The latest smartphone from Apple has just debuted. The new iPhone 13 will come in four variants, just like the previous generation: iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Apple conference is always associated with great expectations, and although other devices such as the new iPad, iPad mini, and Apple Watch Series 7 were also presented at the conference, the new smartphone aroused the most excitement.

The design of the new iPhone 13 has not undergone major changes. As every year, we are dealing with the introduction of new color variants. The lenses in the 13 and 13 mini versions have changed their arrangement; now they are placed diagonally on a square island. The notch has also been reduced, supposedly thanks to the redesign of the front camera system, the FaceID function is supposed to work much better. The iPhone 13 Pro has a stainless steel frame, while the iPhone 13 has an aluminum one. All versions have a glass back and are water-resistant. Their tightness class is as high as IP68, which means complete protection against dust ingress and protection against flooding with continuous immersion and increased water pressure. The battery has also been enlarged, which means up to 2.5 hours longer operation time in the Pro Max version. The refresh rate is now 120 Hz in the 13 Pro and Pro Max versions. However, it will be variable in the range of 10-120 Hz and will adjust according to needs, thanks to the ProMotion function. All new iPhones have the A15 Bionic chip, which is said to be 50% faster than the best processors of the competition.

The lenses are another important point. As we mentioned, in the 13 and 13 mini versions, the lenses are placed diagonally, and in the Pro version, they have been enlarged along with the island. It is certainly a plus that this year all four variants have optical image stabilization. For the record, this feature was previously only available in the Pro version. A new feature called Cinematic Mode has appeared, allowing you to record video with blurred characters and objects in the background. The Pro versions are supposed to be the most advanced smartphones in terms of photography. Three lenses are placed on the island: the main, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto lens with three times optical zoom. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max will be available in four versions: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and as much as 1T.

Pre-orders start on September 17, and the new iPhones are expected to be widely available from September 24. Will they turn out to be another hit? Judging by the number of Apple fans – probably yes. Price-wise, it does not differ significantly from its predecessor. Currently, we can wait for tests and reviews from the first users.

The newest smartphone from Apple has just debuted. The new iPhone 13 will come in four variants, just like the previous generation: iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Apple conference always comes with high expectations, and although the conference also presented other devices like the new iPad, iPad mini, and Apple Watch Series 7, the new smartphone was the one that generated the most excitement.

The design of the new iPhone 13 hasn’t changed much. As every year, we have the introduction of new color variants. The lenses on the 13 and 13 mini versions have changed their positioning, now placed diagonally on a square island. Also, the notch has been reduced, and the FaceID function seems to work much better due to a redesign of the front camera system. The iPhone 13 Pro has a stainless steel frame, while the iPhone 13 has an aluminum frame. All versions have a glass back and are water-resistant. Their waterproof rating is up to IP68, which means complete protection against dust ingress and protection against flooding with continuous immersion and increased water pressure. The battery has also been increased, which means up to 2.5 hours of extra battery life in the Pro Max version. The refresh rate is now 120 Hz in the 13 Pro and Pro Max versions. However, it will be interchangeable between 10 -120 Hz and will adjust as needed, thanks to the ProMotion feature. All new iPhones feature the A15 Bionic chip, which is said to be 50% faster than the best processors of competitors.

The lenses are another important point. As mentioned, in the 13 and 13 mini versions, the lenses have been placed diagonally, and in the Pro version, they have been enlarged along with the island. Certainly, on the positive side, it should be noted that this year all four variants have received optical image stabilization. We remind you that previously this feature was only available on the Pro version. There is a new Cinematic Mode feature, which allows you to record videos with characters and objects blurred in the background. The Pro versions are expected to be the most advanced smartphones in terms of photography. There are three lenses on the island: a main lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens with three times optical zoom. iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max will be available in four versions: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and up to 1T.

Pre-orders start as early as September 17, and the new iPhones will be generally available from September 24. They are likely to prove to be another success, judging by the number of Apple fans – probably yes. As for the price, it is not very different from its predecessor. Now we can wait for the tests and reviews from the first users.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the most anticipated smartphone of recent months. Its launch is set to take place in August. Although there is still some time left until the device’s presentation, we already know quite a lot about it, thanks to numerous leaks. One of them is, among other things, that this smartphone will have 6 GB of RAM and will run on the latest Android 8.1 system. In this article, I will try to gather all the most important information about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Design

Samsung decided to stick to its classic, proven design, but chose to surprise consumers with the colors of the casing. Galaxy Note 9 is expected to be available in five color variants: black, blue, gray, purple, and brown. And we know this thanks to information about the color versions of the S Pen. So unless the manufacturer plays a trick on us and the color of the pen, as in previous versions, matches that of the smartphone, these are the colors of the casing we can expect.

