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Category: Phones

OnePlus 8 Pro Leaked Renders Reveal Quad Cameras, Punch-hole (120Hz) Display

Both the latest flagship smartphones from OnePlus, i.e. OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro, have a 90Hz refresh rate on display. According to the latest leak, the refresh rate might bump up on the upcoming OnePlus smartphones to surprisingly 120Hz.

If this rumor stands true in the future, it is going to be a bigger update on the most awaited OnePlus 8 series. We have seen the first few renders which claim that OnePlus 8 Pro may not have many changes from the existing OnePlus 7T Pro on the design front.

OnePlus seems to be busy in promotion activities to boost sales of its OnePlus 7T series, such as OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7T Pro MacLaren Edition, and OnePlus 7T Pro. It seems that the company has already been working to launch its next-gen OnePlus devices anytime soon.

Meanwhile, we have got some renders on how OnePlus 8 Pro is going to be like. For the people who were looking to have a newer design of OnePlus 8 Pro than OnePlus 7T series, they might be disheartened.

OnLeaks and 91Mobiles have shared the leaked renders. According to those diagrams, OnePlus 8 Pro is going to have a quad rear camera setup. If it is true, OnePlus 8 Pro is going to be the first device from the company to have four rear cameras.

According to leaked rumors, the phone will also ship with a hole-punch selfie camera on the front. It means OnePlus has finally ditched the traditional pop-up camera design considering the latest trend of punch-hole display.

The pop-up camera design has been seen on OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition and OnePlus 7T Pro. For OnePlus fans, this punch-hole camera maybe a sigh of relief.

Along with the renders, the report also hints some of the premium specs, including a huge 6.65-inch display size of OnePlus 8 Pro, but it is quite smaller than on OnePlus 7T Pro, i.e. 6.67-inch.

“Max J, a smartphone tipster, added an image on Twitter with “Be a Pro” caption flaunting 120Hz display. He confirmed it was related to OnePlus in another tweet.”

Back to the renders, we have seen various design aspects of OnePlus 8 Pro on 3D renders. We haven’t found any major changes in comparison to the current OnePlus models.

OnePlus 8 Pro will also reportedly measure the dimension of 165.3×74.4×8.8mm. One can also check out the video of OnePlus 8 Pro showing device on all sides shared by 91Mobiles on YouTube.

There are triple cameras available vertically on the back panel with a 3D ToF sensor next to it with some other sensors. Below the camera sensors are LED flash with Power button and Alert Slider on the right side and left side having Volume Rocker.

It has a USB Type-C port at the bottom as well as a refreshed speaker grille, just like in OnePlus 8 leaks. Since there is no pop-up camera module, the top end simply has a microphone. There are no other details available on other hardware and software specs yet.

The 3D ToF camera might be used for features like AR, 3D photography, and other purposes. Also, OnePlus 8 series may have 5G support.

January 5, 2020
Google Pixel 4 earns 5th position in DxOMark’s audio ranking

Google Pixel smartphones are well regarded for their unmatched camera specs. In DxOMark’s camera testing, the device scored overall 112 and we are back with a detailed review of its abilities. This time, the audio capabilities of Pixel 4 have been tested.

In its analysis, Pixel 4 ranked 5^th in the category of premium smartphones when the blog site tested its audio performance. When it comes to the same, it was also the third-best among Android smartphones. Wondering which device won the top position? It’s none other than Huawei Mate 20X.

Let’s get back to the point. Pixel 4 scored 68 overall and successfully outperformed Samsung’s premium flagships – Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G.

However, the four smartphones beating Pixel 4 smartphones were iPhone XS Max on the fourth spot, iPhone 11 Pro Max on the third spot, Asus ROG Phone II on the second spot, and finally Huawei Mate 20X on the top spot.

When it comes to scoring breakdown – Pixel 4 scored 63 in recording and 70 in playback. According to the audio review of the blog site, the playback quality of Pixel 4 was quite impressive and decent, considering its smaller size than other flagship phones.

