Grab the Android variant of Bose’s SoundTrue headphones for just $100

Our friends at Thrifter are back again with another great deal, this time saving you $30 on the Bose SoundTrue headphones!

Bose is currently offering its SoundTrue around-ear headphones for just $99.99 through its Amazon store with free shipping. The headphones come in both an iPhone and Android flavor and we’ve seen the iPhone ones hit this price before, but this is the first time for the Android version. Normally priced closer to $130, this $30 savings makes these great headphones a bit more affordable. They offer a padded headband, memory foam ear cushions and more to ensure comfort while using, and the inline mic makes it easy to take calls without taking them off.

The headphones come in both a Charcoal Black and Navy Blue option, so you can pick the one that matches your style the best. You don’t need any coupon codes or anything for the savings here, so be sure to grab a pair for yourself now before they are gone.

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For more great deals on tech, gadgets, home goods and more, be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Latest OxygenOS beta brings Android 7.1.1 Nougat to the OnePlus 3 and 3T

Android 7.1.1 Nougat is now available in the beta build for the OnePlus 3 and 3T.

OnePlus is currently rolling out a OxygenOS update to the beta channel that brings Android 7.1.1 Nougat to the OnePlus 3 and 3T. Open Beta 3 for the OnePlus 3T — and Open Beta 12 for the OnePlus 3 — comes with several gallery improvements, including a new image editor, additional options for arranging your media, the ability to hide folders and individual images or videos, and more.

Here’s a look at all the new changes, according to the changelog:

• Upgraded to Android 7.1.1
• New Shot on OnePlus wallpaper option
• Gallery Improvements:
  • New photo editor with watermark and photo straightening options
  • Newly added media will be highlighted in Photos section
  • Image location will be displayed on grid view
  • Media can be grouped by month and year
  • Folders and individual media can be hidden
• General bug fixes

If you’re having an issue using Android Pay on public transit in London, you’ll be able to resolve it by updating to the latest version of the app from the Play Store. Other than that, there may be compatibility issues with a few third-party apps.

The changes are likely to make their way to the stable build soon, but if you can’t wait to check out the improvements, you can download the build for the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3 right away. Do note that if you switch to the beta builds, you’ll have to perform a clean install of a stable release to continue receiving official OTA updates.

OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3

• OnePlus 3T review: Rekindling a love story
• OnePlus 3T vs. OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?
• OnePlus 3T specs
• Latest OnePlus 3 news
• Discuss OnePlus 3T and 3 in the forums

OnePlus
Amazon

How to make the dock the most powerful part of your launcher

The dock is arguably the most important piece of the home screen.

It’s where you put your most-used apps, it’s our quick-launch guide to our device. What we keep on our dock says a lot about who we are and how we use our phones, and what most docks today tell us is… they are woefully under-utilized. Docks aren’t exactly the sexiest thing to talk about, and I seldom mention them in my themes beyond an icon pack because you don’t tell someone else what to put on their dock. I’ll tell you what widgets to use and what app shortcuts to place where, but the dock is yours; the dock is sacred.

The apps on your dock are there for a reason, but that’s not to say they’re the only things that have to be there, Docks may look boring, but trust me, they can be functional, fashionable, and downright sneaky.

To app drawer button, or not to app drawer button

With the Pixel and its launcher brought a number of tweaks to the traditional home screen interface, but the biggest was eliminating the app drawer button and instead using a gesture to open the app drawer. That’s not to say users hadn’t done it before, but few phones had ever come out of the box without an easily recognizable button on the home screen that led to your apps.

Using a gesture instead of a button frees up a space on your dock for another most-used app, and our Pixel theme will tell you how to get that gesture set up. The Pixel also added a slight white bar over the dock and the nav bar, but that’s entirely up to you and your wallpaper.

