Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations

Dell's mid-range gaming laptops have the same GPU and 4K OLED display options as the pricier Alienware (Source: Dell)

Alienware m15 R2 is limited to 16 GB of RAM or just half of the cheaper Dell G7 15 7590

You don't have to pay top dollar for an Alienware when Dell's own G7 15 7590 can be configured with the same Core i9 CPU, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU, and 4K UHD OLED display for about $200 to $300 less.

Allen Ngo, 16 Oct 2019 05:15

The entry-level Google Pixelbook Go is now much more affordable. (Source: Google)

Google's new US$649 Pixelbook Go is a seemingly budget offering, but only if you consider the entry-level model

Google has unveiled the Pixelbook Go at the company's Made by Google event today. The Pixelbook Go offers a choice of 8th gen Intel processors, FHD and UHD touch display options, and is very portable. However, Google does seem to have cut some corners to bring down the price.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 15 Oct 2019 23:59

Nest Wi-Fi is Google's new mesh solution

Google also announced its new Nest Wi-Fi home product at the 2019 Pixel launch event. It consists of scalable router and point units in various muted colors. A single 802.11s router covers up to 2200 square feet of space each, whereas each point doubles as a smart speaker.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Oct 2019 22:49

Google renews its Home Mini series with a Nest re-brand

The Nest Mini is a new Connected Home devices launched by Google at its latest live event. It is a smart speaker with integrated Assistant functions and touch controls. It is now up for pre-order at a price of US$49.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Oct 2019 21:00

Meet the new Google Pixel 4. (Source: Google)

The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are now official with 90 Hz OLED screens, dual-cameras, built-in Soli radar, and enhanced on-device AI capabilities

At its Made by Google 2019 event, Google finally took wraps off the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones. The new Pixel 4 series comes with features such as a Soli radar chip for advanced hands-free gestures, on-device AI and voice processing, and improved AI-assisted cameras. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL can be pre-ordered starting today and will be shipping from October 24.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 15 Oct 2019 19:48

Google launches its first pair of true wireless earbuds

Google unveiled its second-generation Pixel Buds at its 2019 'Made By' event. They are truly wireless products that, as the OEM claims, have been designed to be as compact and streamlined as possible. Nevertheless, they are rated for 5 hours of battery life, or 24 hours from their charging case.

Deirdre O Donnell, 15 Oct 2019 19:21

Intel is planning to make the jump to PCIe 5.0 and 8-channel DDR5 in 2021. (Source: SegmentNext)

Intel's upcoming LGA 4677 platform to support PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 for 10 nm+++ and 7 nm CPUs, launching 2021

The LGA 4677 platform will add support for PCIe 5.0 and 8-channel DDR5 RAM for the upcoming 10 nm+++ Sapphire Rapids and 7 nm Granite Rapids server-grade Xeon CPUs, which are supposed to compete with AMD's EPYC Milan and Genoa processors. The first 7 nm server CPUs from Intel are expected to launch in 2022, so desktop-grade CPUs supporting those new features will be released later on.

Bogdan Solca, 15 Oct 2019 16:04

Intel's 10nm plans on the desktop are still some time away from fruition. (Source: ExtremeTech)

Intel refutes rumors of eliminating 10nm from the desktop, but don't expect anything till 2022

Fresh rumors have surfaced indicating that Intel would scrap 10nm on the desktop altogether and instead, directly launch 7nm Meteor Lake chips sometime in 2022 as 10nm has not yet reached the high clocks and yields required for desktops. However, Intel has refuted these rumors and clarified that 'great progress' is being made on 10nm that also includes desktop products.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 15 Oct 2019 15:38

Prices for the 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSDs are expected to drop below US$200 this November. (Source: Gigabyte)

1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs get considerable price slashes, now available for only US$200

Even though it might be a short-lived standard, the PCIe 4.0 is slowly seeing more adoption, and the latest price cuts for the NVMe 4.0 SSDs should certainly make things more affordable for AMD users who want to pair their Ryzen 3000 CPUs with faster storage solutions.

Bogdan Solca, 15 Oct 2019 15:22

The new NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens. (Source: Nikon)

Nikon evokes a 58mm classic with its "fastest NIKKOR lens ever"

Nikon has launched the new and expansive NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens. This product name may sound familiar as it has been chosen to honor an iconic lens of the past. The new S-series lens has manual focus and an aperture of up to a whopping f/0.95.

Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Oct 2019 19:54

The X55 modem will move beyond smartphone integration soon. (Source: Qualcomm)

The Snapdragon X55 modem will power 5G fixed broadband equipment for over 30 OEMs

Qualcomm has announced that over 30 manufacturers have taken the Snapdragon X55 modem up in order to produce their 5G fixed wireless broadband consumer-premises hardware. This means the equipment carriers and ISPs will install in homes in order to access this relatively new form of broadband is highly likely to integrate this modem.

