Tag Archives: Android

AYANEO Pocket EVO: A Powerful Evolution in Android Handheld Gaming with a 120Hz OLED Display

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It seems like Android gaming hasn’t had a moment in a while. With Nintendo Switch 2 news circling around, and Sony’s PlayStation Portal, and also the news of Assassin’s Creed coming to iPhones, it truly does feel like Android gaming got left in the past for a hot minute. Thankfully that minute didn’t last too long, considering players like AYANEO are always cooking something new. It just seems like yesterday that the company dropped the Next Lite console, and now they’re gearing for their next move in handheld gaming.

The AYANEO Pocket EVO seamlessly integrates exceptional performance with a sleek, user-friendly design. The world’s first Android handheld with a 7″ 1080P OLED 120Hz high-refresh-rate display, it boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chipset that provides the muscle to effortlessly power through demanding high-resolution mobile games, streaming services, and cloud gaming. This combination makes the Pocket EVO a versatile and unmatched powerhouse in the large-screen Android handheld market.

Designer: AYANEO

The name “EVO” perfectly embodies the Pocket EVO’s philosophy – evolution. It represents a complete overhaul of the Android handheld experience, offering unparalleled advancements in performance, aesthetics, display technology, and control configurations. The design draws inspiration from AYANEO’s award-winning Windows handhelds, inheriting a touch of refined elegance often missing in the Android handheld space. The Pocket EVO boasts a meticulously crafted new mold, resulting in a remarkably slim and lightweight body. The contours are carefully considered to enhance both visual appeal and comfortable gripping. The streamlined screen design and use of OLED technology deliver breathtaking color reproduction and a slimmer overall profile, pushing the boundaries of handheld display technology.

Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Gaming Platform delivers 15W of esports-grade performance, making light work of even the most demanding retro games and graphically intensive Android titles on the highest settings. The larger form factor allows for a more comprehensive cooling system, incorporating a larger heatsink and fan comparable to those found in X86-based devices. This translates to significant improvements in active cooling efficiency, extending sustained performance output and keeping heat dissipation in check.

The control configuration breaks new ground for Android handhelds. The Pocket EVO is the first to feature hall-sensing joysticks, providing a wider range of motion and precise feedback, free from drift and dead zones. The meticulously designed button layout ensures that intense gameplay sequences won’t hinder your grip, striking a perfect balance between aesthetics and comfortable control.

The highly regarded ergonomic grip has been further refined with adjusted curves for a more natural and comfortable experience. The Pocket EVO also features the largest HD linear motor ever implemented in an Android handheld. This, coupled with the comprehensive vibration settings offered through AYASpace software, delivers nuanced, multi-dimensional vibration feedback that deepens immersion across various gaming scenarios.

Despite its slim profile, the AYANEO Pocket EVO manages to pack in a massive battery exceeding 8000mAh, making it the Android handheld with the largest battery capacity among 7-inch devices. Gamers who enjoy streaming and cloud gaming will appreciate the support for the latest high-speed WiFi protocol, offering theoretical speeds of up to 30Gbps for lower latency and more stable data transmission.

Continuing the tradition of AYANEO’s software innovation, the Pocket EVO comes pre-installed with the AYA Home desktop launcher and AYA Space management software. These user-friendly interfaces offer features like performance mode customization, device spoofing for compatibility, button mapping, and optimized game library management. Future software upgrades promise to introduce even more functionalities, further enhancing the user experience.

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Got a Rabbit R1? You can now run Android 13 on it and use it like a regular smartphone

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This clever little hack basically turns the Rabbit R1 into what it originally was – an Android device – albeit without the limited interface and shoddy AI abilities. YouTuber ‘HowToMen’ showed how he loaded Android 13 onto the R1, and the results are frankly surprising. The touchscreen now works, you can load almost every conceivable app, you can send SMSes, use the camera to take photos/videos or better still, pair it with Google Lens to tap into Google’s AI chops. The scroll wheel now becomes a volume scroller, and heck, the entire device just feels a little more redeemed from its failed past. If you’ve got a Rabbit R1, here’s a clever little trick to make it a little more useful just in case you weren’t happy with its capabilities before.

