DEAL: Import the Pocophone F1 for only $349

The newly-released Pocophone F1 is one of the most exciting smartphones we've seen in a few years. The device isn't going to be winning any design awards any time soon, but the phone does take the prize for offering the best value in the flagship smartphone segment. The phone's spec sheet matches that of the OnePlus 6, but its $349 price point is 33% cheaper than OnePlus' latest offering. The only downside is that Xiaomi's Pocophone F1 is officially only available in five markets across Asia (India, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia) and two markets in Europe (France and Italy).

Fortunately, GearBest has the Pocophone F1 in stock for $349 and is willing to ship the device anywhere in the world. For that price, you'll get the base model of the Pocophone F1 with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. If you need more storage, the 128GB Pocophone F1 will set you back $385 which is still an incredible deal considering that the base model in Europe is going for €329 (roughly $385). 

We're not sure how long GearBest's prices or inventory of the Pocophone F1 will last, but we suggest acting fast if you had your eye on the new device. OnePlus may have been the original "flagship killer," but Xiaomi's new Pocophone F1 is by far the best budget-friendly flagship device of 2018.

Buy the Pocophone F1

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Google’s notch-less Pixel 3 poses for the camera, Verizon exclusivity now in doubt

With all the Pixel 3 XL leaks that have been floating around recently, it was inevitable that the smaller Pixel 3 would break cover eventually. Images of the Pixel 3 made an appearance on Reddit, showing off the phone from a few different angles, along with screenshots showing some of the phone's specifications.

The design of the Pixel 3 is pretty much identical to the larger Pixel 3 XL — save for its notch-less 5.5-inch display. While we're not here to debate the merits of the notch, we have to say that the front of the Pixel 3 looks a lot less distracting than the Pixel 3 XL does.

When it comes to the phone's specs, the leak confirms that the phone comes equipped with a 2,915mAh battery, 8MP dual front-facing cameras, and a 5.5-inch 2160 x 1080 display with HDR support. Based on previous rumors, the Pixel 3 is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The last piece of information to accompany the leak is likely the most interesting. Rumors have claimed that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL would be exclusive to Verizon, but the source of the images claims that the device in question is a carrier test unit for a different service provider. The name of the specific service provider was not disclosed, but at least now there's a chance that Google's upcoming flagship devices will have a chance to reach a wider audience — at least here in the US.

[Reddit via 9to5Google]

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Wear OS update paves the way for Google’s Pixel Watch

As mentioned a few weeks ago, Google's upcoming Pixel Watch will likely have a massive impact on the smartwatch space. But in order for the device to be successful and drive the growth of the Wear OS smartwatch segment, Google has just released a new update to its wearable operating system. The fundamentals are still the same, but there are a few distinct changes which will make the platform more useful and intuitive.

The redesign of Wear OS becomes apparent when you swipe away from the main watch face. In the past, a left or right swipe would simply bring up the watch face switching interface, but now there are new features which come up. A swipe to the right now pulls up the Google Assistant feed which offers up weather, appointment, traffic and other information that's pulled from your Google accounts (mainly Calendar and Gmail).

Swinging left pulls up the new Google Fit interface which has been completely redesigned with the new Google Fit update which rolled out a few weeks ago. A swipe from the top and the bottom still show you settings toggles and notifications, but the UI has been tweaked slightly to fit more content on the screen. This is especially helpful for notifications since you can see more than one notification at once. Changing the watch face can now be done by long-pressing on the current watch face which is more intuitive than the swipe left/right gesture which was previously in place.

Google plans to release the Wear OS update to most devices running Android Wear 2.0 and those that have already been updated to Wear OS sometime in September.

 

 

 

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HTC’s mid-range HTC U12 life is better than you think

HTC hasn't been churning out as many phones as it used to, but the newest addition to the company's lineup, the HTC U12 life, is more interesting than we expected. Clad with a two-tone acrylic glass panel on the back and a notch-less 6-inch FHD+ display up front, the HTC U12 life looks like it should sell for more than its £299 base price point. HTC is using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC to power the phone, but the base model does come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. If you're willing to pay a little bit more, you can get the HTC U12 life with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. 

Other internal specifications include a main 16MP + 5MP dual-camera with phase-detect autofocus, dual LED flash, f/2.0 aperture, 13MP camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash up front, 3600mAh battery, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, Bluetooth 5, USB C charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Of course, HTC did leave a few things out in order to keep the price of the HTC U12 life low. The company has chosen not to include Qualcomm's Quick Charge feature and HTC's Edge Sense technology didn't make the cut either. There's also no mention of HTC's USonic headphones or BoomSound audio profiles for the speaker on the HTC U12 life.

HTC has not given an exact launch date for the HTC U12 life, but they did confirm that the phone will not be released in the US. The device will likely make its debut in Europe and Asia during the second half of September, but we'll be sure you keep you updated on the exact retail launch dates once HTC makes them available.

