Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus spec sheet reveals it will come with a Dimensity 800 processor

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May 9, 2020

A month ago, we reported that Samsung and MediaTek were marketing their 5G chipsets to Huawei as alternatives to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors which Huawei can not use in its phones. While Huawei is not new to using MediaTek processors in its devices, there is none with a 5G processor. That may change soon according to a new spec leak of an upcoming phone called the Huawei Enjoy Plus 20 that has revealed that the phone is powered by the Dimensity 800 5G mobile processor.

The spec sheet was posted on Weibo by a user that goes by @Really Assen. The Dimensity 800 5G is MediaTek’s cheapest 5G processor and the 7nm chipset is currently found inside the OPPO A92s. It offers a performance that surpasses the Snapdragon 730G. However, Huawei’s own Kirin 820 5G processor is a more powerful chipset.

The spec sheet says the phone will have a 2400 x 1080 LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate. There is no info on the screen size or the design. The processor will be paired with 6GB/8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 expandable storage.

It will also have a 16MP Sony IMX471 selfie camera, a 48MP Sony IMX586 primary rear camera paired with an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, and two 2MP cameras for a quad-camera setup. The Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus is also reported to have a 4200mAh battery capacity with support for 22.5W fast charge over USB Type-C.

The spec sheet even reveals the price tag of the phone. The 6GB RAM version will sell for ¥1899 (~$268) and ¥2199 (~$311) for the 8GB RAM version.

There is no info on when Huawei will announce the Enjoy 20 Plus but it may not be far. The Huawei Enjoy 10 Plus was announced back in September 2019. It has been more than 6 months already which means a successor is due.

(Source)

OnePlus slipped to third position in India’s premium smartphone segment in Q1 2020, iPhone 11 was the top selling device

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 9, 2020

Counterpoint Research has released its report on premium smartphone (>₹30,000 / >$400) segment in India for Q1 2020. Samsung climbed the ladder to acquire the first position, whereas, Apple remained second, and OnePlus was pushed to third place.

The South Korean smartphone maker was successful because of new product launches like the Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy Note 10 Lite and the ultra-premium Galaxy S20 series. However, the former two models helped a lot, thanks to their much affordable price tags between $400 – $500 (₹30,000 – ₹45000)

Additionally, the firm’s various discounts and cashback offers on the Galaxy S20 series also helped in boosting the sales. Samsung captured 34% of the total premium smartphone segment of India in Q1 2020.

Although Apple was in second place in the premium segment, it acquired first place with 55% market share in the ultra-premium (>$600) category. The company witnessed a 326% YoY growth in this segment with 40% sales from online channels.

The new iPhone 11 replaced the iPhone XR as the best selling smartphone in the whole premium segment. It accounted for 17% of total shipments in this category. The iPhone XR still managed to capture third place with a 9% market share.

The OnePlus 7T was the second-highest selling smartphones in the premium segment with 11% market share. But OnePlus as a whole slipped to the third position. Mostly, because customers were waiting for the launch of next-generation OnePlus 8 series.

That said, the smartphone market in India will not be the same in the next quarter. The lockdown issued by the government severely affected sales in the last week of March itself.

The country’s MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) just recently allowed to begin the sales of smartphones in early May. With almost no sales in the whole of April, OEMs will have to work hard to maintain their positions.

(Source)

Huawei laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 4800H spotted, Could be a new Honor MagicBook model

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 9, 2020

Honor has scheduled ‘Honor Smart Life’ product launch event for May 18, two days ahead of Honor X10 launch event. The company is expected to announce a wide variety of products at this event like laptops, tablets, routers, smart TVs, and more. About a week ahead of it, a Huawei laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 4800H has been tipped on Twitter.

Huawei Laptop

> R7 4800H
> 16GB DDR4
> 512GB Western Digital PC SN720 NVMe SSD
> no dGPU (so far)

— _rogame (@_rogame) May 9, 2020

According to the tipster, this upcoming mysterious Huawei laptop will be powered by AMD Ryzen 7 4800H paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Further, it will include a Western Digital PC SN720 NVMe SSD.

This new laptop will be more than enough for most users except for high-end gamers. Because the leakster found no proof of dedicated GPU. Nevertheless, the integrated Radeon RX Vega GPU is no slow either for low to mid-level editing tasks and gaming.

Anyway, we are not sure under which branding this laptop will be released. There’s no Huawei event as of now and hence there is a high probability of this notebook to release under Honor MagicBook branding on 18th May.

