Redmi is working on a Snapdragon 855-powered flagship

After the successful launch of the Redmi Note 7, Xiaomi's sub-brand is looking forward to its upcoming Redmi Note 7 Pro and another flagship phone. Yes, you read that right - Redmi is working on a Snapdragon 855-powered handset aimed to launch this year. Lu Weibing revealed the information on Weibo posting a photo of him and Redmi's crew in Xioami's Shenzhen R&D Institute where they've discussed the future of Redmi as a brand and its upcoming devices. He said that they've talked in details about the two phones, which means that the company will be stepping out of the mid-range...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_is_working_on_a_snapdragon_855powered_flagship-news-35359.php

Meizu M9 Note surfaces on TENAA

After Miezu's CEO confirmed that the company is working on a new smartphone, the Meizu M9 Note, a list of specs surfaced online. The report featured a 4,000 mAh battery, 48MP main camera and a Snapdragon 675 chipset. Well, a TENAA listing just popped up confirming some of the rumors. The TENAA report is still fresh on the Chinese regulatory's website, which means that most of the specs, including the product photos, are yet to be added. However, the listing confirms that the battery will indeed by around the 4,000 mAh mark - 3,900 mAh to be exact. We also get to learn the screen...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m9_note_surfaces_on_tenaa-news-35358.php

Apple says sorry for the FaceTime security flaw, to re-enable the feature next week

A major security flaw with Group FaceTime was discovered just a few days ago and Apple had to shut down the Group FaceTime servers while working on a solution. The company has now issued an apology for the inconvenience and promised to bring back online the servers next week. In the statement, Apple says that they've already sorted things out server-side and next week the company will seed a software update to re-enable FaceTime Group. The statement also gives special thanks to the Thompson family for reporting the bug. Here's the full statement: We have fixed the Group FaceTime...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_says_sorry_for_the_facetime_security_flaw_to_reenable_the_feature_next_week-news-35357.php

Samsung Galaxy S10E official renders appear

So far, the Galaxy S10 and the S10+ are generating all the hype and almost all of the leaked renders online belong to the more expensive Galaxy S10 models. Today's batch of alleged official press renders, however, are all about the budget Galaxy S10 Lite or the Galaxy S10E as some like to call it. Samsung Galaxy S10E in different colors The images come from a credible source, which claims they are the real deal. As you can see, it's clear that the S10E is going to be considerably cheaper compared to its siblings - it has thicker bezels and just two cameras on the back. And the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10e_official_renders_appear-news-35356.php

Telegram update adds fully customizable chat backgrounds

Telegram has released version 5.3 of the app for iOS and Android and it brings with it a completely overhauled background image system. Users can now choose from a wide variety of built-in images for their chat background. If they don't find what they like they can use the search function built within the app to find more, or even upload and use their own images. The process of setting the image has also been updated. You can now choose to blur the image, which improves the legibility of the chat with some images. Unfortunately, the blur effect is rather strong and blurs the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/telegram_update_adds_fully_customizable_chat_backgrounds-news-35355.php

Huawei P Smart (2019) arrives in Japan as Huawei nova lite 3

Huawei introduced the P Smart (2019) for select European markets, but it appears the phone will change its name outside the Old Continent. The actual phone was just relaunched in Japan under the name Huawei nova lite 3. It is already available all over the Asian country for JPY26,880. The new phone is a follow-up to the Huawei P Smart, launched as nova lite 2 in Japan. We already reviewed the phone with its 6.21" LCD screen, plastic body and 20 MP primary camera. The RAM is 3 GB, and Japan will get the variant with 32 GB storage. There is also a 3,400 mAh battery, charged through a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p_smart_2019_japan_huawei_nova_lite_3-news-35346.php

