Category: Mobile

Smartphone News and Reviews, Latest Cellphones, Accessories, New Launches, Specifications, Details with Image and Video from Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Moto, HTC, Xiaomi, Oneplus, Meizu, Sony, Lava, Micromax Yu Mobile and More.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Is The True Redmi Note 4 Successor India Deserved

Xiaomi India launched the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 in India on the 14th of February. The smartphone is the successor to Xiaomi’s best selling Redmi Note 4. While many believe the Redmi Note 5 Pro should have been the Redmi Note 5 in India, the true Note 4 successor has launched in China. It is similar to the Redmi Note 5 Pro but, with some better features and camera upgrades.

The Xioami Redmi Note 5 AI is available in two storage and three RAM variants. The 3GB/32GB combination and the 4GB/6GB and 64GB combination. The 4GB RAM model retails for CNY 1,399 and the 6GB RAM model retails for CNY 1,699. Interestingly, this pricing is very similar to the Indian pricing of the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

The Redmi Note 5 AI runs on Android 8 Oreo with MIUI 9 on top. In India, only the Mi A1 and Mi MIX 2 have been updated to Android 8 Oreo so far. It even supports Project Treble, which means it is bound to receive faster software updates when compared to other Xiaomi devices.

Specifications of the Xioami Redmi Note 5 AI

The smartphone has a 5.99 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with 2.5D finish. Under the hood, the device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with 3GB or 6GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB storage.

On paper, the Redmi Note 5 AI has a similar dual camera setup compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, the Chinese version has a much better 12MP primary sensor with 1.4 micron pixel size and an f/1.9 aperture. However, the secondary sensor on the back remains the same for both the devices. The difference does not stop there, as the Redmi Note 5 AI’s camera also supports Dual PD dual-core speed focus for a faster autofocus speed. However, not all is doom and gloom for the Redmi Note 5 Pro as it sports a superior 20MP front camera compared to the 13MP sensor found on the Redmi Note 5 AI.

Finally, both devices come with a 4000 mAh battery. The Redmi Note 5 AI also supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 while the Redmi Note 5 Pro is limited to Quick charge 2.0.

March 16, 2018
Samsung Galaxy S10 Could Feature An In-Screen Fingerprint Sensor

Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and the S9+ in India on the 5th of March. The Galaxy S9 devices are the latest flagship smartphones from the company that features a variable aperture for the first time ever. The smartphones went on sale today (16th March) and rumours about its successor have already started surfacing. According to a report, the Galaxy S10 will have an in-screen fingerprint sensor with 3D facial recognition.

While it is fair to assume that the Galaxy S9 successor will be the Galaxy S10, nothing is certain right now. As the company might take the Apple route and end up calling it something else.

The in-screen fingerprint scanner was expected to debut with the Galaxy Note 9. However, the technical challenges appear to have forced Samsung into pushing forward the technology for the Galaxy S10. This is because the company is seemingly working on the technology to eliminate its drawbacks.

Galaxy S10 Expected Features

The Galaxy S10 will have an in-screen fingerprint scanner with 3D facial recognition. The facial-recognition will be similar to the Apple iPhone X‘s Face ID. However, instead of placing it in a notch, the company will retain the bezels to house the required set of sensors.

Render image of the Galaxy S10

The Samsung Galaxy S10 will be the first smartphone to offer 5G. The Galaxy S10 will be the worlds first chipset based on the 7nm manufacturing process. The company has signed a strategic relationship agreement with Qualcomm, which means Galaxy S10 could be the first smartphone to deploy 5G using Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 855 chipset.

March 16, 2018
Huawei P20 Lite Goes On Sale Before Official Launch
Huawei is all set to launch the Huawei P20 series on the 27th of March in France. However, even before the official launch, the device is already available for sale on the Huawei Poland website. This is a strange move from the brand, which has been creating the hype about the device from last few weeks. In fact, people have started uploading the unboxing videos of the device.

The Huawei P20 Lite is the most affordable smartphone in the lot, which comes with a design similar to the other two models with a cut down in the hardware. The device is available for PLN 1599 (Rs 30,335) in Poland via authorised resellers.

