Samsung Galaxy S10 trio will boast LPDDR5 RAM

During the Summer of 2018, Samsung unveiled world's first LPDDR5 memory chips for next-generation smartphones and now we learn what we've suspected all along - the Galaxy S10 trio will most probably make use of the new tech. A tipster on Twitter suggests that the Galaxy S10 phones coming next month will be equipped with in-house LPDDR5 memory chips. They are believed to be at least 30% more power-efficient than the LPDDR4X chips and up to 1.5x faster achieving data transfer speeds of around 6,400Mbps. I heard the #GalaxyS10 might use LPDDR5 RAM 😉 pic.twitter.com/uJexVuNrkp— Max...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_trio_will_boast_lpddr5_ram-news-35048.php

Samsung Galaxy Note9 owners in the UAE are receiving stable Android 9.0 Pie

The first Android 9.0 Pie OTA updates for the Galaxy Note9 were sighted in Germany a week ago but today. However, only users who participated in the beta testing got the stable update. Today, however, UAE users running Oreo are seeing their devices updated. There are numerous reports from the country citing that devices still running the Oreo version are now receiving stable Android 9.0 Pie along with Samsung's brand new One UI skin on top. This OTA update is about 1.6GB big and the software version is N960FXXU2CSA2. It's obviously a staged rollout and you might have to wait a few...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note9_owners_in_the_uae_receiving_stable_android_90_pie-news-35047.php

The Google Pixel Stand is an unreliable, expensive mess

The Google Pixel Stand accessory was announced back in October along with the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. It was Google's first wireless fast charger, designed specifically with the Pixel 3 phones in mind. At $79 it was definitely one of the most expensive chargers on the market, but it came with a few cool features that promised to make it all worthwhile. The Pixel Stand featured a custom UI that would be displayed on the phone's screen when it was placed on the Pixel Stand, which kept the clock always on, along with displaying Google Assistant, your schedule, any song that could...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_google_pixel_stand_is_an_unreliable_expensive_mess-news-35027.php

VLC soon to get Apple AirPlay support on iOS, Android and probably Windows

At CES 2019, VLC revealed that it has plans to implement support for AirPlay so you can stream all of your videos on Apple TV from your Android or iOS device. Unfortunately, it's still unclear when the feature will be rolled out but the lead developers over at Videolan said they are planning to introduce it with the next major update VLC 4. For now, the app can stream to your Chromecast. Moreover, the support for AirPlay will likely extend to Windows as well since VLC is modular and it may not depend on the target platform API making it compatible with all operating systems. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vlc_soon_to_get_apple_airplay_support_on_ios_android_and_probably_windows-news-35040.php

Future Oppo and OnePlus devices could use Qi wireless charging

Oppo just joined the Wireless Power Consortium, which in turn means that future Oppo devices could finally make use of the Qi wireless charging tech. Maybe as early as 2019? And since Oppo, vivo and OnePlus are parent companies of BBK Electronics, it's probably safe to assume that their future smartphones will come with wireless charging capabilities. This is often the case with Oppo and OnePlus - when Oppo adopts some kind of tech, OnePlus follows with its next flagship devices. Perhaps the OnePlus 7 won't have Qi wireless charging since the phone has already entered development...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/future_oppo_and_oneplus_devices_could_use_qi_wireless_charging-news-35046.php

Redmi Note 7 is actually waterproof (kind of)

Redmi Note 7 was introduced just two days ago, but the official announcement missed to mention an important feature - the ports and buttons have watertight seals. Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun, took the time to boast about the phone's build quality on Weibo. He says that the engineering team put a lot of effort to design watertight seals for all the weak points of the handset - the SIM card tray, USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, the buttons and you can even find some around the camera module. Moreover, there's a membrane on the loudspeaker as well. Despite the low price tag of the handset, Lei...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_7_is_actually_waterproof_kind_of-news-35045.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 rumor roundup details screen and battery info

