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Chinese version of the new Apple iPhone SE doesn’t have eSIM support

Apple recently launched its much-awaited budget iPhone in the form of a new iPhone SE. It features a design of iPhone 8 but has the powerful A13 Bionic chipset that is powering the iPhone 11 series devices.

The new Apple iPhone SE that will be sold in China has one major difference compared to the variant available in the United States or even Hong Kong. The difference is the lack of eSIM support in the Chinese version.

iPhone SE 2020

While the new iPhone SE comes with support for two SIMs nano SIM + eSIM, the Chinese version lists only nano SIM support on the company’s official website.

The Apple iPhone SE 2020 features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display and comes with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback and also has Haptic Touch for Quick Actions that previews messages, rearranging apps, and more.

However, the highlight of the device is the same Apple A13 Bionic powering the phone, which is also inside the iPhone 11 series, and is touted to be the fastest mobile processor in the world. The phone comes in three models based on the storage capacity — 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.

As for the camera department, the rear camera is a 12MP f/1.8 camera sensor which Apple says is the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone. With A13’s ISP and Neural Engine, the new iPhone SE can take portrait mode images with six different portrait lighting effects. The phone can also record 4K videos at 60fps.

On the front side, the device comes equipped with a 7MP snapper. While the company has not revealed the battery capacity, it has said that the phone comes with support for 18W fast charing as well as wireless charging. It adds that the 18W charger can charge the smartphone from empty to 50 percent in about half an hour.

(Source)

Huawei P40 Series bags TIPA World Awards for Best Camera Smartphone

TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) has bestowed the Huawei P40 series with the ‘Best Photo Smartphone’ award. It is worth noting that TIPA World Awards are based on innovation and is not judged by the performance of the product.

The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is a body consisting of print and media publications associated with the photo/imaging field. It gives away awards annually to the most innovative products under different categories such as cameras, lenses, accessories, services, and tech & design.

Huawei P40 Series Best Camera Smartphone TIPA World Awards

The association recently published the winners of the 2020 edition of its Word Awards. In which, the Huawei P40 series as a whole has won the Best Photo Smartphone award. Surprisingly, the P series lineup has been winning this award since the TIPA World Awards was first introduced in 2017.

The first smartphone to win this award was Huawei P10 / P10 Plus in 2017, followed by P20 Pro and P30 Pro in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Since the award is honored based on innovation, we can understand why Huawei P series has been winning it for years.

For instance, this year’s one of the three winners, the Huawei P40 Pro Plus features the largest-ever smartphone camera sensor,  a 50MP RYYB sensor of 1/1.28-inch size with omnidirectional phase detection autofocus. This primary camera is further paired with a 40MP f/1.8 ultra-wide cine lens, an 8MP f/2.4 telescope camera with OIS and up to 10x optical zoom, another 8MP f.2.4 telescope camera with OIS but up to 3x optical zoom, and a TOF depth sensor.

 

(Source)

iPhone SE 2020 launch results in discontinuation of iPhone 8

Apple has finally launched the highly anticipated iPhone SE 2020 smartphone. The handset has arrived with an enticing start price of $399. The first-generation iPhone SE from 2016 that came with a 4-inch display had carried the same price tag. The second-generation borrows comes with a larger 4.7-inch display and the latest Apple A13 Bionic chipset. It borrows its design from the iPhone 8 from 2017. The iPhone SE 2020 has been introduced as a successor to the iPhone 8. The Cupertino company has discontinued the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus after the introduction of the iPhone SE 2020.

A visit to the Apple.com reveals that the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are no longer listed. While the iPhone 8 is now discontinued, the iPhone 8 Plus will be available through select retailers in different regions. So, the iPhone lineup of the company includes four smartphones such as iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone SE 2020.

iPhone SE 2020

Apple iPhone SE 2020 pricing and specifications

The iPhone SE 2020 comes in 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage choices. They are priced at $399, $449 and $549. The smartphone can be bought in colors like black, white and red. On April 17, the first batch of 40 plus markets will carry out the pre-orders of the iPhone SE. Its shipments will begin on April 24. Some of the markets that are included in the first batch are the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Russia, the UAW, Hong Kong, China and India.

The iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch IPS LCD Retina HD display. The capacitive home button on the chin of the device is integrated with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The Apple A13 fuels the device. It carries support for 18W fast charging and wireless charging. It has a front camera of 7-megapixel and a rear shooter of 12-megapixel. Lastly, the iPhone SE 2020 comes with an IP67 certified chassis.

