Huawei unveiled a new 5G processor for its mobile devices Friday, taking aim at competitors like Qualcomm and showing it will continue to bolster its chip technology amid political headwinds.
The Chinese tech giant showed off the new Kirin 990 5G chip at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. Huawei said the processor will power its upcoming flagship smartphone called the Mate 30, which will be released later this month in a bid to rival Apple's expected new iPhones.
Huawei's announcement highlights the company's ambitions to take control of its supply chain amid political pressure from the U.S. Earlier this year, Huawei was put on a U.S. entity list that limits its ability to buy and license technology from American companies. The Chinese firm currently relies on American businesses for components in its devices like laptops and smartphones.
The Kirin 990 is an all-in-one artificial intelligence and 5G chip, which is also available in a 4G version. Huawei said the 7 nanometer chips are faster and more energy efficient than rivals' 5G processors, like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855. Seven nanometer technology is the latest in the semiconductor industry and allows for smaller components that are more powerful and energy efficient than their predecessors.
"Kirin 990 reaffirms Huawei's chip and 5G ambition and will be an important factor in lowering the price of Huawei 5G devices," said Geoff Blaber, an analyst at CCS Insight, in an email to CNBC. "However, chipset progress does little to address the broader limitations caused by its U.S. entity listing. Qualcomm remains in pole position in taking 5G across a diverse range of devices and price points."
Huawei's Mate 30 smartphone will be unveiled at a September 19 event in Munich. But the launch could be marred by the fact that the U.S. entity list restrictions mean Huawei won't be able to license Google services. Huawei will look to use an open-source version of the Android operating system instead, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told CNBC last week. In addition, the company will still push ahead with an international launch of the device, the source said.
Tech companies like Huawei and Samsung are also increasingly developing more of their own chip technology to control costs and production amid slowing smartphone sales. Earlier this year, Apple bought Intel's wireless chip unit for $1 billion in a move analysts saw as a play to develop its own 5G chips.
5G wireless networks promise to speed up download times and enable devices to communicate more quickly between each other. So far, 5G's rollout has been limited in countries around the world. Samsung and Huawei, the two biggest smartphone sellers in the world, released their first 5G devices this year. Analysts expect Apple will release a 5G iPhone in 2020.
AirPods competitor
Huawei also released an updated version of its competitor to Apple's AirPods: the FreeBuds 3. The wireless earbuds will be powered by a new Huawei bluetooth chip called the Kirin A1.
Sales in Apple's wearables category which includes AirPods have surged in recent quarters, and Huawei looks like it wants a slice of that growth. The FreeBuds 3 will come in two colors: white and black. The company did not immediately disclose pricing and availability.
Google’s new Pixel 4 series is weeks away from becoming official and we’re seeing leaks pouring in from all corners of the internet. Just yesterday, we caught a glimpse of the Pixel 4 strutting its stuff in a short hands-on video.
Now, XDA-Developers has dug through the Android 10 source code to find evidence that the Pixel 4 series will indeed sport a 90Hz display. This could be a welcome change for Pixel users who have thus far been stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
According to the source code, developers will have an option to check if their apps run at 90Hz on the Pixel 4 phones. A comment in the Android 10 source code further reveals that a switch to toggle 90Hz “should only be available to P19 devices” (i.e. the 2019 Pixel phones).
A 90Hz refresh rate should enable smoother scrolling and UI transitions on the new Pixels compared to their predecessors (provided that the processor can keep up). Although the difference might not be immediately visible to the untrained eye, the overall experience of using apps should be more fluid on a 90Hz display. This is because 90Hz refreshes visuals 90 times per second compared to 60 times per second on 60Hz displays.
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Smartphone OEMs have been upping display refresh rates lately, with one of the most prominent examples out there being the OnePlus 7 Pro and its 90Hz display. Some devices, like the Asus ROG Phone 2 and Razer Phone 2, up the ante even further with a 120Hz display refresh rate.
Apart from a faster display refresh rate, the Pixel 4 series is expected to bump up the screen resolution as well. The smaller Pixel 4 is expected to feature a 2,280 x 1,080 resolution, compared to the Pixel 3’s 2,160 x 1,080 resolution. Meanwhile, the larger Pixel 4 XL could come with a 3,040 x 1,440 screen, up from Pixel 3 XL’s 2,960 x 1,440 resolution.
