Umidigi A7 smartphone with 6.49-inch display, and AI-Quad camera launched for $89.99; UWatch 2S also makes debut

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Aug 4, 2020

Xiaomi has announced the rollout of a new version of the Mi Fit app. The app is the official app for Xiaomi and Huami‘s (Amazfit) activity trackers and smartwatches. It also works with a bunch of other smart fitness products made by Xiaomi and its ecosystem partners such as the Mi Smart Scales and smart shoes.

The new version is Mi Fit 4.4.0 and is already available on major app stores including the Google Play Store. It is yet to be pushed for iOS, though according to the report.

The updated Mi Fit app brings a new update to the Mi Band 4 and Band 5. Some of the features include that the Mi Band 4 display now shows battery percentage. On the Mi Band 5, it adds motion detection which can automatically detect the current state. At the same time, it adds a new option to set the dial switch. As usual, it also brings bug fixes.

About the Mi Band 4 and Mi Band 5

The Mi Band 4 was sold for the first time in June last year with the standard version priced at 169 yuan ($24), and the NFC version was sold for 229 yuan (~$32). In just 8 days, the global shipment of Mi Band 4 exceeded 1 million, with an average of 5,000 units shipped per hour. This was the fastest shipping speed ever for Mi Band. Mi Band 4 is also the world’s best-selling wearable band model from Q3 2019 to Q1 2020.

The Mi Band 5 joined the fray in June this year when it was officially released. This is also the strongest Mi Band in history. It supports a dynamic dial for the first time, adopts magnetic charging for the first time, a more powerful PPG sensor, and supports all-day sleep monitoring.

New POCO phone teased as a challenger to the OnePlus Nord

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Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 4, 2020

The OnePlus Nord was supposed to go on sale today in India but the sale date was postponed to Thursday, 6th of July. For those who are yet to make up their minds on purchasing the phone, POCO has teased the arrival of a new phone as an alternative to the Nord. Will it be a better alternative? Time will tell.

The info comes from a tweet by Angus Kai Ho Ng, the product marketing manager and global spokesperson for POCO. The tweet hints at the arrival of a new POCO phone and also has the hashtag #POCOcomingsoon.

OnePlus Nord or…. wait for the new POCO?#POCO #POCOcomingsoon

— Angus Kai Ho Ng (@anguskhng) August 4, 2020

The official POCO Twitter account replied to the tweet too, confirming that a new phone is indeed coming.

There are speculations that the phone coming is the POCO F2. However, there is no info to back this up. Nevertheless, we believe it may actually be a rebadged phone.

The OnePlus Nord will be up to some serious competition in India in the coming months. For example, the Pixel 4a is launching in the country in October and some buyers may be willing to wait for Google’s new mid-range Pixel rather than purchasing the Nord. We also expect Realme to announce a phone too.

Are you planning to pick up the OnePlus Nord? Will you wait to see what POCO has to offer or will you go ahead and make your purchase? Let us know in the comment box.

OxygenOS 10.0.7/10.3.4 for OnePlus 7/7 Pro brings new clock styles, Chromatic effect & more

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Aug 4, 2020

OnePlus is readying to unveil HydrrogenOS 11 in China on August 10. Ahead of it, the brand has begun to tease some of the new features earlier today. Additionally, Pete Lau, the co-founder and CEO of the company revealed some details regarding OxygenOS 11. At the same time, the company is also rolling out a new OxygenOS stable update for OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro users worldwide.

The new OxygenOS stable update for OnePlus’ flagship smartphones of H1 2019 brings July 2020 security patch, some new features, and certain fixes. The update comes with build number OxygenOS 10.0.7 for Global and EU variants of OnePlus 7/7Pro and OxygenOS 10.3.4 for the Indian versions of the handsets.

The update adds support for OnePlus Buds as well adds a variety of clock styles and a new Chromatic effect for Reading Mode. It also fixes for “double tap could not wake up the screen” and “wrong display of names of inserted SIM cards”.

Last but not least, the update also adds support for “Bluetooth hearing aid app connection under the Android 10 Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid (ASHA) Agreement”.

