Oukitel C18 Pro goes on sale globally for a decent price of $99

By

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Apr 21, 2020

Oukitel finally took off the wraps from Oukitel C18 Pro for global sales. The new smartphone with the finest specifications and optimized software is available for $99 from Aliexpress. Primarily, Oukitel C18 Pro sports a Quad-True camera module, 6.55-inch HD+ display, 4000 mAh battery and various other specifications. Here’s an introduction video of the new device showing all its features:

Must See: Oukitel WP6 Unboxing video surfaces featuring tough yet premium design

Oukitel C18 Pro launch price may be revised after the initial launch days. The latest device from Oukitel is smart enough to perform better with its 5MP macro lens than the Xiaomi CC9 Pro.

Let’s discuss each aspect of the Oukitel C19 Pro in detail, and starting with its camera department.

Oukitel C19 Pro camera

The smartphone features a high-end quad rear camera module featuring 16-megapixel primary sensors, 8-megapixel ultrawide sensors + 5-megapixel macro lens and 2-megapixel depth sensors. It competes against quite popular smartphones such as Xiaomi CC9 Pro. The Oukitel C18 Pro captures much better photo with its 5-megapixel macro lens in comparison with its competitors. The macro lens also supports video recording with a minimum object distance of 2.5cm.

6.55-inch HD+ Fullview display

Apart from the camera, the Oukitel C18 Pro houses a beautiful 6.55-inch HD+ display with the vivid and immersive viewing experience. It can provide the best viewing experience during these tough times when a global lockdown is going on due to a pandemic. Oukitel C18 Pro offers wider display to let gamers and movie watchers enjoy their favourite movies and games.

Large Battery

Oukitel C18 Pro embeds a massive 4000 mAh battery which is enough to sustain a full busy day. The user need not to carry any power bank to recharge the device on the go.

Powerful Chipset

The smartphone houses a powerful Helio P25 Octa-Core processor which supports maximum clocking speed of 2.5GHz. the chipset also supports 6GB LPDDR4X-200 RAM. Moreover, there’s support for Turbo Engine, 12bit ISP, Mali-T800 GPU with 900MHz frequency. It is a perfect companion for any affordable smartphone providing cutting-edge performance.

Stock Android Exeirence

Oukitel C18 Pro offers stock Android experience while running on Android 9.0 Pie. The company has promised Android 10 update for the device and it will be rolling out very soon. It will get all the luxuries of Android 10 like live caption, smart replies, improved privacy and various other features.

Other Features

The smartphone features a Proximity, Light, Accelerometer, Compass, and Fingerprint sensors. There’s support for WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB 2.0, GPS and FM Radio.

Oukitel C18 Pro is now available from Aliexpress for $99. The interested users can know more about the device by heading to the official website.

Related: $149 OUKITEL C18 Pro beats $380 Xiaomi CC9 Pro in macro camera test video

Alleged GeekBench listing for Mi 10 SE with Snapdragon 720G appears

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 21, 2020

Since the Mi 8 series, Xiaomi has always released a trimmed down SE variant, specifically the Mi 8 SE and Mi 9 SE. The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro were the two variants announced this year. Xiaomi skipped not just the Mi 10 SE but also the Mi 10 Explorer Edition. However, a screenshot of the Mi 10 SE GeekBench listing has been leaked on Slashleaks. We were unable to find the listing on Geekbench database which means this is likely fake.

The Xiaomi mi 10 SE listing shows the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor which is the same SoC on the Poco X2. However, the RAM is given as 48.31GB, which is another discrepancy that gives this one out as fake.

Nevertheless, there are fans who still look forward to a Mi 10 SE model which will bless expensive tan the flagship Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. Xiaomi had earlier confirmed that it would launch a Snapdragon 720G-powered smartphone this year. The Mi 10 SE could be that model but still, that is doubtful because the chipset doesn’t support 5G. Already, the Chinese tech giant threw in a surprise recently when it launched the Mi 10 Lite in Europe. The device succeeds the Mi 9 Lite which itself was preceded by the Mi 8 Lite.

Since there has been no official confirmation of this model, we can as well hold that the Mi 10 SE doesn’t exist. There is a possibility Xiaomi may release the model later this year.

(source)

Xiaomi teases new Air Conditioner, features soft Natural Breeze and Fresh airflow

By

Sean

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Apr 21, 2020

Earlier today (21st April 2020), Xiaomi announced a new air conditioner through its official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website, of its Smart Home appliances department.

