Phablet

A new post to the Android Developers Blog details the measures Google is taking to address the issue of fake reviews or ratings on the Play Store. They are described as a combination of AI and human expertise. The post claims that they have already resulted in the removal of millions of reviews from the Store.

It has been reported that Samsung is working on a new tablet, which could end up being the latest addition to the Galaxy A series. The SM-P205 slate is expected to feature 32 GB of storage and will come in either black or gray. The South Korean manufacturer only recently introduced the Galaxy Tab A 10.5-inch device and the flagship Galaxy Tab S4.

An infographic published by LetsGoDigital makes for interesting reading for those curious about how the foldable market could end up playing out. Unsurprisingly, it seems Samsung and Huawei will be the first major manufacturers to offer this exciting form factor to consumers, with Microsoft and Apple willing to bide their time, possibly to see how the market develops.

A new report uncovered by LetsGoDigital has claimed that Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone could sport a total of up to 6000 mAh in battery capacity. Apparently, there will be two separate cells, with one in each half of the flexible handset. Other rumored specifications include the presence of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and a dual 12 MP main camera.

Facebook has informed its developers of "a photo API bug" that allowed third-party apps to access photos uploaded to the social media's servers, regardless of whether the user then chose to share these images on their timelines or not. The company has admitted that this new flaw had been in effect for eight days in September 2018 and may have affected as many as 6.8 million users who logged in on those dates.

Chrome 73 is now rumored to add a feature that can organize tabs into certain sets to the browser. This may be most reminiscent of the similar function that Microsoft is reportedly set to bring to Windows File Explorer in the future. In addition, it is now alleged that Google will add a dark mode to Chrome 73 for Macs.

The new Zenfone Max Pro M2 and Zenfone Max M2 handsets by Asus both feature a 6.3-inch display, but they are quite different. The first comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and up to 6 GB of memory, while its more affordable companion sports a Snapdragon 632 chip and up to 4 GB of memory.

Previously reported as a possible name for Samsung's upcoming foldable handset, Rize returns as the name of no less than three devices. The Rize10, Rize20, and Rize30 smartphone models have just surfaced in three trademark documents published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, but most details are still missing.

Advertised as a multi-screen 5G smartphone with a professional camera and a mobile gaming console, the HubblePhone K3-XR Copernicus is supposed to arrive in about a year, but there are two more models — Cassini and Herschel — that should hit the market in 2020. The pre-orders (roughly 1850 to 4250 USD) can be paid using BC or USDT.

If you were hoping for a stunning dual-tone blue and papaya orange color scheme for the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition, prepare to be disappointed. Instead, what you will get is a rather bland looking carbon fiber rear case with perhaps a hint of orange trim.

If there is one thing that seems almost certain for the Samsung Galaxy S10 is that it will feature “punch hole” cut outs for its front-facing cameras. The only question appears to be whether they will be positioned to the left, center or to the right at the top of its Infinity-O display.

A couple of images of what could be an actual physical Samsung Galaxy S10 series device have been leaked online. One of the images appeared on the Weibo social network site while another was sent directly to SlashGear. It has been speculated the images show the S10 Plus variant of the upcoming flagship series. There is a chance that either image is actually a render rather than a real-world photo, though.

Although he did not confirm the name of the handset — which might be the Xiaomi Mi 9 — Lin Bin has recently shown a teaser of a 48 MP camera phone. If no other Chinese brand that often goes for the "first one to release" crown — such as Oppo or VIVO — launches such a handset first, the Xiaomi Mi 9 could become the first 48 MP handset.

The Helio M70 baseband chipset was showcased at the China Mobile Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou today. This modem, unlike the Snapdragon X50, is backwards-compatible with 4G to 2G. It is also 3GPP-compatible and rated for speeds of 5 gigabits per second.

Gorilla Glass, which has become a nearly indispensable component of fullscreen phones everywhere, is most likely to become available in a form that can protect flexible displays for phones. However, Corning has indicated that it may not be there by the time the first generation of these devices are ready for production.

Hot on the heels of the official launch of the Snapdragon 855 is a leak suggesting that the Sony Xperia XZ4 will be the first smartphone to ship with Qualcomm’s freshest silicon. If the rumor is accurate, it could be just what Sony needs to help lift the sales of its latest flagship.

