Smartphone

Exclusive | Wánxiào invents FOS Rapid Alloy that will revolutionize the global smartphone market by providing instant physical handset upgrades

Please note this was a joke article posted on April Fools' Day in 2019.
In an incredible leak, it has been discovered that a secretive Chinese technology startup called Wánxiào has invented a product called FOS Rapid Alloy that according to some industry insiders will turn the worldwide smartphone market upside down. Full-Organic-Surface (FOS) technology could make its way into the construction of the upcoming Samsung Neat 10, Huawei Mute 30, or even the rumored Apple fitness band iPhat.

Daniel R Deakin, 01 Apr 2019 00:01

OnePlus WarpTen: seasonal joke or actual thing? (Source: OnePlus)

Update | OnePlus teases #WarpTen, which will accompany an April 1, 2019 announcement

OnePlus has hinted at something called WarpTen on its Weibo page. Given the term's similarity to the OEM's latest charging standard, it may have something to do with improved charging for the upcoming 7 flagship. However, the post's proximity to April 1, 2019 may cast doubt on this prospect.

Deirdre O Donnell, 31 Mar 2019 18:14

The UMIDIGI F1 Play is now available for sale. (Source: AliExpress)

UMIDIGI F1 sees refresh with a new, even cheaper variant

UMIDIGI unveiled the F1 in December 2018. This phone shook up the US$200-300 bracket with a 5000mAh battery and other decent specs such as an FHD display and 4GB RAM. Now, a new version of the same adds a 48MP camera sensor, even more battery and a new, even lower price.

Deirdre O Donnell, 31 Mar 2019 17:13

Is the P30 Pro's camera really better than that of the S10+? (Source: Android Authority)

Huawei does not rule DxOMark rankings outright: Samsung

Huawei broke records in terms of DxOMark camera ratings when it released the P30 Pro. The OEM has been touting it as a major point of the phone's appeal ever since. Its rival Samsung has pointed out that this situation is not the whole picture.

Deirdre O Donnell, 31 Mar 2019 16:36

The Meizu 16s is expected to offer flagship components at an upper midrange price. (Source: GSMArena)

Meizu 16s will come with a Snapdragon 855 according to alleged Geekbench listing

A device under the name “alps m1971” has turned up in a Geekbench test, and this could be the upcoming Meizu 16s. The smartphone was already rumored to be loaded with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, and if the Geekbench listing is genuine, then this rumor seems to be confirmed.

Daniel R Deakin, 31 Mar 2019 08:35

The Mi 9X will likely share some design features with the Mi 9 flagship. (Source: Xiaomi)

Details of the purported Xiaomi Mi A3 surface - 32 MP selfie camera, Snapdragon 675, triple rear cameras

Xiaomi launched the Mi A2 last year and could be set to follow it with this year's iteration, the Mi A3. The Mi A3, an Android One device, is expected to be based on a regular MIUI phone, and details of that device have now surfaced.

Ricci Rox, 31 Mar 2019 08:08

The Apple A12 Bionic smokes its main competition including the Snapdragon 855, Exynos 9820 and Kirin 980. (Source: Apple)

In yet another blow, Apple loses its lead A-series chip engineer

Gerard Williams III, the lead designer of Apple’s industry-leading custom A-series ARM-based chips has left the company according to a CNET report. The departure couldn’t have come at a worse time for Apple which has been reeling from negative publicity surrounding the termination of the high-profile AirPower charging mat device and an admission that its third-generation butterfly-mechanism based keyboards are also susceptible to failing.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 31 Mar 2019 04:12

Royole has won 2 Red Dot Design Awards for 2019. (Source: Royole)

The Royole FlexPai wins a 2019 Red Dot Design Award

The FlexPai by the start-up Royole can be thought of as the first flexible phone. This achievement has been rewarded by a Design Award from Red Dot. The company has also won a second such prize for another of its products: a flexible, portable keyboard.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Mar 2019 19:44

A stat from the 2018 Android Security Report. (Source: Google)

Google releases its 2018 Android Security Report

Android is now coming up on 10 years of use as a mobile device OS. Google claims that 2018 was one of its most secure yet. Its report on this subject attributes decreasing rates of potentially harmful apps to the implementation of Play Protect.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Mar 2019 19:10

