Huawei MatePad Pro Review: A Premium Tablet made better with Google Apps

Chinese tech giant Huawei has been caught at the center of the trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Since the trade ban went into effect, Huawei’s latest offerings don’t feature Google apps and services out of the box. That includes Huawei’s current flagship tablet model, the Huawei MatePad Pro, which is unfortunate because it offers one of the best tablet experiences on the Android market today… if you can get around the lack of apps.

About this review: Huawei sent us the Huawei MatePad Pro along with the keyboard case for review at the end of July 2020. The company did not have any input in the contents of this review.

Huawei MatePad Pro Forums

Huawei MediaPad Pro specifications

Specification	Huawei MatePad Pro 5G
Dimensions & Weight	246.0 (W) x 159.0 (H) x 7.2mm (D) 460g (Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G)
Display	10.8-inches 2500×1600 IPS LCD
CPU & GPU	HiSilicon Kirin 990: 2x Cortex-A76 @2.86GHz 2x Cortex-A76 @2.36GHz 4x Cortex-A55 @1.95GHz Mali-G76 MP16 GPU Fabricated on TSMC’s 7nm+EUV process
RAM & Storage	8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 256GB UFS 3.0 storage Expandable storage (up to 256GB nano memory card)
Sound	Quad Speakers Tuned by Harman Kardon No headphone jack
Battery & Charging	7,250 mAh 40W fast charging 15W wireless charging 7.5W reverse wireless charging
Security	No fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera	13MP f/1.8 main LED flash
Front Camera	8MP f/2.0
Ports	USB Type-C
Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.1
Sensors	Accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, light sensor, hall sensor
Software	Android 10 with EMUI

A sleek build

The Huawei MatePad Pro features a sleek build, featuring an all-glass back with a small protruding camera at the top. On each end at the top and bottom are two pairs of speakers, making for a quad-speaker setup.

The power button is situated at the top above the camera cut-out, while the volume rocker is to the right of it.

The tablet itself is extremely light, despite its size and feature package. The stylus you can also pick up for the Huawei MatePad Pro can charge from the side of the device, attaching to one of the four edges to charge. This is the same way the connected keyboard is powered.

A beautiful 10.8-inch media consumption machine held back by software

One of the most important aspects of a tablet is the screen. If you wanted a phone, you’d buy a phone, so the differentiating feature of a tablet is the larger display. The Huawei MatePad Pro’s display quality is adequate, and it gets nice and bright too. There’s a hole-punch cut-out for a selfie camera, which feels a little bit out of place. I understand that some people may want to use a tablet for video calls to replace a laptop, though. The 10.8-inch display on the Huawei MatePad Pro is one of its best features, and I love using it for watching videos. It’s just 60Hz though, which is disappointing but not surprising since Huawei has been relatively slow in adopting higher refresh rate panels. (The Huawei P40 Pro and P40+ were the company’s first devices to feature higher-than-60Hz panels.)

The quad speakers tuned by Harman Kardon sound really good, and are perfect for watching TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos. They don’t beat a dedicated speaker, obviously, but they’re impressive for a tablet’s built-in speakers.

I do have one major gripe with the Huawei MatePad Pro’s display experience, though, but it has nothing to do with the actual hardware. I’ll get into this more in the software section, but the Widevine DRM level is 3. Because of this, you’re restricted to watching Netflix and Amazon Prime in standard definition. That’s not a big deal if you use other streaming services such as YouTube or Plex, but it’s something to keep in mind if the majority of your media consumption is on a platform that enforces Widevine L1 DRM for HD streaming.

Whenever I’ve wanted to watch something on Netflix, this has been enough of a deterrent to make me put down the Huawei MatePad Pro and get my laptop. If you think it’ll bother you and you watch a lot of DRM-protected content, then this isn’t the tablet for you. Huawei’s software woes have gone so far as to affect the content they can show on the screen.

Performance that packs a punch

The Huawei MatePad Pro features the Kirin 990 SoC with the Mali-G76 MP16 GPU. The Kirin 990 is a flagship SoC, the same one driving Huawei’s flagship smartphones this year. I’ve had no lags or stutters, and everything runs perfectly. Because of driver compatibility issues, the MatePad Pro isn’t as performant in retro game console emulators to the same degree that tablets with Qualcomm chipsets are, so you won’t be playing any Nintedo GameCube, 3DS, or Wii games here. Most tablet buyers won’t be doing that anyway.

Apps launch fast and most built-for-Android mobile games run without frame drops. It’s a flagship tablet with a flagship processor, and if it didn’t provide the performance you’d expect from its flagship specs, then there would be an issue. Thankfully, there isn’t. Overall, if you’re picking up a Huawei MatePad Pro, you shouldn’t be worried about performance.

EMUI without Google Apps?

