This week, two events happened at once from those that we have been waiting for. We were finally shown not only the new budget Google Pixel 4a, but also the top expensive Samsung Galaxy Note 20, which has already caused sharp criticism from several people in our editorial office. In addition, we have lost one flagship, which will no longer be produced. Many will be upset, but even more will be pleased that Huawei Mate 40 will definitely be. We will be shown it very soon, and one of the leaders of the Chinese company has already stated this. This time we have something to discuss. Let's summarize these seven days and discuss everything that happened.
This week there were a lot of new products
When will Huawei Mate 40 come out
Until the end of the year, there are not many events that can be of interest. One of them diminished this week after Samsung revealed its new phones. The next big presentation, which will show something interesting, will be in September and this has already been confirmed by one of the leaders Huawei. Very soon the company will show the new Huawei Mate 40 and it simply cannot be uninteresting. The company continues to overcome difficult times and every step is interesting. What else do we know about this smartphone, besides the fact that it will soon appear?
Maybe he will be like that, maybe not.
According to a post posted on Weibo by Richard Yu, CEO of Consumer Business Huawei, it won't take long. The top manager confirmed our guesses that the new smartphone of the Huawei Mate 40 series will be released in September this year.
In addition, Yu also added that the Mate 40 series devices will be equipped with the latest and greatest chipset Huawei. We have already said more than once that, most likely, it will receive the name Kirin 1000 or Kirin 1020. True, the name so far we can only predict on the basis of earlier rumors.
This time, the information came from a person we often see at presentations – Richard Yu.
Notably, the Huawei Mate 40 series will have a total of four variants. I have already criticized Samsung for this. It looks like you'll have to get a little outraged again. Among the versions in which the new product will be released will be Huawei Mate 40 Standard Edition, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro + and Mate 40 Porsche Design. Okay, the latter can't be considered a full-fledged model, it's just a limited edition.
All variants of the Mate 40 will have a Kirin 1000 or 1020 chipset. Moreover, it is reported that it will be as much as 50% more powerful than the latest generation Kirin 990. Apparently, the Kirin 1000 or 1020 will be based on a 5nm process technology. It is codenamed 'Baltimore' and has a new Cortex-A78 architecture.
There is no doubt that the camera of the new smartphone will be at the cutting edge of technology. Huawei is usually doing well in this direction, but it is the release of a new smartphone of the P series or Mate that makes the camera ratings slightly change. Even if not everyone believes in them, the cameras at Huawei are really good.
As usual the optics will be developed in collaboration with Leica. Rumors have long been saying that the main camera sensor will have a resolution of 108 megapixels. The company will also not forget about the new lenses that will allow more light to pass through, making shooting in low light conditions easier and photos of better quality.
No, well, it’s unlikely, of course.
According to Seekdevice, CEO Richard Yu also added that the upcoming Huawei Mate 40 series will be updated in terms of design, form factor, performance, improved connectivity 5G, battery and fast charging. That is, if you believe this, then we will get a completely new phone. Although, personally, I doubt it, since literally small changes are enough to say that this will be new.
Most likely, the basis will still be based on last year's device, albeit heavily modified. I just hope that it will not have such strongly curved edges of the screen. There is a feeling that Huawei realized her mistake and is ready to correct it.
The US administration, apparently, is not in the mood to simplify relations with Huawei. And if the US ban continues, the upcoming Mate 40 series smartphones will also ship without Google Play services, and instead will be equipped with mobile services Huawei. Of course, the company continues to develop them, and the AppGallery app store has almost everything that 99% of users need, but for many, the absence of Google Play is critical. On the other hand, this does not prevent the company from setting sales records and entering the top sellers of smartphones in many countries of the world, including Russia.
Smartphones Huawei Mate 40 out of the box will have to run EMUI 11, which will be built on the base of Android 11. All this should also appear in September, but there is a possibility that there will be a slight delay start of sales. However, this will not affect the presentation in any way, and we have long been accustomed to the fact that smartphones begin to be sold only a couple of weeks after they are told about them from the stage.
The time will come and we will find out everything.
Richard Yu also highlighted the fact that Huawei has managed to become the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world in terms of shipments. Q2 2020 Huawei shipped 55.8 million devices. In this ranking, the company even surpassed Samsung with 53.7 million shipments. Why this happened and I talked about the numbers in more detail in this article. Many of you have actively discussed them on our social networks, including Telegram chat.
He clearly added with pride that even after the ban on working with many global companies, Huawei retains its leading position in the market. Now the main thing is not to impose new sanctions against them after such words. Although, the one who introduces them sees everything perfectly.
What will be Huawei Mate 40, time will tell, but now there is one less mystery. We already know that on October 8 we will be shown the Google Pixel 5, but even before that we will see the new top Huawei. We also know that the new Snapdragon processors will be unveiled. \
Google discontinued the Pixel 4
When the first Google Pixel came along, many thought we were going to live. As time went on, a slightly weird Pixel 2 came out, then a Pixel 3 with an ugly cutout. Then there was the extremely successful Pixel 3a in all respects, but later came the time of the Pixel 4, known for its problems with the battery. Now that its budget version has come out, it's time to say goodbye and the company has stopped producing this model, although not even a year has passed since the moment it went on sale. This is not strange, but rather natural. The company wants to quickly turn this page and has even made it clear when the Google Pixel 5 will be released. Therefore, the separation cannot be called sad.
