Samsung Galaxy A10 to be company's first phone with UD fingerprint reader

It seems that Samsung is sticking to its plan of implementing new features to its mid-range A-series first and the most recent rumor is a testament for that even though it sounds like a long shot. According to a Chinese leakster, Samsung is working on an upper-mid-range Galaxy A10 smartphone with an under-display fingerprint reader. The tweet doesn't reveal anything else although, this is not the first time we hear of a Galaxy A10 coming. Galaxy A10,UDFS.— 萌萌的电教 (@MMDDJ_) December 21, 2018 The same account on Twitter reported that Samsung is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a10_to_be_companys_first_phone_with_ud_fingerprint_reader-news-34810.php

More affordable iPad mini 5 is expected next year

The last iPad mini update was way back in 2015 and with the launch of Apple's new expensive iPad Pro lineup, it seemed like the company forgot all about the smallest of them all. Not according to a new Chinese source, though. China Times claims to have inside info about an upcoming iPad mini 5, or at least that's how they are calling it. The tablet is supposed to replace the current 9.7-inch iPad. The new mini will sport a slightly bigger 10-inch display with minimalist bezels, which in turn means that Apple will swap out the Touch ID for Face ID. Aside from the rather rough intel,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/more_affordable_ipad_mini_5_is_expected_next_year-news-34809.php

December patch coming to fix Pixel 3/3 XL issues

This year's Google Pixel launch was a mixed bag - the phones are great but the number of issues that popped up in the first few months ruined the user experience for a lot of owners. Luckily, the December patch aims to fix most if not all of the problems. The most persisting ones like errors in the third-party camera apps, memory management and loudspeakers crackling are reportedly fixed by the latest December patch as Google had promised. Sideloaded on mine and my wife's. Confirmed fixed: memory issue closing apps, speakers sounding like shit on low volume.She was also affected by the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/december_patch_coming_to_fix_pixel_3_3_xl_issues-news-34808.php

AT&T will say you have "5G E" on your 4G phone because marketing trumps truth

Maybe you heard about AT&T's new 5G network and thought "hey, 5 is more than 4 so it's clearly better", and then proceeded to anxiously wait to have 5G on your phone. Good news! It's coming way sooner than you might have expected. Only it's not actually 5G. Confused? That's exactly where AT&T's marketing department wants you. First off, let's clarify. The carrier's 5G network is real but is only going to be available in a very limited number of places at first, as with all new mobile technologies. Also, there is not one 5G capable handset on the market right now. Sure, a bunch of those...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_will_say_you_have_5g_e_on_your_4g_phone_because_marketing_trumps_truth-news-34804.php

OnePlus seems to have cut off the 6T's bezels in an ad

Remember the controversy regarding Lenovo's Z5 and its bezels that turned out to be much larger in reality than in its official images? Well, it sure looks like OnePlus hasn't learned anything from that debacle. Here's a Twitter user noticing something strange about an ad for the OnePlus 6T that popped up on Instagram. Look closely, see if you can spot what's, erm, not quite true to life. Hey @OnePlus that chin ain't that small 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lHtGOsznLt— Dro ⌁ (@pedropeguerojr) December 21, 2018 Yes, it appears that someone in the company's marketing department...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_seems_to_have_cut_off_the_6ts_bezels_in_an_ad-news-34803.php

Asus ROG Phone review

In more ways than one the ROG phone is a benchmark, a practical example of what a gaming phone could be when you really have the expertise, experience and technical prowess to pull it off and dial everything to eleven.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_rog_phone-review-1870.php

Huawei P30 to sport triple rear camera, rumor says

We've already heard that the Huawei P30 Pro will launch with four cameras on the back, but what about the non-Pro model? Thankfully, leaker extraordinaire @evleaks has the answer. According to someone who's seen the upcoming Huawei P30, it will come with three rear snappers, of which one has 40 MP resolution. The phone will be capable of 5x lossless zoom with its setup, and on the front there will be a 24 MP shooter for selfies. We have to say, this all reminds us very much of the Mate 20 Pro. Could the P30 have a pretty much identical camera setup? It looks like it's possible. But then...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_to_sport_triple_rear_camera_rumor_says-news-34802.php

