vivo iQOO Pro 5G to arrive officially on August 22

Ever since Qualcomm introduced the upgraded Snapdragon 855 SoC, gaming smartphones started arriving in new versions - Asus ROG Phone II, ZTE nubia Red Magic 3, Black Shark 2 Pro. Now, vivo is also joining in, with the iQOO Pro 5G, and will introduce it to the world in exactly two weeks time on August 22. While the Dongguan-based phone manufacturer did not officially say anything about Snapdragon 855+, it is obvious the new iQOO handset is coming out to compete with the other gaming smartphones. According to rumored specs and leaked photos of the phone that was expected to be called...

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Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL to sport 90Hz displays, rear camera details leak

Samsung announced a couple of new phones today, but Google is still working hard on its 2019 flagships, to be unveiled in early October (if it sticks to the usual schedule). Many tidbits about the new Pixels have already been outed, but a new rumor today comes to confirm some details and reveal others for the first time. Both phones are said to sport 90Hz AMOLED displays, with the smaller Pixel getting a 5.7" FHD+ unit, while the larger Pixel 4 XL will use a 6.3" QHD+ part. Google will brand these "Smooth Display", because "Fluid AMOLED" was apparently taken. On the back Google's giving...

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Samsung made its own Galaxy Note10 hands-on videos because why not

We assume you've already gone through our hands-on review of Samsung's newly announced Galaxy Note10 and Note10+. But what if you want to see even more of these two devices, preferably in video form? Samsung to your rescue then. For some reason the company has decided to publish its own bunch of hands-on videos of the phones, one-upping media outlets left and right. Be advised though that even if they're called hands-on videos, these are more of the promo video variety, with each one focusing on a specific aspect of the new handsets, letting you know them better this way. Also don't expect...

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IHS: Samsung gains, Apple slips as smartphone market contracts in Q2

The smartphone market saw shipments decline for the 7th quarter in a row, latest report from IHS Markit claims. Global shipments in Q2 were down to 331.2 million, a decline of 3.6% compared to the same period last year. The Huawei ban went into effect in the middle of the quarter, so the full impact of it is yet to be seen. So far the company seems to be weathering the storm well - it shipped 58.7 million units, essentially even with the numbers from last year. It made up the decline in foreign sales with stronger performance in the domestic market. Samsung was the biggest smartphone...

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Huawei Mate 30 Pro spotted in the wild once again

What is it about subways that makes the Huawei Mate 30 Pro come out of hiding? In its second trip to the wild the phone is once again snapped riding the tube and once again in a design-protecting case that hinders our view. What little we can gather from the image below the Mate 30 Pro will retain the notch (just like the earlier leak suggested) and it will likely serve for face identification. Sadly, once again we don't get a look at the rear of the Mate 30 Pro, which is subject to a lot of questions. A recent case maker tried to predict the camera array of the Mate 30 Pro,...

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HTC U12+ receives Android 9.0 Pie in Europe

Just over a month ago, the first HTC U12+ units started receiving Android 9.0 Pie. Today, almost a year after the release of Android Pie, European owners are finally getting the latest publicly available version of Android. The changelog, however, isn't very descriptive - it just says it's upgrading the OS to 9.0 Pie and that it brings some system enhancements. Google+ and BlinkFeed are also getting the axe since Google shut its service some time ago. Oh, and the firmware bumps up the U12+ to July security patch. As usual, maybe not all units will receive the OTA update from day one...

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vivo S1 hands-on review

Vivo just announced its Y7s smartphone for India with a different name - vivo S1. Way more manageable to be honest. But we are not here to talk about the different aliases of the phone. Instead, we will take a closer look at the device in person and see what's all about. The vivo S1 is a mid-range phone with some 2019 features. An improved MediaTek Helio P65 chipset sits behind the wheel based on the 12nm manufacturing process and it's paired with either 4 or 6GB of RAM depending on the configuration you choose. Internal storage is always 128GB, though, which is pretty generous,...

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vivo S1 launched in India, starting at INR 17,990

A couple of weeks after its Chinese debut as the Y7s, the vivo S1 has made its way to India. The device packs a compelling spec sheet with a 6.38-inch Super AMOLED display, triple camera setup and large battery starting at INR 17,990 ($253) for the 4GB RAM and 128 GB storage version. Upfront, we have a 6.38-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a UD fingerprint scanner and notch for the 32MP selfie cam. Under the hood, the S1 packs the MediaTek Helio P65 chipset paired with 4 or 6GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. The camera department features a triple sensor array with a 16MP F/1.78...

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Realme 5 four-cam setup detailed

The CEO of Realme India changed his Twitter name yesterday, revealing the new name of the incoming four-camera smartphone - it will be Realme 5. Today the company announced on Weibo more details about the 64 MP main shooter. Screenshots from the camera presentation The Realme 5 will have the Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor and it appears it will be the first phone to do so, even before the Redmi flagship. The size of it is 1/1.72", with a pixel size of 0.8µm, making it even bigger than the 48 MP ISOCELL Bright GM1 platform, used in other phones from the same price...

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Realme 5 four-cam setup revealed online

The CEO of Realme India changed his Twitter name yesterday, revealing the new name of the incoming four-camera smartphone - it will be Realme 5. Today the company announced on Weibo more details about the 64 MP main shooter. Screenshots from the camera presentation The Realme 5 will have the Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor and it appears it will be the first phone to do so, even before the Redmi flagship. The size of it is 1/1.72", with a pixel size of 0.8µm, making it even bigger than the 48 MP ISOCELL Bright GM1 platform, used in other phones from the same price...

