Alleged Huawei Nova 8 Series’ specs leaked online ahead of December 23 launch

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Dec 14, 2020

Earlier today, Huawei confirmed that it will unveil the Nova 8 in China on December 23. While the official poster only has a silhouette of one smartphone, it is expected to reveal Nova 8, Nova 8 Pro. And now, the specs of both of the two devices have been leaked.

Tipster Digital Chat Station(via Mydrivers) has shared the supposed specifications of the Huawei Nova 8 and 8 Pro. To get things out of the way, he says that the images are for reference only. Anyway, the leak says that both the devices will retain the same Kirin 985 SoC from predecessor.

For the unaware, Huawei launched the Nova 7 series in April and Honor 30 series back in April. Both the series have the same SoC which is a slightly cut-down version of the Kirin 990 flagship SoC. Now, we aren’t sure how this would be possible considering early reports which say that the company’s Kirin SoC devices have been selling at high prices due to chipset shortage.

This is due to the US ban that effectively stops Huawei from producing its own Kirin SoC. Anyway, if it lands on Nova 8 series, one of the reasons could be the result of a survival mode. The company had to stock SoCs for the future before the US ban deadline arrived.

Huawei Nova 8, 8 Pro Specifications(Rumored)

Anyway, the spec sheet says that Huawei Nova 8 will have a 3D hyperboloid Glass design and a thickness of 7.64mm. It will likely feature a 90Hz OLED curved screen with 1 billion colors. For cameras, it will have a quad-camera setup(same on 8 Pro) with a 64MP main sensor. Other sensors include an 8MP ultra-wide, two 2MP macro and depth sensors. Upfront, it will have a 32MP selfie shooter.

The Nova 8 Pro, on the other hand, will have an ultra-curved screen(80° curvature) with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1 billion colors as per the leak. However, compared to non-Pro, this will have a 32MP and a 16MP dual selfie cameras. Apparently, it has features like vlog mode, front& rear dual-scene recording. It is worth noting that official teasers confirm the earlier report on the oval-shaped camera layout for the Nova 8.

That said, both the devices are said to feature the Huawei 66W SuperCharge technology. Further, Nova 8 and 8 Pro will have 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage options. Regarding the price, rumors say that Nova 8 will start at 3,000 yuan($458), while the Nova 8 Pro will begin at 4,000 yuan($611). Let’s wait and see if these specs turn out to be true.

Xiaomi launches the Xiaolang Ultrafiltration Water Purifier for ¥499 (~$76)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 14, 2020

Most of the water purifiers that you can find in the market use Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane filtration and the price is generally more than 1,000 yuan (~$150). In most cases, they need to be connected to a power source and also produces wastewater. Xiaomi has just launched a far cheaper alternative which is priced at 499 yuan (~$76). The water purifier is dubbed Xiaolang Ultrafiltration Water Purifier and is presently available on the Youpin platform.

The purifier achieves zero wastewater and does not utilize electricity. The product design saw the manufacturer replacing the RO membrane with an ultrafiltration membrane. The ultrafiltration membrane uses a high-efficiency hollow fiber membrane as the core filter layer. The filter layer has a filtration accuracy of 0.1um and can effectively filter out harmful substances in the water, remove odors, and improve the taste.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite with up to 9 days battery power launched for the global market

According to the official, compared to RO water purifiers, hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes can purify water while retaining beneficial minerals, supplementing the daily needs of trace elements.

Xiaolang water purifier adopts a composite integrated filter element, which integrates folding PP + activated carbon fiber + activated carbon rod + ultrafiltration membrane technology to effectively filter out rust, sediment, colloid, and other particles in the water, as well as residual chlorine, bacteria, and other pollutants. The single filter element will only need to be replaced once a year.

The Xiaolang Ultrafiltration Water Purifier adopts a minimalist design with a versatile home style. It has a dimension of 215x319x60mm which makes it compact enough to fit under the kitchen sink saving cabinet space. You also don’t need a water tank and the water delivery is 2L/min which can fill a glass of water in 4 seconds.

UP NEXT: Exclusive: Xiaomi Mi 11 scheduled for December 29 launch

Poll of The Week: Have you received the Android 11 update?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 14, 2020

The Android 11 stable update was released on September 9, which is more than three months ago. The new version of Android brings new features such as chat bubbles, a native screen recorder, and new permission settings.

