Smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy S9 line now has a stable Pie-based ROM, but it's not all good news. (Source: TheNerdMag)

Galaxy S9 series reportedly experiences battery drain on Pie

As a sort of early holiday present, Samsung announced that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ would be updated to Android 9.0 (Pie) from December 24 onwards. However, few regions have actually seen the upgrade for these devices as yet. Some users who have managed to install it may face more battery drain than usual.

Deirdre O Donnell, 30 Dec 2018 15:05

This, but with phones. (Source: Jokideo)

Opinion | Smartphone OEMs and the curious case of false advertising

Competition in the smartphone industry has led to sketchy advertising practices, especially in China where such shenanigans are almost encouraged. Fake camera samples, technically correct claims, and a circus of intentional crookery.

Ricci Rox, 30 Dec 2018 10:00

Renders of the Huawei P30 Pro. (Source: Techenguru)

New Huawei P30 Pro leak surfaces, corroborates quad rear camera setup rumors

More renders of the Huawei P30 Pro have surfaced, revealing its vertically stacked quad rear camera setup that is touted to be capable of 10x zoom, an industry first. The P30 Pro will likely be launched in Q2 2019 and will be powered by the company's top of the line SoC.

Ricci Rox, 30 Dec 2018 09:39

Update | The Huawei Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, P20, and P20 Pro finally start receiving the stable Pie update

Months after sending out the Pie beta update, Huawei has finally begun the rollout of the stable Android Pie update. There’s a slight issue with that, though: Honor flagships aren’t part of the initial rollout.

Ricci Rox, 30 Dec 2018 09:36

The Xiaomi Mi 9 will feature three rear cameras and a Snapdragon 855

Xiaomi 2019 flagships are touted to be the Mi 9 and Mi Mix 4. Both devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 855. They will also both sport three rear cameras, with the Mi 9 expected to be the first Xiaomi device with that feature. The Mi Mix 4 could also feature a unique lens technology.

Ricci Rox, 30 Dec 2018 09:34

The USB-C port has a top output of 39 W. (Source: Sparrowsnews)

Sony releases new 46.5W USB-PD charging brick

Sony has released a new wall charger. The brick is USB-PD-compliant and supplies just under 40 W at its peak, and a total power output of 46.5 W. The fast charger will work on all devices with USB-PD support, which makes for a rather long list.

Ricci Rox, 30 Dec 2018 09:29

A render of what the Galaxy S10 Lite is expected to look like. (Source: Ice Universe)

Galaxy S10 Lite case render shows flat screen design

Samsung’s first Galaxy Unpacked event for 2019 is only a couple of months away now and the leaks continue to trickle out. The latest is a case maker’s render obtained by serial leakster Ice Universe that shows what it expects the Galaxy S10 Lite to look like. Based on the information that has leaked out about the device so far, we have no reason to doubt its general accuracy.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 30 Dec 2018 00:21

The LG G7 ThinQ may see Pie in the first few months of 2019. (Source: Wired)

LG G7 ThinQ now rumored to receive update to Android 9.0 in early 2019

The LG G7 ThinQ will reportedly have access to an official, stable update to Pie (Android 9.0) in the first quarter of 2019. This is according to a Korean-language document that appears to be a company roadmap for the software updates to come for the OEM's most recent flagships in 2019.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Dec 2018 15:38

LG's take on surface sound display technology is also out there; now, Samsung may put its own version on the global stage. (Source: LG)

Samsung may bring Sound on Display to CES

Sound on Display is a technology by which the audio associated with a display emanates from the screen itself, thus eliminating the need for inbuilt speakers. LG has demonstrated this innovation in TVs; now, Samsung appears poised to integrate it into smartphones. The OEM's take on this breakthrough may be showcased at CES 2019.

Deirdre O Donnell, 29 Dec 2018 14:33

The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) spotted running on Pie, could get its third major OS update?

