Most of the smartphone makers are getting ready to launch their devices at MWC 2018. However, Motorola has been silent about its upcoming devices. As per the latest report, the company might launch the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus, and Moto G6 Play with the code name Ashley, Blain, and Teller.
The Moto G6 Play was recently listed on GeekBench with the complete specifications. A smartphone tipster has finally revealed the actual render of the smartphone. From the first impression, the smartphone looks similar to that of the Moto X4 with an all-glass design. Thanks to 18:9 aspect ratio, the device looks slimmer and taller with narrow bezels.
Credits: Geekbench
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.
Early Moto G6 Play Render
The smartphone has a dual camera setup at the back, which looks exactly similar to the setup found on the Moto X4. Though the Moto G6 Play comes with a narrow bezel design, the phone still retains a front-facing fingerprint scanner below the Motorola badge.
Conclusion:
Motorola has consistently launched impressive devices in India. Hence, similar things will be expected of the Moto G6 Play, if and when it is launched. As of now, the market is filled with the smartphones with 18:9 display, bigger battery, and even faster processor. The company should launch the device at a smart price for it to succeed.
Samsung will be launching the Galaxy S9 and S9+ at MWC 2018. Both smartphones have been heavily leaked and there is barely anything left that can surprise us. However, this morning a unique kind of leak showcased the Galaxy S9 based on AR technology.
Samsung has released an app called “unpack” for the MWC attendees, which comes with a QR code for the entry to the general public, who like to watch the live streaming of the event. The QR code takes the attendees to an app, which comes packed with hints and teasers regarding the launch event.
An XDA Developers member has successfully decompiled the APK. The APK contained a 3D render of the Samsung Galaxy S9. Anyone can access the 3D model just by scanning the press event, but, the app was modified to see a 360 model of the phone in full glory.
The 3D model matches with the renders of the smartphone, but, no additional details have been obtained from these renders.
Credits: XDA Developers
Expected specifications:
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is expected to have a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED QHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, with narrow bezels. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by either Snapdragon 845 chipset or Exynos 9810. According to a leak, the device will be offered in two storage options, 4GB RAM/64GB storage and 4GB RAM/128GB storage.
The camera on the Galaxy S9 will have a noticeable upgrade. A leak reveals that the device would have a 12 MP camera with a variable aperture from F/1.5 to F/2.4. The mobile is expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with Experience UI on the top.
Like its predecessors, the Galaxy S9 will have an IP68 water and dust resistance certification. The smartphone is expected to include a killer feature called “smart scan”, which uses both iris scanner and facial recognition for more accurate authenticate system. However, this technology uses Samsung API, this feature won’t be utilised for banking.
Pricing:
The Galaxy S9 will cost KRW950,000 (US$ 883) in South Korea, the Samsung’s native market. For context, the Galaxy S8 was priced at KRW935,000 (US$ 875) at the time of launch.
Ever since the turn of the year, there have been plenty of rumours about the iPhone SE 2. While early rumours claimed that there will be a radical change in the design language of the ‘SE’ series, lately, the leaks have been a bit subdued. A few reports claimed that Apple won’t launch the iPhone SE 2, however, it will launch the iPhone X SE with an LCD panel.
A new report from China claims that Apple will take to stage at WWDC 2018 and launch the iPhone SE 2. The iPhone SE 2 won’t feature a new design and won’t look anything like the iPhone X. It will have a design similar to the iPhone SE with flat sides, top and bottom bezels and Touch ID.
iPhone SE
However, it will feature a larger 4.2 inch display which seems a bit off. The main purpose of the iPhone SE was to cater to the consumers that prefer small form factor along with flagship-like specifications. If Apple does include a 4.2 inch display, it is likely to reduce the size of the bezels to maintain the overall size of the phone. The screen resolution will remain the same as the iPhone SE. However, the report claims that Apple will concentrate on under the hood improvements.
