Android

Xiaomi has confirmed that the Mi 11 Pro will ship with a new Samsung ISOCELL GN2 sensor for a main camera. It will also do so in very slim and 2021 retail packaging, as it lacks a charger as standard. Then again, the OEM will offer deals on its new, cutting-edge power accessories to the 11 Pro's Chinese audience.

Helped by key factors like the pandemic shortages and the Huawei bans that shaped the entire smartphone market climate of 2020, MediaTek managed to dethrone Qualcomm and secured its position as world's largest smartphone SoC supplier. The Taiwanese company is expected to maintain this position at least throughout 2021.

Although the full review is not live yet, the final scores are public, and one thing is certain: the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is DxOMark's new king. The overall score of 143 is the result of the following areas: 148 (photo), 100 (zoom), and 117 (video), enough to grab first place from the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+.

Xiaomi has launched a new(-ish) variant of the Mi 11 series at its major international product event of today (March 29, 2021). It has a premium 6.67-inch FHD+ E4 AMOLED display, a 108MP main camera and the Snapdragon 888 processor. Then again, it also packs a 33W charging rate, which matches its mid-range starting price.

Samsung is not expected to announce the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite for a few months yet, but Evan Blass has revealed multiple details about the upcoming budget tablet. Apparently, the Tab A7 Lite will have a MediaTek SoC, a 5,100 mAh battery and a large display.

According to Xiaomi, the Mi 11 Ultra will feature new battery technology and a revolutionary cooling system. Apparently, the so-called phase-change cooling system contains solid, liquid and gas parts to deliver significantly better cooling performance than contemporary Xiaomi smartphones.

Redmi is slated to launch its first dedicated Android gaming phone soon. It is already confirmed to debut with the new MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor; now, it is also tipped to do so with a high-end flat AMOLED screen. The device may also have fast 65W charging, as well as shoulder buttons like those of the RedMagic or Black Shark lines.

According to the cybersecurity specialists Zimperium, a non-Google Play Store app masquerading as a system-update tool found online is in fact Android malware. Once installed on devices via side-loading, it apparently steals information ranging from SMS messages to clipboard data. It may also hijack phone cameras and mics to spy on unsuspecting users.

Recent leaks have pointed to upcoming, possibly more affordable, Samsung slates, one of which could be called the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite on its launch. However, the latest tip suggests that this device might in fact be the Lite version of the Tab S7 Plus instead. It has been touted as being 5G only up until now; however, there may now be scope for a 4G/LTE model as well.

The Xiaomi Mi 11's even more premium versions are slated to launch on March 29, 2021. Of these, the Pro had yet to be spotted in benchmarking leaks - until now. A device with its alleged model number has finally surfaced on Geekbench, possibly confirming 12GB of RAM along with the Snapdragon 888 SoC for this super-flagship Android phone.

Xiaomi is set for a big launch event tomorrow, with the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra to lead a lineup of new tech products from the company. Details of the two flagship devices have now been revealed, with one major talking point being an official IP68 rating—the first-ever on a Xiaomi device.

Owners of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Mi Mix 3, Mi 8 Pro, and Mi 8 Explorer Edition smartphones can test out a version of Android 11 thanks to the team at Paranoid Android. The devs have frequently supported older Xiaomi devices with their custom ROMs, and now Paranoid Android Ruby is available as an initial dev release.

The flagship OnePlus 9 series initially encountered a stumbling block on its launch in the US market: it was not compatible with Verizon's 5G service. However, the new Android phones now have a better shot at attracting those who use this carrier, thanks to a new certification to use its bands, as well as those of its pre-pay subsidiary Visible.

Huawei has confirmed that its HarmonyOS will start to roll out from April 2021. This in-house OS is intended to replace EMUI, which is based on Android, on its mobile devices. This process will start with the Mate X2, the OEM's latest foldable flagship.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has stopped by Geekbench before its announcement on March 29. The flagship smartphone will have Samsung's new ISOCELL GN2 camera, a Snapdragon 888 SoC and a 'Silicon-Oxygen Anode' battery.

The worldwide availability of the innovative "gimbal-cam" Vivo X60 smartphone series looks more certain than ever with its debut in the Indian market. This time, the Snapdragon 870-powered X60 and X60 Pro are accompanied by their true flagship sibling, the Pro Plus. It will be available to order from April 2021 for a price of just under US$1000.

