Apple Watch Series 5 unveiled sporting an Always-On Retina display and several new features

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Sep 10, 2019

Huawei was one of the first OEMs to roll out a roadmap for a beta version for its smartphones back in August when Google first announced Android 10. The Chinese tech giant is moving swiftly, perhaps spurred by the US trade ban. The brand has now rolled out the roadmap for pushing the stable version of EMUI 10 based on Android 10.

The leaked roadmap that reached us courtesy of 9to5google shows that over 30 Huawei and Honor models will get the update at different times. The stable version will be launched on September 19 on board the Mate 30 series. In November, the P30 and P30 Pro will get the update which will potentially make them the first existing models to get the update. The P30 series will keep the Google Services which will likely be absent on the Mate 30 but Huawei is said to be working on a solution to adding Google apps.

More Huawei models plus Honor models will get their update in December and these models include; Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 RS, Mate 20X (4G), Honor 20, Honor View 20 and Honor 20 Pro. The next update is scheduled for March 2020 and will see the Mat 10 series, P30 Lite and P20 series getting the model.

EDITOR’S PICK: Vivo NEX 3 rumor roundup: Specs, design & Everything else you need to know

Huawei did not list the entire 30+ models that would get the new update but the models are scheduled to start getting the Android 10 update sometime in Q2 2020.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi bringing Netflix support to Mi TVs on September 17

OPPO A9 2020 with quad cameras and a 5000mAh battery launched in Pakistan

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Sep 10, 2019

OPPO has already announced the OPPO A9 2020 in Pakistan, a week before it arrives in India. This is its first phone to be powered by the Snapdragon 665 processor.

The OPPO A9 2020 (CPH1937/CPH1939) has a 6.5” Waterdrop Sunlight Screen as OPPO calls it. The resolution is 1600 x 720 and it has a screen-to-body ratio of 89%. OPPO says the dynamic pixel adjustment allows you to see what is on your screen even under strong sunlight. There is also a Blue Shield that filters harmful blue light and protects users from eye fatigue. The back of the phone has a 3D design for a better grip and OPPO says its Space Purple and Marine Green color variants are inspired by nature.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 665 chipset and is paired with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and UFS 2.1 128GB of storage on both variants. Thanks to a triple card slot, owners will be able to use two nano-SIM cards and a MicroSD card (256GB max.) at the same time.

The A9 2020 has quad rear cameras – a 48MP f/1.8 primary camera, an 8MP f/2.25 119° ultrawide angle camera, and two 2MP f/2.4 cameras. It also has a 16MP f/2.0 front-facing camera with AI beautification. The phone has electronic image stabilization and an Ultra Night Mode 2.0 that also works with ultrawide angle photos.

The OPPO A9 2020 has stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos. It runs Color OS 6.0.1 based on Android 9 with software features such as Game Boost 2.0 for smoother and more responsive gaming, HyperBoost, Game Space, Game Assistant, and a Riding Mode that mutes all notifications, declines calls and automatically texts back callers. It also has Face Unlock and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

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Another selling point of the phone is its massive 5000mAh battery which also supports reverse charging. There is no mention of fast charging on the spec sheet but it does charge via a MicroUSB port which is disappointing.

OPPO has not yet revealed details about its pricing and availability.

(Source)

UP NEXT: Oppo’s updated SuperVOOC features 50w+ fast charging, coming soon

Vivo NEX 3 5G spotted on Geekbench ahead of September 16 launch

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Sep 10, 2019

Ahead of the September 16 launch of the third-generation Vivo NEX model dubbed Nex 3 5G, a Vivo model said to be the full-screen flagship phone has appeared on the database of benchmarking outfit GeekBench.

The mobile phone is listed with the model name Vivo V1924A and will be making its debut with an Android Pie OS and 8GB of RAM. The chipset on board is listed as “msmnile” which is a codename for either the Snapdragon 855 and 855+ chips. However, the NEX 3 is expected to be fired up by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi unveils the Mi Pocket Photo Printer, crowdfunding starts September 11

Coming to the benchmark score, the NEX 3 5G got a single-core test score of 3,627 and 11,347 points on the Geekbench 4’s multi-core tests. The single and multi-core scores are in line with what other devices powered by the same chip have achieved. Apart from these scanty details, the GeekBench listing doesn’t reveal anything else.

