phone

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro wants to be different in the mid-range. We have tried it on the street and not everything is so simple

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If you are thinking of buying a mid-range mobile phone and are looking for something different, with personality and that design point that sets it apart from the rest, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro It may have easily slipped onto your list. It is no coincidence: its proposal plays precisely in that field, that of offering something recognizable in an increasingly homogeneous segment. The question, as always, is whether this difference is accompanied by a good day-to-day experience. This is where our usual approach comes in. While Ivan Linares has been in charge of analyze the device in depth, Ana Boria has taken it one step further: it has been taken out of the controlled environment for a real test. The result is the latest video from Xataka’s YouTube channelwhere he tests the terminal in everyday situations and draws conclusions with context. Let’s get to it. When the cell phone takes to the streets: a real test in Lisbon The chosen scenario is not coincidental. Lisbon serves as a perfect test bed for evaluate a mobile phone in real conditions: outdoor photos, intensive use during the day, navigation, content consumption… This is where a device stops being a technical sheet and starts to show what it is made of. And in this case, as usually happens in the mid-range, there are lights and shadows. In the performance section, the approach is clear from the beginning. We are not looking at the latest Qualcomm processor, but that does not imply a bad experience. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 complies with solvency in daily use, something that Ana sums up bluntly: “I have not noticed any type of problem or performance, fluidity or anything.” A statement that points directly to what matters most in this range: stability and consistency. The software is another point that makes the difference. Nothing OS 4.1 is committed to a clean experience, without unnecessary additions, and that is noticeable from the first power on. “You don’t know how much pleasure it gave me to turn on the phone for the first time and not see anything at all. no bloodwarenot a single social media advertising app that I wouldn’t be interested in being there.” In a market where bloated software is still common, this approach carries weight. When we move to the camera, the analysis becomes more nuanced. The main sensor offers solid results, especially in favorable conditions, with “photos with adequate sharpness” and where “in general the white balance is correct.” It is not a revolution, but it is a reliable foundation. Of course, there is also room for improvement in certain scenarios, something that Ana hints at during the video. Beyond the camera, there are two elements that define the experience: battery and screen. They are the ones that accompany the user throughout the day and those that, ultimately, determine whether the mobile phone convinces or not. In the video they are put to real use that allows us to better understand how far the device goes in this area. And, of course, there is the most recognizable element of the phone. The rear with Glyph Matrix is ​​not only an aesthetic issue, it also introduces a customization component that is unusual in this segment. “There are different types of light designs to assign to different applications, but you can even upload images to create custom designs.” It is, in a way, the materialization of that initial idea: to offer something different. The complete analysis of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro It is now available on the Xataka YouTube channel. If you want to understand how it behaves beyond the technical sheet and keep Ana’s final assessment, it is worth watching it calmly. Remember that you can also leave us your comments both on this article and on the video. Images | Xataka In Xataka | Poco X8 Pro Max, analysis: one of the largest batteries on the market arrives with a SoC that also has a lot to say

Our brain is “rotting” based on infinite scrolling. Someone has left their cell phone for 14 days to see if there is a way back

