Android Circuit: New Galaxy S9 Leaks, OnePlus 5T Confirmed, Samsung's Secret Power
and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).
Talking About The Leaked Back Of The Galaxy S9
Details on the Samsung’s Galaxy S9 continue to leak out and we’re starting to get some clear indications on what we can expect from the South Korean flagship when it arrives in early 2018. The latest information concerns the rear of the smartphone. Forbes Gordon Kelly reports:
Of course the most obvious way the Galaxy S9 would change in a big way would be with the addition of dual cameras, as seen on the excellent Galaxy Note 8. With dual camera pressure from Apple, LG and Huawei as well as Google’s superlative Pixel 2 camera, this is nailed on in my opinion.
But there are two other areas where Samsung could also greatly improve the back of the Galaxy S9. Firstly it must move the fingerprint sensor into a more central, easier to reach position. Secondly it should copy Google’s Pixel 2 smartphones with a mix of aluminium and glass - the former adds durability, the latter is necessary to retain wireless charging which (unlike some) Samsung does right.
The Lesser-Spotted SnapDragon 845
Some of the changes inside the Galaxy S9 are a little bit more predictable, such as the latest SnapDragon chipset from Qualcomm. Not only will Samsung have a power advantage if it uses the SnapDragon 845 it’s also going to have a commercial advantage thanks to a rumored period of exclusivity, as I reported earlier this week:
But the increased capability of the 845 will not be available to everyone in the first half of the year. The Galay S9 is expected to have a period of exclusivity where it will be the only handset that will carry the 845. After that period is up the volume of Galaxy S9 sales will likely preserve an effective monopoly until other manufacturers build up sufficient stock to go to market.
This follows a similar pattern from 2017, where the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus launched with exclusive access to the SnapDragon 835, which is now the de facto chip for many Android flagship handsets.
More thoughts on Samsung’s advantage here.
DJ Koh, president of mobile communications business at Samsung, introduces the new Samsung Galaxy S8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Understanding Pixel 2 XL Screen Burn
Google’s investigation of the screen issues in its Pixel 2 XL continue. While the problems have been acknowledged and an investigation is under way, the biggest concern will be screen burn on the POLED display. David Katzmaier and Lynn La explain the issue and highlight what can be done:
In most cases, those static sections of screens don't linger as faint afterimages. But on the Pixel 2 XL, the faint lines of the notification bar and hotkey buttons still stuck around after the display was turned off overnight and after running a screen burn-in fix video. These factors suggest that this issue is more persistent than standard image retention, which usually disappears after some time.
Most of the time, this won't be a problem. But, best practice is to avoid keeping those static images up for long periods of time.
More at CNet, along with some practical advice on minimizing the risk.
Razer Joins The Smartphone Race
Joining the ranks of smartphone manufacturers this week was Razer. Leaning heavily on its pedigree with gamers, the US/Singapore company revealed the Razer Phone. Building on the acquisition of Nextbit, the Razer Phone could be seen as the Robin 2, but with a vastly increased specification list… 8 GB of RAM, THX certified forward facing dual speakers, and a 120 Hz IGZO LCD screen stand out:
…It comes with a 120Hz Ultramotion display. The increased refresh rate means no shuttering, no lag, and no motion blur. Meanwhile the marketing tag of ultra motion syncs the GPU signals to the refresh rates of the display, which creates a smoother image with no lag. It also adapts to circumstances in terms of refresh rates to extend battery life.
Sound is also a key part of Razer’s offering. The handset’s audio comes with Dolby Atmos, and in a first for a smartphone is certified by THX. The speakers are front facing stereo speakers. The speakers are mounted so you can hold the handset in the gaming orientation without blocking the speakers. To boost the sound each speaker also has a dedicated amplifier.
Unfortunately headphones are going to have to be plugged in to the USB-C port via a dongle adaptor, which is included in the retail packaging.
More from the launch event here on Forbes.
