JANUARY 2026

ULTIMATE
TABLET
BUYING
GUIDE
FIND YOUR
PERFECT
PORTABLE
PARTNER

PLUS: GOT A
BROKEN PHONE
DISPLAY? HOW
TO RECOVER
YOUR DATA
CONTENTS

75

NEWS 31
4 Google’s latest Pixel Drop
update includes some
great new features
7 Google might finally
address this annoying
Pixel phone feature
9 Galaxy Ring set to get a
superpower as two more
rivals enter the arena
11 WhatsApp finally arrives on 47 Apple iPad Pro (M5)
the Apple Watch – and it’s 57 Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
only taken 10 years 65 Google Pixel Watch 4

REVIEWS BUYING GUIDE

14 Oppo Find X9 Pro 75 The best tablets you can buy,
31 Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold reviewed and ranked

2 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026 Main cover image: Xiaomi

 CONTENTS

89

57 65

Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock

FEATURES 98
89 I’ve switched phones 50 times
in five years – here are the 11
things I do first
98 Got a broken phone screen?
Here’s how to recover your data

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 3

NEWS

Google’s latest Pixel

Drop update includes
some great new features
Here’s everything you need to know. JON MUNDY reports

T
he latest Pixel Drop is here, updates laden with fresh features. Here
bringing several new features are the main additions you can expect.
to Pixel smartphones. Google
has commenced rolling out its latest NOTIFICATION SUMMARIES
Pixel Drop, which is the name it gives Google has put its powerful AI to use
to major Pixel smartphone software in offering bite-sized summaries of

4 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 NEWS

incoming notifications right there in the offering scam alerts across a number of
notification shade. This means you can popular messaging services.
get the gist of a lengthy message or When a potentially dodgy message
conversation at a glance, without even comes in, Google will give you a ‘Likely
opening the app. We’ve seen something scam’ heads-up notification.
similar from Apple in recent versions of Unfortunately, this is a US-only
iOS, though it’s often not very useful. feature for now, and it’ll only work on
Here’s hoping Google’s provision gives Pixel 6 phones and later.
more useful insight. From late 2025,
Google says you’ll be able to silence WICKED THEME PACKS
lower-priority notifications. This addition was heavily featured
in leaks ahead of the latest Pixel
PERSONALISED PHOTO EDITS Drop, but Google is adding themed
Continuing the development of its customisation packs to its Pixel phones.
spookily naturalistic image editing tools, These include custom wallpapers,
Google now provides the ability to fix icons, GIFs, and even sounds.
group shots with a sentence. To kick this off, it’s provided a
Tap ‘Help me edit’ and ask Photos Wicked: For Good theme pack to tie in
to ‘Remove Riley’s sunglasses, open my with the new musical movie. There are
eyes, make Engel smile and open her three styles to choose from the off: For
eyes’ (other friend names are available), Good, Glinda and Elphaba.
and Photos will now pull image info
from other photos in your gallery to VIP PRIORITIES
make the appropriate edits – provided As predicted, Google is giving its half-
your contacts are properly labelled in baked VIP contacts feature some love.
Face Groups. Notifications from your selected VIPs
Again, this is US-only for now (sigh), will now be prioritised, and there’s now
and you’ll need to be 18 or over and a crisis badge in the Contacts widget to
with location estimates enabled. keep you updated on critical alerts.

SCAM PROTECTION PHOTO REMIXES

IN MESSAGES Google has added a Remix feature to
Google has upped its Scam Detection Google Messages, allowing you to make
game app with the new Pixel Drop, on-the-fly edits within the message

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 5

REVIEWS

thread. If the other party is also on one-tap cross-app suggestions, but

Google Messages, you can even bat which many people (myself included)
remixes back and forth between you. have never really been able to get to
And yes, the results will show up work. Google says it’ll now offer “more
for whoever is in the chat with you, timely suggestions”, which I’m hoping
regardless of the phone they’re using. means “will actually work for most
people”. We’ll see.
SAVE POWER IN GOOGLE MAPS
This one’s neat. Press the power button
while navigating in Google Maps, and
it’ll switch to a simplified layout showing
only key information like your next turn.
It means you’ll still have navigation even
when your phone is about to die.

SCAM DETECTION AND

CALL NOTES EXPANDS
We’ve already signalled our annoyance
at the US-only availability of some
of these new features, but Google is
bringing some of its previous additions
to more people.
Scam Detection in voice calls is now
coming to Google Pixel 9 (and later)
users in the UK, Ireland, India, Australia
and Canada.
Call Notes is rolling out to Australia,
Canada, the UK, Ireland and Japan,
allowing users to transcribe and
summarise phone calls.

MAGIC CUE GETS A BOOST

Remember Magic Cue? It’s the Google
Pixel 10 feature that apparently offers

6 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

Google might finally

address this annoying
Pixel phone feature
Avert your Glance. JON MUNDY reports

Y
ou could soon be able to remove Google Pixel 10 phones from their
Google’s contentious At a cold dead hands. But even these Pixel
Glance widget from your Pixel converts would admit (indeed, grumble
smartphone home screen. loudly) that there’s an annoyingly
For several members of the Tech persistent flaw with the Pixel Home
Advisor team, you’d have to pry their Screen layout.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 7

REVIEWS

It continues to be impossible to future version of Android, you’ll be

remove the At a Glance widget from the able to remove the At a Glance widget
main Home Screen on a Pixel phone. from the Home Screen. It might well
Google’s multi-functional widget remain active on the lock screen,
might be extremely useful (I’m a fan, which is an irritation in itself, but this
personally), but the fact that you can’t would be real progress.
opt to replace it with something else (or The ability to remove this all-
indeed nothing) is deeply irritating. encompassing widget as been
And while we’re at it, why does it requested for years now, its permanent
have to take up so much space? status seeming to run counter to
Android’s customisable reputation.
GLANCING BLOW We could finally be set to see such
Thankfully, there’s evidence that Google requests fulfilled.
is planning to change all this.
In the latest pre-release build of
the Android OS, Android Authority
([Link]/mrkkns4a) has spotted a
new ‘Show on home screen’ toggle in
the At a Glance settings.
The purpose of this seems pretty
unambiguous. In some not-too-distant
Credit: Android Authority

In some not-too-distant future version of Android, you’ll be able

to remove the At a Glance widget from the Home Screen.

8 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

Galaxy Ring set to get a

superpower as two more
rivals enter the arena
‘Gesture’ command found. JON MUNDY reports

T
he Samsung Galaxy Ring is about Samsung, of course, recently
to get a powerful new mixed announced its Galaxy XR headset, which
reality feature, just as two new is the first hardware to run on Google’s
smart ring competitors join the fight. Android XR mixed reality platform.
Android Authority (tinyurl. While there’s no further information
com/2kzc6c96) has uncovered code in here, the reference would certainly seem
the latest update to the Galaxy Ring to indicate that you’ll be able to use
Manager app that refers to a “Ring your Samsung Galaxy Ring for gesture-
gesture for glasses”. based control of the Galaxy XR headset.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 9

REVIEWS

SOUNDBAR STREAM a main product than an out and out

It’s a good job Samsung is filling out its smart ring – but then, isn’t every smart
smart ring’s feature set, because it’s set ring, to one extent or other? In addition
for some fresh competition. to this smart glass hook-up, the Even
Two former Meta employees have R1 contains biometric sensors and a
launched a start-up called Sandbar, new Productivity Score for continuous
which is leading with a smart ring monitoring of your health. The company
product called Stream. promises “gentle feedback and real-
It’s being referred to as “a mouse time wellness insights”.
for voice”, presumably due to its The Even R1 Smart Ring is available
ability to hone vocal inputs into a globally today for £239, alongside the
reliable interface mechanism. £599 Even G2 Display Smart Glasses.
You can talk into it to issue memos,
interact with a chat bot, control your
music playback, add reminders and
more. It seems to tie in with your
earbuds and smartphone to provide a
heads-up assistant.
The Soundbar Stream is available to
pre-order now, in matt silver or polished
gold, for $249 (around £189). It looks
like a Pro subscription will cost $10
(around £7.60) per month, with the first
three months free. It’s set to ship, in
limited quantity, in Summer 2026.

EVEN R1 SMART RING

Another smart ring contender is here in
the form of the Even R1. Kind of.
Wearable smart tech brand Even
Realities is launching its latest Even
G2 smart glasses with the option of
a smart ring controller. The Even R1
sounds like more of an accessory to

10 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

WhatsApp finally arrives

on the Apple Watch – and
it’s only taken 10 years
Dedicated messaging app out now. JON MUNDY reports

W
hatsApp has released a Over on the official WhatsApp blog
dedicated app for the Apple ([Link]/5ya3mh76), the company
Watch smartwatch, and not outlines some of the features and
before time. The immensely popular benefits to downloading the free app.
Meta-owned messaging service has Naturally the main positive is that
waited more than 10 years to supply an you’ll be able to check and respond to
app to Apple’s also-immensely-popular your messages (even really long ones)
smartwatch, but it’s finally here. without needing to bring your iPhone

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 11

REVIEWS

into play. It’s possible to view more Finally, images and stickers should
of your chat history on screen when look much clearer on this native Apple
you’re reading these messages, too. Watch app. The company stresses that
But there are some other cool all your calls and messages remain
features that have been added to end-to-end encrypted – a message that
this dedicated app. Apple itself would surely approve of.
This new WhatsApp Apple Watch
FEATURES app is available to download now for
You’ll also be able to see who’s placing free from the App Store, and requires
those WhatsApp calls, again without the an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, which
need to pull out your phone. much be running watchOS 10 or later.
The ability to record and send voice
messages from your Apple Watch will
make it even more convenient for that
person in your life (you know who) to
take up a precious portion of your time
and attention with another recorded
screed. So thanks for that, WhatsApp.
At the other end of the scale,
WhatsApp has made it possible to
quickly react to messages with emoji.

The news was announced on the official WhatsApp blog.

12 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

THE iPHONE SECURITY FEATURE YOU NEED TO TURN ON NOW

DECEMBER 2025

iPHONE AIR

THE FUTURE
OF THE iPHONE IS
SLIM AND POWERFUL

APPLE WATCH S3:

BRILLIANCE
ON A BUDGET
REVIEWS

Oppo Find X9 Pro

Price when reviewed: £1,099

F
ollowing a few years of absence, a photography kit with an attachable
Oppo returned to the UK market telephoto extender. All signs point
with the Oppo Find X8 Pro in late towards it being one of the best
2024. At the time, I said it was probably camera phones of the past 12 months.
the best camera phone you could buy. I’ve had this phone for almost a
Now, its successor has landed, with a month, and I’ve been using it as my
fresh design and upgrades all over, and primary handset the majority of the
I couldn’t be more excited. time. I’ve tested absolutely everything
This model sports the latest and flown around the world with it
Dimensity 9500 chip, a gargantuan in my pocket, too. After spending so
7,500mAh battery, a new camera system much time with it, I’ve got plenty of
(including a 200Mp telephoto), and thoughts, so let’s dive in.

14 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

DESIGN but otherwise it works in the same way.

With the Find X9 series, Oppo has A double press will open the camera
changed things up. We’ve seen large app, swiping can zoom in and out,
centrally placed camera modules for the and clicking will take a photo.
last few generations, but now, Oppo is The classic notification slider has
reverting to the classic iPhone-esque been replaced on this model, and now
upper-left corner camera array. you get a customisable button that
When I first saw the new design, Oppo calls the Snap Key. Again, the
I wasn’t too keen. It looks fine, but Apple influence is plain to see; it’s like
I just couldn’t help feeling that this a 1-to-1 copy of the Action Button.
was a step backwards. Compared to That said, I love the Action Button, and
the last few designs, this one looks Oppo’s version is just as handy.
rather anonymous. It’s available in two colourways,
However, once I got my hands on it, either Titanium Charcoal or Silk
I quickly changed my tune. It looks and White, and I have the former in for
feels incredibly premium, much more so testing. Both are very minimalist
than the X8 Pro, which, despite being and professional. I like the way they
made from aluminium and glass, has a look, but they don’t make much of a
slight plasticky feel to it. This model is statement compared to something like
cold, dense and professional.
The Find X9 Pro has adopted a
fully flat design with boxy side rails,
again, very much like an iPhone. This
usually makes phones feel larger in
the hand, but holding it side-by-side
with its predecessor, the new model
feels surprisingly compact.
Like the previous generation, the
Oppo Find X9 Pro sports a Quick
Button, which is essentially Oppo’s
clone of Apple’s Camera Control,
and it’s positioned in the same spot.
This one’s been re-engineered to The Find X9 Pro has adopted a fully flat design
detect swipes as small as 0.3mm, with boxy side rails.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 15

REVIEWS

should handle the elements with

ease. However, there’s no case
included in the box (unusual for
Oppo), so you’ll likely want to
pick one up to keep your phone
looking pristine. If you pick up an
official case, most have MagSafe-
compatible magnets built in, which
is really handy. Using this phone
with a MagSafe holder in my car
made me appreciate the design
The notification slider has been replaced by a change more. The smaller camera
customisable button that Oppo calls the Snap Key. bump means the magnets can
be much more central, and so
the orange iPhone 17 Pro. Depending accessories like that work better than
on your tastes, that could be a good or they do with my Find X8 Ultra.
a bad thing.
Both the rear and sides have a matt HASSELBLAD
finish, and you’ll never have to worry TELECONVERTER KIT
about fingerprint smudges, because this Vivo saw a lot of success earlier this
panel seems to be immune. year with its optional Zeiss teleconverter
Oppo hasn’t mentioned what
glass it’s using on the display, but
there’s a factory-applied screen
protector included, and it’s of
excellent quality. I’m a bit of a screen
protector hater. I usually rip them
off at the first opportunity, either
because they smudge too easily,
attract dust, or just feel a little tacky.
This one, though, didn’t bother me at
all, and I’m still using it after weeks.
The phone is IP68/69 rated for The kit comes with a slim-line aramid fibre case,
water and dust resistance, so it complete with MagSafe-compatible magnets.

