Redmi Note 14 Pro+ breaks a sales record

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ got official on September 26, and promptly entered AnTuTu's monthly chart for upper-midrange devices in the tenth spot. The phone went on sale immediately, and today the Xiaomi sub-brand is boasting a very impressive feat it's achieved. Apparently the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ broke a record for first-week sales. Machine translation from Chinese isn't very helpful at explaining exactly what record we're talking about. It seems to be implying that it's a record sales number for any Android phone, not just Redmis, but then there's a caveat regarding price. So we assume...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_14_pro_breaks_a_sales_record-news-64804.php

MediaTek Dimensity 9400 CPU details leak

MediaTek is officially unveiling its next flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9400, on October 9. Ahead of that, the chip has already overtaken Apple's A18 chip in a GPU benchmark, and topped the AnTuTu scales. Today courtesy of prolific Chinese leakster Digital Chat Station we get purported details about its CPU cores. According to DCS, the Dimensity 9400 will have one Cortex-X925 super-large core clocked at up to 3.626 GHz, three Cortex-X4 large cores, and four Cortex-A720 cores, though the latter could be a typo since Cortex-A725 are the latest designs from Arm. Anyway, DCS says the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/mediatek_dimensity_9400_cpu_details_leak-news-64803.php

Google is bringing verified checkmarks to its search engine

Verified checkmarks used to be a status symbol before Elon Musk ruined everything by allowing the plebs to purchase said status. Google, however, might be bringing back the status symbol nature of verified checkmarks, as it seems intent on introducing them to its search results. This is only a test at the moment, which only a limited subset of Google users are seeing. But what they are seeing will definitely seem familiar to anyone who's been on a social media site in the past few years. The checkmarks are blue and show up next to business links, which makes this a case of good...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_is_bringing_verified_checkmarks_to_its_search_engine-news-64801.php

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE unboxing

We had a brief encounter the other day, but now that it hit the shelves we managed to grab a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE unit to review. But before handing it over to the review team let's do a quick unboxing. There's not much in the retail package, to be honest. The phones ships with a USB-C cable and a SIM tool, packaged in a typical black box. If it's good enough for the Galaxy S24 Ultra - it's good enough for the FE, we guess. We have the base model 8/2128GB in Yellow - what we'd expect most users would go for - the S24 FE is supposed to be the value-for-money option after all. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s24_fe_unboxing-news-64797.php

Samsung phones will unlock your door with a tap, or even hands-free

Samsung smartphones will, from next year, be able to unlock smart locks with just a tap - or not even that, by going hands-free using UWB. The tap to unlock functionality will use NFC instead, as you may have expected. Samsung users will thus become on par with iPhone owners, who have had the ability to unlock smart locks in a fiddle-free way already. Samsung will support the new Aliro smart lock standard and add it to its Wallet's Digital Home Key. When that happens, tap to unlock and hands-free unlocking will become a reality, and both of these can work locally between your phone...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_phones_will_unlock_your_door_with_a_tap_or_even_handsfree-news-64785.php

Google Pixel 9a to get an early launch

The Pixel 9 family was launched back in August, around two months earlier than Google's previous events took place in past years. But the family still isn't complete - the Pixel 9a is left to join it. And it will do so sooner than you may have expected, according to a new rumor. The Pixel 9a will be available for pre-order in mid-March, multiple sources have allegedly said. This is about - you guessed it - two months early compared to previous a series releases which took place around Google I/O in May. Google Pixel 9a leaked CAD-based render The Pixel 9a is then said to ship and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_9a_to_get_an_early_launch-news-64784.php

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra are now available around the world

Samsung’s September 26 event introduced a new Galaxy S FE phone and two new premium tablets in the Tab S10 line, all of which went on pre-order immediately after the event. Here we are a week later and that’s over with – the new phone and tablets are now widely available around the world. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is equipped with the largest display in the series yet, 6.7”, and a slightly dialed back version of the Exynos 2400 chipset dubbed ‘2400e’, which is used globally (no regional variations this time). This chip shows promise in early benchmarks. We spent some hands-on time with the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_samsung_galaxy_s24_fe_galaxy_tab_s10_and_tab_s10_ultra_are_now_available_around_the_world-news-64782.php

Teardowns of new AirPods show no major repairability gains

Apple announced its AirPods 4 and AirPods Max with USB-C last month and the team over at iFixt has now shared their teardowns. Long story short, neither of the new AirPods offers improvements in terms of repairability. The small AirPods 4 require a specialized jig holder that keeps them in place while a heat gun helps loosen the adhesive to open up the top half of the buds. AirPods 4 teardown (iFixit) We can then see the speaker and battery components surrounded by heaps of glue. Opening up the bottom of the stem is a lot more challenging and requires a knife to cut...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/teardowns_of_new_airpods_show_no_major_repairability_gains_-news-64772.php

You can now share images to Gemini, while Gemini Nano opens up to app developers

Google keeps updating Gemini with new features, and today we have a couple of Gemini-related news. First, a feature addition that will save you some time whenever you need Gemini to tell you something about an image. That's because with the newest version of the Gemini app for Android, you can now share an image directly to Gemini, by using the Android share sheet. You can then immediately ask it questions about the image you just sent it. So if you don't want to tap the Ask about this screen option to have a screenshot taken and sent to Gemini, or manually attach an image in the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_now_share_images_to_gemini_while_gemini_nano_opens_up_to_app_developers-news-64770.php

Samsung Galaxy A56 benchmark results reveal Exynos 1580's faster CPU and new RDNA GPU