Designer: HowToMen

After disastrous reviews from the tech community, Humane and Rabbit saw their street cred evaporate almost overnight. Humane ended up folding entirely, trying to sell its entire operation to any buyer. Rabbit, on the other hand, has been a little more steadfast… although people who own the R1 never seem to recommend getting it. The result, dwindling sales and the prospect of a total device failure. For people who already ended up buying the R1, instead of being left with a pretty useless device that doesn’t do half the things it promises, it just makes sense to boot Android onto it. After all, the R1 is basically a highly stripped-down version of Android running just an AI app. Turns out, if you want to jailbreak your Rabbit R1, it isn’t too difficult. You can easily load Android 13 onto the device and use it just the way you would a smartphone.

HowToMen basically jailbroke the Rabbit R1 and installed Android 13 on it. Once done, he installed the Lawnchair launcher to give it a distinct Android-esque aesthetic while adding widgets that he developed himself. The result is basically a tiny Android phone that does everything except make actual calls (although someone on Twitter did demonstrate the ability to call people too). To be honest, it robs the R1 of its Rabbit-esque essence… but then again, I’m an advocate for the ‘if you buy it you own it and you can do whatever you want to it’ school of thought.

What you’re left with is a pretty capable device that lets you do much more than you previously could with the R1. It has every feature you’d expect from the Android OS, including a dropdown control center, a working camera (although the camera’s direction has to be toggled from the dropdown control center). The camera can be made to face forwards, backwards, or even downwards as a privacy filter.

The camera interface isn’t too detailed, and just lets you either click photos or record videos.

The screen regains its touch-ability, something that Rabbit disabled for the most part. You can navigate it the way you would any Android phone. The speakers at the back work just fine, and a built-in microphone lets you record voice notes. Notably, the scroller on the side now becomes a volume wheel, and the lock button works just as advertised. Pop a SIM card in and you can even do things like send SMSes to friends. I’m not sure if WhatsApp would work on the device, but that’s worth a try too.

The procedure is pretty simple, from what HowToMen describes. It involves installing Android onto the device from a GitHub repository, and then you can add launchers to your device to customize its appearance. There are, however, two caveats – for starters, that 2-inch screen feels like a massive downgrade, giving you an Android experience that feels like something from 2014. The second, is the massive reduction in battery life. Instead of running just the Rabbit AI app, you’re now running Android 13, with all its apps, a colorful interface, and 128 gigs of storage that let you really use the R1 like a phone – that takes a toll on the battery life of the device, making it last significantly less than the R1 originally would. That being said, it’s still a bit of a win, given that you can do much more with the device than you previously could. For a $199 device, it’s quite an achievement, isn’t it?! Even budget Android phones aren’t that cheap!

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OPPO Reno 12 Pro Review: Making AI Affordable in a Stylish Design

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PROS:


  • Elegant and stylish design, especially the Nebula Silver color

  • Supports a micro SD card for external storage

  • 50MP autofocus front camera can do 4K UHD videos

CONS:


  • Processor is a downgrade compared to Chinese model

  • No wireless charging

  • Glossy bottom plate is a smudge magnet (Space Brown, Sunset Gold)

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Reno 12 Pro delivers powerful AI experiences packed in a beautiful and soothing design.

AI is the buzzword in the tech industry, with mainstream media picking up on it and sometimes not in a good way. All the benefits that the technology brings, however, are for naught if only a select few can afford to use it. AI on smartphones promises quality-of-life improvements and exciting creative features, but only if you have the latest and greatest models with powerful specs and matching high prices. Fortunately, AI on mobile is such a hot topic that manufacturers are bringing those features to almost any new device. That’s pretty much the premise of the OPPO Reno 12 Pro, specifically the global edition that the brand just launched, one of the first few to advertise these AI benefits on what some would consider a mid-range model. But is it a potent combination or is the experience hampered by the Reno 12 Pro’s hardware? We take the phone for a spin to bring you the answers.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

Companies avoid using the label “mid-range” or “mid-tier” for good reason. They often come with the connotation of lacking quality and appeal, which is definitely not something that can be said for the Reno 12 Pro. Right off the bat, you’ll be surprised by how enchanting the phone is, especially the Nebula Silver colorway we received for this review. OPPO utilizes what it calls Fluid Ripple Texture that gives the phone’s back a 3D visual effect of liquid gently moving underneath the glass. It even has something like a parallax effect that gives the illusion that there’s truly some solid mass despite having a completely flat surface. The play of light, shadow, and colors has a mesmerizing effect that gives the phone a more stylish and elegant air.

