Smartphones in 2018: the half year report

It's hard to believe that we're halfway through 2018 already! So let's press 'pause' for a second and look back at the direction phone development took this year. We go to extraordinary lengths here at GSMArena to ensure that the data within our Phone Specifications pages are accurate and up-to-date. We've selected the most popular 140 phones to avoid outliers messing with the averages and trawled through this wealth of data we've accumulated to draw out stats and trends. Design & Build Size - In 2017, 'taller' displays with their aspect ratios of 18:9 and 19.5:9 resulted in the...

A phone with Light's multi-lens camera tech is in the works

Remember Light's ludicrous L16 camera with 16 lenses on the back? Well, that tech is reportedly going to be used in a phone that will launch later this year. Thanks to Foxconn's big investment in the small firm, the tech is going in a smartphone with nine cameras. According to the Washington Post, the company already has a working prototype with anything between five and nine lenses that function together to deliver DSLR-like performance in low-light conditions and capturing whopping 64MP images. In addition, Light promises sophisticated depth effects and unmatched zoom capabilities,...

Sony Mobile is investigating its operations in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East

It's no secret that Sony's Mobile division has been going through a rough patch, for quite some time now. After the fairly recent internal CEO shuffle, it seems that active steps have finally been taken to evaluate the state of the mobile branch, in hopes of bringing it up to speed with the Japanese giant's successful imaging and gaming divisions. Word of an ongoing internal investigation into the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa markets first came about through veteran leakster Evan Blass a few days ago. Bad news for Sony Mobile fans in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa: I'm hearing...

Apple is re-building its Maps using data gathered from iPhone users

Apple is said to be working on a new version of its navigation app, Maps. The company has started from scratch and it uses not only the data gathered from its own fleet of cars, but also from iPhone users. But of course, Apple is doing so while respecting user privacy. The new Maps will first be introduced in San Francisco and the Bay Area with the next version of IOS 12 beta. It should cover Northern California towards the end of 2018. Since it now incorporates user travel data when they open the Maps app - just like Google Maps does - it should speed up the process quite a bit....

Weekly poll: face scanning vs. fingerprint readers

Even old sleuths like Sherlock Holmes know that a fingerprint can identify a person. Today, fingerprints are read multiple times a day - it's routine - thanks to the readers on modern smartphones. But is that the best way for a device to know that it's being handled by its rightful owner? What about 3D face scanning? "Wanted" posters have been used for even longer than fingerprints and they work because your face is unique. Well, most of the time, unless you have a twin or a sibling or a kid that looks like you. Capacitive fingerprint readers are fairly simple devices, readily available...

T-Mobile LG G6 starts getting Oreo update

T-Mobile has started pushing out a new update to LG G6 units on its network. Arriving as software version H87220a, the update brings along Android 8.0 Oreo. As per the official change-log, several other bug fixes and software improvements are also included. So with this, all Big Four carriers - including AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon - have rolled out the update to LG G6 units. Given the T-Mobile update - which weighs in at around 1.7GB - has just started rolling out, it may take time for the update notification to pop up on your screen, so be patient. Source 1 2

Smartphone World Cup: quarter finals

We've reached the quarter finals of our Smartphone World Cup after some high-profile departures in the round of 16. You have until Friday to support your favorites and you can vote once a day in each match. Nokia 7 plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+ These two come from different walks of life - the Galaxy S9+ is a flagship representing the best that Samsung has to offer. Its screen, camera and chipset are among the best and there's no shortage of perks - waterproofing, stereo speakers, HDR10 screen, fast wireless charging, you name it. Nokia 7 plus • Samsung Galaxy S9+ The Nokia 7...

Another mysterious glass-back Moto gets spotted in the wild

As we approach Motorola's August 2 Chicago event, device leaks have naturally been pouring in. As per the rumor mill, we have the proper Moto Z3 flagship to look forward to at the venue, as well as a new Motorola One family of handsets. Hot on the heels of a major render leak, for the Moto One and One Power, today brings a couple of new blurry photos of a mysterious new Moto smartphone. Leaked photos It clearly features a glass sandwich design, so our first guess would be it's either the Moto One or the One Power. However, there are a few problems with that theory. As per...

Microsoft working on a foldable Surface phone, LG to supply the displays

The so-called "Andromeda" project has been popping up in the news since last year but information is rather scarce. Now, a leaked email along with some new APIs found in Windows 10's latest preview gives us a bit more to speculate about. The Andromeda Surface Phone isn't going to be just a "phone." It's going to be a "pocketable device" following the steps of Microsoft's successful Surface line of laptops with flexible hinges. It aims to be in a class of its own due to its unique form factor and yes, we are talking about a foldable handset. The API allows applications to adjust...

