iPhone 14 lineup might feature an additional “Max” variant instead of the “Mini”

Apple revealed the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max during its California Streaming virtual event earlier this month. Soon after, we saw reports suggesting that Apple was planning to drop the Mini variant next year, making the iPhone 13 Mini the last Mini iPhone. This led us to believe that Apple might only launch three iPhone 14 models, but a new leak suggests that the company will replace the Mini with a new “Max” variant.

Hands on with the Apple iPhone 13 & 13 Mini: Not as pro, but still great value

In a recent video, Jon Prosser from the FRONT PAGE TECH YouTube channel claims that there will be two 6.1″ iPhone models next year, the iPhone 14 and an all-new iPhone 14 Max, along with two 6.7″ models — the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have also corroborated this leak.

While the three have a decent track record, we recommend taking this new info with a grain of salt. That’s because they recently shared inaccurate information about the Apple Watch Series 7 redesign. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s a bit too early for Apple to have finalized all details, so the company could change its plans regarding another “Max” iPhone in the coming months.

Apple will unveil the iPhone 14 lineup in a year, and recent rumors suggest that it will feature several significant design changes, unlike this year’s models. It’s speculated that the company will finally drop the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro models in favor of a hole-punch camera.

Hands on with the Apple iPhone 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max: Cinematic mode is a game changer

Did you buy an iPhone 13 model, or are you waiting for Apple to offer more significant improvements in next year’s lineup? What’s your take on Apple potentially replacing the Mini model with an iPhone 14 Max? Let us know in the comments section below.

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You can now use animated backgrounds on Google Meet for Android

If you’ve ever used Google Meet for your online meetings, you might be familiar with the various options it offers to help you modify your background. If you’re not in a professional setup, you can either blur your background or replace it entirely with something that looks professional or even something fun if you’re on a call with friends. There’s also the option to replace your background with an animated video. However, that feature was limited to Google Meet for desktop and iOS so far. Google has now finally started rolling it out to Google Meet for Android.

In a recent Workspace Updates blog, Google mentions (via AndroidPolice) that you can now change your background to an animated video on both the Android app and Gmail’s integrated version of Meet. The feature currently offers six options, including a classroom, party, and beach, with more options to come in the future. Google claims that these animated backgrounds will not only help you hide your surroundings for more privacy but also add more personality to your meetings.

Animated background support in Google Meet for Android has already started rolling out to users. If you haven’t received it already, the feature should appear on your phone in the next two weeks. Note that the animated background support is currently limited to Google Workspace, G Suite Basic, and G Suite Business customers.

The new feature comes just a day after Google started testing Live translated captions support in Google Meet. The feature is currently available on the beta channel in meetings organized by Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Teaching & Learning Upgrade users. Live translated captions are available for English meetings translated to Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German, but Google will likely add support for more language combinations by the time the feature rolls out on the stable channel.

 

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Here’s how much the Google Pixel 6 could cost

In just a few weeks, Google will finally lift the covers off the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Ahead of the launch event, the company has shared quite a bit about its upcoming flagships. We’ve also learned several crucial details, including specifications and camera features, through various leaks. However, the pricing information has remained a secret so far. We expected Google to keep it that way until the day of the big reveal, but a new leak sheds light on what could be the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s price in Europe.

The leak in question comes from YouTuber M. Brandon Lee from the This is Tech Today channel. In a recent video, Lee reveals that Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro might be priced at €649 and €899, respectively. The pricing information comes from an unnamed source who works for a major cellular retailer in Europe. While we can’t corroborate these details at the moment, 9to5Google claims to have confirmed these prices with another source in Europe.

Lee’s source has also revealed the black and green colorways of the Pixel 6 series are referred to as “carbon” and “fog” in the retailer’s system. Furthermore, the source claims that Google will announce the devices on October 19, and they will go on sale starting October 28.

It’s worth noting that the Pixel 5 launched at a starting price of €629 in Europe. If the pricing details mentioned above are accurate, the Pixel 6 would cost just €20 more despite offering several upgrades over last year’s model. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, would command a €270 premium, thanks to a host of additional features, like an extra camera, UWB support, a 120Hz LTPO display, and more.

Note that the European pricing for the Pixel 6 series likely doesn’t reflect how much it will cost in the US. The devices might be significantly more expensive across the pond since Google might offer mmWave support on the US models like last year.

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These are the Best Screen Protectors for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro

The new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are here, and they feature a vibrant 6.1 inch OLED display. It’s a Super Retina XDR screen with 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution, and the Pro model even gets support for up to 120Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, to protect this screen, Apple includes Ceramic Shield protection that’s said to be tougher than any other smartphone glass.

But if that’s not enough, and you want a screen protector to further safeguard your investment, there are several excellent options in the market. We have picked the best ones for you. Since both the devices have the same front display size and accompanying measurements, the same screen protectors will work with both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Note that cases between the two are not cross-compatible — those need to be purchased specifically for the phone that you have; but screen protectors are cross-compatible.

