One of the things that “just works” within Apple’s ecosystem is AirDrop, the file-sharing solution available on iOS and macOS, allowing users to quickly share files with each other without needing to rely on any third-party apps. Android had an NFC-based solution in the form of Android Beam, but the feature was deprecated entirely in Android 10/Q. The absence of a true Airdrop competitor on Android prompted Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo to come together to announce their own cross-device file transfer solution. On the other hand, Google is also working on its own solution in the form of Fast Share, which was originally spotted back in June 2019. Now, Google has rebranded the service into Nearby Sharing.
An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.
Nearby Sharing (aka Fast Share) uses Bluetooth to initiate a handshake between devices, and then subsequently transfer files over a direct Wi-Fi connection. This will allow for larger files to be transferred much more quickly than Android Beam. Google has yet to announce or release this feature, but it has been in development for quite some time now. After it was first spotted, the feature received a revamp to its Share Sheet and its position within the Settings menu, spotted in September 2019. Then, in November 2019, Mishaal found that the feature received some UI changes along with a new icon.
And now, with Google Play Services v20.1.03, the Fast Share service has been rebranded to Nearby Sharing. One new tidbit that we have also learned is that both the devices have to be placed within 1 foot of each other in order to share, according to the text at the bottom of the share sheet.
It is currently unknown when exactly Google plans to release Nearby Sharing. Because of the rebranding from Fast Share and the new icon, we predict that the service is likely nearing launch.
Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.
Update 1 (01/13/2020 @ 5:20 AM ET): Xiaomi has shared that the company was testing 144Hz refresh rate on the Redmi K30. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on December 10, 2019, is preserved as below.
Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi entered the affordable flagship game with the Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro, launched in China in May 2019. Both the devices featured an identical design, and the main point of difference between the two was the SoC in use. The Redmi K20 Pro was the true flagship killer, featuring the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC; while the Redmi K20 balanced performance with affordability by opting for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC. Half a year later, Xiaomi is looking once again to balance affordability with performance with the new Redmi K30 that has now been launched in China.
Redmi Brand Product Launches
Xiaomi has grown to embrace the fact that devices leak before launch, so the company now reveals many key details and even official product renders in the run-up to the launch event. The company itself revealed that the Redmi K30 will be its first 5G smartphone back in October 2019. Closer to launch, Redmi confirmed the quad rear camera setup with the 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor, 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging, side fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, and multi-function NFC. Now, we have the full specification sheet of the Redmi K30 4G and Redmi K30 5G.
Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G: Specifications
Specification
Redmi K30 5G / Redmi K30 4G
Dimensions and Weight
165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79 mm
208g
Display
6.67″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080) LCD;
120Hz high refresh rate
Punch-hole display with dual front cameras
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
HDR 10 support
SoC
5G:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G:
1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz
One of the primary highlights of the Redmi K30 5G is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC inside, making it the first phone to be released on this platform. The Snapdragon 765G on the Redmi K30 5G features a Prime CPU core clocked at a high 2.4GHz, assisted by a Performance CPU core clocked at 2.2GHz; both of these are based on customized Kryo 475 architecture, which in turn is derived from the ARM Cortex-A76 design. There are also 6 ARM Cortex-A55-based Efficiency cores, giving the SoC a configuration of 1+1+6, against the 2+6 config on older SoCs like the Snapdragon 730. The SoC is also built on an 8mm EUV manufacturing process. You can read more about the Snapdragon 765G in our dedicated coverage from the Snapdragon Summit 2019.
The Snapdragon 765G also integrates the 5G modem on the die, resulting in lower power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G comes with dual-mode 5G, supporting both SA and NSA networks. The device also supports 5G MultiLink — essentially allowing users to concurrently be connected to 2.4GHz WiFi, a 5GHz WiFi and 5G/4G network.
The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone from Xiaomi to feature a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display. As the terminology implies, a 120Hz display displays twice the number of images per second as an ordinary 60Hz display, greatly enhancing the user experience. The device dynamically adjusts frame rate between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on the app and use-case to balance user experience and power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G also has a 91% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to the punch-hole cutout that is utilized for the dual front cameras.