The iPhone SE 2 will be powered by the A10 Fusion chipset. This is the same chipset that powered by the Apple iPad Pro as well. The smartphone is expected to have 2GB RAM and the base variant will now have 32GB of storage. This could change as well since Apple has bumped up the base storage for its new iPhones. We could see the iPhone SE 2 launch with a minimum 64GB onboard storage.
iPhone SE 2 Concept Via: Concept Creator
The sketchy bit about the report is its prediction of the launch date. Apple has not launched an iPhone at WWDC since the iPhone 4 in 2010. However, going by the past record, the iPhone SE 2 could be unveiled at a media event in March.
Conclusion
While the iPhone SE 2 and these leaked specifications seem close to the truth, it cannot be confirmed yet. The source doesn’t have a great track record hence, it raises some suspicion. While the iPhone SE 2 launch seems to be happening sooner rather than later, a launch at WWDC seems unlikely.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro in India starting at Rs. 13,999. The phone will go on sale via Flipkart and Mi.com from the 22nd of February. The company claims that this is the fastest Redmi Note ever, thanks to the presence of the Snapdragon 636 chipset. While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a great price, there are ways to buy it at an even more affordable price. Here’s how!
Offer
This offer is applicable for Jio Prime users
A user has to make a recharge of either Rs. 198 or Rs.299
These plans will credit double data + 100 percent cashback via Jio vouchers
The company will credit 44 cashback vouchers of value Rs. 50
These vouchers can be redeemed via recharging on My Jio app
One can also recharge for Rs. 9,999, that offers 4.5 TB data instead of 2.5 TB data for 360 days instead of 750 GB
The offer is applicable up to 3 consecutive recharges on a single number
The plans are applicable on all variants of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.99-inch display with a pixel resolution of 2160 x 1080p. Under the hood, the smartphone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset and an Adreno 309 GPU. The device will be available in either 4GB RAM and 64GB storage or 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.
The fingerprint scanner is placed on the back of the phone and it has an aluminium unibody build. The smartphone runs on Android 7 Nougat with custom MIUI 9 skin on the top. The infamous face unlock feature is not available out of the box. However, a software update in March is expected to include the feature.
To the back of the smartphone is a vertically place dual-camera setup. It is a 12MP colour sensor f/2.2 and 5MP f/2.0 colour sensor setup. The smartphone clicks portrait mode photos from the front and rear cameras. The phone has a 20 MP IMX376 front-facing camera, with Beautify 4.0 software to enhance portrait mode photos. Finally, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro offers a massive 4000 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick charge 2.0 capability.
Conclusion:
The Redmi Note 5 Pro, at this price, is a great device. In our recent camera comparison with the Honor 7X and Mi A1, it came out on top with a better overall score. With the Jio offer, the Redmi Note 5 Pro becomes an even better proposition and could sway a lot of people away from the Redmi Note 5.
Sony is expected to launch two smartphones at MWC 2018 that commences on February 26th. While it was speculated that the company would skip MWC to avoid clashing with the Galaxy S9 launch, recent rumours have suggested otherwise. The Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact will be unveiled at the upcoming event and their pricing has been leaked.
Pricing
The Sony Xperia XZ2 (earlier known as XZ2 Pro) will carry a price tag of US$ 987 (Rs. 64000 approx.). The smaller of the two will be the XZ2 Compact which will have the same specifications as the XZ2. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact will be priced at US$ 740 (Rs. 48000). Both the devices will go on sale on the 6th of March in Europe, possibly.
Xperia XZ2 Compact
However, there are no dates confirmed for the device’s launch date in India.
Sony Xperia Xz2 Pro:
The Xz2 Pro is expected to have a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display with dual front-facing stereo speakers. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Oct-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, this could be untrue and the company could launch the XZ2 Pro with a Snapdragon 835 chipset. Although not public, there is a possibility of Samsung having early access to Snapdragon 845 chipsets.
Hence, the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 7 has also been pushed to later. Since the company confirmed that the Mi 7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
Xperia XZ2 Pro Renders
This might be the first Sony smartphone to feature dual camera at the back with a 16 MP + 13 MP camera setup. There will be a 12 MP front-facing camera at the front.
Sony Xperia Xz2 Compact:
The Xz2 Compact might have a 5 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Just like the Xperia XZ2 Pro, it could either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or 835 chipset. The Xperia Xz2 Compact might feature thin bezels along with an 18:9 aspect ratio display.
