Comparison: Google Pixel 3 XL vs Apple iPhone XS Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9
This week, Google launched its Pixel 3 smartphones. With this, this year’s flagship devices of Google, Apple and Samsung have been showcased. And if you were waiting to see the Google Pixel 3 lineup before you treat yourself with a good smartphone, then we are here to help. Here’s our comparison of Google Pixel 3 XL, iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 to help you decide which one is the perfect buy for you:
Display
Google Pixel 3 XL: 6.3-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display
Apple iPhone XS Max: 6.5-inch OLED HDR Super Retina display
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity screen with Quad HD+ resolution
Processor
Google Pixel 3 XL: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Apple iPhone XS Max: A12 Bionic processor
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Primary camera
Google Pixel 3 XL: 12.2MP dual pixel single rear camera with a 76-degree field-of-view
Apple iPhone XS Max: 12MP wide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Dual rear cameras with 12MP telephoto and wide angle sensors
Selfie camera
Google Pixel 3 XL: 8MP wide-angle sensor with 97-degree field of view and fixed focus coupled with an 8MP secondary sensor with 75-degree field-of-view
Apple iPhone XS Max: 7MP TrueDepth camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 8MP autofocus camera
RAM and storage
Google Pixel 3 XL: 4GB RAM clubbed with 64GB/256GB inbuilt storage
Apple iPhone XS Max: Three storage options — 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6GB RAM/128GB onboard storage and 8GB RAM/512GB internal storage
Support for microSD card
Google Pixel 3 XL: No microSD card slot
Apple iPhone XS Max: No microSD card slot
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Up to 512GB
Battery
Google Pixel 3 XL: 3,430mAh
Apple iPhone XS Max: Lasts up to one and a half hours longer than iPhone X.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 4,000mAh
Operating system
Google Pixel 3 XL: Android 9.0 Pie
Apple iPhone XS Max: iOS 12
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Android 8.1 Oreo
Price
Google Pixel 3 XL: The 64GB storage variant costs Rs 83,000 and the 256GB version bears a price tag of Rs 92,000.
Apple iPhone XS Max: The 64GB storage variant costs Rs 1,09,900, 256GB variant is available at Rs 1,24,900 and 512GB variant is priced at Rs 1,44,900.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: The 6GB RAM/128GB internal storage version costs Rs 67,900 and the 8GB RAM/512GB storage variant is priced at Rs 84,900.
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Sony Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Compact start receiving Android 9.0 Pie update: Report
Sony had earlier announced that Android 9.0 Pie is scheduled to come to its Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Premium, XZ2 Compact, XZ Premium, XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact smartphones in November. However, it has been reported that the latest Android update has already started rolling out to Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact smartphones.
Users of the two smartphones in Europe started reporting on a thread on Reddit about the Android 9.0 Pie update coming to Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact. And now, users in the United States have also spotted the update. Those you don’t get the notification can check for it manually in the Settings of their smartphones, provided they live in either Europe or the United States. The arrival of the update to Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact was first spotted by Xperia blog.
The October security also comes with the Android 9.0 Pie update to Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact.
Now that the Android 9.0 Pie update has come to the two Sony smartphones ahead of time, we can also expect it to come soon to the rest of the smartphones from the company that are compatible.
Other smartphones from Sony that are scheduled to get the update in November are Xperia XZ2 Premium, XZ Premium, XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. Sony Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra, and Xperia XA2 Plus can expect to get the latest Android update on their smartphones by 2019.
If you have one among the Sony Xperia XZ2 or Xperia XZ2 Compact mobile phones, then we recommend you to install it over Wi-Fi as it is over 1GB in size. Also it is preferable to have at least 80% battery in your phone before you begin installing the update.
To recall, Sony Xperia XZ2 sports a 5.70-inch touchscreen display and is powered by Snapdragon 845 processor clubbed with 4GB of RAM. Other features of the smartphone include 64GB of storage, a microSD card slot of 400GB capacity, a 19MP primary camera and a 5MP front facing snapper. The smartphone houses a 3180mAh battery. On the other hand, Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact features a 5.00-inch touchscreen display and packs a 2780mAh battery.
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Apple iPhone X available at a discount of Rs 30,532 on Paytm Mall
If you have been planning to change your smartphone, no other time would have been better. While we have already told you about the attractive smartphone deals on Flipkart and Amazon, if you want to buy the iPhone X, you should head to Paytm Mall right away. As a part of Paytm Mall Maha Cashback sale, the 64GB storage variant of iPhone X that is priced at Rs 95,000, is being sold at a discounted price of Rs 89,350. So that brings down the price of Apple’s last year’s flagship by Rs 6,032.
