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If you’ve been keeping up with all things 5G, you might have heard that Chinese phonemaker Xiaomi is working on one of the first 5G-enabled phones you can buy. But you’ll have to wait until next year for it. Announced in Beijing Thursday at the Forbidden City, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is the latest addition to Xiaomi’s line of all-screen flagship phones. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, it has a 6.39-inch display like the Mi Mix with a 2,340×1,080-pixel resolution, meaning 93.4 percent of its body is screen. (The Mi Mix 2 is just 5.99 inches, by comparison.)
It has four cameras — two each on the front and back — as well as a whopping 10GB RAM variant. Battery capacity is a less impressive 3,200 mAh — we’ve seen bigger ones in other Xiaomi phones like the Mi Max 3 — though the phone supports wireless charging. The fingerprint sensor remains on the back of the phone.
The Mi Mix 3 also comes in a 5G version touted by Xiaomi as the world’s first such commercially available phone, though it’s not expected to launch till the first quarter of next year. This might disappoint fans who were excited by a leak showing 5G support on the phone last month, but the delay won’t matter too much — even if 5G capabilities were available on it now, you won’t be able to use it until network buildouts are completed. This is true even in Xiaomi’s home country, even though China is at the forefront of 5G development.
In terms of design, the Mi Mix 3 takes a step closer to losing its signature chin. Mi Mix phones used to have a bottom bezel — now reduced to 4.46 mm — that housed the selfie camera. But the cameras have now been moved to a magnetic slider on the phone. You can slide the entire screen downwards to answer calls or customize it to launch different functions. The feature is similar to ones seen in the recent Oppo Find X and Huawei’s Honor Magic 2, which will be launched on Oct. 31.
You’ll be able to customize the sound the phone makes when you slide the display, but I suspect it will still become annoying eventually.
The Mi Mix 3 features powerful cameras on its front and back. On the back are 12-megapixel dual rear cameras — wide-angle and telephoto — with f1.8 and f2.4 apertures respectively that can support slow-motion videos at 960 fps. For selfie lovers, Mi Mix 3 sports a 24-megapixel primary camera backed up by a secondary 2-megapixel camera. These can be found on the retractable module along with a soft light.
The cameras also come with AI-powered features, including AI beautify, AI portrait mode and AI studio lighting on both the front and back. The rear cameras also have AI scene detection and AI background music, which adds audio to your videos automatically. Xiaomi also said that an AI face unlock feature will be added in future updates, but this feature will be limited to selected markets.
The Mi Mix 3 will come in three versions. You can get 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage, or the top-end model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It will be available in three colors: onyx black, jade green and sapphire blue.
The 10GB RAM variant (with 256GB onboard storage) is unveiled as a Forbidden City special edition available in a different hue of blue, featuring a Chinese mythical beast in gold called Xie Zhi.
Xiaomi’s Mi Mix phones are traditionally its most expensive and configurations with more storage typically cost more. The Mi Mix 3 is priced like the Mi Mix 2S was when it launched. The base model will start at 3,299 yuan (about $475, £370 or AU$675) and the top-end model will be 3,999 yuan. Global availability of the phone has not been disclosed but it will go on sale first in China on Nov. 1.
The Forbidden City special edition comes with a heftier price tag and will retail at 4,999 yuan when it goes on sale at the end of next month.

Quick specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
• 6.39-inch AMOLED screen, full-HD+ display (2,340×1,080 pixels)
• 6GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage; 8GB RAM with 128GB storage; 8GB RAM with 256GB storage; 10GB with 256GB onboard storage
• 12-megapixel dual rear cameras
• 24- and 2-megapixel dual front cameras
• Rear fingerprint sensor
• 218 grams (7.69 ounces), 158 by 75 by 8.5 mm

