Realme C3 with 6.5-inch display, Helio G70 and 5,000mAh battery launched in India for Rs. 6,999 (~$98)

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Feb 6, 2020

Motorola is gearing up to launch new Moto G series such as Moto G8, Moto G8 Power and Moto G Stylus phones. Recent reports have revealed that the Lenovo-owned company is also working on Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 865 driven high-end phones. A fresh report on XDA Developers states that it has received live shots of two new Motorola phones along with specs and features. It claims that they are dubbed as “Motorola One 2020” in marketing materials. It is speculated that one of these Motorola One 2020 phone could be also coming to some markets as Motorola Edge+

The report states that the Snapdragon 865 powered flagship phone in the Motorola One 2020 series is codenamed as “burton” and it is also being referred to as “race turbo” internally. On the other side, the Snapdragon 765 or 765G driven phone is codenamed as “racer 5G” or “racer.”

The Racer 5G is expected to debut as Motorola One 5G 2020 and as the name suggests it carries support for 5G connectivity. The Burton device is just called Motorola One 2020 and does not have 5G mentioned in its name. However, being a flagship phone, it will carry support for 5G connectivity. The Motorola One 2020 will be exclusively available through Verizon in the U.S. Some markets in the U.S. may receive its non-5G edition. Also, there is a possibility that this device could be called Motorola Edge+ in the U.S. Both devices have similar specs and one of the main attractions about them is that they are equipped with 6.67-inch curved displays that offer 90hz refresh rate.

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Editor’s Pick: Moto G series sales hit 100M; Motorola marks the milestone with discount offers

The Motorola One 5G 2020 is expected to come with Snapdragon 765 or 765G along with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The rear camera setup of the phone will have a 48-megapixel main lens. It could be housing a big battery of 4,660mah capacity. It will arrive with support for NFC. One of the variants of the phone will come with support for dual SIM.

There is less information available about the Motorola One 2020 (aka Motorola Edge+). The Snapdragon 865 powered flagship smartphone from Motorola will come in 8 GB and 12 GB RAM editions. It could be housing a massive battery of 5,170mAh capacity. Both phones will come preloaded with Android 10 OS. These phones will come with some apps made by Motorola such as Moto Edge Assistant which will offer customizable tap actions on the curved edges of the display, Moto Gamtime toolbar for enhanced gaming experience and an auto-tuning app called Moto Audio. The Moto Edge Assistant app will be exclusively available on Motorola One 2020 series devices with curved edges.

Motorola will be present at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 to announce new devices. It is likely that the Motorola One 2020 series may go official at MWC 2020.

Renders of unannounced Moto Razr gold-colored version leaks online

By

Jeet

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Feb 6, 2020

Motorola recently announced its first foldable smartphone — Motorola RAZR, which is inspired from the company’s clamshell Moto Razr phone. Now, the unannounced gold version of the foldable Moto Razr has surfaced online, thanks to Evan Blass.

The high-resolution image shared online of the folding smartphone hints that the device could get a wider release in the near future. Currently, Moto Razr is only available in black directly from Verizon for a price of $1,499.

The press renders of the unannounced new Gold color have been shared by Evan Blass but has not revealed anything else related to this variant. This means that the could come with the same set of specifications as the standard model.

To remind you of the specs, the Motorola Razr has a main 6.2-inch Flex View P-OLED screen that supports full HD+ resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. When closed, users can access its 2.69-inch Quick View display that supports 800 x 600 pixels resolution for viewing notifications and caller IDs.

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 710 chipset, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. As for the cameras, it features a selfie camera of 5-megapixel while the back panel houses camera of 16-megapixel which is assisted by a 3D ToF sensor.

There’s a fingerprint scanner present on the broad chin of the device. Connectivity features on the device include eSIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS and NFC. It lacks a 3.5mm audio jack. The device is backed by a 2,510mAh battery that carries support for 15W fast charging technology. The Android 9 Pie operating system in its near stock version runs on the device.

(Source)

OPPO Find X2 screen protector shows extremely narrow bezels and punch-hole

By

Jeet

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Feb 6, 2020

OPPO has been actively launching new devices and now the company seems to be all set to launch its next-generation Find-series flagship phone — OPPO Find X2.