Samsung Galaxy S10 rumors have crystallized with info coming from multiple sources. There have been a few conflicting rumors, but by now it's pretty clear what will be unveiled on February 20. Citing a reliable source, CompareRaja has confirmed this list of features. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ will have ultrasonic in-display fingerprint readers. They will be available in Black, White, Blue and Green. Note that the Galaxy S10+ will be the only one with a dual selfie cam. The Galaxy S10 Lite - yes, Lite - will use a classic side-mounted reader and will have a Yellow color option. This...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_rumor_roundup_details_screen_and_battery_info-news-35041.php

Google Play Books app on Android gets a redesign

Google has finally updated the Android version of the Play Books app with the new Material Theme design. The app now features a uniform white color theme across the screen, with a redesigned tab bar, smaller thumbnails with rounded corners, new typography and an overall cleaner look. The design of the new app is consistent with the new Material Theme that Google has been propagating throughout all its properties. While the new design decision is generally appealing, the slow manner in which it gets rolled out is really frustrating. Not only is Play Books on Android getting this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_play_books_app_on_android_gets_a_redesign-news-35043.php

Google discontinues Chromecast Audio

Google has confirmed that it is discontinuing the Chromecast Audio. In a statement sent to Android Police, the company said, Our product portfolio continues to evolve, and now we have a variety of products for users to enjoy audio. We have therefore stopped manufacturing our Chromecast Audio products. We will continue to offer assistance for Chromecast Audio devices, so users can continue to enjoy their music, podcasts and more. Chromecast Audio was a small and affordable way to stream audio from your phone to a pair of active speakers with a line-in or optical input. The device...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_discontinues_chromecast_audio-news-35044.php

VLC soon to get Apple AirPlay suppot on iOS, Android and probably Windows

At CES 2019, VLC revealed that it has plans to implement support for AirPlay so you can stream all of your videos on Apple TV from your Android or iOS device. Unfortunately, it's still unclear when the feature will be rolled out but the lead developers over at Videolan said they are planning to introduce it with the next major update VLC 4. For now, the app can stream to your Chromecast. Moreover, the support for AirPlay will likely extend to Windows as well since VLC is modular and it may not depend on the target platform API making it compatible with all operating systems. Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vlc_soon_to_get_apple_airplay_suppot_on_ios_android_and_probably_windows-news-35040.php

IMDb announces Freedive, a free video streaming service with ads

IMDb has announced that it is launching a new video streaming service in the US called Freedive. The major draw of this service is that it will be free of cost and will be ad-supported. While IMDb previously had some amount of video content in the form of short-form original series, trailers and interviews, this service will be offering full-length movies and television shows. Of the list of content currently available, IMDb highlighted TV shows such as Fringe, Heroes, The Bachelor, and Without a Trace as well as Hollywood movies like Awakenings, Foxcatcher, Memento, Monster, Run...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/imdb_announces_freedive_a_free_video_streaming_service_with_ads-news-35039.php

Sony Mobile exec hints that the Xperia Compact line has been axed

Sony Mobile is undergoing restructuring to make it competitive again. This includes new leadership and a new strategy, we'll see the first step of that at the end of February. "We are going to be announcing products at MWC. What we present there will be a first step showing the direction we are going." Mesa adds that Sony is hoping to deliver a "much better camera experience", but doesn't go into detail (the Xperia XZ4 is rumored to become Sony's first triple camera phone). It's important to note that Shigeki Ishizuka was brought in as Head of Development, a veteran of Sony's successful...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_mobile_exec_hints_that_the_xperia_compact_line_has_been_axed-news-35037.php

Samsung remembers its past milestones as Galaxy nears its 10 year anniversary

The Samsung I7500 Galaxy was announced in April 2009 - Samsung's Android phones turn 10 this year. Galaxy would grow to become the biggest smartphone line in the world, but it had to go through many innovations and milestones to get here. Samsung has a history of innovative devices and their DNA can still be seen in modern Galaxy gadgets. In 1999 it brought mobile entertainment to a new level with a TV phone. It's 1.8" color screen makes today's 6+ inch slabs look like pocket IMAX theaters. That same year the SPH-WP10 watch phone was unveiled, the grand-daddy of the Galaxy...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_remembers_its_past_milestones_as_galaxy_nears_its_10_year_anniversary-news-35038.php

