Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Insane Cameras vs Foldable Magic

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has several worthy challengers inside China, but everywhere else in the world, the Galaxy Z Fold has a virtual monopoly on the large foldable category. This was supposed to change soon, as Google had been heavily rumored to have been working on a foldable Pixel, but alas, it’s not meant to be, as Google has reportedly canceled plans for a foldable for now.

But this doesn’t mean Google doesn’t have anything to compete against Samsung’s top dog, the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Pixel 6 Pro may be “just” a conventional slab phone that doesn’t fold or change shapes, but it is still an excellent Android phone — arguably the best, according to our official review — that everyone on the market for a new phone should consider. If you’re looking to buy a new phone — which one should you consider?

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel 6 Pro is the larger sibling that comes with Google's new Tensor chip, a modern design, and an extra telephoto camera.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable right now, and while its cameras aren't as good as the Pixel 6 Pro's, it can do so much more.

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Click to expand: Google Pixel 6 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Specifications

Google Pixel 6 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Specifications

Specifications	Google Pixel 6 Pro	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus front and back “Ultra thin glass” foldable inside screen
Dimensions & Weight	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm 210 grams	Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm Folded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 mm
Display	6.71″ AMOLED 3120 x 1440 pixels variable 120Hz variable refresh rate	Unfolded: 7.6-inch Foldable AMOLED 1768 x 2208 120Hz Folded: 6.2-inch AMOLED 832 x 2268 120Hz
SoC	Google Tensor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM & Storage	12GB RAM 128/256GB	12GB RAM 256GB/512GB
Battery & Charging	5,000mAh Wired fast charging up to 30W Wireless charging up to 23W	4,400mAh Wired charging up to 25W Wireless charging up to 11W
Security	Optical in-display fingerprint reader	Side-mounted capacitive fingerprint reader
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP wide, Samsung GN1, f/1.57, 1/1.31″ Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 48MP Periscope, f/3.5	Primary: 12MP wide, f/1.8 aperture Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture Tertiary: 12MP telephoto, 2x optical zoom, f/2.4
Front Camera(s)	11MP	10MP, f/2.2 aperture 4MP, f/1.8, under display
Port(s)	USB-C	USB-C
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	5G (mmWave) Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Software	Android 12	One UI 3.1 over Android 11
Other Features	Dual physical SIM	Single physical SIM

About this review: This comparison was written after testing a Google Pixel 6 Pro that XDA purchased and a Galaxy Z Fold 3 provided by Samsung. Google Ireland did provide my colleague Adam Conway with a Pixel 6 Pro review unit, but it was not used in this piece. Neither company had any input in this article.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Design and Hardware

Both of these phones are extremely well-built and among the very top in their category. The Pixel 6 Pro has precise haptics that makes typing a joy, as well as a curved OLED screen that blends seamlessly into the aluminum chassis. My grey variant is a bit dull in my opinion (at least until I put a bright orange skin on part of the phone’s backside), but I’ve seen other colorways up close and they look beautiful.

But the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is just on another level in terms of showing cutting-edge hardware that drop jaws. It’s a mini-tablet that folds in half to become a TV remote-shaped smartphone. And having used the first Galaxy Fold, it still amazes me how much Samsung managed to make in just two years. The Z Fold 3’s hinge is rock steady, allowing the device to stay halfway folded and stay still at any angle. The folding plastic OLED screen, while still mushier than a real glass screen, feels less plasticky than the first Fold’s screen. And despite all the moving parts, Samsung managed to add an IPX8 water resistance rating.

The Pixel 6 Pro is obviously easier to hold, with a curvier, thinner body (8.9mm, to the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s 14mm when folded) that weighs less (210g, to the Z Fold 3’s 273g), but Galaxy Z Fold 3 can be a better one-handed phone because in folded form, it’s now as wide horizontally. Either way, you will probably want to get cases for these as they’re still mostly made of glass. There are lots of great options for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Both of these phones are well-built, but the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is just on another level in terms of showing cutting-edge hardware that drop jaws

Both of these phones pack 120Hz displays (in Samsung’s case, two of them), and while I think the Pixel UI’s animations take advantage of the 120Hz more than Samsung’s One UI, the Z Fold 3’s screen gets brighter.

In terms of brains, the Pixel 6 Pro runs on the Tensor, widely advertised as Google’s own self-designed SoC, but Tensor, ironically, has close ties with Samsung’s Exynos chips. And even more ironically, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 does not use Samsung’s own Exynos chips at all. Instead, it runs on the Snapdragon 888, because Qualcomm holds all the critical CDMA patents that are used in the US. So in a way, the Pixel 6 Pro’s brain consists of more Samsung parts than the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s.

