Apple Store Expansion in China Said to Have Slowed Due to Red Tape, Fraud, and Other Factors

In 2015 and 2016, Apple aggressively expanded its retail presence in China with 30 new stores, according to the Apple Storefronts tracker. Since the start of 2017, however, Apple has opened just five new locations in the country.

Apple’s newest store in China in Suzhou
The Information’s Wayne Ma has shared a report today that offers explanations for the slowdown, including China’s bureaucratic government, scalpers, previously-reported fraud, and increasing competition from Chinese smartphone makers. The report is based on interviews with 17 former Apple employees.

On government bureaucracy:

Apple had to navigate a maze of government bureaucracy to obtain everything from business and tax licenses to construction, fire and customs permits for imported building materials, former employees say. The regulatory framework in China is far more complicated than in the U.S., with many more layers of government, these former employee say, and it’s far more opaque. Employees frequently scrambled to chase down permits and local approvals to keep store openings on track, they said.

On scalpers:

Apple, too, had to contend with scalpers, known as “yellow cows” in colloquial Chinese. These scalpers swarmed its stores and elbowed out other customers during product launches and in-store promotions. …

Apple executives worried they were losing control of the customer experience in their stores, and along with it opportunities to interact with real consumers. The scalpers showed little interest in the accessories and add-on services Apple likes to offer customers.

Other factors, according to those interviewed, included low-level government officials asking for free iPhones and other products as a form of bribery, a tug-of-war between the Beijing and Shanghai local governments over taxes, and a vibrant gray market for iPhones smuggled from Hong Kong.

As a result of these difficulties, Apple is said to have “abruptly changed” its retail expansion plans in mainland China in 2017, resulting in the dramatic slowdown in grand openings. Apple’s latest store in China opened in the city of Suzhou on September 21, coinciding with iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch day.

Last quarter, Apple brought in revenue of $9.5 billion from the Greater China region, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. Greater China accounted for 17.9 percent of Apple’s revenue in the quarter, making it the company’s third largest market, behind the United States and Europe.

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Related Roundup: Apple StoresTag: China
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Apple Pencil 2 Rumored to Feature Gesture Support, New Charging Method and Minimalistic Design

The second-generation Apple Pencil that Apple is rumored to be working on will feature support for gestures, a new design, and a new charging method, according to leaker Benjamin Geskin.

Geskin, who sometimes provides accurate information on Apple’s plans sourced from Chinese social networks, says the upcoming Apple Pencil will feature a design that’s “more minimalistic” with no silver band at the top.

Apple Pencil 2018:

– Design is even more minimalistic, the silver rail on top is now gone.
– Tap and Swipe gestures along the pencil.
– Magnetically attachable to the new iPad.
– New charging method. pic.twitter.com/tS1ptCWgnh

— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) October 29, 2018

It will attach magnetically to the side of the new iPad Pro models, and it is said to feature a new charging method, though there are no details on what that charging method might be. It’s possible the accessory will charge wirelessly when docked to the iPad Pro, with Apple eliminating the Lightning port.

Previous Apple Pencil 2 rumors have suggested the accessory will also feature a new pairing method, connecting to an iPad Pro device wirelessly much like AirPods rather than through a physical connection, which would be in line with the rumors of a new charging method.

Geskin also says that the new Apple Pencil will support tap and swipe gestures, a rumor supported by code in iOS 12.1 shared by 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo over the weekend. The gestures are said to allow iPad Pro users to do things like change the size or color of a brush within a sketching app using the sides of the Apple Pencil.

We don’t have long to wait for full details on the second-generation Apple Pencil and the new iPad Pro models. Apple’s October 30 event takes place tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time or 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with Apple planning to live stream the event on its website and through the Events app on the Apple TV.

MacRumors will have live coverage of all of Apple’s announcements, both here on the site and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Related Roundup: iPad ProBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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OnePlus 6T first impressions: All about trade-offs

Well, we’re here. After months of leaks, rumors, and statements, OnePlus has finally taken the veil off the OnePlus 6T. I’ve only been using the device since the evening of October 24, so I don’t feel comfortable delivering a complete OnePlus 6T review quite yet. That being said, I think a few days is more than enough time to deliver my first impressions, so here they all in all their glory. But first, let’s look at the essential details you should know.

OnePlus 6T: The facts

As soon as you hold the OnePlus 6T in your hand, you’ll notice it’s a bit thicker than the OnePlus 6, to make room for a bigger battery. OnePlus has also changed the curve of the phone to be more defined, and I was told this was done to make it fit in your palm better.

The battery is now 3,700mAh, which isn’t the most massive battery we’ve seen, but man, does it pack a punch. I got 7-8 hours of screen-on time on this device, topping off at 8 hours and 8 minutes with 5 percent battery remaining. This is probably the best battery life I’ve ever seen in an Android smartphone, proving that battery capacity doesn’t tell the whole story. OxygenOS is extremely lightweight as it is, which is likely why the battery life is so great.

Probably the best battery life I’ve ever seen in an Android smartphone

OnePlus has removed the rear-facing fingerprint reader on the 6T, switching to a new in-screen optical solution. This leaves the rear of the phone looking fairly clean overall, but I really didn’t mind the fingerprint reader in the first place – I loved it on the back of the OnePlus 6. You’ll find the dual camera lenses in the same position as before, seated atop the OnePlus emblem in the center of the device. The cameras are also less extruded than the OnePlus 6 due to the OnePlus 6T’s increased thickness. The back of the device uses the newer Gorilla Glass 6 from Corning.

Editor’s Pick

OnePlus 6T, Asus ROG Phone, and more – Every phone launching in October 2018

New phones get launched every month of the year, but it looks like the October 2018 smartphones are going to be something else. Not only are we seeing six major launches in the span of …

The cameras are 16 and 20MP f/1.7 sensors just like they were on the OnePlus 6, and image quality seems extremely similar. The main 16MP shooter has OIS and EIS. The big changes here are the new Nightscape Mode, as well as new studio lighting modes. The OnePlus 6T can also shoot 4K 60fps video and shoot 1080p at 240fps and 720p at 480fps.

