Alleged Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s handled on video - uses iPhone X-style gestures, of course

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is the next model in the lineup that made the whole bezelless craze mainstream (because just how much reach does Sharp have as a smartphone brand?), and we have a pretty good idea how it'll look thanks to a seemingly official render from a week ago. But it's even better to see the actual phone, live, on video, right? The folks over at OnPhones have gotten their hands on a Mi Mix 2S, by the looks of it, and have shared a short, yet revealing clip. The big news is that the bezelless phone will employ gestures, not unlike the ones found on the iPhone X - for accessing the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_2s_handled_on_video_iphone_xstyle_gestures-news-29670.php

Huawei P20 Plus to come with 4,000mAh battery, always on display

Huawei's P20 family of smartphones is scheduled for a March 27 announcement in Paris and we're expecting three phones to go official then and there - a 'regular' P20, a Lite and a Plus (or maybe Pro?). It's this latter version that we have some new bits on, courtesy of @funkyhuawei. The flashing/unbricking/assorted-software-tinkering service that specializes in Huawei phones has allegedly dug up P20 Plus firmware files and inside those - a mention of a 4,000mAh battery. On top of that, a reference to an always on display feature has also been found in the files. Huawei P10 Plus -...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p20_plus_to_come_with_4000mah_battery_always_on_display-news-29669.php

Dual-curved Meizu 15 Plus pictured with some screen protectors

The Meizu 15 Plus has been a regular at the rumor mill since December last year, and even posed for some live shots a couple of weeks ago. In today's installment of the saga of pre-announcement leaks, we're treated to a few renders of the phone with some glass screen protectors meant to cover its dual-curved screen. Meizu 15 Plus screen protector renders Screen protector manufacturers aren't ones to care for specs as long as they have the cutouts right, so no additional info on hardware comes from these images. That said, the renders do confirm a design that features minimal...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/dualcurved_meizu_15_plus_pictured_with_some_screen_protectors-news-29668.php

Unknown Huawei phone gets leaked, looks like the Honor 7X

Renders of a yet-to-be-announced Huawei phone have surfaced online - in high resolution and two color schemes. Now, not to be ungrateful to Evan Blass for digging up the images, but we're inclined to disagree with the leaker calling the phone a 'Huawei-branded Honor 8 Pro' - it's more of a Huawei-branded Honor 7X in our book. Unnamed Huawei phone, model number BND-L34 Of course, to be fair, Huawei's entire naming scheme is a complete mess with seemingly identical phones called entirely different names across the world. We won't pretend we know marketing better than the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/unknown_huawei_phone_gets_leaked_looks_like_the_honor_7x-news-29667.php

Deals: 50% off on both Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 2 XL

If you are a Samsung or Google fan in the US, and are planning to purchase a new high-end smartphone, you might want to check the deals being offered on the Galaxy S8 and Pixel 2 XL. Starting with the Pixel 2 XL, retailer Best Buy is offering the deal that'll save you a total of $400 on your purchase of the device. So as clear from the screenshot above, the $400 discount comes in the form of "$300 in bill credits and $100 instant savings when you buy and activate with a monthly installment plan for Verizon." Oh, and yes, the deal ends today. So act fast. Moving on to the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_50_off_on_both_samsung_galaxy_s8_and_google_pixel_2_xl-news-29665.php

Google System being tested to locate 911 callers more accurately

We live in a world where Uber and Facebook are able to get much more accurate location information than where it is realty needed, in the event of an emergency. Apple and Google have both faced pressure in the past few years to make Android and iOS' comprehensive location information available to 911 dispatchers. Google is the first to address this by tackling a very pressing issue that faces emergency responders in the United States. When you call 911 during an emergency, the call center receives carrier information of the location of the caller. However, the problem is that the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_system_being_tested_to_locate_911_callers_more_accurately-news-29664.php

