T-Mobile confirms Oreo for Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and Galaxy Tab E

T-Mobile has confirmed the Oreo update for a couple of affordable Samsung devices on its network. The devices in question are the Galaxy J7 Prime and the Galaxy Tab E 8.0, with the carrier's website saying T-Mobile and Samsung have agreed to support Android version 8.0 for these handsets. Sadly, there's no information on when the update would start rolling out, and we are not expecting it to happen any sooner as Samsung is currently focusing on rolling out Oreo for its top of the line phones like Galaxy S8 and Note8. Source 1 2

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_confirms_oreo_for_samsung_galaxy_j7_prime_and_galaxy_tab_e-news-29143.php

Samsung showcased foldable display phones behind closed doors at CES 2018

Trade shows offer a perfect opportunity for manufacturers to gauge user opinion on future products. According to some anonymous industry insider info, Samsung took advantage of this practice at CES 2018 to showcase its progress on the eagerly-anticipated foldable mobile displays concept. There were already quite a few hints at the show floor for major developments on foldable panel tech, which is how we managed to learn about the delay in product delivery estimates to 2019. It appears that was only part of the story, as sources claim they have actually seen a pair of Samsung foldable panel...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_showcased_foldable_display_phones_behind_closed_doors_at_ces_2018-news-29149.php

New Sony Xperia XA1/XA1 Plus update brings Spectre and Meltdown fixes

Sony has started pushing out a new update to its Xperia XA1 and XA1 Plus smartphones. Arriving as build number 40.0.A.6.189 and 48.0.A.1.131, respectively, the update brings along Android security fixes for the month of January. It also includes fixes for the recently-uncovered Spectre and Meltdown security vulnerabilities. The Android version remains at 7.0 Nougat though. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it might take time for the update to reach your device, so be patient. Meanwhile, for what it's worth, the Sony Xperia E5 from 2016 has also been receiving a new update....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_sony_xperia_xa1_xa1_plus_update_brings_spectre_and_meltdown_fixes-news-29142.php

Huawei Honor 7X review

We've come to accept Honor devices as being great value. Relying on proven technology from its parent company Huawei, the Chinese brand has been consistently focused on bringing very good specs at tempting prices. That's no easy task, yet Honor makes it seem almost effortlessly natural at this point, with devices like the Honor 7X.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_7x-review-1709.php

Job listing lends more weight to rumors about OLED display on upcoming Sony flagships

In the beginning of the year 2017, there were reports that Sony would start using OLED displays on its 2018 flagship models. And now, lending more weight to these rumors, an official job listing has been spotted that reveals the company is looking for a "Display Engineer" who must be having "OLED experience." The job was posted back in November end last year, with an un-posting date of February 28 this year. Sony hasn't said anything on the OLED matter officially, but we look forward to the upcoming MWC as the company might make a related announcement there. Source | Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/job_listing_lends_more_weight_to_rumors_about_oled_display_on_upcoming_sony_flagships-news-29141.php

Android Oreo update to start hitting some LG V30 units shortly

An Oreo update for the LG V30 has been imminent for some time now, no doubt about it. In fact, some LG v300S SK Telecom units are already enjoying Android 8.0.0 v19c software availability. Meanwhile, most other popular market variants of the handset across the US and Europe are still running the latest, officially available v10c Nougat builds. Model Buyer Suffix Buyer/Carrier Chip Type Version Live Date LGUS998 USA USA QCT v10c 2018-01-11 LGUS998 1US USA_128G QCT v10c 2018-01-11 ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_oreo_update_to_start_hitting_some_lg_v30_units_shortly-news-29145.php

Google confirms Home Max issue causing WiFi networks to be killed

Google has confirmed an issue with its premium Home Max smart speaker. The problem in question, affected users say, causes WiFi networks to be killed, which means the router/modem requires a hard restart to bring the network up again. Going by reports on the official Google forum, most users who are affected by the issue are using a TP-Link Archer C7 router. One user even got a reply from TP-Link engineers over the issue, indicating the root of the problem could be MDNS multicast discovery packets that are sent to keep a live connection. Apparently, Home Max is overloading the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_confirms_home_max_issue_causing_wifi_networks_to_be_killed-news-29139.php

Test: iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 performance after the Spectre and Meltdown patches

