Table of contents for 106 in Android Advisor

REVIEWS The Nokia X30 5G is a direct upgrade to 2021’s Nokia X20, and it’s clear there has been a shift in direction for manufacturer HMD not only in terms of overall design but performance too. This year’s model boasts a better display, a quicker processor, faster charging and although a downgrade on paper, there’s a boost to camera performance too. Compared to the Nokia X20 that we found hard to recommend to anybody but the most die-hard Nokia fans, big changes are on offer. The catch? It’s now £100 more expensive with a £399price tag, putting it up against big hitters in the mid-range space like the Google Pixel 6a, Nothing Phone (1), and OnePlus Nord 2T. The question is, does the Nokia X30 5G do enough to challenge…

AUDIO The Google Pixel Buds inear active noise-cancelling headphones will work with any Bluetooth-compatible device, but they’re specifically designed to provide a superior experience with Android smartphones and tablets. Google has pushed its Pixel phone as the worthiest Android competitor to iPhone, and the Pixel Buds Pro are designed to be Pixel’s version of AirPods, with an integrated experience that delivers maximum ease-of-use paired with quality sound. The Pixel Buds Pro are excellent all around, with a unique and modern design paired with flawless integration with the Android operating system. What they don’t offer are the higherresolution codecs you’ll find in the competition: There’s no aptX or LDAC compatibility here. Google has decided that the Pixel Buds will stand or fall with the AAC and SBC codecs. Google has concentrated…

REVIEWS At now over a decade in, various trends in smartphone design have come and gone – we have been through a multitude of building materials, ethos and shapes over the years. As manufacturers are trying to constantly guess the next new trend, this will only continue. But some ideas are stubborn and refuse to die, sometimes even when the evidence is piled against them, and one such idea is the ‘small’ phone. Sony has tried, LG tried, Samsung tried, even Apple tried and the public has yet to take the bait, with larger and larger phones now seemingly a rule of nature. Motorola is no ordinary manufacturer, however, having been exceptionally experimental in the past, and the Edge 30 Neo is its latest offering. At 155g and with a…

BUYING GUIDE 2023 is here and the past 12 months have seen some superb smartphones go on sale. Whether you’re looking for performance, camera smarts or value, our definitive list of the best phones has it all. The top phone on this rundown won’t be the ideal phone for everybody so make sure to check out our other picks. The best phone for you is out there, depending on what you value most. Trust us, these phones all deliver -just all a little differently, and that’s a great thing. Good competition means better phones for everyone. WHAT TO LOOK FOR When choosing a phone you should consider these things: build quality and design, ease of use, features, performance and value. Generally speaking, a flagship phone will start at around £700…

REVIEWS If there’s such a thing as a template for Xiaomi’s Poco sub-brand, it’s a combination of multimedia-friendly performance with a temptingly low price tag. The Poco M5 sticks firmly to that script, offering competent all-round performance for less than £200. Despite the missing ’Pro’ in the name, this is essentially a direct follow-up to the Poco M4 Pro from earlier in the year. But has it advanced sufficiently over the previous model or at all, for that matter? DESIGN Xiaomi’s Poco team has really leaned into the dominant camera module look of the Poco M4 Pro and Poco M4 Pro 5G. This component spans the entire width of the Poco M5’s rear cover, somewhat like the Pixel 6a, only much taller. Another point of interest here is Xiaomi’s choice…