Deirdre O Donnell, 14 Oct 2019 18:59

Razer Blade 15 gets a pink makeover; will the Blade Pro 17 be next?

The Blade 15 Quartz Pink Base Model is now shipping with a GeForce RTX 2060, 144 Hz IPS panel, and 512 GB SSD for just under $2000 USD. Unfortunately, you won't be getting per-key RGB lighting as it will feature a single-zone RGB backlight instead.

Allen Ngo, 14 Oct 2019 18:53

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus to get a Lite edition soon

Samsung might be working on a Galaxy Note 10 Lite

Since the regular Galaxy Note 10 has a price tag of almost US$1,000, it should be no surprise that a US$500- to US$600-priced Lite edition is already in the works and might hit the market soon. However, Samsung still has to confirm the release of this device — and other similar editions, such as the Galaxy S10 Lite.

Codrut Nistor, 14 Oct 2019 18:45

Android 10 is now available for the Galaxy S10 series, albeit in beta. (Image source: Android Headlines)

One UI 2.0: Android 10 arrives on the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10 5G

Now is the time to try One UI 2.0, if you own a Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10+ or Galaxy S10 5G that is. Samsung has opened its One UI beta program once again, with the company giving the world the first taste of its Android 10-based OS. One UI 2.0 makes some useful refinements over the last stable release, including an improved dark mode among others.

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 18:10

The Pixel 4, now without headphones or a headphone jack adapter. (Image source: u/mseven97)

Pixel 4 retail box reveals some surprises ahead of tomorrow's launch

The Google Pixel 4 series launch is almost upon us, with the company expected to announce at least a Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. While the two devices will feature more cameras than their predecessors, a new leak highlights some absentees too. In short, it seems that Google is going the way of Apple, which undoubtedly will disappoint Pixel fans.

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 17:57

The Amazfit GTS includes a metal watch body and a 1.65-inch AMOLED panel. (Image source: Huami)

Amazfit GTS: Huami launches its Apple Watch imitator in India for ₹9,999 (~US$140)

The Amazfit GTS has made its way to India, having been unveiled in China earlier this year. The Apple Watch clone features a 1.65-inch and 348 x 442 AMOLED panel, which sits within a 43.25 x 36.25 x 9.4 mm chassis. The 5 ATM water-resistant smartwatch also weighs 27.2 g without a strap and is available on Amazon.in for ₹9,999 (~US$140).

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 16:49

ZTE Nubia Z20 flagship hits the US for US$549, global launch October 14

Dual-screen Nubia Z20 now available in the US for just US$549

ZTE's sub-brand Nubia has just released the dual-display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+-powered Z20 flagship worldwide. Only available in Twilight Blue and Diamond Black versions, this premium device can be acquired in most markets, including Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, or Israel. US customers can get it for US$549.

Codrut Nistor, 14 Oct 2019 15:47

You can now enjoy Radeon Image Sharpening on Vega GPUs. (Image source: AMD)

AMD brings the Radeon RX Vega 56, RX Vega 64, Vega Frontier Edition and Radeon VII in from the cold

It seems that AMD has listened to its customers, having added support for its Radeon Image Sharpening algorithm to Radeon Vega GPUs. Last month the company claimed it had no immediate plans to do so, but it would bring RIS to the Vega series if there was enough interest. Good news then, Radeon RX Vega 56, RX Vega 64, Vega Frontier Edition and Radeon VII owners?

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 12:48

The iPhone SE 2, a US$399 handset the size of an iPhone 8? (Image source: Apple)

iPhone SE 2: A US$399 and A13 Bionic-powered iPhone SE successor, but the size of an iPhone 8?

Are you in the market for a new iPhone, but do not like the size of the iPhone 11 series? Well, rumor has it that Apple is planning to bring an iPhone SE 2 to market in Q1 next year, and an A13 Bionic at that. However, the iPhone SE successor may not be as small as some people have perhaps hoped.

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 12:42

Intel is reportedly planning to offer discounts to counter AMD's rising market share. (Source: Fstoppers)

Intel reportedly planning to unleash its financial might to counter AMD, price cuts for Core and Xeon processors to cost US$3 billion

A leaked internal Intel slide courtesy of AdoredTV talks about Intel's plans to counter AMD's increasing marketshare via price cuts that would cost the company around US$3 billion. Intel hopes that these price cuts would help its Core and Xeon offerings remain competitive, but AMD still has the advantage when it comes to leveraging TSMC's increased yields and margins for the Ryzen chips.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 14 Oct 2019 09:02

The Honor Band 5 is a successful evolution of its predecessors. (Image source: Honor)

The Honor Band 5 is better value than the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 despite its faux pas

The Honor Band 5 convinced us during our tests and is a good fitness tracker package at an affordable cost. The device offers more than the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 does in our opinion too, despite its shortcomings. One may have people looking elsewhere, though.