The official Android 9.0 (Pie) beta ROM for the Galaxy Note 9 is now available. Not only does this software contain the latest OS update, it also replaces Experience with One UI, the revamped interface for Samsung mobile devices. So far, this beta is available in certain countries.

A report from Windows Central claims that Microsoft and Intel are working on a device with the codename “Centaurus.” The device is believed to be a foldable dual-screen version of the Surface PC that will operate on an edition of Windows 10 known as Core. Centaurus is not a new name for the Andromeda device project, which is believed to involve the long-rumored Surface Phone.

OnLeaks and 91Mobile have compiled a new image and video series purported to show CAD renders for the Galaxy S10. It shows a virtually bezel-less phone that, in fairness, closely resembles the Note 9. However, the Note does not have a dual camera integrated into the screen, a clear lack of a hardware fingerprint scanner, or triple rear cameras.

The well-regarded leaker IceUniverse has posted an image showing a phone with Samsung flagship-like design hallmarks. The tipster asserts that it is a Galaxy S10 clone. If so, it suggests that the makers of fake phones think that the device will strongly resemble the Note 9.

An image of the Samsung Galaxy S10’s screen protector has been leaked via Twitter by Ice universe. The tweet in question features the lone word “Beyond,” which is the codename Samsung uses for the S10 line-up. As can be seen in the picture, the screen protector has barely visible bezels and there is no sign of the much-maligned notch.

MediaTek started out as a provider of mobile SoCs for emerging Chinese smartphone makers. Up until now, the Taiwanese company presented solid entry-level and mid-range solutions, but, with the upcoming Helio P90, MediaTek is aiming to compete with the best SoCs from Qualcomm, Apple and Samsung. The Helio P90 SoC was recently teased as a "powerful" and "efficient" chip with "groundbreaking AI."

Although the FCC documents only mention that the Samsung Galaxy A8s sports Bluetooth 5.0 and a few other connectivity-related details, the rumors claim that this handset will hit the market with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor under the hood, a 6.39-inch Infinity-O display, a triple camera setup on the back, and a 24 MP selfie shooter.

Advertised as a "Salute to Speed," the upcoming OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition will be unveiled on December 11, at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. This limited edition handset is expected to be the first OnePlus device to feature 10 GB of memory and 256 GB of internal storage space.

The BLU Vivo XL4 is a 6.2-inch Android handset with a MediaTek Helio P22 processor inside, next to 3 GB of memory and 32 GB of internal storage space. Sporting a generous 4,000 mAh battery (thankfully featuring 5 V/2 A fast charging) and a 13 + 2 MP main camera setup, this handset can be acquired from Amazon for US$149.99.

Earlier today, the first benchmark of the upcoming Exynos 9820-driven Samsung Galaxy S10 surfaced on AnTuTu. The handset in question is internally referred to as "beyond2" and might hit the market as the Galaxy S10+ (SM-G975F). In this test, the Exynos chip was clocked at up to 2.7 GHz and the final score was 325,076.

Renders based on leaked information of the Sony Xperia XZ4 have surfaced, courtesy of Steve Hemmerstoffer (@OnLeaks) and MySmartPrice. The renders show some notable design shifts, such as a flat front display, a triple-camera setup on the back, and a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button on the side. Note that these renders are based on rumors and leaks and should be taken as such.

Samsung is determined to make its 2019 S10 flagships some of the most impressive Android devices in recent times, and that determination shows in the camera hardware the phones are said to sport, with the S10+, for example, touted to feature five cameras in total.

Apparently called First Snow White to commemorate the first snowfall of the year in Taiwan, the white Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is now official. Obviously, this color option for Samsung's latest Galaxy Note also comes with a white S Pen. Those interested will be able to buy it starting next month for the equivalent of almost US$1,000.

Samsung is offering US$200 discount on all unlocked 2018 Galaxy flagship devices including the Galaxy S9, S9 Plus, and Note 9 across all memory and storage variants. These discounts are instant without any bill credits and are available through Cyber Monday. They can be availed by purchasing these phones via Amazon, Samsung, and B&H Photo.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is one of the most expensive phones of the year; however, it offers standout features for all of that money. The YouTuber JerryRigEverything's durability test demonstrated that potential and actual customers need to consider additional investments into protective accessories, however.

The Mate 20 Pro is in contention for flagship of the year. The device was launched in Europe and China a while ago, but is only just about to make the trip over to the world's second-largest smartphone market, India.

