Here's how WhatsApp tailored its app for KaiOS

With tens of millions of users, WhatsApp is the marquee app on KaiOS — and it is steadily getting new features.

We haven't really talked about KaiOS a lot here, but the operating system is now installed on over 100 million phones, making it the third-largest mobile operating system in the world. KaiOS is a fork of Firefox OS that's designed for feature phones, and over the last three years it has seen a meteoric rise because of devices like the $15 JioPhone in India and Nokia's 8110.

While entry-level Android phones have gotten much better over the years — particularly with the introduction of Android Go — there are still tens of millions of users who turn to feature phones for their affordability. And with KaiOS, feature phones now come with a web browser, a dedicated app store, and even Google Assistant baked in.

Then there's WhatsApp. The Facebook-owned messaging platform made its debut on KaiOS last year, and is now pre-installed on KaiOS phones globally. WhatsApp already counts tens of millions of users on KaiOS, and that's not surprising when you consider that the service has 400 million users just in India. KaiOS phones are aimed at India and other emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa, and these are countries where WhatsApp usage is ubiquitous.

WhatsApp on KaiOS is very similar to what you'll find on Android. You get all the messaging features, including group chats, and a lot of extras. The best part is that the KaiOS version also has end-to-end encryption, just like the Android client. So I talked to Joe Grinstead, software engineering lead for WhatsApp on KaiOS, on how the service was tailored for KaiOS and what we can look forward to in the future.

WhatsApp has been built from the ground up for KaiOS.

KaiOS presents a unique challenge because of the fact that it is designed to run on low-cost hardware. Most features phones based on the operating system have 256MB or 512MB of RAM and internal storage up to 4GB. And because there's no touchscreen, all the navigation on the user interface is on a directional pad and text is entered via a T9 keyboard.

Grinstead mentioned that as KaiOS is built on Firefox OS, it is essentially a web browser that has HTML5 and JavaScript. So most of the time, an app for KaiOS is nothing more than a mobile version of a website that's stored locally on the device. But as WhatsApp does not have a mobile site, the app for KaiOS had to be built from scratch. And while WhatsApp looks simple and has a barebones interface, it has an exhaustive list of features on Android:

Grinstead said his team had to focus on features they could actually deliver on the platform and make them work reliably, settling on a "minimum viable product" that they could launch with and still call it WhatsApp. As such, there are a few features missing from WhatsApp on KaiOS, including voice and video calls, WhatsApp Web, chat backups, custom notification tones, and more.

That said, all the core features are here. You get one-on-one and group chats, the ability to share photos and videos, contact and location sharing, transferring money over UPI in India, and voice messages. Grinstead mentioned that the voice messaging feature in particular gets a lot of use on KaiOS because it is easier than the T9 keyboard.

WhatsApp's Status feature is rolling out to KaiOS shortly.

Grinstead and his team are working on adding more features to WhatsApp for KaiOS. The Status feature is at "Gold Master," meaning it is ready to roll out to the platform. It is a big deal that the feature is making its way to KaiOS, and Grinstead stated that his team is working on introducing more features to the platform over the coming months. It's unlikely we'll see feature parity with Android — that's just not possible given the constraints with KaiOS — but it is good to see WhatsApp actively working on new feature additions.

The fact that KaiOS phones run low-end hardware means WhatsApp had to optimize the app to ensure it didn't run into performance issues. Grinstead said the database structure had to be rewritten because the performance was terrible once the phone filled up with data. It would take around 20 seconds to open WhatsApp on KaiOS, and because there is no multitasking on the platform, every time you open the app, you need to wait for it to launch. The hardware just isn't robust enough to run apps in the background.

Optimizing the database structure allowed Grinstead and his team to bring down the launch time to three seconds. Further optimizations include showing a low-quality version of a photo instead of the original resolution to save on bandwidth, and there are limits for video sharing on the platform — 50MB on the JioPhone, and 35MB on other devices. KaiOS normally allows 1GB for apps, but because WhatsApp stores data locally, it gets an additional 1GB allocation for storing texts and media. The app also shows a low storage warning on KaiOS that gives you the option to free up space. Interestingly, there is also the ability to write natively to an SD card.

