Category: Technologies

Do you long to travel more but don’t have the budget to cover expensive flights? Going.com may be able to help. Airfare isn’t cheap, but Going.com — formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights — can alert you about great flight deals, most of which are 40-90% off regular prices. Right now, CNET readers can get 15% off Premium or Elite memberships when you sign up using code CNET15.

Going.com gathers cheap flights departing from your local airport and sends email alerts so you snatch up flights at substantial savings. While there is a free tier available, it’s pretty limited in options, focusing only on international flights. A Premium subscription will deliver custom alerts for bargains on economy fares for up to five destinations and offers both domestic and international deals, all for $42 a year with this discount.

You can also upgrade to the Elite membership, which offers deals in economy, premium economy, business class and first class for both domestic and international flights. It also includes mistake fares, points and miles deal alerts and extra support. Plus, you can choose up to 10 custom destinations to focus on, which opens up a lot more options for would-be jetsetters. It usually costs $199 for an Elite annual membership, but this deal drops that price to $169.

Don’t forget to check out the latest luggage deals to upgrade your suitcase sets or carry-on bags before you take off. If you’re looking for holiday gifts for the world traveler in your life, we’ve gathered top travel tech gifts to keep frequent flyers entertained on the go and capture memories from every destination on the bucket list.

Since mid-September, Apple fans have been toying around with the new features that iOS 17 brought to compatible iPhones. These upgrades include additions like StandBy mode and the Journal app. Among these new-to-iPhone features is NameDrop, a contact-sharing feature that lets you share your number with just a tap of your phone.

The release of iOS 17, and NameDrop, follows the announcement of the iPhone 15 series, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Apple’s Wonderlust event in September. If you’ve got an iPhone running iOS 17, you’re in luck; NameDrop is available (and pretty easy) to use. However, not everyone is sold on Apple’s latest contact sharing feature.

Recently, law enforcement agencies around the country have raised concerns over the feature’s safety, specifically calling into question the ease with which information can be stolen. If you’re concerned about the safety of NameDrop, don’t worry, we have everything you need to know about the feature and how it works.

Read more: Best iPhone of 2023

What is NameDrop?

NameDrop is the newest way iPhone users can share contact information with each other. You no longer have to fork over your phone to strangers if you want to swap contact info. Simply tap your phones together to swap information.

When can I use NameDrop?

If you’re an iPhone user, you’re in luck. NameDrop is available to you right now, or as soon as you update to iOS 17 — that is, as long as you have a supported iPhone.

How does NameDrop work?

In a Newsroom post, Apple called NameDrop a “new AirDrop experience.” People with iPhones can “hold their iPhone near another to share their contact information with only their intended recipient”. When the feature was released back in September, Apple clarified that you’ll be able to select what information you share with other people, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally sending super-personal information to strangers.

Essentially, all you have to do is place your iPhone close to the intended recipient of your NameDrop, and you’re done. Once you’ve placed the phones together, a Contact Poster will pop up (that is, the image that pops up when you call someone). After that, you’ll have the option to just receive the contact or send your own back.

You’ll only be able to NameDrop with other iPhone users running iOS 17 or later and Apple Watch users running Watch OS 10 or later. If you want to get in on the contact-sharing action, you’ll want to make sure your device is running the right version of its operating system.

So… how do I turn NameDrop off?

If you still feel uncomfortable or unsafe using NameDrop, Apple’s got you covered.

All you have to do is open the Settings app, and then tap on General. After that, navigate to the AirDrop tab. Once you open the tab, simply toggle the Bring Devices Together option off. And just like that, no more NameDrop.

For more iOS 17 details, check out everything you should do before updating to iOS 17 and five hidden iOS 17 features we think you should know about.

If you’re an iPhone user, you’re probably aware that your phone’s display brightness automatically adjusts depending on the amount of light your phone senses in your environment. While this can be a pretty useful feature that helps combat eyestrain and makes your screen a bit easier easier to see, auto-brightness is not always as helpful as it could be.

