Top stories of 2021: Q3
Welcome to our recap of the top news articles of 2021. This is Q3, you can also take a look at the top stories of Q1, Q2 and Q4.
We're into Q3, where a lot of the biggest phones of the year are unveiled. Among them are the iPhone 13 series, Samsung's foldable Flip3 and Fold3 and Huawei's P50.
Samsung made big waves in August with the Galaxy Z Flip3, Z Fold3, and the Galaxy Watch4 series. The pair of foldables both boasted 120Hz displays and were the first in this segment to be fully water-proof. The announcement of the 5nm Exynos W920 chipset helped the new Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic to be faster and smarter than their predecessors and to run Google's WearOS.
Apple's iPhone 13 series came out. This time the Pro's were equal in smarts - bringing 120Hz variable refresh rate screens, bigger main cameras, and autofocusing ultrawides. All four models got bigger batteries and smaller notches than their predecessors.
A number of other high-profile announcements came in Q3. Vivo's X70 and X70 Pro (and Pro+), Huawei's P50 and P50 Pro, the Infinix Zero X, X Pro, and Z Neo. The GT moniker made it big in Q3 as well - the Poco X3 GT, F3 GT, and Realme's GT Master, Master Explorer and Neo2.
Next up, Q4.
Xiaomi Mix 4 debuts: under-display camera, Snapdragon 888+ and 120W charging
Its camera under panel (CUP) packs a 20MP selfie shooter behind 400ppi.
TEST: Is the Nokia 808 PureView's camera any good in 2021?
The new sensor size champ takes on the legendary PureView.
The Infinix Concept Phone 2021 with its 160W charger are in for testing
The maker promises that the battery can go from 0% to 100% in just 10 minutes - we will put that to the test.
All iPhone 13 color and storage options revealed by Ukranian retailer
The iPhone 13 and 13 mini will come in six colors while the Pro models will be offered in four.
Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max leaks in renders showing no notch and no camera bump
This is the iPhone 14 that's supposed to be launching a year from now, that's not a typo.
Leaked photos show an Infinix phone with an 108MP main camera, 5x periscope
The first time we saw a periscope on an Infinix was the concept phone that demonstrated the company's 160W fast charging system.
Infinix Zero X, X Pro and Z Neo unveiled with periscope cameras
All three are powered by the Helio G95 chipset and have high refresh rate screens - a 120Hz AMOLED in the case of the Pro and vanilla models.
Qualcomm announces Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders with Snapdragon 888 and 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen
The phone will come with a pair of Qualcomm-tuned earbuds, bumper case, and the phone is curated with all of Qualcomm’s technologies.
4G Huawei phone with 66W charging certified by 3C - possibly the Huawei P50
It could also be the Huawei Nova 9, though that seems less likely.
Samsung Galaxy M52 5G full specs revealed: Snapdragon 778G at the helm
It will have three cameras on the back, 6.7” Super AMOLED screen on the front.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G debuts with Dimensity 1200 AI SoC, 50MP OIS main cam and 65W Warp Charge
OnePlus is looking to shake up the midrange segment with its latest Nord phone.
Oppo A16 goes official with Helio G35 and 5,000 mAh battery
It packs a 6.52" screen and features a triple camera setup.
Helio G96 chipset unveiled with 108MP camera and 120 Hz display support, G88 follows
The two are not strict upgrades over the G95 and G85, but they do have better display and camera support.
vivo S10 and S10 Pro arrive with 44MP selfie cameras and Dimensity 1100 chipsets
The Pro model brings a 108MP ISOCELL HM2 main sensor.
Poco X3 GT announced with Gorilla Glass Victus display and Dimensity 1100 chipset
It's a rebadge of the China-exclusive Redmi Note 10 Pro.
Oppo Reno6 4G announced with Snapdragon 720G and 44MP selfie camera
It's already up for purchase in Indonesia.
Oppo Watch 2 unveiled with Wear 4100 chipset, 42mm and 46mm sizes available with eSIM
The watch maintains its rectangular design with a 3D AMOLED display on the front. It is water resistant and can last up to 4 days on a charge.
MediaTek Kompanio 1300T chipset unveiled: a Dimensity 1200 for tablets
The first tablets with the 1300T chipset will be arrive in the next couple of months.
Nokia XR20 is a rugged 5G phone with 4 years of updates
With MIL-STD810H, the XR20 can withstand drops of 1.8m and water up to a meter and a half.
Xiaomi unveils 27" 165Hz gaming monitor, Wi-Fi 6 router, a new scooter and an air fryer
Xiaomi is expanding its selection of smart home gadgets available in Europe.
Gorilla Glass with DX and DX+ will protect the camera lenses of your next flagship
Bringing improvements to optics and scratch resistance.
Poco F3 GT announced with Dimensity 1200, maglev triggers and 67W charging
First sales in India start on July 26 at noon.
Honor Magic3 Pro+ has gorgeous design, beastly camera setup
The front and back sides are protected with next-level nano-particle panels.
Honor Magic3 and Magic3 Pro bring SD 888+, IMAX cinematic video recording, 66W charging
These are the first IMAX-enhanced phones with exclusive 3D LUT color grading and LOG format video recording.
Moto G60S is official with Helio G95 chipset and 50W fast charging
The phone made its debut in Brazil, might land in other places in the future.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 brings larger cover display, Armor Aluminum frame
A much larger cover display and official water protection rating plus Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 debuts with IPX8 rating, S Pen support and under-display camera
The new foldable flagship also gets stronger aluminum frame.
Xiaomi Pad 5, Pad 5 Pro aim for glory with 11" TrueTone displays, powerful chipsets
The Pad 5 comes with Snapdragon 860, Pad 5 Pro runs on Snapdragon 870.