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Today it is a reality that most of us live glued to a screen, and this is something that is documented in studies that point out, for example, that on average we review an average of 200 times the phone throughout the day, which is equivalent to looking at it approximately every five minutes. In fact, 46% of users consider themselves “dependent” on the device and 53% say they have never spent more than 24 hours without it. But what really happens in our heads if we decide to cut corners and return to the analog era? A test. To answer this question, CNN journalist Bill Weir decided to test this premise to commemorate Apple’s 50th anniversary. In this way, for 14 days Weir kept his iPhone in a box and replaced it with a basic phone like the ones we had 15 years ago, with which we could only send SMS with a non-touch keyboard and a low-resolution camera. From here the sensations he had were observed, but a group of scientists behind him were also monitoring his brain through brain scans. The results. After two weeks of disconnection, the journalist’s reaction times improved by 23%, and his brain activity also increased significantly, causing his brain connectivity to become more coordinated and organized. Subjectively, Weir experienced a much better recovery in his ability to concentrate and also noted a sharp decrease in the need to consume social media after the first week. The changes. It is no coincidence that the term “brain rot”, translated as brain rot, was crowned the neologism of the year in 2024 for the Oxford dictionary, since it is a concept closely linked to be swiping all the time with your mobile. And clearly the excessive use of smartphones and all the applications they contain is leaving a physical mark on our brain anatomy. It’s proven. MRI-based research, including a National Library of Medicine publication in 2023, they point out that problematic smartphone use is associated with a reduction in gray matter in the brain. And if we go into something more specific, it was seen that there was a smaller volume in the anterior cingulate cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, the fusiform gyrus and the striatum. These areas are fundamental for emotional regulation, decision making and impulse control, making these alterations similar to those observed in addictions to harmful substances such as drugs. And supported. A study published in 2025 analyzed individuals for 72 hours without a mobile phone using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and the results indicated that withdrawal triggered brain activations identical to those of addictive withdrawal syndromes, followed by notable cognitive improvements. Digital amnesia. Beyond anatomy, our daily cognitive abilities are in free fall, and science suggests that the average attention time before an interruption has gone from about 2.5 minutes to about 47 seconds, blaming the accelerated digital pace here. And the culprit again is the smartphone, since a study published in 2017 analyzed to 520 participants and demonstrated that the simple presence of the smartphone on the table, even face down, consumes and exhausts our cognitive attention resources. This is why we should opt for better control of the time we dedicate to social networks or the smartphone in general, since the benefits of quitting are many. Images | freepik In Xataka | Smartphones are destroying our memories. The big question is whether we should care

Is it worth paying twice as much for a mobile phone that has changed so little?

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Samsung has been faithful to its annual event and presented a few hours ago the new Galaxy A57 (next to Galaxy A37). This is placed as the best mid-range phone that South Koreans havealthough you may very well be wondering how it is different from Galaxy A56last year’s model. To make it very easy for you, we are going to see the main differences so that you have it easier when choosing one or the other right now. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, Android smartphone, 256 GB storage, 8 GB RAM, anthracite, 6X update, large screen, long life (warranty) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The differences between the Galaxy A57 and the Galaxy A56 Continuous design, but lighter and thinner At first glance, both Samsung devices are quite similar. Both the Galaxy A56 and the Galaxy A57 rely on a metal edge and a glass back where the camera module sticks outso both one and the other will “limp” you if you place them with the screen facing up on a table. Now, there are changes in dimensions and weight. Samsung has been insisting on making its phones thinner for some time (the Galaxy S26 family is the perfect proof of this) and the Galaxy A57 is no exception. We are faced with a mobile that It is only 6.9 millimeters thicka good cut if we take into account that the A56 is 7.4 millimeters. There is also a notable difference in weight: the new model weighs 179 grams compared to the 198 grams of its predecessor. All this translates into a better in-hand experience. Processor and memory configurations Samsung continues to rely on its own Exynos processors for its mid-range phones. The new Galaxy A57 mounts the Exynos 1680a direct evolution of the Exynos 1580 that its predecessor rides. We do not have data yet on the performance of this new CPU, but hopefully it will be more powerful and efficient. The Galaxy A56, as we told you in its analysis, offers plenty of power for everyday life and the most common apps, something that will not change with the new model. There are also differences at the memory level. The Galaxy A56 started with 6 GB of RAM, although it had an 8 GB configuration. The new model raises the level and starts with 8 GB of RAMalthough with the possibility of purchasing a version with 12 GB of RAM. It also goes up a level in storage, now starting from 256 GB with the possibility of choosing 512 GB, something that the Galaxy A56 did not offer (which started from 128 GB and went up to 256 GB). Lots of AI and six years of updates As usual, the new Galaxy A They come hand in hand with a more modern version of One UI, Samsung’s custom layer based on Android. In this case it is One UI 8.5 (Android 16), although the most interesting thing is once again the years of support that the company offers for these phones. The Galaxy A57 has six years of guaranteed updatesso you will receive up to Android 22. Logically, coming out in 2025, the Galaxy A56 will receive one year less of updates at this point. AI is one of the key pieces of Samsung software, also in the Galaxy A57. Beyond Galaxy AIwe can expect this device to come with features like voice transcription on the recorder, smart object erase or ‘Circle to Find’, as well as Gemini. However, all of these functions They should also be present on the Galaxy A56. Few changes at the battery and camera level We are mainly emphasizing the differences between both terminals, but it is also important to point out where there are no changes. The battery is one of these aspects, since both devices have a 5,000 mAh battery. Although it is true that this figure is far from silicon-carbon batteries that other manufacturers mount, Samsung devices are very well optimized. Both one and the other should give you more than a day of autonomy. In addition to fast charging (which in both cases is 45 W via cable), they also repeat the same cameras, both rear and selfie camera. There may be differences when testing them thanks to the processing and artificial intelligence, although we still have to wait to issue a verdict here. The price has a lot to say right now Of course, if we talk about differences, we must put the price into the equation. The new Galaxy A57, which comes out on April 10, starts at 529 euros in its configuration with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. On the other hand, the Galaxy A56 right now can be found much cheaper. In fact, the version with 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM comes out 284.12 euros (with the discount coupon ‘ASES43’). In summary: which Galaxy to choose based on your needs Why choose the Galaxy A57 Although there are not many changes, there are. The problem is that may not be enough to justify paying the price difference what’s there right now. This is where the new model stands out the most: It comes with a new processor: We don’t have figures yet, but the new Exynos chip, on paper, is more powerful and efficient. It is lighter and thinner– The Galaxy A57 has become lighter and thinner. With an almost identical design, this new mobile is more comfortable in hand. Initial storage configuration is better: Starting from 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, the cheapest version is better than the Galaxy A56. You are looking for the greatest possible longevity: Both devices have six years of updates, but this one has arrived a year later, so it will receive more updates (both operating system and security). The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Why choose the … Read more