The problem can be that your display automatically dims down even when you’re out in the sun. If you’re partially in the shade, your phone might get tricked into automatically dimming your screen, even if it doesn’t need to. This can make it difficult to see what’s on your screen. If you manually increase the brightness, it’ll just go back down again because of auto-brightness. Fixing this issue isn’t always as easy as toggling off the necessary settings — but that’s a good place to start.

We’ll show you two settings you need to disable to help prevent your iPhone from automatically dimming. Be advised, your iPhone might still auto-adjust its brightness even when those two settings are disabled.

While you’re here, you should also check out everything we know about the iPhone 15, and what you need to know about the iOS 17 Beta.

First, disable auto-brightness

Yes, this may seem a bit obvious, but the first thing you want to do is to make sure that you have automatic brightness disabled in your settings. The feature is pretty self-explanatory — it automatically adjusts your brightness depending on the light in your environment. If you want to prevent your display from always trying to adjust, you must disable this feature.

In the Settings application, go to Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle off Auto-Brightness at the bottom of the page. You would think that this setting would exist in Display & Brightness, so it’s not uncommon that auto-brightness would be enabled without you knowing since it’s tucked away in Accessibility.

If your brightness continues to automatically adjust, there’s another setting you need to disable.

You also need to turn off True Tone

If you have an iPhone SE (2nd gen) and later, the True Tone feature measures the color temperature and brightness in your environment and then adjusts its display to match it. True Tone is useful when you want it — it not only helps show more accurate colors across various lighting situations, but it’s also easier on the eyes, which you need if you’re constantly reading on your phone.

Again, if you don’t care about the feature, don’t use it or are simply annoyed that your brightness continues to automatically adjust, you need to disable it. In Settings, go to Display & Brightness and toggle off True Tone under the Brightness header. As long as auto-brightness is also disabled, turning True Tone off should prevent your iPhone from automatically adjusting your brightness.

One exception applies.

Don’t let your iPhone overheat

Your iPhone has several ways of protecting its internal components, and that includes automatically dimming your display. Even if you have both auto-brightness and True Tone turned off, if your iPhone is overheating, it will automatically adjust the display intensity.

According to Apple, to help prevent this from happening, you should use your iPhone in temperatures between 32 to 95 degrees F (zero and 35 degrees C) and store it in temperatures between 4 and 113 degrees F (between minus 20 and 45 degrees C). If you leave your iPhone in your car or on the sidewalk on a hot day, or even if you try to use it by the pool or beach on a hot day, there’s a good chance that it will overheat and cause your display to automatically dim.

Overheating doesn’t occur only because of a sunny day. A faulty battery can also cause your iPhone to overheat: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and check if your battery needs to be replaced. Another reason could be buggy software: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and more sure to always be on the latest update to deal with any software bugs and issues.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, the long-running annual gaming show that brought together the world’s game publishers, retailers and press to Los Angeles, is dead.

“After more than two decades of serving as a central showcase for the US and global video game industry, ESA has decided to end E3,” the Electronic Software Association said in a statement on Tuesday. “ESA’s focus and priority remain advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce who fuel positive cultural and economic impact every day.”

Analysts who spoke with CNET cited withdrawals from major publishing partners, along with increased competition from other events, as reasons for the event’s demise.

The end of E3 comes after publishers began slowly pulling back from the show over the past decade. Nintendo stopped doing press conferences at E3 in 2013, instead opting to upload prerecorded videos online. Both Microsoft and EA chose to have off-site events during E3, moving people away from the Los Angeles Convention Center. A major gut punch came in 2019 when Sony decided to pull out of E3 altogether.

With more companies hosting showcases outside of E3, the event’s relevance slowly diminished. Starting in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, E3 canceled or postponed in-person shows, though it did hold an online-only event in 2021. In 2022, ESA said that E3 would return the following year, but ultimately canceled this year’s show due to a lack of interest.