So to preface this section before we get into the software experience on the Huawei MatePad Pro, I should clarify that I have sideloaded Google Apps on my unit. I do not know if this will be possible in the future as the software version on my unit is old. However, I did make sure to use the Huawei AppGallery primarily at first just to get a feel for what a modern Huawei experience is like. I’m sad to say that it hampered my enjoyment of the tablet.

Let me be clear with one thing: This tablet can offer a great experience… with Google apps. Without Google apps, things are a bit more complicated. Trying to download the apps that I want to use often means downloading from multiple different sources, which is somewhat helped by Petal Search. I would consider myself tech-savvy, but I can’t imagine how difficult this may be for someone who is not.

Petal Search will find apps for you that aren’t on the AppGallery from trusted third-party sources. It does do the job as I was able to find most apps that I was looking for from sources that I recognized. Looking for my banking app, though, I found that Petal Search could only find it from sources that I didn’t recognize, and looking them up yielded very few results as to the trustworthiness of the source.

However, there is an alternative to those who don’t want to try and mess with installing Google Apps, and for those who don’t want to try and deal with Petal Search either. It’s called Aurora Store, and it can be found on the XDA Forums. How it works is pretty simple—it’s a third-party, open-source apps for accessing the Google Play Store, giving you access to all of the apps and games hosted on there. You can spoof your device, location, install updates, and you don’t even need Google Play Services for it to work. There’s just one thing to be mindful of, and that is the potential risk to your Google account should you sign-in. You’re technically violating Google’s TOS by using Aurora Store with your Google Account, after all. While you can use the app without a Google account, you won’t be able to download your already-paid apps if you do so.

Aurora store

Aurora Store (Free, XDA Labs) →

But let’s say you’re someone who has managed to figure all of that out, and you’ve set up the Huawei MatePad Pro with all of your apps that you want to use and all of your games you want to play. The next issue you’ll face is that SafetyNet Attestation won’t pass, so you won’t be able to use any banking apps or games that enforce it. Sadly, even setting up Google Apps won’t rectify that, and nor will it bump up your Widevine DRM level from L3 to L1.

As for how to set up Google Apps on the Huawei MatePad Pro, it can really depend on what software version you’re on. I tried the guide below, but your mileage may vary as I’ve heard this may not work for every software version.

If you can get around the lack of apps one way or another, the Huawei MatePad Pro is a fine tablet. It’s a great device for watching YouTube and local videos, and it has worked as a media consumption device when it was all that I could fit in my bag. The Huawei MatePad Pro is also a much lighter alternative to my laptop, making it a decent option for getting some work done. I wouldn’t use it as a permanent laptop replacement, but most of the time, it does what I need.

EMUI and productivity

The Huawei MatePad Pro has a number of productivity-focused features that make it a viable competitor to other premium tablets. I didn’t have the stylus accessory for review, so I couldn’t try out the tablet’s note-taking capabilities for use in university. However, I’ve had no issues using it as somewhat of a laptop replacement for basic tasks.

EMUI aids productivity in ways that make sense, primarily through the use of multiple window support. I can take notes or work on an article while Spotify is up in a smaller window, or I can have another web browser up in another window for research. This window is quite small but definitely usable, and it makes it much easier to do other tasks while I’m working.

EMUI itself is feature-packed, though I’ve not come across anything that I thought was really special. Multi-tasking is the best feature here, and that’s very well done. The 10.8-inch screen is great for keeping multiple applications open at a time when working. Multi-window works as well as you’d expect, and I’ve been using it when getting work done to look at notes or to control my music. Not all apps are compatible out of the box, but if you enable developer options, you can enable “force all activities to be resizeable”. Following a reboot, you’ll be able to resize previously-unsupported applications.

Accessories – Keyboard Case

The Huawei MatePad Pro that we received for review also came with the Huawei Keyboard Case, too. How it works is simple: It closes over the tablet like a book, and when you want to use it, you can just open it up and place it on a desk. The MatePad Pro magnetically snaps into one of two positions, which then wirelessly powers the keyboard and connects it to the tablet via Bluetooth. From there, it works just like a normal keyboard. When you’re done, simply close it back up again!

If you anticipate you’ll be doing a lot of writing on the go, the keyboard case is a good investment. I kept it on my Huawei MatePad Pro review unit all the time, and I used it both for replying to regular messages and for working. I didn’t really ever take it out of the case. The keyboard itself is nice to use, and it didn’t really feel all that cheap or flimsy, despite how thin it is. I was able to use it for long periods of time without issues.

If you think you’ll be writing a lot, the Keyboard Case is so much better to type on than using the on-display keyboard. The on-display keyboard is a bit unwieldy with such a large display, but that’s nothing unique to the Huawei MatePad Pro. Definitely consider picking up one of these if you are interested in this device.

Conclusion

The Huawei MatePad Pro can be a fantastic tablet, and for the price, may well be worth the investment. It may not be as feature-packed as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, for example, but it’s much cheaper. With flagship specs, it may well be a great “lite” laptop that you can pick up for work or basic tasks. Definitely make sure you understand the limitations with the software experience and the various workarounds that are available to you before taking the plunge, though.