New Xiaomi Play teaser hints at a Guinness World Record

Xiaomi's teaser campaign for the Play smartphone it's due to unveil on December 24 is in full swing. We've already heard that it's going to arrive with 10GB of free monthly data, but the newest round of teasers is more intriguing to say the least. Apparently the company might reveal that the Play is in some way record-breaking. What else should we infer from the image you can see below? A Weibo post says that Xiaomi founder Lei Jun will participate at the launch next Monday and challenge a Guinness World Record with the phone. The Play will be Xiaomi's first device with a water...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_xiaomi_play_teaser_hints_at_a_guinness_world_record-news-34801.php

German court says Apple infringed on Qualcomm patents, issues sales ban

Qualcomm won another legal battle against Apple, this time in Germany. According to a German court iPhone 7 and 8 models with Intel modems infringe on one Qualcomm patent. The court issued a sales ban on said models until Apple is able to reverse the decision. However third-party retailers can still sell the violating iPhones. According to a statement from Apple the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR don't infringe on Qualcomm's patent and will remain on shelves. Meanwhile Qualcomm has been having success in banning iPhone X, 8 and older models in China over a different patent issue. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/german_court_says_apple_infringed_on_qualcomm_patents_issues_sales_ban-news-34800.php

Google Pixel 3 is the top-ranked single-lens Android on DxOMark

DxOMark has finally published its review of the Google Pixel 3, giving it an overall score of 101, which breaks down into a 103 for photo and 98 for video. This puts the Pixel 3 at a shared fifth spot in the rankings with the Apple iPhone XR. The review praises the Pixel 3's dynamic range, its detail preservation and flash performance in photos and the detail, low-noise and efficient stabilization in video. Where DxO found the Pixel 3 most improved over its predecessor is in Bokeh and Zoom, the latter being the biggest improvement, by far. The Pixel 3 "trounces other single camera...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_3_is_the_topranked_singlelens_android_on_dxomark-news-34799.php

Xiaomi Play to come with free 10 GB data per month

Xiaomi is introducing its Play smartphone on December 24 as an entirely new series. A company official told Chinese sources that to allow mobile gamers and fans to enjoy the device without being bothered by connectivity, Xiaomi will release the device with an unlimited data plan with the first 10 GB at full speed for no extra price. This is the second time in a week Xiaomi has provided plenty of data to its customers. IT Home reported that the company offered 666 GB of traffic for some developers, working on the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 updates. The freebie can be claimed through an app,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_play_to_come_with_free_10_gb_data_per_month-news-34798.php

Samsung planning a night mode for the Galaxy S10 called "Bright Night"

First it was Huawei P20 Pro and its Night Mode, then Google introduced Night Sight with an Android Pie update for all Pixel devices, and other companies are now following. According to a report by XDA Developers, Samsung is also going in this direction and is developing a camera feature called Bright Night. It is expected to arrive with One UI in the upcoming Galaxy S10. Night Mode vs Night Sight The feature is effectively taking multiple pictures and combining them into a single brighter image with more detail in low-light environment. It isn't overexposed, does not rely on LED...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_night_mode_galaxy_s10_bright_night-news-34797.php

vivo Y93 arrives in India with a fingerpint scanner on the back

It is always tough to distinguish one vivo smartphone from another. Today, the vivo Y93 arrived in India with a Helio P22 chipset and a fingerprint scanner on the back. This is not the original vivo Y93, launched on November 1 - this is the body of vivo Y95 with the soul of the vivo Y93s. The Indian version of vivo Y93 has a 6.22" LCD screen with HD+ resolution and 19:9 ratio. There is a tiny waterdrop notch on the top for an 8 MP shooter with an f/1.8 lens. The main camera setup is also as simple as it gets - basic 13 MP f/2.2 lens with a secondary depth 2 MP sensor with an f/2.4...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_y93_arrives_in_india_with_a_fingerpint_scanner_on_the_back-news-34795.php

