TicWatch E2 and S2 announced with better water resistance and bigger batteries

Mobvoi is a company known for its line of TicWatch Wear OS smartwatches, and today it took the wraps off of two more wearable devices.

The TicWatch E2 (above) and TicWatch S2 (below) are now official. One of the highlights of the new models is their focus on swimming activity, with a waterproof rating of 5ATM so that they can withstand being submerged in water up to 50 meters. They also come preloaded with a swim-monitoring mode to track your fitness while you're in the water.

Both models also boast an improved battery over their predecessors. Mobvoi has boosted the battery capacity of both models by 30 percent, packing a 415mAh battery pack into them.

Another notable change with the TicWatch E2 and S2 is the switch to a Qualcomm processor. While the original TicWatch E and TicWatch S used a MediaTek processor, the E2 and S2 both include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 chipset.

Mobvoi's new TicWatch models also each boast a 1.39-inch 400x400 AMOLED screen, GPS, heart rate sensor, polycarbonate watch case, and interchangeable 22mm strap. They come loaded with Google's Wear OS software.

Two critical pieces of information that we don't yet have are the TicWatch E2 and S2's launch date and pricing. Mobvoi does say that both models will launch "soon after CES", though, so those details should be revealed soon. For reference, the original TicWatch S normally retails for $199.99 and the TicWatch E sells for $159.99.

These new TicWatch smartwatches look like nice additions to the Wear OS family, offering a sporty focus for folks who want their wearable to be a workout partner. The inclusion of a Snapdragon Wear 2100 over the newer Snapdragon Wear 3100 is a bit of a bummer, but if Mobvoi is aggressive with its pricing for the TicWatch S2 and E2, they could still be interesting options for folks in the market for a new Wear OS smartwatch.

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Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite tablet includes stylus and quad speakers for $299

We don't see many new Android tablets announced anymore, but today Huawei revealed exactly that.

The Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite is a new tablet aimed at families. It's got features like Kid's Corner, which is a customized environment for children where parents can set time limits, control access to content, and use the fingerprint reader to create user profiles. Huawei has also included a Distance sensor to keep kids from putting their eyes too close to the tablet and a Posture Detect sensor that'll identify when the device is being viewed at a lying angle and provide posture guidance.

When it comes to raw specs, the MediaPad M5 Lite offers a 10.1-inch 1920x1200 display, octa-core Kirin 659 processor, and 3GB of RAM. There's 32GB of storage built in to the device as well as a microSD card slot that'll let you add up to 256GB of additional storage. A 7500mAh battery powers the MediaPad M5 Lite, and Huawei has included its QuickCharge tech so you can refill that battery in a hurry.

There are 8MP front and rear cameras on the MediaPad M5 Lite for taking photos or conducting video calls, and Huawei has thrown in four speakers that've been co-engineered with Harman Kardon to help give the device a better entertainment experience. And all of those features are built into a metal unibody design to give the device a more premium feel.

One other big feature of the MediaPad M5 Lite is its bundled stylus. The M-Pen lite stylus has a metal body and 2,048 layers of pressure sensitivity, and Huawei has aded a clip to help you store the pen when not in use.

The Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite will launch in the U.S. in late January for $299. It'll come preloaded with Android 8.0 Oreo along with Huawei's custom EMUI 8.0 user interface.

It's nice to see another Android tablet coming to market for folks that prefer that operating system over iOS on Apple's iPad. And with its 10.1-inch screen, quad speakers, metal unibody design, and included stylus, the Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite could be a nice option for folks in the market for an affordable tablet. The good news is that it should be on digital shelves later this month, so if you're interested in Huawei's new slate, you won't have to wait long to get one in your hands.

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New iPad mini appears in leaked photos

It's been awhile since Apple announced a new iPad mini, but that may finally be changing soon.

Images that may show an updated iPad mini have made their way online. Posted to Twitter, the photos show the back of an iPad mini with a different cellular antenna than the iPad mini 4 that Apple currently sells (shown below), which is white or black plastic depending on which color the iPad mini is.

This updated iPad mini uses a new antenna design with a more minimal antenna line, helping to keep the backside more of a solid color.