E3’s decline coincided with the rise of Summer Game Fest, a series of game reveal events hosted by veteran industry insider Geoff Keighley. Summer Game Fest started online, and in 2022, hosted its first in-person event in Los Angeles, conspicuously occurring during E3’s usual event window.

Read more: Game Industry Insider Geoff Keighley Lays Out His Vision for Showcase Events

A world without E3 could lead to more canned remarks

While later E3 events would open their doors to let fans experience the displays and demos on the show floor, the convention had traditionally been the launchpad for news from game companies big and small. Without an in-person industry event, gamers looking for announcements and updates on upcoming titles will have to lean more on prerecorded presentations and press releases from major companies like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and EA, with fewer opportunities for press interviews and off-the-cuff remarks.

“The real importance of E3 is that everyone was there all at once,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. Unlike the Game Developers Conference or Tokyo Game Show, E3 attracted CEOs and CFOs from across the industry, according to Pachter. This also meant that mainstream press attended the event, attracting a ton of consumer attention.

E3 began in 1995 as a trade show meant to bring in retailers to help coordinate for the holiday shopping season. The show evolved to a premiere event that attracted mainstream press from around the world with bigger and flashier press conferences. As the retail environment changed, with more games going online and major titles arriving outside of the holiday shopping season, E3’s central role waned. Having one show in the summer didn’t really work for publishers planning to release games the following March. That prompted companies to showcase titles at their own events instead. The last in-person E3 was in 2019, with the final E3 in 2021, though it was online-only.

“I notice companies being a lot less transparent and really wanting to control the message,” said David Cole, lead analyst at DFC Intelligence. With companies sticking to online presentations and not making executives and developers readily available, it’s harder for the press to ask tough questions. This is partly by design so that companies can control their own message, according to Cole. The reduced transparency makes an analyst’s job more difficult as well.

“I can’t get honest answers from these companies,” said Cole. “It makes it tough because you’re just basically going with their own hype of whatever they’re saying in public and you kind of got to go around and really dig to get the true story.”

Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Apart from releasing videos and sending out press releases, companies will continue to lean on online influencers to guide public opinion. While some influencers are transparent with their level of access, others may take payment from publishers to showcase games, something that trusted journalistic organizations don’t do. Cole said companies leaning on influencers has been happening for a while and it’ll take more due diligence by consumers to catch on to how online hype is potentially being manipulated by marketing teams.

“The companies that ‘pulled out’ (namely Sony) made a huge mistake and killed the show,” said Pachter. “EA was stupid moving its competing show across town on the same days and Microsoft was stupid moving to the Peacock (formerly Microsoft) theater. I am hopeful that the ESA recognizes the importance of the show and brings it back, but am not optimistic.”

The holiday season is synonymous with food — lots and lots of food. Butshopping, prepping and cooking meals for gatherings, especially if you have a big group of family and friends, can be a lot. Luckily, there are countless food delivery services that can make meals easier for you, both this season and beyond. Services such as Butcher Box, Thrive Market and others offer premium meats and fresh organic groceries delivered straight to your door. Give yourself a gift — and save some money while you’re at it.

Looking for more discounts? CNET has the best deals from Butcher Box, Thrive Market and many others, along with promo code offers — all updated and verified daily.

Welcome to CNET Coupons, the first stop before you shop, featuring a multitude of deals and discounts from top online retailers. Simply head over to our coupon page and type in your favorite store or brands to find all the deals available for the week.

“Hey, Meta. Take a look at this and tell me which of these teas is caffeine-free.”

I spoke these words as I wore a pair of Meta Ray-Bans at the tech giant’s New York headquarters, while I stared at a table with four tea packets with their caffeine labels blacked out with a Magic Marker. A little click sound in my ears was followed by Meta’s AI voice telling me that the chamomile tea was likely caffeine-free. It was reading the labels and making judgments using generative AI.

