Author: Sahil Kapoor

Samsung Galaxy S10+ With Snapdragon 855 Spotted On Geekbench

Samsung has scheduled the Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event on February 20 where the company will unveil the Galaxy S10 lineup and the foldable phone. The company is expected to launch four variants of the Galaxy S10 which includes the Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10 X. The Galaxy S10+ featuring the Snapdragon 855 chipset has been spotted on Geekbench which reveals its key specifications.

Galaxy S10+ Geekbench Score

The benchmark score of the Galaxy S10+ was first uploaded on January 16 on Geekbench’s website. The device carries the model number ‘SM-G975U’ and the chipset is listed as msmnile. The device registers a single-core score of 3413 points and a multi-core score of 10256 points.

The scores registered by the Galaxy S10+ are very similar to that of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. The Galaxy S10+ features the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is made using 7 nm manufacturing technology. Also, the Kirin 980 chipset on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is made using 7 nm manufacturing technology. Hence the two devices have similar benchmark scores.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro

The Galaxy S10+ in the Geekbench listing has 6 GB of RAM however Samsung is expected to launch higher RAM capacity variants of the smartphone. According to the listing, the Snapdragon 855 on the handset has a base frequency of 1.80 GHz. Other specifications of the smartphone including screen size, camera resolution are unavailable as of now but we won’t have to wait for long as the launch date of the device is approaching fast.

Launch Date & Pricing

Also Read: Apple Might Be Developing 7th Gen iPod Touch Claim Apple Suppliers

The Galaxy S10+ along with the other members of the Galaxy S10 family is set to launch on 20 February 2019 in an event that will be simultaneously held in London and San Francisco.

January 17, 2019
Google Will Soon Remove Unapproved Apps That Use Call Log / SMS Permissions From Play Store
Android as an operating system was developed with safety and security in mind. Over the years, operations within the OS have become very complex, the protection of sensitive user data has become a top priority. Late last year, Google announced a major update to boost security on apps available on the Play Store. The company found that certain types of applications do not need access to user data to function properly. Therefore, the company asked application developers to update respective applications to comply with new Play Store policies.

New Call Log/SMS Permission Policy

The new Google Play Store policy is designed to ensure that an application that has access to Call Log/SMS is manually approved by the device administrator. The company granted a 90-day window to the developers to either update their apps as per the new policy or submit a permissions declaration.

Developers that fail to choose either option will result in removal of their application from the Play Store. Google has, however, provided an option even for the developers who fail to do so. Even after the removal from the play store, the developer has the following options available:
- submit a new version of the application with these permissions.
- submit a new version of your app that retains the permissions. Doing so will require you to complete a permissions declaration form inside the Play Console (coming soon) and will give developers an extension until March 9th to remove the permissions or receive approval for their use case.
Benefits Of New Policy

Also Read: Apple Replaced 11 Million iPhone Batteries In 2018 Up From 1-2 Million In The Past

Apparently, Google has taken this step to improve the user’s confidence in the security of Android OS. The users will be able to manually select applications that have access to their sensitive data in the form of Call logs and SMS.
January 16, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A50 Spotted On Geekbench With 6 GB RAM

Korean Electronics Giant, Samsung is preparing for the launch of M-Series smartphones that is targetted towards young millennials. A latest leak indicates that the company will also launch the Galaxy A50 shortly. The Galaxy A50 was spotted on Geekbench which reveals that the device will pack impressive specifications.

Samsung Galaxy A50 Geekbench

The Geekbench score of the Galaxy A50 was first uploaded on January 15 and it gets a single-core score of 1700 points and a multi-core score of 5078 points. The smartphone is listed as model number ‘SM-A505GN’ on Geekbench’s website and going by name scheming on past devices, it will be called the Samsung Galaxy A50.

According to the benchmark result, the smartphone runs on the latest Android 9 Pie which will likely be skinned with Samsung’s One UI. The handset is kitted with the Exynos 9610 SoC. Samsung’s website reveals that the chipset is manufactured using 10 nm FinFET technology and consists of an Octa-Core + G72 MP3 GPU.

