(Pocket-lint) – Samsung is expected to reveal its Galaxy S21 series at an event on 14 January, though the devices have already leaked heavily, giving us an idea of what we can expect.
We’ve compared the Galaxy S21+ to the S20+ and S20 FE in a separate feature, but here we are looking at how the regular Galaxy S21 is expected to compare to the S20 to help you work out whether you should upgrade.
Design
Galaxy S21: TBC
Galaxy S20: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm, 163g
Measurements have not yet leaked for the Galaxy S21, though we’d expect the new device to be within a couple of millimeters of its predecessor in terms of size. Rumours have suggested Samsung might move to a plastic rear for the Galaxy S21 however, like it did with the Galaxy S20 FE, rather than the glass rear of the S20.
The Galaxy S20 comes with a curved display on the front and a centralised punch hole camera at the top, and the Galaxy S21 is expected to do the same, though it is thought it will have a flat display instead of curved.
Based on the leaks though, the main changes appear to be happening on the back of the device. The triple rear camera housing looks like it will reach round to the frame on the Galaxy S21, while on the S20, the housing is more of an island. Both sport the rear camera in the top left corner though.
The Galaxy S20 has IP68 water and dust resistance and we’d expect the same for the Galaxy S21.
Display
Galaxy S21: 6.2-inch, Full HD+, 120Hz, 1400nits
Galaxy S20: 6.2-inch, Quad HD+, 120Hz,
According to rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will come with a 6.2-inch display, which is the same as the Galaxy S20, meaning no changes in screen size.
It’s also claimed the Galaxy S21 will sport the same 120Hz variable refresh rate that the S20 also offers, but it’s said the S21 will have a brighter screen with a maximum brightness of 1400nits.
The Galaxy S20 has a resolution of Quad HD+ – though it is set to Full HD+ by default. It also has curved edges as we mentioned before. The Galaxy S21 meanwhile, is said to have a Full HD+ display and flat edges so you’ll get less detail, but only if you have chosen to set the S20 to the Quad HD+ resolution.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor or the unannounced Exynos 2100 chipset, depending on the region. It is expected that all models will be 5G.
Rumours suggest that storage options for the Galaxy S21 will be 128GB and 256GB and the RAM will start at 8GB. Its battery capacity is said to be 4000mAh with support for 25W wireless charging.
The Galaxy S20 meanwhile, runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or the Exynos 990, depending on the region. There are 4G and 5G variants. It comes with 128GB of storage, 8GB of RAM and it offers microSD support for storage expansion. Its battery is 4000mAh so not much looks like it will be changing in terms of hardware, except the new processors.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is expected to come with a triple rear camera comprised of a 12-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor, which is the same as the Galaxy S20.
The Galaxy S21 is said to be bringing a couple of new features though, including the cameras automatically switching between 30fps and 60fps depending on the lighting conditions, a dual recording mode, improved night mode, more manual controls and improved moon mode.
The front camera specifications for the Galaxy S21 haven’t been detailed as yet, though if the rear is the same as the S20, we’d expect the front to be the same too. The S20 has a 10-megapixel front camera.
Conclusion
Based on the rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will offer a slightly different design to the Galaxy S20 in terms of its rear camera housing, finish material and display. It also looks like it will offer some new camera features, a brighter screen and a new processor.
Otherwise however, the leaks suggest the Galaxy S20 and S21 will have the same camera hardware, the same RAM, same storage and the same battery capacities. The Galaxy S20 might look more premium with its glass rear and curved display though, as well as offering a sharper screen.
It’s all just rumour for now though. We will update this feature when Samsung reveals the official specifications for the Galaxy S21. For now, you can follow all the rumours in our separate feature.
Microsoft is updating its Surface Pro line today with a refreshed Surface Pro 7 Plus model that is only available to businesses and schools. While the design and screen on the outside remain the same as the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft has overhauled the internals of the device to make way for Intel’s latest 11th Gen processors, a bigger battery, removable SSD, and LTE connectivity.
This marks the return of LTE to the main Surface Pro line for the first time since 2015, but unfortunately there’s no 5G connectivity as Microsoft is using Qualcomm’s older Snapdragon X20 LTE modem inside the Surface Pro 7 Plus.
The Surface Pro 7 Plus has no external design changes.Image: Microsoft
A variety of models will be available, starting with the Intel Core i3 (1115G4) and ending with the Intel Core i7 (1165G7). Only the Intel Core i5 (1135G7) model will have optional LTE starting at $1,149, and the base Core i3 model ships with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $899. The top Core i7 option ($2,799) can also be configured up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage.
Microsoft is now promising up to 15 hours of battery life on the Surface Pro 7 Plus, up from the 10.5 hours the company claims on the original Surface Pro 7. A small part of this battery life improvement will be thanks to the Intel 11th Gen chips, but it’s mostly down to a move from a battery capacity of 46.5Wh to 50.4Wh.
The Surface Pro 7 Plus also ships with the same 12.3-inch (2736 x 1824) PixelSense display found on the original Surface Pro 7, with a single USB-C port, a USB-A port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and the Surface Connect port. The Wi-Fi-only models will include a MicroSDXC card reader, while the LTE models will replace this with a nano SIM. This does mean that the Surface Pro 7 Plus still doesn’t have Thunderbolt connectivity.
The removable SSD on the Surface Pro 7 Plus.Image: Microsoft
The Surface Pro 7 Plus has some bigger than normal internal changes overall, too. “We changed the inside quite substantially,” explains Robin Seiler, corporate vice president of program management for devices at Microsoft, in an interview with The Verge. “It actually required us to flip the internals in order for us to put the SSD here, so when we did that we also updated the TDM (Thermal Design Model) to create more space for a larger battery size.”
The removable SSD works just like it does on the Surface Pro X or Surface Laptop 3, allowing businesses to swap drives out for reparability.
