Samsung’s teaser for the Galaxy S21 gives us our first look at Director’s View

Ahead of the Galaxy S20 series launch last year, we discovered a “Director’s View” feature in a teardown of the Samsung Camera app. The feature never came to fruition, but a video teasing the Galaxy S21 series suggests Director’s View is finally ready for primetime.

In a teaser video shared to YouTube on Monday, Samsung briefly shows the feature in action. When we discovered the feature last year, we described it as a “view that will let you lock onto a subject in view and also ‘select who’s in the close up.’ Along with that, it lets you ‘Tap the thumbnails on the left to switch between camera lenses.’”

You can see what appears to be Samsung’s Director’s View feature at the 0:12 and 0:13 mark

While the glimpse in the Galaxy S21 teaser is brief, we get a pretty good idea of how it’ll work. With the feature enabled, users can see themselves and also switch between the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses to record content. It’s a fun and unique way to record video, whether you’re creating a music video (as in Samsung’s example) or a home movie.

Director’s View isn’t exactly new to the industry. The iOS app Filmic Pro allows iPhone 11 owners and up to record 1080p video at 30fps from two cameras at once. Samsung’s app, however, would at least be native to its camera app. With camera capabilities often becoming a main selling point of a phone, this is one way to help Samsung stand out from the crowd.

The newest teaser arrives just days before Samsung is set unveil its Galaxy S21 series. We’ve seen the series leak on multiple occasions over the past few weeks, and we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. If you want to learn more, check out our coverage.

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Fossil’s Gen 5 LTE smartwatch goes official starting at $349

Last month, we caught wind of Fossil’s plan to launch its first LTE-enabled smartwatch. Documents submitted to the FCC revealed few details about the smartwatch, so it wasn’t clear if Fossil Group was planning on launching a new lineup or a new entry to its existing Gen 5 line. Today, we have an answer. The new Fossil Gen 5 LTE smartwatch has essentially the same hardware as the other models in the Gen 5 line, but it adds LTE connectivity so you can use it as a standalone device while on-the-go.

Announced today at CES 2021 (via 9to5Google), the Fossil Gen 5 LTE smartwatch is already available for purchase from Fossil.com in the U.S., though you’ll only be able to provision the smartwatch on Verizon Wireless. The new smartwatch starts at $349, which is $50 more than the non-LTE models, and features essentially the same design as seen in the standard Gen 5 line. That means it has a 45mm stainless steel case available in black or rose gold and an 18mm strap available in silicone, stainless steel, or leather. On the side, there’s a rotating crown and two shortcut buttons. Under-the-hood, you’ll still be getting a 1.28″ AMOLED display, the last-gen Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset, Google’s Wear OS software, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, NFC, GPS, a loudspeaker, 24 hours of battery life, and 5ATM of water resistance.

We were hoping to see Fossil’s Gen 6 lineup today, but a new LTE-enabled entry in the Gen 5 line should satisfy users looking to leave their smartphone at home. Hopefully, the Fossil Group will return in the near future with its Gen 6 line and an upgrade to Qualcomm’s substantially better Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor. We’re long overdue for a proper successor.

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Otterbox unveils the Xbox mobile gaming line of accessories

If you’ve been wanting to fully get into mobile gaming but have been finding most accessories flimsy and lacking, you may be excited for the latest announcements from Otterbox! The smartphone accessory company is branching out with Otterbox Gaming, introducing new accessories for the hardcore mobile gaming market. Otterbox has worked together with Xbox to craft mobile accessories that work specifically with Xbox controllers and your smartphone in tandem.

As a result of this partnership, Otterbox Gaming has created three products for use with Xbox controllers: the Easy Grip Controller Shell, the Mobile Gaming Clip, and a carrying case for your Xbox controller and accessories. These items will be available for purchase separately but are currently not planned to be bundled together. That way, consumers can pick and choose the accessories they need without being left with extra unwanted items.

