Save over $700 on this professional photography training bundle

If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in photography, or if you’re just looking to get the necessary skills to level up your Instagram feed, the Complete Photo Professional Bundle will give you a thorough education in photography without sending you into eternal student loan debt.

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• Photography Master Class
• Wedding Photography: From Zero To Profits
• Mac Photos 2018: Photo Editing, Organizing, and Sharing on Mac
• Street Photography For Beginners
• The Art of Finding Light: Photography For The Artist in You
• The Art of Perspective: Tools That Make Your Pictures Pop
• Beginner Digital Photography Course
• Retouching Essentials in Photoshop

Normally the Complete Photo Professional Bundle costs $771.95, but right now you can take 95 percent off and get lifetime access to all eight courses for just $35 by clicking the button below.

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The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB. 

Source: Android Zone

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We asked, you told us: Most of you keep phones between one to two years

Smartphone manufacturers typically stick to a very strict release schedule which usually includes releasing at least one new phone every year. But with premium handsets costing anywhere between $700 and $1,000, it’s not feasible for many to buy a new phone every year.

Keeping a device for more than a year isn’t the end of the world, but it means that you probably won’t get all of the latest and greatest features. For some, this isn’t that big of a deal. For others, this is a reason to switch phones more often.

So we decided to ask you, are you switching phones every year, two years, or are you holding onto your handsets until they’re dead? Here’s what you had to say.

How long do you usually keep a phone?

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Results

Unsurprisingly, most of you voted that you’re keeping smartphones for a least one to two years, with a large percentage of people holding onto handsets for over two years.

These results are even less surprising when you consider that most financing options usually last around two years. By the time that the device is paid off, it has been one to two years, and there’s a reason to upgrade.

In the grand scheme of things, you aren’t missing much by skipping a single smartphone generation. Yes, some of the new features introduced into Android and by the handset’s manufacturer won’t get added to older devices, but these tend to be minuscule.

Noteworthy comments

Here are some of the best comments from last week’s poll explaining why they voted the way that they did:

• I keep my phones as long as they’re getting major Android upgrades. Since my Pixel 2 will be getting three years of upgrades that’s how long I’ll keep it.
• For me the ideal would be to keep a phone for at least 2 years, my S7 Edge is going strong with almost 3 now
• I buy a new phone when the apps I use advise me that support for my Android version will end. I’m on my second smartphone. First one bought in 2012. Second one bought in 2018.
• I’ve actually had my Note 8 since the day it was released in September 2017, which is weird as I usually change phones every year, not longer than that. It is a great phone though, so no need to upgrade.
• My carrier allow me to upgrade my 2 years plan 6 months early so I usually take up the offer if there’s a good deal. I usually buy a flagship Samsung device just before it get updated for 0 or very cheap up front, so while I don’t have the latest and greatest, I’m sure to get updates for the duration of my contract.
• Buy a flagship, skip one version and upgrade to the following one. Repeat Mode. Reason – Device Hardware and Software are outdated in as early as an year these days.

That’s it for this week, everyone. As always, thanks for voting, thanks for the comments, and don’t forget to let us know what you thought of the results below.

Source: Android Zone

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What is portrait mode and which phones have it?

There’s a good chance you use your smartphone to take pictures and capture video. There’s a relatively new feature a lot of smartphones have called portrait mode, and it can up your photography game big time if used properly. However, you might not know what portrait mode is or how it’s used. So what is portrait mode exactly? Good question.

Let’s examine portrait mode in an effort to separate the marketing jargon from the facts. We’ll also give you a list of current smartphones with portrait mode so you can make informed buying decisions.

Let’s get started!

What is portrait mode?

Portrait mode is a term used to describe the artificial bokeh (BOH-kay) effect produced by smartphones. Bokeh is a photography effect where the subject of a picture is kept in focus while the background falls out of focus. By using portrait mode to create a bokeh effect, you can take dynamic photographs which look more professional.

Years ago, if you wanted to take pro-quality photographs, you’d need a DSLR or analog camera. Nowadays, even mid-range smartphones can deliver exceptional results.

Editor’s Pick

Best Android smartphone cameras (December 2018)

In recent years, smartphones have effectively replaced point-and-shoot cameras, and many even outperform them. For many of us, these portable computers have become our main camera, making photo quality a priority when picking a new …

However, one of the biggest historical limitations of smartphone photography had been the ability to simulate depth using bokeh. Without high focal lengths, large sensors, and control over focus, even high-end phones couldn’t create the blurred background effect.

Recently, though, advancements in computational photography — as well as the introduction of dual-lens smartphone cameras — have brought artificial bokeh to phones. Most smartphone manufacturers refer to this effect in marketing material as portrait mode. Additionally, the setting in most camera apps that creates bokeh is usually called “Portrait Mode” or simply “Portrait.”

Portrait mode examples

You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. With that in mind, let’s check out some examples of photographs using portrait mode to create a bokeh effect. Below you’ll find a gallery of pictures captured with a variety of smartphones, all using the portrait mode setting.

As you scroll through the photos, pay attention to the backgrounds:

Portrait mode makes the subject of your photo really pop. Since the background is blurry, your eyes naturally gravitate towards the non-blurry section of the picture. It can be a powerful technique when used properly.

Editor’s Pick

The best phones with dual front cameras

In the past few years, more and more smartphones with two rear camera sensors have released. In 2018, phones like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro even launched with three rear cameras. In one case, we even …

However,  the images above are not “real.” The bokeh effect is not produced using just the smartphone’s lens (or lenses). Instead, the smartphone’s processor, software, and camera hardware work together to apply the bokeh effect to a non-bokeh image.

Because you’re relying on a computational algorithm to create portrait mode effects, results can vary. Check out the photo below where the phone’s portrait mode filter gets confused and can’t get the effect right:

For some reason, the algorithm determined the edge of Lanh’s glasses was part of the background and thus blurred it out. If you were using a DSLR to take this photo and produced the bokeh effect using the lens itself rather than software, this problem wouldn’t happen.

However, when you’re using a smartphone to create a bokeh image, you don’t have to lug around a large DSLR, which is certainly advantageous. With that in mind, don’t let a few faulty images deter you. The algorithms responsible for portrait mode are only getting better, so problems will become less and less of an issue going forward.

Which phones support portrait mode?