Both the Tensor and Snapdragon 888 are very capable chips. The latter has a bit more raw power, but the former is more intelligent at machine learning tasks that deal with language and photos.

Everything else one would expect from a flagship phone in 2021 can be found in these devices: excellent stereo speaker system, wireless charging, NFC, the latest Bluetooth standards, and large batteries (5,000 mAh on the Pixel 6 Pro; 4,400 mAh on the Galaxy Z Fold 3).

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Cameras

The Google Pixel 6 Pro brings major camera hardware upgrades over previous Pixels: the triple-lens main system is headlined by a 50MP GN1 Sensor (again, ironically, from Samsung) with a large image sensor that captures sharp, punchy images with shallow depth-of-field. This capable main shooter is flanked by a 48MP Periscope zoom lens that can produce sharp 4x optical zoom photos, and a 12MP ultra-wide. Around the front is an 11MP selfie shooter.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro brings major camera hardware upgrades over previous Pixels

The Galaxy Z Fold 3, on the other hand, has relatively pedestrian camera hardware: a trio of 12MP sensors covering the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto range, while there are two selfie cameras (one for each screen): a 10MP shooter on the outside cover screen, and a 4MP selfie camera that’s built under the folding display.

The triple 12MP main system here is recycled from last year’s Z Fold 2, and is technically inferior to even Samsung’s standard, non-Ultra, Galaxy S20 released over 18 months ago.

However, as Google has proved in years past, there’s more to camera performance than just hardware, and the Z Fold 3’s cameras are still fine. In fact, most average users probably won’t have any gripes with it at all in a vacuum. But compared to the Pixel 6 Pro? The Z Fold 3’s cameras fall short in almost every area. In low-light photos, the Pixel 6 Pro consistently finds better exposure, whether it’s the main or ultra-wide camera.

For zoom photos, same thing — no surprise, because the Pixel 6 Pro has a 4x Periscope zoom to Z Fold 3’s 2x telephoto zoom.

There are two areas in which the Galaxy Z Fold 3 beats the Pixel 6 Pro: the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s ultra-wide is significantly wider (the Pixel’s ultra-wide can barely be called an ultra-wide). And the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s folding body gives it more flexibility, such as the ability to serve as its own tripod. As long as you can find a flat surface on which to place the Galaxy Z Fold 3, it can stand “upright” on its own and film, while the Pixel 6 Pro would need to be propped against something.

The Z Fold 3 serving as its own tripod.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Software

At the time of writing this, my unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 3 is still running on Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1.1 on top. While Samsung has begun pushing Android 12 with One UI 4 on top in beta stages, there’s no telling when my Fold 3 will actually get it.

The Pixel 6 Pro, of course, has no such concerns and shipped with Android 12 out of the box. Being Google’s own device, it will always be among the first to run the latest version of Android. The Android 12 that’s running here also isn’t vanilla Android, but a version Google is likely keeping exclusive for the Pixel. As my colleague Adam Conway explained in a recent article, the Pixel 6 Pro’s Android 12 places a heavy emphasis on aesthetic customization so the phone’s UI can have a bit of personality and originality.

Just from looks, I like the Pixel 6 Pro’s software better than Samsung’s. I like the customizable color accents that runs throughout the entire Pixel UI, I like the whimsical animations (they zip and bounce around more than most Android skins with the exception of maybe Xiaomi’s MIUI), large toggle buttons, and rounded corner widgets. Samsung’s One UI looks a bit plain by comparison.

In terms of extra features, each UI trade blows. I love that the Pixel can automatically identify music playing near me and show the song title on the Always-On Display screen. And the Pixel’s eerily accurate voice dictation has changed the way I use WhatsApp (I now respond via voice mostly instead of typing). But the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has better multi-tasking capabilities and I’m not just talking about the fact it has a larger screen. Samsung’s One UI allows me to open apps not just in split-screen mode, but also in a floating, resizable window. This means I can use two apps easily. The Pixel 6 Pro only offers split-screen multi-tasking which just isn’t as free as the option to have floating windows.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: General Performance and Everyday Use

I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 on and off for over three months, with at least a combined month’s worth of time as my main phone. The Pixel 6 Pro, meanwhile, has been my daily driver for the past month. I have no major gripes with performance, as both phones run stable and behave mostly as intended. With 12GB of RAM each, apps launched at a speedy rate, even if I had over a dozen in the background.