According to word on the grapevine, Samsung could be testing out Android Pie on the Galaxy A5 (2017). Not particularly noteworthy until you realize that the A5 was released on Marshmallow, and a Pie update would be the third major OS it receives.

Ricci Rox, 29 Dec 2018 12:43

Renders of the Nokia 9's case. (Source: AndroidPure)

More design clues of the Nokia 9 leak, billed to land next month

More renders of the upcoming Nokia 9 have surfaced, revealing a device without a notch on its front, and with a massive penta-lens array on its back. The Nokia 9 is expected to be unveiled next month.

Ricci Rox, 29 Dec 2018 12:42

Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is finally getting Android 9 Pie. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 set for January 15 update to Android 9 Pie

Samsung is finally set to bring Android 9 Pie to the Galaxy Note 9 from January 15. Currently in closed beta testing, the upgrade will bring Samsung’s vaunted new One UI overlay designed to declutter and streamline the user experience.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 29 Dec 2018 01:45

Novel accessories such as the 360-degree camera didn't help set alight sales for the PH-1. (Source: Essential)

Essential Phone now out of stock...permanently

Essential Products has revealed that there are no plans to add “new inventory” to its stock of Essential Phones, which basically means the device is being discontinued. The smartphone was released in August 2017 and was widely commended for its design and performance. It’s believed around 150,000 of the PH-1 devices were sold.

Daniel R Deakin, 29 Dec 2018 01:23

A leaker claims that Epic has made billions in gross profits this year. (Source: Dot Esports)

Epic Games has amassed US$3 billion in profits this year: new report

Epic Games is now sitting on US$3 billion in gross profits this year. According to a new article in TechCrunch based on the claims of a 'knowledgeable' source. This level of success is (somewhat obviously) made off the back of Epic's flagship, Fortnite. It is a particularly impressive claim, considering that this title's revenue is largely derived from in-game purchases.

Deirdre O Donnell, 28 Dec 2018 23:22

LG has patented a rollable hybrid smartphone-tablet concept. (Source: LetsGoDigital)

New LG patent shows rollable smartphone/tablet concept

A new LG patent has surfaced showing a device that features rollable OLED display technology. Similar to the foldable smartphones that are headed our way in 2019, this is a much more radical approach that will yield devices that can be both incredibly compact yet can be unrolled to reveal a large display.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 28 Dec 2018 12:27

The Pixel 3 Lite phones. (Source: Onleaks)

The mid-range Pixels are expected to be released in spring 2019

Google’s upcoming mid-range phones have leaked extensively over the past few months. A new report claims that the two devices, the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite, are billed to be launched in spring 2019.

Ricci Rox, 28 Dec 2018 09:55

The Motorola P40 may have a glass rear panel. (Source: OnLeaks/91mobiles)

Leaked renders show off rumored Motorola P40 with punch-hole camera

Leaked renders of a Motorola phone are believed to be of an upcoming entry to the company’s P series, most likely the P40. The images show the device with a punch-hole camera, which is becoming increasingly more popular with major smartphone manufacturers. On the rear of the phone there is a vertically aligned dual-camera setup, with a 48 MP sensor present.

Daniel R Deakin, 27 Dec 2018 23:23

Sony's Xperia XA3 series is expected to feature Plus and Ultra models. (Source: MySmartPrice/OnLeaks)

Details of the Sony Xperia XA3 Plus and Xperia L3 leaked

Some new information about Sony’s upcoming Xperia XA3 Plus and L3 smartphones has been leaked. The XA3 Plus device will apparently have a retail price of 519 Euros (~US$589) in most European markets, and it is believed it will come in a choice of three colors: black, silver, and gold. The Xperia L3 is also expected to be made available in Europe.

Daniel R Deakin, 26 Dec 2018 22:25

Huawei launches its new Kirin 980-powered Honor V20 flagship, prices start under US$450

Honor has announced the launch of its new premium phone, the Honor V20. The device is powered by Huawei’s top of the line Kirin 980 SoC, and features a punch-hole camera design. There's a dual camera setup that includes a 48 MP sensor at the rear, a 25 MP selfie shooter at the front, and a 4000 mAh battery. All for under US$450.

