Oppo Reno to have 93.1% screen-to-body ratio and "no holes", company VP teases

Oppo's upcoming flagship smartphone called Reno shapes up to be an impressive piece of tech. Going by previous leaks and teasers, the phone will boast 10x loss-less zoom and Samsung's latest iteration of their AMOLED panels - Dynamic AMOLED. But that's not all. Today the company's VP boasted about the impressive screen-to-body ratio too. It's expected to reach 93.1% without resorting to notches, holes or other cutouts of some sort. If the number is legit, the bezels should be almost non-existent too. Additionally, the VP says there won't be any holes on the back as well, but...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_to_have_931_screentobody_ratio_and_no_holes_company_vp_teases-news-36065.php

HTC makes a profit in 2018

HTC posted its financial results for Q4 2018 and the annual 2018. Surprisingly, the company did pretty well considering its current situation. It made a small profit in the Q4, which carried over to the overall profit increase in 2018 as a whole. HTC reported $143 million gross profit after tax for the last quarter of last year and about $389 for the whole year. That's a significant increase over 2017 and interestingly enough, Q4 of 2018 was actually the fourth consecutive quarter with rising revenue since Q4 2017. It seems that the re-structuring and re-organizing has done a great...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_makes_a_profit_in_2018-news-36064.php

The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro show up on new set of renders, this time in black

Well, until the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro get released, the wave of leaks is inevitable. Just yesterday, we got a good a look of both phones garnished with a full specs sheet. Huawei P30 Pro and P30 Today's leak, however, isn't all that informative but gives us a clear look at the two devices one more time and this time in Black. It is said that aside from the Black color, the vanilla P30 will come in Twilight, White and Blue while the Pro variant will get Sunrise Red, Twilight and Aurora gradients. There's not much left to be revealed during Huawei's event on March 26 but we...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_huawei_p30_and_p30_pro_show_up_on_new_set_of_renders_this_time_in_black-news-36060.php

Asus will release Android Pie for three smartphones by April 15

Asus rolled out Android Pie beta for ZenFone Max Pro (M1) and (M2) last month, and now the company has confirmed that it will release the stable build of Android Pie for these smartphones by April 15. In addition to those, the ZenFone Max (M2) will also get the Android Pie stable build by April 15. All three of these smartphones were launched with Android 8.1 Oreo last year. The ZenFone Max Pro (M1) came in April while the other two came in December. If you own the ZenFone Max Pro (M1) or (M2) and can't wait to get your hands on Android Pie, you can enroll in the beta program by...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_max_pro_m1_and_m2_will_get_android_pie_by_april_15-news-36058.php

Oppo F11 Pro review

Once a showcase of Oppo's selfie-centric tech, now the F-series has evolved into a fully-fledged mid-range lineup. And the new Oppo F11 Pro has a lot to show off starting with a notch-less edge-to-edge screen and a 48MP main camera, as well as a pop-up selfie camera and VOOC charging.

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f11_pro-review-1907.php

Xiaomi's foldable phone will cost half of Galaxy Fold, launch in Q2 2019

Samsung and Huawei unveiled their foldable smartphones last month. Both of them have a different design but they have one thing in common - the high price. Samsung's Galaxy Fold costs $1,980 whereas Huawei's Mate X costs around $2,600. This price tag makes them a luxury item, but thanks to Xiaomi, you will be able to buy a foldable smartphone that will cost less than a grand. Well, $999 to be precise. 3D render of Xiaomi's foldable smartphone (Source: Lets Go Digital) According to a report by iGyaan, Xiaomi's foldable smartphone - which is currently referred to as Mi Fold and Mi...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_foldable_phone_will_cost_half_of_galaxy_fold_launch_in_q2_2019-news-36057.php

FCC proposes better GPS locating for 911 calls down to the building's floor level

