Here’s a list of all the Chinese apps banned in India

In June this year, the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) issued a notice banning 59 Chinese apps. Since then, the government body has issued several such notices banning more Chinese apps that were found to be “prejudicial to [the] sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” In its latest notice, MeitY banned 43 more apps, including AliExpress and Lalamove, bringing the tally up to 267 banned apps. In case you missed any of our previous coverage, here’s a list of all the Chinese apps/China-owned currently banned in India:

List of Chinese apps banned in India

Apps banned in Wave 1

As mentioned earlier, the first ban was announced in June this year, and it cracked down on 59 apps, including popular names like TikTok, Mi Community, WeChat, Weibo, and CamScanner.

Apps banned in Wave 1

1. TikTok
2. ShareIt
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Clash of Kings
8. DU battery saver
9. Helo
10. Likee
11. YouCam makeup
12. Mi Community
13. CM Browers
14. Virus Cleaner
15. APUS Browser
16. ROMWE
17. Club Factory
18. Newsdog
19. Beauty Plus
20. WeChat
21. UC News
22. QQ Mail
23. Weibo
24. Xender
25. QQ Music
26. QQ Newsfeed
27. Bigo Live
28. SelfieCity
29. Mail Master
30. Parallel Space
31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
32. WeSync
33. ES File Explorer
34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
35. Meitu
36. Vigo Video
37. New Video Status
38. DU Recorder
39. Vault- Hide
40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
41. DU Cleaner
42. DU Browser
43. Hago Play With New Friends
44. Cam Scanner
45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
46. Wonder Camera
47. Photo Wonder
48. QQ Player
49. We Meet
50. Sweet Selfie
51. Baidu Translate
52. Vmate
53. QQ International
54. QQ Security Center
55. QQ Launcher
56. U Video
57. V fly Status Video
58. Mobile Legends
59. DU Privacy

Apps banned in Wave 2

The second ban followed in July, and it included 47 more apps with Chinese connections, like TikTok Lite, Helo Lite, ShareIt Lite, and more. The second wave essentially cracked down on functional clones of the apps that were banned in the first wave. Sadly, MeitY hasn’t shared a complete list of all the apps that were banned in this phase.

Apps banned in Wave 3

MeitY then shared another notice in September this year, banning 118 Chinese apps in the country. These included popular apps like PUBG Mobile, PUBG Mobile Lite, Baidu, ShareSave by Xiaomi, GO SMS Pro, and many more.

Apps banned in Wave 3

1. APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart
2. APUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideApps
3. APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, Cleaner
4. APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus
5. APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright
6. Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor
7. Baidu
8. Baidu Express Edition
9. FaceU – Inspire your Beauty
10. ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals
11. CamCard – Business Card Reader
12. CamCard Business
13. CamCard for Salesforce
14. CamOCR
15. InNote
16. VooV Meeting – Tencent Video Conferencing
17. Super Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster
18. WeChat reading
19. Government WeChat
20. Small Q brush
21. Tencent Weiyun
22. Pitu
23. WeChat Work
24. Cyber Hunter
25. Cyber Hunter Lite
26. Knives Out-No rules, just fight!
27. Super Mecha Champions
28. LifeAfter
29. Dawn of Isles
30. Ludo World-Ludo Superstar
31. Chess Rush
32. PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik
33. PUBG MOBILE LITE
34. Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade
35. Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon
36. Dank Tanks
37. Warpath
38. Game of Sultans
39. Gallery Vault – Hide Pictures And Videos
40. Smart AppLock (App Protect)
41. Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team
42. Hide App-Hide Application Icon
43. AppLock
44. AppLock Lite
45. Dual Space – Multiple Accounts & App Cloner
46. ZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat online
47. ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app
48. Music – Mp3 Player
49. Music Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
50. HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera
51. Cleaner – Phone Booster
52. Web Browser & Fast Explorer
53. Video Player All Format for Android
54. Photo Gallery HD & Editor
55. Photo Gallery & Album
56. Music Player – Bass Booster – Free Download
57. HD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama
58. HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera
59. Music Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
60. Gallery HD
61. Web Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer
62. Web Browser – Secure Explorer
63. Music player – Audio Player
64. Video Player – All Format HD Video Player
65. Lamour Love All Over The World
66. Amour- video chat & call all over the world.
67. MV Master – Make Your Status Video & Community
68. MV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor
69. APUS Message Center-Intelligent management
70. LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers
71. Carrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game-
72. Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games
73. Bike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games
74. Rangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG Game
75. Z Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage
76. GO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji
77. U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate
78. Ulike – Define your selfie in trendy style
79. Tantan – Date For Real
80. MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karen
81. Kitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live Chat
82. Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles
83. Alipay
84. AlipayHK
85. Mobile Taobao
86. Youku
87. Road of Kings- Endless Glory
88. Sina News
89. Netease News
90. Penguin FM
91. Murderous Pursuits
92. Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology
93. Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese
94. HUYA LIVE – Game Live Stream
95. Little Q Album
96. Fighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting Landlords
97. Hi Meitu
98. Mobile Legends: Pocket
99. VPN for TikTok
100. VPN for TikTok
101. Penguin E-sports Live assistant
102. Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low prices
103. iPick
104. Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face Selfie
105. Parallel Space Lite – Dual App
106. “Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC
107. MARVEL Super War NetEase Games
108. AFK Arena
109. Creative Destruction NetEase Games
110. Crusaders of Light NetEase Games
111. Mafia City Yotta Games
112. Onmyoji NetEase Games
113. Ride Out Heroes NetEase Games
114. Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded [translated name]
115. Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games
116. Arena of Valor: 5v5 Arena Games
117. Soul Hunters
118. Rules of Survival

