Google leaks Nest Hub Max, 10-inch HD screen and a camera in tow

Google has accidentally leaked details about its unannounced product dubbed Nest Hub Max. It posted images on its online store revealing information about this product. The images have now been taken down, but the folks over at Android Police managed to take their screenshots before Google rectified its mistake. These images tell us that the Nest Hub Max will come with a 10-inch HD display, and the device will also sport stereo speakers. It will also have a built-in Nest Cam for motion and sound alerts, and you will be able to make video calls to your friends and family through Google Duo...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_accidentally_leaks_nest_hub_max-news-36307.php

Second Galaxy S8 update in two weeks brings improved camera stability

Samsung's rolled out another update for the Galaxy S8's global version (SM-G950F) with the changelog listing improved camera stability and a 'security patch update'. The second bit isn't strictly the March security patch as that was already made available with the previous update from March 18 - yes, today's Galaxy S8 update is the second in less than two weeks. As we point out every time, it may take a day (or a few) for the OTA to reach each and every device. The two-year-old Galaxy S8 flagship was updated to Android 9 Pie last month. The long-awaited release includes the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/second_galaxy_s8_update_in_two_weeks_brings_improved_camera_stability-news-36306.php

Oppo granted patent for a smartphone with slider design and dual front cameras

Chinese smartphone brand Oppo launched the Find X last year with a slider design that also led some other phone makers to follow suit. Now the company has been granted a patent for another slider design smartphone, but this one's a tad different from the Find X. The Find X came with three cameras - two at the back and one on the front - which were all concealed inside the smartphone and were accessed through a slider. However, the sketches of Oppo's possibly next slider smartphone show that its dual rear cameras will sit on the back of the phone in the left corner, always exposed. Only the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_granted_patent_for_a_smartphone_with_slider_design_and_dual_front_cameras-news-36305.php

Samsung Galaxy A10 goes on sale in Pakistan

The Samsung Galaxy A10 that was unveiled late last month has been launched in Pakistan with a price tag of PKR21,500 ($153). The Galaxy A10 has an Exynos 7884 SoC under the hood which is coupled with 2GB RAM. It's built around a 6.2-inch Infinity-V display having a resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels. The smartphone runs Android Pie out-of-the-box and has 32GB of storage on board with the provision to expand it by up to 512GB via microSD card. For photography, the A10 comes with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The smartphone is offered in Blue, Red, and Gray colors, and packs...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a10_goes_on_sale_in_pakistan-news-36303.php

Sony's smartphone workforce to be reduced by 50% within a year

Following a restructuring that will see Sony's smartphone division merge with the TV, audio and camera operations into Sony Electronics Products and Solutions, job cuts are planned at what was Sony Mobile. A report out of Japan says that the Sony smartphone workforce will be reduced to half of the 4,000 people that are employed there now, and it will all happen by March 2020. Aiming to cut down on operating costs, the company will scale down the mobile division by focusing on Europe and East Asia, and limiting operations in Southeast Asia. Some of the Japanese employees will be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sonys_smartphone_workforce_to_be_reduced_by_50_by_2020-news-36304.php

Motorola One Vision listed on Google's ARCore website, may launch soon

Motorola is expected to launch its first Exynos-powered smartphone dubbed Moto One Vision soon. Images and specs of the One Vision have already leaked, and now, the smartphone has been added to the list of ARCore supported devices on Google's website which hints at its imminent launch. According to leaked specs, the One Vision will be powered by Samsung's Exynos 9610 SoC and will run Android Pie out-of-the-box. It will be an Android One smartphone and have up to 4GB RAM with up to 128GB of onboard storage. The One Vision will sport a 6.2-inch 21:9 Full-HD+ punch-hole display and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_one_vision_listed_on_googles_arcore_website_may_launch_soon-news-36302.php

