For those unaware, the founder’s daughter was arrested and detained in Vancouver with a request pending for a US extradition. The arrest for Meng Wanzhou was made in December 2018 with the involvement of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). This soured the diplomatic relations between Ottawa and Beijing. Meng is also the chief financial officer for Huawei in China.
The CSIS report that revealed the shock waves were recently disclosed in the court documents and were a part of Meng’s extradition proceedings. In the report, the CSIS advised the US FBI of plans to arrest her when she landed at Vancouver International Airport. The report stated that “the arrest is likely to send shockwaves around the world. The planned event will be of great consequence internationally and bilaterally.”
While commercially successful and a dominant player in 5G, or fifth-generation networking technology, Huawei has faced political headwinds and allegations that its equipment includes so-called backdoors that the U.S. government perceives as a national security. U.S. authorities are also seeking the extradition of Huaweis Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, to stand trial in the U.S. on fraud charges. Meng is currently under house arrest in Canada, though Huawei maintains the U.S. case against her is purely political. Despite the U.S. campaign against the company, Huawei is determined to lead the global charge toward adopting 5G wireless networks. It has hired experts from foreign rivals, and invested heavily in R&D to patent key technologies to boost Chinese influence. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
Lawyers from Huawei have used the documents as proof that authorities from both countries have conspired against Meng; who is held for bank fraud and misleading HSBC. The charges were put on Meng after false statements regarding Huawei’s relationship with a company based in Iran. This was a notable issue since HSBC would be under risk for fines and penalties for breaking US sanctions around Tehran.
OnePlus is reportedly working on its pair of true wireless earphones. Recently, it was reported that the TWS earphones could get launched in the month of July, along with the OnePlus Z or OnePlus Nord upper mid-range smartphone.
Now, more information about the TWS earphones has surfaced online. The Android 11 Beta on the OnePlus 8 smartphone reveals that the upcoming true-wireless earbuds from the company are called OnePlus Pods. This is contradictory to the previous report which suggested that it could get launched as OnePlus Buds.
The development hints that the earphones will have some kind of native integration with the OxygenOS, which is a custom user interface from OnePlus based on Android. There will be a companion app for the earphones with the package name “package.oneplus.twspods.”
As per the report, the OnePlus Pods will come with support for functions like double-tap actions, OTA updates, “Find My” for locating earbuds, among others. However, we expect more details to emerge online in the coming weeks.
If this name turns out to be true, then the company will be ditching the Bullets branding for its audio products. So far, every earphone launched by OnePlus has a Bullets branding.
Expectations are high with the OnePlus Pods given that the company is one of the last major ones to launched its own true wireless earphones since everyone else have already launched it, including the likes of Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Honor, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meizu, Xiaomi, Redmi, Realme, and others.
Apart from the mid-range smartphone and these new TWS earphones, the company is also set to launch its affordable Smart TV lineup in the Indian market on 2nd July. OnePlus has also confirmed that the pricing for the same will start under ₹20,000, about $263.
ASUS ROG Phone 3, the next-generation gaming smartphone from the company is expected to make its debut sometime in this quarter. While nothing is officially revealed at this time, the phone has now appeared on the EEC certification portal.
The listing reveals that the smartphone carries model number ZS661KS and will be available worldwide. The development comes just days after the device appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform.
There are two variants of the upcoming ROG gaming smartphone — 8GB RAM and 12GB RAM. While the 8GB RAM model scored 902 points in the single-core test, the device managed to score 3074 points in the multi-core test.
On the other hand, the 12GB RAM model scored 910 points in the single-core test and 3,229 points in the multi-core test. Both the devices are powered by Snapdragon 865 processor and run Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box.
Prior to this, the upcoming ROG Phone 3 was also spotted at the database of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The listing for the device had revealed support for features like Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Wi-Fi Direct, and Miracast.
Xu Xuanyue, co-CEO of ASUS had said that the company is planning to launch the ROG Phone 3 and ZenFone 7 by the end of Q2 2020 or at the beginning of Q3 2020. However, the exact launch date remains unknown.
The ASUS ROG Phone 3, as the name itself indicates, will be the successor to the ROG Phone 2 and will mark the third-generation of gaming smartphones from the Taiwanese company. Since its predecessor was launched in July, we expect the company to carry the tradition and launch the ROG Phone 3 in July this year.
Before the phone gets official, we expect the company to reveal key specs and features of the smartphone through teasers on social media. By that time, more leaks about the device will also surface online, giving us a more clear look at the phone.
