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MWC 2019: Samsung Galaxy A30 & Galaxy A50 with large battery & notched display unveiled!

Pratima Adhikari

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February 26, 2019

MWC 2019: Samsung Galaxy A30 & Galaxy A50 with large battery & notched display unveiled!

Samsung has added two new mid-range smartphones two its arsenal as the company unveiled the Samsung Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50. These smartphones are the new members of the famous A-series and they will directly compete against the likes of Xiaomi in countries like Nepal and India.

Samsung Galaxy A30 Overview

The Samsung Galaxy A30 is the cheaper of the two devices featuring a dual camera setup on the back. There is a 16-megapixel primary lens with f/1.7 aperture and a secondary wide-angle lens measuring 5-megapixel. In the selfie front, the phone comes with a 16-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A30 is powered by the Exynos 7885 chipset which is based on a 14 nm architecture. This processor will be coupled with 3 GB and 4 GB of RAM and Mali-G71 GPU. For storage, the Galaxy A30 has 32 GB and 64 GB variants. The device will run on Android v9.0 Pie out of the box.

The Samsung Galaxy A30 has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with full HD+ resolution. Samsung calls this display Infinity-U as it has a U-shaped notch. The phone is cloaked by a “3D Glasstic” design on the back which is apparently the blend of glass and plastic. There is a large 4,000 mAh battery on the inside with support for fast charging. The Samsung Galaxy A30 houses a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner on the back.

Also read: Samsung mobiles price in Nepal

Samsung Galaxy A30 Specifications

Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display, Full HD+ resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Processor: Octa-core Exynos 7885 (14 nm)
GPU: Mali-G71
RAM: 3 GB / 4 GB
ROM: 32 GB / 64 GB with support for external memory
Rear Camera: 16 MP primary with f/1.7 aperture + 5 MP wide-angle with f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera: 16 MP with f/2.0 aperture
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), proximity, accelerometer, compass
Battery: 4,000 mAh with fast charging

Samsung Galaxy A50 Overview

The Samsung Galaxy A50 sports a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display with full HD+ resolution. This device also has shared the same 3D Glasstic design with the Galaxy A30. It has the octa-core Exynos 9610 processor. The phone offers two storage variants – 128 GB that has 6 GB RAM and 64 GB which has 4 GB RAM.

For optics, Samsung has added triple cameras on the back of the Galaxy A50. There is a 25-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. Up front lies a 25-megapixel selfie shooter with f/2.0 aperture. The major USPs of the Galaxy A50 is the under-display fingerprint scanner and the 4,000 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy A50 Specifications

Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display, Full HD+ resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Processor: Octa-core Exynos 9610 (10 nm)
GPU: Mali-G72
RAM: 4 GB / 6 GB
ROM: 64 GB / 128 GB with support for external memory
Rear Camera: 25 MP primary with f/1.7 aperture + 8 MP wide-angle with f/2.2 aperture + 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera: 25 MP with f/2.0 aperture
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), gyro, proximity, accelerometer, compass
Battery: 4,000 mAh with fast charging

Samsung Galaxy A30 and A50 Pricing and Availability

Samsung is yet to disclose the price of the Galaxy A30 and A50. The company has sent out invites to press events in India for February 28. The devices pricing and availability will certainly be disclosed in the event.

For More MWC 2019 coverage, Click here.

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MWC 2019: Huawei MateBook X Pro launched alongside the affordable MateBook 14

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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MWC 2019: Huawei MateBook X Pro launched alongside the affordable MateBook 14

So, MateBook X Pro (New), the 2019 version isn’t that different from what Huawei came out with last year. I mean, the older model wasn’t actually bad, to begin with. Maybe Huawei didn’t feel the need for any major changes, at least for this year. They also launched the MateBook 14, which is more of a value for money proposition.

MateBook X Pro (2019)

Visually, the laptop is basically the same, except for the words “Huawei” replacing the logo on the lid. The display shares the same story, a 13.9-inch 3000x2000px touch panel that covers 100% of the sRGB color spectrum with a maximum brightness of 450 nits. The display is almost fully bezel-less, as the webcam’s placement remains unchanged.

Also Read: Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G is an incredibly cheap 5G smartphone

The CPU has been updated to Whiskey lake chips which now includes the i5-8265U or the i7-8565U. The GPU also gets a minor upgrade, flaunting the newer MX250, which itself was announced just a week ago. Thunderbolt 3 support is included, so external GPUs are usable if you are into that stuff. RAM sizes include either 8GB or 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz while the storage selection starts at 256GB and ends at 1TB.