Two Huawei employees arrested in Poland over spying allegations

Two Huawei employees had been arrested in Poland over allegations of spying for the Chinese government. This is the second incident after Huawei's CFO got arrested in Canada. Now the Polish counterintelligence agency believes it has hard evidence of Huawei's employees' wrongdoings. One of them is Polish while the other one is Chinese. The Chinese national is a sales director while the Polish is a former high-ranking official at Poland's internal security agency. Both of them will remain in custody for the next three months and could face up to 10 years in prison. Huawei, on the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/two_huawei_employees_arrested_in_poland_over_spying_allegations-news-35036.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) surfaces on Geekbench running Android Pie

Obviously, Samsung has prioritized its 2018 and 2017 flagships to receive the Android 9.0 Pie updates first but it appears that the company has already baking the Pie for a 2017 midranger, the Galaxy A7 (2017). The evidence is a Geekbench listing of the phone running the latest Google OS. The score sheet doesn't reveal anything out of the ordinary except that it's running Android 9.0 Pie, which in turn means that the software is already in development or even better - it has entered the testing stages. We just hope it won't be long enough before Samsung seeds the update. Source |...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a7_2017_surfaces_on_geekbench_running_android_pie-news-35033.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 arrives in the UK for £499

Xiaomi introduced the Mi Mix 3 slider and promised the phone would arrive in Europe with 5G in the first quarter of 2019. While the next-gen connectivity is still a mere wish, the actual device popped up in Spain yesterday and now it's on its way to the Albion. Xiaomi is launching the slider in the United Kingdom on January 16 with a promo price of £449 for the first 100 phones. The Mi Mix 3 was introduced in at least three memory options with up to 10 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. Sadly, Europe will get only 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage in order to maintain a lower price tag. Once the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_3_arrives_in_the_uk_for_499-news-35032.php

Pocophone F1 long-term review

A little phone that isn't small. A flagship that costs a third of what you'd expect. A contradiction? No, it's the Pocophone F1. Shocking? Awe-inspiring? Yes and yes. The most intriguing handset of the year isn't the most bezel-starved, or one with sliding bits and pieces, or one with an in-display fingerprint senso

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/pocophone_f1_long_term-review-1879.php

Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 outscores the 710 on AnTuTu, matches it on Geekbench

An unknown device has appeared on AnTuTu, sporting the new 11nm Snapdragon 675 chipset. It scored 174K, which is a lot higher than the 155K we got with the 10nm Snapdragon 710-powered Oppo RX17 Pro. What's more interesting than the chip itself is the phone that's wielding it. Only two phones are using the Snapdragon 675 - the yet-to-be-announced Moto P40 and the HiSense U30, so the reasonable guess is that the score is from the latter. The assumption is substantiated by an unearthed Geekbench listing of the HiSense U30 with Android 9 Pie and 6GB of RAM. The phone achieved a 2.2K...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_snapdragon_675_outscores_the_710_on_antutu-news-35031.php

vivo Z3i with an IPS LCD panel announced

vivo just announced another variation of its Z3i smartphone called Z3i Standard Edition. It's only available in China for now and it's essentially the same old Z3i but with an IPS LCD instead of an AMOLED screen. As you'd expect, the use of an IPS panel brings the price down to CNY 1,998 ($296). That's a 17% decrease compared to the original vivo Z3i that costs CNY 2,398 ($355). The rest is the same - MediaTek Helio P60 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage and a 6.3-inch display with 1080 x 2280 pixels resolution. The camera setup on the back is 16MP (f/2.0) + 2MP depth sensor...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_z3i_with_an_ips_lcd_panel_announced-news-35030.php

