The smartphone cycle is always churning. While some phones have just hit the market, others will never see the market, and there are many still yet to be announced. Here are the details on some of the most interesting smartphone news from the last week.
HTC U12+ released
HTC released the HTC U12+ smartphone last Thursday with an enviable camera system and some snazzy color options, including a Translucent Blue, which showcases the insides of the device. HTC has also done away with buttons on it’s latest device, supplementing its Edge Sense squeeze gesture function in place of a power button and volume rocker. In an effort to make the device more AI friendly, HTC is also promoting the use of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The HTC U12+ is currently available at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon as well as unlocked for $799.
Essential Phone 2 canceled
The latest news indicates that the Essential Phone 2 has essentially been canceled. There was also word that the company, Essential Inc. was up for sale; however, Father Android, Andy Rubin recently took to Twitter to clarify that the Essential development team is now shifting its focus to new projects, including other mobile products and home devices.
We always have multiple products in development at the same time and we embrace canceling some in favor of the ones we think will be bigger hits. We are putting all of our efforts towards our future, game-changing products, which include mobile and home products.
— Andy Rubin (@Arubin) May 24, 2018
BlackBerry Key 2 launch date set
BlackBerry devices are still alive and kicking. After releasing the BlackBerry KeyOne last year, the Chinese manufacturer, TCL is back with the BlackBerry Key2, which is set for a June 7 launch date in New York City. The device is expected to feature the signature BlackBerry physical QWERTY keyboard as well as a dual-camera system. It may also feature the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chip and Android 8.0 Oreo.
Vivo Apex launch date set
There has been considerable buzz around the Chinese company, Vivo, which has become known for its devices with in-display fingerprint scanners. The manufacturer has revealed the launch date for its Vivo Apex smartphone for June 12. The device will be unveiled in Shanghai, China.
Vivo hosted private demos of the Apex smartphone concept during Mobile World Congress in February to showcase its over 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. The device is close to being a truly bezel-free phone, so much so that its front facing camera is designed to pop up from its frame.
It is possible that “Vivo Apex” may simply be the concept name for the device and the company may announce its official name as well as commercial availability come June 12.
