Smartphone

The Redmi Note 8 has a 2 cm macro lens. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Redmi Note 8 Pro and Redmi Note 8 appear on alleged shortlist of Xiaomi smartphones that won't get Android 11

A supposed list of Xiaomi and Redmi devices that will not get an update to Android 11 has been shared online and it makes for disappointing reading for owners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi Note 8T, and Redmi Note 8. Unsurprisingl...

Daniel R Deakin, 04 Aug 2020 04:25

Despite the large screen, it is easy to hold: The ZTE Axon 11

ZTE Axon 11: Big smartphones can be lightweight too

Since a 5-inch display has been considered small for a long time, users looking for a phone must focus on the thickness and weight of devices instead. To that end, the ZTE Axon 11 may be just what you are looking for.

Mike Wobker, 04 Aug 2020 02:59

A possible Motorola Moto E7 Plus appears on Geekbench

A device calling itself the "motorola moto e(7) plus" has appeared on Geekbench 4. Therefore, a direct replacement for the unprepossessing Moto E6 Plus may be on the way. This new putative phone has 4GB of RAM and runs on a possib...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 03 Aug 2020 23:07

The Xiaomi Mi 9 sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi 9 added to the Paranoid Android Quartz 4 custom ROM list with support for the Mi A3 and Mi Mix 3 in the works

The Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphone has joined many other Xiaomi and Redmi devices on the Android 10-based Paranoid Android Quartz 4 custom ROM support list. The devs behind the firmware are also preparing the Xiaomi Mi A3 and Mi Mix 3 for...

Daniel R Deakin, 03 Aug 2020 22:19

The Samsung Galaxy Fit2 name is all but confirmed in a new leak

Samsung is expected to launch a fitness tracker alongside a number of other products at its impending Galaxy Unpacked event. A new leak appears to set its status as a second-gen Galaxy Fit series in stone. It may be the first repo...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 03 Aug 2020 21:52

The Pixel 4a is finally here: US$349 for the Snapdragon 730, 6GB of RAM and 128GB fixed storage

Today (August 3, 2020) Google has ushered the Pixel 4a onto its Store website as its newest phone. This 5.81-inch FHD+ display device has just 1 SKU, although its RAM/storage specs are improved compared to its predecessor's starte...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 03 Aug 2020 17:59

The Snapdragon 865 was one of the fastest 5G platforms in recent tests. (Source: Qualcomm)

A new Ookla study shows Qualcomm has the fastest 5G chipsets in the UK and US for the first half of 2020

Qualcomm has published the results of a study conducted by Ookla on 5G speeds in the US and UK for the first and second quarters of 2020 (1-2Q2020). It apparently concludes that the fastest phones in this regard had chipsets and m...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 03 Aug 2020 17:08

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will be Samsung's first smartphone to ship with an ultra-wideband chip

The Galaxy Note 20 series will reportedly come with an ultra-wideband chip

Samsung will reportedly ship the Galaxy Note 20 series with an ultra-wideband chip. It will facilitate higher peer-to-peer data transfer speeds, and even allow users to track objects in their immediate vicinity. If the Galaxy Note...

Anil Satyanarayana, 03 Aug 2020 14:58

Xiaomi has had considerable success with the Mi 10 series of smartphones. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ and maybe even the Mi Mix 2020 could be launched soon as Xiaomi has a big celebration coming

Xiaomi has announced a special event coming up soon, and a tip from a noted leaker has suggested that the popular Chinese OEM will use the moment as an opportunity to reveal some new smartphones. The Xiaomi Mi Pro+ (Super Cup) is ...

Daniel R Deakin, 03 Aug 2020 13:42

Realme V5 launched: 90 Hz display and a MediaTek Dimensity 720 starting at US$215

Realme has now launched its latest device, the Realme V5. The Realme V5 offers a slew of features including five cameras in total, a MediaTek Dimensity 720, and a 90 Hz display. All of that can be had for just over US$200.

Ricci Rox, 03 Aug 2020 11:05

Here's a list of devices that will get the Android 11-based MIUI 12 update; rollout expected to start in September

The Android 11 update will start making its way to Xiaomi devices in September. It will be based on MIUI 12 and available to a host of Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco smartphones. The company is already testing the software on many smartp...

Anil Satyanarayana, 03 Aug 2020 10:38

The Redmi Note 8 sees yet another price hike in India

A month ago, Xiaomi raised the regular retail price of the Redmi Note 8 by Rs 500 in India—the fifth such time this year alone. Well, that wasn't enough, apparently, and the Redmi Note 8 has now seen yet another price hike in that...

