Moto X4 Android One Edition for Project Fi Launched: Price, Specifications

The handset has been priced at $399 (roughly Rs. 25,800)The company has started taking the pre-orders for the new variantThe Android One edition will offer "Pure Android" experience to users

Earlier this month, a leaked render of the Moto X4 variant with Android One branding popped up on the Internet and on Wednesday, Google finally announced the new handset officially. Notably, the search giant has launched the Moto X4 Android One edition for Project Fi exclusively in the US. The Android One variant of Moto X4 has been priced at $399 (roughly Rs. 25,800) and can be pre-ordered from the Project Fi website starting Wednesday itself. The new edition has been launched in Super Black and Sterling Blue colours.

If you are wondering what you will get with Android One edition of the Moto X4, it will offer a "Pure Android" experience and "carefully curated set of preinstalled apps" as per the company. "For example, it comes optimised for the Google Assistant to help you get more done, and offers high-quality video calling with Google Duo. You'll also get access to the latest updates from Android, such as Android Oreo before the end of the year. Android One Moto X4 will be among the first to receive an upgrade to Android P," the company said in its blog post.

If we talk about specifications, the handset comes with the same configuration as the regular variant of Moto X4. This means, the Moto X4 Android One edition packs a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) LTPS IPS display with 424ppi pixel density and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. It is powered by the 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octa-core SoC paired with Adreno 508 GPU and 3GB of RAM.

In terms of optics, the Android One edition of Moto X4 sports a dual camera setup at the back. It houses one 12-megapixel dual autofocus sensor with f/2.0 aperture and 1.4-micron pixels; and another 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle sensor with 120-degree field of view, f/2.2 aperture, and 1.12-micron pixels. This dual camera setup comes alongside a colour correlated temperature (CCT) dual-LED flash and PDAF. At front, the handset sports a 16-megapixel shooter for taking selfies. The handset houses a 3000mAh battery.

The company is also providing users with a trade-in offer, if you have an older Nexus phone and want to trade it in for a new device, the company will give you up to $165 for select Nexus devices. Further, if you trade-in the old device for an Android One Moto X4 by October 5, you'll earn an extra $50 Fi credit.

Asus Zenfone 4 India Launch 14 Sept 2017 Confirmed

Zenfone 4 Max PRO.

Asus has just sent the media invite for the new Asus Zenfone 4 series in India, the Smartphone will launch on 14th September 2017. The smartphone launch will take place in New Delhi on 14/09/2017.

Though It is yet not known which smartphones out of the 5 mentioned above Asus will bring to the Indian market. But we can expect Asus to launch the Zenfone 4, Zenfone 4 PRO and a selfie smartphone to launch in India soon.

The exact date is yet not known but we will inform once there is some more information shared by Asus. The whole Asus Zenfone 4 series focuses on the camera quality and all the smartphones launched by Asus come with the Dual camera.

While the Zenfone 4 and Zenfone 4 Pro comes with Dual rear cameras the Zenfone 4 Selfie and Selfie Pro comes with Dual front cameras to click selfies with bokeh effect.

To Recap, Asus Zenfone 4 Series comes with the following specs. 

Asus Zenfone 4

Key Specs for Asus Zenfone 4

Display – 5.5 inches IPS LCD Display.Resolution – 1080 x 1920 pixels with 401 PPI.Operating system – Android Nougat 7.1.1, with Zen UI 4.0.Processor – QUALCOMM Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660.GPU – Adreno 508 or Adreno 510 GPU.Storage – 64 / 128 GBRAM – 4 GB RAM or 6 GB RAMDual Rear camera – 12 Megapixel + 8 Megapixel Dual camera with Sony flagship IMX362 sensorFront Camera – 8 MP Front selfie camera with f/2.0 apertureSound – Hi-Res audio 192kHz/24-bit standard with DTS.Battery – 3300 mAh battery with Fast Charging supportSensors – Fingerprint (front-mounted)