While some devices have already received the update, several others are yet to do so. Certain manufacturers have announced which devices will get the update along with the rollout schedule but there are those who have not said anything about the update.

For this week’s poll, we want to know if any of your devices have received the Android 11 update. The poll also includes other options that allow us to know if your device will be getting the update at all or not.

[yop_poll id=”63″]

Get 50% off on Mi Smart Speaker while buying select Xiaomi products in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 14, 2020

A while ago, Xiaomi introduced its first smart speaker for international markets in the form of Mi Smart Speaker. This rebadged XiaoAI Speaker Art made its global debut in India. Now, months after its launch in the country, the company is offering it a 50% discount on buying select Xiaomi products.

India’s Flipkart always runs a campaign in which the eCommerce platform offers a coupon to purchase certain Google Assistant-powered products at half the price. Some of these products include Google Nest Mini, Flipkart MarQ Smart Home Speaker, and Lenovo Smart Clock. These coupons can be obtained by buying eligible Android or Android TV devices.

Since the introduction of Mi Smart Speaker, it has been also part of this campaign. As a result, Xiaomi is also offering its smart speaker at the same price for customers buying select devices from its own online store – Mi.com.

The eligible products for this offer are the following.

Mi TVs
Mi Notebooks
Mi 10T
Mi 10T Pro
Redmi Note 9 Pro
Redmi Note 9 Pro Max
Mi Air Purifier

In addition to this, the Mi Smart Speaker also comes with a 1-year Gaana Plus subscription. Anyway, this particular offer is not exclusive to this product as all the Google Assistant-powered smart speakers sold in India are eligible for the same.

Hence, if you are willing to buy any of the above-mentioned devices in India, make sure to purchase them from either Mi.com or Flipkart to get Mi Smart Speaker at only ₹1,999 (50% discount).

Grab Xiaomi Mijia Electric Screwdriver at ultra-discount price of $30.99

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 14, 2020

Xiaomi is aggressively participating in different festivities across the globe to offer exuberant discounts on its vast product portfolio. However, major retailers from around the globe are also extending the offers on the Xiaomi devices. Similarly, Banggood is offering major discount of 63% on the Xiaomi Mijia Electric Precision Screwdriver. The users can grab it for $30.99 and will start shipping within a day.

Must See: Xiaomi eBook Reader Pro to launch in China tomorrow for 1,090 yuan ($167)

The screwdriver is available along with 30-day refund or replacement. The retailer also offers secure payment option via multiple ways from across the globe. It even ships globally within 24 hours and may take some days to arrive at your location.

Xiaomi Mijia Electric Screwdriver is built using Aluminium Alloy and weighs 353 grams. The screwdrive alone measures 159 x 16.4mm and weighs 59grams. There are two gears which provide 0.05N.m torque and 0.2N.m torque. It carries a 350 mAh battery which can enable the device to keep working for 160-200 mins. There are total of 24 different steel bits having hardness of up to 60HRC.

The Mijia electric Screwdriver comes with the universal Type-C charging. It is an award winning screwdriver which is available at extremely low-price of $30.99.

Grab Now

Honor plans to ship more than 100 million smartphones in 2021: Report

By

Balaji S

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Dec 14, 2020

After getting Independence from Huawei, Honor has opened several doors of opportunities for itself. It is currently in talks with companies like Qualcomm, MediaTek to procure chips for its smartphones. Today, a report says that the companies has another ambitious target for next year.

As Mydriver reports, Honor‘s CEO Zhao Ming states that the company will become the No.1 mobile phone brand soon in China. Additionally, the company also plans a huge sales target in 2021. Citing a Sci-tech Innovation Board Daily news, it says that the company plans to ship more than 100 million units next year.

However, the report doesn’t shed a clear light on the sales target and their whereabouts. In any case, we do know that Honor won’t be the first company to achieve this. Chinese giant Xiaomi already crossed this two times way back in 2015 and 2018. Recently, it achieved the same target in India after 5 years of debut. Besides, it’s probably miles ahead in its home country now.

A few weeks back, Huawei sold Honor to Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd., reportedly for $15 billion. This move comes at a time when Huawei is under a lot of pressure on all sides both hardware and 5G network front due to the USA’s actions. Also, Honor was recently placed US Commerce Department’s Entity list suggesting it would face a similar situation like Huawei.