Apps banned in Wave 4

The fourth and most recent ban was announced yesterday, and it included 43 more apps. While a majority of the apps in the recent list aren’t very popular in the Indian market, there are some notable names like AliExpress and Lalamove.

Apps banned in Wave 4

1. AliSuppliers Mobile App
2. Alibaba Workbench
3. AliExpress – Smarter Shopping, Better Living
4. Alipay Cashier
5. Lalamove India – Delivery App
6. Drive with Lalamove India
7. Snack Video
8. CamCard – Business Card Reader
9. CamCard – BCR (Western)
10. Soul- Follow the soul to find you
11. Chinese Social – Free Online Dating Video App & Chat
12. Date in Asia – Dating & Chat For Asian Singles
13. WeDate-Dating App
14. Free dating app-Singol, start your date!
15. Adore App
16. TrulyChinese – Chinese Dating App
17. TrulyAsian – Asian Dating App
18. ChinaLove: dating app for Chinese singles
19. DateMyAge: Chat, Meet, Date Mature Singles Online
20. AsianDate: find Asian singles
21. FlirtWish: chat with singles
22. Guys Only Dating: Gay Chat
23. Tubit: Live Streams
24. WeWorkChina
25. First Love Live- super hot live beauties live online
26. Rela – Lesbian Social Network
27. Cashier Wallet
28. MangoTV
29. MGTV-HunanTV official TV APP
30. WeTV – TV version
31. WeTV – Cdrama, Kdrama&More
32. WeTV Lite
33. Lucky Live-Live Video Streaming App
34. Taobao Live
35. DingTalk
36. Identity V
37. Isoland 2: Ashes of Time
38. BoxStar (Early Access)
39. Heroes Evolved
40. Happy Fish
41. Jellipop Match-Decorate your dream island!
42. Munchkin Match: magic home building
43. Conquista Online II

Note: All the apps mentioned above have been removed from popular app distribution platforms, like the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, in the country and they’re no longer available for download. However, some of the apps may still be functional if you have them installed on your device.

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In all of the notices shared by MeitY over the last few months, the government body cited Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to ban the Chinese apps. Section 69A of the IT Act reads as follows:

69A Power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource. –

1. 1. Where the Central Government or any of its officers specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above, it may subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government or intermediary to block for access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource.
   2. The procedure and safeguards subject to which such blocking for access by the public may be carried out, shall be such as may be prescribed.
   3. The intermediary who fails to comply with the direction issued under sub-section (1) shall be punished with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also be liable to fine.

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We’ll update this list if more apps are banned, or if apps within are announced to be unbanned.

The post Here’s a list of all the Chinese apps banned in India appeared first on xda-developers.

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Google will make the Android Runtime (ART) a Mainline module in Android 12

Project Mainline is one of the biggest changes to Android in recent years. While you as a consumer may not notice this change, it fundamentally alters how Android operates as an open-source operating system, with more power now resting in the hands of Google than ever before. Whether this increase in control is good or bad is a topic for a different debate. Now, Google plans to include the Android Runtime (ART) as an updatable Mainline module in Android 12.