The phone performs quite well against the like of Mate 20X. When used on watching movies and gaming, the phone performed really well. But the bass effect of the phone lagged behind various top-end phones. Due to this reason, it scored lower in comparison to other premium budget devices.

When it comes to recording, Pixel 4 came out with consistent recording and decent volume performance. In loud environments, it performed really well. But there were annoying resonances in the bass aspect, which brought ‘boomy impact’. Due to this reason, the phone scored lower in the recording.

The blog post concluded, “Google Pixel 4 performed really well in DxOMark’s audio tests. Well, it could be more improved though.”

Google Pixel 4 – Key Specifications

Officially launched in October 2019, Google Pixel 4 features a 5.7-inch display with an aspect ratio of 19:9, 1080x2280p resolution and 444ppi of pixel density.

The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor and 6 Gigs of RAM. It runs the latest Android 10 and gets its juice from a non-removable 2800mAh battery. It supports the company’s exclusive fast charging.

When it comes to cameras, the rear panel packs a primary camera of 16MP with f/2.4 aperture and 1.0-micron pixel size, along with a 12.2MP secondary camera with a pixel size of 1.4-micron and f/1.7 aperture. It also comes with PDAF on the rear panel. The front camera features an 8MP shooter with f/2.0 and 1.22-micron pixel size.

Google Pixel 4 is backed with 64GB of storage and supports an eSIM and Nano-SIM. The device was launched in simply Black, Clearly White, and Orange color options.

It has all the connectivity options, such as GPS, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, dual 4G support, and USB-C port. One highlight is that the device supports the Face Unlock option for added security.

January 5, 2020
Google Pixel 4a Wishlist

Google Pixel 4a has been the most awaited follow-up to its big brother, Google Pixel 4 in 2019. With just 6 months to go for the expected launch of Pixel 4a, we are here with some of the most anticipated features of Google’s next mid-range smartphone.

High-quality camera

Google Pixel 3a, despite being a mid-ranger, managed to rule the best parts that Pixel 3 proudly owns. Pixel 4a must follow the same expertise of Pixel 4. The Pixel 3a shipped rear high-quality digicam sensor with a similar Google Camera app. The company has managed to provide its mid-range smartphone with iconic Night Sight mode.

The Pixel 4a is certainly not going to feature a telephoto zoom lens which made a debut with Pixel 4, maybe for cost-cutting. There is no other reason that Pixel 4a not coming around the digicam prowess of Pixel 4 by using the same digicam sensor. At last, we expect Google to have at least a nice dual-exposure control.

Wireless Charging and Pixel Stand

The Pixel Stand was launched with flagship Pixel 3 and became the signature accessory for Pixel owners. Sadly, Pixel 3a doesn’t come with wireless charging. Hence, it couldn’t enjoy the benefits of Pixel stand’s options like using the device as a deck for Google Photos and its dawn alarm. However, we expect 4a to come with wireless charging and additional functionality of Pixel Stand.

Spectacular Battery Lifelike 3a

The superior battery life of Pixel 3a truly stood out. It goes even more than one day in some circumstances. By now, everyone knows that how worst the battery life of Pixel 4 is. For over 12 months, we are just asking Google Pixel 4a to continue with the great effort they started with Pixel 3a.

Solid Build Quality and Water Resistance

When it comes to issues of Google Pixel 3a, the device didn’t come without the flaws. Users initially started to look closely at Pixel 3a in its lifespan and noticed that the USB-C port and speaker cutouts underside their devices were uneven.

Some people even witnessed a big gap between the display and outer glass. We are hoping that Google would get these manufacturing defects and build the solid quality body of Pixel 4a.

Water-resistance is another major concern behind quality build which Google should consider for Pixel 4a. Seriously, no one expects their mid-range device with IP68 that most flagships have. Nonetheless, if Pixel 4a could come with any kind of water resistance, it would be an enhancement.

More Storage Options

When considering the flagship Android devices, external storage is no longer available. Even Samsung is going to ditch this option. But mid-range and budget smartphones still have a memory card slot. With flagship Pixel 4, the Pixel devices don’t have unlimited photo backups which seem to be more important.