Huawei subsidiary, Hubble, has recently invested in a semiconductor startup named Vertilite. Hubble is an investment based company while the startup specializes in developing VCSEL chips (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser).
For those unaware, Huawei had lost its chip supply from TSMC, after the US government enforced new sanctions. Since then, the company has been working on finding alternatives while also urging Chinese semiconductor firms to step up. Previously, Hubble had also invested two local semiconductor companies in China, which was a clear move to boost its self reliance and local source its products over US made parts.
Thus, Vertilite might be another addition to this strategy of incentivizing local semiconductor manufacturers. Unfortunately, the exact investment amount and the shareholding ratio is currently unknown. Although, a sizeable investment has been hinted. Vertilite specializes in developing high powered and high speed VSCEL chips within the range of 650nm to 1000nm. These chips have a wide variety of application, which includes optical sensing in biomedical fields, industrial fields, automotive and consumer products.
Its products even have applications in 3D, perception based technology, augmented reality, and high speed optical communication as well. The semiconductor company even has subsidiaries in the US and Taiwan, with various laboratory members from known institutions like Stanford University. While Vertilite won’t exactly be a direct alternative to TSMC in terms of mobile chip supply for Huawei, the company does show promise in various other fields that the smartphone vendor could venture into in the future. Rather, a long term investment might also push Vertilite into making smartphone processors, but that is just a speculation.
Multiple reports have claimed that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy A21s phone in India at some point in this month. It is an updated version of the Galaxy A21 phone that went official earlier this year but did not arrive in India. Samsung India released a tweet today to confirm that the Galaxy A21s will debut in the country on June 17.
The launch date tweet released by the company showcases the Galaxy A21s. The phone will offer users with a long-lasting battery and it features a punch-hole display. The specifications of the smartphone are known since it had debuted in Europe last month with a pricing of 200 euros (~$255).
Rumors have it that the Galaxy A21s will be costing under Rs. 20,000 (~$263) for its 4 GB RAM storage version. Its base model featuring 6 GB RAM could be priced around Rs. 15,000 (~$197).
The Samsung Galaxy A21s has a 6.5-inch PLS TFT LCD panel with Infinity-O design. It offers HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. It has a front-facing camera of 13-megapixel.
The backside of the phone features a quad camera setup. It includes a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
The Exynos 850 chipset is present under the hood of the Galaxy A21s. The One UI 2.0 based Android 10 OS. The smartphone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 15W rapid charging.
Two months after launching the OnePus 8 series in the Indian market, the company is now finally all set to sell the OnePlus 8 Pro in India for the first time. The sale will take place at 12:00 PM IST through Amazon and the official OnePlus website.
The smartphone was originally set to go on sale in India from 29th May. But, the sale got delayed when the company temporarily halted the production of devices in its factory for “unforeseen circumstances.”
The company has said that the device will be available in a limited quantity because of the “huge demand”. It’s noteworthy that while OnePlus 8 Pro will be going on sale in India for the first time today, the OnePlus 8 went on sale in India a couple of times.
As for the pricing, the OnePlus 8 Pro 8GB RAM model comes in Glacial Green and Onyx Black and costs ₹54,999, which is about $724. The top-end variant in the lineup, the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option, comes in Glacial Green, Onyx Black, and Ultramarine Blue colors for a price of ₹59,999 which roughly converts to $790.
Those who purchase the device in this sale will get a ₹3,000 instant discount on using SBI cards. The company is also offering no-cost EMI options, and Jio benefits of up to ₹6,000.
The OnePlus 8 Pro features a 6.78-inch QHD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC along with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.0 storage.
In the camera department, the quad-camera setup includes a 48-megapixel primary Sony IMX689 sensor, an 8-megapixel secondary sensor with a telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel tertiary sensor with a wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel “Color Filter” camera sensor.
It also comes with a 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 selfie camera sensor at the front. The phone runs Android 10 with OxygenOS on top and is powered by a 4,510mAh battery with support for Warp Charge 30T and Warp Charge 30 wireless charging.
Demand for the OnePlus 8 Pro has been high even though the smartphone carries a price tag of $899. Since the company cannot keep up with the demand, the phone was listed on sites like eBay and Swappa in the USA for a massive premium of up to $300.
Last month, Huawei unveiled the Enjoy Z smartphone in China. Recent reports have revealed that the Chinese manufacturer may announce the Huawei Enjoy 20 Pro /Plus phone on June 24. According to reliable tipster known for Huawei leaks has claimed that the company may launch the vanilla Huawei Enjoy 20 in August.