Video lock screen from Samsung Galaxy S9 now available on Galaxy S8 and Note8

The latest update for Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ and Galaxy Note8 included a cool new feature that remain largely unnoticed. The functionality in question allows you to set a video as your lock screen wallpaper. Here's the feature in action on a Galaxy Note8: The functionality - which debuted on the Galaxy S9 series - arrived on the S8 series and Note8 with the update that also brought along the June security patch to these devices. To access video lock screen wallpapers, head to the Backgrounds tab of Samsung themes. In case you want to use one of your own videos as lock screen...

Verizon just released an eight-core Samsung Galaxy J3 V

Carrier-specific version of headsets are a pretty common occurrence these days. Besides a new confusing branding, these devices typically come with minor tweaks, compared to the generic model. The new Samsung Galaxy J3 V 3rd Gen - a new Verizon exclusive, however, offers quite a significant improvement over the regular Galaxy J3 (2018). The Exynos 7570 Quad, Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 chipset of the original, has been swapped for an octa-core Exynos 7884A. Frankly, this is the first time we are hearing of this particular silicon, but, with an eight core A73 (Dual/1.35GHz) + A53...

Android P rollout for Nokia phones may start in August

So far, HMD has confirmed multiple times that all its Nokia branded smartphones will get the Android P update. In fact, the company recently launched a Beta program in China for the owners of Nokia 6.1, Nokia 7, Nokia 7 plus and Nokia 8 Sirocco. However, there has been no information on the availability of the update. Well, that changes now, as users are being told the roll out will begin anytime after July. As you can see, the information comes courtesy of Nokia Mobile Care. In an email sent out to a user, the support staff gave August as the time frame when Android P will start...

New teaser suggests red OnePlus 6 is coming

Oneplus has released a new teaser video through its official Twitter handle. It's a small, 15 seconds video that doesn't directly reveal the product being teased. But it's easy to guess, given the extensive focus on red color in the video along with C61422 (which is hex color code for red) and the hashtag #Oneplus 6 in the tweet. Now initiating: C61422. Do you wish to continue? https://t.co/QTDxIcWP5N #OnePlus6 pic.twitter.com/mTyjqk5FZZ— OnePlus (@oneplus) June 29, 2018 So in all likelihood, a red OnePlus 6 is coming, and it's coming very soon - you'll see 'July 2' towards the...

Xiaomi Mi A1 gets Android 8.1, but you might want to hold off updating

Xiaomi's Android One smartphone - Mi A1 - is getting a new update. Weighing in at around 1.2GB, it's a major update that bumps the Android version of the device to 8.1 Oreo. Aside from what the 8.1 update brings (like Pixel 2 launcher look as well as dark and light themes), the update also includes Android security fixes for the month of June. The official change-log isn't yet available, but here's an unofficial one from someone who received the update. The roll out seems to be happening globally, as users from markets like India and the Philippines are reporting getting the OTA...

BlackBerry Key2 goes up for pre-order in the US

The BlackBerry Key2 is the second member of a rather unique family of smartphones with actual physical keyboards - a rare sight in this day and age. The Key2 was announced at the beginning of this month in New York, and starting today you can pre-order one if you're in the US. Both Amazon and Best Buy have listed it, for the same price: $649.99 unlocked. You can pick between silver and black color versions. The handset will be released on July 13. If you're not sure whether you should pre-order one or not, take a look at our hands-on review of the BlackBerry Key2. The device comes with...

LG V20 gets Oreo in August in North America

We already expected the LG V20 to at some point be graced with an update to Android 8.0 Oreo, because T-Mobile promised to bring this version of the OS to its version of the phone back in March. Up until now, however, we had no rough timeline to speak of for the new software's release. Over in Canada, though, Fido has updated its own official update schedule page to give us a better idea about when the V20 should taste Oreo in North America. According to that carrier, its V20 units will receive the update at some point in August. We're hoping that no delays will occur. Obviously...

Google Maps now shows when there's road work on your way home

Google acquired Waze five years ago but the majority of features weren't implemented into Google Maps like interactions between drivers, incident reporting, traffic cams, speed cams, police patrols, etc. Today, however, Google Maps is introducing road status to a limited number of users. Screenshot from Google Maps For now, Google Maps reports only road work but incident reporting such as crashes are bound to be implemented shortly after. The app prompts a message asking the user if the road work is still in place with "Yes," "No," "Not sure". The new feature has been...

vivo NEX S review

In our mind, the most impressive aspect of the NEX S is that it even exists in the first place. In one impressive swoop, vivo managed to take what was initially showcased as a tech concept and actually polish and push it to an end-user release. Frankly, a move that took most of the industry by surprise definitely raised the collective bar, in more ways than one. As such, the vivo NEX S is an important and monumental device. It will go down as a landmark in smartphone history. But, does that make it any good as an actual daily driver? One, usable and dependable enough to invest in and have by your side? Join us on the following pages as we try and look beyond the flashy exterior to find out.

