A Russian tech blog has recently shared the key specs and live shots of the alleged Google Pixel 3 Lite smartphone. Now, the same site has shared some camera samples that were reportedly shot using the same Google phone.
Some of the below images that were shot indoors reveal that the Pixel 3 Lite will be able to capture good shots in dim light conditions.
The daylight images were shot in heavy overcast conditions, but the smartphone was able to capture almost every detail. The last image has a widescreen aspect ratio which indicates that the still shot from taken from a 4K video shot using the same phone.
All the above shots were probably shot using the prototype of the Google Pixel 3 Lite. The final product with updated camera features will offer even better photography experience
Rumors surrounding the smartphone have claimed that it is codenamed as Sargo. It is speculated that the handset is equipped with a rear camera of 12-megapixel and a selfie shooter of 8-megapixel. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones from last year are equipped with 12.2-megapixel rear and dual 8-megapixel front cameras. There is no confirmation on whether the alleged Pixel 3 Lite is also equipped with the same camera sensors.
The front side of the phone could be flanked with a 5.56-inch notch-less display with a tall aspect ratio. It may carry support for Full HD+ resolution of 2220 x 1080 pixels. It could be fueled by Snapdragon 670 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The handset may feature a 3,400mAh battery and it will be preloaded with Android 9 Pie OS.
Leaked photos of the smartphone have suggested that it will be featuring a polycarbonate rear shell. It will be equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack and a rear facing fingerprint reader. The handset is likely to be priced between $400 and $500 and it may go official in Q1 2019.
Unlike competitor smartphones that feature multiple camera sensors, Google Pixel phones have always featured single rear camera. Google Pixel 2 from last year ranks among the top ten smartphones benchmarked by DxOMark which provides image quality ratings for mobile devices. The Pixel 3 that was announced in October is yet to appear in the list. It is very likely that the Pixel 3 will also rank well on DxOMark. The camera samples of the alleged Pixel 3 Lite also suggests that the phone will deliver stellar photography experience.
Xiaomi recently announced a rather bizarre Guinness World Record which it clinched by creating the biggest logo using light mosaic. That happened to be the company’s first Guinness record and it was no surprise the company chose to amplify the feat despite having no relationship whatsoever with is core smartphone business. The company has just clinched another Guinness World Record, this time around for simultaneously opening 500 Mi stores in India.
The Chinese giant already has a number of Mi Stores in India including the largest Mi Store at Bangalore but this time around, it chose to open 500 new stores all at once. The new brick and mortar stores are located in various cities in India and the record-setting grand opening took place on October 29 but the claim has to be cleared by GWR before announcing the achievement.
The record Mi Stores were not actually set up just for the Guinness World Record but are part of Xiaomi’s plans to expand rapidly in India. Xiaomi called the plan a “New Retail” model for India where it aims to provide “flagship store experience” to customers in rural areas. The Chinese firm may smash its own record if it attains its goals for 2019 which is to open 5,000 new brick-and-mortar stores and to employ over 15,000 people across the whole country.
With chipsets having dedicated NPUs (neural processing units), it was only a matter of time before performance tests for that part of a processor surfaced. A benchmark result has surfaced that compares the AI performance of major chipsets including upcoming ones, and Qualcomm‘s yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8150 takes the top spot.
The test was carried out with the AI Benchmark app which is available on the Play Store and has over 10,000 installs. According to the info on the site, there are 9 computer vision AI tasks which are performed by 9 separate neural networks on your smartphone. The tasks include object recognition/classification, face recognition, image deblurring, image super-resolution, memory limits etc. You can read about them here.
The current ranking on the site says the Qualcomm 8150 Dev Platform is currently the best at AI tasks with an AI score of 22,082. Next comes another unreleased chipset, the MediaTek P80 Dev Platform which has an AI score of 19,453 points. This is the second time we are hearing of the Helio P80, the first time it was mentioned was a few months ago by the serial leaker, Roland Quandt.
Closing the top three is the OnePlus 6 powered by the Snapdragon 845 with 8GB of RAM and an AI score of 12,274 points and the Kirin 980-powered Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes in at the fourth position with 12,026 points. The Mate 20 X and Mate 20 grab the fifth and sixth spots while the P20 Pro which has a Kirin 970 SoC is 7th with 8921 points.
However, here are some unusual scores. For example, the Pixel 3XL and Pixel 3 are powered by the same Snapdragon 845 chipset as the OnePlus 6, but they are 15th and 16th on the list. The Mi 8 and Mi MIX 2S which also have the same processor come next. There is also a OnePlus 6 with the same amount of RAM as the one at the third spot but is 19th on the ranking.
Earlier this month, precisely on November 9, Samsung launched this year’s edition of its flip phone. Samsung W2019 is yet another luxury model from the Korean giant, packing a well-studded specs lineup and a premium design. The W2019 is here available for your perusal thanks to some hands on pictures from Chinese blog Sina Technology.