So why no major redesign with thinner display bezels? Microsoft says it’s mostly for consistency because businesses want to standardize on Surface Pro configurations and form factors. “When you look at the Surface Pro X, which has the thinner bezels, there are pretty substantial changes in terms of port locations which is driven by those bezels,” says Seiler. “Thinning the bezels does require significant change in terms of form factor and compatibility with previous [models].”
The Surface Pro 7 Plus starts at $899.Image: Microsoft
This focus on businesses and LTE connectivity, at a time when home internet connections might not hold up to working from home demands, also explains why Microsoft didn’t opt for the Surface Pro 8 moniker and make this device available to consumers. “This is simply an extension of a commercially-focused line,” explains Seiler. “It was important for us to signal that this is an extension of Pro 7, for all of the customers who have standardized on that.”
Still, it’s disappointing that a refreshed model with Intel’s latest processors and LTE connectivity won’t be available directly to consumers. Microsoft won’t say if that will change any time soon, but it does feel like the company is trying to draw a line between the Surface Pro as business-focused and the Surface Go and Surface Pro X for consumers.
Microsoft is planning to start shipping the Surface Pro 7 Plus to customers on January 15th in the US, and it will also be available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and a large number of European countries.
TP-Link is announcing its first routers with support for Wi-Fi 6E, a huge new upgrade to Wi-Fi that quadruples the available airwaves for faster speeds and more reliable connections. The first four routers it’s announcing include a pair of mesh Wi-Fi systems and two high-end single-unit routers, including one that supports 10 Gbps speeds.
Wi-Fi 6E routers add a third band of Wi-Fi — so in addition to 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections, there’ll now be a 6GHz network. That network will be significantly larger, too, which should mean less congestion and more potential for faster speeds.
TP-Link is planning to introduce two mesh Wi-Fi routers with support for Wi-Fi 6E this year. The Deco X96 and Deco X76 Plus are both tri-band systems, and they’ll use the new 6GHz network as a backhaul to communicate between router notes. That should make for a sturdier and quicker backhaul than traditional tri-band mesh networks, which rely on the smaller 5GHz band as both a backhaul and a way to communicate with devices.
Deco X96 mesh routers.Image: TP-Link
There is one downside, though: when you eventually buy phones, laptops, and other devices that support 6GHz Wi-Fi connections, these systems will only connect to them over traditional (and likely slower) 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks since the 6GHz network is being used by the routers themselves. The X96 promises speeds up to 7800 Mbps. The X76 goes up to 5400 Mbps and also includes a built-in Zigbee radio to support smart home gadgets.
If you want to connect directly to devices over 6GHz Wi-Fi, that’s what TP-Link’s two other upcoming routers are for. The Archer AX96 and Archer AX206 are both tri-band routers, but because they aren’t mesh systems, that 6GHz band is free to connect with individual devices. The X96 tops out at 7800 Mbps, and the X206 is supposed to reach 10 Gbps, should your internet connection somehow be fast enough to support it.
Archer AX96 router.Image: TP-Link
Prices for the four routers haven’t been announced yet. The first units are expected to start shipping in the third quarter of the year.
TP-Link is also announcing a few other products today. The Deco Voice X20 is a Wi-Fi 6 (not 6E) mesh router that doubles as an Alexa-enabled smart speaker (a clever idea but one that other companies have explored already) and is launching in the coming months. There’s also the Deco X80-5G, a gateway for using 5G as your home internet that doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 router. TP-Link is also announcing a number of new smart home gadgets under its Kasa brand, including a smart doorbell and a motion-activated switch.
The Consumer Electronics Show officially begins this week. Thankfully, the Consumer Electronics Association capitulated in July and switched the whole thing over to being online-only. But it’s hard to know what CES is even supposed to be without giant convention halls filled with ostentatious displays, blinking lights, and hordes of exhausted and smelly people in off-the-rack suits. Whatever happens, you will be able to find all our coverage right here.
The chief executive of the CEA Gary Shapiro told the Wall Street Journal that his organization did its best to try to translate some of the experience online. I can tell you that many on our staff here at The Verge are absolutely dreading being made to click through 3D software models of booths like we’re playing the worst Myst remake ever.
But my guess is that it’ll be a lot smoother than that and really the thing we’ll miss the most is that it will be harder to serendipitously stumble upon some strange or clever new gadget at a tiny booth in the back reaches of the Sands convention center.
The CEA has smartly limited official keynote presentations to 30 minutes a pop. That should mean we’ll get to the announcements more quickly and have to spend a little less time hearing vague hand-waving about innovation. We’ll be covering those live (though without liveblogs), so stay tuned starting today and through the first half of the week.
The main CES keynote will come from Verizon (so expect 5G talk), but the usual suspects like Sony, Samsung, LG and others will have their own presentations. One consequence of moving the entire show online is that companies seem to be stretching out their announcements to fill the suddenly larger virtual space. So although CES’s official start is this week, many of the biggest announcements have already happened. This year’s TV announcements are essentially half-finished thanks to Samsung and Sony going so early.
This year, there will be a few trends to watch for. In TVs, 8K will continue to be everywhere but the real showdown is going to be between more traditional OLED TVs and Mini LED. But the real thing to watch for is HDMI 2.1, the new iteration of the spec that has the necessary bandwidth for more advanced gaming features. It ought to be everywhere this year. Oh, and LG has already shown off its weird concepts this year — transparent TVs are cool.
LG’s bendy TV for 2020LG
There will be plenty of 5G talk, but since this isn’t a phone show much of it will amount to more promises. Verizon is doing the keynote, however, so perhaps it will have something to say about improving its lackluster 5G network, which can often be slower than LTE. (Verizon’s 4G LTE network remains great, at least.)