In the United States, a carrier provides the GPS coordinates to emergency dispatchers when someone places an emergency "911" call using a smartphone. While this will help dispatchers locate the origin of the call for help, it is a bit more difficult when the call came from a multi-story building. On Friday, the FCC has proposed new requirements for wireless operators to provide 911 call centers with not only X and Y GPS coordinates, but also a vertical "z axis" location metric to help dispatchers figure out which floor of the building a call came from. To do this, the FCC would "require...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/fcc_proposes_better_gps_locating_for_911_calls_down_to_the_buildings_floor_level-news-36056.php

Report forecasts wire-free earbuds sales will reach 129 million units in 2020

On Friday, Counter Point Research published a report about the future of the wireless earbuds industry. "The global market for true wireless hearables is estimated to reach a volume of 129 million units by 2020," this according to the latest research from the firm. The research firm attributes the expected growth to the anticipation of the a new-generation of AirPods that are due to be announced sometime soon and would be aggressively marketed to compensate for the recent decline in iPhone sales. At the same time, the firm estimates Apple Airpod sales somewhere around 35 million...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/report_forecasts_wirefree_earbuds_sales_will_reach_129_million_units_in_2020-news-36055.php

Our Sony Xperia 10 Plus video review is up

Sony introduced two midrange devices at the MWC this year, all of them with new super-tall 21:9 displays. The first two to come are the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus with the Xperia 1 coming later in the year. We decided to first review the bigger of the two: the Xperia 10 Plus. The Xperia 10 Plus has a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 636 CPU over the 10's Snapdragon 630. There are 4GB of RAM for multitasking and a 3,000 mAh battery powers the handset. There is also a large and tall 6.5-inch screen with Full HD+ resolution that works out to 1080 x 2520 px thanks to that 21:9 aspect ratio....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_sony_xperia_10_plus_video_review_is_up-news-36054.php

Apple responds to Spotify's complaints in an acerbic rant

A couple of days ago we reported that Spotify is filing a complaint against Apple with the European Commission for unfair practices. Spotify claimed that Apple made it difficult for companies like Spotify to compete fairly with Apple's own services on the company's platform by putting artificial restrictions and ever-shifting goalposts. Today Apple fired back with a post on its website claiming to address Spotify's claims. The post, attributed to no one in particular at the company, comes across as a little too aggressive than what we have come to expect from this otherwise mild-mannered...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_responds_to_spotifys_complaints_in_an_acerbic_rant-news-36051.php

Microsoft adds DirectX 12 support on Windows 7

Microsoft has announced that it is bringing DirectX 12 support for Windows 7. The company also announced that Blizzard Entertainment's hugely popular World of Warcraft will become the first title to support DirectX 12 on Windows 7. DirectX 12 is a low-level API launched alongside Windows 10. It aims to improve performance and efficiency by reducing driver overhead. DirectX 12 titles are able to better leverage multi-core CPUs and also enable multi-GPU systems without requiring hardware vendor technologies such as CrossFire or SLi. Over the past couple of years, developers have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_adds_directx_12_support_on_windows_7-news-36045.php

Gboard for iOS now has in-app translation capabilities

iOS users have just been treated to new Gboard features. Google's keyboard for iOS can now instantly translate the text as you type it. New translation features in Gboard version 1.42.0 The new update is live on the App Store and brings iPhone and iPad users ability to conveniently translate between the 100+ officially supported languages right from the keyboard without needing to resort to the Translate app. Once you update your Gboard app, you'll notice a translate icon in the suggestion bar. You can also trigger the new feature by simply tapping on the Google button. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/gboard_for_ios_now_has_inapp_translation_capabilities_-news-36048.php

German intelligence agency says Huawei can't be trusted to build 5G networks

The German intelligence agency BND has stated that Huawei isn't a trustworthy partner and shouldn't be a part of the country's 5G network deployment. The agency bases this on "security-relevant incidents" from the past. Previously, Norwegian intelligence raised similar concerns and Denmark agreed. Of course, the biggest pressure comes from the US - the US embassy in Berlin has warned that a potentially compromised 5G network could endanger the future of intelligence sharing between the two countries. The worry is that Huawei has built backdoors into its hardware that will be used by the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/german_intelligence_agency_says_huawei_cant_be_trusted_to_build_5g_networks-news-36049.php

