Photo credit: Tech Configurations
We know that Samsung is releasing their own folding smartphone next year, but one that you probably won’t see is the Sony Xperia Note Flex, and that’s because it comes from the mind of Tech Configurations. Featuring a 5.7″ QHD OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio that unfolds to a tablet-sized 8″ 4K OLED display, 2″ displays on the sides of the device, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 processor, 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of internal memory, a 40+22+12MP triple rear camera module, and a 13MP pop-up front-facing camera. Read more for a video and additional information.
The Blackview MAX 1 may not be the only smartphone to have an integrated projector, but it’s definitely the first to hit the market. At $699, it features a 5.7-inch AMOLED Full HD + Oncell display (2160 x 1080 resolution), dual 16MP rear cameras, a front-facing 16MP camera, a 2.5GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6763T processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, microSD expansion, and a high-capacity 5000 mAh battery that can be charged via USB Type-C (12V / 2A ). Read more for another video, additional pictures and information.
Photo credit: Let’s Go Digital
The Samsung Galaxy S10 may still be months from its official release, but leaks have already given us a glimpse at its successor, which may be the S11 (XI). Both the Galaxy S11 and Galaxy S11 Edge are expected to be unveiled in late 2019, after the launch of the Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10 Edge. Patents show that at least one model could feature a bezel-less AMOLED display, in which the four sides of the device also are also touch surfaces. This also means that the speaker(s), front-facing camera and various other sensors will be integrated directly beneath the display. Read more for additional pictures of the patents and information.
Qualcomm unveiled today their Snapdragon 855 chipset, connected through the Snapdragon X24 modem. It’s the world’s first commercial 5G mobile platform, designed for premium-tier flagship devices. Boasting sub-6 GHz and mmWave support, the company’s 4th-generation on-device AI engine, true 4K HDR video capture, cinema-grade photography capabilities, and a 3D Sonic Sensor — all packaged into a a 7-nanometer chip. “The Snapdragon 855 will define the premium tier in 2019,” said Alex Katouzian, SVP and GM of Mobile for Qualcomm Technologies. Read more for another video explaining the technical details and additional information.
Have $7,290 (black & gold model) to spend and want the craziest-looking iPhone XS / XS Max yet? If so, then look no further than Caviar’s Grand Complications Skeleton series, which comes equipped with a fully-functional skeleton watch, complete with manual winding, 17 stones, 18,000 vibrations per hour, and 30-hours of power. The body itself boasts engraved blackened titanium and engraved decorative gears and composite onyx inserts. Read more for a hands-on video review, additional pictures and information.
The use of smartphones, especially near bedtime, is associated with worse quality of sleep, according to a new study. “When we looked at smartphone use around the time when participants reported they went to bed, more smartphone use around that time in particular was associated with a longer time to fall asleep and worse sleep quality during the night,” said Dr. Gregory Marcus, author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. NITE by industrial designer Oliver Sinclair is basically a smartphone lock that also functions as an alarm clock and wireless charging. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Photo credit: Ben Geskin
This followup to the Vivo NEX, which featured a pop-up selfie camera and a true full-screen display, the NEX 2 builds upon its predecessor in a dual screen way. In addition to the dual screens, with the main one being nearly bezel-free, it features an in-display fingerprint scanner, an RGB LED-illuminated “Lunar Ring” on the back that lights up for notifications, and possibly a time-of-flight camera – a range imaging camera system that resolves distance based on the known speed of light, measuring the time-of-flight of a light signal between the camera and the subject for each point of the image. Read more for two additional spy shots and information.
Photo credit: Engadget
Nubia introduced the Red Magic Mars in China today, and just like its predecessor, this device features a single strip of RGB LEDs down the back, but is now powered by a Snapdragon (SD) 845 CPU and runs Android Pie (9.0) out of the box. The 6-inch IPS LCD 1080p display remains the same, with an added ‘shoulder-button’ set-up that boasts four touch-sensitive, haptic-enabled areas along the edge of the phone to act as additional buttons during gaming sessions. The top-of-the-line model boasts 10GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Read more for a hands-on video, additional pictures and information.
Data recovery specialists DriveSavers announced today the launch of a consumer service: unlocking smartphones, including Apple’s notoriously impossible to unlock iPhone. The company has allegedly developed a “new technology” that can unlock iOS or Android smartphones of any make or model with a 100 percent success rate in bypassing smartphone encryption. However, only the actual owner of a locked device can use this service, or to their next of kin if they are deceased, and it costs $3,900 per device. Read more for another video and additional information.
Photo credit: Lets Go Digital
LG recently filed a patent that shows the company may be working on a smartphone with 16-lens camera module, so if the five-camera system found on its flagship LG V40 ThinQ isn’t enough, this should do the trick. Apparently, the lenses, arranged in a 4 x 4 matrix layout, are intended to capture multiple perspectives in a single shot, enabling you to move the 3D-like pictures around afterwards. Read more for additional pictures of the patent.