Qualcomm has announced its latest flagship 5G modem for mobile devices.
The Snapdragon X70 is the first modem-RF system with a 5G AI processor, which will improve connection and power efficiency.
The X70 is expected to launch in commercial mobile devices in late 2022.
Smartphones using the Snapdragon X65 modem have only just started cropping up, but Qualcomm is already announcing its next-generation 5G modem for mobile devices. AI integration has been one of the biggest buzzwords trends in recent years, and Qualcomm is leaning into this with its latest chips, including the new Snapdragon X70, which introduces Qualcomm's first 5G AI Suite.
Why does a modem need an AI processor? Qualcomm believes this will give 5G smartphones a boost by using AI to help manage connections to provide faster 5G speeds. This will be most useful for managing mmWave connections, which are often limited due to the fragility of the spectrum. Snapdragon X70 will use AI prediction to optimize mmWave beam from between the best Android phones and the cell tower. This is the first AI-based mmWave beam management, which, according to Qualcomm, should improve mmWave connections by as much as 28% when compared to non-AI-based systems, allowing more smartphones to better access the fastest 5G speeds.
Leaning on this, the X70 supports standalone mmWave so that service providers can provide fixed-wireless access and enterprise 5G using only mmWave.
The Snapdragon X70 also uses AI for channel-based feedback and optimization to improve throughput by as much as 24%. Along with a smaller 4nm node, the latest PowerSave Gen 3, and AI antenna tuning, the Snapdragon X70 can dynamically optimize 5G connections in various environments to provide improved power efficiency, allowing your smartphone to last longer while connected.
The new Snapdragon X70 supports the same 10 Gigabit speeds as the Snapdragon X65 alongside the Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite for improved responsiveness. The modem features global 5G support from 600 MHz to 41 GHz, 4x downlink carrier aggregation, Switched Uplink for 3.5Gbps uplink speeds, and mmWave/sub-6 5G aggregation. Along with the new AI processor, Qualcomm is now closer to enabling the global mmWave adoption that it has strived for amid the fight over the much-more accessible mid-band spectrum.
Qualcomm says the Snapdragon X70 5G modem will be available to customers in the second quarter of 2022, with the first commercial products ready by the end of the year.
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The M4 Pro is POCO's first M-series phone to feature an AMOLED screen.
What you need to know
POCO has announced two new phones at MWC 2022.
The POCO X4 Pro 5G is a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.
POCO M4 Pro, on the other hand, is based on the Redmi Note 11S.
Xiaomi's POCO sub-brand has expanded its smartphone portfolio with the launch of two new budget phones. Like most POCO devices, however, the new X4 Pro 5G and M4 Pro aren't actually all-new.
Besides the slightly different design, the POCO X4 Pro 5G is identical to the global Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G — one of Xiaomi's best budget Android phones. It sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and a 360Hz touch sampling rate.
Powering the X4 Pro 5G is Qualcomm's 6nm Snapdragon 695 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The large camera bump on the back of the phone houses a triple-lens setup with a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP macro lens.
The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery, which POCO claims can deliver over 15 hours of video playback. There's support for 67W turbo charging as well, allowing the X4 Pro 5G to be charged from 0% to 100% in a little over 40 minutes. The POCO X4 Pro 5G also comes equipped with a Z-axis linear motor, an IR blaster, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The POCO M4 Pro is largely identical to the recently launched Redmi Note 11S. The only major difference between the two is that the M4 Pro uses a 64MP main camera instead of the 108MP sensor in the Note 11S.
It sports a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 16MP selfie camera housed within the centered hole-punch cutout. The phone is powered by MediaTek's Helio G96 chipset and features LiquidCool Technology 1.0 Plus to ensure it can perform smoothly even during long gaming sessions.
On the back of the POCO M4 Pro is a triple-camera setup featuring a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. Keeping the lights on is a large 5,000mAh battery with 33W "Pro fast charging."
The budget Android phone also comes with dual stereo speakers, NFC, an IR blaster, IP53 splash-proof protection, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. On the software front, both the X4 Pro 5G and M4 Pro run MIUI 13 for POCO, based on Android 11.
The POCO X4 Pro 5G will be available in Europe from March 2 for an "early bird" starting price of €269 for the 6GB/128GB version and €319 for the 8GB/256GB version. Like the X4 Pro 5G, POCO's M4 Pro is also set to go on sale in Europe from March 2. It will be available at an early bird price of just €199 for the 6GB/128GB version €249 for the 8GB/256GB version.