The Octa-Core CPU in the Exynos 9610 is comprised of two clusters of four cores. For power saving and long battery life, it has Quad Cortex A-53 cores that have a maximum clock speed of 1.7 GHz. While the quad Cortex A73 cores have a turbo clock speed of 2.3 GHz which will be used for running resource-intensive applications.

In terms of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy A50 has 6 GB of RAM and a 4 GB variant of the device has also leaked the past. Samsung’s website again reveals that the SoC has LPDDR4x type of RAM which is very fast. Other specifications like the display size, battery capacity and camera resolution are currently unavailable but it might have the following specs.

Specs & Features

According to rumours, the Samsung Galaxy A50 will be powered by a large 4,000 mAh battery with the support for wireless charging. The device is also rumoured to have a 24 MP rear camera and in-display fingerprint sensor.

Launch Date

Also Read:

Samsung yet to confirm the official launch date of the Galaxy A50 but the increasing number of leaks indicate that it will launch soon. The company might unveil it alongside the M-Series which is set to launch on 28 January in India or at the MWC 2019.

January 16, 2019
New Set Of iPhone XI Prototype Renders Surface

Apple might have had a patchy 2018 due to several reasons(1) but the company is working rigorously to bounce back with 2019 iPhone models. Several leaks and rumours of the upcoming flagship iPhone allegedly called the iPhone XI has already surfaced online. A fresh render shared by a famous leaker exposes an all-new design of the highly anticipated device.

iPhone XI Prototype Renders

The latest renders of the alleged iPhone XI were shared by the leakster OnLeaks who had previously another render set of the device. The source has shared several renders of the device that provides ample details about its design. The front of the iPhone XI is identical to the iPhone XS and XS Max. Notably, the bezels and the notch on the device are thinner in comparison to its predecessors.

The right side of the iPhone XI seems to house the power button while the volume rocker and mute switch are placed on the left. The new device has curved edges which are reminiscent to the current iPhone models. The rear of the device gets a completely new design. The rear of the device is made out of glass flaunts the Apple logo and a horizontally placed camera setup.

According to the source, the rear camera setup on the iPhone XI consists of triple sensors which include dual telephoto lenses and a TOF (Time Of Flight) sensor. In addition to the three camera sensors, the rear camera setup includes a LED Flash and a microphone pinhole.

Also Read: Apple Might Be Developing 7th Gen iPod Touch Claim Apple Suppliers

The leakster claims that the shared prototypes are 100% legit and the 2019 iPhones in a very early production process. Prominently, the upcoming devices are in the EVT (Engineering Validation Test) stage. Therefore the company might make some changes to the device. Except for the iPhone XI, Apple is reportedly also working on a large screen iPhone XI Max and the iPhone XR‘s successor.

January 16, 2019
Apple Replaced 11 Million iPhone Batteries In 2018 Up From 1-2 Million In The Past

Last year Apple apologized to customers for purposely slowing older iPhones via a software update. Angry iPhone users accused Apple of deliberately slowing down older iPhones that would force them to upgrade to a new device. However, the company later explained it was done in an effort to prolong the battery life of ageing devices. To make peace with anguished users, Apple offered battery replacement for the affected devices at highly discounted prices.

Before the battery replacement program, it would cost US $ 79 to replace the battery on an iPhone 6 or later which was later brought down to US $ 29. A notable Apple blogger, John Gruber in a post reported that during the battery replacement program Apple swapped batteries on 11 million iPhones which are several folds compared to 1-2 million in previous years. However, Apple is yet to confirm the actual figures. The replacement program was kicked off in December 2017 and it concluded on 31 December 2018.

