SMARTPHONE SPECIAL ....MWC 2019

 MWC 2019

The Mobile World Congress, which was held in Barcelona between February 25 to 28, is one of the biggest mobile technology showcases in the world. Savio D’Souza and Ashutosh Desai pick some of the newest gadgetry showcased at...

HUAWEI MATE X

MWC was big on devices with foldable displays, and the Mate X that seamlessly converts from a tablet to a smartphone was one of the highlights of the event.

Its OLED screen bends about a “Falcon Wing” mechanical hinge to transform from an 8-inch (2480x2200px) tablet to a dual-screen smartphone with a 6.6-inch (2480x1148px) front panel, and a 6.38-inch (2480x892px) back panel.

The handset packs three Leica cameras: A 40MP for wideangle shots, a 16MP ultra wide-angle lens and an 8MP telephoto lens; the dual screens act as viewfinders, so even the subject can see a preview.

Instead of using an onscreen fingerprint sensor, Huawei has embedded the biometric reader in the power button. Under the hood, the Mate X packs in its flagship 2.6GHz Kirin 980 octa-core processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage (with a hybrid microSD slot) and a 4500mAh battery. You also get dual-SIM support and four 5G antennas; all at an expected cost of 2,299 euros when the device finally hits the market in mid-2019.

SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD

The Galaxy Fold also uses a flexible screen called the Infinity Flex Display. In the folded position, you get a 4.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED display. When opened like a book, it reveals a 7.3-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED screen. A concealed hinge “with multiple interlocking gears” ensures a smooth open-close motion.

You also get six cameras: In smartphone mode, you get a 10MP selfie camera while the rear panel has a 16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide-angle and a 12MP snapper with 2x optical zoom and image stabilisation. The 12MP shooter also has two aperture modes to control the amount of light entering the lens. In tablet mode, you two more front-facing 10MP (selfie) and 8MP (RGB depth) shooters.

The Galaxy Fold will come with an (undisclosed) octa-core processor, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage and a 4380mAh quick-charging battery. Like the Mate X, the Fold also has a fingerprint scanner on its side to unlock the homescreen.

Other features include DeX to connect the device to a display for a PC-like experience, Samsung’s AI voice assistant Bixby, Knox for data security and Pay for contactless payments. The Fold is expected to be available in the Q2 2019 with prices starting at $1,980.

MICROSOFT HOLOLENS 2

Microsoft launched the HoloLens in 2016. The headset allowed wearers to work in environments that melded the real world with holographic imagery. At MWC this year, the software giant unveiled HoloLens 2, which contains a new display system that doubles the field of view and improves the quality of the holograms.

The new headset is fabricated out of lightweight carbon fibre and is designed to fit all head sizes easily with minimum adjustment. It runs on the new Snapdragon 850 Compute Platform and comes with powerful on-device AI to recognise people, environments and objects.

The HoloLens 2 is equipped with eye-tracking sensors that make interactions with holograms more natural; users will be able to manipulate digital objects using hand gestures and natural voice commands – and even securely log into the system with Windows Hello through iris recognition.

While gaming could be a possible application for such technology, the headset—which will be available later this year for $3,500—is built for applications in manufacturing, architecture, construction, engineering, healthcare and education.

Microsoft says that it could be employed in job training; to edit virtual layouts in real-world settings so designers and planners can make better decisions before they build – and even to make interactive presentations to stakeholders and partners. Users can even video conference with colleagues who can provide on-site feedback with real-time annotations and directional cues.

PUNDI X XPHONE

Singapore-based Pundi X showcased their XPhone, a handset that will run on Function X, an ecosystem that’s based on blockchain. Currently, the technology, which is virtually impossible to hack, is used to maintain a decentralised ledger—on nodes all over the internet—for the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Function X significantly expands the use of blockchain technology beyond financial transfers.

Pundi X will produce only 5,000 XPhones in late 2019 for $599 each, but intends to partner with hardware and phone manufacturers to build their own version of handsets powered by Function X.

Subsequently, every smartphone running Function X will be a node, and the devices will use these nodes to route phone calls and messages without the need for phone numbers. Function X will also enable you to securely send and receive data via the blockchain.

But that’s not all. The XPhone is backward compatible with Android. Users will be able to seamlessly switch between Function X and Android with the press of a button. The device showcased at MWC comes with a 5.65-inch Full HD display, a fingerprint sensor, the 2.2GHz Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 48MP rear camera, a 12MP selfie shooter and a 3500mAh battery.

ENERGIZER POWER MAX P18K POP

More is always better, right? The Power Max P18K Pop, sold by France’s Avenir Telecom, houses an 18000mAh fast-charging battery—in an 18mm thick body—that is rated to give 50 days of standby time, 90 hours of talk time or 48 hours of video playback on a full charge.

Taking the excess further, you get five cameras on this brick: A pop-up module carries two (16MP+2MP) front-facing snappers while the rear has a three (12MP+5MP+2MP) lens system.

