Get Android source (for Pixel)
Starting from Android 16, Google stopped making Pixel device trees public. Instead, there is a portal made available for developers (at least that's what they have left as an option).

You will be required to fill in a form and they will decide whether to distribute the code or not, plus there might be a processing fee. Additionally, they mentioned you can only apply for devices that you received within three years or devices that still receive customer support for code licensed under the GPL-3.

More info: AOSP
#Android #Pixel @PixelHubUpdates

Lmfaoooooooo

Nothing Phone 3 will be powered by Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 at 800$

Nothing has now officially confirmed that the Phone 3 will be powered by Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

Nothing Phone 3' battery and USB cable have also been certified featuring a 5150mAh rated capacity. Thus, typical battery should be around 5300mAh.

The USB-C cable can handle 100W (20V - 5A) power. This doesn't confirm that the phone will support 100W charging, but the charging power might be higher than the existing 50W.

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Phone 3 with UFS 4.0 Could Expose Nothing's Hypocrisy

With the launch of Phone 3a series, Nothing yapped with their justification on offering UFS 2.2 instead of faster UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0

Choosing UFS 2.2 for the Phone (3a) series wasn’t about cutting costs, but about putting resources where they matter most

"Not about cutting costs": This is highly questionable as UFS 2.2 is undeniably cheaper than UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0.

but in everyday use, its benefits are often marginal compared to optimisations in software, battery life, and display quality.

While trivial tasks might not show massive differences, the cumulative effect of slightly slower operations across an entire day adds up to a less snappy and responsive experience. For eg: especially while gaming, installing apps, boot times, multitasking, recording in 4K etc.

The Phone (3a) series uses NTFS optimisation to process files more efficiently..." and "Smart Clean technology... reogranises stored data to boost read and write speeds."

All Android OEMs do speed optimizations & this ain't any magic bullets that can fundamentally bridge the hardware gap between UFS 2.2 and faster UFS 3.1.

Gaming Performance: Frame rates and smooth gameplay don’t rely on storage speed alone... Through efficient data management and Nothing OS optimisations, the Phone (3a) series ensures stable performance in games like BGMI and Genshin Impact, delivering a smooth experience comparable to devices with UFS 3.1 storage."

Gaming absolutely relies on storage speed, especially random read/write. Games are constantly loading textures, levels, character models, and other assets from storage. Slower storage also means noticeable stutters while gaming.

"Addressing the Future-Proofing Question... even today, UFS 2.2 is more than capable of handling everything a smartphone is expected to do."

This is very subjective.

If Nothing fans and the company really thinks UFS 2.2 can be justified, then the Phone 3 should come with UFS 2.2 as well.

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Xiaomi UBL 2025: A Ridiculous Circus You Signed Up For

Xiaomi's Bootloader unlocking rules in China is insane!
In December 2024, Xiaomi announced changes to the bootloader (BL) unlocking application rules in China. As of January 1, 2025, users with BL permissions can unlock only 1 bound device over their permission’s validity. This is a major decrease from up to 3 bound devices previously allowed.

Then in January 2025, Xiaomi again updated the rules, mainly adding2 new contents:
1) Answering questions/ registering/ applying/ binding/ unlocking/ using an unlocked device, etc. all need to be done on the same device.
2) Complete the binding and unlocking operations within 14 days after obtaining the qualification.

The Xiaomi Community app is needed to obtain UBL applications and to apply for that:
1) Pass the Unlocking Qualification QUIZ which contains 15 questions
2) Reach the 5th level of Xiaomi community growth
3) Complete REAL NAME Authentication
The opening hours for the quiz are not fixed, and each participation must be separated by 7 days.

Then in February 2025, Xiaomi added the qualification review instructions, which takes normally 1-7 days for Xiaomi to complete the review. Xiaomi checks for:
1) The Mi account is at least 6 months old.
2) Users must have a 6 months record in the Xiaomi Community with NO bans, warnings, or account suspensions.
3) No recent security-sensitive changes (phone number, email, security settings) to the Xiaomi account
4) Changes in the device used or the IP location in the past 6 months (IP changes under reasonable use not affected)

If the user actively withdraws from the unlocking application project, the qualification expires and is not used, etc, the user will not be able to pass the qualification review again.

Then in April 2025, they again updated the UBL application FAQ:
1) Any use of scripts or other improper means to obtain growth points in the Xiaomi community
2) Any violations during the answering of questions or registration process
3) Any use of unofficial answering methods for Quiz etc.

Even if the user meets the unlocking application conditions but maliciously slanders, abuses, or spreads rumors about Xiaomi on any social media app or use AI generated answer for application reason or copy-paste Quiz answers, the application will not be approved.

If a user is found or suspected that the operation is performed by someone other than the Xiaomi account’s real-name authenticated person or unlocking device was done for someone else, the unlocking qualification is used for non-personal or unauthorized devices, the Xiaomi account information is abnormally changed after unlocking, or any other violation of the Xiaomi account user agreement occurs, the account will be permanently banned and relevant LEGAL responsibilities will be pursued depending on the circumstances.

At This Point, Just Say Bootloader Unlocking Is Banned, Xiaomi.
Instead of calling it “unlocking,” just rename it to “Xiaomi Loyalty Gauntlet 2025” and be done with it.

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Nothing Phone 3 will feature a new Glyph Matrix on the back as the Glyph Interface has been dropped. It looks quite small and will be likely located beside the camera module on the right hand side

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OnePlus Blames Buyers for Switching to Plastic Frame on Nord 5

The OnePlus Nord 5 will feature a plastic frame, in contrast to the metal frame used on the OnePlus Nord 4. It's basically a rebranded version of the OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra in China, which comes with the Dimensity 9400+ SoC. The only difference is that OnePlus will offer the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 globally for the Nord 5, a chip that's 2x LESS powerful than the Dimensity 9400+ used in the Chinese market version.

In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Celina Shi, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at OnePlus Europe was questioned about the rear panel design where she said:

While I can't reveal specifics about the OnePlus Nord 5 Series materials just yet, I can say that it won't be in a metal frame this year.

Our design concept for all of our devices is grounded in consumer insight. Following a global survey conducted across Europe, North America, India, and China, we found that our target audience places strong emphasis on practicality in design.

Which basically means, OnePlus ditched metal frame for plastic frame with the Nord 5 because of buyers' preference, which they found out after conducting the survey in all major global markets.

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