The other two color options, Sunset Gold and Space Brown, are no less attractive but have a different approach. They use a two-tone design that combines a matte section and a smaller glossy area separated by a chic metal-like ribbon running across the width of the phone. It’s a familiar composition, only arranged upside-down, giving the Reno 12 Pro a distinctive look. Unfortunately, this design has one rather critical flaw, the glossy part will always be where your palm rests, which means it will always have oils and smudges whenever you hold it.

The phone’s flat edges give it a modern look and its reflective surface gives the impression of a metallic nature. It is, however, a sleight of hand, given how the material is actually a new proprietary alloy that OPPO promises has the same durability but with less weight. All in all, the OPPO Reno 12 Pro definitely has a striking presence that’s almost on par with more expensive flagships.

Ergonomics

Given the phone’s large size, it’s almost shocking that the OPPO Reno 12 Pro weighs only 180g. Part of that is probably thanks to the absence of “real” metal in the frame, utilizing OPPO’s High-Strength Alloy Framework instead. On the one hand, this gives the phone a lightweight body that lessens the strain on your hand. On the other hand, no pun intended, it sometimes makes the phone feel a bit flimsy, lacking the substance you’d find on premium handsets.

Smartphone designs these days either go for flat edges or the more traditional curved screens, but the OPPO Reno 12 Pro finds a rather curious middle ground. Its sides are quite flat, but the screen isn’t exactly the same. It has a very minimal curvature not only on the left and right sides but also top and bottom but never goes over the edges. OPPO says this design delivers that same immersive viewing experience without the accidental touches that curved screens are notorious for. Along with more rounded corners, this design offers comfort and confidence in your grip, making for a more pleasurable smartphone experience.

Performance

The OPPO Reno 12 Pro isn’t exactly new but it is only now making its way to global markets. That journey, however, seems to have taken a toll on the handset, and OPPO decided to use a custom MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy. This variant of the processor is geared towards more efficient battery use, but it’s still based on a rather mid-range silicon line. Fortunately, the phone still performs admirably, especially with 12GB of RAM, though you might see some stuttering or dropped frames in more intensive games. In exchange, however, OPPO gives the Reno 12 Pro a feature that’s all but gone from smartphones these days: a microSD card slot sharing space with the second SIM card slot.

Like any other smartphone these days, OPPO takes great pride in the Reno 12 Pro’s imaging system, and for good reason. It boasts two 50MP sensors, one for the main wide shooter and another for telephoto. These high-performance cameras produce impressive images, even on overcast days, bringing rich detail and accurate colors to every shot. These two cameras also work together to deliver beautiful bokeh effects in portrait mode, creating an accurate separation of foreground and background and giving the latter a pleasant blur. Sadly, the 8MP ultra-wide camera barely holds a candle to these two, but it thankfully still gets the basics right. Even more impressive, however, is the 50MP front-facing camera that not only has autofocus but can even take videos in 4K UHD quality.

Given that the main selling point of this generation of the Reno family is AI, we definitely have to say a few words about it. At the time of this writing, the rollout of some of the features is still ongoing or scheduled, but the complete set is definitely something worth waiting for. You have a combination of generative AI features across the board, from intelligently handling the performance of the phone to tweaking your photos to match a certain appearance with the AI Studio. Leveraging the power of Google Gemini, The Reno 12 Pro features an AI sidebar that can analyze the content displayed on the screen and offer relevant tools for it. It can, for example, summarize a long article into a few bullet points, recommend a text to post on social media, or even speak out the contents of a website. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the AI features that OPPO is bringing to everyone who can afford it, and the Reno 12 Pro’s price point makes sure of that.

Sustainability

While OPPO has had strong advocacy for the use of sustainable processes and materials on its phones, it’s not easy to see that on the OPPO Reno 12 Pro, at least not directly. It doesn’t mention any use of recycled materials, for one, and its new alloy material is unsurprisingly a big secret. It wouldn’t be surprising, however, if it had a considerable amount of plastic in the mix, which would be on par with most mid-range phones.