Alleged Galaxy A20e case renders show it will look similar to the A20

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A20 smartphone last week, and the company is expected to launch its slightly toned down version dubbed Galaxy A20e soon. The A20e was listed on Samsung UK's website earlier this month, and now, its alleged case renders have surfaced revealing its design. These case renders show us that the A20e will look similar to the A20. It has a waterdrop notch display on the front with a dual camera setup located on the back in the left corner. The cameras are accompanied by an LED flash and an oval-shaped fingerprint scanner. Samsung Galaxy A20e case...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_galaxy_a20e_case_renders_show_it_will_look_similar_to_the_a20-news-36301.php

Our Oppo F11 Pro video review is up

We've reviewed the Oppo F11 Pro and our video summary is now live on YouTube. This is perhaps the cheapest device you can get that has a full bezel-less display, complete with a pop-up selfie camera - which is partly to thank for that. The Oppo F11 Pro has a beautiful gradient finish that would surprise you if you didn't know it was made of plastic. Meanwhile, the pop-up selfie camera sits right at the middle of the hardware, thus keeping the phone's symmetry from a design perspective. Even the rear camera setup is aligned right down the middle so its pleasing to the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_oppo_f11_pro_video_review_is_up-news-36300.php

Nokia X71 specs leak on Geekbench with Snapdragon 660 AIE

On Tuesday, Nokia sent out event invitations for a device launch taking place in Taiwan on April 2. This is for the Nokia X71, which might launch as the Nokia 8.1 Plus for global markets. The very same Nokia X71 has appeared on Geekbench, revealing some of the innards of the device. The listing on Geekbench shows the "HMD Global Nokia X71" running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE CPU. Paired with the processor are 6GB of RAM for lots of multitasking. It's suggested that the 6GB variant may not be sold outside of Asian markets. The listing also shows the phone running Android 9, presumably...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_x71_specs_leak_on_geekbench_with_snapdragon_660_aie-news-36299.php

Korean Samsung Galaxy S10 5G alleged specs leak with slightly different dimensions

Some new information alleging to pertain to the Korean variant of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G have surfaced. First spotted by Dealntech, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be available in two memory tiers: 256GB and 512GB. Also, the dimensions and weight of the phone are slightly different from the global version's specs. The global variant is 162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm and 198g. Interestingly enough, the Korean variant is said to be a teeny bit heavier at 208g and a tad bit shorter and thinner at 162.2 x 77.1 x 7.8 mm. Of course, these are all marginal differences, but they are worth speculating...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/korean_samsung_galaxy_s10_5g_alleged_specs_leak_with_slightly_different_dimensions-news-36298.php

Apple officially cancels AirPower after an eighteen month delay

Eighteen months after it was first unveiled, Apple has announced that it is cancelling AirPower. In a statement emailed to TechCrunch, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering — Dan Riccio — said, After much effort, we've concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project. We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward. AirPower was announced back in September 2017, in the keynote alongside the iPhone...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_officially_cancels_airpower_after_an_eighteen_month_delay-news-36297.php

Samsung Galaxy M10 review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_m10-review-1913.php

Users report Galaxy S10 front camera using cropped mode in third-party apps

Samsung Galaxy S10 users are reporting that the front camera of their phone can only be used in the cropped mode, rather than the full field of view that the lens is capable of when you use a third-party camera app. This seems to apply to all three devices in the S10 series. The Galaxy S10 has a wide-angle lens for the front camera on all three devices. However, the main camera app always opens in a cropped mode (6MP) offering a field of view similar to what you have on selfie cameras by other manufacturers. As an extra feature, the users can choose to switch to the full field of view of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/users_report_galaxy_s10_front_camera_using_cropped_mode_in_thirdparty_apps-news-36296.php