Alex Alderson, 14 Oct 2019 00:59

The Skullcandy Vert earbuds. (Source: Skullcandy)

Skullcandy invents the clip-on wireless earbud set

Skullcandy has released Vert, a new set of Bluetooth wireless earbuds. Unlike most products in this category, however, they are not of the typical "neckbud" form-factor. Instead, the buds are linked to a dial-like clip-on module, which may fit in better with pursuits needing heavy gloves or helmets.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 23:22

Deal | Asus ROG G531GT with Core i7-9750H, GTX 1650 graphics, and 512 GB SSD is only $700 right now

Asus' budget-midrange Strix G series laptop is $300 off for high performance-per-dollar. Its GTX 1650 GPU is comparable to the GTX 1060 in DX11 titles and up to 15 percent faster if on DX12.

Allen Ngo, 13 Oct 2019 21:05

The OPPO K5 is now official. (Source: OPPO)

OPPO unveils the new Snapdragon 730G-powered K5

OPPO has launched a new phone, the K5. This event has proved a series of leaks true, as the phone has a new-ish Snapdragon 730G processor, 6GB SKUs and a quad rear camera with a 64MP sensor. The K5 is also the first device to feature a VOOC 4.0 battery.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 21:04

AMD could enable ray tracing via a Radeon Software update in December. (Source: PCGamesN)

AMD rumored to bring ray tracing support for current Navi GPUs in December

References to DirectX ray tracing were found in the latest AMD drivers indicating that AMD could be enabling ray tracing support for the RX 5000-series Navi GPUs with the release of the December update for Radeon Adrenalin Software. Although just a software fix for now, this could pave the way for hardware-accelerated ray tracing in the upcoming Navi GPUs based on RDNA 2.0.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 13 Oct 2019 20:25

The square-cammed new ZTE phone. (Source: TENAA)

ZTE jumps on the square-camera bandwagon with the low-end Blade 20

The Chinese regulator TENAA has approved a new phone from the OEM ZTE. It is listed as a 4GB RAM device with a 6.1-inch HD screen and triple cameras in a Pixel-esque square housing. It is set into a rear panel that may be plastic or glass and also includes a fingerprint sensor.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 19:01

OOS 10 is presented on-stage. (Source: YouTube)

OnePlus releases its first stable version of Android 10 for the 7 and 7 Pro

OnePlus has already provided users of its recent 7-series phones with OxygenOS based on Android 10 in the form of official Open Betas. However, those who have not opted into this program can also now upgrade to this new ROM on their devices. It contains numerous 10-specific updates and improvements.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 16:49

MIUI 11 may refer to next-gen Xiaomi camera technology. (Source: MIUI)

Next-gen Xiaomi cameras may have up to 50X digital zoom

Xiaomi phones may be upgraded to telephoto lens capable of as much as 50X digital zoom in the near future. Furthermore, their optical zoom specs may improve considerably in the same generations. This rumor has srung from alleged findings that code in MIUI 11 outlines these functions.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 16:10

AMD Zen 3 will bring in further improvements to IPC and clocks. (Source: PCGamesN)

Rumor | Intel should be worried again: AMD Zen 3 IPC gains rumored to be greater than 8% with up to 200 MHz increase in clocks compared to Zen 2

The AMD Zen 3 microarchitecture is expected to debut sometime in 2020 and going by recent rumors, it could offer IPC gains up to 8% (possibly, more) and up to 200 MHz faster clocks. Zen 3 will also offer 8 cores per chiplet with 32 MB or more of L3 cache. These improvements can further reduce latency and could turn out to be enticing for gamers.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 13 Oct 2019 15:57

The Meizu 16T's prospective retail listing. (Source: GizmoChina)

Meizu announces a new member of its 16 flagship smartphone series

The OEM Meizu has released teasers for a new phone, the 16T, on Weibo. It will have the same SoC (the Snapdragon 855) as its siblings, the 16s and 16s Pro. However, it will also have a bigger screen and battery compared to these pre-existing variants. The Meizu 16T will launch on October 23, 2019 for the equivalent of US$352.

Deirdre O Donnell, 13 Oct 2019 15:42

The Core i3-10100 could effectively replace the Core i7-7700K. (Source: Gadgets360)

Intel 'Comet Lake' Core i3-10100 sports a 4-core 8-thread configuration, pegged to replace the Core i7-7700K at much lower prices

The Intel Comet Lake Core i3-10100 has surfaced on the Sisoftware database confirming that it is indeed a 4C/8T part as speculated. Not much information is there about the processor itself apart from the fact that it has a base speed of 3.6 GHz and a 6 MB L3 cache. Intel Comet Lake CPUs are part of the 10th generation and will continue to be fabbed on the 14nm process.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 13 Oct 2019 14:36

DxOMark: The Mi 9T Pro delivers capable cameras albeit with a few flaws

The Mi 9T Pro is a rebranded Redmi K20 Pro for the global market, and can be purchased for under US$350. As such, it's a tad surprising to see the device do so well in DxOMark's test, matching last-gen flagships like the Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XR. Of course, though, there were a few issues with the phone's overall camera performance.