LG G8 ThinQ to come with 3,500 mAh battery

LG is going to showcase not one but two flagships at MWC later this month. Along with the LG V50 ThinQ with 5G capabilities it will also showthe LG G8 ThinQ. Latest reports from Brazil reveal that the new G-series flagship will have a 3,500 mAh power cell with a nominal capacity of 3,400 mAh. It is about 15% more than the G7 ThinQ battery and the biggest cell in a G smartphone since the G Flex, announced in November 2013. The LG G8 ThinQ will have a 6.1" screen with a notch. It will have a tall ratio of 19.5:9 and dual selfie cameras tucked in the cutout. And the G8 will keep...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g8_thinq_3500_mah_battery-news-35347.php

Gboard adds 50 new languages, brings total beyond 500

Google's popular keyboard has extended its functionality by reaching over 500 supported languages. In its latest update Gboard has gained support for 50 new languages, most of which you'd likely not have heard of like Alas, Amis, Brahui, Choctaw, Gayo, Giryama, Gorontalo, Gusii, Hehe and Iban. Currently the new languages are live through an update on Android, iOS users should receive the update soon as well. Source | Via

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gboard_adds_50_new_languages_now_supports_more_than_500_in_total-news-35345.php

New Nokia with Android One passes through the FCC

The FCC certified a new HMD phone - the Nokia TA-1157 - and revealed some of its specs. It will be one of the smaller handsets, measuring 149mm tall and 71mm wide (the Nokia 5.1 is 151.1 x 70.7mm, for reference). This Nokia will be available in two configurations - 2/16GB and 3/32GB. Both versions are dual SIM phones for GSM networks (so no Verizon compatibility). It's clearly an entry-level device, though not Android Go - the FCC label on the back clearly says Android One. Nokia TA-1157: FCC schematic of the back And there is a dual camera on the back, which hints that this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_nokia_with_android_one_passes_through_the_fcc-news-35344.php

vivo V15 Pro will feature a 48MP rear camera and a Snapdragon 675 chipset

The vivo V15 Pro teaser posters tend to focus on its 32MP pop-up selfie camera, but a new report shows that the triple camera on the rear shouldn't be underestimated. The rear camera will feature a 48MP main module (a Samsung GM1), which supports a 12MP pixel binning mode for night shots. The other two modules will have 8MP and 5MP sensors, though their purpose is unclear. This is only vivo's second triple camera phone after the NEX Dual Display (which had a depth sensor and a 3D ToF camera). Anyway, the vivo V15 Pro will be among the first to use a Snapdragon 675 chipset. This...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v15_pro_will_feature_a_48mp_rear_camera_and_a_snapdragon_675_chipset-news-35354.php

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 review

Redmi Note 7 lineup is the first one branded only as "Redmi" and the sub-brand company wants to come in strong. It advertises flagship-worthy build quality, great 48MP main camera on the back and powerful enough SoC no matter which Redmi 7 device you choose - the vanilla Redmi 7, the bigger Note 7 or the Pro. The one we have with us is the Redmi Note 7 - perhaps the most sought after model due to its low price and big screen.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_note_7-review-1883.php

6GB + 128GB Nokia 8.1 announced in India, pre-orders start today

The Nokia 8.1 launched in India in early December of last year but it was only available in the standard 4GB + 64GB configuration (priced at INR 26,999 or around €330). Today Nokia also launched the 6GB + 128GB Nokia 8.1 - pre-orders start immediately, shipments begin on February 6. The Nokia 8.1 with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at INR 29,999 (€365) and will be available exclusively through Amazon India. You'll get a choice of Blue Silver or Iron. The Nokia 8.1 has a 6.18-inch IPS LCD of 1080x2280px resolution, a 10nm Snapdragon 710 chipset, 12 f/1.8 regular + 13MP...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/6gb__128gb_nokia_81_announced_in_india_preorders_start_today-news-35352.php

Sony video teases phones with 3D ToF cameras

Back in 2015 Sony acquired Belgium's Softkinetic, which produced 3D Time of Flight cameras called DepthSense. Yesterday, Sony posted an image titled "Life with DepthSense", which shows different possible applications for phones with 3D ToF cameras. The first imagines 3D virtual graffiti, friends and family can leave you drawings and notes which you can explore and even walk through using your phone. The next concept (1 minute in) puts the ToF camera on the front for enhanced animated selfies. There are entertainment opportunities too, like shooting robots with finger guns (1:15). Such a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_video_teases_phones_with_3d_tof_cameras-news-35343.php