OnePlus 7/7 Pro OxygenOS 10.0.7/10.3.4 Official Changelog

System
- Newly adapted OnePlus Buds, easier to take advantage of wireless connection
- Provided a variety of clock styles for you. You can customize on your own. (Go to Settings>Customization>Clock style)
- Fixed the issue that double tap could not wake up the screen in some settings
- Updated Android security patch to 2020.07

Reading mode
- Added the Chromatic effect option to adapt color range and saturation intelligently for a better reading experience (Settings – Display – Reading mode – Turn on reading mode – Chromatic effect)

Bluetooth
- It has adapted to Bluetooth hearing aid app connection under the Android 10 Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid (ASHA) Agreement

Network
- Fixed the wrong display of names of inserted SIM cards from different carriers

(Source)

Xiaomi launches the Qicycle Electric Power-assisted Bicycle National Standard Edition

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Aug 4, 2020

Xiaomi has built a reputation over the years for affordable products without a compromise on quality. Thus, it was a surprise in 2016 when the company announced one its most expensive product till date, the Qicyle R1 bicycle priced around $3000. Despite the high price tag, the Qicycle R1 was a huge hit in terms of sales and popularity and it catapulted the company to fame. Since then, the Qicycle brand has released several other popular bikes including e-bikes. The brand launched the Qicycle Electric Power-assisted Bicycle in December 2019. This product has now gotten a successor.

The successor is dubbed Qicycle Electric Power-assisted Bicycle National Standard Edition and carries a price tag of 2799 yuan (~$401). The new version conforms with China’s national standard for EVs and is now available on Mi.com. It supports three riding modes and has an assisted battery life with a range of 40km. The bike is also equipped with a large-size light-sensitive display and a 20-inch wheel diameter.

The new national standard version of QiCycle electric-assisted bicycle supports free switching of three gears – the first gear is the economic mode which delivers 25% electric output. The second gear is the balance mode which takes into account both endurance and power with the assisted riding distance getting up to 40km. The third mode is known as Enhanced mode with 75% electric output and three-speed levels.

The QiCycle electric-assisted bicycle also uses a multi-cavity integrated 6061 lightweight aluminum alloy frame. There are multiple screw holes reserved for the body. You can mount baskets, shelves and other accessories according to your needs. It is equipped with a bright LED front large Lights and tail warning lights. It also supports connection to the MIJIA app via a smartphone which can be used to view exercise data at any time.

In terms of specifications, the new bicycle has a body size of 1530x205x1040mm, weighing in at 18kg. The front and rear wheel centre distance of 1014mm, a maximum design speed of 25km/h, a load capacity of 100kg, and a charging time of fewer than 4 hours.

OnePlus Buds with 13.4mm drivers, Dolby Atmos support available for $89.99 via Giztop

By

Simranpal Singh

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Aug 4, 2020

OnePlus Buds are the latest addition to the company’s audio portfolio. The OnePlus Buds was launched along with the OnePlus Nord in India, but its open sale is yet to commence in India and various other parts of the world. However, you can get it now as the OnePlus Buds are not up for grabs via Giztop across the globe for the price of $89. You can even choose between two different color options of White and Blue.

OnePlus Buds is the company’s first true wireless earphones offering a lot more in terms of sound and design. OnePlus Wireless Z was the only wireless option that the company offered prior to the Buds launch.

OnePlus Buds Features

These are baked with low latency, 13.4mm large drivers, and unique noise cancellation for better, premium, and lag-free sound. The low latency of 103ms can enable you to enjoy gaming and video calls in a better way. The noise cancellation algorithm with three microphones improves the clarity and reduces background noise. It houses a Quick Pair technology

The new TWS is built using the same seashell-inspired CD-pattern. Some useful gestures like long-press and double-tap are part of the package which enables to skip tracks, play/pause music, and toggles voice assistant.

OnePlus Buds comes with a circular charging case consisting of a USB Type-C port with 30W Warp charging supports. It enables you to get 10 hours of power backup once charged for just 10 minutes. However, a full charge of the case can bring you 30 hours of battery backup. OnePlus Buds is splash resistant as it carries an IPX4 rating.

The interested user can grab it for the price of $89 from Gizbot.

Samsung Wireless Charger Convertible leaks ahead of tomorrow’s launch

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Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 4, 2020

The Galaxy Unpacked event is happening tomorrow; finally bringing an end to all the Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Galaxy Tab S7 leaks. However, one more leak has surfaced, this time for an accessory – a wireless charger to be specific.