That said, the company has now reformed itself, and says it’s business isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it has already started strengthening the offline market in China. Apart from the supply chain, the company also promises that its older devices won’t lose support anytime soon.

Also, as mentioned above the company is negotiating with Qualcomm and advancing the steps towards a deal with MediaTek. If it manages to cross this stage, it can procure the chipsets from the above companies and circumvent the absence of Huawei’s Kirin SoCs.

Vivo X60 could be the thinnest 5G smartphone in the world; live shots leaked

By

Balaji S

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Dec 14, 2020

After a lot of rumors, Vivo has finally started teasing the Vivo X60 5G smartphones today in China. While the company hasn’t quite announced a date yet, it is expected to unveil the series on December 28 in China. That said, a tipster has, however, leaked the details of the device along with some live shots.

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Tipster Digital Chat Station says(via ITHome) Vivo X60 will have a thickness of 7.3mm(0.287-inches). Further, he adds that it will dethrone others(incl. Apple) to become the thinnest 5G smartphone. In case you don’t know, iPhone 12 Mini including the other 12-series 5G models have a thickness of 7.4mm(0.291-inches). That said, the tipster has also leaked the live shots of the Vivo X60 and says its rear will use an AG(Anti-Glare) glass.

As you can see below, the Vivo X60 is shown in three colors. And according to the tipster, the color variants will be Black, Warm Yellow, and Color gradient. A few of the images also show a black box packaging. As for the device, there is a textured power button and volume rockers to the right. At the bottom of the device, there is a Type-C port, SIM-slot, Speaker, and primary microphone.

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At the top, there is a secondary microphone and a tagline, “PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY”. Further, the rear rectangular layout has triple-cameras and a ZEISS logo to confirm the company’s partnership with ZEISS optics. However, the leaked images seem to be of the Vivo X60 and not the Pro. To recall, the official teaser showed another device with an extra square-shaped lens.

So far, from the official teasers, we know that the Vivo X60 series will feature Exynos 1080 SoC. The X60 will have a triple-camera setup and the X60 Pro will probably feature an upgraded Periscope lens which explains the Ultra-Stable Micro Gimbal. Additionally, leaks also say that the devices will have a centered punch-hole display, which would probably be an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Besides, other expected specs of the Vivo X60 are a 4,300mAh battery, 33W fast charging, and running Vivo’s new OriginOS out of the box.

Aqara RTCGQ11LM Human Body Motion sensor on sale for $13.99

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 14, 2020

Automation has become necessary part of few tech enthusiasts in the recent years. Advent of several smart devices and IoT devices have taken the automation to a next level. The users can now effortlessly control their smart appliances and peripheral devices using the voice assistants. Aqara Human Body Motion Sensor is a smart accessory which can aid smartness in your workplace and some. It is a 7M distance Motion detection sensor to facilitate smartness among the devices. The Motion sensor is available at a 40% discount which totals to retail price of $13.99.

Related: Xiaomi launches Mi Human (motion) Sensor 2; available through crowdfunding for 49 yuan ($7)

The users can avail additional $3 discount by paying via the Paypal payment option. It is available only in White color.

Aqara Human Body Motion Sensor uses Infrared Radiation to detect the human movement. The sensor can be linked to other smart peripherals for better automation scenarios. It uses a low-power battery and can be placed any where remotely. it does not require any professional tools to affix at desired place.

The Human Motion Sensor is a fully wireless motion detection sensor which can toggle several smart appliances and other peripherals. It connects over a wireless connection and does not carry any port or cable for wired connectivity. The Aqara Human Body Motion Sensor is compact insize and is fully flame-resistant. The user can place it anywhere without worrying about the safety.

The smart motion detection sensor can detect anyone within the 7 metre range. Grab it for a limited-time super deal price of $13.99 from Gearbest.

Additonally, you can check our guide of best IFTTT Applets for automation on Android and iOS devices.

