The Pixel 8A is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 chipset with 8 GB of RAM, just like the Pixel 8 series. That means it’ll be capable of much of the same software wizardry Google showed off last year with the debut of its flagship, including Audio Magic Eraser, which lets you erase unwanted sounds in video clips (like sirens); Magic Editor, where you can move subjects around and have the software generate a background to fill in the space; and Best Take, which can replace a person’s face in a photo by clipping it from a similar photo, which is useful in case someone blinked and ruined an otherwise perfect shot.
This phone will also be able to tap into Google’s Gemini Nano large language model. To enable Gemini Nano, you’ll have to go into the Pixel’s developer settings and check a box that says you agree to run experimental features that may or may not work perfectly yet. When enabled, Gemini Nano lets you access specific on-device AI features, like summarize in Google’s Recorder app and Smart Reply in Gboard. Gemini Nano will be available in a future software update, but Google confirmed that while the default assistant in this handset remains Google Assistant, you can replace it with its Gemini assistant easily out of the box, just like you can on most other Android phones today.
Speaking of, just like the Pixel 8 series, Google is promising seven years of software updates on this phone. That makes the Pixel 8A one of the only sub-$500 devices to get such a long software support window. Google’s also offering the same built-in VPN function too. The device comes with 128 GB of storage, and there’s now a 256-GB option, though that’s restricted to the Obsidian color. The Pixel 8A’s other colors include Bay, Porcelain, and a lovely new Aloe.
The Pixel 8A comes in Bay, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Aloe.
The Google Pixel 8a could be with us as early as May 14, when Google I/O 2024 gets underway, and a fresh leak potentially gives us all the specs of the device – as well as pricing for the mid-range phone in Europe.
This comes from @MysteryLupin (via Android Police), and while some of this information has been leaked before, we haven’t previously seen such a comprehensive list of every spec the Pixel 8a is going to bring along with it.
Under the hood we’re looking at a Tensor G3 chipset (just like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro), 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of on-board storage. The screen is said to be a 6.1-inch AMOLED display with up to 2,000 nits of brightness at its peak.
The rear cameras apparently come in at 64MP and 13MP, with a 13MP selfie camera on the front – and a slew of AI photo editing features are mentioned in the leak, as you would expect from a Google Pixel phone. The battery is said to last up to 72 hours with power saver mode enabled, or “over 24 hours” with normal use.
Colors and costs
There’s an interesting list of colors in this leak: Volcanic Black, Porcelain, Blue, Azure, Green, and Aloe. That sounds like two shades of blue and two shades of green to make six colors in total, whereas previous leaks have only shown four. It’s possible there might be variations in availability based on region.
We also have a starting price for Europe too: €549. That’s a little higher than the €509 that the Google Pixel 7a cost when it first launched, so prices in other parts of the world may get bumped too (the Pixel 7a was priced at $499 / £449 / AU$749 at launch).
The pricing of this smartphone is an interesting one, because €569 and €599 have also been mentioned in previous leaks. It seems as though there’s no consensus on whether the Google Pixel 8a is set to get a price hike or not.
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Ultimately, how much the Pixel 8a costs is going to go a long way to determining whether or not it’s better value for money than the Pixel 8, which starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,199. In a couple of weeks, we should know for sure.
Concessions to modernity include sapphire crystal instead of plastic for the dial covering on these new models, and high-grade rubber straps instead of the plastic of old. The range includes five versions with stainless steel cases (two of which have black PVD coatings to match their bezels), and five featuring cases in the original Arnite, in fun colorways designed in partnership with New York-based Kith.
Ronnie Fieg, Kith’s founder and an influential figure in today’s streetwear and sneaker world, is also a passionate collector of vintage TAG Heuer Formula 1s. The all-plastic versions, plus two steel versions with bright blue and green bezels respectively, are exclusive to Kith—find them in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hawaii, Tokyo and Paris, or on its website.
But expect to move fast, because if the MoonSwatch is any precedent, the scalpers will move faster—notwithstanding the fact that at $1,350, the new Formula 1s are five times the price of a MoonSwatch.
