Best Smartphones with Dual Selfie Camera

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Jan 18, 2020

Smartphones are becoming more user-friendly with the advent of new technologies. Every major OEM is inventing new ways to bring powerful cameras and other hardware to their respective smartphones. At the beginning of the decade, the manufacturers started with a single rear camera, and now the Penta-rear camera module is present on the smartphones. Similarly, to scale the front camera capabilities, the smartphones now hosts dual camera sensors. However, the days are not far away when we will start getting the triple or quad front camera smartphones as appeared in some patent applications.

Must See: DxOMark: Best Smartphone Camera of 2019

We have concluded a list of best smartphones with the dual rear cameras this year. The dual rear cameras are mostly present to get either ultrawide or portrait mode selfie. Many smartphones come with a dual rear camera, and we’ve listed the best of the theme below.

Best Dual Selfie Camera Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is a powerful device launched in 2019 with high-end specifications. The smartphone features a dual-selfie camera consisting of a 10-megapixel dual pixel PDAF and an 8-megapixel depth sensor with f/1.9 and f/2.2 aperture, respectively. The front camera supports Dual video calling and Auto-HDR. Both the wide-angle sensors work in sync with each other to produce high-quality photos with depth effects.

Key Features of Galaxy S10 Plus

6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, 1440 X 2040 pixels resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 6, and HDR 10+.
Exynos 9820 with Mali-G76 MP12 GPU or Snapdragon 855 with Adreno 640 (USA/China).
Storage options of 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 512GB and 12GB + 1 TB.
Triple Rear Camera 12 MP (wide) + 12 MP (telephoto) + 16 MP (ultrawide).
Selfie front camera of 10 MP (wide) + 8 MP (wide).
For connectivity, there’s a WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Radio and USB 3.1 Type-C 1.0 reversible
Sensors include Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
4100 mAh Li-Ion battery with 15W fast charging, Fast Qi 15W wireless charging, Reverse Wireless 9W charging.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

The Cupertino giant launched Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max on 20 September 2019. It hosts a dual front camera setup featuring a 12 megapixel and 0.3-megapixel TOF 3D sensor. It supports HDR and 4K video recording @24/20/60fps and 1080p@20/60/120fps. However, there’s a triple rear camera sensor of 12-megapixels (wide, telephoto, and ultrawide) along with Quad-LED dual-tone flash and HDR photography.

Other Features of Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Apple A13 Bionic chipset based on 7nm+ process, Hexa-core processor, and Apple GPU.
Internal Storage of 4 GB RAM + 64 GB, 4 GB RAM + 256 GB and 4 GB + 512 GB.
6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, 1242 x 2688 pixels resolution, 10.5:9 aspect ratio, 453 ppi, oleophobic coating, 800 nits brihtness, HDR 10, Dolby Vision, and 120Hz touch-sensing.
iOS 13 and upgradable to iOS 13.3
Triple rear camera – 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP with Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR.
Connectivity of WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, USB 2.0.
Sensors include a Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer.
Non-removable Li-Ion 3969 mAh battery, 18W fast charging, USB Power Delivery 2.0, and Qi Wireless charging.
Colors – Gold, Midnight Green, Silver, and Space Green.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Apple iPhone 11

The Apple iPhone 11 also features a dual front camera along with the dual rear camera. Precisely, there’s a 12 MP primary sensor and SL 3D camera with HDR support. On the backside, the smartphone carries a dual 12 MP sensors (wide, ultrawide) along with the Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR.

Key Features of Apple iPhone 11

6.1-Liquid Retina IPS LCD display, 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 625 nits max brightness, Wide color gamut, 120Hz touch-sensing, and Oleophobic coating.
Apple A13 Bionic, Hexa Core, Apple GPU.
Runs on iOS 13 and upgradable to iOS 13.3.
Storage variants include 4 GB + 64 GB, 4 GB + 128 GB and 4 GB RAM + 256 GB.
The dual rear camera module, 12MP + 12 MP (Wide + ultrawide), f/1.8 and f/2.4 aperture, Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR.
12MP+ 0.3 MP SL 3D camera on the front for selfies.
WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Radio, USB 2.0.
Face ID, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Siri
3110 mAh Li-Ion Non-removable battery, 18W fast charging, Qi Wireless.
Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red and White colors.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Xiaomi Redmi K30

Xiaomi launched the Redmi K30 with Snapdragon 765G chipset. It features a dual selfie camera in a capsule sized punch-hole display sporting a 20-megapixel primary camera with f/2.2 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. It supports HDR and video recording at 1080p@30fps. On the rear, there’s a quad-camera consisting of a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensors, a 2-megapixel dedicated macro camera, and 2-megapixel depth sensor.

Other Specifications of the Redmi K30

6.67-inch IPS LCD display, 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, HDR 10, and 120Hz refresh rate.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, Octa-Core processor, Adreno 618 GPU, and 6/8GB RAM.
64/128/256 GB UFS 2.1 Internal storage, expandable upto 256 GB microSD card.
Connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared Port, Radio, and USB 2.0 Type C.
THere’s a Fingerprint reader on the side, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.
Non-Removable Li-Po 4500 mAh battery with 27W Fast Charging.
Blue, Red, and Purple.

Compare | Buy from MI.com

Vivo V17 Pro

Another powerful device – Vivo V17 Pro featuring dual-selfie camera was launched back in September 2019. The smartphone carries a motorized pop-up front camera module featuring a 32 MP primary and an 8 MP ultrawide camera sensor. There’s a quad rear camera with 48-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 13-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

Other Specifications of Vivo V17 Pro

6.44-inch Super AMOLED display, 1080 x 2400 pixels, Gorilla Glass 6, and 20:9 aspect ratio.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset, Octa-Core processor, Adreno 612 GPU
It is only available in 128GB + 8GB RAM version. There’s no way to expand the storage.
In connectivity, there’s a WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, FM Radio and USB 2.0.
There’s an Under Display Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, and Compass.
Available in Crystal Black, Crystal Sky, and Midnight Ocean.
It measures 159 x 74.7 x 9.8 mm and weighs 201.8 grams.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, both the devices feature the same dual selfie camera. Precisely, both smartphones feature an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with f/2.2 and f/1.8 aperture, respectively. The Google Camera app also helps the images to look more professional with powerful software rendering.

Other specs of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Pixel 3 packs a 5.5-inch P-OLED display, and Pixel 3 XL hosts a slightly bigger 6.3-inch display. Pixel 3 supports 1080 x 2160 pixels resolution, 18:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, HDR, and 443 PPI. It sports 1440 x2960 pixel resolution, 18.5:9 aspect ratio, 523 PPI, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Snapdragon 845 chipset, Octa-Core processor, Adreno 630 and 4GB RAM.
64GB Internal Storage, 128 GB Internal Storage, No Card Slot.
Sensors include fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer.
Non-Removable Li-Po 2915 mAh battery, Li-Po 3420 mAh battery for Pixel 3 XL, 18W fast charging, Qi Wireless charging.
Both are available in two color options of Clearly White, Just Black, Not Pink.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The first commercial foldable device – Samsung Galaxy Fold has a couple of camera sensors on the front. The primary sensor of 10 MP with f/2.2 aperture, and an 8 MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture. The foldable display is measured 7.3-Inch when opened and becomes 4.6-inch upon folding.

Key Features of Samsung Galaxy Fold

Snapdragon 855, Octa-Core, Adreno 640, 12 GB RAM.
512 GB UFS 3.0 Internal Storage with 12 GB RAM.
Triple Rear camera 12 MP + 12 MP + 16 MP with LED flash and HDR panorama.
7.3-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED, 1536 x 2152 pixels, HDR 10+, 4.6-inch Super AMOLED, and 720 x 1680 pixels.
The Connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Radio, and USB 3.1.
Sensors include fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, ANT+, and barometer.
4380 mAh battery Li-Po, 15W fast battery charging, 15W fast wireless charging, and 9W Wireless charging.
Colors options such as Space Silver, Cosmos Black, Martian Green, Astro Blue.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung Galaxy A80 launched in 2019 packs a mid-range Snapdragon 730G chipset with 8GB RAM. The device features a single sliding camera that acts as both the rear and front camera. Specifically, the single-camera module has a 48-megapixel primary camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide sensors, and a third TOF 3D camera. The smartphone features an LED flash, panorama, and HDR.

Key Specs of Galaxy A80

6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Always-on display.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chipset, Octa-Core processor, Adreno 618 GPU
128 GB + 8 GB RAM without any external MicroSD card.
WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Radio, USB 2.0
Sensors include Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, ANT+
3700 mAh Li-Po non-removable battery with 25W charging.
Available in Angel Gold, Ghost White, and Phantom Black.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

Realme X50 5G

After releasing the flagship smartphone, Realme has recently unveiled the Realme X50 5G smartphone with the high-end specification. It also features a dual selfie camera of 16-megapixel primary shooter and an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. The rear sensor features 64-megapixel, 12-megapixel, 8-megapixel ultrawide, and 2-megapixel macro camera.

Other Features of Realme X50 5G

6.57-inch IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 129Hz refresh rate.
Snapdragon 765G chipset, Octa-Core processor, Adreno 620 GPU.
Android 10 based ColorOS 7.
There’s a 128GB + 8GB RAM, 256 GB + 6GB RAM, 256 GB + 12 GB RAM.
Connectivity includes Wifi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, USB 2.0, Fingerprint.
4200 mAh non-removable battery with 30W fast charging.

Compare | Buy from Amazon

These are some best dual selfie camera smartphones available. We will keep updating the list if any new smartphone arrives.

Related: Best Flagship Smartphones of 2019

Honor MOA-AL00 with dual rear cameras and a display notch gets certified by TENAA

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 18, 2020

Honor may announce a new phone after the Chinese New Year holidays, and according to images found on TENAA’s database, the device will have a rectangular rear camera housing.

The Honor phone which has model number MOA-AL00 was certified on December 25, 2019. There are images alongside the certificate and they show the device will come in blue. Of course, there should be other color options to choose from.

[envira-gallery id=”301343″]

The image of the phone’s front doesn’t reveal what screen design was adopted until you brighten the image and realize the phone has a waterdrop notch. There is no fingerprint scanner on the side neither is there one on the back. This means the phone has its fingerprint scanner under the screen which in turn should be an AMOLED panel.

On the rear, the Honor MOA-AL00 has a rectangular housing that is broader but shorter in length than the one on the Honor V30 and Honor V30 Pro. An LED flash is visible and nothing much else until the photo is brightened and we see the phone has two rear cameras.

The device has curved corners and appears to have a glass back too. It has its volume control and power buttons on the right while the left side of the frame houses the SIM tray.

TENAA reveals some of the phone’s specifications such as its screen size which is 6.39-inches, its battery capacity that is 4900mAh (~5000mAh), and dimensions given as 159.07 x 74.06 x 9.04 millimeters. The phone doesn’t have 5G support which means it most likely has a Kirin 810 processor powering it.

At the moment, we have no idea what the official name will be, but more details should surface in the coming weeks.

(Source, Via)

Leak reveals OPPO Find X2 will have 120Hz QHD+ display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 18, 2020

The OPPO Find X2 is one of the most anticipated Chinese smartphones this year. The phone will launch as a successor to the 2018 Find X that took the world by storm. Ahead of the phone’s release, specs have begun to surface. Today, a Chinese leaker has revealed details about the phone’s screen.

Last month, when it was confirmed that the Find X2 will launch this year, OPPO’s VP, Brian Shen revealed that the phone will have a better display than its predecessor. That should not be surprising since more manufacturers are focusing on displays these days.

According to Digital Chat Station, the screen of the Find X2 will have a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The resolution is actually 3168 x 1440 and the display is a curved OLED panel made by Samsung. He adds that the screen measures about 6.5-inches in size and has a single hole at the top left corner for a selfie camera.

OPPO will allow users to switch between FHD+ and QHD+ and users will be able to choose between a 60Hz refresh rate or a 120Hz refresh rate irrespective of the resolution the display is set at. Samsung fans will definitely be unhappy since the Galaxy S20 series will only be able to switch to 120Hz when the resolution is set to FHD+.

While a combination of a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate will definitely affect battery life negatively, providing the option for users to choose which combination they want to use is the smart thing to do rather than making it unavailable right out of the box.

The OPPO Find X2 will have a Snapdragon 865 processor and a Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G network support. It is expected to launch this quarter, so we expect more leaks will surface soon.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Galaxy S20 5G series full specs leaks: 40MP selfie camera for Ultra model

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 18, 2020

With each passing day, the Samsung Unpacked event for the Galaxy S20 series draws closer. There is also practically a new leak related to one or more of the phones every other day. Yesterday, the spec sheet of the 5G variants of the phones leaked and it revealed the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G will have a 40MP selfie camera!

The source of the leak is Ishan Agarwal (@ishanAgarwal24) in collaboration with MySmartPrice.

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

The Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G will have a 120Hz Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED Display. The screen is 6.9-inches in size with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 3200 x 1440 resolution (WQHD+).