Buy Now

Must See: Mi Motion Activated Night Light 2 (Pack of 2) now on sale in India for ₹ 999 (~$13)

Samsung plans to launch two ‘Z Flip’ and ‘Z Fold’ foldable devices each in 2021: Report

By

Balaji S

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Dec 14, 2020

Samsung has been excelling in the foldable smartphone market right from the start. Despite the sluggish demand, the company is reportedly selling its Z and Fold smartphones well even to the present day. Its Galaxy Z Flip has already sold well enough to keep the company’s hopes alive. All these has probably made Samsung to expand the lineup as it plans to bring four foldables next year.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Mystic Bronze — Representative image: Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

As per a Korean media report, Samsung plans to launch two Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip2 models in 2021. Going by the tentative naming scheme, the Fold3 and Flip2 should succeed Fold2 and Flip of 2020 respectively. The report mentions that all the models will have support for 5G network connectivity.

Back in 2019, Samsung ventured into the Foldable smartphone segment with the Galaxy Fold. However, the company didn’t have enough fortunes to succeed on the first attempt. Early adopters faced a lot of issues which meant the company had to literally relaunch it later that year. Rising like a phoenix, the company then entered the clamshell smartphone segment earlier this year with the Galaxy Z Flip and successfully brought the second Fold(Z Fold2) recently.

The Galaxy Z Flip had checked almost all the boxes left out by the earlier foldable version. Although both the devices are in different segments altogether, Samsung proved to the world that it can finally make a better product that’s commercially viable as well. Reports already predict that the Z Flip will be the best-selling foldable in 2020. And if the latest report is true, Samsung will take it deep next year.

Accordingly, the report says that the Z Flip2 will be coming in a General, and high-end model. In fact, it states that both the devices, despite having 5G support will differ in specs, features. Now, it’s too early to comment if one of them would be a Z Flip Lite of some kind, and hence, let’s playing the waiting game.

Anyway, it looks like Samsung wants to widen the scope of foldables and reign the already captured Global market(incl. China) once again in 2021. However, as per the report, Samsung Electronics will start producing the next foldables only by August 2021 and launch it in H2(second half). This not only negates the earlier June 2021 launch report but suggests that Samsung is revamping its strategy by positioning S-series for H1, and foldable for the next half.

Xiaomi Mi Air2 SE gets a massive discount of 59%, available for $27.98 on Gearbest

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 14, 2020

It’s raining disocunts for Xiaomi EarPods. After a huge discount of Mi AirDots 2 last week, here’s the Xiaomi Mi Air2 SE going at the massive discount of 59%. Xiaomi Air 2 SE Wireless headphones will offer immersive sound experience at the effective price of $27.98. The users can get additional $3 discount if you complete checkout using Paypal payment option.

Must See: Exclusive: Xiaomi Mi 11 scheduled for December 29 launch

The addition discount of $3 is limited to the first 1000 orders, so hurry up if you want to grab it. It is available in white colors only and the sale will last within 28 hours from now.

Xiaomi Mi Air 2SE TWS Earpods provides comfortable wear, 20 hours long battery life, and premium sound. It also supports noise-reduction algorithm to eliminate any distraction and present you a quality sound. It even supports touch gestures to control voice, toggle track, voice assistant and call.

The Mi Air2 SE automatically pairs with the smartphone upon opening the case. There’s a 14mm dynamic driver to provide better sound.

You can grab it for the all-time low price of $27.89 from Gearbest.

Grab Now

Related: Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S gets Bluetooth certification

Huawei HiCar smart screen live image leaked, arrives with HarmonyOS

By

Sean

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Dec 14, 2020

Earlier this month, a Weibo blogger posted an image of a Huawei smart screen. This was the in vehicle smart screen for the company’s HiCar system, which is a part of its initiative to diversify into the automobile industry.

Looking at the image shared on the Chinese microblogging website, the upcoming HiCar smart screen sports a pop up selfie camera on the front, with a wide aspect ratio of 21:9 for its display. A notably aspect regarding this smart screen is that it arrives with support for the Chinese tech giant’s proprietary OS, Harmony OS 2.0. The tablet appears to be the size of a large tablet, and can be placed as per the users’ requirements. In other words, it isn’t simply a large central control panel, but rather an entertainment center for listening to music, watching videos, making calls, web browsing or even playing games.

The Huawei HiCar smart screen also sports a camera on the front, it is housed in a pop up mechanism and raises from the top of the device. Furthermore, the speaker can be found on the back of the product. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the smart screen is currently unknown like its build material or screen resolution. The post from @Ark咔嚓一下 is all we have to go on for now. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates when additional information is available.