Best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Screen Protectors

Case-Mate Glass

9H hardness

The Case-Mate Glass is an excellent tempered glass protector for the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. It has 9H hardness for scratch resistance and comes with an anti-fingerprint coating.

View at Amazon

Tech21 Impact Glass

Precise fit

The tech21 Impact Glass is another great tempered glass protector. It features an advanced antimicrobial coating to resist the bacteria growth on the glass.

View at Amazon

Totallee Screen Protector

Edge-to-edge

Totallee’s tempered glass protector is easy to apply and provides edge-to-edge protection to your iPhone 13 or 13 Pro. The company also gives a 30 day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.

View at Amazon

ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Elite

Case-friendly

ZAGG is a popular name in the screen protector industry for its quality products, and this InvisibleShield Glass Elite is a fantastic tempered glass protector for your phone. It’s expensive, but you get top-notch protection and reinforced edges.

View at Amazon

Spigen Tempered Glass

With installation kit

The Spigen Tempered Glass protector comes with an auto-alignment kit that makes the installation process super smooth. You also get two protectors in a pack.

View at Amazon

ESR Armorite

Tough protection

Apart from its excellent cases, ESR also makes superior screen protectors. For example, this Armorite tempered glass protector from ESR is well-liked and comes with an easy installation frame.

View at Amazon

Skinomi Protective Film

TPU film

Not everyone is a fan of tempered glass protectors. So if you're looking for something else, this TPU film protector from Skinomi is a good option. It’s tough, self-healing, and crystal clear.

View at Amazon

IQ Shield Anti-Bubble Clear Film

Lifetime replacement warranty

IQ Shield clear film is another great TPU-based screen protector for the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. It’s made with high-quality material and comes with a lifetime replacement warranty.

View at Amazon

Mr. Shield Screen Protector

The budget pick

If you don’t want to spend too much on a screen protector, the Mr. Shield screen protector is affordable and provides decent protection. Additionally, you get three protectors in a pack.

View at Amazon

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These are the best iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro screen protectors on the market. As you can see, there are lots of excellent options on the market. You can go for the ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Elite if the budget is no bar. The Spigen Screen Protector and ESR Armorite are also great options. Finally, for the budget-conscious, Mr. Shield and Skinomi are offering two suitable affordable protectors.

Apple iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is Apple's latest iPhone with better cameras, a bigger battery, and a smaller notch.

Buy from Best Buy

Buy from AT&T

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is a part of Apple’s 2021 iPhone lineup. It's powered by the new A15 Bionic chip and runs on iOS 15.

Buy from Best Buy

Buy from AT&T

Which screen protector are you planning to buy? Do you prefer tempered glass over TPU films? Let us know in the comments section. We have also selected the best cases for the iPhone 13 and best cases for the iPhone 13 Pro — check them out.

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[Update: Apple responds] iPad Mini 6 owners report experiencing the infamous jelly scrolling effect

Update (09/29/2021 @ 03:59 ET): Apple has provided an official statement on the iPad Mini 6’s jelly scroll issue. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on September 27, 2021, is preserved below.

Apple’s new iPad Mini 6 has received rave reviews, with most reviewers praising its modern design, portability, and powerful performance. However, it looks like some owners aren’t impressed with the scrolling experience on the tablet.

Several iPad Mini 6 users (via 9to5Google), including The Verge’s Dieter Bohn, have reported a display glitch where one side of the display appears to move faster than the other, resulting in what is commonly referred to as a “jelly scrolling” effect. The glitch is only noticeable when using the iPad Mini 6 in portrait mode and scrolling through something text-heavy such as a webpage. The effect goes away when using the tablet in landscape orientation.

It’s a bit tough to explain the jelly effect through words, but you can clearly see it in the slow-motion video included in this tweet:

Here is is slow-mo video of scrolling on the iPad Min i slowed down EVEN MORE in a frame-by-frame step through. Notice how the right moves up faster than the left.

In normal usage you barely see it, but every now and then it become noticeable. In landscape it goes away entirely pic.twitter.com/iq9LGJzsDI

— Dieter Bohn (@backlon) September 22, 2021

For what it’s worth, the glitch is mostly imperceptible in everyday usage, so it shouldn’t bother all users. It’s also worth mentioning that the jelly scrolling effect isn’t a hardware defect. In most cases, the issue is linked to the way the display or display controller is mounted. For example, in the OnePlus 5, the display panel was mounted in an inverted orientation which led to the jelly scrolling effect. Apple hasn’t provided an official response on the matter. We’ll update this post if we hear anything from the company.

Have you noticed a similar jelly-like scrolling effect on your iPad Mini 6? Let us know in the comments below.

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Update: Apple acknowledges the jelly scroll effect

In an official response to ArsTechnica, Apple acknowledged the jelly scroll effect on the iPad Mini 6. However, the company believes it’s pretty normal for LCD screens to exhibit such behavior. In other words, Apple doesn’t consider the jelly scroll effect a hardware or software defect that needs “fixing.”

