The trend of online multiplayer games has picked up the pace in recent years. One such multiplayer game, Fortnite, places a total of 100 players to compete against each other. The players land on a common map where they shall find resources and fight to become the last one standing. As a result, it has become one of the most downloaded games across all major platforms, making it an extremely popular multiplayer game. It was on 25th July 2017, when the game finally launched on a mobile platform. The iOS devices like the iPhones and iPads were the ones to first receive the game on a mobile platform. While the Android version of the game will initially be exclusive to the Galaxy Note 9, it will later be available on a few other smartphones. However, even the smartphones which support the game may run it on medium settings.
This list of smartphone compatible with Fortnite on Android leaked a while ago on Fortnite’s website. The list included the likes of Google Pixel, Huawei Mate 10, Razer Phone, and Nokia 6. Interestingly enough, the “flagship killer” OnePlus 6 was absent from the list. According to some reports, the new list suggests that most 2018 flagship devices will support the game. However, the default settings on these smartphones will be medium. On 9th August, Samsung has scheduled its Unpacked event in which it will unveil the new Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Tab S4. The game could be launching on the Samsung App store when the new Galaxy devices are unveiled. For the first month at least, the game might be exclusive to Samsung smartphone owners.
It is apparent with this list that most 2018 smartphones will be able to run the game easily. However, the fact which doesn’t seem fit well is that these devices will run the game on the medium setting by default. While this could just be the bare-minimum specs, we plan on digging deeper to find out more. So stay tuned as more on this will be soon available.
It was in the November of 2017 when Razer announced their first Android smartphone. For the first time, the company entered the smartphone market with the Razer Phone. Razer is a gaming hardware manufacturing company which usually produces gaming laptops, headphone, mouse pads, etc. Also a first for the company and the smartphone industry was the 120Hz screen of the Razer Phone. The smartphone was, all in all, a complete flagship package from 2017 standards. The company is now planning to launch a second gaming smartphone in the Razer Phone lineup and we are excited. From a hardware perspective, the Razer Phone ticks all the checkboxes of a flagship smartphone. Stereo speakers, HDR display, 4,000 mAh battery, and the premium price tag of US4899.99 (Rs. 48,068.66 approx). The new smartphone will probably be called the Razer Phone 2.
The Vice President of Razer, Chen Xiaoping, announced at an event in China that the will launch Razer Phone 2 by the end of 2018. He went on to add that the device is already in the works. So, it is safe to assume that by end of the year, he means the smartphone may arrive sometime in December. According to Chen, the Razer Phone 2 will run the latest flagship chipset offering of Qualcomm. Currently, Qualcomm flagship chipset is the Snapdragon 845. However, some sources claim that the smartphone may pack the rumoured Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, scheduled for a launch in early December.
The Razer Phone 2 could also sport a 5.7-inch display, which in all likelihood, would also be a 120Hz panel. The display in the Razer Phone was a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panel. Since Corning unveiled the Gorilla Glass 6 a while ago, Razer might join the likes of Oppo, Apple, and Samsung to feature the glass on its smartphone. The Razer Phone also retained the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a trend, we hope continues with the Razer Phone 2. Most flagship and even mid-range phones offer an 8GB RAM variant so, it would not be surprising for the company to release one such variant of the device. There is still time before this smartphone is officially unveiled in December. So, stay tuned for more news and rumours about the smartphone.
It was in the year 2007 when Google officially introduced the Android ecosystem to the world. The first commercially available Android smartphone, the HTC Dream released in the September 2008. The smartphone was available globally from 2009 and ran on the version 1.5 (Cupcake) of the OS. Google has followed an alphabetical order of naming convention with each new version of Android. Starting with the first version, Android Cupcake (1.5) debuting with the HTC Dream in 2009, with Donut (1.6) to follow, in the same year. Android has evolved not only in terms of versions but also in terms of its varieties. The latest version of the OS available for all the smartphones is Android 8.0 (Oreo). However, Google has announced the latest version, Android 9 and its official name is Android Pie.
Our previous speculation was that Android 9 might roll out as the Android Pistachio. However, Google usually uses sweet treats or desserts to name its Android versions. Thus, it makes a lot more sense for Google to call Android 9, Android Pie. Although its official now, Android Pie was already available as a beta preview for many smartphones. In the list of manufacturers who signed up for the beta program, OnePlus, Nokia, and Xiaomi are some of the top brands. This time around, the new version of the OS is bringing some major changes to the way it works.
Features
1. Gesture-Based Navigation
Image: iPhone X Recent Apps VS Pixel 2 Recent Apps On Android Pie
With Android 9, the OS has changed aesthetically, along with several major feature additions. The most noticeable of them all is the new gesture-based navigation. Although turned off by default, the gesture-based navigation system allows for a new way to interact with Android. In Android Pie, a simple swipe to the left or right will allow users to switch between the recently opened apps. While swiping up would reveal all the opened apps along with a few suggested apps with the OS thinks the user frequently opens.
