News

iPhone XR takes the spot for best-selling smartphone of 2019

A lot of people are really into iPhones

Published

March 3, 2020

Kenrick Buduan

Canalys’ latest sales figure for 2019 is surely a piece of good news for Apple. Last year, iPhone XR took the no. 1 spot for the best-selling smartphone globally, beating all other smartphones by a wide margin.

Apple’s recent pricing strategy has worked in favor of the company. Their 2018 “budget” smartphone — iPhone XR — lead the pack among the company’s best-seller. With the company lowering the price even further than 2019’s iPhone 11, many people were attracted by the prospect of owning an iPhone.

The iPhone 11 also did well, securing the top two in the global top 10 smartphones for 2019. Furthermore, the device crushed its competitors by a wide margin in the global top 10 smartphones for Q4 2019.

The lowered price of Apple’s smartphone helped the company sell their products even if they were released a long time ago. For example, 2017’s iPhone 8 grabbed the 7th spot for the whole of 2019, and the 5th spot for Q4 2019. Interestingly, iPhone 7 placed 9th for 2019 even if Apple phased it out a long time ago.

Apple’s flagship device — iPhone 11 Pro — didn’t make it to the list for the whole 2019. Still, it placed 3rd for the list of Q4 2019.

Samsung’s budget devices lead the pack for Android devices

Meanwhile, the best-selling Android smartphone globally for 2019 was Samsung Galaxy A10. This is unsurprising, given the marketing and specs poured on this entry-level device. Overall, the device landed the third spot for the best-selling smartphone globally. Its improved variant, the Galaxy A10s, landed the 7th spot for the best-selling smartphone last Q4 2019.

Other Galaxy devices made the cut for the best-selling smartphone too. Galaxy A50 and A20 took the 4th and 5th spots, respectively. These mid-range devices pack great specs for a decent price, making them a favorite among people with a limited budget.

Then, there’s the flagship Galaxy S10+, which finished last in the global best-selling smartphones for 2019.

Meanwhile, both the Galaxy A20s and A30s sold well during the last Q4 2019, taking the 8th and 9th spots, respectively. Clearly, Samsung’s decision to revamp its A-series worked well for the company facing serious competition against Chinese manufacturers.

Xiaomi makes a dent

The only Chinese manufacturer to make a dent in the global best-selling smartphones for 2019 was Xiaomi. Only one of its devices sold well for the whole of 2019. Redmi Note 7 made it to the 6th spot, which is a testament to the device’s popularity.

Xiaomi’s follow-up to the Redmi Note 7 — Redmi Note 8 — didn’t make it to the global best-selling smartphone for 2019. However, the device had a much better standing for Q4 2019, grabbing the 6th spot. Its bigger brother — Redmi Note 8 Pro — snatched the 10th spot last Q4 2019.

Dominated by trio

Overall, the list of global best-selling smartphone was dominated by three companies. Only Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi managed to grab a spot for the top 10 best-selling smartphones. One company noticeably absent from the list is Huawei. This is not surprising given the effect of the continuing US trade ban impacting the sales of Huawei smartphones.

Other companies like OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus were absent from the list. Only time will tell if one of their devices could make the cut in future list for the top 10 best-selling smartphone worldwide.

News

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

May 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.