We want to wish you all a Happy New Year! We also want to thank you for being here with us in 2013!
The post Happy New Year, and Thank You for a wonderful 2017! appeared first on Pocketnow.
The device, which can charge enabled devices up to 3 feet away from it, has received the approval it needs under a somewhat odd set of FCC rules. Find out why.
The post Energous receives FCC certification for WattUp Mid Field Transmitter appeared first on Pocketnow.
The brand licensee, HMD Global, was able to make the bulk of those shipments in the summer quarter after a weak start earlier in the year.
The post Nokia estimated to have sold 4.3 million smartphones through 3Q17 appeared first on Pocketnow.
The things that died in 2017 (or will die soon) didn't deserve the fate they got. Well, at least according to us. Find out what we're mourning as we move onto another year.
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The premium Android tablet of 2015 that was rumored to have been the start to a revamp of Chrome OS is now off the first-party retail outlet.
The post Pixel C ends run at Google Store appeared first on Pocketnow.
Keeping those New Year’s resolutions could be tricky with all the distractions 2018 is set to bring, but what if you could use your phone to help you keep on track?
There are lots of apps on the market that can help you keep your head in the game and make it much more likely you'll reach your goal, whatever it is.
Below we've listed our top choices to help you stay on track with the new goals you're setting for yourself for 2018.
To sort your life out, you need to get a good to-do list app up and running on your phone. One of our favorites is Todoist, which you can have on either your Android or iPhone.
It's a great way to organize your lists so you can keep up with everything you need to do. Todoist looks great, allows you to organize yourself and you can also integrate it with an Amazon Echo so you can make notes whenever you want by just using your voice.
Lots of people want to read more every year, and if you want to keep track of the books you want to get into in 2018 this may be the best choice for you.
It's exclusive to iPhone, but Bookout allows you to make lists of titles you want to read as well as tick off the ones you've already got to. There are even further options that allow you to make notes or quotes from each book you're reading.
It's one of the most boring tasks, but if you plan to update and keep track of all your passwords this year we'd recommend trying out LastPass.
It can generate secure passwords for all your accounts and keep them stored safely away behind encryption, so you'll never lose them and are less likely to get hacked.
The name of this app basically sums up what you can expect from it and it may even be what you've written down as your New Year's resolution for 2018.
This app will help you lay out all of your expenses at the same time and you'll be able to work out where you can save money and why you're spending so much every year. You will need to pay after a full month of using the service, but if you find it's saving you money it's likely worth your investment.
Have you decided you want to get fit in the new year? If you plan to do that by running or cycling we'd recommend using Strava to get your feet moving.
It features challenges you can get started with or you can just start jogging and use it to track your stats as you're out and about. There are also leaderboards, so if you're motivated by competition then Strava could help even more.
If running isn't your thing, we recommend the Nike Training Club app to get yourself fit in 2018. It offers a bunch of free workouts - over 160 at the last count - and allows you to work out at home in a variety of ways.
You can choose how much equipment you have, how hard you want to go and how often you want to work out and then it'll create a schedule for you.
Update: Happy New Year! 2017 may be behind us, but its best Android phones are still very much in the here and now. 2018 promises to bring us a raft of new Android smartphones, but it's still early days and no new launches have happened just yet.
There's one key way in which Android is massively different from its Apple-branded smartphone competition - the number of phones out there running Google's hot mobile OS.
The big names are all here; Samsung, Sony, LG and Google are at the fore. The many variations in screen size, processor power, software features and design makes finding the best Android phone for you extremely tough.
2018 promises to bring us a new fleet of high-powered, highly attractive and showstopping handsets, with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S9, HTC U12, LG G7, Huawei P11 and OnePlus 6 all rumored - but for now that's all they are, rumors.
Want to know our top 5 smartphones you can buy right now? Watch below!
To help find the most fitting Android phone for you, we've rounded up the best Android handsets out there today, rating the phones on hardware performance, OS upgrade potential and, of course, how shiny and nice they are to have and boast about to work colleagues.
So here they are - the best Android phones money can buy today. For many, many different reasons.
Samsung has once again taken the top spot of the best Android phone in the world right now.
Samsung's latest Galaxy S8 is in the top position of this list thanks to an incredible design, amazing display and some truly great power packed into the phone.
Everything that has made Samsung phones great over the last few years has been packed into this 5.8-inch device - that's almost bezeless too - and comes with top of the range hardware and some easy to use Android software.
