Xiaomi to introduce Black Shark 2 Pro on July 30

Well what do you know - another smartphone company is updating its smartphone with the latest Qualcomm chipset. Xiaomi just announced on Weibo the arrival of Black Shark 2 Pro on July 30 and the phone is pretty likely to come with Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset. The official poster by Xiaomi The launch announcement comes just two days after nubia's message that it will update is Red Magic 3 gaming smartphone with Snapdragon 855 Plus in the future in a response to Asus' launch of the ROG Phone 2 on July 23. The difference between Snapdragon 855 Plus is slightly faster GPU - about...

Read More

Apple outs third public beta of iOS 13, iPadOS, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina

Today Apple is releasing a new round of betas for its operating systems. The third public beta builds for iOS 13, iPadOS, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina are now available and being distributed via the company's beta program. If you're already enrolled, then hang back and wait for the over-the-air rollout to reach your device. Otherwise, if you're interested in taking Apple's pre-release software for a spin, follow the steps outlined here to enroll. iOS 13 public beta 3 brings with it a new icon for voice messages in the Messages app, a new rearrange apps button that shows up when you...

Read More

Verizon's newly launched 5G MiFi costs $649.99

The first 5G smartphones are more expensive than their 4G counterparts, sometimes by a lot. This in a world in which even 4G top of the line devices are now routinely priced at around or over $1,000. Now if the pricing of 5G phones has shocked you, then we assume nothing could have prepared you for how much Verizon's first 5G Wi-Fi hotspot costs. The amazingly named Inseego 5G MiFi M1000 can be yours for $649.99. In case you were wondering, no, that price does not include any data traffic, it's just for the device itself. If that feels like too much, how about getting it with a...

Read More

Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e update brings Bixby Voice support, call and message continuity

Guess what? Bixby still exists. And the newest software update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e finally brings with it support for Bixby Voice, something that was promised since the tablet was announced. So this is amazing news if you own the Korean company's latest upper mid-range tablet and simply can't picture life without the Bixby voice assistant in it. You can access Bixby Voice by long pressing the power button, but this won't be enabled automatically. You need to go to the Quick Settings area in the notification shade and find the Power key for Bixby toggle, and enable that. If...

Read More

Android 9 Pie will hit the original Razer Phone soon

The Razer Phone 2 received its update to Android 9 Pie back in February, but so far the company has stayed mum on any timeline regarding the same software hitting the original Razer Phone from 2017. Today in response to an angry Reddit post, an official Razer account revealed that the update to Pie for the Razer Phone is going to become available in the coming weeks. Unfortunately no more specific timeline was shared, but this is still the first confirmation from the company that it's still planning to bring last year's Android version to its first gaming phone. The upgrade will...

Read More

Rumor: Google is ready to fully embrace 2017, fitting the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL with 6GB of RAM

Google's next flagship smartphones, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, are still a few months away from launch, which should happen in early October. But like we've seen with their predecessors (and the Pixel 3a and 3a XL), that doesn't mean they're just going to stop leaking. This time even the search giant itself contributed to the leaking game, by giving us a shot of the phones' rear design (seen below), which for the first time since the Pixel line was created forgoes the dual-finish look. Today a report from BGR, allegedly coming from "reliable inside sources", sheds some more light on...

Read More

Samsung launches the Galaxy A80 in India

Samsung has launched the Galaxy A80 in India. The phone is priced at INR 47,990 ($696) and will only be available in a single memory configuration. The Galaxy A80 is the flagship in the highest standing member of Samsung's revamped A-series. The main feature of this phone is the rotating triple camera. It sports 48MP regular 8MP ultra-wide angle and a ToF modules. When switched over to selfie mode, the camera module rises and flips forward, so you are shooting yourself with the same high quality camera used for your normal shots. The Galaxy A80 will be available for pre-booking...

Read More

OnePlus 7 update improves camera, latest 7 Pro update halted (hotfix available)

Due to a bug in the tap-to-wake feature in OxygenOS 9.5.9 for the OnePlus 7 Pro, the release of that update has been halted. Today, the company is releasing a hotfix - OxygenOS 9.5.10. The changelog is the same, with the addition of squashing that bug. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 7 is getting OxygenOS 9.5.7, less than a month after v9.5.6. This update brings many of the improvements the Pro received, starting with a tune-up of the camera. The image quality of 48MP JPGs shot in Pro mode has been improved. The photo stitching in Panorama mode has been revamped as well. OnePlus also sped up...