The Snapdragon 888 inside the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a slightly more capable GPU than the Tensor, but I didn’t notice any differences when gaming — although admittedly, I am a light mobile gamer. One thing I think Samsung got right is it starts the Galaxy Z Fold 3 at 256GB storage, instead of the 128GB that starts the Pixel 6 Pro. Just 128GB in 2021 doesn’t feel adequate to last the next two years, especially since the Pixel’s cameras are so good it entices you to shoot and film more.

I have noticed bugs on the Pixel 6 Pro every now and then, like apps crashing, or fingerprint sensor light still being on after I’ve unlocked the phone. But these are rare occurrences. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is more polished in terms of running problem-free. However, the Pixel 6 Pro has a much better camera system and stronger battery life too. The Pixel 6 Pro can consistently finish a 13-hour whole day out on a single charge, while the Galaxy Z Fold 3 struggles to last 13 hours from my usage — it will usually dip to under 10% by hour 12.

Unfortunately, charging both phones will feel slow for anyone who has used other Chinese phones. The Pixel 6 Pro charges wired at 30W and wireless at 23W, while the Z Fold 3 charges at 20W and 11W respectively. These are slow numbers compared to the 50-60W wireless charging a Xiaomi or OnePlus phone offer. I charge my phone overnight so it’s not too big an issue. But if you ever need a mid-evening top-up before heading out, expect to sit there all dressed up waiting 20 minutes longer than a Xiaomi or Oppo user would have to.

The Pixel 6 Pro changes how I use a smartphone camera, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 changes how I use a smartphone

Ultimately, comparing the two phones as a buying guide is a bit tricky because they have such different form factors. The Pixel 6 Pro, to me, is almost as good as a slab phone can get right now — with the exception of the noticeably slow in-display fingerprint sensor. I know some people find it a bit too big, but the size is fine for me. From in-hand feel to UI fluidity, camera performance to battery life, I have very little to complain about here. The Pixel’s camera performance and camera app UI are both so good, it makes me want to take more photos than I already do.

But it’s still ultimately just a slab phone with one form factor. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a much more ambitious device that can do more. The larger screen (7.6-inches) makes almost every task easier: gaming, watching videos, editing word documents, typing long emails, reading articles, navigating through Google Maps, everything is just better on a bigger screen.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s ability to stay halfway folded at any angle (which Samsung calls “Flex Mode”) also adds another layer of versatility. As long as there’s a flat surface, I can use the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to take hands-free video calls or take photos of myself without asking a stranger to help hold the camera. I can shoot time-lapse videos without needing a tripod or prop the phone up against something. So while the Pixel 6 Pro changes how I use a smartphone camera, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 changes how I use a smartphone.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Conclusion

I’ve been carrying both of these phones for the past week and I am torn as to which one I like more. The Pixel 6 Pro is probably my favorite slab to use right now due to the combination of great camera performance, strong battery life, immersive (notch-less) screen, and a good-looking UI. But as it’s still just a normal phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 feels like it’s more. And for me, a tech enthusiast who also happens to work on the road often, the ability to type a bit faster due to the larger keyboard, or run two apps in split-screen mode without needing to squint, or have an ongoing WhatsApp conversation run in a small floating window while I’m watching a video, make me feel a sense of awe, and reminds me why foldables are still absolutely the future.

But right now, the price of foldables is still high, so for most people, the Pixel 6 Pro is the wiser purchase.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel 6 Pro is the larger sibling that comes with Google's new Tensor chip, a modern design, and an extra telephoto camera.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable right now, and while its cameras aren't as good as the Pixel 6 Pro's, it can do so much more.

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The post Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Insane Cameras vs Foldable Magic appeared first on xda-developers.

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The Apple Watch is praised for fitness, but it can do a lot more than that

When someone says Apple Watch, the first thing that comes to the minds of a lot of people is fitness. And this makes total sense, considering Apple mostly markets the health features of the watch. However, there’s a lot more to this smartwatch than just tracking your activity, workouts, and the data revolving around them. I used to despise having anything on my wrists. I couldn’t tolerate bracelets, let alone a computing device that I have to be extra careful with. However, after using an Apple Watch for over a year in total, it has become an essential companion, rather than a meh accessory. And fitness tracking isn’t particularly what makes the Apple Watch special to me. There’s a lot more that the Apple Watch can do, and a fair few spots where it misses too.