The laptop weighs just 2.93 pounds, is 14.6mm thick, has a 57.4Wh battery, and is available in two colors; Space Grey and Mystic Silver. So, all that’s left is the pricing, and that comes in at €1599 for the i5 version with 8GB RAM, 512GB storage and MX250 GPU. The second option is to opt for the i7 with 16GB of RAM, 1TB storage and the MX250 for €1999.

MateBook 14

We already saw the MateBook 13 back in CES. Adding to the lineup is the MateBook 14, with a 2160x1440px 14″ touch display and a similar CPU, GPU & RAM setup as the MateBook X Pro. It also gets a 57.4Wh battery with a claimed 10.5 hours of web browsing and 15 hours of video playback.

MateBook 14 does compromise a little on the build and design side, where the MateBook X Pro spares no expense. This is also one of the reasons why MateBook 14 is a bit cheaper at €1199 for the i5 with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The i7 version with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage will cost you €1499. Both come with MX250 GPU as standard.

For More MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

MWC 2019: TCL’s take at foldable smartphones – Is this the manufacturer we all need?

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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MWC 2019: TCL’s take at foldable smartphones – Is this the manufacturer we all need?

TCL, the China-based electronics company has been working on foldable smartphones, according to CNET. At the event, the company showcased a concept device, along with a bunch of other dummy designs. The phone on display featured a 7.2-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with four rear cameras. All phones (including the dummies) were behind glass, and they didn’t allow anyone to actually play around with it.

On the contrary, they did reveal a few interesting details about their flexible devices, a more noticeable subject was their DragonHinge technology. TCL specifically said, “not in a race to be the first” in context to the foldable smartphones. This means we won’t be seeing a retail unit from the company anytime soon. They want to get it right, take time to deal with the challenges of foldable smartphones.

An affordable foldable smartphone?

The company along with its partners also wants to make sure the software and hardware go hand in hand for a better meaningful end-user experience. On top of all this, the company also wants its foldable smartphone to fall under the “affordable price point” category. Following the statement, the company added, the cost of manufacturing a foldable smartphone doesn’t nearly cost $2000.

The price tag comes in co-relation to Samsung’s newest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold which also costs $2000. I wonder what their thoughts are on the Huawei Mate X. Pricing aside if you are still wondering what TCL exactly is, they are an electronics company that manufactures everything from Televisions to Air Conditioners. As for their smartphone business, they are responsible for Alcatel and Blackberry.

When and How?

TCL has also confirmed their iteration of a foldable smartphone will make its way to retail stores sometime around 2020. There are a few ways they are going to make this possible. The first part is the production of flexible displays, which will be done by CSOT, a TCL sister company. Now they don’t have to rely on Samsungs and LGs for display panels while keeping the costs down.

The second part is the folding hinge, and this is where the DragonHinge technology comes to play. It’s basically a patient name created for its flexible displays, so there isn’t much here. And finally the software, which the company says is working on a solution, making it more intuitive. Yet, it remains to be seen what TCL comes up with next year, and if their first foldable smartphone lies in an “affordable price point”.

For More MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

MWC 2019: Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G is an incredibly cheap 5G smartphone

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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MWC 2019: Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G is an incredibly cheap 5G smartphone

Xiaomi launches a wide variety of smartphones and the launch of Xiaomi smartphone gets less exciting at times. But this one is different. Xiaomi, this time, launch a 5G smartphone. And this newly launched Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G is the first device in Xiaomi’s lineup to support 5G connectivity. And when the pricing is considered, the MI Mix 3 5G is probably the cheapest phone to feature 5G support.

Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G Overview

In terms of design, the MI Mix 3 5G comes with a design similar to the MI Mix 3, which only launched last October. The phone features a slider design to object the concept of the notch and to increase the screen-to-body ratio of the device. The slider mechanism is basically to house selfie camera. And in the case of MI Mix 3 5G, there are two selfie shooters. The primary one has got a 24MP sensor and the second one is 2MP depth sensor to facilitate in capturing portrait selfies.

Talking about the rear camera, the phone has embraced a combination of standard wide-angle camera and a telephoto one. And each one of them is enriched with a 12MP sensor. Powering the device is a Snapdragon 855 chipset accompanied by Snapdragon X50 modem to unlock the 5G potential. On the memory side, the phone is equipped with 6GB of RAM and 64GB and 128GB option on the storage front.

As far as display is concerned, the phone features a 6.39-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED panel just like on the regular MI Mix 3. However, the battery has been enhanced here. The newbie comes with a 3,800mAh with fast charging and wireless charging support.

Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G specifications:

Display: 6.4-inches AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 5 protection; 93.4% screen to body ratio
Resolution: Full-HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels); 19.5:9 aspect ratio @ 403 PPI
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
GPU: Adreno 630
RAM: 6 GB
Storage: 64/128 GB; No SD card slot for memory expansion
Rear Camera: (12 MP wide-angle camera with f/1.8, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS) + (12 MP telephoto camera, 1/3.4″, 1.0µm), LED-flash
Front Camera: (24 MP, 1/2.8″, 0.9µm) + (2 MP, depth sensor), Mechanical pop-up selfie camera
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3,800 mAh battery; Supports Quick Charge 4+ (18W) and 10-watt wireless charging

Xiaomi MI Mix 3 5G Price & Availability

Although the MI Mix 3 5G comes with similar design and hardware of the last year’s MI Mix 3, the presence of the Snapdragon 855 and the 5G connectivity option plays a big role. So this device has also faced a slight surge in price compared to the last year’s model. The last year’s MI Mix 3 was available at €500 but the newbie demands €599 on the purchase.

Talking about the availability, the Director of product management of Xiaomi Donovan Sung announced the device will be available on Mi.com starting from May. It will also available for purchase at selected MI Stores and key retailers. The company has also collaborated with the telecoms like Three, Orange, Sunrise, Telefonica, TIM, Vodafone for the 5G and hopes to expand it with even more carriers really soon.

For More MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

MWC 2019: Sony is standing tall…

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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The MWC 2019 is going on in Full Swing. And there are so many companies trying to bring new stuff to the platform. Nokia brought 5 cameras at the back with it’s Nokia 9 PureView! As for Sony…they’re trying to stand tall in the crowd! How so? How about a large 6.5″ screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio? They revealed four Sony Xperia phones in the MWC. Here they are:

Sony Xperia 1

This is Sony’s flagship phone for the year…dubbed the Sony Xperia 1. And the first thing that you notice about it, is it’s a really tall screen. Now, there are phones with 19.5:9 aspect ratio going around, but this one is taking it a step further with more screen real estate.

And not only the size, but the phone is going all premium! You get a glass body back and front, with Gorilla Glass 6 protection. There is also the IP68 Water Resistance. The display is a 6.5″ OLED panel with 4K resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. Now, for a display this big, it is only natural that you need quite the amount of pixels. Else how are you going to get an immersive experience of the screen?

This phone packs a triple camera setup at the back, all of 12 MP. But each lens does a different job. Of course, as we’ve seen on many flagships, one of them is a primary lens, one is a telephoto lens and the other is an ultra-wide angle. The front camera is an 8 MP lens, which doesn’t sound as impressive on a flagship, but we’ll see.

Inside, the phone runs on the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset and packs 6 GB of RAM. Internal storage rests at 64 GB for the base variant. There’ s also a 128 GB model! But you can also use a microSD card and expand the memory up to 512 GB.

In addition, it packs a 3300 mAh battery and runs on Android 9.0 Pie. And the fingerprint sensor rests on the side on the power button itself!

Sony Xperia 1 Specifications:

Design: Aluminum frame, Glass body (Gorilla Glass 6) back and front, IP65/68 ingress protection rating, Side mounted Fingerprint sensor
Display: 6.5″ OLED panel, 4K resolution (1644 x 3840 pixels), 21:9 aspect ratio
Rear cameras: Triple camera setup: 12 MP primary with f/1.6 aperture + 12 MP telephoto with f/2.4 aperture + 12MP ultra-wide with f/2.4 aperture
Video capture: 4K (16:9 or 21:9), Super slow motion @ 960 fps at Full-HD
Front camera: 8MP with f/2.0 fixed-focus
CPU: Octa-core Snapdragon 855 chipset
GPU: Adreno 640 GPU.
RAM: 6GB of RAM
Storage: 64/128GB storage, Up to 512GB microSD card support
OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Battery: 3,330mAh, USB Power Delivery fast charging, Xperia Adaptive Charging

Sony Xperia 10 Plus

The Sony Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are more mid-range phones, although they pack the same 21:9 aspect ratio on them. This phone has a plastic build with a metallic finish, and the display is Full HD+ on the same screen size and doesn’t seem to be OLED either. But there is Gorilla Glass 5 protection at front.

There are two cameras at the back with the primary lens being a 12 MP, and another telephoto at 8 MP. But it skips out on the ultra-wide angle lens. The front camera is still an 8 MP sensor.