S Pen

The S Pen for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has received many improvements. It is said to have a built-in LE module, which will provide users with many innovative possibilities, including remote music control and using the S Pen as a game controller. In the case of the S Pen, Samsung has a lot of room to maneuver, and let’s hope they will utilize the device’s potential.

Fingerprint Reader

Contrary to earlier assumptions, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will not have a fingerprint reader on the screen. In the device, the company decided to place the reader on the back, but they changed the location to a more practical one. It will be located under the camera, making it easier to unlock the device without much effort, as is the case with the S9 model.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will also boast a significantly better battery than its predecessors. There are rumors of a battery with a capacity of up to 4000 mAh.

Price

As one might guess, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will likely be an expensive smartphone. Thanks to its specifications, its price in Poland will probably be around 4-5 thousand zlotys. However, owners can be sure that they have a very good smartphone in their hands.

Possible Specifications

• 6.3-inch Super AMOLED screen

• Samsung Exynos 9 Octa 9810 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor

• 6GB RAM

• 8Mpix front camera

• 12Mpix camera

• 4000 mAh battery

• dual Sim

• colors: black, purple, brown, blue, gray

• Android Oreo 8.1

• included S Pen

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 looks very promising. According to rumors, it will be one of the best smartphones on the market. What will it be like in reality? Will the device be worth its price? Will the rumors and leaks prove true? We will find out in August!

Chinese precision in execution combined with a fairly affordable price and good solutions. Xiaomi, the company in question, has just launched two new smartphones. These are the Xiaomi Mi A2 and Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, which were created as part of the Android One project, a collaboration between Xiaomi and Google. Both devices are devoid of the MIUI overlay, meaning they run on pure Android 8.1 Oreo. Additionally, in our store, you will already find cases for Xiaomi Mi A2 and the Lite version.

Xiaomi Mi A2:

The Mi A2 boasts a 5.99-inch screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It lacks a notch but has nice, rounded bezels that are very narrow, which undeniably benefits the screen size. Its resolution is 2160×1080 pixels.

As for the processor, the company opted for the new octa-core Snapdragon 660, which can operate at a maximum speed of 2.2 GHz. The package provides the user with 4 GB of RAM, and depending on the version, 32 GB or 64 GB for files. There is also a version with 6GB RAM and 128 GB of memory for user needs, but rumors say it will not arrive in Poland.

When creating this model, Xiaomi definitely paid the most attention to the cameras. The main rear camera consists of two sensors with resolutions of 12 and 20 MP and an aperture brightness of f/1.75, which will ensure better photo quality, among other things, in low light. The front camera, on the other hand, is equipped with 20 MP and also an f/1.75 aperture. It is also supported by artificial intelligence and the SuperPixel function.
The battery capacity is 3000 mAh, which is satisfactory for the low price of the device. It is also worth noting that the Xiaomi Mi A2 is equipped with fast charging Quick Charge 3.0

Detailed specification for Xiaomi Mi A2:

• Android 8.1 Oreo
• screen diagonal: 5.99 inches
• resolution: 2160×1080
• matrix type: IPS LCD (LTPS)
• processor model: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
• number of cores: octa-core, 4xKyro 260 2.2 GHz, 4x Kyro 260 1.8 GHz
• graphics system: Adreno 512.
• bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP Le
• GPS: GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS
• USB: 2.0 type C
• Dual SIM: yes
• fingerprint reader: yes
• dimensions: 158.7x 75.4x 7.3 mm
• weight: 168g

Xiaomi Mi A2 undeniably deserves proper protection against mechanical damage. Thanks to the Home Screen store, you can ensure its safety. With a wide range of cases dedicated to this model, everyone can choose something for themselves. In our offer, you will find, among others: elegant, classic, and above all very slim MSVII Xiaomi Mi A2 cases in various color variants, the rugged, meticulously protecting device Spigen Rugged Armor or a flip case, thanks to which the device is fully protected – DuxDucis SkinPro. In our store, you will also find tempered glass for Xiaomi Mi A2, including 3mk Flexible Glass, whose main task is to protect your smartphone’s screen from dirt, cracks, or scratches.

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite:

This version is dedicated to users with lower requirements, as the device’s specification is somewhat weaker. In this case, we are dealing with the older and less efficient Snapdragon 625 supported by 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal memory or 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of external memory.

