Technologies
OnePlus Launching 15R Phone, Tablet and Watch Just Ahead of the Holidays
The OnePlus 15R is a budget-friendly version of the OnePlus 15, offering the same durability.
Just ahead of the holidays, Chinese electronics company OnePlus is releasing three new products: a phone, a tablet and a watch. The company announced Monday that it will launch the OnePlus 15R, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 and the OnePlus Watch Lite next month on Dec. 17 in North America, Europe and India.
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OnePlus, founded in China in 2013, prides itself on producing «flagship killers,» phones and other devices with similar features and capabilities as more popular brands but at cheaper prices. Despite the boast, the company’s market share in the US is less than 1%, far behind leaders Apple, Samsung and Lenovo.
OnePlus 15R
The OnePlus 15R will be available in two colors: charcoal black and mint breeze. Presumably, the phone will be a budget-friendly version of the OnePlus 15, whose battery life we loved and which is a great choice for mainstream gamers.
As far as durability, OnePlus says the 15R has IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K dust- and water-resistance ratings. Reputable tipster Debayan Roy said the phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Android operating system.
Overstock Media’s Austin Evans, whose tech review YouTube channel has 5 million-plus subscribers, has followed OnePlus and its products.
«I think OnePlus has gone on a bit of a journey the last few years,» Evans told CNET. «In the early days, they delivered such a laser-focused phone for enthusiasts, and at an excellent price point, that (buying from them) was a bit of a no-brainer. The last few years, however, have seen them lose their focus a bit: competing on the higher end of flagships, sometimes without the full feature set to match.»
But Evans says the 15 phone generation has been solid.
«There are some minor … omissions like the alert slider, but by and large, the 15 and it seems the 15R are pretty compelling devices that cut very few corners and deliver a very flagship-level experience at a reasonable price,» Evans told CNET. «I wouldn’t say OnePlus is back to the glory days, but they’re delivering a clearer value than they have in quite some time.»
OnePlus Pad Go 2
The company says the Pad Go 2 tablet, its new midrange 5G tablet, will have an anti-glare glass finish and come in two colors: shadow black and lavender drift. OnePlus says the tablet will feature two firsts for the company: 5G connectivity built-in (in the black version) and its own stylus.
CNET reviewer David Carnoy praised OnePlus’ most recent tablet offering, the Pad 3.
OnePlus Watch Lite
The other product launching Dec. 17 will be the OnePlus Watch Lite, «designed to bring flagship-level health and fitness features to an even more accessible price point», the company said. The only color available will be silver steel.
When we reviewed the OnePlus Watch 3, we noted that it had the best battery life of all Android smartwatches.
Technologies
Tubi App Goes Live in ChatGPT to Give You TV and Movie Recommendations
Like the ultra-customized feel of a Tubi rec? The streamer aims to make it even more personalized.
Tubi, the free streaming platform known for its vast library of cult classics and indie movies, has added an app to ChatGPT. You can now use the chatbot to find content recommendations for TV shows and movies on Tubi, the streamer announced on Tuesday.
You may already have your own search strategy when using Tubi, but the addition of the native app within ChatGPT allows you to strike up a conversation and ask for uber-specific, personalized title suggestions. If you see a film or show that captures your interest, you have the option to click «Watch on Tubi» to stream it on a mobile device or the web. In the mood for scary movies about yetis? Use @Tubi for your prompt in the chatbot and request something like, «horror movies with aggressive yetis» and expect to see a selection of titles that fit your wish list.
«Streaming should feel effortless, and as chatbots and AI agents are becoming a common way people navigate the internet, Tubi is expanding its discovery experience to meet viewers in the moment they’re expressing intent in their own words,» Mike Bidgoli, Tubi’s chief of product and technology, said in a statement.
ChatGPT opened its app store this past December. It currently includes apps for Apple Music, Zillow, Spotify and Canva, offering the ability to connect your accounts to search, design or ask for recommendations. Back in 2023, Tubi created its own AI-powered tool called Rabbit AI for mobile users to help audiences find content to watch. The company later shuttered the feature, which used Open AI’s Chat GPT-4. With today’s launch, it’s the first video streaming service to add an app within ChatGPT.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Technologies
PlayStation Plus Subscribers Can Play Tomb Raider and More All April Long
Subscribers can also explore a Soulslike game that just got a big update.
PlayStation Plus, which is Sony’s version of Xbox Game Pass, offers a large, constantly expanding library of games. Subscribers can choose from the Essential, Extra and Premium tiers, each with unique perks and benefits. Starting at $10 a month, the plans give subscribers access to games and rewards, and each month, all subscribers can play a handful of new games at no additional charge. And some people on Reddit are pretty excited for a few of the games Sony is offering subscribers throughout April.
One user wrote how they are «buzzing» for the remastered Tom Raider games, while another user is willing to replay the Soulslike game Lords of the Fallen. «April fools’ joke? Because they’re actually good,» a third user wrote.
If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you can play these games now until May 4.
Lords of the Fallen
If you played Elden Ring and thought, «I wish this game had even more grimdark elements to it, like Bloodborne,» Lords of the Fallen might be for you. Choose one of nine classes to play as while you traverse the lands of the living and the dead in order to overthrow the demon god Adyr. You’ll fight all manner of monstrosities along the way, like a colossal humanoid with an arm protruding from its mouth or a giant carrion crow that wears a human skull.
HexWorks, the gaming studio behind Lords of the Fallen, also released a patch for the game on April 3. The patch is intended to make co-op sessions feel more rewarding for hosts and guests, so you and your friends should have even more fun in this game.
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered
Experience these classic Tomb Raider games from the 90s all over again — or for the first time — with the remastered trilogy. You’ll explore jungles, solve puzzles in the desert and tackle mercenaries and monsters along the way. While you can enjoy the boosted graphics of the remastered edition, you can also enable low-poly mode to experience these games as you would have almost 30 years ago.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream
A system called Galaxia has been added to Alfheim Online, allowing players to relive the past. But the system has spun out of control, displacing players throughout time. To set things right, you’ll have to work with friends and foes alike in this co-op raid battle game. But if you want to go solo, you can play story mode as characters from across space and time confront the anomaly in the VR world.
For more on PlayStation Plus, here’s what to know about the service. You can also check out other games on PlayStation Plus and games on Xbox Game Pass.
Technologies
Get Organized for Just $28 With This 6-in-1 Baseus Charging Station Deal
Ditch the cluttered cables and upgrade to this sleek USB power strip while it’s on sale for a record-low price.
For just $28, this six-in-one Baseus charging station can help you keep your desk organized. That’s 20% off and the all-time lowest price we’ve seen for this 120-watt USB power strip. We don’t expect this limited-time deal to last for long, however, so you’ll want to get your order in sooner rather than later.
You can use this charging station for just about all of your devices, including phones, tablets, headphones and laptops. It’s equipped with four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, so you can charge up to six devices at once. It also boasts a 65-watt single-port output, enough to fully recharge a MacBook Air in less than 2 hours. And at just 323 grams, it’s light enough to take on the go, making it a great buy for frequent travelers.
Why this deal matters
This sleek Baseus charging station can connect to up to six devices at once, and is still small enough that you can take it on the go. Plus, this is the all-time lowest price we’ve seen, making it a pretty great value.
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