News on Smartphones, February 2021

iPhone 13

Here the latest news about the iPhone 13 series which is expected at the end of September 2021:

• Apple will bring a new ultrawide angle camera with a brighter f/1.8 lens to all iPhone 13 models, according to a note by Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O'Malley. The information differs from a previous report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said only the Pro models will get the new camera.

Full content and details (external sources): GSM Arena

• A report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will once again offer four sizes for the iPhone 13. So you can expect a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, a 6.1-inch iPhone 13, a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro and a 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

Full content and details (external sources): Tom’s guide

• Apple will finally bring Always-On Display functionality to its upcoming iPhone 13 series. The rumor suggests iPhone 13 units will use Samsung’s 120Hz LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) displays and users will be able to have their battery percentage and time on display at all times.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

• iPhone 13 mini (or the iPhone 12s mini) could be in plans for Apple's 2021 lineup, according to a tipster. The Cupertino company is expected to have the smaller iPhone model in the works despite poor sales records of the iPhone 12 mini that debuted last year. 

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy F62

Samsung Galaxy F62 With Quad Rear Cameras, 7,000mAh Battery Launched in India is on sale from February 22 via Flipkart and the Samsung India store.

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy M12

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is now official with a low-key launch in Vietnam. The phone is based on the Galaxy A12, though it stands out with a larger battery – 6,000 mAh capacity.

The 48MP sensor on the back is the highlight of the camera department. It can record 1080p videos (at 30 fps) and capture portrait photos with the assistance of a depth sensor. Also, there’s a 2 MP macro camera.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has appeared on the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) site, showing key specifications.

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G will run on Android 11 and have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G SoC under the hood.

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

A new explainer shows how Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra achieves its great photographs by combining light and dark images together to get the best of both worlds.

Full content and details (external sources): Tom’s guide

Huawei 

Huawei Mate X2 announced with in-folding design, periscope camera

The phone is wedge shaped – it’s thickest near the camera module and it gradually slims down to just 4.4 mm on the other end. The camera end is the thickest part and for good reason – this is the first foldable phone with a periscope lens.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Huawei P50 series will  arrive in last weekend of March and it will include three phones

The P50 series is usually launched in March, and according to one trustworthy leakster, the new lineup will arrive between March 26 and March 28.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Google 

Three new Motorola phones are now available at Google Fi

In a new blog post, Google Product Manager announces that the company’s wireless carrier Google Fi will begin offering three new Motorola handsets.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Google Pixel 5a leak shows a familiar design

Google's lineup of affordable smartphones is due to grow this year with the Pixel 5a. The Pixel 5a is said to measure 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (9.4 mm at the camera hump). That size positions it in between the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G, though it's closer to the latter in its dimensions than it is to the former.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

February update fixes touch issues on Pixel 5 and 4a 5G, sensor issues on Pixels 3 and up

The touch sensitivity issues on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G should be resolved with the new firmware. People started noticing that the screens of their phones would sometimes miss touches after installing the December 2020 update.

The other fix covers every phone since the Pixel 3 – there was a long-standing issue with sensors not being detected at boot-up. This issue first cropped up with Android 10 and would disable things like double tap and lift detection.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Asus 

Asus ROG Phone 5

• Different versions of Asus ROG Phone 5 at TENAA: screen replaces the Tencent logo on the back.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

• It also appeared on Geekbench with 16GB RAM, achieving 1,131 and 3,729 points in the single and multi-core tests, respectively, which is higher than what the 8GB RAM model scored.

We still don't have the official launch date of the ROG Phone 5, but a teaser poster last month suggested the unveiling will take place between end-March and mid-April this year.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena, Tom’s guide

Realme 

Realme V11 5G

Realme V11 5G has been launched in China. It has a notched display with slim bezels on three sides and a relatively thick chin. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and Mali G57 GPU. It comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 1TB).

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Realme Narzo 30 series

Realme unveiled the first two models of the Narzo 30 series – the advanced Pro model and the budget 30A option. The Pro comes with MediaTek Dimensity 800U and offers 5G connectivity. The Realme Narzo 30A, on the other hand, has MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and 4G support.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena, Gadgets

Realme GT 5G 

Realme GT 5G Bumblebee leather variant appears in an official poster. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC and is expected to come with Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi 11

Xiaomi has finally announced the Mi 11 for the global markets and as expected, there are few changes to the specs sheet compared to the Chinese variant. 

The most notable changes are the absence of a 12GB/256GB memory variant and the 55W GaN charger in the box.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite will look exactly like the Mi 11 from the back and the front with one major difference - the screen will have no curved edges, but a flat panel instead.

The Mi 11 Lite is yet to be announced, and we expect it to come alongside a Mi 11 Pro with a periscope lens and probably even a Mi 11 Ultra with a secondary display on the back.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 Smartphone Launch Confirmed

Mi Mix 4 smartphone will be launched by Xiaomi this year. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun had recently teased the launch of the smartphone even if there has been no indication about when exactly this will happen.

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Redmi

Redmi K40-series

The upcoming Redmi K40-series will have not two but three phones. Xiaomi unveiled the new Redmi flagships and the theme is, as always, speed. The K40 trio shares the AMOLED display that boasts 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate. the K40 Pro+ is equipped with a 108MP sensor in its main camera, the Pro gets a 64MP sensor instead and the vanilla has to settle for a 48MP sensor.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena, Gadgets

Redmi Note 10

Redmi Note 10 series specifications have been revealed by Xiaomi ahead of the India launch, set for March 4, 2021. The budget flagship series is expected to include two models: the Redmi Note 10, and the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets