Xiaomi Youpin crowdfunds the Line Friends True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds

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Jan 23, 2020

Xiaomi’s partner and Korean company KH Vatec has launched the Line Friends Bluetooth headset under the Youpin crowdfunding platform. The product comes from the partnership with the well-known global character brand Line Friends and has received several positive reviews as well as large patronage.

In terms of appearance, the earbuds come in two design styles themed after the famous Brown Bear and Sally characters. Not only are the colours very pleasing, but you may also even confuse the storage box for a toy. The earbuds look very much like the Redmi AirDots range of earbuds. The earbuds come in white only which is a bit low-key compared to the fanciful storage box. There is a caricature of the Brown Bear or Sally characters on each of the earbuds, depending on the variant.

Specs-wise, the Line Friends Bluetooth Earbuds comes with Bluetooth 5.0 technology which is more stable and less susceptible to interference from WiFi and other Bluetooth signals than Bluetooth 4.0. It comes with a standby time of 6days but each earphone can provide 3.5 hours of playback time. The storage box has some magnetic properties such that as soon as the earbuds are inserted, it gets stuck. Also, it shuts down automatically when inside the box and turns back on when removed from the box.

Furthermore, the earbuds each have a transmission range of 10m and comes with an IP5X level water and dustproof protection. Another thing is the lightweight property, weighing just 4g.

As for the pricing and availability, the earbuds are presently available to buy on Tmall for an affordable price of 169 yuan ($24).

(source)

No Realme X50 for India but something bigger and better will come

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 23, 2020

The Realme X50 launched as the first 5G smartphone by Realme. The phone which is powered by the Snapdragon 765G is already on sale in China. Realme fans in India have been asking when the phone will be available in the country and now it has been answered by Realme’s CEO in the latest episode of AskMadhav.

When asked when the Realme X50 will be available in India, Madhav Sheth had replied: “We are bringing something bigger and better for India”. While he did not expressly state that the Realme X50 will not launch in India, it can be inferred from his response. He then adds that we “stay tuned for Realme at MWC”, confirming once again that the brand will be attending the tech show in Barcelona. To listen to that part of the interview, move the slider to the 6:53 mark.

It has been reported that Realme will launch a flagship phone with a Snapdragon 865 processor on February 24 at MWC Barcelona. Rumors say the device is called the Realme X50 Pro. It is possible this is the device that will launch in India in place of the Realme X50. However, this will be more expensive but of course better than the X50.

According to a leaker, the Realme flagship phone will have a punch hole at the top left corner for a single camera. We also know the phone has model number RMX2071 thanks to an AnTuTu benchmark result. The rest of the specs are unknown but more details should surface as the launch draws closer.

Do let us know what you think about the Realme X50 5G not launching in India.

Realme CEO reveals when fitness band will launch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 23, 2020

At the launch of the Realme 5i, Madhav Sheth, the CEO of Realme teased the company’s first fitness tracker. There have been rumors flying around about the design and features of the watch, sadly, most have been false. Today, we now have official info about when the device will launch.

In the latest episode of AskMadhav (episode 14), the CEO was asked when the Realme fitness tracker will be launched. The top executive revealed that the fitness tracker will be unveiled next month, unsurprisingly, he didn’t disclose the exact date.

The Realme fitness band should be an affordable fitness tracker that will take on Xiaomi’s Mi Band series as well as Honor and Huawei’s own fitness trackers too.

Other information revealed in the video include the arrival of Android 10 for the Realme 5i in May 2020; no bokeh mode video for Realme 3 Pro due to lack of hardware and software features; and an OTA update to fix the background noise issue affecting the Realme Buds Air. However, the update will not roll out until March. He also revealed that the yellow and black color variants of the TWS earbuds will be available next month. he also added that all realme phones launched this year will receive security updates for two years.

(Source, Via)

Quick Share is Samsung’s upcoming version of Apple’s AirDrop

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 23, 2020

By the time, Google is ready to roll out Nearby Sharing (formerly known as Fast Share), its answer to Apple’s AirDrop feature, half of the mobile industry would have come up with their own version. We already know Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, and Realme already formed an alliance to create their own version of AirDrop that will allow users to share files to devices within their range using WiFi and Bluetooth. now, an exclusive report has revealed Samsung has its own version coming too called Quick Share.

An exclusive report by XDA Developers has revealed details about Quick Share which will work on all Samsung smartphones. They were able to get their hands on an APK and have provided details about the new feature.