According to the official post, “Compared to the ordinary air-conditioning wind, how long have you never felt the breeze of nature? How do you achieve the environment switch between the city and the valley on a busy day?” This highly implies that the new air conditioner will be made with a natural feeling breeze in mind. The Chinese tech giant emphasized greatly on the countryside experience.

In the post, the company shared a teaser poster image which also depicted the countryside. From what we can gather, the company is focusing on its new Natura Breeze feature, which will likely be an aromatic enhancement. Meaning, Xiaomi may be trying to provide a fresh airflow experience through a fresh smell over traditional air conditioners.

Furthermore, the airflow itself is said to be gentler or “softer.” This again emphasizes the natural breeze over the artificial cold air which isn’t very healthy on the human body. The airflow will also have a wider coverage with less temperature difference within the room. In other words, one will not have areas that the airflow doesn’t reach while it will not hit anyone directly and spread more evenly.

Galaxy Watch series gets Blood Pressure monitoring app; needs a sphygmomanometer for calibration

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 21, 2020

Smartwatches have evolved from being able to track just physical activities to be able to measure other important health data such as your heart rate, your oxygen intake, and your blood pressure. Yesterday, Samsung announced that its Galaxy Watch series will now be able to measure blood pressure. However, users will actually need a sphygmomanometer to calibrate the watch.

The nearly minute-long video released by the official Samsung Newsroom YouTube channel walks users through the process. First, you have to ensure that your watch is tightly fitted to your non-dominant wrist. Then wear the cuff of the blood pressure monitor on the arm of your other hand. Just as you begin measuring with the monitor, your watch also begins to measure your blood pressure automatically.

When the watch is done measuring, you enter the reading from the monitor on your phone. You will be required to take two more measurements before calibration is completed after which you will then be able to use your watch to measure your blood pressure with the watch anytime. The press release advises users to calibrate their watch every four weeks to ensure accuracy.

With the health app on your phone, you will be able to monitor your different blood pressure readings over a period of time as recorded measurements will be synced to the device.

Samsung said the Health Monitor app will be available on the Galaxy Watch Active2 in Q3 2020 and then roll out to upcoming models. So if you own the original Watch Active, you will not be able to make use of this feature.

(Source)

Here are the Top Snapdragon 855+ Smartphones with the Best Resale value in China

By

Sean

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Apr 21, 2020

Earlier today (21st April 2020), Huishoubao, a popular second hand phone dealer in China, released a list for the best resale value for smartphones with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855+ SoC. In the list, the reseller also added AnTuTu benchmarking stats as well.

For those unaware, Qualcomm released its flagship mobile chipset, Snapdragon 855+ back in the second half of 2019. So in terms of performance, it is very similar in technical prowess with the latest Snapdragon 865 SoC. This flagship chip from 2019 was used in various Android flagships from brands including, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Nubia, Asus, Meizu, Black Shark, iQOO, Nubia and more.

The list released by the second hand smartphone dealer arrives in the form of an image that reveals the highest resale value of certain handsets. The company calculated the value by dividing the market price of a smartphone 6 months after its launch by its original selling price at the initial launch. Then, it multiplies it by 100 to get a percentage.

Through this, we can observe that the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G ranked first since it had a resale value of 76.10 percent. In other words, despite 6 months have passed, the smartphone saw lower depreciation of its market price. On the second spot, the Black Shark 2 Pro comes in with 72.06 percent while OnePlus 7T arrives third with 70.80 percent.

Other notable models include Meizu 16S Pro (70.17%), Asus ROG Gaming Phone 2 (68.68%), Redmi K20 Pro (66.33%), OnePlus 7T Pro (66.14%), Nubia Red Magic 3S (62.65%), iQOO Pro 5G (61.96%) and more. So for those that own any of these smartphone and are looking for an upgrade, might be interested in checking the resale value of your smartphone.

Xiaomi launches the Mijia Scooter 1S, battery lasts up to 30km and is priced at 1999 Yuan ($282)

By

Sean

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Apr 21, 2020

Back in 2016, Xiaomi had released an electric scooter which had received various awards and praises. Now, nearly 4 years after the original launch, the Chinese tech giant has now released the Xiaomi Mijia Scooter 1S. It is priced at 1,999 Yuan (roughly 282 US Dollars) and is currently available at the Xiaomi Mall platform.

The Scooter 1S brings various upgrades and new features. This includes a new interactive visual dashboard, which also supports self diagnosis and checking. In other words, if there is a malfunction in any system of the electric scooter, the display can notify the user. Furthermore, the screen also reveals real time speed, driving status, battery life and other important information as well, all in one glance.

