Apple vendors and Samsung among the 22 companies applying for India's $6.6B PLI Scheme

Samsung, Apple suppliers Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron, and local smartphone makers Micromax and Lava are among the companies that have applied for India's Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI). Totaling $6.6 billion, the program aims to encourage smartphone and electronics components production in the country. A total of 22 companies have filed their application under the PLI Scheme. These companies will produce mobile phones and components worth Rs 11.5 lakh crore in the coming 5 years out of which products worth Rs 7 lakh crore will be exported. pic.twitter.com/3yUky3HkOC— Ravi...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_vendors_samsung_22_companies_india_pli_scheme-news-44558.php

Amazfit Powerbuds TWS earphones launching in India on August 6 at INR6,999

Amazfit has been quickly expanding its product portfolio in India for the past couple of months. The company brought the Bip S, T-Rex and Stratos 3 smartwatches to the country in June, followed earlier this week by the Bip S Lite. Today, Amazfit announced it will launch the Powerbuds TWS sports earphones in India on August 6 at INR6,999 ($95/€80). The TWS earphones will have two color options and will be sold through Amazon.in as well as Amazfit's official Indian site. Amazfit Powerbuds will be available in two colors in India The Amazfit Powerbuds come with a 9mm driver in...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/amazfit_powerbuds_india_launch_date_price-news-44554.php

Realme's Ultra-thin SuperDart Chargers are coming soon to India

Realme introduced its 125W UltraDART fast charging technology last month that juices up a 4,000 mAh battery from 0% to 33% in just three minutes. Alongside that, the company also introduced 50W and 65W Ultra-thin SuperDart chargers, which will arrive soon in India. This news comes from Realme's Indian CEO Madhav Sheth who posted an image on Twitter saying these thin chargers are "coming soon". We will soon introduce the 65W and 50W #realme Ultra-thin #SuperDart Chargers. More easy to carry and use. #TechTrendsetter pic.twitter.com/e6eL4OvFjx— Madhav (@MadhavSheth1) August 1, 2020 The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_ultra_thin_superdart_charger_india_launch-news-44552.php

Nvidia looking to buy Arm, in 'advanced talks'

UK-based chip designer Arm could change hands from its current SoftBank owner to Nvidia, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources. The companies are in 'advanced talks' as per the insiders and a deal could be struck in the coming weeks. Japanese SoftBank acquired Arm four years ago for $32 billion. Now, the amount Nvidia is expected to pay for it is estimated by market analysts at $55 billion. The acquisition could be met with regulatory hurdles, however, as Nvidia is also currently a customer of Arm and rival customers like Apple, Qualcomm, AMD and Intel will require guarantees...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nvidia_to_buy_arm_advanced_talks-news-44553.php

Redmi 9 Prime confirmed to pack a FullHD+ display

Xiaomi offshoot Redmi is set to unveil the Redmi 9 Prime in India on August 4, and the phone has now been confirmed to pack a FullHD+ display. Word on the matter comes from Xiaomi India MD Manu Jain through Twitter. Super excited for the launch of #Redmi9Prime on 4th Aug @ 12 noon! 🤩#PrimetimeAllrounder features best-in-class features, one among them being a display, that no other phone offers in the price band.📱#BackToPrime with #FHD+ display! 📺 RT if you ♥️ this.#Xiaomi ❤️ #FullHD pic.twitter.com/X1v63NjJNc— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) July 31, 2020 The company has not revealed...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_9_prime_specs_screen_resolution-news-44551.php

Facebook adds official music videos in the US

Facebook is adding official music videos to its platform, starting this weekend. The launch is exclusive to the US and comes in partnership with major companies like Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and smaller labels. You'll be able to find the official music videos on Facebook Watch, where a new Music tab has been created complete with categories and themed playlists and the experience will become more tailored to your tastes over time. As with any other video on Facebook, you'll get to react to, comment on, and share the music videos and they'll also...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_official_music_videos_us-news-44550.php

OnePlus 6 and 6T get July security patch and OnePlus Buds support with the latest update

OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS updates for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro last week that brought OnePlus Buds support for the 2020 flagships. Now it's time for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T to get deeper integration for OnePlus' first TWS earphones with the OxygenOS 10.3.5 update. OnePlus 6 (left) and OnePlus 6T (right) In addition to OnePlus Buds support, the new build also comes with the July 2020 Android security patch, with the GMS package level bumped up to May 2020. Besides, the update optimizes the RAM management and squashes a few bugs. You can check out the full changelog of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_6_6t_oxygenos_10_3_5_update-news-44549.php

First mention of Google “Pixel 5a” appears in AOSP

Google has finally confirmed that a Google Pixel 4a would be arriving on August 3 and even teased the device on Thursday. On Friday, 9to5Google’s own Dylan Roussel spotted a mention of Google’s Pixel 5a. This was spotted in a code change on Google’s Android Open Source Project or AOSP. We are still waiting for the Google Pixel 5, which may not be released until later this year, but now we know that the 5a is now in development. The code change mentions devices since the Pixel 2, along with the version of Android they (launched/will launch) with. The Pixel 4/4a are listed with...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/first_mention_of_google_pixel_5a_appears_in_aosp-news-44548.php

Netflix gains playback speed settings on Android

Netflix will add playback speed controls to its Android app tomorrow. Once you get the new update, you will be able to choose 0.5x, 0.75x, 1.25x, and 1.5x, aside from 1x of course, which has been the only option up until now - and will remain the default. So if you're a fan of sped-up or slowed-down playback on Netflix, you will need to manually pick your favorite speed for every single title you want to watch. On the flip side, the playback speed options will be available regardless of whether you're streaming something or watching a show or movie that you have previously...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/netflix_gains_playback_speed_settings_on_android-news-44547.php

Galaxy S20 Ultra is $400 off this weekend, other Samsung phones on offer too

If you're in the US and have been eyeing Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra but haven't bought one yet, and if you don't mind using it on Verizon, this is definitely one for you. This weekend, Best Buy is taking $400 off the price of the device, if you activate it with Verizon. As usual with these types of deals, you'll have to grab the smartphone on the carrier's monthly installment plan. You will be paying $36.66 each month for two years, bringing the grand total to $879.84, which is the best price we've seen for the S20 Ultra so far. It's not the only Samsung handset that's on offer,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s20_ultra_is_400_off_this_weekend-news-44546.php

Apple smartphone sales growing strongly as global smartphone market declines in Q2

The latest report from Canalys outlines the current state of the global smartphone market at the end of the second quarter of 2020. Although the overall smartphone market has been declining sharply since Q1 of this year due to COVID-19, Apple is the only top smartphone seller that has grown YoY compared to last year. The overall market is down 14% this quarter with 284.7 million (estimated) units sold compared to 331.8 million units shipped in Q2 of 2019. Samsung saw the largest drop this quarter with a 30% decline YoY with Oppo down 16%, Xiaomi down 10%, and Huawei down just...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_sales_strong_as_global_smartphone_market_declines_in_q2-news-44545.php

Caviar goldsmiths are ready to craft a $23,380 iPhone 12 Pro covered with engraved gold

The iPhone 12 Pro is months away from its official announcement, but if you have $23,000 burning a hole in your pocket then the limitations of time and space do not concern you. No, Apple didn’t go crazy with the pricing, it’s just that Caviar is at it again and it plans to plate the phone with 18-karat gold. Caviar iPhone 12 Pro Victory Pure Gold The Caviar iPhone 12 Pro Victory Pure Gold, a lengthy name worthy of a royal phone, is decorated with floral motifs on the back. They represent the chamomile flower, which is the national flower of Russia. There are also eight 0.48...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/caviar_goldsmiths_are_ready_to_craft_a_23380_iphone_12_pro_covered_with_engraved_gold-news-44544.php