Asus Zenfone 4 PRO

Key Specs for Asus Zenfone 4 Pro

Display – 5.5 inches Super AMOLED Display.Resolution – 1080 x 1920 pixels with 401 PPI.Operating system – Android Nougat 7.1.1, with Zen UI 4.0.Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor clocked at 2.45 GHz.GPU – Adreno 540Storage – 64 / 128 GBRAM – 6 GB RAMDual Rear camera –  16 Megapixel rear camera plus a 12 MP camera with Sony flagship IMX362 image sensor and has a f/1.7 aperture.Front Camera – 8 Megapixel front facing selfie camera with Sony IMX 319 Sensor.Sound – Hi-Res audio 192kHz/24-bit standard with DTS.Battery – 3300 mAh battery with Fast Charging support.Weight – 175 grams.Thickness – 7.6 mm.Sensors – Fingerprint (front-mounted).

Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie

Display – 5.5 inches IPS LCD Display.Resolution – HD Display with 1280*720 pixels. With 2.5D Curve Glass.Operating system – Android Nougat 7.1.1, with Zen UI 4.0.Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Processor clocked at 1.4 Ghz.GPU – Adreno 505 GPU.Storage – 32 GB internal storage expandable to 128 GB.RAM – 4 GB RAMSingle Rear camera – 16 Megapixel camera with PDAF ,  Pixel Master 4.0.Dual Front Camera – 20 Megapixel camera and an 8 Megapixel cameraBattery – 3000 mAh battery with Fast Charging supportSensors – Fingerprint (front-mounted).

Read More about the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie 

Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro

Key Specs for Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro

Display – 5.5 inches IPS LCD Display.Resolution – FHD Display with 1920*1080 pixels with 2.5D Curve Glass.Operating system – Android Nougat 7.1.1, with Zen UI 4.0.Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor clocked at 2.0 Ghz.GPU – Adreno 506 GPU.Storage – 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage expandable to 128 GB.RAM – 4 GB RAMSingle Rear camera – 16 Megapixel camera with PDAF,  Pixel Master 4.0.Dual Front Camera – Dual 12 Megapixel front selfie camera’s with  Sony® IMX362 dual pixel image sensor.Battery – 3000 mAh battery with Fast Charging supportSensors – Fingerprint scanner at the front side.Sound – Hi-Res audio 192kHz/24-bit DTS.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 officially announced: Bezel-less design, refined

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 officially announced: Bezel-less design, refined

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has landed! Stay tuned as we bring you all the details over the following days and hours. We will be updating our Mi Mix 2 coverage regularly, so tune in.

Xiaomi shocked the world when it first introduced the nearly-bezelless Mi Mix back in October of last year, and since then, the design has absolutely taken the world by storm. Many flagships released in 2017 have sported a new streamlined design language with minimal bezels and a slimmer footprint, and it’s become evident that the industry is shifting towards all screen, all the time

It’s been almost a full year since Xiaomi announced their phone though, and they’re ready to take the next step in the battle for smartphone design domination. With so many other competitors on the market stealing their limelight, can the Mi Mix 2 line retain its lead in the design innovation department? We’ll leave that for you to decide, but for now, here’s everything you need to know about the new Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.

A note from the editor: Xiaomi is releasing the Mi Mix 2 in two versions: a regular one and a Special Edition with extra memory and a more luxurious design. We will highlight the differences as they come into discussion.

A familiar, luxurious design

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 looks quite similar to its predecessor, with a 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080 (FHD+) display encased by a 151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 mm aluminum alloy frame and a ceramic back that is curved on four sides. As an accent, both the standard and the Special Edition feature an 18K gold-plated ring around the camera.

The phone sports the trendy aspect ratio of 18:9 and weighs 185 grams, down from the 209 grams in the original model.

The chin of the device has been shrunk by 12 percent, and the result is a more visually balanced design. Xiaomi has also tweaked elements like the call speaker and the proximity sensor, which are now placed in the top side of the phone.