Essential Phone launches Amazon-exclusive ‘Halo Gray' alongside three new colors

When the Essential PH-1 launched, it was available in Black Moon and Pure White. Yesterday, Essential announced three new color options for its PH-1 including Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray, and Copper Black, all of which are limited editions. This a nice contrast to all the bright red color coats we've seen pop up over the past few months. Today, Essential launched a new Amazon-exclusive surprise color option called Halo Gray. It features a matter gray ceramic back with a matte silver titanium frame. Additionally, the Amazon model will come with the Alexa App pre-installed. This color will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/essential_phone_launches_amazonexclusive_halo_gray_alongside_three_new_colors-news-29662.php

LG's next flagship arrives in June with Snapdragon 845, 6.1" screen, stereo speakers

Since the G6 was unwrapped at MWC last year, you might expect LG to unveil the G7 at the end of this month in Barcelona, but you'd be wrong. The Korean company has recently decided to overhaul its launch strategy, so all we're getting at MWC 2018 is apparently an AI-infused iteration of the V30. LG's true next flagship smartphone is set to arrive in June, according to a new report from VentureBeat's Evan Blass, a.k.a. @evleaks. This device will not be called G7, which means we may bid farewell to the G series. Right now it's known only by its codename: Judy. LG V30, Judy's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lgs_next_flagship_arrives_in_june_with_snapdragon_845_61_screen_stereo_speakers-news-29663.php

Huawei P Smart review

This one's perhaps a little unexpected given it was rumored to be the Enjoy 7S. It's by no means a nasty surprise though. In fact, quite the opposite. You see, Huawei's Enjoy phones aren't getting much love usually - either because they're a strictly domestic lineup, known as the Y-series globally, or because they're ...well... easily eclipsed by the flagship P's and the Mates.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p_smart-review-1723.php

Upcoming Samsung Galaxy J4 pops up in a benchmark

While everyone is looking forward to the grand unveiling of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ at MWC next week, Samsung is also busy working on other, lower-end smartphones. One such model is the upcoming Galaxy J4, which may launch under the J4 (2018) moniker. It bears the model number SM-J400, and its existence has been revealed by the Geekbench database. The benchmark run that a prototype was put through helpfully tells us a couple of things about the phone. It's powered by the Exynos 7570 chipset, an entry-level part announced in 2016. It is built on the 14nm process, making it quite power...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_samsung_galaxy_j4_pops_up_in_a_benchmark-news-29661.php

Some loyal Nexus owners are being offered 20% off a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL

If you're interested in picking up a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL with a discount, you may have seen yesterday's one-day only deal for a refurbished unit of the smaller model. If you missed that or want the XL variant, Google has something new and exciting in store for you. That is, if you are deemed by the company to be a "loyal Nexus owner". Many people in the US have received emails from the search giant which look like the screenshot below. You get a 20% discount on any storage version of the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. Here's the catch, however. You can only take advantage of this deal if...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/some_loyal_nexus_owners_are_being_offered_20_off_a_pixel_2_or_pixel_2_xl-news-29660.php

Next ZTE nubia Z phone will have a Snapdragon 845, AnTuTu reveals

ZTE's nubia line has some striking designs that house the powerful chipset of the day - for the Z17 that was the Snapdragon 835 and for this newly leaked nubia NX606J it's the Snapdragon 845. The nubia Z17s was the first in the line to feature a tall screen, 17:9. The new device - let's call it the nubia Z19 because its model name is clunky - has an 18:9 screen. Its resolution is 1,080 x 2,160px. The Snapdragon 845 chipset runs Android 8.0, though this being a nubia means the OS is heavily customized. There's 6GB of RAM (good) with 32GB of storage (half what the Z17s had). ZTE...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/next_zte_nubia_z_phone_will_have_a_snapdragon_845_antutu_reveals-news-29657.php