The OPPO Reno and its rumored selfie-camera adaptation. (Source: The Verge)

OPPO Reno Lite also allegedly leaks via TENAA

Reno is a new line of OPPO smartphones set to launch later this year. At least one of its devices has reportedly leaked due to its submission to international certifiers such as TENAA recently. Now, a SlashLeaks contributor claims that a possible Lite variant of the same has also passed through this body's doors.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Mar 2019 18:04

The Black Shark 2 is now available in the EU. (Source: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi now sells the Black Shark 2 in Europe

Xiaomi's Black Shark 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 855 SoC and comes with up to 12GB of RAM. It was released earlier this month, albeit to the Chinese market only. Now, however, the OEM has released it for sale on its EU sales site.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Mar 2019 17:14

The Nokia X71 could end up being called the Nokia 8.1 Plus in some markets. (Source: OnLeaks)

More details of the Nokia X71 surface thanks to alleged Geekbench appearance

It seems the upcoming Nokia X71 smartphone has allegedly paid a visit to Geekbench and in doing so has revealed a few more details about the hardware it sports. The midranger from the Finnish company HMD Global should be launched in Taiwan on April 2; the device spotted on Geekbench might be just for that particular market.

Daniel R Deakin, 30 Mar 2019 03:44

Apple's most public piece of vapourware, the doomed AirPower wireless charging mat. (Source: Apple)

Apple cancels AirPower (yes, you read that correctly)

In what will surely go down as one of the biggest fails in tech history, Apple has quietly announced that it has cancelled its Qi-enabled, long overdue, AirPower charging mat. Apple quietly made the dumbfounding announcement in a written statement to TechCrunch.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 29 Mar 2019 21:12

The 5G Samsung Galaxy S10. (Source: Samsung)

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's price has been set in Korea

The 5G variant of the Samsung Galaxy S10 will be released in South Korea on April 5, 2019. A news outlet in that country has claimed to have uncovered pricing details on this flagship option. It will start at the equivalent of about US$1285.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 20:13

AirPods were the most popular true-wireless earbuds for the last quarter of 2018. (Source: Apple)

Apple got at least one thing right: AirPods were the most popular true-wireless earbuds in 2018

Apple's original AirPods snatched the majority of the true wireless earphone market at the end of 2018, according to Counterpoint Research. Its latest report on the subject put the earbuds' share at 60%. Jabra, Samsung, JLabs and Bose provided the remainder of the top 5 during the time studied.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 18:32

Lyft is now trading on the Nasdaq. (Source: Investor's Business Daily)

Lyft has started trading on the Nasdaq

Lyft has successfully completed its IPO in the US, and is trading on the Nasdaq platform as of today (March 29, 2019). It had been estimated to start at US$72 per share; however, this value is now closer to $88. This, then, is the most successful tech offering since Snap - but Uber is hot on its heels.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Mar 2019 18:05

OPPO's Reno is getting a unique pop-up selfie cam design. (Source: SlashLeaks)

OPPO Reno specs leaked on TENAA

OPPO's Reno sub-brand smartphones are expected to launch in a few weeks, and the models recently received the mandatory TENAA certification that also leaked most of the specs. Reno is set to feature high-end Snapdragon 855 SoC models, but TENAA reveals that there will be mid-range variants powered by the Snapdragon 710 SoC, as well. These will get only a dual-camera setup on the back, plus the 16 MP pop-up selfie cam, and a smaller 3,680 mAh battery.

Bogdan Solca, 29 Mar 2019 13:28

All leaks and rumours point to the iPhone XI as having triple rear-facing cameras (Image source: OnLeaks)

Leaked schematics confirm that 2019 iPhones will have a square camera hump

Squares Ahoy! A set of schematics have leaked online, which reinforce that the next iPhones will have a huge square rear-facing camera housing akin to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

Alex Alderson, 29 Mar 2019 11:54

The ZTE Nubia Red Magic Mars operates on Android 9.0 Pie. (Source: PhoneRadar)

5000 mAh battery and other powerful hardware should help the Nubia Red Magic 3 wipe the floor with the Red Magic Mars

New information about a Nubia gaming smartphone that is currently known by the model number NX629J has surfaced online. This smartphone is expected to be the upcoming Nubia Red Magic 3 that has been recently teased on Weibo by the company’s co-founder. If the specifications are accurate, it should completely eclipse the performance of the Red Magic Mars.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Mar 2019 08:15