Razer has opened its subscriber sale to all comers through this weekend. Deals include the original Razer Phone for $300 off ($400 total price) and the Razer Blade Pro 17 (7700HQ, 1060, FHD) for $500 off ($1800 total price).

A report from Gizmodo UK has some bad news for those who were hoping for a price tag under US$2,000 for Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone. According to a verified source, the device, which may end up being known as the Galaxy Flex, will cost from £1,500 to £2,000 in the UK market. At current exchange rates, that’s ~US$1,922 to US$2,561.

Available with up to 6 GB of memory and 128 GB of internal storage space, the HiSilicon Kirin 710-driven Honor 10 Lite sports a 6.2-inch display, a 3,400 mAh battery with fast charging, as well as a dual camera setup on the back and a generous 24 MP selfie shooter. It comes with Android Pie-based firmware onboard and retails for up to US$275.

Introduced at the end of September in Thailand, the 6.26-inch Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is now coming to India. Although the 6 GB RAM variant was supposed to come with 128 GB of internal storage, both models available in India seem to sport 64 GB (there is also microSD support, fortunately).

According to a recent rumor, one of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 variants will feature a ceramic back, akin to Xiaomi products such as the Mi Mix 2 and Mi Mix 2S smartphones. It has been speculated that it will be the 6.7-inch Galaxy S10 model with six cameras that will be the edition to be adorned with a classy ceramic back.

Lei Jun, Xiaomi's CEO, announced at a press conference that 43.9% of the company's revenues in the third quarter of 2018 had come from international markets. These overseas earnings had increased by over 100% compared to last year. This may be attributed to Xiaomi's by-now solid standing in Europe as an electronics provider.

A key Samsung executive has just confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy F foldable handset will ship with Bixby 2.0's successor. However, he also added that the company has not decided yet if the next-gen virtual assistant will be branded as Bixby 3.0, so in the end we might get Bixby F or something completely different.

While the Mate 20 Pro and Mate 20X both feature AMOLED displays—as opposed to the regular Mate 20's LCD display—new information shows that Mate 20X users can rest easy, with their phones unlikely to suffer from the green hue issues found on the Mate 20 Pro.

Priced at the equivalent of US$230 in China and around US$310 in Nepal, the Oppo A7 is a 6.2-inch handset with a Snapdragon 450 inside, as well as 4 GB of memory and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage. There is also a generous 4,320 mAh battery, dual cameras on both sides, as well as HyperBoost capabilities.

Finally launched in the United States earlier this month, the Motorola One is already receiving Android 9.0 Pie. In addition to the Motorola One, Android Pie is now reaching the Motorola One Power as well. Both these two handsets are also expected to get the Android 10 Q update once it comes out.

The Red Magic may represent a novel alternative in a gaming-phone space dominated by a small number of brands. This phone, marketed by the ZTE sub-brand Nubia, is reportedly getting a second generation. A new leak shows a Geekbench score for the phone, and suggests some other new details about the device.

The German federal authorities have dedicated the country's entire C-band (or frequencies from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz) to the provision of 5G. This move is being applauded as it may result in more efficient deployment of the new mobile-data standard; on the other hand, there are those that see it as a governmental cash-grab.

Samsung has confirmed that there is a white variant of the Galaxy Note 9. However, it is only going to be available to the Taiwanese market. This new version of the S Pen-toting flagship is reported to go on sale from November 23.

Although there are still some rumors involved — for example, that this handset will be a foldable one — at least Huawei has confirmed that its first 5G phone will be unveiled at MWC 2019, which is scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain on February 25-28. Other major brands will probably bring 5G phones at CES in January, but Huawei is not well received in the US nowadays.

An early press render of the upcoming Moto G7 Plus show that Motorola may be redesigning their popular mid-range handset. The press render shows an almost all-display front with a waterdrop notch similar to the OnePlus 6T and very thin top and side bezels.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus have been reported not to be in line for official upgrades to Pie until January. In the meantime, some users do have access to a version of the OS, in exchange for some beta-testing. In Korea, the latest of these betas replaces Samsung Experience with One UI.

The successor of the original Razer Phone will go on sale this Friday directly online from AT&T's website, but those in a hurry will also be able to grab it from the San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Seattle flagship stores. Even more, these locations will host special gaming events dedicated to the Razer Phone 2.