Welcome to another week’s recap. With the approaching announcement of the Galaxy S21 family, there were inevitably a bunch of stories related to that. A set of case renders attempted to answer how the S Pen will attach to the S21 Ultra, raising more questions in the process, while a leaked infographic detailed the new cameras. A source claimed there won’t be a microSD slot on the non-Ultras, another unfortunate development. Most importantly, however, Samsung set the Unpacked date, officially.
The high-end Galaxies are yet to go live, but we did get a bunch of new announcements this week to get 2021 going. Samsung itself had the Galaxy M02s launch in India to battle it out with the Realmes and Redmis in the entry-level segment.
Speaking of, there was a Realme and a Redmi too. The Realme V15 5G is so far China only and comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED, a 64MP camera, and the Dimensity 800U chipset. The Redmi Note 9 5G, on the other hand, just escaped China adopting a T to set itself apart – known as the Redmi Note 9T 5G for the world, it sports a 6.53-inch LCD, a 48MP main camera (no ultra wide though), and a 5000mAh battery. The Mi 10i, meanwhile, is here to shuffle things up in the midrange with a Snapdragon 750G, a 108MP main camera, and a 120Hz LCD.
For all the announcements and Galaxy anticipation, the most popular story turned out to be about the new WhatApp privacy policy, according to which it will start sharing user data with other Facebook companies (not in the EU, though, yay!).
On the hardware front, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 480 chipset – the first SoC in the lower tier 400-series with 5G capability. A certification document out of China revealed that Huawei’s got a 135W charger in the works, rated at up to 20V/6.75A – a bit excessive for a phone, we reckon, and maybe a laptop adapter?
You can read the details on the these, as well as some other top stories by following the links below.
A few days after the official presentation, the possible prices of Galaxy S smartphones emerge 21 in all versions, with information also on gifts for those who decide to pre-order them. In the world there will be over 900 variants.
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 10 January 2021 , at 14: 01 in the Telephony channel Samsung Galaxy
The 14 January Samsung will present the new series of top-of-the-range smartphones Galaxy S 21 , available in different models – base, Plus and Ultra – all with 5G connectivity. According to what was learned from the German site WinFuture.de, the new products of the South Korean giant will be marketed starting from 160 January, anticipated by a pre-order phase .
According to rumors, the base model of the Galaxy S 21 will be available starting with 849 euro , while the Plus version can be purchased with a price list from 1049 euro to go up, depending on the configuration. Finally, for the Ultra model an outlay of 1249 to 1429 euro based on the allocation.
Those who book one of the three models will have some products for free . In the case of the “base” Galaxy S1 we are talking about a package that contains Galaxy Buds Live (value 189 euro) and Galaxy SmartTag (29, 99 EUR). The same bundle will accompany the S 21 Plus , while those who book the Ultra model will get the Galaxy Buds Pro earphones (229, 99 euro) together with Galaxy SmartTag.
Since the source of the indiscretion is German, the Italian price list could be different, but in this case we shouldn’t deviate much. Pending official information, the well-known leaker Evan Blass (Evleaks) discovered that the S series 21 will be characterized in the world from beyond 900 variants with 11 colors different.
Although the smartphones of the series are only 3, for various reasons Samsung has generated over 900 URL to identify your smartphones. The reasons are related to the components that make up Galaxy S 21. Versions change for processor which can be the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100, i Countries of sale , the different memory cuts and above all the finishes made with 11 colors different. It should also be considered that the smartphones that will be launched by the Korean giant are 3: Galaxy S 21 , S 21 + and S 21 Ultra . Weaving all of these elements to each model, chipset, storage and coloring has led Samsung to create beyond 900 versions, all different from each other.
Colors available for Galaxy S series 21
Le 11 colors revealed by the leaker are the following (not all may be available at launch ):
The successor to the Galaxy Z Flip clamshell phone is likely to come with a triple camera, a larger cover display, slimmer bezels and a new hinge structure.
Next week, Samsung will announce its first high-end smartphones for 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra. These models get a newly designed camera that extends all the way to the frame. Samsung is expected to integrate the updated camera design of the S21 series into other 2021 flagship models as well. For example, LetsGoDigital already illustrated the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 Ultra with a similar camera last week. It’s not unlikely that upcoming foldable smartphones from Samsung will also have a similar design.
The first folding phone that Samsung will introduce in 2021 is most likely the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. There is still some uncertainty about the name of this flip phone. Recently, rumors surfaced that Samsung will not call this model Galaxy Z Flip 2, but Galaxy Z Flip 3 – in order to align the name with that of the Z Fold series. Two models of the latter series have already been introduced, in the form of a Galaxy Fold and a Galaxy Z Fold 2.