There's a new iris scanner to allow you to unlock the phone with just your eyes and Samsung has also included a new voice assistant called Bixby. It's not the perfect device some had hoped for, but it's the best Android phone you can buy at the moment.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8
Second place goes to the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus. We've loved both the Galaxy S6 Edge and the Galaxy S7 Edge, but this year we prefer the smaller device of the flagship pairing.
The size of the Galaxy S8 Plus may put some people off at 6.2-inches, but we found the device easy to use and the main reason the Plus sits in second place is its higher price.
Everything we love about the Galaxy S8 is available here as Samsung has decided to only really changed the sizes of the screens rather than fiddling with the spec inside the device.
That same powerful 12MP camera and top of the range power setup is here to do everything you want it to as well as the new biometric tech that may allow you to unlock your phone faster than ever before.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
A big-screen handset isn't for everyone though, and for those looking for a palm-friendly phone which still boasts the power and performance of a flagship will like the look of the Google Pixel 2.
It's bezel heavy design won't exactly dazzle, but this is a phone you can comfortably use one-handed, with a crisp, clear full HD display and stock Android 8 Oreo at your fingertips.
Like its bigger brother, the Pixel 2 XL, the Pixel 2 also boasts Google's stunning 12MP camera which takes seriously impressive snaps.
The smaller size does mean the Pixel 2 carries a smaller price tag, but it's still far from cheap and when it comes to spending this amount we'd recommend plumping for the Pixel 2 XL if its size doesn't put you off.
Read our full review: Google Pixel 2
Huawei is getting really good at making competitive, high-end flagships these days and the Mate 10 Pro is its best handset to date.
The standout feature is battery life, toppling pretty much every other phone on this list, but it’s also got a decent slug of power under the hood to handle any task you can chuck at it.
For those looking for a strong camera performance from their phone need to take a look at the Mate 10 Pro as well. Phones higher up in this list offer better auto modes, but for camera enthusiasts the Mate 10 Pro provides a great selection of modes and settings.
Read our full review: Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Three Samsung phones in the top five?! It may seem extreme, but there's a very good reason why - they're all really, really good.
The Galaxy Note 8 doesn't quite hit the heights of its S8 siblings thanks to its lofty price tag and number of similarities to the S8 Plus, but it's a triumphant return to form for a series that was potentially in trouble after the Note 7 debacle.
But enough about other handsets, what makes the Galaxy Note 8 worthy of its fifth place birth? There's no question the phablet is more of a niche device, but its iconic S Pen stylus is now even better, with higher accuracy and more levels of pressure sensitivity making it great for sketching and drawing.
Then there's the massive 6.3-inch QHD Infinity Display which is superb for movies and games, and with a display this big using apps side-by-side isn't just possible, it makes sense!
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Just when you think it's a Samsung landslide in the best Android phones list, the LG V30 appears!
Building on the G6 from earlier in 2016, the V30 improves in a number of ways including an improved design, larger, more colorful display and an update-to-date chipset under the hood.
In short what you get is a super smartphone absolutely bursting with features, making it great for gaming, movies, photography and music.
Its design isn't quite as jaw-dropping as the Samsung's that rank higher than it, nor are its dual-cameras quite the all-round super snappers, but this is a seriously impressive smartphone.
Read the full review: LG V30
The LG G6 is a top Android smartphone, with an excellent premium design, lovely QHD display and clever dual camera setup round the back giving you plenty to play with and enjoy.
However, some odd choices to go with lower-spec performance and not upgrade the camera in a meaningful way, but with more recent price drops the LG G6 is still more than good enough for our best Android phone list.
That doesn't mean the G6 isn't innovative – the screen looks great and there's raw power, from the camera to the battery to the general snappiness of the handset, rippling through this phone.
Read the full review: LG G6
The OnePlus 5T offers a pleasing array of upgrades that keeps fans of the brand happy without reinventing the wheel or upping the price.
It's the best phone the brand has ever made, and one that can mix it with the best handsets around without looking out of place
While there are a few small compromises to consider - no QHD display, stereo speakers, expandable storage or standout camera - the OnePlus 5T represents some of the best value for money in the market. You won’t be disappointed.
Read the full review: OnePlus 5T
Google's Pixel range has matured in 2017, and the Pixel 2 XL is the firm's top dog with its impressive, slender bezel design, dual front-facing speakers and simply fantastic camera.