Laptops and PCs will likely show up with their usual mix: a few weird concepts and a lot of decent spec bumps. I’m going to keep an eye out for two things: whether AMD can pick up more models from Intel and whether Intel can get a critical mass of “Evo” laptops with decent battery life. Because like it or not, the stunningly good Arm-based MacBooks are going to loom like a shadow over the whole proceeding. Perhaps a few companies will take a shot at making a better Arm-based Windows laptop, too.
As for smart home stuff, there’ll be the usual mix of oddities like smart toilets and improvements to the basics like fridges, ovens, and smart lights. I do wonder if there will be a small lull this year as we await the new CHIP industry standard that should reduce fragmentation in how these things communicate with each other.
Image: JBL
One thing we’ll definitely keep an eye out for is health gadgets — and that eye will be extremely skeptical. CES is always the place where quackery and technology team up, but this year my worry is that more than a few overzealous companies will try to make COVID-specific pitches for their gadgets.
Last and perhaps least: phones. CES is rarely a phone show, and this year the fact that Samsung will be announcing its flagship Galaxy S21 just afterwards will tamp those announcements down further. I suspect we’ll see a lot of low and mid-range phones that bring down the cost of access to 5G, but I doubt anybody will try to front-run Samsung.
There may be surprises, too! You never know. We’ll be covering it all from the safety of our homes, so stay tuned. I’ll send out more newsletters than usual this week to try to keep up. And speaking of keeping up, below are the CES and CES-adjacent announcements that have already happened.
TVs
┏ Samsung’s 2021 TVs have dramatically better picture, thanks to Mini LED. Samsung’s big bet on Mini LED continues, including more dimming zones. Not having the chance to see Samsung’s TVs in person is one of my bigger regrets this year, because it is doing so much to try to innovate with LED tech instead of just going to OLED like everybody else.
But to me, the best thing Samsung did was tout a whole new set of accessibility features. In particular I like that its TVs will give users the option of enlarging the ASL bubble that appears on the lower-right of the screen. But it’s doing much more than that.
┏ Samsung made a solar-charging Eco Remote for its latest TVs. Samsung also made a lot of noise over the environment and here I was less sympathetic. If one were to do a study of the extra carbon cost of building this remote with its solar panel and integrated battery versus just letting users replace a couple of AA cells every so often, I wonder which would come out ahead.
┏ LG imagines a bed with a hidden see-thru OLED TV set. I dunno LG, a semi-transparent TV is cool enough on its own that adding a motorized gimmick and suggesting it go at the foot of a bed is just gilding the pixel lily.
The screen achieves 40 percent transparency, LG Display says, which is an improvement over past transparent LCDs the company claims achieved only 10 percent transparency. … LG imagines the screen sitting at the foot of a bed, where it can rise up partially or in full to show information or videos while retaining a view of the other side of the screen.
┏ Watch this flexible LG gaming TV bend from flat to curved. Okay I dig this.
┏ Sony’s 2021 TV lineup runs Google TV and fully embraces HDMI 2.1. Sony’s TV lineup is a little less flashy but a lot more functional this year. It’s switching over to Google TV from Android TV, for one thing. And I love this bit about the legs:
Sony has also focused on small touches, like adjustable legs that can be configured to allow enough space for a soundbar in front of the TV without obstructing the picture. Going down the lineup, you lose certain niceties (like an antireflective coating exclusive to the 8K set), but all of the TVs support Dolby Vision HDR.
┏ Roku says Roku TV was best-selling smart TV OS in North America for 2020.
Other very good big screens
┏ Acer’s latest gaming monitors include its first with HDMI 2.1. At some point, I am going to need to figure out a way to play PS5 games without using the main television for hours on end — there’s other people who want to watch TV. This looks like a great, overkill solution for that which could also serve as a really solid gaming monitor. Not cheap, though, and as Cameron Faulkner points out it is getting awfully close to “just buy an actual TV instead” territory.
In terms of specs, the standout product is the new Nitro XV28, a 28-inch 4K monitor with an IPS display and a 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium. It’s Acer’s first gaming monitor to use HDMI 2.1 ports, giving it the spec (assuming you’re using an HDMI 2.1-compliant cable) to support up to 4K gaming at 120 frames per second with variable refresh rate (VRR). … So, not only is this a solid option for PC gamers hoping to squeeze the most out of their Nvidia RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, it’s an option about which PS5 and Xbox Series X owners can be equally excited.
┏ Mercedes-Benz unveils its absolutely massive 56-inch ‘Hyperscreen’ display. CES is nothing if not a show about screens, and I am sad that I won’t have a chance to go behold this screen (which is technically three screens) in person.
┏ Sony is going to start selling its Mandalorian-like virtual set displays. I’ll take two.
Audio
┏ These are Sony’s first 360-degree audio speakers. These speakers look really interesting! I do wonder how they sound, of course. I also wonder just how much content is really going to support 360-degree audio.
┏ Sony’s 360-degree audio is coming to streaming video.
┏ JBL’s new stereo amplifier pairs retro looks with modern connectivity. Click through and look at this thing. It’s very pretty!
The JBL SA750 is a new stereo amplifier pairing modern streaming technologies like Airplay 2 and Google Chromecast with a design that wouldn’t look out of place in a hi-fi rack from the ‘60s or ‘70s. It’s got a set of reassuringly chunky-looking dials and switches as physical controls, an understated display, and its sides are covered with wood veneers. The amplifier, whose release coincides with JBL’s 75th anniversary, will cost $3,000 when it goes on sale beginning this May.
┏ JBL’s Bar 5.0 Multibeam is an all-in-one soundbar with Virtual Dolby Atmos.
┏ The JLab JBuds Frames are open-ear headphones you clip to your glasses.
