The Samsung Galaxy S III was a rousing success, but the years since its launch in 2012 and now have caused memories of its innovative design to fade. Samsung Galaxy S III official shots The Galaxy S III (the last in the series to use Roman numerals) was unveiled in London in early May 2012. Samsung raked in 9 million pre-orders from 100 carriers worldwide before the phone was released a month later. It sold 20 million units in the first 100 days of availability, then reached 30 million sold in November. By the time the S III was relegated to the history books, it reportedly sold...

The Huawei Watch GT 2 announcement was somewhat overlooked as it was part of the event that gave us the Mate 30 series. As things unfolded since the smartwatch got far wider availability so we decided to test if its two-week battery life claim materializes in real life and what else it has to offer. Huawei Watch GT 2 specs Body: 46mm: 45.9 x 45.9 x 10.7 mm, 41g weight 22mm strap; 42mm: 41.8 x 41.8 x 9.4 mm mm, 29g, 5 ATM water resistance; Stainless Steel frame, ceramic back Display: 46mm: 1.39" OLED, Resolution 454x454, 326 ppi; 42mm: 1.2" OLED, Resolution 390x390, 326 ppi OS:...

Yes, you read that correctly, December security patches, even though, as of writing this, it is still technically November. You won't hear us complain, though, especially since Samsung kind of managed the same feat for the November Galaxy S10 security patch, which started seeding in late October. If this becomes a habit, the Korean giant definitely deserves some praise. As things currently stand, Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ users in about 25 Europe markets should be able to fetch an N97*FXXS1ASKB OTA package, thorough the phone's update menu. As for the Galaxy Note9, as far as we can...

ZTE just unveiled its latest UI effort to go on top of Android 10 and power future, as well as some of its existing smartphones. Along with it - a nifty infographic, summarizing all the key points in the new OS upgrade was dropped on Weibo. MiFavor 10 infographic Since it is in Chinese, we'll do our best to go over the key points. Icons and dark mode In keeping with current trends, MiFavor is also going as dark as it can on the OS UI. Dark mode support, which is still not finalized and being worked on, is accompanied by plenty of black backgrounds and white text throughout...

While some devices are just now getting an Android 9 Pie update , OnePlus is pushing out another Android 10-based beta update with its OxygenOS 10 skin or the OnePlus 6 /6T. This update brings fixes to some minor bugs along with camera improvements. The update is on top of the October 2019 security patch level. One of the more important bugs being fixed is a certain tendency of the phones to randomly freeze and reboot (such is sometimes the case with beta OS builds). Another important bug being addressed is an issue with fingerprint identification, along with a fix for animation lag when fingerprints are used to unlock the phones. If you prefer using the 5GHz channel on your WiFi router then you may experience an improved connection to it with this update. OnePlus 6 Forums ||| OnePlus 6T Forums OxygenOS 10 Changelog The full changelog for OxygenOS 10 Open Beta 31 (OnePlus 6) and Open Beta 19 (OnePlus 6T) follows: System Fixed the fingerprint identification issue Fixed the an...

Vivo appears to be developing a certain pattern when it comes to its iQOO line. Especially the Neo part of it. First there was the original iQOO Neo, rocking a Snapdragon 845 chipset, followed only a few month later by the iQOO Neo 855. That one swapped in a Snapdragon 855 and sprinkled just a few bonuses, like slightly faster charging and a bigger selfie camera. Other than that, the phones are identical both inside and out. Now, according to a new TENAA certification listing and perfectly in-tune with earlier rumors, vivo will be doing yet another refresh to the Snapdragon 855+ inside the...

vivo will launch the V17 in India on December 9, but this isn't the same V17 that debuted in Russia last week, which is also known as the S1 Pro in the Philippines. The Russian V17 sports a 6.38" FHD+ AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch, but according to a recent report, the Indian version will feature a 6.44" OLED panel with a punch hole in the top-right corner. Another difference between the Russian and Indian V17 units is that the former has a diamond-shaped quad camera on the back, but the latter will sport an L-shaped quad camera setup. Alleged leaked image of Indian vivo...