The Samsung W2019 continues with the clamshell design on the W2018 which was released in December last year. It also continues with other unique features on the W2018 such as dual screens (one at the outside and a second at the inside) as well as the classic T9 keyboard. The body is machined from metal and the frame is finished with an innovative edge glow process. The device also houses a fingerprint sensor that is situated at the right side of the body, integrated with the power button.
The Samsung W2019 external display is a 4.2-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Also, the internals display screen comes with the same specification. The rear is covered with the Corning Gorilla Glass and entirely, the device weighs 257 grams. On the internals, it is powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset and packs a dual camera setup at the rear. It comes in two color choices of Rose Gold and Platinum but you can check out the Rose Gold version in the cool hands on pictures below.
It’s raining discounts at multiple national and international retailers. Everywhere, retailers are giving substantial Black Friday discounts, and many manufacturers are looking for another spell of high sales as like of double 11 events in China. This weekend starting especially on Friday, many products from ALLDOCUBE will go on sale at Gearbest at huge discounts. There are plenty of smart devices, especially tablets which have gone on sale already.
You can head over to the Gearbest to get maximum discounts of upto $100 on some of their products. Otherwise, you can also check out some other deals which are also available at the lowest ever possible price. ALLDOCUBE manufactures tablets and 2-in-1 machines for business and casual users. Even, though it can solve purpose for gamers also, with some high-end specs.
Notably, these devices are on huge discounts, make sure to grab them if you are looking for good tablets at groundbreaking low prices.
ALLDOCUBE M5
It carries a 10.1-inch display having a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels coupled with MTK X20 Deca Core process. ALLDOCUBE M5 runs on 4GB RAM and 64 GB of internal storage with Android 8.0 Oreo onboard. In-Camera department, there’s a single rear-facing camera and dual front-facing cameras for capturing memorable moments.
It is a high-end device with a 10.1-inch display having an option to use Keyboard. It is a 2-in-1 tablet with 1920×1200 IPS screen. IWork10 Pro is powered with Intel Atom X5 Z8350 Quad Core processor with 4GB of RAM and 64 GB internal storage. It carries decent cameras to capture memorable and high-quality pictures.
It is powered with MTK 8173 quad-core processor having an 8.9-inch display with the resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. Further, there’s a 4GB RAM+64GB ROM which is expandable upto 128GB via TF card. It runs on Android 6.0 operating system. In-camera department, there’s a 5-megapixel sensor on the front side, while 13 megapixel takes place on the rear side. In connectivity, you will get a 3.5 mm headphone jack Type-C port and TF card slot.
Currently, the discount is limited to some products, as the deals are live on few days only. The actual promotion will begin on November 22nd at 00:00 hours – 24th November GMT 8+. You can head over to the button below to grab more discounts from Gearbest ALLDOCUBE store.
Since Martin Goodman founded Marvel Comics in 1939, the series has gone on to become a global brand. Thus, it should be a surprise that Xiaomi’s latest crowdfunding product is the Marvel superhero figures. Marvel counts among its characters such well-known superheroes as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Daredevil, Ghost Rider and the Punisher, such teams as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Inhumans and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and antagonists including Thanos, Doctor Doom, Magneto, Red Skull, Green Goblin, Ultron, Doctor Octopus, Loki, and Venom.
The Marvel “Avenger league” series of copper dolls is eight in numbers and include such characters as Captain America, Iron Man, Rocky, Spider-Man, Raytheon, War Machine, Hulk, Anti-Hulk Mech. The manufacturer, Hangzhou Yuhua Culture and Creative Co., Ltd, claims they have the license of Marvel as well as Warner Bros, the National Museum of China. The company also has the authority of the British Museum, Wandering Earth, and Han Meilin Art Museum to manufacture the dolls.
The dolls are made of brass and are each hand-crafted with fine attention to details. The Iron Man, Captain America, War Machine, Spider-Man, and Raytheon figures each have a dimension of 10×10×12 cm. On the other hand, the Rocky doll has a dimension of 11.5×10×14.5 cm, Hulk has a dimension of 13×13×14 cm, while the anti-Hulk mech measures 18 x 13 x 15 cm.
As for the price, the full set of 8 pieces is priced at 2,999 yuan ($431). It is also possible to buy each of the Marvel figures separately. In this regard, the Captain America, Iron Man, Rocky, Spider-Man, Raytheon, War Machine each goes for 369 yuan ($53) on crowdfunding while the single piece of Hulk and anti-Hulk mech is 469 yuan ($67).
The Honor 10 Lite launches tomorrow. Earlier today, its specs and pricing became public knowledge thanks to an early listing by China Telecom. Ahead of the unveiling tomorrow, an official render of the phone has surfaced online.