According to the app description, Quick Share allows you to “Share (files) instantly with people nearby” with a Samsung phone or Samsung tablet. The requirement is that the other person has Quick Share turned on on their device, have their screen on, and visibility switched on.

[envira-gallery id=”302051″]

The Quick Share settings menu has similar features to Google’s Fast Share. When turned on, people can now find you and send files to you. It says, to use Quick Share to send a file in any app, all you have to do is tap share and select Quick Share. This should be as simple as you selecting Bluetooth in the share menu.

There are two options to chose who can share with you. You can choose between “Contacts Only” (limited to only Samsung Social users within your contacts) or “Everyone”. The latter allows anyone near you to be able to share files with you.

Another screenshot from the app shows you can use Quick Share to send files to SmartThings devices. It says the files will be temporarily uploaded to the cloud then streamed to the device. It also states that you will be able to send up to 1GB at a time and a maximum of 2GB per day (this is for SmartThings devices only).

The APK was gotten from a source that has access to the upcoming Galaxy S20+. However, when it was tried on two Samsung devices, it didn’t work. Since the feature is yet to launch, it is understandable why it didn’t work yet.

Quick Share is expected to be officially unveiled next month at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Details about availability for other devices should be revealed then.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy A11 appears on FCC website revealing triple cameras, 4,000 mAh battery

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 23, 2020

Samsung re-established its dominance as the global smartphone market leader last year and the Galaxy A series played an important role in its achievement. The company shifted focus from launching only upper mid-range models on the A-series to churning out a rich blend of entry-level, lower mid-range and premium mid-range models on the series. The trend will definitely continue this year as the tech giant has already secured trademarks for the A-series models such as the Galaxy A11, A12, A13 etc.

Talking of the Galaxy A11, the device has been certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The certificate which has been listed on FCC’s website gives us some insight into the hardware in respect of the battery and camera configuration. This is coming just days after the Galaxy A31 and A41 camera and battery specs were leaked.

In this case, the Samsung Galaxy A11 which is expected to be the cheapest A-series model this year features a 4,000mAh battery. This is similar to what is on the Galaxy A10 but with software improvements and a better chipset, we may see better durability. The device is also listed to pack a triple camera setup as against a single sensor on the A10. The A11’s camera configuration wasn’t listed.

The Galaxy A11 which appears with the model number SM-A115F will be powered by the Snapdragon 625/626 chipset, which is more efficient than the A10’s Exynos 7884 as it doesn’t have any high-performance cores. The FCC document also shows the presence of a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Some of the other specs, which were revealed in previous leaks and rumours, include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and Android 10 with One UI 2.0 out of the box. The Galaxy A11 will be available in white, red, blue, and black.

There is word yet as to when Samsung will announce the device, but it is expected to go official with this one in March, exactly one year after the Galaxy A10 was unveiled.

(source)

Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 get permanent price cuts too in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 23, 2020

This may just be the right time to pick up a new Android One mid-range phone if you reside in India. Earlier today, Xiaomi announced a price cut for the Mi A3, but if you will rather go with a different brand, then HMD Global Oy’s Nokia 7.2 or Nokia 6.2 are alternatives as the manufacturer has also announced permanent price cuts for the two devices.

Starting with the Nokia 6.2, the phone is now available for purchase at offline partner stores for INR 12,499 (~$175), which is INR 3500 (~$49) off its original launch price in October 2019.

$175 seems like a more reasonable price for a phone with a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a Snapdragon 636 processor inside it. It has 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, triple rear cameras with a 16MP + 8MP + 5MP configuration, and an 8MP selfie camera. You also get a 3500mAh battery, fingerprint scanner, and a dedicated Google Assistant button.

The more powerful Nokia 7.2 will sell for INR 15,499 (~$217) for the 4GB + 64GB version. That is a reduction of INR 4500 off its launch price. If you want more RAM, then the 6GB + 64GB version which had a launch price of INR19,599 (~$275) can now be bought for INR 17,099 (~$240).

The Nokia 7.2 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ screen with Gorilla Glass protection. It is powered by the Snapdragon 660 and also packs a 3500mAh battery. There are three cameras on the back too but it has a 48MP primary camera while the selfie camera is a 20MP sensor. You get a dedicated Google Assistant button, USB Type-C, an audio jack, a fingerprint scanner, and Dual-SIM support.

The two phones launched with Android 9 Pie out of the box but they will get three years of OS upgrades and security updates. Android 10 should be made available for both devices soon.

The Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 7.2 can be bought at the new prices at retail stores as well as on the official Nokia Mobile India website.

(Via)

App Drawer now available for MIUI 11 Global users; here’s how to activate it

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 23, 2020

Xiaomi first rolled out the new app drawer feature for models running MIUI 11 in November last year but the feature was only available for phones running MIUI 11 China ROM. There isn’t any word as to when the app drawer will be available to global models. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer only announced that models running MIUI 11 Global ROM will soon get an app drawer. You don’t have to wait anymore for the feature as you can now get the feature on your Mi or Redmi smartphone following these simple steps.

How to get the app drawer in MIUI 11 devices?
The app drawer is part of the MIUI system launcher so you’ll need to download a new MIUI system launcher. Xiaomi enabled the feature on the alpha build of MIUI launcher in several Xiaomi devices back in November but as stated earlier, the update was restricted to devices running MIUI 11 China ROM.

Right now, you can get it on the latest alpha build of MIUI system launcher for models running MIUI 11 Global ROM as well. Here is how to enable the app drawer on your Xiaomi device.

Download the MIUI system launcher latest alpha build
Open the installation package
Allow unknown sources MIUI
Enable “Allow from this source” in the Install unknown apps settings (if applicable)

Once the build is installed, long-press on the home screen. Then tap on Settings, select more. This will take you to Home screen settings. Now, tap on “Home screen,”
Change the layout option to “With app drawer” home screen layout.
Now, swipe up on the home screen to use the much-awaited app drawer on your Xiaomi device.

Users can also make changes to the app drawer, such as which app categories to display, changing the background colour, and much more.

(via)

iQOO confirms entry into India; will launch a Snapdragon 865 phone next month

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 23, 2020

There have been reports that Vivo‘s iQOO sub-brand which launched as a gaming smartphone line last year would be making its way into the Indian market this year. The names of three iQOO phones have also been trademarked by the Indian trademark office. However, it was not until today before an official press statement was released by the company.

The director of marketing for iQOO India, Gagan Arora, confirmed via a press statement that iQOO will indeed enter into the premium segment of India’s smartphone market.

We see extreme potential in the premium segment smartphone market in India and have deep-dived to understand the gap that the consumers face in this segment. We understand very closely that there is an increasing demand for performance delivery devices and smooth smartphone experience, be it using multiple apps, downloading heavy files or just social media. Consumers today look for power-packed performance, and that is exactly what we offer. We are proud to share the same ethos and values exhibited by today’s younger generation who grew up in the internet era. We are confident that the values of the iQOO brand resonate strongly with this audience. iQOO is a brand that understands, is in-sync and progresses with them.

-Gagan Arora, iQOO’s Director of Marketing

The press statement also said iQOO will soon launch its first product in India. The device will be announced in February and will have “many industry-first specifications”. It goes on to reveal that the iQOO smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform, which is Qualcomm’s top of the line chipset. It will also have support for 5G, though that feature will be useless until there are 5G networks in India.

Other than having a high-end processor and 5G support, the iQOO phone will have “robust performance capabilities in the charging, gaming, and design department, providing phone phonetics uninterrupted content consumption“ according to the press release.

The name of the upcoming iQOO phone is not known but more details including its specs and design should surface in the weeks leading up to its launch.

(Via)

Apple iPhone 11 receives 109 points in DxOMark ratings

By

Sean

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Jan 23, 2020

Apple’s iPhone 11 series has been one of its most popular lineups in recent years. It includes the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and the Pro Max variant. One of the great features the smartphone lineup provided was a great camera and DxOMark has rated the iPhone 11 with 109 points in its tests.

Initially, DxOMark was a benchmarking platform that tested digital and professional grade cameras, but since the original Google Pixel, have also started testing smartphones as well. In the tests, Apple iPhone 11 scored 109 points overall for its camera which includes both photography and videography. This put the Cupertino based giant’s smartphone right below Xiaomi Mi 9 with 110 points and next to Huawei P20 Pro that scored 109 points as well.

Notably, iPhone 11 beat the previous generation flagship, iPhone XS Max, which scored 106 points. However, the former is beaten by its more expensive variants, the iPhone 11 Pro Max with an overall score of 117. The reason for the noticeable difference has bee n accredited to the lack of a third lens in the iPhone 11, unlike its larger more pricier variant. It scored 112 points in still images with its strength lying in its quick autofocus and great exposure in images.