 

 

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro Smartphones have gone up for Pre-Order through Giztop

After floating around the rumor mill for quite some time, the OnePlus 8 series comprising the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro smartphones was launched in an online event hosted by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer on Apr. 14.

OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 Pro

The company revealed the full specifications and announced the pricing and availability for the United States, U.K., and Europe. OnePlus posted a teaser for the India prices for the OnePlus 8 series smartphones.

Both the OnePlus 8 Pro, as well as the OnePlus 8 smartphones have gone up for pre-order through one of China’s most popular e-tailers, Giztop. So without wasting a lot of time, let’s dive straight into the details.

OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro comes in two variants including 8GB RAM+128GB ROM and 12GB RAM+256GB ROM. Equipped with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, this model will set you back $899, while the slightly larger variant that ships with 12GB of RAM and offers 256GB of onboard storage is up for grabs for $999.
OnePlus 8 Pro

Both variants are available in three color options including black, green, and blue. You can visit this link to place your pre-order, but note that the estimated delivery of the phone is set for the end of April. The OnePlus 8 Pro offers the following features:

  • 6.78-inch 120Hz Fluid QHD+ AMOLED Display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Soc
  • Adreno 650 GPU
  • 48MP+48MP+8MP+5MP rear cameras
  • 16MP selfie camera
  • 4510mAh battery
  • OxygenOS 10 base on Android 10 OS

OnePlus 8

Just like its Pro sibling, the OnePlus 8 is up for pre-order in two variants including one that comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB native storage, and the other that offers 12GB of RAM, coupled with a hefty 256GB of internal storage space. While the 8GB RAM model retails for $699, the slightly 12GB RAM alternative carries a $799 price tag.
OnePlus 8

Both variants are available in black, green and Interstellar Glow color options. You can visit this link to place your pre-order, and the estimated delivery is set for the end of this month. Here are some of the top-end features the OnePlus 8 offers:

  • 6.55-inch AMOLED FHD+ Pounch hole display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Soc
  • Adreno 650 GPU
  • 48MP+16MP+2MP, a 16MP
  • 16MP selfie punch-hole camera
  • 4300mAh battery
  • OxygenOS 10 base on Android 10 OS

 

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Motorola Edge live shot emerge to reveal its rear appearance

Motorola Edge and Edge+ smartphones are scheduled to go official on April 22. The Edge+ will be the company’s first flagship phone after the Moto Z2 Force from 2017. The Edge will be an upper mid-range phone. Both smartphones are expected to arrive with support for 5G connectivity. Ahead of the launch event, Pricebaba has published a report that carries a live shot of the Motorola Edge smartphone.

The live shot showcases the rear design of the Motorola Edge smartphone. The rear shell of the device seems to be made out glass. A vertical camera module housing three cameras and a laser autofocus unit can be seen at the top-left corner of the Edge’s back. An LED flash can be seen besides the first sensor. The logo of the company is also available on the backside of the device. The more advanced Motorola Edge+ is also expected to sport an identical rear design like the vanilla model.

Motorola Edge live shot

Along side the camera setup is an inscription reveals the camera configurations of the Motorola Edge. The setup includes a primary sensor of 64-megapixel, an ultrawide sensor of 16-megapixel and a telephoto lens of 8-megapixel.

Motorola Edge specifications (Rumored)

Past reports have revealed that the Motorola Edge has a 6.67-inch punch-hole display with extremely curved edges. The full HD+ OLED display supports 90Hz refresh rate and is integrated with a fingerprint reader. The handset has a 25-megapixel selfie camera.

The Snapdragon 765 chipset powers the Motorola Edge with 6 GB of RAM. The handset houses a 4,500mAh battery that is coupled fast charging technology. Its other rumored features are dual speakers, NFC, 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C. There is no information available on its pricing.

 

(source)

Huawei Nova 7 launch event to be held on April 23

A Chinese tipster had revealed at the beginning of this month that the Huawei Nova 7 series of smartphones will debut on April 23.  However, Huawei remained mum on the arrival of the Nova 7 lineup. Today, the confirmed released a post on Weibo to confirm that it will be announcing the Nova 7 phones on April 23.