You can check out all the latest Pixel 4 rumors and leaks in our dedicated rumor hub at the previous link. Would you buy a phone purely for a higher refresh rate? Give us your thoughts below.
At last, Samsung is ready to unveil the refined Galaxy Fold. After an embarrassing initial rollout earlier this year that was plagued with multiple damaged review units, the company was forced to delay launching its foldable flagship. It went back to the engineering room to figure out how to make the handset more durable, and seems to have sorted out its issues, announcing in July that the Fold would be available in September. Well, here we are now in September at IFA 2019, and Samsung has finally given us our first hands-on with the redesigned device.
Samsung reps told us that three main changes were made here. First, caps were added to the top and bottom edges of the hinge to seal off gaps that previously might have allowed specks of dust to get in the mechanism. Particles of debris or dirt were potentially jamming the hinge and causing it to break, so this prevents that from happening.
Previous damage was also caused by people peeling off what looked like a screen protector on the display, but that was actually a protective polymer layer on the screen. Because it didn't fully cover the entire 7.3-inch folding display, there were edges that people could pick at. With the redesign, this layer now extends beyond and tucks under the bezel so there aren't bits exposed.
The company also added layers of metal under the display to strengthen its protection and hopefully make it so that you wouldn't be able to feel machinery beneath the screen when you poke at it. Certainly, during our hands-on, the Fold seemed sturdier than before. It felt less like a prototype and more like a finished product ready for store shelves, and opening and closing the hinge still felt as satisfying as before. If anything, the reinforcements and a more-resounding "thunk" when the Fold locked into place made the opening and closing experience feel even more rewarding.
With the updates, the Fold also locks into place more rigidly than before, and it's almost completely 180-degrees flat when open. This stronger lock also makes the device less floppy when you're holding the open phone with one hand.
In addition to these structural improvements, Samsung also managed to reduce the gap between the Fold's hinge and body so it isn't as thick when closed as it was before. There still is a gap there, and it's still a noticeable size, but at least there's been some progress in minimizing it. Speaking of flaws that are still there, the Fold's display still has a prominent crease running down the middle. But like we said when we first checked out the foldable, this is easy enough to ignore.
Beyond those hardware changes, nothing else is new on the Galaxy Fold. It still features the same continuity software that lets apps extend automatically to make full use of the 7.3-inch screen when you unfold the phone. The outside display is still the same tiny 4.6-inch panel as before, which feels as antiquated as always. Samsung said nothing else has changed, which means presumably the screen resolutions, battery size and camera setup are the same too.
The Fold will be available in Korea starting tomorrow for 2,398,000 Won, and will arrive in Germany, the UK and Singapore on Sept. 17th. 5G versions will be available in select markets, including Korea. As for those of us stateside eagerly awaiting the Fold's arrival, Samsung said it will hit the US "in the coming weeks."
Catch up on all the latest news from IFA 2019 here!
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
At last, Samsung is ready to unveil the refined Galaxy Fold. After an embarrassing initial rollout earlier this year that was plagued with multiple damaged review units, the company was forced to delay launching its foldable flagship. It went back to the engineering room to figure out how to make the handset more durable, and seems to have sorted out its issues, announcing in July that the Fold would be available in September. Well, here we are now in September at IFA 2019, and Samsung has finally given us our first hands-on with the redesigned device.
Samsung reps told us that three main changes were made here. First, caps were added to the top and bottom edges of the hinge to seal off gaps that previously might have allowed specks of dust to get in the mechanism. Particles of debris or dirt were potentially jamming the hinge and causing it to break, so this prevents that from happening.
Previous damage was also caused by people peeling off what looked like a screen protector on the display, but that was actually a protective polymer layer on the screen. Because it didn't fully cover the entire 7.3-inch folding display, there were edges that people could pick at. With the redesign, this layer now extends beyond and tucks under the bezel so there aren't bits exposed.
