Android

According to Canalys mobile VP Nicole Peng, 5G smartphones will see a rapid adoption in China thanks to the strong government roadmap and the financial capabilities of the local operators. Global 5G phone shipments are expected to hit 800 million units in 2023 — more than 51 percent of the entire market, reveals the research firm.

A device called the Xiaomi Mi CC 9e has appeared on the Geekbench 4 website. Its results in these tests depict it as a 6GB phone powered by the Snapdragon 660 SoC. The Mi CC 9e also apparently runs Android Pie, but that is all that can be gleaned from this leak.

A photo of what is supposedly the back of the Mate 30 Pro has leaked out of China, showing a distinct change in the design language of its predecessor. Call us cynical, but the timing of this "leak" coincides awfully well with the partial lifting of US sanctions against Huawei. Hype generation for its next flagship or just a camera happy employee?

The latest device to join the Stylo lineup comes with a Cricket Wireless-exclusive color choice, namely Blonde Rose. Also available in Platinum Gray, this US$229.99 handset features an unspecified octa-core processor, stylus support, a 6.2-inch full HD+ screen (no notch or cutout), and 32 GB of internal storage space.

FriendlyElec has responded to the aggressive pricing of the Raspberry Pi 4 by cutting the MSRP of its NanoPi M4. The Rockchip RK3399 powered SBC originally started at US$65 for the 2 GB of RAM variant and has now received a 23% price cut to US$50. Similarly, the 4 GB model has come down by 21% to US$75 from US$95. The NanoPi M4 features a more powerful SoC than the Raspberry Pi 4, along with a host of ports, connectors and sensors. FriendlyElec ships worldwide.

Samsung's first phablet without a notch and/or cutout — thanks to the sliding camera assembly — is finally going on sale both online and offline in select markets across the globe about three months since its debut. The Galaxy A80 is priced at more than US$730 and comes in Angel Gold, Ghost White, and Phantom Black.

Samsung's answer to Google Play replaces apps with capsules, aiming to lay the foundation "for an open ecosystem of useful services that developers will continuously enrich, and users will be able to make their mobile experience more personal and intuitive." Sadly, this service is only available in the US and South Korea for now.

Google may be working on a new way to send files between devices without necessarily relying on the internet. This new feature, called Fast Share, may be intended to compete with Apple's AirDrop. Unlike Android Beam, it involves the instigation of Bluetooth connections.

The latest software update for the Samsung Galaxy A50 offers an upgraded security patch level and Knox Guard improvements. However, some users have reported that a reset of the phone's camera settings confers new shooting modes. They are "Super Slow Mo" and "Night Mode".

OnePlus has just instituted a CA$100 (US$78) discount for its latest flagship, the 7 Pro, in Canada. However, those who bought their phones at the device's initial higher price in the country need not fret: the OEM has sent them an email assuring them that they will receive cash-back for the same amount via their respective payment method.

HTC has reportedly taken the next steps on its Android update roadmap for its older devices. A Twitter user located in Taiwan has posted the upgrade notification for version 9.0 (Pie) on their U12+. However, this has yet to be followed by reports of the same in other areas.

The LG V40 started receiving the Android Pie update last month. Since then, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and even unlocked models of the device have all received their taste of Pie. Not Sprint, though, and users of the Sprint model will likely have been annoyed when they received a new OTA that still didn't bring Pie.

Until now, under-display fingerprint readers have come with the prerequisite of AMOLED displays. Chinese display maker BOE is set to break the wheel, though, as it has confirmed the production of LCD panels that support the under-display sensors.

Google is currently working on at least two Snapdragon-powered Chromebooks based on a recent Chromium commit. The first was revealed late last year going by the codename 'Cheza' while the new model is known internally as 'Trogdor.' Both are ARM-based Chrome OS platforms that will find their way into OEM devices before the end of the year.

Xiaomi has announced that it has a build of Android Q for the Pocophone F1. However, it is still not ready for public release. Therefore, it has issued a call for testers who will install and run this OS on their device.

