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samedi 2 octobre 2021

With the iPhone 13 here, here’s what we want to see from Apple’s Mac event

Apple revealed the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max in September, during its California Streaming event. The new iPhones, which run iOS 15, were announced along with the iPad Mini 6th Gen and the affordable iPad 9th Gen. We had higher hopes for Apple’s annual iPhone event as we also wanted to see a redesigned Apple Watch 7, but that didn’t pan out exactly how we wanted it to. So here’s what we want to see from the Mac event later this year.

AirPods 3rd Gen

The rumored AirPods 3rd Gen was what I was looking forward to the most during the earlier iPhone event. I won’t be upgrading my iPhone this year, and I had a dying pair of old wireless earphones. I desperately needed to replace those with the latest redesigned AirPods. So they were the highlight I was waiting for the whole time, only to be disappointed by the end of the event — the AirPods 3rd Gen didn’t make it through.

I couldn’t wait any longer. So I ended up buying a pair of AirPods Pro, mostly because I wanted ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) support. While I personally no longer have my eyes set on the yet-to-be-released AirPods 3rd Gen, we still want to see them announced during the upcoming Mac event. The current AirPods 2nd Gen were released back in March 2019 — that’s over two and a half years ago. A refresh is long overdue at this point.

Apple AirPods 3 leak

The good news is that the eventual release will be worth it. According to previous leaks from reliable sources, the redesign will bring a fresh appearance to the table, inspired by the AirPods Pro design. The AirPods 3rd Gen will feature shorter stems but still won’t have silicone tips or ANC.

macOS 12 Monterey

Apple released iOS 15 to the public almost a week after the California Streaming event. This stable release comes after around three months of beta testing. iOS 15 was first announced in the opening WWDC21 keynote in June, alongside macOS 12 Monterey, tvOS 15, watchOS 8, and iPadOS 15. All of the mentioned Apple operating system versions have been released to the public by now, except for one — macOS 12 Monterey.

At this point in time, it’s not unusual for Apple to release the latest major macOS version months after other OS versions. After all, macOS is the most complex operating system across the company’s devices. And almost all Apple users agree that a delayed, stable release is preferred over a rushed, buggy one. After all, impatient — or enthusiastic — users could always get their hands on the latest software through Apple’s developer or public beta programs.

Last year, Apple released macOS 11 Big Sur in November, two months after the release of iOS 14. It came with a design overhaul, the biggest macOS has seen in a very long time. So we can safely assume that Apple is going to at least announce a specific release date for the next big stable release — macOS 12 Monterey — during the Mac event.

MacBook Pro

We’re almost certain that Apple will be revealing an all-new MacBook Pro 2021 during the Mac event sometime in October. This latest model is expected to have more ports, a MagSafe charging port, colorful finishes, a white keyboard, and more. The upgraded MacBook Pro will most likely be powered by the Apple M1X chip, a mightier and more energy-efficient System-on-Chip (SoC).

MacBook render silver white keyboard open

What we’re excited about the most is the refreshed external body that has been almost identical for the past few years. While I’m not a big fan of the rumored white keyboard, it’s going to be interesting to see how Apple executes this one. Coupled with the new colorful finishes, it might look decent after all. We’ll find out sooner rather than later!

Mac Mini

We’ve been hearing rumors about a redesigned Mac Mini for a while now. This latest compact desktop computer is expected to have more ports and run on the Apple M1X chip, too. This comes in addition to a general outer redesign. We don’t know a lot of details regarding this upcoming model in particular, but we really want Apple to announce it during the Mac event.

Mac mini angled view showing ports and power cable connected

Just like the MacBook’s Pro and Air, the Mac Mini hasn’t received a significant external refresh in many years. It will be intriguing seeing what Apple has in store for us and whether those changes are going to be as significant as we want them to be.


The last Mac event was held back in November 2020. So we can expect the upcoming one to be around late October or November this year. It’s still unclear whether we will be seeing everything on our wishlist announced, but we can hope. We also don’t know if Apple has any other potential upgrades or announcements in store. We’ll have to wait until the event officially streams.

