Honor is thought to unleash a new Android smartphone with the industry’s biggest display in 2025, and it might belong to the upcoming X70 series. The potentially affordable “GT” might also have a “custom” 50MP main camera and a large battery.
Even in the era of compact smartphones, Honor is thought to push handset displays in the other direction, perhaps starting with the Magic8 “Max” later in 2025.
That supposedly 6.9-inch device might be outdone by one with an even bigger display of 6.96 inches in diagonal length.
It is thought to be driven by a Snapdragon 8-series processor, and might as such launch as a successor to the 8+ Gen 1-powered X60 GT in 2026 – by which time it might be able to upgrade to the 8 Gen 2, if not the Gen 3.
Those potential advantages on the mid-range market might be offset by the rest of the “X70 GT’s” display specs, however.
It is thought to be 1.5K in resolution at best, which might result in a somewhat sparse pixel-matrix when stretched across that much screen real estate.
It is also thought to have LTPS backplane technology, as opposed to the LTPO alternative of higher-end smartphones.
Then again, potential for enhanced battery capacity implied by the “X70 GT’s” sheer size might offset its possibly impaired power efficiency somewhat.
Deirdre O Donnell – Senior Tech Writer – 8495 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
Capturing life in motion has come a long way in recent years. From strapping cameras to helmets on mountain trails to filming immersive city walks, creators today are looking for gear that does more than just record. And rightly so. It’s hard enough to know when you’re going to be able to capture a moment, let alone know that you’re covered with whatever camera you have. Enter the action camera. It can do all that and then some. And right now, you can get one for a great price thanks to this Best Buy deal.
Check out Best Buy right now to get the Insta360 X4 8K 360 Degree Action Camera for $350, down from its usual price of $500. That’s $170 off and a discount of 34%.
See at Best Buy
Capture all your coolest tricks and more with this camera
The Insta360 X4 is built for action, but it’s also meant to be super easy to use, so you can have it around for whatever needs it should fit in your life. But it’s made to give you gorgeous cifeo. It captures 8K video at 30 frames per second in full 360 degrees, allowing you to shoot first and frame later. You don’t need to think about lining up the perfect angle while filming—just record everything and choose your perspective in post. For creators who are used to filming in tight windows or on unpredictable adventures, that kind of flexibility is a game changer.
There’s also a standard single-lens mode, which lets you record in 4K using just one side of the camera. This is useful for more traditional content when you don’t need the full 360-degree field of view. It extends battery life and simplifies the editing process without sacrificing quality.
It also has plenty of battery if you’re worried that it might not last. You can shoot an hour of continuous 8K footage or more than two hours at lower resolutions. That’s plenty of time for trail runs or record-breaking swims or even bike tricks. That’s not the only trick this camera has up its sleeve, though. It also has advanced stabilization, horizon leveling, and a responsive touchscreen.
To control things and tweak settings as you like, there’s a special companion app and AI editing tools. You can remove selfie sticks from shots, reframe your footage, and create share-ready clips all from your phone. The app makes things a lot easier than just forcing you to manually edit on your own without help.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to take video of everything cool that you do while out and about, this camera is for you. It’s just $350, which is a great price. Whether you’re upgrading your gear, starting a new content channel, or just want the freedom to film everything around you in super high definition, this is your best bet.
Updates this week to the Gemini app on Android and iPhone introduce a new app icon that adopts the four Google colors.
The new four-color logo takes after every other Google icon. It’s still predominantly blue at the right, while the other points are red, yellow, and green. There’s also a nice gradient at center-left like the current ‘G’ icon.
The four points are rounded and not as sharp as before for a friendlier look. At small sizes, like on your homescreen, it means the icon doesn’t fade out into very thin lines.
Finally, the new logo is slightly larger than the last one and takes up more of the white circular background, which always helps. Ultimately, Google moving to red, yellow, green, and blue brings Gemini into the fold, and can be seen as a sign of confidence. The sparkle shape is unique enough so it shouldn’t be easily confused with other first-party applications.
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After Android and iPhone, we’re still waiting for the new Gemini icon on gemini.google.com.
Old vs. new
With this update, Google has also tweaked the homescreen widget on Android. (There are no changes to the iOS version.) Besides the new icon, there are now shortcuts for Video and Screenshare that launch those Gemini Live modes directly. It’s pretty convenient, with Google emphasizing those new actions in smaller configurations.
Overall, the widget is less dense than before, with one less shortcut at some sizes. At 3×3 and above, you get all eight shortcuts: open app (with keyboard activated), voice input, Camera, Gallery, Files, Video, Screenshare, and Live. Lastly, the “Ask Gemini” field is now just the “Gemini” bar with Google no longer giving it a separate Dynamic Color background.