Motorola Moto G9 Plus passes FCC certification

The Moto G9 Plus is an upcoming midrange offering from Motorola which is expected to be announced soon. It already appeared on TUV Rheinland's database which revealed its 4,700 mAh battery and 30W charging. Now, the same phone bearing the XT2087-1 model designation was spotted in the FCC database, the listing filling us in on more of its key hardware features. The G9 Plus will come with dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth BR/EDR/LE. We can also see the handset will feature FM Radio support and a 4,700 mAh rated battery which bears the MG50 model number. The phone also appeared in a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g9_plus_passes_fcc_certification-news-44543.php

iQOO shows off its 120W fast charger that can fill a 4,000 mAh battery in 15 minutes

iQOO showed off its latest fast charging system, which is capable of hitting 120 Watts. Interestingly, it’s faster than Oppo’s 125W system – when charging a 4,000 mAh battery, it needs only 15 minutes to hit 100% while the Oppo unit will take 20 minutes. iQOO uses a slightly different setup. The charger outputs 20V at 6A, then two charge pumps inside the phone convert that to two 5V 12A currents (these pumps are slightly more efficient too, 98.5%). Oppo’s system uses three charge pumps to convert the 20V 6.25A from the adapter to 10V 12.5A. As you can see, the two companies took...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_shows_off_its_120w_fast_charger_that_can_fill_a_4000_mah_battery_in_15_minutes-news-44539.php

Analysts: Huawei lead Q2 smartphone market, but Apple gained the most

With the second quarter well behind our backs, reports from analysts start pouring in. Yesterday Canalys reported that Huawei surpassed Samsung and took the top step, and today two other agencies confirmed the lead switch - Counterpoint Research and Omdia. According to both, Samsung was affected the most by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, its sales going down over 25% on a yearly basis. In the same time, Apple was the only major player to increase shipments both on a quarterly and yearly basis. Omdia's numbers also show Tecno growing, while the rest of the top 10 all...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/analysts_huawei_takes_the_top_step_while_the_market_is_in_shambles_after_covid19-news-44540.php

Sony to unveil WH-1000XM4 headphones on August 6

Sony confirmed it's hosting an audio-related launch event on August 6 where and it's highly likely we’ll see the debut of its WH-1000XM4 headphones. The keynote is scheduled to kick off at 3 PM UTC and Sony is boasting a #ListenWithSony slogan which confirms the product (or products) will be audio-oriented. Save the date 👉 8.6.2020 👈 Join Sony Electronics’ Live Stream event to watch the unveiling of our latest innovation. #ListenWithSony https://t.co/gLe9EF1hUC pic.twitter.com/9I6Q3DJiEg— Sony Electronics (@SonyElectronics) July 30, 2020 Back in June, we saw a listing for the XM4...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ready_to_unveil_wh1000xm4_headphones_on_august_6-news-44538.php

Oppo demoes its 125W flash charger, achieves 0-41% charge in 5 minutes

Oppo made a live demonstration of its 125W flash charge system. The phone used in the demo has a 4,000 mAh battery and the new fast charger brought it up to from 0% to 41% in 5 minutes, a full charge took 20 minutes. Compare that to the 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 from last year, which would have needed 30 minutes to charge the same battery. As you’ve probably noticed, the new system isn’t twice as fast despite having twice the top power throughput. This is because the charging speeds decrease as the battery fills up in order to prevent heat accumulation and protect the battery. Speaking of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_demoes_its_125w_flash_charger_achieves_041_charge_in_5_minutes-news-44535.php

Black Shark 3S unveiled with 120 Hz 6.67" AMOLED display, same Snapdragon 865 chipset

The Black Shark 3S has joined the game and it has picked up a few upgrades compared to the Black Shark 3. The biggest change is that the 6.67” AMOLED display now has a 120Hz mode in addition to the 90 Hz mode of its predecessor. The new panel is capable of 270Hz touch sampling rate (same as before). The display has two pressure-sensitive zones, which can be mapped to different actions. Also, the gyroscope is used to detect flicking motions. You can create game macros too, which trigger several actions in sequence. Voice commands are available as well, so you can start the screen recorder...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/black_shark_3s_unveiled_with_120_hz_667_amoled_display_same_snapdragon_865_chipset-news-44537.php

