Android

Google's new custom-made chipset, Tensor, will power the Pixel 6 series. Not much was revealed about the manufacturing behind Tensor, but a new report indicates that it's built on Samsung's 5 nm node. The Snapdragon 888 also is, and has gained a reputation for overheating.

A new leak concerning the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 11T should please users who were tempted by the previous Mi 10T generation but may have been put off by the presence of an LCD screen. According to a noted tipster, the phones in the Mi 11T range will be fitted with up to 120 Hz-capable OLED panels.

With its new smartphones, Nokia is making an effort to become more environmentally friendly. We just reviewed the Nokia X10, and we'd like to summarize how eco-friendly the device really is.

The famous leaker Evan Blass claims to confirm recent rumors of Nokia's plan to break into the tablet market soon. The tipster asserts that this putative T20 is one of the HMD Global brand's next four upcoming products. Blass also now notes that each one has its own code-name: for example, the alleged slate is also apparently called the "Riddler".

While Samsung retains its traditional place as the king of the hill, the company saw a significant decline in quarterly sales, with Xiaomi, on the other hand, recording a mind-boggling 98% rise in YoY shipments on its way to toppling Apple from just beneath Samsung—all thanks to strong Redmi Note 10 and Mi 11 sales.

As part of the company's efforts to keep Android users safe, Google has decided to no longer allow sign-in on services like Gmail, Maps, or YouTube for devices still stuck with versions up to 2.3.7 of its mobile operating system. Fortunately, devices on Android 3.0 and later will remain on the safe side.

Fans of high-end TWS earphones with active noise cancelling now have a new choice. Bang & Olufsen has launched the Beoplay EQ which are the first TWS earphones from the company to feature ANC coupled with its signature premium sound.

The Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro seems to be heading rapidly towards release as the device has been specifically named in a couple of newly unearthed listings. The model number was previously associated with the Mi 11T and a Snapdragon 888 processor. It’s likely Xiaomi will also release a Mi 11T Lite model.

Shortly after the release of MIUI 12.5.1, Xiaomi is now rolling out the version 12.5.3 software update to Mi 10T Pro handsets. In addition to the security patch dated June 2021, this new firmware refresh also promises to provide "increased system security" but, unfortunately, the official changelog stops here.

Realme is now tipped to launch a phone called the 8s soon. It is painted as a refresh for the pre-existing 8 5G, albeit with a heretofore-unheard of MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor. Therefore, it might still have up-to-date connectivity with a 90Hz display and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

The latest versions of the Comply Foam TrueGrip Pro Tips 2.0 are made for Google's latest Pixel Buds A. Therefore, these TWS accessories now have third-party add-ons geared at improved fit and comfort, due to their memory foam-based construction. The new Comply tips are also compatible with the original Pixel Buds, and are on sale from now.

AMOLED and UIs with dark modes have skyrocketed in popularity in the smartphone market over the years, mainly based on the idea that both are easier on battery life, particularly when combined. A new study published by Purdue University engineers question this rationale, albeit under certain conditions only.

Samsung will launch its newest TWS earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2, later this month. Details, images, and pricing of the Buds 2 have now been revealed ahead of launch, with one notable perk being the presence of active noise cancellation.

Qualcomm’s Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders is now available for pre-order. The high-end niche device is retailing for US$1,499 but the bundle includes a set of TWS earbuds from Master & Dynamic, a 65 Watt charger and a bumper case for the device.

OnePlus has released its shipment stats for the first half of 2021 (1H2021). The OEM claims that they have increased by 428% in the US, a greater amount of growth compared to all other brands in that market. This success is based on sales of the Nord N100 and N200 as well as the flagship 9 series.

Micron has put its latest kind of flash storage for mobile devices into production. It has the OEM's state-of-the-art 176-layer NAND technology, as well as the most up-to-date UFS 3.1 read and write speeds. The brand Honor has lost no time in announcing that its upcoming Magic3 flagship series will debut with this spec.

iQOO is now slated to be the first brand to launch an Android phone based on the latest top-end Snapdragon 888+ chipset. New leaks now also assert that it - or possibly its Pro version - will come with a display with a 2K resolution and the up-to-date LTPO spec, not to mention the ability to automatically adjust its refresh rate between 1 and 120 hertz (Hz).

