Yesterday’s Google announcement to make some changes to its storage policies came as a shock to most of us. These changes include a new auto-delete policy for accounts that are inactive and for users who have surpassed their storage limits. However, these aren’t the only changes that are coming, as it seems that Google won’t offer free unlimited storage in Google Photos with future Pixel devices.
It seems that this may be a great moment to buy a new Google Pixel device if you’re interested in free, unlimited Google Photos backups. Google’s latest changes to its storage policies will start taking effect on June 1, 2021. This means that from that date, any new photo and video you upload will count toward the free 15GB storage each user receives with his or her Google account. Further, any new document will also add up to a users’ limit.
Now, things don’t stop there, as Google has also announced that future Google Pixel devices won’t include unlimited ‘high-quality’ Google Photo backups while existing Pixel devices will continue to do so. This is because every Google Pixel device before the Google Pixel 5 will be exempt from Google’s policy change.
“If you back up your photos and videos in Original quality, these changes do not affect you. As always, your Original quality photos and videos will continue to count toward your 15 GB of free storage across your Google Account.
“If you have a Pixel 1-5, photos uploaded from that device won’t be impacted. Photos and videos uploaded in High quality from that device will continue to be exempt from this change, even after June 1, 2021.”
In other words, the latest Google Pixel a4 and Pixel 5 may be your best option to avoid paying $1.99 per month if you want 100GB of storage space to keep your future pictures, videos and documents backed up. And you must also remember to check your accounts every now and then to stop the automatic deletion of your files.
We recently reported that Google Pixel 5 has started to show what could be a huge problem. Some purchasers of Google’s latest flagship noticed a gap between the phone’s frame and the display, which could jeopardize the phones IP rating, and more. Now, Google has come up with a reply. The company says it has investigated the issue and this is a “normal part of the design” that will not impact water resistance.
The latest development comes from Google’s support forum where a “Community Specialist” said that Google investigated affected units and looked at “quality control data from the factory.” When the issue was noticed by the buyers, one immediate concern that arose was the impact on the IP68 rating. However, the Community Specialist says that there is “no effect on the water and dust resistance or functionality of your phone.” Notably, he goes on to add Google will work with customers on an individual basis to address any concerns they may have.
He wrote, “we’ve had a chance to investigate units from customers and, combined with our quality control data from the factory, we can confirm that the variation in the clearance between the body and the display is a normal part of the design of your Pixel 5. There is no effect on the water and dust resistance or functionality of your phone. We will work with customers on an individual basis to address any concerns they may have.”
Some Pixel 5 buyers are reporting that their new devices are coming with a small separation between the screen’s plastic bumper and the aluminum frame. The separation seems to be in the area around the front-facing camera. These reports can also be found at the Pixel Phone product forum and on XDA’s forum with several examples of these gaps and how much it can vary in location and separation in these phones.
While Google says it is part of the design, it’s still strange that only some phones are affected. Presumably, the design is intended to be seamless since the company says it will work with customers on an individual basis or be willing to exchange units.
16-inch MacBook Pro, Google Pixel 4 and more devices are on sale today
The official news today begins with deals as it is a new week.. Sort of. Right now I still can’t tell what time it is, but anyway, let’s begin with the 16in MacBook Pro which is $300 off, that leaves the 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage variant for $2100. The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is also $349 off, leaving the one with the same specs as the MacBook Pro and an Nvidia GeForce 1650 Graphics card for $1451. I know, if I were you I’d go Razer. The Google Pixel 4 is $192 off, leaving the entry level variant for $608 shipped. Finally, the Apple Watch Series 6 is $24 off, leaving the 40mm variant for $374. We also have more deals on the Pixel 4 XL, LG TVs and more in the links in the description.
Now let’s move on to Huawei and their Kirin processors. I know, we thought we weren’t getting any more of that but things continue to evolve. We know that Apple was the first to announce a 5nm chip with an A14 Bionic, so Huawei wants to do something to stand out. According to a new tweet from Ice Universe and some benchmarks, the Kirin 9000’s GPU uses 24 cores, yeah you heard that right but, that’s not entirely good. Ice mentions that this is the highest specification, but it’s clocked at a lower frequency, so it doesn’t really transfer into the results. According to a leaked AnTuTu benchmark, this SoC scored over 693K, basically on par with the Exynos 1080, but it obviously has better results when it comes to graphics. We’re expecting the Huawei Mate 40 Pro in a couple of days with this Kirin 9000, a 6.76in OLED Display, up to 12GBm of RAM and a pretty impressive camera so, we’ll keep you posted. That said, even if I’m looking forward to it, I wonder how many of you are. Let me know in the comments.
iPhone 12 and 12 Pro pre-orders could’ve reached 9 million during the weekend
Now let’s get back to Apple and, well yes, a lot of content already launched and they look pretty good. Our units arrive on Friday so stay tuned for our impressions. That said, let’s talk sales figures as a new report from Ming Chi Kuo estimates that the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro saw between 7 to 9M pre-orders over the past weekend. Last year, Apple got 10-12M pre-orders during launch week but of course that was a different time. Kuo actually says that this beat analysts expectations as Apple’s customers usually prefer the two high end models but apparently there is a strong demand in China, the US and Europe. Analysts also expect the Mini and Pro Max to sell in more moderate quantities but Apple should still have a pretty good year overall. The 12 and 12 Pro will apparently take 30-35% of the pie, the Pro Max 15-20%, with the Mini being the least popular at 10-15%. How many of you pre-ordered the phone, or are you still waiting to see if it’s worth it? Also chime in the comments.