In addition to the updated antenna design, it looks like this iPad mini could be a new shade of gold. The current iPad mini is available in gold, but this new model looks to be a different shade than the existing model.

Other than those two tweaks, this leaked iPad mini looks similar to the current version. There's a Lightning connector on the bottom, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a lock button up top, and volume buttons on the side.

The iPad mini currently sold by Apple originally launched in late 2015, so it's getting a bit long in the tooth. What's more, it's currently only available with 128GB of built-in storage and a starting price of $399, making it more expensive that the full-size iPad that Apple launched in 2018. A new iPad mini would be a welcome sight for fans of small tablets, especially if Apple chooses to make it a budget-friendly option like it did with the current 9.7-inch iPad.

Would you be interested in a new iPad mini from Apple?

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Nubia Red Magic Mars gaming phone features Snapdragon 845, $399 starting price

The Android gaming phone trend is officially in full swing, and the Nubia brand is getting in on it with a new device that's coming to North America and Europe.

The Nubia Red Magic Mars is a new gaming phone with all of the high-end specs that you'd want out of a performance-focused device. That includes a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 10GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of built-in storage. There's a 6-inch 2160x1080 display on the Red Magic Mars and 3D surround sound to help immerse you in the gameplay.

Nubia didn't stop there. To boost the Red Magic Mars' gaming feature set, it gave the device two capacitive touch buttons on the sides that can be custom-mapped for use in games.There's also an "ICE multi-dimensional cooling system" that combines air cooling and liquid cooling for smoother gaming. A rear LED strip helps to give the phone a gaming PC feel, and a hardware switch to activate the Red Magic Game Space, which is a mode that'll minimize background apps to help enhance gameplay.

Other notable specs of the Nubia Red Magic Mars include a 16MP rear camera with AI-powered intelligent scene recognition, an 8MP front-facing camera, a 3800mAh battery, USB-C charging, and Android 9.0 Pie running below a custom Redmagic OS v1.6 user interface.

Nubia says that the Red Magic Mars will launch in North America and Europe in Q1 2019 at a starting price of $399 USD. It'll be available with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, 8GB of RAm and 128GB of storage, or 10GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Nubia Red Magic Mars definitely isn't the first gaming phone we've seen over the past year or so. In fact, it's not even Nubia's first gaming phone. What makes the Red Magic Mars notable is that it offers high-end specs that you expect from a gaming phone at an aggressive price tag that's hundreds less than many other gaming phones. So if you're on a budget but you want to see what this gaming phone trend is all about, keep an eye out for the Nubia Red Magic Mars in the coming months.

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Samsung Bixby will gain support for Google apps

Samsung took the CES 2019 stage today for its big press conference, and it had some significant news to share about its Bixby digital assistant.

Samsung is working with Google to integrate Bixby with several popular Google apps. This includes Google Maps, Gmail, Google Play, and YouTube. However, Samsung didn't share much more on the effort, so it's not known when this Bixby integration will roll out.

This is pretty big news for Bixby. To date, Samsung's assistant has been a bit lacking compared to competition like Google Assistant. That kind of makes sense when you consider that Bixby launched later than some of its competition, but if Samsung wants Bixby to take off, it's got to improve it and add features that'll convince Samsung device owners to use it. By integrating popular Google services like Google Maps, Gmail, and YouTube with Bixby, Samsung is making its assistant more attractive to Galaxy users who might normally just call on the Google Assistant.

Samsung Galaxy owners, how often do you use Bixby? Do you think Bixby gaining integration with these Google apps will get you to use Bixby more?

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Qualcomm says more than 30 5G devices launching with Snapdragon X50 modem in 2019

We've known for a while now that 2019 was going to be a big year for 5G, but today Qualcomm has proved that with a new announcement.

Qualcomm has announced that there are more than 30 5G mobile devices set to launch in 2019, the majority of which are smartphones. These devices will be powered by Qualcomm's new flagship Snapdragon 855 processor and the Snapdragon X50 5G modem family. Devices are expected to begin arriving in early 2019.

Qualcomm went on to explain that devices powered by the Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform, which includes the Snapdragon X50 5G modem and Qualcomm RF Front End solutions, will support both sub-6 and mmWave spectrum. This should help to improve the devices' compatibility with carriers' 5G networks.

Unsurprisingly, missing from Qualcomm's announcement are the names of any of these upcoming 5G devices. We have heard rumors that Samsung is prepping a 5G version of the Galaxy S10, and it's expected that that device will be available on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon this year. It's also been rumored that LG is working on a 5G device, which isn't really a surprise. With U.S. carriers planning to begin rolling out their 5G networks this year, several Android device makers will likely look to capitalize on the excitement surrounding 5G with new smartphone hardware that can jump on those new networks.

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AT&T 5G Evolution icon begins rolling out to Android phones

After AT&T confirmed last month that it would begin rolling out a "5G E" indicator to select Android devices with support for its 5G Evolution network, updates to enable that indicator have begun rolling out.

AT&T is now updating the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, LG V30, and LG V40 ThinQ to add the 5G Evolution network indicator. The Galaxy S8 Active is receiving an update to version R16NW.G892AUCU3BRL1 that also includes the December 1, 2018 Android security patches, while the LG V30 is getting updated to version H93120l and the LG V40 ThinQ is being bumped to version V405UA10l.

After updating, you should see a "5G E" indicator in your status bar when you're connected to AT&T's 5G Evolution coverage. AT&T 5G Evolution is not true 5G, but rather advanced 4G LTE technologies like 3-way carrier aggregation, 256 QAM, and 4x4 MIMO that can help to give you faster download speeds. "These technologies serve as the runway to 5G by boosting the existing LTE network and priming it for the future of connectivity," AT&T says of 5G Evolution. "We can enable faster speeds now, and upgrade to 5G when it’s ready."

This new 5G E network indicator has received a lot of criticism ever since it was announced last month. Many folks feel that the 5G E indicator is misleading since it's not true 5G and some consumers may not know that it's actually based on advanced 4G LTE technologies. AT&T appears to be set in its plans to roll the 5G E network indicator out to its devices that support the feature, though, so be on the lookout for more Android phones to get it in the future.

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Google releases January 2019 Android security update, Pixel 3 gets audio improvement

The start of a new month means new Android security patches from Google.

Google today released the January 2018 Android security updates for Pixel devices. The full factory images and the OTA images are now available for download for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel, Pixel XL, and Pixel C. Unfortunately for Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X owners, there are no images available for those devices, which means that the December 2018 update may be the last that the Nexus phones receive. Time to pour one out.

Along with these updates, Google has posted an Android Security Bulletin to detail which vulnerabilities were squashed in this new update. The 2019-01-01 security patch level fixes vulnerabilities with the framework and system. And then there's the 2019-01-05 security patch level, which adds in fixes for vulnerabilities with the kernel components, NVIDIA components, Qualcomm components, and Qualcomm closed source components.

Google also posted a document to reveal which Pixel-specific patches are included in the January 2019 update. Vulnerabilities related to kernel components have been patched, and Google also says that the update improves audio quality when recording videos on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

If you've got a Google Pixel device, you should see your update arrive in the coming days. Let us know when your update arrives!

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iOS 12.1.3 beta 3, watchOS 5.1.3 beta 3 updates released by Apple

After taking some time off for the holidays, Apple has resumed its iOS 12.1.3 beta testing.

Apple today released iOS 12.1.3 beta 3 to registered developers. The update can be downloaded over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad, or you can point your computer's web browser to the Apple Developer Center on the web.

As noted by MacRumors, this is actually only the second iOS 12.1.3 beta update released by Apple. It contains the same changes that were included in the first iOS 12.1.2 beta, but Apple released an emergency update to iOS 12.1.2 to avoid a sales ban on iPhones in China due to a legal battle with Qualcomm. The changes that were originally meant for iOS 12.1.2 have been rolled into iOS 12.1.3, and that's how we got to this third beta.

Also released today is the third beta for Apple's watchOS 5.1.3 update. This is likely a minor release that focuses on under-the-hood improvements and fixes.

Apple hasn't said when it'll release iOS 12.1.3 or watchOS 5.1.3 to the public. Stay tuned and we'll let you know when those rollouts commence.

