Asus Zenfone 5 renders surface out of a manual

Asus has scheduled a Zenfone 5 announcement for February 27 in Barcelona, and the way the company usually does things makes us think it won't be just one Zenfone 5. If anything, the #backto5 tagline could be closer to the number of devices we may see at MWC, in addition to being a shout out to the already existing Zenfone 5s. Just Asus things. Anyway, one of these Zenfone 5s has been revealed in a manufacturer's manual sporting an (aluminum?) unibody and a tall 18:9 display, likely in the 5.7" ballpark. Carrying an internal designation X00PD, it's unclear which model exactly this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_5_renders_surface_out_of_a_manual-news-29459.php

Moto X4 now $249 on Project Fi

You can now grab a Moto X4 for the heavily discounted price of $249 on Project Fi, Google's virtual operator proudly tweeted. That's a significant $150 chunk off its usual retail price. Naturally, the deal comes with a requirement for a new plan activation, but that's usually the case. Get the power-packed Android One Moto X⁴ on Project Fi—now just $249.https://t.co/oaPvro55TW pic.twitter.com/NTW4ENkke8— Project Fi (@projectfi) February 2, 2018 The Moto X4 packs a 5.2-inch FullHD display in a stylish glass and aluminum body. The Snapdragon 630 is in charge of number crunching...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/moto_x4_now_249_on_project_fi-news-29457.php

So that's what a triple camera looks like - alleged Huawei P20 renders are here

Huawei's next P-series flagship (or a whole family of them) is coming on March 27 instead of MWC a month earlier, but the internet is still undecided on whether it'll be called the P11 or P20. Regardless of naming, at least one of the models in the family was rumored to feature a triple camera setup and one case maker is now giving us a glimpse of how that may end up looking. Alleged Huawei P20 case renders The three cams are arranged vertically in the top left corner of the back. What looks like a dual LED flash is under them, next to it a laser autofocus window,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/so_thats_what_3_cameras_on_the_back_of_a_phone_look_like__alleged_huawei_p20_renders_are_here-news-29458.php

Motorola Moto Z2 Play gets $150 price cut starting tomorrow

In what seems to be a Valentine's Day deal, the Motorola Moto Z2 Play is getting a price cut in the US. The device will be officially available for $350, which if you compare is a solid $150 down from the tag it usually carries. The deal is available on the unlocked variant. It begins tomorrow (February 4) and runs through February 17. There are some other deals as well. For example, those purchasing a Moto Z2 Force will get a free Alexa Mod, and Moto Mods in general will be available at a discount of 25%. For more info, head to the Source link below. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_z2_play_gets_150_price_cut_starting_tomorrow-news-29455.php

New update hitting Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018)

Samsung has started pushing out a new update to its Galaxy A8+ (2018) smartphone. Weighing in at around 115MB and arriving as firmware version A730FXXU1ARAC, it's a security update that's currently hitting units in India. No, it's not the February update - security level stays at January 1 (if you remember, the device has already got the January update). So it's not clear what exactly the update brings along. The same happened with the Galaxy Note8 recently, so we assume this new update for the Galaxy A8+ (2018) also includes fixes for the Meltdown and Spectre...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_update_hitting_samsung_galaxy_a8_2018-news-29456.php

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 leaks with 18:9 display, dual cameras, and huge battery

Last month, we covered the possibility of a new Redmi Note 5 smartphone for global markets. Two Xiaomi devices have passed through China's 3C earlier last month, which we suspected were two versions of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (one with less RAM, Storage, and a slower CPU). Fast-forward to now, some alleged renders of the phone have leaked. The renders show a device with very thin top and bottom bezels, akin to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S9. There is also a vertically-placed dual-camera setup above a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. We've seen mockups of this device from before,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_5_leaks_with_189_display_dual_cameras_and_huge_battery_-news-29452.php

Video shows off official Galaxy S9 and S9+ cases, suggests purple version

The folks over at Mobile Fun have posted a video taking a close look at the official Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ cases. These cases are identical to the current Galaxy S8 and S8+ flip cases (sometimes called "S-View standing cover") with the only difference being the name of the smartphone on the packaging and, of course, the placement of the cameras and fingerprint sensor. The case is so similar, in fact, that the host of the video put the S8 into the case and found that it was almost an exact fit, so we can expect the S9 and S9+ to be identical in size and button placement as their...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/video_shows_off_official_galaxy_s9_and_s9_cases_suggests_purple_color_option-news-29451.php