The render shows the Honor 10 Lite in a gradient ice-blue finish. It has a waterdrop notched display with curved corners and a moderately sized bezel at the bottom and a thinner one at the top. The earpiece is a slit in the phone’s metal frame.
The Honor 10 Lite will come with dual rear cameras. The sensors are separated and the words “AI Camera” are inscribed below the LED flash. Although this render doesn’t show a fingerprint scanner, other leaked images have revealed there is one on the back.
As we reported you earlier today, Huawei Honor 8X became the best selling online mobile phone for October in China. But is this best seller really the best phone to purchase at this moment? In order to know it, we decided to compare it with other very important value for money phones of this second half of the year: Oppo Realme 2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, which are two other potential best sellers all around the world.
Huawei Honor 8X vs Oppo Realme 2 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
The phone that I like more when it comes to aesthetics is undoubtedly the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite. With just 7.5 mm of thickness, it is the thinnest one, and it is also the most beautiful one, in my opinion, thanks to its wonderful glass back which is available in gradient colors. Huawei Honor 8X is another outstanding phone in terms of design, but it lacks the gradient hues and it has above-average dimensions due to its bigger display. Oppo Realme 2 Pro has a polycarbonate design and that is disappointing.
Display
Most of midrange phones’ displays have a similar viewing quality, and that is the same with this trio of value for money phones. What makes me prefer the Huawei Honor 8X is the bigger size of the screen, which allows a more comfortable use for multimedia, gaming, and productivity. But you may like Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite more if you want a compact device.
Specs & Software
Given that it features a powerful Snapdragon 660 SoC by Qualcomm and up to 8 GB of RAM in its most expensive variant, Oppo Realme 2 Pro is the device with the most satisfying performance, especially on the gaming side. But Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is almost at the same level as it features the same chipset, but max 6 GB of RAM. Huawei Honor 8X has a Kirin 710 which is comparable to the Snapdragon 660 but it is slightly inferior according to our tests.
Camera
It is a very close fight between these handsets when it comes to the camera department. Overall, Oppo Realme 2 Pro satisfies me slightly more because of its impressive shots in low-light conditions. Nothing incredibly surprising, but a very nice performance for a simple mid-ranger.
Battery
Huawei Honor 8X has the biggest battery, but Oppo Realme 2 Pro is very close with its 3500 mAh capacity. Further, it has better software optimization. Which one lasts more depends on the scenario and there are very marginal differences in the battery life between these two phones. So we consider it a draw. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite cannot compete with its smaller 3350 mAh unit.
Price
You can grab a unit of the Huawei Honor 8X for about €250, Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite costs more or less the same, while Oppo Realme 2 Pro costs less than €200 but it is an Asian exclusive. If you do not mind about having a great design with quality materials, Oppo Realme 2 Pro is definitely the best value for money phone and I would personally pick it. Otherwise, Huawei Honor 8X is a better purchase because of its bigger and comfortable display as well as a bigger battery. But if you do not like both big phones and poor materials, then Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is your choice.
OPPO will mark the 5th anniversary of its ColorOS Android-based operating system on November 22. The official ColorOS Weibo account has been sharing countdown posters ahead of the event but today it shared a more interesting post related to the next version of the OS called ColorOS6.
The post was actually reshared from the account of Chris Chen Xi, who used to work for Meizu‘s Flyme OS but now works for OPPO. In the original post, Mr. Chen revealed he will share details about ColorOS 6.0 at 12 noon on November 22, the same date as the 5th anniversary of ColorOS.
So far, the only thing we have heard about the new OS is its revamped design and that it will bring improvements in the performance of both flagship and low-end phones. It is also expected to bring Android 9 Pie to eligible devices.
The Meizu 16 and Meizu 16 Plus were released back in August. The phones got praise for their design, build quality, specs, and price. Now, news of a successor has started to show up on the web. Meizu‘s own CEO already confirmed the successor will be called the Meizu 16S (and probably a Meizu 16S Plus too). A fan has made a render for the Meizu 16S and while it may not be the real deal, it does look good.
The Meizu 16S is shown in white like its predecessor. However, it ditches the bezels completely but doesn’t have a notch. Under the display is a fingerprint scanner since there is one on the back or on the sides.
The Meizu 16S render shown here has three rear cameras. They are positioned in the middle of the phone and arranged vertically. Below the sensors is a ring flash. The photo also shows the phone has a type-C port at the bottom flanked by a speaker grille and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The Meizu 16S will most likely be powered by the Snapdragon 8150 and will have up to 8GB of RAM. We also think it is time Meizu added support for wireless charging.
Suning Tesco has released a new Weibo post through which it has confirmed that it will be carrying out the pre-orders of the Nokia 3.1 Plus smartphone on Nov. 22. This confirms that the new Nokia smartphone will go official in China on the same date.