Galaxy A72 5G case renders confirm quad-camera setup

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 14, 2020

Samsung is expected to unveil the successors to its best-selling mid-range smartphones of 2020 – Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 in the coming days, dubbed as Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72. More information about the duo has begun to pop up on the internet. The latest such details come in the form of Galaxy A72 5G case renders that not only confirm the camera layout but also the positioning of buttons and ports.

The world’s largest smartphone maker trademarked the branding for Galaxy A72 a long while back along with branding for other Galaxy Ax2 series devices. Then, in September it was revealed that this handset will be coming with a penta-camera setup consisting of camera modules supplied by Samsung Electro-Mechanics

Thus, it was thought to be the first Samsung smartphone with a penta-camera setup. Then, last week, a tipster said that it will be featuring a quad-camera setup and not five cameras. It turns out, he was true as the newly leaked case renders confirm the same.

These Galaxy A72 5G case renders were shared by one of the well-known Indian leakster called Sudhanshu Ambhore on Twitter. According to these renders, the phone’s quad-camera will be aligned in the same manner as on its predecessor Galaxy A71. The only difference will be that these modules will be bigger in size.

The Galaxy A52 5G will also have a similar layout but the LED flash will be below the fourth camera. Talking about camera specs, as per an earlier report, the Galaxy A72 will include a 64MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide unit, an 8MP 3x telephoto zoom module, a 5MP macro shooter, and a 5MP depth sensor.

Since now it has been confirmed to come with four cameras, we think the phone will lack the 3x telephoto zoom camera. Because the renders include two small sensors that could be mostly for macro and depth.

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Lastly, the handset will feature a USB Type-C port at the bottom flanked by a speaker grille, primary microphone hole, and 3.5mm headphone jack on either side. Whereas the secondary microphone will sit at the top and the power key, as well as the volume rocker, will be located on the right side.

Although nothing else is known about the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G at the moment, we expect to learn more about this device before its official announcement in the near future.

Deal: Samsung Galaxy M01 on sale for Rs 7499 in India (No Cost EMI/Exchange Offers)

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 14, 2020

Samsung’s recent entry-level device – Galaxy M01 smartphone is on sale for Rs 7499 in India. The device is available at a best price available via Amazon India. The users can also avail additional benefits such as No Cost EMI and Exchange offers from popular banks. Samsung Galaxy M01 is available in Black, Blue and Red colors.

Must See: Galaxy M01 Core is Samsung’s cheapest 2020 smartphone for India starting at ₹5,499 ($73)

Samsung Galaxy M01 is a popular entry-level smartphone coupled with Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC including Adreno 505. The device comes with a 5.7-inch PLS IPS display supporting 720 x 1520 pixels resolution. There’s a dual-rear camera 13MP + 2MP on the rear side and a 5MP on the front side.

The device also offers WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB 2.0 and FM Radio. It features a 4000 mAh battery to withstand whole full day. Samsung Galaxy M01 comes with Android 10 Operating System.

THe user will get a travel adapter, USB cable and a user manual along with 1 year of manufacturer warranty.

Grab Now

Related: Samsung Galaxy M01 and Galaxy M11 launched in India; Price and specifications

Vivo study reveals that smartphone usage has risen immensely in 2020, raises concerns over mental health

By

Sean

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Dec 14, 2020

Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, the average users have apparently become more fixated towards their smartphone. A new study from Vivo and Cyber Media Research has revealed that the increased usage of smartphones have led to impacts on users’ mental and physical health, with many worrying about smartphone addiction.

The study titled “Smartphones and their impact on human relationships 2020’ arrives as the second edition of the report this year. It takes a look at the impacts of the pandemic and even highlights the growing dependency of users’ to their smartphones this year, as per an IndianExpress report. According to Nipun Marya, Director Brand Strategy at Vivo India, “Excess usage of smartphones, we believe is somewhere harming relationships. And, therefore, it fundamentally goes against our brand values. Excessive usage is leading to addiction, which is then harming relationships.”

With various governments enforcing a lockdown after the viral outbreak, work from home and staying indoors became the new norm, which has affected people from across the globe. Studies have found that there has been a major jump in smartphones usage in terms of hour per day. Marya added that “There is nearly a 39 per cent increase in smartphone usage from 2019. Last year, the duration in hours was at 4.5 hours, and this has increased to nearly 7 hours now.”

