The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is making its long-awaited appearance in Australia this year and after using it for the last week I can easily say that they have hit the ground running with a phone that can rival even the mainstays of our foldable device market.

Starting at $2,699 RRP, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sits atop the pricing pile of the Google smartphone lineup and when you get two phones in one it is easy to see why.  Available in Obsidian and Porcelain the phone is a great looking foldable, mostly following the design language Google has switched to this year.  

Design and hardware are outstanding

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a smartphone that looks incredibly similar to the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro released just a few weeks ago.

The front of the Fold looks a lot like the Pixel 9 and that is because it has the exact same 6.3-inch display on the front as the Pixel 9, albeit with bigger bezels.  The left hand side of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold houses the hinge which is why that side of the phone sticks out more — see below images.

The Fold, when folded over, has the dimensions 155.2mm height, 77.1mm width and 10.5mm depth whereas the Pixel 9 is 152.8mm height x 72.0mm width x 8.5mm depth.  The differences are not massive and when they are in your pocket you do not notice the difference but when holding in your hands the difference is very distinct.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold may have an extra display and a hinge mechanism, so it is amazing that it only weighs 59 grams more than the Pixel 9.  The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a heavy phone though, weighing 257 grams.  That 6.3-inch outer display is the same as it is in the Pixel 9 — bright, vibrant, responsive and smooth, although it is only 1080P.  It is capable of refresh rates of 60-120Hz making for a smooth experience. There is a selfie camera in this outer display, a 10MP camera, which works reasonably well, but is there really that much call for better selfie cameras anymore?  Luckily this camera has a better selfie camera anyway — read on.

The power button and volume rocker on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are in the exact same location as they are on the Pixel 9, and they look identical.  Google has done a great job keeping the design language consistent from one device to another.  The only difference is the rear of the phone. Instead of the new rear camera pill that we saw on the other Pixel 9 smartphones the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a more traditional smartphone camera island — I dare say because of space constraints.  The phone is so incredibly thin I dare say there wasn’t much in the way of ways they could make everything fit.

  The rear surface of the Fold is a matte glass finish, the same as that on the Pixel 9 Pro XL and I love it.  Fingerprint proof (if you decide not to wrap it in a case) and stylish it screams premium, as does the matte metal rails along the side of it.

Inside the phone is a big 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED display (LTPO) with a resolution of 2067 x 2152 pixels at 373 PPI.  It is smooth to use, partly because the refresh rate will change from 1 to 120Hz as required and partly due to Google’s Pixel Experience. The display is really good to use and although you can feel it is not the same as a standard display it looks amazing, considering it wasn’t that long ago when foldables were something out of a sci-fi movie.

As with all foldables, there is a crease present on the display and while it is there and you may try and look closely at it for the first few times you use the device, it is so minimal that not only does it not affect how you use the phone but you also barely or even rarely notice it at all after a day or two.

The inner display once again has a selfie camera, the third such one on this phone.  I used this for Zoom calls and while it is good enough for that it is much better to use the rear camera system for selfies instead.

As for durability, the cover screen is covered by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with the same covering on the rear silky matte back.  The Pixel Pro 9 Fold is IPX8 water resistant which is decent considering the hinge is the obvious weak point with foldables.

Connectivity-wise, Google has included a load of connectivity features in the Pixel 9 Pro XL including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.3, the full suite of GPS, GLONASS, BAIDU etc. support, and there’s also a new Ultra-wide band chip inside for proximity reliant features like unlocking your phone with your Pixel Watch 3, finding lost devices and more.  

Buttery-smooth performance

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold sports Google’s new Tensor G4 processor giving it all the power, performance and AI chops that appeared on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro.  Check out thos ereviews for more information but in my use, some of the new Gemini AI features are gimmicks and some are great.  It’s hit and miss and I suggest you try them all out and see what works best for you. I loved the integration with the Pixel Screenshots app but I don’t need Gemini AI to write a text message for me. Day to day performance was as you would expect from Google — smooth, flowing and consistent.  A Pixel Experience needs to be seen to be believed.  If you haven’t experienced it you don’t know just what it is and will most likely underestimate it.  

Google has advertised that some games will be coming with support for dual screen mode where the game is split into two and the bottom screen is the controller for the game but at this stage their beta testing links were not working so I was unable to test them out.  The current games listed are:

• Asphalt Legends Unite
• Disney Speedstorm
• Dungeon Hunter 5
• Modern Combat 5

Some apps don’t play well with the larger dual screen but a simple solution is to display the app in a split screen mode — drag and drop a different app icon to the other side — and the app will then display in a more traditional way.  

Camera

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold sports a triple rear camera but each camera in the setup is inferior to that in the Pixel 9.  This is disappointing given the price point the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set at.  At that price I’d want and expect the best camera possible.

Now do not think that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does not take great pictures, because it does and thanks to Google’s computational photography the images are still excellent.  It could just be better, that is all.

The triple rear camera includes:

• Wide Camera – 48 MP Quad PD wide camera, ƒ/1.7 aperture
• Ultrawide Camera – 10.5 MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, 127° field of view and Macro Focus
• Telephoto Camera – 10.8 MP 5x telephoto camera, Super Res Zoom up to 20x

There is also a multi-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor, a spectral and flicker sensor and optical and electronic image stabilisation on wide and telephoto.

With all these it should take good pictures, and it does.  As you can see below the images are bright and although not as natural as Google’s images have been in the past, they are still less processed and less saturated than some other manufacturers.

The selfies with the front camera are decent but the ones taken with the triple rear camera setup are far superior, as you would expect.  There is a quick shortcut whenever you open the camera app to take a selfie using the rear camera — and you should.  It is easy to do and the resultant image is much better quality than the single 10MP selfies cameras can produce.

Battery and charging

I was able to get a full day’s use out of the 4,650 mAh battery in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and considering that was over an hour of Bluetooth music streaming at the gym, over two hours of wireless Android Auto and using the inner 8-inch display more than half the screen on time (6hrs, 15min) I was impressed.  In total that was about 12 hours in total and I use my phone a lot (too much).

There’s no charger included in the box but you do get a USB Type-C cable. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold does support a faster charging speed, as do the rest of the Pixel 9 series – if you purchase their new 45W USB Type-C charger for $49.99.  The fine print is that Google, in the specs, do not list in the specs they gave us just how long it takes to charge the Fold to 55% like they do the other Pixel smartphones.  Some spec sites list it as 21W wired charging which is a lot less than the 37W the Pixel 9 Pro XL charges at.

Of significance also is that they list the Fold as supporting “Wireless charging” whereas they list the other Pixel phones as “Fast Wireless charging.”  In my testing, the wireless charging does seem to be slower than the other Pixel phones but haven’t had the chance to get actual numbers yet.  The same spec sites list the wireless charging as 7.5W wireless compared to 23W with the Pixel stand and 12W on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.  The wireless charging difference is most likely due to the difference in thickness of the charging coil section of the phone.

I should mention here that if you have a Pixel Stand or Pixel Stand 2, the Fold won’t work out of the box with your Google wireless charger.  This is due to them locating the charging coils in a different location to every other Pixel phone that has wireless charging.  Strange decision but I dare say space was the contributing factor once again.  To make up for this I added a 1cm piece of gym flooring foam to the bottom on the phone rest on the charger and it charged just fine.

Software

Google is launching the Pixel 9 series with Android 14, an unusual occurrence given the latest version of Android is on-board. The Pixel 9 phones will receive Android 15 as soon as it’s released – likely in October based on recent leaks – and will continue to receive OS updates, and monthly Security updates and Pixel Feature drops for seven years.

Just as with the other Pixel 9 phones, Gemini is front and centre.  I’m still not a massive fan of it and no matter how much I play with it, it just doesn’t seem to be fully ready for prime time just yet.

Some of the photography AI enhancements work as they should but others are very hit and miss.  You can check out Dan’s review of the Pixel 9 Pro if you want a more in-depth analysis of Gemini and the AI on the Pixel 9 smartphones – he did such a good job of it, I’m not going to rehash his great work here.

Folding software

The only folding software that you can change is what happens to apps when you close/fold the phone.  You can choose whether you want the app to open automatically, not at all or only with a swipe interaction on the display.  I chose the swipe because I don’t want every app every time opening on the cover display when I close the phone.

  Google has optimised their own apps for the large screen foldable format and I love their new layouts.  Hopefully other app developers get on board – maybe we’ll see it in a few years when foldable pricing drops and we see more people buying them (fingers crossed).

Who buys the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a great phone and has a good camera, two great displays, has all of Google’s Pixelly goodness, looks stylish and feels premium.  It would be perfect if it had the best Pixel camera possible and faster charging solutions. The large 8-inch display is magnificent to use while the outer display can be used all the time as it is a standard sized smartphone display.  When folded the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is still relatively thin and in the pocket feels the exact same thickness as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.  This is a big drawcard for it.  

If you want a phone that you can use to watch media in a large format, multitask on the single display like with a tablet, and runs smooth software with some of the best AI around then the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is for you.

The only real negative is the price. $2,699 is steep but unfortunately this is a standard price for a large screen foldable smartphone in 2024.  If you have the money then I can say the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is worth every penny.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available now starting at $2,699 RRP for the 256GB version and $2,899 RRP for the 512GB version in Obsidian and Porcelain colours. Get it from the Google Store, JB HIFI, Telstra, Optus, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and Vodafone.  

The post Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, first time here and well worth the trip appeared first on Tech Guide.

After years launching two devices, Google has stepped up this year announcing four Pixel 9 phones, the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 go on-sale today, with the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold set to arrive next month – so keep your eyes on TechGuide for the reviews as they’re published.  

I’m taking the Pixel 9 for a spin this week, with Scott taking on the Pixel 9 Pro XL review which you can see here.

The Pixel 9 is the base model for the series, including the new Tensor G4 processor but scaling back on the display, battery and of course only using a dual-camera system on the rear. 

Google, like many companies, has also raised the price on the Pixel 9, which starts at $1,349, compared to last year’s Pixel 8 which starts at $1,199. The bump in specs include a newer, larger and brighter display, bigger battery and improved rear cameras – and of course new AI features on-board.

Is the Pixel 9 worth it in a sea of new Pixel 9 phones? I’ve been using it for six days and here’s how it went. 

What’s New

The Pixel 9 series is a big jump for Google in terms of design. The display now melds into the side rails almost seamlessly, and the squared off rails on the side remind me of the iPhone and Galaxy S design. 

The rear of the Pixel 9 retains the glossy rear glass from the Pixel 8, though it now has that new pill-shaped camera bar. I liked the phone spanning bar from previous Pixels, but it’s a more cohesive design for Google and it looks great. 

Google hasn’t changed the button placement on the Pixel 9, with the volume rocker and power on the right as usual, with the SIM Tray, USB-C port and speaker on the bottom. 

I received the new Wintergreen coloured Pixel 9 for review, but there’s also a new bright Pink coloured option called ‘Peony’, as well as Obsidian (Black) and Porcelain (White) if you like a more classic colour choice.

If you like the new colour options, but don’t want the phone in that colour – you can also order a case in a range of colours. The Pixel 9 is the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro which will launch in a couple of different colours meaning you can get the case in Rose Quartz and Hazel as well as the four Pixel 9 device colours.

The Pixel 9 has increased the size of the display by 0.1”, offering an updated 6.3” Actua display with a peak brightness of 2700 nits – a jump of 700 nits from the Pixel 8 display. The display also now finally includes an ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor which is super-fast, although you still get the excellent Face Unlock if you want fast, touchless logins.

Internally, the new Tensor G4 offers faster app loading and web browsing, as well as new AI features including the latest Gemini AI with Multi-Modal input. There’s also been a bump in RAM to 12GB, though Google has again decided to start storage off at 128GB, however you can get a 256GB model if you want.

The new Tensor G4 and 12GB of RAM makes for a nice and smooth experience. I noted a couple of games I play are now able to handle more visual assets on-screen without stuttering and web browsing is now smoother.

What’s Great

The compact size of the Pixel 9 is what is going to be a big draw-card for a lot of people, though it faces competition later this year from the Pixel 9 Pro which will bring the pro features including Zoom Enhance, as well as the Telephoto camera sensor, and brighter display. 

The Pixel 9 will still have the latest features like ‘Add Me’, an option for anyone normally left out of group photos because you’re too busy taking the picture. Add Me uses Augmented Reality to add you into a group shot after it’s been taken. 

Demo Flips / Add Me (youtube.com)

The Pixel 9 can also take advantage of the new Auto Frame option in Magic Editor. The Auto Frame option lets you reframe shots you’ve already taken, with Google AI able to show you the best cropping, positioning and more  based on ‘known photographic techniques’. While you can crop, you’ll also find Google AI adding onto the picture and expanding it, with AI generating fill for the new image. 

On the Pixel 9 Google has added multi-modal input to Gemini which has expanded its usefulness. You can now add in images to help with your query making it more useful. 