Huawei MatePad Pro

The Huawei MatePad Pro is an excellent tablet for those looking for a basic but flagship tablet experience.

£499 at Huawei

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OPPO brings the Reno4 Pro 5G, Reno4 5G, and Reno4 Z 5G to the UK

OPPO recently launched its Reno4 lineup as part of its Reno series, which launches roughly twice a year. And these devices offer a pretty good value, all things considered. But since the launch of the OPPO Reno3 lineup, they’ve been taking a (sort of) different approach to the way they launch devices globally. The phone that launched as the Reno3 Pro in India and other markets, for example, is way different than the one that launched as the Reno3 Pro in China. That device launched as the Find X2 Neo globally. A similar thing happened with the Reno4 in how the Pro variant launched in India with a Snapdragon 720G and quad rear cameras. Now, though, the same Reno4 phones that launched in China earlier this year are launching in the UK as the Reno4 Pro 5G and the Reno4 5G, as well as the newer Reno4 Z 5G.

Both 5G versions of the Reno4 Pro and the Reno4 are identical to the devices that launched in China earlier. That means that the quad rear camera setup in the Reno4 Pro is replaced for a triple one instead, and the Snapdragon 720G is replaced for the more powerful, and 5G capable, Snapdragon 765G. Of course, these devices’ headlining feature is 5G, and 5G needs an SoC that’s up for the task. Otherwise, though, the phones are pretty similar: The Pro variant has a curved 90Hz display, the regular variant has a flat 60Hz one, and both of them have hole-punch panels.

The Reno4 Z 5G, though, was actually just announced in China a couple of days back, and it’s actually just a rebrand of the OPPO A92s. It comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 800 processor which is also 5G-capable, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, a different design language (with a square camera bump), and, the fastest refreshing display of the bunch at 120Hz (though it has an LCD instead of an AMOLED panel like the other two). It does come with a few downsides, though: Whereas the Reno4 Pro and the Reno4 feature 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, the Reno4 Z has a more conventional 18W charger.

Both the Reno4 and Reno4 Pro 5G are running Android 10 with ColorOS 7.2 out of the box, while the Reno4 Z 5G is running Android 10-based ColorOS 7.1. These devices will be among the first in line to get ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 when it rolls out more widely.

OPPO Reno4 5G Product Page ||| OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G Product Page ||| OPPO Reno4 Z 5G Product Page