16 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

add-on for the X200

Ultra, and it doubled
down with the new
X300 series phones.
Now, Oppo is getting
in on the action with
a teleconverter of its
own.
This one, as you
might expect, has a
Hasselblad logo on it,
but otherwise it looks a
lot like Vivo’s one, and
functions in basically
the same way.
The kit comes
with a very nice
slim-line aramid fibre
case, complete with
MagSafe-compatible
magnets. It looks and
feels almost identical
to a high-end case The teleconverter lens attaches via a small bayonet mount on a
from a brand like plate, which slides over the camera module and clicks into place.
Pitaka. It’s a massive
improvement on Vivo’s plasticky and inconvenient to remove and reattach as
chunky photography kit case. and when it’s needed.
The teleconverter lens attaches The lens itself feels extremely
via a small bayonet mount on a premium. It’s made from metal with
plate, which slides over the camera glass lenses, and it has some heft to
module and clicks into place. It blocks it. It provides a 3.28x magnification,
all lenses except for the telephoto so when you place it in front of the 3x
when it’s attached, but it slides on telephoto, you get a shot equivalent
and off pretty easily, so it’s not too to just under 10x zoom.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 17

REVIEWS

It feels a bit crazy shooting with such style options, but there are no manual
a large lens sticking out of your phone, controls, and you can’t shoot in RAW or
and I think that stood out to me more at the full 200Mp resolution.
as I wasn’t sent a grip to counterbalance To be fair, this was what I expected.
it. Early teaser images show that some But after taking the Vivo X300 Pro
kind of grip accessory does exist, but for a spin, which allows you to access
whether that launches internationally or essentially every part of the camera
not remains to be seen. app with the teleconverter attached,
To use the lens, you need to this feels like a step backwards. Of
go into the dedicated ‘Hasselblad course, there’s every possibility that
Teleconverter’ mode in the camera app, Oppo will expand the functionality
as otherwise the image will be upside via software updates.
down. It’s very similar to the X200 Ultra’s
setup, wherein your options are slightly DISPLAY
more limited using the external lens. The screen on the Oppo Find X9 Pro is
Video maxes out at 4K 60fps, rather easily among my favourites. It’s now a
than 4K 120fps, and there are no spacious 6.78-inch fully flat display, with
pro options or Log recording. When an incredibly narrow symmetrical bezel.
shooting photos, you get some basic As far as I’m aware, this might be the
options like stage mode and picture slimmest bezel of any smartphone so
far, measuring just 1.15mm
on all sides.
It makes the phone feel
extremely sophisticated,
and means that you get
maximum screen size
with a minimal physical
footprint.
The display can dim
all the way down to 1 nit,
so you can scroll socials
in bed without disturbing
your partner. And if you’re
The screen on the Find X9 Pro is easily among my favourites. worried about eye strain,

18 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

When it comes to
audio, the phone has dual
stereo speakers. One
fires from the base of the
phone next to the USB-C
charging port, and the
other doubles up as the
phone’s earpiece.
They’re a very decent
set of speakers, offering
When it comes to audio, the phone has dual stereo speakers. both clarity at the top end
and a full, weighty bass
you needn’t be, as this panel boasts response. My only complaint is that
2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. they’re not the loudest around, but
On the other end of the scale, on the plus side, they don’t distort or
the screen can boost to 3,600 nits sound too harsh at maximum volume.
to compete with bright sunlight, but
Oppo measures its output differently PERFORMANCE
than some other brands, so it’s The Oppo Find X9 Pro is one of the first
brighter than it may sound. In any phones (alongside the Vivo X300 series)
case, I certainly never had trouble to feature MediaTek’s latest flagship
seeing it outdoors.
It’s a 10-bit display
that covers 100 percent
of the DCI-P3 colour
space, and it’s certified
to playback Dolby
Vision, HDR10+ and
HDR Vivid content.
This means TV shows
and movies from your
favourite streaming apps I demand a lot from my phones, whether it’s playing Wuthering
always look as they were Waves on maximum settings, editing videos or serious
intended. multitasking. The Dimensity 9500 easily kept pace throughout.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 19

REVIEWS

chip, the Dimensity 9500. Supposedly, Only one model is launching

it’s around 30 percent faster than internationally, which comes with 16GB
the previous-gen in CPU and GPU of RAM and 512GB of storage. It’s more
workloads, and around 42 percent more than enough for my needs, and I dare
power efficient. say many others will feel the same way.
In short, the new chip is a rocket.
I demand a lot from my phones, Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
whether it’s playing Wuthering Waves Oppo Find X9 Pro: 6,288
on maximum settings, editing videos Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: 5,123
or serious multitasking. The Dimensity Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 9,413
9500 easily kept pace throughout. Honor Magic 7 Pro: 9,180
I got some weird results from the OnePlus 13: 9,482
GFXBench suite (which happens from Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: 9,450
time to time), but the phone posted an Oppo Find X8 Pro: 8,551
impressive 3DMark Wildlife Extreme
score of 7,062, handily outperforming GFX Manhattan 3.1
the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with its special Oppo Find X9 Pro: 60fps
overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: 111fps
The bigger question, though, is Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 120fps
how it compares to the fresh new Honor Magic 7 Pro: 120fps
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. We haven’t OnePlus 13: 119fps
properly tested a production model yet, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: 60fps (Metal)
and there’s every chance it could be Oppo Find X8 Pro: 120fps
quicker. In reality, though, I think you’ll
struggle to find something you can’t run Battery life
at maximum settings on this phone – Oppo Find X9 Pro: 26 hours, 40 minutes
who really needs more than that? Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: 14 hours, 19
Sustained performance is decent, minutes
but the phone will throttle somewhat if Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 19 hours, 48
you’re pushing the limits for extended minutes
periods. On the plus side, the phone Honor Magic 7 Pro: 12 hours, 36
never gets too hot, so you can game minutes
for a long time without uncomfortably OnePlus 13: 15 hours, 27 minutes
sweaty palms. Oppo Find X8 Pro: 14 hours, 36 minutes

20 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

Charge in 30 minutes can use pixel-binning to capture high-

Oppo Find X9 Pro: 50% quality, cropped-in shots.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: 38% We’ve seen similar from the likes
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 70% of Vivo and Honor, which both use
Honor Magic 7 Pro: 94% 200Mp telephoto sensors on their 2025
OnePlus 13: 95% flagship phones. They both consistently
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: 71% outperform the S25 Ultra for long-
Oppo Find X8 Pro: 69% range zooms, too, despite the S25 Ultra
having the quad-lens setup. So, this
CAMERAS approach has merit.
The Oppo Find X9 Pro takes a different As for the other sensors, there’s a
approach to its predecessor. Rather 50Mp 1/1.28-inch main with a super-
than having two separate telephoto wide f/1.5 aperture, and a 50Mp
lenses, it opts for a more common ultrawide with autofocus. Around the
three-lens array. There’s now only a front, you get a 50Mp selfie snapper,
singular 3x telephoto, but it has a which also has autofocus, making it
massive 200Mp resolution and a large perfect for group photos.
1/1.56-inch sensor. Another big change with the
It might sound like a downgrade, but Oppo Find X9 Pro is that it defaults to
in theory, the high-resolution sensor will 50Mp resolution whenever the light
make up for the lack of a 6x lens, as it is sufficient. If it’s darker, the cameras
will bin down to a more
common 12Mp resolution
to let more light in.
Apple changed the
iPhone’s default resolution
to 24Mp a couple of years
back, but most Android
brands have yet to follow
suit. Oppo has decided
to just leapfrog the
iPhone and shoot at over
Rather than having two separate telephoto lenses, the Find X9 double the resolution,
Pro opts for a more common three-lens array. and I respect it.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 21

REVIEWS

We’ll start
off our test
shots with
examples
of the same
subject
taken with
the different
zoom
lenses.

22 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 23

REVIEWS

Next up, we
have a low
light photo.

24 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

Here’s
a macro
image.

We’ll finish
off with a
selfie.

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 25

REVIEWS

Overall, I have been very pleased whole sensor rather than cropping in.
with my shots from the Find X9 Pro, As for whether it’s worth using, that
regardless of the lighting conditions. depends on your expectations. For
The default image profile gives you a long-range zooms, I didn’t find the
very natural and true-to-life look, but quality difference too impressive, and
that’s easily tweaked with the library of I felt the same way about the X300
filters and editing options, if you want to Pro’s teleconverter. The processing on
give your photos a little more flavour. the built-in lens is so good that the
I noticed the colour accuracy has difference between the two is often
been greatly improved on this model, quite subtle. It’s really with closer
perhaps thanks to the new dedicated subjects that this lens comes to life.
colour sensor. The Find X8 Pro and Ultra Shooting middle-distance portraits,
would both tend to favour cooler tones, or semi close-ups, the natural
but that wasn’t a problem with this compression of this external lens
model at all. completely blurs the background, and
When it comes to zooming, the gives images a much more 3D look. It’s
lack of a 6x lens doesn’t seem to hold hard to believe photos like that come
this phone back at all. Oppo’s image from a phone, and I absolutely love it. I
processing is outstanding, and you had a great time using it for wildlife and
can take photos that remain somewhat candid street snaps.
usable up to around 30x. Pushing Video shooting on this phone is
beyond that, you’ll have the option to excellent, too. You get some seriously
enable Oppo’s Generative AI to clean professional-level features here,
up the image. It works shockingly well, including the ability to shoot at 4K
but it makes up details that aren’t there, 120fps in 10-bit Log or Dolby Vision
and I’m not too keen on that, personally. with both the main and telephoto
The optional teleconverter turns cameras. Otherwise, the stabilisation
the 70mm equivalent telephoto lens is solid, and the clarity is superb. It
into approximately a 230mm lens, and could be a great companion for content
of course, you can zoom further than creators.
that with a digital crop. It makes a big
difference to the clarity at 230mm, BATTERY LIFE
and it’s much better in low light at an The Oppo Find X9 Pro comes with
equivalent focal length, as it uses the a gigantic 7,500mAh silicon-carbon

26 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

 REVIEWS

In more normal
circumstances, when I’m
working at my desk, two
days on a charge is easily
achievable, and I sometimes
get into a third day.
You might think that
such a massive battery will
take ages to charge, but
thankfully, that’s not the case.
The phone comes with a gigantic 7,500mAh silicon-carbon With an official 80-watt Oppo
battery, the largest of any phone I’ve tested so far. charger (sadly not included),
you can go from fully flat
battery, the largest of any phone I’ve to 50 percent charged in just half an
tested so far, and double the capacity hour. Wireless charging is rapid, too,
of the base iPhone 17. Bucking recent supporting up to 50-watt speeds with
trends, you’ll get this same massive Oppo’s AirVooc adapter.
battery, no matter where you reside, too.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the battery SOFTWARE
life is phenomenal. I used the X9 Pro as ColorOS has grown to become one of
my main device for a week in Shanghai, my favourite Android skins in the last
which was an absolute torture test, and few years, and this latest iteration looks
it surpassed my expectations over and to be the best yet. It has received a
over again. I carried my power bank pretty significant overhaul, and as with
with me all week, and I never needed it. a lot of things on this phone, the Apple
To give a little more context, I influence couldn’t be more obvious.
was constantly using the phone for There’s new Liquid Glass-like styling,
navigation and ride-hailing, using split notifications and quick settings
it as my primary payment method, shades, upgraded lockscreen options
translating everything with Google Lens and a Dynamic Island clone. If Apple
and taking loads of photos and videos. has it, there’s a good chance Oppo has
Even still, I’d get to the end of a very its own version. I’m sure this will rub
long day with 30- to 40 percent left in some Android purists the wrong way,
the tank. but personally, I’m a fan. Apple does

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some neat things with its software, and so long as it was originally activated
if they work, why not have them on an with an iPhone. If you’re thinking of
Android phone too? making the jump from iOS to Android,
The Apple-like shenanigans don’t this phone could be a perfect fit.
stop there, either. Oppo has been hard In addition, Oppo has been
at work ensuring that the Find X9 series working on the smoothness of the
phones work with the Apple ecosystem OS, and it shows. The animations
better than most rivals. If you use a have been reworked, and the new
MacBook, you can use Oppo’s O+ Luminous Rendering Engine allows
Connect app to wirelessly connect and for simultaneous rendering of multiple
remotely control one device from the animations and effects. The result is a
other. You can also share a clipboard, home screen that feels incredibly quick,
drag and drop files, and more. I have no matter how many things you’re doing
only tested this briefly, but it seems to at once.
work as advertised, and it’s really handy. Oppo’s AI features were already my
The Oppo Find X9 can also share favourite, mainly due to the AI Speak
files to an iPhone with Touch to Share, feature, which will read webpages
and it’ll even pair with an Apple Watch, and articles to you in a very natural-
sounding voice, so you’re free to
multitask. Of course, all the usual
stuff is included, like advanced
image editing tools, translation,
transcription, writing assistance, and
more. There’s also Gemini and Circle
to Search, as you’d expect.
What’s new, though, is something
called AI Mind Space. This is basically
Oppo’s answer to Nothing’s Essential
Space, or the Pixel Screenshots app.
You can activate it with the new Snap
Key, or swipe up with three fingers
ColorOS has grown to become one of my to take a screenshot that’s saved into
favourite Android skins in the last few years, and the new Mind Space.
this latest iteration looks to be the best yet. Then, your screenshots will be

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X8 series, Oppo is promising five

years of OS upgrades and six years
of security patches. It’s not a bad
offering, but it’s less impressive than
the seven years of both that you get
from the likes of Samsung, Google
and Honor flagships.

VERDICT
The Oppo Find X9 Pro is easily one
of my favourite phones of 2025 (and
I’ve tried most of them). There’s
not one area where this phone falls
Oppo’s AI features were already my favourite, short. The battery life is outstanding,
mainly due to the AI Speak feature. the performance is top-notch, the
software is slick, and the cameras
searchable, and you can ask questions are stunning. Plus, there’s the amazing
about them with the built-in LLM (Large telephoto extender kit, which adds
Language Model). It understands the an extra level of versatility for keen
context of images, so if there’s a
date, for example, it can offer to add
it to your calendar.
It’s a handy feature, but as I found
with the Pixel and Nothing versions,
the lack of cross compatibility
prevents me from relying on it. If
there were a web interface where I
could see these screenshots, I’d be
much more inclined, but as someone
who switches phones almost every
week, this just doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
One area where this phone lags
behind slightly is with the software AI Mind Space is Oppo’s answer to Nothing’s
update policy. Just like the Find Essential Space, or the Pixel Screenshots app.

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REVIEWS

photographers. If you’re on the fence telephoto), 1/1.56-inch, 0.5µm, 3x

and can afford the Find X9 Pro, just get optical zoom, multi-directional PDAF,
it. This phone will not disappoint. OIS; 50Mp, f/2.0, 15mm, 120-degree
As for whether this is the best (ultrawide), 1/2.76-inch, 0.64µm, multi-
camera phone available, that’s a harder directional PDAF
question. I’m pretty comfortable saying • Selfie camera: 50Mp, f/2.0, 21mm
it’s the best model currently sold in the (wide), 1/2.76-inch, 0.64µm, PDAF
UK, but globally, the Vivo X300 Pro is a • Stereo speakers
hot contender, as is Oppo’s own Find X8 • No 3.5mm audio jack
Ultra. In any case, you can expect some • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-
stunning shots, and that’s what it’s all band or tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
about. Luke Baker • Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD,
LHDC 5
SPECIFICATIONS • GPS (L1+L5), BDS
• 6.78-inch (2,772x1,272; 450ppi) LTPO (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO
AMOLED, 1B colours, 120Hz, 2160Hz (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5),
PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR GLONASS, NavIC (L5)
Vivid, 800 nits (typ), 1,800 nits (HBM), • NFC
3,600 nits (peak) display • USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
• Android 16, up to 5 major Android • Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic)
upgrades, ColorOS 16 • Non-removable 7,500mAh battery
• Mediatek Dimensity 9500 (3nm) • 161.3x76.5x8.3mm
processor • 224g
• Octa-core (1x 4.21GHz C1-Ultra,
3x 3.5GHz C1-Premium, 4x 2.7GHz
C1-Pro) CPU
• Arm G1-Ultra GPU
• No card slot
• 12GB/16GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage
• Three rear-facing cameras: 50Mp,
f/1.5, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28-inch,
1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF,
OIS; 200Mp, f/2.1, 70mm (periscope

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Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Price when reviewed: £1,7449

L
ast year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold brought treatment, Tensor G5 chipset, and some
with it some massive changes, but new software features. It also has a
with the launch of the Pixel 10 Pro bigger battery, faster charging, better
Fold, Google is sticking to its tried and durability and brighter screens.
tested design. At a glance, you might It must be said, though, that the
struggle to tell the two apart, aside Pixel 10 Pro Fold is launching in a very
from the fetching new colour options. different landscape from last year’s
However, looks can be deceiving, model. Samsung wowed us with its
and the latest foldable Pixel has ultra-thin and massively upgraded
some significant changes beneath the Galaxy Z Fold 7, while Honor’s Magic V5
surface. Like the rest of the Pixel 10 also made a big impact. Does the Pixel
line-up, it gets the Pixelsnap magnet do enough to compete? Let’s dive in.

