Our Thoughts On The Iphone 11: Tangible Upgrades

It’s that time of the year again, crowds raise their cheers as Tim Cook sets foot on stage, millions of cameras twist and turn as if the entire world is watching - it’s Apple’s yearly keynote, and we are all patiently waiting to see what they’ve got in store for us this time around. It’s like this every year, but in 2019, Apple has gone on stage with one mission: provide customers with visible improvements, and after taking a deeper look at the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pros, here’s our two cents on Apple’s 2019 flagships.

An Uphill Battle & Tangible Upgrades

After the release of last year’s iPhone, Apple was caught on a battle against their sales figures - numbers that were often used as proof by many that the company could no longer innovate the same space they created.

Because of this, Apple seems to have largely changed their approach to the way their iPhones are presented this time around. Instead of sticking with the small improvements that plagued the iPhone XS and XS Max, Apple has instead focusing on providing upgrades that could easily and visibly be noticeable by any smartphone owner.

This phenomenon can be seen through the cameras, screen, processor and battery life, all aspects that are not only very important to the everyday smartphone experience, but aspects that Apple made sure to provide numbers and live examples to back their new impressive technology. Seeing the capabilities of their new night mode, or how the triple camera setup allows for 4k 60fps video across all three cameras for example, were both moments in which even an iPhone XS Max user could look on and at least acknowledge that Apple was bringing forth a better product.

Where this new attitude may matter to most is again with battery life, where Apple claimed a 5 hour increase when compared to the previous generation of iPhones. On the processor front, seeing an easy to understand chart that made Apple’s new A13 bionic chip simply destroy the entire competition is another of the plentiful examples where the Cupertino company simply brought silence to other smartphone manufacturers.

These may all seem like small, and mostly expected improvements when looked at individually, but it is when you start to bundle these upgrades all together that it quickly becomes evident that the iPhone 11 is a substantially more usable phone than its last generation.

From Android to IOS?

If you’ve been following our content for a while, you may have quickly caught on to the fact that we are quite vocal about our appreciation for Android. Needless to say however, this hasn’t stopped us from admiring Apple for the amazing value they bring to the table.

At $699, not only is the company sending a message that flagship smartphones don’t always need to cost $1000, but the company is also communicating that it still has room to innovate. This is to say that though we wouldn’t necessarily switch from our Android smartphones to IOS, we admire the fact that Apple is able to step up and provide tangible upgrades in categories that matter the most to consumers, instead of focusing on the nitty-gritty details that most wouldn’t notice - as is often seen in the Android side of the competition.

Would you get an Iphone 11? Let us know down below!

Folding Phones Such As The Samsung Galaxy Fold And Huawei Mate X Have No Place In The Market

Every few years the technology market feels the need to rejuvenate itself. Now, after the single screen smartphones have been perfected, the jump to dual screen technology has finally started - and in its current state, we think it doesn’t have space in the smartphone market.

First introduced to the mainstream masses by Samsung and Huawei, folding phones aim to combine the portability of the everyday smartphone with their opportunities provided by a larger tablet screen. As seen with the recent Galaxy Fold, the concept includes the mending of two screens, which can be bent in half or opened depending on just how much screen real-estate a user may require.

In concept, combining two everyday technology products into one could be quite brilliant, but in actuality, the product shows more than a few flaws. For starters, combining two products that were always meant to be used separately creates what ultimately doesn’t achieve the perfection of either or. This is especially true in the age of the iPad Pro, where tablets have started adapting into work machines instead of the media giants they were always treated as.

Samsung has resorted to their own custom skin in the form of DEX

This issue is especially true when software is taken into consideration. On the tablet side of the spectrum, more desktop based experiences have been the driving force of allowing tablets to be more than media consumption devices. Apps such as the full version of Adobe Photoshop have now been made for the iPad, making this multi-tasking centric interpretation of what a tablet can do feeling very archaic.

But for those that think that this first generation technology can progress just as easily as smartphones did, think again. Earlier this year, Google announced that it was shifting its focus from Android tablets entirely to its Chrome OS platform. Though this could be subject to change as folding phones amass popularity, from the get go the platform is disadvantage in terms of support.