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Is Xiaomi’s Pocophone F1 really a OnePlus killer?

When the OnePlus One launched, it was dubbed the "flagship killer." The phone features most of the high-end specs we see in flagship Android smartphones but sold for half of what high-end smartphones did at the time. Over the years, OnePlus has slowly increased the price point of its phones but has managed to still offer a great value to consumers since the average price point for top-of-the-line Android devices now starts at $750.

And that's where Xiaomi's new Pocophone brand comes in with the Pocophone F1.

After months of rumors and speculation, Xiaomi has officially launched its Pocophone sub-brand. The company has always sold smartphones that are cheaper than the competition's, but the company has struggled to break into the European and North American markets — an issue it aims to resolve with its new Pocophone brand. The idea really isn't new since OnePlus is really just an Oppo sub-brand (ok, technically the company is listed as a "wholly owned Oppo subsidiary"). But you get the point.

The question is, can the new Pocophone F1 really compete in the space that OnePlus has carved out for itself? Let's find out.

The Pocophone F1's design is fairly unassuming. The phone is built with polycarbonate rather than glass or metal. While the build material will feel cheaper than other build materials, it should be more durable and offer more protection to the phone when dropped. The phone is running on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with a liquid-cooling system to keep the chip running optimally. It also has a veriety of RAM/storage configurations which include 6GB/64GB, 8GB/128GB, and 8GB/256GB. It features a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080×2246 pixels (416ppi), a 12MP and 5MP dual-camera setup on the back, offering portrait mode like most other smartphones these days. There's a 20MP sensor on the front. The phone's 4,000mAh should be more than enough to keep the Pocophone F1 chugging along through a long work day and the 9V/2A Quick Charge 3 charger will be able to top off the battery in a little over an hour.

The phone features a fingerprint sensor on the back, but it also has an infrared-based face unlock sensor embedded in the notch up front, allowing the phone to be unlocked with your face even in low-light conditions.

Features that are missing include wireless charging, dual-speakers, and NFC, but it does include a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C charging port. The phone is running on Android 8.1 with Xiaomi's MIUI 9.6 with the new Poco Launcher which gives MIUI a stock Android feel and feel. Xiaomi has also promised that the Pocophone F1 will be updated to Android Pie before 2019 rolls around.

As you can tell from the Pocophone F1's specs, the device is pretty comparable to the OnePlus 6. But since the phone's design and build materials are definitely not in the "premium" category, the phone's price is where it truly finds its advantage. The Pocophone F1 with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is selling for $300 while the model with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a Kevlar back sells is going for $430. For comparison, the OnePlus 6 starts at $529 and goes up to $629 if you want 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

If you're not too concerned about the phone's external build materials, the Pocophone F1 is definitely the better option when compared to the OnePlus 6 and pretty much any other flagship Android smartphone.

So, what's your take on the Pocophone F1? Do you think it will replace OnePlus as a "smartphone killer" brand?

 

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The LG G7 One is a re-imagined G7 running stock Android

LG hasn't been a leader in the smartphone space for quite a long time, but the company's phones have usually had some good ideas, accompanied by decent hardware. My main complaint about LG's devices has been the cutesy software layer that LG has been using for the past few years. It does have a few interesting concepts, but it usually just gets in the way.

To fix that, LG has introduced the new LG G7 One, the company's first Android One device. The exterior build of the phone looks very similar to the LG G7 ThinQ, featuring the same 6.1-inch QHD+ display with a notch-cutout at the top, aluminum frame and glass back as the original.

But the LG G7 One does have its drawbacks…

The internals of the LG G7 looks more like a 2017 flagship device than something from 2018. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 834 SoC with only 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The camera on the back features a single 16MP sensor with an f/1.6 lens while the front-facing camera has an 8MP sensor with an f/1.8, 80-degree wide-angle lens. The battery size has been reduced to 3,000 mAh, but the phone.

Check out the LG G7 ThinQ's amazing dual-camera

While the LG G7 One wouldn't be able to go head-to-head with 2018 flagship smartphones, it will be the most powerful Android One device to date. And to make up for the phone's spec inadequacies, LG has promised that the LG G7 One would be released this fall at an "exceptional price." 

What would you be willing to pay for a 2017 flagship smartphone running stock Android?

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In-display fingerprint sensors coming to Samsung’s 2019 flagship lineup

We're barely halfway through 2018, but we're already seeing details about Samsung's flagship 2019 smartphones starting to trickle out. According to The Investor, Samsung will source in-display fingerprint sensors from Synaptics and Qualcomm for its Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones. The report claims that Samsung is working on two "high-end" and one "lower-end" variants of its 2019 flagship smartphone. The cheaper Samsung Galaxy S10 variant will use a 2D optical in-display fingerprint sensor from Synaptics – the same sensor that's been used in a few phones this year already and was originally shown off at CES 2018. Synaptics' in-display sensors are no different than the fingerprint sensors used on current smartphones, capturing an image of the user's fingerprint when pressed against the sensor. 