The leak is from Roland Quandt (@rquandt) and it is of a wireless charger called the Samsung Wireless Charger Convertible (Samsung EP-N3300 9W). The 9W wireless charger has a detachable design and appears to be able to work in two modes – either standing or laid flat. This means you can have it propped up on your desk so you can operate the device without lifting it off the charger or have it lay flat by the bedside when going to sleep.

Samsung EP-N3300 9W wireless charging stand that folds. Launching alongside the #GalaxyNote20 series. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/XVh9bqFhm3

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) August 4, 2020

The renders show the charger will be available in white and black color variants. There is also an image that shows the retail box and it reveals that the charger will work with select Samsung and Apple devices.

We are actually surprised that it only supports 9W charging seeing as Samsung has phones that support 15W wireless charging.

There is no info on the price of the charger but we don’t expect it to be cheap.

Lava Z66 with 6.08″ notch display launched in India for Rs. 7777 (~$103)

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Aug 4, 2020

Earlier this year, Lava launched the Z61 Pro, Z71 and Z53 in India. The company has now added a new model for the South East Asia country dubbed Lava Z66. The new smartphone has as some of its highlight a notch display, Android 10 operating system and others.

The Lava Z66 features a 6.08-inch notch display with an HD+ resolution of 1560 x 720 pixels, 19:9 aspect ratio and 283 PPI. The phone is powered by a 1.6GHz Spreadtrum octa-core processor paired with 3GB RAM. The device packs a 32GB storage which can be expanded up to 128GB with microSD. Providing the interface is the latest Android 10 OS.

On the camera aspect, the Lava Z66 packs a dual rear camera setup made up of a 13MP main sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor. At the front, there is a 13MP front-facing shooter with f/2.2 aperture. The phone is a dual-SIM model and it packs a 3,950mAh battery. In terms of connectivity, the phone features 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS. It has a 3.5mm audio jack and a micro USB port.

The LavaZ66 comes in Marine Blue, Berry Red and Midnight Blue and is priced at Rs. 7777 (~$103). The phone is available on Amazon.in and offline stores. It will also be sold on Flipkart.

Top Google Pixel 4A alternatives

By

Michele Ingelido

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Aug 4, 2020

After months of rumors and leaks, Google Pixel 4a is finally official. The second generation of affordable Pixel phones offers pretty nice midrange specifications at a very modest price. But if you do not care so much about a few aspects such as stock Android experience, faster updates, and compact design, you can actually get better devices in the smartphone market at a similar price. Even though it may be the most interesting choice for a lot of users, on the paper, Pixel 4a is all but a perfect phone. That is why we decided to show you all the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives you can get in the global market.

Best alternatives to Google Pixel 4a

OnePlus Nord

OnePlus Nord is one of the most complete devices you can get for less than €400 in the global market and its specs sheet is way better than the Google Pixel 4a. It has everything you can desire from a 2020 phone, including the support to 5G networks. The handset is equipped with a flawless AMOLED display sporting a 90 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10+ certification. Under the hood, you get a Snapdragon 765G chipset, up to 12 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of internal storage. There is even a quad-camera with OIS for better stabilization, as well as an incredible dual ultrawide selfie camera with 32 and 8 MP resolution. Last but not least, you get 30W fast charging and a pretty nice battery.

You can learn more about the OnePlus Nord by clicking here.

Apple iPhone SE 2020

For less than €400, you can get an even more compact device than the Google Pixel 4a, but you have to stick to the iOS operating system. We are talking about the iPhone SE 2020 that is the most affordable Apple phone. Despite its great price, you get all the power of the Apple A13 Bionic chipset: the same found on the iPhone 11 lineup. Further, the phone packs an amazing dual 12 MP single camera with OIS (the same sensor as the iPhone lineup too) and a great selfie camera, but no secondary sensors. On the other hand, the phone has a pretty outdated design: it still features Touch ID and it comes with thick bezels. But it is very compact thanks to its 4.7-inch display: the smallest among last-generation flagships.

You can learn more about the Apple iPhone SE 2020 by clicking here.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite and Mi Note 10 Lite

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 LiteThe Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite is the most affordable last-generation 5G phone available in Europe, yet it is powered by the amazing Snapdragon 765G mobile platform. It even sports an AMOLED display with the HDR10+ certification, so it can provide a good image quality. For the rest, it is a classic affordable phone: you get a mediocre 48 MP quad-camera, an average battery, and a notched design.

