Android

It's been almost a week since Google unveiled the Pixel 4 phones in New York but it's still baffling just how poor the phones are—the smaller Pixel 4, in particular. In fact, some choices by the company were so off the mark that one could almost be led to believe that the entire thing was a joke.

A carrier-provided list of Sony Xperia devices billed to get the Android 10 update has surfaced, and will be sure to leave owners of Sony's older flagships infuriated, as apparently, the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact will not get Android 10.

Xiaomi is taking the camera performance of its phones seriously and could be set to push the envelope with its upcoming devices. New reports allude towards sumptuous camera features like 8K video recording, 5x optical zoom, and a 108 MP sensor debuting on the Mi 10.

OnePlus has once again shown its dedication to providing timely software updates, as it's now sending out the Android 10-based Oxygen OS 10 beta build to the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. The build is exclusive to factory unlocked, non-carrier models.

Some new details about Samsung’s Galaxy S11 series have been shared online concerning the amount of SKUs that will be part of the lineup, the communication abilities of the devices, and the expected screen design. While some may have been hoping for a notch-free S11, it appears Samsung is saving that for a different series.

The Pixel 4 XL's 90 Hz QHD+ AMOLED display has been hailed for its impressive quality, even winning DisplayMate's "Best Smartphone Display" award. That raises a few questions, of course, the most important being: who exactly made the phone's display?

A leak a few weeks ago claimed that Xiaomi was set to release a Snapdragon 730G-powered Redmi Note 8T. A new report counters that, though, and while a Redmi Note 8T may actually be on the way, fans of the company are unlikely to be thrilled about what it will offer.

A British Galaxy S10 user has claimed that this phone's ultrasound sensor could be fooled into unlocking for non-registered fingerprints. This issue was allegedly caused by a cheap gel case with a clear flap to cover the screen. Samsung has admitted that this is the case, and has stated that it will push a software fix for it shortly.

The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE now has an upgrade to MIUI 11, which is based on Android 10. It confers various upgrade-specific features such as gesture-based navigation and system-wide dark theme. This build also adds MIUI's new Focus Mode, which is suspiciously similar to OnePlus' Zen Mode.

The Mi Mix 4 merry-go-round continues. First, Ice Universe claimed it was in the works, then Xiaomi's Brand Promotion Manager could not decide whether it was or not. Now, a photo of the rumored device has leaked online, along with a release date. It is sooner than we thought, too.

A Brazilian phone blog has posted what it claims are live images of the Moto G8 Play. It shows that this device may have a 6.2-inch HD+ display, a 4000mAh battery and a triple rear camera. Its SoC remains unnamed, but is described as a 2.0GHz octa-core processor.

The OnePlus 7T Pro was just launched and a new leak has now revealed all the major design information from the next device in the series, the OnePlus 8 Pro. The leaked images reveal a quad-camera setup and a punch-hole selfie camera design.

Since the launch of the first-gen Redmi Note back in 2014, Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has consistently offered the best value for money in the mid-range segment. The company has announced that it has now sold a hundred million Redmi Note phones, with the Redmi Note 7 duo accounting for a fifth of that figure.

Just 26 days after its release, Apple has reported that 50% of all iPhones are running iOS 13. Compared to the abysmal history of Android OEMs' software updates, the high adoption rates for the newer versions iOS continue to be a strong feature of the iPhone brand.

An Amazon pre-order page listing the Nvidia Shield TV Pro popped up earlier this morning and was promptly taken down. The page listed specs of the Shield TV Pro, which largely mirror those of the standard Shield TV. However, the Pro model will use Nvidia's Tegra X1+ SoC and will support Dolby Vision HDR.

The Honor 20 Youth Edition has reportedly been leaked ahead of its release to the Chinese market. It is slated to run on the mid-range Kirin 810 processor and to have triple rear cameras. This Edition is thought to launch on October 25, 2019.