But they are rare: there are only 250 examples each of the Kith exclusive all-Arnite models, and 350 of the two steel Kith exclusives. The two models with black-coated steel cases, also with green or blue bezels and straps, are exclusive to TAG Heuer stores (and will not be online), and limited to 825 pieces each.
Finally, the version with a stainless steel case and bracelet, and black bezel, is shared between both brands, and limited to 1,350 pieces. All models feature quartz movements and 200-meter water resistance, just as the originals did. There is also, according to TAG Heuer’s press release, a boxed set featuring all ten watches, though the brand has yet to confirm how and where it is available.
As well as featuring Kith’s “Just Us” slogan on the dial, the watches are also co-branded, with “Kith” replacing “TAG” in the watchmaker’s logo—the first time TAG Heuer has ever co-branded a watch, and reflective of the company’s keenness to speak to the Gen Z consumers that are meat and drink to brands like Kith.
Indeed, modern TAG Heuer, owned by LVMH, the luxury conglomerate, since 1999, has been going through its own series of rebirths in recent years. These have included the development of its high-end Connected smartwatch; the introduction of lab-grown diamonds for high-end models; attempts (ongoing, but as yet unsuccessful) to revolutionize hairspring production with nano-technology; a recent reintroduction of its long-dormant eyewear business; the introduction, with Citizen’s help, of solar-powered models; and multiple changes in both management, product and pricing strategy.
Just under 5,000 watches will be available in total from this pimped F1 reissue, spread across 10 limited editions. However, unlike the MoonSwatch, some will be available online.
Today, Bang & Olufsen—the audio company that has made what we called “the prettiest gadgets in the world”—is rereleasing its iconic CD player, the Beosound 9000. If you were alive in the 1990s, you definitely saw this CD player standing in a place of honor, six discs and glass lid gleaming, either in your bougiest friend’s home or in the background on an episode of Entourage. Now you can buy it again as a new item from Bang & Olufsen rather than bid for one on eBay.
This is the second project in a series of what the company calls “recreated classics.” Bang & Olufsen sourced 200 original units of the Beosound 9000 and brought them to the company’s factory in Struer, Denmark. There, the Bang & Olufsen team—some of whom worked on the original models—carefully disassembled, cleaned, and repaired each unit. Each was then individually tested and fine-tuned to meet B&O’s audio standards.
To lend it a more modern look, the team inverted the black and aluminum finishes of the original. The new black backplate makes the CDs stand out even more as works of art. But never fear—all the aluminum parts are still from the original Beosound 9000s. The pieces were all brushed, etched, and blasted in Bang & Olufsen’s factory, then re-machined and re-anodized to bring them in line with the looks of the classic player.
The Beosystem 9000c is a complete package.
Photograph: Bang & Olufsen
The dressed-up CD players will only be sold as part of a package that includes a pair of high-end Beolab 28 speakers and a fancy Beoremote. The products are bundled together under the name Beosystem 9000c. Only 200 units are being produced, and each bundle costs $55,000. Even if that price puts it out of reach for most of us, the Beosound 9000’s design is worthy of celebration for what it represents.
What Goes Around
The player’s glass door swings open on a motor so you can change the discs.
Photograph: Bang & Olufsen
The Danish brand has long prioritized product longevity, using high-end materials and keeping durability in mind. Also, its products exude timeless, quirky vibes that you really just can’t get anywhere else. I always think of the Beosound Bluetooth speaker that looks just like a picnic basket, but in 2021 the company also released the Beosound Level, an exceptionally beautiful $2,000 Bluetooth speaker that was designed to be easily repaired; the battery, wood, and cloth elements are all replaceable, giving the speaker a lifespan of decades instead of years.
“The consumer electronics industry is not as resource-efficient as it should be,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, the head of product circularity and portfolio planning at B&O, who I reached over email. By tackling obsolescence through design, he says, his team can “create a movement toward a more long-lasting future, where products serve a purpose after their first useful lifecycle.”
The original Beosound 9000 was designed by David Lewis, a legendary industrial designer whose work is currently showcased in the Museum of Modern Art. The player’s design—with its inner workings on full display and encased in glass—was based on the concept of “audiovisuality,” which is the idea that exposing a music machine’s basic functionality is beautiful.