Then there's the issue of navigation itself: because there's limited screen real estate on a feature phone and the resolution is usually 320 x 240 pixels, WhatsApp's UI had to be pared down to fit the confines of the screen. The mockups below illustrate the point well:

Now, WhatsApp is different from most messaging platforms in that all your data is stored locally. Because it has end-to-end encryption, all associated data — including chats and multimedia — is stored on-device instead of a server. Then there's the issue of push notifications: because KaiOS is effectively a browser, WhatsApp has to manage push notifications over HTML5, with Grinstead noting, "I don't know if anyone else is doing HTML5 push notifications with anything as complicated as WhatsApp."

End-to-end encryption is a big deal, particularly on a feature phone.

As Grinstead explained, that's because the text that shows up in the notification has to be decrypted locally — the server doesn't provide a preview of the incoming text because of end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp relies on the Signal protocol for end-to-end encryption, and the libsignal protocol itself is now baked into KaiOS, making it that much easier to deliver fully encrypted chats.

One of the major issues with end-to-end encryption is group chats — your phone essentially has to create one-to-one handshakes with everyone in a group before a message is sent. Grinstead stated that the first message you send to a group is the most complicated, because that's when a lot of the initial handshakes occur. Because of the limited resources on offer, Grinstead and his team had to tweak delivery notifications so they wouldn't crash a phone. Instead of sending all the information at once, the delivery server now waits for the phone to acknowledge that there's enough RAM to handle incoming requests.

As for the features that are still missing, Grinstead said that voice calling has been "particularly challenging." There's no timeline for when (or if) the feature will be available on KaiOS. The other notable omission is WhatsApp Web, and similarly there's no update as to when it will show up on KaiOS.

WhatsApp launched on KaiOS in July 2019, and it racked up one million downloads in just under 24 hours. It had 10 million users in two weeks, and the company says it has "tens of millions" of users on KaiOS now. Mozilla is once again involved with KaiOS, and that should allow the platform to switch to a new engine with more modern web features baked in.

That should give WhatsApp more wiggle room to introduce new features. We may even get to see voice calling on the platform as a result.

WhatsApp: Everything you need to know

Remove China Apps Becomes Top Free App on Google Play in India Amidst Anti-China Sentiment

Remove China Apps, an Android app that claims to identify China-made apps on your Android phone and remove them, has gone viral in India. The app is currently at the top spot of Google Play’s top free apps list and it has been downloaded by over 10 lakh users since its launch on May 17.

Why Is Vikings Censored on Netflix in India?

Netflix is playing a censored version of Vikings in India, includes blurring out two cooked pigs on season 5, episode 12 “Murder Most Foul”. That’s because Netflix is airing the version that premièred on the History TV18 channel in India.

Samsung Access gives you a new phone, extra perks for one monthly fee

Apple was one of the first manufacturers to offer a subscription service for phone upgrades, allowing users to get the latest iPhone for one flat monthly fee. 

Samsung offered a similar program too, and it’s now offering an all-new upgrade program called Samsung Access (h/t: XDA-Developers). So how does it differ from the legacy Samsung Phone Upgrade Program, then?

The Samsung Access initiative includes a number of perks aside from being able to upgrade your phone. These perks include Premium Care protection and support, and Microsoft 365 Personal (including 1TB of OneDrive storage and premium Office apps).

There are a few caveats though, as you need to return your current device before upgrading. Furthermore, you can only upgrade after a minimum of nine months, and you can only cancel after three months. Want to upgrade or cancel earlier than that? Then you’ll need to splash out $100, Samsung says.

Editor's Pick

Samsung Galaxy S20 buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

The Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra are among the best phones you can currently get. High-end specs, great designs, and loads of extra features like reverse wireless charging make them a great …

It’s also worth noting that there are separate prices for each Galaxy S20 device, with the standard S20 retailing for $37 a month on Samsung Access. Opt for the Galaxy S20 Plus and you’ll be paying $42 a month (or $46 for the 512GB option), while the Galaxy S20 Ultra retails for $48 a month. The S20 and S20 Ultra models are only available in 128GB flavors via this initiative. 

Furthermore, you can’t trade in your current phone to join Samsung Access. Meanwhile, Samsung’s legacy upgrade plan allows you to do this. Like the idea of this Samsung Galaxy subscription program nonetheless? Then check out Samsung Access via the button below.