There are also plenty of ways to add more functionality to your dock without eliminating our precious app drawer button, such as…

Dock size and dock pages

The biggest and easiest way to bring more functionality to your dock is to add more slots to it. This isn’t always an option with some launchers, but if your launcher supports more than five icons in the dock, it’s worthwhile to consider adding another item or two — or more. Some launchers like Action Launcher can support up to 12 icons in their docks, though this is more for tablets than for phones.

The more icons in your dock, the smaller each of your icons get, so if you want to add space to your dock without downsizing their look, see if your launcher supports dock pages. Dock pages allow you to double or triple the amount of icons by simply swiping your dock back and forth like the pages of your home screen. Dock pages are not for everyone, but if you’d rather scroll through dock pages than pages in your app drawer, give them a try.

Folders and gestures

Another way to let your dock pull double duty is to stick folders in it. As mentioned in our guide to home screen folders, putting folders in your dock can help you achieve a cleaner home screen, or simply make way for more widgets and apps on your home screen. Folders allow us to take one tiny space on our dock and squeeze several apps into it. Folders are like TARDISes, and we can make them look as sexy as one, too.

In Action Launcher, Covers let these folders look like a simple app shortcut and act like one in a tap, but you can swipe it open to reveal a folder of useful apps inside. Gesture actions are quite useful in folders, and in some launchers like Nova, the regular apps in your dock (and on the rest of your home screen) can, too. Gestures allow you to hide one app within another, or hide specialized shortcuts. You can have the phone on your dock, and a gesture shortcut can let you swipe the phone up to instantly dial your best friend, or your better half, or your mother.

Android 7.1 Nougat introduced App Shortcuts, which allow you to swipe up — or long-press, depending on the launcher — on supported apps to reveal a small list of direct action shortcuts. If you use Google’s Phone app, for instance, you’ll be treated to three direct dial shortcuts.

Theming docks

As mentioned above, themers sometimes neglect docks, and that’s a shame because theming a dock is simple and can either show off the apps in your dock or hide them from prying eyes and fingers. Docks can look uneven and unruly, especially when mixing apps and folders. The key to a successfully themed dock is symmetry and individuality.

Try to keep your dock looking even, whatever “even” looks like to you. If that means having six icons so there’s three on each side, fine. If you need to keep three icons on each side of your app drawer to keep things even, that works, too. When choosing icons for your dock, pick one icon from your folder to represent the whole folder (if you’re in Action Launcher, this decision is made for you) so that rather than a mix of bigger app icons and smaller icons in the folders we have one consistent line.

There’s a fine line between a dock being consistent and a dock being boring, which is why I always try to add a little more spark to mine. Something as simple as a custom app drawer icon can pull your dock together with the rest of your theme.

Custom dock icons are another tactic I frequently employ, as they can be subbed for any icon or folder and they can camouflage important apps. You see a line of Disney Parks icons, you laugh and hand back the phone. You see someone’s email app, photo gallery, or banking app, and you might start getting ideas. It may make it harder for a stranger to find their way around, but so long as you remember what apps are on your dock, hiding the actual icon behind a custom icon can also had a small degree of protection.

Whether you try to add more pages to your dock or just a custom app drawer icon, we hope these tips can make your dock more vibrant and more versatile. How does your dock look? What apps and folders have a place of honor upon it? Share your dock in the comments and stay tuned for more theming tips here at Android Central!

Nest Thermostat Gen 1 vs Gen 2 vs Gen 3: Comparison and main differences

See what changed from the first Nest to the current model.

Nest is a company that’s been around a while and since the debut in 2011, there have been three generations of hardware. Because a thermostat is something we tend to keep once we buy one there are plenty of older generation units in use and for sale used. While the changes between them aren’t as drastic as what we would see in a smartphone, there are some differences worth talking about.

We’ll start by talking about what hasn’t changed: the overall user experience. When Google bought Nest Labs many were worried that there would be significant “over-engineering” and extra features added that take away from the simple and efficient experience Next delivers. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and using a first generation Nest feels very much like using a third generation Nest, even though there are some substantial changes in functionality and compatibility.

