Samsung Galaxy M31 is getting a new 8GB RAM model, adding to the existing 6GB RAM variant that was launched in February. The phone boasts of a quad rear camera setup and a massive 6,000mAh battery.
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Sunday, May 31, 2020
10-Digit Mobile Numbers to Continue, No Shift to 11 Digits: TRAI
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said that as per its recommendations the country will continue with 10-digit numbering for mobile telephone services and it has categorically rejected shifting to 11-digit mobile numbering plan.
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Vodafone Idea Brings Rs. 251 Data Pack in Select Circles, Offers 50GB Data for 28 Days
The new Vodafone Idea Rs. 251 data pack offers 50GB of total data for a validity of 28 days. As mentioned, this is just a data pack and does not come bundled with talk time or SMS benefits.
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Russia Applauds SpaceX Launch but Calls Trump's Reaction 'Hysteria'
Russia's space agency criticised US President Donald Trump's "hysteria" about the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years, but also said on Sunday it was pleased there was now another way to travel into space.
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Remove China Apps Becomes Top Free App on Google Play in India Amidst Anti-China Sentiment
Remove China Apps, an Android app that claims to identify China-made apps on your Android phone and remove them, has gone viral in India. The app is currently at the top spot of Google Play’s top free apps list and it has been downloaded by over 10 lakh users since its launch on May 17.
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Samsung to Add New Memory Chip Line in South Korea as COVID-19 Boosts Demand
Samsung Electronics said on Monday it has begun construction of a new domestic production line for NAND flash memory chips, betting on demand for personal computers and servers as the coronavirus prompts more people to work from home.
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Why Is Vikings Censored on Netflix in India?
Netflix is playing a censored version of Vikings in India, includes blurring out two cooked pigs on season 5, episode 12 “Murder Most Foul”. That’s because Netflix is airing the version that premièred on the History TV18 channel in India.
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Samsung Access gives you a new phone, extra perks for one monthly fee
Apple was one of the first manufacturers to offer a subscription service for phone upgrades, allowing users to get the latest iPhone for one flat monthly fee.
Samsung offered a similar program too, and it’s now offering an all-new upgrade program called Samsung Access (h/t: XDA-Developers). So how does it differ from the legacy Samsung Phone Upgrade Program, then?
The Samsung Access initiative includes a number of perks aside from being able to upgrade your phone. These perks include Premium Care protection and support, and Microsoft 365 Personal (including 1TB of OneDrive storage and premium Office apps).
There are a few caveats though, as you need to return your current device before upgrading. Furthermore, you can only upgrade after a minimum of nine months, and you can only cancel after three months. Want to upgrade or cancel earlier than that? Then you’ll need to splash out $100, Samsung says.
It’s also worth noting that there are separate prices for each Galaxy S20 device, with the standard S20 retailing for $37 a month on Samsung Access. Opt for the Galaxy S20 Plus and you’ll be paying $42 a month (or $46 for the 512GB option), while the Galaxy S20 Ultra retails for $48 a month. The S20 and S20 Ultra models are only available in 128GB flavors via this initiative.
Furthermore, you can’t trade in your current phone to join Samsung Access. Meanwhile, Samsung’s legacy upgrade plan allows you to do this. Like the idea of this Samsung Galaxy subscription program nonetheless? Then check out Samsung Access via the button below.
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Redmi Note 8, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A Dual Price in India Hiked Once Again: All You Need to Know
The prices of the three phones - Redmi Note 8, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A Dual - have been increased by Rs. 500 across all models, and the new rates are reflecting on all e-commerce sites, including Mi.com.
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RedmiBook 13 Tipped to Launch in India on June 11, May Be Released Under Xiaomi’s Mi Brand
RedmiBook 13 Ryzen Edition, RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition, and RedmiBook 16 Ryzen Edition recently made their debut in China. Now, it seems RedmiBook 13 may soon make its India debut. India will, however, reportedly get the Intel-powered version of the laptop that has been on sale in China for some time.
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Google Stands in Support of Racial Equality: Sundar Pichai
Google stands in support of racial equality and all those who search for it, Indian-American CEO of the technology giant Sunder Pichai said on Sunday.
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SpaceX Crew Dragon Delivers Two Astronauts to International Space Station
Nearly 24 hours after launching from Florida, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule delivered NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station on Sunday, marking the first US space capsule to do so with a crew since 2011.
