Smartphones arriving in 2019: Samsung foldable phone, Google Pixel 3 Lite
Snapdragon 855, 5G, are some of the things that may rule smartphones in 2019.
By ET Online |
Agencies
On the left is Samsung's upcoming foldable phone, and on the right is Google's Pixel 3 Lite. (Image: Twitter/@techlector)
From notch-free phones, ever-shrinking bezels to dual rear cameras trickling down to budget devices, smartphones have seen a whole gamut of changes in 2018. And things are set to alter even more as we enter 2019.
As Samsung gears up to unveil the foldable phone, there is buzz that Apple is working on new iPhones that are likely to be a departure from the iPhone XS and XR. Here’s a peek at what else is likely to make tech news in 2019.
Samsung's much awaited and talked-about foldable smartphone would offer the functionality of a tablet complete with multi-tasking and a big screen. While the price of the foldable smartphone is still not out, industry watchers say it may cost around $1,770, which could end up limiting sales. Samsung has said that the upcoming foldable smartphone will fold inward and sport a 7.4-inch screen when unfolded, and have a 4.6-inch display like a regular smartphone when folded.
Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10 Lite The Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10 Lite could well boast of the slimmest bezels ever on a flagship from the South Korean firm, if leaks doing the rounds are to be taken seriously.
(Image: Twitter/@PubtechM)
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Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is rumoured to feature a full HD, 1080 x 2280 display, while the Galaxy S10 Plus screen is expected to be a QHD, 1440 x 3040 offering. An increase in height of the displays on the Galaxy S10 trio hints at a reduction in bezel size above and below the display. And the phone's camera might have a night mode.
Apple iPhones Cupertino's future handsets will continue the dual-camera lens setup and probably ditch the 3D Touch in an effort to keep costs down. Apple may change the design after two years of the notched iPhone X look, but then again, the iPhone 6, 6S and 7 all looked functionally the same.
Foldable Phones, Notch-Free Display: Smartphone Tech To Watch Out For In 2019
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While the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XR continue to push the boundaries of a single smartphone camera, other companies have not stopped there. Dual cameras became a norm in 2018 and we’ve also seen them in sub Rs10k phones. Huawei was first with a triple camera smartphone (P20 Pro) and others followed suit. Samsung Galaxy A7, LG V40, Oppo R17 Pro and Huawei Mate 20 Pro were some of the phones with triple rear cameras. Samsung didn’t stop there and went on to launch a phone with quad cameras – the Samsung A9. For 2019, there are already rumours of a Nokia phone with five rear cameras and we expect more companies to follow the trend. You can expect all major brands to have phones with multiple cameras across price brackets. According to us, having multiple cameras only makes sense when you get good results and flexibility (wide, macro, tele lenses).
(In Pic: Samsung Galaxy A7)
While the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XR continue to push the boundaries of a single smartphone camera, other companies have not stopped there. Dual cameras became a norm in 2018 and we’ve also seen th..
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Battery technology simply hasn’t kept pace with smartphone development. One solution to this is to have phones with larger batteries but this also makes the device larger/heavier. The other logical solution is to make the batteries charge faster. OnePlus users have enjoyed the super-fast Dash Charge feature. A number of smartphones also come with Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 3.0. In 2018, we saw devices go beyond and develop their own ultrafast charging technologies. Oppo showed everyone how it’s done with SuperVooc charging on the Find X and R17 Pro. Huawei Mate 20 Pro has Super Charge 2.0, OnePlus launched WarpCharge on the OnePlus 6T McLaren edition while the Asus ROG has QuickCharge 4.0 support. These phones are capable of charging phones from 0 to 50% in less than 30 minutes which is good for about a day of battery life. In 2019, this ultrafast charging tech should be available on more smartphones.
(In Pic: ASUS ROG Phone)
Battery technology simply hasn’t kept pace with smartphone development. One solution to this is to have phones with larger batteries but this also makes the device larger/heavier. The other logical s..
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We see new smartphone features every few months – starting from CES in January to various events through the year. We are also likely to see more of Qi wireless charging, phones without 3.5mm port, IR assisted face unlock, glass backs on entry-level devices, smaller, teardrop shape notches. Here are some of the favourites that are expected to be a lot more visible in the coming year.