Read More

Samsung Galaxy S9 update brings more AR Emoji, Message Continuity

Samsung has begun issuing a new firmware update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners which brings more AR Emoji options, Call and Message Continuity and the July security update. The update bearing the G96FXXU6CSG8 designation comes in at 533 MB and is currently seeding to German users. Update changelog The AR Emoji improvements bring an updated interface with separate modes for adults and kids and an overhauled face enroll process. Another camera tweak is the improvements to the Night mode which was reportedly having some stability issues in its initial version. Samsung is also...

Read More

Xiaomi posts Mi A3 teardown video that rushes past the screen to get to the cameras

Xiaomi posted an official disassembly video of the Mi A3, its new Android One phone. The process seems simple enough: remove the hybrid card tray and pry open the back, then a screwdriver should help you go all the way. The video lingers on the cameras - the triple cam on the back and the selfie cam - as those are the best features on the phone. It also stops to point out the Snapdragon 665 chipset, which isn't everyone's favorite component. The screen specs are conveniently not mentioned in the video. There's a 0.915cc cavity for the loudspeaker, the same size as on the Redmi K20....

Read More

Apple's 2020 iPhones will have a 3D ToF sensor on the back

Some 2019 iPhones will have a triple camera, but not a 3D ToF sensor. That will change next year as Apple has reportedly contacted manufacturers of key components for such sensors. Insiders are speculating that the 3D ToF sensor will be added to the back of the phone, to enhance the AR functionality on iPhone 12 models, continuing the work started with ARKit 2 on iOS 12 (iOS 13 is bringing ARKit 3). Plus, it will improve depth-based effects like bokeh and lighting effects in the camera app. This sensor will be able to measure distances up to 4.5m away (15ft), longer than what...

Read More

Huawei to bring a sub-INR20K pop-up camera phone to India this month

Huawei is gearing up to bring its first pop-up camera phone to India by the end of this month. According to a trustworthy source, the device will retail under INR 20,000 ($290) and will cater to the millennial audience. Oppo, Realme and vivo already offer such devices so now Huawei is aiming to provide a direct rival. The rumored phone is going to be either the Huawei P Smart Z or the Y9 Prime (2019) - both featuring pop-up cameras and retailing in other markets around the $290 range. By releasing a phone in the above-mentioned price category, Huawei would be going straight after...

Read More

Honor Band 5 confirmed to launch on July 23 alongside Honor 9X

At the beginning of the month, we got a teaser for the Honor Band 5 and now the company has taken the next step. The brand has listed the wearable for pre-order on Huawei mall. The first 500 buyers who deposit CNY 19 will also receive a pair of Honor AM115 earphones as an added bonus. While we don't get a detailed spec sheet we do see the new fitness band will come in black, midnight blue and coral colors. Overall the device appears quite similar to its predecessor with an identical color screen and circular button setup. The band is expected to provide the same fitness tracking...

Read More

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 will feature a 6,840 mAh battery and 15W fast charging

The Samsung's Galaxy Tab S6's launch is fast approaching and we are learning all about it one leak at a time. Today we can add another important detail - the battery. According to a certification from the Taiwanese National Communications Commission (NCC), the latest Samsung tablet will feature a 6,840 mAh battery with 15W fast charging capabilities. The listing matches the SM-T860 model number of the Tab S6 and also reveals the device will ship with the EP-TA200 charging adapter which is capable of 15W fast charging. Galaxy Tab S6 NCC listing According to past speculations, the...

Read More

Oppo and vivo announce Dual Wi-Fi for their flagships

Two BBK Electronics smartphone brands introduced Dual Wi-Fi today - we are talking about Oppo and vivo. The feature allows your phone to connect to two wireless networks simultaneously to get better bandwidth and stability in case one of them fails. The ColorOS account on Weibo posted a neat 40-second video, showing the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom connecting to one 2.4 GHz and a secondary 5 GHz network, ramping up download speed up to 322%, while page loading speed increases by 44.5%, compared with regular Wi-Fi connectivity. In the meantime, vivo went one step...

Read More

Xiaomi Mi A3 to make its Asian debut on July 31

The Xiaomi Mi A3 announced yesterday will debut in Asia on July 31, starting with Malaysia. Xiaomi has sent out invites to the media for the launch event that will be held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The Mi A3 is a re-branded Mi CC9e for the global markets and is a part of the Android One program, running stock Android instead of the company's custom Android skin - MIUI. Xiaomi Mi A3 in Blue, White, and Gray colors The smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 665 SoC and comes in two memory versions - 4GB/64GB priced at €249 ($280) and 4GB/128GB priced at €279...