You can also now start an ongoing conversation with Gemini Live, though you will need Google Advanced which is bundled with a Google AI Premium plan through Google One to use it – which at a cost of $32.99 per month (that includes 2TB of storage as well) is a bit pricey.

Gemini has been quite helpful in planning my raised garden beds, even going so far as telling me to get a garden roller to make sure the base is firm enough to support the sleepers – guess what I’m doing this weekend!

While it’s not a new feature, it is one of my favourites. Google Assistant Voice typing is also back on the Pixel 9, with some of the best, and most accurate transcriptions I’ve seen on a mobile device. It makes replying to messages on the go an absolute breeze.

In a win for longevity, Google has also announced that the Pixel 9 – as with the other phones in the series, will be receiving seven years of OS, Security and Feature updates, making it a phone that’s going to last.

AI

As Google moves forward as an AI company – a change they made in 2016 – the focus has moved towards finding new features and ways to apply AI. In the Pixel 9, those two new features are Pixel Studio and Pixel Screenshots.

Google’s AI generated wallpapers on the Pixel 8 series was fun, but Pixel Studio brings the AI generated imagery to a simple app you can have fun playing around with. Using simple text prompts, you can get an image generated in a number of styles.

I’ve been using this to add images to chats from offhand comments. Like my son commenting on being a robot on the soccer pitch.

If, like me, you take a LOT of screenshots, the new Pixel Screenshots is a life-saver. The app will apply AI generated descriptions, as well as use AI to help you find information from within the screenshots like Menu items, shopping lists and Wifi passwords. 

I’d love to see the AI applied to your photos as well as your screenshots – I have loads of WIfi passwords saved in pics – but it’s a great way to try and find information you’ve tried to remember. 

Camera

The Pixel Camera is again a feature of the Pixel 9, with Google offering their computational photography algorithms to deliver blur-free shots in almost any lighting conditions. 

The Pixel 9 includes a 50 MP main sensor, and 48MP Ultra-Wide sensor with 123° field of view, which also doubles as a macro sensor for shots as close as 2cm. There’s also a 10.5MP front-facing sensor embedded in the display on the front for taking selfies. 

The Pixel 9 camera is excellent, with great details on both rear sensors in all environments – I don’t think I took a bad shot over the past week. 

Final Thoughts

The Pixel 9 is the Pixel for those that don’t need, nor want all the bells and whistles of the full Pro Pixel experience. 

The compact form-factor in a premium design, which offers one of the smoothest experiences from Android available, and still gets the full 7-years of updates makes for a phone that’s worth a look. 

I’m again impressed with the 6.3” Actua Display, with the screen easily viewable in even full sunlight, and the dual rear camera system uses the same top-tier sensors as those in the Pixel 9 Pro series, making a great combo for those that don’t need a telephoto sensor. 

The Gemini and AI inclusions are interesting, and their usability and functionality are growing, but I’m still waiting on that ‘killer’ use case for AI. Things like AI summaries in Pixel Screenshots are starting to make the case for it – but with 7 years of OS, Security and Feature Drops, I can’t wait to see what Google tries next in AI and the Pixel 9 is ready to show them off when they’re ready.

For now though, the Pixel 9 remains the entry point for this years Pixel phones and the new features on-board. You can check it out now online through the Google Store online, as well as JB Hi-Fi, Telstra, Optus, Harvey Norman, Officeworks and Vodafone.

The post Google Pixel 9 Review: Good things come in smaller packages appeared first on Tech Guide.

Google announced their 2024 flagship smartphone line-up just a week ago.  This year they launched four new Pixel 9 devices, the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

With their respective availability being staggered in the coming weeks there will be reviews trickling out so it will be difficult to keep up.  We suggest you keep your eye on TechGuide for reviews as they are published.  

First cabs off the rank are the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL – their ‘traditional’ Pixel-sized and specced phones.  Dan has been checking out the Pixel 9 for the past week or so whereas I’ve had my hands on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.  

You can read his thoughts here but if you want to hear my thoughts on the big dog, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, read on below.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a direct replacement for the Pixel 8 Pro with size and specs (accounting for the usual yearly spec bump) virtually identical to each other.  This year, like most things in life, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has seen a price hike.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL price starts as $1,849 which is $150 more than last year.  We did see the spec bumps but not much out of the usual yearly bump.  Inflation.

WHAT’S NEW

The design is of course the first thing you see that is new.  The soft curving rear of the Pixel phones of previous years are gone, replaced with a newer boxier design and a metal frame around the sides of the phone.  It reminds me a lot of the iPhone 15 but that’s not a bad thing.

The rear of the phone has a boxier design too with the camera bar now a camera pill.  I’m here for it and, combined with the matte glass finish on the rear of the device, the new edging and shape offers a stylish, premium looking and feeling design.

The camera bump is such that the phone still sits easily and safely on its back on your desk without any rocking when using it.  The volume rocker, power button and USB-C port are still there in the same location.

Google has released a new colour with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, Rose Quartz (it is also available in Obsidian, Porcelain and Hazel) which is a pastel colouring of a soft pink and I’m here for it.  It’s the pink that is soft and is worn by both men and women these days.  

The front of the Pixel 9 Pro XL houses a massive 6.8-inch Super Actua display with a peak brightness a massive 3000nits and bezels that are even smaller, 15% smaller than last year in fact!  At 2K resolution (1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED at 486 PPI) it supports a refresh rate of anywhere between 1Hz and 120Hz offering a smooth experience and also a lasting battery. Big, bold and beautiful with colours that pop and an easy, flowing experience. 

Inside is Google’s new processor, the Tensor G4 which offers 20% faster web browsing and 17% faster loading of apps.  The new chipset also allows the Pixel 9 Pro XL to run Gemini Nano onboard allowing you to get the most out of their AI assistant.  

On a day to day basis it seems snappier than last year but for me it’s more that the added AI workloads and software do not slow it down.  The Pixel Experience, which in my opinion is the best smartphone experience in the world, is not slowed or encumbered by the new AI processing requirements thanks to the new chipset.

This year Google has also finally improved their fingerprint sensor.  Yes, you can still use face unlock securely for all banking apps and unlocking your phone but for some a fingerprint is easier (eg. if wearing a mask etc).  The in-display fingerprint sensor is now an ultrasonic sensor making it not only still accurate and consistent but also lightning fast.  

WHAT’S GREAT

Some of the things I think are great about the Pixel 9 Pro XL I’ve already discussed above – the design being number 1 on the list.  This is a big change for Google and I’m surprised they’ve gone with a design that is so similar to the iPhone 15

Google has some useful and innovative camera software features and this year they have introduced even more.  There’s a new Add Me, where you can add yourself, the original photographer, into a photo after you’ve taken it.

The other big new feature is Auto Frame in Magic Editor.  The editor will suggest new framing of photos you have already taken based on  ‘known photographic techniques’, you can even add or remove people or things in the background to finish the edit.

The Zoom Enhance on a Pixel is not just new but quite impressive. The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes a 5x optical zoom, but can also offer a 30x zoom.  Zoom Enhance lets you crop out a section of a photo and have Google AI process it to make it look like a zoomed in shot.

It’s super simple to do from Google Photos simply open the photo, tap edit and then scroll to the Zoom Enhance option under ‘Tools’

Gemini AI is good but from my limited testing it has very limited use cases.  I’m sure the more you use it the more ways you’ll discover to use it.  I was helping my daughter search for her first car so I asked Gemini AI to compare the 2022 Suzuki Swift GL and GLS models.  It gave me a very useful and handy list that helped us to decide which car to go with.

Google’s Assistant Voice typing deserves a mention in the What’s Great segment.  As someone who is on the road a lot for work I often have to quickly reply to messages without touching my phone.  

Assistant Voice typing is the fastest and most accurate voice typing on the market.  No other brand or manufacturer comes even close.  It not just listens to what you are saying but checks to see if it makes sense and corrects it to what it should be more often than not.   Not only does it type what you want it to but you can command it to send the message when you’re done dictating it.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL does support a faster charging speed this year, as do the rest of the Pixel 9 series – if you purchase Google’s new 45W USB Type-C charger for $49.99.  The Pixel 9 series now supports fast wired charging rates up to 27 W on Pixel 9, up to 27 W on Pixel 9 Pro and up to 37 W on Pixel 9 Pro XL. 

Unfortunately we haven’t gotten our hands on a Pixel Charger for testing, but on their Google Store page, they advise ‘Pixel 9 Pro XL can charge to 70% in about 30 minutes’.

GEMINI AI

A big ticket item for Google this year is Gemini AI and I’m sure the more we use it the better it, and we, will become.  There were times it wasn’t great and it kept trying to do things before I had finished my command as I was pausing to try and tell it exactly what to do.

Within Gemini AI there are a couple new AI features – Pixel Studio and Pixel Screenshots.

Pixel Studio is, in a nutshell, an AI image generator that runs directly on your phone.  It provides for a simple interface and allows you to generate an image from a text prompt which you can modify, or play around with an existing image, including removing objects or even clipping parts out to create stickers to add to your AI images.  Handy for trolling a friend in a chat but not earth shattering — it is still hit and miss in its accuracy, as most AI image generators are.

Pixel  Screenshots is an app where all your screenshots are dumped automatically and you can organise them into collections allowing similar information to be grouped together.  Gemini AI processes them all allowing the app to be searchable – eg. What is the password for the Guest Wi-Fi at the AirBNB?

Gemini AI will also summarise the information on each screenshot that is also searchable within the app.  I’d like it to go one step further and search the Internet for similar products etc and tell me about them if I ask.

CAMERA

Google’s Pixel smartphone cameras have always excelled thanks to their excellent computational photography capabilities.  The Pixel 9 Pro XL is no different offering great imaging in all situations with night video better than ever with Night Sight Video.

The rear camera array includes a 50 MP main sensor, a 48MP Ultra-Wide sensor with 123° field of view that can also double as a macro sensor for shots as close as 2cm, and a 48 MP telephoto sensor with optical zoom up to 5x. 

On the front, Google has updated the 12MP front-facing sensor used on the Pixel 8 Pro to a massive 48MP sensor on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which also has a wider 103° field of view. 

The photos offer crisp details, colours that pop but are also not over saturated that so many other manufacturers do.  It is fast to focus and takes great photos quickly.  What’s not to love?  

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a healthy upgrade from its predecessor, the Pixel 8 Pro.  It received a bump in power, overall specs including an improved camera and has even smaller bezels than last year.  The new design is exceptionally premium and stylish making it great to look at and to hold.

Its camera is able to match the best in the business, producing amazing pictures in any scenario or environment and with Google adding even more AI features to its computational photography the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a photographic beast.

The catch is the cost — it compares well to similarly specced phones though — and starting at A$1,849 it is not cheap.  If you are looking in this price range and you want the biggest and best smartphone Google has to offer then you are not missing out on anything.  It is the best Android smartphone on the market.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is available now through the Google Store online, as well as JB HIFI, Telstra, Optus, Harvey Norman, Officeworks and Vodafone starting at A$1,849.

Another Aussie view:

Head over to GadgetGuy for Chris’ take on the Google Pixel 9 Pro for another Aussie perspective on this cracking device.

The post Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — the best Android experience appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 continues to lead the way as the premium foldable but this time out it has not only got its unique form-factor, but it has been enhanced with Galaxy AI as well.

As we saw in January with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series – the addition of Galaxy AI made an excellent smartphone even better.

The same can now be said for the Galaxy Z Fold6.

The hardware has matured to become even thinner and lighter while increasing its durability.

And the novelty of being able to open the device and reveal a larger screen has certainly not worn off.

It still delights anyone we showed it to who had never seen a folding smartphone until we put the Galaxy Z Fold6 in their hands.

There was genuine fascination.

Samsung isn’t the only manufacturer with a folding phone – but it was the first.

This device could very well attract more people into the foldable category and make them an even more mainstream than ever before.

The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy with 12GB RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage.

This year, there were some minor improvements in design but under the hood is where most of the improvement lies thanks mainly to Galaxy AI.

The Z Fold6 has basically the same Galaxy AI features we saw with the S24 Series but what you have now is some impressive hardware to support and enhance it.

On the design side, Z Fold6 has had some noticeable changes mainly the squarer corners along with the slightly larger front screen.

We think the square are shape makes the device look more like a smartphone in the folded position.

It also provides the illusion that the screen has grown larger than it actually has.

The device is also slightly thinner and lighter and felt less bulky than previous models.

In fact, when we compared the thickness of the Z Fold6 to the Galaxy S24 ultra in a case and it was roughly the same thickness.

The front display is now 6.3 inch – that’s 1mm larger diagonally but a few millimetres wider.

The situation is slightly better when using the front screen which in the past has been a bit of a struggle especially trying to type a message.

The Z Fold6 is only a marginal improvement.

We’ve been saying for years the front screen of the Samsung Fold devices needs to be significantly larger which would offer a two-fold benefit of having an easier time typing messages as well as providing room to insert and store an S Pen.

The S Pen is not included – it is a different S Pen than the used with the S24 Ultra – and it only works on the inside screen.