Third-party launchers may not be as tightly integrated into the system as first-party launchers are, but they generally offer a lot more features than the stock launcher on any given device. Take Google’s Pixel Launcher, for example. It’s clean and beautifully designed, but there are only a handful of options to customize the launcher. In comparison, a third-party launcher like the popular Lawnchair app has dozens of features. You can stick with a more minimalist, Pixel Launcher-like experience or you can customize out the wazoo. The last stable update was version 1.2.1 back in July, and now the Lawnchair app has reached version 2 in the stable channel after months of beta releases. Here are the highlights of the v2 update, per the team: Lawnchair v2 Update Highlights : Adds Drawer Categories (Tabs & Folders). Introduces Adaptive Icon customisation. Enables integration with  Sesame  and  Homefeeder . Adds  Pixel Launcher ’s At a Glance widget. Integrates ...

When it comes to phone upgrades, we can usually expect the same types of changes in phones from the same series. You will usually see a slightly better camera, the next fastest chipset, new software, and maybe a slightly different design. However, when a phone makes significant changes to improve just about every aspect of the next release, then you will see true evolution of a phone and not just a standard upgrade. In the case in the Honor 9X, Honor has truly evolved the X-series line to be something much different and significantly better. I have been reviewing the X-series since the Honor 5X and it has always been a solid budget line that provides smartphone basics at an extremely competitive price. Let’s see how the Honor 9X takes the brand in a more exciting direction. Large Notch-Free Display Honor 9X Body Design Honor 9X Full Screen Display Honor 9X Selfie Camera If you’re thinking the Honor 9X looks much larger than the other phones from the X lineup, you’r...

The Redmi K30 has been frequenting the rumor mill lately. Unfortunately, some of the info and "live photos" in particular of the device have been proven fake. This, however, is to be expected with the kind of interest the successor to the very popular Xiaomi Redmi K20/Mi 9T line has been generating. As per a new batch of rumors and leaks, however, we might not have to wait much longer to get the full story. LU Weibing - VP of the Xiaomi group and general manager of Redmi has officially hinted at some sort of early K30 event happening next week. Mukul Sharma, a leakster we have...

A few fays ago, Realme officially brought the X2 Pro to India, causing quite the stir with its aggressive pricing for the flagship. Local buyers can get one in Neptune Blue and Lunar White colors starting at INR 29,999 ($420) for the 8GB/128GB version and INR 33,999 ($470) for the 12GB/256GB model. The only catch being that supplies are currently limited and invite-only flash sales are being held. Definitely not ideal. A new potential development, however, might signal an improvement in availability in the near future. The Realme X2 Pro has been spotted on the company's...

The Huawei Watch GT 2 announced in September will make its way to India on December 5. We don't have the pricing and availability details of the Watch GT 2 yet, but we know it will be sold through Amazon.in and Flipkart in the country. The Watch GT 2 is powered by the Kirin A1 SoC, which is the same chipset that powers the Huawei FreeBuds 3 wireless earbuds. The smartwatch will come in two sizes - 42mm and 46mm. The smaller version features a 1.2" AMOLED screen of 390x390 pixel resolution, while the larger variant sports a 1.39" AMOLED display having a slightly higher resolution...

LG announced the Android 10 beta program for the G8 ThinQ in South Korea last month, and now we are tipped that the company has started rolling out the stable build of Android 10 for the G8 ThinQ in the country. The update comes with software version G820N20c. A detailed changelog is currently unavailable, but we know that the new build brings in the November 2019 security patch to the G8 ThinQ along with Android 10 features. Stable Android 10 update for LG G8 ThinQ The Android 10 update should reach all the South Korean G8 ThinQ units in a few weeks, but it's unclear when it...

Update 1 (11/30/19 @ 03:05 AM EST):   Huawei Watch GT 2 will be launched in India on December 5, 2019. The original article from November 15, 2019, remains unchanged. The uncertainty due to the Sino-US trade conflict has led to much confusion about GMS (Google Mobile Services) support on Huawei and Honor smartphones . Despite exciting announcements like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and the Honor 9X , the availability of these smartphones has been limited to only certain regions. However, the pace of innovation hasn’t dialed down even a bit and Huawei has been working on its first-part operating system called Harmony OS , which would be a backup option if official GMS support does not return to Huawei and Honor smartphones. Meanwhile, they are also vying to build their own ecosystem of accessories and smart wearables, and has developed the Kirin A1 SoC dedicated to the category of products. The Kirin A1 chipset is not dedicated to a specific type of product and can be used to dri...