What are you excited to hear about most during the Mac event? Is there a potential product or service upgrade you have in mind that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post With the iPhone 13 here, here’s what we want to see from Apple’s Mac event appeared first on xda-developers.



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Here’s how to unlock the OnePlus Factory mode and access it without root

Android power users often find some odd system APKs pre-installed on their phone that, at first glance, seem to be OEM bloatware. However, some of these apps could be pretty handy as they provide you a set of diagnostic tests to run on your phone. After all, when you send a phone to the manufacturer for servicing, the technicians need testing tools to properly assess the state of the device in order to find out the faulty component(s). The average user can also access a handful of these diagnostic apps by typing the appropriate secret code from the stock dialer app. OnePlus is one brand that comes to mind in this context, as the OEM even offered a downloadable battery health check tool to its users.

OnePlus is famous among tinkerers for having a rich collection of diagnostic tools beyond the battery health checker. As a matter of fact, earlier builds of OxygenOS on devices like the OnePlus 3, 3T, and OnePlus 5 shipped with an extremely low-level diagnostic testing application called “EngineerMode,” which could be exploited to grant root access without unlocking the bootloader. Later on, OnePlus removed the exploitable debugging code, renamed the app to “FactoryMode” (package name: com.oneplus.factorymode), and subsequently blocked its usual execution routine. As a result, you can’t simply launch it by dialing *#808# anymore.

OnePlus Factory Mode UI

Interface of the “FactoryMode” app

XDA’s modding community has come to the rescue, though. XDA Senior Member jamal2367 created a Magisk module that enables users to bypass the restriction on the fly and access the powerful Factory Mode app using the *#808# secret code. XDA Senior Member antnyhills, on the other hand, came up with a rather straightforward bypass method that involves editing the config file of the app. There’s just one tiny problem: Both methods require root access. Users without root access could try sideloading an older build of the Engineering Mode app on top of the factory-installed one, but those don’t always play nice with newer OxygenOS releases.

Fortunately, XDA Senior Member AndroPlus has finally been able to solve the final piece of the puzzle. According to them, OnePlus hides the “FactoryMode” app behind a unique unlock code for every smartphone they produce. The unlock code is derived from the primary IMEI of a OnePlus device. After deciphering how it’s generated, AndroPlus wrote an unlock code generator that can unlock access to the Factory Mode app.


How to unlock OnePlus Factory Mode (also known as Engineering Mode)

Warning: Be careful using OnePlus Factory Mode/Engineering Mode. There are many low-level tools and tests here that users aren’t meant to access, so you should only do this if you are aware of the risks and know what you’re doing.

Note: Keep in mind that the web-based unlocker doesn’t store your device’s IMEI. That being said, the IMEI of your device is a pretty sensitive piece of information, so don’t blindly share it with anyone.

  1. Dial *#06# to open up the IMEI information screen on your OnePlus device. Then, long press on the IMEI 1 field to copy it.
  2. Open the unlock code generator by clicking on this link and paste the IMEI in the blank field.
  3. Press “CONVERT” to get the unlock code.
  4. Dial *#*#5646#*#* on your phone. You should see a screen that prompts you to scan a QR code. Press the back button so that you can access the code input field.
  5. Enter the unlock code in the field and press the “OK” button.
    OnePlus Factory mode unlocking
  6. If everything goes right, you should see the following screen:
    OnePlus Factory mode unlocked
  7. Voila! Now you can access Factory Mode by dialing *#808# or *#36446337#.

Some older devices (e.g. the OnePlus 7 series) can’t take a permanent unlock code. For them, the unlocker offers a special mode named “Unlock for 10 minutes.” The resulting code can unlock access to the Factory Mode app for a period of 10 minutes. After that, you have to regenerate the code.


How often do you use the Factory Mode diagnostic suite on your OnePlus smartphone? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Here’s how to unlock the OnePlus Factory mode and access it without root appeared first on xda-developers.