On the other hand, Honor’s president George Zhao also teased new MagicBook model with 10th Gen Intel processors. Maybe, we might see different laptops featuring AMD and Intel chips at the upcoming launch event.

Honor X10 will feature a graphene cooling system

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 9, 2020

Honor’s George Zhao has confirmed to launch Hono X10 on May 20. The brand is yet to begin marketing for the handset with daily teasers, which we think will probably start next week. Ahead of it, we are exposed to a 3D CAD image showcasing cooling system of Honor X10.

We are aware of most of the specifications of the upcoming Honor X10. Now, we also know that it will feature a graphene cooling system, thanks to a picture shared by well-known tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo. According to him, this could be the same kind of tech use in Huawei’s Mate series.

The Honor X10 is expected to be the cheapest 5G phone from Huawei. The handsets with 5G connectivity usually get warmer and consume more battery than normal 4G devices. Hence, a graphene-based cooling system can make a difference in the overall thermal performance of the phone.

As far as specs are concerned, the Honor X10 will sport a 6.63-inch FHD+ LCD screen with a 16MP pop-up camera. It will be powered by Kirin 820 5G chipset paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

It will feature a 40MP (primary) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP triple camera setup, out of which the primary unit is expected to be a Sony IMX600 RYYB sensor. Last but not least, the handset will be backed by a 4,200 mAh battery with support for 22.5W fast charging over USB Type-C.

Mi Air 2S TWS receives its first firmware update with tons of fixes and optimizations

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 9, 2020

Early last month, Xiaomi launched Mi Air 2S truly wireless earphones in China. Now, it is receiving its first firmware update with tons of fixes and optimizations.

The Mi Air 2S TWS brings a number of upgrades over its predecessors. It is powered by a dual-core processor and features binaural synchronous transmission technology. The buds last 5 hours on a full charge with an additional 24 hours from the case, which has support for wireless charging.

After a month from its announcement, the company is now seeding the first-ever firmware update to Mi Air TWS. The update brings the following fixes and features to the Xiaomi audio accessory.

Adds two hot words to increase and decrease volume. Now, supports 7 hot words in total, which covers all the playback controls for music as well as one to wake up Xiao AI voice assistant.
Fixes local music library synchronization
Fixes lag issues on Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and Redmi K30 Pro
Optimizes Bluetooth connection drops
Fixes mono audio in calls on iPhone
Fixes issue with the double-tap gesture to wake Xiao AI voice assistant
Fixes autoplay bug which activates even when turned off
Fixes waking up of Xiaomi AI even when the option is turned off
Optimizes double-tap gesture.

That’s a whole lot of fixes for the first firmware update. If you have bought Mi Air 2S recently, then make sure to update it.

(Via)

Xiaomi maintains lead as India’s smartphone market sees positive Q1 2020 growth

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2020

Research firm IDC has released its market data showing the performance of the Indian smartphone market in the first quarter of 2020. The data is coming with some positives at a time the global smartphone market is experiencing a downturn.

India recorded positive growth in the first quarter of 2020 with an estimated overall shipment of 32.4 million. This translates to a growth of 1.5% YoY as against the 20.3% and 16.0% Year-on-Year decline recorded by the Chinese and US markets respectively.

Some positives to take out is the increase in sales via online channels which saw a growth of 9.0% YoY in Q1 2020. Online sales recorded a market share of 43.1%. On the other hand, offline channel shipments declined by 3.5% YoY. Further, the feature phone market in India also saw a decline of 29.4%, with an estimated 22.8 million units shipment in Q1 2020.

In terms of ranking, Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi maintained its lead of the market with an estimated 1Q 2020 shipment volume of 10.1 million units, achieving a growth of 3.4% YoY. Xiaomi’s most popular devices included the Redmi Note 8 series models.

Vivo came in strongly in second place, registering a growth of 63.3% YoY. This was largely due to the success of their affordable Y series and S1/Pro series smartphones. Korean tech giant and global market leader Samsung suffered a decline of 28.4% YoY in Q1 2020, recording their lowest ever shipment numbers in the past 5 years. Pricing issues with the Galaxy M series and Galaxy A series of smartphones caused a low consumer interest and high channel inventory.

Realme leapt ahead of OPPO to emerge as the fourth largest brand in terms of shipment volume in the quarter. The OPPO sub-brand is said to have shipped 4.3 million units. Realme’s top-selling models for the quarter include the Realme 5i, 5s, C2/C3, and the Realme 6.

BBK subsidiary OPPO completes the top 5 with a 41% YoY growth. However, the brand’s latest Reno3 and F15 smartphones were no match for competing models which offered better pricing and features.

