Ten years ago this week, we published one of the strangest and most fascinating stories from the Windows Phone era: Microsoft’s unreleased Moonraker smartwatch. It was a moment frozen in time when Microsoft was still experimenting with bold hardware ideas, still trying to carve out a future in mobile, and still convinced it could build an ecosystem that stretched from your PC to your wrist.

(We later got a prototype in our hands on an even earlier idea, the Xbox Joule, Microsoft's canceled fitness watch for gamers).

Looking back now, Moonraker feels like a glimpse into an alternate timeline. A smartwatch with personality, color, and a UI that leaned into the Metro design language instead of running from it. It never shipped, but it showed how close Microsoft was to having a wearable strategy years before the Apple Watch reshaped the category.

A decade later, Moonraker stands as one of those “what could have been” moments that defined the Windows Phone era as ambitious, stylish, and ultimately abandoned just before the industry took off. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

The original article, "Meet the Moonraker, Microsoft's unreleased smartwatch," was published on June 12th, 2016, by Rich Edmonds.

New images have been found on the Tumblr account owned by Microsoft design employee Pei-Chi Hsie, clearly showing off a smartwatch running Microsoft's Windows OS. Codenamed the Microsoft Moonraker (model LS-50), this smartwatch looks to sport a Modern UI resembling that from Windows Phone.

Unfortunately, you're not able to purchase this device, nor are we sure if it will ever see the light of day. According to information obtained by The Verge, this smartwatch was actually cancelled by Microsoft after taking over Nokia's devices and services division.

The device was to be unveiled alongside the Lumia 930, offering support to read texts by lifting one's arm or lower the watch to turn off the display. The images were spotted by Evan Blass, who shared some details on Twitter: Behold, the Microsoft Moonraker (via http://t.co/f9wmwd8k8c) pic.twitter.com/k2cRZdS1md

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 12, 2015

As for Microsoft's own wearable that you can actually purchase today, the company is working on Band version 2, which is slated to be hitting sometime later this year.

It's currently unknown as to what Microsoft's plans are for the smartwatch. Would you have been interested in the Microsoft Moonraker? The images have since been removed from Tumblr.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It is funny looking back at this one as Windows Central fast approaches its 20th anniversary next year. I’m the person unboxing the LG Lancet in that 2015 article, yet I have almost no memory of the phone itself. It just vanished into the blur of mid‑range Windows Phone hardware that came and went. What I do remember vividly is Windows Phone 8.1 — the animations, the design, the confidence, the feeling that Microsoft was finally hitting its stride.

The Lancet may have faded from my mind, but that era didn’t. Eleven years later, it still feels like the pinnacle of Microsoft’s mobile ambitions, a moment when the platform had clarity, identity, and a future that felt possible.

Anyone have one of these? Share your experiences in our comments, as I'm curious! — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

This article was originally published on May 28th, 2015, by Daniel Rubino.

A few weeks ago Verizon and LG released the LG Lancet the first LG branded Windows Phone in many years. Although the device can easily be described as entry-level or middle of the road, in terms of quality and specifications the Lancet is a well-done phone.

Priced at just $120 off-contract (or free using the Verizon Edge update program at $5 a month), the Lancet brings some higher-quality finesse to the budget phone market. Granted, Verizon and LG are barely promoting the device (we had to go buy one for this article), but that should not dissuade you from considering it.

Watch our unboxing and hands-on to see what $120 gets you these days in the Windows Phone world.

Specifications

Sales packaging

• LG Lancet
• Lithium Ion Battery
• Pre-installed SIM Card
• Wall/USB Charger
• Quick Reference Guide
• Product Safety & Warranty Brochure
• Important Consumer Information
• RF Brochure

Initial impressions

Shooting from the hip here I am actually quite impressed with the LG Lancet. Sure, it is Verizon and LG, two companies that have not exactly won me over in the last few years. However, putting aside my biases the Lancet is kind of a remarkable device for $120. Here are my top reasons why I like this phone:

LG Lancet – Pros

• Low cost / high-value
• Excellent display
• HD Voice Calling (Verizon's Advanced Calling 1.0
• Pocket-sized, nimble and ergonomic
• Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2 out-of-the-box
• Snapdragon 410 = excellent performance
• Quality build, nice buttons, no creaks
• Double tap to wake (looking at you Lumia Icon)
• Camera in well-lit scenes

Okay, but the phone is far from perfect. So here are a few quibbles I have with the Lancet. I would not consider any of these deal breakers, but they are things to consider:

LG Lancet – Cons

• Micro instead of Nano SIM (In 2015?)
• No ambient light sensor
• On screen keys (meh)
• Camera in poorly-lit scenes

Overall, that is not a bad list of Pros vs Cons for a $120 phone. LG may have had cold feet for Windows Phone in the past, but I still have fond memories of the AT&T LG Quantum and before that the LG eXpo (a Windows Mobile device with a pico-projector and fingerprint reader…from 2009!).

In short, LG knows how to make compelling hardware. Granted, the LG Lancet is very far from exciting, especially in these Windows Phone doldrums with no high-end hardware. But that is not a fair assessment of this phone, which stand on its own merits, especially for the price.

I'll need more time with Lancet to decide if it is truly worth it, but off-the-cuff I think it makes a great entry-level device (or hold-over until something bigger and better comes along).

• Buy LG Lancet on Verizon Wireless (US only)
• LG Lancet forums at Windows Central

Microsoft's Surface phone efforts are long dead, but a patent newly discovered by Windows Central has revealed that the company has continued to explore the form factor since the Surface Duo line was scrapped in 2023. We already know that a third-generation device was going to pivot to a folding screen, and now we know more about the new hinge that would've accompanied it.

According to this new patent, Microsoft was exploring a "spring-loaded" hinge design that would have made opening the device easier with one hand. A common complaint with folding phones today is that it's difficult to pry open the two halves when closed, whether that be because of the flat edges of the device or the strength of the magnets.

It seems Microsoft was aware of this problem, and engineered a solution that included a button that when pressed, would push open the two halves of the device slightly for you, making it easier to open the device with your fingers or thumbs.

The patent details two potential implementations of this spring-loaded hinge. One design places the spring release buton on the spine of the device, whereas the other places it in the power button. My sources say that some Surface Duo 3 prototypes included a two-stage power button that when pressed all the way, initiated the spring loaded hinge. So it's clear the company was exploring multiple iterations of this design.

The patent application reads:

"One example can include a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured through a range of rotation from an open orientation to a closed orientation. This example can also include a selective isolation assembly configured to convert rotational torque associated with rotating the first and second portions toward the closed orientation to a compressive force that compresses a spring. The selective isolation assembly is configured to disconnect the first and second portions and the compressed spring as the first and second portions approach the closed orientation."

Microsoft's pivot to a folding screen design happened in 2022 after the company decided that dual-screen wasn't appealing well to the market. With the pivot, I understand that the company knew that it would need to differentiate a folding screen smartphone from the competition somehow, and the spring-loaded hinge design was one way of doing that.

I'm told the folding Surface phone was codenamed Neon, and would have been the successor to the Surface Duo 2 had it ever shipped. It was targeting a 2023 or 2024 launch window, but that never happened after the company pulled back on spending and cut the Surface portfolio down to just the bare essentials.

It's hard to tell, but I believe this patent was filed in 2024, so a year after the Surface Duo line was scrapped. This is likely a remnant from before the product line was scrapped, and isn't an indication that the company is once again exploring phones.

With that said, I am still of the belief that an Android-powered Microsoft phone makes a lot of sense, though at this point nobody should give them the chance if they did ever decide to try again. Not after Windows Phone, and not after Surface Duo.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

A security researcher recently revealed that Microsoft Edge stores and loads all saved passwords in plaintext in your PC's memory, not on disk, upon startup. Edge is the only Chromium browser that does this, according to researcher @L1v1ng0ffTh3L4N.

The revelation raised questions about the security of Edge's password management. The timing wasn’t great for Microsoft, since today is World Password Day and more people are thinking about password security.

Microsoft disagrees with the idea that passwords loading in plaintext is an issue. The company notes that accessing that information would require a PC to already be compromised. The tech giant goes as far as to suggest the behavior is a feature, not a bug:

"Safety and security are foundational to Microsoft Edge. Access to browser data as described in the reported scenario would require the device to already be compromised. Design choices in this area involve balancing performance, usability, and security, and we continue to review it against evolving threats. Browsers access password data in memory to help users sign in quickly and securely - this is an expected feature of the application. We recommend users install the latest security updates and antivirus software to help protect against security threats."

If Microsoft's approach to storing and loading passwords has you worried, or if you're just trying to improve security in honor of World Password Day, I recommend getting a dedicated password manager.

Why use a dedicated password manager

Storing passwords in a browser is easy, convenient, and free. The built‑in syncing in Edge, Chrome, and Safari works well enough for everyday, low‑risk accounts such as newsletters or forums.

But anything that touches your identity, finances, or personal data deserves more protection. A dedicated password manager adds a separate layer of security that isn’t tied to your browser, your operating system, or your primary cloud account.

Most password managers use authentication that is separate from your device or primary cloud account, which means an attacker would need to compromise both your vault and your master password to get in.

Dedicated password managers are more resistant to phishing attacks than browsers as well.

Which password manager is best?

Even among the best password managers, NordPass stands out. It's the top-ranked password manager by our colleagues at TechRadar and earned a near-perfect score in their review.

NordPass is owned by Nord Security, which is one of the largest consumer-focused cybersecurity companies. NordVPN is also part of the Nord Security group.

NordPass supports unlimited password storage, scans for data breaches, and can mask your email address.

Password generation, biometric support, and multi-factor authentication are all supported as well. NordPass has some handy features like secure sharing of passwords and granting a friend or family member emergency access.

There are Premium and Family plans available, both of which go on sale frequently. Between us, NordPass is on sale so often I recommend holding off if it's at full price. But right now, it is on sale. NordPass Premium costs $1.49 per month if you buy a two-year plan. NordPass Family costs $2.79 when you purchase a two-year plan.

There is also a free tier available if you'd like to dip your toe in or prefer to test NordPass before committing any money.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows Phone is getting a bit of a second life these days. 8Marketplace is restoring app access with custom patches. You can even get Discord to work on a Windows Phone if you're willing to risk going against Discord's terms of service.

One more app is in the works for Windows Phone, and it has me planning a trip into my loft to dig out my old Lumia. Vianigram is a Telegram client that works in spite of some limitations of Windows Phone in 2026.

Reddit user Legitimate_Post_2701 shared details about the app.

The app is still in its early stages, but its developer lists what's already working:

• Full login flow (phone, SMS, 2FA, QR, signup)
• Real chats powered by MTProto (no stubs)
• Chat list with pagination and live updates
• Typing indicators, online status and read states
• Chat screen with message bubbles (text, photos, voice, documents, polls)
• Rich text support (bold, italic, spoilers, links, mentions)
• Voice messages with waveform + scrubbing
• Background sync using system tasks (no reliable push required)
• Toast notifications and live tiles generated locally
• Smart coordination between UI and background (single MTProto socket)
• Avatars with preview + HD async loading
• LRU cache for chat pages

Push notifications don't work well on Windows Phone since the platform has been out of support for years. To get around this, the developer of Vianigram uses a combination of periodic maintenance task, VoIP-based triggers, and local cache usually used for toasts and tile updates.

I use Telegram for chats with my closest friends and family members. The official Telegram app for Windows works well, though I prefer Unigram. But if I break my Windows Phone out of storage, I'll need to rely on Vianigram. I'm excited to test it out and see what it's like to use a Windows Phone in 2026.

How to try Vianigram Telegram app for Windows Phone

Vianigram is not available through an app store. Instead, you'll have to join the Telegram channel dedicated to the app's developer. You can find that channel by searching for "PivoraApps" or "VianiumApps" within Telegram.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Recently, I covered how you can get a working version of Discord on Windows Phone, although it comes with some risk since third-party clients go against Discord’s terms of service.

That added bit of functionality, though, is just one example of how fans are keeping Windows Phone alive. Another is 8Marketplace, a community-driven project that brings back app access with custom patches and more, so let’s take a closer look at what 8Marketplace actually does.

First off, let’s cover what 8Marketplace is. It’s a community-driven replacement for the Windows Phone Store, built for devices running Windows Phone 8.0 and designed to bring app downloads back to these devices after Microsoft shut down the Windows Phone 8.1 store in 2019.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s talk about the patches. Apps like TweetIt, which was originally made for Twitter (now X), have been patched to work with Bluesky instead, while Facebook has been modified to connect to argim.net, a Latin American social networking service.

Honestly, community efforts like this never cease to amaze me. I said the same when covering Discord on Windows Phone, and I’ll admit, it’s tempting to go out and buy a Windows Phone again, if only for the nostalgia.

That said, this is still very much a passion project, not something I’d consider daily driving in its current form. It’s still in development, so bugs and limitations are to be expected.

Even with that in mind, it’s hard not to be impressed. For me, though, it also serves as a stark reminder of how Microsoft killed Windows Phone and how that decision still echoes today as the company struggles to find a real foothold in mobile.

We’re still hearing about plans like an Xbox mobile store, but so far, there’s nothing concrete to show for it.

Are you like me and still feeling a bit blue over the end of Windows Phone, but also impressed by the community efforts keeping it alive?

Whether you agree or not, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you’re like me, you’ll have fond memories of Windows Phone, followed by a bit of a gut punch when you remember what could have been. It had the potential to compete with the likes of Google and Apple, or at least carve out a solid niche, but it was ultimately left behind as Microsoft shifted focus.

I was gutted when Microsoft decided to axe it. Thankfully, fans are still out there keeping it alive in their own ways. If, like me, you use Discord daily, this is going to feel especially wild. A fan has managed to get the app working on the iconic Windows Phone 7 (via Reddit), which is as impressive as it is unexpected.

From what I can tell, there are two ways to do this. One is an app called 7evencord, which has just entered its first version in beta . The other is MetroCord, and both appear to work in different ways.

I wish I still had my Windows Phone lying around to test this out. I actually got sidetracked while writing this, browsing eBay for a pre-owned Windows Phone since my current phone is on its last legs, but I held off — for now.

It is worth mentioning that there are some risks involved, as Discord advises against using third-party clients, which both 7evencord and Metrocord technically are, so if you plan on trying any out, do so at your own risk.

Either way, it's honestly great to see Windows Phone still getting some love in 2026, even if it's coming from the remnants of its dedicated community. In fact, I even recently saw how someone else on Reddit shared TikTok running on a Windows Phone.

Do you still use a Windows Phone, or have you moved on?

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

The r/WindowsCentral subreddit continues to grow, and I'm having a great time conversing with readers and Windows fans.

One discussion thread that caught my eye recently comes from u/fisforfaheem, who has found success turning their Android phone back into a Windows Phone using a launcher I'd not yet heard of.

It's called METROV, and it was released almost exactly a year ago on April 30, 2025. It's still being updated (the most recent version 1.9.5 was pushed out less than a week ago), and it has so far racked up more than 10,000 downloads with an overall rating of 4.4/5 at Google Play.

As u/fisforfaheem states, METROV is "the closest I've felt to using a Lumia again." They explain that although they've tried top alternatives like Launcher 10 and Square Home in the past, the apps didn't make it past the "Android pretending to be a Windows Phone" feel.

That's some high praise, and u/fisforfaheem calls out tiles that feel natural, a clean and minimal UI, as well as animations and a layout that delivers "that old Metro vibe" so many of us don't want to ever let go of.

Is METROV perfect? Not according to the OP. They state that there are "a few bugs" and that "live tiles can glitch sometimes."

Regardless of bugs, METROV certainly delivers the Lumia with a Windows Phone 8.1 feel, with a minimalist, dynamic tile-based layout.

The app's Google Play page highlights deep customization options for tile sizes and colors, and it states that there are "no ads, no tracking, no clutter."

The Windows Central community chimes in on METROV

It doesn't seem like METROV is positioned to usurp the immensely popular Square Home and Launcher 10, but other subreddit members have chimed in with their own opinions of the upstart launcher.

One user points out that they've been using Square Home for 10 years. Although they've also tested METROV, they went back to Square because it supports foldables.

Another user states that they've been using METROV ever since they got a Samsung S26 Ultra.

Comment from r/windowscentral

And another user says that they're going to have to "pick up an Android phone to try it out again." I'm in the same boat, currently seeing what Apple has been up to with its iPhones after years of Android use.

On the app's Google Home page, five-star ratings call out the "great animations" and a "faithful" approach to Windows Phone 8.1.

It's not all rosy. As one post points out, METROV "obviously still needs a lot of work." It's also claimed that METROV's developer "hates criticism," though I have no proof of that.

Some users call out METROV's in-app purchases, which appear to range from about $2 up to $7. As the OP points out, they're using METROV for free and still enjoying the experience.

Windows Central's take

I've yet to test METROV myself, but I'm pushing it on my coworkers with Android phones to test it out.

In the meantime, I'm hoping more of our readers can chime in with any experience they have with METROV. Although Launcher 10 and Square Home are far more popular, it's great to see alternatives entering the market.

Are you already using METROV to recreate the Windows Phone 8.1 feel on your modern Android? If not, is it something you'd consider? Which launcher, if any, are you using instead? Let me know in the comments section below!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Original article: One of Microsoft's more ambitious initiatives over the last few years was the creation of an Xbox Mobile Store, but that project now seems to be thoroughly dead.

Although it might've been killed prior, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been intent on cutting Xbox projects that stray beyond the core of what Xbox traditionally is. She removed the "This is an Xbox" marketing push, which perhaps would've made more sense if indeed Xbox had a mobile store. She also reverted the Xbox Game Pass 50% price hike just yesterday, and now it seems another project might've been killed off too.

Microsoft announced the Xbox Mobile Store almost two years ago in the summer of July 2024. It was supposed to launch by the winter of that year ... but it never did. Now, Microsoft API watcher @RedPhx reiterated that the Xbox Mobile Store URLs don't actually work anymore, after previously following its development.

The Xbox Mobile Store, in testing, featured Candy Crush and included benefits for signing up via a Microsoft Account. It had something called the "Crusher Club," which would award users 10% more in-app currency for purchasing via Microsoft's store instead of via Google Play. It's not dissimilar to what we've seen with the Samsung Store, which often did special deals with games for in-app benefits not available via Google Play.

The thing that Microsoft seemed to curiously overlook is the fact that Google and Apple were (and still do) make it incredibly hard, if not practically impossible, to set up a competing third-party store on their operating systems. Both companies either outright block, obfuscate, or restrict attempts to put together similar services on their platforms, despite regulatory rulings forcing them to open up.

The most recent thing we heard about it was last year, when Microsoft blamed Apple and Google for effectively blocking the services on their platforms during one of Epic Games' court cases. Unsurprising, really, but why didn't Microsoft realize that before it invested $$$ into the project? I certainly did, and I'm pretty dumb.

In any case, it seems the Xbox Mobile Store "dream" is totally dead. And it's hardly a shock.

The Xbox Mobile store was doomed from the start, what happened?

Epic Games has been spending millions fighting both Google and Apple for the right to set up its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices. Despite winning those battles, people are creatures of habit, particularly on mobile. Straying outside of the walled gardens put together by Apple and Google is not typically something people do. Samsung phones come pre-installed with the Galaxy app store, and as you might expect, virtually nobody uses it.

Microsoft inexplicably thought it could just walk in and set up its own store on Android and iOS, and never explained how it hoped to get around their rules about competing storefronts after its initial web-based version. Nor did it explain how apps would be downloaded or executed despite blocks on both of those platforms.

Speaking to Bloomberg previously, outgoing Xbox president Sarah Bond said that Xbox's mobile game store would launch in July 2024. It was then delayed to winter 2024, and then it was never heard of again.

"We're gonna start by bringing our first-party portfolio [to the Xbox Mobile Store]. Things like Candy Crush and Minecraft will show up there. And then we'll extend that capability to partners." Bond explained in 2024.

She noted that it would be web-based initially, to get around the store policies of Google and Apple. Although it was never really explained how the games would run, since Google and Apple also block third-party app package downloads by default, as noted. The idea that casual gamers and kids were going to jump through all the necessary hoops to get 10% more Candy Crush in-app content never seemed to make sense to me.