The ports and buttons are seated in roughly the same positions as on the OnePlus 6. The power button on the side is now slightly more centered, and the headphone jack on the bottom has been replaced with a faux speaker grille to match the grille on the left side of the device. OnePlus says it has used the extra space from the missing headphone jack to increase the size of the resonance chamber.

OnePlus says it has used the extra space from the missing headphone jack to increase the size of the resonance chamber

The front of the device is where you’ll see the biggest difference. The notch from the OnePlus 6 has been shrunk to leave a smaller “teardrop” notch for the front-facing 16MP f/2 camera. The earpiece has been shifted up into the frame of the device in the form of a thin slit. The result is a larger 6.41-inch AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19.5.9 and a resolution of 2340 x 1080. The brightness has been increased compared to the OnePlus 6 for better viewing.

The biggest change in this display is the addition of a new in-screen fingerprint reader. OnePlus says this is the fastest reader in the industry, unlocking the phone in just 0.34 seconds. In my time with it, I found it to be quite a bit slower than that, taking considerably longer than the Huawei Mate 20 Pro to unlock the device. It isn’t slow by any means, but it is noticeably slower than Huawei’s solution.

On the software front, the OnePlus 6T comes with Android 9.0 Pie, with some updated navigation gestures that remind me a lot of the iPhone, and that’s not a bad thing. The company has also updated Gaming Mode to introduce floating notifications so you can see your notifications at a glance.

Smart Boost is a new software feature in the OnePlus 6T that stores app data in memory to improve cold boot times. OnePlus says this should increase app launch times by 5 to 20 percent, playing into the “Fast and Smooth” initiative OnePlus tries to implement into their devices.

The OnePlus 6T is running the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset as the OnePlus 6 and will be available in 6/128GB, 8/128GB, and 8/256GB RAM/storage variants for $549, $579, and $629 respectively. While the price of the base model has been increased by $20, you’re also getting twice as much storage space compared to the OnePlus 6. The other variants will cost the same as the OnePlus 6.

Smart Boost stores app data in memory to improve cold boot times by up to 20%

In quite a monumental move for the company, the OnePlus 6T will be sold at T-Mobile stores in the 8/128GB variant. Customers can pick up the device at the T-Mobile popup store in New York’s Times Square today at 6 PM, but otherwise, you’ll be able to order it November 1. The OnePlus 6T is also officially certified to work on Verizon Wireless, though you’ll need to buy it from OnePlus directly or pay off the device in full from T-Mobile.

My OnePlus 6T impressions

So those are the hard facts, but here’s how the OnePlus 6T actually feels in daily use.

I am not a huge fan of the added thickness and new shape of the device compared to the OnePlus 6. While it’s not extreme, it definitely gives the 6T a more rounded feel, which I usually associate with budget devices. That being said, the battery life is amazing. The OnePlus 6 didn’t have bad battery life at all, topping out at about six and a half hours, but the OnePlus 6T breaking eight hours is incredible to me.

I am not a huge fan of the added thickness and new shape of the device compared to the OnePlus 6

While I didn’t mind the notch on the OnePlus 6 due to its small size, the teardrop notch is definitely better when watching expanded media. Watching something like YouTube with only a small portion cut off is appreciated, though it wasn’t that bad on the OnePlus 6 either.

The software is incredible. OxygenOS is still my favorite Android skin of all time, bringing optimizations and additions that are actually useful, as opposed to pointless gimmicks. That being said, all the new software additions and optimizations from the OnePlus 6T will be ported to the OnePlus 6.

So the question is, should you switch?

Editor’s Pick

Pocophone F1 vs OnePlus 6: Can Pocophone steal the crown?

We’ve done plenty of versus features in the past, but this one feels like a real grudge match: The Pocophone F1 vs. the OnePlus 6.

This is such an epic showdown because in many ways Pocophone …

At effectively the same price as the OnePlus 6, I see the OnePlus 6T as a horizontal option for users. Personally, I don’t think the in-screen fingerprint reader, smaller notch and bigger battery are worth it over the flatter design and headphone jack found on the OnePlus 6. If you’re already a OnePlus 6 user, skip the 6T. You’ll get much more bang for your buck by waiting for the OnePlus 7 or even the OnePlus 7T.

If you don’t own a OnePlus 6 but you want to join the OnePlus family, the decision between the OnePlus 6 and 6T is a difficult trade-off. If you absolutely want a headphone jack and like flatter designs better, get the OnePlus 6. It is still one of my favorite Android phones of all time, and I love how it looks and feels in my hand.

I see the OnePlus 6T as a horizontal option for users

If you’re already a wireless headphones user and want a bigger battery and some cutting edge tech in the form of an in-screen fingerprint reader, the 6T could be for you. It’s still hard to beat OnePlus in the pricing category, even as the cost of its phones has gone up over time. You definitely won’t be disappointed by this device.

More OnePlus 6T coverage

• OnePlus 6T announced: Everything you need to know
• OnePlus 6T: Where to buy, when, and how much
• OnePlus 6T specs: Everything you wish the OnePlus 6 was (but the headphone jack)

What are your thoughts on the phone? Is this device worth it over the OnePlus 6? Let us know.

RED Hydrogen One review

Research Center:

RED Hydrogen One

Red says the Hydrogen One is a phone the world “can’t stop looking at.” Yet we’re ready to put it down.

Perhaps the hype inflated our expectations, but we’re disappointed by the “better than 3D” display the company touted for a better part of the year. The technology is impressive, there’s no doubt about that, but the result feels jarring. Worse, many of the phone’s core features won’t be available until the end of 2019. While it’s undeniably the most interesting phone we’ve reviewed this year, it’s also among the least practical.

Unique, loud, and cumbersome

No other phone looks like the Hydrogen One. Its unique and loud design often draws curious eyes. The back packs a massive dual-camera module at the top, with raised lines that lead into a flashy red logo, with gold pogo pins below. Kevlar panels lie here with a weave pattern for added protection and flair. Minimal it’s not, but it does resemble Red’s camera gear.