Google Pixel 5 devices are starting to show a serious issue
Now let’s move on to Google, cause of course, there can’t be a proper Pixel roll out without some issues. It’s been less than a month since we got the Pixel 5 but, some people are starting to notice a gap between the phones frame and the display. Most of the reports were on the Pixel Phone and XDA forums but, the guys over at Android Police are having this issue as well. The issue apparently happens in different places but, the most common area is close to the selfie shooter. In some cases it’s less noticeable than others but, at the end of the day this could be a pretty big issue if it compromises the water resistance on the phone. Some reports mentioned that this issue was present as soon as they took the Pixel 5 out of the box and it hasn’t separated over time but it still sounds like something Google should address. We’ll keep you posted once they post a response whether it’s positive or negative for the buyers. So far, we don’t really know what to make of this just yet so, and I can confirm that none of our units are having issues, but we’ll see.
Department of Justice calls Google ‘monopolist’ in its antitrust lawsuit
The US Department of Justice has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Google, for allegedly violating antitrust laws. According to them, Google is a monopolist that violated the laws to trounce the competition, specifically in the search and advertising markets and highlights a few “exclusionary agreements”. Some of them include, making business arrangements that make the pre-installations of their search app mandatory on mobile devices, signing that long term deal with Apple that makes Google the default search engine on Safari and exploiting their monopoly to get preferential through their search engine, browsers and more. Google simply responded by saying that this is a deeply flawed lawsuit that does nothing to help consumers and they also addressed other details like the fact that Apple chooses Google Search because they think it’s the best. Thing is flawed or not, the last thing we needed is more drama in 2020. We’ll see how this ends.
Story of the day:
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Ultra alleged renders reveal camera bump and flat display
And finally, for the hottest news today let’s talk Galaxy S21, S30 or whatever this thing is going to be called. If you remember, there’s a very high possibility that the phone will be launched earlier, around late January or early February of 2021 according to sources, so obviously that opens the door to official CAD renders, even this early. These come from OnLeaks and Voice, showing off the new design. Keep in mind, this design might and will most likely change over time so this is somewhat of a first look. First off, we have a flat 6.2in display at the front with the typical slimmer bezels and with the centered punch hole at the top. That’s all fine but probably the biggest change is the camera hump which is almost flushed to the rest of the phone. On these renders it brings a triple camera array, almost no word on those just yet but we are expecting some big changes. Again, expect rumors on this phone to only intensify as time goes by since that’s the way this works.
We start today’s deals with Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro, which comes with 16GB RAM. 512GB storage space and an Intel Core i7 processor for $2,099 after a $300 discount from its regular $2,399 price tag. However, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop, you may want to check out the Razer Blade Stealth 13, which is getting a $349 discount, leaving it at just $1,451. Upon purchase, you get an Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTZ 1650 graphics card, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage space.
Next up, we have some deals on the Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL, but hurry since quantities are very limited. The 64GB Just Black version is currently selling for $607.77 with $191.23 discounts, while the Clearly White version sells for $629 after a $170 discount. If you want more storage, the 128GB version in Clearly White is getting a $61.76 discount, leaving it at $837.24. Now, if you want the larger variant, it is selling for $779 with 129 savings and 64GB storage space, and if you’re interested in the Google Pixel 3a, you can get it for $319 with 64GB and $80 savings.
Headphones are also getting interesting discounts, as the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition are now available for $300, down from its regular $350 price tag. These are available in three different color options, and they include Qualcomm’s aptX and ACC with up to 14 hours of continuous playback and fast charge that will give you up to four hours of power after a 30-minute charge. However, the Philips Fidelio X3 are also on sale. They go for the same $350 price tag, but they can now be yours for just $249.
Other deals include the latest Apple Watch Series 6 in its 40mm, GPS only version with Space Gray aluminum case and Black Sport Band selling for $374 after a $24 discount. LG’s OLED55CXPUA CX 55-inch smart OLED TV is getting a $503 discount, leaving it at $1,497. Belkin’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro for macOS and Windows is now selling for $250 with $50 savings, and the Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller can be yours for $80 after a $20 discount.
The latest Pixel was officially launched less than a month ago, and it is already starting to show what could be a huge problem. Some early Google Pixel 5 buyers are starting to notice a gap between the phone’s frame and the display, which could jeopardize the phones IP rating, and more.
The new Google Pixel 5 is already starting to arrive at its new owners’ homes. Unfortunately, some of them report that their new devices are coming with a small separation between the screen’s plastic bumper and the aluminum frame. Reports seem to vary, but the separation is usually found in the area around the front-facing camera. Customers are expressing concern, as this gap could affect the Google Pixel 5’s water and dust resistance.
The guys over at Android Police have also experienced this issue with their device, so it adds up to a number of reports that aren’t necessarily large, but it’s increasing at a consistent rate. These reports can be found at the Pixel Phone product forum and on XDA’s forum with several examples of these gaps and how much it can vary in location and separation in these phones.