If you're in the market for a new smartphone and camera quality is of high importance, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING. The camera on the Google Pixel 2 XL is one of the most - if not the most - impressive snappers we've used on a phone.
There's also a whole heap of power under the hood, and the 6-inch display gives you lots of space to operate.
The design isn't overly inspiring on the rear, it's not the most premium feeling phone in the hand - a shame considering the price tag - and the viewing angle on the screen is very narrow before a blue tint creeps in, but there's no question this is a great device.
Read the full review: Google Pixel 2 XL
The Xperia XZ Premium is the flagship smartphone Sony fans have been waiting for, bringing together an eye-popping display, strong snapper and solid battery life.
Those who love watching films and TV shows in 4K can do so on the move with the 4K screen on the XZ Premium - no other phone on this list can boast that - while the front-facing dual speakers also enhance videos and gaming.
If there's an area the XZ Premium does lack in, it's design. The flat glass front and rear are sleek, but the plastic edges of the phone detract from the 'Premium' part of the name.
Make no mistake though, this is a proper, fully-loaded Android flagship which easily holds its own against the competition.
Read our full review: Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Following the reveal that Apple has been slowing down older iPhones as their batteries aged, Tim Cook's company has now announced that it will be immediately offering discount replacement battery packs for those affected.
Originally, Apple had believed that the discounted batteries would not be available until late January. But as the severity of the situation has risen, Apple appears to have been able to speed up the process.
The batteries would normally cost $79 when not under warranty, but are to be offered for $29 instead. The company has stressed that the replacements may initially be in short supply, however.
“We expected to need more time to be ready, but we are happy to offer our customers the lower pricing right away,” said Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller.
It's been a damaging week for Apple in the eyes of its customers. While its reasoning for slowing down older devices (extending their lifespan) may be sound, the delayed lack of transparency around the situation has fuelled existing conspiracy theories that Apple reduces the performance of older devices simply to encourage customers to buy new replacements.
In an effort to address these concerns going forward, Apple will be releasing an iOS update that will let users more easily monitor the health of their device's batteries, and whether or not performance is being affected as a result.
The Google Chromecast is not only one of the most useful and innovative gadgets of the last few years, it's also dazzlingly cheap. And if you're looking to pick one up for the cheapest possible price, you've come to the right place! We usually see some decent discounts at this time of year too.
Chromecast is a Wi-Fi HDMI dongle that you plug directly into your TV. From there you can use your smartphone or tablet to 'throw' video at your TV over Wi-Fii, whether it be Netflix movies, live football matches from the major broadcasters or simply just a funny YouTube video. On this page we'll find you the best prices for the Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 2 (or just Chromecast now) and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ.
With prices already incredibly cheap, there's no need to hang on for the sales. If you're in the UK or US and would prefer to stream content from a standalone box, you should take a look at the latest Roku deals.
This one's easy. The standard price for a Chromecast 2 is $35 in the USA, £30 in the UK and $58 in Australia. You should never, ever pay more than that because you can always find one for that price.
The Chromecast 2, or 'new Chromecast' as it's also known, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. If you can find one for the same price, get this new one.
While it doesn't offer true multi-room streaming at the moment (fingers crossed that comes soon), this easy-to-use and affordable device modernizes any trusty set of wired speakers you already own with wireless capabilities. In doing so, it also opens them up to features that will grow and get even better over time. Got an old set of speakers or an ancient iPod dock? Turn it into a wireless speaker with Chromecast Audio!
The 4K Chromecast Ultra is the newest member of the Chromecast family. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. The Chromecast Ultra is a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Fire TV or the US-only Roku 4 for getting 4K content on your TV. Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around £69/US$69/AU$95, so anything cheaper is an added bonus.
Apple's new wireless headphones have proven difficult to find since launch, but we've tracked down the cheapest AirPods prices on the net to make sure you get the best deal.
Stock of AirPods has been getting snapped up at a super fast rate, which isn't great news for those of you looking for a big discount. The AirPods' price is undeniably high, but we're in familiar territory here given Apple's reputation for premium items with the cost to match.
If you've taken advantage of a cheap iPhone 7 deal or iPhone 8 deal lately, the Apple AirPods rank amongst the best earphones to pair with your new phone. Although, as they're bluetooth, you can pair them with plenty of other mobile phones too and even laptops.