Unfortunately, it loses out due to its short focal length for portraits and the low zoom quality at medium to long ranges, since it lacks a telephoto lens on the rear. Although it’s ultra wide lens did receive positive remarks. In terms of videography, Apple iPhone 11 scored 101 points, with its exposure being highlighted again alongside great color reproduction and praiseworthy stabilization.

But, the Apple flagship from 2019 suffers from a visible jello effet with when walking and recording and its white balance tends to suffer while indoors, according to DxOMark. All in all, the company stated that “the device is very capable of shooting both stills and video” so it is still one of the best cameras on a smartphone.

(Source)

Huawei postpones its annual Flagship Developer Conference due to Virus Outbreak

By

Sean

-

Jan 23, 2020

Huawei has announced that it will be delaying its largest annual developer conference, the HDC.Cloud. The reason cited for the postponement is the new virus outbreak in Wuhan which has caused alarm in China.

According to the event website, HDC.Cloud 2020, which was originally planned to be held in Shenzen from 11th to 12th of February 2020, has been postponed to the 27th – 28th of March 2020. The major event is witnessing more than a month of delay but will still be broadcasted via live webcast. The main reason for the delay is the new virus outbreak which has primarily affected the Wuhan region in China. The Coronavirus is responsible for the outbreak and is known to cause cases of pneumonia in the infected.

Many companies operating in the region have warned their respective employees and citizens residing in the region have been told to exercise caution when moving about in the open. Furthermore, this has even led to face masks being sold out in the Southeast Asian country, which now also suffers from a shortage of the crucial and preventive commodity. Wuhan district is currently under quarantine with 11 million people barred from leaving the region while about 17 people have been confirmed to have perished due to the outbreak.

For those unaware, HDC.Cloud is Huawei Group’s largest annual developer conference, meaning its a flagship event with notable announcements taking place. The Huawei Developer Conference of 2020 is a global event that also sees the presence of foreign developers as well for its Information and Communications field (ICT). The aim of the conference is to build a global platform for communications and has been an annual event for the past 30 years.

Since the situation is Wuhan grows dire, Huawei’s plan on the delay is the right move with global organizations like WHO (World Health Organization) also stepping in to deal with the situation. Although, controlling an entire region filled with 11 million people seems like a Herculean task in itself. Stay tuned for more updates and developments regarding the event.

(Via)

Tencent offers to acquire Funcom Games for $148 million

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 23, 2020

Chinese gaming conglomerate Tencent made an offer to acquire Oslo-based developer Funcom, whose notable titles include the popular “Conan franchise”, “Dune,” and other titles. If accepted, the deal would put Funcom’s value at $148 million and supply the necessary cash flow required to pursue its future endeavors.

Tencent is the largest game developer globally in terms of generated revenue and has stakes in some of the biggest businesses like Riot Games – makers of League of Legends, Epic Games – creators of Fortnight, Supercell – developers of Clash of Clans, and more. Tencent currently owns 29% shares in Funcom through a deal made back in October 2019.

Reports claim Funcom is quite happy about the offer and have urged shareholders to sell their stakes. The company’s shares are traded publicly at the Oslo Stock Exchange at 27.3% higher value than the previous day’s (January 21) closing bid.

According to Rui Casais, Funcom CEO “We have had a great relationship with Tencent in the past being a majority shareholder, and are excited about the turn of events. We plan to continue developing great games that people love spending time on. With Tencent’s expertise, we plan to take gaming to the next level. Tencent brings on board a vast knowledge-base from its successful stint in the world of competitive and casual gaming”.

Editor’s Pick: Companies like Samsung, Corning increase investment in China

This news could not have come at a better time. While Tencent competes with the likes of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony in terms of gaming revenue, rival compatriot ByteDance, the makers of popular short video maker TikTok, is getting ready to make a foray into gaming. This is interesting since Tencent had shown a keen interest in the social media space in the past, especially through WeChat, its messaging app.

While most people download and use multiple apps, spending money on one platform increased dependency on the platform, reducing their chances of spending on a similar app. While ByteDance currently generates revenue by posting content related to Tencent’s gameplay. If Tencent comes up with its own platform, users are likely to switch loyalty. Hence, diminishing generated revenue. It is hardly surprising that both companies have been involved in legal battles in Chinese courts related to unfair competition in the past.

Today Tencent is the biggest gaming companies in the world with a turnover of RMB 28.6 billion (~$4.1 billion) in the last quarter. Mobile games account for RMB 24.3 billion (~$3.51 billion) of the total revenue. Acquiring stakes in rival companies play a major role in generating revenue for Tencent.