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Here’s how to unlock the OnePlus Factory mode and access it without root

Android power users often find some odd system APKs pre-installed on their phone that, at first glance, seem to be OEM bloatware. However, some of these apps could be pretty handy as they provide you a set of diagnostic tests to run on your phone. After all, when you send a phone to the manufacturer for servicing, the technicians need testing tools to properly assess the state of the device in order to find out the faulty component(s). The average user can also access a handful of these diagnostic apps by typing the appropriate secret code from the stock dialer app. OnePlus is one brand that comes to mind in this context, as the OEM even offered a downloadable battery health check tool to its users.

OnePlus is famous among tinkerers for having a rich collection of diagnostic tools beyond the battery health checker. As a matter of fact, earlier builds of OxygenOS on devices like the OnePlus 3, 3T, and OnePlus 5 shipped with an extremely low-level diagnostic testing application called “EngineerMode,” which could be exploited to grant root access without unlocking the bootloader. Later on, OnePlus removed the exploitable debugging code, renamed the app to “FactoryMode” (package name: com.oneplus.factorymode), and subsequently blocked its usual execution routine. As a result, you can’t simply launch it by dialing *#808# anymore.

OnePlus Factory Mode UI

Interface of the “FactoryMode” app

XDA’s modding community has come to the rescue, though. XDA Senior Member jamal2367 created a Magisk module that enables users to bypass the restriction on the fly and access the powerful Factory Mode app using the *#808# secret code. XDA Senior Member antnyhills, on the other hand, came up with a rather straightforward bypass method that involves editing the config file of the app. There’s just one tiny problem: Both methods require root access. Users without root access could try sideloading an older build of the Engineering Mode app on top of the factory-installed one, but those don’t always play nice with newer OxygenOS releases.

Fortunately, XDA Senior Member AndroPlus has finally been able to solve the final piece of the puzzle. According to them, OnePlus hides the “FactoryMode” app behind a unique unlock code for every smartphone they produce. The unlock code is derived from the primary IMEI of a OnePlus device. After deciphering how it’s generated, AndroPlus wrote an unlock code generator that can unlock access to the Factory Mode app.


How to unlock OnePlus Factory Mode (also known as Engineering Mode)

Warning: Be careful using OnePlus Factory Mode/Engineering Mode. There are many low-level tools and tests here that users aren’t meant to access, so you should only do this if you are aware of the risks and know what you’re doing.

Note: Keep in mind that the web-based unlocker doesn’t store your device’s IMEI. That being said, the IMEI of your device is a pretty sensitive piece of information, so don’t blindly share it with anyone.

  1. Dial *#06# to open up the IMEI information screen on your OnePlus device. Then, long press on the IMEI 1 field to copy it.
  2. Open the unlock code generator by clicking on this link and paste the IMEI in the blank field.
  3. Press “CONVERT” to get the unlock code.
  4. Dial *#*#5646#*#* on your phone. You should see a screen that prompts you to scan a QR code. Press the back button so that you can access the code input field.
  5. Enter the unlock code in the field and press the “OK” button.
    OnePlus Factory mode unlocking
  6. If everything goes right, you should see the following screen:
    OnePlus Factory mode unlocked
  7. Voila! Now you can access Factory Mode by dialing *#808# or *#36446337#.

Some older devices (e.g. the OnePlus 7 series) can’t take a permanent unlock code. For them, the unlocker offers a special mode named “Unlock for 10 minutes.” The resulting code can unlock access to the Factory Mode app for a period of 10 minutes. After that, you have to regenerate the code.


How often do you use the Factory Mode diagnostic suite on your OnePlus smartphone? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Here’s how to unlock the OnePlus Factory mode and access it without root appeared first on xda-developers.



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vendredi 1 octobre 2021

PSA: Watch out for this spam text; T-Mobile is not giving you a $100 free gift

T-Mobile’s recent data breach might be coming back to bite them once again, as a number of posts on the T-Mobile subreddit indicate a massive spam text campaign is under way.