Google will definitely offer its Google One plan to save your photographs in authentic and full high quality. But extra or expandable storage on Pixel 4a would be better, especially when it comes to storing your Spotify, Netflix, Disney+ and other content for offline streaming.

January 5, 2020
Huawei Mate X Goes On Sale In China & Sells Out First Batch In Minutes

The first bunch of Huawei Mate X foldable phones finally opened its doors to buyers by going on sale in China on the 15^th of November, 2019 and received a raving response by reportedly selling out in minutes.

Originally announced in February 2019, at MWC 2019, the phone was to be launched in the summer of 2019 by Huawei in China. This foldable phone was then slated for a September release in 2019. However, it got delayed until October when the smartphone maker finally started taking orders for the coveted Mate X.

The phone finally released in November 2019 at the price of 16,999 Yuan, which roughly translates to $2,495 or AUD $ 3,559. During this sale window, buyers were also reportedly given a 50 percent discount for screen repairing or replacing, as reported by BBC.

While a second batch of the Huawei Mate X is all set to hit the Chinese market on November 22, there is no word on the number of phones to be made available for sale this time around, just like in the first round of sales.

The smartphone maker is yet to comment on whether and when this coveted smartphone will be released in other markets and geographies. But, one thing is for certain. Public interest in foldable smartphones is still very much intact.

Is Huawei’s Future In Foldable Smartphones?

With the launch of the Mate X foldable phone, it is clear that Huawei is treading the same path as other smartphone makers in introducing foldable phones. Moto Razr also joined the foldable phone bandwagon, announcing foldable display technology for its flagship Razr flip phone, which is all set for a December 2019 release.

Huawei pushed back the release of the Mate X foldable phone after Samsung abandoned its Galaxy Fold range of phones after its April 2019 launch citing durability issues. Samsung was the first smartphone maker to tap into the foldable smartphone space.

While Huawei did not give any substantial reasons for the corporate’s postponement of the Mate X, speculation was doing the rounds whether Huawei too faced similar issues of reliability like Samsung or were they just looking to stall their release in order for the public sentiment on foldable phones to rise again.

The foremost delay for the Mate X came from the ban of Huawei from the US. As this ban had not been repealed but only temporarily revived, it does not look likely then that the Huawei Mate X will release in the United States.

The smartphone maker does confirm that the Mate X range of phones will be launched in other geographies besides China, according to BBC.

While there is little clarity on when that can happen, what we do know is that the successor of the Mate X has already been revealed, which is the Huawei Mate Xs. This smartphone will sport the latest Kirin 990 chip, although information on its release date is undisclosed yet.

January 5, 2020
Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro review

If you’re looking to get the most out of your money, Xiaomi phones are the way to go. This Chinese smartphone manufacturing giant consistently offers impressive features on-par with flagship devices at astonishingly low prices.

Xiaomi recently launched the Mi CC9 Pro, and it has stunned the smartphone market with its impressive features.

Let us quickly go over Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro’s features and find out what makes the smartphone so appealing.

Looks:

The Mi CC9 Pro is a sleek looking phone that comes with a 6.47-inch AMOLED screen that has curves on the edges, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S series.

The screen boasts a high resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The stunning design on the rear gives the phone a unique appeal. The device is available in four beautiful colors – Midnight Black, Aurora Green, and Glacier White.

The phone is super durable since the entirety of the phone’s body has the protection of robust Gorilla Glass.

The CC9 Pro comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor, and the phone also supports the face unlock feature.

According to the company, the fingerprint sensor in this phone has been made 88% thinner than the earlier versions and is the world’s first “ultra-thin in-display fingerprint sensor.”

The sensor feels snappier and more accurate than the previous generation phones and also has a larger recognition area, which is excellent.

Cameras:

The Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro boasts the world’s first 108MP camera setup.

In the triple rear camera package, the primary camera is a 108MP sensor. The ultra-wide camera is of 20MP, and the macro camera is of 2MP. Both of the secondary cameras have an autofocus feature.

There are also not one but two telephoto cameras. One provides the user with 5x optical zoom and the other with 2x optical zoom.

