Senin, 30 April 2018

Huawei P20 Pro survives scratch, burn, and bend testing but gets wounded in the process

The Huawei P20 Pro is the latest smartphone to be put through the now-routine scratch, burn, and bend testing by Zack from YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. Huawei's newest flagship starts off decently, but finishes the test in not the best shape. The screen scratches only with a level 6 Mohs pick, and at level 7 there's a deeper groove. Huawei fits the P20 Pro with a plastic screen protector from the factory, but doesn't advertise that there's Gorilla Glass of any kind on top of the display panel. It's just 'tempered glass' of the generic variety. That seems to be a problem...

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Samsung leads the premium smartphone segment in India

Samsung has been battling strong competition from the Chinese OEMs in the Indian smartphone market. In particular, Xiaomi with its ruthless pricing has posed a major threat to Samsung’s dominance in India. Depending on which market research firm you believe, Xiaomi was either ahead of or close to Samsung’s market share during the second-half of 2017 in India.

So far, Q1 2018 also seems to be following the same trend, despite Samsung’s efforts. Last week, Canalys published Q1 smartphone shipment numbers for India, placing Xiaomi at the top of the vendors’ list with 31% market share. Prior to that, Counterpoint Research also crowned Xiaomi as the largest vendor in India in the first quarter of 2018.

Demand for the Galaxy S9/S9+ pushed Samsung to the top

However, in the premium smartphone segment, Samsung seems to be doing well despite the competition from Apple, OnePlus, and others. According to the data published by Counterpoint Research for Q1 2018, Samsung regained the top spot in the premium smartphone segment (Apple held it in Q4 2017) with around 50% market share and 16% YoY growth. The upsurge is driven by the strong demand for the recently launched Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy A8+.

Even in the premium smartphone segment, which the Counterpoint Research pegs at 4% of the overall Indian smartphone market, Samsung is facing heat from a Chinese brand known for its aggressive pricing. While Xiaomi is the Samsung’s main rival in the budget segment, another Chinese company, OnePlus, is shaping up to be a major contender in the premium smartphone market by holding on to the second place in market share since Q3 2017.

In fact, Counterpoint Research crowns OnePlus 5T as the best-selling premium smartphone in the last quarter which, to be frank, sounds dubious given its limited availability and marketing spend. Apple settled for the third spot as the euphoria around its new phones begins to fade.

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Samsung officially launches 128GB and 256GB Galaxy S9 and S9+ in the US

Today Samsung has decided to bring the 128GB and 256GB Galaxy S9 and S9+ to the USA. Both iterations will become available to pre-order tomorrow, on May 1. They will be released on May 18, exclusively at Samsung.com. We assume the company has surveyed the market and figured out there wouldn't be a lot of demand for these storage versions. Otherwise, selling them exclusively through its online store wouldn't make a lot of sense. Of course, you can still use microSD cards (up to 400GB) even with these models, for a possible maximum grand total of 656GB on your phone if you splurge and...

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LG V30 ThinQ long-term review

F5 refreshes the page in the web browser on your computer. So what's the Oppo F5, then? Is it a refresh of sorts, too? Or maybe it's a refreshing mid-range smartphone that's trying to look like it's more expensive than it actually is. Refreshing, but not niggle-free. Pretty, but not without its faults. Good in most areas, frustrating in others.

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Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ with 128GB and 256GB storage launched in the US

Customers in the United States can rejoice because Samsung just announced that it has launched the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ with 128GB and 256GB of internal storage in the country. It’s going to start taking pre-orders for these variants from tomorrow, May 1, and the units will be shipped out to customers later this month.

These variants will be exclusively sold by Samsung

Samsung has confirmed that both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will now be available in 128/256GB storage variants to customers in the United States. They will be able to use all of this additional internal storage to store more multimedia content, including those gorgeous Super Slow-mo videos.

Just because these variants have more internal storage doesn’t mean they’ve lost support for external expansion. Just like the other variants, they too support external expansion up to 400GB via microSD cards. While we’re on the subject of microSD cards, here are some of the best microSD cards for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.

Samsung and its partners have only sold the variant with 64GB of internal storage in the United States so far. It’s good that customers in the country will now have more options but it’s not like this is the first time these variants are being rolled out. Samsung has already been selling the 128GB variant in India.

Pre-orders for these variants will open tomorrow and they will be sold exclusively through Samsung.com. No other retailer or carrier will offer these variants. The 128GB and 256GB Galaxy S9 will cost $769.99 and $819.99 respectively while the Galaxy S9+ will be priced at $889.99 and $939.99 respectively. Both variants will be available in Coral Blue, Lilac Purple and Midnight Black colors.

Remember, these variants will be exclusively sold through Samsung’s own website. The company won’t be selling these variants through any of its retail and carrier partners in the United States.

Samsung will begin shipping units to customers on May 18.

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Is the Xiaomi Mi 7 coming on May 23?