The poster released by the company which confirms the Huawei Nova 7 launch date showcases the vertical camera setup placed at the upper-left corner of its rear. The setup can include as many as four cameras along with an LED flash. The company did not reveal any information on the specs of the Nova 7 models.

Huawei Nova 7 series April 23 launch dateRumors surrounding the Huawei Nova 7 series have revealed that it comprises of three 5G-ready devices such as Nova 7 SE, Nova 7 and Nova 7 Pro. It is speculated that three phones could be powered by Kirin 820 5G, Kirin 985 5G and Kirin 990 5G.  They are expected to be priced between 2,000 Yuan (~$282) and 4,000 Yuan (~$565) in the home market.

A leaked poster of Huawei Nova 7 series that is now being circulated on Weibo has revealed the key specs and design of the Nova 7 smartphone. It revealed that the smartphone draws power from the new Kirin 985 chipset. After the Honor 30 phone that was unveiled yesterday, the Nova 7 will be the second phone to arrive with the new 7nm chipset that clocks at 2.58GHz.

Huawei-Nova-7-series-poster

The Nova 7 sports a curved display with a dual punch-hole at the upper-left corner that will most likely accommodate two front-facing cameras. The rear-facing quad camera system of the Nova 7 includes a periscope zoom lens that supports up to 50x digital zoom. The handset can be seen in three colors like red, purple and gradient white. It is expected to arrive with 40W fast charging support.

 

 

OnePlus 8 Pro vs Oppo Find X2 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: Specs Comparison

The mainstream Chinese manufacturers OnePlus, Oppo and Xiaomi stopped focusing on affordable smartphones only and started releasing top-tier flagships which have nothing to envy to the most expensive devices released by Samsung, Huawei, and Apple. This is a specs comparison between the most advanced top-tier flagships from those manufacturers: OnePlus 8 Pro, Oppo Find X2 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro. Their prices are higher than ever: is the value of these handsets high as well? Are they worth the money asked? Let’s discover it together through an in-depth comparison.

OnePlus 8 Pro vs Oppo Find X2 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

OnePlus 8 Pro Oppo Find X2 Pro Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm, 199 g 165.2 x 74.4 x 8.8 mm, 200/208 g 162.6 x 74.8 x 9 mm, 208 g
DISPLAY  6.78 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), Fluid AMOLED  6.7 inches, 1440 x 3168p (Quad HD+), 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  12 GB RAM, 512 GB 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10, Oxygen OS  Android 10, ColorOS 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
 Triple 48 + 48 + 13 MP, f/1.7 + f/3.0 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.4 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 4260 mAh, fast charging 65W Super VOOC 2.0 Flash Charge 4500 mAh, fast charging 50W and fast wireless charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 3W, IP68 waterproof Waterproof IP68, 5G Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging

Design

With OnePlus 8 Pro, Oppo Find X2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro nothing was left to the case, including the design. All of them are very elegant and futuristic devices with premium materials, high screen-to-body ratio, and a punch-hole design. The winner is Oppo Find X2 Pro because it offers unique materials. It is available in two versions: one with a ceramic back and one made of vegan leather. OnePlus 8 and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro come with a glass back and an aluminum frame like most of the flagships out there. OnePlus 8 Pro and Oppo Find X2 Pro are waterproof with the IP68 certification, while Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro does not offer any kind of certification against water.

 

Display

OnePlus 8 Pro and Oppo Find X2 Pro have superior displays to Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and most of the smartphones in the market. Both come with a 10 bit panel sporting a Quad HD+ resolution, the AMOLED technology, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. They are HDR-compliant too. On the paper, we are talking about very similar displays and it is currently hard to tell which one is the best. OnePlus 8 Pro has a slightly bigger panel with its 6.78-inch diagonal. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has a lower 90 Hz refresh rate and even a lower Full HD+ resolution, so it can not compete with its rivals.

 

Hardware/Software

With Oppo Find X2 Pro, OnePlus 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro you get the same processor (Snapdragon 855 with 5G connectivity thanks to the Snapdragon X55 modem) and the same amount of RAM: up to 12 GB, as well as Android 10 out of the box, but customized by different user interfaces. In each case, there is LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 internal storage, but only with Oppo Find X2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro you can get up to 512 GB of storage, while OnePlus 8 Pro stops at 256 GB.

