Malware based on open source Kotlin language discovered lurking in Google Play

MALWARE BASED on the open source Kotlin programming language for Android has been found lurking in the Google Play Store.

Trend Micro researchers discovered a malicious app named Swift Cleaner on Google's Play Store, noting it contained code that allows it to sign up Android users to services without their permission and commit click advertising fraud, as well as steal information.

Basically, it's pretty typical of the malware that crops up in dodgy apps that have wormed their way past the digital bouncers on the Play Store.

But the crux of the issue is that the malware is the first of its kind to be created from the Kotlin language, which became the official programming language of Android back in May 2017. Some of the top Android apps make use of it, including Twitter, Pinterest, and Netflix.

Google had been spouting that Kotlin has security features that should make apps 'healthy by default'.

Kotlin contains a null-safety feature, which is designed to eliminate the danger of null references - essentially having values in code that aren't values which throw up all manner of problems.

However, it would appear that Kotlin can still be used to create infected apps, so as the programming language continues to be adopted, more malware is likely to be constructed from it.

As for the Swift Cleaner app, Trend Micro alerted Google which stripped it from the Play Store, though the security company notes that some 1,000 to 5,000 people had already downloaded it.

The malware itself is rather nasty, able to receive a command to trigger wireless application protocol tasks to enable it to spy on information on a wireless network alongside accessing device data.

That data can then be uploaded to a command and control server whereby it can be used to automatically sign up users to SMS subscription services with premium price tags.

Google has been doing a lot of work to shore-up Android and the Play Store, but inevitably with such an open platform there's bound to be malware that keeps attempting to get through.  

Naturally, mobile anti-virus software can shield Android devices, but if Kotlin is used to create fresh malware, there could be new threats for Google, security firms, and Android users to look out for.

We'd suggest staying away from dodgy apps that look too good to be true as a first step to avoiding nasty malware surprises.

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Cyber attacks on nuclear systems could lead to 'inadvertent' missile launches

NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEMS are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, a report has warned, which could lead to the 'inadvertent' nuclear launches.

The 'Cybersecurity of Nuclear Weapons Systems: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences' report, put together by think-tank Chatham House, warns that the likelihood of attempted cyber attacks on nuclear weapons systems is "relatively high and increasing", but notes that the potentially-devastating problem has so-far received "scant attention".

The think-tank this partly on the failure to keep up with fast-moving advances, lack of skilled staff and the slowness of institutional change. 

"Nuclear weapons systems were developed before the advancement of computer technology and little consideration was given to potential cyber vulnerabilities. As a result, the current nuclear strategy often overlooks the widespread use of digital technology in nuclear systems," the study reads.

"The likelihood of attempted cyber-attacks on nuclear weapons systems is relatively high and increasing from advanced persistent threats from states and non-state groups."

As an example of what is possible, Chatham House points to a Washington Post report published in March 2017 that said the US had infiltrated parts of North Korea's missile systems and caused test failures. 

"Recent cases of cyber attacks indicate that nuclear weapons systems could also be subject to interference, hacking and sabotage through the use of malware or viruses, which could infect digital components of a system at any time," the research paper said.

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Intel AMT flaw lets attackers take control of laptops in 30 seconds

NEW SECURITY FLAW in Intel's Active Management Technology (AMT) can be used by attackers with physical access to get around authentication processes in just 30 seconds. 

F-Secure, the security software and services company that claims to have uncovered the flaws, attribute it to a string of insecure default settings found in Intel AMT. These enable attackers to bypass both user and BIOS passwords.

It is also possible to get around the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Bitlocker PINs to get backdoor access to corporate laptops in under a minute.

According to F-Secure, this issue affects most corporate laptops and PCs running Intel AMT.

Attackers don't need access to credentials to do this and, because the flaw is in AMT, millions of laptop users could be at risk around the world.

Harry Sintonen, a senior security consultant at F-Secure, led the research. He described the flaw as "almost deceptively simple to exploit, but it has incredible destructive potential". 

"In practice, it can give an attacker complete control over an individual's work laptop, despite even the most extensive security measures."

Intel AMT is software designed to provide maintenance and remote access monitoring services for corporate laptop users.

It's aimed, especially, at IT departments and managed service providers to offer full control of their device fleets. However, security experts have slammed the software in the past, pointing out security weaknesses.

