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The Weekly Authority: Google and OnePlus falling apart? Fun phone leaks
We asked, you told us…
First of all, thank you! Thank you to all that have cast a vote in our polls across the site, it makes us feel good to know that we’re usually in agreement about what manufacturers are doing right, and what they’re getting terribly wrong. We can tell you that the manufacturers are watching as well, so if you are looking for one more way to let a phone maker know they’ve done something worth talking about, be sure to get involved in future polls.
- Here’s what you really think of the Galaxy S30 design
- You’re not okay with OnePlus installing apps via updates
- Samsung will copy Apple by ditching in-box chargers
- The OnePlus 9 should focus on price, not new features
- Most of you think the OnePlus 7T is still a great buy
Look for our weekly poll in the right-hand column on the home page of the site, then find polls within many of the topics we cover throughout the week.
Popular News
There were plenty of new devices announced and launched already this month, and there are more to come, but this past week felt more like manufacturers hyping things to come, as well as trying to convince us that their decisions were the right moves for the devices. We won’t judge a decision to use LCD in times of OLED until we’ve tried the phone, but we’re definitely going to miss Google Play Music.
- Here’s why the Xiaomi Mi 10T series uses LCD instead of OLED (October 20, 2020)
- Google Play Music is finally shutting down for some users (October 22, 2020)
- Redmi wants to produce a mini phone, but there’s one major hurdle (October 19, 2020)
- All new Samsung phones will automatically block spam calls (October 22, 2020)
- Report: WhatsApp is bringing face unlock support to Android (October 22, 2020)
There are a few leaks and rumors floating around as well:
- Samsung seems to be exploring a phone with a pop-out display (October 20, 2020)
- This could be our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S30 Ultra (October 18, 2020)
- Leak: OnePlus 9 series is coming, and this is the code-name (October 20, 2020)
- OnePlus Nord N10 and N100 specs leak, both could have headphone jacks (October 22, 2020)
Reviews
The busy season for new devices is not over, but as we’re busy putting new devices through their paces, you get a light reading week.
- Sony Xperia 5 II review second opinion: Heading in the right direction – by Robert Triggs
- HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro hands-on: Modernizing the Mate – By Ryan-Thomas Shaw
- Fitbit Inspire 2 review: For new users only – by Jimmy Westenberg
Features & Opinion
Behind the scenes, the AA team has been engaged in debate over whether or not Google screwed up, both in terms of this big lawsuit they’re facing, and in knocking off support of the Pixel 2 before the Pixel 5 will ship out to most users. Also, what went wrong, if anything, with the Pixel 5 camera. OnePlus has been of discussion, Carl Pei is out, and they’re launching all sorts of weird phones, is this the company unraveling?
We’ve also been thinking about HUAWEI, both their problems and their attempts to overcome them. Finally, we’ve been watching the PC processor and GPU markets, wondering if there are any lessons that phone chip makers should be paying attention to.
- Google Pixel 5 camera tested vs the best Android camera phones – By Robert Triggs, October 18, 2020
- Understanding the different types of USB cables – By Mitja Rutnik, October 19, 2020
- These are the 5 best Android alternatives to the iPhone 12 series – By Hadlee Simons, October 18, 2020
- Why aren’t we using NFC to its full potential? – By Joe Hindy, October 18, 2020
Deals
If you’re shopping for tech right now, check out these popular deals:
Giveaway
This month, we’re giving away three prize packs! Enter the October giveaway for your chance to win. Only 1 week left!
- First prize: Google Pixel 5, $50 Amazon eGift card, and an AA hoodie
- Second prize: Fitbit Sense, and an AA hoodie
- Third prize: Beats Powerbeats Pro, and an AA t-shirt
That’s it, folks! We’ll have more top Android stories for you next week. To stay up to date on all things Android Authority in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters at the link below.