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Qualcomm launches faster and better Snapdragon 845

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Smartphones are about to get faster and stronger once again. As with every year, Qualcomm has announced their SoC processor for next year, the Snapdragon 845.

At their recently concluded Snapdragon Technology Summit in Hawaii, Qualcomm unveiled the details for its flagship-bound Snapdragon 845 processor. The high-end SoC (system on a chip) boasts faster performance, graphics, and image processing.

With four performance cores (clocking in at 2.8GHz) and four efficiency cores (at 1.8GHz), the Snapdragon 845 delivers 19 to 25 percent more performance over the Snapdragon 835.

Compared to last year’s Adreno 540 GPU, the Snapdragon 845 rocks an Adreno 630 upgrade. The new GPU promises a 30 percent boost in graphics performance and power efficiency. The upgrade also delivers 2.5 times more display throughput and increases flagships’ support for VR and AR apps.

The Snapdragon 845’s biggest improvement is in its image signal processor (ISP), the Spectra 280. The ISP equips phones with the ability to shoot 4K Ultra HD videos in HDR. It offers a 97 percent wider color gamut for more natural images.

The Spectra 280 can take 720p videos at up to 480 frames per second. Further, it can film 60fps videos with only a 16-megapixel camera.

Image source: Ars Technica

Taking after its rivals at Apple, the Snapdragon 845 is now compatible with face unlocking. Whereas Apple uses 30,000 dots for theirs, Qualcomm’s face unlock uses a more accurate 50,000 dots.

While 5G speeds are still far off into the future, the Snapdragon 845 builds itself ready for the technology. With its new Qualcomm X20 LTE modem, internet speeds can reach a maximum of 1,200Mbps. The modem adapts the new 60GHz 802.11ad standard.

Meanwhile, Bluetooth 5 boosts wireless connectivity by allowing faster transfers and more efficient battery usage. The latter supports a move for better compatibility with truly wireless earphones.

Whether we’ll see these features next year is still up to the smartphone manufacturers themselves. Some phones may opt to forego some features for others, for example.

The new chip, however, is already expected to launch with the flagships of Google, HTC, and Samsung. It’s also expected to make its way to Windows 10 PCs.

SEE ALSO: Snapdragon 450 is Qualcomm’s newest midrange chipset

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Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

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The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

  • C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
  • C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
  • C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
  • C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
  • C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

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Did Tim Cook just confirm that iPhone prices are going up?

Once again, it might be because of the RAM crisis.

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If there’s one thing you can count on in the smartphone world, it’s the high price of an iPhone. Unfortunately, with the ongoing RAM shortages, things might get worse. Apple’s Tim Cook has essentially confirmed that the brand is about to raise its prices.

Via an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cook said, “Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.” As with other companies, the outgoing CEO is talking about the RAM crisis. With a lot of chips going to AI, consumer-ready silicon is getting scarcer and scarcer. Thankfully, some brands are shielding its users from the increases, but it’s reaching levels that aren’t sustainable for business.

“We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable,” he said.

Cook did not explain how much prices will go up or when. However, with the iPhone 18 series (and a potential iPhone Fold) just on the horizon, it seems nigh.

Apple isn’t the first brand to react to the shortages (nor will it be the last). Now, regardless of whether or not Apple has the capabilities to tank the crisis, the biggest culprit is still AI. Companies today are more than willing to use AI as a scapegoat, real or otherwise, for shady cost-cutting or profit-enhancing practices.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 17 is the best-selling phone of 2026 so far

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Apple might launch an iPhone Air 2 next year

This is despite the iPhone Air’s reportedly low demand.

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Is this the most varied that an iPhone lineup has ever been? With an iPhone Fold supposedly coming out later this year, the current lineup includes a base model, two Pro models, an ultra-thin Air model, and the affordable 17e. There’s now an iPhone for everyone. According to a new report, next year won’t be any different. Apple is reportedly launching the iPhone Air 2 early next year.

Among all the current models in the lineup, the iPhone Air does seem like the oddest of the bunch. Whereas the other models already have established niches, the Air is positioned simply as a thinner iPhone, riding on the short-lived ultra-thin phone trend. In fact, recent reports suggest that the Air isn’t as popular as its contemporaries.

Apparently, Apple doesn’t see it that way. According to Bloomberg, the brand is still surging forward with an iPhone Air 2. The upcoming version might even add a second camera and an improved processor.

Despite reports that it isn’t that popular, Apple might still believe in the model’s future. At this point, they should; Apple has always had a problem with the base model’s partner. Years of flip-flopping around what it should be, Apple wants to stay a little bit longer on the Air.

SEE ALSO: Apple has essentially confirmed the launch of the iPhone Fold

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