Sectre and Meltdown shook the tech industry - they allow malicious code to peek at protected data. They do it by exploiting CPU features meant to speed up execution, so the solution is simple but unpleasant - devs have to circumvent those performance-enhancing features. We were prompted by the huge performance hit to the iPhone 6 after the update to see if the newer models are similarly affected. So we found an iPhone 8 Plus at the office that was still running iOS 11.1.2 - before either patch. We ran Geekbench and AnTuTu then installed iOS 11.2.2 and ran them again. iPhone...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/spectre_and_meltdown_testing_performance_impact_on_iphone_8_plus-news-29132.php

Deal: Sony Xperia XZ1 drops to $543.44 in silver

Sony announced the Xperia XZ1 at IFA last summer, and the phone subsequently made its way to the US in mid-September. It launched over there, in unlocked form, with a price tag of $699.99. In the meantime the price has dropped to $599.99, but today there's an even better deal to be had if you don't mind purchasing the handset in its Warm Silver iteration. This color version, and only this one, currently retails for just $543.44 at Amazon. The device can also be bought in black, Moonlit Blue, or Venus Pink - but all of these still cost $599.99. It's unclear whether this is a limited time...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_sony_xperia_xz1_drops_to_54344_in_silver-news-29138.php

Sony Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, and L2 go on pre-order in the US and UK

Sony unveiled three new mid-range smartphones at CES this week, the Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, and L2. All three are now up for pre-order in both the US and the UK. Best Buy is the retailer to go to if you want to be among the first people in the US to own one of these handsets. The company will charge you $349.99 for the XA2, $449.99 for the XA2 Ultra, and $249.99 for the L2. The XA2 is offered in silver, black, blue, and pink. The XA2 Ultra comes in silver, black, blue, and gold. The L2 is available in black, gold, and pink. All of these are the single-SIM models. They will all be released...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa2_xa2_ultra_and_l2_go_on_preorder_in_the_us_and_uk-news-29137.php

BlackBerry Motion is finally available to order in the US for $449.99 unlocked

The BlackBerry Motion got official last October, and has since made its way to Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. Starting today, it's also finally available to order in the US. You can have one for $449.99, and you can pick it up from Amazon or Best Buy. That amount nets you an unlocked device that will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, as well as the various MVNO brands operating on their frequencies. If you're on Verizon or Sprint you're out of luck however. The Motion is temporarily out of stock at Amazon, although you can order and the retailer will deliver when available. On the other...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_motion_is_finally_available_to_order_in_the_us_for_44999_unlocked-news-29136.php

Xiaomi suspends Mi A1 Oreo update after performance issues

Xiaomi launched the Mi A1 under the Android One program with Android Nougat and promised Oreo by the end of 2017. The update arrived on the last day of the year, but Xiaomi got ahead of itself because users started complaining about unresponsive apps and battery drains. The company acknowledged the issues and stopped the update. The rollout of 8.0 will resume "in next couple of weeks", Mi India confirmed on social media. The Dialer app will work once MyJio is disabled Some of the issues that Mi A1 users reported to Xiaomi were unresponsiveness of the camera app, dialer app,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_suspend_mi_a1_oreo_update_performance_issues-news-29134.php

Here's our first look at the Sharp Aquos S3 in the wild

While we wait for its January 16 announcement in Taiwan, we get to see the first live images of the upcoming Sharp Aquos S3. The live images fall in line with those we saw from the Aquos S3's visit to the TENAA. It has glass on the front and back with a metal frame, sandwitched in between. The phone was also certified by the Taiwanese communications commission (NCC) too. The back of the Sharp Aquos S3 hosts a dual camera, likely a 12MP+13MP setup, LED flash and a fingerprint scanner. The front is almost entirely taken up by a 5.99-inch LCD of 1080x2040px resolution. It appears...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_our_first_look_at_the_sharp_aquos_s3_in_the_wild-news-29133.php

Huawei patents touch-sensitive bezel for smartwatches

Huawei patent for a touch-sensitive bezel for smartwatches was approved by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). According to the document, the edge of the watch will have eight zones that can send various commands, when triggered in various combinations. It will allow Huawei to adds extra controls without the need for more buttons, similar to the rotating bezel solution of the Samsung Gear gadgets. The images show the bezel will be separated into eight symmetrical zones. Combined with two zones for physical buttons on top and bottom and the circular touchscreen,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_patent_touch_sensitive_bezel_smartwatches-news-29131.php