Ahead of the officially announcement, screen protector of the upcoming smartphone has surfaced online, which reveals some interesting information about the phone’s design. It shows that the device will have a punch-hole cut-out for the front-facing camera.

Further, the image shows that while the phone won’t feature a waterfall screen, it does have curved edges on the sides which is more than the usual curve. The bezels at the sides are also extremely thin.

The OPPO Find X2 will come with a hyperboloid OLED display with a punch-hole cut-out and will be offering 2K+ screen resolution at 120Hz refresh rate. It is said that the phone may use COP packaging process for this flagship device.

As per the rumors, the device will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and will support dual-mode 5G with SA and NSA modes. Also, the phone’s battery capacity isn’t expected to be more than 4,000mAh and will reportedly comes with support for 65W VOOC fast charging support.

Recently, reports started surfacing online that the company has jointly developed the Sony IMX689 camera sensor for the OPPO Find X2. The Sony IMX689 is said to be the world’s first all-pixel omnidirectional focusing technology.

This 48-megapixel primary camera sensor will be coupled with a Sony IMX708 and a 13-megapixel telephoto sensor with 5x hybrid optical zooms support. The Sony IMX708 that will premiere on the Find X2 is the said to be the strongest super-wide lens. At the front, the Find X2 will be equipped with a Sony IMX616 32-megapixel selfie camera.

While the company has not yet revealed anything related to the launch date of the flagship OPPO Find X2 smartphone, it won’t be surprising if the company choose to launch the device at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2020 later this month in Barcelona.

(Via)

OnePlus files patent for under-display camera technology

By

Jeet

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Feb 6, 2020

Most of the smartphone manufacturers are working on premium smartphones with higher screen-to-body ratio. For this, the companies have tried different types of technologies, including punch-hole display, pop-up front camera, and others.

Nowadays, companies are working on yet another technology — under-display camera sensor. While brands like OPPO and Xiaomi have already showcased their in-display camera technology and Samsung has revealed that it is working on the same.

Now, OnePlus has also joined the list as the company has filed a patent for a technology that hides the camera when not in use. The patent seems to be similar to the implementation of the Concept One smartphone that was showcased by the company at CES 2020 last month.

From the photo included in the patent application, it is clearly visible that there are no punch-holes of pop-up camera mechanism for the front-facing snapper and the entire surface is covered by the screen.

This could mean that the device will come with an in-display camera sensor for the front panel. The back of the phone seems similar to the OnePlus 7T but there seems a plastic flap on top of the lenses which can hide the camera module when not in use.

However, the back camera system seems like a mechanical design and has nothing to do with the under-display camera-type technology. The back camera flap seems like a design choice to better protect it from dust and dirt.

If this is indeed the camera with an in-display front-facing camera system, we don’t expect to see the smartphone available commercially in near future. At this point in time, the technology isn’t fully developed and there seems to some issues with the image quality.

Meanwhile, the company is now gearing up to launch its next-generation flagship smartphones — OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and 8 Lite. While the launch date is not yet known, we expect it to go official in the coming weeks.

(Source)

Amazon announces Echo Show 8 in India but won’t ship till Feb. 26

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2020

Amazon has announced a new smart display, called the Echo Show 8, in India. The Echo Show 8 was originally announced in the US back in September 2019 and is positioned between the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show.

The Echo Show 8 has an 8-inch HD touchscreen with stereo speakers that allow users to stream their favorite shows and movies from platforms such as Prime Video and Voot.

Like any other Amazon smart display, you can ask it questions, ask it to show your security cameras, or use it to control other supported smart home products such as lights and Air Conditioning units. You can also ask the Echo Show 8 questions about the weather and the latest news. The device also has a camera, so you can use it to make video calls.

Amazon is concerned about privacy and has added a shutter to cover the 1MP camera and also the option to mute the microphone. You can also ask it to delete your voice recordings. For example, you can say “Alexa, delete everything I said today”.

Setting up the Echo Show 8 is simple and just takes three easy steps according to Amazon:

Plug in the Echo Show 8.
Connect to the internet using Echo Show 8 (you probably have to input your Amazon login details at a point here). This is easier and faster when you use WiFi simple setup and already have a previous Amazon device and have saved your WiFi password to Amazon.
Ask Alexa about the news, play movies, and more.