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of portrait mode and how bokeh effects can make your photos better. However, how do you know if your smartphone supports the feature?

In general, most phones with at least two lenses paired together can produce portrait mode pictures. Some phones can produce the bokeh effect with just one rear lens (the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 3 being the most notable examples), and some dual-lens phones can’t do portrait mode (like the LG V30). However, if a new phone has two lenses on the back, it’s a safe bet it does portrait mode shooting.

Editor’s Pick

15 best camera apps for Android

Cameras on smartphones are a much bigger deal than they used to be. Companies are chomping at the bit to make their cameras more reliable, work better in low light, and add features that people want. …

Some smartphones are now shipping with two lenses on the front, too. This allows for portrait mode pics in selfie mode. However, there are phones with a single selfie lens that can also do portrait mode.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of recent smartphones that have portrait mode abilities with the rear camera at least. This list is not completely comprehensive in that there are likely other phones out there with portrait mode not included here, but we did include all the most popular releases.

There are also numerous ways to “hack” your phone to get portrait mode when it is not offered by the original OEM. However, we are not going to cover that here.

---

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus	Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)
Samsung Galaxy Note 9	Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
Samsung Galaxy Note 8	Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro

---

LG

LG V40 ThinQ	LG G7 ThinQ
LG V35 ThinQ	LG Q8

---

HTC

HTC U12 Plus

HTC U12 Life

---

Sony

Sony Xperia XZ3

Sony Xperia XZ2

---

OnePlus

OnePlus 6T	OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 6	OnePlus 5

---

Google

Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL

Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL

---

Huawei

Huawei Mate 20 & Mate 20 Pro	Huawei P20 & P20 Pro
Huawei Mate 10 & Mate 10 Pro	Huawei P10 & P10 Plus

---

Honor

Honor View 20	Honor 8X
Honor View 10	Honor 7X

---

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7	Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro	Xiaomi Pocophone F1
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro	Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro
Xiaomi Mi A2	Xiaomi Mi A1

---

Vivo

Vivo Nex	Vivo V11
Vivo X21	Vivo V9 Pro

---

Oppo

Oppo Find X	Oppo R17 & R17 Pro
Oppo F9	Oppo R15 Pro

---

Motorola

Motorola Moto X4	Motorola Moto G6
Motorola Moto Z3	Motorola Moto Z2 Force

So now you know the answer to “what is portrait mode” as well as what phones currently offer it.

Source: Android Zone

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The best mid-range smartphone processors of 2019

Every year there’s a heated battle for the title of the best flagship smartphone processor, but few pay much attention to the equally important cost-effective smartphone market. Let’s put that right by breaking down what’s available from chip manufacturers in the sub $500 and sub $250 price brackets.

The introduction of cost-effective phones packing flagship-grade SoCs, like Xiaomi’s Pocophone F1, have upset how we traditionally look at the performance potential of inexpensive smartphones. I’m not going to talk about the Snapdragon 845. We’ve covered it elsewhere and it certainly doesn’t appear in many mid-range smartphones. Instead, we’re looking at chips that already pop up more commonly in these price segments.

Best chips in sub $500 phones

Most upper mid-range smartphones on the market feature 2017’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. Handsets like the Nokia 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy A9, Oppo R11 all use it, as do cheaper phones like the Xiaomi Mi A2. The newer Snapdragon 675 will likely end up replacing the 660 in mid-tier products throughout 2019 like the HiSense U30.

The closest competitor in this space is Huawei’s Kirin 970. The chip launched in as a flagship in 2017 but quickly trickled down into more cost-effective Honor handsets like the Honor 10 and the Honor View 10. However, these models don’t usually compete quite as well as Huawei’s flagship phones in benchmark tests, but still offer decent performance for cheaper handsets. Samsung also makes processors that fit neatly into this category. The Exynos 7885 powers its Galaxy A8 series of phones and the Exynos 9610 will replace it soon.

	Snapdragon 660	Kirin 970	Exynos 7885
CPU	4x Kryo 260 @ 2.2GHz (Cortex-A73) 4x Kryo 260 @ 1.8GHz (Cortex-A53)	4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.4GHz 4x Cortex A53 @ 1.8GHz	4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.2GHz 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.6GHz
GPU	Adreno 512	Mali-G72 MP12	Mali-G71 MP2
RAM	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
AI	Hexagon 680 with HVX	NPU	No
Modem	600Mbps download 150 Mbps upload	1200Mbps download 150Mbps upload	600Mbps download 150Mbps upload
Cameras	24MP single, 16+16MP dual	40MP single	21.7MP single, 16+16MP dual
Process	14nm FinFET	10nm FinFET	14nm FinFET

All of these current generation processors feature a combination of powerful Cortex-A73 or similar high-performance processors, paired with four lower power Cortex-A53 cores. The only letdown is in the graphics department, especially with Samsung’s Exynos chip. The two core Mali-G71 design is not going to cut it for 3D games.

Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Huawei chips in this category already pack in AI processing capabilities, something absent from Samsung’s mid-tier Exynos products. Huawei’s flagship chip leads the field with a better modem, but the others are essentially comparable in this regard. Most likely, you’re probably looking at a Qualcomm or Huawei chip in this segment for the best all-rounders.

Upcoming chips

Next generation products, with the exception of Samsung’s mid-range Exynos 9610, switch over to Arm core designs compatible with DynamIQ cluster configurations. This technology has previously been reserved for high-end SoCs and will make them more efficient multi-taskers.

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Everything you need to know about ARM’s DynamIQ

ARM unveiled the nature of its new DynamIQ technology back in March, but with the announcement of the company’s new Cortex-A75 and A55 CPU cores, we now have a much clearer picture about the capabilities …

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 and MediaTek Helio P90 move to 2+6 core configurations, but we shouldn’t expect any major performance drops. Two Cortex-A75 or A76 cores is plenty of power for most heavy lifting tasks a smartphone can expect. Their enhanced cache and close cluster design means the chips can handle the burst nature of these task types more efficiently than before.

Another notable improvement to some of these chips is in the AI/machine learning hardware. Qualcomm continues to beef up its DSP capabilities slightly over the previous generation. However, the MediaTek Helio P90 introduces a dedicated Inference Engine developed in house, in conjunction with its existing DSP from Tensilica. On paper, this looks to make the P90 a real powerhouse in the machine learning department.

