Highlights: LG G7 ThinQ and G7s ThinQ launched with ToF sensor on the front. LG also announced the V50 ThinQ with a detachable second screen and 5G. The phones will be availble in selct markets by the end of this year. At its keynote event a day before MWC formally kicked off in Barcelona, LG announced two flagships for 2019 — The LG G8 ThinQ and the LG V50 ThinQ. The latter offers 5G connectivity and a second screen, while the former offers a ToF-sensor based gesture navigation. Over the years, LG has taken the center stage at MWC to announce its G-series flagship while the V-series flagship is slated for second half of the year. But in 2019, the company deviated from the norm and announced both the flagships in one go. The LG G8 ThinQ and the LG V50 ThinQ are both powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. The V50 ThinQ also has the Snapdragon X50 5G modem integrated for 5G connectivity. It’s the company’s first smartphone with 5G capability and will only be launched in select markets. Let’s talk about the LG G8 ThinQ first — LG G8 ThinQ price and specs The LG G8 ThinQ comes with a wide notch on top of the display, but this time, the notch has more reason to be there than before. The notch houses a ToF or a time-of-flight sensor that can accurately measure an objects distance by measuring the time taken by a ray of infra-red light to reflect back to the sensor. Using the ToF sensor, LG allows one to unlock the phone using just one’s hand. It’s called Hand ID and works by detecting unique vein patterns of one’s hand. LG calls the ToF sensor the Z camera. Furthermore, the Z camera can be used to offer Air Motion. It’s LG’s version of contactless gestures that lets you hover your hand over the camera to issue commands like answering calls, adjusting volume, snapping screenshots and switching between apps. It does sound cool, but just how well it works remains to be seen. The LG G8 ThinQ houses a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440x3120 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It’s a departure from the bright LCD panels LG used to put in the G-series flagships, but the OLED panel on the G8, LG claims can deliver 600 nits of brightness. It’s also HDR10 certified like last time. Notably, the LG G8 ThinQ also offers what it calls Crystal Sound OLED (CSO) which uses the screen as a sound amplifier. The display has tiny actuators that make the panel vibrate to produce sound. LG claims this, along with the boombox speaker combine to provide stereo sound. The phone is powered by a 3,500mAh battery. There’s 6GB of RAM alongside the Snapdragon 855 and will be available in 128GB storage along with support for memory expansion up to 2TB. Furthermore, there’s a 2-channel audio setup, DTS: X 3D Surround Sound and even the Hi-Fi DAC that was there on the predecessor. On the back, the LG G8 ThinQ has two cameras — A 16MP primary camera with a 107-degree field-of-view along with a 12MP secondary sensor with a more standard field of view. The camera offers a video portrait mode for the first time. Interestingly, LG also announced the LG G8s ThinQ for select markets. The smartphone comes with an additional 12MP telephoto sensor on the back with f/2.4 aperture. The phone also houses a slightly larger 6.2-inch FullHD+ OLED display with a weird aspect ratio of 18.7:9. The G8s will also come in a 64GB storage variant and will house a larger 3,550mAh battery. On the front, the phone has a 8MP selfie shooter. Both the LG G8 ThinQ and the G8s ThinQ are IP68 water and dust resistant. It’s also MIL-STD810G certified meaning it can survive drops from shoulder height on concrete surfaces. LG has not revealed the pricing of the LG G8 ThinQ and the G8s ThinQ or the availability as of filing this article. LG V50 ThinQ price and specs The LG V50 ThinQ sports a larger 6.4-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio which is also HDR10 certified. The phone is 5G-enabled and houses the Snapdragon X50 5G modem inside along with the Snapdragon 855. It even has a 5G logo on the back. There’s 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage which can be increased further by a microSD card. The phone is also IP68 and MIL-STD810G certified. LG also housed a pogo pin on the phone that connects to a secondary display that’s sold separately as a case. It’s an independent display that draws power from the phone and can be used to run two apps at the same time. LG showcased a use-case where the second screen is used as the viewing screen while the phone screen is used as a gamepad for gaming. The second display is a 6.2-inch OLED panel with FullHD+ resolution On the back, the LG V50 ThinQ has three cameras — A 16MP f/1.9 aperture wide-angle sensor, a 12MP f/1.5 primary sensor and a 12MP f/2.4 telephoto camera. On the front, is an 8MP standard sensor with f/1.9 aperture and a 5MP ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture. The V50 ThinQ also has the video portrait feature as well as the AI Cam that was there on the V40 and the G7 last year. The battery is now much larger at 4,000mAh with support for Quick Charge 3. Stay updated with the latest news about new smartphone launches in our MWC 2019 section.
