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Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Has 5G lived up to the hype? People are united in this survey.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority 5G phones have been on the market for over five years, and I vividly remember how the entire industry hyped up this tech. From industrial applications and remote surgery to unforeseen advancements and cars that talk to each other, companies breathlessly declared how 5G would change the world. Now that the dust has settled, colleague Rob Triggs conducted a deep dive to find out whether 5G actually lived up to the hype. He also asked readers for their opinion, and here's what you told us. Has 5G lived up to the hype? Over 4,500 votes were counted, and it turns out that the vast majority of respondents thought 5G was overhyped. In fact, just over 85% of polled readers voted this way. This isn't a surprise, as companies incessantly hyped up 5G to the point of incredulity. One of the most infamous examples was the oft-repeated claim that remote surgery could be possible via 5G. This was accompanied by other pie-in-the-sky claims, like your 5G-equipped car downloading 100GB in just a few seconds via a mmWave-equipped traffic light. And of course, there's my favorite way of promoting 5G, as countless execs said 5G could enable use-cases we can't even envision right now. Real-world results show that 5G has improved speed and latency, but nowhere near the industry's claims. Furthermore, geographical coverage is still an issue outside urban areas. Otherwise, 7.2% of respondents said 5G has lived up to the hype, while 7.5% said they weren't sure. I'm not sure I understand why people voted for the former. I can understand if you had low expectations. I can also understand if you lived in an area with poor 4G coverage that now has a healthy 5G signal. Then again, reader xenokc-ads rightfully notes that capacity was one benefit: What the carriers got was more capacity. If 5G didn't happen and everyone still on LTE then we'd either have much lower speeds or very tight caps with possibly no unlimited plans available. It's not just because more bands were added using 5G. 5G also has about double the capacity (via spectral efficiency) for the same amount of spectrum for the same bands including the older ones. 5G was overhyped but still necessary. It's worth noting that the reader still thought it was overhyped. Nevertheless, 5G was supposed to address network congestion, too. I can confirm that 5G hasn't adequately addressed this problem after attending a concert in January. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice. Follow
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
The Pixel 10 is proof that the iPhone camera strategy isn't working for Google
Google will launch the Pixel 10 series phones on August 20, and we're excited about the standard Pixel 10. Leaked renders show that the base phone could offer a triple rear camera system for the first time, as a telephoto camera joins the main and ultrawide shooters. This is a major strategic shift for the standard Pixel flagship phone. However, this also signals Google's acceptance that it's no longer copying Apple's strategy for base flagship phones. An overdue move for standard Pixel phones Ryan Haines / Android Authority Ever since 2021's Pixel 6, Google has copied Apple by only using two rear cameras on its base phones and restricting the zoom camera to its Pro models. This is at odds with Android kingpin Samsung, which has offered three rear cameras on its base Galaxy S models since the Galaxy S20. Colleague Rob Triggs even noted in his Pixel 9 review that the Galaxy S24 took better zoom shots and was the 'better all-round package' for $800. This is despite Samsung leaning on the same 10MP 3x camera since 2022, further illustrating the importance of zoom camera hardware. Google's strategy is also at odds with flagship Android phones outside the US. Similarly priced phones like the OPPO Find X8, Xiaomi 15, POCO F7 Ultra, and vivo X200 all offer telephoto cameras. Do you want the Pixel 10 to have a zoom camera? 0 votes Yes, absolutely NaN % Yes, if the price stays the same NaN % No, I don't NaN % This long-standing decision to skip the telephoto camera on the base Pixel is particularly outdated when you look at today's mid-range phones. Devices like the OnePlus 13R and Motorola Edge 2025 are available in the US and offer telephoto cameras. Even the Nothing Phone 3a, which retails for $389 in the US as part of a beta program, has a zoom shooter. You can add devices like the HMD Skyline, OPPO Reno 14, and realme 14 Pro Plus to this list in global markets. So bringing a zoom camera to the Pixel 10 is a long-overdue move. It also says a lot that Apple and Google were two of the only major manufacturers resisting the siren call of better camera zoom. Now, about addressing other downgrades Google Google has also followed Apple in nerfing the base phone in other ways. It's only natural that the standard Pixel will lag behind Pro devices in some areas — Pro owners are paying for more features, after all. However, the Pixel 8's initial lack of Gemini Nano and the Pixel 9 missing out on Video Boost feel like unnecessary downgrades. The Pixel 9 doesn't even get Google's Zoom Enhance feature, which is available on the Pro phones. You'd think this AI-based zoom feature would help a phone with no telephoto camera, but here we are. That decision seems emblematic of Google's approach to its standard phone. Apple can get away with an anemic iPhone 16 spec sheet because you can't exactly go to another brand if you want an iPhone. Google doesn't enjoy this privilege, so people looking for a flagship Android phone can always switch to Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Xiaomi, and other brands. Nevertheless, I'm glad Google is finally addressing a long-standing weakness by embracing zoom cameras on its cheapest flagship phones. Camera quality has always been one of the biggest reasons to buy a Pixel phone, and this move will help Google stand out from the iPhone 16 and 17. Because whether you like it or not, many people want better camera zoom.
