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	<title type="text">Dominic Preston | The Verge</title>
	<subtitle type="text">The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.</subtitle>

	<updated>2026-04-23T08:00:57+00:00</updated>

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		<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Honor’s new phones look like iPhones for Android]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/917301/honors-new-phones-look-like-iphones-for-android" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=917301</id>
			<updated>2026-04-23T04:00:57-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-23T04:00:57-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="iPhone" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Honor has announced the 600 and 600 Pro, which it calls “accessible flagships,” and they look… familiar. Especially in that orange. The Pro makes the iPhone comparison especially obvious thanks to its triple rear camera — it even has the same flash layout — while the 600 is just a hair subtler because it drops the [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
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<img alt="Honor 600 Pro in orange, in front of an orange backdrop with flowers" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Honor" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/honor-600-pro-orange.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
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<p class="has-text-align-none">Honor has announced the 600 and 600 Pro, which it calls “accessible flagships,” and they look… familiar. Especially in that orange.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The Pro makes the iPhone comparison especially obvious thanks to its triple rear camera — it even has the same flash layout — while the 600 is just a hair subtler because it drops the Pro’s 3.5x telephoto lens. Honor actually pulled the same move with last year’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/827643/the-honor-500-looks-air-y-familiar">iPhone Air-inspired Honor 500</a>, but that phone only launched in Asia.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Both phones have IP69K water-resistance ratings (a tougher rating that covers testing with water jets closer to the phone), midsize 6.57-inch OLED displays, and big 6,400mAh batteries (with even larger 7,000mAh capacities in Asia). Both have 80W wired charging, but only the Pro supports wireless. It also has a more powerful <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/21/24273802/qualcomm-8-elite-oryon-cpu-android-smartphone-soc">Snapdragon 8 Elite chip</a>, last year’s Qualcomm flagship, with the midrange 7 Gen 4 in the cheaper phone.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The two phones launch in Europe today, starting at €649.90 (about $760) for the Honor 600, and €999.90 ($1,170) for the 600 Pro. That makes the Pro about the same price as a base iPhone 17 in the region, and several hundred Euros cheaper than the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/779265/iphone-17-pro-max-review">17 Pro models</a> that have clearly inspired it.</p>

<div class="c-image-compare alignnone wp-block-vox-media-image-compare">
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<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/honor-600-pro-orange-comparison.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Orange Honor 600 Pro on a white background" title="Orange Honor 600 Pro on a white background" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Honor" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/iphone-17-pro-orange-comparison.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Orange iPhone 17 Pro on a white background" title="Orange iPhone 17 Pro on a white background" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Apple" />
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									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Oppo’s new phone has one camera too many]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/915686/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-10x-telephoto-lens" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=915686</id>
			<updated>2026-04-21T12:48:58-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-21T13:00:00-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phone Reviews" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Reviews" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra offers something that no other new phone has for three long years: a 10x telephoto lens. In an attempt to win the photography front of the war between the various Ultra flagships, Oppo has turned to a trick last employed by Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra. It&#8217;s a better 10x lens than [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
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<img alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting horizontally on a wooden post in front of green plants" data-caption="The two-paneled design is my favorite of the year so far." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-3.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
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	The two-paneled design is my favorite of the year so far.	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-drop-cap has-text-align-none">Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra offers something that no other new phone has for three long years: a 10x telephoto lens. In an attempt to win the photography front of the war between the various Ultra flagships, Oppo has turned to a trick last employed by <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23598871/samsung-galaxy-s23-ultra-review-camera-battery-screen-s-pen">Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra</a>. It&#8217;s a better 10x lens than ever before, but is it good enough for the moments you might really need it?</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The long-distance lens is the best of its kind, but compared to this phone’s other lenses it struggles a little with the usual suspects: moving subjects, low light, and moving subjects in low light. Fortunately the Find X9 Ultra is an excellent phone otherwise. It pairs top specs, including a big battery and excellent display, with what I think is a truly handsome design (it’s my favorite of the year so far). And while the 10x lens might be verging on a gimmick, the rest of the camera system is among the best on the market.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Oppo Find X9 Ultra</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-9.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the home screen" /></figure>
<div class="product-scores"><h4>Score: 7</h4><table class="product-pros-cons"><thead><tr><th>Pros</th><th>Cons</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Handsome design</li><li>Flagship specs across the board</li><li>Capable camera system</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>10x camera feels limited</li><li>No Qi2 magnets</li><li>Expensive</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://oppostore.co.uk/findx9ultra.html"> $1960 at <strong>Oppo UK</strong></a></li></ul></div>
<p class="has-text-align-none">Unlike Oppo’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/646397/oppo-find-x8-ultra-china-release-thin-camera-battery">previous Ultras</a>, and its <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/901846/oppo-find-n6-review-crease-screen-specs-price">Find N foldables</a>, the X9 Ultra is launching in Europe and the UK, where it costs £1,449 (around $1,960) and ships from May 8th. That includes 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">That gets you an excellent phone. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the 144Hz OLED display and a joint IP66, IP68, and IP69 rating keeps out everything from dust to high-temperature water jets. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/784997/qualcomm-snapdragon-8-elite-gen-5">Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5</a> powers the performance, and a hefty 7,050mAh silicon-carbon battery keeps things running well past a full day. The top 100W charging speed relies on Oppo’s proprietary SuperVooc chargers, but it still tops up at a relatively speedy 55W over USB-PD. It’ll receive five major Android OS updates, and six years of security patches.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Of course, you could look at any 2026 Ultra flagship from Oppo’s rivals and see a similar spec sheet. They’re now competing on design and cameras instead.&nbsp;</p>