The edges of the phone are ridged for better grip. They don’t look pretty, but they do make this behemoth of a phone easier to hold. We like the lined texture, too, as it also helps with grip.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There’s a camera shutter button on the right edge towards the bottom, an indented fingerprint sensor on the same side (which doubles as the power button), a USB-C charging port at the bottom, and a headphone jack at the top. The fingerprint sensor is quick to react and unlocks the phone quickly.

On the front, you’ll see an aesthetic similar to the Razer Phone 2. Chunky bezels at the top and bottom deliver A3D Spatial Surround Audio, which we’ll get into later. The top bezel also houses two cameras, with a LED light that flashes when notifications come through.

No other phone looks like the Hydrogen One.

There’s a little too much going on all around, and even people with large hands will find it cumbersome to use. We constantly had to shuffle it up and down just to be able to reach the top or bottom of the screen, and it’s heavy at 263 grams. Apple’s 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max weighs just 208 grams, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 weighs 201 grams.

The build quality, however, is excellent, as the phone feels like it can withstand its fair share of drops. The model we reviewed is made of aluminum, but a titanium version is also available (at $1,595) for an even heftier, more luxurious feel.

Mods are coming…next year

There’s a reason for the ridged lines and pogo pins on the back of the phone — the Red Hydrogen One is a modular phone. It’s not magnetic like Motorola’s Moto Mods, but mods will attach to the back of the phone in some way.

We say “will” because it’s currently a promised, not delivered, feature. Red hasn’t shown any finalized mods yet, but we know of three planned so far: A battery mod, an expandable storage mod, and a Cinema mod. The latter is the most interesting, as the company says it will have a Red imaging sensor, and you will be able to attach lenses from Nikon, Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, and a variety of other camera-makers to turn the phone into a proper DSLR.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

That sounds incredible. Just one problem. The earliest we expect to see the mod is a full year after the Hydrogen One’s release, in the fall of 2019. It also sounds like it’ll cost a pretty penny, on top of an already expensive phone. While we’re excited to see how it works, the long wait and high price are a serious issue. Most manufacturers will release an entirely new flagship smartphone by then, putting the Red Hydrogen One well behind the curve before you ever lay hands on the promised Cinema mod.

4-View display, A3D speakers

Two features excited us most when we received the Hydrogen One — the Cinema mod and the 4-View display. We won’t be able to test the former until the end of 2019, but the 4-View technology is built into the screen of the phone and available immediately.

4-view means the screen can display supported content in 3D, or as Red says, “better than 3D.” Red hasn’t allowed anyone to take a photograph or video of the screen all year because the company believes it’s something you need to see in person to understand. We agree. It’s difficult to describe the effect, and each person we’ve shown has had a visceral reaction. You should visit an AT&T or Verizon store showing off the Hydrogen One and look yourself, because it’s impossible to properly show in video or photographs.

At the end of the day, you’ll need a supported screen to see content in 4-View.

The Lightfield Display powering the technology is made in partnership with Leia Inc., and it doesn’t require glasses. 4-View’s 3D is much more convincing than Amazon’s Fire Phone, and slightly better than the Nintendo 3DS. Images don’t “pop out” of the screen like a hologram, but you can clearly see depth, which helps makes the subject of an image or video stand out. The effect isn’t perfect, though. It can look fuzzy, doesn’t look great at angles, and we often found ourselves with a minor headache after staring into the 4-View screen for more than few minutes.

What can you watch in 4-View? If you take 4-View photos and video in the camera app, you can look at them in the Red Player app. Red also created an app called Holopix, which is a bare bones Instagram-like app that (strangely) isn’t pre-installed. You’re able to share 4-View photos and videos there, but they can only be viewed on the Hydrogen One phone. The company said it’s in talks with Facebook and Instagram to support the 4-View file format, but at the end of the day, you’ll need a supported screen to see content in 4-View.

The Red Leia Loft app is a curated store that houses apps and games that support 4-View technology. There’s not a lot of content yet, with only a handful of games available. We played games like Flippy Knife in 4-View, and we hardly felt like the effect was being used. It didn’t add anything to the game or the experience.

There’s also the Hydrogen Network, which is basically Netflix for 4-View content. You’ll can stream movies and shows with the 3D effect on the phone. Warner Brothers Studios will be releasing several films on this network in 4-View format, like Ready Player One and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (these two films will be free for the first 10,000 people who buy the phone from AT&T). We haven’t had a chance to watch a full-length movie in 4-View (thankfully), as only a handful of stock clips are available at the moment.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The technology that makes 4-View possible is impressive, but it doesn’t feel like more than a gimmick. Some photos and videos (that we captured) looked great, but we weren’t awestruck by the screen. After months of waiting for the reveal, we were a little disappointed when we laid eyes on the Hydrogen One’s screen for the first time. It made us do a double-take because of its novelty, yes, but it wasn’t as revolutionary as was implied. It’s jarring, and we can’t imagine watching anything more than a minute or two long before putting the phone down.

Beyond 4-View, it’s a typical 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440. It looks good in day-to-day use. It’s sharp, delivers strong colors, and we had no issues viewing the display outside in broad daylight, but it’s not going to beat an iPhone XS, Samsung Galaxy S9, or other flagship phones from major brands.

Sound is provided by stereo speakers that include A3D+ Sound from Red. The company says it’s an algorithm that “frees the stereo files,” making them sound “spatial, immersive,” with or without headphones. We thought audio had great volume with good highs, but it also sounded muffled. We compared it with the Razer Phone 2, and much preferred the latter.

Somewhat sluggish performance, stock Android software

The Red Hydrogen One is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chipset — a processor from 2017. Most 2018 flagship smartphones use the Snapdragon 845 chipset, but Red says the 845 wasn’t before the company had to finalize its hardware. There’s 6GB of RAM, as well.

Don’t expect this phone to speed through every task.

