News

The LG Wing 5G offers a new smartphone experience

The first device on LG’s explorer project

Published

September 14, 2020

Rodneil Quiteles

LG has never been afraid to try new things (remember the LG G5 and Friends?). That boldness may not have translated to sales but it isn’t stopping the company from turning heads. This time, they’re doing so more thoughtfully than you realize with the LG Wing 5G.

If you’ve closely been following tech news then you might have seen what may seem like an absurd design — a display that swivels to reveal yet another display. But it’s not all gimmick, or so LG says.

Multitasking re-imagined

As the first device in the LG Explorer Project, the company wanted to come up with something groundbreaking but also functional. The swiveling display, isn’t just for show.

As the motion suggests, the LG Wing has two modes. First is Basic Mode, which is how one would normally use the phone. The second is Swivel Mode, where the entire front of the phone rotates clockwise 90 degrees revealing a 3.9 inch Second Screen.

In Swivel Mode, certain apps can be expanded to both screens or two apps can be displayed simultaneously — one on each display.It’s not too different from how the company runs apps on their phones that support the dual display option.

There’s also a Multi App feature lets you create shortcuts for pairs of apps you typically use together. A feature we’ve also seen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2. Naturally, not all apps will be supported at launch.

The main screen is a 6.8-inch OLED FullVision edge-to-edge display with 20.5:9 aspect ratio. A type of screen that’s pretty common on smartphones these days. The Second Screen, as mentioned earlier, measures 3.9-inch and is also OLED with software optimizations to maximize its size.

In video apps optimized for its unique form factor, the LG Wing’s second screen acts as a media controller, with the ability to change video and sound settings.

Gimbal form, gimbal cameras

The LG Wing has three cameras:

64MP Ultra High Resolution
12MP Ultra Wide Big Pixel
13MP Ultra Wide

But what sets it apart is how the LG Wing employs the Gimbal Motion Camera tech. The vivo X50 Pro also uses the term Gimbal but the tech behind these two phones might be completely different.

In any case, unique to the LG Wing 5G is how the second screen can act as a convenient grip, providing stability for capturing stable video footage.

The phone also offers functions found a real gimbal. These include a joystick function for controlling the camera angle, a lock mode to reduce shakes and blurring, a follow mode for smoother videos when moving, pan follow for horizontal movement with minimal up and down shake, and first person view mode for capturing rhythmic and dynamic movements.

Durable and premium

The LG Wing didn’t sacrifice a premium feel to achieve durability. The phone was crafted using slim but tough composite materials and a special perforation technique.

To manage the swiveling, the phone features a Hydraulic Damper. The company says it can do about 200,000 swivels — which averages out to about 100 motions every day for five years.

As it is a 2020 phone, it also had to have 5G. Powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC with the Snapdragon X52 5G Modem-RF System. It promises quality AI performance, supports multi camera capabilities, can handle gaming, and much more.

Here’s a quick look at the specs:

LG Wing
Display	Main Screen: 6.8-inch 20.5:9 FHD+ P-OLED FullVision (2,460 x 1,080 / 395ppi)
Display	Second Screen: 3.9-inch 1.15:1 G-OLED (1,240 x 1,080 / 419ppi)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G
RAM + ROM	8GB RAM 256GB internal storage microSD (up to 2TB)
Rear Cameras	(64MP Standard 4 (F1.8 / 78°/ 0.8µm) Ultra High Resolution 13MP Ultra Wide (F1.9 / 117° / 1.0µm) 12MP Ultra Wide Big Pixel (F2.2 / 120° / 1.4µm)
Front Camera	Pop-up 32MP Standard 5 (F1.9 / 79.6° / 0.8µm)
Battery	4,000mAh
Colors	Aurora Gray Illusion Sky

Pricing and availability

The LG Wing 5G will be available in the US beginning with Verizon, followed by T-Mobile and other U.S. carriers.

Specific pricing, availability, specs and color options will vary by network partners.

News

Apple announces new special event for iPads

Scheduled for May 7

Published

April 24, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

The next Apple event is coming! Two weeks ahead of the big launch, the iPad maker has announced an upcoming event dedicated to the tablet.

As always, Apple has added a tagline to tease what’s coming for the brand. This time, it’s “Let loose.”

Now, you won’t get a lot of clues from something so vague. Thankfully, the graphic is much more telling. It features a hand clearly grasping an Apple Pencil. For sure, the event will focus on new iPads.

The special event will start on May 7, 10AM ET. Interested viewers can watch the event live.

There’s no confirmation what models are getting new faces for the event. However, rumors are swirling that we’re getting a new iPad Pro. We can likely expect a new Apple Pencil too, especially since the stylus is a main focus for the invite.

New iPhones are likely out, though. Apple usually holds the event for those later in the year. That leaves the Macs and the Vision Pro in the less-likely-but-still-possible realm.

That said, if you’re looking for new tablets, it’s time to wait a bit.