Navigate this article:

• Story Time
• The Yays
• The Nays

Story Time

Back in December 2018, I won an Apple Watch Series 4 Nike Edition (GPS, 40mm) in a Christmas giveaway. It was the latest model at the time and I was hyped to get my hands on it. Setting it up was as straightforward as you’d expect Apple products to be, and I was ready to try its features within minutes. It was both intriguing and exciting because it was a device I couldn’t justify buying as a student — who dislikes wrist accessories and is on a limited budget. But it was there, right in front of me, a device that I wasn’t sure I could tolerate for more than one day. Spoiler alert — it grew on me and turned into a companion I keep on my wrist at all times, except when charging.

A month after using the Series 4, I had to sell it because I was short on money. It was the most valuable item of mine that I could live without at the time, so I had to bid the little fella farewell. However, deep down inside, I knew it wasn’t a final goodbye. I was certain that life would eventually reunite us — and it did. Two years later, in December 2020, I decided to buy myself an Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) as a graduation gift. I had been contemplating the matter for a while, and Apple releasing an affordable model that year made me jump on the purchase. I’ve been using the SE for 11 months now. That’s a full year of Apple Watch usage, when combined with the month I spent with the Series 4.

So what makes this accessory companion special to me? And what are the annoyances associated with it?

The Yays

There are many features — both basic and advanced ones — that make the Apple Watch a reliable and helpful companion.

Fitness tracker

When I was working part-time, I used to close my three activity rings every single day. My streak for closing all three daily was around 9(!) months in a row. However, when I started working full-time, I could no longer do that. Fitness tracking was one of the reasons I bought an Apple Watch again last year. I knew that if something is pushing me to move, I’d listen to it. But eventually, I had to disable these activity notifications because I was working harder and no longer had the time or energy for them. That’s how and when I discovered that fitness tracking isn’t necessarily what makes the Apple Watch special.

I was afraid that by not closing my rings or caring about them, it’d turn into a useless watch. The truth — in my opinion — is that the Apple Watch is much, much more than that. It’s not a device solely made for health tracking, like those slim fitness bands produced by some rivals. It’s a personal and an iPhone companion that is capable of doing a lot. The features may sound gimmicky separately, but when combined and integrated into a person’s workflow, they become time and effort savers that make an actual difference.

Health-related features are what makes the Apple Watch special — generally speaking. However, that doesn’t apply to all of us. If I upgrade to a newer model in the future, it’s for the tight integrations with my other Apple devices and the aspects that aren’t fitness-related. This watch brings the best of two worlds together, and, as a result, it appeals to a bigger, more diverse audience.

A key to your Mac (and heart)

One thing I miss when my watch is charging during my work hours is the ability to unlock my Mac without entering my password or Touch ID. For those unfamiliar with this feature, macOS allows you to unlock your Mac through your Apple Watch. The process is instant, and you don’t have to click any buttons. You just wake your Mac as you would usually do, and you’re in! Of course, there are certain conditions for this feature to work, such as having an unlocked, password-protected Apple Watch on your wrist. So now whenever my SE is on its charger, I open my MacBook’s lid and wait for it to unlock automatically, only to recall that my watch isn’t around. The feature feels so natural and is instant, you forget it exists. It becomes a transparent part of your workflow. You only miss it when you’re not wearing that handy buddy.

Face ID white hat hacker

Despite its compact and cute design, the Apple Watch is actually a lil hacker that can bypass Face ID on your iPhone. Now, before you freak out, only you can enable it to do so. Apple released the iPhone X with Face ID before the COVID19 pandemic started. After it spread globally, unlocking Face ID iPhones when masked started to become a big annoyance to everyone around the world. Lowering your mask every time you want to check something on your phone is most definitely not a safe option, and inputting in a 6 digit pin every single time is not convenient either. And don’t get me started on typing a longer password instead. As a redemption, Apple eventually implemented a feature that allows users to use their watches as an alternative to Face ID when masked.

The feature is similar to that of unlocking your Mac. The watch has to be on your wrist, unlocked, password-protected, and close to your device. Once Face ID detects your mask, your watch will vibrate — as a security notification — and unlock your iPhone instantly. If that was someone next to you holding your phone, you can lock the iPhone again through the security alert on your watch. This feature makes life so much easier, and I only realize how much I depend on it when I go out and leave my watch behind on its charger.

Your own special DJ — Lil Heart Beat

One of the features I depend on almost daily is music control. When you’re playing music on your iPhone, your Apple Watch’s Now Playing app will get triggered. This allows you to control the volume, adjust the queue, pause/play, and change the output device. It spares me the hassle of taking my phone out, unlocking it in some cases, and entering the music app to select a different playlist. It also makes me feel safer knowing that no one will snatch my phone in public, considering that’s relatively common where I live. My phone sits securely in my front pocket, as I add songs to the queue.