Speaking of Funcom, some of its most popular titles include Anarchy Online, Conan: Exiles, and Age of Conan. The studio is currently working on Dune, based on the classic sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert. Tencent does not wish to interfere with Funcom’s future projects, management or employee policies post-acquisition.

In an official statement, Steven Ma, Senior Vice President at Tencent said, “We are impressed with Funcom’s capabilities as an open world, action, multiplayer, and survival game developer. The company has a strong track record for developing new titles with a long lifespan. We are excited about being a part of Funcom’s journey and help them develop more exciting games for the fans to enjoy.”’

Samsung Galaxy M31 receives Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi certifications

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 23, 2020

A report from the previous month had revealed that Samsung has started the production of the Galaxy M11 and Galaxy M31 smartphones and these phones will be hitting the Indian markets in February. The Galaxy M31 model numbers have appeared on the database of Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi certification authorities. These appearances suggest that the Galaxy M31 may possibly go official in the coming month.

The Galaxy M31 Wi-Fi certification reveals carries its SM-M315F/DS model. The same model number along with its SM-M315F/DSN has been approved by Bluetooth SIG. The WFA listing revealed that the Galaxy M31 is preloaded with Android 10 OS and it carries support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi. The Bluetooth SIG certification has only revealed that the device is equipped with support for Bluetooth 5.0.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite launched in India for Rs. 39,999 (~$560); Specifications and price

Samsung Galaxy M31 Specifications (Rumored)

At present, only minimal details of the Galaxy M31 are known. It is speculated to arrive in 32 GB and 64 GB storage choices. Recently, a leaked image of the rear camera module of the Galaxy M31 was leaked by 91mobiles. The image revealed that the phone will be equipped with a rectangle-shaped camera housing on its back. It will be equipped with as many as four cameras and an LED flash.

samsung-galaxy-m31-camera-module-image — Galaxy M31 camera module leaked shot

The Galaxy M31 has recently appeared on Geekbench benchmarking platform. The listing revealed that it is powered by Exynos 9611 chipset and 6 GB of RAM. The handset is speculated to arrive in three color variants in India such as blue, black and red.

Samsung introduced a behemoth battery of 6,000mAh capacity on the Galaxy M30s. Hence, it is likely that the Galaxy M31 may retain the same battery. Smartphones are known to go official around a month after its appearance on Bluetooth SIG. Hence, if it is going to debut in February, Samsung India may soon begin releasing the teasers of the smartphone.

(via)

Sony Xperia 5 DXOMark score places it on par with the Galaxy Note8 and iPhone 8 Plus

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 23, 2020

Japanese tech giant Sony first unveiled the mid-range Xperia 5 at IFA Berlin in September 2019. The smartphone was later launched in China a few weeks after. The device comes as a mid-range model but packs a triple camera arrangement just like the flagship Xperia 1. The Xperia 5 is said to have an improved camera setup over the Xperia 1 with all three sensors being 12MP sensors. DXOMark has released its review of the Xperia 5 camera and the score isn’t superb.

The overall score of the Xperia 5 is 95 slightly higher than the Xperia 1’s score of 91. In the aspect of photography, it scored 101 and 83 for video. The review noted slight improvements in exposure, textures, artefacts, night, and wide-angle shots with slight declines in colour, autofocus, and zoom. However, DxOMark labels these differences as marginal, stating that both devices are comparable in image quality.

That is in no way saying that the Xperia 5 ranking isn’t impressive. The device, in fact, ranks in the same class as the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in terms of video performance.

One of the limitations noted by DxOMark is that the device comes with a limited dynamic range with highlights easily clipping in high-contrast scenes. Colour rendition could also be improved with a more neutral white balance. The low-light performance, they noted, tends to generate a lot of noise in dimmer edges of the shot. Also, the autofocus wasn’t very fast but was consistent and accurate on the Xperia 5.

In addition, the video performance was also affected by the same limited dynamic range issue, with highlights constantly clipping in bright outdoor footage. There are also some inconsistencies with white balance and unstable autofocus. However, exposure remains accurate and noise is well-controlled with effective stabilization.

(source)

Apple to bring scissor switch keyboards to 2020 iPad lineup: Report

By

Sean

-

Jan 23, 2020

In 2019, Apple had switched from its controversial butterfly switch keyboard design and back to the scissor switches that are found in MacBook lineup. Now, the Cupertino based is planning on including the same input technology for its 2020 iPad lineup as well.