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Highlights: Sony unveils its Xperia 1 flagship phone at MWC 2019. The Xperia 1 features a 6.5-inch 21:9 CinemaWide 4K HDR OLED screen. It is also equipped with a 12MP triple rear camera setup. Sony held its event at the ongoing MWC 2019 event and made announced a bunch of new smartphones. The first one to be showcased is the company’s latest flagship, the Sony Xperia 1. As previous reports suggested, the handset features a 4K HDR OLED screen and a super-tall 21:9 display aspect ratio. Alongside the premium flagship, the company also announced its Xperia 10 and 10 Plus smartphones, which are mid-range devices that also sport a 21:9 display aspect ratio. Additionally, in the budget segment, the company showcased its Xperia L3 smartphone that features a standard 18:9 display aspect ratio, and dual rear cameras. Here’s everything you need to know about the company’s flagship Xperia 1 smartphone. As mentioned earlier, the Sony Xperia 1 is the company’s latest flagship phone and thus, will ship with flagship level specification. It features a 6.5-inch 21:9 ‘CinemaWide’ 4K HDR OLED display. The phone also features a Creator Mode that is said to cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, along with the BT.2020 (REC.2020) colour space. The handset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 platform, which is coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which also supports expansion till 512GB. Running on Android 9 Pie, the phone is backed by a 3330mAhbattery that supports Xperia Adaptive charging with USB PD fast charging. In the optics department, the Xperia 1 features a triple camera setup on the back with three 12 MP sensors. However, one of the 12MP (1/ 2.6-inch sensor size, pixel pitch 1.4μm) sensor is paired with a 26mm, F1.6 lens that can capture 78-degree images. This Exmor RSTM for mobile memory-stacked sensor also comes with OIS photo stabilization and hybrid OIS/EIS video stabilization. The second 12MP sensor (26mm, 1/3.4 sensor size with a pixel pitch of 1.0μm) is paired with a 135-degree wide-angle lens with F2.4 aperture. Finally, the 12MP lens (52mm, 1/3.4 sensor size with 1.0μm pixel pitch) is coupled with a 45-degree angle lens that has an F2.4 aperture. This sensor also gets OIS photo stabilization and hybrid OIS/EIS video stabilization. On the front, the handset features an 8MP (1/4 sensor size, pixel pitch 1.12μm) sensor with an 84-degree wide-angle lens with F2.0 aperture. The Xperia X1 is also IP65/68 water resistant and its display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6. It has a Type-C connector and also supports PS4 Remote Play. Sony has not revealed the handset's price but says that it will be available in select markets from late Spring 2019. You can check out more on what Sony and other companies announced at the MWC 2019 here. Related Reads: MWC 2019: Everything Lenovo launched this year All the foldable smartphones announced so far at MWC 2019 
Highlights: Lenovo is launching its new set of laptops and other devices at MWC 2019 It includes a Bluetooth 5-enabled headset and a portable monitor More ThinkPad models get the ThinkShutter The Mobile World Congress has kicked off in Barcelona, Spain and we’ve begun to witness a flurry of launches from various computer and smartphone manufacturers. Here’s Lenovo with its refreshed list of laptops. Launching with the new laptops is a USB Type-C-powered mobile monitor called the ThinkVision M14. Let’s start with the new ThinkPads: ThinkPad T series: T490, T490s, T590 The refreshed T series of ThinkPads replaces the T480 family. Powered by Intel's 8th Gen Core series CPUs, they come with new features seen on other high-end ThinkPads like the ThinkShutter, a physical webcam security tab and PrivacyGuard, a screen guard tool. A new HDR display equipped with Dolby Vision will be available on all new T-series models. The new T490, T490s, and T590 will be priced at $999 (Rs 71,000 approx), $1,279 (Rs 91,000 approx) and $1,029 (Rs 73,100 approx) respectively when they release in May this year. ThinkPad X series: X390, X390 Yoga A part of the ThinkPad X series has been updated. The X390 and its Yoga-capable counterpart, the X390 Yoga, comes with the latest Intel 8th Gen Core series CPUs and the latest Intel Wi-Fi 6Gig+ chipsets. The new X390 and the X390 Yoga will be priced at $1,099 (Rs 78,100 approx) and $1,359 (Rs 95,550 approx) respectively when they release in May this year. 14w, 14e Chromebook Lenovo is launching two new AMD-powered laptops too. The Lenovo 14w is powered by an AMD A6-9220c processor, while the 14e is powered by an AMD A4-9120c processor. The 14w comes bundled with Windows 10, while the 14e is a Chromebook. Both models sport a spill-proof keyboard and a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen display. The