Strong, independent device that needs no iPhone

While the Apple Watch requires an iPhone to set up, it still is very capable on its own. The cellular model provides even more independence, like calling and sending SMS through a carrier and using 4G on the go. However, as a WiFi-only model user, the watch still can do a lot when your iPhone is dead or not around.

For example, you can download songs to it for offline listening, leave your phone behind, and connect Bluetooth earbuds to it. This allows you to go on a jog while leaving your phone at home — without missing out on the music. Other features you can take advantage of when your phone isn’t around are FaceTime and iMessage, assuming you’re connected to WiFi. You can communicate with your loved ones through Apple’s services even if your phone is off.

Walking proof that you’re vaccinated

These watches support Apple Wallet — meaning you get to store QR codes in there and view them with a double side click. Some regions support adding vaccination certificates through their official apps. However, plenty of countries have no official way to do so. For this reason, we’ve prepared a guide for you on how to manually add your vaccination certificate to Apple Wallet for easy access.

I use this feature at least once a week. Whenever I’m entering a pub, shopping center, or certain restaurants, I just flip my wrist, double click, scan, and get going. It’s so convenient, and it spares me the hassle of taking my phone out and digging through my files to find and display it. It’s particularly helpful when I’m carrying plenty of bags and can’t really reach for my phone.

Eyesight preserver

Enabling Focus until the following morning from the watch’s Control Center

One of the underrated features of the Apple Watch is its tiny display. How is this a feature? Well, at night, when I’m about to go to sleep, I sometimes remember not enabling Focus (also known as Do Not Disturb or DND). I don’t use the automatic Focus schedule because my sleeping cycles are random and always changing. As a result, I enable it manually every night, set it to turn off on its own in the morning, and that automatically syncs across all of my Apple devices. The small display of the watch doesn’t blind my sensitive eyes when I’m toggling it, compared to using my phone’s larger screen for that. It’s also easier than reaching my bed stand to grab my phone.

Other instances of the watch coming in handy at night are when I randomly wake up during late (early?) hours. I just check my wrist for an idea of the time and to see if there are any important notifications. I can get back to sleep directly after because the display is too small and dim. When I used to check the time on my iPhone, it would usually make it harder for me to fall asleep again, even with Night Shift enabled.

A gentle alarm that attracts sweet dreams

Audible alarms are the worst — to me at least. I would much rather have gentle haptic feedback on my wrist than hear my phone screaming right next to my ear. It’s literal nightmare fuel, no matter how “soothing” the tone actually is. If you’re unsure how to do it, here’s a guide on how to set a silent but vibrating alarm on your Apple Watch. It seriously makes a big difference!

On-time notifier

I might belong to the “weirdos” category here, but I’m sure there are plenty of other people who are the same. This one’s for you, fellows! Some people — including me — prefer leaving their iPhones on silent mode at all times. Vibrations are enough, and I dislike the endless notification and other system sounds. Apple Watch ensures I don’t miss any notifications because it’s perpetually on my wrist. This way if my phone is charging in the other room, silent, or I’m showering, I’ll away get to glance at my notifications.

The ultimate dating utility

When I’m on a date or meeting with a friend, I keep my phone in my pocket at all times — unless they’re checking theirs. I dislike placing it on the table where we’re sitting for plenty of irrelevant reasons. Apple Watch allows me to stealthily take a look at a notification without taking my phone out. I can just check its screen in under a second — with my wrist below the table’s surface to be out of the other person’s sight — just to make sure it’s not an emergency. This way I don’t disrespect my company by taking my phone out, and I get the peace of my mind that whoever is notifying me doesn’t need something urgently.

A solo influencer’s wireless selfie stick

The Camera app on Apple Watch — which acts as a remote and preview screen

Are you exploring some abandoned place with no people around? Do you want to have a photo taken of you for those sweet, sweet likes, views, and clicks? The Apple Watch is a great fit for that role!  You can place your iPhone anywhere and use your watch as a remote for the camera. It’s infinitely better than timers because you can take your time with finding the right spot and check a live preview of the photo on your wrist before taking it.

Tip calculator

Not sure how much to tip the waiting staff? Type the total on your Apple Watch’s Calculator app and hit the Tip button. You’ll get to choose the percentage of the bill you want to tip, and it’ll display both how much you’d have to tip and the new total. You can also select the number of people paying for a bill to find out how much each has to contribute. It’s a handy feature that is missing from the Calculator app on iOS — for some reason.

