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Out with the old, in with the new: LineageOS cut support for Android 9 Pie earlier this year, and to make up for the loss, the open-source project has just released version 18.1 based on Android 11. It comes with official support for about 60 phones and tablets.
TWRP support arrives for Exynos Galaxy Note9, Sony Xperia 10, and more
Several Xiaomi and Realme devices round out the list
The root/ROM fanbase has dwindled over the years, but there are still people out there dedicated to the craft. TWRP is the most popular custom recovery available by far, and since we last posted in late January, 11 more devices have been added to the roster.
LineageOS ROM releases first builds based on Android 10 (Update: Builds are back)
LineageOS 17.1 is here
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM in existence, and the project prides itself on bringing newer versions of Android to unsupported devices. However, Lineage has been a bit slow to roll out a version based on Android 10 — the Pie-based ROM was already available by this time last year. Thankfully, the next major version of LineageOS seems to be just around the corner.
16:9 aspect ratios were the norm for years, but that's not the case anymore. These days, we don't even bat an eye at 18:9, 18.5:9, and 19:9 ratios. In a curious attempt to stand out from the crowd, Sony slapped some ridiculously tall 21:9 displays on their latest phones, including the Xperia 10 Plus that is being discounted to ~$330 right now.The Xperia 10 is equipped with a 6.5" 1080p LCD, a Snapdragon 636, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with microSD expansion, dual 12MP + 8MP rear cameras, an 8MP selfie-shooter, and a 3,000mAh battery. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and *gasp* a headphone jack. Our own Taylor called the Xperia 10 "really long and really boring" in his review, with his biggest complaints being the tall aspect ratio, the cameras, and the price. It should be noted that this has Verizon support in addition to being GSM unlocked, though Sprint compatibility is absent.
In this crazy world we live in, it helps to remember that somethings never change: the sun rises in the east, the sky is blue, and Sony phones get their prices slashed a few months after release. Now you can grab the mid-range Xperia 10 Plus for just $349.99, a $80 discount from the original MSRP, and a $50 drop from the usual price.The Xperia 10 is equipped with a Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a headphone jack (hooray!) and a 6.5-inch 2520x1080 IPS LCD with an aspect ratio of 21:9. There are a total of three cameras, two on the back (12MP regular, 8MP depth sensor), and one 8MP wide-angle lens on the front. Carrier compatibility is fairly good, as it will work with all major US networks except Sprint. Sony says the phone should get Android 10 sometime in 2020.
Sony details Android 10 update timeline for its Xperia phones
More devices are to pick up Android 10, but some older devices will hit the dust.
December
If you've been waiting to snag Sony's ultra-tall mid-range phone, now's your chance. The Xperia 10 and 10 Plus are both $50 off the usual prices, bringing the regular 10 down to $300 and the 10 Plus to $375.The Xperia 10 is equipped with a Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a headphone jack (hooray!) and a 6-inch 2520x1080 IPS LCD with an aspect ratio of 21:9. There are a total of three cameras, two on the back (13MP regular, 5MP depth sensor), and one 8MP wide-angle lens on the front. The carrier compatibility is fairly good, as it will work with all major US networks except Sprint.
If you're curious about getting an Android phone that's arguably more screen than anything else, Sony's latest Xperia devices might have something to offer you with its 21:9 CinemaWide displays. And if you've been waiting for a reason to make the jump, you now have a little monetary incentive: the Xperia 10 Plus is $50 off at participating retailers right now.The Xperia 10 Plus posts up modest internal specifications — we're talking about a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (with room for a microSD card), a dual rear camera system with 12MP and 8MP sensors, and a 3,000mAh battery — in return for a massive 6.5-inch LCD at 2520x1080 resolution. Anamorphic cinema geeks may appreciate this field of view. It's also unlocked for use on GSM networks in the United States and Verizon, too. If you're wondering how this thing drives, take a look at our Xperia 10 review and just scale it up by a couple of pegs.Many U.S. tech retailers placed the phone on sale in mid-March at $430. There have been a few minor discounts since then, but today, we've got a wide $50 discount available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Fry's Electronics as well as other stores, taking it down to the $380 mark.
The new Xperia 10 and 10 Plus might not be the most interesting phones out there, but Sony has made them a bit more appealing for certain buyers today. These phones are the latest additions to Sony's Open Devices program. So, you can unlock and flash software on your Xperia 10 and 10 Plus without any arduous workarounds.
After a period of what seemed like smartphone stagnation, we're finally seeing some weird devices again. With edge-to-edge screens, hole-punch cameras, and displays that fold in half being high-end oddities, Sony saw fit to shake up the budget formula, too, and plopped ultra-tall 21:9 displays in its Xperia 10 and 10 Plus. And while I applaud its efforts, being long doesn't save the Xperia 10 line from being terminally boring.
Sony's recently-announced Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, best known as those new mid-rangers with ridiculously tall screens, have gone up for pre-order in the United States at Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy. The Xperia 10 comes in at $349.99, and the larger Xperia 10 Plus will retail for $429.99. Both will be released on March 18th.