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is actually a tiny bit thicker

than the last model, and it’s
slightly heavier, too. There’s
a good reason, though, and
that’s because Google has
stuffed some magnets and a
larger battery inside.
Just like its non-folding
siblings, the Fold has
adopted MagSa… excuse
me, Pixelsnap technology.
Google’s phone looks extremely similar to its predecessor. This means, without needing
to attach a case, you can use
DESIGN the phone with pretty much any Apple
As mentioned in the introduction, MagSafe, Qi2 or Pixelsnap-compatible
the Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks extremely accessory.
similar to its predecessor. It’s basically I’ve always been a fan of Apple’s
the same shape, the cameras are in the MagSafe tech, and while Google can’t
same place, and the materials aren’t be awarded any points for originality,
too dissimilar. It’s only really the colour
options that give it away.
It’s now available in either
Moonstone or Jade, which translates
to purple-grey or pale green. I have
the Moonstone option in for testing,
and it makes an immediate positive
impression. The glass rear panel feels
velvety-smooth and is completely
immune to fingerprint smudges, while
the sides have a colour-matched matt
aluminium finish, and the hinge is
polished to a shine. While the competition has been slimming
While the competition has been down, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is actually a tiny
slimming down, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold bit thicker than the last model.

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When I tested the Pixel 9 Pro

Fold, I was impressed with how
sturdy and confidence-inspiring
it felt, and it’s the same case
here. The hinge was already
great, but it’s been improved on
this model, and it’s easily one of
the best in the business.
The flip side of that is the
Pixel 9 Pro Fold felt chunky and
Just like its non-folding siblings, the Fold has adopted almost outdated compared
Pixelsnap charging technology. to the competition. That has
not been improved this year;
I’m happy that we finally have internal conversely, it has only gotten worse.
magnets in a folding phone. That said,
I’ve been slapping third-party magnetic DISPLAY
cases on my phones for years now, and Starting with the cover screen, the
they work great. So, it’s not really a Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a slightly larger
step forward in utility, but it does mean display, measuring 6.4 inches up from
you can use it without a case – if you’re 6.3 inches. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able
brave enough. to see the two phones side by side, but
On the topic of durability, Google I assume this was achieved by shrinking
has achieved another first. This is the the bezels slightly.
first foldable phone to be
awarded an IP68 rating for
dust and water resistance.
There’s plenty of water-
resistant foldables on the
market these days, but
they’re all susceptible
to dust to some degree.
Supposedly, the Pixel will
fare much better in the
great outdoors. The hinge is easily one of the best in the business.

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Samsung and Honor’s latest efforts.

The bezel is pretty chunky on
the interior screen, too, but I don’t
mind that so much. With a large
screen like this, it’s quite nice to
have somewhere to grasp without
accidentally triggering touch controls.
The selfie camera cutout is located
in the same place as last time, neatly
tucked in the upper right-hand corner
(or top-left, depending on your
orientation). I love to see this, as it
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a slightly larger display means the cutout doesn’t affect 16:9
than its predecessor. full-screen content, no matter which
way you hold the phone.
Make no mistake, though, the The screens are both slightly brighter
bezels on the cover display are still the this time around, now able to reach
chunkiest of any flagship foldable. A 3,000 nits at peak brightness, up from
part of me likes the way they look; it’s 2,700 nits on the previous model.
almost like a cartoon outline around Honestly, I had no complaints about the
the front of the phone, and it’s kind brightness before, but extra lumens can
of charming. But slimmer bezels only be a good thing.
would certainly look and feel
more modern.
On the inside, the folding
display still measures 8
inches diagonally, which
means it’s still one of
the largest book-style
folding screens around.
Unfortunately, the crease
doesn’t seem to have
improved much, and it feels
much more noticeable than The 8-inch folding display is one of the largest around.

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chip is supposedly 2.6x

faster and twice as efficient.
In our usual suite of
benchmarks, the difference
is plain to see. In both CPU
and GPU performance,
this chip is a noticeable
step up. However, there’s
still a sizable gap between
this Tensor chip and the
best from Qualcomm and
The screens are both slightly brighter this time around. MediaTek.
In reality, most users
The speakers, as far as I’m aware, are won’t feel a difference between these
unchanged on this model. In terms of flagship-class chips. They’re all super
sound quality, I have no real complaints; quick, and you’re very unlikely to see
they’re loud, detailed and have a decent stuttering or notice slowdowns when
amount of low-end response. The you’re browsing social media, editing
positioning is still troublesome, though, documents or using the cameras.
as when I held the phone in landscape The ample 16GB of RAM means
orientation, I was often muffling one of that this phone never struggles with
the speakers with my palm. multitasking, either, even with multiple
apps on the screen at once.
PERFORMANCE
As expected, the Pixel 10
Pro Fold makes the jump
to Google’s latest chip, the
Tensor G5. It’s a 3nm chip,
and Google says it’s around
34 percent faster on average
than the last generation.
When it comes to locally run
AI, like Google’s Screenshots The speakers are loud, detailed and have a decent amount
app and Recorder, the new of low-end response.

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It’s only those

who play extremely
demanding games
or attempt to edit
super-high-quality
video footage that
will see a marked
difference. I played
some Wuthering
Waves with the
settings maxed out
at 60fps, and while In both CPU and GPU performance, this chip is a noticeable step up.
the Pixel could run
it, the frame rates were nowhere near OnePlus Open: 4,498
as consistent as they are on 8 Elite- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 4,711
powered handsets.
It was still playable, but I could feel GFX Manhattan 3.1
the phone struggling from time to time. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 120
It also got pretty hot, especially in the Honor Magic V5: 120fps
area just below the cameras on the rear Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 112fps
panel. But flipping the phone around OnePlus Open: 60fps
and holding it around the cover screen Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 80fps
area meant that I could keep that heat
away from my paws. Battery life
Of course, if you’re into less Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 13 hours, 1
graphically demanding games, this minute
phone will run them without issue. But Honor Magic V5: 9 hours, 1 minute
hardcore gamers will have a better time Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 9 hours, 18
with something Snapdragon-powered. minutes

Geekbench 6 (multi-core) Charge in 30 minutes

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 6,238 Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 52%
Honor Magic V5: 5,391 Honor Magic V5: 62%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 8,882 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 50%

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OnePlus Open: 83% are very blur-prone, and heavy-handed

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 46% denoising obliterates a lot of fine detail.
I really enjoy using the 5x telephoto,
CAMERAS but having just tested the Xiaomi 15T
The camera hardware on the Pixel 10 Pro with its new 5x snapper, this one
Pro Fold is identical to the Pixel 9 Pro felt extremely limiting. It’s not great at
Fold, and with the exception of the close-ups, and there’s just not enough
selfie snappers, they match the original resolution to allow for longer-range
Pixel Fold, too. As a camera nerd, this zooms. The Xiaomi’s 50Mp telephotos
was really disappointing to learn. The allow for almost lossless 10x shots
Pixel 9 Pro Fold cameras were far from (thanks to pixel-binning), while 10x
the best in their class already, and while shots from this 10.8Mp unit look
other brands are making strides, Google comparatively awful.
is resting on its laurels. Portrait mode is oddly limiting, too.
Sure, folding phone cameras You can only use the main sensor, while
rarely rival the best bar phones. But most rivals let you use the telephoto,
personally, I don’t think we should be and for some reason, the phone forces
seeing an array of camera sensors that you into a 1.5x or 2x crop. This seems
mostly hover around the 10Mp mark on like something that would be easy to
a phone that costs nearly two grand. address, so I’m not sure why Google is
That said, part of the Pixel allure can sticking to its guns.
be attributed to the image processing The advantage of the Pixel camera
and other software-enabled
features, none of which is
too reliant on hardware. And
indeed, if you’re not too picky
with your photos, the Pixel 10
Pro Fold is capable of taking
some really nice shots.
The cameras do best in
the daylight, and at night,
you’ll want to stick to the main
sensor as much as possible. If you’re not too picky with your photos, the Pixel 10 Pro
The telephoto and ultrawide Fold is capable of taking some really nice shots.

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REVIEWS

We’ll start
off our test
shots with
examples
of the same
subject
taken with
the different
zoom
lenses.

38 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

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Next up, we
have a low
light photo.

40 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

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Here’s
a macro
image.

We’ll finish
off with a
selfie.

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system is all of its

easy-to-use software
features. In the camera
app, you’ll find things
like the Camera Coach,
which can help guide
you into taking a more
aesthetically pleasing
shot, and Auto Best Take,
which merges multiple
group photos to ensure The battery life is solid, and it could easily see me through an
everyone’s eyes are open. average day’s use.
There’s even an AI-
powered image editing tool that lets with the efficiency gains of the newer
you alter your images by typing in plain Tensor G5 chip, should mean that
English, but it’s currently only available this phone lasts a lot longer than the
in the US. If it’s available to you, you previous model.
can ask it to do things like “remove the In our usual PCMark battery test, the
reflections in the window” or “delete 10 Pro Fold survived for 13 hours and
the stain on my shirt”. 1 minute, a very significant increase on
As a photographer, these features the 9 Pro Fold’s score of just 9 hours
don’t really appeal to me, but that’s and 18 minutes. However, it’s still shy
OK. They’re designed to aid people of the Z Fold 6 (15 hours, 34 minutes).
who don’t know what words like These benchmark scores reflect my
aperture and composition mean, and real-world experience, too. The battery
in some instances, they could make life is solid, and it could easily see me
all the difference. through an average day’s use, which had
me flipping between both screens and
BATTERY LIFE using the camera a lot.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 5015mAh That said, it’s nothing too
battery, which is 365mAh larger than last remarkable, and I found myself reaching
year’s model, and significantly bigger for the charger more often than when I
than the 4,400mAh cell in the Galaxy Z used the Z Fold 7 on a daily basis.
Fold 7. This larger capacity, combined When it comes to charging, the Pixel

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10 Pro Fold can juice up at 30 watts Pixel 10 series are available for the
with a wire or 15 watts wirelessly. It’s Fold, too. This means you get Material
a solid improvement on the previous 3 Expressive customisation, loads of
generation, which only supported 21 new Gemini functionality, including
watts with a wire and 7.5 watts without. video generation with Veo 3, and Magic
As usual, there’s no charger in the Cue, which uses AI to pull data from
box, just a cable. But with a suitably all of your Google applications. There’s
powerful wall adapter, you can charge also seven years of software support
from completely dead to over 50 and security updates, just like the
percent in just half an hour. It’s not a bad rest of the line-up.
showing at all, but it’s worth noting that If you want to know more about all of
the second 50 percent will take a lot those features, it’s worth having a read
longer than the first – a full charge took of our Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL
almost an hour and a half, by my count. reviews. To avoid retreading the same
ground, I’ll just be focusing on the Fold-
SOFTWARE exclusive features in this review. In short,
Software is a big selling point for Pixel though, there’s a lot of AI features here,
phones, and indeed, if you want that and some of them are super handy.
vanilla Android experience, this is the You also get a year of Google AI Pro
only foldable that delivers the goods. subscription included, so you can access
Foldable devices from the likes of all the latest features as soon as they
Samsung, Honor and Oppo all use become available.
heavily customised
versions of Android
that change the
fundamentals.
Google is the only
one to bring the
Pixel experience to
a larger format.
As you might
expect, all of the
new features that
debuted with the Made You Look has been expanded to include more animations.

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Opting for the Fold gets you a new keep their eyes off these animations,
Instant View feature in the camera and that makes it really easy to
app. This lets you use one side of capture some lovely photos. The
the large inner screen to view your downside, though, is that it uses the
photos immediately as you’re taking cover screen selfie camera to take
them. I found this more useful than I these photos, rather than the main
anticipated, as it means you can quickly rear camera. So, the quality is decent,
check if a shot was blurry or framed but it could be better, and it’s not the
correctly before taking another. best in dim lighting.
You also get Made You Look, Of course, you also get split-screen
which debuted on the 9 Pro Fold, multitasking and the ability to drag
but it has been expanded to include and drop files and images between
more animations. Basically, it displays two apps, which really helps make the
colourful cartoon animations on the most of the larger display. Google’s
outer screen to grab the attention of implementation still feels a little basic
children (or maybe even pets) and compared to the competition, but it’s
uses AI to detect when the subject is fairly intuitive and does enough to
smiling, which will make the animated satisfy most people’s needs.
characters react. Finally, there are a couple of quirky
It works shockingly well, kids can’t new game integrations that take
advantage of the folding
hardware. If you play either
Asphalt Legends or Disney
Speedstorm, you can enable
a new split-view mode and a
dual-screen mode.
Essentially, this splits the
gameplay along the hinge.
So your racing action is at
the top, while the mini map
and controls are separated
to the lower portion of
The software offers split-screen multitasking and the ability the display. In addition,
to drag and drop files and images between two apps. it adds extra controls to

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the cover display, which

can be tapped on the
back like the triggers of a
game controller.
It’s a clever idea,
and I hope we see
other developers
taking advantage of the
hardware like this, but
it’s not the most practical
implementation in its
current state. Who knows, There are a couple of quirky new game integrations that take
maybe this is the start of advantage of the folding hardware.
a whole wave of foldable-
optimised titles, but I wouldn’t hold The main problem is the
your breath. competition. The Galaxy Z Fold 7
Another key selling point of the 10 trumps this phone in just about every
Pro Fold is software updates. Google conceivable way. It’s much slimmer
will support it for a total of seven years and lighter, the crease is less noticeable,
and, as a Pixel, it’ll be among the first it’s more powerful, and the cameras are
in line for any new major versions of a lot more impressive, too.
Android. Pixel devices offer the most This phone, with its chunky design,
seamless software experience you’ll find thick bezels and outdated cameras, just
on any Android phone. doesn’t really do enough to compete.
If you love Google’s first-party features
VERDICT and UI, and you’re very concerned
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold leaves me about dust resistance, maybe this
with mixed feelings. I’ve very much model could sway you. Personally,
enjoyed using it, and I particularly like though, I’d pick the Samsung every
how solid and durable it feels. It also time. Luke Baker
has some unique benefits that you won’t
find with any other foldable, such as SPECIFICATIONS
IP68 dust and water resistance and • 8-inch (2,152x2,076; 374ppi) Foldable
built-in magnets. LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800

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REVIEWS

nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) display. • Fingerprint (side-mounted)

Cover display: 6.4-inch (2,364x1,080) • Non-removable 5,015mAh battery
OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla • Unfolded: 155.2x150.4x 5.2mm.
Glass Victus 2, 2,000 nits (HBM), 3,000 Folded: 155.2x76.3x10.8mm
nits (peak) • 258g
• Android 16, up to 7 major Android
upgrades
• Google Tensor G5 (3nm) processor
• Octa-core (1x 3.78GHz Cortex-X4, 5x
3.05GHz Cortex-A725, 2x 2.25GHz
Cortex-A520) CPU
• PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU
• No card slot
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage
• Three rear-facing cameras: 48Mp,
f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0-inch, 0.8µm,
dual pixel PDAF, OIS; 10.8Mp, f/3.1,
112mm (telephoto), 1/3.2-inch, dual
pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom;
10.5Mp, f/2.2, 127-degree (ultrawide),
1/3.4-inch, PDAF
• Selfie camera: 10Mp, f/2.2, 23mm
(wide), 1/3.94-inch, PDAF
• Cover camera: 10Mp, f/2.2, 23mm
(wide), 1/3.94-inch, PDAF
• Stereo speakers
• No 3.5mm audio jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band
• Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
• GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO,
BDS, QZSS, NavIC
• NFC
• USB Type-C 3.2

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Apple iPad Pro (M5)

Price when reviewed: £999

A
pple’s iPad line-up is the most connectivity and adding, for the first
extensive it’s ever been. There’s time on iPad, fast charging.
the cute and compact iPad If you have the iPad Pro (M4), it’s
mini (A17 Pro), the excellent everyday highly unlikely you’ll be upgrading, but
iPad (A16), the powerful and portable if you have an older iPad Pro, another
iPad Air (M3) and at the top, you have iPad, or you’re new to iPad entirely,
the iPad Pro. there’s a lot to love in the iPad Pro (M5).
Until recently, that was the iPad Pro Having used it since it was announced,
(M4), but Apple has now introduced here’s why it cements itself as best
a more advanced processor to this in class, as well as what to consider
slab in the M5, whilst also improving before you hit buy.