Here are the new 2018 additions to Google's Android Excellence app list

Truth be told, we rarely find ourselves just aimlessly browsing for new apps, without any particular usage in mind. Still, it doesn't hurt to get some recommendations from time to time, especially when they come straight from Google. The online titan recently updated its "Android Excellence" list with some 2018 entries. That is to say, not necessarily 2018, newly published apps, but rather, apps that in their current form represent what the company considers "the best experiences and top performing apps and games on the Play Store". While most users will likely enjoy browsing through...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/here_are_the_new_2018_additions_to_googles_android_excellence_app_list-news-29129.php

Alleged LG G7 render suggests even tinier bezels, dual front cameras

LG said it is discontinuing the G series naming, but the new flagship might be named LG G7 after all. The device is expected to go on sale in April and a first alleged render of the phone appeared. According to the image, the top and bottom bezels will be even tinier than the LG G6, while the ones on the side will be non-existent. The render reveals the front will have massive screen-to-body ratio, higher than the LG G6. The screen will be a FullVision 18:9 display and will have two selfie cameras above. They are seen on the left side of the earpiece, while on the right are placed the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_lg_g7_render_tinier_bezels_dual_front_cameras-news-29126.php

iPhone 6 takes massive performance hit after Spectre patch

We always knew that patching the recently-discovered Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities will involve a drop in performance, especially in older devices. The magnitude of the drop is still being examined, but the early results don't look good. In at least one case, an iPhone 6 saw its Apple A8 lose 40% of its CPU performance after going from iOS 11.1.2 to 11.2.2. The test was run by Dutch entrepreneur Melvin Mughal who got the following results on his phone before and after the update. Before Spectre update After Spectre update Performance change ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_6_takes_massive_performance_hit_after_spectre_patch-news-29124.php

HTC U11 EYEs leaks in full, Snapdragon 652 confirmed

HTC confirmed that the U11 EYEs will make its debut next week on 15 of January but spared any details. Now, thanks to Evan Blass, we get the a comprehensive list of the device's specs. The HTC U11 EYEs will be built around a 6-inch LCD3 screen of 1080x2160px resolution. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 652 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage with an option for microSD expansion. HTC U11 EYEs (Harmony): 6" FHD+ (1080 x 2160) Super LCD3, SD652 octa core, 4GB/64GB (+microSD), USB-C, 3930mAh, IP67, Android Nougat, Edge Sense. Black, silver, and red. Launches 1/15....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11_eyes_leaks_in_full_will_cost_around_420-news-29121.php

Honor 9 Lite India launch set for next week

We already know the Honor 9 Lite is coming to India this month, and now we have the exact launch date. On its official forums, the company has announced that the India launch event for the phone is set for January 17. It was recently revealed that the device will be exclusive to online retailer Flipkart in the country. There's still no information on exactly what price tag the Honor 9 Lite will carry, but we'll soon find it out. Source | Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_9_lite_india_launch_set_for_next_week-news-29119.php

OnePlus 3 and 3T get OxygenOS 5.0.1 with aptX HD, Soft screen calibration

OnePlus 3 and 3T owners were greeted with an update notification this morning - Oxygen OS 5.0.1 has arrived. The full update weighs 1.47GB, though you only need to download a tenth of that if you're already on 5.0.0. Audiophiles who are also wire-phobes will appreciate the addition of aptX HD (aka aptX Lossless). It transmits high-quality audio at up to 48 kHz sampling rates and resolutions up to 24 bits. Oxygen OS 5.0.1 for OnePlus 3 and 3T • aptX now supported Another change is the Soft screen calibration. It dials back the color saturation compared to default mode while the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_3_and_3t_get_oxygenos_501-news-29123.php

Leaked Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box unveils specs

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is coming next month at MWC 2018, but some specs might have been outed by an alleged retail box that got pictured. Although most of the specs look similar to the current Galaxy S8, there a couple of interesting additions - stereo speakers and variable aperture for the Dual Pixel 12 MP camera. The box says f/1.5 / f/2.4, meaning Samsung will implement a variable aperture like the one in the Chinese-exclusive Samsung W2018. We haven't seen a variable aperture flagship since the M8910 Pixon12 and the Nokia N86, but maybe Samsung found new use for it. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9_retail_box_leak_specs-news-29122.php