In 2014 Amazon failed miserably with its Fire Phone. AI has given him the perfect excuse to go back to his old ways

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In 2014 Jeff Bezos was still the absolute boss of Amazon. And it occurred to him that Amazon should have its own smartphone, so the company ended up launching the fire phone. That device boasted a 3D screen that overheated the battery and a catalog without the apps that everyone used, but it also it was very expensive for the time ($649). It was canceled 14 months later and became one of the most notorious failures of the recent history of technology. Now Amazon wants to try again with a project codenamed Transformer. Same idea, different time. In reality, the underlying concept has not changed much since 2014. Here Amazon’s goal is to have its own device that has Alexa as an integral part of the experience, but that is also a gateway for purchases on Amazon, connects with Prime Video or its food delivery services. Or what is the same: it is the perfect mobile for those who make their lives revolve around the Amazon ecosystem. And be careful, because what failed in the past may have a chance now. AI as an argument. The Transformer project wants to integrate AI functions to ensure that with it we do what theoretically will end up arriving sooner or later: that we simply ask for what we need so that the phone takes care of everything. Alexa would be a central component of that experience here, and the advantage that Amazon has is that it has the infrastructure and ecosystem that should allow doing something like this. AI agents begin to demonstrate their potential —we are seeing it with OpenClaw—and if Amazon can make that shopping experience easier, you may have a winning idea here. A team with tables. The project is led by J. Allard from an internal unit called ZeroOne in which the objective is to create “revolutionary” devices. Allard was one of the fathers of the original Xbox at Microsoft and also of the Zune, the music player that tried to compete with the iPod and failed. But above him is Panos Panay, who headed the Surface division at Microsoft before joining Amazon. They are certainly two veterans with a lot of experience in the hardware field and know first-hand what it is like to compete with the market leaders from disadvantaged positions. Now they have a unique opportunity to shine, but the challenge is colossal. The ‘dumbphone’ as a back door. One of the most curious twists of the project is that Amazon is not only exploring a conventional smartphone, but also a “dumbphone.” That is, a simple and minimalist mobile with limited functions inspired by the Light Phone and its interface “dumbed down“. The argument is striking: here it is not about trying to unseat the iPhone as the main device, and instead Amazon could position it as “a second phone.” Mobile phones with limited functions represented 15% of global mobile sales in 2025 according to Counterpoint Researchand although it is a small market, Amazon may have an interesting entry point there. But. The context, however, complicates everything. Amazon comes to this project at a particularly difficult time for mobile hardware. The number of smartphones distributed (“sold”) will probably fall more than ever in 2026, and in fact the preliminary descent of that figure is 13% due especially to the RAM crisis. AI hardware is the holy grail. To this we must add the fact that for now no AI hardware device has succeeded, and those who have tried have been an absolute failure. The Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 have been painful lessons for an industry that now certainly wants to try again—let them tell it to OpenAI and its alliance with Jony Ive—. The project is underway, but it is not ruled out that Amazon ends up canceling it if the strategy changes or the numbers do not add up. A golden opportunity. But what is certain is that Amazon has indisputable advantages in getting it right. For example, a service ecosystem with hundreds of millions of active users who already shop, watch content, and use Alexa, even if it’s just to set timers. The multi-million dollar investment in Anthropic and a relationship increasingly narrower with OpenAI they can also be key in this project. The question, of course, is whether an AI phone can really convince us to switch phones. And Amazon wants to have the answer to that question. In Xataka | NVIDIA is doing better than ever. And there is also more competition ready to eat it than ever.