If you do not care about 5G and you need something better in terms of camera quality and battery life, you should go for the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite which carries the same price tag as the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite. It has a better 64 MP quad-camera and a huge 5260 mAh battery, as well as an AMOLED display and the same chipset as the Google Pixel 4a (Snapdragon 730G), paired with up to 8 GB of RAM. You even get a premium design, including a glass back and an aluminum frame.

You can learn more about the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite by clicking here.

Motorola Moto G 5G Plus

The Moto G 5G Plus is another among the most affordable 5G phones out there and it will offer you a nearly-stock Android experience similar to the Google Pixel 4a. Besides recommending this device for the software, we also recommend it for its great hardware department including the Snapdragon 765G chipset, for its pretty nice 90 Hz HDR10 display (but it is an IPS panel), for its interesting ultrawide front cameras and especially for its huge 5000 mAh battery. The Moto G 5G Plus is also splash resistant and it supports NFC.

You can learn more about the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus by clicking here.

Oppo Find X2 Lite

If you want a premium, thin and lightweight design while still getting all the power of 5G and the Snapdragon 765G SoC, go for the Oppo Find X2 Lite. Thanks to street prices, it is available for less than €450 in its 8/128 GB configuration. This device is also known in China as the Oppo K7 5G and it has both an audio jack and NFC. You even get a great AMOLED display and a pretty good camera setup including a 48 MP Sony sensor and a 32 MP front camera.

You can learn more about the Oppo Find X2 Lite by clicking here.

Realme X50 5G

The Realme X50 5G recently hitten the global market with a €349 listing price but it is different from the Chinese Realme X50: it is actually the X50m rebranded. It can become incredibly affordable (more or less like the Mi 10 Lite 5G) thanks to street prices and it offers a display with a very high 120 Hz refresh rate. Other specs include a Snapdragon 765G and a 4200 mAh battery with 30W fast charging.

You can learn more about the Realme X50 5G by clicking here.

Huawei P40 Lite 5G

Huawei P40 Lite 5G can be considered the opposite choice to the Google Pixel 4a because it does not even come with Google services installed. But its price still makes it a great alternative to the Google Pixel 4a. This handset sports a very powerful chipset: the Kirin 820 5G, as well as a good 64 MP quad camera. Its charging speeds are very high thanks to its 40W fast charging technology and it even supports reverse charging. With the P40 Lite 5G, you get an audio jack and NFC too.

You can learn more about the Huawei P40 Lite 5G by clicking here.

TCL 10 5G

TCL 10 5G is one of the biggest TV manufacturers but it is a relatively new brand in the smartphone market. However, it came up with a device that is literally a best-buy. The TCL 10 5G is a great alternative to the Google Pixel 4a because it offers superior specifications. It has a display with a very nice image quality, a Snapdragon 765G chipset, and a pretty good 64 MP quad-camera. Further, it comes with an exclusive feature called Super Bluetooth which allows connecting up to 4 Bluetooth devices to the phone at the same time. Last but not least, a generous 4500 mAh battery and a premium design composed of a glass back and an aluminum frame.

You can learn more about the TCL 10 5G by clicking here.

Hisense A56E & A71F series smart TVs start at ₹11,990 ($160) with 5 years panel warranty

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Aug 4, 2020

Last week, Hisense officially announced to enter the Indian market with a wide range of LED and QLED smart TVs. The company even confirmed to launch Toshiba-branded smart TVs as well as its own lineup of smart air conditioner and refrigerators later this year. Now, ahead of Flipkart Big Saving Days sale, the firm reveals the pricing of the TV models (A56E & A71F) that will be available for purchase starting August 6.

Hisense 43A71F Featuerd — Hisense 43A71F

Hisense will have six smart TV models up for sale during Flipkart Big Saving Days sale. All of them are LED TVs powered by Android TV Pie with support for all leading streaming platforms, Chromecast Built-in, and Google Assistant. Also, they come with 5 years of panel warranty for customers buying them from August 6 to 9.

Talking about resolution, three of these TVs come with a 4K UHD panel, two with a 1080p FHD panel, and one with a 768p HD panel. Further, only 4K models support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, whereas the other models are limited to DTS Studio Sound. Also, they come with 3 x HDMI ports (HDCP 2.2) instead of 2 on the FHD and HD models. But the number of USB ports (2) remains the same on all the models.