Huawei launches Red Honor 7X internationally, adds a Gray color too

Valentine's Day may be over, but that doesn't mean we no longer want red phones. Huawei is bringing the Red limited edition of its Honor 7X to the global stage (after it already launched in the US). And there's a surprise - there's a Gray version too. Yup, the Honor 7X launched in Black, Blue and Gold, but no Gray (a pretty popular color). There's a catch, though, only 20,000 units will be made of the Red and Gray versions. If you're interested, the phones are available "in select markets" at a price of £270 - same as the regular colors. There's another catch, though - regardless of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_launches_red_honor_7x_internationally_adds_a_gray_color_too-news-29658.php

Strategy Analytics: Apple scores 51% of global smartphone revenue in Q4 2017

Strategy Analytics published its quarterly report on the smartphone revenue between October and December 2017. According to the data, Apple snatched $61.4 billion or 51% of the total $120.2 billion. Second came Samsung with $18.9 billion with a share of 15.7%, while third was Huawei with $8.4 billion revenue or 7% of the pie. Morgan Stanley also published a research note for the same period, stating the iPhone market in China grew 12% on a quarterly basis. The Cupertino company managed to rake in three times more revenue than the next best manufacturer due to iPhone's average...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/strategy_analytics_apple_scores_51_of_global_smartphone_revenue_in_q4_2017-news-29654.php

First Nokia 7 Plus live image leaks

Just a day after the Nokia 7 Plus appeared in press images, a live shot of the phone popped up. Expected to arrive at MWC 2018, the 7 Plus is going to be the first Nokia by HMD Global with 18:9 screen ratio as the photo reveals. The photo shows that the Nokia 7 Plus will keep the stock UI HMD is implementing since the first Nokia 6. The tall screen will have rounded corners, although you have to tweak the brightness a bit to see the detail more clearly. The glass on top will be 2.5D curved panel and will protect the selfie camera, positioned in the upper right corner, right next to the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/first_nokia_7_plus_live_image_leak-news-29652.php

Google Play Store to expand to 52 countries and 25 languages in 2018

Google has some impressive products like Google Home and the Pixel 2/Pixel 2 XL phones, but the biggest issue is lack of availability on a global scale. A slide from the Digital News Initiative summit in Amsterdam, Netherlands revealed a map of all the countries and regions Google will cover by the end of 2018, spanning across 54 locales in 52 countries and 25 languages with local support. The map shows in blue where Google devices and services will be locally available. The graphics, albeit low-quality, reveal that the new countries will be 38, while the new supported languages...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_support_52_countries_25_languages_2018-news-29651.php

Amazon Echo devices now available to all customers

Amazon has opened up the sales of the Echo devices in India to everyone. The devices can now be purchased online through Amazon.in and offline through 350 retail stores across 20 cities, including Croma, Reliance, Vijay Sales, Crossword and more. Amazon first launched the Echo series in India back in October 2017 but back then the devices were only available on an invite basis. It took the company four months to open up the sales for everyone, during which time it mostly spent making Alexa better. Alexa in India has been revamped considerably to work with Indian voices and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_echo_devices_now_available_to_all_customers-news-29647.php

Microsoft Photos Companion app for Android and iOS helps ease transfers to a PC

Microsoft has launched a new app for both Android and iOS today. It's called Photos Companion and its name is pretty self-explanatory. Its aim is to help you easily transfer the photos you have on your phone to your Windows 10 PC. They will then be available in the Windows 10 Photos app. To use it, after you've installed it from the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store, you just scan the QR code shown in the Windows Photos app. To make sure that has the required functionality, grab the latest update from the Microsoft Store. Once your phone and the Windows 10 Photos app are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_photos_companion_app_for_android_and_ios_helps_ease_transfers_to_a_pc-news-29646.php

Here's why Samsung stopped the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+