Samsung Access

ACLU's app captures police misconduct even if they smash your phone

Back in 2015, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launched an app called "Mobile Justice" that is designed to help John and Jane Doe record police misconduct. But the cops can grab your phone, you retort. True, but videos recorded with the app are automatically sent to the ACLU's servers just in case the cops try to pull a fast one. The app has three functions: Record, Witness, and Report.

Record is used to film an incident involving possible police misconduct, and there is a test button that allows users to make sure that their camera is working. Once the recording ...

With Arcadia, anyone can reduce their carbon footprint in 2020

You don't need to be a professional climate scientist to know that the Earth is in trouble, and reducing your home's carbon footprint should rank high on your 2020 resolution list if you want to do your part and help save the world.

The only problem is that making even minor changes to your energy consumption usually requires changes to your utility routine that are both costly and headache-inducing—until now.

Arcadia drastically reduces the barrier to entry when it comes to using and supporting clean energy sources, and when you sign up today you'll receive either a $20 Amazon gift card or four standard LED bulbs at no cost.

Unlike other clean energy platforms that require you to either switch utility companies or invest in expensive solar panels, Arcadia allows you to keep your existing utility plan while automatically connecting you to a variety of clean energy sources.

After scanning your area for a list of available clean energy companies, Arcadia gets to work connecting you with local community solar projects and purchases renewable energy certificates from wind farms on your behalf. Arcadia will also actively track the market and negotiate lower electricity rates so you can potentially spend less on your utility bill.

Your utility company sends Arcadia your electricity bill directly (so you won't have to make any changes to your existing service plan), and it's easy to track your usage with an intuitive dashboard that can be accessed on all of your devices.

Do your part to save the planet and maybe shave some money off your power bill in 2020 with Arcadia, and receive either a $20 Amazon gift card or four LED bulbs at no cost when you sign up today.

U.S. lawmakers seek FTC investigation of TikTok

TikTok was already one of the most popular apps in the U.S. with both iOS and Android users before the pandemic hit. But many children stuck at home during what would have been the end of the school year and the beginning of their summer vacation have turned to the short-form video app. With the TikTok app, these kids created comedic, musical, and dance-oriented videos.

TikTok failed to follow a consent decree it signed as the behest of the FTC

However, since it became popular, there have been concerns about the app from politicians in the U.S. worried ...

Deal: OnePlus 7T now costs as low as $150 at T-Mobile

First released by T-Mobile in October for $599.99, the can now be purchased for a fraction of its original price thanks to a limited time offer. This really generous offer takes $350 off the current price of the OnePlus 7T ($499.99), thus allowing you to pay just $150 for the phone.

To save $350 on T-Mobile's OnePlus 7T you must buy the handset on a monthly payment plan and add a qualifying line of service. The $350 discount will be applied as monthly bill credits over 24 months.

Although the OnePlus 7T has been overshadowed by the newer ...

The best Samsung Chromebook for your needs and budget

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

Samsung has been a key player since the inception of Chrome OS, and they still make outstanding Chromebooks. Picking a brand is only the first decision when finding the right computer, though. Now you need to figure out which is the best Samsung Chromebook for your specific needs and budget. Today we’re here to help you make that decision.

More: The best Chromebooks you can buy right now

The best Samsung Chromebooks:

1. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
2. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
3. Samsung Chromebook 4

Editor’s note: This best Samsung Chromebook guide will be regularly updated as new devices launch and others are phased out.

---

What is a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are computers that run Google’s Chrome OS operating system. This is a very simple web-based operating system made for those who use their computers mostly for browsing. It uses the Chrome browser as its backbone, adapting its abilities to a desktop-like user interface that makes it feel like a traditional, desktop PC.

Chrome OS has advanced its offline capabilities since its inception. They became especially more capable when Google gave Chrome OS support for Android applications, giving users access to a huge library of applications, services, and offline features. For an in-depth explanation of Chrome OS, its pros, and its cons, check the link below.

Buyer’s guide: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?

---

Why go with Samsung?

Samsung is a key player in the Android and Chrome OS markets, making it one of the most important Google partners. These companies have been working hard together and it shows. Samsung’s Chrome OS offerings come in many flavors. From super high-end laptops to affordable value devices, Samsung products are known for their quality.

We can confidently say the best Samsung Chromebooks are Google’s biggest competitors, and the best Google Chromebooks are amazing.