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anywhere near that slim, let

alone tablets. It was so light
and portable, even in the
13-inch size, and its design
was a real delight.
The iPad Pro (M5)
thought it best to keep
things exactly how they
were, and that’s something
I won’t fault in this case.
There are two sizes again –
11- and 13 inches – with the
We reviewed the Space Black option. smaller model fractionally
thicker at 5.3mm. That’s still
DESIGN thinner than the iPhone Air, and just like
There’s just something about slim that phone, get this tablet in your hand
devices. I’m not even sure we’ve all and you’ll really appreciate how lovely
noticed as phones and tablets have At 444g on the 11-inch model, it’s nearly
increased in thickness over the last a third of the weight of a MacBook Air,
few years. Compare the iPhone 6 to while the 13-inch model (and my review
the iPhone 17, though, and there is a unit) is just 580g – still pretty much half
noticeable difference. When the iPad the weight of Apple’s cheapest laptop.
Pro (M4) was
revealed in May
2024, its 5.1mm
build was as
noteworthy as it
was impressive.
At that point,
we hadn’t seen
the iPhone Air
or the Samsung
Galaxy S25 Edge,
so phones weren’t Get this tablet in your hand and you’ll really appreciate how lovely it is.

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The aluminium frame comes in two notification bubbles are crisp and sharp,
boring yet classy colour options – Silver while viewing angles are great too.
and Space Black – with the latter being Meanwhile, the ProMotion display
my preference. All models have a small technology means support for refresh
camera housing on the rear, a Smart rates up to 120Hz, ensuring a lovely,
Connector for attaching accessories and smooth scrolling experience.
uniform bezels around the display. On the models with 1TB or 2TB of
Get this tablet in your hand and storage, you have the option to add a
you’ll really appreciate how lovely it is nano-texture coating. This adds a matt
finish to what is otherwise a glossy
DISPLAY display, which should reduce glare in
The display on the M5 iPad Pro is also the process.
the same as the M4 version. Again, this My review unit of the iPad Pro (M5)
is by no means a bad thing. doesn’t have this finish, but I have used
Apple is continuing with what it and loved it on the iPad Pro (M4). It’s
calls a Tandem OLED display, which excellent for cutting through reflections,
effectively means two OLED panels on so if you’re planning on using this iPad
top of each other to deliver a brighter outside or in a room with bright lights
screen overall. As a result,
there’s a peak brightness
of 1,600 nits on the iPad
Pro (M5), which not only
makes it usable outside
on a sunny day but also
ensures HDR photos and
videos look superb.
Colours are lovely
and punchy, whites are
incredibly bright, and you
get true blacks during
darker scenes. Details
in everything from the The Tandem OLED technology means colours are lovely and
time stamp in the top left punchy, whites are incredibly bright, and you get true blacks
corner to app icons and during darker scenes.

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guessed from its name.

Built on a 3nm
process, the chip has
a 10-core GPU with
Neural Accelerators that
are claimed to deliver
3.5 times faster AI
performance than the
M4 iPad Pro. There’s
also a faster 16-core
There are two speakers positioned at either side of the iPad Neural Engine, according
Pro (M5)’s display when held in a landscape orientation. to Apple, said to be
helpful for things such
or large windows, I highly recommend as summarising a page of notes or
considering it. I don’t understand why isolating a background in a video.
Apple didn’t make it an option on The CPU make up of the M5
models with less storage. depends on the storage model you
There are two speakers positioned at select. On the higher storage 1TB and
either side of the iPad Pro (M5)’s display 2TB models, you get a 10-core CPU
when held in a landscape orientation. made up of four performance cores and
The sound is decent for a tablet, and six efficiency cores, while the 256GB
you’ll have no problem watching a and 512GB models have a nine-core
movie or taking a video call. I’d always CPU (three performance, six efficiency).
recommend connecting up a pair of My 1TB review sample benefited from
headphones or AirPods if you want the the more powerful version, and powerful
best experience, but the four speakers it most definitely is.
do a more than adequate job when you There was nothing I could do on
need them to. my MacBook Pro that I couldn’t do on
the M5 iPad Pro – it made light work of
PERFORMANCE anything I threw at it.
Under the hood, the iPad Pro (M5) I spent hours editing images, wrote
sees an upgrade in processor from the thousands of words (including this
Apple M4 we saw in the 2024 model review), streamed hours of movies
to the Apple M5, which you may have and TV shows and had a lovely time

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reading the news and casually browsing (M5)’s connectivity and last year’s iPad
the web. Multi-tasking is a breeze Pro (M4), but what is perhaps more
(especially with iPadOS 26 – more on important is that I didn’t notice any
that later), and switching between apps connectivity issues either, so Apple is
and tasks is instant with no sign of lag. clearly getting something right.
I mentioned the storage options
already – 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
– with those higher capacity models Apple iPad Pro (M5): 16,374
getting the more powerful chip and Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra: 8,488
nano-texture display option. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: 9,070
There’s no support for microSD OnePlus Pad 3: 9,004
storage expansion on any of them, Apple iPad (A16): 6,176
though, so keep that in mind if you like
a large library of offline films or want to Charge in 30 minutes
sync lots of your iPhone photos. Apple iPad Pro (M5): 43%
Elsewhere, there’s support for Wi-Fi Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra: 30%
7, Bluetooth 6, and now Thread, thanks Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: 49%
to a new wireless chip called the N1. OnePlus Pad 3: 15%
The latter should make it easier to Apple iPad (A16: 22%
connect to and control
smart home devices,
but it’s primarily about
future-proofing rather
than the here and now.
For the cellular
models, there’s also a
new cellular modem
called the C1X that is
claimed to bring 50
percent faster cellular
data performance.
I can’t say I noticed
a huge difference There was nothing I could do on my MacBook Pro that I couldn’t
between the iPad Pro do on the M5 iPad Pro.

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CAMERAS experiences like viewing a piece of

When it comes to photography, I would furniture in real time in your living
never recommend using a tablet as your room, helping you make sure you aren’t
primary device. making a rash decision. That all runs
The smartphone in your pocket smoothly too, so there’s very little to
almost certainly takes better photos, complain about in this department.
even if it costs a fraction of the price You’ll probably care about the
of the iPad Pro. Tablets are typically front-facing lens much more, though,
too big and cumbersome for capturing considering a tablet’s popularity for the
decent, stable shots – I cringe every likes of video calls.
time I see someone using one in public. The front 12Mp camera does a
However, the M5 iPad Pro’s single solid job, especially with its natural
12Mp rear sensor is better than many positioning at the top of the screen
tablet rivals, meaning you’ll get a when in landscape orientation. This
decent level of detail and colour allows you to get more people in frame,
accuracy with occasional snaps. It’s but also makes it natural to use while
absolutely fine if you need to scan the Magic Keyboard or Smart Folio case
a document or take a photo of your (both sold separately) is attached.
child’s homework to upload to Google It’s not quite as clever as the front
Classroom with no issues. camera you’ll find on the new iPhone
It works in tandem with the models – it can’t switch between
LiDAR scanner, which allows for AR landscape and portrait selfies without
you rotating the whole
device. However, there is
Center Stage technology
on board to keep you in the
frame if you move around.
This works well if you’re on
a video call to a friend and
you’re cooking and moving
around your kitchen at the
same time, for example.
The M5 iPad Pro’s single 12Mp rear sensor is better than There’s also Face ID
many tablet rivals. support in the iPad Pro,

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which makes using

this tablet significantly
more convenient than
some other iPads.
A quick glance is all
you need to unlock it,
authenticate payments
and allow you to sign
into apps or view
passwords.
The iPad Pro (M5) supports fast charging, which is a first for iPad.
BATTERY LIFE
Like usual, Apple doesn’t quote specific streaming content, you’ll get a working
battery capacities for either size of M5 day out of the iPad Pro without an issue.
iPad Pro. However, GSMArena suggests That’s not even the best news,
it’s an 8,160mAh battery on the 11-inch though. The biggest story here is that
model and a 10,290mAh cell on the 13- the iPad Pro (M5) now supports fast
inch version I’ve been testing. charging, which is a first for iPad.
However, it doesn’t matter what Now, it’s not quite as speedy as the
iPad model you buy from Apple, all are likes of Oppo or OnePlus, both of which
claimed to offer 10 hours of battery life support 67 watts on their respective
for video watching and nine hours of Android tablets, but the iPad Pro (M5)
browsing the web. In my experience, is claimed to offer up to 50 per cent
that’s pretty much spot on for all of battery in around 30 minutes with a
them, too, assuming those are the 60-watt charger. I got 43 per cent in 30
things you are doing. minutes with a 96-watt charger and 50
You’ll find the battery drops quicker per cent in 35 minutes, while it took 1
if you attach the Magic Keyboard and hour and 45 minutes to reach 100 per
start typing continuously for a couple of cent. That’s a significant improvement
hours – in that scenario, you can expect on what you’ll get on the M3 iPad Air.
around half that time. But if you’re It’s worth remembering that the
checking emails, casually scrolling iPad Pro (M5) doesn’t come with a
through social media, browsing the charger in the box, however, so while
web for an upcoming winter holiday or the support for fast charging is now

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there, you will need to

source your own charger to
take advantage of it.

SOFTWARE
The iPad Pro (M5) runs
on Apple’s latest software
for iPad, which is called
iPadOS 26. It takes over
from iPadOS 18, and it is
arguably the biggest and
most important update for The windowing setting lets you arrange multiple apps and
iPad since Apple’s tablet windows on the screen.
moved onto its own software
and separated itself from iOS. you to snap apps into a grid layout like
The reason I say that is the support Mac, with up to four apps being used at
for windowing. During setup, you can once. Honestly, the overall experience is
choose between the traditional layout significantly better for multitasking than
of iPad, which is where you typically use it’s ever been.
one app at a time, or two if you’re using Elsewhere, the new software brings
the Split Screen functionality, or you can a new design called Liquid Glass, which
pick the windowing option. is designed to mimic layers of glass
The windowing setting allows the via translucent menus and app icons
iPad Pro (M5) to run more like a Mac, with controls overlaid on top of the
with the option to arrange multiple apps content on your screen, allowing you to
and windows on the screen, overlay see more of what’s beneath. It’s a little
them on top of each other and resize harder to read than the previous version
them however you like. of iPad’s software was, but the design
There’s also a menu bar like Mac at itself is nice.
the top of each app when you swipe The Phone app comes to iPad for
down from the top, with the same the first time with iOS 26 too, so all your
traffic light system for closing an app, recent calls, contacts and voicemails
minimising it or expanding it. Pressing will appear here if you have an iPhone
and holding the green icon also allows signed into the same Apple ID, while

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there’s also a Preview app for viewing VERDICT

and editing PDFs and a Games app for Apple’s iPad Pro (M5) is an exceptional
a smoother gaming experience. tablet. It offers performance on par with
There’s support for Apple a laptop, a stunning display, a super slim
Intelligence here too, as you would and lightweight design and solid battery
expect, and while there are a number life. The user interface has also seen
of features yet to be fully realised, like huge multitasking improvements thanks
a more contextualised and personalised to iPadOS 26, while the fast charging
Siri, there are some handy ones already capabilities make a big difference in
there. I am a particular fan of Clean Up, terms of usability.
which offers an easy way to remove There’s still no support for multiple
objects, people or other distractions user profiles, accessories cost extra,
from photos. and there is no getting away from the
The one thing the iPad continues to eye-watering price, no matter how
lack, however, is support for multiple much tablet you get for that money.
user profiles. It borrows a lot from Mac But none of those are the iPad Pro’s
this time around, but being able to have biggest problem. Instead, it’s the rest
a guest user or several profiles is still not of the iPad line-up that’s the issue,
something that has carried across. It’s a because almost all of them will be
shame because when you pay £1,000 more than sufficient for most when it
or more for a tablet, it should be easier comes to performance, and they all
to switch between multiple people in a have the same user experience.
household if you want to
use it as a family tablet.
Still, software support is
excellent, and while Apple
doesn’t specify exactly how
many years it will give the
iPad Pro (M5) updates for,
it’s usually around seven
years. That would mean
this tablet should get
new features and security
patches until at least 2030. The new iPad Pro is an exceptional tablet.

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Still, if you’re after the best in class • USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3),
tablet, the Apple iPad Pro (M5) is DisplayPort, magnetic connector
currently it. It’s a superb tablet that will • Face ID
serve you for years to come, and it’s a • Non-removable 10,290mAh battery
real pleasure to use. Britta O’Boyle • 281.6x215.5x5.1mm
• 579g (Wi-Fi), 582g (5G)
SPECIFICATIONS
• 13-inch (2,752x2,064; 265ppi) Ultra
Retina Tandem OLED, 120Hz, HDR10,
Dolby Vision, 1,000 nits (HBM), 1600
nits (peak) display
• iPadOS 26
• Apple M5 processor
• 256/512GB models: 9-core (3
performance cores, 6 efficiency
cores). 1TB/2TB models: 10-core
(4 performance cores, 6 efficiency
cores) CPU
• Apple GPU (10-core graphics)
• No card slot
• 12GB/16GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB storage
• Rear-facing camera: 12Mp, f/1.8,
(wide), dual pixel PDAF
• Selfie camera: 12Mp, f/2.0,
122-degree (ultrawide)
• Stereo speakers
• No 3.5mm audio jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-
band, hotspot
• Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE, EDR
• GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
(Wi-Fi + Cellular model only)
• No NFC

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S11

Price when reviewed: £799

W
hat do people actually want on yet another new approach. This time
from an Android tablet? It’s a around, there’s no Samsung Galaxy Tab
question that’s been on our S11+, with only a Samsung Galaxy Tab
minds for a few years now, and judging S11 and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, it’s Ultra to choose from.
been on Samsung’s too. With prices starting from £799,
After a year in which the company you’re getting a highly capable 11-
dropped the regular model from its inch tablet with strong performance, a
premium tablet range, leaving only bright screen, powerful software, and
the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ to a bundled-in stylus. But aside from
accompany the flagship Ultra model, the Samsung’s line-up indecision, there isn’t
South Korean manufacturer has decided much that’s new or interesting here.

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DESIGN Another thing you don’t get with

The fact that you can specify your Apple’s imperious Pro tablet is a stylus
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 in Grey or in the box. You do with the Galaxy
Silver speaks to the general lack of Tab S11, and this S Pen comes with a
inspiration that surrounds the design remodelled hexagonal form factor. It’s
and feel of this tablet. even easier to grip, while also helping
It looks a lot like last year’s model. the stylus to affix to the top edge
And the year before that. In fact, through magnets.
glancing back as far as our Samsung There’s no longer a dedicated
Galaxy Tab S7+ review of 2020 reveals strip on the back of the tablet for this
the same basic, flat-edged style. purpose, but the new approach is more
Tablet design in general has intuitive. More problematic, for my
remained pretty samey since the 2018 money is the removal of Bluetooth Low
iPad Pro 3, of course, and Samsung has Energy support, so you can’t use the S
steadily refined its approach over the Pen to remotely activate functions such
years. These days, there’s an in-display as the camera or navigation features
fingerprint sensor rather than the old
power button-based solution. DISPLAY
Progress? Perhaps. It’s certainly more With Samsung vacillating between the
convenient to unlock when the tablet Plus and non-Plus variant, it’s worth
is lying flat on a table. Conversely, my restating that this is an 11-inch display
own thumbprint doesn’t
seem to register quite as
consistently as I’d like.
IP68 certification is
another positive design
flourish that Samsung
brings to the table(t),
making bath times with
Disney+ feel much less
precarious. It’s a sense
of reassurance that you
don’t get with the £999 The Tab S11 has a rich, vibrant AMOLED panel with a sharp
iPad Pro. 2,560x1,600 resolution.

