 FE, to this end, is very very similar to the standard Galaxy S21, with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, a larger (6.4-inches) but similar 120Hz Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, and the same main and ultra-wide camera (both 12MP shooters). The S21 FE’s telephoto camera differs from the S21’s, in that it is an 8MP shooter with 3x optical zoom ability, but a slower aperture (f/2.4) than the S21’s 64MP, f/2.0 telephoto lens. The S21 FE also has a superior selfie camera (32MP) and a larger, 4,500 mAh battery.

Finally, the S21 FE also has the distinction of being the first Samsung phone to come with One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 out of the box. While the $699 price tag is attractive, the S21 FE comes at an odd time, as the Galaxy S22 series is just around the corner. Still, if you know for sure you don’t want to pay more than $700 for a phone, then the S21 FE is one of the best options right now, as the S22 series will surely be priced well above that.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is an excellent mid-ranger that comes in fun colors, including the new exclusive navy blue colorway.

View at Best Buy

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Google really wants Apple to support RCS messaging

Google has failed to establish a messaging platform for Android devices comparable to Apple’s iMessage. Between the slow death of Google Hangouts, the short life of Google Duo, and the gradual rollout of RCS that is dependent on either specific applications (mainly Google Messages) or mobile network operators, Google hasn’t quite figured it out yet. That isn’t stopping the company from pushing Apple to implement RCS, though.

Rich Communication Services, or RCS for short, is a technology that aims to replace SMS. Most implementations of RCS support larger files, read indicators, and other features that are common on internet-based messaging services. Much like iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and some other applications, SMS uses phone numbers for identification and messaging — if you’re texting someone, and both people have a phone with RCS support, your messages should use the new technology automatically.

In response to a Wall Street Journal article with the headline “Why Apple’s iMessage Is Winning: Teens Dread the Green Text Bubble,” Hiroshi Lockheimer (SVP for Android, Chrome, Chrome OS, Google Play, and Google Photos) said on Twitter, “Apple’s iMessage lock-in is a documented strategy. Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is disingenuous for a company that has humanity and equity as a core part of its marketing. The standards exist today to fix this.” The official Twitter account for Android quoted Lockheimer’s message, and added, “iMessage should not benefit from bullying. Texting should bring us together, and the solution exists. Let’s fix this as one industry.”

Even though neither tweet mentioned it directly, RCS is the standard regarded by Google as the solution. Google originally relied on mobile network operators to add RCS support on their end, but when that was moving along too slowly, the company started enabling it for anyone with Google Messages installed as the default SMS application. However, RCS still requires Google or Samsung’s messaging applications (there’s still no API for third-party apps, like there is for SMS), and end-to-end encryption isn’t always supported. RCS also still relies on owning (and sharing) a mobile phone number, instead of a free email address or other identifier.

Google did support cross-platform messaging back in the Google Chat days, using the open XMPP protocol (e.g. people on AOL Instant Messenger and Google Chat could talk to each other), but the company discontinued that in 2013.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 vs Dell XPS 13 Plus: Classic or modern?

At CES 2022, both Lenovo and Dell came out swinging with a handful of new laptops powered by the latest hardware from Intel. Among its new laptops, Lenovo refreshed the ThinkPad X1 Carbon with more powerful specs and some new display options, while Dell introduced a fresh take on laptops with the sleek-looking XPS 13 Plus. The ThinkPad and XPS families already feature some of the best laptops out there, and these two laptops seem to reinforce that.

While they share some similarities on the inside, these two laptops are fundamentally different in terms of their design philosophy. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is a classic laptop with all the ThinkPad elements you know and love. The Dell XPS 13 Plus changes almost everything about the XPS lineup, and it’s a breath of fresh air for the lineup. Not only that, it’s one of the most modern-looking laptops we’ve seen in a long time.

The differences go deeper than, though. In this article, we’ll be comparing the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 against with Dell XPS 13 Plus, so you can choose what you think fits your needs the most.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon vs Dell XPS 13 Plus: Specs

	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10	Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320)
Operating system	Windows 11 Ubuntu Fedora	Windows 11 Ubuntu 20.04 (in Developer Edition)
CPU	Up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with vPro, U and P series, up to 14 cores	12th Generation Intel Core i5-1240P (12-core, 16-thread, up to 4.4 GHz, 12MB cache) 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1260P (12-core, 16-thread, up to 4.7 GHz, 18MB cache) 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1270P (12-core, 16-thread, up to 4.8 GHz, 18MB cache) 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1280P (14-core, 20-thread, up to 4.8 GHz, 24MB Cache)
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe	Intel Iris Xe
Display	14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, 400 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, touch, 400 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200) IPS low-power, anti-glare, touch, Privacy Guard, 500 nits, 100%sRGB 14-inch 2.2K 16:10 (2240×1400) IPS anti-glare, 300nit, 100% sRGB 14-inch 2.8K 16:10 (2880×1800) OLED, anti-glare, anti-reflection, anti-smudge, 400nit, 100% DCI-P3 14-inch WQUXGA 16:10 (3840×2400) IPS low-power, anti-glare, 500nit, 100% DCI-P3, HDR400, Dolby Vision 14-inch WQUXGA 16:10 (3840×2400) IPS low-power, touch, anti-glare, anti-reflection, anti-smudge, 500nit, 100% DCI-P3, HDR400, Dolby Vision	13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge non-touch, 500-nit, anti-reflective 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge touch, 500-nit, anti-reflective 13.4-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge touch, 500-nit, anti-reflective 13.4-inch 3.5K (3456 x 2160) InfinityEdge OLED touch, DisplayHDR 500, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, anti-reflective, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Storage	Up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD	256GB PCIe 4 SSD 512GB PCIe 4 SSD 1TB PCIe 4 SSD 2TB PCIe 4 SSD
RAM	Up to 32GB LPDDR5	8GB dual-channel DDR5 5200MHz 16GB dual-channel DDR5 5200MHz 32GB dual-channel DDR5 5200MHz
Battery	57Whr battery Up to 65W USB Type-C power adapter	60Whr battery
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0b 3.5mm headphone jack Nano SIM slot	2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports USB Type-C to Type-A adapter included
Audio	Dolby Atmos speaker system Quad-array microphones	Quad stereo speakers (8W total output) Dual-array microphones
Camera	720p HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB webcam 1080p Full HD RGB + IR webcam 1080p Full HD MIPI RGB + IR webcam with Computer Vision	720p HD RGB webcam + IR webcam
Windows Hello	IR webcam (optional) Fingerprint sensor	IR webcam Fingerprint sensor
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 Cellular options: 5G sub-6 Cat2o 4G LTE Cat16	Intel Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2
Color	Deep Black Optional Carbon fiber weave cover	Platinum Graphite
Size (WxDxH)	HD webcam: 315.6 x 222.50 x 14.95 mm (12.42 x 8.76 x 0.59 in) Full HD webcam: 315.6 x 222.50 x 15.36 mm (12.42 x 8.76 x 0.60 in)	295.3 × 199.04 × 15.28 mm (11.63×7.84×0.6 inches)
Dimensions	Starts at 1.12kg (2.48 lbs)	Starts at 1.24kg (2.73 lbs)
Price	Starting at $1,639	Starting at $1,199

