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Latest Andru Edwards Videos
Samsung Is Betting Titanium Can Finally Flatten the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s Crease
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Design, Displays,
Every foldable phone comes with an asterisk, and it sits right in the middle of the screen. The crease. That soft valley where the display bends has been the one thing keeping foldables from feeling like the future they keep promising to be, the little dip your thumb finds every time you scroll. Samsung has spent seven generations trying to make it go away. With the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the company says it finally has a real answer, and its name is titanium.
Ahead of its July 22 Unpacked event, Samsung revealed a new display technology it’s calling Flex Titanium, built to flatten the crease on the Z Fold 8 and the higher-end Z Fold 8 Ultra. Notice the careful wording, though: Samsung is promising “reduced crease visibility,” not a crease that’s gone for good. That gap between “better” and “invisible” is the whole story here, so it’s worth understanding what the titanium is actually doing inside the phone.
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Apple’s Long-Promised New Siri Is Finally Here, If You’re Willing to Beta Test iOS 27
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Software, Artificial Intelligence,
Apple has been promising a smarter, more personal Siri for so long that it started to feel like a running joke. The assistant that was supposed to understand your life, dig through your apps, and actually get things done kept slipping - announced, delayed, quietly pushed to “next year.” Well, next year is here. The new Siri just made its public debut in the iOS 27 beta, and for the first time you can actually try the thing Apple has been talking about for what feels like forever.
There’s a catch, though. A few of them, actually. This isn’t a switch that flips on your iPhone tomorrow. You have to opt into a public beta, join a waitlist, own a fairly recent iPhone, and live in the right part of the world. The upside, though, is that once you get in, the new Siri is...actually really good. For Apple, that would be a first.
The OPPO Find X9 Ultra Is a Warning Shot to Every Flagship (Video)
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Product Reviews, Videos,
Every flagship phone has a compromise, but the OPPO Find X9 Ultra makes that compromise surprisingly hard to find. This is OPPO’s first Ultra model launching globally, and it arrives with the kind of hardware that makes the usual Samsung, Apple, and Google playbook feel a little too safe. A massive camera system, a 7,050 mAh silicon carbon battery, 100W charging, a 144Hz AMOLED display, and Hasselblad tuning all come together in a phone that feels more like a camera with apps than a phone with a good camera.
Click to continue reading The OPPO Find X9 Ultra Is a Warning Shot to Every Flagship (Video)
Xiaomi 17 Review: The Compact Flagship That Forgot to Act Small
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Product Reviews,
The global Xiaomi 17 arrives in a market where “small phone” usually means “some compromises included.” Smaller battery. Smaller camera ambition. Smaller sense of occasion. Xiaomi clearly did not get that memo. This thing shows up with a 6.3-inch display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, three 50-megapixel rear cameras, and a 6,330mAh silicon-carbon battery, all in a body that still reads as compact by 2026 standards. It launched globally on February 28, starting at €999 and £899, which puts it directly in the ring with Samsung, Google, and Apple’s smaller flagships.
And that is the whole story of the Xiaomi 17. It is not trying to be the weird one in the lineup. It is not the camera monster, and it does not have the Ultra’s headline-grabbing hardware. It is the phone for people who want a top-tier Android device that still fits in a real pocket, and according to multiple reviews, it mostly nails that brief. The consensus is simple: excellent battery life, strong overall camera performance, a great display, and the usual Xiaomi software mess that stops the whole thing from feeling truly effortless.
Click to continue reading Xiaomi 17 Review: The Compact Flagship That Forgot to Act Small
Why the iPhone 17e is Genius (Video!)
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Features, Product Reviews, Videos,
The iPhone 17e is the affordable iPhone Apple should have made from the start. At the same $599 price, it fixes nearly every major complaint people had about the last model with the A19 chip, 256GB of base storage, MagSafe, the new C1X modem, Ceramic Shield 2, and smarter camera features. In this video, I break down the six upgrades that make the 17e feel less like a budget compromise and more like a real member of the iPhone 17 lineup.
What makes this phone so interesting is not just the spec sheet, but how much better the everyday experience looks this time around. Faster wireless charging, more storage at no extra cost, better durability, and a more capable camera all add up to a phone that feels much easier to recommend. If you skipped the previous model because it felt like Apple was holding back, this breakdown shows why the iPhone 17e may be the value pick in the lineup.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Long-Term Review: Still Worth It?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Product Reviews, Videos,
Imagine a phone so thin it rivals the latest iPad Pro, yet it's packed with Google's AI smarts and folds seamlessly in half. That’s the Pixel 9 Pro Fold—a cutting-edge device that redefines elegance and functionality in the foldable smartphone market. But does its second iteration live up to expectations? Let’s dive in and explore everything that makes this device stand out, from its impossibly slim design to its powerful AI integration.
