Tag: smartphones

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Mobile Syrup

Nearly half of refurbished smartphone sales in 2022 were iPhones

Apple has seen a substantial increase in its refurbished iPhone sales since last year, with the company holding a 49 percent share of the market.

According to research firm Counterpoint, the tech giant’s refurbished iPhone sales grew 16 percent last year, up a staggering 44 percent from 2021. Rival Samsung lagged behind, holding only a 26 percent market share, down from 28 percent the previous year.

Apple has done exceptionally well with keeping its refurbished iPhones a serious option for customers. The iPhones are outfitted with a new USB-C to Lightning cable, an outer shell and even new batteries. The phones also come unlocked and can be used with any carrier, giving users an option that’s close to brand new without having to pay full price.

The popularity of refurbished iPhones is also due in part to Apple’s warranty policy, allowing customers to take advantage of a full year of AppleCare+, which covers batteries and outer shell repairs.

Statistically, India became the leading refurbished smartphone market in 2022, with China taking a backseat due to a 17 percent decline in sales. Emerging markets saw a limited supply of refurbished devices, with consumers allegedly holding on to new smartphones for longer.

The increase could stem from rising component prices and globally high inflation, which impacted the sale of smartphones and created a demand for lower-priced models. However, Counterpoint suggests that the increase could be the start of a trend over the coming years, with trade-in programs becoming a staple choice for customers looking to get more for less.

For more iPhone news, Apple may be testing out a journaling app.

Source: Counterpoint Via: MacRumors

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Mobile Syrup

New Pixel Fold leak uncovers the foldable phone’s potential specs

A new leak from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech about the upcoming Pixel Fold offers a detailed look at the foldable’s potential specs.

According to Prosser, the Pixel Fold will cost $1,799 USD (approximately $2436.45 CAD) for the 256GB model and $1,919 USD (approximately $2598.97 CAD) for the 512GB model. The fold is said to come in two colours, chalk and obsidian, with the 512GB model available in obsidian only.

Google is also reportedly offering a free Pixel Watch for everyone who pre-orders the Pixel Fold, making the steep price point more justified.

According to the leak, both foldable models will feature 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and run the Tensor G2 chip with the Titan M2 security chip. As for dimensions, the phone allegedly measures 5.5 by 3.1 by 0.5-inches when folded.

The outer display of the Pixel Fold is set to feature a 17.4:9 aspect ratio at 5.8-inches and will sport an FHD+ OLED display with a resolution of 2092 × 1080 pixel resolution OLED screen. The inner display sits at 7.6-inches, with the foldable display featuring ultra-thin glass protected by plastic.

Like the Pixel 7 series, the upcoming Pixel Fold will come with Google One VPN, according to this report.

The recent leak also touches on the specs of the phone’s cameras. Prosser reports a 48-megapixel main sensor with /1.7 aperture and a sensor size of half an inch. The front outer selfie camera is reported to have a 9.5-megapixel sensor with 1.22 pm pixel width, f/2.2 aperture, and fixed focus.

Pre-orders for the Pixel Fold open on May 10th, with the foldable phone expected to get a full introduction at the Google I/O 2023. The foldable is expected to release in June 2023.

Image credit: Jon Prosser 

Source: Jon Prosser Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Asus ROG Phone 7 features AI that detects ‘kills, deaths and victory moments’ in games

Taiwanese electronics company Asus aims to capture the attention of mobile gamers with its new mobile gaming phone, the ROG Phone 7, which marks the first instance of A.I. for automatic gaming capture.

The A.I. feature can be found in the phone’s “Game Genie” dashboard and is known as ‘X Capture.’ Based on the company’s own A.I. pattern recognition system, the tool can detect key events in supported games, such as “kills, deaths and victory moments.”

Another new tool known as ‘X-Sense’ also makes its debut on the phone, using the same algorithm and notifications to help the user make live, in-game decisions.

While this all sounds pretty useful for enhancing mobile gaming experiences, unfortunately, both AI  features currently only support the title Arena of Valor and only in markets such as Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand. Still, the product team is apparently already working on supporting more titles.

As for other features, the clip-on cooler from previous models is back and with an upgrade. It now doubles as a subwoofer — giving the phone a big push in terms of sound quality by allowing its stereo speakers to shine. ‘Vibration mapping’ has also been added, allowing users to add tactile feedback to their designed buttons.