I was demoing a feature that’s rolling out to Meta’s second-generation Ray-Ban glasses starting today, a feature that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had already promised in September when the new glasses were announced. The AI features, which can access Meta’s on-glasses cameras to look at images and interpret them with generative AI, were supposed to launch in 2024. Meta has moved to introduce these features a lot faster than I expected, although the early-access mode is still very much a beta. Along with adding Bing-powered search into Ray-Bans as part of a new update, which ups the power of the glasses’ already available voice-enabled capabilities, Meta’s glasses are starting to gain a number of new abilities fast.

I was pretty wowed by the demo because I had never seen anything like it. I have in parts: Google Lens and other on-phone tools use cameras and AI together already, and Google Glass — a decade ago — had some translation tools. That said, the easy-access way that Meta’s glasses have of invoking AI to identify things in the world around me feels pretty advanced. I’m excited to try it a lot more.

Multimodal AI: How it works right now

The feature has limits right now. It can only recognize what you see by taking a photo, which the AI then analyzes. You can hear the shutter snap after making a voice request, and there’s a pause of a few seconds before a response comes in. The voice prompts are also wordy: Every voice request on the Meta glasses needs to start with “Hey, Meta,” and then you need to follow with “Take a look at this” to trigger the photo-taking, immediately followed with whatever you want to request the AI to do. “Hey, Meta, take a look at this and tell me a recipe with these ingredients.” “Hey, Meta, take a look at this and make a funny caption.” “Hey, Meta, take a look at this. What plant is it?”

Every AI response, and the photo it looked at, are stored in the Meta View phone app that pairs with the glasses. I like this, because it’s a visual/written record for later, like memory-jogging notes. I could see wandering somewhere and asking it questions, using this as some form of head-worn Google search for my eyes, while shopping or who knows what.

It could also have possible uses for assistive purposes. I wore a test pair of Meta glasses that didn’t have my prescription, and I asked it what I was looking at. Answers can vary in detail and accuracy, but it can give a heads-up. It knew I was showing it my glasses, which it said had bluish-tinted lenses (blue-black frame, pretty close).

Sometimes it can hallucinate. I asked the glasses about fruit in a bowl in front of me, and it said there were oranges, bananas, dragonfruit, apples and pomegranates. It was correct, except for the pomegranates. (There were none of those.) I was asked to have it make a caption for a big stuffed panda in front of a window. It made some cute ones, but one was about someone being lonely and looking at a phone, which didn’t match.

I looked at a menu in Spanish and asked the glasses to show me spicy dishes. It read off some dishes and translated some key ingredients for me, but I asked again about dishes with meat and it read everything back in Spanish.

The possibilities here are wild and fascinating, and possibly incredibly useful. Meta admits that this early launch will be about discovering bugs and helping evolve the way the on-glasses AI works. I found there were too many “Hey, Meta, look at this” moments. But that process might change, who knows. When engaged in immediate image analysis, asking direct follow-up questions can work without saying “Look at this” again, but I’m sure my success will vary.

The future of wearable AI is getting interesting

This AI, which Meta calls “multimodal AI” because it uses cameras and voice chat together, is a precursor of future AI that the company plans to mix many forms of inputs into, including more sensory data. Qualcomm’s AI-focused chipset on Meta’s new Ray-Bans already seems ready to take on more. It’s also a process that Meta plans to make more seamless over time.

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told me in September that while the glasses now need a voice prompt to activate and “see” so that they don’t burn through battery life, eventually they’ll “have sensors that are low power enough that they’re able to detect an event that triggers an awareness that triggers the AI. That’s really the dream we’re working towards.” Meta is also already researching AI tools that blend multiple forms of sensory data together, in advance of more advanced future wearables.

Right now, know that it’s an early-access beta. Meta is using anonymized query data to help improve its AI services during the early access phase, which may concern people wanting more privacy. I don’t know the specific opt-in details yet, but more discrete controls over sharing data look like they may be in place once the final AI features launch, likely next year.

