You forgot all about these 6 phones of 2018. Prepare to forget them again
The best phones of the year are memorable, exciting, and ones we all want to buy. But what about the others? We're not talking about bad phones, we're talking about forgettable phones. There's a difference: These are phones that aren't even bad enough to be remembered, and there have been a few.
Car-branded phones need to make a U-turn if they ever want to impress
Your car and your smartphone are becoming one, yet smartphones branded or co-created by car companies are a problem. What should be good has almost always been disappointing, and it's a mystery why. We look at the history, some examples of the best and worst, then share hopes for the future.
Put down your phone and put on the $200 TicWatch C2 smartwatch
Digital well-being and disconnecting from your phone is one of 2018's big trends. Mobvoi wants you to see the TicWatch C2 smartwatch to help use your phone less, by taking your attention away from the screen, yet keeping you aware of notifications. The good design and low price make it attractive, too.
That’s no moon — it’s a hole for the camera on Honor’s new smartphone
Honor will announce a new smartphone on January 22, 2019. Despite 2018 not being finished yet, and a major tech trade show still to come. Honor is teasing us with the news of a device it will launch next year. It's hinting at a special type of screen, and has confirmed a flagship processor for the device.
iPhone may not get on the 5G bandwagon until 2020 at the earliest
Apple may have taken the decision to hold off adding 5G to its iPhone device range until 2020 at the earliest, according to rumors. If accurate, this would be in-line with previous moves by Apple regarding 3G and 4G, but may let competitors gain an early lead as 5G tech becomes a desirable feature.
5G is a battery killer, but one company has a secret weapon
MediaTek has spoken to Digital Trends about its plans for 5G, after admitting it was too slow in adopting 4G LTE, confirming it has no intention of missing out on its replacement. The company's strategy is daring, and differs from its competitors; but is in-line with industry bodies examining 5G.
The man responsible for LG’s TV success is now in charge of its mobile division
LG has made a key change at the top of its mobile division, bringing in a so-called, "turnaround expert," to return the struggling unit to former glories. Brian Kwon has headed LG's profitable home entertainment section for several years, and is now tasked with transforming mobile. He takes over the role in December.
Forget about the jack: How to use Bluetooth AptX HD on the OnePlus 6T
The OnePlus 6T does not have a headphone jack, meaning it may be the right time to make the leap and embrace some Bluetooth wireless headphones. We say go for an AptX HD compatible pair for a higher-than-CD quality audio experience. Here's how to activate AptX HD on your new OnePlus 6T smartphone.
How many? The Samsung Galaxy A9 has 4 camera lenses on the back
Samsung's new Galaxy A9 phone, fresh for 2018, has four camera lenses on the back. It's no gimmick either, as each performs a unique function, making the phone a versatile camera to have in your pocket. Samsung is targeting Instagram fans with the new device and has produced it in some stunning colors, too.
Open wide: LG G7 ThinQ vs. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs. Asus ROG Phone
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has swapped the monochrome sensor on its camera for a wide-angle lens, so how does it compare to the LG G7 ThinQ, and the surprisingly strong challenge from the Asus ROG Phone? We took the three phones to Taiwan to see how well they captured some of the epic scenery on our trip.
Selfie-mad Meitu phones are now made by Xiaomi, may be sold globally
Meitu, a Chinese brand known for its selfie and beautification software, has handed over its smartphone business to Xiaomi. The company now has the global license to produce phones using the Meitu name, and the many selfie apps it has developed. Meitu hardware has never been sold outside of China before.
Xiaomi chooses Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite phones to spearhead British invasion
Xiaomi has launched its first official smartphones in the U.K., after steadily entering Europe over the past 12 months. The company has brought the Mi 8 Pro and the Mi 8 Lite, along with a selection of connected products, which it will sell online and in a retail store. Here's what you need to know.
Crazily named Royole Flexpai phone folds up for a glimpse of the future
Excited about folding smartphones, but curious about the design? The Royole Flexpai is our first good look at what foldable smartphones may look like, and there's no question it's very cool. This one probably won't be on your shopping list, but that doesn't mean you won't look at it in amazement.
Barnes & Noble’s $130 Nook 10.1 tablet is this year’s anti-iPad
Bookstore Barnes & Noble is still in the tablet business, despite being quiet about it for a while, and has announced the $130 Nook Tablet 10.1. Rather than a massive spec list to make it tempting, the Nook 10.1 is about reading books on a large screen, without spending too much money.
Update gives Audio Technica’s iconic M50 headphones Bluetooth, 40 hours of battery
Audio-Technica has launched the ATH-M50xBT headphones, reviving the iconic M50 studio headphones, which have a dedicated worldwide fanbase, with the addition of Bluetooth wireless tech. The challenge for the company was to maintain the unique sound signature of the M50 headphones after removing the cable.
Gorillaz send Casio’s G-Shocks into space in ambitious new collaboration
The latest Casio G-Shock collaboration is with virtual pop group Gorillaz. Each band member is represented by a custom, limited-edition watch, and a special animated short film has been made to show how the watches came to life. Take a look at the four special watches here, following their exclusive unveiling in London.
