Google Pixel 3 Lite XL appears on GeekBench again, this time with even less RAM

The Google Pixel 3 Lite XL has just been spotted on the GeekBench Browser, yet again. It also seems like this might be the official name of the unreleased midrange Pixel handset. The first benchmark revealed 6GB of RAM, then 4GB RAM, and now just 3GB of RAM. The respective runs' scores are progressively slower, you're about to find out why that is. While previous benchmarks were run with a Snapdragon 710 onboard, the latest benchmark is run with an "MSM8953" which is the technical code for the Snapdragon 625. We really hope this is purely for Google's thorough testing purposes because a...

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Verizon's 5G Moto Mod going up for pre-order as carrier announces the first two 5G markets

Today, Verizon is announcing the first two 5G markets and further details about the 5G Moto Mod intended for use with the Moto Z3. Starting on March 15, customers can pre-order the 5G Moto Mod for $50 by adding a $10/month surcharge to any Unlimited plan for 5G service. That Moto Mod has a full retail price of $350 and you'll need a Moto Z3 for the Mod to work, at least initially. Motorola would update previous-generation Moto Z devices to work with the Mod. We'd expect at least the Z2 Force would support it but the first-generation Moto Z, well... it's not certain. The 5G Moto Mod has...

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Xiaomi Mi 9 survives durability test but disappoints with its sapphire camera protection

If you were anxiously waiting for another trademark durability test performed by Zack from JerryRigEverything, you needn't wait any longer. The latest device to be put through his scratch, burn, and bend testing routine is none other than Xiaomi's Mi 9. You can watch the video embedded below to find out how it fares (spoiler alert: it passes with flying colors) when being confronted with scratches, a burn on the screen, as well as being bent from both sides. While that might be par for the course for a flagship smartphone in this day and age, Xiaomi advertises "sapphire glass"...

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Mozilla launches Firefox Send, a free file transfer service

Mozilla has launched Firefox Send, a free file sharing service where users can upload files to the service and then share the URL with others. Users can upload files up to 1GB at a time or create a free Mozilla account to upload up to 2.5GB. Once the files are uploaded, you can choose how many times the files can be downloaded by the recipient (up to 100 times) before the link expires. Alternatively, you can instead choose a time period (up to 7 days) after which the link automatically expires. To make it even more secure, you can add a password to the link and share the password...

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BOE aims to supply Apple with displays for next-gen iPhones

Samsung is about to face some stiff competition in the OLED display business. New reports show that Chinese display manufacturer BOE is updating the assembly lines in its Sichuan facility to allow the production of OLED screens with an integrated touch sensor. The company is already the leader in the LCD panel business and one of Huawei's main display suppliers. While it remains to be seen how polished BOE's offering is, sources point that mass production is imminent. Before integrated touch sensors, a separate film had to be installed on top of the display. The benefit of having the...

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Spotify files complaint against Apple with European Commission for unfair practices

Spotify today announced that it is filing a complaint with the European Commission against Apple. Spotify is claiming anti-competitive and discriminatory behavior on Apple's part with regards to the operation of the App Store. According to Spotify, Apple has repeatedly made it difficult for companies like Spotify to provide services to its customers. Spotify has provided an entire timeline of the events, going all the way back to 2010 when Apple started changing the guidelines for its App Store. The timeline eventually moves to more serious issues, where Apple disallowed alternate...

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Android Q Beta 1 is now available for all Pixels

Today Google has released the first beta build of Android Q, which you can install if you have a Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, or Pixel 3 XL. The continued support for the original Pixel and Pixel XL comes as a bit of a surprise, as these devices are already past their promised support window for new features (which at the time was two years from release). While it's unclear if this means they will also get the final build of Android Q, due out in the third quarter of 2019 (so July to September), such a move does seem pretty likely now - otherwise why go through the...

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Sony Xperia 10 Plus review

The 10 Plus, along with the smaller 10, are the first two phones that will attempt to sell you on a 21:9 screen - Sony may want you to think the flagship Xperia 1 is the true ambassador of the crazy-tall aspect, but that one is months away and the 10s are here now.

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Huawei P30 Pro zoom camera tested in leaked camera samples

The Huawei P30 Pro will have a periscope zoom camera - 5x is what we're hearing, going up to 10x when coupled with digital zoom. We saw some camera samples from Barcelona a week ago, now more photos have surfaced from two different locations. They show what the camera can do at various focal lengths and with some very challenging lighting. We start with these photos from a concert, which is a digital camera's worst nightmare - a pitch black venue with bright spotlights. Huawei P30 Pro camera samples showing off the zoom camera Note that while most of the...