The massively-popular PUBG Mobile has finally crossed the magical 1 billion downloads mark on Android and iOS. The game continues to remain relevant despite being banned in one of the most lucrative markets in the world, India. PUBG Mobile has a successor in the works, too, called PUBG: New State.

The Black Shark 4 series has made a remarkable start, but so has Xiaomi's new Redmi K40 smartphones. According to Xiaomi, the Black Shark 4 series generated CNY 200 million (~US$30.5 million) in sales in its initial five minutes, while the Redmi K40 series has sold over 1 million units in the last month.

Motorola is apparently planning to launch another new budget smartphone with 5G connectivity. Codenamed 'Denver', the device will also have an active stylus, along with a large FHD display and five cameras.

Samsung has announced that sales of the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (or FE) in the Indian market are about to begin. Then again, those wondering why as the OEM has already done so may be interested to know that it means the Snapdragon 865-powered version this time. It will be available from March 30, 2021, although consumers are advised to register their interest in the device now.

The Realme GT Neo is set to launch on March 31, 2021 as the mid-range version of the flagship GT. Then again, according to its latest leaks, it will do so with pretty much all the best aspects of its premium sibling, its 120Hz AMOLED panel and 3.5mm jack included. It will, however, pack the crucial difference of a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC in place of a Snapdragon 888.

The Mi Mix series will be returning to global audiences, according to Xiaomi. The next Mi Mix will launch alongside the Mi 11 Ultra, which will feature a new Silicon-Oxygen Anode battery. Apparently, the new battery technology's increased density will allow smartphones to recharge faster while being thinner than current models.

A benchmark screenshot of a Sony A device featuring an SM4350 processor has led to speculation that this could be a Sony Xperia Compact, possibly the Xperia Ace 2, being tested. The SoC part number correlates to the Snapdragon 480 5G platform, meaning a potential Xperia Compact or Xperia Ace 2 is firmly headed for mid-range smartphone territory.

Motorola has unveiled the Moto G100, its latest premium smartphone. The Moto G100 contains a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, an overclocked Snapdragon 865+, a 5,000 mAh battery and a triple rear-facing camera array, including a 64 MP primary sensor. The Moto G100 costs €499.99 in the Eurozone and £449.99 in the UK.

Motorola's latest mid-range smartphone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 SoC that brings with it 5G connectivity. The Moto G50 features 4 GB of RAM, up to 128 GB of storage and a microSD card reader, but its 720p display is rather underwhelming. The Moto G50's 5,000 mAh battery, on the other hand, should keep it going for a long time on a single charge.

One of HMD Global's upcoming mid-range smartphones has been spotted at the FCC. The Nokia X20 is expected to launch on April 8 with a Snapdragon 480 SoC, and the FCC has seemingly confirmed part of its design. The device is expected to launch with up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, too.

iQOO's latest phone is the Z3, and has launched with the Snapdragon 768G chipset that, despite its mid-range power, is not often seen in new products. Its new vehicle has a 6.58-inch FHD display that, while it has a 120Hz refresh rate, is also LCD. It starts at just ~US$260 for a 6GB RAM SKU.

Xiaomi's vice-president, Wang Xiang, has reportedly intimated that the global chip-shortage may lead to increased starting prices for this OEM's mobile devices. The executive made comments to this general effect during the company's latest earnings conference call, which also reveals increased revenue and profits for the last quarter of 2020 (4Q2020).

The discovery of a device called the Samsung SM-E5260 on 3C has led to speculation that the OEM is working on a 5G phone called the Galaxy F52. Therefore, it might be part of a series that is normally exclusive to the Indian market. However, there are signs that, as with the F62, it may not be a completely new product.

It is fixed and official: A new Mi Mix smartphone will be joining the burgeoning list of devices that Xiaomi will announce on March 29. The Mi Mix comeback promises to eclipse the release of the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra, with Xiaomi teasing that the next Mi Mix has a new liquid lens camera.

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 780G for upper mid-range smartphones in 2021. The new chipset features two high-performance Arm Cortex-A78 cores also found in the flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC along with six high-efficiency Cortex-A55 cores.