The Xz2 Compact is expected to run on Android 8.1 Oreo with Sony’s Xperia Interface. As of now, there are no other details about the Xperia Xz2 Compact.
Conclusion:
While the price of the Sony smartphones might seem a bit higher, the industry trend could be the reason. However, Sony has priced its flagship devices competitively in India and expect the same this time around as well.
A lot of smartphone makers are working on gaming-centric smartphones. A few months ago, he Razer Phone was launched, and there are rumours of Asus working on one as well. The latest entrant into the gaming-centric smartphones segment appears to Xiaomi. As per a leak, the company might launch a gaming-centric smartphone called BlackShark.
Xiaomi is known for budget and affordable flagship smartphones. However, it will be interesting to see if the company will retain the pricing strategy for this device as well.
The teaser image from the website doesn’t say much, but, it indicates the dual stereo speakers at the bottom with a USB type C port. In fact, the design of the phone does not look anything similar to any of the Xiaomi smartphones. The company might have gone for a complete redesign of its new device.
Razer Phone
The features of Xiaomi BlackShark are expected to match with the features of the Razer Phone, which offered top of the line specifications with gaming-centric features like the dual stereo speaker, 120Hz refresh rate, and the Snapdragon 835.
Specifications of Xiaomi BlackShark:
The Xiaomi BlackShark is expected to have a 6 inch display with 2160 x 1080p resolution. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8 GB RAM and 32 GB storage. However, the company is expected to Xiaomi BlackShark with either 64GB or 128GB storage.
The BlackShark might offer a full metal unibody design with dual stereo speakers at the bottom. Out of the box, the smartphone will run on Android 8.0 Oreo. However, it might feature either MIUI or stock Android. As this is a gaming smartphone, it comes with one of a kind aviation class cooling system with additional tweaks. The smartphone scores an impressive 270680 points on Antutu, in fact, it is more than that of the Galaxy S9’s 265267 points.
Mi Mix 2
Conclusion:
Going by the company’s pricing strategy, the Xiaomi BlackShark should be priced competitively. However, the company might not launch this smartphone at MWC 2018, instead, it might have a separate launch event in China sometime later in 2018. Therefore, if true, the Mi BlackShark will surely give the Razer Phone and Razer Phone 2 a run for its money.
Sony is expected to launch a couple of smartphones at MWC 2018. The launch is significant in more than one way. Apart from the flagship devices on display, the company will also finally move on to an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, the company is in no rush to give anything away before the launch event. Hence, Sony’s social media team decided to post a cryptic video on Twitter to announce the launch event.
The video shows a hand with Sony’s iconic wallpaper in front of a grey background. It doesn’t seem necessary to delve too deep into the video. However, the decision to put up a cryptic video is very interesting. There is a lot of speculation around the Sony devices launching at MWC 2018. Hence, the company’s admission to a launch event that too with a minimalistic video appears to be a smart choice. It has certainly made people talk about the Sony devices again.
The smartphone maker is known to launch new smartphones at MWC every year. This year, the company might launch the Xperia Xz2 Pro and the Xperia Xz2 Compact. These devices are expected to offer newer design language called as “Plate + Human”.
The Sony Xperia Xz2 Pro is expected to have a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display with dual front-facing stereo speakers. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Oct-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, this could be untrue and the company could launch the XZ2 Pro with a Snapdragon 835 chipset. Although not public, there is a possibility of Samsung having early access to Snapdragon 845 chipsets.
Hence, the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 7 has also been pushed to later. Since the company confirmed that the Mi 7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
This might be the first Sony smartphone to feature dual camera at the back with a 16 MP + 13 MP camera setup. There will be a 12 MP front-facing camera at the front.
Sony Xperia Xz2 Compact:
The Xperia Xz2 Compact might have a 5 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Just like the Xperia XZ2 Pro, it could either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or 835 chipset. The Xperia Xz2 Compact might feature thin bezels along with an 18:9 aspect ratio display.
The Xperia Xz2 Compact is expected to run on Android 8.1 Oreo with Sony’s Xperia Interface. As of now, there are no other details about the Xperia Xz2 Compact.
Conclusion:
Sony has been known for its premium smartphone. The smartphones are known to have a plenty of features like flagship grade display, premium camera, and even IP certification for water and dust resistance.