PCs
┏ LG’s 2021 Gram laptops feature Intel’s 11th-Gen processors. There are “Evo” laptops, Intel’s badge for devices that meet certain benchmarks for battery life and included features. As Monica Chin notes, LG might have exceeded those benchmarks in at least one category:
LG claims you could see up to 19.5 hours from the Gram 17, Gram 16, and 16 2-in-1. That’s a claim I’d usually be skeptical of, but I will say the 2020 Gram 17 had some of the longest battery life I saw from a laptop last year. It lasted around 10 hours of my daily workload (which is fairly intense). So LG knows what it’s doing when it comes to efficiency, and there’s reason for optimism.
┏ Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 hands-on: promisingly boring. Last year Samsung and Google did their level best to steal the CES show with a very red, very pretty Chromebook that ended up being very disappointing. This year Samsung is retrenching — this laptop is not a successor at all. As Monica Chin calls it, it’s a “regular-ass Chromebook.” Nothing wrong with that as long as it’s executed well. We’ll see.
┏ Lenovo’s new IdeaPad 5 Pro includes AMD Ryzen mobile processors. Lenovo is joining the 16:10 aspect ratio club, which is the hottest laptop screen club even though it’s not quite as fancy as the 3:2 aspect ratio club.
┏ Lenovo’s new Yoga all-in-one has a rotating display for better TikTok videos and Twitter scrolling. Sure, the monitor rotates and that’s rare in AIOs, but I am jealous of the feature that lets you plug in your laptop and make the two computers a little more symbiotic.
Of particular note is how Lenovo is taking advantage of USB-C with the Yoga AIO 7. Plug in your laptop with a USB-C cable, and you’ll be able to use the Yoga AIO 7’s hardware — including the display, speakers, mouse and keyboard, power supply, and even the integrated hard drive — directly with your laptop.
┏ Lenovo chases dream of making a PC Nintendo Switch with the LaVie Mini concept. Another concept that is unlikely to actually end up on store shelves, as Mitchell Clark notes:
Most, like Alienware’s UFO concept from last year, don’t ever end up making it to market, as these prototypes are often less about making viable consumer products and more about experimenting with new ideas and form factors and getting the requisite press attention during CES. Some do go on sale but don’t end up appealing to enough gamers to really make an impact, like Razer’s Edge or the initial Nvidia Shield handheld.
Gadgets and gizmos
┏ LG’s newest cordless vac automatically empties itself. I don’t know if LG will actually sell this or not — the company loves doing weird concept stuff at CES. I do know that I very much hate emptying out my vacuum so having a stand that does it for me is very appealing. Probably not appealing enough to actually buy the thing, but appealing enough for me to pay attention. That, after all, is the point of weird concept stuff.
┏ Intel launches RealSense ID, facial recognition tech that uses the company’s depth-sensing cameras. As Ian Carlos Campbell, Intel has been trying to make RealSense a Real Thing that gets included in devices for a long time now.
Intel’s RealSense tech has been knocking around for several years, popping up in odd, tech demo use cases like inserting your face into Fallout 4, and more useful ones like unlocking a laptop with Windows Hello. Intel suggests this new application of RealSense could be used in a variety of settings, like ATMs, registers, and smart locks. What the company doesn’t mention is the other popular use of facial recognition: governments and law enforcement agencies tracking and profiling people.
┏ I hope to someday sit in Kohler’s new voice-activated smart bath. If your bathtub doesn’t have color-changing lights and a literal fog machine built in, well, Kohler has the solution for those pressing problems.
┏ The 2021 Moto G Stylus, Power, and Play focus on big batteries, bigger screens, and low prices. Of all of these, the one I’m most interested in is the Power. At these price points, it seems unlikely that these phones could compete with flagships in any way. That’s true except in one case: the Power might have battery life that’s hard for any phone to beat.
┏ Kensington’s SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 dock has all the ports you could need. Monica Chin:
Thunderbolt 4 is here, and so is the first fully powered Thunderbolt 4 docking station. Kensington’s SD5700T includes a whopping 11 ports, 90W of power delivery, and transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. It provides either one 8K output at 30 Hz or two 4K outputs at 60 Hz. … Make no mistake: This is a fancy dock. It’s listed for $289.99 on Kensington’s site.
Mediatek is going strong with its new Dimensity line of smartphone chipsets and has just announced new additions are coming next week. The Taiwanese company has scheduled an announcement for January 20, according to its own Weibo profile. The event will see “brand new Dimensity products” with “superior technology.”
Mediatek’s announcemen poster
While the chipset maker does not clarify what kind of platforms it will unveil, we expect to see the MT6893 come to life – the chip is codenamed “alps” and is said to be manufactured on a 6nm process.
Rumors claim the new Dimensity chipset will be the one for flagships and will come with an overclocked 3 GHz Cortex-A78 main CPU core. Other specs, leaked through AnTuTu, suggest a Mali-G77 CPU, LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 storage support.
We also expect to see new 5G-ready additions to the Dimensity 700-series and 800-series.
HP is introducing a new 2-in-1 convertible with an ARM processor at the CES 2021. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 of the HP Elite Folio offers not only improved performance compared to its predecessor, but also an X 55 5G modem for fast data connections on the go.
The display of the Elite Folio offers a 3: 2 ratio and, together with the integrated stylus, is reminiscent of a Microsoft Surface device. The resolution is 1. 920 x 1. 280 pixels, Gorilla Glass 5 is also used. In addition, there are up to 16 GB LPDDR4x main memory and an NVMe M.2 SSD with a capacity of up to 512 GB. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are available for wireless connections. A highlight is the battery, which should allow a runtime of up to 24, 5 hours with local video playback. The quick charge function should also be able to charge 90% of the battery in just 90 minutes.
In addition, the notebook has two USB-C and one headphone connection. The device is about 16 millimeters thick and weighs around 1, 29 kg. In times of home office, the webcam should of course not be missing. HP uses an infrared webcam for the Elite Folio, which enables a quick login via Windows Hello. The convertible also has four speakers with tuning from Bang & Olufsen and several microphones with support for Cortana Far Field Premium.