Samsung Galaxy A8s arrives for pre-order, costs less than $450

Samsung was the first company to officially introduce a smartphone with a camera under the display. The device is called Galaxy A8s and has just appeared for pre-order at the Chinese online retailer JD.com. There is only one memory choice and a single price tag of CNY2,999, or under $450. Samsung Galaxy A8s was announced with either 6 or 8 GB RAM, but the initial pre-order is just for the lower tier. The storage is 128 GB either way and you have a microSD slot for up to 512 GB more. This device is powered by Snapdragon 710 chipset and has Android Pie out of the box with customized...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a8s_preorder_cost_less_450-news-34794.php

Honor View 20 to be capable of 960 fps video

A couple of new posters for the Honor View 20 launch have surfaced on Weibo. The first one mentions that the new View 20 is going to feature advanced GPS as debuted on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro for more accurate GPS tracking, particularly while going for a run but should help navigation in cities with tall buildings that block signals. The other poster reveals that the View 20 will have a camera capable of taking 960fps videos. The Huawei P20 series was the first smartphone from Huawei to be able to record at this high a frame rate. It continued with the Mate 20 Pro and now that the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_view_20_to_be_capable_of_960_fps_video-news-34793.php

Nokia 3 receives Android 8.1 Oreo update

HMD Global has apparently started sending out the update to Android 8.1 Oreo to the Nokia 3 from 2017. The phone launched with Android 7.0 Nougat on board, then received an update to Android 8.0 Oreo back in April this year. Now it's time for it to make the jump to 8.1, although at this rate Pie seems like nothing more than a pipe dream at the moment. On one hand, if you own a Nokia 3, it's probably sad to think that a lot of other Nokia phones are currently already tasting Pie, but on the other hand at least the your phone hasn't been fully forgotten. The update also brings with it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3_receives_android_81_oreo_update-news-34792.php

Moto G7 lineup revealed in press renders leak

Motorola is getting ready to announce the Moto G7 lineup soon. Press renders for the Moto G7, G7 Plus, G7 Power, and G7 Play have leaked courtesy of DroidShout.com. The most apparent difference we can see is the addition of a now notched display which has black bezels. The Moto G6 had a perfectly rectangular display with bezels that matched the color of the model. There are actually two types of notches between the four G7 models. The G7 and G7 Plus will have a tear-drop notch while the G7 Play has a full-sized notch with a single selfie camera and front-facing flash....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/moto_g7_lineup_revealed_in_press_renders_leak-news-34791.php

OxygenOS 9.0.10 starts rolling out for the OnePlus 6T

Today OnePlus has started sending out a new software update to the 6T. It's OxygenOS 9.0.10, and it brings with it the December 2018 security patches. Additionally, the company also promises better Wi-Fi stability for more reliable connectivity, Face Unlock improvements, and enhanced Nightscape performance for the camera. Those are all nice things to have, but obviously this isn't the biggest of updates, and there are no new features. Still, you should install it as soon as you can if only for the new security fixes. Speaking of which, the rollout is staged as usual, which in OnePlus'...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oxygenos_9010_starts_rolling_out_for_the_oneplus_6t-news-34790.php

OnePlus 6T gets a better DxO score than the OnePlus 6

The DxOMark lab has concluded testing on the OnePlus 6T and the results are in - a 98 overall score which is 2 points higher than the OnePlus 6 and a tie with the Google Pixel 2 for the 10th spot. The score breaks down into a 101 in imaging and 91 for video. The photo score is punctuated by great autofocus, very good dynamic range , good detal and good bokeh. DxO notes that the OnePlus 6T has improved slightly on the dynamic range of its predecessor and also captured slightly more detail. The only points deducted from the OnePlus 6T score are for the slightly higher noise levels...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_6t_gets_a_better_dxo_score_than_the_oneplus_6-news-34786.php

Counterpoint: Feature phones are great again, sales rise for fourth consecutive quarter