The study found an increase in “office work by 75 percent, calling by 63 percent, OTT by 59 per cent, video consumption by 56 per cent, social media usage by 55 per cent and gaming around 45 per cent,” all due to the lockdown. Although, the time spent on smartphones have increased, users are more worried about its impacts on physical and mental health, especially in the cases of addiction. More than 89 percent of the people that got surveyed noted that excessive use of smartphones is having a negative impact in their lives.

Apple investigates Wistron India after violence struck its facility

By

Sean

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Dec 14, 2020

Apple said that it will be investigating its Taiwanese contractor, Wistron, after a recent violent event that took place in its facility in India. The event occurred in an iPhone manufacturing plant in the Indian city of Bengaluru.

For those unaware, Wistron is one of the primary suppliers of the Cupertino based giant. It has been making the iPhone 7 model for the Indian market alongside the second generation of the iPhone SE as well. According to a Reuters report, a group of unidentified factory workers trashed the facility on the outskirts of Bengaluru over the weekend. The violent episode arrives after the employees demanded unpaid wages and better working hours, as per a local trade union representative.

Furthermore, videos made by the employees have surfaced showcasing men breaking security cameras, windows, and other equipments with rods and sticks. At the moment, the police have arrested 149 people over the violence, according to a police officer. Notably, Apple has stated that it has dispatched additional staff and auditors to the facility. The company stated that, “Our teams are in close touch with the local authorities and we’re offering our full support to their investigation.”

Apple demands that its suppliers provide safe working conditions, and treat its workers with dignity and respect, act fairly and ethically, and use environmentally responsible practices” when they are making their products or are performing any services for the company. Wistron has stated that it was “deeply shocked” by the events and blamed it on “unknown persons … with unclear intentions.” It further added that “The company always abides by the law, and fully supports and is cooperating with relevant authorities and police investigations.”

Xiaomi Mi 10T series to launch in Nigeria on December 16

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Dec 14, 2020

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi 10T series consisting of Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, and Mi 10T Lite in late September for Europe. The first two handsets later made their way to India. The duo even debuted in Indonesia and other markets. The regular model is also sold as Redmi K30S Ultra in China. Now, this series is set to land in Nigeria as well.

The official Xiaomi Nigeria Twitter account has been teasing the launch of the Mi 10T series in the country for the last few days. According to the teasers, the series will be officially unveiled on December 16.

That said, it is not known if the Chinese smartphone maker will be launching the standard Mi 10T or the Mi 10T Pro. That’s because the teasers only showcase a single device and it is definitely not the Mi 10T Lite, which is expected to debut in India as Mi 10i.

Since Xiaomi does not have much presence in Nigeria, the company may not launch the expensive Mi 10T Pro with a 108MP primary camera. Instead, the customers in the region may probably get the regular Mi 10T model that has the exact same specs as the Pro version but features a 64MP primary sensor.

Anyway, we will know exactly which device in the Mi 10T series will be announced for Nigeria on December 16 along with its price.

Vivo announces partnership with Carl Zeiss for its smartphone cameras

By

Sean

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Dec 14, 2020

Vivo has just announced that it is partnering with known optoelectronics brand Carl Zeiss. The collaboration would have the smartphone maker include the latter’s renowned lens technology for its smartphones’ cameras.

Earlier today (14th December 2020), the Chinese tech giant shared the news through its official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website. In the post, the company shared a small message revealing the newly formed partnership and even shared a slight teaser image poster, which showcased a Vivo device with the Zeiss branding underneath the camera lens module. For those unaware, Zeiss is a known brand in the optoelectronics and lens industry.

Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss could potentially be huge for the smartphone maker. Partnerships with lens brands have been successful in the past, with Huawei and Leica being a prime example of this. Similarly, Nokia had also partnered with Zeiss in the past. While the company didn’t make waves in the industry, its camera performance was commendable. So, we can expect a similar outcome with lens makers partnership with Vivo.

The smartphone brand is clearly pushing for taller heights with this, especially in its home market, China. This arrives as the top brand in the region, Huawei, is struggling due to the impacts of US sanctions. Thus, its rivals are eyeing at its market share and are making aggressive moves to expand their footholds. Although, the benefits of the partnership with Zeiss isn’t just limited to its home country and could even help grow its presence in foreign markets as well.