Of the three Xbox items, the Mobile Gaming Clip is the star of the lineup. Developed specifically for an Xbox controller, the clip perfectly fits Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Elite controllers, so regardless of what wireless controller model you may have, it will work with this clip. The clip attaches to the front, top, and bottom of the controller and offers a sturdy clip arm that’s easy to move around. This is great for mobile gaming, as the phone’s weight with a clip can be challenging to deal with. The clip also has three claws, as compared to the standard four. Otterbox made this decision to minimize the claws pressing against the buttons on the sides of your phone!

Finally, Otterbox’s Mobile Gaming Clip has a RapidAdjust feature, which is exactly as it sounds, allowing you to quickly readjust the clip’s placement and angle in order to play for long sessions comfortably. When you’re done gaming, you can fold the clip down onto the controller itself for easy storage without having to take the clip off. The clip will retail for $29.95.

But, an Otterbox item line isn’t complete without reliable protection. While there is a smartphone case releasing with gamers in mind, the Easy Grip Gaming Shell is the item created specifically alongside Xbox. A hard plastic shell encasing most of an Xbox controller, the Easy Grip Gaming Shell is meant to bring a more professional gaming experience for your Xbox One and Xbox Series X controllers. Due to its form-fitting design, this accessory will not fit the Xbox Elite Controller.

The shell will encase most of the Xbox controller in a protective layer that should help against shocks and falls (although you probably shouldn’t throw it against the wall). However, the controller’s back (where the batteries are inserted) is left uncovered, so you can easily replace batteries without taking the shell off. You have a choice between two grip pads that both reduce sweat and are antimicrobial, and the material on both the plastic and grip pads are resistant to damage and discoloration.

As expected, the Easy Grip Gaming Shell works with the Mobile Gaming Clip. If you want a controller shell for console gaming, though, it also works just fine alone. This product will retail for $39.95 and will be available in three colors—Dark Web, Dreamscape, and Galactic Dream.

Finally, for a mobile gamer, the ability to take everything you need on the go is essential! Otterbox’s Gaming Carry Case is meant to do just that. This carrying case can hold an Xbox controller with both the shell and mobile clip attached and has pockets for additional small accessories like charging cables or extra batteries. Everything all fits snuggly in a hardshell case that protects everything against shocks, falls, and damage. You can even use a stand situated at the top of the case to hold your phone for more game time! Otterbox Gaming’s carrying case will retail for $44.95.

All accessories in Otterbox Gaming’s launch will release in mid-February, with pre-orders opening in the US on January 25. These accessories will be launched globally, but the release date and pricing are still up in the air.

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Otterbox’s New Phone Case and Privacy Screens Are Built for Gaming

Otterbox is launching a new line of products! The Otterbox Gaming line is set to launch in mid-February, with pre-orders in the US going live on January 25th. Aside from the products developed alongside Xbox, the company will be releasing two other accessories: the Easy Grip Gaming Case and the Gaming Glass Privacy Guard.

The Easy Grip Gaming Case is a slim case, built to be held for long gaming sessions without discomfort. The case is made mostly of hard plastic, designed to not slip out of your hands during even the most intense gaming sessions. Holding a full hard-plastic case in landscape mode for a long period of time can be uncomfortable, so the edges of the Easy Grip Gaming Case have rubber edges that sit nicely in your hand.

But, you might be worried about your smartphone overheating in a case. Games tend to make most phones run hot, and that’s not ideal for the phone’s longevity! Otterbox says its CoolVergence technology in this case will dissipate heat to keep your phone cool.

For now, the Easy Grip Gaming case will only be available for the following iPhone models:

• iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE, 7, and 8

However, cases for select Android devices will be coming soon. The Easy Grip Gaming Case will retail for $54.95.

The Gaming Glass Privacy Guard, also currently only for iPhone devices, has a unique feature just for gaming. Privacy guards for your phone are nothing special, nor are they anything new for Otterbox themselves. However, this particular screen protector is designed to work in landscape mode, which most games default to. The majority of privacy screen protectors are created with portrait mode in mind to protect someone’s data while using the phone in public. With the Gaming Glass Privacy Guard, you can make sure that when you’re gaming, no one is screen-peeking. Or, if you’re trying to watch a video or movie, you won’t have anyone trying to watch along behind your back. Of course, it also protects your screen from scratches and damage, and it will retail for $49.95.

