Smartphone

The Realme Narzo 20 Pro. (Source: Realme)

Realme debuts the Narzo 20A, Narzo 20, and Narzo 20 Pro to rival the Redmi Note 9 lineup

Realme has now debuted its latest set of devices for the Indian smartphone market. The trio of the Realme Narzo 20A, Narzo 20, and Narzo 20 Pro start at Rs 8,499 and go all the way up to Rs 16,999 in an attempt to tackle Xiaomi's lineup starting with the Redmi 9A up to the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.

Ricci Rox, 21 Sep 2020 13:10

The Xiaomi concept looks enticing in tablet mode, but it comes with inherent problems. (Image source: LetsGoDigital)

Latest Xiaomi patent figures two folds are better than one for a potential Xiaomi Mi Z Fold flexible smartphone/tablet hybrid

Another Xiaomi patent has surfaced and this latest one is for a multiple fold flexible smartphone/tablet hybrid. The Chinese OEM has chosen to grace this concept device with two folds, leading it to be dubbed the Xiaomi Mi Z Fold by some sites. The foldable smartphone has some issues though, including its obvious thickness when folded.

Daniel R Deakin, 21 Sep 2020 12:22

The Redmi Note 8, Note 9S, and Note 5 Pro have Android 11-based custom ROMs available for them. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 8T, Redmi Note 9S, and even the Redmi Note 5 Pro get special Android 11-based custom ROM treatment

Various new Android 11-based custom ROMs have been appearing for a number of Redmi devices, with the especially popular Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8T getting the unofficial Android 11 treatment. The custom ROM for the Redmi Note 9S is in an alpha stage so may not appeal to all users and the aging Redmi Note 5 Pro is covered by LineageOS.

Daniel R Deakin, 21 Sep 2020 11:12

Microsoft Surface Duo stylus torn apart (Source: JerryRigEverything on YouTube)

Durability test video: The Microsoft Surface Duo is unexpectedly resilient

Although repairing the dual-display Microsoft Surface Duo can easily turn into a nightmare and it is not an easy task even for experienced people, the good news is that this piece of hardware is quite unlikely to break. According to the JerryRigEverything's torture test, the Surface Duo is surprisingly rugged.

Codrut Nistor, 21 Sep 2020 10:06

MIUI is now in its 10th year as a ROM. (Source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi's international business may account for over half of its revenue, and it's all thanks to MIUI

Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun, reportedly estimated that his OEM's global operations represented 50% or more of its total revenue at this stage. Speaking at an innovation conference in China, the executive attributed this international success to MIUI. This Android skin started out as a custom ROM, but now exists as multilingual official software found on millions of devices worldwide.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 21 Sep 2020 00:36

The possible Vivo V20 Pro. (Source: Twitter via MySmartPrice)

The Vivo V20 Pro 5G is a new Snapdragon 765G phone due to launch soon

Vivo has announced that it will launch the V20 series of smartphones in Southeast Asia later in September 2020. Some leaks indicate that it will have a Pro variant with the Snapdragon 765G processor. This phone may also have a triple camera with a 64MP main sensor

Deirdre O'Donnell, 20 Sep 2020 23:56

This is what the Nokia 9.3 may look like. (Source: Abraham Pratomo)

Nokia 9.3 tipped to be a fairly compact smartphone as launch draws closer

The Nokia 9.3 has been in the works for well over a year now but a concrete launch date remains unknown. The phone is expected to be unveiled in the fourth quarter of the year, however, and new information indicates that the Nokia flagship may offer a reasonably compact form factor.

Ricci Rox, 20 Sep 2020 11:43

The Poco F1 and the Mi A2 were both released in 2018. (Image source: Xiaomi - edited)

Poco F1 and Xiaomi Mi A2 owners can get a taste of Android 11 thanks to updated custom ROMs

Updated custom ROMs based on Android 11 have become available for both the Poco F1 and Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphones. It has already been revealed that neither of these devices was on the list for official OEM support to Android 11, but custom ROM devs have not forgotten Poco F1 and Mi A2 owners.