2. App Slices
This new Android Pie feature seems very familiar to users who have had experience with Google’s Instant Apps. Instant Apps was Google’s way of allowing users to access an app without needing to download it. However, in the case of Slices, the similar idea of Instant Apps targets a whole different set of problems. For instance, if a user searches for Hawaii on Google, then the OS might show them photos from the time when he or she visited Hawaii.
3. Indoor User Positioning
In previous Android versions, if a user sitting inside a building wants to locate himself on the map, then his or her estimated location using GPS was shown. With Android 9, Googles uses Wi-Fi for indoor positioning with an accuracy of up to 1 or 2 meters.
4. Support For Notches
With Android 9, users will get content in an edge-to-edge format which also supports the presence of the notch. Android Pie will allow developers to build apps in such a way that their app supports the cut-outs on a smartphone’s display.
5. Intuitive Notifications
Google has been focussing on integrating AI deeply with its OS. It is with Android 9 that users see some of the AI functionalities in the foreground. For instance, on Android Pie, a predicted response will be ready for certain message notifications which you receive. You can either choose to respond to the message with the suggested text or write your own directly from the notification tray.
6. Adaptive Battery & Adaptive Brightness
Another AI-dependent feature which Google has introduced with Android 9 is the Adaptive Battery and Adaptive Brightness. With this feature, the OS will understand the smartphone user’s device usage behaviour and adjust the battery settings accordingly. This adjustment is also dependent on the time of the day or the user’s location.
7. Digital Wellbeing
Android Pie or Android 9 will monitor the user’s daily smartphone usage. Google is calling this feature the “Digital Wellbeing” which will provide an analytical report of the time the user has spent on the device and the number of times the device was unlocked.
8. The Material Theme
Along with the new feature, Google has also introduced some subtle changes to the UI with Android 9. In this version of the OS, the most noticeable changes are with the notification tray icons, which are more rounded than the ones on Android Oreo. The materialistic theme also translates to the way the recent apps are shown. One could say Android Pie takes subtle hints from Apple’s iOS.
9. Rotation Toggle
The rotation toggle is a nifty feature in the Android 9 which tackles the problem of accidental screen rotation. When you turn off auto rotation on the smartphone, an extra icon will appear in the navigation bar, which upon clicking, will change the orientation of the smartphone’s display. This is especially useful for the lazy users who like to use their smartphones in bed.
10. A Total Of 157 New Emojis
With a more gender-neutral approach, Android Pie will bring a total of 157 new emojis to the platform. Some of these emojis include lobsters and alpacas.
Android P is the ninth installation of Google’s Android OS. Many devices including the OnePlus 6 have already received a Developer Preview of the Android P. This new version brings subtle UI changes like the redesigned notification panel when triggered by the volume rockers. The new update also brings better battery optimization, dark and light theme modes, and the ability to toggle between multiple wallpapers. The Android Pie update will initially be available on the Pixel devices first with other manufacturers who signed up for the Beta program to follow. It is safe to say that with every new version, the Android ecosystem keeps evolving, and the trend will continue until either Google runs out of letters in the Alphabet or Android is discontinued.
Corning is the leader when it comes to manufacturing glass panels for smartphones. Almost all the flagship smartphones use a Corning Gorilla Glass panels to ensure longevity and durability of these devices. The current Corning glass in use is the Gorilla Glass 5. However, on 19th July the company announced the new Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Dubbed as the toughest and the most customizable glass panel, the Gorilla Glass 6 is yet to feature on any smartphone. However, Corning recently announced that Oppo will be the first company to feature the Gorilla Glass 6 on its smartphones. According to rumours however, the Galaxy Note 9 was to be the first Android smartphone with Gorilla Glass 6 panels. The Note 9 is expected to launch on 9th August.
Initially, it was the first generation of Apple iPhone for which Corning designed the Gorilla Glass. Although Apple has never officially named any of the vendors from which it gets the hardware for the iPhone. The company demanded a strong glass material which would not only be durable but also responsive. In all likelihood, the 2018 iPhone will also feature the Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Apart from Apple, the other highly anticipated manufacturer to feature the Gorilla Glass 6 is Samsung. With the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 hardly a couple of days away, Samsung will most likely want to feature the latest and greatest for its flagship offering. Thus, while Oppo may be the first “official” brand, Samsung and Apple would also sport the Gorilla Glass 6 on their devices as well, among other manufacturers.