According to a new report, Apple’s latest generation of iPad series will feature a scissor switch keyboard. The upcoming iPad lineup is also expected to feature a “glowing” keyboard in the second half of 2020. In other words, iPads will receive a detachable keyboard as seen before in the past, unlike a built in one that is found in the MacBook series.

Apple had initially used the scissor switch keyboard up until 2015 before the infamous move towards the flawed butterfly switch keyboard. These keyboards were known to malfunction easily with elements like dust ruining its functionality quite easily. But with the 16 inch MacBook Pro in 2019, the company made a shift back to the original. The reason cited was that the butterfly switch was more expensive for the company and it wished to save on the cost of production.

The key difference between a traditional scissor type (X shaped) and butterfly type (V shaped) switch is the travel distance. The former has a larger travel distance which makes it easier to clean and a bit sturdier as well. Apple initially made the move to the latter to make its portable PC offerings even thinner and lighter. But we all know how that panned out, with Apple laptops still suffering from heat displacement issues in the long run for productivity.

(Via)

Purported POCO X2 real image and key specs appear; Leak suggests its rebadged Redmi K30 4G

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 23, 2020

POCO is soon expected to unveil new phones in India. Rumors have it that its upcoming phones are POCO F2, POCO F2 Lite and POCO X2. Fresh evidences reveal that have surfaced suggests that the POCO X2 could be the first phone to debut in India. A new report on XDA Developers cites information a Polish website that has carried a leaked photo of the purported POCO X2 phone. Also, the Polish site has revealed some screenshots taken from the device through which its key specifications have been revealed. The fresh leak indicates that Redmi K30 4G that had gone official in China last month will be probably arriving in India as POCO X2.

The real-life image of the purported POCO X2 shows that there is a pill-shaped camera cutout on the display for its dual front-facing cameras. The Redmi K30 4G for China has the same display design. Moreover, the image reveals the POCO X2 name on its About Phone page.

The above shown video showcases the About Phone and All Specs pages of the POCO X2 phone. It has been found the model number of M1912G7BE. This model number along with M1912G7BC belongs to the Redmi K30 4G. Those pages further reveal that it is fueled by an octa-core processor that clocks at 2.2GHz. It seems to be the Snapdragon 730G.

The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The native storage of the device is 256 GB. The phone is running on MIUI 11.0.2 (global edition) based Android 10 OS. The leak further reveals that the device is preinstalled with ‘pheonixin’ ROM. The same codename was spotted on Geekbench of the POCO X2 last week. Phoenix is the codename of the Redmi K30 4G phone and inclusion of ‘in’ suffix suggests that the POCO X2 that appeared on Geekbench could be Indian version of the Redmi K30 4G.

Editor’s Pick: POCO GM sheds light on the company’s new plans

The Polish site has further stated that the alleged POCO X2 does not seem to support 120Hz refresh rate. Also, it could not be confirmed whether the phone has NFC support. The purported POCO X2 may not be running on the final build. It remains to be seen whether these features will be available on the final build on the device.

In December, a Redmi phone with model number M1912G7BI had surfaced at the database of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Since the model number is associated with Redmi K30 4G, it was believed India will be receiving it soon. However, recently the M1912G7BI was moved to POCO section at BIS. This suggested that the India could be receiving the Redmi K30 4G as POCO X2. The screenshot shown above has been snapped from POCO’s recent teaser on Twitter. It reveals that the upcoming device from POCO could be indeed called POCO X2. Readers are advised to take the report with a grain of salt and wait for further leaks to know the full specifications of POCO X2.

(source 1, 2)

Apple supplier Wistron is raising iPhone production in India

By

Sean

-

Jan 23, 2020

Apple, the smartphone manufacturing giant, had previously started the production of its popular iPhone series in India. It achieved this alongside its known suppliers. Now, Wistron, one of its known suppliers, is bumping up the production capacity of iPhones in India.

Wistron plans on raising the production capacity by running its third and latest manufacturing plant in full capacity. The trial production of the facility started in November 2019 and has been constructed in haste thanks to collaborative efforts with local teams, according to Simon Lin (Chairman of Wistron). The company will also be hiring mid to top level management for the plant from the locals as well.

Currently, Wistron has two plants established in India, which includes its Bengaluru plant that has been producing Apple’s iPhone SE and iPhone 6s models for the Indian market. the newest and third plant that has been set up in India is situated in Naraspura and will also undertake the production of iPhones in India. This is expected to boost the total production capacity of Wistron by a significant margin in the Southeast Asian country which is also the second largest smartphone market in the world, after China.