Samsung’s Exynos W920 is a 5nm chipset set to power the Galaxy Watch4 series
The new platform will power the next crop of Samsung wearables.
Realme unveils the MagDart ecosystem: 50W and 15W chargers, power bank and more
The Realme Flash is just a concept phone. Instead, the first device to be charged with MagDart is the Realme GT (which is getting a special case).
Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have a custom Tensor processor, launching this fall
Launching later this year in the fall.
Sony Xperia 10 III Lite quietly unveiled in Japan: half the storage lost, eSIM gained
This Lite model is almost exactly the same as the original, except it comes with 64 GB storage, lacks a dual-SIM version and FM radio.
New Motorola Edge launches in the US with 144 Hz display, Snapdragon 778G chipset
It's an Edge 20 with a bunch of changed specs.
Realme Book announced with 14” IPS LCD, 11-gen Intel processors and metallic body
First sales in China open on August 25 while those in India are set for August 30.
Google announces Pixel 5a 5G with IP67 and 4680mAh battery for $449
Available starting August 26 in the US and Japan.
iQOO 8 and 8 Pro bring 120Hz OLED displays, Snapdragon 888+ and 120W charging
The Pro model is the first phone on the market with Samsung's brand new E5 OLED display.
Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro get SD 888+ chipsets, lowers touch latency to 24ms
Asus upgraded the touch sampling rate of the 144Hz Super AMOLED displays.
Samsung unveils flagship 200MP ISOCELL HP1, 50MP ISOCELL GN5 sensors
The HP1 will likely be the imager of choice for the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Bose QuietComfort 45 bring improved sound, USB-C and 24-hour battery life
Available from September 23.
Tecno Spark 8 launched with Helio P22 and 5,000 mAh battery
The phone is up for grabs for retailers in Nigeria for NGN 50,000 ($130).
Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro arrive with 108MP cameras, 6.67" 120Hz AMOLED displays
These are not upgrades to the Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro, instead they are lower cost alternatives - the 11T is €200 cheaper than the Mi 11.
Apple iPhone 13 and 13 mini official: smaller notch and new main cameras
Apple's non-Pro models are closer to their siblings then ever.
Canon announces EOS R3 with eye control autofocus
Allows controlling the autofocus by simply looking at the intended area.
vivo X70 Pro+ goes live with SD888+ and custom V1 image processor chip
Other improvements include 50W wireless fast charging, slightly bigger and an IP68 rating. The screen is bigger too, a 6.78" Samsung E5 panel.
vivo X70 and vivo X70 Pro bring improved cameras
Both phones are a slight upgrade over their X60 predecessors.
Meizu 18s and 18s Pro arrive with SD 888+ and advanced cameras, 18x tags along with SD 870
All three have 120 Hz OLED displays, though the 18s duo has 1440p+ resolution. Those two also have telephoto cameras as well.
Nokia G50 5G phone unveiled with Snapdragon 480, 6.81" HD+ display and a 48 MP camera
The phone will receive 2 years of OS updates and monthly security patches for 3 years. It supports 18W fast charging.
Realme GT Neo2 arrives with Snapdragon 870 and improved cooling
There is a heat dissipating gel with actual diamond particles in it.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max bring 120Hz displays, overhauled cameras
The Apple A15 chipset on the Pro phones has a 5-core GPU, instead of 4-core like on the vanilla models.
The Phantom X, Tecno's first premium phone, is now available
Initially, the phone can be found in Nigeria and Kenya and it should expand to more markets soon.
Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 get major updates improving camera quality
As well as face recognition and call quality.
Huawei patents ultra-curved screen with side-touch features
The panel stretches over the whole side, the camera is now under the display.
Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro's availability details confirmed
Both smartphones will be powered by the in-house developed Tensor chip.
Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro spotted on display at NYC Google Store
You can't actually hold them, but you can see them behind glass.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's alleged renders leak with S Pen slot
As uncertainty of the Galaxy Note series continues, leaked renders suggest Samsung is taking a whole new direction.
OnePlus extends software support for its smartphones
OnePlus 8 and newer flagships will get three Anrdoid OS updates and four years of security updates.
Huawei P50 and P50 Pro unveiled: Snapdragon 888 and Kirin 9000 in 4G, upgraded cameras
Both models have periscope zoom cameras and 5 MP main cams with a color sensor. Of course, they run HarmonyOS 2.0 out of the box.
Microsoft announces new Surface Duo 2 with Snapdragon 888 and triple camera
Features new slightly curved dual 90Hz displays.
Redmi 10 leaks with specs and images: 50MP camera confirmed
The camera design follows the latest trend with a silver highlight for the main shooter.
Infinix Hot 11S is launching next month, key specs and price revealed
It's a successor to the Hot 10S unveiled in April.
Early Apple iPad mini (2021) benchmarks reveal downclocked CPU and GPU
The new iPad mini uses an Apple A15 chipset with 5 GPU cores like the iPhone 13 Pro duo, but it seems to run at a lower clock speed.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra might actually be the Note 22 Ultra
The S22+ could be called the S22 Pro.
Xiaomi exec: Mix 4 is a phone for full-screen experience, not selfies
William Lu confirms the technology is not there yet, the priorities behind the new phone was “display first”.
Tecno Spark 8 is launching in India next week
It's powered by the Helio P22 SoC and packs a 5,000 mAh battery.
Get a free battery replacement for your OnePlus 3, 5, 5T, 6, or 6T in India
You only have to pay the labor cost, which is very small.
After Galaxy S22 Ultra, the S22 and S22+ break cover with punch-hole screens and triple camera setups
They look similar to their predecessors.
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