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Samsung, Xiaomi dominate Q1 2020 Android sales

And these are midrange phones!

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The latest research from Strategy Analytics is a sign that things are shaking up in the Android smartphone market. According to the research, midrange phones from Samsung and Xiaomi dominated the Q1 2020 sales for Android smartphones. Furthermore, only one flagship made it to the list, suggesting that more and more people are buying midrange phones.

Midrange phones dominate the market

Global smartphone shipment for Q1 2020 stands at 275 million units. The Android smartphone that sold the most during the Q1 2020 is Samsung’s Galaxy A51. It is a midrange device with a 6.5-inch display and a quad-camera setup. It was released last year and has become a popular device across Europe and Asia. Strategy Analytics estimated that the device sold 6 million units worldwide, accounting for 2.3 percent of the global market share.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s Redmi 8 managed to grab the second spot. The device grabbed 1.9 percent of the total market share in the first quarter. Strategy Analytics noted that the device is popular among Indian and Chinese consumers. And with Xiaomi making a splash in Europe, it is also becoming increasingly popular among Europeans.

The rest of the top six best-selling smartphones are dominated by other Samsung and Xiaomi midrange devices. Taking up the fourth and sixth spots are the Samsung Galaxy A10s and A20s. Meanwhile, Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 grabbed the fifth spot.

Only one flagship made it to the top

Among the top six best-selling smartphones, only one is an Android flagship. Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ grabbed the third spot, accounting for 1.7% of the total smartphone market sales worldwide. It is also the lone super-premium device on the list, which is commendable on Samsung’s part since there are numerous flagships released from 2019 up to Q1 2020.

Midrange phones are more popular than ever

Midrange phones will only become more popular in the future due to the post-virus economic situation. More and more people will look for smartphones that offer more features for a much lesser asking price. As such, manufacturers may have to pivot once again on offering devices with decent specs at competitive price points. A recent example of this strategy is the iPhone SE (2020), which retails at USD 399 but offers flagship-class performance and camera.

SEE ALSO: Samsung launches online Store in the Philippines

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced available worldwide now

It’s available on all major platforms.

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Last year was the year of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the franchise’s first Japan-themed entry. This year, however, the series is coming back to the one of its most popular worlds outside of Japan: pirates. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is now available on all major platforms.

Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, Black Flag Resynced brings players back into the boots of Edward Kenway, a vagabond pirate turned assassin. As he navigates the mysterious battle between Assassins and Templars, he travels the entire Caribbean and meets iconic pirates like Blackbeard and Anne Bonny.

This time, the 2013 game has been reengineered from the ground up using the latest Anvil engine. Besides amazing graphics, the remake has updated combat, new characters, and more narrative content.

Starting today, players can get Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Ubisoft Store, Ubisoft+, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

The Deluxe Edition packs the digital-only edition with the Master Assassin Character Pack and the Master Assassin Naval Pack. Meanwhile, the Collector’s Edition includes the Deluxe Edition and a catalog of physical goodies (Edward’s Figurine, an Edward wearable metal brooch, an exclusive SteelBook, a cloth map).

SEE ALSO: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9

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New leak reveals first look at Samsung’s wide foldable

It looks like there’s only one book-style foldable this year.

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Image source: Android Headlines

Coming in just a heartbeat, Samsung will unveil the next foldables during the upcoming Unpacked event. The spotlight, naturally, lands on the rumored wide foldable. Now, we don’t have an official look yet, but a new leak is spoiling that for us.

Leaked by Android Headlines, the upcoming foldable, purportedly named the Galaxy Z Fold 8, looks as advertised. The brand’s first wide foldable takes a few inches off the top to deliver a, literally, wide resolution for more display real estate.

There’s not much to say about the specs, but the model does have a camera setup with two shooters. It will also be available in three colorway options: black, white, and lavender. A limited-edition green variant might also make an appearance.

Among the scheduled devices this coming Unpacked, the wide foldable is the main event. Plus, the new leak reveals that a regular Fold isn’t debuting with this batch. Rather, Samsung might go all-in on the wide foldable format.

If that’s not your style, the leak also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The new model doesn’t look different from the usual Flips that we’re used to, so it’s not a big headline.

Image source: Android Headlines

Finally, the leak reveals the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Watch Ultra 2.

Image source: Android Headlines

It won’t be long before we see these devices for real. Samsung has officially scheduled the next Galaxy Unpacked event for July 22.

SEE ALSO: Samsung sets Galaxy Unpacked for July 22 in London

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Pokémon at 30: Massive slate of events, pop-up store, more to highlight anniversary

Celebrating 30 years of Pokémon through fun runs, activations, more

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A massive slate of activities, events, and gatherings are lined up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon.

In the Philippines, which has been one of the world renowned anime franchise’s consistently strong markets, a partnership has been forged between Pokémon and SM Supermalls for a pop-up experience that will serve as the flagship destination for local enthusiasts.

Dubbed the “Celebrate 30 years of Pokémon at SM Malls” campaign, the multi-month celebration will kick off at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila starting October 2026.

The cornerstone of this retail rollout is the Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store, a six-month installation packed with exclusive merchandise directly from the brand.

Pokémon RUN 30

Beyond retail, the milestone will bring an active, real-world dimension to the capital with Pokémon RUN 30: The Philippines Edition.

This interactive running event is likewise slated in early October at the Mall of Asia complex.

Participants will become active trainers as they run a themed 5K course with filled with special interactive challenges.

Runners can test their spirit at designated Pokémon Gym obstacle points, rehydrate at designated Pokémon Centers, and collect unique stamps to complete real-world Pokédex search sheets.

Moreover, the venue will also host a free-entry public Festival Zone. This area will be complete with live Pikachu parades, meet-and-greets, and specialized gaming experience areas.

PokéXciting campaign

The extensive rollout is part of a broader, coordinated “PokéXciting!” campaign stretching across major target markets in the Asian region to bridge the gap between legacy and newer generational platforms. To supplement the global anniversary rollout,

The Pokémon Company has additionally aligned its sports entertainment footprints with major international institutions.

Back in Japan, Pokémon has established a sweeping partnership with Japan’s professional football league, the J.League.

All 60 professional football clubs across the league’s three tiers have officially been assigned a specific partner Pokémon. These are tailored to reflect each team’s regional mascots or club identities.

Fans attending home matches throughout the campaign will receive exclusive merchandise on match days.

This includes one million limited-edition reusable eco bags that showcase Pikachu alongside their home club’s specific partner pocket monster.

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