The two "high-end" Samsung Galaxy S10 variants will use Qualcomm's ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint sensor. While Qualcomm introduced the technology to the world in 2015, the technology has yet to be implemented in any commercial products. Qualcomm's product development roadmap from 2017 showed that it expected its ultrasonic fingerprint sensors to be available on the market by this summer, but obviously, that did not happen. 

The difference between the optical fingerprint sensors from Synaptics and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensors from Qualcomm in how they capture the fingerprint. The in-display sensors from Synaptics use the light from the display to illuminate the fingerprint and the sensor is then able to capture a 2D image of the fingerprint through the microscopic gaps between the display's pixels. Qualcomm's sensors emit an ultrasonic tone which is used to create a 3D map of the user's fingerprint, making it more accurate since it can see through dirt and moisture. Another advantage the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor has is that is can also be placed under metal.

In-display fingerprint sensors are still an oddity in 2018, but projections show that more than 100-million devices will ship with the new tech in 2019.

[The Investor]

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Pixel 3 leaks reveal camera settings, photo samples and new design details

If you haven't been paying attention lately, there are quite a few Pixel 3 XL smartphones that have made it out into the wild. Google isn't expected to unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL until the first week of August, but every single detail about the phones will likely be revealed before then. We have already seen plenty of leaks which show off the phone's design and covered its specs in detail, but two new leaks give us a closer look at the upcoming Pixel 3 XL, its camera and software.

According to Mobile-review.com, a portion of the phone's back panel is made of plastic. Since we don't speak Russian, we're not exactly sure which portion of the panel they are describing, but previous leaks claimed that the entire back of the phone is made from a single pane of glass.  The leak from Rozetked.me chimed in on the phone's design as well, claiming that the Pixel 3 XL is exactly the same size as the Pixel 2XL, fitting perfectly into a case made for last year's phone.

Screenshots provided by Mobile-review.com give us a detailed look at the phone's Settings menu.  Most of the phone's settings align settings of the Pixel 2 running on Android Pie. The one distinction is the lack of a toggle to turn off navigation gestures, suggesting that Google will be using the new gesture navigation system by default, moving away from the Home, Back and Recents navigation system it has been using for years.

When it comes to the Pixel 3's cameras, we also have a few screenshots of the app and its settings. The basis layout of the camera app is the same, but Google has moved from the Hamburger Menu which contained the various camera modes on the left, displaying Panorama and Portrait modes in text format right next to Camera and Video, hiding the other feature under "More." The Camera settings look familiar, but under Advanced Settings, the Pixel 3 will offer H.265/HEVC format compression, allowing video file sizes to be 50% smaller.

As for image quality, the Pixel 3XL's front and rear cameras have been compared to the Huawei P20 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Below are a few image samples, but we highly recommend checking out the full gallery on Mobile-Review.com to get a better sense of what you can expect from the Pixel 3.

 

Unfortunately, it looks like Google will only be using the dual front-facing cameras on the Pixel 3 for "Super Selfies." The phone's Settings menu doesn't show any reference to an advanced face-unlock security feature which used both camera to map a user's face.

While we'd like to judge the Pixel 3 XL based on these new leaks, we need to keep in mind that the devices in question are pre-production units. Final production units may be slightly different and the software we see here could easily change before Google officially unveils the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in October.

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OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T get Project Treble support with latest update

OnePlus is finally rolling out the Oxygen OS 5.1.5 update to the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. While the official changelog for the new system update isn't that exciting, quite a few people have noticed that OnePlus also snuck in Google's Project Treble framework which will allow the phones to be updated to new versions of Android a lot quicker. The newer OnePlus 6 already included Project Treble support, but the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T didn't have support for Project Treble when they were updated to Android Oreo. 

Support for Project Treble was first added to OyxgenOS Open Beta for the two devices back in July, but it was unclear if OnePlus would be pushing it out to users before its Android Pie update would be released. Now that the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T have the Project Treble framework baked into their code, there's hope that the official release of their Android Pie update isn't too far off. 

With the OnePlus 5's official Android Oreo update landing the last week of December, how quickly do you think OnePlus will be able to roll out Android Pie to the OnePlus 6, 5 & 5T?

