Pocket-lint Daily - Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and new HTC Vive incoming

Good morning. By Chris Hall | Wednesday November 16 2022 Good morning!  - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 announced, in smartphones by end of year QUALCOMM What's happened? Qualcomm has announced its next generation mobile platform - the [Snapdragon 8 Gen 2]( - during its Snapdragon Summit. Why does it matter? The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 succeeds the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and it will be in some of the key flagship smartphones in 2023. Confirmed partners include Asus, Honor, Motorola, OnePlus, Sony and Xiaomi. What's my take? The launch of new Qualcomm hardware is always exciting as it draws a line under the previous year and sets the sights forward to new launches in 2023. Some manufacturers, of course, are keen to get devices out as soon as possible and over the past couple of years we've seen new device launches in China just weeks after Qualcomm's announcement. Snapdragon updates are incremental, however. It will be a little faster and a touch more efficient. It will also support displays and cameras that are more advanced, while also boosting services like audio and AI. But, it also sends the signal that everything else is out of date. While many will worry about this, it means that phones just a few months old are more likely to be discounted, meaning you might be able to get an excellent 2022 smartphone for a little less money.  HTC's next standalone VR headset leaks TP-LINK What's happened? HTC has been busy teasing a new VR headset on Twitter for a while, but now we might have more information [in the form of a leak](. Why does it matter? This future HTC headset boasts a similar form-factor design to the HTC Vive Flow and has standalone VR capabilities similar to the Vive Focus 3. What's my take? HTC was one of the first in the VR space with Vive and still offers a range of models. This leak shows an evolution, using some of the HTC Vive Flow design, but expanding the capabilities. It looks like a better rival to Meta Quest 2, which is one of the most successful VR headsets we've used so far. Unfortunately, we've never really taken to Vive Flow - although the design is interesting. Certainly, HTC has been teasing a new headset and from what we see, this could be an exciting proposition.  A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR These Amazon deals seem almost too good to be true AMAZON If you’re looking to score a fantastic deal on an Amazon device, now is your chance. Woot is offering a wide variety of factory-reconditioned and used Amazon devices at bargain prices throughout November. You can find handy gadgets for as low as $7.99, while even the most expensive pieces won’t cost more than $649.99. [Read more.](  Mercedes-Benz EQE review: Cheaper than an EQS but no less good POCKET-LINT What's happened? Mercedes-Benz is gradually filling out its fleet of all-electric models with the wonderful, top-of-the-range EQS model proving to be the icing on the cake if you want a luxury saloon. However, that car has a price tag that starts just under £100k and can be inflated way beyond that figure if you add on all the trimmings. By comparison, the Mercedes-Benz EQE, even in its top-drawer 350+ Exclusive Luxury incarnation, seems like a bit of a bargain with its on-the-road price tag of £89,345. Our quick verdict The all-electric Mercedes-Benz range continues to expand and anyone who loves the EQS, but can't stretch to one, might want to consider the EQE. It features many of the same fabulous luxury car trimmings, but can be had for less cash. While the looks aren't exactly head-turning, the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ Exclusive Luxury model we've been driving packs in tons of tech and delivers a sublime drive. Real-world range could perhaps be a little better, but there's more than enough in the power pack to get you most places without too much in the way of inconvenience. Thanks to stellar comfort levels, you'll certainly be fresh and well-rested by the time you get there too. [Read our review.](  In Case You Missed it The Xbox Game Pass ["Keystone" streaming device]( could cost under $99 when it finally arrives. --- Oppo's next Find X smartphone [will be one of first]( to run Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. --- The [Samsung Galaxy S22 mobile phone has $100 saving today](, coming in at $699.99. This price cut is for the 128GB version of the mobile, with it's 6.6-inch FHD+ screen, 50MP camera and in a range of colours.  From The Gear Loop THE GEAR LOOP Bike-packing from Birmingham to Bristol: Hitting the road as a solo female bike-packer. [Read more.](  And finally... POCKET-LINT The EE Pocket-lint Awards 2022 are approaching and we've just announced the nominees across all categories! [See what is up for an award here.](  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. In this edition, we talk about the Volvo EX90 and some of the latest car tech, while also chewing over a trio of blockbuster game releases. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.