What is Android Runtime (ART)?

Android Runtime, or ART, is the default runtime on Android that was introduced back in 2013 along with Android 4.4 Kitkat. As Google mentions, ART is the “managed runtime used by applications and some system services on Android“. Here is an XDA TV video from 2014 that explains ART with reference to the changes it brings about from the erstwhile Dalvik VM:

Long story short, ART essentially translates an Android app’s bytecode into native instructions. It uses ahead-of-time compilation to compile apps into native machine code directly upon installation. As you can guess, this is a pretty important function that ideally should perform in the same manner across the entire Android ecosystem.

ART as a Mainline Module

As spotted by XDA Recognized Developer luca020400, a Google engineer has revealed that the company plans to make the Android Runtime (ART) an updatable Mainline module in Android S/Android 12.

By making ART a Mainline module, Google will be able to exercise much more control over it, in line with the overarching theme of mainline modules. As we mention in our primary explainer on Project Mainline:

Project Mainline extends the efforts of Project Treble. While Treble reduced how dependent OEMs were on SoC vendors for every single OS update, Mainline reduces how dependent Google is on OEMs for delivering security updates to key OS components. Project Mainline extends the Treble philosophy to more critical parts of the Android framework, removing OEMs as the dependent middlemen from this equation. The purpose of Project Mainline is for Google to wrest control of framework components and system applications that are critical to security and maintaining development consistency away from OEMs. Project Mainline is rightfully referred to as the biggest change to Android since Project Treble.

ART as a Mainline module would allow Google to update it without needing a system OTA update. If Google makes it mandatory for OEMs to preload a Google-signed ART module (likely delivered in the form of an APEX), then Google will be able to retain control over pushing updates to ART on all Android devices. Google would be able to push updates to ART through the Google Play Store, and OEMs wouldn’t be able to make modifications to ART. This in turn inches towards the behavioural consistency that third-party app developers would expect across the ecosystem.

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TWRP adds support for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e LTE, Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, and Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro/EE

The TWRP custom recovery is an essential tool for Android enthusiasts who wish to install third-party software on their devices. With the recovery, you can flash new custom ROMs, take full data backups, modify protected files, and do much more. But to do any of these things, you need to have a device that’s officially supported by the TWRP project. Thankfully, the team behind the project keeps adding support for new devices ever so often. Recently, the team officially extended support to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e LTE, Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, Mi 8 Pro, and Mi 8 Explorer Edition.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e LTE

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e LTE is a mid-range tablet from last year, which features a 10.5-inch display and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 670 chip. It was recently upgraded to One UI 2.1 based on Android 10, and while that’s great, what’s even better is that you can now install any custom ROM on the tablet thanks to the TWRP support. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’d recommend checking out the recently released LineageOS 17.1 build for the device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e TWRP || Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e Forums

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is a Snapdragon 712 powered mid-range device, which recently received a MIUI 12 build based on Android 10. The device features a 5.97-inch Super AMOLED display, up to 6GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of storage, and it even comes with a capable triple-camera setup. While Xiaomi’s latest Android skin does bring a bunch of improvements to the device, if you want to take things to the next level with third-party software, you can now flash the TWRP recovery on the device by following the link below.

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE TWRP || Xiaomi Mi 9 SE Forums

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

Xiaomi’s flagship from 2018, the Mi 8 Pro, features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chip, a 6.21-inch Super AMOLED display, up to 8GB of RAM, and a respectable 12MP dual-camera setup. While the device was launched with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, Xiaomi upgraded it to Android 10 with MIUI 11 earlier this year. It also received a MIUI 12 build recently, but we’re not sure if Xiaomi plans to upgrade it to Android 11 anytime soon. So, if you want to experience the latest version of Android on the device, we’d recommend flashing a custom ROM based on Android 11. To do so, you’ll first need to flash TWRP on the device, which you can download from the link below.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro TWRP || Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro Forums

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition

Finally, support has also been added for the Mi 8 Explorer Edition, a special version of the Mi 8 Pro with a better 3D facial recognition system and a translucent back panel. The device was also launched with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and it was recently updated to MIUI 12 based on Android 10. You can download TWRP for the device by following the link below.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition TWRP

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Download OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition’s wallpapers, sounds and boot animation

OnePlus has an interesting tradition of releasing special variants of some of their smartphones weeks or sometimes months after launch. With this year’s OnePlus 8T, the OEM launched the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition following the customary period of leaks and teasers. This particular variant is available for purchase only in China and it features a unique camera module that spans almost the entire top third of the device’s back. We did a thorough hands-on of the special Cyberpunk 2077 Edition which gives you a good picture of how it differs from the regular 8T model, but in case you are wondering what that cool boot animation and the new theming assets look like, here’s a quick video showcase.