OnePlus 5 & 5T Oxygen OS 5.1.5 Changelog

• Updated Android security patch to 2018.8
• Confirm PIN without tapping √ to unlock the phone (Settings -> Security & lock screen -> Screen lock -> PIN)

 

Source: Android Police

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Huawei’s first Android Pie update coming in two weeks

Every year it's the same story:

1. Google releases the newest version of Android
2. Manufacturers then announce their support for the new version of Android
3. Consumers wait 3-9 months for the new version of Android to hit their phones

While it looks like that general narrative will continue to play out this year, Huawei seems to be bucking the trend by announcing that its Android Pie update for the Huawei P20 Pro is scheduled to be released during IFA 2018. We technically don't have an exact date for when Huawei will release the Android Pie update for the P20 Pro, but the new software build should surface sometime between August 31 and September 5.

The news was shared with MyBroadband by a spokesperson for Huawei in South Africa. Huawei's Mate line was mentioned as well, but no specific date was given for its Android Pie update. Surprisingly, the Huawei P20 Lite was not mentioned, leaving us to believe that the cheaper version of Huawei's 2018 flagship device isn't selling as well as the P20 Pro and is thus not a high priority for the company.

It may be hard for some of you to get excited about Huawei's Android Pie update plans. Huawei may not have a strong presence in North America, but the fact that the P20 Pro's scheduled Android Pie update is only a few weeks out gives us hope that manufacturers are taking advantage of the Project Treble framework Google put in place last year which should reduce the amount of time needed to update smartphones to the latest version of Android.

After Huawei pushes out Android pie to the P20 Pro, which manufacturer do you think will be next to release Android Pie for one of their smartphones?

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Google Assistant can now help you find “good news”

If you're reading this on your Android phone or sitting next to your Google Home, we have a new voice command to try out with the Google Assistant.

"Hey Google, tell me something good"

As you're probably well aware of, we are inundated with news, more than ever before. While keeping up with news helps us stay informed about the world around us, you might have noticed that most news stories cover the negative aspects of our society, a tragedy that's unfolding or the latest political scandal. These news stories are necessary and often important, but they always seem to choke out the handful of good news stories that highlight the ways that we are making the world a better place.

Since Google News aggregates news from thousands of different sources around the globe, Google thought it would be a good idea to allow Google Assistant to sort through all the noise to find news stories which highlight new innovations, stories of hope and the kindness of the human spirit. So, if you're feeling a bit depressed with today's news, just say "Hey Google, tell me something good" and Google Assistant will pull up that should help change your mood and restore your faith in the human race.

 

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Google’s Pixel 3 XL spotted in the wild

As we inch our way closer to the unveiling of Google's Pixel 3 lineup, leaks of the new devices have become more common. While we've seen a handful of images of the phones already, today's photo shows that people are already using the phone in the real world.

A Mobile Syrup reader recently spotted someone casually using the Pixel 3 XL on the streetcar in Toronto and managed to sneak a picture of it. The phone in question looks identical to the Pixel 3 XL leaks and renders we've seen already, featuring dual front-facing cameras, a tall notch and speakers above and below the display.

We're not exactly sure why someone would already be using the phone out in the wild, but if we had to guess, the phone is likely being tested by a Canadian service provider which is planning to add the device to its lineup. While it's exciting to see that the Pixel 3 XL is being used in the wild, we still have at least another month and a half before Google's expected October unveiling of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL.

Are you planning to wait for Google's new phones or will you be picking up another device before October?

A @MobileSyrup reader spotted this possible Pixel 3 XL photo in the wild on the streetcar in Toronto, Ontario today. Our team thinks the photo is legitimate, especially given the big notch and substantial chin. Do you think this is a photo of the Pixel 3 XL? pic.twitter.com/nPTGHmIVUO

— MobileSyrup (@MobileSyrup) August 16, 2018

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 versus iPhone X shootout compares video recording capabilities

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a beast of a phone with quite a few amazing features. While the NOte 9 will likely be praised as being one of the best Android smartphones of 2018, many will be wondering how it compares to Apple's iPhone X. To that end, Casey Neistat took both phones out to see how the two devices compare while recording video with their main and front-facing cameras.

Since we have not handled these two phones side-by-side, we're not ready to say which one is better when recording video, but here are a few takeaways from the video.

• We prefer the wider lens from the iPhone X
• The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has better audio recording
• The front-facing camera on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is significantly better than the iPhone's
• The iPhone X manages white balance and exposure better than the NOte 9
• The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 fares better in low-light

Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts.

 

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Flame Red HTC U12+ finally added to HTC’s lineup

When the HTC I12+ was unveiled a few months back, HTC announced three distinct colors: Translucent Blue, Ceramic Black and Flame Red. The Translucent Blue color option was unique, giving us a subtle glimpse inside the phone, but Flame Red was the true show stopper. Unfortunately, the color option wasn't available when the phone hit the market, leaving potential buyers only two color options. Fortunately, HTC has come to its senses and has chosen to release the HTC U12+ in Flame Red. The phone is up for pre-order on HTC's website for $799 (the same price as the other HTC U12+ color options) in the US and €799 over in Europe, but you'll have to wait until September for the phone to ship.