Samsung is thought to launch a new Galaxy Z Flip clamshell-style foldable phone in August 2021. Now, a new leak suggests the OEM has put more thought into cases for this device compared to those of yesteryear. The tip purports to outline these accessories' color choices, designs and newly-developed attachments in some cases.

It has been reported that MIUI 13’s release has been delayed. Apparently, Xiaomi’s Android overlay requires additional polishing, meaning the Mi Mix 4 and Mi Pad 5 will likely launch with MIUI 12.5 as OS. Meanwhile, more POCO and Redmi devices have purportedly joined the internal Android 12 beta testing phase.

The latest specs rumor about the Xiaomi Mi 12 has concentrated on its memory type. Unsurprisingly, it’s expected that the Mi 12 will sport the brand-new LPDDR5X RAM that has just been announced by JEDEC. This latest improvement offers up to over 33% faster data transfer rates than the LPDDR5 RAM found in phones like the Xiaomi Mi 11.

MIUI code has revealed that an upcoming Xiaomi device, expected to be the Mi Mix 4, will offer ultra-wideband support. That device will be the first phone by Xiaomi to do so, joining an elite lineup consisting currently only of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as well as the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and Galaxy S21 series.

LineageOS 18.1 has been made available for owners of Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 family of devices. The stock Android-like custom ROM will, however, only work with the Exynos variants of these devices at this stage, however.

Motorola has unveiled the Edge 20 series' specs and design in full on its website. They are headed by the Snapdragon 870-powered Pro variant, which also features a 144Hz screen, 12GB of RAM and a 108MP main camera sensor. Then again, the 20 and 20 Lite also benefit from this sensor, albeit with varying levels of zoom and additional features.

Realme has been teasing its new MagDart line of products as a possible new competitor to Apple's MagSafe system for a short while. The OEM has now confirmed that this technology will be unveiled in full on August 3, 2021. Meanwhile, its latest posters assert that it is capable of "440%" greater speeds, although in comparison to what exactly remains unknown.

The blog LetsGoDigital has published new renders reflecting its best guess at the specs and design of OnePlus' probable next-gen flagship, the 10 Pro. According to these images, the phone will follow the emerging trend of larger rear-camera lenses with potentially significant upgrades in terms of specs and functions. They are projected to be surrounded by further high-end materials and properties in this putative 10 Pro.

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has promised that its fall Pixel 6 event will highlight Google’s ‘deep technology investments’. Pichai was making his comments to shareholders following a strong Q2 2021 conference call.

A new Nokia device has been spotted on a retailer's website, depicted as a 10.4-inch display tablet that will come in at least 1 colorway (blue). It also has 4G/LTE-capable options, although it may not be particularly high-end, having 4GB RAM SKUs. The new slate may launch in the UK and the EU for the equivalent of ~US$265.

Targus has announced a new accessory to connect an Android phone with USB type-C to the peripherals necessary for a desktop-like experience. The OEM has also announced that the Universal USB-C Phone Dock supports Samsung's DeX. Users could have this interface up on a potentially 4K monitor with this new product.

Huawei flagships have a habit of finding themselves at the top of DxOMark's camera rankings at launch, and the new Huawei P50 Pro is no different. The Snapdragon 888-powered phone has now made the trip over to DxOMark, and slightly edged out the Mi 11 Ultra to clinch top spot—for whatever that's worth in the real world.

Huawei has now unveiled its newest flagship phones, the Huawei P50 and Huawei P50 Pro. The two phones offer something rather interesting in the form of a 4G-only Snapdragon 888 SoC, but that should be offset by some impressive camera hardware, with the Huawei P50 Pro marking a return to Huawei monochrome shooters of old with a 40 MP B/W camera.

The POCO M3 Pro 5G smartphone has been added to the list of eligible devices that owners can use if they want to sign up to POCO’s recruitment drive for MIUI Global stable ROM testing. The M3 Pro 5G joins smartphones such as the POCO X3 and POCO F3 that can be used for testing. Applicants have to be 18 years of age or older.

MediaTek is set to deliver the first 4 nm chipset on the market later this year. The company will use TSMC's new 4 nm node in a bid to deliver its first truly flagship SoC, keeping it a step ahead of Qualcomm and its upcoming Snapdragon 898.

