Eliana Willis

Google Pixel phones are known for their clean software, artificial intelligence features, and availability in every price segment. The flagship lineup includes four Pixel phones — the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9a recently joined the ranks as the most affordable Google phone on the market. It costs about half what you’d pay for the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold.  You should opt for a Google Pixel phone for its exclusive software features, cameras, Pixel user interface (UI), and long-term software support. The latest devices also include new AI features and camera smarts with the help of Google Gemini. It can be confusing to choose which Google phone is best for you, given the lineup. We have tested all the Google Pixel phones to help you decide which is the perfect choice for you.What is the best Google Pixel phone right now? At ZDNET, we’ve reviewed all of the Google Pixel phones available to help you find the best Pixel phone for you. Our current pick for the best Google Pixel phone is the Pixel 9 Pro XL More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollowing the recent launch of a new family of GPT-4.1 models, OpenAI released o3 and o4-mini on Wednesday, the latest addition to its existing line of reasoning models. The o3 model, previewed in December, is OpenAI’s most advanced reasoning model to date, while o4-mini is a smaller, cheaper, and faster model.Meet o3 and o4-mini Simply put, reasoning models are trained to “think before they speak,” meaning they take more time to process the prompt but provide higher-quality responses. As a result, like older models, o3 and o4-mini show strong and even improved performance in coding, math, and science tasks. However, they also have an important new addition: visual understanding. Also: How to use ChatGPT: A beginner’s guide to the most popular AI chatbotOpenAI o3 and o4-mini are OpenAI’s first models to “think with images.” OpenAI explains that this means the models don’t just see an image; they can actually use the visual information in their reasoning process. Users can also now upload images that are low quality or blurry, and the model will still be able to understand them. Another major first is that o3 and o4-mini can independently or agentically use all ChatGPT tools, including web browsing, Python, image understanding, and image generation, to better resolve complex, multi-step problems. OpenAI says this ability allows the new models to take “a step toward a more agentic ChatGPT that can independently execute tasks on your behalf.”Also: The top 20 AI tools of 2025 – and the #1 thing to remember when you use themIn the livestream launching the models, the team explained that the same way a person may use a calculator to deliver better results, the new models can now employ all of OpenAI’s advanced tools to deliver better results. For example, in a demo, the researcher fed a scientific research poster to o3. He prompted it to analyze the image and draw a conclusion that wasn’t included in the poster. To get the answer, o3 knew to browse the internet and zoomed into the image’s different elements to generate a conclusive answer, showcasing both its ability to use multiple tools on its own and to analyze images in detail.  More

Aurzen If you’ve ever wanted an ultra-portable projector, one of the coolest products from this year’s CES and Mobile World Congress is finally available – and you can already score a discount. The Aurzen ZIP is a tri-folding, super-small projector that fits in your pocket. It lets you take entertainment or work presentations anywhere you […] More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFedora 42 has arrived, and this time it offers an array of significant updates and improvements.Right out of the gate, the Anaconda Web UI installer is now a native Wayland application, with X11 support removed. The new installer UI simplifies the installation in every area, including guided partitioning, improved keyboard control, enhanced dual-boot support, and even a new “Reinstall Fedora” option for easy recovery if something goes wrong. Also: The 6 Linux distros I recommend most for gaming in 2025 – including my favoriteNext up, Fedora benefits from all the updates to the GNOME 48 desktop environment, which includes the new Wellbeing panel, triple buffering, notification stacking, enhanced accessibility, updated default fonts, and more. The big news on the desktop environment front is the newly minted official KDE Plasma spin and a new COSMIC spin. The official KDE Plasma spin uses the most recent stable version of the DE, whereas the COSMIC spin is still in early support, as the DE is still in alpha. Other spins have also enjoyed updates, such as the LXQt spin, which has been updated to 2.1.0 with improved Wayland session support; Xfce, which has been updated to version 4.20 of the desktop with an improved panel, better power management, and experimental Wayland support. More

Getty Recently, I wrote about the various uses of the USB ports that come standard on the back or side of any smart TV. In this article, I’m focusing on one particular important use: installing firmware updates using a USB device. Updates are essential because they ensure your TV has the latest software, features, and […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 6 is available now starting at $901. It’s a solid budget business laptop with a wide range of configurations. The display and webcam might not be good enough for most users, and opting for higher-end hardware can nearly double the price. more buying choices On the […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETOpenAI has rolled out a “library” feature to the ChatGPT website and app that brings all your AI-generated images together in one easy-to-access place. Now, you can view every image you’ve made right from the ChatGPT sidebar. Also: ChatGPT will remember everything you tell it now – like a real personal assistantThis new library not only shows the images you’ve created but also lets you jump back into editing those images — and it includes a clear button to generate new images, if you want. Here’s how it all works and how to find the library, whether on mobile or desktop.How ChatGPT’s image library worksOpenAI released a video to announce the new feature. I got access to it overnight, and it works exactly as described and shown.When you tap on the new library link in the ChatGPT sidebar, it opens a grid of images. This is a visual log of every image you’ve generated using the AI tool (unless you’ve cleared your history, of course). You can scroll through the images with your finger or cursor and select any one to access additional image tools such as edit, save, share, and more. Also: GPT-4.1 is here, but not for everyone. Here’s who can try the modelsThe library screen also has a button to start generating new images with just one tap. When you select it, ChatGPT will load the traditional prompt screen for you to begin entering a new image description.  More

Jason Howell/ZDNetGoogle’s A-series Pixel phones have consistently offered exceptional value, bringing premium features to the mid-range segment. With the recent launch of the Pixel 9a, consumers now have a choice between two compelling devices at similar price points. The Pixel 8a, released in 2024, remains a strong contender despite its successor’s arrival. Also: Google Pixel 8a hands-on: 3 features make this my favorite $499 phone todayThis decision is particularly relevant for current Pixel 8a owners considering an upgrade, as well as new buyers weighing their options. While both phones share Google’s software excellence and AI capabilities, they differ in several key areas from design philosophy to hardware specifications. Let’s break down the key differences.  Specifications Pixel 8aPixel 9aDisplay 6.1-inch OLED Actua Display with up to 120Hz6.3-inch OLED Actua Dispay with up to 120HzWeight 190g187g Processor Google Tensor G3Google Tensor G4RAM/Storage8GB with 128GB/256GB8GB with 128GB/256GBBattery4,492mAh with 18W wired charging, 7.5W wireless charging5,100mAh with 23W wired charging, 7.5W wireless chargingCamera64MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP front48MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP frontConnectivity5G Sub 6GHz, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, HE80, MIMO5G + Sub 6GHz, Wi-Fi 6E with 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, 2×2 MIMOPriceStarting at $499 More