We found ourselves having to open the device to even do basic things like typing messages, browsing the web and viewing and creating content for social media.

Naturally it’s fine to answer calls and take photos but anything more involved and you’ll need to open the device and access that large 7.6-inch AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display.

And what a fine display it is. Knowing you have this larger screen in your pocket when you need it is a great feeling.

We took advantage of that fact several times including watching our beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs playing their match while we were still in Paris seated on a bench on the shores of the Seine river.

You’re also able to run three different apps at the same time to take your multitasking on the move to the next level.

It is this versatility that is the main draw card for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6.

Another draw card is Galaxy AI which serves to enhance the experience even further.

We enjoyed being able to edit and adjust our images and Circle to Search but being able to record an interview and have it transcribed in minutes was also remarkable.

We did two interviews which were longer than 45 minutes each and the Z Fold6 only took a few minutes to transcribe the recording while also distinguishing between different speakers.

The quality of that transcription could have been better (although we were talking to two people who had strong accents) but we were still able to piece it together.

And if we couldn’t understand it, we could simply tap on a word and be taken instantly to that section of the audio recording to hear it back for ourselves.

Galaxy AI could also provide a summary and even translate it into a different language.

This was an impressive feature, and we know it is only going to improve.

Another AI feature built for this form factor is Interpreter.

Users can take advantage of both the main screen and the cover screen for natural real time interaction.

Right now there are 16 languages available.

You can speak to someone – they will see what you’re saying in their language on the screen facing them and you will then read their reply in English or your own language on the inside screen facing you.

We tested this while watching a couple of foreign language films and it did a great job apart from when the person talks quickly – at times it struggled to keep up. But again, this is only going to improve.

Samsung has made it clear the support for the device will go well into the future and will include seven years of OS and security updates.

We’re assuming these updates will include improvements to Galaxy AI as far as the hardware will support it.

On the camera side, the Z Fold6 has basically the same triple camera system as the previous model with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 50-megapixel wide angle and 10-megapixel telephoto lens and they did a remarkable job capturing stills in all kinds of lighting conditions and videos that offer the quality you’d expect from a flagship device like this one.

Naturally Photo Assist on the largest screen helps to create impressive content while Portrait Studio offers portrait styles including drawings and comic book renditions of the image.

The instant slo-mo is an excellent feature so you can slow down a section of your video.

If you’re a gamer, the Galaxy Z Fold6 will let you come out to play and enjoy a high quality gaming experience.

It now has a 1.6x larger vapour chamber so you can play longer without compromising performance while enjoying amazing graphics supported by Ray Tracing which, on the 7.6-inch screen, looks remarkable.

The Galaxy Z Fold6 has a 4,400mAh battery onboard which lasted us almost two days in the two weeks we’ve been using it as our daily driver – we did everything on it including watching a lot of content and the large inside screen as well as multitasking.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 didn’t skip a beat.

It is available from July 31 in Silver Shadow, Pink and Navy and is priced at $2,749 (12GB+ 256 GB), $2,949 (12GB + 512GB) and $3,299 (12GB + 1TB).

VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is the pinnacle of foldable smartphones and, with its design enhancements, versatility and remarkable Galaxy AI, will tempt many customers to reach for their first folding smartphone.

For other Aussie reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – check out Trevor Long’s thoughts at EFTM and Alice Clark’s review at GadgetGuy.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 review – the pinnacle of foldable smartphones enhanced with Galaxy AI appeared first on Tech Guide.

The future has arrived. Apple’s Vision Pro is one of the most impressive pieces of technology we’ve seen in recent years and it paves the way for a whole new computing experience now and well into the future.

Apple has rightly not called the Vision Pro an VR or AR headset – it is all of that and so much more so it deserves not to be pigeon-holed.

We’ve seen many other headsets on the market in the past but none of them have the level of innovation and technology of the Vision Pro.

Customers have to remember this is a stand-alone spatial computer – powered by an M2 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) and a new R1 chip which processes inputs from the onboard cameras and sensors – which can operate on its own even without a phone or laptop nearby.

Naturally, Apple has made Vision Pro fit into its excellent ecosystem so Apple customers already inside the walled garden can enjoy all-new experiences.

And like all of Apple’s other products, the quality, design and finish of the Vision Pro will amaze customers along with the countless other touches that are sure to surprise and delight them.

DESIGN

The Vision Pro has a sleek design that offers the typical high quality you would come to expect from Apple.

It is not a one size fits all product with customers who order the device are required to scan their faces to ensure they have the right size strap and light seal included with the unit.

The Vision Pro has numerous cameras and sensors which are used to allow customers to see their surroundings quite clearly but also to pick up their gestures and movements.

There is a little bit of weight (600-650g depending on the light seal and band you’re using) to the Vision Pro but in the week we’ve been using it we were able to fit it comfortably and securely and use it for hours at a time.

The weight is all in the front – you are literally wearing a computer on your face – but the included straps still provide a balanced and comfortable fit.

We used the main Solo Knit wide band that allowed us to keep everything in place comfortably, but Apple also includes a second Dual Loop band that goes over your head for those who need a little bit of help taking the weight.

When you slip on the Vision Pro, there is a small Fit Dial on the right side to offer a tighter fit or to loosen it.

The battery pack is separate and connects to Vision Pro with their proprietary cable that locks into position.

There is a bit of weight to the battery and users need to be careful that it doesn’t fall out of your hand or your pocket and possibly drag the Vision Pro to the ground with it.

We were constantly mindful to have the battery pack in our back pocket or in our lap but also had to remind ourselves to ensure it was close to us when we stood up or moved around the room.

We found the battery lasted about two to two and a half hours on a full charge but we were able to connect it to power on the included USB-C port so we could work, play and enjoy our content for hours at a time.

The light seal attaches magnetically to Vision Pro and blocks out the light while providing a soft cushion for your face.

The Solo Knit band also has cushioning and can stretch to fit around the back of your head.

EYE PIECES

If you wear glasses, you can either obtain a reader or prescription eyepieces (at additional cost) that attach magnetically inside Vision Pro to replicate the level of correction that your glasses would normally offer.

For our review we had two Zeiss eyepieces that matched our reading glasses prescription and that made viewing vision pro razor sharp and crystal clear.

Inside the Vision Pro are two screens and each have resolution that’s greater than the 4K TV you’re watching in your lounge room.

WHAT’S IT FOR

The Vision Pro is not just a toy or a novelty device. This is a product that can be used to work, for productivity, for education, to enjoy apps, play games, watch sport, stream content and much more.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The Vision Pro uses eye tracking for you to navigate the system.

You simply look at an object to highlight it and gently tap your finger and thumb together to create your virtual mouse click.

The real strength of the device is the fact that there are no complicated controllers that you need to hold and learn.

Unlike other virtual reality headsets, Vision Pro takes no time to learn how to use.

It’s easy to arrange and resize windows as well as opening apps and closing them – it’s literally a glance that’s all that’s required.

APPS

There are already more than 2,000 apps designed for Vision Pro ranging from productivity tools, games, utilities and entertainment – and they all utilise the unique environment that Vision Pro creates.

And there are millions of iPhone and iPad apps that can also be enjoyed on Vision Pro including many games said utilities and other popular apps like browsers, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Word and much more.

Apps and windows float magically in your physical space – you can even stand up and walk up to it and around it. If you open a window in one part of the house and walk to another room – that other window will still be there when you get back.

ENVIRONMENTS

The main area that arranges your apps has three options to the left – Apps, People and Environments.

In the environments section users have the choice to transport themselves to various exotic locations including Joshua tree, a Hawaiian volcano, a beautiful white sandy desert, Yosemite national park, Mount Hood and even the moon.

Each of these environments has its own characteristics and audio that truly transport you to that place.

These environments can also be used as a backdrop for your app windows and Facetime calls with the digital crown offering the ability to wind them up or down depending on the level of immersion you want.

WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY

Apple’s Vision Pro is definitely a work and productivity tool that can help you focus on the task at hand and offer even more screen real estate to spread out your work.

There are a lot of native apps including Keynote that allows users to stay productive.

Keynote for Vision Pro is a remarkable tool that not only helps you create your presentation in the same easy and dynamic way that you would on your Mac but also allows you to rehearse your presentation in a remarkable way.

Users can choose to stand on the stage at the Steve Jobs theatre to rehearse their presentation – the same spot where Apple CEO Tim Cook kicks off his keynote presentations.

And you are totally immersed in the environment which includes not only the hundreds of seats in front of you but, if you look behind you, you’ll see your presentation on the big screen as well as your presenter notes in front of you.

Users can also choose to rehearse in a boardroom setting. This is just one example of how Vision Pro can add a whole new dimension to your workflow.

One of our favourite features of Vision Pro is the ability to connect it to our MacBook and use it as our display.

All you need to do is look at your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro and see the Connect option appear.

Once selected the screen on the laptop goes blank and you are suddenly presented with a stunning 5K display that you can resize and reposition right in front of you.

You can still use the keyboard and trackpad and a connected mouse for your input and control but you now have a dazzling display that only you can see.

This is useful to not only stay focused on your project but also to provide added privacy if you are working on a sensitive project.

CONTENT

Viewing content on the Apple Vision Pro is an experience like no other.

Whether it’s streaming a movie, watching the latest episode of your favourite TV show or catching up on a live game the Vision Pro is nothing short of incredible.

Apple TV+ and Disney+ have Vision Pro versions of their apps so viewers can watch the latest movies and TV shows on the equivalent of a huge screen. Interestingly Netflix and YouTube native apps are not yet available on Vision Pro, but you can still watch their content on the included Safari browser.

Vision Pro is like having a portable home theatre.

Now I have gone to great lengths and considerable cost to create a theatre in my house which offers the best possible audio visual experience.

The Vision Pro viewing offers incredible picture and audio quality and is not too far behind our dedicated home theatre in terms of providing an exciting viewing experience.

But the Vision Pro is a solo device whereas my home theatre has several seats for many people to enjoy the movie.

But watching a regular TV screen means having to sit up and look towards the screen.

With Vision Pro the screen moves with you wherever you are looking or moving your head so it would be possible to recline in a comfortable chair or even lay down in bed to watch your content.

But Vision Pro does have the ability for SharePlay so connected Vision Pro users can watch the same movie or TV show on Apple TV at the same time.

Users can choose to be sitting in the front row middle or back of the theatre.

Disney+ also has backdrop options to give users the impression they are at a unique drive-in cinema.

Our favourite Disney+ backdrop was the Star Wars location Tatooine.

IMMERSIVE CONTENT

The Vision Pro can offer users total immersion and Apple TV has just the content to deliver that experience with its Apple Immersive videos.

These are more than just watching a large screen in front of you – these videos take you inside the world you’re watching whether it’s a mountain climber, sitting beside Alicia Keys at a piano, on an African safari, courtside at a basketball match, behind the net at the football or on the field during an American football match.

The potential is huge for major sports to create an all new way to watch the games as if you are sitting courtside or behind the net or on the sideline.

If I could watch live sport like this every week, shut up and take my money right now!

The NBA has developed an app that allows users to watch multiple games at the same time and choose which game they would prefer on the largest central screen.

The PGA Tour has also created a remarkable app that allows you to track tournaments hole by hole and even present 3D augmented reality versions of each hole that you are able to view in real time. This is simply stunning.

3D

Vision Pro also has the potential to start a 3D revival.

Yes, that’s right. You can watch movies in 3D on Apple TV+ and on Disney+ as part of your subscription.

And there are plenty of titles to choose from including the latest Avatar film and 3D versions of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters including Dune and the latest Star Wars films.

GAMING

Vision Pro is a gamer’s paradise with so many apps built specifically for the device but also countless others which can also be enjoyed in an all-new way.

There’s AirDraw that allows you to paint with your fingers in your own open space.

Super Fruit Ninja, the popular Australian made game, which uses the gesture controls to start slicing away at the virtual fruit appearing in front of you.

If you’re a fan of racing games, there are plenty to choose from and you can even pair an Xbox or PlayStation controller so you can enjoy the massive screen inside Vision Pro and the physical controls in your hands.

AUGMENTED REALITY

There are several apps that can add digital content to your own personal space including JigSpace (another Australian app) which allows you to place 3D objects like jet engines and Formula One cars right in front of you and even take them apart.

Another favourite was Exploring Mars Which placed the Mars Rover right in front of us and allowed us to watch it operate and choose its size before our eyes.

We also loved Sky Guide which allowed us to gaze virtually at the night sky and zoom in on various constellations to explore and learn more about the universe.

And there are many more and there will be many more in the future.

FACETIME

Making a Facetime call with the Vision Pro is one of best things we experienced.

You can connect with other Vision Pro users and talk to each other like you’re in the same room sitting at a table.

It is infinitely better than a video call.

So how can you be seen on Facetime with the Vision Pro – there’s no camera on you and you’re wearing a headset.

You’re seen through your Persona – a 3D rendering of your face and hands that can mimic your actions and expressions and provide a realistic version of you.