	Snapdragon 675	Helio P90	Exynos 9610
CPU	2x 2.0GHz Kryo 460 (Cortex-A76) 6x 1.7GHz Kryo 460 (Cortex-A55)	2x Cortex-A75 @ 2.2 Ghz 6x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0 Ghz	4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.3GHz 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.6GHz
GPU	Adreno 612	IMG 9XM-HP8	Mali-G72 MP3
RAM	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
AI	Hexagon 685 with HVX	Tensilica DSP and in-house Inference Engine	No
Modem	600Mbps download 150Mbps upload	600Mbps download 150Mbps upload	600Mbps download 150Mbps upload
Cameras	25MP single, 16+16MP dual	48MP single, 25MP + 16MP dual	24MP single, 16+16MP dual
Process	11nm LPP FinFET	12nm FinFET	10nm FinFET

Again, Samsung’s Exynos chip lacks the GPU horsepower of its competition. There’s a small performance improvement with the move to a Mali-G72 MP3 in the Exynos 9610, but that’s won’t make up the gap. Overall, it won’t have much more to offer than a mild GPU advantage over the budget-oriented Exynos 7904 (more of that chip later).

While a smaller 10nm FinFET process is a small win, Samsung’s mid-tier chips fall behind in the key metrics. The Exynos 9610 uses older CPU cores, a much weaker GPU configuration, and misses out on the AI technologies becoming increasingly common in other platforms.

Overall, Qualcomm is continuing to provide very well rounded packages for the mid-tier smartphone market. MediaTek’s latest Helio P products continue to be interesting and powerful alternatives, but devices with them are often a little harder to come by. As for Samsung’s Exynos, I’d look for alternative chips in my next ~$400 smartphone.

Best SoCs in sub $250 handsets

Questionable, low-performance SoCs have plagued the sub-$250 segment for awhile. Many used eight low power Cortex-A53 CPU cores, which don’t possess quite enough grunt for heavier tasks like gaming. Popular chipsets in this category include Huawei’s Kirin 650, Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, Exynos 7870, and a huge range of MediaTek octa-core chips.

Phones sporting these chipsets are still on the market, but we suggest you avoid them these days where possible. The most recent low-cost processor announcements promise notable boosts to performance, owing to the adoption of bigger powerful Cortex-A73 cores into the latest SoCs.

Features are still cut down in this price segment, but the recent Exynos 7904 and Snapdragon 636 offer most of what you’ll need — though don’t expect any nifty AI features. Modem specifications can also be on the slow side and LPDDR3 RAM is still sticking around in some products, so keep an eye on those spec sheets.

	Exynos 7904	Snapdragon 636	Kirin 710
CPU	2x Cortex-A73 @ 1.8GHz 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.6GHz	4x Kryo 260 (Cortex-A73) @ 1.8GHz 4x Kryo 260 (Cortex-A53) @ 1.8GHz	4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.2GHz 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.7GHz
GPU	Mali-G71 MP2	Adreno 509	Mali-G51 MP4
RAM	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4	LPDDR4X
Ai	No	Hexagon 680 DSP	No
Modem	600Mbps download, 150Mbps upload	600Mbps download, 150Mbps upload	600Mbps download, 150Mbps upload
Cameras	32MP single or 16+16MP dual	24MP single / 16+16MP dual
Process	14nm FinFet	14nm FinFet	12nm FinFET

The Exynos 7904 upgrade to its RAM, GPU, and LTE modem over the last-gen 7872, doubling the Mali-G72 core count to two. This should make it much more competitive, capable of handling some games reasonably smoothly. As you can see from the first table, the 7904 shares a lot of similarities to the old Exynos 7885, which has been found above the $250 price bracket. The Exynos 7904 made its debut inside the sub-$200 Samsung Galaxy M20, but we’ll have to see if the chip makes an appearance outside of India.

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n a world where high-end Android smartphones can cost $1,000 or more, lots of people out there want something that won’t break their wallet. Luckily, there are lots of cheap phones out there that cost …

The Kirin 710 powers a number of budget-friendly Honor handsets, and bridges the gap with mid-range SoCs like the Snapdragon 636, much like the Exynos 7904. The chip’s LPDD4X memory options gives its weak appearing Mali-G52 MP4 GPU component a boost to bandwidth, which helps it punch slightly above its weight with gaming, but it’s hardly a high-end performer. The superior 4G LTE modem also bests a lot of other products in this range. There’s a reason Honor handsets are pretty compelling at low price points.

The Snapdragon 632 is Qualcomm’s latest product aimed at the budget market, replacing the Snapdragon 450. However, the older Snapdragon 636 actually has better LPDDR4 RAM, a more powerful Adreno 509 GPU, and a 600Mbps compliant LTE modem. It looks like a better rival to new products from Samsung and Huawei, and already common in low-cost phones. I’d recommend the 636 over the 632.

A lot of competing chipsets fall into this price range, some newer and some older. On the whole, aiming for a Snapdragon 600 series, Kirin 710, Exynos 7904, or even stretching to a MediaTek Helio P60 should ensure decent performance on a budget.

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Overall, there are some good SoC choices if you’re on a budget, even in phones under $250. However, you have to be increasingly careful which chip you pick as the price gets lower.

It’s essential to take the entire package into account, not just looking at big CPU cores and high clock speeds. Samsung’s budget Exynos chips are prime examples of this. They offer decent CPU specs, but not much else. Gaming, AI, and camera demands have become more prominent lately, and they’re things to keep in mind, especially at these price points.

Source: Android Zone

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This app will proofread your documents and emails

Whether you’re a professional writer churning out manuscripts, a college undergrad pouring over a research paper, or an office worker sending out countless emails a day, you’re bound to make some mistakes. A few simple grammatical errors can mean the difference between a passing grade and failure, or can result in office-wide miscommunication that suddenly leaves you in a situation of flexible employment.

WhiteSmoke Writing Assistant guards against that by checking your documents and emails for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style errors, so you can catch any mistakes before clicking send and potentially jeopardizing your future.

WhiteSmoke’s software is compatible with any browser-based text editor and can be activated on both desktop and mobile with a single click. No matter where you are, you can count on WhiteSmoke to keep your writing error-free. It also features a massive plagiarism database that you can use to check any documents you receive for potentially stolen work, and a translator covering over 50 languages.