LG K12+ launched in Brazil

The LG K12+ was quietly announced in Brazil yesterday and it packs a lot of features for an entry-level device. If it looks familiar to you, don't be surprised, we've already seen the device as the LG K40. The main selling points of the K12+ is that it offers plenty of features found on more expensive LG devices such as AI enhanced software and premium audio at a midrange price-point. LG K12+ in Moroccan Blue The K12+ comes with а 5.7 inch HD+ screen without a notch. The front also houses the 8MP selfie shooter and front-facing flash. The device is running on the Helio P22...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_k12_launched_in_brazil-news-36295.php

Apple's new AirPods deemed unrepairable by iFixit

Just days after iFixit praised Samsung's Galaxy Buds for being quite serviceable (with a 6 out of 10 repairability score), they tore down the new 2019 Apple AirPods and got a completely opposite result. With a repairability score of 0 out of 10 the new AirPods are practically non-serviceable. You can't swap out the battery, you can't fix any inner part that has been damaged and they're nearly impossible to recycle because of the hard-to-get batteries. Because of all of this, iFixit names the AirPods 2 a consumable/disposable item. Here's the complete video and there's a Source link...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apples_new_airpods_deemed_unrepairable_by_ifixit_-news-36294.php

UK Intelligence Board on the verge of calling for a ban of Huawei 5G equipment

Another day, another jab on Huawei's expense by Western governments. According to an annual report from the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, the Chinese manufacturer still couldn't fix multiple issues and vulnerabilities, raising the question if any of its future products can be risk-managed properly. Although the UK watchdog did voice its concern, it stopped short of calling an outright 5G ban of Huawei's equipment across the United Kingdom. The report by the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre said the oversight board "currently has not seen anything to give it confidence...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/uk_intelligence_board_on_the_verge_of_calling_for_a_ban_of_huawei_5g_equipment-news-36289.php

Oppo Reno passes through AnTuTu with Snapdragon 710 and 6GB RAM

A couple of hours ago, we reported about the Oppo Reno which appeared on TENAA with its images and detailed specs. Now, the smartphone has appeared on popular benchmarking database AnTuTu corroborating its key specs. Oppo Reno Two models of the Oppo Reno with model number PCAM00 and PCAT00 were listed on TENAA, and out of those, the former has passed through AnTuTu with a score of 166,935. The benchmark database also confirms Snapdragon 710 SoC and 6GB RAM on Reno. Other details revealed by AnTuTu include Android Pie, 256GB onboard storage, and a display having 2340 x 1080...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_passes_through_antutu_with_snapdragon_710_and_6gb_ram-news-36288.php

WhatsApp improves PiP Mode on its Android app with latest beta

Facebook-owned WhatsApp rolled out Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Mode for its iPhone app last year in May, and it extended this feature to its Android app later in December. However, the PiP Mode on Android app has a limitation - it plays video only inside a chat. Well, WhatsApp fixes that with the latest beta update. With beta version 2.19.86 of WhatsApp for Android, the company has improved the PiP Mode so that it works similar to how it does on an iPhone. The improved PiP Mode continues playing the video in a small window if you exit the chat, minimize the app, or switch to another app. This...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_improves_pip_mode_on_its_android_app_with_latest_beta-news-36283.php

Huawei P30 Pro gets its first update with camera optimization and bug fixes

Huawei made the P30 Pro official at an event in Paris three days ago, and while the smartphone is yet to go on sale, it has already received its first software update. The update carries version number 9.1.0.124(C431E4R2P2) and weighs just over 400MB in size. It optimizes the camera performance of the P30 Pro in certain scenarios and also brings a fix for an issue that causes the audio and video to go out of sync when playing Instagram videos recorded in hands-free mode. You can check out the full changelog of the update below. You can head over here for our detailed written...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_pro_gets_its_first_update_with_camera_optimization_and_bug_fixes-news-36285.php

nubia Red Magic 3 benchmark shows 1080p screen, Snapdragon 855 performance

The nubia Red Magic 3 has gone through the Master Lu benchmark with its Snapdragon 855 chipset. The tested unit only had 8GB of RAM, though we know that there will be configurations with up to 12GB RAM. This particular unit sported 128GB of storage. The screen will have a resolution of 1,080 x 2,340px. 1080p displays are the norm for gaming phones as they prioritize performance. ZTE has been working on a high refresh rate screen, "higher than most gaming PCs", according to nubia. ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 score, Master Lu benchmark The nubia Red Magic 3 is expected to have a 5,000mAh...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nubia_red_magic_3_benchmark_shows_1080p_screen_snapdragon_855_performance-news-36290.php