Which Nest do I have?

Each generation has a different diameter and thickness, though the differences are very slight. One of the external differences you can easily see is in the trim ring. A gen 1 Nest has a two part ring in stainless steel, and a gen 3 Nest can have a copper, white or black ring. Another external difference is the size of the display, with the generation 3 Nest having a larger (.5 inch difference in diameter) touch screen that the previous models.

You don’t have to break out any measuring tools to tell which Nest is on your wall. Just open the Nest app, choose your thermostat and in the upper right corner tap the gear icon to open the settings. Under Technical Info you’ll see the Display Model listing. The first digit in the model number corresponds with the hardware version.

Here is a quick overview of the main differences

Changes in gen 2

The biggest difference from the first generation to the second was equipment support. When Nest first arrived it was compatible with approximately 75% of heating and cooling systems in use. That means there were a sizeable number of people who couldn’t use a Nest. Gen 2 brought that number to 95% by adding an extra pair of connectors. The new inputs added support for hybrid heat installations and humidistats in addition to 1-2 stage cooling and 1-3 stage heating systems. One last change made it possible to control 24 volts equipment without a common wire back to the thermostat. These changes made it possible to use a Nest thermostat on advanced HVAC systems found in the newest homes.

Generation 2 brought support for more advanced installations and a more custom setup.

Gen 2 Nest thermostats also introduced System Match. System Match determines the wiring connection then asks you a few questions during the installation. This lets Nest tune other features specifically for your setup rather than treat every installation as a standard forced-air system and makes us more comfortable while saving money.

Additional features introduced with gen 2 include Early On mode for cold mornings, filter change reminders and a True Radiant mode that helps the thermostat determine exactly how much heat is being created.

Changes in gen 3

The biggest visible difference between previous models and the generation 3 model is the display. With gen 3 we see a bigger 480 by 480 touchscreen at 229 pixels per inch. This makes it easier to see information across the room so you don’t need to open the app on your phone or tablet.

Generation 3 brings a better display and support for water boilers as well as more colors.

Not readily seen but more important are some additional features. Gen 3 Nests can control a water boiler if you have one in your HVAC system. Just like other environmental controls through Nest software you can set limits and schedules for when the boiler is heated and a peak water setting is useful as an override if you have guests or need to use some extra hot water.

Gen 3 also has what Nest calls Farsight. Using special sensors your thermostat can tell when someone enters a room or walks past from up to 5 meters away. There are several things you can display on the screen when a person is sensed, including a clock or a weather widget. Nest users coming home from work can see the current indoor temperature as soon as they walk into the house. You’ll know at a glance if you need to adjust the temperature if you arrive earlier than scheduled.

A Nest Thermostat is a great way to keep your house at the temperature you want and save money while doing it. It’s reasonably simple to install yourself (professional installation is about $125 if you want to go that way) and works with almost every heating and cooling setup. With full control from your phone or Amazon Echo and Google Home, it’s a great first step for an automated lifestyle.

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LG X Power 2 preview: Monster battery machine

The biggest request from smartphone owners is for better battery life. Manufacturers have been tackling this issue for many years, looking for ways to optimise, reducing drain from various apps and features and making big changes to things like the hardware to make it more efficient.

But the harsh reality is that better battery life comes from bigger batteries. This creates something of a conflict for a manufacturer: create a phone that looks sexy, or create a phone that will last through the weekend on a single charge.

Pocket-lint

For LG, for example, the LG G6 is the phone that attracts all the headlines. It has a new, large, 5.7-inch display, it reduces the bezels and it hits a range of spec points to make it appealing to customers wanting the latest device. But the LG X Power 2 is the phone you’ll want if battery is really more important.

