Tablet

Huawei had reportedly removed all Tencent games from its first-party mobile app market, AppGallery, following an objection from the software giant as to how much of the takings it retained from sales of the app in question. This remuneration structure has also led to disagreements between the OEM and other developers.

Microsoft equips the second generation of its compact convertible with a slightly bigger screen and an optional LTE modem. The performance of the passively cooled device is sufficient for everyday tasks, but modern ARM tablets are more powerful and offer longer battery runtimes.

Microsoft could be planning on offering a much-needed minor but vital spec bump with the base variant of the upcoming Surface Pro 8. The entry level device in the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 series comes with i3 processor and 4 GB RAM. However, it’s believed the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 will come with an 8 GB RAM option for the basic model.

The EMUI 11 and Magic UI 4.0 open public testing phase for 14 smartphones and tablets based on the HiSilicon Kirin 980 SoC has started for users in China. Owners of different-region models of devices such as the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Huawei Mate X, Honor 20 Pro, and Huawei MediaPad M6 can expect the software update by early 2021.

SMIC is a chipmaker that recently reported the development of its own 7 nanometer (nm) node. However, its plans for this silicon may have become somewhat limited, as the outgoing Trump administration has followed through on a threat to place the foundry on its trade blacklist. The drone OEM DJI is another big name in the latest rounds of these sanctions.

There are some indications that certain OEMs might get to their first rollable phone release in 2021. However, according to a new leak, Samsung will not be one of them. Then again, the same new tip points to a "triple-folding" tablet from the OEM for next year, as well as its first transparent display phone.

ENACFIRE's Soundtank is a new portable Bluetooth speaker with an IPX7 rating for ingress-protection, and, thus, that "take-anywhere" selling point. Inside, it is packed with 2x20W speakers that support a Bass+ feature. The new audio accessory is also USB type C, which powers a "24-hour" battery.

Xiaomi is rumored to be working on both a new foldable smartphone and tablet, which could make appearances in 2021. A potential Mi Pad 5 tablet would be a welcome addition to the stagnating Xiaomi Mi Pad range, whereas the “Cetus” or “Mi Fold” smartphone will apparently feature a screen with a high refresh rate.

Microsoft is working on its own in-house design for a server chip as it jumps on the Arm CPU bandwagon. The in-house design effort could also lead to custom Arm-based silicon for its own Surface line of computers, some of which already feature Arm designs co-developed with Qualcomm.

A Twitter-based leaker claims to have found new Geekbench listings that show Mac devices based on the new M1 silicon running Windows on ARM (WoA) via the Parallels desktop. Not only that, but this new combination apparently results in scores about double those achieved by the SQ2-powered Surface Pro X, which runs this kind of OS by default.

The Italian telecomms company Fastweb is one of a number of European firms that are early adopters of 5G mmWave-based fixed wireless access (FWA) as services for customers. It has announced that the consumer premises equipment (CPE) that delivers this new kind of "broadband" will be based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem.

JLab Audio has released its latest TWS earbuds rated for active noise cancellation (ANC). There are 2 varaints in this new Epic Air line: AirPod-clone and non-AirPod clone with earhooks for active use. They offer long battery life, a low-latency mode and a patented inbuilt USB cable for their charging cases.

Many details about the Surface Pro 8 have already been revealed, and now memory configurations can be added to the list. Microsoft's next 2-in-1 will support LTE connectivity too, rather than the newer 5G standard.

Xiaomi has launched the Mi EBook Reader Pro as expected and has revealed the e-reader’s specifications. Naturally, the Mi EBook Reader Pro is a step up from the non-Pro variant, but at a regular price of 1,299 yuan (US$198) the new Xiaomi device also holds up quite well against the more-expensive Kindle Oasis from Amazon.

Korean rag ETNews is reporting that Samsung has four foldable models coming in 2021. The rumor solidifies rumors that Samsung is planning to drop the Note model from its line next year in order to shift focus to its flexible screened devices.