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Samsung’s new Galaxy F series device features the Dimensity 700 and a 64MP triple camera setup

After announcing the Galaxy M52 5G in the Indian market yesterday, Samsung has now launched a new Galaxy F series device in the region. The Galaxy F42 5G is a successor to the Galaxy F41 from last year, which was the first phone in Samsung’s mid-range F series. The device offers a MediaTek Dimensity SoC, triple cameras, and a 90Hz display at a starting price of ₹20,999.

Samsung Galaxy F42 5G: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy F42 5G
Dimensions & Weight	167.2 x 76.4 x 9.0mm
Display	6.6-inch FHD+ 90Hz refresh rate
SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 700
RAM & Storage	6GB + 128GB 8GB + 128GB
Battery & Charging	5,000mAh 15W fast charging support
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 64MP Ultra-wide: 5MP, 115° FoV Depth: 2MP
Front Camera(s)	8MP
Port(s)	USB Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	5G Supported bands: N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N20, N28, N66, N38, N40, N41 and N78 4G/LTE Wi-Fi Bluetooth
Software	One UI 3.1 based on Android 11

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The Galaxy F42 5G is a mid-range device that features a 6.6-inch LCD with a waterdrop-style notch and 90Hz refresh rate support, along with MediaTek’s Dimensity 700 SoC. The phone comes in two RAM/storage variants, 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB, and it features a 5,000mAh battery with 15W wired fast charging support.

The Galaxy F42 5G sports a square camera island on the back that houses a triple camera system. It includes a 64MP primary camera, a 5MP 115° FoV ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor for portrait shots. Over on the front, the device has a single 8MP selfie shooter.

Like the recently launched Galaxy M32 5G and Galaxy M52 5G, the Galaxy F42 offers 5G support. However, it includes support for an additional 5G band, bringing the total up to 12. In addition, it features a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, 4G/LTE support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The phone also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication.

As with all recent Samsung phones, the Galaxy F42 5G runs One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy F42 5G will be available for purchase on October 3rd during Flipkart’s upcoming Big Billion Days sale. As part of the sale, Samsung will offer the phone at an introductory price of ₹17,999 (~$243) for the 6GB + 128GB variant and ₹19,999 (~$270) for the 8GB + 128GB model. After the promotion ends, the device will retail for ₹20,999 (~$283) and ₹22,999 (~$310), respectively. The device will be available in two colors — Matte Aqua and Matte Black.

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Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE lands in India with Snapdragon 778G and a 10-bit AMOLED display

Following the official debut earlier this month in Europe, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE (New Edition) has now landed on the Indian shores. It joins the Mi 11 Lite 4G that launched in India just three months ago. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is identical to the Mi 11 Lite 4G in many respects, including the design, the camera setup, battery capacity and charging speed, etc. However, it’s the chipset and connectivity where the new model sets itself apart as it packs a much powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset and comes with 5G support.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE: Specifications

Specification	Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
Dimensions and Weight	160.53mm x 75.72mm x 6.99mm 157g
Display	6.55-inch AMOLED Full HD+ 90Hz screen refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate 10-bit color depth Dolby Vision HDR10+ DCI-P3 wide color gamut (coverage unspecified)
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4x ARM Cortex-A78 @ 2.4GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz Adreno 642L 6nm process
RAM and Storage	6GB/8GB RAM 128GB UFS 2.2 flash storage MicroSD card support
Battery & Charging	4,250 mAh battery 33W fast charger (inside the box)
Rear Camera	Primary: 64MP f/1.79 primary Secondary: 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide Tertiary: 5MP telemacro f/2.4
Front Camera	16MP f/2.4
Ports	USB Type-C port No 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	5G NR NFC Bluetooth 5.1 Type-C port WiFi 802.11.b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Other features	Side-mounted fingerprint reader Dual speakers Hi-Res Audio certification
Software	Android 11 with MIUI 12.5 Three years of software updates Four years of Android security updates

The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE sports a 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color depth. The display also offers a 240Hz touch sampling rate, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ certification, 800nits brightness, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The phone is just 6.81mm thick and weighs 157g. It also has a near-flat camera module, with the camera bump protruding just 1.77mm from the back.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chipset, paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB flash storage.

The triple camera setup is unchanged from the Mi 11 Lite lineup. You get a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro lens. Meanwhile, a 16MP shooter on the front takes care of the selfie and video calling needs.

The phone packs a 4,250mAh cell that charges via a 33W fast charger. Elsewhere, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE comes equipped with NFC, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 5G support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and dual stereo speakers. On the software front, the phone comes running Android 11 with MIUI 12.5 on top, with Xiaomi promising three years of software updates and four years of security updates.

Pricing & Availability

The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE starts at ₹26,999 for the base 6GB/128GB model and goes up to ₹28,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant. Launch offers include flat ₹1,500 off on both models during Amazon’s Great Indian Festival sale and an additional ₹2,000 off through a special bank offer. The phone will be available from Amazon India, Mi.com, and select retailers starting October 2.

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