Specifications of the Huawei P20 Lite

The design is similar to the Honor 9 Lite, with a glass back, glass front, and a metallic mid-frame. In fact, the fingerprint scanner is also placed on the backside of the smartphone.

The Huawei P20 Lite comes with 5.84 inch IPS LCD FHD+ 2280×1080 px resolution display. Under the hood, the device has a HiSilicon Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Huawei has introduced the notch on the Honor P20 Lite. In fact, this could be the cheapest smartphone to embrace the notch, which houses the main microphone, front-facing camera and an LED flash.

The device has a dual primary camera setup with a 16MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. In fact, this dual camera setup is similar to the one found on the Honor 7X. For the front-facing camera, the smartphone has a 16MP RGB sensor with support for facial recognition.

The device runs on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI 8.0 on the top. The device also packs in a non-user replaceable 3000 mAh battery with support for 9V2A fast charging via USB type C port. The smartphone also supports wireless payment using NFC chip built on to the smartphone.
- 5.84 inch FHD+ 19:9 display with a notch
- HiSilicon Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset
- 4GB RAM and 64GB Storage
- Dual 16MP+2MP camera setup
March 16, 2018
Apple iPhone SE 2 With An iPhone X Style Display Leaks In Video

After the launch of the iPhone X, there have been plenty of rumours about an iPhone X like iPhone SE 2. The original iPhone SE was launched back in 2016 and the company skipped an incremental update in 2017. However, many reports have claimed that Apple could launch the iPhone SE 2 at WWDC 2018. The reports have been conflicting, though, some claiming that the iPhone SE 2 will have hardware update and retain the design of the original iPhone SE. While some have claimed that it will have a design similar to the iPhone X.

You may also like: Apple iPhone SE 2: What To Expect?

A new video of a possibly fake iPhone SE 2 has surfaced online. The video showcases an iPhone X with a metal frame similar to the iPhone SE. While it might sound very interesting, it is highly unlikely that Apple would take this route. Especially considering that the iPhone SE 2 could be a much more affordable device than the iPhone X.

The size of the device in the video is also suspect. The iPhone SE was intended for people who wanted an iPhone with new hardware and the old small screen design. The leaked device has the same display as the iPhone X which potentially contradicts the reason behind the iPhone SE’s introduction.

Although it’s not the SE 2, the leaked video has given us a glimpse of what the iPhone X could look like with a metal frame instead of a steel one. It is possible that Apple will announce the iPhone SE 2 at WWDC 2018. Or, Apple could host a separate event for the iPhone SE 2. Apple is expected to launch a few upgrades for its MacBook lineup as well. Since WWDC usually focuses on software, its hardware products could be unveiled at an event after WWDC, or before it. However, there has been no confirmation from Apple so far.

March 16, 2018
Samsung Galaxy A6 And A6+ Specifications Leaked

Samsung might be getting ready to launch two more budget smartphones. This time, it is the Galaxy A6 and the A6+. In fact, these are the first set of Samsung smartphones to use the A6 nomenclature.

The devices were spotted under the model number SM-A600FN, and SM-A605G. The first model has an Exynos 7870 Octa-core chipset, whereas the second model is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset. The Qualcomm model is expected to launch in Europian markets and the Exynos model will be launched in Asian markets.

These devices are expected to have an 18:9 aspect ratio display, similar to the Samsung Galaxy A8+. However, the Geekbench listing doesn’t give a hint about the same.

Samsung Galaxy A6

The Samsung Galaxy A6 comes with a model number SM-A600FN, which is powered by Exynos 7870 Octa-core chipset. The device comes with 3GB RAM and runs on Android 8 Oreo OS. Coming to the benchmark scores, the device gets 723 points on the single core and 3605 points on the multi-core performance.

The Exynos 7870 chipset has been used in the earlier Galaxy J series smartphones. The chipset comes with Octa-core solution based on Cortex-A53 architecture.

Samsung Galaxy A6+

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ comes with a model number SM-A605G, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset. The device gets a boost in RAM, which comes with 4GB RAM and runs on latest Android 8 Oreo OS. In terms of benchmarking capabilities, the device scores marginally higher score on single core performance and go down in the multi-core performance. In fact, the phone scores 739 points on the single core and 3469 points on the multicore performance.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset is built on 14nm FinFET architecture with a base frequency of 2.0 GHz based on Cortex-A53.