It's time to say goodbye.
The information that Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4XL will no longer be sold is official. Less than a year after their launch, the company is phasing out them. The two flagships are no longer available in the Google Store, and the company will no longer restock from stock.
However, if you really wanted to get this particular phone, you can look for it from third-party sellers who have not yet had time to sell the last lots. This may even make sense, because in anticipation of the upcoming Google Pixel 5 it will be sold at good discounts to get rid of excess goods. Although, for myself, I would rather buy a Google Pixel 4a.
Many people liked the smartphone, but not everyone.
A Google spokesman made the following statement to The Verge, confirming the ditching of an entire generation of Pixel 4 and 4 XL smartphones.
The Google Store sold all of its inventory and ended the sale of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. For people who are still interested in purchasing the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, the product is available from select partners. As long as it is available. Like all Pixel devices, the Google Pixel 4 will continue to receive software and security updates for at least 3 years from the time the device first became available in the US Google Store. – said the representative of the company.
It's a little surprising how early the Pixel 4 flagships left the shelves. By comparison, the Pixel 3 series was discontinued nearly a year and a half after its October 2018 launch. Even the Pixel 3a series that followed it ran for a full year before being retired.
Now the nearest phone from Google that you can buy is the Google Pixel 4a, which can already be ordered in the US and left a request to dealers. Open sales of this smartphone will start on August 20. Then there will be only Google Pixel 5, in respect of which the company “burned” the presentation date – October 8. Let me remind you that we are expecting other new Google phones, including the “clamshell”, but they will appear only next year. I talked about this in a separate article.
The Google Pixel camera has always been his strong suit.
The early discontinuation of the Pixel 4 and 4 XL could mean a few things. The fifth generation is coming and it is necessary to somehow warm up the market before the presentation. If you continue to sell the previous flagship, then when the time comes, significantly fewer people will be ready to buy the new product.
It's also possible that the two Pixel 4 flagships haven't seen enough sales, and Google is just ditching them to keep consumers focused on its latest mid-range Pixel 4a. Considering the difference in cost between the two smartphones and the clear flagship problems that many users complained about last year, the choice is obvious.
It was even reported in May that key members of the Google development team had left the company. Many attributed this to the failure of the Google Pixel 4. Perhaps, the delays in the release of the new Google Pixel 4a, which everyone was waiting for in April-May, were also associated with them. Already this month, several more leaders of the Pixel development team have left their posts, but it is still impossible to say what these suspensions are related to.
There was something about him.
Despite all the problems, you don't have to worry about Google. This is not a company that will be hit hard by a drop in smartphone sales (possibly temporary). She has enough money that she makes from her other businesses and can afford to have a unit operating at minimal profit.
However, she still has an excellent Google Pixel 4a for now, which will be a real boon for those looking to buy a smartphone for around $ 300 – $ 400. Until he supports the sale of the company, and then it will be seen how it all goes.
On my own I would like to add that the Google Pixel is really cool. Last year, I was in awe of the Google Pixel 3a. It's just a pity that the sales geography of the company's new products is so weak. We must somehow expand to other markets. Then sales will grow, and the fans of the brand will grow. But the company knows better.
New cheap Google Pixel 4a
I really love all kinds of rumors and leaks. But not because of the insiders that they contain, but out of sports interest. After the event that they predicted occurs in fact, I undertake to compare what came true and what did not. In most cases, of course, nothing converges. However, from time to time, coincidences still come across, and then you start to think, willy-nilly, is the author of the plum really such an informed person or did he just hit the sky with his finger? For example, as is the case with the Pixel 4a.
I wonder why the Pixel 4a is so unique? I'll explain now
Even though I didn’t believe the leak that predicted the Pixel 4a’s August 3rd release from the start, it did. This week Google officially rolled out a new 'pixel', which is good not only because it is, in fact, new, but also because of its – I'm not afraid of this word – uniqueness. But first, let's dwell on its characteristics. In the end, many were wondering what kind of hardware Google will complete the new product.
Nobody expected, but Google took and rolled out the Pixel 4a for $ 350
- Display: 5.81 inches, Full HD +
- Processor: Snapdragon 730G
- Memory: 6/64, 6/128 GB
- Battery: 3140mAh
- Camera: 12.2MP
As you can see, the characteristics of the novelty are quite passable. In any case, modern state employees from Xiaomi and Honor can find even more rocking devices. For example, batteries with less than 4000 mAh are no longer accepted today, displays with a diagonal of 5.8 inches – too. I'm not talking about the dual camera, which is simply considered bad manners in the industry. Well, was it really impossible to insert a third peephole? Just to be.