However, the device had earlier appeared on the website of China’s Telecoms regulatory agency (TENAA) for certification giving us a clear view of not just the design but the specs lineup. To recall, the Vivo NEX 3 has a dimension of 167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4mm and weighs 218.5 grams. The handset is fitted with a 6.89-inch S-AMOLED display that carries support for Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2256 pixels. The display of the NEX 3 is integrated with an in-display fingerprint sensor. There will be a 4G-only and 5G models. The device may also come with a 12GB RAM variant.

UP NEXT: Mi MIX 4′ tempered glass reveals no notch, no punch-hole, no waterfall display

Mi MIX 4′ tempered glass reveals no notch, no punch-hole, no waterfall display

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Sep 10, 2019

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 is one of the most anticipated flagships in the second half of the year and we expect Xiaomi to blow our minds just as it has done with its predecessors. There have been leaks regarding the phone’s specs already but today, images of the phone’s tempered glass have surfaced.

The tempered glass shows that Xiaomi will not be going with any of the popular trends such as a punch hole or a notch or even the new waterfall display design. Yes, the glass does have a certain degree of curvature to it but it is more like that of the Samsung Galaxy Note9 than that of the Vivo NEX 3.

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We are not yet sure but it appears Xiaomi will be going with a pop-up selfie design similar to that of the Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro. Other rumors we have heard include a 90Hz refresh rate and a 2K resolution.

The phone is also expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, have wireless charging, a 108MP primary rear camera, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 5G version.

There are rumors that Xiaomi will announce the Mi MIX 4 on September 24. We expect more details of the phone will surface before then.

(Source, Via)

UP NEXT: Xiaomi crosses 100 million smartphone shipments in India in just 5 years

Redmi Note 8 vs Realme 5 vs Samsung Galaxy A50s: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Sep 10, 2019

Are you looking for a best-buy in the midrange segment? If so, there are a lot of smartphones released during the last months which correspond to this description, including some of the main mid-rangers from the best brands. We recently saw the debut of the Redmi Note 8 that is the successor of the best-selling Xiaomi phone of the year, as well as Samsung Galaxy A50s which is the successor of one of the best-selling Samsung mid-rangers. Alongside these two handsets, even the Realme 5 hitten the market and it is the last affordable phone from Oppo’s sub-brand which is rivaling Redmi in the Asian market. All of these devices offer a well-balanced specs sheet at a very affordable price, that is why we think comparing them is an amazing idea for whoever is searching for the best value for money device in the sub-€200 segment.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 vs Oppo Realme 5 vs Samsung Galaxy A50s

	Realme 5	Xiaomi Redmi Note 8	Samsung Galaxy A50s
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	164.4 x 75.6 x 9.3 mm, 198 grams	158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm, 190 grams	158.5 x 74.5 x 7.7 mm, 169 grams
DISPLAY	6.5 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), 269 ppi, IPS LCD	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, IPS LCD	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, octa-core 2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, octa-core 2 GHz	Samsung Exynos 9610, octa-core 2.3 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, Color OS	Android 9 Pie, MIUI	Android 9 Pie, One UI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 12 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.0 front camera	Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 8 + 5 MP f/2.0, f/2.2 and f/2.2 32 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, fast charging 10W	4000 mAh, fast charging 18W	4000 mAh, fast charging 15W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Unfortunately, we do not get a premium design with any of these handsets. In order to launch them at very affordable prices, the manufacturers decided to build them with a plastic body. So do not expect an amazing build quality, neither a premium look. Realme 5 is the only splash resistant phone here, while the Samsung Galaxy A50s is the only with an in-display fingerprint reader. Which would be your choice basing on these elements?

Display

As you probably understood if your smartphone-addicted, given that it comes with an under-display fingerprint scanner, the Samsung Galaxy A50s has a Super AMOLED panel too. Redmi Note 8 and Realme 5 both come with an IPS display (Realme 5 even has a lower HD resolution), while thanks to the AMOLED technology Galaxy A50s offers deeper blacks and more brilliant colors. That is why I would prefer its display over its rivals. The display size is more or less the same, Redmi Note 8 is just slightly smaller than its opponents with a 6.3-inch size and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

Specs & Software

According to overall benchmark scores and to the user experience a lot of people verified, the Snapdragon 665 chipset found on the Redmi Note 8 and Realme 5 is slightly more performing than the Exynos 9610 found on the Galaxy A50s. But the difference is so marginal that I would not mind. Instead, you should note that, unlike the Redmi Note 8 and the Galaxy A50s, Realme 5 does not have a memory configuration with 6 GB of RAM but it stops at just 4 GB. In each case, you get a highly customized user interface based on Android 9. If I had to choose depending on the potential performance, I would go for the Redmi Note 8.