A week after releasing the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung stepped on the breaks. What happened? An issue that was not caught during beta testing reared its surprise reboot head, that's what. Following a limited number of cases where Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices have rebooted unexpectedly with the Android 8.0 Oreo, we have temporarily stopped the rollout of the update. We are investigating the issue internally to ensure that the impact to the affected devices is minimized and the rollout of the update can resume as quickly as possible. If your phone has downloaded the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_why_samsung_stopped_the_oreo_update_for_the_galaxy_s8-news-29645.php

Refurbished Pixel 2 down to $530 today

Google will charge you $650 for a Pixel 2, $750 if you want 128GB storage. Woot! has a better deal, though with a catch - it's a certified refurbished device. You do get 1 year Google warranty with it. The 64GB model is $530 while the 128GB one is $580 (available in Just Black only). Keep in mind that this deal is for today only - there are about 13 hours left (and a limited supply to go around). Google Pixel 2: Just Black • Clearly White • Simply Blue Note that this is the Verizon model, but it has most of the bands necessary for the other US carriers. The one notable...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/woot_offers_refurbished_pixel_2_at_530-news-29644.php

New major iOS bug can crash most of your messaging apps

A new iOS 11.2.5 bug has been discovered, which affects iPhones and can crash iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Gmail or Outlook. All it takes is a specific Telugu symbol and the app becomes nonresponsive. Telugu is an Indian language spoken by some 72 million people and it's unclear why iOS 11.2.5 has trouble loading its symbols. Once the symbol is received the only way to recover access to iMessage is if another person sends you a message and you delete the other thread, containing the troublesome symbol. Another iOS bug is crashing iPhones and disabling access to iMessage...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_major_ios_bug_can_crash_most_of_your_messaging_apps-news-29643.php

Official Galaxy S9 cases now available, including a cloth Clear View case

It's a little known fact about the mobile world that phone cases have no patience - they never wait for their phone companion to be unveiled before they barge into stores. We've seen Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ cases before, but now MobileFun brings us the full set of official cases. The hyperknit cover is available in Red, as expected. But more interesting is the other cloth case - it has a flap on the front, which lets the Always On screen shine through (just like a Clear View cover). Galaxy S9 cases: Hyperknit (Gray) • Hyperknit (Red) • LED Flip Wallet Galaxy S9...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/official_galaxy_s9_cases_now_available-news-29642.php

Nokia to consider the future of its Digital Health business

Nokia purchased the French digital health company Withings back in 2016 and less than two years later is considering what to do with it. An official press release stated the Digital Health business is going into strategic review, effectively meaning Nokia is thinking if it should sell or even shut down the whole department. Nokia Steel HR Losing the Digital Health division could be a big blow for Nokia. The info about a strategic review comes just 4 months after canceling the OZO VR project due to slower-than-expected development of the market. In the brief press message the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_future_digital_health_business_withings-news-29640.php

Qualcomm may follow up its 7nm modem with a 7nm chipset: the Snapdragon 855

Qualcomm unveiled its first 7nm chips yesterday. But there's more to the story - Qualcomm contractors may be gearing up to build the Snapdragon 855 on a 7nm process as well. Qualcomm won't say it, but their contractors do. Snapdragon 855 (SDM855) is the first 7nm SoC. (probably the one the X24 modem ends up in) pic.twitter.com/Ot1J34fQoG— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) February 15, 2018 The upcoming 845 chip is being built on a 10nm Low Power Plus process, an incremental upgrade over the 10nm Low Power Early process used in the 835. Samsung (which is fabbing the chips) claims 10% higher...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_may_follow_up_its_7nm_modem_with_a_7nm_chipset_the_snapdragon_855-news-29639.php

Motorola launches Limited Edition Z2 Force bundle in India with TurboPower Mod

Motorola has launched the Moto Z2 Force in India. The phone is priced at INR 34,999 ($547) and will include a Moto TurboPower Mod. The phone will be available online through Flipkart and offline through Moto Hubs across India, starting February 15, 23:59 IST. Moto Z2 Force The Moto Z2 Force is currently the flagship device in Motorola's range. As the name suggests, it is part of Motorola's rugged series of devices that include the ShatterShield display that has a plastic layer over the display that is resistant to cracking under stress. The body is made out of rugged 7000 series...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_2s_to_come_with_sony_imx363_firmware_confirms-news-29641.php