Daniel R Deakin, 20 Sep 2020 09:23

The Redmi 9i is now live. (Source: Redmi)

The Redmi 9i launches in India as an improved version of the 9a

The Redmi 9i offers a 6.53-inch screen, a 3.5mm jack and a 5000mAh battery for about US$100 in various markets. Now, the OEM has launched another variant of this same phone with more RAM and storage in India. This 9a will go on sale for INR 8299 (~$113) on platforms such as Flipkart soon.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 20 Sep 2020 00:47

A new render with a role for ISOCELL Vizion. (Source: LetsGoDigital)

Samsung trademarks what may be a new in-house ToF sensor

Time-of-flight (or ToF) sensors have become commonplace in higher-end smartphones, fulfilling roles such as depth-perception in photography or advanced face detection for biometrics. Samsung has used them in the past, but has not made its own. Now, however, it seems a new member of the ISOCELL image-sensor family will be dedicated to this task.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 20 Sep 2020 00:13

ColorOS 11 is coming to the low-priced Oppo A52 in the fourth quarter

Oppo A52: ColorOS 11 is coming to the low-priced A series smartphone in the fourth quarter

Just as we completed our review of the A52, Oppo announced ColorOS 11. What is more is that it is coming to the A52 in the fourth quarter. The low-priced smartphone is very similar to the A72. This means that the A52 shares not only the strengths of the A72 but also its weaknesses.

Inge Schwabe, 19 Sep 2020 22:40

Xiaomi may already be testing Android 11 builds of MIUI 12 for multiple devices internally. (Image source: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi Redmi K20, Mi CC9 Pro and Redmi K30 may be next in line for Android 11-based MIUI 12 upgrades

Xiaomi may already be testing Android 11 builds of MIUI 12 for multiple devices internally, according to a new report. It seems that the Redmi K20, Redmi K30 and Mi CC9 Pro are next up for Android 11, as should the Mi Note 10, Mi Note 10 Pro, Mi 9T and Poco X2 by extension.

Alex Alderson, 19 Sep 2020 21:53

The Huawei Mate 40, according to some recent leaks. (Source: OnLeaks/PriceBaba)

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro collects certifications on its way to launch

The Thai regulator NBTC has approved an upcoming Huawei device called the NOH-NX9, revealing that it is in fact the Mate 40 Pro in the process. This model number has also popped up on the EEC and Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) databases, suggesting that the premium phablet will indeed make its debut soon.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 19 Sep 2020 20:24

As the first manufacturer, Xiaomi uses the new MediaTek Helio G85 in its Redmi Note 9.

Is the Redmi Note 9 the perfect entry-level smartphone?

In our test, the affordable 150-Euro (~$178) Redmi Note 9 hardly gives any reason for complaint worth mention, considering the price of the affordable mid-range smartphone. However, there is one issue you should consider before buying...

Marcus Herbrich, 19 Sep 2020 20:20

The Infinix Note 8 in schematic form. (Source: FCC)

The Infinix Note 8 has quad cameras and a 5100mAh battery, according to the FCC

Infinix' Note 8 has emerged in recent leaks as a potential Redmi 9 (or Poco M2) challenger. Both phones have the same Helio G80 processor, although the latter's brand is better established. However, the newer prospect has just been approved by the FCC, revealing that it has quad rear cameras and a sizeable battery.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 19 Sep 2020 19:35

The OnePlus 8T finally has a tentative release date

The OnePlus 8T will allegedly be unveiled on October 14

Insider reports suggest that the OnePlus 8T will be released on October 14. It is likely to be accompanied by the sub-US$200 OnePlus Clover and the OnePlus Watch. OnePlus is yet to officially confirm the date, but we should know for sure in the coming days.

Anil Satyanarayana, 19 Sep 2020 11:14

The Xiaomi Mi 9T is known as the Redmi K20 in some markets. (Image source: Xiaomi)

Updated | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite possible candidate for upcoming sub-€300 (US$355) smartphone with 5G and a 108 MP main camera sensor

More details of Xiaomi’s Gauguin and Gauguin Pro smartphones have appeared online, leading to speculation that one of them could be launched as a Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite device on the European market and possibly further abroad. This potential Mi 10T Lite would be a sub-€300 (US$355) 5G smartphone with either a 64 MP or 108 MP main camera.
The name "Mi 10T Lite" has been confirmed via the FCC.