<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra held in someone’s hand, showing the Oppo logo" title="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra held in someone’s hand, showing the Oppo logo" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The horizontal logos emphasize that this is as much camera as phone.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-7.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the rear camera island" title="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the rear camera island" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;I’m not a fan of the curved hexagon effect on the camera glass.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-6.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0.011361054305837,100,99.977277891388" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting horizontally on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the orange shutter button" title="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting horizontally on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the orange shutter button" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The shutter button and camera ring provide Hasselblad orange accents.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" /></figure>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Oppo has outdone its competition on design. My “tundra umber” version is explicitly styled after retro cameras, and does a better job of it than <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/886131/xiaomi-leica-leitzphone-17-ultra-review">Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra Leitzphone</a>. The two-paneled rear, finished in vegan leather, evokes classic camera aesthetics. And the horizontal Oppo and Hasselblad logos reinforce the idea that this is designed to be used first and foremost in landscape. The flat edges have curved corners to keep the phone comfortable, and orange accents on the camera ring and shutter button serve as a subtle nod to Hasselblad’s classic color (though the phone’s alternative “canyon orange” finish <a href="https://www.theverge.com/apple/775186/apple-iphone-17-pro-cosmic-orange-color-good">owes more to Apple</a>). The hexagonal effect on the edges of the camera glass is the only design choice I’m not a fan of, clashing with the simplicity in effect elsewhere.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The company hasn’t held back on the cameras, either, where competition is fiercest. Alongside a 50-megapixel selfie camera, Oppo has included four rear cameras: 200-megapixel main and 3x telephoto lenses, and 50-megapixel ultrawide and 10x telephoto options. Video is impressive, with 4K and 60fps Dolby Vision HDR recording across all five lenses, front and back. That’s in addition to a 300mm telephoto extender lens and a Hasselblad-branded camera grip case, sold separately — Oppo sent me both, but they arrived too late to test for this review.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-4.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting horizontally on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the rear cameras" title="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting horizontally on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the rear cameras" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The eagle-eyed may spot a fifth rear lens — it’s a multispectral color sensor.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">The Hasselblad Master mode adds pro controls and lets you shoot in RAW across every lens, with up to 16-bit color depth. It includes nine film simulations along with a default Hasselblad tuning that tones down vibrancy and HDR when compared to the regular camera. I was a bit frustrated with how oversaturated and smartphone-y shots looked out of the default camera until I realized this is where I should have been shooting all along, although the more aggressive HDR of the main camera mode does win out from time to time.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The main and 3x telephoto lenses offer more than mere megapixels. Both use larger sensors and faster apertures than most rivals: 1/1.12-inch type and f/1.5 for the main camera; 1/1.28-inch and f/2.2 for the 70mm equivalent tele. Photos are excellent out of both cameras, rich in detail and dynamic range, crisp in daylight and properly exposed at night.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="image-slider">
	<div class="image-slider">
		
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260419152846.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" title="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The Find X9 Ultra’s main camera is predictably excellent.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260419152849.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The 3x telephoto is great too.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260419152853.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" title="Photo of the Bologna skyline in the day taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;And the new 10x can capture some remarkable detail.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408174819.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra ultrawide camera" title="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra ultrawide camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;For this comparison I included the ultrawide too.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408174821.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" title="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408174823.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of a redbrick church with trees in front of it, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408174827.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a red brick church window taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" title="Photo of a red brick church window taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408212129.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a house lit up at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra ultrawide camera" title="Photo of a house lit up at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra ultrawide camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Here are the four lenses at night.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408212133.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of a house lit up at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" title="Photo of a house lit up at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408212137.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a flowerpot on a windowsill at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of a flowerpot on a windowsill at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408212146.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a flowerpot on a windowsill at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" title="Photo of a flowerpot on a windowsill at night taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The pink petals look a little soft in this 10x shot, but otherwise it’s held up well enough.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260418145038.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of tortellini in a green broth taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of tortellini in a green broth taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The 3x lens is my favorite, great for relatively close shots like this.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260419215648.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of flan in a bowl in dim restaurant lighting taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of flan in a bowl in dim restaurant lighting taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The 3x is great in dimmer lighting too.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260409194349.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of blurry cherry blossoms taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" title="Photo of blurry cherry blossoms taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Just the slight movement of the branches in the wind was enough to leave this 10x shot blurry and soft.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260411231454.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of drying glasses on a bar shelf in an pale red light, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" title="Photo of drying glasses on a bar shelf in an pale red light, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 10x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;This 10x shot is impressive considering how dark the room was, with challenging red lighting.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260411231734.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of drying glasses on a bar shelf in an intense red light, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" title="Photo of drying glasses on a bar shelf in an intense red light, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;But when I repeated the shot moments later, the phone switched to the 3x lens, completely changing the photo.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260411213240.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a flower in a dark room taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" title="Photo of a flower in a dark room taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;In general the phone jumps to the 3x in the dark, even at longer zoom distances, with poor results.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260411235849.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a fox in a park at night, with obvious excessive sharpening, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" title="Photo of a fox in a park at night, with obvious excessive sharpening, taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera but at 10x zoom" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;This fox was standing still, so it’s not blurry, but it is aggressively over-sharpened, to the point of being polygonal.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260408174844.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of excessively bright red flowers in a park taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" title="Photo of excessively bright red flowers in a park taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;On default settings the main camera can be excessively vibrant and saturated.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />





<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260415152357.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of pink leaves in front of a blue sky taken on the Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" title="Photo of pink leaves in front of a blue sky taken on the Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Here’s the default tuning again.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260415152359.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of pink leaves in front of a blue sky taken on the Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera on Hasselblad master mode" title="Photo of pink leaves in front of a blue sky taken on the Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera on Hasselblad master mode" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;And here’s Hasselblad Master mode, which subtly tones things down.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260417163823.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.6135770234987,100,88.772845953003" alt="Photo of dark church steps with a ray of light across them taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera with Hasselblad Master mode" title="Photo of dark church steps with a ray of light across them taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra main camera with Hasselblad Master mode" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Master mode’s HDR settings allow for much more dramatic photos like this.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260417164525.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a stained glass window inside a church with frescoes on the wall that are too dark to see clearly taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera with Hasselblad Master mode" title="Photo of a stained glass window inside a church with frescoes on the wall that are too dark to see clearly taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera with Hasselblad Master mode" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;But sometimes that effect isn’t quite right.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG20260417164532.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,5.5555555555556,100,88.888888888889" alt="Photo of a stained glass window inside a church with frescoes on the wall that are well-exposed taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" title="Photo of a stained glass window inside a church with frescoes on the wall that are well-exposed taken on Oppo Find X9 Ultra 3x telephoto camera" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;In this case, shooting on the default mode preserved detail and took a shot much closer to how the scene looked in real life.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />
	</div>
</div>