HMD Global had launched Nokia 3.1 Plus smartphone in India on Oct. 11. Soon after its Indian launch, the smartphone was spotted on TENAA with full specifications which suggested that the phone may soon launch in China. As of this writing, there is no information available on the pricing of the smartphone for the Chinese market. In India, the handset is selling with a starting price of Rs. 9,499 (~$133). The Finnish firm is known for selling its smartphones with cheaper price tags in China. Hence, the Nokia 3.1 Plus may cost 899 Yuan (~$129) in the country.
The Nokia 3.1 Plus comes with a 5.99-inch IPS LCD screen that produces 18:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. The Helio P22 chipset powers the phone along with 3 GB of RAM. It comes with a native storage of 32 GB. The phone features a microSD card slot for additional storage.
The 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup is placed on the rear shell of the Nokia 3.1 Plus. The back panel of the phone is also fitted with a fingerprint scanner. The handset draws power from 3,500mAh battery. It is yet another Android One smartphone from the company. The phone comes loaded with stock edition of the Android 8.1 Oreo OS.
In India, the Nokia 3.1 Plus comes in two models. The base edition of the phone includes 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of native storage. It is priced at Rs. 9,499 (~$133). The higher model features 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. It carries a price tag of Rs. 11,499 (~$160).
According to the TENAA listing of the phone, the Nokia 3.1 Plus will be hitting China in 2 GB RAM + 16 GB storage and 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage versions. It will be available in White and Blue color options. These models may carry respective price tags of 899 Yuan and 999 Yuan in China.
First came smart speakers and now we have smart displays. The trend which started with Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo Show now includes smart displays powered by Google Assistant. The latest is LG’s XBOOM AI ThinQ WK9, a smart display made by LG in collaboration with Google.
The LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK9 (LG XBOOM WK9 for short) shares a similar design to the JBL Link View – a display sandwiched between two speakers, though the front of the LG XBOOM WK9 is rectangular with curved corners and not oval like the JBL.
The smart display’s selling point is its audio. Unlike other smart displays that push audio performance to the back burner, LG has focused on this. The audio performance of the smart display was developed in partnership with Meridian Audio – an industry leader in audio solutions. LG says they worked together on providing the XBOOM WK9 with high-fidelity sound, accurate bass, and a precise vocal definition despite its small size.
The LG XBOOM WK9 has an 8-inch HD display flanked by two 20W speakers. It also has a 5MP camera for video calls, a feature missing on Google’s own Home Hub smart display. It comes in black, weighs 1.51kg and has a power rating of 5.6W.
Since it is powered by Google Assistant, you can use the smart display to control your smart devices that work with Google Assistant or use it to control other LG ThinQ products.
Honor 10 Lite will be unveiled in China tomorrow. The specifications of the smartphone have already surfaced through its TENAA listing. Honor is currently running the reservations of the phone ahead of its launch, but the details on its pricing and variants have remained under the wraps. The smartphone has appeared on the website of China Telecom with all its specifications. The listings of the phone also contain the vital information on the pricing of its different variants.
Honor 10 Lite Specifications
The Honor 10 Lite has been with model numbers HRY-AL00 and HRY-AL00a on the website of China Telecom. There seems to be some difference in the support for network bands between these models. Otherwise, both include same specs.
The Honor 10 Lite listings reveal that the rear dual camera equipped with AI and its ability to capture beautified selfies are the key features of the phone. It is fitted with a waterdrop notch screen of 6.2 inches. The Kirin 710 chipset the smartphone along with 4 GB / 6 GB of RAM. It receives power from 3,400mAh battery.
The smartphone is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It comes in 64 GB and 128 GB storage sizes. There is a microSD card slot for additional storage on the device. The backside of the phone features a fingerprint reader and a vertical dual camera setup that includes a 13-megapixel main sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. For shooting selfies, it comes with a 24-megapixel front camera. The handset is speculated to arrive as a worthy rival for the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite smartphone.
Here are the different variants of the Honor 10 Lite along with their pricing:
4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 2,299 Yuan (~$331)
6 GB RAM + 6 GB storage – 2,599 Yuan (~$372)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,999 Yuan (~$432)
Except for 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, the Honor 10 Lite with model number HRY-AL00a has the same variants as the HRY-AL00 model. The Honor 10 Lite will be available for buying in four colors like Midnight Black, Lily White, Gradient Blue and Gradient Red.
Xiaomi has been pretty consistent in pushing the latest MIUI updates to older models. The Mi 5S which as released in 2016 is one of such models. The company has revealed via the MIUI Weibo account that the Mi 5S is receiving MIUI 10 stable updates.
The Mi 5S comes with its own unique features such as brushed metal back panel, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and others. So, the custom ROM will be specially developed to take into consideration the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The new update also brings features such as face recognition and Face Unlock to the model.