However, F-Secure believes that the "pure simplicity of exploiting this particular issue sets it apart from previous instances", warning: "The weakness can be exploited in mere seconds without a single line of code".

Normally, laptop users set-up BIOS passwords to prevent unauthorised users from booting up devices or making changes to the boot-up process. 

To exploit the flaws highlighted by F-Secure, attackers only need to reboot or power-up the target machine and press CTRL-P during boot-up, claimed F-Secure. After that, they can log-in to Intel Management Engine BIOS Extension (MEBx) with a default password.

From there, the attacker can edit the default password and enable remote access for themselves.

"The attacker can now gain remote access to the system from both wireless and wired networks, as long as they're able to insert themselves onto the same network segment with the victim," warned F-Secure.

Sintonen added that this can be done relatively quickly - hence, exposing corporate laptops, for example, to a so-called 'evil maid' in hotels, coffee shops and other public and semi-public places. 

"The attacker can break into your room and configure your laptop in less than a minute, and now he or she can access your desktop when you use your laptop in the hotel WLAN.

"And since the computer connects to your company VPN, the attacker can access company resources." 

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Google Updates: Duo for everyone, Daydream with no phone, free apps

In CES week, most of what happens, happens very much in the foreground, so a column about stuff going on in the background is already somewhat on the back foot. But in amongst the waterlogged stand and battles with Amazon Alexa, a couple of things caught our eye.

First up, Google Duo, the video calling element to the gaggle of competing communications apps that we're lovingly referring to as a ‘bellendfull'. Up to now, you've both needed to have the app installed, but a web app for mobile now means you can call anyone, as long you're set up. So much for conscientious objection.

It was a swansong move for head of Allo/Duo/Hangouts at the company, Amit Fulay, who announced this week that he's over and out - moving to Facebook, who have their own eye on video calling.

Although we've talked lots about the third party video-enabled Google Assistant devices, it's worth mentioning that CES also saw the launch of Lenovo's Daydream headset, unique in that it doesn't need a phone in it. We're waiting for a hands-on with this standalone wonder.

Finally, after we mentioned last week that Google had put a customer satisfaction survey into the settings of the Pixel 2 (ugh), there are rumours as we write that other manufacturers' phones are getting the same treatment. We'll keep you up to date with that.

Laserbreak Pro (£1.49) is a game we've been playing for a while now so it's great to see the ad-free version for free. 120 levels of laser beams and mirrors as you try and deflect your way to the door. Great if you're good at pool.

Melody Maker XD (£1.00) is not a title we were previously aware of, but we're going to have a tinker with it. The proposition is somewhere between Guitar Hero, Mario Bros and Ableton Live, allowing you to build musical compositions with a graphical interface. Probably won't write any chart toppers this way, but worth a look.

Call Recorder (£0.69) does exactly what it sounds like. This is actually the licence key to unlock the full version of the free app so you'll need to download both, but this freebie unlocks functionality and removes the ads. When you've recorded your call, you can even email the result or send it to a cloud service

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Huawei Wins China Patent Lawsuit Against Rival Samsung

Chinese tech giant Huawei won a patent infringement lawsuit against South Korea smartphone rival Samsung on Thursday, according to information released by a Chinese court.

The court ruled in the Chinese company's favour over two patents involving fourth-generation phone technology, according to a notice released through the court's WeChat account and video of the trial.

The judge ordered Samsung to immediately stop selling or manufacturing products using the technology and to pay a small court fee.

The decision by the Shenzhen Intermediate Court is the latest in a series of deepening patent disputes between the Asian smartphone makers, which have filed against each other in the United States and China in recent years.

Huawei's headquarters is in Shenzhen, in southern China across the border from Hong Kong. The company is the dominant player in China's smartphone market, though globally it trails Samsung and Apple.

The court said it ruled in Huawei's favour after finding that Samsung "maliciously delayed negotiations" that began in July 2011 and was "obviously at fault."

Samsung said in a statement that it would "thoroughly review the court's decision and determine appropriate responses."

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Samsung Faces French Legal Case Over Alleged Abuses in China

Two French campaign groups filed a legal case against Samsung in France on Thursday over the alleged use of child labour and other abuses in Chinese manufacturing plants working for the electronics giant.

