Huawei just released a lineup of new products

Huawei Consumer Business Group today hosted the Huawei Seamless AI Life New Products Global Launch event, where the company announced six new products that further enrich the 1+8+N all-scenario ecosystem.

The new products revealed during today’s keynote include: HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro and HUAWEI FreeLace Pro, new pro-variants of the highly acclaimed audio products featuring improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), new designs, and user-centric features; HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro and HUAWEI WATCH FIT, the latest entries to Huawei’s wearable product line-up with striking aesthetics, new fitness data tracking features and workout modes; and HUAWEI MateBook X and HUAWEI MateBook 14, two new lightweight notebooks that revolutionize mobile productivity with compact form factors and smart experiences enabled by the innovative Huawei Share feature.

During the keynote, Huawei also reaffirmed its commitment to the All-scenario Seamless AI Life Strategy and working with partners to nurture the 1+8+N ecosystem. The products launched today are all designed to bring a more cohesive connected experience to consumers in their everyday lives, in scenarios ranging from work, health and fitness to audio entertainment, echoing Huawei’s mission to build a better connected world.

Richard Yu, Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, said: “Great user experiences are always founded on innovation, but our journey of innovation always begins and ends with consumers. In the future, we will continue working with our valued partners to offer more smart and high-quality experiences to consumers worldwide.”

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro & HUAWEI FreeLace Pro: ANC and immersive audio on demand

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro are the world’s first true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones to support intelligent dynamic noise cancellation. Featuring hardware and software integrated solution, the new TWS earphones intelligently identify the type of ambient noise based on the user’s immediate surroundings and switch between three profiles – General, Cosy and Ultimate – to offer the optimal noise-cancelling performance. Further, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro delivers the best noise-canceling performance yet on a Huawei audio product with an industry-leading noise cancellation rating of 40dB. Dual Connection with Android, iOS, and Windows smart systems means users can seamlessly switch between devices without being tied to one brand, and the new gesture control enables users to easily take control of the earphones by performing a swipe or a pinch on the cubic earphone stem.

Also announced during the event, the new HUAWEI FreeLace Pro offers great audio and a stylish design. Supporting noise cancellation up to 40dB, the neckband earphones take advantage of industry-leading algorithms to provide stable noise-canceling performance in any situation. HUAWEI FreeLace Pro features a pair of 14mm aluminium-magnesium alloy dynamic drivers with bass tubes to offer the high fidelity audio for the ideal listening experience. Pairing and charging are as seamless as ever with HUAWEI HiPair, a Huawei-developed solution that lets users easily do both at the same time by plugging the earphones to a smartphone with a USB-C port. A five-minute charge gives enough battery to sustain five hours of music playback, and a full charge offers a full day’s use.

HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro & HUAWEI WATCH FIT: practical pro-grade features for everyday use

Huawei continues to expand the HUAWEI WATCH family with new products that are steeped in innovations that add scientific flair to make keeping fit and healthy easy.

The new HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro not only comes with features that consumers have come to love on the HUAWEI WATCH GT Series, but the elegantly modern smartwatch also offers up to two weeks of battery life, more than 100 workout modes, plus pro-grade fitness data tracking features.

Health tracking features are at their most advanced yet with the upgraded HUAWEI TruSeen 4.0+ providing more accurate heart rate readings. Huawei has introduced new workout modes including Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, and Golf Driving Range. These join the existing range to provide users with real-time performance tracking and analyses for professional sports.

The new flagship smartwatch launches with a rugged design featuring premium materials, including a sapphire watch crystal, titanium case, and skin-friendly ceramic case back that combines with another sapphire glass black to enhance monitoring accuracy and wearing comfort. Additionally, HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro supports apps to provide a convenient means for users to get even more features. Huawei also plans to further augment the smart experience on offer in the future.

Launched alongside the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro, HUAWEI WATCH FIT is the first Huawei sports smartwatch to feature a rounded rectangular watch face design. The smartwatch combines a dazzling 1.64-inch AMOLED display, which lends itself to displaying more content and a better interaction experience.