(source)

Meizu 17 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 8, 2020

After months of silence, Meizu came up with a new flagship lineup. The most powerful handset of the new series celebrating Meizu’s 17th anniversary is the Meizu 17 Pro: a high value for money flagship with top-tier specifications. But is the new device strong enough to compete with the best smartphones from the most important Chinese manufacturers? We think there is no better way of understanding it than comparing the new Meizu 17 Pro with the other Chinese flagships. For this comparison, we chose Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro simply because they are the most advanced devices released by Xiaomi and OnePlus: the most important Chinese brands in the world alongside Oppo and Huawei.

Meizu 17 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

	OnePlus 8 Pro	Meizu 17 Pro	Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm, 199 g	160 x 77.2 x 8.5 mm, 219 g	162.6 x 74.8 x 9 mm, 208 g
DISPLAY	6.78 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), Fluid AMOLED	6.6 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB	8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 10, Oxygen OS	Android 10, Flyme	Android 10, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 48 + 8 + 48 + 5 MP camera, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.5 front camera	Quad 64 + 8 + 32 + 0.3 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 + f/1.4 20 MP f/2.2 front camera	Quad 108 + 8 + 12 + 20 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.0 + f/2.0 + f/2.2 20 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4510 mAh, fast charging 30W, Fast wireless charging 30W	4500 mAh, fast charging 30W and fast wireless charging 27W	4500 mAh, fast charging 50W and fast wireless charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 3W, IP68 waterproof, 5G	5G, reverse wireless charging	Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, 5G

Design

All these handsets feature a very elegant and futuristic design. Which one should you choose? It mostly depends on your tastes. In my opinion, OnePlus 8 Pro has a slightly more interesting design and build quality: it boasts a higher screen-to-body ratio and it is the only waterproof phone with the IP68 certification. But Meizu 17 Pro is made of ceramic and some may prefer its unique materials as well as its more compact body, despite it does not come with a curved display, unlike OnePlus 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

Display

OnePlus 8 Pro wins the display comparison because it boasts a lot better panel. It is an AMOLED display with HDR10+, a higher Quad HD+ resolution, and a higher 120 Hz refresh rate. Both Meizu 17 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro have an AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. OnePlus 8 Pro also offers a wider panel with a 6.78-inch diagonal. Further, note that it has a 10 bit screen which can display one billion colors. There is simply no challenge: OnePlus 8 Pro is the king.

Hardware/Software

When it comes to the hardware department, you should not notice differences in daily use. Meizu 17 Pro, OnePlus 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are all equipped with the Snapdragon 865 (supporting 5G connectivity) mobile platform paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and fast UFS storage (UFS 3.1 on Meizu 17 Pro, UFS 3.0 on OnePlus 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro). The software department is what really makes the difference: there is no doubt about the fact that OxygenOS and MIUI are more advanced user interfaces than Meizu’s Flyme OS.

Camera

It is hard to establish which device will be the best camera phone of the trio not only because we still did not test all of them, but also because they are very close (on the paper). If we look at the specs on the paper, we find out that Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro looks more impressive with its 108 MP main sensor, up to 3.7x optical zoom, and the support to 8K video recording, as well as other interesting features. But its rivals are still amazing camera phones and they may surprise everyone soon.

Battery

Meizu 17 Pro, OnePlus 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro come with the same battery capacity (just 10 mAh more for the OP8 Pro), but the OnePlus 8 Pro has an inferior battery life due to its more energy-demanding display sporting a QHD+ resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The fight will be between Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and Meizu 17 Pro as we still do not know how much the latter will last on a single charge.

Price

Meizu 17 Pro debuted in China with prices starting from €560/$607, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro costs €652/$706 in the same country, and OnePlus 8 Pro begins at €706/$765. The OnePlus 8 Pro wins the comparison thanks to its better display because it is waterproof and thanks to a few other interesting features. But Meizu 17 Pro wins the value for money award with its great price.

Read More: Xiaomi shares Mi 10 Pro samples from China’s latest Mount Everest expedition

Meizu 17 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: PRO and CONS

OnePlus 8 Pro

PROS

Waterproof IP68
Amazing display
Wider display
Amazing software

CONS

Price

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

PROS

Great audio
Good street prices
Fastest charging
8K video recording

CONS

Nothing particular

Meizu 17 Pro

PROS

More compact
More affordable
Unique materials
UFS 3.1 storage

CONS

Less impressive software

Redmi 10X moniker and specs spotted on Google Play Console listing

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2020

Just about the same time when the Redmi 9 was spotted on Xiaomi‘s RF Exposure website, the Redmi 10X also reportedly made an appearance on Google Play Console listing. The Redmi 10X has been considered an unusual name since we are having the Redmi 9 series this year. But the rumours have continued to gain ground with the phone said to be a rebranded Redmi Note 9 for the Chinese market. However, the Google Play Console listing suggests otherwise.