Also, the processor is also aggressively mid-range, i.e. it is powered by the Snapdragon 636. Also, it has two RAM variants of 4 GB and 6 GB, but the internal storage is limited at 64 GB. There is the option of expanding it with a microSD for up to 512 GB. The battery on it is lesser at only 3000 mAh, but it retains the side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Sony Xperia 10 Plus Specifications:

Design: Plastic unibody with a metallic finish, (Gorilla Glass 5 in the front), Side mounted Fingerprint sensor
Display: 6.5″ IPS LCD, Full-HD+ resolution (1080 x 2520 pixels), 21:9 aspect ratio
Rear cameras: Dual camera setup: 12 MP primary lens + 8 MP 2 x telephoto lens
Video capture: 4K (16:9 or 21:9)
Front camera: 8 MP
CPU: Octa-core Snapdragon 636 chipset
GPU: Adreno 509 GPU.
RAM: 4 / 6 GB of RAM
Storage: 64 GB storage, Up to 512GB microSD card support
OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Battery: 3000mAh

Sony Xperia 10

Another mid-range phone among the lineup, the Xperia 10 is a further toned-down version of the Xperia 10 Plus. It is also smaller but has the same 21:9 aspect ratio. This one features a 6.0″ IPS LCD display, with Full HD+ resolution. The rear cameras on the back are also a primary lens and a simple depth sensor of 13 MP and 5 MP. The front camera, however, is still 8 MP.

Inside, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 630 and comes in 3 GB and 4 GB RAM variants. The storage rests at 64 GB but of course, there is microSD card support for up to 512 GB. The battery, on it, is kind of small, at 2870 mAh.

Sony Xperia 10 Specifications:

Design: Plastic unibody with a metallic finish, (Gorilla Glass 5 in the front), Side mounted Fingerprint sensor
Display: 6.0″ IPS LCD, Full-HD+ resolution (1080 x 2520 pixels), 21:9 aspect ratio
Rear cameras: Dual camera setup: 13 MP primary lens + 5 MP depth sensor
Video capture: 4K (16:9 or 21:9)
Front camera: 8 MP
CPU: Octa-core Snapdragon 630 chipset
GPU: Adreno 508 GPU.
RAM: 3 / 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB storage, Up to 512GB microSD card support
OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Battery: 2870 mAh

Sony Xperia L3

Lastly, there’s the entry-level phone, which failed to grab much attention. But this one is a successor the Xperia L2, and still shows more promise than previous Xperia L-devices. This phone has got all the makings of a budget phone. It has a 5.7″ screen with only HD+ resolution, 18:9 aspect ratio and very entry-level cameras. It also comes with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage. But the expandable storage option stays. Yet, it still has the side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Sony Xperia L3 Specifications:

Design: Plastic unibody with a metallic finish, (Gorilla Glass 5 in the front), Side mounted Fingerprint sensor
Display: 5.7″ IPS LCD, HD+ resolution 18:9 aspect ratio
Rear cameras: Dual camera setup: 13 MP primary lens + 2 MP depth sensor
Front camera: 8 MP
CPU: Octa-core Helio P22 chipset
GPU: PowerVR GE8320.
RAM: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB storage, Up to 512GB microSD card support
OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
Battery: 3300 mAh

Pricing and Availability

The prices for these phones are yet to be revealed. But the availability date is out there. The flagship Xperia 1 is set to launch only at the end of May, whereas the Xperia 10 and 10 Plus will be available for purchase after March 18th. There is no such information about the Xperia L3. But it seems to be available already in selected markets.

For More MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

MWC 2019: LG V50 ThinQ 5G, G8, and G8s launched with Hand ID and Air Motion Gestures

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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A few days back, South Korean tech company Samsung awe-inspired the world with its new flagship devices. And it did not take long for another South Korean smartphone maker to unveil its products. Yes, you guessed it right. LG also hit the MWC 2019’s big stage with its three new smartphones. Namely known as the LG V50 ThinQ 5G, G8 ThinQ, and G8s ThinQ, these smartphones come with LG’s new quirky Hand ID and Air Motion Gesture features.

LG V50 ThinQ 5G

The LG V50 ThinQ 5G is the company’s first take in the 5G ecosystem. Since the smartphone manufacturers are releasing a 5G phone every other day, LG also went on with the flow and dropped a flagship device embedded with a 5G modem. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 855 chipset and has been enriched with Qualcomm X50 modem to unleash its 5G potentials. On the storage front, the phone’s got 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard memory with a dedicated SD card for memory expansion.