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LG and Vizio adding Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to their smart TVs in 2019

Looks like Samsung isn't the only smart TV maker that's adding Apple AirPlay 2 support to its televisions.

LG and Vizio have confirmed that they'll be adding Apple's AirPlay 2 functionality to their smart TVs in 2019. During its CES 2019 event, LG revealed that Apple AirPlay, AirPlay Audio, and HomeKit support will be added to its 2019 TVs. There aren't many other details on LG's plans quite yet, but we should hear more soon.

As one of Apple’s first TV partners, LG is adding Apple AirPlay, AirPlay Audio & HomeKit support to our 2019 TVs! #CES2019 #LGCES2019

— LG Electronics (@LGUS) January 7, 2019

Meanwhile, Vizio today announced that it will added AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to its Vizio SmartCast TVs. The features will be available for registered beta members in the U.S. and Canada starting in Q1 2019. Following this beta test, Vizio SmartCast 3.0 will be released via a software update to new and existing SmartCast TVs and displays in Q2 2019.

In addition to AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, Vizio says that the update to SmartCast 3.0 will include expanded Google Assistant actions, like the ability to launch apps, select inputs, and control playback. Amazon Alexa users will also be able to control their TV, and later this year, they'll be able to launch apps with their voice, too.

Adding AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support is huge for Apple, LG, and Vizio. With AirPlay, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can play movies, TV shows, music, photos, and more from their device on their TV. And with HomeKit, users can control their smart home devices on their iPhone or iPad or using Siri. Vizio's SmartCast TVs can be added to the Home app on the iPhone or iPad, be included in scenes or automations, and be controlled from the iPhone or iPad.

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Sprint says 5G Samsung smartphone launching in summer 2019

At the tail end of last year, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all confirmed that they were planning to launch a 5G Samsung smartphone in 2019. Now Sprint has done the same.

Sprint today revealed that it will launch a 5G smartphone from Samsung in summer 2019. The device will include support for both 5G and 4G LTE coverage. For 5G and LTE, it'll offer support for Sprint's 2.5GHz spectrum. Also included will be support for 1.9GHz (Band 25), 800MHz (Band 26), and other LTE spectrum bands for roaming.

Sprint isn't saying much else about the identity of this device, its specs, or its release date, but the carrier does promise that more info will be revealed later.

A Sprint executive confirmed late last year that his carrier would launch a 5G Samsung smartphone, but it's nice to get extra confirmation from Sprint as well as a launch window. As for what this mystery phone is, it's likely a 5G version of the Samsung Galaxy S10. Not only do Samsung's flagship Galaxy S phones typically launch across all four major U.S. carriers, but rumors have suggested that a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 is in the works.

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Android Q dark mode hinted at by Google employee

Now that Android Pie is official and rolling out to devices, many folks have shifted their focus to Android Q and what features it might bring. A system-wide dark mode may be one of them.

A Google employee may have confirmed that a system-wide dark mode will be included with Android Q. In a post on the Chromium bug tracker that was spotted by Android Police, the Google employee said, "Dark mode is an approved Q feature...The Q team wants to ensure that all preloaded apps support dark mode natively. In order to ship dark mode successfully, we need all UI elements to be ideally themed dark by May 2019."

The employee went on to say that the team working on Chrome should ensure the browser has a setting to enable Dark Mode and to modify the core UI elements to fit the theme. He also said there will be a master setting for Dark Mode.

Shortly after the thread was discovered, its permissions were changed so that only Google employees could view it, which could suggest that system-wide dark mode is indeed coming. Because this is the internet, though, screenshots of the thread were taken before it was hidden from the public's view.

There are some caveats to keep in mind here, like the fact that this thread was posted on October 31 and doesn't appear to have been super active since. Also, Android Q is still months away from being announced, so Google's plans may change. A system-wide dark mode would certainly be a major addition to Android Q, especially as we see more and more devices come to market with OLED displays in tow.

Would you use a system-wide dark mode if your phone had it?