We tried a Facetime call with Trevor Long and Kane Vato who had also created Personas for their Vision Pro and it was as close to seeing them in person you can get without actually meeting.

And once you turn on the spatial settings the sound when they are talking is coming from the direction you can see them – just like you would in their presence.

You can set backgrounds for the chat, share your own view and even enjoy SharePlay together so you can watch the same TV show and movie like you’re all in the same room.

This is truly one of the most impressive communications experiences we’ve had since the launch of Facetime.

SPATIAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

The Vision Pro is actually a 3D camera you can use it to capture spatial photos and spatial videos that are so lifelike it’s like revisiting a moment in time when you watch it. It’s like you’re there again.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can also capture spatial videos so they can be viewed in 3D on Vision Pro and Canon and BlackMagic Design also have plans to release cameras and lenses to create Spatial content.

This is an all-new way of creating and reliving those precious moments in your life.

TRAVELLING WITH VISION PRO

The Vision Pro is an ideal travel companion that allows you to watch content and use apps like never before.

There is a travel mode onboard Vision Pro to ensure all the windows you open stay with you rather than being left behind because the plane is travelling at high speed.

In travel mode it locates your windows relative to the Vision Pro rather than in your location when using it in your home.

The ability to enjoy your huge personal cinema in comfort and privacy makes Vision Pro a great device to take with you on your travels.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

The one thing that could be better with Vision Pro is the battery.

It’s tethered to the Vision Pro with a proprietary cable and something you must remember to keep in your pocket or close to you.

If you drop it, it could lead to an accident that could drag the Vision Pro to the floor.

We can understand Apple wanting to keep the battery pack separate to the actual Vision Pro to reduce the weight of the product.

Other brands have located the battery at the back of the headband which balances the weight and keeps everything in one place in a compact package.

Battery life could also be better using it steadily for an hour and a half to two hours could easily bring you below 20 per cent.

Vision Pro does come with a charger and a USB-C cable to allow users to keep it plugged in so they can use it for hours on end.

PRICE

OK, let’s talk about the price.

The Vision Pro starts at $5,999 which means it’s not going to be within the reach of most regular customers.

We can understand brand new technology comes at a high cost.

We’ve seen this in the past and notice prices come down in the years that follow.

But you must remember, the Vision Pro is a standalone spatial computer and a powerful one at that.

It offers incredible power and performance which goes a long way to giving users a memorable experience every time they put it on.

There are many customers who are avid gamers who wouldn’t bet an eyelid paying thousands of dollars to ensure top level performance and low lag when it comes to playing the latest games.

By that logic, Vision Pro should attract the customer who wants not only an excellent gaming device but a device that provides the ultimate productivity tools and a stunning way to view their content.

VERDICT

Apple’s Vision Pro is one of the most advanced products we’ve ever seen. Apple has created an all-new way to work, play, communicate and consume content as only Apple could. The Vision Pro is exciting – but it is the product’s potential that has us even more excited. This is a true game changer.

* For more Australian Vision Pro reviews check out Trevor Long at EFTM and Val Quinn at Gadget Guy.

The post Apple Vision Pro review – the future has arrived. It’s a game-changing experience appeared first on Tech Guide.

TCL has brought remarkable new screen technology to its latest TCL 40 NXTPAPER smartphone which offers added eye comfort for easier viewing for longer periods.

TCL introduced its NXTPAPER technology a few years ago on its range of tablets and it has now brought that innovation to its smartphone lineup.

It’s called NXTPAPER because the screen offers a paper-like texture and less reflection and glare.

The LCD display is made up of multiple layers and has a low blue light certification from TUVRheinland.

The TCL 40 NXTPAPER has a 6.78-inch FHD+ NXTPAPER display with a 90Hz refresh rate.

It has 450 nits brightness with a resolution of 1080 x 2460 and 369ppi (pixels per inch) so it looks sharp and bright.

If you add all that up, you’re getting a smooth viewing experience with less harmful blue light while still retaining bright natural colours.

The other benefit is reflection-free viewing indoors and out while still being gentle on your eyes.

Late at night we found viewing the phone in low light was a lot easier on the eyes then a regular backlit LCD screen.

There is also NXTPAPER mode that you can toggle on and off and choose between colour paper and ink paper.

There is a cool animation every time you activate this feature, but you do have to find it in the settings or through the shortcut in the pull down menu screen.

This setting did make it look like an e-reader, but it didn’t offer any other power saving or added benefit – it was purely for appearances only.

To be clear TCL 40 NXTPAPER does not have the same type of screen you would find on an e-reader despite its paper-like qualities and appearance – but it does a great job imitating it.

But it has a matte finish and therefore has a glare-free appearance.

Yes, it does reduce the glossiness of what you’re looking but the colours and brightness are still there.

Watching your content and browsing websites is still an enjoyable task with the TCL 40 NXTPAPER.

And the sound is decent thanks to the on board speakers which have a Sound Booster that can increase the volume so your calls on loudspeaker, podcasts audiobooks and movies and TV shows can be clearly heard across the room.

Design-wise the TCL 40 NXTPAPER has a sleek and thin look. It’s available in Midnight Blue.

Under the hood, there is 8GB RAM plus an added 8GB RAM expansion when it needs to offer faster multitasking, improve streaming and web browsing.

The device is running Android 13 with support for Android 14 which is coming in a future update.

Performance was impressive and there was never a time where we were waiting for apps to open thanks to the MediaTek Helio G88 processor and Mali 52 GPU.

It’s not as fast as a flagship phone but there was no lag to speak of.

On the camera side, you have a 50-megapixel wide, 5-megapixel ultra-wide and fun 2-megapixel macro lens on the back panel.

And for those who love taking selfies they will appreciate the 32 megapixel front facing selfie camera. It held its own among other smartphones.

And while the quality is there as a product of its sheer number of megapixels, viewing them on the phone’s display is not going to be as glossy.

But even when we view them off the device on neutral ground like our computer, the pictures did lack that sparkle and detail in low light situations.

On board is a 5010mAh battery which offers 33W ultra-fast charging. That means you could get to 50 per cent charge in about 30 minutes.

For us, the TCL 40 NXTPAPER easily got us through an entire day on a single charge.

If you are conscious about your eye health and eye comfort, then the TCL 40 NXTPAPER should be a solid consideration.

I can’t honestly say it made a difference for me in the 10 days I used it but over a long period those improvements might become more noticeable.

The TCL 40 NXTPAPER is available now and is priced at $349.

VERDICT

The TCL 40 NXTPAPER is an interesting and different smartphone offering that uses the company’s display expertise to provide an experience that’s gentler on the eyes and a little gentler on the wallet.

The post TCL 40 NXTPAPER review – a smartphone with a screen that’s easier on your eyes appeared first on Tech Guide.

Netgear has always led the way creating a robust and reliable wireless network with its Orbi products and its latest offering – the Orbi 970 – packs in the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology and raises the bar in terms of speed and quality.

Tech Guide replaced all the networks at our place with the new Orbi 970 and it gave us high speed connectivity in our two-storey home from the front of the house all the way to the back, upstairs and down.

Today it’s not uncommon for a household to have more than 40 or 50 connected devices or maybe even more from your smart TV, laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, printers, smart devices, security cameras and much more.

We are also spending more time working from home so having a robust connection for high quality video calls and downloading and uploading files is essential.

On top of Wi-Fi 7, the Netgear Orbi 970 packs in so much new technology to create a network that’s going to keep you connected at high speeds across your entire home.

There are three units in the box – a main router and two satellites which can provide coverage at up to 660 square metres.

These units are taller than the previous Orbi units but have a more cylindrical look and a smaller footprint.

The Orbi 970 has four bands – a 6Ghz band, two 5Ghz bands and a 2.4Ghz band.

The 6Ghz band was introduced with the Wi-Fi 6E and Netgear expands that channel to 320Mhz to increase the speeds and performance – and you can tell.

The Orbi 970 also has enhanced dedicated backhaul – this is the channel that brings data back from the satellites to the main router – to keep the wi-fi fast on the other bands.

The Orbi 970 uses both the 6GHz and 5Ghz bands at the same time to reduce the amount of network traffic and keep you connected at high speed.

What it also does is enable your connected devices to simultaneously send and receive data across these bands which increases throughput.

The other problem with older standards of wi-fi is interference. This new Netgear Orbi has smart interference management to reduce the network congestion and keep things moving along.

The Netgear Orbi 970 a 10 Gigabit internet and Ethernet port which will be able to handle even faster internet speeds when they are available.

Netgear says Wi-Fi 7 delivers up to 2.4x faster speed than Wi-Fi 6 and is also backwards compatible with older devices.

Naturally if you have a Wi-Fi 7 device, like the latest Microsoft Copilot+ PCs and the latest smartphones, you’ll enjoy the full benefits of this latest technology.

The Orbi achieves all this with an innovative high performance antenna array that sprays out 360-degree Wi-Fi coverage to reaches every corner of your home.

It certainly did that for us.

Set up is really simple and is managed through the Netgear Orbi app which takes you step by step through the process.

Basically it involves connecting the main router to your existing NBN modem router, connect via the Orbi app before renaming the network and creating your own password.

The next step is to choose locations in your home for the two satellites.

In our case, the main router was located on the lower floor in the middle of the house, so we placed one satellite towards the back of the bottom floor and the second satellite upstairs towards the front of the house.

Then it was a matter of the router locating those other satellites and bringing them online and communicating with them.

The whole setup process took roughly about 20 minutes.

The Orbi app also comes in handy to manage the network with the ability to see the devices on your network as well as set up parental controls and give you an excellent top down look on the entire network.

The main router and the satellites also have Ethernet ports, so you can connect nearby devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles and computers.

But the wireless performance will still offer the same performance and reliability.

The Orbi 970 creates up to three separate networks – a main network, a smart home IoT network and a separate network for guests.

The IoT network runs on the 2.4Ghz band and that makes adding new smart home devices even easier.

So how does the network perform? The answer is amazingly well.

We were stunned to see amazing speeds in all corners of our home.

We have a 1Gbps NBN fibre to the home connection through Aussie Broadband and we were able to enjoy most of that speed anywhere in our home.

Now there are two speeds to look at here.

The Netgear Orbi app provides a speed test which looks at the speed of the network between the satellites and the router inside your home.

The Speedtest app by Ookla tests just how fast your internet connection is in various locations around the house.

We tested for both speeds on the bottom floor – front, middle and back and front, middle and back on the top floor and found we achieved speeds that were well over 900Mbps in all areas of the house.

And these speeds were tested in the usually busier morning period of the day.

The Netgear Orbi 970 also comes with a one-year subscription to Netgear Armor which is powered by BitDefender.

This offers an added layer of security and a VPN that helps plug up any vulnerabilities in your network and on your connected devices.

The Netgear Orbi 970 has created easily the best wi-fi network we’ve ever had.

We are seeing consistent high speeds across our entire home.

But this level of quality and reliability does come at a price.

The Netgear Orbi 970 3-pack is priced at $4,299. That’s not cheap.

There is no question about the quality of the wireless network and, at this price, this would be seen an investment.

An investment in your connectivity which is not just about entertainment and gaming but also for education and work.

For those who are renovating their home or building a new home this would be an ideal addition.

The Netgear Orbi 970 is the Rolls Royce of mesh systems.

But there are other Netgear Orbi options that are a lot cheaper but you it won’t be Wi-Fi 7 and it won’t have the range and quality of the latest Orbi 970.

 VERDICT

The Netgear Orbi 970 is the new benchmark when it comes to creating the ultimate wireless network in your home. It is not the cheapest – but it is the best.

The post Netgear Orbi 970 Wi-Fi 7 review – the Rolls Royce of mesh systems appeared first on Tech Guide.

Hello Moto! Motorola had been enjoying a resurgence of sorts with its line-up of entry level and mid-tier Android smartphones and its new Edge 50 Pro continues that success.

The Moto Edge 50 Pro, priced at $999, is on the more premium side of the range and it blends design, technology and features to come up with an impressive device.

On the design side, Motorola has really put in some effort to make it look slightly different than your regular smartphone.

For a start it has a soft touch rear panel with the camera bump that look like it is rising out of the surface.

For our review we had the Luxe Lavender Edge 50 Pro with matching aluminium edges.

And while it felt great to hold in your hand, we found the material on the back of the phone started to show signs of dirt and wear.

It does come with a snap on hard shell case which we used most of the time, but this just added to the bulk of the device.

We preferred to use it naked without the case to enjoy the sleek and slim form factor whenever we held it in our hand.

Turning to the display you get an impressive 6.7 inch pOLED screen with SuperHD (120p) resolution and up to 144Hz refresh rate with HDR10+ compatibility.

The screen is impressively sharp and clear and a great place to view your content, browse websites and use your apps.

With those credentials you’ve got a cinema in your pocket.

The display’s curved edges made it look like the older Samsung Galaxy phones, but it still achieved the objective of a borderless look.

The curved edge on the screen merges beautifully with the curved edge on the rear panel so it truly fits nicely in your hand.