Where this could've made some vague semblance of sense would've been if Microsoft actually, you know, made phones. Perhaps there was a time when this project was started up with the Surface Duo in mind. There was a time when the Surface Duo even had unique Xbox Cloud Gaming capabilities, turning half of the phone into a gamepad (awesome by the way).

I expect a lot of the work on the Xbox Mobile Store pivoted to the web-based versions of Xbox Cloud Gaming when Microsoft realized Apple and Google weren't going to allow Microsoft to host those on its platform directly either. In any case, Xbox's mobile game store aspirations are now most likely dead.

I don't think Microsoft should give up in this area, though. Candy Crush absolutely should have some kind of Xbox integration and benefits for users, perhaps with Xbox Game Pass, as part of the app itself. So should Minecraft on iPad, etc.

Of course, none of this would be an issue if Satya Nadella hadn't killed Windows Phone ... but hey ho.

We've reached out to Microsoft to see what the status is of Xbox's mobile ambitions, if indeed there are any. Although I'm sure Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has a lot of much bigger things on her radar right now.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's almost Christmas vacation, and I've pretty much mentally checked out. But there's one subject not even Dan Rubino himself can stop me writing about: Windows Phone! ANY excuse, ANY time, ANY where. And that time is right now, right here.

That's right, folks, Windows Phone COULD RETURN thanks to this Change.org petition, put together by Σπύρος Κ of Greece.

For all three of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Windows Phone was the mythical third mobile phone ecosystem, behind Android and iOS. The Windows-like interface really put the "fun" in functional, with minimalistic app tiles that surfaced relevant in-app information, while also allowing for heaps of customization.

Notoriously, Microsoft killed the platform with a tweet, saying it was no longer their priority, despite having actively curated a community of millions, atop millions of phone sales via partners like Nokia. Microsoft acquired Nokia's phone division and shut it down before even really giving it a chance, something CEO Satya Nadella would later express regret about.

This Change petition is just another in a long line of similar petitions hoping to drum up support for a Windows Phone revival based on Windows 11. It's another petition that Microsoft will sadly ignore.

"We're calling on Microsoft to revive Windows Phone, a platform ahead of its time that still has a passionate fanbase," the petition reads.

"Windows Phone offered a clean, fast, smooth and innovative experience with features like Live Tiles, deep Microsoft integration, and a bold, unique design. In a world dominated by iOS and Android, there's room—and demand—for a third ecosystem focused on simplicity, productivity, and user choice. We're not asking for a return to the past, we're asking for a reimagined Windows Phone, powered by today's technology."

All we have left of Windows Phone is nostalgia, and fun concepts like the above. Microsoft has no official plans to get back into the space, even though they arguably desperately need a phone endpoint in my view.

There was a time where it felt Microsoft was going to offer us a Windows-like phone experience based on Android, buoyed by the very dead Surface "Andromeda" phone and the abandoned Surface Duo dual-screen phone. After Surface architect Panos Panay left and former CEO Steve Ballmer stepped down, Microsoft simply hasn't had the same passion or drive to build consumer electronics this side of Xbox. And even Xbox is increasingly moving to an OEM-first model with devices like the Xbox Ally built by ASUS.

I do genuinely think there might be room for a true Windows 11 PC phone, that has some kind of Xbox-like Full Screen Experience designed for small handsets. The versatility of Windows and openness could really challenge Android and iOS in perhaps some small niche use cases, in a universe where Arm devices are getting powerful enough to run full-bore Windows, and Windows Arm emulation is improving via Prism.

STILL, it's fun to dream. As long as Satya Nadella is CEO of Microsoft, something like this is almost certainly never going to happen. The ship has sailed far too long and hard into the azure blue.

The lack of a phone platform is why I firmly believe Microsoft will never win in AI. Perhaps someone with a time machine could go back and have Satya Nadella take the Nokia acquisition more seriously given what was coming. Alas ... for now, we can only think about "what could've been."

Do you think Microsoft should give its mobile OS a second chance, or is it better left in the past? Vote in the poll and let me know where you stand!

It's been rumored for eons at this point, but Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone looks to be all but confirmed to launch sometime next year, and thanks to recent leaks, we already know the rough shape, size and feature set of the hardware. For my fellow Surface Duo brothers and sisters, it's good news.

While the iPhone Fold won't utilize the Surface Duo's excellent dual-screen form factor, it will take on a similar shape and size. The Surface Duo was famously short and wide, compared to most other smartphones (including foldables) which are narrow and tall.

This shorter and wider shape made for an incredible typing experience on Surface Duo. It also gave apps more space, and made it easy to reach the top of the screen without the device feeling small. At no point did the OS or software ever feel cramped, even with its 5.6-inch screens, and that's because of how short but wide they were.

If the rumors are true, the upcoming iPhone Fold will be 5.5-inches on the outside, and 7.8-inches on the inside. The Surface Duo had almost the same dimensions, which tells me the iPhone Fold is going to try and offer a widescreen foldable display on the inside, which is perfect.

Most foldable phones today offer the foldable screen in an almost 1:1 aspect ratio, which kind of sucks for both productivity and media consumption. Other than the Surface Duo, the only other foldable I've used that didn't do this was the original Google Pixel Fold, which had a widescreen foldable display and made using it as a tablet so good.

A widescreen aspect ratio for the foldable display is important for a number of reasons. It makes multitasking with two apps side by side much more comfortable, as the apps have more room to show content. It also makes watching videos better, as there's less letterboxing compared to the 1:1 aspect ratio of most foldables.

The Surface Duo was the best multitasking phone I've ever used, and that's because the two 5.6-inch displays were treated like a single display that let you share content across them. It makes running two apps side by side super easy and enjoyable, and I'm hoping the same is the case on the iPhone Fold.

It's not hard to assume the iPhone Fold will run some kind of iOS and iPadOS hybrid, letting you run more than one app at a time on the folding screen just like an iPad Mini. An iPhone that's capable of transforming into an iPad Mini is honestly the dream device, and I'm here for it.

Other rumored specs of the iPhone Fold include touch ID instead of Face ID, which is also another similarity to the Surface Duo. Apple is expected to put a fingerprint reader into the power button, just like on the Surface Duo 2. This makes authenticating into the device when both opened or closed easy.

It's also expected to have the largest battery ever fitted to an iPhone, and a creaseless display, which would be a first for the foldable category. While the Surface Duo didn't have a crease, it did have a gap between the displays. Of course, Apple's folding phone is rumored to cost a lot of money, somewhere north of $2,000.

Ever since Microsoft killed the Surface Duo, I've been on the hunt for a device that matches that aesthetic and form factor as closely as possible. So far, the only other device that even came close was the original Google Pixel Fold, featuring a similar shorter and wider aspect ratio that made multitasking easy.

The upcoming iPhone Fold looks to be the closest to the Surface Duo yet. It will be almost the exact same shape and size, with the only difference being the internal screen is one foldable display instead of two glass panels. While I would prefer two displays like on the Duo, I can settle for one foldable display if the software does enough to make using both halves of it easy.

So, it's not an exact replica, but it's close enough. Its rumored shape and size alone makes me incredibly excited. What are your thoughts on Apple's rumored folding iPhone? Let us know in the comments.

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Digital dementia is a newer term being used by clinicians, and while it is not an official medical diagnosis, it is becoming more widely discussed. The idea originated in South Korea, where clinicians noticed more young people showing signs of memory and attention decline linked to heavy phone and social media use.

It refers to a pattern where constant screen exposure disrupts cognitive functions that normally develop through real-world interaction. These early reports describe problems such as forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, and an overall reduction in attention span.

Younger people appear most at risk because their brains are still developing. Short-form content, rapid scrolling, and constant notifications encourage shallow focus. Over time, this can train the brain to favour quick bursts of attention instead of sustained thinking, which may explain why some clinicians are raising concerns about the impact of prolonged digital habits.

What recent research reveals about digital dementia

Research links heavy digital use to reduced attention and memory, which shows up across youth datasets that track mental and cognitive health. These studies consistently report weaker sustained attention and poorer working memory in people who spend long periods scrolling.

The Chaarani et al. study supports these concerns. It found that children who used digital content for several hours per day scored higher on attention problems and ADHD related symptoms, even though those scores were not in the clinical range.

A newer review paper adds broader context by analysing 35 studies on screen habits, short-form content, doomscrolling, and emotional exhaustion. It found that these behaviours were repeatedly associated with cognitive overload in younger groups.

Essentially, the brain is being taught to seek novelty rather than focus. Constant exposure to fast-cut content can weaken deeper concentration and train the brain to operate at high stimulation levels, which makes everyday tasks feel dull by comparison.

Younger people, especially those under 18, show stronger links between heavy digital use and attention issues. Their developing brains are more vulnerable to constant interruption and cognitive overload.

Digital dementia is not an official diagnosis, but it is becoming a point of debate as memory and focus problems appear more frequently in youth datasets.

How video games may improve cognitive function

While phones, short-form content, and doomscrolling are a concern, studies show that not all screen time behaves the same. Unlike scrolling, gaming is active and intentional, and it often requires focus, decision-making, and fast thinking.

A study conducted by Martinez et al. found that weekly gaming predicted better working memory, planning, and mental flexibility. These effects remained even after adjusting for age and educational background, which suggests the improvements were not explained by those factors alone.

Another study conducted by Li et al. used brain imaging to observe how the brain responds to gameplay. It showed that one hour of action-based gaming improved reaction time and accuracy, demonstrating a clear cognitive boost from interactive play.

Going back to the study by Chaarani et al., it found that children who played games for at least three hours per day showed improvements in impulse control and working memory tasks. Their brain scans also showed stronger activation in attention and memory networks, suggesting that gaming may stimulate these systems even during lengthy play sessions.

Can social media harm and video game benefits be compared

Social media and gaming rely on different cognitive processes. Social media encourages short attention bursts and passive consumption, while gaming depends on sustained engagement, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Social media reward cycles are also shallow. Scrolling produces small, unpredictable spikes in dopamine, a chemical that plays a key role in the brain’s reward system. This pattern encourages quick checking habits and fragmented attention.

Gaming works differently. Rewards usually come from effort, progression, and practising your skills, and this tends to reinforce persistence and deeper engagement.

Research often shows opposite effects because passive digital habits drain attention, while active habits can strengthen it. Passive behaviours, like long scrolling sessions, are linked to attention decline and emotional exhaustion, which fits with what many studies report. In contrast, active habits such as gaming are associated with improvements in attention, memory, and cognitive control. These findings appear consistently across the Martinez, Li, and Chaarani studies, each highlighting how gameplay can stimulate the brain.

There is still overlap and nuance to consider. Excessive gaming can cause problems when it affects sleep or day-to-day responsibilities, and that is well-documented. Light social media use can also offer genuine social benefits, especially for staying connected with friends or communities. In the end, the impact depends on the purpose of the activity, the level of engagement, and how long someone spends doing it.

How to make sense of the competing evidence

In the case of all this, it is worth remembering that the screen itself might not be the problem. It is how a person chooses to interact with it that usually determines the outcome. Passive scrolling is essentially junk food for the brain, while gaming, in many cases, is closer to eating a balanced meal.

We also live in a world where brain rot was Oxford’s word of the year in 2024, which shows these issues are not happening under the radar. People are already aware of them, even if the science behind the term is still evolving.

That said, the narrative is more nuanced than simply good or bad. Digital dementia highlights real risks linked to passive overload, and the research around gaming is still mixed in places. Unlike passive scrolling, though, gaming has multiple studies showing that it can support healthy cognition, which adds another layer to an already complex discussion.

FAQ

"The decision I think a lot of people talk about — and one of the most difficult decisions I made when I became CEO — was our exit of what I'll call the mobile phone as defined then," indicated Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "In retrospect, I think there could have been ways we could have made it work by perhaps reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones."

The quote above discusses Satya Nadella's strategic mistake after becoming CEO, which potentially sealed Windows Phone's huge potential and fate in the Microsoft graveyard. But perhaps more interestingly, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer indicated that the company "paranoia and confidence" in Windows fumbled its opportunity in the smartphone landscape.

"We were too confident. I don’t think we stuck with Windows too long," Ballmer added. "I think what we did is we tried to put Windows in places that it didn’t naturally go".

And while the Windows Phone ship has seemingly completely sailed for Microsoft, a visionary designer recently shared a stunning concept inspired by Microsoft's Windows Phone dubbed Windows Astria.

Bringing Fluent Design to Mobile: My Reimagining of Windows Phone UI and Live Tiles (Windows Astra Concept) from r/windowsphone

Right off the bat, Windows Astria is heavily inspired by Microsoft's modern Windows 11 Fluent Design language. It also brings back Windows Aero from the Windows Vista days back to life, much like how Apple borrowed a page from Microsoft's book with Liquid Glass. The Mica effect is consistent across the operating system, including tiles, settings, and notifications.

Live Tiles made Windows Phone's user experience more appealing, and as you'd have guessed, the feature has also made a comeback in the concept, which as described by the concept designer "is scaled for modern screens, fully dynamic, information-dense, and beautifully integrated with the new visual style."

One of the main reasons that led to Windows Phone's death was a weak app ecosystem. Its unique architecture made it difficult for developers to build apps, but The Windows Phone Revival concept addresses this issue. Windows Astria runs Android apps natively using a technology similar to the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). As such, the Windows user experience is consistent across all apps.

Perhaps more interestingly, the concept design, Windows Astria, isn't restricted to standard smartphones alone. It also works seamlessly on devices with a bigger screen real estate, potentially making it futureproof in a world that's rapidly embracing foldable phones. The designer demonstrates this via the Luna Fold (which is heavily inspired by Microsoft's Surface phone but with a modern twist).

FAQ

Minecraft is already one of the biggest and most successful video games ever released, and the main game is available on practically every device — including your smartphone.

One of the other true behemoths of the mobile gaming space is Candy Crush, and both of these brands are now a part of the Xbox family. Today, the teams behind these games announced a brand-new joint project to bring them together.

Minecraft Blast is official, but this may be the first you're hearing about it. Mojang Studios and King are keeping things quiet for now as they develop the newest mobile Xbox game, so here's what you need to know.

It's no Minecraft Earth, but I see why this is being made

At first glance, Minecraft Blast may not seem terribly exciting. This isn't Genshin Impact or some other wildly ambitious mobile game that will inevitably expand to other platforms; it'll be a match puzzle game, similar to the dozens (if not hundreds) of other match puzzle games that have been releasing on Android and iOS platforms for years.

Few people actively talk about these games, but match puzzle games continue to be some of the most-played and most-downloaded games on any platform. Millions of people who have never thought of themselves as "gamers" love these games as casual, addictive time killers, and Minecraft is a powerful and accessible brand that — in theory — is the perfect fit for a quality match puzzle game.

This isn't the first time Minecraft has gone beyond its open-world, survival sandbox roots; Mojang actually has a complicated history with attempts to spin off Minecraft into different gaming genres. A prime example is Minecraft Earth, the studio's first attempt to explore a pure, mobile-first Minecraft experience.

Minecraft Earth relied on Augmented Reality in an effort to capitalize on the explosive success of Pokémon Go, but ultimately failed and was shut down less than two years after its launch. Years later, Mojang is ready to take another crack at a mobile Minecraft game, this time assisted by one of the most successful mobile game developers of all time.

King is the studio and publisher behind the Candy Crush Saga, and it's the third part of the Activision family that officially joined Xbox in 2023. We don't talk much about King at Windows Central, because it's not a loud brand — Candy Crush is the champion of ultra-casual mobile gaming, and it quietly rakes in absurd amounts of cash. Now, King is Mojang Studio's sibling, so why not tag-team a new mobile game?

The product of that partnership isn't widely available yet and likely won't be anytime soon. Minecraft Blast is apparently in the early development stage, with this announcement flying under the radar because the finished product will likely look quite different than the early screenshots you can see above.

If you're asking why Mojang and King bothered announcing at all, it's because Minecraft Blast is kicking off highly limited, early playtests with select players within specific markets. Right now, that's only people living in Malaysia, on the iOS platform, who are okay with English as the game's language.

In time, we'll hopefully see more of Minecraft Blast as its playtests expand to more players, platforms, and regions ahead of its eventual release. You can check out the official Minecraft Blast page at Minecraft.net.

FAQ

Batteries are all around us, in almost all of the tech that billions of people use every day. Our phones, laptops, handhelds, wireless accessories, and more — all reliant on the battery inside.

Most of those rechargeable batteries are lithium-ion, and have been for a long time. That's starting to change with the arrival of new silicon-carbon batteries (especially in high-end smartphones), which promise a range of benefits.

So, what are silicon-carbon batteries, and why should you care about them? I'll try to answer all the questions you have (and a few you didn't know to ask) in this guide, including how they work and when you might see this technology in your next laptop.

What are the benefits of silicon-carbon batteries?

Silicon-carbon batteries are an upgrade over traditional lithium-ion cells overall, but the benefits are largely centered around one thing: greater cell density. Basically, silicon-carbon has a much higher capacity in the same volume (around 20-30% more), allowing for bigger batteries that aren't actually bigger.

Where 5,000mAh batteries used to be considered "large," we're now regularly seeing normal-sized smartphones with battery capacities exceeding 6 or even 7,000mAh. Let's break it down even further, though. Here are four benefits of silicon-carbon batteries over lithium-ion batteries.

• Better battery life. More battery capacity obviously plays a huge role in delivering greater battery life, and that's exactly what we're seeing with smartphones rocking silicon-carbon batteries. True two-day phones aren't as uncommon with silicon carbon.
• Slimmer devices. Greater battery density also means being able to make thinner, lighter smartphones that don't compromise on battery life. This is especially important for foldable smartphones, which benefit from being as slim as possible.
• Faster charging. Silicon-carbon batteries also boast greater thermal conductivity and stability, which allows for faster charging rates. Manufacturers split lithium-ion batteries into multiple cells to accomplish this, but silicon-carbon batteries can push boundaries even further.
• Improved performance. That improved thermal stability can also translate to greater sustained performance and less overheating when you're truly pushing your phone to the limit, like playing demanding games or taking lots of photos on a hot summer day.

Any phone can benefit from a silicon-carbon battery, but the upgrades are most notable with foldable smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 we reviewed. Foldables are designed to be the ultimate powerhouses for the most demanding users, but often have to compromise on battery life and charging performance because they pack so much into a slim frame.

The aforementioned Z Fold7 has a meager 4,400mAh lithium-ion battery, while the Chinese-bound Oppo Find N5 has a massive 5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery. That's around 27% more battery while being relative in overall size, weight, and thickness.

What products use silicon-carbon batteries?

You might be wondering if you should be looking for silicon-carbon batteries among the best Windows laptops, but the technology hasn't really made the leap beyond smartphones yet.

In the future, we could see tablets, laptops, and gaming handhelds with larger batteries and enhanced longevity, but silicon-carbon batteries are still in the early adoption stage, even among smartphones. So far, mostly Chinese smartphone brands like Oppo and Xiaomi have used it.

Easily the best example of a smartphone truly taking advantage of silicon-carbon technology (that many of us will actually be able to buy) is the OnePlus 15. This flagship smartphone boasts an insane 7,300mAh battery split between two 3,650mAh cells, with up to 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is bigger, heavier, and more expensive, and only has a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. That's a big difference. You can read more about the OnePlus 15 at AndroidCentral.com, our sister site.

Unfortunately, none of the biggest smartphone brands in the United States (that being Apple, Samsung, and Google) are likely to adopt silicon batteries any time soon. Apple is famously conservative about embracing new technologies, Samsung avoids taking battery- and charging-related risks thanks to the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, and Google's Pixel devices have never been on the cutting edge hardware-wise.

Hopefully, though, I'll be proven wrong and we'll see a rapid increase in silicon-carbon batteries in the next few years.

As we look ahead to Windows Central’s 20th anniversary in 2027, we’re taking time to revisit the stories that shaped our community. From Microsoft and Xbox to Windows and PC, these throwbacks remind us how far we’ve come together.

Features like slow-motion video might seem commonplace or even trivial these days, but the excitement for 720p120 footage back then was very real. Of course, it wasn't perfect, and the 30 FPS output files had room for improvement, but it was an appreciated moment of feature parity for Windows 10 Mobile.

The article below was first published by Marc Guim on Friday, Nov 6, 2015 — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor

To enable slow motion capture, go into video mode and tap the turtle icon. Tap the video icon or click the camera button to start recording. That's it! The video is captured at 720p (1280 x 720) at 120 frames per second. When played back, it's four times slower than normal speed.