Ricci Rox, 02 Aug 2020 22:24

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ will offer extensive GPU customization. (Image: Mi 10 Pro 5G via GizmoChina)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ touted to offer PC-like fine-grained GPU customization via GPU Turbo, but latest MIUI 12 builds apparently show no such feature

Xiaomi could be offering a new GPU Turbo app in the upcoming Mi 10 Pro Plus that offers more fine-grained control over several aspects of the GPU including adjusting anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering levels among others. The...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 02 Aug 2020 16:03

Netflix gets speed controls on Android. (Source: Google Play Store)

Netflix implements playback speed controls on Android

Netflix is reportedly rolling out a feature by which a user can make content go forward or backward at different rates. This facility has apparently been under consideration at the streaming giant for years, and may benefit those ...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 02 Aug 2020 15:12

The Poco F2 Pro offers a very bright, very well-calibrated OLED panel

Poco F2 Pro proves itself in our review: A 60-Hz panel can still deliver a great visual experience

While Xiaomi keeps the refresh rate of the Poco F2 Pro's AMOLED panel at 60 Hz, the quality of the display is still amazing regardless. The Poco smartphone stands out with a particularly high maximum brightness of above 1000 nits,...

Marcus Herbrich, 02 Aug 2020 14:53

The Redmi Note 9 Pro nets yet another update ahead of MIUI 12 release

After sending out the global stable MIUI 12 update to the Redmi Note 9 last week, Xiaomi is rolling out a new update to the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Sadly, it doesn't bring the much-awaited MIUI 12, and owners of the mid-range phone will...

Ricci Rox, 02 Aug 2020 14:22

Xiaomi: Mi Mix 3 5G finally primed for a new update as MIUI 12 looms

There were reports a while back that the Mi Mix 3 5G wouldn't receive any other update but those may have been a tad misguided, as Xiaomi has now confirmed that the last-gen premium phone is set to get a new update shortly, with M...

Ricci Rox, 02 Aug 2020 13:51

The successor to the Kirin 990 is expected to cost more than Apple’s A14 (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei’s HiSilicon 1020 5nm chipset might be a bigger chip than the Apple A14 Bionic and cost more: but will it be faster?

A Weibo tipster recently claimed that the HiSilicon Kirin 1020 chipset will cost somewhere in between Apple’s A14 Bionic and the upcoming ARM chipset for MacBook. This raises questions about pricing for future Huawei smartphones, ...

Arjun Krishna Lal, 02 Aug 2020 09:43

The Redmi Note 9 Pro was released five months ago in March. (Source: Xiaomi)

Redmi Note 10 Pro? Xiaomi tipped to launch a MediaTek Dimensity-powered phone this month

Going by word on the grapevine, Xiaomi is set to unveil a new phone this month. The device in question will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity chipset, and should be affordable in typical Xiaomi fashion.

Ricci Rox, 02 Aug 2020 09:19

The Pixel 4 series may be replaced soon. (Source: Google)

The Pixel 5a will launch with Android 11, as will the 4a 5G: new leak

Google has released a new little online puzzle that offers what is probably an insight on the Pixel 4a's long-awaited launch date. It is expected to do so with a 5G variant for the first time in this series' history. However, it s...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Aug 2020 21:24

The next ZenFone flagship could be here soon. (Source: Asus)

Asus brings a possible ZenFone 7-series phone closer to launch with a new Bluetooth certification

The Asus ZenFone 7 is slated to launch soon - as is its nouveau Pro variant. A device that could be one of these two has been spotted on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's (SIG) website. This suggests that the new series could...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Aug 2020 20:17

Black Shark 3S launched: 120 Hz OLED, UFS 3.1, and 65W charging starting at US$575

The new Black Shark gaming phone has been released. The Black Shark 3S succeeds the Black Shark 3, and offers improvements in fast-charging and display technologies, while starting under US$600. Sadly, it retains the Snapdragon 86...