Also Read: Samsung S10 Launch Billboards Suggest Galaxy Fold Will Launch In February

Battery replacement on affected devices prior to the program would cost Rs 6,500 in India which later came down to only Rs 1995. This exchange program has hugely affected the revenue forecast for Apple. Analysts originally forecasted revenue of $ 91 Billion which fell sharply to $ 84 Billion for the first fiscal quarter of 2019.

January 16, 2019
Mijia, A Xiaomi Subsidiary Launches 4K Video Projector
Xiaomi launched the Mi Laser Projector in the first half of 2017 which was warmly welcomed. Reportedly it raked in sales worth CNY 10 Million in just 2 hours after it first went on sale. The Mi Laser projector was able to project images and videos of 1080p resolution. Mijia, a subsidiary of Xiaomi has launched 4K Projector with the same design. Despite the image resolution bump from 1080p to 4K, the new projector has the same price as the Mi Laser Projector.

Features

The Mijia Laser Projector 4K has the same design as the original Mi Laser Projector but the new model is available in dark grey colour whereas its predecessor was available in white. It has a 0.233:1 large depth of field and has an ultra-short focal lens design. The device has a compact footprint and can rest on top of a TV cabinet and the wall can be utilised as a projectable area.

The Mijia Laser Projector 4K can produce a projection of maximum 150-inch. To project an image of this size, it needs to be placed 49 cm away from the projection area. It can also produce smaller size projections for which the projection area distance can be further reduced. The distance for different screen sizes is as follows:
- 120-inch- 34 cm
- 100-inch- 24 cm
- 80-inch- 14 cm
Most notably, the lens on the projector does not require manual adjustment as it can self adjust depending on screen size selection. According to the company, the lamp on the Mijia 4K projector has an illumination life span of 25,000 hours. For reference, the lamp can be used for 17 years if it is used for 4 hours every day during that span. The projector can reach a maximum brightness level of 1500 lumens when projecting a 150-inch screen. It diffuses the light in such a manner that the screen has a low effect on the viewer’s eye.

The Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector 4K also has built-in speakers, one USB port, three HDMI ports, sockets for audio and RJ45 connector for internet connectivity. It runs on the same OS as MI smart TVs and is shipped with a wireless remote for controlling different functions.

Price

Also Read: Samsung S10 Launch Billboards Suggest Galaxy Fold Will Launch In February

The Mijia Laser Projector 4K will go on its first sale on 18 January at a price of CNY 14,999 (around Rs 1,57,600). But the company has also announced a presale where the device will be available for only CNY 999(around Rs 1,05,000).
January 16, 2019
Apple Might Be Developing 7th Gen iPod Touch Claim Apple Suppliers

Apple first launched the iPod Touch in the year 2007 along with the first-gen iPhone. Essentially, the iPod Touch is an iPhone without phone call capabilities and a low-resolution camera. The company has periodically updated the iPod Touch with the latest models of the iPhones. The current 6th generation device was launched in the year 2016 alongside the iPhone 6.

Rumours in the past claimed that Apple will phase out the iPod Touch but a latest report suggests otherwise. Several suppliers at CES 2019 reportedly told a Japanese site, Mac Otakara that a 7th Generation iPod Touch might be in development. It is possible that the suppliers were restrained to reveal confidential information of the unlaunched product. In the year 2017, Apple officially killed the two other available iPods, the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle. Therefore, to keep the rich heritage of the revolutionary iPod alive, Apple might launch a 7th-Generation iPod Touch.

iPod 7th-Gen Expectations

Even though Apple suppliers did not provide any information about the specs and features of the 7th-Generation iPod Touch, consumers would surely appreciate the following features on a future device

Larger Display & Battery

The current iPod Touch sports a 4-inch retina display and a 1043 mAh battery. The battery capacity on the current iPod surely seems small but the highly-optimised iOS allows the device to provide decent battery backup. A larger 5.8 inch display like the iPhone X and XS would surely be appreciated. In terms of battery, anything upwards of the current 1043 mAh battery capacity would be a nice addition.