Some of this year's iPhones will have a triple-camera setup

A new report coming straight from the Chinese supply chain claims that the upcoming iPhone 11, or whatever the next Apple phones end up named, will move to a triple camera. We've heard that one before so chances of it being correct are high. The rumor says the new camera setup will sit inside a square-shaped protrusion, similar to the Mate 20 Pro's, and it will be made available on both premium iPhones. The iPhone XR's successor, on the other hand, will make the transition to a dual-camera module. Source (in Japanese)

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/some_of_this_years_iphones_will_have_a_triplecamera_setup-news-36043.php

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) gets Android Pie with One UI

Since last weekend, Samsung has rolled out Android Pie for three of its mid-rangers - the Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018), and the Galaxy A9 (2018). Now its time for the A7 (2018) to get the latest version of Android. The Android Pie update that's rolled out for Galaxy A7 (2018) carries version number A750FNPUU1BSC4 and comes with One UI. It also brings along February 2019 security patch to the smartphone. But, this isn't a global release as Samsung is currently seeding the update only in Russia. According to the rollout schedule shared by Samsung, the A7, A8, A8+, and A9 (2018) are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a7_2018_gets_android_pie_with_one_ui-news-36041.php

vivo X27 offical renders surface, reveal color options

The vivo X27 is expected to arrive on March 19 with elevating front camera, a notch-less screen, triple camera setup on the back and a huge 4,000 mAh. Yep, we have almost all of the information we need ahead of launch, but the newly released official renders are our best look yet at the handset's design. Blue, Emerald Green and White Gold The renders appeared on Weibo and seem like the real deal. They also give us a good look at the vivo X27's color options - Emerald Green, Blue and White Gold. More vivo X27 renders Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x27_offical_renders_surface_reveal_color_options-news-36039.php

Android Go-powered Samsung Galaxy A2 Core leaked

Samsung is gearing up to launch its second Android Go phone and official images of the Galaxy A2 Core have surfaced. Previously, specs appeared on Geekbench back in February and revealed its official name - the SM A260F. The Samsung Galaxy A2 Core shares the front with its Galaxy J2 Core sibling with thick bezels and a Samsung logo on the chin. Around the back, the single camera and flash are located in the top right corner while the speaker sits below. As with other Android Go phones, internals are hardly inspiring, although the Exynos 7870 chipset is better than what other Go...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_a2_core_with_android_go_leaked-news-36040.php

Black Shark 2 shown playing PUBG, is already up on JD.com

As seen in the official trailer, the Black Shark 2 will lean on PUBG for marketing. You can see the popular Battle Royale game in this next video posted by the gaming brand's CEO. The phone will be unveiled on March 18 and on that day the company will run a lottery through Weibo, giving away 100 units. Meanwhile, the Black Shark 2 is up on JD.com. The specifications and price have not been published on the site yet, but the Black Shark Helo is currently CNY 3,200, down from the original CNY 3,700 ($475, down to $550). Previously, the phone was seen on the brand's official store,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/black_shark_2_shown_playing_pubg_is_already_up_on_jdcom-news-36042.php

Valve updates SteamLink app to let you stream anywhere

Fresh off Microsoft's xCloud demo and ahead of Google's supposed game streaming announcement, Valve updated its SteamLink app to allow uninterrupted gaming experience outside of your home. Traditionally, the SteamLink app only allowed you to remotely play on your Android device as long as it was on the same network as your PC. However, with the introduction of the Anywhere feature, you are free to choose where you want to enjoy your Steam games. The new addition is still in beta and requires a few extra steps such as downloading the most recent version of the software on Android...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/valve_updates_steamlink_app_allows_users_to_stream_favourite_steam_games_anywhere_-news-36038.php