AMD’s next graphics card is almost certain to be the Radeon RX 590, and we may have our first official piece of proof of its existence.
PowerColor, a third-party Taiwanese graphics card manufacturer, seems to be readying the release of a new Radeon RX 590 graphics card, based on product listings from the Eurasian Economic Union certification office.
The listing points to an AXRX 580 8GBD5-3DH/OC product code, which seems to reference a factory overclocked GPU with 8GB of GDDR5 video memory, as well as an AXRX 590 8GBD5-3DH/OC product code.
Rather than a leak or rumor, the source of this latest information comes from a government organization. What’s more, certification tends to come at the very end of the product development cycle, so it seems certain that an AMD Radeon RX 590 will indeed launch soon.
As for what we can expect from the AMD Radeon RX 590, the GPU appeared in the 3DMark database with performance fitting in neatly between the Nvidia GTX 1070 and GTX 1060.
Of course, until the card is out and we’ve tested it ourselves, you shouldn’t buy into any rumors completely. However AMD’s next graphics card shakes out, you can be certain we’ll report on it with everything you need to know.

• Our best graphics cards guide could use some new AMD additions

Related product: AMD Radeon RX 480

Our Verdict:

☆☆☆☆☆

AMD has returned with another value-driven card that delivers the goods. Whether you’re looking to game at 60 fps at 1080p, hook up a 120Hz FreeSync monitor or even dip your toes into 1440p gaming, this card does it all without breaking the bank.
FOR

• Exceptional 1080p performance
• VR-ready
• GTX 980 performance for less

AGAINST

• WattMan clearly still in BETA

A string of code unearthed in the latest iOS 12.1 beta offers instructions to set up Face ID authentication on iPad, seemingly confirming integration of the technology in an iPad Pro refresh expected for unveiling next week.Shared in a tweet by 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo, the iOS code snippet provides parameters for using Face ID on iPad.
Specifically, the code appears to be an excerpt from Apple’s initial iOS device setup process, and calls for users to “Life and Rotate iPad” into portrait mode to configure Face ID.
“Face ID needs to be in portrait to learn how to recognize you. After Face ID has been set up, it will work in portrait and landscape.”
An option to “Set up Later in Settings” is also provided.
Rumors of a Face ID-equipped iPad Pro have circulated for nearly a year, as analysts and insiders predicted Apple to build its latest biometric security technology into the flagship tablet. In July, an initial iOS 12 beta build included iPad-specific tools for creating and using Animoji and Memoji, avatar features exclusive to the TrueDepth camera system that underpins Face ID.
More recent rumblings hinted at multi-orientation support for Face ID, as seen in today’s code discovery, while rumors earlier this month suggest the slate will feature a new magnetic connector.
Apple is widely expected to launch revamped iPad Pro models at a special event in New York on Oct. 30. The new slates are rumored to come in 12.9- and 11-inch sizes, and feature a full-face design with reduced bezels thanks to Face ID integration. A second-generation Apple Pencil is also anticipated.
AppleInsider will be attending Apple’s “There’s more in the making” event on Oct 30th, where we expect new iPad Pros, and maybe even new Macs! Keep up with our coverage by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

Anker, a company that’s well-known for making some of our favorite phone accessories, has just unveiled a few new products that will hit just in time for the holidays. Included in the announcement was the company’s smallest 27W Power Delivery charger, the PowerPort Atom PD1. It’s only slightly larger than a regular 5W charger that you’d find included with a cell phone at the time of purchase, but it’s able to easily charge your MacBook, Chromebook, Nintendo Switch, and more quickly. Amazon will be the exclusive seller of this plug in November, and it will cost $30, which is just a few dollars more than the company’s previous-gen charger.
Next up, is the Soundcore Model Zero+, a new Bluetooth speaker that features a unique design. It looks almost like a purse, and is on the larger side in comparison to some of the other offerings that the company currently sells. It’s the first time Anker is integrating Dolby Audio into a portable speaker, and it also has “Designed by Scan-Speak” drivers, which have been around for a long time and offer unrivaled audio quality. It will be available in November at select retailers, and pricing comes in at $250.
The Nebula Capsule II is its next-generation pocket cinema, and it has Android TV built right in to it. The design resembles a soda can, and the projector is about as pocketable as they come. In addition to Android TV and access to your favorite apps, the Nebula Capsule II also has access to Google’s Assistant, so you can use just your voice to find your favorite shows and movies. This one is launching on Kickstarter at the end of October, with Super Early Bird pricing starting at $349, which is the same price as the existing model.
Finally, under the Eufy branding, the company is moving into home security with its first camera. It’s a wireless camera with one year of battery life, A.I. assisted face recognization, free local storage, and battery back-up in its base station. Anker has not yet released pricing or availability for this item.