The device measures 200.4 x 135.9 x 99.1 millimeters and weighs 1.037 kilograms. It has its volume controls at the top alongside the camera shutter button and microphone button. The power port is on the back and you also get a 3.5mm audio out port in case you want to connect it to an external speaker. The device itself has 2 x 2.0” (52mm) neodymium speakers with a passive bass radiator.

Amazon has put a price tag of INR 8999 (~$126) on the Echo Show 8 and it says it is a “limited period launch price”. You can pre-order now before its February 26 release date.

[UPDATE] Xiaomi Mi 10 is likely the world’s first smartphone with LPDDR5 RAM

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Feb 6, 2020

UPDATE: Xiaomi Product Director named Wang Teng Thomas has confirmed that all the variants of the Mi 10 series from standard and above will be equipped with the latest LPDDR5 RAM technology. Hence, it is likely the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro will come equipped with the LPDDR5.

Original story follows…

This morning, Micron Technology announced that it has commenced the mass production of the world’s first low-power LPDDR5 DRAM chip designed for high-end smartphone market. It is now confirmed that the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 10 series will be the first phones to feature it. The Mi 10 may become the first smartphone to arrive with the latest LPDDR5 RAM technology. However, there is a possibility that Samsung’s Galaxy S20 series could beat the company in using this new-age RAM.

Micron’s LDDR5 make use of industry leading packaging technology for its 12 GB RAM. The low power DDR5 offers a transmission rate of up to 6.4Gbps. In terms of speed, it is twice as fast as LPDDR4 and 20 percent faster than LPDDR4x RAM. The data access speed has been upped by 50 percent on the LPDDR5.

Compared to the previous generation, it consumes 20 percent less power. According to Micron Technology, just because LPDDR5 is faster, the app processing and operation speed also becomes fast. Hence, devices equipped with LPDDR can help in extending the battery life by 5 to 10 percent.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi continued dominance of Indian smartphone market in Q4 2019: Canalys

When it comes to performance, Micron Technology said that the predecessor LPDDR4 RAM can be used for 4K, 8K applications, and image editing. However, it does not work well with AR games, 100-megapixel images, and high-performance video editing. These advantages are available with LPDDR5. Also, if LPDDR4 runs 100 apps simultaneously, a bottleneck may appear. LPDDR5 devices will not encounter such an issue, claims the company.

LPDDR5 can provide the required speed and capacity for AI engine that is built directly inside the mobile device processor. These CPUs rely on the data transfer of Micron’s built-in LPDDR5 memory to support machine learning capabilities. Phones equipped with 8 GB and 12 GB RAM LDDR5 RAM are expected to release in the first half of the year. Companies are expected to release phones with 16 GB in the second half of the year.

Micron Technology confirmed that the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 10 will be the first smartphone to come equipped with LPDDR5 memory. Xiaomi Group VP Chang Cheng said, “We value Micron’s long-standing leadership and innovation capabilities in the memory field. Micron’s LPDDR5 DRAM memory has market-leading performance and brings lower power consumption to Xiaomi 10 smartphones. It also ensures better performance and stability. We believe that LPDDR5 will be standard on flagship phones in 2020.” Xiaomi is yet to confirm the launch for the Mi 10 series. It is speculated that the Chinese firm will unveil it in the coming week.

(via)

The Realme X50 New Year Edition’s retail box is the most beautiful thing you’ll see today

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2020

We love special edition phones, sometimes for the phone itself when it is also customized and has special features, and other times it is the retail box and the extra goodies inside. Of all the special edition boxes I have seen, the one for the Realme X50 New Year Edition might as well be the most colorful.

Photos of the Realme X50 New Year Edition were originally posted on the Weibo account late last month but we missed it. Nevertheless, they were reposted on Twitter yesterday by Francis Wang, the CMO of Realme India.

The retail box highlights the Chinese New Year with a cartoonish and colorful style. If all retail boxes were designed this way, I wouldn’t mind collecting them as a hobby.

From the images, it appears the Realme X50 New Year Edition comes with the red variant of the Realme Fast Charge Power Bank, the orange version of the Realme Buds Wireless earphones, a bunch of colorful red envelopes, a calendar, and of course a unit of the phone included in the box.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if Realme will be selling this special edition as there is no info about purchasing it both on their social media channels and on their official website.

