TechnikNews Weekly # 003: News from the MWC and leaks for the OnePlus 6
A SUMMARY of David Haydl 
on March 04, 2018, 19:57 | Write a comment
TechnikNews Weekly is a new format from us in which all the interesting news from the world of technology from the past week are summarized. In the second edition: News from MWC and first leaks for the upcoming OnePlus 6.
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Presentation of the Samsung Galaxy S9 (Plus)
On Sunday the time had finally come. After less than a year of waiting and a lot of leaks, Samsung presented the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9 Plus. These two devices follow the basic idea of the models from the previous year, but have been improved in some areas. The fingerprint sensor is now located on the back under the camera, making it easier to reach. In addition to that, the dual camera in the Galaxy S9 Plus has now been installed vertically. On the front, the lower edge of the display has become a bit smaller and the mono speaker from last year's devices has been replaced by stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus come in different colors. (Picture: TechnikNews/Screenshot)
Depending on the region, Samsung's own Exynos 9810 chip or the Snapdragon 845 is built into the new smartphones. In the small Samsung these are supported by 4GB of RAM, in the large model it is 6GB of RAM. The software was based on Android 8.0 Oreo with the Experience UX 9.0. The cameras all have a resolution of 12MP. Depending on the lighting conditions, it can also switch between f / 1.5 and f / 2.4, thanks to a mechanical aperture. Both devices can now be pre-ordered. You will find them in stores from March 16th.
- Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus presented: It's inside
- Samsung Galaxy S9: Date for the unpacked event and all the latest news
Nokia's new smartphones
Nokia came to the MWC with four new smartphones. Starting with the Nokia 1, which is a very compact device by today's standards. With its poor camera, plastic back, weak Mediatek processor and Android Go, it is the entry-level device among the four. Then the successor to the Nokia 6 was presented to the public, the Nokia 6 (2018). The casing of this smartphone is made of aluminum, Android One was chosen as the OS and the Snapdragon 630 was chosen for the processor, which means that this device is in the mid-range league.
The Nokia 7 XL was given the Snapdragon 660, which is slightly better than the Snapdragon 630 mentioned above. That is why the Nokia 7 XL is still a mid-range device. The OLED display is also better than that of the Nokia 6 (2018). The Nokia 8 Scirocco is touted as a flagship. The ceramic casing that Nokia chose for this smartphone is supposed to make the device very robust. Android One is also used as the operating system here, and last year's Snapdragon 835 was used as the processor. All of the devices mentioned above are expected to be launched this month and next.
Huawei Matebook X Pro introduced
The Matebook X Pro from Huawei was also introduced, which is the successor to last year's Matebook X. The FullView display is 13,9 inches and the resolution is 3000x2000 pixels. This means that it is a 3:2 format. It also covers 91% of the possible area, which is why the front camera has been moved under a button in the keyboard. The most expensive configuration has an 7th generation Intel Core i8 with a GeForce MX150 and 16GB RAM. The 57,4Wh battery can be quickly recharged with Quick Charge. As special features, Huawei has installed a fingerprint sensor and speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
The display is almost filled to the edge. (Picture: TechnikNews/Screenshot)
Sony Xperia XZ2 (compact) with a new design
Sony hasn't changed the design of their devices roughly for a long time, that has now changed with the new Xperia XZ2 (compact), which was presented at the MWC this week. By design change I mean that the display bezels have become a lot thinner. The fingerprint sensor has also moved to the back. AproPos display: This is an 18:9 AMOLED panel with an FHD+ resolution, which is 2 inches in the Xperia XZ5,7. In the Xperia XZ2 compact, it is only 5 inches. Both devices use the Snapdragon 845 with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and a 3180mAh battery. In both cases, the cameras have a resolution of 19MP. Like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, these smartphones can also record videos at 960FPS and FHD resolution. Stereo speakers were also installed again. If they emit a sound, the device can vibrate to match it.
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact shows the fingerprint sensor together with an NFC chip on the back. (Image: Sony)
Leaks to the OnePlus 6
The first usable leaks for the upcoming OnePlus 6 have now been seen on a Chinese platform. According to these pictures, the device should only have very thin display bezels and the notch of the iPhone X. You can also see that the back of the photo is made of glass. We also expect that the Snapdragon 845 with 4GB or 6GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB memory will be installed in the device. When it comes to software, you could possibly opt for Android 8.1 Oreo with the current version of OxygenOS.
This is what the future OnePlus 6 could look like - with a notch like the iPhone X. (Image: ITHome)
Vivo Apex - the company's new highlight
At this year's CES, Vivo caused astonishment with the fingerprint on the display of their smartphone. Now the company has come to MWC with the Vivo Apex, a concept smartphone. This houses a 6 inch OLED display in 18: 9 format, which covers the front for an incredible 98%. This means that the front camera and speakers ran out of space. The front camera is therefore hidden in the housing and can be extended if necessary. For the sound, Vivo has based itself on the Bravia televisions from Sony, which can output sound via vibrations of the display. However, it is unclear whether a smartphone of this type will appear from the company at some point, since, as mentioned, it is a concept.
Striking: the almost borderless design, without an annoying camera in the display. (Image: Vivo)
More articles
- TechnikNews Weekly # 002: Experience reports on the Galaxy S9 (Plus), WWDC 2018 and more
- All previous editions of the TechnikNews Weekly