All items in the Otterbox Gaming lineup are set to release globally. However, at this time, we only know the release window for the items in the US, which is in mid-February. Pre-orders for the items will go live on January 25, and they’ll initially be available at GameStop, Verizon, and the Microsoft Store.

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This could be our first look at LG’s rollable smartphone

The foldable phone is becoming a more prominent part of the smartphone conversation. But we may soon start seeing what comes after. LG has once again teased its rollable smartphone, a device that we could see arrive sometime later this year.

At CES 2021 on Monday, via Android Authority, the company gave us a better glimpse at what it’s calling the LG Rollable. According to LG, the rollable smartphone features a “unique resizable screen” that is capable of transforming. In the video at the source link, you can see how the LG Rollable seamlessly shrinks from a tablet into a smartphone.

LG’s rollable smartphone is currently in the concept stage, so nothing has been finalized. But LG seemingly feels confident enough to show the device off. The concept is part of LG’s “Explorer Project,” which aims to deliver devices that are distinctive and feature “unexplored usability experiences.” The LG Wing, which features a swiveling main display, was the first smartphone as part of the Explorer Project.

Last year, reports out of South Korea claimed LG would release a smartphone with a rollable display this March, which suggests that LG’s rollable smartphone concept is nearly finalized. While we’re intrigued by LG’s latest concept, we have a lot of questions about how it works.

Do you press a button to switch between phone and tablet modes? How does it effect battery life? What’s the warranty like on a rollable smartphone? How much will the LG’s rollable smartphone cost?

These questions and many others will hopefully be answered later this year when/if the LG Rollable makes it to market. LG isn’t the only company to be exploring the possibility of a rollable smartphone; TCL and Oppo have also shown off rollable phone concepts. But based on what was shown off today, LG certainly looks like it’s the closest to making rollable phones a reality.

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TCL announces the NXTPAPER and Tab 10S tablets, and MoveAudio S600 TWS

At CES 2021, TCL announced its upcoming TCL 20 series of smartphones, detailing the TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE within it. But that’s not all that the company had for this year’s event. There’s more, as the company also unveiled the TCL NXTPAPER tablet, the TCL Tab 10s, and the TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS. The company also promised to launch a foldable/flexible/rollable display as a commercial product later this year, but would not disclose the exact form factor at this stage.

TCL NXTPAPER Tablet: Specifications

Specification	TCL NXTPAPER Tablet
Build	<no information>
Dimensions & Weight	203.76 x 150.77 x 7.45 mm 316g
Display	8.88″ IPS 1440 x 1080 pixels
SoC	MediaTek MT8768E
RAM & Storage	4GB + 64GB MicroSD expansion support
Battery & Charging	5500 mAh battery 18W fast charging
Security	<no information>
Rear Camera(s)	8MP
Front Camera(s)	5MP
Port(s)	<no information>
Audio	3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 Bands: GSM: B2/3/5/8 UMTS or WCDMA: B1/2/4/5/8 TF-SCDMA: B34/39 LTE: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/17/18/19/20/26/28/34/38/39/40/41
Software	Android 10
Other Features	IP52

The NXTPAPER display tech was actually teased back in IFA 2020. This display tech incorporated within the tablet makes use of a highly reflective IPS screen to reuse natural light, resulting in full-color reproduction without blue light or flicker.

It provides 25% higher contrast than most e-ink tablets, and is also more than 65% power-efficient than standard LCD screens.It’s a paper-like visual experience in full high definition resolution, with considerably less eye strain and fatigue. The tablet has also received TUV Rheinland safety certification for its display.

Pricing and Availability

The TCL NXTPAPER will be available in Europe, Middle East, Africe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific for €349, April 2021 onwards.