On the design side, it looks blatantly similar to the last year’s LG V40 ThinQ. The phone is encased with Corning Gorilla on the front and back and comes encapsulated with an aluminum frame. It also comes with a 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED display. The display here is an HDR 10 compliant. So we can expect an amazing dynamic range of colors on the screen. But what doesn’t look cool about the display is a wide notch up top. While most of the other smartphone manufacturers are playing with the waterdrop style notches and punch hole display, LG followed last year’s bandwagon and implemented a wide notch on the top. And this doesn’t look so fascinating in 2019.

The notch has been home to two selfie cameras – an 8MP primary shooter and a 5MP wide-angle one. The setup was present on the V40 ThinQ as well. And talking about the cameras on the back, the phone is showered with three cameras of various focal lengths. The primary one is a 12MP, 27mm, f/1.5 wide-camera, which comes equipped with a 3-axis OIS. There is also a 12MP telephoto shooter, which comes with f/2.4 lens and OIS. The telephoto camera on this device is capable of capturing images with 2x lossless optical zooming. A 16MP ultra-wide-angle camera completes the triple camera setup on the device. The ultra-wide-angle camera stretches the field of view and users can accommodate more portion of the subject into the images.

Like the last year’s device, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G also comes 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, so it may please a fair number of audiophiles. Plus, there is a big 4000mAh to provide long-lasting backup.

Recently, we are seeing many smartphone brands bringing out foldable devices. But LG decided to skip that concept for a while. but as an answer to the trend, LG rather brought a dual screen accessory. The accessory is basically a case with a 6.2-inch secondary OLED display with Full-HD+ (1080 x 2160 pixels) resolution. The second screen comes alive when the pogo pins on the smartphone’s back connect with the accessory. The Dual Screen can come handy for multitasking and gaming. You can use the phone as a controller and the display on the accessory as the screen to view the contents. With these features, the device gives a vibe of the foldable smartphone of sorts.

LG G8s ThinQ and LG G8 ThinQ

Alongside the V50 ThinQ, LG also unveiled the LG G8s ThinQ and LG G8 ThinQ. Both of these smartphones feature the flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset and comes aboard with 6GB RAM. And as cued by their names, these smartphones do not come with the 5G capabilities.

In terms of display, the G8 ThinQ rocks with a 6.1-inch QHD+ OLED display whereas the G8s has got a 6.2-inch Full-HD+ OLED panel. In terms of power, a 3500mAh non-removable battery fuels the G8 ThinQ whereas it’s a block of 3550mAh battery on the G8 ThinQ.

On the optics front, the LG G8 ThinQ flaunts a 12MP standard + 12MP telephone + 16MP ultra-wide setup just like on the V50 ThinQ. However, there is a slightly different setup on the G8s ThinQ. The G8s ThinQ features a triple camera setup with 12MP standard + 12MP telephone + 16MP ultra-wide combo.

But the triple camera setup on the G8 ThinQ is location specific. In some regions, the handset ships with only two cameras on the back.

Talking about the selfie camera, the phone comes with an 8MP standard selfie camera accompanied by a ToF (Time of Flight) 3D camera. In addition to gathering depth information while capturing portrait selfies, the ToF camera also authenticates the Hand ID of the users. It reads and acknowledges the thickness and characteristics of the veins in the palm of the users and unlocks the device accordingly. The 3D ToF camera also does 3D mapping of the face to enhance the security strength of Face Unlock feature. So it cannot be fooled with 2D photos to unlock the device.

Apart from that, users will also be able to control the phone through air gestures also known as Air Motion gestures. With this feature, users can wave a hand or pinch the air to take calls, to increase and decrease volume. This feature can also be used to take screenshots without even touching the screen.

Price & Availability of LG V50 ThinQ, LG G8s ThinQ & LG G8 ThinQ

In the launch event, LG didn’t reveal anything about the pricing. And no words were spoken about its availability. But we can expect the device any time on the Q2 of 2019.

MWC 2019: Huawei Mate X with foldable display unveiled, but it will fold your pockets

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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MWC 2019: Huawei Mate X with foldable display unveiled, but it will fold your pockets

After Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold, Huawei seems to be at its work as the company showed off its new foldable smartphone at Mobile World Congress (MWC). The smartphone-cum-table looks as refined as Samsung’s foldable device but will run for over $600 more than its competitor.