Samsung teases reimagined camera on the Galaxy S9

Samsung has released another quick video teaser for the upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ this time focusing on the camera in its entirety. The previous promo video teased the new slow-motion and low-light abilities of the Galaxy S9 camera, this one hints at better selfies, selfie video, some sort of Snapchat-like animation effects (like the ones the Galaxy S/S8+ already have), flash and low light photography and finally Boomerang-like warp videos. The word reimagined suggests that Samsung's new flagship camera(s) will be much more than just refined, but will be completely...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_teases_reimagined_camera_on_the_galaxy_s9-news-29638.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S to come with Sony IMX363, firmware confirms

This Saturday, an official-looking Xiaomi teaser of the Mi Mix 2S appeared on Weibo suggesting 6" tall screen, Snapdragon 845 chipset, 8 GB RAM and a dual camera on the back. Today firmware files were leaked and confirmed the rumored specs, while also revealing that the camera of the new Xiaomi phablet will have a Sony IMX363 sensor. IMX363 most likely to come with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S The dual camera will be a first for the Mi Mix series and it will have some AI features like scene recognition. There will be also the usual MIUI features, although object tracking, auto HDR and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_2s_sony_imx363_firmware_confirms-news-29637.php

Samsung patents a way for smartwatches to measure blood pressure

Many smartwatches (even smartbands) can measure your heart rate, but very few can measure blood pressure. That's because to measure blood pressure, you need a tight-fitting band that presses into your hand uncomfortably. A patent shows that Samsung may have figured out a way to make the measurement with a light sensor similar to the heart rate sensors. The patent drawings show a watch, called Samsung Gear X (not to be confused with Gear IconX). The design shown is similar to the original Gear watches and we're pretty sure it's just a placeholder (same for the name). The way...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_patents_a_way_for_smartwatches_to_measure_blood_pressure-news-29636.php

Facebook launches Messenger Kids for Android

Facebook's modified Messenger Kids app is now available on Android, having been already available on iOS and Amazon Fire tablets. The application is aimed at 6- to 12-year old children and lacks in-app purchases or Hide options so that parents can have more control over any unsolicited messages. Messenger Kids The app gives kids the ability to have more fun, the listing on the Play Store claims. Facebook added kid-appropriate stickers, GIFs, frames and emojis to help kids "creatively express themselves." There are also one-to-one video calls with interactive AR...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_launches_messenger_kids_for_android-news-29635.php

BlackBerry Motion now officially available in EU

The BlackBerry Motion smartphone is now officially available in most parts of Europe. The company's EU store has started offering the device as well as its accessories across 28 European countries. The phone was already available in some parts of Europe, but now it's more widely available in the continent. As for pricing, the handset carries a tag of €469.00 with delivery costs between €6.56 and €13.75. The available accessories include a Hard Shell, Peep Proof Flipcase, and Tempered Glass Screen. The complete list of country availability is: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_motion_officially_available_eu-news-29633.php

Factory images for Razer Phone are now available

If you have a Razer Phone, and have been waiting for the company to make available factory images for the handset, you'll be glad to know that has been done. Images for the month of November, December, and January are now available for download (Source links at the bottom). There's a dedicated page on Razer's official website listing detailed instructions for flashing images, so you can refer to that in case you need any help or clarification. Needless to say, flashing a factory image requires your phone's bootloader to be unlocked, and as is usually the case (Razer makes it clear...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/factory_images_for_razer_phone_are_now_available-news-29632.php