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Smart speakers are quickly becoming the norm for many households. People have a variety of reasons to add one to their homes, from controlling smart home devices to using them as an intercom. But perhaps the most common use is as a speaker to play audio. Whether music, podcasts, or audiobooks, smart speakers are great for listening to audio — especially Amazon Echo devices. With access to multiple music services on an Amazon Echo, you can get your favorite audio all in one place, and here's how.
How to play multiple music services on your Amazon Echo
As some of the best smart speakers on the market, Amazon Echo devices span from the high-fidelity Amazon Echo Studio to the small, but powerful Echo Dot — with many in between. Regardless of which speaker you use, connecting your favorite music services to your Alexa account will make your audio accessible to all your Echo devices.
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap More in the bottom right of the screen
Select ⚙️Settings
Scroll down, and tap on Music & Podcasts.
Select a music service from the list you want to use, and follow the instructions to sign in to your account.
Click on Link New Service to add a service not showing in the initial list.
Tap on Default Services to change the service that will play when you ask Alexa to play audio without specifying a service.
Setting a default service means that if you want Amazon Music to be what plays when you say "Alexa, play some music" and Spotify to play when you say "Alexa, resume my podcast" — Step 7 is where you set that up.
Listen to what you want
Streaming audio has overtaken our listening habits over the years, and having your favorite audio easily accessible from your smart speaker only makes sense. Some of the most popular smart speakers are from Amazon; its Echo devices are compatible with some of the best in streaming.
Though you can find a good number of audio streaming services on Amazon, one you won't find there is YouTube Music. For that, you'll need to check out of the many great Google Assistant speakers. Having choices is wonderful, but unfortunately, native streaming for every music service isn't available on your Amazon Echo device. But you can always connect to it using Bluetooth and play any audio you choose.
The Amazon Echo may not satisfy the most particular of Hi-Fi audio enthusiasts, but it is a fantastic smart speaker for many. The Echo does a great job across all audio, from music to podcasts.
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Lenovo's new "ultra-portable" Duet 3 Chromebook features the same Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 compute platform as the Duet 5 Chromebook Gen 6.
What you need to know
Lenovo has unveiled three new IdeaPad Chromebooks at MWC 2022.
The new IdeaPad Chromebooks are designed for "the modern home office, classroom and beyond."
All three models will begin shipping in the second quarter of the year.
Lenovo announced three new additions to its IdeaPad Chromebook lineup at its virtual MWC 2022 press conference on February 28. The new models are priced under $500 and bring "smarter features for less hassle."
The IdeaPad Flex 5i is a versatile 14-inch Chromebook that comes equipped with Intel's latest 12th Gen processors. It features a 14-inch FHD IPS screen and can be configured with optional 400-nit brightness and 100% sRGB "treats." The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio with minimal bezels on all sides and includes stylus support as well.
The 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook also has a 360-degree hinge, dual front-facing speakers tuned by MaxxAudio, a Full HD webcam, and a large 120mm x 75mm touchpad. As for battery life, Lenovo claims the IdeaPad Flex 5i can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. The IdeaPad Flex 5i will be available from June for a starting price of $500.
Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 3i is designed for consumers looking for "big-time entertainment." The Chromebook features a larger 15.6-inch FHD IPS touchscreen display with user-facing speakers and a multitude of I/O ports. Powering the IdeaPad Flex 3i is Intel's Pentium Silver N6000 processor.
Other notable highlights include a spacious keyboard with a numpad, a large touchpad, and Wi-Fi 6 support. The Chromebook is claimed to provide up to 10 hours of battery life with a single charge. It is slated to go on sale in May from $400.
Lenovo's latest IdeaPad Chromebook lineup also includes an ultra-mobile Duet 3, featuring a 7.9mm thin body with a fanless design. The new Chromebook is actually a 2-in-1 successor to the Chromebook Duet — one of Lenovo's best Chromebooks. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform, which enables up to 12 hours of streaming video.
The Chromebook also features an 11-inch 2K display with upgraded dual speakers, two USB-C ports, a 5MP front camera, an 8MP rear webcam, and a "snap-on" detachable keyboard with water-resistant keys. Lenovo is also offering an optional stylus that can be attached to the folio case. The IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook will also be available starting May for a starting price of $400.
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The new phones don't run Google's latest Android 12 (Go edition) out of the box.
