Tech News
Android 16 Beta 1 is here!

Google has officially launched Android 16 Beta 1, packed with features that improve user experience, accessibility, and device capabilities. This beta marks the first public test release after three developer previews. Android 16 focuses on dynamic notifications, professional-grade media tools, and advanced functionality for foldable devices and tablets. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of its features.
Live Updates: Dynamic, Real-Time Notifications
Live Updates is a headline feature of Android 16, providing notifications that update dynamically with real-time information. Similar to Apple’s Live Activities, this feature displays progress bars for ongoing activities, such as tracking a food delivery or monitoring the location of your ride.
For instance, a notification might show how close your food delivery is or the estimated time of arrival for your ride-sharing service. Samsung is reportedly planning to integrate Live Updates into its Now Bar feature, enhancing real-time interactivity in One UI 7.0.
Adaptive App Orientation for Big Screens
In previous Android versions, app developers could lock app orientation or resizability for large-screen devices, leading to awkward experiences with black bars or unoptimized layouts. Android 16 ends this limitation for apps targeting API Level 36, ensuring they display in fullscreen and rotate seamlessly between portrait and landscape modes.
This change enhances usability on foldable devices and tablets while encouraging developers to optimize apps for larger screens.
Advanced Professional Video (APV) Codec by Samsung
The Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, developed by Samsung, takes Android’s video creation capabilities to the next level. First unveiled at the Samsung Developer Conference 2024, this codec supports high-quality, professional-grade video production while saving 20% more space compared to competing codecs.
Key APV features include:
-Near-lossless quality with high bitrate options (up to a few Gbps at 2K, 4K, and 8K resolutions).
-Parallel encoding and decoding mechanisms.
-Frame tilting for immersive content.
-Multi-view support and auxiliary video layers (e.g., alpha, depth, HDR10, and HDR10+ metadata).
By integrating APV natively, Android 16 empowers video editing apps to rival iOS and iPadOS in professional content creation.
Vertical Text Support
Android 16 introduces low-level support for vertical text rendering, particularly useful for languages like Japanese, where vertical writing is standard. This enhancement ensures better text alignment and readability for apps relying on such scripts.
Night Mode Detection in Camera Apps
Apps targeting Android 16 can now detect ambient light levels to activate Night Mode automatically. This feature improves the performance of third-party camera apps, social media platforms, and messaging apps, ensuring better image capture in low-light conditions.
Enhanced Accessibility Features
Google continues to refine Android’s accessibility tools. In Android 16, developers can:
-Create custom labels for specific UI elements without overriding child view accessibility labels.
-Highlight required fields in forms, ensuring clarity for users with assistive technologies.
These improvements make Android more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities.
Predictive Back Animations for 3-Button Navigation
Building on Android 14’s Predictive Back gesture for gesture-based navigation, Android 16 extends this functionality to the three-button navigation system. Long-pressing the back button now displays a preview of where the action will take users, reducing accidental navigation errors.
Gemini Extensions: Expanded Integration
Samsung pioneered Gemini integration with apps like Calendar, Clock, Notes, and Reminder. Android 16 extends Gemini support to third-party apps, enabling enhanced cross-device functionality for other brands. This initiative highlights Google’s effort to unify and expand advanced features across the Android ecosystem.
RangingManager API: Measure Angles and Distances Between Devices
The new RangingManager API allows apps to calculate angles and distances between supported devices using Bluetooth LE, UWB, and Wi-Fi. This capability simplifies the development of device-finding applications and accessory locators, such as Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag.
Additional Features in Android 16 Beta 1
Improved Battery Optimization: Smarter algorithms extend device runtime.
Enhanced Media Playback: Better audio and video synchronization for seamless streaming.
Privacy Improvements: Granular controls for permissions, ensuring better data security.
Release Timeline
Google plans to release the stable version of Android 16 in Q2 2025, followed by a minor update in Q4 with additional features. Samsung, known for taking three months to adapt Android updates into One UI, is expected to roll out the stable One UI 8.0 update in Q3 2025.
Tech News
Google Pixel 9a latest leaks reveal key details about its pricing, release date, and specs.