<p class="has-text-align-none">But the 10x lens is what makes this phone unique. This 230mm equivalent is the first of its kind since Samsung gave up on the format, but thanks to a larger 1/2.75-inch sensor, faster f/3.5 aperture, and new “quintuple prism” periscope design, Oppo claims this offers three times the light capture of the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s equivalent. Details are crisp, colors punchy, and it’s possible to get good photos even in slightly dimmer light. I’m impressed Oppo managed these results with a lens so small.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Still, it’s the only lens out of the five to show meaningful limitations. Moving subjects tend to come out soft and blurry. Color tuning can be inconsistent between photos, and is noticeably out of step with the other cameras on the phone. Direct light sources are frequently blown out. Point this camera at a static subject in good lighting and it’s great, but the rest of the time it’s merely alright.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-11.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the camera app on 10x zoom" title="Photo of Oppo Find X9 Ultra resting on a wooden post in front of green plants, showing the camera app on 10x zoom" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The camera app has orange accents too.&lt;/em&gt;" data-portal-copyright="" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">I’m just not sure what this lens brings to the table. I’m a full convert to lenses like the 70mm, which I now use more than the main camera, but I haven’t found myself reaching for the 230mm lens at all. I don’t often want to take close-up photos of things that are really far away, and the few times I do — soccer matches, concerts, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/912097/vivo-x300-ultra-camera-kit-hands-on">demolition derbies</a> — involve the sort of fast-moving subjects and tricky lighting that this camera struggles with. Half of the 10x photos I’ve taken haven’t even <em>used</em> the dedicated lens anyway, because the phone will often automatically switch to the 3x lens depending on the light level and focal distance. Altogether, it just makes me wonder why it’s even here.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">I’m a fan of Vivo’s and Oppo’s add-on telephoto extender lenses, which are even more niche than this, and <em>The Verge</em>’s Allison Johnson <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/912097/vivo-x300-ultra-camera-kit-hands-on">just enjoyed testing</a> Vivo’s new 200mm and 400mm extenders for its X300 Ultra. Those lenses may be bigger and less convenient, but they’re also much better. I compared the Find X9 Ultra to the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/808067/oppo-find-x9-pro-review">Find X9 Pro with its 230mm extender attached</a>, and the latter took better shots every time. It’s good enough that I’d trust it to photograph a moving singer in a dimly lit concert, or zoom in on a sprinting soccer player from afar. The Find X9 Ultra’s 230mm lens doesn’t quite meet that bar. And if I can’t trust it, I won’t use it.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">I don’t know what Oppo sacrificed to include the 10x lens here, but you can be sure that without it the phone would have offered bigger sensors on the other cameras, a larger battery, or simply a lower price tag. I think the Find X9 Ultra is a great phone, but I suspect the version of it without this lens would have been even better.</p>

<div class="wp-block-vox-media-highlight vox-media-highlight">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Agree to Continue: Oppo Find X9 Ultra</h2>



<p><em>Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.</em></p>



<p>To use the Find X9 Ultra, you must agree to:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20191021235929/https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en-US">Google Terms of Service</a></li>



<li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20191021235929/https://play.google.com/about/play-terms/index.html">Google Play Terms of Service</a></li>



<li>Google Privacy Policy (included in&nbsp;<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20191021235929/https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en-US">ToS</a>)</li>



<li>Install apps and updates: “You agree this device may also automatically download and install updates and apps from Google, your operator, and your device’s manufacturer, possibly using cellular data.”</li>



<li>Oppo User Agreement</li>



<li>Oppo User Privacy Protection</li>



<li>Oppo Data security</li>
</ul>



<p>There’s also a variety of optional agreements, including:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Provide anonymous location data for Google’s services</li>



<li>“Allow apps and services to scan for Wi-Fi networks and nearby devices at any time, even when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off.”</li>



<li>Send usage and diagnostic data to Google</li>



<li>Google Gemini Apps Privacy Notice if you opt in to using Gemini Assistant</li>



<li>Oppo Global Search services</li>



<li>Oppo Smart Decision-Making Service</li>



<li>Oppo Enhanced Intelligent Services</li>



<li>Oppo User Experience Programme</li>
</ul>



<p>Other features, like Google Wallet, may require additional agreements.</p>



<p>Final tally: seven mandatory agreements and more than eight optional agreements.</p>
</div>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Photography by Dominic Preston / The Verge</em></p>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Our new favorite budget phones]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/912286/our-new-favorite-budget-phones" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=912286</id>
			<updated>2026-04-17T12:01:12-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-17T11:58:07-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Android" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Google" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="iOS" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="iPhone" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Over the last few months, every phone maker under the sun has refreshed its lineups, especially at the affordable end, with no major budget phone launches now expected until next year. That made it the perfect time to go back and reassess The Verge’s recommendations for the best budget phones you can buy right now. [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
							<content type="html">
											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="iPhone 17E on a desk" data-caption="The iPhone 17E is the best cheap iPhone, no surprises there. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/DSC02956_processed.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
	The iPhone 17E is the best cheap iPhone, no surprises there. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">Over the last few months, every phone maker under the sun has refreshed its lineups, especially at the affordable end, with no major budget phone launches now expected until next year. That made it the perfect time to go back and reassess <em>The Verge</em>’s recommendations for the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/912271/best-budget-smartphones-cheap-iphone-android-phones">best budget phones</a> you can buy right now.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">You won’t be too surprised to hear that the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/891164/apple-iphone-17e-review">iPhone 17E</a> is now our recommendation for the best cheap iPhone, not least because it’s the <em>only</em> cheap iPhone. Still, this year’s addition of MagSafe charging makes it a much more well-rounded package than last year’s 16E, and with the same A19 chip as the flagship iPhone 17, you won’t find any phone with better performance for the price.</p>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Apple iPhone 17E</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/DSC03008_processed.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="iPhone 17E on a desk" /></figure>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/482924/435031/7613?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-iphone%2Fiphone-17e&#038;partnerpropertyid=7032191"> $599 at <strong>Apple (256GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/apple-iphone-17e-256gb-black-verizon/JCQ6HQTW3G"> $599.99 at <strong>Best Buy (256GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/apple-iphone-17e"> $599.99 at <strong>T-Mobile (256GB)</strong></a></li></ul></div>
<p class="has-text-align-none">On the Android side, I may have bemoaned how same-y <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/894319/google-pixel-10a-review-screen-specs-battery-camera">Google’s Pixel 10A is in my review</a>, but last year’s 9A was great, and a carbon copy of that is still pretty great too. It’s still the best cheap Android option for most people, thanks to lengthy software support and a capable camera. There is competition, though; my favorite alternative right now is the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/896626/nothing-phone-4a-pro-review-design-specs-battery-camera">Nothing Phone 4A Pro</a>, a bigger phone with a beautiful display and original aesthetic — and unlike most previous Nothing phones, it’s available to buy in the US.</p>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Google Pixel 10A</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/268356_Pixel_10A_and_Pixel_Buds_2A_OGrove7.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Illuminated screen of a Google Pixel 10A in someone’s hand." /></figure>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-10a-Smartphone-Detection/dp/B0GHRT7C7K/"> <strike>$499</strike> $449 at <strong>Amazon (128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/google-pixel-10a-128gb-unlocked-lavender/J39TC8CKZ8?skuId=6668561"> <strike>$499</strike> $449 at <strong>Best Buy (128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-10a-Smartphone-Detection/dp/B0GHRHNCZQ/"> <strike>$599</strike> $549 at <strong>Amazon (256GB)</strong></a></li></ul></div>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[The best budget smartphones you can buy]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/912271/best-budget-smartphones-cheap-iphone-android-phones" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=912271</id>
			<updated>2026-04-17T15:22:47-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-17T11:55:00-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Android" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Buying Guides" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Google" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="iOS" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="iPhone" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Verge Shopping" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Some of us take a kind of “eat to live” rather than a “live to eat” approach to gadgets. They’re tools that help you get things done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget nerd — [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
							<content type="html">
											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/268464_The_best_budget_phone_you_can_buy_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
		</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Some of us take a kind of “eat to live” rather than a “live to eat” approach to gadgets. They’re tools that help you get things done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget nerd — then you can probably think of more worthwhile ways to spend $1,000 than on a phone.</p>