Being interactive, one can navigate through various functions with just the single button provided below it. The Mijia Scooter 1S follows a minimalistic design with aviation grade aluminum alloy body and a total weight of just 12.5 kilograms. Notably, it is capable of carrying loads up to 100kg. The electric scooter can also be folded in just under 3 seconds, making it portable when not in use.

The integrated DC motor that powers the Scooter 1S is rated for a service life of 3,000 hours with a 250W power rating and a maximum output of 500W. The scooter can reach speeds up to 25km/h and can last up to 30 kilometers in a single ful charge. It also features an energy saving mode, normal mode, and an adjustable sports mode as well.

The Xiaomi Mijia Scooter 1S is equipped with two 8.5 inch tires that are wear and skid resistant. The handle adopts a double brake design for both the front and rear wheels. Interestingly, when the throttle is released and the brake handle is pressed, the scooter can recover a small portion of the energy from the front wheels, providing a longer battery life. it also supports the ABS system (Anti Brake) and anti brake lock system and has large disc brake structure as well.

5 Best USB-C Cables in 2020 [Buying Guide]

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 21, 2020

The USB-C standard was originally announced back in 2014. Initially, consumers weren’t completely sure about buying USB-C cables but things have changed drastically with the -C cables reaching a safer and more stable standard.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, iPad Pro, MacBook, Android phone, or any other device with a USB-C port, you need to some cables for transferring data, charging, and displaying video. Regrettably, when it comes to USB-C, cables that seem identical can perform in another way.

For instance, a cable that offers fast charging may turn out to be maddeningly slow when it comes to transferring data. Much to our relief, the market is teeming with all sorts of USB-C cables that are safe, as well as stable. Here’s our list of best USB-C cables in 2020 that don’t cost a bomb.

Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 Cord

An ideal cable for charging USB-C devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones with up to 60W chargers, the Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 Cord, but offers slower USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. WireCutter confirmed that it carries up to 60W power after testing.

Moreover, the Anker Powerline II is USB-IF certified and backed by a lifetime warranty from Anker. The 6-foot long cable comes in handy for charging even when you sit on a bed or couch. On the downside, it is not the best product to charge large laptops such as the MacBook Pro 15-inch or 16-inch model due to its limited data transfer speeds to USB 2.0.

Key Specifications:

6 feet long
60-watt charging
USB 2.0 data transfer rates (up to 480Mbps)

Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 Cord

Cable Matters USB C to USB C Charging Cable

It is a 6.6-foot cable carrying a 100 W rating. It delivers a performance similar to the MacBook Pro charging cable without emptying your pocket. Thanks to its 100 W charging rating, the cable can be used for recharging the MacBook Pro 16-inch model, which comes with a 96 W charger, at full speed.

Moreover, the Cable Matters USB C to USB C Charging Cable is USB-IF certified and is backed by the company’s one-year warranty. Its performance is as good as Apple’s 2-meter (6.6-foot) and 1-meter (3.3-foot) charging cables for MacBook Pro, but bear comparatively more affordable price tag than the aforementioned 60 W Anker charging cable.

On the downside, it supports only USB 2.0 data transfer speeds and is bulkier and thicker. The one-year warranty that it comes with isn’t as helpful as the lifetime warranty available on the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 Cable.

Key Specifications:

6 feet long
100-watt charging
USB 2.0 data transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps)

Cable Matters USB C to USB C Charging Cable

Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable

If you are in the market for a cable that does everything, the Anker Powerline II is likely to fill the bill. It offers up to 10 Gbps transfer speeds for USB 3.1 Gen 2 and is a great choice for charging most USB-C laptops, including the MacBook Pro 16-inch model, at full speed.

Unfortunately, the Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable is too short for charging a smartphone. With the right charger, it offers up to 100-watt charging, meaning, it can charge any USB-C device at maximum speeds.

In terms of data transmission, the Anker Powerline II delivers USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which is as fast as a non-Thunderbolt USB-C port delivers. In short, it can transfer a full-length movie in HD format in just about three seconds.

While loaded with top-end features, Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable is more expensive than other USB-C cables available on the market. While it is just 3 feet long, the cable is designed to be used to connect to a storage device, a laptop or a monitor, and not trying to connect it from your bed or nightstand.

Key Specifications:

3 feet long
100-watt charging
USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer rates (up to 10 Gbps)

Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Cable

Anker USB-C Thunderbolt Cable

There aren’t too many devices that are Thunderbolt 3 capable, but if you have restlessly been looking for top data speeds i.e. up to 40 Gbps. coupled with 100 W charging, you might want to check out the Anker USB-C Thunderbolt Cable. It is capable of charging a high-powered laptop including the MacBook Pro 16-inch model.