Faster Chipset

The iPod Touch 6th Generation packs the Apple A8 chipset and since 2016 Apple has launched several iPhones with faster SoC’s. Therefore the iPod Touch 7th gen can have the faster A10 or A12 chipset.

Notch Display & FaceID

First seen on the iPhone X, the notch display created a lot of buzz in the industry. However, it has become a common sighting even on Android smartphones. With the iPhone X, Apple did away with a fingerprint sensor and introduced the revolutionary FaceID which again has become very popular. Hence, iPod Touch 7th-generation can adopt both these features from its elder siblings.

USB Type-C Connector

The current iPod has the lightning connector at the bottom for charging and data transfer. While Apple launched the iPad Pro with a USB Type-C port and reports claim future iPhones will have this type of connector. It is highly likely that the expected iPod Touch 7G also gets this type of port.

Whether these features make it to the final device or not is yet unknown. However, the device will surely attract attention.

January 16, 2019
Samsung S10 Launch Billboards Suggest Galaxy Fold Will Launch In February

Samsung is bracing up for the launch of the highly anticipated foldable phone, allegedly called the Galaxy F or Galaxy Fold. Past reports claimed that the revolutionary device will launch in Q1 of 2019 and lately put up billboards by the company in Paris indicate its launch is about to happen.

Covert Billboards

To pay homage to a decade full of smartphone innovations, Samsung has put up a set of billboards on Paris’s famous landmark, Place de la Concorde. The massive billboards have messages written in the Korean language which when translated to English exhibit interesting details. The billboards read “The future unfolds” and “February twentieth” which is self-explanatory that the foldable device might launch on 20 February.

This is the same time when Samsung is expected to schedule the Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event. Hence, along with the Galaxy Fold, the company might also launch the highly awaited Samsung Galaxy S10 trio.

Samsung Galaxy F Features

Apparently, the highlighting feature of the Samsung Galaxy Fold will be its 7.3-inch foldable display. In addition to the large foldable display, it will also feature a smaller 4.6 display that will be used to operate the phone when in the folded state.

A latest leak hinted that the Samsung foldable phone will have dual batteries which will each have a capacity of 3,100 mAh. The company might kit the Galaxy F with the latest Snapdragon 855 SoC or its own Exynos 9820 depending on the region. Other details like the camera resolution and connectivity options will only be revealed at the time of its launch.

Samsung Galaxy F Price

Also Read: Oppo Will Launch A Smartphone With 10x Optical Zoom On 16 January

Reportedly the Samsung Galaxy F will have a steep price of over US $ 1800. The leaked BOM (Bills Of Material) suggest it is one of the most expensive smartphones that the company has ever manufactured.

Samsung Galaxy F Concept Video By ConceptCreator :

January 15, 2019
Apple Suppliers Commence Production Of AirPower, Wireless Charging Pad
Nokia was the first company to introduce wireless Qi charging with it’s Lumia 920 in 2012 which was later followed by LG Nexus 4. Apple previewed the AirPower, a wireless charging mat on 12 September 2017. Unlike conventional wireless charger, Apple AirPower mat can simultaneously charge multiple devices. Although AirPower uses Qi charging standard, concurrent device charging is a feature that has been developed by Apple. One year after the initial preview of the AirPower charging mat, Apple removed all mentions of the device from its website. Reportedly this was due to several development issues which involved heat management and inter-device communication. A fresh leak from a credible source suggests that Apple AirPower is finally coming.

The Leak

Breaking: AirPower is finally coming. We just learned from credible source in supply chain that the manufacture Luxshare Precision has already started producing Apple AirPower wireless charging pad. Luxshare Precision is also the maker of Apple AirPods and USB-C cables. pic.twitter.com/UqgWIAh3sx
— ChargerLAB (@chargerlab) January 12, 2019

A Twitter account, ChargerLab shared two tweets one after another that reveals that Apple has resolved the issues that setback the AirPower mass production. According to the source, Luxshare precision has already started mass producing wireless Apple mats. In addition to manufacturing AirPower, Luxshare Precision also manufactures AirPods and USB Type-C cable for Apple.