<p>Budget phones to the rescue. These devices are roughly $600 or under, and they’re more capable than ever. You won’t get all the bells and whistles, but you will save a little money to spend on, I don’t know, actual bells and whistles. It’s your world.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">What compromises can you expect from a budget phone? Some combination of the following: slower processors, less storage, and worse cameras than flagship phones, almost across the board. Many have lower-resolution screens, most skip wireless charging, and water resistance is often less robust than on a pricier phone.</p>

<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="YvXuY9">The best cheap iPhone</h2>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Apple iPhone 17E</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/DSC03008_processed.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="iPhone 17E on a desk" /></figure>
<div class="product-scores"><h4>Score: 7</h4><table class="product-pros-cons"><thead><tr><th>Pros</th><th>Cons</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Now with magnets!</li><li>Healthy 256GB of storage in the base model</li><li>Capable, if basic, camera system</li><li>Basically the same processor as iPhone 17</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>No always-on display</li><li>Screen limited to 60Hz</li><li>No ultrawide camera or upgraded selfie cam</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/482924/435031/7613?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-iphone%2Fiphone-17e&#038;partnerpropertyid=7032191"> $599 at <strong>Apple (256GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/apple-iphone-17e-256gb-black-verizon/JCQ6HQTW3G"> $599.99 at <strong>Best Buy (256GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/apple-iphone-17e"> $599.99 at <strong>T-Mobile (256GB)</strong></a></li></ul></div>
<p><em><em><strong>Screen: </strong>6.1-inch, 1170p, 60Hz OLED / <strong>Processor:</strong> A19 <strong>/ Cameras:</strong> 48-megapixel f/1.6 with OIS, 12-megapixel selfie / <em><em><strong>Battery: </strong>4,005mAh /</em></em> <strong>Charging:</strong> 20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless / <strong>Weather-resistance rating:</strong> IP6</em></em>8</p>

<p>The iPhone 17E is the minimum viable iPhone — and I mean that in a good way. It has the same speedy A19 chipset as the standard iPhone 17, starts with a decent 256GB of storage, and offers a full day of battery life. It also comes with MagSafe, unlike <a href="https://www.theverge.com/reviews/620155/iphone-16e-review-c1-modem-battery-camera">last year’s 16E</a>, opening up faster magnetic wireless charging and a world of grips and accessories.</p>

<p>Still, there are a few big omissions in Apple’s cheapest iPhone. The most obvious is that it’s limited to a single 48-megapixel rear camera, lacking even an ultrawide. That’s something plenty of buyers are likely to find limiting. Fewer people are likely to be bothered by the phone’s lack of an always-on display, its 60Hz refresh rate, or the fact that it doesn’t support Apple’s Dynamic Island, which is a handy way to keep track of Live Activities.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/DSC02947_processed.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="iPhone 17E on a desk" title="iPhone 17E on a desk" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The iPhone 17E lacks the Dynamic Island found on other modern iPhones.&lt;/em&gt; | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">For some, those will be good reasons to spend $200 more on the iPhone 17. For others, they won’t — my mom had never even noticed her old iPhone 12 had a second rear camera, so I don’t think she’ll miss it on her new 17E. Android alternatives at this price will also get you extra lenses, smoother displays, and faster charging. But if you want an iPhone, and $600 is where your budget stops, the 17E is the best you’ve got without shopping pre-owned.</p>

<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="YIwYGs"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/891164/apple-iphone-17e-review">Read our full iPhone 17E review</a>.</h5>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="GfPhzN">The best cheap Android phone</h2>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Google Pixel 10A</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/268356_Pixel_10A_and_Pixel_Buds_2A_OGrove7.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Illuminated screen of a Google Pixel 10A in someone’s hand." /></figure>
<div class="product-scores"><h4>Score: 7</h4><table class="product-pros-cons"><thead><tr><th>Pros</th><th>Cons</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>The flush camera looks and feels great</li><li>Seven years of software updates</li><li>Satellite SOS support</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>It’s the Pixel 9A again</li><li>The Pixel 9A is cheaper</li><li>You should just buy the Pixel 9A</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-10a-Smartphone-Detection/dp/B0GHRT7C7K/"> <strike>$499</strike> $449 at <strong>Amazon (128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/google-pixel-10a-128gb-unlocked-lavender/J39TC8CKZ8?skuId=6668561"> <strike>$499</strike> $449 at <strong>Best Buy (128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-10a-Smartphone-Detection/dp/B0GHRHNCZQ/"> <strike>$599</strike> $549 at <strong>Amazon (256GB)</strong></a></li></ul></div>
<p><em><em><strong>Screen: </strong>6.3-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED / <strong>Processor:</strong> Tensor G4 / <strong>Cameras:</strong> 48-megapixel f/1.7 with OIS, 13-megapixel ultrawide, 13-megapixel selfie / <strong>Battery: </strong>5,100mAh / <strong>Charging:</strong> 30W wired, 10W wireless / <strong>Weather-resistance rating:</strong> IP68</em></em></p>

<p>You couldn’t call the Pixel 10A an ambitious phone; it’s essentially a carbon copy of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/phone-review/646135/google-pixel-9a-review-a-midrange-phone-done-right">last year’s Pixel 9A</a> with a slightly flatter camera bump. Still, Google’s competition hasn’t advanced much either, which means the 10A remains the best cheap Android phone you can buy, short of picking up a discounted 9A while it’s still on sale (well, at least in the US — buyers elsewhere should look to Poco and Realme for some stiff competition).</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The 10A is powered by the same Tensor G4 chip as last year, though its 6.3-inch OLED screen is slightly brighter. The battery is the same size, but Google says it should last a little longer thanks to optimization, and the 30W wired and 10W wireless charging is a fraction faster, too. The biggest addition over the 9A is satellite connectivity, which is useful if you regularly find yourself off the grid.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/google-pixel-10a-1.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Photo of Google Pixel 10A lying on white tiles" title="Photo of Google Pixel 10A lying on white tiles" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;The Pixel 10A doesn’t differ drastically from the prior model, but satellite connectivity is welcome.&lt;/em&gt; | Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">The 10A’s cameras remain one of its biggest strengths, with the 48-megapixel main camera (the same as in the regular Pixel 10) joined by an ultrawide. You won’t find many phones with better cameras at this price, though you will find some with more lenses.</p>

