Technology

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In the past, OnePlus has revealed details of its handsets bit by bit as launch day approaches, and it's the same for the OnePlus 13: the official unveiling is on Thursday, October 31, but we already know the camera specs for the upcoming flagship.

OnePlus confirmed the information in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo (via Android Authority). There are three cameras on the back, which are a 50MP main camera, a 50MP periscope lens, and a 50MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view.

While the main camera matches the OnePlus 12, the other two have been given an upgrade. The periscope lens offers 3x optical zoom with an f/2.6 aperture, optical image stabilization, and a 1/1.95-inch sensor.

As our OnePlus 12 review will tell you, the existing flagship has a zoom camera with more megapixels but a smaller sensor size. In theory, those changes should mean better end results, especially when it comes to low light photos.

Picture samples Image 1 of 2

Camera samples for the OnePlus 13 (Image credit: OnePlus)Image 2 of 2

Camera samples for the OnePlus 13 (Image credit: OnePlus)

Other pieces of information that are now confirmed tell us the OnePlus 13 will support 4K and 60 frames per second video recording, with Dolby Vision, and higher quality Live Photos (images with a small amount of movement attached).

OnePlus has also taken to Weibo (via Android Headlines) to post some sample images from the OnePlus 13, so you can just for yourself how the quality stands up – particularly when it comes to the portrait and motion capture modes.

We now know a lot about this phone ahead of its full unveiling. OnePlus has previously shown off three colors for the handset, and we've also been told the device is going to feature the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor from Qualcomm.

There have also been rumors swirling about a significant battery capacity upgrade, and an unboxing has already shown up online. It should be available in China on October 31, with a global release sometime early in 2025.

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The internet was flooded with iPad mini 7 reviews this week after Apple's quiet announcement of the mini tablet on October 15. Given it's been three years since we last saw Apple launch an 8.3-inch iPad, surely it's a must-buy for tablet fans? According to those reviews, the answer is a little more complex than you might expect.

This is because the mini 7 is, most agree, something of a mixed bag. It now has an A17 Pro chip (for Apple Intelligence), supports the Pencil Pro, boosts its base storage to 128GB, and comes in fancy new colors. But its design and screen are also, among other things, the same as before. And that's disappointing to some who had lofty expectations for the tablet.

So, how did the iPad mini 7 perform in its various benchmarking tests and real-world scenarios? And what exactly can you use it for? We've gathered and summarized the biggest iPad mini 7 reviews so far in one handy place so you can decide if it's worth spending $499 / £499 / AU$799 – starting, of course, with TechRadar's own iPad mini 7 review.

TechRadar: 'A premium mini tablet experience that still captivates'

Our iPad mini A17 Pro (2024) review praised the performance of Apple's new mini tablet, despite its inclusion of an older A17 Pro chip. In our GeekBench 6 tests, the scores show a significant performance jump from the iPad mini 6, which also supports Apple Intelligence features.

On the downside, the iPad mini 7 is otherwise largely identical to its predecessor. As we noted, "Apple didn't bother to upgrade the design, the screen, the cameras, or the speakers."

Our battery life tests showed that it also provides just over ten hours of battery life, which is about par for an 8.3-inch tablet. Still, while it isn't an exciting upgrade, we enjoyed our time with the iPad enough to give it four-and-a-half stars and a 'recommended rating.'

The good

• Perfectly portable
• Excellent build
• Lovely screen
• A great Pencil Pro companion

The bad

• Pricey for the size
• Aging design
• FaceTime camera still on the short side of the screen

The Verge: 'The new Mini isn't much of an upgrade at all'

(Image credit: Future)

The most critical take on Apple's new mini tablet so far has come from The Verge. It even says the mini 7 "represents a new low for the product," while also stating "if you want an iPad mini, buy this one."

Those two statements can coexist in the same review because The Verge has grand visions of what the iPad mini could be, which the new version falls short of. The mini 7 "feels like an iPad designed by a supply chain," its review notes, and is best for those who want a small screen combined with a great Apple Pencil experience.