Xiaomi could unveil the Mi 7 on May 23 if a new official-looking poster is to be believed. The poster looks real enough and features a burning 7 and the date May 23 along with the Mi logo, which usually adorns Xiaomi teaser posters. But the image isn't of very high quality and it hasn't been posted on Xiaomi's official Weibo account but is instead found elsewhere on Weibo. Of course, that doesn't discount the information and the teaser as false. We're just advising caution at this point. The Xiaomi Mi 6 was announced a year ago in April, which puts the timing right on the...

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Motorola Moto G6 now in stock in the UK, sim free

The Motorola Moto G6 is now in stock SIM free in the UK with domestic and international shipping available. The Moto G6 in Deep Indigo is priced at £219, which coincides with official pricing in the Netherlands where the Moto G6 is listed at €250. Currently only UK retailers Unlocked-Mobiles and Clove have the Moto G6 in stock. Others have the device projected for a May 9th availability. Meanwhile the Moto G6 Plus is also expected to fill the shelves on May 9 while the Moto G6 Play will make become available later on in May. Hat tip to James! Source 1 | Source 2

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HTC U12+ sample photos detail two 12MP cameras with f/1.8 and f/2.6 aperture

A few sample images have surfaced, shot with an unknown HTC device which could prove to be the U12+ - HTC's next flagship. The samples aren't spectacular in and of themselves, but they share some valuable information regarding the unnamed phone's camera equipment. For starters we're looking at two distinct apertures - f/1.8 and f/2.6. There's a single camera sample shot with the wider f/1.8 aperture and the rest are shot with the narrower f/2.6. All four images are 12MP. So this means that the HTC U12+ has a dual camera with a 12MP f/1.8 main snapper and a second (perhaps telephoto)...

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Galaxy A8 (2018) Android 8.0 Oreo development is underway

In an ideal world, any smartphone that is launched at least a month or two after the newest version of Android has been officially released by Google should come running that version of Android out of the box. In the practical world, and certainly in Samsung’s galaxy (pun intended), that’s not the case. The Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018), for example, hit the market with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box in January this year, and there’s still no word on when the Oreo update for these handsets will be released. Android 8.0 Oreo for these phones is on the cards, though, and we can now confirm that Samsung has started working on the Galaxy A8 (2018) Oreo update.

Galaxy A8 (2018) Oreo update is in the making

The news that Oreo development has begun for the Galaxy A8 was broken by GalaxyClub, and we have been able to confirm the same from our own sources. Sadly, Samsung seems to have only just started working on the Galaxy A8 Oreo update. The Galaxy A (2017) phones started receiving the Oreo update recently, which makes it further disappointing that the newest, best, and priciest of Samsung’s mid-range lineup are still sitting on an older version of the OS. The first major OS update for Samsung’s previous Galaxy A series phones have usually debuted between July and August, and we can expect a similar time frame when it comes to Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+.

The current Oreo test build for the Galaxy A8 has the firmware version A530FXXU2BRDx. The build number for the latest official Nougat firmware for the device is A530FXXU2ARD3, and the jump from A to B in the middle of the build number is what suggests that the firmware under development is based on Android 8.0 Oreo. Such letter changes can also sometimes happen for major software updates that bring new features and changes without changing the version of Android, but that is unlikely to be the case for recent phones such as the Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8+.

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Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) and A6+ (2018) prices leak

Leak by leak, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) and Galaxy A6 (2018) are becoming ever clearer and now we have their expected prices as well. The Galaxy A6 (2018) will be priced between €300-€340 while the Galaxy A6+ (2018) will carry a price of €360-€400. Otherwise the newly rumored specs follow what has been leaked and rumored so far, only instead of a Snapdragon 625, the bigger Galaxy A6+ (2018) is projected to have a Snapdragon 450. The Galaxy A6 (2018) will have a 5.6-inch Super AMOLED of 1440x720px resolution, an Exynos 7870 chipset with 3GB or in some countries 4GB of RAM, a...

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Samsung Gear S3 and Gear Sport currently available at discounted rates

The Samsung Gear S3 and Gear Sport have been officially discounted in the US. The South Korean company is offering a flat $70 discount on both smartwatches, bringing down their price to $280 and $230, respectively. It's worth mentioning that the deal is available only on the non-LTE models. Apart from Samsung, third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are also offering similar discounts. No information on when these promos end. For more info, head to the Source links below. Source 1 2 3 4

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Xiaomi raises Redmi Note 5 Pro and Mi LED TV 4 55" Indian prices to cover for higher taxes

Xiaomi is raising the Redmi Note 5 Pro and Mi LED TV 4 55" prices in India to cover for the new 10% duty on PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) imports in the country. The price hike is only marginal - the Redmi Note 5 Pro price has been increased by INR 1,000 (roughly €12) while the Mi LED TV 4 55" by INR 5,000 (around €60). So starting May 1 the TV will cost INR 44,999 while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro will start at INR 14,999 for the 4GB+64GB model and INR 16,999 for the 6GB+64GB one. Xiaomi will honor all pre-orders on the previous INR 13,999 price. Xiaomi's Indian Head Manu...