Counterpoint revealed in its latest phone market report that the feature phones are on the rise for a fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, smartphones sales have been on the decline for the same period, although the researchers wouldn't read too much into it. According to the data, iTel and HMD are global market leaders with 14% market share each, followed by Jio with 11% and Samsung with 8%. The reasons are simple - manufacturers are delivering cheap and accessible 4G phones in emerging markets such as India and Africa. The pie chart is pretty self-explanatory - regions with...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_feature_phones_great_again_sales_rise_fourth_consecutive_quarter-news-34784.php

Xiaomi drops software support for the Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3

Xiaomi just confirmed that it's discontinuing the software support for two of its iconic devices - the 2016 flagship, Mi 5 and the affordable Redmi Note 3 phablet from the same year. The upcoming stable release of the MIUI Global ROM will be the last one for those two handsets. The Beta Team for both phones will be disbanded after the final OTA update arrives. That's quite unfortunate and many fans in the official MIUI forum are displeased with the news, but there's another side of the coin here. First, Xiaomi is releasing a plethora of devices each year and the software support for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_drops_software_support_for_the_mi_5_and_redmi_note_3-news-34781.php

Some iPad Pro 2018 coming with bent frames, Apple says it's normal

Several complaints popped up online about iPad Pros being shipped with a bent chassis. Apple said this is happening due to manufacturing process but calmed down people, saying it should not worsen over time and will not affect performance and usability over time. This effectively means that if you received a bent iPad Pro, you're not getting it replaced. Apple says the weird flex is ok The weird issue is a result of a cooling process, involving metal and plastic components during manufacturing. It seems like it is more pronounced with the LTE model, even if some Wi-Fi Only users...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ipad_pro_2018_manufacturing_problems_apple_feature-news-34780.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and S10 Plus benchmarks appear

The Galaxy S10 trio is expected to go live in about three months during 2019's MWC in Barcelona and as we get closer to that date, the rumor mill starts spinning faster and faster. The latest piece of information comes from an HTML5 browser benchmark test that reveals some small tidbits about the most expensive version - the Galaxy S10 Plus and the most affordable one, the Galaxy S10 Lite. The model numbers of both handsets check out - SM-G970 for the Lite version and SM-G975 for the Plus-sized variant. The results from the test lists the screen resolution of the S10 Lite as 360 x 760,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_lite_and_s10_plus_benchmarks_appear-news-34779.php

Happy New Year 2018!

Another year has passed and it was great with the advancements in mobile tech once again. We enjoyed covering all the advancements in technology which the year brought along and we are hoping to see many more of those in 2018 as well. Thank you for being with us and we hope to remain your preferred tech website in 2018. Our YouTube channel has almost doubled its subscriber base over the course of 2017. We now have 318K subs compared to 180K at the end of 2016. We are grateful that you appreciate the hard work we put into our video projects and we hope to do even better in 2018. Our...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/happy_new_year_2018-news-28927.php

Honor View 20 pricing and Maserati Edition retail box appear online

Huawei's subsidiary is introducing the Honor View 20 under the name Honor V20 in China next Wednesday. The announcement may be six days away, but we have more and more info, incoming on a daily basis. Latest leaks and rumors showcase the back panel of a phone called Honor V20 Maserati Edition, meaning another auto brand is joining the smartphone business with its design series. We also know how much the phone will cost and how many memory combos it will have - two, the more expensive of both setting you back no more than $500. Honor V20 front panel • Honor V20 Maserati Edition...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_view_20_pricing_maserati_edition_retail_box_appear_online-news-34776.php

OnePlus 5 and 5T receive a new beta build of Android Pie

Last week OnePlus finally outed the first beta build of Android 9 Pie for its smartphones from 2017, the 5 and 5T. And now the company is rolling out a new beta release for the duo, arriving as OxygenOS Open Beta 23 or 21, depending on which device you have. This is going out to the people who have joined the OnePlus beta track. If you've already flashed the previous Open Beta, you will receive the new build as an over-the-air update. Alternatively, if you'd like to switch from stable Oreo to this release, follow the instructions on this page - but keep in mind that these builds may not be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5_and_5t_receive_a_new_beta_build_of_android_pie-news-34775.php