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SpaceX Crew Dragon Delivers Two Astronauts to International Space Station
Nearly 24 hours after launching from Florida, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule delivered NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station on Sunday, marking the first US space capsule to do so with a crew since 2011.
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Amazon UK Removes Racist Messages After They Appear on Some Product Listings
Amazon.com said it was removing certain images after messages using extremely strong racist abuse appeared on some listings on its UK website when users searched for Apple's AirPods and other similar products.
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The best Samsung Chromebook for your needs and budget
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
Samsung has been a key player since the inception of Chrome OS, and they still make outstanding Chromebooks. Picking a brand is only the first decision when finding the right computer, though. Now you need to figure out which is the best Samsung Chromebook for your specific needs and budget. Today we’re here to help you make that decision.
More: The best Chromebooks you can buy right now
The best Samsung Chromebooks:
Editor’s note: This best Samsung Chromebook guide will be regularly updated as new devices launch and others are phased out.
What is a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are computers that run Google’s Chrome OS operating system. This is a very simple web-based operating system made for those who use their computers mostly for browsing. It uses the Chrome browser as its backbone, adapting its abilities to a desktop-like user interface that makes it feel like a traditional, desktop PC.
Chrome OS has advanced its offline capabilities since its inception. They became especially more capable when Google gave Chrome OS support for Android applications, giving users access to a huge library of applications, services, and offline features. For an in-depth explanation of Chrome OS, its pros, and its cons, check the link below.
Buyer’s guide: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?
Why go with Samsung?
Samsung is a key player in the Android and Chrome OS markets, making it one of the most important Google partners. These companies have been working hard together and it shows. Samsung’s Chrome OS offerings come in many flavors. From super high-end laptops to affordable value devices, Samsung products are known for their quality.
We can confidently say the best Samsung Chromebooks are Google’s biggest competitors, and the best Google Chromebooks are amazing.
Here: The best Samsung phones you can find
1. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook: The best Samsung Chromebook for high-end needs
The 2020 Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is Samsung’s most premium Chrome OS offering to date. The device has a gorgeous design (especially in the Fiesta Red variant), and features a 4K AMOLED panel with a 16:9 ratio. It even comes with Ambient EQ technology to automatically adjust brightness and color temperature levels based on ambient light. Other features include a built-in stylus, Wi-Fi 6 support, dual-cameras, and a 10th generation Intel processor.
Also: Here are the best new Chromebooks you can find
While you might not think of Chrome OS as the perfect platform for digital artists, Samsung is also including specialized software designed to make the most out of the stylus. While this probably won’t cut it for more professional types, for amateurs it’s a great option.
Basically, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook feels a lot like a Pixelbook rival, and it has a high price to match.
2. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2: The best Samsung Chromebook for portability
Technically, most Chromebooks are very portable, but this one is special in that it comes with 4G LTE connectivity that would be perfect for road warriors, frequent travelers, and anyone commonly on-the-go.
Also: The best touchscreen Chromebooks around
Specs are modest, including an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 12.2-inch 1920 x 1200 display. With current prices north of the $500 mark, you are mostly paying for its data capabilities. That’s a very important factor to some of you, though. And it also comes with an S Pen, further improving functionality.
3. Samsung Chromebook 4: The best budget option
The Samsung Chromebook 4 is the best option to get on a budget. It’s similar to the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 in terms of specs, but it comes with a sleeker design and a much lower price point.
More like this: The best budget Chromebooks
Packed inside you will find an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and an 11.6-inch display. You can also go for a 15.6-inch version if you want more screen real estate, but that one will cost more.
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The best Xbox One games you can buy: Halo, Gears, Forza, and more
Looking for the best Xbox One games out there? Whether you’re rocking the fully 4K-enabled powerhouse Xbox One X, the affordable Xbox One S, or even the original console, there are plenty of old and new Xbox One games worth your time and cash.
The Xbox One family has pushed the game industry forward with consumer-friendly services like Xbox Game Pass, Play Anywhere, xCloud, which is currently in preview, and even the huge number of Xbox One backwards compatible games. Microsoft has even ported some previously exclusive Xbox One games to Nintendo Switch.
To keep things simple, this list of the best Xbox One games is for all of you console-only gamers with an Xbox One that want the best titles you can’t experience on a PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch. We’ll also list ten of the best non-exclusive and third-party games available for the Xbox One too!
Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB console Play games, movies and more
The Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB console can play every Xbox One game, along with many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, and UltraHD 4K Blu-ray disks.