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Nokia X6 will be announced on May 16 in China

Nokia is prepping a press event in Beijing on May 16 in honor of its Nokia X6 smartphone. It was rumored that the Nokia X would come on April 27 but that was proven to be the start of a 6 day conference that Nokia is holding in China - from April 27 to May 2 - to promote its entire new lineup of smartphones. The Nokia X6 is one of those smartphones. The X6 has been displayed to the general press, which is how we got some clear hands-on photos of it, but the device is locked so we can't gauge its specs. Nokia X invite for May 16 (click for larger image) Now Nokia has issued an...

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T-Mobile’s latest Galaxy S9+ update includes the May 2018 security patch

There have been a couple of instances where a software update for one of Samsung’s devices brought with it the next month’s Android security patch ahead of the patch’s official release and announcement by Google, and it’s happening again. T-Mobile is pushing out an update to the Galaxy S9+ (and we’re assuming the regular S9 as well, though we can’t confirm at the moment) that includes the May 2018 security patch. The update has been available since late last week, and the build number is G965USQU2ARD9.

May 2018 security patch is out early

This would be the first time in many months that a new security patch will be released for a flagship Galaxy before a mid-range or budget ones device. T-Mobile’s software update page for the S9 and S9+ doesn’t mention the newest update yet, so it’s possible the update may have been pushed out a bit too soon. In addition to the yet unannounced security patch, the update brings a new splash screen for when the phone boots up. That’s pretty much it for the noticeable stuff introduced by the update, and we should have information on the kind of vulnerabilities fixed by the May security patch in a couple of days.

Is the new update available on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+ on T-Mobile? To check, open the Settings app on your phone, tap Software update, then tap Download updates manually.

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Galaxy S9 sales reportedly hit record lows in South Korea

Samsung expects Galaxy S9 sales to outperform the Galaxy S8 but it seems that its home country of South Korea might not help it that much in achieving this aim. A new report out of the country claims that Galaxy S9 sales in South Korea have plunged to record-low levels compared to its predecessor. The report is based on industry data received by ET News.

Galaxy S9 sales

Sales figures from South Korea’s top three mobile carriers – SK Telecom, LG Uplus and KT – reveal that the Galaxy S9 sold more than 707,000 units over the past two months. Samsung released the handset in March. This is said to be the lowest-ever figure for a flagship Galaxy S handset.

That’s a considerable decline compared to the almost 1 million units that the Galaxy S8 sold in South Korea in the same period after its launch. Galaxy S9 sales were reportedly cut in half this month as only 231,000 units were sold compared to 476,000 units in March.

This isn’t the first time that we’re hearing about the Galaxy S9 proving to be a tough sell in South Korea. It was reported not too long after the handset was released that South Koreans don’t seem to be that interested in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ as they’re not significantly different from their predecessors. The report also mentioned that it was actually the Galaxy A8 (2018) that was Samsung’s best-selling smartphone in its home country currently.

Industry watchers cited in this latest report also point toward the lack of significant changes as one of the main factors behind sluggish sales of Samsung’s new flagship smartphone. The high price is said to be another factor.

Perhaps Samsung can find solace in the fact that the iPhone X has not been doing any well either. The report claims that sales of Apple’s flagship handset are at record lows as well. The iPhone X has reportedly sold only 475,000 units in South Korea since its November 2017 launch. They’re also said to be the lowest-ever figures for a new flagship iPhone launch in South Korea.

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BlackBerry 'Athena' leaks in live images, could be called KEY²

Shortly after it was spotted on TENAA's website, the BlackBerry Athena has leaked in live images. Design-wise, these newly leaked images are inline with what TENAA had revealed. Here's one of the leaked images: The second one shows the device on the left, and an image clicked by the phone on the right. Note the BlackBerry KEY² moniker at the bottom of the image on the right. Well, the moniker/watermark doesn't make anything official, as this can be done using tools/apps that are widely available. However, the name does make sense given it's the successor to the Keyone. As...

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SamMobile Firmware Update Magazine: April 30, 2018

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly Firmware Magazine. You can think of it as your go-to resource to find out which of your Samsung devices has received a new update or if it’s going to receive a new firmware update in the near future.

To keep things interesting, we present the Firmware Magazine in new designs every week. It will always include the important details about firmware updates such as the firmware versions, device model numbers, Android OS versions and the country where said update is out already.

SamMobile Firmware Update Magazine

Keep in mind, however, that these firmware details are based on the firmware that are available in our database, and in some cases, the latest updates might not show in the same week as the full firmware files take additional time to make it to our database.

The purpose of this magazine is to bring all of that important information about firmware updates to you, the reader, in a manner that’s easy to comprehend—so even if you’re new to the world of firmware, you’ll have no trouble making sense of it all.