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Apple putting iTunes and AirPlay 2 on Samsung Smart TVs

After getting Apple Music onto Amazon Echo smart speakers late last year, Apple is now working with another surprising partner.

Samsung has announced that its 2019 Smart TV models will include iTunes Movies and TV Shows as well as Apple AirPlay 2 support. These televisions will be available starting this spring. What's more, support for these features will be made available in 2018 Samsung Smart TVs via an impending update.

"In an industry first, a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will debut only on Samsung Smart TVs in more than 100 countries," Samsung touts in its announcement. AirPlay 2 support will be available in 190 countries around the world.

With iTunes Movies and TV Shows, Samsung Smart TV owners will have access to their existing iTunes library and will be able to buy or rent hundreds of thousands of TV shows and movies, including 4K HDR films. The iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will also work with Samsung's Smart TV services, like Universal Guide, the new Bixby, and Search.

Meanwhile, AirPlay 2 support will allow users to play videos, photos, music, podcasts, and more from Apple devices on Samsung Smart TVs.

“We look forward to bringing the iTunes and AirPlay 2 experience to even more customers around the world through Samsung Smart TVs, so iPhone, iPad and Mac users have yet another way to enjoy all their favorite content on the biggest screen in their home,” said Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services.

This partnership between Apple and Samsung is a pretty big deal. Previously, you'd need an Apple TV if you wanted to watch iTunes movies and TV shows on your television. Now that's changing, showing that Apple is serious about growing its services business, especially with rumors that the company is planning to launch a video streaming service in the near future.

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Alleged iPhone XI renders show off triple rear camera setup

Just a few days into the new year, we're getting an early look at what may be Apple's flagship iPhone for 2019.

Renders that claim to show the iPhone XI or iPhone 11. Shared by OnLeaks and Digit.in, we can see the back of an iPhone with a triple rear camera setup in a protruding housing. The three cameras are laid out in a zig-zag pattern with a flash above them and a camera below them. It's unclear what features these three cameras would offer, but on the iPhone XS and XS Max, there's one wide angle camera and one 2x optical zoom snapper.

It's said that the 2019 iPhone models are currently in the Engineering Validation Test (EVT) stage, which means this is still an early design. The Design Validation Test (DVT) and Production Validation Test (PVT) stages follow the EVT stage.

This zig-zag camera setup definitely looks a bit strange. Usually with multi-camera setups, the cameras are in a straight line either horizontally or vertically. Plus, the zig-zag pattern on this alleged iPhone XI makes the protruding camera housing look pretty large.

All that said, it's possible that Apple is using this zig-zag pattern for a reason. Perhaps if they were to lay the three cameras out vertically in a straight line, they'd need to be spaced out so much that the vertical camera housing would be super long, which could look strange.

What do you think of this leaked iPhone XI design?

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Apple responds to bent iPad Pro controversy with new support document

The saga of the bent iPad Pros continues today, as Apple has put up a support document on its site to address the situation.

In the support document, Apple goes into detail on the process it uses to make the cellular iPad Pro models, using small vertical bands or "splits" in the dies to allow parts of the case to function as cellular antennas. These splits are made using a process called co-molding that injects plastic into milled channels in the aluminum chassis of the iPad where it bonds to micropores in the aluminum. Once the plastic cools, the body is finished with a CNC machining operation.

Apple explains that its manufacturing techniques and inspection process help the new iPad Pros to meet a tighter specification for flatness than previous models. "This flatness specification allows for no more than 400 microns of deviation across the length of any side — less than the thickness of four sheets of paper," the Cupertino company says. "The new straight edges and the presence of the antenna splits may make subtle deviations in flatness more visible only from certain viewing angles that are imperceptible during normal use. These small variances do not affect the strength of the enclosure or the function of the product and will not change over time through normal use."

Customers who believe that their iPad Pro does not meet the specifications outlined by Apple can contact the company's support for help. Apple also points out that it offers a 14-day return window and a one-year warranty on products that covers damage that occurs due to a defect in materials or workmanship.

News of bent iPad Pro tablets began circulating last month. Apple confirmed that some units do ship with a slight bend as a result of the cooling process that involves the iPad Pro's metal and plastic parts during its construction. Apple says that this bend shouldn't get worse over time or affect the iPad Pro's performance.