Samsung Z Flip 3 foldable smartphone with updated design
In a Korean forum a concept image has surfaced showing how the Galaxy Z Flip 3 might look like – thanks for the tip Tron. The visuals are kind of a mix of the original Z Flip and the upcoming week expected Galaxy S21. The foldable phone is shown in a chic purple color, with a copper colored frame and camera system. This color combination, called Phantom Violet, is also expected on the S21 / S21+.
Based on the concept photo, LetsGoDigital has designed an additional image, showing the device in an unfolded position, with official Galaxy S21 wallpaper and a renewed hinge – we will come back to this later in this publication.
A triple camera is visible – similar to that of the Galaxy S21. Last year, Samsung opted for a dual camera. In the meantime, several stories have surfaced on the internet that Samsung wants to provide the Z Flip 3 with a triple camera.
However, the question remains whether this configuration will be identical to that of the Samsung S21. After all, based on the past year, it would make more sense if this camera system remains predestined for the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. But perhaps the Z Fold 3 can count on an even better camera set-up this time – comparable to the camera system of the Note 20 Ultra and S21 Ultra.
Furthermore, the cover display is considerably enlarged – this way some little more information can be displayed on this second screen. There have been rumors for some time that Samsung intends to enlarge the cover display on the Z Flip 3. This would also be in line with the Z Fold series – the larger cover display is one of the major improvements of the Z Fold 2. In December 2020, LetsGoDigital already discovered a patent for a Galaxy Z Flip device – showing the flip phone with a relatively large square cover display.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G is also expected to feature slimmer bezels – leaving more room to integrate a large flexible display without increasing the overall dimensions of the device. For this it seems to be necessary to adjust the hinge, as it runs quite far inwards on the Z Flip – compared to the frame. With large bezels, this is not a problem, but as soon as they become smaller, the hinge will have to be adjusted accordingly – our product render are therefore adapted to this.
It is in line with expectations that improvements implemented on the Z Fold 2 will also be available on the Z Flip 3. Consider, for example, the 120 Hertz refresh rate of the flexible display. We also expect the unique cleaning system, which is integrated into the hinge to remove dust and dirt, to be seen in the new clamshell phone from Samsung. A punch-hole camera system will probably be built in as well.
Samsung foldable smartphone models in 2021
It seems Samsung wants to introduce even more foldable phone models in 2021 than last year. After the Galaxy Fold in 2019, Samsung released both the Galaxy Z Flip (5G) and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 for the international market in 2020. In addition, the company released an even more luxurious Chinese version of the Samsung Z Fold 2 too.
If we are to believe the rumors, Samsung will introduce no less than 4 new folding phones next year. In addition to the Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, Samsung seems to plan to also release two cheaper models, in order to introduce a larger audience to the new market of foldable smartphones. These models could be named Galaxy Z Flip 3 FE and Z Fold 3 FE (Fan Edition) – just as the Galaxy S20 FE is also the cheapest S-series model of 2020.
For the time being it remains unclear how these smartphones will differ from their more expensive brothers. It also remains to be seen when which model will be released. The Z Flip 3 will probably arrive first, but it will not be introduced simultaneously with the S21 this year, Samsung will probably wait until the spring of 2021. In the coming months more details are likely to arise.
Ilse is a Dutch journalist and joined LetsGoDigital more than 15 years ago. She is highly educated and speaks four languages. Ilse is a true tech-girl and loves to write about the future of consumer electronics. She has a special interest for smartphones, digital cameras, gaming and VR.
While vivo is running an open beta of its new OriginOS, which is supposed to replace FuntouchOS, the manufacturer will be kicking off FuntouchOS 11 based on Android 11 beta program for a couple of its devices in India. The vivo V20 debuted with the stable version of the said software while the V20 Pro 5G’s version of the OS has been bumped up shortly after its release.
Starting from the end of January, V19 and X50 owners can get a taste of FuntouchOS 11, while V17, V17 Pro, V15 Pro and S1 users will be getting the OTA update starting March. S1 Pro, Z1x and Z1Pro start receiving it in April while V15 would have to wait until June.
We’ve already tried out the new FuntouchOS 11 and we can say it’s a big step forward compared to the previous iterations of the software. The so-called OriginOS is supposed to be similar, but with some additional features and slightly different UI. We are yet to learn why India is getting FuntouchOS while other markets will transition to OriginOS.
We already know what the unannounced Samsung Galaxy A32 5G looks like, thanks to the CAD renders that surfaced last November. Today we are looking at a bunch of official press renders leaked by WinFuture, which corroborate previous design leaks and reveal the A32 5G will come in at least four colors.