Click on the image below to grab the latest firmware magazine!

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Samsung Galaxy A6+ TENAA listing reveals 6-inch display, 3,500mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) has been spotted the website of China's telecom regulatory authority TENAA. While it's already known the device features an infinity display (18.5:9 aspect ratio), the listing confirms few other major specs. Firstly, the images re-confirm a dual camera setup on the back as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. As per TENAA, the handset has a display size of 6-inch and a resolution of 2220×1080 pixels. It's 160.1×75.7×7.9mm in size and packs in a 3,500mAh battery. Rumors say the Snapdragon 625 SoC powers the Galaxy A6+ (2018) and there is 4GB...

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Oreo for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge should be out in a couple of weeks

It’s unclear as yet precisely when Oreo for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is going to be rolled out. Samsung hasn’t provided a precise date so far but recent reports suggest that the update could be out by mid-May. A notice posted by the company in the Samsung Members app for Korean users reiterates the possibility that Oreo for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge should be out by mid-May.

Oreo for Galaxy S7

It won’t be long before the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge are updated to Android 8.0 Oreo. Both handsets were recently certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance running the new firmware so it’s only a matter of time. All U.S. carrier variants have also been certified on Oreo.

Guncelmiyiz, a website run by Samsung Turkey, provides timeframes for firmware updates and the website was recently updated with a new schedule which stated that Oreo for Galaxy S7 will be out by May 18.

However, the schedules on this website tend to change often without notice so many might not have taken the information at face value. It’s a good sign, though, that the notice on the Korean Samsung Members app tells a similar story.

A machine translation of the notice reveals that the company is “doing its best” to have Oreo for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge out by mid-May. That’s the plan now and hopefully, Samsung will stick to it if no issues are discovered in the update prior to release.

Updates for some other Samsung devices are in the pipeline as well and they’re slated to receive Oreo in the first half of this year. These devices include the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (2017) as well as both Wi-Fi and LTE variants of the Galaxy Tab S3.

We’ll surely let you know as soon as Oreo for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge starts rolling out. It can reasonably be expected that the release timeframe won’t extend beyond mid-May now.

Thanks, Razvan!

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Full Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ specs revealed in new leak

A new Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ leak has surfaced online which leaves nothing to the imagination. While we have seen countless leaks already which have revealed some specs of the upcoming mid-range handsets, the latest gives us a pretty good look at the specs sheet and also brings official images of the devices.

The Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ are two new mid-range smartphones that Samsung has in the pipeline. They’re going to slot in below the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ (2018). Much like their more expensive siblings, they also feature a flat Infinity Display panel.

Galaxy A6 specs

The Galaxy A6 has a 5.6-inch 18.5:9 aspect ratio Infinity Display with 1480×720 pixel resolution. The bezels are fairly narrow on this HD+ panel but it’s still not quite as “bezel-less” as other Samsung handsets with the Infinity Display.

The handset is going to be powered by the Exynos 7870 processor coupled with a Mali T830 GPU and 3GB of RAM with 32GB storage. However, in some markets the handset will also be offered with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage. External expansion up to 256GBs with a microSD card will be possible.

The Galaxy A6 features a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture and a similar camera up front with f/1.9 aperture. The front camera gets its own LED flash. There’s support for Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and Samsung Pay. All of this is powered by a 3,000mAh battery. The Galaxy A6 is expected to cost between 300 and 340 euro.

Galaxy A6+ specs

Both new mid-range handsets look quite the same but the Galaxy A6+ has a larger 6-inch 18.5:9 aspect ratio Infinity Display with 2220×1080 pixel resolution. The fingerprint sensor on both handsets is placed at the back below the camera sensor.

Samsung has opted for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chip for this handset and it’s also going to ship with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB of storage depending on the market. External expansion up to 400GB is supported as well.

The dual camera system also sets this handset apart. It has 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors at the back with f/1.7 and f/1.9 aperture respectively. The second camera is used to achieve depth of field effects also known as bokeh. There’s a 24-megapixel camera on the front with f/1.9 aperture and its own LED flash.

The Galaxy A6+ also has support for Bluetooth 5.0 and comes with a 3,500mAh battery. Both devices will ship with Android 8.1 out of the box. It’s expected to cost between 360 and 400 euro. The new handsets also have support for Bixby Vision, Home and Reminder but not Bixby Voice.

Samsung is yet to confirm when the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ will be officially released but this report claims that the handsets will be out in May.




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Minggu, 29 April 2018

Weekly poll: Xiaomi Mi A2, hot or not?

The pure Android movement is picking up speed and when combined with mid-range hardware, it has the potential for great mainstream phones. Like the Xiaomi Mi A2), the second Android One phone by the company. It expands the screen vertically - from 5.5" 16:9 to 6" 18:9 - in virtually the same body. And it upgrades to a Snapdragon 660 chipset, which offers the added power of four Kryo 260 cores. Options with more RAM and more storage is available as well, though if budget is a concern, then the microSD slot will be the preferred way to get more storage. Compared to its predecessor, the Mi...