The guide to wherever you’re going

Are you walking around in the city? When navigating through Apple Maps, the watch automatically loads the Maps app and guides you. This way you don’t need to check your phone every time you have to make a turn. In fact, the watch will even vibrate on your wrist to alert you about upcoming turns.

iPhone locator

Not sure where you’ve placed your iPhone in a messy room? You can make it scream for help or flash its LED right from the Apple Watch’s Control Center. Never lose your phone in untidy environments again!

Info at a glance

Do certain stocks mean something to you? Care about the weather conditions? The state of the Earth or phase of the Moon? Sunrise and sunset times? The next alarm or calendar event? Apple Watch offers dozens of complications to choose from. You can view the information you care about at a glance, right from the watch face, without needing to launch any apps or take your phone out.

Shopping buddy

One of the watch apps I frequently use is Reminders. Whenever I’m shopping in person (rather than online), I check my list of needed items on my watch. That’s because carrying your phone while holding shopping bags or baskets isn’t exactly the easiest.

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The Nays

Despite its premium build and features that make life easier, the Apple Watch isn’t perfect. And Apple sometimes intentionally excludes features on certain models that can handle them just fine.

Can’t view iPhone’s battery level

One of the annoyances of watchOS is not being able to view your iPhone’s battery percentage. This makes absolutely no sense to me, considering you can check the watch’s battery level on iOS. Sometimes my phone is a few meters away on its charger, and I wonder if it’s fully charged or not, as I work on my Mac. It would’ve been more practical being able to check that on my wrist, rather than having to get up and walk towards the actual phone. A very welcome addition would be a battery widget that works across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that shows the battery levels of all connected devices. You can already get an estimation through the Find My app,  and there’s nothing stopping Apple from taking this feature to the next level.

No multi-platform support

This isn’t something that bothers me personally, but a lot of my friends using Android wish they could pair an Apple Watch to their phones. While I wouldn’t expect all features and integrations to work on that OS, there are plenty of handy ones that Apple could implement. Android lacks a real, truly excellent smartwatch experience the way Apple has curated for iPhone with the Apple Watch; and while simply bringing the Apple Watch experience over will most likely not be an equivalent match, it will certainly spur more innovation on the Android side of smartwatches as Apple will enter as a big name competitor. And there is incentive for Apple to do so too — Android remains a dominant mobile ecosystem, and Apple can monetize experiences like Apple Fitness Plus to a wider audience. The Apple Watch is a great health device that doesn’t rely on a connected smartphone for capturing its data, so the software ecosystem lock feels rather unfair.

It would also be cool if Apple added the Watch, Health, and Fitness apps on macOS and iPadOS. This way health data can be viewed on any Apple device — thanks to iCloud sync — and watch settings can be adjusted. This would also act as an Android support alternative, considering plenty of Android users own iPads or Macs but not iPhones. I could understand why Apple wouldn’t want to bring watch support to Android. However, bringing it to other Apple operating systems isn’t as much of a challenge. A very welcome addition would be mirroring notifications from Macs and iPads, too — not just the paired iPhone.

Lack of Qi wireless charging

How does the Apple Watch charge? Wirelessly. So if I place it on my phone’s Qi wireless charger, it’ll charge just fine, right? Erm, about that…

The lack of Qi wireless charging makes absolutely no sense to me. I don’t personally use a wireless charger for my iPhone and AirPods Pro. However, had I used one, I would’ve been pissed off at the fact that the Apple Watch uses a different wireless charging technology. Just use Qi already.

Same design over the years

We’re bored, Apple. You have enough resources to work on the insides as you tweaks the chassis. Slightly larger screens and smaller bezels aren’t exactly what we’re looking for. The watch has looked almost the same since it was first released. A major redesign is long overdue — in my opinion.

Not completely independent

While the Apple Watch is very capable on its own, it still isn’t completely independent. Yes, you can download apps and software updates while listening to music without an iPhone. But — at the end of the day — it’s still a limited device that can’t be depended on at all times. Taking watchOS to the next level by making it fully self-reliant would solve the issue of lacking multi-platform support.

Just like some Android users get to use iPads or Macs without owning iPhones, the watch could become a similar device that anyone can buy. Apple has made it easier by allowing families to pair watches from other members’ iPhones, but this requires a cellular model of the watch. The ideal solution would be an independent setup process with an optional button to use an iPhone for data transfer and a faster setup.

Doesn’t get plenty of new software features

This smartwatch is a powerful and feature-rich device — don’t get me wrong — but watchOS updates have been very dull lately. I feel like iOS gets the most of Apple’s attention every year at WWDC. It makes sense, considering the iPhone is their most popular product. However, it would be refreshing to see groundbreaking changes come to the smol OS, rather than a new watch face and two gimmicky additions with every “major” annual release.