Sony Mobile was founded as Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications in 2001. (Source: India Today)

2018 sales projection of just 6.5 million smartphones possible catalyst for Sony Mobile restructuring that could cost 2,000 jobs

Sony has announced a “realignment” that involves Sony Mobile, the Imaging Products & Solutions Business, and the Home Entertainment & Sound Business. The merger will create Sony’s Electronics Products & Solutions Business. Some see it as Sony’s attempt to hide the massive failure of Sony Mobile to compete with rivals such as Samsung, Huawei, and Apple.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Mar 2019 07:11

Oppo's unique take on the all-screen smartphone with pop-up selfie-camera. (Source: Slashleaks)

Oppo Reno leaks out with unique pop-up camera design

Oppo’s forthcoming Reno flagship smartphone has been leaked in full by via a case maker through Slashleaks. The device shows a premium truly all-screen smartphone that takes a unique approach to incorporating a pop-up selfie camera.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 29 Mar 2019 02:22

Apple currently has eight active major Exchange and Repair Extension Programs for faulty products. (Screenshot: Notebookcheck)

Faulty Apple product? Check this list of active device repair programs

Despite Apple’s reputation for build quality and design it has been having a few quality issues of late, particularly with regard to its MacBook line. A search on Apple’s website has revealed all of the products in its lineup that are currently eligible for its “Exchange and Repair Extension” programs.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 29 Mar 2019 01:13

The Galaxy S10 currently comes with a 15 W charger

Samsung is reportedly already planning to tweak the Galaxy S10

According to prominent leaker Ice universe, the President of Samsung Greater China announced at an event that the company is planning to bring 25 W charging and a new low-light camera mode to the Galaxy S10. The device is supposedly already capable of charging at 25 W, but Samsung has limited it to 15 W in its firmware.

Alex Alderson, 28 Mar 2019 23:58

The Samsung Galaxy S10+. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy S10+ is now Consumer Report's best-rated smartphone

The Galaxy S10+ is at the top end of Samsung's latest flagship smartphone line. Despite the early point in the year, Consumer Reports has named it the best device in its category. This assessment was made based on the S10+'s cameras, battery life and durability.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 23:38

LG G8 ThinQ US launch set for April; preorders on Sprint start sooner

The G8 ThinQ is LG's latest flagship, and introduces its Crystal Sound technology among other features. This smartphone will become available in the United States from April 11, 2019. However, those who want it on Sprint can pre-order it from tomorrow (March 29).

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 19:13

The new Targus Mobile ViP+ Backpack. (Source: Targus)

Targus has made a backpack with Qi wireless charging

Targus, a name in the travel and laptop-carrying accessory space, has developed the Mobile ViP+ Backpack. It integrates Qi wireless charging, so that a phone such as the Samsung Galaxy S10+ can have a dedicated pocket within the new bag that secures and charges it at the same time. This new backpack also has RFID shielding and airport-cart compatibility.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 18:47

The Jabra Evolve 65e neckbuds. (Source: Jabra)

The new Jabra Evolve 65e is a pair of neckbuds with "professional-grade sound quality"

Jabra has released its latest generation of neckbuds, the Evolve 65e. The audio company claims that this wireless set of earphones has consumer-grade comfort with professional levels of audio. This product has attained Skype for Business and UC certification, which may appeal to the business customer in need of mobile connectivity.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Mar 2019 18:24

Purported renders of the Nokia X71. (Source: OnLeaks)

The Nokia X71 is scheduled for an April 2 launch - Triple rear cameras, 48 MP, punch-hole

HMD Global has confirmed that it will launch its next device, the egregiously-named Nokia X71, on April 2, at an event in Taiwan. The X71 will be positioned directly below the Nokia 9 Pureview and will feature a punch-hole display and, perhaps, a triple rear camera setup with one of the sensors being a 48 MP unit.

Ricci Rox, 28 Mar 2019 14:15

Huawei Mate 20 successor confirmed to be in testing, launch scheduled for September - October

Huawei Mate 30 confirmed, could arrive as soon as September

Shortly after the release of the Huawei P30 flagship, an official of the Chinese company, Bruce Li, confirmed that the Huawei Mate 30 is currently being tested. He also added that — if everything works as planned — this next-gen phablet could be hit the market in September - October.