Nokia 2 V arrives on Verizon with Android Go

Verizon has just introduced the Nokia 2 V, an a rebranded Nokia 2.1 for its network. It is a phone on the Android Go program and costs just $69.99. The basic smartphone has a Snapdragon 425 chipset with has a quad-core 1.4GHz CPU and 1 GB RAM. The Nokia 2 V runs Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) and comes with some pre-installed apps from the Go family, including Gmail Go, Maps Go, YouTube Go. The storage is 8 GB and there is a slot for up to 128 GB more. The screen of the Nokia 2 V is 5.5" in diagonal with HD resolution and 16:9 ratio. There aren't any physical buttons on...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_2_v_arrives_on_verizon_with_android_go-news-35342.php

Panasonic announces S1R and S1 full-frame mirrorless cameras

Panasonic has launched its new LUMIX S series of full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The system is based on the L-Mount, initially developed Leica and now co-developed by Panasonic and Sigma. The first batch of cameras include the LUMIX S1R and the LUMIX S1. The LUMIX S1R has 47.3MP sensor, the highest resolution for a consumer full-frame mirrorless camera. The sensor has no low-pass filter, so you can get the maximum detail out of it. This model is intended more for landscape and wildlife photographers, who want the maximum detail in every shot. The LUMIX S1 has a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/panasonic_announces_s1_and_s1r_fullframe_mirrorless_cameras-news-35349.php

Most detailed Galaxy S10 and S10+ images yet surface

Welcome to your best look yet at the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10+, thanks to some crispy press renders. These come from the same batch we reported on earlier. The renders show off the more premium duo of Galaxy S10 phones from the front, the back and the sides. We're get three color versions - Black, Emerald and White Pearl gradient. The 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 shows off its single punch-hole selfie camera and its triple rear-mounted array of shooters - regular, ultra-wide and telephoto. Samsung Galaxy S10 The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has a bigger screen,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/here_are_the_nicest_galaxy_s10_and_s10_renders_weve_seen_from_all_angles-news-35341.php

Check out this awesome Moto RAZR 2019 concept

The latest rumor going around is that Motorola is preparing to revive the legendary RAZR series of mobile phones but so far, information is pretty scarce. Aside from the few reports one of which states that the handset will cost around $1,500. Now some cool concept renders just popped up online imaging the handset with a pretty cool and functional design. Its looks stick close to the original Motorola RAZR V3 - a pinch of nostalgia is never a bad thing. Moreover, it's in line with the patent filling from last week, so it might not be too far from the real thing. Foldable...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/check_out_this_awesome_moto_razr_2019_concept-news-35338.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 prices and memory options in Europe revealed

Samsung is announcing the Galaxy S10 smartphones at the Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 20, but we've learned a little something about their pricing in advance. At the end of 2018 some pricing for the UK market was leaked, and now we get intel on the costs of the flagships for Continental Europe. The most affordable of the bunch - Galaxy S10 E (or just Galaxy S10 5.8) will be €749, while the regular Galaxy S10 is going to start from €899. Samsung Galaxy S10 pricing in Europe The Galaxy S10 E (previously rumored as Galaxy S10 Lite) will come in at least four colors,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_prices_memory_options_europe_revealed-news-35334.php

Huawei shows teaser image of its 5G foldable phone as it announces MWC event

Huawei promised a foldable 5G phone for the MWC and is now backing that up with a teaser image, which sets the unveil date as February 24 at 14:00 CET. The phone will feature Huawei's new Balong 5000 5G modem, which will be hooked up to a Kirin 980 chipset. It looks like the phone folds down the middle and keeps the screen outside. Technically, the company promised "5G phones", plural, so we might see a non-foldable phone as well. Huawei's event invite for the MWC teases its 5G-enabled foldable phone Anyway, the event announcement mentions "Internet of Everything", so it's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_shows_teaser_image_of_its_5g_foldable_phone_as_it_announces_mwc_event-news-35339.php