What helps the screen’s credentials, and the camera, is the fact that it has Pantone validated colour so you can be confident the colours you’re seeing accurate and reflect the real world.

Under the hood is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, not the fastest processor around but it still does a good job in providing a responsive experience.

It has 12GB ram and up to 256 GB of storage but if ever you need a bit of extra performance a feature called Ram Boost comes in to play to provide virtual ram from the unused storage pool.

There are three cameras on the rear panel including a 50-megapixel main camera 10-megapixel telephoto and 13-megapixel ultrawide.

It also has 50 megapixel front facing camera so you can nail those selfies with added quality.

The main 50-megapixel camera is the same as the one found on last year’s edge 40 but still provides impressive results.

It has a large sensor and a wide aperture which adds up to light filled and detail rich images with colours that pop.

It also holds its own when taking photos in low light situations.

On top of the Android 14 operating system there is not much other clutter which gives it a clean and easy-to-navigate interface.

What we did like were the additional features that provided instant access to the camera the torch and screenshots.

To turn on the torch you hold the phone and chop down twice.

To launch the camera twist your wrist twice and to capture a screenshot simply touch the screen with three fingers.

These little shortcuts added to our enjoyment of the device and allowed us to get to these often used features in an instant.

Motorola also takes advantage of its curved screen edges with a feature called Edge Lights which displays different light patterns along the edges to alert you for any incoming calls, notifications and alarms when the phone is placed screen down on a surface.

It also includes Adobe Scan which is an app that can turn any document into a digital file.

One of the strengths of the Motorola edge 50 Pro is the 4500mAh battery which lasted a day and a half before we needed charging when we were using it as our daily driver for a couple of weeks.

But even when it’s time to charge, that won’t take you long either thanks to the super-fast 125W charger that comes in the box. Yes, they’ve actually packed a charger and cable and a great one at that.

It’s so fast you can get back to 50 per cent charge in less than eight minutes. A full charge could take just 20 minutes.

The one thing we did notice the phone tended to get a little warm during this recharging process.

We also notice the same thing when the Motorola edge 50 pro was wirelessly charging in our car. Nothing to worry about but it was warmer to the touch than normal.

The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is available now and this priced at $999.

VERDICT

The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is an attractive phone with an impressive list of features and abilities to provides a satisfying mobile experience, an excellent camera and amazingly fast recharging.

The post Motorola Edge 50 Pro smartphone review – impressive blend of design and technology appeared first on Tech Guide.

Oppo has always offered attractive and innovative smartphones and its new Reno 11F 5G continues that story with a sleek design and a host of features that you would use every day.
It has a near borderless 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display that’s capable of displaying more than a billion colours and HDR10+ certified.

It has a 93.4 per cent screen to body ratio.

Images, apps and websites look great on the screen – you’ll never get tired of looking at it.

The display can also adjust its brightness to adjust to your eyes in the dark or in the brightest sunlight of the day.

There was only a couple of occasion where we needed to adjust the brightness but usually the Reno 11F 5G handled the situation brilliantly on its own.

Design-wise, the Oppo Reno 11F 5G is both thin at just 7.5mm thick and light at only 177g.

It has a nice feel in the hand thanks to that svelte design and fits nicely in your pocket as well.

The rear panel has a decent sized camera bump and a dazzling magnetic particle design.

We received the Palm Green model for review – the other colour is Ocean Blue and looks like light reflecting off water.

On the surface it looks like there’s glitter mixed in with the paint and this is what plays with the light when it shines on it.

Despite its dazzling look the rear panel does feel like plastic – but the upside is that it keeps the device light.

It’s also quite durable despite its slender dimensions and has an IP65 water and dust resistance rating.

We have been using the Oppo Reno 11F 5G as our daily driver for almost two weeks and we’ve been using it for everything – calls, browsing, email, using apps and taking images.

Speaking of images, onboard the Reno 11F 5G are three cameras – a 64-megapixel main camera alongside an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 2-megapixel.

It has an intelligent night mode to draw in even more light into your images – you’ll be surprised how much light it can find in low-light conditions.

On the front is a 32-megapixel selfie camera.

 The Oppo Portrait Expert Mode adds some polish to your images with a mix of clarity and soft focus.

Also included is an AI Eraser that can easily remove any unwanted background people and objects simply by drawing a circle around it.

And it can also capture crisp 4K videos through the main camera on the back and front 32-megapixel camera.

The Oppo Reno 11F 5G is running Android 14 but has the ColorOS 14 user interface that provides a clean system that’s easy to navigate.

It does look remarkably like the iPhone and iOS in some instances and it’s very responsive and quick to switch between apps.

Performance wise, the flagship phones will be faster but that’s why they are flagship phones.

It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 with 256GB of internal memory and up to 8GB RAM with the RAM expansion feature which can dip in and use unused ROM memory.

Users can also expand the memory with microSD card.

On the security side, the smartphone also has an in-screen fingerprint reader that works almost instantly to unlock the device.

For its price, the Oppo Reno 11F 5G can more than hold its own.

One of its best features is its excellent battery life with its 5000mAh battery lasting us a day and half before we had to grab the charger.

And when it is time to charge can get back to 100 per cent in less than an hour (as fast as 48 minutes in fact) thanks to the 67W SuperVOOC fast charging.

The Oppo Reno 11F 5G is available now and is priced at $599.

VERDICT

The Oppo Reno 11F 5G, priced at just $599, is quite a capable device at this price with the sort of features and design that would make you think it should be priced even higher. Many people who paid more for their smartphone will be wondering why if they ever get the Reno 11F 5G in their hand.

The post Oppo Reno 11F 5G smartphone review – mid-tier device with premium looks and features appeared first on Tech Guide.

When is a router not a router? When that router looks like the D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 which is designed to blend in or fade in to the background in your home.

This worked out well for our review because my daughter had asked me to come and fix up the wi-fi in her two-level apartment.

The issue for her was that upstairs, where the NBN modem router was located, the wi-fi was good not great but downstairs it was rubbish.

This is a common occurrence for many NBN customers with the modem at the front of the house and their TV and gaming consoles and anything else that needs the internet located at the back of the home.

So it’s the Aquila Pro Wi-Fi 6 mesh wi-fi router to the rescue.

My daughter wouldn’t want anything too big and definitely nothing that obviously looks like a modem with flashing lights.

The Aquila Pro was the perfect fit. The two-pack ($399.95) includes two routers that look more like a work of art than a tech product.

In fact, it won the 2023 Good Design Award.

With its curved wing design, the Aquila Pro looks more like a sculpture than a piece of technology but under the hood it’s got what you need.

This includes speeds of up to 3Gbps with 160Hz bandwidth support along with a Gigabit Internet WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports so you can plug in other products like smart TVs, gaming consoles, 4K players and set top boxes.

It also has AI onboard including AI Wi-Fi Optimiser, AI Mesh Optimiser and AI Traffic Optimiser which all add up to improved wi-fi performance in your home.

Wi-Fi Optimiser works out the best channel for each connected device on the network while AI Mesh Optimiser can also head off any potential network issues.

The AI Traffic Optimiser make sure that you have uninterrupted 4K and 8K streaming with AI-powered QoS (quality of service) technology to make sure your connections are fast and smooth.

Set up is a breeze thanks to the Aquila Pro companion app that takes you step by step through the process.

In our case, it was a matter of first of connecting the D-Link router to the modem and establishing that connection before positioning the second unit downstairs and joining them together using the WPS (Wi-Fi protected setup) button on each unit.

This got the two units talking to each other and connecting.

As a result the faster connection downstairs was extended and shared downstairs.

Our subsequent speed tests showed the wi-fi speeds downstairs were the same if not slightly faster than those upstairs.

Even the wi-fi speeds upstairs had improved from our first test thanks which the Aquila Pro routers.

What helps here is the special antenna array system which cover up to 465 square metres. And if you buy the three pack you can cover up to 650 square metres.

As we demonstrated with my daughter’s two-level apartment – the Aquila Pro is built to handle multi-storey dwellings.

The one downside of the device is it offers one combined network and doesn’t separate the 2.4Ghz band from the 5Ghz band.

Having the 2.4Ghz band on its own makes it easy to connect certain smart products that can only connect to the 2.4Ghz portion of the network.

But that’s not an issue here because the AI Wi-Fi Optimiser steers the product to the right band.

The D-Link Aquila Pro is available now and priced at $399.95 (two pack) and $549.95 (three pack).

VERDICT

The D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 Wi-Fi 6 mesh system is easy to set up and manage and is designed to sit in the background offer a faster and more robust wireless network. It’s a no-fuss system that delivers excellent results.

The post D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 mesh router review – a stylish and simple way to boost your home’s wi-fi appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones are among the best value devices on the market right now and that has been demonstrated dramatically with its latest release – the Galaxy A55 5G.

As time goes on, mid-tier phones are only going to improve thanks to the trickle down of technology from flagship devices that are now included in these more affordable products.

If you take a closer look, the features aboard the A55 were considered flagship not so long ago.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 ticks all the boxes for even the fussiest user.

These include a sleek design, a generous and high quality 6.6-inch screen, an impressive camera system and a battery that will last almost two days.

What more could you ask for for a phone that costs less than $700.

Now to be clear, you are not getting all the features of the Galaxy S series like better camera quality and zoom, Galaxy AI, the S Pen or wireless charging.

But that’s not to say it doesn’t still have an impressive list of features – with some appearing for the very first time on the Galaxy A series including improved low light photography and higher security features.

The device has a sleek and premium design with an aluminium frame with a brushed metal finish, flat edges and a glossy rear panel.

The device has a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and compatible with HDR10+.

The screen is an excellent size and has impressively thin bezels so you’re getting more screen instead of a larger device.

On the camera side, you have a 50-megapixel wide main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 5-megapixel macro camera.

But if you play a big selfie game, the Samsung Galaxy A55 will really deliver thanks to a 32-megapixel front facing camera.

And while it’s not Galaxy S24 quality, it’s certainly not far behind and I defy anyone who can tell the difference between the shots taken on either device.

One excellent new edition to the A55 is the inclusion of advanced AI image signal processing which improves the performance of the camera in low light.

This is a first for Galaxy A series device and is something we only usually see on the flagship Galaxy S smartphones.

It even has a Night Portrait mode and 12-bit HDR video to add some real punch to your content.

Users will also find the cameras are supported with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and video digital image stabilisation (VDIS) so whether you are shooting video or taking a photo it’s gonna look sharp and clear.

Another feature was seeing for the very first time on the Samsung A series is Samsung Knox Vault which offers security for both hardware and software.

It basically encrypts all your information and secures your private data including pin codes, passwords and patterns.

Bottom line, unless you know the password for the phone there is no way anyone can access the data on your device which offers peace of mind if it’s misplaced or stolen.

But the security extends even further with a new security measure called Auto Blocker which can stop app installations from unauthorised sources and offer security checks in the event of potentially installing malware on the device. That’s an excellent level of security for device at this level.

OK, let’s talk about what you don’t get with the Galaxy A55.

The first thing, there is no wireless charging, so you always need a cable to charge the phone rather than resting it on a charging pad.

This might be a nuisance for those who drive cars with wireless charging pads included – unfortunately you’ll have to stick to a charging cable.

But it still does have NFC which is the feature that allows users to make tap and go payments to access credit cards stored in either the Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet

Galaxy AI, which was introduced with the S24 series is also not a feature on the A55.

While there are some elements of AI to help you take better photos and make the device run smoothly, customers who want the full blown Galaxy AI experience will have to move up to the Galaxy S24 range of smartphones.

Another strong feature of the Galaxy A55 is the 5000mAh battery which easily lasted a day and took us well into the second.

This is helped by the onboard efficiency which can turn off apps that you haven’t used for a while to help your battery lost even further.

The new Galaxy A55 5G is available in two colours – Awesome Navy and Awesome Lilac and it priced at $699. It goes on sale on March 25.

VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G smartphone proves you don’t have to spend big money to buy a sleek feature-packed phone. The A55 ticks all the boxes – great design, awesome display, excellent camera and a long-lasting battery. At this price what more can you want.

The post Samsung Galaxy A55 5G review – one of the best value smartphones on the market appeared first on Tech Guide.

The release of the Samsung Galaxy S24 range of smartphones will be remembered as the first mobile devices to enter the AI era and improve your experience across the board.

There will be other smartphones from rival brands that inject AI in a similar way, but Samsung got here first.

While there are some cosmetic design changes with the S24 line-up of devices and a performance improvement – it is the software and Galaxy AI that make this one of the biggest year-on-year smartphone improvements that we’ve ever seen.

Flagship devices only ever offer incremental changes and are not aimed at the customers who purchased last year’s model but the customer with a four year old phone who can truly appreciate the accumulated updates over the intervening years.

But Samsung’s new Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra will not only have recent customers thinking about trading their device for the new one but it will even attract some iPhone users to make the switch.

This review will be focusing on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Add to all this a stunning screen, a brilliant camera system and excellent performance and you’ve got an irresistible product.

DESIGN

There have been some design tweaks to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.