It all reminds me of exactly what Humane is aiming for with its wearable AI Pin, a device I haven’t even seen in person yet. While Human’s product is expensive and needs to be worn on clothing, Meta’s glasses are $300 and are already on store shelves. As watches, VR headsets and smart glasses all evolve their AI capabilities, things could get very different for the future of wearable tech and its level of assistive awareness.

It’s becoming clear that a new frontier of wearable AI products is already underway, and Meta’s glasses are getting here first.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.

If you don’t want to build your PC from scratch due to a lack of time or tech-savvy, then going for a pre-built PC is an excellent option. To that end, this iBUYPOWER desktop PC is perfect for any gamer looking for a mid-range gaming rig. It has a relatively powerful GPU that should let you handle 2k gaming at high refresh or graphical settings, and it has enough VRAM to be future-proof. While the iBUYPOWER Y40 311A usually goes for $2,350, Best Buy has it discounted heavily down to $1,600, so it’s well worth grabbing if you’re interested.

Under the hood, this iBUYPOWER PC runs and RTX 4070 Ti, which is a bit more powerful than an RTX 3080, and an excellent GPU for gaming at 1440p. That means you’ll easily be hitting maximum graphical quality while maintaining around 100-120 frames per second in most AAA games. You could also run it at 4k, and it won’t be a slouch there, but you will have to compromise in graphical settings to stay at over 100 frames.

Luckily, you get a similarly powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, which is a mid-to-high-end CPU that will handle most games perfectly. It will also let you get some productivity and editing work done, making this a rather versatile desktop. As if that wasn’t enough, you also get 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is plenty and great for those who like to keep a lot of tabs and apps open. As for storage, you get both a 1TB NVMe and a 1TB HDD, so you have absolutely plenty for both gaming and general file storage.

iBUYPOWER PC even throws in a mouse and keyboard for free. That said, they aren’t excellent quality, and we would suggest grabbing something nicer, which won’t cost you too much extra if you check out our roundup for the best gaming mouse under $50 and the best gaming keyboard under $100. Also, if this iBUYPOWER PC doesn’t quite do it for you, there are some other excellent gaming PC deals you can check out, too.

Apple has a new security feature coming to keep your iPhone even safer from thieves. While the functionality requires Face ID or Touch ID authentication, to keep your most sensitive iCloud settings secure, Apple will require you to scan your face or enter a fingerprint a second time an hour later — preventing shady characters from unlocking your phone and speeding off with it.

Stolen Device Protection, as the setting is named, is a new optional feature that Apple nonetheless recommends everyone turns on when it arrives in the next full version of iPhone’s operating system. It’s available now in the just-released developer beta of iOS 17.3, and is the latest feature Apple has added to help iPhone users protect their data and devices.

Read more: Best iPhone of 2023

The feature uses a new mechanism called Security Delay to make it harder for thieves and opportunists to access your most sensitive settings on iPhones, yet it’s designed not to obstruct everyday use — a tricky tightrope to walk. Once turned on, the feature requires users to enter their biometric info (facial scan or fingerprint) once and then again after an hour, and no, they can’t bypass it by using a passcode. Only a handful of settings will be locked under Stolen Device Protection, including changing your Apple ID password, updating Apple ID account security settings (like adding or changing recovery contacts), changing your iPhone passcode, and adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID.

Crucially, a Security Delay will not be required if the user is at a familiar location like at home or at work — places they’ve spent a lot of time and unlocked their phone regularly. While Apple hasn’t clarified what makes a location trusted, it won’t just be places you’ve frequented and are logged into Wi-Fi which would include places like bars or coffee shops where you might run into situations Stolen Device Protectionis designed to protect.

By adding a second delayed biometric scan, opportunistic thieves or even direct attackers demanding an initial passcode and face scan ultimately won’t be able to change account ownership of the device. This is another tricky balance to add protection without potentially escalating the situation, and Apple studied commonly reported scenarios to find an effective solution, according to an Apple Representative.

Stolen Device Protection is in the iOS 17.3 developer beta available now, and Apple plans to be included in an upcoming public iOS 17 update.

