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.

I don't think there's an easy answer here, unfortunately. Android vendors are getting better at long-term support, including mid-tier champs like Moto and OnePlus, but the truth remains that Google and Samsung are the go-tos if you expect timely updates over a long period. It's true that you're very unlikely to fall victim to a breach stemming from an outdated OS release. Don't worry too much if your phone is reasonably late to an update. However, we shouldn't assume that an attack won't happen just because it hasn't. Just ask Windows XP users what it was like when the Blaster worm basically up-ended OS security expectations. And while Android isn't as dependent on major OS revisions for features as iOS is, I'm not a fan of vendors that drop all major upgrades after two to three years... you shouldn't have to replace your phone that quickly just to keep up with OS-level features.

I don't have direct experience, but everything I've seen indicates that the only real issue may be customer support at this stage. Nothing is a relatively new company and doesn't have a huge service infrastructure at this stage. If you're careful with your phones or willing to try a young brand, though, I'd say go for it. Even if the Glyph feature feels gimmicky, the Phone 2 is still a good device.

I can't really be mad at Apple over this particular response. So long as iMessage is proprietary, Apple will want to crack down on uses that are built on reverse engineering. I'd like Apple to open things up, to be clear, but I'm not going to complain that it did what it's practically obligated to do with iMessage in its current state.

Yeah, you don't have to like it, but that's where we're at. If you want to stick to Samsung, the S23 series is still good... although I won't be surprised if the S24 debuts in January or February, so only get the current-gen now if you find a good deal. My pick is the S23+ since it's large but light and has a few perks the base S23 doesn't (like UWB for digital car keys and such). If you're willing to branch out but want to stick to Android, snag a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. Excellent displays, sound, and cameras, and of course it's the definitive Android experience with timely updates. Google is even promising seven years of OS upgrades, which might even beat Apple. And if you're willing to branch out to iPhone land, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are where it's at. Superb displays and speakers, and of course iOS update support typically lasts for five to six years.

I'll mostly echo what TVwazhere said. Outside of Sony, it's very hard to find phones that are both reasonably high-quality and include both a headphone jack and microSD slot (ASUS' Zenfone 10 has the former but not the latter). You're effectively boxing yourself in by asking for features that, like it or not, much of the industry has eliminated. I'd rather get enough internal storage and a headphone adapter (or wireless earbuds) and have a broader choice of devices.

I'd go with A. Everyday office tasks will feel about the same with either system; the GPU, however, is something you'll definitely notice with games. The CPU difference is significant, but not enough to overcome the graphics.

A starting question: are the specs what your niece wants/needs (such as at college), or what you're looking at? If I were getting a graphics arts laptop, I'd look at a MacBook Air (Apple has educational pricing). Macs are very common in this industry, and perform well with graphics design software like the Adobe suite. A 15-inch model is preferable, but I'd rather have a 13-inch model with ample RAM and storage than a 15-inch that's barely enough. If it has to be a Windows machine, that's certainly fine. I'd lean toward Lenovo's lineup, like the Slim or ThinkPad lines; I'd say it's great as long as the machine has some form of NVIDIA RTX graphics and enough RAM/storage. The Slim Pro 7 is one good example, although it's a 14-inch machine. You may have to forego dual SSDs and built-in Ethernet, though. Fewer and fewer laptops have built-in Ethernet (there's always a USB adapter option), and dual SSDs tend to be reserved for large machines, especially with the kind of capacities you're looking at. It may be better to get a "good enough" internal drive and an external SSD that holds the bulk of your niece's projects.

You'll probably have trouble finding one at that size without paying a premium, I'm afraid. Samsung did have its enormous Galaxy View tablet line, but at 18 inches that was way too big for most people. Honestly, a 12-to-13-inch tablet strikes a good balance between a large display and something that's actually vaguely portable. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is what you want in the Android space. It's a solid value, should be well-supported and has good multitasking features. My personal pick would be an iPad Pro (refurb to save money), but I know that's too expensive if you're mainly interested in media viewing.

I did scratch my head when Qualcomm put so much of its energy into claiming an advantage over M2. You don't brag about taking the lead when you probably won't hold that lead by the time your product ships. Even the more pessimistic rumors still had Apple shipping M3 early next year.

I appreciate trackpoints, but at the same time… Apple is legendary for great trackpads. You might not miss that little nub so much in practice.