Oppo European rollout continues with Poland, Turkey

The European expansion of Oppo started from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, continued with Poland on Wednesday and wrapped up an eventful week yesterday in Turkey. The company brought at four phones to Poland - Oppo AX7, Oppo RX17 Pro, Oppo RX17 Neo, and Oppo Find X, while Turkey only got the first three of those. Oppo AX7 is actually the Oppo A7 that was announced back in November but with a new moniker due to licensing issues. It still has Snapdragon 450 chipset and a 6.2" HD+ screen with a waterdrop notch, along with a huge 4,230 mAh battery. The device comes with 3 GB RAM and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_european_rollout_continues_with_poland_turkey-news-35337.php

HMD Global officially sets Nokia 9 announcement event

After the teaser from Juho Sarvikas the other day, we finally get an official invite from HMD Global for its event at MWC 2019 in Barcelona. Going by previous teasers, we suspect that Nokia will show a couple of hot smartphones. One is the much-anticipated penta-lens Nokia 9 and the other one is the rumored Nokia 8.1 Plus with a punch-hole camera on the front. The event will be held on February 24 at 4:00 PM CET. We'll be on site bringing you detailed coverage on everything that's being unveiled so make sure you are around when the time comes.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hmd_global_is_holding_an_event_at_mwc_2019_could_announce_nokia_9-news-35336.php

Samsung's foldable phone briefly shown in promo video, is it finally coming?

Someone managed to obtain a promo video that shows what the future of Samsung technology might look like. The video shows windows that double as huge displays, a Minority Report-styled touchscreen wall with air gestures, a bezel-less tablet and Samsung's foldable phone. The last one seems likeliest to come soon. Samsung's Galaxy F is coming this year and might even be shown at the MWC later this month - fingers crossed. Here's the video. The most interesting part is at 0:23.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_foldable_phone_briefly_shown_in_promo_video_is_it_finally_coming-news-35335.php

Samsung Galaxy Sport gets certified, possible February release

The Samsung Galaxy Sport is the latest smartwatch from Samsung and the device was just certified with the Taiwanese NCC. For the record, the same device has already been cleared by the FCC in the US and the NRRA in South Korea. SM-R500 is the model number of this device, which is widely considered to be the Samsung Galaxy Sport, not to be confused with the Gear Sport. The device was codenamed "Pulse" and is rumored to be the first Samsung wearable to support Bixby Reminders before ultimately upgrading the Galaxy Watch with Bixby support. The Galaxy Sport is expected to have 4GB of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_sport_gets_certified_possible_february_release-news-35329.php

Redmi Note 7 to arrive in India on February 12

Last week Redmi India teased a photo of Lei Jun and Manu Kumar Jain, both senior Xiaomi executives, with the new Redmi Note 7. The tweet said the "48 MP head-turner is arriving soon", and according to sources, we have a launch date. It will be February 12, and the event will take place in New Delhi, India. The source does not reveal much aside from an invite that says "The time has come". It also mentions "Redmi Smartphone Launch", and we would be fools to expect anything but the latest smartphone. Lu Weibing, Redmi CEO, is already teasing the Redmi Note 7 Pro, so it would be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_7_to_arrive_in_india_on_february_12-news-35333.php

Nintendo announces Dr. Mario World for mobile, Mario Kart Tour delayed

Today, Nintendo of America tweeted about a new game headed to smartphones. The company will be bringing a new Dr. Mario game titled "Dr. Mario World". The Dr. Mario franchise was always known for its puzzle games. The purpose of the game is to eliminate viruses by completing the puzzles. The doctor is in! Mario puts on the white coat once again in the mobile game Dr. Mario World, targeting an early summer 2019 global release. #DrMario https://t.co/DTRBympHj0 pic.twitter.com/RfMZbbs3Mp— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 31, 2019 This is the kind of game that could do...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nintendo_announces_dr_mario_world_for_mobile_mario_kart_tour_delayed-news-35332.php