A video of someone unboxing a brand-new Huawei Mate X foldable smartphone has made its way onto YouTube. The vaunted device has been apparently thoroughly revised by the Chinese manufacturer and should be released soon, with various reports stating a November timeline. The Mate X in the video now sports a handy red button that pops the smartphone open.

If you own a Pixel 3 and were about to use the Pixel 4's trade-in program to get Google's latest device for significantly cheaper, think twice. You see, Google seems to be of the opinion that the 128 GB Pixel 3 XL is worth a measly US$295, and that's a load of nonsense.

The Nubia Red Magic 3S is a slight improvement over the Red Magic 3. The updated handset sports a faster Snapdragon 855+ SoC and UFS 3.0 storage. All other factors, including the price tag, are the same as the older Red Magic 3. The Red Magic 3S is available starting at US $479

At launch, Google's Stadia Controller will not be usable with a PC or compatible mobile device without the use of a USB connection. While the controller will work wirelessly when playing through a Chromecast Ultra, PCs and mobile devices will require a USB HID connection for the Stadia Controller to work properly. This is odd, as the Stadia Controller connects directly to Google's servers over WiFi and sends inputs to the cloud rather than a local device.

GalaxyClub.nl has noticed some information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S11, courtesy of a new benchmark listing. The information has got people speculating that the Galaxy S10 successor will look odd, and potentially even difficult to hold too.

The new Google Pixel 4 phones may have their issues but the quality of their displays isn't to be questioned—that of the bigger Pixel 4 XL, at least—if DisplayMate's latest review is anything to go by. The new flagship has won the Best Smartphone Display Award while smashing records along the way.

LG has earned a bad rap for its awful software update policies. The South Korean company may be looking to shake things up, though, as it's announced that the G8 ThinQ and V50 ThinQ will get early builds of Android 10 this month.

Huawei UK has launched the Nova 5T. It is essentially the Honor 20 with a new name and a new region. Fans of everyday Android may be glad to learn it will be released with Google Play Services.

OnePlus' chief executive officer, Pete Lau, has given an interview on the company's future in its home market. Its main message was that the company has no plans to diversify into non-premium smartphones at present. Furthermore, no domestic flagship brick-and-mortar stores are in the works either.

The Huawei Enjoy 10 appeared in a Geekbench 4 listing earlier today. The phone, which boasts an octa-core processor and 4 GB of RAM, looks to be in line with other mid-range handsets like the Google Pixel 3a and Xiaomi Mi A3.

A device called the "OPPO PCCT30" has posted scores on the Geekbench 5 website. This model number is currently believed to belong to a second-gen Reno 5G smartphone. Its new benchmarking scores reveal that it is powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor, but could have done better by this chipset.

Recent offerings in Motorola's Moto G mid-range series may have felt a bit stale but the company appears to be looking to put the lineup back on the map. The latest Moto G8 Plus leak is sure to leave fans of the series excited, with notable features including much improved performance, a big battery, an interesting camera setup, and a couple other tidbits.

Xiaomi fans may have felt confused when the Redmi 8's spec sheet was released, as the device features a Snapdragon 439—the same SoC on the cheaper Redmi 8A, and a much weaker chipset than the Snapdragon 632 on the Redmi 7. Xiaomi had a reason for it, and it's not a completely unreasonable one, either.

At the turn of this year, LG promised to deliver Android 9.0 Pie to the G6 and V20 by Q3 2019. Has it delivered? If you are a G6 owner then possibly, but many are still awaiting Pie on their handsets as we head ever deeper into Q4. By contrast, LG has offered only the faintest of glimmers for the V20, with all variants missing the self-imposed Q3 deadline.

Netgear has rolled out its latest mesh Wi-Fi system consisting of a base and one or more satellite units. The new Orbi Dual Band Mesh Wi-Fi System also features the latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) standard for speeds up to 1.2 Gbps.

Xiaomi is set to release a successor to the immensely successful Redmi K20 Phones. The Redmi K30 is on the way and it will feature both 5G support and a dual selfie camera setup reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.