You can edit the slow motion video from the camera as well. During the preview, tap the Edit slow motion option. You'll be able to trim and change the speed on parts of the clip. While this is a great feature to have, we found that the video quality of our saved edited clips is noticeably worse than the original files.

Another interesting thing we noticed is that even though the clips are shot at 120 fps, the files imported into our computer are 30 fps. This is great for most users because the clips are already slowed down, ready for sharing. Advanced editors would prefer to have the 120 fps files that give them more control when editing the videos.

Sample slow motion video

Overall, we're happy with the new feature. Sure, we would like to have slow motion on 1080p clips instead of 720p, but the current Lumias are probably not capable of that. We wouldn't be surprised if that's featured in the upcoming Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

Have you tried slow motion video on your Lumia 1520, 930, or Icon? Share your experiences so far in the comments!

I have good news for Android users who love generating AI images; OpenAI's Sora tool is now available to download for free from the Google Play Store. It's available for users from the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The announcement from the Sora X account was accompanied by a Sora-generated video of an alien speaking with a newscaster, stating that the Sora app is now available on Android.

Sora has had its fair share of controversy since it originally launched in 2024, but it was the September 2025 update that brought the AI tool into the spotlight for many people.

OpenAI introduced the world to Sora 2 on September 30, and with it came a new Sora social app, similar to TikTok, for sharing created content. Unfortunately, the Sora app was only available on iOS until today.

Considering Android makes up roughly 70% of the world's phone market, that's a lot of users who didn't get the full experience through the app. Some might refer to Sora's creations as "AI slop," but one look at Sora 2's images proves that the slop part is quickly disappearing.

Sora 2 can create unbelievably accurate videos, and it can carry out detailed prompts and instructions. The OpenAI team, at launch, likened Sora 2 to the "GPT 3.5 moment for videos," hearkening back to ChatGPT's monumental March 2022 update.

The Sora app is designed around social elements, creating an algorithmic bubble of AI-generated content that you can endlessly scroll to your heart's desire. It allows for clips up to 10 seconds long, but there's no option to upload your own videos or photos; it's all AI.

Should you want yourself or your friends to be featured in your AI videos, Sora is happy to oblige. What were once called "deepfakes" are now called "cameos" in the Sora world. You just have to confirm your identity in the app and choose whether or not your likeness can be used by your friends.

Access to Sora 2 via the web or the Sora app was, until recently, available only with an invite. That changed a few days ago, when ChatGPT opened the gates to users in the US, Canada, South Korea, and Japan. Users from the listed countries will have limited-time access, but it's a great way to jump in and see for yourself what Sora 2 can do.

What makes OpenAI's Sora image generator so controversial?

OpenAI launched Sora at the beginning of 2024, which CEO Sam Altman explained during an interview with Bill Gates was one of the top requests from ChatGPT's user base.

Sora's capabilities, despite not being nearly as good as Sora 2, were enough to send shockwaves through the creative industry. Although OpenAI was quiet about sharing the content it used to train Sora, reports began emerging about the use of game content, including that from Minecraft, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and more.

It was also revealed this week that Japanese IP holders represented by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) have demanded that OpenAI stop using their content to train its AI.

Members include the legendary Studio Ghibli — the animation studio that created Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle — as well as video game publishers Bandai Namco and Square Enix.

I suspect that the legal battles between content creators and AI firms using that content to train their models are only beginning, especially as image generators like Sora continue to improve in quality.

It's already fairly easy to create a short AI clip that is indistinguishable from actual human-created content, and it's not hard to imagine those abilities growing into full-length features that anyone can tap.

Elsewhere in the AI world, Microsoft just launched its first custom AI image creator on Bing. MAI-Image-1 is what it's called, and it's available through the Bing Image Creator and Copilot Audio Expressions.

MAI-Image-1 isn't yet available in the EU, but it is expected to launch there soon.

FAQ

As we look ahead to Windows Central’s 20th anniversary in 2027, we’re taking time to revisit the stories that shaped our community. From Microsoft and Xbox to Windows and PC, these throwbacks remind us how far we’ve come together.

Back then, Surface's success raised expectations for Windows phones to match in design and innovation, and our own Jason Ward had no qualms in speaking his mind during "Warditorials." So, did you skip the Lumia 950/XL?

The article below was first published by Jason Ward on Saturday, Oct 31, 2015 — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor

A few months ago my wife and I watched a movie about a time-traveling law enforcer who was chasing an elusive time-hopping bomber through time. At the conclusion of the film, our time-traveling hero finally came face-to-face with his nemesis.

In a mind-bending paradox, he found that his enemy was actually his future self. As his twisted future self arrogantly pontificated about how he had become what he was, the "present" self adamantly rejected the notion and declared he'd never become what he saw before him. He then shot and killed his future self.

He became the instrument of his own demise.

In good company

On October 6th, 2015 Microsoft introduced an impressive repertoire of high-end first-party hardware. HoloLens brought us augmented reality and wearable holograms. Band 2 debuted with an improved design and curved display. The Surface Pro 4 is the thinner, lighter yet more powerful tablet that can replace your laptop. The Surface Book, Microsoft's "ultimate laptop", also doubles as a detachable digital clipboard.

It was among this high-end repertoire of Windows 10 hardware that Microsoft launched the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, its most powerful Lumias yet.

"A" game

Though these Lumias had their start under Stephen Elop's regime, the esteemed Nokia design has benefited in part from the "Panay touch" that brought us the Surface. The Lumias 950/XL borrow liquid cooling from the Surface. This innovation is a first for any mobile phone.

The phones also sport iris scanning, a technology not yet found on the industry leading iPhone or Samsung Galaxy devices. Both Lumias, through Continuum and Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform, can also become your "PC" with a wireless (or wired) connection to a larger screen, mouse, and keyboard.

The aforementioned combination of features found only on the Lumias 950/XL are accompanied by a powerful pack of the usual specs. From a high-resolution screen, generous RAM, leading imaging technology, expandable storage, a USB type C port and more, these devices rival anything the competition has brought to the table. This isn't just fan talk. Microsoft ensured that these specs are comparable to or surpass those found in even the month old iPhone 6S Plus. Which Apple won't likely update until Q3 2016.

The best yet

As with any company, the next iteration of Redmond's devices is certainly on the roadmap. That's just good business. Rest assured when Apple launched the iPhone 6S/Plus this year, Cupertino was also prepping the iPhone 7 for a Fall 2016 debut.

Apple fans knew this. Millions of the Cupertino faithful eagerly purchased "the best iPhone's yet" when they launched this September. Moreover, some of these fans had been waiting only a year for this upgrade, having been among the record-breaking millions who purchased the iPhone 6/Plus in their debut weekend last year.

As I shared in "The Lumia's 950/XL are Microsoft's colorful iMacs", Windows Phone fans have been waiting for 1-3 years for a new high-end smartphone that matches or surpasses what the competition offers.

With the Lumia 950/XL, Microsoft has delivered on that. And for those not blown away with the devices' aesthetics, the phone's removable back covers provide users the option to utilize an assortment of attractive 3rd party covers.

Putting off for tomorrow

Ironically, many fans have decided to pass on the best Lumia's yet in lieu of what they are certain will be better devices next year. This certainty of a better device "next year" is nothing new of course. In tech, one thing is certain.

This reality is inescapable and leaves many users who always want the latest and greatest chasing the wind. "Next year" will always be better.

Inaction speaks

Actions speak louder than words. The opposite is also true. A lack of action can speak volumes. The wrong message can be derived from what is done or not done.

The Lumias 950 and 950 XL are for the fans.

So what message might an industry of consumers, journalists, investors, rivals and others derive from a fan base that may be unresponsive to the debut of Microsoft's first-party Windows 10 Mobile phones? "Meh." And that's not good. It's actually pretty bad. Let's look at Microsoft's mobile efforts through the lens of the industry.

Most industry pundits and consumers see Microsoft's 2.7% representation in the mobile arena as a floundering, barely visible effort that consumers and developers have rejected, and many journalists and bloggers have written off. Apple's and Android's 97% domination of the market has already declared Windows Phone's demise in the minds of many.

Despite the doom and gloom, however, one hope remained.

Windows 10's debut on PC was well-received. With 120 million installs in 3 months, increased store engagement and revenue for developer's part of the Universal Windows Platform is off to a great start.

Impressive sales of the Surface Book and positive reception of the Surface Pro 4 are the layings of a solid foundation for Windows 10 first-party (and OEM) hardware. The Band 2 has also been a well-received first-party hardware from Redmond.

It's within this context that the phone, the most critical component of Microsoft's mobile efforts and the other part of the Universal Windows Platform strategy, exists. And it's this most critical component that has, ironically, received the most criticism.

The Lumias 950/XL are debut devices positioned to showcase the debut Windows 10 Mobile OS. For a company with little consumer, developer, industry and media support of its mobile efforts, the fan base's rejection of Microsoft's best first-party phones to date, at such a critical time, will likely send a clear message to the industry.

The masses will likely interpret Windows Phone fans' ambivalence toward these devices as a rejection of Microsoft's floundering mobile platform.

Consider. The industry can clearly see that the 950 and 950 XL boast high-end and competitive hardware with unique features and functionality. Considering that many fans have endured using 1-3yr old hardware to date, updated competitive hardware that takes advantage of unique capabilities of the new OS would seem desirable from the perspective of an observer.

If fans shrug these devices off at the critical debut of the new mobile OS, objective onlookers such as consumers, journalists, investors, rivals and the like, may perceive that as a rejection of the OS and an endorsement to finally write the platform off.

Victims of their own success

So why are many fans giving the new Lumias the cold shoulder? Among the reasons submitted, the prevailing reason seems to be that the devices aren't what some fans expected from the company that brought us the Surface. They want the rumored "Surface Phone". The Intel-powered, Continuum-enabled, "PC in your pocket" that they are confident Panos Panay and team will bring.

Ok. I feel you. Me too.

Herein lies the problem. The Surface line has not only inspired OEMs. Its sleek design and intricate hardware and software synergy has also inspired Windows Phone fans.

These Windows 10 devices that transcend a fixed form, powered by Continuum and are receptive to multiple input modalities like touch, pen, voice, keyboard, and mouse have seared an image of Windows Phone's future potential in our minds.

Do you see what I see?

A Microsoft first-party Windows 10 Continuum-powered "phone" purposed as the PC in our pockets, in our estimation, should boast Surface-like looks and power. Ok, so that's not the Lumia 950 family. So let's say Panos and team had their run of Windows Phone over the past year. Would we have the "Surface Phone" instead of the Lumia 950 family this Fall? Probably not.

You see the Surface isn't only awesome because of its awesome hardware. The way that awesome hardware works with the relatively mature and great software is what makes it awesome. Note that maturity is specific to the tablet/laptop form factor and use case scenarios that are less app dependent than a phone.

The click of the N-trig pen to initiate OneNote (and now Cortana) works seamlessly with how we use the device(s) in tablet (clipboard) mode. The easy click into the type cover preps us for productivity in laptop mode. Now Windows 10 on PC is mature enough to make various input modalities and the way we use a Surface is truly amazing.

Windows 10 on phone isn't there yet.

Again, if Panay had full run of the Windows Phone project last year, there would likely have been a disconnect in the progress of the hardware in relation to the progress of the software. We've seen Windows 10 Mobile. It's getting there.

What we want

If we envision how we anticipate using a "Surface Phone," multiple input modalities come to mind. Touch, voice, keyboard and mouse we have on an immature yet to be released Continuum-powered Windows 10 Mobile. What we don't yet have is pen. I believe pen input has an even greater place on a phablet than on a Surface for everyday scenarios.

As the primary computing device that is always with us, I imagine the pen will have a front row seat on a Windows 10 Mobile phone. I envision the application of pen support beyond apps like OneNote or art apps. I see an OS with interactive live tiles that are responsive to pen interaction in varied ways. Combined with Continuum, a "Surface Phone" will be a digital notepad as well as the "phone" that will replace your tablet and become your PC.

At any rate, my point is this, Windows 10 Mobile is not quite ready for a Surface-like experience on phone. Even if Panos Panay were in Elop's "seat" last year, that likely would not have changed things.

The Butterfly Effect

I laid out the following timeline in my previous piece.

If the Lumia 950/XL sell well, that will create an impressive surge in Lumia sales for Q4 2015. This surge will likely lead to higher Store engagements and developer revenues for the quarter. This data will provide powerful talking points for the Universal Windows Platform to encourage developer support for the likely activation of the app Bridges around Q2 2016. By Q3/Q4 2016 Panay's "Surface Phone" may surface and benefit from initial ported iOS and Android apps courtesy of the Bridges. By Q1 2017 OEM partners may begin building high-end Windows "phones" inspired by what Panay delivers in Q4 2016.

What's the catalyst for this Windows 10 Mobile ecosystem boost? Successful sales of Microsoft's debut first-party smartphones, the Lumia's 950 and 950 XL (ideally with broader distribution), during the debut of the new mobile OS upon which much hope has been built.

Additionally, Alphabet's (Google) Android's assimilation of Chrome spells trouble. A 2016 introduction and 2017 debut of a unified Android/Chrome OS (the world's most popular mobile OS) will likely draw developer's attention ever further from Windows.

Sadly, in waiting for the Windows "phone" we envision and feel we deserve, we, like the protagonist in the movie I opened with, may end up "shooting" ourselves.

I could be wrong. Time and how these devices sell will tell.

As we look ahead to Windows Central’s 20th anniversary in 2027, we’re taking time to revisit the stories that shaped our community. From Microsoft and Xbox to Windows and PC, these throwbacks remind us how far we’ve come together.

Collectively, we all miss the days of Windows Phone, and it's fun to see how eagerly we awaited Windows 10 Mobile.

The article below was first published by Daniel Rubino on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2015. — Ben Wilson, Senior Editor

AdDuplex has given us an early look at their October stat report revealing changes within the Windows Phone ecosystem. Of course, due to the stalling of Windows Phone device releases in preparation for Windows 10, none of this should be too surprising.

Here are some of the highlights from the report.

Windows 10 Mobile is now on 5.7 percent of all Windows Phones up from 4.7 percent last month. The one percent increase reflects the growing stability and finality of the forthcoming update

In the U.S., the HTC One (#8) more popular than Lumia 1520, which is now out of the top 10 – This stat is rather surprising as the HTC One garners little attention from carriers

In the U.S. the Lumia 635 still the most popular Windows Phone model

AdDuplex also did a new analysis by price range for Windows Phone. The breakdown is by low-end, mid-range and high-end and shows the U.S. with the highest amount of high-end phones while India has the lowest reflecting their economies. Globally, the mix replicates the few available high-end Windows Phone that are available with mostly low and mid-range devices making up the majority.

EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain) - Lumia 640 is now the fifth most popular Windows Phone in Europe displacing the Lumia 520.

India – The Lumia 540 (7 percent) and Lumia 640 XL (4.4 percent) both climbed one place for some modest gains. The Lumia 535 remains the most popular with 22.6 percent followed by the Lumia 520 at 14.6 percent.

Australia – The Lumia 930 is still popular with 8.8 percent share or second place while the Lumia 530 is at 9.7 percent despite a 5.6 percent drop. Meanwhile, the Lumia 640 and Lumia 532 are picking up share lost by the Lumia 520

To see the numbers yourself you can view the relevant slides in our gallery above for the areas discussed here.

In conclusion, not much has changed worldwide for Windows Phone as the ecosystem is essentially on hold until Microsoft releases Windows 10 Mobile. Indeed, we do not expect much change until 2016 as the Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, and Lumia 550 begin to hit markets worldwide. Even then, it is unclear just how much share those new devices will garner. Also in 2016, we should also see Acer's Jade Primo hit the shelves offering a high-end non-Lumia phone for the first time in a long time.

Win a Lumia 950 XL

Bonus! - AdDuplex is giving away one Lumia 950 XL to a lucky winner in their monetization survey. The survey takes no more than 10 minutes and you just need your email to enter. To get your chance head to http://adplx.co/AppSurvey and maybe you'll win (plus AdDuplex will be thankful for your help).

This giveaway ended 20 years ago, and is only included here as part of our archive.

About AdDuplex

The numbers from AdDuplex are collected through their in-app advertising that is prevalent in over 5,000 apps in the Windows Phone Store. That data serve as an important metric within the Windows Phone ecosystem. The full AdDuplex report for October will be posted tomorrow, October 29 on blog.adduplex.com.

As we look ahead to Windows Central’s 20th anniversary in 2027, we’re taking time to revisit the stories that shaped our community. From Microsoft and Xbox to Windows and PC, these throwbacks remind us how far we’ve come together.

Interestingly, Microsoft did try to reinvent the phone with Surface Duo (2020) and Surface Duo 2 (2021), both of which pushed the boundaries and concepts of what a mobile device could be. However, both ran Android and were eventually terminated due to poor sales.

We also have more information about a "true" Surface phone circa 2014 that was in development, and we're trying to get approvals to publish that, so stay tuned.

The article below was first published on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. – Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

Yesterday I wrote an analysis of Microsoft's seemingly great last quarter contrasted with a rather devastating quarter for Windows Phone. Of course, no one was surprised, and we all know the reasons. None of that was news, but it did quantify it, which was interesting. Instead, in that piece I wanted to lay out the landscape for Microsoft in mobile, what they had to do and discuss what their intentions were for the category.

After ruminating a bit on the topic, I figured I would try to answer my question: What's next? To be clear, I am speaking here purely in speculatory terms, but I do think it is grounded in precedent. Also, there are some obvious directions that Microsoft is likely to go in when you look at recent decisions.

Out with the old smartphone

A few weeks ago, I noted how Microsoft, and specifically Panos Panay, seemed less enthused about the new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. I almost forgot to mention the Lumia 550, but then again, so didn't Microsoft at that October devices event.

The main argument I was making was that these Lumias do not entirely represent what Microsoft is doing these days. It should be clear that the Lumia 950 (Cityman) and Lumia 950 XL (Talkman) are carryovers from Nokia days. Even their codenames refer to the very first Nokia phones, in an a purposefully ironic choice.

Many pointed out to me that Microsoft picked up the Nokia mobile division. Therefore, those are their phones now. True, except that their development was still under Stephen Elop and his cadre including Jo Harlow. Both of those people were let go by Microsoft in late June. Terry Myerson took over for awhile before Panos Panay – famous for the Surface line – took over the engineering aspect for all hardware, including Windows Phone in late July.

That shakeup is a rather big one especially when you consider the old Lumia strategy, which clearly wasn't working. Meanwhile, Panay and his team are clearly knocking it out of the park with the Surface series. Now that Panay leads engineering for Windows Phone, Surface, Microsoft Band, and even Xbox there is a lot that can happen. Moreover, since this engineering team now works with the one Windows team under Myerson, there is a great deal more synergy with a single focus.

I suppose Microsoft could just kill off phones. However, that would make Nadella look bad. Not because killing mobile would be unpopular – quite the contrary, investors would applaud – but because Nadella had a chance when Elop and team were let go in June. Killing off mobile now would look bad because Nadella already did a re-org, and it makes his decision making look shortsighted. Why give the phone division to a new guy only to cancel it?

Plus, I still have not heard an argument about how the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) for Windows 10 has any meaning once you remove mobile from the equation. The whole thing just goes away.

Instead, I believe Microsoft has specific plans for mobile, which is why they gave it to Panay. However, I don't think they are just going to do a me-too flagship smartphone either.

The future of smartphone devices

Windows Phone, as we know it, is dead. It lost to Apple's iPhone and Android back in 2014 (some would say back in 2012, although for while things were looking up). In 2015, Windows Phone has been tenaciously hanging on as Windows 10 comes to fruition, but it is clear the old model is not working.

I said earlier that the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL "do not entirely represent what Microsoft is doing these days." I used the word entirely because undoubtedly Continuum is a Microsoft vision of the future along with all of Windows 10 as an OS. In that sense, these new Lumias do represent Microsoft as they will showcase all that Windows 10 can offer. I don't think Microsoft was lying when they said that.

Nonetheless, when you look at the history of what Microsoft has recently done in hardware, they don't completely fit either. Let me give some examples.

