Verizon will launch 5G in Houston this year, looking to Google as live TV provider

5G is getting really real. The spec is complete, the phones are coming, and Verizon, the largest mobile provider in the U.S., has announced that in addition to Los Angeles and Sacramento, it will launch 5G residential broadband service in Houston by the end of 2018.

Verizon made the announcement as part of its second-quarter earnings, where it said it amassed 531,000 new subscribers, including 199,000 mobile phone users, and said that growth, profitability, and revenue were all solid and within expectations. Nothing too exciting.

What’s interesting here is twofold: unlike AT&T, which is moving heavily into a vertical integration model with its recent acquisition of Time-Warner, and Sprint/T-Mobile, which are in the middle of convincing the U.S. government to allow them to merge, Verizon seems to be focusing on building out network infrastructure. Specifically 5G network infrastructure. While it will launch 5G on internet sticks for laptops, and 5G hubs for homes, by the end of 2018, it is likely using its considerable mmWave stockpile to plan for mobile service by the middle of 2019, with a broader national rollout in 2020.

Verizon hasn’t had much success with content, as shown by the $900 million writedown for Go90, its failed over-the-air streaming service that was recently integrated into Oath, the merger of AOL and Yahoo!. As a result, Verizon is said to be looking to partner with a company that already has its own over-the-top TV streaming offering — specifically Google or Apple. Given that Apple has yet to actually launch a live TV product (though it’s been rumored for years), the likely candidate would be Google’s YouTube TV, which itself has reportedly been struggling to pick up enough subscribers to become profitable.

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Babylon’s Fall for PlayStation 4: Everything you need to know

History repeats itself in this tale about saving humanity.

The latest game from the successful tag team of Square Enix and PlatinumGames is known as Babylon’s Fall. The trailer we were treated to at E3 2018 seemed light on substance at first glance, but there were tons of details offered throughout once we sat down and really picked it apart.

So, what is Babylon’s Fall? Good question. The obvious answer is that it’s some sort of fantasy game set in what appears to be a much different version of Babylon than the one from mythologies of old. Keep reading to find out everything else you need to know about this exciting upcoming PlayStation 4 title.

• What is Babylon’s Fall?
• Story
• Gameplay
• Release Date

What is Babylon’s Fall

Babylon’s Fall is the product of another rockstar collaboration between PlatinumGames and Square Enix. The duo created Nier: Automata, which was one of 2017’s most compelling games.

Unfortunately, we weren’t offered many details on what sort of game this would be. Knowing PlatinumGames, we’re likely getting some sort of action-focused game that may have RPG elements.

Story

While the announcement was light on details, the trailer packed enough of a backstory to start getting us interested in the world of Babylon’s Fall. The story begins in the Helos Empire during the year CE 5000, where the people of Albeland — keen on expanding their kingdom — discovered something called the Oversoul. The Oversoul is a mysterious energy source that seems to imbue its handlers with great power.

The earliest usage of Oversoul was by the Seers, who were using it to induce visions of the future to make predictions about things that may happen in the world. The Seers wrote these prophecies down in the Ephesian Book, which effectively makes it their version of the Bible.

Everything seemed well until one of the prophecies told of an apocalypse that would be brought down upon the lands by an “all-consuming darkness.” It prompted a man named Waland to travel south, with him believing that he was a beacon of hope for mankind.

It’s unclear what Waland’s exact mission is, but back home things have taken a turn for the worst. Commoners are rioting and protesting against the ruling class for their use of the Oversoul. Despite the backlash, the rulers of Babylon continued to use the Oversoul for their various needs, and the riots eventually developed into full-blown warring.

Things got so bad that divine forces had to step in and dole out punishment. That’s right — the prophecies were true and an apocalypse delivered by the Elder Gods wipes out much of humanity.

By CE 5205, a new goddess named Gaia is born, and her purpose is to help save humanity from extinction. She does so by instating a new world order designed to maintain peace. Peace did follow, and Gaia’s impact was so effective that a high priest named Darius formed the Scholars of Gaia to ensure people stayed on the right path.

The Scholars were no ordinary church, however. They had become a full-blown enforcement agency, executing the first non-believer in the year 5347. This event caused a great deal of tension among the masses, and the noblemen of Babylon once again looked to take back control. What followed was years of conflict and fighting.