OPPO Reno4 5G, Reno4 Pro 5G, Reno4 Z 5G: Specifications

Specifications	OPPO Reno4 5G (CPH2091)	OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G (CPH2089)	OPPO Reno4 Z 5G (CPH2065)
Dimensions and Weight	159.3 x 74.0 x 7.8mm 183g	159.6 x 72.5 x 7.6mm 172g	163.8 x 75.5 x 8.1mm 184g
Display	6.4″ AMOLED 2400×1080 resolution Flat display 60Hz refresh rate 409PPI Dual hole-punch	6.5″ AMOLED 2400×1080 resolution Curved display 90Hz refresh rate 402PPI Single hole-punch	6.57″ LCD 2400×1080 resolution Curved display 120Hz refresh rate 401PPI Dual hole-punch
CPU and GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Performance core @ 2.2GHz 6x (ARM Cortex-A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz 7nm EUV process Adreno 620 GPU @ 625 MHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Performance core @ 2.2GHz 6x (ARM Cortex-A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz 7nm EUV process Adreno 620 GPU @ 625 MHz	MediaTek Dimensity 800 4x ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2GHz 4 ARM Cortex-A55 @ 2GHz TSMC’s 7nm process (N7) ARM Mali-G57MC4 GPU
Storage and RAM	8GB + 128GB	12GB + 256GB	8GB + 128GB
Battery and Charging	2x2010mAh cells (4020 mAh total) 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging	2x2000mAh cells (4000 mAh total) 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging	4000mAh 18W charging
Rear Camera	Primary: 48MP, Sony IMX589, f/1.7, 1.20″ sensor Secondary: 8MP, ultra-wide-angle, 119° FoV, f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP, monochrome camera, f/2.4 Laser AF Video: 4K@30, 1080p@30/60, 720p@30/60 Slow motion: 1080p@120, 720p@240	Primary: 48MP, Sony IMX586, f/1.7, 1.20″ sensor, OIS Secondary: 12MP, Sony IMX708, ultra-wide-angle, night scene video camera, 120° FoV, 1/2.43″ sensor, 1.4μm pixel size pre-binning Tertiary: 13MP, telephoto camera, f/2.4 Laser AF Video: 4K@30, 1080p@30/60, 720p@30/60 Slow motion: 1080p@120, 720p@240	Primary: 48MP Secondary: 8MP wide-angle lens Tertiary: 2MP black-and-white monochrome lens Quaternary: 2MP vintage portrait monochrome lens Video: 4K@30, 1080p@30, 720p@30
Front Camera	Primary: 32MP, f/2.4 Secondary: 2MP, f/2.4 Video: 1080p@30, 720p@30	Primary: 32MP, f/2.4 Video: 1080p@30, 720p@30	Primary: 16MP Secondary: 2MP depth sensor Video: 1080p@30, 720p@30
Security	Optical under-display fingerprint scanner	Optical under-display fingerprint scanner	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Sensors	Geomagnetic sensor, optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gravity sensor, gyroscope, pedometer	Geomagnetic sensor, optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gravity sensor, gyroscope, pedometer	Magnetic sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, gravity sensor/accelerometer, other sensors
Ports	USB Type-C No 3.5mm headphone jack	USB Type-C No 3.5mm headphone jack	USB Type-C Has 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Qualcomm Snapdragon X52 5G modem (SA/NSA Dual Mode) SIM 1 (primary SIM) 5G: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78 4G（TD-LTE）: B38/B39/B40/B41/B42 4G（FDD-LTE）: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28/B32/B66 3G（WCDMA）: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19 2G（GSM）: 850/900/1800/1900MHz SIM 2 (Secondary SIM) 4G（TD-LTE）: B38/B39/B40/B41/B42 4G（FDD-LTE）: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28/B32/B66 3G（WCDMA）: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19 2G（GSM）: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WLAN: 2.4G/5.1G/5.8G; Wi-Fi Display; MU-MIMO supported Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth v5.1 Bluetooth Audio: SBC/AAC/APTX/APTX-HD/APTX-TWS/LDAC GNSS: Built-in GPS that supports A-GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS NFC: Android Beam supported, HCE/UICC supported	Qualcomm Snapdragon X52 5G modem (SA/NSA Dual Mode) SIM 1 (primary SIM) 5G: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78 4G（TD-LTE）: B38/B39/B40/B41/B42 4G（FDD-LTE）: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28/B32/B66 3G（WCDMA）: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19 2G（GSM）: 850/900/1800/1900MHz SIM 2 (Secondary SIM) 4G（TD-LTE）: B38/B39/B40/B41/B42 4G（FDD-LTE）: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28/B32/B66 3G（WCDMA）: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19 2G（GSM）: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WLAN: 2.4G/5.1G/5.8G; Wi-Fi Display; MU-MIMO supported Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth v5.1 Bluetooth Audio: SBC/AAC/APTX/APTX-HD/APTX-TWS/LDAC GNSS: Built-in GPS that supports A-GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS NFC: Android Beam supported, HCE/UICC supported	SIM Card 1： GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/66 TD-LTE: Bands 38/39/40/41 5G NR: n77/78/38/40/41/1/3/5/7/8/20/28 SIM Card2： GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/66 TD-LTE: Bands 38/39/40/41 5G NR: n77/78/38/40/41/1/3/5/7/8/20/28 WLAN: WLAN 2.4G, WLAN 5.1G, WLAN 5.5G, WLAN 5.8G, WLAN Display Bluetooth Version：Bluetooth v5.1 Bluetooth Audio Codec：SBC, AAC, aptx, aptx HD, LDAC GNSS: （Beidou）, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS NFC：HCE, NFC-SIM
Software	ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10	ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10	ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10

 

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Gmail prepares to let you opt out of personalizing other Google services

Given how important email has become in our day-to-day lives, it’s important that you sign up with an email service that you can trust. Most people are using free email services like Gmail, and it’s thanks to Gmail’s huge userbase that Google is able to collect massive amounts of aggregated data on our email habits. Google uses this data to show you more targeted ads, but they also use this data to improve their own services. Features like smart reply and nudges are two of the ways that Gmail has become smarter for the user, but there are also various cross-product integrations like Google Pay surfacing your loyalty cards, Google Assistant reminding you of your bills, and Google Maps displaying your restaurant reservations.

Once you’ve enabled these features, you have to go to the settings of multiple apps to turn off all these integrations if you want to rein in what information other Google services can glean from your emails. Fortunately, it looks like the Gmail app is preparing to add a form to make it easier to opt out of cross-product information sharing. That form will also inform the user about Gmail’s various “smart” features, and Google may soon require users to opt in to continue using them (if they’re already using them.)

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

Version 2020.09.20 of the Gmail app rolled out today on the Google Play Store, and it contains strings suggesting there will be in-app forms for the user to opt-in or opt-out of personalizing other Google products based on your Gmail, Chat, or Meet content. It seems the opt-out process is all-or-nothing as you can’t opt-out of sharing your Gmail, Chat, and Meet content on a per-service basis. Once you opt out, you won’t be able to have Google Assistant remind you of your upcoming bills, you can’t have Google Maps display your restaurant reservations, you can’t have Travel bundle your itineraries, and you can’t have Google Pay extract your loyalty cards and tickets from your email.