The Corning Gorilla Glass 6 will allow manufacturers to customize the way they want to use the glass. They can use it for displays, or as back panels which will be available in a coloured or textured finish. The best part is, Corning will do the designing and texturing of the glass for the company. This would mean, that the upcoming Oppo smartphone could sport a unique looking back panel.
It will be interesting to see how well the new Corning Gorilla Glass 6 performs in real life. The company claims that the glass can survive the glass can survive 15 drops from a height of 1 meter. For reference, other glass compositions, such as soda lime and aluminosilicate, do not survive the first drop from the same height. We look forward to the launch of the new Oppo device featuring the Gorilla Glass 6. It will be interesting to see how the new panel fairs against the currently available Gorilla Glass 5, which also featured in the Oppo Find X.
Apple had a good Q3 in 2018 earning US$11.5 billion in profits. There have been rumours of a Dual SIM iPhone set to launch this year. For Apple, a Dual SIM flagship smartphone would bode well for its sales figure, especially in the emerging Asian markets like India and China. However, a recent report suggests that Apple fans waiting for a Dual SIM iPhone, especially in India, may not be able to buy it. This Dual SIM smartphone will likely be launched with a 6.1-inch LCD display, this could be the iPhone 9. The other variants will likely sport a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch display which would be the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Plus.
BEST OFFERS ON Apple iPhone X
According to the reports, Apple wants to launch the Dual SIM iPhone exclusively in China. The reason, as the report claims, is that the company plains on growing a strong foothold in the Chinese market. Currently, the major players in the Chinese market are companies like Huawei and Xiaomi. Apple iPhones account for less than 5% of the Chinese smartphone market share, hence this could be Apple’s strategy to rope in more customers. However, China is not the only market where Dual-SIM smartphones are popular. The Indian mid-range smartphone segment provides a buyer with plenty of Dual-SIM smartphone options. The fact that Apple may not be planning to sell a Dual SIM iPhone in India might disappoint a lot of loyal Apple fans eagerly waiting for the company to launch a Dual SIM flagship smartphone.
Apple’s Dual SIM iPhone will quite likely be the less costly variant in the 2018 iPhone lineup. Especially since the company is planning to launch it in a market where mid-range smartphones dominate the flagship lineup. With that said, the best bet for Apple fans in India should wait until Apple launches the new iPhone in its September event. In all likelihood, the news about a China exclusive Dual-SIM smartphone could be fake. So, stay tuned for our full coverage of the story.
The Huawei sub-brand, Honor sold 20 million smartphones in the first six months of 2015, two years after the brand was announced. Continuing the trend, Honor is currently one of the top-selling brands globally, including the Indian market. At an event in India today, the company announced three devices, its gaming smartphone, the Honor Play. The smartphone will make its way to India via an exclusive Amazon sale on 6th August from 4 PM. The company first launched the smartphone in China via an event in Beijing on 31st July 2018.
The company is marketing the Honor Play as a mid-range gaming device. The smartphone sports a 6.3-inch IPS LCD panel with 2340 x 1080 px resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Unlike the Note 10, this smartphone has a notch-display. The device features a 3.5 mm headphone jack with support for Histen Audio. This audio technology allows users to enjoy an immersive 3D output with 7.1 surround sound experience. The smartphone also claims to offer a 4-D gaming experience with what the company calls a Smart Shock, a haptic feedback mechanism.
Honor Play Headphone Jack
The Honor Play uses a custom Huawei layer called the EMUI 8.1 which is based on Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS. The smartphone runs on the Kirin 970 SoC which is also found on other flagship smartphones from Huawei like the P20 Pro. The Kirin 970 is an octa-core chipset with four cores running at 2.4 GHz and the other four at 1.8 GHz. The chipset uses the Mali-G72 MP12 GPU for its graphics performance. The smartphone will feature the GPU Turbo which will squeeze out better graphics and battery performance. A dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is also included in the smartphone for enhanced AI capabilities.
There is a triple camera setup on the Honor Play smartphone. The two rear-facing sensor includes a 16 MP sensor withf/2.2 aperture and a 2 MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The NPU will have a major role to play in the shots taken with the smartphone’s rear camera sensors. A single front-facing camera of the smartphone is a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture. The smartphone will be available in two RAM variants; 4/6GB RAM option with 64GB storage. However, the storage for the smartphone can be further expanded using a microSD card of up to 256GB.
Pricing And Availability
The price of the Honor Play in India starts at Rs. 19,999 for the 4GB RAM variant and goes up to Rs. 23,999 for the 6GB RAM variant. Smartphone manufacturers are making sure that users get an uncompromising experience without having to spend a lot of money. Thus, it will be interesting to see how the Honor Play fairs against the competition. You can watch the unboxing video below.