The Galaxy A32 5G will pack an Infinity-V display, which is rumored to measure 6.5″ diagonally. The rear panel of the phone, made of plastic, is home to a quad camera setup. The primary shooter reportedly uses a 48MP sensor, with the rest said to be ultrawide, depth, and macro units.
The rear cameras and flash on the Galaxy A32 5G are placed separately on the panel instead of being housed together inside an island, which is a refreshing design change, but they do protrude, meaning the phone will likely wobble on flat surfaces.
On the left side of the Galaxy A32 5G’s frame is the SIM card slot, and on the right is the volume rocker and power button with a fingerprint scanner embedded in it. From previously leaked renders we know the A32 5G has a USB-C port at the bottom joined by a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
We don’t have the detailed specs of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, but the smartphone was spotted on Geekbench with Android 11, Dimensity 720 SoC, and 4GB RAM. It has also appeared on FCC with NFC and a 15W in-box charger.
There’s no word from Samsung about the Galaxy A32 5G yet, but the smartphone has bagged multiple certifications, and now that its official renders are out, it shouldn’t be too long before the Korean conglomerate unveils its cheapest 5G smartphone.
Today the OnePlus Nord N10 5G and the OnePlus Nord N100 have gone up for pre-order in the US, following the announcement of their landing across the ocean, which came a few days ago. These are the first members of the Nord family to ever be officially sold in the US, because the original Nord has for some reason stayed out of that market.
If you’re excited about the two new mid-rangers, you can pre-order one starting today, with shipping set to begin in a week. If you’re wondering why you’d pre-order, well how about some freebies?
If you purchase from the OnePlus website, you’re getting a pair of OnePlus Buds Z for free with the Nord N10, and a pair of OnePlus Buds Wireless Z for free with the Nord N100. On the other hand, if you buy from B&H, you’ll receive either a $50 gift card (for the N10) or a $30 gift card (for the N100). Incidentally, the value of the gift card for each phone is identical to the value of the free set of earbuds you would be getting from OnePlus directly.
The Nord N10 can be yours for $299, while the Nord N100 is priced at $179. You can read our review of the former to get acquainted with it better.
Last year Oppo brought some members of its Reno4 lineup under the Find X branding in some of its markets, so the latest report doesn’t really come as a big surprise.
According to @evleaks, the upcoming Find X3 Lite will be a re-branded Reno5 5G. The Find X3 Pro and the vanilla Find X3 will be the stars of the show this spring and will hold all of the new features, unlike the X3 Lite.
The source also shares a couple of renders showing off an identical design to the Reno5 5G minus the “Reno Glow” inscription that the Reno5 5G units have. The same color Aurora Blue, Moonlight Black, Starry Dream will be available judging by the renders, though.
Following the announcement of the Tab P11 tablet, Lenovo is continuing its CES show with several laptops – all of them portable, but some quite powerful as well. The laptops are powered by all sorts of CPUs – from a Snapdragon chipset through an Intel CPU to an AMD Ryzen H-series with Nvidia RTX graphics.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5G
This 14” laptop is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx chipset, a 7nm part with full support for Windows 10. Also, the low TDP allows for a fanless design and perfectly quiet operation.
True to its name, the IdeaPad 5G has next-gen connectivity
The laptop is equipped with an X55 modem, offering fast 5G connectivity (the sub-6 variety), with a potential for a major speed increase if you have a fast 5G network nearby. Somewhat disappointingly, it only supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for at-home connections.
As for the laptop itself, it features a 14” screen with slender bezels. The 1080p IPS LCD panel promises 300 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. There are also user-facing speakers optimized with Dolby Audio and dual array microphones for voice and video calls.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5G is powered by a Snapdragon 8cx chipset
The laptop weighs just 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) and measures 14.9 mm thick (0.59”). This is with a 51 WHr battery, which can last 20 hours of continuous video playback (note: local video with the 5G modem turned off). It charges over USB-C using the 65W Rapid Charge Express power adapter.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5G will launch in select markets soon, but will not be available in North America (at least not at first). Prices are TBA and will vary by region.
Lenovo IdeaPad 4G/LTE
If you don’t have 5G in your neck of the woods (or want to save some money), this is a similar 14” laptop, which drops down to the Snapdragon 8c chipset. It only offers 4G connectivity, but that can be fast enough for your needs.
The laptop can be configured with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a PCIe SSD with up to 512GB capacity.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro (with Intel)
If you’re not ready to jump on the “Windows on ARM” train, the IdeaPad 5i Pro uses an 11th Gen Intel Core processor (up to i7). The all-metal laptop is offered in two sizes – 14” and 16”, which weigh 1.45 kg and 2 kg, respectively. Both screens have 16:10 aspect ratio.