Of course, these days it’s no big deal to see a clear computer case or a folding phone with an exposed hinge. But back in the 1990s, watching a smooth clamp slide soundlessly between CDs or seeing the Beosound 9000’s motorized glass lid slowly swing open was the height of luxury.
Comes Back Around
Bang & Olufsen’s rerelease also comes at a time of a CD revival. In my twenties, I worked in a record store—which we called a record store, even though we mostly sold CDs. That’s where bands played free daytime shows and did CD signings and where we wandered over to the death metal or African funk listening stations because the country section was too crowded.
That click-click-click of people shuffling through bins of jewel cases is permanently embedded in my brain. A lot of us miss it, even those of us who weren’t old enough at the time to listen to music on compact disc, as evidenced by Gen Z buyers gobbling up long-neglected CD collections.
A compact, family-size car, the BYD Seal is unapologetically aimed at taking on the Tesla Model 3. That said, it’s bigger than the American in every dimension, most notably in both length (4,800 millimeters versus 4,694 millimeters for the Model 3) and wheelbase (2,920 millimeters versus 2,875 millimeters). The result is a roomier car with interior space similar to that of a vehicle in a class above.
Sleek, and with a Model 3–beating drag coefficient of just 0.219 Cd, the Seal is the production version of the Ocean-X concept from 2021. That concept is where BYD revealed the eplatform 3.0 that underpins all of its current cars.
Better Blades
As we wrote about in our review of the BYD Atto 3, the company’s patented “blade battery” pack design aims to set it apart from other manufacturers. It’s a key component of the Seal’s platform and arranges lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in a bladelike design.
BYD claims its use of LFP as the cathode material makes for a safer battery than conventional lithium-ion alternatives. It also boasts of improved thermal stability and a higher energy density than its rivals. The Blade design also means that puncture damage to the battery pack in a collision is less likely to cause thermal runaway and the potential for fire, BYD says.
Also featured in the Seal is what BYD claims to be the world’s first 8-in-1 electric powertrain system, with an overall efficiency of 89 percent. This combines the drive motor, inverter, transmission, onboard charger, AC/DC, power distribution unit, vehicle control unit, and battery management system. The platform is also capable of 800-volt charging (like Kia and Hyundai), but while in other EVs this often means the possibility for ultrafast DC charging, the Seal is limited to a middling 150 kW.
There’s also a direct heating and cooling system for the battery, which increases thermal efficiency by up to a claimed 20 percent. BYD also says improved thermal efficiency can mean a 20 percent improvement to range in cold weather, too.
Interestingly, the Seal’s blade battery forms an integral part of the Seal’s eplatform 3.0 architecture and allows for a cell-to-body (CTB) construction, where the battery pack itself is incorporated within the vehicle structure, improving rigidity.
CTB means that the batteries are no longer a dead weight in the car, and now form part of the load-bearing structure, with the top of the battery pack effectively being the floor of the car. This means torsional rigidity can be 40,500 Nm/degree, which is about the level of a luxury car.
Refined Ride
Low-speed ride quality can be a touch lacking, but once up to speed the Seal is fun to drive.
PHOTOGRAPH: BYD
All this translates into good handling with a comfortable, somewhat refined ride at speed. Those fairly conventional but not unattractive looks are somewhat beguiling, since there’s 50/50 weight distribution and double wishbone suspension at the front to give a sporty setup.
Google may be shaking things up with the launch of the Pixel 9 series later this year because we could see four individual models, including a renamed Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This nugget of information comes from a “Google insider” who spoke to Android Authority. According to their source, the quartet consists of the base Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, a new Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the aforementioned foldable. Not much is known about the individual devices. Neither specs nor features were mentioned in the leak. However, all four together in the same lineup suggests they deliver similar performance, which will be a big deal for Pixel Fold fans in particular.
You see, the original Pixel Fold was a bit of a disappointments. It’s still a solid smartphone, but the Tensor G2 chipset in the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7 series proved to be a dud. Performance is decent but not amazing, and phones with the Tensor G2 tend to have poor battery life. Plus, in our experience, those devices can run unusually hot. Remember, when it launched the Fold cost $1,800 in the US. You can’t fault people for wanting more.
It was assumed up until recently that the Pixel Fold 2 would adopt the Tensor G3 chipset and address all of the previous models problems. But we’re still waiting for the next foldable to be unveiled.