so you can win a Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition

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One of the many advantages included in Xataka Xtra is the possibility of participating in exclusive giveaways. The first, a 75-inch LG QNED evo AI TValready has a winner, and now we go with the second. And this time Xataka Xta subscribers will have the opportunity to get a Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition. Before getting to know the device and mechanics, it should be noted that if you are not yet part of Xataka Xtra you can Join this community from two euros a month. The subscription not only includes access to this draw (and future ones), but to The Officeto the Discord server and various advantages and discounts on digital services. You have all the information in this link. That said, let’s go with the giveaway. How to participate in the exclusive draw for a Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition Participating in the giveaway for this device is as simple as having an active subscription to Xataka Xtra and making sure that, in your subscriber area, You have checked the box that can be seen in the image on these lines. That easy. By checking the box you will participate both in this draw and in all those to come, which will not be few. Regarding requirements and dates, the draw is as follows: Requirements: be a subscriber Xataka Xtra and resident in Spain (Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla) Start of the draw: Monday, March 16. End of the draw: Thursday, March 26, at 11:59 p.m. Winner selection and resolution: Friday, March 27. Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition | Image: Nothing How will the winner be chosen? From Xataka we will choose a random subscriber and two substitutes. If the winner does not respond within the period stipulated in the legal bases of each draw, the winner will go to the first substitute and, if this does not happen either, to the second. Winning a giveaway does not prevent you from winning in the following ones. You can find the legal bases at this link. Having said that, the raffle that concerns us today is a most exclusive product and of which There are only 1,000 units. The Nothing Phone (3a) Community Edition is a device whose design is inspired by the Game Boy and the PlayStation 1. It is radically different from everything Nothing makes and, practically, a collector’s item. In addition to the striking design finished in blue, the terminal has a 6.77-inch, 120 Hz OLED panel, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, 12 gigabytes of RAM, triple camera with three-times telephoto and 5,000 mAh battery. In short, it is not only a beautiful, exclusive and different terminal, but also capable of offering good performance for practically all types of users. In Xataka | Subscribe now to Xataka Xtra

How to turn your cell phone into an mp3 player without notifications or distractions