Xiaomi Yi Home Camera 3 arrives with AI notifications and Full HD video

CES 2019 is still going on in Las Vegas, and the latest announcement comes from Yi Technology. The Xiaomi subsidiary introduced the Yi Home Camera 3 with AI notifications and features, along with 1080p video quality. According to the Core Algorithm Developer Ron Fridental, no one wants to receive useless notifications. The company improved its recognition engine so you can get notified for important stuff and not some bug buzzing or car lights outside the window, as it was before. The new camera can instantly notify users of any unusual sounds within a range of 16 feet which is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/yi_home_camera_3_arrives_with_ai_notifications_and_full_hd_video-news-35029.php

WSJ: iPhone 11 will have triple camera, XR successor will have dual

The new generation of iPhones are still just four months old now but intel is already piling up on the iPhone 11. Earlier this week we saw the first alleged renders of the upcoming iPhone 11 and today there's a fresh report about it. According to sources close to the Wall Street Journal, the high-end iPhone 11 will gain a triple camera while the iPhone XR successor will get dual snapper on its back. The report further elaborates that the iPhone XR successor will retain the Liquid Retina (LCD) screen and that Apple will likely move to an OLED only lineup in 2020. The report doesn't...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/wsj_iphone_11_will_have_triple_camera_xr_successor_will_have_dual-news-35025.php

OnePlus 5/5T getting Oxygen 9.0.2 hot fix for WiFi connection issues

The OnePlus 5 and 5T received their Android Pie update right at the end of 2018 but it was discovered to come with annoying issues for some units. The biggest problem with the new Pie update was the WiFi connectivity. Some users report that the WiFi didn't work in select third-party apps and experienced bad WiFi stability overall. Well now a hotfix udpate e addresses that as well as the physical navigation keys of the OnePlus 5. They appear to stop working randomly. Additionally, the patch adds the missing 4G VoLTE toggle, optimizes sRGB and Reading display mode and takes care of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_5_5t_getting_oxygen_902_hot_fix_for_wifi_connection_issues-news-35024.php

Realme 3 coming this quarter, a 48 MP cameraphone too

Realme had a great start when it launched last year, releasing five phones to offer amazing value for money and smashing a bunch of records. And it appears that it intends to keep the pace up in the new year as the latest rumor points to Realme 3 coming within the next three months. The report says Realme will introduce a phone with a 48 MP shooter, although it is unclear if it will be part of the Realme 3 series or not. In a conversation with Indian Express, Madhav Sheth, Realme CEO, revealed some of the 2019 company plans. Because of eased market restrictions in India, Amazon...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_to_bring_new_phone_48_mp_camera_in_q1_2019-news-35023.php

Xiaomi launches Mi Soundbar, along with two new television models in India

Xiaomi has launched a new soundbar in India. Called the Mi Soundbar, it's priced at INR 4,999 ($71) and will be available exclusively through Mi.com and Mi Home stores starting January 16. The Mi Soundbar has eight drivers, consisting of two tweeters, two woofers and four passive radiators, all of which are powered by a 28W amplifier. The soundbar accepts optical, coaxial, RCA, and line-in inputs. It also has Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity. For whatever reason, Xiaomi does not provide a remote control for the unit, and it's not clear if it supports one at all. Overall,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launches_mi_soundbar_along_with_two_new_television_models_in_india-news-35021.php

Xiaomi kicks off MIUI 11 development

Xiaomi has pushed MIUI 10 to over two dozen smartphones, but now it is time to look forward. The company kicked off development of MIUI 11 which is said to be "a new and unique OS", compared with the minor and major updates that have been coming in the past two years. The company held the Xiaomi MIUI Core Experience Annual Meeting, where Liu Ming, head of the product planning department, gave an inspiring speech and officially launched the MIUI 11 preparations. According to some photos from the presentation, MIUI 11 will be even faster than MIUI 9 and even AI-smarter than the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_kicks_off_miui_11_development-news-35022.php

vivo phone codenamed "The Waterdrop" is coming soon with a unique design

Last year vivo's NEX smartphones took the world by storm with their slim bezels and motorized selfie cams, and the company doesn't plan on sitting still this year either. According to a series of new rumors out of China, vivo is working on a new smartphone codenamed "The Waterdrop" which will have a very unique design. The tipster sharing the info says it's guaranteed that you "have never seen a similar phone design", noting that it's the first time in history when a manufacturer tries something like this. What "this" is, that's another question. vivo "The Waterdrop" leaked...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_phone_codenamed_the_waterdrop_is_coming_with_a_unique_design_-news-35020.php