Interested in these goodies? Thanks to a wonderful port from XDA Recognized Contributor linuxct, you can get the Cyberpunk 2077 Edition’s exclusive live wallpaper on your regular OnePlus 8T or any other Android smartphone. Note that the target device needs to have good OpenGL performance in order for the live wallpaper to look as fluid as it would on a OnePlus 8T.

Well, I made it pic.twitter.com/yAPVZ0HXo3

— linuxct (@linuxct) November 23, 2020

Download the live wallpaper from the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition

The boot animation, FOD animation, and the icon pack have also been ported in the form of a Magisk Module, courtesy of XDA Senior Member AndroPlus. Visit the post linked below to download the module.

Download the boot animation, FOD animation, and the icon pack from the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition

In case you only care about the wallpapers, ringtone, and notification sounds and want them on any device, linuxct has also shared those assets packed inside a separate ZIP file so you can grab them on any Android smartphone. Here are compressed and resized previews of the 5 wallpapers, but if you’re interested in trying them out we recommend downloading the full resolution (2400×1080) images from the archive.

Download wallpapers and sounds from the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition

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YouTube tests automatically adding chapters to videos

YouTube has announced another experimental AI feature to make video editing just a little bit easier. You may recall that earlier this year Google added the facility to add chapters to divide up your videos from your mobile, as well as from the desktop. Now, it has gone one step further with the option to let Google’s own AI add in the chapters for you. The main advantage of adding chapters to a video is that it creates easy jumping on and off points for the viewer, each one with its own separate preview. In an explanatory note in the YouTube support pages, it is explained that enabling these AI-powered chapters will mean that uploaders won’t need to list timestamps in their description for the system to parse. Google says that the AI will ‘recognise text’ in order to create the chapters.

As with all AI, it’s far from infallible but will learn as more people use it, and could prove a massive boon for creators who upload multiple videos every day. We’re not really sure if it has much to benefit the end viewer, though it may encourage the use of chapters by creators who haven’t bothered with them thus far, which may improve their visibility, thanks to the ‘Points of Interest’ feature in Google Search.

Initially, Google is testing this feature on a “small group of videos” and hasn’t specified which ones, so it might be worth checking to see if yours have been inadvertently and negatively affected. That might sound dramatic, but it’s important to remember that this is not just an experiment, it’s an AI experiment, so prepare for things to go wrong, or at the very least, go unexpectedly, and occasionally even hilariously. Google is aware of this and has provided a form to provide feedback and opt-out of the service altogether if it isn’t working for you.

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Huawei FreeBuds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro: The Two Best Wireless Earbuds

While Huawei’s smartphone software has been hit and miss over the years, it’s undeniable that its smartphone hardware has been top-notch — arguably the best in the industry. And over the past couple of years, the Chinese tech giant has focused on bringing that same hardware prowess to other consumer products as part of the company’s “1+8+N” initiative. One of these products is truly wireless earphones. Huawei’s released a few of these before, and while they were solid offerings, they lacked the sleek design or full suite of intelligent features like noise cancellation and active transparency mode of Apple’s AirPods Pro — until now, with the Huawei FreeBuds Pro.

Huawei launched these two months ago during the company’s developer conference, and they are easily Huawei’s best true wireless earbuds ever. My XDA colleague Adam Conway has already expressed his love for it in a review, but I wanted to do a direct comparison against the FreeBuds Pro’s most obvious challenger, Apple’s AirPods Pro.