Alleged official render of Galaxy S10+ leaks

The latest Samsung Galaxy S10 leak is reportedly an official render of the Galaxy S10+ (the largest variant). The render comes from 91Mobiles and OnLeaks so we could very well be looking at the real deal. This render is in line with other CAD renders we've previously seen down to the placement of the front camera and a triple camera system in the back - that is, if you count the first render, the one that had three cameras and not four. The calendar date on a render is normally something significant and seeing how the event is going to take place on February 20, we might speculate that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_official_render_of_galaxy_s10_leaks-news-35330.php

Apple abruptly revokes Google's enterprise certificate

Apple offers enterprise certificates to large companies like Google and Facebook for the purpose of distributing apps internally, amongst the companys' employees that facilitate their jobs. One of the rules of this certificate is that enterprises should not use it to distribute apps to consumers. Both Google and Facebook were identified as companies doing this and while Facebook's certificate was revoked yesterday (and has very recently been reinstated), Apple pulled the rug under Google today when it did the same thing. Regardless of whether Apple intended to act on Google so abruptly,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_abruptly_revokes_googles_enterprise_certificate-news-35331.php

Sprint's Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now receiving the Android 9 Pie update

Another day, another US carrier pushes out the update to Android 9 Pie to its Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ units. A couple of days ago it was Comcast's Xfinity Mobile, yesterday it was Verizon, and today it's Sprint's turn. The update is unsurprisingly rolling out in phases, so you'll see the notification at some point within the next few days. Once you install the new software, which comes in as a 2GB download, you'll be on build number G960UOYN3CSAB for the S9, and G965UOYN3CSAB for the S9+. If you're impatient you can manually check for the update through settings. The January 2019...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sprints_galaxy_s9_and_s9_are_now_receiving_the_android_9_pie_update-news-35328.php

vivo V15 Pro promo poster leaks showing the phone in all its glory

vivo is going to take the wraps off the V15 Pro at an event in India on February 20. We've already seen a teaser image shared by the company, as well as a case for the upcoming phone. But how about some official-looking promotional material? Well, that's exactly what got outed today. The promo poster you can see below shows us the V15 Pro's front and back for the first time. As you can see, it will employ a periscope front-facing camera, in order to forgo a notch completely. Its bezels look very thin (although the chin is slightly more pronounced), and on the back there's a triple...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v15_pro_promo_poster_leaks_showing_the_phone_from_both_sides-news-35327.php

Energizer unveils Ultimate series with two phones with dual pop-up cameras

There will be 26 new Energizer phones at the MWC and Avenir (the company that's building them) just gave us a detailed look at arguably the most interesting new product line - the Ultimate series. Note: the specs are not final and may change. Energizer Ultimate U620S Pop and U630S Pop Both phones feature dual selfie pop-up cameras - the first of their kind. They combine a 16MP main camera with a 2MP depth sensor. The Energizer Ultimate U620S Pop is the more premium offering with a 6.2" 1080p+ screen and a MediaTek Helio P70 chipset. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/energizer_unveils_ultimate_series_with_two_phones_with_dual_popup_cameras-news-35324.php

HMD partners with Pixelworks to bring more HDR displays to future Nokia phones

HMD has extended its partnership with Pixelworks - the company behind the Nokia 7.1's HDR-enabled PureDisplay - to bring its visual processing solutions to future Nokia smartphones. Pixelworks makes HDR tone mapping, support for HDR 10 content and real-time SDR to HDR converting possible. We were impressed with the Nokia 7.1 screen in our review so that's great news. It's not clear which future Nokia smartphones Pixelworks will work on but we sure hope the upcoming penta-cam Nokia 9 PureView is among them. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hmd_partners_with_pixelworks_to_bring_more_hdr_displays_to_future_nokia_phones-news-35323.php

Deal: Huawei Mate 20 Pro is cheaper than P20 Pro in the UK right now

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is currently on a great deal in the UK through O2. You can get the flagship for £650 on a Pay As You Go plan (without a contract), which is both cheaper than the Mate 20 Pro's regular £899 price and even the P20 Pro's £799 with the same deal. We made the rounds at other UK retailers and didn't find a better deal. In all other places the Mate 20 Pro starts at £779 and balloons all the way to its full retail price of £899. Both the Black and Twilight Mate 20 Pro's are in stock and eligible for free next day delivery with O2 UK and the deal doesn't seem to have a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deal_huawei_mate_20_pro_is_down_to_p20_pro_price_in_the_uk-news-35325.php