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– so it’s significantly
smaller than the
12.4-inch Samsung
Galaxy Tab S10+,
and only fractionally
larger than the 10.9-
inch Samsung Galaxy
Tab S10 FE.
Thankfully,
despite those
two points of
comparison, it’s
much closer to the With a full grid of detailed cars jostling for position, the Samsung
former than the latter barely dropped a frame.
in terms of quality.
This is a rich, vibrant AMOLED panel PERFORMANCE
with a sharp 2,560x1,600 resolution. Samsung has given the Galaxy Tab S11
Samsung has even bolstered the a straight-up generational upgrade
brightness since last year’s model, with in the form of a MediaTek Dimensity
a peak of 1,000 nits (up from 650 nits) in 9400+ chipset. It might not be the
High Brightness Mode. most recognisable chip on the market,
Conversely, it’s a shame to see but make no mistake – this is a high-
Samsung rolling back from the anti- performing chip.
reflective coating of the Galaxy Tab Benchmark results are broadly
S10+. This was a most welcome comparable to the OnePlus Pad 3
upgrade in last year’s model, but there’s with its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip,
no such provision to be found on the which has been a byword for ‘flagship
Galaxy Tab S11. performance’ for much of 2025.
Sound quality is strong, courtesy of a Indeed, the Samsung Galaxy Tab
full quad speaker set-up, with speakers S11 actually scored significantly higher
evenly spaced on each corner. There’s a than its illustrious rival in our GPU tests.
nicely deep, spacey sound stage here, There are mitigating circumstances with
especially given the (relatively) compact the OnePlus Pad 3’s more pixel-packed
nature of the device. display, of course, but the fact remains

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that the Galaxy Tab S11 is a very CAMERA

strong runner. I’m generally dismissive when it comes
This is driven home by firing up GRID to discussing tablet cameras, because
Legends, one of the most graphically they don’t really matter. If you’re buying
advanced games on the Google Play this kind of device with the intention of
Store. With the high resolution graphics taking any number of pictures or videos,
pack installed and a full grid of detailed you’re doing it wrong.
cars jostling for position, it barely That said, the fact these components
dropped a frame. are always included necessitates
There’s a 12GB of RAM as standard, some form of testing. And if you’re
which is decent rather than outstanding, spending £800 on any smart device, it’s
and there’s a choice of 128GB, 256GB, fair to expect every component to at
and 512GB of internal storage. You can least do an adequate job.
expand that further with a microSD slot. So, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
has a 13Mp camera around back, and
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) a 12Mp camera in front. It’s much
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: 9,070 like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
OnePlus Pad 3: 9,004 before it, minus the dedicated 8Mp
Xiaomi Pad 7: 5,205 ultra-wide camera.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: 3,930 They’re fine. You can take passable
snaps with that 13Mp main camera if
GFX Manhattan 3.1 the lighting’s good and you’re away
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: 120fps from your phone for some unlikely
OnePlus Pad 3: 50fps reason, or (as is more likely) you need
Xiaomi Pad 7: 56fps to snap some documents.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: 55fps Don’t bother with those snaps if said
Google Pixel Tablet: 57fps lighting is anything less than optimal.
The sensor’s tiny, and you don’t get OIS
Charge in 30 minutes to aid with longer exposures.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: 49% Samsung’s solid image processing
OnePlus Pad 3: 15% does a lot of the work here, lifting
Xiaomi Pad 7: 54% the colours and the exposure to
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE: 49% almost-unnatural levels. The extra
Google Pixel Tablet: 21% pop arguably serves such inferior

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this is sufficient for a full day

of light work or, as is a more
likely use case scenario for
a tablet of this kind, most of
a week of occasional usage
(a spot of web browsing and
the odd video).
Weirdly, the PCMark 3.0
Work Battery Test didn’t
work on the Tab S11, despite
repeated tries, so I can’t
The main 13Mp camera takes passable shots. offer our usual comparison
to rival devices. However,
components better than on Samsung’s I did record that an hour of Disney+
flagship phones, as there are more streaming sapped 8 percent of a full
photographic sins to cover. charge, while 30 minutes of light
Video capture extends to 4K and gaming sapped 5 percent.
30fps, which most phones selling for Those are strong results, and are
half the price can beat. Again, that’s the more than competitive with other full-
deal with tablets. sized tablets.
The 12Mp front camera is much Charging support extends to a
more important – not so much for selfies respectable 45 watts, if you can provide
as for video calls. When you do use an appropriate charger (there isn’t one
it to take selfies, it reveals itself to be in the box). I recorded this getting from
a predictably limited component. So empty to 49 percent in 30 minutes.
maybe don’t.
SOFTWARE
BATTERY LIFE The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is the first
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 comes tablet to run on the company’s latest
with an 8,400mAh battery. That’s exactly One UI 8 interface, running on top of
the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Android 16. Given the sluggish rollout
Tab S9, which is the last comparable to Samsung’s phones, that isn’t quite
premium tablet that Samsung made. such a minor claim as it sounds.
Just like that two-year-old tablet, It looks and feels quite a lot like One

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UI 7, and that’s no bad thing. Samsung’s into a lightweight laptop – especially if

UI has tightened up significantly over you pair it with the optional Slim Book
the years, with a colourful look and Cover Keyboard.
appealingly sharp widgets. The S Pen stylus implementation
It’s nicely optimised for tablets, too, continues to be the best in the business,
with a notification pane that pops down too, despite the partial regression with
from the centre or the left side of the the removal of Bluetooth Low Energy
screen, depending on where you swipe support. I’m not entirely sold on using
from. the S Pen to scrawl text for URLs and
Split screen multitasking is handled the like, but you can’t fault Samsung’s
intuitively, letting you touch and handwriting recognition for this feature.
hold from the app switching screen, I have my own personal gripes
or simply drag an app icon from the over Samsung’s general approach to
permanently visible task bar along software, but these days they largely
the bottom. You can run three apps revolve around its extensive efforts to
simultaneously in this way. brand away from Google’s stock apps.
Samsung’s DeX, meanwhile, lets you As someone who’s heavily invested
run multiple instanced desktops side in the Google way of doing things,
by side, along with windowed apps, I find it tiresome having to set up
essentially turning the Galaxy Tab S11 Google Wallet, Calendar, and Password
Manager on Samsung
devices. Perhaps that’s
just my laziness coming
to the fore.
More generally,
the Android tablet
app scene simply isn’t
as mature as that of
Apple’s iPad. You’re
more likely to bump
into apps that are
poorly optimised for
the form factor, if they
Split screen multitasking is handled intuitively. exist at all.

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What can’t be
denied is the continued
generosity of Samsung’s
seven-year update
promise. This arguably
makes more sense here
on a tablet than it does
on Samsung’s phones,
as you’re more likely to
keep a tablet around
for several years.
For the second year The S Pen stylus implementation is the best in the business.
running, Samsung has
gone big on Galaxy AI with its new doesn’t so much as threaten to attempt
flagship tablet. Samsung’s apps are anything new.
shot through with it, including Drawing That’s fine – the tablet format in
Assist (transform rough sketches into general is pretty static these days.
works of art), Writing Assist (refine However, rival Android tablet makers
your hastily written notes), and more. have responded to this by offering more
Meanwhile, Google Gemini is for less, and the Galaxy Tab S11 feels
only ever a long power button press ever so slightly expensive.
away, letting you ask questions about It’s the most complete 11-inch
whatever’s on screen. Android tablet out there, and the
closest equivalent to the 11-inch iPad
VERDICT Pro you’re likely to find. But it’s not as
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is another compelling as that formidable Apple
extremely competent tablet with very rival, while in Android terms you can
few weaknesses. It’s fast, well built, get a broadly similar (and in some ways
packs a beautiful AMOLED display, superior) experience for significantly
and bundles in a well-integrated S Pen less. Jon Mundy
stylus.
However, we’ve been saying similar SPECIFICATIONS
things about Samsung’s top tablets • 11-inch (2,560x1,600; 274ppi)
for years now, and the Galaxy Tab S11 Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz,

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HDR10+, 1,000 nits (typ), 1,600 nits

(peak) display
• Android 16, One UI 8
• Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm)
processor
• Octa-core (1x 3.63GHz Cortex-X925,
3x 3.3GHz Cortex-X4, 4x 2.4GHz
Cortex-A720) CPU
• Immortalis-G925 GPU
• microSDXC (dedicated slot) slot
• 12GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB/512GB storage
• Rear-facing camera: 13Mp, f/2.0,
26mm (wide), 1/3.4-inch, 1.0µm, AF
• Selfie camera: 12Mp, f/2.4,
120-degree (ultrawide)
• Stereo speakers
• No 3.5mm audio jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band,
Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 5.4, A2DP, LE
• GPS , GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO -
cellular model only
• No NFC
• USB Type-C 3.2, magnetic connector
• Non-removable 8,400mAh battery
• 253.8x165.3x5.5mm
• 469g or 471g

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Google Pixel Watch 4

Price when reviewed: £349

S
martwatches are well and truly The Pixel Watch 4 might look similar
part of our daily tech ecosystem, to the last model, but that’s no bad
and time flies if you’ll excuse the thing and Google has made various
pun, because Google is already on its improvements and upgrades which are
fourth generation of Pixel Watch. hard to see at a glance.
It took Google a while to get into With the Galaxy Watch 8 series
the game, despite making software from Samsung proving something of
for wearables for such a long time a disappointment, the Pixel Watch 4
previously, but the Pixel Watch quickly might be the best Wear OS smartwatch
established itself as one of the best of the year. I’ve been using it for nearly
alternatives to the Apple Watch. three weeks to find out.

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DESIGN This, like some of the other colours,

The Pixel Watch 4 looks very similar can possibly be matched with the Pixel
to the Pixel Watch 3 and, really, all 10 phones if you pick the right model.
the way back to the original. As tech It’s not straightforward though, as
reviewers, we often call for design Moonstone is only available in 45mm
overhauls but in this case, I don’t and Champagne Gold is only available
think one is needed yet. in 41mm.
Apple’s square design has never Otherwise, your choices are between
been to my taste and very few round Matt Black and Polished Silver.
smartwatches totally suited me either. Once again, the Pixel Watch 4 is
That was, until the Pixel Watch came extremely comfortable to wear all the
along. Google’s glass-pebble-like time. The smooth shape and lightweight
design was stunning back then and aluminium body (only 37g for the larger
it still is now. size) are a match made in heaven.
Last year, Google fixed a major As usual, you have the digital crown
problem and introduced a larger size. on the side to access your apps and
That’s the case again this year, so you scroll and, although I never seem to
can opt for 41- or 45mm models and use it, a button above it to see your
I’m testing the larger one here in the recently used apps.
new Moonstone colourway, which There are two more design elements
I think looks smart yet subtle, with to cover before we move on, and
unisex appeal. the first one proves to be better than
expected in person.
Google has moved the
charging pin connectors to
the side to use with a new
dock (more on that later).
These were seemingly
purposely kept out of
images of the watch. This
led many, including me, to
worry that they would look
rather ugly – but fortunately
The new Moonstone option looks smart yet subtle. they don’t.

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If you wear the watch

on your left wrist, you’ll
barely ever see them.
The other design
element is invisible as
such, because although
the device looks
essentially the same
as before, Google has
redesigned it to be
repairable.
That was a popular Google calls the Actua 360 AMOLED screen the ‘first-of-its-
request from fans and kind’, with its domed display.
now the Pixel Watch 4
screen and battery can both be replaced a drop or some kind of impact. The
if needed. That’s great news if you have same glass has been used on previous
an accident or want to put a new battery generations and we’ve not had any
in to extend the life of the device, plus problems with watches that have been
you could even take in on yourself. used for a year or more.
Now held together with screws
rather than glue, it’s possible to repair DISPLAY
the Pixel Watch 4 at home. It should The Pixel Watch 4 hides its upgrades
even retain its IP68 dust and water very well because you wouldn’t know it
resistance. had a new screen under the glass front.
Ifixit even gave it a repairability score Google calls the Actua 360 AMOLED
of 9/10, calling it: “The most repairable screen the ‘first-of-its-kind’ and features
smartwatch on the market.” a domed display.
Hopefully, you don’t need this It is genuinely very different from
functionality any time soon, but it’s others and its predecessors. So much
worth noting that the Pixel Watch 4 so that it actually took me a few days
doesn’t have a sapphire glass cover like to get used to. It offers a slight fish-eye
some rivals but Gorilla Glass 5 instead. type view, a little like you get from glass
This means it’s not as scratch- beer pumps in bars, so that you can see
resistant, but it should be better in what is available from the side.

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It’s not that dramatic, but experience a major omission but could come in
is pleasant, plus it results in a larger handy sometimes.
‘active area’ than before.
Elsewhere, the specs are largely PERFORMANCE & SOFTWARE
the same, including the resolution and The Pixel Watch 4 has a combination
dynamic refresh rate of 1- to 60Hz. of a new processor and new operating
There is a new peak brightness of 3,000 system. Wear OS 6, Google’s latest
nits, which matches many ‘Ultra’ level smartwatch software, is running on
smartwatches. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2.
It’s been pretty dull weather while I had some glitchy performance
I’ve been testing the Pixel Watch 4, but issues in the first week, but these were
I had no issues during one very sunny quashed with a firmware update. In
day spent in the garden wearing it. general, the smartwatch runs very
The speaker on the left side of smoothly for navigating and scrolling
the Pixel Watch 4 is decent and is through menus etc.
perfectly good enough to hear Gemini There are occasions when things
responding to you. You can also make aren’t snappy. Loading some apps,
use of it to have a phone call if you wish. including Spotify, and summoning
What it can’t do is play audio from Gemini can take a second or two,
apps such as Spotify, which is hardly which can feel like an age, but it’s
typically on the first try.
If you’re connecting to
a live feed of a Nest
camera, you’ll also need
to be patient.
Like Pixel phones, this
has the most vanilla version
of Wear OS 6 (Samsung,
for example, puts One UI
8 Watch over the top) and
the Pixel Watch 4 comes
with Google’s Material
Loading some apps, including Spotify, and summoning 3 Expressive design
Gemini can take a second or two. language.

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crisp and responsive from

scrolling to notifications.
Gemini replaces
Google Assistant on the
Pixel Watch 4 (the AI bot is
being rolled out on every
device you can think of)
and you can even set it to
activate with raise-to-wake
if you like.
I’ve found myself using
it far more on the watch
Tiles on either side of the watch face (essentially widgets) than my phone, but it’s
give you quick access to information and features. often hard to know what
its limitations are. It can
It works really well on the answer questions, of course, but despite
smartwatch, with optimised shapes, a welcome guide when it installed
animations, colours that pop and more. saying it could do things like “tell you
It feels more stylish than childish, about your heart rate”, this command is
which is how some of it comes across simply a shortcut to my real-time bpm.
on phones in my opinion.
There are a dozen watch
faces pre-installed, but it’s
easy to get more.
Once again, Tiles on
either side of the watch
face (essentially widgets)
give you quick access to
information and features,
and can be customised to
what you need the most.
A new haptic feedback
engine enhances the
experience further, which is Gemini replaces Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 4.