The Galaxy S24 (6.2-inch display) and S24+ (6.7-inch) now have flatter edges and a matte finish rear panel that makes it less slippery.

The biggest change has been reserved for the Galaxy S24 Ultra which now sports a titanium frame to give a more premium look and feel.

Another change to the S24 Ultra that we like is the new flat display. The S23’s display had a slightly curved edge which was OK until the S Pen slipped over the side when you were writing or drawing.

The flat screen now means users can easily see the edge without going over.

All the new Galaxy S24 smartphones also have slightly thinner bezels so the displays look like they go truly edge to edge.

GALAXY AI

The standout new feature is without a doubt the Galaxy AI which includes so many new features including Live Translate, Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Browsing Assist and Interpreter.

Galaxy AI also comes in to play in your photography with the ability to enhance and edit pictures and videos like never before.

LIVE TRANSLATE

Live Translate works incredibly well in real time within the native phone app to translate your conversation between 13 languages.

The supported languages are English, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.

So if you’re in a foreign country and need to book a restaurant, call a taxi or reserve a hire car, the S24 has got you covered.

You see real time translations and transcriptions from each side of the chat.

We tried it talking to a Korean woman to book a restaurant and it worked perfectly. A

And it’s all happening on the device as well.

INTERPRETER

Sometimes the person you’re speaking to in a foreign language is right in front of you and you can share the S24’s screen and flip the text so each person can read their part of the translation.

And this requires no connection to the internet or data – this is all happening in real time on the S24.

CHAT ASSIST

One of the hardest things to convey or understand in a message is tone.

The S24 can help by looking at your message and seeing the person you’re sending it to and suggest different styles and tones – like more formal or more professional.

When you tap the icon filled with the stars, Galaxy AI will work on some variations of your message while still conveying the same meaning and intention.

This could be a real life saver – especially if you regular message clients, customers, your boss, your wife and various other important people who you don’t want to accidentally offend.

It is your new messaging safety net.

NOTE ASSIST

Customers who opt for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will no doubt be brandishing the S Pen and Note Assist can help you knock things into shape, organise and receive summaries.

TRANSCRIPT ASSIST

The best way to capture what’s said in a meeting is to record it – but the big hassle is to transcribe it into a document that can easily be searched and referenced.

Transcript Assist can do just that and even distinguish between different speakers.

BROWSING ASSIST

One incentive to use Samsung Internet as your go to browser is Browsing Assist.

This feature can quicky summarise longer web articles into something that’s easier to digest.

CIRCLE TO SEARCH

This would have to be one of the most impressive features.

Everyone we showed Circle to Search to was gobsmacked and immediately saw the possibilities.

And this works not only with any new photo but also on social media or the internet.

If you see something you like, press and hold the home button and circle the object and instantly you’ll see the results of a Google search.

If you spot a nice handbag or a pair of shoes you can grab a snap and find out the brand the price.

It’s ideal for those who are too shy to walk up and ask someone about their bag or their shoes or any other article of clothing.

And it works in the same way of you spot something you like on social media.

It’s a game changer to search for what we see.

CAMERA

The Samsung S24 Ultra has an outstanding quad camera system that consists of a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera with 2x optical and Quality zoom, a 50-megapixel camera with 5x optical zoom and 10x Quality zoom and a 10-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom. Optical Quality zoom is enabled by the Adaptive Pixel Sensor.

What drives the quality of the cameras is the new ProVisual Engine that does the heavy lifting when it comes to capturing and editing your images and videos.

AI Zoom is also a welcome addition which uses deep learning to ensure your zoomed image looks it best all the way up to 100x.

And it has an excellent focus lock so even at 100x the camera is locked on to your target to make it easier.

There are also the amazing Nightography capabilities which boosts your images and videos with more light when there is very little light to begin but also optimises your pictures and videos captured in situations like concerts or when viewing fireworks.

EDIT SUGGESTION

This is one of the most powerful features of Galaxy AI which can look at your image and suggest improvements like removing shadows or reflections and blurring the background of your selfie.

Forget spending time manually enhancing your images with the edit tools – AI does it for you in seconds and more often than not the difference between the original and the mastered show is incredible.

GENERATIVE EDIT

This comes in handy when you need to move or erase an object in your image.

You select the object you want to move, resize or remove and the Galaxy AI does the rest including building in the part of the image that was covered by the object or person you’ve erased or moved. It is truly remarkable.
INSTANT SLO-MO

With Galaxy AI it’s possible to create a section in slow motion when editing your videos by insert extra frames to slow things down to focus on a particular moment.

These AI powered camera features will also work with select third party social media apps like Instagram.

PERFORMANCE

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform for Galaxy for added power and efficiency.

The Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 ultra all have up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rates.

COLOURS

The Galaxy S24 Ultra colours include Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and

Titanium Yellow.

There are also some online exclusive colours including Titanium Blue, Titanium Green and Titanium Orange.

On Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 the available colours will include Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow.

The online exclusive colours are Sapphire Blue, Jade Green and Sandstone Orange and Titanium Orange.

PRICING

– Samsung Galaxy S24 – $1,399 (256GB), $1,599 (512GB).

– Samsung Galaxy S24+ – $1,699 (256GB), $1,899 (512GB).

– Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – $2,199 (256GB), $2,399 (512GB), $2,799 (1TB).

VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is probably the best smartphone you can buy right now with a sleek look and feel, excellent performance, a stunning screen, incredible camera system and the brilliant Galaxy AI. This package is just too good to resist.

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review – the smartphone has entered the AI era appeared first on Tech Guide.

The need for wi-fi speed has never been more apparent in today’s households as we stream content, playing online games and connect numerous smart devices.

The good news is Netgear’s Nighthawk RS700S Wi-Fi 7 tri-band router can provide the speed you need and more.

Wi-Fi 7 is the very latest wireless standard and one that will be used by more and more products so it doesn’t hurt jumping in early to future proof your home at a time when we take streaming 4K and gaming with low latency for granted.

Wi-Fi 7 is onboard the upcoming Samsung S24 Ultra, the Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro but you can be certain new smartphones and laptops will be supporting Wi-Fi 7 as sure as nose on your face.

So what’s new with Wi-Fi 7?

For a start it has three bands – 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz – and can achieve speeds up to 19Gbs.

The new ultra-wide bandwidth offers 2.4x the speed to your connected devices and Wi-Fi 7-compatible devices like smartphones and laptops enjoying up to 5Gbps.

The device uses multiple wi-fi bands at once to the reliability of the network, reduce latency and deliver data with maximum speed.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S is powered by Broadcom’s BCM6726/3 Wi-Fi 7 System on a Chip (SoC) and has a 10Gb internet port to support the faster internet speeds when they are available along with four 1Gb LAN ports for faster wired connections.

There is also a 10Gb LAN port to connect a Ethernet switch or a separate mesh wifi satellite.

There are few things different about the RS700S.

Firstly, it is more like a tower rather than the traditional Nighthawk shape with wings. This slick design means a much smaller footprint

There are also no antennas poking out.
All the technology is contained in the narrow chassis while still offering 360-degree coverage over 325 square metres.

It’s all thanks to the new internal 3D antenna design – that’s more than enough to cover your entire home – even multi-storey homes.
Set up is remarkably simple thanks to the Netgear Nighthawk app which steps you through the whole process and also allows you to change the name and password to the new wireless network.

Once we were connected out tests over wi-fi were seeing speeds well over 900Mbps – some as high as 975Mbps.

We have a 1Gigabit per second plan through Aussie Broadband so the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S was giving the speeds we’re already paying for.

And as more Wi-Fi 7 products become available those speeds will improve even further and maintain that new consistency.

The RS700S can handle up to 200 connected devices on your network – and that’s a lot. We have more than 70 at our place and that still leaves plenty of room to add plenty more.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S Router is priced at $1,499 and can provide the sort of coverage you’d expect from a mesh wi-fi system so that can justify this price

Technical specifications:

– 320MHz high-capacity channels & 4K QAM – New, ultra-wide bandwidth means 2.4x the speed to your connected devices. WiFi 7 smartphones and laptops can get speeds up to 5Gbps.

– Multi-Link Operation – Uses multiple wi-fi bands at once to improve network reliability, reduce latency, and ensure data is delivered with maximum speed.

– Lower latency – Dramatically upgrades gaming and interactive online experiences and opens the door for immersive next-gen AR and VR.

– More Capacity for Data-Intense Activities – Connect up to 200 devices, such as security cameras, smart home devices, and speakers, while enjoying 4K/8K video streaming, online gaming and HD video conferencing.

– Multi-Gig Speeds with 10GbE Internet Port – Use the 10 Gig internet port for cable and fibre plans up to 10Gbps. Compatible with any internet service provider.

– More wired ports on every device – Plug in wired devices to improve performance via a 10Gbps and four 1Gbps LAN ports.

VERDICT

The Netgear Nighthawk RS200S Wi-Fi 7 router can offer you expectational wi-fi speeds and coverage in your home now and well into the future.

The post Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 7 Router review – expectational speeds and coverage that’s future proof appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro are pure Google smartphones. They are taking Google’s hardware and the latest Tensor processor and running Google’s latest Android 14 operating system.

You couldn’t find a more thoroughly Google experience.

In doing this, Google has taken a move from the Apple playbook where, since 2007, the company has been offering an end-to-end experience with their own hardware and software.

Google has raised the bar even further with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro with intelligent improvements to the camera and a boost in performance.

On the design side, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have had a subtle update with more rounded edges.

There’s still the visor bar on the back that houses the camera system which gives the device a unique and unmistakable look.

The devices are powered by Google’s very own Tensor G3 chip which improves the overall performance as well as bringing AI into play so the phones can run features like Magic Eraser and Magic Editor on your pictures along with Call Screen which can answer unknown numbers through Google Assistant, for example.

The displays are stunning (6.2-inch on the Pixel 8 and 6.7-inch on the Pixel 8 Pro) and now both include 120Hz variable refresh rates – last year it was only the Pro model that included this.

The result is smooth scrolling and smoother viewing of content.

On the security side we have the in screen fingerprint reader, but face recognition has been significantly bolstered to the point where it unlocks the phone in an instant and now at a standard to be used for wider and higher level security like banking apps and other accounts.

By far the most attractive feature of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is the camera.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a triple camera system – 50-megapixel wide-camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with auto focus and 48-megapixel telephoto camera while the Pixel 8 has two cameras – a 50-megapixel wide camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide.

Quality is superb on both imagine and video – we knew that going in.

But the features Google is hanging its hat on are the image editing features – an improved Magic Eraser, a new Magic Editor and Best Take.

Best Take works well to ensure everyone in a group shot is smiling. It uses a series of photos taken as you are capturing your images and blends the images to give you the option of choosing everyone’s best expression.

Magic Eraser is an excellent tool to remove unwanted objects in your images. And it’s even better this time out with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

We put it to the test in a few different ways including removing a pole that ran through the centre of an image taken at Maroubra Beach.

We circled the pole and not was the pole removed but everything else that was supposed to be there was filled in precisely. This is the one of the best examples of the onboard AI.

Magic Editor takes things a step further and lets you define and move objects around to improve the composition.

You circle the object and press and hold and then you can move it to a more favourable location.

There’s also a Magic Audio Eraser which lets users single out and remove background sounds from your videos.

These features are a great gimmick – and they work well but they play to the users who want to perfect their images for share on social media.

The quality of the changes is remarkable – our complaint was it took a little while for the phone to process the changes.

Photography purists – like the enthusiasts who buy an iPhone would be rolling their eyes at these features – that’s just their opinion and probably why they opted for an iPhone over a Pixel.

Google approach to photography is a lot different to Apple.

Apple has always been loyal to the principals of photography and the camera on the iPhone as more like a regular camera than those found on most other smartphones.

Google has included some impressive hardware to produce quality images and videos with the Pixel smartphones, but they do provide an option for you to correct your mistakes – or alter the truth.

One big bonus for customers who buy the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is the decision by Google to provide seven years of OS and security updates.

This is a big deal especially for those users who might be doing it a bit tough and who want to hang on to their device for a few years.

Apple has had this type of support for the iPhone with six year old iPhones able to run the latest updates.

This gives the iPhone even greater longevity which is exactly what Google is trying to tap into and create this sort of loyalty.

The Google Pixel 8 ($1,199) and Google Pixel 8 Pro ($1,699) are available now.

VERDICT

The Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro are solid updates over the previous models with improvements in performance and camera and display quality with AI features like Magic Eraser and Magic Editor that will appeal to loyal Android users.

The post Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphone review – the total Android experience appeared first on Tech Guide.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have taken a significant step forward in terms of power, performance, features and design.

Apple has intelligently upgraded the most popular parts of the iPhone including the camera, the display and added several convenient new features to make using the device faster, easier and more enjoyable to use.

iPhone 15 an iPhone 15 Pro have the same screen sizes 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch and start at $1499 and $1849 respectively. They go on sale on September 22.

DESIGN

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have had subtle re-designs.

The iPhone 15 is made from durable colour infused rear glass which is finished with a colour-matched aluminium band.

