Smartphone

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G offers a 108 MP camera. (Source: Xiaomi)

Redmi Note 9 4G, Redmi Note 9 5G, Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G earn Xiaomi a fortune with sales hitting an estimated US$59 million

Xiaomi launched a new trio of Redmi Note 9 series devices a few days ago. The phones look to have stunned commercially, with company man Lu Weibing announcing that over 300,000 units of the new phones were sold on day one.

Ricci Rox, 02 Dec 2020 19:38

Philips is pursuing legal action in India. (Source: Philips)

Philips takes legal action to prevent the sale of Xiaomi mobile devices in India

The electronics company Philips has petitioned the High Court of Delhi to block the sale, production or import of certain smartphones in India. Their OEM, Xiaomi, has been accused of infringing on Phliips' patents in making the devices in question. This case may result in financial penalties.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 02 Dec 2020 17:59

An affordable flagship from Motorola is coming in 2021

Motorola to release a Snapdragon 888-powered Moto G smartphone in 2021

Motorola is all set to launch a smartphone running Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 888 SoC. Unlike the company's previous high-end offerings, this device will be released as a part of the Moto G series. The affordable flagship smartphone is likely to be unveiled in late 2021.

Anil Satyanarayana, 02 Dec 2020 17:06

The Galaxy Note series is on its way out, according to Reuters. (Image source: Samsung)

Reuters source confirms the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note series with no Galaxy Note 21 planned

A restructure of Samsung's flagship smartphones is afoot. Following multiple rumours concerning the end of the Galaxy Note series and the Galaxy Note21 being the last of its kind, Reuters now claims that Samsung will roll its S-Pen into the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series, mothballing the Galaxy Note series in the process.

Alex Alderson, 02 Dec 2020 16:07

The Realme 'Race' will be released internationally. (Image source: GSMArena)

Realme 'Race' announced with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 888 as design and specifications leak

Realme has announced its next flagship smartphone. Codename 'Race', the device will debut with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 chipset. Realme is quiet on details about the Race, but the design and some specifications have already leaked.

Alex Alderson, 02 Dec 2020 00:47

The Mi 11 will succeed the Mi 10. (Source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi announces the Mi 11 ahead of tipped January launch; to feature the new Snapdragon 888

Xiaomi has now officially announced its next-gen flagship phone, Mi 11. While details of the device remain unknown, the company confirmed that it will be powered by the all-new Snapdragon 888—Qualcomm's most powerful chipset yet. Launch is rumored for January 2021.

Ricci Rox, 01 Dec 2020 21:02

With its midrange P Smart 2021 smartphone, Huawei bets on a processor that was manufactured by a Chinese partner for the first time.

Huawei remains far behind its competitors: Kirin 710A not competitive in the test

With its first Chinese-manufactured SoC, Huawei did not prove to be competitive - at least not in the price range targeted by the Chinese manufacturer. Even the 230 Euros (~$275) recommended retail price for the P Smart 2021 are much too high for what you get. The potential of the chipset corresponds more to the current entry-level smartphones, and this dilemma may not change in the foreseeable future...

Marcus Herbrich, 01 Dec 2020 20:57

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 will power flagship smartphones in 2021

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 launched with integrated X60 5G modem, better NPU, faster ISP, and more

Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC is finally here. It comes with a new integrated 5G modem that supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave networks and an ISP that is up to 35% faster than its predecessor. The chipset is likely to make its debut alongside the Xiaomi Mi 11 series soon.

Anil Satyanarayana, 01 Dec 2020 16:25

The gaming market may stay quite healthy until at least 2025. (Source: Sony)

The gaming market is now estimated to be worth over US$256 billion by 2025

The latest market research reports on gaming worldwide indicate that this space has grown to about US$159 billion in 2020. Furthermore, this value is thought to grow to US$256.97 billion over the next 5 years. This may be influenced by factors that include cloud gaming, the rise of e-sports and the increased importance of in-place entertainments.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Dec 2020 16:13

A render of the Galaxy S21 series, according to Ice Universe. (Image source: Ice Universe)

Samsung tipped to give the Galaxy S series a price cut for next year's S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra

Samsung is planning to drop the price of its Galaxy S series, according to reports from South Korea. The price cut will be effective across the Galaxy S series, with the S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra set to be US$100-US$150 cheaper than their predecessors. The reduction would mean that the Galaxy S21 series would start at US$850-US$899, rather than US$999.