The 32MP front-facing camera vivid and vibrant selfies and works well even in low-light situations.

The cameras on the back come coupled with two dual-LED flashes. While one flash is diffused and helps take pictures in dim light, the other is brighter and comes with clear front glass.

Battery:

The phone comes with a high-capacity 5260mAh battery that is non-removable.

A full charge will get a power user through the day. An average user can expect the device to last over two days without needing a charge.

The best part is that the Mi CC9 Pro supports 30W fast charging. The device will charge fully in just 65 minutes.

Fast charging is a useful feature for users who are always on the move or travel a lot.

Storage and other features:

The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor and runs Android 9 (Pie) right out of the box.

The processor has been optimized for gaming purposes and can handle demanding games without heating up or slowing down.

There are two variants of the phone available: the cheaper version has 64GB of internal storage expandable up to 128GB with 6GB of RAM and the expensive premium version with 128GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 256GB and which has a RAM of 8GB.

The phone comes with a mono bottom-firing speaker, an IR blaster, and also an FM radio chip.

Merits:

The is a phone well worth the money as a package. Let us look at what specifically makes it stand out.

Firstly, the smartphone looks super attractive. It is one of the best-looking budget smartphones on the market and stands with the likes of the OnePlus 7 in terms of good looks.

The phone looks especially appealing in the Aurora Green variant.

The fingerprint sensor is better, quicker, and more accurate. It features the world’s first ultra-thin fingerprint sensor with enhanced sensitivity and makes for better unlocking.

The company claims that the phone can unlock your phone with ease, even if your fingers are wet or the temperature dips too low.

The cameras on this phone are amazing. The 108MP camera makes for super-sharp and detailed shots.

Even the front-facing camera boasts high-quality and is capable of capturing some beautiful selfies.

The 5260mAh battery gives it an exceptionally long battery life that could last the average user days. The most significant advantage that the CC9 Pro offers is the support for fast charging.

The phone can charge from 0% to 100% in a little over an hour.

Drawbacks:

The phone does not come with a microSD card slot. The storage cannot be expanded whatsoever after buying the device.

Also, the phone is not water-resistant, which is surprising for a phone positioned to be a flagship-killer.

Verdict:

We now live in a world staying connected is a vital part of daily life. And smartphones are the primary means of staying connected.

The CC9 Pro is a powerhouse that boasts a large battery, a large screen, and great cameras.

Features like quick charging, the in-display fingerprint scanner, and the ability to connect to 5G networks make the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro a formidable device.

The phone has been released in China already and is fetching great reviews. Xiaomi fans from across the globe are awaiting its global release.

January 5, 2020
TECNO Spark Power Launched in India

Tecno mobile has been one of the fastest-growing Indian smartphone brands in the market that provides premium features at a super affordable price point.

Recently, the company launched a new device called “TECNO Spark Power.”

The phone is expected to be the best budget camera phone in the Indian market.

The company says the phone will be a tough device to beat and will provide a lot of competition to all the companies in the budget segment.

The phone is not only good to look at, but also houses a lot of features that are available in the mid-range smartphones.

Not just that, the phone comes with a premium build quality, very similar to mid-range phones.

Design:

The TECNO spark power smartphone boasts a sleek design.

The display comes with a waterdrop notch that houses the front camera. The back of the phone is super appealing since it has a dual shaded color.

The back also has the triple camera setup with flash, that as provides excellent low-light performance. The fingerprint sensor has been conveniently placed on the back and is easy to access.

The build quality of the phone is high, and the device feels quite robust. It feels great in the hand and supplies a good grip.

The back also has the Tecno branding at the bottom.

Overall, the phone feels well built and looks attractive. The phone is available in two colors – Dawn Blue and Alpenglow Gold.

Specifications:

The TECNO Spark Power packs loads of features. The company has supplied almost all the features that a typical mid-range smartphone would provide.

The phone comes with a vivid 6.35-inch display with a resolution of 720×1548. The edges of the phone use 2.5D curved glass, which gives the device a unique appeal.

The screen looks great, and the color reproduction on the device is very natural. The phone uses an Helio P22 octa-core processor (MT6726), and the 650MHz IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU.