Performance is acceptable, but the 835 sometimes shows its age. We often had to deal with apps that opened a little slowly, stuttering, and overall sluggishness operating the user interface. That may be partly because the device was a prototype unit with software that’s being tuned (we received an update during our testing), but don’t expect this phone to speed through every single task. It will get the job done, but it might struggle a little in the process.

Here are our benchmark results:

• AnTuTu 3DBench: 178,026
• Geekbench 4 CPU: 1,877 single-core; 6,039 multi-core
• 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2,099 (Vulkan)

These scores put the Red Hydrogen One in line with 2017 phones that had the same processor. We’ll continue testing to see if an update improves performance.

Considering this phone is sold by AT&T, expect a lot of carrier bloatware, most of which can be removed. Otherwise, the phone runs a relatively stock version of Android 8.1 Oreo. There’s no word on Android 9 Pie yet. There’s a bit of customization available that’s quite similar to what you’ll find in third-party app Nova Launcher.

There’s 128GB of internal storage, as well as a MicroSD card slot, in case you want to add more space. The titanium model comes with 256GB of storage.

A decent but average camera

The Hydrogen One has four cameras in total, two on the front, and two on the back. You can take 4-View photos and videos with both the front and back cameras. There’s a button in the camera app that lets you go into “4V” mode to capture them, or you can stick to 2D. Unfortunately, there’s nowhere to share these pictures except for the Holopix app which, as mentioned, only works with this phone. We can’t show these photos to you, and you would need a screen that supports this technology off to see it anyway. If you send a 4-View photo through some other medium, they will receive the 2D version of it.

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Note: Images are converted from 4-View

4-View photography is best with an isolated subject or object, as it helps make the image pop a lot more. The photos can look pixelated, as if you’re looking at them through a virtual reality headset. They’re fun to capture and share when you’re with a group of people that can see the results at the same time, but it’s not a feature we were inspired to use every day. We’d rather take great 2D photos. One downside with 4-View is the images tend to look not as good when they are converted to 2D.

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The 2D photos captured by this phone are good, but nothing special. There’s solid HDR (when it decides to kick in), and photos can look detailed with good colors. Low-light photos can be blurry and grainy, though if you’re perfectly still you might snag a shot that looks good.

We’re not fans of the Portrait Mode with the rear cameras, as the images looked washed out and lacking in detail. However, the front-facing cameras took great Portrait Mode photos in good lighting; in low light, a lot of grain ruins an otherwise good picture.  A Pro Mode is available, but it’s basic. Red said a more robust version is in the works.

In the end, the camera isn’t a strong point. It usually takes solid photos and works quickly, but we expected more from a camera company. It’s not as precise, detailed, or fun as the cameras on the Google Pixel 3, the iPhone XR/XS, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

Great battery life

The Hydrogen One’s best feature is its battery life, which comes courtesy of a massive 4,500mAh battery packed inside. With medium to heavy use, including taking pictures and video, playing 4-View games, and streaming music and video, we frequently ended the work day with a little under 50 percent left by 6 p.m.

You don’t need to worry about battery life on this phone — it can easily go two days.

With light usage, we managed to end a day with around 70 percent left by 5 p.m. You don’t need to worry about battery life on this phone — it can easily go two days. Most flagship smartphones last one day at most, so Red is the clear winner here.

Price, availability, and warranty information

The Red Hydrogen One starts at $1,295 for the aluminum model, and $1,595 for the titanium. It’s available from AT&T starting November 2 for $43.17 a month for 30 months on AT&T Next. It will also be sold through Verizon.

Red offers a standard one-year limited warranty that covers manufacturer defects.

RED Hydrogen One Compared To

Razer Phone 2

Motorola Moto G6

Essential Phone (PH-1)

Asus Zenfone AR

LG G6

Huawei Honor 8 Pro

HTC U Ultra

ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe Special…

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

LG V20

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Huawei Nexus 6P

LG V10

Motorola Moto X Style Pure Edition

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Our Take

The Red Hydrogen One is the most interesting phone of the year, but also the most disappointing. Red CEO Jim Jannard said people will want to buy the phone when they see the screen. We must disagree. This is clearly the first effort of a company that lacks smartphone experience. We’re excited to see how Red progresses, however, and can’t wait to take a look at the Cinema Mod when it arrives next year.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, plenty. If you’re looking for an excellent all-around phone, the iPhone XS is an easy choice. It’s our top pick and it will still be less expensive than the Hydrogen One. The Pixel 3 is our Android favorite, and it has one of the best cameras around. Check our best smartphones guide for more.

How long will it last?

This phone should last you three years. It’s running a year-old processor already, and it’s on last year’s Android software. We’re not sure when or if it will be updated to Android 9 Pie. The body of the phone will likely be able to survive a drop, which is good, because you won’t want to add a case to this massive, thick phone. There’s no water resistance, however, so be careful near the pool.

Should you buy it?

No. There’s a lot you need to wait for, such as the Cinema Mod coming next year, which may elevate the Hydrogen One and make it truly special. Until then, this is an interesting phone that’s worth keeping an eye on, but not buying.

Alienware to offer Threadripper 2 CPUs in new Area-51 builds

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Dell is expanding its offering of AMD hardware inside its flagship Area-51 gaming system to include more first- and second-generation Threadripper CPUs. The new Alienware Area-51 R7 Threadripper Edition systems will come fitted with an option of three top-of-the-line AMD CPUs with up to 16 cores, liquid cooling, and options for the latest and greatest graphics from both AMD and Nvidia.

Alienware’s Area-51 systems have been impressing us for years. They might be expensive, but they offer the most powerful contemporary hardware in a unique and understated chassis design. The new R7 Threadripper Edition systems will be no different. When they go on sale on November 8, prospective customers will have a choice of the 16-core Threadripper 2950X, the 12-core 2920X, or the first-generation, eight-core 1900X. Each will be fitted to an Alienware ATX X399 motherboard in its second-generation Triad case.

Although Alienware is promoting the system to gamers, its marketing does acknowledge that Threadripper excels when it comes to multitasking and high-level professional tasks. Pure, high-end gamers might like to opt for an Intel Core i9-9900K instead, but for those who want to work and play, Threadripper chips are a great choice too.

