OnePlus 7 series gets March patch and bug fixes with new updates

OnePlus has released new software updates for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro. They have the same changelogs but are rolling out as OxygenOS 10.3.2 in India and OxygenOS 10.0.5 for European and global units. OnePlus 7 Pro The new builds bump up the Android security patch level on the 7 and 7 Pro to March 2020, squash some bugs, and optimize RAM management. You can check out the full changelog below for more details. System Optimized the RAM management Improved system stability and fixed known issues Updated Android Security Patch to 2020. 03 ...

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Halide gets updated with Rescue and improved raw support

Halide is arguably the best camera application on iOS and is now even better in its latest version 1.16 update. With this, the developers are improving the raw capture experience, memory management and also introducing something new called Rescue. Let's talk about Rescue first. Rescue is a data loss protection feature that prevents losing images in case something critical goes wrong while shooting. It could be something like the phone running out of battery, getting a call or just a bug in iOS or Halide that could cause the shot you've just taken to never be saved to the photo...

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iPhone 9 could be made official on April 15, new rumor says

The upcoming Apple iPhone 9, the successor to the iPhone SE from 2016, has been rumored for a long time now, and it looks like we're finally getting very close to its official introduction. A few weeks ago a report talked about the phone being delayed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but apparently Apple may have had a change of heart. According to a new report, the company held an internal meeting to discuss how to proceed, and the conclusion of said meeting is that the iPhone 9 will get official on April 15. It will then become available on April 22. It's unclear if the...

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Samsung Galaxy S20 series is already receiving the April security update

Samsung has recently had an interesting track record regarding Android security updates, which have at times come out before Google had a chance to release them for its Pixels. The situation is the same this time around. The Galaxy S20 family is now receiving an update that includes the April 2020 security patch level. So far the rollout is happening in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with Korean units set to receive it very soon. Aside from the new security fixes, the new software also packs some general camera improvements. The build number is G98x0ZHU1ATCT, where "x" is to be a different...

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Nokia 7.2 gets Android 10 update

Today HMD Global has announced the start of the rollout of the Android 10 update for the Nokia 7.2. This phone was released last September, running Android 9 Pie. Although it, like most other Nokias, is part of the Android One program, which in theory should ensure quick Android OS upgrades, obviously that's not working out as it should. Android 10 has already been out for more than six months at this point, and countless other handsets that aren't part of Android One have been updated to this version. Anyway, let's call it "better late than never". HMD's rollouts have apparently...

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UAE lifts ban on Google Hangouts Meet, Cisco Webex and other VoIP services

The global COVID-19 crisis has pretty much reverberated in every aspect of life around the world in one way or another. One thing most companies and governments have really started to re-evaluate and kick into full throttle is remote working. A new decision in the United Arab Emirates comes as a great example. Officials there have decided to lift bans on Google Hangouts Meet, Cisco Webex, Avaya Spaces, BlueJeans and Slack. All services previously officially unreachable from within the country. The connection between these is clear and this decision comes hot on the heels of another...

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The OnePlus 8 phones will have an S865 chipset, LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage

OnePlus is committed to delivering a "fast and smooth" user experience. To achieve that, it needs the right combination of hardware and software, says CEO and co-founder Pete Lau in a forum post that talks about the improvements that the company's R&D team built for the upcoming OnePlus 8 phones. They will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset, no surprises here. The new chip promises 25% increases in CPU and GPU performance while reducing power usage by a quarter. It also has more power efficient video encoder and DSP. The new chipset will be connected to faster RAM - LPDDR5. It can...

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Huawei details new EMUI 10.1 features, confirms first phones to get it

It's no secret that Huawei's software division has been working double-time, ever since the begging of the whole US spying scandal and the ongoing fallout. Most of these efforts have, understandably, been directed towards Huawei's own Mobile Services, in a push to fill major holes left by the departure of the Google Mobile Services. In fact, the hard work is already bearing fruit , even if the battle is far from own. Alongside all this, work has also continued on other aspects of EMUI, which saw its 10.1 version debut on the Huawei P40 Pro. Now Huawei has stepped in to detail the key new...

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Our Oppo Reno3 Pro video review is out

Oppo's latest Reno3 Pro got official at the beginning of this month, and it's not to be confused with its 5G sibling, as their differences go beyond just connectivity. We've already reviewed the new Reno3 Pro in written form, so if you're after a very detailed description of the device, don't miss reading that. However, if you like more concise media formats, then our brand-spanking new, fresh out of the oven video review is definitely going to be up your alley. Check it out and you'll find out everything there is to know about Oppo's latest upper-midrange offering in just over...