New Google Assistant ad has Macaulay Culkin go home alone again

Google has posted a new ad for the holidays, and this one is all about Google Assistant. And specifically, how Macaulay Culkin's role in the Home Alone movies would've been made much easier had the virtual assistant existed at that point. That said, the movies themselves surely would have been much more boring as a consequence. Take a look for yourself: For a limited time, the Assistant has these Home Alone easter eggs available: - Hey Google, how much do I owe you? - Hey Google, did I forget something? - Hey Google, the Wet Bandits are here. - Hey Google, it's me Snakes. I...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_google_assistant_ad_has_macaulay_culkin_go_home_alone_again-news-34774.php

OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 5G leaks for the first time, take a look

If you were wondering what OnePlus' 5G phone or the OnePlus 7 are going to look like, we may now have the answer. The image you can see below has been leaked today, and it's a shot from an internal company meeting, with OnePlus CEO Pete Lau attending. The employee who took the picture surely risks being fired for this. Anyway, as you can see, the design of the back is a pretty big departure from OnePlus' recent phones, with a huge circular camera island. The device on the slide is red, as is a prototype just laying on the desk, but there's also a white model in development - don't miss the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_7_or_oneplus_5g_leaks_for_the_first_time_take_a_look-news-34773.php

Nokia 9 PureView gets Bluetooth certified

The (in)famous Nokia 9 PureView is still vaporware at the moment, but that might change soon - either at CES in January or MWC in February. Three versions of it have just been certified by the Bluetooth SIG, a prerequisite step for the launch of any new smartphone. They have the model numbers TA-1082, TA-1087, and TA-1094. The last one of those has also been spotted at other certification bodies in the past, such as 3C and MIIT, so the Nokia 9 is certainly on its way to the market - even if it seems to be taking its sweet time getting there. The Nokia 9 will unsurprisingly have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_9_pureview_gets_bluetooth_certified-news-34772.php

Apple's latest 9.7-inch iPad is now just $229, $100 off its usual price and cheapest ever

Apple's newest non-Pro iPad, the 9.7-inch model launched in March this year, can now be yours for the lowest price we've ever seen. Normally starting at $329 for the 32GB model, you can now grab the same tablet for only $229, both at Amazon and Walmart. Not only do you save $100, but at $229 this is an amazing deal that isn't to be missed if you're looking for a very capable tablet that won't break the bank. It's also compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil. The slate comes with Apple's A10 Fusion chip, 2GB of RAM, a Retina Display, and a 32.4 Wh battery. It's unclear how long...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apples_latest_97inch_ipad_is_now_just_229_100_off_its_usual_price_and_cheapest_ever-news-34771.php

Android 9 Pie for the Nokia 8 is finally rolling out

The Nokia 8 is finally ready to taste Android Pie. HMD Global has started rolling out the update to all units today. This is the stable release, following a beta build that was outed around a week or so ago. It looks like no huge bugs were found in that one, or at least nothing that couldn't be fixed quickly. This update has been a very long time coming. At some point we even heard a rumor that the company was intentionally delaying it, after having missed its initial deadline of releasing it in November. All's well that ends well, though? The update comes with new system...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_9_pie_for_the_nokia_8_is_finally_rolling_out_-news-34770.php

Redmi Pro 2 may be Xiaomi's 48MP phone, teasers suggest Snapdragon 675 chipset

Remember the Xiaomi Redmi Pro? It may finally be getting a sequel as teasers have started cropping up on Weibo, one of which points to the Snapdragon 675 as the chipset of choice. Even more interestingly, this may be the Redmi with a 48MP camera that Xiaomi has been teasing lately. That one has also been connected to the S675 chip and rumors suggest a punch hole for the selfie. Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 teasers This would be a fitting sequel as the original Redmi Pro had a 10-core chipset and and Xiaomi's first dual camera. Source (in Chinese) | Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_pro_2_may_be_xiaomis_48mp_phone_teasers_suggest_snapdragon_675_chipset-news-34769.php