Microsoft introduces cheaper Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2 variants

Microsoft has introduced new price points for each of its Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2 models. Both now start at a lower price, albeit with reduced specs. Starting with the Surface Laptop, the new base model comes with an Intel Core m3 processor with Intel HD Graphics 615, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage and is priced at $799. Previously, the point of entry for this computer was $999, which has a more powerful Core i5. Surface Book 2 Similarly, the Surface Book 2 now starts at $1199 for the 13.5-inch model, and has an Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Previously, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_introduces_cheaper_surface_laptop_and_surface_book_2_variants-news-29450.php

YouTube TV app now available on the Apple TV

The YouTube TV app is now available for tvOS. Google revealed this information in a tweet from the YouTube TV account. The app is available for the 4th and 5th generation Apple TV devices in supported regions only. Hey @AppleTV users, check the app store.— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 1, 2018 YouTube TV is Google's live TV streaming service that debuted last year. For $35/month, you can stream live TV from networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, AMC, BBC, CNBC, CW, Disney, ESPN, FX, MSNBC, National Geographic, and more. For an additional fee, you can also get networks like...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_tv_app_now_available_on_the_apple_tv-news-29449.php

Nokia 8 long-term review

Past the initial hype and a few months after our initial review full of benchmarks and tests, we're ready to tell you what the Nokia 8 feels like when used as a daily driver for a longer period of time. Hopefully, this would give you a fuller picture of the device is capable of.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8_long_term-review-1718.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active gets Wi-Fi certified with Android 8.0 Oreo on board

Samsung is almost ready to release the update to Android Oreo for its S8 and S8+ smartphones, following a lengthy beta testing period that has recently ended. The company even put out an infographic today detailing the new features you can expect to see in the Oreo-infused Samsung Experience 9 software. In the US, T-Mobile is already testing the new release, but it now looks like a third model may be joining the aforementioned S8 duo in tasting the treat pretty soon. We're talking about the other member of the S8 family, the S8 Active. This rugged handset launched last year as the first in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_active_gets_wifi_certified_with_android_80_oreo_on_board-news-29448.php

Google doubles its devices shipment in 2017, revenue goes up 38%

The parent company of Google, Alphabet, posted Q4 2017 and fiscal year 2017 results. The report said the 2017 revenues were $110.9 billion, which is a 23% increase year over year. The October-December period accounted for $32.3 billion, $4.69 billion of them coming from Google other revenues that include Pixel phones and Play Store sales. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, while not disclosing any numbers, said in its earnings call that shipments of devices doubled in 2017, including "tens of millions" Chromecast, Chromebook and Google Home speakers. Other revenue category posted 38%...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_double_device_shipment__revenue_up_38-news-29447.php

Nokia sales grew throughout 2017, reached a total of 8.45 million units

HMD took it slow when it resurrected the Nokia brand. It initially launched the Nokia 6 in China and managed to sell 100,000 units in the first quarter (per IDC numbers). Its confidence grew and expanded to more regions and introduced more models. Q2 saw the introduction of the Nokia 5 and 3. Sales jumped up significantly as those two (along with the 6) went on the international market - New Nokias don't seem to do well in China. The number of smartphones sold per quarter kept growing and in the last three months of 2017, HMD had a 1% share of global smartphone sales - a total of 8.45...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_sales_grew_throughout_2017-news-29446.php

Xiaomi updates Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime to MIUI 9

The global MIUI 9 rollout continues with Xiaomi Redmi 3s and Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime getting the Nightly update. The firmware version is MIUI V9.2.2.0.MALMIEK and is 376 MB in size and is based on Android Marshmallow with an April 2017 security patch. Bear in mind that this is a Nightly build. Xiaomi pushes Stable update to random users and if feedback is going well, the company will roll it out to everybody else. MIUI 9 already arrived to plenty of devices - from current flagship Xiaomi Mi 6 to the Redmi 1s from 2014. The new user interface version brings Smart app launcher,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_3s_redmi_3s_prime_miui_9-news-29445.php