Furthermore, Apple is also expanding the production of more smartphones in the iPhone lineup for the Indian production facilities with another notable supplier called Foxconn Electronics. It has already been supplying iPhone XR devices in India and is expected to include higher end models and the newer models as well.

(Via)

Xiaomi Mi A3 and Redmi K20 series get price cuts in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 23, 2020

The Mi A3 launched in India on August 21, 2019, which is about 5 months ago. It had a starting price of INR 12,999 for the base configuration with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage while the 6GB + 128GB model sold for INR 15,999.

Starting today, Xiaomi will sell the Android One phone for INR 11,999 (~$168) and INR 14,999 (~$210) respectively. You can now pick up the phone at these new prices on Mi.com, Amazon India, and on Flipkart.

Mi fans, your favourite #AndroidOne phone with #48MP Triple Camera now available at a new price: 1⃣1⃣,9⃣9⃣9⃣

Get yours from https://t.co/lzFXOcGyGQ, @amazonIN, @Flipkart and retail stores.

I personally love the AMOLED screen on #MiA3. What's your favourite feature?#Xiaomi ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1eGsf7MZS2

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 23, 2020

The Mi A3 is not the only phone that has gotten a permanent price cut in India, Manu Kumar Jain also announced that the Redmi K20 Pro flagship and its sibling, the Redmi K20, also have new price tags.

The 6GB + 128GB Redmi K20 Pro which launched for INR 27,999 (~$393) will now be sold for INR 24,999 (~$350) while the 8GB RAM + 256GB version that had a launch price of INR 30,999 (~$435) will now be sold for INR 27,999 (~$393).

Mi Fans! #RedmiK20Pro – India's No. 1 Premium Smartphone is now available at a mind-blowing new price!🤩

🥊 Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
🥊 48MP AI Triple Rear Camera
🥊 Stunning Aura Prime design!

Get the #FlagshipKillers #RedmiK20Pro & #RedmiK20 starting at just ₹19,999 today! pic.twitter.com/wRm9BgpEC6

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 23, 2020

The 64GB Redmi K20’s new price is INR 19,999 (~$281), INR 2000 (~$28) off its original price. While the 128GB version gets INR 1000 (~$14) off and will now sell for INR 22,999 (~$323). Just like the Mi A3, you can pick up the Redmi K20 series at these new prices on Mi.com, Amazon India and Flipkart.

The Mi A3 is an Android One mid-range device with a 6.08” AMOLED HD+ screen, a Snapdragon 665 processor, 48MP triple rear cameras, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4030mAh battery with 18W fast charge. Xiaomi has promised it will get updated to Android 10 next month.

The Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro both have a 6.39-inch AMOLED FHD+ screen, a 20MP pop-up selfie camera, 48MP triple rear cameras, a 4000mAh battery, liquid cooling, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The Pro version has a Snapdragon 855 processor powering it and supports 27W fast charge while the standard model has a Snapdragon 730 chipset and supports 18W fast charge.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Honor says 100MP cameras are unnecessary, will focus on larger pixel sensors

By

Sean

-

Jan 23, 2020

Smartphone cameras have been getting increasingly more advanced with each passing year. Just a couple of years ago, flagship devices featured 16 megapixel cameras as their primary in dual or triple camera module. Now, even mid range devices ship with 48 megapixel cameras and even feature a quad camera setup, depending on the OEM.

However, simply having a higher pixel count doesn’t necessarily translate to a better photo. Many factors like sensor optimizations and software algorithms also play a vital role and according to a senior executive at Honor (a subsidiary of Huawei), larger pixel size is the future of photography. So far, we have seen Xiaomi unveil a 108 megapixel smartphone with the Mi Note 10 while rumors also suggest Samsung Galaxy S20 will launch with a 108 megapixel camera as well.

But, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer plans on approaching the advancement in the field in a different manner. The marketing manager of Honor stated that “to achieve 100 million pixels [100MP], the pixel size is difficult to exceed 0.8 μm. Sony and we all believe that a pixel size of 1 μm or more can guarantee the flagship sensitivity and image quality requirements. In 2020, our flagship company will firmly choose the route of large bottom pixels.”