Key specs

The Mix 2 will be powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, putting it up to par with many of the other flagships currently on the market today. It sports 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and storage options of 64, 128 and 256 GB. With a well-sized battery of 3,400 mAh, we’re thinking this thing should be able to last you quite a bit more than a solid work day. And with Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 3.0 technology built right in, you’ll be able to juice up in no time.

There is a fingerprint scanner in the same location as last year, encased into the back of the device, but sadly we won’t be getting a headphone jack this time around. Xiaomi is introducing Bluetooth 5.0 into this model however, so you should get the best wireless audio experience available today. If you want to go wired, there is an USB Type-C port in the bottom of the device, so you can use that for charging or wired audio.

Fewer megapixels, larger pixels

The rear camera sports a 12 MP sensor, down from the 16 MP in the original Mix, but utilizes large 1.25μm pixels to capture more light. There is also 4-axis optical image stabilization in this camera, meaning you should be able to get clear photos and nice stable video. With a 5-piece f/2.0 aperture lens, you’ll also be able to get some nice depth of field out of this camera, though rivals like the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 offer better specs in this area. And though the bezels on the device are very fashionable, the Mi Mix 2 bucks the 2017 trend with only one lens on the back of the device. Still, it can record 4K at 30 fps and 720p at 120 fps.

The front-facing camera is in the same place as last year, at the bottom of the face of the device, but comes in a bit smaller to make more room for the screen. This camera shoots at 5 MP, and can record 1080p video calls with real-time beautify technology. It’s also got a selfie countdown and face recognition technology, so you’ll always be able to snap the shot exactly when you want to.

A familiar interface… updated

Xiaomi is using MIUI 9 for this device, which just entered its third round of open beta. This is quite similar to the old OS but with a variety of new features and optimizations, so you’ll be getting the latest the company has to offer on the software front. MIUI 9 offers features like multi-window and quick reply and is based on Android 7.0 Nougat. Though no news of an Android 8.0 Oreo update has been announced, be sure to check back to see if the company decides to update the device in the future.

A special edition for those who want more

If you’re the kind that wants to go all out, Xiaomi is offering a special edition of this phone, with 8 GB of RAM (vs 6 GB on the standard) and 128 GB of storage. It has an 18K gold coating surrounding the camera and the fingerprint sensor rim, and uses ceramic over the entire body of the device instead of the aluminium in the standard model.

Use it anywhere

You still might be hard-pressed to find the Mi Mix 2 in your area, but Xiaomi has added global bands to the device to allow it to be used anywhere. This means our friends who were craving the original model will be able to enjoy everything Xiaomi has to offer, though they might have to import it.

Dive deeper

Interested in reading more about the Mi Mix 2? We have more details coming your way soon.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 full specs We’ve rounded up all the specifications of the Mi Mix 2 (standard and Special Edition). Spoiler: there are a few features that competitors offer and the Mi Mix 2 does not.Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 price and availability details When, where, and for how much? We’re answering the essential questions about the Mi Mix 2 availability.Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 hands-on – coming soon!Xiaomi Mi Note 3 announced At the same event, Xiaomi took the veils of the Mi Note 3. Check it out!

Details regarding price and availability will be coming in the near future, but until then stat tuned to Android Authority to get the latest information as soon as it hits.

Are you interested in the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 first impressions: AI-powered beautification

the wraps off the Mi Note 3 this week. This new mid-range device looks sharp, features a dual camera, and comes with new beautification features that promise to make selfie even more of a science. Let’s see what the Note 3 is about.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 specs

The device sports a 5.5-inch display (featuring a reading mode) and is powered by the Snapdragon 660 chipset. It has 6 GB of RAM and comes with either 64 or 128 GB of storage. It’s not quite as compact for its size as the Mi Mix 2 as it doesn’t feature the so-called bezel-less design, but Xiaomi wants to make it clear that the bezels are still relatively thin, making the device smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus.