Right off the bat, there are some notable differences here, but let’s dive deeper into the differences and similarities. Performance should be similar between the two, so we’ll start with areas where the laptops differ more.

Display: Both laptops have fantastic screens

Starting with one of the areas you’re likely to notice the most, the display on these two laptops is quite different, but both are fantastic. The most noticeable difference right off the bat comes dow to the size, with ThinkPad X1 Carbon having a slightly larger 14-inch screen compared to the 13.4-inch panel of the XPS 13 Plus. However, both have a 16:10 aspect ratio, and both start with Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution. That does make the Dell laptop slightly sharper, since it has the same resolution in a smaller area, but it’s not a huge difference.

The bigger differences start with brightness. With the Dell XPS 13 Plus, all the LCD panels have a maximum brightness of 500 nits, while many configurations on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon only reach 400 (with one only hitting 300 nits). That’s a benefit for outdoor visibility, though when it comes to the OLED panel options or the Ultra HD+ configurations (which both laptops offer), the brightness levels are similar – 400 nits in the OLED panel, 500 nits for the Ultra HD+ IPS display. Still, if you’re planning to get the cheaper panel option, Dell has the advantage here.

That OLED panel option is also quite different between the two laptops. Lenovo offers its ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 with a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel, while the XPS 13 Plus comes with a sharper 3.5K (3456 x 2160) OLED display. The OLED model of the XPS 13 Plus also includes a touchscreen, which isn’t the case for the ThinkPad. In fact, all XPS 13 Plus models aside from the base configuration have touch support by default. With the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10, you have to choose the right model to get a touchscreen, and not every panel type supports it.

With that being said, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 offers a total of seven different panel options, so you have a bit more room to choose something specifically for your needs. You can get a privacy screen to protect your information from people around you in a public space, for example. Overall, both laptops are great in terms of display, though the XPS 13 Plus focuses on giving you a great experience in every configuration, while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon makes more sacrifices in its lower tiers.

Lenovo takes the advantage when it comes to the webcam, though. Dell is sticking with a 720p camera above the display, and to its credit, the actual webcam has been separated from the IR camera for Windows Hello, which should result in better quality. However, Lenovo is giving you the option to add a Full HD 1080p webcam along with a separate IR camera, and you can even add computer vision as an optional add-on. This is so the camera can detect when you’re going to use the laptop and wake it up before you need to touch anything.

As for sound, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is likely to have a better speaker setup with four speakers and up to 8W of output. This should give you louder and more immersive audio for media consumption, assuming Lenovo uses the same speakers as last year’s X1 Carbon Gen 9. On the other hand, Lenovo has a more complex microphone array that could help you be heard better during a video call.

Design: The Dell XPS 13 Plus is the most modern-looking laptop out there

Comparing the design of these two laptops is much like comparing night and day. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 carries all the iconic elements of ThinkPad design, and if you’re a fan of it, you’ll probably find it perfect. It has the classic black surface, the iconic red accents, and well-known features like rounded keys, a red TrackPoint, and duplicate mouse buttons above the touchpad. It’s still every bit a ThinkPad, and for some users, that might be all you want.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (design is unchanged)

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is a major shake-up in laptop design, not just for Dell, but laptops in general. A lot has changed in the Dell XPS 13 Plus compared to previous XPS laptops, starting with the fact that there’s no touchpad, at least not one you can see. The touchpad is completely seamless with the chassis of the laptop, so you can’t even feel where it is. You also can’t click on it, and instead, it uses haptic feedback to simulate clicks.

Another modern element of the XPS 13 is replacing the function row keys with touch buttons. All the function buttons are still there, and you can toggle between typical function keys and media controls using the Fn button as usual. But because the buttons are all digital, the labels simply change when you press the Fn button, so you can clearly see what touching a specific button will do. With typical keys, you first need to figure whether the laptop will use the function key or media control by default, but now, it’s obvious just looking at it. And speaking of the keys, the keyboard uses a completely edge-to-edge design and no spacing between keys. That adds to the modern and sleek look, though it might result in more typos because of how easy it is to press a neighboring key.

Despite being smaller, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is slightly thicker than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (with a 720p webcam), and it’s heavier, too. That gives Lenovo an edge in terms of portability, though the difference isn’t massive. As far as looks go, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is only available in deep black, though you can get a carbon fiber weave lid with some models. The Dell XPS 13 Plus comes in more modern Platinum or Graphite colors.