The tipster claims that Huawei is launching a new smartphone every month. The company is expected to launch a new handset in July. It is unclear whether this phone is an Enjoy series phone or some other device. In August, the company may launch Huawei Enjoy 20. The smartphone is expected to come with an in-display fingerprint reader which indicates it will be sporting an OLED panel. No other information is available on the Enjoy 20 smartphone.
Huawei is yet to confirm the arrival of the Enjoy 20 Plus that is expected to debut next month. Enjoy 20 Plus is expected to house a display that offers a refresh rate of 90Hz and a touch sampling rate of 180Hz.
The Dimensity 800 5G SoC is expected to fuel the Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus. The handset is likely to feature a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The back panel of the phone is rumored to house a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera setup. Interestingly, these specs are also available on the Huawei Enjoy Z 5G.
Last week, Motorola launched the One Fusion+ smartphone in Europe, and the company is gearing up to launch the same in the Indian market. After a few leaks related to the phone’s India launch, we now have the official confirmation.
Teaser for the Motorola One Fusion+ on Flipkart confirms that the device will launch in India tomorrow, i.e., on 16th June. It also reveals that unlike the European model, the Indian variant will come powered by the Snapdragon 730G chipset.
It’s noteworthy that in Europe, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 processor. It remains to be seen if the company has changed any other specifications of the smartphone or if everything else remains the same.
The Motorola One Fusion+ features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with notch-less design with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, HDR10, and Full HD+ screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. Under the hood, the phone packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
On the front side, the device features a 16MP snapper for taking selfies and video calling. The device also has a fingerprint sensor on the back for added security. The handset, running on the Android 10 operating system with the company’s My UX on top, is powered by a 5,000mAh battery.
While the company will reveal pricing and availability details of the One Fusion+ for the Indian market tomorrow, rumors indicate the pricing could range somewhere between ₹15,000 (~$197) and ₹20,000 (~$263).
Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi 8A Dual smartphone in India back in February. The entry-level phone has an updated version of the Redmi 8A that debuted last year in September. Compared to last year’s model, the Redmi 8A Dual came with a dual camera setup on its rear and a refresh rear design. It was introduced in two versions such as 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage for Rs. 6,499 (~$86) and 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage edition for Rs. 6,999 (~$92). Last week, the Chinese firm introduced the 3 GB RAM + 64 GB storage variant of the Redmi 8A Dual. As promised, the first sale of the phone will be carried out in India today at 12 PM.
The new 64 GB Redmi 8A Dual is priced at Rs. 8,999 (~$118). It can be availed through Mi.com, Amazon India, and retail stores starting at 12 PM today. The phone comes in three color editions such as Midnight Grey, Sea Blue, and Sky White.
The Redmi 8A Dual has a 6.22-inch IPS LCD display with teardrop notch. It offers HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. The entry-level phone comes with Gorilla Glass 5 protection for its screen and it carries support for 18W fast charging for its massive 5,000mAh battery.
The Snapdragon 439 chipset is the driving force of the smartphone. The MIUI 11 based Android OS comes preloaded on the device. It has a microSD card slot for additional storage.
The rear side of the Redmi 8A Dual features a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual-camera system. It has a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel. The handset features a splash-resistant rear.
Recently, we reported that Xiaomi is gearing up to launch a new gaming monitor in its home country China. Well, the report turned out to be accurate as the Chinese company has today announced a 27-inch Gaming Monitor with a high refresh rate.
The product is now available for crowdfunding in China through the company’s own Xiaomi Mall website. The device will retail for a price of 2,199 yuan (~$310), but it is currently available for 1,899 yuan (~$268) during the crowdfunding period.
The new Xiaomi 27-inch Gaming Monitor comes with an IPS display panel that offers 2560 x 1440 pixels screen resolution and has support for 165Hz ultra-high refresh rate. It also comes with 1ms IMBC fast response, 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, DisplayHDR 400 high dynamic display enhancement.
It also comes with Adaptive-Sync synchronization Technology along with support for TUV low blue light. You can place the device over a table or hang it on the wall, thanks to the stand and rotating bracket that comes in the bundle. On the back, the cover is magnetic, which makes it quite easy to disassemble it.
As for the ports, the device has a USB 3.0 port, DisplayPort, HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The company has also added that the product comes with a 3-year warranty and after-sales on-site service support.