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Let’s tell you how to turn your cell phone into an MP3 playerso you can dedicate it solely to playing music without any other distractions. You are going to do this so much with an old cell phone to which you want to give a new life as with a new one when you want to use it only to listen to music. Our mobile phone is the control center of our digital life, and at all times we receive notifications, notices, updates, and the eternal temptation to use it to write messages or browse social networks. But what happens when you want to isolate yourself from the world and have your phone only serve to listen to music and podcasts? In these cases, you may be tempted to simply buy a new device, a media player that is not so connected to everything and only serves that purpose. But before spending money, you should try doing this on your current mobile to see if it is enough. Let’s tell you two ways to limit your mobile to listen to music. One is going to be less aggressive, that of limiting all notifications and interruptions that could take you out of your musical bubble. And the second will be more aggressive, to directly limit your mobile. First decide where you will listen to the music The first choice you have is to decide where you are going to listen to your music. And here you will have many options, both music streaming services and other native alternatives to have greater control over the musical content you have. Here we leave you a list of alternatives which you can opt for: streaming service: Spotify and Apple Music are the most popular music streaming services, with other alternatives like Tidal quite close behind. If you don’t want algorithms, you can opt for Qobuz, which has better music quality, without music inserted as an advertisement, and a clean experience that is like entering a record store, without sacrificing the ability to have playlists. YouTube-based streaming: You also have available free alternatives to Spotifymany of which they use YouTube or other pages as a source. Come on, they create a streaming service with albums and everything, and use YouTube to extract the music from their videos. Create your own Spotify: You also have applications for create your own Spotify. They usually do this by having an application on the computer to turn it into a server, and then be able to play the music over the Internet on other devices. You will need to have your main computer on, although many will allow you to download music. The most popular option is set up your own Spotify with Plexbut there are other interesting alternatives. Have your music on your mobile and use a player: And then you have the more artisanal method. If you have digitized your music to convert your CDs into mp3, purchased digital music directly, or used any other method to build your own music library, you can simply put it in a folder in your phone’s memory and then use a music player. With alternatives like AIMP, Retro Music Player or Pulsar you can have everything: integration with lyrics, covers, tag editor, and everything you need. And finally, you must think If you will listen to the music having an internet connection or not. In the event that you are not going to have a connection, make sure that if you use a service that takes music from the Internet such as Spotify or the alternatives, you download the albums that you are going to want to listen to directly on your mobile. Set a focus mode The least aggressive way to limit your phone to focus on the music listening experience is set up a focus mode. With this, what we are going to do is prevent notifications from appearing or that no application or phone call can bother us while we have our mode active for when we listen to music. If you want to create a concentration mode on Android, you have to go to your mobile settings. Inside, click on the section Modes. Inside here, click on the option Create your own way to make a custom one. On iOS, the option is called Concentration modes. In both cases, you will have to give it a name and an icon. This is up to you, but I suggest it be something recognizable, such as a reference to listening to music and an icon like headphones. Each operating system has its options, but they are quite unified. The most important thing is that make two specific changes on Android or iOS when you are creating this mode: Don’t create a schedule: This is so that the mode is activated automatically at certain times. In this case, I recommend not setting a schedule and using it manually, activating it only when you are going to use it. Turn off notifications: Disable the option Allow all notificationsand don’t allow any app to send you notifications. Perhaps, you can set an exception such as very close family so that if they call you the call will ring, but what are notifications you can deactivate them all, so that you do not receive any notice, and thus you can escape and not look at what is happening. Make very few exceptions: On both Android and iOS you will be able to set an application as an exception so that its notifications appear. You may want to put something like emails, but always try to remove messaging and social media apps, and this way you will avoid the main distractions. There are apps that make your screens minimalist But of course, with all the changes we have made we have altered the behavior of the mobile, but we still have home screens full of app icons and distractions. Fortunately, There are applications to alter your home screen and make it have … Read more

Why it is not advisable to connect the charger to the mobile phone before connecting it to the power