It is Thunderbolt 3 capable, so despite looking exactly like any other USB-C–to–USB-C cable, it is capable of transferring data at up to 40 Gbps between supported devices. On top of that, it is backed by Anker’s 18-month warranty, which is the best in this category.

The Anker USB-C Thunderbolt Cable is quite short, but for a practical reason. According to AppleInsider, Thunderbolt 3 cables that are longer than 1.6 feet do not deliver data transfer speeds and require you to shell out more money on a premium active cable. Moreover, it is designed to be used to connect a laptop to a portable SSD, which is usually placed next to it, which means the 1.6 feet length long enough.

Key Specifications:

6 feet long
100-watt charging
Thunderbolt 3 data transfer rates (up to 40 Gbps)

Anker USB-C Thunderbolt Cable

Belkin USB-IF Certified 2.0 USB-A to USB-C (USB Type C) Charge Cable

When it comes to transferring data, this USB-A–to–USB-C cable seems to take forever, but it is 6-feet long and comes in handy for charging older batteries and chargers. This cable can be used to connect USB-C device to a USB-A charging port on a laptop, a wall outlet, a wall charger or a battery pack featuring legacy ports.

The USB-IF certified Belkin USB-A to USB-C Charge Cable comes with a lifetime warranty and has a solid built. Despite its 6-feet length, the cable is relatively thin and can compactly coil up. Unfortunately, it supports only up to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds i.e. 480 Mbps, making it a substandard alternative when it comes to transferring a lot of data between devices.

It is worth noting though that it is the fastest USB-IF certified cable that’s 6-feet long. According to a rep at Anker, the company’s engineers found that integrating full USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds with a 6-foot cable would make the cable too thick.

Key Specifications:

6 feet long ( 5 feet long variant available)
60-watt charging
USB 2.0 data transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps)

Belkin USB-IF Certified 2.0 USB-A to USB-C (USB Type C) Charge Cable

Sharp online store and IoT device network suffers outage due to massive demand for masks

By

Sean

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Apr 21, 2020

Last month, Sharp, the known electronics brand, had announced that it would begin the production of face masks in Japan. Now, these were finally commercially available earlier today (21st April 2020) but due to immense demand and traffic, it seems like the network structure has collapsed with crashes affecting the company’s servers for the official website and its smart IoT devices network as well.

According to a new report, the digital infrastructure collapse has even extended to home appliances made by Sharp. This includes air conditioners that connect to the internet and other products that can be controlled via a smartphone facing various issues at the moment. Similarly, it is almost impossible to access the official Sharp online store due to the heavy demand.

A Sharp representative issues a statement and apologized for the troubles users are facing with the website and their smart home gadgets. The official stated that the concentrated traffic to the server that handles user accounts for both online store and smart home products was the reason for the dual sided malfunction. Furthermore, Sharp is currently working on fixing the issue.

The mask that caused the entire ordeal is just an ordinary looking face mask that is commonly used in Japan and other Asian countries. However, it is different since it has a noticeable Sharp logo branding on the bottom. The mask costs 2,980 Yen (roughly about 28 US Dollars) for a box of 50 with 680 Yen (roughly 6 US Dollars) shipping charges as well. Customers are also restricted from buying more than 3 boxes at a time to prevent hoarding and as of recently, the website is still offline.

(Via)

Xiaomi Reveals Dark Mode 2.0 for MIUI 12: All Details

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 21, 2020

Earlier today, Xiaomi confirmed to announce MIUI 12 on April 27 alongside Mi 10 Youth Edition. Followed by that, the official MIUI Weibo account has now started teasing the new features and we expect it to continue till the day of the announcement. The first set of teasers officially confirms a new improved ‘Dark Mode 2.0’, which has been under the rumour mill for a few weeks now.

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Xiaomi introduced ‘Dark Mode’ on its smartphones in early 2019 via an incremental update for MIUI 10. The same was improved a little and passed on to MIUI 11 later that year. But now, the company has fully revamped this feature for MIUI 12 and is calling it ‘Dark Mode 2.0’.

The current ‘Dark Mode’ on MIUI 11 does not affect all the system applications and the same can be said for third-party apps. But with the ‘Dark Mode 2.0’ on MIUI 12, the firm confirms it to support 42 system apps and 20 mainstream apps with deep integration. This new addition corroborates a report from November when an engineer revealed MIUI 12 to bring a system-wide (global) dark mode

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The new dark mode will use non-linear conversion of LAB and HSV color space to offer a natural and pleasing visual experience to users on 100+ apps. In addition to this, the contrast will now change dynamically based on the brightness in the surrounding for better visibility while using dark mode at any time of the day. That means when the brightness is low, the contrast will lower according to it. Similarly, when the brightness is high, the contrast will bump up to a higher level.