The second tweet exhibits that Apple has in fact partnered with another contract manufacturer, Pegatron. AirPower mass production at Pegatron will commence at 21 January. Pegatron employee revealed that the AirPower has three layers of coils which are set in 8-7-7 configuration.

Compatible Devices and Launch Date

The AirPower can be used to any Qi wireless supported devices. Apple products that support wireless charging are as follows:
- iPhone 8 and later models
- Apple Watch Series 3 and later models
- Apple AirPods
Also Read: Nokia N9 Spotted Running KaiOS At CES 2019

Alas, the source did not reveal any information about the official launch date of the Apple AirPower. However, to cheer up the customers the company is expected to launch it soon.
January 15, 2019
Nokia Might Debut The Nokia 9 Pureview And Nokia 6.2 At MWC 2019

Nokia has been teasing a flagship level device, the Nokia 9 PureView for a long time. The upcoming phone carries the PureView branding which implies that it will have a focus on photography. The device will sport a Penta rear camera set up that will make it stand out from the competition. The launch of the Nokia 9 PureView is long overdue as the company has missed several expected launch dates. A tweet shared by a Nokia executive indicates that the company might officially launch the device at MWC 2019 which is scheduled for 25–28 February 2019. Except for the showstopper, the company might also launch the Nokia 6.2 that is rumoured to have a punch-hole camera.

Nokia 9 Specifications

The Nokia 9 PureView has leaked on several instances that have revealed its key specifications. Reportedly, the smartphone features a 5.9-inch display with QHD+ resolution. Under the hood, it is suspected to feature the Snapdragon 845 SoC which consists of an Octa-Core CPU and Adreno 630 GPU. A leak from the past suggests that the Nokia 9 PureView will have 8 GB RAM + 128 GB of ROM and it will be powered by a 4,150 mAh battery.

Nokia 9 PureView Camera Technology

Light is an American digital photography company that had launched the remarkable Light L16 camera. As the name suggests, the L16 has 16 camera sensors that add up to a 52-megapixel image that could zoom without pixelation. The company has lately put a page online that explains how the software and hardware for several camera sensors work together. Surprisingly the images shared on the page are reminiscent of the Penta camera setup on Nokia 9 PureView. Furthermore, Light is a partner of FIH Mobile, HMD’s manufacturing partner and surprisingly the co-founder and CEO of Light, Dave Grannan worked for Nokia from 2004 to 2007. Adding the cues from different sources suggest that camera technology on the Nokia 9 PureView is possibly developed by Light.

Nokia 6.2 Specifications

image via : OnLeaks

Also Read: Samsung Confirms Galaxy M Series India Launch Date

The specifications of the Nokia 6.2 were also leaked previously which reveal that the smartphone features a 6.2-inch display. It also features a punch-hole in the screen that accommodates the front-facing selfie camera. The Nokia 6.2 features Dual rear cameras with Zeiss optics and is kitted with the Snapdragon 632 SoC.

January 15, 2019
Apple Considered 5G Modem Chips From Samsung, MediaTek, and Intel for 2019 iPhones

Several countries including South-Korea and America are on the brink of launching 5G telecom networks. OnePlus and Xiaomi have already announced they will be one of the first companies to launch 5G smartphones. Samsung is also expected to launch a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 in Q1 of 2019. Apple is a global smartphone leader and is apparently working on 5G compatible devices. An Apple supply chain executive revealed that the company had considered purchasing 5G LTE modems for iPhones from companies including Samsung, MediaTek and Intel.

Apple’s Past And Future Modem Suppliers

Between the years 2011 and 2016, Qualcomm was the sole supplier for iPhone modems to Apple. This supply contract was ended in 2016 with the launch of iPhone 7. With the iPhone 7, Apple split the orders for modem between Qualcomm and Intel and later phased Qualcomm all together.