Camera

The darker focal aperture of the Samsung Galaxy A50s alongside the inferior main sensor of the Realme 5 would let me define the Redmi Note 8 as the best camera phone of the comparison, at least when it comes to rear cameras. If we talk about front cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A50s is a lot better thanks to its superior 32 MP snapper.

Battery

The higher battery capacity of the Realme 5 and its lower display resolution will make it last a lot more on a single charge than both the Galaxy A50s and Redmi Note 8. So Realme 5 is undoubtedly the winner of the battery comparison.

Price

Redmi Note 8 starts from about €130/$145, just like the Realme 5, while Samsung is yet to unveil the price of the Galaxy A50s, but we expect it to cost about €250/$275 in India. Samsung Galaxy A50s looks like a slightly better device thanks to its better display and selfie camera, but if that will be its price, Redmi Note 8 has a way higher value for money. At the end of the day, you should go for the Realme 5 only if you need a monster battery, while Galaxy A50s and Redmi Note 8 are better options for the rest.

Read More: Lin Bin proves the Redmi Note 8 Pro battery can last up to 2 days with 20% juice left

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 vs Oppo Realme 5 vs Samsung Galaxy A50s: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

PROs

Affordable price
Nice cameras
Good battery life
Compact

CONS

Nothing particular

Realme 5

PROs

Wide display
Huge battery
Very affordable
Splash resistant

CONS

HD display

Samsung Galaxy A50s

PROs

High performance
Micro SD dedicated slot
Big battery
Best display

CONS

Costlier

Microsoft believes Huawei is being treated unfairly by Trump

By

Joel Joseph

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Sep 10, 2019

Huawei and the US are not exactly on their best terms despite the recent reprieve from the Trump administration. Currently, the telecommunications giant cannot buy or sell products to US companies for new devices. This is turning out to be incredibly damaging to the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, who relies on a number of American components to make its products. In fact, software solutions from companies like Microsoft and Google do not have viable replacements, making the ban even more damaging for Huawei.

huawei-matebook-3 — Huawei also has products like the Matebook which runs on US based Microsoft’s Windows OS

But this ban affects US companies like Google as well, who have been Huawei’s long-time partners. In fact, Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, recently said that the US ban on Huawei was both unfair and un-American. He calls for better transparency in Huawei’s case asking for more evidence. He further revealed that whenever Microsoft has approached the Trump administration about the Huawei case, it often gets a vague answer like, “Well, if you knew what we knew, you would agree with us.” Microsoft’s reply would often be, ‘Great, show us what you know so we can decide for ourselves. That’s the way this country works.’

⇒ Editor’s Pick: Huawei considers selling Kirin chips, but only for IoT devices

He further warned that the Trump administrations ban could expand beyond Huawei possibly affecting the competitiveness of US companies on a global scale. He says “You can’t be a global technology leader if you can’t bring your technology to the globe.”

Smith believes the solution to this is working together on a global scale. Implementing standards for privacy and data collection that are accepted on an international level, including China, is the way to move forward.

Currently, Huawei’s upcoming Mate 30 series isn’t licensed to use Google Apps. While Huawei reportedly has a workaround to this issue, it will still affect the sales of the Chinese smartphone maker and spoil its chances of overtaking Samsung as the biggest smartphone maker by 2020.

UP NEXT: Huawei releases Mate 30 series teaser video ahead of its launch on September 19

(Source)

Leaked Huawei Mate 30 tempered glass reveals a smaller notch than the Mate 30 Pro

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Sep 10, 2019

Despite the obstacle Huawei is facing as regards the use of Google services, the tech giant is scheduled to go ahead with the launch of the Mate 30 series on September 19. The series is comprised of the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro. Majority of the leaks have focused on the Mate 30 Pro but the tempered glass protector for the Mate 30 was outed online recently. The leaked tempered glass basically confirms the design of the display.

As shown in the leaked image, the Mate 30 adopts the notch design but the size of the notch is smaller than that of the Mate 30 Pro. The notch is just wide enough to house two camera sensors. Also, the screen doesn’t show any sign of a curved-edge screen like the Mate 30 Pro so, it is likely a flat-screen with ultra-slim bezels on all sides. An earlier leak of the display panel for the Mate 30 matches with this leaked tempered glass.