As of Friday, version 1.0.776555963 of the Gemini app is now widely available via the Play Store. On iOS, version 1.2025.2562103 rolled out on Wednesday, with Google making official the ability to search past conversations, like on the web. Tap the chat icon in the top-left corner for the new search field, with this feature not yet on Android.
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ROME – Italian lawmakers have formally asked the government whether it spied on journalists, possibly using technology supplied by U.S.-based spyware maker Paragon, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The move marks the latest twist in a months-long saga that has left Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government facing opposition accusations that it illegally deployed surveillance against its critics – accusations it denies.
The COPASIR parliamentary security committee has written to Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, a key Meloni aide who oversees intelligence matters, to ask whether reporters were targeted, the source said, asking not to be named.
Mantovano did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meloni’s government has repeatedly denied being involved in any illegal spying on journalists.
Paragon did not immediately respond on Friday to an emailed request for comment outside office hours.
In January, META said around 90 users of its popular WhatsApp chat service had been targeted by Paragon spyware. Some of them were later shown to have been Italian.
Last month, Reuters reported that Italian prosecutors were looking into allegations of spying on Ciro Pellegrino and Francesco Cancellato from the Fanpage news website, Roberto D’Agostino, the head of political gossip website Dagospia, and Dutch right-wing influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
In a report published in June, COPASIR said Italy’s domestic and foreign intelligence agencies had activated contracts with Paragon and used its technology on a limited number of people, with permission from a prosecutor.
These included members of a migrant sea rescue NGO who are critical of Meloni’s hardline border policies.
The report found no evidence that Italian spy agencies used Paragon spyware on Cancellato’s phone, as he had alleged to Reuters and other media outlets. The document made no mention of the other journalists.
Following a media outcry and criticism from opposition politicians over the affair, both Paragon and Italian authorities said last month that spyware contracts between them had been terminated.
In a statement provided in June to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Paragon said it had offered the Italian government a way to check whether its spyware had been used against Cancellato.
The company said it ended the contract with Italy when this offer was turned down. COPASIR said Italian authorities ended the contract on their own initiative, and disputed Paragon’s version of events. REUTERS
In the lead-up to Google’s anticipated Pixel 10 launch, a fresh leak has provided a clearer picture of the first-party accessories and product variants likely to debut alongside the next-generation smartphones, reported 9To5Google.
Among the most notable leaks are new audio accessories, expectedly expanded colour palettes, and larger storage configurations.
Pixel Buds 2a and Pro 2 colours tipped
According to information shared by a reliable tipster @MysteryLupin, the affordable Pixel Buds 2a are likely to arrive in four colours: Hazel (green), Strawberry (red), Iris (purple), and Fog Light (light blue), reported the 9To5Google.
These second-generation A-Series earbuds could follow the 2021 debut of the original Pixel Buds A-Series, which offered consumers a budget-friendly alternative in Google’s audio lineup.
In addition, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are expected to introduce a new shade called Sterling, likely a sleek grey tone designed to complement the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL models.
Pixel 10 Series: Expanded Storage and Colour Options
The leak also details storage and colour variants for the upcoming Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold devices. The report hints that Pixel 10 will likely be available in 128 GB and 256 GB variants, with colour options including Black, Obsidian, Blue, Frost, Purple, Indigo, Yellow, and Lemongrass.
Moreover, the Pixel 10 Pro is expected to come in 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB models. Colour choices could span Black, Obsidian, Green, Jade, Grey, Moonstone, White and Porcelain. The larger Pixel 10 Pro XL is anticipated to be offered in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB capacities, with the same colour range as the standard Pro model. Notably, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also tipped to launch in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB variants, available in Grey, Moonstone, Green, and Jade.
Charging Accessories: New Pixel Chargers Incoming
Rounding off the leak is a glimpse at new charging peripherals. A product referred to as the “Google Pixel Charger” could reportedly arrive in a Rock Candy (white) finish, potentially echoing Apple’s MagSafe puck in form and function.
Alongside it, the “Google Pixel Wireless Charger” is expected to serve as the successor to the current Pixel Stand, hinting at faster wireless charging speeds and enhanced integration with Pixel phones. This may also align with the previously rumoured “Pixelsnap Charger with Stand,” suggesting a refined approach to desktop wireless charging solutions.
The Magic V5 packs an 8-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset inside its 4.1~4.2 mm housing. (Image source: fenibook)
The global version of the Honor Magic V5 has now turned up across several early benchmark listings. While the foldable misses out on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version that Honor was rumoured to have installed in its Chinese counterpart, the Magic V5 already outpaces the Oppo Find N5 in single-core and multi-core work.
Seemingly, Honor will not be far behind with the global version of the Magic V5. To that end, the global model has now surfaced on Geekbench across several listings. As always, Geekbench refers to the device by its model number, MBH-N49 in this case. Nonetheless, MBH-N49 has been associated with the Magic V5 in other leaks.
