Smartphone

Christmas arrives early for owners of the Redmi Note 8. (Source: Xiaomi)

The Redmi Note 8 finally receives MIUI 12 and Android 10 globally

Take to the streets in joy, Redmi Note 8 owners; MIUI 12 and Android 10 is finally here for you! After months of delays, Xiaomi is finally sending out the stable MIUI 12 and Android 10 update to the global version of the Redmi Not...

Ricci Rox, 28 Oct 2020 10:13

Pro1-X: A not-so-new smartphone developed between XDA Developers and F(x)tec. (Image source: F(x)tec)

Pro1-X: XDA Developers collaborates to create the world's first Lineage OS and Ubuntu Touch smartphone

The Pro1 X is a collaboration between F(x)tec and XDA Developers with native support for both LineageOS and Ubuntu Touch. The price is high for outdated hardware and long lead-times, though.

Alex Alderson, 27 Oct 2020 23:57

The Amazfits GTR and GTS 2. (Source: Huami)

Huami launches the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 smartwatches for the US and UK markets

The OEM Huami has held its global launch for the second-gen Amazfit GTR and GTS wearables, although they will only be released in the US and UK markets to start off with. These smartwatches feature blood-oxygen, heart-rate, sleep ...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Oct 2020 22:56

New updates arrive for the Mi A3 as the Redmi Note 9S also starts receiving MIUI 12 globally

After sending out the highly awaited MIUI 12 update to the European version of the Redmi Note 9S, Xiaomi has now expanded the rollout by sending a similar update to the global variant of the device. The Mi A3 also happens to be re...

Ricci Rox, 27 Oct 2020 21:49

The Redmi K30 Ultra combines a 120 Hz OLED panel with a very powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1000+

Xiaomi outclasses the test competition again with the Redmi K30 Ultra

The Redmi K30 Ultra comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ instead of a Qualcomm SoC; the former offers a lot of performance for a budget mid-range phone. In some benchmarks, the K30 Ultra outclasses the smartphone competition, e...

Marcus Herbrich, 27 Oct 2020 19:55

Razer's new Hallowe'en event is on. (Source: Razer)

Razer announces new deals in its Hallowe'en sale

Razer's freshly-announced Hallowe'en 2020 sale is good news for those in need of an older mobile gaming controller from this brand. There is also up to 23% off Black Widow keyboards and Mamba mice. Certain Blade laptops are US$100...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Oct 2020 18:55

Qualcomm's new products may make for better next-gen mesh Wi-Fi. (Source: Google)

Qualcomm's latest solution for mesh networking may deploy gigabit-level Wi-Fi to the entire home with smaller footprints

Mesh networking is based on a set of repeaters that can be placed strategically around a building (usually a home) to ensure a good Wi-Fi signal in every room. Qualcomm has just announced its latest series of chipsets for this use...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Oct 2020 18:03

OnePlus announces its new sale. (Source: OnePlus)

Deal | OnePlus announces a discount on its first-gen Buds, which are also back in gray

OnePlus' first-ever TWS earbuds were AirPod clones, but did come with a gray variant at least. They have been out of stock in many countries for some time, however. The OEM has now revealed that they are back in its store now, how...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Oct 2020 16:59

The new DOOGEE S96 Pro. (Source: DOOGEE)

DOOGEE launches the S96 Pro as the world’s first rugged Android 10 phone with IR night-vision

DOOGEE's latest in its line of durable smartphones is the S96 Pro. This device counts a 20MP Sony "night vision" sensor among its 4 rear cameras. It also has a colossal battery of over 6000mAh in capacity, an ingress-protection ra...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Oct 2020 16:20

The Galaxy S21 series will sport new-look camera housings. (Image source: MySmartPrice)

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus will share many key design characteristics

More clues about the design of the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus have turned up online, seemingly confirming past leaks for Samsung's next trio of flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S21 Plus will reputedly resemble a slightly larger versi...

Alex Alderson, 27 Oct 2020 14:04

Googlefier can bring GMS to Honor and Huawei smarpthones. (Image source: XDA Developers)

Googlefier: Bring Google apps and services to Huawei and Honor devices with a simple tool

Hacking Google apps and services have returned to Honor and Huawei devices, courtesy of Googlefier. The workaround can bring Google Mobile Services to devices like the Mate 30 Pro and P40 Pro.

Alex Alderson, 27 Oct 2020 13:31

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 gets One UI 3.0 beta update in the US alongside the Note 20 Ultra

One UI 3.0 beta update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra rolling out in the US

In addition to the Sprint and T-Mobile customers that receive the One UI 3.0 beta update on the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra — alongside those who use the unlocked versions of these handsets — in the US. The good news is that ...