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The Apple Watch has grown on me and become a device I miss when I’m not wearing it. I always find myself looking at my bare wrist when it’s charging, only to realize there’s no screen there to check the time or notifications. Had I not won in that giveaway two years ago, I probably wouldn’t have bought one anytime soon. It’s one of those devices I wasn’t particularly interested in before trying them. But once I tried using it for a while, I fell in love with what it has to offer, and indeed it has turned from a meh accessory to an essential companion that I depend on in so many ways — that aren’t necessarily fitness-related.

What are your favorite Apple Watch features? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Today only: Fossil Gen 6 smartwatches are cheaper now than on Black Friday

Fossil released its Gen 6 smartwatches earlier this year, with the latest Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipsets and Google’s Wear OS 2. The watches started at $299 for 42mm sizes, and $319 for the 44mm options, but they have slowly fallen in price. They were on sale for Black Friday, with a $90 discount across both sizes, and now they have dropped even lower.

The 42mm and 44mm models of the Fossil Gen 6 with silicone watch straps are on sale for $204.00 right now, a discount of $95 from the original price, and $25 lower than on Black Friday. The models with stainless steel bands are a bit more expensive at $214.00, which is $105 below the MSRP and $15 lower than on Black Friday. Not bad at all.

Fossil Gen 6

Fossil's Gen 6 smartwatches are now on sale at multiple retailers, starting at just $204.

Buy at Best Buy

Buy at Amazon

All Fossil Gen 6 smartwatches have the same hardware, including a Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset, round AMOLED screens, 1GB RAM, and 8GB storage. You also get a heart rate monitor, an Sp02 sensor for checking blood oxygen levels, and faster charging than previous Fossil smartwatches. The only catch is that the watches are still running Wear OS 2, not the newer Wear OS 3 software currently found on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series. Google and Fossil say the watches will get Wear OS 3 sometime in 2022.

The Fossil Gen 6 is one of the better options for a Wear OS smartwatch right now, especially if you aren’t interested in Samsung’s software ecosystem and its One UI skin on the Galaxy Watch 4. As with previous generations, Fossil has multiple design styles to choose from, and you can swap out the bands with standard watch bands later. The side dial for scrolling through apps and menus is especially handy, which isn’t found on the regular Galaxy Watch 4 (the Classic has a spinning bezel) or the Mobvoi TicWatch 3 Pro Ultra.

Best Buy says the sale is only live until the end of today, and even though Amazon’s store listings don’t mention an end time, the discount will likely end around the same time as Best Buy’s sale.

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Get a MagSafe Battery Pack for just $75 today ($24 off)

Last year’s iPhone 12 series introduced MagSafe, and Apple has carried it over to the more recent iPhone 13 lineup. The technology allows you to magnetically attach chargers (and other accessories) to the back of an iPhone, and one of the more interesting MagSafe accessories has been Apple’s own Battery Pack, which sticks to the back of an iPhone and charges it. Now the MagSafe Battery Pack is on sale for $75 at multiple stores, one of the best discounts we’ve seen for it yet.

The MagSafe Battery Pack is a 1460mAh battery (according to teardowns) that attaches to any iPhone 12 or 13 series phone. Similar to other Apple accessories, the battery’s charge level is displayed inside of iOS, so it’s easy to tell when you need to plug it in. The battery itself charges through a built-in Lightning connector, and if it’s attached to an iPhone while charging, it charges the iPhone at up to 15W. If you happen to have a power adapter that supplies over 20W, and you connect the battery to it, both the battery and iPhone are rapidly charged.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

This small battery pack can attach magnetically to any iPhone 12 or 13. It's on sale for $75 at multiple stores, $24 below MSRP.

Buy at Best Buy

Buy at Amazon

The main catch is that the MagSafe Battery Pack only works with the iPhone 12 and 13, so you can’t top up your friends’ older phones or Android devices as easily as you could with a USB-based portable battery. It’s also not too difficult to push the battery off your phone accidentally, since all that’s keeping it in place is a magnet. Still, if you’re looking for an iPhone battery that can give you just enough charge for a few hours of normal use, this is a compact option with excellent iOS integration.

If this isn’t quite the battery for you, check out our roundup of the best portable chargers and powerbanks. We’ve compiled some of the best options for both Android and iOS devices, plus anything else you might own that charges over USB.

