Android TV exists for a long time. But it is only now Google has started improving it. Last year, the operating system got a content aggregation service called Google TV, which is similar to Xiaomi PatchWall. Now, the search giant is slowly rolling out an easy way to install apps on this platform.
Play Store is the primary gateway for applications on Android for most users. Certified Android TV devices arrive with a specialized Play Store with apps optimized and developed specifically for the platform.
Browsing apps on the Play Store on a smart TV is a hassle. Google is trying to fix this after years by allowing users to install applications from their smartphones.
With the new server-side update, users can finally install an app on their Android TV devices from the Play Store on their smartphone. The option appears only for the applications that are available on Android TV.
The feature was first shared by a Reddit user called avigi, reports 9To5Google. We tried it ourselves and it works as intended. The only requirement is that the same Google account needs to be logged into both the smartphone and the Android TV device.
Unfortunately, since it’s a server-side update, the feature is still being seeded out to users gradually. It should be available for everyone in the coming days.
What are your thoughts on this new feature? In what other ways Google can improve the Android TV experience? Do let us know in the comment section below.
After its release in late October, owners of the new GooglePixel 6 series were quick to point out the sluggish fingerprint reader on the device and even called it unreliable in some cases. The November update provided by Google did not fix this issue.
Yesterday (16th November), Google surprised its users with a mid-month update (via). The OTA update (SD1A.210817.037 for global Pixels and SD1A.210817.037.A1 for Verizon variants) was relatively small in size, and Google has not provided a changelog with it. However, Verizon has provided a changelog which states, ‘The current software update improves the performance of your device’s fingerprint sensor.’
Post update, some Pixel 6 owners on Reddit have claimed that the sensor is working much better without any hiccups even while using a screen protector. In contrast, others have pointed out that the update has done little for them. They are using workarounds like registering the fingerprint twice to get better performance from the sensor.
Google initially claimed that the sensor was slow due to the enhanced security algorithms employed in the pixel 6 series. It is too soon to conclude the improvements claimed by Verizon while it is also yet to see if Google fixed another notorious issue of the fingerprint sensor breaking after the Pixel 6’s battery runs out.
Motorola has officially unveiled the Moto Watch 100. The new Moto Watch 100 runs on a brand new and homegrown operating system, the Moto OS, and is kitted with several impressive features including a battery that could last up to two weeks. The Watch 100 has not escaped the tipster’s gaze and some details were released about the smart wearable only a few days back. The brand new Moto OS is linked directly to the significant improvement in battery life of the Moto Watch 100 from its predecessor, the Moto 360.
The Moto Watch in-house software development team had put in a lot to develop the Moto OS which puts it higher in some respects than the Wear OS. The Moto Watch 100 has a 1.3-inch circular LCD that seems not to be in tandem with other aspects of the device. The in-thing nowadays in smart wearables is the OLED displays. There is an always-on mode in the display, as well as 26 sports modes. The Moto Watch 100 is capable of measuring the blood oxygen levels (SPO2) and heart rate of the user. It is also fitted with a gyroscope and an accelerometer.
The Moto Watch 100 is GPS-enabled, has 5ATM water resistance capability, supports Bluetooth 5.0, and weighs just 45.8g. It has a 355mAh battery which can be fully charged within an hour when completely drained. Two-color variants are available for the Moto Watch 100 namely Glacier Silver and Phantom Black, and the watch has an aluminum case.
The Moto Watch 100 is now available for pre-order with a $99.99 price tag. The first shipments will however commence from December 10. It can be pre-ordered from the official website of eBuyNow, the brand user of the Moto Watch series.
Yesterday (16th November), the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi unveiled its latest addition to its Lifestyle lineup of products in the form of the Mi TV mobile stand.
According to a report by ITHome, Xiaomi has released the Mi TV mobile stand, which is officially said to be compatible with 65 to 100-inch TVs. The mobile TV bracket is made of metal, with a double hook design. The stand’s legs are made of thick, reinforced hollow tubes enabling them to withstand weights up to 120 kgs. The stand also consists of safety features like anti-shake, anti-tilt, and measures to prevent the TV from falling off the stand.