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G to cost over $1,200 in South Korea

Samsung launched the Galaxy S10 5G without a price tag. However, a report from South Korea revealed the price of the device and that it is already being prepared for a launch next week, including a variant with 8/512 GB memory. Prices for the 8/256 GB phone will be KRW1,39 million (around $1,220/€1,100) but can increase to KRW1,55 million ($1,360/€1,215) if you need to double the storage. The launch on April 5, which is exactly seven days from today, will be the first time we'll see the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G offered anywhere in the world, but Verizon plans to start pre-orders on...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s10_5g_to_cost_over_1200_in_south_korea-news-36284.php

Check out Samsung's 25W charger with USB Power Delivery

The Galaxy S10 5G and Galaxy A70 are the first Samsungs to support 25W wired charging (vanilla S10 models stick to the old 15W standard). Here's a look at the charger that will be bundled with these phones. The EP-TA800 is a USB Power Delivery charger that uses a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect to phones. It tops out at 25W, but supports the Programmable Power Supply (PPS) mode, which allows the phone to control the power output of the charger for optimal charging that keeps the battery cool (you can see the voltage and amp ranges on the charger). This is Samsung's new 25W charger...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/check_out_samsungs_25w_charger_with_usb_power_delivery-news-36287.php

Oppo Reno specs and images appear on TENAA

Oppo is all set to make the Reno official on April 10, and as we inch closer to that date, we keep hearing more about this smartphone. A leak from yesterday gave us a pretty good look at Reno's design, and today the smartphone has appeared on TENAA with its detailed specs and images. Oppo Reno has been listed on TENAA with model number PCAM00 and PCAT00. This is the Snapdragon 710 variant we are looking at, but there will be a Snapdragon 855-powered model as well. Oppo Reno renders The Reno will come in three different configurations - 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 6GB RAM + 256GB...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_detailed_specs_appear_on_tenaa_snapdragon_710_and_48mp_camera_in_tow-news-36281.php

Several states may block T-Mobile-Sprint merger

T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint is a major change in the telecom landscape in the United States, and several state attorney generals are worried this might hurt competition. According to Bloomberg, California and New York are leading a group of over a dozen states that would file a lawsuit if the Department of Justice does not challenge the deal. Initially, T-Mobile offered $26.5 billion to acquire Sprint and all its market presence, making it a challenger to AT&T and Verizon's dominance in the United States. The new conglomerate would control over 30% of the US wireless market, with...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/several_states_may_block_tmobilesprint_merger-news-36282.php

Xiaomi planning a return to Brazil

Half a decade ago Xiaomi started manufacturing smartphones in Brazil but eventually left the market in 2016 due to the poor economic environment. Since then only third-party retailers sold Xiaomi smartphones, usually with an inflated price tag, but it looks like this is bound to change. The Twitter account of Xiaomi Brazil suddenly got active again in the past week, with its most recent tweet asking if Mi fans are ready to see innovation to happen in Brazil again. Inovação para todos, essa é a nossa missão. Estão prontos para que isso aconteça no Brasil de novo? 😎 #XiaomiBrasil...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_planning_a_return_to_brazil-news-36280.php