<string name="cross_products_form_description_paragraph_1">Get the most out of products like Assistant, Maps, Travel, and GPay with personalization based on your Gmail, Chat, and Meet content and how you use these products.</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_description_paragraph_2">By agreeing, you grant other Google products access to your Gmail, Chat, and Meet information. Other Google products use this information under their own terms, such as the Google <annotation type="google_term_of_service_link">Terms of Service</annotation> and <annotation type="google_privacy_policy_link">Privacy Policy</annotation>. Depending on your settings, some Google products may show you ads personalized with your information, including information you share from Gmail, Chat, and Meet. <annotation type="smart_features_learn_more_link">Learn more</annotation></string>
<string name="cross_products_form_done">Done</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_footer">2 of 2</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_in_bullet_1">Assistant reminders of your bills due</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_in_bullet_2">Maps displaying restaurant reservations</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_in_bullet_3">Travel bundling your itineraries</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_in_bullet_4">GPay surfacing loyalty cards &amp; tickets</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_in_description">Google can continue to help you via:</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_out_description">This <annotation type="opt_out_description_highlight">disables the features above and more (effective by the end of this year).</annotation> You can turn this back on in Gmail settings.</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_opt_out_title">Use limited versions of other Google products</string>
<string name="cross_products_form_title">Personalize other Google products with your Gmail, Chat, and Meet data</string>
<string name="cross_products_opt_out_confirmation_bullet_travel">Travel showing places of interest</string>
<string name="cross_products_setting_opt_in_confirmation_bullet_title">Google can help you via:</string>
<string name="cross_products_setting_opt_in_confirmation_button_proceed">Personalize</string>

In addition, the first page of this form will allow you to opt out of other “smart features” in Gmail, such as nudges, smart reply, smart compose, automatic email filtering/categorization, high priority notifications for important emails, and extracting calendar events from emails.

<string name="in_gmail_form_description_paragraph_1">Get the most out of Gmail, Chat, and Meet with smart features and personalization based on your content and how you use these products.</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_footer">1 of 2</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_next">Next</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_bullet_1">Automatic email filtering/categorization (Primary/Social/Promotions)</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_bullet_2">Smart Compose (suggested text) in email</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_bullet_5">Summary cards above emails (travel, package tracking, and more)</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_bullet_6">Extracting event details to create calendar entries</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_bullet_high_priority_notification">High priority notifications for important emails</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_description">Gmail will continue to offer you:</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_in_title">Continue with smart features</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_out_description">This will <annotation type="opt_out_description_highlight">disable or degrade the performance of the features above and more.</annotation> You can turn this back on in Gmail settings. <annotation type="smart_features_learn_more_link">Learn more</annotation></string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_opt_out_title">Turn off smart features</string>
<string name="in_gmail_form_title">Allow smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet to use your data</string>
<string name="in_gmail_opt_out_confirmation_bullet_nudge">Nudges to reply forgotten emails</string>
<string name="in_gmail_opt_out_confirmation_bullet_smart_reply">Smart Reply (suggested quick replies) in email</string>
<string name="in_gmail_setting_opt_in_confirmation_bullet_title">Gmail will offer you:</string>
<string name="in_gmail_setting_opt_in_confirmation_button_proceed">Allow</string>

Some of the strings suggest that at least some of these “smart features” will be turned off at the end of this year unless you opt back in.

<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_dismiss">Dismiss</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_main"><annotation type="opt_in_teaser_link">Turn on smart features and personalization</annotation> in Gmail, Chat, and Meet to <annotation type="purpose_placeholder">%1$s</annotation></string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_filter_inbox_category">use inbox categories</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_high_priority_notification">use high priority notifications</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_important_first_inbox">use important first inbox</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_inbox_tip">receive inbox tips</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_notify_important_section">be notified about important emails only</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_nudges">use nudges</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_personalize_google_product">personalize other Google products</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_search_suggestion">get better search suggestions</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_smart_compose_mail">use Smart Compose in mail</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_smart_folder">categorize emails as %1$s</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_smart_inbox_types">use smart inbox types with this account</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_smart_reply_chat">use Smart Reply in chat</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_smart_reply_mail">use Smart Reply in mail</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_in_teaser_purpose_use_inbox_category">use inbox categories</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_back">Back</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_confirmation_description_both_in_gmail_and_cross_products">The following features and more will be turned off until you change your settings. Features in other Google products will be turned off by the end of this year:</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_confirmation_description_only_cross_products">The following features and more will be turned off (effective by the end of this year) until you change your settings:</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_confirmation_description_only_in_gmail">The following features and more will be turned off until you change your settings:</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_confirmation_title">Turn off these features?</string>
<string name="smart_feature_opt_out_proceed">Turn off features</string>
<string name="smart_feature_usage_form_bullet">•</string>
<string name="smart_features_setting_opt_in_confirmation_button_cancel">Cancel</string>

In the middle of 2019, Google revealed 3 hidden privacy settings for Google Pay that users could opt out of. Earlier this year, Google announced that the company will no longer store audio recordings by default for all users of Assistant. It seems that Google wants to address the concerns of privacy advocates, who have alleged that Google’s services collect and use data in a manner that isn’t abundantly clear to users. By informing users what data is collected to make these features possible and requiring them to opt back in to continue using them, Google can satisfy both regular users who wish to continue using these features and the privacy-conscious who want to limit what services their data is shared with.