According to the Apple executive, the company wanted to purchase modems from other companies but Qualcomm disinclined them in doing so. After Apple finally swapped Qualcomm modems with their Intel counterparts, both companies have been seen locking horns over several patents.

The Apple official said that the company is looking for multiple suppliers for 5G iPhone modems. Apple has considered companies including MediaTek, Samsung and Intel. However, the executive did not reveal whether the company will launch a 5G compatible iPhone in 2019 or not.

Also Read: Oppo Will Launch A Smartphone With 10x Optical Zoom On 16 January

Some rumours in the past suggest that Apple does not plan to launch a 5G compatible in 2019 but the company is highly unpredictable. Taking competition into consideration the company might launch a 5G iPhone this year and surprise everyone.

January 15, 2019
Leaked User Manual Reveal Details Of The Samsung Galaxy M20

Samsung is bracing up to launch a highly anticipated lineup of smartphones, the M-Series. The company has already confirmed that the M-series will debut first in India and is set to launch on 28 January. Samsung is expected to launch two new smartphones which include the Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M10. The leaked user manual of the former provides its complete design details.

Galaxy M20 Design

The user manual of the upcoming Galaxy M20 was leaked by a Dutch blog, Mobielkopen. The leaked user manual seems legit as most of the features look similar to the teasers released by Samsung. The front of the Samsung Galaxy M20 has a high screen-to-body ratio display with a small waterdrop notch that accommodates the front-facing selfie camera.

The proximity sensor and the earpiece speaker are built into the top bezel above the display. The volume key and the power button are placed on the right side of the Galaxy M20 while the SIM card/memory card tray is on the left. The bottom of the device accommodates the USB Type-C port, earphone jack and the loudspeaker grille. The main antenna of the device on the bottom rear section of the smartphone

The rear side of the Galaxy M20 harbours the dual camera set up along with an LED flash, and a fingerprint sensor for safely and quickly unlocking it. The NFC module is placed in the top rear area above the fingerprint sensor and the GPS antenna is placed on the top left corner. In addition to the fingerprint sensor, the Galaxy M20 also supports facial unlock technology.

Launch and Availability

Also Read: Nokia N9 Spotted Running KaiOS At CES 2019

The upcoming Galaxy M-series smartphones including the Galaxy M20 is set to launch on 28 January and the devices will be sold only via online channels. The smartphones will be exclusively available on Amazon.in and Samsung’s own website.

January 15, 2019
Oppo Will Launch A Smartphone With 10x Optical Zoom On 16 January

Chinese smartphone maker, Oppo will hold a Future Technology Communication Conference on January 16. The company has issued a poster for the upcoming event that reads ‘Ten for the see’ in Chinese. Perhaps Oppo is referring to the smartphone with 10X optical zoom whose patent was previously leaked.

10X Optical Zoom On A Smartphone

10X Optical Zoom camera on a thin and portable smartphone might sound unbelievable but Oppo has the know-how of the technology. During the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2017 Oppo showcased a smartphone that had 5x zoom capabilities. In addition, the previously leaked patent clearly explains how the company plans to fit long optical zoom on a pocketable device.

According to the patent, the camera module on the 10x optical zoom Oppo phone uses dual telephoto lenses instead of one on conventional smartphones. The camera module has a long refractive distance which allows for such high optical zoom.

To maintain a thin profile, Oppo uses a horizontally placed periscope module which is used as an end telephoto lens. The horizontal place end lens refracts light onto the main image sensor. To keep the shakiness that is followed by a high zoom lens at bay, the device makes use of OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) technology.

Launch Date

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Has A Hidden Feature That The Company Is Not Even Promoting

The Oppo smartphone with 10X optical zoom might launch 16 January. The devices featuring this setup might be called Oppo F19 and Oppo F19 Pro.