Instead, the company focuses more on the durability and longevity of its design, ensuring that the phone won’t meet an untimely end that quickly. It uses the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection for the screen and boasts an IP65 dust and water resistance rating. Curiously, OPPO also talks about a biomimetic cushion for internal parts inspired by the structure of a sponge, further protecting sensitive components from bumps and falls. That said, only a proper teardown will reveal the true nature of that new protective layer.

Value

The OPPO Reno 12 Pro is quite a looker and it boasts plenty of AI features you’d only hear about on premium flagships. At the same time, it delivers a decent performance, especially for one that has the marks of a mid-tier market smartphone. The question, however, is whether all of these are worth the price OPPO is asking for.

To be fair, it isn’t asking for much, depending on the market. The Pro model goes for 599 EUR, roughly $650, which is far below the latest high-end offerings. That said, it isn’t the only player in this particular field, and OPPO is even up against the venerable Google Pixel 8a. The question then becomes one of availability as well as preferences, especially when it comes to the custom OPPO ColorOS Android experience. At the moment, though, the Reno 12 Pro is one of the few mid-range phones to offer such a variety of AI-powered features, but that number will only grow in the months ahead, giving OPPO plenty of competition in this space.

Verdict

There’s no escaping AI, at least for now, and it isn’t just in powerful PCs or the Web. Smartphones are the next arena for AI, whether you like it or not, but only if it’s something that more people can obtain and, more importantly, enjoy. Phone and chip manufacturers are naturally more interested in flexing their muscles to showcase powerful hardware to support advanced AI processes, but these won’t land in most people’s hands that easily.

The OPPO Reno 12 Pro represents a new breed of smartphones that is making AI more accessible to the masses with more wallet-friendly options. But it isn’t just its AI prowess that sets this phone apart. Its striking design is definitely a head-turner, and its promise of durability increases trust not only in the phone but also in OPPO’s brand. It definitely has some tough competition ahead, but at least for now, it is leading the pack with its combination of power, gracefulness, and, more importantly, price.

The post OPPO Reno 12 Pro Review: Making AI Affordable in a Stylish Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

XREAL Beam Pro is an Android mobile device for creating and enjoying AR content

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The launch of the Apple Vision Pro has made people interested in augmented reality and spatial computing technologies again, but the price tag on that product, not to mention its limited availability, means very few will be able to see what the fuss is all about, pardon the pun. On the other end of the spectrum, headsets like the Meta Quest, primarily designed for VR and the Metaverse, are indeed more accessible but also less comfortable to use, let alone bring along with you anywhere. Fortunately, these aren’t the only options, and AR glasses like the Xreal Air series have been trying to give everyone a taste of AR, regardless of what device they have. To make the experience even easier, XREAL is launching a curious new device that looks like a smartphone and acts almost like a smartphone, except that it’s dedicated to letting you not only consume but even create content in full 3D AR.

Designer: XREAL

AR glasses practically act like second or external monitors to computers and smartphones, relying on an external device for all the computing, content, and even power. The spectacles themselves provide the image projection hardware and sensors that can then be used by that external device to do things like pinning a screen to a specific location or even displaying a wall of windows that follow your head movement. This design simplifies the setup and saves you from having to spend too much on powerful hardware that will be quickly outdated, but it also means the experience isn’t exactly optimized for AR.

The new XREAL Beam Pro solves that problem by offering a device and a user experience tailored specifically for augmented reality, especially around the brand’s line of AR glasses. And it does so in a form that’s all too familiar to everyone these days: an Android phone. The device features a 6.5-inch LCD 2K (2400×1080) touchscreen running a customized version of Android 14 with Google Play support. It’s even powered by a Snapdragon processor with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, just like a phone. The similarities with a phone, however, end there.

Running on top of Android is XREAL’s NebulaOS, a user interface designed for augmented reality, and it kicks in once you connect an Xreal Air or later models. This software allows you to enjoy “normal” 2D content as if they were made for AR, letting you place two windows side by side, have them stick to their position “in the air” no matter where you turn your head, or have the display follow your head smoothly. Thanks to built-in sensors in the glasses, users can enjoy 3DoF (Xreal Air, Air 2, Air 2 Pro) or 6DoF (Xreal Air 2 Ultra) smooth movement so you don’t have to manually adjust the screen each time.