I have not been able to surface these settings in the latest version of the Gmail app for Android. If Google announces this feature, we’ll of course provide coverage of that announcement.

Gmail (Free, Google Play) →

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Xiaomi’s Mi Home app can show your smart home devices in Android 11’s power menu

Users of Xiaomi’s Mi Home app have recently discovered the app supports Android 11’s Controls feature. The feature allows users to add toggles for their smart home devices to the power menu, making it easier than ever to control them right from your smartphone.

There’s been a discussion about how recently the feature was available. We just discovered we could add smart devices to the power menu after updating the Mi Home app to 5.8.33. However, some users note that support was added in older versions, and we can confirm that it works as far back as version 5.8.16. It’s possible that Xiaomi rolled out the feature in waves based on the region set in the app, but who knows? In any case, it’s here, and it works.

Android 11’s power menu bridges the gap between the smart home and the smartphone. With the Controls API, developers can put home automation shortcuts in the power menu, making it easier than ever to control your smart home devices. This same menu also features quick access to things like boarding passes and payment methods.

Recently, the popular Tasker automation app added support for Android 11’s Controls feature, making it possible to customize the menu with basically whatever you want.  The Google Home app also started showing all Nest and Chromecast media devices in a recent update. Seeing smart home devices from the Mi Home app just makes the Android 11 Controls feature more enjoyable to use.

Whether you’re just seeing support now or you noticed a change much earlier, it’s important to get the word out so everyone can enjoy the new feature. It’s a nice quality-of-life change that should make controlling your smart home even easier.

Mi Home (Free, Google Play) →

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Best Samsung Galaxy Phones For Any Budget Or Need (October 2020)

Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone maker by market share, with a loyal fanbase, for good reason. The South Korean tech giant produces some of the most cutting-edge technology in the world, but they also have a diverse range of products that fill every need. So whether your budget differs from the average consumer, or you have specific usage habits that require a niche feature, there’s likely a Samsung phone that fits the bill for you. Here’s our guide on the best Samsung Galaxy Phones to buy depending on your budget or need.

These are the best Samsung Galaxy Phones:

• Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy S20
• Best that money can buy: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
• Best for those who want a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
• Best for an affordable phone with a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite
• Best with no notches or cut-outs: Samsung Galaxy A80
• Best for small pockets: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
• Best for battery life: Samsung Galaxy M51
• Best for affordable 5G: Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy S20

We understand that today’s top tier flagships are priced at a level higher than what most average consumers are willing, or able, to pay. For most people, they are better off buying something slightly older and perhaps a notch below the highest-end variant (the Ultras, Pros, Maxes). You’re still getting plenty of power but at a much better value.

Right now, the Galaxy S20 fits the description. At the time of this writing, the device is six months old and overshadowed by the Z Fold 2, Z Flip, and Note 20 series in Samsung’s pecking order, so there should be some great discounts if you look around. Despite that, the S20 is still every bit a flagship, with among the best screen (Samsung’s Super AMOLED with Quad HD resolution and 120Hz refresh rate) and processor (Snapdragon 865) on the market. Best of all, this standard S20, because it uses a 12MP sensor instead of the troubled 108MP, doesn’t suffer the focus issues of the S20 Ultra.

Galaxy S20

By far one of the best smartphones that Samsung has ever made, the Galaxy S20 is every bit a flagship as its siblings, and packs plenty of power. Thanks to newer devices on the market and socially distant sales, you should be able to get the Galaxy S20 at a discounted price!

View at Amazon

Best that money can buy: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the most cutting edge smartphone in the world but to experience it comes with a cost: it retails for $2,000 and, despite its excellent built quality, is still going to be more fragile than everything else on this list by virtue of being a folding device.  However, if you are okay with those two compromises, you are in for a treat.

Everything from playing games to watching movies, typing long emails to multi-tasking, is better on the Fold 2 because of its large 7.6-inch screen. That Snapdragon 865+ and 120Hz refresh rate of the inside screen sure help matters. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 offers an experience unlike any other smartphone and is the phone and tablet combination in one device that you’ve been searching for.

Galaxy Z Fold 2

The most cutting edge phone of the year -- but it will cost you a pretty penny. However, if money is no object and you need to have the very best that Samsung offers, look no further than the Galaxy Z Fold 2. We love it, and so will you!

View at Samsung

Best for those who want a stylus: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

While the Z Fold 2 is Samsung’s absolute top phone in terms of ambition and design, going by actually hardware component prowess, the Note 20 Ultra is even better. It’s got a better main camera system headlined by a 108-megapixel camera, a “Space Zoom” periscope camera that can pull off crisp 5X shots, respectable 10X and all the way up to 50X. And its screen is the absolute best non-folding screen on the market, with a variable refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz for ultra fluidity, or lower for more static apps to save battery.