The HTC U12+ is one of my favorite devices of 2018. Its dual-camera systems on the front and back of the phone are absolutely phenomenal and there's no denying that the phone's design is a breath of fresh air since its one of the only device that hasn't embraced the notch. If you're not sure if the HTC u12+ is the right fit for you, check out my full review video below.

 

 

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Review: Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX with Wireless Android Auto

It's no secret that the auto industry is notoriously behind when it comes to cutting-edge technology. While the smartphones we carry in our pockets are extremely powerful, the heat units in our cars are typically underwhelming and often not very intuitive to use.

Google's Android Auto has been around for a few years now, giving users a simple and clear UI while allowing them to tap into the media they have stored on their phones and using their device's web connection for navigation and Google search queries. But while Android Auto really hasn't changed much over the past few years, the company's for Wireless Android Auto systems are finally coming to market, making the system feel like it's an organic piece of the vehicle rather than an afterthought add-on.

The Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX we tested is an after-market head unit which costs $1,200 (you can get it for a bit less on Amazon). It was originally announced at CES 2018 to show off its Wireless Android Auto features, but it took roughly 6 months before it and competing Wireless Android Auto head units hit the market. Pioneer does have a cheaper model available, but while the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX sells for $500 less, it has a resistive touch screen and goes not have built-in GPS and navigation which means you will need to rely exclusively on your phone's GPS and data connection for navigation. In addition to Wireless Android Auto support, both options also support the new Wireless CarPlay feature are well. Unfortunately, we didn't have any iOS devices on had to test it out.

Since Android Auto really hasn't changed much over the past few years, we're only going to cover the features that are new. As you might expect, wireless connectivity is the biggest feature here. Once your device is paired with the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX, the system will automatically boot Wireless Android Auto when the car is turned on, eliminating the manual step of removing your phone from your bag or pocket, finding the USB cable (which typically has dropped to the floor) and plugging in your phone. This means you can simply get into the car and start driving which is extremely convenient when you're getting into your car for a short drive and simply want to keep your phone in your pocket. For now, the Wireless Android Auto feature only works with Google's Pixel devices, but newer Android devices will gain Wireless Android Auto support once they are updated to Android 9.

With Android Auto, users have always been able to ask Google questions, but the latest upgrade now claims that it has Google Assistant built in. Honestly, the only thing that's really changed is the branding since the company is trying to get Google Assistant in as many places as possible. You can ask it to set a timer, change the temperature of your Nest thermostat at home or turn off the smart lights in our house if they're connected to Google Assistant, but it won't let you play games or other simple things that your Google Home speaker can do. Honestly, having games available seems like a huge oversight since Google Assistant's trivia and mad libs games would be amazing on road trips or a great way to pass time while sitting in traffic.

Of course, you can always bypass Google Assistant's Android Auto limitations by mirroring your phone's display on the screen by using Mirracast compatible device. Naturally, you will need to have the phone plugged in via USB to use this feature, but you'll then you'll have access to all of your phone's features by using the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX's touchscreen display.

One complaint we do have about Pioneer's head units is that it takes a good 15-20 seconds to boot when you turn your vehicle on. It may not sound like a long time, but it's an eternity if you're in a hurry and need to enter your destination in Google Maps. It would be nice if Pioneer and others would take note from smartphone makers and build-in a battery into the system so that it can go into sleep cycle when the vehicle is turned off so that the unit doesn't have to go through a full boot sequence every time you start the vehicle.

In our book, Wireless Android Auto is a must-have feature for your car and the Pioneer AVIC-8400NEX is currently the best option available if you're looking f an after-market upgrade to your car's stereo. It may be expensive, but it's definitely worth the price if you spend a lot of time in your vehicle.

Buy the Pioneer ACIV-W8400NEX from Amazon

PIONEER AVIC-8400NEX Rating: star_fullstar_fullstar_fullstar_fullstar_empty (4/5)

The Good

• Wireless Android Auto is a game changer
• Every media-input option imaginable
• Google Assistant in the car is a bit smarter

The Bad

• Boot-up time is pretty slow
• User interface is laggy at times
• Very high price point

The Bottom Line

Wireless Android Auto in Pioneer's new AVIC-W8400 is a must-have upgrade for anyone who spends a lot of time in their vehicle, especially if you own an older vehicle that's in sore need of a head-unit upgrade.

 

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9 things you’ll love about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was officially unveiled last week. The phone may look really similar to last year's Note 8, but Samsung has packed it with with a ton of new features which should justify its ludicrous $1,000+ price tag. We've put together a list of the top 9 features you'll love about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. If you have any other features you love about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, feel free to drop them in the comments below.

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (FREE Duo Charger & DEX Dock)

No-notch display

We've seen a lot of gorgeous displays on smartphones in 2018, but most of those devices have had a notch cut out at the top. While there's nothing inherently bad about the notch, there's something oddly satisfying about using a phone that has a full display that's usable from edge to edge.