Bundling everything that worked with the previous ROG Phone 6 and improving on it, including improved thermal cooling, an upgraded front camera and improved brightness for better viewing, the ROG Phone 7 looks to be hitting all the marks when it comes to a great mobile gaming phone.

The Asus ROG Phone 7 will have select models available for pre-order in Europe and Taiwan on April 13th, with Asus confirming that the ROG Phone 7 series will eventually be launched in the U.S., with no information on the date or pricing yet. It’s unclear if the device will make its way to Canada.

Image credit: Asus

Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

New iPhone SE with custom 5G modem rumoured to launch in 2025

There’s talk that Apple is planning to release an iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem in 2025, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

In a research note with Haitong International Securities on April 11th, Pu said the modem will be manufactured by TSMC, Apple’s chipmaking associate.

Two months ago, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple had restarted development for a 4th-gen iPhone SE that would feature a 6.1-inch OLED display and an Apple-designed 5G modem. Kuo also reported that the modem would also be built with TSMC’s 4nm process, so the current rumours do have some history.

Kuo said that the production of the fourth-generation SE would commence in the first half of 2024, but Pu suspects production will be delayed until 2025.

As for design, the current iPhone SE model was released in March 2022 and is the last model to feature a Home button and Touch ID. It also features Qualcomm’s custom Snapdragon X57 chip for 5G compatibility. Kuo says that the new SE slated would most likely feature a design similar to the iPhone 14 model, meaning a switch to Face ID is probable.

In an effort to design its own modem, Apple acquired the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019, reducing its dependence on Qualcomm. It has yet to be seen what benefits the Apple-designed modems will feature, but that could be revealed if these rumours are confirmed.

Source: MacRumors

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Mobile Syrup

Motorola unveils the new Moto G Power 5G to its budget-tier line

Motorola has just announced the latest addition to its budget-tier lineup — the Moto G Power 5G.

The phone features an octa-core processor with 5G performance, a 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 256GB of built-in storage, depending on the model. It also houses the spatial sound of Dolby Atmos on its stereo speakers for increased audio quality.

Motorola’s newest offering uses the Android 13 operating system, with easy access to popular Google apps.

Additionally, the Moto G Power 5G is capable of going more than a full day on a single charge, thanks to its 5,000mAh battery. It allows up to 38 hours of battery life, giving users more time to explore all of the features the phone offers, including customizable themes and wallpapers or testing features like three-finger screenshots and quick launch.

Moto G5

Further, users can use the 50-megapixel main camera for capturing photos day or night. The main rear camera also captures video in Full High Definition (60/30fps.)

Aesthetic-wise, the Moto G Power comes in ‘Mineral Black’ and ‘Pearl White’ and features a water-repellant design.

Moreover, Motorola offers ‘Family Space,’ allowing a custom safe space to be created, complete with adjustable screen time limits and app accessibility.

The Moto G Power 5G will be available in the U.S. at Best Buy, Amazon and Motorola starting April 13th and will retail for $299.99 United States.

In Canada, it will be available at Motorola.ca in the coming months for roughly $403.77 CAD.

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s iPhone hardware subscription service reportedly delayed

Apple is reportedly still working on an iPhone hardware subscription service alongside its already announced ‘Apple Pay Later’ program.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant is developing four different payment-related projects, including its previously announced ‘Apple Card Savings Account’ and ‘Apple Pay Later.’ The other two platforms, its iPhone hardware subscription program and ‘Apple Pay Monthly Installments,’ haven’t been announced yet.

Bloomberg says that Apple’s iPhone subscription platform was initially set to launch in 2021 alongside the iPhone 13 and then the iPhone 14 in 2022. However, it’s suffered from “engineering and technical setbacks that have led to slow progress and missed deadlines.” The project is rumoured to still be in the works, however.

In Canada, you can already purchase the iPhone, iPad and Mac on a monthly installment plan. For example, the iPhone 14 is available for $45.79 per month over 24 months at 0 percent APR. This offer is provided to Apple through Paybright by Affirm. The U.S. also offers a similar monthly payment plan.