For a few years, Apple's iPad was dominating portable computing. People called for Microsoft to do something similar. What did we all want? An iPad hardware with Windows. They responded with the Surface. That was not what people were expecting, and it's something entirely different. Even in 2015, the Surface Pro 4 is no iPad Pro.

For years, MacBook Airs and Pros were crushing premium laptops. People called for Microsoft to make their own. Microsoft responded with the Surface Book. Once gain, they went beyond what was expected and created something entirely different.

For years, people were asking Microsoft to make (another) smartwatch. Android had theirs. Apple released the Watch. Fitbit is already crushing it. Now we have the Band 2, which in my opinion, is the best of everything. Again, it is their own niche.

You see where I am going with this. Microsoft is not about creating hardware for the sake of creating another thing. They only create hardware after consideration of where the market is going to be, not where it is now.

Microsoft canceled the Surface Mini because it was just a small Surface. It reportedly brought nothing new to the table. It wasn't going to disrupt the market; it was another me-too device.

Now we are asking for a Microsoft phone. We get the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL? It just doesn't fit. Those are nice phones; they are just not radical departures that challenge convention. Microsoft is now about challenging convention. Remember, out of the blue they announced holographic computing in the biggest "Whaaaaaa?!" moment in my career.

Apple used to be like this too. All they did was release another smartphone in 2007. We already had those, so what was different? Well, the whole philosophy behind it. No physical keys, large display, and complete control over the OS. Many of us, including myself, laughed it off. Many didn't even call it a smartphone since it had no app SDK ergo it was not a platform (remember, web apps?).

It's a legitimate question unless you believe the current app-phone model is going to go on forever. Are smartphones doomed to "Welp, we made the OS more complex and threw new hardware at it" system, or are they going to evolve? Where to we go from here?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even knows smartphones are about what is coming next, not what is here now. In an interview with Mary Jo Foley, Nadella said this about their smartphone strategy:

We already know smartphones are having an effect on computing. Tablet sales are in a slump as smartphones with large displays take over. Even Apple cannot escape that cannibalizing effect with their Plus phones and iPads. PC sales are also down and no, it's not because of Windows, but rather people have tablets, phones, TVs, and wearables competing for their processing time.

Remember when you used to check email on a desktop PC, not on your smartphone?

I bring this all up because if I had to guess, this is the question Microsoft is trying to answer. They know they can't win with the current system. Apple and Android are too dominant. So what you do is jump ahead and create a device for where people are going, not where they are. The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL is where we are today in mobile tech. It's not different. Why else do we compare it to the iPhone or latest Android devices and go "oh yeah, not bad I guess".

For many a "Surface phone" would just be a metal phone with high-end specs and a Surface label. I always laugh at that since what Surface represents – transformation – is not that. That's just another smartphone with a brand name. Big deal.

Microsoft tried to kickoff modern PC development with the Surface. That was the whole point. What would such a program look like for phone if they wanted to re-invent that category?

Ditch platform specific programming, make universal hardware

Window Phone has always had one Achilles heel preventing mass adoption. Apps. This problem is even more pronounced in 2015 as we transition to Windows 10 and yet another software platform. The problem is not just Microsoft's. BlackBerry has this issue too and sorry to say, even Android. I still see commercials for new hit games and services that are iOS first with Android coming later.

It is not a trivial problem, but rather one that represents where computing is today. As a developer, you have to choose your target platform wisely. It is likely not an easy decision, especially now that Windows 10 is on 110 million PCs already. At some point, developers may find it tough to ignore an app on Windows 10, especially once the Xbox store opens later in 2016.

When you look at Windows 10 and its Universal Windows Platform, you get an idea of what Microsoft wants, which is agnostic software for hardware. Doesn't matter what device you are running you just install the thing you want, end of story.

There is only one problem. There are other operating systems out there that you need to compete with like iOS and Android and even old Win32 apps and games. So what you do is create tools to let devs just port over their creations. These are, of course, the Bridge Technologies Astoria, Islandwood, Centennial, Westminster that should streamline this process for Android, iOS, Wind32 and web apps, respectively.

Microsoft wants to get rid of software development not only targeting hardware but the OS itself. Apps and services are blending and if the future is to go forward something needs to give in this tug of war. This reasoning is what Nadella calls a "path dependent strategy":

The next piece of the puzzle is what does a phone look like in this system?

Microsoft is clearly playing around multi-OS booting systems as reflective of their patents. They got the Android runtime to run within Windows 10 Mobile. They have a patent on 3D Touch navigation. They also bought Ntrig, which helped with that new G5 processor for pen input in the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. They have this idea of Continuum for PC and mobile, which is the software side of what Surface hardware is about. They also have this thing called HoloLens on the horizon and other crazy innovations.

I do not think we have seen what Microsoft has planned for mobile, not entirely.

Certainly the idea behind Continuum, which is turning your phone into a PC, is a big part of their future. Indeed, I see pocket computing and the concept of running a software-agnostic platform as the goal. This yet to come world is going to be about screens and what is in your pocket.

I think whatever Microsoft does in mobile will attempt to be what Surface was to modern computing in solving the 'Tablet or PC?' problem.

Microsoft has been reportedly working on a 'metal phone' that runs Intel hardware, which is something even I have heard from sources. The one thing I know is this is an internal Microsoft-Intel project and had nothing to do with Nokia. What that all means is going to be the fun part, but I don't think it's going to be just another phone with specs. There will be something unique about it and hopefully something that was not anticipated.

If you were the Surface team, what would a truly transformative mobile phone be that you designed? Rattling off specs alone misses the point, folks. I am talking about ideas here, not numbers or whatever the latest Qualcomm chipset that is available.

As I said at the beginning, this is based on my speculation but also recent Microsoft decisions and even product announcements. To suggest their vision for mobile phones is just another smartphone I think would be shortsighted.

We know Microsoft can not only dream big but deliver too. Between Windows 10, HoloLens, the Surface Pro, and the new Surface Book we know Microsoft can create new hardware categories. That was just for 2015. Let's see what happens when they apply those ideas to mobile.

If you haven’t noticed, our 2025-era Android phones are extremely powerful compared to full desktop PCs from 24 years ago. That means, in theory, you should be able to run something that at least looks like Windows XP without a hitch.

Now, a developer has done just that and released it free to the world, and it’s ridiculously good.

Following a major update a few days ago, Reddit user /u/gjovanovski (Gorjan Jovanovski) shared the Windows Android launcher APK (along with a Virus Total Check), letting anyone download and sideload the launcher to their Android phone.

By default, the launcher replicated the Windows XP desktop, complete with a functioning Start menu and even dialog screens for Settings and a working version of Internet Explorer. But the launcher can do much more than that, including looking like Windows 95, 98, ME, and 200, each with its own “welcome screen, music, startup/shutdown sounds, and start menu banner.”

But why stop there?

Jovanovski has also coded in other features, like:

• Working home screen, with desktop icons that can be renamed and changed (included are a bunch of icons from the era)
• Working Start Menu as an app launcher
• Gestures (swipe down, up, and right for notifications, Start menu/search, and favorite app, respectively)
• Included wallpapers from the era, 3D pipes screen saver, and customization options
• Calendar & Weather Integration
• Windows Update (just checks my server for a new APK version and lets you download it)

As if that wasn’t enough, the developer even coded “retro apps, all coded from scratch to be as close as possible to the original but work on modern phones,” including:

• Internet Explorer 6 - works as a browser (hold the homepage button to set the current page as the homepage)
• Winamp - plays local files
• Notepad - for storing notes, but included tabs as well
• Phone Dialer - working phone with basic features and speed dial
• Registry Editor - to check locally stored settings, modify, export/sync to your Google Drive to later restore easily
• 2 games: Minesweeper & Solitaire

Perhaps the biggest surprise in running this launcher was just how complete it all feels. There are just tons of little moments that delight.

How well does it run?

I’ve been using the Windows Android Launcher for the last few hours on my recently reviewed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I was even surprised by how well it handles that form factor, with really no issues jumping between folded and unfolded. Obviously, being unfolded, I get a “fuller” desktop experience, so in some ways this is even more ideal than your standard non-folding Android phone.

Obviously, you need to sideload the free 72MB launcher, which is a security risk for some, and you may need to disable some firewalls on your phone to do that (like Auto-blocker on Samsung). You also need to give it some permissions manually, e.g., location for weather, etc., to get the full experience, so this isn’t quite as polished as a Google Play Store app (due to copyright issues, such a launcher can’t go into the Play store, hence the forum release).

But here’s the bottom line: Overall, I’m blown away by how many little things are coded into this launcher to recreate the Windows XP experience. Whether it’s changing the wallpaper, enabling the 3D Pipes screensaver (which actually works), bringing up the retro phone dialer (which works), and the way the dev has made it all functional on our modern phones is extremely impressive.

User beware: Is it worth the risk?

One concern is that this project is not on GitHub (so, we can’t view the code), and with updates from the author’s server, even if the app is safe today, a future update could change all of that, putting your phone at risk.

As noted in comments, the developer, Gorjan Jovanovski, has his own Wikipedia page and is a “Macedonian eco-activist, entrepreneur and software engineer, working on raising awareness about air pollution through technology.”

That means he’s not some anon, and this is very likely just a passion project, but if you are concerned about privacy and security, your best bet is probably to not install this or wait to see if it goes open-source/GitHub so more scrutiny can be offered to the code.

Will I stick with it once the novelty wears off? Maybe. I’m a pretty big fan of Samsung’s OneUI (especially paired with GoodLock), but I may keep fiddling with this Windows XP style for a while.

Either way, if you love Windows XP and are looking for some fun on your Android phone, you should definitely install this launcher over lunch today and relish how good it is.

Grab the APK and read more about the app on Reddit, and let me know in the comments what you think of it once you try it!

In 2019, Microsoft and Samsung announced a special partnership that would see many Microsoft apps and services be preloaded onto millions of Galaxy handsets worldwide. That partnership has continued to this day, with the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Flip 7 handsets continuing to ship with Microsoft apps like Outlook, Office, Phone Link, and OneDrive pre-installed.

The partnership also resulted in OneDrive being deeply integrated into Samsung's ecosystem, becoming the default cloud backup solution for photos taken and stored using Samsung's included Gallery app. Samsung dropped its own cloud-backup solution in favor of Microsoft's, and that's what has powered photo backups on all Galaxy phones since.

Now, Android Authority reports that it looks like Samsung is gearing up to drop support for OneDrive, 6 years after it was first introduced. Strings spotted in the OneUI 8.5 version of the app appear to confirm that Samsung is preparing to sever ties with OneDrive, with strings such as "Sync with OneDrive ending soon" being present.

Instead of OneDrive, it looks like Samsung wants to start using its own cloud backup solution. Samsung Cloud has existed for many years, and now it wants Samsung Cloud to handle your photos too. OneDrive integration will be ripped out of the Gallery app, though you'll still be able to backup photos to OneDrive using the dedicated OneDrive app if you want.

Most users have moved away from using OneDrive as a photo backup solution these days. OneDrive used to be great for this, but competing services like Google Photos and iCloud have improved a lot in recent years, to the point where most users just choose to use whatever comes as default on their phone.

OneDrive still exists for those who want it, and it's a great cloud backup solution for files and documents. It's also good for photos if you use it as a secondary backup service in addition to the one that comes on your phone. That's how I use it, and it works well.

What are your thoughts on Samsung dropping OneDrive as its photo cloud backup solution? Will this impact you? Let us know in the comments.

Chargers may not be terribly exciting, but they are incredibly important for keeping you connected to the digital world. A new development in recent years has made the best charging accessories more compact, efficient, powerful, and versatile, too.

That would be Gallium Nitride (or "GaN") technology, a completely new approach compared to standard silicon chargers that is becoming more widespread over time — but what is GaN, and is it really that big of a deal?

Yes, and I'll explain exactly why.

What is Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology?

Standard chargers — the kinds we've all been using for years to charge our phones, laptops, and accessories — are based on silicon, the same semiconductor material that's used in almost every tech you've ever used, including the processors that power our phones and computers.

We've been getting the job done with standard silicon chargers for a long time, but gallium nitride is a newer kind of semiconductor that, while generally more expensive, provides a ton of benefits for keeping our tech juiced up.

Gallium nitride has actually been used since the 1990s in a variety of electronics, such as light-emitting diodes, transistors, and amplifiers. It's not as commonly used as silicon, though, which has been the king of semiconductors because it's cheaper, easier to manufacture and handle, and better suited to low-voltage applications — but companies have been investing heavily in gallium nitride over the last few years because of its unique strengths over silicon.

Thanks to advancements in research and massively improved manufacturing techniques, gallium nitride could replace silicon as the go-to semiconductor in a variety of applications. For us regular people, though, charging is where GaN tech is most exciting.

How do GaN chargers work, and why should I care?

Fundamentally, GaN chargers do the same thing as traditional silicon chargers: convert the Alternating Current (AC) from your outlet into a Direct Current (DC) that the batteries in your devices can accept.

However, gallium nitride is a more powerful and efficient semiconductor than silicon, so it can handle higher voltages, and less energy is lost as heat during the conversion process.

Because of the advantages of gallium nitride, GaN chargers benefit from:

• Being much smaller and lighter. Gallium nitride runs much cooler than silicon because of its superior efficiency, so fewer additional components (like heatsinks) are required to build a safe, reliable, and capable charger.
• Supporting much higher output. GaN chargers can also handle higher voltages than silicon, resulting in much faster charging speeds and more total power in the same space.
• Handling multi-device charging. Combining that efficiency and power means that GaN chargers can handle multiple devices simultaneously, smartly dividing power between ports without risking overheating or undercharging.

The only real downside of gallium nitride is that it is more expensive to work with, and therefore GaN chargers tend to be more expensive, but the gap isn't as wide as you'd expect — and it's closing.

GaN chargers requiring fewer components than silicon alternatives save companies money, more costs are saved as GaN chargers become more popular and manufacturing scales up, and modern manufacturing techniques are more precise and efficient nowadays anyway.

What are some of the best GaN chargers right now?

Some laptop manufacturers are beginning to move to GaN chargers, such as with the HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) I went hands-on with, which is awesome, but one of the greatest advantages of GaN is with charging multiple devices.

There's a growing ecosystem of GaN chargers and charging accessories, but that doesn't mean they're all created equal. Personally, I have the most experience with companies like Baseus and Anker.

I still have the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger I reviewed on my desk, which boasts 140W of combined power spread across three ports and a retractable USB Type-C cable, and there's even a built-in 15W Qi2 wireless charging stand.

You can pick that Baseus charger up for $149.99 at Amazon.com, and I highly recommend it. You can also explore the Baseus store at Amazon.com for some other GaN products.

For more options across a wide range of price points, you can check out the Anker store at Amazon.com. Anker is one of the most trusted brands for chargers and charging accessories, so you can't really go wrong here.

When it comes to smartphones, there have been companies that play it safe (Apple) and then take some big leaps like LG, Nokia, and, on occasion, Samsung.

I’ve had the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a week now and, for the most part, this is the foldable phone people have envisioned. Sure, the S Pen is gone (more on that below), but when folded, this finally feels like a normal phone — it just happens to be able to unfold into an 8-inch display.

Of course, anyone following this site knows its origins were smartphones, specifically Windows Mobile/Phone. That story crashed and burned, but Microsoft tried a second time with its Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 phones. Because they were market bombs, Microsoft never made it to a third iteration, which is a shame, as Surface Duo 2 was a considerable improvement over the first.

But Samsung proves the point that patience is a virtue. Seven versions and six years later, Samsung figured out the winning recipe. Had Microsoft stuck with Surface Duo (even if shifted to a foldable design), it too could have achieved this, like how Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 11 were game changers for that form factor.

This review was made possible thanks to a loaner review sample provided by Samsung. Samsung had no input or saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Build quality and features

The Fold 7 is now the fourth Fold I’ve had, although I returned the Z Fold 4 due to it being a brick, so I’m quite familiar with its evolution.

To say the Fold 7is a big leap even from Fold 6 would be an understatement, as it’s a bit unreal how thin it is compared to last year’s model. Everyone I show it to widens their eyes and usually utters a ‘wow,’ which even I did despite knowing everything about it ahead of time.

At 8.9mm folded and 4.2mm unfolded, it comes as a standard 6.5-inch modern smartphone. New this year is the slightly wider cover display with a more typical 21:9 aspect (versus 22.1:9 on the Fold 6). That means typing on it now is also more normal than earlier versions, and it lets you use the Fold 7 folded most of the time.

But when you want that bigger experience, you can open to a gorgeous 8-inch (up from 7.6-inch) QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED (2184x1968) 120Hz refresh display that lets you peep your photos or read more comfortably.

Also new this year is that 200MP shooter instead of the older 50MP sensor. That was always a trade-off with these super-expensive foldable phones: Worse cameras. But that seems mostly solved now. While it's behind the Galaxy S25 Ultra in terms of lens options, the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto get the job done for most people. As someone who’s been loving the S25 Ultra, this finally makes it easy to transition since they have, as far as I can tell, the same primary camera.

I also say the new “blue shadow” colorway is excellent.

As far as the display crease, it’s still technically there, but it is much less pronounced compared to Fold 6 when you drag your finger across.

Can I also mention how much I prefer OneUI these days? OneUI 8 is just a minor update to OneUI 7, but Samsung’s software and in-box apps are some of my favorites. The weather, fitness, Now Brief, optimize app, and even Samsung News are all my default choices because I like them so much (Samsung Wallet has yet to convince me, though). Add Samsung’s Good Lock app for next-level customization, and I’m very satisfied.

Overall, Samsung always nails hardware, and what you see in the commercials is what you get. They’ve figured out this form factor, give or take a few niggles (I’ll share those below).

The S Pen controversy

What about the missing S Pen? It's only by removing its digitizer for the S Pen that Samsung was able to reduce the thickness, hence why Pixel 9 Pro, OnePlus Open Find N2 Flip, etc., were always thinner than the Samsung Fold series.

Indeed, none of Samsung’s current competitors in the foldable space utilize a pen.

Do I care it’s no longer here? Not in the least. I’m one of those in love with the idea of the S Pen (which really is excellent), but who barely used it on previous Folds and Ultra phones (and Surface Duo 2). And Samsung knows that this was true for most Fold users, too (it didn’t help that you had to buy the S Pen separately or use a bulky case to carry it around).

But Samsung made a bet: More people would appreciate the thinness than would be mad at the missing S Pen. I think they’re right.

That said, I do hope the S Pen (without the need for a digitizer) does return as it's niche, but it has a dedicated audience.

Other gripes

One small thing that bugs me is that you must clumsily pry open the Fold 7, which was the issue I had with the Fold 4 (and was seemingly fixed with Fold 5 and Fold 6). Samsung could benefit from a little notch or something to grip. Putting a case on helps, but some may rightly reject such an option as it “ruins” the experience for them.

There is also the case of the missing under-display camera, which was undoubtedly a nifty trick to give you a seamless tablet-like experience, but frankly, it was also terrible. With the Fold 7, Samsung has gone back to a simple hole-punch camera, and as my colleagues at Tom’s Guide noted, it’s much better for it. I think this is more of a win than a gripe, though personally I’d be OK with Samsung just removing that camera entirely.

Everyone is also up in arms that Samsung is using a standard 4,400mAh lithium-ion battery instead of the new-fangled silicon-carbon type found in Chinese brands, which can pack more juice into a smaller space. Considering Samsung’s past with “exploding” phones, I can see why it would be hesitant to adopt new battery technology, which is not always perfect (silicon-carbon batteries are also supposed to age quicker and hold less charge over time faster than lithium-ion, and there are also potential issues with mass production and scalability).

There is also the slower charger at just 25 watts (and 15 for wireless), which does feel old in 2025.

And finally, price. People used to laugh at Microsoft’s $1,399 Surface Duo even though it was $400 cheaper than Samsung's Fold. Indeed, the thought was that Samsung would lower the price over time. Yet, at least in the U.S., Samsung has raised the price two times, making it now $1,999. That’s a tough pill for most people to swallow!

How is the battery?

Battery life on Fold 7, so far, for me has been on par with Fold 6, which is not trivial. The phone is substantially thinner yet shares the same-sized battery. Battery drain might be higher, though, due to the new larger displays, but the (ahem) “Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Mobile Platform for Galaxy” is efficient enough to negate this.

Moreover, despite lacking a vapor chamber this year, the Fold 7 reportedly runs cooler than the Fold 6 (that same video shows Fold 7 slightly beating Fold 6 in battery matchup).