As for audio, the TV models up to 43-inch feature 24W speakers and sizes above it come with 30W speakers. The 4K models also come with additional features like unibody design, dual-band WiFi, UHD AI upscale, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Game Mode, Noise Reduction, and Ultra Dimming Technology.

Having said that, here’s the pricing of Hisense A56E and A71F series of smart TVs in India. Do note that the below-listed prices are only applicable during the inaugural period (August 6 – 9).

Model	Panel Size	Panel Resolution	Price
32A56E	32-inch	HD (1366 x 768)	₹11,990
40A56E	40-inch	FHD (1920 x 1080)	₹18,990
43A56E	43-inch	FHD (1920 x 1080)	₹20,990
43A71F	43-inch	UHD (3840 x 2160)	₹24,990
50A71F	50-inch	UHD (3840 x 2160)	₹29,990
55A71F	55-inch	UHD (3840 x 2160)	₹33,990

Samsung Galaxy S20+ running Android 11 appears on GeekBench

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Aug 4, 2020

While everyone’s eyes are centred around Samsung‘s up and coming August 5th occasion and all the new devices the tech giant is going to unveil, the company is also working behind the scene to ensure that Google’s upcoming Android 11 software is available to its fans as soon as it is announced.

Samsung’s product engineers have been taking a shot at it for a couple of months at this point however it appears they currently have a useable adaptation of Android 11 on a Galaxy phone.

According to a GeekBench listing, a Galaxy S20+ running Android 11 is in the works. The listing shows the gadget is running Samsung’s Exynos 990 chip which powers the global variant of the Galaxy S20+.

Samsung faced criticism from fans as it came to light that the Exynos 990 couldn’t quite match the prowess of the Snapdragon 865. However, this latest GeekBench score shows Samsung’s own chip beating existing Snapdragon 865 scores.

Samsung may have made a few improvements to the Exynos 990 to help its performance or the higher score may be the consequence of the Android 11 One UI running better. As of late, it was uncovered that Google is knocking the base RAM requirements for Android, which can show the working framework is getting heavier as opposed to lighter. Furthermore, One UI is known to add some additional load to it too.

In the event that Samsung adheres to its standard release plan, we could expect the main Galaxy phones to get the One UI adaptation conveying Android 11 towards December 2020/January 2021. When that occurs, we’ll at long last have a better idea of what Samsung has achieved.

Pete Lau reveals new details about OxygenOS 11; open beta coming soon

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 4, 2020

It has already been announced that HydrogenOS 11 will be announced on August 10. This is the Android-based operating system that ships with OnePlus phones in China. For those in other countries whose devices run OxygenOS, there is exciting news for you too.

According to a blog post by OnePlus founder and CEO, Pete Lau, the final developer preview build of OxygenOS 11 will be released on August 10 too. This is to allow select members of the OnePlus community to provide feedback for the new features coming to eligible devices.

He adds that once the major bugs and stability have been fixed, an open beta version will be released for more users to try it out.

OxygenOS 11 is said to bring fresh design elements and highly anticipated features that fans have been asking for. Some of these new features are being developed by members of the OnePlus community

Even with the new features, Pete Lau says they are not moving away from what users love about the operating system which includes its super-smooth performance, clean UI, light weight, and tons of customizations.

OxygenOS 11 will be based on Android 11. It should be available for the OnePlus 8 series, the OnePlus 7T series, the OnePlus 7 series, the OnePlus 6T, and the OnePlus 6. The new OnePlus Nord will also get the update.

Oukitel C21 appears in Ocean Blue color, launching on August 11

By

Simranpal Singh

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Aug 4, 2020

Ouitel C21 is on the verge of launch as the smartphone’s landing page went public last week. The smartphone which is regarded as the “best buy in 2020” has leaked once again revealing the third color option. Along with the already present color variants of Neon Purple and Midnight Black, the smartphone has appeared in Ocean Blue color.

According to the leaked pictures, the smartphone gives a more premium look in the new color. The gradient mixing of two colors on the Ocean Blue variant makes it more beautiful and dynamic. Oukitel C21 is expected retail under $100 and will feature a quad-rear camera module in 2020.

The previous leaks and rumors state that the device will launch with an Helio P60 octa-core processor. It will house a 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. As we can see in the pictures leaked above, the device houses a quad-rear camera module featuring a 16-megapixel primary camera + 2-megapixel macro lens, 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel wide-angle shooter. The smartphone’s cameras are efficient enough to capture detailed photos. However, there will be a 20-megapixel punch-hole camera on the front for selfies.