The US and Chinese presidents have met at the latest G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. As a result, a ceasefire in the trade war between the two nations has been called. Accordingly, it has been agreed that Huawei can conduct certain amounts of business with US companies again.

Google has reached out to SwiftKey users, informing them that the app’s normal ability to predict text while typing based on Gmail data will be suspended soon. This measure is to come into effect starting from July 15, 2019. Then again, this may not be necessary should the SwiftKey developers comply with Google’s latest privacy policies.

Mobile payments are now thought of as a market capable of vast growth over the next 3 years. The latest figures put its worth at US$348 billion now; however, this is thought to grow to $1.3 trillion in 2022. It is projected to grow at this rate in the developed and developing world, and is thought to benefit from the presence of mobile network operators.

The carrier T-Mobile has released the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G for sale today (June 28, 2019). This coincides with its inaugural 5G service debut. However, it currently only covers 6 cities in the US, and not much of any of them at that.

Those who own or plan on owning Huawei or Honor Android devices may have been alarmed by reports that their parent company had lost crucial certifications necessary to use this OS. Despite this, however, Honor's latest flagships (the 20 and 20 Pro) have been found on the Google Play Certified list. One of Huawei's latest phones, the Nova 5i, is also present here.

An XDA developer has gained access to new features in Google's Messages app for Android phones. It is called "Effects", and adds a small number of cartoonish, 3D edits to a new photo or video to be added to a message. Therefore, it appears that Google is attempting to step up to Instagram's level as far as SMS, MMS or RCS customization goes.

A new Samsung device with the model number SM-A107F has surfaced in a number of new leaks recently. Now, the same has shown up on the Wi-Fi Alliance's website as a device cleared to use this technology. Therefore, this phone - which is thought to be an improved version of the Galaxy A10 - may be released soon.

Calculator for Windows 10 was placed on the open-source repository GitHub some months ago. Now, the developer Jérôme Laban has released iOS, Android and WebAssembly ports via the Uno platform. Therefore, nearly anyone with any device can enjoy the versatile Fluent Design app.

The Sharkoon Gaming DAC Pro S is a new product to which any headset with a 3.5mm jack can connect. It also has a USB type A interface to link the same to a PC. This may confer an improvement on the audio coming through the DAC.

Motorola has indefinitely shelved its plans to release the Pie update to most users of the Moto Z2 Force in the US. The Z2 Force can be said to be Motorola's last true flagship and it's a shame that the company appears to be showing complete disregard for users of the device.

Samsung has released a bunch of A-series phones this year and is set to crown the pile with the ultimate Galaxy A device. "Devices" is the right word, actually, as there will apparently be two of them. Both are expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 855 and will feature brand new technology.

LG does not do itself any favours, does it? The South Korean company has now rowed back on its commitment to bring Android 9.0 Pie to the V30 by the end of Q2. The roll-out has been pushed to Q3 for "essential improvements", with no fixed date for devices outside South Korea. C'mon LG, sort it out.

iQOO is a new brand from the OEM Vivo that has already released a flagship smartphone for this year. Now, it is to be joined by the Neo, a more mid-range device with a 2018 premium SoC. The company has also reportedly confirmed that it will have a 4500mAh battery, to be kept going with 22.5-watt (W) Flash Charge technology.

Samsung still has not announced an exact date for the Galaxy Fold re-launch, yet the Korean giant is rumored to launch a new outward-folding model this fall, right before the release of Huawei's Mate X. Moreover, Samsung has more foldable devices scheduled throughout 2020, including a clamshell phone that folds vertically.

Honor's UK division has released a statement reassuring users that its "most popular current devices" will be upgraded to Android Q. This pledge applies to the Honor 20 series (including its Lite and Pro versions). The brand also confirmed rumors that it will release a 5G phone by the end of 2019.

With a name that stands for "Curious & Creative," the Xiaomi Mi CC9e will soon launch in China with 4/6 GB of memory and 64/128 GB of storage space. Expected to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor, this handset will allegedly feature a 48 MP triple camera setup on the back and will start at roughly US$230.

