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OPPO F9 goes official with a new notch design and VOOC quick charging tech

OPPO focuses on making beautiful-looking phones

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There’s a new borderless phone in town! OPPO has just announced the F9 which succeeds the OPPO F7 after five months. The introduction of the new F-series phone came in quick compared to the usual annual smartphone release of other manufacturers. So, what’s new about the F9? There’s quite a lot.

First, the F9 has a new notch design. Unlike the Find X, the F9 still carries a cutout to house its selfie camera. Instead of a wide space though, the F9 sports a waterdrop-like notch that is significantly smaller, increasing the screen-to-body ratio to 90.8 percent. The display now also measures 6.3 inches with a taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio, but still with a Full HD+ resolution.

OPPO F9 in Starry Purple (left), Twilight Blue (center), and Sunrise Red (right)

The other obvious difference of the F9 is its back. Following in the footsteps of Huawei, OPPO gave the F9 new gradient colors, namely Sunrise Red, Twilight Blue, and Starry Purple. In addition to the new hues, the rear of the F9 has petal-shaped patterns that reflect light effectively, giving the phone a multi-color effect. The fingerprint reader is also located at the back of the phone, making it easy to reach by either index finger.

OPPO F9 with VOOC Flash Charge

Perhaps the main feature of the F9 is the 3500mAh battery with VOOC Flash Charge technology — a first for their midrange lineup. According to the company, the F9 can deliver two hours of talk time after a quick five-minute charge. Despite having VOOC, the F9 still has a micro-USB port.

Lastly, there are now two rear cameras on the F9. The AI-enhanced 16-megapixel main shooter is accompanied by a secondary 2-megapixel depth sensor to take portrait photos. The front camera is still an AI-powered 25-megapixel sensor which is more than enough to take the best-possible selfies.

Inside the F9 is a MediaTek Helio P60 processor, same as the F7’s, but it’s now paired with up to 6GB of memory and 64GB of internal storage. If that’s not enough, you can always put in a microSD card to have additional space for your photos, files, and apps.

The OPPO F9 is first available in Southeast Asia. The 6GB variant goes for PhP 17,990 in the Philippines and THB 10,990 in Thailand. Vietnam gets the 4GB variant for VND 7,690,000.

Update (08/16/2018): Updated with memory variants and their respective prices.

SEE ALSO: OPPO R17 unveiled with tiny notch and under-display fingerprint reader

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HONOR Magic8 Pro gets Android 17 Beta 3 support early

Android 17 arrives early

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The HONOR Magic8 Pro is among the first smartphones to support Android 17 Beta 3, giving developers early access to Google’s upcoming mobile platform ahead of its wider release.

According to HONOR, the early beta access allows developers to test app compatibility, optimize performance, and integrate new Android 17 features using the company’s flagship smartphone.

Android 17 Beta 3

Android 17 Beta 3 introduces several new multitasking, customization, camera, and privacy tools. One of its biggest additions is the expansion of Bubbles into a system-wide feature. Apps can now run in floating windows that users can minimize and reopen from anywhere on-screen.

The update also adds support for the RAW14 image format. HONOR says this allows developers to better take advantage of the Magic8 Pro’s AiMAGE camera system for improved image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy in third-party camera and editing apps.

Android 17 Beta 3 also expands UI customization. Users can now hide app labels for a cleaner home screen layout, while developers can adjust Photo Picker layouts with different aspect ratios including portrait-style 9:16 views.

Other updates include separate Quick Settings toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, alongside a redesigned screen recording interface that lets users choose between recording the full display or a specific app.

Privacy and security improvements are also part of the update. Android 17 Beta 3 adds session-only precise location access, blocks local network access by default, and introduces protections against code injection attacks. Google is also preparing Android for future cybersecurity threats through support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

The HONOR Magic8 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, HONOR’s AiMAGE imaging system, and a 6,270mAh Silicon-carbon Battery. HONOR says its participation in the Android 17 Beta program highlights its continued collaboration with Google ahead of Android 17’s official release.

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Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

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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.

SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer

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The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

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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.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 now lets you play old games in 1080p

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