Rumors about Google’s upcoming Pixel 9a are gaining momentum, with multiple leaks providing insights into its pricing, release date, and specifications. As a successor to the Pixel 8a, the Pixel 9a aims to refine Google’s mid-range offering with a combination of improved hardware, software enhancements, and aggressive pricing.
Launch Date and Availability
According to recent leaks, the Pixel 9a is set for an official launch on March 26, 2025, with pre-orders beginning a week earlier on March 19. This schedule is expected to be consistent across the United States, Europe, and the UK.
U.S. Market
Pre-orders start: March 19, 2025
General availability: March 26, 2025
European Market
Pre-orders start: March 19, 2025
General availability: March 26, 2025
This aligns with Google’s typical release window for its “a” series devices, ensuring availability across major markets within the same timeframe.
Pricing Details
The Pixel 9a will reportedly maintain a competitive price structure, offering two storage configurations.
U.S. Pricing
128GB model: $499 (same as Pixel 8a)
256GB model: $649 (a $40 increase over its predecessor)
European Pricing
128GB model: €549 / £499
256GB model: €649 / £599
In Europe, the 128GB version will be available in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony. However, the 256GB variant will be limited to Obsidian and Iris only.
Design and Display
Leaked renders from X user @ACE100xd show that the Pixel 9a will closely follow Google’s recent design language. The phone is rumored to feature a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and vibrant visuals.
Color Options:
128GB Model: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, Peony
256GB Model: Obsidian, Iris
Performance and Battery
Under the hood, the Pixel 9a is expected to inherit the Tensor G4 processor—the same chip found in the flagship Pixel 9 series. This chipset should provide notable improvements in AI-driven features, photography processing, and overall performance.
Key Hardware Upgrades:
Processor: Tensor G4
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Battery: 5,100mAh (largest ever in a Pixel “a” series phone)
Charging: 23W wired, 7.5W wireless
This marks a significant upgrade, particularly with the 5,100mAh battery, which should offer extended usage compared to previous models.
Camera System
The Pixel 9a is expected to sport a 48MP main camera, replacing the 64MP sensor from its predecessor for enhanced low-light performance and sharper images. Additionally, it will include:
-13MP ultra-wide lens
-13MP front-facing camera
Google’s AI-powered computational photography features, including Night Sight, Super Res Zoom, and Real Tone, are likely to be part of the package.
Extra Perks and Software Features
Google is reportedly bundling several free subscriptions with the Pixel 9a to attract buyers:
-6 months of Fitbit Premium
-3 months of YouTube Premium
-3 months of Google One (100GB storage)
The Pixel 9a is also expected to ship with Android 15 out of the box, along with at least five years of software updates—keeping it competitive with other mid-range smartphones.
Tech News
iQOO Neo 10R Moonknight Titanium is set to launch in India on March 11

The highly anticipated iQOO Neo 10R is set to launch in India on March 11, 2025. With over a month left before its release, iQOO is steadily unveiling key details about the device. Recently, the company introduced the Raging Blue color variant, exclusive to India. Now, new images have surfaced showcasing the Moonknight Titanium edition, which boasts a sleek and modern aesthetic.
Design and Display
The iQOO Neo 10R Moonknight Titanium flaunts a sophisticated silver-grey finish, giving it a minimalist yet premium look. The flat edges and rounded corners ensure a comfortable grip, while the rear camera module features a vertically aligned dual-lens setup with an LED flash.
The smartphone is equipped with a 6.78-inch flat AMOLED display, delivering a 1.5K resolution and an ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rate. Gamers will benefit from the 2000Hz instant touch sampling rate, ensuring precise touch response, which is crucial for fast-paced gaming.
Powerful Performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset powers the iQOO Neo 10R, ensuring flagship-level performance for gaming and multitasking. The device supports 90fps gaming, and users can track their gameplay performance using the built-in FPS monitor in Ultra Game Mode. Paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, the phone promises smooth performance across demanding applications.
The Neo 10R will run Android 15 with Funtouch OS 15, offering an optimized user experience with improved UI elements, enhanced customization options, and smoother animations.
Camera System
The iQOO Neo 10R features a 16-megapixel front camera for high-quality selfies and video calls. On the back, it houses a 50MP main sensor with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for crisp, stabilized shots, along with an 8MP ultra-wide camera for capturing expansive scenes. The combination of AI enhancements and hardware-based optimizations ensures users can take professional-quality photos in various lighting conditions.
Long-Lasting Battery with Fast Charging
Powering the Neo 10R is a 6,400mAh battery, providing all-day usage without interruptions. The device also supports 80W fast charging, allowing users to quickly recharge and stay connected.
Additional Features and Expected Pricing
Beyond its core specifications, the iQOO Neo 10R is packed with premium features such as an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking and an IR blaster for remote control functionalities.
The smartphone is expected to be priced under ₹30,000, positioning it as a strong competitor to the Poco X7 Pro and other devices in the mid-range segment.
Tech News
Vivo V50 Officially Confirmed to Launch on February 17 in India

Vivo has officially confirmed that the Vivo V50 will be unveiled in India on February 17. Dedicated landing pages on Vivo India’s website and Flipkart have already showcased key specifications and features, giving us a clear picture of what to expect from the upcoming smartphone.
Vivo V50 Key Specifications and Features
The Vivo V50 sports a 6.78-inch micro-quad-curved OLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, promising a smooth and immersive viewing experience. Despite housing a massive 6,000mAh battery, the device maintains a remarkably slim 7.4mm chassis.
In terms of durability, the phone comes with an IP68/69 rating for water and dust resistance and features Diamond Shield Glass protection by Schott, enhancing its resilience against drops and scratches.
For photography enthusiasts, the 50MP front camera includes autofocus support for crisp selfies and video calls. The rear setup consists of a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and an Aura Light LED flash, ensuring high-quality shots in various lighting conditions.
On the software side, the Vivo V50 will run on Android 15 with Funtouch OS 15. The device will also integrate AI-powered features such as advanced image editing, real-time call translation, and audio transcription for an enhanced user experience.
Under the hood, reports suggest that the Vivo V50 will be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset. The device may offer up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 512GB of UFS 2.2 storage, ensuring smooth performance for multitasking and storage-intensive applications. Additionally, it is expected to support 90W fast charging, reducing downtime significantly.
Vivo V50 Expected Price in India
The Vivo V50 will be available in three color options: Rose Red, Afterimage Black, and Titanium Grey. Pricing is expected to fall within the ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 range in India, positioning it as a strong competitor in the premium mid-range segment.
With its powerful hardware, premium design, and AI-enhanced software, the Vivo V50 is shaping up to be an exciting addition to Vivo’s smartphone lineup. More details, including official pricing and availability, will be revealed at the launch event.
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