It's good that Apple has put up this official support document to talk more about the controversy surrounding bent iPad Pros, but some folks will likely still be frustrated about the whole thing. And that's understandable, because the iPad Pro is an expensive tablet that starts at $799, and when you're buying a device that costs that much, you want it to be perfect. The good news is that if you do get a bent iPad Pro, you can return it and get another.

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HTC revenue for 2018 dropped 62 percent from 2017

It's no secret that things have been pretty rough for HTC lately, but the company's latest financials have driven that point home.

HTC's reports show that the company earned 23.74 billion NT$ ($770.8 million USD) in revenue in 2018. As noted by TechCrunch, that's the first time that HTC has grossed less than $1 billion during a year as a public company. It's also a 62 percent drop from the 62.16 billion NT$ ($2.02 billion USD) of revenue that HTC brought in in 2017. 

It's unclear how much HTC lost in total in 2018, but in three earlier quarterly reports for the year, HTC reported a total operating loss of 11.13 billion NT$ ($361.4 million USD).

One other detail worth noting is that HTC made more money during the single month of May 2013 than it did during all of 2018.

HTC used to be one of the biggest Android device makers around, but the company hasn't had quite as much success lately. HTC Taiwan president Darren Chen recently said that his company plans to "reboot" its smartphone sales in 2019, which includes placing a focus on mid-range and high-end devices and extending the flagship HTC U12+ lineup into 2019 to prolong the series' lifecycle. 

What do you think the future looks like for HTC?

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Foldable Xiaomi smartphone may have leaked out on video

We already know that Samsung is working on a foldable phone, and the rumor mill recently suggested that LG has one in the works, too. Now a new leak has suggested that another Android phone maker has a foldable phone in the works.

A brief video claims to show a foldable Android phone made by Xiaomi. In the video, shared by Evan Blass, we can see the user unlocked the phone, launch Google Maps, and pan around a bit before folding in the two sides. The app then shrinks to fit on the middle portion before the user returns to the home screen and flicks around a bit.

Can't speak to the authenticity of this video or device, but it's allegedly made by Xiaomi, I'm told. Hot new phone, or gadget porn deepfake? pic.twitter.com/qwFogWiE2F

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 3, 2019

There's not much else known about this device right now, and Blass even cautions that he can't confirm the authenticity of the clip. Still, it's a pretty interesting clip. The device appears to work well, with the software responding quickly to the sides of the phone being folded in. That said, we don't really know anything about this device, its specs, its performance, or even if its real, so we should probably try to temper our excitement a bit until more details come out.

What do you think of this alleged Xiaomi foldable phone? If it's the real deal, would you carry it around as your daily driver?

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BLU announces Vivo XI and Vivo XI+ as first Verizon-compatible smartphones

BLU Products hit a major milestone today as it's announced its first Verizon-compatible smartphones.

The BLU Vivo XI (above) and BLU Vivo XI+ (below) are compatible with Verizon. What's more, Verizon is offering a $150 prepaid MasterCard card for customers who bring an unlocked BLU Vivo XI or Vivo XI+ onto Verizon's network.

You can buy the BLU Vivo XI and Vivo XI+ from Best Buy. Both models are sold unlocked, with the Vivo XI coming in at $149.99 and the Vivo XI+ carrying a price tag of $249.99.

BLU has packed the Vivo XI with a 5.9-inch 1520x720 display, 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor, and 3GB of RAM. There's 32GB of storage built in and a microSD card slot, too. The back of the Vivo XI is home to a dual rear camera setup with 16MP and 5MP snappers, while the notch on the front of the phone houses a 16MP selfie cam with flash. The Vivo XI also offers a 3000mAh battery, Android 8.1 (upgradeable to Android 9.0 Pie in 2019), and a rear fingerprint reader.

As its name implies, the Vivo XI+ is a bit more high-end, boasting a 6.2-inch 2246x1080 display and 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor. There's 64GB/128GB of built-in storage along with 4GB/6GB of RAM, too, as well as a microSD card slot, 3050mAh battery, and Qi wireless charging. As with the Vivo XI, the Vivo XI+ includes 16MP and 5MP rear cameras and a 16MP front camera on the Vivo XI+. It's also got a rear fingerprint reader and 3D face recognition for added security.