The stand supports height adjustments up to 9 different levels and is equipped with 360-degree universal wheels and foot brakes, allowing you the freedom of mobility with your TV placement.
The stand has been designed with a professional environment in mind like conference rooms, offices and business displays, reflected in its clean, minimalist design, which also makes it ideal for home use.
The Mi TV mobile stand is now available for pre-order in China and is going for 999 yuan ($156).
With the first half of the financial year 2021-2022 coming to an end in September, India saw a 234 percent year-on-year growth in Electric car sales, with Tata Nexon EV being the best-selling model in this segment.
The EV industry in India has changed a lot in the last year. Sales of electric vehicles in the country are on the rise. Although the industry is still in the budding stage, the interest in buying EVs has significantly increased. With that being said, let us look at the sales performance of EVs in India for H1 FY22.
A total of 6,261 units were sold during this period, up 234 percent over the 1,872 units sold from April to September 2020. This was a difference of 4,389 units. Leaders in this segment include automakers such as Tata Motors (Nexon and Tigor EV), MG Motors (ZS EV), Hyundai (Kona), and Mahindra (Verito).
Tata Motors, the Indian automobile giant, remains dominant with their Nexon (SUV) and Tigor (Sedan) models, making up for 70% of total private EV sales in H1 FY21-22. Both the Nexon and Tigor models enjoyed growth in sales by 214 percent and 701 percent, respectively, compared to H1 of last year.
The Tata Nexon topped the charts with 3618 units sold, single handily making up almost 58% of India’s total private EV sales for H1 of FY2021-22. Tata Motors also revealed the plan to launch ten more electric cars in India over the next five years. Rs 7,500 crore ($1 billion) has been raised for this venture, and out of these ten EVs being planned, at least seven cars will be launched over the next four years.
MG ZS EV was at No. 2 with 1,789 units sold in the April-September 2021 period, an increase of 250 percent or 1,278 units over just 511 units sold during the same period last year.
At No.3 was Tata Tigor EV with sales of 801 units in April-September 2021, up 701 percent from 100 units sold in the April-September 2020 period. This jump in sales can be accredited to the updates the vehicle received in the battery and other departments earlier this year.
Hyundai Kona came as 4th. The sales of this EV have dipped 50 percent from 101 units sold in April-September 2020 to 51 units in the same period of this year. At the last position of private EVs was the Mahindra Verito with just two units sold in the April to September 2021 period, down from 8 units sold in the same period of 2020, relating to a 75 percent degrowth.
With the EV charging stations reaching 500 (427 operational) across the country, government subsidies on EV purchase, and the ever-rising fuel prices, India might soon emerge as a leading EV market.
Earlier today, Huawei kicked off its smart life new product unveil event to launch many new smart life products. At the event, Huawei’s COO of consumer BG, He Gang, took to the stage to make some market performance announcements regarding Huawei’s smart wearable devices.
He Gang stated that Huawei’s cumulative global shipments of smart wearable devices had exceeded 80 million units. He further added that Huawei is still first in China when it comes to wrist-worn wearable devices. Huawei has served more than 320 million users worldwide, and Huawei’s sports health App has reached 83 million monthly active users worldwide.
Huawei has also cooperated with more than 60 research institutions to carry out health research in the fields of respiratory health, heart health, sleep apnea, vascular health, women’s health, and more with Huawei wearable devices. At present, more than 5 million users have joined the research ecosystem of Huawei Research.
He Gang also pointed out that in the future, Huawei’s smart wearable devices will be divided into five series, namely smart technology, fashion trends, health care, classic all-around, and professional extremes.
Following these announcements, we expect multiple new launches in the wearable device segment by Huawei. In fact, earlier today, Huawei released the Watch GT Runner, the WATCH GT 3, Huawei FreeBuds Lipstick (earbuds), MateBook E 2021, and Mate X2 collector’s edition.
Bengaluru-based last-mile mobility solutions company, Bounce, is all set to introduce its first-ever electric scooter in India. The scooter will be manufactured in the country and will be called Bounce Infinity. The company has promised that the scooter will be equipped with “enhanced state-of-the-art equipment and intelligent features.” Prebookings for the vehicle will be starting soon, with deliveries starting from January 2022.
