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Well, it’s finally happening. Qualcomm could be merging its Snapdragon processors for mobile and PC under one consolidated ‘Elite’ brand, bringing us one step closer to the product I’ve always wanted - the perfect union of phone and PC.

Despite the sad downfall of Windows Phone, the divide between phones and PCs has been getting less and less rigid over the years, with the introduction of Windows- and ChromeOS-powered tablets further muddying the waters. The smartphone in your pocket is almost certainly more powerful than a desktop PC from 20 or even 10 years ago, and today’s top-end mobile chips are even more impressive.

Doing work on a phone is pretty common nowadays - especially for crowded commutes. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Plenty of us - myself included - have grown more comfortable with working from phones and tablets, and software has also evolved to meet these needs: when I was in school, the idea of being able to edit Microsoft Word documents on my crappy flip-phone felt like a distant dream, yet now I’m able to work in Google Docs on my Pixel 8 with ease.

It makes me excited for an entirely new type of product, something that doesn’t exist yet, but could: a device that I can carry around with me and use like a phone, but then slot into a display or keyboard and use as a fully-fledged PC at home.

Strategy shifts

As reported by Wccftech, Qualcomm evidently isn’t the only company working on this, either - since divorcing itself from Intel CPUs for Mac devices, Apple has been hard at work behind the scenes unifying its M-series and A-series chips (the latter of which power the best iPhones). Although Intel remains the dominant force in the PC processor market, it doesn’t make chips for phones, and Qualcomm is coming for Intel’s lunch - even if it won’t be buying Intel out any time soon.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip is plenty powerful, even capable of some light gaming. (Image credit: Future)

Thanks to Qualcomm’s impressive Snapdragon X Elite chip, Microsoft has finally managed to make Windows on Arm-based chips work, with Prism emulation working wonders for x86 app support (even though it’s not perfect yet). We called the Snapdragon-powered Surface Pro 11 ‘the best Surface ever’ in our review, and I’m here to stand on that.

In fact, Microsoft and Qualcomm’s recent successes mean I’m going to go one step further with my predictions about the future of phone/PC technology: it’s time for Windows Phone to make a comeback, baby!

Rise from the grave, Windows Phone

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon described the Snapdragon X Elite chip as ‘the most disruptive thing in computing since Windows 95’ when he unveiled a new range of Windows laptops with Snapdragon chips at Computex 2024, and I’m inclined to say that he was absolutely right: being able to run Windows on Arm (properly, not the terrible watered-down Windows RT seen on older Surface devices) really is a game-changer.

That’s what I’m asking for, Microsoft: I want a phone that runs a sleek, tile-based Windows OS, preferably with an app store that isn’t totally awful this time around, with the ability to plug it into any monitor (or a specialized docking station) to transform it into a tiny desktop PC capable of doing all my regular daily work tasks. Yes, you can arguably already do this with some finagling, but I want it to be a seamless, effortless switch.

I'm thinking of something like the classic iPhone speaker docks, but for work instead of music. Well, maybe both?

I know that’s a big ask. For starters, the app store is an immediate stumbling block; asking Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella to kiss and make up so I can have a full-fledged Google Play Store on a Windows device probably isn’t going to happen any time soon. We’re also not about to see Qualcomm putting the X Elite chip in a smartphone; the merging I mentioned earlier is likely more of a branding maneuver and an effort to bridge the gap between Qualcomm’s internal chip development teams, probably with the goal of bringing better AI performance to its upcoming Snapdragon phone processors.

Of course, Google has the opportunity to do something absolutely hilarious here and steal this concept right out from under Microsoft. Some of the best Chromebooks already use mobile-standard chips; the rather excellent Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, while sadly now discontinued, used a Snapdragon 7c chip - essentially a modified version of the Snapdragon 7 chip found in many smartphones released around the same time. ChromeOS is already well-suited to lower-powered touchscreen devices, too, and Play Store access wouldn’t be an issue.

So the ball’s in your court, Google. I’ll be waiting…

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Galaxy S23 FEs in all colors are now $100 off in today's early Amazon Prime Day sale.