Huawei Freebuds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro: Specification Comparison

Specifications	Huawei FreeBuds Pro	Apple AirPods Pro
Dimensions & weight	Per bud: 26mm x 29.6mm x 21.7mm Per bud: 6.1 grams Charging case: 70mm x 51.3 x 21.7mm Charging case: 60 grams	Per bud: 24mm x 30.9 x 21.8 mm Per bud: 5.4 grams Charging case: 60.6mm x 45.2mm x 21.7mm Charging case: 45.6 grams
Chip	Kirin K1	Apple H1
Battery & Charging	7 hours with ANC off 4.5 hours with ANC on Case contains additional five charges USB-C wired charging Qi wireless charging	5 hours Case contains additional six charges Lightning wired charging Qi wireless charging
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.0
Other Features	IPX5 “Intelligent Dynamic” Active Noise Cancellation Transparency mode Dynamic	IPX4 Active Noise Cancellation Transparency mode Adaptive EQ

Design: Look, Fit, and Comfort

This may be a bit unfair to Huawei’s design team, but considering that the AirPods Pro hit the market first and AirPods themselves are ubiquitous all around the world, it’s hard to describe the FreeBuds Pro as anything other than AirPods-like. The charging cases have a similar shape and open the same way. Huawei’s case is slightly heavier and taller, but both are highly portable and can fit into my pant pocket along with wallet and keys without creating an unsightly bulge.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro and Apple AirPods Pro

The FreeBuds Pro sport thicker and more squared-off stems than most wireless earbuds on the market. This design allowed Huawei more space to put sensors and drivers, and these are all cutting-edge, top-notch components. On a personal level, I also like that the boxier look (along with the deep grey color of my unit) make the earbuds look distinct from Apple’s AirPods. I have not been a fan of the flood of truly wireless earbuds from other phone brands that seem to want to look like AirPod clones.

I'm also a fan of the fact that neither of the stems are too long

Both earbuds have silicone tips that aim to provide a seal around the wearer’s ear canal. The tips are easy to remove on both and can be swapped for smaller or larger ones that are included with the packaging. I find both the FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro to be a comfortable, secure fit for my ears. I’m also a fan of the fact that neither of the stems are too long. Compared to the non-pro regular AirPods or Huawei’s older wireless earbuds, these are far more discreet in my ears. In fact, if you look at me straight on when I’m wearing them, they are hard to notice. You certainly can’t say that about other recent wireless earbuds from Xiaomi or Vivo.

I have the AirPods Pro on my left ear and FreeBuds Pro on my right ear.

Controls

The stems on both earbuds provide pressure-activated touch controls. I love that both require just a bit of force — as if I’m pressing a button — instead of just taps like many other true wireless earbuds. Just tapping often results in accidental or unwanted touches, and both the FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro are designed so that you’re not pressing the buds into your ear — another problem I’ve seen from many earbuds. So controlling both of these earbuds needs to be intentional, which is good.

The controls are very similar too: both FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro play or pause music with a single press on either stem. Double pressing skips forward a track, while triple pressing rewinds the track. Press and hold to cycle through noise cancellation or transparency mode.

Huawei one ups Apple, however, by providing volume controls too via swiping -- and they work like charm

Huawei one ups Apple, however, by providing volume controls too via swiping — and they work like charm. You cannot adjust volume directly on the AirPods Pro.

Performance: Audio quality, noise cancellation, transparency

In terms of audio quality, my colleague Adam declared in his review the FreeBuds Pro are the best sounding wireless earbuds he’s ever tested. I’m not ready to go that far — but I do think the FreeBuds Pro are among the very best sounding ones. For my music tastes — a lot of 90s hip hop (Nas, Dr Dre), 90s California pop rock (Green Day, Blink 182), and classic rock and roll (Beatles, Rolling Stones, David Bowie) —  I generally find the AirPods Pro a bit more balanced, with crisp mids and clear highs. Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro seems to emphasize the low end more.

Where the FreeBuds Pro win easily in my opinion is noise cancellation and transparency

Where the FreeBuds Pro win easily in my opinion is noise cancellation and transparency. This is a big statement for me to make because the AirPods Pro had previously been my favorite in this category. And while both the FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro can muffle out typical city traffic noises quite well, where the FreeBuds Pro stand alone at the top is its ability to dynamically analyze the environment and adjusts its noise cancellation type accordingly. Huawei calls this “Intelligent Dynamic ANC,” and it really works. It can isolate the low humming buzz of an air conditioner or loud talking people in a packed coffee shop.

Conversely, Huawei’s intelligent algorithms also can enhance human voices, this is useful for transparency mode. I have tested over a dozen true wireless earbuds, and the FreeBuds Pro are the only ones I can keep wearing with music playing and still conduct a conversation where I can hear the other party clearly.