The Energizer handset features a 6.2-inch FHD+ edge-toedge screen, with a 2.1GHz MediaTek Helio P70 octa-core processor, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. All this will be available later this year for 599 euros.

LG V50 THINQ 5G

Instead of a foldable display, LG has opted for a dual-screen set up. Here, the second display is an optional add-on that connects to the primary 6.4-inch (3120x1440px) QHD+ OLED display like a phone case.

This additional 6.2-inch (2160x1080px) FHD+ OLED screen can be switched on with the tap of an icon on the main display. A multi-window UI feature lets you view multiple apps at the same time and compatible games can use the dual screen to turn the main display into a dedicated controller.

The LG V50 ThinQ will run on the new 2.84GHz Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor, and will come with 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, three rear cameras – a 16MP ultra-wide angle, a 12MP standard, and a 12MP with 2x optical zoom – and two front cameras that comprise an 8MP and 5MP wide-angle snapper.

The handset also carries an IP68 rating for water- and dust-resistance, along with MIL-STD 810G for military-grade durability.

LG has not disclosed any details on pricing and availability.

L5G PHONES

ast year, MWC was all about 5G (fifth-generation) network infrastructure; this year everybody and their uncle showcased 5G handsets.

The Huawei Mate X, the LG V50 ThinQ, the Samsung Galaxy S10, the Mi Mix 3, the ZTE Axon 10 Pro, and unnamed models by OnePlus and Oppo – are all said to be 5G network ready. Then, there is the HTC 5G Hub, which is an Androidbased hotspot that understands voice commands, can support up to 20 simultaneous connections, and comes with speakers and a 5-inch display.

Now all we need is for 5G networks to be deployed. As it stands, India has only just gotten comfy with 4G networks, and 5G spectrum has not been allotted. Even when that does happen, services will go live only after initial testing and trials are completed. Best case scenario, we can expect 5G somewhere in 2021-22.

NUBIA ALPHA

The Nubia’s Alpha is a loud piece of gadgetry that immediately grabs eyeballs. It sports a 4-inch flexible “always on” (960x192px) OLED display—coupled with a stainless-steel bracelet—that wraps around your wrist.

Surprisingly, it runs on the dated Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, which was unveiled in February 2016 (Qualcomm unveiled the 3100 in September 2018). Plus, you get 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, built-in GPS, a heart-rate sensor, a 500mAh battery, eSIM for network connectivity and a 5MP camera. The Alpha’s features—like all smartwatches—are navigated via swipes and taps, and you can have one dwarfing your wrists for around ₹37,000, when it goes on sale in China by the end of the first quarter this year. Europe and US should be getting their own models by the end of 2019. Luckily, there is no launch date for this garish wearable in India… yet.

MEIZU ZERO

The Zero is a futuristic handset that’s seamlessly crafted out of glass and ceramic with no slots, ports or buttons. To begin with, the smartphone uses a pressure-sensing technology to create virtual side buttons to power-on the device and for volume adjustment. Haptic feedback for these controls is handled by Meizu’s proprietary mEngine 2.0 technology.

Instead of a charging port, the Zero uses another home-grown technology called Super mCharge that delivers wireless charging at a constant voltage of 18W. Similarly, file transfers happen via high-speed wireless USB and the Meizu’s proprietary charging base.

Instead of a speaker, the handset employs mSound 2.0 – a vibration-based in-screen sound technology: Users simply need to put their ear against the screen for the crystal-clear audio output.

The technology also transforms the entire front display into an external speaker. The Zero, which runs on the Snapdragon 845 processor, only makes a slight concession in the form of two small holes for its mic. You, of course, get Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.

To achieve a true uninterrupted design, Meizu has also eliminated the SIM tray and supports eSIM that has already made its appearance on Apple iPhones. And finally, you get an in-screen fingerprint sensor and IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, which means the Zero can withstand accidental submersion in 2 metres of water for 30 minutes.

NOKIA 9 PUREVIEW

T he 9 PureView is equipped with five 12MP rear shooters—each of which sport Zeiss lens—that work together to collect 10 times more light than a single camera sensor. Of these, three snappers shoot in monochrome to allow for crisp black-and-white photographs.

Nokia says its handset can deliver “exceptional HDR images and videos” because each shooter adopts a different setting for various parts of the scene. All the simultaneous shots are then fused into a single image that’s packed with details from both, the shadows and the highlights.

Supposedly, the 9 PureView can identify over 1,200 layers in a shot to build a detailed depth map; this allows users to finetune the focus of an image during post-production for beautiful bokehs. And of course, photography aficionados are given the option to shoot in the RAW format to retain each and every detail.

Other specs include a single 20MP selfie camera, a 5.99-inch (1440x2880px) Gorilla Glass 5 display with fingerprint sensor, 2.8GHz Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor, 128GB storage, 6GB RAM, and a 3320mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and wireless charging. Fair warning: Those who suffer from trypophobia might want to avoid staring at the five-rear-camera setup on the Nokia 9 PureView.

TOI 2MAR19