Here: The best Samsung phones you can find

---

1. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook: The best Samsung Chromebook for high-end needs

The 2020 Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is Samsung’s most premium Chrome OS offering to date. The device has a gorgeous design (especially in the Fiesta Red variant), and features a 4K AMOLED panel with a 16:9 ratio. It even comes with Ambient EQ technology to automatically adjust brightness and color temperature levels based on ambient light. Other features include a built-in stylus, Wi-Fi 6 support, dual-cameras, and a 10th generation Intel processor.

Also: Here are the best new Chromebooks you can find

While you might not think of Chrome OS as the perfect platform for digital artists, Samsung is also including specialized software designed to make the most out of the stylus. While this probably won’t cut it for more professional types, for amateurs it’s a great option.

Basically, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook feels a lot like a Pixelbook rival, and it has a high price to match.

Check pricing

---

2. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2: The best Samsung Chromebook for portability

Technically, most Chromebooks are very portable, but this one is special in that it comes with 4G LTE connectivity that would be perfect for road warriors, frequent travelers, and anyone commonly on-the-go.

Also: The best touchscreen Chromebooks around

Specs are modest, including an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 12.2-inch 1920 x 1200 display. With current prices north of the $500 mark, you are mostly paying for its data capabilities. That’s a very important factor to some of you, though. And it also comes with an S Pen, further improving functionality.

Check pricing

---

3. Samsung Chromebook 4: The best budget option

The Samsung Chromebook 4 is the best option to get on a budget. It’s similar to the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 in terms of specs, but it comes with a sleeker design and a much lower price point.

More like this: The best budget Chromebooks

Packed inside you will find an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and an 11.6-inch display. You can also go for a 15.6-inch version if you want more screen real estate, but that one will cost more.

Check pricing

---

From the Editor's Desk: Protest under assault

I have this vivid memory from the early days of 2020 that won't subside.

It was January 6, before CES officially began, and I was at the Cosmopolitan hotel looking at Fossil's new smartwatch offerings. The demo was finished and I was standing on this expansive balcony overlooking the city, a fake Eiffel Tower looming to my right. I was claiming a minute just for me, while inside my coworkers were chatting away contently. It was one of those really nice moments that you have to intercede on your own behalf to remember, to crystallize it so that, whatever happens in the future, you can draw upon it for reinforcement.

I've been drawing on it a lot lately, as the world seemingly crumbles around me. I'm safe and healthy and in no immediate danger, and for that I'm incredibly thankful. And I'm also angry. The slow burn of this year, the shelter-in-place of it all, spilled out into the streets in recent days, first as a trickle and then, over the past couple nights, as a deluge.

Now there's another image I can't get out of my head. It's of an NYPD cruiser careening into a group of protestors as they attempt to set up a blockade. People fly in every direction, and most hit the ground hard. In the context of the last few days, it's a small act of aggression, but it's one in an accumulation and escalation of violence that needs to be quickly condemned and then examined for its sheer malevolence. Police have the power, and they are abusing it.

Black people in the U.S. deserve to feel safe wherever they go. They deserve to feel free in places they live and in places they don't. They deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt, just as white people often are, when it comes to public discourse and action taken. They deserve not to be killed by police.

my older brother went to a protest in Denver last night. as the police were leaving, one of them shot him with a pepper pellet that smashed the back of his phone and exploded in his face. they were ~30 feet from each other and it looks like the officer aimed directly at his face pic.twitter.com/m9vxaSQbwI

— Rachelle D'nae (@heyydnae) May 31, 2020

The protests taking place around the U.S. are a response to the inaction black people feel by governments at every level. The rioting and looting a processing of those pent-up feelings. If you're not a black person in the U.S., your job is to listen and try to understand, not judge people for acting as a force for change. If you feel that George Floyd, and so many other innocent black citizens over the past few years, didn't deserve to die, your job is to be an agent for change in your own way, by donating to good causes — in the short-term, bail funds and longer-term, the campaigns of those running in elections at every level looking to subject the current policing system to severe scrutiny.

This shouldn't be a partisan issue. The abuse of power at any government level shouldn't be tolerable, and what's happened — and captured on video again and again and again — over the past few nights is sickening. It's horrifying. And it has to stop.

Black lives matter.