The display now has a rounded top edge so it gives it a softer look than the iPhone 14’s more angular look.

Available in yellow, pink, green, blue and black, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 plus have subtle muted colours which don’t look to garish or bright.

Even the pink iPhone 15 Plus, which we received for review, is impressively understated.

The blue iPhone 15 is so light it’s almost white.

The rear panel of the iPhone 15 has more of a matte finish which prevents ugly fingerprints and makes it easier to grip.

The iPhone 15 Pro has undergone the biggest transformation with a new titanium finish.

Apple says it uses Grade 5 titanium which offers strength and durability but is noticeably more lightweight than the surgical grade stainless steel used with the iPhone 14 Pro.

In fact, the iPhone 15 Pro is 19g lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro – it might not sound like much but for a device you carry with you everywhere every day it’s a big deal.

The iPhone 15 Pro is available in natural titanium, black titanium, white titanium and blue titanium.

Gone is the shiny surface that’s a magnet for fingerprints and in its place is an impressive, brushed metal look with a matte finish.

For our review we received the Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Blue Titanium iPhone 15 Pro.

The Natural Titanium has more of a grey tinge but it’s a colour we haven’t seen before with the pro model iPhones – and we’re expecting it to be the most popular.

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have the same size screens as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max yet have dimensions that are a couple of millimetres smaller.

This is because of the display on the latest iPhone have noticeably thinner bezels which means it can fit the same size screen in a smaller space.

DISPLAY

The iPhone 15 Super Retina XDR display now includes the dynamic island first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro last year.

Those new to the dynamic island will find it provides an interesting way of displaying your notifications and providing updates.

For example, if you booked an Uber ride, the time before the driver arrives and other information is displayed within the Dynamic Island.

Other airlines like united also use dynamic island to give passengers a countdown two boarding time add a reminder of your gate and seat number.

And that’s all provided on the main display without you even having to open the app.

The iPhone 15 Pro display includes 120Hz ProMotion technology, so your content is smooth and clear.

And there are also those thinner bezels we’ve already mentioned which gives the screen a more edge to edge look.

PERFORMANCE

The iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 bionic chip – the same silicon that was first seen with last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and this powers onboard features like computational photography, voice isolation for phone calls and power efficiency for even better battery life.

The iPhone 15 Pro introduces the new A17 Pro processor which does the heavy lifting for providing improved graphics performance that’s 20 per cent faster now thanks to its six cores.

The A17 pro incorporates 3Nm processor with 19 billion transistors on board.

It has a 2x faster neural engine with 16 cores that can perform 35 trillion operations per second.

It is powerful enough to offer hardware accelerated rate racing for the very first time so graphics and gameplay on the latest games a more fluid and lifelike than ever with lighting effects that matched the real world and immerse you even further into the game.

CAMERA

On the camera side, Apple has truly excelled itself.

The iPhone 15 camera has been upgraded to 48 megapixel main camera so you can shoot in a higher resolution than ever before and capture stunning detail.

A cool new feature on the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro is the ability to turn any photograph into a portrait image.

If you’re shooting a person, dog or cat, the iPhone 15 will go about capturing depth information so you can see your photo as a portrait which includes a tasteful blur effect and the ability to switch focus between two subjects in the same image.

But if you’re really into your photography then the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max should be at the top of your list.

The onboard 48-megepixel camera has a quad pixel sensor that can optimise whatever you’re shooting in real time including in low light situations while still capturing remarkable detail.

The iPhone 15 Pro camera is designed to appeal two real photographers whether they enthusiasts or professionals.

These customers would know the main focal lengths including 24mm, 28mm or 35mm because that would be lugging around these lenses with their main camera.

Now they can go into the camera settings on the iPhone 15 Pro and choose their default main camera focal length – 24mm, 28mm or 35mm thanks to the power of computational photography.

The Photonic Engine also does a fair amount of the heavy lifting to bring out the detail in your subject including in darker environments by increasing dynamic range.

The photos the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro produce a truly remarkable and it takes little effort by the user. All you need to do is aim and shoot.

It really nails skin tones and colour and is easily the best camera you’ll find on a smartphone.

What sets the iPhone camera apart from other smartphone cameras is Apple’s insistence of staying faithful to the traditional principles of photography rather than using smoke and mirrors and gimmicks to produce an exaggerated shot.

But Apple didn’t stop there.

On the iPhone 15 Pro Max they have included a Tetra Prism lens system that can bounce the light four times before hitting the sensor to achieve a 5x optical zoom to get you even closer to your subject.

Would have liked to have seen even higher zoom but in typical style, Apple kept this feature to a level where it can maintain the quality and accuracy without going overboard.

For professional photographers the new iPhone 15 Pro an iPhone 15 Pro Max now includes log encoding to make shooting in ProRes even more powerful and flexible for colour grading in post and even adding visual effects.

The iPhone 15 Pro models are the first to support ACES (Academy Colour Encoding System) which is a global colour standard used in major movie productions.

Users of the iPhone 15 Pro could also capture Spatial Video which will be able to be enjoyed on the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset which can put you right in the middle of that moment and make those special moments even more memorable.

ACTION BUTTON

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have ditched the silent switch on the side left edge and replaced it with an Action Button which can be programmed to do things like turn on the camera, activate silent mode, open your favourite app, open the voice recorder to record your thoughts or trigger a series of shortcuts.

When pressed, the Action Button provides haptic feedback to let you know the interaction has been successful.

Users can dive into the settings to easily set the function of the Action Key.

We would have liked to have seen even more Action Button options perhaps with long presses and double presses expanding the possibilities.

USB-C CHARGING PORT

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro now have USB-C charging ports.

It’s the first time in 11 years Apple has moved away from Lightning which was introduced with the iPhone 5.

A braided USB-C to USB-C cable is provided in the box.

This move brings the iPhone into line with each other products which have already transitioned to USB-C including the iPad and iPad pro and the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

In fact, Apple made a point of saying you could now charge the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro with the same cable you would use with the iPad and the Mac.

The iPhone 15 Pro models will enjoy faster data transfers add up to 10Gbps thanks to a USB-C controller on the device’s new A17 Pro chip.

On the charging side, we found it to be slightly faster than Lightning.

The new USB-C connection can now be used for faster transfer of ProRes video and ProRaw images.

With the new port it is also possible to shoot and transfer to Mac with a cable and shoot ProRes video directly to a connected external storage drive in 4K at up to 60fps.

PRICING

The new iPhone 15 will be priced at $1,499 (128GB), $1,699 (256GB) and $2,049 (512GB).

iPhone 15 Plus is priced at $1,649 (128GB), $1,849 (256GB0 and $2,199 (512GB).

iPhone 15 Pro is priced at $1,849 (128GB), $2,049 (256GB) and $2,399 (512GB) and $2,749 (1TB).

iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced at $2,199 (256GB) and $2,549 (512GB) and $2,899 (1TB).

These prices are slightly higher than last year but that won’t stop customers flocking to it and hanging on to it for years.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro go on sale on September 22.

VERDICT

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are impressive upgrades that set a new standard with a stunning design, unrivalled performance and a camera that raises the bar for what we can expect from a smartphone. If there is a better phone on the market – we haven’t seen it yet.

The post iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro review – Apple has set a new standard for flagship smartphones appeared first on Tech Guide.

Samsung’s new fifth generation foldable smartphones – the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 – go on sale this week and there will be many inspired to take their first bold step into the world of foldables.

Samsung, of course, has been leading the way in this growing category and these latest models represent years of development and improvement.

Tech Guide was lucky enough to go into Samsung’s design studio after the launch in Seoul and heard about the design philosophy behind the products.

These units had gone through countless versions before deciding on the versions we see today.

The design team said they wanted a product that was inspirational, functional and that solved a problem for customers. And they’ve achieved that.

And it’s not just about the design but also the materials and colours that turn the product into a thing of beauty.

The Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 are both foldable smartphones but they are aimed at totally different customers.

What they do have in common is the same design language, eye-catching colours and surprising durability.

For a folding device – that’s quite an achievement.

The other huge improvement for the Flip5 and Fold5 is with the hinge.

This has been a work in progress since the first device was introduced back in 2019.

This time out, the hinge mechanism is even smaller and more compact and, for the first time, the devices now fold completely flat.

Previously there was a slight gap close to the hinge which was there to reduce the strain on the screen.

A new waterdrop design can both now reduce that strain while still offering no gap when it’s folded.

This improvement has reduced the thickness of the devices by 2.4mm which is massive in the smartphone world.

There is no doubting the Flip5 and Fold 5’s credentials when it comes to performance – they’re both power houses thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip built just for Galaxy devices.

And being made from armour aluminium you know that despite being foldable devices, they can still take the usual knocks and scrapes from being used every single day.

SAMSUNG Z FLIP5

The product that’s going to steal the Samsung foldable limelight this year is the Flip5 which has seen the most improvement year on year in the line-up.

The biggest change is the new Flex Window which is 3.78 times larger than last year’s front screen.

It nearly takes up the entire front folded face of the phone and offers so much functionality that you can get a lot of things done, receive notifications, while taking control of your media then you can use it in the folder position for extended periods.

Users will also be able to use the Samsung wallet, scan QR codes and take selfies and videos without the need to open the device.

There is no doubting the build quality of the Flip5 – it has that solid feel in your hands and a reassuring thunk when you fold the device shut.

The Flip5 solves the biggest problem smartphones face today where customers are after a large screen but not a large phone.

Typically having a large screen means you’re lugging a large device in your pocket or your bag.

But with the Flip5 you have a glorious 6.2-inch internal display which allows you to use the phone as you would any other regular device but when it’s time to pack up you can literally fold it in half and put a much smaller product in your pocket.

The main screen is clear and bright and you’ll think you’re looking at a regular smartphone display.

The crease could be less prominent, but you’ll soon forget about it when using your apps or watching content on the screen.

The Flex hinge also adds to the product’s versatility because it allows you to position the device so you can easily and more comfortably watch your content or set up your selfies and videos.

One of our favourite features is the ability to activate the shutter for a selfie simply by raising your palm towards the lens. This sets off a three second timer so your selfies will be flawless.

The onboard cameras – a 12 megapixel wide angle and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera – won’t match the quality of the Galaxy S23 or the Z Fold5, but they still take respectable images and videos that you can share instantly on social media platforms.

Even in low light situations Samsung ‘s Nightography sensors offer excellent results when shooting images and videos without much light.

The onboard 3700mAh battery easily got us to the end of the day when we were using this as a daily driver.

Even though we were doing everything on the device including checking emails, using apps and social media, web browsing and consuming content – there was still enough charge to take us well into the night.

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has the same slimmer hinge technology as the Flip5 but it’s a completely different beast to its foldable sibling.

The Fold5 has a 6.2-inch front screen that unfolds to reveal a beautiful 7.6-inch main display.

Design-wise, apart from the slimmer hinge, there really isn’t much difference to last year’s model.

But the 2.4mm saving in thickness is significant enough to attract people to the device who had previously been holding back thinking it was too bulky.

It is now noticeably thinner thanks to the trimmed down hinge and can fit in your pocket even easier.

The Fold5 customer is a high-end user who wants to create and consume content and multitask on the move.

The front screen is useful for most of your needs including calls, messaging and responding to notifications.

The Fold5 has a narrow and tall display, but we would have loved to have seen a slightly wider screen.

For us, the screen wasn’t wide enough to comfortably type and we found ourselves opening the device to complete tasks that we would have preferred to do on the front screen.

Our suggestion to the Samsung design team was adding 5mm of width to the front screen to get us to that tipping point where it was a lot easier to operate.

That added space would also allow the device to accommodate the S Pen to fit inside the chassis rather than having to carry it separately.

We understand that having a wider display would also mean a wider rear panel but it would also give us an even larger internal screen.

This would no doubt add to the cost of the device but if you’re already willing to spend more than $2500 you’d be willing to invest a little more if it offers a huge improvement and easier use.

One impressive improvement with the displays is the increased brightness of up to 1750 nits.

The difference is noticeable and really makes what you’re viewing on the display pop.

This also helps when viewing the device outdoors in direct sunlight, you’ll still able to see quite clearly on both the front and inside screens.

For multitaskers, the inside screen offers plenty of space to run up to three apps at the same time.

Another new feature we liked was the taskbar which allowed us to access the apps we use the most.

We were able to drag the apps onto the main screen and use up to three at the same time.

You don’t miss out on camera quality with the Fold5 thanks to the 50-megapixel wide angle, 10-megapixel telephoto with 3X optical zoom and 12-megapixel ultra-wide cameras on the rear panel.

These join the 10-megapixel front camera and the 4-megapixel under display camera on the main screen.

A favourite feature was the dual preview which allows the subject of your photo to see themselves on your front screen while you are framing them up from the main screen.

And if you have other Galaxy devices, Multi-control lets you use a keyboard and mouse to move across all of them.

For example, you may have the fold five and the Galaxy Tab S9 and able to link a keyboard and mouse to both devices to easily move between them and drag content to and from each device as well.