Like our tests, The Verge's benchmarking showed some useful real-world performance boosts from the mini 6, noting that everything is "one beat faster than the last model." But the elephant in the room is Apple Intelligence.

We don't yet know how good that will be, and The Verge concludes that unless it's "game-changingly incredible, there are few good reasons to buy the new iPad Mini instead of the old one."

The good

• Faster than the last one
• A delightful size for a tablet
• Supports the Pencil Pro

The bad

• Jelly scrolling still present
• Not as powerful as other iPads
• Outdated Touch ID and camera placement

CNET: 'Not really taking amazing strides into new territory'

CNET's take on the iPad mini 7 is that while it is underwhelming in many ways, it's also good enough if you've been waiting a few years to buy one.

A couple of interesting points that haven't been widely raised include a lack of new accessories to suit the tablet's form factor. CNET notes that a small Pencil or a small keyboard case would have been nice complements to the mini 7, but neither has arrived.

More annoyingly, the review also notes that the Apple Pencil 2 doesn't work with the new tablet – you need either the Pencil Pro or the cheaper USB-C Pencil. Still, aside from those gripes, CNET concludes that if you've been waiting to get an iPad mini, "it's a great time to get one." Even if, for owners of the iPad mini (2021), "these upgrades may not be that meaningful to you."

The good

• Compact size
• Supports Pencil Pro
• Apple Intelligence capable
• Base model has 128GB storage

The bad

• No big design changes
• Needs smaller Pencil
• No keyboard case

Engadget: 'Safe, boring and everything I want in a small tablet'

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Engadget's iPad mini 7 review is something of a 'glass half full' take on the tablet. While it acknowledges the same limitations as other reviews – the dated screen, old-school design, lack of Face ID and no M-series chip – it still thinks Apple has done enough to deliver "the full iPad experience in a compact package."

The review also discusses in depth what you might actually use the iPad mini for. On a broad level, Engadget says, "It’s an enjoyable secondary device that I mostly used after the workday was done, in place of my MacBook Pro or iPhone."

More specifically, it highlights reading, messaging, gaming, and watching videos as the main use cases – alongside digital art and sketching, if you're inclined that way.

The good

• Supports the Apple Pencil Pro
• A17 Pro chip is plenty powerful
• Finally starts at 128GB of storage
• Apple may have fixed the jelly-scrolling display issues

The bad

• Display is limited to 60Hz
• Bezels are looking a bit thick
• No Face ID
• No M-series chip

The verdict: Could be better, but good enough for most people

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The iPad mini 7 has received a pretty lukewarm reception from reviewers (so far). The general consensus is that, while it's far from the best iPad mini that Apple could have made, it is the best small tablet you can buy. And that could be enough for you, depending on your needs.

All the reviews agree that it is a good time to buy an iPad mini for those who have been waiting patiently to do so. Where the conclusions differ slightly is on whether it represents a worthwhile upgrade for current Mini 6 owners.

The answer seems to largely depend on your expectations of the tablet. If you've been waiting for an iPad mini that delivers real-world boosts for gaming, apps, and photo or video editing, the benchmarking results show it delivers that. But if you were hoping for a Pro-level experience, you may still find it wanting.

The iPad mini 7 also supports Apple Intelligence, and while it isn't clear how future-proofed that A17 Pro chip will be down the line, it is another bonus if you're prepared to wait for Apple's AI features to flourish.

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If you’ve read my previous thoughts on iPhones here at TechRadar and its sibling site Tom's Guide, you’ll know I have fairly firm opinions on Apple’s smartphones.

Since moving from Android to iPhone at the end of 2021, I’ve not gone back to the platform Google built, despite trying some of the best Android phones. The ease of iOS has taken in me; I love the titanium construction, I’ve found Ceramic Shield glass to be a minor game changer, I enjoy the Action button, and the cameras almost never let me down on iPhones.

But for once, I’m on the fence.

What’s got me pondering is the Camera Control ‘button.’ In some ways, it’s a cool new feature that uses haptics well. In other ways, it’s superfluous and not fully featured.