Our Moto G7 review video is up

Motorola's G-series is one of Moto's most popular lineups and it decided to hold its launch event in Brazil, a very important market for the company. The Moto G7 is a refinement of Motorola's design language while bringing performance improvements and a larger display in a slightly larger footprint. The Moto G7 has a Snapdragon 636 updated from the Snapdragon 450 on the G6. Otherwise, there's an updated dual camera setup with a 12MP main camera and a 5MP secondary one. The notch above the 6.2-inch screen contains the 8MP selfie camera and amply loud in-call earpiece. There's a 3,000...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_moto_g7_review_video_is_up-news-36033.php

Poco F1 Lite key specs revealed through Geekbench

The Pocophone F1 - called Poco F1 in India - was launched last August and really shook the market by becoming by far the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phone out there. Now the company is working on a more toned down version that will presumably carry even lower price tag. The Poco F1 Lite has popped up on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 660 chipset and 4 GB RAM. The unit runs Android Pie and scored 1,341 and 4,830 points in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests respectively. As always, this database doesn't reveal any other specifications like display resolution and storage. One more...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/poco_f1_lite_key_specs_revealed_through_geekbench-news-36035.php

Huawei P30, P30 Pro detailed specs leak ahead of March 26 launch

Huawei is all set to unveil the P30 and P30 Pro on March 26, and thanks to previously leaked renders we have a pretty good idea of what these phones will look like. And now we can add specs to the faces as a leaked sheet revealed most of the keys facts. Huawei P30 • Huawei P30 Pro The specs sheet reveals that both these smartphones will be powered by Huawei's Kirin 980 flagship chip, run Android Pie-based EMUI 9.1, and have a 32 MP camera on the front. But apart from that, this P30 duo will have different hardware. You can check out the table below to know...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_p30_pro_detailed_specs_leak_ahead_of_march_26_launch-news-36037.php

Oppo F11 Pro goes on sale in India

The Oppo F11 Pro that was unveiled last week is now on sale in India. It is priced at INR 24,990 ($361) and can be be purchased through Amazon.in, Flipkart, as well as brick-and-mortar stores across the country. As a part of launch offers, customers are offered Paytm cashback of up to INR 3,400 ($49) along with up to 3.2 TB data and benefits of up to INR 4,900 ($70) from Reliance Jio. The F11 Pro is powered by Helio P70 SoC which is coupled with 6 GB RAM. The smartphone has 64 GB of storage and runs Android Pie-based ColorOS 6 out-of-the-box. It boasts a 6.53-inch Full-HD+ notchless...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f11_pro_goes_on_sale_in_india-news-36032.php

Qualcomm official says 64MP and 100MP phones are coming in 2019

In a recent interview Qualcomm's Senior Director of Product Management Judd Heape revealed that phones with 64MP and even 100MP cameras will likely come in 2019. However ultra high-megapixel cameras in phones isn't the direction Qualcomm wants the market to go. While current Snapdragon chipsets (660, 670, 675, 710, 845, 855) support resolutions up to 192MP, features like multi-frame noise reduction and zero shutter lag must be disabled for those. That means that phones won't be able to snap a series of photos and combine them into a cleaner single image but will rather capture a single...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_sp_says_phones_with_64mp_and_even_100mp_cameras_are_coming-news-36036.php

Wednesday's outage of Facebook apps was due to a "server configuration change"

On Wednesday, Facebook experienced a major but partial outage that lasted most of the day. In my personal experience, I first noticed this when I tried to send a photo through Facebook Messenger and it kept failing, although I was still able to send and receive messages. Later in the day, I realized WhatsApp was also experiencing issues when I couldn't send messages. On Thursday, Facebook tweeted that the interruption of many Facebook and its family of apps and services was due to a server configuration change. Everything seemed back to normal for me later on Wednesday night. According to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/wednesdays_facebookinstagramwhatapp_outage_was_due_to_a_server_configuration_change-news-36031.php