The warring reached a peak around CE 5385 when the “Soul plague” fell over the world. The Scholars of Gaia — among other groups — looked to use the public’s fear of this plague to convert as many people to their creed as they could.

By now, the Ephesian Book had all but been forgotten, and even the Scholars were taking advantage of Gaia’s mercy. A Seer named Maria ended up finding the book in CE 5428 and took heed of the prophecies written in it. Fearing for the future, Maria established the New World Academy to try and get everyone back on the right path.

But it was too late. Gaia already made her mind up that humanity had failed, and her anger caused her to punish them on her day of judgment.

Following the cleanse, a race of people known as the Nomads were born within something called the Shrine of Souls, an event that is eventually known as The Awakening. We’re not sure where or what this shrine is, but the nomads were somehow born with the resolve and power to fight back against Gaia, and that’s exactly what they set out to do once they come of age in the year CE 5500.

And that’s presumably where Babylon’s Fall will pick up. The trailer hints that you may control one of these nomads in their mission to save their people.

As you can tell, PlatinumGames has already fleshed out a pretty deep backstory for the game. The company has never been one to fumble in the storytelling department, but we’ve never seen them set up a stage as deep as the one for Babylon’s Fall is. That tells us to expect a game full of rich lore and perhaps forms the basis of a new franchise that can be explored over multiple games or episodes of downloadable content.

Gameplay

As we mentioned before, PlatinumGames didn’t have anything to show or talk about in terms of Babylon’s Fall gameplay, with its trailer offering little more than concept art. For what it’s worth, studio head Atsushi Inaba said this game is “a new challenge” for his studio, suggesting there may be some new gameplay constructs in the works that we may not be used to from the studio.

This developer typically sticks to action-based gameplay elements, with different buttons for light and heavy attacks, a dodge system, and sometimes quick-time events being used.

Evidence of the classic PlatinumGames gameplay was briefly shown at the end of the trailer, where a titan-looking creature was damaged by some sort of slashing attack. Many have drawn similarities between both the character and attack to something you might see in their previous games, notably Bayonetta and Nier: Automata. While that does nothing in the way of confirmation, it’s clear PlatinumGames will eventually do what it does best.

One last thing to mention: the trailer made it clear that there are multiple nomads. Four were shown, to be exact. There’s a chance we could eventually hear about some co-op elements, though we have little but conjecture and speculation to go on at this point.

Release Date

Babylon’s Fall doesn’t currently have a release date. PlatinumGames and Square Enix have mentioned that it’ll launch at some point in 2019. You’ll be able to play it on PlayStation 4 or PC.

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AR Emoji update improves facial tracking and custom options on the Galaxy S9

Is anyone still using these?

When Samsung announced the Galaxy S9 and S9+ earlier this year, one of the more whimsical new features demoed was AR Emoji, Samsung’s competitor to the iPhone X’s Animoji. In short, the app scans your face and quickly spits out an animated version of you, with facial tracking and customizable options for hair, clothing, and skin tone.

With the latest update to AR Emoji, those custom options are expanding to help you really fine-tune your cartoon self. Now, in addition to the options listed above, you can fill out your cheeks, square off your chin, adjust your eye shape, fill out your lips, and even shrink or expand your neck.

There are other new adjustable traits, too, from more in-depth customization of the hair to the ears, nose, and more — you’ll have to play around in the app yourself to really get the full gist.

In addition, AR Emoji is getting better facial tracking, with Samsung claiming 65% more ‘landmark detector’ points, as well as an unspecified increase in frame rates. That should all add up to a smoother, more … realistic look? Well, smoother, anyway.

As per usual, delivery of the update will vary depending on your location, but expect to find it in Samsung’s Galaxy Apps when it’s ready.

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Nomad Debuts New Tesla Wireless Charger Made to Fit Model 3 Vehicles

Nomad today announced the launch of a new wireless charging accessory that’s been designed specifically with new Tesla Model 3 vehicles in mind.

The Tesla Wireless Charger is a wireless charging dock developed for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and future iPhones, which fits perfectly into the Tesla Model 3 dash and connects to the two USB-A ports in the car.