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There are also AI features such to use it”. Fortunately, the other reply
as Smart Replies, which aims to offer methods – even the tiny on-screen
up personalised suggestions in the keyboard – work very well.
way you write. The example on the It’s also worth noting that you need
Google Store is a choice of a couple of a Pixel phone for Smart Replies to
coffees when someone has asked what work (9 or later, according to this help
coffee you’d like. page or 8 Pro or later, according to the
Fortunately for me, this works with official store).
WhatsApp where I do all my messaging, Although I’ve not needed them,
but it doesn’t appear to know me very there are various safety features
well. As for the coffee question, it gave available too (Pixel phone or not),
me three different ways to ask for a including fall detection, loss of pulse
black coffee, which is about the only detection, check in, crash detection
coffee I don’t drink. In a group chat, it and emergency SOS. Just note that the
solely suggested “hahaha”. LTE models are required for satellite
So, it’s just guessing what coffee I connectivity.
like? Not ideal, and Google says that
onboard processing means “the AI HEALTH & FITNESS TRACKING
doesn’t learn from your responses or Google hasn’t upgraded the tracking
improve responses as you continue sensors from the Pixel Watch 3, but
it does everything you’d
expect from a flagship
smartwatch.
Steps, calories, floors
and such like are all
accounted for (and you’ll
see them around the
edge of the larger 45mm
screen on the default
watch face). There’s also
heart rate, blood oxygen,
skin temperature and
Smart Replies aims to offer up personalised suggestions in various bits of exercise
the way you write. information all within

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best features, the Readiness

score, which takes all
information into account
to give you an idea of how
much you should take on
that day.
The Pixel Watch 4 does
come with 6 months of
Fitbit Premium free, so
you can at least give it a
good try before deciding
whether it’s worth paying
Google hasn’t upgraded the tracking sensors, but it does for. You won’t need it for
everything you’d expect from a flagship smartwatch. Morning Brief, which gives
you an overview of things
the Fitbit app (which is getting a big including your sleep, weather and what’s
redesign very soon). on your calendar.
The Pixel Watch 4 give you a holistic Via Fitbit, Google does a great job
view of your activity and you can delve of presenting all the information and
into different areas on the watch and helping you achieve your goals.
on the Fitbit app on your
phone, too. In my testing,
it’s all accurate, including
sleep tracking, which
gives you a score and a
breakdown of your night.
You will need Fitbit
Premium, which costs
£7.99 per month or £79.99
per year to get ‘advanced
insights, personalised
recommendations and
energising workouts’ and If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you can pay more attention to
this includes one of the things like the Cardio Load metric.

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If you’re more of a fitness enthusiast For walks and runs etc, you now
(unlike me), you can pay more attention have dual-band GPS for more accurate
to things like the Cardio Load metric tracking, and I found it acquired a
and the Fitbit phone app has a wealth signal in just a few seconds. I don’t live
of workout videos and a running coach in a dense forest where the tech has
(though the AI personal health coach more impact, but it tracked my walks
is limited to the US, so I’ve not been around the neighbourhood with very
able to try that). high accuracy.
Sure, you can go with a Garmin I’m still not convinced by the body
or similar if fitness is particularly responses feature (and similar things on
important to you, but I’d say the Pixel rival watches), which aims to keep track
Watch 4 does a good job for a more of how you’re feeling. However, this
mainstream smartwatch. still seems rudimentary and appears to
For exercise tracking, there are 52 detect a raised heart rate, which could
sports available and it can auto-track a be from almost anything.
number of these. Other watches can do You’ll get a notification and the
many more, often way over 100, and the option to log your mood, which could
selection is a little strange considering be happy or stressed, for example.
boxing is AWOL but pickleball When I could remember what I was
(whatever that is) is right there. doing at the time stated, it was normally
something mundane like
getting my daughter ready
to leave the house and the
limited selection of ‘feelings’
meant I could rarely select
how I really felt.
Even when I could, there’s
nothing groundbreaking
here, with the watch mostly
saying ‘hold onto that
feeling’ if it’s a good one.
For me, all this is more of
a faff than it’s worth and,
The Fitbit phone app has a wealth of workout videos. ironically, stressful.

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I haven’t tested it for

obvious reasons, but after
being introduced on the
Pixel Watch 3, the device
can track your menstrual
cycle with potentially
useful info like cycle
status and predictions.

BATTERY LIFE
Google has managed to
fit the Pixel Watch 4 with Google’s new Quick Charge Dock is a much neater solution
a slightly bigger battery, than the previous chargers.
for both sizes, and that
means you can get up to 30 or 40 Dock is a much neater solution than
hours (41- and 45mm respectively) of the previous chargers.
use with the display always on. The dock is small and could do
This extends to 48 or 72 hours with being heavier to stay flat (cable
with Battery Saver on, but you won’t management is key here), but I much
want to use the watch in that mode prefer it to the previous version (and
unless you have to. most rival solutions). The screen will
The battery life you’ll get depends tell you if the other end of the cable
on what you need a smartwatch for. I’ve isn’t plugged in or the contacts aren’t
been testing the 45mm model and I can quite aligned and, when it’s charging,
get two days and nights from a single information including how long is left
charge, sometimes more, but this is with and the time.
a lighter level of use. I expected the screen to stay on all
Those tracking intensive workouts the time while charging, but this has to
with GPS every day and using the be enabled in the developer settings.
screen in bright sunlight, along with It can sometimes struggle with the
other battery-draining features, will orientation of the display when docked,
need to charge more regularly. but not too often.
However, when you do, it’s very Charging is incredibly quick (25
fast and Google’s new Quick Charge percent faster than the Pixel Watch

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3), even for the 45mm with a bigger excellent all-rounder and easy to
battery, with my tests exceeding even recommend if you’re looking for a
Google’s claims. From completely dead, flagship smartwatch that does just about
I saw it reach 50 percent in 15 minutes everything well. Chris Martin
and 89 percent in half an hour.
As mentioned in the design section, SPECIFICATIONS
a key feature of the Pixel Watch 4 is • 1.4-inch (456x456; 320ppi) LTPO
that the battery is replaceable and you AMOLED, 3,000 nits (peak) display
may even feel confident enough to do it • Android Wear OS 6
yourself at home. This could be crucial • Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2
in the device lasting many more years (4nm) processor
before you need to upgrade. • Quad-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
CPU
VERDICT • Adreno A702 GPU
For my money, the Pixel Watch 4 is the • 2GB RAM
best Wear OS watch out there, with only • 32GB storage
a few small issues to complain about. • Loud speaker
It’s the best looking watch (though • No 3.5mm audio jack
you may disagree) and Google has done • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
a great job of making it repairable so • Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP
you can replace the screen or battery – • GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO
possibly yourself, at home. (E1+E5a)
Performance is smooth for the most • NFC
part, the domed screen is a delight, • Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, heart
the interface looks and works great, the rate, altimeter, compass, SpO2,
new Quick Charge Dock is a boon and thermometer (skin temperature), skin
health, fitness and smartwatch features conductance
are plentiful. • Non-removable 455mAh battery
There’s still a bit of work to be done • 45x45x12.3mm
with Gemini and Smart Replies are • 31g or 37g
restrictive, plus you can get a longer-
lasting smartwatch for less money in the
OnePlus Watch 3.
However, the Pixel Watch 4 is an

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The best tablets you can

buy, reviewed and ranked
There’s no shortage of choice. ANYRON COPEMAN reports

T
ablet computers are now more it was quite a spectacle to see them
powerful than ever, with some provide a seamless web browsing
being capable of operating experience, as well as the chance to
heavy-duty productivity apps and even indulge in some entertainment, whether
serving as a laptop replacement in some that was a spot of YouTube or a quick
cases. Regardless of the type of tablet round of Angry Birds. Nowadays, it’s a
that you’re after, you can lean on our completely different story.
expertise to choose from one of the With tablet-friendly versions of Final
best tablets currently available. Cut Pro, Microsoft Office and more, you
It seems strange to think now that can get through an entire working day
when tablet devices first hit the scene, with just a tablet at the helm. They’re

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BUYING GUIDE

not a perfect replacement for laptops £500 or more) in a tablet that comes
across the board, of course, but in with a higher-end processor, ideally one
certain industries, they can absolutely that can handle multitasking without
get the job done. breaking a sweat.
It’s also worth factoring in the cost
HOW TO CHOOSE of additional accessories that complete
THE BEST TABLET the experience of using a tablet as
Unlike smartphones, which have a workstation, such as Bluetooth
more verticals to choose from, such keyboards and mice, not to mention
as deciding whether or not you value needing a stylus if your work involves
performance, cameras, AI features or digital art or note-taking.
more, the decision over which tablet
to buy essentially breaks down into a What to look for
single question: do you want it for work When buying a tablet, there are lots
or pleasure? of things to consider, including build
If you’re going with the latter, then quality, design, size, core specifications,
you have plenty of options available operating system, features,
to you, and at a more affordable price performance, battery life and more.
point as well. Tablets that sit below the Which elements are important to
£300 mark have lots of crucial features you depends on what you need a tablet
such as bright displays and long-lasting for. For entertainment, you’ll likely
battery life. If you just want to kick back want to prioritise a large, colourful
and stream several hours of the latest screen and good speakers. For
must-watch Netflix show, then you have productivity, performance, battery life
the freedom to do so. and accessories like a keyboard case
Alternatively, if you’re a student or a are probably top of your list.
professional who is considering a tablet We have ranked the tablets above,
(either as a companion to their laptop or but that doesn’t automatically mean
a complete replacement for it), there are the one in first place is the best suited
still great options available, but they’ll to your needs.
typically come with a higher price tag.
Performance is crucial when it Operating system
comes to productivity, which is why In the tablet world, you’ve got four
it’s worth investing a bit more (ideally main choices for operating systems: an

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 BUYING GUIDE

In most cases, apps are

made available on Android
as well as iPads, but not
always. Android tablets can
be cheaper than iPads, but
there are some Samsung
models which cost the same
or are more expensive.
Windows tablets come in
both cheap and expensive
guises, with the advantage
of being able to support the
same programs you’re likely
already used to running on
Windows tablets offer the advantage of being able to your laptop or PC. There
support the same programs you’re likely already used to just aren’t as many finger-
running on your laptop or PC. friendly tablet-optimised
apps as you’d find on your
iPad, an Android tablet, an Amazon Fire phone or an iPad.
tablet or a Windows tablet. And that’s why most Windows tablets
Apple iPads run the company’s own come with a keyboard (or at least offer
iPadOS, which is widely regarded as one as an optional accessory), they’re
one of the best out there. It’s easy to really a hybrid of a laptop and tablet.
use and app developers usually make But as you’ll find out in most of our
it their first choice, so you’re pretty Windows tablet reviews, this is rarely a
much guaranteed to find what you’re case of getting the best of both worlds.
after, whether it’s a banking app or the One exception is the Surface Pro line
latest games. from Microsoft.
If you have an iPhone, then it’ll also The fourth option is Amazon’s Fire
be very familiar. This is valuable when tablets. These are based on open-
you buy accessories that require apps, source Android but are locked into
mainly smart home or fitness gadgets, Amazon’s own ecosystem, running on
as you may not be able to control these what’s called Fire OS. As such, you
from a Windows (or Fire) tablet. won’t find any Google services or apps

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BUYING GUIDE

on them natively, so bear this in mind. recommend looking at devices from

They are very affordable, though. the likes of Samsung, Lenovo, Asus and
Bear in mind that some tablet Xiaomi. Other brands include Huawei,
makers use their own custom OS, such Nokia, Realme and OnePlus.
as the ReMarkable 2.
1. BEST OVERALL
Best brand Apple iPad Air (2025)
Apple is probably the brand most Price when reviewed: From £599
people think of first when it comes to Pros: Excellent performance; premium
tablets, thanks to the dominance of the design; great battery life; portable,
iPad. If you can afford one and it ticks lightweight build; slick iPadOS software
your boxes, then great, but there are Cons: Slow charging; no Face ID; only
reliable alternatives. 60Hz LCD display; Accessories not
As mentioned, Amazon makes its included
own Fire Tablet range, but when it
comes to Android and Windows slates, Equipped with Apple’s M3 processor,
there are almost too many to choose the latest iPad Air delivers incredible
from – although we are big fans of performance in basically every scenario.
Microsoft’s own Surface devices, many Coupled with strong battery life and
of which are tablets. the premium yet lightweight design
Many of the top brands make both we’ve come to expect from the iPad Air,
Windows and Android tablets, and we’d there’s a lot to like here.
With LCD rather than
OLED and just a 60Hz
refresh rate, the display
might seem like a downside,
but in day-to-day usage, it’s
still mightily impressive.
You will have to
compromise in the charging
department, though, while
the lack of Face ID or any
included accessories is
1.
frustrating.

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 BUYING GUIDE

On the software side,

iPadOS continues to offer
the best user experience
on any tablet, with loads of
dedicated apps and prompt
updates for years to come.
If you’re looking for a
premium tablet that strikes
a balance between features
and price, the iPad Air is a
2.
great choice.

Perfect for: Those who want the performance from the Snapdragon 870
perfect mix between performance and chipset. Throw in solid battery life and
affordability within Apple’s range. decent charging speeds, and Xiaomi is
onto a winner.
Further considerations: Unless you’re a While no accessories are included
power user, most people are better off in the price, the keyboard cases (two to
with the iPad A16 (see below). choose from) and Focus Pen stylus are
all very impressive, too.
2. BEST VALUE A patchy software experience from
Xiaomi Pad 7 Xiaomi’s HyperOS Android skin remains
Price when reviewed: From £369 the big compromise, though it’s still
Pros: Premium build; excellent screen; very usable. You’ll also have to make do
solid performance; range of accessories without a fingerprint scanner, but that’s
Cons: No fingerprint scanner; mediocre easy to look beyond at this price
AI implementation Overall, the Xiaomi Pad 7 offers a
compelling, premium tablet experience
Don’t want to pay high-end prices for less than half the price of many
but still want a premium tablet? Go rivals, making it a great buy.
for the Xiaomi Pad 7 – you won’t
be disappointed. For just £369 at Perfect for: You want the most bang
launch, you can get a high-end build, for your buck and don’t mind getting
gorgeous 11-inch display and strong to grips with Xiaomi software.

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BUYING GUIDE

Further considerations: You do need the company has truly hit its stride
to factor in the accessory prices if you with its third-gen tablet that takes
want the best experience the Pad 7 has multitasking to a whole new level.
to offer. The Xiaomi Pad 8 series is now Originally available on the OnePlus
official, but it’s likely to remain exclusive Open, the company’s Open Canvas
to China for a while. software arguably feels more at home
on the Pad 3 as you can have up to
3. BEST MID-RANGE three apps open at a time (even more
OnePlus Pad 3 if one is in windowed mode). This just
Price when reviewed: From £529 makes the tablet great for those who
Pros: Big and beautiful display; brilliant are constantly on the go but want to get
performance; superb battery life; work done on a device that’s slimmer
premium design; useful multitasking and more portable than a laptop.
features What helps to keep things feeling
Cons: Only three years of OS updates; smooth is the Snapdragon 8 Elite
keyboard cover needs work; No IP water chipset, which can handle everything
or dust resistance from on-device gaming to AI processing
with ease. In our time testing the
OnePlus has gradually been improving device, there was never really a moment
its tablet offering ever since the original when it buckled under pressure.
OnePlus Pad, but now it feels as though What’s arguably even more
impressive is that,
in spite of all the
multitasking that the
OnePlus Pad 3 is able
to achieve, the battery
life never falls short
as a result. With a
12,140mAh cell under
the hood, we were
able to get through a
full working day and
still have more than 50
3.
perfect left in the tank.