Alex Alderson, 01 Dec 2020 15:34

ZTE launches a Blade 20 Pro 5G with the Snapdragon 765G processor

The Blade 20 Pro 5G is ZTE's latest smartphone. It is this OEM's take on the mid-range Snapdragon 765G-based device, having a waterdrop-notched-display and a 4000mAh battery. It also has a quad rear camera with a 64MP main sensor.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Dec 2020 14:58

Apple's claims about its iPhones may not be entirely water-tight. (Source: Apple)

Apple is slapped with a ~US$12 million fine by Italian authorities

The Italian market-competition watchdog has reportedly fined Apple to the tune of €10 million, or nearly US$12 million. This action has resulted from what the body apparently views as “aggressive and misleading” advertising relating to iPhones and their water-resistant properties. This content may have been insufficient in its clarity in a way that may pose a risk to customer warranties.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Dec 2020 14:31

The Mi A3 will likely be the last of its line. (Source: AndroidPit)

New updates arrive for the Mi A3 and Mi Mix 3 5G

Xiaomi is sending out the November security patch to its lineup and the update has now been received by owners of the Mi Mix 3 5G and Mi A3. For the Mix 3 5G, the update is going out to the European version of the device. For the Mi A3, however, it's been sent out to both the European and Global models.

Ricci Rox, 01 Dec 2020 08:10

The Galaxy Z Fold2 is among the most costly of flagships. (Source: Samsung)

The Galaxy Z Fold3 will cost roughly as much as the Z Fold2: new leak

The Galaxy Z Fold2 is Samsung's second-gen foldable flagship mobile device that launched for close to US$2,000. Now, a well-regarded leaker asserts that this will not change much with its next generation in 2021. This is particularly off-putting as its series is reportedly intended to replace the Galaxy Notes in the fullness of time.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Dec 2020 00:51

V11.0.14.0.QDLMIXM should be reaching handsets over the next few days. (Image source: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite picks up a new update

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite has netted another update, this time one with the November 2020 security patch. V11.0.14.0.QDLMIXM is rolling out as an OTA for the Mi A2 Lite now.

Alex Alderson, 01 Dec 2020 00:29

The Galaxy A32 5G looks more refined than the current model. (Image source: Steve Hemmerstoffer)

Galaxy A32 5G leaked: Samsung gives its midrange smartphone a new design and 5G connectivity

A successor to the Galaxy A31 is already underway, called the Galaxy A32 5G. Samsung has given the entry-level Galaxy A handset a makeover while retaining the good selection of I/O that the Galaxy A31 offers, too.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 23:43

Huawei has dropped support for multiple smartphones as of EMUI 11. (Image source: Huawei)

The EMUI 11 stable update is already arriving on some handsets ahead of schedule

Huawei has started rolling out stable EMUI 11 updates to some handsets, only a week after it announced its global upgrade plans. The stable update has arrived ahead of schedule too, which is always good to see.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 22:53

A render of how the OnePlus 9 Pro could look. (Image source: ConceptCreator & LetsGoDigital)

OnePlus 9E: A new entry into the high-end OnePlus range billed to land alongside the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro next year

OnePlus apparently wants to further expand its flagship smartphone from range with a third model. A new report claims that this device is the OnePlus 9E, and it will arrive simultaneously with the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Apparently, the OnePlus 9E will be more premium than the current OnePlus Nord series.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 20:37

Only five Xperia smartphones will be upgraded to Android 11. (Image source: Sony)

Sony announces Android 11 upgrade plans: Only the Xperia 1 II will receive OS upgrade before 2021

