Google Pixel 8 (Pro) and Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Android News #40 2023)

Google unveils its latest smartphones and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is finally official. These are the top Android news of the week.

Google Pixel 8 (Pro) official: Updates are longer, but also more expensive

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have been officially unveiled, and will receive seven years of updates, but they are also much more expensive than their predecessors. The entry-level device looks very similar to the Google Pixel 7. It is available in three colors and has a stunning horizontal camera strip on the back.

It contains two cameras, the primary one with a resolution of 50 megapixels. If you want to take wider angle photos, you can use the 12MP camera. New this year is that you can also take macro photos, that is Close-ups From a few centimetres.

→ All about the announcement of the Google Pixel 8 (Pro) phone
→ Read also Google Pixel 8 (Pro) preview.
→ Win a brand new Google Pixel 8 at Android Planet

Android 14 is now available! This is new in the update

Android 14 has been officially released by Google! The update is available for Pixel users, and they can download and install it right away. Android 14 follows Android 13 and it’s not the most exciting update. We mainly see smaller improvements that make the operating system better and more comprehensive.

It’s easier to set a new wallpaper and you can now set shortcuts on the lock screen yourself. These are the two buttons at the bottom. In addition, you get more options to customize the appearance of Android. There are so-called templates that give your lock screen a new design.

→ Android 14 is available for download now

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE official: A little slower and a lot cheaper

After months of rumours, Samsung has finally officially launched the Galaxy S23 FE. This is a cheaper version of the regular Galaxy S23 that the company launched earlier this year. For example, the device runs not on the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, but on last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

The OLED display is slightly larger: it has a diagonal of 6.4 inches, just like the Galaxy S21 FE released two years ago. The resolution is again 2340 x 1080 pixels and the refresh rate is 120Hz. This ensures smooth images. The edges of the screen are slightly thicker than its more expensive brothers.

→ Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will come to the Netherlands in early 2024

This is the Google Pixel Watch 2: fast hardware with a familiar look

In addition to the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, more devices were announced at the Made by Google event. Google also unveiled the Pixel Watch 2. It’s quite similar to its predecessor in terms of looks, but a lot has been updated on the inside.

The screen diagonal is again 1.2 inches, so it is relatively small. It’s a round AMOLED panel with high resolution, so you can see all kinds of information on it. In addition to choosing from thousands of digital watch faces, you can also consider information about the weather, workouts, appointments, and more.

→ Google Pixel Watch 2 official

Video: This is the OnePlus Open foldable phone with a sturdy hinge

OnePlus is busy with a big marketing campaign around its first foldable smartphone. We had previously seen “accidentally” pictures of the device in the hands of an Indian actress. Now the company is discussing the OnePlus Open itself in a video from the YouTube channel Open treatment.

Even though the camera island is protected, we still get a good look at the phone. It feels very thin when closed. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau speaks in the video and is particularly proud of the hinge. This is so sturdy that you can press “open” with a piece of paper between the two halves of the screen without it falling off.

→ OnePlus Open seen in the video