At 34g, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT feels as light as a sports wristband. The watch features newly upgraded HUAWEI TruSeen 4.0 heart rate technology, which leverages Huawei’s own multi-sensor AI neural network algorithm and advanced PPG components to provide more accurate, 24-hour heart monitoring to track changes in blood oxygen, sleep and stress conditions. All the data is also analyzed to generate fitness advice that helps users lead better, healthier lives.

HUAWEI WATCH FIT is the first Huawei smartwatch to support Quick-workout Animations. By combining 44 standard fitness routines (including fat burn, shoulder muscle relief, body sculpting, and other routines) into 12 animations, this feature provides a quick and easy way for users to work out at a moment’s notice. HUAWEI WATCH FIT offers 13 running classes that are specifically tailored for jogging enthusiasts. Running pace is analyzed scientifically with results provided in real-time to help users optimize their workout. Further, as the ideal outdoor companion, the smartwatch comes with 96 workout modes, built-in GPS, and 5ATM water resistance.

While compact, the device supports up to 10-day battery in typical scenarios. HUAWEI WATCH FIT also supports Huawei’s fast charging technology. Five minutes of charging can provide enough charge to sustain the smartwatch for an entire day of typical use.

HUAWEI MateBook X & HUAWEI MateBook 14: mobile productivity redefined

The latest entry to Huawei’s flagship PC product line, HUAWEI MateBook X combines the flagship series’ iconic design and innovative technology with an improved lightweight design and smart features. Weighing just 1kg, the lightweight notebook measures just 13.6mm at its thickest part and is smaller than a piece of A4 paper, so users can easily slide it into a backpack and carry it with them wherever they go.

The new HUAWEI MateBook X is the first notebook to feature the 3K Infinite FullView Display, realized with a borderless design that offers an immersive viewing experience and stunning image quality. The display is also multitouch-enabled with gesture support such as Fingers Gesture Screenshot, which lets users quickly take a screenshot by swiping downwards on the screen with three fingers, as easy as it is on a smartphone.

Powered by a 10th Generation Intel Core processor, the new flagship notebook delivers the performances needed for daily tasks. The touchpad is 26-percent larger compared to the previous generation for better ease-of-use, and now features HUAWEI Free Touch to offer full haptic feedback. The new full-size keyboard features scissors switches that offer 1.3mm of key travel to make typing a joy, and comes with two tweeters and woofers forming a quad-speaker sound system that provides immersive surround sound right in front of the user.

Based on Huawei’s distributed technology, the improved Multi-screen Collaboration adds even more versatility to the HUAWEI MateBook X, allowing users to more seamlessly tap into the capabilities of multiple devices at once. Accessing the feature is easier than ever with the Huawei Share tag now embedded into the improved touchpad. Users can control both the PC and a paired smartphone on a single screen, make a video or audio calls on the notebook, transfer files between the devices, or even edit files saved on the smartphone directly using the PC. Huawei smartphone users can also take advantage of Instant Hotspot to connect their notebook to the Internet via tethering.

HUAWEI MateBook X is also the first Huawei notebook to support Wi-Fi 6, which features three times the data transfer speed of Wi-Fi 5 for faster connectivity and better productivity.

All these new innovations stem from Huawei’s insight into new user demands of this generation, which Huawei refers to as “mobile productivity 3.0.” In this era, users are no longer satisfied with hardware iterations. Instead, they demand PCs that offer cross-platform, smart, and high-efficiency features that synergize with other devices.


During the virtual launch, Huawei also unveiled HUAWEI MateBook 14, the benchmark of high-performance laptops in the era of mobile productivity 3.0. Featuring a highly portable design and powerful performance, HUAWEI MateBook 14 integrates the AMD Ryzen 4000 H Series processor, with HUAWEI Shark Fin Fans delivering superior thermal performance even under intense workloads. Besides performance, it has a 2K HUAWEI FullView Display and supports smart features including Multi-screen Collaboration to help consumers stay productive on the road.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: The ‘almost-flagship’ phone you’d expect

12/07/2020

With its cheaper price tag, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE looks to be the “budget” model in the S20 family. But Samsung takes a different approach in configuring this model to make it more affordable. The FE in the device’s name stands for Fan Edition. This is simply the company’s way of saying that this device was created with fan-favorite features instead of just downgrading the specs of its higher-end siblings.