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 BUYING GUIDE

Perfect for: Anyone who

loves to use a tablet
for productivity. It’s just
unbeaten when it comes to
multitasking.

Further considerations:
Android just isn’t as well
optimised for tablets as
what you’ll find on iPadOS.
4.
4. BEST VALUE iPAD
Apple iPad (2025) (especially if you bring a keyboard into
Price when reviewed: From £329 the mix).
Pros: Great performance for the basics; The new A16 chip also means that
lovely and lightweight design; good you’re getting a decent processing
battery life; double the storage of the bump over the previous entry-level
predecessor iPad, although it’s far from the lightning-
Cons: No anti-reflective display; slow fast speeds that you’ll find on M-series
charging; accessories not included; iPads. Plus, the iPad A16 is now the
doesn’t work with Apple Pencil Pro only tablet in Apple’s range that doesn’t
support Apple Intelligence.
Even though there’s plenty to be gained Still, Apple has finally done away
by spending a bit more to nab the iPad with the 64GB model, having 128GB
Air or the iPad Pro, it’s incredible to see storage set as the standard and with no
just how much value the base-level iPad price increase as a result. As a means of
A16 is able to bring to the table. getting into Apple’s tablet ecosystem
For starters, when it comes to without spending a small fortune, the
the core iPadOS experience, you’re iPad A16 just can’t be beaten.
still getting access to the same great
multitasking software iPad is known Perfect for: Anyone who wants to
for, alongside top-tier apps that make experience the joy of iPadOS but
it great not just for streaming and doesn’t need the M-series power of
gaming, but also a spot of productivity more pricier iPads.

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BUYING GUIDE

enough to justify the

higher price tag.
Like the Air, the
Pro is also available
in 11- and 13-inch
sizes. However, it’s the
move to OLED that
sets the screens apart,
delivering incredibly
vibrant colours and
deep blacks.
You also get Apple’s
M5 chip, which delivers
5.
better performance
than the vast majority
Further considerations: Things can of laptops. When combined with the
get expensive when you factor in Magic Keyboard and/or Apple Pencil
accessories, which is why Xiaomi tablets (both sold separately), it’s a brilliant
tend to be better value overall. tablet for creatives.
But is that you? If not, you’ll
5. APPLE iPAD PRO (M5) probably be just as happy with the Air
Apple iPad Pro (M5) or a MacBook if productivity is your
Price when reviewed: From £999 top priority. At this price, it’s simply not
Pros: Stunning display; superb worth it for most people.
performance; gorgeous slim and However, for the right person, the
lightweight design; fast charging iPad Pro is a stellar tablet.
Cons: Very expensive; nano-texture
coating only available on some models; Perfect for: Power-users who need the
accessories not included absolute best tablet performance and
are willing to pay for it.
If you want the absolute best tablet
money can buy, it’s probably the latest Further considerations: The M3-toting
iPad Pro. But for most people, the iPad Air has enough power for most
upgrade compared to the iPad Air isn’t people, and it’s nearly half the price.

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6. GREAT AFFORDABLE OPTION and Honor’s MagicOS skin over

Honor Pad V9 Android offers a slick, intuitive user
Price when reviewed: From £399 experience. If only we knew how long
Pros: Gorgeous display; great speakers; it’d be supported with updates, or how
premium design; solid performance promptly we might get Android 16.
Cons: Disappointing cameras; But even without that, the Honor
unconfirmed software updates Pad V9 is easy to recommend in any
country where it’s available.
The Honor Pad V9 is a rare case of a
mid-range tablet that has almost no Perfect for: Those who want a great
compromises. Unless you need strong tablet for entertainment, but with an
cameras or long-term software support, affordable price tag.
it ticks pretty much all the boxes.
We’re talking a stunning 11.5-inch Further considerations: It just can’t
display and an impressive eight-speaker match the regular iPad when it comes to
setup, which combine for a great long-term software support.
experience while watching movies and
TV. A premium yet lightweight design 7. BEST FOR TV & MOVIES
means you can take it most places with Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
you, especially with superb battery life. Price when reviewed: From £799
Elsewhere, MediaTek’s Dimensity Pros: Lovely AMOLED display;
8350 Elite delivers great performance, stunning quad-speaker sound;
excellent bundled S Pen
stylus; strong performance
Cons: Expensive; no
charger in the box

The Galaxy Tab S11 is an

underwhelming update, but
it remains one of the finest
tablets you can buy.
The audiovisual
experience is its key
6.
strength, with a gorgeous

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BUYING GUIDE

watching content on
the go but doesn’t want
to sacrifice the portable
design.

Further considerations:
The M3 iPad Air offers
better performance for
less money, while the
Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
offers an even bigger
screen.
7.
8. BEST BUDGET
11-inch display and stellar quad Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2
speakers. It’s also more comfortable Price when reviewed: From £169
to hold and use than huge tablets Pros: Sleek design; decent screen; solid
like the Tab S11 Ultra, making it ideal battery life; excellent quad speakers
for watching movies and TV while Cons: Slow charging; basic cameras;
travelling. Strong performance from software quirks
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ chipset
means it can handle almost anything, The Redmi Pad 2 is one of those
though, including demanding gaming. Android tablets that proves Apple
The included S Pen stylus adds lots of doesn’t really stand a chance when it
extra versatility. comes to the true budget end of the
Disappointing lack of upgrades aside, market. At just £169, the Pad 2 is almost
the Tab S11’s main shortcomings are its half the price of the entry-level iPad, but
relatively high price tag and lack of a it has a few features that you won’t find
charger in the box. If you’re in the market on Apple’s cheapest tablet.
for a great high-end Android tablet, For example, in spite of its
neither of these should be dealbreakers. affordability, there’s a massive 11-inch
LCD panel here that isn’t just great
Perfect for: Anyone who wants a large for watching films and TV shows, its
display for drawing, handwriting or 90Hz refresh rate also makes gaming

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 BUYING GUIDE

and scrolling through social media feel Further considerations: The overall
effortlessly smooth. software experience can be more
Even the build quality manages to refined if you’re ready to spend a little
outshine the Pad 2’s price tag, with a extra at the checkout.
sleek aluminium frame that’s not just
comfortable to hold, it’s also lightweight 9. IMPRESSIVE MID-RANGE
for carrying around in a bag, clocking in Honor MagicPad 3
at a reasonable 510g. Price when reviewed: From £599
There is a trade-off to be had with Pros: Flagship-grade power; huge
fairly slow charging speeds and no battery performance; great display, even
shortage of bloatware when you first without OLED; slick, premium design
power it up, but it’s an understandable Cons: No fingerprint scanner; Honor
compromise given all that you get bloatware; limited software updates
here for the money. As far as we’re
concerned, there isn’t a better budget The MagicPad 3 might be a mid-range
tablet right now, despite plenty of tablet, but its hardware suggests
competition from the likes of the Galaxy otherwise.
Tab A9 series. Top-tier performance, excellent
battery life and a premium design all
Perfect for: Budget-conscious buyers give the impression of a device that’s
who are determined not to spend more significantly more expensive. Dropping
than a couple of hundred. OLED for LCD on this latest model
might seem like a
downgrade, but an
upgraded resolution
and higher 165Hz
refresh rate ensure it
remains a highlight.
Charging speeds are
decent, while Honor’s
optional keyboard and
stylus accessories are
impressive in a variety
8.
of scenarios.

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BUYING GUIDE

10. BEST SMALL

Apple iPad mini
(2024)
Price when reviewed:
From £499
Pros: Excellent build
quality; compact and
light; class-leading
performance; feature-
rich
Cons: Expensive; slow
charging; 60Hz refresh
9.
rate

On the other hand, Honor’s MagicOS If you’re in the market for a small tablet,
software isn’t for everyone, with some there’s still no better option than the
bloatware and a commitment to just iPad mini 7. This latest 2024 model
two years of updates. You’ll also have to offers the familiar iPad experience we’ve
make do without any official IP rating for grown accustomed to in a device with a
water and dust resistance. compact 8.3-inch panel.
However, overall, the MagicPad 3 The LED display itself is good, but
remains a strong option that feels a lot nothing remarkable, offering a 1440p
more expensive than its sub-
£600 starting price.

Perfect for: Anyone who wants

a solid mix of performance and
a great screen at a mid-range
price.

Further considerations: The

lack of an IP rating calls into
question how durable the tablet
10.
can be in the long term.

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 BUYING GUIDE

resolution but sticking at

a 60Hz refresh rate. But
it excels elsewhere, with
superb performance from
Apple’s A17 Pro chipset,
brilliant build quality and
the best tablet software
around in iPadOS,
especially with Apple
Intelligence support now.
Unlike most Apple
devices, the iPad mini
doesn’t include Face ID, If you’re after another great budget tablet, then the
persisting with Touch ID OnePlus Pad Lite is worth a look.
built into the power button.
The bezels are also very chunky and absolute best you can buy, there are still
charging is slow, though solid battery plenty of others that almost made the
life helps soften the blow. cut.
Ultimately, the iPad mini is only If you’re someone who has their
suitable for people who want a small sights set solely on an iPad but you’re
tablet with a lot of power. If that’s you, somewhat put off by the relatively high
this is the best option on the market. prices that Apple charges, then the
one thing we always recommend is to
Perfect for: Someone who wants a check out previous-generation iPads
super portable tablet with a high-end that are still being supported but are
software experience. now available for just a fraction of their
original price.
Further considerations: The standard Entry-level iPads released after
iPad (2025) has a larger display and is 2020, for example, are able to enjoy
also cheaper if size isn’t paramount. all of the benefits that Apple’s latest
software (iPadOS 26) brings to the
OTHER TABLETS TESTED table. This includes a multi-window app
Even though the tablets featured in interface that more closely mimics the
this article are our current picks for the experience of using a MacBook, plus

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BUYING GUIDE

they boast access to some of Apple’s

best in-house apps such as Apple News,
Apple Music and more.
If you’re after another great
budget tablet, you might want to give
the OnePlus Pad Lite (a look. It just
missed the mark due to its speaker
placement and its screen being just a
tad dimmer than we would have liked
it to be, but between OxygenOS, solid
battery life and a slick 90Hz refresh
rate, it’s something of a bargain at its
£199 price tag, though it’s sadly not
available in the US.
At the more premium end of the
spectrum, the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is
priced more closely to the latest iPad
Air, but it’s a great all-in-one alternative
for the Android crowd. Its performance,
facilitated by the very efficient
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, is top-
notch for getting a bit of work done.
The experience is further bolstered by
a battery life that can run for more than
14 hours on a single charge.
And don’t forget Nubia’s Redmagic
Astra, a mid-range tablet that offers true
flagship performance. If you’re serious
about gaming on your tablet, this is
definitely worth considering.

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I’ve switched phones 50

times in five years – here
are the 11 things I do first
It’s a long process, but it’s worth it. ANYRON COPEMAN reports

A
s someone who tests phones In 2025, switching from one
for a living, my SIM card rarely Android phone to another is easier
stays in the same device for than ever before. Simply connect your
more than a month. On average, I’ve two devices and almost everything
switched to a new smartphone around will be handled for you. The only
10 times in the past year, and on more thing you really need to worry about
than 50 occasions in the past five years. is messaging apps such as WhatsApp,
That’s a lot! which require a separate backup.

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However, that doesn’t mean your However, regardless of the handset

work is done once you land on the you’re using, it’s worth reviewing these
home screen. In many ways, it’s only options before you settle into your
just begun. The process of fine-tuning phone too much.
and tweaking everything to your liking
is painstaking, but the good news is 1. SET UP WHATSAPP AND
you’ll only have to do this once. It also RESTORE BACKUP
avoids any annoying surprises further Every time I switch phones, WhatsApp is
down the line. the app I’m most worried about. It’s the
But be warned – these 11 steps take only one I use that can’t be accessed
me around an hour in total to complete. on any device with a username/email
If you’re following along, make sure you address and password, as it must be
set aside plenty of time. registered to your main phone.
They’re also specific to me, and I’ve Moving your SIM card over doesn’t
only outlined the methods on a Google change anything; it must be done
Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone. The manually. Essentially, you have to
process may vary if you’re using another back up on your old phone (usually
type of Android phone, and it is very to Google Drive), log in on your
different if you’re on an iPhone. new phone (including validation),
then load the backup that’s just
been completed. If you get any
messages during this time, it’s bad
news – they won’t be transferred.
But it’s the best you can do.
After this is complete, I always
feel a lot calmer.

2. UNINSTALL OR DISABLE
UNWANTED APPS
Bloatware is a problem that
affects all phones these days,
just in varying amounts. Even if
you’re able to stop optional apps
1.
from being downloaded during

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Ignore any warnings about it not

functioning as intended – that’s exactly
what you want.

3. EDIT DEFAULT APPS

I’ve recently switched to the Samsung
Galaxy S25 FE, and it has some…
interesting suggestions as to what the
default apps should be. Let’s just say
I’d much rather use Chrome instead of
Samsung Internet and Google Wallet
instead of Samsung Wallet. Luckily,
it’s easy to change these, or even the
whole launcher if you want to.
2.
On both Google Pixel and Samsung
Galaxy phones, head to Settings
setup, there will almost certainly be > Apps > Default apps. There are
some pre-installed ones that you don’t seven different options to adjust,
want to use. If you’re lucky, you’ll be
able to uninstall them in the usual
way, just like you would for any app
from the Play Store.
But plenty more, including
first-party apps, must be disabled.
This is what I do for the YouTube
app, which is a common source
of distraction for me.
On Google Pixel phones,
press and hold the app you want
to hide, then tap ‘App info’ and
then ‘Disable’. On Samsung
Galaxy devices, it’s a step quicker
– just press and hold and then
3.
choose ‘Disable’.

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including ‘Home app’ if you want a These can often be really interesting
different launcher. or informative (such as one from Tech
Advisor), but I don’t need to have
4. TURN OFF GOOGLE access to the feed directly from the
DISCOVER FEED NEXT TO home screen.
HOME SCREEN Just like opening a social media
You’ve probably used Google Discover app, swiping to the Discover feed
before, even if the name means became something I did on impulse,
nothing to you. without really thinking, leading to hours
It’s the scrollable list of articles you of wasted time. I’d rather be more
see by default every time you open intentional with the way I use it, so it
Chrome on your phone or the Google had to be switched off.
app. Or, perhaps most annoyingly, every On Google Pixel phones, press and
single time you swipe right from the hold any empty space on the home
home screen of your Android phone. screen and choose ‘Home settings’.
The articles that appear here are From there, make sure the ‘Swipe to
highly curated and based on your access Google app’ toggle is disabled.
browsing history or other activity. On Samsung Galaxy phones, press
and hold any empty space on the
home screen, then swipe right. Turn
off the toggle at the top of the page
that’s labelled ‘Media page’.

5. TURN OFF VIBRATIONS

Some people love the realistic haptic
feedback offered by the advanced
vibration motors on many phones.
I’m not one of them. I like to keep
my phone on silent most of the time.
On the occasions when I’m expecting
a call, the ringtone is perfectly fine.
I don’t need to ‘feel’ every button
press or tap on the keyboard. Luckily,
4.
they’re easy enough to disable.