 

Camera

A lot of people still would not expect it from Chinese smartphones, but Oppo Find X2 Pro, OnePlus 8 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are top camera phones. And they are more or less at the same level in terms of photo quality. We still did not test each of these devices, but Oppo Find X2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro look superior to the OnePlus 8 Pro. They have better zoom capabilities (Oppo Find X2 Pro has the best sensor with optical zoom) and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro can even record 8K videos.

 

Battery

OnePlus 8 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are equipped with bigger batteries than Oppo Find X2 Pro and, unlike the Find X2 Pro, they support wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Oppo Find X2 Pro lacks wireless charging, but it has the fastest wired charging technology and still a great battery life. According to the company, the Find X2 Pro charges from 0 to 100 percent in just 38 minutes.

 

Price

Oppo Find X2 Pro (12/256 GB) has a global listing price of €1200/$1308, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (8/256 GB) starts at €999/$1090, and OnePlus 8 Pro (8/128 GB) has a starting price of €919/$1002. Given the inferior display and the absence of certified protection against dust and water, I would not go for the Xiaomi Mi 10. My favorite one is the Oppo Find X2 Pro due to its materials and very fast charging technology, as well as its amazing rear cameras. But some may prefer the OnePlus 8 Pro because it offers a bigger battery and wireless charging while still providing an amazing display quality and a waterproof body.

 

 

OnePlus 8 Pro vs Oppo Find X2 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: PRO and CONS

OnePlus 8 Pro

PROS

  • Waterproof IP68
  • Amazing display
  • Wider display
  • Big battery
  • Price is not excessive

CONS

  • Slower charging

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

PROS

  • Good street prices
  • Very fast charging and wireless chariging
  • More compact

CONS

  • Inferior display

 

Oppo Find X2 Pro

PROS

  • Great display
  • Unique materials
  • Fastest charging technology
  • Amazing periscope lens

CONS

  • No wireless charging

Blackview BV9600E, successor to BV9600 is retailing for $199.99 (~20% off)

Blackview’s popular rugged smartphone Blackview BV9600 recently received a better and upgraded version – Blackview BV9600E. The new smartphone packs a few new changes upon the BV9600’s tough design and powerful hardware. Apart from all the updates, the ongoing discount of 20% on the newer version is another reason to grab the device.

Must See: Blackview BV6100 appears as the best affordable online learning device during coronavirus outbreak

Before detailing the new discount offer, let’s take a look at the specifications of Blackview BV9600E. It is a true rugged smartphone and engrosses most of the hardware specifications from its predecessor. The smartphone features IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810G ratings offering dust, drop and water protection. Moreover, the device can sustain for half an hour under the 1.5m depth. It is designed to work under extreme weather conditions or temperatures.

It comes powered with MediaTek Helio P70 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The Blackview BV9600E sports a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution of 2248 x 1080 pixels having an aspect ratio of 19:9. There’s a 5580 mAh battery that can sustain for a few days and can be very useful while on outings where there’s no power supply.

Blackview BV9600E also houses a Samsung 16-megapixel dual rear camera setup for high-quality and detail-oriented pictures. There’s an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the front side. The smartphone also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, multifunctional NFC with Google Pay integration.

It usually retails for the price of $249.99, but due to the ongoing sale, its price has dropped to $199 on AliExpress store and Blackview’s official store. The interested users can grab the device at such a discounted price from April 13 to April 22, 2020. To know more about the device, head over to their official website.

Related: Blackview BV9900 Pro with 4K-video recording and thermal imaging technology available for $439.99

iPhone SE gets a 2020 edition with an A13 Bionic chipset; starts at $399

The iPhone SE was announced in 2016. It had a 4.0-inch display, an A9 chipset, and of course a front-mounted fingerprint scanner buried under the home button. Four years later, Apple has announced a new model, still called the iPhone SE by the way, but with a bigger display and the same A13 Bionic chipset inside the iPhone 11 series.

iPhone SE 2020

iPhone SE 2020 Design

With respect to design, the new iPhone SE or iPhone SE 2020 to avoid confusion, can best be described as a mix of the 2016 iPhone SE and the iPhone XR or a 2020 edition of the iPhone 8. It keeps the huge bezels and a sapphire crystal-covered home button with Touch ID while the back is covered in glass and adorned with a single camera. Apple has announced the phone in three colors – Black, White, and (PRODUCT)RED.

 

iPhone SE 2020 specifications

The iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback and also has Haptic Touch for Quick Actions (previewing messages, rearranging apps and more).