“We can confirm that our own Pixel 5 review unit is also affected, though to a lesser degree than some of those pictured above. Most reports show it in the corner closest to the display’s camera cutout, along the top of the phone, and above the SIM tray on the left side, but it may also appear in other areas as well. Though most images demonstrate the problem in the Just Black colorway (probably because it’s most visible with the stronger contrast), it also affects the Sage Green color.”
Only time will tell if these gaps affect the phone’s water resistance. Still, reports mention that the aesthetic defects have been present since Google Pixel 5 was taken out of the box, and the screens don’t seem to be separating over time. Hopefully, this issue is nothing more than a cosmetic defect that won’t harm the phone’s performance or durability.
The Google Pixel 4, JBL products and more on sale today
The official news today, as always, begin with deals, and it all begins with the departing Pixels which are actually still good phones. Let’s start it off with the Google Pixel 4 line which is still on sale at Amazon. The entry level variant for the 4 is currently $249 off, leaving it for $551 shipped. The 4 XL is $120 off, leaving it at $779 shipped. The Surface Go 2 is also $80 off, leaving the Intel Core m3, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage variant for $550. B&H is also offering that same discount and just as a heads up, this is the Wi-Fi only variant. Finally, the regular AirPods are $48 off, leaving them at $151 shipped with the wireless charging case. We have more deals on JBL headphones, the Samsung Galaxy Watch and more, in the links in the description.
Selling icons for iOS 14 has made a designer $100K in just six days
You wanna know something funny.. I’ve never known a case where the least tech savy people were more interested in an iOS update, than with iOS 14. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that widgets and icon packs are becoming a huge thing again thanks to the Siri Shortcuts app. Basically what you do is create a shortcut for every app you want on the home screen and use a picture for the icon and it also works on the new widgets. Well, there’s a designer called Traf which has been selling a pretty minimalistic icon pack and has sold a crazy $101k in just 6 days. He says that he used to sell skins back in 2013 for jailbroken iPhones, but he never made any profit out of it. His current pack costs $28 and it’s actually pretty cool looking. The main reason why we covered this is to see how you guys are feeling about that whole decorating your home screen movement, let us know, we’ll have a poll on the community tab.
Google might produce as little as 800,000 Pixel 5 units in 2020 as it trims sales target: Report
Let’s talk about the Pixel 5 and Google’s strategy with it. I seriously feel that this is finally the Pixel’s time to shine, but it could just be that Google is playing it safe. According to a new report from Nikkei Asia, Google has a way lower sales target and they will only produce 1M units of the Pixel 5 but this number could fall to 800K, depending on the reception it gets. According to IDC data, Google sold 7.2M units in 2019 when they had a goal of selling 8-10M. We also know that the pandemic is still going on but going from 7.2M to 1M units is a drastic change. So far, the Pixel 4a is having some positive reception as the Pixel 3a was Google’s Hit last year and it’s apparently performing well in Europe so, again, we hope that the Pixel sells as good as they do in the news because, the price tag isn’t too bad this year.
Microsoft Surface Pro X gets SQ 2 chip upgrade and a new Platinum colorway
Now let’s cover a bit more about Microsoft. Yesterday we covered how the company unveiled the new Surface Laptop Go to compete against Chromebooks but, that wasn’t the only thing we got. Microsoft just launched a new updated version of the Surface Pro X, as well as a new Platinum paintjob. It brings the same 13in Pixel Sense display with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD, running Windows 10. According to Microsoft it brings a slight boost of up to 15hrs of battery life on a single charge and it brings two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port and a nano SIM slot. Now, what’s interesting about this update is that it brings a new SQ 2 chip which is a customized version of Qualcomm’s Second Gen Snapdragon 8cx chip which was released this year. Sadly, this laptop doesn’t offer 5G compatibility nut, it should account for the battery boost we mentioned earlier. This new updated variant will start at $1499 for 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, and it is currently available for pre-orders, it will be on stores on October 13th. What I’m curious is if Microsoft will start working on getting Windows to work natively on ARM, cause that’s what this platform needs to get amazing.
OnePlus 8T leak suggests it will be bigger than its predecessor on all sides
Let’s move on to OnePlus as, we’re getting closer and closer to the official event, and you know how it goes with leaks. Yesterday, OnLeaks posted the dimensions of the device, comparing it to the 8 and the 8 Pro. Apparently it will be wider than both of these and slightly shorter than the 8 Pro. It’ll also be 0.1mm thinner than the 8 Pro, putting it in the middle of both devices, Moving on to official territory, the company also posted a picture of the red box for this phone, and even a picture of it open. And sadly they didn’t show the phone, only the red wire for the 65W charger hanging out of it. We’re expecting this phone to bring a 6.5in display running at 120Hz, the Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It’ll also pack a 4500 mAh battery and it’ll run on Android 11, the launch date is on the 14th. I’m just wondering how it’ll go for the company as this would be the first time they don’t go for the latest specs on a T update, which kind of defeats its purpose.