Announced back in August, the 11.5-inch Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is now finally available for purchase. Priced at US$499.99 and up, this slate features an OLED with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels and Dolby Vision, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor, and 4 GB/128 GB and up of memory/storage.

More details have started to surface about LG’s upcoming high-end smartphones for 2021. The rollable will take a leaf out of Oppo’s playbook while the flagship handset is going to go toe-to-toe with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S21 in more ways than one.

A new leak points to a new Samsung device called the "Book Go". This strongly suggests that it may be a new notebook or convertible from the OEM, to join other variants such as the S or the Flex. This possible PC might debut at CES 2021.

The phrase "OLED Provided by Samsung" has been submitted as a trademark by the OEM in question with the European Union's Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It has led to speculation that this move is part of the company's run-up to CES 2021. It may also simply serve to underpin its position in the relevant market.

A new report from China reveals multiple details about the next iPad, tentatively called the iPad 9. The budget iPad is apparently due for release in Spring 2021, a release date that has been spoken of for the next iPad Pro. The iPad 9 will supposedly feature a larger display and an A13 Bionic chipset, but there is at least one disappointment in store.

Today (December 10, 2020) is a Thursday, which means GeForce NOW has new games to add to its library. NVIDIA has announced that Cyberpunk 2077 is one of them, which makes it a day-and-date release alongside other services such as the Epic Games Store. This streaming platform is also the official host of the Game Awards Festival.

A patent filed by Xiaomi has revealed a new rollable phone that is fitted with a retractable display. The user can operate the pull-out screen in the so-called Xiaomi Mi Alpha R to turn the smartphone into a tablet-like device. The patented smartphone borrows heavily from the design of the Mi Mix Alpha but with the addition of a rollable display.

No major external design facelifts are planned for these two models, but the spec updates should make for a decent upgrade. The Surface Pro 8 is getting Tiger Lake CPU options, while the Surface Laptop 4 is said to feature Tiger Lake, as well as new custom "Surface Edition" AMD Ryzen 4000 processors.

The start-up RollingSquare scored a major crowdfunding win with its original inCharge product, a miniature cable that clicks together with magnets to form a keychain for portability. Now, it is back with a new version, rated to deliver up to 100 watts (W) of power when connected to a compatible device.

Samsung has launched foldable smartphones that bend into clamshell or book shapes to date. However, its latest patents suggest that these almost-familiar form-factors are to become obsolete quite soon. They hint at new kinds of Galaxy Z Folds and Z Flips with at least 2 hinges each.

The Italian carrier TIM, Ericsson and Qualcomm have collaborated on a project to push millimeter-wave 5G reception beyond its current limits. This work has resulted in the ability to pick this signal up at high speed from 6.5 kilometers away. Then again, this was not done with smartphones, but rather with equipment for potential next-gen wireless broadband.

Eve has finally made the successor to the Eve V available. However, the 2-in-1 effectively starts at US$1,449 with a keyboard and pen, and it will not begin shipping until Q3 2021 at the earliest. The Eve V 2021 packs some impressive specifications though, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a choice of Tiger Lake-U series processors.

Earlier, Eve Devices had hinted that its next product event would be for its long-hyped second-gen convertible PC, the V 2020. Now, the OEM has confirmed that this is the case. It has also teased the device with some specs and pre-order details.

The M30 Pro is a budget tablet by Teclast that has plenty going for it. Priced at US$189.99, the M30 Pro ships with Android 10, supports dual-LTE connectivity and has a 7,500 mAh battery. Teclast has included 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage and an octa-core processor, too.

Baseus has launched a series of new slim, high-tech third-party chargers equipped with gallium nitride (GaN) technology. One of them is rated to charge 2 devices at up to 60 watts (W) at once. This may make it a good companion for laptops such as the MacBook Pro.