The listing shows that the Redmi 10X 4G would bear the codename Merlin and will feature a MediaTek Helio G70 processor instead of the Helio G85 chipset that’s powering the Redmi Note 9. The processor is bundled with a Mali G52 GPU firing up the graphics. The smartphone will also come with 3GB RAM but we expect other options.

This device can easily be confused with the Redmi 9 which is expected to pack a similar specs lineup. However, the presence of an FHD+ resolution of 1080×2340 pixels should do the trip in distinguishing them as separate entities. The device will run on Android 10.

However, we won’t put all our cards on this one since the source isn’t given. So take this with a grain of salt.

(via)

Lei Jun’s favorite Xiaomi phone is Mi Mix 2 with ceramic unibody

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 8, 2020

Xiaomi launched the Mi Mix 2 bezel-less (at that time) smartphone in 2017. Earlier today, Lei Jun, the company’s co-founder and CEO recalled it as his favorite Xiaomi phone. He thinks this handset feels like jade because of its ceramic unibody.

Xiaomi’s Mi Mix series of smartphones are known for offering a full-screen experience. The last commercial phone in the series was Mi Mix 3, whose 5G version, unfortunately, did not sell well. As a result, it is yet to receive MIU 11 and Android 10 update.

Recently, the Chinese smartphone maker registered a new Weibo account for the Mix series. Now, the CEO remembers an old Mi Mix device as his favorite Xiaomi phone. All of this somewhat indicate the arrival of the new Mix series smartphone.

Xiaomi did announce a new device in the series recently called Mi Mix Alpha. But it is a concept smartphone and is yet to go on sale though it has a price tag attached to it.

Considering the statement made by Lei Jun, we can expect the next Mi Mix device, probably called Mi Mix 4 to come with ceramic unibody design like its predecessor from 2017.

Phones with ceramic back are not unique to Xiaomi. The Meizu 17 Pro launched today also has a ceramic body and so does the Huawei P40 Pro Plus. There were multiple devices in the past with this design like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Essential Phone, and LG V35 Signature Edition to name a few.

Redmi 9 may launch soon as it is spotted on Xiaomi’s website

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2020

Xiaomi has already taken the wraps off all the models on the mid-range Redmi Note 9 series. What is left is for the entry-level Redmi 9 series to drop. There were rumours that the company will launch the Redmi 9 and 10X soon in China. That rumour may have some credibility as the Redmi 9 has been spotted on the RF Exposure page of Xiaomi’s website.

The web listing gives the model number for the phone as M2004J19G for the phone. It also gives the name as Redmi 9. Recall that the Redmi 9 had earlier appear for certification on China’s 3C website with a similar model number M2004J19C. Thus, this version should be the one meant for the global market. The 3C listed showed the device will ship with a 10W charger but will have support for 18W fast charging just like the Redmi 8. In addition, the model has also got EEC certification with model number M2004J19AG.

Earlier rumours tip the Redmi 9 to pack a MediaTek Helio G70 chipset as well as quad rear cameras, including a 13-megapixel main camera. Other sensors include an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 5-megapixel macro and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The Redmi 9 will also keep the physical fingerprint scanner at the back.

(source)

Kernel source code for OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro is now live

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 8, 2020

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro went official last month. They are already on sale in various regions. Also, both the handsets in the series have received multiple updates fixing various bugs. Now, their kernel source code is out as well.

Normally, OnePlus is quick to release kernel source code for its devices. But the company took more time this year with the OnePlus 8 series. Anyway, it is out now and interested developers can already start fiddling with it.

On the other hand, the code names for these handsets are too boring.

OnePlus 8 – instantnoodle
OnePlus 8 Pro – instantnoodlep

Don’t know why OnePlus went with ‘instantnoodlep’ for the OnePlus 8 Pro. The previous generations had different and better codenames for each model.

That said, now as the kernel source code is out, we can expect developers to begin compiling custom recoveries like TWRP and more. Since OnePlus is popular in third-party development like Xiaomi, we will likely see a number of custom ROMs, kernels, and mods in the near future.

But there might be a delay this time around due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. OnePlus is yet to start sales in its biggest markets like India. Also, as most countries are under lockdown, there are fewer chances of developers receiving their units on time.

(Source)

Honor X10 spotted in real life, thanks to China’s Mount Everest expedition team

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2020

Honor recently announced that members of China’s 2020 Everest Survey Mountaineering Team were given the Honor 30 Pro Plus and the upcoming Honor X10 5G. Some samples captured by the 10X were shared, the same way Xiaomi shared samples captured by the Mi 10 Pro. The tech giant has shared some more images from the expedition and one of them is the real-life image of the Honor 10X 5G which was used to test the 5G connectivity on the mountain.

The 5G test is said to have been conducted at an altitude of 5800-6500 meters. The phone was able to achieve a download speed of 5G can reach 1617Mbps, the upload speed reaches 90.3Mbps, and the ping value is only 74ms. Thi test is perhaps made possible by the 5G base station established by Huawei and China Telecom last month.

About the phone, the front view is all we get to see now but this will suffice considering that the 10X has been certified by TENAA but it is usually difficult to make out any details from the front shots shared by the certification outfit. The image shows the Honor 10X will come with a notch-less, bezel-less design. The bezels are almost non-existent on the top and side edges that are visible on the picture. In addition, the device will feature a pop-up selfie camera.

TENAA data shows the Honor 10X will pack a matrix rear camera design. The device will sport a 6.63-inch LCD screen with a 2400 × 1080 pixels resolution. The mid-range phone is equipped with a Kirin 820 5G chip, a built-in 4200mAh battery with 22.5W fast charge support, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

(source)

Vivo G1 5G Enterprise Edition launched in China: A customized Vivo S6 for Business Customers

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 8, 2020

Vivo unveiled Vivo S6 5G in late March. Now, the company launches a new version of this handset called Vivo G1 5G customized for enterprise customers. The only difference between the two devices is the inclusion of NFC as well as dual-profile for work and personal use.

Vivo G1 5G Specifications

Unlike the standard Vivo S6 5G, the Vivo G1 5G only comes in a single Black color option. Further, it is powered by the same Samsung Exynos 980 SoC paired with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage.

On the front, it sports a 6.44-inch FHD+ ( 2400×1080 pixels) AMOLED HDR10 panel with an in-display fingerprint sensor. A 32MP selfie camera sits in the dew-drop notch located at the top center of the screen.

As for the rear, the handset features an Oreo-like structure accommodating a 48MP (primary) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth) quad-camera setup. The back of the looks very much formal compared to the recently launched Vivo S6 5G Streaming Mystery color variant.

Other features of the handset include dual-mode 5G (SA & NSA), USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, Jovi virtual assistant, software-based face unlock, 4,500 mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

Vivo G1 5G Special Enterprise Features

The phone runs Funtouch OS 10 based on Android 10 with dual profile functionality. The work and personal space are independent of each other. The overall configurations of the work profile can be only controlled by the employee’s company, however, he/she can operate the handset normally in the personal profile.

In other words, the work profile is centrally managed by the enterprise with full control for app installation, system updates, connectivity settings such as WiFi and Bluetooth, and more. Also, personal information is not stored in this profile, and users cannot transfer any data via wired or wireless.

There’s also a special Police Edition of this device with customized features. For example, for police officers, the phone can be directly connected to the public security intranet, and can also be customized to always show the position of the police officer. This way the command center can arrange for the police to be dispatched nearby.

Furthermore, the NFC chip included in the device can be used for multiple purposes like card identification, eID, consumer payment, tag reading, and more.

Vivo G1 5G Variants and Pricing

As far as variants and prices are concerned, the Vivo G1 5G comes in two versions and they are as mentioned below.

Vivo G1 Standard Edition (8GB + 128GB) – 3,498 Yuan ($494)
Vivo G1 Police Edition (8GB + 128GB) – 4,4498 Yuan ($636)

Xiaomi launches the Mi 30W Wireless Charger with built-in cooling fan in India

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

May 8, 2020

The much-awaited launch event by Xiaomi in India was finally held today. The Chinese tech giant took the wraps off the Mi 10 5G, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, Mi Box 4K and a new Mi 30W Wireless Charger.

The Mi 30W wireless charger adopts a new air duct design, which directly removes heat without passing through the coil. According to Xiaomi, this design ensures that the heat dissipation efficiency is higher and safer.