Redmi Go launching in India on March 19

Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi announced its first Android Go smartphone - the Redmi Go - back in late January. The smartphone is already available in the Philippines, and the next market it will debut in is India. The Redmi Go will be launched in India on March 19. The company has set up an event page on its website with a countdown to the launch. The page reveals that this smartphone will come with 20+ regional languages, dedicated expandable storage, and Google Assistant in Hindi. The Redmi Go is powered by Snapdragon 425 which is paired with 1 GB RAM. It runs Android Oreo (Go Edition)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_go_reaching_indian_shores_on_march_19-news-36034.php

Here's a mockup of the first alleged Pixel 4 XL leak

Although Google's midrange smartphone is launching in the somewhat near future, we're now seeing the first leak of what could be the successor to the Google Pixel 3 XL. Yeah, the one with a huge bathtub notch. Today's leak comes from SlashLeaks in the form of the following two-dimensional drawing. Although it's far too early to confirm the authenticity of the drawing, the guys over at Phone Arena have made a realistic mockup render of the leaked design. Let's take a closer look. For starters, the front of the phone looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S10+'s. There's a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_a_mockup_of_the_first_alleged_pixel_4_xl_leak-news-36030.php

Samsung is working on putting a camera behind the screen without a hole

Infinity-O displays are just a stop along the way to proper full-screen phones - ones with no notches or punch holes, just screen. To make it possible, all the sensors and cameras on the front will have to move under the display. "Though it wouldn't be possible to make (a full-screen smartphone) in the next 1-2 years, the technology can move forward to the point where the camera hole will be invisible, while not affecting the camera's function in any way," says Yang Byung-duk, vice president of Samsung's Mobile Communication R&D Group Display. He says that the Galaxy S10 phones are the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_working_on_putting_a_camera_behind_the_screen_without_a_hole-news-36027.php

Photographer says you only need an Xperia smartphone to capture award-winning photos

Dominika Koszowska is a photographer who exclusively uses a smartphone as her tool and that smartphone is an Xperia. She captures landscape and portrait photos and even won the 2018 Mobile Photography Awards' grand prize for the imagery she captured with an Xperia XZ1 and XZ2. Sony caught up with Dominika to ask her about her tips on photography - what she likes to capture, how she captures it. Dominika likes to shoot using the Manual mode on her Xperia smartphone so as to have full control over the final image. She doesn't mention it in her interview but it's also clear she's an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_capture_awardwinning_photos_on_a_phone_this_woman_did-news-36026.php

Cut-out wallpapers now available in Samsung's Galaxy theme store

The punch hole displays are far from universally loved, even though they are more efficient than notches. Yet the Infinity-O displays on the Samsung Galaxy S10 have born a whole new lineup of wallpapers that turn the dead screen area in a cool accent. The ingenious images that began surfacing on web boards like Reddit, quickly grabbed the attention away from the obtrusive display cut out and nicely camouflaged the front-facing cameras. Embracing its new found fame, Samsung has officially brought cut-out wallpapers to its Galaxy theme store. Those wishing to outfit their new device...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/cutout_wallpapers_now_available_in_samsungs_galaxy_theme_store-news-36023.php

Huawei P30 Pro shows up in Sunrise Red, non-Pro model will have a 3.5mm jack

A new color has surfaced for the Huawei P30 Pro - Sunrise Red. It has a slight gradient to it going from red to warm yellow. Huawei P30 Pro in Sunrise Red Previous colors we've seen are Twilight and Aurora, which have much more distinct gradients, plus the staple Black color. The Huawei P30 was also seen in Twilight, Aurora, Black, so there's a chance it will get Sunrise too (unless there are a few exclusive colors for each model). Huawei P30 Pro in Black, Twilight, Aurora Anyway, there's some good news to come out of these new renders as well - the P30...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_pro_shows_up_in_sunrise_red_nonpro_model_will_have_a_35mm_jack-news-36021.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G hits 2.6 Gbps speed in SK Telecom tests

With the imminent launch of 5G phones, carriers worldwide are working on testing and preparing their networks for the global roll-out. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be among the first phones to support the next generation of mobile connectivity and South Korea's SK Telecom has been busy doing network tests with it. In a recent press release, the Korean carrier announced that it managed to achieve speeds of 2.6 Gbps on its network thanks to a 5G-LTE aggregation technology. The actual 5G speeds reached 1.5Gbps while the rest came from the good old LTE. SK claims it takes 30 seconds...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/s10_5g_hits_26_gbps_speed_in_sk_telecom_tests_-news-36025.php