Motorola is thought to release the Edge 20 series of premium mid- to mid-range phones in August 2021. Of these, the vanilla variant may have emerged in render form ahead of this event. Now, it is joined by its Lite and Pro siblings, in a leak that might confirm their updated looks and colorways in advance.

After releasing the Poco F3 GT, Xiaomi has returned with yet another GT model. This new device, the Poco X3 GT, isn't really new either, as it's already sold in China as the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G. It does deliver some excellent hardware, though, as well an extremely attractive price tag.

Some new leaks point to a new version of the Galaxy A52 5G, slated to launch soon with tweaks slated to include an updated processor, at the least. It is thought to be destined for the European market, where it may come in at reasonable mid-range prices for SKUs with 128GB of internal storage.

Even more Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro rumors have sprung up, containing information about the supposed charging capabilities, main cameras, and a previously unknown Snapdragon SoC. The Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro could end up being renamed under the POCO and Xiaomi brands for the global market.

A few weeks ago, Xiaomi sent out early MIUI 12.5 builds to the global and European models of the Mi Note Lite and Mi Note 10/Mi Note 10 Pro respectively. The company is now expanding the rollout by providing Turkish and Russian models of the Mi Note 10 Lite with their taste of MIUI 12.5, as well Global ROM units of the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro.

After kicking off with the update for Global ROM models a few weeks ago, Xiaomi is now expanding the MIUI 12.5 and Android 11 rollout for the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Owners of the device in Europe and Indonesia can now expect a 2.2 GB OTA that delivers MIUI 12.5, Android 11, and the July security patch.

An alleged real-life image of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 tablet has been posted online. The shot reveals the rear side of the Xiaomi tablet, which is expected to be officially announced in August. Unsurprisingly, the Mi Pad 5 looks very similar to the Apple iPad Pro but has also borrowed from the design of the Xiaomi Mi 11.

ZTE has unveiled the Axon 30, an Android phone that will stand out due to its under-display (or UDC) selfie camera, today (July 27, 2021). It will be available to the Chinese market initially, starting at ~US$338 from August 3 of this year. However, the OEM has also confirmed that it is coming to other countries in September.

According to a new report, OnePlus will not release a OnePlus 9T this year. This comes after the company similarly forwent the release of the OnePlus 8T Pro. The launch of the finely equipped OnePlus Nord 2 may also have been a deciding factor.

Realme has just overtly teased a "newcomer": a smartphone with the simple, snappy name of Flash. Shortly afterward, GSMArena claimed to have been sent some teasers with a succinct explanation for this new moniker: it will launch with compatibility for the OEM's rumored new MagDart wireless charging system.

Apple, along with Huawei, has usually been the first to showcase the latest silicon manufacturing process, but it appears TSMC's 3 nm may offer a deviation from that. Due to changes in typical production schedules, it looks likely that Qualcomm and MediaTek will have that honor next year, with Apple having to wait till the release of the A17 Bionic in 2023.

A possible real-life image of the Xiaomi Mi 12 and specifically its rear-facing main camera system has appeared on Chinese social media. The alleged live shot offers up some clues about the potential camera equipment of the Mi 12, which is widely expected to end up sporting the Snapdragon 895 processor.

Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 dual-screen smartphone has seemingly leaked in live photos. The most apparent change to the design is the addition of a large camera bump in a move that looks to quell a key criticism of the original model.

Xiaomi is now rolling out the MIUI 12.5 update to the Poco X3 NFC. The update for the mid-range phone is being sent out to Global ROM units, and delivers the July security patch. Meanwhile, the Poco F3 is now also receiving a new update in some regions.

Ulefone has announced that it is rebooting its Power series of ultra-large-battery phones with the upcoming Armor 13 variant. It is slated to pack a number of potentially advantageous features, a 6.81-inch display, Android 11 and quad rear cameras included, all of which will be powered with the largest battery the OEM can offer. Pre-sales for this new rugged phone will start in late July 2021.

After gracing the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite with their final updates last week, Xiaomi has continued to support its youngest Android One phone, the Mi A3, as promised. The July update is now seeding to the Mi A3 globally, but brings the phone a month closer to the end of its life.