Ricci Rox, 26 Dec 2018 12:09

The OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T receive their stable Pie updates

OnePlus has begun sending out the stable Pie update to its last-gen flagships, the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. The devices were launched on Android Nougat, and this will likely be the last major update they receive.

Ricci Rox, 26 Dec 2018 11:56

Huawei's next-gen flagship SoC, the Kirin 990, is already in development

Huawei only just launched its new Kirin 980 flagship SoC a few months ago, but the company is already working on its successor, the Kirin 990. This comes amidst rumors that the Kirin 990 may be a mid-cycle release in Q1 2019.

Ricci Rox, 26 Dec 2018 11:54

Xiaomi launches the new budget Mi Play, dual rear cameras in tow

Xiaomi has launched its new budget smartphone, the Mi Play. The device features dual rear cameras, a MediaTek Helio P35 SoC, an unwieldy circular notch, and a 3000 mAh battery.

Ricci Rox, 26 Dec 2018 11:51

A number of newer Samsung Galaxy-line models are in line for an update to Android 9.0. (Source: Daily Express)

Samsung has released its Android Pie update roadmap; Galaxy Note FE is not on there

The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus may have got their Christmas gift, in the form of an update to stable Pie with One UI, already. Now, Samsung has released the update schedule for all other models eligible to receive the latest Android update. The Galaxy Note FE, which was released in 2017, is notable by its absence.

Deirdre O Donnell, 25 Dec 2018 12:03

The rendered images in the video showcase a potentially revised design language for Sony's Xperia line-up. (Source: TechConfigurations/YouTube)

Sony Xperia XZ4 rumor roundup; render video wows with 21:9 display and triple rear cameras

TechConfigurations has uploaded a video on YouTube showing off impressive renders of the Sony Xperia XZ4 based on numerous alleged leaks and rumors. The smartphone’s display is expected to offer a game-changing 21:9 aspect ratio, so not only will the device be tall and slender, it will also be able to play widescreen movies without any black bars at the top or bottom (letterboxing).

Daniel R Deakin, 25 Dec 2018 09:53

It's believed the Samsung Galaxy M series will replace the current J series. (Source: Notebookcheck)

Samsung Galaxy M30 turns up on Geekbench running Android 8.1

The Samsung SM-M305F smartphone has been spotted on Geekbench. The listing for the device, which is also known as the Samsung Galaxy M30, states the operating system as Android 8.1. The amount of on-board memory is given as 4 GB. The M30 will be joining the M10 and M20 as part of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy M series.

Daniel R Deakin, 25 Dec 2018 08:12

One UI is available as an OTA for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ running Android Oreo and those on the One UI beta program. (Image source: Samsung)

Samsung has begun rolling out One UI to the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+

Christmas has come early for some Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners. In a surprise move, Samsung has today released its Android 9 Pie-based One UI update for both devices in certain countries. One UI is available now as an OTA update in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UAE, according to SamMobile.

Alex Alderson, 24 Dec 2018 18:38

The Note 9's predecessor is now rumored to add up to 0.35 inches in screen real estate. (Source: BGR)

New leak alleges that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will have a 6.75 inch screen

The Twitter-based leaker IceUniverse has released a new post that purports to outline the screen sizes of the upcoming Samsung flagships. It applies not only to the impending Galaxy S10 line, but to the Galaxy Note 10 as well. This phablet will apparently come with an impressive 6.75-inch display.

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Dec 2018 18:00

POCO India's "Christmas Reveal" could be a new RAM SKU for the Kevlar F1. (Source: BuyingGiftOnline)

Update | POCO's India division hints at "Big Christmas Reveal" for tomorrow

POCO India, a division of Xiaomi's popular sub-brand, has sent a tweet suggesting that a so-called '#NewPoco' is to be released tomorrow (December 25). Any excitement around such an announcement may be tempered by speculation that this "reveal" is not much more than a new color or RAM SKU of the pre-existing POCO F1, however.