Oppo Reno to have a 5G and Lamborghini versions, Dynamic AMOLED screen

Did you enjoy the Oppo Reno photos of monument replicas that showed what the 10x zoom camera can do? If you did, here are a few more samples, this time the focus is on architecture, but the skills of the zoom camera are as vital as ever. The good news is that these shots show the full photo from the zoom camera, rather than just a cutout like the ones from yesterday. Unfortunately, the samples (all but the last pair) have been downscaled to 1080p. Oppo Reno camera samples: wide-angle and telephoto A Weibo post details the camera specifications (Source link below 1, if...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_to_have_a_5g_and_lamborghini_versions_dynamic_amoled_screen-news-36024.php

NVIDIA launches GTX 1660, starts at $219

NVIDIA has launched the GTX 1660, a new mid-range graphics card for desktop following the launch of its 1660 Ti. Built on the same 6th generation Turing architecture as the GTX 1660 Ti and the RTX series, the new GTX 1660 starts at $219, making it the cheapest Turing based GPU so far. The GTX 1660 is the same TU116 GPU as on the 1660 Ti but with a few modifications. The CUDA core count has dropped from 1536 to 1408. The texture units have gone down from 96 to 88. The memory clock is now 8GHz from 12GHz and the memory bandwidth is 192GB/s instead of 288.1GB/s. The memory itself is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nvidia_launches_gtx_1660_starts_at_219-news-36028.php

Google's foldable smartphone showcased in a patent

It looks like Google is hoping to get on the foldable smartphone bandwagon according to this leaked patent. After Samsung and Huawei introduced their foldable phones during this year's MWC, the rest of the manufacturers will surely follow suit and Google doesn't want to be left out. The patent reveals a similar design to the Motorola Razr 2019 and it's an "innie", just like the Galaxy Fold. The patent also depicts a gap between the two halves as is the requirement with currently available technology. Still, keep in mind that patents don't always materialize in a finished product...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/googles_foldable_smartphone_showcased_in_a_patent-news-36020.php

Apple to host WWDC 2019 between June 3 to 7

Apple has announced that it will be holding the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California from June 3 to June 7. As usual, the company will have various sessions, consultations and hands-on labs for developers to learn about all the new software that will be announced and also to learn more about existing products. Attending developers will get to spend time with other developers as well as Apple's own team of software and hardware developers during this period. Tickets will be priced at $1599 and developers will be chosen on a lottery basis as usual. There are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_to_host_wwdc_2019_between_june_3_to_7-news-36029.php

Apple will release 10.2-inch and 10.5-inch iPads this year

Apple will reportedly unveil two new iPads this year - a new 7th gen iPad with a 10.2-inch screen and a new 10.5-inch iPad non-Pro model. The two will be released at different times according to insider CoinX, who's had success with previous leaks like the names of the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. Dissecting the tweet, which delivered the news, it's clear that Apple will replace the current 9.7-inch entry-level iPad with a 10.2-inch one, which is great - especially if Apple keeps the price intact and the larger screen comes at the expense of bezels. Both iPad 7 (10.2") and the "new"...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_will_release_a_102inch_and_105inch_ipad_this_year-news-36022.php

Nokia 3.1 gets Android Pie update

Late last month, HMD rolled out the Android Pie update for the Nokia 3.1 Plus and now the turn has come for the regular Nokia 3.1 to get it. Unlike the Nokia 3.1 Plus, which got Android Pie later than planned, the rollout of Pie for Nokia 3.1 is right on schedule. A detailed changelog of the update is currently unavailable, but as this is Android Pie, we know it brings in features like navigation gestures, redesigned UI, adaptive brightness, and adaptive battery to Nokia 3.1. The Nokia 3.1 debuted last year in May and being an Android One smartphone, it comes with the promise of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_31_gets_android_pie_update-news-36017.php