[envira-gallery id=”304021″]

The Realme X50 was announced in early January. It has a 6.57-inch FHD+ display with a pill-shaped punch-hole at the top left corner for dual front-facing cameras. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor with 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of non-expandable storage.

There is a quad-camera setup on the back of the phone that includes a 64MP primary camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The primary front-facing camera is a 16MP primary sensor and it is paired with an 8MP ultrawide angle camera.

The Realme X50 also has NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and Dual-SIM with 5G support. It packs a 4200mAh battery with support for VOOC 4.0 (30W fast charging) and runs Realme UI based on Android 10 out of the box.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Realme 5 Pro vs Realme X2 vs Realme XT: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 5, 2020

Realme brought an amazing smartphone lineup in Europe in terms of quality price ratio. In the price tag ranging from €150 to €300, you can currently find three awesome Realme smartphones in the global market. We are talking about Realme 5 Pro, Realme XT, and Realme X2. The differences between the user experience provided by these three devices are not huge, but they exist and they may be important for a lot of people. Through this comparison, we will try to help you make the right choice for your needs by highlighting the differences between their specifications.

Oppo Realme 5 Pro vs Oppo Realme X2 vs Oppo Realme XT

	Oppo Realme 5 Pro	Oppo Realme X2	Oppo Realme XT
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	157 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm, 184 grams	158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm, 182 grams	158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm, 183 grams
DISPLAY	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, IPS LCD	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 712, octa-core 2.3 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 712, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, Color OS	Android 9 Pie, Color OS	Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 f/2.0 front camera	Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.0 front camera	Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4035 mAh, fast charging 20W	4000 mAh, fast charging 30W	4000 mAh, fast charging 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Realme XT and X2 offer exactly the same design and it is definitely a superior design if we compare it to the Realme 5 Pro. While the Realme 5 Pro has a plastic design, both Realme XT and X2 offer a glass back, while the frame is still made of plastic. On the other hand, note that Realme 5 Pro is splash resistant, while XT and X2 are not. But if we consider the look, XT and X2 are actually a better choice due to their materials.

Display

Besides the design, Realme XT and X2 share another thing in common: the display. Both are equipped with the same 6.4-inch AMOLED panel boasting a Full HD+ resolution and an in-display fingerprint reader. Realme 5 Pro has a smaller panel with the IPS technology and still a Full HD+ resolution. Given that the 5 Pro has an IPS panel, it does not sport an in-display fingerprint reader, but it has a rear-mounted biometric sensor. In each case, you get a waterdrop notch. Realme XT and X2 offer a better image quality thanks to their better AMOLED panel, so go either for the XT or the X2 if you need the best display.

Specs & Software

The best smartphone of this comparison in terms of performance is the Realme X2. It sports a higher-end Snapdragon 730G which offers better CPU performance and way superior graphics performance. So it is amazing for both power users and gamers. Further, it offers the best memory configuration with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage. Realme 5 Pro and Realme XT share the same chipset and the same memory configuration in their most expensive variant. And in each case, you get the same software: ColorOS 6 based on Android 9 Pie out of the box. All of these devices will be updated to Android 10 this year and they will get the new Realme UI with several improvements.

Camera

Realme XT and X2 offer exactly the same rear camera department including a 64 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, a 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. And this quad camera setup is better than the one found on the Realme 5 Pro. Note that Realme X2 and XT differ for the front camera: while the former has a 32 MP selfie snapper, the latter has just a 16 MP sensor. So overall, the X2 wins the camera comparison. Realme 5 Pro has the same cameras as the XT except for the main sensor of the rear camera setup, which is a 48 MP lens.

Battery

More or less the same battery capacity for all of these handsets, but Realme X2 lasts slightly more in most of the scenarios thanks to its more efficient Snapdragon 730G chipset built at 10 nm. Further, it has a faster charging technology.

Price

Realme 5 Pro starts from €199/$219 globally, Realme XT starts from €259/$285 and Realme X2 starts from €299/$329 (you can find them at lower prices thanks to online street prices). Realme X2 is the winner of the comparison due to its better chipset, front camera and charging technology. But if you do not need an incredibly powerful SoC, Realme XT is enough for you. Realme 5 Pro lacks an AMOLED display and it has a less impressive camera department, as well as a glass back. But its price is very affordable. Which one would you go for?