Those dollars you've set aside for health expenses can be put toward Samsung's Galaxy Ring or the Oura Ring.

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Aqara Video Doorbell G4: one-minute review

The Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 is a smart doorbell that allows you to remotely monitor and talk to visitors outside your property via your phone or desktop using Wi-Fi.

The main selling point for those of us who predominately use the Apple ecosystem is its HomeKit compatibility, in addition to the more common Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility. It’s a viable option, given its competitive price, and doesn’t try and sell you a subscription service by ringfencing features as is the case with other video doorbells.

It offers the standard array of features found in some of the best video doorbells such as customizable zones for refining motion detection and facial recognition, which you wouldn’t typically expect for a video doorbell at this price point. It can distinguish between a car, a person, or an animal as opposed to the usual generic “movement was detected” type of message.

In addition to the doorbell, the G4 comes with a chime repeater, a real boon if you’re not always next to your phone - though I was a little incredulous at the inclusion to begin with. Added to that, it can house a microSD card for locally storing video footage which needs to be safe inside your home as opposed to on-device as with some video doorbells. It’s also a logical way to improve battery life, providing a separate mains-powered unit with Wi-Fi access and other services. I stand corrected.

Having a variety of options is good, and the Aqara G4 provides a subscription-free alternative to the ubiquitous Ring Doorbells. There is room for improvement, though; its paltry IPX3 rating means it’s best kept under cover from the elements, and the field of view was much too high for my liking. Read on for the full picture.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: price and availability

• List price: $119.99 / £119.99 (about AU$180)

The Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 was launched in the US in February 2023 and UK in December 2023, and is available from the Aqara website as well as Amazon for $119.99 / £199.99 (about AU$180). At the time of writing the price was reduced by 20% to $95.99/£95.99 (about AU$140) in a limited time deal, which seems to be a bi-monthly occurrence that might be worth holding out for.

There are three accessories available for the G4 if you do not have the desire to shop around for what is pretty standard stuff. The power supply boasts of a 1.5 metre cable which is not long enough given that it is recommended that the Doorbell be mounted between 1.4 metres and 1.5 metres from the ground.

At its sale price, the Aqara G4 compares favorably with something like the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro and its associated subscription fee, even when the extra purchases of a power adapter and MicroSD card are taken into account. At full price, less so.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: specs Aqara Video Doorbell G4: design

• It’s big, it’s dark - it’s a mini monolith
• It is easy to spot which circular feature is the button and which is the camera
• The location of the case-securing screw is strange

The G4 has an appealing design, clad in slate grey with glossy black accents. On the front are two large circles; one is the button, and the other is the camera mount. It’s a little quirky, and upon unboxing, it chimed with me but I could not put my finger on why (both puns intended).

It wasn’t until I had to measure the Aqara G4 after discovering that the dimensions on the website were wrong that I began to think about ratios, noticing that it’s sides measure not too far from 1:4:9. That’s when it hit my nerdy sci-fi-riddled brain; those are the proportions of the sides of the monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the camera on the doorbell even resembles HAL 9000. If you have no idea what I am blathering on about, please go and watch the film - it’s a classic.

It had to be done (Image credit: Les Watson)

Installing the doorbell can be as simple as affixing the baseplate, connecting the chime unit to the mains (you’ll need to use your own USB power supply), pairing it in the app and completing the necessary updates, and lastly inserting the doorbell’s batteries before slotting and securing it to the baseplate.

I added my review unit to HomeKit, and through doing so I was able to make use of my Apple One subscription and save HomeKit Secure Video output to the cloud - a pleasant surprise. However, the video quality was not great; anything that moved was painfully pixelated. Now, I like 8-bit video games, but I need to be able to distinguish between the postman and Super Mario.