What is amazing about this phone is its processor. This is the same A13 Bionic inside the iPhone 11 which is the fastest mobile processor in the world. Trust Apple to not reveal the RAM. Nevertheless, the phone comes in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB versions.

The rear camera is a 12MP f/1.8 camera which Apple says is the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone. Thanks to the A13’s ISP and Neural Engine, the iPhone SE 2020 can take portrait mode images with six different portrait lighting effects. It can also take portrait photos with the 7MP selfie camera. The phone can also record 4K videos at 60fps.

The iPhone SE 2020’s battery capacity wasn’t revealed but it supports 18W fast charging (ships with a 5W charger though) and also supports wireless charging. With an 18W charger, you can charge it from empty to 50% in about half an hour.

Other features include Wi-Fi 6, Dual SIM (1 nano +eSIM) and an IP67 water and dust resistance rating.

iPhone SE 2020 featured

iPhone SE 2020 price and availability

The iPhone SE 2020 starts at $399 for the base model, goes up to $449 for the 128GB version, and $549 for the 256GB version. It will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, April 17 before going on sale on April 24. Apple has included a free one-year subscription for Apple TV+. They will also send a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the (PRODUCT) RED version to the Global Fund created for COVID-19.

 

Huawei files patent for an extendable smartphone design

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently released data for patent filings in 2019 which shows that Huawei was the top patent filer in the corporate category. Huawei has also at different times bragged about its huge R&D investment. The Chinese tech giant has once again filed a new patent for extendable smartphone design. The patent was filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and was discovered in WIPO’s global design database.

The sketches which have been rendered by LetsGoDigital shows the phone will adopt a foldable panel just like the Mate X and Mate Xs. However, instead of an in-folding design, the new patented model has a pull-out display design.

Huawei exhibited two different design styles which are described and illustrated by several images. The first model (Model A) has a significantly smaller pull-out display than the Model B. It features a bezel-less design and the flexible screen can be extended from the right side to the rear with a simple swipe of the finger. There is a vertical trim at the back which houses a triple camera setup. There is no indication of a front camera. You may have to just turn the phone over to take self-portraits with the main camera. The extension increases the display area by 30% on the model A.Huawei patent

For the second model, Huawei implements a different type of sliding system. This change sees the triple camera setup located on the left rear side instead of the right side. The flexible display also extends from the left. The extended part will be a lot thinner on the right side considering that the left side houses the rear sensors. With this design, the display area may be increased up to 50% on the second design. However, in terms of practicality, the first design looks better.

We must point out that this isn’t the first of such extendable design that has been patented. Samsung, LG, Xiaomi and even TCL have at different times filed patents for retractable phone design. TCL even showcased a prototype of the first extendable smartphone in the world. Just like foldable design, smartphones with sliding flexible displays may meet with us in the next few years.

 

(source)

 

OnePlus China teases launch of surprise product tomorrow; might be OnePlus Z/OnePlus 8 Lite

The OnePlus 8 series launched globally yesterday. The launch event, which was done online, saw the manufacturer announce the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z. However, one device that was missing from the lineup is the much-anticipated OnePlus Z a.k.a. OnePlus 8 Lite. A teaser by OnePlus China on Weibo hints at the phone launching tomorrow.

The teaser is an image of a white box with a question mark on top and a caption that roughly translates to “If there will be a “mysterious new product“ at the launch event tomorrow, what do you think it will be?”.

OnePlus Z Weibo

The box is clearly a retail package for a phone and it is quite smaller than the retail box for the new OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. We believe it is the retail box for the OnePlus Z/OnePlus 8 Lite.

It makes sense that OnePlus is launching this phone in China (first) rather than globally. The phone is expected to come with a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 processor, and unlike the rest of the world, Chinese phone buyers are more receptive to phones powered by MediaTek processors.

The OnePlus Z is rumored to have a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a centered punch-hole. It has also been reported to have 48MP triple rear cameras, a 4000mAh battery capacity, and support for 30W Warp Charge.

Do you think the mysterious product is the OnePlus Z?

 

(Source)

India release for the Motorola Razr (2019) postponed again to May 6

Motorola announced the Motorola Razr (2019) foldable phone in India on March 16 and the clamshell model was billed to go on sale on April 2. The release was later shifted to April 15 (today) due to the COVID 19 lockdown instituted by the Indian government. Sadly, the Motorola Razr (2019) won’t be released today as the company has once again shifted the release date to May 6.Motorola Razr

India is still in lockdown until May 3 after the recent extension and that is what prompted the shift, a statement released by the company revealed. Clutching a retail price of Rs. 124,999 (around $1632), we doubt if there are very many persons who would be disappointed by the announcement.

