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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