Be warned, when you install the batteries, both the doorbell and chime repeater’s alarms will trigger, and both devices will begin to howl like a banshee. The doorbell will stop when it is slotted into the baseplate, but the chime repeater will keep on howling away until it is power cycled. It’s a good anti-tampering feature but an off switch in the app that snoozes the tripped alarm would suffice to stop this slightly annoying quirk. Another poor design decision is the case-fastening screw on the side of the unit, which I found difficult to tighten when it’s in situ.

It has been designed to facilitate hard-wired mains electricity either from an existing doorbell circuit or via a power supply transformer that plugs into a standard UK electrical socket. Another design flaw is that there’s no slot on the sides of the baseplate to run the cable through; Aqara seems to have assumed that the power cable will come straight through the wall and directly into the device, which for me was impossible. It is easy enough to create an opening in the bracket, but an unnecessary hoop to jump through.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: performance

Having used Ring doorbells for two years, it was immediately apparent that the video quality and field of view of the Aqara G4 are inferior. In fairness, Aqara is cheaper, and you do get what pay for. The stored video does seem to be less pixelated when using the local MicroSD as opposed to iCloud storage.

I installed a Ring Battery Pro alongside the Aqara to compare them and you can see what you are paying for with the Ring. As far as I am concerned the Aqara is good enough for my home, but your needs may differ depending on your entryway.

Footage from Aqara G4 on the left, Ring Battery Pro on the right (Image credit: Les Watson)

Its object recognition is consistent, although it has yet to detect an animal for me to review. The feature would be even more useful if it were possible to filter the videos based on object type in the app.

Speaking of which, the app is pretty good. It’s uncluttered and offers automation facilities if you don’t want to connect it to one of your smart home hubs. As is the theme of this review, it does have its quirks; for instance, I’m a bit puzzled as to why it’s necessary to create an automation to play a sound on the external doorbell when the button is pressed rather than it being a built-in feature. Even more puzzling is that it is not possible to use the stock ring tones; you need to import a sound file.

For some reason, I’ve frequently received an error stating that “The network connectivity is poor. Please set to auto”. Set what to auto, you may ask? I have looked through the settings and the only thing with an auto setting that I have found so far is “Infrared Night Vision”, which is on already; the mystery continues.

The facial recognition is surprisingly good given that I have only supplied it with one photograph of me. Heck, I get up in the morning and look in the mirror and sometimes I don’t recognize myself. This opens up all sorts of automation possibilities. Why would you not want your house to say “Hello Les” when you walk up to your front door?

In saying that, maybe we’re getting a little too close to HAL with that one.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Aqara Video Doorbell G4? Buy it if

You want a different look from other video doorbells.

It is a refreshing change from the standard Ring doorbell and other video doorbell devices, and I think it looks better than similarly priced products from Aqara’s competitors.View Deal

You are invested in the Apple ecosystem

If you are a HomeKit user and already have an Apple iCloud subscription, it’s an absolute no-brainer. View Deal

You want to store video footage without a subscription

It needs to be powered by a transformer to enable local storage, which does mean you will need to spend some more money to make it work - but you won’t be forking out every month.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You need to see your doorstep for package deliveries

It is unlikely that the camera will cover your doorstep due to its limited field of view. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were possible to turn the camera to portrait mode…View Deal

You need a weatherproof doorbell

If you do not have “a porch or other shaded area” this device might not survive the winter or regular heavy rain, given its low IP rating. View Deal

You need higher-quality video

The video quality of the Aqara G4 is good enough, but you may need more.
View Deal

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: also consider

Not completely sold on the Aqara Video Doorbell G4? Here are two more options for you to consider. We've also got lots of tips on how to buy a video doorbell.

Arlo Video Doorbell

Arlo's doorbell currently ranks top in our roundup of the best video doorbells, with impressive picture quality compared to similarly priced rival devices.

Read our full Arlo Video Doorbell reviewView Deal

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

If you want to see packages when they're delivered to your doorstep, this doorbell has a secondary camera that's aimed at the floor to give you a better view.