• Donate to the Minnesota Black Visions Collective
• Donate to your closest bail fund through the National Bail Funds Network

This best-selling PDF tool is on sale for just $30

The world's reliance on PDF files knows no bounds. Ideal for sharing and sending everything from business reports and term papers to images and screenshots, PDFs remain one of the most widely-used and reliable ways to share valuable information regardless of your specific operating system.

The only problem is that these files are also incredibly difficult to work with and edit, and attempting to do even simple things like add text or adjust an image can be a headache-inducing nightmare.

Enter Cisdem PDF Manager Ultimate, an incredibly powerful and easy-to-use app that allows you to edit, merge, split, convert and sign PDFs without all the hassle.

With Cisdem in your digital toolbox, you'll be able to sidestep the usual madness that comes from working with PDF files, all thanks to an intuitive and streamlined interface that makes it easy to edit PDFs the way you would on a regular word processor.

You'll be able to batch-convert PDFs to Word, RTFD, Keynote and other popular formats, use OCR in order to make quick scans and find keywords, compress and encrypt your files into collections for easy transfer across all of your devices, and more.

Cisdem even makes it easy to sign your files using your unique signature or watermark, and you'll be able to password-protect them in the event you need to send or receive something confidential.

Bring an end to your PDF woes once and for all. Usually priced at over $100, a lifetime license to Cisdem PDF Manager Ultimate is currently available for over 70% off at just $29.99.

Prices are subject to change.

What to expect from the next generation of Android phone processors

Arm has revealed its latest crop of CPUs and GPUs, set to be used in Android phone processors later this year and in 2021. From Qualcomm and Huawei to Samsung and MediaTek, we’re expecting all the major silicon players to use the new tech.

Speaking of these chip companies, what should we expect from them and the mobile SoC industry at large next year?

A massive leap in CPU power (for some)

The next generation of Android processors could see the biggest CPU performance leap in quite some time, as the new Cortex-X1 Arm CPU prioritizes power over efficiency. This strategy means you can expect a power increase of up to 30% compared to the Cortex-A77 used in Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek’s flagship chipsets. In fact, the Cortex-X1 is expected to be up to 23% more powerful than the Cortex-A78, announced alongside the X1.

Arm has stated that the Cortex-X1 might only be available to specific chipset makers, meaning some chip brands might be left without the hefty CPU. So expect a rather uneven playing field among Android phones if for example, Qualcomm gets access to this Arm CPU but Samsung or MediaTek don’t.

What to expect from GPUs in 2021

Arm’s Mali-G78 GPU is a modest upgrade over the Mali-G77 seen in Samsung and MediaTek’s high-end chips. So truth be told, mobile gamers might not see a major real-world difference between the two GPUs.

This puts Arm in a rather interesting situation in 2021, especially in light of Samsung’s decision to work with AMD on smartphone GPUs. Back in July last year, Samsung said the new GPU tech will be implemented in products that launch “two years down the road,” which means it’s eyeing a 2021 launch date.

Editor's Pick

AMD hints at how RDNA could beat Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU

Back in June, Samsung and AMD announced a strategic partnership to bring AMD's "Next Gen" GPU architecture to mobile devices. More recently, AMD has published a whitepaper on its latest RDNA microarchitecture. The paper reveals …

Combine Samsung and AMD’s partnership with Qualcomm’s traditionally beefy Adreno graphics, and it seems like Arm GPUs aren’t exactly hot property right now at the high end.

In saying so, the company’s Mali-G68 is the first Arm GPU in an upper mid-range family, sharing the same features as the Mali-G78 and slotting in above the Mali-G5X series. We’ve previously seen the likes of Xiaomi use a flagship Arm GPU (albeit with four cores) to great effect in the Redmi Note 8 Pro. So hopefully the G68 bring even more graphical grunt to mid-range phones.

GPUs are more important than ever in the age of high refresh rate screens, and we’re also starting to see even $200 to $300 phones offer 90Hz or 120Hz displays. High refresh rates don’t mean much if the GPU struggles to keep up, so that’s another reason why we’re glad to see the Mali-G68 plug the gap between budget and flagship mobile processors.

A switch to more efficient designs

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The manufacturing process used to make each chipset (measured in nanometers) is another important factor, with smaller designs equaling less power consumption. We’ve seen top-end mobile processors shrink from 28nm designs in early 2014, all the way to 7nm right now.