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Putting your phone on charge is a gesture that we do practically every day and it is something that is apparently very simple. Well, it turns out that we are doing it wrong. There is a key detail that many of us overlook and that can have negative consequences for both the cable and the mobile port. There are many recommendations for take care of battery healthsuch as avoiding downloading it to the maximum or charging it to 100%, but there is another factor that is not usually taken into account and that is the order in which we connect the cable. The order of the factors does alter the product And if not Tell my partner Álex Alcoleathe owner of the Lightning cable in the photo below these lines. The fact that the pins have turned black is not a dirt problem, but rather an order problem. Álex used to connect the cable to the cell phone and then to the power, which generates a brief voltage spike that goes directly to the connector. For once nothing happens, but if we do it continuously the result is a fried cable. This is how our colleague Alejandro Alcolea’s Lightning cable looked after several months It is a common phenomenon in any type of plug: you plug it in and a surge occurs. If the cable is already connected to the phone when this happens, a small electrical arc may be created where the pins make contact. This little sparkcan cause the cable pins to become damaged and, over time, the charge begins to fail or we have to move the cable to make contact. If you are wondering if there is a possibility of frying your cell phone with this habit, don’t panic. Smartphones have internal protections to prevent them from being damaged if there is a voltage spike and we are also talking about a very brief spike. The recommended order to charge your mobile Preventing that small spark from damaging the connectors is as simple as reversing the order, that is, connecting the charger to the socket and then connecting it to our mobile phone. In this way, the voltage peak remains contained in the charger and it does not occur when we connect the mobile. Manufacturers like Huawei and Samsung They recommend following this order to avoid possible damage: Plug the charger into the power outlet. Connect the cable to the charger (if separate). Finally, connect the cable to the mobile. What to do if your cell phone doesn’t charge If your cable or the charging port on your phone is starting to fail, the charging order could be a possible reason. To find out, check if the cable pins are blackened like those in the photo at the beginning, although if it is a USB-C it is more difficult to see since they are inside. The most common thing is that dirt has accumulated in the charging port and this does not let the cable connect well. If this is the case, you can clean it using a wooden toothpick, always being very careful not to damage the charging port. It may also be that your mobile does not charge because moisture has entered the port. In this case, try to remove the liquid by tapping it against your hand and leave the phone in a place where there is air flow, never insert anything to remove the liquid as you can make it enter even more. If the problem is not with the cable or the port, it is possible that it is with the battery, so you will have to go through technical service. In Xataka | Quietly, Spain is solving its biggest energy problem: becoming the world’s second largest battery power Cover image | Ivan Linares for Xataka