There will be an Exynos 99 processor inside the phone. While the RAM is not stated, previous leaks have revealed the Galaxy S20 Ultra will come in 12GB RAM and 16GB RAM variants with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. There will be a MicroSD card slot that will allow users to add up to an additional 1TB of storage.

Coming to cameras, the phone will have a 108MP main sensor paired with a 48MP telephoto camera, a 12MP ultra-wide angle camera, and a ToF camera. The Galaxy S20 Ultra will have 10x optical zoom, 100x Digital Zoom, and be able to record in 8K at 30 fps. Samsung finishes the camera setup with a 40MP selfie camera! That sure is a lot for a front-facing camera.

Can confirm 40MP front on the S20 Ultra. Heard about it yesterday but didn't want to say it.

Also One UI 2.1. https://t.co/7yd9wqmc4o

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) January 17, 2020

Max Wienbach of XDA Developers confirms the phone indeed has a 40MP selfie camera in a quoted tweet. He also adds that the phone(s) ship with One UI 2.1 and not One UI 2.0 based on Android 10.

You should not be worried about the battery life of the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G seeing as there is a 5000mAh battery inside. It will have support for fast charge (45W), wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The phone will also have an IP68 rating and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers tuned by AKG. The dimensions of the phone are 167 x 76 x 8.8 millimeters and it weighs 221 grams.

Galaxy S20 Plus 5G

The S20 Plus 5G also gets a 120Hz Infinity-O Dynamic Display but it is smaller at 6.7-inches. It has the same WQHD+ resolution and its smaller screen size means it has a higher PPI. The phone also has a 20:9 aspect ratio.

There is an Exynos 990 processor inside too along with 128GB of storage. There will be other storage variants but they may all have 12GB of RAM. You also get support for storage expansion.

With respect to cameras, the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G has a 12MP main sensor paired with a 64MP telephoto camera, a 12MP ultra-wide angle camera, and a ToF camera. The phone will have 3x optical zoom, up to 30x digital zoom, and also be able to record 8K videos at 30 fps. Although, it doesn’t have the Ultra’s 40MP wide-angle selfie camera, its 10MP front-facing sensor can also record 4K videos at 60 fps.

There is a smaller 4500mAh battery inside but it will also have support for fast charge, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. It weighs less at 188 grams and measures 162 x 74 x 7.8 millimeters.

Galaxy S20 5G

The Galaxy S20 5G comes with an even smaller 6.2-inch 120Hz Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED display and may be the favorite of those who want a small device. It also has a WQHD+ resolution and the highest PPI of all.

Samsung is going with its Exynos 990 chipset here too and you get 128GB of expandable storage. There will be other storage variants but they all should have 12GB of RAM.

The Galaxy S20 5G has the same 12MP main camera and 64MP telephoto camera as the Plus model. It also has the same 12MP ultrawide camera but skips the ToF camera. Users will also have 3x optical zoom, 30x digital zoom, 8K at 30 fps video recording, and a 10MP selfie camera that can record 4K at 60 fps.

There is a 4000mAh battery under the hood. It will also have Dolby Atmos stereo speakers tuned by AKG along with IP68 water-resistance and Android 10 out of the box. It is the lightest at 164 grams and measures 152 x 68 x 7.9 millimeters.

Also: DELIVERY/SALES for the all S20 Series models will probably start on/ around 13th March.
Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is gonna be 221g! Almost as much as the iPhone 11 Pro Max which is pretty heavy. But yes, the Ultra is gonna be a 6.9" beast so expected. Aluminium frame for S20/+.

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) January 17, 2020

Ishan adds that the Exynos 990 is the chipset in European and Asian markets. So we expect the Snapdragon 865 will be the processor inside the North American variant.

He also stated that delivery/sales will probably begin around March 13 which is more than a month after the February 11 launch. There is no info on the gifts for those who pre-order any of the phones but we presume it will likely be the new Galaxy Buds+.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3)

Study reveals Fitbit wearables can help predict flu outbreaks

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 17, 2020

As at Q1 2017, Fitbit was the leading wearable manufacturer globally but the fitness band manufacturer has long been dethroned by the likes of Xiaomi and Apple. Even though the company still ranks among the top 5 wearable manufacturers, its market share is a far cry from that of the market leader, Apple. Going by IDC’s research data for Q3 2019, Fitbit shipped a paltry 3.3 million wearables while Apple shipped an estimated 29.5 million and Xiaomi shipped 12.4 million wearables respectively. Despite the low market share, Fitbit wearables still remain some of the best fitness and health trackers around. A study carried out in the US uncovered one of the hidden features of most Fitbits. That is the ability to be able to help users know if they are coming down with the flu – and warn health authorities to get ready to help.