Gionee declares bankruptcy, enters liquidation

We have some good news and some bad news about Gionee. The good news is that one day there may be a movie about what happened. The bad news is that the company has officially entered bankruptcy. A court in Shenzhen has accepted the application for liquidation bankruptcy by Huaxing Bank. This may still turn into a company reorganization - Gionee hired restructuring consultants last week. Founder Liu Lirong thinks that the company can turn its fortunes around in 3-5 years. However, Gionee owes a total of CNY 20.2 billion (around $3 billion) to 648 creditors. About half of the debt is to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_enters_liquidation_bankruptcy-news-34767.php

Xiaomi's first Android Go Edirion smartphone is certified

Xiaomi's upcoming Redmi Go smartphone has been certified with Singapore's IMDA, the US' FCC and Russia's EEC, sporting the model number M1903C3GG. According to the listings it will run Android 9 Pie (Go Edition), making this Xiaomi's first Android Go phone. It will have a dual-SIM slot, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and likely just 1GB of RAM. Judging by its reported measurements of 141 x 71 mm, the Xiaomi Redmi Go will likely carry a screen smaller than 6-inches. Since this will be an Android Go smartphone we expect it will be affordable (likely under €100). And if we go by its...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_first_android_go_edirion_smartphone_is_certified-news-34762.php

Android 9.0 Pie update for Asus Zenfone 5 now available

Asus just uploaded the Android 9.0 Pie update for its Zenfone 5 and the package can be found on the company's official website. The FOTA update is just around 1.1GB and the process of installation is pretty straightforward if you are too eager to get the Pie. All you have to do is download the package from the source link below then move the downloaded file to the microSD card. Enter into recovery mode, choose "apply updates from microSD, select the downloaded package, confirm and you are all set. If you are not in a hurry, the OTA update should be coming shortly too - so keep an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_90_pie_update_for_the_asus_zenfone_5_is_available_for_download-news-34760.php

Honor View 20 leaked posters reveal more about the phone

The 48MP main camera on the Honor View 20 is undoubtedly the centerpiece feature along with the flagship Kirin 980 SoC but the recently leaked posters also reveal the battery capacity and the front-facing camera specs. Leaked Honor View 20 posters According to the images, the phone will sport a 4,000 mAh battery and a 25MP sensor in the display hole. The posters also talk up the Turbo Link feature that uses the 4G and the Wi-Fi network simultaneously when downloading. Meanwhile, an image surfaced recently suggesting that Honor will announce a Maserati version of the handset...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_view_20_leaked_posters_reveal_more_about_the_phone-news-34759.php

Xiaomi teases Play smartphone with waterdrop notch

Xiaomi has uploaded a number of teaser posters for its upcoming Play smartphone that's due to arrive on December 24. The teasers show the phone from the front and rear, revealing a display with a waterdrop notch on the front and a dual camera and fingerprint scanner on the back. Xiaomi Play teasers The phone looks very much like the one we saw on TENAA yesterday, which we assumed would be the Redmi 7 (or Redmi 7 Pro). So if we go by those specs then the Xiaomi Play will have a 5.84-inch 2280x1080px display, a 2.3GHz octa-core processor, 12MP main camera on the rear...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_teases_play_smartphone_for_december_24_announcement-news-34757.php

Twitter for iOS revives the reverse-chronological feed

Today Twitter made a lot of people happy by announcing that its iOS app has revived a long-lost feature: the reverse-chronological feed. It's not enabled by default, but that's a small price to pay in order to bring the service back to what it used to be before algorithms took over every social network out there. You'll see the toggle in the top right of the app. It's a cluster of small stars that Twitter calls the "sparkle". Tap on it and then you'll get the option to switch to seeing the reverse-chronologically sorted feed and be done with the algorithm. New on iOS! Starting today,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_for_ios_revives_the_reversechronological_feed-news-34756.php

