MediaTek has finally given us our first look at WiFi 7 technology and it's looking very exciting. The new tech is based off IEEE 802.11be, which is expected to be rebranded WiFi 7 closer to release. Based on the new showcase that MediaTek has shared, WiFi 7 should give us a wireless connection capable of emitting the same possible speeds and bandwidth of wired/ethernet connections.
Exciting times may be ahead for iPhone enthusiasts. Apple is readying itself for its first virtual event of 2022, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, likely to take place in either March or April. It should bring a long list of new announcements, most excitingly a possible iPhone SE with 5G connectivity.
High-speed 5G connectivity is about to roll out in the US in a major way, making it possible for far more consumers to access the faster data speeds increasingly supported by new devices. The White House has announced a major agreement between government agencies and the two largest carriers in the US, Verizon and AT&T, that should work in everyone's favor.
BMW may have shown us some controversial exterior designs in recent years, but the automaker has an upgrade for your eyes and ears inside at CES 2022 this week. For those in the rear, BMW Theatre Screen previews a vast, 8K display that could turn the cabin into a personal cinema on wheels. Meanwhile, a collaboration with Hans Zimmer brings a new EV soundtrack called BMW IconicSounds Electric to new models like the i4 and iX.
Lenovo and CES usually means a fresh array of ThinkPads, and 2022 is no different, with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 10th Gen, X1 Nano 2nd Gen, and several others all making their debut this week. More sober than the ThinkPad Z Series announced yesterday, the X1 line is generally viewed as the benchmark for prosumer and business notebooks, and this year they're bringing along some new accessories, too.
TCL Communication has announced new 5G phones and a 5G router at CES 2022, aimed at providing an affordable way for consumers to join the 5G revolution. The company is well known in the electronics industry, both for its TVs and its phones. In addition to phones under its own name, at one point the company also made Blackberry phones (via TechRadar).
Expectations may be high for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22, but for CES 2022 it's the long-rumored Galaxy S21 FE that's making its debut. Most affordable of the S21 family, the new Android 12 phone starts at under $700 yet still manages to keep most of what makes its flagship siblings feel special.
Verizon and AT&T have rejected a call by the US government to delay their rollout of 5G spectrum over concerns about airline safety and continuing an ongoing showdown over the next-generation wireless technology.
Boeing and Airbus have written a joint letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking that Verizon and AT&T's rollout of C-band 5G be delayed. At the heart of the issue is concern over interference with aircraft altimeters.
We've seen quite a few quirky smartphones over the years and some of them even managed to become "standard" for a time, like the ones with popup selfie cameras. Among the unique handsets are those that have secondary screens on their backs, whether it's a full-sized e-paper display or a smaller window. Unihertz, maker of the world's tiniest 4G phones, is taking a stab at the rear display concept, but is giving its model a unique twist by essentially using a smartwatch as its secondary display.
Smartphones in recent years have become more powerful, more sophisticated, more luxurious, and at the same time also more durable. It is actually scandalous if a flagship smartphone doesn't boast an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, even though OnePlus continues to push back against what it insists is an expensive and non-essential certification. That durability and reliability, however, are often achieved by sealing the phone shut, making repairs more difficult than necessary. The Fairphone 4, however, is challenging those assumptions, and JerryRigEverything is putting it to the test to prove its assertions.
Though Samsung wants people to buy its pricey Galaxy S and foldable Galaxy Z flagship smartphones, not everyone can afford to do so. The popularity of its Galaxy A series handsets over the past year or so has proven there's a large market for its mid-range line, especially for models with 5G capabilities (via Canalys). With that in mind, it's no surprise Samsung will give its Galaxy A phones some big upgrades in 2022, at least according to a new report citing industry insiders.