Update: UK readers, we have an exclusive Airpods discount code to save you even more money. You can use this code for 3% off - 3TECHRADAR at AO.com.
The official AirPods' price is $159 in the US and £159 in the UK. So you shouldn't pay any more. Although, we have seen some stores cheekily push the price up when stock thins out.
At the time of writing, we're seeing that AirPods are mainly available at the official Apple store. They're actually the cheapest there too generally as the third-party prices at Amazon and eBay have seen inflated prices thanks to the lack of stock.
Once stock is more readily available everywhere though, expect the usual outlets to charge closer to the RRP and, better yet, dip below it. Fingers crossed we don't have to wait long though!
As an alternative, there are lots of wireless earphone and headphone deals in our Beats headphone deals page.
LG has long experimented with flexible displays, with years of research starting to bear fruit in the company's super-light, super-bendy (and super-expensive) OLED TV displays. It now looks as though the company may be ready to begin trickling that tech down into some interesting portable devices.
A 2016 patent, uncovered by LetsGoDigital describes a device with a flexible, extendable display. Filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation and published last week, it shows a device that can be pulled at the sides, extending the screen depending on the application. This appears to leave an exposed edge to the extended part of the screen, with a metal frame circling the display when back in its 'neutral' position.
The patent shows a number of different applications for the device, including an extended keyboard, and more screen real estate for when dealing with emails, versus the at-a-glance portability of its smaller portrait position.
The device, as described in the patent, would include many of the features you'd expect to find in your average smartphone too, from a wireless module to a camera and mic, right down to a removable battery.
However, as ever, a patent is now sure-fire sign of a product in the works, but merely a company protecting its ideas from the competition.
But, as the smartphone market has matured, and flexible screen technologies improved, the potential for a real device like this has grown. It's increasingly difficult for phone buyers to get excited by yet another metal-and-glass slate phone. An idea like this brought to fruition could reap rewards for LG, whose smartphone business – while turning out solid devices – has never quite reached the heights it hoped for.
Good news for fans of finely crafted, exquisitely detailed smartphones - sources in South Korea say production is about to start on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, putting them on course for an official unveiling at the Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona at the end of February.
ETNews reports that as soon as the New Year celebrations are ended, the wheels are going to begin to turn in earnest as far as cranking out the Galaxy S9 phones goes. In other words, everything's right on course as Samsung looks to wow us with its 2018 offerings.
One of the upgrades that parts suppliers are hinting at this year is an upgraded, 'stacked' motherboard, similar to the one used in the iPhone X. As well as enabling the usual speed and efficiency improvements we've come to expect each year, the board also means there's more room inside the phone for a bigger battery.
With the S9 and S9 Plus reveal now probably less than two months away, we've heard plenty about what to expect from Samsung's next top-end handsets. Apparently the 3.5mm audio headphone jack has again made the cut, while the Snapdragon 845 will be powering the phones (in some countries at least).
We've also seen leaked renders of the Galaxy S9, which may even manage to embed a fingerprint reader under the front display, if the rumor mill is to be believed. As for that 18.5:9 Infinity Display, supply chain sources say the visible bezels are going to be shrunk even further for a screen-to-body ratio of around 90%.
All of which leaves us eagerly awaiting Mobile World Congress, which kicks off with a press day on February 25. Samsung has a history of launching flagships at the event, although the Galaxy S8 was an exception.
Via SlashGear
YouTube could not guarantee it being on Fire TV after January 1. But alas, Google's ongoing spat with Amazon has resulted in an early blockage.
The post Prior to new year, YouTube app for Fire TV stops working appeared first on Pocketnow.
Following Apple’s admission that it deliberately slowed down older phones to allow the battery to continue to power the processor, the list of rival smartphone manufacturers announcing they don’t follow the same practice continues to grow.
Yesterday we saw statements from both Moto and HTC affirming that they don’t throttle their smartphones, and today Samsung and LG Electronics have both chimed in to report that they don’t either, reports PhoneArena.
LG kept it brief, saying, “Never have, never will! We care what our customers think.”
Samsung was more chatty, saying, “Product quality has been and will always be Samsung Mobile's top priority. We ensure extended battery life of Samsung mobile devices through multi-layer safety measures, which include software algorithms that govern the battery charging current and charging duration. We do not reduce CPU performance through software updates over the lifecycles of the phone.”
