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Pixel 3a is now officially the budget-friendly Google phone

Google’s first midrange phone

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Google Pixel 3a | GadgetMatch

News about a cheaper Pixel 3 phone started to surface late last year, but it’s only going official today. After the long wait, Google‘s new midrange phone is here: the Pixel 3a.

Like before, the new Pixel 3a will come in two display sizes: 5.6 and 6.0 inches. As expected, the upsized sibling will be called the Pixel 3a XL.

Since the new Pixel 3a phones are positioned lower than the main Pixel 3 duo, Google has to make adjustments — and that includes the price. The Pixel 3a will start at US$ 399, which is half of the Pixel 3’s launch price. On the other hand, the bigger Pixel 3a XL will hit stores for US$ 479.

Google Pixel 3a | GadgetMatch

What mainly sets the Pixel 3a apart from the Pixel 3 is its polycarbonate body. Despite the different material though, the design is similar and it still has pressure-sensitive sides.

The Pixel 3a sports a notch-less OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, Snapdragon 670 chip, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, and 3000mAh battery. The Pixel 3a XL has the same specs but it has a larger 3700mAh battery to sustain its bigger display. Additionally, both support 18W fast charging via USB-C.

Google Pixel 3a | GadgetMatch

In true Pixel fashion, both versions of the Pixel 3a feature a single main camera. It has a 12-megapixel f/1.8 Dual Pixel sensor from Sony with optical image stabilization. As for selfies, it has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens.

Google’s Pixel 3a phones come with the well-received Night Sight, along with familiar Pixel camera features like Top Shot, Portrait Mode, and HDR+.

The latest version of Android 9 Pie comes out of the box with promised updates for at least three years. Essentially, the Pixel 3a will still get whatever Android version is available until 2022.

The phones will be available in Just Black, Clearly White, and Purple-ish.

SEE ALSO: Google’s laptop and tablet divisions are being cut down

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Lenovo introduces the immersive Referee View for the World Cup

Keep up with the action.

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The traditional way of watching a football match is a wide view of the pitch. Given how quick action can get, this is still the quintessential way to watch the sport. But what if you can watch from a different angle? This World Cup season, Lenovo introduced Referee View, an AI-powered feed that brings the action right to your screen.

As the name suggests, the new view will take you to the point of view of a referee during a match. Since referees have the best view of the action, your World Cup experience won’t get as immersive as this.

Plus, with Referee View AI Stabilizer, the view reduces jitter by up to 50 percent so the image stays steady even while on the move. Lenovo says that it even caught goal from Mexico’s Julian Quinones, the very first goal of the World Cup this year.

With Lenovo as the technology partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026, fans can get in the action with every match using Referee View.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo launches global campaign with David Beckham

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TECNO’s SPARK 50 Pro is the latest budget smartphone battery beast

Just two months after the SPARK 50 5G

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TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

One after another, TECNO launches the SPARK 50 Pro with a beastly battery within. That’s just days after the grand launch of the POVA 8 5G in India.

Built to last

The icing of the cake has got to be the battery of the SPARK 50 Pro. However, the battery capacity will differ depending on where you live.

There’s a 5600mAh dual-cell version and a slightly larger single-cell model hitting the 6000mAh mark.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

Still, despite that battery capacity, it measures just 7.8mm thin.

If you’re worried about battery longevity, the SPARK 50 Pro can still last more than 80% of their original battery capacity — even after 1900+ charging cycles in six years.

Charging support is faster at 60W, better than what TECNO’s 45W speeds in their most recent smartphones.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro 6000mAh battery

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Beneath that battery lies MediaTek’s Helio G100 Ultimate SoC. When it comes to memory, it allows up to 24GB extended thanks to Memory Fusion 4.0.

Up front, there’s a 6.78-inch 120Hz display paired with DTS-supported dual stereo speakers.

Finally, the SPARK 50 Pro also boasts SGS Five-Star durability certification alongside IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance — making it one of the budget-friendly devices to have such durability rating.

More than meets the eye

Unlike the base SPARK 50 5G, the SPARK 50 Pro is powered by a 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) main camera. The said sensor promises improved low-light performance compared to typical cameras in its category.

The company is also bringing its TECNO’s very-own FlashSnap capabilities found in higher CAMON series. This feature offers shutter speeds of up to 1/10,000 of a second to better capture fast-moving subjects like pets, sports, or action shots.

TECNO Ella AI Assistant

Speaking of, TECNO’s Universal Tone technology also returns, aiming to produce more natural-looking skin tones across different environments.

Several AI-powered editing tools are included as well. That includes AI Eraser 2.0 and AI Extender for photos, AI Noise Cancellation for clearer calls, as well as AI Health Assistant. Even Ella as your AI Assistant was not left behind.

For off the grid communication, FreeLink 2.0 exists when needed.

Pricing and Availability

The TECNO SPARK 50 Pro comes in five color choices: Ink Black, Titanium Grey, Midnight Blue, Dynamic Orange, and Cloud White.

TECNO SPARK 50 Pro

TECNO has yet to announce official pricing and regional availability.

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Nothing is coming to over 500 Best Buy stores in the United States

Also available online

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As the newest kid on the block, Nothing hasn’t made it terribly easy to grab one of their phones. But that’s all part of the allure. After all, fashion shouldn’t be easy.

Thankfully, all that difficulty isn’t forever. Nothing, together with all its phones and accessories, are coming to over 500 Best Buys across the United States.

It’s been a long time coming. Last year, Nothing expanded first in Canada as part of its push to spread across the North American continent. Now, after all the wait, the brand is finally available in one of the other North American country’s biggest retailers for tech.

From coast to coast, fans of the fashionable brand can grab the Phone (4a) Pro, the Headphone (a), the Phone (3), and the Ear (3) at their nearest Best Buy branch. Alternatively, they can also order any of these devices online through BestBuy.com.

It’s been a quiet year for Nothing. Though the brand successfully launched the Phone (4a) Pro series earlier this year, it has no plans to launch a follow-up to last year’s Phone (3) yet, leaving the flagship market hanging by another year. That said, there’s still much to love about the brand this year, from its heavily notable designs to its capable specs.

SEE ALSO: Nothing Phone (4a) + (4a) Pro review

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