It was a busy year for smartphone launches, and 2024 is expected to be just as eventful. Major phone-makers like Apple, Samsung and Google each typically launch new devices around the same time every year, introducing more sophisticated cameras, faster processors and enhanced designs.

But 2024 may be different. Tech companies are looking for new ways to infuse generative AI, or artificial intelligence that can create conversational (but not always accurate) responses to prompts based on training data, into their products. As 2023 draws to a close, we got our first glimpse at how that tech is appearing in smartphones through the Pixel 8 family and new mobile chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek.

While 2023 was the year generative AI went mainstream, 2024 will test how truly useful these AI-powered features are. With AI being the new buzzword thanks to the success of ChatGPT, every tech company is jumping at the chance to weave it into their products. Now, we’ll have to see if it lives up to the hype.

Here’s a look at the most anticipated phones from the industry’s biggest players next year, not including foldable phones and budget phones.

iPhone 16 lineup

What to expect: Apple launches new iPhones every September, and we have no reason to believe next year will be any different. All iPhone 16 models are expected to get upgraded microphones to improve Siri performance, according to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The change would come as Apple is said to be ramping up the iPhone’s AI features, Bloomberg reports. Otherwise, the iPhone 16 family is rumored to get a new A18 chip from Apple, with the Pro models getting a version called the A18 Pro Bionic, analyst Jeff Pu reports according to MacRumors. The camera on the regular iPhone 16 Pro is also expected to get a tetraprism telephoto lens like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Kuo also reports, meaning it would likely have a 5x telephoto zoom instead of 3x. Read our full iPhone 16 rumor roundup.

Why we’re excited about it: The iPhone 16 sounds like it will be a modest upgrade over the iPhone 15 family. But I’m interested in seeing Apple’s take on how AI can improve the smartphone experience. Siri is expected to be a big part of that, and I’m looking forward to seeing Siri evolve into more than just a quick way to set timers or check tomorrow’s weather forecast.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series

What to expect: AI will likely be a big focus for Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. The South Korean tech giant in November announced Galaxy AI, which it describes as a “mobile AI experience.” Since the Galaxy S24 series is expected to launch in January according to SBS Biz News, it seems plausible that Galaxy AI will play a big role in the new device. Otherwise, the Galaxy S24 Ultra may get a flat screen instead of a slightly curved one, according to leaks that have surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) from accounts under the aliases David Martin and SuperRoader. The phones will also likely get routine camera and processor upgrades and may run on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which can process AI tasks without pinging the cloud. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 rumor roundup for more.

Why we’re excited about it: I’ve been waiting for Samsung to come up with clever new software features the way Google has for its Pixel devices. Galaxy AI could be the answer, but we won’t know for sure until Samsung announces the new phones.

Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro

What to expect: There haven’t been many rumors about Google’s next Pixel phones yet since they typically launch in October. But based on Google’s product strategy, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll be seeing new AI-powered features similar to the ones that debuted in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Earlier this month, Google introduced its new AI model Gemini, which runs on the Pixel 8 Pro to power features like conversation summaries in the Recorder app. It seems plausible that Google would build on that, adding more AI-fueled capabilities to its next Pixels. Otherwise, we can likely expect routine upgrades like a new Tensor processor and camera improvements. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, also says the new phones will have larger screens than the Pixel 8 generation, according to a post on X.

Why we’re excited about it: Google’s Pixel phones are usually among CNET’s favorite phones of the year. The Pixel 8 generation felt like an early look at Google’s new AI-focused direction for smartphones, and I imagine Google will apply learnings and feedback from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 9. Plus, given that the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera didn’t impress CNET reviewer Andrew Lanxon the way he had hoped, I’d like to see Google make up for that with the Pixel 9 Pro.