512GB of storage

Remember the days when your phone only had 4GB of internal storage? The 128GB of storage on the base Galaxy Note 9 is pretty phenomenal, but Samsung's also offering an upgraded model with 512GB of storage. And since the phone also supports microSD cards, you can add another 512GB of expandable storage and walk around with 1TB of storage in your phone.

8GB of RAM

Since 6GB of RAM has become the new norm on flagship smartphones, Samsung decided to offer a model of the Galaxy Note 9 with 8GB of RAM. While that may sound a bit absurd, anyone who's used the OnePlus 6 with 8GB of RAM will tell you that it's impossible to give up once you've tried it. If you don't play a lot of games, the 6GB model will likely suit you just fine, but we'd recommend picking up the 8GB model if you're planning on playing Fortnite for Android or any of the other multi-player online shooting games which have come out recently.

Water Carbon Cooling System

Like most other 2018 flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with 6GB of RAM (you can get 8GB of RAM if you're willing to spend a bit more). This means that it is theoretically on the same playing field as everyone else when it comes to performance. But since Samsung wanted the NOte 9 to be a step ahead of the competition, it packed the NOte 9 with a Water Carbon Cooling System. The unique cooling system keeps the Galaxy Note 9 cooler, allowing it to operate at peak performance for much longer than other devices runnings a Snapdragon 845 chip.

Dual-aperture camera

Like the Samsung Galaxy S9+, the new Note 9 also comes with a dual-aperture camera lens. This means the aperture can be switched between f/1.5 and f/2.4. Most people will likely always stick with the lowest aperture possible, but switching from f/1.5 to f/2.4 will come in handy when you're trying to get a shot of your friends and keep the background in focus.

S-Pen selfies

This one may sound like a gimmick, but it's honestly one of the features we love most about the new phone. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9's new S-Pen comes with Bluetooth LE, allowing it to be more functional than it's been in the past. But the feature we're excited for the most is its ability to use the S-PED as a selfie remote. This means you'll be able to set your phone up across the room to take a selfie or even flip the phone around at taking a picture with the front-facing camera.

AI camera

Smartphone cameras have gotten really good these past few years. While the sensors inside the phones have stayed roughly the same size, manufacturers have turned to smarted software in an effort to improve image quality. The Galaxy Note 9's camera comes with a new AI system which is able to detect the subjects in the frame and automatically adjust exposure, saturate and white balance to deliver a much better picture.

4,000 mAh battery

While there's a lot to love about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the phone's 4,000 mAh battery is likely the feature at the top of most people's lists. The larger battery allows the phone to last through the most intensive workday if you're a heavy user or even last you two days on a single charge if you're not the type of person who checks their phone every other minute.

Repositioned fingerprint sensor

One of the biggest complaints about last year's Galaxy Note 8 was the positioning of the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. Samsung put it right next to the camera sensor, forcing you to put fingerprints all over the lens every time you wanted to unlock your phone. Fortunately, Samsung came to its senses this time around, positioning the fingerprint sensor below the cameras, centered on the back of the phone. This makes it a lot easier to reach since it's lower on the device and saves you from having to wipe off the camera lens every time you want to take a picture.

 

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Leak suggests HTC may no longer build its own phones

After the underwhelming launch of the HTC U12+, you might find it surprising that HTC is planning a mid-range successor to its flagship smartphone. From what we can tell, the HTC U12 Life is still on track to launch this fall, but a new rumor claims that HTC will not actually be building the HTC U12 Life itself. According to @LlabTooFeR, HTC is working with an ODM to build the HTC U12 Life.

While there's no indication that HTC is giving up on building smartphones itself, it seems HTC has found it to be more economical to have someone else build its smartphones rather than using its own manufacturing facilities and its own employees.

Imagine Life (Allegedly U12 Life) will be shipped with Android 8.1 on board.
Interesting fact about it, this device will be ODM manufactured…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) August 13, 2018

HTC U12 Life rumors specs

• Display: 6-inch 2160×1080 Full HD
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB
• Cameras: 16MP & 5MP dual-camera (main), 13MP (front)
• Battery: 3,060 mAh

We're not sure how much money HTC will be saving by outsourcing the construction of its phones to another manufacturer. For now, the rumor claims that the HTC U12 Life is the only device in HTC's portfolio that isn't going to be made by HTC. The HTC U12+ is still be made in-house, but that could also change if sales of HTC devices continue on the same trajectory.

If the next flagship HTC device was no longer built by HTC, would that change your purchasing decision? In other words, if an HTC smartphone isn't built by HTC, is it really an HTC smartphone?