Nokia schedules launch event in China for August 4

Yesterday we got news that HMD Global will unveil several entry and mid-range Nokia phones at IFA Berlin. Now, the brand is teasing another lunch event featuring several new smartphones which will take place on August 4 in China. According to speculations, we should see the Nokia TA-1258 which recently got certified on TENAA. It’s an entry-level phone which packs a 5.99-inch HD+ screen, a single 8MP rear camera and a 3,000mAh battery. It’s powered by the Unisoc SC9863 chipset paired with 3GB and 32GB storage and runs Android 10. Nokia TA-1258 in Gold Sand It remains to be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_schedules_launch_event_in_china_for_august_4-news-44534.php

New Oppo Watch goes global with SD3100 chipset, WearOS

Earlier this month Oppo Germany published the specs of the international Oppo Watch, but today we are getting a proper announcement. The global Oppo Watch may share the name with its Chinses counterpart, but has significant differences on the inside. The global Oppo Watch comes with two chipsets - the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 Wear, which helps it run Wear OS and the Ambiq Micro Apollo 3, which powers the proprietary system of what Oppo calls low-power mode. The Oppo Watch is available in two sizes, 46 mm and 41 mm, with the first one having a 1.91” AMOLED screen with 402 x 476...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_oppo_watch_goes_global_with_sd3100_chipset_wearos-news-44536.php

Realme V5 price leaks ahead of launch, it is around $245

On Monday we’re going to see a new 5G midranger, called Realme V5. The brand has been teasing the device for the past week or so, but today a leak reveals the price of the phone - it will be CNY1,699, which translates to $245/€205. The price tag applies to Realme V5's 6/128 GB variant, but it's not clear if other versions will be available. The teaser also confirms the battery will be 5,000 mAh, although no info on what sort of fast charging will it come with. In the same time the phone with a model number RMX2111 popped up on AnTuTu, scoring exactly 301,380, which falls in line...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_v5_price_leaks_ahead_of_launch_it_is_around_245-news-44531.php

Redmi K30 Ultra is now on TENAA, could arrive on August 14

Xiaomi is going to launch an updated version of its Redmi K30 Pro smartphone, which latest reports say will be named Redmi K30 Ultra. The new device with model number M2006J10C is now on TENAA with full specs sheet and pictures, and we see a lot of similarities with its siblings. However, there is one key difference - the new phone will skip on the Snapdragon 865 chipset and will appear with a new platform, likely by Mediatek. Redmi K30 Ultra on TENAA TENAA usually gives only the CPU frequency, but looking at the 2.6 GHz entry, we are likely looking at the Dimensity 1000+...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_k30_ultra_is_now_on_tenaa_could_arrive_on_august_14-news-44533.php

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra with Exynos chipset passes by Geekbench

The Galaxy Note20 leaks have been coming thick and fast these days painting an increasingly clear picture of what’s to come at August 5’s Galaxy Unpacked event. In the meantime, the Note20 Ultra powered by the improved Exynos 990 has passed through Geekbench giving us an early look at its performance. The device bears the same SM-N986B model number which has been seen before and comes with 12GB RAM. Unsurprisingly it runs Android 10, presumably with One UI 2.5 on top. It managed 928 points in the single-core test and 2,721 in the multi-core department. These scores are comparable...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note20_ultra_with_exynos_chipset_passes_by_geekbench-news-44532.php

Oppo Reno4 Pro unveiled with Snapdragon 720G, 6.5" 90Hz AMOLED screen, 65W fast charging

The fourth generation of Oppo’s mid-range Reno series is going global, though with some alterations. The Oppo Reno4 Pro increases performance across the board compared to its predecessor, the Reno3 Pro, with better performing chipset, screen, camera and battery. Don’t get it mixed up with the Chinese Reno4 Pro though, as there are some major differences, which we’ll get to in a second. To give you the short version, the global Reno4 Pro has a bright 90Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 720G chipset, 48MP main camera and 65W fast charging. Now let’s dive into the details. The 6.5” E3 Super...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno4_pro_unveiled_with_snapdragon_720g_65_90_hz_amoled_screen_65_w_fast_charging-news-44520.php