Android Authority
13-06-2025
- Android Authority
Has the Pixel battery drama ruined your perception of Google's phones?
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. The Google Pixel series is regarded by many as the pinnacle of the Android experience, offering excellent imaging smarts and plenty of AI features under the hood. But one area that apparently still needs plenty of work is the power storage stakes. Batteries have not been kind to Pixel A-series users. The Pixel 4a, Pixel 7a, and more recently, the Pixel 6a, have all run into power issues. From dodgy updates and physical swelling, to Google issuing an actual nerf to battery capacity to quell overheating (and combustion) issues for the latter, are all things various users have faced. This problematic spell doesn't inspire confidence. For the most part, Google's flagships have been devoid of impactful battery issues, and it seems that the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a are going strong. In fact, we gave the latter a 10/10 score during our review, praising its battery life even it it's at the cost of slow charging. However, as my colleague Rob Triggs puts it, Google risks facing a crisis of trust. Here are some other questions: Are you less likely to purchase a Google Pixel in the future given the recent spate of battery issues? Do you think Google's battery problems been overblown or underplayed? Is it a case of recency bias, or are you genuinely concerned? In light of these issues, should Google just commit to a keen focus on its battery technology? Perhaps a leap to silicon-carbon? Is battery life a chief concern of yours when purchasing a phone? If not, where does it rank? Be sure to vote in the poll below, too! Are battery concerns putting you off the Pixel? 1447 votes Yes, I'm concerned. 44 % No, Pixels are still fine. 46 % I'm undecided. 10 % 👇Sound off in the comments: What do you think of Google's recent battery dramas?
Android Authority
06-06-2025
- Android Authority
After using the vivo X200 Ultra for several weeks, I wish Samsung would copy its amazing cameras
vivo X200 Ultra The vivo X200 Ultra is a China-only release, so most buyers sadly won't be able to get their hands on one, but dedicated Android fans who want a top-notch camera experience and plenty of premium features should certainly add it to their wishlist. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is among the most popular camera phones around. But there's a strong argument to be made that Samsung's flagships (and to a lesser extent even Google's top Pixels) have stagnated as far as hardware is concerned. Samsung's base and Plus phones have effectively used the same camera hardware since 2022, while its most recent Ultra phones have offered upgraded ultrawide cameras and a switch to a more modern 5x 50MP camera. Nevertheless, the company is still sticking with a measly 10MP 3x camera on its $1,200 Ultra devices. However, the newly launched vivo X200 Ultra has shaken things up in a big way, and after using it extensively for several weeks, I really hope the likes of Apple, Google, and Samsung are taking notes for 2026 and beyond. vivo X200 Ultra 35mm main camera test and samples One of vivo's most notable camera-related moves is offering a 35mm main camera (50MP LYT-818, 1/1.28-inch). By contrast, 99% of smartphones on the market use a 24mm main camera, offering a wider field of view. The 35mm camera is equivalent to a 1.4x or 1.5x camera. vivo isn't the first manufacturer to do this, owing to ZTE's previous forays, but it still marks a major expansion for this tech. As colleague Rob Triggs observed, having a native 35mm focal length should reduce facial distortion compared to a standard 24mm lens. But more importantly, in my own experience, it allows for better framing. Check out this comparison between an older Pixel 7 Pro and the X200 Ultra to see the difference between a conventional 24mm smartphone shot and a 35mm snap. I didn't have to worry about the sheets above or people sitting too close to my friend. Pixel 7 Pro at 24mm vivo X200 Ultra at 35mm Furthermore, a native 35mm camera should theoretically deliver better image quality than a crop from a similar 24mm camera. However, I had to pixel-peep to spot any significant quality differences versus a 35mm crop. So it's not a night-and-day quality difference if you stick with a software-based 35mm mode, especially when some phones let you set the 35mm crop as the default. This main camera still holds up in a variety of lighting conditions, offering plenty of detail, wide dynamic range (see the fourth and sixth image in the gallery), and little noise. I do occasionally see some over-processing, particularly at night when vivo sometimes manages the feat of using too much noise reduction and too much sharpening in the same scene. I'm also glad to report that this camera doesn't suffer from glare like the X200 Pro's primary shooter. Ultrawide camera hardware that's closer to the main camera We've also seen the Pixel 9 series and Galaxy S25 Ultra embrace higher-resolution ultrawide cameras. These sensors are much smaller than the primary cameras, though. However, vivo has decided to use the same 1/1.28-inch camera sensor for both the main and ultrawide cameras. This also seems like the next logical step for more mainstream brands. Perhaps the biggest benefit I noticed with the X200 Ultra's ultrawide camera was the much-improved brightness. There isn't a big disparity between the ultrawide and main cameras. The improved light capture also means I was able to capture handheld astrophotography shots using the wider camera. That's particularly important as it means you can get more of the expansive night sky in your snaps. 