Nokia explains the process of Android updates in this cool infographic

Nokia phones are known for its clean, clutter-free Android experience and timely updates. But that doesn't take away from the fact that each and every update has to walk a long way before it ends up on your phone so the company created this cool infographic explaining all the stages. Google's latest mobile OS version starts its journey from the chipset vendors so they can make the needed drivers. In turn, the chip makers send the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) to the smartphone OEMs so they can begin the process of building the OS for their specific devices. Also, the chipset vendors...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_explains_the_process_of_android_updates_in_this_cool_infographic-news-35019.php

Samsung had a 5G phone prototype at CES, hidden in plain sight

Samsung had exciting smartphones to show at CES, but it did not publicize them - the foldable Galaxy and a 5G prototype were both at the show. The 5G phone wasn't even hidden like the foldable prototype, which was only shown behind closed doors. It was just not promoted, which made it hard to spot in its glass enclosure at the end of the 5G hardware wall. That is until a Business Insider reporter stumbled onto it. The unit was a prototype, but clearly operational as it was running in demo mode. It probably wasn't connected to a 5G network, though (coverage won't reach Las Vegas...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_had_a_5g_phone_prototype_at_ces_hidden_in_plain_sight-news-35017.php

The iPhone turned 12, here's a look back through the models

The original Apple iPhone, that later went down in history books as the iPhone 2G, went on sale on June 29 2007 but was announced 12 years ago on January 9 2007 at Macworld. Since then we've seen 11 more generations of iPhones - the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4, the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S/5C, the iPhone 6/6 Plus, the iPhone 6S/6S Plus, the iPhone 7/7 Plus/SE, the iPhone X/8/8 Plus and finally the iPhone XS/XS Max/XR. This is arguably the best known smartphone family ever, but there's always something to add to the picture and just to prove that here come the latest...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_iphone_was_announced_12_years_ago_heres_a_look_back_through_the_models-news-35018.php

EE teases new Samsung Galaxy, promises "something big is coming"

British carrier EE is teasing "Something BIG" on its coming soon page - a Samsung Galaxy. It doesn't say which one, but there are only two things it could be. The foldable Samsung Galaxy F was rumored to be exclusive to EE and with a 7.3" screen (when unfolded), it's certainly big. The phone was allegedly shown off at CES behind closed doors. Samsung wants to start selling it during the first half of this year. The other option is the Galaxy S10. The core trio will have screens ranging from 5.8" to 6.4", then there's the 5G model. EE already has dibs on OnePlus' 5G phone, so the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ee_teases_new_samsung_galaxy_promises_something_big_is_coming-news-35015.php

Nokia 6.2 specs leaked, could adopt an in-screen camera

With the beginning of the new year, manufacturers are rushing to prepare their next wave of smartphones and HMD Global is no exception. The smartphone manufacturer appears to have a successor to the Nokia 6.1 on the way and chances are it will be called Nokia 6.2. We now got to learn its first specs thanks to a Twitter leakster. Nokia 6.2 (6 2019): 6.2-inch display with camera hole-punch, Snapdragon 632, 4/6GB RAM, 16MP Dual-rear Zeiss Camera,OZO Audio, First market China. Coming Jan end/Feb 2019.— Nokia_Leaks (@LeaksNokia) January 10, 2019 The Twitter post reveals a 6.2-inch display...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_62_specs_leaked_could_adopt_an_inscreen_camera-news-35013.php