Huawei's annual revenue surpasses $100 million for the first time

On Friday, Huawei Technologies released its financial reports from 2018 to reveal a staggering revenue increase of 19.5% over 2017. The company's smartphone sales revenue has increased by 25.1% over the previous year. It reported a strong sales revenue of CNY 721.2 billion or $107.13 billion. This is the first time Huawei has ever surpassed over $100 billion in revenue. It also reported great profit improvements over 2017. Huawei is reporting a 28% increase of net profits at $8.8 billion for 2018 versus only a 0.4% increase in 2017 over 2016's profits. Last year was a great one for the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huaweis_2018_revenue_surpasses_100_million_for_the_first_time__-news-36279.php

Twitter for iOS gets OLED-friendly dark mode

Twitter rolled out Night Mode for Android and iOS in 2016. Today, the company has rolled out an OLED-friendly dark mode for the latter. Twitter has announced a new feature called "Lights out" which brings a proper dark mode to its iOS app. Turning it on changes the app's UI to pitch black instead of dark blue. This does a better job at conserving battery on your device if it's equipped with an OLED display. To turn on this new dark mode, head over to the Settings and privacy > Display and sound menu and tap on the toggle button next to 'Dark mode'. Doing so will give you two options...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/twitter_for_ios_gets_oledfriendly_dark_mode-news-36278.php

US pricing and availability for the LG G8 on Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T

On Thursday, LG announced that the G8 ThinQ will become available for purchase in the US starting on April 11. Following this announcement, all major US carriers have outlined pricing, availability, and promotions for the LG G8 ThinQ. Verizon Verizon's LG G8 will cost $840 outright and pre-orders will begin starting on April 1. You can get up to $450 off when you trade in a smartphone and add a new line or existing customers can get $200 when trading in an old phone and upgrade to the G8. Customers who switch to Verizon can get a $200 rebate (via prepaid Mastercard)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/us_pricing_and_availability_for_the_lg_g8_on_sprint_tmobile_verizon_at_t-news-36277.php

Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone is now up for grabs in Europe

Xiaomi's Black Shark gaming-focused sub-brand announced its latest smartphone earlier this month. And today the Black Shark 2 is available to purchase in Europe, straight from the official Black Shark website. You'll have to pay €549 or £479 if you want the version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or if you need 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage then prepare €649 or £559. David Li, VP of Black Shark Global says this device will provide "an unmatched experience for European gamers". The company chose to establish a presence in Europe because mobile gaming is apparently now...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/black_shark_2_gaming_smartphone_is_now_up_for_grabs_in_europe-news-36276.php

LG G8 ThinQ will be available in the US on April 11, pre-orders start tomorrow

LG officially unveiled the G8 ThinQ at MWC in February, and now the company is almost ready to deliver it to your doorstep. Today it's announcing that the G8 will be available in the US on April 11. Pricing will start at $819.99 with introductory promotions that will take off up to $150 for a limited time at launch. Exact details of those will be communicated by the carriers and retailers offering the device. Speaking of which, you'll find the G8 at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, Xfinity Mobile, Best Buy, and B&H. Pre-orders open on March 29. The G8 ThinQ comes...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g8_thinq_will_be_available_in_the_us_on_april_11_preorders_start_tomorrow-news-36275.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) with S Pen quietly unveiled

Six weeks ago Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2019) - an affordable alternative to the Tab S5e. Now there's a more compact model, an 8" one, and it features S Pen support (something even the S5e lacks). The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 with S Pen has an 8" LCD with the same resolution as its 10.1" sibling - 1,920 x 1,200px. The S Pen seems to be the one from the Galaxy Note8 and it slots into the tablet itself. Unlike the 10.1" model, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 has S Pen support The Tab A 8.0 is powered by the same Exynos 7904 chipset as the larger model, but it has more RAM, 3GB....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_a_80_2019_with_s_pen_quietly_unveiled-news-36274.php

Spotify begins testing new Premium Duo plan

Sharing passwords for Spotify accounts is not uncommon and the latest way the company is trying to crack down on the practices is by introducing a shared premium service for two users. Premium Duo, will give each person a separate premium account with all the standard benefits as well as the new Duo Mix feature. The new offering is more cost effective compared to single premium accounts which go for $9.99 each and falls in-between the regular premium account and the family sharing plans, which start at $14.99. The only requirement for Premium Duo is that you're living together with the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/spotify_begins_testing_new_premium_duo_plan_-news-36272.php