The launch is in line with the previous leak which revealed that the company has three new monitors lined up for this year. After launching this 27-inch monitor, the company will now announce a 24.5-inch gaming monitor in September and another 4K monitor in November this year. There are rumors which claim that the company could launch a few models under its Redmi brand.
Xiaomi forayed into the Gaming Monitors category last year in October with the launch of two products — a massive 34-inch monitor and another with a 23.8-inch display. However, this new 27-inch monitor is the most expensive from the company, given that it is the most advanced yet from Xiaomi when looked at the technical specifications.
In May, MediaTek announced the Dimensity 1000+ 5G as an improved version of the Dimensity 1000 SoC. The iQOO Z1 that debuted in the same month is the first phone to feature the Dimensity 1000+ 5G. It arrived with an enticing starting price of 2,198 Yuan. According to a tipster from China, Xiaomi or Redmi will be releasing a smartphone powered by the Dimensity 1000+ SoC.
The tipster did not share any details on the specs of the Xiaomi / Redmi phone that is expected to arrive with the Dimensity 1000+ SoC. Considering that the Snapdragon 865 powered Redmi K30 Pro’s price has reached as low as 2,197 Yuan (~$310) for the 618 sales in China, the Dimensity 1000+ SoC powered Xiaomi / Redmi phone may cost around 2,000 Yuan (~$282).
The Dimensity 1000+ comes with four CortexA-A77 CPU cores working at up to 2.6GHz and four power-efficient Cortex-A55 CPU cores ticking at up to 2GHz. For graphics, it features Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. The 7nm chipset support Full HD+ resolution with up to 144Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with the new MiraVision image quality engine. It is the only chip in the industry that carries support for 5G + 5G dual SIM card dual standby.
The same tipster has previously claimed that Xiaomi is working on a new smartphone with a 144Hz punch-hole display. It could be the forthcoming Dimensity 1000+ SoC powered phone from the brand. The handset may break cover at some point in July.
Xiaomi or Redmi is yet to confirm the existence of its Dimensity 1000+ SoC powered handset. The rumor mill is expected to reveal more information on it in the coming days.
There are still not a lot of phones with 108MP cameras, although brands like Samsung and Motorola have joined Xiaomi on the list. Now, a new report says Huawei may also join them with the upcoming Mate 40 series.
The info comes from the Chinese tech blog ITHome. Their source is said to be a staff in Huawei’s supply chain, and according to the person, there is a new 108MP sensor with better performance than the current ones and it will be used in the Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro.
The camera sensor is said to use a 9P lens and produces better images than other 108MP sensors such as the one on the Mi Note 10 Pro which has an 8P lens. The source says there are other adjustments and optimizations but does not go into details.
Starting with the Huawei P30 series, Huawei flagship phones come with custom-made cameras with an RYYB color filter that can capture more light than an RGB filter. Until more details surface, we cannot say if this 108MP sensor also uses an RYYB color filter. Notwithstanding, we advise you to take the info with a pinch of salt.
The Mate 40 series is also expected to come with a 5nm chipset called the Kirin 1000 and unlike the Mate 30 series, the Mate 40 series will most likely not have 4G variants when it arrives in October.
The Pixel 4a has been anticipated for months now. Going by the release date of its predecessor, Google should have announced the phone last month at its Google I/O event, but since that didn’t hold, the device didn’t launch.
A few weeks ago, it was reported that the device will be launched on July 13 but new details have surfaced saying folks may wait for much longer before they get their hands on it.
According to Jon Prosser (@Jon_prosser), the Pixel 4a will still be announced on July 13. However, the “Just Black” variant will be launching on October 22 while the “Barely Blue” colorway “has been removed entirely”.
Where’s Pixel 4a?
Here’s an update:
AGAIN, it seems Google has delayed Pixel 4a 🤦🏼♂️
Announcement still happening on July 13
But in the system, it’s listed that the “Black” model now launching October 22 😬
Back in May, Jon had revealed that the black variant will hit the market on August 6 while the blue variant will come nearly two months after on October 1. Unfortunately, there is no explanation regarding why the date has changed for the black version and why the blue variant has been removed.
Seems like the Pixel 5 will also be pushed back.
Though, it would probably be smart to just launch Pixel 5 and 4a side-by-side, especially if there’s only one model of Pixel 4a that will launch.
In a follow-up tweet, Jon also added that the Pixel 5 may also be pushed back. So rather than a likely October release date, the 5th-gen Pixel may be announced in November.
