News on Smartphones, August 2020

Google Pixel

• Release date: 4 August 2020

• Launched in: United States

• Price: $349 

• Class: Mid-range

• "With the Pixel 4a, Google is solidifying its foothold in the midrange category. The higher-end Pixels that came before it excelled in camera technology, but these days the competition swerves around Google's offerings. With the 3a, Google has proven it can make cheap hardware deliver a premium-feeling experience."

Full content and details (external sources): GSM Arena

Google Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5

• Release data: fall 2020

• Price: Pixel 4a 5G starting at $499

• Class: Earlier rumors characterized the Pixel 5 as an upper mid-range phone

• The Pixel 4a 5G may be larger than the base Pixel 4a with a 6.1- or 6.2-inch screen, but would use a slower 60Hz refresh rate, forego wireless charging, and possibly stick to a lower-end Snapdragon part with less RAM.

Full content and details (external sources): Android Authority

Samsung Galaxy Series

On August 5 during the galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled 5 new devices: Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S7 series, Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy Watch3.

The event also saw Samsung strengthen its leadership of the foldable smartphone segment and open the door to a new mobile era with the introduction of its third foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold2. 

Full content and details (external sources): Samsung's Youtube Channel

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series

• Release date: 5 August 2020

• Launched in: Global

• Price: From $1299

• Class: Flagship (10th-gen Galaxy Note lineup)

• Devices: Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra

• Include Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC or Samsung’s Exynos 990 chip (depending on your region), up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512GB of high-speed UFS 3.x storage. Samsung has also introduced a host of new software features with the devices (details below).

Full content and details (external sources): XDA-developers (specs)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G

Shipping to the US started last August 7.

• Price: $1,449.99

• Class: Premium

• The phone runs on the latest Snapdragon 865+ processor which is a huge improvement from the Snapdragon 855 chipset earlier this year

• Its 6.7-inch screen can be folded in half, so the phone can stand unsupported in an L-shape upon a surface

Full content and details (external sources): AndroidCommunity, Globetrender

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

• Samsung revealed a sneak peak of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 at its virtual Unpacked event

• Unveiled at a virtual event on September 1, 2020, the Galaxy Z Fold2 is the Korean company's third foldable phone and an update of the original Galaxy Fold, released last year

• Price: $1,999.99
  Class: refined version of a flagship device (Galaxy Fold)

• Goes on sale on September 18

• The world’s first 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display, which folds into a compact device with a cover display. 

Full content and details (external sources): Samsung Newsroom (specs), DailyMail

iPhone 12

• The Japanese leak site Mac Otakara said its sources believe the iPhone 12 launch will now happen in late October. The news has also been backed up by the popular Apple tipster Jon Prosser, who has a 100% track record for Apple hardware launches in 2020. Prosser goes so far as to describe his confidence in this as "00%. Prosser has also previously claimed the range would have a split release.

Full content and details (external sources): Forbes

• According to Jon Prosser, the iPhone Pro Max integrated the new LiDAR sensor in the phone’s triple camera array. 

  The iPhone 12 Pro models will have noticeably slimmer bezels than their predecessors which will make the notch appear smaller but it will actually be the same size.

Full content and details (external sources): Jon Prosser's Youtube

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra

A special edition to celebrate Xiaomi's 10th anniversary

• Release date: August 11, 2020

• Launched in: China

• Price: From $760

• Class: Flagship

• Right now, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is only available in China

Full content and details (external sources): GSM Arena (specs), Android Authority (review)

New from Xiaomi: Mi 10T

A new flagship series from Xiaomi out in September. It will be less expensive than other flagships. The series is likely to consist of three smartphones, a vanilla Mi 10T, a beefed-up Mi 10T Pro and a mid-range Mi 10T Lite. Specific differences are currently unknown. 

Full content and details (external sources): TechRadar

More on Smartphones

• Huawei Mate 40: due to be unveiled in coming weeks. The latest rumor suggests a 3.5mm headphone jack (Forbes).

• OnePlus 8T design leaks: it could have a flat display with a hole-punch cutout (XDA-Developers).
  Previous rumors have suggested that the 8T will make the jump to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus (Laptopmag).

•  Nokia 6.3, Nokia 7.3 5G, and the flagship Nokia 9.3 PureView: the smartphones are in pre-launch final testing phase. The production may begin in September/October (NokiaPowerUser).

• Sony Xperia 5 II: AndroidHeadlines has shared additional renders and specifications; Evan ‘evleaks’ Blass has shared more renders that show off the Pro Cam app, the Sony DualShock 4 Phone Clip, the official case, and more. Sony could unveil the device on September 17. (XDA-developers).

• Asus Zenfon 7 series: launched on August 26. (XDA-Developers).

• Asus Rog Phone 3: it has been reviewed as more than a gaming phone (The Economic Times).

• Moto Razr 2020: expected to be announced on September 9 with a Snapdragon 765G chipset, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a new 48MP main camera (GsmArena).