Samsung Galaxy F to have two batteries, S10 5G model's cell revealed as well

A new report comes to fill us in on the battery capacities of two upcoming Samsung flagships. Tje Galaxy F or Galaxy Fold, is believed to incorporate not one but two batteries. According to the report, each side of the flip will have a 3,100 mAh cell - matching the capacity of the ones found in the future Galaxy S10 Lite or Galaxy S10 E, as it may end up called. Meanwhile, the 5G version of the Galaxy S10 will pack a massive 5,000 mAh battery. Perhaps it's going to be the same one used for the upcoming Galaxy M20 and M30 handsets in order to keep the production cost low. With this,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_f_to_have_two_batteries_s10_5g_models_cell_revealed_as_well-news-35016.php

Honor View 20 hands-on review

The Honor View 20 is a long-anticipated and teased smartphone that was released last month but this is the first chance we got to be acquainted with the handset here at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. To be frank, we had some private time with the View 20 on its launch date but we can now tell a bit more about the device and what makes it stand out.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_view_20_hands_on-review-1877.php

Lexar delivers first 1TB SDXC card, beats pioneer SanDisk

Lexar has announced a 1TB SD card that will actually go on sale, although there's no official information as to when or for how much. The 1TB 633x SDXC UHS-I card is not a technical marvel, being only UHS-I instead of the faster II but still tops out at a read speed of 95 MB/s, which makes it a great choice for 4K and high-speed 1080p video or fast RAW capture. It was SanDisk that announced the first 1TB SD card way back in 2016 but that card will seemingly remain a prototype forever whereas Lexar say their card is going on sale. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lexar_is_the_first_to_sell_a_1tb_sdxc_card_beats_pioneer_sandisk-news-35014.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 arriving officially on February 20

The waiting is almost over. Samsung scheduled its Galaxy Unpacked event for February 20 when the anniversary Galaxy S10 flagship lineup is expected to be launched. We received an invitation in our inbox for the official launch that is taking place in San Francisco, United States, and will be available to watch live all over the world on Samsung's website. The invitation is showing the clearly curved edges of two phones and the number 10. There's nothing else, aside from event details, but this is nothing new for Samsung - the company rarely reveals its phones in the teasers. Still,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_arriving_officially_february_20-news-35010.php

Samsung article on One UI accidentally shows Galaxy S10 design

Samsung recently posted an article explaining the hows and whys of One UI. Eagle-eyed Reddit user qgtx spotted that one of the images has a punch hole selfie camera. Oops. Samsung has since updated the article with a new image, but that one is quite interesting too - gone is the camera and the bezels got thicker too. Here are the two images side by side: Original image • New image • Bezel comparison Of course, this article is mainly about the software and the shape of the phone is meant to be generic (many Galaxy phones will run One UI, not just the flagships). You can...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_article_on_one_ui_accidentally_shows_galaxy_s10_design-news-35012.php

Sony Xperia XZ4 case compared to the size of an Xperia XZ Premium

The Sony Xperia XZ4 will have a 21:9 screen with a 6.5" diagonal, making the phone rather tall - 166.9mm. That's almost a centimeter more than the iPhone XS Max (6.5" as well, but 19.5:9). Naturally, there's some worry that the new Sony flagship will be too big. Comparing the size of a Sony Xperia XZ4 case with the XZ Premium Using a case for the phone a poster on Weibo compared it to the Xperia XZ Premium and it doesn't seem that big. Sure, it's taller, but it's narrower too - keep in mind that the case is larger than the XZ4 itself. So, it should be fairly pocketable. In...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz4_case_compared_to_the_size_of_an_xperia_xz_premium-news-35011.php

Apple Maps turn-by-turn navigation now available in India

Apple has enabled turn-by-turn navigation feature for India. Users can now use the voice navigation feature on their iOS and macOS devices, as well as in their cars using CarPlay. Turn-by-turn navigation has been a major missing piece of the puzzle ever since the service went live in India back in 2012. The initial release did not even show directions for many years, and only had the most rudimentary mapping data. While the mapping data improved over the years, with many of the establishments, businesses, and important locations now being marked on the map, at least in the big...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_maps_turnbyturn_navigation_now_available_in_india-news-35008.php

Photos allegedly show iPad mini 5, but we wouldn't hold our breath

Recent reports coming out of China suggest that Apple has started mass production of the iPad mini 5 and this might be it. The design sticks close to the iPad 9.7" (2018) with rounded sides and antenna window on top. The sides are important - the new iPad Pros have squared off sides so that the second-gen Apple Pencil can magnetically snap on the side. Not that Pencil support on the mini makes much sense, but Apple might want to keep the designs consistent, anyway. It looks like there's a 3.5mm headphone jack in the top right corner, something not seen on an iOS device since the 9.7"...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/photos_allegedly_show_ipad_mini_5-news-35009.php

Huawei Y9 2019 comes to India for $230

Huawei Y9 (2019) was introduced back in October but fans in India had to wait more than 2 months for the Kirin 710-powered phone. Now it was officially announced as Amazon Exclusive and will be available for sale starting next Tuesday, January 15. The new Y9 comes with Game Assistant 2.0 for optimizing the system resources when gaming. There is also Histen 5.0 audio which brings scene optimization and Party Mode with 5.1 or 7.1 Surround system. Specs-wise, the Huawei Y9 (2019) has a quite large 6.5" Full HD+ display with a small notch and four cameras - two on each side. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_y9_2019_comes_in_india_for_230-news-35007.php

Redmi Note 7 debuts with 48 MP camera, amazing price tag

Lei Jun, Xiaomi CEO, introduced today the Redmi Note 7 - the first phone that's part of the new Redmi sub-brand. The phone has a 48 MP camera with Sony IMX586 sensor, Snapdragon 660 chipset, massive screen and battery, while costing just CNY999 ($150). The 6.3" LCD comes with a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera and Gorilla Glass on top. The resolution is Full HD+ and Redmi quotes a screen-to-body ratio of 84%. The Qualcomm chipset might be a bit old, but it's still plenty fast and its CPU runs at 2.2 GHz. There are three memory combos for the Redmi Note 7 - 3/32 GB, 4/64 GB,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_7_official-news-35006.php

Samsung's Lite model will actually be called Galaxy S10 E, eschews in-display fingerprint sensor

AT&T's decision to rebrand LTE as "5G E" may not have gone very well with its competitors, but Samsung seems to have taken notice. That is because, according to a new rumor, the smartphone previously known as Galaxy S10 Lite will actually be sold under the name Galaxy S10 E. Make of that what you wish. Additionally, for cost-cutting purposes, this device will not come with an under-display fingerprint sensor, like the S10 and S10+. Hopefully that means it will actually be affordable, and not priced at iPhone XR levels. Then again, it is supposedly Samsung's direct competitor for the XR, so...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_lite_model_will_actually_be_called_galaxy_s10_e_eschews_indisplay_fingerprint_sensor-news-35005.php

Nokia 8.1 Plus renders show a punch hole camera on a 6.2" display

Renders of a Nokia 8.1 Plus show another change in design direction for HMD - dropping the notch in favor of a punch hole selfie camera. These come from the usually reliable @OnLeaks, but something's not quite right with the device. Despite the "Plus" designation, the phone is essentially the same size as the regular Nokia 8.1 - its screen measures 6.22". Dimensions are very similar too, the new phone will be 156.9 x 76.2 x 7.9mm, the current non-Plus model is 154.8 x 75.8 x 8mm. Nokia 8.1 Plus renders Sure, the punch hole selfie camera opens up a bit of space on the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_81_plus_renders_show_a_punch_hole_camera_on_a_62_display-news-35004.php

HiSense U30 is the first phone with SD675, Samsung's 48MP camera

As other phone makers nap, HiSense swoops in with the most interesting handset at CES - the HiSense U30. This is the first phone with the new Snapdragon 675 chipset and that's not even the best part. The rear camera features a Samsung ISOCELL Bright GM1 48MP sensor - the first phone to do so. There's also a 5MP depth sensor next to it and a fingerprint reader. The 20MP selfie camera lives in a punch hole in the 6.3-inch 1080p+ display. It's the first panel of this kind made by Tianma, previous models used BOE displays (Samsung Galaxy A8s and Huawei nova 4). HiSense U30...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hisense_u30_is_the_first_s675_phone_the_first_with_samsungs_48mp_image_sensor-news-35003.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 review

