Commodus

Qualcomm has taken a couple of tries at making Snapdragon chips for PCs. This is definitely more promising, though, since it sounds like the company has seen what Apple did and followed suit. With that said, Qualcomm is definitely thirsty here, so I'll be cautious about the Snapdragon X Elite (and X Plus) until we have some testing beyond the company. I don't think any performance gap would be quite as cavernous as some fear, but it might not be an M3 buster in practice. The big question is whether or not Windows and apps have improved to the point where ARM truly feels quick and well-supported.

I remember the OLPC I tried being not-so-responsive even with its native OS... not sure I'd want to try it with Windows! Wild that you still have one and it (presumably) works.

My understanding is that it's slow compared to, say, Samsung's, but that it's not really different than what you'd find in other Pixels (I have a Pixel 6 as my "side" phone). Like was suggested earlier, the 7a is actually likely to be the better device. It's reasonably quick, will definitely take better photos, and is still getting software updates. That and aftermarket support will be better if things ever go sideways.

I'd suggest the 15-inch MacBook Air M3. It's definitely thin and light, and lasts a long time on battery. The screen is big enough that you'll have breathing room for your editing software. The only catches are the lack of an SD reader (not necessarily an issue depending on how you get your CR3 files) and the absence of a fan. It's a bit slower under long, intense workloads than a MacBook Pro M3. I'd consider the MacBook Pro worthwhile, but mainly if you're either seriously straining your computer or crave the features it has (mainly the 120Hz mini-LED display and SD reader). Both Macs have an advantage over at least some Windows laptops: they don't throttle on battery power, and they last relatively long with heavy workloads. That's helpful if you have to finish a photo or video project while you're out. ASUS generally makes great laptops, and I wouldn't mind a Zenbook 13S in a pinch; it's just not my first pick for audiovisual editing. Besides, I think you'll have fun getting used to macOS.

The OnePlus 10T is an old phone by this point... I wouldn't get one anyway. For what the company lists it for, you can get a OnePlus 12R. What's your budget? If you can hold out, the Google Pixel 8a is likely to be announced at I/O on May 14th. Alternately, I'd get the Pixel 7a — it's on sale from Google for $399 Canadian. At that price it's a great value, even as a year-old phone.

I don't know if I'd call it outrageous, but at least we're edging closer to that goal. Apple, Google, and Samsung now routinely provide several years of OS updates, and they're getting better about usability for those oldest devices. There are some practical challenges, though, and I don't think we should entirely fault the companies. Mobile batteries still struggle to last 10 years, and that kind of software maintenance schedule demands a lot of staff. Also, consider how much a typical phone's performance and capabilities have changed in a decade; it's only been in the past few years that things have tapered off. Supporting that wide a variety isn't easy. We also have to learn some lessons about an overdependence on legacy support. Microsoft's biggest problem for a while was its "legacy above all" mindset, where it was more important to keep old customers happy than to move things forward. That's how you got businesses refusing to update to Windows 10 because they needed Windows 7 for the XP mode to run their NT 4.0-era database software. There's a healthy balance between strong support and prodding users to make some frankly overdue updates.

I can understand it... with that said, Apple's current MagSafe connectors are my favourite. They're easy to snap in but also won't pull your laptop to the floor if you snag the cord.

If you're not tied to Windows for your laptop, I'd consider a MacBook Air or Pro; you may need to go refurbished to get one with the screen, RAM and storage you want. I'd go with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB or larger SSD if possible. Also get at least an M2 chip if you're going with the MacBook Air, or M1 Pro if you're opting for the MacBook Pro. The key is that Apple laptops don't throttle back the moment they're on battery; you can generally expect the system's best performance at all times. That's important if you intend to do a lot of editing away from a wall outlet. The Air doesn't have a fan so may throttle under a sustained heavy workload, but that won't be an issue if you're doing light-to-moderate work. If you'd prefer Windows, I'd lean toward ASUS' Zenbook 14 line or Lenovo's Slim series. Good designs mated with solid performance. Like on the Mac, I'd want at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for editing.

It may make Apple change certain policies, but it's not going to prompt a fundamental rethink of the company's strategy. It's still going to be vertically integrated and sell based on its ecosystem. As others have said, the goal of a case like this isn't to end any monopoly; it's to make sure that rivals can compete fairly. And while regulators can impose terms, that doesn't stop companies from finding new ways to reassert themselves (see: Microsoft). Apple will keep soldiering on, and it'll still be easier to use an Apple Watch or iMessage on your iPhone than a Wear OS watch or WhatsApp.

There's still glass on the back of iPhones. The aluminum refers to the frame. If the back was aluminum, it'd have trouble with wireless charging. I don't think you have to be a diehard Apple fan to see value in the talking points... with that said, if you're using an iPhone 11 or 12, you also don't really need this page to sell you on an upgrade.

I'd start with a Google Pixel 8 or 8 Pro. It's as close as you'll get to 'reference' Android, and you'll find a fast display, a great camera, and an overall cohesive experience. If not that, I'd look at a OnePlus 12. Not quite as good at photography, but it'll be very fast and offer a superb screen.

It's not really a wise investment, especially given what I've seen with reviews. I'd rather pour money into phones that don't necessarily have removable batteries, but are relatively easy to service yourself. You might want to look at the Pixel 7a; iFixit sells official parts and tools for it, and it's still a good phone for the money. Just be aware that the Pixel 8a might arrive two to three months from now.

I'd say the S21 series is too old to invest in if you're new to the platform. It's still an excellent phone, but there have been enough steps forward in performance and features since then that I'd rather buy new.

It sounds like you're already leaning toward the Mac. You wouldn't have the whole ecosystem, but it's well-designed, has a great display/keyboard/trackpad, and will run completely silently. I'm not a big fan of Apple sticking with 8GB RAM on base configs, but 8GB on a Mac is more efficient than the same memory on Windows. And if you'll only have the system for a couple of years, it shouldn't be a dealbreaker. I would just check for refurb/open box models that have 16GB of RAM before making a purchase.

The Galaxy S24+ is worth upgrading if you have an older model, since it brings back a 1440p display (not seen since the S20) and includes a larger battery on top of the other minor upgrades. But I will agree the regular model is a tough sell for many people.