The Mate 30 had earlier been revealed to bring along support for an in-display fingerprint sensor. The device may join the Mate 30 Pro to be powered by a Hisilicon Kirin 990 5G chipset. There will also be a 4G version still packing a Kirin 990 SoC. However, the Mate 30 may be restricted to the Krin 990 chip without the 5G modem. In addition, Mate 30 is also expected to bring support for wireless charging.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy Fold will feature Built-in App-optimization technology

Yeelight USB Powered Small Night Light

Buy Yeelight-Branded Night Lights for Lowered Prices from LightInTheBox

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 10, 2019

Touted as one of the world’s leading smart lighting brand, Yeelight offers a wide selection of smart home lighting products such as table lights, furnishing lights, ambiance lights, and smart lighting control products.

The coveted brand has now teamed up with LightInTheBox to offer two of its well-received products for considerably reduced prices. So without wasting more time, let’s check out the details.

Yeelight USB Powered Small Night Light

Marketed as a Xiaomi Ecosystem Product, the Yeelight USB Powered Small Night Light is quite easy to install as it comes with a hook, adhesive tape. Furthermore, it can be magnetized so there’s no need for using screws, nuts or any sort of other tools.

It has an advanced built-in light sensor and PIR motion sensor. The sensor offers a 120 wide trigger angle with a sensing range of 5-7 meters for a better experience. It has three modes including ON, OFF, and AUTO.

The white-tinted Yeelight USB Powered Small Night Light would normally set you back $24.63, but you can now buy it for just $10.99 from LightInTheBox. This is a noteworthy 55 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Yeelight USB Powered Small Night Light and place your order. Note that the Lightning Sale is slated to end shortly.

Yeelight YLYD03YL Induction Night Light

This plug-to-use sensor night light from Yeelight is ideal for the corridor, bedroom, stairs, and other dark corners of your home. With 2500K color temperature, it has a gentle effect even on tender eyes so you can use it in the baby’s room without worrying about any sort adverse effect.

It is equipped with wisdom recognition feature that automatically identifies whether day or night and adjusts the light intensity accordingly. Moreover, it has a built-in photosensor that determines the brightness of the ambient light.

When you activate the constant light mode, it lights up at night and turns off during the day automatically. The feature-rich Yeelight YLYD03YL usually retails for $12.31, but much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, it is now available for only $6.59 on LightInTheBox.

This 46 percent off is currently available on the white color option of the night light. You can visit this link to grab the discount before the Lightning Sale wraps up.

Yeelight YLYD03YL Smart Induction Plug-in Night Light

Xiaomi bringing Netflix support to Mi TVs on September 17

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 10, 2019

On the eve of Smart Living 2020 event on Septemeber 17, Xiaomi will be launching various new smart products and new Mi TV in India. In a couple of new teasers via Twitter, Xiaomi revealed some of the unknown features of the upcoming Mi TVs. Along with several new product launches, the Chinese giant will bring Netflix support across the Mi TVs. Xiaomi officially confirmed this “biggest update” via its official @MiTVIndia Twitter handle.

"Kabhi kabhi lagta hai apun hi bhagwaan hai." 😉

Dropping the biggest hint of the season. Turn up the volume and listen to this. Tell us your guess with #MiTV in comments.

Unveiling on 17th September. #SmarterLiving 2020. pic.twitter.com/20TsRn0MOE

— Mi TV India for #MiFans (@MiTVIndia) September 9, 2019

Xiaomi teased a video with Netflix chime accompanying a dialogue from a popular Indian title Sacred Games. However, so far Netflix support on Android-based Mi TVs was only possible by using either the Amazon Fire Stick or external Android TV Box. So, the official Netflix support is a precious gift and welcome move from Xiaomi India.

Unfortunately, Xiaomi didn’t confirm the availability of Netflix on existing Mi TVs. We have to wait for official words at the launch event on September 17.

⇒ Editor’s Pick: OnePlus TV to feature a monitor like swivel stand with carbon fiber finish

Apart from the Netflix support, Xiaomi Global VP and MD of Xiaomi India, Manu Kumar Jain confirmed the launch of “the biggest and the best Mi TV in India.” He also threw some light on the TV specs, including 4K resolution support and 65-inch display size. He also said he’ll reveal more details about the TV if the post gets retweeted more than 65000 times.

In China, Xiaomi has already unveiled the 65-inch TV for the price ranging between Rs 30000 and Rs 70000. OnePlus is also preparing to launch its maiden smart TV on September 26th with a premium offering. It would be interesting to see healthy competition between these two rival Chinese companies in the smart TV market.