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TCL Tab 10s: Specifications

Specification	TCL Tab 10s
Build	<no information>
Dimensions & Weight	241 x 158.6 x 9.3 mm 488g
Display	10.1″ FHD+ LCD 2000 x 1920 resolution
SoC	MediaTek MT8768: 4x Cortex-A53 @ 2GHz + 4x Cotext-A53 @ 1.5GHz GE8320 GPU @ 650MHz
RAM & Storage	3GB + 32GB 4GB + 64GB MicroSD expansion support
Battery & Charging	8000 mAh battery 18W fast charging
Security	<no information>
Rear Camera(s)	8MP
Front Camera(s)	5MP
Port(s)	USB Tpe-C USB 2.0
Audio	<no information>
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 Network version — Bands: GSM: B2/3/5/8 UMTS or WCDMA: B1/2/4/5/8 TD-SCDMA: B34/39 LTE: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/17/18/19/20/26/28/34/38/39/40/41
Software	Android 10
Other Features	<no information>

While the TCL NXTPAPER is an e-ink alternative without using an e-ink display, the TCL Tab 10s is a much more familiar tablet. It’s practically what you would come to expect from a conventional large-screen tablet. For the current study-from-home era, getting a large screen device becomes crucial from an e-learning perspective, and this tablet provides another viable option in a contract Android tablet market.

In addition to the standard set of hardware specifications, the TCL Tab 10s also has a few key features to help parents manage their children’s time online. There’s an independent parental control interface and remote control, which gives parents the option to manage the student’s study and rest time, as well as control any third-party apps being used on the device. The device can also alert users when they get closer than 9-inches from the display, which sounds like a very helpful feature for a device intended to be handed over to young children.

The TCL Tab 10s also comes with POGO pin connectors to support third-pary accessories, along with the TCL T-Pen stylus.

Pricing and Availability

The TCL Tab 10s will be available in Europe, North America, Middle East, Africa, China, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Pricing starts at €199 for the Wi-Fi-only version, and €249 for the 4G version.

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TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS: Specifications

Specifications	TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS
Dimensions	Earbuds: 18.2 x 17 x 38.5 mm Charging Case: 65 x 54.8 x 28.8 mm
Driver	10mm Dynamic Driver
Battery & Charging	Earbuds: 55mAh Charging Case: 500mAh Wireless charging Battery Life: 7 hours without ANC 5 hours with ANC
Other Features	Hybrid ANC 3 microphones Bluetooth 5.0 BLE Codecs: SBC, AAC

TCL is also furthering its audio accessory lineup with these new TWS earbuds. The TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS come with Hybrid Active Noise Canceling and Transparency Mode. TCL is promising a strong bass response as one of the USP’s of this pair of earbuds. Alongside, you get features like smart wear detection to play and pause music, as well as Google Fast Pair for quick connections. TCL is also promising up to 32 hours of total battery life on the device, though this figure is your best case scenario with features like ANC off. IP54 protection rounds up the kit on these audio accessories.

Pricing and Availability

The TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS will be available in several global markets from February 2021 for €149.

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TCL announces the TCL 20 smartphone series, starting with the TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE

TCL made a comeback of sorts into the smartphone market with last year’s launches, namely the TCL 10L, TCL 10 Pro, and TCL 10 5G. While the phones were not absolute runaway successes, they were well received generally in the US market, enough to warrant another round. At CES 2021, TCL is back with just that as it introduces the new TCL 20 series smartphones, comprising of the TCL 20 SE, TCL 20 5G, TCL 20 Pro 5G, TCL 20L, and TCL 20S. Of these, the company is currently focusing on the TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE. The company also launched the TCL NXTPAPER, the TCL Tab 10s, and the TCL MoveAudio S600 TWS.

