Android

Huawei launched the EMUI 10 beta a while ago, and has now started sending out the full, stable Android 10-based EMUI 10 update to its current-gen flagship device, the P30 Pro. The OTA comes in as a heavy 4.99 GB download, though.

Leaks about the Samsung Galaxy S11 continue to grace the rumor mills and this time, we get to learn some additional information about S11's display, camera, and expected color options. The Galaxy S11 could sport a new AMOLED display type with a smaller central punch hole and offer excellent low-light imaging thanks to the large 108 MP sensor.

The Galaxy A51 will probably be one of Samsung's new phones for 2020. It has attracted its first 360-degree set of renders (from OnLeaks), which incorporate rumors and theories about the phone such as that it will have quad rear cameras. The phone is also now depicted as having a punch-hole camera in its display.

The upcoming Snapdragon 865 is supposed to integrate a high-performance Kryo Gold Cortex-A77 running at 2.85 GHz plus 3 more A77 cores clocked at 2.42 GHz, along with 4 more Kryo Silver Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. This new cluster should boost performance by 20% compared to Snapdragon 855, while the new Adreno 650 GPU is expected to be 17-20% faster than the 640 model.

The Honor V30 and V30 Pro are now scheduled for launch on November 26, 2019 in Beijing. This new series has also officially been confirmed to support 5G. It is also now linked to 90-hertz displays and a new alogrithm called Camera Matrix.

It's been fiercely debated which SoC would be on Samsung's next-gen Galaxy S11 flagships. Most claimed the newly launched Exynos 990 would have the honor, while others expected Samsung to launch another SoC, the Exynos 9830. Apparently, though, the Exynos 990 and Exynos 9830 are one and the same.

The Mi CC9 Pro and Mi Note 10 are, perhaps, Xiaomi's most ambitious devices of the year. They sport a beautiful curved AMOLED display, but it's been unknown which company actually provided the panel. Until now.

Google's Stadia game streaming service is coming November 19. The service will initially launch with 12 games (listed below) and will eventually gain 14 more before the end of the year. Only those that purchased a Stadia Founder's Edition bundle will be able to access the service on November 19.

XDA contributors have found that Google has included code that supports its long-touted "Lift to Talk" setting for Assistant in its app. This feature allows the voice-activated AI in question to be prepared to answer queries whenever a user holds a given device up to their face. However, the researchers have found this option is still buggy when enabled.

Samsung is now rolling a new software update out to the Galaxy A70s. The OTA package adds the ability to use Link to Windows, as well as USB type C headphones. It also contains general stability upgrades and the October 2019 security patches.

The Amazfit Sports Watch 3 was released in China recently. However, its series is also marketed internationally as the Stratos line of sports-focused wearables. Its 3rd generation is now set for launch across multiple European countries later in November 2019.

The Android and iOS-compatible smartwatch promises 15 days of battery life, a plastic case, and a 240 x 240 resolution display for just under $80 USD.

The Vivo S5 is a probable successor to the S1 series that is rumored to rock the Snapdragon 712 processor. This phone has also been revealed to have a unique take on rear quad-cam design. It also has a punch-hole selfie camera: the OEM has posted an official image showing this spec on its website prior to its launch. This event will take place on November 14, 2019.

Samsung is bringing a few Galaxy Note 10-exclusive features to the Galaxy S10 line. The update improves system-wide and picture-specific search and an Auto Hotspot feature that can automate connecting a device with a Samsung account to a Galaxy S10's hotspot. The update is rolling out, though the release timeline varies based on country.

Akash Palkhiwala is Qualcomm's new CFO (or chief financial officer). His appointment comes following a stint as the company's interim CFO, as well as the senior vice president and finance head of its CDMA tech division. Palkhiwala will now be in a position to help lead the chipmaker into its 5G era.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has conferred a number of CES 2020 Awards on some OEMs ahead of this event. They include OnePlus, LG and Acer, who have won recognition for their latest flagship devices, (or, in some cases, upcoming releases) in various categories. The actual show will run from January 7, 2020 in Las Vegas as usual.