The AirPods Pro’s transparency mode is good, but it not only lets all the sound in but also amplifies the noise level — so in a very noisy city like Hong Kong, it almost hurts my ears to have transparency mode on in busy places.

Performance: Phone calls, Connectivity, Latency

Connectivity with both earbuds are strong — they automatically pair to my phone after the first set-up and from there they very rarely suffer audio drops. To be fair, true wireless earbuds generally suffer in vast open spaces because there aren’t buildings or walls off which to bounce wireless signal. Ultra-dense Hong Kong is as far from “vast open space” as possible, so neither earbuds are being tested much here in terms of connectivity. From testing, I left my phone (a Galaxy Z Fold 2 for reference) in one end of a co-working space and walked to the other end — 40 feet away — and both earbuds kept a stable connection.

For phone calls, the FreeBuds Pro have three mics to the AirPods Pro’s two and while I don’t know if that’s indeed the difference-maker, I can say the FreeBuds Pro consistently sounded better for the other end during voice calls. I have tested this over a dozen calls in various conditions with two different person on the other end. Every time, they told me my voice sounded more clear and less muffled on the FreeBuds Pro.

Both earbuds do an excellent job of reducing latency to the point it’s almost hard to notice. I have worn both earbuds for the past several months watching dozens of hours of videos, and very rarely have I ever noticed that a voice isn’t syncing with the person’s lips.

Additional Features

You won’t have to stress when it rains with either the FreeBuds Pro or the AirPods Pro, as they’re rated IPX5 and IPX4 respectively. The stronger rating does mean the FreeBuds Pro can sustain stronger splashes of water than the AirPods Pro but it’s hard to find an example in real-world usage — I suppose the FreeBuds Pro has a higher chance of surviving heavy rainstorms? The point is both of these earbuds can’t be taken for a swim, but you can wear them in even heavy rain.

The FreeBuds Pro are also more flexible for cross-platform or cross-brand usage. Huawei’s buds can connect up to two devices at the same time, and it doesn’t matter what device it is — could be a Sony laptop and a Samsung Galaxy phone, or an iPhone and an iPad. The AirPods Pro, meanwhile, can connect to two devices only if they are iOS devices. Also, AirPods Pro suffered from low volume issues with some Samsung devices, requiring the user to jump into developer options and “disable absolute volume” to fix.

Battery Life

Not surprising for a Huawei product, the FreeBuds Pro have jaw-dropping endurance. On a single charge, Huawei advertises seven hours of audio playback time if the earbuds have both transparency and active noise cancellation off, and five hours with either of those features on. From my testing, those numbers are accurate. The AirPods Pro, meanwhile, can go around five hours on a single charge.

Both earbuds can be charged wirelessly or wired: the FreeBuds Pro take USB-C, while the AirPods Pro take Lightning.

Conclusion: Two wireless audio powerhouses — but you have to pay the price

I have tested many wireless earbuds over the past couple of years — especially in 2020 when seemingly every phone brand launched one — and I can confidently say the FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro are the two best overall in terms of having all the features (however, I do have a soft spot for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for its unique shape and fit).

But these are also two of the most expensive ones around. The FreeBuds Pro retail at €199 ($235), while the AirPods Pro go for $249. In late 2020, you can find very capable wireless earbuds for under $100. The $90 TicPods ANC offers almost all the features as Huawei’s and Apple’s earbuds — noise cancellation, transparency mode — except they don’t work as well, and the earbuds themselves have long, chunky stems.

If you have the money to spend and you want the best in wireless audio tech right now, it makes sense that Apple and Huawei have the two best options. I think the FreeBuds Pro are better overall because it has longer battery life, better transparency mode, and better compatibility across devices and platforms. However, if you are fully immersed in Apple’s eco-system, the AirPods bring the ability to summon Siri via voice (you can’t trigger any digital assistant with Huawei’s buds).

Huawei FreeBuds Pro

Huawei's FreeBuds Pro is a major improvement over the company's recent audio offerings, and it even beats the AirPods Pro in many key areas.

View at Huawei

AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro are ubiquitous for a reason -- they sound great and if you're using an iPhone, MacBook and iPad, the AirPods Pro will fit nicely into the eco-system.