The wireless charger utilises an ergonomic tilt design which resembles a kickstand that is meant to hold the phone. Sure, that is an extra function which the wireless charger can perform when not in use. As the name suggests, the wireless fast charger has a maximum power rating of 30W. The charger uses the Qi charging standard and is compatible with most phones that support wireless charging. It also packs an ultra-quiet built-in fan which actively and efficiently cools the charger when compared to other vertical wireless chargers in the market. The heat dissipation is equally more efficient.

The Mi 30W Wireless charger will go on pre-order for a special price of Rs. 1,999 ($26) price tag. After the pre-order period, the charger will sell for Rs 2,299 ($39).

Mi Note 10 global variant gets Android 10 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

May 8, 2020

Xiaomi launched the Mi Note 10 as a rebranded Mi CC9 Pro for international markets. It is the world’s first smartphone to feature 108MP camera. But it is also one of the last phones from the brand to receive Android 10 update, which is currently being rolled out to a handful of users with the global variant.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 comes in three variants for international markets – Global, Europe (EEA), and Russia. However, the Android 10 update is only available for Global, that too for a few set of users.

For the unaware, this kind of MIUI builds is known as Stable Beta. If there’s positive feedback from the users, then the same build will be rolled out to all. If not, a new build will be released again with bug fixes.

Anyway, talking about the update, it comes with build number MIUI 11.1.1.0.QFDMIXM and weighs 2.6GB in size. The software is still MIUI 11 with MIUI 12 scheduled to arrive in a couple of months from now. Last but not least, the security patch level also gets a bump to April 2020.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Android 10 Update Official Changelog

System
- Optimization: Updated Android Security Patch to April 2020
- Increased System Security
- Stable MIUI based on Android 10

We are not sure when the remaining variants of Mi Note 10 will receive the Android 10 update.

(Via)

Meizu launches a wireless charging pad, GaN charger, Backpack and more!

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

May 8, 2020

Meizu‘s launch event held today saw the Chinese company released a total of fourteen products. The Meizu 17 and 17 Pro are no doubt the star products but the other products include the HD60 noise-cancelling headphones and 10,000mAh Supercharged power bank. Here’s a rundown of other products that were also launched.

Meizu supercharged GaN three-port charger

Just like other GaNchargersin the market, Meizu’s GaN three-port charger is manufactured using gallium nitride semiconductors. The use of gallium nitride semiconductor materials has the advantages of super thermal conductivity, high-temperature resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and greatly reduces the size of the charger.

Meizu GaN three-port charger features an ultra-high 65W power support. It is fully compatible with QC3.0, FCP, PD3.0, AFC, PPS, PE2.0 and other fast charging protocols. The charger is designed with three ports – two USB-C and one USB-A output port. Any single port can output 65W full power when used.

The charger is priced at 199 yuan (~$28) and will go on sale soon.

Meizu supercharged wireless pad

The Meizu supercharged wireless pad uses a zero ridgeline minimalist design style. It has a pure white comfortable non-slip liquid silicone pad. The wireless charging pad also features a large active silent cooling fan. The 23-blade fan design greatly improves heat dissipation.

The charger comes with up to 27W power support for the Meizu 17 Pro and can also provide up to 10W output for other Qi-standard gadgets.

The charger adopts a 169 yuan (~$23) price tag. It is presently on pre-sale at Meizu official website, Meizu Tmall official flagship store, Meizu authorized online store, Meizu official website, Meizu speciality store, Jingdong, and Suning. Meizu will reduce the price to 129 yuan for those buying the Meizu 17 Pro mobile phone.

Meizu also launched a couple of PANDAER 17 series products including a cotton t-shirt, a branded case for the Meizu 17 series and a jelly bag. Also unveiled is the Lifeme backpack, camera bag and a silicone case for the Meizu 17. All the products will go on sale from May 11.

(via)

Android TV update for Mi TV 4 55″ might finally arrive

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 8, 2020

The Xiaomi Mi TV 4 55″ launched in India in early 2018 as the world’s thinnest TV at 4.9mm thickness. The company even advertised it to be thinner than a coin. Priced at ₹39,999 (increased to ₹44,999), it was the most expensive product from the brand for the Indian market at that time. But the TV was left out for Android TV update, which is even available for cheaper models launched alongside it. But now, it seems like the update is indeed coming for this model after over 2 years from its release.

Customer service reveals Android TV update for Mi TV 4 55″

A user shared the screenshot of his chat with Xiaomi India Customer Service. He asked if the Mi TV 4 55″ would receive Android TV update. To his surprise, the executive replied the developers on working on it and will be rolling out in phases after testing.