(In Pic: The FlexPai from Royole)
We see new smartphone features every few months – starting from CES in January to various events through the year. We are also likely to see more of Qi wireless charging, phones without 3.5mm port, I..
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While we first saw the notch in 2017, 2018 was when it came to even at entry-level devices. It’s now so prevalent that more people seem to hate it rather than understand why it’s there. Thankfully, we also saw smartphone brands take a step ahead with allscreen designs (without any notch). Phones like Oppo Find X and Vivo NEX and still on sale but you do have to pay a premium for the design. For 2019 we expect the all-screen design to take center stage as display prices come down. By the end of 2019, we should see mid-range smartphones with all-screen designs.
(In Pic: On the left is the Oppo Find X, and on the right is the Vivo NEX)
While we first saw the notch in 2017, 2018 was when it came to even at entry-level devices. It’s now so prevalent that more people seem to hate it rather than understand why it’s there. Thankfully, w..
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Foldable smartphones have been a concept for a long time now with a few proof of concept devices being shown off at international events. Things escalated quickly in 2018 with Samsung and Huawei announcing that their foldable smartphones will debut in 2019. Samsung showcased a working prototype of their foldable smartphone at an event recently showing how close they are to a consumer device. Another little-known Chinese company called Royale surprised everyone by launching the world’ first foldable smartphone called FlexPai (it’s supposed to go on sale in China by the end of this year). We might just see the first foldable phone next year but you should expect it to be a halo product with a stratospheric price tag.
(In Pic: Samsung's foldable phone which is likely to hit markets in 2019)
Foldable smartphones have been a concept for a long time now with a few proof of concept devices being shown off at international events. Things escalated quickly in 2018 with Samsung and Huawei anno..
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4G and VoLTE is commonplace now thanks to Jio’s cross country network (and their affordable data packages brought prices down for everyone). The DoT has announced that they expect to complete the process of 5G spectrum auction by August 2019 which means that there are chances we might see 5G rollout by end of 2019. While the network rollout is not clear at the moment, the hardware for 5G is already ready. Qualcomm has already announced that they have over 15 smartphone OEMs committed to 5G for 2019. A number of them including OnePlus, Oppo and Huawei have also announced 5G phones for 2019 (we’ll see the first wave of announcements at the Mobile World Congress 2019).
4G and VoLTE is commonplace now thanks to Jio’s cross country network (and their affordable data packages brought prices down for everyone). The DoT has announced that they expect to complete the pro..
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As a personal choice, we prefer capacitive fingerprint scanners on smartphones (simply because they’re faster and more accurate). However, the next generation of fingerprint scanners (embedded in the smartphone display) are already a reality. We’ve seen in-display scanners on Vivo NEX, Vivo V11 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the OnePlus 6T. Capacitive scanners also had their share of issues initially and the speed/accuracy improved over the years – we expect the same to happen with in-display fingerprint scanners. One of the things holding back the in-display scanners is that they can only work on devices with amoled screens (which are more expensive than LCD). Qualcomm recently announced ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanning technology that can work on any type of screen and even through metal.
(In Pic: On the left is the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and on the right is the OnePlus 6T)
As a personal choice, we prefer capacitive fingerprint scanners on smartphones (simply because they’re faster and more accurate). However, the next generation of fingerprint scanners (embedded in the..
Google Pixel 3 Lite Keeping up with the Pixel trend, this new smartphone is likely to be packed with a wonderful camera, strong configuration and stunning design. This will be a mid-range, low-cost handset - and likely to carry 32GB of internal memory and a battery about as large as the Pixel 3s. There is also buzz of a 12.2-megapixel rear camera. There might even be an XL version of the Lite, sans the notch.
Huawei plans to push harder on its camera dominance this time around – which means more visible hardware on the back. Leaks so far point to four cameras on the back, all vertically arranged in a module. And Huawei could be going big on the flash, as well, since renders show a pretty sizable flash node right alongside.
