IF / News

Chipsets

Samsung has unveiled integrated 5G SoC Exynos 980, which is an 8nm, octa-core chip with two ARM Cortex-A77 CPU cores and six lower-power Cortex-A55 CPU cores. It has Mali-G76 graphics and a neural processing unit that Samsung says offers up to a 2.7% boost in performance. (Liliputing, Samsung, AnandTech, Android Authority, CN Beta)

Touch Display

Samsung is allegedly preparing to unveil its second foldable device early 2020, a luxury phone that folds down into a compact-sized square. The company is working on a device with a 6.7” inner display that shrinks to a pocketable square when it’s folded inward like a clamshell. (CN Beta, Bloomberg, Android Authority)

OPPO VP Brian Shen has teased a 90Hz display for the next OPPO Reno phone, which will also support Super VOOC charging. (GSM Arena, Twitter, Weibo, Sina)

Innolux is showcasing rollable and transparent AM Mini LED display new applications, which have already begun commercial design. Additionally, the company is also showcasing 28.3” AM (active matrix) mini LED-based integrated automotive cluster and CID display products. (CN Beta, Digitimes)

LG Display (LGD) has filed a patent with a stylus-equipped foldable smartphone, which comes with a ‘Z fold’ form factor where the phone folds in two places, creating something of a “zigzag” design. It allows the smartphone to be folded and stored as a compact device. (CN Beta, LetsGoDigital, Android Headlines)

Camera

Xiaomi MIUI‘s Mi Gallery app is adding in support for viewing 108MP (with Samsung’s ISOCELL Bright HMX) photos in full resolution. This support is added in specifically for devices codenamed “tucana“, “draco“, “umi” and “cmi“. They belong to unreleased devices from Xiaomi, but they could be split between the Mi and Redmi branding.  (GSM Arena, XDA-Developers, Android Central, CN Beta)

Connectivity

GSMA predicts that by 2025, 54% of the world’s 5G connections will come from the Asia Pacific region, and China will become the largest 5G market. The 5G deployment in the Asia-Pacific region is in the forefront of the world. South Korea is the world’s first 5G-scale commercial country. Since the 5G release in early Apr 2019, it has developed more than 2M 5G users. At this stage, Korea has become the global 5G commercial benchmark. (CN Beta, 199IT)

Huawei and China Mobile have launched a 5G stereo-coverage network to promote seamless coverage of 5G. The 5G stereo-coverage network overlay consists of a basic coverage capacity layer. It also includes a capacity experience layer and a value scene indoor coverage. This can better achieve seamless 5G coverage. (GizChina, Huawei, CN Beta)

Phone

Sony reportedly will be merging its Swedish branch – Sony Mobile AB – into the conglomerate of Sony Nordic. Lund office is the former headquarters of Ericsson Mobile.  (CN Beta, GizChina, Di.se)

HMD Global CPO Juho Sarvikas has disclosed that Nokia has sold 80M feature phones and smartphones combined worldwide in 2018, a value that has grown by about 10M units compared to 2017. Juho has revealed EUR2.4B in net sales and a loss of EUR189M for the year 2018.  (GizChina, Nokia Mob, HS.fi)

GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu believes that Apple would launch a new cheaper iPhone that could serve as a sales momentum kicker in 1H20. It could feature 4.7” LCD display supplied by Japan Display Inc (JDI) and LG Display (LGD). (GSM Arena, Asia Nikkei)

Honor 20S is announced in China – 6.26” 1080×2340 FHD+ IPS HiD, Hisilicon Kirin 810, rear tri 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro + front 32MP camera on display, 6 / 8+128GB, Android 9.0, side fingerprint scanner, 3750mAh 20W, CNY1900 (USD265) / CNY2200 (USD308). (GSM Arena, Sohu)

Honor Play 3 is announced in China – 6.39” 720×1560 HD+ IPS HiD, Hisilicon Kirin 710, rear tri 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP depth + front 8MP camera on display, 4+64 / 6+64 / 4+128GB, Android 9.0, no fingerprint scanner, face unlock, 4000mAh 10W, CNY999 (USD140) / CNY1299 (USD182). (Android Authority, Android Central, Vmall, GSM Arena)

Huawei Enjoy 10 Plus is announced in China – 6.59” 1080×2340 FHD+ IPS, Hisilicon Kirin 710, rear tri 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP depth + front motorized pop-up 16MP, 4 / 6 / 8+128GB, Android 9.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 4000mAh 10W, CNY1499 (USD209) / CNY1799 (USD252) / CNY2099 (USD294). (Gizmo China, GSM Arena)

Realme Q is announced in China – 6.3” 2340×1080 FHD+ IPS u-notch, Qualcomm Snapdragon 712, rear quad 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 16MP, 4+64 / 6+64 / 8+128GB, Android 9.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 4035mAh 20W, CNY998 (USD139) / CNY1198 (USD167) / CN1498 (USD209). (GSM Arena, Realme, CN Beta)

[IFA2019] Sony Xperia 5 is announced – 6.1” 2520×1080 FHD+ 21:9 CinemaWide OLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, rear tri 12MP-12MP ultrawide-12MP 2x telephoto OIS + front 8MP, 6+128GB, Android 9.0, side fingerprint scanner, 3140mAh 18W, GBP699. (Engadget, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

Wearables

[IFA2019] ASU VivoWatch SP is announced with altimeter, GPS, ECG, optical heart rate sensor (PPG), 2-week battery life, 5ATM water resistance. (Android Headlines, Android Central, CN Beta, GSM Arena)

Puma Smartwatch is announced, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, Google Wear OS,  comes with a heart rate sensor, GPS tracking, Google Assistant, 512MB RAM + 4GB storage, 3ATM water resistance, NFC to support Google Pay, and other typical smartwatch features, and priced at USD275. (Engadget, Android Headlines)

[IFA2019] Gamin is announcing a series of new smartwatches: Venu – 1.2” AMOLED display, GPS, Elevate heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, new health and fitness metrics, including hydration and respiration tracking, and sweat loss estimation, 24/7 stress monitoring and body battery, priced at USD290. Vivoactive 4 / 4S – offers animated exercises, hydration tracking, sweat loss estimation, pulse oximeter, and respiration tracking, 2 sizes (40mm and 45mm), priced at USD350. Vivomove 3 / 3S – hybrid smartwatch that pairs a classic analog face with a discrete smart display, offers connected GPS, pulse oximeter, and smartphone notifications, priced at USD250~550. Legacy Hero Series –collection inspired by Marvel’s Captain Marvel and Captin America: The First Avenger movies, offering full suite of fitness-related features, and priced at USD400. (Phone Arena, Digital Trends, Apple Insider)