Hands-on with Razer's Project Linda

Razer has a very good reputation among the gaming community and its die-hard fans. This is a company that focuses on gaming laptops, sharp-looking accessories, services, and now caters to a new niche that was recently defined by Razer: a smartphone made with the mobile gamer in mind. Adding onto the company's vision, Razer took CES to unveil a laptop dock called Project Linda. Offically an "Android Laptop/Phone Hybrid Concept" - this is a laptop chassis with a 13.3-inch 16:9 display that you can dock a Razer Phone into. While this isn't the first time we've seen a laptop dock for a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/handson_with_razers_project_linda_-news-29120.php

Deal: Grab a Motorola Moto Z Play for $270

The Motorola Moto Z Play has received a solid discount in the US, where retailer B&H has it listed for $270. That's down $180 from the $450 price tag the handset usually carries there. Motorola is officially selling the phone for $400, so you still end up saving $130 if you purchase the handset from B&H. The model on offer is unlocked and will only work with GSM carriers, meaning those on Sprint and Verizon are out of luck. For more info, head to the Source link below. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_grab_a_motorola_moto_z_play_for_270-news-29118.php

HTC U11 EYEs arriving next week

Last month, reliable tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks) revealed the upcoming HTC Harmony will be launched as HTC U11 EYEs. Then there were reports that the device has also received 3C certification in China. And now, the company has confirmed the unveiling date for the handset. Through its Weibo account, HTC shared a 'save the date' invite which reveals January 15 as the date. While the poster itself doesn't contain the device name, the post accompanying it does mention 'Eye,' effectively confirming that the HTC U11 EYEs will be the star of the event. The handset is said to come in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_u11_eyes_arriving_next_week-news-29117.php

Skype adds Private Conversations with end-to-end encryption

Skype is the latest messaging service to jump onto the end-to-end encryption bandwagon. The Microsoft-owned service has partnered up with Signal in order to enable the new functionality, which is optional and not default for every chat. Thus, Skype's implementation is similar to what Facebook Messenger uses, which has dedicated Secret Conversations you can set up for this purpose. Skype's version is called Private Conversations, and these aren't supported for groups. To start a Private Conversation, you tap or click the "+" icon, then select the self-descriptive New Private Conversation...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/skype_adds_private_conversations_with_endtoend_encryption-news-29113.php

OnePlus 6 arrives in June with Snapdragon 845, CEO reveals

Late last year a purported list of smartphones arriving in 2018 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 chipset on board got leaked, and it mentioned the OnePlus 6 would be launching in June. Now in an interview with CNET, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed both of those details. "There's no other choice" for his company than the Snapdragon 845, Lau said. The handset is scheduled to launch late in the second quarter, which ends on June 30. The CEO hasn't actually confirmed the OnePlus 6's name, but logic dictates that's what it will end up being called. OnePlus 5T Lau apparently isn't 100%...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_6_arrives_in_june_with_snapdragon_845_soc_ceo_reveals-news-29112.php

Nokia BH-501 Bluetooth earbuds launch in China for $46

Nokia has outed a new mobile accessory today. We're talking about the BH-501 Bluetooth earbuds, which confusingly share their model number with the BH-501 Bluetooth behind-the-neck headset from 2007. On one hand, that just goes to show how long the Finnish brand has been in this business. On the other hand, we assume another model number could have been used this time around. Anyway, the new BH-501 probably wants to capitalize on the fact that more and more high-end smartphones seem to be mysteriously losing their 3.5mm audio jacks. The BH-501 features an aluminum body with a brushed metal...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_bh501_bluetooth_earbuds_launch_in_china_for_46-news-29111.php

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) review

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) is not a successor to a particular A-series phone. It's more of a trimmed Galaxy S8 version for the masses with matching design, screen, and the current number 8. Or so Samsung would have us believe.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a8_2018-review-1710.php

$29 battery replacements for iPhone 6 Plus delayed until March or April

Last month Apple came clean about intentionally slowing down iPhones with old batteries. Subsequently, the company has offered an apology to its customers, and as part of that it's lowered the out of warranty battery replacement fee from $79 to $29. This price applies to the iPhone 6 and newer devices, and will be valid until the end of the year. However, if you have an iPhone 6 Plus and want to take advantage of the deal as soon as possible, here's some bad news. It turns out that there's a severe supply constraint on replacement batteries for this model at the moment. According to an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/29_battery_replacements_for_iphone_6_plus_delayed_until_march_or_april-news-29110.php