Ricci Rox, 01 Aug 2020 17:05

Amazfit's PowerBuds will sell in India soon. (Source: Twitter)

Amazfit announces a launch for its PowerBuds in India

The PowerBuds are sports-themed TWS earbuds from Huami's brand Amazfit. They are unique in that they have a sensor for heart-rate tracking, a feature normally reserved for smartwatches. Their OEM has finally announced that they wi...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Aug 2020 16:43

The "Razr 2020 5G" in hands-on images. (Source: Weibo)

A new leak may confirm the Motorola Razr 2020 5G's design

Motorola's second-generation foldable is thought to migrate to a 5G SoC rather than the Snapdragon 710 found in its predecessor. Now, a new live image posted to Weibo may confirm the differences in looks between the two. It is by ...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Aug 2020 15:59

Paranoid Android Quartz 4 is an Android 10-based custom ROM. (Image source: Paranoid Android)

Xiaomi Mi 9T, Redmi K20, Redmi 5, and Redmi 7 join the long list of Xiaomi devices now supported by Android 10-based Paranoid Android Quartz 4

The Xiaomi Mi 9T, Redmi K20, Redmi 5, and Redmi 7/Y3 have now joined the list of Xiaomi smartphones that are supported by the Android 10-based Paranoid Android Quartz 4 custom ROM. The Mi 8 Pro, Mi A2, and Redmi Note 7 were also r...

Daniel R Deakin, 01 Aug 2020 12:44

It seems that Android 10 has started reaching more Redmi Note 7 handsets. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Global stable Android 10 upgrade extended for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

The Android 10 upgrade for the global version of the Redmi Note 7 is hitting more devices. The update, which is called V11.0.1.0.QFGMIXM, also carries the July 2020 security patch among other changes.

Alex Alderson, 31 Jul 2020 21:35

With the OnePlus Nord, the manufacturer has revisited its old recipe for success: A low price and great features

OnePlus Nord: Is the high-end Smartphone worth its mid-range price?

A cheap smartphone with lots of features that would otherwise cost you a lot more. That is what OnePlus promises the Nord to be. This summary of our test results will show whether this concept has been successfully executed.

Florian Schmitt, 31 Jul 2020 19:46

Offers strong hardware with a weak display: The Huawei P40 Lite 5G

P40 Lite 5G: Huawei follows through

Despite the forced lack of Google Services, not only does Huawei deliver top smartphones but also devices with a very good price-performance ratio. The latter devices include the P40 Lite 5G smartphone that is available for 400 Eu...

Mike Wobker, 31 Jul 2020 19:05

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is the latest device to start receiving MIUI 12. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Stable MIUI 12 update arrives for the Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7S in India as OS upgrade lands on Mi 8 and is extended for the Mi 9T and Redmi K20

The stable MIUI 12 update has arrived for the Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7S in India. Additionally, Xiaomi has upgraded the Mi 8 and has expanded the rollout of its latest OS for the Mi 9T and Redmi K20 in Europe.

Alex Alderson, 31 Jul 2020 18:31

Three new Nokia smartphones are apparently launching in early September. (Image source: HMD Global)

Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 7.3 release date rumoured as Nokia 2.4 specifications leak

Rumour has it that HMD Global is planning to launch three new smartphones in September. Specifically, the company is alleged to be unveiling the Nokia 2.4, Nokia 6.3 and Nokia 7.3 at IFA 2020, which will be hosted in Berlin betwee...

Alex Alderson, 31 Jul 2020 14:24

Apple CFO Luca Maestri. (Image source: Patently Apple)

iPhone to officially ship "a few weeks later" than usual

Apple announced a pandemic busting Q3 2020 result today, but also getting headlines is that its iPhone 12 launch is officially delayed. During the earnings call, Apple CFO Luca Maestri also confirmed rumors that Apple’s new iPhone...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 31 Jul 2020 11:48

The Redmi K30 Ultra 5G could be released on August 14. (Image source: @StationChat/TENAA)

Redmi K30 Ultra images and specs leak and a Redmi smartwatch rumor contribute to an upcoming Red(mi) letter day in August

Images and specs for the Redmi K30 Ultra have been shared online, with the upcoming device featuring a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ chip and up to 12 GB RAM. Apparently, Redmi will also be launching its first smartwatch soon, possibly...

Daniel R Deakin, 31 Jul 2020 11:09

MIUI 12 rollout for the Poco F1 postponed; stable update expected by late August

The Poco F1 was expected to receive its first taste of MIUI 12 in July but that doesn't appear to be feasible anymore with reports claiming the beta update has now been postponed. The new established timeline will see Poco F1 owne...