Ricci Rox, 13 Oct 2019 12:03

Huawei Mate 20 Pro now receiving the Android Q-based EMUI 10 update globally

Just two months after the release of Q, Huawei is now sending out the stable Android Q-based EMUI 10 update to owners of the Mate 20 Pro outside China. The OTA weighs in as a heavy 4.42 GB download.

Ricci Rox, 13 Oct 2019 12:01

Renders of the Honor View 30 show it with a Mate 20 Pro-esque camera array. (Source: AndroidSaint)

Details of the Honor View 30 revealed - Two phones, OLED, 5G, and a monstrous 60 MP camera

The Honor View 30—or V30 depending on where you buy it—will be Huawei's next premium phone. A short while ago, the first image of the device leaked. This time out, though, details of the phone have surfaced. Notable takeaways include 5G support, a suprising Pro model, and what looks to be a brand new, powerful 60 MP sensor by Sony.

Ricci Rox, 13 Oct 2019 12:00

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour offers exclusive running features. (Source: Under Armour))

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Under Armour Editon goes on sale

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active 2 has been on the market for a weeks but its special Under Armour Edition has been MIA until now. The Apple Watch Nike challenger has finally hit the market in the US with its global rollout also underway

Sanjiv Sathiah, 13 Oct 2019 11:26

Google Play Store running inside VMOS on the Huawei Mate 30. (Source: Hokoonho/Youtube)

VMOS (sort of) brings Google Play to the Huawei Mate 30

The inability to run Google Play Services on the Huawei Mate 30 has made it a more difficult purchase decision for most in Western markets. VMOS aims to fix this to an extent.

Craig Ward, 13 Oct 2019 05:50

The Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro have landed in Europe

Launched first in Malaysia, the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro have now arrived in Europe, albeit with limited coverage. The retailer promises to deliver 128 GB and 256 GB SKUs of both devices within a week, although it remains unclear whether these are official EU models or import models.

Alex Alderson, 13 Oct 2019 00:30

Vivo may launch a "Standard" version of the Y3 soon

The Vivo Y3 is a sub-US$250 phone sold in China. A new leak suggests that the OEM is going to release a second version of this device. It may be called the 'Y3 Standard' and have 2 rear cameras where the original has 3.

Deirdre O Donnell, 12 Oct 2019 20:40

The Galaxy Note 10 is now said to be getting a cheaper variant. (Source: CNET)

Samsung may release further 'budget' versions of the Galaxy S10 and Note 10

According to recent reports, Samsung are about to release 2 new phones with the model numbers SM-G770F and SM-N770F. Due to their similarity to those of the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 respectively, it is now believed that they are budget versions of these phones. The SM-G770F is said to have the same specs as the Galaxy A91.

Deirdre O Donnell, 12 Oct 2019 19:54

Hands-on video of the Librem 5 Linux phone shows improvements, but there is a lot of work left to do

A new hands-on video of the upcoming Librem 5 shows off how much work Purism has done on the Linux handset. While there's still a lot of wrinkles to iron out, Purism has made substantial progress considering the Librem 5 is built from scratch.

Sam Medley, 12 Oct 2019 04:38

Time to learn some starboard, aft, port, and bow moves. (Image source: Twitter/KrispyLeaks)

Boat battle royale: Fortnite Chapter 2 gets accidentally leaked on the App Store

Fans of the hugely successful battle royale title Fortnite will be excited to learn that a sequel could be on the way. While many gamers are awaiting the next season of the smash hit, an image that briefly appeared on the iOS App Store for the Italian market seems to indicate that Fortnite Chapter 2 is in the works, and there could be water-based battles in store.

Daniel R Deakin, 12 Oct 2019 03:11

New Pixel 4 marketing material leaks out ahead of launch. (Source: @evleaks)

Evan Blass leaks official Pixel 4 renders and marketing shots

It might be hard to believe, but the Pixel 4 leaks keep coming. This time serial leaker Evan Blass has leaked official Pixel 4 renders and marketing shots ahead of its official launch next week.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 12 Oct 2019 01:32

Apple Arcade adds 5 more games to iOS, now boasts 80 titles

Apple's Arcade game subscription service welcomed 5 new titles to iOS and tvOS and 2 new titles to macOS this week. The new games bring the total number of games available in Apple Arcade to 80 for iOS and tvOS and 61 for macOS, steadily fulfilling Apple's promise of 100 games available in the service.

Sam Medley, 12 Oct 2019 00:45

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