Codrut Nistor, 27 Oct 2020 10:19

Xiaomi launches the Redmi K30S in China as a rebranded, cheaper Mi 10T

Xiaomi has now launched its newest device, the Redmi K30S, in its home country of China. The Redmi K30S is, for all intents and purposes, a rebranded Mi 10T for certain markets, and it carries an appropriate price tag, starting at...

Ricci Rox, 27 Oct 2020 09:59

What's the world's fastest mobile network? UAE's Etisalat tops the list at 99 Mbps, followed by South Korea

5G networks are set to transform the mobile data experience. However, very robust 4G infrastructure means that people in some countries already have access to ultra-fast connectivity. Etisalat in the UAE tops the list, offering sp...

Arjun Krishna Lal, 27 Oct 2020 09:43

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will probably be released in January 2021

Galaxy S21 Ultra: Samsung's upcoming flagship will allegedly come with two telephoto lenses, support for S Pen inputs, and more

Although it is not official yet, Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy S21 Ultra sometime in January 2021. The flagship will reportedly come with a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel clocked at 120Hz, a quad-camera array with two telephoto...

Anil Satyanarayana, 27 Oct 2020 06:13

A schematic of the new OLED panel's make-up. (Source: SAIT)

Samsung’s next-gen OLED panels could upgrade to five-figure pixel densities

A new development in OLED technology could result in ultra-high-resolution displays, thanks to the latest developments in increasingly thin, effective solar panels. It involves cutting-edge physics that could be relevant to both f...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 26 Oct 2020 23:44

LG Display reports a return to profitability for the first quarter of the last seven

LG's display division has just released its financial performance figures for the third quarter of 2020 (3Q2020). It has posted a net profit of about US$9.7 million, whereas it reported losses in 2Q2020 and in 3Q2019. There are al...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 26 Oct 2020 18:41

Is this a sign the Vivo X60 may launch soon? (Source: Weibo via MySmartPrice)

Rumor | Vivo will unveil a new Android skin with the launch of the X60 series

Vivo is rumored to launch its camera-centric successors to the X50 line of phones soon, perhaps before 2020 is out. These devices are also now thought to introduce a new Android skin developed by this company. This "Origin OS" is ...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 26 Oct 2020 17:27

The new Redmi K30S may look a lot like this. (Source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi is slated to launch the Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition in China

Redmi is set to add a new member to the K30 series tomorrow, albeit in China only. However, the rest of the world has apparently already seen this phone, as it is a rebranded Mi 10T. Nevertheless, it is projected to sell for price...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 26 Oct 2020 15:56

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Nord N100 and Nord N10 5G in Europe

OnePlus Nord N10 5G and N100 released in Europe; North American launch to follow soon

OnePlus' two new low-cost smartphones are now up for grabs in Europe. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 SoC, a quad-camera array, a 4,300mAh battery, and will cost €329. At €179, the OnePlus Nord N100 ge...

Anil Satyanarayana, 26 Oct 2020 15:26

The Redmi 9 is a cheap and cheerful smartphone that seems to have very limited official OEM support. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

Xiaomi's unofficial update policy gives short shrift to the Redmi, Redmi Note, and POCO C series

A reported update policy operated by Xiaomi in regard to MIUI and Android upgrades has shown the smartphone series favored by the Chinese OEM and which are more likely to be neglected. The unofficial list reveals that owners of Re...

Daniel R Deakin, 26 Oct 2020 12:22

The Redmi Note 9 Pro family is now receiving MIUI 12. (Source: Xiaomi)

MIUI 12 finally lands on the Redmi Note 9S in Europe as Xiaomi also expands rollout for the Redmi Note 9 Pro

Xiaomi is slowly continuing with the MIUI 12 rollout for the Snapdragon 720G-powered arm of the Redmi Note 9 family. The latest devices to receive MIUI 12 are the European variant of the Redmi Note 9S and the Indonesian model of t...

Ricci Rox, 26 Oct 2020 11:22

The Surface Duo can already be had at discounts of US$200 just six weeks after launching. (Image: Microsoft)

Just six weeks after launch, Surface Duo price cuts of US$200 are riling early adopters

Microsoft’s Surface Duo is already starting to see some relatively steep price cuts of up to US$200. Naturally, early adopters aren’t happy and Microsoft isn’t doing a lot to appease customers other than pointing then to the 60-da...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 26 Oct 2020 10:43

The Galaxy Z Fold2 didn't end up supporting the S-Pen despite rumors. (Image: Samsung)

Galaxy Z Fold3 could finally bring S-Pen support to the foldable

Samsung could be finally bringing S-Pen support to its Galaxy Z Fold line with next year’s model. According to a new report, the Galaxy Z Fold3 will add the long awaited feature thanks to the introduction of thicker foldable glass...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 26 Oct 2020 10:08

The new Gigaset GS4 supports wireless charging with up to 15 Watts. (Source: Gigaset)

Gigaset GS4: New smartphone "Made in Germany" comes with wireless charging and removable battery for €229

German smartphone manufacturer Gigaset has announced the Gigaset GS4, a new smartphone that occupies an interesting niche in its price class. For €229, you get an otherwise average device with wireless charging and a removable bat...