The study found that heart rate and sleep data from wearable fitness tracker watches can predict and alert public health officials to real-time outbreaks of flu more accurately than current surveillance methods.

The study used data from more than 47,000 Fitbit users in five US states. The results, published in The Lancet Digital Health journal, showed that by using Fitbit data, state-wide predictions of flu outbreaks were improved and accelerated.

For this study, Radin’s team de-identified data from 200,000 people whose Fitbits tracked activity, heart rate and sleep for at least 60 days during the March 2016 to March 2018 study period. From the 200,000, a total of 47,248 users from California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania wore a Fitbit consistently during the period. The average age was 43 and 60% were female.

Users’ resting heart rate and sleep duration were monitored and flagged as abnormal if the average weekly heart rate was significantly above their overall average and their weekly average sleep was not below their overall average. The data was then compared to the US Centers for Disease Control’s weekly estimates for flu-like illness.

Obviously more studies need to be carried out in order to ascertain the reliability of using data from the wearable to detect flu but as Rosalind Eggo, a public health expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine puts it, the study is an indication that fitness trackers hold some promise as a disease surveillance tool. But she said more work is needed “to gauge how reliable these data are over time, how specific these measurements are for flu, and how representative Fitbit users are of the whole population”

This is said to be te best method to monitor flu as previous studies using crowd-sourced data – such as Google Flu Trends and Twitter – have experienced variable success, partly, experts say, because it is impossible to separate out behaviour of people with flu from people who search online about it due to more media and public attention during outbreaks.

(source)

You can now transform the Mate 20 Pro into a Mate 30 Pro with this $4 case

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 17, 2020

The Mate 30 Pro is one amazing flagship model from Huawei. Apart from the spectacular screen technology at play on the model, the device comes with a spectacular rear camera design that stands out from the crowd. The rear panel also complements the camera to give the Mate 30 a unique shape. Sadly, the Mate 30 Pro doesn’t come with Google apps, no thanks to the trade embargo placed on Huawei by the US government. But a new protective case has been listed online which literally transforms your Mate 20 Pro to look like the Mate 30 Pro and it costs just 29.8 yuan ($4).

As can be seen in the picture above, this protective case looks like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G Vegan Leather Orange variant (pictured below). The protective case comes in orange and has the same vegan leather finish. Apart from the texture, the rear camera module is designed in the same circular form in such a way that the square-shaped design of the Mate 20 Pro looks like what is housed in a circular module. The case even features a dummy flash at the top left corner in the same position where the Mate 30 Pro’s camera sits. Recall that the Mate 20 Pro has three rear cameras with the fourth entity inside the module being an LED flash.

The Mate 30 Pro isn’t the first flagship model to have got such a cheap makeover. There is an iPhone 11 lens sticker that transforms the dual cameras on the iPhone X to the 11’s matrix camera design.

To recall, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has glass on both the front which provides it with an elegant look. The handset features a 6.39 inch AMOLED display that has QHD+ resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor and waterdrop notch above the display which houses a 24 MP camera.

The Mate 20 Pro is kitted with the Kirin 980 SoC and it is powered by a 4,200 mAH battery which supports fast-charging up to 40 W.

(source)

Oppo F15 vs Redmi K30 vs Realme X2: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 17, 2020

Do you like the new Oppo F15? It is a sweet mid-ranger sold at a modest price offering a pretty nice design and good specifications. But there are a lot of rivals in the market which are sold at a similar price and might be better for certain kinds of users. We selected the ones we believe to be the most interesting: the new Redmi K30 (the non 5G version, naturally) and the Realme X2. Should you go for the Oppo F15 or one of these other mid-rangers? This specs comparison will let you find out depending on your needs.

Oppo F15 vs Xiaomi Redmi K30 vs Oppo Realme X2

	Xiaomi Redmi K30	Oppo Realme X2	Oppo F15
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm, 208 grams	158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm, 182 grams	160.2 x 73.3 x 7.9 mm, 172 grams
DISPLAY	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 408 ppi, AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	MediaTek Helio P70, octa-core 2.1 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 10, MIUI	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 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 Dual 20 + 2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 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 48 + 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	4500 mAh, fast charging 27W	4000 mAh, fast charging 30W	4025 mAh, fast charging 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Despite it is hard to notice important differences between the aesthetics of these devices, Oppo F15 is more elegant and attractive. First of all, it has a thinner profile than Realme X2 and Redmi K30, but it still packs a big battery. It is even more compact than its rivals. But it has a classic waterdrop display, unlike the Redmi K30 boasting a dual punch-hole camera. But Redmi K30 is bigger, thicker and less elegant: that is why Oppo F15 is my favorite one.