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Smartwatch market grows, Apple maintains a massive lead

As the smartphone market is cooling off, the smartwatch market is growing at an accelerating pace. 12 million units were shipped during Q2 this year, a growth of 44% compared to the same period last year. The Apple Watch maintains its massive lead - Cupertino shipped an impressive 5.7 million units, meaning it controls nearly half of the market. Samsung is in pursuit with 2 million shipments in Q2. That's more than double the number from the same period last year. It still has a way to go, but Strategy Analytics believes the Galaxy Watch Active2 and other new models will help it expand...

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Sony challenged filmmaking students to shoot short films on Xperia 1

Sony partnered with San Francisco's Academy of Arts University for the Sony Xperia Summer Film Fest. Using the Cinema Pro app and Creator mode on the Sony Xperia 1, students had to shoot a short film (under 5 minutes) based on the words "kando", "joy" or "wonder". The top 25 entries were selected and now it's up to you to vote for the winner - head over to XperiaFilmFest to watch the films and vote for your favorite. The winner will receive $10,000 to help fund their future projects. Entries in the Sony Xperia Summer Film Fest As you can...

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Xiaomi Mi 9 5G coming with QHD screen, OIS and larger battery

We've been hearing rumors lately of an upcoming 5G phone from Xiaomi which bagged certifications in China. Up until now, it was believed that the device bearing the M1908F1XE model number was the next Mi Mix phone but now a new report clarifies that it's actually be a 5G version of the Xiaomi Mi 9. #Xiaomi #5G #XiaomiMi95G My chinese colleague said that new Xiaomi Mi 9 5G (model M1908F1XE) should have some new features: 1) screen becomes bigger 2k 2) main shot for new plus OIS 3) battery increase— Xiaomishka (@xiaomishka) August 7, 2019 Xiaomi tipster Xiaomishka says a trustworthy...

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Google Pixel 4 XL case renders give us a closer look at the triple camera

We get another set of Google Pixel 4 XL images, confirming the unsightly camera cutout at the back. This time around they come from a Chinese case maker. The pictures offer a closer look at the back camera design and picture three lenses - main, telephoto and an ultra wide-angle one. The top camera seems a little bigger than on the previous renders, but since case makers only get info about the size of cutouts required we wouldn't read anything into the actual elements pictured inside. There's still plenty of time before the October release. Historically, Pixel phones have been...

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Blue Samsung Galaxy Note10+ pops up hours before launch

We're just several hours removed from Samsung's big Galaxy Note10 announcement and the leaks keep on coming. The latest news comes courtesy of Evan Blass who managed to get hold of an official-looking image of the Galaxy Note10+ in a blue paint job. Yesterday we got to see the Rose color of the Note10 and we've already seen the Aura Glow, Black and White colorways so we know what colors to look forward to. If you want a brief rundown of what to expect from today's announcement check out our rumor roundup and stay tuned for full coverage of the Galaxy Unpacked event...

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Redmi with 64MP camera coming in Q4, Mi Mix 4 to get a 108MP sensor

Realme formally announced its partnership with Samsung to bring a smartphone with its new 64MP ISOCELL sensor to market in Q4 of this year. Xiaomi claims Redmi will be one of the first brands in the world to feature the new sensor. It should come to India first and will likely be the Redmi Note 8. #Redmi will be one of the 1st brands in the world to launch a mind-blowing, powerful and class-leading #64MP camera.The #FutureOfCamera is in unprecedented details.RT to spread the word. pic.twitter.com/nS15G3YH0I— Redmi India for #MiFans (@RedmiIndia) August 7, 2019 The Samsung-made...

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OnePlus 7 Pro 5G launch in China is right around the corner

The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is already selling in some markets, but it is yet to arrive in its maker's homeland. The phone appeared on TENAA now though, meaning its Chinese launch is imminent. The device with model number GM1925 revealed itself in images, showcasing its Nebula Blue back with a "OnePlus 5G" moniker. The phone is virtually identical to the regular OnePlus 7 Pro, aside from the presence of the Snapdragon X50 modem on the SD855 chipset. It is a sleek device with a 6.67" screen with QHD+ resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate. On the inside it sports up to 12 GB RAM and up to 256 GB...

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Samsung Galaxy Note10 to launch in India on August 20

Today is Galaxy Note10 day, as you may know. Samsung is busy with the finishing touches readying its big event where it will unveil the Note10 and Note10+ and their 5G versions. The phones have so far been said to get a release date of August 23. Now a new rumor from India comes to tell us that the Note10 will make its official appearance in the subcontinent on August 20. That's when the family should launch over there, although it's unclear whether you'll find them in stores on August 23 like elsewhere, or later. Hopefully they will be available at the same time everywhere, including...

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LG K20 with Android Go makes its way to Europe

LG has just quietly updated its entry-level K20 which originally came out in 2017. The new version is actually running the lightweight Android Go Pie edition and will be available across Europe. Upfront, we have a 5.45-inch 18:9 FullVision display with a resolution of 480 x 960. The selfie cam comes in at 5MP and features a flash for better portraits in low light scenarios. Going around the back we have a single 8MP F/2.2 shooter, an LED flash and the single loudspeaker. There isn't a physical fingerprint reader on this one though. The LG K20 packs a Snapdragon 425 chipset...

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