It was in the year 1999 that the first BlackBerry device launched, the BlackBerry 850 was a two-way pager. The company got its name because of the resemblance between its QWERTY keyboard and the BlackBerry fruit. At an event held in New Delhi, India, the company launched two new smartphones today, the BlackBerry Evolve and Blackberry Evolve X. The company is marketing these smartphones as the “Most Secure Android Smartphones”. Both the smartphones will be available exclusively on Amazon with the Evolve going on sale from the end of August. It is not the first time that BlackBerry has launched a full-touch type display on a smartphone, prior to this the company also launched the BlackBerry Z3.
Both BlackBerry Evolve and the BlackBerry Evolve X share the same 5.99-inch IPS LCD panel. Protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, both the smartphones have a 2160 x1080 px resolution display and 18:9 aspect ratio. It is worth noting that while the Evolve has rounded edges, the Evolve X sports a rather sharper design.
Powering the BlackBerry Evolve is a Snapdragon 450 with Adreno 506 GPU for graphics performance. While the BlackBerry Evolve X runs on a more powerful Snapdragon 660 with Adreno 512 GPU. The Evolve is available with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and the Evolve X has 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. Surprisingly, BlackBerry did not announce any other storage variants for these smartphones. Each of the smartphones sports a massive 4,000 mAh display, which, considering the chipset and display resolution should be more than enough for them to last a day even with heavy usage. The smartphones will use a USB Type-C port for charging and data-syncing purposes.
There is a triple camera setup on both the BlackBerry Evolve and the BlackBerry Evolve X. While the rear-camera on the Evolve has two 13 MP sensors, the Evolve X has a 12 MP and a 13 MP sensor. Both the smartphones sport a 16 MP front-facing sensor with an LED flash. The company has put these secondary camera sensors to use by implementing 2D face-unlock in both the smartphones. In terms of other special feature, both the smartphones also support fast charging with the Evolve X being Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 certified.
Price and Availability
BlackBerry Evolve X will be exclusively available on Amazon the from end of August 2018 for Rs. 34,990. While the BlackBerry Evolve will be available from mid of September 2018 for Rs. 24,990.
Electric cars have a history dating back to as early as the 1820s. It was in the year 1828 that a Hungarian inventor, Ányos Jedlik, put together an electric motor. The inventor used this motor to create the first electric car. The idea behind electric cars was to replace the current and expendable source of fuel like petrol and gasoline. Since an electric car ensures zero gaseous emission, it is also safe for the environment. With this in mind, Elon Musk launched a lineup of electrically powered cars, named the Tesla in 2008.
The first car in this lineup to hit the streets was the Tesla Roadster launched in 2008. This car used a Li-Ion battery to produce a total of 248 hp. The car could accelerate from 0 to 97 KM/h in 3.7 to 3.9 seconds. Several models of the Tesla have since been launched an announced, but the one thing they have in common is the centre console display. This large touchscreen is extremely responsive and allows you to control most of the car. According to reports, the company is planning to push a new update to allow Tesla drivers to play classic Atari games on these displays.
The news comes straight from the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk himself. In a tweet today, Elon announced that the Tesla software update V9.0 will bring Atari games as an Easter egg to the Tesla cars. Some of the earlier Easter eggs include a drawing pad which the Tesla owners can use to create showcase their artistic talents to the world by publishing their work online. Another fun Easter egg converts the map on the touch-screen panel in the car to a Martian map. And with the new update, the company will bring class Atari games to its cars. It is not the first time that idea of gaming inside a car is explored. A YouTube creator by the name Pog converted his luxurious Lamborghini into a racing simulator. He used the rig to play the Xbox game called Forza Horizon 7, here’s the video.
The video above gives a brief idea of how Elon Musk could go about implementing the Atari games. While of primitive graphics, the classic Atari games like Asteroid (1979), Missile Command (1980) seem like a fun time to spend inside a Tesla. The V9.0 update will be publically available in the next four weeks, after which we can safely say, the driveway of Tesla owners will be the new proving grounds.
It was with the release of the Apple iPhone X in 2017, that the rumours about the next Apple iPhone began. While Apple reported record profit earnings, the company dipped to the third position as a smartphone seller behind Samsung and Huawei, with 20.9 & 15.8% respective market shares. It is an undeniable fact that overall smartphone sales have taken a hit and are relatively low in the last two years. This is also one of the reasons why HTC recently decided to quit the Indian market. However, as Apple’s September iPhone event approaches, more leaks emerge for next generation devices from the company.
The leaked images showcase both the front and rear panels of these iPhones in black and white colour variants. The three alleged screen sizes are, 5.8-inch for the iPhone XI, 6.1-inch for the iPhone 9, and 6.5-inch for the iPhone XI Plus. It has become apparent from these images that the iPhone with 6.1-inch display also has a single camera, so, it’s safe to assume that this is the alleged more affordable 2018 iPhone 9.