Display

Despite it is just an IPS panel, the display of the Redmi K30 looks way more interesting. Unlike Oppo F15 and Realme X2, the display of the Redmi K30 is HDR-compliant. Further, it boasts a very high 120 Hz refresh rate and, according to the latest reports, Xiaomi is planning to release an update bringing the refresh rate to whopping 144 Hz. Last but not least, Redmi K30 brings a wider diagonal and a dual punch hole. On the other hand, both Realme X2 and Oppo F15 offer a more trendy AMOLED panel, as well as an in-display fingerprint reader, while the biometric sensor of the Redmi K30 is side-mounted.

Specs & Software

Thanks to their Snapdragon 730G chipset, Redmi K30, and Realme X2 are able to offer higher performance than Oppo F15, there is no doubt about it. Both pack up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage with the fast UFS 2.1 technology. With the Oppo F15, you get an inferior Helio P70 chipset and just 128 GB of internal storage (still UFS 2.1). Redmi K30 is the winner here because it is the only coming with Android 10 out of the box, while Oppo F15 and Realme X2 are still based on Android 9 Pie.

Camera

Despite the lower resolution of the main sensor, the camera of the Oppo F15 looks more interesting than Realme X2 and Redmi K30 due to the presence of a monochromatic sensor which should boost the photo quality. However, we will have to test it thoroughly to see the result. For now, Realme X2 is more convincing on the paper due to its 64 MP quad camera and its 32 MP selfie snapper.

Battery

Both Oppo F15 and Realme X2 come with a 4000 mAh battery (4025 mAh for the Oppo F15), while Redmi K30 is equipped with a bigger 4500 mAh unit. That means Redmi K30 lasts more on a single charge, but the difference is not huge since it has to manage a less efficient display. With a power of 30W, Realme X2 has the fastest charging technology.

Price

Unless the design is your main priority, we do not recommend the Oppo F15 at its actual price (about €236/$262). Instead, you should go for the Redmi K30 (€203/$225) since it offers a bigger battery, Android 10 out of the box and a 120 Hz display. However, note that Realme X2 (€215/$239) offers an AMOLED panel and more compact dimensions.

Read More: Realme X2 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite vs Oppo Reno2 Z: Specs Comparison

Oppo F15 vs Xiaomi Redmi K30 vs Oppo Realme X2: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi K30

PROs

Great performance
120 Hz display
Punch-hole design
Bigger battery
Dual front camera
Android 10

CONS

Nothing particular

Realme X2

PROs

Amazing performance
Great front camera
AMOLED display
Micro SD dedicated slot
Dolby Atmos

CONS

Nothing particular

Oppo F15

PROs

Nice AMOLED display
Good design
Interesting cameras

CONS

Inferior hardware

Realme 3 Pro Android 10 update now rolling out (See the Changelog)

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 17, 2020

Chinese tech startup Realme has announced the commencement of update roll-out for the Realme 3 Pro. This was disclosed on the Realme community with a caveat that the roll-out will be in batches so as to ensure the stability of the update. The update brings several new features to the models but the most spectacular is the upgrade of the Android version to the latest Android 10 OS.

The update which ushers in the version RMX1851EX_11_C.01 started rolling out to Realme 3 Pro users starting from today to a limited number of users. The OTA will be pushed to more persons in subsequent days after it is confirmed that there are no critical bugs.

Here’s a rundown of the complete changelog.

[Visuals]

• Updated UI to realme UI

• Brand new Real Design makes visuals more attractive and operation more

efficient.

[Smart Sidebar]

• Optimized user interface and improved one-handed operation.

• Optimized Smart Sidebar: Replaced File Console with File Manager;removed OSIE Visual Effect and No Notification Alerts.

• Drag an app out of Smart Sidebar to open it in Split-screen Mode.

• Added two new features: “Assistive Ball Opacity” and “Hide Assistive Ball on Fullscreen App”.

• Optimized the Floating Window feature for more apps.

• Added Bubbles: A bubble is displayed when you open an app in a floating window from the Smart Sidebar. Tap the bubble to collapse or open the app.