Ricci Rox, 31 Jul 2020 11:02

The RedMagic 5S is very much identicial to the RedMagic 5G. (Image Source: Nubia)

Nubia launches the RedMagic 5S: Same RedMagic 5G with improved cooling, higher shoulder trigger sampling rate, and an optional Ice Dock cooling accessory

Nubia announced the new RedMagic 5S gaming smartphone at the ChinaJoy event earlier this week. The RedMagic 5S sports identical hardware as the RedMagic 5G but comes with a few enhancements such as a slightly higher sampling rate ...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 31 Jul 2020 08:47

Solve the puzzle, reveal the date. (Source: Google)

Google confirms the Pixel 4a's launch date

Google has posted a new page to its Store site that may appear, at first glance, to be full of stock Latin text. However, it also contains a kind of mini-game that serves to reveal what looks like a tagline for a new phone, as wel...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 31 Jul 2020 00:21

Realme V5 spotted in the wild; quad-camera setup and color variants showcased

Hands-on images on the upcoming Realme V5 have surfaced online. They showcase the phone's quad-camera array and color variants. The phone is expected to run MediaTek's Dimensity 720 CPU, and will likely be unveiled on August 3.

Anil Satyanarayana, 30 Jul 2020 17:36

Some OnePlus Nord handsets are struggling with excessive display tinting issues. (Image source: Mat_Thieu)

OnePlus Nord: OnePlus dismisses reports of green, purple and yellow display tinting issues about its new mid-range smartphone

It has only been a few months since reports emerged of early OnePlus 8 Pro units suffering from green display tinting at low brightness. Now, a similar problem has been described for some OnePlus Nord units. OnePlus states that it...

Alex Alderson, 30 Jul 2020 15:42

Qualcomm releases its latest fiscal stats. (Source: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm posts its third-quarter fiscal performance for 2020

Qualcomm has announced that its third fiscal quarter of 2020 (3FQ2020, which ended on June 28 of this year) ended with a total of US$4.89 billion in revenue. It also reported $848 million in pre-tax profits, and paying $0.74 per s...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 30 Jul 2020 13:07

Customers in China can purchase an elegant grey Xiaomi Mi 10. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi Mi 10 fades to (elegant) grey

Xiaomi is introducing another color for its highly popular Mi 10 smartphone. The new finish can be translated as “elegant grey”, although it could also be classed as titanium. The elegant grey Xiaomi Mi 10 will be made available t...

Daniel R Deakin, 30 Jul 2020 10:07

The Huawei P40 Pro has just had its price slashed. (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei enjoys its moment in the sun as it leapfrogs Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone company by units shipped

Huawei will be celebrating the news that it managed to overtake Samsung in the second quarter of 2020 to become the world’s largest smartphone company in terms of number of units shipped. China’s impressive recovery from the effec...

Daniel R Deakin, 30 Jul 2020 09:25

Stable MIUI 12 update now rolling out to the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India

After sending out MIUI 12 beta updates to the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China, Xiaomi has now set its sights towards India—the only other region where the phone was sold. Yes, the MIUI 12 update is now rolling out to the Redmi Note 7 Pr...

Ricci Rox, 30 Jul 2020 09:00

The Exynos 1000 may be restricted to just the Galaxy S21 Ultra. (Image Source: Samsung)

Samsung Exynos 1000 with AMD Radeon GPU rumored to feature only in the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Exynos brand change being contemplated too

Samsung's 5 nm Exynos 1000 SoC may be limited to just the Galaxy S21 Ultra next year with the base Galaxy S21 set to feature the Exynos 992, according to a new leak. The company may avoid the Snapdragon 875 chips in order to save ...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 30 Jul 2020 08:44

Update | Global stable MIUI 12 update arrives for the Redmi Note 9

After sending out a MIUI 12 update to the Redmi Note 9 in China last week, Xiaomi is finally delivering the update to global users. Hence begins the MIUI 12 global beta stable rollout for the Helio G85-powered Redmi Note 9, and th...

Ricci Rox, 30 Jul 2020 07:50

LG may add a new, Dimensity 800-powered phone to the Velvet series soon: new leak

A new entry to the Google Play Console database reportedly points to a new phone called Velvet. However, this device has a MediaTek Dimensity 800 chipset, whereas the current LG device with the same moniker is powered by the Snapd...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Jul 2020 23:34

Bixby is Samsung's AI assistant. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung is reportedly under renewed pressure to ditch Bixby

Samsung is one of a minority of Android OEMs that bake its own in-house personal assistant into its mobile UI. However, some parties might prefer it did otherwise, not the least of which is Google. That company is reportedly offer...

Deirdre O'Donnell, 29 Jul 2020 22:57