<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="D5luIx"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/894319/google-pixel-10a-review-screen-specs-battery-camera" data-type="post" data-id="646135">Read our full Google Pixel 10A review</a>.</h5>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="iM0ov7">The budget phone with a big, beautiful screen</h2>
<div class="product-block"><h3>Nothing Phone 4A Pro</h3>
<figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/nothing-phone-4a-pro-7.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Photo of Nothing Phone 4A Pro on a green cutting mat showing the homescreen" /></figure>
<div class="product-scores"><h4>Score: 6</h4><table class="product-pros-cons"><thead><tr><th>Pros</th><th>Cons</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Slim, metal body</li><li>Unique (and fun!) design</li><li>Big and brilliant display</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Camera quality is mixed</li><li>Only three years of OS updates</li><li>No wireless charging</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://us.nothing.tech/products/phone-4a-pro"> $499 at <strong>Nothing (8GB RAM + 128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Unlocked-Smartphone-Triple-Lens-Dual-SIM/dp/B0GFWQ77ZM/"> $499 at <strong>Amazon (8GB RAM + 128GB)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Unlocked-Smartphone-Triple-Lens-Dual-SIM/dp/B0GFWBXG3B/"> $599 at <strong>Amazon (12GB RAM + 256GB)</strong></a></li></ul></div>
<p><em><em><strong>Screen: </strong>6.83-inch, 1260p, 144Hz OLED / <strong>Processor: </strong>Snapdragon 7 Gen </em>4 / <em><strong>Cameras:</strong> 50-megapixel f/1.9 with OIS, 50-megapixel 3.5x telephoto, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / <strong>Battery: </strong>5,080mAh / <strong>Charging:</strong> 50W wired / <strong>Weather-resistance rating:</strong> IP6</em>5</em></p>

<p>The Phone 4A Pro is one of the few Nothing phones to get a true US release. In a way, it’s also one of the brand’s most conservative designs, with its transparent plastic mostly giving way to opaque metal, outside of the chunky camera module (which has the boon of a 3.5x telephoto lens but mixed performance otherwise). The metal design also means there’s no wireless charging, though fast 50W wired charging helps make up for that.</p>

<p>The 4A Pro will mostly appeal for its large 6.83-inch display, which is brighter than rivals and features a faster 144Hz refresh rate. That pairs nicely with Nothing’s eye-catching software design, which makes the 4A Pro a looker in just about every respect. That said, while the software may look good, Nothing only promises three OS updates, meaning the company’s latest handset won’t suit anyone looking for a phone for the long run.</p>

<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="RfTNIu"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/896626/nothing-phone-4a-pro-review-design-specs-battery-camera" data-type="post" data-id="656305">Read our full Nothing Phone 4A Pro review</a>.</h5>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="QXADdb">Other budget phones to consider</h2>

<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Moto-Power-Unlocked-Military/dp/B0FXBRKCGQ/">2026 Motorola Moto G Power</a> offers a lot despite its starting price of $299.99. It features a 6.8-inch LCD display, a 5,200mAh battery, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is increasingly rare in 2026. Additionally, the device combines both IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it’s rated for both submersion in water and exposure to high-pressure water jets and steam, in addition to full protection from dust. Our biggest concern with Motorola’s budget phones is how much bloatware they come with — be prepared to opt out and uninstall a bunch of stuff you never asked for.&nbsp;</li>



<li>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Smartphone-Unlocked-Res-Camera-Warranty/dp/B0FG1WWG4M/">Samsung Galaxy S25 FE</a> is another perfectly capable phone that doesn’t quite earn a recommendation here. It’s a little outside the scope of this guide at $649 anyway (although you can sometimes pick it up at a discount), but you do get a telephoto lens and a nice, big screen for that price. Still, you’re better off saving a bunch and picking up the Pixel 10A or trying to score a trade-in promo for the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/892311/samsung-galaxy-s26-plus-review-screen-battery-camera-software">newer Galaxy S26</a>.</li>



<li>The <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-a57-5g/buy/galaxy-a57-5g-128gb-unlocked-sku-sm-a576udbaxaa/">Samsung Galaxy A57</a> recently launched in the US with a starting price of $549, up $50 from the year before. The device has all the makings of a solid midrange phone, including a 6.7-inch OLED display, a 50-megapixel main camera, an Exynos 1680 chip, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging. It’s thinner than its A56 predecessor and has been upgraded to IP68 protection, too. Although we haven’t tested it yet, it faces stiff competition from the Pixel 10A, which starts at $499.</li>



