2020 was a pretty good year for Sony. Aside from its next-gen console and excellent headphone launches, the brand unveiled a couple of compelling smartphones too. The high-end Xperia 1 II catered to the premium media crowd, while the Xperia 5 II distilled the formula down to something more affordable and mainstream. Both are notable improvements over Sony’s previous-generation handsets.
Sony has its hands full keeping up with the pace of PlayStation 5 orders at the moment. But aside from more stock of its new gaming machine, there’s plenty more we want to see from the Japanese giant in 2021 too. Speaking of the PS5, we’re focusing on Sony’s phones and other tech products here. Stay tuned for our dedicted PlayStation wishlist very soon.
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
2020 was an interesting year for Google‘s product portfolio. Its Pixel smartphone range jumped ship from the premium-tier segment to a more inexpensive price point with the Pixel 5. Combined with the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G, Google’s handset range took a sharp turn down affordability avenue.
Google also spent 2020 tinkering with its approach to media streaming. As well as the overly-ambitious launch of the free version of the Stadia cloud gaming platform, big G unveiled the Chromecast with Google TV to bolster its streaming hardware. More controversial was the consolidation of Play Music into YouTube Music. The choice to end free Google Photo storage next year was also not well-received.
3D TOD LiDAR
The wide-angle lenses and Li-DAR depth sensors are the same on both phones. The only other change is to the telephoto camera. However, it simply appears to be an adjustment to the lens aperture and its focal lengths. The iPhone 12 Pro’s telephoto camera has a 52mm focal length, which is 2x the main sensor’s 26mm focal length. The Pro Max model has a 65mm telephoto lens, which works out to a 2.5x zoom from the main camera.
While there are minor hardware differences here, the biggest is clearly the price. You’ll pay an extra $100/£100/€100 for these camera changes, along with a bigger display and a slightly larger battery. Yet, is the extra cost worth it to mobile photography enthusiasts?
A purported render of the Huawei P50 Pro has emerged.
The smartphone is said to feature a curved 6.6-inch display with a reworked selfie camera system.
Info relating to the Huawei P50 Pro has been hard to come by thus far, but now we have some idea of what the flagship might entail. Tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer has posted a bunch of details to Voice, including a first look at Huawei’s next flagship smartphone.
The front-facing render suggests the P50 will feature some noticeable differences compared to the Huawei P40 Pro. Gone is the dual punch hole selfie camera and in comes a centrally-mounted single shooter more akin to the Galaxy Note 20 series.
Apple killed it this year, and Android needs a shot in the arm
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We all love Android, but come on… Apple killed it this year.
Cupertino hit the ground running with the refreshed iPhone SE early in the year. It showed Android manufacturers how to blend cutting edge performance, flagship features, and an affordable price tag into a winning formula. It’s hard to name an Android equivalent that’s quite as good at all three. Not only did the phone review very well, but it set the benchmark for incredible value this year.
The Apple iPad refresh, the Watch Series 6, and the iPhone 12 series are all predictably competent pieces of hardware too. They’ve refined what we’ve come to expect from Apple products over the years. Cupertino certainly knows how to make and market high-end products, helping to keep Android tablets and smartwatches at an arm’s length. The company also shook up its various subscription services, combining them under the more competitively pri