WhiteSmoke can even proofread your documents and emails in Microsoft Word and Outlook. Regardless of your preferred word processor, WhiteSmoke has got you covered.

A lifetime subscription to WhiteSmoke normally retails for $399.95, but today you can take 80 percent off and get one for just $79 by clicking the button below.

Check it out!

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

Source: Android Zone

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Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Punching above its weight

Last year, Asus made a comeback in India. It had been a while since the company launched a smartphone there. Once a decent mid-segment player, the company lost the plot trying to compete with stiff competition from several Chinese players.

Editor’s Pick

Best phones under 15,000 rupees in India

Companies like Xiaomi, Motorola, and more recently Honor, Nokia, and RealMe have changed the game in India, with budget-friendly smartphones offering impressive performance and features. This has given rise to a whole new budget category in India.

If you’re looking for the …

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 was a solid comeback device. Developed especially for the Indian market based on consumer feedback, the Max Pro M1 was a well-rounded device that ticked all the boxes an affordable smartphone should. It was a runaway success. Asus followed it up with the Asus Zenfone Max M1, a stripped-down variant.

Just before the year ended, the company launched the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2. It is quite a big upgrade to the Max Pro M1 — on the specs sheet as well as the design. I spent a couple of weeks with the device. Here’s our Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Design

While the younger sibling Max M2 carries on the design legacy of the last generation, the Zenfone Max Pro M2 introduces a new glass-like design with “dynamic optical finish” that totally ups the ante in visual appeal. It also makes it prone to scratches, and the glossy exterior easily catches smudges all the time.

There’s an overall premium feel to this device and it looks much better than its very vanilla metal-bodied predecessor. It looks rad, especially in the gorgeous color variants the phone comes in, and stands out in a sea of similar looking mid-range smartphones.

There’s an overall premium feel to this device, and it looks rad.

It’s impressive Asus could pack a large 5,000mAh battery into a phone that weighs only 175 grams. It feels quite compact, and the even weight distribution makes it quite comfortable to hold.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Display

On the front, there’s a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection. It’s the cheapest smartphone in the market with the latest Gorilla Glass 6 protection, which is quite a feat from Asus.

There’s a not-so-big notch on the top and thinner bezels than the last time, which makes for a higher screen-to-body ratio.

The M1 only had a passable display, and Asus has made amends this time around. Our Asus Max Pro M2 review unit has a brighter, livelier display, with punchy colors and good viewing angles overall. The sunlight visibility is pretty good as well.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Performance

The Zenfone Max Pro M2 has some serious internal upgrades over the M1, as well. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor paired with an Adreno 512 GPU. The Snapdragon is the top of the line chipset in this price range, and Asus did well moving up from the Snapdragon 636, unlike Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 6 Pro.

There are three RAM variants — 3GB, 4GB, and 6GB — with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. I used the middle variant for this Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review.

In everyday usage, the Max Pro M2 sails though even while multitasking with several apps open in the background. There was no apparent lag or stuttering and the entire experience was quite fluid. Some graphically intensive games like PUBG took a while to start, but with medium graphic settings, the gaming experience is pretty smooth.

With a large 5,000mAh battery and stock Android experience, the Zenfone Max Pro M2 easily lasts for a day and a half with moderate to heavy usage. The battery life on the Max Pro M2 is great, but the lack of fast charging means it takes ages to charge the big battery completely.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Hardware

The choice of a Micro-USB port instead of USB-C on the Max Pro M2 is disappointing now that few other smartphones in the market at similar price points have made the switch.

The device features a 3-in-1 tray with dedicated slots for two nano SIM cards and a microSD card to expand storage up to 2TB.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Camera

For its segment, the dual camera setup on the Max Pro M2 looks good on paper. There’s the 12MP Sony IMX486 sensor with f/1.8 aperture combined with a 5MP depth sensor. This may seem like a downgrade from the setup on the predecessor, but Asus is using a larger sensor this time, with a 1.25micron pixel size.

There’s also EIS and support for 4K video recording, and an over-the-air update during the review period brought AI scene detection as well.

In daylight outdoors, the phone took some good shots, although it was inconsistent. Some shots were overexposed and often the details in the background or at distant subjects were missing. The color reproduction is pretty good though.

The portraits came out great, with good edge detection and natural-looking shots — unless you set them to the highest level of blur (yes, you can control the amount of depth you want in your portrait shots).

In low light, the camera struggles. It’s better than its predecessor, but not by a giant leap. Most shots are grainy and lack sharpness. There’s also significant shutter lag and a slight delay as each shot is saved.

Up front, you have a 13MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture and an LED flash. Selfies are quite good, and face detection locks focus accurately when taking a group selfie. You can select the level of beautification, and even on high levels it doesn’t go overboard with smoothing skin — no mannequins here.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review: Software

The Zenfone Max Pro M2 now comes with stock Android, as Asus dropped its proprietary UI layer — ZenUI — from its budget and mid-range lines. It’s a clean and no-frills experience, with only three preloaded third-party apps (Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram).

While the phone ships with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, the company has confirmed that the smartphone will receive Android 9.0 Pie soon. Asus has been quite aggressive with over the air updates on this new series. Every few weeks there has been an update on the older phones further fine tuning your smartphone experience and delivering monthly security patches.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 specifications

	Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2)
Display	6.3-inch Full HD+ (2280 x 1080) LCD IPS 19:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 6
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa core (4 x 2.2 GHz, Kryo 260 + 4 x 1.8 GHz, Kryo 260)
GPU	Adreno 512
RAM	3GB/4GB/6GB
Storage	32GB/64GB Expandable up to 2TB with microSD card
Cameras	Rear camera: 12MP | Sony IMX486 sensor | f/1.8 aperture | 1.25μm pixel size 5MP secondary sensor for depth of field PDAF EIS Front camera: 13MP | f/2.0 aperture
Battery	5000 mAh
Sensors	Fingerprint sensor Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope
Software	Android 8.1 Oreo
Dimensions and weight	157.9 mm x 75.5 mm x 8.5 mm 175g

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

Starting at 12,999 rupees (~$181) in India, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is a well-rounded affordable smartphone that punches above its weight. There are upgrades across the board from the last generation. Asus really moved the line forward, rather than adding small iterative changes.

The Max Pro M1 was a stellar device, and the Max Pro M2 improves on it in almost every department, with a snazzy new look to boot.

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is for those who want a steady performer with no compromises.