Ports and connectivity: The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is simply more capable

With its focus on being a modern laptop, the Dell XPS 13 Plus misses out on a lot of ports. That’s nothing new for the XPS lineup, but this time around, there’s not even a 3.5mm headphone jack. All you get is two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB Type-C to Type-A adapter. If you want more connectivity options, you’ll need a Thunderbolt dock, or use wireless peripherals where possible.

On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 has a wide range of ports. In addition to two Thunderbolt 4 ports, you get two USB Type-A ports, HDMI 2.0b, and a headphone jack. And, as an optional feature, you can add cellular network support, keeping you connected to the internet even when you’re away from Wi-Fi. This is an especially important feature for businesses, but anyone working on the road will likely appreciate the versatility.

Aside from that, both laptops support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, so there’s nothing surprising on that front.

Performance: They’re almost identical

We left performance for last because this is one area where the two laptops are pretty much identical. Aside from the fact that Dell has shared more details on specific SKUs, both laptops feature up to a 12th-generation Intel Core processor, up to a 28W P-series processor with 14 cores and 2o threads. We know there’s only one P-series processor with 14 cores, so the maximum configuration on both laptops will be identical.

The differences will be in the cheaper SKUs, especially because Lenovo says it’s still using 15W U-series processors in some models. These models will be ideal if you don’t need top-of-the-line performance and you value battery life more. In that regard, Lenovo actually gives you more options to choose what you prefer, but otherwise, the two laptops are similar. Graphics performance should also be the same since they both have integrated graphics, though again, 15W processors are likely not as fast, but save more power.

On that note, we don’t yet have details on battery life, but the batteries themselves are similar in size between laptops, with Dell pulling a small advantage. The XPS 13 Plus may also be more efficient on account of its smaller display, but otherwise, it’s up to individual optimizations from each company, as well as the configuration you choose. As we’ve already mentioned, 28W processors may result in shorter battery life compared to 15W models.

The similarities continue since both laptops support the new LPDDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. In both cases, the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, but you should be able to upgrade the storage in both. Neither company has specified whether this will be possible in these new models, but based on previous iterations, this is the most likely.

Bottom line: Do you want something modern or classic?

At the end of the day, the biggest deciding factor between these two laptops is what you want from a laptop in terms of design. The Dell XPS 13 Plus is potentially the most modern-looking laptop we’ve seen in years, and (in my personal opinion) looks absolutely stunning. It’s clean and sleek in a way that no laptop can match. On the other hand, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 keeps the same overall look we’ve seen from ThinkPads for years, and it does a great job of appealing to people who are already fans of ThinkPads.

Connectivity is one area where the ThinkPad X1 Carbon handily beats the Dell XPS 13 Plus, however, and if you don’t want to rely on dongles or docks, then that’s definitely your go-to. That’s one downside of the XPS 13 Plus design.

Aside from that, the differences that exist aren’t major. The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a brighter display in its cheapest configurations, but both have great display options to choose from, as well as solid audio (though, again, Dell likely pulls ahead here). Performance, too, isn’t too far off, unless you want to opt for a low-power 15W processor, which is only available on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

The last major difference is the price. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 will officially start at $1,639 when it launches in March, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus will start at a much cheaper $1,199. That’s quite the difference, and it puts some of the downsides like the limited ports in a different perspective. Even adding a Thunderbolt dock doesn’t make up that difference, so you could be better off with the Dell XPS 13 Plus. Ultimately, it’s about balancing your personal priorities — personally speaking, considering the price difference and the benefits of the XPS 13 Plus, I’d go with the Dell laptop, but you might feel differently.

Regardless, neither laptop is available to buy just yet, so you have time to think things over. We’ll ve sure to add purchase links to this article once the laptops have launched. If you can’t afford to wait, we have lists of the best Dell laptops you can buy right now, as well as the best ThinkPads out there. There are plenty of great laptops on those lists, too.

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Linux-powered PinePhone Pro Explorer Edition available for pre-order starting today

Pine64 sells many different ARM-powered Linux devices and accessories, including the PinePhone, a hackable smartphone with dozens of supported Linux distributions. The PinePhone’s performance is roughly comparable to that of a low-end Android smartphone, which is why Pine64 announced the PinePhone Pro last year, which has upgraded internal hardware. Fast forward to today, and Pine64 is ready to start taking pre-orders.

Pine64 said in a blog post today, “PinePhone Pro Explorer Edition pre-orders open today, January 11th (7:00PM UTC / 11AM PST) and there will be a 6 day order window for January/ early February deliveries. Pre-orders placed on or after January 18th will first ship out once the team returns from their holidays. […] The Explorer Edition is a large production run and we don’t expect it to sell out quickly.”

Specification	PinePhone	PinePhone Pro (Explorer Edition)
Build	Plastic with removable back casing	Plastic with removable back casing
Dimensions & Weight	160.5 x 76.6 x 9.2mm 180-200g	160.8 x 76.6 x 11.1mm 220g
Display	5.95-inch 1440×720 18:9 IPS	6-inch 1440 x 720 18:9 IPS Gorilla Glass 4
SoC	Allwinner A64	Rockchip RK3399S 2x A72 cores 4x A53 CPU cores @ 1.5GHz
RAM & Storage	2 or 3GB RAM 16 or 32GB eMMC storage microSD up to 2TB	4GB RAM 128GB eMMC storage microSD up to 2TB
Battery & Charging	2,800mAh removable battery 16W USB-PD wired charging	2,800mAh removable battery 15W USB-PD wired charging
Security
Rear Camera	5MP, LED flash	13MP Sony IMX258, LED flash
Front Camera	2MP	8MP OmniVision OV8858
Ports	USB Type-C 3.5mm audio jack	USB Type-C 3.5mm audio jack
Audio	Loudspeaker	Loudspeaker
Connectivity	LTE (using Quectel EG25-G modem) Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0	LTE (using OmniVision OV8858 modem) Wi-Fi AC Bluetooth 4.1
Software	Depends on PinePhone edition	Manjaro Linux with KDE Plasma Mobile pre-installed
Other Features	Hardware privacy switches for Modem, WiFi & Bluetooth, Microphone, Cameras DisplayPort output over Type-C microSD card boot support	Hardware privacy switches for Modem, WiFi & Bluetooth, Microphone, Cameras DisplayPort output over Type-C microSD card boot support