All three devices appear to have a notch, so it is safe to assume that even the cheaper iPhone 9 along with the 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch iPhones will have Face-ID. In the image it appears that the left most device will be iPhone XI and the right most will be the iPhone XI plus, both of which have a vertical dual camera. The middle one will have a single camera, may be dubbed the iPhone 9 and will be the most affordable of the 2018 iPhones. This naming system will also eliminate any confusion as Apple may continue to sell the iPhone X, hence in 2018 Apple iPhone 9, iPhone X and iPhone XI may be sold.
According to previous leaks, emerging markets like India and China could receive dual-SIM 2018 iPhone variants. These markets are also the key sales places for Apple and a dual-SIM iPhone could help improve the smartphone’s sales. Apple projected that it will bag even more profits in the fourth quarter of this. Since the company has been at the forefront of bringing feature-rich smartphones, albeit, at a hefty price, we look forward to see how the 2018 iPhone lineup performs. While there’s still a month before the new iPhones launch, you can go back to our Apple iPhone X vs Samsung Galaxy S8 Feat. Galaxy Note 8 video.
Apple may have had a major role to play in introducing the world to touchscreen interactive displays, in the form of the iPad. The Apple iPad later became the best selling tablets with 300,000 units sold on the first day of release on April 2010. However, the Apple iPad has since faced a fairly tough competition from companies like Samsung and devices from Microsoft like the Surface Pad. At the unpacked event, scheduled on the 9th of August in New York, Samsung will be unveiling the much anticipatedGalaxy Note 9 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. A YouTube video released yesterday by the company gives us a complete walk-through of the device.
The most noticeable feature of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is its sleek and slim design. While it does share some aesthetic hints from the Tab S3, the significantly thin bezel on Tab S4’s display is just enough to set it apart. The S-Pen, appears to be different from the one Samsung plans to use for the Note 9 and looks thicker than the tablet itself. The other feature is its quad speaker-setup tuned by AKG. Acquired by Samsung, AKG is an Austrian acoustics manufacturing company. The tablet also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound for what Samsung calls “an immersive entertainment experience.”
The video also showed the new S-Pen in action, which is a Samsung proprietary stylus. The S-Pen made its debut with the first Galaxy Note smartphone in 2011. The video also takes us through a number of Samsung Galaxy Tab S4’s features. One such feature is the DeX mode, which allows the users to use their tablets in a desktop mode. The added accessory, which users may probably need to buy additionally is the Book Keyboard which works like Smart Keyboard found with the iPads. The other talked-about feature in the video, Daily Board, provides daily information and favourite photos with the device locked.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S with its slim bezels also has a massive 7,300 mAh battery. The device will be unveiled at the Unpacked event on 9th August along with the Galaxy Note 9 so stay tuned for our full coverage of the event. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the video that Samsung has released.
We continue our giveaways with the new upcoming Samsung Galaxy On8 Smartphone. The device will be shipped out to winners before official launch on the 6th of August. Stand a chance to win a device even before others can buy it.
When the Shenzhen based company, OnePlus first entered the smartphone industry, it took the world by surprise. The company launched its “flagship-killer”, the OnePlus One in India on 2nd December 2014. It was the first smartphone under the Rs. 30,000 price bracket which offered flagship-like features. The smartphone had two versions of Android 4.4.2 KitKat, a CyanogenMod 13 variant and an OxygenOS 2.1.4 variant. Currently, OnePlus is among the top smartphone brands in India. The recently launched OnePlus 6 sold close to Rs. 10 Crore worth of smartphones in the first ten minutes of the sale. Now with the rumours of a OnePlus 6T possibly launching soon, here is a list of top ten feature we’d like to see in the smartphone.
1. Bezel & Notch-less Display
Oppo and Vivo are leading the industry with their first no-notch and almost all-screen display smartphones. Both the Oppo Find X and Vivo NEX managed to sport a notch-less display and achieve a screen-to-body ratio of over 85%. This is something that even the iPhone X could not achieve. The display of both the formerly mentioned smartphones makes for a good movie watching experience. Hence, a notch-less display is among the top 10 feature we would like to see in the OnePlus 6T.
Vivo NEX Notch-less Display
2. Pop-up Camera Alternative
According to the recent rumours, OnePlus 6T might feature a pop-up front-facing camera. While the Pop-up camera is the best way to achieve a notch-less display, we would still like OnePlus to come up with a better alternative. For instance, the Mi Mix 2 featured a bottom-chin mounted sensor. Although, this lead to the smartphone featuring a bigger chin, it still is an area the company could explore.