With the dual USB-A connection and a built-in 6,000mAh battery, the Tesla Wireless Charger offers 2A for faster 7.5W charging for Apple’s iPhones, with two wireless chargers built into the device. With the dual setup, you can wirelessly charge two devices at once. While designed for iPhone, this is a Qi wireless charging setup that will charge any Qi-based device.

An anti-slip rubber base is included to keep your devices in place while on the road, and for smaller phones, Nomad is including optional spacers. Built-in LEDs let you know if your phone is charging or fully charged at a glance.

Nomad is selling the Tesla Wireless Charger for $150, but a $20 discount is available for customers who pre-order the accessory from the Nomad website starting today. Shipments of the Tesla Wireless Charger will begin on September 1.

Tags: Tesla, Nomad
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Throttling in New i9 MacBook Pros Appears to be Due to Power Delivery Chip

A user posting on reddit and in the MacRumors forums has given a detailed account of their findings and attempts to circumvent the throttling previously discovered on the new MacBook Pro 15″ models featuring the six-core i9 Intel CPUs.

The user goes on to explain that one of the internal power limits set for the device may not be appropriate for the power draw of the CPU and identical to previous MacBook Pro models, causing the power delivery chip (known as a voltage regulation module, or VRM) to report an over power condition that forces the clock of the CPU down to scale back power. This sets up the same conditions to allow throttling to occur once again.

These conditions may be presenting themselves due to the new six-core design of the i9 CPU featured here. While Intel increased the core count of the CPU, they did not increase the thermal design power (TDP), or the amount of dissipated power manufacturers should plan to have to cool for a proper CPU design. This is an issue because this number usually reflects normal usage, and does not account for turbo modes. It’s also likely it can exceed the draw of previous four core CPUs given the similarity of clock speeds and process nodes they are featured on.

A method for tuning this limit is provided in the post, but it requires executing a command manually or via script each time the computer boots, and would likely void the warranty if Apple technicians discovered it. Still, the user posts results of benchmarks showing successive runs with no throttling. Manufacturers will always quote likely reduced component lifetimes if used outside of their specifications, but the results appear stable, and there is no thermal throttling of the CPU, the original suspected cause of this issue.

This fix will not address total system power draw becoming excessive, such as long sustained loads from the CPU and GPU, but it is possible Apple could issue a fix similar to the one outlined in the reddit post that is stable.

As for whether this issue is related to the hardware design of the MacBook Pro, that is possible as well. While iFixit’s complete teardown of the current 15-inch MacBook Pro is not yet available, the previous teardown reveals significant differences in the VRM chips that power the GPU and CPU of the device.

GPU power components
The GPU power components seen above are on the top side of the logic board near the GPU die, and thermal grease can be seen on the components, indicating that they interface with the heatsink in the device. This is in contrast to the same components for the CPU, which are featured on the rear side of the logic board with no thermal interface to the top of the package, as seen below.

CPU power components
Additionally, the publicly available data sheets for these parts indicate more differences that suggest their thermal profiles will be different. The International Rectifier part for the GPU features a lower thermal resistance, meaning it can better dissipate its heat to the surrounding areas (board, air, heatsink) than the Intersil part for the CPU. Additionally, it boasts a higher power efficiency, meaning it dissipates less power itself to deliver the same amount of power as the Intersil part.

Along with the heatsink path provided for the IR parts, it’s clear they will not be capable of driving the same amount of load in any sustained mode. This makes sense given GPUs can see high loads for longer periods, but this could be an area of improvement for future MacBook Pro models from Apple, especially since it has typically chosen GPUs with very similar thermal design power limits (TDPs) to the CPUs in its MacBook Pro line.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTag: IntelBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Lander’s New ‘Torrey’ ThermoLine Heat and Cold Resistant iPhone Cases Now Available Exclusively From Apple

Apple retail stores and the online Apple Store are now offering an iPhone case from Lander that’s designed to be used in extreme weather conditions, protecting the iPhone from both hot and cold with an insulated lining.

The new Torrey Case , available for all of Apple’s recent iPhones, is equipped with a layer of ThermoLine, which regulates and insulates against harsh temperatures.

Apple’s iPhones list an operating temperature of 32°F to 95° F and can become non-functional in temperatures outside of those parameters, rendering a device inoperable or less functional in extremely hot or extremely cold weather. In cold weather, the screen can become unresponsive and the iPhone can shut off when the battery inside drops to a certain temperature, and in hot weather, the processor can overheat leading to the same issues.