Further, the ‘Dark Mode 2.0’ on MIUI 12 will also affect fonts by dynamically changing the font-weight as well as by reducing glare and blurriness. Once the dark mode is turned off, they will return to normal to suite the light mode. This feature goes in line with a previous report of unified fonts and UI elements confirmed by the MIUI head designer in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session.

Last but not least, the ‘Dark Mode 2.0’ will also dim the phone’s wallpaper at the pixel level to simulate natural day and night scenarios.

As of now, Xiaomi has only revealed the above-mentioned new features. However, as we mentioned in the beginning, the company will reveal almost all the changes and additions in MIUI 12 daily leading up to the day of the official announcement.

Huawei and China miss out on Google’s new Coronavirus Contact-tracing system

By

Sean

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Apr 21, 2020

Amidst the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, tech giants like Google have started coming with smart ideas that aim in controlling/preventing the further spread of the virus. The company has built a new system that will allow people to be aware of who is infected around, possibly as a warning or to seek immediate isolation. While this system will see an eventual global rollout, it seems like Huawei and China have been cut off from it.

Let’s briefly look into the contact-tracing system first. The idea is relatively simple that users will get notifications once they are near a person infected by the COVID-19 virus. Detection and notification occur through the Bluetooth system, which will run on either side. This will also prompt a person to self isolate, preventing the virus to spread further to people around you.

The concept behind it is that Apple and Google will both drop core updates in upcoming software patches to bring this feature. Through this, one apart from being notified can exercise a reasonable amount of caution and isolate themselves. However, the only issue with this kind of system is that it would need a wide scale adoption. For example, 60 percent of people would need to have this system installed for it to work as efficiently as desired.

Furthermore, the system is also built with various privacy concerns in mind from both Google and Apple, while also adhering to rules set by medical health agencies. Unfortunately, the issue now lies with its implementation. While Google said that about 80 percent of the Android phones outside of China can run this system, the Southeast Asian country and Huawei might be skipped over for this feature.

Huawei has about 600 million Android users in China alone and is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world. However, the trade ban back in 2019 led the company to lose official Google mobile services support for its smartphones. Thus, as of right now, there is no sure way to fix or bring a solution to the problem and Android phones in China may have to wait get this technology.

According to a Huawei official, “it is encouraging to see technology playing a key role in addressing this global issue—we believe technology should be open and available to everyone. Only then can we use technology to move the world forward and make it a better place.” On the other hand, China as a whole seems to have no interest in this international privacy first contact-tracing system. The region already has various phone tracking solutions of their own and will likely employ localized structures regardless.

(Via)

Honor 30 anti-bacterial case is now up for crowdfunding at 49 yuan ($7)

By

Jeet

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Apr 21, 2020

After launching it earlier this month, Huawei sub-brand Honor finally started selling Honor 30 series smartphones in China from today. In the first sale, the company claims to have managed to sell units worth 300 million yuan in just one minute.

Riding on the popularity of this new smartphone series, the company has now launched a new accessory product for the same. The Chinese company has launched Honor 30 anti-bacterial skin-friendly protective case.

It is currently up for crowdfunding for 49 yuan (~$7) which represents a discount of 10 yuan over its original price of 59 yuan, which is approximately (~$8.3). The company is also holding a giveaway contest for those who take part in this crowdfunding campaign.

The Honor 30 anti-bacterial skin-friendly protective case is being offered in three color options — Magic Night Black, Neon Purple, and Green Wizard. Along with this, the company has also launched a custom protective case for the Honor 30 Pro.

As the name itself indicates, this newly launched protective case for the Honor 30 smartphone uses anti-bacterial coating while ensuring that it offers comfortable feel.

The company says that the case for the Pro variant is made using the hand-painted lacquer technology and the material is exquisite and warm as well as skin-friendly. However, there’s no official confirmation about Honor 30 Pro and 30 Pro+ getting the anti-bacterial skin-friendly protective case anytime soon.

OnePlus rolls back OxygenOS Open Beta 12 for OnePlus 7 / 7Pro

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 21, 2020

A few days back, OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS Open Beta 12 for OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro devices. A couple of days later, the company has now halted the update as it is causing some serious issues in certain devices.

Usually, OnePlus’ OxygenOS Open Beta builds are stable enough to use as a daily driver. Anyway, they are called beta for a reason and thus they can have bugs. Even the company does not recommend every user to install them. These builds are primarily targeted at enthusiasts and early adopters to provide feedback.