The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone to feature the new 64MP sensor from Sony, the Sony IMX686. The IMX686 comes with a large 1/1.7″ sensor and 0.8μm pixels. The sensor can output 64MP images, but the regular camera mode will utilize pixel binning to combine four pixels into one for a 16MP, 1.6μm pixel image. The 64MP primary camera is flanked by three more cameras: ultra-wide-angle camera, depth-of-field camera, and a dedicated macro camera. On the front, you get a 20MP primary camera, coupled with a secondary camera for depth sensing.
The Redmi K30 5G continues on packing more features, as it comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. 5G and the high-refresh-rate display will definitely require a lot of juice throughout the day, so having a large battery as well as a quick way to top it up will come in handy. The phone also features a fingerprint scanner integrated within the power button and also retains some classic features like the 3.5mm headphone jack and the IR Blaster.
The Redmi K30 also comes in a 4G variant, which shares a lot of the same features. The primary differences are the lack of 5G (of course), a switch over to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, a 2MP dedicated macro camera instead of a 5MP macro camera, a bump down to 27W fast charging, and a lack of dual-frequency GPS. The Redmi K30 4G thus retains the 120Hz display, the Sony IMX686, and the big 4,500 mAh battery — making it a viable device for users who are not interested in 5G for the foreseeable future.
Pricing and Availability
Both, the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G are available in four RAM and storage variants.
Variant
Redmi K30 4G
Redmi K30 5G
6GB + 64GB
CNY 1599 (~$227/₹16,100)
CNY 1999 (~$284/₹20,100)
6GB + 128GB
CNY 1699 (~$241/₹17,100)
CNY 2299 (~$327/₹23,100)
8GB + 128GB
CNY 1899 (~$270/₹19,100)
CNY 2599 (~$370/₹26,100)
8GB + 256GB
CNY 2199 (~$312/₹22,100)
CNY 2899 (~$412/₹29,200)
The Redmi K30 4G will be available in Blue, Red, and Purple colors; while the 5G variant gets an additional White color variant. Both the devices will go on sale in China soon. We expect the K30 to make its way to international markets, but keep in mind that the pricing will not be the same as the Chinese pricing.
Update: Xiaomi teases 144Hz refresh rate, currently in testing on Redmi K30 5G
Since everyone is now seemingly hyping up their display and refresh rate technology, Redmi does not want to be left behind. Redmi’s General Manager Mr. Lu Weibing shared a video on Weibo, showing off the Redmi K30 5G testing a refresh rate of 144Hz.
Mr. Weibing mentions that the device is being tested with 144Hz refresh rate, but that does not necessarily mean that the technology will definitely make its way to end users. There is a possibility that the end result is not deemed worth the tradeoffs, and hence, the feature may not make its way to the final users. Nonetheless, this demo is proof that the device is capable of 144Hz. Maybe we can enable the feature on our own, just like we did with the Redmi K20?
What are your thoughts on the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G? Let us know in the comments below!
The second half of 2019 saw the rise of Android smartphones with high refresh rate displays. Manufacturers like Google, OnePlus, Realme, and more launched flagships with 90Hz displays putting older smartphones with 60Hz displays to shame. However, the supremacy of 90Hz displays was quite shortlived as ASUS launched the ROG Phone II last year featuring a 120Hz OLED panel. Later in the year, an episode of the Android Developers Backstage podcast revealed that even Google had plans of including a 120Hz display on the Pixel 3. Even though manufacturers like OnePlus and Realme are now bringing 120Hz displays to the mainstream, it seems like they’ll soon be outclassed by smartphones with 144Hz displays and that too from a rather unlikely manufacturer — Nubia.
As per a recent Weibo post from Nubia’s President and co-founder Ni Fei, the company is testing a 144Hz display for its next Red Magic smartphones. For those of you who are unaware, Nubia’s Red Magic is a series of gaming smartphones that offer top-of-the-line specifications at an affordable price. The smartphones feature a gamery aesthetic, with an angular design and RGB lights. The last smartphone in the series, the Nubia Red Magic 3 (review), featured Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset, coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The device also featured a 90Hz high refresh rate AMOLED display with support for DC dimming and HDR. And with all these features, the device was made available for well under $500.
