The first confirmed hardware details of the OnePlus 6 have begun to spill, with the popular Android smartphone maker announcing what will be at the core of the upcoming handset. In the process, it has confirmed rumors that the OnePlus 6 will be a direct competitor to flagship smartphones like Samsung's Galaxy S9 and the iPhone X.
The first reviews of the first Windows 10 on Qualcomm Snapdragon devices are out and they are anything but flattering. Microsoft and Qualcomm nearly promised the moon and more, which made not a few rather dubious if they could pull it off. And it seems those doubts were well-founded. Perhaps trying to do some damage control, Qualcomm has released three new ads that showcase the advantages of software and hardware combination, without actually addressing reviewers’ biggest complaints.
While VR and AR seem to have taken a backseat at CES and MWC, advocates and supporters are now making up for lost time. HTC has just revealed details of its VIVE Pro headset and Google has listed some of the new ARCore 1.0 apps available. Now Qualcomm is following suit, announcing its latest VR development kit, boasting of the latest VR technologies you can find in a standalone headset. And, of course, all of this revolves around the capabilities of the Snapdragon 845 mobile platform.
A mobile processor like the Snapdragon 845 offers a lot of great features, but that top-of-the-line nature tends to limit manufacturers to using it only in their flagship phones. For more mid-range devices, we have the processors in the Snapdragon 600-series, and while those are decent processors, they can't quite do all that the 800-series can. Qualcomm is looking to give those mid-range phones a boost in capability today by launching the new Snapdragon 700-series.
Rumors about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S have been circulating for a while now, but it appears the real deal is almost here. While the impressive Mi Mix 2 (pictured above) was only released last fall, it seems the Chinese phone maker is ready to release a successor, albeit with some serious spec improvements. A Xiaomi representative officially confirmed the device on Twitter this weekend, adding that it would be launching on March 27th.
Windows-on-ARM was seemed like a good way to get Windows to users with low processing power needs, presumably for low prices. Using a smartphone chip instead of x86, there was a good place for a category of users that might otherwise have gone with something like a Chromebook. But HP's reveal of one of the first Windows-on-ARM computer's pricing seems to have dashed those dreams - at least from this angle.
Mobile virtual reality before Qualcomm's newest line of VR hardware made for a fairly decent experience. Samsung had their VR headset that worked with Galaxy S and Note devices, and Google brought the first wave in with Cardboard, Daydream, and so on. But now it's time to get serious about processor action. Now it's time for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform.
Microsoft wants Windows 10 to be on all its supported platforms and so far it indeed has, from desktops to 2-in-1 tablets to Xbox to even mixed reality. But there is one place where Windows 10 continues to flounder: mobile. While the nascent Windows 10 on ARM, technically “on Qualcomm Snapdragon” really, aims to at least make Microsoft’s case on a new, and so far niche, class of devices. But it seems that Windows 10 on ARM’s published and now retracted limitations seems to paint a picture that is only a bit better compared to Windows RT but still more of the same. That is, a version of Windows 10 that might serve nobody in the end.
With just barely two weeks left, it’s not surprising to see a torrent of leaks, rumors, revelations, and even official teasers building up the hype around the Galaxy S9. Samsung has just recently released three video clips that hint at the upcoming flagship’s camera prowess. Now AnTuTu is getting into the game, revealing just how powerful the larger Galaxy S9+ will be. Its improvement is, of course, expected, but the bigger question is whether it will actually be enough, especially against the iPhone X.
Qualcomm, it would seem, is starting 2018 with a bang. Last week, the company announced that its Snapdragon X50 would enter testing this year with carriers around the world and feature in 5G phones beginning next year. This week, the focus is back on 4G LTE and the immediate future, as we see the new Snapdragon X24 pushing LTE boundaries further.
In just a few weeks, we’ll be getting a glimpse of the next generation of Android smartphones slated for this year. Arriving with them is Qualcomm’s next-generation mobile platform, the Snapdragon 845. But before that chip goes out to market, Tom’s Guide was able to put this year’s top mobile processor through a few stress tests. And while the numbers do look impressive on their own and compared to last year’s flagships, the Snapdragon 845 might still have a tough time standing head to head with Apple’s A11 Bionic.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 may only be reaching new smartphones this quarter, but the chip-maker is already working on a Snapdragon 850 sources claim. The Snapdragon 845 is expected to make its sales debut at the heart of the Samsung Galaxy S9, or at least certain versions of the handset, which is due to break cover at Mobile World Congress 2018 later this month. Given Qualcomm's track record, however, it won't be long before its in a wide range of devices.