LG posts record profits for 2018, mobile division still losing money

LG is doing great - it just announced a record yearly revenue of $54.4 billion and record profit of $2.4 billion, 10% higher than in 2017. The mobile division is weighing it down, however. LG Mobile had a revenue of $7.08 billion and posted an operating loss of $700 million. The company claims that the division is showing signs of improvement thanks to better control on spending and inefficiencies. This year LG will rely on operator-driven markets (North America and Korea) for stable sales and will push 5G phones and devices with "different form factors" to try and go back in the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_posts_record_profits_for_2018_mobile_division_still_losing_money-news-35319.php

OnePlus reveals Valentine's Day promo bundles featuring the 6T, Bullets Wireless

Valentine's Day is in a couple of weeks and now's a good time to buy a gift. If your loved one is a OnePlus fan, the company is offering some discounts on bundles so you can put a few more bucks towards a fancy dinner. The You Complete Me bundle pairs a OnePlus 6T with a carbon fiber protective case and Bullets Wireless headphones. That's €630/$628 total (saving you €20/$20). OnePlus' Valentine's Day bundles: You Complete Me • The Perfect Pair If you both have a phone already, the Perfect Pair bundle offers two Bullets Wireless for €124.20/$124 (that's €14/$14 off the retail...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_reveals_valentines_day_promo_bundles_featuring_the_6t_bullets_wireless-news-35322.php

Redmi CEO polls fans on the most-desired Redmi Note 7 Pro upgrades

CEO of the Redmi brand, Lu Weibing, has posted a poll on Weibo asking fans what are the two most important upgrades that the Redmi Note 7 Pro should bring. The poll ends in two days or so, but the winners already seem clear. By far the most popular option (with nearly 35%) is faster chipset. And if rumors are true, people will get what they asked for - the Pro is said to be among the first phones with the Snapdragon 675. The runner up asks for improvements to the 48MP camera. The Pro will use the IMX586 sensor, rather than the Samsung one of the regular, but it's unclear if that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_ceo_polls_fans_on_the_mostdesired_redmi_note_7_pro_upgrades-news-35321.php

Xiaomi Redmi Go is on pre-order in the Philippines for $75

Xiaomi introduced its first Android Go smartphone called Redmi Go. Early reports suggested it is coming to Europe and the Philippines, and while the Old Continent still has to wait a little more, the Asia-Pacific country finally got the device for pre-order. The Redmi Go is available for booking on Lazada and costs only PHP3,990, or about $76/€66. Shipping is scheduled for February 3. The Redmi Go has a basic 5" HD screen, coupled with three capacitive keys underneath. It runs on Snapdragon 425 and has Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) OS that comes with plenty of lite apps from the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_go_gets_priced_at_75-news-35320.php

Realme 2 Pro stops by Geekbench running Android 9.0 Pie

Realme promised to update its smartphones within the first half of 2019 and it looks like it's trying to keep up with the tight schedule. As expected, the Realme 2 Pro will be the first handset to get the Pie update as it's the company's most expensive device. A Geekbench scorecard lists the phone rocking a Snapdragon 660 chipset with 4GB of RAM and Android 9.0 Pie. We know it's the Realme 2 Pro because their software build numbers start with RMX and the it's the only Realme smartphone featuring that chipset. Perhaps the update is closer than we anticipated - let's hope the testing...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_2_pro_stops_by_geekbench_running_android_90_pie-news-35318.php