One of the biggest features of the Mi Note 3 is its dual-camera setup on the back. It features a 12 MP wide-angle lens along with a 12 MP telephoto lens offering 2x optical zoom. Xiaomi has also mentioned that the cameras have a 4-axis optical image stabilization and will, of course, allow you to capture those bokeh images that

The secondary camera, on the other hand, features a 16 MP sensor with what Xiaomi calls an Adaptable AI Beautify mode. What this apparently does is offer a “realistic beautify effect” that won’t compromise the quality of the image.

It packs a 3,500 mAh battery and also comes equipped with NFC, an IR blaster, as well as stereo speakers. Other things worth mentioning are a fingerprint scanner that’s embedded in the home button below the display, a USB Type-C port, and a facial recognition feature that gives you another way to unlock the device. Although it’s a nice feature to have, this technology hasn’t proved to be the safest one in the past.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 hands-on impressions

The Mi Note 3 takes a lot of cues from the Mi 6 that we saw a number of months ago, right down to its design and dual cameras. The curves on the back make for a phone that is easier to handle than many of its blockier peers, but the Mi Note 3 is bigger than Xiaomi’s last flagship smartphone.

Even the colors are the same, with black taking the lead and an electric blue again taking the spotlight with its eye-catching sheen. Other than that, there isn’t too much to be overly excited about with the Mi Note 3, if users have already been using Xiaomi’s previous phones from the past year.

All of the software guts are largely the same and will feel very familiar to veteran MIUI users, despite the UI’s weekly update schedule. All of the different features return here, like the Quick Ball that adds the soft keys and a couple extra buttons to any portion of the screen, Dual App for ghosting another version of maybe a messenger app for multiple account usage, and the app drawer-less homescreens that some may like and other may quickly replace. Of course, as this is a China-only phone, this might not affect as many people this time around.

Similarities to the previous Mi 6 continue with the camera package, which is largely the same as the dual 12MP regular and zoom lens combo that brought the first portrait mode to Android. These two cameras performed decently well, with the portrait mode taking much of the attention, but if it’s anything like the previous attempt, we might be seeing some less-than-decent low-light shots. I would be interested to see if the zoom capabilities can be used in video mode, which was not the case in the Mi 6 – and software updates did nothing to rectify that.

AI Beautify

A limited release can perhaps be explained by Xiaomi trying to experiment with a couple of features before making them more readily available to the masses. This is perhaps most apparent with the AI Beautify mode. With a powerful 16MP front facing camera, it is clear that Xiaomi is really trying to capture the imagination of its beautify-addicted user base, as it was clear in their marketing for the phone. Crazy video packages and gorgeous models aside, the phone uses face scanning to find the different zones of face and provide more accurate (if that is even the word to use) changes to the user’s visage. Eyes can be pinpointed for enlargement, the chin can be singled out for easier slimming, and the cheeks can be airbrushed to remove spots, to name a few options.

There are even different settings in order to add what could be described as “virtual makeup” to take it to the next level. Xiaomi even made a big deal about their new AI Beautify working for men just as well as women, but this remains to be seen.

All of these features, allegedly, get better at identifying the best touchups to apply to the user’s face, the more they take selfies using the mode. All of this sounds good and well for users who really want their faces to be altered by their smartphones before snapping, but I wasn’t able to really understand how it was any different from other beautify modes we’ve seen in other Chinese phones. All of the toggles and sliders are about the same and when cranked up to the max, my face looked far from the original.

And without any knowledge of the written Chinese language, I wasn’t sure if I was missing any other of the makeup features to add to my new face. It’s all in good fun, however, what is interesting about this feature is the possibility that Xiaomi could put it in more phones moving forward. It’s possible that they are testing it in their home market before touching up their more global-ready offerings like the Mi Mix 2.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 price and availability

In terms of pricing, the 64 GB version will set you back RMB 2,499 (around $385), while the 128 GB variant will retail for RMB 2,899 (around $445) — only the black model. There’s also a fancier blue version of the device available that only comes with 128 GB of space and is slightly more expensive at RMB 2,999 (around $460).