ZTE reports $1 billion in losses for 2018

ZTE went through a tough 2018 after battling with the US government for allegedly violating export restrictions resulting in a temporary ban and hefty fines. Now, the company finds itself amidst it's highest reported annual loss coming in at 6.98 billion yuan ($1.04 billion) largely due to the $1 billion fine it had to pay to the US government. This move brought the company to its knees, banning US component suppliers from working with ZTE. Elsewhere officials from Australia, New Zealand and Japan followed suit and banned ZTE and fellow Chinese telecom giant Huawei from establishing 5G...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_reports_1_billion_in_losses_for_2018-news-36267.php

Periscope camera of Oppo Reno disassembled on video

Periscope cameras are a way to provide long focal lengths in the slim form factor of a smartphone. But how do they work? A video that shows the disassembly of Oppo Reno camera could shed some light on that. The periscope module measures only 23.5 x 11.5 x 5.73mm. It's thin enough that it can fit into phones without creating a major hump. It's quite small overall, so it doesn't take up too much of the internal volume. The module consists of three main parts: prism, lenses and sensor. The lenses come out as a unit, they are a special "D-Cut" design that helps keep the module as thin as it...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/periscope_camera_of_oppo_reno_disassembled_on_video-news-36273.php

Sony Mobile will be merged with the TV, audio and camera divisions

Sony Mobile is losing its independence - and that's a good thing. The division will be combined with Sony's TV, audio and camera products into a unit called Electronics Products and Solutions. The company presents this as a move to increase the synergies between various Sony electronics - the Xperia line already borrows heavily from the TV and camera divisions (especially evident in the latest Xperia 1 flagship). For what it's worth, Sony will keep reporting the financial performance of its Xperia smartphones. Still, some worry that this is an attempt to hide the losses from the mobile...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_mobile_will_be_merged_with_the_tv_audio_and_camera_divisions-news-36271.php

Oppo Reno leaks with the most unusual front-facing camera ever

First it was the vivo NEX and its elevating selfie camera; then the Oppo Find X and its top side, housing the front and back shooters. There are also some sliders like the Mi Mix 3 and the Honor Magic 2 that managed to keep the full-screen design on the front. And today, brace yourselves, we're about to see the most unusual front-facing camera - the peeking shooter of the Oppo Reno. The leaked video also reveals the design of the back panel. It appears the version is missing the 10x zoom behind the periscope lens, spotted on the demo unit we tested back at MWC 2019. There is the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_leaks_with_the_most_unusual_frontfacing_camera_ever-news-36268.php

Alleged nubia Red Magic 3 certified with 30W fast charging

A nubia smartphone with model number NX629J - which is allegedly the Red Magic 3 - has appeared on 3C's website, and its listing reveals that this gaming smartphone will come with 30W (15V/2A) fast charging support. The Red Magic 3 is expected to go official next month and the company has previously revealed that this smartphone will come with at least 5,000 mAh battery. For a battery that size, the 30W fast charging should come in really handy. nubia Red Magic Mars The Red Magic 3 is also confirmed to come with Snapdragon 855 SoC, 12GB RAM, and a 4D vibration motor allowing...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_nubia_red_magic_3_certified_with_30w_fast_charging-news-36265.php

Pocophone F1 overtakes OnePlus 6 in India in Q4 last year, says IDC

Move over, OnePlus 6, there's a champ in town. Based on data from IDC, the Pocophone F1 was India's best-selling smartphone over INR 15,000 in terms of online sales for the final quarter of 2018. Manu Jain, the Managing Director at Xiaomi India, posted a cheeky celebratory tweet, saying "The Champion of Speed doesn't settle for 2nd place", a nod at the OnePlus motto. By the way, Poco is currently running a promotion, selling the 6/128GB model for INR 21,000 (normally the model goes for INR 23,000). This is the last day of the promo. Source