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ receive another new beta build of Android Pie

Samsung is now seeding yet another update to its Android Pie beta program for the Galaxy S9 and S9+. It's currently available in the UK, France, Poland, and Germany, and once you install the 324MB file you'll have software version G960FXXU2ZRLF on the Galaxy S9, and G965FXXU2ZRLF on the S9+. It's nice to see the company being consistent about fixing more and more bugs in its Pie builds, as we get ever closer to January, which is when the stable updates should be going out to everyone with an S9 or S9+, and not just those enrolled in the beta program. The latest update takes care of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9_and_s9_receive_another_new_beta_build_of_android_pie-news-34755.php

Samsung Galaxy M20 to carry a 5,000 mAh battery, launch markets revealed

Samsung's new entry level smartphone lineup, the M-series, is close to its debut and the M20 will be the first one through the door. We already know how the handset should look by the recent leaks so now it's time for the internals. The latest reports deliver most of the specs as well as the launch markets. Rumor-based render The handset will pack a 5,000 mAh battery beating the Galaxy Note9 by 1,000 mAh. It's also said to feature an Exynos 7885 SoC with 3GB of RAM and as expected, the screen will be a standard LCD IPS measuring over 6.0" in diagonal. The rumored dual-camera module...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_m2_to_carry_a_5000_mah_battery_launch_markets_revealed-news-34754.php

AT&T will turn on its 5G network this Friday

AT&T will power on its 5G network in 12 US cities on December 21 (this Friday). The first device to use the network is a Netgear-made Nighthawk 5G hotspot, but you can't have one yet. For now the carrier is talking to businesses, giving them both the hotspot and the data for free. This is to gauge the interest in the new faster network. After the trial period is over the hotspot will go for $500 and the first data plan will offer 15GB for $70 a month. Note that AT&T is working on two 5G networks - sub-6GHz and mmWave. The one being launched this week is the mmWave network, which can...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_will_turn_on_its_5g_network_this_friday-news-34753.php

Huawei rolls out Android Pie for the P20, P20 Pro and Mate 10 Pro

The Huawei P20, P20 Pro and Mate 10 Pro along with other flagship smartphones from the company have been running the beta version of the EMUI 9 software based on Android 9.0 Pie and now, the final and stable release is ready to roll out. So if you are a P20, P20 Pro or Mate 10 Pro owner and you live in Europe, you should see a message prompting you to update to the latest version. Expect a new UI design overhaul, added gesture-based navigation system, all the perks that Android 9.0 Pie brings and some of the EMUI 9.0 features that are already available on the new Mate 20-series. Be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_rolls_out_emui_9_on_android_pie_for_the_p20_p20_pro_and_mate_10_pro-news-34752.php

Google Assistant Routines is now available in plenty of languages

Google Assistant started introducing a series of commands with the service called My Day. It was quite buggy during its beta period but has really been polished once it graduated to its final version called Routines. It was initially only available to English-speaking users, but now sources claim it has been pushed to plenty of other languages. There are four exceptions, though - Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish. The routines feature is a list of actions happening one after another after a single command. For example, "Hey Google, good morning" activates a landslide of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_assistant_routines_is_now_available_in_plenty_of_languages-news-34751.php

Lenovo S5 Pro GT upgrades chipset to Snapdragon 660, up from S636

The Lenovo S5 Pro GT is the third smartphone from the Chinese company today and the lowest standing of the three. It earns its sporty name by upgrading to a Snapdragon 660 chipset, up from the S636 of the S5 Pro that was unveiled a couple of months ago. And it changes up the pricing. The GT model can be pre-ordered today and will ship on December 24 starting at CNY 1,200 ($175/€153). That's for the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. The 6/64GB model is just a bit more, CNY 1,300 ($189/€165). The 6/128GB configuration will be CNY 1,500 ($218/€190), but that's not available...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_s5_pro_gt_upgrades_chipset_to_snapdragon_660_up_from_s636-news-34749.php