Unfortunately, Xiaomi hasn’t shared any info regarding the release date of the Mi Note 3 yet. No need to worry though, as soon as we hear more on this topic, we’ll be sure to let you guys know.

iPhone 8 Vs iPhone 8 Plus: What's The Difference?

iPhone 8 is here, but not in the form many expected it. After months of leaks, Apple performed a switcheroo with the expected iPhone 8 branded ‘iPhone X’ and iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus becoming the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The latter two again look identical to previous generations so should you be disappointed?

In short: maybe. The bad news is continues to push out what are now four generation old designs, but on the flip side there are a lot of internal upgrades which may steer you away from the radical yet jaw droppingly expensive iPhone X.

Apple

iPhone 8 (left) vs iPhone 8 Plus (right) look virtually [+]

So let’s break down the crucial differences between the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus…

Design & Size – More Glass, More Bulk

Anyone hoping Apple would redesign its entire iPhone range is in for disappointment. While the iPhone X got a full overhaul, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are almost identical to every iPhone since the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. And what they have changed is controversial.

The aluminium backs of their predecessors have been swapped for glass (something Apple had discarded since the iPhone 4S) while the change in materials has made the new models both slightly thicker and noticeably heavier than what came before:

iPhone 8 – 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) and 148g (5.22 oz)iPhone 8 Plus – 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm (6.28 x 3.07 x 0.32 in) and 202g (6.63 oz)

The big change is weight with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus over 7% heavier than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus respectively and a hefty 15.6% and 17.5% heavier than the original incarnation of their design in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple

Glass backs add to the weight of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 [+]

Glass and weight aside, a lot will look familiar. In contrast to the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus retain the same sizeable top and bottom bezels but that means you do still have a home button and Touch ID which has been scrubbed from the iPhone X in favour of Face ID facial recognition (more in the ‘Performance’ section).

While glass will have some users (rightly) concerned about durability, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus do have the same IP67 water and dust resistance as their immediate predecessors which protects them in up to 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes. Rigid Series 7000 Aluminium is also still at the core of their chassis.

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are IP67 dust and water resistant

One subtle boost is both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have 25% louder stereo speakers than the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with Apple again using the earpiece for amplified audio. On the flipside the headphone hasn’t come back (it was never likely to) and Lightning remains the connector of choice despite some hopeful, if naive, reports Apple would adopt USB Type-C like the rest of the industry.

As for finishes, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus actually have less color options with just Silver, Gold and Space Grey (yes it’s back) available at launch and Rose Gold, Black and Jet Black (not really necessary with a glass finish) being ditched. Expect (Product) Red editions at some stage though.

Displays – LED Outcasts

While the iPhone X finally saw Apple make the jump to OLED, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus retain the same core specs as its previous three incarnations:

iPhone 8 – 4.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi), 65.6% screen-to-body ratioiPhone 8 Plus – 5.5-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080 pixels (401 ppi), 67.7% screen-to-body ratio

Look closer, however, and Apple has again eked out a little more performance.

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus has True Tone displays for [+]

While there’s no improvement in typical areas like contrast ratio (1400:1) and brightness (625 cd/m2 max) Apple has added support for the ‘True Tone’ technology it first debuted with the iPad Pro range. True Tone reacts to environmental lighting to ensure colors are accurate at all times and, combined with the existing wider (P3) color gamut support, it should result in professional grade results.

Meanwhile movie fans will enjoy the addition of Dolby Vision and HDR10 for higher dynamic range while watching content on HDR-compatible services like Netflix, Amazon Video and Apple’s own iTunes. Given Apple announced it will now sell 4K HDR content at the same price as 1080p going forward this is a tangible bonus to have.

Performance – Faster And Smarter

While the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are arguably still the fastest smartphones around, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are going to increase Apple’s lead.

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus – Apple A11 ‘Bionic’ chipset: Six Core CPU, Six Core GPU, M11 motion coprocessor, 3GB RAM (iPhone 8 Plus), 2GB RAM (iPhone 8)

As usual Apple hasn’t dished out detailed clock speeds, but it does claim their 64-bit, six core processors (two performance cores, four high-efficiency cored) will be 25% faster than the A10 chip in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus when using the performance cores and 70% faster using the high efficiency cores.