Best Xbox One games
- Forza Horizon 4
- Gears 5
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Sea of Thieves
Editor’s note: This list will be updated as new Xbox One games launch.
1. Forza Horizon 4
Xbox Game Studios
Source: Xbox Game Studios
Petrolheads with Xbox One consoles are spoilt for choice when it comes to virtual racing, but for our money, Forza Horizon 4 is out in pole position.
Related: Xbox Series X: Everything you need to know
Forza Horizon 4 sees you zipping through disturbingly realistic representations of rural Britain in everything from bulky ATVs to mouth-watering supercars.
Those that want track-based racing thrills would be better off with Forza Motorsport 7, but there’s nothing that matches the adrenaline of taking a razor-sharp turn and narrowly missing a flock of sheep.
2. Gears 5
Xbox Game Studios
Source: Xbox Game Studios
After a lackluster fourth outing, Gears 5 marked a gory, gutsy return to form for the iconic Xbox franchise.
While developer The Coalition dropped “of War” from the name, Gears 5 delivers on the boots-on-the-ground, third-person shooter skirmishes fans expect, while also deftly answering some unexplained mysteries spanning the entire history of the now-venerable series.
Related: Best Xbox One accessories to level up your console gaming
The multiplayer is a little too grind-heavy, but Gears 5 ranks easily among the best Xbox One games on the strength of its stellar single-player campaign.
3. Halo Master Chief Collection
Xbox Game Studios
Source: Xbox Game Studios
While you should absolutely check out Halo 5: Guardians to see where the series is heading next in the not-so-distant future, it’s hard to deny the ludicrous bang for your buck you get with the Master Chief Collection.
Related: Beat the boredom with Xbox Live Gold and PS Plus deals
The bundle comes with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach (a.k.a. The Best Halo), and Halo 4.
Throw in a multiplayer system that encompasses maps and modes from all six games and you’ve got arguably the best gaming collection since The Orange Box.
4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Xbox Game Studios
Source: Xbox Game Studios
Arguably the biggest breakout indie series in the console’s library, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a relatively new Xbox One game that expands on the now multi-platform original game with gorgeous 3D modeling, a streamlined save system, a very welcome overhaul to combat.
Related: Is Xbox Game Pass worth buying?
Cutesy indie platformers are dime a dozen in gaming, but the second Ori game is a masterful, emotive journey that Xbox One players shouldn’t miss.
5. Sea of Thieves
Xbox Game Studios
Source: Xbox Game Studios
After years of mediocrity well below the standard of the halcyon days of the Nintendo 64, Rare finally delivered a game worthy of its retro heritage with Sea of Thieves — a quirky pirate game where you sail the high seas in the hunt for booty with up to four co-op scallywags.
Related: Playstation 5 vs Xbox Series X: How they compare based on what we know
The online adventure is a breath of fresh air in its genre, with strict missions and hand-holding towards objectives jettisoned in favor of loose nautical escapades that frequently devolve into hilarious farce.
Best Xbox One games: Honorable mentions and non-exclusives
Cuphead — A fiendishly hard platformer styled after 1930s cartoons. Best played with a friend… and with a stress reliever on hand.
Dark Souls Trilogy — Xbox One players miss out on the PS4 exclusive Bloodborne, but the Dark Souls Trilogy (and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) easily fills the void of challenging FromSoftware action RPGs. Also check out the Souls-inspired Ashen.
Doom — The perfect reboot of the demon-slaying shooter series. Its sequel Doom Eternal is also worth a look, though the 2016 game is a little tighter.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice — Dive into Senua’s incredible journey into mythology and madness ahead of the Xbox-exclusive sequel coming to Xbox Series X.
Minecraft — It’s Minecraft. Need I say more? The sandbox phenomenon has some Xbox One-exclusive content to boot. Without doubt one of the best Xbox One games for kids.
Overwatch — The Xbox One has no shortage of online shooters. Our pick of the bunch is Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch, but Fortnite and Apex: Legends (two of the best free Xbox One games) will both scratch that competitive itch too.
Quantum Break — A bizarre mish-mash of TV show and sci-fi action game, Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break is a unique Xbox One exclusive. Also check out Control from the same studio.
Red Dead Redemption 2 — Rockstar’s sequel is a Western odyssey for the ages. Of course if you want more open-world action, there’s also the ever-popular Grand Theft Auto 5 or The Witcher 3.
Sunset Overdrive — Insomniac Games may be a PlayStation studio now, but the underrated Sunset Overdrive ranks among its best games if you’re into action, shooting, and skating.