Read our full Eufy Video Doorbell Dual reviewView Deal

How I tested the Aqara Video Doorbell G4

• I tested both battery-powered and mains-powered configurations
• I tested storing captured video in iCloud and locally
• I reviewed all video footage to assess accuracy
• I compared video output with a rival manufacturer

There is no existing doorbell circuit in my house or an electrical outlet in the hall, so the transformer was plugged into a socket in the lounge. Luckily (for you, not me) I am renovating my house and can easily get under the floor to run the cable.

I investigated the phone application automation options and tried out the various in-app features and functionalities.

I’ve been using smart home devices for several years now, and have a whopping 30+ years (gulp) of tech enthusiasm and experience under my belt.

First reviewed September 2024

Keeping your pearly whites both pearly and white is far easier than it used to be – but it remains a messy and time-consuming affair. Between the build-up of toothpaste and the need to deep clean your dental tools to ensure they remain hygienic, dental care can be a time-consuming affair. 

While I don’t use dentures, retainers or the like, I do use an electric toothbrush, and maintaining my toothbrush head alone is a real pain. As such, I was excited to hear about the Sonic Spa Pro with Steribrite, an ultrasonic and UV-C dental appliance cleaner. And, having tried it for a few weeks, I can definitely say it didn’t disappoint.  

(Image credit: Future)

Using UV-C light in tandem with 43,000Hz ultrasonic cleaning, the Sonic Spa Pro can destroy 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and pathogens in just three minutes, according to the manufacturer, Sonic Dental; but there’s also a five-minute cycle for deep cleaning.

It’s priced at $99.95 / £89.95 / AU$179, which covers the device itself and six cleaning tablets, but you can opt for a bundle with 36 cleaning tablets for $119.95 / £99.95 / AU$199; and there’s also an Onyx Black color option. That does make it a pretty pricey purchase, with similar devices listed on Amazon for roughly $50 / £ 45 / AU$90. However, the Sonic Spa Pro is made using premium materials and genuinely feels solid enough to last a long time – although note that a few customers across Reddit and Trustpilot seemed to have issues with units when the device first launched, as well as customer service delays for both delivery and replacement.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

Neat and compact at 4.8 x 4.8 x 3.94 inches / 122mm × 122mm × 100mm (L x D x H), the simple pod-shaped Sonic Spa Pro device teeters on clinical with its basic design and matte coating; but it feels premium. 

On top of the hinged lid you’ll find an “S” logo, serving as the primary touch control for the Sonic Spa Pro, with the lid opening to reveal the 3.1 x 1.77in / 80mm x 45mm basin. You fill this with cold water (up to 165ml) before submerging your dental appliance of choice. The basin is perfectly sized for dentures, but fits a variety of dental tools – plus, it’s also suitable to clean items such as nail clippers, tweezers, and even jewellery.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve been using the Sonic Spa Pro for a couple of weeks now, and I must say I’ve been impressed. Having watched countless TikToks of dubious-looking “purifying” cleaners, I was excited to try something that came with clinical backing and sported a more premium feel – and the Sonic Spa Pro delivered.

Simply fill the tank to the Max water line, with your dental appliance inside, close the lid and hold down the touch-sensitive button to start the cleaning cycle; press again to begin the five-minute cycle. When it’s done, open the lid, drain and remove the contents and rinse off the item you’ve just cleaned – voilà!

The first time I cleaned my toothbrush head in the basin, I was surprised by just how much muck came off my fairly new toothbrush head, turning the water into a milky, chalky soup in just one three-minute cycle. To see how effective it had been, I repeated the cleaning cycle again straight away, and the water in the basin at the end of that cycle was almost clear – that’s using simply the power of water, UV-C light and ultrasonic cleaning. When you’re tackling retainers or other dental items that require more maintenance, you can pop in one of the included cleaning tabs.

(Image credit: Future)

I didn’t often find the need to stretch to the 5-minute cycle, although I did attempt it for cleaning some older jewellery, which Sonic Dental claims the Sonic Spa Pro can also handle. I didn't notice much of a difference, barring a few flecks of black grub that were disturbed from the medallion, so I wouldn't reach to buy the Sonic Spa Pro exclusively for its jewellery cleaning chops.