What all this means is that you can enjoy all your favorite Android games, streaming content, and even Internet activities in an immersive AR environment, anytime anywhere. Even better, the dual 50MP cameras on its back are intentionally spaced far apart to let you create 3D content as well. XREAL has partnered with many cloud service providers to bring as much content to your hands and eyes as possible, including NVIDIA’s CloudXR platform, Amazan Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming services, and more.

That said, some people might be a bit confused by the XREAL Beam Pro’s phone-like design and Android interface. While it does have Wi-Fi and 5G, it doesn’t seem to support phone features like calls and SMS, especially if it doesn’t have a built-in mic. It’s still a perfectly usable data-only Android handheld, though, even without the XREAL Air glasses, but you’ll be missing out on what makes the device special in that case. Global pre-orders for the XREAL Beam Pro start today with a rather surprising price tag of $199 for the base 6GB RAM/128GB storage model.

The post XREAL Beam Pro is an Android mobile device for creating and enjoying AR content first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bigme HiBreak E Ink smartphone takes another stab at eye-friendly mobility

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As powerful and as helpful as smartphones have become, they have also become sources not only of distraction but also of poor health. Staring at screens all day is bad enough, but they can also affect our sleep if used late into the night. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible for many people to detach from their phones or even reduce their use, so a few designers and manufacturers have tried to come up with alternatives like minimalist phones. eReader maker Bigme is proposing a different kind of answer, one that smashes an eBook reader and a smartphone in one pocketable design, creating a phone-sized E Ink device that is actually a functional phone.

Designer: Bigme

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a phone-sized eReader. We reviewed the Onyx BOOX Palma a while back and found it to be quite capable as a pocket reader. But despite its phone-like looks, it’s technically a tiny Wi-Fi-only device. In contrast, the Bigme HiBreak can plug in a SIM card and connect to 4G LTE networks. Yes, 4G LTE speeds only, which is probably fine because the device’s screen won’t be able to catch up with the network speed anyway.

1

The HiBreak comes in two flavors with different 5.84-inch E Ink screens. One is a pure black and white screen like a traditional eReader, while the other supports a few colors at a lower resolution than black and white. Despite the advancements in E Ink technology, the ultra-slow refresh rates of these panels will take the fun out of scrolling and swiping through social media, which is probably for the best. What it offers, instead, is a gentler reading experience, especially if you’re the type who likes to read text-only documents on the go.

Of course, the Bigme HiBreak is a true smartphone, one that runs Android 11 on practically mid-range hardware. It does have Google Play support, so you can install any app available that supports that old OS version but don’t expect the experience to be as smooth as on a regular phone. On the flip side, that 3,300 mAh battery is going to last you for days rather than just hours. It has a 13MP main camera, more for “scanning” documents than taking pretty pictures, and a 5MP front camera for emergency video calls.

In terms of aesthetics, the Bigme HiBreak is truly a shrunken-down eReader, complete with wide bezels and a rather plain design. It’s almost like it’s intentionally uninspiring in order to cut down on your smartphone use unless that use is for lots of reading. But while it does solve the problem of eyecare, a device that runs a full Android stack with cellular connectivity won’t do any wonders for those distracting notifications unless you decide to ignore them since they won’t look that nice on the E Ink screen anyway.

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Android tablet with monochrome LCD screen has a different fix for tired eyes

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E Ink devices are transforming into more than just simple eBook readers. Some are even really just Android tablets in disguise, promising a more eye-friendly experience not just when reading books but also when surfing the Web, typing documents, or even scrolling through social media. These devices might feel like powerful e-readers, but they are a bit less impressive as Android devices exactly because of their most important feature: the slow E Ink screen. Out of nowhere, a new device has popped up promising a performance that’s almost on par with a modern Android tablet but with the same benefits of an E Ink screen, a promise that not only sounds too good to be true but will also cost you if you do decide to make the gamble.

Designer: Daylight Computer

What makes E Ink screens more eye-friendly is the fact that they traditionally don’t blast your eyes with light, especially blue light that’s been associated not only with eye strain but also with skewed sleep patterns. Unfortunately, even the fastest E Ink display is exponentially slower than even the slowest LCD screen, which makes it less comfortable to use for anything that involves constantly changing content, including typing quickly on the screen.