The Huawei nova 6 arriving on December 5 has been listed on Chinese retailer VMall's website in four colors and two memory options - 8GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB. The smartphone will come in 4G and 5G versions, and if the VMall listing is to be believed, the former will only be available in 128GB storage option and come in Black, Blue, and Blue-Purple gradients. The 5G variant, on the other hand, will come in both 128GB and 256GB storage options and will be available in Red color as well. Huawei nova 6 The listing doesn't include any specs of the Huawei nova 6, but the images...

Sony unveiled the mid-range Xperia 10 at MWC this February alongside the Xperia 1 flagship. Like that high-end model, the Xperia 10 also has a supertall screen with a 21:9 aspect ratio, making for a pretty unique look (especially when you add in Sony's blocky design language). While you may not watch a lot of 21:9 video content on your smartphone, this aspect ratio may also make you scroll less inside any apps that rely on that vertical action a lot - like, say Facebook, or Instagram. The display is definitely the Xperia 10's main claim to fame and its clear differentiator from the...

As you may have noticed, there are a lot of Black Friday deals around. That said, rarely does one offer come by that basically takes a high-end smartphone that still has up-to-date specs and cuts its price down to the level of a mid-ranger. This is one of those though. Amazon is currently selling the LG G8 ThinQ for just $399.99. That's a whopping $450 off the phone's introductory price. One caveat is that you only have a few more hours to take advantage of this crazy low price point. The other caveat is that the handset comes with a "pre-installed selection of Amazon apps", including...

vivo is hosting an event on December 9 in India which will be centered around the V17, which won't be the same as recently announced V17 (why do you have to be like that vivo?). There will be one at least one major change as the press invite shows the phone will come with a punch hole in the display which looks like the S5 This suggests the phone might take after the S5, rather than its namesake from a different country, but we'll have to wait a bit longer to find out. How long exactly we'll have to wait until somebody does something about the super confusing naming vivo often uses is...

Verizon wants you for Black Friday, just you. As I mentioned earlier, there are few times as good as now to buy a new smartphone . Carriers, retailers, and devices makers are all discounting phones to try and puff up their numbers before the end of the year, including Verizon. The mega-carrier just unloaded its set of Black Friday deals, some of which are pretty good, as long as you don’t mind sticking with them for the next 24 months. Particularly, Verizon wants new customers, though that’s not the only good deal. However, if you do switch to Verizon today, they’ll give you anywhere from $600 to $750 in value…as a bonus…in credit…it’s kind of confusing. What I’m saying here is that Verizon’s best Black Friday deal is for new customers and it involves a couple of things. First, you need decide to make the switch to Verizon, port your number in, and be prepared to buy a phone on a 2-year contract. Second, you need to pick a phone and the price for it changes depending on the phone. ...

LG has always had one of the worst Android skins in the industry, one of that we often are highly critical of during reviews. It has needed an overhaul for years now and it looks like we’ll finally get one with LG UX 9.0 , which was introduced this week. A video for the new UX 9.0 went live this week and shows off what we can expect should this ever hit your device. At the moment, the YouTube description says it’s coming to the LG G8X ThinQ at some point. With LG UX 9.0, you get big ol’ bubbles everywhere with all the rounded corners, similar to what you might see in Samsung’s One UI. Everything has more space to work with, fonts are bolder, and a lot of actionable items will now be found at the bottom of the screen, within thumbs reach. There are light and dark modes (with scheduling!), a new tablet experience, and again, lots of rounding. Some of the iconography reminds me of iOS, while other parts are very Samsung-esque. If anything, it’s much more modern than the bad UI they ke...