The Sonic Spa Pro isn’t perfect; the power supply situation, in particular, leaves room for improvement. In the UK at least, it comes with a UK 13-amp socket, which most bathroom’s don’t include for safety reasons. You can, of course, opt for a two-pin shaver adapter to three-pin UK 13-amp arrangement, but do so at your own risk.

However, this plug issue isn’t just problematic when it comes to placing and using your Sonic Spa Pro; it’s annoying because the basin in the device isn’t removable, meaning every time you need to refill or empty the water, you have to take the entire unit to the sink. The scratchy, high-pitched sound it emits is also a bit irritating – although it isn’t too loud, meaning you can survive the few minutes it needs to run its cleaning cycle.

There’s bad news, too, for those who are unsure about the Sonic Spa Pro’s UV-C technology – you can’t opt to use the device exclusively as a supersonic bath.

Nevertheless, even taking all of the negatives into account, overall I was impressed with the Sonic Spa Pro – and my teeth have never felt cleaner. Not only this, but it’s also helping to make my toothbrush heads last longer, removing as much of the residual toothpaste and calcification as possible before it can build up to damage the toothbrush.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Sonic Spa Pro? Buy it if...

You and/or your household have a number of dental appliances

For households with multiple electric toothbrushes, retainers and the like, the Sonic Spa Pro is a great investment.

You're sick and tired of cleaning retainers and mouthguards

The Sonic Spa Pro does a great job at quickly cleaning your dental appliances, and seems to be effective at doing so - though it's hard to measure

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

If you aren't in dire need, the Sonic Spa Pro is likely to be a little too much of an investment.

You want to clean jewellery

I tried cleaning a medallion and a few necklaces in the Sonic Spa Pro, and they came out looking basically the same

You're nervous about UV technology

The Sonic Spa Pro's UV lighting is non-negotiable, so not something well-suited to those avoiding it.

Prime Day is close, but it's brought this attractive early deal on select colors of the Apple AirPods Max.

Whether for bird-watching or baseball-spotting, we break down prices and specs to find the best pair for you.

Meta's impressive demo of its Orion AR glasses has got us interested in augmented reality specs again, and a small tidbit of rumored information has come our way that suggests Apple could have its own device in this category by 2026 – with microLED tech included.

This comes from tipster @Jukanlosreve (via Wccftech), who has a decent record for leaks (though that was under a different username). The source says Apple "has not given up" on microLED tech, which it's been exploring for several years now.

The tech combines the brightness of microLED with the deep blacks of OLED, making it superior to both existing display technologies. It's also very difficult and expensive to manufacture, which is why we haven't seen it on smaller gadgets to date.

As our feature on microLED TVs will tell you, this is an innovation that has shown potential for years – but again the problem is in getting the prices down to a point where people are actually going to be available to afford these devices.

Specs appeal

Apple has not given up on Micro LED technology.1. They are preparing Micro LED for AR glasses, with mass production expected in 2026.2. The plan to include Micro LED in the Apple Watch Ultra is also still in place, with a target launch in 2026.October 5, 2024

The Apple Watch Ultra should also get a microLED display, according to this tipster. Somewhat surprisingly, we didn't get an Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year, so we're not sure what number Apple might be up to in a couple of years.

When it comes to the Apple Glasses, we've had several waves of rumors around these AR specs in recent years. The previous estimate for a launch window was 2027 – so it's possible that Apple has accelerated development on this new device.

Last year there was word that Apple's AR glasses had been delayed indefinitely, with focus switching to a cheaper VR headset. It's possible that Meta's success with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have shifted Apple's thinking in this respect.

There's also the Apple Vision Pro of course: the mixed reality headset is very powerful and very expensive, and hasn't sold in huge numbers, and perhaps Apple wants to get something smaller and more affordable out of the door next.

You might also like

• Meta's Orion AR glasses could launch sooner than we thought
• Everything we know about the Apple AR Glasses so far
• It looks like the Apple Watch's next big innovation is delayed

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