Interestingly, the display also differs from that of the Mi A2, as the Lite version has a 5.84-inch diagonal and, surprisingly, a higher resolution – 1080×2280 and a 19:9 ratio. It also differs from the Mi A2 in terms of cameras. The rear has cameras with resolutions of 12 and 5 MP, while the front camera offers us photos with a resolution of 5 MP.

It is also interesting that this version of the device has a battery capacity of as much as 4000mAh, and unlike its “brother,” it received a notch, which makes it look more modern.

Detailed specification of Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite:

• Android 8.1 Oreo
• screen diagonal: 5.84 inches
• screen resolution: 2280×1080 pixels
• matrix type: IPS LCD
• processor model: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625.
• number of cores: octa-core, 8x Cortex-A53 2.0 GHz
• graphics system: Adreno 506
• bluetooth: 4.2, A2DP, LE
• GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS
• USB: 2.0 microUSB
• dimensions: 149.33 x 71.68 x 8.75 mm
• weight: 178g

Just like for the Mi A2, for Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite you will also find recommended protective accessories in our store. In our assortment, there is, for example, the functional Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite flip case DuxDucis SkinPro, which will effectively protect your device from damage in everyday use. Moreover, the wide range of colors will give the smartphone a unique look, personalized to your requirements, and a special pocket for documents, hidden inside the case, will allow you to store all the most important documents together with the phone.

Both Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite are interesting propositions for people looking for a smartphone with satisfactory specifications at a reasonable price. Will it meet your needs and expectations? You have to check it yourself!

Soon, the biggest technological event of September will take place. Tomorrow, September 12, Apple will present its new devices to us. What will they actually be like? No one is 100% sure, although the Internet is buzzing with leaks and rumors about the novelties. An even bigger sensation is the fact that it is unknown what names the iPhones presented on Wednesday will bear. Below are gathered the information about the new devices from Apple.

According to leaks, all new iPhones are equipped with the Face ID facial recognition system and the iconic notch, while the wide bezels and the Touch ID button have been definitively abandoned. The system is to be controlled by gestures, which, according to the manufacturer, are supposed to make using the smartphone more convenient, faster, and more intuitive.
Since Apple still keeps us in suspense regarding the naming, for the purposes of the article, let’s adopt the naming proposed in the latest reports, namely iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Plus. The third device will be a budget model with an LCD screen, probably named Xc.

The iPhone Xs will be equipped with an OLED screen, with a diagonal of 5.8 inches, exactly like last year’s iPhone X. The much larger iPhone Xs Plus is to feature a huge OLED display, measuring 6.5 inches. Additionally, Apple is reportedly introducing a display mode similar to that of iPads, where the app in portrait mode is divided into two parts: one dedicated to additional options related to the app’s functions.

Both of these models are to feature a new chip, namely – the Apple A12 chip. It is to be the first processor to reach smartphones available for sale, made using 7nm technology. The new chip is expected to significantly “leap” ahead of the competition, offering top-level performance. Additionally, the iPhone Xs Plus and iPhone Xs will have 3-4 GB of RAM and, depending on the version, 64, 256, or even 512 GB for files.
The budget version of the iPhone may turn out to be much less interesting and noteworthy, as it is still expected to run on the two-year-old A10 processor, which debuted in the 7 and 7 Plus models. Furthermore, users will have 3 GB of RAM at their disposal and, most likely, depending on the version, 64 GB or 256 GB for files, and the screen in this version is made using LCD technology and will be 6.1 inches.

According to rumors, the iPhone Xs is expected to look almost identical to last year’s X. The Xs Plus, on the other hand, is simply expected to be larger but maintain the current design. As for colors, three variants are suggested – white, space grey, and gold.

The new iPhones are to immediately operate under the control of iOS 12, in which Apple seems to focus on optimization and improving stability. An important element is also the long-awaited notification sorting.
Regarding cameras, we should not expect any major revolutions. Among the rumors, there is talk of only minor camera improvements compared to previous models. However, Apple has decided to improve charging, as the new devices will come with an 18W charger.