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Meizu 15 in for review

We went to China's beautiful Wuzhen town to witness the Meizu 15 debut and we were left feeling very positive about its prospects. Now we get to welcome the handset in our office as it joins our review queue, so we are wondering if the positive impressions will stand. What we have here is a phone that's oblivious to modern fads. It as a traditional 16:9 screen like the phones of yesteryear, a physical home button under it and not so much as a semblance of a notch anywhere on its metal-clad body. Don't take the Meizu's refusal to join the notch trend as a sign that the 15 is an...

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Weekly poll results: Moto G6 Plus is a star, the other budget models fail to impress

The Moto G6 Plus is the mid-range Motorola worth having, our poll reveals. With over half the votes, this €300 model completely dominated its siblings. The difference between it and the non-Plus G6 include a drop to a 4-series Snapdragon chipset, which many deemed untenable. The reduction in screen diagonal - from 5.9" to 5.7" - proved less of an issue. We were surprised that neither of the large battery models - the Moto G6 Play (4,000 mAh) and Moto E5 Plus (5,000 mAh) - proved particularly popular. The latter especially seems attractive, that's a lot of battery life for €170. But...

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Additional Galaxy A6+ specs revealed in TENAA listing

It appears that the Galaxy A6+ is going to be launched in China as well. The handset has been certified by TENAA, which is China’s version of the FCC, and the listing has revealed additional Galaxy A6+ specifications. The leaks concerning Samsung’s new mid-range handsets keep coming in and that can be taken as an indication that it’s only a matter of time before the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ are officially announced.

The TENAA listing reveals some Galaxy A6+ specs which include the display size and resolution. It’s known already that the handset has a flat 18.5:9 aspect ratio infinity display. The listing reveals that it’s a 6-inch panel with 2220×1080 pixel resolution.

Galaxy A6+ specs

The images included in the listing also confirm that the Galaxy A6+ is going to feature a dual camera system. This is something that has been rumored a few times already and the possibility has been previously reiterated by leaked renders of the Galaxy A6+.

Recent benchmark listings have revealed that the Galaxy A6+ will be powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor with 4GB of RAM. The dimensions of the handset are said to be 160.1×75.7×7.9mm with a 3,500mAH battery under the hood. The handset itself appears to have a metal body which will add a premium look and feel to this mid-range device.

We can expect more leaks to surface in the coming days as Samsung gears up to launch the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ in these markets across the globe. A Galaxy A6 video leak has already surfaced which revealed the device in all its glory and it’s within the realm of possibility for a similar leak for the Galaxy A6+ to surface as well in the near future.

No word as yet on the pricing and availability of these handsets but we can expect Samsung to come through with this crucial bit of information sooner rather than later. It shouldn’t be too long now before these devices are officially launched.


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Lawsuit claims Samsung colluded with DRAM suppliers to raise prices

Samsung has earned a significant chunk of its profits from its semiconductor division over the past couple of years. The company’s leading position in the DRAM market has allowed it to reap the benefits of high demand and rising prices. Samsung said in its recent earnings release that it expects this momentum to continue in the current quarter as well.

However, Hagens Berman, a Washington-based law firm, believes that it may not have been pure luck for Samsung and the other top DRAM manufacturers. It has filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status in the US District Court for the Northern District of California against Samsung, Hynix and Micron on behalf of US consumers of smartphones and computing products during 2016 and 2017. The lawsuit claims that these three major DRAM manufacturers colluded on limiting the supply of several DRAM products to drive an increase in prices.

Investigation reveals possible signs of collusion

Hagens Berman antitrust attorneys conducted an independent investigation and claim to have discovered that Samsung, Hynix and Micron colluded to limit the supply of DRAM products in order to drive up prices. DRAM is an essential component in modern devices and can be found in smartphones, tablets, computers, cameras and other gadgets.

The three DRAM manufacturers that have been sued collectively account for over 96 percent of the global DRAM market. Prices for their DRAM products surged by more than 100 percent during the period mentioned in the lawsuit and revenues at Samsung, Hynix and Micron from DRAM sales reportedly more than doubled during the same period. The lawsuit claims that these companies made “supply decisions in unison” to limit the supply of DRAM products thus causing the price to inflate considerably over 2016 and 2017.

“What we’ve uncovered in the DRAM market is a classic antitrust, price-fixing scheme in which a small number of kingpin corporations hold the lion’s share of the market,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, adding that “Instead of playing by the rules, Samsung, Micron and Hynix chose to put consumers in a chokehold, wringing the market for more profit.”

Samsung is yet to comment on the matter.