Read More

All Samsung Galaxy Note10+ units will have 5G, 12GB RAM and at least 512GB storage in China

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 will be unveiled early next month and thanks to leaks, we already know what to expect. Reliable leakster @IceUniverse has reported the memory configurations for the Chinese market as well as summarized the upgrades over the Galaxy S10 family. The premium Galaxy Note10+ will be fully kitted out - it will come only in 5G flavor with 12GB of RAM and a minimum of 512GB storage. There will probably be a 1TB version (it's not clear whether the Note10+ will have a microSD slot or not, which will play a big role in how many people buy the 1TB model). The vanilla Galaxy...

Read More

Oppo A9 comes to India at €200

The Oppo A9 has made its way to India almost three months after its debut in China. It comes in a single 4GB/128GB option priced at INR15,490 ($225/€200) and will go on sale from July 20 through online and offline stores across the country. The A9 comes with Helio P70 SoC and is built around a 6.53" FHD+ display which houses a 16MP selfie camera inside its notch. Oppo A9 in Mica Green, Ice Jade White, and Fluorite Purple colors Around the back, the smartphone has a conventional fingerprint scanner above which is the dual camera setup comprising of 16MP main and 2MP depth...

Read More

Verizon rolls out Android Pie for Nokia 2 V

HMD Global released Android Pie (Go Edition) for the Nokia 2.1 back in February and now, Verizon's 2.1 - better known as the Nokia 2 V - is also getting a taste of the latest version of Android. The new firmware sporting version number 00WW_1_13A is rolled out over the air and comes with June 1, 2019 security patch. It includes the usual Android Pie goodies like new system navigation and new settings menu, but it also updates the camera app. The Nokia 2 V camera app now supports Square Mode which should make it easier for users to capture photos for Instagram. Besides, it also...

Read More

Samsung starts mass producing 12Gb LPDDR5 DRAM ahead of Galaxy Note10 launch

Samsung announced today it began mass production of its latest 12-gigabit LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, which is optimized for AI and 5G features in future smartphones, one of which could be the upcoming Galaxy Note10. It arrives less than six months after the 12 GB LPDDR4X entered mass production and with data rates of 5,500 Mb per second the LPDDR5 is 30% faster than its predecessor. 12 Gb LPDDR5 DRAM by Samsung The new LPDDR5 memory is built on the second-generation 10-nm class process, revealed Jung-bae Lee, VP of DRAM Product & Technology at Samsung. It will support...

Read More

Asus ROG Phone 2 drops by TENAA to reveal spec sheet

We already know the Asus ROG Phone 2 will be the first phone to ship with the newly announced Snapdragon 855 Plus. We even got to see the phone in the flesh and now the upcoming Asus gaming phone passed through China's TENAA certification agency revealing a preliminary spec sheet. Four models of the ROG Phone 2 bearing the ASUS_I001DA, I001DB, I00DC and I00DD model names appeared on the certification agency site. The dimensions are 170.99 x 77.6 x 9.78 mm and the design is slightly refined from last year's model. Asus ROG Phone 2 Upfront, we have a 6.59-inch 18:9 display...

Read More

Instagram now hides post likes in more countries

In Canada, Instagram has been testing a change to its platform that hides the number of likes on posts so only the owner can see them. Now Instagram has expanded the trial to several new countries including Ireland, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. Likes are usually used as a metric to compare posts to one another, as well as subjectively measure popularity. We are testing this because we want your followers to focus on the photos and videos you share, not on how many likes they get. Instagram has recently rolled out a new anti-bullying measure that pre-flags nasty...

Read More

Redmi Note 7, Note 7 Pro now available in Mirror Flower Water Moon color

Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi teased the Redmi Note 7 series in a new color two days ago. And now the company has revealed that the shade is called Mirror Flower Water Moon and is already available for purchase in China through the company's online store. Granted this is a machine translation of the symbols for the Moon reflection on the water, so it isn't as much a tongue twister as it initially appears. The Mirror Flower Water Moon variant of the Redmi Note 7 comes in 6GB/64GB configuration at CNY1,399 ($205/€180), while the Pro variant is offered in 6GB/128GB configuration and costs...

Read More