Daniel R Deakin, 19 Sep 2020 08:59

AirConsole claims to have attracted 7 million players since its inception. (Source: AirConsole)

AirConsole claims to be cloud-gaming but for Xbox, PS4 or Switch titles

Cloud gaming allows PC gamers to stream their titles via any device rather than load them on a high-powered rig. AirConsole is a company that claims to do much the same for console games. However, in its case, the user's smartphone is used as the controller and a big screen is required. This service is now expanding to Android TVs for this purpose.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 19 Sep 2020 01:33

The Pocophone F1 has finally received its MIUI 12 update. (Image source: Xiaomi)

MIUI 12 update arrives for the Pocophone F1

The Pocophone F1 has started receiving MIUI 12, Xiaomi's latest OS. Based on Android 10, MIUI 12 for the Pocophone F1 is only being rolled out to Russian handsets for the time being, but it can be downloaded manually.

Alex Alderson, 19 Sep 2020 00:47

No MIUI 12 yet for the Redmi Note 8. (Source: Xiaomi)

New updates land on the Redmi Note 8 and Mi A2 Lite

Xiaomi is now sending out new updates to some of its phones, with the Redmi Note 8 and Mi A2 Lite getting OTAs. For the Redmi Note 8, two updates have been sent, to the global and Indian models of the devices. Owners of the global model of the Mi A2 Lite should now also be getting the September patch.

Ricci Rox, 18 Sep 2020 19:22

Royole will launch the FlexPai 2 on September 21. (Image source: TENAA)

Royole FlexPai 2 hits AnTuTu and the TENAA with a Snapdragon 865, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage ahead of September 21 announcement

The Royole FlexPai 2 has reached the TENAA and AnTuTu, shortly before its release on September 21. The foldable smartphone will have a 7.8-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 865 chipset and up to 12 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage.

Alex Alderson, 18 Sep 2020 19:18

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a plastic black. (Image source: @jimmyispromo)

New leaked Samsung Galaxy S20 FE images confirm flat screen and plastic back as unusually high prices appear for 5G model

Leaked Galaxy S20 FE hands-on images have confirmed that Samsung has equipped its next smartphone with a flat-screen, and a plastic back. It looks like the 5G model will be roughly 10% more expensive than the 4G model, effectively making Samsung fans pay a premium for having a Snapdragon 865 instead of the lesser Exynos 990.

Alex Alderson, 18 Sep 2020 19:01

The Exynos 1000 performs on par with the A13 Bionic

Alleged Exynos 1000 Geekbench score surfaces online; Samsung's upcoming SoC trades blows with Apple's A13 Bionic

We now have our first look at the Snapdragon 875 and Exynos 1000's Geekbench scores. The latter convincingly outperforms the former, with a single-core score of 1327 and a multi-core score of 4250. It is also worth noting that those numbers are within spitting distance of the Apple A13 Bionic.

Anil Satyanarayana, 18 Sep 2020 15:08

The Exynos 1000 and Snapdragon 875 will have an identical core configuration

Samsung's upcoming Exynos 1000 SoC will use the same core configuration as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875

A leak suggests that the Exynos 1000 will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 875's 1+3+4 core configuration. Both chips will likely use modified versions of ARM's Cortex-X1 super core and Cortex-A78 cores. The move could help Samsung bridge the ever-widening gap between its in-house silicon and Qualcomm's offerings.

Anil Satyanarayana, 18 Sep 2020 12:22

The Redmi K40 Pro will be an upgrade on the Redmi K30 Pro. (Source: Xiaomi)

New Redmi K40 Pro leak reveals major performance and camera improvements over the Redmi K30 Pro

The Redmi K40 Pro will be Redmi's next-gen premium device, and initial details of the phone have now surfaced. Notable takeaways include a more powerful chipset than the Snapdragon 865 on the Redmi K30 Pro, more impressive camera hardware, bigger battery, and faster charging.

Ricci Rox, 18 Sep 2020 07:32

Portable Eggtronic battery bank holds a larger charge than most laptops

This compact $89 USD power bank can hold a respectable 63 Wh charge to be perfect for hikes or camping trips with multiple people. Recharging the bank itself, however, is almost three times slower than on most laptops.

Allen Ngo, 18 Sep 2020 07:01

Qualcomm and its partners have improved the reach of mmWave 5G again. (Source: Pixabay)

Qualcomm, Ericsson and US Cellular break the mmWave 5G data-call range record

Earlier, Qualcomm and its 5G research partners reported that it had conducted a data call over mmWave bands over the longest distance yet. Now, this record has been broken again in a new experiment, which took place in Wisconsin.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 17 Sep 2020 23:22

The package, which Xiaomi brings to the table with its low-priced Redmi smartphone, is very considerable.