The PinePhone Pro has the same physical design as the original PinePhone, so it’s still compatible with all existing accessories (like the keyboard case), but the internal hardware has been improved with a faster SoC, more RAM, and other changes. Just like the original model, there are hardware switches for Wi-Fi, camera access, LTE, and other functions. You can also still install any (supported) operating system you want — no bootloader unlocking required. The list of currently-available operating systems includes Arch Linux, Manjaro, Mobian (based on Debian), and postmarketOS.

Pine64 already sold prototype models to people working on Linux distributions and applications for the PinePhone Pro, but this ‘Explorer Edition’ is deemed ready for the masses. The phone should be available for pre-order starting later today (11 AM Pacific Time) at the link below.

Pre-order PinePhone Pro

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The Surface Pro 8 is now available with LTE on the Microsoft Store

The Surface Pro 8 is now available in LTE-enabled configurations, a few months after the Wi-Fi-only variants launched. When Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 8 back in September, we already knew that LTE support would be coming later, but Microsoft never specified when. Today, the company made the new models available as Surface Pro 8 for Business models.

There are a few models of the Surface Pro 8 that can be had with LTE support. You can get it with an Intel Core i5 or Core i7, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a 256GB SSD, which is the most limiting aspect of these models. There are models listed with a 1TB SSD, but those are labeled as out of stock, and Microsoft has always said LTE models would max out with 256GB of storage. The prices listed are also not aligned with the rest of the SKUs, so it seems that these may be there accidentally. It doesn’t look like you can buy an LTE model in the Graphite color option, which is unfortunate if that’s what you were hoping for.

Here’s a breakdown of all the LTE models available right now:

Processor	RAM	Storage	Color	Price
Intel Core i5-1135G7	8GB	128GB	Platinum	$1,349.99
Intel Core i5-1135G7	8GB	256GB	Platinum	$1,449.99
Intel Core i5-1135G7	16GB	256GB	Platinum	$1,649.99
Intel Core i7-1185G7	16GB	256GB	Platinum	$1,849.99

As a reminder, LTE support in the Surface Pro 8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 modem, promising theoretical speeds up to 1.2Gbps. The modem supports LYE Cat18, but you don’t have an option for 5G. Not that it should make a huge difference considering 5G is still not as widely available as LTE.

While these are listed as Surface Pro 8 for Business, the devices can be purchased by anyone easily on the Microsoft Store. However, these models are more expensive than the consumer variants. That’s also because they include Windows 11 Pro instead of the more limited Home edition. You can buy the Surface Pro 8 for Business below.

Surface Pro 8 (for Business)

The Surface Pro 8 is a premium high-end tablet, and it now comes with LTE support, too.

See at Microsoft

On the topic of new Surface products, Microsoft is apparently gearing up to launch a Matte Black version of the Surface Go 3 sometime soon, potentially even today. This new model doesn’t seem to be available on the Microsoft Store yet, but we have seen European Amazon listings for the device already. The Surface Go 3 is also a good option if you want an LTE-enabled tablet on the cheap.

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Nvidia’s New GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 12GB VRAM is now official

Just a few days after revealing the new GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, Nvidia has now announced a new variant of its RTX 3080 GPU. This is the rumored 12GB variant of the existing GA102-200 based SKU. The new RTX 3080 12GB variant was initially revealed in Nvidia’s latest GeForce graphics drivers and it’s now said to go sale starting today from select OEM partners.

The seemingly small 2GB memory bump means the new variant now has the same amount of VRAM as the RTX 3080 Ti. It also comes with 8960 CUDA cores, which is over 3-percent more than the original 10GB variant. The RTX 3080 12GB model now has a wider 384-bit memory bus which results in a higher maximum bandwidth of 912 GB/s.

Here’s a quick look at the specifications of the RTX 3080 12GB next to the RTX 3080 10GB variant:

Specification	Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB	Nvidia RTX 3080 10GB
GPU	GA102-220	GA102-200
GPU Clusters	70	68
CUDA Cores	8960	8704
RT Cores	70	68
Base Clock	1440 MHz	1440 MHz
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	1710 MHz
Memory	12GB GDDR6X	10GB GDDR6X
Bus	384-bit	320-bit
Bandwidth	912 GB/s	760 GB/s
TDP	350W	320W

The new RTX 3080 12GB model has a higher TDP of 350W, which is 30W higher than the original variant. Nvidia, however, is still recommending a 750W PSU for this unit. Even though the new variant is just a minor upgrade over the existing SKU, we think it’ll still be just as difficult to find one in stock. Nvidia hasn’t revealed any info about its pricing but we should have more details about the pricing soon as the OEM partners start listing their SKUs online.

The original RTX 3080, in case you don’t know, is our pick for the best graphics card you can buy in the market right now. It’ll be interesting to see how this new model will compare to the existing RTX 3080 unit. If you think an RTX 3080 is an overkill for your use case, then you might want to consider buying the new RTX 3050, a budget GPU that Nvidia announced last week alongside the RTX 3090 Ti. There’s definitely no shortage of GPU launches on the market but can’t say the same for their stocks. Let’s hope we’ll have better availability in 2022.