All in all, the Fold 7 is an all-day phone for me, with around 20 to 30% by the time I plug it in at night. It’s not amazing, but it has been good enough. My S25 Ultra, by comparison, often finishes the day between 40 and 50 %.

Samsung Z Fold 7 vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra

I’ve been mostly using the S25 Ultra since it came out, putting aside the Fold 6 despite how much I liked it. Reasons include the S25 Ultra’s gorgeous anti-reflective screen, which is literally like a middle child between the Fold’s cover and inner displays in terms of size, but just better quality.

The S25 Ultra, in short, is the best phone for most people. In fact, I can confidently say the S25 Ultra is the best phone I’ve ever used. Camera, battery life, display, S Pen, and its (what I consider) perfect design are stellar. I don’t want to see them ever change the layout, just upgrade the hardware, but unfortunately, that’s not how tech works, where change for the sake of change drives these yearly updates (no thanks to Apple for starting this trend, by the way).

Being able to find the S25 Ultra on sale now for $1,099 means that $900 savings over the Fold 7 can go a long way. Of course, if you really want that pocket-tablet experience with almost all the S25 Ultra’s features, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is simply awesome, so it’s really about what you prefer and what you can afford.

(For what it’s worth, Samsung.com offers great trade-ins, like Apple. Once you’re “in” on Samsung’s phones, trading in yearly significantly reduces the price. For example, my Fold 6 gets $1,000 off for the Fold 7. Many of the Windows Central staff now use Samsung for this reason and because they work best with Windows 11’s Phone Link, thanks to exclusive features.)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Yay or nay?

As an early “hater” of the Fold series, I applaud Samsung’s commitment to making this form factor work. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure, but it took big risks to get to this seventh version and a strong commitment. By comparison, Microsoft famously tapped out on Surface Duo after version 2 despite making substantial progress. Imagine what Surface Duo 4 would have been like had it kept at it.

So, my TL;DR is that the Samsung Fold 7 is a remarkable accomplishment and the first folding phone everyone should consider if they want that form factor. Too bad about the price, but aside from that, I’ll be using it for a long time.

The mobile gaming landscape has evolved by leaps and bounds the last few years, and mobile controllers are just one part of it.

Cloud gaming, full ports of native PC and console games, emulation — gaming on your phone or tablet has never been better. The brand-new Razer Kishi V3 Pro is for those who want to get the most out of that experience, and it's truly the ultimate mobile gaming controller.

I've been using this accessory with the Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 3) I reviewed for a few weeks now, and it's clear Razer is serious about competing in this space. When it comes to ergonomics, performance, and features, the Kishi V3 Pro is one of the best you can buy.

It helps that there's a more affordable non-Pro version with many of the same benefits, and a new XL version for those who want to game on their full-sized iPad or Android tablet.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Razer. Razer had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Kishi V3 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A premium mobile gaming controller for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
• Who is it for? Those who want the absolute best mobile gaming experience with a full-sized controller.
• How much does it cost? The Razer Kishi V3 Pro is available for $149.99 at Razer. The Kishi V3 Pro XL for large tablets is $199.99 at Razer.
• What did I like? The excellent full-sized, ergonomic design, the reliable and responsive controls, the awesome Razer Nexus app.
• What did I not like? The large size, the regular Kishi V3 offering so much of the same experience for less.

Kishi V3 Pro review: Pricing and specifications

I'm reviewing the Razer Kishi V3 Pro, but there are actually three separate mobile controllers in this family.

The entry-level Kishi V3 retains the same design and controls, but loses features like the Sensa HD haptics, extra bumper buttons, and swappable thumbsticks. The Razer Kishi V3 retails for $99.99 at Razer, and is compatible with the same devices as the Kishi V3 Pro.

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro retails for $149.99 at Razer, and is the best option for those who want the ultimate mobile gaming experience with their smartphone or small tablet.

Finally, there's the Kishi V3 Pro XL, which is identical to the non-XL variant feature-wise, but is upscaled to support 10 to 13-inch iPad and Android tablets. The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL retails for $199.99 at Razer.

In the box, you'll find the Razer Kishi V3 Pro mobile gaming controller, two sets of rubber bumpers for adjusting the controller to your device size, and two swappable thumbsticks (one tall concave and one short convex).

For those with iPhones and iPads, the Kishi V3 Pro also comes with 3 months of Apple Arcade, while the Kishi V3 Pro XL comes with 6 months. That particular perk doesn't apply to me, but you might find it valuable.

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Kishi V3 Pro review: What I like

In our Razer Kishi Ultra review, our own Jez Corden described it as an "opulent mobile gaming controller with a premium price tag." The Kishi V3 line is built on that same foundation, but Razer smartly expanded into budget and niche categories.

On the surface, the Kishi V3 Pro is nearly identical to the Kishi Ultra, and that means effectively splitting the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro we reviewed (and hailed as one of the best Xbox controllers ever) in two and giving you space to slot your phone or tablet.

Of course, that same design applies to all Kishi V3 controllers — full-sized grips, thumbsticks, and triggers that provide a true console-like experience wherever you happen to be gaming. In terms of ergonomics, the Kishi V3 Pro is leagues ahead of the average mobile controller.

That mentality extends to performance, as well; in fact, the Kishi V3 line is even more advanced than the premium Wolverine V3 Pro in some ways. On top of the mecha-tactile buttons (Razer's unique blend of mechanical and tactile switches) and remappable rear buttons using Razer's class-leading mouse switches, you also get Hall Effect triggers and cutting-edge Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks.

What does that mean? Best-in-class precision, responsiveness, and reliability. The Kishi V3 line's Hall Effect triggers are fully customizable, and the TMR thumbsticks are essentially immune to dread stick drift.

The original Razer Kishi V2 we reviewed had its merits, but ultimately felt confined to a box: a controller designed for phones. By comparison, the Kishi V3 Pro and its siblings offers a genuinely brilliant gaming experience, to the point that being able to plug it into a PC and use it like a normal controller makes complete sense.

The Kishi V3 Pro is incredibly comfortable to hold, and the tactility and consistency of each button is excellent. The addition of four additional, remappable buttons (or two for the regular Kishi V3) only adds to the experience. I genuinely believe there's no other mobile controller that can fully compare.

If you're wondering what the extra $50 nets you when upgrading from the regular Razer Kishi V3 to the Kishi V3 Pro, it basically comes down to: two extra buttons (the "claw grip" bumper buttons) and the surprisingly good Razer Sensa HD haptics (which can even automatically convert audio to haptics).

The secret killer feature of the Razer Kishi V3 Pro and its siblings, though, has nothing to do with hardware. Yeah, the Razer Nexus app has really come a long way.

Razer Nexus is a free iOS/iPadOS and Android app that anyone can install to streamline their mobile gaming experience, and that ostensibly plays nice with any mobile controller, but unsurprisingly only reaches its full potential when paired with a Razer Kishi.

In some ways, Razer Nexus is still a basic app, but it's filled with features that make mobile controllers like the Kishi V3 Pro even better. It's a launcher to quickly access all your favorite games and services, sure, but it also lets you enable the audio-to-haptics feature for everything you want to play, remap your controls, and more.

More includes features like the Virtual Controller Mode and PC Remote Play. The former lets you map any physical Kishi control to the touch-only controls of any game — and it's by far the best implementation I've seen of such a feature, making games that don't normally play nice with mobile controllers (like Call of Duty Mobile and Pokémon Unite) feel completely natural with the Kishi V3 Pro.

The latter is a more recent addition, and lets you use the power of your gaming PC to stream any game to your mobile device. Razer's version of this feature can optimize your PC games for your device's screen, though, and it's shockingly good with the Kishi controllers.

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro is excellent, and the (completely free, subscription-less) Nexus app makes it even better.

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Kishi V3 Pro review: What I don't like

I'll avoid any misunderstandings and state first and foremost: I firmly believe the Razer Kishi V3 Pro (and its siblings) is the best mobile gaming controller you can buy right now. Of course... that doesn't mean it's perfect.

Most obviously, the Kishi V3 Pro's greatest strength is also a compromise. All the ergonomics and features of a full-sized controller also makes the Kishi V3 Pro undeniably large — and that makes it a poor choice for those who want a mobile controller they can truly carry with them everywhere.

The Kishi V3 Pro also isn't a complete upgrade over the Kishi Ultra; for some reason, Razer removed the RGB lighting strips. Most people won't care, but I can't review this controller without mentioning that.

If you want an actual criticism, the Kishi V3 Pro is prone to the same issue as the Kishi Ultra, in that it occasionally doesn't want to reconnect after an extended standby time. It's a minor complaint reserved for users like myself, who has a dedicated device just for mobile gaming, but it's worth mentioning.

Finally, and specific to the Kishi V3 Pro... most people don't need the two additional buttons and dedicated haptics that separate the Kishi V3 Pro from the more affordable Kishi V3.

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Kishi V3 Pro review: Also consider

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Kishi V3 Pro review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a true console-like controller experience on mobile.
• You want a reliable controller that'll survive years of gaming.
• You find value in the Razer Nexus app and its added features.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want something as compact as possible for travel.
• You definitely don't want to spend $100+ on a mobile controller.

I've been using the Razer Kishi V3 Pro with the Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 3), an 8.8-inch Android tablet designed with gaming in mind. The experience has been phenomenal, and I've found myself picking up this combination more often than even my ASUS ROG Ally X.

The simple fact is that mobile gaming does offer some distinct advantages in versatility and efficiency, and the Kishi V3 Pro absolves many of the compromises in ergonomics and controller performance.

To summarize in a different fashion, the Kishi V3 line of mobile controllers brings out the very best of gaming from your phone or tablet, whether you're playing a native title, streaming from the cloud or your PC, or emulating classic consoles.

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro is available now for $149.99 at Razer, and it's clearly the monarch of the family — while I haven't personally used it, though, the Kishi V3 (at $99.99 at Razer) does seem like the obvious choice for many people, given its tasteful compromises.

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This year's Memorial Day deals are live, and major discounts are only expected to run until the end of the day. If you're shopping for a new monitor, Samsung has you covered with its unbelievable promotion.

Three of its best 49-inch Odyssey ultrawide gaming monitors are on sale, and when you buy one, Samsung is tossing in a 27-inch QHD monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate 24-inch S36GD monitor for free.

The best overall deal involves the Samsung Odyssey G95C, on sale for 50% off. That drops the price from $1,599.98 to $799.99. Samsung's Odyssey G91SD and G95SD are also on sale and part of the free monitor deal; you can check them out right here.

Is the free Samsung Odyssey G5 monitor any good?

I've been covering deals events for a long time, and I don't recall ever seeing something like this.

Usually, you'll get either a sale price or a free add-on; rarely do you get both. The Odyssey G9 (G95C) is by far the best deal, hitting 50% off before you even consider the additional free monitor.

Saving $300 on the other Odyssey super ultrawides isn't bad either, especially if you can't live without the superb color and contrast afforded by QD-OLED technology.

So what's the deal with the free monitor Samsung is tacking on to its super ultrawides?

The Odyssey G55C is regularly priced at $300, so it's not like Samsung is giving away something inconsequential.

It's a 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a VA panel, 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync compatibility.

It's a perfectly capable gaming monitor in its own right, and it's yours to keep, sell, trade, or give away.

This deal is live now and should run through the holiday weekend, but I wouldn't wait too long if you're interested. I've seen Samsung's previous add-on deals sell out before expected.

The year is 2079. Humanity now largely dwells in crowded underground bunkers, having scorched the surface with nuclear war. Subsisting on recycled protein paste and mildly-irradiated arthropods, humanity endures, driven by an endless yearning for the one thing that can unite all cultures, creeds, and class divides: Windows Phone.

What year is it again? I am here today to write about Windows Phone as though it was 2015. It's also Sunday and there are no other editors around who can stop me. 👋

Windows Phone 8.1 just got its first ChatGPT-style interface app, named after my favorite Lumia typo: Lumina. Yes, Windows Phone 8.1. And no, Cortana doesn't count. 

Shared in the Windows 8 Group Discord and developed by an individual called Logan, our long suffering comrades at the Windows Phone subreddit shared the project, which is currently in beta testing for those who have jail broken their beloved Lumia devices.

Leveraging Meta's open weight Llama model, Lumina sports a simple interface inspired by the Metro UI we all love and miss dearly, with the ability to ask questions as you might do with Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT.

AI chatbot ‘Lumina’ for Windows Phone 8.1 by Logan from r/windowsphone

Windows Phone itself might no longer be officially supported by Microsoft (grr), but much like when it was alive, creative and enthusiastic developers are keeping the platform going with jailbreaks and homebrew apps. Remember MyTube, 6Tag, or Tweetium? Those were the days.

Microsoft unceremoniously announced Windows Phone's demise in a random tweet reply, after spending years upon years and millions of dollars carefully curating a passionate, albeit small fanbase. Its subsequent attempts at building Android-based phones, like the Surface Duo, were staggering failures.

For the life of me, I can't understand why Microsoft didn't just open source the OS and let the community keep it alive instead. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has previously lamented killing off Windows Phone and given how much of Microsoft's aspirations around cloud, AI, and gaming revolve around mobile endpoints, it'll never stop seeming like a short sighted decision to me. No Microsoft apps and services come pre-installed on Android or iOS by default, nor will they ever, giving Xbox, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft 365 a huge disadvantage in the modern default computing modality.

But hey, there's nothing to be done about it now. Now excuse me while I bask in some Lumia nostalgia with my irradiated cockroach paste.

OpenAI has undoubtedly cemented its name as a force to reckon with in the AI landscape. This can be attributed to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's description of a two-year runway to build and develop ChatGPT uncontested. Interestingly, ChatGPT recently added one million new users after unveiling its new GPT-4o image generator.

And as it now seems, the ChatGPT maker may soon dabble in the mobile landscape, too. According to a report by The Information, the AI firm is in discussions to acquire io Products, co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

While io Products has blatantly dismissed claims of the development of an AI-powered phone, the outlet indicated that the company is working on a wide range of products, including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices.

Sam Altman and Jony Ive have reportedly secured investments from multiple investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The funding is expected to hit $1 billion by the end of last year.

More interestingly, OpenAI is trying to forge a strategic partnership with io Products, allowing the ChatGPT maker to access its tech stack and engineering team behind the AI-powered devices.

This isn't the first time we've heard about OpenAI's plans to expand and diversify its portfolio by entering the mobile landscape.

Last year, OpenAI's CEO admitted that the company wants to dabble in the hardware space with an AI-specific device while expressing his keen interest in partnering with former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive on the project. Altman indicated that the project could lead to the biggest tech disruption since the original iPhone launched in 2007.

Jony Ive confirmed that he's working closely with OpenAI to develop a flagship device that could take on Apple and Samsung in the mobile landscape. Reports suggest the device will "use AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”

To that end, details about the device remain secret, with some speculating that it might be called the "iPhone of Intelligence," featuring a “more natural and intuitive experience.”

It'll be interesting to watch how things pan out, especially with President Trump's stringent tariffs saga, imposing hefty importation taxes on electronics, including gaming consoles, smartphones, TVs, and laptops.

Apple has recently found itself in a difficult situation. Between President Trump's tariffs, Apple Intelligence delays, and the exorbitant price tag on the rumored/leaked iPhone 17, things are likely to worsen.

Windows Phone has been dead for half a decade at this point. Support ended in early 2020, so anything that continued to work after that point was potluck. Indeed, it appears that luck is starting to wear thin, as the Microsoft Store app has stopped working as of this week.

The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 Mobile has been a bit of a mess for a long time. Since Windows 11 launched, many of the apps that appear in there aren’t even compatible with the dead mobile platform. It’s also still using the old Windows 10 app store layout, which was web based and incredibly slow.

Naturally, this version of the store appears to be no longer be fully functional, resulting in a white screen whenever you try to access an app’s download page. It’s not like there were many apps left anyway, but now there’s no longer a working official storefront for grabbing the remaining few that still existed.

What's unfortunate is that all the behind the scenes plumbing for app downloads and updates still exists and is likely working fine, but because the front end is web based and is no longer online, the end user is no longer able to actually press download on an app.

You can still sideload apps, which is likely what people will have to do from now on if they intend to install any apps for Windows 10 Mobile. Of course, you’ll have to source the apps on your own, and since nobody is actively developing UWP apps these days, you’ll be looking for much older and outdated apps.

It’s somewhat admirable that the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 Mobile continued to function this long on a platform that the company abandoned over five years ago. Windows 10 Mobile hasn’t been viable as a daily use platform since before support even ended.

Other core apps such as Mail & Calendar have also stopped working in recent months, likely because the company has abandoned those apps on Windows desktop and replaced them with the terrible new Outlook app. OneDrive is a similar affair, with certain functions no longer working in the app, including uploading files and photos.

Honestly, if you are still using a Windows 10 Mobile device for whatever reason, it’s seriously time to move on. You can find new cheap Android phones that will function much faster and better than your aged Windows 10 Mobile device, and so it's probably time to consider one of those. Or an iPhone.

The best Windows phone experience in 2025 is one that's paired with Windows Phone Link, which is an excellent feature built-in to Windows 11 that lets you sync your Android or iPhone's notifications and photos. You can see all your recent text messages and notifications directly from your PC.

In recent years, Microsoft has attempted to re-enter the smartphone market with two Android devices, the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. These devices were treated just like Windows Phone was, and were eventually abandoned just as the concept was picking up steam.

But at least with the Surface Duo, these devices will still be usable for a number of years to come, thanks to the open nature of Android. Even though Microsoft has abandoned support for these dual-screen phones, most, if not all modern Android apps are still fully supported on the Surface Duo, which came out five years ago this year.

Microsoft has abandoned a number of forward leaning projects in recent years, including Windows Mixed Reality and HoloLens, as well as its streamlined mobile app platform known as UWP, and Android apps on Windows. The company has well and truly given up on mobile devices powered by Windows, and has pivoted to focusing on experiences designed to enhance traditional PC form factors.

We're a bit guilty of Windows Phone lamentations here at Windows Central from time to time (all the time, if you're me or Zac Bowden), but we're not alone. There are dozens of us! Also including the game director of one of this year's best Xbox and PC games thus far.

Kingdom Come Deliverance II is a detailed and historically faithful RPG set in medieval Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor state of modern Czechia. A brutal and mature tale of revenge, Kingdom Come Deliverance II has already set a high bar for 2025 game releases, winning near-universal praise from reviewers, including our own review. It was to be expected from Warhorse Studios, given how good the original game is too. What was less expected, is that game director Daniel Vávra counts himself among the Windows Phone faithful.

Speaking on X, Vávra recounted how he thought using a Windows Phone might have won him some kudos during a visit to Microsoft HQ back in the day, however, the staff there were reportedly "shocked" that he was "voluntarily" using it. I have personally visited Microsoft HQ myself in Redmond a few times over the years, and I have to say, my experience were quite similar to Daniel's here.

I felt compelled to write this up, because when I've visited Microsoft HQ for game previews in the early days of my career, I had some similar experiences (also excuses to write about Windows Phone in 2025 are pretty limited...)

I'd be there, rocking my Surface Book, my massive and shiny Lumia 950 XL, only to discover a sea of iPhones and occasional well-intended jibes for "suffering" through Windows 10 Mobile. It was those experiences that crystallized the fact that Windows Phone was probably not long for this world, if even the company that created it wasn't particularly excited about using it.

Of course, there were many over there who were excited about it, and worked incredibly hard to make something of it. Hindsight is always 20/20 with regard to these things, and finding success in a competitive hardware marketplace is monstrously hard, as even Xbox itself is currently discovering. Yet still, with Microsoft trying to promote its own AI tools like Copilot, and not having its own mobile phone endpoint to control, perhaps it was a bit short-sighted of them to have killed it off without a bigger fight. CEO Satya Nadella himself recently expressed regret for giving up on Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile.

With Xbox's huge mobile content glut, cloud gaming, Copilot AI, the rise of progressive web apps, and beyond, I still think Windows Phone could have a chance in 2025. I can hear you rolling your eyes through the screen, but hear me out! What if Windows 11 Mobile could become some kind of "niche" productivity-oriented AI-first phone OS whose unique selling point is simplicity over endless mindless distractions seen on iOS and Android?! I'd buy it. Although, I would very much like Live Tiles back if they were to go down that route. Alas, I am dreaming. I said stop eye-rolling. Yes, you, Tom Warren.