Nokia 8 gets a poor DxOMark score

While we wait for the oft-rumored Nokia 9 to be announced, HMD Global's current flagship smartphone has been put through the DxOMark testing procedures. The end result is anything but impressive, especially given the Zeiss name on the back of the phone. While the Leica-branded camera in Huawei's Mate 10 Pro has tied it with the iPhone X in second place among the DxOMark charts, the Zeiss-infused snapper in the Nokia 8 fares much worse, with a score of 68. The top dog is still Google's Pixel 2 with 98 (keep in mind however that these scores aren't out of 100 - in time it's very possible...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8_gets_a_poor_dxomark_score-news-29109.php

Essential is now offering PH-1 accessories on its website

Sales of the Essential PH-1 haven't exactly being in the millions, but the phone enjoys a rather dedicated fanbase. About 50,000 units were sold, in by the middle of last month, although the limited availability plays a large part in that. That does not prevent Andy Rubin and company from launching official accessories on the Essential website. The company is now selling two types of earbuds, USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter, a fast charger and a hard case for the 360 camera. The Essential accessories The Earphones|Mini and Earphones|HD look the same, but they cost respectively $49...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/essential_ph1_accessories-news-29108.php

HMD trademarks "Asha", Nokia's former feature phone line

HMD just trademarked "Asha" with the EU Intellectual Property Office. Nokia Asha phones, for those who don't remember them, were a lineup of feature phones that often featured a touchscreen and a focus on online services - Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. Asha phones offered smartphone-like functionality at a time when actual smartphones were too pricey. That made them a key element of Nokia's "next billion" plan. We don't think that HMD will go the feature phone route, however. For one, the new application specifically mentions that "Asha" can be used for smartphones. Also Google...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hmd_trademarks_asha_nokias_former_feature_phone_line-news-29107.php

Huawei P11 and P12 spotted in test pages on Huawei.com

Huawei's web design team is getting ready to put up the next P-series flagship and along the way several test pages leaked. They list both Huawei P11 and P12, though it's pretty clear that these are just placeholders. Still, that calls into question whether the new model will be called P30 as previously thought. Huawei isn't the only company pondering a new direction for its naming scheme. Anyway, the test pages mostly seem to copy Huawei Ascend Mate 7 content so there's not much to be gleaned from them. You can follow the source links to check them out, but they will probably be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p11_and_p12_spotted_in_test_pages_on_huaweicom-news-29105.php

Qualcomm expected to get EU's approval to acquire NXP

It's not official yet, but the European Commission is expected to approve Qualcomm's $47 billion acquisition of NXP. Initially the Commission thought that the combination of Qualcomm's baseband processors and NXP's NFC tech will harm competition. It seems that its in-depth investigation has concluded that this is not the case. Both Qualcomm and the Commission have not made an official comment yet. This comes as a bit of good news for the Snapdragon maker as it's trying to fight off a takeover by Broadcom. Broadcom stated that it wants to acquire Qualcomm regardless of the outcome of the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_expected_to_get_eus_approval_to_acquire_nxp-news-29104.php

Xiaomi sells over 1M Redmi 5A units in less than a month in India

Xiaomi launched the affordable Redmi 5A in India on December 7. In under a month, the company managed to sell over 1 million units, according to Manu Kumar Jain, managing director of Xiaomi India. He bragged about the milestone on Twitter to thank the Mi fans and to hand out Mi Band HRX devices to five lucky winners who retweeted the message. The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is promoted as "Desh Ka Smartphone", or translated from Hindi as "the country's smartphone", meaning the phone is made by Indians for Indians. The phone comes in two versions - 2 GB RAM + 16 GB storage and 3 GB RAM + 32...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_india_over_1m_redmi_5a-news-29103.php

Kantar: iPhone X is a bestseller in the UK, Japan and China

Research company Kantar Worldpanel released its report on the smartphone market for the September-November period of 2017. The data revealed a mixed performance from iOS, despite launching three new phones. Share across big five European markets (Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy) fell by 0.6 percent points to 23.9% and by 3.8 percent points to 39.8% in the USA. It managed to gain on Android in urban China, where the share went 4.6pp up to reach 25% of the market. According to Dominic Sunnebo, Global Director at Kantar, Apple struggled to impress on a global scale. The company saw some...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/kantar_iphone_x_bestseller_uk_japan_china-news-29102.php