The triple camera setup on the rear features a 13-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture, an 8-megapixel wide-angle, and a 2-megapixel macro lens.

The front of the device houses a 13-megapixel shooter for selfies.

The phone also packs a massive 6000mAh battery, which can keep the phone powered for well over two days if used moderately. It will get you through the day and still have charge left if used vigorously.

Variants And Price

The phone has launched at a super reasonable price similar to Xiaomi Note 5 and is available on online websites like Flipkart.

It is available in just one variant that has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage.

The phone’s memory can be expanded by up to 256GB using a memory card.

It runs Android 9.0 (Pie) out of the box and uses a custom skin.

TECNO Spark Power is a premium offering from the company at budget prices. The company expects a positive review from the users and has also promised to provide regular security updates for the phone. The prospects of this phone look to be high for the company.

Click here to view other TECHNO products details

January 5, 2020
Redmi Note 8 Now Available in Cosmic Purple

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has emerged as one of the most famous lines of smartphones, owing to the great features the devices offer at affordable prices.

The most recent addition to the Redmi Note lineup, the Redmi Note 8, makes no compromises when it comes to performance. In addition to Space Black, Neptune Blue, and Moonlight White color variants, a new Cosmic Purple color will also be available.

The new Cosmic purple color has a unique shaded pattern, which gives the phone a stunning look.

Redmi first teased the new color on their Twitter page through a short video that displayed the beautiful shade of purple.

Here are the specifications of the sought-after device.

Redmi Note 8 Specifications:

The smartphone features a vibrant 6.3-inch FHD+ display. The display is impressive – it boasts high brightness and a wide gamut of colors.

Gorilla Glass 5 protects both the back and the front of the phone, make it super durable and reliable.

The phone’s Aura Fluid design gives it a stunning look. The phone’s 2.5D reflective glass back gives it great in-hand feel.

The Note series is known for bringing the best cameras to the budget smartphone market. This iteration of the Note is no different since it comes with a quad-camera setup.

The quad-camera setup boasts a 48-megapixel primary sensor. Combined with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens, the camera setup offers exceptional performance.

The photos are vivid and boast quality and color.

Redmi Note 8 comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 octa-core processor. The powerful processor offers fantastic performance for the price.

It comes clocked at 2.0GHz and includes a third-generation AI engine with which it adapts to the users’ habits.

The phone houses a 4000mAh high-capacity battery, giving the average user at least two days of use in a single charge.

It comes with an 18W fast charger in the box, enabling the user to charge the phone quicker.

It is the first phone in the series that features P2i splash protection. Users no longer have to worry about their phone getting damaged by minor spills or due to rains.

Overall, the Note 8 proffers exceptional all-round performance and suits every kind of user.

With the high-resolution camera setup, powerful processor, and large battery, it fulfills the modern user’s needs. The stunning colors complement its striking design.

It is a versatile option that supplies excellent value for money.

January 2, 2020
Honor V30 vs. Honor V30 Pro

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are some of the first flagships on the market that already support 5G. However, there is a lot more to love about the devices other than their advanced connectivity potential.

The devices feature the new Kirin 990 chipset, which is what enables the devices’ support for 5G. The latest Kirin chipset used in these devices are versatile – they support both NSA non-independent 5G networking and also independent SA 5G networking.

The versatility of these chips in and of itself entitle these Honor devices to some pioneering bragging rights. They happen to be one of the few devices outside of Huawei’s brand lineup that support both classes of 5G networking.

In ideal conditions, 5G could enable download speeds of up to 2.3Gbps, and upload speeds up to 1.25Gbps. The Balong modem used in these devices can also seamlessly work with 4G, 3G, and 2G networks, making it the current king of mobile networking.

The Kirin 990 5G is a different chipset from the vanilla Kirin 990. The Kirin 990 5G is created using a more optimized 7nm+ EUV manufacturing process. It boasts slightly high clock speeds than the vanilla Kirin 990 on some of its cores and also has one large extra NPU core. It also includes the previously mentioned Balong 5G modem.