Apple’s wholly-owned subsidiary Beats has launched an all-new Beats Solo Pro range. Effectively the Beats Solo 4, the all-new design also brings improved audio performance as well as active noise cancelling to the Solo line for the first time.

The Nest Mini is a new Connected Home devices launched by Google at its latest live event. It is a smart speaker with integrated Assistant functions and touch controls. It is now up for pre-order at a price of US$49.

At its Made by Google 2019 event, Google finally took wraps off the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones. The new Pixel 4 series comes with features such as a Soli radar chip for advanced hands-free gestures, on-device AI and voice processing, and improved AI-assisted cameras. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL can be pre-ordered starting today and will be shipping from October 24.

Google unveiled its second-generation Pixel Buds at its 2019 'Made By' event. They are truly wireless products that, as the OEM claims, have been designed to be as compact and streamlined as possible. Nevertheless, they are rated for 5 hours of battery life, or 24 hours from their charging case.

Since the regular Galaxy Note 10 has a price tag of almost US$1,000, it should be no surprise that a US$500- to US$600-priced Lite edition is already in the works and might hit the market soon. However, Samsung still has to confirm the release of this device — and other similar editions, such as the Galaxy S10 Lite.

Now is the time to try One UI 2.0, if you own a Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10+ or Galaxy S10 5G that is. Samsung has opened its One UI beta program once again, with the company giving the world the first taste of its Android 10-based OS. One UI 2.0 makes some useful refinements over the last stable release, including an improved dark mode among others.

ZTE's sub-brand Nubia has just released the dual-display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+-powered Z20 flagship worldwide. Only available in Twilight Blue and Diamond Black versions, this premium device can be acquired in most markets, including Australia, Canada, EU, Japan, or Israel. US customers can get it for US$549.

OPPO has launched a new phone, the K5. This event has proved a series of leaks true, as the phone has a new-ish Snapdragon 730G processor, 6GB SKUs and a quad rear camera with a 64MP sensor. The K5 is also the first device to feature a VOOC 4.0 battery.

The Chinese regulator TENAA has approved a new phone from the OEM ZTE. It is listed as a 4GB RAM device with a 6.1-inch HD screen and triple cameras in a Pixel-esque square housing. It is set into a rear panel that may be plastic or glass and also includes a fingerprint sensor.

OnePlus has already provided users of its recent 7-series phones with OxygenOS based on Android 10 in the form of official Open Betas. However, those who have not opted into this program can also now upgrade to this new ROM on their devices. It contains numerous 10-specific updates and improvements.

Xiaomi phones may be upgraded to telephoto lens capable of as much as 50X digital zoom in the near future. Furthermore, their optical zoom specs may improve considerably in the same generations. This rumor has srung from alleged findings that code in MIUI 11 outlines these functions.

The OEM Meizu has released teasers for a new phone, the 16T, on Weibo. It will have the same SoC (the Snapdragon 855) as its siblings, the 16s and 16s Pro. However, it will also have a bigger screen and battery compared to these pre-existing variants. The Meizu 16T will launch on October 23, 2019 for the equivalent of US$352.

The Mi 9T Pro is a rebranded Redmi K20 Pro for the global market, and can be purchased for under US$350. As such, it's a tad surprising to see the device do so well in DxOMark's test, matching last-gen flagships like the Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XR. Of course, though, there were a few issues with the phone's overall camera performance.

Just two months after the release of Q, Huawei is now sending out the stable Android Q-based EMUI 10 update to owners of the Mate 20 Pro outside China. The OTA weighs in as a heavy 4.42 GB download.

The Honor View 30—or V30 depending on where you buy it—will be Huawei's next premium phone. A short while ago, the first image of the device leaked. This time out, though, details of the phone have surfaced. Notable takeaways include 5G support, a suprising Pro model, and what looks to be a brand new, powerful 60 MP sensor by Sony.

The inability to run Google Play Services on the Huawei Mate 30 has made it a more difficult purchase decision for most in Western markets. VMOS aims to fix this to an extent.