Accusing the company of misleading commercial practices, the NGOs Peuples Solidaires and Sherpa lodged a complaint in Paris against Samsung's French subsidiary and international parent company.
Based on research from the China Labour Watch group, the French campaigners alleged that children had been found in Chinese plants producing Samsung products, and that other staff faced severe health problems.

They took aim at Samsung's stated objective of becoming one of the most ethical companies in the world, which they said amounted to misleading consumers and commercial cheating.
"We are asking the justice system to sanction the unacceptable gap between its ethical commitments and the reality in its factories as described by Chinese NGOs on the ground," the French groups said in a statement.

Peuples Solidaires and Sherpa targeted Samsung unsuccessfully with a previous complaint in 2014, but claim they now have new evidence that backs up their case based on work by China Labor Watch.
The Chinese group, which sends undercover workers into factories to report on conditions there, has produced a series of highly critical reports since 2012 highlighting abuses at companies that work for Samsung.

The most serious allegations date back to 2012, however, and Samsung has since carried out an audit of many of its Chinese suppliers and made public some of the violations it found.
The company was not available to comment immediately on Thursday.
France introduced new legislation last year sparked by the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh, which saw the collapse of a poorly maintained building housing numerous low-cost clothing companies working for Western brands.

More than a thousand workers were killed in the industrial accident in 2013 and more than 2,000 people were injured.

Under the so-called Rana Plaza law in France, passed by the Socialist government in early 2017, the 150 biggest companies based in France are required to produce a "vigilance plan" covering their contractors and manufacturers worldwide.

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Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard, and More Launched at CES 2018

Asus displayed its latest Windows Mixed Reality headset at CES 2018. This is the company's first foray into Mixed Reality (MR); the headset was first unveiled at IFA 2017. Apart from that, Asus also unveiled a few gaming accessories under the ROG brand, including an RGB mechanical keyboard, an RGB controller, a lighting accessory, and the Aura SDK program. Additionally, Asus showcased numerous gaming laptops, AiO PCs, and more at CES 2018.

One of the highlights of Asus' CES 2018 announcements was the new HC102 Windows Mixed Reality headset. It will be available in Q1 2018, according to Liliputing. Unlike other premium VR headsets in the market, the Asus Windows MR headset does not require any external peripherals or accessories. It has inside-out tracking that makes use of two front-mounted controllers on the headset. A 3D-polygonal pattern gives it one of the most unique designs in the Mixed Reality headset market. It will work with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

The headset has a 2.89-inch diagonal display, with a resolution of 1440x1440 per eye (1440x2880 combined) and a brightness of 100 nits. It also has a refresh rate of 90Hz and a 95-degrees field of view. Sensors on the Mixed Reality headset include Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass, and Proximity sensor. For connectivity, the HC102 features a 4 metre headset connection cable, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The weight of the device is under 400 grams.

Under the Republic Of Gamers (ROG) brand, Asus announced the new Strix Flare RGB mechanical keyboard. The keyboard has Cherry MX RGB switches, dedicated media keys, a volume wheel (located on the upper left end), a USB pass-through port, and a detachable wrist rest. The Strix Flare keyboard comes equipped with Asus' proprietary Aura Sync lighting that lets users individually program RGB keys and LEDs to create a customised experience.

The ROG Spotlight is a new RGB accessory that projects the ROG logo on a wall or surface. It synchronises with Aura Sync on your system to enhance the gaming station. This accessory has a matte black finish, and can be attached to metallic surfaces with a magnetic base. With a 360-degree rotating angle, the ROG Spotlight can be used flexibly.

Equipped with ROG Halo technology, the new ROG Aura Terminal is a quad-channel addressable ROG controller incorporates lighting effects that are synchronised with the gameplay on the ROG system. Mounting LED strips on the back of the monitor will help the Terminal recognise the colours displayed on the edges of the display. It can then match them to light up the LED strip, creating a sort of immersive experience.

And, finally, Asus also showcased the Aura SDK program that enables developers and the company's hardware partners to integrate the synchronised Aura lighting technology on to their products. ROG has added numerous new capabilities to the Aura SDK program allowing third parties to make use of them during game production.