If Nubia manages to successfully complete tests for the 144Hz display, the upcoming Red Magic 4 might be the first smartphone to feature a 144Hz panel. It’s worth noting that if Nubia plans on including a 144Hz display on the next Red Magic device, we can safely assume that it will feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865 chipset which includes support for 144Hz displays. As of now, we have no additional information from the company regarding the specifications or the tentative launch date of the upcoming Red Magic smartphone.
Google Pay is on its way to becoming a full wallet replacement app as it adds support for more forms of payment, more banks, and more card types. Late last year, the app tested a new gold gifting option to users in India along with a material design refresh, one-time mandates, and Stories for merchants. An APK teardown of the app also revealed that Google was testing a new feature that would show SafetyNet status on the home page and another feature that would protect online purchases with a PIN. While the app pretty much has everything to fulfill your payments related needs, Google is now adding a feature that will allow users to ditch their college ID cards as well.
As per a recent report from 9to5Google, Google Pay for Android now supports campus IDs for both students and faculty. This new capability was announced earlier this week by Transact, which offers management and payment solutions to schools. Thanks to this, users will now be able to save their campus IDs on the Google Pay app and use it to access secure facilities like academic buildings and residence halls. On top of that, the feature will allow users to pay for services like dining, laundry and vending all across campus. This new feature is NFC-based and users will be able to just tap their Android phones on compatible readers to quickly scan their college IDs.
During the initial launch phase, the new feature will be available in 15 schools across the US, including the Arkansas State University, Chowan University, College of Coastal Georgia, Duke University, Georgetown University, Hamilton College, Johns Hopkins University, Marshall University, Mercer University, Roanoke College, St. Edward’s University, South Dakota State University, Temple University, The University of Alabama, and the University of New Brunswick. More schools have already started installing and testing Google Pay campus ID’s, with one university in Atlanta expecting availability in the second quarter of 2020.
At the CES 2020 trade show last week, OnePlus showcased a prototype device with cameras that can turn invisible. The Concept One made use of electrochromic glass to turn the glass over the camera module from transparent to opaque by changing the current and voltage. While electrochromic glass isn’t new, OnePlus is the first company to use it to hide camera lenses on a smartphone. OnePlus’s argument behind this new technology was that the smartphone industry will eventually figure out under-screen camera technology, eliminating visible cameras on the front of a device. The disappearing cameras on the back, therefore, are complementary to the under-screen camera technology with the end goal to hide all cameras on a device from view. While we may not see these disappearing cameras in OnePlus’ next flagship, we now have reason to believe that it might include a 120Hz display.
OnePlus’ CEO Pete Lau recently took to Weibo to reveal that the company has completed the research and development of a high refresh rate 120Hz display. The company will be holding an event at 2 PM China Standard Time today to talk about its latest display technology. As of now, the company hasn’t revealed any more information about the new display tech, but we’ll update this post as and when we receive more information from the upcoming event. It is worth noting, however, that since OnePlus doesn’t manufacture displays itself, it’s quite likely that the company is sourcing the display from a major supplier like Samsung Display.
Last year was a great year for smartphones. ASUS caught our attention with the ROG Phone II, a smartphone made to cater towards gamers with its powerhouse specifications (Snapdragon 855 Plus, up to 12 GB of RAM, up to a whopping 1 TB of internal storage, a behemoth 6,000 mAh battery, and a buttery smooth 120Hz AMOLED display). Realme and Xiaomi, on the other hand, fiercely competed against each other in the mid-range segment with devices such as the Realme X2 and the Xiaomi Mi CC9/Mi 9 Lite, each providing decent bang for your buck when it comes to performance and camera.
For those users interested in modding these devices, it is now possible to safely do so thanks to the introduction of official TWRP builds. With the custom recovery, you will be able to tweak and mod your device by installing Magisk for root and modules, custom kernels, or even flashing a generic system image (GSI) or device-specific custom ROM to replace the phone’s software.