Motorola first unveiled the Razr (2019) last year as a re-imagined version of the classic Motorola Razr of yore. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 710 midrange chipset but what makes it tickle is the foldable OELD screen which it packs. The device features a 6.2-inch pOLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and resolution of 2142 x 876 pixels. There is also a secondary 2.7-inch cover screen upfront with 800 x 600 pixels resolution. The foldable phone comes in a sole 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option.

 

(via)

 

DJI Mavic Air 2 could launch on April 27

DJI, the world’s popular drone maker has scheduled an event for April 27 to unveil a new product. According to the teaser and release timeline, the upcoming release could be DJI Mavic Air 2, the successor to the original launched back in early 2018.

The DJI Mavic Air was the world’s first pocket-sized portable drone to be able to capture 4K videos. It was and still well-received for its compactibility by the users as well as media. Hence, a successor with improvements was never out of a question for the company.

Also, the image leak and FCC listing from a few weeks back suggest the DJI Mavic Air 2 to debut soon. In addition to those, the new teaser video posted by DJI’s official Twitter account also implies the same.

The drone in the teaser video resembles the original DJI Mavic Pro with rounded shape unlike any other recent drones from the company. We also get to see new green-coloured lights in a diamond pattern for battery indication. For comparison, the other drones from the company come with linearly aligned LED indicators.

According to leaks, the DJI Mavic Air 2 will have a 3,500 mAh battery, which is much better than its predecessor’s 2,375 mAh unit. In fact, battery life was one of the problems in the first version. Thankfully, the company will be fixing it in the second iteration slated to launch on April 27.

 

HMD Global releases Android 10 update for Nokia 8 Sirocco

The Nokia 8 Sirocco flagship phone was a follow-up to the Nokia 8, arriving six months later with generally better specs overall. Today, the phone has begun receiving its last major OS upgrade in the form of Android 10.

Nokia 8 Sirocco

HMD Global has begun rolling out the Android 10 update to the 2018 flagship that ran Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box when it launched. The update is 1.38GB in size and also comes with April 2020’s security patch. Below is the full changelog:

  • Dark Mode – Take it easy on your eyes
  • Smart reply –  Save more time with recommended actions
  • Gesture Navigation – Get around with a swipe and a pull
  • Additional Controls for privacy and location
  • Google Security Patch (2020-04)

Of course, the update will take time to reach everyone, so if you have not gotten it yet, you will have to wait a few days. HMD Global says it expects all countries in the first wave to have received it by April 20.

The Nokia 8 Sirocco is still up for 1 more year of security updates before it reaches its end of life.

 

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite goes official: S Pen, 10.4″ display, 7,040mAh battery

The tablet Android market has experienced a serious downturn in recent years which has seen many OEMs drastically reduce their product catalogue. The Korean giant has kept faith with its tablet business but in a somewhat uninspiring manner. We recall how the company launched the LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) with little to no fanfare. Again Samsung has gone official with the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite without much publicity. The tablet is now officially listed on Samsung Indonesia’s official website. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Before now, the tablet has featured in several leaks revealing the renders and specs. It has even been reportedly listed by several carriers and e-retailers including in South Korea. Thus, there is little left to the imagination but this official listing confirms the hardware and software details. Here we go.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite features a 10.4-inch display with a decent WUXGA+ resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. The tablet is powered by an Octa-core processor whose identity wasn’t revealed on the website. However, it is believed to be either the Exynos 9610 or 9611 chipsets. The processor is paired with 4GB of RAM while there are 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage variants available. The internal storage is expandable via a microSD slot. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The tablet comes with an S-pen stylus just like its sibling. It equally packs dual speakers with AKG and Dolby Atmos enhancements, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port. For photography, there is an 8MP rear-facing camera and 5MP selfie shooter. It comes pre-installed with Android 10-based One UI 2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Further, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite packs a mammoth 7040mAh battery which supports up to 13 hours of continuous video playback between charges. Despite the huge battery, the tablet is just 7mm thick and weighs 467 grams.Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes in Oxford Gray, Angora Blue, and Chiffon Pink colour options. Earlier listing on B&H which was later pulled down shows the tablet will retail for $350 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only variant and $420 for the 128GB Wi-Fi-only variant. There is no word yet on when it will go on sale.