The larger 16” laptop has a 2.5K display with an option for 120Hz refresh rate. The IPS LCD panel can go up to 350 nits brightness. The 14” display is sharper and brighter with 2.8K resolution and 400 nits. This one has an option for 90 Hz refresh rate (you can press Fn+R to go into HRR mode).
14″ Lenovo IdeaPad 5i (with Intel Core 11th Gen and Nvidia MX450)
Configuration options include up to Intel Core i7 11th Gen and Nvidia MX450 graphics. The Lenovo Q-Control feature lets you hit Fn+Q to toggle between maximum performance and batter saving mode. You can fit 16 GB of DDR4 RAM into the laptop and an SSD up to 1 TB (PCIe M.2).
The 14” model has a 56.5 WHr battery, the 16” one gets a larger 75 WHr capacity and can be charged over its Thunderbolt 4 port. Oh, and these do have Wi-Fi 6 on board.
Interestingly, the laptops feature a 3D ToF sensor and Glance software by Mirametrix, which keeps an eye on whether you’re paying attention and can automatically pause video if you move away from the laptop.
The Intel-powered IdeaPad 5 Pro models will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) from March. The 16” model will start at €900, the 14” one from €700. They will not be available in North America.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (with AMD)
You can have these laptops with an AMD Ryzen H-series processor instead (exact configurations will be unveiled soon). These are again available with 14” 90 Hz and 16” 120 Hz displays.
This 16” Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro sets itself apart with optional Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM. This makes it something of a gaming laptop and that 120 Hz screen won’t go to waste (the 14” model gets only an MX450 GPU).
The availability of the Ryzen-powered IdeaPads is split. The 16” model is headed to North America, it will start at $1,150 and expected to be in stores in May. The 14” model won’t be found in North America but is going to EMEA instead, launching in March at €800.
Alexa Show Mode for PC
This feature effectively turns your Lenovo laptop in a smart display that can be the hub for your smartphone. It supports voice commands and shows at-a-glance information, it can do everything an Echo Show can.
Show Mode for PC turns your Lenovo laptop into an Alexa smart display
Show Mode will launch in Q2 of this year and will be available to a wide range of Lenovo devices, including select Yoga and IdeaPad laptops.
Motorola announced its Moto G 5G back in July and later brought it stateside as the Moto One 5G. Now we get the Moto One 5G Ace which is Motorola’s most affordable 5G phone for North America priced at $399.
There’s a 6.7-inch LCD with FHD+ resolution upfront and a centered punch-hole for the 16MP selfie cam. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 750G chipset which features the integrated Snapdragon X52 5G modem for sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. You get 4/6GB RAM options and 64/128GB storage which is further expandable via microSD.
The camera department is headlined by a 48MP primary shooter which sits next to an 8MP ultrawide module, a 2MP macro sensor and an LED flash. You’ll also spot the trademark Moto dimple which houses the fingerprint scanner. The phone is IP52 rated and comes in at 212grams.
Motorola One 5G Ace in Silver
On the software side, you get standard Android 10 with Motorola’s My UX skin on top. The battery comes in at 5,000 mAh and does 15W wired charging though you only get a 10W adapter in the box.
The Moto One 5G Ace goes on sale starting January 14 in the US while Canadian buyers will have to wait a bit more. It comes in a single silver colorway.
The Redmi Note 9T is Xiaom’s first 5G smartphone to support the Redmi series.
Xiaomi today introduced the new Redmi 9T series smartphones. The collection includes the base model Redmi 9T and the more expensive Redmi Note 9T. The devices are the successors to the Redmi Note 9 and Redmi 9 phones released last year, which also passed the imi-Tech test on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
The more expensive Redmi Note 9T than the two stands out relatively clearly from its predecessor in its appearance. The relatively original-looking square camera frame of the Redmi Note 9 series in the middle of the back cover of the phone has been abandoned and instead the frame is round in design. Related to the same group’s Poco X3 and Xiaomi Mi T lite has significantly improved with the redesigned camera frame.
The camera system itself resembles the predecessor model, but the ultra-wide-angle camera has sadly been abandoned. The resolution of the main camera is 13 megapixels and is supported by a 2 megapixel macro camera and a 2 megapixel depth camera. In addition to the appearance of the design, Xiaomi promotes the durability of the device: the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 glass, in addition to which the phone is also promised splash resistance, even though the phone does not have an official IP rating. The back cover is made of polycarbonate plastic, which Xiaom says rejects fingerprints.
As a counterbalance to the camera that took a bit of a backpack at the system circuit level, the phone has received an update. Helio G 25 system circuitry has been moved to the manufacturer’s much more recent Dimensity U) circuit, which brings with it integrated support also for 5G connections. As a specialty of the circuit, it also supports two 5G SIM cards in its Dual SIM mode, which is not yet a very common feature in the telephone market today.