HTC will focus on flagships and mid-rangers in 2019

The President of HTC Taiwan, Darren Chen, announced that the company will adopt a new strategy for 2019 in an attempt to grow its market share and improve its profitability. The plan is to focus on high end and mid-range phones. Don't get too excited, though, this includes extending the lifecycle of the HTC U12+ and other U12 models into next year. The recently-launched 128GB version of the HTC U12 life has been selling well, Chen says. As for the mid range, HTC apparently considers the Desire 12s - a phone with a Snapdragon 435 chipset - "mid range". The company is hoping that this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_will_focus_on_flagships_and_midrangers_in_2019-news-34750.php

Lenovo Z5 Pro GT is the first phone with Snapdragon 855, 12 GB RAM

Lenovo had an event today where its first triple camera phone, Lenovo Z5s, was introduced. Rumors suggested it will have "more than 8 GB RAM", but apparently the company had a bigger surprise. It is called Lenovo Z5 Pro GT and is the first smartphone with Snapdragon 855 chipset and 12 GB RAM. Since the phone is all about speed, it has racing vibes in the design as well. The back panel is glass with a pattern imitating carbon, while red accents were added to the rim of the top side, the main camera sensors, and the bottom half of the slider. Other specs of the phone...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_z5_pro_gt_first_world_snapdragon_855_12_gb_ram-news-34748.php

Lenovo Z5s arrives with three cameras, Snapdragon 710

Lenovo's first attempt at devices with three cameras on the back is called Lenovo Z5s. The device is a more affordable version of the Lenovo Z5 Pro, but more powerful than the six-month-old Lenovo Z5. It is also the first phone from the manufacturer with a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera. As expected, the chipset is Snapdragon 710 with octa-core CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. There are three memory combinations - 4/64 GB, 6/64 GB, and 6/128 GB. The screen is a 6.3 LTPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution and tall 19.5:9 ratio. The tiny notch on the front houses a 16 MP shooter with Face...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_z5s_arrives_officially_with_three_cameras_and_snapdragon_710-news-34747.php

Huawei P30 Pro to have four cameras, Olixar reveals

Huawei introduced a triple camera P20 Pro, and it was a big deal back in March 2018. Now three shooters is the norm, so the Chinese manufacturer is going for a quad-cam setup on the Huawei P30 Pro, expected in Q1 2019. The Huawei P30 is also getting an extra camera and will switch from dual to triple setup, according to the case maker Olixar. Huawei P30 Pro The images appeared at MobileFun which are already accepting pre-orders. The images reveal Olixar is ready with bumpers, regular silicon cases, and special protective cases. There is a huge cutout in the upper left...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_pro_four_cameras_olixar_cases_reveal-news-34746.php

Xiaomi Redmi 7 specs revealed on TENAA

Yesterday a phone that we're assuming is the Xiaomi Redmi 7 or Redmi 7 Pro appeared on TENAA, but only in pictures. Now the full specs sheet is released, and it showcases an interesting set of features. The device with model number M1901F9T will have an octa-core CPU with clock speed of 2.3 GHz. It will also have at least 11 color options, which will set a new sort of record for Xiaomi. Xiaomi M1901F9T The phone will have plenty of RAM and storage options - 3/4/6 gigs of RAM and 32/64/128 gigs of storage. The 5.84" screen is an LCD with Full HD+ resolution and 19:9...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_7_specs_revealed_tenaa-news-34745.php

iOS 12.1.2 is out to fix eSIM-related issues

Today Apple has released iOS 12.1.2 for supported devices. As its version number implies, this is a minor update, weighing in at 100MB. It doesn't bring any new features to the table, but it might be quite important for you if you own an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XR. That's because it fixes bugs with eSIM activation on Apple's 2018 devices. eSIM support was recently enabled for the trio of handsets, but apparently it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Hopefully no more issues pertaining to this function will arise from this point on. iOS 12.1.2 also addresses an issue that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ios_1212_is_out_to_fix_esimrelated_issues-news-34744.php