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Galaxy A6 video leak shows off the device in all its glory

A Galaxy A6 video leak gives us our best look yet at Samsung’s upcoming mid-range smartphone. The company will soon expand its mid-range Galaxy A lineup with the Galaxy A6 and the Galaxy A6+. These devices will slot in the lineup below the Galaxy A8 and the Galaxy A8+ which are premium flagship smartphones that offer great value for money.

While we have seen countless leaked renders of the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+, the Galaxy A6 video leak offers a detailed look at the upcoming mid-range device with the presenter walking us through some of the features of the Galaxy A6 as well.

Galaxy A6 video leak

If benchmark results are to be believed, the Galaxy A6 is going to be powered by an Exynos 7870 processor with 3GB of RAM. The Galaxy A6+ will feature a Snapdragon 625 chip with 4GB of RAM and both will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Both will also feature flat Infinity Display panels with 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

This Galaxy A6 video leak reveals that the Galaxy A6 is going to feature a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture as well as a 16-megapixel front camera with f/1.9 aperture. There’s a small LED flash on the front to improve selfies in low-light conditions. The Galaxy A6+ is said to have a dual camera at the back and that possibility has been reiterated by multiple leaked renders of the device.

The leaked video is in Vietnamese so you’ll be able to better understand the presenter if you know the language. The gist of it is that the Galaxy A6 is going to be a bonafide mid-range smartphone with some cool camera features, a flat Infinity Display, and Android Oreo.

Samsung is yet to confirm when the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ will be officially launched but given the pact of leaks now it’s only a matter of time before they’re officially announced. We’ve already reported exclusively that the Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ will be launched in these markets.

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Both Galaxy Note 9 variants for China have now been certified

Samsung is going to launch another flagship smartphone in the second half of this year and we’re already hearing rumors and reports about the Galaxy Note 9. We’ll also be seeing a lot more of the new flagship on benchmark and certification websites in the near future. Speaking of certification, The China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has certified both Galaxy Note 9 variants that are destined for the People’s Republic.

Galaxy Note 9 variants for China

We already know that the Galaxy Note 9 carriers model number SM-N960. The China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology first certified the SM-N9600 last month and it has now certified the variant with model number SM-N9608 which means that both variants of the Galaxy Note 9 that Samsung will officially launch in China have now been certified.

The listings for both handsets don’t include any information about the specifications of the Galaxy Note 9. No images or renders were found either so it may be a while before some of that surfaces online.

The Galaxy Note 9 was recently spotted on the Geekbench website where it was revealed that this handset will likely ship with Android 8.1.0 Oreo out of the box. As far as the specs are concerned, expect the same Snapdragon 845/Exynos 9810 processor pairing as the Galaxy S9 with possibly 6GB of RAM. It may also feature the dual camera system from the Galaxy S9+ which means it will offer features such as variable aperture and super slow-motion video recording.

There’s no conclusive evidence as yet to support rumors that the Galaxy Note 9 is going to be Samsung’s first device with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Samsung has long been rumored to be working on this technology but it remains to be seen whether or not it debuts with the Galaxy Note 9.

Some recent reports have also suggested that the Galaxy Note 9 might be launched ahead of schedule just like the Galaxy S9 was earlier this year. The decision to launch the Galaxy S9 earlier paid dividends for Samsung so an early launch for the Galaxy Note 9 is certainly within the realm of possibility.

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Sabtu, 28 April 2018

BlackBerry Athena spotted on TENAA website

BlackBerry has always played a game of its own within a pretty specific niche of the smartphone market. Despite all the turmoil surrounding the legendary brand in recent years, that has remained mostly true under TCL management, as well. Having said that, 850,000 BlackBerry Keyone units shipped, might not sound like much, but it was apparently enough to merit a successor. BlackBerry Athena Codenamed "Athena", it was first spotted in a few detailed renders earlier this month. But given the visual similarities with the original Keyone, those were subject to some forgery...

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Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) stars in how-to video guide

Information on Samsung's eagerly-anticipated Galaxy A6 (2018) duo has literally been pouring into the rumor mill over the last few weeks. In case all the renders, live photos and certification filings weren't revealing enough for your taste, today brings a lengthy, well-shot and official-looking how-to video tour on the regular Galaxy A6 (2018) as well. Frankly, it's not everyday that we get such an in-depth look at the design and features of a still unannounced headset, so we urge you to enjoy the high-resolution YouTube clip for yourself. Besides a few nice glamour shots and a...

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Coolpad Cool 2 now official: metal body and extra-tall display on the cheap

Coolpad has been keeping a rather low profile lately, with not much in the way of new device announcements. As for LeEco - the other party behind the "Cool" line of devices, it's current financial situation is a bit unfortunate. Still, things might just be looking up within the joint venture, if the release of the new entry-level Cool 2 is any indication, that is. The handset follows the extra-tall aspect trend of the day, rocking a 5.7-inch, 18:9, HD+ (1440 x 720 pixel) LCD panel. It also comes complete with a sleek 2.5D layer on top and rounded display corners - another hint of...