Oppo Reno4 Pro review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno4_pro-review-2143.php

Watch the Oppo Reno4 Pro announcement live here

India welcomed the Oppo Reno3 Pro in February this year, now it’s time to say “hello” to the new model – the Oppo Reno4 Pro. There’s talk that the company will also show off its first smartwatch at this event, but we’ll have to watch the livestream to find out. As for the phone, Oppo has been kind enough to confirm two highlights – the 90 Hz screen with curved sides and the 65 W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging. The latter gives you a full charge in just 36 minutes and carries with it a TÜV Rheinland certification for safety. Oppo already launched the Reno4 Pro 5G in China last month,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_oppo_reno4_pro_announcement_here-news-44523.php

Huawei India teases MatePad T8 launch

Huawei India released a teaser with a cross-word puzzle to fill in the blanks with letter that spell “MatePad T8”. The words used to describe the tablet are: Metal body, long battery, Octa-core, Immersive, Portable, Elegant looks, Affordable, Ultra slim, and “GR8”. Each word that you spot in this crossword is a feature of our next big surprise! Link up all the missing letters together and find the name of our big surprise.Let's see who cracks this 'Ultimate Puzzle!'#HuaweiIndia #Puzzle #ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/8Jt5kr9cSY— Huawei India (@HuaweiIndia) July 30, 2020 The MatePad was...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_india_teases_matepad_t8-news-44530.php

Global Oppo Reno4 is apparently official with Snapdragon 720G, VOOC 4.0

Oppo is expected to unveil the global version of the Reno4 Pro later today, but its vanilla sibling is already up online in Thailand. The phone is listed on the company website with full specs sheet, pricing, date of availability and proper renders. The regular Reno4 comes with Snapdragon 720G chipset and four shooters on the back that look a lot like the Reno4 5G version, but after further inspection, the fourth cam and the LED have switched places. Oppo Reno4 While the official website is saying nothing on the screen, the Oppo Reno4 is already listed at local retailers Lazada...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/global_oppo_reno4_is_apparently_official_with_snapdragon_720g-news-44529.php

Our Motorola Moto G 5G Plus video review is out

Motorola launched its cheapest 5G smartphone – powered by the Snapdragon 765. We’ve always known the Moto G to offer a compelling package at an affordable price and with the G 5G Plus, Moto brings 5G connectivity to the budget midrange segment. With a lot of other smartphones using the same processor populating this space, what makes the G 5G Plus stand out? The phone has a 6.7-inch LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate, and a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, making this one tall smartphone. The phone’s body is made up of a plastic frame and back panel, but we found plastic to offer a better...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_motorola_moto_g_5g_plus_video_review_is_out-news-44528.php

Apple confirms rumors of slight delay in iPhone 12 shipments

For some time now we've been hearing rumors about a delay this year in the start of shipments of the upcoming iPhone 12 family, compared to Apple's past release timelines. This wouldn't be anything very large, the story goes, but would shift things by a few weeks. Today during its earnings call for the third fiscal quarter of 2020 (also known as the second calendar quarter), Apple has pretty much confirmed this. Luca Maestri, the company's CFO, said that while last year Apple started selling the new iPhone generation in late September, in 2020 the company projects supply will be "available...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_confirms_rumors_of_slight_delay_in_iphone_12_shipments-news-44527.php

Google confirms Pixel 4a reveal coming on August 3

Google's Pixel 4a, initially rumored to become official at the Google I/O conference in May - which didn't happen because of the coronavirus - is finally close to launch, it seems. A few days ago a new rumor gave what seems like the umpteenth presumptive unveiling date, namely August 3. And now Google has confirmed this, though in the most convoluted way possible. If you head to a new special page on the Google Store website, you'll get a puzzle based on 'lorem ipsum', a famous describer of placeholder web pages. If you solve the puzzle, you'll get the August 3 date, as well as a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_confirms_pixel_4a_reveal_coming_on_august_3-news-44526.php