Story of the day:
120Hz ProMotion displays may arrive with iPhone 13 lineup
And finally, the most interesting news today have to do with iPhones and 120hz. Even if we don’t have the 12 line just yet, we have some new information on next year’s line up from the DSSC’s Ross Young, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture for 2020. According to Young, this information comes from Mizuho securities and it gives us details on what we’re likely to get from Apple’s roadmap. The list shows all 4 new models for next year and an iPhone SE 3 won’t be a part of it.. That’ll happen until 2022. Apparently, we’ll get a similar line up to this year’s with the regular 13s bringing a 5.42in and 6.06in OLED display, provided by Samsung, LG and BOE. The regular 13s will bring sub 6 5G, Dual cameras at the back, with the same modules as the ones we’ll get on the iPhone 12. Moving on to the Pros, the regular one will bring a 6.06in display, provided by LG and BOE, while the Pro Max will bring a 6.67in display from Samsung. These will support both mmWave and sub6GHz 5G, while rocking triple cameras at the back and a ToF sensor. All of these will bring Face ID, expect for the SE3 which will still rock a fingerprint sensor. This report doesn’t mention 120Hz displays but, Young added that ProMotion with variable refresh rates and LTPO will be coming, at least to the Pro models.
Filters popularity has rapidly increased over the past few years. Almost every OEM is offering you filters to play around with. However, sometimes, filters are turned on by default in the photo apps without your knowledge. According to Google, these default filters can quietly set a beauty standard that some people compare themselves against. Hence, it is changing how it handles selfies with its newest phones. The company will turn face retouching off by default from the Camera app for its Pixel 4a, 4a 5G and Pixel 5.
“We conducted multiple studies and spoke with child and mental health experts from around the world, and found that when you’re not aware that a camera or photo app has applied a filter, the photos can negatively impact mental wellbeing,” said Google in a blogpost. Now, people will get to choose if and when their appearance is changed in pictures. “If face retouching filters are on, this should be clearly indicated in the product experience.”
With the new range of Pixel phones, selfie retouching options are available in the camera app, but turned off by default. Moreover, Google will update the phones to relabel the retouching options and avoid judging words, like “beauty.” You’ll see value-free, descriptive icons and labels for face retouching options. Further, on selecting face retouching effects, you’ll see more information about how each setting is applied and what changes it makes to your image.
It is not clear if and when these settings will roll out for older gen Pixel phones.
Google Pixel 4, Pixel 3a, Jabra Elite and more devices on sale today
The official news today begin with deals, and you know the way it goes, with a product on its way out, let’s just begin with Pixels. The Pixel 4 XL is still $250 off, leaving the 128GB of storage variant for $750. The regular Pixel 4 is $161 off, leaving the entry level variant for $637. And, to conclude with the Google deals, the Pixel 3a XL is $94 off, leaving it at $385 shipped. And don’t worry, we still have some Apple deals left. The latest 12.9in iPad Pro is $50 off, leaving the Wi-Fi only variant for $949 shipped. We have more deals on SSD’s, Amazon Echo Speakers and more in the links in the description.
LG Wing coming to Verizon on October 15 for $999, pre-orders kick off on October 1
Now let’s talk about LG as the company announced the Wing a couple of weeks ago but, we didn’t get any availability dates or the price tag at their event. Well, if you’re interested pre-orders for this phone will begin on October 1st on Verizon. If you’re not on Verizon, don’t worry, AT&T and T-Mobile will be getting it this fall, and you’ll be able to get it on third party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy as well. For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, the LG Wing is LG’s rotating phone. It packs a 6.8in FHD+ display, with a secondary 3.9in. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 765G, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also packs a triple camera setup that includes a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP wide angle and another 12MP wide angle. The price tag, which hadn’t been revealed is $999 and honestly, it’s not too bad for the features. I’m just curious as to how many of you are willing to take part in this new experiment, because let’s be real, it is.
Confirmed: There is no OnePlus 8T ‘Pro’
OnePlus 8T 5G will run OxygenOS 11; also spotted on Geekbench
Now let’s move on over to OnePlus as we’re basically in Tech-Tober already so, the Pixel isn’t the only thing we’re getting. OnePlus is gearing up to launch their T Series smartphone on October 14th. There’s been multiple rumors and leaks that there won’t be a Pro variant, even if the company has been teasing something “Ultra” for the event. Well, Pete Lau just confirmed that there won’t be an 8T Pro this year as, according to him, “users who like the Pro-level products can choose the regular 8 Pro, the annual machine king. Their current plan is defined in a direction where there won’t be no room for upgrade. And later in that statement he said 8T, hashtag, hashtag and a surprise that is worth the wait. Now, since they’ve been teasing something Ultra and there is no room for upgrade, we could assume that the regular 8T will pack a lot of punch. The leaked specs for this phone include a 6.5in display running at 120Hz, the Snapdragon 865, no Plus, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Finally, it’ll pack a quad camera array at the back with a 48MP main sensor, a 16MP ultra wide and two useless macro and portrait shooters. We’ll keep you posted as we get closer to the event, and no worries, that Macro Camera is not what makes it ultra.
Distributors could get the first iPhone 12 batch as soon as next week
I know it’s Google Day but, let’s talk about the iPhone 12 for a second. Jon Prosser revealed some new details of what and when we should expect them on Twitter a couple of days ago. According to him, the first shipments of finalized iPhone 12 units is going out to distributers on October 5th. This shipment will include the 5.4in iPhone 12 Mini which will start at 64GB of storage and the 6.1in iPhone 12 which also starts at 64GBs. He also mentioned that the 12 and 12 Pro Max will start at 128GB when it comes to storage and, them not being in that shipment list serves as some sort of confirmation that, we won’t be getting these until later and we’re expecting that to be some time early November. Finally, he added that the event will be happening on October 13th after all with pre-orders on the 16th and they’ll be in stores on October 23rd.