Limited Razer Phone 2018 Gold Edition celebrates the Spring Festival

Razer has made a special edition of its Phone to celebrate the Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival). The Razer Phone 2018 Gold Edition comes in a special red-sleeved box with golden Razer stickers. The phone itself is the same as the regular Razer Phone save for the logo on the back, which has been died in gold. The Gold Edition will start selling today through the International RazerStore and through Three Hong Kong retail stores. It's price is $699.99.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/limited_razer_phone_2018_gold_edition_celebrates_the_spring_festival-news-29444.php

Huawei patents smartwatch gestures for the back of your hand

Less than a month after the approval for a touch-sensitive bezel patent, Huawei now holds the rights for smartphone gestures performed on the back of your hand. This means ultrasonic or infrared sensors follow the finger. This solution takes care of the limited touch area on the smartwatch display. According to the patent, the device can sense movements in four zones around the watch, meaning you can draw even in the air. The sensor will detect when you started writing or swiping and when you stopped. All you need to remember is keeping the finger at the same height as the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_patent_smartwatch_gesture_back_hand-news-29443.php

Samsung stays on top with 317M shipments in 2017

International Data Corporation and Strategy Analytics published their reports on the global smartphone shipments in Q4 and the full year 2017. The data reveals that Apple shipped 77.3 million iPhones in Q4 2017, most of any other manufacturer. For the full year, Samsung held its top position, shipping more than 317 million phones. Xiaomi impressed analysts by almost doubling its shipments - 28.1 million between October and December 2017 versus just 14.3 million for the same period in 2016. Data from Strategy Analytics The holiday season brought anything but smiles to manufacturers...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_top_317_million_shipments_2017-news-29439.php

Shuffle at the top - Sony CEO Kaz Hirai steps down

After 6 years as Sony CEO, Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai is stepping down to a more sidelined position as chairman and will be replaced by current CFO Kenichiro Yoshida. Yoshida will take the reigns on April 1, vacating the spot of CFO, which will be taken by current Sony Mobile CEO Hiroki Totoki. Image credit: Sony Kaz Hirai was the one who hired Kenichiro Yoshida as Strategy Chief at Sony and has worked closely with him since. Hirai will remain an active voice in Sony as chairman and vows to "facilitate a smooth transition". Sony's mobile division has been struggling for a while now...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/shuffle_at_the_top__sony_ceo_kaz_hirai_steps_down-news-29438.php

Samsung details Oreo-based Experience 9 update

Samsung is edging ever closer to seeding the final Oreo firmware to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and has put together an infographic, detailing all that's new about Samsung Experience 9, which is the software suite for Oreo Samsung smartphones. There are plenty of improvements, including the keyboard or Bixby. The former has 4 new High Contrast modes and a new toolbar above the numeric row with shortcuts for emoji, stickers and GIF search. The Samsung keyboard has also received a new simplified settings menu. Improved keyboard The Bixby briefing panel can now play background music...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/see_whats_new_about_samsung_experience_9_in_this_infographic-news-29437.php

New Samsung Galaxy Note8 update brings security improvements

Shortly after rolling out the January security patch to the Galaxy Note8, Samsung has started pushing out a new update to its flagship smartphone. Carrying the build number of N950FXXU3BRA8, the update is currently hitting units in Brazil and France. The change-log only mentions "improved security." It's quite possible that the update includes fixes for the Meltdown and Spectre security vulnerabilities, as Verizon Note8 recently received these fixes through an update. Have you received the update? If you noticed any changes let us know in comments below. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_samsung_galaxy_note8_update_brings_security_improvements-news-29434.php

YouTube Go expands to 130 countries

YouTube Go is one of the apps that's part of Google's effort to get the same information to people in developing countries while using a lot less data. There are other apps with the same concept: a lightweight version of an otherwise data-hungry app that offers the app's core functionalities while keeping tabs on data usage. The app is expanding to 130 countries around the world, so it's quite a big deal. The app is arriving in the Play Store in many countries in Central and South America, Middle Eastern countries, and part of Africa. YouTube Go first launched as a Beta product in India...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_go_expands_to_130_countries-news-29432.php

T-Mobile in testing phase of Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8

Samsung held an Oreo Beta program for those who signed up to test non-final firmware builds of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. The program has since closed and testers are waiting for Samsung to finally drop the final stable release of Oreo for the Samsung duo. As we patiently wait for a stable build to arrive, T-Mobile's software update tracker has been updated to reflect that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ are in the testing stage needed before the mobile carrier can release the update to the masses. This stage could take anywhere between a couple of weeks and a couple of months or...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_in_testing_phase_of_android_oreo_update_for_galaxy_s8-news-29431.php