Samsung Q2 report reveals improved profit from chips and phones despite COVID-19

Earlier today we learned Huawei was the leading smartphone manufacturer in Q2, while LG Mobile keeps losing ground. Samsung also released its full financial report for Q2 2020, and despite dropping from the lead in the smartphone race the overall numbers are good. Profit increased both sequentially and on yearly basisdue to strong demand for memory chips, while the Mobile business also reported improved operating profit despite 20% decline in revenue. The IT & Mobile Communications Division posted KRW20.75 trillion ($17.3 billion) in consolidated revenue and KRW1.95 trillion ($1.63...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_q2_report_reveals_improved_profit_from_chips_and_phones_despite_covid19-news-44521.php

Huawei launches MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy 2 tablets, TalkBand B6 and a kid's smartwatch

This time it’s on purpose – the MatePad 10.8 official, which was spotted yesterday, is now officially official and there’s a surprise, a second tablet. The company also revealed a new talk band and a children’s smartwatch. Let’s have a look. Huawei MatePad 10.8 The tablet uses a 10.8” IPS LCD with 2,560 x 1,600 px (that works out to 280 ppi pixel density). The display supports the M-Pencil stylus, alternatively you can also attach a keyboard add-on if you prefer to type rather than write. The Huawei MatePad 10.8 is powered by the flagship Kirin 990 chipset. It’s paired with 6 GB...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_launches_matepad_108_and_enjoy_2_tablets_talkband_b6_and_a_kids_smartwatch-news-44525.php

Realme V5 appears in hands-on shots

Realme has been busy with its product launches in the past month and it looks like August will bring more of the same. The young company is set to introduce its new V-series on August 3 with the V5 5G and we now have an in-hand look at the device. Realme V5 hands-on shots The V5 will sport a 6.5-inch punch hole IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and a 16MP selfie cam up front. Around the back, which sports a dual-tone finish, we’re expecting a 48MP primary shooter, 8MP ultrawide snapper and two 2MP units - one for macro shots and another for depth data. The V5 will be powered by the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_v5_appears_in_handson_shots-news-44524.php

More vivo S7 key specs emerge ahead of launch

The latest member of vivo’s S-series is scheduled to go official on August 3 with the launch of the S7. So far, we’ve seen a few renders and specs of the device but now, we’re getting more details thanks to a leaked leaflet. We can see the S7’s will carry a dual selfie camera with a 44MP primary sensor and autofocus housed in a small notch up top. The back will sport a 64MP main cam which comes with a similar design to the X50 Pro as well as two auxiliary shooters below. The phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G and will come in just 7.39mm of thickness. The S7 will also...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/more_vivo_s7_key_specs_emerge_-news-44519.php

LG posts its report on turbulent Q2: Phone business keeps sliding

Financial reports for Q2 of 2020 are emerging and LG is the latest company to shared its results. The Korean giant revealed its performance was affected significantly by the worldwide impact of the pandemic. All five key divisions of LG reported a decline on a yearly basis, with the Mobile Communications Company posting sales of about KRW1.31 trillion (about $1.07 billion), which is 18% lower than the same period last year. LG announced a 31.1% increase in sales on a quarterly basis, quoting “stabilization of supply disruption” and pointed out that lockdown measures were lifted...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_phones_keep_underperforming_during_a_turbulent_second_quarter-news-44518.php

Several mid-range and entry level Nokias coming at IFA

HMD Global is preparing to bring several new smartphones to IFA 2020. There are no flagships among them, instead the company has focused on bolstering its entry level and mid-range offerings. The Nokia 2.4, code name Wolverine, will be fairly large with its 6.5” screen and 4,500 mAh battery, according to leaked info. Compare that to the 2.3, which has a 6.2” screen and 4,000 mAh battery. Nokia 2.4 (Wolverine) running Geekbench 5 The new model will be powered by a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset as seen in this Geekbench result (octa-core Cortex-A53 at 2.0 GHz and PowerVR GE8320 GPU)....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/several_midrange_and_entry_level_nokias_may_be_coming_to_ifa-news-44517.php