Nest Audio becomes official, and it’s now available for pre-order
Chromecast with Google TV is here with a sleek remote, 4K HDR support and a $49.99 price
And yes, today was the Google Event so, let’s start off with everything we got that isn’t Pixel related. And, actually, we thought it would be more but we got two different products. Let’s begin with Project Sabrina which is officially dubbed Chromecast with Google TV. Like the name suggests it’s a small dongle but instead of just letting you stream to it, it brings full blown Google TV. It allows you to stream 4K HDR videos at 60fps, with Dolby Vision and even HDR10+. It also brings a remote which let’s you call on the Google Assistant, and it also has a Netflix and YouTube button. According to Google it’ll bring Stadia support and it is available for $49.99. Finally, let’s move on to Nest Audio which is the successor to the Google Home. This new speaker is 6.89in tall, and weighs over 2 and a half pounds. It includes a 75mm woofer, and a 19mm tweeter to deliver 50% more bass, 75% more volume and give you a clearer sound than the original. Pre-orders are already live and it will be available on October 5th in 21 different countries for $99. We’ll let you know how the experience goes once we get these devices for review as, I’m not gonna lie, I wanna try them ASAP.
Google Pixel 5 arrives rocking an ultra-wide angle camera and $699 price tag
Finally, of course, the hottest news today have to do with Google, and let’s be real, regardless of how popular we want pixels to be, we really hope this is the time they take off.
Let’s 4start off with the Pixel 4a 5G which is, a bigger and actually better version of what we currently have with the Pixel 4a. It has a 6.2in HDR OLED Display running at 60Hz, it is powered by the Snadragon 765G, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. We’ll talk about the cameras once we discuss the Pixel 5 as, they bring the same arrays. Finally, this one packs a 3800 mAh battery and it will come in Just Black and Clearly Black, for $499, oh and did I mention it still brings a headphone jack? And we know, we’re all here for the Pixel 5 so let’s just get to it. This one packs a 6in OLED display but running at 90HZ, it’s also powered by the Snapdragon 765G but it packs 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has a larger 4000 mAh battery and, it’s made out of a recycled aluminum enclosure, and It brings wireless charging and even reverse wireless charging for your accessories. Finally, let’s move on to the cameras, they bring an upgraded 12.2MP main sensor with EIS and OIS, and finally a 16MP wide angle camera with a 107° field of view. The selfie camera in the punch hole is an 8MP f/2.0 sensor. They also announced new features like how Night Mode now works for portraits, Portrait Light which let’s you add lighting effects to older photos as well, and a new Bracketing Feature. The Pixel 5 will cost $699 and they’ll be available on October 15th in 9 countries, with a free Stadia, Youtube Premium and Google One subscription.
Google introduced its high-end Pixel 5 smartphone earlier today, alongside the more affordable Pixel 4a 5G. On the surface, the two phones look promising and the general consensus from the tech community is that the lower asking price of Google’s new smartphones might attract more consumers towards the Pixel family. However, it appears that Google has set a rather modest target when it comes to the sale of Pixel 5 in 2020. As per a Nikkei Asia report that cites sources privy to the matter, Google plans to produce only 1 million units of the Pixel 5 this year, thanks in no part to a lower sales target.
However, the number of Pixel 5 units produced this year could fall as low as 800,000 units depending on the reception it gets. Google has trimmed down its sales estimates due to the cumulative effect of two factors – the coronavirus pandemic slowing down the global smartphone market and Google failing to meet the sales target of its Pixel smartphones last year. Google sold 7.2 million smartphones in 2019, falling short of its target of shipping 8-10 million units, as per IDC data.
On top of it, the coronavirus pandemic has also put brakes on Google’s plans of manufacturing all of its smartphone models in Vietnam as well, in a bid to move some production away from China amidst growing geopolitical tensions. “Google gave a relatively conservative order forecast this year because its flagship Pixel 4 did not sell well last year, and because COVID-19 is causing their team to stay on the safe side concerning handsets for now,” a source close to Google was quoted as saying by Nikkei Asia.
To recall, pre-orders for the Pixel 5 have already gone live in the US and it will be available starting October 15 in nine countries. However, Google will sell Pixel 5 in fewer markets, with India being one of the major omissions where the Pixel 5 won’t hit the shelves. Overall, Google has reportedly set a production target of 3 million units for all three smartphones it has launched so far this year – the Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 4a. So far, the Pixel 4a appears to have received a positive reception due to its aggressive asking price of just $349, and might prove to be the key shipment driver for Google in 2020-2021, just like the Pixel 3a did in the previous financial year.
This is not even surprising anymore – A Pixel device leaking ahead of the Google event. The much-awaited Google Pixel 5 has appeared online in hands-on images. For reference, the smartphone has already had its specs, price and everything there is to know leak in the recent times. All that’s left is Google to announce the actual phone. The Pixel 5 launch event will kickstart at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 11:30 PM IST. It will be livestreamed on YouTube. Moreover, you can watch it here.