Good to know, but these statements probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering that Apple’s practice grew out of a very specific response to the iPhone 6 last January after customers noticed that their devices were shutting down without warning.
With iOS Patch 10.2.1, Apple announced that it had “improved” the issue, but wasn’t upfront about the nature of that improvement, leading to the current backlash. It was a “quick fix” that unfortunately apparently became standard practice.
Apple has since penned a letter of apology, and also announced that it will start offering battery replacements for the iPhone 6 and above throughout all of 2018 for just $29/£25. That’s a significant drop down from the usual price of $79/£79.
The tech giant has also stated that an iPhone’s batteries drain significantly after 500 charge cycles, and that it plans to introduce more tools to better keep track of your iPhone’s battery life in iOS in 2018.
There was a claim floating around for a short minute saying that Apple had told everyone it was throttling performance on older iPhones in February.
The post Did Apple tell anyone about iPhone slowdowns earlier? appeared first on Pocketnow.
It's good for the iPhone because the battery might screw your life up, the company says. It's sorry, it says. We have our say on what Apple is saying about iPhone processor throttling.
The post Pulling back on the iPhone 7 throttle | #PNWeekly 285 (LIVE at 3p ET) appeared first on Pocketnow.
Rural mobile users could find it easier to get connected in future, thanks to government reforms that have just come into force.
The changes to the Electronic Communications Code (EEC) were announced in October and will have profound effects on the way that mobile communications infrastructure will be deployed. The new rules will help counter the criticism of the country’s mobile infrastructure that was sent to Ofcom by the National Infrastructure Commission.
Under the new regulations, telecoms operators will pay reduced rents for installation of equipment to landowners. The charges will be more in line with the charged made to utilities providers.
In addition, it will now be easier for operators to share their infrastructure with other providers, helping to increase coverage and reduce costs. Further changes will include a simplified disputes procedure.
The minister for digital Matt Hancock said: "The laws that we've brought into force today strike another blow to diminish the digital divide. Improving mobile and broadband services for people struggling with poor connections is a top priority for us - we want everyone to benefit from the digital revolution. Removing these outdated restrictions will help promote investment and give mobile operators more freedom to improve their networks in hard-to-reach places."
We've had our say, now it's our readers' chance to pick a winner. Which flagship gets the tip-top mark for 2017? Cast your ballot and find out on New Year's Day!
The post Vote for your top flagship smartphone of 2017! appeared first on Pocketnow.
Come see why VPN Unlimited is a customer and critic favorite today. You can get unlimited access for the low price of $29.99 after the price drop. That's 94% off the original price!
The post PC Mag’s Top VPN for 2017 — 94% off! appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple today released a message to its customers in line with the ongoing 'iPhone slow down' controversy. The message comes with an apology for forcing older iPhones to slow down in order to preserve their battery lives.
In the post, Apple attempts to explain its actions and make up for the issues faced by its customers. The company said it would never intentionally shorten the life of an Apple product.
To mollify its customers, Apple announced a discount on battery replacements for those using an iPhone 6 or later. In the US, new replacement cost has been brought down to $29, which represents an impressive discount over the $80 Apple usually charges.
For Indian customers, Apple is offering over 50 percent discount on battery replacements in the country. The company has confirmed that battery replacement in India will now cost Rs. 2000 plus taxes, whereas it used to be Rs. 6000 and above. This revised price is for batteries on the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7 and 7 Plus.
However, the offer will only be applicable from January through to December 2018. According to Apple, it will also introduce new elements to iOS 11 that provides more battery related information to users. As part of that effort, Apple also introduced a lengthy new support document covering “iPhone Battery and Performance.”
Many iPhone owners have believed that Apple has been intentionally slowing down their devices for years, usually with the assumption that Apple was trying to force people into buying newer phones.
The truth, according to Apple's letter, is that as iPhones age, their batteries don’t remain strong enough to properly power the processor. So, Apple slows them down a bit so as to keep the device functional. The battery is unable to deliver the current required to run the processor at peak speeds, and may lead to a device shut down.
As we mentioned in our previous coverage, Apple already essentially announced that it was doing this with the release of iOS 10.2.1, which was meant to stop some iPhone 6 units from unexpectedly shutting down.
All that the patch notes said at the time, though, was that 10.2.1 "improves power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on iPhone." And that improvement worked, and it worked quickly.