A spam SMS text making the rounds with customers on the Uncarrier network purports to be offering a “$100 free gift”. The image, embedded below, claims that it’s an official apology for a phone outage that affected 25,000 customers.

The image itself is complete with typos like “appologize” and “tempoary”. It even omits the hyphen from “Tmobile”. A link is sent separately after the image that supposedly leads to a “30 second survey” to claim the gift. The domains of the links appear to be different on each example of the spam text shared on the T-Mobile subreddit, as well as the numbers the message is sent from.

T-Mobile was rocked by a major data breach back in August, leaking tons of customer data including phone numbers. It’s very likely this data was purchased to be used for such coordinated spam attacks.

Customers on T-Mobile who receive this message should not click the link. You can forward spam texts to 7726 to alert T-Mobile of the spam. Users can also download and enable “Scam Shield” on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The post PSA: Watch out for this spam text; T-Mobile is not giving you a $100 free gift appeared first on xda-developers.



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PSA: Watch out for this spam text; T-Mobile is not giving you a $100 free gift

T-Mobile’s recent data breach might be coming back to bite them once again, as a number of posts on the T-Mobile subreddit indicate a massive spam text campaign is under way.

A spam SMS text making the rounds with customers on the Uncarrier network purports to be offering a “$100 free gift”. The image, embedded below, claims that it’s an official apology for a phone outage that affected 25,000 customers.

The image itself is complete with typos like “appologize” and “tempoary”. It even omits the hyphen from “Tmobile”. A link is sent separately after the image that supposedly leads to a “30 second survey” to claim the gift. The domains of the links appear to be different on each example of the spam text shared on the T-Mobile subreddit, as well as the numbers the message is sent from.

T-Mobile was rocked by a major data breach back in August, leaking tons of customer data including phone numbers. It’s very likely this data was purchased to be used for such coordinated spam attacks.

Customers on T-Mobile who receive this message should not click the link. You can forward spam texts to 7726 to alert T-Mobile of the spam. Users can also download and enable “Scam Shield” on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The post PSA: Watch out for this spam text; T-Mobile is not giving you a $100 free gift appeared first on xda-developers.



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These are the Best True Wireless Earbuds in October: Sony, Apple, Samsung, and more!

If you consume a lot of media on the go or listen to your favorite tracks while commuting, having a good pair of TWS or True Wireless Earbuds can be just as important as having an awesome smartphone. There’s a fine line between having cheap earbuds that just allow you to listen to your music, and having good ones that allow you to actually be able to enjoy your music to the fullest. But earbuds don’t necessarily have to be expensive for them to be good, and there are a lot of examples of this. So if you want some good earbuds that actually give you the most out of your music, then you’ll want to give our list of the very best true wireless earbuds a good close look.

Navigate this guide:

Best Overall: Sony WF-1000XM4

Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds in black

The WF-1000XM4 is Sony’s flagship pair of TWS earphones and is a successor to the WF-1000XM3 which arguably was one of the best pairs of TWS earphones in terms of sound quality as well as ANC. The WF-1000XM4 (please fix your nomenclature, Sony) improves on some very relevant aspects of the XM3 like the size of the earbuds themselves and the carrying case that has been considerably shrunken down. Sony also claims to have improved the audio quality and the level of Active Noise Cancellation as well on these earbuds.

The battery life is solid and the support for LDAC means you can enjoy better quality music via these earphones compared to most other premium TWS earphones. Sony has also fixed the biggest gripe that users had on the last-gen model and that’s water resistance. The WF-1000XM4 is IPX4 water-resistant so you can wear them to the gym. Sony has gone the extra mile and even added features like wireless charging and speak to chat. The Sony WF-1000XM4 is expensive at upwards of $250 but the experience they provide is also equally premium.