battery on both models is a 57Whr unit, designed to last an entire day. The new Lenovo 14w and the 14e Chromebook will be priced at $299 (Rs 21,200) and $279 (Rs 19,800 approx) respectively when they release in March this year. IdeaPad S540 The new IdeaPad S540 comes in 14-inch and 15-inch variants with a choice of processors: Intel 8th Gen Core series and AMD Ryzen series. Some variants ship with an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU while others ship with an AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 GPU. The IdeaPad S540 series is expected to release in March this year at a starting price of 799 euros (Rs 64,500 approx). IdeaPad S340 According to Lenovo, the IdeaPad S340 is the S540’s younger sibling. It is even slimmer and lighter than the IdeaPad S540 series. The IdeaPad S340 series too is available with Intel’s 8th Gen Core series CPUs and AMD’s Ryzen series CPUs. GPU options include the NVIDIA GeForce MX250 and the Radeon RX Vega 10. The IdeaPad S340 series is expected to start shipping in March for a starting price of 549 euros (Rs 44,300 approx). IdeaPad C340 The IdeaPad C340 is a two-in-one convertible laptop available in 14-inch and 15-inch variants, which, according to Lenovo, are close cousins to the IdeaPad S540 and the IdeaPad S340. It offers up to 8 hours of runtime on a single charge and support for the Active Pen stylus. Like the other two models, the IdeaPad C340 ships with Intel’s 8th Gen Core series CPUs and AMD’s Ryzen series CPUs. The IdeaPad C340 series is expected to ship from March for a starting price of 599 euros (Rs 48,200 approx). IdeaCentre AIO A340 Available in two colour options, the IdeaCentre AIO A340 is Lenovo’s take on the modern all-in-one computer. It’s available in two display sizes: 22 inches and 24 inches. Both have a Full HD resolution. CPU options include Intel’s 8th Gen Core series and AMD’s A9 9425 while Radeon R5 takes care of graphics. The IdeaCentre AIO A340 is expected to ship from March this year for a starting price of 499 euros (Rs 40,300 approx). Tab V7 The Lenovo Tab V7 is a compact tablet with a 6.9-inch IPS LCD Full HD display. Lenovo claims it has an all-day battery the physical advantages of a smartphone. It has a single camera on the front and back along with a fingerprint scanner. It’s powered by Android 9 Pie. Shipments of the Lenovo Tab V7 are expected to start in April this year for a price of 249 euros (Rs 20,000 approx). ThinkVision M14 The Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is a 14-inch Full HD mobile monitor that hooks up to a computer or smartphone. It has two USB Type-C ports and a maximum brightness of 300 nits. The monitor is 4.6mm slim and weighs 595g. When it launches in May this year, the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 will sell for $249 (Rs 17,700 approx). ThinkPad X1 ANC Headset Lenovo is surprising all of us this year with a computer headset called X1 ANC. It’s tuned by Dolby and has active noise cancellation. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 and uses a USB Type-C port for charging. According to Lenovo, its collapsible design makes it easy to store and transport. The ThinkPad X1 ANC Headset will be available from June this year at a price of $149 (Rs 10,500 approx). Yoga ANC Headphones The Yoga ANC Headphones are practically the same as the ThinkPad X1 ANC Headset but with a Yoga brand name. They too have support for Bluetooth 5.0 and charge using a USB Type-C port. The Lenovo Yoga ANC Headphones are expected to release in June this year at a price of 158 euros (Rs 12,800 approx). Related Read: All new smartphones expected to launch at MWC 2019 100 million devices to launch with a dedicated Google Assistant button
Highlights: TCL's DragonHinge will allow the company to release reasonably priced foldable phones Flexible AMOLED displays provided by CSOT First device expected in 2020 It would appear that 2019 is the year of foldable smartphones. After Samsung and Huawei announced their maiden foldable smartphones, TCL announced DragonHinge, the company’s technology which will go towards making affordable foldable smartphones in the coming year. TCL’s DragonHinge isn’t actually just the physical hinge, but an umbrella technology which covers three key aspects; an AMOLED panel that can fold up on itself from 0 to 180 degrees, a magnetic hinge that supports this foldability and software that can seamlessly adapt to the way the phone is being used. TCL is using flexible AMOLED panels made by its sister company CSOT while TCL is providing the mechanical housing into which the display would go. Foldable smartphones do prove to be quite an engineering challenge. It first starts with the display, which needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the numerous times it is going to be folded and unfolded. Part of this is achieved by