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The Samsung Galaxy S20 has an unofficial 96Hz refresh rate mode, you can enable it with an app

Samsung's Galaxy S20 trio supports 120Hz screen refresh rate, the company's first phones to go over 60Hz. But unlike other phones with high refresh rate screens, there's no middle ground - it's 120Hz or 60Hz. That's the case officially, but it turns out that the phones have a hidden 96Hz option. It can be enabled via ADB, but XDA forums member SatySatsZB created a much more convenient solution - an app you can download from here. It places two toggles in your status bar that let you switch between 96Hz and 120Hz. The S20 Refresh Rate Controller app • It places quick toggles in the...

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Wi-Fi variant to start at €399

Samsung's Galaxy S6 Lite is coming on April 2 and we've already seen the key specs and pricing for the LTE model which appeared in a listing on Amazon Germany. Now, a new set of renders and pricing info for the Wi-Fi-only version surfaced thanks to noted tipster Ishan Agarwal confirming a €399 base price for European markets. New Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite renders The rest of the spec sheet remains identical to the previously seen leaks with a 10.4-inch FHD+ LCD complete with support for Samsung's S Pen stylus. We also get a clear look at the bottom of the slate which houses the...

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Samsung is discontinuing LCD production by the end of 2020

Samsung has been a major manufacturer of LCD panels for smartphones in the past several years, but this is about the end. Reuters reports that the Korean company is planning to end the production of these displays in the factories in China and South Korea by the end of this year. The company revealed in a statement that the plants in its home country will be upgraded to be production lines for quantum dot screens - the more advanced panels that Samsung markets as QLED. The decline in demand across the globe for LCD panels for smartphones and TV screens is the main reason for the...

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Huawei: The US ban caused a significant slowdown in our business

It's been almost a year since the US government blacklisted Huawei, banning local companies from doing business with the Chinese giant. That in turn resulted in the company losing its Android license and hurt its smartphone sales anywhere outside of China. And the company says it's hurting its business a lot. Despite the increase in revenue by 19.1% year-over-year, the president of Huawei's Western Europe business, Vincent Pang, says that 2019 was a big challenge for the firm. Without Google Services, Huawei's phones are really hard to sell abroad. And the a resolution of the...

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vivo S6 5G announced with 6.44" AMOLED display and Exynos 980

The latest midrange offering from vivo is the S6 5G. It brings an AMOLED screen, four cameras, dual-mode 5G connectivity and a 4,500 mAh battery alongside Samsung's Exynos 980 chipset which it shares with the vivo X30 and X30 Pro. The vivo S6 5G sports a 6.44-inch AMOLED display of FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) with a waterdrop notch where we find the 32MP selfie cam. The panel comes with a tall 20:9 aspect ratio and features an in-display fingerprint reader. Around the back, we find the circular hump which houses 4 cameras. The 48MP main camera is paired with an 8MP...

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OnePlus 8 Chinese launch set for April 16

The eagerly-anticipated OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are right around the corner now. After more than a few setbacks and uncertainties, OnePlus finally seems to have settled on announcement dates for the phones. You can tune in for the global event live stream on YouTube on April 14 at 3PM UTC. As per a new official Weibo post, the OnePlus 8 generation will make a debut in its home country on April 16. Understandably, with another live online event. This one scheduled for 7PM local time. Event banner As for the OnePlus 8 Lite, which we now know could come under the OnePlus Z...

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Honor Global Fans Day launches with multiple deals across the world

Honor started its Global Fans Day 2020 - a two-week campaign where most of its products are discounted in over 18 countries. The deals include the Honor 9X smartphones, Honor MagicWatch 2, and the Honor 20 Pro flagships. To boost its campaign, Honor is joined by famous sportspeople, gamers, influencers and other celebrities like the photographer Murad Osmann, who is better known as the creator of the #FollowMe trend. Honor 20 Pro • Honor 20 Since most of the world is under quarantine and we can't really leave our homes, Honor is launching the products on its website hihonor.com and...