Comparison:

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro include the basic Kirin 990 chipset with the Balong 5000 modem as an external component. Therefore, both models are 5G enabled.

However, there are many differences between the two models – most notably in the camera department.

Cameras:

The Pro version comes with a better ultrawide camera in the rear setup. All other camera lenses on the front and the back of the two phones have no difference.

In-hand feel:

In the hands, the V30 feels a little heavier than the V30 Pro, even though they’re the same size and comprise of similar hardware.

Processing Power:

On the processor front, the V30 Pro dominates, since its cores have higher clock rates than that of the V30.

Both the phones have the same Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Storage Capacity:

The V30 is available in two variants – 6GB of RAM and 8GB of RAM. Both options have a fixed internal storage capacity of 128GB.

On the other hand, the Honor V30 Pro is available only with 8GB of RAM; however, one can opt for either 128GB internal storage or 256GB internal storage.

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro do not have a microSD card slot, limiting users to relying on the fixed internal storage for the life of the product.

Design:

As mentioned earlier, both phones feature a similar layout –a 6.57-inch LCD screen that has a 1080p resolution. Both displays have a punch-hole on the top left corner.

Both phones have a side-mounted fingerprint reader incorporated into the power button itself. Also, both phones include the same sensors – gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, and compass.

The V30 Pro is only available in three colors – Blue, Black, and White. The V30 comes in Blue, Black, White, and Orange.

Batteries:

The battery capacity on the Honor V30 is slighter larger at 4200mAH, whereas the V30 Pro has a 4100mAh battery.

There is also a difference in charging speeds. The V30 Pro supports 40W fast battery charging, which can charge the phone to 70% in about 30 minutes. It also supports 27W fast wireless battery charging and reverses battery charging.

The V30, on the other hand, only supports 40W fast battery charging – wireless charging and reverse battery charging is not supported.

Here are the spec sheets for both devices:

Honor V30 specifications:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.9 mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 213g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary Camera: 40MP, f/1.8 aperture with Laser Autofocus and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with Fixed focus;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm + 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 chipset, octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 6GB/128GB or 8GB/128GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,200mAh supporting 22.5W charging.

Connectivity: Dual SIM Slots with separate Balong 5000 Dual standby 5G modem; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor V30 Pro:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.8mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 206g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary: 40MP, f/1.6 aperture with Laser Autofocus, Dual OIS and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture with 109-degree FOV, 16:9 sensor, Laser Autofocus, and Cine-lens;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32MP, f/2.0 aperture + 8MP, f/2.2, 105-degree FOV.

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G Chipset (EUV), octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 8GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,100mAh with support for 40W wired SuperCharge; 27W wireless SuperCharge; 7.5W wireless reverse charge.

Connectivity: 5G (NSA and SA mode) Dual SIM, Dual standby; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are both formidable flagships comparable to the like of Samsung’s newest Note 10+ – even though they come in at a few hundred dollars less.

Picking the right one among the two can be a super simple decision. It’s all a matter of preference.

If you prefer to have a slightly better ultrawide camera lens (8MP vs. 12MP), you must go for the Pro version.

However, if you’d like to spend less and want a slightly larger battery, the V30 is the better option.

Since both support 5G and have mostly similar specs, you can make a decision solely based on these three preferences and not worry about losing out on any features.

January 2, 2020
BlackBerry Key2 Review: Is it only for old Loyalists?

Blackberry has seen a time when its popularity was second to none. The brand started as a phone for corporate execs through which they could have one-on-one encrypted chats and share private data.

However, with the introduction of the Android operating system, the Blackberry range of smartphones started to lose a lot of customer base. Brands like Samsung and a deluge of others took over, leaving the company somewhat shaken and unable to evolve.

However, to revive the Blackberry smartphone industry, the company released its Android smartphone Blackberry Keyone last year. It supported the Android operating system and provided a large touchscreen and a full physical keypad.

This year, the company has again offered the market the successor of Key one, which is named as BlackBerry Key2.

The Blackberry key2 has a much powerful processor, better battery life, and increased camera performance. Blackberry has launched the phone at a premium price of $650.