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You can no longer book an Uber ride from your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is a great device that the company keeps on improving with every new release. What once used to be a very limited wrist accessory is slowly becoming more capable and independent. The cellular models of this wearable make it even more powerful. They allow you to call, text, stream online music, and download apps — even if your phone is dead. One of the perks of having a cellular model was the ability to book an Uber ride directly from your wrist. The feature worked even if your iPhone wasn’t around. Wasted by the end of the night and spent all of your iPhone battery juice on selfies? Your cellular Apple Watch could get you back home. However, that’s no longer the case, for Uber has killed its Apple Watch app.

As Apple Insider reports, Uber has dropped support for its Apple Watch app. Uber on watchOS used to allow users to request rides and get relevant information directly from their wrists. When you launch the app on your watch now, it displays a poorly written message that states the following:

Please switch to the Uber mobile app

We no longer supporting the Apple Watch app. Sorry for the inconvenience

Usually, when companies kill a watchOS app, they just completely remove it from the watch. It’s unclear why Uber has left it for the time being. It could be a way to inform users who depend on it that it’ll no longer be available in future updates — rather than just making it vanish directly after dropping support. It’s also unclear why the company has decided to actually remove a feature that could be of utmost importance to users in certain situations. Even Apple at some point praised it in one of its App Store Stories. From now on, you will have to depend on the iPhone app to request rides.

Have you ever depended on the Uber Apple Watch app? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Android 13 will reportedly make it easier to scan QR codes

QR codes are incredibly annoying to deal with, but for a lot of people, they’re essential. They can be found basically anywhere, and there have been loads of times where I have struggled on different devices to figure out how to scan a QR code quickly on my phone. Typically the stock camera app is where you’ll find a QR code scanner, but sometimes, I have to launch Google Lens manually and do it that way. Now, according to a report, Android 13 will make it easier than ever to scan them — and straight from your lock screen, no less.

Source: Android Police

A “trusted source” reached out to our friends over at Android Police, providing them with screenshots of how the new feature works. In the screenshots, there’s an option to “show QR scanner” on the lock screen, and a reference is also seen in the quick settings in the form of its own toggle. This would be a much more intuitive way of being able to scan QR codes than the current system and would make it a whole lot easier process in general. Android Police also recently learned of a new tap-to-transfer feature for media in Android 13.

QR codes are used for all kinds of things, and they’re even used in Android for sharing the likes of a Wi-Fi access code. Restaurants also make great use of them currently, and there are a ton of other uses too. Making them easier to interact with and to scan is only a benefit, especially given that it appears to be very much an optional feature to enable.

If you don’t find yourself ever using QR codes, then feel free to switch it off and remove the quick setting toggle. However, for those that do use them (such as myself), this might be one of the best quality of life improvements in Android 13 that we’ve seen so far. If Chrome OS can do it, why shouldn’t Android?

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WhatsApp rolls out new search filters on Android and iOS

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging services in the world, with somewhere over a billion people using it on a regular basis. The platform is also rapidly evolving, as new features are being tested and rolled out constantly. This time, WhatsApp is rolling out new search filters in the WhatsApp Business application.

WhatsApp Business is an alternative messaging application developed by WhatsApp, intended for use by companies and other organizations to communicate with (potential) customers. It has some extra functionality over the standard WhatsApp application, such as business profiles, away and greeting messages, and landline/fixed phone number support.

WhatsApp Business search filters (Source: WABetaInfo)

WABetaInfo spotted a new addition to the WhatsApp Business application on Android and iOS — more search filters. You could already narrow your search results to messages containing photos, videos, links, GIFs, audio files, and/or documents, but now there are three additional options. You can now filter messages based on if the recipient is in your contacts list, and if the message has been read or not. As with the existing filters, you can use more than one at the same time.

It’s not clear when, or if, this functionality will arrive in the standard WhatsApp application on Android and iOS. However, the regular app has received several other improvements in recent months. Previewing voice messages before sending them and new privacy features arrived in December, Novi integration for payments entered testing in November, and an updated Picture-in-Picture mode and end-to-end encrypted backups rolled out in October. There was also a new WhatsApp application for desktop Windows that was released in November.

There’s probably less of a need for the new search filters in the regular WhatsApp application, except for people that send and receive a significant amount of messages. Still, it would be nice to see it on the standard app as well.

WhatsApp Business (Free, Google Play) →

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“At a Glance” widget starts showing Nest doorbell alerts for some users

The new Pixel Pixel 6 series debuts a revamped At a Glance widget. The updated widget can show your calendar event, your flight boarding pass, workout stats, and more. In November, we learned that Google was working on a big update for the widget that would add even more features, including the ability to display shopping lists, doorbell alerts, connection and battery info of Bluetooth devices, and so on. While most of these features have yet to go live, Google has started rolling out Nest doorbell alerts for some users.

As spotted by Mishaal Rahman, At a Glance widget has now started showing Nest doorbell alerts for some users. The doorbell alert integration is rolling out via a server-side update. As you can see in the screenshots below, when your Nest doorbell detects activity at your door, the widget now shows a persistent notification on the home screen and lock screen that reads “Someone’s at the door.”

A big feature update is coming soon for the At a Glance widget. Integrated Nest doorbell alerts started working for tipster Nick Cipriani today w/ Google App v13.0.6.29. I can also confirm doorbell alerts are working, and I also enabled the new settings page. pic.twitter.com/HhhULDOKhl

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) January 7, 2022

Note that the new At a Glance widget, which is baked into the Google App, is currently exclusive to the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. That means the doorbell alerts integration will likely be limited to these two devices as well — at least initially.