Winged by a new chip, the Redmi Note 9T is up to 260 more powerful than its predecessor in terms of graphics performance, but the manufacturer did not specify to which several of the Redmi Note series of the previous generation were compared. In terms of CPU performance, the comparison was made with Snapdragon 665, compared to Dimensity 800 U is even 64% more efficient.
The system circuit pair is 4 gigabytes of RAM and depending on the model either 60 or 128 gigabytes of storage. The system circuit in the Redmi Note 9T is powered by a 5000 mAh battery that supports at most watt quick charge. Xiaomi promises that the battery will last for almost three years of daily use without significant deterioration, while in general, according to the manufacturer, the batteries would last only about two years.
48 megapixel main camera (1/2 ”, 0.8 um pixel size) f1. 75, AF
2 megapixel depth camera (1.7 μm pixel size), f2.4, FF
2 megapixel macro camera (1, 76 pixel size), f2.4
13 megapixel front camera (1, um pixel size), f2. 40
mAh battery, USB Type-C, 18 W Quick Download
Android , MIUI 18
The Redmi 9T, which will be available in the lower price range of the article, is very similar to the Poco M3 of the same group in terms of its feature coverage, which has also recently passed the io-Tech test. The biggest difference to the Poco phone is the redesigned look.
Inside the Redmi 9T, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662 system circuit pulsates, paired with 4GB of RAM according to the model, and 40 GB of storage, 4 GB of RAM and 159 GB of storage or 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The system circuit is powered by a large 6000 mAh battery, which is charged from the Poco M3, as usual 13 watt fast charge. The camera system is managed by 18 a megapixel main camera paired with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth camera
. Like the Poco M3, the Redmi 9T offers Gorilla Glass 3 goggles to protect the screen, while the rest is made of plastic. Like the Redmi Note 9T, the Redmi 9T is splash-proof according to the manufacturer, although it does not have an official IP rating. In addition, the plastic on the back cover of the Redmi 9T is also promised to be fingerprint-repellent.
48 megapixel main camera (1/2 ”, 0.8 um pixel size) f1. 75, AF
8 megapixel ultra wide angle camera 120 degree angle), f2.2
2 megapixel depth camera, f2 .4, FF
2 megapixel macro camera, f2.4
8 megapixel front camera (1, um pixel size), f2. 12
6000 mAh battery, USB Type-C, 18 W fast charging, supports charging other devices via USB connection
Android 10, MIUI 05
Redmi Note 9T global prices prices start at 4 & 64 GB model 229 from the euro. 93 storage costs GB 10 euros extra. However, the phone will initially also have an Early Bird offer price, in which case the base model will be available 199 at the price of the euro and more expensive at the price of the euro 161. Redmi 9T’s 4 & 48 GB model prices start in turn 161, but that model does not include NFC support. With NFC, the price is 169 euros. 4 & GB Model) costs euros and 6 & 77 GT model 199 euros). Early Bird prices are not available for the Redmi 9T
The time of arrival of the phones in Finland and the exact Finnish prices are not yet known, but according to Xiaom, they will be announced in the coming weeks.
(Pocket-lint) – Phone-makers have been getting creative when it comes to selfie cameras. We’ve had the notch, the punch-hole, the pop-up. Now it’s the turn of the under-display camera, with the ZTE Axon 20 5G the first phone to launch to market with such a design (despite Oppo showing off the technology first).
“ZTE?” we hear you say. Yep, the tech giant has been floating around in the peripheries in recent years, launching some phones – but they’ve rarely been available to easily purchase outside of its native China. The Axon 20 5G, therefore, represents not only a first from a technological point of view thanks to that camera, but a renewed push for the company to appeal to a wider audience.
Design & Display
6.92-inch OLED ‘True Full’ display
1080 x 2460 resolution
Under-display camera
90Hz refresh rate
Dimensions: 172 x 78 x 8mm / Weight: 198g
Glass front & rear, aluminium frame
Finishes: Black, Gold, Blue, Purple
Under-display fingerprint scanner
On the face of it the ZTE Axon 20 5G is one of the more exciting phones to launch in 2020. The very idea of an under-display camera has been talk of the town for some time now, so it wasn’t expected that a lesser-known brand in the West would be the one to lead the charge.
Thing is, the Axon 20 5G isn’t really a flagship phone. It’s got a middling spec overall and a design that, in some respects, doesn’t really benefit the presence of the under-display camera to its fullest extent.
Pocket-lint
Take the flat screen’s side bezel, for example. Now, we’re not saying it’s mega-bezel by any means, but when curved-screen devices help to hide the apparent presence of the black border from line of sight it makes the screen look more full.