High-end Android phone processors are due for a switch to even smaller 5nm designs in 2021, and we’re expecting major players to all hop aboard this bandwagon. But mid-range chips usually lag behind in this regard, so they might offer 7nm or slightly bigger designs for a while yet.

New CPUs also tend to offer efficiency improvements, and Arm’s Cortex-A55 is the lightweight CPU of choice for all silicon makers, being paired with more powerful CPUs. The Cortex-A55 is long in the tooth though, having first been revealed in 2017. Unfortunately, Arm hasn’t revealed a successor to it yet, which is disappointing as it’s probably more efficient to use the newer heavyweight cores for many tasks instead. Hopefully we see a successor next year, as it could provide a major upgrade for $100 to $150 phones.

What about 5G?

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The shift to 5G brought with it a few aches and pains, and power consumption is one of these issues. Fortunately, the aforementioned shift to 5nm designs means new 5G chipsets will consume less power.

We’re also expecting to see the likes of Qualcomm adopt integrated modems in their flagship chipsets, enabling notable efficiency gains as well. And when combined with the switch to 5nm designs, we can expect next year’s 5G flagships to be kinder on battery life than this year’s devices.

Qualcomm’s latest X60 modem also brings a number of enhancements, such as 5G Voice-over-NR capabilities, and improved carrier aggregation for better speed and stability. The US chip giant is also bringing smaller mmWave modules to smartphones in 2021, with smaller components meaning more room for (you guessed it) bigger batteries.

Qualcomm’s rival MediaTek is also poised to improve its 5G capabilities in the future. The company still doesn’t support mmWave just yet, but previously told Android Authority that it was working on a solution.

Connectivity to get upgrades

Wi-Fi 6 has come to a variety of phones in 2019 and 2020, as some of the latest high-end and upper-mid range processors sport the standard. We’ve even seen the tech come to the budget-focused Snapdragon 460 chipset, although phones with that chip are only due closer to the end of the year.

Just when more chipsets and phones adopt Wi-Fi 6, we’ve got Wi-Fi 6E entering the fray. Don’t expect much faster speeds, but it should ease congestion and result in reduced latency. The first phones with Wi-Fi 6E are dependent on processor support, so we’ll need to wait and see if upcoming Snapdragon, Dimensity, and Kirin chips gain this feature.

In saying so, Qualcomm announced Wi-Fi 6E support in its new FastConnect 6700 and 6900 connectivity suites. FastConnect is Qualcomm’s brand name for the wireless connectivity components in its recent Snapdragon chips, so this means we can definitely expect Wi-Fi 6E in its upcoming premium mobile processors.

Read: What is Wi-Fi 6E and unlicensed 6GHz spectrum?

Bluetooth is another important connectivity feature and many high-end chipsets support Bluetooth 5.1, with some upper-mid range SoCs grabbing this feature too. However, we’ve already seen the first processor packing Bluetooth 5.2 support in the Snapdragon 768G, with Qualcomm later adding that Bluetooth 5.2 was coming to the aforementioned FastConnect suites.

Bluetooth 5.2 brings enhancements like Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) for more power-efficient wireless audio, Audio Broadcast support as well as the LC3 codec. Again, this will require new SoCs if you want in on this action. But the new standard means you’re getting better audio quality and more reliable connections than relying on proprietary AptX connectivity, so it’s definitely worth the wait.

Machine learning in 2021

It seems like every major chip manufacturer has a neural processor of some kind in 2020, with Huawei, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Samsung all sporting NPUs, APUs, or AI accelerators. We’ve seen virtually all flagship Android processors offer AI silicon, while brands have also moved to bring this hardware to the mid-tier.

However, one trend we’ve noticed is that chipset makers aren’t bringing machine learning hardware to low-end processors right now. We aren’t expecting to see this change in 2021, as CPU and GPU advancements mean many machine learning tasks can be run at a brisk pace without a dedicated neural processor. Furthermore, CPU and GPU upgrades also mean that machine learning tasks aren’t as big a drain on the battery as they used to be.

Nevertheless, as smartphone brands keep pushing the envelope with offline inference tasks like Live Caption, augmented reality, and ultra high-resolution processing, we expect more chips to offer dedicated silicon.

What does this all mean for Samsung Exynos?

The Exynos 990 garnered a ton of negative attention due to the real and perceived gap between it and the Snapdragon 865 chipset. But there’s reason to believe that 2021 will be a rebuilding phase for Samsung’s chipmaking unit.

