In this week’s main stories: Google reveals bold Gmail redesign for desktop and Android with chat integration, Google Store leaks render of Pixel 4a, specs for upcoming OnePlus Nord confirmed and more.
By far the biggest news this week, affecting most people, is the unveiling of a new design for Google’s Gmail apps for Android and the web to deeply integrate other G Suite apps like Chat, Meet and Docs. After leaking early in a slide show, Google later confirmed the details, sharing that Gmail will become Google’s “home for work”.
Other slides showcase upcoming Google Meet features like handshake, Q&A, meeting attendance, and blurred backgrounds, as well as custom. Google officially announced these features last month and will launch them in the coming months.
Fans of Made by Google devices were teased this week, as the Google Store accidentally shared a depiction of the company’s next affordable phone, the Pixel 4a. If this sounds strange, know that the Google Store has leaked more than its fair share of unannounced devices over the past decade.
The image shows a black Google Pixel 4a model with a green power button. It shows off the phone’s front camera (drill-shaped) in detail and a unique camera design on the back that resembles its older brother, the Pixel 4. There’s a nice speaker grille on top and a fingerprints on the back.
OnePlus has its own affordable Android phone in the works for this year at OnePlus Nord. Apparently going back to the brand’s “flagship killer” reputation, the company has unveiled the OnePlus Nord’s honestly impressive specs, including a 90Hz display, 12GB of RAM, and seemingly decent cameras.
In its second post, OnePlus also detailed the OnePlus Nord’s camera specs. On the back, there will be a 48MP main camera with the Sony IMX586 sensor. It’s the same one found on the OnePlus 8 (not the Pro), which we found to be a respectable offer in our review.
Elsewhere on affordable Android phones, our Ben Schoon took the time this week to share his thoughts on the mid-range Samsung Galaxy A51.
At the end of the day, every budget phone that has been released has been a matter of priority. To fit the price constraint, there are difficult calls with every specification, every component, and every part of the design. With Samsung, the clear priority with the Galaxy A51 was the display, and in that area I think this phone is a hit for the most part.
Google Shares Android 11’s Ultimate Emoji, Featuring “More Authentic” Animals and Friendly Designs in Dark Mode
Finally, to celebrate World Emoji Day, Google unveiled its final designs for the new emoji that comes with Android 11. In total, people with Android 11 and Gboard can access 117 new emoji between new emoji and new gender variations / skin tone.
Those on Android 11 Beta and the latest Gboard preview can see and submit the new characters by scrolling through the main emoji list, but they still don’t appear in keyboard search. Also, final redesigns for existing emoji are not available in Beta 2.
The rest of this week’s main stories follow:
Android |
Applications and updates |
Chrome / OS |
Google |
Made by Google |
OnePlus |
Xiaomi |
Videos |
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