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Dec 2018 17:35

The Zanco smart pen is available on Kickstarter now. (Source: Zanco)

A crowd-funding campaign for a mobile phone in pen form has raised 575% of its goal already

The Zanco smart pen is a stylus with (nearly) all the features of a smartphone crammed into it. It has physical buttons, a click-pad, front and rear cameras and even a teeny tiny screen. It is intended as a smartphone replacement or companion (much like the Palm phone) and can also function as a Bluetooth remote for screens for purposes such as presentation. So far, it has raised just over US$50,000 on Kickstarter.

Deirdre O Donnell, 24 Dec 2018 17:09

The Huawei P10 Plus. (Source: Expert Reviews)

The Huawei Mate 9, Mate 9 Pro, P10, and P10 Plus are billed to receive Pie in March 2019

After the start of the global Pie rollout for the Mate 10 and P20 phones, Huawei is set to send out the Pie update to older flagships like the Mate 9, Mate 9 Pro, P10, and P10 Plus. Of course, that won't be until March next year.

Ricci Rox, 24 Dec 2018 10:13

The Galaxy A9 was the first phone with four rear cameras, a feature expected to be seen on one S10 model. (Source: T3)

The Galaxy A10 could be the first Samsung phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor

Samsung's current generation Galaxy A sub-premium phones are obviously being used a testing bed for technology that will be seen on the next-gen S10 and Note 10 flagships. According to word on the grapevine, the company will debut its in-display fingerprint sensor on the upcoming Galaxy A10.

Ricci Rox, 24 Dec 2018 10:13

DxOMark | The OnePlus 6T manages to slightly outdo the OnePlus 6

DxOMark reviewed the OnePlus 6T and the flagship did well, managing to slightly better the OnePlus 6's score while keeping up with last-gen phones like the iPhone X and Mate 10 Pro.

Ricci Rox, 24 Dec 2018 10:09

Honor V20 spotted on Geekbench, to feature new liquid cooling technology

Honor's upcoming premium phone, the View 20, has been spotted on popular benchmark platform Geekbench, with it achieving scores consistent with other Kirin 980-powered phones. The phone is also touted to come equipped with a new liquid cooling technology.

Ricci Rox, 24 Dec 2018 10:07

The Huawei Mate 20 range was launched in November and has been a hit for the Chinese maker. (Source: The Star)

Huawei sold over 200 million smartphones in 2018, breaks company record

Already the number 2 smartphone maker in the world, Huawei has set a record for the number of smartphones it has shipped in a calendar year. The Chinese company has announced that it has sold over 200 million smartphones in 2018 on the back of the success of its P20, Mate 20 and Honor 10 range.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 24 Dec 2018 07:39

Concept of what an Asus smartphone with large pop-up camera or camera hole could look like. (Source: LetsGoDigital)

Patent images for Asus smartphone show pop-up camera and camera hole

Asus could be working on some interesting smartphone designs, according to patents filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that have been unearthed by LetsGoDigital. Some of the images show a device with a pop-up camera in three different sizes. Other images contained in the design patents feature a smartphone with a camera hole in the display.

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Dec 2018 23:56

Few smartphones have attracted as much attention as the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. (Source: OnLeaks)

Tweet claims Samsung Galaxy S10 now in production

A tweet from Max J@Samsung_News_ claims that production has started on the Samsung Galaxy S10. If this is true, fans of the Galaxy S series can expect to be inundated with rumors and leaks over the next few weeks as information escapes the manufacturing facilities. It would make sense for the South Korean company to start production now if the rumored February launch date is accurate.