In addition to Nest doorbell alerts, Google is working on adding the following capabilities to the “At a Glance” widget:

• At a store: Shopping lists and Google Pay rewards cards when you’re in supported stores
• Bedtime: Your upcoming bedtime from the Clock app
• Connected devices: Connection status and battery info for your Bluetooth devices
• Fitness: Activity info from your fitness app
• Flashlight: Reminder when the flashlight is on
• Safety check: Safety check countdown from the Personal Safety app
• Timer & stopwatch: Timer and stopwatch info from the Clock app

None of the above-listed features are currently live yet. We’ll let you know when they start rolling out to users.

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Honor enters the foldable smartphone space with the new Honor Magic V

We first heard rumors about Honor’s first foldable smartphone back in June last year. At the time, we only learned that the device would feature in-folding panels from BOE and Visionox. Following that, we didn’t see any new information about the device until last month, when Honor shared a teaser confirming its name — Honor Magic V. Last week, Honor further revealed that it will launch the device on January 10 and gave us a glimpse of its design. The company has now finally lifted the covers off its first foldable phone, and here’s everything you need to know about it.

Honor Magic V: Specifications

Specification	Honor Magic V
Dimensions & Weight	Dimensions: Folded: 160.4 x 72.7 x 14.3mm Unfolded: 160.4 x 141.1 x 6.7mm Weight: Burnt Orange: 288g Space Silver, Black: 293g
Display	Cover: 6.45-inch OLED 2560 x 1080 pixels 431ppi 21:9 aspect ratio 120Hz refresh rate Main: 7.9-inch OLED 2272 x 1984 pixels 381ppi 90Hz refresh rate
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Adreno 730
RAM & Storage	12GB+256GB 12GB+512GB
Battery & Charging	4,750mAh 66W fast charging support
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP f/1.9 Secondary: 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide Tertiary: 50MP f/2.0 Spectrum Enhanced
Front Camera(s)	42MP f/2.4
Port(s)	USB Type-C
Audio	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G 4G LTE Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz + 5GHz) Bluetooth 5.2
Software	MagicUI 6 based on Android 12
Colors	Black Space Silver Burnt Orange

---

The all-new Honor Magic V features a design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3. It looks like a regular smartphone when folded, featuring a 6.45-inch 120Hz FHD+ display on the front with a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera and a rectangular camera module on the back. When unfolded, it reveals a massive 7.9-inch foldable OLED display with a 2272 x 1984 resolution and 90Hz peak refresh rate. The device features Honor’s advanced waterdrop hinge technology which, the company claims, is the slimmest compared to similar products in the market.

On the inside, the Honor Magic V packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, paired with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage. As far as the camera hardware is concerned, the Honor Magic V includes a 50MP f/1.9 primary shooter, a 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 50MP f/2.0 “Spectrum Enhanced” camera, and a 42MP selfie shooter.

Rounding off the hardware is a 4,760mAh battery that offers 66W fast charging support. Other noteworthy features include an independent security chip to store sensitive information, a graphene-based intelligent cooling system, and IMAX Enhanced certification.

On the software front, the Honor Magic V runs the company’s latest Android skin — MagicUI 6 — based on Android 12. The software includes several new features to help users make the most of the foldable form factor, including multi-window support, new shortcuts for split-screen mode, and more.

Pricing & Availability

The Honor Magic V will be available for purchase in China starting January 18. It’s priced as follows:

• 12GB+ 256GB: CNY 9,999 (~$1,570)
• 12GB+512GB: CNY 10,999 (~$1,725)

At the moment, Honor has not shared any information regarding an international launch. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.

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The upcoming iPhone SE 3rd Gen could be revealed as soon as this Spring

Apple first revealed an iPhone SE model back in March 2016. The phone features the familiar iPhone 5S design and was aimed at people looking for an affordable device. Four years later, the company released the iPhone SE 2nd Gen — which has an iPhone 8 exterior and remains one of the best iPhones to buy today. However, it would be a good idea to hold back on this purchase if you’re not in a hurry. That’s because the 3rd Gen could be revealed as soon as this Spring.

As MacRumors reports, Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter mentions that the iPhone SE 3rd Gen could be revealed in March or April. The phone is expected to retain the same iPhone 8 design while bringing newer components to the table. If the rumors were to be true, this iPhone will be the first SE model that supports 5G networks. It is also said that it might be powered by the Apple A15 Bionic chip, which is included in the iPhone 13 lineup.

Apple currently sells the iPhone SE 2nd Gen for $399 in the US. It’s still unclear how much the upcoming model will cost. However, it’s safe to assume that it’ll remain in the same price range — considering it’s Apple’s affordable option. And just like the 2nd Gen, it’s expected to feature the same 4.7-inch LCD display, Touch ID home button, thick bezels, and 12MP rear camera.

In addition to the iPhone SE 3rd Gen, Apple could also be revealing a new 27-inch iMac and a high-end Mac Mini powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips during its virtual Spring event. Additionally, Gurman expresses that WWDC will most likely remain a virtual event this year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Do you plan on buying the upcoming iPhone SE 3rd Gen? Let us know in the comments section below.

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How does the HUAWEI P50 Pocket Compare to the Galaxy Z Flip

The smartphone market now has a decent selection of foldable phones to choose from, if you are in the market. The clamshell-style is one of the more popular types of foldable devices, with Samsung leading the way in sales with the Galaxy Z Flip3. Since the launch of this device, HUAWEI has begun selling its own phone with a flip function called the P50 Pocket. Each phone has its own strengths, so let’s take a look at the areas where the HUAWEI P50 does it better than Samsung.

No More Hinge Gap

One of the most common complaints from users of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is the gap in the hinge. When the phone is closed shut, a small gap can be found between the two screens. When HUAWEI designed the P50 Pocket, they made sure to create a phone that doesn’t have a gap. So when the P50 Pocket is closed, both screens lie flat against each other.