Apple now sells certified refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, starting at $499

Virgin Mobile isn't the only company that's now offering refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus units to eager customers. Apple itself has stepped into this market starting today. You can buy a certified refurbished iPhone 7 for $499 (with 32GB of storage), $589 (128GB), or $679 (256GB). The iPhone 7 Plus is priced at $599 (32GB), and $689 (128GB), respectively. The bigger model isn't offered with 256GB of storage at this time. On average you're saving around 9-10% when buying refurbished from Apple compared to what these devices cost brand new. Note that purchasing an Apple certified...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_now_sells_certified_refurbished_iphone_7_and_iphone_7_plus_starting_at_499-news-29430.php

Deal: Galaxy Note8 gets $200 cheaper at Verizon

Verizon is kicking off February with a very nice deal on one of the hottest smartphones of the moment - Samsung's Galaxy Note8, that is. This is usually priced at $960 all-in at the carrier nicknamed Big Red, but starting today you can grab one for only $760. To benefit from this $200 price cut, all you need to do is purchase the phone using Verizon's device installment payment scheme. You will pay $31.66 per month for two years, down from the normal price of $40 per month. The price reduction will be applied in the form of bill credits, starting in 1-2 billing cycles. This ends when...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_galaxy_note8_gets_200_cheaper_at_verizon-news-29429.php

Nintendo announces Mario Kart Tour for mobile

Good news for fans of anything Mario-related! Today Nintendo has unveiled that it plans to launch a new game on mobile platforms. It will be called Mario Kart Tour, and it's already in active development. Mario Kart Tour should become available on an iPhone or Android handset near you before the end of March 2019. That timeline means there could be a lot of waiting to be done, and the company unfortunately hasn't shared any more details about the game. For now, it's good to know that a version of Mario Kart is actually making it to mobile devices. Mario Kart Tour will follow Super...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nintendo_announces_mario_kart_tour_for_mobile-news-29428.php

Flagship Sony Xperias will get 2 years of Android updates, mid-rangers are less lucky

Sony has been one of the more reliable brands when it comes to supporting its old devices, but until now it didn't have an official policy on how long support lasts. So, here's a bit of clarity and piece of mind. Sony commits to upgrading its all of its premium devices to the latest Android version for two years after launch. These top devices all participate in the Security Update Program too, to patch security risks and vulnerabilities. Mid-range and entry-level devices don't get a set period of support. If the company decides the hardware can't deliver "a stable user experience" with...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/flagship_sony_xperias_will_get_2_years_of_android_updates-news-29427.php

Motorola's newest Style Shells are made out of Gorilla Glass

Motorola has launched five new Style Shells that are made out of a combination of Gorilla Glass 5 and polycarbonate. These can be mounted on the back of any of the Motorola devices that supports Moto Mods. Retro Stripe • Overlapping Triangles • Graphic Flowers • Expressive Curves • Colored Leaves The new Style Shells come in five patterns, Retro Stripe, Overlapping Triangles, Graphic Flowers, Expressive Curves, and Colored Leaves. These new glass variants join the existing wood and nylon options. Being made out of glass does make them bit more fragile than the other...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorolas_newest_style_shells_are_made_out_of_gorilla_glass-news-29426.php

Galaxy S9 components (including battery) pictured

Piece by piece, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is coming together - literally! Several components for the upcoming flagship have been unearthed plus a few images from the promo campaign. Most interesting is the battery - 3,000mAh in capacity (11.55Wh). The Brazilian agency told us as much but it's good to have confirmation. The a 3,500mAh (13.48Wh) battery is slated for the Galaxy S9+. Galaxy S9 battery • Galaxy S9+ battery Then there's a photo of S9's single main camera and its fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader has a different shape, it appears slightly wider. The camera...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s9_components_including_battery_pictured-news-29425.php

Google Assistant Go brings Assistant smarts to low-RAM phones

Google has released Assistant Go for Android (Go Edition) smartphones with little RAM. It will be able to make phone calls, send messages, play music and navigate you anywhere all with your voice. while keeping the memory in check. Since Google Assistant Go consumes less storage and RAM it won't have a keyboard, it won't be able to create reminders or control smart home devices. However, Google says some of these features will become available with time. Google Assistant Go is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. Source | Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_assistant_go_brings_assistant_smarts_to_lowram_phones-news-29424.php

