T-Mobile Launches 5G Advanced
T-Mobile announced that it is the first US carrier to roll out new 5G technologies from the 3GPP release 18 standard (also known as 5G Advanced) nationwide. This includes new low-latency technology such as Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable throughput (L4S), which will improve responsiveness for applications such as gaming, AR/VR, XR, and video calls / conferencing. Another new feature is 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability), which simplifies the 5G standard in ways that make 5G practical for devices like smartwatches and IoT devices. 5G Advanced also brings enhanced location precision features. 5G Advanced brings a long list of other, smaller improvements to the 5G standard in areas like network slicing. Carriers can choose which features to implement on their network, and indeed T-Mobile says it is "blending elements from Releases 17 and 18".
Boost is the Third US Carrier to Offer a TCL NXTPAPER Phone
Boost is now offering the TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G, with TCL's unique "NXTPAPER" matte-finish display technology. Spectrum and C Spire also offer NXTPAPER phones.
Verizon Dedicates 5G Network Capacity to First Responders
Verizon is rolling out network slicing — a new technology introduced with 5G — for first responders, starting with 30 markets around the country. This will give first responders a certain amount of guaranteed network access no matter how busy the network gets. Verizon can also adjust the slice "in real-time based on the operational needs of first responders." Verizon calls this service "the Verizon Frontline Network Slice". T-Mobile rolled out a similar offering last September. The 30 markets include Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Tampa, and more.
Hands On with the 2025 Moto razr Lineup
Motorola has new razr flip foldable phones for 2025, and this year there are three — including, perhaps for the first time — a truly flagship-class model. They have a whole lot in common with last year's models, and in fact are difficult to tell apart from the old models, and even from each other. But they have interesting new colors, materials, and textures, and some updates to both the hardware and software. The most important part — the hinge — is a an all-new design in all three. Of course, they're loaded up with more AI features than ever. What else should you know? What are they like in person? Read on for our hands-on report.
Moto Intros razr Ultra, its New Flagship Foldable
Motorola has introduced a fully flagship-level foldable phone with the new razr Ultra. It borrows its design from the existing razr+, with the only obvious external difference being a new AI button on the side, and new finish options including brushed metal sides and real wood (shown) or Alcantara synthetic suede on the back. The specs have all been bumped up compared to the razr+, including the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 16 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of storage, brighter and sharper (Super HD) main display, larger 4,700 mAh battery, faster 68W wired charging, faster 30W wireless charging, and triple 50 megapixel cameras (including a main with a top-end Sony sensor, a wide-angle, and the inner camera). Motorola also introduced 2025 versions of the razr and razr+, although they have minimal changes compared to the 2024 models. The razr has a slightly updated processor, and all three models have new titanium hinge mechanism that Motorola claims is 4x stronger. On the software side, Motorola has updated its Moto AI to include multiple chatbots, including Meta Llama, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot. Meta's Llama can run on-device to power privacy-sensitive AI features of Moto AI, like "Catch Me Up", which summarizes your notifications. The new razr models launch in mid-May. Both T-Mobile and AT&T will offer the new razr+ and razr Ultra. Just about every US carrier except AT&T will offer the more-affordable razr 2025. The razr Ultra will retail for $1300, the razr+ for $1000, and the razr for $700.
Hands On with Anker's Largest "Pocket Size" Power Bank
Anker is well-known for phone chargers, "power bank" battery-powered portable chargers, and charging cables. They have a new flagship power bank for phones — and even larger devices like tablets and laptops — that looks compelling. It has a 9,600 mAh capacity, enough to charge your phone twice, or top up both your phone and laptop. It can charge at up to 65W, which is very fast. It has two USB-C ports, for output or input. And it has a handy flip-out plug for charging it from a wall socket. It also has a full-color display and some configurable settings. We check it out in this quick hands-on report.
TSMC Unveils New, Industry-Leading Chip-Making Process
TSMC has announced its next microchip manufacturing process "node", which it calls A14, equivalent to a 1.4-namometer (nm) scale. Compared to its N2 (2nm) process — entering volume production later this year — A14 "will offer up to 15% speed improvement at the same power, or up to 30% power reduction at the same speed, along with more than 20% increase in logic density." N2, in turn, offers similar performance improvements compared to the 3nm process used for chips in today's flagship phones. TSMC specifically named smartphones as one of the leading applications for the new A14 process. TSMC says A14 development is going smoothly and even ahead of schedule. It plans to enter production with A14 in 2028.