Nokia featurephone TA-1139 spotted at TENAA

HMD is preparing a new Nokia featurephone, a Series 30+ handset rather than Kai OS or other. It has a nice ergonomic shape (plus, it's feather light at 83.6g) and with a 1,020mAh battery should last forever on a charge (compared to smartphones). Don't expect much out of the phone TA-1139, it has a 2.4" display (240 x 320px), a 3MP camera on the back with an LED flash, optional dual SIM, a microSD slot for up to 32GB memory expansion, MP3 player and an FM radio. You know, it's a phone. A 2G dual-band phone at that, so you can't use it on a growing number of operators (Wikipedia has a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_feature_phone_ta1139_spotted_at_tenaa-news-35317.php

Images of the OppoF11 with periscope selfie camera surface

A bunch of live images of an Oppo smartphone appeared online but unfortunately, even the source doesn't know the exact model of the handset. The anonymous tipster himself isn't sure if this is the upcoming R19 or the F11. What's for sure is that the phone has a pop-up selfie camera similar to the vivo NEX, which lets it do without a notch or a punch hole camera. Oppo's mysterious phone from the front and back We assume this is the F11 we are seeing here given the thick bezels. After all, the R-series are flagship phones so we would expect slimmer bezels or at least just as...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_images_of_the_oppo_r19_or_oppo_f11_with_fullscreen_display_appear_online-news-35316.php

Oppo launches SuperVOOC car charger for $30

Have you ever been frustrated that your SuperVOOC-compatible phone is attached to a charger for a whole 36 minutes until it reaches 100% charge? Worry no more, because you can take the SuperVOOC with you in your car with the charger Oppo has just released. The gadget has a carbon finish around its upper part and orange ring with LED lights that glow when a device is plugged. Aside from the SuperVOOC capabilities, it is pretty much a regular car charger with a USB port. But since it supports 50W charging, you can use it for your Oppo Find X Flash Edition, Find X Lamborghini Editon,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_launches_supervooc_car_charger_for_30-news-35315.php

Samsung reports bleak smartphone sales in Q4 and FY 2018

Samsung has just released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2018 and the complete fiscal year. The final three months saw a decline in both sales and operating profit, but the full year results were still record-setting. Despite weak sales of mobile devices, the IT & Mobile Communications division reported gains on the back of 5G equipment installations and expansion of LTE networks. Earnings are likely to improve after the introduction of commercial 5G services in South Korea and the planned launch of the Galaxy S10 on February 20 at the Unpacked event in San Francisco,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_reports_bleak_smartphone_sales_in_q4_and_fy_2018-news-35314.php

IDC and Counterpoint: 2018 saw first ever smartphone sales decline globally

Last year ended on a down note that smartphone sales were in decline and there is no light in the end of the tunnel. With January ending, two top analyst companies - IDC and Counterpoint, introduced their reports about sales in 2018 and the numbers do not look good. Both reports show a total decline of 4%, with IDC calling it "the worst year ever". IDC numbers • Counterpoint numbers IDC and Counterpoint have a different way of calculating sales, but the numbers more or less align - Samsung and Apple posted a yearly decline in units pushed, while the four biggest Chinese...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/smartphone_sales_reach_alltime_low_in_2018-news-35313.php

Sony Xperia XZ4 to have 52MP sensor

Yesterday, we heard about some specs for the Sony Xperia XZ4 leak ahead of an official announcement. Just a few hours later, a wonky report surfaced claiming that the Xperia XZ4 will have a 52MP sensor, the highest of any smartphone right now. The current record is held by the Honor View 20, which has a 48MP sensor. The camera system in question is comprised of three cameras. The first is a 16MP telephoto camera with an f/2.6 aperture lens. The middle camera is the 52MP camera with f/1.6.The last camera at the bottom is a 0.3MP ToF sensor with an f/1.4. Source: Sumahoinfo This...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/rumor_sony_xperia_xz4_to_have_52mp_sensor-news-35312.php

ZTE Blade V10 spotted on TENAA with 32MP selfie camera and waterdrop notch

ZTE's latest smartphone has just been certified with China's TENAA. The filing reveals some of the phone's specifications including battery size, camera resolutions, and screen size. According to the TENAA filing, the device in question is a ZTE V1000, which is likely the successor to last year's ZTE Blade V9. The V9 was announced last year during the MWC so we might expect ZTE to announce the Blade V10 at the same show towards the end of February. Source: TENAA We brightened the photos a little bit and were able to see a bit more on the rear view. There's a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_blade_v10_spotted_on_tenaa_with_32mp_selfie_camera_and_waterdrop_notch-news-35311.php

