Fast Charge

It's a big week for Honor, as the company not only unveils the Honor 50 series, but reveals it's back in bed with Google. Not that it's been a quiet one for OnePlus or Realme either...

The Honor 50, 50 Pro, and 50 SE have been unveiled in China, with 120Hz displays and high-Mp cameras. But the bigger news is that the Honor 50 will launch worldwide - and when it does, it will include Google Mobile Services.

Meanwhile OnePlus has followed up the Nord CE with the North American N200. More than that though, the company has confirmed plans to merge even more with Oppo - what does that mean for the company's future phones?

Finally, Realme - another part of the Oppo corporate family, lest we forget - has launched the Realme GT worldwide at a frankly outrageous price, and teased plans for its first tablet and laptop too.

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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OnePlus is back with the latest in its line of affordable Nords, while Apple's WWDC keynote revealed the next iterations of iOS and more.

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G isn't quite the proper Nord 2 we're waiting for, but the streamlined take on last year's best mid-range phone still has a lot of promise. The core specs have returned but with a few compromises to hit a lower price point - though with OnePlus staples like the Alert Slider gone, has the company stripped away too much?

Meanwhile, Apple is in the midst of its annual developer conference, WWDC. The keynote didn't reveal any new hardware, but revealed the iOS 15 features coming to iPhones later this year, along with a few upgrades for Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads, and more. Here's what we think so far.

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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Did you really think we were going to talk about anything other than Huawei today?

The Chinese tech giant finally gave its new HarmonyOS an official launch, we have all the details - including just how close to Android it really is.

More than that though, we have the new 12.6in MatePad Pro and Watch 3 on hand to give our hands-on impressions of the new hardware and how the Harmony operating system runs on both tablets and smartwatches so far.

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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This week on Fast Charge we preview OnePlus's upcoming budget phones, take a look at the just-announced Oppo Reno 6 series, and Lewis gives his glowing review of the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.

OnePlus's Pete Lau confirmed just today that the OnePlus Nord CE is coming in June, along with a cheaper Nord N200. What are we expecting from the next Nord phone, and are we ever getting a proper Nord 2?

Meanwhile Oppo just launched the Reno 6 series in China. The three new phones are all upper-mid-range, so won't quite rival the Find X3 Pro, but deliver 90Hz AMOLED panels, 65W charging, and some impressive camera specs. But will they ever make it to Europe?

Finally, Lewis has been busy testing out the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra, and the iPhone enthusiast was surprised to find the rare Android flagship that he actually loves. So what does it get so right?

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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Google I/O 2021 may not have brought with it any hardware announcements, but we got our first official look at Android 12 and some MASSIVE Wear OS news.

Android 12 brings a whole new design language (at least for Pixel phones...), key new privacy features, and a host of other smaller changes that will arrive officially this autumn. In the meantime the first public beta is here though, and Toddy is already on it.

Meanwhile Wear OS is no more - meet Wear. Google has rebranded its wearable operating system yet again, but there's bigger news: it's working with Samsung to build the new software, and has confirmed that there are Fitbits on the way that will run on Wear too.

Finally, we didn't get any new hardware, but that doesn't mean we aren't excited about what's on the way. Jon Prosser leaked a wild new Pixel 6 design, and we're also expecting the Pixel 5a, Pixel Buds A, and maybe even a Pixel foldable this year - here's the latest on them all.

Sorry this episode is up a little late! - Dom

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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The ZenFone 8 and 8 Flip are here, and they've prompted us to ask again: is it small phones' time to shine?

The ZenFone 8 is a compact flagship with a 5.9in screen and top-tier specs, joined by a big brother in the ZenFone 8 Flip. That packs the trademark flipping camera module, but drops specs elsewhere to make it work - is it worth the trade-off?

Going all-in with a small flagship is a bold move from Asus, and the company was bullish about the benefits. Between that, the iPhone 12 Mini, and the Xperia 5 III, are we in a small phone revolution? Or, as the iPhone sales suggest, are small phones always going to be limited to the small-time?

Finally, Carl Pei's post-OnePlus project Nothing has begun teasing its first launch in earnest: the Nothing Ear 1 headphones. The drip-feed news cycle is classic OnePlus, but despite plenty of announcements, a month out from launch we still know, um, nothing - is all this hype going to help, or is Pei playing with fire?

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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We finally know what Samsung's next two foldable phones will look like, Apple and Epic's courtroom battle has finally begun, and Lewis is ready to review the AirTag.

Leaked stills have revealed what the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 will look like, prompting more talented people than ourselves to put together high-res renders for a better look at the final designs. With plenty of specs leaked too, how are the future foldables shaping up?

Meanwhile, Apple and Epic's courtroom, um, epic, has kicked off this week. We'll round up some of the biggest discoveries from the legal battle, which has already embroiled Sony and Microsoft too.

Finally, Lewis is ready to review the Apple AirTag, with Jim and Toddy on hand to help assess it against Tile, Chipolo, and Samsung's SmartTag. Does it work, is the battery too easy to access, and has Apple done enough to protect against stalking?

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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Vivo has unveiled the V21, its latest selfie-focussed mid-range contender, while we've reviewed two other affordable options: the Poco X3 Pro and Moto G100.

The V21 and V21 5G are the successors to last year's Vivo V20. They build on that phone's 44Mp selfie camera by also throwing in OIS on the front lens - a first for any phone. Could this be the best phone for selfies anywhere?

Meanwhile Dom has been testing out the Poco X3 Pro, the follow-up to our favourite budget phone of 2020. The Pro model upgrades the chipset without raising the price - can anything stand in Poco's way in the budget segment?

Finally, Lewis has his thoughts on the Moto G100. This is the most powerful G-series phone yet, but its real USP is Moto's new 'Ready For' dock, which turns this mid-range contender into a portable desktop replacement. Who needs an M1 iPad Pro, am I right?

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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Apple's first event of 2021 is here, and we're ready to review Huawei's Mate X2 foldable and the controversial OnePlus Watch.

First up, Apple has outfitted its latest iPad Pro models with its powerful M1 chip, 5G, and some nifty display tech - which leaves us wondering when they're going to finally give in and merge them with the Mac.

Dom's spent 7 days with the Huawei Mate X2 and is ready to let you know what he thinks about the world's most expensive phone. TL;DR: the hardware is killer but you still shouldn't buy one.

Finally, Chris joins us with his thoughts on the OnePlus Watch. Is it really the worst smartwatch ever, and can the company redeem itself with an aggressive update plan?

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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Sony has finally thrown down the gauntlet with its 2021 flagship phones, ZTE has launched a new flagship series, and Anyron lets us know what he thinks after fully testing the Nubia Red Magic 6.

First up, Sony has launched the Xperia 1 III, 5 III and 10 III all together. The 1 III is the real star, with the industry's first 4K 120Hz display and dynamic focal length periscopic camera, but is that enough to break Sony out of its niche appeal?

ZTE is next up, with a new trio of flagships led by the Axon 30 Ultra - notable in part because it's actually getting a global release, including the US. It boasts a triple 64Mp camera setup and a 144Hz display, but notably doesn't include the under-display selfie camera of last year's Axon 20 5G.

Finally, Anyron has been busy testing the Nubia Red Magic 6, and is ready to give his review of this 165Hz gaming phone.

This podcast is produced by IDG Communications.

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