The news that BLU now offers smartphones that work with Verizon is big news for the company. Verizon is the biggest wireless carrier in the U.S., and so the fact that BLU now has Verizon-compatible phones means that the Vivo XI and Vivo XI+ are now options for the more than 150 million customers on Verizon. While most U.S. consumers still buy their phones directly from their carriers, any Verizon customers who are interested in unlocked phones now have BLU as an option, and that's good for the Android device maker.

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Huawei P30 renders show smaller notch and triple rear camera setup

One of the highlight features of the Huawei P20 was its triple rear camera setup, and it looks like that feature will be returning with the Huawei P30.

New renders claim to show the Huawei P30, and there are a couple of notable changes compared to the P20. While there's still a notch on the Huawei P30, it's considerably smaller than the one on the Huawei P20. The triple rear camera setup on the Huawei P30 is all in the same camera housing rather than having two cameras in one housing and the third in another like on the P20, which gives the cameras and the rear of the P30 a cleaner look.

The back of the Huawei P30 also features a gradient color and a textured look. There's no rear fingerprint reader here nor is there anything below the display, suggesting that the Huawei P30 will adopt an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The rumored specs for the Huawei P30 include a 6-inch 2340x1080 display, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB/256GB storage options, USB-C and 3.5mm ports, and a 4000mAh battery. The triple rear camera setup is expected to include a 40MP sensor and a 5x lossless zoom, and the front-facing camera is said to be a 24MP snapper.

There's no word yet on when Huawei might announce the P30. MWC 2019 at the end of February is one of the biggest mobile events of the year, so that's one possibility. Also of note is that Huawei announced the P20 at the end of March last year, so we could also see the Huawei P30 announced in late March of this year. Stay tuned.

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Can HTC mount a comeback in 2019?

A quick stop over at HTC's website shows off what you'd probably expect: several different phones. At the top of the page you can see the company's latest flagship model meant for the general consumer, the U12+. Along with that you can see the U11 and the U11 Life, two handsets that might not have necessarily made huge waves at launch but that, at the very least, are worthwhile in their own regard.

And then you've got CryptoKitties. "Meow. Anytime. Anywhere." So that's a thing.

If you dig a bit deeper into the shopping area you'll find the aforementioned handsets, along with the U Ultra and the U Bolt (this last one I completely forgot about, as it was a Sprint exclusive and, well, that's probably all you need to forget something like that). There isn't any mention of buying the blockchain phone, what HTC launched as the Exodus 1 last year, unless you go looking for it and open up a different site.

The picture here isn't great, and that's been reflected in HTC's sales numbers to date. 2018 was basically an abysmal year for the smartphone manufacturer who hasn't had a solid place to stand in the market for quite some time. HTC's heyday has long since passed, and it's not entirely Samsung's fault, either. Not anymore, at least.

There are so many different Android manufacturers out there, but companies like OnePlus and Huawei, or Huawei's sub-brand Honor, have really taken off. Those companies have made some great phones, with fantastic specs, and most of them don't aim to break the bank. HTC's U12+ starts at $799 and that's not cheap, but it's definitely not the most expensive option out there, either.

Still, OnePlus's brand new OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition, which is maxed out in specs and aimed at high performance (along with 10GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage) starts at $699. That's hard to ignore for someone who is looking to buy a new smartphone and might be considering either company's latest and greatest.

Two weeks ago, HTC said it plans on "rebooting" smartphones in 2019 under its banner. The company is going to put more of a focus on mid-range and high-end devices in 2019, but that's all we know about what the company is planning. That's not a lot to go on, for sure, but at least it's something?

What that actually looks like in terms of real world devices will be very interesting. It's not like HTC released the U12+ and U11 Life (which the company has said actually sold well enough on their own) expecting them not to leave a lasting impression. So what can HTC do to turn things around in 2019? Let me know what you think, and whether or not you think the company can rebound this year.

HTC U12+

HTC U11 Life

HTC

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