Once a prop for the communicating devices in sci-fi flicks, today the edge-to-edge screen has become a must-have feature for any flagship smartphone. It was Xiaomi who made the first steps in this direction back with their original Mi Mix phone a year before Apple came up with their notched iPhone X. The Mi Mix 3 proves once again that nothing is impossible and delivers a truly bezel-less screen with a twist (or rather, with a slide).

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_3-review-1876.php

Xiaomi unveils the logo for the Redmi brand

Xiaomi has announced plans to spin off the Redmi line as a separate brand and brands need logos. CEO Lei Jun unveiled a minimalistic logo that simply says "Redmi by Xiaomi". The debut phones of the new brand will be the Redmi 7 and Redmi Note 7, which will be unveiled at an event tomorrow. You can see images of both, courtesy of TENAA. They feature gradient paintjobs, which carries over to the alternative rendering of the logo. This move will separate Xiaomi's flagships (under the Mi brand) and the value for money phones (though Redmi might have some heavy hitters like the Redmi...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_unveils_the_logo_for_the_redmi_brand-news-35002.php

Samsung showcases its foldable phone to a limited audience at CES 2019

CES 2019 is taking place in Las Vegas right now and even if there aren't many phone announcements coming from there, some companies still pull some surprises out of the sleeve. According to Korean media, Samsung showcased its foldable phone exclusively to customers behind closed doors. The phone is not yet ready to make a global appearance, since there are some structural issues with the folding process. A company executive said the device looks completely flat when unfolded. When you try to fold it, the phone will break, therefore the prototype demoed was seen leaving a crease...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_showcase_foldable_phone_limited_audience_ces_2019-news-34998.php

Lenovo Z5 Pro GT pops up on Geekbench with Snapdragon 855 on board

Lenovo announced the first smartphone with Snapdragon 855 Z5 Pro GT last month and now we get to see its first benchmark scorecard. The score sheet says the handset tested is the Lenovo L78032 with 6GB of RAM, an octa-core Qualcomm processor and runs Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. This contradicts the official specs of the handset as there are only 8 and 12GB memory variants but then again, the single-core and multi-core scores are in line with what we expect from a Snapdragon 855 and certainly more than the Snapdragon 710 found on the Z5 Pro and Z5s can pull off. After all, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_z5_pro_gt_pops_up_on_geekbench_with_snapdragon_855_on_board-news-35000.php

Nokia 8 Sirocco finally getting the Android 9 Pie update

The Nokia 8 Sirocco is finally getting a stable release of the Android 9 Pie update. It brings the new gesture navigation, slices and app actions. Also, it adds Adaptive Battery and adaptive screen brightness level to improve battery life. All of these are standard features of Pie, of course. They lean on machine learning to predict what you will do next and which apps you will use to speed up operation and improve efficiency. Digital wellbeing features are also included. The update also bumps up the security patch to December 2018 (Google released the January 2019 patch for Pixel 3...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_8_sirocco_finally_getting_the_android_9_pie_update-news-34999.php

XOLO unveils Era 5X with LEDs on the front and back

Today, XOLO announced that it's starting to sell the Era 4X smartphone exclusively through Amazon India and also unveiled the Era 5X that will go on sale later on. The XOLO Era 4X is priced INR 4,444 (~€55) for the 1GB model and INR 5,555 (~€70) for the 2GB model. XOLO Era 4X Onto the Era 5X - it packs both a fingerprint scanner and face unlock - XOLO claims the former will unlock the device in 0.2s while the latter in 0.6s. On the front the XOLO Era 5X has a 5.7-inch 720x1440px IPS LCD and a 13MP selfie camera with an LED flash. On the rear there's another 13MP camera...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xolo_starts_selling_era_4x_in_india_details_era_5x_with_leds_on_both_sides-news-35001.php