Codrut Nistor, 28 Mar 2019 12:40

Australia retailer JB Hi-Fi is offering an AU$320 (US$226) discount on the iPhone Xs 512GB models. (Screenshot: Notebookcheck)

Major Australian retailer slashes over AU$300 off iPhone Xs 512 GB models

Apple, as many will be aware, rarely if ever offers discounts on its products. However, in further confirmation that iPhone sales have cooled, major Australian retailer JB Hi-Fi has slashed an incredible AU$320 (US$226) off the price of the iPhone Xs 512 GB and iPhone Xs Max 512 GB models.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 28 Mar 2019 10:36

The crease has been banished according to Samsung. (Source: Gizmodo UK)

Samsung smooths over reported Galaxy Fold crease crisis

A recent video leaked onto YouTube showed off a Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone with a rather worrying visible crease running down the center of the display. However, a communications manager for Samsung has offered reassurance that buyers of the Galaxy Fold will not encounter the issue faced by the device in the controversial clip.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Mar 2019 07:53

The Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL could be quite pricey for midrange smartphones. (Source: WinFuture/Rozetked)

"Iris" included in leaked color choices for Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL; estimated price for 3a revealed

Some new details about the upcoming Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones have been leaked. Apparently, one or both of the new devices will be offered in an “iris” color, which is the word specifically used to describe the choice. The same source has suggested a price for the Pixel 3a, and it might not be as cheap as expected.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Mar 2019 07:06

The Xiaomi foldable device is expected to be released between April and June. (Source: YouTube/Xiaomi)

New promo video for Xiaomi Mi foldable smartphone looks gorgeous but raises some concerns

Xiaomi has shared a new short promotional video of its upcoming foldable smartphone. The device still looks fantastic and is distinctly different to the foldable devices produced by Samsung and Huawei thanks to its unique folding mechanism. But the simple clip does raise a couple of concerns about the Chinese manufacturer’s creation.

Daniel R Deakin, 28 Mar 2019 06:02

Stocks of phones like the Mate X may suffer from supply-side issues. (Source: Huawei)

Foldable phone prices may stay sky-high for some time after all

2019 may be the year of the first-generation foldable smartphones from familiar brands. They are likely to be linked to extra-large price-tags; however, a prominent industry figure has predicted that they may shrink steadily as time goes on. Unfortunately, a new report may have put the kibosh on that idea.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Mar 2019 17:49

The Galaxy S10+ is Samsung's most expensive new phone. (Source: Mashable)

Some Samsung Galaxy S10+ users are complaining of poor cell reception

Some owners of the new, super-expensive Galaxy S10+ have taken to Reddit, as well as Samsung's own forums, to point out that their SIM-based functions are poor on certain carriers. A media outlet has tested the phone on this issue, and concluded that there may be some weight to the reports.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Mar 2019 15:55

OnePlus 3 users in China have started getting HydrogenOS beta based on Android 9 Pie. (Source: OnePlus BBS)

OnePlus 3 and 3T reportedly getting new HydrogenOS beta update based on Android 9 Pie

Users in China have reportedly started receiving the beta version of HydrogenOS based on Android 9 Pie. This comes after several months of internal testing of the Chinese-exclusive ROM indicating that the final version is not far off. OnePlus is yet to announce the roll out of OxygenOS beta based on Android Pie but given that the company has recently invited testers for a closed beta, global roll out can be expected soon.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 27 Mar 2019 15:47

All of the most recent Apple flagships may face sales bans in the US. (Source: Apple)

First-party US iPhone sales may be banned soon

A recent legal ruling gave Qualcomm the right to force iPhones off its OEM's own shelves in China. Now, the chip-maker may get the chance to do the same in the US. A judge from the country's International Trade Commission has ruled that the Apple infringed on a patent that applies to its most recent mobile SoCs, leading to a recommendation that their use should be prevented.