Specification Sony WF-1000XM4
Battery life 8 hours with ANC on (24 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX4
Colors Black, Silver
    Sony WF-1000XM4
    These are Sony's latest flagship offering in terms of wireless earphones and you just cannot go wrong with them. Sony's ANC tech is the best in the business and the feature-set you're getting with these is also top-class.

Also Great: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro in case

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is Samsung’s latest earbuds, and while the fact that they don’t look like beans anymore makes them way better than their predecessors, there’s way more than meets the eye here. They feature active noise cancellation, AKG-tuned sound for a better listening experience, IPX7 water resistance so you can take them with you to the gym, and if you own a Samsung phone, then you’re also in for a bunch of additional cool features, some of which resemble the ones we’ve seen on the AirPods Pro.

With majority consensus amongst our team, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is one of the best truly wireless earbuds available in the market right now, accessible to the widest net of users. They pack in a great combination of specifications, features, comfort, style, and pricing. While they aren’t cheap, you do get a premium experience.

Specification Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Battery life 5 hours with ANC on (18 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX7
Colors Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver
    Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
    Samsung's new very best is already out and it's wild. The Galaxy Buds Pro feature a normal-ish shape with a proper seal as well as ANC and water resistance.

Best for iOS: Apple AirPods Pro

apple airpods pro without case on black background with logo

If you’re on iOS, it’s not that you can’t use other third-party options. You definitely can, as the iPhone has Bluetooth like literally any other smartphone. But let’s be real here — Apple’s in-house options are made to work with your iPhone like a charm, and have features and tweaks that are actually exclusive to iOS. So unless you’re actually looking for something specific on your earbuds, the AirPods Pro is going to be the best of the bunch for most people. They have active noise cancellation and while they’re pretty pricey when you pit it against the competition, you just can’t beat the features if you’re on iOS — completely effortless pairing and switching between devices, Siri integration, and more.

They’re also pretty good as regular Bluetooth earbuds and yes, you can use them on Android. But if you’re on iOS, they’re really a no-brainer just for the system integration that comes with them. They’re definitely one of the best true wireless earbuds currently available.

Specification Apple AirPods Pro
Battery life 5 hours with ANC on (24 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX4
Colors White
    Apple AirPods Pro
    The Apple AirPods Pro are as good as they get right now when it comes to Apple's in-house offerings for iOS devices, but they also have excellent audio and noise cancellation.

Also Great: Beats Studio Buds

Beats Studio Buds in Red

A while back, Apple took over Beats and since then, they’ve been launching audio products that come integrated with Apple’s W1 or H1 chips. The Beats Studio Buds, however, do not come with a custom Apple chip but still have features like fast pair and a pop-up connection request when used with an iPhone along with battery indicators. While they’re easy to pair and use with iOS, the Beats Studio Buds are a great option for anyone looking to get a pair of TWS earphones really.

They also work well with Android unlike the AirPods that have limited functionality. The sound signature is also something most people are going to like. If you like extra bass in your music, you’ll be pretty happy with these. It’s got the typical Beats appeal to it and is available in sporty color options. If you’re looking for a good pair of TWS earphones to work out with, you should consider the Beats Studio Buds.

Specification Apple AirPods Pro
Battery life 8 hours (24 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX4
Colors Black, Red, White
    Beats Studio Buds
    The Beats Studio Buds are a good option not only for iOS but also if you're on Android. They're a good companion for workouts and have a sound signature most people will enjoy.

Best for Most People: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in lavender

The Galaxy Buds 2 replace the Galaxy Buds+ which were easily one of the best pairs of TWS earphones on a budget. There are some much-needed improvements on these earbuds like ANC which make them all the more enticing, compared to the last-gen Buds+. The sound quality is very close to what you get from the Galaxy Buds Pro which are among the best pairs of wireless earbuds you can get.

The Galaxy Buds 2 have an IPX2 rating and come with three microphones to allow for clear audio even while taking calls. Samsung has also put in place some machine learning algorithms to help cut down on ambient noise by up to 98%. The only downside to these earbuds is that you don’t get in-ear detection, so if you remove the earbuds from your ears while you’re playing music, the track won’t pause by itself. If you’re okay with that, then the Galaxy Buds 2 are a great option.