It has all the right ingredients for a reliable and powerful mid-ranger. Asus has demonstrated it’s not just aiming to match Xiaomi, but to compete with it by delivering a great product at brilliant pricing.

Read next: Honor 10 Lite review: When stellar design isn’t enough

And this concludes our Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 review. Will you buy this phone?

Source: Android Zone

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Smartphone quiz: Which statement is false?

This quiz will test out just how familiar you are with some of the best Android phones on the market including the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and OnePlus 6T. Each question contains four statements regarding a flagship phone, and your job is to figure out which one is false.

Think you know enough about the latest and greatest Android phones to get a good score? Click the Start button below and show us what you got — and don’t forget to share your result on social media at the end.

Note: There is a widget embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s widget.

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This is the 27th quiz in our regular weekly series. You can take a few of the most popular ones via the links below or check out all of them by clicking here.

• Fortnite vs PUBG: Which one is right for you?
  
• Smartphone quiz: Do you remember these gimmicky features?
• Can you name a smartphone just by looking at it?
• How much do you really know about Android?
• Which phone did it first?
• Name that smartphone!

Let us know which questions you thought were the hardest and share your result with others in the comment section.

Source: Android Zone

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Deal: Google celebrates Valentine’s Day with discounts on the Pixel 3, Home Hub, and more

Love is in the air at the Google Store, where you can pick up discounted smartphones, smart home devices, and accessories.

Here’s the full list of discounted devices:

• $150 off the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
• Pixel 2 XL starting at $599
• $50 off the Google Home Hub
• $40 off the Google Home
• $35 off the Chromecast and Google Home Mini bundle
• $48 off the Google Home Mini 2-pack bundle
• $20 off the Nest Thermostat E 2-pack bundle
• $200 off the Nest Cam Indoor 3-pack bundle
• $350 off the Nest Cam Indoor 5-pack bundle
• $100 off the Nest Cam Outdoor 2-pack bundle
• $210 off the Nest Cam Outdoor 4-pack bundle
• $330 off the Nest Cam Outdoor 6-pack bundle
• $30 off the Nest Protect 2nd Gen Smoke + CO Alarm 3-pack bundle
• $102 off the Nest Protect 2nd Gen Smoke + CO Alarm 6-pack bundle
• $50 off the Nest Learning Thermostat 2-pack bundle
• Up to $50 off Google Wi-Fi
• $20 off the Google Home Mini
• $20 off the Smart Light Starter Kit
• $20 off Chromecast Audio

The highlight deal is $150 off both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Both phones have been frequently discounted since their October 2018 launches, but it’s hard to say no to the Pixel 3 XL when it now starts at $749. If you want the smaller Pixel 3, that’ll be $649 for the 64GB version and $749 for the 128GB version.

Editor’s Pick

Made By Google Phones – what are your options?

Google entered the consumer smartphone market in 2016 when it introduced Pixel phones with the “Made by Google” brand. Previously, Google had the Nexus program, which mainly produced reference devices designed to showcase the Google …

If you don’t want to spend that much money on a smartphone, Google also offers 2017’s Pixel 2 XL starting at $599. Even though it’s over a year old, the Pixel 2 XL remains an excellent smartphone with one of the better phone cameras out there. Just make sure you’re okay with the subpar display quality before you plunk down the cash.

Also noteworthy is Chromecast Audio, which is currently $20 off. Google discontinued the product a few weeks back, so this could be the last bits of stock left until it’s sold out for good.

Source: Android Zone

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Unlock $50k worth of WordPress themes and plugins with Storeshock

WordPress has revolutionized the world of web development. Instead of having to slog through endless strings of HTML and JavaScript code, anyone with even a modest creative vision can now build a beautiful and professional-grade website using only templates, images, and plugins.

But finding the perfect template and theme for your site is no easy feat, given that there are thousands to choose from. Storeshock WordPress Themes and Elements gives you unlimited access to $50k worth of premium WordPress themes, plugins, and templates, and right now a lifetime subscription is available for over 85 percent off at just $59.

This subscription dramatically streamlines the development process by giving you access to a wide range of different WordPress themes — all of which are top-rated and easy to use.

There are over 1,000 themes, plugins, and templates to choose from, and you’ll be able to quickly and easily search for the perfect theme based on what type of site you’re trying to build.

You’ll also enjoy a wide range of helpful development tools like drag-and-drop page builders, built-in color filters, and overlay options that will drastically reduce your build time. This subscription even lets you easily convert PSD and AI designs to fully-functional layouts.

Build a pro-level WordPress site with help from Storeshock WordPress Themes and Elements. A lifetime subscription is available for just $59 — over 85 percent off for a limited time.

Check out the Storeshock deal

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

Source: Android Zone

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Here’s how to cancel Netflix if you don’t like its big price increase

The most popular premium video streaming service in the U.S. is Netflix, with over 58 million paid subscribers. However, those users are going to have to pay more to keep watching all of the great new shows and movies that are currently on the service.

In January 2019, Netflix announced a price increase on all of its plans. The basic plan, with one concurrent stream and video set to 480p resolution, is going up from $7.99 a month to $8.99 a month. The standard plan, with two concurrent streams and 1080p video resolution settings, is going up from $10.99 a month to $12.99 a month. If you splurge on the premium plan, which offers four concurrent streams and support for 4K resolution, the price is going up from $13.99 a month to $15.99 a month.

Editor’s Pick

What’s new on Netflix (February 2019)

February may be the shortest month of the year, but Netflix will still pack in a ton of new and returning TV shows and movies in its lineup in just 28 days.  So what’s new …

While these new Netflix prices are live for new subscribers, current users won’t see these increases until at least May 2019. If you feel that Netflix’s latest price jump is just too much for you to handle, here’s how to cancel Netflix from your smartphone or your PC via a web browser

How to cancel Netflix

The procedure is almost exactly the same if you cancel Netflix via your Android or iOS smartphone app or on your PC web browser.

• On your smartphone Netflix app, tap on the “More” menu on the bottom right side of the screen. On your PC web browser, just have the cursor hover on your account profile.
• In both cases, tap or click on on the “Account” section.
• You will be taken to a web page where you will see a slightly gray box called “Cancel Membership.” Tap or click onto that box.
• You will be given one final chance to change your mind, or perhaps switch to a cheaper Netflix plan. If you still want to go ahead with ditching Netflix, click or tap on the blue “Finish Cancellation” box and your account should be canceled.

