GoKawiil
Tech News
Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui argues that for the price of Apple's base 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max, buyers have strong Android alternatives. His picks include the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL, Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. A reader poll accompanying the piece shows the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the most popular alternative at 42% of votes.
In an Android Authority reader poll of nearly 2,300 votes, 61.5% chose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as the preferred alternative to Apple's iPhone 18 Pro, beating out the Google Pixel 11 Pro, Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), and other Android flagships by a wide margin. The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs about $100 more than the iPhone 18 Pro but includes features like a Privacy Display, an additional camera, and Samsung's Galaxy AI tools.
TCL's P80 Ultra smartphone combines the company's Nxtpaper matte-screen technology with an OLED panel for the first time, producing deeper blacks, richer colors, and an always-on display mode previously missing from Nxtpaper devices. The rest of the midrange phone, including its triple rear camera and overall performance, is described as unremarkable to sluggish.
A tech guide outlines several built-in iPhone settings and tools that can recover roughly 10GB of storage without removing photos or apps. These include clearing cached data, offloading unused apps while keeping their data, managing message attachments, and optimizing photo storage through iCloud.
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo reportedly forgoes FaceID facial recognition in favor of a TouchID fingerprint sensor built into the power button, similar to designs on Samsung foldables. The device also lacks the Camera Control button found on other current iPhones, and reportedly has less capable cameras and no true multi-window multitasking.
Apple's foldable-style iPhone Duo can be tented to use its 48-megapixel rear cameras for selfies, paired with new software features called Smart Take and Duo Preview. Smart Take automatically captures a photo when it detects everyone has paused after movement, removing the need for a timer, while Duo Preview shows subjects a live front-screen feed so they can check their pose. Both features are accessible via the Camera app's customizable controls introduced in iOS 27.
Apple's iOS includes a Voice Isolation mode, available on iPhone XR/XS and newer running iOS 16.4 or later, that uses machine learning to filter out background noise during phone calls. Users can activate it mid-call via Control Center's Phone Controls banner, selecting Voice Isolation or Automatic under the Mic Mode section. Other fixes for poor call quality include checking volume and speaker settings and moving to an area with stronger signal.
Apple's iPhone Duo introduced a redesigned outer display that places navigation and dock controls within thumb's reach while retaining a large viewing area. The design has inspired tech enthusiasts, including a Twitter user named Dylan, to mock up a non-folding 'iPhone Solo' concept using the same outer-screen layout and proportions.
The iPhone 18 Pro's 48-megapixel main camera reportedly includes a variable aperture with six physical blades, offering four settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4. Users can adjust aperture through a six-dot control in the Camera app, though it only applies to the main lens in 1x and 2x modes, while other lenses keep a fixed aperture.
Apple allows iPhone users to individually disable Apple Intelligence functions, including message and email summaries, notification summaries, and notification prioritization. These can be turned off through separate menus in Settings for Messages, Mail, and Notifications, rather than through a single master switch.
When only one AirPod produces sound, the likely cause is a charging problem. Owners are advised to clean the case's charging port and contacts, fully charge the case, then check both AirPods' battery status via the iPhone popup or Batteries widget before testing the faulty earbud alone. If cleaning and recharging don't fix it, a factory reset through iPhone Bluetooth settings is the next step, with slightly different reset button sequences for older versus newer AirPods models.
HEVCut is an indie iOS app that compresses photos and videos on-device, claiming 50-80% file size savings with minimal quality loss, aiming to free up local or iCloud storage without requiring users to delete anything. The app also offers duplicate detection, a swipe-based deletion interface, and a video trimming tool. A limited free version is available on the App Store, with HEVCut Pro costing $24.99/year or $39.99 for lifetime access, plus a $0.49 one-week trial.