removing all glass elements from the display assembly and replacing it with a high-quality plastic material. This also makes the display more durable. The second challenge is the hinge, which must withstand wear and tear. Then there is also the software experience which has to not only be seamless when going between the folded and unfolded state but also must add useful features that help take advantage of the larger display. Samsung’s software on the Galaxy Fold allows for simultaneous three-app multi-tasking, taking advantage of the big screen. Then there is the question of battery life. By incorporating more than one display, of which one is much larger in size, there is bound to be a larger drain on the battery. This could be offset by the lower display resolution, but that is something that we will only know for sure once we review the devices. Samsung and Huawei have both priced their foldable phones as luxury devices. TCL, on the other hand, hopes to bring foldable phones to the masses with its DragonHinge technology. TCL will showcase prototype devices at Mobile World Congress, with first devices coming to market at some point in 2020 Related Reads: All the foldable smartphones announced so far at MWC 2019
After months of speculations and rumors, HMD Global finally launched its Nokia 9 PureView at an event in Barcelona on Sunday. One of the key highlights of the Nokia 9 PureView is its Penta-lens camera setup on the back. The phone is also a part of Google’s Android One programme. The device runs on Android 9 Pie and is backed by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. On the other hand, we have the Samsung Galaxy S10, which is also launched very recently. It is the first device by Samsung that comes with an infinity-O display. The phone is a successor to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and packs solid specifications. So, let’s see which device among these two would able to win the battle at least on paper? Display The Samsung Galaxy S10 sports a 6.1-inch Quad HD+ display. The default resolution is FHD+ that can be changed to Quad HD+ through settings. Instead of a notch, the device has a small punch hole cut out at the front for a selfie camera. It is the world’s first device that comes with an Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is embedded inside the display. On the other hand, the Nokia 9 PureView sports a slightly smaller 5.99-inch Quad HD+ POLED display that has an aspect ratio of 18:5:9. The Nokia 9 PureView also features an in-display fingerprint sensor. Processor, RAM & storage The Samsung Galaxy S10 is powered by an Exynos 9820 octa-core processor, which is paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The phone will also come in 8GB variant. One can also expand the storage to up to 512GB via a microSD card. On the other side, we have the Nokia 9 PureView, which is backed by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor that is coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Cameras The Samsung Galaxy S10 sports a triple 12MP + 16MP + 12MP camera setup on the back. There is a telephoto lens for zooming, a wide angle lens and an ultra-wide angle sensor for clicking panoramic landscapes. At the front, the device sports a 10MP camera for clicking selfies. For the very first time, users will be able to record 4K UHD videos with a front-facing camera from a Samsung device. One of the key highlights of the Nokia 9 PureView is the Penta-lens camera setup on the back with Zeiss certified lenses. The phone has three 12MP monochrome sensors and two 12MP RGB sensors. As per the company, when you will click the shutter all five lenses will shot different exposures and produce one high-quality shot. The phone has a 20MP unit on the front for clicking selfies. Battery The Samsung Galaxy S10 packs 3,300mAh battery that supports 10W+ wireless charging. The phone comes with an Adaptive Power Saving mode that manages your battery life on the basis of your usage. One of the most interesting features that Samsung has introduced in the Galaxy S10 is reverse wireless charging, which Samsung calls PowerShare. You just need to place the compatible device on the back of the Galaxy S10 to charge it such as a smartwatch or Apple iPhone 8. On the other hand, the Nokia 9 PureView packs 3,320mAh battery that also supports wireless charging. Price The Samsung Galaxy S10 is priced at Rs 66,900 in India. Those who will pre-book the device are eligible to get up to Rs 6,000 cashback on making payment via an HDFC bank credit or debit card. You can also get the Samsung wireless earbuds for Rs 2,999 on pre-booking the device, which are originally priced at Rs 9,999. On the other side, the Nokia 9 PureView is launched at a price tag of $699, which roughly translates into Rs 49,700. The phone is expected to make its debut in India very soon. 