The latest leak comes from tipster Jon Prosser, who took to Twitter to reveal the front and back of the device. The Pixel 5 sports a flat display with a punch-hole notch at the top-left. Looking closely, you can notice how thin the chin is! It is almost as thin as the side bezels. On the back lies a dual rear camera setup and the fingerprint sensor.
The Google Pixel 5 will reportedly feature a 6-inch FHD+ ( 1080 x 2340 pixels) display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is said to come with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 432ppi. The display could be covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 6. It is likely to support HDR certification and offer 24-bit color depth. The smartphone could be powered by Snapdragon 765G SoC, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Moreover, it is tipped to have a stereo speaker setup, NFC chip, and dual-SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) functionality.
In the optics department, the Google Pixel 5 is reported to sport a dual rear camera setup – a 12.2MP primary camera with an f/1.7 aperture that supports both EIS and OIS. Plus, it might support 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p slo-mo videos at 240fps frame rate. The second camera is tipped to be of 16MP wide-angle with 107-degree field of view. The smartphone could pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging, wireless charging as well as reverse charging. It is rumored to cost €629 (~ $735) and come in green and black colors.
Google is all set to launch its Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G smartphones today. The company is a virtual event titled ‘Launch Night In’. It is also tipped to introduce a new smart speaker and Chromecast. The Pixel 5 launch event will kickstart at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 11:30 PM IST. It will be livestreamed on YouTube and users from all over the world can access it on any browser or the YouTube app. You can also watch the Pixel 5 launch livestream below:
Almost everything regarding the Pixel 5 has already leaked online. The device is tipped to feature a 6-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It could be powered by the inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, paired with 8GB RAM. It is rumored to sport a 12.1MP primary camera with f/1.7 aperture, and that it will be able to capture 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p slo-mo videos at 124fps. The device could pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. It might also include an IP68 rating. The smartphone is said to arrive with a $700 price tag in its 128GB configuration.
On the other hand, the unannounced Google Chromecast is already available at Home Depot stores in the US. It is selling for $49.99. The retailer already had Sabrina available, two days ahead of the official launch. Coming to the Google Pixel 4a 5G, it is likely to be priced at €499 and will be up for grabs in black and white colors.
We are less than a week away from the launch of the new Google Pixel 5, which is scheduled to take place on September 30. We have been getting a truckload of rumors about the upcoming devices, revealing the phone’s specs, colors, prices, and more. Now, we get another rumor that gives us the price of both the Pixel 5 and the Google Pixel 4a.
Rumors concerning the upcoming Google Pixel 5 devices’ price tag have been popping up here and there. However, there’s nothing to speculate about the price tag of the Google Pixel 4a 5G, since Google has already given us the official pricing of this device, as you will be able to get one for $500. However, the pricing for the Google Pixel 5 is still a mystery. Now, Jon Prosser comes to claim that the Pixel 5 will arrive with a $700 price tag in its 128GB configuration, while Evan Blass believes that it will arrive with a $900 in Canada, so yes, that’s in Canadian Dollars. This information lines up with previous leaks from Vodafone Germany that give the device a €630 price tag.
Let’s remember that this last leak also gives us insight on everything we may want to know about the Google Pixel 5 since it also reveals storage options, color options, and more. We also know that the Pixel 5 will arrive with a 6-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, and 8GB RAM. The device will also include an IP68 rating, a 12.1MP primary camera with f/1.7 aperture, and that it will be able to capture 4K videos at 60fps and 1080p slo-mo videos at 124fps.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Google Pixel 4 and more devices are on sale today
The official news today begin with deals, and what do you call a phone that hasn’t launched yet and is already getting discounts? Uhh, Samsung does not like to waste time. The Galaxy S20 FE which was just announced yesterday.. It’s not even in stores yet, is already on sale at both Amazon and B&H. You can get the entry level variant in all 6 color options for $100 off, leaving it at $600 shipped. Moving on to Pixel territory, the 4 and the 4 XL are still on sale. The entry level variant of the 4 is currently $269 off, leaving it at $530 shipped. The 4 XL is $350 off, leaving that at $649 shipped. We also have more deals on Garmin Watches and more in the links in the description.
Amazon launches its game streaming service called Luna, and here’s everything we know
And just like yesterday, let’s keep talking Amazon but don’t worry, no Apple deals. It seems like Cloud-based game streaming services are the new thing,.. Even if no one has gotten it right, but hey Amazon has just announced their own service “Luna”, to compete with Microsoft in Google. To play games on this new platform all you need is a stable connection, a compatible controller or mouse and keyboard and a supported platform. Luna runs on PC, MacOS, Fire TV devices like the Fire Stick, and finally, Chrome and Safari. It’s currently on an early access period but, you can already purchase the controller for $49.99 right now and honestly, it doesn’t look too bad. The early access for Luna+ is currently $5.99 and it has games like Resident Evil 7, GRID and other titles. We’ll keep you posted as it evolves, we hope it does better than what Google and Microsoft have been doing because this type of services aren’t really taking off.