What you need to know
HMD Global has announced three new Android 11 (Go edition) devices.
The new Nokia C21 Plus is the brand's first C series phone to feature a metal chassis and an IP52 rating.
The phone will go on sale in select markets "soon."
Finnish smartphone maker HMD Global has taken the wraps off three new C-series phones at its MWC 2022 event. The company's latest entry-level lineup includes the C21, C21 Plus, and C2 2nd edition.
The Nokia C21 Plus is the company's most premium Android Go device yet, featuring a metal chassis and a large 6.5-inch HD+ display protected by "toughened cover glass." It is powered by a Unisoc SC9863A octa-core chipset, coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
The phone has a dual-camera setup on the back with a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. There's a 5MP selfie camera on the front with face unlock support. Keeping the lights on is a 4,000mAh battery, which is claimed to last up to two days on a single charge.
In some regions, however, the HMD Global's answer to the best Android Go phones will ship with a larger 5,050mAh battery. Both variants support only 10W charging speeds. Other notable specs include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, IP52 water resistance, Bluetooth 4.2, and FM radio.
HMD Global's Nokia C21 sports a 6.5-inch display with the same HD+ resolution as the Plus model. It also features the exact same chipset, but only comes with up to 3GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The phone has a dual-camera setup on the back with an 8MP main sensor. The vanilla C21 also packs a much smaller 3,000mAh battery and only support 5W charging.
The Nokia C2 2nd edition is a follow-up to the Nokia C2 that HMD Global launched in Q1 2020. Like the new C21 series phones, the C2 2nd edition has a metal chassis that makes it more durable than its predecessor. The rest of its specs sheet, however, isn't very impressive.
The phone has a 5.7-inch screen with 480 x 960 pixels resolution. It features a single 5MP camera on the back and a 2MP selfie camera on the front. Keeping the lights on is a 2,400mAh battery with 5W charging. Under the hood, it has an unnamed quad-core chipset clocked at 1.5GHz.
The chipset is paired with up to 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. All three phones run Android 11 (Go edition) and are promised to receive two years of quarterly security patches. Unfortunately, no info on pricing or availability has been revealed yet.
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The new models join their U.S.-only siblings announced at CES last month.
What you need to know
At MWC 2022 today, TCL announced five new additions to its 30-series smartphones with a focus on affordability.
The TCL 30, 30 SE, and 30+ are available to purchase in Europe now, while the 5G and 30 E models will arrive in April.
TCL is selling the cheapest variant for €139 while the 5G model will cost €249.
TCL unveiled the rest of the 30-series lineup today at this year's Mobile World Congress, joining the TCL 30 XE 5G and TCL 30 V 5G, which were launched exclusively in the United States last month. The TCL 30 5G, 30+, 30, 30 SE, and 30 E all include the company's NXTVISION display technology as well as a host of other features that should give the other best budget Android phones a run for their money.
The TCL 30 5G has the most advanced specs of the bunch. It is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 700 chipset and equipped with a 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display. TCL's NXTVISION technology should also improve the phone's display by adjusting color, contrast, and sharpness based on on-screen content.
Meanwhile, TCL uses a MediaTek Helio G37 on the vanilla TCL 30 and 30+, as well as Helio G25 on the TCL 30 E and SE. The displays on the regular and Plus models are the same as on the 5G variant, while the TCL 30 SE and 30 E have a 6.52-inch 720p display.
The display of each model has a notch in the top center, which houses a 13MP ultra-wide camera for both the TCL 30 5G and 30+. The regular and SE models, on the other hand, have an 8MP front camera, while the 30 E variant has a 5MP selfie snapper.
All models include a 50MP AI triple camera setup on the back, except for the 30 E version: the cheapest model has a dual rear camera comprising a 50MP main sensor and 2MP depth sensor. The triple camera modules also include both 2MP macro and depth sensors alongside the main shooter.
Keeping the lights on is a 5,010mAh battery on the regular, Plus and 5G variants, with support for 18W fast charging. Meanwhile, the 30 SE and E models pack a 5,000mAh battery unit.
The new smartphones run TCL UI 4.0 based on Android 12. TCL says the Muse Blue and Tech Black colors are available for the 30+ and vanilla 30 models, while the Dreamy Blue and Tech Black colors are available for the 5G variant. The TCL 30 SE and 30 E are available in two colors: demure Space Grey and rich Atlantic Blue. Glacial Blue is another color option for the 30 SE.