OnePlus 7 The OnePlus 7 could be the most exciting smartphone for 2019, packing in top specs but at a more affordable price than the competition, much as the OnePlus 6T has done this year.
EXCLUSIVE! Here's your first look at an upcoming OnePlus Device I don't know much about. This image shows the devic… https://t.co/7dII9nrTPI
The smartphone will have a triple lens rear camera, which seems to be the trend for 2019 phones. What's got geeks excited is the fact that the front-facing camera is hidden behind the sliding screen, which in turn means there may be a true all-screen display with no bezels or notches at all.
Oppo 5G Flagship Oppo may just become the first one to mass-produce 5G compatible handsets in 2019. OPPO’s R&D department has been busy in the past few years churning out tech such as triple cameras, variable aperture, AI, Face Unlock, and even Super VOOC in its 2018 smartphones.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 The 5G Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 was confirmed in late October and, in the UK and Europe at least, is currently set for an early 2019 release. This would put it near the front of the 5G smartphone release schedule, with the device likely to hit store shelves either just before or just after MWC 2019. 5G aside, the Mi Mix 3 already looks like a strong device, with a magnetically sliding 6.39-inch OLED display embedded in a sleek bezel-less design (93.4% screen-to-body ratio), and a suite of hardware that includes a maximum of 10GB of RAM and 256GM of storage space, as well as a dual rear camera system (24MP + 2MP).
Apple iPhone XS Max, Google Pixel 3XL: Big Smartphones Ruled 2018
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Life without a smartphone seems impossible today. Buoyed by consumer demand, mobile companies are trying to outsmart each other with cutting-edge technology, specifications, premium design among other features. Like every year, 2018, too, saw smartphones with radical technology - quad-camera, a bionic chip, a Bluetooth stylus - trying to woo consumers.Here's a look at the premium smartphones that hit the mart in 2018.
(In Pic: On the left is Apple's iPhone XS Max, and on the right is Google's Pixel 3 XL)
Life without a smartphone seems impossible today. Buoyed by consumer demand, mobile companies are trying to outsmart each other with cutting-edge technology, specifications, premium design among othe..
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FEBRUARY
Japanese handset-maker Sony launched its flagship smartphone, Xperia XZ2 with a 5.7-inch HDR display. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, the smartphone boasts of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (with microSD slot). The device also supports gigabit data speeds. Sony also launched the 5-inch, XZ2 compact smartphone, that is also powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor. While the XZ2 is priced at Rs 72,990, the XZ2 Compact is priced at Rs 44,990 respectively.
FEBRUARY Japanese handset-maker Sony launched its flagship smartphone, Xperia XZ2 with a 5.7-inch HDR display. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, the smartphone boasts of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of st..
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MARCH
March saw the launch of the Galaxy S9 Plus from the Samsung stable. Sleek and beautiful, with a glass-and-metal body, it also has a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display with QHD+ resolution, minimal bezels on all sides, HDR10 and Always On Display. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo and is priced at Rs 52,900. The phone uses Exynos 9810 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and a microSD card slot.
MARCHMarch saw the launch of the Galaxy S9 Plus from the Samsung stable. Sleek and beautiful, with a glass-and-metal body, it also has a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display with QHD+ resolution, m..
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A 6.10-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 2240 pixels at a PPI of 408 pixels per inch. The Huawei P20 Pro is powered by 1.8GHz octa-core (4x2.36GHz + 4x1.8GHz) processor and it comes with 6GB of RAM. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Huawei P20 Pro packs a 40-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 24-megapixel front shooter for selfies. The device is priced at Rs 59,999.
A 6.10-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 2240 pixels at a PPI of 408 pixels per inch. The Huawei P20 Pro is powered by 1.8GHz octa-core (4x2.36GHz + 4x1.8GHz) processor and..
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JULY
This is the manufacturer's latest flagship smartphone to foray in India. Marking the revival of the Oppo Find smartphone series, the smartphone boasts of a motorised slider that contains the phone's cameras, helping reduce the size of the display bezels. The design decision makes it one of the first smartphones in the world to achieve this feat. Apart from that, the handset's key highlights include Face Recognition technology, a Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8GB of RAM, and a premium all-glass design. The device is priced at Rs 59,990.