Apart from the MI 5S, Xiaomi’s MIUI team also have several older Mi phones covered in terms of the latest update. Just this month, the second batch of MIUI 10 stable version was pushed to a total of 21 models. The models include the Mi Max 2, Mi 4S, Mi 4C, Mi 5S, Mi 5s Plus, Mi Max standard version, Mi Max high version, Mi 4 mobile / Unicom / Telecom 3G versions. Others include the Mi 4 Telecom 4G version , Redmi 5A, Redmi 4A, Redmi 4 high version, Redmi 4X, Redmi Note 5A standard version, Redmi Note 5A high version, Redmi Note4, Redmi Note 4X MTK platform, Redmi Pro, Redmi Note 3 full Netcom, Redmi 5 Plus, and Redmi Note 4X Snapdragon version.
Samsung recently launched the world’s first smartphone to feature four rear camera sensors — the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) in Malaysia. Now, as expected, the company has officially launched the phone in the Indian market.
In India, the pricing of the Galaxy A9 (2018) starts at Rs. 36,990 for the 6GB RAM model while the 8GB RAM model costs Rs. 39,990. The phone comes in three color options — Bubblegum Pink, Caviar Black, and Lemonade Blue.
Both the models will go on sale in India from 28th November. The will be available through online channels such as Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall, Airtel Store as well as through offline stores.
The highlight of the smartphone is the quad camera setup on the back. It includes a 24-megapixel primary camera of f/1.7 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens offering 2X optical zoom, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor of f/2.2 aperture.
On the front side, the device comes equipped with a 24-megapixel camera sensor for taking selfies and video calling. There’s also an Intelligent Scene Optimizer feature that relies on AI for enhancing shots in different scenes.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) features a taller 6.3-inch AMOLED display with 2220 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm mid-range Snapdragon 660 processor. The phone comes in two variants — one featuring 6GB RAM while the other variant packs 8GB RAM.
Both models come with 128GB of internal storage and feature a microSD card slot that enables you to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 512GB. While the phone supports Face Unlock feature, it also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security.
Coming to the software part, the handset runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with Samsung’s Experience UX and built-in support for Samsung Pay. The phone is powered by a 3,800mAh battery and comes with support for fast charging technology.
In the natural evolution of smartphones, full screen phones are just a pit stop. The real future of smartphones is likely going to be foldables. While foldable smartphones are still in their nascent stages, in the next couple of years, they’ll no longer be concepts. Every major smartphone company is said to be working on at least one foldable phone design and it’ll only be a matter of time we start seeing these concepts turn into reality. In fact, a couple of smartphone manufacturers have already confirmed that their versions of foldable smartphones are already near commercial release. We’ll likely see at least two new foldable smartphones in 2019, but personally, I believe, this figure is going to be higher.
Foldable Phones Make Sense
As smartphones are getting bigger in size, we have come to a point where the term ‘phablets’ have become redundant. What was initially a special niche segment, now most flagships are essentially phablets. That’s the new normal, hence they don’t need a special name.
As the race to reduce bezels around the display have come to a point where we have had to add a slider to the device, the next big step forward is going to be foldables. Even with zero bezels around the display, there’s a certain limit to a smartphone’s size since we can’t hold huge phones comfortably. So, what’s the next best solution without really degrading the user experience?
Foldables.
Our love for large screens will never be satiated. As our media consumption on mobile devices have increased, there have been an increased demand for large screen devices. With high-speed internet access available for mobile devices, especially after the availability of 5G networks, our media usage on mobile devices is going to shoot up. This brings up the need for larger screens and hence foldables. Maybe, in the future, we could see smartphones with multiple folds too! It makes sense on so many levels and the first gen. foldable devices with a single inward or outward fold could just be the start of this revolution.
Even Google agrees that foldables make sense. In fact, in the recent iteration of Android, there’s a special support for smartphones that fold inwards or outwards. Native Android support for foldables is definitely a welcome sign for its future. Plus, the screen continuity feature, which essentially expands the app in view as you open or fold an app looks really cool!
Now that we’ve established why foldables make sense, let’s see which manufacturers are on their way to release one.
Which Companies Are Working on Foldable Smartphones?
Samsung
Ever since we saw a glimpse of the flexible display on the Galaxy Note Edge model, we knew that a foldable smartphone would come from Samsung in the near future. While it’s been four years since the launch of the first Edge model with a curved screen, we finally have a launch confirmation.
After years of rumours and speculations, Samsung officially demoed its first ever foldable smartphone at the recent Developer Conference in the US. The company also confirmed that a commercial version of its foldable smartphone will be launched sometime in 2019. The Infinity Flex display will go into mass production in the coming months and we can expect the phone to be available later in 2019. Note that Samsung adds that the flexible display can be folded hundreds of thousands of times without showing any real signs of wear and tear. That’s pretty impressive and dismisses our first major concern associated with a foldable smartphone.
DESIGN:
The Galaxy F or X or whatever it’ll be called at launch is confirmed to feature a 7.3-inch large display that folds inwards. When you fold the device, you are left with a small 4.5-inch display up front. So essentially, there are two displays on Samsung’s foldable phone — a regular one up front and a larger infinity flex display inside.