There has been a supposed leak about the Sony Xperia 1 III and its specs that will surprise and please fans of the brand. Apparently, the Xperia 1 III will boast the kind of RAM firepower that phones such as the Asus ROG Phone 5, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra have previously wielded.

Realme has made its first ever 108MP camera phone official as of March 24, 2021. The high-end sensor is joined by specs that are not nearly so new to the brand in the 8 Pro, however. Its Snapdragon 720G SoC is joined by up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, and is kept on with a 4,500mAh battery with slower charging compared to the 7 Pro.

Huawei P50 cases are beginning to appear up online, sporting the same massive camera housing shown in leaked renders. Huawei is expected to launch the P50 series next month.

According to multiple reports, Xiaomi's first foldable smartphone may be making a guest appearance at its March 29 hardware launch event. The device has been certified at the MIIT in China with up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, too.

Xiaomi is looking for more people to test MIUI 12 beta builds. This time, the company has opened its MIUI 12 beta program to devices enrolled on the Russian branch of MIUI. 29 devices are eligible to join; the deadline for doing so is April 15.

WinFuture has confirmed that Xiaomi will be launching distinct 4G and 5G versions of the Mi 11 Lite, the successor to last year's Mi 10 Lite 5G. The prices of both models have been revealed, too.

Xiaomi has confirmed rumours that the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra will feature Samsung's new ISOCELL GN2 camera sensor. The ISOCELL GN2 is, currently, the largest smartphone camera sensor, but we will not see what it is made of until Xiaomi launches the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra. Fittingly, Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing has drawn a comparison between the size of the ISOCELL GN2 and the Sony IMX689 found in the OnePlus 9.

Not long after dropping my own Mi 10T Pro in deep snow and fearing that might have led to water ingress, I discovered a series of tests that prove how resilient it is. Although not advertised as waterproof, it looks like the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro can even handle short immersions in shallow water alongside the usual splashes.

Lenovo has confirmed that it will be launching another gaming smartphone, following the launch of the ASUS ROG Phone 5 earlier this month. The Legion 2 Pro will arrive on April 8 and will feature some exciting hardware, including dual fans.

New leaks Motorola Moto G50 have not only provided many specifications about the device, but they also show what the 5G handset will look like. The Moto G50 is expected to launch with a 90 Hz display and a Snapdragon 480 SoC.

OnePlus has officially announced its premium lineup of smartphones this year — the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro. With the 9 and 9 Pro, OnePlus is now firmly in flagship territory. The company hyped its Hasselblad partnership quite a bit, but early reviews indicate there's much more work to be done before it can fully compete with the likes of the iPhone 12 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The C20 is a smartphone now rumored to supplant the Nokia 1.4 in 2021. It is also touted to launch alongside other new devices from the HMD Global brand such as the G10 and X20 on April 8, 2021. Therefore, the event might unveil a considerable change in direction for this OEM's more affordable devices.

A new report tells us that Qualcomm is working on a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console. It will be powered by the company's in-house Snapdragon SoC and run Android 12 out of the box. The console could cost around US$300 and will be announced sometime in Q1, 2022.

Honor has presented the Pad 7, its latest mid-range tablet and the first since its departure from Huawei. The 10.1-inch tablet has an IPS display, a MediaTek Helio G80 SoC and 4 GB of RAM.

Xiaomi has confirmed that it will unveil the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra on March 29. The pair should have better cameras than the Mi 11 and innovations like a secondary display. At least one should be launching globally, too.

According to Nikkei Asia, Samsung is planning to launch a new Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip this year and a device that folds in two ways. Apparently, the device will expand to a conventional 16:9 or 18:9 aspect ratio.

The Black Shark 4 and Black shark 4 Pro gaming smartphones have been launched with interesting specifications. Key specs include a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 144Hz, a 4,500mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging, pop-up mechanical triggers and more. Black Shark says that the phones will be launched globally soon.

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro hours ago. Completing the OnePlus 9 series, however, is the OnePlus 9R, a performance-oriented, bang-for-buck device exclusive to the Indian market.

When updating from Android 10 to Android 11 but without moving to MIUI 12.5, some Mi 10T Pro users might find trouble. For me, this means fingerprint reader and touchscreen response issues, some random app crashes, and more. According to what others who got the update are saying, it doesn't stop here.