What Remains of Edith Finch — A compelling story-driven title with a gut-punch ending. For something similar, give Firewatch and Return of the Obra Dinn a try.
That’s it for our list of the best Xbox One games you can buy. We’ll update this list as more games are released. In the meantime, be sure to check out our other gaming content below!
- The best PS4 games you can buy: From Bloodborne to Uncharted 4
- The best exclusive games for the Nintendo Switch
- Sony PlayStation 5: Everything we know so far
- The best Nintendo Switch accessories, from controllers to cases and more
- Best PS4 accessories: All the must-have extras for your favorite console
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What to expect from the next generation of Android phone processors
Arm has revealed its latest crop of CPUs and GPUs, set to be used in Android phone processors later this year and in 2021. From Qualcomm and Huawei to Samsung and MediaTek, we’re expecting all the major silicon players to use the new tech.
Speaking of these chip companies, what should we expect from them and the mobile SoC industry at large next year?
A massive leap in CPU power (for some)
The next generation of Android processors could see the biggest CPU performance leap in quite some time, as the new Cortex-X1 Arm CPU prioritizes power over efficiency. This strategy means you can expect a power increase of up to 30% compared to the Cortex-A77 used in Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek’s flagship chipsets. In fact, the Cortex-X1 is expected to be up to 23% more powerful than the Cortex-A78, announced alongside the X1.
Arm has stated that the Cortex-X1 might only be available to specific chipset makers, meaning some chip brands might be left without the hefty CPU. So expect a rather uneven playing field among Android phones if for example, Qualcomm gets access to this Arm CPU but Samsung or MediaTek don’t.
What to expect from GPUs in 2021
Arm’s Mali-G78 GPU is a modest upgrade over the Mali-G77 seen in Samsung and MediaTek’s high-end chips. So truth be told, mobile gamers might not see a major real-world difference between the two GPUs.
This puts Arm in a rather interesting situation in 2021, especially in light of Samsung’s decision to work with AMD on smartphone GPUs. Back in July last year, Samsung said the new GPU tech will be implemented in products that launch “two years down the road,” which means it’s eyeing a 2021 launch date.
Combine Samsung and AMD’s partnership with Qualcomm’s traditionally beefy Adreno graphics, and it seems like Arm GPUs aren’t exactly hot property right now at the high end.
In saying so, the company’s Mali-G68 is the first Arm GPU in an upper mid-range family, sharing the same features as the Mali-G78 and slotting in above the Mali-G5X series. We’ve previously seen the likes of Xiaomi use a flagship Arm GPU (albeit with four cores) to great effect in the Redmi Note 8 Pro. So hopefully the G68 bring even more graphical grunt to mid-range phones.
GPUs are more important than ever in the age of high refresh rate screens, and we’re also starting to see even $200 to $300 phones offer 90Hz or 120Hz displays. High refresh rates don’t mean much if the GPU struggles to keep up, so that’s another reason why we’re glad to see the Mali-G68 plug the gap between budget and flagship mobile processors.
A switch to more efficient designs
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
The manufacturing process used to make each chipset (measured in nanometers) is another important factor, with smaller designs equaling less power consumption. We’ve seen top-end mobile processors shrink from 28nm designs in early 2014, all the way to 7nm right now.
High-end Android phone processors are due for a switch to even smaller 5nm designs in 2021, and we’re expecting major players to all hop aboard this bandwagon. But mid-range chips usually lag behind in this regard, so they might offer 7nm or slightly bigger designs for a while yet.
New CPUs also tend to offer efficiency improvements, and Arm’s Cortex-A55 is the lightweight CPU of choice for all silicon makers, being paired with more powerful CPUs. The Cortex-A55 is long in the tooth though, having first been revealed in 2017. Unfortunately, Arm hasn’t revealed a successor to it yet, which is disappointing as it’s probably more efficient to use the newer heavyweight cores for many tasks instead. Hopefully we see a successor next year, as it could provide a major upgrade for $100 to $150 phones.
What about 5G?
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
The shift to 5G brought with it a few aches and pains, and power consumption is one of these issues. Fortunately, the aforementioned shift to 5nm designs means new 5G chipsets will consume less power.
We’re also expecting to see the likes of Qualcomm adopt integrated modems in their flagship chipsets, enabling notable efficiency gains as well. And when combined with the switch to 5nm designs, we can expect next year’s 5G flagships to be kinder on battery life than this year’s devices.