Apple

Apple touts iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus for advanced gaming[+]

Apple also says multithreaded workloads (key for multitasking) will be 70% faster and graphics will be 30% faster and match the A10 with half the power consumption. This is seriously impressive and will go a long way to realising Apple’s dream to put Augmented Reality (AR) into the mainstream following the release of its ‘ARKit’ to developers. 

As for the ‘Bionic’ part to the A11’s name, that comes from its integrated dual-core Neural engine which handles all the image processing required for Face ID. Unlike other facial recognitions systems, Face ID maps a user’s face in 3D and “learns” as a user grows a beard or changes their haircut – the result? The Neural engine handles up to 600 billion operations per second and Apple claims none of the information it gathers is sent to Apple. And yet neither the iPhone 8 nor the iPhone 8 Plus will access it as Face ID is reserved for the iPhone X only – shame.

As for the elephant in the room? The iPhone 8 still doesn’t get the same amount of RAM as the iPhone 8 Plus, but the latter drives a higher resolution display and dual cameras (more next) which require the extra horsepower.

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus cameras look identical and [+]

Cameras – Physically Similar, Computationally Different

In recent years Samsung and then Google has taken the camera crown away from Apple and on paper it doesn’t look like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will represent a huge leap forward from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Why? Because the new phones retain many of the same hardware specifications as their predecessors.

The iPhone 8 retains a single 12 megapixel wide-angle sensor with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation. While the iPhone 8 Plus adds a 12 megapixel telephoto camera with lowly f/2.8 aperture and no OIS (just like the iPhone 7 Plus). The latter two specs impacted the performance of the iPhone 7 Plus, particularly in low light.

Apple

Apple is promoting significant upgrades to portrait [+]

Meanwhile on the front both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus offer the same seven megapixel sensor and f/2.2 aperture as their predecessors and OIS is still missing. So why do I expect improvements? It’s all down to the A11 Bionic chip.

The chip has specific camera-centric improvements including an Apple-designed ISP (Image Signal Processor) which adds improved pixel processing, faster low-light autofocus and noise reduction. Furthermore the image samples Apple showed off look superb, but users will have to be able to recreate them if Apple is to save a game it has been losing for several years now. 

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Portrait Lighting will be a major [+]

Battery Life And Charging – Not Longer, But Faster And Wireless

Despite all the efficiencies of the new A11 Bionic chip in the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, on the specs page for both phones Apple simply says “Lasts about the same as iPhone 7” under the iPhone 8 and “Lasts about the same as iPhone 7 Plus” under the iPhone 8 Plus. Yes, really and it shows:

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battery life has not improved [+]

While this is no bad thing for the iPhone 8 Plus, the smaller iPhone has been disappointing for some time and that won’t be changing with the iPhone 8.

But there is some much needed compensation as Apple has at long long last finally caught up with rivals and added both fast charging and wireless charging support to the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

Apple says you can expect a 50% charge from 30 minutes of wired fast charging which isn’t quite up with the fastest results you’ll get from rival Android phones (notably OnePlus), but it’s a dramatic improvement on previous iPhones.

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus bring wireless charging and fast [+]

Meanwhile wireless charging comes via Apple (surprisingly) playing nice and adopting the Qi standard. This won’t be fast charging (though Qi offers it) and Apple will customise the standard with a charging plate later in the year that supports up to three devices and shows their charge levels all on an iPhone’s home screen, but it’s a start.

Storage And Price – Fewer Options, Higher Prices

Last year Apple finally ditched its woeful 16GB entry point, and now it has ditched 32GB as well. Consequently both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus start at 64GB but only have two storage options available not three:

iPhone 8 – 64GB ($699), 256GB ($849)iPhone 8 Plus – 64GB ($799), 256GB ($949)

Yes, the midrange 128GB sweet spot has gone and the base prices are up $50 and $30 respectively but the 256GB top tier is relatively unchanged from last year (iPhone 7 $849, iPhone 8 $969). Meanwhile the premium iPhone X will start from $999 (64GB) and rise to $1,149 (256GB) which could see a lot of potential upgraders opt for the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus instead.