Related: Ditching custom CPUs is the right call for Samsung’s Exynos

Aside from the aforementioned partnership with AMD for graphics, Samsung’s CPU efforts have also been shaken up. The firm’s Austin custom CPU unit was shut down late last year, which means future Samsung CPUs are almost 100% guaranteed to use Arm Cortex technology.

It seems like a good time for Samsung to drop its own CPUs in favor of Arm CPUs, as the Cortex-X1 seems to have a similar performance-focused philosophy to the Korean brand’s CPUs. We don’t know if we’ll see the first Samsung Exynos chipset with AMD graphics in 2021, but you might want to keep your expectations in check for the first product. After all, this is AMD’s first foray into modern smartphone GPUs.

Where do these developments leave Huawei?

Huawei’s HiSilicon division has been a saving grace ever since the Huawei ban kicked in, giving the manufacturer in-house chip manufacturing capabilities. And this was vitally important with Qualcomm not being allowed to supply the firm, as HiSilicon processors helped to address this gap.

Unfortunately, Washington’s draconian decision to now cut Huawei off from its chip producers means the firm is in dire straits as far as Android processor supply is concerned. The Chinese brand said that it had been building a stockpile of chipsets, and the new US amendment still apparently allows for some chips currently in production to be shipped to Huawei. But this will significantly affect the company’s ability to develop the latest and greatest technology. What’s the point of designing a chip if your chip producer can’t actually manufacture it for you?

Editor's Pick

Huawei P40 Pro review: Refinement done right

Last year, the Huawei P30 Pro was one of the best camera phones the industry had ever seen. Its innovative periscope zoom camera and impressive image quality were nothing short of excellent, and we loved …

One possibility is that Huawei turns to alternative chip producers like Samsung or smaller foundries in China. But this will be contingent on these producers not using a significant amount of US know-how to make processors. However, it’s believed Huawei has turned to Chinese foundry SMIC to produce some chips. But these are 14nm designs rather than anything close to 7nm seen on current flagship SoCs.

Another deciding factor for Huawei’s 2021 aspirations is its relationship with silicon designer Arm, as the Chinese brand uses Arm CPUs and GPUs in all its in-house processors. At the time the US trade ban was initiated in May 2019, Arm said that it was complying with the regulations. But the chip designer was then quoted as saying in October 2019 that Huawei has access to next-generation technology.

---

The latest Arm CPUs and GPUs are clearly a mix of evolution and revolution for the company, with the Cortex-A78 and Mali-G78 being in the former camp. Meanwhile, the Cortex-X1 and Mali-G68 represent new ventures for the Android processor landscape. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for 2021.

Between Huawei’s silicon troubles, Samsung ditching custom CPUs and adopting AMD GPUs, and maturing 5G technology, 2021 is clearly shaping up to be a big year for the industry.

More posts about mobile tech

6 things you need to know about the latest Arm CPUs and GPUs

Hadlee Simons 5 days ago

How to understand Kryo CPU numbering in Qualcomm Snapdragon processors

Gary Sims 4 months ago

Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 vs Kirin 990 vs Exynos 990: How do they compare?

Hadlee Simons 5 months ago

Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 vs MediaTek Dimensity 1000 specs: A rivalry renewed

Hadlee Simons 6 months ago

You don’t need 108MP: Here’s why a 12MP camera phone is more than enough.

Ryan-Thomas Shaw 4 weeks ago

Grab a refurbished Ring Video Doorbell Pro and Echo Show 5 bundled for $179

Right now Amazon has a great deal featuring a Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Amazon Echo Show 5 on sale for $179. Both items are certified refurbished and work like new. If you were to buy these individually refurbished, the Ring video doorbell would cost you $180 by itself. The Echo Show 5 goes for around $60 as a refurb, so you're saving $60 just compared to that. Brand new versions of the Ring device and the Echo Show 5 would run you almost $320.

These two devices make a great pairing. The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch compact display and Alexa built right in. You can use it to control your entire smart home, but you can also use Alexa to check in on your Ring device and see who's at the door. Thanks to the Video Doorbell Pro's built-in speakers and mic, you can talk to visitors without leaving your kitchen. You can also get alerts sent straight to your device any time the Ring Video Doorbell Pro detects motion or someone rings the doorbell.