Each processor will be fully water-cooled for quiet operation and enhanced overclocking potential and paired up with whatever graphics card the user requires. Options start as low as a GTX 1050 Ti and go through the entire Pascal range up to a 1080 Ti. There’s also options for liquid cooled variants and a choice of RTX Turing cards, including the 2070, 2080, and 2080 Ti. On the AMD side of the aisle, there are options for RX 570 and 580 GPUs, as well as an RX Vega 64. There are also options for two and even three-card SLi/Xfire configurations.

Memory options include everything from a single 8GB stick of 2,666MHz DDR4, all the way up to 64GB of quad Channel HyperX memory at up to 2,933MHz. Storage options include single 2TB hard drives, or a combination of that and up to 2TB of M.2 NVMe PCI Express storage. Every configuration will support Dell’s Alienware Command Center software which gives full control over the system’s RGB lighting, thermal management software, and fan controls. It also adjusts the system clocks and power usage on a per-application basis, spooling up everything should it be needed for certain games or programs.

The Threadripper Edition Area-51 R7 build will go on sale November 8 at a starting price of $2,200.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs are coming to Alienware and Predator gaming desktops
• The best gaming desktops of 2018
• Nvidia vs. AMD
• Dell’s XPS Tower, Alienware Aurora desktops get Intel 8-core 9th-gen processor
• Acer brings Intel’s 8-core, 9th-gen processor to its Predator Orion desktops

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards are dying on a lot of users

Riley Young/Digital Trends

Concerns are mounting over the failure rate of Nvidia’s RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, with increasing numbers of reports of dead and dying cards from early adopters. Some display issues involving artifacting and instability immediately after being installed, whilst others begin to show signs of degradation after a few days, despite a lack of manual overclocking or voltage manipulation.

Nvidia’s recently released RTX Turing graphics cards are the most powerful consumer GPUs ever made and support exciting new gaming visual features like deep learning supersampling (DLSS) and ray tracing. That said, the performance enhancement over the last generation isn’t as dramatic as first hoped and inflated pricing left some concerned about the real audience for such cards. Mere weeks after they became widely available, quality assurance concerns now join those earlier issues.

Threads have been cropping up on Nvidia’s forum about dead and dying RTX 2080 Ti cards for weeks now, with almost every thread over several pages with hundreds of comments highlighting crashes, black screens, blue screen of death issues, artifacts, and cards that fail to work entirely. There are some reports of issues with the 2080, too, but the majority are referencing problematic 2080 Ti cards.

Reddit threads with a similar theme have been appearing as well, detailing the RMA process that many users are now going through. Worse still, some users who have been issued a replacement card by Nvidia have then been forced to return that one, too, suggesting that in some cases at least, the problem users are facing is not solved by simply giving them a new graphics card. That could hint at some sort of architectural defect.

The problems appear to be affecting those with Founders Edition versions of the 2080 Ti the most, though some users with third-party cards from Gigabyte and Asus have also reported failures and problems with their new GPUs.

It is worth noting that failure numbers may be skewed by the fact that people who aren’t facing problems are unlikely to report back with similar zeal. However, the similar issues that appear to be arising for such large numbers of 2080 Ti owners is cause for concern.

Digital Trends has reached out to Nvidia for comment on this story and we will update this post as and when we hear back.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia RTX 2080 reviews may not drop until September 19
• Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs: Everything you need to know
• Gaming laptops with Nvidia’s flagship RTX cards could arrive by CES 2019
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 vs. RTX 2080 Ti
• We tested Nvidia’s RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti. Are they a worthy upgrade?

Chrome OS 70 update makes it easier to get touchy with your Chromebook

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

After Chrome 70 released to desktop and Android earlier in October, it is now in the process of rolling out to Chromebook devices around the world. This latest update introduces new changes focused on making Chrome OS more touch-friendly, as noted by Chrome Unboxed.

Foremost among the upgrades in Chrome OS 70 is a new interface that centers the system taskbar and makes app icons larger and spaced out for easier access via touch. Also new in that area is a fresher quick settings menu, which adds in cleaner toggle switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, and brightness settings.

The new UI and Quick Settings menu (via Android Police)

Elsewhere, another key change is new support for Android app shortcuts, where right-clicking or tapping on apps in the system tray will display secondary options. That fits in with support for a new floating touch keyboard, which includes handwriting recognization and emoji input. The keyboard even can be undocked to a length similar to Gboard on Android, a significant change from the previous versions of Chrome OS in which it took up half the display.

The new touch keyboard on Chrome OS 70 (via Chrome Unboxed)

Currently, not all Chromebooks models are eligible for this update and only 33 percent of all devices have received it thus far. Google officially says that “systems will be receiving updates over the next several days,” so not everyone will be seeing the update right away.

That should not be too surprising, considering that Chrome OS 70 also introduces a new AV1 video decoder, which focuses on delivering better video quality. Newer features on the software side don’t always work out well with older hardware.

Other key changes in Chrome OS 70 include new controls for managing extension permissions, and “not secure” warnings when entering personal information on non-HTTPS webpages. A full list of the smaller changes is available on the Google Chromium blog.

It is nice to see Google making Chrome OS more optimized for touch, especially as more Chromebooks are picking up touchscreens and other premium features.  That was a big highlight in our hands-on review of the Google Pixel Slate, which looks to be running this same version of Chrome OS. The new software also will likely play nice on big touchscreen devices such as the new thin-bezeled Chromebooks from Asus.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google tests Android Messages feature on Chromebooks
• Chromebook users may soon get the Pixel phone’s best feature: Its camera app
• Chrome OS update could make switching to tablet mode far easier
• HP Chromebook x2 vs. Google Pixelbook
• The best Chromebooks of 2018

OnePlus 6T review

Research Center:

OnePlus 6T

Like changing the clocks for daylight savings, the biannual OnePlus launch has become so regular that we almost take it for granted. Despite this clockwork-like frequency, we still find ourselves caught up in the hype and excitement — much of it generated by the masterful OnePlus marketing team — and full of anticipation for the new model.