With the new Xperia Xz2 series, finally, the company might refresh its blocky slab design with an interesting curvier design.
On the 26th of February in Barcelona, Spain, MWC 2018 will kick off. Companies from around the globe are expected to announce and showcase all kinds of smartphones. One of the most anticipated launches is that of Samsung devices. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be launched a day before MWC 2018 commences. However, companies like LG are expected to not host a marquee event. This is mainly because of the presence of the Galaxy S9 devices and the media frenzy that surrounds them.
Xiaomi is also expected to make an important announcement pertaining to the Mi Mix 2S. HTC, which appeared to give MWC 2018 a miss, might launch a couple of important smartphones as well. However, the most exciting lineup, after Samsung, appears to be of Nokia. HMD Global is expected to launch at least three devices at MWC 2018.
So, here is a list of the top smartphones launching at MWC 2018!
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be the marquee launches at MWC 2018. As always, Samsung’s flagship devices are always hyped and same has happened in 2018 as well. There have been numerous leaks of the two devices over the past two weeks. However, Samsung might have a couple of surprises planned even though we know almost everything about the devices.
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are expected to retain the display sizes of their predecessors. The design of the Galaxy S8 devices was highly appreciated and it looks like the company won’t tinker with it too much. The bezels will be slightly smaller but, nothing too major.
Under the hood, the smartphones will either run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset or Exynos 9810. The storage variants of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have leaked a while ago and a recent image corroborated that. Fortunately, Samsung has worked on the fingerprint sensor and this time around, it will be placed in a more ergonomic position.
The Galaxy S9 will have a single camera while the S9+ will have a dual-camera setup. This is different from the previous generation where the only differences between the regular and ‘Plus’ devices were battery and display sizes. This time around, Samsung will pack extra features in the S9+ to justify the steeper price tag.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Unlike the Galaxy S9 and S9+, this launch isn’t that obvious, yet. There are a few days to go for MWC 2018 which means Xiaomi has time to confirm a launch event. Up until a few weeks ago, the Mi Mix 2S looked like a result of someone’s wild imagination. That weird notch on the top right corner did not seem real and there were rumours of the Mi 7 flying around.
However, the Mi Mix 2S rumours have picked up since then and it looks more likely to be launched. There are reports that the company will launch the Mi 7 later. The Mi Mix 2S will have thinner bezels and the Mi Mix 2 along with a notch on the top right corner. That small notch will house the front camera.
Xiaomi has already used radical methods to tackle with the front camera. It placed the front camera on the bottom bezel in the Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2. Under the hood, it is expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Mi Mix 2S will also have a dual-camera setup on the back. Also, it might feature Clear ID technology as well. Although, that seems highly unlikely right now.
Nokia 7 Plus
Nokia 7 Plus Renders Courtesy: @evleaks
A continuation of the Nokia 7, the Nokia 7 Plus might be the international variant of its predecessor. The Nokia 7 did really well in China and HMD Global might launch the Nokia 7 Plus internationally. It is expected to have a new design with an 19:9 aspect ratio and thin bezels. The Nokia 7 Plus, according to the renders, appears to have a stunning design and will impress a lot of people.
The fingerprint sensor along with the dual Zeiss branded cameras are located on the back, with a hint of an orange accent around the camera ring. According to the renders, it could sport an all-glass design, similar to the Moto X4 and Nokia 7.
It is worth noting that the Nokia 7 Plus will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC, coupled with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. The “Android One” branding on the back of the phone guarantees that the device will launch with Android 8 Oreo out of the box. Hence, you can expect regular software updates for the next two years.
Renders suggest that the company has decided to retain 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB type C port charging and data syncing. At least on paper, the Nokia 7 Plus looks like a well-balanced smartphone, with a smart set of specifications.
There is still a lot of confusion regarding the name of this device. But, what is for certain is that Huawei will launch a new smartphone at MWC 2018.The Huawei P11/P20 Lite was recently leaked in 3D renders which revealed a very interesting design. The Huawei P11 Lite, along with the P11 and P11 Plus, is expected to have an iPhone X-like notch.