Qualcomm’s latest X60 modem also brings a number of enhancements, such as 5G Voice-over-NR capabilities, and improved carrier aggregation for better speed and stability. The US chip giant is also bringing smaller mmWave modules to smartphones in 2021, with smaller components meaning more room for (you guessed it) bigger batteries.
Qualcomm’s rival MediaTek is also poised to improve its 5G capabilities in the future. The company still doesn’t support mmWave just yet, but previously told Android Authority that it was working on a solution.
Connectivity to get upgrades
Wi-Fi 6 has come to a variety of phones in 2019 and 2020, as some of the latest high-end and upper-mid range processors sport the standard. We’ve even seen the tech come to the budget-focused Snapdragon 460 chipset, although phones with that chip are only due closer to the end of the year.
Just when more chipsets and phones adopt Wi-Fi 6, we’ve got Wi-Fi 6E entering the fray. Don’t expect much faster speeds, but it should ease congestion and result in reduced latency. The first phones with Wi-Fi 6E are dependent on processor support, so we’ll need to wait and see if upcoming Snapdragon, Dimensity, and Kirin chips gain this feature.
In saying so, Qualcomm announced Wi-Fi 6E support in its new FastConnect 6700 and 6900 connectivity suites. FastConnect is Qualcomm’s brand name for the wireless connectivity components in its recent Snapdragon chips, so this means we can definitely expect Wi-Fi 6E in its upcoming premium mobile processors.
Read: What is Wi-Fi 6E and unlicensed 6GHz spectrum?
Bluetooth is another important connectivity feature and many high-end chipsets support Bluetooth 5.1, with some upper-mid range SoCs grabbing this feature too. However, we’ve already seen the first processor packing Bluetooth 5.2 support in the Snapdragon 768G, with Qualcomm later adding that Bluetooth 5.2 was coming to the aforementioned FastConnect suites.
Bluetooth 5.2 brings enhancements like Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) for more power-efficient wireless audio, Audio Broadcast support as well as the LC3 codec. Again, this will require new SoCs if you want in on this action. But the new standard means you’re getting better audio quality and more reliable connections than relying on proprietary AptX connectivity, so it’s definitely worth the wait.
Machine learning in 2021
It seems like every major chip manufacturer has a neural processor of some kind in 2020, with Huawei, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Samsung all sporting NPUs, APUs, or AI accelerators. We’ve seen virtually all flagship Android processors offer AI silicon, while brands have also moved to bring this hardware to the mid-tier.
However, one trend we’ve noticed is that chipset makers aren’t bringing machine learning hardware to low-end processors right now. We aren’t expecting to see this change in 2021, as CPU and GPU advancements mean many machine learning tasks can be run at a brisk pace without a dedicated neural processor. Furthermore, CPU and GPU upgrades also mean that machine learning tasks aren’t as big a drain on the battery as they used to be.
Nevertheless, as smartphone brands keep pushing the envelope with offline inference tasks like Live Caption, augmented reality, and ultra high-resolution processing, we expect more chips to offer dedicated silicon.
What does this all mean for Samsung Exynos?
The Exynos 990 garnered a ton of negative attention due to the real and perceived gap between it and the Snapdragon 865 chipset. But there’s reason to believe that 2021 will be a rebuilding phase for Samsung’s chipmaking unit.
Related: Ditching custom CPUs is the right call for Samsung’s Exynos
Aside from the aforementioned partnership with AMD for graphics, Samsung’s CPU efforts have also been shaken up. The firm’s Austin custom CPU unit was shut down late last year, which means future Samsung CPUs are almost 100% guaranteed to use Arm Cortex technology.
It seems like a good time for Samsung to drop its own CPUs in favor of Arm CPUs, as the Cortex-X1 seems to have a similar performance-focused philosophy to the Korean brand’s CPUs. We don’t know if we’ll see the first Samsung Exynos chipset with AMD graphics in 2021, but you might want to keep your expectations in check for the first product. After all, this is AMD’s first foray into modern smartphone GPUs.
Where do these developments leave Huawei?
Huawei’s HiSilicon division has been a saving grace ever since the Huawei ban kicked in, giving the manufacturer in-house chip manufacturing capabilities. And this was vitally important with Qualcomm not being allowed to supply the firm, as HiSilicon processors helped to address this gap.
