GPS / GNSS

Satellite positioning. Phones use several systems (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou) for faster, more accurate location.

GNSS is the general name for satellite positioning: GPS (US), Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China), QZSS (Japan) and NavIC (India). Dual-frequency (L1 + L5) receivers are more accurate in cities.

Also called: gps, galileo, glonass, beidou, dual-frequency gps, l5

More terms

Optical zoomZoom done by a real telephoto lens, without losing detail. Digital zoom only crops and enlarges.Announced vs releasedAnnounced = the day the maker revealed the phone. Released = the day it went on sale (often a few weeks later).USB-CThe reversible connector used for charging and data. Speed depends on the USB version (2.0, 3.x).Wh (watt-hour)A measure of the energy a battery stores. Used for laptops, power banks and airline limits.Wired charging (W)Maximum charging power by cable, in watts. Needs a charger and cable that support the same speed and standard.LCDA screen with a backlight behind liquid crystals. Usually cheaper than OLED; blacks look greyer.

All glossary terms