Apologies to Daniel Vávra, but when I see opportunities to write about Windows Phone in 2025, I take it ...😭 For everyone else, go play Kingdom Come Deliverance II right now.

The Lumia 1020 is the center of a new post on Reddit! No, you haven't fallen through a time portal or accidentally clicked a link from back when we were Windows Phone Central. A passion project by an enthusiast has flung the Lumia 1020 to the forefront minor relevance. Reddit user OceanDepth95028 made what they call the "NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE." The device is so cool that one of the mods of the hackintosh subreddit left the post up despite not being about a hackintosh device. 9to5Mac first reported on the phone.

The NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE is not actually a Windows Phone running iOS. I'll burst that bubble right away. Instead, it is essentially the parts of an iPhone SE (Gen 3) crammed inside the case of a Lumia 1020. But OceanDepth95028 did more than wrap a new phone in an old case. The project involved making the iPhone internals work with a fingerprint reader placed on the back of the device, adding a custom SIM card slot, and making a Lightning port look like a micro-USB port.

Despite being a hacked project that smashes two phones together, the resulting device functions. It even supports 5G and has a working fingerprint sensor on the back.

The A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone SE is still relatively new and is capable of running modern apps. While the phone is a one-off project, according to its maker, you could theoretically use the NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE as an everyday device. The only features that don't seem to work are Apple Pay and wireless charging. I suppose it's fair that Apple Pay refuses to work on a device like the NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE, since someone could make an insecure device using similar methods.

Some buttons had to be moved around to fit the iPhone SE parts into the Lumia 1020 case, such as the fingerprint reader being on the back of the phone. The camera button on the device can act as either a volume key switch or a shutter button as well. "Why? No idea, but it's there," said OceanDepth95028.

The NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE receives OTA updates, which makes sense considering it uses genuine iPhone parts.

What was the best Windows Phone?

The Lumia 1020 was one heck of a phone. Some would argue it was the best Windows Phone ever, though it only earned the third spot in our poll among readers. Regardless, the Lumia 1020 featured a stunning design that epitomized the Lumia brand and showcased the best Windows Phone had to offer. It was also perhaps the best-known Windows Phone due to a popular ad campaign by Microsoft that centered around the phone's 41 MP camera. In fact, it was that very ad that got me interested in Windows Phone, which ultimately led to me writing for Windows Central.

While the Lumia 950 XL may have been a better device than the Lumia 1020 in some technical aspects, I'd argue the Lumia 1020 was a better medium for the spirit of Windows Phone. The Lumia 1020 came out around the peak of Windows Phone popularity, had a truly standout feature in its camera, and actually had backing from Microsoft's marketing department. In contrast, the Lumia 950 XL felt like it was announced as an afterthought by Panos Panay.

Since Windows Phone is dead, it's rare that we get to relive the glory days of Lumia. Shout out to OceanDepth95028 for making the NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE.

While fans of Microsoft’s ill-fated Windows Phone won’t see a return of the OS, at least they can take solace in Microsoft Edge, finally getting the ability to have the web address/search bar at the bottom of the browser

We started noticing this feature last week on iOS and in what seemed to be A/B testing for Android. But yes, Microsoft is now letting you choose where to put the address bar, something that the Samsung Browser has offered for quite some time now.

The feature is off by default but is turned on easily enough. Simply navigate to the settings cog in Microsoft Edge and choose Appearance. Scroll to the bottom of that page; an area should be called “Address bar.” Clicking it takes you to another screen with a mockup of where the bar would live and lets you pick between the top or bottom.

As noted above, when our senior Windows reporter, Zac Bowden, mentioned this to me on our podcast, I did not see it in my settings for Microsoft Edge on my Android phone (although it was available for iOS). I assume this is due to some A/B testing of the feature or a slow rollout. Regardless, you can force the feature to appear through a simple browser “flag.” Here’s how:

• Type “edge://flags/” (without quotes) into the Microsoft Edge address bar
• Hit enter
• Search for “EdgeToEdgeBottomChin”
• Choose “Enabled”
• Search for “Enable bottom Omnibox”
• Choose “Enabled”
• Hit restart

(For some reason, in my testing, you must enable both flags above.)

Now, when you navigate to Settings > Appearance, you should see the new ability to switch the address bar to the bottom of the browser.

Why the bottom address bar is better for smartphones

I feel I shouldn’t have to explain this as it’s an obvious UI and UX situation for me, but having the address bar near the bottom makes it much easier to select it with your thumb when holding the device one-handed. If holding the phone with two hands, you don’t need to reach the top of the screen to select the address/search bar to enable the keyboard and then bring your hand back down.

Indeed, I don’t understand why any part of a phone’s UX has entry bars at the top of the display (like device/apps search), but for some reason (cough, Apple), it was decided to make mobile browsers look just like desktop browsers despite the completely different user modality and interactions.

Of course, if you find everything I wrote here to be complete nonsense and think web address bars belong at the top, you’re good to go and don’t have to follow this change.

Either way, Microsoft finally letting the web address bar live at the bottom of the browser is something I’ve wanted since Microsoft Edge came out, so I’m glad it’s finally here.

Samsung's long-anticipated Galaxy Unpacked 2025 is just a few hours away. You can catch the live stream from Samsung's YouTube channel and website at 1 PM ET. The company is expected to unveil its newest lineup of mobile devices as part of the S25 series, including the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra with many AI-powered capabilities.

Our sister site, Android Central, is running a live blog, covering the announcements at the event as they roll in. If you can't watch the live stream, track their coverage for updates. But before the actual announcement, veteran tipster Evan Blass recently revealed some information about the upcoming lineup of Samsung phones, including a supposed marketing video from Samsung touting a handful of AI-powered features slated to ship with the devices out-of-the-box.

Like other top companies in the AI landscape, Samsung is also seemingly moving away from AI-powered chatbots with image and text generation capabilities. The leaked video suggests that Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 will lean heavily on AI-themed announcements more than anything else.

According to the video shared, Samsung has seemingly integrated a feature called Insights into its S25 series. The feature packages important data, including weather, sleep scores, and more, and presents it to users when they begin their day. Rather than sourcing for the various variables independently, the feature combines the data into a single scrollable page for efficiency and effectiveness.

Perhaps more interestingly, the video also features Google Gemini's improved capabilities where users can ask the assistant to scour pet-friendly outdoor Italian restaurants within a reasonable radius. The AI tool manages to identify several spots that meet the highlighted criteria and generates a message that can be sent to a recipient the sender is supposed to meet up with using a single tap.

While the capability to compose and send messages to other recipients isn't new, the video demonstrates that the chatbot's capabilities have improved significantly and can handle more complex and detailed prompts than before, if nothing else.

Galaxy S25 phones might also ship with a new Night Video mode feature. As expected, the feature works like the night mode feature for photos, making videos captured at night more appealing and crisp. Similarly, Samsung is expected to ship the new Galaxy phones with an Audio Eraser feature that lets you focus and zero in on a specific sound or person within an audio recording, blocking out noise from other elements.

Microsoft leans toward Agentic AI with Copilot

Last year, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman shared Copilot's roadmap, including its evolution into a virtual companion that can become friendly and foster meaningful and lasting relationships with users. However, recent changes to Copilot's user experience received backlash, citing a degraded user experience while highlighting their preference for the previous version. "It tries to be my friend when I need it to be a tool," a concerned user indicated.

Microsoft has been in the crosshairs with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff who has branded the tech giant's AI efforts as a disservice to the industry while referring to Copilot as the new Microsoft Clippy that doesn't deliver any value to its clients. The executive further claimed that the tech giant repackaged OpenAI into Excel, indicating that users barely use Copilot, and that's when they don't have a ChatGPT license.

However, Microsoft CVP Charles Lamann clapped back at Salesforce with data highlighting more than "100,000 organizations" had used Copilot Studio to create AI agents by October 2024. As Google potentially dabbles its foot into the Agentic AI pool, it's critical to ensure that it meets consumer needs by integrating consumer feedback into its services for the best possible outcome.

Galaxy Unpacked kicks off today, January 22, 2025, at 1 PM ET. At the event, Samsung is expected to announce its Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The event will be live streamed on YouTube and Samsung's website.

While Samsung's flagship smartphones are expected to be the stars of the show, we could also see news on other devices. OneUI 7 is expected to make an appearance, as is Galaxy AI.

It's doubtful that Samsung will announce the Galaxy Ring 2 or Galaxy S25 Slim at Galaxy Unpacked 2025. Project Moohan, Samsung's XR headset, is also unlikely to be unveiled. That being said, the company may tease what's on the way.

This Galaxy Unpacked appears to be focused almost entirely on smartphones, so we may not see any Galaxy laptops shown off. Even if the hardware unveiled today is exclusively smartphones, that still affects many PC users. Samsung and Microsoft have a close partnership that connects phones and Windows PCs. There's a good chance devices shown off today will be connected to people's PCs in one way or another.

Samsung has other partnerships with Microsoft, such as Copilot being added to Samsung smart TVs, but I doubt we'll see anything on that today. If Samsung's presenters do talk about an AI tool, it will likely be Samsung's own Galaxy AI.

How to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Luckily, Samsung made it easy to watch Galaxy Unpacked. You can enjoy the show through YouTube or Samsung's website. Samsung even allowed embedding for its live stream, so you can just click the video above to watch Samsung announce the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra and other gadgets.

For in-depth coverage, make sure to follow along with our colleagues at Android Central through their Galaxy Unpacked live blog. There, you can also catch up on the latest rumors surrounding Samsung devices and software.

• Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone efforts ended in 2019.
• Many people miss the look and feel of Windows Phone.
• MrMobile recently showed how to replicate Windows Phone on Android.

Windows Phone appearing in two articles on the same day? What is it, 2015? While researching for my piece about Windows 11 being forced to run on a phone, I ran across the most recent video from my colleague MrMobile (aka Michael Fisher). In that video titled "I made My Phones Fun Again," MrMobile converted his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra into a "Windows Phone."

Launcher 10 has been around for a while, but MrMobile's video serves as a great reminder of how versatile Android launchers are. The app allows you to customize the interface of your smartphone with pinpoint precision, including customizing columns and other finer details. If you want to make your Android phone look like a Windows Phone, Launcher 10 is one of the best ways to do it — as well as one of only a few reliable launchers with that goal.

Before he shows how Launcher 10 can customize an Android phone to look like a Windows Phone, MrMobile discussed Windows (Launcher 95), which replicates the look of a classic Windows PC. But if you're just interested in the Windows Phone-esque experience provided by Launcher 10, jump to the 2:40 mark of his video.

Windows Phone lives on... sort of

Since Microsoft abandoned Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile, fans of the operating systems have had to look for alternatives. While iOS is reliable and Android is versatile, neither completely replicates the magic formed by Windows Phone.

Even though Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admits pulling the plug on Windows Phone was a "strategic mistake," it seems unlikely Microsoft will bring back a dedicated mobile operating system. The company has even stopped its efforts to make mobile devices by killing Surface Duo. Microsoft also shifted away from Live Tiles with the release of Windows 11. The company's Android launcher, Microsoft Launcher, never featured Live Tiles.

I admit I have nostalgia for Windows Phone. I have a box of old Lumia devices I can't make myself recycle even though I never use them. Heck, the reason I work here is because I used to read Windows Phone Central articles to get the best experience from my Lumia 930 (known as the Lumia Icon in the United States). Finding third-party apps for my Windows Phone helped me form relationships with developers, which springboarded into reviewing apps for Windows 11 after Microsoft closed its doors on Windows 10 Mobile and our site became Windows Central.

I've used Launcher 10 in the past and similar apps, such as Square Home. I even wrote a guide on how to make your Android phone look like a Windows phone back in 2019.

I like the look of Live Tiles and the clean interface seen on Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile. I confess that I find interactive widgets more useful than Live Tiles, but the look of the Windows Phone home screen is unmatched. It's lovely to see MrMobile highlight the unique design of Windows Phone and show people how to replicate it in 2024.

• An enthusiast managed to get Windows 11 to run on their smartphone.
• The device is Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro with a Snapdragon 860 processor.
• However, the experience is less than ideal for various reasons.

Windows... on a phone? What a novel concept. If only a tech giant worth over $3 trillion had come up with that idea and then support it so we would have an alternative to iOS and Android. Well, when companies worth more than most nations fail, it's time for fans and enthusiasts to step up, and that's exactly what happened early this week. A Reddit user known as anh0l managed to run Windows 11 on a smartphone.

The feat took a few attempts and hours of work, and the result isn't perfect. But that's understandable when forcing a PC operating system onto a phone that ships with Android. Considering that the work was done in roughly eight hours, the end result is impressive. Windows 11 is shown on a POCO X3 Pro, which runs on a Snapdragon 860 processor.

"I did have experience in running linux distro (postmarket os) on my different phone so i thought it will be not more difficult than that. I was mistaken," said anh0l. "It took me around 8 hrs of trying and finding tools and files that could work on my device (Mi POCO X3 pro). But finally, after 3 attempts i managed to get it running pretty smooth."

I managed to run Windows 11 on a phone from r/Windows11

Windows 11 was put on the Mi POCO X3 Pro through "Project Renegade." Anyone can use the project to run Windows 11 on a short list of devices, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people. The end result may not be great, and you could end up breaking your device. If you're a technical user or have a spare device laying around that is compatible with the project, it could be fun to force Windows 11 onto a smartphone.

This is not the first project to see Windows 11 or Windows 10 on a smartphone. Setting aside any official efforts by Microsoft, enthusiasts and developers have hacked Windows onto mobile devices for years. Perhaps most famously, Gustave Monce has a project that placed Windows 11 on Surface Duo. Monce also led the Lumia WOA project, which saw Windows 10 running on the Lumia 950 and 950 XL.

Windows Phone in 2024

Windows Phone and all of Microsoft's mobile efforts have been dead since 2019, at least in terms of official support. Some people continued to use Windows Phone for a few years after that date, but the official cutoff is far enough back that's basically ancient history in tech terms. With no new hardware or official support for Windows Phone, enthusiasts have searched for alternatives. Those who loved the interface have looked to launchers to replicate the look of Windows Phone, while others focused on replicating specific functionality. The latter of those has become more difficult as some features, such as Samsung DeX for Windows, get sunset.

Some may say we talk about Windows Phone too much here. After all, Microsoft hasn't released a smartphone running a Windows OS in over half a decade. While some of our focus on Windows Phone is driven by nostalgia — we did used to be Windows Phone Central after all — there are also tangible ways that Microsoft abandoning its mobile efforts affect the company today.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admits pulling the plug on Windows Phone was a "strategic mistake." That's become obvious as AI has become more prevalent. Our Jez Corden explained why the AI era has made it clearer that Microsoft killing Windows Phone was a mistake. Even Windows 11 widgets have suffered from the lack of a mobile operating system based on Windows. Seriously, have you used the Spotify widget on Windows 11 and then compared it to the Spotify widget on other operating systems?

I doubt we'll ever see a new version of Windows Phone from Microsoft, but as technology evolves, the gap left by the tech giant becomes clearer each year.

The move to USB-C simplified the shape of cables needed to charge laptops, smartphones, and tablets, but shopping for a charger is still too complicated. I feel like I'm in an endless battle to fill my home with charging cables that can top up my wife and I's laptops, smartphones, and other gadgets. If you're in a similar spot, you need to check out the Cyber Monday deal on the Anker Prime Charger.

A $60 discount brings the Anker Prime Charger down to $109.99. That is admittedly rather expensive, but the Anker Prime Charger has 250W of total power output, can charge a device with 140W of power from a single port, and uses AI for optimal charging efficiency.

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• 🎮Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller | $199 at Amazon
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• 🕹️Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck | $299.99 at Amazon
• 💻Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+ PC | $866 at Amazon

A ton of power

The U in USB-C stands for "universal" but shopping for USB-C chargers and cables can be quite complicated. Picking USB-C chargers is a far cry from delivering a universal experience. Different charging standards, proprietary charging tech, and other specs mean that you may plug a cable into your phone, laptop, or tablet only to find out hours later that your device did not charge at all. In other cases, your device would have charged slower than expected.

The Anker Prime Charger cuts through (most of) this confusion with 250W of total power, 140W of output from a single port, and 100W or power output in three other ports. You can charge multiple devices through the charger, topping them up quickly. Many of the best Windows laptops, MacBooks, Samsung smartphones, and phones from other companies should all play nicely with the Anker Prime Charger.

Many laptops charge quickly with 100W of power or less. Heck, some laptops won't even take advantage of more power than 100W if you make it available. But there are laptops that require more than 100W of power output, such as workstations. Unfortunately, power requirements and USB-C charging support vary from device to device. You'll have to check your device's instruction manual or online listing to see how much power it takes to charge.

The listing of the Anker Prime Charger states that it can get a "16-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in just 25 minutes." Other devices that can take advantage of high power output should see quick top up times as well. As mentioned above, some devices will not take full advantage of the power output of the Anker Prime Charger. The device's listing states, "Surface Laptop Studio 2, Dell XPS 15 (9500/9510), Dell Alienware X14, and Dell Mobile Precision 5570 cannot be charged at full speed."

Honestly, I don't think it's Anker's fault that some devices won't charge at full speed through the Prime Charger. The USB-C ecosystem is a bit of a mess. The bottom line here is that the Anker Prime Charger has impressive specs, unique features, and high power output. Just double-check the specs of your gadgets before picking a charger.

More than powerful

The Anker Prime Charger would be impressive solely based on its power output and number of ports, but it also has some unique features worth highlighting. The charger has a display that shows how much power each port is using. You can customize that screen to show different information, such as the time and date.

A smart knob on the side of the charger lets you swap between different modes. The Anker Prime Charger has an AI mode for optimal charging, port priority mode, dual laptop mode, and lower current mode. You can also control the Anker Prime Charger through a smartphone app.

🍁More great Black Friday deals🦃

• Best Buy: Big savings on video games, accessories, and more
• Walmart: Early savings on practically everything
• Target: Live deals on a huge range of products
• Dell: Top deals on laptops, gaming PCs, accessories, and more
• HP: Save big on laptops, desktops, accessories, and more
• Lenovo: Doorbuster deals on all Lenovo PCs, monitors, accessories, and more
• Newegg: Save on PC gaming accessories, components, and more
• Razer: Take advantage of free shipping for a limited time
• Samsung: Holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more are live
• Amazon: Constantly rotating sales on everything you can imagine

"Did you unplug my phone" is a question asked too often in my home. Somehow, my wife and I have synced up when it comes to needing specific USB-C chargers around the house. I suppose that's not too surprising since so many electronic devices charge through USB-C these days, but it sure is frustrating. That's why this Black Friday and Cyber Monday I was assigned to "get a bunch of USB-C plugs and cables." Luckily, Best Buy made it easy to fill your home with USB-C charging by slashing $60 off the Insignia - 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger Kit.

🔥The hottest Black Friday deals🔥

• 💽Zotac RTX 4080 SUPER AMP GPU | $989.99 at Newegg
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• 💽MSI Ventus 2X E1 OC RTX 4070 GPU | $469.99 at Newegg
• 🎮Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller | $199 at Amazon
• 💽 AMD Ryzen 5 7600X CPU | $194.99 at Newegg (with free 1TB SSD)
• 🕹️Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck | $299.99 at Amazon
• 💻Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+ PC | $866 at Amazon

Can I charge my laptop and phone with USB-C?

The short answer to this question is yes. The Insignia - 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger Kit should charge your phone or your laptop as long as the devices have USB-C ports that support charging. That being said, your exact experience will depend on the device that you need to charge.

Some companies use proprietary technology for fast charging, which means third-party chargers often don't deliver the same charging speeds as the power brick and cable you get with your phone. The Insignia - 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger Kit should still charge your phone or laptop, it just may not be as fast as the charger and cable your device shipped with.

The maximum total output of the Insignia - 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger Kit is, as the name suggests, 140W. Individual ports max out at 100W when using both ports. That means you can charge one device at 100W and another at 45W at the same time. Some phones max out at 45W charging, so you won't feel the limits when charging those devices. There are also some laptops that can use more than 100W of power to charge, so this charger isn't ideal for them either. There are chargers out there that support 100W charging through multiple ports at once or more than 100W from a single port but they tend to be quite expensive.