The Pixel 4a will have a punch-hole display and be powered by a Snapdragon 730 processor. It will not come with Active Edge according to a report and there will be no XL variant.
YouTube is a major video streaming platform and primary source of infotainment for every age group. It has become the hub of video streaming throughout the globe. There’s hardly any potential competitor to YouTube that can match the intensity of the content that gets uploaded daily. It is most downloaded and actively used Android and iOS App on the Play Store and App Store respectively.
YouTube’s useful content is created by thousands of YouTube Creators. It has also become the sole source of income for some of the content creators. It has evolved a lot over time, from just being a platform to host videos to a profitable business.
YouTube app offers all the necessary features, but somehow there are some limitations that make people search for its alternatives. In order to ease the search for such apps, we have concluded a list of best YouTube App alternatives for both Android and iOS devices.
Best YouTube App Alternatives
YouTube Go
If your smartphone is lagging in rendering the YouTube videos smoothly, then you need the YouTube Go app. It is a lite version of the YouTube Standard version and requires less space when installed. The packed APK size of the YouTube GO app is under 25MB and offers some useful features if you are on a limited data connection and using an entry-level smartphone.
YouTube Go allows the users to select the video resolution before watching or downloading for offline viewing. It also enables easy sharing with friends and family over Bluetooth or hotspot. It also relieves the smartphone from massive battery consumption. The simple and easy to use interface is our first choice as an alternative to standard YouTube pp. Moreover, it’s an official YouTube app available on the Play Store. The app is not available for iOS as of now.
Note: GizmoChina does not endorse using third-party YouTube Apps. Those are unauthentic ways to access YouTube data.
FlyTube
FlyTube is quite a useful option to surf YouTube Videos on devices that do not support Google Play services. It offers another way to watch YouTube videos using PiP mode while surfing other apps on your smartphone. The video is always in front of you, no matter whether you’re surfing on the browser or playing a game.
The users can easily set up YouTube links to open in the FlyTube app to get next-level customization and additional offers. Moreover, it pins the YouTUbe video to the top by simply sharing it with FlyTube – video option. The window has a small play and pause button to easily control the content from any app or window.
It can be used with Google account by giving respective permission to easily sync playlists and other data. The app is not officially hosted on the Play Store, the users need it to download it from the third-party website.
It is the best YouTube alternative for iOS, as it offers seamless sync and several other options. It is not necessary to log on YouTube to access your favourite content. ProTube has the ability to force videos to load in the prescribed resolution. The ability to watch in PiP mode is another major advantage of the ProTube app.
The ProTube app can easily keep YouTube videos running in the background. It even sorts the watch later list in descending date order which is usually opposite by default.
The user interface looks clumsy but gets better after getting used to it. The app is available only for iOS devices.
YouTube Vanced is quite an old YouTube alternative available with a similar User Interface to the native app. It is built upon the code of the original YouTube app which provides you with ad-free YouTube experience. The app also packs support for PiP (Picture-in-Picture mode) that allows the users to enjoy their favourite content while browsing other apps.
It can also play music and videos in the background, even if you turn off the device display. It will save your battery and acts as an alternative to your Spotify.
NewPipe is another super useful YouTube alternative that offers support for Android TV and Android Box too. It offers a light-weight User Interface with less power consumption and memory. The app also offers Ad-free YouTube video streaming in high resolution. It can also let you enjoy the videos or music by running it in the background.
NewPipe offers content streaming in HD, FHD, 2K,4K, and 8K resolution without any bandwidth limiting from YouTube.
We highly recommend our readers to use the official YouTube app for streaming videos. A lot of effort from all the content creators are put forth to bring you entertainment at free of cost. They earn from the advertisements, and it is their livelihood.
Otherwise, there are plenty of third-party YouTube application that you can use to enrich the experience. We have covered all the popular YouTube alternatives in this guide. Any suggestions are welcome via the comments below.
After months of waiting, we finally got to see what the PlayStation 5 (PS5) looks like on Thursday, June 11. While some are in favor of the design, there are others that are against it. Nevertheless, the internet has been flooded with several memes of Sony’s latest game console.
When compared to the Microsoft Xbox Series X, the two consoles are starkly different. Microsoft’s console has a tower design and comes in black. It is also designed to stand upright by default, though you can use it horizontally too. The PlayStation 5 has a dual-tone white and black color finish and can be laid flat or be propped up to stand vertically with an accessory.