VR is still on the pricey side so maybe you were hoping to grab some hardware and games to play through a Black Friday sale. Unfortunately for you, the Oculus deals are pretty bad. First off, hardware discounts are small, just $50 off an Oculus Rift S or Go. Second, the sale mostly offers bundles ranging from €200 to €45. The problem with that is that you can't pick and choose which games you get. For example, one of the pricier bundles, the Black Collection, features Superhot VR (which you probably already have) and Electronauts (which you maybe don't want). Even if you could live with...

Samsung's Galaxy A-line was a big hit in the past year and the company will aim to carry on the success in 2020 with its new additions like the A11, A31 and A41. These models were tipped to come with the SM-A115X, SM-A315X, and SM-A415X model numbers and the big news is that they will all start at 64GB of onboard storage. Looking back, the A10 and A30 both started at 32GB so the move to 64GB is more than welcome. We recently got our first look at the A51 and A71 which should come with new Infinity-O AMOLED displays and a rectangular camera cutout on the back. There is still no word if...

With the launch of the new Honor V30 and V30 Pro Honor is trying to establish itself as a maker of premier camera phones alongside parent company Huawei. It shares much of its technology, including the 40MP Sony IMX600 sensor with a RYYB filter, plus the powerful NPUs of the Kirin 990 chipset. Honor published a couple of promo videos extolling the virtues of what it calls "Matrix Camera Technology" - the combination of the sensor, NPU and processing algorithms that achieve impressive low-light capabilities and smooth video stabilization. The videos brag more than they inform,...

The Samsung Galaxy S11 leaks have been coming in bunches lately and the latest one comes from a patent filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It details a new camera sensor dubbed "Bright Night" which according to the description will be used in smartphones and tablets. This mnight be an all-new dedicated sensor for night time photography and videos which will debut on the S11 series or a fancy name for the large-sensor 108MP camera. Bright Night sensor patent details Samsung already used "Bright Night" as a dedicated night mode on the S10 and Note10...

The Razer Phone was the device responsible for kickstarting several current trends seen in modern smartphones these days, including the gaming smartphone trend as well as the high refresh rate trend. It is also, for a change, a surprisingly developer-friendly device , and the same can be said for its successor, the Razer Phone 2. The device, launched last year , is still a beast even by today’s standards, carrying a Snapdragon 845 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a slick 120Hz LCD display. And the beautiful thing about Android modding is how you can change pretty much every aspect of your device inside and out, and with the Razer Phone 2, it is no different. Razer Phone 2 XDA Forum If you want to switch up your boot splash screen a bit, either because you want to modernize it a bit or you simply crave something a bit different, there is a number of alternatives available over at the forums, including the new Android logo, the Google logo, or the classic Razer logo. You can choose from...

The Huawei Watch GT 2 unveiled in September is expected to debut in India next week. The company hasn't announced the launch date yet, but it has added the 'Notify me' button on its official Indian site and confirmed that the smartwatch will be sold in the country through Amazon.in and Flipkart. The Watch GT 2 is powered by the Kirin A1 SoC and will come in two sizes - 42mm and 46mm. The former will be available in Night Black shade while the latter will have three color options to choose from - Matte Black, Pebble Brown, and Titanium Grey. The smaller version sports a 1.2" AMOLED...

Google keeps testing new features for all of its Android apps. Before a new feature is rolled out to the app, its often tested internally by the company’s employees. While these internal tests are always inaccessible to the average user, at times we manage to enable them before public release. For instance, we recently discovered that the company was preparing to add bubble notifications and suggested stickers to Google Messages. Similarly, we’d previously unearthed a new Verified SMS feature in the app that was designed to check if the businesses messaging you had been verified or not. Now, Google has started rolling out a beta update for Google Messages that enables the Verified SMS feature for end users. As reported by Android Police, the Verified SMS feature is now live in Google Messages beta v5.3.075. The feature is enabled by default and it only works when you receive an SMS from a verified business. The feature aims to prevent fake business accounts from spoofing users and...