Cornelius Wolff, 26 Oct 2020 08:11

The new iPhone 12 series doesn't really stand out in terms of battery life. (Image Source: Apple)

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro's battery runtimes fail to impress when compared to the iPhone 11 Pro

A battery life test by Arun Maini of the YouTube channel Mrwhosetheboss found that the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max had significant leads in battery runtimes compared to the newer iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro hav...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 25 Oct 2020 19:47

iQOO launches its affordable U1x alongside a new 12GB RAM option for the Z1

iQOO has launched the uncharacteristically budget U1x smartphone in China. With its Snapdragon 662 SoC, relatively small HD display and 5000mAh battery, it should get a lot of screen-on time, at least. It has debuted alongside a n...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 25 Oct 2020 18:19

The POCO F1, Redmi Note 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 9 have all had issues with MIUI 12-related battery drain. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

MIUI 12 update battery drain hitch continues to affect phones like the POCO F1, Redmi Note 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 9 with no official fix in sight

More users of Xiaomi smartphones have been reporting issues with battery drain after installing the MIUI 12 update. The problem had already been mentioned on social media in connection to devices like the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Xiao...

Daniel R Deakin, 25 Oct 2020 09:23

Samsung's 2021 budget phones may be out there in leak form. (Source: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy A02s pops up on Geekbench 4

Some evidence of Samsung's next-gen super-budget smartphones has appeared in a new tip. It concerns a phone thought to be called the Galaxy A02s, which appears to be a 3GB RAM version of the also-rumored Galaxy A02. Oddly, however...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 24 Oct 2020 19:31

Is a 120-Hz display worth it? It depends. (Image source: OnePlus)

Do smartphones really need 120-Hz screens?

New smartphones are constantly outbidding each other with ever faster displays. The newest example is the OnePlus 8T. But do 120-Hz panels really make sense in a smartphone?

Column by Florian Schmitt, 24 Oct 2020 17:40

The HiSilicon Kirin 9000 uses ARM's Mali-G78 GPU

Leak suggests that the Kirin 9000's ARM Mali-G78 GPU is a massive power hog

ARM's newest Mali-G78 GPU has been tested alongside the Kirin 9000 on a Huawei Mate 40, and the results look alarming. Although the GPU manages to hit 1 TFLOPS under peak load, the accompanying power consumption can go as high as ...

Anil Satyanarayana, 24 Oct 2020 16:34

The Mi Mix 3 contained the front-facing camera module on a sliding mechanism. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Mi Mix 4 could end up being a foldable slider smartphone as Xiaomi continues to test devices with an external secondary display

A newly unearthed Xiaomi patent depicts an intriguing device with a design that would fit well with a future Mi Mix 4 (or Mi Mix 2021) thanks to a combination of foldable technology and a slider mechanism. It appears Xiaomi is pus...

Daniel R Deakin, 24 Oct 2020 09:13

AirTags may go places you might not expect. (Source: USPTO via PatentlyApple)

A new leak may reveal the full potential of Apple's upcoming AirTags

Apple is now slated to finally unleash its long-awaited AirTags in 2021. These new products are currently widely accepted to be this OEM's answer to products such as Tile anti-loss wireless accessories. However, according to leaks...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 23 Oct 2020 20:09

The Mi A2 has received its October update. (Image source: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi Mi A2 receives a new update bringing the October security patch and bug fixes

The Xiaomi Mi A2 has received its monthly update, this time called V11.0.15.0.QDIMIXM. The new update brings the October 2020 set of security patches to the Android One handset, along with a few bug fixes. V11.0.15.0.QDIMIXM is ro...

Alex Alderson, 23 Oct 2020 17:45

Xiaomi began rolling out V12.0.2.0.QEJMIXM earlier this month. (Image source: Xiaomi)

MIUI 12 may be on a limited release for the Xiaomi Pocophone F1, but there may be a workaround

MIUI 12 may still be on a limited release for the global version of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. If your device is yet to receive the OS upgrade, then flashing the OTA files manually may do the trick.