OxygenOS Open Beta 12 OnePlus 7 Pro Issue 01

OxygenOS Open Beta 12 OnePlus 7 Pro Issue 02

OxygenOS Open Beta 12 OnePlus 7 Pro Issue 03

OxygenOS Open Beta 12 OnePlus 7 Pro Issue 04

Unfortunately, the latest OxygenOS Open Beta 12 for OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro has become a nightmare for some users. They are now locked out of their device unable to go past the lockscreen. While other users are facing heating issues during charging, disconnections from WiFi networks, and more.

It is worth noting that not all the users of the new update are facing problems. This scenario is exactly similar to Mi A3 Android 10 update fiasco. As a precaution, OnePlus has pulled back the OTA but we are not sure if they have removed the download links for the Full ROM too.

If you are using OxygenOS Open Beta 12 on your OnePlus 7 / 7 Pro and locked out of your device, then the only way to fix it is by performing a hard reset. Users cannot roll back to the previous build, which happens to be OxygenOS Open Beta 11. All they can do is wait for the company to soon release a fix.

Here’s the official changelog for the update in case you are interested.

System
- Optimized the volume adjustment to improve user experience
- Added the missing recording icon in call screen
- Updated Android security patch to 2020.04
- Fixed known issues and improved system stability

Phone
- Added the ringing duration info for missed calls
- Now you can switch your mobile data on phone calls supported with VoLTE

Camera
- Added a feature which can now detect dirt on the camera lens, prompting a quick cleanup for better image and video quality.

(Via)

Honor 30 series sale started today, sold units worth 300 million Yuan ($42m) in just 1 minute

By

Sean

-

Apr 21, 2020

The Honor 30 series was recently unveiled and was finally launched earlier today (21st April 2020). The smartphone was the Chinese tech giant’s flagship series with top notch specs, which nearly sold 300 million Yuan (roughly 42 million US Dollars) worth of units in just 1 minute as sales opened.

The Honor 30 flagship series consists of the base variant alongside the Honor 30 Pro and Honor 30 Pro+. Being a flagship handset, it features a premium build quality and a curved display as well. The series sports the company’s latest HiSilicon Kirin 985 5G SoC alongside the Mali-G76 GPU. Notably, the Honor 30 Pro+ received praises and an impressively high score on DxOMark ratings as well, coming in second in the leaderboard.

For pricing, the base Honor 30 starts at 2,999 Yuan (roughly 425 US Dollars) while the Honor 30 Pro starts at 3,999 Yuan (roughly 566 US Dollars) and Honor 30 Pro+ goes for 4,999 Yuan (roughly 708 US Dollars). So, just by taking the Honor 30 Pro as the average cost of the entire series, we can say the company has sold over 75,000 units in just 1 minute, which is quite impressive.

However, this is just a rough median so take it with a grain of salt. We can expect Huawei to unveil specific unit sales sometime later. But as it stands right now, Honor is enjoying the success of its latest flagship launch.

Huawei MatePad specifications leaked ahead of launch on April 23

By

Jeet

-

Apr 21, 2020

Huawei is all-set to launch its Huawei MatePad premium tablet in the home country on 23rd April. Now, ahead of the official launch, some details and key specifications about the upcoming tablet have surfaced online.

It is revealed that the Huawei MatePad will come with 2000 x 1200 pixel screen resolution and 84 percent screen-to-body ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by the company’s own Kirin 810 chipset.

The device is also expected to come in two variants — 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage. It is also said to be equipped with four speakers which support Harman Kardon tuning.

Further, the report adds that the tablet measures 245.2mm × 154.96mm × 7.35mm and weighs 450 grams. It is reportedly powered by a 7,250mAh battery and is running the company’s own EMUI 10 user interface. We expect it come with Android operating system but with HMS support instead of Google’s services.

Going by the recently listing of the upcoming Huawei MatePad on the company’s official online store in China, the device will be made available in Wi-Fi only and LTE version. It is expected to be offered in a gradient-based White color.

The tablet, which features an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the front as well as back, will support Huawei’s M-pen stylus which will be sold separately. The Huawei MatePad is currently up for pre-order in China. While the device is set to get launched on 23rd April, it seems that the official sale will begin from 26th April.

Apart from this, the company will reportedly launch a 5G variant as well as Kirin 820-powered model at a later date. We expect to know more details about this other variant of the device in the coming days or weeks.

(Via)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition Official Render confirms Periscope Camera with up to 50x Zoom

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 21, 2020

Yesterday, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition discussion thread was unearthed on Mi Community China. Now, earlier today, the company officially announced its launch to take place on April 27 alongside MIUI 12. Followed by that, the brand has now shared a new teaser render of the handset on Weibo.