Essential rolls out Oreo Beta 8.1

Essential has just announced on Twitter that those on the Oreo Beta on the Essential Phone can update to Android Oreo 8.1 Beta. Those of you with Android 7.1 will also be able to participate by sideloading the update. Essential is working on posting the update to its website, so the only way to get Oreo 8.1 Beta at the moment is via an OTA update. We just started rolling out Oreo Beta 8.1 through OTA. This update includes February security patches, dynamic calendar and clock icons, a slow-scrolling jitter fix (beta), and more. 😍 #EssentialPhone— Essential (@essential) February...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/essential_rolls_out_oreo_beta_81-news-29630.php

LG USA giving away 30 Raspberry Rose V30s on Twitter

LG USA is running a sweepstakes where 10 lucky winners can grab one of ten exclusive Raspberry Rose colored LG V30 in honor of Valentine's Day. LG will be making two extra drawings, so there are a total of 30 Raspberry Rose V30s you might win. All you have to do is retweet the following post from LG USA and you'll be eligible to win the #BeMineLGV30 Sweepstakes. Valentine's Day means 2x the love and 2x the LG V30 phones in the #BeMineLGV30 sweeps. We're giving away TEN exclusive LG V30s in the new Raspberry Rose color! RT by 2/15 for a chance to win, and come back for more giveaways...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_usa_giving_away_30_raspberry_rose_v30s_on_twitter-news-29629.php

Apple updates HomePod support page, warns about marks on wood

A number of HomePod owners have started noticing rings left on wooden surfaces, particularly those with oil-based finishes. The silicone in the base of the HomePod can react to oil on a molecular level, causing these marks or rings. This type of problem is not specific to the HomePod, in fact, all kinds of speakers (or anything with a silicone base like an Amazon Echo Dot) can cause these kinds of marks on wood. Because of this, Apple has updated its HomePod support page with the following information regarding the HomePod and wooden surfaces. It is not unusual for any speaker with a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_updates_homepod_support_page_warning_about_marks_on_wood_surfaces-news-29628.php

Apple iPhone 8 Plus long-term review

This review is our fourth article in a series of long-term reviews - a format which we hadn't attempted previously. While our regular reviews are focusing on assessing every aspect of a device's performance in the most objective way possible, the long-term review is where we will give you a more subjective look - an outline of what it's like to live with a specific smartphone every day - in this case, the iPhone 8 Plus.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_8_plus_long_term-review-1722.php

Android 8.0 Oreo beta program for the ZTE Axon 7 debuts in the US

ZTE's Axon 7 has been pretty successful in the US, at least as far as any handset sold unlocked can claim to be. To appease owners who've been asking for an Oreo update for a while, the Chinese company announced back in December that the update would roll out this April. Not only that, but ZTE is giving up on its MiFavor UI in favor of something called Stock+. And now you can beta test that purer interpretation of the OS if you want. ZTE is inviting owners of the A2017U version of the Axon 7 (running the current build B35) to apply for a spot in a new Preview Program. The first group will...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_80_oreo_beta_program_for_the_zte_axon_7_debuts_in_the_us-news-29627.php

Samsung has apparently halted the rollout of the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+

After a long beta testing period, Samsung finally sent out the update to Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ last week. Since then the new version has only managed to reach a handful of markets, such as Turkey, Norway, the UAE, India, Belgium, Germany, France, and Poland. Today a report claims that the company has unexpectedly stopped the rollout. Samsung has pulled the firmware files for the two smartphones from its servers, so you can no longer grab them in any way. This obviously won't affect you if you've already updated your device, but if you weren't that lucky it's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_has_apparently_halted_the_rollout_of_the_oreo_update_for_the_galaxy_s8_and_s8-news-29626.php

KGI: Apple to ship 100 million 6.1-inch LCD iPhones in 2018

iIf you're not acquainted with KGI Securities' analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, he's the one that projected that Apple is readying three new iPhones for 2018 - two OLED ones with 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch panels, and one LCD iPhone with a 6.1-inch screen. Well, the same market analyst now says that Apple could ship up to 100 million 6.1-inch LCD iPhones before 2018 is over and at $700-$800 a pop. If the predictions are true the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will replace the iPhone 8 as the cheapest option, while the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone will likely be the same size and weight as the iPhone X, and the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/kgi_apple_could_ship_100_million_61_lcd_iphones_in_2018-news-29625.php