Not just that, even the dual camera setup on the back is placed vertically, resembling the iPhone X. The Huawei P11 Lite is expected to be launched globally.
With bezels getting thinner, the standard size of a smartphone has increased from 5.5 inches to 6 inches. The Huawei P11 Lite is expected to have a 6 inch display with a 2880 x 1440 px resolution. Just like the Mate 10, Huawei could use an OLED panel as well. As seen in the renders, the corners are curved which means an OLED panel is expected on the Huawei P11 Lite as well.
Under the hood, it will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The dual-camera setup might be similar to previous Huawei phones with an RGB+Monochrome combination.
Conclusion
MWC 2018 will play host to a lot of great smartphones. iGyaan will keep you posted on all the exciting launches! What are you most excited about?
FCC listing reveals a new Nokia smartphone with model number TA-1071. As per the details, the listed device is likely to be the upcoming Nokia 1, which was leaked last week along with the Nokia 7 Plus. With MWC 2018 around the corner, the certification might just have confirmed the launch of the Nokia 1.
The Nokia 1 could be the most affordable Android smartphone to date from HMD Global. Considering the price of the Nokia 2, it could be priced at under US$ 100. As per the listing, the Nokia 1 has an overall size of 5.35-inch body, which might house a 5.0-inch or a smaller display. The smartphone will have prominent bezels with a 16:9 aspect ratio screen.
The Nokia 7 Plus is also expected to be launched at MWC 2018. It will, however, be a more premium offering than the Nokia 1. The Nokia 7 Plus is expected to offer a 6-inch display with the bezel-less design. It is likely to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC with at least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. In terms of camera capability, the smartphone might have a dual camera setup on the back with Zeiss optics.
Nokia 7 Plus Renders Courtesy @evleaks
Features:
The Nokia 1 will be powered by an entry-level Qualcomm SoC with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. Similarly, the smartphone is expected feature single cameras on both the sides of the device.
The device is expected to feature dual SIM card slots with 4G LTE and Volte support. Additional connectivity features like Bluetooth 4.0, Wifi, Wifi Hotspot are also supported out of the box. The smartphone will run on customised Android Oreo Go OS, based on Android Oreo 8.1 for the entry-level smartphones.
Conclusion:
HMD Global has already confirmed its presence at MWC 2018. However, there are no official words about any products. If everything goes well, then HMD Global might launch Nokia 1, Nokia 4, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 9, and Nokia 10.
HTC is expected to launch its 2018 flagship, the HTC U12 at MWC 2018. Along with the flagship smartphone, there have been rumours of an entry-level device as well. HTC might launch the HTC Desire 12 at MWC 2018 with an 18:9 aspect ratio and entry-level specifications. However, a new image of the retail box has revealed the key specifications of the HTC Desire 12. This also seemingly confirms that the device is real and will be launched at MWC 2018.
HTC Desire 12 Specifications
According to the leaked image of the box, the HTC Desire 12 will have a 5.5 inch display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. The industry has certainly moved on from the 16:9 aspect ratio and it won’t be long before even entry-level devices start launching with this aspect ratio.
Under the hood, the smartphone will have a MediaTek chipset with a quad-core chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The storage will be expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card. Powering the device will be a 2730 mAh battery. The box doesn’t reveal the version of Android it will run out of the box. However, it is possible that the HTC Desire 12 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box.
The Desire 12 will have a 12MP camera on the back. It will record 1080P videos at 30fps. On the front will be a 5MP BSI sensor which will, in all probability, record 720P videos.
However, these are still leaks and nothing can be absolutely certain right now. Hence, until HTC launches the Desire 12 at MWC 2018, these are all speculations.
Conclusion
It is yet to be seen whether the HTC Desire 12 will be launched in India. The Indian smartphone market extremely price sensitive where companies like Xiaomi has shone. If HTC does launch the Desire 12 in India with a MediaTek chipset, it will have to be priced very competitively. However, the HTC Desire 12 might bring something else to the table with its 18:9 aspect ratio. Therefore, the price will be really important for it to succeed in the India market, at least.