Sony has announced its plans to release Android 11 to its Xperia smartphones. Only five devices appear to be eligible for the OS upgrade, from the Xperia 5 to the Xperia 1 II and the Xperia 10 II thrown in for good measure. The rollout will begin from next month, but only for the Xperia 1 II. All other devices must wait until 2021 for Android 11.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 20:25

Rumor | The OPPO Ace series will get a new generation in 2021, but it will be launched by Realme instead

The Ace2 is a 2020 flagship smartphone with up to 40W wireless charging. It was made by OPPO - but its successor won't be. The eminent leaker Digital Chat Station asserts that the series has been adopted by this OEM's sister company Realme instead, which will continue its tradition of top-end processors combined with interesting features.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 30 Nov 2020 18:55

The Nokia 5.4's price may have been revealed already. (Source: Aus Shop IT)

A new leak spills potential pricing info for the upcoming Nokia 5.4

An earlier leak has hinted that Nokia has a successor to the mid-range 5.3 in the works that might launch before the end of the year. However, it failed to mention how much this putative phone might cost. Now, however, Australian retailers have posted pages for this device with this information in their currency.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 30 Nov 2020 18:16

The Android 11 update for MIUI 12 is now arriving on some global devices. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi details the features that Android 11 brings to MIUI 12 as the Mi 10 Pro and Poco F2 Pro receive OS upgrade globally

The global versions of the Mi 10 Pro and Poco F2 Pro have begun to receive Xiaomi's Android 11 upgrade. The devices are some of the first to taste the OS upgrade outside of China, along with the Mi 10. Xiaomi has detailed some of the features that it has introduced to MIUI 12 as of Android 11, too.

Alex Alderson, 30 Nov 2020 16:40

The Samsung Galaxy Note 21 may still be launched after all

Samsung may launch one Galaxy Note 21 variant before retiring the series in 2022

A company insider has told a South Korean news outlet that Samsung plans on releasing one last Galaxy Note smartphone before retiring the series entirely in 2022. The Galaxy Note 21 will come in only one variant, presumably top-of-the-line hardware like the Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 875, an AMOLED panel that can push 120Hz at 1440p, and more.

Anil Satyanarayana, 30 Nov 2020 16:11

The Baseus GaN charger series. (Source: Baseus)

Baseus introduces a 120W GaN Quick Charger

Baseus has launched a series of new slim, high-tech third-party chargers equipped with gallium nitride (GaN) technology. One of them is rated to charge 2 devices at up to 60 watts (W) at once. This may make it a good companion for laptops such as the MacBook Pro.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 21:50

A new leak asserts an imminent launch for the Nokia 5.4

Nokia launched its mid-range 5.3 in March 2020. However, a new leak alleges that an upgrade for this phone is already prepared for launch, which it may do alongside the 7.3. The phone is thought to have quad rear cameras, although its display and storage options may be a departure from its predecessor.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 16:56

A new Galaxy S21 render. (Source: Twitter)

The Galaxy S21 is leaked again in all its alleged colors

The respected leaker Ice Universe has posted images showing the upcoming Galaxy S21 in all the color options projected for this new phone on its 2021 launch. They also appear to confirm this device's new kind of frame/camera hump, and that it will be copper-colored in 1 of these SKUs.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Nov 2020 16:29

The Poco M3 offers incredible value at just US$149. (Source: Poco)

POCO M3 sales impress by earning POCO over US$9 million in just thirty minutes

The Poco M3 was recently launched and it appears to be doing reasonably well in terms of sales, with Poco confirming that it made over US$9 million dollars in just thirty minutes of early Poco M3 sales. Those are impressive numbers, considering the phone's very low price.