Daylight DC-1 is a new kind of tablet that tries to bridge those two worlds using a new “Live Paper” display that could be a special version of Sharp’s IGZO LCD screen. Unlike your typical display, it only shows shades of black and gray, but that’s not exactly what’s special about it. The claim is that, like ePaper screens, it doesn’t emit blue light, it can be viewed under direct sunlight, and is easy on the eyes. In the dark, it can use an amber-colored backlight that is still less straining than regular white light. Unlike ePaper screens, however, it can support a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is what most Android tablets can do at the bare minimum. Technically, it can go up to 120Hz, but that still depends on software support.

That software is a custom version of Android, so this device should be able to run any Android app, though there’s no word on whether it supports Google Play Store. the Daylight DC-1 definitely makes big promises, which is basically a watered-down, eye-friendly Android tablet experience. It can do almost anything, whether that’s typing a novel or scribbling notes with the included Wacom-powered pen. It really bridges the gap between regular Android tablets and this new breed of Android-powered E Ink readers.

There is, of course, a catch, and it’s a pretty big one. The device costs $729, and that’s only a pre-order for a device that’s still scheduled to ship later this year. That’s a pretty steep price coming from a brand that popped up almost out of nowhere. The theory does sound, well, sound, and the promises are definitely tempting, but these are very high stakes for a device that has yet to actually prove that theory out in the wild.

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Living Caseless: My Experience with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR

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Using a smartphone without a case or screen protector might sound reckless to some, but after years of shielding my devices, I decided to take the plunge with both my iPhone 15 Pro Max and PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR. The result? An unexpectedly liberating experience that brought me closer to appreciating the design and craftsmanship of these high-end devices.

Designer: Apple

Designer: HONOR + Porsche Design

iPhone 15 Pro Max and PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR

For over a decade, I’ve used cases on all my phones. The logic was simple: expensive devices need protection from the inevitable bumps and drops of daily life. However, as technology has advanced, so has the durability of smartphones. The iPhone 15 Pro Max with its Ceramic Shield and the HONOR Porsche Design RSR with its sleek and robust build-inspired confidence. I decided to test the waters, first with the iPhone and then with the HONOR, realizing along the way that perhaps the need for constant protection was more psychological than practical.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a marvel of modern engineering. Its surgical-grade stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front and back offer a premium feel that is often masked by a case. Without the added bulk, the iPhone feels incredibly sleek and slim, fitting more comfortably in my hand and sliding effortlessly into my pocket. One of the first things I noticed was the improved grip and tactile pleasure of holding the phone. The smooth, cool surface of the stainless steel and the precisely contoured edges make the iPhone 15 Pro Max a joy to handle. Without a case, the buttons are more responsive and easier to locate by touch, enhancing the overall user experience.

The PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR, on the other hand, brings its own set of pleasures. This phone, inspired by Porsche’s design principles, exudes luxury and precision. The slim and lightweight construction makes it the thinnest and lightest foldable phone in the world, with a suspended water-drop hinge that ensures a seamless and creaseless experience, whether folded or unfolded. The new HONOR Super-Light Titanium Hinge is SCS-certified for reliability, ensuring premium operation with its sleek and dynamic design. The all-new Anti-Scratch Nanocrystal Glass is ten times more wear-resistant and drop-resistant than other phones, providing true peace of mind.

Traveling without a case was initially nerve-wracking. I found myself handling the phones with extra care, especially when using them in crowded places or on rough surfaces. It’s even scarier when I have to hand over my iPhone when using Apple Pay. However, this caution quickly became second nature, and I started to appreciate the benefits of going caseless. Both devices have held up remarkably well. The iPhone’s Ceramic Shield has proven resistant to scratches and minor impacts, while the HONOR’s Anti-Scratch Nanocrystal Glass shows no signs of wear despite daily use.

The aesthetic benefits of going caseless cannot be overstated. Both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR are designed to be seen and felt as their creators intended. The intricate details and finishes of these phones, often hidden by cases, are now on full display. The iPhone’s sleek finish and the HONOR’s dynamic design add a touch of elegance and sophistication that enhances the overall user experience.