Possible hardware
It’s hard to say for sure what kind of the hardware will be found under the hood. To reiterate, device specs were not in the report. An earlier leak suggests the next phones will use an expected Tensor G4 chipset. That system on a chip (SoC) is slated to be on the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro. Logic dictates it’ll be the same hardware on a Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Design-wise, Android Authority claims the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will look similar to the other three models. The site says they saw renders of the smartphone, but didn’t share any of them. They instead posted an image of what was then known as the Pixel Fold 2 from yet another leak from late February.
What’s in a name?
While we’re on the topic of names, there’s a possibility “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” will not be the official name at launch. Android Authority says the name change from “Fold 2” to the current moniker was a recent development. The current branding may simply be a placeholder until a proper title has been finalized.
As always, take this leak with a grain of salt. Things could always change. We won’t have to wait long to learn more as Google I/O 2024 kicks off in about a month. At the event, we expect to see the Pixel 8a plus a teaser for the new series.
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The Range Rover Evoque changed Land Rover forever. Before its launch in 2012, the 4×4 maker’s SUVs were attractive, but in a functional, boxy sort of way. After it, the British brand was as much about the latest trends and fashion as off-roading and country estates.
Speaking at the launch event in 2012, Victoria Beckham spoke about her hand in creating it. “I’ve designed a car that I want to drive,” she said at the time. Since then, however, chief creative officer Gerry McGovern has corrected matters somewhat, stating that Posh Spice exaggerated her role in the creation of the Evoque.
Still, by 2016, more than half a million Evoques have been sold globally in more than 180 countries, with Land Rover describing it as its “greatest sales success story.”
It’s hardly surprising, then, considering the model’s history, that the designers of the latest Evoque opted to take an evolutionary approach in terms of technology to the urban-orientated SUV.
This iteration comes in four different models; Range Rover Evoque S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, and finally Autobiography, all of which have a plug-in hybrid option. WIRED got its hands on the top-end Autobiography model on a brand-hosted drive in the Champagne wine region in the northeast of France. But will it be a vintage year for JLR?
On the surface the changes are subtle; inside is where the overhaul has really happened. That said, the Evoque’s exterior presence is enhanced by a new grille and revised super-slim Pixel LED headlights with signature DRL (daytime running lights), which deliver a technical, jewel-like appearance. New exterior accents also complement the characteristic “floating roof” that defines Range Rover’s design DNA.
The new super-slim Pixel LED headlights aren’t just for show, either—they house JLR’s new advanced headlight tech. Each light has 26 individual LED segments, which switch on or off automatically to supposedly provide the most effective forward beam at all times. These segments are also home to sensors, which scan the roads ahead and at each side. When another vehicle is in sight, the LEDs within the section it’s covering shut off, ensuring that you are not blinding any oncoming vehicle.
Speed-capturing cameras placed within the headlights pick up speed warning signs, instantly letting you know what speed you should be going on any given road. However, when driving down the freeway, the cameras would occasionally pick up side road signs, and in doing so show an incorrect reading on the dash.
All About the Inside
Photograph: Land Rover
The interior is where we see the big changes. The Evoque does channel its big brother, the flagship Range Rover to good effect inside, with comfortable seats, high-end materials, and a slick touchscreen infotainment system that’s consumed all the tech around it from previous examples. More on that in a bit.
There’s every chance that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be the most popular foldable phone of the year. After all, it comes from the leader in the foldable space, and it’s likely to be far more affordable than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
But that likely lower price doesn’t mean the specs won’t be up to scratch, as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will probably have a top-end chipset, among other impressive specs. Then again, some aspects of the phone might be less impressive.
So to give you a clearer idea of what specs to expect – both good and bad – here’s a rundown of the key rumored specs of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 predicted specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs (rumored)
Foldable display:
6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2640
Cover screen:
3.9-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
Operating system:
Android 15
Chipset:
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Rear cameras:
50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide
Front camera:
10MP
RAM:
8GB / 12GB
Storage:
256GB / 512GB
Battery:
4,000mAh
The chart above details the key specs that we’re currently expecting from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, based on the rumors we’ve heard so far combined with some educated guesses. So none of this is confirmed just yet, but it’s our best guess as to what we’ll see when the phone launches – likely in July.