<li>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-A37-Unlocked-Smartphone-Warranty/dp/B0GMKXW3XL/">Samsung Galaxy A37 5G</a> is another great choice that’s available in the US for $449. The device sports a big OLED display, an Exynos 1480 processor, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Samsung is promising six years of OS and security updates, which is a lot for a phone in this price range. While we haven’t tested the A37 5G, its predecessor offered a good balance of hardware and price, and the latest release sounds just as compelling.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/tcl-nxtpaper-70-pro">TCL’s Nxtpaper 70 Pro</a> recently went on sale in the US, though it’s exclusive to T-Mobile and Metro. Its main selling point is its 6.9-inch Nxtpaper 4.0 matte LCD screen, which is supposed to be easier on your eyes than a traditional LCD. It also features a “Max Ink Mode,” which turns the screen monochrome and silences notifications, plus somewhat higher specs than its predecessor.</li>
</ul>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Senior reviewer Allison Johnson also contributed to this post.</em></p>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Nothing makes it easy to share files between any Android phone and a Mac]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/912317/nothing-warp-android-mac-pc-linux-hands-on" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=912317</id>
			<updated>2026-04-15T09:31:33-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-15T08:45:43-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Android" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apple" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Google" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Linux" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="macOS" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Microsoft" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Windows" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I test Android phones for a living, but I write about them using a company-supplied MacBook Air. Both platforms are great in their own right, but they’re not so great at talking to one another. On a handful of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones you can now AirDrop files directly to Apple machines; Nothing’s [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
							<content type="html">
											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="Screenshot of Nothing Warp browser extension" data-caption="Images and text upload in seconds, but for bigger files Warp is too slow compared to direct device-to-device connections." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/nothing-warp-chrome-extension.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
	Images and text upload in seconds, but for bigger files Warp is too slow compared to direct device-to-device connections.	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">I test Android phones for a living, but I write about them using a company-supplied MacBook Air. Both platforms are great in their own right, but they’re not so great at talking to one another. On a handful of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones you can now <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/825696/pixel-10-pro-airdrop-quick-share-hands-on">AirDrop files directly to Apple machines</a>; Nothing’s new Warp app hopes to solve the problem for the rest of us, offering a seamless(ish) way to send files and text between one machine and the other.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Warp is the combination of an <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nothing.rotom&amp;_gl=1*8eyk67*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTcxNzU3ODg3My4xNzc2MjQyNzMx*_ga_6VGGZHMLM2*czE3NzYyNDI3MzAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzYyNDI3MzAkajYwJGwwJGgw&amp;hl=en_GB">Android app</a> and a <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/nothing-warp/giginmkkobiioddannfahhhleccgggaj?authuser=0&amp;hl=en&amp;pli=1">browser extension</a>, which means it’ll only be helpful if you use a Chrome-based browser capable of installing the extension — but that does make it compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, so it’s more universal than AirDrop.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">On the phone side, any time you might normally share a file, you’ll see the option to upload it to Warp in the Quick Share menu, and it works with any Android phone —&nbsp;not just Nothing’s. You can send images, videos, or documents, but also text or links. On the PC end, you can send text you’ve highlighted in your browser directly to the phone’s clipboard, right-click web images to send, or simply upload files from your computer. Web apps that take control of your right-click menu will break it though — right-clicking within Google Docs shows its own menu, not the browser’s, so Warp doesn’t appear as an option.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">After playing around with it this morning, I’m surprisingly impressed with Warp. It supports multiple devices, which means you can use this to easily send files between multiple phones or PCs, and the receiving device doesn’t even have to be on when you initiate the transfer.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">See, Warp isn’t actually sending files directly between devices, but simply uploading them to a server and sending you a download prompt on the other device. That makes it a simple, quick option for small files, but probably not the fix if you’re trying to speed up transferring larger files like videos. Text and web images upload almost instantly; but it’s taken 10 minutes and counting for it to upload a 2GB video file, and I’ll still have to download it on the other end.&nbsp;</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/nothing-warp-android-screenshot.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Screenshot of Nothing Warp Android app" title="Screenshot of Nothing Warp Android app" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Any time you open the app you can download previously shared files.&lt;/em&gt; | Screenshot: Nothing Warp Android app" data-portal-copyright="Screenshot: Nothing Warp Android app" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">Nothing says your files will remain secure and private, because they’re actually being transferred using Google Drive, meaning Nothing itself apparently isn’t the one storing or accessing your data. You will need to link Warp to your Google account, but don’t worry, this won’t make a mess of your personal Drive folder — I can’t see any sign of my shared Warp files in there. Lewis Hopkins, Nothing’s senior global PR manager, told me that there are no file size limits beyond the amount of Google Drive storage you have left, but this shouldn’t fill up your storage allowance — Warp only keeps the latest 10 files, “so when a new one is uploaded, the oldest one gets deleted.”</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Warp is out now in beta, and free to use. It’s a more universal solution than Google’s AirDrop integration, or efforts from the likes of Oppo and Honor to include direct Android-to-Mac file-sharing <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/616303/oppo-find-n5-remote-control-mac-o-plus-connect">in their OSes</a>. The highest praise I can give Warp is that I’m going to keep it installed, and suspect I’ll get plenty of use out of it — but I’m still on the hunt for a better way to share bigger files directly between my devices.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><strong><em>Update, April 15th</em></strong><em>: Added details on how long files are retained.</em></p>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[The new Trump Phone design is here]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/911503/trump-mobile-t1-phone-redesign-new-website" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=911503</id>
			<updated>2026-04-14T10:34:14-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-14T04:25:07-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Policy" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Politics" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Trump Mobile has overhauled its website, introducing a new logo, new design language, and a new version of the T1 Phone. The redesigned phone is the same one that two company executives showed me over a video call two months ago, seemingly now confirmed to be the final design — but there’s still no word [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
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											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="Promotional image of the redesigned Trump Mobile T1 Phone on a beige background" data-caption="Still proud, still American, still gold. | Image: Trump Mobile" data-portal-copyright="Image: Trump Mobile" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/trump-mobile-t1-phone-redesign-website-2026.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
	Still proud, still American, still gold. | Image: Trump Mobile	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">Trump Mobile has overhauled <a href="https://trumpmobile.com/">its website</a>, introducing a new logo, new design language, and a new version of the T1 Phone. The redesigned phone is the same one that two company executives <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/875190/trump-phone-t1-first-look-design-interview-eric-thomas-don-hendrickson">showed me over a video call</a> two months ago, seemingly now confirmed to be the final design — but there’s still no word on when it will arrive.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The phone is still gold, of course, with an American flag design on the rear that’s black in some images, but white in others, alongside a “Trump Mobile” wordmark. I was shown a similar design but with an enormous “T1” logo across the whole of the rear, but I was told that would be removed, and it’s nowhere to be seen on the current design. There’s a triple rear camera with the lenses spaced a little oddly (and <em>another</em> “Trump Mobile” logo), and a curved edge to the phone’s body with a headphone jack at the top. It still <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/886135/trump-mobile-t1-phone-htc-u24-pro">looks quite a lot like the HTC U24 Pro</a>.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The spec list has been updated too. The phone has apparently returned to a 6.78-inch OLED display (the size <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/687418/trump-mobile-network-t1-trademark-application">listed at launch</a>, then <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/693080/trump-mobile-t1-phone-made-usa">swiftly changed</a> to 6.25 inches for no obvious reason). The triple rear cameras include 50-megapixel main and 2x telephoto lenses plus an 8-megapixel ultrawide, with a 50-megapixel selfie camera, just as I was promised in February. The 5,000mAh battery supports 30W charging, and the phone will ship with 512GB of storage and an unspecified Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 series chipset, and run Android 15.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/trump-mobile-t1-phone-eric-thomas-design-reveal-first-look.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Screenshot of Eric Thomas from Trump Mobile holding a gold T1 Phone towards his webcam" title="Screenshot of Eric Thomas from Trump Mobile holding a gold T1 Phone towards his webcam" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Comically large T1 logo aside, the new design matches what I was shown by executive Eric Thomas in February.&lt;/em&gt; | Screenshot: Dominic Preston / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Screenshot: Dominic Preston / The Verge" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">The phone is now listed with a “promotional price” of $499, which used to simply be its standard price. The site is still accepting $100 deposits, with the promise that you can “lock in” the “promotional pricing.” When I spoke to executives Eric Thomas and Don Hendrickson in February, they declared that $499 had been an “introductory” price, which would be rising after the relaunch — though they promised that early buyers would still be charged $499 total, and that the new price would be “less than $1,000.”&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">There’s still no mention of what that final price will be, nor when the phone will be released — the previous “later this year” mention has been stripped from the site. The qualifiers about American manufacturing have changed again too: the phone is now “shaped by American innovation,” with “American teams helping guide design and quality.” The site is no more specific than that, though executives previously told me the phone would go through final assembly in Miami. The original “made in the USA” description is long gone, and sadly so is its odd, euphemistic replacement, the claim that there are “American hands behind every device.”</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Alongside the updated phone details, Trump Mobile has tweaked its cellular plans too. There’s now a 15 percent discount for military members and veterans on the $47.45 plan, and a new family plan that has decreasing prices the more lines you add. The site now even advertises that “‘Trump’ will proudly be displayed in the status bar as your network,” which sounds more like a threat than a promise, but I can confirm is true — <em>Verge </em>writer Allison Johnson saw exactly that when she <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/829414/trump-mobile-mvno-wireless-service-test">tested the Trump Mobile plan</a> last year.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/DSC01852_processed.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Trump Mobile SIM kit next to a phone showing Trump wireless network indicator in top corner of screen" title="Trump Mobile SIM kit next to a phone showing Trump wireless network indicator in top corner of screen" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;Sign up for the 47 Plan on your own phone and you’ll have “Trump” all up in your status bar.&lt;/em&gt; | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">The website as a whole has been redesigned, with slicker design language and a more modern logo. There’s also much more prominent placement for Don Jr. and Eric Trump, the president’s sons, with Eric given pride of place on the homepage, Don Jr. on the Plans page, and the two greet you together in a new video promo on the About page. The two brothers officially run the Trump Organization, and have been heavily promoting Trump Mobile from the start.</p>
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/trump-mobile-screenshot-don-jr.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="Screenshot from the Trump Mobile website showing an image of Don Trump Jr. giving a thumbs up next to details on the 47 Plan" title="Screenshot from the Trump Mobile website showing an image of Don Trump Jr. giving a thumbs up next to details on the 47 Plan" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;If it’s good enough for Don Jr., it’s good enough for you.&lt;/em&gt; | Screenshot: trumpmobile.com" data-portal-copyright="Screenshot: trumpmobile.com" />
<p class="has-text-align-none">Still, the website is clearly a work in progress. When I first found the updated site earlier this morning, around 3am ET, several subpages were resolving with what appeared to be URLs for a preproduction staging area, and if you tried to place a deposit for the T1 Phone, you were greeted with the original, ugly render the company shared last June. Both of those errors have been fixed in the hours since, though a new error on one page suggests that $499 is the deposit for the phone, not its total price. The new logo has already been added to the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages, but not its X or Truth Social profiles, suggesting this rebrand is still rolling out.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">I’ve reported recently that there have been signs of life from Trump Mobile, between <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/902399/trump-phone-mobile-t1-fcc-certification-authorization">FCC clearance</a> being granted to the phone and a new <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/909846/trump-mobile-phone-47-plan-trademark-registration">47 Plan trademark filing</a> last week. This website redesign is the latest evidence that, at long last, the Trump phone might become a real phone after all. Some day. Maybe.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><strong><em>Update, April 14th: </em></strong><em>Edit</em><em>ed to reflect changes to the Trump Mobile site, including different pricing and bug fixes. </em></p>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Got inside information on Trump Mobile or the Trump phone? Reach out securely from a personal device to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tips@theverge.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tips@theverge.com</a>, or see our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/c/tech/22579076/how-to-tip-the-verge-email-signal-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Tip Us</a>&nbsp;page.</em></p>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Huawei beats Apple and Samsung with new wide foldable]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/910867/huawei-pura-x-max-foldable-phone-wide-china" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=910867</id>
			<updated>2026-04-13T04:17:44-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-13T04:13:41-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Foldable Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Huawei" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Apple and Samsung have both been strongly linked with plans for foldable phones in a boxy, wide aspect ratio, but it looks like another company will get there first. Huawei has just revealed the design of the Pura X Max, a new foldable it’s launching in China next week, and its passport-esque form factor is [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
							<content type="html">
											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="Render of the Huawei Pura X Max held in a hand" data-caption="The Pura X Max’s wide aspect ratio should make it a better option for watching horizontal video. | Image: Huawei" data-portal-copyright="Image: Huawei" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/huawei-pura-x-max.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
	The Pura X Max’s wide aspect ratio should make it a better option for watching horizontal video. | Image: Huawei	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">Apple and Samsung have both been strongly linked with plans for foldable phones in a boxy, wide aspect ratio, but it looks like another company will get there first. Huawei has just revealed the design of the Pura X Max, a new foldable it’s launching in China next week, and its passport-esque form factor is a dead ringer for early leaks of the iPhone Fold.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">We don’t know too much about the Pura X Max yet, which will get a full release on April 20th alongside the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/909715/huaweis-next-flagship-phones-are-going-big-on-gradients">colorful Pura 90 series</a>, but <a href="https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5287195914013746">early images shared by Huawei</a> show blue, white, orange, and black versions of the phone, all featuring a triple rear camera. The rear design, with gridded sections with different textured finishes, is taken from the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/756645/check-out-huaweis-extra-wide-flip-phone">original Pura X</a>, which launched last year, and is also wider than other foldables — Huawei has previous here, and isn’t just chasing a trend. </p>