Highlights Foldable smartphones mark the biggest form-factor change in years Foldable phones are still pretty expensive The last two years have seen very little in the form of innovation from the smartphone space. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s most innovative feature was the stylus that doubled up as a camera shutter button and the iPhone XS was basically the iPhone X, but with a newer processor. However, in 2019, we’re being treated to a whole new form-factor, foldable smartphones. As of today, there are not one, but two foldable smartphones available. For the curious ones, here's everything you need to know about the foldable phones that have been announced so far. Samsung Galaxy Fold The first to be announced, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold at an event hosted in San Francisco, a whole 5 days before MWC even began. The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a three-screen smartphone by all accounts. When folded, the primary display is a 4.6-inch display with a resolution of 840 X 1960 pixels. Open the phone up (like you would a book) and you’ll be treated to a 7.4-inch display with a total resolution of 1536 x 2152. All the displays are OLED in nature. For taking photos, Samsung has embedded a total of 6 cameras into the Galaxy Fold. The cover (main display) houses a 10MP camera with an aperture of f/2.2. The rear triple cameras consist of a 16MP Ultra-Wide Camera with an f/2.2 aperture, a 12MP Wide-angle Camera with Dual Pixel AF, OIS, and dual aperture of F1.5/F2.4. Lastly, there is a 12MP Telephoto Camera with PDAF, OIS, F/2.4 to offer 2X optical zoom. When unfolded, the phone sports dual cameras housed in a notch that are a 10+8 megapixel combo with apertures of f/2.2 and f/1.9 respectively. The phone is powered by two batteries that act as one, with a total capacity of 4380mAh. The Samsung Galaxy Fold goes on sale on April 26 and will cost $1980 (approx Rs 1,40,619). The Samsung Galaxy Fold features three displays Huawei Mate X One day before Mobile World Congress officially kicked off, Huawei took to the stage to announce a number of products, but the start of the show was the Huawei Mate X. The Mate X is not only Huawei’s first foldable smartphone but the first Huawei smartphone to feature a 5G radio. Huawei has mated the Kirin 980 chipset to the company’s Bailong 5000 5G radio chip to give the Mate X 5G capabilities. In terms of the form-factor, the Huawei Mate X features a 6.6-inch display at the front (when folded) without a notch or a camera. This is because the rear panel of the Mate X unfolds to lie flat with the front, creating a massive 8-inch display with a resolution of 2480 X 2200. At the edge, the phone features an ergonomically designed bar to help hold the phone with ease when it is open. In addition to that, it also features the antenna for the 5G radio and also houses the Leica branded triple camera setup that the MAte X features. Huawei Mate X comes with a 40 MP wide-angle lens) along with a 16 MP ultra-wide lens and an 8 MP telephoto lens. All this is packed into a body that is less than 11mm thick when folded, including the 4500mAh battery which works with Huawei’s new Super Charge operating at 55Watts. The Huawei Mate X is priced at a rather steep €2299 (Roughly Rs 1,85,285). Huawei Mate X is the company's first foldable phone and first 5G enabled smartphone LG V50 ThinQ LG took an interesting take on the whole foldable phone concept with the V50 ThinQ (First Impressions). The phone is the company’s first 5G enabled phone but addresses the “foldable” concept with a case. The case offers a second 6.2-inch OLED display which attached to the phone to give more real estate. The display is powered by the V50’s internal 4000mAh battery, which is bound to result in lower battery life. However, the second display means you can use it as a controller for games or just utilize the extra space for creating better PPTs or likes. In terms of the phone itself, the LG V50 ThinQ is essentially the V40, but with a 5G radio. This means you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 paired with 6GB RAM. The phone’s main display is a 6.4-inch OLED with QHD+ resolution. The battery is bigger now, at 4000mAh and the camera unit is a triple camera setup with a Standard 12MP camera with f/1.5 aperture, an ultra-wide 16MP camera with f/1.9 aperture and a 2X telephoto camera with 12MP sensor and f/2.4 aperture. The company says that the LG V50 ThinQ is essentially a rebadged V40 and the reason the company did this is so that they could have a 5G-enabled smartphone in the market this soon. The LGV50 ThinQ isn't a foldable phone but can turn into one with this accessory This accessory from LG features a 6.2-inch OLED display that pairs with the V50 ThinQ The first day of MWC has just commenced and we are looking forward to many more announcements over the next few days. We are in Barcelona covering all the major announcements so stay tuned for more information and keep an eye out on our dedicated MWC 2019 microsite. Related Reads: Nokia 9 PureView with five-cameras is one of the most interesting Android phones in a long time 