Xfinity Mobile Upgrades Plans, Offers Free Year on Second Line
Xfinity Mobile has launched a new premium plan and added new deals that apply to all plans. The new Unlimited Premium plan replaces Unlimited Plus at the same $50/month price for the first line ($30/month for additional lines). This plan now includes unlimited data instead of 50 GB, 30 GB of high-speed hotspot data instead of 15, and 4K video instead of HD. Xfinity is also adding twice-a-year phone upgrades worth up to $830 with eligible trade-in, as well as spam call blocking. As always, Xfinity Mobile service is only available to customers of Xfinity home internet service. Xfinity is also offering new and existing customers a whole year of Unlimited plan service for free on a second line. For new customers, one line would be full-price and the second one free for a year. For existing customers, the free year is on a new extra line. With this deal, customers can also choose Unlimited Premium on the new second line for just $10/month for a year. Finally, for new customers, Xfinity has also launched a new Device Contract Buyout program offering up to $500 per line when switching from another carrier but still paying off a phone.
Metro's New, Simpler Plans are Mostly a Better Deal
Metro by T-Mobile has rolled out new service plans, with some improving in value. At the low end, the company keeps a Starter plan with 10 GB of high-speed data for $40 (with auto-pay, $5 extra in the first month), taxes and fees included. The only change with the Starter plan is that — like the new T-Mobile plans announced today — all of the new plans come with a five-year price lock guarantee. (However, this guarantee only covers "the price of talk, text and data", so other plan details could potentially change.) Metro's main "Flex" plans are being simplified from three plans that run $50–70/month (for a single line) to just two plans, at $50 or $60 per month. The new Flex Unlimited is the same $50/month price as the old Flex Start plan and has most of the same features, such as "unlimited" data, 8 GB of hotspot data, Scam Shield, and 100 GB of free storage with Google One. New is regular phone upgrades via trade-in, plus the price guarantee. The premium Flex Unlimited Plus plan replaces Flex Plus, priced at $60/month instead of $70, while adding HD video. It also includes everything in the old Flex Plus plan, such as 25 GB of hotspot data, international texting, and Amazon Prime included. Of course it also includes the new phone upgrade program and price guarantee. Multi-line discounts are available. For example, for a family of four, the Flex Unlimited Plus is $35/month/line. A new plan exclusively for new customers switching to Metro is the Starter Plus plan, which is $40/month for a single line. Uniquely, this price does not require auto-pay. It does include "unlimited" 5G data, a major perk over the regular $40/month Starter plan. Also, this plan features multi-line discounts, as low as $25/month/line for four lines. Metro is also keeping and even expanding its $25/month bring-your-own-device (BYOD) plans for new customers. (That price requires auto-pay.) These plans include unlimited data if the customer ports over their existing phone number, and 10 GB data if they do not. All of Metro's "unlimited" data plans have the footnote "you may notice slower speeds when our network is busy" after using 35 GB in a month.
T-Mobile Simplifies Plans
T-Mobile is eliminating two of its cheaper service plans: Essentials Saver and Go5G, while replacing Go5G Plus with Experience More, and replacing the top-end Go5G Next with Experience Beyond. The existing Essentials plan remains unchanged, and becomes the company's new cheapest plan at $60/month for a single line. (The old Essentials Saver was $50/month.) The new Experience More plan is $85/month for a single line — compared to $90 for Go5G Plus — but taxes and fees are no longer included. T-Mobile is also boosting high-speed mobile hotspot data from 50 GB to 60 GB, and promising a five-year price lock. (The price lock applies to "the price of their talk, text and data", implying that other plan features could change.) Otherwise, Experience More is the same as the Go5G Plus plan it replaces. The new top-end plan is Experience Beyond, which carries the same $100 price as the old Go5G Next, but, again, taxes and fees are no longer included. It does greatly increase the high-speed data allotments for hotspot (now 250 GB) and international (30 GB in North America; 15 GB in the rest of the world). T-Mobile is also now extending its "third line free" deal to this top-end plan, and offering the same five-year price lock guarantee. Both "Experience" plans keep key features of the old premium plans like unlimited premium data, regular phone upgrades, unlimited talk and text in North America, some high-speed international data, and free in-flight Wi-Fi with select airlines. T-Mobile is also including its new satellite coverage service with the top-end plan, while Experience More has the service included just through the end of this year. All of these plans offer discounts for additional lines.