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6. TURN OFF SYSTEM SOUNDS

Just like the vibrations, system sounds
are totally unnecessary for me. I don’t
need my phone to make a noise when
I lock it or plug the charger. And I
think everyone knows how annoying
it is when someone’s phone makes a
noise every single time they tap the
keyboard. Disabling these is simple.
On Google Pixel phones, head
to Settings > Sound and vibration,
then scroll to the bottom of the page.
Disable the toggles labelled ‘Dial
pad tones’, ‘Screen locking sound’,
5.
‘Charging sounds and vibration’ and
‘Tap and click sounds’.
On Google Pixel phones, head On Samsung Galaxy phones, head
to Settings > Sound and vibration > to Settings > Sounds and vibration >
Vibration and haptics and make sure
the toggle labelled ‘Use vibration and
haptics’ is turned off.
On Samsung Galaxy phones,
head to Settings > Sounds and
vibration. First, open ‘Call vibration’
and slide ‘Call vibration intensity’
down to the lowest possible.
Then, do the same in ‘Notification
vibration’ for ‘Notification vibration
intensity’ and ‘System vibration’ for
‘System vibration intensity’. Finally,
open ‘Vibration intensity’, move all
four sliders to the lowest possible
and disable ‘Vibration sound for
6.
incoming calls’

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System sound. Slide ‘System sound on-screen button to Settings. Enable

volume’ to the lowest possible, then the toggle next to ‘Gboard’, then tap
disable the toggles labelled ‘Touch ‘OK’ to confirm. Finally, tap ‘Default
interactions’, ‘Dialling keypad’, keyboard’ at the top of the screen and
‘Samsung Keyboard’, ‘Charging’ and select the other option – for me, that’s
‘Screen lock/unlock’. ‘English (UK)’.

7. INSTALL AND ENABLE 8. ADD FACE UNLOCK OR

GBOARD (IF NECESSARY) FINGERPRINT (IF NOT DONE
Google’s Gboard is the default keyboard DURING SETUP)
on most Android phones. I’ve tested Most phones prompt you to enrol your
plenty of alternatives over the years, but fingerprint sensor or face during the
it’s the one I keep coming back to for setup process, but not always both. I
its classic design, ease of use and range find alternating between the two to be
of customisation options. However, most convenient, with face unlock more
on Samsung phones, the Samsung convenient but fingerprint generally
Keyboard is enabled by default. It more secure (though some Android
has some useful features, including phones, including recent Pixels, have a
integration with Galaxy AI writing tools, secure 3D face unlock).
but it feels cluttered to me. To set up your fingerprint or face
To use Gboard instead, head to on a Pixel phone, head to Settings >
the Play Store and download the app. Security & Privacy > Device Unlock
Once installed, open it and follow the > and choose ‘Fingerprint’ or ‘Face’.
Whichever you choose,
you’ll be prompted to
enter your lock screen
PIN first. Follow the
on-screen instructions
to complete setup.
On a Samsung Galaxy
phone, head to Settings
> Lock screen and AOD >
Screen lock and biometrics,
7.
then enter your lock screen

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 FEATURE

But it’s the only way to guarantee you

avoid being signed out when you
really need to use an app now.
Running late and need a quick taxi?
Being logged out of Uber will slow you
down a lot. Approaching the ticket
barrier, then realise you’re logged out
of your tickets? Stress. Want to quickly
check how much money is in your bank
account? A 10-minute reviews process
becomes a nightmare.
Trust me, I’ve been there. The extra
few minutes of hassle while you’re
sitting on the sofa will undoubtedly pay
8.
off when you need to access an app
urgently. It’s just not worth the risk.
PIN. To set up face unlock, choose ‘Face
recognition’, then ‘Register face’. For a 10. CUSTOMISE
fingerprint, choose ‘Fingerprints’ and THE HOME SCREEN
then ‘Add fingerprint’. For me, the lock screen isn’t something
I spend too much time thinking about.
9. SIGN IN TO ALL
NECESSARY APPS
This is the worst step of the
lot, and it’s one I always dread.
While all your apps have been
transferred from your old
phone, almost none of them
have kept you signed in. First-
party Google ones are pretty
much the only exception.
It might seem unnecessary
to sign into every app as soon
9.
as you’ve set up a new phone.

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extensive customisation options offered

by a new launcher, of which there are
lots on the Play Store.
However, my tastes are quite basic.
Just one main home screen, with a few
widgets and my most-used apps, and
I’m very happy.

11. CHECK FOR

SOFTWARE UPDATES
The software that your phone runs out
of the box isn’t necessarily the latest
version. It might’ve been packaged up
weeks before, or you might’ve had it
10.
sitting in your home for a while.
After I’ve spent nearly an hour
I rarely spend more than a few seconds on the steps above, waiting for a
looking at it, so I’m generally happy to software update is the last thing I
stick with most of the defaults.
But the home screen? Now
that’s a different story. I have to get
everything looking just right, or I’ll
end up frustrated every single time
I open my phone. Unless you’re
moving between phones of the
same brand, your layout will never
be saved.
On Google Pixel or Samsung
Galaxy phones, long-press any empty
space on the home screen. From
there, you’ll find options to change
the wallpaper, adjust themes, add
widgets and dive into more in-depth
11.
settings. That’s before you get to the

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want to be doing, but there’s nothing

like the feeling of running the very
latest version. Assuming it’s not brand
new, this gives you the best chance of
avoiding bugs and other vulnerabilities
while being able to enjoy all of the very
latest features.
On Google Pixel phones, head to
Settings > System > Software updates.
On Samsung Galaxy phones, head to
Settings > Software update.
Your phone will probably tell you if
an update is available, as it regularly
checks automatically in the background,
but you can tap ‘System update’
(Google) or ‘Download and install’
(Samsung) to do this manually.

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Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock

Got a broken phone
screen? Here’s how
to recover your data
It’s difficult but not impossible. THOMAS JOOS reports

E
ven if the display of your phone or your normal charging cable to the
tablet with iOS/iPadOS or Android smartphone and connect it to the PC or
is damaged and operation is Mac. In many cases, this will allow you
impossible, there are various ways to to access the data on the device and
recover your data. However, there is no synchronise it with the PC or Mac.
guarantee of success. With a bit of luck, you will be
The first step to recovering the able to save the data on your iPhone
data should always be to connect and Android smartphone if you

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 FEATURE

have not already set up

synchronisation with
iCloud or Google Drive.
Unfortunately, the mobile
phone can sometimes be
seen on the PC or Mac,
but the content cannot be
accessed. The following
tips can help here.
If nothing really works,
it is best to go to a repair In Android, contacts, appointments, photos and videos can
centre. Advise them not to be easily synchronised in Google One.
delete the data or install any
firmware updates. This will give you a programmes. In Android and iOS,
chance to access your personal data. contacts, appointments, photos and
In this article, we also show you how videos can be easily synchronised with
you can operate the smartphone with cloud storage solutions such as iCloud
a computer mouse if only the touch and Google One. As Apple or Google
function is defective but you can still accounts are required to access the
recognise something on the display. smartphones anyway, you only need to
set up this synchronisation accordingly.
Extra tip: Check whether you have Everything you need to do this is
insurance for your smartphone that you available completely free of charge up
took out when you bought it. This won’t to certain data limits.
save your data, but you can at least use
the insurance to cover the repair. PREPARE FOR RECOVERY
AND TAKE INITIAL MEASURES
AVOID DATA LOSS In some cases, you will need to enter
THROUGH BACKUP AND the SIM card PIN when restarting your
SYNCHRONISATION smartphone. This depends on the
Always be prepared for the worst- settings you have made on your device.
case scenario and regularly back up To avoid this hurdle, it may make sense
your data either in the cloud, transfer to remove the SIM card. In most cases,
it to your PC or export it to other you will still have to enter the password

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FEATURE

for the device itself, but you will not best to use the software provided by
have to enter the SIM card PIN. the manufacturer for your smartphone,
In preparation, you should keep the which, in most cases, offers a backup
PIN in a safe place so that you have it to mode for the mobile phone data. In
hand in an emergency. In Android and most cases, the smartphone’s data
iOS, you can deactivate the PIN request carriers are mounted as a drive in
at start-up in the phone settings. As the Windows Explorer.
device is additionally protected by the With Samsung, for example, this
device PIN anyway, the SIM PIN can is Samsung Smart Switch (tinyurl.
normally be deactivated. com/3cnsd335). Test the new software
Many owners of Android in good time so that you know
smartphones also use memory cards how to perform data recovery in an
in their smartphone on which they emergency. Wondershare Recoverit
have stored some data such as large ([Link]/4xdhmmj2) is also
photos or videos. You can save this data frequently used. Another tool that can
relatively easily by simply removing be used to recover data from Android
the card from the mobile phone and smartphones or iPhones from a PC or
reading the data via a PC. If your PC Mac is FoneLab ([Link]/yfv8637f).
or laptop does not have a built-in card
reader, you can use an adapter or an SCENARIO 2A: LOCK SCREEN
external card reader. PRESENT, NO USB DEBUGGING
ACTIVATED – ACCESS VIA USB
SCENARIO 1: NO LOCK HUB, MOUSE AND KEYBOARD
SCREEN SET UP – LUCKY YOU One of the most difficult cases occurs
If no screen lock is set up on your when the lock screen is activated and
mobile phone, you’re in luck (although you have not activated USB debugging.
this is rarely the case). So if you don’t This prevents direct access to your
have a lock, start your smartphone as mobile phone. You can still overcome
usual, connect it to your computer and the lock if your smartphone has a USB
back up the desired data via Windows On-the-Go (OTG) interface.
Explorer or on Linux and macOS by This can be determined using
accessing your mobile phone’s memory. a search engine and ‘OTG’, for
If you do not know exactly which example ‘Samsung Galaxy S25 OTG’.
directory the data is located in, it is Test access if you cannot find any

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 FEATURE

information about your smartphone. as a monitor. All you need is a device

If you connect a mouse to the OTG that has an HDMI connection. In some
adapter, which you can also use on PCs cases, it is sufficient to simply enter the
and Macs, you can often operate your SIM PIN or unlock the device using the
Android smartphone with the mouse OTG adapter. If you then connect the
if, for example, the entire screen is not smartphone to a PC or Mac, you can
broken, but only the touch function. already access the data.
In this case, it is possible to connect
a mouse or keyboard using an OTG SCENARIO 2B: LOCK
adapter and enter the pattern or PIN SCREEN PRESENT, NO USB
code. The smartphone is then unlocked DEBUGGING ACTIVATED
and you can back up the data as in However, there is a special solution
‘Scenario 1’. Many OTG adapters even for Samsung devices in this case if
have an HDMI connection so that they support the ‘SmartThings Find’
you can also connect a screen and service and you have registered there.
possibly even see the information on Go to the service’s website (tinyurl.
the smartphone. com/4vkyymvf) and enter your email
This often also works with iPhones address and the password with which
and definitely with many Android you are registered with Samsung.
smartphones. A TV set can also be used Select the registered device with
the defective screen,
deactivate the lock
screen and then
back up your data
using Samsung
Smart Switch (tinyurl.
com/3cnsd335).
If you are using a
different smartphone,
the manufacturer
sometimes offers
its own backup and
You can overcome the lock if your smartphone has a USB On-the- restore programme,
Go (OTG) interface. which you can find

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on the manufacturer’s website. It is rm /data/system/[Link] and wait

best to search for the mobile phone for the response. If you do not receive
type and the term ‘data recovery’ in an error message due to insufficient
a search engine. authorisations, the action has been
successful. You can reboot your mobile
SCENARIO 3: LOCK phone and back up the data.
SCREEN PRESENT, USB
DEBUGGING ACTIVATED SCENARIO 4: LOCK SCREEN
The following tip does not work on PRESENT, BOOTLOADER
all devices, but is worth a try. Your ACTIVE, USB DEBUGGING
smartphone does not necessarily DEACTIVATED
have to be rooted in this scenario. The next description works for
However, it increases the chances of smartphones that have an active
success, as in our test alone. bootloader such as CWM (Clock Work
You need the Android Debugging Mod). This is the case if you have
Bridge (ADB) files for this action. You installed a custom ROM. Then boot
can find these via the Android SDK into recovery mode first. From here you
([Link]/2vbartkz). After installing can pull the required data onto your
ADB, connect your smartphone to your computer using ADB commands.
computer and call up the command To boot into recovery mode, it
prompt using the Run command is best to use the buttons on your
(Win R) and the cmd application. Use smartphone. To do this, switch it
the cd command to navigate to the off completely. Press and hold the
installation directory
of the ADB drivers and
check whether your
smartphone has been
recognised as a device.
Entering adb devices
should display a list of
all connected Android
devices.
Then enter the
command adb shell Establish a connection to the PC using a USB cable.

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three Volume Up and Power buttons SMS: /data/data/[Link].

simultaneously and wait until the telephony/databases/[Link]
recovery menu appears. That’s all you
need to do on your smartphone. Contacts: /data/data/[Link].
Establish a connection to the PC [Link]/databases/
using the USB cable. Even if you have [Link]
not activated USB debugging, the
smartphone will be recognised by your Calendar: /data/data/[Link].
computer in this state. Call up the [Link]/databases/
command prompt again using Win R, [Link]
enter the command cmd and call up the
directory with [Link]. Memo: /data/data/[Link].
Navigate with the command cd. .. [Link]/databases/[Link]
command to navigate up one level from
the current directory and into a directory WhatsApp: /data/data/[Link]/
with cd . Before you start copying, check databases/[Link]; /data/data/com.
the connection to the smartphone with whatsapp/databases/[Link]
the adb devices command. If it appears
in the list, you have access to it. RECOVERING DATA FROM A
Now drag all the data from the DEFECTIVE iPHONE – EVEN
smartphone to the PC. This may take WITHOUT AN EXISTING BACKUP
a little while, but you can then analyse Many of the procedures mentioned
it at your leisure. The adb backup here also work for iPhones. In general,
command is available for this purpose: it is highly recommended to set
.adb backup -all -f :[Link] Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud
With the first parameter ‘-all’ you backup to On in the iPhone’s options
make an almost complete backup before losing data. This ensures that
of your smartphone. Use the second your most important data is regularly
parameter to change the path in which backed up in your iCloud. You can
you save the data. Replace accordingly access the data with a browser via
with the desired path: [Link] and, of course, transfer the
data back after repairing the display or
File paths for ADB buying a new smartphone.
Data: Path Another option for restoring data

JANUARY 2026 • TECH ADVISOR 103

FEATURE

is the iMazing software ([Link]/ data. An easy-to-use wizard also helps

yyr6vf6p). It can back up even more here. On the manufacturer‘s website
data than iTunes and restore it in an ([Link]/4zsvxj8t), you will also find
emergency. SMS, iMessages and file comprehensive instructions on how to
attachments can also be backed up and restore the data.
restored. [Link] ([Link]/m3swp8mp)
You can also recover data from is another tool that can recover data
iPhones with Phone Rescue from iMobie from iPhones.
([Link]/cn4rhfxe). The software is
available for free testing so that you CONCLUSION
can first check whether the data can Backing up data without access to
be recovered at all. The tool works the display can be very difficult. You
with iTunes and can also restore data should therefore back up important
via iTunes. For Android smartphones, data continuously. The manufacturers’
iMobie also provides the DroidKit tool, synchronisation programs are
which can be tested free of charge. suitable for standard data. Everything
But data can also be restored else can be easily backed up
without iTunes. You don’t need to be using the adb command with USB
an IT professional to do this. A wizard debugging switched on.
guides you through the recovery
process. You can choose what type of
data you want to restore, for example
photos, videos, music, messages,
voicemails, call history, contacts, notes,
Safari history and bookmarks.
Another tool that can help you
recover data from an iPhone is
Fondedog ([Link]/tuvzfbrx). The
procedure is the same as for the other
programmes. You install the tool in
Windows or macOS and connect your
iPhone to the computer. The tool
attempts to establish a connection and
can then download and back up the

104 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2026

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