TCL 20 5G: Specifications

Specification	TCL 20 5G
Build	Glass front and back
Dimensions & Weight	166.2 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm 206g
Display	6.67″ FHD+ LCD 20:9 aspect ratio HDR10 Hole-punch display
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 690: 2x Kryo 560 Gold @ 2GHz + 6x Kryo 560 Silver @ 1.7GHz Adreno 619L
RAM & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X + 128GB UFS 2.1 6GB + 256GB MicroSD card support
Battery & Charging	4500 mAh battery 18W Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0+
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2″ sensor Secondary: 8MP wide-angle, f/2.2, 118° FoV Tertiary: 2MP macro, f/2.4 Video: 4K @ 30fps 1080p @ 60/30fps
Front Camera(s)	8MP, f/2.0
Port(s)	USB Type-C USB 2.0
Audio	3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.1  Bands: 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 3G: B1/2/5/8 4G: B1/3/5/7/8/20/26/28/32/38/40/41 5G: n1/3/5/28/41/78  GNSS: GPS Galileo GLONASS BeiDou Dual SIM models available in select regions NFC
Software	TCL UI based on Android 10 (promised update to Android 11)
Other Features	Dedicated Google Assistant hardware button Super Bluetooth: Connect up to 4 devices to play audio simultaneously

As the name would imply, the TCL 20 5G is the successor to the TCL 10 5G. It’s a 5G-enabled smartphone, though it is not a flagship. The specifications are thus in tune with what you can expect on a device that is aiming for the mid-range. The display on the device is an FHD+ LCD. TCL calls it the “Dotch” display, which presumably refers to the hole-punch cutout. A higher refresh rate is not specified, so we presume this retains the 60Hz standard refresh rate. The device also features NXTVISION 2.0, which is TCL’s proprietary display (and camera) optimization technology. This allows you to get HDR10 video playback support, as well as an SDR-to-HDR conversion tool.

On the inside, the TCL 20 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 SoC, which is a mid-range SoC that focuses on 5G as one of its selling points.

Pricing and Availability

The TCL 20 5G will be available starting at €299 for the base 6GB + 128GB variant in Europe. The phone will be available in Mist Gray and Placid Blue colors. The device will also be rolled out to multiple countries in the coming months.

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TCL 20 SE: Specifications

Specification	TCL 20 SE
Build	<no information>
Dimensions & Weight	172.08 x 77.14 x 9.1mm 206g
Display	6.82″ HD+ LCD display 20.5:9 aspect ratio Waterdrop notch
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 460: 4x Kryo 240 based on Cortex-A73 @ 1.6GHz + 4x Kryo 240 based on Cortex-A53 @ 1.8GHz Adreno 610
RAM & Storage	4GB + 64GB eMCP 4GB + 128GB UFS 2.1 Supports microSD card expansion
Battery & Charging	5000 mAh battery 18W fast charging
Security	Rear fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 48MP, f/2.0, 1/2″ sensor, 79° FoV Or 16MP, f/1.8/, 1/2.77″ sensor, 77° FoV Secondary: 5MP, wide angle, f/2.2, 115° FoV Tertiary: 2MP, macro camera, f/2.4 Quarternary: 2MP, depth, f/2.4
Front Camera(s)	13MP, f/2.2, 1/3″ sensor Or 8MP, f/2.0, 1/4″ sensor
Port(s)	USB Type-C USB 2.0
Audio	<no information>
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 5.0  Bands: 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 3G: EMEA:APAC: B1/2/5/8 LATAM: B1/2/4/5/8 4G: EMEA/APAC: B1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41 LATAM: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/26/28/66  GNSS: GPS Galileo GLONASS BeiDou Dual SIM models available in select regions NFC
Software	TCL UI based on Android 11
Other Features	Dedicated Google Assistant hardware button

The TCL 20 SE is a new addition to the lineup, extending the portfolio to an even lower price point. It’s a budget smartphone, and the specs match up to that claim. NXTVISION makes an appearance here too, with claimed SDR-to-HDR video playback.

There are two versions of this device, based on the storage, which further changes the spec on the primary rear and on the front camera. Going for the higher storage variant will be advisable, as the spec sheet indicates the bump up in camera prowess might be worth it too.

Pricing and Availability

The TCL 20 SE will be available this month in Nuit Black and Aurora Green in Europe for €149. Based on the band information available, the phone should also be making its way to APAC and LATAM later on.

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