Canalys: Huawei triumphs as the best-selling smartphone company in Q2 2020

How's that for a plot twist? Despite its well documented struggles in western markets, Huawei has managed to top the COVID-influenced Q2 2020 smartphone market. According to Canalys, Huawei shipped 55.8 million phones to Samsung's with 53.7 million. Huawei managed to extend its domination of the already recovering Chinese market and now accounts for over 70% of all shipped phones to mainland China. Meanwhile, Samsung's key markets were disrupted by the pandemic and its sales fell 30% on a yearly basis. Ben Stanton, Senior Analyst at Canalys, said that “if it weren’t for COVID-19,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/canalys_huawei_triumphs_as_the_bestselling_smartphone_company_in_q2_2020-news-44515.php

Samsung Galaxy M31s unveiled with 6.5” AMOLED, quad cameras and 6,000 mAh battery

The hugely popular Galaxy M-series just got its newest member - say hello to the M31s. It brings a 6.5-inch Infinity-O sAMOLED panel - a first for the M-series as well as a 25W charging support (with the required charger in the box) to top up the massive 6,000 mAh battery. The phone also carries a Gradient design with black and blue shades and features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Around the back, we find the 64-megapixel primary Sony IMX682 shooter alongside a 12MP ultrawide snapper and two 5MP modules - one for macro shots and another for depth data. Samsung has also brought...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_m31s_unveiled_with_65_infinityo_samoled_quad_cameras_and_25w_charging_-news-44516.php

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ to come with customizable GPU

Xiaomi is expected to bring a plus version of its Mi 10 Pro soon which should be running an overclocked Snapdragon 865 chipset (and not the 865+). We already saw the alleged device in an AnTuTu listing where it managed a combined score of 687,422 - the highest we’ve seen out of any smartphone. Now, reputable leakster Ice Universe revealed another detail about the upcoming device - it will feature a customizable GPU. Super Leak：Xiaomi Mi10 Pro+ has a unique feature: Game Turbo, a mode developed by Xiaomi and Qualcomm's GPU team, which is unprecedented. You can use it to adjust GPU...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_10_pro_to_come_with_customizable_gpu-news-44514.php

Spotify sees massive increase in subscribers in Q2, reaches 299M

Spotify has shared its Q2 2020 financial report and it shows the Swedish streaming platform increased its Monthly Active Users (MAU) to 299 million - an impressive 29% increase on a yearly basis and 5% more than Q1 2020. Income from Premium subscribers also increased, while a decline was seen only in Free Cash Flow, mainly due to the “continuing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.” Users (in million) Q2 2019 Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Total Monthly Active Users (MAU) 232 286 299 Premium Subscribers 108 130 ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/spotify_q2_2020_reports-news-44513.php

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G press renders leak

The oft-rumored, much-leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G will finally become official during the company's online Unpacked event on August 5. While we wait for that, here are a bunch of just-outed, fresh out of the oven press renders showcasing it in all its glory in two colors - Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. As rumored countless times before, the inner screen now has a punch-hole selfie camera, and thus no more big, awkward side-notch. The outer screen is much improved too, now stretching to the edges and not coming with laughably huge top and bottom bezels like in the original Fold....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_fold_2_5g_press_renders_leak-news-44512.php

OnePlus 8T may have just passed through GeekBench

OnePlus just announced the new Nord mid-ranger last week, but the company is surely busy also working on its next-gen flagship device. Over the past few years it's gotten us used to seeing one or two T devices around October-November, and it looks like that may happen again in 2020. A OnePlus handset with the model number KB2001 has just been spotted in the GeekBench database, and this could be the upcoming OnePlus 8T or the 8T Pro. It was running Android 11 when it ran the benchmark, which makes sense if the company sticks to its usual T device announcement timeline - Google should...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_8t_may_have_just_passed_through_geekbench-news-44511.php