Qualcomm announces X24 (2 Gbps) and X50 (5 Gbps) modems

Last week a report from Qualcomm stated that nearly 50 phone manufacturers and carriers are working with the San Diego towards commercializing 5G mobile devices by 2019. Today a step towards this direction was made with the unveiling of Snapdragon X24 - the first 7 nm process chipset that can support up to 2 Gbps LTE speeds. The promised speeds are nearly twice as high as the predecessor, the Snapdragon X20, embedded into the Snapdragon 845. Qualcomm confirms that the first phones with the new modem will arrive in H1 2019. The X24 supports "up to 7x carrier aggregation on...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_announces_x24_2_gbps_and_x50_5_gbps_modems-news-29623.php

More specs of Moto G6 family surface: chipset, battery and price

Yesterday, we caught our first glimpse of the Moto G6 family, which will feature 18:9 screens. Today, we get three more pieces of the puzzle: chipset, battery and price. The Moto G6 Plus, the top model, will sport a Snapdragon 630 chipset powered by a 3,250mAh battery. It will allegedly cost $265/€250. The base Moto G6 scales back a bit with a Snapdragon 450 and a 3,000mAh battery. This one is projected to cost $234/€190. Both the G6 and G6 Plus will have 1080p+ screens. Motorola Moto G6 If you want a large battery, however, the Moto G6 Play will boast 4,000mAh capacity....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/more_specs_of_moto_g6_family_surface_chipset_battery_and_price-news-29624.php

Samsung Galaxy S9+ with Snapdragon 845 hits AnTuTu with 6GB of RAM

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ (SM-G9650) - the one with a Snapdragon 845 chipset - was spotted by AnTuTu in its database. Surprisingly, this version has 6GB of RAM rather than 4GB like the Exynos 9810 version we saw on Geekbench yesterday. The rest is a familiar story, starting with an 18:9 screen with resolution defaulting to 1,080 x 2,220px (of course, that's set in software, the hardware will be QHD+). The OS is Android 8.0 Oreo as expected and there is 64GB of built-in storage. Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Snapdragon 845) specs and score on AnTuTu The benchmark score is interesting too. It...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9_with_snapdragon_845_hits_antutu-news-29619.php

Blind test sees Google Home Max beat the Apple HomePod

The Apple HomePod has been getting rave reviews since it launched last week. Its limitation to Apple Music has been largely criticized but its sound quality was universally praised and many called it the best-sounding smart speaker out there. But Yahoo Finance' David Pogue decided to test that by making a blind shootout between the $150 Amazon Echo Plus, the $200 Sonos One, the $350 Apple HomePod and the $400 Google Home Max. Spoiler alert: the Apple HomePod finished second to last. The test involved a panel of five people, among which a sound technician and a professional violinist,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/blind_test_sees_google_home_max_beat_the_apple_homepod-news-29621.php

Check out the first Redmi Note 5 Pro camera samples

Earlier today Xiaomi announced the Redmi Note 5 Pro as the first Redmi Note with dual-camera setup. The phablet has a 12 MP primary sensor with f/2.2 lens and a secondary 5 MP with f/2.0 aperture for background blurring. After the event ended, we got a unit to see how it performs. Without drawing any final conclusions as it's too early for that, the photos seem to come with realistic colors and impressive detail levels.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/first_camera_samples_redmi_note_5_pro-news-29620.php