Ricci Rox, 29 Nov 2020 10:20

Some 7 Pro units are seeing these notifications. (Source: Realme)

The Realme 7 Pro starts to get Android 11 in India

Realme has started to push its version of Android 11 to the 7 Pro. However, Indian users in this OS' early access program appear to be the only ones eligible to receive it thus far. The update contains a number of new features, including system optimizations, extra security features and camera options.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 23:43

The Zhiyun Cinepeer C11. (Source: Amazon)

Deal | Get 44% off a Zhiyun gimbal with "professional cinematic features"

Zhiyun's Cinepeer C11 gimbal is an accessory with 3-axis stabilization and features such as object-tracking and motion-lapse features. It is also a 4000mAh power bank, thus allowing the user to keep recording for longer. It is currently 44% off its normal US$89 price for Black Friday.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 22:44

The possible Reno 5 Pro on TENAA. (Source: TENAA)

Update | The OPPO Reno5 Pro pops up on the TENAA and 3C websites

Earlier, the appearance of a new OPPO phone with what seems to be the Dimensity 1000+ processor and 8GB of RAM gave rise to speculation that it is the Reno5 Pro, meaning it and its vanilla sibling will launch soon. Now, a device with the same model number has appeared on TENAA, 3C and the HDR10+ approval websites, more or less confirming that this is in fact the case.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 28 Nov 2020 15:37

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G was soaked by water jets in the tests. (Image source: Redmi)

Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G survives being dropped, bent, cooked, and frozen in fascinating durability test video

Redmi has released an official durability test video featuring its brand-new Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G smartphone. Samples are run through a brutal battery of tests that go beyond simple drop testing, including freezing, heating, and wince-inducing bending. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G appears to handle everything thrown at it though.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2020 09:18

Apple is offering gift cards or discounts with its Black Friday through Cyber Monday event. (Image source: Apple)

Deal | Apple gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday: US$150/£120/€150 with a MacBook Pro 16 purchase or US$50/£40/€50 with an iPhone 11

Apple is running a gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Qualifying purchases will see the buyer rewarded with a card worth from US$25/£20/€25 up to US$150/£120/€150. The deal includes many major Apple products such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE, the iPad Pro, Beats headphones, and even the premium MacBook Pro 16.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Nov 2020 07:44

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a modern smartphone with HMS.

Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A good choice despite the lack of Google services

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro turned out to be a powerful high-end smartphone in the test, shining with many premium features. The biggest shortcoming in Germany is the lack of Google services. But are they really absolutely necessary? And what alternatives are there?

Daniel Schmidt, 28 Nov 2020 01:59

The new "2-in-1" TWS earbuds. (Source: Olive Union)

The Olive Pros are TWS earbuds and hearing aids in one

The start-up Olive Union has put its latest product up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. On first glance, they are a particularly chunky take on the AirPod-clone TWS earbud. This may be because they apparently pack an "FDA-registered" hearing aid in with typical Bluetooth and audio components. They, for example, purport to exclude background noise to isolate human voices.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 23:53

EMUI 11 beta update set to arrive for the Mate 20 Pro, P30, and P30 Pro in Europe next month

Huawei recently revealed its schedule for the EMUI 11 release. Phones like the P30, P30 Pro, Mate 20, and Mate 20 Pro are all geared to get the EMUI 11 update in Q1 2021 but betas for those devices will arrive in Europe a lot sooner. Indeed, as soon as next month.

Ricci Rox, 27 Nov 2020 21:08

The Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G. (Source: Indiegogo)

Blackview attracts over 2500% of its crowdfunding goal for the rugged Dimensity 800-powered BL6000 Pro

The OEM Blackview decided to combine 5G connectivity with its popular line of rugged phones in the BL6000 Pro. And then it chose to launch this IP68/IP69K-rated device via Indiegogo. This strategy appears to have worked out very well, as it has smashed through its original goal to amass well over $300,000 in backing. Its campaign now has 21 days to go, and also has a special holiday perk at present.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 19:08

HTC's "TWS1" on NCC. (Source: NCC via MySmartPrice)

A new leak spoils the launch of HTC's next TWS earbuds

HTC might be planning a return to the smart mobile market with new TWS earbuds. These products have been spotted on the database of the Taiwanese regulator NCC ahead of their launch. This leak indicates that these new accessories have a Sony-clone look and can use Bluetooth 5.0.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 18:29