Read More: Realme X2, 2, 3, 3i and C1 latest OTA updates bring January 2020 security patches & more

Realme 5 Pro vs Realme X2 vs Realme XT: PROs and CONS

Oppo Realme 5 Pro

PROs

More affordable price
Splash resistant
Same chipset as the XT
More compact

CONS

Worse cameras

Realme X2

PROs

Amazing performance
Great front camera
Faster charging

CONS

Higher price

Realme XT

PROs

More affordable than X2
NFC in the global variant
Good rear cameras

CONS

Inferior front camera and chipset than X2

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite running Android 10 makes multiple appearances on Geekbench

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Feb 5, 2020

Xiaomi relies heavily on ad placement inside its custom MIUI OS as a source of revenue. The company, however, took the industry by surprise when it launched the Mi A1 in 2017 and then the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite 2018 running stock Android under Google’s Android One program. The Mi A3 was also released in 2019. The Mi A2 and A2 Lite launched with Android 8.1 Oreo but received Android 9 update last ear. The Mi A2 Lite had earlier been confirmed to receive Android 10 update.

Now, several Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite units running Android 10 have surfaced on GeekBench. The models included versions having 3GB and 4GB of RAM. The Mi A2 Lite models were also listed with the MSM8953 motherboard which integrates the Snapdragon 625 that powers the Mi A2 Lite.

As stated earlier, Xiaomi had earlier confirmed the Mi A2 Lite will receive Android 10 update after disgruntled users filed a petition for not receiving Android 10 update on Change.org. Before the petition, the company had earlier hinted that it had no plans of releasing Android 10 update for the A2 Lite. Thus, the GeekBench listings may be an indication that the update will roll out pretty soon. We expect the Mi A2 to also receive the update for Google’s latest OS version. No doubt, this will definitely be the last major Android update the Mi A2 models will receive.

Galaxy Z Flip moniker confirmed through official listing on Samsung’s site

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Feb 5, 2020

Recent reports reveal that Samsung’s clamshell phone Galaxy Z Flip with foldable display and Galaxy S20 series of flagship phones will debut on Feb. 11. Initial reports had dubbed it as Galaxy Fold 2 The Galaxy Z Flip moniker was not confirmed by the company, but recent reports revealed that it will be breaking cover with the said name. Now a listing of an accessory of the phone on Samsung Romania website has confirmed that it will indeed debut as Galaxy Z Flip.

In October last year, Samsung had said that it is working on a clamshell phone. Assuming this to be successor to the original Galaxy Fold phone, the name Galaxy Fold 2 got held up in every new report on this flip phone. By December, news had it that this next generation Galaxy Fold 2 would get announced alongside the Galaxy S20 series in February 2020. With just two months for its launch, more information on the phone’s name as well as specifications was certainly expected within a span of a few weeks.

The Galaxy Z Flip name was first revealed by reliable Chinese tipster Ice Universe. Any clouds over the reliability of this tip were cast away when the same name appeared on an Indonesian certification body. To everyone’s delight, later the name also appeared on the database of Thailand’s NBTC regulatory body.

Editor’s Pick: Galaxy S20 Ultra real image leaked, S20 with LED case spotted on Samsung site before announcement

What stayed amiss however was any official update as till then Samsung did not confirm the name for a phone whose design it had showcased months back. Who could expect that such official authorization could come in an unexpected way through an accessory listing for the phone on Samsung’s Romania website? The accessory listing states that the company will be selling a leather cover for its upcoming clamshell phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip specifications and pricing (Rumored)

The Galaxy Z Flip will run on Android 10 along with Samsung’s One UI skin. It could be driven by the 7nm Snapdragon 855+ processor with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.0 built-in storage. It could be coming with a two-part battery system with a total capacity of 3,300 mAh. The phone supports 15W rapid charging and 9W wireless charging.

The clamshell phone is expected to house a 6.7-inch S-AMOLED Infinity Flex foldable display that offers full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 22:9. The rear side of the device has 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual camera setup whereas it is equipped with a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The device could be priced at $1,399 in the U.S.