3. Stereo Speakers
While the OnePlus 6 has a considerably good speaker, it still tends to sound tinny at high volumes. Whereas smartphones like the iPhone X, Pixel 2XL or the Galaxy S9 Plus have a great stereo speaker setup. The issue with having a single speaker like the OnePlus 6 is its placement. When the phone is held in the landscape mode, the user’s palm tends to cover the speaker leading to a muffled sound output. A stereo speaker on the other hand, uses two separate speakers so you get relatively better output even with one speaker covered.
Pixel 2 XL
4. In-display Fingerprint Sensor
Despite having a pop-up camera, the Vivo NEX also features an in-display fingerprint sensor. While many claim that a face-unlock is safer than fingerprint sensor, the latter comes in handy to easily access the phone. Among the top 10 features an in-display fingerprint sensor is also something we would like to see on the OnePlus 6T.
Vivo NEX In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
5. 3D Face-Unlock
The face unlock on the OnePlus 6 is considered to be one of the fastest. However, it is nowhere close to being as secure as the Apple Face-ID. In fact, there have been cases where users were able to access a OnePlus 6 just with a photograph of the smartphone’s actual owner. Hence, a 3D face-unlock is among the top 10 features we want to see in the OnePlus 6. A 3D face-unlock would not only be more secure but also work well in low light conditions. A 3D face unlock works by using a combination of hardware and software. It uses both cameras and a few other sensors such as infrared to get a 3D scan of the subject’s face. The face unlock mechanism on the OnePlus 6 is a 2D recognition system, which is considerably less secure.
Face-unlock
6. Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Corning recently announced their new Gorilla Glass 6. The new glass panel is not only more durable than the Gorilla Glass 5 but also has customizability options. Which means, manufacturers can choose to give any type of texture to the glass panel that they would like. If OnePlus 6T features a Gorilla Glass 6 panel for both the front and the back, then we could expect some other colour and texture variants of the smartphone. Hence, this is among the top 10 features we look forward to seeing in the OnePlus 6T.
Wooden Finish On Gorilla Glass 6
7. IP Rating For Waterproof Or At Least Water-resistance
When the OnePlus 6 launched, everyone expected that the smartphone will have a IP (Ingress Protection) certification since rumours said that it will be water-resistant. Although the rumours about it being water-resistant were true, OnePlus did not mention if there was any IP certification for the smartphone. Despite not having an IP rating the smartphone is water-resistant under rainy conditions or if it takes a plunge in puddles. However, an IP rating, which is an international standard of measuring how effectively a smartphone is sealed and protected against external elements like dust and water. While IP68 would be appreciated for the OnePlus 6t, we would also be happy with IP67.
8. Keep The Jack
OnePlus is among the few companies which have not yet ditched the headphone jack from their smartphones. Even their latest flagship, the OnePlus 6 has a headphone jack. But since OnePlus launched the bullets wireless , there exists a slight possibility that the may remove the headphone jack. While Bluetooth earphones are relatively more portable than wired headphones, the level of details a good-quality wired headphone can provide is far superior than a wireless headphone. Also, most people own earphones with a 3.5 mm plug and would not want to buy a new earphone especially if they own a premium pair of earphones/headphones. Hence, a headphone jack is among the top 10 features we would like to continue to see in the OnePlus 6T.
OnePlus 6 Headphone Jack
9. Improved Camera Setup
Even though OnePlus 6 has a considerably good camera setup, it still lacks the finesse seen in the cameras of Pixel 2, Galaxy S9 and even the iPhone X. What is worth noting is that the latter devices are significantly more expensive than the OnePlus 6. However, we still think that OnePlus could do slightly better job in the camera department, along with motor improvements in the camera app and software. The company recently release the Google Camera replacement for the OnePlus 6, which could be a step in the right direction for improved camera capabilities.
10. Wireless Charging
While Oneplus has stayed away from this feature due to their dash charging, a wireless charging feature may not be difficult to add. The feature will be well received by customers and OnePlus fans.
Bonus : Sand Stone Variant
The OnePlus One launched with a sandstone finish for the rear panel. It was the first that any company had ever thought of launching phone with such a textured rear-panel. The company later discontinued the sandstone panel after the OnePlus 2 but offered it as back panel covers. We would like to see the sandstone rear panel make a comeback with the OnePlus 6T even if they do it for a limited run.
OnePlus 2 Sandstone Black
OnePlus 6T will likely launch in December this year. However, in an interview, Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus said, the company might not release a OnePlus 6T unless there is something new to offer. This is good news for people who bought the OnePlus 6 and would like to enjoy their smartphones for a while before the company replaces it with the T variant. However, OnePlus has been releasing T variants of its smartphone since the OnePlus 3 so it is highly-likely that the company will release a OnePlus 6T as well. The only question is, how soon and how many of these features will the smartphone have. Have a feature you would like to see in the next OnePlus device. Let us know in the comments.