Sony has announced that its eagerly anticipated Xperia 1 will go up for pre-order in the US tomorrow. As a bonus for pre-order customers, the company will also bundle its excellent WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones with the phone making for a very appealing deal.

The Realme 1 is a sub-US$200 phone released in 2018. Despite this, the brand is now pushing an update to ColorOS 6. This ROM is based on the latest stable version of Android.

Google offers the option to store a timeline of places in which a user's location-enabled phone has been. The account-holder in question can also disable this ability and delete this information if they choose. The latest update to the app involved adds buttons that automates this procedure after 3 or 18 months.

The Red Magic 3 is a 2019 gaming phone with a 90Hz refresh rate. Its maker Nubia has just released the Pro Handle, a joystick attachment, as well as a Magic Adapter, especially for this device. These new accessories add off-screen controls and a 3.5mm jack respectively.

Qualcomm has partnered with ZTE at MWC Shanghai to expound on 5G and what it means for the future of mobile gaming. To that end, it has demonstrated cloud gaming - which is powered by Tencent Instant Play in China - on phones with Snapdragon X50 modems. They are sold by ZTE itself, OnePlus, Vivo and Xiaomi.

HMD Global has delivered on its pledge to upgrade its entire range of Android phones to the current latest stable software version. This also now encompasses the Nokia 1, its "most affordable smartphone". Its new Pie-based ROM also comes with a June 2019 security patch.

OPPO VP Shen Yiren recently confirmed that there will be a Find X 2, but it will only be launched in 2020. The company is looking to add more innovative technologies to the upcoming flagship, so we can expect a dual-in-display selfie cam setup, plus quad or pent-cam setups with 10X optical zoom on the back, and maybe even wireless charging.

Renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G have surfaced online indicating a design similar to the Galaxy Note 10 Pro. The Note 10 5G could have slightly higher battery than the regular Note 10 Pro and might also launch later depending on the availability of 5G networks across the world.

LG has Samsung's Galaxy M Series of smartphones firmly in its sights with its new trio of W-series smartphones. Styled quite similarly to the Samsung range, the new LG W10, W30 and W30 Pro all come with a display notch of one sort or another and either dual or triple AI-powered cameras.

Qualcomm has announced that its latest flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 855, is the first CPU for mobile devices to attain the Smart Card Equivalent Security Certification. This means the processor can handle applications normally confined to the realm of dedicated security chips. It does this through its integrated Secure Processing Unit.

The OPPO sub-brand Realme has posted a new teaser to its official Weibo channel. It purports to show an upcoming phone with a total of 4 rear cameras. The most prominent of these is the Samsung GW1, a revolutionary 64MP ISOCELL sensor.

Last year, OnePlus announced that it was to release its first ever TV. However, not much has been heard about this product since then. Now, a renowned leaker claims that it is "not very far away", but that it is likely to have an LCD panel when it arrives.

Samsung has allegedly filed a patent for a foldable device that looks quite different from the Galaxy Fold as previewed earlier this year. It describes a device with one extensive display that behaves more like the Huawei Mate X. The document also specifies a punch-hole camera for this flexible phone.

The OnePlus 7 Pro stands out in the crowd for its display—a groundbreaking 90 Hz, QHD+ AMOLED panel. A new mod for the Xiaomi Mi 9 has surfaced that brings the Xiaomi flagship's display into close territory, though.

Only a few days after Huawei unveiled the 7 nm HiSilicon Kirin 810 mobile processor, the upcoming Nova 5 handset surfaced on AnTuTu with this new piece of silicon inside. Its score of no less than 237,437 places it well in front of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, which usually tops around 210,000.

Good news Huawei fans: The company has announced its EMUI 9.1 roadmap for the end of Q2 and most of Q3. An array of Huawei devices will receive EMUI 9.1 in the next two months. There are a couple of notable absentees though, while Honor owners may feel hung out to dry.