With so many similarities to the rest of the S20 devices, you might be wondering what would make you want to pick up the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE instead. Find out in this review if it’s the right S20 model for you.

Design

One of the major selling points of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the number of colorways it has. With 6 different colors, it has the most variation in the S20 series. I personally love having so many color options since you’re rarely given more than 2 or 3 options for smartphones these days. Our unit came in Cloud Navy which is a great choice for a more subtle and professional look.

Color options aside, the build is solid and is actually a bit heavier than the Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20+. The back is made of polycarbonate plastic instead of glass which helped in making it more affordable. Despite that, it still feels durable and the rounded corners and edges provide a good, comfortable grip as well.

The back sports a matte finish that emits a subtle sheen when light hits it. The design is simple, making it appealing to all kinds of users. Despite having a matte back, we found it attracts smudges often and needs more than a quick wipe to keep it clean. The smudges aren’t actually noticeable from afar but are very obvious up close or in bright light.

As for buttons and ports, you can find the power button and volume rocker well within reach on the right side of the device. The dual SIM card tray is found at the top while the speakers and Type-C charging port are at the bottom. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the device.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE offers a very basic design that’s made interesting by the array of colors it offers. Compromise comes in the form of the plastic back but this isn’t a big deal unless you’re particular to glass. Additionally, it has IP68 water resistance meaning you won’t have to worry about it getting wet or even falling into water.

Display and Multimedia

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE houses a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display making it larger than the S20. The resolution has been lowered on this phone to just 2400×1080. But even so, that resolution is more than enough for the average user. Bezels are not as thin as the other S20 devices but remain hardly noticeable.

The Galaxy S20 FE was able to adopt a 120Hz high refresh rate which we personally appreciate. And not only is the screen fast, but it’s also very responsive. Taps and gestures registered immediately which made navigation a breeze. But as expected, having the 120Hz screen activated consumes more battery but you are given the option to manually set the refresh rate to just 60Hz. But personally, we found the 120Hz screen just looks so good that we decided to keep it on all the time.

Visually, we personally don’t have too many gripes. Colors are vivid and beautiful as expected of an AMOLED screen. The display is also able to consistently produce good and sharp images. Brightness is also more than sufficient with the display remaining visible even in bright conditions.

Watching or consuming content on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is enjoyable as well. The stereo speakers aren’t the most impressive but they are able to fill up a small room. Pairing that with the HDR-capable display makes for a good overall entertainment experience. Our only complaint is the position of the selfie camera which becomes a bit obtrusive when watching on full screen.

While the S20 FE’s display does deliver in producing great images, we find it falls short with the in-display fingerprint sensor. Unlike the other S20 device, it has an optical scanner instead of an ultrasonic one. This resulted in occasional unreliable readings.

We found that the best way to make the scanner work is to intentionally press your thumb flat down on the screen. This isn’t all too efficient especially if you’re working with one hand but thankfully there are other security options such as PIN unlock and camera face unlock.

Performance

Powering the Samsung S20 FE is an octa-core Exynos 990 processor matched with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Storage can be expanded up to 1TB by sacrificing one of the SIM card slots for a microSD card.

As expected, we personally didn’t experience any noticeable hiccups in using the device. Apps opened quickly and were very responsive. Even with multiple apps open and running, the phone didn’t exhibit any detectable drops in performance.

We did have an odd issue with its Wi-Fi. The device often had trouble connecting automatically to previously joined networks. There were many instances where it wouldn’t connect to our home network even if it knew the password. It’s not really a big problem nor does it really affect overall performance, but it is inconvenient and a tad bit frustrating to have to connect every time the phone goes to sleep.

Looking at the bigger picture, the top-tier performance still carries over in handling more power-hungry apps or games as well. The gameplay was fluid on games like Asphalt 9 or Wild Rift. It also handled Genshin Impact fairly well but couldn’t steadily accommodate the game’s highest settings. At times, it also had trouble rendering the game’s motion blur. However, lowering the settings down to mid or mid-high settings made for a smoother gaming experience.