In simpler terms, it seems like Honor and Sony are focusing more on a larger pixel size rather than pushing for a 100 megapixel camera like Samsung. So, we might not see one from Sony, at least not in 2020. Google Pixel 4 with 12 megapixel and 1.4 micron pixel camera sensors is a great example of a smartphone with a low pixel count but great performance.

Bigger pixels brings a lot of positive aspects to a sensor, including better light gathering and accurate color reproduction. Notably, brands like OmniVision which revealed its 48MP sensor with a large 2.4 micron pixel binning sensor also follow the same philosophy. Thus, we can expect the upcoming Honor and Huawei flagship will feature a sub-100MP sensor with a large pixel size.

(Source)

Realme to hold 5G launch event at MWC 2020 on February 24

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 23, 2020

Realme has officially confirmed that it will be present at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 tech exhibition that will be held between Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 in Barcelona, Spain. According to Realme’s event description, “Realme will host its first global launch event in February 2020. The company plans to popularize cutting-edge technology by promoting 5G networks globally via a portfolio of 5G smartphones”. The statement hints at the launch of at least one 5G smartphone at the event. The Realme event at MWC will be held at 10 AM CST on Feb. 24..

Despite seeing a few 5G smartphones being launched, 2019 did not witness mass 5G rollout as anticipated. The primary problems plaguing smartphone manufacturers were the lack of carrier and hardware support. While most major carriers only offered limited 5G connectivity, mass-market modems like the Snapdragon X50 failed to live up to the mark.

The situation started improving towards December 2019 with the launch of the Snapdragon 865 and 765G chipsets featuring the more mainstream X52 5G modems. Manufacturers have already started using the new chipsets in upcoming smartphones. The Realme X50 5G slated to launch at MWC 2020 in February is perhaps the best example.

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The Realme X50 5G is the most likely candidate since it is the only 5G smartphone in Realme’s product catalogue at the moment. It is possible that the Chinese firm might reveal an entirely new device powered by the SD865. Such a smartphone might be the successor to the popular Realme X2 Pro that launched back in October 2019.

A mystery RMX2071 Realme phone sporting the Snapdragon 865 was spotted on AnTuTu with the highest score. This could be the forthcoming Realme X50 Pro. According to a popular leakster, the X50 Pro features a punch-hole camera with a 120Hz display like the Realme X2 Pro.

Realme X50 5G Specifications and Price

The Snapdragon 765G powered Realme X50 5G comes in 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM and 128GB/256GB of native storage. The X50 5G flaunts a 6.57-inch FHD+ IPS LCD dual punch-hole display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

In terms of optics, the smartphone features a 64-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GW1 primary sensor with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with 2X optical zoom, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. At the front, the Realme X50 sports a 16-megapixel primary lens along with a 2-megapixel wide-angle lens. The smartphone draws power from a 4,200 mAh battery with a 30W VOOC 4.0 charge.

If the Realme X50 5G launches globally, it could be the cheapest 5G smartphone as it carries a price tag of around $360 in China. It remains to be seen whether the Realme X50 5G debuts with a different in the international markets.

(source)

Motorola smartphone spotted on FCC, Codenamed Blackjack

By

Sean

-

Jan 23, 2020

An upcoming Motorola smartphone has been spotted on FCC (Federal Communications Commission). The device is codenamed ‘Blackjack’ and may launch in the near future.

The new Motorola smartphone that surfaced in the FCC certification bears the model name XT2055-2. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the handset are still at large. However, it is expected that the device will be a mid range smartphone and will be powered by a large battery, which might be around 5,000mAh. It may be a smartphone based around delivering a better battery over raw performance and does not feature dual band Wi-Fi, another hint of its mid segment status.

According to the FCC database, the smartphone measure 175mm diagonally which should translate to about a 6.6 inch display. So, it might just be a ‘Pro’ or ‘Max’ variant of a mid range handset that will be announced in 2020. It is reported that other variants of Motorola ‘Blackjack’ has been spotted also been spotted, which implies that the series will see a global launch and will be available in multiple different regions.

It is also not likely to be a part of the existing Motorola G8 series since it bears the model name XT2041. Furthermore, the smartphone manufacturer seems to have a bunch of other smartphones in the making as well, with filings spread across FCC, EEC and WFA certifications.

This includes Motorola XT2043 that will feature a large 4,000mAh battery, Motorola XT2045, XT2052, and the XT2053 which are another group of upcoming smartphone that includes both Motorola and Lenovo lineup.These all are expected to launch soon so an announcement might unveil the new smartphones in the arriving few weeks.

(Via)

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