HMD Global will be announcing quite a few smartphones at MWC 2018. While there have been doubts over the presence of Nokia 9 at the event, recent leaks might differ. New case renders of the Nokia 9 reveal an 18:9 aspect ratio and curved edges. If true, the Nokia 9 could be one of the best looking Nokia devices from the recent past.
Early Nokia 9 Renders
The Nokia 9 will be the successor of Nokia 8, which was the company’s first Android flagship smartphone. At present, the Nokia 8 is available in India at a price of Rs. 28999 after a heavy price cut.
Nokia 9 specifications:
As per the recent FCC filings, the smartphone is expected to feature 5.5-inch OLED display, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC with 128GB storage.
The listing also reveals that, the phone packs in a dual 13 MP + 12 MP camera setup at the back with a 5 MP front-facing camera.
Since FCC listing doesn’t always deliver accurate specifications, the Nokia 9 might debut with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 since the Nokia 8 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.
Via: Gearbest
Nokia 9 design:
As per the renders, the Nokia 9 features a taller 18:9 aspect ratio display curved on both sides. The smartphone might use a premium OLED display sourced from Samsung with QHD+ resolution. On the rear, the phone once again has a glass panel, which might support wireless charging.
The dual cameras do have a noticeable bump, which might be due to OIS implementation. The fingerprint scanner is located just below the camera, as the front has very narrow bezels. The curve on the front as well as on the back looks similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S8, which offers incredible in-hand feel.
The bottom portion houses a USB type C port, main microphone and a speaker. The render doesn’t show 3.5 mm headphone jack, which means the device might not have one as well. The volume and power buttons are located at the right side of the smartphone.
The smartphone was expected to feature a dual front-facing camera. However, none of the renders confirms or corroborate that information.
A Dutch-based designer has come up with a concept render for the Apple AR Glasses. The concept images are very realistic, which showcases the aesthetics and the function of the glass. Unlike the Google Glass, Apple AR Glasses looks like regular sunglasses with Apple logo on both sides of the frame.
Google was the first company to release a pair smart glasses. However, owing to its unusual appearance and intrusive features, it failed to take off. Intel recently came up with a concept called Vaunt, which uses retinal projection technology to project an image directly on your eyeball. One of the main features of the Vaunt is how simple they look. Unlike the Google Glass, it will be hard to notice these smart glasses in a crowd. Also, they aren’t as intrusive either, since there are no cameras to secretly record footage.
Intel’s new smart Vaunt Glasses. Image courtesy: Verge
Even Snapchat came with Spectacles, which comes with a dedicated camera to record videos. The Snapchat Spectacles also have a glowing LED ring, which notifies that the user is recording a video.
If Apple does launch the Apple AR Glasses, it has to be minimalistic. The glasses cannot have an in your face design, like the Google Glass. The renders reveal that the Apple AR Glasses will look close to regular spectacles. If the design is anywhere near the final product, the Apple AR Glasses could be a success.
Features of Apple AR Glasses:
According to Martin, the Apple AR Glasses uses a micro-projected to project the images on the lens. So, the Apple AR Glasses user will be able to see real-world information and the smart information from glass simultaneously.
These glasses will be based on Augmented reality, rather than the virtual reality. With the help of smart glasses, the user will be able to check phones battery percentage, network reception and notifications with a blink of an eye. Like Apple Watch, the Apple AR Glasseses are expected to support wireless charging using Qi-wireless compatibility.
The glass frame is expected to feature sensors like camera, GPS, and light sensor. There will be complete Siri integration with all the functionality. The Glasses are also expected to feature dual speakers, which can transfer the sound to the user directly.
These Glasses will be powered by Apple’s rOS, which will be based on iOS, with a battery efficient chipset. The rOS stands for reality operating system, focused on AR capabilities.
GBH Insights analyst said:
While this has been a late entrant from an AR/VR perspective, we believe Apple AR Glasses will be the next step in the wearable category for Apple.
Conclusion:
So far, there have only been rumours about this. Some reports claim that the Apple AR Glasses might start shipping as early as 2020.
Sony will be launching a couple of new devices at MWC 2018. The Xperia XZ2 is expected to be the first Sony smartphone with an 18:9 aspect ratio. ALong with the Galaxy S9 devices and Mi Mix 2S, it will also run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, it’s smaller sibling, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is expected to maintain the 16:9 aspect ratio. Recently, a prototype of the Xperia XZ2 Compact showed up online with an interesting design.