Google has moved to Chrome OS for large screen devices

Lastly, but certainly not less important than software is hardware. If the failure that was the first batch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is to be taken as an example of what this technology can achieve in its first generation, we have quite few things to worry. From the flimsy build quality to the natural bend in the middle of the flexible OLED used for its tablet functions, dual screen phones are not only more expensive, but come with a significant higher risk attached to them.

At the end, what this entails that whilst slowly progressing what seems like a slowing industry, folding phones are not only fundamentally broken, but disadvanted in both their hardware capabilities and future software - leaving them at what can only be described as an awkward space in the current smartphone market.

Xiaomi Unveils Mi Mix Alpha, A $3000 Phone Not Many WIll Ever Own

Xiaomi has always been reputable for incredible devices offered at budget price tags. As the cliche goes however, all things must change, and with Xiaomi’s latest unveiling of its Mi Mix Alpha, a $3000 smartphone that not many will ever own.

Packing the latest and greatest technology, a 180% screen to body rate and a 108MP camera, the Mi Mix Alpha is Xiaomi’s first attempt to settle itself as a competitive figure in the flagship smartphone space.

According to the company’s Lei Jun, the Alpha is the company’s first step towards reinventing Xiaomi as a smartphone company. “Actually, we want to get rid of this reputation that our phones cost less than 2,000 Yuan. We want to invest more and make better products” Said Jun as a response to many of the company’s fans complaining about the lack of ingenuity that came with Xiaomi’s latest releases.

Furthermore, Jun also stated that “In the future, our phones might get more expensive - not a lot, but a little more expensive,” hinting towards Xiaomi slowly abandoning the space it once dominated, and instead entering a crowd where it never has competed.

The change in market has left many Xiaomi fans wondering what is next for the company, with some speculating that its Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 will release with many features of the Alpha, but instead hinting towards the $1000 price tag, placing Xiaomi right next to Apple and Samsung’s flagship offerings.

Despite not having a clear release data, the limited quantities announced and its more than expensive price-tag make it almost clear that the Mi Mix Alpha may a technological joy that never leaves China.

Here’s What You Should Do If Your K20 Pro Has a Fake Global ROM

A few weeks ago, we reported on a aliexpress seller that was falsely commercialising Chinese K20 Pros as if they shipped with a “Global ROM”. Despite our fair warning, the internet is vast, and as such, what to some is an obvious scam, to others was a tempting buy. With that in mind, here are some options that you can explore if you bought a K20 Pro with a fake Global ROM.

Look On The Bright Side

Having a fake Global of the K20 Pro, though surely unwanted, is not all bad news. With a non-official ROM coming installed by default, you can rejoice safely knowing that not only is your device legitimate, but it comes with the bootloader unlocked by default, a process that could otherwise take you two weeks to manually do.

Flash An Authentic ROM

There is nothing wrong with wanting a stock Xiaomi experience, and thankfully, Xiaomi provides its user base with just enough resources to successfully achieve just that. Through the Mi flash tool, users are able to easily and safely install a verified authentic ROM, be it China’s or an international ROM, providing what is seemingly the safest and easiest way to ensure your device’s stock legitimacy.

Install a Custom ROM

Perhaps our favorite option, the world of custom ROMs is simply massive. From the Google Experience ROM to the Xiaomi EU ROM, developers have put a lot of effort to provide stable experiences that can fit anyone’s preferences - so have fun!

Though this method may seem daunting - and a lot of prior research on the ROM is required - once you master the art of downloading and installing a custom ROM, your Xiaomi experience is bound to change for the better.

With these options in mind, we hope that the pain of buying a fake device has been lessened. Do any of these options sound appealing, let us know down below!

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These Truly Wireless Earbuds Prove That You Can Get A Good Experience Under $20

With every new flagship smartphone there seems to come a well designed, yet terribly expensive pair of truly wireless earbuds. As the market evolves however, more and more companies have been able to simplify the product’s formula, bringing lower prices that come with unnoticeable compromises. With this in mind, here are three of the best truly wireless earbuds that you can get for just $20. 

Haylou GT1

Small is the name of the game when it comes to truly wireless earbuds, but be assured that you’re far from the only one that instantly assumed that small equals flawed – but with the Haylou GT1s this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Offering a solid range of touch controls, these earbuds offer all the conveniences of truly wireless earbuds whilst remaining discrete and fashionable in your day to day routine.