Unlike these financing options, the rumoured subscription service will feature a “yet-to-be-determined monthly fee that depends on which device the user chooses.” Apple Pay Later differs from both of these offers in that it will be open to more devices and is tied to the Apple Card.

Gurman says that Apple Pay Later will launch in the U.S. in “March or April.” It’s unclear when the hardware subscription platform or Apple Card Savings Account will release in the United States.

It’s important to note that we don’t know if Apple plans to release its rumoured iPhone hardware subscription program in Canada. While we eventually got Apple Pay, the service arrived several months after its U.S. release, and we still don’t have the Apple Card here. With this in mind, if the service does come here, it will likely be well after other regions.

Source: Bloomberg Via: 9to5Mac 

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Mobile Syrup

Nintendogs could be making a comeback on iOS and Android

Since the release of Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo seems to have mostly abandonned its once lofty smartphone gaming ambitions.

However, that could change if a new patent uncovered by My Nintendo News comes to fruition. A recently approved patent shows off a version of the 2005 Nintendo DS virtual pet game running on iOS and Android devices.

In Nintendogs, players use the DS’ touchscreen to play, train, pet, wash and walk their virtual dog. The title also took advantage of the DS’ built-in mic to allow players to give their dogs verbal commands. The experience was sort of like an advanced version of a Tamagotchi, but in the form of a DS title.

Image credit: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Given the real-time pet simulation series sold 23.96 million copies worldwide, it makes sense that the Japanese gaming giant would want to bring it back on smartphones.

Nintendo has made no official announcements regarding Nintendogs being revived on mobile devices.

Image credit: wikiHow

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Via: My Nintendo News, iPhone in Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Apple will reportedly cancel or delay 2024 iPhone SE refresh

Apple’s rumoured 2024 iPhone SE refresh could be cancelled or delayed, according to a series of tweets from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo says that his sources indicate Apple will delay or scrap the 2024 iPhone SE due to lower-than-expected shipments of the iPhone SE (2022) that released earlier this year, the iPhone 13 mini and even the iPhone 14 Plus.

The analyst goes on to say that the design Apple has planned for the 4th-gen iPhone SE would require the tech giant to sell it at a higher cost and that it will “reconsider the product positioning and return on investment.” Kuo says rethinking its strategy surrounding a potential iPhone SE refresh will allow Apple to navigate the “challenges of the global economic recession in 2023.”

Past rumours have suggested that Apple’s next iPhone SE will look a lot like an iPhone XR and that the device will ditch the physical Touch ID button on the front in favour of Face ID or a side-oriented Touch ID sensor built into the power button, such as what’s available on some iPads.

Screen size is rumoured to come in at 6.1-inches, but it’s unclear if the device will feature an LCD or OLED display. The new iPhone SE will also reportedly still feature a display notch.

It’s unclear what Apple’s plans are for a refreshed iPhone SE or if the device has been cancelled altogether. Given the device likely won’t release until sometime in 2024, it’s important to point out that the tech giant’s strategy could shift significantly in the coming months.

Source: @mingchikuo Via: MacRumors

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Mobile Syrup

Virgin Plus rolls out holiday deals with discounts on Pixel, Galaxy

Bell’s Virgin Plus has started rolling out smartphone deals to match its $50/40GB and $45/20GB promo plans. Check out some of the highlights below:

Virgin also has several “certified pre-loved” devices available too:

Aside from the online deals, some RedFlagDeals users were able to get a deal on the iPhone 14, nabbing it plus the 40GB plan for $75/mo total. Based on the details shared on RFD, it seems like Virgin is offering some bill credit or other discount since online the iPhone 14 costs $47.12/mo financing. The deal does seem to be in-store only, however, so your mileage may vary.

You can check out all of Virgin Plus’ deals here. You can also learn more about the $50/40GB plan here, or about other carrier offers here.

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Mobile Syrup

Fido’s Boxing Week phone deals: save on Pixel 6a, Galaxy S21 FE

Earlier this week, Fido rolled out a $50/40GB plan, and now the Rogers flanker brand is back with discounts on smartphones. We’ve highlighted some of the better offers below:

Fido also has a few deals on certified pre-owned devices:

You can check out all of Fido’s offers here. You can also learn more about Fido’s plan deals here, or check out the best Canadian carrier deals here.