The Axon 20 5G might well have its selfie camera hidden under the panel, but it’s the entire screen’s bezel that gives the screen a boxed-in and ‘framed’ look – so it has a lower screen-to-body ratio compared to many devices that carry a notch of punch-hole camera. That takes away from the under-screen camera’s potential somewhat.
Nonetheless, in the dark of winter in the UK (where we’re sat reviewing this device) you would initially think there’s no camera present under that screen at all. It’s convincingly hidden away, which is something of a revelation. Closer inspection, however, shows that you can see the lens beneath – if any light catches the screen, for example, so brighter days it may appear less accomplished.
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Furthermore, while images do successfully overlay where the selfie camera lives, they are partially disrupted, almost as if transformed into some 16-bit image of old (scroll through the gallery above to see close-ups). The resolution is lesser in the oblong area surrounding the camera. You’ll need to look fairly closely to care about it, though, but open a full-screen game and you’ll see a criss-cross effect over that small camera area.
Given phone design, however, most apps and user interfaces don’t utilise the top centre section of a screen (or fullest side section, if in landscape orientation). Thus much of the time this camera area will be blacked out anyway and you can more or less forget that it’s even there. Especially as here it’s tricky to see without eyeballing it up really close.
So while there are improvements that can happen in future iterations, as a first attempt the Axon 20 5G’s hidden under-screen camera is convincing, with the highlighted caveats above being part and parcel of such an implementation.
Pocket-lint
Otherwise the Axon 20 5G’s design is generally inoffensive. It’s easy to become blasé about phone design when there’s such a normal format these days. A chunky rear camera unit with excessive numbers of lenses? Check. A glass rear that’s almost magnetic to fingerprint smears? Check. No 3.5mm headphone jack, a single base speaker, a smattering of branding including (unnecessarily) the product name? Check, check, check.
From the right angle, however, the Axon 20’s finish has this almost rippling-like way of catching the light, as you can see in our photos. It rarely looks as much like this to the eyes, but it’s a cool effect nonetheless.
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, 8GB RAM
Android 10 operating system, MiFavor 10.5 re-skin
4,220mAh battery capacity, 30W fast-charge
Liquid Cooling with carbon nanofiber
128GB storage, microSD expansion
5G connectivity
As we said above, the Axon 20 5G isn’t aiming to topple flagships with best-in-class internals. This phone’s approach is to bring new technology to the mid-range, competing with other models that utilise the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 platform.
Pocket-lint
In reality, however, this step-down Qualcomm platform is a great success. It caters for 5G as and when you’re in a network area (the Axon 20 has specific controls to disable this if you prefer, for the sake of battery savings). It’s more than capable of handling a plethora of tasks, including gaming to a relatively high level – we’ve had zero problems playing South Park: Phone Destroyer.
Indeed, the use of the 700-series platform is something many phone-makers are opting for, from LG with the Velvet to Vivo with the X51. All of which have proven to put in decent performance with solid battery innings. The ZTE follows a similar suit, capable across the board and long-lasting too. The 4,220mAh battery is capacious enough to easily crunch through a day – we’ve been using about 50 per cent over a 14 hour period, so it’s close to a two-dayer.
That said, ZTE’s MiFavor user interface (UI), which is built over the top of Google’s Android 10 operating system, doesn’t half go excessive when it comes to trying to save battery. The autobrightness is obsessed with seemingly trying to make you think you’ve gone blind, dimming the screen levels excessively in any conditions – we’ve been frequently frustrated with manually adjusting it time and again. The screen also suffers from ‘black crush’ at these lower intensity levels.
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The software isn’t otherwise disruptive like on some competitors’ systems though. MiFavor has swipe controls which are a little finicky, but help to give the screen more real-estate with the absence of Android soft-keys taking up the bottom row. There’s no duplication of app stores like you’d find in a Xiaomi phone, for example, as ZTE is Google Play Store only. There’s no ads that try and promote other apps when you’re downloading an update. There’s generally little fuss at all, with a mostly Android-like experience.
Sign-in benefits from that under-screen selfie camera, too, should you wish to activate face unlock, or there’s an adept under-display fingerprint scanner too. It’s a reasonably fluid experience, one that’s massively let down by the overzealous autobrightness adjustment.
We’ve covered the selfie camera in more detail up top, but no doubt you’ll be wondering just what the quality is like given that it can “see” through a display.
Best smartphones 2021: The top mobile phones available to buy today
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: Portrait modePortrait mode
The answer: not that great. This 32-megapixel optic doesn’t use multi-pixel processing to obtain improved quality, as such there’s quite a lot of grain even in daylight, particularly in shadow areas. The images are far larger than you’ll need too, while colour consistency seems to vary shot-to-shot – with a greener balance sometimes rearing its head.