Expect the foldable Samsung phone earliest by CES 2019, but MWC 2019 showcase is more likely with its availability probably scheduled for a few months later. Yonhap reports that the launch could be as early as March alongside a 5G version of the Galaxy S10, but we’ll have to wait for more details.
Huawei
Huawei is yet another company who has confirmed that a foldable smartphone will meet us in 2019. In the past few years, the company has stepped up its game in the smartphone market with a lot of innovations, including a four camera setup on the new Mate 20 Pro. It’s not even shy of putting very large screen in its smartphones, like the recently released 7.2-inch Mate 20X (our video review here!).
DESIGN:
Huawei is in a race with Samsung to release the first foldable smartphone by a major brand. And it’s determined to win. Unlike the traditional design where the display folds inside, Huawei seems to be working on a device that folds outwards. So in the unfolded position, there will be an 8-inch large display, making it essentially as large as a tablet. However, you can fold this display outwards, essentially, keeping just one side of the screen in view. This is exactly the opposite of what Samsung is doing. Samsung’s foldable phone folds inwards and has a second screen up front that will work in the smartphone mode.
While this brings up a lot of questions like how does Huawei plan to protect the display if its always exposed, the real question is whether this is the final design. Huawei is yet to confirm the design on its upcoming foldable smartphone, so we can’t say anything for sure.
But there have been multiple rumours and even a patent at WIPO (featuring this outward folding design) that tips that the Chinese tech giant could be working on such a design.
RELEASE:
Huawei could beat Samsung to the release of its first foldable smartphone at MWC 2019. Interestingly, even Samsung is said to showcase its foldable phone at the same event. So, I guess, the real competition would be in who manages to make its device available to the market first.
Most recent reports indicate that Huawei could release its foldable smartphone first in South Korea (Samsung’s home market!), thanks to its early 5G commercialisation plans. This goes on to hint that its foldable phone will support 5G as well.
Unfortunately, no word on its pricing yet, but expect it to be close to the $2000 mark. Huawei isn’t shy of slapping an expensive price tag to its products (Mate 20 RS being the case in point), so this isn’t a device that’s going to be affordable.
ROYOLE:
Royole is a surprise entry in this list and to be honest, no one ever thought that a startup would beat giants like Samsung and Huawei in releasing the world’s first commercial foldable smartphone. And it did this using in house tech which is pretty impressive.
DESIGN:
The Royole FlexPai adopts an outward folding design, which means there is one big display on the outside. The phone folds in the middle leaving the display exposed on the two sides. It works as described and the design really brings the concept into reality. Despite being a working model, the FlexPai doesn’t look very premium. It’s clear that the FlexPai isn’t a polished device, and that’s usually the case with first gen. devices. Big brands like Huawei and Samsung are likely going to come up with a much better design for their foldables.
RELEASE:
The Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone will reportedly ship in December. While we are still not sure of the company’s scalability of such a design, it would really be an achievement for a small six year old company to beat the big giants in releasing such a device.
The FlexPai is priced from 8999 to 12999 yuan ($1,295 to $1,871), which isn’t exactly cheap. But if you want a foldable device for yourself, then this is all you’ve got right now.
LG
A foldable smartphone from LG is in the cards and it’s not surprising given that it’s currently one of the biggest display companies in the world. The company has already demoed flexible displays in the past and now it’s working on a model that folds.
DESIGN:
LG is said to be working on a device that folds on the outside, similar to the Huawei design. While we don’t have an official confirmation on the design from LG, this is what it could look like according to the company’s recent patent at WIPO.
The images, which were attached to the patent, reveals that both the displays connected through two hinges — one on the top and another on the bottom side. This enables both screens to open and combine to form one large display.
In a partially open position, the device can be used by two persons to watch video separately, using the two headphone jacks. Interestingly, both hosting packs their own battery as well as camera module. While the patent was filed in September 2016, it mentions that the primary display is equipped with an under-display fingerprint sensor.
RELEASE:
LG is not going to focus on launching its foldable smartphone anytime soon. Instead, the company is taking the “perfecting the experience” approach before bringing it to the market. This could mean that we might not see a foldable from the South Korean company next year. As such, the details are very scarce right now.
ZTE
ZTE was one of the first companies to tease us with the idea of foldable smartphones. Well, its innovative Axon M failed to impress the likes of many, because it was basically two displays joined together with a hinge. In the tablet mode, you could clearly see the gap between the display. In short, it was not really the foldable experience we expected. However, ZTE’s VP of Marketing, Jeff Yee had something to add in a recent interview. “We’ll eventually get to something that’s truly bendable,” Yee said. “There’s a lot of others things that we might be adding over time.”