View at Apple

 

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The best travel cases for your Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite

It’s just lovely that the Nintendo Switch can be used both at home as a docked console, and on the go as a portable device. Just popping your Switch into a bag or purse isn’t the best idea, though. It’s all too easy for something to scrape against your expensive electronic and ruin the screen. If you’re traveling, it’s also useful to have a case that can store extra games, so you can have any game you want on the go. For these, you’ll want a travel case that suits your needs, and we’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch travel cases below!

As with many Switch accessories, what you’ll want to get varies by whether you have a Nintendo Switch or a Nintendo Switch Lite. While the Switch Lite can technically fit in a normal Switch travel case, it’s not going to be a good fit and your device has a chance of rattling around and even getting damaged within the case. So it’s best to get a case that fits!

Looking for other Switch accessories? We also have round-ups for controllers, microSDs, comfort grips, and screen protectors!

Nintendo Switch Travel Cases

There are a larger variety of Nintendo Switch travel cases than you would expect. When it comes to protecting your Switch, it all depends on your needs!

Official Nintendo Switch Carrying Case

Official Hard Shell Protection

If you want to be sure you're protected, you can't beat the official Switch carrying case! This has room for the Switch and eight games, and has an adjustable viewing stand.

Buy at Amazon

AmazonBasics Carrying Case

Basic Soft Shell Protection

Prefer soft cover cases? Go with the AmazonBasics case! This case has room for 10 games, the Switch, and extra accessories.

Buy at Amazon

Funlab Slim Carrying Case

Easy to Store Travel Cases

If you don't have a lot of room in your back, go with a stylish Funlab case! It only holds five extra games but it will keep your Switch safe.

Buy at Amazon

Zadii Hard Carrying Case

Store Everything You Need

With this big travel case, you can transport not only your Switch, but the dock, extra controllers, and more. You can even hold 21 games!

Buy at Amazon

Tomtoc Carrying Case

Match Your Switch

Tomtoc is another solid hard case option. It can hold eight games and comes in all sorts of fun colors!

Buy at Amazon

Mumba Switch Carrying Case

The Toughest Around

If you need a case that will survive anything, Mumba's Nintendo Switch travel case will do that job. This is a bulky case that can absorbs shocks!

Buy at Amazon

Nintendo Switch Lite Travel Cases

Given that the Switch Lite is a portable-only device, a travel case is incredibly important for it! There are all sorts of cases that will fill your needs.

PowerA Protection Case Kit

Officially Licensed Protection

PowerA makes officially licensed Nintendo Switch gear, so you know if you pick up this case you'll get quality! It also comes with a screen protector and cleaning cloth. Now that's value!

Buy at Amazon

iVoler Hard Shell Travel Case

Hold Everything You Need

If you need to hold a lot of stuff, iVolar's hardshell case will be the one for you. You can hold 20 games, as well as a bunch of accessories, in this hefty case.

Buy at Amazon

Funlab Switch Lite Case

Slim, Stylish Protection

Like its normal Switch counterpart, the Funlab is slim and holds five games, makes it easy to pack in a bag. And, I mean, can you resist a cute Snorlax case?

Buy at Amazon

Fintie Carry Case

Hard Shell Shock Protection

If your Switch Lite needs the best protection, this Fintie case comes with shock protection and a bunch of different styles to boot. This case can hold 15 cases, as well as 2 microSDs.

Buy at Amazon

Tomtoc Switch Lite Carrying Case

Match your Switch Lite

Tomtoc is another solid hard case option. It can hold eight games and comes in all sorts of fun colors, so check them out!

Buy at Amazon

Tomtoc Switch Lite Carrying Case

A Splash of Color

Want just a little bit of color with your Switch Lite travel case? ButterFox's cases are semi-hard shell bulky cases that are mostly black, and can hold up to 20 games.

Buy at Amazon

You got the list, but what are the best of the best Nintendo Switch travel cases? In the end, it really depends on the level of protection you’re looking for. The case I use for my regular Switch is the Tomtoc case because it’s relatively slim, but still provides enough protection from something sharp or pointy in my carry-on or purse. I also got the black case, and it doesn’t show dirt! As for my Switch Lite, my case isn’t actually on this list, because I just picked something up quickly to protect the device for the time being. But, honestly? I’d probably just pick up the Tomtoc case for it as well since it’s tried and true for me.

I also have the Zadii carrying case for my Switch if I need to take the dock and some extra controllers to a friend’s house to hook up. It’s a great case to pack everything you need!

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