Italian watchdog says the updates “significantly reduced” performance of the users phones.
Apple and Samsung were fined on Wednesday for software updates that Italy’s antitrust watchdog says slowed down users phones.
The Italian Competition Authority, or AGCM, fined Apple and Samsung 5 million euros (about $5.6 million) each for releasing software updates that “significantly reduced” the performance of phones, the authority said in a release. This pushed consumers to buy new devices, according to AGCM. Apple was fined an additional 5 million euros for failing to provide adequate information on how to maintain and replace phone batteries.
Last December, Apple admitted that it slows down older iPhones to offset battery problems. The company has denied this is done in order to get customers to buy new models.
Both smartphone makers were also ordered to publish a declaration on the Italian page of their websites informing consumers about AGCM’s decision.
“We are disappointed with the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) decision,” said Samsung in an email statement. “Samsung did not issue any software update that reduced the Galaxy Note 4’s performance. In contrast, Samsung has always released software updates enabling our customers to have the best experience possible. We will take necessary legal actions to appeal the ICA’s decision.”
Apple didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Microsoft stopped offering Windows 10’s October 2018 Update on October 6, as it was deleting some people’s files. Now, another ugly data loss bug has reared its head, and it won’t be fixed until November.
M. Hamer, a Microsoft forum agent and moderator, explained this issue on October 23:

There is a known issue in the Windows 10 October Update where the consent prompt “Do you want to replace these files” is missing when copying contents from a .ZIP file.
With the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, if you copy or move files from a .ZIP file (without first “extracting” the contents) in to a new destination folder that contains duplicate filenames or is write-protected, you don’t get a“Do you want to replace these files” prompt. It will appear that the files were overwritten, when in fact the copy action for those files is not executed and files have not been overwritten.

That all sounds a little dry and boring, but it’s serious: You could lose data when working with zip files! In fact, he goes on to warn more about this more explicitly:

Important: Do not attempt to Cut and Paste items from a compressed (.zip) folder. This may result in unintentionally deleting items that may not be recoverable.
Microsoft is working on a resolution and estimates a solution will be available in early November for this issue.

After all the bad press, we can’t imagine Microsoft will want to re-release the October 2018 Update with another bug that can potentially lead to data loss. This one doesn’t seem quite as bad as automatically deleting entire folders during the upgrade process, but it’s still not great. And, if Microsoft starts rolling out the update with this bug, it’s sure to bite some people. That means Microsoft has to wait until November.
Please, if you work at Microsoft and you’re reading this: Don’t do it. Wait until November. Fix the data loss bugs first.
Of course, there’s no official confirmation that Microsoft will delay the update. We recommend you avoid clicking “Check for Updates” any time soon.
In the meantime, if you’ve already upgraded to the October 2018 Update, be careful when working with Zip files in Windows. We recommend using a third-party file extraction program, like 7-Zip.

It’s official: Apple’s second fall 2018 event has been confirmed for October 30 in Brooklyn, New York. Rumor suggest that Apple is going to talk about a new iPad Pro and MacBook, but there’s another device that could also get some attention: The Mac mini.
If you’re a little surprised at that, there’s good reason. It’s been several years since the Mac mini got an update, and Apple has rarely brought up the little desktop computer square, although Tim Cook did say a year ago that, “Our customers have found so many creative and interesting uses for Mac mini. While it is not time to share any details, we do plan for Mac mini to be an important part of our product line going forward.”
Reports now indicate that it’s finally time for an upgrade. Here’s what we know and suspect about a potential Mac mini reveal at the end of October.