Nokia smartphone smaller than the 2 passes through FCC

HMD is brewing up a new device, the TA-1056. FCC docs show it's a surprisingly small phone, measuring 133mm tall and 68mm wide. That's smaller than even the Nokia 2 (143.5 x 71.3mm). And in case you were wondering, this width probably means a 16:9 screen. This is a dual SIM phone (with Cat. 4 LTE) and judging by the location of the FCC info label, the battery is removable (the label is inside the battery compartment). And it has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Little else is known about the Nokia TA-1056 currently, but it seems like an entry-level device rather than a flagship. It's not...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/small_nokia_passes_through_fcc-news-29423.php

Future Honor phones to come with 18:9 displays

Honor recently launched the View 10 and the 7X with the trendy new tall displays with 18:9 ratio. Now the popular leakster Roland Quandt reports that the company is migrating its entire portfolio to the new aspect. The info comes from Honor Germany that said "there will be no new Honor phones that do not have a FullView display" in the future. Quandt also stated that Honor will start pushing the EMUI 8 Oreo-based update in February to selected models. Huawei View 10 with 18:9 FullView display The Honor 8 Pro and Honor 9 are the two lucky devices that will receive the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/future_honor_phones_to_come_with_189_displays-news-29422.php

Samsung Finland lists support page for Galaxy S9+

It's still about a month and a half before the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ make it to the European market but already a second official product page has surfaced online. The last one was a Samsung Germany page for the Galaxy S9, this one is a Finnish support page for the Galaxy S9+. It goes by the product number SM-G965F/DS in which the F stands for International model while the DS for dual SIM. This means that some of the Galaxy S9/S9+ units that will eventually be sold in Finland will be of the Duos variety and will have the hybrid SIM slot which can either harbor 2 nano SIMs or 1...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_finland_lists_support_page_for_galaxy_s9-news-29418.php

Nokia 8 Sirocco trademarked, a premium name will be reborn

HMD is busy resurrecting old Nokia brands, the latest of which is the premium Sirocco line. Model number TA-1005 was just trademarked as Nokia 8 Sirocco. A logo bearing that inscription was found earlier this month. The name is a throwback to the old Nokia 8800 Sirocco, which was named after the Mediterranean wind coming from the Sahara. The Sirocco model differed from the base 8800 with sapphire glass, molded steel panels and a leather case included in the box - it was Nokia's most expensive model at the time. The TA-1005 model name has previously been attached to the Nokia 9 instead,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8_sirocco_trademarked_a_premium_name_will_be_reborn-news-29420.php

Huawei P smart now available in the uk

The Huawei P smart with Fullview Display & Dual Camera is now available in the UK through Vodafone, who have exclusivity until the end of February. Available on a Pay Monthly plans, starting from £9 upfront with a monthly cost of £17. This provides you with 250MB data, 250 minutes call time and Unlimited texts. This is for the 3GB/32GB variant of the phone and comes with Android 8.0 (Oreo) and is powered by the Kirin 659 Octa-core 2.36 GHz CPU. See our Huawei P smart Specification Page for more details. Vodafone UK

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huaweip_smart_available_in_the_uk-news-29419.php

Qualcomm and Samsung extend cross-license partnership

Qualcomm announced today in a press release it is expanding its relationship with Samsung as technology partners. The two companies signed a multi-year strategic agreement over various technology areas across a range of mobile devices. Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm, said later: Qualcomm has enjoyed a strong partnership with Samsung for many years, and we are pleased to further strengthen and extend our relationship through this amended cross-license agreement, alongside our continuing relationship as a key product supplier to Samsung. The agreement covers smartphones like the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_samsung_extend_cross_license_partnership-news-29417.php

Alexa loses her voice in hilarious new Super Bowl ad

The next Super Bowl is on Sunday, but companies already started posting their ads for the NFL event. In the latest Amazon video, the voice assistant Alexa loses her voice, and the company needs to find replacements. Jeff Bezos restlessly asks if the new team will do its job and his employees assure him that there will be no problem. While the 90-second video unfolds, Cardi B sings her hit track "Bodak Yellow" instead of country music, Gordon Ramsay uses his abusive language to explain the complicated recipe of grilled cheese sandwich, and Anthony Hopkins speaks with dramatic pauses,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alexa_lose_voice_new_super_bowl_ad-news-29415.php