OnePlus 12

What to expect: OnePlus already introduced its new flagship phone in China, and an international release is expected in early 2024. The OnePlus 12 is a modest upgrade over the OnePlus 11 that runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, has a higher resolution 64-megapixel telephoto camera like the OnePlus Open compared to the previous model’s 32-megapixel zoom camera, more storage in the base model (256GB instead of 128GB), and faster 50-watt wireless charging among other changes.

Why we’re excited about it: OnePlus built a reputation for offering some of the fastest charging speeds available in smartphones, and it sounds like that could hold true yet again for the OnePlus 12. In addition to supporting 50-watt wireless charging, there’s also 100W wired charging. Plus, it’s one of the first phones to run on Qualcomm’s new chip, which has been optimized for AI-powered tasks like generating details beyond the frame in an image to make it look like the photo was taken with an ultrawide lens. Now, I’m waiting to see how OnePlus puts that chip to use.

Oppo Find X7 series

What to expect: If Oppo maintains the same launch schedule as 2023, the Oppo Find X7 could arrive in early 2024. (The Find X6 series launched in March.) It may have 100-watt fast charging, according to tech blog The Tech Outlook, which says two Oppo devices expected to be the Find X7 and X7 Pro have been spotted on a Chinese certification database. The Find X7 family will also have a Hasselblad Hypertone camera system, which uses computational photography to cut down on distortion and image noise. It could also run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, since an Oppo press release mentions that chip will appear in the company’s future flagship phone.

Why we’re excited about it: Oppo is known for offering phones with sleek hardware and quality cameras, and soon we’ll learn if the Find X7 upholds that reputation. However, the Find X6 only launched in China, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see an international release for the Find X7.

Xiaomi 14 series

What to expect: Xiaomi introduced its new pair of flagship phones at the end of October, touting that they’re the first with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Otherwise, the Xiaomi 14’s display can reach 3,000 nits of peak brightness, and its camera sensor can take in 180% more light than the Xiaomi 13. There’s also 90-watt fast charging on the regular Xiaomi 14 and 120 watts on the Pro. Both phones run on Xiaomi’s new HyperOS software, which is designed to power mobile devices, cars and smart home devices. Xiaomi typically launches new phones in China before bringing them to other markets, although these phones aren’t expected to arrive in the US.

Why we’re excited about it: Xiaomi’s phones are known for packing powerful performance, massive cameras and speedy charging. It’s the third-largest phone-maker behind Apple and Samsung by global shipment volume, so its new devices and technologies are bound to have an influence on the industry.

Based on the rumors, reports and announcements so far, next year’s phones should bring a balance of new AI features and updates to existing staples like charging speeds. Although AI still has to prove its purpose in phones, the idea of software features that truly bring something new and useful to phones is refreshing.

Motorola dropped its Razr Plus flip phone earlier this year, which boasts one of the largest cover screens on any flip phone. Now the company behind the nostalgic lineup has introduced a new color variant for its Razr Plus model, named “Peach Fuzz.” The special-edition color was introduced as part of the company’s partnership with color institute Pantone, which named it Color of the Year for 2024.

Motorola describes Peach Fuzz as a “velvety, gentle peach hue that embodies feelings of togetherness, community, and collaboration.” Make of it what you will, but it marks the fourth color choice for Razr Plus, joining existing options black, blue, and magenta.

Read more: Best Flip Phones of 2023

You can already snag a Motorola Razr Plus in the new Peach Fuzz hue on the company’s website. It’s available for a limited timeat $699, which is a $300 discount, the company says.

The Razr Plus is a significant product for Motorola, which raised the bar for flip phones in 2023. Its most salient feature is a 3.6-inch cover display that can run most apps, proving the cover screen could be a useful part of screen real estate compared to years past, when its main function was for glancing at notifications.

Although the peach hue is new, the phone comes with the same specs. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a 3,800-mAH battery with wireless charging, an IP52 rating for water and dust resistance, and most notably that large 3.6-inch cover screen that is capable of running most of your apps. If you need more specs, take a look at our specs comparison where we match the Razr Plus against various competing flip phones, as well as our in-depth Razr Plus review.