the Honor Robot Phone dances to your music as well as takes photos of you

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Over the years I have seen innovations that passed through mobile phones in a flash. The motorized cameras They were one of them: they became popular between 2018 and 2020 and then disappeared from the market as if they had not existed. Until Honor has arrived with his Robot Phonea phone that maximizes the bet of the original motorized cameras. The brand brought its latest innovations to Barcelona, ​​although the presentation had a bitter taste. The foldable Honor V6 It will still take a few months to arrive and the robotic mobile does not even have a date. Its state is experimental, it cannot be touched. It does allow you to invoke the camera using gestures. A gimbal tied to a smartphone Vivo has been including its gimbal mechanism in the X family for years, a three-axis stabilizer that simulates the stabilization accessory. But Honor’s bet is radically different, since the Robot Phone includes a authentic gimbal. And orchestrated with AI. The idea behind the phone is to offer automated photo and video taking without us having to worry about keeping the person in focus or following them. The Robot Phone can do all that without the need for extra accessories: the rear camera deploys when commanded. Either from the phone settings or by gestures: The front camera must recognize the palm of the hand, like the photo application does to take a selfie without touching the phone. Once the detection is made, an icon appears on the screen to notify you. At that moment you have to turn your hand so that the robot camera comes out. The robotic arm is activated by coming out of its rear socket and facing the user. The process between detection and the moment the camera is active takes about ten seconds. It’s not fast, it still needs some polishing. The gimbal of the robot camera consists of three axes with motors developed by Honor itself. The brand assures that they are the smallest in the world and that it has achieved reduce its size by 70% with respect to similar engines. The result of including this motorization is a very small, versatile and, according to Honor, very robust accessory. They use the experience and materials they already use in the hinges of the V-foldings. More than a camera Instantly attention-grabbing, you don’t expect a robotic arm to come out from behind a phone. That surprise ends up leading to empathy: Honor highlights the robot’s ability to interact with the user. For example, you can follow the rhythm of music by moving your head up and down. Or emphasize the conversation when we interact with the AI. Honor proposes different use cases for the phone. It is a camera that follows the action, that avoids shaking and that can pan without moving the mobile. In addition, it is capable of becoming a co-worker thanks to AI: it can become a work co-pilot. All thanks to Honor AI already Gemini. No specifications at the moment As a proof of concept, we still don’t know much more about its technical sheet other than that it has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as a processor and a 200 megapixel sensor for the robotic camera. The mobile has a solid construction (probably aluminum), straight edges and a screen that will not be far from 6.7 inches. It will be a premium range with all the law. It is a risky concept and I don’t quite see its more practical side, but the curious one. For video recording I think it’s an excellent idea, also for those who want to record everything: the Robot Phone can identify the environment and react to what it sees. AI action tracking is one of its best capabilities. It is still somewhat clumsy in practice, it is difficult to interact with the camera and You can see that the software is a bit green: The robotic camera did not always appear when making the hand gesture. And you had to close the capture application to try again. Live stuff. The return of motorized cameras under the protection of AI I remember having tested many mobile phones with cameras that were hidden in the phone to ensure that the entire screen surface was usable. He OPPO N3 He was one of the first, Asus Zenfone 6 It is another of the models that brings back the most memories: it allowed you to follow people taking advantage of the movement of the camera. The Honor Robot Phone has gone much further. It is a mobile phone that is unlike any other, at least for now. It offers different solutions to all those who use the phone to record video. And embrace the great presence that AI is having in all technological devices. Because, if robots are one step away from get to our housesthe advance could well be the Robot Phone. If the cell phone one day comes to make my bed, I’ll sign it. Images | Ivan Linares In Xataka | Best Honor phones in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and six recommended models