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Samsung opens up the largest Galaxy store in Tokyo

Samsung just opened its largest Galaxy showcase store in Tokyo and called it Galaxy Harajuku. In fact, this is the biggest Galaxy showcase store ever and it opened exactly 500 days before the Olympics in 2020. After all, Samsung has been the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category for decades. The store itself looks pretty cool. It's an eight-story building with the front facade featuring 1,000 rotating Galaxy smartphones that illuminate the structure. The phones light up in sequence to create various patterns of light. Galaxy showcase...

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Indian Redmi Note 7 gets a dedicated Night camera mode

The Redmi Note 7 is still fresh on the shelves and it's already getting an important update for the camera software. It adds the dedicated Night mode, which we saw in the Mi Mix 3 and the international Redmi Note 7 unit we reviewed a couple of weeks ago. The phone didn't launch with the Night mode initially in India so Xiaomi is now bringing the software feature over an OTA update. And it appears that it's a big one too - it's 500MB in size and carries a build number MIUI 10.2.7.0.PEGINXM. However, the March security patch isn't included. You can check out the camera section of...

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HMD releases environmental profiles of device lineup

The Nokia of old was known to deliver handsets that were kind to the environment and it looks like HMD is continuing the tradition. If you've ever been interested in the materials and substances contained in your Nokia phone or what percentage of the packaging came from recyclable materials, the company now has you covered. With the new environmental profile section, you can enjoy a detailed breakdown of select Nokia branded phones ranging from featurephones such as the refreshed 3310 and 8110 all the way up to smartphones like the Nokia 5.1. Nokia 5.1 environmental profile...

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Samsung shows off 10 firsts and 10 bests of the Galaxy S10

Samsung introduced the Galaxy S10 back in February, and the phone is already selling across the globe. It has plenty of new features, and the company posted a neat infographic, showcasing the 10 firsts and 10 bests the new flagship is bringing to the smartphone world. Samsung Galaxy S10 Infographic Samsung said "the Galaxy S10 line is jam-packed with next-gen technology" and we can agree some of them are quite impressive. There is HDR10+ recording and Wi-Fi 6, plus the unprecedented the memory combo of 12 GB RAM and 1 TB internal storage. Another proud moment for the...

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HMD is working on fixes for the Nokia 9 PureView camera, in-display FP reader

The Nokia 9 PureView has been in the hands of consumers for a bit over a week now and a few issues have cropped up. HMD's Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas has addressed them on Twitter and promised a fix is coming. First up is the camera, which can crash when the battery is low - a voltage drop is the culprit here. That's not the only issue that users are complaining about, however, the software has a tough time when both Depth mode and DNG RAW are enabled. Next is the in-display fingerprint reader, which isn't the most reliable. HMD is working on improving that one as...

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Sony Xperia 1 is on Amazon for $1,000, but it's likely a publicity stunt

Sony introduced the Xperia 1 with the first 4K OLED panel on a smartphone back at MWC 2019. The 21:9 phone was announced without a price tag, but eventually, its UK pre-orders started at £849. Now the flagship is available for pre-order in the US on Amazon with a $999.99 price tag which is most likely a mockup and not the real deal. Sony Xperia 1 listing Since the Xperia 1 with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage was listed for the equivalent of $1,100 by Clove UK, the $999.99 may not be too strange at first. However, currency conversion and pricing across the Pond does not work that way,...

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Huawei P30 teaser videos focus on the camera's night mode and zoom capabilities

Huawei Mall has posted a couple of promo videos for the new Huawei P30. The first teases a "Super Bright" image, though it doesn't quite make it clear if that means a super bright display or a night mode for the camera (the P20 and Mate 20 are pretty strong in this regard). The next teaser video is easier to guess - "Super Close" refers to the 5x periscope camera on the P30 Pro. The zoom capabilities are a big part of Huawei's teaser campaign, though you shouldn't take teasers at face value. Anyway, here's one more video (this one not from an official account) that is a nod at...

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Black Shark 2 key specs confirmed, trailer surfaces online

Black Shark is all set to unveil its third gaming smartphone - the Black Shark 2 - on March 18. And just a few days ahead of the launch, the company has confirmed its key specifications. Black Shark CEO Peter Wu has shared a poster on Chinese social network Weibo which confirms Snapdragon 855 and 12 GB RAM on the Black Shark 2. Wu also said that this smartphone will come with e-sports grade battery which will offer 60% improved performance over its predecessor. The company previously confirmed that the Black Shark 2 will come with a liquid cooling technology dubbed Liquid Cool...