LG X Power 2 preview: Hardware and display

• 4500mAh battery
• Octo-core chipset, 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage + microSD
• 5.5-inch, 1280 x 720 pixels, 267ppi 

Announced prior to Mobile World Congress, the X Power 2 is typical of devices that are often put on the back shelf. The headline is the 4500mAh battery compared to the 3300mAh of the new LG G6. That’s a big difference, but sitting in LG’s so called “mass tier” range, i.e., not flagship, the X Power 2 only really gets one headline spec point. 

Where the LG G6 will give you the best of a whole range of things, the X Power 2 is all about that battery and the fast charging technology that comes with it. LG says it will fully charge in about 2 hours, the advantage being that even a small blast on a charger will give you plenty of play time.

Pocket-lint

This is something we’ve not had the chance to check on the brief time we spent with the phone at Mobile World Congress, but a quick dive into the battery settings reported that it had 145 hours of estimated time remaining. We’re hoping for great things, but the use of Micro-USB feels a little dated when USB Type-C is growing in popularity. 

Some of the battery’s success will come from the lower power chipset and display – it’s a MediaTek octo-core chipset and the 720p display. That’s a little low in resolution at the 5.5-inch size and the result is that the display doesn’t pop like high spec phones do; but that also brings greater battery savings by picking these components.

There’s only 2GB of RAM, but the message coming from manufacturers is that you don’t need so much RAM if you’re not pushing a high resolution display.

Pocket-lint

Ultimately, judging the phone’s performance will come down to day-to-day usability. The 720p display might not give you the richest graphics, but it may well be all you need for streaming that Netflix movie. It’s also likely to be perfectly fine when it comes to the daily grind of crunching emails, using Google Maps and those essential core tasks.

• LG G6 preview: All screen, no bezel

LG X Power 2 preview: Software and user experience

• Android Nougat
• LG tweaks and changes

Much of the performance will come down to how well the software has been implemented and the X Power 2 looks like a standard LG mid-range device. LG changes a lot around the Android environment and, second to Samsung and Huawei, probably changes more than many do these days. 

That gives this phone a visual identity that’s more removed from Android than you’ll get on Nokia, Moto or even HTC handsets. It is running on Android Nougat, however, which means you’re getting the latest from Google, sitting under those LG changes.

We didn’t have the time to dive too deep into the phones software features, although we can see that LG has included a full suite of apps to help with things like managing the battery, naturally.

Pocket-lint

LG X Power 2 preview: Cameras

• 13-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front camera with LED softlight

Some of the software tweaks also run into the camera, with an ultra-wide front camera with LED flash, positioned to give you immersive selfies. It’s a 5-megapixel camera, but we’ve not had the chance to test it to any great degree. 

We’ve also not had the chance to test the rear 13-megapixel camera. This is rather more typical, with a 13-megapixel sensor, lacking the dual camera setup that the LG G6 offers. LG claims that it’s a zero lag camera, so it should be nice and fast in snapping your pictures.

First Impressions

The LG X Power 2 isn’t the prettiest phone available. Sitting in this “mass tier” of devices, it hasn’t been designed to turn heads, it’s been designed to outlast everything else. Given the size of the battery and the relatively low level of spec elsewhere, we suspect that it will sail through a day with few problems.

This phone is 8.4mm thick and that doesn’t sound huge; we’re sort of left wondering why we’re not seeing more phones at this size with this sort of battery capacity. We accept that large phones that are too fat can be difficult to manage, but if you then slap on a battery cover to help you get through the day, you come back to the same position.

The LG X Power 2 will be coming to the UK, although there’s been no confirmation of the price, or exact date.

Sony Xperia Ear Open-style concept: Look who’s talking (and listening)

Sony Mobile revealed four new smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2017 including the super flagship – XZ Premium – but that’s not all it had up its sleeve. The company also announced the Xperia Ear Open-style concept.

So the name isn’t overly catchy just yet but this will no doubt change. The Xperia Ear Open-style concept builds on the current Xperia Ear to provide users with the ability to listen to music and notifications at the same as being able to hear what is happening around them.