I’ve been trying out the iPhone 16 Pro Max for a couple of weeks now, and when it comes to capturing a photo, l try and use Camera Control as much as possible. As I’m 37 and a millennial, I still like snapping photos on my phone in landscape orientation, so having a physical button where my finger naturally sits is good for capturing a shot without messing up the framing by tapping on the screen or trying to hit the Action button – I have this mapped to trigger the ‘torch’ anyway, which is surprisingly helpful.

I also like flicking through zoom ranges with a swipe on the Camera Control without the need to tap on small icons. The exposure control is kind of cool, though swapping between the features Camera Control can control doesn’t quite feel intuitive to me yet, and often, my taps cause me to lose the precise design of a scene.

So yeah, Camera Control is interesting. But…

Did anyone really ask for it? It feels like a feature for the sake of Apple’s mobile execs to have something new to talk about at the September Apple event. It’s just about a ‘nice to have’ feature, but it’s hardly a phone photography game changer.

Not my tempo

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

However, maybe I’ll warm to it over time. Yet, the biggest issue is the lack of AI tools at launch for Camera Control. Apple actively touts the AI features for Camera Control that can be used to smartly identify things the cameras are pointed at and serve up all manner of information. That hasn’t happened yet, with a rollout arriving post-launch when Apple Intelligence fully arrives; there's a beta option, but I'm not willing to try that on my main phone.

I’ve yet to understand that. Sure, other phone makers have touted AI features that will come after their phones are released and may be limited to certain regions, to begin with, but at least they launch with some of the promised AI suites. The iPhone 16 range launched without any Apple Intelligence features.

This is not what I expected from Apple, a company that famously doesn’t adopt new tech until it’s refined and ready for polished prime time. So, for it to launch smartphones without next-generation smarts is baffling to me. But it’s also the primary reason why I feel torn about Camera Control; if it had Google Lens-like abilities at launch, baked into a hardware format, I can see myself being a lot more positive about Camera Control.

Of course, Apple's use of such a camera button will undoubtedly cause other phone makers to follow suit. I only hope they don’t skimp on features when their phones launch.

As for Camera Control in the here and now, I’ll keep an open mind and keep using it; I’ll just cross my fingers that it'll become seriously handy once it gets its prescribed dose of AI smarts.

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Things are getting spooky round TechRadar way as we kicked off our Halloween Week event, but that hasn't scared off these major announcements from the world of tech.

In fact far from it. After all, this was the week in which Apple teased its M4 Macs, the superb Severance returned to our screens (sort of) and Alien Romulus announced a VHS releases. Yes, really.

Read on for details of all of these stories and more as we recap the week's biggest news, and be sure to check back next week for details on those M4 Macs once they've been officially revealed.

And when you're done, why not read our guide to the seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend?

7. Alien Romulus got a release date for Blu Ray… and VHS

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Disney)

Here’s a 2024 story you weren't expecting: Alien Romulus is coming to VHS.

This isn’t just some gimmick prop with a download code, either, with the Alien: Romulus tape being described as a “fully-functional VHS” which will launch in December with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and a vintage-style protective sleeve.

There are a few major questions to be answered – such as how much it’ll cost and how many will be made – but if you’ve been craving that vintage horror movie experience then it’s time to dust off your old VHS player (or buy one on eBay) and look out for Alien Romulus’ VHS tape when it releases.

• Read more: Forget 4K Blu-ray for Alien: Romulus – get it on VHS instead

6. Samsung released a new foldable

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung this week gave us the new Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition – well, those of us that live in South Korea. It comes with a handful of upgrades like a 200MP main camera, but will cost you: 2,789,600 won to be precise (or roughly $2,000 / £1,550 / AU$3,000).

The base model already comes in at the fairly steep $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749, so fans were hoping Samsung might instead launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold Fan Edition (Or FE) to match the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and its other more affordable phones.

This was shot down by Samsung itself, however, when it announced it has “no plans” to launch a cheap Galaxy Z Fold phone, even though it definitely should.