 

 

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How to install Fortnite for Android on non-Samsung phones

Fortnite for Android is one of the most anticipated games we've seen in a long time. EPIC Games initially launched the Fortnite Beta for Android, locking it down to a select number of Samsung devices. But now, they're opening it up to quite a few other Android devices, just as long as the phone is running a powerful processor and has 3-4GB of RAM. You can find the full list of compatible Android phones on the Fortnite Beta for Android official landing page.

Unfortunately, EPIC Games has chosen to release the mobile version of Fortnite directly through its website rather than putting it on Google Play. EPIC Games isn't happy about the cut Google takes from app and games sales and would rather handle distribution of the game on its own. This means you'll need to download the APK from Fortnite's website and sideload it on your phone, but once the initial installation is complete, EPIC Games will be handling updates to the game directly through its own installer.

If you've been dying to play Fortnite on your Android phone, follow the instruction below.

Sign up for Fortnite Beta for Android

1. Visit the Fortnite Beta for Android landing page
2. Verify that your device is on the list of compatible devices
3. Click the "Signup for Fortnite Beta for Android" link
4. Enter your email address

Install Fortnite Beta for Android

Once you've handed over your email to sign up for Fortnite Beta for Android, the waiting game begins. Since EPIC Games is trying to ensure the best experience possible, they are handing out invites in waves to ensure that things are running smoothly on their servers. Once you make the cut, you'll receive an email with the instructions to download the Fortnite Beta for Android Installer with all the instructions needed to get the game up and running on your Android phone.

We've heard from some of you who claim to have gotten your invitation in a few hours, but like most everyone else, we're still waiting for our Fortnite Beta for Android invitation after signing up for it nearly 24 hours ago.

 

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DEAL: Buy Xiaomi’s Mi A2 or the Mi A2 Lite for up to 10% off

Last year's Xiaomi Mi A1 was one of the most sought-after Android One phones. It offered pretty decent specs, a sleek design and a dual-camera and stock Android at an extremely attractive price. The new Xiaomi Mi A2 and Xiaomi Mi A2 light were announced just a few weeks ago with an upgraded spec sheet and a few design tweaks. The Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite aren't going to go head-to-head with flagship Android devices, but that's not really the point. These phones are built to offer a well-rounded experience with incredible battery life and stock Android – something we've all been craving for a very long time.

Xiaomi Mi A2 specs

The Xiaomi Mi A2 comes with a 6-inch 2160×1080 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, 4GB of RAM, 12MP + 20MP dual-camera setup on the back, 20MP selfie cam with LED flash on the front, 32GB of storage, dual-SIM support and a 3,000 mAh battery wrapped in an aluminum body with Gorilla Glass 5 protecting the front display.

Discount price: $265.99

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite specs

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite has a smaller 5.84-inch 2280×1080 display with a notch cut-out, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 12MP + 5MP dual-camera on the back, 5MP front-facing camera, dual-SIM support, a larger 4,000 mAh battery inside and the same aluminum and Gorilla Glass 5 body. The cheaper device also has a microSD card slot, expandable up to 256GB.

Discount Price: $189.99

These two devices are officially not available in the US, Canada and many other countries across Europe, but GearBest has the Xiaomi Mi A2 listed for $265.99 (8% discount) and the smaller Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is selling for $189.99 (10% discount from the usual price). These discounts are only expected to last a few days, so make sure you act quickly if you've been waiting to get your hands on either of these devices. 

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Watch the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 unveiling LIVESTREAM

In just a few minutes, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Unpacked Livestream will begin. For your convenience, we've embedded the video below so that you can just sit back and enjoy the show. If you're not caught up on all the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 detail yet, we've compiled all the Galaxy Note 9 rumors and leaks into a single post for easy reference. So, sit back, relax and don't forget to jump into the comments to share your thoughts on the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9, what to expect from tomorrow’s unveiling

If you haven't already heard, Samsung is planning to unveil the Galaxy Note 9 at an event in Brooklyn, New York on August 9^th. That's right, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be announced tomorrow! While we've known about the launch date for a few weeks now, no one was really expecting the device to show up this soon. Last year's Samsung Galaxy Note 8 event was held on August 23.

Since we know that many of you are diehard Note fans, we thoughts we'd round up everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 into a single post before tomorrow's launch. Of course, many of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 details we have so far are based on leaks and rumors, so there may be a few details that might be different once tomorrow rolls around.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 unveiling, retail launch dates and pricing

As mentioned already, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be unveiled tomorrow in Brooklyn, New York. The press-only event is scheduled to start at 11am ET. Check out the local time list to see when the event is taking place around the globe.

• New York: 11am ET on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• California:8am PT on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• UK: 4pm BST on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• Central Europe:5pm CET on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• Russia: 6pm UTC on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• India: 8:30pm IST on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• China: 11pm CT on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
• Australia:1am ACT on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018
• South Korea: 12am JST on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018
• Japan: 12am KST on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018

If you want to watch the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 launch, this post will be updated with the official live stream video of the event once it's made available.