The Redmi 9 is the price-to-performance champion among the budget smartphone

The most noteworthy thing in our review of the Redmi 9 was the hardware package. Despite a low price of 130 Euros (MSRP: 150 Euros), the Xiaomi smartphone comes with a very reasonable specifications sheet. It even features an NFC chip.

Marcus Herbrich, 17 Sep 2020 20:01

The Xperia 5 II and Xperia 1 II. (Image source: Sony)

Xperia 1 II to receive Android 11 when the Xperia 5 II launches in Q4 2020

The Xperia 1 II will not receive Android 11 until the Xperia 5 II launches, according to a new report. The Xperia 5 II has multiple launch dates, so it may not be until December before the Xperia 1 II sees Android 11.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 19:54

It is unclear why Google cancelled this 'Blue' Pixel 4a. (Image source: 9to5Google)

Kinda Blue: The Google Pixel 4a has never been seen like this

A second colour of the Google Pixel 4a has been uncovered. The location of the finding confirms that Google was close to releasing the Pixel 4a in two colours rather than Just Black, as is currently the case.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 19:51

The Xperia 1 II may support a 120 Hz refresh rate after all. (Image source: Sony)

A 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling may be headed to the Sony Xperia 1 II

Sony may enable two of the display features of the Xperia 5 II on the Xperia 1 II, according to a new report. Apparently, the Xperia 1 II has had a 120 Hz display from the beginning, despite being limited to 60 Hz.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 19:47

Huawei has now completed its EMUI 10.1 upgrade plan in Africa and the Middle East. (Image source: Huawei)

Huawei completes EMUI 10.1 upgrade plan in two more regions

Huawei has completed its EMUI 10.1 upgrade plan in two more regions. All Huawei devices in Africa and the Middle East should have now received EMUI 10.1, shortly before the company starts rolling out EMUI 11, its new in-house version of Android.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 18:34

The Xperia 5 II is considerably more expensive than its predecessor. (Image source: Sony)

Xperia 5 II: Sony's new flagship is over 18% more expensive than its predecessor

The Xperia 5 II will be available to pre-order in some countries from September 29, Sony has confirmed. The Xperia 5 II is significantly cheaper than the Xperia 1 II, but it is several hundred dollars more expensive than the Xperia 5.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 18:30

An alleged A14 Bionic benchmark score has showed up online

Leaked A14 Bionic AnTuTu score surfaces online; Apple's newest silicon fails to surpass the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Apple's latest A14 Bionic chip has just made an appearance on AnTuTu. It nets a total score of 572,333, which is significantly lesser than that of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865+. The low number could likely be due to unstable software, so we should take the results with a grain of salt.

Anil Satyanarayana, 17 Sep 2020 15:23

Renders of what the Mate 40 design is anticipated to look like. (Image: @OnLeaks/@PriceBaba)

Huawei may have only 8.8 million Kirin 9000 SoCs for inbound Mate 40 flagship

Huawei is said to have only 8.8 million Kirin 9000 SoCs for its next, and possibly last, flagship smartphone -- at least in the short term. Thanks to Trump Administration sanctions, the company has been left high and dry as far as components made using US technologies go.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 17 Sep 2020 14:55

The S21 Ultra will not have a larger battery than the S20 Ultra. (Image source: SamMobile & @CConceptCreator)

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will have the same battery as the S20 Ultra; only the Plus model is in line for a larger battery

The battery capacity of the Galaxy S21 Ultra has been revealed, and it seems that Samsung is happy with the 5,000 mAh battery from the S20 Ultra. In fact, only the Plus model is in the frame to receive a larger battery of the S21 series.

Alex Alderson, 17 Sep 2020 14:08

The Mi 10T Pro will cost €699. (Source: Muycomputer)

Leak indicates that the Mi 10T Pro will not be the successor to the Mi 9T Pro fans hoped for

Fans of the Mi 9T Pro may have been expecting the upcoming Mi 10T Pro to offer a similar performance-to-price proposition. Those hopes have now been crushed brutally, with a new leak confirming that the Mi 10T Pro will carry an MSRP up to €300 higher than that of last year's Mi 9T Pro.