Pop it into Portrait mode, however, and the camera does scale things down (to 5-megapixels, for whatever reason), adding the over-soft background blur and, well, making everything just look soft and blurry.
So while ZTE is first to getting a selfie camera under a display, its results aren’t a revelation.
Pocket-lint
What about the main camera unit to the rear? This is a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a trend in 2020 to lump together a bunch of cameras for no real reason: here there’s a 2MP depth sensor that’s not needed; a 2MP macro camera that’s low resolution and can’t autofocus and is hard to use; and an 8MP wide-angle camera that’s of sub-par quality compared to what else is on the market.
It’s the main 64-megapixel sensor that steps in to save things somewhat. Keep your attention on this one and there’s some reasonably good results, because it does use four-in-one pixel processing to output 16MP shots as standard. There’s still some grain and the fidelity isn’t class-leading, but with a steady hand you’ll be able to get shots with enough detail and balance. Even the night mode works well in low-light conditions.
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The ZTE isn’t the only culprit to oversell its cameras, it seems to be the flavour of 2020. Stick with the main rear optic and you’ll be plenty happy, it delivers what’s needed at this price point. The addition of depth, macro and wide-angle cameras add disappointment though. And that selfie camera ought to be more adept rather than high-resolution, because the selfie camera is the premier point of this phone’s existence.
Verdict
The ZTE Axon 20 5G shows that under-screen cameras will be the future. But it also shows that details matter – and the selfie camera here ought to be better quality to show off the premier point of this phone’s very existence. The rear cameras, too, fail to hit the mark overall.
Elsewhere we think the design doesn’t highlight the hidden camera appeal quite enough; a curved screen with almost invisible bezel would push that point to the fore even more than this flat screen and dark bezel surround.
As a day-to-day phone, however, we’ve found ZTE’s software to be humble to Android in its approach, meaning it doesn’t outwardly busy things like some competitors like to do. Its main issue, however, is the overzealous autobrightness which descends into darkness in all conditions unlike any other phone we’ve used this year.
It might be an outlier, as a little-known brand in the West, but the ZTE Axon 20 5G shows its worth, while delivering a long-lasting and ample performance in a fairly affordable package.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
Google Pixel 4a 5G
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Google goes big on computational photography, but the results are great – and there aren’t an abundance of unwarranted cameras to be found here. Yes, there’s a punch-hole rather than an under-display camera. And no, the battery life isn’t as good as the ZTE. But as a rounded package – one that’s a bit smaller than the ZTE too – we think it’s one of the best 5G phones in and around this budget.
Motorola is kicking off 2021 with refreshes for its midrange Moto G lineup of phones with new versions of the Moto G Power, Moto G Stylus, and Moto G Play that promise low prices and days of battery life across the board. There’s also a new member of the Motorola One family called the Motorola One 5G Ace, which, at $399, takes the crown as Motorola’s cheapest 5G phone yet.
Once again, Motorola is set on offering an almost dizzying amount of low-priced phones that differ in price by just $30 to $50. The new Moto G Play will cost $169.99; the Moto G Power will offer $199.99 (for a 3GB of RAM / 32GB of storage model) $249.99 (for 4GB / 64GB) configurations; the Moto G Stylus will cost $299.99; and the Motorola One 5G Ace will cost $399.99. It’s a strategy that ensures there’s a phone at nearly every price point you could imagine, although it does make it slightly harder to choose between similar devices at such similar prices.
Motorola is sticking with the same names for its new 2021 lineup — sadly, the days of the numerically differentiated Moto G models appear to have ended for good with 2019’s Moto G7 lineup. But the new phones do offer improvements big and small compared to their 2020 predecessors.
The Moto G Play seems like the toughest sell of the bunch. While the $169 price tag is intriguing, the paltry 720p resolution — stretched across a comparatively huge 6.5-inch panel — raises concerns, as does the year-old Snapdragon 460 processor that’s markedly less powerful than either of the other two new 2021 Moto G phones. That’s especially true given that Qualcomm has already announced the Snapdragon 480, which promises to be twice as fast and adds more premium features like 5G to the mix.
There are some bright spots, too. The 2021 G Play has 3GB of RAM (putting it in a better position performance-wise than last year’s $149 Moto E) and a massive 5,000mAh battery that Motorola says should be good for up to three days on a charge.