But the Pixel 4a doesn't need all of this, it feels good without these bells and whistles. After all, they love 'pixels' not for their hardware specifications, but for their convenience, support and, of course, photographic capabilities. For example, here are a couple of shots taken in sunlight and in dark conditions:
This is how the Pixel 4a shoots in low light conditions
And this is a daytime shot from the same Pixel 4a
Externally, the device looks pretty good. Google did not philosophize slyly and applied almost all the developments that it had left from the Pixel 4a. This allows you to unmistakably discern in the new product belonging to the 'pixel' line of smartphones. At least, if you look at it from behind – the front panel is too typical. But, in fairness, I note that this does not make the device worse: I really like the front camera lens located in the upper left corner. From there, it is least striking, remaining almost unnoticed.
Remember when I said the Pixel 4a is a unique smartphone above? Let's take a brief look at the unique features of the new product that make it completely different from all the others. Moreover, there are really a lot of them:
- This is the first Pixel in the history of a lineup with such a low price – it costs only $ 350 versus $ 399 for the Pixel 3a;
- This is the first Pixel ever to come with 6GB of RAM, although even the classic Pixel 4a only has 4GB of RAM
- This is the first Pixel in the history of the line, which came out without a pair, in a single version. Yes, the Pixel 4a XL is not in the lineup;
- Pixel 4a will be the first 'pixel' to support 5G – a compatible version will be released in the fall and will likely run on Android 11.
In my opinion, Google has turned out to be a really cool smartphone. It happened because the company listened to its customers, who made it clear that it was time to do something popular, and advanced photo capabilities, super-stable support and a special position in Google's account are not at all a reason to raise the price to the skies. . In the end, the modern consumer is not ready to buy budget smartphones for $ 500, and Samsung has understood this. The good thing is that the same thing finally got to Google.
New Galaxy Note 20
Every Samsung presentation reminds me of a challenge. In my opinion, Koreans simply set themselves the goal of surpassing competitors in the senselessness of innovations and the high cost of new smartphones. And how else to explain the fact that from year to year they release devices with incredible amounts of RAM, which will never be useful to them, because their support will stop long before software with such requirements appears, cameras with a hundred megapixels, the potential of which is not even revealed half, and chips like reverse chargers that no one uses? Therefore, there was clearly no need to wait for exceptions. Especially from the Galaxy Note 20.
Calm, only calm
This week Samsung unveiled two new Galaxy Note smartphones: the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. The devices turned out to be very sophisticated, but at the same time too contradictory. Therefore, we will quickly dwell on the characteristics and move on to impressions.
This is Galaxy Note 20. New from Samsung, which turned out to be a smaller flagship than the S20
- Display: 6.7 and 6.9 inches depending on the model;
- Processor: Exynos 990 for Russia and Snapdragon 865+ for the USA;
- Camera: 64/108 Mp
- RAM: 8/12 GB
- Memory: 256/512 GB
- Battery: 4300/4500 mAh
- Price: 79 990/99 990 rubles
To begin with, we – that is, buyers from Russia – were given a flagship, but clearly second-rate. Unlike the American version, the hardware base of which is the top-end Snapdragon 865+ processor, the Russian Galaxy Note 20 is equipped with an old Exynos 990, which first debuted at the beginning of the year in the Galaxy S20. Yes, this is still the flagship stone, but the performance of the 865+ will clearly be higher, and it will also have better energy efficiency. In general, a shame.
Is it the Galaxy Note 20. Or the Galaxy Note 10? I'm confused because they look so much alike
The operating system was cut in comparison with the Galaxy S20 – at least in the top-end modifications. If the S20 Ultra had 12/16 GB, then for the Note 20 this gradation dropped to 8/12. I would not say that I was very upset because of this, after all, 12 and even more so 16 gigs today are banal to apply. But against the general background, such a downgrade looks somehow weak-willed, indicating that Samsung, generally speaking, understands the dead-end of the bar once taken, and realizes that its destiny is budget smartphones.
From a design point of view, smartphones are not to be found fault with. From the front they look very modern, and from the back they are extremely minimalistic. This miniism is provided to them by a newly designed three-chamber module, which was inserted into a rectangular head. Korean designers did not flirt with the roundness characteristic of Chinese devices, but did it in their own way. It turned out simple and impressive.
Samsung has improved the Galaxy Note 20 camera, overclocked the S Pen, but overall it's not a fundamental difference
But with the materials of execution Samsung let us down, at least in relation to the younger version. While the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is made of metal and Gorilla Glass 7, the body of the classic Note 20 is made of some kind of glass and plastic mixture, which is ingratiatingly called 'glastic'. I don't know what's with the strength, but it feels like the whole thing is ordinary plastic and from a conceptual point of view it leaves the impression of trying to save money. In general, to get high, holding a new smartphone in hand, now it will turn out only with the most expensive version for a hundred thousand rubles.
Do the new products have any advantages? Well, there are definitely no ones that no one was expecting and that could really surprise. Yes, the Koreans accelerated the S Pen, reducing its response time to 8ms, yes, they renamed the Galaxy Note 20+ to Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and even clocked the resolution of its camera to 108MP. But, frankly, the thing that they are trying to pass off as perfection itself is some kind of triviality, which I would not buy and would not advise you. Take the Note 10 better. At least it costs adequate money.