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WhatsApp 'Demote as Admin' Feature Being Tested for Group Chats

WhatsApp has been spotted testing a new button in group chats that will allow one administrator to "demote" or "dismiss" other administrators, without first deleting them from the group and then adding again as normal participants. WhatsApp is testing the feature on both Android (beta v2.18.12) and iOS. Right now, when an administrator wants to remove a fellow administrator from the post, it is required to first directly remove the concerned administrator from the group and then add him or her again.

According to WABetaInfo, a fan site that tests new WhatsApp features early, the new option, present in the Group Info section as Dismiss as admin, allows an administrator to dismiss another one without removing him or her from the group.

"At present, WhatsApp is developing this feature for iOS and it will be available soon for all users, instead for Android it is already enabled by default in the newest WhatsApp Google Play beta for Android 2.18.12," the report added.

The Facebook-owned app is also likely to give group administrators more powers where they would be able to restrict all other members from sending text messages, photographs, videos, GIFs, documents or voice messages.

The popular mobile messaging platform has submitted the Restricted Groups setting via Google Play Beta Programme in the version 2.17.430.

The Restricted Groups setting can only be activated by group administrators. Administrators can keep sharing media and be chatting as normal as they restrict other members.

Once restricted, other members will simply have to read their messages and will not be able to respond. They will have to use the Message Admin button to post a message or share media to the group. The message will need to be approved by the administrator before going through to the rest of the group.

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LG Icon Smartphone, Iconic Smartwatch Trademarks Spotted, May Launch Soon

In line with the latest reports saying LG is re-strategising its mobile business, the company seems to be working on a new series of smartphones. LG could soon launch a smartphone under the brand Icon and a smartwatch under the name Iconic. LG is already said to have noted that it will take a departure from its annual smartphone launch cycle. These moves by LG could be seen as a strategy to revamp its struggling smartphone business that has been incurring losses for several quarters now.

Coming back to the new nomenclature, according to the database of USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office), LG has filed trademarks for a smartphone under the names: LG Icon, LG Aicon, and LG Aiconn. Additionally, it has also filed a trademark for the name 'Iconic' for a smartwatch. Famous tipster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) first spotted the trademark and tweeted : "With LG rumoured to be rebranding its flagship G-series, I noticed that the company just trademarked "LG Icon" for a smartphone and "Iconic" for a smartwatch."

It remains to be seen if LG will rebrand the G series with Icon or whether it will launch smartphones under that name at all. Companies use the trademark filing to secure a particular name for their future products. They are at a discretion to keep or discard them.

Meanwhile, LG, at CES 2018, has reportedly said that will no longer fix a regular timeline to announce its handsets. Usually, it releases the G-Series smartphones in the first half of the year and the V-series in the second half. Alongside the shift from launch cycles, LG has also made it clear that it will release more variants of its existing lineup. The South Korean consumer electronics giant was expected to announce its latest flagship smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona

LG has reportedly said that it will not unveil new smartphones "just because other rivals do". Instead, it wants to increase the longevity of its existing lineup of smartphones by launching more "variant models in the G series or V series."

Interestingly, a ZDNet report quoted CEO and Vice Chairman Jo Seong-jin (aka Cho Sung-jin), as saying, "If there is something that is needed to be changed, we will change it." This is another hint at the changing of the name of the G-Series, or even the V-Series. Another report from South Korea has said that LG will be dumping the G brand and will not name the first flagship smartphone of 2018 as the G7.

Based on these reports, LG is clearly reassessing its smartphone business and everything is up for a change.

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Alat.ng won best digital bank in Nigeria. Award by World Finance

Nigeria first digital bank and fintech startup Alat.ng has won the prestigious World Finance Award for for Digital Banking. A post from Twitter confirms this.
Alat.ng has been around for less than a year and has disrupt the Nigeria banking market in a small period of time.

You may recall that Alat.ng has reached 200,000 account holders. A post in Medium sum up all the achievement of this fintech. The World Finance award is not the first Award, this digital bank has received. It has also received awards from Business day, World summit among others in 2017.

Alat.ng begins operation in 2nd of May, 2017 and since then has seen over 50,000 downloads of its app in play store. It has also released various versions of the app with unique user experience, (UI) with Alat 2.2 as its latest version.

With the app, users can pay for music in Apple music and iTunes. It can also be used to pay for cenemas. Alat.ng was created by Wema bank and through it, users have been encouraged to save their money with a 10 percent interest on savings.
 