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Dec 2018 02:26

The next-gen Galaxy S could also make this kind of charger obsolete. (Source: Samsung)

New rumor suggests Samsung has improved fast-charging standard for the Galaxy S10

The Samsung Galaxy S10 series appears to have an impressive range of next-generation features incoming. A new tweet from IceUniverse suggests that it will make the 15W fast-charging solution found in older Galaxy flagships "history". This may be a hint that Samsung is preparing a new standard to rival the likes of Huawei's SuperCharge.

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Dec 2018 19:39

Dirac will add another string to its phone-audio bow at CES 2019. (Source: Dirac)

Dirac plans to bring a smartphone-speaker bass enhancer to CES

Even the best speakers in smartphones struggle to produce even a relatively small amount of bass. Dirac, a rapidly-growing name in device audio, wants to change that with its new Dirac Bass feature. This tweak, which boosts the bass synthetically, is to be unveiled at CES 2019.

Deirdre O Donnell, 22 Dec 2018 18:16

Render of the Moto G7. (Source: Onleaks)

Renders of the entire Moto G7 lineup surface

More renders of all four of Motorola’s upcoming Moto G7 phones have surfaced, giving us a clearer image of what to expect from the next set of the devices in one of the best-value midrange smartphones lines available in the US.

Ricci Rox, 22 Dec 2018 09:43

The display panel for the Samsung Galaxy M20 has a waterdrop notch. (Source: 91mobiles)

Samsung Galaxy M20 gets Wi-Fi certification and may come with a 5000 mAh battery

The Wi-Fi Alliance has recently certified a Samsung device with the model number SM-M205F, otherwise known as the Galaxy M20. The entry-level Galaxy M20 smartphone’s listing states that the operating system in use is Android 8.1, and the device will offer Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity. The phone is expected to come with an impressive 5000 mAh battery.

Daniel R Deakin, 22 Dec 2018 04:49

AT&T's 5G Evolution is not 5G. (Source: AT&T via Mashable)

AT&T offers not quite 5G with 5G E

Some AT&T customers may start seeing a “5G E” label appearing on their Android smartphones soon. It might initially seem to some that the telecommunications company is already offering 5G network connection to its subscribers, but the truth is the label stands for “5G Evolution”, which is still classed as 4G technology.

Daniel R Deakin, 22 Dec 2018 01:27

The Huawei P30 Pro is expected to feature a rear-facing quad camera setup. (Source: TechAdvisor)

Huawei P30 and P30 Pro camera details leaked online

Alleged details of the camera setups for the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro have been leaked online via Twitter. Renowned tipster Evan Blass has tweeted that the P30 flagship device will feature a triple rear camera setup that offers a maximum resolution of 40 MP. The P30 Pro is expected to have a quad camera system that incorporates a state-of-the-art 3D sensor.

Daniel R Deakin, 21 Dec 2018 22:33

A shot associated with Google Night Sight. (Source: Google)

Samsung Galaxy S10 could come with a feature to rival Google's Night Sight

The Galaxy S10 series may introduce Bright Night, Samsung's take on the super-low-light image-capturing feature. Hints to this effect were found in part of the code from a One UI beta for the Galaxy Note 9. This trend may be well-established by now, but may still be a valuable selling point for the Korean OEM.

Deirdre O Donnell, 21 Dec 2018 18:58

The base Honor V20 is said to come with a circa US$410 MSRP. (Source: Weibo)

Honor V20 to cost under $500, could be best value flagship of the year

According to new reports, the Honor V20 will ship for just over US$400. Honor phones have become synonymous with offering incredible bang for the buck, but the Honor V20 may very well push that to the absolute limit. It's expected to feature a triple rear camera setup, a camera hole, a 4000 mAh battery, and a Kirin 980.

Ricci Rox, 21 Dec 2018 09:58

The Nokia 8 receives its stable Pie update but it's quite half-baked

HMD Global sent out the Android Pie update to the Nokia 8 a few days ago. This is the second major OS update the device has now received and will likely be the last. The update itself leaves a lot to be desired, however, with a few major Pie features found missing.

Ricci Rox, 21 Dec 2018 09:51