NFL rejects T-Mobile ad from airing on Super Bowl Sunday

On Friday morning, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert Tweeted that one of the carrier’s ads set to air during this Super Bowl Sunday was banned by the NFL. The ad was instead published on YouTube and debuted on Today Show. You might be wondering exactly why the ad was rejected from appearing during the Super Bowl on Sunday. There was nothing controversial or obscene contained in the ad. There wasn’t even any name dropping. The ad simply boasted that T-Mobile’s network was more stable during video calls and the NFL’s headlining sponsor didn’t like that. That sponsor is Verizon Wireless. Well...

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Moto G40 ("Ibiza") could launch in India this month with 5G and a 90 Hz LCD

Motorola's very long-running G series of budget devices looks like it's ready to jump into double-digit space this year. Earlier today we told you about the upcoming Moto G10 and Moto G30, but there will also be a Moto G40. This is rumored to be the device codenamed Ibiza that was spotted on Geekbench yesterday. It's powered by Qualcomm's newly unveiled entry-level 5G chipset, the Snapdragon 480, and comes with 6GB of RAM and Android 11 pre-installed. The phone has already been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and now a tipster claims it's headed to India. The launch should happen soon,...

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Our Samsung Galaxy S21+ video review is up

We've already video reviewed both of its siblings - the bigger one, S21 Ultra, as well as the smaller one, S21. And now it's time for the middle child of Samsung's newest flagship family to shine. Yes, we mean the Galaxy S21+. Is this the best pick of the trio or is it just a weird in-betweener? That's what we set out to find out in our full video review of the Galaxy S21+. At face value, it seems to be almost identical to the S21, but there are differences between these two, and some may be more important for you than others. To figure out what's what, grab some popcorn and enjoy...

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Trio of upcoming budget Motorolas leak with renders and specs

Motorola is preparing its next G and E series phones, two of which have already appeared in leaks as the Moto Capri and Capri Plus. Now, XDA’s Adam Conway and Techniknews’ Nils Ahrensmeier are giving us an early look at the two Capri phones which will be known officially as the Moto G10 (Capri) and Moto G30 (Capri Plus). In addition, we get our first details on the Moto E7 Power. The Moto G10 aka Capri will be the most affordable member of Motorola’s 2021 Moto G lineup with a suggested retail of €149.99 which converts to $180. The phone will sport a waterdrop notch display with HD+...

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OxygenOS 11 Beta 2 now rolling out for OnePlus 7 and 7T series, AOD enabled only on Pro phones

On Saturday last week OnePlus pushed out the last Android 10-based update for the OnePlus 7 and 7T series. The last because the next stable release will bring Android 11. We don’t know when it’s coming yet, though the beta testing process is progressing quickly. OxygenOS 11 Beta 2 for the OnePlus 7 and 7T series • Note: Security patch is still December 2020 OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 2 comes two weeks after Beta 1. There are a number of optimizations and improvements (full changelog below), but perhaps the most-anticipated feature is the Always-On Display – this is available only on...

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Skype for Android gains background blur

The latest 8.68 update for Skype’s Android app brings a highly coveted feature – background blur. In addition, the new update is bringing more custom reaction options. Users on iOS and iPadOS gain improvements to the share extension with support for dark theme and improved performance. The changelog also details bug fixes and stability improvements. The new update is following a gradual release cycle so some will get it earlier than others. Skype 8.68 update changelog: React Hard 2: We’ve upgraded your custom reaction picker, and you can now have more reactions right at your...

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Google is working on anti-tracking features for Android

Apple has announced its new update will include App Tracking Transparency tool that will allow you to better control your privacy. According to Bloomberg, Google is working on something similar - preventing cross-app tracking on Android devices, but the feature is still in early discussion stages. A spokesperson for Google said the company is “always looking for ways to work with developers to raise the bar on privacy while enabling a healthy ad-supported app ecosystem.” However, anonymous sources revealed Mountain View actually wants to find the balance between privacy-conscious...

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Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G review

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iFixit teardown shows the Samsung Galaxy S21 is easier to repair than the S20, still not perfect

iFixit took apart a Samsung Galaxy S21 and gave it a repairability rating of 4 out of 10. While the S20 never got an official rating from iFixit, this year’s flagship is clearly easier to repair. Check out the video below for a look at the critical areas. Long story short, the plastic back is easier to remove than a glass panel (you don’t have to worry about cracking it). The flat display is easier to remove as well, it also helps that display cable is now detachable. The less than perfect score is because the two most common repairs – changing the battery or the display – are still...