[Screenshot]

• Optimized 3-Finger Screenshot Gesture: Use 3 fingers to touch and hold the screen, and swipe to take a screenshot of the selected part of the screen (partial screen capture). Use 3 fingers to touch and hold the screen, and swipe your fingers outwards to capture a long screenshot.

• Added screenshot settings: You can adjust the position of the screenshot preview floating window and set the screenshot sound.

• Optimized screenshot preview floating window: After taking a screenshot, drag it up and release it to share it, or drag it down and release to take a long screenshot.

[Navigation Gestures 3.0]

• Optimized New Android 10 navigation gestures

• Optimized gestures:

All gestures are supported in landscape mode.

[System]

• Added Focus Mode: Minimizes outside distractions when you are learning or working.

• Added whole new charging animation.

• Optimized the Quick Settings user interface for easier one-handed operation.

• Added pause feature for screen recording.

• Added a floating window and settings for screen recording.

• New sounds added for file deletion, calculator key touches, and compass pointer.

• Optimized system built-in ringtones.

• Added TalkBack floating prompts for Accessibility.

• New management feature for recent tasks: You can view the memory of recent tasks and locked apps.

[Games]

• Optimized visual interaction for Game Space.

• Optimized loading animation for Game Space.

[Homescreen]

• Added new live wallpapers.

• Added artistic wallpapers.

• Added option to open Global Search or the notification panel when swiping down on homescreen.

• Added option to customize the size, shape, and style of app icons on homescreen.

• Optimized the graphic design of password unlock to facilitate one-handed operation.

• Support for animated wallpapers on the lockscreen.

• Added a Simple Mode for homescreen, featuring larger fonts, icons and a clearer layout.

[Security]

• Random MAC address Generator: When your phone is connected to Wi-Fi network system generates a random MAC address to avoid targeted ads and protect your privacy.

[Tools]

• In Quick Settings or Smart Sidebar, you can open Calculator in a floating window.

• Added the trim feature in Recordings.

• Added the Weather (dynamic) ringtone, which automatically adapts to the current weather.

• Added weather-adaptive animations in Weather.

• Added audio source selection for screen recording

[Camera]

• Optimized the Camera UI for a better user experience.

• Optimized the Timer UI and sound.

[Photos]

• Optimized the Album UI for a clearer structure and photo thumbnails.

• Added Album Recommendations that recognize more than 80 different

scenes.

[Communication]

realme Share now supports sharing files with OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi devices.

• Optimized the Contacts UI for a more efficient experience.

[Settings]

• Search Settings now supports fuzzy match and contains a search history.

[Music]

• Added Dual Mode Music Share in realme Lab

(source)

Vivo NEX 3 (V1950A) becomes 3C certified tagging along a 55W charger

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 17, 2020

Vivo was one of the smartphone manufacturers who shook the industry last year with its array of amazing products. Little wonder the company still ranks among the top 5 OEMs in terms of phone shipment. One of the spectacular smartphones we saw from its stable was the Vivo NEX 3. The model is about getting a new variant this year and the device had earlier been certified by China’s TENAA. The NEX 3 has now been certified by China’s CCC (3C).

The device is listed with the model number V1950A which is the same model number it hit TENAA with. The 3C listing doesn’t reveal much apart from the charging properties. The 3C certification information shows that the upgraded NEX 3 is equipped with a charger model V3030A-CN with an output power of 55W (11V / 5A). This is an upgrade over last year’s NEX 3 which had a 44W fast charger.

As a reminder, the NEX 3 comes with dual-mode 5G support making it the first 5G flagship from the NEX series with such configuration. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 865 SoC and sports a 6.89-inch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1080pixels. Most spectacular, the phone boasts of a mammoth 99.6% immersive screen ratio which happens to be the highest any OEM has been able to expand to on a commercial device.

The NEX 3 comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB storage options. For photography, there is a 16MP camera at the front. On the other hand, the device features a triple rear camera setup comprised of a 64 MP main cameras + 13 MP super wide-angle/macro + 13 MP telephoto lens. It gets its light from a 4500mAh which supports 44W ultra-fast flash charge.

Vivo is yet to reveal when the flagship model will be released.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy A31 and Galaxy A41 battery and camera specs outed

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 17, 2020

Samsung‘s decision to revamp its premium mid-range Galaxy A series turned out to be a deft move. The A-series was a tremendous success in 2019 and the tech giant is looking to capitalise on last year’s success this year 2020 with the introduction of the Galaxy A51 and A71. The company is also targeting the lower mid-range segment with the Galaxy A31 and A41. Before now, little is known about the two models except that Samsung had trademarked the monikers. A new leak has, however, changed all that as details of both Galaxy A-series models (Galaxy A31 and A41) have been outed.