What makes the Note 20 Ultra worth considering for many is the S-Pen, which in addition to being a pretty great stylus can now double as a remote control for hands-free photo taking or cycling through the phone’s UI. If you’re someone who needs to annotate documents, sign digital documents, or do the occasional sketches, the S-Pen is indispensable. Performance is zippy all around thanks to that Snapdragon 865+ processor and 12GB of RAM. This is the second most expensive phone on this list, however, at $1,300, and the boxy corners and huge 6.9-inch screen makes it tough to use for those with smaller hands.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the phone that has everything, including an S-Pen! It has every spec you can imagine – aside from a folding screen – and the S-Pen is a game-changer for those who need to be productive on the go.

View at Amazon

Best for those who want a stylus… at a discount: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite

If you read the Note 20 Ultra paragraph and found yourself interested in the S-Pen but turned off by the $1,300 price, last year’s Galaxy Note 10 Lite is perhaps worth a look. You’re still getting the S-Pen for all your scribbling needs;  still getting a vibrant Super AMOLED display, it’s just smaller with rounded corners so it’s easier for smaller hands, and best of all, it’s 1/3 the price of the Note 20 Ultra.

In terms of the cameras, you get a trio of 12MP sensors of the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto varieties. The cameras here won’t come close to what the Note 20 Ultra offers but is more than good enough, especially at its mid-tier price point. The 4,500 mAh battery ensures all-day endurance too, however, the processor here is the Exynos 9810 instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, so don’t expect to play games at the highest graphic setting or the blazing-fast speeds you’ll get from the Snapdragon 865+ in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Galaxy Note 10 Lite

If you've decided you really want in on that S-Pen action but don't want to pay $1,000 or more, this is a worthy alternative from Samsung. Despite its shortcomings, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite still represents one of the most affordable ways to get the S-Pen experience.

View at Amazon

Best for those annoyed by notches and cut-outs: Samsung Galaxy A80

If you find notches and “Infinity-O” hole-punch cutouts unsightly, then the Galaxy A80, with its completely uninterrupted display, is for you. This phone ditches the selfie camera entirely, instead of using an elevating, spinning camera module that flips the main camera system around during selfie use. The rising and flipping camera module is fast and reliable, and while the 48MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and TOF sensor are solid but unspectacular as a main camera system, for selfies it’s among one of the most feature-packed systems.

There’s a Snapdragon 730 processor and a good 1080 x 2400 AMOLED panel too. But the optical in-display fingerprint scanner is a bit slow, however. But we’re nitpicking now — this is an excellent mid-range device.

Galaxy A80

If you're tired of notches and hole-punches and prefer your screen uninterrupted and symmetrical, this is one of the few options available. The clever elevating and spinning camera mechanism will attract plenty of attention in the public and means your selfies should be better than on most phones as it uses the main camera!

View at Amazon

Best for those with with small pockets: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

By “small pocket”, we don’t mean a lack of funds; but rather we mean literally pockets without a lot of space, like women’s jeans, for example. The Z Flip is perfect for those because its clamshell design allows it to fold up and become a petite device with rough dimensions of a coaster. Then unfolded, it’s a thin, sleek smartphone with thin bezels and a capable dual-camera system consisting of a 12MP main and 12MP ultra-wide-camera, as well as a 10MP selfie camera.

Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the hinge locks in place at various angles which offers unique use cases, such as putting it on a table for hands-free video calls. Depending on your needs, this phone either comes in an older, but cheaper, Snapdragon 855+ or the newer but pricier Snapdragon 865+ version. The latter will bring speedier performance and support for 5G, but the non-5G version is still plenty powerful if you want to save $200.

Galaxy Z Flip

The Galaxy Z Flip is ideal for those who don't like how big phones have become, and the bulk it leaves in your pocket. This, along with the Fold 2, represents Samsung's two most ambitious products currently. Unlike the Z Fold 2, the Z Flip offers the smartphone experience everyone loves in a considerably more manageable form factor.

View at Samsung

Best for battery life: Samsung Galaxy M51

If you find yourself constantly having low battery anxiety with your smartphone, the Galaxy M51 should leave you at ease. It has a gigantic 7,000 mAh battery that is guaranteed to go at least two full days on a single charge, likely three, as our own review found. This large battery, as expected, makes the phone quite a bulky device, weighing 213g and measuring 9.5mm in thickness. But in our testing, we still found it ergonomically friendly thanks to the evenly distributed weight and the subtle curvature of the backside.

You also have a large 6.7-inch 1,080 x 2,340 screen, and a quad-camera system headlined by a 64MP shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, as well as a pair of 5MP macro and depth sensors. With the Snapdragon 730G on board, you have enough processing power for all your smartphone tasks.