Keep in mind that if do cancel Netflix, you can still stream and watch under your current account until your billing period ends. If you decide to return to Netflix within 10 months of canceling, you can still access your profiles, favorites and viewing preferences from your previous account.

That’s how to cancel Netflix, and as you can see, it’s a pretty simple operation with not a lot of hoops to go through. Will you be canceling Netflix because its prices are going up soon?

Source: Android Zone

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Killing the ‘Google can’t innovate anymore’ argument

Googlers leaving Google is not always news, but when an outspoken former Google advocate breaks free and starts flamebaiting, it’s worth considering their thoughts.
Steve Yegge’s blog about leaving Google after 13 years in the colorful, happy, free-food-everywhere world caught plenty of attention. That’s definitely what Yegge was after too — he spent more than half of the post hyping where he’s off to next. It’s a fine playbook.
But is Yegge just disgruntled and determined to throw a few headline-grabbing rocks for free publicity, or is he actually making valid points? Some background: Yegge spent six years at Amazon before Google, and once said “Amazon does everything wrong, and Google does everything right.” So what’s changed?
Unpacking Yegge’s first three points are pretty standard for a big company. The company is too conservative, mired in politics, and arrogant. As Yegge himself confirms, those are pretty much unavoidable for a company the size of Google. So let’s leave them be.
The fourth claim is the most meaningful. Yegge believes Google is failing to innovate, that it’s looking sideways rather than investing in new ideas.
“Google has become 100% competitor-focused rather than customer focused.”
Copy-cat competition
Yegge focuses on big copy-cat launches like Google+, Google Cloud copying Amazon’s AWS, Google Home competing with Amazon Echo, Allo vs WhatsApp, and Google Assistant vs Apple’s Siri. He also recognized some exceptions: Google’s Cloud Spanner, BigQuery, TensorFlow, and Waymo.
Editor’s PickGoogle welcomes HTC talent, eyes future hardware

Google has finalized its deal with HTC, bringing the Taiwanese manufacturer’s core design team across to the Mountain View company. Google Senior Vice President Rick Osterloh commemorated the occasion in a short blog post, where …
It’s short-sighted to slight Google for offering useful tools to their users to keep them inside the Google ecosystem. Some of the competitor apps or tools mentioned here are not even innovations — Apple purchased Siri, and Facebook paid a king’s ransom for WhatsApp.

But Yegge hints at deeper problems, at the DNA-level — a popular Silicon Valley term you’ll often hear in metaphorical media bites; “X runs deep in Apple’s DNA” (replace X with music, education, technology, or you can further confuse the metaphor and say that Steve Jobs’ DNA is the base for Apple).
“They are stuck in me-too mode and have been for years,” writes Yegge.
“They simply don’t have innovation in their DNA any more. And it’s because their eyes are fixed on their competitors, not their customers.”
The problem here is that being perceived as innovative can be shockingly fleeting. Snapchat was once lauded for its innovation, especially in the augmented reality space with their Spectacles. Then Spectacles’ cool factor fell off a cliff and they stopped selling, forcing the company to write off $40 million of funky glasses.
Amazon might be praised for the successful projects of its secretive Lab126 R&D unit, like the Kindle and the Amazon Echo. But the Fire Phone was an utter debacle, even if that failure hasn’t slowed anything down. Innovation and failure often walk side by side.
Then again, perhaps Yegge is hinting at Amazon’s rapid progress compared to his perception of Google’s “stalled” innovation. As already noted, he worked for Amazon years before it ever had a hint of being a “cool” brand that could win Oscars and open automated supermarkets people will actually line-up for. Amazon is clearly leading innovation right now; it spends more on R&D than any other company in the world. Alphabet spends third-most, some $3 billion per year ($8 million per day) behind.
(via Bloomberg)
Yegge is (mostly) wrong
But back to the main point. Just because Amazon is leading, it’s wrong to say Google is no longer innovating. The “100 percent competitor-focused” line is a complete throwaway cliche. Of course Google is competitor-focused, it just doesn’t sound as catchy to say any number lower than 100.
There are no companies of significance ignoring their competitors. At the scale of Google, not offering something a competitor does means hundreds of millions of users can’t get it in their ecosystem. That’s a problem when the competition also reaches hundreds of millions of users. Not keeping up at the Google level is a massive risk.
True innovation is still possible, but some of the most interesting ideas are only truly possible as start-ups. Uber and Airbnb infamously skirt the law around the world. Ethically challenging ideas like Bodega might make money but can’t be done by a company like Google.
In addition, new innovations build on existing work. The ones we know about are generally the best executions. Apple rarely innovates — the iPhone wasn’t the first multi-touch device, but it was the best implementation. Apple is proud of being the “best,” rather than the first.

A sign of strong desire for more homegrown innovation came late last year when Google shelled out $1.1 billion for approximately 2,000 HTC engineers to better develop its hardware. It also established a separate hardware team in Shanghai, close to the global epicenter of electronics manufacturing. The Pixel line, as influential as it is, hasn’t dramatically changed the smartphone space, but who has? It’s an incremental world of improvement until the next big thing.
Google is a leader, we just don’t always see it
A short and incomplete list of things Google is leading in starts with AI. Google Assistant dominates everything other than Alexa. The DeepMind acquisition has famously beaten Go, and also improved energy efficiency at global data centres, and their photo and image AI is world class. Of course, that’s only scratching the surface. It’s very hard to see what’s changing in Search, which raises an important point.
First we see the big innovations, such as Search, Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and StreetView. The curse of such successful innovation is that it grows to become enormous. The Google Search codebase is more than two billion lines of code. Search is locked into first place, and decades of fine-tuning — more than 50 million commits — have kept Google in front. That’s innovation we’ll rarely see any hint of beyond better results.
Most of us use Google Maps as a boring-but-necessary utility, rather than a source of delight. It isn’t exciting anymore, but Google is so far ahead of other map services it’s ridiculous.