Last Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ oreo beta build begins rolling

Samsung has started pushing out a new Oreo beta build to eligible Galaxy S8/S8+ units. Arriving as software version ZRA5 and weighing in at around 595MB, the update brings bug fixes andthe Android security patch for January. This is highly likely to be the last beta update, as the beta program is scheduled to end on January 15, which will be followed by a public roll out for the update. The latest/last beta build is currently available in India, although other regions where the beta program has been launched should also get it sooner than later. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/last_samsung_galaxy_s8_s8_oreo_beta_build_begins_rolling-news-29099.php

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) now available in the UK

The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) just launched in mainland Europe and is now available in the UK as well... sort of. The phone (A530F) is available on Clove UK, but those are imported European units - meaning they come with an EU plug charger. At a price of £480, you may as well do the importing yourself - the price is €500, which works out to £440 and change. A number of German, Dutch and other sites have the Galaxy A8 (2018) in stock, you just need to find one willing to ship it across the channel. If you don't want bother, you can buy from Clove now or wait until they get proper UK...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a8_2018_now_available_in_the_uk-news-29101.php

Benchmark shows one of the Huawei P20 models will have an 18.7:9 screen

The Huawei P10 Plus and Mate 10 (vanilla) feature screens with QHD resolution, however an early sighting of the Huawei P20 suggests that the company is still not ready to fully commit to leaving 1080p behind. An HTML compliance benchmark recorded the EML-AL00 - one of the P20 variants - will have 1,080 x 2,244px resolution. That is an aspect ratio of 18.7:9, slightly wider than Samsung's but not as wide as iPhone X's screen. Note: the resolution reported 1/3rd of the actual resolution because of how mobile browsers work. This extra width leaves room for a notch though there's no...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/web_test_shows_huawei_p20_models_screen_aspect_ratio-news-29100.php

Hands-on with vivo's in-display fingerprint scanner

Vivo has worked in conjunction with Synaptics to make the first smartphone with a fingerprint scanner integrated into its display. The company just unveiled the near-final product and we were shown a demo unit at CES. This gives us a good idea of what we can expect from the new fingerprint solution. Vivo first showed off its under-screen fingerprint technology back in MWC Shanghai 2017. The prototype shown then relied of ultrasonic signals to transmit the fingerprint from over the glass to the sensor underneath. The near-final design uses an optical signal so the sensor can see right...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/handson_with_vivos_indisplay_fingerprint_scanner-news-29097.php

New update hitting Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)

Samsung has started pushing a new update to its Galaxy A5 (2017) smartphone. Arriving as firmware version A520FXXU4BRA8 and weighing in at 22MB, it's a security update that brings the January security patch. The update is currently hitting units in Europe (the Netherlands to be specific), although it's reasonable to assume that other regions will also be getting it sooner than later. It's worth mentioning that none of the South Korean company's flagship devices have received the January security patch yet. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a5_2017_getting_new_update-news-29094.php

Lava Red OnePlus 5T goes on sale in India on January 20

Initially, the January 26 date was being rumored, then reports pointed to January 23. However, the Lava Red color option for the OnePlus 5T will be available in India even sooner. Amazon India has confirmed that it has exclusivity over the model in India, where sales will begin on January 20. The variant will carry a tag of INR 37,999, which currently translates into around $595. The new Sandstone White OnePlus 5T is also expected to arrive in India in the next few weeks. Via | Amazon India

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lava_red_oneplus_5t_goes_on_sale_in_india_january_20-news-29096.php

T-Mobile launches new BOGO deal for iPhone 8, Galaxy S8, LG V30 and more this Friday

T-Mobile is getting ready to launch a new Buy One, Get One free (BOGO) deal of sorts this Friday. You'll be able to grab two for the price of one if you choose the 64GB iPhone 7, 7 Plus or 8, Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6, V30, or V30+. Whichever combination of two units you pick, you will receive a mail-in rebate that covers the cost of the lower priced one. If you're into more premium handsets, the carrier has your back once again, though you don't get as much money back in this case. If you go with the iPhone 7 Plus (128GB or 256GB), iPhone 8 256GB, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X your rebate...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_launches_new_bogo_deal_for_iphone_8_galaxy_s8_lg_v30_and_more_this_friday-news-29091.php