This is the OnePlus 6T, and like previous T models it’s not a giant leap over the product it replaces. Does that mean our anticipation has been quelled? Has the seemingly endless wave of new OnePlus phones become so much that we’re now not all that bothered by a new one? It has to happen at some point, right? Well that day hasn’t come yet. The OnePlus 6T is so good, it doesn’t need the hype.

Teardrop notch

What if the last phone you released was a bit of a looker, and you don’t want to mess things up for the sequel. What do you do? If you’re OnePlus you take basically the same shape and design, put a more sensibly shaded rear panel on, then alter the two least attractive aspects of the old model: the notch and the fingerprint sensor. The result? The OnePlus 6T, and the phone is a stunner.

The mirror black seen on the OnePlus 6 has returned, along with a less reflective midnight black version that shifts between inky black and a shiny gunmetal grey in the light. Get it just right, and a subtle S pattern emerges to finish off the effect. The OnePlus 6T doesn’t need crazy colors, it’s happy being classier than a whole room full of people who’ve just graduated from etiquette school.

Look back at the OnePlus 6 and the notch stands out, and not in a good way. It looks bizarrely dated for a phone that only came out earlier this year. The OnePlus 6T’s notch is a tiny dewdrop, and contains only the selfie camera lens. The speaker is set just above that in the body itself; it’s less intrusive, it’s prettier, and it doesn’t mess with notification icons too much either. We’d call that a success.

There are still bezels around the screen and a small chin, but they’re well disguised and don’t detract from the look of the phone greatly. On the back, the dual-lens camera is the only blemish, as the fingerprint sensor is now part of the display. Until now, we’ve only seen this on a few phones, with Huawei most recently pushing wider adoption with the Mate 20 Pro. More on that a little later. New for the 6T is the removal of the headphone jack, which OnePlus said is a reflection of how the industry is headed, and while sure to bother some, it is a necessity due to the device’s internal design.

Adopting and combining symmetry with minimalism, along with sensible design alterations like moving the trademark notification slider above the sleep/wake key on the right, OnePlus has been refining its overall design for several device generations now. Slightly heavier than the OnePlus 6 in the best way possible — it has a larger battery — but no less comfortable to hold, the OnePlus 6T takes a strong design and improves in all the areas where it lacked before. It’s one of the best looking smartphones you can buy.

Biometric security

The in-display fingerprint sensor has been dream technology since we first saw it on concept phones last year. Now that these sensors are here, what’s it like to use one every day? OnePlus has built the sensor into the very base of the screen, and claims it’ll unlock the device in 350ms. It does so with an eye-catching animation and a bright green light, which OnePlus says increases the accuracy over other colors.

It’s one of the best looking smartphones you can buy.

In reality, it’s a mixed bag, as it seems to get confused over time. When it’s working at its best, we’re talking lightning fast. It’s not as reliable as a traditional fingerprint sensor though, and we have removed and rescanned our fingerprint several times, as the accuracy dropped for no apparent reason. Doing so saw the sensor return to its former glory, but for how long until we have to do it again, we don’t know.

OnePlus has added its super-fast face unlock feature too, and if you activate this, the screen is usually unlocked before you even get your finger near the in-display sensor. It’s not a secure option though, so you won’t want to solely rely on it.

AMOLED screen

The OnePlus 6T has a 6.41-inch, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, AMOLED Full Optic screen with a 2,340 × 1,080 pixel resolution, for an 86-percent screen-to-body ratio. It’s covered in Gorilla Glass 6 — one of the first phones to use it — which provides six individual layers of protection. The screen is slightly larger than the one on the OnePlus 6.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

We love all the many tweaks OnePlus has added to the display settings, from its very effective adaptive brightness to a varied screen calibration setting. We left our phone in Adaptive Mode, which alters the contrast and brightness based on lighting conditions, and found it really useful. A night mode and a reading mode are also present, plus the option to hide the notch, if you for some reason still find it objectionable.

It’s bright, attractive, and looks great for gaming, YouTube, and Netflix. However, it doesn’t seem to have quite the same level of luster we’ve seen in the very best screens of 2018, notably the Galaxy Note 9 and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. You’ll probably only notice when comparing them alongside, and considering the OnePlus 6T costs less than those two devices, it’s not a huge issue.

Great software

Our OnePlus 6T has Android 9.0 Pie with Oxygen OS 9.0.3 installed over the top. It’s worth pointing out how close Oxygen OS is to a Pixel-style Android experience, right down to the welcome inclusion of Google’s Gboard keyboard. What’s new? There’s a Gaming Mode, where notifications can be blocked, brightness is set to maximum automatically, and extra network data gets piped to whatever connected game you’re playing. Notifications arrive in a ticker-tape style display, to minimize intrusion.

The OnePlus 6T seems to have the best camera we’ve seen from the company.

Like the display settings, there are plenty of options to make Oxygen OS your own. There are four options for the ambient display clock, the option to run parallel apps like two versions of WhatsApp or Facebook, and also an encrypted locker to hide apps away, and to not show notifications either. There are even three different animations for the in-display fingerprint sensor as it scans. Unlike other deeply customized versions of Android, these are all options, and they aren’t intrusive.

The OnePlus 6T’s full screen nature lends the device to being used with a gesture control system, much like the iPhone XS and the system Huawei introduced with EMUI 9. It’s an option, and not set as default, but it does feel more natural to use than the Android buttons at the bottom of the screen. Why? Because the phone is all screen, and tapping those buttons is awkward when the device doesn’t have a chin to hold on to.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

A center swipe returns to home, a swipe up and hold reveals the app switcher, and swiping on the left or right of the screen goes back. Despite it making more ergonomic sense, it’s not the best gesture control method we’ve tried. You do have to be very precise with the back swipe — from the bottom of the screen or it won’t always register — and the app switcher requires effort to reveal, otherwise you just go back to home.

We experienced no stability or speed issues with Oxygen OS, but will continue using the phone over the coming weeks to build a better picture of medium to long-term use.