The company also added layers of metal under the display to strengthen its protection and hopefully make it so that you wouldn't be able to feel machinery beneath the screen when you poke at it. Certainly, during our hands-on, the Fold seemed sturdier than before. It felt less like a prototype and more like a finished product ready for store shelves, and opening and closing the hinge still felt as satisfying as before. If anything, the reinforcements and a more-resounding "thunk" when the Fold locked into place made the opening and closing experience feel even more rewarding.
With the updates, the Fold also locks into place more rigidly than before, and it's almost completely 180-degrees flat when open. This stronger lock also makes the device less floppy when you're holding the open phone with one hand.
In addition to these structural improvements, Samsung also managed to reduce the gap between the Fold's hinge and body so it isn't as thick when closed as it was before. There still is a gap there, and it's still a noticeable size, but at least there's been some progress in minimizing it. Speaking of flaws that are still there, the Fold's display still has a prominent crease running down the middle. But like we said when we first checked out the foldable, this is easy enough to ignore.
Beyond those hardware changes, nothing else is new on the Galaxy Fold. It still features the same continuity software that lets apps extend automatically to make full use of the 7.3-inch screen when you unfold the phone. The outside display is still the same tiny 4.6-inch panel as before, which feels as antiquated as always. Samsung said nothing else has changed, which means presumably the screen resolutions, battery size and camera setup are the same too.
The Fold will be available in Korea starting tomorrow for 2,398,000 Won, and will arrive in Germany, the UK and Singapore on Sept. 17th. 5G versions will be available in select markets, including Korea. As for those of us stateside eagerly awaiting the Fold's arrival, Samsung said it will hit the US "in the coming weeks."
Catch up on all the latest news from IFA 2019 here!
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
At 10am Pacific on September 10, Apple will host its annual iPhone event in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple's campus in Cupertino, Calif. We're expecting new iPhones and a new Apple Watch to be sure, and as has been the case for recent Apple launches, there have been reliable leaks of details about both.
With the event less than a week away, let's look at what we know so far—what will be different about the new iPhones? What features are coming to the Apple Watch? And will Apple actually deliver a "one more thing" announcement on top of the usual this time?
We're doubtful about really big surprises at this point. The days of surprising revelations seem to be over; the company has settled into a fairly predictable product-release schedule, and most major details about new products—be they hardware or software—tend to show up in reports in tech and business publications around the Web.
That said, sifting through all the bad reports to find the reliable ones can be a real task. So can framing each report in terms of how likely it is to come to pass. That's what we've tried to do here. Let's start with the iPhone.
Once again, three new iPhones
The new iPhones are all about the cameras. But let's start with the names. A Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with Apple's plans says that three iPhones will again launch. They'll be direct successors to each of the 2018 phones—the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR.
The two high-end phones—follow-ups to the XS and XS Max—will carry the "Pro" label, a la the iPad Pro or MacBook Pro. We expect the sizes and basic form factors to stay pretty close to the same, so "iPhone Pro" and "iPhone Pro Max" wouldn't be surprising. Not as much is known about the name of the XR replacement, but iPhone 11 is certainly possible. One other possibility—and this is pure speculation based on past Apple naming conventions—is that the company might simply rebrand that model as the "iPhone."
Above all else, the upgrades this year are about cameras. The flagship feature, probably exclusive to the iPhone Pro models, will be greatly improved optical zoom and low-light photography, as well as the capability to take much wider-angle photos. Video recording is also likely to improve.
Apple will introduce a completely different camera array on the back, and this will probably represent the biggest change to the devices' appearance apart from the logo change we'll get into momentarily. That means a triple-camera lens system for the Pro models and a dual-camera system for the cheaper model. It will be the first time every iPhone Apple introduces in a given year will come with optical zoom, and it seems possible that Apple will include an OLED in all three models for the first time, not just the two flagships.
Below: The iPhone XS Max from our review last year. Expect a very different camera array and a differently positioned logo. But the 2019 iPhone flagship will otherwise be similar.
The iPhone XS Max.
Samuel Axon
The back of the iPhone XS Max.
Samuel Axon
The bottom of the iPhone XS Max.
The top of the iPhone XS Max.
Samuel Axon
Another view of the iPhone XS Max.
Samuel Axon
The rear camera system on the iPhone XS Max.