Someone named Grisha left a comment on an Xperia Blog with the image of the upcoming device. In the image, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is placed next to the Xperia X5 Compact. Although the image is taken from a side angle, it reveals that even the Xperia XZ2 Compact will have a new design, despite the 16:9 aspect ratio.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact featured a 4.6-inch IPS LCD display. Under the hood, the smartphone was powered by Snapdragon 810 SoC with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage.
It offered a 23 MP main camera and a 5.1 MP front-facing camera with a dedicated shutter button. In fact, it was the most powerful compact smartphone in the market at the time of launch. As a result, the smartphone was highly appreciated for its one hand usability.
Alleged features of Xperia XZ2 Compact:
The Xperia XZ2 comes with a radically redesigned body. Most of the Sony flagship smartphones offered a blocky slab design, while the XZ2 Compact will offer a curved design. Interestingly, the company might also ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Although these are still rumours, the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact might follow the industry trend of getting rid of the headphone jack.
The leaked design of the XZ2 Compact resembles the “Plate + Human” concept from 2015.
As per the renders, the smartphone has a metallic frame with a soft material like the finish on the back with a pillow effect. The design is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 930 with a metallic frame and a soft shell.
Similar to the Sony Xperia XA2 series, the XZ2 Compact is speculated to house a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. However, this is still a prototype, which means the final design might vary. As quoted by the commenter, the final product will be different from what we see in the image.
Samsung will launch the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and S9 on the 25th of February. Both the smartphones have been heavily leaked and there is barely anything left that Samsung can surprise us with. We know that devices will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset in the US and South Korean markets. However, in the other markets, the devices will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset.
A new benchmark listing reveals that the Galaxy S9+ could be the fastest Android devices yet. The Galaxy S9 showed up on GeekBench and had a good result, with a single-core score of 3648 and a multi-core score of 8,894. However, the Galaxy S9+ just took it a notch higher. The listing has revealed an incredible score of 3773 and 9024, respectively.
For context, the image below shows the most recent GeekBench scores. The Galaxy Note8 and the Galaxy S8+ have very good single-core results of 1960 and 1953, respectively. However, the Galaxy S9+ almost doubled that with 3773 in the single-core test. In the multi-core test, the device the Galaxy Note8 and S8+ score6474 and 6427, respectively, Again, the Galaxy S9+ blows that out of the park with a score of 8894.
Samsung Galaxy S9+ Expectations
The device will be launched along with its smaller sibling. While back in 2017, there was a difference of screen and battery size between the two phones, the case won’t be the same this time around. Samsung will be adding a few extra features in the Galaxy S9+ to justify the higher price tag.
The Galaxy S9+ will have the same 6.2 inch Super AMOLED display with slightly thinner bezels than its predecessor. The aspect ratio will remain the same at 18.5:9.
Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or the Exynos 9810 chipset. This will depend on the country you buy the device from. It will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with Experience 9.0 UI on top.
Apple has rolled out a new software update for iOS devices. The new iOS 11.2.6 update fixes the Telugu character bug, that we reported a few days before. The software update patches the vulnerability of iOS devices, which crashed upon using a specific character combination. The update comes with a size of 163.2 MB and the users have to connect their devices to a Wifi network to download and install the update.
The new software update also patches connection of third-party apps with the external accessories. This is a critical software update and all the iOS users are prompted to install the latest patch as soon as possible to prevent crashing of certain apps.
The company is also expected to roll out iOS 11.3 soon, which brings in new animoji and support for AR. The iOS 11.3 will also enable users to toggle the performance of the device on older iPhones. With this update, the user can switch between performance or balanced mode depending on one’s requirement. This will also enable a transparent layer to check the health of the battery on iPhones.
How to install iOS 11.2.6?
Plug your device into power socket
Connect to a wireless Wifi network
Go to setting > General > Software update
Tap download and install
If it prompts for password, then enter your password
Do not turn off your device at the time of installation at any cost
After successful software installing, the device will reboot itself
Vila, you have updated your iPhone or iPad to the latest available software