For this week’s poll, we want to know which console you prefer solely based on design. Is it the fancy router-like PlayStation 5 or the refrigerator-like Xbox Series X? Please take the poll below and also post a comment sharing your thoughts about the two consoles.
Almost a month ago Honor announced a new phone called the Honor X10 5G. A new leak has revealed it will be getting two siblings called the Honor X10 Max 5G and Honor X10 Pro 5G.
The info was revealed on Weibo by Digital Chat Station today. The leaker did not mention any of their specs neither did he mention when they will hit the market. Nevertheless, we have a few speculations of our own.
The Honor X10 Max 5G should be a bigger version of the Honor X10 5G, so expect a bigger screen and a bigger battery but the same Kirin 820 processor inside. The president of Honor, George Zhao revealed recently that they are working on a phone with a big screen. There is a chance this device might be the Honor X10 Max.
For the Honor X10 Pro 5G, we presume it will not only be bigger but may come with a more powerful chipset and better and or more camera sensors. It may also come with a faster-charging technology than the 22.5W fast charging that is bundled with the Honor X10 5G.
The two phones should launch in the coming weeks or months but before then, more details should surface.
Over the past couple of years, Huawei has matured into a world-class smartphone maker. We look forward to the Huawei P-series in the first half of every year, as it often becomes the benchmark for smartphone cameras in that year. 2020 hasn’t been any different. And our anticipation was rewarded with not one but two powerful camera flagships, the Huawei P40 Pro and the Huawei P40 Pro Plus.
Yes, for those unaware, the top-end model in the Huawei P-series family is called the Huawei P40 Pro Plus. It’s not exactly a classy name, but it is one hell of a phone when it comes to smartphone photography. Huawei is one of the very few smartphone brands that’s still expanding the range of possibilities for the smartphone camera. In fact, before 2016, it was really hard to predict how far ahead mobile photography could go, especially after seeing the decades of professional-camera development.
But in 2020, here we are, talking about the 10x optical zoom capacity of the HUAWEI P40 PRO Plus. This 10X optical zoom has a maximum focal length of 269mm, which covers a really wide range of focal lengths, even wider than some mirrorless camera. However, from another perspective, the HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus is the smallest camera that you can find on the planet having such a working 10x optical zoom range!
Well as a phone, 226g weight could be a bit heavy to hold it in your hand. But it seems that the P40 Pro Plus is competing against not just smartphones but also some mirrorless cameras. Accordingly, for its target users, the weight should not be a big problem. Actually the P40 Pro Plus shares the most common features with the P40 Pro. Probably the only difference is the camera experience brought by the additional telephoto camera combination and camera software updates. And in this article, we’re still going to talk about what the P40 Pro Plus model can offer to both professionals and ordinary users.
Let’s first identify the demands of ordinary users and professionals, respectively. For ordinary users, mobile photography is their primary device to record and create memories. They usually demand the phone to be an all-rounder such as being easy to use, having good image colors and clarity, having a large storage or cloud storage, supporting intelligent image editing, and so on. Now let’s look at the P40 Pro Plus, and see how it meets this kind of users’ demands.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus vs P40 Pro
Huawei P40 Pro Plus’ camera isn’t very different from the P40 Pro since they share the same primary sensor. The camera samples have great contrast and good exposure latitude. And the original 50MP resolution also provided a clear image with good sharpness. And to simplify photography for users, Huawei has one of the most effective AI solutions for scene recognition and color tuning. So even for general users, it’s not difficult to apply appropriate color styles for different topics.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus vs P40 Pro Zoom Review
And if you are bored with the standard wide-angle view, the P40 Pro Plus amazingly brings you 2 more optical zoom cameras, a 3x and another 10x telephoto camera – a first for a smartphone in the market. Compared to the 5x zoom camera of the P40 Pro, the 3x zoom camera for the Plus version probably is a better choice. So you get a high-quality optical zoom between 3x and 10x. The 3x zoom has a maximum focal length of 81mm, which is closer to a 50mm portrait lens.
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Huawei P40 Pro Plus camera sample
Huawei P40 Pro Plus camera sample
Huawei P40 Pro Plus camera sample
1x
1x-1
1x-2
taken from afar 3x-1
taken from afar -10x
taken from afar - 3x
taken from afar 10x-2
taken from afar - 10x
leica vivid
leica standard
leica smooth
leica impact
10x-flower ai recognition
Huawei P40 Pro Plus camera sample
10x-2
10x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus camera 28x
The most frequently used range of focal length usually stays no longer than 100mm, so it seems that a 3x optical zoom camera is more practical than the 5x telephoto sensor of the Pro model. However, we have to compare the samples from the P40 Pro and Plus in different zoom ranges to test this belief.