Shocker! Huawei Mate 9 will not get EMUI 10 update

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Feb 5, 2020

Huawei Mate 9 series was launched in 2016 and truth be told, that is a long time away. That was before smartphones started adopting the 18:9 aspect ratio and full-screen design. But the device was one popular model and fans of the model still expect Huawei to provide an update for the model. Recently, Mate 9 users signed a petition urging Huawei to release EMUI 10 based on Android 10 update for the model. A response issued by the company on Instagram indicated that the Chinese giant was working on an update for the Mate 9. While Mate 9 users were basking in the good news, it turns out the response may have been generated by a bot.

According to Huawei Central, Huawei has now responded, confirming that the Mate 9 WILL NOT receive the latest Android 10-based EMUI 10 update. The response also included some clarification that the statement on Instagram wasn’t given by an official representative.

Huawei Mate 9 made its debut in 2016 packing a 5.9-inch display, powered by Kirin 960 processor and preloaded with Android 7 (EMUI 5) then upgraded to Android 8 (EMUI 8) and last year it received Android 9 based EMUI 9.1. Looks like users will have to stick with the Android 9 based EMUI 9.1 or upgrade to a newer model like the Mate 30 which runs EMUI 10.

What happens when a car steps over Ulefone Armor X6? (video)

By

Dimitris Economou

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Feb 5, 2020

Ulefone Armor X6 belongs to the entry-level rugged smartphone series of the Chinese manufacturer and so far, we’ve seen it go through various durability tests that have to do with water and drop resistance. Today, the company released a crazy test showing the Armor X6 being stepped over by a car! Let’s see what happened.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRZJY_EFGhI[/embedyt]

As you can see in the video, the car’s wheel passes many times over the Armor X6 and still, the device remains fully functional and in one piece! Neither the body nor the screen got any cracks or any other kind of damages. It seems that the MIL-STD-810G certification does its job well.

As for the rest of its specs, these include a power-efficient 4-core SoC backed by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Also, there is a big, 4000mAh battery and a 5″ HD display. On the camera department, there’s a dual camera on the back with 8MP/5MP setup and a 2MP selfie shooter that supports face unlock. Of course, it’s a dual-SIM/dual-standby device and comes with Android 9 Pie.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast or just want a durable smartphone for everyday use, Armor X6 should be taken under consideration, especially now that it sells at just $69.99 on Aliexpress. To check out the rest of the company’s product lineup, visit their official website.

Xiaomi continued dominance of Indian smartphone market in Q4 2019 – Canalys

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Feb 5, 2020

International market research firm Canalys has released a report containing the shipping estimates of the Indian market for the fourth quarter of 2019. The data shows Chinese tech giant Xiaomi continued to dominate the market in the fourth quarter.

In terms of shipments, Xiaomi increased by 13% to 11.2 million units in the fourth quarter, and annual shipments rose steadily from 41 million units in 2018 to 42.9 million units. Samsung ranked second, with a year-on-year decline of 7% to 8.1 million units in the fourth quarter. Samsung’s gross estimated shipment of 32.3 million units in 2019 was slightly inferior to 35.4 million units in 2018. Vivo ranks third, with a year-on-year increase of 69% to 7 million units in the fourth quarter, and annual shipments increased 72% to 24.7 million units. Realme ranked fourth, with shipments up 268% year-on-year to pitch at 4.7 million units.

Finally, BBK subsidiary OPPO ranked fifth with a total shipment of 4.5 million units in the fourth quarter, an increase of 42% year-on-year. Apple has also achieved its best performance ever in India. Shipments in the fourth quarter were close to 925,000 units, a year-on-year growth rate of over 200%.

(via)

OPPO Reno3 Pro blue variant appears in real skin ahead of India launch

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Feb 5, 2020

OPPO India is reportedly gearing up to launch a global version of the Reno3 Pro. It is rumored to go official in the third week of this month. Initial reports have revealed that the Reno3 Pro its front design will be different from the Chinese edition of the same phone that had debuted in December. Reputed leakster Ishan Agarwal has shared a real-life image of the Reno3 Pro. The China version of the Reno3 Pro comes in a blue color option. However, the Reno3 Pro that has appeared today in a blue color has a sleeker appeal.

The tipster has revealed that India will be the first country to receive the Reno3 Pro’s global version. The leaked shot reveals that the glass rear of the Reno3 Pro has a gradient finish. The edges of the phone are slightly curved. The cameras of the phone seem to be present at the top-left corner of the rear shell. There is no confirmation on the number of cameras that are available on the backside of the device.