Apple is running a gift card giveaway Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Qualifying purchases will see the buyer rewarded with a card worth from US$25/£20/€25 up to US$150/£120/€150. The deal includes many major Apple products such as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE, the iPad Pro, Beats headphones, and even the premium MacBook Pro 16.

Officially, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 LTE only costs 290 Euros ($345; $290 in the US) and convinces with good equipment and performance despite being so affordable. Find out the most important information on the strengths and weaknesses of the 10.4-inch tablet in our overview of the test.

The first sighting of the Surface Laptop 4 has appeared, as has another of the Surface Pro 8. This time, the two devices have appeared on the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, confirming their designs and model numbers. Microsoft is expected to announce the Surface Laptop 4 and Surface Pro 8 early next year with Tiger Lake chipsets.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold has received its first reviews, a full eighteen months after the company showcased a prototype. However, early tests have highlighted performance issues with its Intel Lakefield processor and the limitations of its foldable form factor. The ThinkPad X1 Fold starts at US$2,499.

The Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reportedly held a ribbon-cutting event for a new fabrication unit dedicated to the production of 3 nanometer (nm) chips. They are the basis for next-gen processors in which companies such as Intel may have already expressed an interest.

The ARM-based Apple M1 chip has made a star turn appearance on the AnTuTu benchmark as the key component in a MacBook Air. The M1 managed to rack up way over one million points, leaving the Apple silicon, including the A12Z Bionic in the iPad Pro 4 and the performance-friendly A14 in the iPad Air (2020), trailing far behind.

A new Xiaomi smartphone patent has been shared depicting a foldable device that utilizes a pop-up solution for the front-facing camera. This allows for a full-screen tablet mode that is left unblemished by the presence of a selfie camera. It has often been rumored that Xiaomi could introduce a foldable smartphone into the innovative Mi Mix range.

Rising Taiwanese semiconductor maker MediaTek looks like it wants a bigger slice of the high-end mobile devices segment. The company’s recent Dimensity 1000 series signalled its intentions and now the purported appearance of a new MT6893 SoC on Geekbench 5 suggests it is closing in on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset.

The Eve V 2020 is an upcoming device touted as a potential Microsoft Surface Pro rival. Its manufacturer has issued a December 2020 "save the date", with strong overtones of an unveiling or statement related to the Tiger Lake 2-in-1 to occur on the date in question. However, nothing is certain as yet.

Qualcomm, Nokia and the carrier Elisa claim to have achieved the world's fastest data-transfer speed over millimeter-wave (mmWave) 5G. This was done using dedicated hardware and resources from these 3 partners, and was reportedly demonstrated at Elisa's flagship store in Helsinki, Finland.

The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) and NFC Forum have announced that they will collaborate on a project to develop a new kind of charging for those mobile devices that come equipped with their own digital pens. Doing so via NFC might mean that the stylus in question could share data with its paired phone or tablet and power up at the same time.

Oppo has unveiled its Oppo X 2021 rollable OLED display smartphone. The concept device takes a different approach to the smartphone-tablet hybrid foldable OLED designs we have seen from Huawei and Samsung. The end result, however, is similar as it delivers a device that is both a smartphone and tablet in one.

Eve Devices has already invited feedback on the keyboard and chassis of its second-generation "crowd-designed" convertible, the V 2020. Now, it's the turn of its chipset, RAM, wireless connectivity and other specs. The company seems to want to assess the popularity of more expensive options with their new poll.

With its "organic glass" body and in-built candle-effect lighting, the LSPX-S2 speaker has been designed to be enjoyed for its looks at as much as its sound. Then again, Sony claims its audio is also effective thanks to its "Advanced Vertical Drive Technology". It is now available on Amazon.com or select retailers throughout the US.

Canalys is reporting a second quarter of growth in the international personal computing category during the third quarter of 2020. This growth was likely driven by an increase in people working or schooling from home with overall growth up 23% compared to the same period last year.