The most unique bit of the Bounce Infinity is that it will be coming with a removable Li-ion battery that can be removed and charged per requirement. Bounce will even be offering a ‘Battery as a service’ option, which it claims is the first of its kind in the Indian market.
Customers opting for this scheme will be able to purchase the scooter at a relatively low price without the battery. They’ll then be relying on Bounce’s battery swapping network instead. Stations will be set up where owners will be able to simply grab a fully-charged battery and skip the long wait times associated with charging. A battery alone constitutes a large percentage of an EV’s cost, and that’s something that will be subtracted through the ‘Battery as a service’ initiative.
Bounce says that it is rapidly developing its battery-swapping network, which will serve not only its retail customer but also its successful ride-sharing business. Its Infinity scooter will be facing off against rivals like Ola’s S1 e-scooter in an EV market that’s getting increasingly saturated.
Lastly, Bounce has revealed that it has acquired a 100% stake in 22Motors following a deal valued at about $7 million. As part of it, the company acquired a manufacturing plant located at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan along with its intellectual property. The plant is capable of mass production, reaching up to 180,000 units. Bounce is also planning to set up another similar plant in southern India and to invest $100 million in its EV business over the next year.
Ever since the US ban, Huawei has shifted its attention towards other consumer electronic segments like wearables and laptops. The company’s big event in China today (Nov. 17) saw the launch of new smartwatches as well as a brand-new convertible laptop, the Huawei MateBook E. If you recall, this isn’t the first hybrid laptop from the brand. One of the first laptops from Huawei back in 2016, simply called the Huawei MateBook was a 2-in-1 laptop. And portability remains one of the biggest selling points of the new MateBook E. Clearly, Huawei is looking to capture the market dominated by the likes of Apple’s iPad Pro and Microsoft’s Surface Pro series.
Huawei MateBook E Design
The Huawei MateBook E is 7.9mm thick and weighs only 709 grams, making it way lighter and portable than traditional laptops. It features a 2560×1600 12.6-inch OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 600 nits brightness. Much like the MatePad Pro 12.6, the convertible notebook features a 90% screen-to-body ratio, ensuring very thin bezels on all four sides.
Wait, if you are wondering how the MateBook E and the MatePad Pro 12.6 differ, then know that the basic design remains more or less the same but everything else including the processor and software are different. The MateBook E is pricier and way more powerful than the MatePad Pro 12.6. Simply put, the MateBook E is a true 2-in-1 laptop, while the MatePad Pro 12.6 is basically a tablet with a keyboard accessory.
The Huawei MateBook E comes with a soft-touch finish at the back with two choices for color – Starry Blue and Nebula Grey. There are two different keyboards being offered, one with a simple kickstand design and another full-sized keyboard with what Huawei calls a rail slide design (translated). The second keyboard accessory comes only with the i7 variants and features a USB-C port along with an adjustable backlight.
Note that the keyboard also supports Huawei’s share feature via NFC (the area is around the touchpad). You can simply tap your Huawei smartphone or tablet to connect with the laptop for multiscreen collaboration.
When you connect the MateBook E with the keyboard, it automatically enters Windows 11’s laptop mode. Similarly, simply picking it up from the keyboard accessory switches to the tablet mode.
Laptop Mode
Tablet Mode
The MateBook E also comes with Huawei’s second-generation Huawei M-Pencil support. As with its MatePads, the laptop supports magnetic paring with the stylus and can charge it wirelessly too!
Finally, the convertible laptop features a fingerprint-enabled power button on the side for added security.
Huawei MateBook E Specs
Despite its thin and portable form factor, the MateBook E is no slouch when it comes to performance. You can get up to Intel’s 11th Generation Core i7 with Intel Iris X graphics on the top-end model. This is supported by 16GB RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD. Of course, the convertible is available in cheaper and less powerful variants too, like the base model which features the 11th Gen Core i5 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The new 2-in-1 laptop features a Thunderbolt 4 interface that can be connected to an 8K display and supports Wi-Fi 6.
Huawei also adds that the Matebook E comes with 8 layers of heat dissipation design with a shark fin fan and multiple air vents on the side to ensure that the device remains cool even during heavy load.