Speedy performance

The OnePlus 6T has a Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The choice for buyers is either 6GB/128GB, 8GB/128GB, or a range-topping 8GB/256GB configuration.

Here’s how it fared in benchmarks:

• AnTuTu 3DBench: 295,082
• Geekbench 4 CPU: 2,414 single-core; 8,949 multi-core
• 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 3,833 (Vulkan)

These figures surpass the OnePlus 6, the Galaxy S9 Plus, the Galaxy Note 9 the LG G7 ThinQ, and the Pixel 3 XL. OnePlus has specially tuned its software for benchmark results in the past, so treat these as for information only. But there’s no question the phone is fast enough for you, old man.

Solid camera

The camera sensors on the back of the OnePlus 6T are the same as those fitted to the OnePlus 6. There are two: A 16-megapixel camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization, and a second 20-megapixel lens with the same aperture. Both work together to create bokeh-style pictures, without cropping the image. OnePlus has improved the software driving the cameras, saying they provide better face identification, less noise, and greater edge detection.

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We’ve only had a few days with the camera at the time of writing, but so far we’re impressed with its ability. Taking outdoor photos on an overcast day, the HDR mode kicked in to reveal some very atmospheric clouds, while maintaining the autumnal colors on the ground. Indoors, we were surprised at the very effective white balance, and its ability to bring out plenty of detail in low light.

However, there’s a new Night mode, and it hasn’t proven to be effective yet. Taking photos of a sunset across the rooftops in both standard and Night mode didn’t reveal many differences. If anything, the Night mode shot had more noise and less detail. OnePlus has not revealed how the Night mode operates yet.

Edge detection in portrait mode shots is excellent, thankfully, and the improvements are obvious.

Slightly heavier than the OnePlus 6 in the best way possible, but no less comfortable to hold.

The camera app isn’t the best we’ve used. The settings are hidden under a slide-up menu, which isn’t that intuitive and mostly just repeats the functions available on the main screen, and when you swap to the front camera, modes like Night mode remain available, yet don’t work with the selfie cam. Accidentally tap one, and the camera reverts back to the rear camera. Annoying.

We will be trying out the slow motion video mode, and the 2× zoom feature — both which have been great so far — more, along with taking more photos in more environments, over the next few weeks. So far, the OnePlus 6T seems to have the best camera we’ve seen from the company, but it’s still one of the weakest parts of the phone compared to other flagships.

Battery

Inside the OnePlus 6T is a 3,700mAh battery, and a clever new component design under the base of the screen. You’ll never see it, but OnePlus has stacked several components in this section to make space for the new in-display fingerprint sensor, and maintained the size of the speaker box, while fitting a cell that’s 400mAh larger than the one in the OnePlus 6. We’ll take this new tech, and the larger battery, over the headphone jack.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The battery has fast charging using the proprietary Dash Charge cable and plug, but still no wireless charging. We have not spent enough time with the OnePlus 6T yet to establish battery life, but have so far seen great performance, with a single charge powering through to a day-and-a-half.

Price, warranty, and availability

The phone’s pricing is as follows:

• Mirror Black 6GB/128GB – $549
• Mirror Black and Midnight Black 8GB/128GB – $579
• Midnight Black 8GB/256GB- $629

The cheapest OnePlus 6T is $20 more expensive than the equivalent OnePlus 6, while the 8GB versions are the same price.

Things are changing for OnePlus. What was once an online-only purchasing endeavor is now considerably more a hands-on buying experience, in both the U.S. and the U.K. For the first time, you’ll be able to go into a T-Mobile store and try, then buy, the OnePlus 6T for yourself from November 1. The carrier is also offering a trade-in scheme that could save you up to $300 off the total price.

OnePlus 6T Compared To

Porsche Design Huawei Mate 20 RS

LG V40 ThinQ

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Honor 8x

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Moto E5 Plus

Xiaomi Mi Mix

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

YotaPhone 2

Sony Xperia Z3

LG Optimus 4X HD

HTC One S

Samsung Galaxy S II

Google Nexus S

T-Mobile myTouch 3G

Additionally, the OnePlus 6T will work on the Verizon network, if you buy the phone without a connection through OnePlus. In the U.K. the OnePlus 6T will be available through the O2 network, as before, but also now through EE and Vodafone stores too.

Our Take

OnePlus continues to refine its formula for the perfect smartphone, and the OnePlus 6T is the closest it has gotten to it yet. The downsides are few, and often only niggles, leaving a reasonably priced phone that has something for everyone.

Is there a better alternative?

The 6GB/128GB version for $549 is arguably the only version you really need; paying out for more storage space will add to the longevity, but we’d be surprised if adding 2GB of RAM will make a meaningful difference to performance. It certainly hasn’t in the past. Paying $630 for the 8GB/256GB model will see it potentially “last longer,” but once you start spending this much money, you’re getting closer to other high performance options.

In descending order of price, you’d be advised to look at the $800 Google Pixel 3, the $750 iPhone XR, the $650 LG G7 ThinQ, and the $450 Moto Z3 Play. There are fewer phones competing directly with the $550 OnePlus 6T, but Samsung’s new Galaxy A9 (2018) is a serious foe (for U.K. buyers), and while the Honor View 10 is getting a little old, the Honor 10 is 400 British pounds, and another good buy.

If you want to save even more, take a look at the $350 Nokia 7.1, or for an outside alternative, take a look at the seriously good value $300 Pocophone F1.

How long will it last?

Let’s talk about durability first. It’s a glass phone, so it’s going to break if you drop it. We’d recommend putting it in a case. Like the OnePlus 6, the 6T does not have an IP rating to indicate water and dust resistance. But OnePlus says the phone will be fine in normal conditions, like using it in the rain or a steamy bathroom. There are special silicone rings inside the device, sealed ports, and a sealed up screen. OnePlus’ argument is that IP ratings are difficult to figure out due to the complexity of protection levels, and by saying the 6T will be work in normal damp conditions, it’s being more honest about what to expect. Don’t submerge it, or drop it in water.