JULYThis is the manufacturer's latest flagship smartphone to foray in India. Marking the revival of the Oppo Find smartphone series, the smartphone boasts of a motorised slider that contains the phon..
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The BlackBerry KEY2 with extra security to keep your data safe houses latest Android 8.1 Oreo Operating System, a 12MP+12MP dual rear camera system with 2x optical zoom, an 8MP front camera and 3500mAh battery with "Quick Charge 3.0" technology. The BlackBerry KEY2 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It has "Speed Key", a universal shortcut key that makes it possible to instantly access apps, contacts and functions. The keyboard includes in-keyboard fingerprint sensor with updated mechanics for an improved tactile response and convenient user experience. The device is priced at Rs 42,990.
The BlackBerry KEY2 with extra security to keep your data safe houses latest Android 8.1 Oreo Operating System, a 12MP+12MP dual rear camera system with 2x optical zoom, an 8MP front camera and 3500m..
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AUGUST
Samsung unveiled their flagship in India only in August. However, the Galaxy Note 9 had already been launched globally earlier in August. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display which features a screen resolution of 1,440 x 2,960 pixels (514ppi). Driving the phone, a combination of 2.7GHz quad-core M3 Mongoose and 1.7GHz quad-core Cortex A55 processors are present and those are seated on the Exynos 9 Octa 9810 chipset. The processor is aided by 6GB of RAM and Mali-G72 MP18 GPU. The phone comes with Corning Gorilla Glass v5 screen protection and boots on Android v8.1 (Oreo) operating system. There is a fingerprint sensor present allowing you to quickly unlock the device. The 512 GB storage variant starts from Rs 75,900.
AUGUSTSamsung unveiled their flagship in India only in August. However, the Galaxy Note 9 had already been launched globally earlier in August. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features a 6.4-inch Super AMO..
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SEPTEMBER
Apple released the iPhone XS, a faster version of its flagship X, at the Cupertino-based tech giant's annual event held in September. The XS comes with a larger sibling, the iPhone XS Max. The company also announced the iPhone XR, a cheaper alternative that replaces the expensive OLED screen with LCD technology. The iPhone XS price in India has been set at Rs. 99,900 for the 64GB variant, while its 256GB option comes at Rs. 1,14,900 and the 512GB model is available at Rs. 1,34,900. The iPhone XS Max, on the other hand, comes with a price tag of Rs. 1,09,900 for the 64GB storage variant, while its 256GB variant is available at Rs. 1,24,900 and 512GB variant at Rs. 1,44,900.
SEPTEMBERApple released the iPhone XS, a faster version of its flagship X, at the Cupertino-based tech giant's annual event held in September. The XS comes with a larger sibling, the iPhone XS Max. T..
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OCTOBER
Google unveiled the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the latest flagship offerings from the company. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL both feature larger screens than last year’s models thanks to slimmed down bezels — and the controversial notch in the case of the bigger phone. The prices in India are Rs. 71,000 for Pixel 3 64GB, Rs. 80,000 for Pixel 3 128GB, for Rs. 83,000 Pixel 3 XL 64GB variant, and Rs. 92,000 for Pixel 3 XL 128GB.
OCTOBERGoogle unveiled the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the latest flagship offerings from the company. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL both feature larger screens than last year’s models thanks to slimmed down beze..
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The phone comes with a 6.40-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 3120 pixels. The LG V40 ThinQ is powered by octa-core processor. The LG V40 ThinQ is powered by a 3300mAh. As far as the cameras are concerned, the LG V40 ThinQ packs a 12-megapixel (f/1.5, 1.4-micron) primary camera and a 16-megapixel (f/1.9, 1.0-micron) secondary camera on the rear. On the front, it packs an 8-megapixel (f/1.9, 1.4-micron) primary camera and a 5-megapixel (f/2.2, 1.4-micron) secondary camera.
The phone comes with a 6.40-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 3120 pixels. The LG V40 ThinQ is powered by octa-core processor. The LG V40 ThinQ is powered by a 3300mAh. As ..
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