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Huawei P40 Pro 0.6x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus 0.6x
Huawei P40 Pro 1x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus 1x
From 0.6x to 2.9x zoom, there is not much difference between the 40 Pro and the Plus version due to the same wide-angle camera and main primary shooter. But when we extended the zoom range from 3x to 4.9x, the image quality difference turned out to be remarkable as the Plus version was using the separate 3x optical lens while the image shot by the Pro version is a cropped creation by the primary camera. Though the color is quite similar to each other as they’re running the same camera software, it’s no doubt that the separate 8MP 3x zoom camera produces a clearer image with better details.
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Huawei P40 Pro Plus 5x
Huawei P40 Pro 5x
Huawei P40 Pro 3x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus 3x
From 5x to 9x zoom, the images shot by the Pro version took the definite lead. It’s not surprising as the Pro version used its 5x optical zoom camera, while the Plus version still used its 3x zoom camera.
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Huawei P40 Pro 10x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus 10x
Huawei P40 Pro 50x
Huawei P40 Pro Plus 50x
And eventually, as we zoomed the Plus version to 9.1 times, what we saw in the viewfinder is pretty surprising, not just because of its superb clarity but also for its powerful stabilization when I was holding it in my hands. It’s worth adding that even for some professional cameras, it’s NOT common to have such stabilization over 200mm focal length. After seeing it on a phone, we are really amazed by the tech developed by Huawei. It is the first and only brand (so far) to bring 10x optical zoom to everyday users without any need for expert or technical photography knowledge.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus Review Hands on Featured
So it’s clear that the additional expensive camera sensor is fully functional and not just aa gimmick. We could also apply different filters and night mode to the whole range of focal length.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus In Night Mode
Now, let’s see some 10x zoom samples under night mode. Similar to how it works over the primary camera, users have to hold it steady for several seconds as it creates composite photos. So if you want to use the 10x zoom camera, it’s better to attach the phone to a tripod to get a perfect stabilization.
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primary camera-2
Huawei P40 Pro Plus primary camera 4
Huawei P40 Pro Plus primary camera 3
Huawei P40 Pro Plus primary camera
Huawei P40 Pro+ 10x-night
Huawei P40 Pro+ 10x-night-3
Huawei P40 Pro+ night-2
But the Huawei P40 Pro Plus has the same issue we discussed in the review video of the P40 Pro model, which is the viewfinder. What you see on the display viewfinder is not what you eventually get. The captured images turn out to better than what’s seen on the viewfinder.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus Review Hands-on Featured 4
It’s probably designed to protect the phone from overheating and consuming a lot of power. After all, computing the final result live on the viewfinder could be an exhausting task for the device. And indeed, the Plus variant managed to keep the temperature under control with good power consumption levels. We’ll talk about it in detail in the next para.
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You can check out the full resolution camera samples from this drive link.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus Videography & Battery Consumption
In addition to all the camera experience, we also tested the Plus model’s battery endurance as a filming machine. So we shot 4k 60fps video on both the P40 Pro and the Plus version for 30 mins.
The P40 Pro consumed 18% power, while the Plus model consumed 17% of power. And both of them controlled the temperature very well. So accordingly, there should be little difference between their battery performance. Accordingly, we estimate that the P40 Pro and the Plus version can shoot video at the highest quality for over 2 and a half hours.
Huawei P40 Pro Plus Review – 4K Battery Life
You can read our Huawei P40 Pro review for more details about its display and battery – as it shares most of the components with its cheaper sibling.
So that’s how the Plus version enhances everyday photography for ordinary users.
But for professional photographers, all the features we’ve talked about probably just meet their basic demands in their creation process. Compared to their professional equipment, the image quality created by the HUAWEI P40 PRO Plus may not able to convince them to use it as the primary device for photography, at least not for every professional. However, it doesn’t mean that the Plus version is completely useless for professional photographers.
As we mentioned above, the P40 Pro Plus is small and is able to shoot excellent zoomed-in photos without the need for bulky switchable lenses. Believe it or not, photographers hate carrying all kinds of cameras and their accessories when they need to work in poor conditions. More importantly, great moments are fleeting. So even professionals often need something that’s portable but capable of delivering good quality shots. And the Huawei P40 Pro Plus comes close to meeting this demand.