While the Samsung Galaxy Fold has dual displays, the Huawei Mate X boasts a single display that folds on the outside to give it a more smartphone-ish look. This display, when unfolded, measures 8-inch. In folded position, the front-facing screen is 6.6-inch tall while the rear screen is 6.38-inch.

The Mate X comes with a strip on the back which houses the camera setup of the device. Huawei has added in a “wing” that, according to the company, will help in the better holding and handling of the device. And unlike the Galaxy Fold’s hinge which is a little curved when laid out flat, this device comes with a hinge that is even.

The Huawei Mate X has a bezel-less display and it certainly looks a tad bit attractive than Galaxy Fold’s side-notched display. This device’s screen is made up of a polymer as glass can’t be bent in such a way. This is a disappointment considering the price tag it has, but still, this is the first generation of foldable smartphone, and it will take a bit of time before manufacturers add glass that can actually bend time and again.

In terms of optics, the device that Huawei showed off has triple cameras. However, according to Huawei’s consumer CEO Richard Yu, the Mate X will pack four cameras during the launch of the P30 series.

Another major USP of this device is that it supports 5G connectivity. Samsung has already stated that it will be launching both the 4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy Fold, so, if you opt for the Mate X, you will have to get the 5G-enabled version. Under the hood, the Huawei Mate X is powered by the company’s own HiSilicon Kirin 980 chipset that is coupled with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory.

The Huawei Mate X is backed by a large 4,500 mAh battery which is certainly a good addition considering it has to power a large display, that can be used in three forms. To charge up this large battery, the Chinese company has introduced a 55W charger that can apparently charge 85% of the battery in just 30 minutes.

Huawei Mate X vs Samsung Galaxy Fold Specifications

	Huawei Mate X	Samsung Galaxy Fold
Display	8-inch OLED (6.6-inch + 6.3-inch) display, 2480 x 2200 pixels	4.6-inch Super AMOLED, 7.3-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED
Chipset	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM	8	12
Operating System	EMUI	Android v9.0 with One UI as skin
Storage	512 GB	512 GB
Front Camera	Unspecified	Dual; 10 MP + 8 MP 3D depth
Rear Camera	Quad cameras	16 MP ultra-wide + 12 MP wide + 12 MP telephoto
Battery	4,500 mAh with 55W fast charging	4,380 mAh with fast charging

Huawei Mate X Pricing and Availability

According to Huawei, the Mate X will start shipping in selected regions starting June or July. This is a thoughtful step as 5G is yet to make its way to the consumers. The Huawei Mate X will go on sale for €2,299 which is roughly $2,600. The Samsung Galaxy Fold will go on sale for $1,980.

For more MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

MWC 2019: Nokia unveiled Nokia 4.2, Nokia 3.2, Nokia 1 Plus, and the retro Nokia 210

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2019

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Nokia 9 PureView is one of the showstoppers of the MWC 2019 event. The phone packs an awe-inspiring five cameras at the back. And is the first smartphone to do so. But that’s not all about Nokia in the grand Mobile World Congress event, the smartphone maker also unveiled four other mobile devices. Among the bunch, the Nokia 4.2, Nokia 3.2, and the Nokia 1 Plus are the budget-centric smartphones whereas the Nokia 210 is a bar phone.

Nokia 210

At the unveiling event, Nokia claims to be the world’s top feature phone maker. Being the leader in the feature phone department, Nokia has yet again dropped a feature phone to expand its lineup.

And talking about the Nokia 210 feature phone, the handset looks quite sturdy in its toughened plastic attire. The phone packs a 2.4-inch QVGA color display with a clicky number pad beneath it. With the small QVGA display and a numpad, the phone looks antiquated. But unlike most of the retro phones, the Nokia 210 houses a 0.3MP rear camera at its back. The camera on the back is accompanied by an LED flash.

On the software side, the phone boots on Nokia’s S30 software. The phone also comes pre-installed with apps like Opera Mini, Browser, Facebook, and the Snake game. On the top, the phone also comes with Mobile Store for app downloads. But the sad part is the phone only comes with 16MB of internal memory, which is non-expandable.

Nokia 210 Specifications:

2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) TFT display @167PPI Pixel density
Toughened plastic body
VGA (0.3MP) Rear camera
No front camera
Nokia Series S30 OS
MT6260A Processor
Dual SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro USB connectivity
16MB internal storage; Non-expandable (No SD Card Slot)
FM and Flashlight functionality
Removable 1020 mAh battery
Charcoal, Red, and grey colors
Price: 30 euros ( Approx. $34)

Nokia 1 Plus

Nokia 1 Plus is the successor to the Nokia 1, which was launched last year. The phone comes with a 5.45-inch display, which is taller than the last year’s Nokia 1. Although the hype of 18:9 aspect ratio is no longer the same in the smartphone market, Nokia has yet implemented that display form factor in its budget offering.

