Phablet

It has been reported that Sony Mobile is considering departing several key markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asian regions. The telecommunications arm of the Japanese tech giant has struggled to keep up with rivals such as Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, and there has been speculation Sony would exit the smartphone market entirely. But Sony fans can relax, the Xperia XZ4 isn’t doomed.

Xiaomi's co-founder, Lin Bin, has recently uploaded a video to Weibo that reveals an improved version of the in-display fingerprint reading technology already in use on commercial devices. The most obvious change is the larger active authentication area, which now measures 25 x 50.2 mm. This solution will probably be used in the Xiaomi Mi 9 flagship.

Recently, Twitter revamped its platform with the 'Interesting Tweets' feature. However, some users have asserted that the tweets chosen by its algorithm persisted in timelines regardless of whether they turned it off in Settings or not. Now, a new option to return to a completely chronological order of tweets is being rolled out.

Some users of the Samsung Galaxy S8, 8+ and Note 8 have seen a new stock beta OS for their phones. This ROM, which is installed by way of joining the OEM's Beta Program, updates the 2017 devices to Android 9.0 (Pie) and the new One UI. This may be an important milestone to official stable Pie on this generation of flagships.

Expected to be unveiled at the Unpacked event that will take place in less than a week in San Francisco, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ has recently surfaced on Geekbench. The model spotted in the popular benchmark database is labeled SM-G975U and sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6 GB of memory, as well as Android 9.0 Pie-based firmware.

Silently introduced in China back in November 2018, the HiSilicon Kirin 710-driven Honor 10 Lite is now finally ready to conquer the Indian market. Sales will start on January 20 via Flipkart and hihonor.in. The prices are equivalent with US$210 for the 4/64 GB variant and US$253 for the 6/64 GB model.

The Nokia 9 PureView was expected to arrive at MWC 2019 in late February, but a recent report claims that this upcoming handset with no less than five cameras on the back will be unveiled before the end of January and will become available for purchase in India on February 6 for a price of around US$820 (8/128 GB model).

The Realme 3 will be announced in the first quarter of 2019 and will probably come without a punch-hole selfie shooter and/or a triple camera setup on the back. The handset should arrive with a dual camera setup and a notch in two variants — regular and Pro. A Realme phone with a 48 MP camera is also expected to hit the market this year.

Although it might struggle in some markets like India — where it lost the crown to Xiaomi — Samsung remains the leader of the global smartphone market. On the other hand, the smartphone production drop of 3.3 percent expected for 2019 could help Chinese brand Huawei to finally beat Apple and to become the world's second smartphone maker.

Samsung India's online store and Amazon India will be the first to sell the lower-priced Galaxy M handsets, which will debut locally before becoming available worldwide. The Galaxy M lineup will consist of three handsets at launch, namely the Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20, and Galaxy M30.

Although Apple has recently asked its suppliers to cut the iPhone production by 10 percent in the second quarter, it looks like the brand's handsets are not doing well in China. In an unprecedented move, Apple authorized mid-cycle price cuts that go as high as 22 percent for the iPhone 8 and 20 percent for the iPhone 8 Plus handsets on JD.com.

The Sony Xperia XZ4 is set to be released at MWC next month. The company's Vice President of Marketing, however, has alluded to the fact that the company may not launch an XZ4 Compact. Also, new information claims the XZ4 will not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack after all.

Although LG failed to unveil the G7 flagship at MWC, as usual, it looks like the upcoming LG G8 ThinQ might arrive just in time for the yearly trade show in Barcelona. This means that the LG G8 could launch alongside a new Xiaomi flagship and just a few days after the Samsung Galaxy S10.

Although it should receive the Android Pie update in April according to the official update roadmap, the Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) has recently surfaced on Geekbench running Android 9. This happened quite a few times already, so Samsung might update this handset earlier than expected.

Powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor, the HiSense U30 is a handset with a 6.3-inch O-Infinity display that features a 20 MP selfie shooter and a 48 + 5 MP main camera setup. Now on display at CES, it is scheduled to go on sale in March in China, Russia, and some European markets.

According to the rendered images and 360-degree video by 91mobiles and OnLeaks, the Nokia 8.1 Plus will join the Nova 4, Galaxy A8s, and the other handsets that come with a camera hole in the display to accommodate the selfie shooter. There is also a vertical dual camera setup with a LED flash, as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.

Those who were waiting to see the Samsung Galaxy S10 launching at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona might soon be disappointed. According to insiders familiar with the matter, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S10 lineup on February 20, during a twin launch event that will take place in San Francisco and London.

The high-end Huawei Mate 20 Pro model with 8 GB of memory and no less than 256 GB of internal storage space is now available in China with two new color choices. The Fragrant Red and Comet Blue Mate 20 Pro units can be acquired from Vmall for CN¥6799 — the equivalent of about US$1,000.

Although first devices with UFS 3.0 memory onboard should arrive later this year, what appears to be the first benchmark of this new memory standard has surfaced online. According to this benchmark, an unnamed UFS 3.0 solution managed to hit a sequential read speed of over 2,200 MB/s, more than 1,800 MB/s sequential write, and more than 34K IOPS random read/write operations.