Of course, there are practical considerations. Without a case, both phones are more susceptible to damage from accidental drops. However, I found that being more mindful of how and where I placed my devices significantly reduced the risk. The iPhone’s IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and the HONOR’s robust construction also provide peace of mind for daily wear and tear.

Another unexpected benefit of going caseless is improved thermal management. Without the insulating layer of a case, both phones dissipate heat more effectively. I noticed less overheating during intensive tasks such as gaming or streaming, making for a more comfortable user experience.

Going caseless also enhances the phones’ portability. The slim profiles of both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR make them easier to carry in pockets and bags. Without the added bulk of a case, the phones slide in and out more smoothly and are less cumbersome to handle.

While there are definite advantages, going caseless is not without its drawbacks. The primary concern is, of course, the increased risk of damage from drops and impacts. Both phones have shown remarkable resilience, but the risk remains. Additionally, without a screen protector, the display is more vulnerable to scratches and smudges. Regular cleaning and mindful handling are necessary to maintain the pristine condition of the phones.

All in all, using the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR without a case or screen protector has been a surprisingly positive experience. The freedom to fully appreciate the design and craftsmanship of these premium devices, coupled with the practical benefits of improved thermal management and portability, outweigh the potential risks. If you’ve ever felt the urge to go caseless, I encourage you to give it a try. It may be better than you expect, and you might find a new appreciation for your phone’s design and durability.

The post Living Caseless: My Experience with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR first appeared on Yanko Design.

Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 lets you play with a pen without breaking the bank

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The announcement of the new Apple Pencil Pro has put the stylus in the spotlight again. This input tool isn’t just limited to tablets and large screens, though that’s where they have the most use because of the bigger digital canvas. Thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Note, now the Galaxy S Ultra series, it has been demonstrated that there is also some benefit to having a stylus on smartphones. Unfortunately, Samsung does seem to have a monopoly on that design or is at least the best-known example, but it isn’t the only game in town, and Motorola just revealed its latest contender that makes an admittedly attractive offer, at least if you’re not too intent on making pro-level artwork on it.

Designer: Motorola

The stick inside the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is exactly that: a stick that works in place of your stubby finger. Unlike the Wacom-powered S Pen of the Galaxy S Ultra phones, it doesn’t have pressure sensitivity, rotation and tilt detection, or Bluetooth-enabled button functions. That’s actually not a big deal-breaker if all you really want to do is scribble notes, annotate pictures and documents, or even start a rough sketch that you’ll continue on a computer or laptop. For these purposes, the Moto G Stylus is more than sufficient, especially with upgraded sensitivity and new software arriving in this model.

The rest of the smartphone is a bit of a mixed bag, though thankfully leaning more on the positive side. It runs on a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, which is the same processor it used for last year’s model. It does have more memory this time around, with 8GB offering a bit more wiggle room for apps. Another thing that is the same is that it still has a headphone jack, though no one will probably complain about that.

The fourth-gen Moto G Stylus 5G does bring some considerable upgrades to the table, starting with a larger 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, though it’s still stuck with a 1080p resolution. The 5,000 mAh battery might still be the same, but it now supports 15W wireless charging on top of fast 30W wired charging. The main camera still has 50 megapixels but has upgraded specs. It is joined by a new 13MP ultra-wide camera, while a new 32MP selfie shooter is on the front.

The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 isn’t going to win awards when it comes to specs, but its $399 price tag is easily a fourth of the launch price of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Motorola’s stylus-toting smartphone, however, does score points when it comes to looks, with a vegan leather material, a clean, minimalist rear design, and two colorful options that aim to inspire your creativity just by looking at it and touching it. The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) goes on sale on the 30th of May.

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Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro smartwatch launches to a shrinking Wear OS market

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The Apple Watch finally gave smartwatches their long overdue recognition, but for some brands, that came a little too late. Google’s wearable platform has undergone several changes over the years, but it hasn’t been able to enjoy the same degree of ubiquity as Android has on smartphones. Wear OS still powers many smartwatches in the market today, but that number is dwindling with the exit of many luxury and fashion brands. As if to prove that the platform is still as healthy as ever, Mobvoi launched an “Enduro” version of its 2023 TicWatch Pro 5 flagship, but its focus on sports and activities makes it less appealing to the general population.