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/pocophone_f1_overtakes_oneplus_6_in_india_in_q4_last_year_says_idc-news-36266.php

Oppo A1K certified by NBTC in Thailand, launch imminent

Specifications of the Oppo A1K leaked two weeks ago, and it now seems this smartphone will go official soon as it got certified by Thailand's NBTC. The Oppo A1K has also been certified by a couple of other organizations like Indonesia's TKDN, Malaysia's SIRIM, and Europe's EEC, all hinting at its imminent launch. There's no word from Oppo about the A1K, but thanks to previous leaks, we know that it will be powered by Helio P22 SoC coupled with 2GB RAM. It will have a 6-inch waterdrop notch display on the front and run ColorOS 6 out-of-the-box. The A1K will have 32GB of onboard...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_a1k_certified_by_nbtc_in_thailand_launch_imminent-news-36264.php

Huawei P30, P30 Pro China price surfaces

The China prices of the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro which were announced two days ago at an event in Paris has surfaced. The P30 will be offered in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options, whereas the Pro variant will come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants. The Chinese variants of these smartphones will have 8GB RAM in tow, unlike their global counterparts that are also offered with 6GB RAM. The P30 starts at CNY3,988 whereas the P30 Pro starts at CNY5,588. You can check out the table below for more information with a breakdown of RAM and storage. Huawei P30 ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_p30_p30_pro_china_price_surfaces-news-36261.php

Oppo Reno with Snapdragon 855 to have liquid cooling

Oppo is launching the Reno smartphone with 10x zoom and we expect multiple variants of this device. One of the variations will be the chipset, and it appears the different phones will have different methods for heat dissipation. According to Brian Shen, company VP, the Snapdragon 855-powered flagship will have a copper tube and liquid cooling. Oppo Reno front and back People opting for the Snapdragon 710 variant will have an Oppo Reno with actual gel or some sort of paste on a graphite sheet to preserve the Reno from getting too hot in your hands while watching videos or...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno_with_snapdragon_855_to_have_liquid_cooling-news-36262.php

Huawei brings wireless charging to the p30 with a special case

Chinese phone maker Huawei announced the P30 and P30 Pro at an event in Paris two days ago. Both of these are powered by Kirin 980 SoC but they have some differences - one of which is wireless charging. The Pro variant has it but the vanilla P30 doesn't. Well, Huawei has quietly introduced a case that brings wireless charging, based on the Qi standard. This case comes with a magnet on the bottom side that makes it easier to attach the phone to your car's phone holder, and Huawei offers one as well. It's worth noting that the P30 Pro supports 15W wireless charging whereas this case...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_brings_wireless_charging_to_the_p30_with_a_special_case-news-36258.php

Here's how Samsung tests the Galaxy Fold's hinge durability

The Samsung Galaxy Fold will be the first commercially-available folding phone by a big brand and will cost €2,000 when it goes on pre-order in a month so future buyers would expect it to be made of some stern stuff to warrant that price. Samsung claims the Galaxy Fold can withstand 200,000 folds without issue and is backing up its claim by providing a glimpse of its stringent folding test. The Galaxy Fold is hooked up to a machine that opens and closes it constantly for a week to accumulate the rated 200,000 folds. That test simulates what 5 years of use (if you open and close the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_how_samsung_tests_the_galaxy_folds_hinge_durability-news-36260.php

Huawei Y6 Prime (2019) arrives in Pakistan

Huawei has launched a new affordable handset in Pakistan, named Huawei Y6 Prime (2019). Some might think it has some differences from the regular Huawei Y6 (2019), but it actually is the very same smartphone with a new moniker. The Y6 Prime (2019) has a Helio A22 chipset with quad-core CPU, 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage. The screen is regular 6.09" LCD with HD+ resolution. There is one camera on the back with a 13 MP sensor and f/1.8 lens. The front-facing shooter is 8 MP with fixed focus and some fancy features to make your selfies look better. Other specs include Android...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_y6_prime_2019_arrives_in_pakistan-news-36259.php