A while back we saw the first results from what should be the Exynos 1580, Samsung's next mid-range chipset. Now we have a new batch of results coming from one of the key devices where the new chip will be used – the Samsung Galaxy A56. Predictably, the phone has a model number SM-A566B, while the chipset goes under S5E8855. Samsung Galaxy A56 (SM-A566B) scorecard from Geekbench 6.2.2 The Exynos 1580 has eight CPU cores: 1x prime core at 2.91GHz, 3x mid-cores at 2.60GHz and four small cores at 1.95GHz. We don’t actually know what those cores are yet, but Samsung has rebalanced...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a56_benchmark_results_reveal_exynos_1580s_faster_cpu_and_new_rdna_gpu-news-64768.php

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 One UI 6.1.1 update has no new AI features

AI is the buzzword of the year for sure, and it's also something a lot of smartphone makers (hi, Apple) are trying to gatekeep, only making it available on their latest devices. Samsung is kind of playing the same game too, it seems, but far less egregiously. Still, it's worth noting that the update to One UI 6.1.1 which brought new AI features to newer foldables is now rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 without those new AI features like Sketch to Image and PDF Overlay. There's also no Instant Slow-mo either. The update is a 2.2GB download, is identified by a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_fold3_and_flip3_one_ui_611_update_has_no_new_ai_features-news-64753.php

Oppo K12 Plus spotted in regulatory listing with huge battery

Oppo is looking to launch a fourth member in its K12 series soon with the upcoming Oppo K12 Plus. The device (PKS110) was spotted on a regulatory listing in China, revealing its key specs include a monster 6,400 mAh battery. K12 Plus will also offer a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and will be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 with 8/12GB RAM and 256/512GB storage. The device measures 162.47 x 75.33 x 8.37 mm and weighs 193 grams. Oppo K12 Plus listing on TENAA It packs a 50MP main cam and 8MP ultrawide lens on the back while the front houses a 16MP...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_k12_plus_spotted_in_regulatory_listing_with_huge_battery-news-64749.php

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE teardown offers a glimpse at the supposedly larger vapor chamber

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE last week. The 2024 model features a larger display (6.7” vs. 6.4”), a new chipset (Exynos 2400e) with a vapor chamber that is “1.1x larger” and a higher capacity battery (4,700mAh vs. 4,500mAh). We can have a closer look at some of these hidden components in this teardown video. With the glass back removed, the layout is very similar to the S23 FE. A heat spreader on the motherboard hides one of the major changes this generation – a version of the Exynos 2400, replacing the Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that was inside the 2023 phone. A graphite film...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s24_fe_teardown_offers_a_glimpse_at_the_supposedly_larger_vapor_chamber-news-64726.php

Bye-bye Nokia? HMD delists Nokia smartphones across European markets

Earlier this year, HMD entered a new phase of its development and dropped its Nokia branding for smartphones in favor of its own HMD-branded devices. HMD continued to offer Nokia-branded smartphones, feature phones, and tablets for the past months, but it seems supplies for those have come to an end, at least in Europe. No Nokia smaretphones in sight on HMD.com/UK You won't find Nokia-branded devices on most of the official HMD websites in the Old Continent but Nokia devices are still present across HMD’s storefronts in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/byebye_nokia_hmd_delists_nokia_smartphones_across_european_markets_-news-64725.php

Top 10 trending phones of week 39

The iPhone 16 Pro Max's reign came to an end in week 39, the newly announced Redmi Note 14 Pro+ shooting straight to the top of our trending chart. Apple's new flagship still came in second, ready to return, should the hype around the announcement fade. The top 3 is then completed by another of the newly announced Redmi phones - the Note 14. [#InlinePriceWidget, 13123, 1#] The third member of the new trio, Redmi Note 14 Pro came in fourth, while Samsung's latest smartphone - the Galaxy S24 FE ended up fifth. Samsung's Galaxy A55 is down to sixth, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra slid...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_trending_phones_of_week_39-news-64724.php

Xiaomi Buds 5 in for review

This is the Xiaomi Buds 5 - a premium pair of buds with a lot of tech and a classy yet sturdy design. The buds ship in a small box with a USB-A to USB-C cable. The case has an eye-catching semi-gloss-semi-matte finish. It's small and has a nicely rounded shape, making it comfortable to pocket. The Xiaomi Buds 5 in the case The Xiaomi Buds 5 feature an open-ear design - they don't have silicone tips that to invade your ear canal. These are generally more comfortable to wear for longer periods and are preferred by people who don't mind some outside noise passing...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_buds_5_in_for_review-news-64585.php

Weekly poll results: the Tecno Phantom V Fold2 and V Flip2 show promise

The results from last week’s poll are in and Tecno’s new foldables are doing pretty well. However, there is a lot riding on reviews as getting the thumbs up can double the popularity of the new V-foldables. The Tecno Phantom V Fold2 drew criticism for reusing the Dimensity 9000+ chipset from its predecessor. On the plus side, Tecno managed to keep the price lower than competing horizontal foldables and brought a major battery upgrade this generation (+750mAh capacity and faster charging). The Tecno Phantom V Flip2 does have a different chipset from its predecessor, but it’s not an...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_the_tecno_phantom_v_fold2_and_v_flip2_show_promise-news-64712.php

Deals: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE pre-orders start, but there are better offers to consider

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE this week, alongside two premium tablets. But is any one of them actually worth it? Let’s look at the phone first. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE starts at $650 and you can get up to $400 worth of trade-in credit. Additionally, you can pick up other FE gadgets, the Galaxy Watch FE and Galaxy Buds FE, at half price. We will have a look at the accessories in a moment. The FE will receive 7 OS updates and 7 years of security patches. Will a device with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage still be usable in 7 years? Who knows, Android is not as slim as it once was and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_samsung_galaxy_s24_fe_preorders_start_but_there_are_better_offers_to_consider-news-64713.php

Apple iPhone 16 review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_16-review-2749.php