 

(source)

 

OnePlus teased the OnePlus 8 series India prices hours after the global launch

OnePlus officially launched the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 in a digital event hosted yesterday. Apart from announcing the full specifications, the company also revealed the pricing and availability for the US, UK and Europe but did not announce that of India. But a few hours after the event, OnePlus India official Tweeter handle shared a teaser for the India prices of the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8.

The teaser detailed the company of planning to announce the India price for the series soon. However, that may not be very soon and the wait will likely be worth the while if we are to make some wild guesses from the tweet – ” Good things come to those who w8″. Obviously, the prices will likely be lower than the dollar equivalent and not direct conversions. However, we’ll have to wait for more details.OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 Pro

To recall, the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 both come with a hole-punch display notch and have matte-frosted glass protection at the back. The models are powered by a Snapdragon 865 processor with 5G support. The pricing for the OnePlus 8 starts at $899 (roughly Rs. 68,500) while the OnePlus 8 starts at $799 (roughly Rs. 60,800). The models will go on sale in the US on April 29, while their sales will start in the UK and other European regions on April 21. The launch in India will likely be next month after the lockdown ends.

 

 

Mi Box S gets Android 9 Pie update with lots of bug fixes

The Mi Box S was announced back in the fourth quarter of 2018 as a follow-up to the Mi Box. The Android TV box launched with a new design and a new remote but came with the same internals as the Mi Box albeit at a cheaper price.

xiaomi mi box s

Xiaomi has now released a stable Android 9 TV update for the TV box which originally launched with Android 8.1 TV. The update is over 600MB in size and comes with lots of bug fixes. Below is the full changelog:

  • Fixed Chromecast not working
  • Fixed some apps playback freeze
  • Fixed special H264 decode error
  • Fixed Bluetooth audio not in sync with the video
  • Fixed HDMI compatibility
  • Fixed pop sound when STB is in standby mode
  • Fixed Gboard not working when connecting an external keyboard
  • Fixed CEC not working (from build 2603)
  • Fixed system stability issues after resuming from standby mode (from build 2596)
  • Support for more Wi-Fi channels in special areas (from build 2596)

Sadly, the firmware cannot be applied to the Mi Box, which is currently stuck on Oreo, even though both TV boxes share the same hardware.

Do you have a Mi Box S? Have you received the stable Android Pie update? Do let us know in the comment box.

 

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Dimensity 800 vs Kirin 820 vs Snapdragon 765G: Comparing benchmark scores

Recently, an OPPO model bearing the model number PDKM00 and believed to be the OPPO A92s 5G appeared on Geekbench database. The devices believed to be powered by a Dimensity 800 chipset. MediaTek announced the Dimensity 800 processor in January 2020 but the chipset is yet to find its way into any smartphone but may feature on the OPPO A92s and Redmi Note 9 Pro China version. Here is a comparison of the Dimensity 800 benchmark scores with those of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 and Huawei’s Kirin 820 5G SoCs. Dimensity 800 vs Kirin 820 vs Snapdragon 765

The Dimensity 800 is a mid-range 5G processor just like the Kirin 820 and Snapdragon 765G. The GeekBench scores show the Kirin 820 5G has the highest score both on the single-core and multi-core tests. The Kirin 820 5G-powered model scored 2987 in the single-core test and 9395 in the multi-core test. On the other hand, MediaTek’s Dimensity 800 has a better multi-core score of 8130points compared to 7758 points for the SNapdragon 765G. However, the SD 765G has a superior single-core test score of 2891 while the Diemsity 800 scored 2504.

Regardless of the disparity in the test scores, the three processors are in the same performance range. There are just likely a few aspects where they outwit each other. However, going by user experience, the Snapdragon 765G will likely be the preferred choice of most users and will definitely get the widest spread in terms of deployment on smartphones by OEMs.

As a reminder, the Dimensity 800 is a 7nm octa-core processor just like the other two SoCs. It features four Cortex A76 cores clocking at 2.0GHz and four Cortex A55 cores working at 2.0GHz. For graphics, it is equipped with Mali-G77MC4. The SoC is coupled with HyperEngine gaming technology for an enhanced gaming experience. It features APU 3.0 which offers up to 2.4 TOPS of AI performance. Other features include support for full HD+ resolution display with up to 90Hz refresh rates as well as up to 16 GB of LPDDR4x RAM.