The Google Pixel cameras have always been so far ahead of the competition with their computational photography chops that most other flagship cameras have been all about matching up to that. The new Nokia 9 PureView might come dangerously close and might just even surpass it. With five cameras that work simultaneously, the Nokia 9 PureView can take some astounding shots as shared by Edoardo Cassina, Nokia’s social media chief on Instagram — In Barcelona today for a shooting with my friend @kpunkka, our next guest at #MWC19 PS how cool is this picture? He completely captured and edited it with our phone! #GetSmart #Nokiamobile A post shared by Edoardo Cassina (@edcassina) on Feb 22, 2019 at 6:05am PST It’s perhaps the most ambitious phone by Nokia yet and has been rumoured and leaked ever since Nokia made a comeback in 2017. And for good reason. The five cameras on the Nokia 9 PureView work differently than other multi-camera phones like the Samsung Galaxy A9 and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Where most offer a wide-angle sensor combined with a telephoto and depth sensor, the Nokia 9 PureView uses the five cameras for computational photography. We are still awaiting an official white paper from Nokia detailing how the cameras work, but from what we gathered, here’s what the five cameras on the Nokia 9 PureView do — The key difference between the common multi-camera setups and the Nokia 9 PureView is the camera sensors. Unlike the LG V40 ThinQ or the Huawei Mate 20 Pro where there’s an array of standard, wide-angle and telephoto sensors, the Nokia 9 has the same specs for the five sensors. Each of them has 12MP resolution with an f/1.8 aperture. Two of the five sensors shoot in colour while the other three shoot in monochrome. When you press the button to take a shot, all the five sensors shoot at the same time, at different exposures. Nokia then uses a dedicated chip along with the Snapdragon 845 SoC to fuse the images together to create a single shot with a crazy amount of detail. Nokia even claimed the individual sensors sometimes shoots multiple images in different exposures to add more data to the image. Nokia claims the camera can deliver 12.5 stops of dynamic range, which is something more common in full-fledged DSLRs. Nokia partnered with Light, the same company that made the L16, the camera with 16 individual camera sensors in 2017. The Nokia 9 uses Light’s proprietary Lux Capacitor camera-control chip to manage the data from the five sensors. Notably, the Snapdragon 845 can only support up to three sensors. The camera also gathers a lot of data when shooting portrait shots. The Nokia 9 PureView uses the ToF depth sensor to gather 1,200 layers of depth data, unlike other phones which usually capture only 10 layers. That allows the bokeh to be denser the farther back you go from the subject, making it as realistic as possible. Now we’re yet to get our hands on a final unit. The information we gathered was from a prototype device that HMD Global showed us before the phone’s official launch. The unit wasn’t running the final software and perhaps that’s why the processing took some time. Nevertheless, Nokia claimed the cameras use every bit of the Snapdragon 845’s components to create the images. Every core of the Snapdragon 845 is doing something when you shoot an image. The DSP performs noise reduction, which Nokia claimed is 3x faster than the CPU and consumes 10 times less power. The GPU creates the depth map while the ISP and the ASIC fuse the images together. The Nokia 9 PureView also offers in-house editing of the photos. While it’s not clear whether the phone is able to capture images in the HEVC format, which stores more data, the phone offers a customised version of Google Photos that lets you view and edit DNG RAW files. Furthermore, the phone gives the option to download Adobe Lightroom when you’re setting it up. There’s also the Nokia Pro camera app that allows the shutter to remain open for 10 seconds when mounted on a tripod. Otherwise you get only 4 seconds of exposure. There’s no OIS for the sensors as Nokia said there was no space to put the magnets. There’s a chipset-level EIS though and the Nokia 9 PureView can capture video in 4K. However, the five-camera array does not work in tandem when shooting videos. There’s a lot more to unpack about the Nokia 9 PureView’s camera. HMD Global has made it a mission to bring back everything that made the old Nokia brand iconic. From reviving classic variants like the Nokia 3310 and the Banana Phone, to now making a big jump forward in computational photography with the PureView brand, it’s safe to say Nokia is back in the game again. The PureView brand has always stood for cutting-edge photography like when Nokia launched the Lumia 1020 back in 2013 with a 40MP camera. With a radical five-camera setup, the Nokia 9 also seems to deserve the title. But does it really work as advertised? We will find out soon enough. Stay updated with the latest news about new smartphone launches in our MWC 2019 section.