The idea is that people like those cycling to work are able to hear their favourite tracks and smartphone notifications, whilst still being able to hear whether a bus is coming up behind them for example.

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It is based on “open-ear” audio technology, developed in Sony’s Future Lab Program, and it features two spatial acoustic conductors and driver units that work together to transmit sound directly to the ear canal.

Although it is still in development, we got the chance to play with the prototype model of the Xperia Ear Open-style concept at Mobile World Congress 2017 to see how it will work and what it is like and we were pleasantly surprised.

Pocket-lint

It was remarkably easy to hear what was happening in the room around us and the conversations going on, while also listening to the music coming through the small in-ear speaker.

The audio quality was also pretty good and we had no issues having a normal conversation whilst listening to what was going on through the device. You can feel that you have a device in your ear but the audio itself sounds as though it is coming from behind you, rather than directly in your ear.

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The design hasn’t been finalised so we won’t go into too much detail on that just yet, but if the final product is similar to what was presented at the show, we can see them drawing some interest, especially given they are relatively discreet for what they will be capable of. They are certainly more appealing than the current Xperia Ear, even if they look a little like a hearing aid.

The current Ear model is powered by Sony Agent Technology, which is a personal assistant that uses conversational voice interaction, listening and reacting to what you ask. It features gesture sensitivity, utilising its integrated proximity sensor, gyroscope and accelerometer to learn when it is or isn’t in your ear, as well as allow users to nod their head to confirm a command, for example.

Pocket-lint

When it is, it will automatically turn on to deliver various updates, all of which can be customised. We were told at MWC 2017 that the Xperia Ear Open-style concept will incorporate many of the same functions as the current Ear, but with the added advantage of being able to hear what it going on around you at the same time.

Sony has not detailed when the Xperia Ear Open-style might be ready or when it might be available but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a more finalised version at IFA 2017.

LG G6’s dual cameras are good, but far from perfect

Dual cameras are now the standard option when it comes to flagship phones and LG has already put the setup to work in previous models. With the G6, the company opted for two 13-megapixel Sony cameras instead of one larger and one smaller like it did with the modular G5. The combination of the dual lenses, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon zoom tech and LG’s existing camera features help the G6 make a compelling case, especially in terms of imagery.

Sure, the main attraction on the G6 may be it’s rather unique 18:9 display, but the dual cameras and the ability to transition smoothly between regular and wide-angle shots is also a big selling point. As a refresher, the phone’s rear-facing cameras can capture 71-degree field of view photos while employing optical stabilization and f/1.8 aperture. Those wide-angle images bump to 125-degree field of view — an increase that works best when capturing things like landmarks and landscapes. The front-facing camera also features a similar wide-angle option capable of 100-degree field of view shots. For all three sensors, LG chose a 1.12um pixel size, same as both the G4 and G5.

While we’ve seen them before, LG brought back handy photography tools inside the stock camera app. These include a Food Mode with it’s own white balance slider so you can ensure that your colors are accurate. There’s also skin tone, lighting and filters for the front-facing 5-megapixel f/2.2 camera to help you fine-tune those selfies. A new app just for Square photos lends a hand to Instagramers for previews, compositions and collages. It’s handy, but we’re not convinced it will become a staple just yet.

In good lighting and outdoors during the day, the G6 performs on par with some of the best phone cameras we’ve seen. Overall, colors really pop and the images are crisp and clean. Performance does suffer in low-light situations though, as the photos are noticeably grainy outside at night or in other environments where lighting isn’t stellar. Even though we were already familiar with the selfie features, those software tools help the front-facing camera capture images of your face that also crisp and feature vibrant colors.

One place LG has improved camera performance from its previous phones is the transition between regular and wide-angle shots. There used to be a bit of a stutter when you switched back and forth, but that change is much smoother now. While the G6 doesn’t pack a Snapdragon 835, LG did work with Qualcomm to bring the chip’s camera zoom transition feature to the new flagship. It certainly makes a difference and the switch between views doesn’t have a noticeable stutter like it does on the iPhone 7 Plus and other devices.