Samsung Galaxy A8+

Conclusion

These devices follow the typical Samsung style of hardware. The Qualcomm variant will have the right model for the Europian markets. Similarly, the Exynos will have the right model for the Asian markets. Similarly, these devices are expected to go live in a month or two.

March 16, 2018
Here Is The First Glimpse Of The Upcoming HTC U12+

Guessing the design of a flagship smartphone is getting easy by the day. A glass unibody design, dual camera, 18:9 display are the some of the factors, that make up a flagship smartphone. Similarly, MWC 2018 has shown that a notch is also now a viable “feature”.

Here is the first glimpse of the upcoming HTC U12+, which is expected to replace the HTC U11+. However, we are yet to receive the information about the unaccounted HTC U12. In fact, the company might skip the HTC U12 entirely and directly launch the U12+, which is expected to go live in April or May.

The design of the HTC U12+ resembles most of the premium flagship smartphones of late 2017 and early 2018. The device has a glass front, glass back and a metal mid-frame, which is almost identical to the HTC U11+. However, after years of gap, the company is once again back to the dual camera business.

HTC U11

Expected specifications of HTC U12+

The HTC U12+ will have a 6 inch display with a 2880 x 1440 px resolution. This means that the company will continue launching 18:9 smartphones, like the HTC U11+.

Under the hood, it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The new flagship chipset is no longer Samsung-exclusive and is already present in smartphones from Asus and Sony as well. Coupled with this chipset will be up to 6GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. However, details about other variants have not been revealed. It will be IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, a staple for modern-day flagship phones.

Interestingly, the leak mentions HTC Face Unlock as well. Now, it is a known fact that Face Unlock is the new trend of the industry. However, it will be interesting to see how HTC implements this feature and how secure it’ll be. On the back of the smartphone will be a dual camera setup of a 12MP sensor coupled with a 16MP Sony IMX3xx sensor. No details about the nature of these sensors has been revealed so far.

The HTC U12 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with HTC Sense UI on top. Powering the device will be a 3420 mAh battery which will support QuickCharge 4.0. It will be interesting to see if the smartphone will support wireless charging.

March 16, 2018
Xiaomi Redmi 5A Now Available in Lake Blue Colour For Rs 5999

Xiaomi launched the Redmi 5A in India to celebrate the success of becoming the number one smartphone brand. In fact, the company offered the Redmi 5A for just Rs 4,999 for the first 5 million customers. However, the Redmi 5A is now available for the original price, that is Rs 5,999. This means that the company has sold 5 million units of the device.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is the cheapest smartphone from the company, with highly competitive specifications.To celebrate this success, the company has now launched the smartphone in Lake Blue colour, which debuted with the Redmi Note 4. The Xiaomi Redmi 5A with Lake Blue colour will go on sale from the 22nd of March at 12:00 PM. The 2/3GB RAM version will retail for Rs 5,999/6,999 respectively.

Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi 5A

The Redmi 5A has a 5 inch LCD display with a 1280 x 720 px resolution. The new smartphone is also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, quad-core CPU clocked at 1.4GHz, along with 2GB/3GB of RAM, 16GB/32GB of onboard storage which can be expanded up to 128GB via microSD card.

The dual-SIM Redmi 5A is powered by a 3000 mAh battery. The device will run Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box with Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 9 skin on top.

The Redmi 5A has a 13MP rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture, burst mode, panorama mode, HDR mode, and more. To the front is a 5MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The smartphone records 1920 x 1080 px videos.

March 15, 2018
Pokemon Go-Style The Walking Dead Game Is Coming To iOS And Android

The Walking Dead is a widely popular TV series, created by AMC network, which is currently in its 8th season. If you are a ‘The Walking Dead’ fan and have a thing for AR based games, then, here is a good news. The show makers are getting ready to launch The Walking Dead: Our World game for Android and iOS. Pokemon Go was one of the first few AR-based games that became hugely popular, and continue to be. Companies are Apple and Google have invested a lot of resources to develop and deploy AR based features to smartphones.