Unfortunately, the true nature of that fix wasn’t revealed by Apple itself; instead, it came from independent researchers such as Geekbench's John Poole who showed how Apple was significantly throttling the iPhone 6 and other phones, leading to accusations of betrayal of trust, lawsuits, and general anger.
Hopefully cheaper battery replacements turn out to be a big step in restoring that trust, but considering that there was already a cynical belief that Apple was mishandling its customers in place, the aftershocks might be felt for a while yet.
Motorola today announced a permanent price cut on the Moto G5S Plus, the company's budget dual camera smartphone. With this price cut, the Moto G5S Plus is now available for Rs. 14,999, down from its launch price of Rs. 15,999.
The Rs. 1000 price cut puts the smartphone in contention with the Xiaomi Mi A1, Honor 7X and more. This price cut also reduces the price difference between the Moto G5S Plus and Moto G5S from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 1,000.
The Moto G5S Plus is available exclusively on Amazon India and Moto Hub stores, in Lunar Grey and Blush Gold colour options. Let’s take a look at the specifications of the device.
The Moto G5S Plus runs on Android 7.1 Nougat and is expected to get an upgrade for Android 8.0 Oreo soon. The device comes with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.
It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and the Adreno 506 GPU. It comes with 4GB RAM and 64 GB storage, which can be expanded to 256GB via a microSD card.
Coming to the camera department, the Moto G5S Plus features two 13MP cameras with f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash. On the front, the device sports an 8MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash.
The Moto G5S Plus is powered by a 3,000mAh battery and comes with Fast Charge. In terms of connectivity, it supports 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and microUSB 2.0. The fingerprint sensor in mounted on the front, along with the home button.
Xiaomi may follow Apple's footsteps and ditch the fingerprint sensor in its upcoming flagship device, the Mi 7. According to a report by My Drivers, Xiaomi may use 3D face unlock technology, similar to FaceID on the iPhone X.
This new report contradicts earlier rumours about Xiaomi using an under-display fingerprint sensor to minimise the bezels on the device. The company was expected to use Synaptics' recently announced under-display fingerprint sensor.
Incidentally, the in-display fingerprint sensor were supported by renders published by GizChina. The renders revealed both the front and back of the device showing features like dual cameras and an 18:9 display with minimal bezels. The edge-to-edge bezel-less display makes the device look similar to the Mi Mix 2.
Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun had earlier confirmed that the Mi 7 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. But not much is known about the device yet.
Earlier this year, Qualcomm and Vivo had demonstrated the in-display fingerprint sensor – even though the demonstration was on a prototype device, the technology seemed impressive, albeit a little slow. The slow response times could have pushed Xiaomi to change its plans and ditch the fingerprint sensor for its next flagship device, taking the iPhone X route.
Apple today released a letter explaining that it’s very, very sorry for that whole bit about forcing older iPhones to slow down in order to preserve their batteries.
As a way of attempting to make up for what it calls the “misunderstanding,” the company is now letting anyone who has an iPhone 6 or later iPhone to come in and replace their batteries for just $29, which represents an impressive discount over the $80 Apple usually charges.
The company also states that the batteries are “consumable components,” and that wording will likely lead to renewed criticisms that Apple should allow us to replace our batteries ourselves.
Unfortunately, the offer is only in place through from January through December of 2018, but Apple also claims that it will also introduce new elements to a future iOS 11 update that give a little more information about your battery’s health. As part of that effort, Apple also introduced a lengthy new support document covering “iPhone Battery and Performance.”
Many iPhone owners have believed that Apple has been intentionally slowing down their devices or years, usually with the assumption that Apple was trying to get people to keep buying newer phones than the ones they had.
The truth, according to Apple's letter, is that it’s a little more complex than that. As the newer iPhones since the iPhone 6 age, their batteries don’t remain strong enough to properly power the processor, and so Apple slows them down a bit so as to keep the processors functional.
As we mentioned in our previous coverage, Apple already essentially announced that it was doing this with the release of iOS 10.2.1, which was meant to stop some iPhone 6 units from unexpectedly shutting down.
All that the patch notes said at the time, though, was that 10.2.1 "improves power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on iPhone." And that improvement worked, and it worked quickly.
Unfortunately, the true nature of that fix wasn’t revealed by Apple itself; instead, it came from independent researchers such as Geekbench's John Poole who showed how Apple was significantly throttling the iPhone 6 and other phones, leading to accusations of betrayal of trust, lawsuits, and general anger.