Oukitel C21 will feature a massive 6.4-inch HD+ display with a punch-hole for selfie camera on the left side. A fingerprint sensor is also present at the rear side of the device along with the matrix camera module. It will run on Android 10 OS out of the box featuring all its luxuries like improved dark mode and enhanced security.

The smartphone will launch on August 11 as according to a leaked teaser.

However, if you’re interested to grab the Oukitel C21 smartphone for free, then don’t forget to participate in its giveaway via Oukitel or AliExpress. The company is giving away 20 smartphones to celebrate the global launch.

Galaxy M51 FCC certification reveals 25W fast charging support

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Aug 4, 2020

Samsung unveiled Galaxy M31s last week in India as a successor to Galaxy M31 from earlier this year. This handset will go on sale starting Amazon Prime Day sale from August 6. In addition to this phone, the South Korean tech giant has been also working on Galaxy M51 for a very long time. It has leaked multiple times over the past few months. Now, the device also gets FCC certification revealing it to support 25W fast charging.

The Galaxy M series lineup of budget smartphones are Samsung’s online-exclusive SKUs. These handsets feature better specifications for their price compared to the company’s Galaxy A series.

This long-leaked Galaxy M51 is expected to be the successor of Galaxy 40 from earlier last year. It is said to be the first Samsung smartphone to feature a non-Samsung Display OLED panel. According to China’s 3C and Safety South Korea, it will be the first handset from the company to come with a 7,000mAh battery.

Now, the FCC certification (via SamMobile) confirms this phone to support 25W fast charging. It also corroborates its model number to be SM-M515 with dual-SIM card slot.

Further, it also confirms the handset to support Bluetooth with LE, NFC, and dual-band WiFi. As per previous leaks, the device will feature Snapdragon 730 SoC (it was thought to be 675), 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, and a quad-camera setup with 64MP primary sensor and 12MP ultra-wide unit.

Global presale of Ulefone Armor 9 commences on Banggood with massive discount

By

Simranpal Singh

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Aug 4, 2020

Ulefone is globally known for its quality rugged smartphones and competitive pricing. The company recently launched Ulefone Armor 9 smartphone in the premium mid-range segment while featuring powerful specifications at an affordable price of $449. The smartphone is now available on presale from Banggood at a $150 discount. You can have a glimpse of its maiden hands-on video before buying the Ulefone Armor 9.

Ulefone Armor 9 is a fully rugged smartphone that can resist any damage from sudden drops and can sustain water, and mud challenge easily. The video above verifies the IP68/69K protection grade certification for being a waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof device.

Ulefone Armor 9 houses splendid features including a quad-rear camera module consisting of a primary Samsung 64-megapixel primary sensor. It can snap quality photos even in the low-light environment and supports 4K video recording. There are other three camera sensors and quad-rear LED flash present alongside the primary Samsung camera sensors on the rear side. There’s also a thermal imaging camera by FLIR which can be used to find any anomalies on the surface on an object. It is quite handy for professional industrial use. An 8-megapixel selfies shooter is present on the front.

Moreover, you get an external endoscope port enabling the user to look into narrower and hard-to-reach places. There are many use-cases of an endoscope that you must see to unleash its full potential.

Ulefone Armor 9 is powered with an Helio P90 octa-core processor coupled with an 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB internal storage. The smartphone houses a large 6.3-inch HD waterdrop display having a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. There’s also a massive 6600 mAh battery onboard which can sustain for several days upon a full charge.

Pricing

Ulefone Armor 9 is a professional device offering high-end specifications at a competitive price. The users can grab it for $449 from Banggood until August 9. Surprisingly, the first 200 buyers will get a free protective case as a gift. You can know more about the device by heading to their official website.

OnePlus introduces AR Home Demo, helps users choose sizing of OnePlus TV series for their homes

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Aug 4, 2020

OnePlus has just introduced Home Demo. It is a new web app that works with Google Chrome browser on your smartphones and helps you choose the right OnePlus TV through AR (Augmented Reality).

The AR Home Demo was launched to allow users to place the company’s OnePlus TV U and OnePlus TV Y series virtually in their homes. This lets customers size up the TV and the space it would take, rather than having to go to a physical store and get a rough estimate. In other words, this helps users choose the best possible fit while trying out different sizes.