Official Galaxy S9 promo videos tease slow-mo camera, 3D emojis

Samsung Mobile Korea just unleashed three teaser videos for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. They are short (15 seconds each), but contain less than subtle hints about the key features of the upcoming flagships. The first video is all about speed. But pay attention to the end of the video - the second the "9" appears, time slows down to a crawl. That's clearly a reference to a slow-motion camera. The second video is shot in the dark. That is until the "9" appears and the image brightens up considerably. Samsung has been pushing low-light performance for several generations, but...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/official_galaxy_s9_promo_videos_tease_slowmo_camera_3d_emojis-news-29622.php

Gmail Go for low-end devices arrives on Google Play

Google keeps releasing versions of its apps taileored for smartphones with less than 1 GB of RAM. After YouTube, Gboard and Google Assistant, now Gmail also gets a Go version. The app is available on Google Play, but can be downloaded in a limited set of countries and only by devices running Android 8.1 Oreo. There is also an link shared by APKMirror if you want to try and side-load it. Gmail Go screenshots Gmail Go does almost everything the regular mail app can. It uses less RAM and loads images on demand. When combined with Gboard Go, for example, the data...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gmail_go_for_lowend_devices_arrives_on_google_play-news-29617.php

HTC smartphone chief resigns, no replacement in sight

After six years at HTC, Chialin Chang - current President of Smartphone and Connected Devices Business has resigned, citing a "personal career plan". Rumor has it he plans to start an AI company. What's troubling is that HTC CEO Cher Wang hasn't named a successor for Chang and that he has left the company on the eve of the HTC U12's launch. The resignation also comes under a month after HTC sold off the Pixel design team to Google. HTC has been struggling to make a buck from its phones, finalizing its 10 consecutive losing quarter. We hope HTC manages to turn things around, but...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_smartphone_chief_resigns_no_replacement_in_sight-news-29616.php

CIA, NSA, FBI chiefs warn against buying Huawei and ZTE phones

Huawei attempted to enter the US market by partnering with US carriers but the US government pressured AT&T and Verizon to drop the deal. Now CNBC reports that US security chiefs are recommending against buying Huawei phones but also ZTE phones. The heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA and other agencies unanimously expressed their concerns about the China-based companies. "We're deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don't share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks," stated FBI...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/cia_nsa_fbi_chiefs_warn_against_buying_huawei_and_zte_phones-news-29618.php

Deal: LG offering free projector on V30/G6 purchase

LG fans in the US might want to check out the deal the company is offering on T-Mobile variants of V30/V30+ (and G6) smartphones: free Minibeam projector with each purchase. The offer is valid until February 22, and will see eligible owners getting the freebie by mail. The projector (model PH150G) usually carries a $349 price tag, but is being currently sold for $249.99. For more info on the promo as well as the projector, head to the Source link below. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_lg_offering_free_projector_on_v30_g6_purchase-news-29614.php

TrendForce: Global smartphone sales growth will slow down in 2018

TrendForce published its predictions on the global smartphone market in 2018. According to the analysts, the growth of sales will slow down to 2.8% - manufacturers will sell 1.498 billion devices, compared to 1.458 billion in 2017. The reason behind the minuscule rise is the continuous rise of costs and fewer replacement purchases. Samsung will remain the market leader, TrendForce predicts. The Korean giant will rely mostly on its success with the A and J series and will ship around 300 million phones, which is a 5% decrease compared to 2017. Apple and HMD Global are two companies...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/trendforce_global_smartphone_sales_growth_slow_down_2018-news-29615.php

Xiaomi launches 55" smart Mi LED TV 4

Xiaomi has launched the Mi LED TV 4 in India, its first television on the Indian market. The TV will be available through Flipkart and Mi.com online and across retail partners for INR39,999 (€503/$623). The smart Mi LED TV 4 has a 55" panel of 4K resolution that runs Android TV OS with Xiaomi's in-house Patchwall - a deep learning AI system that understands your preferences and classifies content automatically for personalized recommendations. Specs-wise, there is 2 GB RAM and 8 GB storage while the system is powered by 64-bit quad-core CPU. Slides from Mi LED TV 4...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launches_55_smart_mi_led_tv_4-news-29608.php