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Samsung's Anticipated Foldable Smartphone Revealed Privately at CES 2018

Samsung has reportedly revealed its first foldable smartphone in a private meeting at CES 2018. At the event, Samsung announced a slew of electronic devices such as smart TVs, computers, and home appliances. But the South Korean giant is also said to have showcased the fold-in and fold-out design of the new foldable smartphone to select clients. Meanwhile, Samsung is set to launch its Galaxy S9 series smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018.

Apart from showcasing the foldable handset, Samsung is also said to have shared the timeline of its launch. It has informed that the production will begin by the end of 2018. A report in South Korean news website ETNews, cited a source as saying, "Samsung Display said it has developed a 7.3-inch foldable panel with plans to start production later this year."

Last year at the MWC 2017, Samsung had reportedly displayed a foldable smartphone through a private conference. According to the report, the company showcased an upgraded version of the foldable smartphone that it had shown last year. Samsung had reportedly invited various types of clients to show the smartphone. Another source has reportedly said, "Last year, MWC limited the scope of disclosure to a fairly strict level, but this time, we decided to set the target for the release somewhat broader and responded to it."

In Samsung's foldable smartphone, the in-folding has a curvature of 1R(0.1 mm) and out-folding has a curvature of 5R(0.1 mm). An earlier report in BusinessKorea said that Samsung could be able to achieve that level of flexibility by using a plastic material for display.

The new foldable smartphone has been speculated to be called the Samsung Galaxy X. The company has filed numerous patents for foldable phones in the recent past. During the launch of the Galaxy S8 smartphone, Samsung's mobile chief DJ Koh had said that it was aiming to introduce a foldable smartphone in its Galaxy Note smartphone series by as early as 2018.

Samsung clearly wants to beat Apple in launching a foldable smartphone. Last year, in November, Apple had filed a patent for an iPhone with a flexible portion. Another reportout of Korea had claimed that Apple is working with LG Display on a foldable iPhone.

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Nokia 1 May Have Been Spotted in Newly Leaked Photos

It was recently reported that HMD Global is working on its first Android Go smartphone, likely to be called Nokia 1. An entry-level handset, this model will run the stripped-down version of Android Oreo, and will come with apps that consume fewer resources, such as Google Maps Go, Files Go, Google Go, etc. The Nokia 1 will be positioned below the Nokia 2, and is expected to unveil in late February, at Mobile World Congress. Now, a new leak might have given us a look at the Nokia 1 design.

On China’s Baidu, a user has posted two images that are expected to be of the Nokia 1 smartphone. Both images show only the back panel of the device, though there is one major difference between the two. The camera and LED lens on one image is covered by a polycarbonate, while in the other photo, the module is surrounded by glass. This suggests HMD Global is still in the process of deciding the final Nokia 1 design, and is considering at least two prototypes.

Other than the difference in the camera module design, both photos show the Nokia 1 may feature rounded corners, and a polycarbonate back panel with the Nokia logo in the middle. As always, since there is no official word, readers are advised to take this leak with a pinch of salt.

According to an earlier leak, Nokia 1 will be among the first Android Go smartphones, and will be priced at RUB 5,990 (approximately Rs. 6,670). It is said to have an HD (720x1280 pixels) IPS display, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of onboard storage. It is expected to launch alongside the Nokia 4 and Nokia 7 Plusat MWC 2018 in Barcelona.

HMD Global recently took the covers off the new Nokia 6 (2018) smartphone, a follow-up to the Nokia 6 model launched last year. The company is also expected to unveil its flagship smartphone – likely to be named Nokia 9 – at an event on January 19, alongside the Nokia 8 (2018) model.

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Google Buys UK-Based Redux, a Firm That Uses Vibrations to Turn Displays Into Speakers

Google has reportedly acquired a UK startup specialising in technology that turns displays into speakers, using vibration. UK-based Redux is said to have been bought by Google at an undisclosed price as well as on an undisclosed date. Redux displayed its speaker technology at MWC 2017.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Google has bought UK startup Redux for an undisclosed amount, citing a UK regulatory filing. Even the date of the acquisition is unknown, although Crunchbase claims that it was on August 6 last year. Redux showed off its technology at last year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company works on transforming surfaces, such as mobile phone displays, into small speakers using vibrations.