New Essay: “Google Maps’s Moat”https://t.co/RYaNfmTkrj pic.twitter.com/zZCFOFw93C
— Justin O’Beirne (@justinobeirne) December 19, 2017

A great indicator of just how far ahead Google Maps has gotten was published just last month, showing some remarkable features over rivals including Apple. Google Local Guides was a neat innovation that is decidedly not machine learning-based, collating raw data from users and turning it into opening hours, answers for questions like if cafes or restaurants are cosy and quiet, or if there’s Wi-Fi available. That’s not happening at this scale anywhere else. Other crowdsourced innovations include, er, Crowdsource, and the very new Google Bulletin for hyper-local news.

With the new AI-powered Clips camera, Google Photos will offer amazing AI insight into your photos, as well as free storage and a host of new experimental Photos apps. Google AMP was a response to Facebook Instant Articles and it won — AMP is now a significant part of the web for publishers.
Let’s also not forget it was Google that found recent vulnerabilities like Broadpwn, Cloudbleed, Heartbleed, Spectre, and Meltdown (the latter two were also found by multiple independent sources). It is clearly leading hardware and software security for everyone, not just Google users.
Then there’s the company’s moonshots, probably the craziest innovations, though admittedly more in the territory of parent company Alphabet than Google itself. Most have now been spun out of Google X, but many use Google’s unparalleled data to produce innovative ideas in spaces like urban planning and city building (SideWalkLabs), the medical sector (Verily), autonomous vehicle development (Waymo), and even immortality (Calico). There’s also a renewable energy spin-off via backyard geothermal play Dandelion. That’s on top of all the plays Yegge mentioned himself, like TensorFlow.
Perhaps in response to the dubiousness of his claim, Yegge posted a follow-up note clarifying some of his points and made it clear he didn’t believe the sky was falling at Google. He made his point clearer after just hinting at it in the previous post: it’s really just that Amazon is doing it better. But innovation isn’t an all-or-nothing scenario.
Jeff Bezos has one of the world’s great start-up investment portfolios
Jeff Bezos is an exception. He innovates all the time and he doesn’t fear failure. Many of his ideas fall flat, but he almost never throws them away. Instead he hammers at it until it’s in the right form for success. Amazon churns out innovations at a rate much, much higher than companies of similar size. Not surprisingly, Bezos is now the richest man in the world.
Maybe it’s grass-is-greener talk — Yegge described Bezos as an “infamous micro-manager” who “makes ordinary control freaks look like stoned hippies” back in 2011. That was also when he described Google as 99 percent arrogance-free, so things have either changed dramatically or Yegge has just grown tired of Google life. Either way, smack-talking his employers current and past seems to be Yegge’s M.O.
Opinions aside, Bezos has one of the world’s great investment portfolios in Bezos Expeditions, which includes investments in Airbnb, Google (a $250k investment in 1998), Blue Origin, Uber, Twitter, Stack Exchange, Business Insider, Kongregate, and more. He clearly has a talent for judging and supporting innovation.
Now the Google-Amazon rivalry seems bigger than the Apple-Google one. Apple is increasingly isolated in a premium-cost and premium-build world which not everyone likes, but it works just fine for the Cupertino company. Amazon is for everyone, and it looks like they could dominate the world. With Bezos driving a demand for innovation and spending more than anyone else, suddenly Amazon is the behemoth coming for all others.
Google isn’t known for being feisty. It won’t come out to defend itself from every minor criticism. Google highlights their innovations just like Amazon, only in a more fun, friendlier, Googlier-way. Where Amazon’s innovations gain attention as consumer-focused and therefore mainstream, Google’s innovations across AI and its enormous array of products don’t always dominate the headlines — the DeepMind defeat of the world’s best Go player is one exception.
After 13 years on the inside, Yegge should know Google better than anyone. He’s obviously hugely talented, but he seems jaded. Maybe stepping outside Google will inspire him again. But no innovation and too much competitor-focus? At Google? That’s a reach.
Source: Trickmost.ml

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Sprint, Foxconn, and Comcast named in America’s most hated companies poll

Sprint, Foxconn, and Comcast were ranked among the 20 worst hated companies in the US.
Sprint ranked seventh, while Foxconn and Comcast finished sixth and 15th, respectively.
All three companies encountered several negative headlines throughout 2017.

Congratulations to Sprint, Foxconn, and Comcast for being three of America’s most hated companies!
24/7 Wall St. tabulated the list and reviewed several metrics on customer service, employee satisfaction, and financial performance. The website also accounted for events that impacted a person’s perception of companies.
Based on the results, Sprint was America’s seventh most hated company. According to RootMetrics, the carrier is either at the bottom or close to it in terms of speed, data, calling, texting, and overall reliability relative to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Not all is bad for Sprint, as the carrier saw customer satisfaction increase 4 percent from 2016 to 2017. Sprint also looks to keep pace with the other major US carriers in the race to 5G.
With $38 billion in debt and a focus on cutting costs, however, we do not know if Sprint will make the appropriate improvements quick enough.
Foxconn, meanwhile, ranked sixth among the most hated companies. The company is known for making and assembling electronics for companies like Apple and Nintendo.
Foxconn is also known for the slew of suicide completions and suicide attempts that were reportedly due to poor working and living conditions, as well as low pay. The company “addressed” this by installing safety nets, with the most recent reported suicide being a 31-year-old night shift worker in 2016.
Editor’s PickSprint appoints industry veteran Michel Combes as president and CFO Sprint

Sprint has appointed Michel Combes as its new president and CFO
Combes will replace Tarek Robbiati in the role, who will leave at the end of the month
Combes is expected to cut …
Most recently, homeowners in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Foxconn over the company’s potential abuse of eminent domain. Foxconn wants to build a complex in an area that would push homeowners out and cost them, along with local and state governments, an estimated $4.5 billion.
Finally, Comcast ranked 15th on the list. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the company was rated lower than industry averages for its internet, subscription TV, and fixed-line telephone services.
Comcast also rubbed some folks the wrong way when the company applauded the FCC’s decision to repeal its net neutrality regulations.
Whatever 2018 brings for these three companies, I am sure they hope it is positive.
Source: Trickmost.ml

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Why we are keeping phones for longer