While we agree that IP ratings can be confusing, and sometimes give people a false sense of security, it helps for comparison, and if you do enough research into them, they bring more clarity regarding protection. Even if OnePlus doesn’t consider IP ratings consumer-friendly, it’d be interesting to see where the OnePlus 6T fits on the scale, with its current level of water and dust resistance.

Our review phone has Android 9.0, the latest version of Google’s operating system, and OnePlus is good at releasing updates, at least compared to many of its competitors. Despite OnePlus releasing a phone every six months or so, the 6T will easily last you for more than two years before it will require updating.

Should you buy it?

Yes. We question why you wouldn’t consider buying it.

The $8 iClever Himbox FM transmitter plays your music over the car radio

The best radio station is the one you create.

The iClever Himbox HB-F02 auto-scan wireless FM transmitter radio adapter is down to $8.49 with code FMCARKIT50 on Amazon. Without the code, this adapter goes for $17 and does not drop from that price directly. This is the best deal we’ve seen for this device.

The adapter helps any device with a 3.5mm jack take phone calls hands-free while driving and uses your car stereo to play the music you really want to listen to. It comes with a 2.4A USB port so you can charge your device and listen to music at the same time, unless your phone doesn’t have its own headphone jack, and it has an auto-scan function to help you find the empty station you need. It is compact, lightweight, and made for travel. You get a 12-month replacement warranty as well.

See on Amazon

PlayStation Classic’s full games lineup revealed

Nostalgia comes in small packages

It seems Sony has decided to get on the nostalgia bandwagon and create a mini version of the original PlayStation, often called the PSX. Called the PlayStation Classic, this miniature console could be another instant hit.

Nostalgia Machine

PlayStation Classic

$99 pre-order at Amazon

A miniaturized version of the original PlayStation, the PlayStation classic looks to take us on a nostalgic ride down memory lane. Complete with twenty PlayStation games and two controllers, the PlayStation Classic will make an excellent addition to the Classic console market.

October 29, 2018

Sony has announced the full games lineup that will be included with each PlayStation Classic. Though some popular titles are listed among the 20 games, to the disappointment of a lot of fans a few notable games like Tomb Raider and Tony Hawk Pro Skater are nowhere to be seen.

• Battle Arena Toshinden
• Cool Boarders 2
• Destruction Derby
• Final Fantasy VII
• Grand Theft Auto
• Intelligent Qube
• Jumping Flash
• Metal Gear Solid
• Mr Driller
• Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
• Rayman
• Resident Evil Director’s Cut
• Revelations: Persona
• Ridge Racer Type 4
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Syphon Filter
• Tekken 3
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
• Twisted Metal
• Wild Arms

October 15, 2018

While the English announcement did not provide a lot of details regarding the PlayStation Classic, its Japanese announcement did. Over on PlayStation Japan’s website, the company revealed in the fine print near the bottom of the page that peripheral devices, including original memory cards, will not be compatible with the PlayStation Classic.

On top of that, the specs also reveal that the PlayStation Classic only supports video outputs of 720p or 480p. If you were hoping for 1080p, you’ll be disappointed.

October 5, 2018 — The controllers are USB!

After looking at the images in much finer detail I have noticed that the controllers while having the same long, thin plug as the original PlayStation may actually be a standard USB instead. When looking at the console from head on you can see the undeniable shape of a USB.

This opens up a lot of possibilities, both for the console and for the controllers. Does this mean we could use a standard PS4 controller plugged into the USB of the console? Or could we use the controllers that come with the Classic on our PC’s? Hopefully, Sony can give us an answer soon.

What does it look like?

It looks almost exactly like the original PlayStation from 1994 but reduced in size by forty-five percent. Apart from the size, the major differences are found on the back. Instead of the analog ports from before, the Classic has HDMI and Micro-USB ports. Even the memory card slots are visible on the Classic although as far as we can tell they don’t do anything.

Down to the lack of thumbsticks and the long thin socket, the controllers are perfect replicas of the originals. It would be nice if they were made wireless, but I suppose they need to keep the nostalgia accurate.

How do all the buttons work?

Each of the buttons on the console works almost exactly like the original.

• The power button turns it on as you would expect.
• The reset button suspends the current game and we assume takes back to the game menu for you to launch new games.
• The open tray button actually opens the virtual tray to allow you to swap discs on games like Final Fantasy VII that used to have multiple physical discs. This is a really nice touch from Sony as it makes all the buttons usable in some fashion.

What’s in the Box?

The PlayStation Classic comes with the console, of course, an HDMI cable, USB-A to Micro-USB cable for power, and two controllers. I like this trend in the Classic consoles of supplying two controllers, and long may it continue.

The only thing missing from the box is an A/C Adapter, but Sony has said that a standard one amp, a five-volt adapter will work fine.

What about saves?

PlayStation has said that the PlayStation Classic comes with “a virtual memory card” to save your games on, I assume player one and two can save on the same memory card.

Hopefully, it operates the same as the original as they were games that used the memory card in clever ways to unlock bonus content. Until we see a full list of the games though we won’t know for sure.

What Games does it have?

There are twenty games preloaded on the PlayStation Classic and right now we only know the names of five. Final Fantasy VII as I mentioned before, as well as TEKKEN 3, R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, Jumping Flash!, and Wild Arms. Sony has said more will be announced in the coming months so watch this space.

All the games seem to be playing on at their native 4:9 aspect ratio. No sign yet if the black edges caused by the 4:9 ratio will be covered up with frames like the SNES Classic allows you to do but I’m sure they will have something.

Where and when can I get it?

The PlayStation Classic will available in all regions on December 3 and is available for pre-order for $99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Gamestop. With typical PlayStation flair, the PlayStation Classic will release exactly twenty-five years after the original.

Pre-order at Amazon

What have we missed?

Let us know in the comments section if you find out any new information and we will update this article. What games would you like to see on the PlayStation Classic? We want to know your thoughts!

Updated October 29, 2018: Sony has revealed the full games lineup that will be included with a PlayStation Classic.