Hearing this, the user was puzzled and asked if the executive is really talking about Mi TV 4 55″ since most of the users have lost hope. To this, the executive simply replied ‘Yes’ confirming the fact from his side.

Anyway, we would like you to take this information with a pinch of salt. Because information from customer service executives is always not accurate.

Sub-standard software support for Mi TVs in India

Xiaomi entered the smart TV market of India with the launch of Mi TV 4 55″ and Mi TV 4A 43″ / 32″ in early 2018. These TVs ran AOSP Android with PatchWall interface on top of it for content aggregation.

Later, in the same year, the company launched new TV models powered by Android TV platform with support for Google services like Play Store, Chromecast, YouTube, and Google Assistant. During the launch, Xiaomi promised to update Mi TV 4A 43″ and 32″ to this new platform but did not even mention the premium Mi TV 4 55″.

Users have been requesting for updates for over two years on Twitter and Mi Community. But the company’s executives don’t pay heed to their tweets or community threads.

On the other hand, the update for Mi TV 4A 43″ / 32″ was delayed for over a year and was only rolled out in late 2019. That too, with a lot of bugs like the buzzing of speakers in lower volume levels. Above all, these TVs still don’t support Netflix.

Umidigi A7 Pro goes official with AI Quad camera, FHD+ display and 128GB internal storage

By

Simranpal Singh

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May 8, 2020

After the global launch of the most affordable flagship – Umidigi S5 Pro, the Chinese smartphone maker is here with a new mid-range device – UMIDIGI A7 Pro. It is the successor of the popular entry-level smartphone Umidigi A5 Pro. The new smartphone features a Quad AI camera, Full HD+ display, and a powerful Octa-Core processor for under $150. Umidigi A7 Pro will be made available during the Umidigi Fan Festival on May 26.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Umidigi is not stopping by in bringing affordable smartphones for the users. It has launched highly-anticipated Umidigi A7 Pro featuring compelling specifications with the expected price of under $150.

Many astonishing features of Umidigi A7 Pro makes the smartphone as value king.

Umidigi A7 Pro Specifications:

Screen: 6.3” FHD+ Full Screen, 19.5:9
CPU: MediaTek, Helio P23, 4xCortex-A53, 2.0GHz & 4xCortex-A53, 1.5GHz
GPU: ARM Mali G71 MP2 700MHz
RAM: 4GB, LPDDR4x dual-channel
Storage: 64GB / 128GB
Rear Camera: 16 Mp + 16 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP
Front Camera: 16 MP
Connectivity: Dual 4G/Dual VoLTE, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, BL 4.0, OTG, USB Type-C
Battery: 4150mAh, 10W Fast Charge
Dimensions: 158.7 x 74.9 x 8.5 mm
Weight: 212g
Sensors: Rear-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic Compass
Colors: Ocean Blue, Cosmic Black

AI Quad Rear Camera

The Umidigi A7 Pro packs a Quad rear camera featuring a 16-megapixel primary camera for detailed pictures. Other sensors include a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree view, 5-megapixel macro sensor, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. It can capture high-quality photos even in the low light environment using AI scene recognition. There’s a 16-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

Immersive Full HD+ Display

Umidigi always prefers to bring high-quality displays to improve the viewing experience of the device. Umidigi A7 Pro features a large 6.3-inch waterdrop full view display based on in-cell LTPS build with 2340 x 1080 Full HD+ resolution, and 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

Powerful CPU and large memory

Umidigi A7 Pro comes powered with an Octa-Core processor, 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB internal storage. The smartphone scores 122,547 in AnTuTu configuration which fares well against 92,514 of A5 Pro. There’s a 4150 mAh battery with a 10W charger in the box.

Premium Design

Umidigi A7 Pro carries premium quality finish with a 2.5D glass back and metal chassis engraved with the new optical plating technology. The beautiful shine gives a premium look on both the front and the rear side. Fingerprint sensors and a quad-camera module sit on the rear side of the smartphone. Moreover, there’s an expandable 3-card slot (Dual SIM + MicroSD) on the side of the smartphone, and Type-C charging port on the bottom.

Umidigi A7 Pro Design

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The smartphone runs on Android 10 and supports global 4G LTE bands and VoLTE.

Pricing and Availability

Umidigi A7 Pro will start retailing on May 26 along with the recently announced A7 Pro during UMIDIGI Fan Festival on AliExpress. The exact pricing details are not yet out, but both the 64GB and 128GB storage variants will be made available for under $150. It is available in two different colors of Ocean Blue and Cosmic Black.