Additionally, Paytm all is offering customers a cashback of Rs 22,000 on using the promocode MOBFESTIVE22K. On using the promocode, the effective cost of the iPhone X comes down to Rs 67,358.
That’s not all. Buyers will also get a discount of Rs 2,500 if they pay for the smartphone using an ICICI Bank credit or debit card. On doing this, the cost of the smartphone further comes down to Rs 64,858.
The same offers are also valid on the 256GB storage version of iPhone X which bears a price tag of Rs 1,08,930.
The customers will get the cashback promised by the website in their Paytm wallets within 24 hours of their new smartphone getting shipped.
So if you have been one among the Apple fans who were disappointed last month with three rather costly iPhones being added to Apple’s lineup, this may be the right deal for you.
Apple’s iPhone X is also available on a discounted price on Amazon India’s website as a part of its Great Indian Festival sale. While the 64GB storage version of the smartphone can be picked up from Amazon at Rs 69,999, the 256GB storage variant can be bought at Rs 1,06,704. Flipkart is also offering the smartphone in its Big Billion Days sale, but the deals available on Amazon India and Paytm Mall are far better.
But in case you miss the chance of buying the smartphone from either, you can still pick it from Flipkart at a reduced price. On Flipkart, the 64GB storage variant of iPhone X costs Rs 79,999, the 256GB storage version is being sold at Rs 98,999.
To recall, iPhone X sports an edge to edge 5.8-inch SuperRetina OLED display and is powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic chipset. On the camera front, there are 12MP wide-angle and telephoto rear cameras and a 7MP selfie camera. It is the first ever iPhone to support FaceID and it comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
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OnePlus 6T to come with Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB RAM and Android 9.0 Pie: Report
As its launch on October 30 approaches, the rumour mill about the much awaited OnePlus 6T cannot seem to end. The company yesterday confirmed that OnePlus 6T will sport an in-display fingerprint sensor, and today, it has been tipped by Roland Quandt of WinFuture.de that that the smartphone has hit Geekbench. He further said that it has been revealed that OnePlus 6T will be powered by Snapdragon 845 processor clubbed with 8GB RAM and run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
A report on WinFuture.de also the image of OnePlus 6T’s Geekbench test. It is worth noting that the screenshot of the Geekbench test that has been shared does not have OnePlus 6T’s name on it and instead says FS FS P8801. According to the report, this is OnePlus 6T has not been tested on Geekbench with its official marketing name and FS FS P8801 is the name that the device has been given. Using a false name is not unusual the company, as prior to its launch, OnePlus 6 was found under the name NS NS P7819 on Geekbench. But then, what has been revealed by the Geekbench test is hardly anything new. Since OnePlus 6 was powered by Snapdragon 845 — which still is the most powerful processor in the market, nobody was really expecting any other processor to be present on the company’s upcoming device. Same is the case with 8GB RAM. The presence of Android 9.0 Pie is nowhere close to being shocking too since OnePlus is known to launch its smartphones with the latest Android version and also because the company rolled out the latest update to OnePlus 6 just a few weeks back. Besides the latest update and the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor, what we do know for sure is that OnePlus 6T would replace its 3.5mm headphone jack with a Type-C port. Also, it would not be dust or water resistant as it will come without an IP rating and there will be no support for wireless charging. The smartphone is expected to feature a 6.4-inch Optic AMOLED full-HD+ display and will house a 3,700mAh battery. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.OnePlus 6T has hit Geekbench, running a Snapdragon 845, 8 GB RAM and Android 9.0 as expected #OnePlus6T: https://t.co/EfoqE8Fuk6
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) October 12, 2018
Huawei Mate 20 Pro pricing and specifications leaked ahead of launch
Huawei’s next upcoming flagship smartphone — Mate 20 Pro — is all set to launch in London on October 16. And just before its launch, the specifications and pricing details of Huawei Mate 20 Pro have been leaked. Besides Huawei Mate 20 Pro, the company will also be launching its Mate 20 and Mate 20 gaming phone.
Speaking of Huawei Mate 20 Pro, the smartphone is expected to launch in 6GB and 8GB RAM variants and will come in two storage options — 256GB and 512GB. A report in WinFuture.de reveals that smartphone will feature a 6.39-inch QHD+ OLED display and will be powered by HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor that will be clubbed with Mali-G72 GPU. The smartphone will be available in the two RAM and storage options that we mentioned earlier and will come with a ‘Nano Memory Card’ format to hold a microSD card of up to 256GB.