Outside of checking on the front door, there are plenty of other things you can do with the Echo Show 5. Manage your calendar, make to-do lists, get updates on the weather, traffic, or news, and even cook along with recipes. Use the display to watch your favorite shows, listen to the radio, or keep up with the latest audiobooks and podcasts.

The Video Doorbell Pro will replace your existing hardwired doorbell, and it comes with one of four different colored faceplates so you can match the exterior of your home. Then you just leave it there! The Pro is designed to work in any temperature with an operating range between -5 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The camera has a 160-degree field of view that covers a huge space in front of your door. It can record in 1080p resolutions for crystal clear video, and there are integrated infrared LEDs so you can still see who's at the door even at night. The video that gets transmitted is extra secure, too, thanks to bank-grade encryptions.

Get some great sound and save $20 with the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro earbuds

Best Buy has a whole new set of deals of the day, and the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro true wireless earbuds are part of the savings. Get a pair for $129.99, which is down from the usual price of $150 and a match for one of the lowest we've seen this year. The last time we saw them go any lower than this was back in February when they dropped to $120. You can also find today's drop on Amazon, and that sale includes the white versions.

These earbuds have eight hours of playtime per earbud, and you can use the earbuds independently to extend that use. The charging case they come with adds another three full recharges before you ever need to plug into a wire to juice back up. With a quick charge of just 10 minutes inside the case you can get an extra two hours of playtime. Plus, the charging case can be recharged via USB-C or a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, giving you plenty of options for keeping these batteries topped off. RAVPower has a wireless charging pad on sale for $5 off when you clip the on-page coupon.

The Astria coaxial acoustic architecture helps eliminate interference and produces harmonized treble and bass for fantastic sound. The 11mm dynamic drivers support the immersive audio and create an expansive soundstage. The HearID technology inside the earbuds helps analyze your hearing profile and creates tailor-made sound just for you so anyone using these earbuds gets the perfect listening experience.

The earbuds also have microphones built in so you can use them to answer calls. The four mics combined with cVc 8.0 noise reduction technology helps ensure your voice stays crystal clear and no background noise interupts you.

Read more about the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro in our review that gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 and a Recommended badge. Daniel Bader said, "The Liberty 2 Pro are an incredible pair of true wireless headphones that are easily worth their steep $150 asking price." Good thing they're cheaper now!

How to install Linux on your Chromebook

Chromebooks can do a lot right out of the box. However, if you want just a little more, you can install Linux apps to most newer models (see the full list here) and have access to a complete catalog of desktop-class applications.

Products used in this guide

• Google's newest: Google Pixelbook Go (From $850 at Amazon)

How to enable Linux

Your Chromebook already runs Linux because Chrome is its own Linux distribution, but it's a very locked-down version without access to most Linux tools and programs by default. Luckily, turning everything on is easy.

1. At the bottom right of your system tray, click on the clock.

2. Select the gear icon to open the settings.

   

3. Scroll down until you see "Linux (Beta)" and choose Turn On.

4. Read and follow the simple on-screen prompts and wait for things to finish. This could take 10-15 minutes.

   

5. Once the terminal window opens, you are ready to type Linux commands. You can always find the Linux terminal in your app drawer if you choose to close it now.
6. At the terminal command prompt, type the following command to update your package list and packages themselves: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade. Be sure to use the correct spacing when typing this command.
7. Restart your Chromebook.

You are now ready to install and run most any Linux program found in the base Debian Stretch repositories. A full list of them can be found here.

Not every piece of Linux software will work on your Chromebook, and all Linux programs run inside the same sandbox. You also can't use the microphone or webcam, and hardware acceleration is not yet supported. You'll still find a lot of great software that can make your Chromebook more useful and powerful.

Our top equipment picks

A great Linux Laptop

Google Pixelbook Go

From $850 at Amazon

Pricey, but worth every penny

The Pixelbook Go is the best premium Chromebook you can buy right now. It doesn't support a pen or fold over onto itself, but for getting work done on a laptop that's purely a laptop, it's tough to beat it.

The Pixelbook Go is one of the more expensive Chromebooks on the market, but for all you get, it's worth it. You get a fantastic keyboard, excellent battery life, and an Assistant key that lets you connect to the company's smart assistant at any time. It is, like we said, pricey, but there are plenty of other great Chromebooks out there if you're looking for something different.