Ricci Rox, 17 Sep 2020 13:35

Samsung will release the Galaxy S20 FE on September 23

Galaxy S20 Fan Edition leaks in its entirety a week before launch

Thanks to a new leak, we now know pretty much everything about the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. The affordable flagship is billed to come with a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel clocked at 120Hz, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 8/128GB of RAM/storage, a triple-camera array, and a 4,500mAh battery. It will be unveiled officially on September 23 and is expected to cost about US$700.

Anil Satyanarayana, 17 Sep 2020 10:29

The Xperia 5 II brings plenty of appeal for compact flagship hunters. (Image: Sony)

Sony Xperia 5 II goes official with 120 Hz OLED display and other tweaks that will appeal compact flagship fans

Sony has officially launched the Xperia 5 II. The new device incorporates most of the key features of the flagship Xperia 1 II and includes a few key upgrades including an OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 17 Sep 2020 09:59

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G will replace the OnePlus Nord in the US market.

Snapdragon 690-powered OnePlus Nord N10 5G set to launch in the US for under US$400

The OnePlus Nord may not have found its way to the US but OnePlus is apparently set to bring a great alternative after all. New information has now confirmed OnePlus's plans to launch a phone, branded as the "OnePlus Nord N10 5G", in the US, with notable takeaways including a Snapdragon 690, 64 MP camera, and sub-US$400 pricing.

Ricci Rox, 17 Sep 2020 08:37

The Galaxy F41 could end up being quite similar to the Galaxy M31. (Source: Samsung)

Galaxy F41: Details of Samsung's alleged camera-centric budget phone surface ahead of launch

According to recent reports, Samsung is set to introduce a brand new smartphone lineup. The Galaxy F series is said to offer camera-centric devices at an affordable price point, and will debut with the Galaxy F41. Details of that phone have now also been revealed.

Ricci Rox, 16 Sep 2020 20:54

The OnePlus 8 is now available through the carrier Visible

OnePlus scored places for its flagship 8 series of smartphones with the US carriers T-Mobile and Verizon on its launch. Now, it has (technically) added a third: Visible, a pre-pay network. It now stocks the vanilla 8 in its Onyx Black shade with plans that start at US$28 per month.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 16 Sep 2020 20:05

This may be the Mate 40's first teaser. (Source: WinFuture)

The Huawei Mate 40 series, complete with 5nm 5G-capable processor, is apparently on the way

Huawei is currently thought to have a new flagship phablet series that may comprise the Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro (at least) in the works. Now, one of the OEM's official Twitter channels has released a video indicating that they will definitely be released in the near future. A leaker postulates that this will take place in October 2020.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 16 Sep 2020 19:05

The Mi Mix 3 5G started receiving MIUI 12 earlier this month. (Image source: Xiaomi)

5G connectivity woes plague the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G on MIUI 12

There are reports that the first MIUI 12 build for the Mi Mix 3 5G has removed 5G connectivity for the device. The EU variant is the only one to have received Xiaomi's latest too, albeit one still based on Android 9.0 Pie. All others remain on MIUI 10, over 18 months after being released.

Alex Alderson, 16 Sep 2020 14:30

The Moto E9 Plus and Moto G9 Plus have launched in the UK and Europe. (Image source: Motorola)

Motorola Moto G9 Plus and Moto E7 Plus launched in the UK and Europe with 5,000 mAh batteries, large displays and expandable storage

Motorola has brought the Moto E7 Plus and Moto G9 Plus to more regions. The two devices will be available in the UK and the rest of Europe in the coming weeks. Both feature 5,000 mAh batteries, 4 GB of RAM and expandable storage, but the Moto G9 Plus is the more premium of the two handsets.

Alex Alderson, 16 Sep 2020 14:25

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 display has several new features including a 1.4R curvature. (Image: Samsung)

Galaxy Z Fold 2 display detailed by Samsung ahead of release, features world first 1.4R curvature

Samsung Display has detailed several of the foldable display advances in the new panel found in the Galaxy Z Fold 2. No doubt, the move is aimed at assuring would-be customers that the panel is robust and can withstand everyday rigours in a way that wasn’t guaranteed with the original Fold launched last year.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 16 Sep 2020 13:54