The phone also comes with Android Go version of the Android Pie out of the box. And being the Android Go device, the phone will also receive regular updates and security patches. Other than that, the Nokia 1 Plus comes with an 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, and a decent 2500mAh battery.

Nokia 1 Plus specifications

Display: 5.45-inch IPS LCD display
Resolution: 960 x 480 pixels @ 197PPI Pixel density; 18:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Mediatek MT6739WW
CPU: Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: PowerVR GE8100
OS: Android 9.0 Pie (Android Go version)
RAM: 1 GB
Storage: 8/16 GB, expandable up to 128 GB (dedicated slot)
Rear Camera:8MP with LED flash and Autofocus
Front Camera:5MP with Beauty mode
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity
Battery: 2,500mAh Removable battery
Colors: Black, Red, Blue
Price: $89 (8GB), $99 (16GB)

Nokia 3.2

Last year, we got to see Nokia 3.1 and the Nokia 3.1 Plus. This year, Nokia unveiled the Nokia 3.2 as a successor to both the aforementioned devices.

It features 6.26-inch display, which makes it taller than both the Nokia 3.1 and 3.1 Plus. On the top of its display, the Nokia 3.2 also features a tiny water drop style notch. The notch houses an 8MP selfie shooter, which also doubles as a Biometric authentication tool while unlocking the device via Face unlock feature. On the back, resides a 13MP shooter, which is accompanied by an LED flash.

On the performance front, the Nokia 3.2 has got a new Snapdragon 429 chipset. In terms of memory, the phone comes in two variants: one with 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard memory whereas the other one comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. And the good thing about the higher memory variant is that the phone also comes aboard with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which lacks on the 2/16GB variant.

The phone comes with a sizeable 4000mAh battery and boots with Android Pie right out of the box.

Nokia 3.2 Specifications:

Display: 6.26-inch TFT display with a 2.5D arc on the top
Resolution: HD (720 x 1520 pixels) @ 269 PPI Pixel density
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 429
CPU: Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
OS: Android 9.0 Pie, Android One
RAM: 2/3 GB
Storage: 16/32 GB, expandable up to 400GB via SD card
Rear Camera:13MP with f/2.2, Autofocus & LED flash
Front Camera:8MP, f/2.2, 77-degree field of view
Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Fingerprint sensor (Only on 32GB Variant)
Battery: 4000mAh battery
Colors: Black, Steel
Price:$139 (16GB) ; $169 (32GB)

Nokia 4.2

Among four of the budget-friendly devices unveiled in the event, the Nokia 4.2 is the most premium one. Not just on the price, the Nokia 4.2 looks premium in the design and looks side as well. The phone comes wrapped with glass both on the front and on the back. And polycarbonate material has been used on the frame.

Standing out from the rest of the budget smartphones, the Nokia 4.2 also comes with dual camera setup at the back. The phone houses a 13MP and 2MP camera duo at the back. It means that the phone is capable of capturing portrait images as well. On the front lies an 8MP selfie shooter. The selfie camera resides meticulously on the notch, which resides atop of the 5.71-inch HD+ display.

The phone is powered by Snapdragon 439 chipset, which we saw on the recently launched Vivo Y95 as well. And just like the Nokia 1 Plus and Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2 also comes with Android Pie on the software front. Being an Android One device, the Nokia 4.2 also gets regular software updates and security patches from Google. As far as the battery is concerned, a 3000mAh non-removable battery keeps the device all juiced up.

Nokia 4.2 Specifications:

Display: 5.71-inch TFT display
Resolution: HD (720 x 1520 pixels); 19:9 aspect ratio @ 295PPI Pixel density
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 6×1.45 GHz Cortex A53)
OS:Android 9.0 Pie, Android One
RAM: 2/3 GB
Storage: 16/32 GB, expandable up to 400GB via SD card
Rear Camera: 13MP with f/2.2, PDAF + 2MP depth sensor, LED flash
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0
Sensors: Fingerprint (Rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity
Battery: 3000mAh battery
Colors: Black, Pink Sand
Price: $169 (for 16GB model); $199 (for 32GB model)

For more MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

The Nokia 9 Pure View fascinates with five cameras in total

Pratima Adhikari

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February 25, 2019

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The Nokia 9 Pure View fascinates with five cameras in total

The Nokia 9 Pure View is nothing if not fascinating. This might just be the HMDC’s most audacious phone ever! I mean, five rear-facing cameras are just insane. And if all the reviews are to be believed, the cameras really do a good job. Yes, the device has more than just cameras but since, this is something out of the ordinary, lets set aside the camera side of things first before going on about other specs.

