News

Nokia 8 is company’s first true Android flagship

Published

August 17, 2017

Michael Josh Villanueva

Launched in London today, the new Nokia 8 is the first phone from HMD Global following its partnership with optics expert Zeiss, and the first to come with top-of-the-line specs.

Just as it was during Nokia’s golden age in the early 2000s, the 5.3-inch Nokia 8 is headlined by a Zeiss-branded camera. This time around, there are three on one phone.

The Zeiss partnership couldn’t have come at a better time. Nokia says it hopes to target what it calls a new generation of users that are first and foremost content creators.

Speaking to GadgetMatch via teleconference, HMD CEO Florian Seiche said, “We believe that all of us are storytellers. With the first Nokia flagship, we want to deliver the ultimate device for telling stories.”

Unlike other dual-camera phones such as the iPhone 7 Plus or LG G6, the Nokia 8 has neither a zoom nor wide-angle lens. Instead, it has a pair of identical 13-megapixel cameras on its rear.

One is equipped with a color sensor, while the other is black and white. Using a process called “Image Fusion,” both the black-and-white and color images are combined to theoretically produce better photos.

The selfie camera is also equipped with the same 13-megapixel sensor, and Nokia hopes users will get into the habit of using both at the same time using a split screen mode called Dual Side. They’ve even come up with a hashtag for it, #Bothie.

Other camera features include the ability to livestream to YouTube or Facebook from the camera app, and HiFi surround sound capture while shooting videos.

Unlike previous Nokia models — the 3, 5, and 6 — the Nokia 8 comes with the most high end of specs including a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. A 3090mAh battery provides energy for the Quad HD LCD.

The phone closely resembles its mid-range brother the Nokia 5, but is significantly thinner and with a slightly rounded back. The chassis is caved from a single slab of aluminum, with antenna bands marking its top and bottom edges not darting across its back side.

Nokia 8 on the left; Nokia 5 to the right

According to Juho Sarvikas, HMD Chief Product Officer, this antenna design is not only artistically pleasing but also ensures that, “You will not drop a call where others might.”

The Nokia 8 runs on a pure version of Android 7.1.1 out of the box, but Nokia promises that it will to be one of the first to roll out an update once Google releases Android O.

The phone is available in copper, blue, black, and steel — and will retail for EUR 599. Nokia is planning a global launch beginning early next month and promises to “light up all markets this September.”

[irp posts=”17741″ name=”New Nokia 105 is the cheapest Nokia you can buy now”]

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.