A live demo, reported by Mashable in February last year, showed how Redux's technology can turn any LCD or OLED display into a speaker as well as a surface that offers haptic feedback. The haptic feedback could be used by Google as a ploy to pitch against Apple's 3D Touch technology.

Redux was founded in 2013, according to Crunchbase's organisation profile. It has received a Series B funding round for $5 million from Arie Capital in March last year.

Google's buyout of Redux can help the company incorporate this technology in its future smartphones or even smart speakers. It will create more real estate to fit in more efficient motherboards, bigger batteries, or other components that were earlier not possible due to the restricted amount of area. There is no official confirmation from the Mountain View giant on this front, but we can expect one, possibly, at Google's 2018 I/O conference.

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OnePlus to Launch Snapdragon 845-Powered Flagship Smartphone in Q2 2018: CEO Pete Lau

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has revealed that the next flagship smartphone from OnePlus will launch late in the second quarter of 2018, in line with the OnePlus 5 launched in June last year. Lau also confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC.

In an interview with CNET at CES 2018, Pete Lau announced that the next flagship phone from OnePlus (OnePlus 6?) will be unveiled in the latter part of Q2 2018, and will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, because "there's no other choice". He also said that the Chinese phone maker will initiate talks with US telecom carriers for probable partnerships in the coming months. Additionally, Lau stated that "he wasn't 100 percent sure if OnePlus would sell a second phone in 2018".

This is the first instance of an official confirmation for a 2018 smartphone by OnePlus. In 2017, the company launched the OnePlus 5 and the OnePlus 5T, along with several variants of the latter that include Midnight Black, Star Wars Limited Edition, Sandstone White, and Lava Red.

On the sidelines of CES 2018, Pete Lau also confirmed that a beta version for Face Unlock will soon arrive on the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. This development was earlier teased by OnePlus Global Director Carl Pei. "The only thing we can do now is to keep a humble approach," said Pete Lau when asked on his views of incorporating AI (artificial intelligence) as a part of the software experience on smartphones.

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Sony Xperia XA2: Sony’s latest mid-range smartphone announced at CES 2018

A new mid-range smartphone has been unveiled at CES 2018, but what makes Sony’s Xperia XA2 so special?

You can tick this one off your calendars, CES 2018 is finally here. And with it, the folks at Sony have been busy making all sorts of announcements, most notably a new trio of mid-range smartphones: the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra and Xperia L2.

Sony Xperia XA2 design: What does it look like?

Okay, the Xperia XA2 looks like every other Xperia smartphone to have graced store shelves in the last few years. Despite the firm claiming a new, “borderless” design, the XA2 is still very much Xperia: with broad bezels above and below the screen. Sony may have reduced the width, but it doesn’t seem so obvious at first glance.

Likewise, there’s no 18:9 aspect ratio display to treat ourselves to either instead, you’ll have to make do with a bog-standard 16:9 Full HD IPS screen. And, like its Ultra alternative, the XA2’s fingerprint reader has moved to the back, which is a massive shame in my opinion.

Still, Sony’s Xperia XA2 can be picked up in four different colours: silver, black, blue and pink

Sony Xperia XA2 UK release date: When’s it coming out?

Sony’s Xperia XA2 launches in the UK in February 2018, alongside its Ultra alternative. There’s no specific date quite yet, but stay tuned for more information.

Sony Xperia XA2 specs: What’s inside?

As for the innards, the Xperia XA2 is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest mid-range processor, the Snapdragon 635. This chip was last seen powering the rather sluggish HTC U11 Life, which certainly doesn’t bode well. Likewise, expect 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage via microSD.

The rear camera is a 23-megapixel snapper, with ISO 12800 sensitivity meaning that it should cope well with low-light images. The front-facing 8-megapixel camera boasts a 120° super-wide camera, allowing you to fit more people and scenery in shot.

Sony Xperia XA2: Early verdict

Okay, the Xperia XA2 is nothing special. It certainly doesn’t offer the same newsworthy punch as the Galaxy S8 or iPhone 11 launches did, but that’s not to say the XA2 doesn’t have a chance at achieving similar acclaim.

That is, so long as Sony can keep the price down. As an affordable flagship alternative, The Xperia XA2 could be one of 2018’s bests. Read my full Sony Xperia XA2 review in the near future to find out

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