The P50 Pocket also has a slimmer build altogether. Measuring only 15.2mm from one end to the other when the phone is close, which is smaller than the 17.1-15.9mm measurement on the Galaxy Z Flip3.

A Larger Display

While it isn’t a dramatic difference, the HUAWEI P50 Pocket has a slightly bigger screen than the Galaxy Z Flip3. The P50 Pocket fits a 6.9″ folding display at 1188×2790, while the Galaxy Z Flip3 has a smaller 6.7″ screen at 1080×2640.

Since you’re getting a phone with the ability to fold to half its size, opting for the larger display is probably a good idea. A slightly higher resolution benefits the 21:9 screen on the P50 Pocket, as your games, movies, and apps will look fantastic on this display.

No Folding Crease

Another common complaint about the Galaxy Z Flip3 is that users will find a crease begin to form in the center of the display, after moderate use. This is also an issue found in most other flip phones with these flexible folding screens. HUAWEI claims to have fixed this common issue to the point where users won’t experience it at all on the P50 Pocket.

More RAM and Storage

While these two phones share very similar specs across the board, the Premium Edition of the P50 Pocket will offer 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Galaxy Z Flip3 will max out at 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. So the extra boost in memory is there for anyone that needs it. Both phones share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, so you can expect similar performance from both of these devices.

A Bigger Battery with Faster Charging

For anyone that values fast charging speeds and large batteries, the P50 Pocket is going to be the better option. HUAWEI put a large 4000mAh battery in their phone, with a 40W fast charging capability. The Galaxy Z Flip3 has a smaller 3300mAh capacity, and the fast charging maxes out at 15W.

In conclusion, both of these phones are great options for anyone looking to get a new flip phone, but the HUAWEI P50 Pocket exceeds in many ways that should be seriously considered. You can find out more information on the HUAWEI P50 Pocket on the official page here.

Also Read: The Huawei P50 Pocket is a great Galaxy Z Flip 3 alternative that you can’t buy

We thank HUAWEI for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

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Skagen Falster Gen 6 Review: Minimalistic smartwatch that gets the job done

As someone who uses both iPhones and Android phones but prefer using the latter, it’s pained me for years that the best smartwatch by far — the one made by Apple — only works with the iPhone, which means whenever I was using an Android phone, I knew the smartwatch paired to it was second rate. The biggest issue was that, compared to Apple’s wearables, most Android watches had comparatively slow performance and lackluster features set — a problem that was partly Wear OS but mostly due to underpowered chipsets like the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100.

This problem was, I don’t want to say “fixed”, but at least alleviated in 2021, with Samsung and Qualcomm each releasing new wearable SoCs that improved performance significantly. It’s the latter chip — Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus — that powers the just-announced Skagen Falster Gen 6, and the improved speed is immediately noticeable compared to 2020 Wear OS watches.

Skagen Falster Gen 6 Specifications: Click to expand

Skagen Falster Gen 6: Specifications

Specification	Skagen Falster Gen 6
Build	Stainless steel casing Glass face
Dimensions	Thickness 11.5mm Watch face 42mm
Display	1.28-inch AMOLED 326 ppi
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+
RAM & Storage	8GB storage + 1GB RAM
Battery & Charging	Battery size not disclosed Rapid charging (0-80% in 30 minutes)
Audio & Microphone	Single loudspeaker Single microphone
Sensors	PPG Heart Rate SpO2 Accelerometer Gyroscope Compass Altimeter Off-body IR Ambient Light
Software	Wear OS

About this review: Skagen provided XDA a review unit of the watch before launch. Skagen did not have any inputs in this review.

Skagen Falster Gen 6: Design and Hardware

The Skagen Falster Gen 6 may have just hit the market, but it is not new per se. This is actually a rebranding of the two-month-old Fossil Gen 6. They have the exact same internals, so you’re getting 8GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, all the usual sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter, etc, plus that aforementioned Snapdragon Wear 4100+.

Since Skagen is a Danish-inspired brand that aims for “Danish-minimalism,” the Falster Gen 6 comes in a smaller, sleeker body than Fossil’s Gen 6, without the raised bezel, and thin, detached lugs. I’ve been wearing the beautiful but bulky Huawei Watch GT 3 prior to switching to the Falster Gen 6, and the latter’s much smaller size was a breath of fresh air.

The Huawei Watch GT 3 (left) and the Skagen Falster Gen 6.

I am a fan of the watch’s matte black coating over the stainless steel frame (it also comes in silver), but not so much of the cheap rubbery strap. There is a version with a leather strap plus you can use any third-party 20mm strap, so this is not a huge deal.

And while the Falster Gen 6’s 11.5mm thickness is a hair thinner than the Fossil Gen 6, is still thicker than the Apple Watch Series 7 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.  I also question the need for three physical buttons (the middle one is rotatable), as a combination of screen swipes, taps along with a single button should be enough for navigating a smartwatch UI. Plus they get in the way when I bend my wrist up 90-degrees, such as when I’m trying to do pushups.

The Falster Gen 6 can track just about everything rival smartwatches from Apple and Samsung can do, except EKG

Still, I’d say overall the Skagen Falster Gen 6 is a good-looking sleek smartwatch that doesn’t get in the way of long sleeve sweaters or jackets. The 1.28-inch AMOLED screen looks great in a vacuum, but compared to the Huawei Watch GT3, it doesn’t get as bright, and colors don’t pop as much.

There’s a loudspeaker on the left side of the watch casing and a mic on the right side. They both work fine — I was able to take phone calls even outside with traffic noise, and both myself and the other party could hear each other fine.

Around the back are the usual sensors: the Falster Gen 6 can track just about everything rival smartwatches from Apple and Samsung can do except EKG (electrocardiogram). Otherwise, blood-oxygen level, steps walked, stairs climbed, heart rate, GPS tracking are all here.