1x Ultrawide I thought the X200 Ultra's ultrawide camera was far from perfect, though. There's still a lot of corner softness, in line with the X200 Pro's somewhat disappointing wide-angle shooter. I really feel like vivo could've reduced the field-of-view from the current 14mm to something more restrained to combat this problem and distortion. I also thought ultrawide shots were quite blotchy and soft in general compared to the main camera, with this problem being extremely apparent at night. Check out the comparison below. In any event, I think vivo definitely needs to improve the ultrawide image quality, but it's clear that the gap between it and the main camera has narrowed somewhat. It's not the first time we've seen smartphones use the same camera sensor for both main and ultrawide lenses (hello, OPPO Find X3 Pro), but I want to see Google and Samsung pull this off too. vivo has also taken the interesting step of defaulting to the ultrawide camera for video. It makes sense on paper as cameras with a narrower field of view, like the 35mm main sensor, tend to be less stable than wider cameras. You can still switch to the 35mm camera anyway, although it looks like vivo is shooting 8K/30fps videos exclusively via the ultrawide lens. In any event, I thought that video capture was at least on par with the already good X200 Pro, with smooth panning and good stabilization. But I did notice weird flickering on people's faces when filming portrait video in poor lighting. What about that 200MP zoom camera? 85mm 85mm snapshot mode 85mm 85mm 170mm 85mm vivo was the first smartphone brand to adopt a 200MP zoom camera on a smartphone, debuting the feature on the X100 Ultra in 2024. It has since become a fixture on high-end phones like the HONOR Magic 7 Pro and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and the X200 Ultra returns with a 200MP 3.7x periscope camera (f/2.27). This zoom camera delivers image quality that's close to the main camera, featuring a good level of detail, consistent colors, and dynamic range, and very little noise. Image quality does fall sharply from 10x to 15x, though, with 20x shots being a gamble. But more than anything else, I'd like to see Google and Samsung take a similarly ambitious route with their zoom cameras. I'd love to see a Pixel 11 Pro with a 200MP tele camera or a giant 50MP periscope lens. 35mm 85mm Much like the X200 Pro and X100 Ultra, the X200 Ultra edges out Google when it comes to the number of ways you can use the periscope camera. There's the expected macro focus and 4K/120fps slow-motion options, as well as portrait video with automatic focus switching (like iPhones), a stage mode, and higher-resolution active stabilized video. There's also local support for 8K video and night video capture. I thought there was still room for improvement here, though. vivo does some sketchy processing at long focal lengths, as I noticed in my hands-on with the X200 Ultra's crazy external lens. During my time with the lens, I noticed that the phone actually seemed to airbrush balcony railings out of a very long-range zoom snap, while the picture taken with the lens kept it intact. There's also a very shallow depth of field when taking close-up images or full-blown macro shots (e.g. food or bugs). So you have to move back if you want everything in focus. Still, this depth of field comes in handy for portrait snaps. vivo X200 Ultra verdict: A great camera phone with one dealbreaker Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Thankfully, the vivo X200 Ultra also ticks many boxes for a 2025 flagship device. There's the all-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a 6,000mAh battery that usually delivers two days of regular usage, 90W wired and 40W wireless charging, and a bright, 6.82-inch QHD+ OLED screen. Other notable vivo X200 Ultra features include IP68/IP69 ratings, an Apple-style Camera Control button, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 7. So, the vivo X200 Ultra has a cutting-edge set of cameras that could be a sign of things to come, a ton of performance, a large battery, and plenty of premium extras. So far, so good, right? The vivo X200 Ultra is another great camera phone from vivo that most people can't buy. There is one major caveat, though. Unlike the excellent vivo X200 Pro ($749.99 at Giztop), the Ultra is limited to China only. This restricted availability severely reduces your purchase options if you're interested in the device. You'll just have to pay the ~$1,049 fee to import the phone from storefronts like Giztop. The China-only nature also means you miss out on Quick Share, although Google Wallet works fine, and it supports Android Auto. Another galling absence from China-only phones is eSIM support. There are eSIM adapters that bring this support to phones without the tech, but it's still a notable omission here. In any event, I really hope Google and Samsung embrace technologies like a 35mm main camera, an ultrawide camera with a flagship sensor, and more ambitious zoom cameras. Because it certainly looks like the rest of the industry will adopt or has adopted this tech. vivo X200 Ultra Optional external lens • 35mm camera • Top-notch performance MSRP: $1,099.99 One of 2025's best camera phones The vivo X200 Ultra has an optional external camera lens that delivers great long-range zoom. Other notable features include a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, high-quality rear cameras, and fast wired/wireless charging. See price at Giztop Positives Smooth performance Smooth performance Unique camera hardware Unique camera hardware Great video capture Great video capture Fast wired/wireless charging Fast wired/wireless charging Long battery life Cons China-only release China-only release No eSIM No eSIM Ultrawide images could be better