DESIGN:
ZTE’s foldable phone will most likely be an extension of the AXON M. We could see a flexible display (instead of the two display design) that folds at the center outwards. The company did have a few nifty features to make use of the two displays on board and we could see a similar application for its real foldable phone as well.
RELEASE:
Considering what ZTE had to face earlier this year, it seems very unlikely that we’ll see a real foldable smartphone from ZTE anytime soon. All we know right now is that the company is working on one but no word on a release date yet.
MICROSOFT:
Microsoft may not be known for its smartphones (at least not now), but the company has a solid R&D team and knows how to make quality products (eg. Surface tablets). We have been hearing about the rumoured Andromeda surface phone for a very long time and reports say that the phone, when it launches finally, could feature a foldable design.
DESIGN:
Unlike LG, who seems to be focused on enhancing multi-media experience with its foldable phone, Microsoft is reportedly all about increasing productivity. The company wants to blur the line between mobiles and PCs and a foldable design seems to be the best way to achieve this.
If you have any doubts about its existence then know that the verge managed to get their hands on internal document talking about the device. In the words of the verge,
“It’s a new pocketable Surface device form factor that brings together innovative new hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience.”
So, it’s yet another design where the display folds on the outside. The prototype design seems to be similar to the renders by the designer David Breyer.
RELEASE:
While the foldable device from Microsoft is in the works, there isn’t any guarantee that it will see the light of the day. Verge’s article states that there’s a chance that the project could be canned at any stage. So, don’t get your hopes too high.
APPLE:
Apple won’t be left out of the foldable party as the Cupertino giant is said to be working on a foldable prototype.
DESIGN:
Apple’s design seems to involve overlapping hinges or other features such as magnetic structures (Apple loves magnets!) to allow the flexible display to bend. The design could be tweaked to allow the display to fold inwards or outwards. These details were leaked by a recent patent filing by the company.
“The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration,” reveals the patent.
Basically, the design is going to be similar to what we have been seeing from other patents. However, Apple is known to release refined products in the market which means that the design would most likely tweaked to offer a seamless experience. One likely change is going to be the type of hinge used as the skeleton to the flexible display.
Interestingly, there’s one more design patented by Apple, which looks a lot more futuristic. The patent reveals that the display can be rolled up like a sheet of paper. Now there’s a reason why we call it futuristic, because it’s not really going to happen anytime soon. The first gen. foldable smartphone from Apple is likely going to feature a folding design similar to the ones we have been seeing from other brands.
RELEASE:
It’s too early to say when Apple will release its foldable smartphone but early reports quote a 2020 deadline. CNBC in its report earlier this year quoted Wamsi Mohan from Bank of America Merrill Lynch “Our checks also suggest that Apple is working with suppliers on a foldable phone (that potentially could double up as a tablet) for launch in 2020.”
LENOVO / MOTO
Lenovo / Moto seems to be working on a different kind of foldable phone. Patents reveal that the company is trying to make a smartphone more portable without compromising on the screen real estate. This is made possible by adopting a design similar to a clamshell phone, like the iconic Moto Razr flip series.
DESIGN:
Unlike other companies where foldable phones feature a tablet sized display that folds into a compact phone, Moto seems to be working on a device that makes an existing smartphone sized display even smaller. Patents reveal that the phone features a hinge in the middle and the regular sized display closes inwards to take the shape of a clamshell phone. It’s basically a flip phone with a flexible display.
RELEASE:
While Moto hasn’t revealed anything about foldable smartphones, we know from Lenovo that they are very much invested in such a device. The company had earlier teased a similar looking foldable phone with clamshell design but we still don’t have a word about its release date. Considering they managed to show a prototype in action, we could see a Lenovo / Moto branded foldable phone before other companies.
This turned out to be a really long article. But if you have reached here, well done! This means that you’ve read the entire article, or at least scrolled through it. As a bonus, I’ll add that Xiaomi, OPPO, and even ASUS is expected to be working on foldable smartphones. You can read about the patent from OPPO here or about Xiaomi’s first foldable smartphone news from here.
This kind of sums up about what we know about foldables so far.
OnePlus has started rolling out new OxygenOS Open Beta 7 update to the OnePlus 6 smartphones. The update also introduces a new service from the company called OnePlus Roaming.
According to the official changelog, OnePlus Roaming service will enable you to access cellular data on their smartphone without having to buy a local SIM card when travelling abroad. The service is similar to the one introduced by Google as Project Fi.
To enable the service, you simply need to go to the Settings > Wi-Fi & Internet and select the ‘OnePlus Roaming’ option. You will then be presented with options to buy a data plan. Once the data pack has been purchased, just select the package from the ordered list and enable it once you reach your overseas destination.
Do note that the OnePlus Roaming service only supports data service and you won’t be able to make voice calls using the service. However, you can still rely on messaging services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram among others to make voice calls over the internet.
Currently, the OnePlus Roaming service is only available to the users of OnePlus 6, but we expect the Chinese company to roll out this feature to other devices as well, including the newly launched OnePlus 6T flagship smartphone.