Delivery is expected to start in February 2021. HP has not yet commented on the prices.
Continue for a few more days the Iliad’s bomb offer that allows you to have up to 70 GB also under 5G network, unlimited calls and SMS at a price of only 9. 99 ??. It’s called Flash 50 and these are the details for those who want to activate it .
by Bruno Mucciarelli published 11 January 2021 , at 12: 21 in the Telephony channel Iliad
Iliad threw the bomb before Christmas and proposed until 21 January 2021 the first tariff with support for the 5G network. It’s called Flash 70 and allows those who activate it to have the first rate with the operator with 5G included . It is available to everyone (new users and users from all operators) with 70 GB of data traffic and costs only 9, 99 ?? . The offer also includes unlimited minutes and SMS and, like all offers, also the possibility of not having remodeling in the future or even hidden costs.
Iliad Flash 70: how to activate the first rate with 5G included
How does the new rate work and what are its costs? Flash 70 owns a very respectable bundle with the possibility of having up to 70 GB of traffic data to be exploited also, and here is the news, under the new 5G network in Italy. A novelty above all because the rate is completed with everything that we usually found in the Iliad offers, namely the minutes of calls and unlimited SMS for the whole month. The price? Only 9, 99 ?? but in this case the rate will be activated until the next 21 January 2021 therefore they remain only 10 days to activate this succulent promotion.
FLASH 70
Unlimited minutes of calls to all national numbers fixed and mobile
Unlimited SMS to all
70 GB of data traffic under the 5G network (where available) with Hotspot included
COST: 9. 99 ?? per month
WHERE TO ACTIVATE IT: ONLINE or STORE
Activation COST + SIM: 9. 99 ??
Clearly the offer allows you to have, during the activation phase , any kind of related service and we are also talking about 6GB of European data roaming traffic but clearly also unlimited minutes of calls to international landlines and mobile phones with over 60 fixed destinations in Europe and fixed and mobile destinations in the USA and Canada. In addition to this, there are also the “ Call Me ” services, hotspot but also no connection fee, residual credit check and also the answering machine.
ILIAD: other offers
Next to this the only item offer is proposed that allows you to have unlimited calls but practically without data for internet browsing. Here is specifically what it provides:
VOICE
Unlimited Minutes of calls to all national fixed and mobile numbers
Unlimited SMS Towards all
40 MB of data traffic under 4G network with Hotspot included
COST: 4. 99 ?? per month
WHERE TO ACTIVATE IT: ONLINE or STORE
Activation COST + SIM: 9. 99 ??
But alongside these two offers, Iliad still proposes the old Giga 40 and the Giga 50 which, although not visible on the website directly, can still be activated.
GIGA 50
Unlimited Minutes of calls to all national fixed and mobile numbers
Unlimited SMS to all
21 GB of data traffic under 4G network with hotspot included
COST: 7. 99 ?? per month
WHERE TO ACTIVATE IT: ONLINE or STORE
Activation COST + SIM: 9. 99 ??
GIGA 40
Unlimited Minutes of calls to all national fixed and mobile numbers
Unlimited SMS Towards all
40 GB of data traffic under the 4G network with Hotspot included
European consumers update their smartphone on average every 40 months: this period of time will reduce in the coming years, thanks to continuous technological evolution
by Paolo Corsini published 11 January 2021 , at 11: 41 in the Telephony channel 5G
There is a dynamic to which smartphone manufacturers are looking very carefully: this is the period between the purchase of a new phone and its replacement with a new model . Technological evolution and the maturation of a market naturally prune this dynamic to lengthen, with a period of time that passes between the purchase of a smartphone and the next that tends to increase.
In 2015 the average, among European nations, saw an average turnover rate of 25 months : a little more than 2 years, therefore, passed on average between the purchase of a smartphone and that of the next. In fact, a temporal trend that well follows the rule of not buying the first update of your smartphone which is typically presented after 12 months waiting for the next one for a more substantial technological leap forward.
Various dynamics, however, contributed to lengthen this time period : technological maturation, less and less relevant innovations introduced with the new versions released on an annual basis and the maturity of the 4G standard. These dynamics, together with the effects of the global pandemic, have led to an lengthening up to 40 months in the replacement period of your smartphone. Almost 3 half years, therefore, as indicated by Strategy Analytics in its most recent analysis.
However, European consumers are expected to have a real return to purchases starting from 2021, with a drop in this time indicator to 39 months as an average and its progressive reduction up to 33 months by 2025 . The many innovations in the sector, the gradual exit from the pandemic phase and the innovations introduced with 5G technology will perhaps be able to push consumers to update their smartphones more frequently than in recent years,
Appear announced that it will debut by March a smartphone with a graphene battery, the first of its kind, and will have unpublished features
of Nino Grasso published on 11 January 2021 , at 11: 21 in the Telephony channel
Appear has announced the imminent arrival of the world’s first graphene battery powered smartphone with water resistant technology. The company speaks of great interest around the new device, to the point that sales of one million units are expected in the first six months of marketing alone. The smartphone should arrive on sale by March 2021 in major online retailers and stores, but not in all countries of the world.
Appear is a San Francisco-based company that operates internationally in some countries, such as Singapore, United Arab Emirates United, Hong Kong and India. It specializes in the development of B2B IoT innovations in several categories: smartphones, graphene fast-charging battery applications, floating and levitation speakers. For the production of the smartphone he collaborated with Foxconn India, partner of several giants in the production of conventional smartphones.
Of the smartphone with graphene battery, not many details have been anticipated: it will adopt Qualcomm processors , powered by lithium-ion technology Graphene Super 20 Power Bank with proprietary fast charging. The technology behind the smartphone Appear is not an absolute novelty, however it is the first time that it has been integrated ” successfully “on a smartphone. The use of technology also allows the battery to be fully charged in just 20 minutes.