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Microsoft showcases its game streaming service Project xCloud

Video and music streaming services have long become dominant worldwide yet the gaming industry hasn't quite caught up to the likes of Netflix and Spotify. Microsoft is looking to capitalize on the opportunity to allow gamers on the go access to its Xbox library via mobile devices with its new Project xCloud. In a recent Inside Xbox episode, CVP of Gaming Cloud Kareem Choudhry brought a working version of the new gaming service working on what appears to be a Samsung Galaxy S9. The phone was connected to an Xbox controller and ran Forza Horizon 4 in impressive fashion. We believe...

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Camera samples from Oppo Reno show off its 10x zooming

Oppo announced a new product line called Reno and it has come up with a clever way to tease its 10x zoom camera - combining a photo from the wide camera with an overlay from the zoom camera, showing just how much of a difference it makes. The photos show famous landmarks: George Washington at Mount Rushmore, the Sphinx at Giza, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and others. Oppo Reno camera samples showing off its 10x zoom capability The phone is set to be unveiled in early April and is based on the prototype Oppo showed at the MWC. It will be powered by a Snapdragon...

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Xiaomi opens Black Shark 2 registrations

Xiaomi will announce the Black Shark 2 on March 18 and has just opened pre-registrations for the smartphone. You can sign up to be among the first to know when the phone is available for pre-order on the Black Shark website, JD.com and the Mi Store. Xiaomi Black Shark 2 posters The Black Shark 2 can be found listed for pre-order - there is a "Buy" button but it doesn't do anything at this point. There is also a price tag of CNY9,999 which is clearly a placeholder, there is a very little chance Xiaomi will actually want you to pay $1,500 for its gaming smartphone. Xiaomi...

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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) receiving Android Pie update

This past weekend, Samsung rolled out the Android Pie update for Galaxy A8+ (2018). And now, the company has started seeding this latest version of Android for yet another A series smartphone - the Galaxy A9 (2018). The update carries version number A920FXXU1BSC5 and bumps up the Android security patch level on the smartphone to February 2019. However, this update is currently only rolled out in Poland. According to the rollout schedule previously shared by Samsung through its Samsung Members app, the Galaxy A9 (2018) is slated to receive Android Pie in April so we can expect a wider...

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Oppo Reno to arrive in four colors

Oppo Reno is arriving on April 10, but thanks to leaksters, we know what the phone will look like from the back. According to a source from China, the new device with the 10x zoom periscope camera will be introduced in Black, Green, Purple, and Pink. Oppo Reno in Purple and Pink A teaser from yesterday suggested the Aurora Green color we've known from the Oppo R17 Pro, but today's images suggest quite different design of the back panel, which raises the question which of the two leaks is an artist rendition (there's also a chance they both are). Oppo Reno in Green...

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vivo X27 key specs officially confirmed ahead of March 19 launch

vivo is all set to unveil the X27 on March 19, and thanks to TENAA, we already know what this smartphone will come packed with. However, just ahead of the launch, the company has shared two posters confirming key specifications of the X27. These posters confirm that the X27 will come with a 48 MP rear camera, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, and a 4,000 mAh battery. One of the posters also hints at the smartphone coming with a Night Mode for better low light photography. Previously leaked images have shown us that the X27 looks similar to the V15 Pro. It also appeared on TENAA with a...

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Judiciary committee overseeing T-Mobile/Sprint merger raises concerns about spending at Trump hotels

T-Mobile and Sprint are currently still being reviewed by the Department of Justice and the FCC in the US before they can be approved or denied to move on with the merger of the two carriers. On March 12, a House Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing about the merger where concerns were raised about the merger and events leading up to its supposed approval. T-Mobile CEO, John Legere, gave the opening statement where he offered many points we've already heard before including the race to 5G which would increase a number of jobs, the merger would expedite the nationwide expansion of 5G, and...

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Huawei P30 Pro passes by AnTuTu

Huawei P30 Pro has two more weeks before it is officially announced, but right after yesterday's Geekbench appearance, today the phone was benchmarked at AnTuTu, revealing some specs we already heard about and the chipset performance as well. The phone with model number VOG-L29 reached 286,152, slightly more than the official Huawei Mate 20 benchmarks last fall. The Kirin 980 chipset and 8/256 GB memory is nothing new but is something to get giddy about. The listing also revealed the Huawei P30 Pro will have Full HD+ resolution and tall ratio, which was also expected, although...

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