Designer: Mobvoi

As far as smartwatches go, the mouthful that is the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is actually quite attractive, at least for those who want a sports watch that can keep up with their lifestyles. Its claim to fame is, like many Mobvoi smartwatches, its dual display technology has a regular AMOLED screen underneath a low-power display. The idea is that you switch to the duller screen on top if you want to preserve battery life without sacrificing tracking features.

With the Enduro, Mobvoi is playing up the ability of that low-power screen to show different backlight colors, making the information pop out better. This same color-changing ability is utilized to represent your heart rate, giving you a visual clue at a glance when you might need to take a breather. Of course, the smartwatch has all the makings of a typical Wear OS device, from tracking your health, including sleep quality and heart rhythm detection, to customizing watch faces to access a number of apps that support the wearable operating system.

As its name suggests, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is made to last, and it does so in more ways than one. The sapphire crystal glass display gives the screen the durability it needs to survive accidents along your adventures, while the 90-hour battery life ensures you have very little downtime to charge the smartwatch. That said, it runs on Qualcomm’s aging Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor from 2022, so performance and power efficiency might not be up to snuff.

At $350, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is hardly an accessible smartwatch, and it’s clearly aimed at people who take their health and fitness very seriously. It looks like a handsome sports watch, yes, but a lot of Wear OS products will be bearing this aesthetic with fashion brands like Fossil calling it quits on smartwatches. This gives competitors that don’t use Wear OS plenty of opportunities to nibble away at Google’s share of the market pie, further weakening the platform’s reach.

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Sharp still makes smartphones and its latest design is beautiful but a little off

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The mobile phone market is a very aggressive one, so it’s no surprise that even big companies bow out eventually. Nokia raised the white flag after numerous failed attempts with both Windows Phone and Android. BlackBerry also closed shop after failing to find a profitable market for its QWERTY phones, while LG opted to focus on its other businesses other than mobile. Some brands, on the other hand, simply downsize their operations, like HTC mostly in China, and Sony only through online shops. Sharp, is part of this latter group, though its presence has been so small you’d hardly notice it still existed. In fact, it just announced its latest handset, and while the Sharp AQUOS R9 looks rather elegant in its simplicity, a single design element, unfortunately, mars its otherwise clean appearance.

Designer: Sharp

When it comes to minimalism, the two cultures that are considered to be the epitome of this style and lifestyle are Scandinavian and Japanese. In that regard, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Sharp’s new smartphone embodies minimalism almost to the extreme. It barely has any branding on the back of the phone aside from the small “AQUOS” and “LEICA” texts in the camera circle. With flat surfaces and edges, plain colors, and the lack of almost any embellishments, the Sharp AQUOS R9 is like a breath of fresh air in the smartphone market.

Unfortunately, it’s because of that very simplicity that your eyes are immediately drawn to the one conspicuous element on the phone’s back: its cameras. The design, while simple, looks a bit skewed, lopsided, and uncertain as if it can’t decide if it wants to be a square or a circle, the two predominant camera designs in the market today. Even more unbalanced, despite being an even number, are the camera lenses, positioned diagonally and off-center and with slightly different sizes. We’ll just have to take Leica’s unspoken word that this is the optimal placement for these cameras.

In terms of hardware, the Sharp AQUOS R9 looks quite competitive, at least on paper. It’s powered by a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor with 12GB of RAM, with a large 5,000mAh battery to keep it running. The 6.5-inch Full HD screen boasts TV maker Sharp’s Pro IGZO OLED technology and is capable of 240Hz refresh rates. Those two odd cameras on its back both have 50MP sensors, and the front-facing camera for selfies and video calls has a similar 50MP hardware. As mentioned, Sharp is proudly flaunting LEICA’s brand, indicating how its imaging system has been approved by one of the biggest names in the optics industry.

There’s no word yet on how much the Sharp AQUOS R9 will cost or if it will even be available outside of Japan. It’s definitely an odd design choice, one whose elegant minimalism is juxtaposed with an asymmetrical camera bump. It’s not ugly, for sure, but it’s an appearance that looks a little confusing and disconcerting, creating a bit of a visual discomfort whenever you try to appreciate its clean looks.

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