Next Games CEO Teemu Huuhtanen said:

With Google Maps, we can count on providing the most up-to-date location data, meaning that when new buildings or roads are built, we’ll have them in our game. This enables us to create an immersive experience, tied to the players’ location. Google Maps’ unrivaled amount of location data, covering world-famous landmarks, businesses and buildings, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye, Burj Khalifa and India Gate, makes exploring your surroundings a breathtaking experience.

The company has released a new teaser, which explains the gameplay. In fact, the gameplay is almost similar to the Pokemon Go. The Walking Dead uses location-based data and Google Maps to create virtual zombies and other articles in the gameplay. This is one of a kind game, which offers real-time FPS experience. Users have to get out of their comfort zone to spot the Zombies in the real world to kill them.

The game will be developed by Next games, which has developed the Walking Dead: No man’s land. In fact, the company is also known for the widely popular compass point west. The game offers a completely different user experience compared to the most of the first person shooter games. A demo of the game will be showcased at Game Developers Conference (GDC) expo area (booth 823) from March 21 to March 23, 2018.

Watch The Teaser

March 15, 2018
Huawei P20 Spotted on Geekbench

Huawei will launch its flagship P20 series of smartphones on the 27th of March in Frace. These Huawei P20 Pro, P20, and the P20 Lite will emphasis on AI and camera-centric features.

Leaks have already confirmed that the Huawei P20 Pro comes with a triple camera setup, which is not usually seen on most of the smartphones. Similarly, the P20 and the P20 Lite has a dual camera setup. However, unlike the P20 and the P20 Pro, the Lite variant misses out on Leica branding.

The Huawei P20 is now listed on Geekbench. The listing confirms that the smartphone is based on Kirin 970 Octa-core chipset. Similarly, the Huawei P20 Pro is also expected to be powered by the same processor with an additional amount of RAM.

The Huawei P20 is listed as HUAWEI EML-L29, which scores 1878 points on the single core and 6699 points on the multi-core performance. The listing also confirms that the device will have 4GB RAM and runs on Android 8.1 Oreo.

Huawei P20

Specifications of Huawei P20

The phone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage.

The smartphone is likely to house a dual lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well.

Specifications of Huawei P20 Pro

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px OLED display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. In fact, the smartphone is expected to support native face unlock algorithm similar to the iPhone X.

The device is also expected to offer a wide range of AI capabilities, which is expected to improve the smartphone photography.

The smartphone is likely to house a triple lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle + telephoto lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well.

March 15, 2018
Xiaomi Launches Mi Body Composition Scale In India At Rs. 1999

Since the turn of the year, Xiaomi has launched quite a few products in India. Up until February, the most famous Xiaomi products were its smartphones and power banks to an extent. In 2017, we met with Manu Kumar Jain, MD of Xiaomi India who conceded that Xiaomi had plans to bring non-smartphone products to the Indian shore. It looks like that has already started.

After launching three smart televisions in a space of one month, the company has now launched the Mi Body Composition Scale in India at a price of Rs. 1999. The device is available to buy exclusively via Mi.com. Fortunately, there are no flash sales for this product. However, its smart TV products will continue to be sold via flash sales which is understandable since their demand is much higher.

Mi Body Composition Scale Features

The smart weighing scale from Xiaomi is obviously more than just a weighing machine. It has a slip-resistant build which makes it safe to use with wet feet. It has a white LED which lights up three seconds after someone stands on the scale. Xiaomi claims that the scale provides accurate body composition statistics with 10 precise data points. It shows muscle mass, BMI, visceral fat, bone mass, body score, body fat, weight, basal metabolism, water content, and more.

For such detailed information, Xiaomi claims to use complex algorithms and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The Mi Body Composition Scale connects to the Mi-Fit app, which would make a lot of sense for people who also own a Mi-Fit band. Another interesting feature is that the Mi Body Composition Scale can store up to 16 user profiles.

The scale is powered by four AAA batteries that come out of the box. It has a weighing range between 5kg and 150kg with a reading precision of 50 grams.

March 15, 2018
Google Assistant Now Chats In Hindi
Google Assistant is one of the most used voice assistants in the world. The Google Assistant is available on Android smartphones running on Android 6 Marshmallow or newer versions. In fact, the company is also working to bring this feature to Android 5 Lollipop running devices.