">Taking a look back at seven days of news and headlines across the world of Android, this week’s Android Circuit includes new Samsung Galaxy S9 leaks, Samsung’ secret power inside the S9, Pixel 2 XL screen burn solutions, Razer’s first smartphone, OnePlus confirms the 5T, the Pixel Visual Core advantage, the budget friendly Nokia 2, and the burger emoji fight.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).
Talking About The Leaked Back Of The Galaxy S9
Details on the Samsung’s Galaxy S9 continue to leak out and we’re starting to get some clear indications on what we can expect from the South Korean flagship when it arrives in early 2018. The latest information concerns the rear of the smartphone. Forbes Gordon Kelly reports:
Of course the most obvious way the Galaxy S9 would change in a big way would be with the addition of dual cameras, as seen on the excellent Galaxy Note 8. With dual camera pressure from Apple, LG and Huawei as well as Google’s superlative Pixel 2 camera, this is nailed on in my opinion.
But there are two other areas where Samsung could also greatly improve the back of the Galaxy S9. Firstly it must move the fingerprint sensor into a more central, easier to reach position. Secondly it should copy Google’s Pixel 2 smartphones with a mix of aluminium and glass - the former adds durability, the latter is necessary to retain wireless charging which (unlike some) Samsung does right.
The Lesser-Spotted SnapDragon 845
Some of the changes inside the Galaxy S9 are a little bit more predictable, such as the latest SnapDragon chipset from Qualcomm. Not only will Samsung have a power advantage if it uses the SnapDragon 845 it’s also going to have a commercial advantage thanks to a rumored period of exclusivity, as I reported earlier this week:
But the increased capability of the 845 will not be available to everyone in the first half of the year. The Galay S9 is expected to have a period of exclusivity where it will be the only handset that will carry the 845. After that period is up the volume of Galaxy S9 sales will likely preserve an effective monopoly until other manufacturers build up sufficient stock to go to market.
This follows a similar pattern from 2017, where the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus launched with exclusive access to the SnapDragon 835, which is now the de facto chip for many Android flagship handsets.
More thoughts on Samsung’s advantage here.
DJ Koh, president of mobile communications business at Samsung, introduces the new Samsung Galaxy S8. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Understanding Pixel 2 XL Screen Burn
Google’s investigation of the screen issues in its Pixel 2 XL continue. While the problems have been acknowledged and an investigation is under way, the biggest concern will be screen burn on the POLED display. David Katzmaier and Lynn La explain the issue and highlight what can be done:
In most cases, those static sections of screens don't linger as faint afterimages. But on the Pixel 2 XL, the faint lines of the notification bar and hotkey buttons still stuck around after the display was turned off overnight and after running a screen burn-in fix video. These factors suggest that this issue is more persistent than standard image retention, which usually disappears after some time.
Most of the time, this won't be a problem. But, best practice is to avoid keeping those static images up for long periods of time.
More at CNet, along with some practical advice on minimizing the risk.
Razer Joins The Smartphone Race
Joining the ranks of smartphone manufacturers this week was Razer. Leaning heavily on its pedigree with gamers, the US/Singapore company revealed the Razer Phone. Building on the acquisition of Nextbit, the Razer Phone could be seen as the Robin 2, but with a vastly increased specification list… 8 GB of RAM, THX certified forward facing dual speakers, and a 120 Hz IGZO LCD screen stand out:
…It comes with a 120Hz Ultramotion display. The increased refresh rate means no shuttering, no lag, and no motion blur. Meanwhile the marketing tag of ultra motion syncs the GPU signals to the refresh rates of the display, which creates a smoother image with no lag. It also adapts to circumstances in terms of refresh rates to extend battery life.
Sound is also a key part of Razer’s offering. The handset’s audio comes with Dolby Atmos, and in a first for a smartphone is certified by THX. The speakers are front facing stereo speakers. The speakers are mounted so you can hold the handset in the gaming orientation without blocking the speakers. To boost the sound each speaker also has a dedicated amplifier.
Unfortunately headphones are going to have to be plugged in to the USB-C port via a dongle adaptor, which is included in the retail packaging.
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