In the Nokia 9, all lenses are 12 MP sensors with f/1,8 aperture but only two of then can shoot in colors, the others are Monochrome sensors made for the purpose of enhancing contrast and details in pictures. Similarly, all the cameras work together, you cannot use a single camera like the Mate 20 pro or the P20 Pro for that matter, with one exception, of course, the Monochrome lens!

Likewise, whenever the shutter is pressed, all five cameras shoot different exposures at the same time, which later is merged into one picture that is very detailed. Also, Nokia claims that depending on the scene, the individual cameras can even shoot multiple exposures to add better detail into a single image.

Well, you might even think its fishy because last year’s Snapdragon 845 can only support up to 3 cameras. So, how in the name of god does the Nokia 9 Pure View has 5 cameras, when it is using the 845? So, to clear out, Nokia has partnered with Light (makers of the 16- camera L16) to include Light’s Lux Capacitor camera-control chip in order to manage 5 cameras. And in a similar way, Nokia has also worked with Snapdragon to make that possible. A lot of work being done here!

Similarly, the front houses a 20 MP camera for selfies.

Now, moving on, the device, as already stated, uses last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with Adreno 630 GPU. The device stands at 5.99 inches with a P-OLED screen and Gorilla Glass 5 protection at the front. The device also supports HDR 10.

As the trend goes, the device has an under display fingerprint sensor, facial unlock feature that works through the front camera, wireless charging and IP67 water and dust resistance.

Having said that, the Nokia 9 Pure View is not a device made for everyone. Yes, it packs in a lot of things but the main focus here is the cameras, which might or might not be the selling point of the device. It’s certainly not the usual stuff though, so it’s definitely worth the hype for now!

Nokia 9 Pure View Specifications:

Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie; Android One
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4×1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
GPU: Adreno 630
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Display: 5.99 inches P-OLED screen with 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio and Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Rear cameras: Five12 MP cameras, all f/1.8 aperture (2 RGB lenses, 3 monochrome lenses working simultaneously)
Video: 1080p@30 fps
Front camera:20 MP
Battery: Non- removable Li-Po 3320 mAh battery, USB 3.0, Type-C
Sensors: Fingerprint sensor (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer.
Others: Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot, IP67 dust and water resistance, etc.

For more MWC 2019 Coverage, Click here.

OPPO sub-brand Realme all set to launch the Realme 3!

Pratima Adhikari

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February 24, 2019

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Realme phones are quite a hit in India and the brand has recently entered in Nepal too with the Realme C1 and the Realme 2 Pro! Now, the company is said to launch another smartphone, the Realme 3, which will be a successor to the Realme 2 launched a while ago. And the company has leaked some astrological specs of the device! Astrological? I am glad you asked!

So, this new device is said to come with a starry look at the back as the media invite states, “Power Your Style, Let’s take a dive into the sky of stars”. The handset will be unveiled on March 4 in New Delhi. The company has been teasing about the new phone via various social media platforms.

In reference to the leaks, the Realme 3, unlike its predecessors, will not feature a diamond- cut design and will have some sort of starry design.

Similarly, the Realme 3 could just be the second device in the portfolio to feature the MediaTek Helio P70 chipset. The company claims that the Realme 3 will have up to 30% increase in download speeds and 40% more power saving in comparison to the Realme 2 Pro! This should not be a surprise though because the P70 is based on a 12nm architecture opposed to the 14nm of the Snapdragon 660 chipset.

Also, there are rumors of the phone having two different variants, one that will be a Global version and other will be an Indian version if the leaks are to be believed! And rumors also back the fact that the Global version will feature MediaTek’s Helio P60 chipset.

As far as other leaks are concerned, we are not yet very sure of them. Some rumors follow that it could have a 48 MP camera at the back and also a depth sensor, the megapixel count of it is not yet revealed. Also, it is suggested that the device, or say the two variants will come equipped with Bluetooth v4.2 and have a 16:9 aspect ratio display, which is not very common these days.

However, the device seems to be mainly targeted to outperform the Redmi Note 7. But, how it fares in real life, will be known once it’s here.

As far as the pricing is concerned, the Higher end variant of the Realme 3 will be around Rs. 15,000 in India.