Next MWC Barcelona would now take place in June
Now let’s talk about tradeshows and that illogical plan to make them virtual.. You and I know that doesn’t work. If you remember MWC was cancelled this year and how things are going, we didn’t really think we were getting one next year either but apparently that won’t be the case. GSM Association just announced that next year’s MWC will happen between June 28th and July 1st, 2021. If you’re thinking, how are companies going go on with their launch schedule, MWC Shanghai will be happening in the usual dates of February 23-25. Obviously, the Shanghai event will be focused on the Asian Pacific markets with brands that don’t usually go to the Barcelona Event, but we do hope to see something considering how 2020 went. Finally, the company announced that MWC Los Angeles 2021 will still happened in October, as scheduled. We’ll keep you posted if big names will move their events to Shanghai or, if we’ll have to wait until June… Summer in Barcelona doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
New Samsung Galaxy S21 to arrive with an Exynos 2100 processor
Speaking of things we usually get in February, let’s talk Galaxy S Line. Lately there’s been some reports that claim that the Exynos 1000 will be faster than the Snapdragon 875 and that it will power the S21 but, we know you guys aren’t fans of Exynos so we haven’t covered them on the show. However, the S21+ just went through Geekbench and it shows some changes that aren’t good. In these benchmarks, the S21+ is rocking an Exynos 2100 chip, which is actuakky worse than the Exynos 1000 and than the Snapdragon 875. Heck, it’s only slightly even better than the current S20+. But enough with the benchmark scores talk, some of the specs revealed were 8GB of RAM, a 4800 mAh battery and it was running Android 11. Of course, we’re still early and this doesn’t mean for sure that we’re getting that processor on the S21 but if that’s the case, Samsung better price it low. Is it just me or are plastic backs and a meager Galaxy Note 20 indications that Samsung is pulling an HTC now?
The new iPad Pro could be the first Apple device with mini-LED display
Now let’s talk about Apple as we’ve been hearing about mini-LED Apple products for a long time now. For those of you who don’t know, mini-LED displays offer a better color gamut performance, higher contrast, dynamic range and local dimming for darker blacks, amongst other features. Now, we have a new report from Ming Chi Kuo that says that Apple has been working on mini-LED displays for quite a while now, and we may be soon getting six new products that feature this technology. Kuo claims that these will be iPads and Macs and, he also included that the first device to bring it will be the 12.9in iPad Pro. The report mentions that Apple will be accelerating their adoption of mini-LED panels as they’re performing better than expected in their testing. These displays would be manufactured by a new manufacturer called Sanan Opto-electronics but, Epistar will remain their main supplier for these displays. This iPad Pro should arrive with 5G connectivity and we should see it some time in Q1 of 2021.
Story of the day:
Pixel 4a 5G leak reveals it’s a slightly toned-down Pixel 5 with a cheaper build
Google Pixel 5 leak reveals the upcoming phone in all its green glory
And finally for the hottest news today, let’s do a second round on the Google Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. Yesterday we covered a very extensive leak of the Google Pixel 5 and, we’ll actually talk more about it in a quick second. Let’s begin with the Pixel 4a 5G which got the same treatment. According to this leak, it will bring a 6.2in OLED display running at 60Hz. It will also be powered by the Snapdragon 765G, but it will bring 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 3800 mAh. It will bring the same camera array as the Pixel 5 with a 12.2MP main sensor with OIS, a 16MP ultra wide and it will be capable of recording 4K video at 60fps. It’ll obviously run on Android 11 and it will bring a headphone jack, yay. Google already confirmed the price tag for this phone to be $499 in the US. This is all fine and dandy, but let’s get back to the Pixel 5. We have some new high quality pictures from Evan Blass, showing off the final design for this phone in both color variants. Again, this design is based on the 4a, meaning it brings a punch hole display but with slimmer bezels, the fingerprint sensor, dual tone power button and probably the only difference is the dual camera module which looks like the one on the Pixel 4. Specs are pretty similar to the 4a 5G but with some extra RAM. On these renders we can see the green variant in high quality for the first time and it will apparently bring a more premium metallic build, instead of the polycarbonate we’re getting on the 4a 5G.
It’s raining Google leaks right now for the company’s two upcoming smartphones – Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. After appearing in a hands-on image and then getting all their specs as well as pricing leaked, the two upcoming phones have now surfaced online in high-resolution renders, giving us our first detailed look at their design. First up is Google Pixel 5 in both green and black colors. The leaked images come courtesy of prolific leakster Evan Blass, and appear to be official renders of the device.
Google is going green with the Pixel 5, literally!
Google Pixel 5 (Image: Twitter / @evleaks)
The company is doing a green shade on its Pixel smartphones for the first time, and it sure looks refreshing. What is worth noting here is that Google is apparently ditching the signature two-tone power button aesthetics with the Pixel 5 on both the black and green color options. Instead, the company is going for a polished power button with the same color as the rest of the body, but only with a different surface finish. It also appears that Google is bringing back the sandstone style surface finish that we last saw on the Pixel 2.
Google Pixel 5 (Image: Twitter / @evleaks)
The camera module looks almost identical to that of the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4a 5G. But leaks suggest that Google is replacing the Pixel 4’s telephoto lens with a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens on the Pixel 5. The rear-mounted fingerprint pattern is here to stay, a trait Google is now continuing for five generations of Pixel smartphones.