The Samsung Galaxy S10e was a fan favorite of sorts, as it was one of the select few premium compact devices in the market. New information has now surfaced pointing towards a complete non-existence of what would have been the S10e's successor, the S11e.

The Galaxy S11 phones are expected to be launched in February next year, and a set of leaks have surfaced, painting an image of what will undoubtedly be one of the most attractive flagship phones of 2020.

Samsung has sneaked a 3D form of Face Unlock into the 5G version of the Galaxy S10 with its latest update. It works on this variant only as it has a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor in its front-facing punch-hole. Therefore, this phone's facial recognition may now approach iPhone-like levels of security and accuracy.

Asus is currently inviting those who own the ROG Phone II to join its Android 10 beta program for this device. However, this only appears to apply to the ZS660KL model, the 12GB/512GB international variant. Those who wish to get this update need to join the OEM's mobile device forum, have an Asus Member's account and be prepared to submit a lot of sensitive info about the phone in question.

A new rumor claims that the OnePlus 8 Pro will feature a 120Hz display. While this rumor comes seemingly out of left field, it's not out of the question for OnePlus to continue to push high-refresh rate displays in its handsets. Considering the success of the OnePlus 7 Pro's 90Hz panel, a 120Hz display may give the OnePlus 8 Pro the edge it needs over the competition.

Pokémon GO remains one of the world's most popular augmented-reality (AR) mobile games. However, it has a persistent discrepancy as a title in this ecosystem, which is a lack of Pokéstops, particularly in more isolated regions. Therefore, its maker Niantic is about to launch a more global method of taking user suggestions for additional such item-sources in the future.

The Galaxy Tab S6 is Samsung's latest premium slate. The OEM has just demonstrated it is committed to keeping it that way with a new software update containing the latest Android security patch level. This upgrade has also reached Galaxy Note 10- and S10-series phones.

Vivo is now slated to release a new phone called the Z5i. This has not been officially announced by the OEM; however, this device has shown up on China Telecom's website despite not having even launched yet. It is powered by the Snapdragon 675 SoC and 8GB of RAM, and has 128GB of internal memory.

The Xiaomi Mi Watch is here, and it costs just 1,299 CNY (~US$170). The spitting image of the Apple Watch runs Wear OS, although the MIUI version of it and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 4G chipset. The watch has a 570 mAh battery too that should last up to two days between charges. The Xiaomi Mi Watch will go on sale next week.

Evidence now points to the next Galaxy S series featuring "far-reaching" camera revolutions. The probably February or March 2020 bound devices look set to follow the likes of Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi in including powerful zoom capabilities, if the codenames "Hubble" and "Space Zoom" are anything to go by, anyway.

3 new Blade-series phones are now live on the ZTE website. 2 of these - the Blade 10 Prime and A7 Prime - are available through the carrier Visible. The Blade 10, on the other hand, is an unlocked device sold by the OEM itself.

OnePlus is now rolling OxygenOS 10.0.5 out for 7T users on this OEM's 'stable' update channel. There is also an Open Beta analog for the same. Those who own the 7 or 7 Pro and participate in this program also have a new build to try out.

The OEM Vivo held a press conference today (November 7, 2019) to introduce its X30, a phone that will ship with the dual-mode 5G chipset, Samsung's Exynos 980. Oddly, the phone itself was not displayed, nor was its spec-sheet. However, new leaks point to a 90 hertz (Hz) AMOLED display, a 4500mAh battery and a Pro variant.

VR on smartphones is all but dead following the end of Samsung’s Galaxy VR ambitions and Google’s recent announcement that it has ceased development for its Daydream VR platform. However, in an inkling of hope for those who were sold on the idea, Google has open-sourced its Google Cardboard VR headset design so that it might have a second life.

The Motorola One Power is now reportedly capable of running Android 10. However, before becoming eligible for this update, a user needs to sign in to the OEM's Feedback Network (or MFN) for that device. This may give them access to a build that, while at the cutting edge of the OS, lacks compatiblity with some potentially important features at present.

While we were impressed with the OnePlus 7T Pro in our extensive review, the heat development under strong load and the resulting app crashes are an issue.