January 14, 2019
Samsung Confirms Galaxy M Series India Launch Date
Samsung is about to launch a budget lineup of smartphones, the M-Series. The M-Series smartphones have leaked online on several instances and the company has officially announced the launch date of the upcoming lineup. According to Samsung officials, the Galaxy M-Series smartphones will focus on camera performance, large display, long battery life and powerful processors. Oddly Samsung has planned to launch the M-Series smartphones in India ahead of a global launch. This move comes in an effort to take on companies like Xiaomi that in the past launched devices first in India.

Galaxy M-Series Details

In an interview with Reuters, a Senior Samsung executive revealed some details and backstory of the upcoming Galaxy M-Series smartphone. The executive shared that Indian has been an important market for the company and it will remain so in the future. The executive also revealed that the new Galaxy M smartphones will be manufactured in India and will range between Rs 10,000 – Rs 20,000.

The M-Series smartphones will be sold online on Amazon.in and through Samsung’s own website. It will allow the company to keep costs of the device low as online-only sales model will eliminate some expenses that are incurred in an offline sales model.

What We Know So Far

Samsung is expected to launch two new smartphones that will carry the following monikers:
- Galaxy M10
- Galaxy M20
Out of the two devices, the Galaxy M20 will pack more features and also cost more. Leaks from the past suggest that the upcoming smartphones will feature the Samsung Exynos 7 series SoCs. Another leak suggests that the mid-range M20 is powered by a humongous 5,000 mAh battery.

Additionally, the devices will feature Samsung Infinity-V display and dual rear cameras and 3x faster charging. However precise details and specifications of the smartphone will only be revealed at the time of its official launch.

Launch Date

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Has A Hidden Feature That The Company Is Not Even Promoting

Samsung has announced that the Galaxy M smartphones will launch on 28 January 2019 in India. A ‘Notify Me‘ page of the upcoming devices is already online.
January 14, 2019
Nokia N9 Spotted Running KaiOS At CES 2019
The month of January saw one of the biggest tech conventions of the year, CES 2019. The tech event was held in Las Vegas, United States and companies from around the world showcased their latest and greatest innovations. Global search giant, Google showcased a wide variety of products and services. Intriguingly a Nokia device that looks similar to the honoured Nokia N9 running KaiOS was spotted at the Google booth.

What Is KaiOS?

KaiOS is a Linux-based mobile operating system that was first developed to bring smart features to non-touch devices. The OS intends to provide an optimised user interface and long battery life to devices with less memory. It is a lightweight OS that is even able to run on devices with just 256 MB of RAM. The main features that the operating system aims to add to affordable phones are 4G LTE and Wi-FI.

Phones running on KaiOS are capable of receiving OTA (Over The Air) updates like Android and iOS smartphones. Additionally, the company has readied a dedicated market place for the OS called KaiStore from where the users can download applications.

KaiOS On The Nokia N9

During the CES event, Google showcased three voice assistant compatible devices which include the Nokia 8810, Jio Phone and a Nokia N9 lookalike. Although the screen of the Nokia N9 doppelgänger was turned off, its placement with other KaiOS powered phones indicate it also runs the same operating system.

Since most KaiOS powered devices have an affordable price tag it is possible that Nokia might launch an affordable touchscreen smartphone. Possibly the company might launch a complete lineup of affordable smartphones that run on KaiOS. Unfortunately, Nokia has not made any comments about the launch of such a device but its presence at CES indicates a strong possibility of this turning into reality. Furthermore, if the company does launch the Nokia N9 with KaiOS, it is expected to have better features than the original smartphone.

Nokia N9 Specifications ( Original )Also Read: OnePlus 7 Leaks: What We Know So Far
- Display: 3.9-inch AMOLED 854 × 480 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio
- Operating System: MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan
- Processor: TI OMAP 3630, Cortex A8 1.0 GHz
- RAM: 1 GB
- Storage: 16 GB, 64 GB
- Rear Camera: 8 MP, Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
- Selfie Camera: VGA
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.1, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, NFC, micro USB 2.0
- Battery: 1,450 mAh
- Dimensions: 116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm
- Weight: 135 g
January 14, 2019