A previously leaked image of the global version of the Reno3 Pro had revealed that it will be equipped with a dual punch-hole screen. It is rumored to have feature a main lens of 44-megapixel and it could be coming with a 2-megapixel lens. The Reno3 Pro phone that had unveiled in China has a single punch-hole screen.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO Find and Find X2 Pro approved in Malaysia

There is no information on the other specifications of the Reno3 Pro that will be launching in India. The Chinese edition has Snapdragon 765G onboard which makes it 5G ready. Hopefully, future leaks will reveal more information on the device.

In related news, OPPO India is planning to launch OPPO A8 and OPPO F15s smartphone in India. The Chinese firm had launched the OPPO A8 phone in China in December with a price tag of 1,199 Yuan (~$172). The Helio P35 powered A8 phone is expected to debut in India with a price tag of around Rs. 12,000.

The OPPO F15s will be arriving as a lower version of the OPPO F15 that launched in the previous month. The F15 had launched as a rebrand version of China’s OPPO A91 phone. The phone may arrive with a price tag of Rs. 19,990 (~$280) in March. The new OPPO F15s is expected to rival with the likes of the Redmi Note 8 and Realme 5 phones in India.

Lei Jun donates medical supplies worth ¥12.7M to Coronavirus-hit Hubei province

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Feb 5, 2020

The Coronavirus scourge that is currently on a rampage in China has brought out the humanitarian angle of mot companies. Apart from donations from large companies like Xiaomi, Lenovo, Huawei, we have seen individuals make huge donations to aid persons that were caught up in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province where the virus first appeared.

Xiaomi’s CEO Lei has reportedly donated medical supplies worth 12.7 million yuan to Hubei. According to the report carried by Voice of Hubei, a 90-tonne special plane full of medical protection supplies arrived at Wuhan Tianhe Airport from South Korea. This batch of medical-grade protective supplies included 200,000 sets of medical protective clothing, 90,000 N95 masks, 1 million medical surgical masks, 2 million KF94 masks, and 100,000 goggles. Due to the huge amount of supplies, the first batch of supplies was delivered by special aircraft in batches and arrived in Wuhan on the evening of January 30 and 31. The third batch arrived on February 5, and the fourth batch will arrive today (February 6). Before now, the CEO had also made other donations both in cash and products to help fight the scourge.

Lei Jun has a close tie with Hubei as that is his province and he also graduated from the Wuhan University. This he has shown by the number of donations that have been made under his watch. Lei Jun had first announced a donation of 10.7 million yuan on behalf of Xiaomi Group. He later donated 3.4 million yuan from the assets of Wuhan University alumni company. China Chengxin Group donated 3.3 million yuan and China Jia Capital donated 3.3 million yuan. He also got the Wuhan University Alumni Association to purchase medical protective supplies urgently from South Korea.

Furthermore, on February 2, Xiaomi Group, Xishanju and Viomi Company donated a large number of materials to Wuhan Vulcan Mountain Hospital and Raytheon Mountain Hospital, worth 2.485 million yuan. The materials included 1,750 Xiaomi tablet computers for remote video viewing systems. Others are air purification gadgets, infrared thermometers, walkie-talkies and others. On February 3, Xiaomi donated 50,000 medical surgical masks to Donghu High-tech Zone for epidemic protection. On the same day, Lei Jun also donated 2 million yuan to Xiantao City, and the relevant funds will be designated for the purchase of epidemic-resistant medical supplies and equipment.

(via)

Vivo V19 with dual punch-hole screen arriving in March 2020, claims report

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Feb 5, 2020

Vivo is reportedly working on the Vivo V19 series of smartphones. A recent report had revealed that Vivo India will begin with pre-booking of the Vivo V19 series by end of this month. A fresh report on 91mobiles reveals that the Vivo V19 phone will be hitting the Indian market in March. It could be arriving as the first Vivo with dual punch-hole screen.