It will reportedly feature an in-display fingerprint scanner and like Huawei P20 Pro, the smartphone will sport a triple rear camera setup. The triple cameras at the back could come with a 40MP primary sensor, a 20MP secondary sensor and an 8MP ultra wide angle sensor. For selfies and video calls, Huawei Mate 20 Pro is expected to come with a 24MP front facing snapper coupled with a Vertical Surface Emitting Laser module. A VSEL module is said to enable Apple’s Face ID like 3D facial recognition on the device.
The rear cameras of the smartphone will reportedly come with 5x optical zoom and will be able to capture ultra-macro shots even from a distance of 2.5cm.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro mobile will house a 4,200mAh battery and come with SuperCharge technology and 40W charger. The battery of the smartphone is said to go from 0 to 70% with just 30 minutes of charge time. The upcoming handset from Huawei will also support wireless charging and will be IP68 certified — which makes them water and dust resistant. The smartphone will reportedly run Android 9.0 Pie skinned with EMUI 9.0 and will be available four colour options: Black, Blue, Green and Twilight.
The report in WinFuture.de did not reveal the pricing, but Roland Quandt — who writes for the website — has tweeted that the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant of the device will bear a price tag of GBP 899. However, there is no word on the pricing of the other variant. Image courtesy: WinFuture.de For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.One more thing to add: Huawei Mate 20 Pro 6/128 GB costs 899 GBP unlocked in UK. https://t.co/FyNepfw508
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) October 11, 2018
Samsung’s foldable phone is both a mobile and a tablet
Speculations and rumours about Samsung’s first foldable smartphone have been surfacing online for months now. Earlier this year, the company’s mobile division CEO DJ Koh had said that the much talked about smartphone could arrive in November this year. Amid the leaks of the smartphone that are doing rounds, Koh has confirmed some details of the much talked about device.
The foldable device by Samsung will be able to work as a tablet that can be folded into a smartphone to fit into the user’s pocket, Koh revealed. By doing this, the company would be ensuring that users can multitask with the device without compromising on its portability.
In an interview to CNET, CEO DJ Koh said that Samsung wants to make a foldable phone only when it is “really meaningful to our customer”. He further said that, “If the user experience is not up to my standard, I don’t want to deliver those kind of products.”
Speaking more on the device, CEO DJ Koh also said that Samsung’s foldable smartphone is not a “gimmick product” that disappears just six to nine months after being launched. And unlike Samsung Galaxy Round that was only sold in its home country, the company’s foldable smartphone will be made available in global markets.
While he didn’t talk about the specifications of the upcoming device, Koh did say that a large screen is important in smartphones. He recalled how Samsung’s Note series inspired the likes of Apple and Google to come up with larger screened smartphones and suggested that the upcoming foldable smartphone would pave the way for devices whose displays are more than 6.5-inches.
Addressing the fact that not everyone may want a smartphone with such a big screen, Koh went on to say, “Possibly when we start selling the foldable phone, it may be a niche market, but definitely, it will expand. I’m positive that we do need a foldable phone.”
Samsung’s DJ Koh spoke about the upcoming foldable smartphone of the company at the launch of Galaxy A9 (2018). Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is the first smartphone ever to come with four cameras on its back panel. The newly launched smartphone by Samsung is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and comes in 6GB and 8GB RAM variants. The device has support for Bixby and Samsung Pay.
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[Video] Nokia 3.1 Plus Unboxing, First Impressions & Camera Shots
![[Video] Nokia 3.1 Plus Unboxing, First Impressions & Camera Shots](https://www.gadgetbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/maxresdefault-768x432.jpg "[Video] Nokia 3.1 Plus Unboxing, First Impressions & Camera Shots")
Nokia 3.1 Plus Unboxing, First Impressions and Camera Shots. Yes the Nokia 3.1 Plus is here, it sports a 6-inch FHD+ screen, dual rear camera setup, 3GB RAM and 32GB memory. This is expandable using a microSD card by up to 400GB. It also supports dual nano SIMS. Wi-Fi, 4G and micro USB charging is supported.
India Price: Rs 11,499 (3GB Ram + 32GB Storage)
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Apple IDs are being used by thieves to steal money: Report
If you own an Apple product, here is something you must know about. China’s leading payment services Alipay and WeChat Pay have issued warnings that compromised Apple IDs are being being used by thieves to make purchases with users’ accounts.
According to Reuters, Alipay has posted a warning titled ‘security tips about Apple phones.’ The company clearly states in the warning that it has been trying to get in touch with Apple to solve the issue. The parent company of WeChat Pay — Tencent — has also spoken about similar issues to Bloomberg.
According to Bloomberg, Alipay has said that, “Since Apple hasn’t resolved this issue, users who’ve linked their Apple ID to any payments method, including Alipay, WePay, or credit cards, may be vulnerable to theft.”