Started in the backyard toolshed of Steve Jobs’ parents’ house, Apple is now one of the top brands in the world. Apple started the smartphone trend with the first iPhone. However, it was the iPhone 3GS which raked up the most sales in 2009. On 31st July 2018, Apple released a report for its Q3 revenue, revealing that the company has earned record profits. The company was able to achieve 17% more revenue than last year. Apple sold 41.3 million iPhones, 11.553 million iPads, and 3.72 million Macs. The total profits earned by the company stands at a whopping US$11.5 billion.
iPhone X
The majority of profits earned by the company is through the sales of iPhones, iPads, and Macs accounting for US$53.3 billion worth of the company’s revenue, while its services like Apple Music, accounted for US$9.548 billion. With that said, iPhones led the overall sales of US$29.906 billion out of the total US$53.3 billion. Apple predicts that it may collect revenue between $60 billion and $62 billion in the Q4 of 2018. For reference, the revenue earned from the company’s services alone is 37% more than the last year’s US$7.266 billion.
Since Apple’s event is hardly a month away, the company may be launching dual-SIM iPhones. Dual SIM phones are popular in developing and growing markets like India and China. These markets have also become the key sales places for Apple. The launch of dual-SIM iPhones will not only cater to the public demand but also help improve the smartphone’s sales. According to the recent leaks, the company might also be planning to release two iPhones this year with a 6.5-inch “alleged” iPhone X Plus and a 6.1-inch iPhone 9, with the latter in all likelihood being the cheaper smartphone of the two. Furthermore, the company is planning to bring an update for the HomePod, which is a wirelessspeaker with inbuilt Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant.
HomePod
HomePod works in a similar way as the Amazon Echo or the Google Homespeakers, it can be used as a conventional wireless speaker but it also has all the capabilities of Siri built-in. With the new update of iOS 12 beta, users will now be able to make and receive calls with the HomePod as the default audio output source. Earlier in iOS 11.4, users had to manually change the source during a call to set the HomePod as the audio output in. The iOS 12 update will also bring improvements to Siri’s general knowledge base and the ability to set multiple timers. With this update, the HomePod will also be closely integrated with the Macs running on Mojave.
Apple has undoubtedly had a great impact in shaping the future of smartphones with its iPhone lineup. Apple has been at the forefront of bringing feature-rich smartphones, albeit at a hefty price. Thus, it will be interesting to see how Apple actually performs in the Q4 despite its sale projections.
It was in the year 2013 that Huawei announced its sub-brand, Honor. The first smartphone which Huawei launched under this sub-brand was the Honor 3C in April 2014, in Malaysia. Honor entered the European market with its 2014 flagship, the Honor 6. According to reports, Honor sold 20 million smartphones in the first six months of 2015. Today, Honor is one of the top-selling brands globally, including the Indian market. The company has launched the Honor Note 10 in China, which is the second smartphone in the company’s Note series. Prior to the Note 10, Honor launched the Note 8 and skipped on releasing a Note 9. Much Samsung’s Galaxy Note, the Honor Note series is a phablet offering of the company. The only difference is, Honor does not offer any stylus like the S-Pen for the Galaxy Note series. The smartphone could launch globally before Honor’s IFA event on 30th August.
The Honor Note 10 is a premium flagship from the company known for mainly offering mid-range smartphones. The Note 10 has a 6.95-inch Super AMOLED panel with 2220 x 1080 px resolution and 18.5:9 aspect ratio, protected with Corning Gorilla Glass. The smartphone features a 3.5 mm headphone jack with support for Dolby Atmos. The handset also offer stereo speakers which many other smartphones like the OnePlus 6 lack. Honor claims that the sound output through both the speakers and earphones used with the device will provide an immersive gaming experience for users.
The Honor Note 10 uses a custom Huawei layer called the EMUI which is based on Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS. The smartphone runs on the Kirin 970 SoC which is also found on other flagship smartphones from Huawei like the P20 Pro. The Kirin 970 is an octa-core chipset with four cores running at 2.4 GHz and the other four at 1.8 GHz. The chipset uses the Mali-G72 MP12 GPU for its graphics performance. The Note 10 is one of the devices receiving the GPU Turbo update. This feature will help the smartphone squeeze out better graphics and battery performance. Also, the company has debuted its CPU Turbo technology with the Note 10 and a dedicated physical button to trigger CPU turbo mode. Furthermore, the smartphone features a heat dissipation pipe for CPU liquid-cooling system.
