News
Global smartphone shipments declined in 2020 by 8.8%
Down 1.24 billion units shipped for the year
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the global smartphone shipments according to the latest report by DigiTimes. Their latest report estimates an annual decline of 8.8 in total shipment last 2020 as the pandemic crippled sales and demand for smartphones.
The annual decline of 8.8% for 2020 translates to a total of 1.24 billion units. This is still a lot of smartphones shipped by manufacturers though it was significantly lesser than the previous years. Last 2019, DigiTimes estimated the global smartphone shipments at 1.5 billion units.
Further reports also corroborate the decline in shipments for the unusual year. TrendForce, for example, puts the total shipments at 1.25 billion units for an 11% year-on-year decline.
As for quarterly figures, DigiTimes noted that total shipments dove to 20% in Q1 2020. It fell further with a double-digit decline in Q2 2020, then with a single-digit decline in Q3 2020. Things improved by Q4 2021 when shipments registered a single-digit rebound.
On a positive note, the market for 5G-capable smartphones fared well last 2020. The total shipments for 5G-enabled smartphones reached 280-300 million units, which is huge compared to 20 million units shipped last 2019.
Apple and Xiaomi beat 2020’s current trend
The top six smartphone vendors for 2020 are Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo. Almost all of these vendors suffered a decline in shipments but two vendors, in particular, managed to beat this trend: Apple and Xiaomi. Both posted an impressive growth of 10% in shipments compared to last year.
For Apple, the improvement is no surprise considering that it had a good 2020. The first half of the year saw the Cupertino-based company release a follow-up to its popular iPhone SE. Then, it continued the second half with the release of the iPhone 12 which also brings a new model to the table.
Meanwhile, other smartphone vendors such as Samsung and Huawei took a big dip with a double-digit decline for 2020. This is not surprising for Huawei, which fully felt the impact of the ban last year. The loss of Google Play Services could have deterred potential buyers from looking into Huawei’s portfolio, resulting in lesser sales at least for non-China markets.
Accessories
England, Wales start banning Meta Glasses
The smart glasses are now banned in courtrooms.
Earlier this year, New York became the first state to issue a blanket ban against smart glasses in courtrooms. The new regulation marks one of the first public spaces to prevent the contentious devices. Now, England and Wales are following suit in their courtrooms by banning Meta glasses inside.
As reported by The Guardian, courtrooms in both countries will confiscate Meta Glasses from those taking them into the building. Owners can retrieve them again upon exit.
Like the decision in New York, the English and Welsh bans are simple enough to follow. As it is everywhere, it’s forbidden to record video inside courtrooms in England and Wales. Because Meta Glasses have cameras (and are primarily used for their video capturing capabilities), they fall under prohibited items.
Notably, smartphones are not included on this list, despite having sizable cameras themselves. Although, to be fair, it’s much more difficult to discreetly record video using a smartphone. Smart glasses pride themselves with the ability to take videos seamlessly.
Meta Glasses are having such a moment today. Though some users, especially creators, are excited for them, a significant chunk of the population is concerned over their ability to take videos without subjects knowing they’re being recorded. Some users have even found ways to disable the built-in LED indicators which should, in theory, warn the public that the glasses are recording. It’s since turned into a privacy nightmare.
News
TCL expands mobile lineup with latest NXTPAPER series
3 new smartphone models featuring a paper-like viewing experience
TCL has expanded its mobile lineup with the launch of the latest NXTPAPER smartphone series.
Part of the new NXTPAPER roster are the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, NXTPAPER 70 Pro, and K70 Power 4G.
The new generation of smartphones is designed to deliver smarter, more comfortable, and more powerful mobile experiences for today’s connected lifestyle.
At the heart of the lineup is the company’s proprietary NXTPAPER technology, and award-winning display innovation.
It combines both hardware and software advancements to reduce eyestrain while preserving vivid colors and sharp picture quality. The result is a paper-like viewing experience.
Bannering the roster is the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra. It is powered by a Dimensity 7400 Elite processor and runs on Android 16.
It comes with up to 512GB of internal storage and 12GB of base RAM, plus 12GB more for expansion.
In front is an expansive 7.2-inch 120Hz FHD+ display featuring Nxtpaper 4.0 and a 32MP selfie camera, while at the back is a 50MP main camera, along with a 50MP 3X telephoto camera.
This variant houses a 5,200mAh battery with support for 33W charging.
Right under the 60 Ultra is the NXTPAPER 70 Pro. It is powered by a Dimensity 7300 processor, and comes with a 6.9-inch 120Hz FHD+ display and a 50MP main shooter.
This model has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It has a similar 5,200mAh battery with 33W charging.
Lastly, the K70 Power 4G is a budget choice, with a Helio G100 Ultra chipset, 6.75-inch 120Hz display, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 50MP main camera.
Price, availability
In the Philippines, the latest NXTPAPER smartphones are available for the following pricing:
- NXTPAPER 60 Ultra: PhP 35,995
- NXTPAPER 70 Pro: PhP 22,995
- K70 Power 4G: PhP 9,495
All devices are available through Shopee.
Apps
Canva teams up with SB19 to turn A’TIN’s passion into creativity
Campaign lets fans access assets, editable templates, more
Canva Philippines has joined forces with SB19 and Sony Music Entertainment to launch the “Kaya sa Canva” campaign.
This first-of-its-kind initiative is aimed at transforming the popular Filipino boy band’s fanbase into creators by giving them access to official design assets, exclusive templates, and powerful creative tools.
That’s of course as fans have a way of creating artwork, banners, and more outputs to honor their idols.
As such, the partnership enables the A’TIN (SB19’s fanbase) to access the Canva-exclusive SB19’s Creative Hub.
This dedicated space lets fans access assets, including SB19-inspired sticker packs, custom typography, and editable templates inspired by the group.
Fans around the world will initially have access to templates for photo-booth strips, wallpapers, posters, and videos.
The campaign will then expand with Canva-exclusive assets celebrating the group’s New Era, as well as their latest single, “Lawless”.
Meanwhile, the original song “KAYA” is accompanied with an upbeat music video, doubling as a love letter to A’TIN and a masterclass in Canva’s tools.
Every visual and animation is fan-inspired, a celebration of the creativity, passion, and dedication that’s defined in the community from day one.
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