My wife and I have several devices that use USB-C for charging, including two smartphones, two laptops, and even our toothbrushes. Full disclosure, I didn't actually purchase the Insignia charger that's on sale through Best Buy. I live in the UK, which has different plugs than the US. We also don't have Best Buy here. Instead, a similar deal from Amazon UK caught my eye. Whether you live in the UK and grab that charger or live in the US and pick up the discounted Insignia charger, the result will be the same. With that charger, you'll be able to top up your devices and fighting over charging cables should die down.

🍁More great Black Friday deals🦃

• Best Buy: Big savings on video games, accessories, and more
• Walmart: Early savings on practically everything
• Target: Live deals on a huge range of products
• Dell: Top deals on laptops, gaming PCs, accessories, and more
• HP: Save big on laptops, desktops, accessories, and more
• Lenovo: Doorbuster deals on all Lenovo PCs, monitors, accessories, and more
• Newegg: Save on PC gaming accessories, components, and more
• Razer: Take advantage of free shipping for a limited time
• Samsung: Holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more are live
• Amazon: Constantly rotating sales on everything you can imagine

While most of the stories I write relate to computers or software you run on a PC, my favorite gadget of the last few years is a smartphone. Last month, I was given a Razr (2022), and I am now in love with folding phones. I was slow to jump on the folding phone hype train, but I'm glad I did. If you're looking into getting your first foldable or just want to snag another one at a great price, the Razr 2024 is $599.99 right now. The newer Razr is better in every way than the phone I have on my desk right now, making an upgrade mighty tempting.

On the listing linked below, make sure to buy the Razr 2024. Amazon appears to have mistakenly mixed a couple Razr 2023 models onto the page if you click different colors. When comparing the Razr 2024 vs Razr+ 2023, it's very clear that the newer model is a large step up, even when comparing this year's base model to last year's plus model.

• Shop all of Amazon's October Prime Day deals

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• 🎧Sony ANC Wireless Headphones | $228 at Walmart (Save $122!)
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Folding phone fever

Like many, I was reluctant to hop on the folding phone hype train. Early folding smartphones were fragile and had too many compromises for me to justify grabbing one over a traditional slab phone. But Razr has worked to improve its folding phones over the years, and I had the unique opportunity to get a phone for free.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've fallen in love with folding phones. Honestly, I doubt I'll ever buy a non-folding phone again. The Razr fits comfortably in my pocket, slots seamlessly into the cupholder of my car while I use Android Auto, and I've found the cover screen surprisingly useful. I used to wonder why a cover screen would be handy if I could just open my phone, but I often find myself tapping it to get things done quickly without getting drawn into opening my phone.

The Razr 2024 fixes the few flaws I see in the Razr 2022 that sits on my desk currently. The cover screen of the new Razr is much larger, brighter, and more capable. Razr also improved the build quality and durability of its phones over the last two years.

The camera of the latest Razr is better than the one in my Razr 2022, though if I'm being honest the camera isn't the strong suit of Razr's folding phones. The camera is certainly useable and can take some nice shots, but it falls short of flagship phones or even some non-folding phones in the same price range as the Razr 2024 (shout out to the Google Pixel 8a).

While not exclusive to the Razr lineup, Motorola's "flavor" of Android is excellent. If you've only used a Samsung device or have stuck with the same Android phone maker for your whole life, you've been spared from having to relearn settings and options. While the base of Android extends across brands, there are certainly good and bad implementations of the operating system. Motorola's version of Android is clean, quick, and looks great. It also has some nice touches that have long-been staples of Moto phones, such as chopping twice to turn on a flashlight or twisting to summon the phone's camera.

The regular asking price of the Razr 2024 was already alluring. The current 14% discount on the phone that brings the Razr 2024 to $599.99 was almost enough for me to buy my second folding phone. If you're in the market for a new phone, the Razr 2024 at its current price is an excellent choice.

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings:

• Xbox controller deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Xbox SSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming headset deals: Walmart | Dell | Target | Best Buy | Amazon 
• MicroSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming handheld deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Copilot+ AI laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Monitor deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Mini PC deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming keyboard deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg 
• Gaming mice deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg

What you need to know

• Microsoft has issued what is believed to be the final security update for Surface Duo 2.
• The Surface Duo 2's support window will end on October 21, meaning no more support or updates are planned.
• Microsoft only ever delivered one major Android OS update for the $1,500 device.

The Surface Duo 2 has just received its likely final security update, marking an end to Microsoft’s brief return to the smartphone market. The company originally launched Surface Duo 2 in October 2021, and promised to support the product with software updates for three years. Microsoft was only able to deliver one major Android version update in that time, a pitiful number for a $1,500 device. 

Microsoft already dropped support for the original Surface Duo last year, but at least that device saw more than one major Android version update. Launching with Android 10, the original Surface Duo was updated to Android 11 and Android 12L during its lifecycle — still short of the usual three major OS updates most Android makers deliver but better than the Surface Duo 2, which launched with Android 11 and was only ever updated to Android 12L.

The company threw in the towel with Android phone hardware last year when it decided to cut back on the Surface device portfolio, leading to the departure of ex-Windows and Surface boss Panos Panay. Since then, Microsoft has brushed Surface Duo under the rug, and now the Surface Duo 2 has received its final security update ahead of the end of support date on October 21, meaning no more support is planned. 

And that marks the true end to Surface Duo. The product line is dead, and Microsoft has no intention of reviving it with future Android phone hardware. This is the second time that Microsoft has abandoned a phone business, the first time being with Windows Phone and Lumia in 2017.

If Microsoft ever attempts to launch a new phone in the future, I will be the first to tell you to steer well clear. Microsoft had a chance to redeem itself with the Surface Duo, and it failed miserably. Charging $1,500 for a phone that was only ever updated with a new version of Android once is inexcusable. Microsoft doesn’t deserve a third chance. 

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

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• 💻HP Envy 2-in-1 14 (Ryzen 7) | $649.99 at Best Buy (Save $400!)

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings:

• Xbox controller deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Xbox SSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming headset deals: Walmart | Dell | Target | Best Buy | Amazon 
• MicroSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming handheld deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Copilot+ AI laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Monitor deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Mini PC deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming keyboard deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg 
• Gaming mice deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg

Huawei has just unveiled its long-teased "tri-fold" smartphone. It features two foldable apexes across a 10-inch display that can collapse down to just 6.4 inches, allowing that 10-inch panel to fit into your pocket. When collapsed, it utilizes a Z-shaped fold, meaning the screen bends into three "panels" and enables many different postures and use cases.

Of course, phone mode utilizes the front panel at 6.4 inches, which is what your average smartphone looks like. The second posture has just two panels, measuring around 7.9 inches, and matches your standard foldable phones today. The last posture utilizes all three panels for 10.2 inches of total screen real estate, something never before seen on a phone that can fit in your pocket.

I'm already in love with this form factor, but even if it didn't cost $2800 (yeah, you read that right), the device would only be available in China and with Huawei's custom HarmonyOS. Even if it ran stock Android, I still think there's a better OS out there for a device like this, and that OS is Windows.

10.2 inches is large enough to run Windows comfortably. The Surface Go 4 has a 10.5-inch display, and I love using it as an on-the-go Windows machine. Now, if I could fold the Surface Go into my pocket and use it as a phone, that would be the absolute dream.

Of course, this dream can't exist because Microsoft has killed all avenues to a viable mobile platform. Windows 11 is a desktop OS acceptable for a 10-inch device, but it doesn't scale much smaller than that. Windows 11 on an 8-inch device is tough and basically unusable at 6 inches.

And that doesn't even consider that Microsoft no longer has a mobile app platform. UWP is long dead, and app developers are now being encouraged to develop classic Win32 apps that utilize modern UI frameworks such as WinUI 3 instead.

If we rewind about 8 years, Windows 10 Mobile would have been the perfect platform for a device like this. With a beautiful, native mobile UI and platform paired with Continuum, it would blend beautifully across the three postures found on the Huawei Mate XT. You could have a full Windows desktop when you want it or an easy-to-use, touch-first Windows mobile UI when you don't.

It always seems to be the case, but Microsoft was well ahead of the game with Windows Phone. It was building out a platform that would have been well-positioned for these multi-postured devices. It even had CShell, which was literally designed from the ground up to allow the UI to adapt on the fly depending on screen size and form factor.

The problem with Android foldables currently is that many of the apps that run on them aren't optimized for the larger screen. Android does well in the mobile space, but it's a different ball game when it comes to tablet apps. This drawback is improving, but it's still not where I (and Google) would like it to be.

Had Windows Phone and UWP taken off, we'd be living in a very different world right now, where most Windows apps have a touch-first mobile interface and desktop-class interface that would adapt on the fly. I think foldable phones would have been Windows Phone's saving grace, as it was easily the best prepared for this new category of devices.

Sadly, Satya Nadella pulled the plug on Windows Phone too soon and ended support for the platform just as the first folding phones were announced. Even the Surface Duo, which launched with Android a few years later, was destined to fail under Microsoft's current leadership. That form factor was ripe to develop into something like the Mate XT over time, maybe even running a hybrid Android + Windows combo for the best of both worlds.

New innovations in the mobile and wearable space keep happening, but none of them are applicable to Microsoft because it decided to kill Windows Phone. This decision will hinder the company forever as more technology becomes mobile and wearable-focused.

At this point, I don't think there will ever be a folding device that I don't pick up and think, "Man, I wish I could run Windows on this thing."

Oh well.

What you need to know

• HONOR announced the global rollout of its intent-based eye-tracking technology for Magic6 Pro users.
• The feature lets users interact with the phone using their eyes only and is expected to start rolling out in waves from August 27, 2024.
• It's revolutionizing and improving the smartphone user experience for people living with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• In the future, HONOR plans to explore more opportunities for its multimodal AI tech, including investments in noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

Earlier today, HONOR announced the broad availability of its AI-fueled intent-based eye-tracking technology. The company has cemented its name in smartphone users' eyes as the go-to brand for eye-tracking technology. For context, the feature allows users to interact with smartphone devices using their eyes only. 

The feature will start rolling out to users on August 27, 2024. It will be available on the HONOR Magic6 Pro. However, it's unclear if the feature will ship beyond HONOR's flagship smartphone, as the company didn't mention any other devices. 

Beyond the cutting-edge feature, HONOR is exploring more opportunities for its multimodal AI tech, including investments in non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to make assistive tech more accessible to everyone. 

The importance and impact of HONOR's eye tracking tech

The feature improves the smartphone's user experience and is also an important tool that makes life easier for people living with ALS. For context, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease often characterized by muscle weakness.

In a three-minute-long YouTube video, HONOR highlights how its intent-based eye-tracking technology has positively impacted Bernard Muller's life. Unfortunately, Muller was diagnosed with ALS 14 years ago, which impacted his day-to-day activities. However, HONOR's eye-tracking tech makes his life a tad easier, allowing him to communicate with his loved ones and create amazing art easily. 

The tech holds a lot of potential and could manifest to great heights in the foreseeable future with the help of generative AI.

Interestingly, HONOR is also a big maker of Windows laptops, including the new Magic Art 14, which has a new removable webcam (we just got this laptop in, so expect more coverage of it soon as it's pretty wild). This means its AI tech could expand to Windows PCs in the near future, much like what Samsung is trying to do with Galaxy AI for PC and Android phones. 

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Microsoft, Qualcomm, and a host of major laptop manufacturers revealed Copilot+ AI features and the laptops that run them in 2024, and the same companies have been busy expanding their AI and hardware portfolios.

Part of the 2024 announcement, which included hardware from seven major brands, was Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge 14- and 16-inch laptops. The sleek and premium AI PCs were announced to work with other Galaxy AI devices on top of Windows 11 Copilot+ features, effectively doubling the AI effectiveness available at your fingertips.

Let's jump in and explore what makes up Galaxy AI, what it can do, and how you can access it with your Galaxy devices.

What is Galaxy AI?

Galaxy AI is Samsung's suite of AI tools exclusive to Galaxy products. It's a collection of advanced features baked right into Samsung's One UI interface and was added alongside One UI 6.1 with the release of Samsung Galaxy S24 phones.

Galaxy AI relies on a mixture of local and cloud AI models to perform its abilities. The models include ChatGPT competitor Google Gemini Pro for advanced LLM tasks, as well as Google's Imagen 2 via Vertex AI for image generation. Google's Gemini Nano is tapped for local AI tasks that don't require an internet connection.

Pixel users might be scratching their heads at this point, wondering how Galaxy AI is different from, say, what you'd find on a Pixel 8 Pro. There are indeed some similarities, with some standout features only available with Galaxy AI (which I get into below). A major part of the appeal is the ecosystem that Samsung is nurturing, similar to Apple's closed loop that includes Apple Intelligence AI.

The release of Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop, considered one of the best Copilot+ PCs on the market, is what really piqued my interest. Both 14- and 16-inch Book4 Edge models include Copilot+ and compatibility with Galaxy AI features, and anyone who is already invested in the Galaxy ecosystem will see immediate benefits.

As Windows Central Managing Editor Jez Corden wrote, "The enormity of Microsoft's Windows Phone shut-down mistake is becoming increasingly clear in the AI era." Imagine having a Copilot+ Windows phone that works seamlessly with your Copilot+ PC; Galaxy AI and the Galaxy ecosystem are shaping up to be the next best thing.

• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge vs. MacBook Pro (M3)

What can you do with Galaxy AI?

Galaxy AI continues to grow, and its suite of tools should cover many different users. While the brunt of the features are designed for Samsung's Galaxy phones, the release of the Galaxy Book4 Edge Windows on ARM Copilot+ PC with Snapdragon X Systems-on-Chip (SoC) has shaken things up.

The Snapdragon X Elite chips in the Book4 Edge have a powerful NPU for Copilot+ features, resulting in an interesting mash-up when you connect a Galaxy phone with Link to Windows. You can essentially set your phone down next to you and forget about it, instead using your Book4 Edge for nearly everything.

Microsoft Copilot can handle common actions like sending messages, setting reminders or alarms, and looking up contacts on your phone, all from the laptop and with voice commands. But it also provides access to Galaxy AI tools like Circle to Search, Chat Assist, and more. You need to connect your phone to the Book4 Edge and mirror apps to access these features, but it allows you to use one device with a larger screen for all actions.

Here's a look at some of the standout Galaxy AI features that are available on Samsung's flagship hardware, including S24 phones, Z Flip/Fold 6 phones, and Tab S9 tablets.

• Live Translation: Real-time translation of voice or video calls, texts, and in-person conversations. Supports 13 languages at the time of writing.
• Chat Assist: Suggestions for grammar and context corrections, as well as emoji and hashtag recommendations in social media.
• Photo Assist: Includes Sketch to Image, Generative Edit, and Portrait Studio tools for advanced photo editing.
• Voice Recorder, Interpreter, and Transcript Assist: Record any words and receive a transcript in a language of your choosing.
• Note Assist: Receive instant summaries, translations, and custom formatting for anything you write in Samsung Notes.
• Browsing Assist: Translate or summarize webpages viewed through the Samsung Internet app.
• Circle to Search: Circle anything on your screen using a finger or S Pen to quickly search Google for more information.
• Instant Slow-Mo: Create slow-motion clips from any saved video.

There are more goodies hidden within Galaxy AI than I've listed above, and we're expecting to see more on the way as the suite of tools matures. Note that Samsung Notes syncs with OneDrive, so you have them everywhere, and Samsung's Quick Search tool is available on the Book4 Edge as an alternative to Windows Search.

It's worth mentioning that the majority of live translations and edit suggestions are handled locally on the device's built-in performance hardware, whereas the rest of the Galaxy AI tools require a connection to the cloud for stronger computing power.

Which devices offer Galaxy AI?

Samsung has a fairly long list of devices compatible with Galaxy AI, but support for all features differs in some of the older hardware. Samsung announced its new Galaxy S25 phones at its Unpacked event on January 22, complete with quite a bit of news surrounding Galaxy AI. The new phones are more primed than ever for AI thanks to the Qualcomm chip inside, and Samsung is dialing everything up with One UI 7 and Android 15 to create what it calls an "AI-integrated OS."

The full suite of Galaxy AI features is available for the following phones and tablets. As noted, the Book4 Edge laptops act as conduits for using Galaxy AI on a larger display.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+, S25
• Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24
• Galaxy S23 Ultra, S23+, S23
• Galaxy S23 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 6
• Galaxy Z Flip 6
• Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, S9+, S9
• Galaxy Book4 Edge (14" and 16")

Samsung is bringing Galaxy AI to older hardware as well, though not all features are available due to a lack of Neural Processing Unit (NPU) power for local tasks. It looks like phones back to the Galaxy S21 and Flip/Fold 3 series will receive some sort of Galaxy AI, and Tab S8 tablets should get the same treatment. Just be sure they have the One UI 6.1 update.

Focusing again on the Galaxy ecosystem, Samsung's wearables and accessories also tie in with the AI tools. Galaxy Buds are compatible with tools like Live Translate and Interpreter, while the new Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch 7, and Galaxy Ring will link up to offer fitness and health insights and challenges curated by AI.

Here's a list of the accessories confirmed to be compatible with Galaxy AI tools:

• Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Buds 3
• Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
• Galaxy Buds FE
• Galaxy Watch Ultra
• Galaxy Watch 7
• Galaxy Ring

Samsung isn't fooling around with its Galaxy AI ecosystem, and it no doubt knows that combining all of these products under one AI umbrella will spur more users to expand their setup with Galaxy products.

How do you get access to Galaxy AI?

Galaxy AI is available to some extent on all the devices I listed above. Basically, your phone or tablet must support at least Samsung's One UI 6.1 interface.

You must also be signed in on the device with a Samsung account to access Galaxy AI. Of course, accessories like Galaxy Buds just need to be connected to a device compatible with Galaxy AI.

When you sign in with a Samsung account, you'll be greeted by an introduction page with a bunch of pertinent information. Any apps with Galaxy AI features will also present an explainer the first time you launch them.

Is Galaxy AI the same as Copilot+?

Galaxy AI is not the same as Copilot+. The latter is Microsoft's umbrella term for AI features baked into Windows 11, as well as the PCs that can run them. Copilot+ PCs are AI PCs that first ran on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips; AMD and Intel have since entered the arena with Core Ultra Series 2 and Ryzen AI 300 mobile CPUs.

Though Copilot+ and Galaxy AI can do a lot of the same things, they are separate platforms that come into contact with each other only on the Galaxy Book4 Edge laptops.

Can you disable Galaxy AI?

Yes, Galaxy AI can be disabled. You can either shut it down completely or you can force it to only rely on local computing power, sending nothing to the cloud. That should help alleviate some security concerns for users with sensitive data.

Does Galaxy AI cost money?

At the moment, Galaxy AI features are free to use.

However, Samsung has stated that this will only apply until the end of 2025. Beyond that, we have no idea if Samsung will start charging for Galaxy AI or if it will remain free.

I converted to foldable smartphones with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and there's no indication I'll ever go back. This growing category of personal devices lets me do more on the go, which can be a lifesaver when this job demands I get online even when I don't have a laptop nearby.

That being said, the latest Galaxy Z Fold is dreadfully boring to me, especially when it costs $1,900. Oh, and especially especially when you can get one of the best non-Samsung foldables — which is better in almost every single way — for just $1,399.99 at Amazon. That's a $500 discount over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and you'll enjoy better hardware, better cameras, and better battery life.

If my Galaxy Z Fold 5 were to go the way of the dinosaurs, I know which new foldable I'd choose (and it's not the Samsung).

Update, July 18, 2024 — This Amazon Prime Day ended at its original discounted price of $1,299.99, but the OnePlus Open is still on sale for $1,399.99. That's still a great deal, but you can scroll down a little further for a list of the best deals still active after Amazon Prime Day.