Our Motorola Moto G Pro (aka G Stylus) video review is up

A phone with a stylus but without a Samsung logo? Yes, indeed, but it’s not like Motorola is intruding on Galaxy Note territory with the Moto G Pro (aka Moto G Stylus in the US). The phone differs in several keys aspects from the Samsung, chief among them is the price – this Moto is a mid-ranger. Unlike the Notes, it uses a simple capacitive stylus. You could buy those separately for any phone, but you will also need to carry them separately. The Moto has a compartment to house the stylus, however that may have required some reorganization that pushed the rear-mounted the buttons on the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/our_motorola_moto_g_pro_aka_g_stylus_is_up-news-44510.php

Motorola Moto G 5G Plus review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g_5g_plus-review-2141.php

Apple saw a strong Q2 in China with 225% increase in iPhone sales

Thanks to a boom in sales during the April - June period, Apple has been the fastest gainer in the smartphone sales in China with a reported 225% increase compared to the previous quarter. The data comes from Shanghai’s CINNO Research which reports a total of 13 million iPhone retail sales for the period, resulting in a 62% yearly increase. The large gains come after the weak iPhone sales in February where it was reported that Apple shipped only 500,000 phones in China. Since then, strong sales from the iPhone 11 in particular have helped Cupertino bounce back. The new iPhone SE (2020)...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_saw_a_strong_q2_in_china_with_225_increase_in_iphone_sales-news-44509.php

Wingtips on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live will keep them from falling off your ear

Sure, this is not the first time we've seen the Galaxy Buds Live, but it's the first time we see the TWS buds from all angles and answer a question we've been asking ourselves for some time now. How do they stay in one's year without falling given the current design? Leaked renders The new images give us an "inside look" revealing small wingtips on one side of the bean. This means that the loudspeakers are not facing the ear directly and instead rests in the ear pinna. The wingtips should keep the beans from falling. Additionally, we get to see the Mystic Black and Bronze colors...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/wingtips_on_the_samsung_galaxy_buds_live_will_keep_them_from_falling_off_your_ear-news-44507.php

OnePlus teases Android 11, hints at Always On Display feature

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau posted a teaser on Twitter, a clock with the hour hand pointing at 11. This is clearly enough a teaser for the planned Android 11 update that recent OnePlus phones will receive, but there’s some speculation that there may be more to it. Why use a clock to tease a new OS version? It’s possible that this is a nod at an upcoming Always On Display feature. Before you get too excited, even if that is the case, there’s no guarantee that this feature will be available on older models as the hardware may not support it (at least not in a power efficient way). 11 "on...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_teases_android_11_hints_at_possible_always_on_display_feature-news-44506.php

Official render gives us a look at the beautiful vivo S7

Next week we are going to see the latest 5G smartphone - vivo S7. It is said to be the thinnest device with 5G support. After yesterday’s arrival of the phone at the Chinese retailer JD.com, today the listing was completed with the first official render of the phone from the back and the color looks beautiful. Interestingly enough, we are yet to see the front side. According to numerous leaks, vivo is introducing a dual selfie camera hidden inside a wide notch - that’s right, the company will not pierce the AMOLED panel. We know it will be an OLED screen and not LCD since we can...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/take_a_look_at_the_beautiful_vivo_s7_in_its_official_render-news-44504.php

Google in talks with Samsung to replace Bixby with Assistant

According to a new report, Google and Samsung are discussing a deal that would see the Korean tech giant push Google’s Assistant in place of the Bixby voice assistant. In addition, Samsung will also stop supporting its Galaxy Apps Store. The two companies are currently discussing the exact financial terms and according to sources close to the matter the deal should be finalized by the end of the week. Samsung issued a statement to Bloomberg where it reaffirmed its committed to supporting its own services but is also “closely working with Google and other partners in order to offer...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_in_talks_with_samsung_to_replace_bixby_with_assistant-news-44503.php