OPPO A15s promo image and key specifications leaked, launch could be near

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 14, 2020

In October, OPPO unveiled the OPPO A15 low budget phone in India. It is available for purchase with a starting price of Rs 8,990 (~$122) in the country. The Leaker has shared a promotional image of the device to confirm its design and specs. It is likely that India could be soon receiving the A15s handset.

The OPPO A15s was recently spotted at different certification platforms like Europe’s EEC, Singapore’s IMDA, and Malaysia’s SRIM. The leaked poster that has surfaced recently suggests that it could be heading to India soon.

The leaked poster shows that the OPPO A15s has a sleek design featuring a square-shaped camera module featuring an AI triple camera system. It is said to feature a 13-megapixel primary camera and a pair of 2-megapixel lenses. The rear shell of the phone also features a fingerprint reader.

Editor’s Pick: Oppo acquires shares of a Semiconductor based company in China

The front side of the phone is not revealed yet. The poster states that the device has a 6.5-inch HD+ resolution supporting screen. The phone will be arriving in the market with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage.

For selfies, it may possess a front camera of 5-megpaixel. The phone may feature the same Helio P35 that fuels the OPPO A15 handset. it could be housing a 4,230mAh battery.

OPPO is yet to confirm the existence of the OPPO A15s. The device is likely to be positioned higher than the OPPO A15 that comes with 3 GB of RAM. It remains to be seen whether the device goes official before the end of 2020.

Huawei Mate 40 pre-sale to finally begin tomorrow in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 14, 2020

Huawei held a global launch event on Oct. 22 to announce the Mate 40 series. A few days later, a dedicated unveiling event was held in China to mark the arrival of the Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro+, and Mate 40 RS Porsche Design Edition flagships. Tomorrow, the Huawei Mate 40 will be up for pre-orders in China as promised during the launch event.

After the pre-order window gets over, the Huawei Mate 40 will be available for purchase from Dec. 21. Its 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage editions are priced at 4,999 Yuan (~$764) and 5,499 Yuan (~$841), respectively. It comes in colors like Mystic Silver, White, Black, Green, and Yellow.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei wireless headphones survey asks if the USB C cable in the box is necessary

Huawei Mate 40 specifications and features

The Huawei Mate 40 has a 6.5-inch OLED FHD+ display that offers a 90Hz refresh rate. The punch-hole present on the screen houses a 13-megapixel selfie camera. The backside of the phone features a Leica engineered triple camera system that includes a 50-megapixel main camera with laser autofocus, and 8-megpaixel telephoto lens with OIS, and 3x optical zoom, and a 16-megapixel telephoto lens.

The EMUI 11 based Android 10 OS runs on the Mate 40 and it lacks support for Google Play services. It is equipped with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The 4,200mAh battery powers the device with 40W fast charging and 40W fast wireless charging. The Mate 40 is powered by the Kirin 9000E SoC that has the same octa-core chip as the more powerful Kirin 9000 chipset. The SoC has a 22-core GPU against the 24-core found on the Kirin 9000. Also, the Kirin 9000E has a single Big core NPU unit, whereas the K9000 has a dual Big core NPU.

Motorola Razr 5G Gold-colored model to go on sale in China tomorrow

By

Jeet

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Dec 14, 2020

Lenovo-owned Motorola has today confirmed that the company is all set to start selling the Gold colored model of the Motorola Razr 5G foldable smartphone in China from tomorrow, i.e., on 15th December.

So far, the device was available in only Black color option, since its introduction a couple of months ago. The Gold-colored Motorola Razr 5G, which packs 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, costs 12,499 yuan, which roughly converts to $1,912.

In most foldable smartphones available in the market right now, there’s a crease on the display from where the phone folds. But Motorola’s phone has an elastic metal plate on both sides, pulling the display tight, that can keep the screen flat.

The smartphone features a 6.2-inch OLED display while the secondary screen measures 2.7-inch gOLED screen. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, offering 5G connectivity.

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In the camera department, there’s a 48MP sensor on the back and a 20MP snapper at the front for taking selfies. The phone supports a TOF depth camera, portrait HDR, AF autofocus, optical image stabilization, AI portrait super night view, and other features. The device is powered by a 2,800mAh battery that supports 15W charging.

As for the phone’s durability, the company has promised that the hinge is designed to last for over 200,000 folds, which means that if the phone is folded and unfolded 100 times a day, then there won’t be any issues for more than five years.

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