However, the interested users can add S5 Pro and A7 Pro to cart on Aliexpress to get a massive discount when it goes live on May 26. The company confirms the optimal stock of the device, and shipping will start as soon as the global sale kicks-off.

The users can also join the UMIDIGI A7 Pro giveaway to get the smartphone for free by heading to the Umidigi official website.

Google Lens can now recognize your handwritten notes

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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May 8, 2020

Google Lens is one of the useful tools, which comes with Android smartphones (with GMS) out of the box within the Google app. The search giant has now added a new feature, which enables users to copy-paste their handwritten notes.

There are lots of apps on the Play Store and App Store that helps in scanning handwritten text. But getting this functionality without installing any third-party app is a boon for Android users. However, iOS users will have to install Google App.

The new copy-paste feature can help users copy their handwritten notes and paste it in their phone or even on a computer. All they need is the updated Google App on their smartphones and the latest Google Chrome on their computers.

To use this feature, users will have to access Google Lens on their smartphones first. Android users can do it by installing the standalone Google Lens app, in addition to updating the Google App. They can even access it by provoking Google Assistant. Whereas, iOS users can only access it through the Google App.

Then, point smartphone’s camera to their desired handwritten notes, highlight it and copy. The data can be now pasted in the phone as well as in Google Docs by accessing it on Chrome on a computer. Do note that same account should be signed in on both Google app on smartphone and Google Chrome on computer.

Anyway, the text prediction will depend on how legible the user’s handwriting is to Google’s AI algorithm.

(Source)

Xiaomi releases MIUI 12 Developer build for Mi 6 and 32 other smartphones in China

By

Simranpal Singh

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May 8, 2020

After the MIUI 12 announcement last week, the Chinese electronics giant is now working to improve the system stability across multiple devices. It is making MIUI 12 closed beta builds accessible for more and more devices since last week. Moreover, the company started rolling out MIUI 12 Developer builds for 33 Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones in China.

Must See: MIUI 12 Launched: All New Features and Supported Devices

MIUI took to Weibo to officially announce the availability of MIUI 12 Developer builds across 33 models. The list includes:

Xiaomi Mi 10
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition
Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer Edition
Xiaomi Mi 9
Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition
Redmi K30 Pro
Redmi K30 5G
Redmi K30
Redmi K20 Pro Premium Edition
Redmi K20 Pro
Redmi K20
Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro
Xiaomi Mi CC9 Meitu Edition
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
Redmi Note 8 Pro
Redmi Note 7
Xiaomi Mi 8
Xiaomi Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Xiaomi Mi Note 3
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Edition
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Xiaomi Mi Note 5
Xiaomi Mi 6X
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
Xiaomi Mi 6

The MIUI 12 support for Redmi Note 8 Pro is dropped due to bricking issues in China.

These China-based builds are not intended to be used by Global users as these builds lacks Google apps and support for different languages. However, Xiaomi.EU published MIUI 12 builds for over 28 devices Europe with access to Google apps, more languages, and without Chinese services.

Xiaomi MIUI 12 brings various new features and enhancements like new design animations with real-time light and shadow effects using MIUI Light Cone Motion Effect Architecture. The new layered Dynamic Icons generates real-time feedback based on speed and direction. Other features include a new Control Center instead of quick settings panel, improved navigation gestures, app drawer, live wallpapers, floating windows, enhanced dark mode, Mi Share, and much more. MIUI 12 emphasis the privacy features to secure user data.

The interested users can pull CHina based MIUI 12 development ROM for the compatible devices by heading to the team’s official website.

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Meizu 17 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

Design

Display

Hardware/Software

Camera

Battery

Price

Meizu 17 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: PRO and CONS

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Vivo G1 5G Special Enterprise Features

Vivo G1 5G Variants and Pricing

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Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Android 10 Update Official Changelog

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Meizu supercharged wireless pad

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Customer service reveals Android TV update for Mi TV 4 55″

Sub-standard software support for Mi TVs in India

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Must See: Buy UMIDIGI Uwatch3 Fitness Tracker for Just $16 from Amazon [Coupon]

Umidigi A7 Pro Specifications:

AI Quad Rear Camera

Immersive Full HD+ Display

Powerful CPU and large memory

Premium Design

Pricing and Availability

Related: UMIDIGI UFit smartwatch with SpO2 sensor is now official for only $29.99

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Must See: MIUI 12 Launched: All New Features and Supported Devices

Related: [Download] MIUI 12 Super Wallpaper is now Available for All Android Devices