Rose Gold Xiaomi Redmi 5A now available in India

Xiaomi has launched the Rose Gold variant of the affordable Redmi 5A in India. The color was originally announced when the phone was launched but wasn't available at so far. The new color joins the existing Gold and Dark Grey options. The new color will be available across all channels the existing device is available through, including mi.com, Flipkart and retail channels. Although, as is usually the case with Xiaomi, the phone was out of stock everywhere online. Apart from the color, the new variant is identical to the other models.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/rose_gold_xiaomi_redmi_5a_now_available_in_india-news-29416.php

LG V30 Raspberry Rose unboxing

Valentine's day is on our door step and the smartphone market has never been more ripe with gifts for that special someone. But LG reckons it can just spare you all the wondering with the V30 Raspberry Rose edition. So let's see if they're right. As the name suggests this is a special color version of the LG V30 that will make it to market right in time for Valentine's day. LG first showed the Raspberry Rose V30 at CES 2018 and now we get to unbox it. Now, we can't promise that you'll be able to buy the Raspberry Rose LG V30 in the special packaging we received, but you will be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_v30_raspberry_rose_handson_review-news-29403.php

Modular Land Rover Explore to debut at MWC

Land Rover builds cars for those who enjoy the outdoors in comfort and luxury. The car company is lending its name to a smartphone that will be called the Land Rover Explore. It's a ruggedized smartphone built by Bullitt Group, the same company that makes Ruggedized CAT phones like the S60 . The company announced the phone at ISPO - an outdoor and sports trade show in Munich. Bullitt certainly has experience building sturdy hardware, and it is an appropriate choice to make a phone like the Land Rover Explore. The Explore is targeted to a more broad audience of folks who enjoy hiking and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/modular_land_rover_explore_to_debut_at_mwc-news-29412.php

Google flights can now predict if your flight will be delayed

Google's vast collection of data helps the travel industry with Google's Hotel search tool and Google Flights. Google is announcing a couple of new features for its plane-ticket search. Starting with finding cheap flights, Google will begin offering more specific information about cheaper flight fares. New kinds of basic economy flights may not offer a carry-on or the option to pick your seat, so Google Flights will provide this information for American, Delta, and United. Next, Google will be able to predict when you flight may be delayed. Google uses a combination of historic...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_flights_can_now_predict_if_your_flight_will_be_delayed-news-29411.php

Honor View 10 review

The Honor View 10's launch is a significant one in Honor's history. It was known as Honor's V-series and it was only available in China. Honor's rebranding to "View" series comes at the same time as the company's decision to launch the smartphone outside of China as a high-value or bang-for-buck smartphone.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_view_10-review-1716.php

Oppo A71 (2018) launches with Snapdragon 450, "AI Beauty Recognition Technology"

The Oppo A71 was quietly announced last September, but it looks like it was a short-lived model. That's because today the Oppo A71 (2018) became official in Pakistan, ahead of a probably imminent launch in India. The A71 (2018) is very similar to its predecessor, but packs in a couple of improvements (and, oddly, 1GB less RAM). It has the same 5.2" 720p display, 16GB of expandable storage, dual-SIM functionality, 13 MP f/2.2 main camera, 5 MP f/2.4 selfie shooter, and 3,000 mAh battery as the original A71. It's even got the exact same dimensions as that, measuring 148.1 x 73.8 x 7.6 mm,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a71_2018_launches_with_snapdragon_450_ai_beauty_recognition_technology-news-29410.php

Huawei P11/P20 officially coming on March 27

The mystery has been revealed: Huawei isn't introducing its new flagship smartphones at MWC next month. Instead, it will wait until March 27, when it's holding a special event in Paris. That's when the P11 or P20 family should become official - we still aren't sure exactly which name will be used. Regardless of that, it is expected to comprise of at least three members, according to recent rumors: a P11/P20, a P11/P20 Plus, and a P11/P20 Lite. A while back there was also a P11/P20 Pro rumored, even allegedly arriving on the market with an iPhone X-like notch. Keep in mind that at least...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p11_p20_officially_coming_on_march_27-news-29409.php

Beta testers to get Galaxy S8 Oreo a day earlier

Samsung will seed the official Oreo firmware update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to registered Beta testers 1 day before the general public. The firmware will carry the new Samsung Experience 9.0 under Android Oreo but there's still no official date for its release. We hope the update is just days away and judging by that announcement it probably is. Thanks for the tip, Pranjal!