<div class="image-slider">
	<div class="image-slider">
		
<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/huawei-pura-x-max2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=7.8125,0,84.375,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Huawei" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/huawei-pura-x-max3.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=7.8125,0,84.375,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Huawei" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/huawei-pura-x-max4.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=7.8125,0,84.375,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Huawei" />

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/huawei-pura-x-max5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=7.8125,0,84.375,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Huawei" />
	</div>
</div>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The Pura X is smaller than the X Max appears to be, and was marketed as a flip phone, with the odd expectation that you’d rotate the whole phone into portrait as you open it. The X Max looks more like a cross between the classic flip and book form factors, though it’s also reminiscent of early foldables like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23773594/google-pixel-fold-review-screen-battery-hinge-camera">Google’s first-gen Pixel Fold</a> or <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/15/22837149/oppo-find-n-hands-on-announcement-specs-price">Oppo’s initial Find N</a>. It’s telling that Huawei’s early imagery shows people using the opened phone in both portrait and landscape.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Just last week we saw an <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/907856/iphone-fold-dummy-design-delay-production">alleged first dummy unit of Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone</a>, which is expected to be similarly wide. Samsung is also rumored to be working on a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/848934/samsung-wide-fold-apple-iphone-foldable-4-3">wider version of its Galaxy Z Fold phones</a>, though neither Apple nor Samsung’s handsets are expected until the second half of the year.</p>