Specifications & Design

This good-looking phone is much sleeker and compact in looks when it comes to the design. Since the entire body is divided between the screen and the keyboard layout, you will never feel the screen being too short or the keypad being small.

The proportion between screen and keyboard is perfect for those who like using the keyboard for typing.

The mobile comes with a USB C type charger port, which means it will support faster charging time and faster data transfer speeds. It also comes with a 3.5mm jack, which some of the premium smartphones miss in the market.

The phone has a 4.5-inch LCD screen with 1620×1080 resolution and a bright and clear display, which pops out colors naturally with high contrast and brightness ratio.

The screen size is the same as what was used in the Key one device, but the display and colors seem to be more vivid and bright. The text on the screen appears to be clear and visible, even in the most intense sunlight.

The BlackBerry Key2 houses a powerful Snapdragon 660 processor, which can provide decent performance when it comes to multitasking. The multicore processor can efficiently run multiple applications at one time.

However, at this price point, many different smartphone brands are providing Snapdragon 845 or even 855 chipsets. Snapdragon 660 can be found on a lot of different mid-budget phones and does give an excellent performance. The smartphone comes bundled with 6 GB of RAM for smooth app operation.

It might disappoint you when it comes to hardcore gaming, but most of the blackberry users do not purchase the phone for gaming.

Key2 also comes with a 3500 mAh battery, which as per the company will provide a full day of battery life with regular usage.

Since the battery is combined with a mid-range processor, it will not drain much power while still being efficient. Also, since the screen is the biggest battery drainer, a smaller screen size helps in spending less battery life.

Other Features of BlackBerry Key2

From the old days, Blackberry has been known to provide the best security features to given end to end encrypted chat and data transfer. The phone works on Android 8.1 and will be getting security updates from Google in the future, making the device much more secure. Blackberry has still retained some of the software that used to run on its operating system to android.

Blackberry’s locker application has improved over previous smartphones. The app can secure your other apps and even the launcher on the home page if you want.

The main feature of this phone is the physical keyboard. The keyboard is super-soft to use, very similar to the earlier Blackberry devices.

If you are new to the keyboard style phone, then it will take you very little time to get used to it, thanks to the comfortable and beautifully designed keyboard.

The keyboard has a glossy button and has an exceptional finish. The keys are 20% longer than the keys on the Blackberry Key one. Apart from regular usage, the keyboard is also touch-sensitive, which is useful to scroll through the screen, just by sliding the fingers on the keyboards.

You can also swipe the finger on multiple keys to create a word while typing. The Speed key function on it, lets you create a shortcut for an application by simply pressing a single key.

The phone also comprises a dual camera setup where both the camera sensors are 12 megapixels with f/1.8aperture and f/2.6 aperture. The HDR mode on the camera provides great-looking photos. Furthermore, low light photography is just satisfactory on these sensors.

The camera can take good quality night portrait photos and has a good blur effect with natural colors and exposure.

Conclusion

Blackberry Key2 is a worthy successor to the Key one and has some significant and significant improvements over the previous generation. The phone itself has a great design, a better keyboard, and a faster processor.

Although at such a high price point, we could have expected a better and high-end processor, still the phone works flawlessly even with multiple applications open. If you are a blackberry fan and want your hands on a keyboard style pad, then this is the phone to purchase.

January 1, 2020
Samsung Galaxy S10 Review

The Galaxy S10 is a novel-looking 10th-anniversary launch from Samsung in its S series. It is very much similar to the other versions – S10+ and S10e from the same series. Samsung, with this release, has taken into the already in trend punch-hole display that was initially brought about by Honor. Here is the complete Samsung Galaxy S10 Review.

The in-screen fingerprint sensor is a further adaption from phones from OnePlus, Huawei, and Vivo.

The Samsung S10 has a 93.1 % screen-to-body ratio maximizing the display area of the phone.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the various features of this hefty-priced mobile device-

Build and Design

With a glass construction on both the front and rear, it is no different than the previous release in the same series, S9. The front face uses a Corning’s Gorilla Glass 6 while using Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear side.