Tory Burch branches out into Wear OS smartwatches with the $395 Gigi
Tory Burch has become the latest fashion lifestyle brand to release a touchscreen smartwatch with Google's Wear OS on board. The $395 ToryTrack Gigi watch is classy and modern, and comes complete with fitness tracking tech and NFC to go along with the stylish looks. Here's everything you need to know.
MediaTek’s new phone chip will bring mobile A.I. to the masses
MediaTek has launched a new mobile processor, the Helio P70, which has its own co-processor designed to cope with the demands of mobile artificial intelligence. While we've seen this before, the Helio P70 is destined for more-affordable phones than the majority of others offering this type of technology.
Huawei and Leica’s monochrome lens is dead, so we celebrate its life
The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro do not have a dedicated monochrome camera lens, unlike the P20 Pro, and various Huawei and Leica phones before it. It's the end of an era, because the monochrome lens was a huge influence, but it's also the start of a new one, as Leica has worked on its replacement.
Huawei can make superb phones, but the Y7 Prime isn’t one of them
We've adored some of the recent Huawei smartphones, including the excellent P20 Pro; but the firm also makes some cheaper hardware. Are they as tempting, and similarly good? We've been using the $220 Huawei Y7 Prime to find out, and at that price, it faces some very stiff competition. Here's what it was like.
OnePlus charges into U.K. carrier stores, leaving online-only start in the past
OnePlus, the smartphone brand that started life selling devices only through an online store, has announced several deals with major U.K. carriers and retailers. This means the firm's next phone, the OnePlus 6T, will be more widely available than any OnePlus phone before it. The device launches on October 30.
Finally, a relaxing flight! This plane’s LED ceiling recreates the northern lights
Icelandair's Hekla Aurora Boeing 757 aircraft will provide a flight experience like no other, thanks to an amazing LED ceiling that recreates the Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights.
Samsung says the Galaxy A9 won’t be its ‘best kept secret’ for much longer
The new Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 is quite different from those that have come before it, and there's a good reason: Samsung's strategy is changing, and it wants to provide better features, more value, and a greater premium experience on its phones that cost less than the flagship S series. This is its plan.
Asus ROG Phone: Everything you need to know
Asus understands you can't carry your gaming PC around with you, so it developed the ROG Phone, a hardcore, high-specification smartphone designed for mobile gamers. Featuring a speed-binned chip, 512GB of memory, and an array of accessories, it's coming later this month. Here's everything you need to know about it.
It’s the phone equivalent of a Bentley. So why does the Pixel 3 look like a VW?
Google has got 100-percent of the Pixel 3's specification and technology right, so we're annoyed that it only got 50-percent of the design right. Look at either from the back, and it's an improvement over the Pixel 2; but look at them from the front? Oh dear. In a year of fabulous phones, this is a problem.
Bullet time on a budget: Insta360’s $400 One X camera is ready for action
Insta360 has launched the Insta360 One X, a follow-up to the original One 360-degree camera, this time with a new design that doesn't see the camera attach directly to your phone. Additionally, it shoots at a higher resolution, and comes with new and enhanced features to create some movie-quality video.
Google chuckles at all the Pixel 3 leaks with crazy Pixel Mini mock-up
Google is working on a tiny Pixel smartphone that will attach to your keychain. Barely larger than the key to your house, it will be one of the more radical phones we've seen. Except we won't see it ever, because it's only Google having some fun with the many Pixel 3 leaks ahead of its October 9 event.
Ted Baker’s posh new iPhone cases teach you how to accessorize like a pro
British luxury clothing brand has taken what it knows about fashion and accessorizing to create a range of iPhone cases and accessories that work together in harmony. Consisting of a case, wireless charging products, cables, and more, this is what stylish iPhone owners have been waiting for.
Samsung’s cheaper phones may join the Galaxy S9 in getting wireless charging
To up the desirability factor of its cheaper phones, Samsung may introduce wireless charging on its Galaxy A Series handsets, along with a reasonably priced wireless charging pad. The news comes ahead of a major new Galaxy A Series phone, likely the Galaxy A9 2018, being announced on October 11.
Citizen-Fossil mash-up could make waves in the hybrid smartwatch market
Citizen and the Fossil Group will work together to create new hybrid smartwatches, with the Japanese watch brand utilizing Fossil's technology in its own movements and watches. The company says its serious about the endeavor, but has yet to reveal when the first models will be released.
Armani Exchange’s smartwatch is for those who want their tech to be dapper
Armani is back with another Google Wear OS touchscreen smartwatch, and this time it's from the Armani Exchange division, making it stylish, modern, and affordable. There's plenty of tech inside too, including a heart rate sensor, GPS, and NFC. This leaves you with one decision: Which style do you like most?
Not again? A Galaxy Note 9 caught fire in New York this month
A lawsuit has been filed against Samsung by the owner of a Galaxy Note 9 smartphone, who claims the device caught fire in her bag while she was in an elevator. Samsung previously had to recall a Note series phone after some models exploded, but says the Note 9's battery is safe. Samsung is investigating.
In surprise announcement, OnePlus says it’s going to make a smart TV
Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus says it will make and release a smart TV. CEO Pete Lau will head up a new division of the company dedicated to the new product, and has hinted the TV will be simple to use, and feature artificial intelligence. OnePlus continues to be a disruptive force in smartphones.