In terms of availability, you'll have to wait a bit longer to get your hands on the 5G and E models, which will arrive in Europe in April for €249 and €139, respectively. That said, you can now purchase the TCL 30+ in the region for €199, the regular variant for €179, and the SE model for €149.
All models will be rolled out in select regions at a later date, though prices will vary by country.
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Android Central's discussion of politics mostly centers on legislation targeting major tech companies hosted in a few countries like the U.S., China, and Korea. It isn't the proper forum to discuss the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, as we can't do the topic justice. But a recent tweet thread from Forbes Ukraine tech editor Mike Sapiton opened my eyes to how much of an impact the Ukrainian people have had on the tech world.
Without any malice or conscious bias, I never gave much thought to Ukraine as a "tech country" or realized that many of the apps, games, and tech we use daily stem from Ukrainian innovation and ingenuity. And with that realization, I wanted to use this week's Editor's Desk to highlight and honor the brands and people who have impacted our lives and happiness without our — or at least my — realizing it.
Hey, world, this war is not about Ukraine. It's about all of you. Let me – as a tech editor at Forbes Ukraine – explain it to you in the most direct way, by naming products and technologies with Ukrainian roots.
Sapiton's thread highlights two major apps everyone knows: WhatsApp and PayPal, founded by two Ukrainian-American emigrants, Jan Koum and Max Levchin. The Odessa-based Readdle mostly makes Apple apps but did make popular Android email app Spark. And if you use Grammarly to clean up your work, you're not alone; the AC editors use the AI-based editor to catch (most of) our typos.
He also notes how Ukrainians have worked behind the scenes on the technology behind Amazon's popular Ring cameras that protect your home, as well as some Snapchat filters.
But Sapiton only scratched the surface. I didn't know, for instance, that Ukrainian developer Dmitriy Zaporozhets co-founded GitLab, an open-source repository developer tool I used in my old job as an e-book dev. And many major tech companies have Kyiv offices, including Google, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, Amazon, and many others.
Console and mobile gamers also owe many hours of entertainment to Ukrainian-based companies. Kyiv-based GSC Game World is currently developing S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl, and recently took to Twitter to ask fans of its games to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Russia's recent occupation of Chernobyl isn't something the developers could ever have anticipated.
Windows Central highlighted a long list of other studios either based in Ukraine or with offices there, including Ubisoft, 4A Games (Metro: Exodus), Frogwares (Sherlock Holmes), Wargaming (World of Tanks), and Plarium (Raid: Shadow Legends). In terms of Android, AB Games makes some of the most popular hidden object games like Hidden City, which currently has over a million reviews on the Play Store.
Tech is political, whether we like it or not
Google Maps satellite feed showing Russian Troop movements
Even if they're not based in Ukraine, the most well-known tech companies' decisions will impact the nation in significant ways, for better or worse and sometimes by accident.
Google outlined its Ukraine strategy to combat misinformation, block cyberattacks, and provide free ads requesting aid for Ukraine. It also recently promised to demonetize and stop recommending Russian state-run channels on YouTube; Reuters reports state-run videos from RT and others generated tens of millions of dollars in ad revenue in the past, and that Russia frequently bought ads for its videos to reach a wider audience. And Business Insider reports that people used Google Maps' real-time tracking to follow Russian troops' movements, hours before Putin announced the attack.
Meta, which has rightfully faced criticism for its moderation efforts in the past, refused to stop independently fact-checking Facebook posts in Russia, leading to the country restricting Facebook within its borders. But like Google, Meta only just blocked Russia from freely running its ads or monetizing its content on Facebook.
Twitter Support announced that "We're aware that Twitter is being restricted for some people in Russia." The same likely applies to most social media and news aggregate sites, as Russia aims to block its citizens from seeing pro-Ukrainian content.
Ordinary Russians are using @Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what's happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. pic.twitter.com/FjTovgslCe
Meanwhile, Ukrainian politicians have asked tech companies like Apple to join in on Russian sanctions by blocking their services in Russia. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted that he had asked Tim Cook to block the App Store there, which isn't likely to happen. iMore has reported on Apple's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, however.
In most instances, the Big Tech companies have started to "help" Ukraine by either giving away free services or reversing policies that enabled Russia's policies and misinformation for years. When Putin claims that he is invading Ukraine to "denazify" it, he could use Google and Facebook to push that message up until a couple of days ago.