“Graphene is similar to graphite and is composed exclusively of carbon” , emphasizes the company in the press release. “It has revolutionized many manufacturing areas due to its unique properties. Although it is stronger than steel, graphene is lighter and is one of the most Conductive. This allows it to act as a super capacitor in Appear’s revolutionary Fast Charge technology. Graphene-enhanced lithium-ion batteries have longer life, higher capacities and faster charge times while remaining flexible and lightweight “.
The Appear smartphone will also be durable to liquids (through the use of materials and technologies similar to those seen on the Buoyant Speakers) and will be accompanied at the first start by various proprietary applications and tools of which they are not many details have been provided. The company expects “high consumer demand”, and has already entered into partnership agreements with online (including Amazon) and physical retailers in several countries around the world.
The device will be distributed by over 70 partners in March. Further information will be provided on the Appear website shortly.
When I tested the Motorola Edge smartphone half a year ago, I gave its review the title “About a beautiful average who wanted to be a flagship”. It was true – the Edge model, although with an exceptionally design and appearance aspiring to the most expensive constructions, only received the “flagship price”, because the components were simply mid-shelf (Snapdragon 765 5G, 6 GB RAM). However, the full-fledged flagship could be called the Edge + model, which, however, did not appear on our market (Snapdragon 865 5G, 12 GB of RAM). However, let’s not lose hope on the flagship model of Motorola – here is the General Manager of the Chinese branch of Lenovo, Chen Jin – perhaps accidentally, but still – announced Motorola Edge S.
As for flagships, today the leaders are occupied by two, in gusts up to three brands. Motorola may soon fight for the throne with the Edge S model.
Motorola Egde.
Motorola Edge test: About a beautiful average who wanted to be a flagship
The world learned about Motorola Edge S as a result of an (accidental? / Planned?) Announcement on the Chinese Weibo social network. Well, the main manager of the Chinese branch of Lenovo, Chen Jin, through his profile on that portal, published a post in which he announced a new line of smartphones. It is to include a flagship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xx processor. We will get to know more details about the new series soon, but from this information we can get a bit more information.
Motorola Capri Plus – mysterious smartphone data leaked with screen refresh 90 Hz, NFC and a battery with a good capacity
Namely, the post was sent from a Motorola Edge S smartphone, which gives the right to suspect that this model will be the announced flagship. Again, these are not so far-reaching conclusions, because in this industry it often happens that key people in the company use selected models on their own for some time before they are released on the market. As for the specifications of the smartphone, nothing is yet certain, although earlier information appeared on the network that the device will receive a flat display with Full HD + resolution 2520 × 1080 pixels (21 : 9) with the image refresh function with a frequency of min. 90 Hz. The subjects are to be responsible for the photograph 64 + 16 + 2 MP behind and 16 + 8 MP at the front.
Motorola Egde.
The flagship is to be propelled 8 or 12 GB of RAM and Snapdragon 865 / Snapdragon 865 +. The latest system – Snapdragon 888 – is to appear in the brand’s second flagship, the Motorola Moto G series. Ultimately, however, it cannot be ruled out that Motorola Edge S will appear in Europe under a different name, so it will turn out to be a model from the Moto G series and will receive a Snapdragon system 888, and instead of two flagships of the brand, one will appear … As you can see, there are still more guesses here as facts, so we have to wait patiently for details.
HP has announced the Elite Folio, a new convertible laptop with an Arm CPU. Like 2019’s Spectre Folio, this device has a design that lets you pull the screen forward to rest between the keys and the trackpad for media consumption or touch-first work, or it can lie flat on top of the bottom shell for tablet-style use.
The Elite Folio has a 13.5-inch 3:2 1920 x 1280 display, which is a nice upgrade over the Spectre Folio’s 16:9 panel. HP has made use of some of the extra height by including a stylus silo above the keyboard. While the Spectre stood out for its leather finish, the Elite Folio now uses “vegan leather,” which is to say it’s not leather. But it should feel better than regular plastic, at least.
The processor is Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, and there’s also LTE and 5G connectivity through the X20 and X55 modems. The Folio can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are two USB-C 3.2 ports and a headphone jack. HP is claiming up to 24.5 hours of battery life when watching locally stored video files, but we’ll have to see for ourselves how that plays out in more realistic workloads.
The Spectre Folio was a unique product with a few clear flaws: the screen’s aspect ratio, some bad speakers, and an unreliable trackpad. We know the first one has been fixed with the Elite Folio, at least — hopefully we’ll be able to find out about the others soon enough. It’ll be out next month, and HP hasn’t announced pricing information yet.
HP announced a number of devices at CES 2021, all geared toward the people that need to work from home during the current pandemic.
Starting off with the two new additions to HP’s Dragonfly convertible lineup. The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 and Elite Dragonfly Max are both lightweight, can convert into a tablet and offer 13.3-inch screens, Intel 11th Gen processors, optional 5G and 4G LTE support and Tile tracking technology built in.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Max has a 1080p display (the non-Max is configurable up to 4K), a 5MP webcam with IR sensor, four wide-array microphones and the option to disable the webcam altogether. The Elite Dragonfly G2 has the option of an Intel 11th Gen i3, i5 or i7, while the Elite Dragonfly Max has a choice of i5 and i7. Both can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM, 2TB of M.2 SSD storage and have a USB-C 3.1 charging port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 and a single HDML 1.b port.
The HP Dragonfly G2 and Elite Dragonfly Max will ship later on this month. HP hasn’t announced pricing, but the range is usually around the $1,500 mark.
HP also announced a new pair of truly wireless earbuds. The HP Elite Wireless Earbuds have personalized audio tuning, active noise cancellation and sound situation presets. They feature seamless connection switching between devices through their Windows 10, iOS or Android app – it enables you to switch between a conference call and music in an instant.