The ThermoLine interior of Lander’s Torrey Case has been tested to help protect the iPhone against the effects of climates ranging from 0°F to 120°F.

We were able to go hands-on with the new Torrey Case ahead of its launch, and while we couldn’t adequately test its thermal capabilities here in balmy Northern California, we can speak to its design.

The ThermoLine lining inside of the case is built into the back, with the rest of the accessory constructed from a flexible TPU material that also offers protection from drops and damage.

The case wraps all the way around the iPhone and covers up the volume and side buttons, while leaving the mute switch, Lightning port, and speakers uncovered. There’s also a camera cutout, and a raised lip protects the display when the iPhone is face down.

Lander’s Torrey isn’t a case that’s designed to offer full protection from snow, mud, water, and other elements like an Otterbox – it’s strictly for thermal protection. The soft, rubbery material definitely offers cushion against drops, though. Lander says it will protect against drops up to 10 feet.

This is a thin case that adds surprisingly little bulk to the iPhone given its capabilities, and it’s just a bit thicker and bulkier than one of Apple’s own silicone iPhone cases. It comes in Mauve, Blue, Taupe, and Black (we tested black) and there’s an included strap that can attach to the back for when you’re using your iPhone for vigorous activities.

The addition of the strap is useful for times when you might want to use your iPhone in dangerous conditions where dropping it is a possibility, and the strap itself is both sturdy and easily removable for times when you don’t want it attached.

Design wise, the case has a stylish speckled look with soft, rounded corners that nicely complement the iPhone X. All in all, it’s an attractive case on its own even without the thermal protection features.

The Lander Torrey Case is available for iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7. It can be purchased from the Apple online store or at Apple retail locations for $39.95. It can also be purchased directly from Lander’s website.

Tag: Apple retail
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eBay to Begin Accepting Apple Pay on iPhone and iPad Later This Year

eBay, the popular online marketplace, today announced it will begin accepting Apple Pay as a payment method later this year.

iPhone and iPad users will be able to use Apple Pay to purchase items from sellers participating in the initial phase of the rollout in the United States beginning in the fall, through both eBay’s app and mobile website.

Earlier this year, eBay announced it will manage end-to-end payments on its platform, and the introduction of Apple Pay is part of that change. Amsterdam-based Adyen will replace PayPal as eBay’s primary payments processor.

eBay plans to continue to expand its payments initiative in 2019, and expects to have transitioned a majority of its customers to the new experience by 2021. Over that time, Apple Pay will expand to more items and regions.

Related Roundup: Apple PayTag: eBay
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Foxconn Begins Seasonal Hiring Spree Ahead of 2018 iPhones

Apple supplier Foxconn is gearing up to hire more workers for its plants in Zhengzhou, China by offering bonuses to workers who help assemble Apple’s 2018 iPhones. According to a new report by the Economic Daily News, the supplier is offering one-off bonuses of up to CNY 2,000 (US $295) to workers who renew their contracts at this time (via DigiTimes), and the hiring campaign is expected to last through November 2018.

Suppliers typically begin their hiring sprees in the summer months in preparation for the annual fall iPhone launches, with Foxconn and Pegatron initiating hiring campaigns as early as May in 2016 and June in 2014.

Renders of the three iPhones expected to launch this fall
The report also points back to the “weaker-than-expected” profits that Foxconn received in the fourth quarter of 2017 following the November launch of the iPhone X, believed to be due to the high pre-production costs of the smartphone. In an effort to prevent this from happening again in 2018, the supplier is applying “stricter cost management” to its iPhone production process.

Foxconn is expected to assemble the majority of Apple’s three iPhone models coming out later this year, including all of the second-generation iPhone X, 90 percent of the “iPhone X Plus,” and 75 percent of the lower-priced 6.1-inch iPhone. This news came in a report by the Taipei Times last month, which claimed that the rest of the 2018 iPhone orders will be fulfilled by Taiwanese manufacturer Pegatron.

News surrounding the ramp-up of iPhone production usually begins around this time of year, with the majority of reports typically hitting in August and focusing on iPhones entering volume production and the supply chain facing shortages. Other Apple suppliers have also been at the center of production ramp-up stories, including TSMC about a month ago when DigiTimes reported that the company has begun commercial production of chips manufactured using its 7-nanometer process, including Apple’s A12 processor.