Specification Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Battery life 5 hours (20 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX2
Colors White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender
    Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
    The Galaxy Buds 2 have all the core features that you would expect from a premium pair of TWS earbuds but at a reasonable price making them an ideal option for most people.

Also Great: Oppo Enco X

OPPO Enco X tws

While Oppo doesn’t sell its products in all markets around the world, if you live in the EU or in Asia, the Oppo Enco X offers tremendous value for its asking price. The Enco X is Oppo’s flagship pair of TWS earbuds and offers all the high-end features that you would expect from earbuds that are priced much higher than the Enco X. For starters, you get Active Noise Cancellation that works better than most other earbuds in this price range. Then, there’s support for the LHDC codec which is the closest you can get in terms of high-quality audio on wireless earbuds.

The Oppo Enco X doesn’t just sound good, but they also offer a good amount of features and customization when linked to an Android smartphone. The battery life is great too with about 24 hours of playback time including the case, and they’re also IP54 rated so you can wear them to the gym or outside for a run. It even has wireless charging.

Specification Oppo Enco X
Battery life 5.5 hours (25 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IP54
Colors White, Black
    Oppo Enco X
    The Oppo Enco X TWS earbuds punch well above their weight and offer premium features like ANC, Wireless Charging, and IP54 rating at a competitive price.

Best for Working Out: Jabra Elite Active 75t

Jabra Elite Active 75t

Having a good pair of earbuds is essential if you’re the kind of person that gets pumped up by a nice playlist on Spotify while working out, and the Jabra Elite Active 75t is a pair of earbuds that are specifically engineered for this use case. The Jabra Elite Active 75t belongs to the “Active” lineup of Jabra earbuds, and this means that they’re as good as they get for running and hitting the gym. They come with active noise cancellation so you never miss a beat, and they’re protected from sweat, water, and dust, coming with an IP57 rating, so they’ll keep up with you no matter how harsh the environment is.

At their price point, they’re not the most expensive earbuds out there, but also not the cheapest, trading bouts with a lot of options on our list. They also enjoy decent user reviews on Amazon, and Jabra is a company that has made a name for itself in the audio space over the years. They’re one of the best true wireless earbuds out there if you’re someone who works out a lot.

Specification Jabra Elite Active 75t
Battery life 5.5 hours with ANC on (24 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IP57
Colors Mint, Copper Black, Navy, Sienna, Gold Beige, Titanium Black
    Jabra Elite Active 75t
    The Jabra Elite Active 75t are one of the best pairs of TWS earphones for working out. They stay put in your ears and the IP57 rating ensures they're safe against sweat.

Best Premium: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

These Sennheiser earbuds also come at a pretty penny as well, but Sennheiser is a name that’s known for greatness in the audio space, and the Momentum True Wireless 2 will definitely not let you down in this regard. The 7 mm dynamic drivers on these bad boys can, according to Sennheiser, deliver “deep bass, natural mids, and clear, detailed treble”. The reviews on these all seem to agree that the listening experience on these earbuds is godly. Battery life is also a plus, with seven hours of listening as well as a total of 28 hours with the charging case. There’s also an app available on both Android and iOS that allows you to use the earbuds’ built-in equalizer and tweak some of their other settings.

They’re definitely worth a look if you’re looking for the best true wireless earbuds and you have $250 burning in your pocket.

Specification Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
Battery life 4 hours with ANC on (20 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX4
Colors White/Grey, Black
    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
    The Jabra Elite Active 75t are one of Jabra's premium options for people living a fit lifestyle. They have water resistance, good battery life, ANC, and they sound great.