There’s a 8MP front camera for video calls and another 13MP camera at the back with LED flash. You also get four speakers tuned with Huawei Sound.
As for charging, it comes with a USB-C powered 65W charging adapter, which tops up the battery to around 54% in half an hour. A complete charge takes around 90 minutes. The MateBook E comes with a 42Wh rated battery and Huawei claims the battery life to be between 5-8 hours, depending upon the usage.
Huawei MateBook E Price & Availability
The Huawei MateBook E starts at 5999 yuan ($940) for the i5 version with 8GB + 256GB storage. Note that all variants include the keyboard, but the i7 top-end variant price also includes the stylus.
The MateBook E pricing is as follows:
i5+8GB+256GB + keyboard: ¥5999 | $940
i5+16GB+512GB + keyboard: ¥6999 | $1098
i7+16GB+512GB + keyboard: ¥7999 | $1255
i7+16GB+512GB + keyboard/stylus: ¥8699 | $1365
The MateBook E 2-in-1 convertible will go on sale in China from December 1, 2021.
Huawei today held a launch event where it released a number of new products. One of them is the Huawei Watch GT Runner. The smartwatch adopts a sleek design and as the name implies, it is targeted at sportspersons.
The Watch GT Runner can be said to have been specifically designed and optimized from the inside to the outside. The watch’s stylish body is made from a high-strength composite fiber case to create a strong, thin, and wear-resistant case. The watch also draws design inspiration from the supercar grille.
The watch has a lightweight body coming in at just 38.5g. It also has an antibacterial silicone strap so you won’t have to worry about bacteria produced by sweat and stains during sports training.
The GT Runner also features a specially designed interface for runners, covering various professional data ranging from training load to running index. Other parameters that can be accessed in real-time include heart rate time, altitude, and weather.
The Watch GT Runner packs a 1.43-inch round AMOLED screen with full-screen touch support. The watch runs on the HarmonyOS which brings support for a variety of third-party application downloads, such as Kugou Music, Himalayas, AutoNavi Maps, Air Travel, etc., covering almost daily life.
Perhaps, the biggest highlight of the Watch GT Runner is the positioning function. The watch is said to feature the industry’s first patented design of floating hidden external antenna. This design hides the positioning antenna in the polymer fiber material. As a result of this, the signal effect is greatly enhanced, and the antenna performance is improved by 135% compared with the traditional design. The watch comes with GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS.
In terms of battery life, the Watch GT Runner can support up to 14 days of long-lasting battery life. Even in heavy use scenarios, it can also reach 7 days of battery life. The watch supports wireless charging. It comes with a charger and can also be charged via the wireless recoil of Huawei’s flagship phone.
As for the price, the Watch GT Runner will retail for 2188 yuan (~$343). It will be up for pre-order from November 17 and will officially go on sale from November 26.
Huawei has just launched a new product in its home market of China. The new gadget in question is a biking helmet that feature various smart features like Bluetooth calling, voice commands, and more.
The new smart helmet from the Chinese tech giant is called the Helmetphone BH51M Neo Smart Helmet. It is available in two colors, namely a black and gray variants, and is suitable for roller skating, skateboarding, electric bicycles, and biking as well. The smart helmet is powered by the brand’s proprietary operating system, HarmonyOS. Through this OS, the product supports Bluetooth voice calling that can be enabled with a one touch connection process with your smartphone.
Once paired, users can check the battery of the smart helmet via your phone, even set emergency contacts, and adjust the light mode as well. Notably, it also houses a stereo Bluetooth speaker for music playback and hands free calling. Apart from protecting the users head from fall injuries, the helmet also offers LED lights on the front and back as well. This is visible to other automobiles on the road, especially those behind the wearer.
Interestingly, these LED lights work with the built in gravitational acceleration sensor that detects deceleration. In other words, the LED lights up when you slow down and can even detect when you’re making a turn to offer turn signals as well. Simply put, its a smart product that is made to make it safer for bikers to commute on roads filled with cars. The smart helmet is currently available in China through Huawei VMall for a price of 799 Yuan (roughly 125 US Dollars).