The publication claims that it has come to know from an insider that the Vivo V19’s display has a pill-shaped cutout for housing two front-facing cameras. Unfortunately, there is no information available on the display and camera configurations. The secondary lens of the dual selfie camera setup of the Vivo V19 could be a depth assist lens. The Vivo V17 that had gone official few months ago had arrived with four rear cameras. Hence, it is likely the successor V19 phone could be also coming with quad rear cameras. Like the predecessor phone, the V19 may arrive with an in-display fingerprint reader.

The Vivo V17 Pro that had launched last year had come with a 32-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera setup. The Vivo V19 series includes the advanced Vivo V19 Pro. It remains to be seen whether Vivo brings the same brings the Vivo V17 Pro’s dual selfie snappers on to the Vivo V19. It remains to be seen whether the Vivo V19 Pro also arrives with a dual punch-hole screen like the V19.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo TWS earphones India launch imminent says a new report

The Vivo V19 and V19 Pro phones won’t be debuting tougher. The Pro model is expected to hit the Indian markets first. The company is expected to market the Vivo V19 series during the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament that starts on March 29 in India. It is speculated that the Vivo V19 series will be priced between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 30,000. Both phones could be available for purchase in online and offline markets.

Vivo V17 specifications

Priced at Rs. 22,990, the Vivo V17 has a 6.44-inch S-AMOLED punch-hole display that produces full HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio. The Snapdragon 675 mobile platform, 8 GB of RAM and 4,500mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 18W fast charging and comes loaded with Android 10 OS. It has an internal storage of 128 GB and a microSD card slot. It has a 32-megapixel front camera and a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth) quad camera system.

Xiaomi is crowdfunding an automatic Toothpaste Dispenser, uses UV to disinfect toothbrushes

By

Sean

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Feb 5, 2020

Xiaomi has just started crowdfunding a new product earlier today (5th February 2020). It is the Smartknow automatic toothpaste dispenser, which is also capable of uses UV to disinfect the toothbrush when releasing toothpaste.

The Smartknow automatic toothpaste dispenser uses infrared sensors to detect the proximity of a toothbrush. When detecting one, it squeezes out a certain amount of toothpaste. While this is happening, the gadget uses UV to disinfect the head of the toothbrush which is placed in the dispenser’s cavity in the middle.

According to official notes, the Smartknow product uses an integrated tube design which allows the toothpaste to not make contact with air, helping in avoiding exposure to pollutants in the atmosphere. Additionally, the dispenser also arrives with a smart toothbrush cup as well.

Both the automatic dispenser and sterilization cup adopts a simplistic design philosophy and similar to former, the latter can also disinfect the toothbrush once UV sterilizing mode is turned on. The product can also be linked to the Xiaomi Mijia App, which allows for remote control over its operations. The cup is made of plexiglass and has a total capacity of 300ml and sterilize multiple toothbrushes at the same time.

The Smartknow Automatic toothpaste dispenser and sterilizing cup are currently available via crowdfunding from Xiaomi; and is available for a price of 89 Yuan (or roughly 12 US Dollars) for just the dispenser, while the cup cost 69 Yuan (or roughly 10 US Dollars). Both can also sold together in a set which carries a price tag of 99 Yuan (or roughly 14 US Dollars)

(Via)

Huawei P40 and P40 Pro protective cases showcase the camera modules

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Feb 5, 2020

Huawei is expected to take the wraps off the P40 series in March this year. While we wait for the company to officially announce a launch date, the P40 continues to be the subject of leaks. The latest is the protective cases of both the Huawei P40 and P40 Pro.

The protective cases may not give us an idea of the front design but it tells how the sizes would be different as well as the rear camera design. In this case, the Huawei P40 and P40 will have different screen sizes as one aspect where both models differ. The model will also come with a matrix camera on the back. The details differ in the arrangement and number of cameras.

According to the information previously exposed by @RODENT950, the Huawei P40 will come with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 40MP Cine (ultrawide) camera with a 1/1.5” sensor size, a 52MP main camera with a 1/1.3” sensor size, and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.

The Huawei P40 Pro will also have a 40MP Cine (ultrawide) camera with a 1/1.5” sensor size and will pair it with a 52MP main camera with a 1/1.3” sensor size. Rather than a telephoto camera, Huawei is said to adopt a periscope zoom lens like that of the Huawei P30 Pro. This will offer more optical zoom, at least 5x, and of course more digital zoom. The P40 Pro will also have a 3D ToF camera.