Honor Note 10 Heat Dissipation Pipe
Honor Note 10 sports a triple camera setup. The two rear-facing sensor includes a 16 MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 24 MP B/W sensor with f/1.8 aperture. A single front-facing camera of the smartphone is a 13 MP sensor. However, Honor will incorporate a lot of AI capabilities in both the front as well as the rear camera sensors. The smartphone will be available in two storage and RAM variants in China; a 64/128GB storage option and 6/8GB RAM option. However, the 8GB RAM option will only be available with the 128GB storage variant.
Pricing And Availability
Honor Magic Book & Honor Play
The price of the Honor Note 10 in China starts at CNY2,799 (Rs. 28,114.44 approx) for 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. The 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant will cost CNY 3,199 (Rs. 32,135.22 approx) and the 8GB RAM variant will cost CNY 3,599 (Rs. 36,153.38 approx). The current trend of mid-range smartphones goes out to show that you do not have to own a flagship in order to enjoy a similar experience. The company also launched two other devices, the Honor Play smartphone and the Honor Magic Book laptop. The Honor Play will cost CNY 2,399 (Rs. 24,100.77 approx). While the Magic Book starts at CNY 4,599 (Rs. 46,199.20 approx) with the touchscreen variant at CNY 5,699 (Rs. 57,249.23 approx). The laptop will go on sale from 1st August.
Smartphone manufacturers are making sure that users still get an uncompromising experience without having to spend a lot of money. Hence, it will be interesting to see how the Honor Note 10, as well as the Honor Play, will perform.
The guys over at Turing Space Industries (TSI) must have their offices next to some real interesting plantations. The company that once had big plans to launch futuristic phones, never seems to give up. TSI originally became popular for their Turing phone which was a crowd funded failure. A lot of people initially bought into the idea of an impressive phone, but the company failed to deliver. And hence, people cancelled their purchases leaving TSI with a massive failure.
A few years ago, the company claimed to be working on more revolutionary devices, A Turing Monolith Chaconne and a Turing Cadenza , both phones that would never see the light of day. And how would they claiming to be built on technology that doesn’t exist.
The Turing Hubble Phone takes this dream to an all new level. The company claims that the Turing Hubble Phone will launch in 2020 with a dual Snapdragon 855 chipset, a chipset not yet announced. The company also claims that the phone will have a Snapdragon X50 5G modem, yet another mythical hardware unicorn. TSI also claims the phone will be sold to those still dinking radiator water in 2020 for a mediocre price of $2,749 (starting).
Turing claims that the Hubble Phone will have three operating systems as well, because why wouldn’t it. The first will be Android P, apparently still the latest in 2020, and Turing Keplerian OS which will be in the top part of the phone ( aka the Top Deck ) the lower part or Main deck will get a combination of the two OSs in the top deck but also Sailfish 3 OS.
The company also claims that the phone will have a 5 x 12 MP CMOS sensor camera setup , 2 on the front of the “Top Deck”, 1 on the rear of the top deck and 2 on the rear of the bottom deck aka the main deck. Both decks will also have dual SIM card slots each, hence the phone will handle 4 SIM cards simultaneously. Sure to be a success in India, but that 1.8 Lakh price may dissuade buyers.
The Turing Hubble Phone will also have Emotional Machine Intelligence and Lip reading capabilities along with “Emotional detection”. The body of the Hubble phone, a name it probably gets for its telescope like design, will be made from Titanium Aluminide,a lightweight metal alloy resistant to oxidation and heat. The phone will be IP68 dust/water proof (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).
The Hubble phone also has a total of 3 AMOLED capacitive touchscreen displays. A 5.44 inch along with a 5.41 inch on the top deck and a 11.81 inch one on the main deck which as you see will fold over all the electronics. The dual SD855 chipsets , each deck gets their own, with 8 x 2.96 GHz on the clock. the lower deck gets the SDX50 5G modem.
HubblePhone includes an Artificial Reality (AfR) messaging application which allows users to send 3D animated messages projected into the recipient’s immediate physical surroundings. Honestly it doesn’t get any more ridiculous at this point. At least the company is not claiming a ridiculous 64GB of RAM , and endless battery via a non available technology. Since they already claimed those with the Cadenza and the Chaconne. The Hubble phone will have a paltry 8 GB of RAM in each deck with 256GB for each deck too. The battery will be a seemingly doable 2800 mAh in the upper deck and 3300 mAh in the main deck.
TSI does claim that the camera on the Hubble phone will be impressive with a 15x optical zoom. And, the phone will have a game mode allowing you to play PUBG endlessly while you are on a space train to mars.
A prototype is also shown off, which appears to be the phone, or a dual glass slab model with a led ring light. The hinges are claimed to be made of liquid metal, Apparently TSI doesn’t know that this is a material that Apple exclusively plans to utilise thanks to the over 40 Patents granted to Apple for exclusive usage in several scenarios.