Samsung has started seeding the stable build of Android 10 for the Galaxy S10 series, but the rest of its 2019 Galaxy flagships - Note10 and Note10+ are still testing the beta. Today Samsung released a new beta build for the Note10 duo which brings in December 2019 security patch and several major bug fixes. The new firmware, sporting version number N97*FXXU1ZSKN, fixes issues related to the world clock in the always-on display, disconnection while using Bluetooth headset, and error in display SD card files in the My Files app. Check out the screenshot below for the complete...

Black Friday is upon us and the gaming smartphone nubia Red Magic 3S joins the fun. The phone is available globally and for the next four days nubia is discounting it by $50/€50/£50. There are also bundles and accessories that are $20/€20/£20 off their usual price. The nubia Red Magic 3S is offered in three variants - the first two come with 8/128 GB in either Eclipse Black or Mecha Silver and are $30/€30/£30 down. However, the latter will be available starting tomorrow, November 30. The Cyber Shade version comes with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage across the globe, and the...

Earlier this month, Realme launched its first true flagship — the Realme X2 Pro — in India. The device packs in top-of-the-line specifications, including a Snapdragon 855+ chip, up to 12GB of RAM, 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage, and a high refresh rate 90Hz AMOLED display. Since its launch, Realme has rolled out an update for the device , featuring the Android security patch for November 2019, and it has also released a bootloader unlock tool and its kernel sources . Now, the company is rolling out yet another update for the Realme X2 Pro in India, with optimizations to the camera and 90Hz display. Realme X2 Pro XDA Forums The latest update (vRMX1931EX_11_A.07) for the Realme X2 Pro includes optimizations for the nightscape quality for the rear-facing camera, along with improvements to the quality of HDR photos. Realme has also added optimizations to the 90Hz display logic, but it isn’t clear what changes that would bring to the device. Here’s the official changelog for the ColorOS 6.1 up...

vivo is announcing the new X30 lineup next month and the company has been ramping up its teaser campaign for the past few weeks. We already know what the back will look like with its periscope shooter, but today the official Weibo account revealed the first lifestyle shots of the phone. The vivo X30 is seen in Red and Pearl White/Aurora gradient, starring Liu Wen, one of the most famous Chinese supermodels. vivo X30 vivo claims the X30 will be the phone both for professional shots and its 60x zoom, and a fashion accessory to complement your outwear. The reddish...

Back in May last year, Oppo formed Realme — a new online exclusive subsidiary of the brand — and launched the Realme 1. A couple of months down the line, the company’s vice president and head of its overseas business resigned and established Realme as a new technology brand. Over the last year, Realme has seen tremendous growth in several markets worldwide, including India, and has launched a slew of compelling smartphones across various price segments. The company recently launched the Realme X2 Pro , its first true flagship device, which is expected to further boost its popularity. Now, it seems like Realme is planning to take the OnePlus route and establish itself as an independent company. According to a recent report from Digitimes, Realme Taiwan’s Chief Commercial Officer Chung Hsiang-wei has suggested that if the company continues to scale its business at the current rate then it will soon be independent of its parent company. Currently, the company shares its resources with O...

A few days ago Samsung revealed the Android 10 update roadmap for its devices in Israel and later followed it up by detailing the schedule for Indian and Chinese units. Now the company has revealed its plans for Android 10 rollout in the Philippines. The Korean tech giant will release Android 10 with One UI 2.0 for the Galaxy M20 and Galaxy S10 trio in January 2020, however, the company has already started seeding the update for the S10 series so it may reach Filipino units sooner than that. Later in February, Samsung will seed Android 10 for a total of seven devices, which include...

The dual-screened nubia Z20 launched back in October in Diamond Black is now available in the gorgeous Twillight Blue color we reviewed. Starting today, you'll be able to pre-order the nubia Z20 in Twilight Blue with shipments scheduled for December 2. And as a bonus if you subscribe to the nubia mailing list, you'll be able to claim a free set of wired Noobz Earphones (normally $14.90). And until December 3 nubia has a $50/€50/£50 discount in effect for the nubia Z20 across its online stores in USA, Canada, the EU, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia,...