• Read more: The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is here
• Read more: Samsung has 'no plans' to launch a cheap Galaxy Z Fold phone

5. Garmin's all-new beta update arrived for Forerunners

(Image credit: Future)

Owners of recent Garmin Forerunner watches – specifically the Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 165, Forerunner 955, and the Forerunner 255 – are getting new features as part of Garmin’s public beta program. The headline new abilities are around swimming (with "improvements to support pool swim workout with pace alerts and critical swim speed" and "improvements to the pool swim rest screen and alert tones") as well as an all-new meditation functionality.

Although you have to be signed up to the public beta in order to take advantage of it, Garmin rolling these features out as part of public beta means it’s coming to everyone else’s Forerunners in the near future. As well as top running watches, these changes make the Forerunners excellent swimming watches. Ideal for triathletes and all-rounders.

• Read more: Got a Garmin Forerunner? You can now get new swimming and meditation features for free

4. Things got spooky as TechRadar’s Halloween Week began

(Image credit: Compass International Pictures )

TechRadar’s Halloween Week is running between now and October 31, and there’s plenty of great stuff to sink your teeth into. Whether you want the latest horror movie recommendations, soundbars for an immersive experience, or animated seasonal movies for the squeamish, it’s all here. Over the next few days you’ll be seeing articles from our Streaming, Gaming, Homes and AI channels, with our experts dishing out top tips to help you have the best Halloween yet.

Some of these recommendations were covered in our latest podcast episode too, so make sure you check that out for even more thoughts about the spookiest time of year.

• Read more: Welcome to TechRadar’s Halloween Week 2024

3. Apple geared up for Apple Intelligence's launch

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Intelligence launches next week and we can’t wait to get our hands on Apple’s AI-powered features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Expect iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 to launch in just a few days alongside a huge AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid upgrade. The first wave of Apple Intelligence features will introduce the world to “AI for the rest of us” as Apple calls it, and will bring Writing Tools, photo editing via Clean Up, Notification summaries, and a Siri redesign.

We’ve been using the iOS 18.1 beta for a couple of months now and can’t wait to see what the public perception of Apple AI is when it officially arrives. If you’re waiting for image generation tools such as Genmoji and Image Playground, though, you’ll need to be patient – they won't be with us until iOS 18.2 later this year. Let’s hope iOS 18.1 has enough meat on its bones to keep you occupied until then.

• Read more: Apple Intelligence releases next week with iOS 18.1

2. Severance Season 2 got its first trailer

It’s been an agonizing wait, but we’ve finally been treated to the first official footage for Severance season 2. Just 24 hours after Apple invited us all to a big Severance-themed meeting, the tech giant revealed the inaugural teaser for Severance season 2. Suffice it to say, the Apple TV Plus sci-fi thriller series’ sophomore season looks like it’ll be just as weird, wacky, and wild as its predecessor was. Roll on January 17, 2025, we say, which is when the highly rated show will make its long-awaited return.

• Read more: Apple wants you to attend a big Severance season 2 meeting

1. Apple told us to ‘Mac’ our calendars

(Image credit: Future)

We’ve been expecting Apple to launch M4 Macs this month, and right at the buzzer Apple is seemingly ready to do just that. In a teaser, Greg Joswiak – Apple’s SVP of Marketing – has all but confirmed that new Macs are incoming, with a social media post instructing us to “Mac your calendars!” as Apple has an “exciting week of announcements” to make starting on Monday.

We’re expecting this means new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, a redesigned Mac mini, and an update to the iMac, all with M4 Apple silicon. The glowing apple image Joswiak shared reminds us of the look of Siri with Apple Intelligence, so we can seemingly also look forward to the long awaited iOS 18.1 update and mac OS Sequoia 15.1 with that feature to come next week, too.

Beyond this, new Magic accessories (the keyboard, and mouse) are likely to arrive, and perhaps we’ll get an update or two for some more Apple TV shows. Check back next week to see everything that was announced.

• Read more: Apple officially hints at new M4 Macs

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