News

Samsung, LG promise to launch better midrange phones this year

Relying on flagships just doesn’t work anymore

Published

on

Have you noticed the sheer abundance of smartphone models out in the market lately? Of course, the market has always featured a wide variety. However, brands have now diversified greatly to accommodate more markets.

Headlined by Samsung and Apple, the phone market has traditionally offered a catch-all flagship and droves of forgettable others for the budget spenders. Throughout the years, over-saturation has caused this strategy to falter.

According to Strategy Analytics, the balance of power is shifting. As of this year’s first quarter, Samsung’s grip on the world’s top spot has weakened by 2.5 percent. From 80.2 million units sold in 2017’s first quarter, Samsung shipped only 78.2 million units this year.

On the other hand, Apple has increased their numbers to 52.2 million units sold from just 50.8 million units last year. Likewise, Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi enjoyed huge gains, growing by 114 percent and 225 percent, respectively.

With the threat of loss in mind, Korean companies Samsung and LG have since adopted a “shotgun approach” with their releases this year. Instead of putting their eggs in one basket, they are releasing as much diversity as they can.

Since its ascension to the top, Samsung has always launched various lines catering to the midrange and budget markets. However, until recently, these models never offered much advantage in these segments. Additionally, they were shipped almost exclusively to developing markets, such as key countries in the Southeast Asian region. Meanwhile, LG has a decidedly weaker midrange lineup.

In fact, both companies rely heavily on their flagship and premium models to draw in sales.

To fight this, Samsung and LG are trying a strategy that works for Huawei and Xiaomi (which, incidentally, grew this year). The strategy involves outing midrange and budget phones that can competitively go one-on-one with flagship features.

Both Huawei and Xiaomi have a wider variety of options for users. In fact, Huawei even has its own sister brand dedicated to the market — Honor. With Xiaomi potentially launching their own sister brand, the brands’ successes speak more for themselves.

Whether this translates into a more competitive Galaxy J or LG Q series, only time will tell. Currently, both companies have already launched eight to nine models this year, compared to their eleven models in total apiece last year.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy J7+ hands-on review

News

Apple might not have given up on the Vision Pro yet

Four potential versions are on the table.

Published

on

All eyes are on the iPhone Duo. After months of speculation, Apple finally unveiled its first-ever foldable smartphone. Now, because of that reveal, the spotlight (or what little of it remained) drifted away from Apple’s other unique device, the Vision Pro. To the company’s dismay, the wearable never really took off. The company isn’t done with it, though. According to a new report, Apple is still working on new concepts for a mixed-reality headset.

Years ago, Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset that the company desperately wanted to turn into the next big thing after the iPhone. Because of the wearable’s exorbitant pricing and the lack of substantial development from third-party developers, the Vision Pro didn’t really take off.

Today, according to Bloomberg, Apple is still working on four future concepts for the wearable. One of those concepts will reportedly take inspiration from Meta’s VR glasses. The improvements will likely focus on the wearable’s weight and battery pack. Though the heft of wearables today isn’t as nightmarish as the past, the current slew of wires and batteries is still a burden on your head.

There are still a few routes that the Vision Pro can take. If none of the four exploratory options make it out of the drawing board, Apple still has plans for a thinner pair of smart glasses late next year.

SEE ALSO: Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

Continue Reading

News

HONOR Magic9 Pro Max launches in China with ARRI-powered imaging

ARRI tech meets mobile filmmaking

Published

on

HONOR has launched the Magic9 Pro Max in China. It’s the company’s latest flagship with an end-to-end professional cinema workflow co-engineered with ARRI.

The Magic9 Pro Max is positioned as a handheld cinema system, combining Dual 200MP cameras with selected elements of ARRI Image Science. The system includes ARRI LogC3, 10-bit color depth, ARRI Wide Gamut 3, and ARRI Looks.

Its 200MP Ultra Night Main Camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.57 aperture, OIS, and 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization. It is paired with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto Camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, f/2.6 aperture, and OIS, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Both 200MP cameras achieve CIPA 8.0 stabilization performance.

The phone’s HONOR Imaging Chip H1 processes AI noise reduction in the RAW domain. HONOR says its testing showed an 8dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and support for up to 14 stops of cinematic dynamic range under defined test conditions.

ARRI CINEMA

For video, ARRI CINEMA Mode supports recording at up to 4K 60fps. The phone also includes 14 preset ARRI Looks, with the ARRI Look Library offering 87 predefined creative color gradings.

HONOR also adds Cinematic LiveVideo, which captures a three-second moving moment after the user presses and holds the record button. It supports up to 4K resolution. The phone also features a four-microphone Cinematic Directional Microphone system and Stereo Dual 1216 Speakers.

The cinematic workflow extends to optional accessories, including the HONOR SmallRig Mobile Video Kit and HONOR Teleconverter G200 and G500.

HONOR has also redesigned the Magic9 Pro Max around cinema-camera heritage. Its rear camera layout draws inspiration from ARRI’s three-lens turret ARRIFLEX cameras. The main, telephoto, and ultra-wide cameras arranged in a 1+2 configuration.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Mobile Platform and features an 8,800mAh battery with 100W wired and 80W wireless charging.

It also packs a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with up to 10,000 nits peak brightness, while MagicOS 11 introduces features such as YOYO Memory, Video Highlights, and YOYO Tasks.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max is available in China in Shadow Black, Glacier Silver, and Moss Green.

It comes in four memory and storage configurations, with prices starting at CNY 6499.

HONOR says regional launches across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Southeast Asia, and other markets will be announced soon.

Continue Reading

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass visit the Philippines next for its grand portrait project

100 Faces, 100 Stories

Published

on

By

A portrait can show what someone looks like, but what about the story behind the face?

TECNO and visual artist Angélica Dass are exploring that question through “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year global portrait project featuring 100 people across Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

The project begins with 20 portraits from Kenya, each paired with a personal story about identity, choices, change, and growth. Rather than having participants represent an entire culture or generation, the project focuses on their individual experiences.

Beyond inclusive imaging

The project builds on TECNO’s work with Universal Tone, its imaging technology designed to represent diverse skin tones more naturally and accurately.

But “100 Portraits of Becoming” takes that idea further. With AI increasingly involved in capturing, recognizing, and generating images of people, TECNO and Dass want to explore how technology can better represent the individual behind the image.

For Dass, meaningful portraiture starts with human connection.

“Meaningful portraits are never created by technology alone.”

She says her experience in Kenya reinforced the importance of trust, listening, and the willingness of people to share their stories.

The Philippines is next

Following Kenya, the project heads to the Philippines for a chapter called “Beyond Many Labels.”

It will feature 20 individuals, including working solo mothers and people whose lives are closely connected to solo parenthood.

Their stories will look beyond labels such as “single mother,” “breadwinner,” and “strong woman,” while exploring their ambitions, relationships, and personal growth.

The chapter will also explore “diskarte” — the ways Filipinos adapt, make choices, and find practical ways forward in everyday life.

After the Philippines, “100 Portraits of Becoming” will continue to Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

By the end of the project, TECNO and Dass hope the 100 portraits will offer exactly what the title suggests: 100 different ways of seeing humanity.

Continue Reading

Trending