It's unlikely Google, Apple, or any other company will completely burn its bridges with Russia unless forced by political forces in the United States or European Union to do so — as it would dry up a source of revenue. Up until now, they have accepted operating within the confines of different countries' political restrictions — most notoriously evidenced by Apple's secret $275 billion deal with China.
But the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought an unflattering spotlight onto tech companies' laissez-faire approach to enabling "controversial" regimes. Autocrats demand companies give them the tools to push their propaganda and block the free flow of information as the cost of admission. And by and large, companies comply, only cutting back on the enabling and profiteering now that the public eye is on them.
Focusing on people, not businesses
In times like this, I find it hard to give a crap about the business and politics driving tech companies' actions, as they scramble to look principled in some territories and compliant in others to avoid threatening their assets. It's too little, too late for the Ukranian people to change their policies now.
Instead, I can't help but watch the news coming from Ukraine and think of all those tech gurus that spent their days developing apps and services I use every day. Some even worked in the satellite offices of companies that profited millions from Russian ads. Now, those same techies are taking up machine guns or hunkering down in shelters.
It kills me that there's nothing I can do for those men and women except to give my overdue gratitude for making my life a little better. And hope against hope that their lives can go back to normal soon.
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The annual Mobile World Congress trade show — MWC for short — is always full of fascinating devices and big announcements. While TCL just announced a slew of devices coming to market soon, including the TCL 30 series and TCL NXTPAPER tablets, the company also showed off some more foldable concept devices at a separate hands-on event.
Two years ago, we had the chance to go hands-on with a few TCL foldables that never made it to market but were interesting concepts, nonetheless. Since then, TCL had almost released its 'Chicago' foldable phone to compete with the Galaxy Z Flip line from Samsung but decided to shelve it until the price was low enough to compete.
This year, Michael Fisher (aka Mr. Mobile) was able to get some hands-on time with TCL's latest foldable concepts for Android Central and came back with a few thoughts on how the first consumer-ready TCL foldable could shape up.
TCL Ultra Flex
The first TCL device is the 360-degree Ultra Flex, which uses an accordion-like hinge that appears similar to the world's first folding phone, the Royole Flexpai. While it's not the most attractive hinge we've ever seen, its less-than-dashing looks give way to a unique functional trait: it can fold both ways.
Yes, instead of just folding inward like a Galaxy Z Fold phone, the TCL Ultra Flex can bend a full 180-degrees inward or outward. That makes the 8-inch PLP AMOLED screen perfect for reading like a book or folding back on itself like a magazine, as Fisher pointed out.
That's particularly cool because it means that, when folded inward, the device's large screen is completely protected by the outer shell. Conversely, when it's folded back onto itself, that display wraps around almost the entirety of the device.
You can see in the images below how that works in practice. The hinge is uniquely designed to support the display and glass structure without breaking it, which means this phone is a little more flexible than your average foldable.
Additionally, TCL built active stylus support into the Ultra Flex, which could make it a proper Galaxy Z Fold competitor if it ever actually comes to market.
TCL Fold n Roll
Like the Ultra Flex, the Fold n Roll is a little rough around the edges, but the concept is incredibly solid, nonetheless. This one looks like a hybrid of two foldable concept devices TCL showed off back in 2020, with a single hinge that makes the device fold into itself and initially feels similar to a Galaxy Z Fold.
But that similarity quickly disappears when you tap a button on the side, which then rolls out another display that was hidden inside the right-half of the phone. That is, of course, when the rolling portion works properly. At the hands-on, Fisher said this mechanism was a bit finicky and would only operate part of the time.
When it does work as expected, however, the Fold n Roll is a brilliant concept that shows just how useful a foldable can be. This one packs a literal tablet-sized 8.8-inch display into a 7-inch book-style clamshell that, again, is very reminiscent of a Galaxy Z Fold when closed.
This one doesn't have the same active stylus support as the Ultra Flex above but could prove to be a better phone/tablet hybrid for people who aren't as interested in stylus support. That extendable display also wraps around the outside edge of the phone, giving the term "edge display" a whole new meaning.
Now, this particular design exhibits more noticeable display creases than the Ultra Flex because of the way the hinge operates. It's also a lot less polished-looking around the back, especially when the extended section is rolled out.
Keep in mind, though, that this is a concept device that will not make it to market in its current form but could be used to build a proper consumer-ready device at some point in the future.
Will we ever get a foldable TCL phone?