Panasonic announces GH5s mirrorless camera for $2499

Panasonic has launched the GH5s, an even more video-focused version of the popular and already video-friendly GH5. The new camera comes with a bunch of changes, most of which are under the hood. For starters, the GH5s has a new 12.5MP sensor with 10.2MP usable resolution. The extra pixels allow the camera to maintain its diagonal field of view when switching between aspect ratios such as 4:3, 17:9, 16:9 and 3:2. More importantly, the new sensor is optimized for low light sensitivity, a bit like the Sony A7S II, and now supports shooting up to ISO 51,200 without extended ISO. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/panasonic_announces_gh5s_mirrorless_camera_for_2499-news-29090.php

Upcoming alcatel 3C leaks in press renders

At CES a couple of days ago, alcatel teased a full revamp of its smartphone roster. Gone is the Idol branding, and in are tall 18:9 displays across the board. The brand will fully unveil its 1, 3, and 5 series devices at MWC next month. Yet we've already seen the alcatel 5 in a leaked press render. And now one of its lower-end siblings, the alcatel 3C, has received the exact same treatment. alcatel 3C leaked press renders Feast your eyes upon the magnificence of the alcatel 3C, then. According to the rumorsphere, this handset will sport a 6-inch "HD+" touchscreen (we assume that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_alcatel_3c_leaks_in_press_renders-news-29089.php

Sony posts official hands-on video of Xperia XA2 Ultra and its two other CES phones

Sony unveiled three Android phones at CES: the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra and Xperia L2. We spent some time with them and posted our hands-on impressions but Sony has now published an official hands-on video. The video covers the highlight features of each phone, though the tone is a bit... overly upbeat. It really doesn't spare any compliments for the two mid-rangers and the entry level handset. The responses in the comments are pretty positive so it seems that Sony fans agree with the compliment-rich video. We were fairly excited by these three phones too, they offer nice...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_official_handson_video_of_xperia_xa2_ultra-news-29087.php

LG ThinQ WK9 combines Google Assistant, awesome speakers and an 8" screen

Earlier LG unveiled ThinQ smart speakers with Google Assistant and today it is expanding that lineup with a smart display - the LG ThinQ WK9. It has impressive stereo speakers of its own, tuned by Meridian Audio, but it stands out with an 8" touchscreen. It has Chromecast functionality built in so you can cast to it from other devices. With the camera above the screen you can make Duo calls. Unfortunately, that is all that LG has revealed about this device so far.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_thinq_wk9_smart_screen_with_google_assistant-news-29084.php

Lenovo Mirage VR headset and camera hands-on

A standalone VR headset developed jointly by Lenovo and Google was announced back in June 2017. The product made its way to CES 2018, and now it's official - meet the Lenovo Mirage Solo. The Chinese manufacturer also introduced the Lenovo Mirage VR streaming camera with two 180-degree lenses for immersive 3D. The Mirage Solo headset is based on the Daydream by Google, unsurprisingly. It lets you walk around virtual space using inside-out WorldSense tracking. During our demo, it felt wonky, but we attribute this behavior to the large amounts of interferences around. This headset...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_mirage_vr_headset_camera_hands_on-news-29086.php

Deal: HTC 10 now €300 in France

HTC moved away from metal bodies and 3.5mm jacks, but you can relive those glory days with an HTC 10 - currently €300 in France, sold by Rue Du Commerce (A Carrefour company). Available in Silver (the other colors are too pricey), the phone comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB storage. Units will start shipping on Friday, January 12, so you can't get it immediately but quickly enough. The retailer will ship to France (and Monaco), so you may need a parcel formwarding service. The HTC 10 is getting a bit long in the tooth, but it will receive Oreo soon and has a good-quality camera. And a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_htc_10_now__euro300_in_france-news-29085.php

Motorola announces a health monitor and a keyboard Mod

Motorola has announced two new Moto Mods for compatible devices, the Lenovo Vital and the Livermorium Slider Keyboard. The Lenovo Vital is easily the more interesting of the two. It is a health monitor that can be slapped on the back of your phone and measure your heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, core body temperature and for the first time, accurate systolic and diastolic blood pressure from your finger. The other Mod isn't remotely as interesting. It's a slider keyboard mod that slides out from under your phone and lets you type like it's still 2008. This Mod...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_announces_a_health_monitor_and_a_keyboard_mod_-news-29088.php