Suppliers are getting ready for what is expected to be a global launch of the 2018 iPhone models this September, following Apple’s annual iPhone reveal event. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will release all three new iPhones in September with an aggressive pricing strategy: the 6.5-inch OLED iPhone will be priced at $900 to $1,000, the 5.8-inch OLED second-generation iPhone X will be priced at $800 to $900, and the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will be priced at $600 to $700.

Tag: Foxconn
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We tried Visible’s $40 unlimited data plan for two weeks to see how it fares

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

The mobile world is dominated by hyperbole. Each carrier makes a claim that, in some way, it offers the best coverage with the highest speeds. While coverage is important, a new service called Visible is questioning whether you need ultra-speedy internet service on your smartphone.

Visible is a new offshoot prepaid service from Verizon, and it only has one product — an unlimited plan (talk, text, and data) that caps data speeds at 5Mbps for $40 a month. That’s fast enough to surf the web, scroll through your Instagram feed with ease, and even stream movies in HD. It’s not for everyone, but Visible is betting the low price will entice people who really don’t feel like they need speedier internet service. It’s the least expensive unlimited plan on the market backed by a carrier with the most reliable LTE network in the U.S. 

But the $40 price tag and 5Mbps data speeds aren’t the only propositions Visible is making. It bills itself as an app-based carrier, meaning the entire mobile experience happens within an app. You set up your account through the app, you’ll get a SIM card shipped overnight, and you pay your bills through the app. You won’t find a Visible store or even an 1-800 number: Cutting these costs allow the carrier to save money and pass at least some of the savings on to its customers.

Visible is not the first app-based carrier, mind you. Other companies like Google’s Project Fi and Mint Mobile have been offering similar services for years. Its a nascent market, but it’s likely to grow in the coming years as more smartphone manufacturers start adding eSIMs to their handsets, making it easy to switch carriers. The upcoming iPhone is expected to have a built-in eSIM, and the Google Pixel 2 already has it embedded.

Testing the service

So is Visible a viable alternative to its full-throttled competitors? We decided to put it to the test to find out. We swapped our iPhone 8 Plus with a Verizon Unlimited plan for an iPhone 8 on Visible to give the service a try for a few weeks. You should know that Visible is a bring your own device service, which means you need to purchase your smartphone unlocked beforehand. The service is currently in early access, so there may be some kinks, and there’s only an iOS app at the moment. Android support is on the roadmap. 

During our two week test, we didn’t notice any slow downs, but the network is currently not open to the public either.

Since the Visible-powered iPhone was our only phone for the next two weeks, we downloaded our favorite apps, and instead of using Wi-Fi, we relied on the cellular connection. Downloading dozens of apps over a 5Mbps connection was painfully slow. What would usually take a few minutes over a Wi-Fi connection became a 13-plus minute situation on the Visible network.

That all said, most people are likely to install all their apps over Wi-FI, as more than 80 percent of mobile traffic happens over Wi-Fi.

Our experience improved drastically once we managed to download all our apps. For starters, we streamed Netflix for 25 hours over the two week period and didn’t run into a single issue in regards to internet performance. Quality-wise, videos are limited to 480p on cellular connectivity — a practice most carriers partake in; streams looked okay to us, but you may feel otherwise.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

Remember — video streams will be able to go as high quality as possible when you’re on Wi-Fi.

There was no noticeable difference when using apps like Instagram or Facebook — we were able to scroll and upload to our heart’s content. As for surfing the web, the difference in load times compared to our Verizon iPhone were marginal.

In addition to slower data speeds, Visible warns users they could see slower speeds when the network is congested. During our two week test, we didn’t notice any slow downs, but the network is currently not open to the public yet so this may change in the future.

Good data connection and excellent call quality are only a part of the equation.

We also found no problems with coverage reliability. During out test, we used the phone throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn without a single dropped call or lost signal. We even managed to get great signal on Fire Island, which is no small feat. Visible relies on Verizon’s network, which has long-claimed to have the best coverage of all the major U.S. carriers.

If you’re in an area with poor Verizon coverage, then you will run into problems with Visible. 