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Motorola delays RAZR sales in India to April 15

Motorola announced today that it is delaying the sales of their new flagship RAZR phone in India. The company has pushed back the sales date from the previously announced April 2 to April 15. The delay is due to the current lockdown in India set to go until April 14, 23:59 IST due to COVID-19. The government has halted the sales and delivery of all non-essential items and as such, even if Motorola wanted to, it can't realistically get the devices in people's hands before April 15 anyway. The RAZR already had a delayed launch in India, with the initial announcement and pre-orders...

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Huawei P40 Pro's rear and front cameras post the high scores in DxOMark's tests

DxOMark just crowned a new camera king - the Huawei P40 Pro, which achieved the rare feat of topping both the rear and selfie camera charts. The overall score makes a clean break from the pack, previously the 6 best-rated phones fell in the 124-121 range. The P40 Pro scored 128. Even better, the still camera score of 140 sets a new record. The TL;DR here is "impeccable performance across all sub-categories". Reading through the individual sub-tests, you'll either see a "Highest Score" mark or that the Huawei is within a few points of the best competition. Huawei's efforts to build the...

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Realme 6, 6i and C3 arrive in Europe and are available for pre-order, shipping starts in April

Three new Realme phones have entered Europe - they are available for pre-order now and will begin shipping in April. Besides Realme.com, you will also be able to find the phones on Amazon. We start with the Realme 6, which will be available from April 6 and starts at €230 for the 4/64GB version. You can have more storage, the 4/128GB phone is €270, more RAM too - the top-specced model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage is €300. Prices vary slightly by country - Spaniards, for example, will pay only €220 for the base Realme 6. By the way, we have a hands-on review of the phone if you want...

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The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will be getting a new color soon

The Galaxy S20 Ultra launched with a lackluster color palette - Grey and Black - but reliable leakster Ice Universe claims that a new color is coming soon. Not an Aura Glow as some suggested on Twitter, though - the source is keeping quiet on the exact hue. The Galaxy S10 5G also launched with a limited selection of colors, primarily Black and Silver, but at least it had the Royal Gold to add some variety. The Galaxy S20+ Olympic Edition is also gold, so that's a strong candidate. The Galaxy S20 Ultra (right) looking drab next to its more colorful siblings There are more possible...

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Q4 of 2019 saw HMD turn first profit, but sales are dwindling

HMD was able to turn in its first positive quarter in Q4 of 2019. The company says the combination of using multiple ODMs to make Nokia phones and a more focused approach in selected markets is what led it to its first profitable quarter. The quarter was by no means all good news, as according to one analyst report HMD managed to sell under 3 million devices. HMD turned to a multi-ODM strategy to assemble Nokia phones due to a supply chain disruption in the first half of 2019. Reportedly the first devices to be manufactured by two new ODMs were the Nokia 2.2, 3.2 and 4.2. Using...

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Poco Exec: Redmi K30 Pro will not come to India as Poco F2

During an online webinar with tech enthusiasts and members of the media Poco India general manager Chandolu Manmohan, confirmed that the recently launched Redmi K30 Pro will not come as the Poco F2 or Poco X2 Pro in India. The new confirmation comes after a report from last week which found a "shot on Poco watermark" corresponding to the Indian Redmi K30 Pro variant hidden in a code string of the MIUI 11 beta Camera app. This does not rule out the possibility of the K30 Pro coming to India under the Poco brand but just that it won't be called Poco F2 or X2 Pro. In addition, Manmohan...

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Honor 8A Pro gets rebranded to Honor 8A Prime in Russia

The Honor 8A Pro arrived in Russia almost a year ago, but today the company decided to relaunch the very same device under a new moniker - Honor 8A Prime. It is the very same Helio P35-powered device, but with a new color - Emerald Green. Given the phone was a year old and was a budget device to begin with it's hardly a surprise that its internals are modest. The Mediatek chipset is coupled by 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, with a microSD slot for additional 512 GB. There is a single 13MP camera on the back, and an 8MP selfie shooter in a waterdrop notch. The Honor 8A Prime keeps the...

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iPhone 9 cases arriving at retailers in the US

It seems the launch of the long-rumored successor to 2016's iPhone SE might come sooner than expected. According to new reports, the iPhone 9 may launch as early this week as evident by the April 5 merchandising date for a case that made its way to Best Buy. The box for the Urban Armor Gear protective case clearly states it's designed for the New iPhone 4.7", 2020 and we can see it features a similarly-sized camera cutout as other iPhone 7 and 8 cases. iPhone 9 case Apple introduced its latest iPad Pros and Macbook Air last week and given that the iPhone 9 is not a flagship, it...

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