The upcoming Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition will be different than the global Mi 10 Lite 5G. As per the new detailed render posted by Xiaomi on Weibo, the new handset will feature a periscope camera with up to 50x zoom capability, which is not present on the original lite device launched in Europe last month.

The details of the other sensors of the phone’s quad-camera setup are scarce at the moment. Probably, it will come equipped with the same 48MP primary sensor and a similar 8MP ultra-wide unit. Unfortunately, we are not sure whether the 5MP macro camera or the 2MP depth sensor will return from the global Mi 10 Lite 5G.

Apart from the new camera configuration, we expect the Mi 10 Youth Edition to feature similar specs as its global counterpart. That means it will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 paired with up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. It will have support for 5G connectivity on both SA (standalone) and NSA (non-standalone) 5G networks in the country.

Further, the phone will come fitted with a 6.57-inches AMOLED display with an in-screen fingerprint reader and a dew-drop notch housing a 16MP selfie camera if the company does not swap it with a different sensor. The handset will get its juice from a 4,160 mAh battery with support for 22.5W fast charging according to a recent leak. The device will measure 7.98mm in thickness and will weigh 192 grams.

Going by the official render, the Mi 10 Youth Editon will be available in four colours in China. The first one will be a fusion of white and purple gradient, the second, third, and fourth versions will be emerald, peach, and blue respectively.

Vivo Y21 spotted at Android Enterprise; Vivo NEX 3 2020 moniker appear at NBTC

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 21, 2020

The Android Enterprise a new listing for a smartphone named Vivo Y21. The few specs that has appeared through its listing suggests that it is a mid-range device. At the same time, the Vivo NEX 3 2020 moniker has appeared on the database of Thailand’s NBTC authority.

In February, the Vivo Y21 moniker was spotted at GFC database along with its V1926 model number. The model was also approved by the Bluetooth SIG around the same time. Now the same V1926 has popped with some key specs and image on the Android Enterprise database.

The listing states that the Vivo Y21 has a 6.4-inch waterdrop notch screen. It has 4 GB of RAM and a built-in storage of 64 GB. The Android 10 OS is loaded on the device along with FunTouchOS UI skin. Some unconfirmed rumors claimed that the handset has a 4,500mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

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In related news, a smartphone with Vivo NEX 3 2020 moniker has been spotted at NBTC. The model number of the device is Vivo 1913. Nothing is known on the specs of the device.

Earlier this year, Vivo introduced the Vivo NEX 3S 5G as an enhanced version of the original Vivo NEX 3 that debuted last year in September. There is a possibility that the Vivo NEX 3 2020 could be a rebranded version of the NEX 3S 5G for Thailand. It is advisable to wait for further reports to appear to know more about the NEX 3 2020.

(source 1, 2|via)

Samsung is reportedly planning to develop 600MP camera sensor

By

Jeet

-

Apr 21, 2020

Samsung has made huge progress in terms of smartphone camera sensors. The company was among the first to launch a 64-megapixel camera sensor and the first one to launch 108-megapixel image sensor.

But it seems that the company hasn’t stopped yet in terms of megapixel count for the smartphone cameras. Samsung has today revealed in an article that it is now planning to develop camera sensors with 600-megapixel resolution.

To put that in perspective, Yongin Park, Executive Vice President and Head of Sensor Business Team, System LSI Business says that human eyes can match up to 500-megapixel resolution.

However, with 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel sensors still being standard, it seems like a long journey for the 600-megapixel camera sensor to materialise. To make this happen, the South Korean giant also needs to develop new technologies.

The company has been advancing the pixel binning technology. The 64MP sensors from Samsung use 2×2 pixel binning while the 108MP sensors use 3×3 pixel binning to increase light absorption and mitigate issues related to low-light conditions.

Samsung’s ambitions for the future camera sensors is not limited to 600MP resolution. The Systems LSI Business division of Samsung, which deals with image sensors, is also looking to make sensors that can register smells and tastes.

Apart from supplying image sensors for smartphones, the company is also reportedly planning to provide camera sensors for other use cases, including autonomous vehicles (AVs), drones, and other IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

Currently, 108MP camera sensor remains the highest for smartphones but that is about to change soon. Samsung is working on a 150MP sensor using Nonacell technology and is expected to be available from Q4 2020.

(Via, Source)

Meizu 17 front panel with punch-hole display revealed in new teaser

By

Jeet

-

Apr 21, 2020

Meizu is slated to announce details about the launch of its next-generation flagship smartphone — Meizu 17 in China on 22nd April. Now, just a day ahead of the official announcement, the company has now shared new posters on Weibo which reveals the upcoming phone’s front panel.