After years of rapid growth, global smartphone shipments are slowing down. This is party due to the plateauing of the smartphone revolution in China and India, which has seen hundreds of millions of new customers purchase their first 4G smartphones over the past half a decade. At the same time, data suggest consumers are keeping their smartphones for longer across the U.S. and EU markets.
Combined, these two examples offer key insights into why the smartphone market is no longer the momentous investment opportunity it was just a few years ago. Yet the reasons behind this lengthening product life-cycle aren’t entirely clear. Here are some of the possible reasons why consumers are increasingly keeping their handsets for two years or longer.
Those $999+ price tags
An obvious starting point for explaining why consumers are holding onto their phones for longer is that they’re becoming increasingly expensive. When the latest top tier models from Apple and Samsung go for more than $999, it’s clear that annual, 18-month, or even 24-month upgrades aren’t always feasible on a typical income. That’s especially true now, as household disposable income growth has only begun recovering across much of Europe and the U.S. in the past couple of years.
You might think consumers would simply switch to more affordable models or stick within their previous budget range, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. There’s actually a growing appetite for aspirational high-end phones. Some of the latest data suggest an eighth of smartphones sold in Q3 2017 were priced above $900, twice as much as in Q3 2016. Consumers are buying the more expensive models, but they’re attempting to make them last longer, which seems reasonable.
The average amount spent on smartphones is increasing, causing buyers to wait longer before spending again.
Further evidence for this comes from the same smartphone life-cycle data, which shows China isn’t quite exhibiting the same trend. The life-cycle in China is gradually becoming longer, but there’s more of an ebb and flow thanks to how the smartphone market operates in the country, with a greater emphasis on online shopping.
The low cost, highly competitive nature of China’s internal market also ensures there’s a healthy consumer appetite for new products at more affordable price points. While Apple and Samsung are pushing into the $999+ bracket in the West, home-grown Chinese brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi are continuing to focus on value for money and price innovation. At lower prices, regular upgrades are a more feasible option.

Contracts and data packages
The increasing prices of high-end smartphones also has a knock-on effect for subsidized carrier plans and contracts. Although some regional trends are moving towards unlocked and online purchases, carrier store sales and prepaid plans are still the most popular method of purchase in the U.S., and are essential for many to spread the costs of high-end purchases in other Western markets.Editor’s PickThe best prepaid and no contract plans in the US (November 2017)When we first started this list in 2012, things were starting to get exciting. We were seeing processors with more cores, screens in true HD, and things were starting to get really interesting for Android. It’s …
While 24 month contracts are certainly nothing new in the smartphone industry, the higher cost of smartphones has a couple of implications for purchasing habits. First, the higher price makes spreading out the cost over longer periods of time more appealing and affordable. The monthly cost of a 24-month subsidized plan for a $999 phone is comparable to a 12- or 18-month contract for a $750 handset.
Second, upgrading part-way through the contract has also become less affordable. Previously it was reasonably affordable to pay off the remaining balance to upgrade early or return an old handset for a partial exchange on a newer model. With flagship prices creeping up and depreciation taking a chunk out of partial exchanges or second-hand sales, this is now a less viable option. Instead, customers may be waiting for 24-month contracts to be paid in full before considering a new model.

The tech arms race has ended
It could also be that customers just aren’t feeling the urge to upgrade their handsets as frequently because the differences between each generation have become smaller and smaller. The giant leaps in processing speed, storage capacity, and camera quality we saw three or four years ago simply aren’t happening anymore.
There are obviously still improvements being made, but they don’t impact the day-to-day experience as noticeably as they used to. Apps don’t stutter on phones with older processors and the only consumers really interested in these components are the benchmark chasers and serious gamers.
You’re not likely to run out of storage very quickly if you have 32 GB or more memory, especially as most people’s music listening and video watching habits have shifted to streaming services. The “advancements” in dual cameras and superior post-processing aren’t as significant as manufacturers would like to believe either, though consumers won’t turn their noses up at better-looking pictures.
Even two year old handsets run apps flawlessly, offer plenty of storage space, and take great pictures. So why upgrade?
Even the smaller features and unique selling points aren’t as interesting or meaningful these days. IP ratings for dust and water resistance can still be found on older handsets, as can nice glass or metal build materials. More recent advancements in smart assistants — helpful for some — aren’t realistically going to be a major factor in the purchase of a new phone. Especially as Google Assistant and Alexa supported apps are handset agnostic. Similarly, virtual reality support and accessories have been far from a compelling reason to upgrade. Pundits have been particularly critical about the lack of smartphone innovation, but the reality is OEMs have simply converged on the best formula.
Simply put, smartphone hardware has matured to the stage where customers aren’t running into any major reasons to upgrade annually anymore. The only exception with Android remains software updates, and after a couple of years or so consumers might finally be tempted to upgrade if for no other reason than to see the latest features from Google. Another likely reason to upgrade eventually is old non-removable batteries causing issues.

4G LTE widely adopted
The final and less often cited point is that very fast 4G LTE networks and compatible smartphones are now the norm across most of the globe, including significant reach in emerging markets. The global consumer drive to switch from 3G/HSPA+ models into 4G LTE capable handsets has largely been fulfilled.Editor’s PickZTE looks to launch its first 5G smartphone by early 2019

ZTE might not have had a strong presence during CES 2018, but Lixin Cheng, the CEO of the company’s US arm, still made a splash by announcing ZTE will launch a 5G-capable smartphone by early …
The move to faster data speeds has previously been a major driving factor for new purchases. However, the more incremental speed boosts offered by new modem technologies like LTE Unlicensed spectrum or support for new bands like T-Mobile’s 600 MHz are a tougher sell, especially since availability is limited to certain areas. Much like other parts of smartphone hardware, data speeds have matured to a state that most consumers are content enough not to spend hundreds on slight improvements.
It remains to be seen if 5G will be a major driver of new smartphone sales. There’s a certain appeal to being a first adopter, but nationwide 5G networks are going to take a significant amount of time to deploy — there’s unlikely to be a major consumer rush to buy new 5G capable phones when networks aren’t ubiquitous. We’ve also covered some of the reasons doing so might come at a significant cost. Sticking to the current 20-plus month average life-cycle will probably suit a gradual move into 5G just fine, especially considering high speed 4G LTE is perfectly fine for most smartphone use cases already.
Wrap Up
There are, of course, still very good reasons to purchase a new smartphone. As the market has matured these excuses have shifted from obtaining meaningful improvements to replacing hardware on its last legs. Between higher prices, expensive contracts, and hardware being more than good enough to last two or more years, there’s less incentive than ever for consumers to upgrade regularly.
Have you found yourself upgrading less frequently? How long are you keeping your smartphones for these days?
Source: Trickmost.ml

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