Alex Alderson, 23 Oct 2020 15:27

The Redmi Note 7 initially featured MIUI 11 based on Android 9. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

Redmi Note 7 gets an Android 10-based MIUI 12 beta stable update

Owners of the Redmi Note 7 that operates with the Europe (EEA) MIUI ROM will be pleased to know that there is an Android 10-based MIUI 12 beta stable update now available for that particular smartphone. MIUI 12 for Redmi Note 7 us...

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Oct 2020 13:47

The Redmi Note 8T is essentially a Redmi Note 8 with NFC support. (Source: Xiaomi)

The Redmi Note 8T finally receives MIUI 12 as a new update also arrives for the Mi A2 Lite

After months of waiting, Xiaomi has now started sending out the MIUI 12 update to the Snapdragon 665-powered branch of the Redmi Note 8 series, starting with the Redmi Note 8T. Yes, MIUI 12 is here for owners of the global Redmi N...

Ricci Rox, 23 Oct 2020 13:18

The Pixel 4a can be had for a steal on a new Google Fi subscription. (Image: Google)

Get a Pixel 4a on Google Fi sub for just US$15 a month with latest offer

If you’re in the US and are keen to pick up a great deal, Google Fi has a new offer on the Pixel 4a. Depending on which plan you sign up to, you can get the Pixel 4a for just US$216.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 23 Oct 2020 11:13

The iPhone 12 has regulatory logos etched into its frame, for some reason. (Image source: Apple)

The Apple iPhone 12 series is not only more expensive in Europe with slower 5G, but it is also uglier

Apple may be expected to sell tens of millions of iPhone 12 units between now and next September or October, but the company has made a rather strange design decision for European models. Sadly, it has made the iPhone 12 a bit ugl...

Alex Alderson, 22 Oct 2020 23:08

OnePlus is expected to unveil two new low-cost smartphones on October 26

Key OnePlus Nord N100 and Nord N10 5G specs leaked days ahead of October 26 launch

Renowned leaker OnLeaks has lifted the veil off OnePlus' upcoming low-cost smartphones- the OnePlus Nord N100 and Nord N10 5G. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690, four rear cameras, and a 4,300mAh battery, whil...

Anil Satyanarayana, 22 Oct 2020 22:51

The Watch GT 2 Porsche Design. (Source: YouTube)

Huawei's latest accessories include a Watch GT 2 Porsche Design

Huawei's freshly-launched Mate 40 series has, as predicted through leaks, an extra-premium Porsche Design variant. It is accompanied by a similarly customized new smartwatch. This titanium-cased version of the Watch GT 2 has a new...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 22 Oct 2020 22:44

Samsung is rolling out a software update to address Galaxy S20 FE touchscreen issues

Fix for Galaxy S20 FE touchscreen issues now rolling out via a software update

Samsung has finally begun issuing fixes for the Galaxy S20 FE's touchscreen problems via a software update. It is roughly 174MB in size and is currently rolling out in Europe. A global release should follow suit in the coming days...

Anil Satyanarayana, 22 Oct 2020 20:47

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G cuts a fine figure and is impressively flexible thanks to its new hinge. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: Too expensive for mass appeal?

The Samsung Galaxy ZFold 2 5G costs an awful lot money, but it is clearly better than its predecessor. Samsung has made a host of changes for this year's model, which our review reveals.

Alex Alderson, 22 Oct 2020 19:51

Huawei's Mate 40 series of smartphones are finally here

Huawei Mate 40 series launched with a new 5nm Kirin 9000 SoC, improved camera setup, and more

Huawei has unveiled its Mate 40 line of smartphones and its latest Kirin 9000 and Kirin 9000E chips. The Huawei Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro come with a triple camera array, while the Mate 40 Pro+ and Mate 40 RS comes with four lenses....

Anil Satyanarayana, 22 Oct 2020 18:23

The Mate 40 Pro continues where the P40 Pro and Mate 30 Pro left off. (Image source: Huawei)

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is the new camera king, for now

Huawei may have just announced the Mate 40 Pro, but it has already stormed to the top of DxOMark's leaderboards. Crowned the new king of main and selfie cameras, it seems that the Mate 40 Pro is new smartphone to purchase if you a...

Alex Alderson, 22 Oct 2020 17:44

An example of the issue affecting some Pixel 5 handsets. (Image source: Dominik Wehner)

Google Pixel 5 screen gap issue is under investigation by company officials

The Pixel 5 screen gap issue, where some displays have separated from the phone body, is being investigated by Google. The investigation may take a few days, according to Forbes.

Alex Alderson, 22 Oct 2020 16:40

Update | TSMC can do business with Huawei again, but with a reportedly epic twist

The current US administration put Huawei on its Entity List, which ultimately led to the OEM being cut off from vital suppliers such as TSMC. However, that company has now obtained a license to once again sell to the Chinese elect...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 22 Oct 2020 15:44