New data shows that global EV sales in the first three quarters of this year exceeded 3 million for the first time, with South Korea seeing a 96% surge.
Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KAII) (via Just Auto) reports that South Korea ranked as the seventh-largest market for EVs. The country is topped firstly by China with its 1.76 million sales figure, followed by the US with 272,554 units, Germany with 243,892 units, the UK with 131,832 units, France with 114,836 units, and lastly Norway with 84,428 units.
In this time period, electric car sales amounted to about 5.5 percent of the South Korean automobile market, compared to 9.4 percent in China and 2.3 percent in the United States.
The research institute further revealed that Tesla was the largest EV manufacturer in the first three quarters of 2021, with sales of over 625,624 electric vehicles. Its share of the total EV sales figure exceeded 20%.
In addition to Tesla, SAIC, Volkswagen, BYD and other manufacturers’ electric vehicles also saw good sales up to Q3 this year. Among them, SAIC sold over 413,037 units, Volkswagen sold 287,852 units, and BYD sold 189751 during the same period.
Korean Hyundai Motor Group’s electric sales also saw a boom, rising by 67% in 9 months to 159,558 units, making it the fifth-largest EV maker in the world.
The sales of EVs is expected to rise further in the coming years owing to the drop in EV prices, increase in performance, and improved range.
Earlier this month, we had reported on Fortnite shutting down its servers for its mobile port in China. Now, it seems the decision is official as the company behind the title failed to win approval in the region.
For those unaware, Fortnite’s mobile version had launched in China in a testing build. However, this testing version had been available in the country for three years, as the game never fully launched in the region. This was due to the game requiring government approvals to launch or sell copies/virtual items in China. The licensing process to get this approval has become increasingly more difficult with each passing year.
Starting from 1st November 2021, no new user was able to sign up or download the popular battle royale game and as of November 15, the servers of the game have been officially shut down. While the official reason was never revealed, it is likely due to the aforementioned strict rules and regulations. The news also arrives as China tightens restrictions around game makers.
The local government had recently introduced a new regulation that restricted gaming hours for children below the age of 18 that are now only allowed to play video games three hours per week. Furthermore, the games that do end up launching in the region also have to undergo several changes to fit the strict standards set by the government.
Following the release of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro flagship smartphones this year, the OPPO-backed company is now preparing to unveil the OnePlus 10 Pro, its next-generation flagship smartphone. While the only info about its release at hand currently was that it will be next year, a tipster has now provided an actual launch timeline.
The alleged timeline shows that the OnePlus 10 Pro will be hitting the Chinese market in either January or February. This will be followed by a global launch a month or so later in either March or April.
The info sits in line with a recent report saying that the OnePlus 10 series phones have entered the private testing phase in Europe and China, and that they are expected to launch in late January or early February 2022.
OnePlus 10 Pro render for alleged design
It is worth mentioning here that the current-gen OnePlus 9 phones were launched in April this year. Thus, if OnePlus indeed picks a January release date, it will mean the launch of a new iteration in less than a year. The hurry can be owed to the fact that OnePlus has not released any T-variants of their OnePlus 9 series smartphones this year, except for the RT variant in China.
The OnePlus 10 series is expected to feature the upcoming top-of-the-line Snapdragon 898 SoC, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Some leaks had also recently revealed that that the camera module at the back houses three camera sensors and an LED flash, placed in a 2×2 grid.
Further, the OnePlus 10 Pro is expected to sport a 6.7-inch 1440p display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Anker has just launched the new Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid robotic vacuum cleaner in India. The new product is a 2 in 1 robot vacuum cleaner that features both cleaning and mopping capabilities.
The new Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid robotic vacuum cleaner features the iPath Laser navigation system that lets it navigate and follow an accurate cleaning route without any user intervention. Furthermore, it also supports WiFi connectivity and is even compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice commands. The Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid is paired with the Eufy Home App that allows for remote control, customizable cleaning, and lets users chose from multiple cleaning modes as well.
Under the hood, the robot vacuum cleaner houses a twin turbine with each offering 2000Pa of suction power. The company claims that the turbines even helps clean 57.6 percent more pet hair. Since it is a 2-in-1 hybrid, it features four cleaning modes and also has a 250ml water tank that can hold water for about 140 minutes of mopping and up to 180 minutes of vacuuming, with its dust box having a 400ml capacity. The gadget measures 345x345x97.2mm and is powered by a large 5,200mAh battery pack.