Based on these listings, the global Magic V5 will launch with the regular 8-core version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite rather than the more powerful Leading Version option offered in smartphones like the RedMagic 10S Pro. Incidentally, the Chinese Magic V5 also ships with the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite despite pre-rumours suggesting it would feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version instead.
Regardless, the global Magic V5 appears to outperform the Oppo Find N5 even at this early stage. For context, the Find N5 averaged 2,888 and 8,243 in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core benchmarks during our tests. By contrast, Geekbench indicates that the global Magic V5 will enjoy between 4% and 7% performance advantages over the Magic V5. While Honor has not confirmed when its latest foldable will be available outside China yet, we suspect it will do so next week, given the arrival of the Galaxy Z Fold7 on July 9.
(Image source: Geekbench)
(Image source: Geekbench)
Alex Alderson – Senior Tech Writer – 12699 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Prior to writing and translating for Notebookcheck, I worked for various companies including Apple and Neowin. I have a BA in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, which I have since converted to a Law Degree. Happy to chat on Twitter or Notebookchat.
Land Rover’s range-topping Defender Octa has gained an undercover new specification with the Black.
Applied to the V8-powered four-wheel-drive, the new Black specification brings a range of black-finished components for an undercover, stealthy look. All cars are finished in Narvik Black as standard, while an optional matte protective film can be applied as an option.
You’ll find satin black paint on areas such as the front undershield and rear scuff plates, too, while the Land Rover badge on the grille is black with a darkened silver script. There’s also the choice of either 20-inch forged or 22-inch gloss black wheels with black centre caps.
Inside, you’ll find ebony leather applied throughout with perforation patterns applied to the seats. The main dashboard section is finished in a satin black powder coat, too, while buyers can also add a chopped carbon fibre finish as an extra. All cars get a 13.1-inch infotainment system as standard, too, which incorporates smartphone mirroring as well.
Mark Cameron, managing Director, Defender, said: “There’s no denying the presence and purpose of Defender Octa: it’s the tallest and widest Defender, enabling it to tackle even more extreme terrain.
“The introduction of Defender Octa Black takes things up a notch. We know our clients love giving their Defenders all-black finishes, so our designers have applied this principle to every possible surface – inside and out – to create the ultimate tough luxury Defender Octa.”.
As with all Defender Octa models, the Black gets a 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine as well as Land Rover’s 6D suspension system which can help the car to maintain a level footing no matter what conditions it is driving through.
The main dashboard section is finished in a satin black powder coat, too. Land Rover/dpa
Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima recently echoed Tom Cruise when talking about his future plans, declaring: “I want to keep creating things until I die.”
Since starting out in the industry at Konami in 1986, Kojima has created a variety of games, including Snatcher, the innovative sunlight-based GBA title Boktai, and the infamous P.T. demo. In a recent interview centering around Kojima’s latest game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Game*Spark asked Kojima about his motivations and thoughts on why he continues to make games.
“I’m the same as Tom Cruise (laughs),” he said. “My life has been dedicated to creating things. That is my joy. I want to create for as long as my body and my brain keep working. I will think about (stopping) if it begins to inconvenience the people around me, but I want to keep creating things until I die.”
Hideo Kojima says he shares one thing in common with Tom Cruise. Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Kojima Productions.
In likening himself to Cruise, Kojima is probably referring to the recent comments made by the actor at the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. On the red carpet, Cruise told The Hollywood Reporter that he will never stop making movies, even quipping that intends to keep making them into his 100s.
Talking of movies, in Kojima’s comment to Game*Spark, he didn’t specify creating games, just creating. This suggests that Kojima is open to making something that is not a game in the future. In a recent video interview with French media outlet Brut, Kojima revealed that, depending on how Kojima Productions is doing after it has completed Microsoft game OD and Sony game Physint, he would like to make a movie.
With their long cutscenes and cinematic presentation, some have argued that many of Kojima’s games are already movie-like (we’ve even worked out exactly how much of each Kojima game is cutscenes). However, in the interview with Game*Spark, Kojima addresses this, explaining that even though his games are influenced by movies, he is always focused on making a game first and foremost.
“I grew up watching movies, so they influence the lighting, character modeling, direction and so on (when I make a game), but I am conscious of the fact that I am not making a movie, and my fundamental approach is to consider what can only be done in a game, including an odd sense of playfulness,” he said.
Kojima’s playfulness is evident in some of the unexpected cameos and bizarre Easter eggs you can find in his games, especially if you mess about. Check out our list of the Death Stranding 2 Easter Eggs, cheats and secrets we’ve found so far, or find out about the strange things you can make Sam do in the hotsprings.
Of course, Kojima is associated with a movie: an adaptation of Death Stranding itself, which Norman Reedus has said he’d love to star in.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Kojima Productions.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