Hopefully cheaper battery replacements turn out to be a big step in restoring that trust, but considering that there was already a cynical belief that Apple was mishandling its customers in place, the aftershocks might be felt for a while yet.
Chinese smartphone makers have in recent times started dominating in the budget and midrange segment in India. With companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and others leading the market in terms of both market share as well as mindshare, customers have a lot of options across different price ranges.
Although the Chinese brands are huge in number in it comes to India, only a few are well accepted by Indian consumers. Brands like Meizu, Nubia, Coolpad are still known by a large chunk of audiences but they are still thriving to get a solid identity on local soil.
From the entry level to the upper mid-range, for the selfie lovers to those who want raw specs and almost stock Android, there’s something for everyone.
Today we take a look at the top 10 smartphones from Chinese brands in India.
The OnePlus 5T is an upgraded version of the flagship device OnePlus 5 which the company launched in June 2017. The phone is available in two variants – 6GB/64GB and 8GB/128GB. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, the phone runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat which will be upgraded to Android Oreo in the beginning of 2018. It has Oxygen OS on top of Android which is responsible for the interface.
The highlight of the phone is its bigger display. It sports a 6.01-inch full HD AMOLED panel with an aspect ratio of 18:9. A 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 coating protects the screen from damage. However, it lacks the QHD resolution. It gets its daily dose of power from a 3,300mAh battery which supports Dash Charge.
In the camera department, the phone has a dual camera setup on the rear. It includes a 16-megapixel Sony IMX 398 sensor with an aperture size of f/1.7 and 27.22mm focal length and a 20-megapixel Sony IMX 376K sensor with the similar aperture size and focal length. The front camera comprises of a 16-megapixel IMX 371 sensor with an aperture size of f/2.0. The back also includes a fingerprint sensor above the logo.
Apart from the two above mentioned variants, OnePlus has launched a Star Wars Limited Edition variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.
It is available at a starting price of Rs 32,999.
Xiaomi Mi A1 is an outcome of Xiaomi’s partnership with Google. It is the first Xiaomi phone with stock Android and is one of the most popular mid-range device of the year. The phone comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display with 2.5D curved glass coating on the top. It runs on Android 7.1 Nougat. The company promised that the phone will receive the Android Oreo update by the end of 2017 and according to the recent reports it has started rolling out the beta version of the software.
The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB RAM and an internal storage of 64GB which is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. On the camera front, the phone has a dual camera setup on the rear with a 12-megapixel wide angle lens supported by a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. A 5-megapixel front shutter with 36 smart beauty profiles and face recognition sits above the display. It has a 3080mAh battery which lasts for a day. The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back of the phone.
The phone was launched in three colour variants – Gold, Rose Gold and Black, but now on the occasion of New Year, the company has launched a Special Edition Red colour variant, available for a limited time. It is available for Rs 14,999 in India.
The Moto G5 Plus is the successor of the G4 Plus from Lenovo backed Motorola. It comes with a 5.2-inch full HD IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with some customisations from Motorola. The device starts at Rs. 14,999.
In terms of Performance, the Moto G5 Plus comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, Adreno 506 GPU, 3GB or 4GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB storage, microSD expansion support, 3,000mAh battery with Turbo charging and a fingerprint sensor.
Coming to the camera department, the device sports a 12MP primary camera with f/1.7 aperture, dual pixel autofocus and dual LED flash, along with a 5MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture.
The Honor 7X is the first mid-range phone to come with an aspect ratio of 18:9, the feature which is commonly found on the flagship phones. It has a 5.9-inch full HD+ display which is vibrant and provides a great experience to the user. The phone is powered by Kirin 659 chipset backed by a 4GB RAM and an internal storage of 32GB. There is also a 64GB storage variant available in the market. The storage in both the variants is expandable up to 256GB via micro SD card.
The phone runs on Android 7.0 Nougat under the company’s custom EMUI (Emotion UI) 5.1. It has a 3,340mAh battery which provides sufficient fuel to sail you through your daily task but it does not support fast charging. It features a dual-camera setup on the back which comprises of a 16-megapixel primary sensor and 2-megapixel depth sensing lens. On the front, there is a 8-megapixel sensor which sits above the big display.
In terms of price, the 32GB and 63GB variant of Honor 7X are priced at Rs 12,999 and Rs 15,999 respectively.