Samsung starts producing 12GB LPDDR4X DRAM modules for phones

Samsung is on a streak here. After launching the production of 512GB eUFS 3.0 memory chips, the company is now kick-starting the production of 12GB DRAM modules for usage in smartphones. They are based on the LPDDR4X standard and use the advanced 10nm (1y-nm) manufacturing process, which has been around since last year. Samsung achieved this by stacking six 16-gigabit LPDDR4X chips into a single compact package that also draws less power. The result is just 1.1mm thick module. In terms of performance, the package can achieve 34.1 GB/s data transfer rate while maintaining lower power...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_starts_producing_12gb_lpddr4x_dram_modules-news-36015.php

Our vivo V15 Pro video review is up

The vivo V15 Pro is the phone that brought the elevating selfie camera to the midrange. It borrowed the tech from the vivo NEX and was later followed by the Oppo F11 Pro. We reviewed the phone and have finally posted the video on our YouTube channel. The V15 Pro has a lot going on - Snapdragon 675 chipset, huge screen estate with no notches whatsoever, stunning colors on the back and a 48 MP camera. The manufacturer kept the under-display fingerprint scanner that made its way to the series back with the vivo V11 (or V11 Pro if you are in India). One of the biggest...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_vivo_v15_pro_video_review_is_up-news-36019.php

Nokia 9 PureView units in Europe will start shipping on March 15

The Nokia 9 PureView launched in the US in early March while Europe was supposed to wait until April. Well, the wait will be shorter than expected. Several stores will ship ship the 5-camera flagship in mid-March and in one case the price is lower than the official cost over at Nokia.com (which still shows April shipping dates). Check out the table below for quick links to various stores we found and the promos they offer. Amazon UK and France will be bundling the Nokia True Wireless Earbuds, the one in Germany just includes a car charger. Store Price Ships ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_9_pureview_units_in_europe_will_start_shipping_on_march_15-news-36018.php

Oppo A1K specs surface with Helio P22 and 4,000 mAh battery

Last year in March, Oppo unveiled its A1 budget smartphone with Helio P23 and 4 GB RAM. Now the company is reportedly planning to launch a slightly modified version dubbed A1K as its specifications leaked online. According to MySmartPrice, the A1K will soon go official with Helio P22 SoC and 2 GB RAM. The smartphone will run ColorOS 6 based on Android Pie and will have 32 GB of storage onboard. The A1K will come in Red and Black colors along with a 4,000 mAh battery under the hood. It will have a single camera at the back and will be likely equipped with a 6-inch waterdrop notch...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a1k_specs_surface_with_helio_p22_and_4000_mah_battery-news-36016.php

Huawei P30 6 GB RAM variant passes through Geekbench scoring higher than the P30 Pro

Two days ago, the Huawei P30 Pro paid a visit to Geekbench with Kirin 980 SoC and 8 GB RAM. Now, the P30 with the same chipset and lesser RAM has stopped by this benchmarking database scoring higher than the Pro variant. The Huawei P30 bearing model number ELE-L29 with Kirin 980 and 6 GB RAM scored 3,296 and 9,900 points in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests, respectively. This is slightly higher than the P30 Pro's score of 3,289 and 9,817. However, it's worth noting that these are likely prototypes and scores might not be representative of final units. Huawei will unveil the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_6_gb_ram_variant_passes_through_geekbench_scoring_higher_than_the_p30_pro-news-36011.php

Facebook faces criminal investigation over user data deals

A new report from The New York Times outlines details of a criminal investigation in the US into Facebook's past dealings with user data and the companies involved in the scheme. A grand jury has subpoenaed records from "two prominent makers of smartphones and other devices" to get to the bottom of the data deals with Facebook. This is according to "two people familiar with the requests" who remain anonymous. According to the sources, both of these companies had partnerships with Facebook that granted them access to the personal information of its users. We wonder if the two subpoenaed...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_reportedly_under_criminal_investigation_surrounding_user_data_deals-news-36008.php