One of the best parts about shopping online is the vast variety of deals and offers you get from etailers. But getting a bargain on eCommerce websites could be a bit of a chore, especially with all the websites offering different deals on the same product. In a bid to simplify the process of hunting for a great deal, Amazon has now come up with the Amazon Assistant. The service is available within the Amazon Shopping app, as a standalone app, and even as a browser extension, and it allows you to quickly compare the price of any product on an eCommerce website with that of the same product on Amazon. You can turn on the Amazon Assistant in the shopping app by heading to the app’s settings and tapping on the new Amazon Assistant option. The service will require you to enable the accessibility and draw-over apps permissions in order to show you the price comparisons in an overlay. Once you turn it on, the assistant will bring up a chat head with a link to the Amazon listing of the pro...

Oppo will unveil the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro 5G next month. The latter will sport a curved edge display and flaunt a glass body with a thickness of 7.7mm (excluding the camera bump). While that does sound impressive, we were worried this would come at the cost of battery capacity. Yet now Oppo VP Brian Shen has said that won't be the case and the Reno3 Pro 5G will pack a 4,025 mAh battery, which is solid even by today's standards. For comparison, some of the recently launched phones in the lineup like the Reno2 and Reno Ace pack a 4,000 mAh cell and have a thickness of 9.5mm and 8.7mm,...

Just yesterday Oppo VP Brian Shen teased the upcoming Reno3 Pro 5G on Twitter, with an image that shows part of its right side. Not 24 hours later, the Internet has produced a full frontal render of the smartphone, so without further ado, here it is in all its glory. Ladies and gentlemen, the Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G. As you can see, there's a punch-hole on the left for the single selfie cam, which is either smaller than most, or the handset itself is rather big. The Reno3 Pro 5G will be the Chinese company's first dual-mode 5G smartphone (that means it works with both standalone and...

Just over a month ago, Samsung kicked off the One UI 2.0 beta program for the Galaxy S10 series. Shortly thereafter, the program was extended to the Galaxy Note 10 lineup. Earlier this month, Samsung extended the One UI 2.0 beta to last year’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 series . Most recently, the company started rolling out a stable version of its latest software update to the Galaxy S10 series. And now, the company has officially revealed the update schedule for devices in India and the UK. Samsung has reportedly started pushing the Android 10 update schedule in the Samsung Members app. Users can check the schedule for their region by opening the app and heading to the ‘Notices’ section. Twitter user @iamRaviLakra has shared a screenshot of the update schedule for the Indian region. Samsung Android 10 Update Schedule for India @SamsungIndia @SamMobiles @verge @AndroidAuth pic.twitter.com/Ron8YbUOxm — Ravi Lakra (@iamRaviLakra) November 28, 2019 A separate post on Red...

Xiaomi's gaming-focused sub-brand, Black Shark, is holding a sales event today, very appropriately named Black Shark Friday. Amazing word association aside, this has the potential to save you up to €30 or £30 off the price of the Black Shark 2 Pro smartphone. Here's how that works. You get €10 or £10 off through a voucher you receive if you are a voter of the Legendary Loot Campaign. An additional €20 or £20 is headed your way as a cashback once you submit a product review. But wait, there's more. You can save 60% off the Black Shark Gamepad 2.0 Stand, the Black Shark Gamepad Right...

Black Friday is looming and so the deals are starting to pour in. And it's not just older devices that you can purchase for a lot less than usual, there are even offers for recently launched smartphones. Case in point: the Xiaomi Mi Note 10. This is a decidedly intriguing penta-camera device with a 108 MP main snapper on the back and not one but two zoom cams on its sides (with an additional ultrawide and a dedicated macro cam). And you can now grab one for just $439.99, when you buy from Gearbest and apply the promo code GBXMNT10BF at checkout. This reseller normally asks for...

FunTouchOS has been the default Android UI for vivo phones since 2014. This will soon change as the company is launching a new version dubbed JoviOS. Ge Yanan, who serves as the FunTouchOS Project Manager revealed the news on his Weibo profile and it looks like the upcoming X30 series will be the first phones to ship with the brand new OS. The only piece of info that we have for the new JoviOS so far is a design sketch for the logo so we don't know what to expect in terms of features. Given that vivo is ready to completely rebrand its UI, we are probably in for a big redesign. We...