It’s all in the app

Good data connection and excellent call quality are only a part of the equation though. Since our Visible test unit was already activated when it arrived, we placed an order for a new service to check out the set up and tech support process, which is where we ran into some problems.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

When we were setting up our iPhone 8, we received a SIM with an accompanying SIM key and directions on how to activate our service. We connected to a Wi-FI network, downloaded the Visible app, and opened our iPhone Settings app expecting a carrier update — none came.

We contacted tech support via the Chat tab in the Visible app and were quickly acknowledged by a support representative. The representative initially said we would need to re-order service as our new phone number had been released, so we didn’t have a cell number anymore. When asked if we could just get a new number, we were told that’s not possible because we would need to go through the entire process of signing up for the service again. 

Though the setup process was arduous, we’re still thoroughly impressed with Visible’s service

We asked the representative to confirm there were no other options, and were then told the issue was actually due to an expired credit card, not a lost phone number. Our credit card had just expired, which we didn’t realize. Seems, like an easy enough fix right? It wasn’t.

We spent 45 minutes entering our credit card number repeatedly and authorizing charges, only to be told by the representative that the expired card was the only one they could see in their system. After being encouraged to continuously try the same technique over and over, we finally switched the default payment method, enabled auto payment, and closed out of the website. When we re-opened the site and authorized the payment, it finally processed-along with six other zero-dollar authorizations. 

Though the setup process was arduous, and our experience with tech support wasn’t as fast and easy as we’d have liked, we’re still thoroughly impressed with Visible’s service. Again, it’s in beta and there are bound to be some hiccups. Since the kinks we experienced were momentary — and specific — and were not related to overall call quality or data speeds, we’re confident Visible can have them ironed out by the time the service is available to the public.

Limitations

There are a few differences between Visible and it’s closest competitor, Project Fi. Visible doesn’t have any type of family or group plan, nor does it have international calling included — you’ll need to rely on Wi-Fi overseas, or grab a local SIM card.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

In our experience, Project Fi also has the upper hand when it comes to customer service, but Google’s mobile virtual network operator has been out for a longer period of time. Project Fi doesn’t have an unlimited data option — you pay $10 per gigabyte of data used at the end of the month, and $20 for unlimited calls and text. Unless you use 2GB of data or less a month, Visible will likely save you more money in the long run.

Currently, you need to have an access code to join the beta service (which you’ll still need to pay for). If you’d like to give Visible a try, the company provided us with an access code you can use. Just enter CFF48 in the access code field to register for the beta.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google prepares an always-connected Chromebook to take on Microsoft
• Verizon quietly launches startup Visible, which offers unlimited data for $40
• What is WiGig?
• Google’s new tools for Datally put your mobile data on lockdown
• Xfinity Mobile will throttle streaming resolution to 480p, hot spots at 3G

Xiaomi Mi A2 hands-on review

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Xiaomi Mi A2

There was a time when many would not have paid attention to a phone running Android One. It was reserved for those who wanted to buy their first smartphone, often in places where high-end models cost the equivalent of many months salary. Things changed recently, and Xiaomi’s Mi A1 2017 smartphone helped lead the way for Android One phones to become desirable for those who could still afford to pay more. The Mi A2 is Xiaomi’s sequel to the Mi A1, and it does everything better than before, without ramping up the price to exorbitant levels.

Can the Mi A2 provide a Google Pixel 2-like experience for a third of the price? Let’s take a closer look.

Bezel-less design

The Xiaomi Mi A2 is based on the Xiaomi Mi 6X, and it’s hard to ignore the vertically-stacked camera lenses on the back that make it resemble the iPhone X. This aside, it’s very similar to the Mi A1, with a fingerprint sensor in the top center and antenna bands wrapped around the top and bottom of the body. Things change around the front, as the Mi A2 has a 5.99-inch, 18:9 aspect ratio screen, with a 2,160 x 1,080 pixel resolution. It looks considerably more modern than the Mi A1.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Xiaomi has taken care with the shape of the body. It’s very slim at a little over 7mm, with sleek curves around the edge, making it wonderfully comfortable in the hand. It’s a real pleasure to hold. It feels so good, it makes the ordinary, untextured volume and power buttons feel a little basic and cheap in comparison. The camera lens does extend out of the body quite dramatically, and unless the phone is in a case, it will connect first with whatever it’s rested on, risking scratches.