Starting with the foldable screen, we’re expecting this to be a 6.7-inch one, as multiple sources have said the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a 6.7-inch screen. That’s the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s screen but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as few phones have screens that are much bigger than 6.7 inches.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will also almost certainly use AMOLED, just like its predecessor, and we’ve heard that the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s brightness might be the same as last year too (meaning 1,750 nits). That same source claims that unsurprisingly it will also have a 120Hz refresh rate once again.
There’s no news on the resolution, but with the other screen specs possibly being the same as last year, we’d think there’s a good chance that will be too, meaning a resolution of 1080 x 2640.
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
As with the foldable display there’s no news on what the cover screen’s resolution might be. And this is harder to predict, since if it’s a larger size then it’s likely to also be higher resolution than the 720 x 748 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The chipset is another aspect that we’re expecting to get upgraded, with both leaks and logic pointing to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. That would be a generational leap from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the current model, and would also see it match the Samsung Galaxy S24 line for power.
For RAM, the options will reportedly be 8GB and 12GB, while storage is rumored to come in at a choice of 256GB and 512GB. For reference, the Z Flip 5 has the same storage configurations, but only an 8GB of RAM model.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
On to the cameras, and multiple leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a 50MP main camera, up from a 12MP one on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. That said, one source disagrees and says its will be 12MP again, so while we suspect 50MP is right we can’t be certain.
It’s also expected to have a second rear camera, which will likely be a 12MP ultra-wide one, just like last year. We haven’t heard anything about the front-facing camera, so for now we’re predicting a return of the Z Flip 5’s 10MP one.
Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6’s battery will apparently be 4,000mAh. We’ve heard that claim from several sources, so it’s likely accurate; especially as others have more vaguely said it will have better battery life (which a 4,000mAh battery would likely deliver, as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 3,700mAh one).
That’s all the key specs covered, but again, this is mostly leaks paired with a few educated guesses, so there’s a chance any of this could be wrong.
The Google Pixel 8a isn’t much of a secret at this stage. A new batch of leaks gives further evidence of the handset’s existence and tells us the specs and the design we can look forward to in the upcoming mid-range phone.
Well-known tipster Yogesh Brar (via Android Authority) has posted several specs for the phone, as well as a price estimate of $500 – $550 (that’s about £395 – £435 / AU$760 – AU$835). As for the phone, we can expect a 6.1-inch, 120Hz, OLED screen, a Tensor G3 chip, as well as 128GB and 256GB storage options.
Google Pixel 8a- 6.1″ FHD+ OLED, 120Hz- Tensor G3- 128/256GB storage- 64MP (OIS) + 13MP (UW)- 13MP selfie- Android 14- 4,500mAh (~)- 27W chargingLaunch: May ($500-550)What are your price expectations?April 5, 2024
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Apparently, there’s a dual-lens 64MP+13MP camera around the back and a 13MP selfie camera on the front, with power provided by a 4,500mAh battery. Those specs match up well with the Google Pixel 8, though we assume the new phone will come with cheaper materials and a few other compromises to hit a lower price.
The leak lends more credence to some of the earlier rumors we’ve seen, including one about the 120Hz screen on the Pixel 8a. As you’ll see from our full Google Pixel 8 review, that handset retails at $699 / £699 / AU$1,199, so there may not be too much to choose between these phones when the Pixel 8a appears.
Google hints
This couldn’t be the Pixel 8a, could it? (Image credit: Google)
There are a couple of other leaks to tell you about. One, as spotted by MySmartPrice, suggests several Pixel 8a models have now shown up in the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) database. This doesn’t tell us too much, other than that a launch is getting closer.
And lastly, it seems Google is getting in on the leaks. As spotted by GSMArena and others, a new Google Fi Wireless advert shows a phone that doesn’t exactly match the Pixel 8 design, leading to some speculation that this is the Pixel 8a. Of course, it might just be a mockup of a generic Pixel phone.
The biggest changes this year could be around the phone’s design, because leaked renders have pointed to larger bezels and curvier corners. Those extra curves also appeared in a separate leak, making it easier to believe this is the final Pixel 8a design.
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