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Apple's AR/VR headset to have 8K displays and a $3,000 price tag, claims new report

The first report that Apple is working on an Augmented Reality (AR) headset came out in 2017 and work has carried on in secrecy since. The headset might finally see the light of day next year, but it will not be something for the average consumer. The Information spoke with a person familiar with the project. Apple’s headset is expected to cost around $3,000, however it will feature the most advanced hardware seen yet. The company laid the groundwork for this with the addition of LiDAR sensors on iPads and iPhones as well as developing its own silicon. The headset will have two 8K...

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Motorola Athena pops up on Google Play Console and Geekbench with a SD662 chip

A new Motorola smartphone has surfaced, and once again it has a model name of a Mediterranean city. After the Motorola Ibiza and Motorola Capri, say hello to the Motorola Athena (also known as Motorola Defy). The phone popped up on the Google Play Console and Geekbench with a Snapdragon 662 chipset and 4GB RAM, suggesting it will be yet another affordable handset. Motorola Athena/Defy Thanks to the Google Play Console, we know the new phone will have an HD+ screen with a waterdrop for the selfie camera (unless it is a placeholder since the Moto G9 has the same front...

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7/S7+ get new Blue color, 512GB option

Samsung is now listing a Phantom Navy color option for its Galaxy Tab S7+ and Galaxy Tab S7. The new blue color is out of stock at the moment and we could only find it in Samsung's German website. The Phantom Navy sits alongside the previously available Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze and Mystic Silver color options. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ in Phantom Navy Additionally Roland Quandt reports that Samsung will soon start offering a 512GB model of the Galaxy Tab S7+. No details on pricing are available at this point, though. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ are now launching in a...

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Gartner: smartphone sales to grow 11% in 2021, 5G to reach 35% share

The smartphone world will return to growth in 2021, according to Gartner's forecast. The researcher projects an 11.4% increase in sales over 2020, that would see more than 1.5 billion smartphones being shipped. The market recorded a 10.5% decline in 2020 due to the pandemic. A total of 1.378b phones were shipped, down from the 1.540b in 2019. Gartner expects the markets in the Asia Pacific, Western Europe and Latin America to see the strongest growth in 2021. China, specifically, is projected to consume 40 million phones more than last year. 5G phones will account for 35% of the...

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Samsung unveils Galaxy M12 with 6,000 mAh battery, 48 MP main camera

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is now official with a low-key launch in Vietnam. The phone is based on the Galaxy A12, though it stands out with a larger battery – 6,000 mAh capacity. It supports the same 15W fast charging over USB-C and promises 24 hours of web browsing on a single charge (over Wi-Fi). Alternatively, it can play videos for 23 hours straight or music for nearly 5 days. The web and videos are viewed on the 6.5” display, a PLS LCD with 720p+ resolution (20:9). It’s an Infinity-V panel, meaning a notch for the selfie camera. As for music, there’s only a single loudspeaker, but you’ll...

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Oppo A15s gets a new storage variant

The Oppo A15s launched in India last December with 64GB storage is joined by a 128GB variant today. It's priced at INR12,490 ($170/€145) and is already available for purchase through Amazon.in and mainline retail channels in Dynamic Black and Fancy White colors. The A15s is built around a 6.52" HD+ display and has a Helio P35 SoC at the helm paired with 4GB RAM. It runs Android 10-based ColorOS 7.2 out of the box and comes with a microSD card slot for storage expansion by up to 256GB. Oppo A15s in Dynamic Black and Fancy White colors The rear panel of the A15s is home to a...

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Xiaomi's 67W GaN charger certified ahead of the global Mi 11 announcement

Xiaomi introduced a 65W GaN (Gallium-Nitride) charger last year - a compact adaptor that sits comfortably in the palm of a hand and can charge pretty much every device through USB-C. Now, the company has certified with TUV Rheinland a more powerful version - it reaches 11V at 6.1A, bringing the total power output 67.1W. Xiaomi MDY-12-EU 67W GaN charger The brick has model number MDY-12-EU and MDY-12-ET. The first three letters are usually for adaptors that are shipped with smartphones, meaning we could see handsets with a 67W wired charge as soon as this year. When the Xiaomi...

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Xiaomi's new concept phone has a waterfall display that curves in all four corners

Xiaomi likes to show out concept phones every once in a while with the last one being the Mi Mix Alpha from September 2019. Today, we get a look at a different type of curved display that melts in all four corners from top to bottom and left to right. Xiaomi is calling it a 88-degree hyper quad-curved screen and it’s the most extreme form of a curved screen we’ve seen to date. The concept device features no ports or physical buttons. The new display actually comes with four rounded cutouts in the corners which are presumably there to deter unwanted palm touches. Another interesting...

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