A NEW PROCESSOR

Some kind of processor upgrade is an obvious choice for the now outdated Mac mini, and rumors back in July indicated that the mini could receive a power boost this year.
But what new processors are we talking about? Well, four generations of Intel Core processors have come and gone since the Mac mini was updated last. The current model runs on dual-core Core i5 or Core i7 processors, so we’d expect Apple to update to something like the 8th-gen Core i5-8400 and Core i7-8700 processors — both of which are six-core CPUs. 9th-gen desktop chips have only begun to roll out from Intel, but the powerful K-series processors are out of the question.
In the realm of pure speculation, one other possibility could be the Core i5-8305G and Core i7-8809G. These are the Intel/AMD hybrid units that include AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics onboard a quad-core, Intel processor. It’s an expensive chip made for miniaturized PCs like the Intel NUC. It would re-frame the Mac mini as a more capable gaming and content creation tool, which brings us to our next point.

SWITCHING TO A PRO MODEL

Rumors and leaks have discussed the possibility that Apple will revamp the mini into a mini Pro model that is aimed primarily at professionals who want to keep their display and accessories but switch out for a higher-power model.
In this case, Apple would update not only the processor but also expand the storage options. A Mac mini Pro would also need to add more business-friendly features to the unit, which would presumably sell it at a higher price than the current $500 Mac mini. This theoretical mini Pro would fit in well with Apple’s other October focus, the iPad Pro, as two professional bookends for the event.
Since the mini has found a home in network setups and business data storage, it would make sense for many of these new features to focus on server and network management, allowing the mini to slot into many different data setups across a number of businesses.

SSD HARD DRIVE

This one is practically a shoe-in.
The current Mac mini shows its age with options for an HDD, SSD, or fusion drive combination. That was a more common offering a few years ago, but now the market has shifted more fully toward SSD options. We expect a new mini would launch with SSD-only storage, probably offered up to 2TB or more. It’s a simple, sensible move that many other Mac devices, including the iMac Pro and Mac Pro.

UPDATED PORTS

Let’s assume that Apple recognizes the mini’s new role in the office and is focusing more on Pro users. This makes it much more likely that the new model will come with additional ports, especially USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 and additional Ethernet ports. This would make it more useful for data management in business situations — and more versatile overall.
But is the mini still an entertainment device? Ultimately, what Apple decides will probably determine whether or not the HDMI port will stay. Entertainment has changed a lot in just the past four or five years, which leaves Apple in a bit of a tricky situation as to how to position the Mac mini.
If Apple decides that the mini is more at home with tasks in the workplace, it may remove the HDMI in favor of other “Pro” connections. But if the mini still has a future as an entertainment device — perhaps like a versatile cousin to Apple TV — then no doubt HDMI will stay. If this is the case, then Apple definitely needs to upgrade video support to 4K as well.
It’s also possible that Apple could cut back ports to only USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 to follow suit with its MacBook Pros.

REFRESHED DESIGN

While we’ve heard a few rumblings about what a new Mac mini could be like, but very little involving its actual physical appearance. The Mac mini is known for being small, though the definition of small has changed rather quickly over the past few years. Compact PCs that can attach to the back of monitors or fit on your keychain are everywhere you look, and a new Mac mini would have to address the changing context with its size and design.
In terms of materials, that’s also up in the air. Interestingly, Apple has still been making new Mac minis, but only as limited releases. The company has been used purely recycled aluminum from iPhone cases to create Mac minis just for use inside Apple facilities. This doesn’t say much about what Apple may release in October, except that recycled materials could be a part of the plan, but it is an example of how Apple still uses the mini even in its own data architecture.