Ten Xiaomi smartphones in line for Android Pie

Xiaomi is known for taking care of its smartphones and pushing software updates to all kinds of devices. Latest info from MIUI forums revealed ten phones will get the Android Pie OS, with Global Beta for two of them coming before the end of March. Five more will get in by June, while three phones have no timeline, but their updates are also in the pipeline. Phone Planned Public Beta launch Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Q2 2019 Xiaomi Mi 6 Q2 2019 Xiaomi Redmi 6A Q2 2019 Xiaomi Redmi 6 Q2 2019 Xiaomi Mi...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/ten_xiaomi_smartphones_in_line_for_android_pie-news-36012.php

Asus Zenfone Max Shot and Zenfone Max Plus M2announced

A month after it was announced that Qualcomm would partner with Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) on a new semiconductor plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil we are treated to the first two devices running on the new system-in-package (SiP) processors. The Zenfone Max Shot and Max Plus M2 are the first phones developed by the Asus Brazil team and featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon SiP 1. Asus Zenfone Max Shot in Blue and Asus Zenfone Max Plus M2 in Silver While almost indistinguishable at first glance, the Max Shot will offer an extra 8MP wide angle camera around the back while the Max...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_max_shot_and_zenfone_max_plus_m2_get_official_in_brazil-news-36014.php

Huawei nova 4e goes official with Kirin 710 SoC and 32 MP selfie camera

After unveiling the nova 4 with Kirin 970 SoC and 48 MP rear camera last December, Huawei has today unveiled its toned down version dubbed nova 4e. The Huawei nova 4e comes with Kirin 710 SoC mated to either 4GB or 6 GB RAM. The smartphone boots Android Pie-based EMUI 9 and has 128 GB of storage on board. It also has a microSD card slot for storage expansion. The Huawei nova 4e sports a 6.15-inch 19.5:9 LCD on the front that has a resolution of 2312 x 1080 pixels. The display has a waterdrop notch up top which is home to the 32 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The back of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_nova_4e_goes_official_with_kirin_710_soc_and_32_mp_selfie_camera-news-36013.php

Huawei nova 4 gets new version with less RAM

Huawei launched the nova 4 last December in China with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, and almost three months later, the company has now launched a new variant of the phone with 6 GB RAM. This 6 GB RAM retains the 128 GB of storage and is offered in four colors - Fritillaria White, Honey Red, Bright Black, and Blue. It is priced at CNY 2,799 ($417) and is currently only available in China. The Huawei nova 4 is powered by Kirin 970 SoC and is equipped with a 6.4-inch Full-HD+ display. The display has a hole in the top-left corner which accommodates the 25 MP camera. Round the back, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_nova_4_gets_6_gb_ram_variant_in_china-news-36009.php

Google Maps' accident and speed trap reporting rolling out globally

Google is testing a Waze-like accident and speed traps reporting feature in Maps since last year, and it seems the company has finally started rolling it out globally. Some Google Maps users are seeing a new button in navigation mode that lets them report accidents and speed traps. Initially, you can only report an accident or a speed trap when similar reports on your navigation route had come in, but Google has improved this feature now by adding a button to report such incidents. Google hasn't officially announced this feature yet and we don't know when exactly it will be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/googles_accident_and_speed_trap_reporting_feature_in_maps_rolling_out_widely-news-36007.php

Android Q Beta brings Screen Recording

We rarely see a native feature first appear on iOS and then on Android, but here we are. According to the YouTube channel Techusiast, the Android Q Developer Preview Beta 1 already has Screen Recording feature, confirming rumors from earlier this year. Spotted on the Google Pixel subreddit, one user explains that Beta users can go to Settings -> System -> Advanced -> Developer Options -> Feature Flags and then to enable "settings_screenrecord_long_press". Then you'll be able to start screen recording by long-pressing the Screenshot button, initially launched with the Power key. A...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/android_q_dp_beta_1_screen_recording-news-36010.php