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/beta_testers_to_get_oreo_on_galaxy_s8_a_day_earlier_than_the_public-news-29407.php

Samsung now making chips for Bitcoin mining hardware

Even Samsung's foundries have been roped into making Bitcoin mining hardware now. The design for the ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) was completed last year and it went into mass production this month, according to The Bell. These ASIC chips are headed to an unnamed company in China. An analyst from Samsung Securities stated that producing ASICs takes up only a small portion of the capacity of the company's foundries. So this shouldn't affect the production of other chips. Still, this is a win for Samsung. For example, Bitmain (one of largest makers of Bitcoin mining...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_now_making_chips_for_bitcoin_mining_hardware-news-29408.php

Asus to announce Zenfone 5 on February 27

Back in September Asus said the Zenfone 5 series should be expected in Q1 2018 and today we have an official announcement date. The company scheduled an event on February 27 at MWC 2018 in Barcelona. The new phones are arriving just five months after the Zenfone 4 versions hit the market. Six devices were announced back in August, followed by some more in September. Some rumors suggest that we might see at least three devices - Zenfone 5, Zenfone 5 Lite and Zenfone 5 Max with massive battery. According to the poster, phones should arrive with Snapdragon chipsets. The event will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_to_announce_zenfone_5_on_february_27-news-29406.php

A Xiaomi store set to open in Romania in February

Xiaomi is expanding its European presence eastward - a Xiaomi store will open in Romania in less than two weeks, following Spain and (more recently) Italy. The announcement was made on Facebook and a site is already up - though it's not hosted at Mi.com. There's not much to see there besides a countdown clock. The store will open in 11 days from now. It's located in Sibiu, which is close to the center of the country, around 275km (171mi) from Bucharest. It will be on Tribunei st. specifically, though most people will likely use the online store. What that store will house is TBD,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/a_xiaomi_store_set_to_open_in_romania_in_february-news-29405.php

An 18:9 Sony Xperia Compact certified by the FCC

This could be interesting - a Sony Xperia Compact with a tall aspect ratio screen. This is just conjecture based on dimensions from an FCC certification, but the numbers are lining up beautifully. The Xperia in question has a 5" screen (126mm) and measures 135.43 x 64.63 mm. For comparison, an Xperia XZ1 Compact is 129 x 64mm - same width, but shorter. The FCC only gave the display diagonal, not its aspect ratio or sides. However, check out what happens when we compare a 4.6" 16:9 screen (like that of the XZ1 Compact) and a 5" 18:9 screen: Would it be too optimistic to think...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/an_189_sony_xperia_compact_may_have_been_certified_by_the_fcc-news-29402.php

alcatel 5 leaks in press renders and promo video

The upcoming alcatel 5 popped up on Amazon France, revealing some specs. Today the famous leakster Roland Quandt posted on Twitter a promo video, additional press renders and a complete specs sheet, including pricing and availability. The alcatel 5 will have a 5.7" IPS LCD with 18:9 ratio and HD+ resolution. The phone is equipped with the unimpressive Mediatek MT6750 chipset with eight Cortex-A53 CPU cores, clocked at 1.5 GHz. The phone will have 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage, but there is microSD to store all your multimedia. Since the phone screen takes most of the front, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_5_leaks_parade_press_renders_promo_video-news-29401.php

CAD schematics highlight the miniscule design changes for the Galaxy S9

The Galaxy S9 will be a generation for refinement rather than revolution. The exterior design of the new phones has barely changed - comparing CAD schematics for both makes it plain to see. For the most part, the S9 phones - both the small one and the Galaxy S9+ - will be differ by fractions of a millimeter compared to the S8 generation. The biggest change seems to be that the S9+ model will be 1.7mm shorter than its predecessor (we've included a table with dimensions at the bottom). The screen position, even the thickness of the earpiece have been nudged ever so slightly. There...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9_cad_schematics-news-29400.php