It’s very slim with sleek curves around the edge, making it wonderfully comfortable in the hand.

The Mi A2 is available in a pinkish gold color, a blue, as well as a matte black option. The gold catches the eye due to the white bezel around the screen, although we do like the stealth-style look of the black version. We haven’t seen the blue up close, but it may turn out to be our favorite when we do. The Mi A2 is a great looking phone. The metal body feels solid and well built; and it’s so pleasant to hold, we didn’t want to put it down.

Promising camera

The rear camera has a 12-megapixel main lens and a 20-megapixel secondary lens, which is also used around the front as the selfie cam. Xiaomi said the camera uses “pixel binning” technology for impressive low-light shots. By using the 20-megapixel sensor only in these situations, it turns four pixels into one to increase the amount of usable light. Then with some software magic, it converts the resulting 5-megapixel image into a final photo with 20 megapixels. The same process is repeated on the selfie camera too.

We’ve not had the chance to try this out yet, but it sounds a little like LG’s Bright Mode on the G7 ThinQ. Taking a few early images with the camera in daylight produced some beautiful, colorful, and shareable photos. In bright, slightly overcast conditions, it did struggle to balance the sky and clouds with the rest of the environment, but it’s not terrible. We spent some time taking photos of flowers and bees, with several coming out well indeed, revealing plenty of detail and color.

The selfie camera comes with Xiaomi’s updated beauty mode, which has been tuned to recognize and enhance more faces, regardless of complexion and other factors. The portrait mode on the front and back cameras works well, and we had fun playing with the built-in live tilt shift mode. In our early phase of testing, we think the camera on the Mi A2 may be a strong selling point.

Strong specifications

Xiaomi has boosted the processing power over the Mi A1 using the Snapdragon 660 inside the Mi A2 with 4GB of RAM on the 64GB version. A 6GB RAM/128GB model will also be available, but it may not be sold everywhere the standard 4GB/64GB model is released. Because the Mi A2 has Android One installed, it’s fast, smooth, and a joy to navigate. The model we tested has Android 8.1.0 installed, with the June 2018 security patch, and updates will continue to come on a regular, timely basis.

Simplicity, elegance, and usability of Android One.

Android One has no downsides, and outside of the camera app, a file manager, and an AirDrop-style sharing app, Xiaomi has left it alone. While Xiaomi’s MIUI is one of the best third-party user interfaces out there, it cannot compete with the simplicity, elegance, and usability of Android One.

We have not put the phone through any benchmarking tests, or played games yet, but we did notice the body quickly got hot after using the camera for a while. Not to the point where you couldn’t hold it, but definitely so that it could be felt in a pocket.

The phone we used is an early release unit, and it may receive software updates to optimize the system. Additionally, while the screen is fine indoors, it does struggle a little in strong sunlight — even with the brightness turned up to maximum.

Xiaomi Mi A2 Compared To

Moto E5 Plus

Honor View 10

HTC U11

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

YotaPhone 2

Sony Xperia Z3

HTC One Remix

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

LG G Flex

LG Lucid 2

LG Optimus 4X HD

HTC One S

Samsung Galaxy S II

Google Nexus S

T-Mobile myTouch 3G

Price and availability

The Xiaomi Mi A2 costs 280 euros, or about $330, a little more than the 250 euro Mi A1. Almost every aspect of the phone has been improved, making the slight cost increase acceptable, especially for a phone of this quality. The Xiaomi Mi A2 has been announced for the company’s official European markets — including Spain, Italy, and France — but it will also be available internationally as an import. We have tested the phone in the U.K. where it received a 4G LTE signal without a problem on the Three network. However, this may not be the case in the U.S., and non-compatible bandwidths may stop it operating on 4G LTE through the AT&T or T-Mobile GSM networks. We’ll update when we know more.

Conclusion

It’s impossible not to hold and use the Xiaomi Mi A2 without thinking, “why doesn’t everyone buy one of these?” The software is just so effortlessly good, the camera takes pictures we like, and the device is attractive and comfortable to use. All for a third of how much many flagships cost. If you don’t think you really need a high-end phone, but still want a phone that’s capable yet suitably different to others, then the Xiaomi Mi A2 is worth investigating further. We’ll bring you a full review soon.