An aluminum frame is sandwiched right between the glasses for a sturdy and rigid built. The smooth curves on the sides of the phone, does not for once make it oily on the hands instead offers a good grip against a slide.

While the size and built of the phone is comfortable for one-hand browsing or typing, the punch-hole camera sits comfortably in the top right of the notification bar.

The rear end of the phone is clean as compared to the ones trending in the market having rear-fingerprint sensors. It houses a triple-lens camera range with literally the smallest camera bumps in the back.

The dimensions of the phone are 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm and weigh about 157g, which is slightly taller and much lighter than the S9. Also, it is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.

Display and Audio

Display and Audio are the main things to notice while we do the Samsung Galaxy S10 review. With curved edges that spill pixels over the sides, the Samsung S10 display delivers a crisp output that has been crowned ‘the most color-accurate smartphone display ever’ by DisplayMate.

The 6.1-inch Super AMOLED screen has amped up its features with better outdoor visibility with superior contrast and color while maintaining an industry-standard aspect ratio of 19:9.

The QHD+ resolution of the phone has a pixel density of 550 pixels per inch, which assures the user a highly detailed view. It offers a naturally vibrant display that is utterly bright and colorful for playing HDR10+ enabled videos.

The S10 also offers to switch between resolution options for better conservation of battery.

The phone has single side speakers for a stereo effect that is loud enough for both calls and music. It supports Dolby Atmos for both speaker and headphones.

Performance, Storage and Gaming

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or Samsung Exynos 9820 chipset with eight cores in three clusters is built on an 8-nanometre process. The S10 has an 8GB LPDDR4x RAM with a choice in the internal storage between 128 or 512 GB.

It also offers additional storage up to 512 GB. Owing to the high-end processor, cycling between different heavy apps is smooth and without delay. The S10 uses Samsung’s new One UI version of Android 9 Pie as its operating system.

Gaming on S10 is built for incredible performance as you can comfortably download heavy gaming applications like Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile when the phone performs without glitch or stutter even while switching the games at worst.

Camera

Packed with triple-lens in the rear and one front-facing camera, the phone scores high in this section. The three-lens set up in the back includes a 12-megapixel telephoto camera that has optical image stabilization and phase-detection autofocus. The 12-megapixel wide-angle camera is the second or primary camera that offers a dual aperture with a field of view.

The third 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera comes with fixed focus and no optical image stabilization while the front camera is a single 10 megapixel, which is one less than that in the s10+.

The advanced camera settings of the S10 now have ten new categories in the scene optimizer. The Samsung camera AI can now differentiate between cats and dogs, which further fine-tune the white balance in the pictures. Also, the shot suggestion feature nudges you to frame or level your subjects better using the neutral processor engine.

The excellent camera feature of the phone offers crisp photos that are rich in color and sharpness while an automatic setting for noise reduction in low light pictures. The ultra-wide camera has a 123-degree field of view, making it a very versatile one. The camera also offers live filter options like live focus or color print filters.

Battery

With a much smaller unit than the other phones in the series, the Samsung S10 has a 3400mAH battery, which is still an upgrade from the S9 with a 3000mAH battery.

As Samsung promises, the battery has an all-day life, which takes up to 90 minutes to fully charge the device.

The more extensive features of the battery are wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The Wireless PowerShare option allows charging other wireless charging enabled devices directly with your Samsung S10.

All devices that support Qi wireless charging standard can be easily changed just by placing it on the rear of S10. In times of desperate need for a charge, this can prove to be helpful, although the charging speed remains slow.

Add-ons

This time Samsung adds, a dash of newness to the existing traditional fingerprint scanners and device unlock methods. The S10 comes with a brand new ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner that reads the ridges through the display.

The “face unlock mechanism,” though still needs some reasonable effort on it, works pretty efficiently and quickly. While it is fundamental that you try this in a well-lit room as it uses a 2-D representation of your face, the mechanism still looks far less secure than the traditional or fingerprint unlock method.

All in all, the Samsung S10 scores high on performance, camera, and design while it could do some more on the security features for this hefty priced possession.

December 31, 2019