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Xiaomi reportedly working hard with TSMC on its custom Surge S2 chipset

A little over a year ago, Xiaomi officially showcased its in-house developed, custom Surge S1 chipset. At the time, it came off as a rather bold step in a territory, typically only traversed by big-name players, the likes of Samsung and Huawei. Unfortunately, the whole endeavour dies out quickly. Still, it seems Xiaomi hasn't given up on the idea yet. With its increased popularity, market expansion and, consequently, order and supply chain volume hikes, it seems the Chinese OEM is now confident enough to take another stab at a custom SoC. According to industry sources, Xiaomi has...

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Xiaomi Redmi S2 spotted in the wild: high-res photos and detailed specs

Xiaomi has been stirring things up quite a bit in the rumor mill lately. As promised, the Mi 6X/ Mi A2 was unveiled on April 25, but the event notably skipped over any details, regarding the eagerly-anticipated Redmi S2 handset. After a few rumors, followed by the obligatory trips to TENAA and the 3C certification authority, it's pretty clear the budget device is well on its way to a release. That might just be sooner than we though, since pre-production units seem to already be floating about in the open. In this particular case, a source out of the Czech Pepublic, appears to...

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ZTE patents another dual notch display smartphone design

Saying that ZTE and especially its smartphone business is currently in a rather tough spot is kind of an understatement. With a ban from purchasing Qualcomm chips already in effect and rumors of a potential Android licence revoke, it really does seem like the company's entire handset business is in jeopardy. ZTE, however, seems to be rather undeterred by all the commotion, or at least positive enough to continue its design work. A recent patent filing, with China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) shows a new ZTE handset, featuring a pair of screen notches. It comes hot on...

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Jumat, 27 April 2018

Honor 7X gets Oreo in the US on April 30

If you own an Honor 7X bought from the US, you'll be happy to know that the release of the update to Android 8.0 Oreo for the phone is now right around the corner. Honor's US Twitter account has announced that the rollout will commence this following Monday, on April 30. Aside from upgrading the Android stack, it also makes the phone jump to the latest version of Huawei's UI overlay: EMUI 8.0. So aside from Google's tweaks, such as picture-in-picture and the Autofill API, you'll also be getting a new face unlock feature, the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, a...

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Apple officially discontinues its AirPort series of wireless networking products

Apple has officially confirmed that it is discontinuing its AirPort series of wireless networking products. This includes the two wireless routers, AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Time Capsule, which was a wireless router with a hard drive for data backups. AirPort Extreme Bloomberg had published a report back in 2016 that alluded that Apple has stopped development on its wireless range of products, although Apple never officially confirmed that until now. The products continue to be sold and will still be sold through all official channels until stock...

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LG Watch Timepiece details leak, it will be a hybrid smartwatch with Wear OS

According to a new rumor, LG is working on a new wrist worn wearable. It will be called LG Watch Timepiece, and will run Google's newly renamed Wear OS. That said, this won't be a straight-up smartwatch in the vein of the LG Watch Sport or Style, both models which launched last year. Instead, the Timepiece will be a hybrid, containing a mechanical clock setup alongside the smart functions. This apparently caters to a demographic that is looking for the best of both worlds - analog and digital. The Watch Timepiece has a stainless steel body, IP68 certified water and dust resistance, as...

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Apple iTunes now available on the Microsoft Store for Windows 10

Apple has finally released the iTunes desktop client for Windows on the Microsoft Store, after announcing it in March of last year. Those on Windows 10 can head over to the store to download the app right now for free. Yup, it looks the same For those wondering, no, this isn't any different from the standard Windows client. It doesn't look any different and it certainly doesn't work any different. It's not even a UWP compliant app. If you already have the apple.com version installed then there is hardly any reason to install this. Still, it's a good thing overall. Not everybody...

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Huawei P20 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+

1x, 2x... 5x. Zooming smartphone cameras are no longer a novelty - in fact a numbers race is forming. Asus' Zenfone Zoom couldn't make waves, but Huawei appears on the right track to do so with the P20 Pro and its 3x zoom camera. We figured we'd pit it against the Galaxy S9+ - the latest phone to come out with what's become the standard 2x zoom.

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Huawei P20 Pro becomes the company's best-selling phone in Western Europe

The Huawei P20 Pro broke the company's sales records in Western Europe. The phone along with its Huawei P20 sibling were already proven successful in China when they sold $15 million worth of phones in 10 seconds. Back to Europe, the P20 Pro launched a month ago (on March 27) and since then it has surpassed the Huawei P10 Plus (the previous record holder), outselling it by a whopping 316%. Most of those sales are coming from the UK, France and Germany. The first triple camera phone has piqued people's interest in other regions as well - "Huawei P20" is one of the hottest queries in...