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">HUAWEI Pura X Max <a href="https://t.co/bTLDQ2gZCo">pic.twitter.com/bTLDQ2gZCo</a></p>&mdash; Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/UniverseIce/status/2043519543998603695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
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									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Trump Mobile isn’t giving up just yet]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/909846/trump-mobile-phone-47-plan-trademark-registration" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=909846</id>
			<updated>2026-04-10T11:12:41-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-10T11:12:41-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Gadgets" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Mobile" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Phones" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Policy" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Politics" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Report" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Where’s the Trump phone? We’re going to keep talking about it every week. We’ve reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump phone’s whereabouts. We’re back to being ignored, but the company is showing signs of life. It’s been nine months since Trump Mobile announced itself, seven months since the company updated any of its [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
							<content type="html">
											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="Speedometer-style dial to measure whether the Trump Phone exists or not, pointing to just past ‘no’." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge / Shutterstock" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Vrg_illo_trump_phone_np2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
		</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none"><em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/843498/trump-phone"><em>Where’s the Trump phone? We’re going to keep talking about it every week</em></a>. <em>We’ve reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump phone’s whereabouts. We’re back to being ignored</em>, but the company is showing signs of life.</em></p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">It’s been nine months since Trump Mobile announced itself, seven months since the company updated any of its social media profiles, and two months since anyone replied to my emails. Based on that, you might think that everyone involved had given up on the whole idea, but this week we saw curious signs of life: a new trademark application.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">What’s strangest about <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn99746335&amp;docId=APP20260406113456&amp;linkId=1#docIndex=0&amp;page=1">the application</a> is that it was filed not for anything <em>new</em>, but for “The 47 Plan”: Trump Mobile’s sole cell plan, which launched alongside the company itself <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/687418/trump-mobile-network-t1-trademark-application">in June last year</a>. Like previous Trump Mobile trademarks, this was filed for by lawyer Michael Santucci on behalf of DTTM Operations LLC, and the listing says it was filed this Monday, April 6th. Why this trademark wasn’t applied for along with others at the launch, for “Trump” and “T1,” is anyone’s guess — I’ve asked, but the company is still ignoring me.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The phone itself is still nowhere to be seen. Since the launch nine months ago, there have only been two signs that the T1 Phone might be real: a handset that company executives Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/875190/trump-phone-t1-first-look-design-interview-eric-thomas-don-hendrickson">showed me over a video call</a>; and an <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/902399/trump-phone-mobile-t1-fcc-certification-authorization">FCC approval from January</a>. I’d been told that the phone was on track for a launch in March, but that clearly didn’t happen.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">There’s a lively debate in our comments every week about whether Trump Mobile is still making a meaningful effort to operate a carrier or ship a smartphone. Filing for a trademark doesn’t prove it’s doing either. But a fresh trademark application, almost 10 months after the first two, does at least suggest that someone, somewhere, still sees value in the project.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first spotted the filing, points out that it’s unusual in at least one other way: it’s a pretty overt reference to Trump’s tenure as 47th president. “There has been no other sitting President in the history of the United States who has made a trademark filing that references the Office of the Presidency in connection with a for-profit enterprise,” <a href="https://www.gerbenlaw.com/blog/trump-org-files-trademark-for-the-47-plan-claiming-a-mobile-phone-launch-is-coming/">Gerben writes</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">I guess that’s one more first for Trump Mobile. But you know what would impress me more? Releasing a damn phone.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none"><em><em>Got inside information on Trump Mobile or the Trump phone? Reach out securely from a personal device to <a href="mailto:tips@theverge.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tips@theverge.com</a>, or see our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/c/tech/22579076/how-to-tip-the-verge-email-signal-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Tip Us</a> page.</em></em></p>
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									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[YouTube Premium is getting pricier]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/909698/youtube-premium-price-hike-us" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=909698</id>
			<updated>2026-04-10T07:23:06-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-10T07:23:06-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Google" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Streaming" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="YouTube" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[YouTube Premium is getting more expensive in the US, with prices rising by $2 on standard individual accounts and as much as $4 for the family plan. The price hike is already in effect for new accounts, and is rolling out now for existing customers. Premium’s Individual plan now costs $15.99 per month, up from [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
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<figure>

<img alt="An illustration of the YouTube logo" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Alex Castro / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/acastro_STK092_02.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
		</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">YouTube Premium is getting more expensive in the US, with prices rising by $2 on standard individual accounts and as much as $4 for the family plan. The price hike is already in effect for new accounts, and is rolling out now for existing customers.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">Premium’s Individual plan now costs $15.99 per month, up from $13.99, while the five-person Family plan is $26.99, previously $22.99. Premium Lite, which removes “most” ads but doesn’t include YouTube Music, is now $8.99 monthly, up from $7.99.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The new prices are live now for new signups, and <a href="https://9to5google.com/2026/04/10/youtube-premium-us-price-hike/"><em>9to5Google</em> reports</a> that existing subscribers are beginning to be notified about the price hike via the following email:</p>

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-text-align-none">To continue delivering great service and features, we’re increasing your price to $15.99/month. We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-none">You will see the change reflected on your June 7, 2026 billing date.</p>
</blockquote>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The increase follows price hikes for both <a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/901833/netflix-subscription-pricing-increase-2026">Netflix</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/894466/amazon-prime-video-ultra-ad-free-price-hike">Amazon Prime Video</a> last month. YouTube Premium <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/20/23801390/youtube-premium-music-price-increase">last raised its US prices in 2023</a>, though many international users saw <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/23/24252145/youtube-premium-price-increase-europe-asia-middle-east-south-america">prices increase in late 2024.</a></p>
						]]>
									</content>
			
					</entry>
			<entry>
			
			<author>
				<name>Dominic Preston</name>
			</author>
			
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Spotify now lets you turn off all its videos]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/909099/spotify-video-controls-music-podcasts-canvas" />
			<id>https://www.theverge.com/?p=909099</id>
			<updated>2026-04-09T06:33:09-04:00</updated>
			<published>2026-04-09T06:33:09-04:00</published>
			<category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Apps" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Entertainment" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Music" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="News" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Spotify" /><category scheme="https://www.theverge.com" term="Tech" />
							<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Spotify is adding new toggles to stop any and all video from playing inside the app, for both music and podcasts. The controls are rolling out worldwide, work across all platforms and devices, and can be used by managers of Family Plans to limit video content for every member on the subscription. The new controls [&#8230;]]]></summary>
			
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											<![CDATA[

						
<figure>

<img alt="Screenshot showing video playback controls on Spotify" data-caption="The new controls apply to both individual and family accounts. | Image: Spotify" data-portal-copyright="Image: Spotify" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/FTR-Header.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" />
	<figcaption>
	The new controls apply to both individual and family accounts. | Image: Spotify	</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="has-text-align-none">Spotify is adding new toggles to stop any and all video from playing inside the app, for both music and podcasts. The controls are rolling out worldwide, work across all platforms and devices, and can be used by managers of Family Plans to limit video content for every member on the subscription.</p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">The new controls haven’t arrived on my UK account or devices yet, but will appear under the “Content and display” settings on a phone, or the “Display” section on desktop. The existing toggle to disable Canvas clips — the short, looping, autoplay videos that Spotify <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/9/18301966/how-to-turn-off-spotify-background-videos-canvas-disable-ios-android">added to the app in 2019</a> — is joined by a new toggle that disables access to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/13/24099337/spotify-music-video-beta-11-markets-supported-artists">music videos</a>, and another to disable all other videos, including podcasts and vertical video. </p>

<p class="has-text-align-none">If you manage a Family Plan, you’ll have access to these controls for each individual member of the plan, similar to existing controls for managed accounts. Once video controls are disabled at the plan level, those users then won’t have the option to switch to the video versions of songs or podcasts.</p>
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