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Google Photos Locked Folder rolling out to non-Pixel phones

Many photo management apps on Android devices have an option to lock certain photos behind a PIN or fingerprint, but Google has been slow to implement such a feature in its own products. Google Photos finally added a Locked Folder feature earlier this year, but it was initially exclusive to Pixel phones, and now it’s rolling out more widely.

Android Police reports (via 9to5Google) that the Lock Folder feature is starting to appear on more Android devices in the Google Photos app. The Lock Folder option doesn’t appear to be live on my Galaxy S21, but Android Police has spotted it on a Galaxy A52, while 9to5Google noticed it on various Oppo, OnePlus, and Samsung phones. You can check if you have it by tapping the Library tab in Photos, then selecting the Utilities page.

Locked Folder in Google Photos (Credit: Google)

Photos and videos moved to the Locked Folder can only be accessed with a fingerprint (or your device’s PIN), and they are not accessible to other apps on your phone. Most importantly, they are not backed up to the cloud — if you lose your phone, or forget to back up the Locked Folder before a wipe, you lose access to those photos and/or videos.

Locked Folder rolled out to Pixel phones in June of this year, and the Google Camera was also updated to save photos and videos in the Locked Folder by pressing the folder button. It’s not clear if other device manufacturers will add similar integration with Locked Folder in Google Photos (or if Google will even allow that to happen).

Google has rolled out many other features for Photos in recent months, including automatic event memories, new widgets on Android, a new shortcut to quickly open the Screenshots folder, and new frame styles for the Memories widget.

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Sony reportedly working on PlayStation competitor to Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass has been a success for Microsoft, giving PC and Xbox players unlimited access to over 100 major games for a single monthly subscription. The service has also served as the groundwork for Microsoft’s attempt at cloud gaming, Xbox Game Streaming, which gives players instant access to titles from Game Pass. Now it seems Sony is finally close to releasing its own Xbox Game Pass competitor.

Bloomberg reports that the service, codenamed ‘Spartacus,’ will offer a catalog of modern and classic games for a single monthly fee. It’s expected to arrive in the spring, and will merge Sony’s two existing subscription plans: PlayStation Plus (required for most online games, and offers a few free games each month) and PlayStation Now (a game streaming service that mostly has PS3-era games). Sony will reportedly keep the PlayStation Plus branding, but PlayStation Now will be phased out.

The new service will reportedly have three tiers. The base option will mirror existing PlayStation Plus benefits, and the second tier will have substantial amount of PlayStation 4 games, with PlayStation 5 games coming at some point in the future. Finally, the top-tier option reportedly adds extended demos, game streaming, and games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP.

Xbox Game Pass also has three plan options, with a $9.99/mo option for PC gaming, another $9.99/mo option for console access, and a $14.99/mo ‘Ultimate’ plan with access to games on both platforms. The Ultimate plan also includes cloud streaming and Electronic Arts’ EA Play subscription.

Subscription services are only as good as what they offer, so it will be interesting to see if Sony can match (or beat) Microsoft with its own library of games. There are countless classics on earlier PlayStation consoles, and many recent PlayStation exclusives have been well received by players and critics (such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and The Last Of Us), but it’s not clear how many of these could be available through a subscription.

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Alexa smart speakers can now detect more types of sounds

Amazon has offered ‘Routines’ with its Alexa voice assistant for a while now, allowing people to set up multi-step automations that can be activated by a voice prompt or select other triggers (similar to Google Assistant routines and Apple Shortcuts). Alexa routines now have more options for sound-based triggers, including water running and appliances beeping.

Amazon wrote in its latest Alexa Monthly Roundup (via Android Central), “We’ve added Water Running and Appliance Beeping as two new sounds that customers can use to kick off Alexa Routines. For example, set a Routine that enables Alexa to send you a notification when your washer beeps to signify that your laundry is done. Or, have Alexa remind you to turn off the sink if the kids accidentally left the water running after brushing their teeth.”

If you have an Echo smart speaker (or something else with Alexa), you can set up some interesting automations with this. You could have a light in your home flash when an oven timer is done, or if you set up AutoVoice, you can have local automated tasks run on your phone based on sounds detected by an Alexa speaker. The possibilities are probably endless.

The same announcement also mentions that devices with ultrasound motion detection (4th Gen Echo and 4th Gen Echo Dot) can now activate Alexa routines based on motion, or lack thereof. For example, if you have a compatible Echo and a smart thermostat, you could have the thermostat turn off if no one is in a room. These automations should also be able to integrate with Tasker AutoVoice, if you want to have them perform actions on an Android device.

This news comes after several other improvements have rolled out to the Alexa voice assistant, including multiple activation phrases for Routines, an optional male voice, and an adaptive volume feature.

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