Best Budget: OnePlus Buds Z

OnePlus Buds Z

OnePlus isn’t a brand that’s known for making quality earbuds. They’re known for making phones, and while their phones are good, they don’t have much of a name for themselves when it comes to earbuds. The OnePlus Buds Z, though? They’re not bad for their price tag. Now, you won’t find active noise cancellation or anything like that here. But fancy features are not the point of them. The point of them is delivering a listening experience that doesn’t suck for a pretty affordable price, and once you take that mission into account, they start to look better. Have you looked at that battery life? Five hours of continuous listening and 20 hours of total battery life is not too shabby for $50 earbuds.

If you want to keep your budget low, this is among the best picks for the best true wireless earbuds you can get for your money.

Specification OnePlus Buds Z
Battery life 5 hours (20 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IP55
Colors White, Grey, Steven Harrington Edition
    OnePlus Buds Z
    The OnePlus Buds Z are really some of the best true wireless earbuds that you can get on a budget, delivering great audio and great battery life.

Also Great: Google Pixel Buds (2nd gen)

google pixel buds 2

The Google Pixel Buds didn’t really fit as a top pick in any of these categories, but it gets a shout-out nonetheless because they managed to actually improve on a lot of stuff since the first generation. I was actually one of those crazy people that owned the first-gen Pixel Buds and actually liked them a lot despite all of the (probably well deserved) criticism about them, so any improvement on them is a big plus in my book. The second-gen Pixel Buds gets rid of the wire between the two buds while also improving on a lot of things that were criticized about the originals, like the gestures, the audio quality, and more. There’s no active noise cancellation on these, but hey, they actually have a rubber seal this time!

They won’t disappoint one bit, and they’re one of the best true wireless earbuds on this list.

Specification Google Pixel Buds
Battery life 5 hours (24 hours w/ charging case)
Water resistance IPX4
Colors Clearly White, Oh So Orange, Quite Mint, Almost Black
    Google Pixel Buds (2020)
    The new Google Pixel Buds fix many of the flaws the original version had while also making them truly wireless, adding a bunch of features, and keeping everything under a not-so-high price increase.

These are our top picks for the best true wireless earbuds currently on the market. The best of the best right now, if you ask me, would be the Sony WF-1000XM4 as it’s got the best ANC, stellar battery life, and a set of premium features which definitely makes it worth its asking price. Of course, it’s all going to come down to your personal preferences and which aspect you value the most — value, price, or overall experience. Some options out there will keep your wallet mostly intact like the OnePlus Buds Z which offers great value for money, while others will make a dent on it, but also give you an amazing sound experience.

Which do you like the most?

The post These are the Best True Wireless Earbuds in October: Sony, Apple, Samsung, and more! appeared first on xda-developers.



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Samsung removes ads from Samsung Pay & Samsung Health, more to follow

Samsung has finally started getting rid of ads in One UI stock apps. Earlier this year, the company promised to remove ads from proprietary apps, like Samsung Weather, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Theme. But, at the time, it didn’t share a definite timeline for the same. Samsung has finally started removing ads from One UI stock apps, starting with Samsung Health and Samsung Pay.

In a statement on the Samsung Community forums (via TizenHelp), a moderator has revealed that the Samsung Health app won’t display ads starting today. They wrote:

“This is the Samsung Health Operation Manager. Please note that the banner at the top of the Samsung Health app will not be provided from October 1st.” (Machine translated)

A separate post from a community member reveals that the company has also removed the banner from Samsung Pay. It includes the following screenshot.

Samsung Pay without ads

It’s great that Samsung is finally getting around to removing ads from One UI stock apps. While the company still hasn’t any information on when it will remove ads from the rest of its apps, we expect to see similar updates for Samsung Weather, Samsung Theme, and more in the coming weeks. However, it’s still unclear if Samsung will also remove the ads sent via push notification on its devices in a similar fashion.

It’s worth noting that Samsung has currently only removed ads from Samsung Health and Samsung Pay in the South Korean One UI firmware release. It might be a while before these changes go live in other regions. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as that happens.

The post Samsung removes ads from Samsung Pay & Samsung Health, more to follow appeared first on xda-developers.



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