Google Pixel 4a 5G (Image: Twitter / @evleaks)
Blass has also shared renders of the Pixel 4a 5G. Although it looks identical to the Pixel 5, the bezels on the Pixel 4a 5G are thicker and it features a white power button that provides a subtle contrast against the black unibody frame. As per a recent leak, the Pixel 4a 5G will be made out of polycarbonate, while the Pixel 5 will rock a more premium metallic build.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Apple’s latest iPad, and more on sale today
The official news today with Deals, that actually start with the higher end variants of another phone that got announced today. We’re talking about the Galaxy S20+ which is one of my personal favorite phones of the year, that is currently $203 off, that leaves it at $996 for the 128GB variant in cosmic black. If you want to go into Ultra territory, the S20 Ultra is $205 off, leaving that at $1195. And, the Note 20 Ultra is also $200 off, leaving it at $1099. Moving on, the 13in MacBook Pro is also $200 off, that leaves the 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage variant for $1600. Finally, if you’re looking for a beast, the Razer Blade Pro 17 is $200 off, leaving the Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage variant with the RTX 2070 for $2400. We have more deals on iPads, Sony TVs and more in the links in the description.
We could already have a date for the next Amazon Prime Day sales event
Let’s keep talking about Amazon but don’t worry, it’s not a separate segment for more Apple deals. We know that most of the events we usually have been victims to 2020 and Amazon’s Prime Day wasn’t spared either but now we have a new possible date. Prime Day usually happens in July but, according to a new report from CNET, 2020’s Prime Day may start on October 13th. We should expect a regular 48 hour sale with different deals on their own products and from third party sellers as well. However, with the current economy, we hope they have something really good prepared as, people aren’t really buying unnecessary stuff right now. The company is also preparing to launch some new hardware on September 24th so, it looks like we’ll be hearing from them soon.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G offers flagship performance, three cameras and a 120Hz display at $699
Let’s get back to official news territory as yes, Samsung just announced the Galaxy S20 FE, and you should actually pay attention to it. Starting off with the specs, it brings a 6.5in Dynamic AMOLED Display and it actually runs at 120Hz, I’m looking at you Note 20. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable storage. It brings a 4500 mAh battery as well as reverse wireless charging and an IP68 rating. On the triple cameras at the back, we’re getting a 12MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP Ultra wide and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, meaning not the same camera array as the S20+ but close, and you also get the features like Night Mode and Single Take. For those of you who aren’t fans of Exynos phones, make sure to look out for the 5G variant as, the LTE one brings an Exynos chip. It comes in 6 different color variants, and it’s priced at $699, with it being available on October 2nd.
OnePlus 8T could be cheaper than the OnePlus 8: Leak
Even if the hype isn’t too high, we have been getting several rumors and leaks for the OnePlus 8T. The company confirmed that we’d be getting it on October 14th and yesterday we covered a leaked price tag, but now we got some more reasonable leaks from a more familiar face. The tipster shared some leaks from an Amazon listing, and according to him, it’ll still bringing the same specs, meaning the 6.5in display running at 120Hz, the Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for the entry level variant. It also packs a 4500 mAh battery, and the same quad camera array with the 48MP main sensor. Now, where it get’s interesting is that according to him, the entry level variant will cost €599 and the added RAM and storage will cost you €699, . He also mentioned that it is listed to launch on October 20th, 6 days after the announcement. Of course, we should still take this with a grain of salt, but this price makes more sense when compared to the €799 and €899 than we got yesterday.
Google Pixel 5 leak reveals everything there is to know about the upcoming phone
Now let’s make a quick return to the Google Pixel 5 as today we get even more details on what to expect. We’re about a week away from Google’s event which can only mean more leaks for a Pixel phone. We have a new report from WinFuture which, reveals pretty much anything you need to know about this phone. Starting with the specs, it’s a 6in display running at 90Hz, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of on-board storage. It also packs a 4500 mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Moving on to the camera, it’s a 12.2MP primary sensor with both EIS and OIS, with 4K video at 60fps and, a 16MP ultra wide with a 107 degree field of view. According to the report, the design takes after the Pixel 4a, with a punch-hole cutout on the display, unibody build and a dual tone finish for the power button. Google also reportedly trimmed the chin down for this phone, but sadly we have no real confirmation on whether it’s made of glass or plastic. And, according to yesterday’s listings, it’ll cost €629, which translates to $735. I’m gonna say that unless it’s also $629 in the US, this phone is gonna be DOA. Price for these specs is everything at the time of the OnePlus Nord.
Story of the day:
The launch date and availability for the iPhone 12 may have been revealed
And finally, the hottest news today has to do with the iPhone 12 and how stacked Tech-tober actually is. We know that we’re getting 4 different iPhones next month and now, we have a possible launch date. This leak comes from the guys over at Apple Insider which were apparently contacted by the tipster. According to this information, Apple will launch the iPhone 12 on Tuesday, October 13th with pre-orders beginning that Friday on the 16th. There’s also multiple leaks from European carriers where they have memos saying “we’re just days away from Apple’s next major launch, the 5G iPhone which will be a huge boost for 5G”. There’s apparently even a brief clip of Eddy Cue, congratulating EE to be one of the first carriers offering plans bundled with Apple’s new services, sadly we only got a screenshot of it. Jon Prosser also chimed in, saying that his sources agree with the event and pre-order dates and he added that it should be in stores by the 23rd. So far we’re expecting the 4 iPhones, being that the 5.4in iPhone “Mini”, a 6.1in 12, a 6.1in Pro and finally, the 6.7in Pro Max. Still waiting on what other products might be launched. Here’s to the guesses over which one will sell more, but I think we pretty much already know.