The Eufy Robovac X8 Hybrid robotic vacuum cleaner has been launched by Anker in India for a price of 34,999 INR. This product will be available for purchase via sale in Flipkart and the company is also offering 12 month warranty as well. Although, it is only available in the region in a single black color variant.
Qualcomm Inc announced on Tuesday that German automaker BMW will utilize its chips in its next generation of driver-assistance and self-driving systems.
The chipmaker is the world’s biggest supplier of chips and is based in San Diego. It is looking to diversify its business and has already managed to source a third of its chip sales from sources other than smartphones (via Reuters).
A BMW spokesperson said that the new chips will be used for its “Neue Klasse” series of cars, set to start production from 2025.
As for the kind of chips BMW will be using, there will be a dedicated Qualcomm computer vision processing chip to analyze data from the front, rear, and surround-view cameras. BMW will also use a central computing chip to help the car communicate with cloud computing data centers.
However, neither of the companies has revealed how much the Qualcomm deal will be covering of BMW’s lineup.
Qualcomm has also been working with firms like Meta on virtual reality and with Microsoft on Windows laptops that use ARM-based chips, the company released through an investor presentation.
Qualcomm Chief Executive Cristiano Amon said he believes the addressable market for the firm’s technologies is now $700 billion, seven times higher than the phone chip industry alone.
Another American electric vehicle maker seems to be following the footsteps of Tesla. Lucid Motors, an EV startup, is planning to build its factories outside of the US, with its new plant being situated in China.
The startup’s CEO Peter Rawlinson told CNBCearlier this week that it plans on targeting its expansion in China and the middle east. This would even have it setup its EV factories in the Asian nation. For those unaware, Lucid Motors is a California based electric vehicle maker, with its flagship factory being in Casa Grande, Arizona. The company began production for its EV’s back in September 2021.
In an interview, the senior official said that “Mid decade, we plan to have plants in the Middle East and China as well.” As of right now, China is the world’s largest auto market, with electric vehicles also being a major segment in the industry. Back in 2019, Tesla had built its Gigafactory in the Shanghai, China to expand its presence in the region. With the auto giant’s arrival in the region, the competition in the local market heated up as Chinese startups like Xpeng, NIO, and Li Auto also launched their own EV offerings.
Now, it seems another American brand is entering the Chinese market. At the moment, Lucid Motors expects to make 20,000 of its Air sedans next year. Rawlinson further added that “We’re quadrupling the size of that factory in Arizona. We’re building out a 2.85 million square foot expansion to get ready to build 90,000 units per annum, and the site itself is with its phase three capable of nearly 400,000 units per annum.”
BBK Electronics subsidiaries OPPO, realme, and OnePlus are known for being the first ones to bring 65W fast charging to the masses, offering it even on midrange phones. The trio is now looking to make 100W the new normal and deem 65W fast charging the lowest standard in the fast-charge range.
Accordingly, next-year flagships from the OPPO Find series, realme GT series, and OnePlus 10 series will be equipped with 100W super flash charging support along with large batteries (via My Drivers).
This doesn’t come as a surprise considering OPPO had already announced their own 125W super flash charging tech back in July 2020. It was the fastest charging tech at the time, made possible with some significant changes to both the battery arrangement as well as the input end.
First of all, OPPO switched from a 3c cell battery to a 6c one along with upgrading the tab center to multi-tab technology. This has greatly shortened the movement path and reduced the cellular impedance, effectively enabling input of 12.5A current while also reducing heat generation.
And on the input end, OPPO’s 125W charging tech uses ‘three parallel charge pumps’ that convert the total of 20V 6.25A current from the charger into 10V 12.5A. This means that each pump only pushes 42W of power into the battery which significantly reduces the load and prevents overheating caused by high current.
But of course, all of the charging tech breakthroughs are rendered unusable if they’re considered unsafe. OPPO has thus taken appropriate safety measures, packing a total of 10 sensors for monitoring temperature changes on the mobile phone and the closed-loop link of the charger. These sensors aid the phone in adjusting voltage and current in real-time to control heating.