As far as the retail launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 s concerned, the device is expected to go on sale on August 24 in the US and several other markets. The price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is vary from market to market, but most are expecting it to sell for $929 in the US, £869 in the UK and €899 across the rest of Europe.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specifications

Rather than bore you with a few paragraphs about the rumored specs the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is expected to have, we've compiled everything we've been able to find in a simple bulleted list.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Exynos 9820
• Display: 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED
• RAM: 6GB, 8GB
• Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Main cameras: 12MP dual cameras with OIS, 2X zoom, variable aperture
• Front camera: 8MP
• MicroSD card slot
• Battery: 3,850 – 4,000 mAh (multiple conflicting rumors)
• S Pen: Bluetooth support, music controls, camera remote, remote device unlock, app launch
• Fingerprint scanner: rear-mounted
• Heart rate sensor
• Iris scanner

The rumored specs aren't anything out of the ordinary, but there are a few things we'd like to highlight. Thanks to the 512GB model and the microSD card slot on the phone, the Note 9 could offer up to 1TB of storage.

While there were rumors floating around that Samsung was going to use an in-display fingerprint sensor on the Note 9, those claims seem to have fizzled out with Samsung saving that feature for its 2019 flagship devices.

Last year's Samsung Galaxy Note 8 had a disappointingly small battery. We're still not exactly sure how large the battery on the Galaxy Note 9 will be since there conflicting rumors, but we should at least see a 3,850 mAh cell inside the phone.  This should allow the phone to last substantially longer than last year's phone and give move people at least a day and a half on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 design

If you've been keeping up with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 leaks, you probably know that we've seen a lot of leaked images of the phone. Unfortunately, the design of the new device isn't changing much when compared to last year's model. Based on what we've seen the front of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will look identical to its predecessor, keeping the exact same setup for the speaker and other sensors above the display.

The bottom of the phone will look similar as well with a 3.5mm headphone jack, speaker grill, S Pen slot and centrally positioned USB C charging port. Fortunately, Samsung will be making changes to the back of the phone by moving the fingerprint sensor below the dual-camera sensors. The placement still looks a bit awkward, but it could be that the design team didn't have a lot of time to make it look perfect if the original plan was to include an in-display fingerprint sensor.

As far as colors go, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be available in Mystic Black, Engineered Blue and Artisan Copper. Naturally, the different color options may not be available in all regions across the globe. Samsung is also looking to add a bit of flare to the Engineered Blue Galaxy Note 9 by including a neon yellow S Pen. The contrast between the two colors looks amazing, but those who like to be a bit more subtle will likely opt for another color.

The body of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is expected to measure 161.9 x 76.3 x 8.8mm, making it shorter than last year's device, but also thicker and wider. The extra volume of the Galaxy Note 9 is likely needed to fit in the phone's larger battery.

Final thoughts

As you can see, there's a lot to be excited about with tomorrows unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The phone doesn't offer anything out of the ordinary, but its larger battery should make it a must-buy for anyone who loved Samsung phones and wants a device that can keep up with heavy usage.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in the comments. Based on everything we know, are you planning on buying the Samsung Galaxy Note 9?

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LG is the only one getting dual-sensor camera right

When buying a new smartphone, there are a lot of factors to consider. Many of you are looking for the best performance possible while others want a device that can last a day or two under heavy usage. But one thing that we can all agree on is that a good camera is a must-have feature on any smartphone. In order to offer a better camera experience, manufacturers have turned to dual-sensor camera systems over the past few years. While adding a second sensor doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a better picture, you typically get the option to have pictures with a blurred background.

Originally, the second sensor was added simply to capture depth information in order to distinguish between the foreground and background, but manufacturers soon realized that the second sensor could be used for a lot more. Some manufacturers increased the resolution of the second sensor, claiming it would add lossless zoom, others chose to equip the second sensor with a 2x optical zoom lens to enhance the "portrait mode" feature and then there are those who use a second monochrome sensor to capture more light and enhance every image that the phone captures.

While all of these options have their advantages and drawbacks, my personal favorite is the approach LG has taken. The new LG G7 is equipped with a dual-sensor camera which offers a 16mm wide-angle lens on its secondary sensor to complement the standard 30mm lens on its main sensor. This setup still gives you the ability to take portrait-style photos with a digitally blurred-out background, but it also allows you to capture images that no other smartphone could capture. The 16mm lens on the secondary sensor gives you a wide-angle view of your scene, mimicking the field of view you might get with an action camera or a wide-angle lens on a DSLR.

Of course, the camera sensors that LG is using on the G7 aren't as good as what you get with the HTC U12+, the Pixel 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S9, but in my opinion, the end results are worth the tradeoff. Take a look at the shots in the gallery and let me know what you think in the comments.

 

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