While Sony still has to officially unveil the long-rumored Xperia XZ4, popular leakster Ice universe returns with an image of a protective film for the display of this upcoming flagship device. According to him, the size of the accessory suggests that the Xperia XZ4 is roughly the size of the iPhone Xs Max.

A patent application made to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has been found that shows an electronic device consisting of two smartphones being linked magnetically. The patent, which was published on January 3, was originally filed by Samsung. The smartphone parts would contain holder magnets and a cylindrical magnet, allowing users to connect them for activities such as video-watching and gaming.

It has been reported that Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone may have a triple camera setup among its hardware. The source of the rumor believes the South Korean manufacturer will use a similar system as already found on the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018). If this latest news is accurate, then it seems the foldable flagship will be bristling with high-end components.

LG has applied for a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for what is innocuously titled “electronic device.” The drawings included in the files show a foldable device that utilizes a spring-loaded hinge to turn a regular-sized smartphone into something that more resembles a tablet.

LetsGoDigital has discovered that Sony’s upcoming smartphones, the Xperia L3, the Xperia XA3, and the Xperia XA3 Ultra will be released operating on versions of Android Oreo. Even more surprising is the detail that the budget-level L3 will use Android 8.1, while the midrange XA3 and XA3 Ultra devices will operate on the slightly older Android 8.0 OS.

A new video recently released on Evan Blass’ Twitter account appears to show a foldable device, allegedly manufactured by Xiaomi, in action. The well-known tipster isn’t himself sure of the video’s veracity, but it has been garnering a considerable amount of comments from excited viewers. Fake or not, it certainly offers an enticing glimpse into one of 2019’s hottest technologies.

Press renders of the Honor 8A smartphone have been released. The images show the device to have a central waterdrop notch on the front accompanied by a bezel at the bottom with the maker’s name emblazoned on it. The smartphone’s rear shows a single 13 MP camera with a flash beneath it, and there is another “Honor” logo at the bottom.

The Kirin 710-powered Huawei P Smart 2019 features a 6.21-inch display with a pearl-shaped notch and promises to deliver "a superior smartphone experience at an accessible price point" starting next week. The United Kingdom will be the first country to receive it, but other markets should follow in the months to come.

The Chinese consumer electronics company Oppo has applied for a trademark for “Limn” with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The application was made at the end of December and comes under the Nice classification number 9, which includes computers, tablets, and smartphones. There has been some speculation that Oppo may be planning on releasing a foldable tablet.

Renowned tipster Ice universe has released a video online that purportedly shows two protective cases for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10+ smartphone. The cases are tested for size on a Galaxy S9+, an Oppo Find X, and a Galaxy Note 9. During the testing, a few details about the plus-sized flagship seem to be indirectly confirmed.

The fourth official beta for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is now available, albeit mainly to those users already on beta 3. This new update fixes touchscreen and keyboard bugs left in the preceding version. Therefore, it is not the best indication that an official update to Pie for the device will be here soon.

A certificate granted by the Wi-Fi Alliance for the LG Q9 has been spotted by Droid Shout. The certification listing offers a little bit more information about the upcoming smartphone, such as that it will operate on Android 9 Pie and will support the 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi standards. The mid-range device is expected to come with a Snapdragon 660.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

A report by the China Times has stated that Apple is planning on releasing a new iPad Mini device and a revised iPad model in 2019. The supposed iPad Mini 5 tablet would be the first new slate in the Mini series since 2015. The larger iPad has a rumored size of 10 inches, making it slightly larger than the current 9.7-inch version of the popular tablet computer.

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.

According to a report published online, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 series will feature devices with the names "Galaxy S10 Plus," "Galaxy S10 Lite," and somewhat surprisingly, "Galaxy S10 Edge." The same report lists the flagship smartphones as having preinstalled transparent screen protectors. The post does not mention the expected 5G variant of the S10 line-up, though.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application filed by Google Technology Holdings LLC for an “electronic device having pivotably connected sides with selectable displays.” This could be a joint project with Motorola, as some of the drawings included in the application show the company’s famous batwings logo.

Samsung's 6.3-inch camera-centric mid-ranger that features no less than four cameras on its back is now finally ready to hit South Korean shelves. The 6 GB/128 GB memory/storage variant will be available for purchase in South Korea starting December 21 for the equivalent of around US$530.

Tencent Games has asserted that it has drawn level with Epic Games' Fortnite in terms of mobile user numbers for its own game, PUBG. This means that PUBG has made it to about 200 million users. It is estimated that both games also have the same approximate number of users who play at least once a day (30 million).

Chinese brand UMIDIGI will soon hit us with another "flagship killer" that sports a main camera setup made by Sony that combines a 48 MP IMX586 sensor and a 12 MP telephoto shooter. The upcoming UMIDIGI S3 Pro also features a 6.3-inch full HD+ display with a waterdrop-style notch, a 5,150 mAh battery, and a luxury ceramic design.

While many people still think that Turing is trying to get some more money without delivering anything solid and the HubblePhone will turn out to be nothing else but vaporware, the company has just promised to compensate the customers who paid for a Turing Phone Dark Wyvern and have not been refunded yet.

Although there is no official information about the upcoming Huawei P30 series, a few Olixar protective cases have been listed for pre-order by MobileFun already. These accessories reveal that the P30 Pro is a handset that sports a display with a waterdrop-style notch, as well as a quad main camera setup.