The 125W charging tech from OPPO is likely to make its large-scale debut next year.
At the moment, only a handful of brands have launched their own foldable smartphones in the market, which means that certain brands still hold a dominance in the market. While this was expected to change as more OEMs were expected to launch their own foldable offerings, it seems that delays and cancellations might have companies like Samsung and Huawei still dominate this segment.
Galaxy Z Fold3 & Galaxy Z Flip3
Just earlier this week, we had reported on Google apparently cancelling its upcoming foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold. Although the main reason for the cancellation is unknown, it appears that a mix of supply constraints and issues with development might have been the cause for cancellation. In other words, Samsung and Huawei still reign supreme in this category.
According to DSCC’s Ross Young, Google’s cancellation and other brands either delaying or downsizing their foldable phone production due to chip shortage will have Samsung’s share in the market go up from 83 percent last year to 86 percent in 2021. Previously, it was estimated by analysts that the South Korean tech giant’s market share would drop as more brands launch their foldable phones.
Huawei Mate X2 4G
But it seems that this might not be the case anytime soon. Similarly, Huawei is still the second largest foldable smartphone maker, however, its market share stands at just 10 percent. Meaning, the foldable segment was easily dominated by the 2021 Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 models.
Earlier today (17th November 2021), Qualcomm had announced its plans to compete with the Apple Silicon’s M series chips with its own next gen processors for PCs during the 2021 Investor Day event. Now, a company official has revealed future projections for its modem business as it prepares for Apple’s own modem chips.
Apple’s shift towards its own modems would cut into the chipmaker’s modem business starting in 2023. According to Qualcomm CFO Akash Palkhiwala, the company is expecting to supply just 20 percent of Apple’s modem chips in 2023. In other words, 2023 would be the last year that the brand enjoys a monopoly in supplying modems to iPhones. For those unaware, the Cupertino based giant has been working on developing its own modem chips for years now. Recent reports have suggested that its in house modems would ship with 2023 iPhones, which is also in line with the chipmaker’s expectations.
Qualcomm stated that this is still just a “planning assumption for forecast purposes,” although, it appears that it is expecting a 2023 launch. Notably, this news also arrives as the chipmaker is seeking to compete with Apple’s M series chips with its own ARM based PC processors. These chips will be designed by Nuvia and will “set the performance benchmark for Windows PCs.”
On the other hand, the shift from Apple to its in house modems also follows a long legal battle with Qualcomm that eventually got settled back in 2019. After this, both firms entered into a multi year partnership since Apple had to source modem chips for its iPhones. But the company started to also working on its own in house modems to become independent in the future.
A reality where foldable phones with under-display camera tech become mainstream is now inching closer than ever as more and more OEMs jump into the bandwagon. The latest to join seems to be realme, an official of which has now hinted at foldable and under-display camera phone offerings from the company in 2022.
In a post on Weibo, Xu Qi Chase, realme CMO (China), has stated that new smartphone forms such as under-screen camera and foldable tech “will further mature” next year. While this doesn’t directly say that realme will indeed be launching such offerings, it could still be a teaser of what’s to come.
realme’s parent brand OPPO is actually working on a foldable phone with an external folding display, so it won’t be surprising if the former is working on the same as well. If OPPO and realme do release foldables of their own, they’ll be joining the likes of Huawei, Samsung, and Xiaomi, all of which have already been mass-producing phones with the tech.
Some alleged design sketches were leaked recently (via 91mobiles) showing a “realme GT 2 Fold.” Although, they appear to be fan-made and should hence be taken with a pinch of salt.
As for under-display cameras, realme has already filed a patent for a phone that seemingly makes use of the tech. The patent documents showcase a phone with a full-screen design, which suggests its selfie camera could be embedded under the display. It also seems to be equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
Phone companies have been racing to offer as much screen estate as possible on their offerings, all while keeping a device still pocketable enough. And as more and more users shift to personal screens, fueled by streaming services like Netflix, there has been an ever-increasing demand for larger displays. After all, the larger the display, the better the watching experience.
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