 

Lenovo Z5 Pro GT, the World’s First Snapdragon 855 device is finally receiving Android 10 Stable Update

The Lenovo Z5 Pro GT, which was announced as the world’s first smartphone powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC in December 2018 is finally receiving its stable Android 10 update now in China. The update comes with build number ZUI 11.5.223 and weighs 1.80 GB in size.

Lenovo-Z5-Pro-GT-featured

 

Lenovo has been always poor at updating its smartphones in a timely manner and the company is sadly proving it over and over again. Motorola devices used to be one of the first to received Android security patches and platform updates. But ever since Lenovo acquired it, it is also sharing the same fate as the Chinese PC maker’s own smartphones.

Anyway, the Android 10 update for Lenovo Z5 Pro GT bumps up the company’s ZUI Skin version to 11.5.223 and brings a ton of new changes. One of the best new features in this include Lenovo One, which enables the users to pair their smartphone with Windows PC / laptop and control it from there. For other new addition and bug fixes, take a look at the complete changelog provided below.

Lenovo Z5 Pro GT Android 10 ZUI 11.5.223 Official Changelog (Translated from Chinese)

  • Update highlights
    • Android 10 version is coming!
    • Optimize system interface display
    • Application management interface update
    • Optimize the volume adjustment function
    • Optimize system screenshot function
    • Added 2 new calendar widgets
    • Added 2 new time weather widgets
    • Added the most beautiful Chinese style theme
    • Set to support fuzzy search
    • Added small window reply function
    • Fix the misidentification of occasional fingerprint unlocking
    • Increase night power saving and abnormal power consumption switch
    • New Lenovo One is added, making mobile PC connection more convenient
    • The new version of Music Voice supports the power button to wake up
    • Newly added network intelligent detection, the network situation can be known immediately
    • Optimize U health detail function and more device support
    • Lenovo Wallet added the function of simulating access control card
    • There are more system optimizations waiting for you to discover
  • Known issues
    • Due to third-party reasons, the red envelope assistant function was removed
    • Laboratory function adjustment, remove chat / article interface switching and magic input box
    • Payment security and distributed voice no longer support Android 10 version, the above applications will be removed after system upgrade
    • Due to cooperation issues, Lenovo Wallet adjusted the card opening method in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the already opened bus card will not be affected
    • Some third-party applications are not yet adapted to the Android 10 system, and there may be startup failures or abnormal functions
    • Due to Android 10 permission adjustment, individual permissions of the three-party application may be disabled, please manually open the corresponding permissions.

Although the update does not format user data, Lenovo recommends the users of the phone to back up their data for safety purpose before hitting the download button. Also, suggests updating only when the handset is not rooted as well as have enough battery and storage space. 

Also, it mentions warming up of the phone while updating, which is normal anyway. Further, if the user is facing any issue, then it suggests them to seek help from Lenovo Community.

 

Huawei Kirin 985 SoC scores over 380,000 points on AnTuTu Benchmark

Huawei had just announced its latest flagship processor HiSilicon Kirin 985 SoC. It is a 5G processor and will fall between the Kirin 820 5G SoC and Kirin 990 5G. Now, the processor has been put through the AnTuTu benchmarking software and has achieved an impressive score of over 380,000.

Huawei

The chipset is equipped on the Honor 30 series, including Honor 30, Honor 30 Pro and Honor 30 Pro+. It is an octa core processor with the new Mali-G77 GPU. The Kirin 985 also houses the same dual core NPU, similar to the Kirin 990. Arriving at the performance, the AnTuTu benchmark had managed the highest score of 386,045 points. Notably, this is just slightly higher than the Kirin 820 SoC.

Breaking down the overall score, the CPU of the Kirin 985 scored 122,531 points, while its GPU received 131,623 points. The MEM score arrived in at 69,180 points and finally, the UX score brought in 62,711 points. In simpler terms, this should translate to overall better performance when compared to the Kirin 820. However, the Kirin 820 actually managed to score slightly higher in the CPU department while lagging behind in the rest.

Huawei

This is surprising since the clock speed of the Kirin 985 is higher than the 820 and is based on the same CPU architecture. Although this may be due to software optimization, as the newly launched processor has yet to receive any specific software update, unlike the latter which has already been available for a while now.

 

(Via)