🔥The hottest post-Prime Day deals🔥

• Seagate Xbox Series X|S Expansion Card (2TB) | was $359.99 now $249.99 at Best Buy
• Lenovo Legion Go (512GB) | was $699.99 now $599.99 at Best Buy
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | was $49.99 now $31.99 at CDKeys
• Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF) | was $899.99 now $699.99 at Dell
• ASUS 65W USB Type-C charger | was $64.99 now $29.99 at Best Buy
• HP Victus 15.6 (Ryzen 5, RTX 4050) | was $979 now $599 at Walmart
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max + Xbox Wireless Controller + Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (1-month) | was $119.98 now $78.90 at Amazon w/ Amazon Prime
• Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse | was $149.99 now $79.99 at Amazon
• Samsung Class QE1C QLED TV (85-inch) | was $2,799.99 now $1,229.99 at Samsung
• Razer DeathAdder V3 Wired Gaming Mouse | was $69.99 now $54.99 at Best Buy
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX (Cobalt Blue) | was $179.99 now $119.99 at Best Buy
• Samsung Class S90C OLED TV (83-inch) | was $5,399.99 now $2,699.99 at Samsung
• Razer Blade 15 (Core i7, RTX 4070) | was $2,799.99 now $1,599.99 at Best Buy
• ZOTAC Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER AMP | was $1,199.99 now $959.99 at Newegg w/ code FANDUA5748

Beautiful hardware and an excellent price

My current daily driver is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. I personally love it — the hardware is premium, the displays are magnificent, the performance is excellent. I use it for media consumption, playing Solitaire, reading articles, editing documents, multitasking, staying connected with people and coworkers, and much more. It's honestly an amazing phone, but there's no arguing that it's on the boring side when it comes to the rapidly evolving foldable category.

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 isn't much more interesting. The design is more attractive than ever and the phone is a little faster, but what else has Samsung done? Once again, other companies are leaving the South Korean behemoth in the dust when it comes to foldables, and one of the absolute best you can buy is the OnePlus Open.

Not only is the OnePlus Open actually available worldwide (and in the US) with functional software, it's frankly just better than Samsung's most recent foldables on the hardware front. The design is utterly gorgeous, and feels more comfortable in the hand (and the black version has a lovely faux leather texture). The hinge is smoother and more durable. The displays are larger and boast superior aspect ratios. The infamous display crease is less visible.

Want me to keep going? The battery is larger and lasts longer, and the charging speeds are far higher. The cameras are significantly better, with OnePlus not cutting any corners compared to its traditional slab flagships. There are so many subtle additions, refinements, and advantages the OnePlus Open has over the Galaxy Z Fold when it comes to hardware, and it all adds up quickly.

The one area where Samsung has the competition beat is software — the Z Fold's interface is among the best at taking advantage of foldable displays, and Samsung promises seven years of software support compared to the four years of platform updates and five years of security updates that OnePlus promises. That doesn't mean the OnePlus Open completely fails here, though.

OnePlus' software is smooth and packed with awesome features, especially for multitasking. Updates have been improving the experience since the phone's launch, too, so it's better than ever. It's close enough that, combined with the hardware strengths, the OnePlus Open is looking like an obvious choice over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. What does Samsung have? Well, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Fold 6 is newer than the Gen 2 inside the OnePlus Open, so there's that.

Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to mention the pricing. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899.99 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The OnePlus Open retails for $1,699.99 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but it's obviously heavily discounted right now. At just $1,399.99 at Amazon with an Amazon Prime membership for the US unlocked version that should work great with most American carriers, the OnePlus Open is $500 cheaper.

I'll admit that Samsung has the advantage with its trade-in program and US carrier deals, but those who aren't too concerned with that can save a lot of money and get a really, really good foldable in the process. Honestly, at this price the OnePlus Open is simply a good deal for a foldable, let alone when compared to the category default that is the Galaxy Z Fold 6. I'm sticking with my Galaxy Z Fold 5 for now, but I know exactly which foldable I'd replace it with if I had to choose right now.

What is an Amazon Prime membership?

Amazon Prime is the subscription for the ultimate Amazon-savvy shopper. You can already save a lot of money just by shopping through Amazon, but the company's all-in-one subscription service shoves an absurd amount of value into one monthly or annual cost. An Amazon Prime membership includes a ton of perks and features, such as:

• Free one-day and two-day shipping on millions of items
• Exclusive deals and promotions, such as for the $100 Best Buy gift card
• Ad-free access to thousands of free movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, books, and magazines
• Unlimited full-resolution photo backup
• Free games, perks, channel subscriptions, and more with Prime Gaming at Twitch
• Savings on prescriptions at thousands of pharmacies
• Zero delivery fees, exclusive offers, and other discounts on food deliveries with GrubHub+

If you're interested in trying it out, you can get started with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime for free at Amazon, or explore paid plans starting as low as $6.99 a month (the standard pricing is $14.99 a month).

In the market for a new smartphone, but want one that integrates well with your Windows PC? You can't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the latest flagship from Samsung that just so happens to be the best smartphone for Windows PC users too, thanks to a close partnership between Microsoft and Samsung.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is on sale for just $974 right now for Amazon Prime Day, that's down from its usual $1,299 price tag. This device ships with a number of pre-installed Microsoft apps and experiences, including Outlook, OneDrive, and Phone Link. And these phones have the best Windows Phone Link integration.

Today's top Amazon Prime Day deals

• Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse | was $100 now $86 at Best Buy
• EVGA X20 wireless gaming mouse | was $70 now $20 at Newegg
• GameSir G7 SE gamepad | was $60 now $42 at Newegg
• MATEIN travel laptop backpack | was $40 now $22 at Amazon
• Baseus 9-in-1 USB-C hub | was $70 now $39 at Amazon
• Kensington SD2480T Thunderbolt 3 dock | was $180 now $55 at Amazon
• SK hynix Tube T31 1TB SSD | was $100 now $70 at Newegg
• SK hynix Beetle X31 1TB SSD | was $135 now $88 at Amazon

Why is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra the best phone for Windows users?

Microsoft and Samsung are close partners, and that means Microsoft treats the Samsung Galaxy series like a first-party platform when it comes to integration with Windows. This ranges from automatic photo backup using Microsoft OneDrive to Windows Phone Link working best on Galaxy phones.

On the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Windows Phone Link is fully featured. It supports everything from connecting to your phone's cellular network straight from the Wi-Fi list on your PC, to answering text messages and phone calls, to streaming your phone apps directly on the Windows desktop.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a great phone as it has some of the best specs, including a gorgeous OLED screen with a great anti-reflective coating, built-in S-Pen support for taking notes digitally (and syncing with OneNote,) as well as some of the best cameras available on a smartphone today. OneUI 6.1 is also a great flavor of Android that's fast, fluid, and easy to use.

It also supports wireless charging and is rocking a titanium frame which looks gorgeous and keeps the phone light. For $974, you're getting 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, along with all-day battery life and Galaxy AI which enables features such as smart image editing. slow motion in videos, and much more. It really is the perfect phone for Windows PC users! You're probably not going to find a better deal on Samsung's latest flagship phone.

What is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

Amazon Prime Day is a two-day event running July 16 and 17 where Prime subscribers can save big money on popular products, including laptops, accessories, and more. Windows Central is dedicated to rounding up the best tech deals throughout the event, and since we know it can be challenging to find the actual good deals, we've compiled a collection of the best Prime Day deals for you. This collection will be continuously updated, so keep checking back! 

What you need to know

• HMD Global is rumored to be reviving the classic Lumia 920 design in a new Android device this year.
• The device is codenamed Skyline, and leaked renders confirm it looks like a modernized Lumia for 2024.
• The device features an edge to edge display, a rear triple camera array, and is expected to ship in all the fun colors Lumia's are known for. 

Do you remember the bright and colorful Lumia smartphones from Nokia? Those were the days, back when Windows Phone was thriving with the best cameras and smartphone designs on the market. Although those days are now long gone, it appears that the classic Lumia design may be making a return very soon.

A new leak has revealed that HMD Global, the current owners of Nokia’s smartphone brands and patents, is working on a new upper mid-range device codenamed “Skyline” that takes the form of an updated Lumia 920. According to the leak, the HMD Skyline will feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with under-display fingerprint reader, 8 or 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2.

The phone will feature a triple-camera setup on the back consisting of a 108MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide sensor 2MP macro lens, along with a 32MP front facing camera for selfies. The device will also be IP67 water and dust resistant, include NFC for wireless payments, and rock a 3.5mm audio jack just like the old Lumia handsets.

The leaked render reveals that the phone really will look like a modernized Lumia 900 for 2024, complete with a full-screen front display with relatively thin bezels paired with that classic rounded chassis that made the Lumia 900 series so comfortable to hold. The leak suggests the device will be available in black, blue, yellow, and pink colorways to match that original Lumia vibe.

Of course, the device will run Android and is said to get three years of major Android OS updates. Now, while it might look like a Lumia on the outside, it’s unclear if this device will actually be branded as a Lumia smartphone, or if HMD Global will choose to give it a new name given Microsoft likely still owns the Lumia brand.

What is for certain is that the classic Lumia vibe is making a return to the smartphone market soon, and it’s about time. I’ve always thought those classic Lumia designs were some of the best smartphone designs ever put to market, and the vibrant colorways and premium unapologetic plastic were unique in a market full of metal and glass slabs.

HMD Global is expected to unveil the Skyline later this year and is rumored to cost around €500.

What you need to know

• Windows Phone is dead and I won't let it go. 
• Microsoft killed Windows Phone in a tweet a few years back, throwing away years of developer work and billions of dollars in investment. 
• Microsoft dabbled with Android and the Surface Duo range, but that seems to be dead too, now. 
• Despite Microsoft's phone hardware efforts being dead, we can still dare to dream, proven by designer Proloy Karmakar. 

In an alternative universe: the year is 2024, Windows 11 Mobile just overtook Apple iOS in global market share, clinching 31% of the phone using masses. More affordable devices that don't compromise on overall quality proved incredibly popular with businesses, owing to seamless integration for device management via Azure Active Directory. The devices also became increasingly popular with the every day consumer, too, owing to superior AI-powered camera technology, alongside sleek but heavily customizable user interface. 

The app gap is no longer an issue, as progressive web apps became increasingly powerful, complete with direct hooks into the Windows 11 Mobile OS. Microsoft also just kick started a UWP 3.0 initiative, to help developers take advantages of synergies between Windows 11 Mobile, Windows 11, and Windows on Arm, starting with the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Phone 4. 

It's fun to dream. Perhaps fun is the wrong word, but in any case, Windows Phone is dead dead dead, and never coming back. Even still, it's fun to imagine what could have been. An excellent graphic designer by the name of Proloy Karmakar just posted a series of concept images for what "Windows 11 Mobile" might have looked like, and it's a gut punch reminder of what Microsoft potentially sacrificed. 

Using fluent sign elements, Windows 11 3D design philosophies, and layered acrylic glass-like textures, Proloy deftly offers a glimpse at what Windows 11 Mobile might have looked like. 

It's funny, because it's ironically not far removed from the latest version of iOS, which is becoming increasingly "Windows Phone-like" in recent years. Apple apps on iOS devices can now be expanded from being simple icons, growing out into live tile-like widgets. Apple's iPhone now also features various other Windows Phone features that are more than a decade old, including always-on displays. 

I bet Microsoft wishes it had Windows Phone in 2024

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed in a recent interview that one of his biggest regrets is killing Windows Phone. That fact must sting ever harder in the AI world, given that Microsoft no longer has any control over the direction of mobile computing. There was a time when Windows had a dominating "smartphone" position with its stylus-heavy pocket PC range. It allowed Apple and Google both sweep in and create a more intuitive human-computer interface, and now, Microsoft can only eat scraps from both of these platforms, which lock Microsoft out of the equation. 

Related: The enormity of Microsoft's Windows Phone shut-down mistake is becoming increasingly apparent

Without a mobile platform of its own to speak of, companies like Google and OpenAI have swept in and added their own AI services as the "default" on iOS and Android. Very few people will actively switch away from whatever is set to "default" on these devices. As such, Microsoft has no foot in the door to proliferate its own AI services like Windows Copilot, its Microsoft Edge browser, Bing search, or even things like Xbox cloud gaming. At least Microsoft stands to make profits as the "IT department" for OpenAI, though. 

The short sightedness over Windows Phone will cost Microsoft future computing paradigms as a result, but it doesn't have to be this way. The rise of Qualcomm as a serious player in the Windows PC space could eventually lead to laptops that have phone-like telephony features, without having to connect your own existing device. What if those devices got smaller and more phone like? It's certainly a reach. But hey, it's fun to dream. 

Be sure to check out Proloy's full thread of Windows 11 Mobile concepts here, and let us know in the comments what you think.  

Apple just held its annual WWDC event, showcasing Apple Intelligence AI, RCS messaging for iOS, and much more. If I'm being entirely honest, the event was rather impressive. But I'm not here to praise Apple! I'm here to poke fun at the fact that Apple just added a feature to iOS that's been around for over a decade on other platforms, including the long-since-dead Windows Phone.

We joke a lot about Apple "inventing" things that have been around on Android for years. It's also a common joke to highlight features that Windows Phone had before iOS (or even Android in some cases). But a specific addition that ships with iOS 18 is so basic that I assumed it had been available on all smartphones for ages. Beginning with iOS 18 you can — drumroll please — move icons where you want.

Yes, that's right folks. Up until iOS 17, you cannot place icons anywhere you want on your home screen. Basically, you can't have empty gaps between apps right now. You can't, for example, place a bunch of apps on the top of your screen, leave a row or two blank, and then have apps right above the dock.

It would be like if each spot on the home screen grid were a hotel room and Apple required you to fill rooms one, two, and three, before you could fill room four. And forget about filling room 10 to leave some space between rooms. For whatever reason, Apple decided to make you place your icons as if you were pouring sand into a container, filling each gap before being able to add another item.

The addition is so simple that I had to have a colleague from iMore send me a video showing how iOS 17 works. I sat, jaw hanging open, witnessing such a strange limitation on a smartphone.

Windows Phone wins again

You can mark this in the small win column for Windows Phone, since moving icons around seems so intuitive and natural that I'm amazed it didn't ship with the first iPhone. But it's yet another example of a feature that Windows Phone had before iOS. Shout out to Android for having the option to move icons for over a decade as well.

Another icon-related feature that ships with iOS 18 was standard on Windows Phone back in the day, the ability to resize an app icon. Dan Rice showed this feature on X (formerly Twitter) and included a friendly jab at Apple. Note that the video isn't about widgets, which are genuinely more useful than Live Tiles. The top of Rice's screen shows two widgets but the icon he resizes in the video is just making a larger icon. It's not an interactive widget or anything fancy.

Many wonder what Windows Phone would look like in 2024. Microsoft's mobile operating system was years ahead on some features, including ones more important and complex than moving icons around. But Windows Phone was killed, leaving ripples that still affect Microsoft to this day. Our Managing Editor and self-proclaimed "CEO of Not Letting Go" Jez Corden recently highlighted how Microsoft's shutdown of Windows Phone affects the tech giant's efforts in AI.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has admitted the killing Windows Phone was a "strategic mistake." Sadly, I don't think that will do much to bring back the mobile operating system and its icons that you could move around and resize so freely.

What you need to know

• Select phones, including certain Samsung and OnePlus devices, support casting their screens to Microsoft Phone Link on a PC.
• Since the update to Android 14, casting a phone to Phone Link requires you to press a button on your phone.
• Using a third-party application can grant permissions that will let Phone Link cast your phone screen to your PC without an additional tap.
• A recent video from Shane Craig shows the setup in action and talks through some of the tools you need to replicate it.

Microsoft's Phone Link is a handy way to connect your smartphone to your PC. If you have the right smartphone, you get extra benefits and features, such as casting the screen of your phone to your computer. While casting is handy, it now requires an extra tap. After the update to Android 14, phones require an additional tap of a button to grant permission to cast your screen, and this needs to be done every time you cast your screen.

The change was likely made to improve security, which is fair enough. But if you keep your phone at your desk and cast its screen to your PC often, you may want to skip the extra tap the Android 14 update added. Thankfully, you can do so with a third-party app and setting things up once.

A recent video by Shane Craig shows how to bypass the need to tap your phone each time you want to cast its screen. The setup centers around an app called App Ops - Permission Manager. While the app works without having to root your smartphone, it does require ADB (Android Debug Bridge). I'd prefer a way to do this without having to use ADB, but that's not available at this time. I hope Microsoft finds a way to add this permission option natively.

Craig's video isn't a how-to guide, though it does talk about how to set your phone up with App Ops - Permission Manager. It also points you to a full guide, in case you want to replicate the setup.

Late last year, OnePlus announced integration between devices running OxygenOS 14 and Microsoft Phone Link. Select devices now support screen casting and other features, delivering arguably the best integration between an Android phone and Windows 11. Of course, Samsung and its continued partnership with Microsoft offer the same features plus some other options.

Regardless of if you use a flagship Samsung or OnePlus device, you can deeply connect your phone and your PC.

Replacing Surface Duo

With the original Surface Duo out of support and the Surface Duo 2 set to reach end of support later this year, many are on the hunt for a new dual-screen Android phone. Our Managing Editor Jez Corden called the Galaxy Z Fold 3 his favorite phone since the Nokia Lumia 1520. Some looked to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as a Surface Duo replacement after Samsung unveiled its latest foldable in 2023. Others looked toward OnePlus to fill their dual-screen phone void.

The OnePlus open is an interesting device. Our colleagues at Android Central said the phone is "the best foldable you won't buy" in their OnePlus Open review. The foldable earned high marks for its design, hinge, performance, multitasking features, battery life, and cameras. But it was also criticized for its buggy state at launch, scaling issues between screens, and lack of certain Android features. Overall, the OnePlus Open earned a 4/5, which is respectable but leaves room for growth in the next generation.

Ultimately, there isn't a Surface Duo 3 and there are tradeoffs on any device. Even if there is such a thing as a perfect phone, the price tag of that phone would be high. But between Samsung and OnePlus, there are some solid foldable options on the market, all of which serve as a refuge for Surface Duo lovers who hate the limits of a single small screen.

What you need to know

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admitted that pulling the plug on Windows Phone was a strategic mistake.
• While no longer in development, AR 4789, a concept designer recently shared a video of what Windows Phone might look like running on Windows 12.
• Microsoft is potentially in a position to get back into the mobile market as it's currently the world's most valuable company.

While the Valentine's Day cheer continues to spill over from last week, a heartbreak for Windows Phone lovers is seemingly brewing. I know many of us wish Microsoft never made the strategic mistake that led it to pull the plug on Windows Phone. Am I the only one who secretly wishes Microsoft would make a comeback in the mobile scene with the Windows Phone running on a new OS? Maybe Windows 11 or Windows 12?

Well, I'm certainly not alone in this. AR 4789, a well-renowned concept-maker, recently shared a video on YouTube showcasing what the Windows Phone would be like today while running Windows 12. 

The video is oddly satisfying to watch, and I can see myself getting the phone if it existed. The concept borrows heavily from Microsoft's Windows 11 OS. But right off the bat, it ships with several features you'd expect on any modern phone, including an In-display fingerprint sensor and perhaps Always-On Display technology.

Interestingly, the concept also showcases a mini-taskbar at the bottom of "Windows 12 mobile." As you'd expect, it neatly packs several apps, including Microsoft Copilot (obviously), Start menu, File Explorer, Microsoft Store, and Microsoft Edge. I would presume that Microsoft would finally fix some of the critical issues that have been highlighted by users regarding the Start menu on Windows 11, and also truly incorporate a consistent Fluent design on these apps. 

RELATED: Microsoft confirms the name of the next major version of Windows, and it's not Windows 12

Of course, the concept also presents a scenario where users have access to a wide array of customization options. There's also a search bar conveniently placed on the phone's homepage, which is designed to let users search for stuff on the web (with Microsoft Bing set as the default search engine, as you'd expect).

Lastly, I'd expect it to ship with a ton of AI-baked goods and features. For instance, Microsoft Copilot's Circle to Copilot feature, which is heavily inspired by Samsung's Circle to Search feature on its latest line of Galaxy phones could be one of those features. 

There's no time like the present for Microsoft to get back into mobile

Microsoft continues to fly high as the world's most valuable company, ahead of Apple. The tech giant's success has been attributed to its early and heavy investment in generative AI, coupled with its extended partnership with OpenAI. 

With a $3 trillion and counting market cap and lessons from previous mistakes, Microsoft could potentially make a comeback in the mobile market with Windows Phone and dethrone iOS and Android from the top seat. Apple is already in trouble as sales of its iPhone 15 series didn't pan out as expected, which can majorly be attributed particularly to the decreased sales in the Chinese market.