Along with the new Roaming service, the OxygenOS Open Beta 7 update comes with several new features. The company has added a new Video Enhancer feature for a better viewing experience while watching videos; user interface improvements for an emergency rescue; general bug fixes and performance improvements; among others.
Honor is a leading smartphone brand which has plenty of high-end and budget devices in the market. Recently, it has created a milestone with a record sales across the globe. Today, as according to a new report from Sino, Honor has managed to attain another milestone. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer’s recently launched Honor 8X received a huge number of sales last month. In October, Honor 8X has managed to stand first in the number of large display devices sales.
Honor 8X’s affordable pricing and high-end specs have led it to attain these many sales in October. It is based on a customized EMUI system and runs on Android 8.1 Oreo.
Honor 8X include features such as a 6.5-inch display having a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels at a 396 ppi pixel density. A 2.2 GHz octa-core processor powers it, and comes with 4GB RAM. The phone packs a 64 GB internal storage and is expandable upto 256 GB via microSD card. In the camera department, Honor 8X packs a 20-megapixel and 2-megapixel secondary camera on the rear side and a 16-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
Honor 8X is powered by a 3750 mAh battery with fast charging tech. It measures 160.40 x 76.60 x 7.80 and weighs 175 gms. In connectivity, Honor 8X carries a Dual-SIM (GSM and GSM), Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, Micro-USB, 3G, and 4G. In order to make it smarter, Honor has added sensors such as fingerprint sensor, Compass/ Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, and Gyroscope.
LG Q9 is the next Q-series smartphone from LG. The exact launch date of the Q9 has not been confirmed yet. Fresh set of LG Q9 renders have surfaced today to give a close at its design. Some of the key specs of the phone have also leaked through its Google Play Console listing.
The mere look at the LG Q9 phone reveals that it is identical to the LG G7 Fit smartphone that was announced at IFA 2018 tech expo in September. The handset seems to be featuring a metallic rear and it features a notched screen on the front. The bottom edge of the phone is equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C port and an external speaker.
LG has never released a phone powered by Snapdragon 660 before. Previous reports had claimed that it could be the first LG phone with Snapdragon 660 chipset onboard. However, the Google Play Console listing of the smartphone reveals that it is fueled by Snapdragon 821. The LG G7 Fit is driven by the same chipset. Hence, it appears that the LG Q9 could be rebranded version of the LG G7 Fit smartphone.
The LQ Q8 that was launched last year was powered by Snapdragon 820. Hence, it appears that the Q9 may indeed feature Snapdragon 821. The Google Play Console listing of the LG Q9 also reveals that it features 4 GB of RAM and its display supports a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels along with a screen density of 420 dpi. The handset is preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo OS.
A recent report had revealed some of the other key specs of the LG Q9 smartphone. It revealed that the phone is equipped with a display of 6.1 inches. The report did not reveal the name of the processor that powers the Q9, but it confirmed that it includes 4 GB of RAM. The other features available on the LG Q9 are fingerprint scanner and NFC. Most of these specs match with the LG G7 Fit.
If the LG Q9 is really rebranded edition of the G7 Fit, it may arrive with 16-megapixel rear facing camera and a frontal shooter of 8-megapixel. The handset is packed with a 3,000mAh battery. It may also feature MIL-STD-810G grade chassis with IP68 rating. Last year, the Q8 (2018) was launched in August. Hence, it appears that the arrival of its successor could be around the corner.
Samsung is gearing up to launch its next-generation Galaxy S-series flagship smartphones early next year. With just a few months left for the phone’s official launch, details related to the Galaxy S10 have started surfacing online.
Samsung has a penchant of introducing new color options with each flagship device launch and the upcoming Galaxy S-series seems to carry that forward. A new report confirms that the Galaxy S10 smartphones will be available in four color options at the time of launch — Black, White, Yellow, and Green.
However, not all color options will be offered in every market. There’s also a possibility that the company could launch gradient color options as well. The South Korean giant is also expected to offer LED Flip and Protective covers for the device.
Coming to the models, the SM-G973x and SM-G975x are the premium models of the Galaxy S10 series and will come with 5.8-inch and 6.44-inch display respectively. Further, both the models will come with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.
However, the SM-G970x, which could be the ‘Lite’ model in the series, also featuring a 5.8-inch display, lacks the fingerprint sensor and will instead come with the tradition fingerprint sensor. This makes sense if the company is planning to price it competitively to compete with the likes of OnePlus 6T.
The report also reveals details about the company’s upcoming foldable smartphone — Galaxy F. The foldable smartphone from Samsung with model number SM-F900U will come with 512GB of internal storage. The European and Asian variants of the phone carry model number SM-F900F and SM-F900N – respectively. The Galaxy F will come in Black and Silver colors and will be available worldwide next year.
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