To take advantage of that extra screen real estate, LG has added a handy photo gallery along the side of the camera UI. It offers easy access to your last few shots and if you used a setting like Food Mode, the photo will be labeled with a tiny icon to remind you. Unfortunately, the G6 we tested wasn’t running final software, so tapping on that in-camera gallery sometimes caused the app to crash. That’s the only big issue we experienced and it’s one the company will likely remedy before final devices launch.

The LG G6’s dual cameras make a great first impression. Of course, we’ll need to spend more than a few hours with the handset before we can make a final call, but we’re planning to do just that during our full review. You can bet we’ll put the dual cameras through their paces in a full day’s worth of capturing photos in the near future.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Indie devs can publish on Xbox without Microsoft’s help

It wasn’t too long ago that Microsoft released an update that turned every Xbox One into a software development kit. Now, hobbyist developers will have a platform for publishing their wares on the console. It’s called the Xbox Live Creator’s Program.

“With the Xbox Live Creators Program, you can ship your UWP [Universal Windows Platform] game on Xbox One, Windows 10 PC or simultaneously on both platforms,” Microsoft’s Andrew Parsons writes on the Windows Developer blog. You’ll even have access to commonplace stuff like Xbox Live sign-ins, Beam broadcasting, Game Hubs and leaderboards. What’s off limits for now, though, is pushing your game to the store.

More than that, these self-made games won’t exist in main area of the game store on Xbox. “And because Xbox One offers players a curated store experience, games from the Creators Program will appear in a new, distinct Creators game section of the store,” Parsons says.

So, essentially, this is replicating what Microsoft did with self-published indies on the Xbox 360: relegating them to a cordoned off section within the store and limiting their visibility.

But, ID@Xbox director Chris Charla (above) says there’s a potential solution for that. “For developers who want access to more Xbox Live capabilities and to gain additional development and marketing support for their game, they can enroll in the ID@Xbox program — even after their game ships.” But, remember, that can be a costly affair, too. It took one developer around $5,000 to run through the process.

For now, though, the program is limited to a select group of developer Insiders. That will change and “soon” enough, and more devs will be able to access it.

What does that mean for you, dear reader? Most likely, really weird experimental games. You know, like Johnny Platform’s Biscuit Romp or I Maed a Gam3 W1th Z0mbies 1n It!!!1. Fringe stuff that you wouldn’t see otherwise, but is important to have on the console. Hell, on Xbox 360, someone even made a TV calibration tool that worked really well.

Considering that common game design toolsets like MonoGame and Unity have UWP support built in, it might not even be long before some of these potentially bizarre games start showing up.

Source: Windows Developer

Virginia is the first state to legalize delivery robots

America is now one step closer to becoming a sci-fi utopia, thanks to a new law passed in Virginia. On Friday the state’s governor signed a ruling which will allow delivery robots to use its sidewalks and crosswalks from July 1st. Advised by Starship Technologies (an Estoninan robotics company that specializes in ground delivery) the legislation states that the bots cannot travel faster than ten miles per hour, or weigh over 50 pounds.

The new law will allow the little bots to roam the streets completely autonomously. In a bid to reduce collisions, however, Virginia requires them to remain under the watchful eye of the delivery company via remote monitoring. While the new law will undoubtedly make your commute a bit more interesting, the state confirmed that the potentially dog-upsetting legislation can be amended by local councils or even overturned completely if it becomes too problematic.

With Starship widely testing their bots across the U.S in January, it was really only ever a matter of time before the futuristic concept became reality. Unsurprisingly, it looks as though the Estonia-based company will be the first to benefit from the new law. Interestingly, online delivery businesses like Amazon and Grubhub also sent letters to Virginia’s governor in support of the law, reaffirming their interest in the sector. Companies like Marble and Dispatch have also confirmed that they are working to bring their own autonomous bots to sidewalks.