News

MediaTek eyes video generative AI for mobile, next-gen sat broadband, more

MediaTek sets its eyes on the future

Published

April 24, 2024

GadgetMatch

Without question, AI-powered features have been integral for smartphones nowadays. And although it’s still “limited” what users can do with AI on their phones, MediaTek is trying to bring more advanced capabilities to mobile devices. This, as the semiconductor company is eyeing video generative AI for mobile, as part of its goals for the near future.

A few months ago at MWC 2024, MediaTek showcased on-device generative AI video diffusion powered entirely by its Dimensity 9300 processor. This leading smartphone chip incorporates the world’s first hardware-based generative AI Engine with secure, personalized AI. It is capable of bandwidth reduction, LoRA Fusion, and 8X faster generative AI performance, compared to MediaTek’s preceding AI processor.

Sooner rather than later, users can perhaps elevate the short video-editing experience on their smartphones by leveraging video generative AI, something reserved for heavyweight devices and software programs for now.

World’s first 5G-advanced satellite broadband

Aside from video generative AI on mobile devices, MediaTek is working on improving connectivity across various technologies. For instance, the company is working on a 5G-NR-NTN satellite chip that can deliver broadband speeds of up to 100mbps. They are working with Rohde & Schwarz for this innovation. One industry that will surely benefit from this is the automotive industry, with MediaTek utilizing advanced LEO satellite support over the Ku-band.

New platforms for 5G IoT, wearables

Meanwhile, the newly-announced MediaTek T300 platform will make it easy for IoT designers to transition to 5G-NR especially for applications requiring ultra-efficient connectivity and long-lasting battery life. This includes wearables, lightweight AR devices, and always-connected IoT devices. MediaTek likewise demonstrated at MWC 2024 how it can achieve consistent low latency for AR and IoT devices. This was made possible by the company’s new RedCap RFSoC using the Keysight UXM5G Wireless Test Platform.

5G CPE for better performance

Moreover, MediaTek showcased its latest 5G CPE devices powered by the T830 platform. Using three transmission antennae (3TX) applicable across 5G NR band combinations, MediaTek eyes performance enhancements for Wi-Fi routers, promising low latency, low loss, and a significant reduction in network delay.

Auto industry collaborations

Earlier in the year, MediaTek also released AI-driven chipsets specifically for smart cars. This is another aspect the company wants to build on. Using OpenSynergy Hypervisor technology, MediaTek wants advanced safety-first features through a virtualized OS within the vehicle. Additionally, MediaTek and ACCESS Twine4Car are working together to develop richer multiscreen entertainment and interactive services. Of course, the former already has the Dimensity Auto smart cockpit and infotainment platforms working to provide highly capable processing.

These platforms can handle demanding processes. These include multiple operating systems, wireless connectivity feeds, and multiple concurrent video playbacks. It can even support advanced 3D graphics and generative AI for the driver and passengers in the vehicle, elevating the overall smart car experience.

Smart home IoT connectivity

Lastly, MediaTek is envisioning a “home gateway” concept which it calls “Ambient Computing.” This will allow users to manage their network of IoT devices in a better, faster, and more direct manner. This will be done by having the technology solve the indoor-outdoor network barrier through bypassing third-party networks.

In other words, users will be able to control everything from their mobile device, minus third-party services. And because multiple devices are working together, a user may technically use a PC to accelerate tasks on the smartphone — beyond what’s possible on a mobile chip. That extends the phone’s life considerably, too.

News

Xiaomi Redmi A3 Philippine pricing, availability

Budget smartphone with high refresh rate display

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Xiaomi is bringing high refresh rate displays to its budget line with the announcement of the Redmi A3. The latest addition to the entry-level Redmi line boasts of an expansive 6.71-inch HD+ display with up to a 90Hz refresh rate.

The Redmi A3 is available in Midnight Black, Star Blue, and Forest Green. The smartphone is priced at PhP 3,399 (3GB+64GB) and PhP 3,999 (4GB+128GB) respectively for its two configurations.

Customers may preorder the phone until April 27 via Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok. General sale begins April 26th in all Xiaomi stores nationwide. Freebies are a Basic Piston Earphone for online purchases and a 3-month Viu Premium subscription for in-store purchases.

The Redmi A3’s immersive screen allows users to consume various content in high-definition with better smoothness, a boost for a phone of its price point. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection as well, and DC dimming to reduce blue light exposure.

The phone also sports a refined design that lets go of the iPhone-looking camera arrangement. Instead, the main camera is now in the middle as part of a watch face-looking setup similar to other Android phone offerings.

Speaking of, an 8MP main shooter highlights the back of the Redmi A3. In front is a 5MP front camera. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G36 processor and runs on an Android 14-based OS. Furthermore, it has a 5,000mAh battery with 10W of USB-C charging.

Other handy Redmi A3 features for users to utilize include a 3.5mm jack, Face Unlock, and Fingerprint Unlock.