Apple breaks its own in-app subscription rules for Apple News+

The latest offense from Apple is in the News+ app. Specifically, the way that Apple lets users sign up. It offers a "Try it now" button that takes you directly to the payment screen. Apple's guidelines say "Make sure users know that once the free trial is over, a payment will be automatically initiated for the next subscription duration, and they can cancel any time." Hey @apple, your auto-renewing subscription screen is in violation of guideline 3.1.2 and your app should be rejected. For starters. no links to privacy policy or support page; no info on how to cancel....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_breaks_its_own_rules_again_for_apple_news-news-36257.php

First iOS 12.3 beta for developers now available

On Monday, Apple released the final build of iOS 12.2 which brought support for Apple's newly announced News+ subscription service and some new Animoji. On Wednesday, Apple is releasing the first beta build of iOS 12.3 intended for developers, restarting the cycle of updates. The changelog for the 12.3 update only mention stability Improvements and bug fixes. When a beta is released for developers, it will usually take a little while before the beta becomes available to the public. Following that, there are usually several beta release revisions before Apple finalizes and pushes a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/first_ios_123_beta_for_developers_now_available-news-36256.php

watchOS 5.2 brings ECG app and irregular rhythm notification on Apple Watch to Europe and Hong Kong

Following the release of iOS 12.2 earlier this week, today Apple is making watchOS 5.2 available for its smartwatches. The most notable thing about it is that it's bringing the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notification to 19 countries in Europe as well as Hong Kong. Here's the full list of European countries graced with the honor: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. You can take an ECG reading on your Apple Watch Series 4 at any time,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/watchos_52_brings_ecg_app_and_irregular_rhythm_notification_on_apple_watch_to_europe_and_hong_kong-news-36255.php

Google Pixel 3a to start at €450 and have a purple version

Google's 'lite' versions of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have been leaking like crazy for the past few months, and they should finally become official sometime this spring. In the US they're rumored to be exclusive to Verizon, which is unsurprising given Google's past antics. What about the rest of the world? Well, a new report from Germany today tells us to expect the smaller Pixel 3a to start at €450, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There may or may not be a model with more storage, but it's unlikely the lite Pixel 3 will overtake the actual Pixel 3 when it comes to RAM - so that...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_3a_to_start_at__euro450_and_have_a_purple_version-news-36254.php

Huawei Mate 30 is already in testing, launching in September or October

Huawei may have just unveiled the P30 and P30 Pro yesterday, but the company is already working on the successors to the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro as well. This has been confirmed by a company official in Malaysia at a press briefing today. He noted that the Mate 30 is already in testing, internally at Huawei. The Mate 30 family will be launched in September or October, according to the same official. So far rumors said the Mate 30 line would be powered by the upcoming Kirin 985 chipset, which may be the first SoC to be built on a 7nm EUV process, which allows for 20% greater...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_30_is_already_in_testing_launching_in_september_or_october-news-36253.php

Lenovo Z6 Pro teased to come with 100MP camera

Remember that bizarre presentation from Lenovo during this year's MWC? Well, it turns out that the 100MP camera that was kind of teased will make it to the upcoming Lenovo Z6 Pro. There's still no sign of the phone itself, but Lenovo's VP teased the handset on Weibo with a hashtag which translates into 100MP. This doesn't come as a surprise since even Qualcomm hinted at upcoming 100MP cameraphones this year. In any case, we suggest you stay vigilant as often manufacturers exaggerate in their marketing campaigns. It could very well be some kind of image stacking trickery but...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_z6_pro_confirmed_to_come_with_100mp_camera-news-36252.php