Under Armour and The Rock launch a new pair of wireless rugged headphones

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and fitness band Under Armour have teamed up to launch their own pair of wireless headphones. Called the US Sport Wireless — Project Rock Edition, with Project Rock being Johnson's brand of apparel. The Sport Wireless are a pair of Bluetooth headphones. They are designed for use during workouts and especially in the gym. They feature a rugged design that can take a few falls and also happens to be IPX4 certified for some sweat resistance. The UA SuperVent ear cushions are designed to be breathable, light, durable and fast drying. They are removable and...

Honor Note 10 with a 6.9-inch Super AMOLED display incoming

Recent reports pointed at Huawei ordering 6.9-inch Samsung Super AMOLED panels for its October release of the Mate 20 but the latest leak coming from Honor has something more to add to the story. The photo shows an order of 6.9-inch displays - probably AMOLED judging by the model number - intended for an Honor device code-named "Ravel". As you might remember, Honor released a bigger version of its Honor 8 smartphone called Honor Note 8 with an AMOLED panel back in 2016 but then skipped the Note 9 installment. Now, the company appears to be interested in a follow up probably called...

Qualcomm unveils a Bluetooth audio SoC for budget wireless headsets

It's been a busy week for Qualcomm. First, the entry-level Snapdragon 632, 439 and 429 chipsets see daylight then a Snapdragon 2500 for kids' smart wearables gets announced and now the so-called QCC3026 Bluetooth audio SoC. The chip is aimed at entry-level to mid-tier Bluetooth headsets and the company claims that he TrueWireless Stereo protocols that the QCC3026 brings along will reduce power consumption by up to 50% compared to regular headsets. Here's the list of the key selling points of Qualcomm's new product. The chip is expected to ship with devices in the second half...

Nebula Purple Honor Play and Dream Purple 9i will go on sale on July 2

Honor will hold a sale for the Nebula Purple and Dream Purple color variants of its Play and 9i smartphones on July 2. The Nebula Purple Honor Play will cost CNY 1,999 (€260) for a 4+64GB version and CNY 2,399 (€310) for the 6+64GB one. The Honor 9i starts at CNY 1,399 (€180) for a 4+64GB phone and CNY 1,699 (€220) for a 4+128GB variant. Honor Play and Honor 9i in Purple Both devices were announced in the beginning of July with Huawei's GPU Turbo tech for improved gaming performance. The Honor Play is the more interesting of the two with a 6.3-inch IPS LCD of 1080x2340px...

FCC report reveals two new Fossil smartwatches

Fossil is among the few players to actually make gains in the smartwatch market with sales doubling last year and in early 2018 reaching 14% of the total smartwatch market revenue. Recently, 7 new smartwatches surfaced on FCC's website and now a couple of other devices were certified. Fossil DWA6 smartwatch Judging by the model numbers, all those seven smartwatches belong to the same family - DW7F1, DW7M1, DW7E1, DW7E2, DW7S1, DW7B1, DW7T1 but they have different straps, buttons and shapes of the chassis. The new DW6 and DW8 model numbers indicate that these are completely...

T-Mobile starts rolling out Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo update

After AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, now T-Mobile has also started rolling out the Oreo update to Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge units on its network. The update arrives as version G930TUVU4CRF1, and weighs in at around 1.7GB. In addition to the usual Oreo goodies, the update brings along some performance improvements, feature enhancements, and minor bug fixes. It also includes support for Universal Profile 1.0 Compatibility (which allows files up to 100MB in size to be shared via messaging). The official T-Mobile support pages for these devices are yet to be updated, but given the roll out...

T-Mobile starts rolling out Samsungh Galaxy S7 Oreo update

After AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, now T-Mobile has also started rolling out the Oreo update to Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge units on its network. The update arrives as version G930TUVU4CRF1, and weighs in at around 1.7GB. In addition to the usual Oreo goodies, the update brings along some performance improvements, feature enhancements, and minor bug fixes. It also includes support for Universal Profile 1.0 Compatibility (which allows files up to 100MB in size to be shared via messaging). The official T-Mobile support pages for these devices are yet to be updated, but given the roll out...