Samsung held a launch event in China today focused on its Galaxy A9s and A6s, during which the company teased an entirely new handset model with a design that forgoes a notch and will apparently join the Galaxy S10 next year in sporting an all-screen display.
That phone is the A8s, part of Samsung’s midrange A series which will reportedly be the handset maker’s first notch-free phone that sports an edge-to-edge display. Sort of. We add that as a kind of caveat, because according to Samsung leaker extraordinaire Ice Universe, there will still be a hole drilled into the display to allow for a front-facing camera.
The folks over at SamMobile point out there are still a ton of questions about the device and its display, such as whether the camera will be positioned under the device or if that part of the display will just turn off when you’re watching something like a YouTube video. Regardless, the site notes, Samsung’s official teaser of the phone today didn’t seem to show any kind of obstruction on the display. Pretty interesting, and one reason some of the commentary around the phone today is regarding it as a stepping stone to the coming Galaxy S10’s notch-free display.
The latter, reminds Digital Trends in a piece today, could likewise feature an edge-to-edge display that hides cameras, fingerprint sensors and more all under the display. It’s not yet clear, though, if Samsung will bring some or all of those technologies to the S10 or wait for a later model. Some could even materialize in the A8s. Along these lines, the site also notes, Samsung is trying to incorporate a front-facing speaker that works by vibrating the display.
One thing is definitely clear — Samsung is working hard to bring a truly all-screen phone to fruition that avoids the ugly notch entirely. Samsung Display is plugging away at that design challenge, which, once it’s successful, would also allow other companies to pursue the same vision, since companies it supplies include none other than, of course, Apple.

The phone’s fast, 10 watt charging only works with a Made for Google-certified charger, like the Pixel Stand.
Your brand-new Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL offers wireless 10w fast charging, but only with Google’s own Pixel Stand or with upcoming Made for Google-certified models thanks to a proprietary protocol. Qi-standard chargers, even if they support 10w, are limited to 5w for Google’s devices.
The fast-charging incompatibility was pointed out to Android Police by a reader, and the site also says that the phone reports fast charging with third-party devices even though they’re only operating at 5w.
Google confirmed to us,

We don’t limit third-party devices, in fact, we’re working with our partners in the Made for Google program to get fast 10W chargers certified for use with Pixel 3 (Belkin announced its 10W Pixel 3 charger already which will launch in the coming weeks). Pixel Stand and Pixel 3 work together through the protocol we’ve developed for fast charging. Everything else charges at the industry standard Qi 5W.

Google hasn’t indicated why it took this approach, but it’s possible it’s linked to the extra features that are activated when you pop the Pixel 3 on a Pixel Stand.

The Galaxy S10 is widely expected to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor, a feature Samsung has been working on for a few years now. The Galaxy S8 was first rumored to get it, but Samsung kept delaying the launch of a flagship with an in-screen fingerprint sensor on account of various development issues. A series of reports have said in recent months that up to two of the three Galaxy S10 models launching next year will feature in-display sensors, and now we have more evidence Samsung is indeed working on such screens.
A Samsung patent application titled Electronic Device Comprising Biometric Sensor, filed in April with WIPO and published on Thursday (via GalaxyClub), describes technology that would allow Samsung to include a fingerprint sensor within the layers of the display.
The following image shows a device that looks a lot like the Galaxy S9, complete with an Infinity Display design and curved edges. What’s interesting about the diagram is that it shows a display that folds beneath itself to connect to the logic board. That’s an ingenious design trick that Apple used on the iPhone X phones to eliminate the bottom bezel. Samsung, of course, is aware of the design, given that it makes iPhone X/XS displays for Apple and Apple was the first company to do this in a widely available smartphone. Also interesting is the fact that the device still features a bottom bezel.
The drawing, however, doesn’t necessarily tell us what the Galaxy S10 will look like. What’s important in these images is the fingerprint sensor that’s placed under the screen near the bottom of the device.
The image above shows that an optical fingerprint sensor and an image sensor would be stacked under the display. The text specifically says that the device may read fingerprints with the help of an optical sensor. That’s the most popular type of in-display fingerprint sensor for smartphones right now. But recent reports said the Galaxy S10+ might feature a more advanced ultrasonic sensor, which is a sensor that reads a fingerprint using sound waves instead of optics. The patent application does mention that the display may include an ultrasonic touch panel, but that’s about it, focusing mostly on optical sensors.
While not all the technology described in patents ends up in commercial products, it’s likely that Samsung will add an in-display fingerprint sensor to the Galaxy S10 series next year. The alternative is falling behind competitors that are getting more dangerous than ever.