As of now, there is no clarity on how much money has been lost because of the issue or how widespread it is. A report in Reuters further says according to a Chinese state media outlet has said that some losses were even as high as $290. A source has also confirmed that Apple will be refunding the money that was spent fraudulently because of the issue.
Although Apple is being called out by Alipay and WeChat Pay, right now, it cannot be said for sure if the issue is arising because of a flaw in Cupertino-based technology company’s ID system.
However, it can be possible that Apple ID credentials have been stolen and are being used by thieves to log in to Apple accounts to make purchases with payment method that has been linked to them. And Alipay and WeChat Pay are just two of many payment methods that can be linked.
An official from Apple has said that the company has always encouraged its customers to protect their accounts with strong passwords and by enabling two-factor authentication.
Although Alipay has now removed its post on social media in which it called out Apple, word about it has already spread globally.
But it is worth noting that this issue points towards a big problem faced by technology giants like Apple. They don’t only have to secure their own apps and websites, they also need to take care of common accounts and passwords getting leaked from other sources.
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Here’s why your electronics and smart wearables are set to get more expensive
In an attempt to stop the rupee from weakening more against the US dollar, India has said that it will be increasing the import tariffs on various electronics and communication devices. This is the second move that has been announced in last two weeks and by reducing import barriers, the government eyes to reduce the import of “non-essential” items.
The latest set of changes in tariffs do increase the possibility of increasing trade tensions with the United States, China and other countries from where electronics and communication devices are regularly imported. Companies like Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Ericsson and ZTE would be hurt the most by the new set of changes.
As we mentioned earlier, the step is being taken to restrict the slide of Rupee against US dollar — which have been more than 14% this year. One among the major reasons for the fall of the value of Rupee against US Dollar is the hike in the price of crude oil. Importing crude oil has become a way more expensive affair than what it was earlier. Coupled with various domestic factors, it has led to the slide of Rupee against UD Dollar.
The Indian government has also listed a number of items that can be impacted with the import tariff increase. These include smart wearables, ethernet cables, Voice over Internet Protocol equipment and phones, and more.
Neil Shah of Counterpoint pointed out another effect of the rise in import tariff as he told Reuters that besides foreign technology giants, Indian telecom companies could also be potentially be hurt by the move. This includes Reliance Jio, Idea and Bharti Airtel.
According to Reuters, Shah said, “This will slow down the roll out of high-speed broadband which uses optical fiber and LTE networks.” He also added that domestic telecom equipment makers like Tata Teleservices could benefit from the move.
The move promoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s ‘Make in India’ program. In December last year, India increased the import tax on mobile phones and televisions and in February this year, 40 more items joined the list.
Prior to the announcement, last month import tax was increased on 19 “non-essential items.” These items included refrigerators, footwear, air conditioners, etc.
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OnePlus 6T would sport this in-display fingerprint sensor
OnePlus recently confirmed that it will be launching its flagship OnePlus 6T on October 30. And one among the most talked-about and awaited features of the device is its in-display fingerprint sensor. So instead of having the fingerprint sensor on the back panel like previous models, OnePlus 6T’s fingerprint sensor will be beneath its screen — like the one we saw on various devices from Oppo and Vivo this year.
Currently there only a couple of ways to have this implemented and the company has confirmed the method they will be opting for. In-display scanners are commonly either ultrasonic or optical. While ultrasonic scanners use ultrasound to create a 3D image of your finger, optical scanners light up the screen and reflect the light off your finger.
It is worth noting that optical fingerprint scanners are usually cheaper as compared to a capacitive or advanced ultrasonic fingerprint scanners. Furthermore, optical fingerprint scanners are also less secure than the ones which have been developed more recently as the fingerprint is captured in the form of a 2D image by the image sensor. The 2D image is later used to analyse the prints on the finger. On the upside, optical fingerprint sensors are supposed to offer faster fingerprint recognition than ultrasonic — which captures a more 3D image on the system using ridges and pores on the user’s finger.
Coming back to OnePlus 6T, the company has confirmed that it will be using an optical fingerprint scanner in the flagship smartphone.
The company made the announcement via its official Weibo account where it said that OnePlus 6T would be launched with “light-sensitive” in-display fingerprint sensor.
We have to say that we are not surprised by this announcement as Oppo and Vivo have also been using optical technology for the in-display fingerprint sensors on their devices. For those who are unaware, Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus have the same parent company — BBK Electronics. So we can assume that the company is using the in-display fingerprint sensor we saw in Vivo Nex earlier this year, however, we expect it to come with some software changes.
Apart from a fingerprint scanner, OnePlus 6T will also come with the face unlock technology. Other likely specifications of OnePlus 6T is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB/256B of internal storage and Android Pie. OnePlus 6T will also sport a waterdrop notch on its display.
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