Keep an eye out on our forums for these devices as we’ll hopefully see more and more dedicated custom ROMs pop up. Currently, though, there isn’t a lot of development going on for the ROG Phone II or Realme X2, but official TWRP support will pave the way for more development. In the case of the ROG Phone II, ASUS is even sending devices to select custom ROM and kernel developers, so it should be a matter of time before we start seeing more development arise. Xiaomi and Realme have also done the same initiative for some of their devices, although not for these particular devices yet. Fortunately, both the Realme X2 and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite are incredibly popular, so there should be some uptick in custom development.
If you have any of these devices and you want to get your hands dirty with it, then be sure to check out the links down below to download TWRP. You’ll need to unlock the bootloader before flashing this, of course. Fortunately, doing so is officially possible for all 3 devices. If you have any questions or problems, then be sure to check out the relevant threads on XDA to know more.
The next major smartphone launch event for Samsung, Samsung Unpacked 2020 is just a few weeks away. On February 11th, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S20 trio of flagship smartphones as well as a new clamshell foldable smartphone. As we approach the launch event, we’ve already seen a few live images of the alleged Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone and a few CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S20 series. However, to date, we haven’t seen any leaks of the Galaxy S20 in the wild. Today, we are fortunate enough to bring to you the first live images of Samsung’s 2020 flagship. This is the Samsung Galaxy S20+.
The pictures above were sent to me by a source who wishes to stay anonymous. Some edits have been made to the image to protect the source, but none of the edits impact our ability to see the design of the Galaxy S20+. In the image of the rear, the first thing that stands out to us is the camera setup. We can see a total of 4 cameras, a flash, and what looks like a microphone hole. On the right side of the phone, we can see a volume rocker and a power button. There is no Bixby button unlike in the earlier S10 series.
The front of the display shows us very small bezels. The Infinity-O display is much less curved than before. Our source said it felt flat – almost similar to the Pixel 2 XL, in fact. Samsung appears to have opted for 2.5D glass instead of their usual curved glass. The hole punch is centered and smaller than the Galaxy Note 10. Just like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy S20+ will come with a pre-installed screen protector.
We’ve referred to this phone as the Galaxy S20+ thus far, which if you’re familiar with Samsung’s S series nomenclature, means this phone will be the highest-end model. That’s actually not the case this year. This phone is expected to be in the middle of the S20 series. It will be slightly larger than the regular Galaxy S20 but it will lack the camera technology present in the higher-end “Galaxy S20 Ultra”. This particular model is rumored to come with a new 12MP 1.8μm main image sensor. Samsung is also throwing in an ultra-wide, telephoto, and likely macro lens. The microphone on the rear could help with Samsung’s zoom-in mic feature. It could also just help improve audio quality in videos in general, which I found to be a weak point on the Galaxy Note 10.
The Galaxy S20 and S20+ are expected to launch in a few different variants around the world. There will be the 4G Galaxy S20, 5G Galaxy S20, 4G Galaxy S20+, and 5G Galaxy S20+. The 5G and 4G LTE variants of these devices will look the same, but I believe the U.S. market will only be getting the 5G variants. I can’t speak about the specifics of network connectivity just yet, but given that the device, at least in the U.S., will pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 mobile platform (which can only be paired with the Snapdragon X55 modem), it should support the sub-6GHz networks of Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Since we expect the phone to launch on Verizon as well, it’s likely the device packs mmWave antennas to support Verizon’s Ultra Wideband (mmWave) network. Outside of the U.S., the phone is expected to pack the Exynos 990 SoC. Whether or not the S20 that launches in your country will have 5G enabled will depend on whether or not 5G network support is launched in your country.
These devices, and the leaks about them, are very exciting. Samsung’s flagships for the year are some of the most interesting Android smartphones. We are going to hear a lot more about the S20 series and the new foldable phone at Samsung Unpacked on February 11th. I will be there covering the event for the XDA Portal and XDA TV, so make sure to keep an eye out for more information to come.