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HMD teases the return of Nokia N-series

Our wish may be coming true - HMD is expected to revive the X-series and the N-series may be next. The company's Weibo account posted a commemorative post about the Nokia N-series and how it was launched on April 27 2005, 13 years ago. On that day at a press conference in Amsterdam the Finns unveiled the Nokia N70, N90 and N91. But the post comes with an invitation - as vague as it is, it seems to be an invitation for the unboxing of a new phone. The rumor mill has been abuzz with Nokia X6 leaks, but could this be a double reveal? HMD's Nokia N8 teaser from Weibo Of course the...

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Best cases for the Galaxy S9 that you can buy right now

You might be searching for the best cases for Galaxy S9 after having picked up Samsung’s new flagship smartphone. Much like Samsung’s recent flagship smartphones, it’s a beautiful metal and glass sandwich that looks like a proper premium device and feels good in the hand as well. Most users would want to buy a case for Galaxy S9 to protect that gorgeous finish of the device and with good reason.

Why you should use a case for the Galaxy S9

You must never forget that glass is glass and it’s prone to scratching. If you use the device daily without a case you’re bound to notice that it picks up a few scratches and fine lines here and there. You can’t always baby your device so be it the change in your pocket or the keys in your bag, it’s impossible to avoid scratches. Moreover, some cases also protect the device against bumps and drops which ensures that it can withstand the rigors of daily use without pushing you toward costly repair jobs.

Best cases for Galaxy S9

Samsung Hyperknit

Samsung Hyperknit

The first spot on this list of best cases for Galaxy S9 goes to the Hyperknit case from Samsung. It’s a new style that the company has introduced with the Galaxy S9 this year. The Hyperknit material is normally used for sports clothing but Samsung has made a good-looking slim and form-fitting case for its new flagship out of it. The case supports wireless charging and is certainly not a bad option at just $34.99.

Case-Mate Barely There

Case-Mate Barely There

If you don’t like cases that add a lot of heft to the device then you’re going to love the Barely There case from Case-Mate. It’s an ultra slim minimal case that’s also compatible with wireless charging. The hard shell completely covers the back and sides while the extended bezel above the screen protects the front as well. You can buy it from Amazon for $24.99.

Speck Presidio Grip

Speck Presidio Grip

If ensured drop protection is what you’re after than consider the Speck Presidio Grip. The company says that the case has been dropped from a height of 10 feet multiple times by third-party laboratories to certify its durability claims. This is also the slimmest dual-layer case that Speck has ever made. It’s made from a shock-absorbing material and also has raised bezel guards that protect the screen from direct drops on the phone face. Amazon has it on sale for $37.

Spigen Tough Armor

Spigen Tough Armor

The Spigen Tough Armor is one of the best cases for Galaxy S9 that you can purchase right now. It has been a best-seller for the company as it offers reliable durability and an integrated kickstand. The case structure is made from two layers to handle impact from drops and protect the device against drops. At $16 on Amazon, it’s a pretty good value as well.

Spigen Rugged Armor

Spigen Rugged Armor

The next option on this list also comes from Spigen. It adds carbon fiber and gloss detailing for a more premium look while providing flexible and durable shock absorption. It’s also compatible with wireless charging like the other Spigen case and at $12, it’s good value for money too.

Caseology Legion

Caseology Legion

The Caseology Legion case for the Galaxy S9 promises heavy duty protection in a solid build with a non-bulky profile. The dual layer case has a shock absorbing TPU sleeve with a durable hard shell while the grippy hard cover provides a solid grip. There’s a raised front lip as well to protect the display against drops. It’s available in a variety of colors on Amazon for $15.

OtterBox Defender

OtterBox Defender

The OtterBox Defender gets a place on our list of best cases for Galaxy S9 because of the enhanced durability that it offers against bumps, drops, scrapes and dirt. The included holster can either be used as a belt clip or as a kickstand. It even has port covers that keep out the dust. It’s a bit more expensive than the other cases though but you’re in luck as Amazon has it on sale now for $39.90.

Maxboost Wallet Case

Maxboost Wallet Case

If you want a case that does it all then look no further than the Maxboost Galaxy S9 wallet case. It has three slots for your credit and debit cards as well as a side pocket for money or additional cards. The magnetic lock design ensures that your cash and cards remain secure while offering all-around protection for the Galaxy S9. It’s a great option for those who use IC cards for public transportation as they can just tap and go with their phone case at the turnstiles. It certainly doesn’t hurt that this case for Galaxy S9 costs $12.95 on Amazon.

Incipio DualPro

Incipio DualPro

Offering military-grade protection, the Incipio DualPro can help the device surve up to 10-foot drops and despite being a dual-layer case, it maintains a slim and attractive profile. It’s also relatively affordable and you can pick one up on Amazon right now for $26.


These are some of the best cases for Galaxy S9 that you can purchase right now and there are certainly others so do share your favorites with us in the comments below. Do let us know as well if you’re planning to pick one of the cases detailed above.

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