It is also available for iOS, JioPhone, and Android Oreo Go edition smartphones as well. Google today announced that the Google Assistant will be now available in Hindi. Hindi is the first Indian language to support Google Assistant, which is the most commonly used language in India. Similarly, this will enable Google to onboard the next million users to use the Assistance, who cannot understand English.

The Google Assistant will get better over time. With your permission, it can learn your preferences, your likes and your dislikes. All these things happen in a private and secure way, without sharing your details. To access the Google Assistant in Hindi, set your device language to Hindi and update your Google Search app to the latest version.

Purvi Shah, Technical Program Manager, Assistant said:

The Google Assistant is truly Indian, it’s your helpful dost that speaks our language and understands the things you care about, from finding biryani recipes, to pulling up the latest cricket score, or finding directions to the nearest ATM. In order to make it even more useful to Indians over time, developers and businesses can now build Actions for the Hindi Assistant through the developer platform Actions on Google. Once an action is built, you can just say “Ok Google, talk to” and access the service or content straight through your Google Assistant.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask your Assistant
- Sabse kareeb Punjabi restaurant kahaan hain?
- Dadar tak pahunchne mein kitna samay lagega?
- Cricket ka score kya hain?
You can even instruct it
- Kal subah mujhe saat baje jagaao
- Selfie kheencho
- Daddy ko SMS bhejo “5 minutes mein pahunchenge”
March 15, 2018
Xiaomi Teases Mi MIX 2s Camera Capabilities

Xiaomi will launch the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s in China on the 27th of March. This will be the first flagship smartphone from the company in 2018. In fact, the company has already confirmed that it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with AI-powered dual camera setup.

The company has released a new teaser with clapping hands. The teaser suggests that the smartphone might feature fast autofocus. However, the company could also be talking about the slow-motion video recording, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9.

A new leak about the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s has already confirmed that the smartphone will have a 12MP IMX363 sensor 1/2.55” size, 1.4µm pixels. In fact, this is the same sensor that has been used on the Asus ZenFone 5z.

One thing that we are unsure about the device is the design. Initially, many renders showcased a completely bezel-less design with a corner notch, that houses front-facing camera. However, the recent renders are hinting towards a Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 like display with a bottom notch, that has a front-facing camera. The camera primary camera module is placed vertically on the back, which facsimile the camera design of the Apple iPhone X. In fact, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro also has a similar camera placement.

Expected specifications of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080p display with a notch at the top right corner. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, the smartphone will not support memory expansion.

Mi MIX 2s Leaked Specs

The device is expected to have a 4400 mAH Li-ion battery with fast charging. Wireless charging seems improbable if the leaked image turns out to be genuine. The phone will run on Android 8 Oreo OS with custom MIUI 9 skin on the top. However, none of the Xiaomi devices, barring the Mi A1, run on Android 8 Oreo as of now.

March 15, 2018
Moto G6, G6 Plus, G6 Play Could Soon Be Launched In India

We often see flagship features trickle down to mid-range devices. In 2017, we saw flagship smartphones with 18:9 aspect ratio display. Similarly, the latter part of 2017 saw devices like the Honor 7X with an 18:9 aspect ratio. 2018 will see more budget smartphones with an 18:9 aspect ratio and the Moto G6 series will be no different.

These smartphones are expected to feature a premium glass design similar to the Moto X4 and are expected to be launched soon. In fact, the entire Moto G6 lineup has been certified by NBTC and TKDN in Thailand and Indonesia.

The Moto G6 and the Moto E5 series is expected to be made official in Asian markets. Subsequently, India is one of the important markets for Moto and could be one of the first few markets to get the devices.

Moto G6 Specifications

The device is most likely to have a 5.7-inch 2160 x 1080p IPS LCD display. Under the hood, the smartphone, as mentioned in the listing, will be powered by the Snapdragon 450 chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

The Moto G6, in all probability, will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box. However, considering the recent behaviour of other OEMs, it won’t be surprising to see the Moto G6 running Android 7 Nougat. The device is expected to feature a 3000 mAh battery with Turbocharging capability.