Galaxy M51

Never suffer from battery anxiety again with this beastly device with a 7000 mAh battery. Despite the size, Samsung's done a great job making this comfortable to hold and use.

View at Samsung

Best Samsung for those who want 5G on a budget: Galaxy A71 5G

Who said only pricey flagships can support 5G? Powered by a Snapdragon 765G, the A71 has the modem ready to support 5G connectivity while keeping prices reasonably in the mid-range. A 6.7-inch, 2,400 x 1,080 Super AMOLED panel, a quad-camera system, and a 4,500 mAh battery keeps the device up to 2020 standards, although the plastic back feels a notch below premium. Still, you’re getting next-gen connection speeds and a very capable 64MP camera that excels during the day and holds its own at night.

Galaxy A71 5G

The Galaxy A71 may be priced in the mid-tier level, but you're still getting a large Super AMOLED screen, four cameras, and 5G connectivity.

View at Amazon

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What’s your favorite Samsung Galaxy phone from this list, and are there any others you think we should add? Let us knows in the comments below!

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Live View in Google Maps now shows landmarks to help you navigate

The next time you’re navigating a big city, figuring out which way to go will be a lot easier. Google Maps is introducing a new feature in its augmented reality “Live View” navigation mode. The new feature will display nearby landmarks so you can more easily figure out where you are based on your surroundings.

With the update, Live View will show you how far certain landmarks are and what direction you need to travel to get there. If you’re trying to get to the Empire State Building in New York, for example, you’ll see a pin overlaid in augmented reality. If you’re on vacation and unfamiliar with your surroundings, seeing nearby landmarks is a great way to quickly figure out where you are. Google said Live View will show other big landmarks, including the Pantheon in Rome and “easily recognizable places” like parks and tourist attractions.

Speaking of pins, Google said that pins are now more accurate in Live View. The company said it made improvements to the underlying technology, so it can now take elevation into account to more accurately display the destination pin.

In addition to showing nearby landmarks, Google said users can also access Live View from the transit tab in Google Maps. “If you’re using transit directions and have a walking portion of your journey, you can use Live View to find your way,” Google said. “This is particularly useful when you exit a transit station and don’t know which way to go.”

Google also said that it’s bringing Live View in Location Sharing to Android and iOS. The feature, which was introduced last month, was previously available to Pixel users. The feature is convenient if you’re trying to link up with friends or family.

Introduced last year, Live View has become an incredibly useful feature of Google Maps, combining Street View’s real-world imagery, machine learning, and smartphone sensors to get a street level view with directions overlaid in augmented reality.

Landmarks will roll out soon to Android and iOS in nearly 25 cities around the world. Live View in the transit tab, Location Sharing, and a more accurate pin, will come to Android and iOS will in the coming weeks.

Maps - Navigate & Explore (Free, Google Play) →

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Auto Mode in the Alexa App is Amazon’s version of Android Auto

Amazon has unveiled two car-centric features for its Alexa app, including Auto Mode and Start My Commute, which are designed to work with Alexa auto accessories like the Echo Auto. Auto Mode has been designed to make your phone safer to use hands-free, with an easy-to-read layout that displays the most important information you need. Start My Commute is essentially a routine that will tell you information about weather, traffic updates and more.

When docked on your dashboard, Amazon’s Auto Mode features one-touch access to frequent actions, including shortcuts to music, navigation to home or work, and to make a call. Amazon said you can tap a tile to launch the action, or you can use voice commands.

Each screen you jump into features quick access to your important information. In Navigation, for example, you can set your favorite locations and navigate to them with just one tap (or voice command). The Alexa app doesn’t actually provide guidance; it simply launches your preferred navigation app.

The Communicate section is probably the most important for Amazon users. You can place a call, Drop In, or make an announcement to your Alexa devices — which there are many of, as Amazon just recently announced a host of new Echo devices for the home. This is a great way to let your family know you’re on your way home, and you can do it all hands-free.

The Play portion of Amazon’s Auto Mode will display your most recently played media from any Alexa-enabled device. Choose something to play and a Now Playing screen will pop up, along with additional controls to play your media. Amazon, of course, uses Amazon Music as an example, but you can likely connect other services to use through Auto Mode.

Amazon’s Start My Commute feature is essentially a routine on the go. Once you say, “Alexa, start my commute,” a routine will be enabled that gives you the information pertinent to your drive. Like we said above, that include traffic information, weather, and more. You can get this same information from the Echo devices around your home.

Although people are driving less due to the pandemic — a stat highlighted by Waze — Amazon felt now is the time to take on Android Auto. If you are deeply embedded in the Amazon ecosystem, the new features do sound interesting and should be a great companion to Amazon’s Alexa-enabled car devices, such as Echo Auto.

Amazon said Auto Mode will roll out to Android and iOS in the coming weeks and will be available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, India, Italy, Spain, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Start My Commute will initially be available in the U.S. soon.

Amazon Alexa (Free, Google Play) →

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