Ultra-Slim Hardware That’s a Marvel of Engineering
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. At just 0.2 inches thick when opened, it’s one of the slimmest smartphones ever created, rivaling the thinness of the iPad Pro. Google achieved this feat with ingenious engineering, particularly the hinge mechanism. This hinge folds completely flat, ensuring smooth transitions between phone and tablet modes. It’s a small but impactful detail that enhances everyday usability.
Weighing in at 9.1 ounces, the device strikes a perfect balance between portability and durability. While it’s not the lightest foldable on the market, the weight distribution makes it feel sturdy and premium in hand. If you’ve ever struggled with a clunky foldable, you’ll appreciate the sleekness that Google has achieved here.
Click to continue reading Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Long-Term Review: Still Worth It?
Apple’s HUGE Siri Apple Intelligence Fumble w/ John Gruber - Geared Up 205
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Software, Videos,
Tech legend John Gruber joins Andru Edwards and Jon Rettinger to unravel the story behind Apple Intelligence and its delayed features in this episode of Geared Up. From early WWDC promises to today's reality, they dissect how Apple got comfortable showcasing features it didn't hav eready, and what that says about their internal culture, marketing strategy, and the future of Siri.
Required reading for this episode: Something is Rotten in the State of Cupertino
Gruber shares rare behind-the-scenes insights, including his personal evolution in covering Apple and the moment he realized the company had broken a decades-long precedent. The trio also explores the rocky launch of Vision Pro, Apple's approach to foldables, and why Apple Maps is a cautionary tale for Apple Intelligence.
Head to the Geared Up YouTube channel to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
iPhone 16e Review: Apple Just Killed the Budget iPhone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Product Reviews, Videos,
The days of a truly budget-friendly iPhone are over. With the launch of the iPhone 16E, Apple has redefined its entry-level iPhone lineup - but at a higher starting price of $599. The question is, does this new model deliver enough value to justify the cost, or are there better options available? Let’s break it all down.
Unboxing the iPhone 16e: What’s Inside?
If you’re familiar with Apple’s minimalist approach, you already know what to expect. The iPhone 16e comes in a slim box containing the phone itself, a braided USB-C cable (marking the end of the Lightning port), and eSIM setup instructions - no SIM ejector tool, charger, or wired headphones included.
Apple also introduced five silicone case options for the iPhone 16e: lake green, fuchsia, winter blue, white, and black. While the cases add some flair to the otherwise basic black and white phone options, neither the cases nor the phone support MagSafe, which is a notable omission.
Click to continue reading iPhone 16e Review: Apple Just Killed the Budget iPhone
Apple’s C1 Modem: The Silent Revolution Inside the iPhone 16e
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Features, Videos,
Every iPhone launch brings the usual fanfare - new cameras, brighter screens, and the inevitable comparison charts. But this year, Apple made a quiet yet monumental move: introducing the C1 modem inside the iPhone 16e. This is Apple’s first in-house modem chip, a shift that could redefine how iPhones connect to the world, just as Apple Silicon did for processing power.
Why Modems Matter More Than You Think
The modem is one of the most crucial components in any smartphone. It’s the bridge between your phone and the world, translating signals from cell towers into the data that powers your web browsing, video streaming, and even your voice calls. A great modem means faster speeds, better battery efficiency, and a smoother experience when networks get congested. Apple knows this, which is why the move to develop its own modem is such a big deal.
Click to continue reading Apple’s C1 Modem: The Silent Revolution Inside the iPhone 16e
Is Apple Intelligence All Hype? w/ Taylor Lorenz - Geared Up 202
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Podcasts, Videos,
AI has been hyped up like the world’s next superstar athlete, but when it comes time to perform, has it actually stuck the landing? In this episode, we dive into the state of AI today, breaking down what’s working, what’s failing, and how companies like Apple, Google, and OpenAI are shaping the future.
We discuss Apple Intelligence, its delayed rollout, and whether Apple’s privacy-first approach is actually hurting its AI capabilities. Plus, what’s going on with AI-generated images, the evolution of Siri, and the battle between Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Apple’s attempts to keep up. And of course, we analyze whether companies are just slapping "AI" on everything from bird feeders to massage chairs to sell more products.
On top of that, we discuss T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink and the conspiracy theories running rampant about Elon Musk tracking everything. Also, are we witnessing the slow demise of TikTok in the U.S.? Taylor Lorenz joins the discussion to break it all down.