QCY T1C

Great tactile controls define this pair of earbuds. If you aren’t one to rapidly catchup with the gesture trend technology has been following, then solid and responsive buttons are a must – and the QCY T1C provides that in spades.

Following the solid build standard, the QCY T1C’s case is one of the sturdiest ones you’ll find around, alleviating the stress that may come with the fear of possibly scratching your brand new pair of truly wireless earbuds.

For the price, the Q32 pack some cool features that other headphones don’t

Alfawise Q32

With what seems like a gigantic carrying case, these earbuds come with an all-day battery life to match. Though that does come at the compromise of being harder to pocket than some other alternatives, the ability to use them for longer tasks such as a road trip or a long workout session make these earbuds more than worth the price of admission. 

If that wasn’t enough to sway you into loving the Alfawise Q32, their wide range of touch controls make leaving your phone out of range while listening to music a true possibility – bringing the truly wireless future to your own hands for the cheap.

As it may have become clear, these devices are by no means perfect all-rounders, and with each pair nailing a certain specific feature, you as the consumer will always have to have a personal set of preferences. Nevertheless, for the low price of $20, each of these earbuds provide something worth discussing, and provide an audio experience that will be exceptional for your everyday pop and hip-hop listening sessions. 

The more impressive takeaway from our research is that for a market that just two years ago was overpopulated with premium offerings, being able to find ways to enjoy a similar level of comfort for just $20 shows that great technology can indeed be accessible. 

Purchase Links:

Alfawise Q32

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Haylou GT1

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QCY T1C

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Android Tablets In 2019: Is it Still Worth Getting One?

Is there a reason to get an Android tablet in 2019

For many, Android tablets are a thing of the past, pieces of hardware that are as old as time

itself. As media streaming becomes increasingly popular however, we have decided to revisit these

now niche products to ultimately answer: are they still worth it in 2019?

Quickly glance through Amazon and you’ll find that in 2019, Android tablets are either very

cheap or extremely expensive. Ranging from the $100 plastic tablets that still feature quad core

processors to the $700 Samsung tablets that are just too hard to justify, shopping for an Android

tablet has never been more difficult.

Actually pick one up, in our case the Mi pad 4, and you’ll quickly start to realise that

removing Android from the Android tablet equation would quickly fix its worst problems. Whereas

IPad OS now offers desktop level browsing and a full version of Adobe photoshop, Android tablets

feel like a sheer waste of space. Load an app like Google Chrome on any Android tablet and you’ll

swiftly realise that you’re running what is an essentially scaled up version of the phone app,

making the desire for a dedicated device much less appealing.

As if software limitations weren’t enough, Android tablets suffer from all sorts of hardware

imperfections - even at the higher end. Whether it be terrible displays at the lower end or

insufficient battery life at the higher-end models, you’ll be hard pressed to find a single

manufacturer that builds a tablet that can ooze as much as your typical Android smartphone - and

that’s a shame for consumers that want a device that feels just as bit as nice to hold as it is to use.

Beyond being often improperly priced, and leaving much to be desired in terms of Software

optimisation, Android tablets also have a fierce - and undeniably better - competitor: iPads. Now

starting at simply $329, products that were once associated with premium users can now not only

be accessible to most consumers, but do so while offering an unrivaled level of software and

hardware revision that most Android tablet users could only dream of having.

To bring home my point, allow me to explain myself through an analogy. Mitchell uses a Mi

Pad 4, a perfectly fine Android tablet, perhaps one of the best at its price. Yet due to software and

hardware limitations, Mitchell’s use of his device has been limited to a point where his justification

of owning the device are very personal, in his case simply offering a bigger display for his drone-

flying experience. Meanwhile, I carry with me Apple’s latest iPad Pro, and whilst it may be priced

closed to a laptop, Apple’s constant software revisions alongside flawless first-party accessories

have allowed for an experience that has, in my personal use, completely warranted its price-tag.

Does this mean that you should completely avoid Android tablets? Not necessarily. If you

can find a tablet as good as the Mi Pad 4 for a price significantly lower than $329, and have a

perfectly justifiable excuse to need an Android device that is not a phablet, then by all means make

your happy purchase. But if you are simply in the market for a bigger, yet perfectly solid device,

we’d whole heartedly recommend buying Apple’s offerings or a bigger Android phone before you

dive in what in 2019 seems like uncharted Android tablet territory.

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