After an hour or two, we noticed the phone starts getting hot. It’s definitely something to consider if you’re a user who likes to play for extended hours as the heat can get uncomfortable without any case on.

The Samsung S20 FE is shipped with One UI 2.5 which was made available just this year. The new version added gesture navigation which we love since this is our preferred way to move around the phone. A couple of other features added include built-in screen recording with the interchangeable audio source, improvements to the Samsung Keyboard, shareable Wi-Fi passwords through QR codes, among others.

One of the most prominent additions for this update includes DeX. This feature allows the phone to switch to a desktop view for use with a keyboard and mouse. Additionally, you can mirror your phone’s screen to a TV on the same network and use the phone for navigation by using gestures.

Cameras

The Samsung S20 FE’s cameras may not match up to the members of its family but it still houses a highly capable triple rear camera system. It carries a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 12-megapixel wide range, and an 8-megapixel telephoto. The cameras perform just how you expect Samsung cameras would. Photos are clear, sharp, and saturated and will be able to please almost everyone.

We personally find that while it does perform well about the majority of the time, it sometimes produces images that are too saturated for our liking. This is an entirely personal preference though because, saturated colors or not, the image quality is still good. It also works very well in low light. The cameras are able to bring out details while maintaining fairly sharp details.

Samsung also added a 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom on the telephoto camera. On a bright sunny day, the 30x optical zoom is able to produce acceptable photos. Edges are still a bit muddy but the overall photo is still something you’d be proud to post.

30x SuperZoom

Around the front is a 32-megapixel camera which is higher than what the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus have. Considering its younger target market, offering a better front-facing camera just makes sense. It also offers a wide lens option so you can take group photos as well.

The lens is indeed sharp and performs exceptionally in bright light. Selfies are clear and crisp with just the right amount of saturation. There looks to be a bit of skin smoothing as well but it’s not at all obvious. There were times, though, some photos would look a little oversharpened.

Apart from your regular shooting mode, there are also other camera features including Live Focus, panorama, super slow motion, hyper-lapse, and more. It also has the Single Take feature found on its siblings that captures both photo and video on a single tap of the shutter button.

Bottom line, the Samsung S20 FE can capture really good, sharp, and colorful photos. Personal preference does come into play on how the images are processed but the phone does deliver on its promise of post-worthy photos right out of the camera.

Battery

The Galaxy S20 FE comes with a 4500mAh battery that supports fast charging with the 25W Super Fast Charger. It’s also equipped with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare for charging other devices.

The 4500mAh battery can be good or bad depending on the kind of user you are. Again, since we prefer the look of a 120Hz screen, the battery was quick to drain. We had the device fully charged in the morning and we needed to charge again in the late afternoon even if we were just using it intermittently.

Switching to a 60Hz refresh rate showed a noticeable increase in the S20 FE’s battery life. The device survives a full day of average use that included social media surging, quick gaming sessions, taking photos, and more. If you’re the kind of person who wants a phone that lasts all day, you may have to compromise some settings to get that with the Samsung S20 FE.

Creature Feature

As always, in our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in devices that make them worth having — something that gives a certain product an edge from its peers. And for the Samsung S20 FE, it would have to be the way its internals are mixed and matched.

The Samsung S20 FE gives reliable, high-end performance expected from a member of the S20 family. Despite having a lower price, the S20 FE adopts similar specs and, therefore, similar performance to the company’s current flagships.

Final Thoughts

In our time with the Samsung S20 FE, we would ask ourselves why would you buy this phone. There are a number of reasons but we found that the Samsung S20 FE is simply a perfect device for those looking for the best of Samsung’s features but aren’t willing to shell too much money.

All in all, the Samsung S20 FE does very well in choosing which features to keep and which to downgrade. You do have to settle for things like having a plastic back and optical fingerprint sensor but these are very sensible compromises to make. In turn, you get impressive performance, a good set of cameras, a high refresh rate, a really great UI, and a whole lot more useful features.

At PhP 35,990, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is more than just Samsung’s most affordable S20 device. It stands well on its own and is able to keep the features that matter. It’s great for those looking to get a taste of what Samsung flagships offer but aren’t ready to invest a lot of money just yet.

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