The device will have a dual 12 MP + 5 MP primary cameras with an 8 MP front-facing camera.

Credits: @OnLeaks

Expected Moto G6 Play Specifications

The Moto G6 Play has a 5.7-inch IPS LCD 1440 x 720 px resolution, protected by 2.5D curved glass. Under the hood, the smartphone sports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM. The device scores 472 points on a single-core and 1801 points on multi-core on Geekbench.

The device might run on Android 8 Oreo out of the box. However, instead of stock Android, the Moto G6 Play comes with Lenovo’s custom ZUK skin. However, that is hard to believe since Motorola has had success with its close to stock Android OS devices. Finally, the smartphone packs in a massive 4000 mAh battery with no mention of fast charging what so ever.

March 15, 2018
Nokia 9 Renders With In-Display Fingerprint Sensor Reveals An iPhone X-Like Notch

At the recently concluded Mobile World Congress (MWC 2018), HMD Global unveiled as many as five devices. While the Nokia 7 Plus and 8 Sirocco look like great devices and the Banana Phone is a nice throwback, the event lacked a true flagship unveiling. That is because the Nokia 8 Sirocco still runs on the Snapdragon 835. However, MWC 2018 saw the launch of a few Snapdragon 845 powered devices.

Nokia Banana Phone

The Nokia 9 will be that flagship device could be announced by mid-2018. There were a lot of leaks and renders prior to MWC 2018 pertaining to the smartphone. However, none of that came to fruition. But, new concept renders of the Nokia 9 reveal a few exciting features. But, it also showcases something that seems to have a become a staple for Android smartphone makers.

Nokia 9 Design

The smartphone is expected to have an all-glass design. The renders reveal a nearly bezel-less design with extremely thin bezels on either side. However, like a lot of MWC 2018 unveilings, the Nokia 9 also has a notch on the display. If this turns out to be accurate, the Nokia 9 will hardly be the first or the last one to copy the iPhone X.

Apart from that, the Nokia 9 is also expected to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. While this sounds like an exciting proposition, we might be a few months away from seeing this technology being implemented regularly. Even though Vivo managed to embed a fingerprint sensor in a consumer-ready device, it retails for a much higher price than it is supposed to. Embedding a fingerprint sensor in a display is a costly technology, something that HMD Global could avoid in order to keep the Nokia 9’s price down.

The smartphone is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset and could have up to 8GB of RAM. While many expected HMD Global to announce a Penta-lens concept phone, the Nokia 9 could just have a dual-camera setup.

March 15, 2018
Google Assistant Powered LG ThinQ Smart Display Now Available For Pre-Order

Evern since Google launched the Pixel 2 and the iPhone X came with a Bionic chipset, the trend of AI has been on a rise. Companies like Apple, Amazon, and Samsung have their own voice assistants, while the others have incorporated Google Assistant. At the CES 2018, LG announced the ThinQ Smart Display with Google Assistant and ThinQ Smart Assistant speaker. Both smart home accessories are now available on B&H for pre-order in the USA.

Pricing and availability

The LG ThinQ Smart Display with Google Assistant is priced at US$ 296.99 and the ThinQ Smart Assistant speaker is priced at US$ 196.99. Both models are available for pre-order. However, the website has not mentioned the shipping date.

Features of LG ThinQ Smart Display

The device has an 8 inch touchscreen display powered by LG ThinQ Artificial Intelligence. The device offers a premium sound clarity using Meridian Audio’s advanced technologies. Similarly, the device also comes with Google Assistant and support for Chromecast. The smart speaker has a front-facing camera. LG also claims that the device offers an immersive smart speaker experience using a touchscreen display. In fact, the speaker setup can be completed without connecting to a smartphone. However, just like every other smart speaker, the ThinQ Smart Display with Google Assistant requires an active Wi-Fi connection.

Features of LG ThinQ Smart Speaker

The device is similar to the most of the smart speakers. It comes in a cylindrical shape powered by LG ThinQ Artificial Intelligence. Similarly, the speaker also supports Google Assistant and comes with a dedicated button on the top with volume and pause/play button. The smart speaker is certified to support Hi-Res Audio (192kHz/24bit) with built-in Google Assistant and Google Chromecast.

March 15, 2018