Xiaomi also promised details on a fifth generation of its smart TVs during the Mi CC9 Pro debut. The OEM made good on this - less expectedly, it introduced 2 new variants of the same during the event. The Mi TV 5 Pro is the one that gets the leaked 4K QLED panel, as well as some other impressive specs.

Pokémon GO will be getting a live AR multiplayer feature sometime soon. Currently called "Buddy Adventure," the feature will allow two players to interact with each other's Buddy Pokémon in real-time through their smartphone cameras. The feature is based on developer Niantic's real-time AR networking technology.

The Fossil Hybrid HR is a new hybrid smartwatch that mixed the traditional face and hands of a mechanical watch with an E Ink display for notification and fitness tracking information. The watch runs proprietary software rather than Wear OS, limiting the feature set. However, the Hybrid HR can still sync with Google Fit for fitness tracking.

DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused Google alternative, hit 50 million unique searches on November 4. This is a huge milestone that marks the continued growth for the private search engine. DuckDuckGo does not track user browsing history, relying solely on keyword frequency to improve its search results without intruding in its users' lives.

The rectangular camera is supposed to be equipped with advanced lenses that allow for 5X / 50 X digital magnification and it may be paired with a 108 MP sensor that is capable of 8K @ 30 fps video recordings. It is expected to be featured in one of Xiaomi's flagship model launching in 2020.

Xiaomi has just unveiled its newest devices in Europe, the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro. Sadly, both devices are unlikely to be as attractive as fans of the company expected. For one, both feature mid-range SoCs, while being rather expensive—the Mi Note 10 Pro sporting a hefty €649 MSRP.

Although tomorrow's conference is expected to focus on the introduction of Samsung's dual-mode 5G AI chipset, Vivo is also supposed to unveil the Exynos 980-driven X30 phablet. Its specs will allegedly include a 90 Hz 6.5-inch AMOLED display, a 64 MP quad main camera, as well as a 32 MP selfie shooter.

Google has started rolling out Virtual Desks to Chromebooks giving users a power user feature typically seen in more fully-fledged operating systems like Windows and macOS. The latest update also includes a new Click-to-call feature and easier compatible printer selection.

Adobe has unveiled a new camera app for iOS and Android devices at the Adobe Max 2019 conference. Called Photoshop Camera, the app allows for live application of filters, effects, and scene adjustments by leveraging the company's Sensei AI platform. Photoshop Camera is now available as a limited preview with official launch expected in early 2020.

House of Marley's Exodus is a pair of premium over-ear headphones with 50-millimeter (mm) drivers and a sustainable provenance. Their latest refresh has active noise cancellation (ANC). They are also rated for a 28-hour battery life with this feature on, and up to 80 hours without.

Nokia is working on Android 10 for the 9 PureView. This is evidenced by the leaked build of the ROM for this phone posted to its XDA forum. This version of the OS is believed to be part of official development from the brand, and also exists for other devices such as the 7.1 and 6.1 Plus.

Google's new Pixel 4 phones have been faced with numerous challenges since they were launched a few weeks ago. Further compounding issues, the larger Pixel 4 XL just made its way to popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, where it failed rather painfully.

Samsung launched PlayGalaxy Link with the Note 10 series. It is a service by which a PC connection makes the games thereon available for streaming via a corresponding app on these phones. Its latest beta extends compatibility to the S10 series.

The Mi CC9 Pro was launched today and the launch event saw a huge focus on the phone's penta-camera setup. The new device has now made its way to DxOMark and impressed, but DxOMark scores are never to be taken as gospel at the end of the day.

So, the MIUI 11 rollout is well underway, with Xiaomi now onto the second phase of its release schedule. However, owners of recent Xiaomi flagships are likely to be left disappointed as they find their handsets left on Android 9.0 Pie, like budget devices such as the Redmi 7 have been.

We've had a flood of Mi CC9 Pro leaks and rumors over the past week and the device has now been launched. The Mi CC9 Pro offers amazing camera hardware, battery, fast-charge and display at an absolutely delightful price point.