We have seen the evolution of the phone camera for years, and it is undeniable that the Huawei P series is one of the most aggressive camera smartphone lineups. For ordinary users, the intelligence of its cameras such as AI recognition helps bring a high-end photography experience without the need for any technical knowledge. For professionals, on the contrary, it expands the possibility of what a smartphone camera can do, bringing it closer to professional cameras than ever before.
A few hours after the PlayStation 5 was officially unveiled by Sony, out of the blue, KFC dropped a teaser for its own gaming console called KFConsole. The video posted on Twitter highlights the design and features of the mystery product.
KFC is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world. It is known for bizarre campaigns and the new KFConsole seems to be part of it. In fact, it could be a parody altogether even though the company mentions a November 12 launch date.
The next-generation gaming consoles from Sony (PS5) and Microsoft (X Box Series X) are slated to release in Holiday 2020. We might also witness the KFConsole at around the same time if it is indeed a real product.
According to the teaser video, the KFC made gaming console will feature a built-in chicken chamber with support for cross-platform. It also seems to have a Blu-ray disc player just like the other two popular consoles in the market.
What is even more interesting is that KFC is promising 120 FPS and True 4K support on its first-gen console. Anyway, we will know more about it in 5 months from now.
Xiaomi has launched a portable hand fan which also doubles as a humidifier. The DOCO Ultrasonic Dry Misting Fan looks like a regular hand fan but comes with a misting feature. It is presently available on the Youpin website for 69 yuan (~$10).
The fan utilises a DC brushless motor with a lower noise level, low power consumption and doesn’t get hot even with prolonged usage. The lifespan of the brushless motor is said to have been increased by 50% compared to other such fans.
It comes with three-speed wind speed control while the misting speed can be adjusted in two different levels. For the fan, the first gear has a rotational speed of 3200 rpm. The rotational speed of the second and third gears are 4100 rpm and 5100 rpm respectively.
Compared to the traditional fan, the misting fan can cool the temperature by about 3 ℃. There is a compartment for water and the water is blown through misting nozzles or a centrifugal misting system, producing a fog of water droplets so fine they can barely be seen. This fog is so fine that your skin and clothing won’t feel wet; instead, you’ll simply experience a fresh coolness.
The DOCO ultrasonic dry misting fan has a built-in 2000mAh lithium battery, which can be used for a maximum of 12 hours (first gear), second gear for 9 hours, and third gear for 3.4 hours when fully charged.
In terms of design, it is small and light, weighing only 155g, making it easy to keep in a bag. The fan also comes with a vertical stand which makes it easy to be placed on a flat surface. It is available in green, pink and white colors.
It is a regular occurrence that smartphone protective cases often go on sale sometimes months before the official launch. That is because several OEMs including Samsung, Motorola, LG,Sony, and others have official programs that case manufacturers can pay an undisclosed sum to join. That deal gets them early access to new phone models so they can have cases ready to launch on day one, or sometimes to show off alongside the new device when it’s announced, which can be weeks or even months before the actual release date.
Xiaomi is yet to announce the Mi CC10 model but the smartphone’s protective case has been listed for sale on a third-party store on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao. The listing gives us a hint of the design that the Mi CC10 would bring.
The pictures show the device will have a round camera housing shaped like Oreo. The came holds four sensors which look similar to the Redmi K30 Pro camera design. The difference is that the arrangement of the sensors is in a four Cardinal direction. In addition, the renders show a full-screen design without any cut-out. But there is no cut-out for a pop-up camera so the phone may likely feature a punch-hole or notch design.
A Russian tech blog recently revealed some supposed details of an upcoming Xiaomi phone that is codenamed CAS and believed to be a family member of forthcoming Xiaomi Mi CC 10 lineup. Xiaomi is said to have been working on the CAS phone since the beginning of this year.
The phone will have a 108-megapixel main sensor but it won’t be the Samsung HMX sensor that was featured on the Mi CC9 Pro, Mi 10, and Mi 10 Pro. Instead, the phone could feature an improved version of the same lens that is codenamed HM2. The new sensor will reportedly bring support for up to 120x digital zoom and also 12x optical zoom.
In addition, the leak tips the Mi CC10 to pack the unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 775G chipset. The SoC will bring support for 5G and NFC.
Xiaomi may likely launch the model outside China just like the Mi CC10 emerged as Mi 9 Lite last year. The thing is, the tech giant has already used the Mi 10 Lite moniker. So we can’t guess what it would launch as outside China. We’ll keep you posted as more details emerge.
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