And now some detailed technical data of the new devices from Apple:

Apple iPhone Xs Plus – technical data

6.5″ OLED screen with a resolution of 1242 x 2688 pixels
Apple A12 processor
4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
64 or 256 GB of data storage
Face ID
dual iSight camera (no details)
battery with a capacity of about 3500 mAh
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS/GLONASS
NFC
LTE modem
Lightning connector
stereo speakers
157.5 × 77.4 × 7.7 mm
iOS 12

Apple iPhone Xs – technical data

5.8″ OLED screen with a resolution of 1125 x 2436 pixels
Apple A12 processor
4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
64 or 256 GB of data storage
dual camera (no details)
battery with a capacity of about 2700-2800 mAh
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS/GLONASS
Face ID
NFC
LTE modem
Lightning connector
stereo speakers
143.6 × 70.9 × 7.7 mm
iOS 12

Apple iPhone Xc – technical data

6.1″ LCD screen with a resolution of 1792 x 828 pixels
Apple A12 processor
LTE modem
3 GB RAM
64 or 256 GB of data storage
Bluetooth 5.0
TrueDepth camera with Face ID support
iSight camera (no details)
battery with a capacity of about 2850-2950 mAh
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
GPS/GLONASS
NFC
Lightning connector
stereo speakers
fingerprint reader – none
150.9 x 76.5 x 8.3 mm
iOS 12

Besides the new iPhones, we can expect the premiere of the new iPad Pro, without the Touch ID button. According to rumors, two models will enter the market, equipped with Face ID and running on the Apple A12 processor. The first device will have 12.9 inches, and the second a diagonal of 11 inches.

Another proposal from Apple is the new Apple Watch Series 4 with a larger display. This will be the first design change since its introduction to the offer. Leaks suggest that there will be two versions of the watch with similar dimensions, but with a 1.57-inch and 1.78-inch case. It is also highly likely that we will see a new version of AirPods, which are to be, among other things, rain-resistant and work better with Siri. An important debut may also be the presentation of the AirPower mat, allowing users to simultaneously wirelessly charge AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone.

Will the latest devices from Apple really be as the rumors say? What will their prices and specifications be? Will they meet the requirements of even the most demanding fans of the company? We will find out tomorrow!

When considering buying a protective case, do you wonder if it actually meets the manufacturer’s claims? Does it really serve both an aesthetic and protective role for the smartphone? Because how on earth can such a small amount of material effectively protect the device? For several weeks, I have had the pleasure of testing the Ringke Slim case. It is one of the slimmer and more resistant cases of this type for smartphones, but like every product, it has its pros and cons, which I will soon outline.

Comfort of Use

The comfort of using a smartphone equipped with the Ringke Slim undoubtedly improves because the device is not as slippery and fits perfectly into the shape of the hand, making it sit more stably in the hand. An important indicator here is the fact that the phone has not slipped out of my hand even once during use, although with other cases it happened frequently because my hand is too small to operate my device. Moreover, just as the manufacturer claims, the case is very pleasant to the touch.

As for applying the case to the smartphone, the matter is simple. Thanks to the cut corners, we prevent potential cracks caused by stress during the application or removal of the case. You don’t need to use extraordinary force to put it on or take it off, which is clearly a plus.

Access to buttons and ports is exposed. You may like it or not, it is a completely personal matter. There are two sides to the coin. On one hand, it’s nice because the buttons are more intuitive, easier to feel, but on the other hand, this part is much more exposed to damage due to the cutouts.

Appearance

As soon as I saw this case, I decided I had to own it. My particular attention was drawn to the variant in a beautiful color – Rose Gold. A classic, elegant case, and in such a color… What more could you want? After putting on the case, the iPhone looked great, and I can say that I was enchanted by it. Ringke Slim is a relatively minimalist product. It has a uniform color, only in the lower right corner do we find the manufacturer’s logo.

After a few weeks of use, I also noticed significant scratches on the case. They must have occurred during normal, everyday use, e.g., when storing the iPhone in a handbag or a few falls from a small height. The fact is that this is a feature of the material used, and the majority is visible only in the right light, but the case itself no longer looks as beautiful as at the beginning.

Protection

The phone secured in this case has fallen from the couch or table several times. Seemingly small distances, but as we know, even such a fall can cause significant damage. As I wrote earlier, the case has already collected some scratches, but there is not a single dent or crack – which pleases me immensely, and my smartphone has remained intact thanks to the Ringke Slim.

I admit without hesitation that when applying this case, after using several other, much more rugged ones, I thought “uhhhh, it will be weak, I see it poorly” in terms of protection. I absolutely take it all back! Despite the slim appearance, my iPhone is really solidly protected.

Summary and Price

The regular price of the Ringke Slim is 49 PLN (in our store, they are often lower), which I consider a good price for this product. We get a solid level of protection and an elegant, feminine look. At this price, it would be hard to find something equally slim, resistant, providing similar comfort of use, perfectly fitting the shape of the device, and pleasing to the eye with such a color. The only drawback is the low level of scratch resistance – here the manufacturer could improve their product.