The new G Power and G Stylus aren’t as similar as last year’s models. Where the 2020 models offered the same processor, screen, and design, the new models are distinctly different phones. The G Power offers a 5,000mAh battery, a 720p 6.6-inch display, and weaker Snapdragon 662, but the G Stylus makes an argument for its higher price tag with a stylus, a larger and higher-resolution 1080p 6.8-inch panel, and a more powerful Snapdragon 678 processor. (It does go down a notch in battery, only offering a 4,000mAh battery that’s good for up to two days off a charge.)
The larger G Stylus also offers 4GB of RAM by default (unlike the G Power, which has both 3GB and 4GB models) and has more storage (128GB versus the G Power’s choice of either 32GB or 64GB). You also get some camera improvements on the G Stylus — while both phones feature a 48-megapixel main sensor (which shoots quad-pixel 12-megapixel shots), a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, the G Stylus also adds an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a better selfie camera.
Image: Motorola
Lastly, there’s the Motorola One 5G Ace, which (as the name indicates) isn’t quite in the same category as the other phones here. At $399, it’s Motorola’s cheapest 5G phone yet. And the weaker Snapdragon 750G 5G, downgraded cameras, and slower refresh rate display leave the One 5G Ace as more of a lower-priced version of the $499 Motorola One 5G that the company released last year than anything else.
All four new phones will be available unlocked through direct retailers on January 14th, with preorders starting today. Additionally, several of the new phones will also be released through major carriers in the future: the Moto G Play and Motorola One 5G Ace through AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, while the G Power will be sold by just Verizon. The G Stylus, meanwhile, will skip the major US carriers entirely, although Boost Mobile, Cricket, Consumer Cellular, and Republic Wireless will offer it.
Hey there, if you’ve been keeping up with our video situation you should know we’re back in action (and if you haven’t – surprise!). So over the next few days and weeks we’ll be uploading our back-logged videos at a faster-than-normal rate.
Next up in the list is the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G, which we reviewed at the beginning of December. The Mi 10T Lite 5G has a Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset, 6GB of RAM, a big 4,820mAh battery, 6.67-inch IPS LCD with fast 120Hz refresh rate and more.
Here’s its full video review. And here’s its written one for further details.
Xiaomi announced the Redmi 9T, alongside the Redmi Note 9T 5G for the global market today. The Redmi 9T brings a number of value-adding features for a very competitive starting price.
Beginning with the screen, the Redmi 9T packs a 6.53-inch IPS LCD of 1080p resolution, just like the more expensive Redmi Note 9T 5G.
In fact, the camera of the Redmi 9T is better than the Redmi Note 9T 5G with the same main 48MP f/1.8 camera and pair of 2MP macro and depth sensors, but with a fourth 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide shooter. The selfie camera is an 8MP one.
Powering the Redmi 9T is a Snapdragon 662 with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. You get a choice of 64GB or 128GB of storage.
The Redmi 9T brings an even bigger battery than the Redmi Note 9T 5G – a 6,000mAh unit with the same 18W charging speed. Xiaomi claims up to 4 years of reliability and multiple days on a single charge from it.
Like the Redmi Note 9T 5G, the Redmi 9T has an infrared sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack and optional NFC.
The only missing feature on the Redmi 9T compared to its newly unveiled Note sibling is 5G, however that’s offset by the aggressive pricing. The Redmi 9T starts at €159 for a 4/64GB model (€10 more for NFC) and goes up to €189 for the 4/128GB model (again, €10 more for NFC). The range-topping 6/128GB hasn’t got an official price just yet. Buyers have a choice of four colors – Twilight Blue, Sunset Orange, Carbon Gray and Ocean Green.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G is now official and it’s an almost a carbon copy of the China-only Redmi Note 9 5G with some small differences, which we’ll detail.
Starting at the front, the Redmi Note 9T 5G has a 6.53-inch 1080p IPS LCD and a 13MP selfie camera with f/2.25 optics. The display tops out at 450 nits and has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, contrary to some rumors.
There are three cameras on the rear. The main one has a 48MP f/1.8 Quad-Bayer sensor. Unlike the Redmi Note 9 5G, the Redmi Note 9T 5G lacks an ultrawide camera but instead has two 2MP sensors – one for depth and another for macro shots.
The Redmi Note 9T 5G is powered by a 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset with 6GB of RAM. You get a choice of 64GB or 128GB of storage. Like its Chinese counterpart, the Redmi Note 9T 5G is splash-proof and offers dual speakers.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G
A key selling point of the Redmi Note 9T 5G is the 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Xiaomi claims up to 3 years of continuous use without significant degradation.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G comes in two colors – Daybreak Purple and Nightfall Black can be had in 4/64GB or 4/128GB with a special “early bird” prices of €199 and €249, respectively. After the promo ends the regular prices are €229 and €269. Xiaomi will sell the Redmi Note 9T 5G from its website, Amazon and other third party retailers.
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