Google + will sunset personal accounts on April 2

Back in December, Google announced that it would shut down Google + sometime in April due to low usage and Google's wish to shift its resources towards something else. In a blog post, Google outlines its phasing out of the social network. Google + will begin to shut down personal (consumer) accounts beginning on April 2 and users will have until then to download all their Google + data. Pictures on Google Photos won't be deleted. Starting February 4, you won't be able to create new Google + profiles, pages, communities, or events. In the coming weeks, you will not be able to sign...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google__will_sunset_personal_accounts_on_april_2-news-35310.php

iPhone XS Max successor to look the same, have three rear cameras

Apple is planning to keep the successors to the iPhone XS and XS Max looking pretty much the same. However, the bigger model will ship with three rear cameras, according to a new report from "people familiar with the plans". The third shooter is likely to be a wide-angle camera, complementing the normal one and the telephoto lens nicely, allowing for a higher range of zoom. There will be some assorted software magic too, with one possible feature being automatic repairing of videos or photos to fit in a subject that may have been accidentally cut off from the initial shot. An enhanced...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_xs_max_successor_to_look_the_same_have_three_rear_cameras-news-35309.php

Verizon's Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now getting the Android 9 Pie update too

Well, that didn't take long. Yesterday the Android 9 Pie update for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ finally reached the US, going out to the units sold by Comcast's Xfinity Mobile MVNO. And today Verizon has started the rollout for the same updates as well. If you bought your S9 or S9+ from Big Red, expect to see an update notification pop up in the next few days. Once you install the new release, you'll be on build number G960USQU3CSAB for the S9, and G965USQU3CSAB for the S9+. If you haven't gotten the notification yet and are impatient, perhaps it won't hurt to manually check for the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_galaxy_s9_and_s9_are_now_getting_the_android_9_pie_update_too-news-35308.php

Report: iPhone hacking tool used by UAE to spy on targets in 2016

A report from Reuters Investigation claims that there is an powerful iPhone hacking tool called "Karma" that has been used by the UAE government for the purpose of remotely hacking those iPhones of people in key interest. Former US Intelligence members working for the UAE were said to have developed the tool to monitor targets starting in 2016. This is the first time a report has been released about the tool's existence. According to the report, Karma could remotely access iPhones by entering a phone number or email address into a system. In 2016 and 2017, the tool could access photos,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/report_iphone_hacking_tool_used_by_uae_to_spy_on_targets_in_2016-news-35307.php

Samsung has started Galaxy S10 mass production

An insider speaking to The Investor says that Samsung kicked off mass production of the Galaxy S10 flagship last week - January 25. These are the three 4G models, which will primarily be manufactured overseas, work on the 5G model will start later on. The source says that all three Galaxy S10 models will feature in-display fingerprint readers. The 6.1" and 6.4" phones will go with a Qualcomm-developed ultrasonic reader (with better accuracy and reliability) while the 5.8" one will use an optical reader. The mid-sized and large Galaxy S10 will have curved screens and Samsung will ship...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_has_started_galaxy_s10_mass_production-news-35306.php

The Huawei P30 Lite will have a 1080p+ screen, 20MP triple camera

Huawei's P30 phones have fashion-themed names - Elle, Vogue and Marie Claire. The latter seems to be the Huawei P30 Lite as info of the MAR-LX1M has been trickling out. UA Profile: 1080p+ resolution • Android 9 Pie • Code name certifications from the EEC The User Agent profile of the phones browser confirms a screen with 1,080 x 2,312px resolution - that's 1080p+ with 19.3:9 aspect ratio. This entails a teardrop notch as you can see in this render of the MAR-AL00 (the Chinese model, which may go under the nova 4e name). The screen will likely measure 6" and the fingerprint...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_huawei_p30_lite_will_have_a_1080p_screen_20mp_triple_camera-news-35304.php