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G is the first device in the series to use Samsung's 108 MP HM2 camera. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi has reputedly already sold over 100,000 units of the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G

Pre-orders for the new Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G have already begun, with Xiaomi having unveiled the device in China yesterday. Astoundingly, the company claims to have already received over 100,000 pre-orders for its latest mid-range smartphone. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G starts at CNY 1,599 (~US243) and may make its way outside of China as the Redmi Note 9T Pro.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2020 18:08

The Snapdragon 875 and Snapdragon 775G will be found extensively in smartphones released next year. (Image source: Qualcomm)

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 reportedly scores 740,000 points in AnTuTu, with the Snapdragon 775G close to the performance of the Snapdragon 865

A new report from Digital Chat Station has offered a glimpse of the potential performance of two of Qualcomm's next-generation chipsets. Apparently, the Snapdragon 875 amassed a score of 740,000 points in AnTuTu v8, which would blow the current Snapdragon 865 out of the water. The Snapdragon 775G is no slouch either with a score of 530,000 points.

Alex Alderson, 27 Nov 2020 17:57

A probable OPPO Reno 5 pops up on TENAA

Some recent rumors have pointed to the imminent launch of the OPPO Reno 5 and 5 Pro, which are said to run on the Snapdragon 765G and Dimensity 1000+ SoCs respectively. A new leak from the Chinese regulator TENAA may give them more weight. It may show how the 5 looks, while possibly confirming its processor and specs makeup.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Nov 2020 17:29

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G renders (Source: Android Community)

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G renders surface online

While most of the technical specs are still rumor mill material, the renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A52 5G reveal a few key design elements, starting with an Infinity-U display and a side-mounted fingerprint reader, all the way down to the 3.5 mm audio and USB-C ports located at the bottom.

Codrut Nistor, 27 Nov 2020 15:29

Samung has several foldable smartphone designs in mind

Samsung shows off futuristic foldable smartphone designs via a series of illustrations

Samsung Display has given us a glimpse into what it has in mind for future rollable smartphones. One design has a rollable OLED screen that wraps itself around a central cylinder. The other one builds upon the existing Galaxy Fold series' design by adding another hinge.

Anil Satyanarayana, 27 Nov 2020 13:55

The Xiaomi Mi 10T smartphone range will end up running on MIUI 13. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

MIUI 13 release date rumor joins predicted eligibility list of current Xiaomi smartphones that are likely to land an update

A good idea of the MIUI 13 release date has been offered up by a super moderator on the Mi Community forum. Along with that, a refreshed list of Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark devices that are likely to land a MIUI 13 update has now included the POCO C3, Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha, and the new Mi 10T range.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Nov 2020 10:04

The Nokia 9.3 PureView will not be launched in 2020

Nokia 9.3 PureView launch delayed again; HMD Global expected to release the smartphone in H1 2021

The Nokia 9.3 PureView's release date has been pushed back once again. HMD Global is now expected to launch the smartphone sometime in H1 2021. However, the company could still unveil the Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 7.3 5G in Q4 2020.

Anil Satyanarayana, 27 Nov 2020 08:54

Paranoid Android is supporting the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro with the Android 11-based Ruby ROM. (Image source: @paranoidaospa)

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro get Android 11-based Paranoid Android Ruby Alpha 1 custom ROM treatment

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro owners now have a new Android 11-based custom ROM to utilize if they are not fully content with the well-received OxygenOS skin or simply want more freedom to tinker with their phone. While Paranoid Android Ruby Alpha 1 can be utilized on the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, it is not compatible with the OnePlus 8T.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Nov 2020 08:39

Lenovo's new mobile device teasers. (Source: Weibo)

Lenovo releases new design-related teasers for its upcoming Redmi Note 9 5G rivals

Since word of the new Chinese-market Redmi Note 9 series arose, Lenovo has been dropping hints that it will launch phones capable of competing with this potential budget champion. Now, there are official renders that may back this claim up.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 26 Nov 2020 23:59