Launched in August 2017, the Moto G5S Plus comes with an all-metal unibody design and curved corners which give it a premium feel in hand. It is powered by the similar Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB RAM and Adreno 506 GPU which the company used in G5 Plus. The phone has an internal storage capacity of 64GB which can be further extended up to 128GB via micro SD card.
Moto G5S Plus carries a 5.5-inch full HD display with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating on the top. Its 3000mAh battery provides enough fuel for the whole day. It also supports TurboCharging through which you can get up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. The phone is also splash resistant, thanks to the nano-coating.
Coming to the camera department, the Moto G5S Plus sports a dual camera setup on the rear with 13-megapixel sensors along with a dual LED flash. It has an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and LED flash on the front. The phone is available on Amazon India at a price tag of Rs 15,999.
Oppo F5 is one of the latest addition to the company’s selfie expert series after Oppo F3. The 18:9 aspect ratio was the most trending feature of 2017 which Oppo also decided to put in the F5. It features a big 6-inch full HD+ display and a screen to body ratio of 84.2 percent. The highlight of the phone is its Facial unlock and the AI Beauty Technology which is said to be the first AI-based beautifying technology in India
The phone comes with a MediaTek MT6763T chipset coupled with 4GB or 6GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. The user can extend the storage capacity to 265GB through a microSD card. While the phone has a 16-megapixel primary lens, it has a 20-megapixel sensor on the front which delivers excellent quality of selfies to the user.
Coming to the price, the 4GB and the 6GB variant of the phone are priced at Rs 19,990 and Rs 24,990 respectively.
While the other OEMs were busy in making smartphones with dual camera setup, Huawei went a step further with Honor 9i. It launched the phone with four cameras – 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel on the rear and 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel on the front.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 chipset, dual-core Mali T830 GPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The phone also has a micro SD card slot. It is loaded with Android 7.0 Nougat with EMUI 5.1 on the top.
The Honor 9i comes with a 5.9-inch full HD+ display with a 3,340mAh underneath. It is available in three colour variants – Prestige Gold, Aurora Blue and Graphite Black at Rs 17,999.
After launching Redmi Y1 and Y1 Lite in India, Xiaomi recently unveiled Redmi 5A in the market. The phone comes in two variants - 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB. The storage capacity is further expandable by 128GB via microSD card. Pitched as the "Desh Ka Smartphone" by the company, Redmi 5A features a 5-inch HD display and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with MIUI 9 on the top.
The daily tasks are managed by a quad-core Snapdragon 425 chipset and an Adreno 308 GPU handles the graphics of the phone. The phone comes with a 13-megapixel primary sensor with an aperture size of f/2.2 and a 5-megapixel secondary lens of f/2.0 aperture size. It gets its daily dose of power from a 3000mAh battery.
Redmi 5A is available in Gold, Rose Gold and Dark Grey colour variants with prices starting from Rs 4,999.
This budget device from Xiaomi is one of the highest selling device from the company in India. Xiaomi has reportedly sold over 5 million units of the Redmi Note 4 in India in just 6 months. The company sold 1 million units of the Redmi Note 4 in just 45 days of its first sale on January 23. While Xiaomi has not been able to capture the flagship segment, it has had good success in the budget segment with the Redmi and Redmi Note series.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 comes with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat skinned with MIUI on top. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor clubbed with Adreno 506 GPU, and comes in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM variants. It comes with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via microSD card.
Coming to the camera department, the Redmi Note 4 features a 13MP primary camera with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, 1.12 µm pixel size and dual LED flash, clubbed with a 5MP secondary camera with f/2,0 aperture. The Redmi Note 4 is powered by a 4,000mAh battery but lacks fast charge support. The device starts at Rs. 9,999.
Coolpad had launched the Cool Play 6 at event in Dubai on August 20 with a price tag of Rs. 14,999. The device comes with a dual camera setup on the back, 6GB RAM, Snapdragon 653 processor and runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
The Coolpad Cool Play 6 features a 5.5-inch full HD IPS LCD display and runs on Anrdoid 7.1.1 Nougat with Journey UI on top, with a promised upgrade to Android O. In terms of performance, the device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor, Adreno 510 GPU, 6GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and a 4,000mAh battery.
Coming to the camera department, the Coolpad Cool Play 6 features a dual camera setup. It comes with dual 13MP cameras with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and a dual LED flash along with an 8MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture.