With most people still rendered gobsmacked by the convenience of Amazon Prime Now, it’s impressive to think that consumers will soon be able to get a package delivered to their door by an autonomous robot. We may well be losing AIM soon, but when we’re just months away from robo-postmen, it looks like 2017 might not be so bad after all.

Source: Recode

Shooting photos with the Leica-branded Huawei P10

With the P9, Huawei made a pretty big push for the photography crowd. The company teamed up with Leica, an iconic camera brand, for a new dual-lens system on the back. It was a decent performer, but far from revolutionary. So it was with great trepidation that I picked up the P10, Huawei’s new Android flagship, and the second to feature the Leica name. Once again, it’s an attempt by Huawei to prove that it’s more than a ‘me-too’ smartphone manufacturer. Like Apple, it wants to be known as a company with art, design and taste at its core. But are the P10’s photographs any good?

To test its imaging prowess, I took a little stroll down Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Ahead of our full review, this seemed like the perfect place to dabble in some light street photography. It was, however, a pretty dismal day, with barely any sunshine piercing through the clouds. At first I was a tad disappointed with my shots. They were plenty sharp, capturing some pigeons mid-flight across the Plaça de Catalunya. But most looked a little drab, lacking color and punch. A little tinkering in Photoshop would surely remedy this, but I was hoping for a little more straight off the camera.

Huawei’s P10 (and P10 Plus, which I didn’t have a chance to use) has two sensors: A 20-megapixel monochrome one, and a 12-megapixel RGB version. If you keep the phone on Auto, it’ll combine their respective images for better shots. The system works because the monochrome sensor is able to prioritise contrast and other photographic information, rather than color. For the P10, Huawei is introducing “enhanced fusion algorithms” which should, in theory, produce sharper and more vivid photos. If there’s an improvement over the P9, it’s marginal in my opinion. While competent, I think I prefer the shots produced by Google’s Pixel.

The P10 performs better, unsurprisingly, when you start using the “Pro” mode. It’s activated through a tab in Huawei’s camera app, and gives you access to ISO, shutter speed, and other useful settings. There’s no aperture option, which is a shame, but I appreciated the extra control. If I was shooting a stationary object, such as some ice cream cones, I could keep the shutter speed low (1/60, for instance) and prioritise other settings. Conversely, if a cyclist was speeding by, I could select a faster shutter speed and still get the shot, happily sacrificing some ISO in the process.

Before too long, I popped into La Boqueria, a bustling food market filled with delicious sights and smells. Here, the P10 really started to shine. The lighting was better and that resulted in stronger photos, with improved contrast and color. I could have stayed there for hours, happily snapping the people who were wandering through and picking up groceries. I soon forgot about the Android spec-wars, and Huawei’s convoluted “Dual-Camera 2.0 Pro Edition” branding, focusing instead on the pure and simple act of photography. That’s the biggest praise I can give this camera — eventually, the hardware melted away and I had fun just taking photos.

I finished my camera test with a walk towards the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (I had a date with a robot race car.) Along the way, I activated the P10’s Monochrome mode and shot exclusively with the black-and-white sensor. Normally, I would rarely shoot in this manner, or apply a black and white filter. That’s because the format is often seen as an artistic crutch, used to save photos that are otherwise lacking in imagination. With the P10, however, capturing in black and white is an absolute delight. I loved the tones, contrast and detail that I was able to produce outside.

On the whole, the P10’s camera is a little inconsistent. Sometimes I would take a shot and be amazed by the clarity and vibrance. Other times it would fall short, with muddy saturation or overly aggressive sharpening. Some of that, of course, is down to my (admittedly average) abilities as a photographer, but I do think the phone struggles at times. I’ll need to spend more than a few hours with the handset before making a final call — we’ll be doing just that in our full review, of course. But for now, I’m cautiously optimistic. It makes a good, but not perfect first impression.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.