The poster shared by the company confirms that the Meizu 17 will feature a punch-hole cutout in the top-right corner and overall it has tiny bezels surrounding the display. The design is similar to what has already been leaked. The company also said that it may be the only 5G flagship smartphone this year to offer white panel.

As per the reports, the FHD+ display will offer 90Hz refresh rate with high screen-to-body ratio. It is expected to come packed with Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC with support for 5G connectivity, LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage. The phone has already been confirmed to be powered by a 4,500mAh battery which will come with mSmart charging technology.

It’s being reported that the Meizu 17 will have support for Wi-Fi 6, enabling download speed of up to 4,151 Mbps. This new Wi-Fi standard brings more stability, lower latency and more to the table. We’ll know more about the smartphone, along with its pricing and availability details in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the company recently launched a Commemorative Edition of the Meizu 16S Pro, marking the discontinuation of the series. The move is likely made to make way for the upcoming flagship Meizu 17.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ monikers and their screen sizes revealed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 21, 2020

Samsung is reportedly working on the successor of the Galax Tab S6 flagship tablet from last year. A fresh report on GalaxyClub.nl has revealed some key information on the upcoming Galaxy Tab S7 tablet.

The report states that the publication came across SM-T970 (Wi-Fi edition) and SM-T975 (LTE variant) model numbers of the upcoming high-end Samsung tablet. It is believed that this tablet may sport a 12.4-inch display. On the other side, there is a smaller high-end tablet with model numbers SM-T870 and SM-T875 which is speculated to debut as its 11-inch screen version. Like the predecessor Galaxy Tab models, the Tab S7 is also expected to arrive with S Pen stylus support.

In February, Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 series of flagship phones. In Q3, it is expected to launch Galaxy Note 20 series. Early rumors had claimed that the upcoming high Galaxy Tab could be debuting as Galaxy Tab S20. However, the new report states that the South Korean company has settled for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Plus monikers. The 12.4-inch model is expected to carry Galaxy Tab S7+ name.

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Just as Samsung had a 5G variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 with SM-T866 model number, it is speculated that there is a 5G-ready version of the Galaxy Tab S7+. Its model number will be SM-T976. Last year’s Galaxy Tab S6 5G was only available in South Korea. However, the 5G version of the Tab S7 Plus will also be also available outside of the home market. Its European version is said to have SM-T976B model number.

The Galaxy Tab S7 series may go official in early August. It could be short followed by Galaxy Note 20. The rumored Galaxy Fold 2 may debut alongside the Note 20 series.

(source)

Redmi K30 is now on sale at 1,599 yuan ($226) for a limited time in China

By

Jeet

-

Apr 21, 2020

Last year, in December, Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi launched its Redmi K30 smartphone which recently got a Pro variant. Amid rumors of a new variant coming soon, the company has today shared that it is holding a limited-time sale of Redmi K30 at a discounted rate.

The poster reveals that the Redmi K30 6GB RAM and 128GB storage model will be available for a discount of 100 yuan for a limited time, which brings down the smartphone’s pricing to 1,599 yuan, roughly $226. While the company’s says it’s a limited time sale, there’s has been no mention on sale end date.

The Redmi K30 comes in four models — 6GB + 64GB priced at 1,599 yuan, 6GB + 128GB costing 1,699 yuan, 8GB + 128GB which is on sale for 1,899 yuan, and the top-end 8GB + 256GB which costs 2,199 yuan.

To remind you of the specifications, the phone features a 6.67-inch IPS Full HD+ 120Hz display and comes with a punch-hole cutout on the screen at the top-right corner for dual cameras. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor with Adreno 618 GPU.

In the camera department, there’s a quad-camera setup on the back, consisting of Sony IMX686 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 2-megapixel depth assist lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front side, it comes with a 20-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor.

The phone runs the latest Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MIUI 11 on top. The device is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 27W fast charging technology.

The development comes at a time when the company is reportedly planning to discontinue Redmi K30 4G model in favor of the 5G variant. The only major difference in the Redmi K30 5G compared to the 4G model is the chipset, minor camera specs change, and battery charging speed. The 5G model is powered by Snapdragon 765G SoC and the 2MP depth sensor has been replaced by a 5MP sensor. The phone also has 30W fast charging.

In addition to this, the company is also rumoured to launch a new variant in this lineup — Redmi K30i. It is said that it could come powered by MediaTek Dimensity 800 SoC and will have 5G support. The device is expected to be priced around 1,799 yuan, which is approximately $245.

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