Two New "Mindful" Phones Sport E-Paper Displays
This month, both Minimal and Mudita have launched new minimalist phones that are designed to discourage excessive screen time primarily by having the main touch display use e-ink / e-paper display technology, which is typically slow to refresh and does not work well with scrolling. The Mudita Kompakt takes a traditional approach of a custom OS with limited features, including calling, texting, camera, e-reader, and maps. A switch on the side activates "Offline+" mode, which cuts off the cellular modem and microphones at the hardware level. It has a 4.3-inch display, 3,300 mAh battery with up to 6 days of standby battery life, wireless charging, 32 GB of expandable storage, 3.5mm headset jack, 8 megapixel camera, and IP54 dust/water rating. A version specifically for North America will starting shipping in May for $439. The Minimal Phone takes a different approach, with a full version of Android, including Google's Play Store, plus a physical QWERTY keyboard. It also has a 4.3-inch display, 3.5mm headset jack, and expandable storage. Besides the QWERTY keyboard, it also has a touch "navigation bar" between the display and keyboard, plus a 5 megapixel front camera. It also has NFC supporting Google Pay, a 16 megapixel main camera, fingerprint reader in the side lock button, and comes in either 6 / 128 GB or 8 / 256 GB memory configurations. It also ships in May, starting at $399 for pre-orders for a limited time ($499 normally). These phones join the same growing category as the Light Phone III, launched last month.
Meta Disables Apple Intelligence in Facebook and Other Apps
Meta has apparently disabled Apple Intelligence features in Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. This includes writing tools and Genmoji. App developers can opt out of Apple Intelligences for their iOS apps, and Meta appears to have done just that. Meta has been pushing its own AI features in recent years.
Google Rolls Out Free Gemini Live with Vision to All Android Users
Google is expanding the free version of its Gemini AI app for Android to include Gemini Live with camera and screen share. This lets you ask Gemini about anything on your phone's screen, or anything your phone's camera can see.
Chipolo's New Bluetooth Tracker is Cross-Platform
Chipolo has introduced its newest Bluetooth tracking tag: the Chipolo Pop. Following Pebblebee, Chipolo has made its new trackers cross-platform, meaning they work with either Apple Find My or Google's Find My Device network. The Pop has a simple round "chip" design that comes in six colors. They're rated IP55 for splash protection. The CR2032 battery (the same used by Apple AirTags) is user-replaceable and lasts up to one year. They have a range of 300 feet, but can be found globally via either of the Find My networks. Chipolo also offers its own app, which offers features like adjusting the tracker's ringtone, and using the tracker's button to locate your lost phone, or as a remote trigger for your phone's camera. The Chipolo Pop is on sale now for $29, or $89 for four (under $23 each).
Samsung Updates its Rugged Enterprise Phone
Samsung today announced the Galaxy XCover7 Pro, its newest rugged phone targeted at business customers across various industries. Compared to the XCover6 it replaces, it sports a much newer Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, and larger battery at 4,350 mAh. Most other specs are similar, including a waterproof, rugged body, with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protecting a 6.6-inch FHD+ display that works with gloves and when wet. It has 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage (expandable). It can charge in a dock using POGO pins, and the battery is user-replaceable. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, fingerprint reader, a 50 megapixel main camera, and an 8 megapixel wide-angle camera. It has two programmable shortcut buttons: one on the top and one on the side. It will be available in the US on May 8th.
Smartphones in Limbo Under New Tariff Plans
On Friday, US Customs and Border Patrol issued a notice saying that smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices would be exempt from most new tariffs. By the end of the weekend, the administration started to walk back the exemption, when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick characterized the exemption as only a "temporary reprieve". He indicated that smartphones would be included in new "semiconductor tariffs" coming in "a month or two", adding "These are things that are national security that we need to be made in America."
AT&T Offers Free Pixel Buds with Pixel 9a
The Google Pixel 9a is available starting today from all three major national carriers, as well as US Cellular and Xfinity Mobile. Existing AT&T customers can snag a free pair of Google Pixel Buds A-Series Bluetooth earbuds with their new Pixel 9a when purchased online. New customers can also get the free earbuds, provided they sign up for a postpaid service plan of at least $60.99/month (before Autopay and Paperless Bill discounts). However, AT&T is charging $520 for the Pixel 9a, while Google and all other carriers are charging the originally-announced price of $500. The free earbuds offer is available through April 24.
AT&T Ending Email-to-SMS Service
AT&T has put up a new support page stating that the company will switch off its email-to-text and text-to-email gateway. Currently, people can send an email to an address such as 5551234567@txt.att.net or 5551234567@mms.att.net to send a text message or MMS to any AT&T customer. After June 17, that service will no longer work. AT&T will also be shutting down the corresponding service for Cricket customers. Verizon and T-Mobile offer similar services, and have not announced plans to discontinue them.