Deirdre O Donnell, 27 Mar 2019 14:35

The Apple Music app has been downloaded over 40 million times on the Google Play Store. (Source: Apple)

Apple Music for Android is surprisingly popular

Apple Music on Android has been more popular than you would think. New data from SensorTower shows that since it has launched, over 40 million users have downloaded the app from the Google Play Store.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 27 Mar 2019 11:18

Samsung's Exynos 9710 could be the first 8nm SoC aimed at the midrange-smartphone market. (Source: TechSpot)

Specifications for Samsung's 8nm Exynos 9710 SoC leaked

The supposed specifications for a Samsung Exynos 9710 SoC have been leaked. According to the new information, the chip will be manufactured on an 8nm process, just like the high-end Exynos 9820 found in the international variants of the Samsung Galaxy S10. It’s likely this potential successor to 2018’s Exynos 9610 SoC will be used in midrange smartphones.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Mar 2019 09:09

The new Huawei FreeLaces are debuted on stage in Paris. (Source: Huawei)

Meet Huawei's latest accessories: the FreeLaces, FreeBuds Lite and SuperCharge 12000 power bank

Huawei also introduced some new products to complement its latest flagships, the P30 and P30 Pro. They include the FreeLaces, a pair of 'neckbuds' with an innovative design. The OEM also now offers a power bank with its SuperCharge technology, which can charge at 40 watts: enough for laptops as well as smartphones.

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Mar 2019 23:13

The upcoming OnePlus 7 will most likely be launched this summer. (Source: Android Headlines)

Alleged OnePlus 7 renders and specs get leaked

OnePlus is among the latest smartphone makers to adopt the pop-up selfie cam design for its upcoming flagship model. The latest leaked renders also show the rear triple-cam setup and three gradient color options, while the rumored specs include a Snapdragon 855 SoC coupled with up to 12 GB RAM, up to 256 GB storage and a thin bezel 6.5-inch AMOLED display.

Bogdan Solca, 26 Mar 2019 20:23

DxOMark | The Huawei P30 Pro is the new king of smartphone cameras - Groundbreaking zoom and improved selfies

A year after the P20 Pro stunned the world with its cameras and snatched the top place on DxOMark's leaderboards, Huawei is back with a successor. The P30 Pro is better than all other smartphones in the still photography department, and holds an almost ridiculous advantage in zoom quality due to its 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and 50x digital zoom. Selfies also see a huge improvement.

Ricci Rox, 26 Mar 2019 17:35

The Huawei CEO introduces the company's most unusual wearable yet. (Source: YouTube)

Huawei unveils its own line of smart glasses

Huawei also revealed the existence of some new wearables at its early-2019 launch event in Paris. The least expected of these are the new 'smart' glasses the OEM has developed with the eyewear company Gentle Monster. Their main function is in fact to deliver audio via Bluetooth, and also charge via a new and interesting route.

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Mar 2019 17:34

The Huawei P30 series and all its details are finally official. (Source: Huawei)

Huawei P30 and P30 Pro launch in Paris

Huawei has just released its new P30 flagship series in Paris. Its specs line up pretty well with the various leaks that have already been spilled about the 2 phones in question. They are available from today (March 26, 2019) and start at €799 (about US$900).

Deirdre O Donnell, 26 Mar 2019 16:43

The Samsung Galaxy Note FE. (Source: XDA-Developers)

The Samsung Galaxy Note FE is now receiving the Android Pie-based One UI update

Samsung is currently sending out the Android Pie update to users of the Galaxy Note FE. The Note FE wasn't included in the company's Pie update roadmap, so this is a pleasant surprise. The update doubles up as the March security patch and also brings Samsung's new One UI.

Ricci Rox, 26 Mar 2019 13:11

The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE will have a global version; the Redmi Note 7 Pro will not

The Mi 9 SE has been spotted on Xiaomi's Global Compliance page, which alludes heavily to the device being set for a global launch. On the flip side, Redmi has confirmed that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will not join the regular Redmi Note 7 on the global stage, and will instead remain exclusive to India and China.

Ricci Rox, 26 Mar 2019 13:08

Our Exynos 9820-equipped Samsung Galaxy S10+ has been experiencing the same issues. (Source: Notebookcheck)

Galaxy S10 models with Samsung's Exynos SoC are suffering battery drain, proximity sensor bugs

Samsung Galaxy S10 customers fitted with the company’s semi-custom Exynos 9820 SoCs are reporting some highly disruptive bugs. The first causes the device to wake up in a pocket or bag while the second is causing the battery to drain fast after a VoiP app has been used to make a phone call.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 26 Mar 2019 10:07