The HP Elite Wireless Earbuds are expected to start selling in April. They’ll be available as a bundle to the HP Elite Dragonfly Max or at a standalone $199.
HP had a number of other announcements at CES 2021. The HP Elite Filio is a Surface Pro competitor with a 13.5-inch 16:10 FullHD display. It runs on the Gen 2 Snapdragon 8cx platform with built in 5G and support for up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage. The weight is 1.29kg and HP promises all-day battery life for work and 24 hours of video playback.
HP will bring the Elite Folio to store shelves in February.
Rounding off HP’s CES announcements are four laptops – HP EliteBook x360 1030 G8, HP EliteBook x360 1040 G8, HP Elite x2 G8 and the HP ENVY 14, as well as a lineup of monitors, a wireless mouse and a travel backpack.
To CES 2021 HP unveiled the new Elite Dragonfly product line for businessmen looking for a lightweight, long-lasting product. Also unveiled the HP Elite Folio with Qualcomm chip and a refurbished ENVY 24 for the consumer world.
by Manolo De Agostini published 11 January 2021 , at 10: 30 in the Portable channel HP Inc.
HP unveiled many new laptops at CES 2021, but without doubt the new generation of the convertible Elite Dragonfly stands out , a product that combines autonomy, performance, functionality without neglecting the aesthetic aspect. Two models, HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 2 and HP Elite Dragonfly Max , both based on a platform 11th Generation Intel Core (Tiger Lake-U) , optionally also vPro.
The new models have an identical appearance to the previous generation. In addition to the new range of microprocessors, the model G2 offers options regarding the touch screen up to 4K with HDR 400 , although the nib must be purchased separately. The rest of the features include a maximum of 32 GB LPDDR4 RAM (soldered) and up to 2 TB storage.
The G2 has dimensions of 304 x 198 x 16, 1 mm for a starting weight of 998 grams , comes with of a keyboard with a stroke of 1.3 mm and there is a 1.2 megapixel webcam with infrared for authentication via Windows Hello. On the audio front, here are some Bang & Olufsen speakers and three microphones, assisted by a series of reduction software noise and improving the sound experience. HP has not disclosed data on autonomy, but the notebook is equipped with a battery from 56 Wh and fast charging technology to obtain autonomy up to 50% approximately 30 minutes.
The Max model is very similar , but weighs slightly more (part 1, 10 kilograms) and will only be available with Core i5 and i7 CPUs . A second black color is also available. There is no option to mount a 4K display, only an IPS Sure View Full HD touchscreen from 1000 nits , while improves the webcam and microphone sector , with a 5 megapixel solution and a total of four microphones. HP Elite Dragonfly Max therefore pays greater attention to important elements for those who have to participate often in video conferences.
Both models include a single USB 3.1, two USB C Thunderbolt 3, one HDMI 1.4b, and support for nano SIM cards. On the Max there is a slider to cover the webcam when not in use, while on the G2 model we have opted to remove the manual slider in favor of a key on the keyboard that activates or deactivates the webcam.
Lastly, by report the presence of Tile trackers integrated into the WLAN module, a novelty resulting from the collaboration between Tile and Intel. The company has not communicated the prices, but talked about availability from this month – at least in the States.
HP Elite Folio with Qualcomm chip
Not only the new Dragonfly, HP has announced that in the course of February (also in the United States) the HP Elite Folio will arrive on the market , a multipurpose product that can be used as a notebook or tablet. At the moment the company has not disclosed the price.
Featuring a leather finish, a weight of 1.2 kilograms and a thickness of approximately 13 mm, this new model is based on a Qualcomm 8cx Gen 2 platform accompanied by up to 30 GB of LPDDR4x memory and an M.2 SSD up to 512 GB. The screen is a 13, 5 inch Full HD.
Offered with an optional 5G modem and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, the Elite Folio has two USB 3.2 Type-C, a nano SIM, and a 3.5mm jack. Do not miss a webcam compatible with Windows Hello. Present a charging cradle designed for the HP Elite Slim Active Pen, although HP has not made it clear if the stylus is supplied with the system. As for the battery, HP indicates a range up to 14,5 hours.
ENVY 14 refurbished with screen 16: 10
A ‘ another novelty concerns the ENVY range, with a renewed ENVY 14, which in addition to a new hardware platform is also accompanied by a touch display 13: 10 from 14 inches (1920 x 1200) type IPS with brightness of 400 nits and sRGB color gamut from 100%. Notebook upgrades to Core i5 – 1135 G7, a latest Tiger Lake processor generation, accompanied by a GeForce GTX GPU 1650 Ti Max-Q, 16 GB of DDR4 memory – 3200 and a 256 GB.
From the point of view of connectivity we find Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.0, a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB Type A, one HDMI 2.0 and a microSD reader. The battery is from 63 Wh, so it should ensure good autonomy. Regarding the price and availability, the ENVY 11 will be available from March at the starting price of 1199 EUR.
Commercial laptops aren’t always known for their looks, with brands like Lenovo’s Thinkpad line prizing boxy, plain designs that emphasizing power over style. But in late 2019, HP released the HP Elite Dragonfly, a slick business convertible that we dubbed the “Anti-Thinkpad” thanks to its ability to deliver performance while still keeping an attractive exterior.
HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 2
HP Elite Dragonfly Max
HP Elite Folio
CPU
Up to 11th Gen Core i7 U-Series w/vPro
Up to 11th Gen Core i7 U-Series w/VPro
Qualcomm 8cx Gen 2 AC 3.15GHz
Memory
Up to 32GB LPDDR4
Up to 32GB LPDDR4
Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage
Up to 2TB M.2 SSD
Up to 2TB M.2 SSD
Up to 512GB M.2 SSD
Display
Up to 13.3 inch 3840 x 2160 touchscreen
13.3 inch 1920 x 1080 HP Sure View IPS touchscreen
13.5 inch 1920 x 1080 3:2 touchscreen
Connectivity
Intel Wi-Fi 6, Optional 5G Modem
Intel WI-Fi 6, Optional 5G Modem
Intel Wi-Fi 6, Optional 5G Modem
Release Date
January 2021
January 2021
February 2021
Price
TBA
TBA
TBA
Now, the Dragonfly brand is back with the HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 2 and the HP Elite Dragonfly Max, both of which have 11th Generation U-series processors. They’re also joined by a new HP Elite Folio, a lighter Qualcomm-based convertible.
(Image credit: HP)
The HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 2 maintains the same look as its Intel 8th Generation processor, but upgrades to Intel 11th generation U-series CPUs, with options ranging from Core i3 to Core i7. HP hasn’t released pricing info quite yet, but it’s set to hit stores this month. Aside from the processor update, the Gen 2 also comes with display options up to 3840 x 2160 4K with HDR400. That’s a higher max resolution than was available on the Gen 1, though that laptop’s FHD low power and FHD HP Sure View Reflect screens also return here. All screen options are touch-compatible, though you’ll have to buy a stylus separately if you prefer not to use your finger.
Like the Gen 1, the Gen 2 is thin and light, starting at 2.2 pounds and 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches. New here is an optional 5G modem, though that doesn’t seem to have added to the weight. You’ll also get up to 32GB of LPDDR4 RAM (soldered) and up to 2TB of storage. The laptop’s HP Quiet Keyboard has 1.3mm of key travel, and its included webcam has IR capability for Windows Hello.
(Image credit: HP)
The Dragonfly Gen 2 also has Bang & Olufsen audio, plus three microphones and plenty of software-powered noise reduction and audio boost features. HP has yet to make any battery life claims, but the Gen 2 does have fast charging that touts to be able to restore up to 50% of its power in 30 minutes.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Max, meanwhile, offers many of the same features as the Gen 2, but with a greater focus on audio and visual fidelity. It’s powered by either an Intel 11th gen U-series i5 or i7 processor, has just one display option that uses an FHD HP Sure View IPS touch screen, comes with either 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR4 RAM (soldered), and can accommodate storage up to 2TB.
(Image credit: HP)
The Max’s keyboard and chassis are the same as the Gen 2, as its battery and optional 5G modem. The Max is a little heavier than the Gen 2, however, starting at 2.5 pounds. That probably has to do with its special input devices.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Max comes with 4 microphones (with AI audio optimization), plus a 5 MP + IR camera and what HP is calling an “eye ease display,” meaning it filters out blue light. HP has yet to give too much detail into how the Max stands out from the Gen 2, but we’re guessing that these advertised extras mean it was built with video calling in mind. Like the HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 2, it’s also set to come out this month, though pricing info isn’t available yet.
If you want a similar HP convertible experience but don’t need to be operating strictly at the high end, the HP Elite Folio 13.5 inch is also getting a refresh later this February, though pricing details aren’t available yet.
(Image credit: HP)
Like the HP Elite Dragonfly series, the Elite Folio can transform to operate either as a laptop or a tablet, but also has the unique ability to pull the screen forward to rest at an angle just between the touchpad and keyboard. It’s also fan-less, but in exchange for these features, you’ll be operating on mobile hardware.
The Elite Folio runs off a Qualcomm 8xc Gen 2 AC 3.15GHz processor with up to 16GB of LPDDR4x soldered memory. It has SSD storage up to 512GB, and in its most obvious improvement over a mobile device, has a 13.5 inch 1920 x 1080 touchscreen. It is 11.8 x 9 x 0.6 inches large and starts at 2.85 pounds, and like the Dragonfly options listed here, can come with an optional 5G modem.
The Elite Folio also has an integrated storage and charging cradle designed for the HP Elite Slim Active Pen, though HP has yet to say whether the pen comes with the system.
HP is refreshing its business-focused Elite Dragonfly range this year with an updated G2 model and a new Dragonfly Max option. Both laptops will include Intel’s latest 11th Gen processors, and optional 5G connectivity. The Max model even improves the built-in webcam, and adds a second black color option for the range.
Both the 13.3-inch Dragonfly G2 and Dragonfly Max will ship with 11th Gen Intel processors, with the i3 only available on the G2 and i5 and i7 processor options available on both. Both can also be configured up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of M.2 SSD storage space. Both models will also include a single USB 3.1 charging port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, a single HDMI 1.4b port, and Nano SIM support.
The new black option for the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.
The rear of the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.
Where the models really differ is in display configurations and webcams. The Dragonfly Max will only be available with a 13.3-inch HD (1920 x 1080) display, while you can configure the Dragonfly G2 with HD or 4K panels. Both will still include options for HP’s privacy-oriented screen that includes technology to tint the screen so that people passing by can’t snoop on what you’re doing.
The Dragonfly Max will also include a 5-megapixel webcam, up from the 1.2-megapixel one found on the G2. It’s an essential change in an era of remote working where traditional laptop webcams are often falling short. The Max also has four wide-array microphones for better video and audio calls, and keeps the dedicated webcam privacy slider found on last year’s Dragonfly laptops. HP has removed this manual slider on the G2 this year, and replaced it with a button on the keyboard that activates the webcam shutter.
The webcam privacy button on HP’s Elite Dragonfly G2.
Both the Dragonfly G2 and Max will include 5G options, with AT&T and T-Mobile networks supported in the US. HP is also keeping the built-in Tile tracker it introduced with the 2020 models. You can track the laptop just like any other Tile device, as long as it has some battery life left.
HP says it expects both the Dragonfly G2 and Max to be available in January, but the company isn’t announcing pricing details just yet. Given the base model of the 2020 Dragonfly G2 was $1,500, this year’s models are bound to be pricey options for businesses.
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