Up next: Redmi TV with 70-inch 4K HDR display, 2 GB RAM launched for 3,799 Yuan ($531)

Xiaomi 10000mAh Wireless Power Bank Youth Edition announced

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Sep 10, 2019

When Xiaomi announced the Mi 9 back in February, it also announced a couple of wireless charging products such as a 20W wireless desk charger, a 20W wireless car charger, and a 10000mAh Wireless Power Bank. Xiaomi has now announced a Youth Edition/Lite version of the wireless power bank.

The Xiaomi 10000mAh Wireless Power Bank Youth Edition like the name says has a 10000mAh capacity. It also supports 2-way 18W wired fast charging and 10W wireless charging. You are definitely wondering what has changed since these are the same features as that of the regular version.

First, the Youth Edition now has a polycarbonate body instead of an aluminum alloy metal casing like the standard edition. The change in material means it is now lighter and less thick. Xiaomi says the weight has reduced by 75 grams and thickness has reduced by 1.8 millimeters.

The power bank also comes in two color variants – black and white, unlike the standard version that is only available in black. Last but not least is the lower price tag at ¥129 (~$18), which is ¥20 (~$3) less than the price of the standard version.

Other than these differences, you still get the same experience and functionality such as Qi wireless charging, a full-sized USB output port, and a USB Type-C port that doubles as both input and output port. There are also four LEDs for battery level indication and a fifth LED for wireless charging.

It will work with a variety of devices including the iPhone XS, the Galaxy S9, and the Mi 9. It also has nine built-in protections including foreign metal object detection.

The Xiaomi 10000mAh Wireless Power Bank Youth Edition is available for pre-order on the Youpin store and will go on sale at 10 AM on September 12.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi is already working on a 40W wireless charging solution, currently in the testing phase

Xiaomi unveils the Mi Pocket Photo Printer, crowdfunding starts September 11

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Sep 10, 2019

Xiaomi has quietly launched a new pocket photo printer on Xiaomi Mall. The device is expected to up for crowdfunding on September 11. The Mi Portable Photo Printer will adopt a crowdfunding price of 299 yuan while retailing will start at 349 yuan after the exercise. It is expected to start shipping from October 2.

The Mi Pocket Photo Printer should rank among the smallest photo printers around. The outer casing is made of ABS/PC fireproof material with a finish that gives it an exquisite and beautiful finish. The entire device has only three buttons and is the size of a power bank. The portable printer can print photos in 3-inch sizes. It uses ZINK inkless printing technology, supports AR photos and music. The slider is loaded with paper and the photo paper can be printed easily.

Thanks to the support for AR technology, the print formats available are numerous, using the MIJIA app. You can still shoot or upload any video when you print photos and then use the Mijia APP to scan photos. Thus, you can experience the real and dynamic AR photos at any time. There several fun templates that can be deployed towards shooting creative photos.

UP NEXT: OPPO A9 (2020) to launch on September 16 and released by month-end

Global Shipments to decline this year, but 5G will revive the market in 2020: IDC

By

Jeet

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Sep 10, 2019

According to a new forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC), Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows signs of market recovery in the second half of 2019 and into 2020, hinting at the smartphone shipment growth.

As per the report, IDC expects shipment volumes to be nearly flat (-0.4%) in the second half of 2019 while the market declines 2.2% year over year for the full year, making 2019 the third straight year of global contraction. But, in the year 2020, IDC expects shipment growth to reach 1.6 percent.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone will feature built-in App-optimization technology

It says that a ray of hope has arrived for the smartphone world in the form of 5G. Since the commercial deployments have begun in many regions, 2020 looks to be the year where 5G begins to ramp up. IDC expects 5G shipments to reach 8.9 percent of smartphones shipped in 2020, accounting for 123.5 million devices shipped. This is expected to grow to 28.1 percent by 2023.

The report says that Android‘s smartphone share will increase to 87.0 percent in 2019 from 85.1 percent in 2018 mostly due to 5G launches and expedited inventory cleanup of older devices. Volumes are expected to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7 percent with shipments of 1.3 billion in 2023.

If further adds that this year will remain a challenging one for Apple’s iPhone shipments with volumes expected to drop to 177.9 million, down 14.8 percent year over year. This is mostly being attributed to market maturity as well as a lack of 5G devices. Apple is expected to launch 5G smartphones next year.

Up Next: Blu Bold N1 with 6.4-inch display, screen fingerprint sensor and Helio P70 debuts for $200

Lenovo Wireless Earbuds and Headphones leak ahead of release

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