Samuel Axon
You can also expect this year's set of announcements to herald the death of 3D Touch, a power-user feature that Apple introduced in earlier iPhones to allow for nuanced, contextual behaviors beyond a simple tap. Many users aren't even aware of some of the powerful things you can do with 3D Touch, and Apple already dropped it from the iPad Air this year and the iPhone XR before that. In its place is Haptic Touch, a technique that is a little less efficient for some use cases in that it involves holding down on a UI element for a period of time.
Other planned improvements include a wider-angle Face ID camera for easier facial authentication, better water resistance, a faster A13 processor, and the ability to wirelessly charge AirPods directly from your phone—something Samsung already introduced with much fanfare in its phones.
Don't expect 5G in Apple's iPhones this year; Qualcomm's current 5G modems aren't ready for iPhone primetime, and Apple ultimately wants to make its own. But 5G will likely be the headlining feature in 2020's iPhones.
This last bit hardly counts as a major feature, but it is a departure from convention: several alleged leaks from the supply line and the iPhone case ecosystem, collected and shared by 9to5Mac, indicate that Apple may move the location of the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone this year. Since the very first iPhone, the logo has been centered in the top half of the phone's back. Many in those two communities (the supply line and case-makers) are moving forward with either the knowledge or the assumption that Apple will move to the very center of the back—that is, not just centered horizontally but vertically as well.
Apple Watch series 5—or something, anyway
Little is known about what Apple has planned for this year's Apple Watch, but that might be because the company doesn't have much planned at all. Don't worry—watchOS 6, which will launch alongside any new Watch, is a major upgrade. But in terms of hardware, all we know so far is that Apple's own software beta releases include images that indicate the Watch will be offered in titanium and ceramic materials, which are not currently offered.
Below: Images of the Apple Watch series 4 from our review last year. A new Watch is not likely to be radically different.
A 40mm Apple Watch Series 4 with the new Infograph Modular watch face.
Valentina Palladino
The digital crown now has an electrode on its flat edge.
Valentina Palladino
The mic was moved, and the speaker has been improved so sound coming from the Watch is louder and clearer.
Valentina Palladino
The new Infograph watch face holds up to eight complications.
Valentina Palladino
The underside now has an electrode circle for measuring ECG readings, in addition to the optical heart-rate monitor.
Valentina Palladino
A 40mm Series 4 next to a 38mm Series 3.
Valentina Palladino
The screen area is about 30% larger on the Series 4.
Valentina Palladino
The backs on both Watches are quite different thanks to the inclusion of the electrodes on the Series 4.
Valentina Palladino
Even the red LTE dot on the Series 3 is gone now, replaced by a thin red circle.
Valentina Palladino
A side-by-side comparison shows the slight updates to the UI in watchOS 5—rounder, bigger graphics that use more of that extra screen space.
Valentina Palladino
The bezels are clearly defined when using some watch faces like the new vapor face.
Valentina Palladino
All old bands will work on Series 4 Watches—38mm bands fit on 40mm devices, and 42mm bands fit on 44mm devices.
Valentina Palladino
The Series 4 has the same estimated battery life as the Series 3 (up to 18 hours).
Valentina Palladino
It's even possible that Apple will not actually position this as an Apple Watch series 5. It may instead keep the series 4 nomenclature and simply offer these new materials as options for the existing Watch. For better or worse, this is one of the big mysteries of this year's event. We'll have to wait and see.
iOS 13, macOS Catalina, watchOS 6—all the OSes
While Apple already detailed its slate of operating system updates earlier this year, the company will announce launch dates for many, if not all, of them at the September 10 event. Historically, iOS and watchOS updates have typically gone out to the public within a week or so of the event, with macOS following only a few days later.
We won't get into too much detail about these new releases here. We already covered them when they were first announced at Apple's developer conference in June—and we'll have reviews for both iOS 13 and macOS Catalina not too long after they launch to the public.