Chargers for mobile devices – a vast topic. Some people choose them consciously to achieve the most efficient charging and utilize the device’s capabilities 100%, but the vast majority use chargers included in the device package or, when it stops working, buy the cheapest option. This is mostly due to a lack of knowledge about the capabilities of their smartphone or a lack of market awareness when it comes to chargers. This is disadvantageous because choosing a charger without any theoretical preparation can not only slow down the charging speed of our battery but also unknowingly harm our device or even cause a fire.

Phone charger. As the name suggests, the task of this type of accessory is to charge our smartphone. Although over time, batteries in devices have larger capacities and are more solidly built, we use chargers much more frequently than we did about 10 years ago. This is because we now use smartphones almost non-stop compared to typical phones with a keyboard or monochrome display. They also have stronger components that require more energy – here, it’s mainly worth highlighting the power consumption by the large screens currently installed in such devices. Interestingly, manufacturers often do not include chargers with phones that maximize the current and charging time of devices. So how do you choose a charger for your device to minimize battery filling time? What are our options?

Let’s start with the most important issue – safety. Each branded and solid charger has a range of protections designed to protect us from unwanted side effects. These include protections against too high a temperature of the charger, short circuits, too high voltage, and the like. In cheap chargers, such protections are either not found or, due to low production costs, may be damaged. Having this kind of protection is crucial because its absence can lead to smartphone damage, and in the worst case, even electric shock or fire.

Fast charging technologies:

These include technologies such as Quick Charge, Dash Charge, Supercharge, and probably hundreds of others – depending on the manufacturer. We will describe the principle of operation on the above-mentioned ones to present the main differences.

Quick Charge is a technology developed by Qualcomm. It is definitely the most widespread type of charging, but it only works with Qualcomm brand processors. The original version of Quick Charge supported a maximum charging current of only 2 A and a voltage of 5V, which gave us a charging power of 10W. At the time, this was not a groundbreaking achievement, so it went unnoticed. Then came Quick Charge 2.0, which can use voltages of 5V, 9V, and 12V, and currents of 1.67A, 2 A, or 3A. This means that the maximum charging power is 18W. However, it still wasn’t what users were eagerly waiting for. Only Quick Charge 3.0 gained market approval and became the most popular version of fast charging from Qualcomm. It supports voltages from 3.3V to 20V and currents of 2.6A or 4.6A. To better illustrate this, I’ll give an example. A smartphone with a battery capacity of 2750 mAh charges from 0 to 80% in 35 minutes. A regular 5W charger will charge the same device to only twelve percent of battery capacity in the same time.

Dash Charge (from Oppo/OnePlus) and Supercharge (Huawei) work on the same principle with one fundamental difference. The manufacturers of this type of charging focused on increasing the current instead of the voltage. These types of charging technologies output current at a typical USB voltage of 5V but have a significantly higher current.

Interestingly, the requirements set by Quick Charge are significantly lower than those of Dash Charge or Supercharge. However, this does not mean that it will work with just any cable that fits our smartphone. Fast charging technologies can fail even if the cable is too long or too thin. It is also not very advantageous that if you have a device with, for example, Supercharge technology, you will only charge it (with fast charging) using a charger compatible with Supercharge technology, connected to a cable compatible with Supercharge technology, which puts us in a position from a few years ago where each device had a different charger input, and finding the right cable was not as simple and obvious as it is today.

However, it’s not just about cables, and recently the possibility of inductive charging of mobile devices has become very widespread on the market. They have several advantages and some disadvantages. An advantage can be considered the lack of cables that we need to connect to the device. It is charged through a receiving coil (usually located in the “back” of the device) brought close to the transmitting coil (a spirally wound wire around which an electromagnetic field is created). It is also an extremely convenient option because you just need to place the device on the inductive charger, and the battery charging process starts immediately. This solution is also supported by the small size of the charger and the fact that it is usually universal. This means that you can charge devices with a microUSB, Type-C, and Lightning connector on it – because in practice, there might not even be a socket – we only need a power receiver. Of course, inductive chargers are not free from drawbacks. Usually, the charging time is extended due to energy losses that occur during the process of converting electric current into an electromagnetic field. And not all devices are equipped with coils that allow wireless charging.

As you can see, there are many things we should pay attention to when choosing a charger. The most important thing is that such a charger is not a potential threat to the device we own or our health or life and that it is compatible with the fast charging technology that our device is equipped with. And this is what we should primarily be guided by when choosing a charger for our smartphone! I hope the above article will help you make an informed choice of the right charger, tailored to the needs of the user and the device.