PRICING

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is priced from $1,649 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 starts at $2,599.

These prices are higher than last year’s starting prices, but the base models now offer 256GB of storage which was actually the price of that variation last year.

VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 bring you the future of smartphones today with stunning features, remarkable design and functionality that will suit a variety of users and offer them a completely new way of using a smartphone.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 review – the time to move to foldables is now appeared first on Tech Guide.

Do you need to tidy up your desktop, get yourself organised and charge your smartphone and earbuds at the same time? Then what you need is the ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat from Journey.

The desk mat (which is 68cm long and 37cm wide) has a magnetic edge on the left side so the charging pad (10cm x 37cm) can neatly attach itself.

The mat itself is made of felt and vegan leather and users can choose which material they prefer being on top by simply flipping it over.

It is a very generous size so it will cover most of a regular-sized desk.

The charging pad connects to power via a USB-C cable and can charge your iPhone if it has wireless charging or MagSafe, and any Android phone with wireless charging capabilities.

We tried it on our iPhone 14 Pro Max and the ALTI charging pad magnetically held it in place to ensure it was charging.

Other smartphones just need to be positioned correctly to receive a charge.

You can also charge AirPods Pro and AirPods with wireless charging cases – there’s a spot marked out so you know exactly where to put it.

Users can also charge the Galaxy Buds and other earphones that have wireless charging cases.

Having the charging pad only requires you to have a single included USB-C cable connected to a port on a wall charger.

This means no more multiple cables cluttering your workspace.

What also reduced the clutter is being able store papers and documents between the felt and vegan leather layers so they are out of sight but still literally at your fingertips.

It’s also an excellent work surface so you can still use your computer mouse accurately and it will also quieten your keyboard because it is on a softer surface rather than resting on wood.

And with the charging pad right beside you, you’re never going to miss any calls or messages.

If you would prefer your phone and earphones to be charging on your right side then you just have to turn the ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat upside down and attach the charging pad on the right.

The Journey ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat is available now in black or grey and is priced at $149.

www.journeyofficial.com.au

The post Keep your desk organised and your devices charged with the ALTI Wireless Charging Mat appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Google Pixel Tablet is a bit of an allrounder – it’s great for entertainment and running your favourite apps and, when attached to the included dock, can turn into a smart speaker, smart home hub and a mini smart TV.

The Android tablet has a 10.95-inch LCD display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate and has a soft touch rear panel and edges.

It is also powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip which offers excellent performance and speed to make using the tablet a breeze. Onboard is 8GB RAM and either 128 or 256GB internal storage. There is no microSD card slot.

Included with the device is a charging dock which serves a few purposes.

First off it keeps the tablet charged when not in use. How many times have you grabbed a tablet that’s been laying around in your home and found there is no charge left?

It can also position the tablet comfortably so you can view apps and content, make and receive video calls and keep an eye on your smart home devices.

Inside the hub are four speakers that can enhance the viewing and listening experience whether you’re listening to music, watching YouTube or watching a movie.

The tablet has the same design language and look and feel of a Pixel smartphone and that applies to the Android 13 OS that’s onboard as well.

There’s a volume rocker key on the top edge alongside a lock button that also doubles as a responsive fingerprint reader.

Also onboard is a USB-C port so you’re able to charge with a cable as well as through the charging dock.

Included with the Pixel tablet is Google TV so it offers the same options in your hand as you’d see on a smart TV running Google so you can access your favourite streaming services.

It would have been nice to have a screen capable of more than 60Hz refresh rate.

The tablet has great resolution for a crisp and bright picture, but a higher refresh rate would have made things a lot smoother when watching videos and playing games.

The Pixel 7 Pro smartphone supports 120Hz refresh rate and has a much smaller screen than the Pixel Tablet.

That aside, watching video content was still enjoyable – it just could be better.

On the audio side the tablet’s speakers are impressive on its own but when you place the device back on the magnetic charge hub and watch your content you get the benefit of better speakers which instantly kick in when connected so you can enjoy even better sound including respectable bass response as well.

It was loud enough to easily fill a room.

Music also sounds great so it can also supply your background audio or the soundtrack to your next party,

And it’s a handsfree experience as well so when you don’t have access to the family TV or just want to watch things in another room or on your own, the Pixel Tablet offers a great alternative.

For video calls the front 8-megapixel camera offers full HD 1080p quality. The rear camera is also 8-megapixel, but we can’t imagine you’d be using this to take photos when you have a much better camera in your pocket with your smartphone.

The charging hub itself is small enough to carry into another room and plug it in.

We found we wanted to use the tablet attached to the dock more often than just on its own.

But like a regular tablet you can take the Pixel anywhere, but it will only connect wi-fi when you’re out and about – it’s doesn’t have a 4G/5G option.

We think the Pixel Tablet is a homebody though because of its ability to act as a smart speaker and smart home hub.

You can use Google Assistant and ask Pixel Tablet for information and to find content.

And when it’s docked, the Pixel Tablet looks just like the Nest Hub smart display and speaker.

When the tablet is docked it can also be used a digital photo frame so you can view your favourite images all the time. Or you can choose to display the time.

But add to that the Pixel Tablet can also be your smart home hub as well to control lights, view camera feeds, set up automations and view notifications.

Automations are centred around times of the day like bedtime, when you arrive home, when you leave home and when you wake up.

The onboard battery will allow up to 12 hours of video viewing if you decide to take this with you on a flight or a road trip.

But when it’s a home – battery life isn’t an issue thanks to the dock which can recharge it or keep it powered while it’s resting there.

It’s also smart enough while on the dock to keep the charge level between 80-90 per cent to maintain the health of the battery.

The Google Pixel Tablet is priced at $899 and certainly offers plenty of versatility so you can use it on the move, in the dock, as a smart speaker and a smart hub.

VERDICT

The Google Pixel Tablet is a multi-talented product that offers the convenience of a smart speaker, the portability of a tablet, the content possibilities of a mini smart TV and a dashboard for your smart devices. And it provides an excellent experience no matter what mode you’re using.

The post Google Pixel Tablet review – a versatile device that can be used in so many ways appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Google Pixel 7a is going to win a lot of fans with its affordable price and impressive feature set that makes it more than just another Android smartphone.

The latest device from Google has a 6.1-inch FHD+ display running at up to 90Hz and is powered by Google’s very own Tensor G2 chip.

That’s the same chip you’ll find on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, so performance is up there with these more expensive devices.

On the camera side, it has a 64-megapixel main camera and 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 13-megapixel front camera.

And naturally the Pixel 7a is running Android 13 with all the trimmings.

By that we mean there is no additional UI (user interface) like you see with other Android smartphones.

And there are also a host of other features for the camera and for making and receiving calls and messages.

It’s a lot to take in for a Pixel 7a newbie and for some even a little overwhelming when compared to the clean and simple interface and feature set of other Android smartphones.

You’re presented with a few options that you don’t get on many other devices like screening your phone calls and getting a live transcription of your recording.

In terms of design the Google Pixel 7a carries on the same look and feel as its predecessors as well as the same camera bar on the rear panel.

There is a new colour called Sea (it’s light blue) along with old favourites Charcoal (black) and Snow (off white).

The device also has an IP67 rating so it can handle dust and a splash of water.

The 6.1-inch OLED display has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 with 429ppi (pixels per inch) and has a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass.

The screen has refresh rate up to 90Hz so scrolling, games and videos are smooth.

Even in bright sunlight the Pixel 7a’s screen was easy to read.

There are a couple of new features when making calls and receiving voice mails.

Call Screening lets you find out who’s calling if you don’t know the number and even find out why they’re calling.

When activated, a voice asks who they are what the call is in relation to.

The user sees these responses as messages before making the decision to answer or reject the call.

This is a good way of warding off scammers but not every unknown number is trying to rob you so it can add time for a caller who needs to reach you.

Another new feature is Voice Message Transcription which can listen to your message and type out the entire message so you can read it rather than spending time listening to it.

The Pixel 7a has an in-screen fingerprint reader which is fast and responsive along with Face Unlock.

The Google Pixel 7a camera is impressive and takes great images in good conditions as well as in low light conditions.

The main camera has 64-megapixel resolution, but we understand the sensor is smaller than the one found on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro so Pixel 7a and still takes excellent images – just not as good as its big brothers.

And to zoom the best you can get is Super Res which is digital zoom at up to 8x – but the results are good not great. It’s better when your subjects are nice and close.

Top Shot is just like the Live feature on an iPhone which, when activated, records a few seconds video as you take your photo.

Top Shot was set to auto on our Pixel 7a by default which meant we got the occasional video with the photo.

But just remember these images will take up twice the amount of a regular image.

A new feature is Long Exposure to enable a little creative blur in your image.

Google says its best with objects moving in a straight line like a train and a car or like a pet running.

Also onboard are favourite features like Magic Eraser and Real Tone.

The selfie camera also produces some good results and punches above its weight.

On the video side, the Pixel 7a can capture 4K video at up to 60 frames per second with decent stabilisation.

Pixel 7a has a 4,385mAh battery onboard which is enough to last a day although on some says during our review, we were down to 40 per cent just after lunch after being at 100 per cent at 7am.

Google has an Extreme Battery Saver which will only use essential apps you nominate to help get through the day but naturally we’d prefer a two day life.

Battery life wasn’t so bad when we were driving during the day because the device would be wirelessly charging (yes, it has wireless charging) and topping up the battery level.

But on the days we were away – there were no top ups and the battery levels were sagging by late afternoon to the point where we needed to connect the charger if we were planning to head out to dinner that night.

Thankfully the Pixel 7a charges quicky and you can get back to 100 per cent in less than an hour and a half.

The Google Pixel 7a is available now and is priced at $749.

VERDICT

The Google Pixel 7a is a capable smartphone with many intelligent features that will delight savvy Android users who are after a phone that plays above its weight.

The post Google Pixel 7a smartphone review – value, features and performance appeared first on Tech Guide.

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 5G is a mid-tier smartphone with the design, display and features that makes it feel like a flagship product.

No, Samsung isn’t trying to put itself out of business – the A54 5G is no Galaxy S23 but the mid-tier device can still hold its own.

It’s ideal for the customer who wants something better than an entry level smartphone but that doesn’t want to shell out thousands of dollars for the top of the line products.

You can describe Samsung’s A54 5G as the Goldilocks smartphone – not too cheap, not too expensive – it’s just right.

When looking to purchase a smartphone, customers want to tick four main boxes – design, camera, display and battery life.

The Samsung A54 5G delivers in all those areas.

Let’s start with design.

The A54 5G is a simple and clean look with gently rounded edges and a glass finish.

It has a nice size and shape and feels good in the hand.

The volume and power buttons are on the right edge and the SIM card slot is on the top edge.

Speaking of the SIM card slot, the tray has room for one SIM card and a microSD card so you can expand the memory. That’s a feature Samsung’s flagship phones don’t have. There is no eSIM.

The 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED Display (1080 x 2340 resolution) is stunning and bright and is easy to read anywhere including outside in bright sunlight.

We were checking the Samsung A54 5G on the golf course in the middle of the day waiting for the group ahead to clear.

We were able to check easily read our emails, messages and apps and see the screen clearly to line up our photos.

And with refresh rates up to 120Hz, it is a super smooth experience as well.

The device is powered by a 2.4Gh octa-core processor with 6GB RAM, 128GB of onboard storage and external storage through the MicroSD card slot.

On the camera side you’ve a 50-magepixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. And for your selfies you’ve got a 32-megapixel front camera.

The quality of the images are obvious whether you’ve got plenty of light or in lowlight situations.

The pictures were bright and with punchy colours.

The onboard sensors can suck in plenty of light, not to the level of the S23 but still quite respectable.

For the price, the A54 5G’s camera definitely punches above its weight.

We shared plenty of images on social media and no one questioned the quality – it looked as good as any of the posts around it.

A feature we loved was the Object Eraser which allows users to circle and remove unwanted objects.

We took a selfie on the golf course but there was a tree in the background that looked like it was coming out of the top of my head. One quick edit on Object Eraser and it was gone in seconds.

If you’re shooting video, you can shoot 4K at up to 30 frames per second.

Bottom line, the Samsung A54 5G camera is not going to let you down.

Another strong feature is the battery life.

The battery has a capacity 5,000mAh capacity and when we we’re using it as our daily driver smartphone, we found it got us through more than day and a half before we had to think about connecting the charging USB-C cable.

What it does NOT have is wireless charging so you’re only option is to charge via cable. But luckily the solid battery life was enough to get us through.

For security, the A54 5G also has an in-screen fingerprint reader.

Also onboard is NFC (near field communication) so you can use the A54 5G to make payments with your credit cards.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is available now and is priced at $649.

VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is one of the best mid-tier smartphones you can buy. It ticks all the boxes for customers in terms of design, screen, camera and battery life and also delivers excellent value.

The post Samsung Galaxy A54 5G smartphone review – ticks all the boxes at an affordable price appeared first on Tech Guide.