But the short version is that iOS 13 brings a Mojave-like Dark Mode to iOS devices, as well as a new branch of iOS called iPadOS with new power-user features for Apple's tablets. Catalina's flagship feature will be Catalyst—the introduction of iPad apps to the Mac. Catalina will also include some major new changes to which apps will run on macOS and under what conditions: 32-bit apps will be deprecated completely, and app-signing processes for third-party developers will be a focus. Finally, watchOS 6 will bring an on-Watch App Store, menstrual-cycle tracking, and activity trends for following fitness outcomes over time.
Maybe: Apple TV 4K
This rumor just broke Wednesday: Apple may be close to releasing a refresh of its Apple TV 4K streaming media box for the home theater. The updated version would have either Apple's A12 or A12X CPU—the same included in the 2018 iPhones or in the 2018 iPad Pro, in the case of the A12X. The A12X (or even the A12) would dovetail nicely with Apple's plans to launch Apple Arcade, its games subscription service.
Below: Photos of the Apple TV 4K from our 2017 review.
The Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV side by side. Can you tell the difference?
From the bottom, you can see the Apple TV 4K has ventilation, where its predecessor does not.
The Apple TV 4K (left) removes the USB-C port.
The Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV with their remotes.
In fact, we don't see much need for improvement regarding performance as it pertains to any other function of the Apple TV 4K besides games; the current model performs admirably with all of its supported streaming content, and its user interface is generally quite zippy. But if the focus is on games, then Apple needs to replace the current remote, which has proven unpopular with many users and a serious limitation to the complexity of games viable on the platform.
The Apple TV 4K does support more traditional wireless gaming controllers from third parties like SteelSeries, but we found when interviewing developers that not including an optimal gaming controller right in the box is one of the main reasons the Apple TV 4K hasn't taken off as a gaming device.
Below: Photos of the Apple TV 4K's remote from our 2017 review.
The Apple TV 4K remote keeps the same touch-oriented design, with a white border around the menu button to help you stay oriented.
Samuel Axon
The back of the Apple TV 4K remote.
The side of the Apple TV 4K remote.
The top of the Apple TV 4K remote.
The bottom of the Apple TV 4K remote; it charges with an included cable.
The leak didn't give a timeline, so even if it's real, this product might come later. But given that the Apple TV 4K shares a lot in common with the iPhone in terms of both CPU architecture and operating system (the Apple TV's tvOS is based on the iPhone's iOS), and considering that the current Apple TV model was announced at the iPhone event in 2017, it wouldn't be out of left field for Apple to reveal the new streaming box at Tuesday's event.
Probably not just yet: New iPads, AirPods, or Macs
There have been a plethora of reliable reports about Apple's future Mac and iPad plans, including the imminent arrival of a 16-inch MacBook Pro that would be the first to make major design changes to the current Apple laptop lineup; internals refreshes for the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Air lines; the already announced Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR; and refreshed iPad Pros and entry-level iPads.
Below: Photos of the new Mac Pro from our hands-on earlier this year.
This is the new Mac Pro.
Samuel Axon
And here's a rear view.
Samuel Axon
Let's zoom in to see some of the ports in this configuration.
Samuel Axon
There's more to see at the bottom.
Samuel Axon
On top, you'll notice a couple more ports, a power button, and this handle. When you grab it, you can twist and pull the entire cover off in one motion for 360-degree access to the internals.
Samuel Axon
This is what the frame looks like with nothing in it.
Samuel Axon
These stands can optionally be replaced with wheels.
Samuel Axon
The cheese-grater design serves a cooling function, but it's also a deliberate nod to the past.
Samuel Axon
OK, from this angle, it really does look like an ultra-shiny cheese grater.
Samuel Axon
While some of these products are surely not far around the corner, we don't expect Apple to announce them next week. The company has established a fairly predictable cadence in recent years, and in that cadence, the focus of the September event is iPhones. Apple will likely release minor refreshes to the Mac lineup (CPU bumps and the like) without event fanfare, and major updates like the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro redesign will probably come in another event held in October. We'll explore those products more in the coming weeks.
Apple is also working on new AirPods that would feature noise cancelling and water resistance, according to multiple reports from multiple sources, including the aforementioned Bloomberg article. But it's likely they won't be ready to ship this September, and they might even slip into next year. Still, the AirPods could at least be revealed next week rather than in an October event if Apple feels they are ready to showcase.