At the same time Apple has knocked $100 off the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus and $50 off the iPhone SE which will all be retained giving Apple a dizzying array of options. Note just 32GB and 128GB options will be available in these models going forward.

Apple

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will attract buyers scared off by [+]

Bottom Line

Understandably 2017 will be known as the year of the iPhone X, but with that phone now costing well into four figures (all US prices are listed before tax), unavailable for months and ditching Touch ID, I suspect many will opt for the familiar figures of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus instead.

Personally I think both phones are more ‘iPhone 7S’ and ‘iPhone 7S Plus’ than the new monikers Apple has given them and they won’t set the heart racing but they do deliver tangible speed improvements, should up Apple’s low light photography game and fast charging in particular is hugely welcome (if ridiculously overdue).

As always the greater battery life, sharper display and dual cameras of the iPhone 8 Plus make it the model to get if you can afford the extra outlay – but the iPhone 8 is easily going to be the most accomplished small form factor phone of the year.

MEET THE IPHONE X, APPLE'S NEW HIGH-END HANDSET

The new iPhone X packs more new stuff into any device since the original iPhone. It's the most complete redesign of the product ever and even offers a glimpse at what the iPhone might become when the world no longer wants smartphones. Of course, you probably won't buy one. Even if you can afford the super high price, getting your hands on an iPhone Xin the next few months will be like hunting for the holy grail. Except in this case, the fancy one is the right answer.

Today, at an event in Cupertino that doubled as a grand opening of its new spaceship of a campus, Applelaunched three new iPhones. Yes, three. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus upgrade the existing models without completely changing them. (More on those in a second.) The third model, the iPhone X, is another thing entirely.

Meet the X

First of all, the X looks like no other phone. It doesn't even look like an iPhone. On the front, it's screen head to foot, save for a small trapezoidal notch taken out of the top where Apple put selfie cameras and sensors. Otherwise, the bezel around the edge of the phone has been whittled to near-nonexistence and the home button disappeared—all screen and nothing else. The case is made of glass and stainless steel, like the much-loved iPhone 4. The notched screen might take some getting used to, but the phone's a stunner. It goes on sale starting at $999 on October 27, and it ships November 3.

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The screen itself, called a Super Retina Display, is a 1125x2436 OLED display reportedly made by Samsung. It's the first time Apple's used OLED tech in an iPhone, and it offers some big advantages. On a normal LCD screen, even black pixels are lit up a bit, which means you're never seeing true black—just really dark gray. OLED, on the other hand, can light some pixels but not others, which means black pixels just stay off. Your dark colors will seem much darker, other colors even richer, and even text becomes more pleasant to read. Apple's also incorporated its TrueTone technology for white-balancing the screen in different conditions, which should make everything look even better.

APPLE

Since there's no room for the home button on the front, a bunch of the feature's functions have been moved to the power button, which Apple's apparently calling the "side button" now. Long-press it for Siri, double click for Apple Pay. There's still a little tactility in this phone, even as it becomes little more than a pane of glass.

Even with the huge screen, the iPhone X more closely resembles the iPhone 7. The iPhone's screen-to-size ratio was always one of the smallest in the industry, thanks to the home button and Apple's undying love for design symmetry. Getting rid of the home button allowed Jony Ive's design team to get rid of so much more—just imagine your iPhone 7, but everywhere there's metal, imagine screen. That's the iPhone X.

Like the other two phones, the iPhone X runs Apple's latest processor, the A11 Bionic, along with 3 gigs of RAM. It's been years since the iPhone wanted for processing power, but the iPhone X might need all it can get. It has to power all that screen, for one thing, but Apple also seems to have created the iPhone X as a foray deeper into both artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Both require serious horsepower.