At the moment, the web app only works with Google Chrome and other browsers like the Mi Browser are not supported. The smart TV models include the 32 inch OnePlus TV Y, 43 inch OnePlus TV Y, and 55 inch OnePlus TV U. The new web app aims at helping users make a more informed decision through AR that works with one’s smartphone camera.

Having tried it out ourselves, the Home Demo is largely accurate for the most part, but multiple attempts had to be taken to ensure maximum accuracy. Users can either mount the TVs to the wall or prop it on the table while also giving a complete 360 degree view of the model that was selected. So for those interested, you can click on the link here to try it out for yourself.

Lenovo and Huawei were the fastest-growing tablet brands in Q2 2020 globally

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Aug 4, 2020

Canalys is back again with another report. This time for global tablet shipments in Q2 2020. Due to the pandemic-driven lockdowns across the world, people are working and continuing their education from home. This drove the rise in shipments by 26% YoY with 37.542 million units in the second quarter of this year.

Canalys Global Tablet Shipments Q2 2020 — Source: Canalys

As always, Apple led the market with 14.249 million units in shipments accounting for 38% market share. However, iPad shipments only increased by 20% YoY. On the other hand, Lenovo was the fastest-growing brand in the quarter with 53% YoY growth and 2.81 million units in shipments. But the company came only at fifth position.

Securing the second place was Samsung with 7.024 million units and 18.7% market share. The South Korean tech giant grew by 39% YoY. Huawei secured the third position being the second fastest-growing brand with 45% YoY increase, thanks to 4.77 million units in shipments and strong performance in Western Europe.

Lastly, the fourth position was secured by Amazon with 3.164 million units in shipments and 8.4% market share. The company witnessed a 37% YoY growth and was also fourth in terms of this parameter.

According to analysts at Canalys, the tablet marked boomed in Q2 2020 as they are cheaper alternatives to laptops and desktops for work and education purpose. Adding to it, carriers and retailers across the world even offered various discounts to further boost sales.

WhatsApp’s new search feature helps fact check viral forwarded messages

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Aug 4, 2020

WhatsApp is adding a new feature to its application, which will allow users to fact check and debunk frequently forwarded messages. This search option has been added earlier today (4th August 2020) and will appear in the form of a magnifying glass next to such viral messages.

Tapping on the icon will have WhatsApp prompt to pop up asking the user if they’d like to search the message on Google. This icon will pop up next to any message that has been forwarded to five or more people and is aimed at giving its users the ability to immediately fact check the possible conspiracy theory that is known to circulate group chats.

WhatsApp shared an example of this feature through a screenshot, in which, a website claimed that drinking fresh boiled garlic water will cure COVID-19.” A quick web search through the new feature brings up three fact checking websites which flag this claim as false. During this time of crisis, the spread of false information is just as dangerous as the infection and deceitful viral messages have become increasingly more common.

Since Facebook can’t exactly peer into the messages directly due to end to end encryption, the company hopes that the new search feature will help give more information and make its users more proactive in fact checking information. This is a highly appreciated feature and, hopefully, it helps curb at least some of the many misinforming messages that run rampant on the social media platform.

Samsung Denies reports of acquiring Arm Holdings stake

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Aug 4, 2020

Earlier today (4th August 2020), Samsung officially denied media reports that had suggested its interest in acquiring a minority stake in SoftBank’s Arm Holdings.

Previously, it had been reported that the South Korean tech giant had may acquire a minority stake of 3 percent to 5 percent in the British Chip designing firm. The reason for this buyout was pointed at reducing royalty payment costs, according to an industry source. However, Samsung has responded to this report and called it completely “groundless.”

For those unaware, Arm licenses its chip design to various brands like Qualcomm, Apple, and Samsung. These companies then use the technology/architecture to develop their own chips for smartphones or other products. Although, the SoftBank Group, the parent company behind Arm Holdings, has recently shared interest in possible selling of the chip designed and was even in talks with Nvidia for a takeover.

SoftBank had previously acquired Arm Holdings for 32 billion US Dollars back in 2016 and is currently aiming at a partial or complete public offering of the chip designer. While many including Samsung had reportedly been interested, we will have to wait and see how this actually develops in the coming months.

Samsung acquires chip orders from Google and Cisco

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