While we've seen foldable phones from TCL before, this year's devices were both the most complex and the least reliable. At the very least, we know TCL continues to work on its foldable concepts and is dedicated to delivering a foldable device that not only looks good but is easy on your wallet.
After all, TCL makes some of the best budget Android phones, and its 'Chicago' foldable phone was never released because of difficulties in making it affordable enough, despite the fact that the phone looked quite beautiful.
For now, we'll just have to use TCL's latest devices and dream of a day when they can actually fold in on themselves.
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A new world of magic, wonder, and mystery is on the way.
Ever wanted to take the world of Hogwarts with you, wherever you want? Have a desire to spend time in your favorite house, dueling and brewing potions? Then Harry Potter: Magic Awakened will be right up your Diagon Alley. This mobile experience is a new, stylized take on the Wizarding World, featuring characters you'll remember, with fun and danger around every corner. Here's everything you need to know about Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.
What is Harry Potter: Magic Awakened?
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a mobile game being developed by Netease and published by WB Games, as part of the company's Portkey Games label. While it's already available in parts of the world, with the upcoming global release, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened could end up as one of the best Android games available.
Portkey Games covers all games taking place in the Wizarding World that are published by WB Games. Other games published under Portkey Games include Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, as well as the upcoming action role-playing game Hogwarts Legacy. Hogwarts Legacy is being developed by Avalanche Software for PC and the latest consoles, including the PS5.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is an original story that takes place 10 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. As such, characters like Hagrid, Harry, and Hermoine all make appearances.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Trailers
You can check out the CGI announcement trailer for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened above.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Gameplay and features
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is described as a card collection game (CCG) and role-playing game (RPG) hybrid, fusing multiple genres and elements together. The game uses stylized art direction, so instead of aiming to look realistic, it captures an otherworldly side of Hogwarts and its denizens, an art style that fits given the card-based nature of the gameplay.
In the game, players will customize a new student at Hogwarts, including picking which house they belong to: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. You can shop at Diagon Alley for your new wizard or witch, getting the broom and wand that best fits you.
From there, players focus on building a deck by collecting cards, which they can then use in battle, casting magic spells and charms, or summoning powerful magical creatures. Cards are earned by attending classes, brewing potions, and studying. There's both player vs. environment (PVE) and player vs. player (PVP) gameplay, so you can take on the AI or even real opponents in 1v1 or 2v2 duels in the Duelling Club.
Other recreations at Hogwarts include playing Quidditch, competing to earn points for the House Cup, and even dancing at the Ball. Outside of Hogwarts, you're free to enter the dangerous Forbidden Forest. While perilous, this is the way to earn special rewards that can't be found anywhere else.
While Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is coming to Android devices, no minimum requirements have been shared yet. Still, it's somewhat fair to expect that the game will run better if you've got one of the best Android phones available.
Is Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Free-to-play?
Yes, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a free-to-play mobile game, so if you don't want to, you won't have to pay a penny. That said, it does include in-app purchases or microtransactions. We don't really know the scale of these yet, so it's not clear if they affect the flow of the gameplay or are limited to more cosmetic extras. Shopping in Diagon Alley is mentioned, so it seems at least somewhat likely that the game includes cosmetic microtransactions, but we'll have to wait to learn more.
Many mobile games incorporate microtransactions in a way that never feels harmful, but many more games use predatory practices, gating things behind artificial timed barriers.
Is J.K. Rowling involved with Harry Potter: Magic Awakened?
Author J.K. Rowling has been saying derogatory, transphobic things across the internet for a while now, going so far as to write a book on it. As a result, many Harry Potter fans are going out of their way as to not take part in anything new that Rowling has a direct hand in creating.
While Harry Potter: Magic Awakened obviously takes place in the Wizarding World and is "inspired by J.K. Rowling's original stories," Rowling herself does not appear to be involved with any work for the game. With that in mind, she will almost certainly make money from the game, given her continued control over the Wizarding World IP.
When is Harry Potter: Magic Awakened's release date?
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is currently slated to launch worldwide at some point in 2022, though there's no exact release date. Given the continually-tenuous nature of game development, especially with delays induced by the pandemic over the last couple of years, we'll have to wait and see if Harry Potter: Magic Awakened actually makes this tentative release window.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened received a "soft launch" on Sep. 9, 2021. A soft launch means that like most big mobile games, the developers are testing the game with a smaller audience, so instead of being available globally all at once, the game is launched in a handful of countries before releasing anywhere else. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is currently available in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