Fossil/Skagen did not disclose battery size, but I have been able to get a day and a half on a single charge. Right now, as I’m typing this, my watch has been off a charger for 26 hours and there’s still 37% battery left. While a day-and-half is fine for me, I must mention that there are rival smartwatches from Fitbit and Huawei that can last way longer — the Fitbit Sense and Huawei Watch GT 3 can go five to six days on a single charge. Fossil/Skagen also claims the watch can add 80% in 30 minutes of charge, but I could not recreate those speeds. Half an hour of charging a completely drained Gen 6 only added 67% of battery in my testing, which is quite off the marketing number.

A bigger gripe for me is the Falster Gen 6, like 99% of smartwatches, uses a proprietary charger, meaning you need to bring that cable with you on trips, and if you lose it, you must buy another one. Huawei’s recent smartwatches can be charged wirelessly via any Qi charger. That’s the way smartwatches should go. Or at least use USB-C.

The Falster Gen 6 watch is rated 3ATM, meaning it can withstand rain and light splashes, but you can’t really take it swimming.

Skagen Falster Gen 6: Software and Performance

Fossil was left in a rough spot when Google and Samsung announced a surprise partnership last year at Google I/O that essentially gave Samsung first dibs at Wear OS 3. This means the Skagen Falster Gen 6, like the Fossil Gen 6, runs on the older Wear OS 2. While Fossil promises an update to Wear OS 3 will come sometime in 2022, we must review the watch for what it is — running outdated software.

For the most part, I had no issues with the Falster Gen 6’s performance. The UI moves around smoothly, and I enjoy being able to rotate the middle button to scroll down. There are some noticeable shortcomings, like the inferior Google Maps integration. When I am navigating with Google Maps and wearing a Galaxy Watch 4, I get turn-by-turn instructions that show on my wrist. This doesn’t happen on the Skagen Falster Gen 6. Wear OS 3 also has superior watch face complications and has exclusive access to a Wear OS-specific YouTube Music app.

There is one crucial thing the Skagen Falster Gen 6 get right that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 does not — it has Google Assistant

There is, however, one crucial thing the Falster Gen 6 gets right that the Galaxy Watch 4 does not — it has Google Assistant! Samsung’s latest smartwatches may be running Wear OS 3, but it’s not a pure Google version of the software. Instead, it’s littered with Samsung’s services, including the significantly inferior Bixby.

So while the Falster Gen 6’s Wear OS 2 is a bit slower and lacks some features of Wear OS 3, it can at least access the best and smartest digital voice assistant on earth.

Google Maps on the Falster Gen 6

Another feature that the Falster Gen 6 can do quite well is allowing me to respond to text messages from various chat apps via voice dictation. This sounds like a simple enough feature, but very few Android smartwatches get this right. Huawei and Xiaomi’s smartwatches, for example, can only show notifications, they cannot actually respond. Fitbit Sense can only do canned responses. Any Samsung or Wear OS watches from before 2021 technically could respond, but the voice dictation was so painfully laggy, they were virtually useless. Only in 2021, when there was the aforementioned silicon upgrade from Samsung and Qualcomm, did some Android wearables finally become capable enough to handle voice dictation in a timely manner.

You can also respond to messages with an on-screen keyboard on the Falster Gen 6, but the QWERTY keyboard is very cramped, resulting in typos often. This is another area where the Galaxy Watch 4 is superior, as it offers a scribbling method of text input (copied straight from the Apple Watch) that works much better than pecking on a tiny keyboard.

Fitness tracking on the Falster Gen 6 is fine. It’s been raining all week in Los Angeles, so I have been unable to go for runs, but the watch did track my steps accurately. I also tried SpO2 and heart rate tracking with the Falster Gen 6 alongside the Apple Watch Series 7 and Galaxy Watch 4 and all the results were similar. Sleep tracking worked okay, I think Fitbit’s sleep tracking is still the best-in-class, in that it doesn’t get tricked into thinking I’ve woken up just because I tossed and turned a few times.

Google Fit, the default health app to track data for Wear OS devices, is also a bit lacking compared to similar apps from Fitbit, Apple, Samsung, or even Xiaomi. The interface is complicated, and instead of showing you actual data, Google Fit has a habit of showing you some arbitrary point system, like “you earned 40 points for an afternoon walk.” I don’t care about the points, just show me how many actual steps I walked!

There are, sadly, very few watch face selections in the Wearable app, and while third-party apps like Facer have more options, the app itself is a bit spammy, with constant push notifications,  lots of ads, and some watch faces requiring money that isn’t clearly labeled

Skagen Falster Gen 6: Conclusion

I really enjoyed my time wearing the Skagen Falster Gen 6. Yes, the software isn’t as zippy as a Galaxy Watch 4, and battery life isn’t as impressive as Fitbit Sense or Huawei Watch GT 2. But the Falster Gen 6 can do one thing better than those other watches for me: it allows me to check my phone less often.

This is because I use Google Assistant often, and I get a lot of chat messages throughout the day (Slack, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal). The Skagen Falster Gen 6 with Google Assistant support, and a functional way to respond to notifications fit whats I need.

Galaxy Watch 4 (left) and Skagen Falster Gen 6.

However, at $295, the Falster Gen 6 is $50 pricier than the Galaxy Watch 4, so if you don’t need Google Assistant often (or if you somehow are okay with Bixby), then the Galaxy Watch 4 is a better performer at a lower price.

Skagen Falster Gen 6

Fossil's newest smartwatch released under its Skagen branding, this is a clean and minimal-looking Wear OS watch that, despite outdated software, still does smartwatchy things quite well.

Pros:

Cons:

View at Amazon

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