a photographic show that aspires to become the best mobile phone of 2026

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Xiaomi has a new workhorse for the highest range. It is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, one of the most ambitious phones on the market and a clear candidate for best mobile of 2026. On paper, it has everything to compete head-to-head with anyone that comes before it: a camera system that, at least in hardware, sets new benchmarks in the sector, a generous battery and Qualcomm’s most powerful processor. We review the characteristics of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Xiaomi 17 Ultra technical sheet xiaomi 17 ultra dimensions and weight 162.9mm x 77.6mm x 8.29mm 218g screen 6.9 inches Xiaomi HyperRGB Resolution 2608 x 1200 LTPO adaptive refresh 1-120 Hz 3,500 nits peak brightness HDR10+, Dolby Vision processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Storage 12 + 256GB 12 + 512 GB 16GB + 1TB rear cameras 50 MP, f/1.67 OIS, 23mm equivalent 200 MP, variable aperture f/2.39-f2.96, OIS, 75-100mm equivalent 50 MP, f/2.2 ultra wide angle front camera 50MP, f/2.2 battery 6,000mAh 90W fast charging 50W fast wireless charging operating system Android 16 based on One UI 8.5 connectivity 5G Wi-Fi 7Bluetooth 6GPSNFCUWBUSB type C price From 1,449 euros The lightest Ultra Regarding the design, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra It is the lightest and thinnest Ultra to date. Xiaomi has left the curvature behind (thanks, Xiaomi) to create a flatter and straighter device, weighing below 220 grams. Not bad considering that we are looking at a phone with a good-sized battery and that measures more than 16 centimeters high. Xiaomi has abandoned the curves and its new Ultra looks better than ever. It’s thinner, lighter, and even more refined It is manufactured in aluminum alloy for its sides, and fiberglass in its rear part. In the Stellar Green finish, the phone is made with mineral particles, giving a very attractive shine effect. The device’s screen is 6.9 inches, flat, with OLED technology and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. The company has worked especially to make it a panel that is not harmful to the eyes, and has TÜV certifications for blue light emission and flickering. Chicha, lots of chicha About the hardware it is exactly what you expect: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5configurations of up to 16 GB of RAM + 1 TB, LPDDR5X and UFS 4.1 memories, and a 6,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. Perhaps a little more fast charging could be expected given the size of the battery and knowing that some cheaper Xiaomi phones have been using 120W systems for years, but they are not figures to complain about. If you are wondering about the composition of the battery, we are talking about a silicon content of 16%, so we are looking at the technology expected in a phone of this height. The software stars Xiaomi HyperOS 3 and is based on Android 16with an additional layer of artificial intelligence powered by both Gemini and Xiaomi under the name of Xiaomi Hyper AI. The camera, tell me about the camera The reason for this phone is the camera. Because it’s not just any camera. The main sensor repeats the size that every flagship should aspire to: one inch. The lens is signed by Leicaand the resolution is again 50 megapixels. But the magic of this phone, like any high-end phone, is in the zoom. The telephoto lens is one of the most ambitious at the moment: variable aperture, focal range from 75 to 100mm and resolution of 200 megapixels. The zoom is mechanical, allowing you to shoot at 75 and 100mm without loss of quality between focal lengths. It has a Samsung HPE sensor, one of the most current and capable at the moment. To top it off, it has a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle, and a selfie camera with the same resolution. As usual in the Xiaomi Ultra, this year we can also bet on the photography kit. This not only allows for a better grip and adds a physical button panel to be able to photograph with a more analog experience, it also adds 2,000mAh capacity to the phone so that it can last the day even better. Versions and price of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will arrive in Spain in four color options: Black, White, Starlit Green. We can buy it in two variants: Xiaomi 17 Ultra 16GB+512GB: €1,499.99 Xiaomi 17 Ultra 16GB+1TB: €1,699.99 The Photography Kit It will be available in three color options: Silver, White, Purple for a price of €99.99 in my.com and official distributors. The Photography Kit Pro will arrive in black and will be available for €199.99 on mi.com. In Xataka | You can now buy the Xiaomi Tag: the rival to Apple’s AirTag and that you can use with both Android and iPhone

A few years ago, manufacturers fought for the most powerful mobile phone. Now they fight so they don’t go out burning

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Not too long ago, Samsung and Apple were trying to convince us of something: the titanium It was the best material for a high-end mobile phone. As a user of both the latest Galaxy and the previous iPhone, I have to say that I agreed: we were never looking at mobile phones more resistant to shockschips and all kinds of everyday accidents. With the iPhone 17 ProApple backtracked to return to aluminum. With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultrathe Korean company follows the same path. What is happening? Aluminum is back, and everything indicates that it is here to stay. One of the main advantages that titanium promised over aluminum was to promise greater resistance, something that is being demonstrated the drama of the new iPhone 17 Pro and its premature wear compared to previous models. Despite this, companies are returning to aluminum. There is something that both the new Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max share: they both have the largest dissipation systems ever built in their families. A titanic effort (to the point of completely redesigning the chassis in the case of the iPhone) to prevent mobile phones from burning in the hand. And there is a key point in this party: we want more and more powerful phones, but someone has to cool them down. Producing mobile phones in titanium is also more expensive, and given the current component crisiswith the RAM shot and internal memories the same wayone of the few cuts that can be made without affecting the overall phone experience is changing the material used. The question about whether we need more power or not, a few years ago, was answered with a resounding “yes.” But for some time now we are not so clear. With configurations of 12 and 16 GB of RAM, and processors that are more powerful than some desktop chips, our smartphones have been increasing power for years without determining too much. Why do we need these new limits?. AI requires RAM and not so much raw power (at least, in the use given to a phone), mobile games are already bordering on the quality of triple AAA console games, and improvements in camera come more through the redesign of algorithms and not so much through increasingly powerful IPS (image chips). In Xataka | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26+ and S26, first impressions: a broken heart in an unprecedented commitment to AI Image | Xataka

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