Unfortunately, Washington’s draconian decision to now cut Huawei off from its chip producers means the firm is in dire straits as far as Android processor supply is concerned. The Chinese brand said that it had been building a stockpile of chipsets, and the new US amendment still apparently allows for some chips currently in production to be shipped to Huawei. But this will significantly affect the company’s ability to develop the latest and greatest technology. What’s the point of designing a chip if your chip producer can’t actually manufacture it for you?
One possibility is that Huawei turns to alternative chip producers like Samsung or smaller foundries in China. But this will be contingent on these producers not using a significant amount of US know-how to make processors. However, it’s believed Huawei has turned to Chinese foundry SMIC to produce some chips. But these are 14nm designs rather than anything close to 7nm seen on current flagship SoCs.
Another deciding factor for Huawei’s 2021 aspirations is its relationship with silicon designer Arm, as the Chinese brand uses Arm CPUs and GPUs in all its in-house processors. At the time the US trade ban was initiated in May 2019, Arm said that it was complying with the regulations. But the chip designer was then quoted as saying in October 2019 that Huawei has access to next-generation technology.
The latest Arm CPUs and GPUs are clearly a mix of evolution and revolution for the company, with the Cortex-A78 and Mali-G78 being in the former camp. Meanwhile, the Cortex-X1 and Mali-G68 represent new ventures for the Android processor landscape. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for 2021.
Between Huawei’s silicon troubles, Samsung ditching custom CPUs and adopting AMD GPUs, and maturing 5G technology, 2021 is clearly shaping up to be a big year for the industry.
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This week in Android: RIP LG G series, Xiaomi Mi 10 review, Galaxy S20 giveaway
RIP LG G series
LG isn’t as much of a powerhouse in the Android phone market as they used to be. They’re still one of the top players, but their strategies and offerings have not propelled them into the lead. They obviously believe it’s time for a change, hence, we get to say goodbye to the G Series devices. That’s a long line of devices that shook the market in the early days, and maintained some of the best mobile audio offerings in the latter years.
LG maintained a lead in mobile audio by not only keeping the headphone jack on most devices, but also including their Quad DAC on many phones. Over-simplifying things, the Quad DAC enables LG devices to drive some serious headphones, the kinds of cans that other phones require an external amp to manage, making the LG G and V series phones ideal for wired headphone fans.
If you’ve jumped on the Bluetooth headphone bandwagon, LG’s Quad DAC technology is not an advantage for you. LG does well with Bluetooth audio, but with the increasing popularity of wireless audio, users are not intrigued by the G and V series selling point of superb wired audio. We hope LG continues to support quality wired audio, but for now we must say goodbye to the G series, and say hello to the new Velvet.
Speaking of things being discontinued at LG, we suspect one of their media divisions has lost their right to post on social media, if not their jobs. This after an embarrassing promotion using the LG V60 for upskirt photography. Stuff like this was never really appropriate, but companies can expect swift backlash from the global community for trying it again, and that’s probably a good thing.
Here are the top 10 Android stories of the week
- Don’t lie to me! – 8 marketing tricks phone brands should stop using right now
- Do you own your stuff? – We don’t own our digital lives and it’s time we started caring about it
- Zoom not working? – Zoom will cut you off if you don’t update before May 30
- Power on the cheap – Redmi 10X series revealed: The cheapest 5G phones around
- Mid-range for the win – We asked, you told us: You are SUPER psyched for the Pixel 4a
- Still portless – 2020 Apple MacBook Air review: A premium laptop for the masses
- 5nm Exynos – Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series could get a massive chipset upgrade
- YouFixIt – Problems with the OnePlus 8 Pro and how to fix them
- Contact customer support – Fitbit issues statement on bricked Ionic watches after recent update
- Good and all, but… – Sony Xperia 1 II gets release date and absurdly high price
- Apps and more apps in our Android Apps Weekly – Word Show, Citra Emulator (3DS), and more apps hit the market this week.
From around the network
- Best drones under $800 – Drone Rush
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs. Sony WH-1000XM3 – SoundGuys
- Best headphones for bass – SoundGuys
Deals of the week:
- Our pick for device deal of the week: Samsung Galaxy phone deals
- Our AA TechDeals deal of the week: Complete Python coding certificate
Samsung Galaxy S20 international giveaway
This week, we’re giving away a brand new Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone. Enter this week’s Sunday giveaway for your chance to win! Courtesy of the AA Deals Store.
Don’t miss these videos
That’s it, folks! We’ll have another giveaway and more top Android stories for you next week. To stay up to date on all things Android Authority in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters at the link below.
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