The leak focuses on just the battery and camera specs of both models. It touts the Galaxy A31 as coming with a 48MP main camera as well as a 5MP macro shooter which would be a noticeable step up from the A30 and it’s 16MP + 5MP combo. On the battery aspect, the A31 will pack an impressive 5,000 mAh cell.

On the other hand, the Galaxy A41 will also present with a 48MP main camera sensor but the leak stopped short of revealing the other sensors at the rear. The front-facing one is tipped to come in at 25MP. The Galaxy A31 and A41 have previously been revealed to come with 64GB of storage on its base model.

There is still no word yet on the launch date but we expect the company to begin taking the wraps off the mid-range models after the flagship Galaxy S20 models get launched.

(source)

Unnamed Hisense HLTE229T mid-range model certified by TENAA

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 17, 2020

A new unnamed Hisense model has been certified by China’s telecoms regulatory agency (TENAA). The same model identified by model number HLTE229T was earlier spotted on GeekBench database in December 2019.

The Hisense model has all the dressings of a mid-range model. It packs a 6.5-inch TFT LCD display with an HD+ resolution of 1600×720 pixels. The device is powered by an unnamed processor clocked at 1.8GHz. The Geekbench listing indicates this is an octa-core UNISOC processor. With a single-core test score of 1951 and multi-core test score of 5548, the chipset is at best a mid-range SoC. The phone is listed to pack a 4850mAh battery.

The device also comes with 4GB, 6GB and 8GB RAM options as well as 64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options. The device runs on Android 10 operating system from the go. In addition, the Hisense model is listed to feature a quad-camera setup at the rear comprising a 13MP+8MP+2MP+2MP and an 8MP selfie shooter.

Unfortunately, the TENAA listing wasn’t accompanied by an image of the device. So, we’ll have to wait for perhaps more leaks to see what the device looks like.

(source)

World’s biggest contract smartphone manufacturer, Foxconn partners with Fiat to build Electric Cars

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2020

Foxconn Technology Group is a well known name in the smartphone industry. The Taiwanese giant is a primary supplier of Apple for its iPhones and by its extension one of the world’s largest contract smartphone manufacturers. However, it seems that the electronics company isn’t solely based around smartphones as it is forming a joint venture with Fiat Chrysler (the automobile giant) to build electric cars in China.

The filing of this sizable undertaking has been filed in China’s Market Observation Post System (MOPS), which details that both companies own 50 percent of the venture equally. The main objective of this joint venture is to produce electric vehicles in China and start an IOV. This stands for Internet of Vehicles (after IoT or Internet of Things devices) as coined by the Foxconn’s parent company.

Initially, Fiat Chrysler and Foxconn will aim to mass produce electric vehicles in China and will expand to foreign markets after the foundation is laid in the Southeast Asian country. This seems like a very practical move from an automobile industry standpoint as China is the largest electric vehicle market in the world. Notably, the filing also states that the joint venture aims to develop electric vehicles from scratch. In other words, they are not planning on simply making the existing Fiat offerings into electric versions.

The collaboration with Foxconn will also help Fiat gain a solid footing in the Chinese market. Previously, the contract smartphone manufacturer has invested in ventures dealing with electric vehicles, but this will be the first as the company will actually develop and manufacture its own products. A good example of past investment is Byton, an electric vehicle startup. This began as the Future Mobility Corporation, which was a joint venture between Harmony Auto, Foxconn, Tencent and now even Xiaomi as a strategic investor.

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy A51 goes on sale in several countries across Europe

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 17, 2020

Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy A51 a couple of weeks back and the phone is finding its way into more markets. The device has now gone on sale in Europe, going by several press releases from various European divisions of Samsung. The price of the Samsung Galaxy A51 starts from €370 but the higher memory variant comes with a higher price tag.

The Galaxy A51 is available in France via Amazon and other retailers. It adopts a €340 price tag for the 4GB+64GB version while the 6GB+128GB variant is on sale for €410. The device comes with a slightly higher starting price in Holland where it can be snagged from Belsimpel at a discounted price of €350 (down from €369). The good thing is buyers get several payment options with Vodafone, Tele2 or T-mobile.

In Eastern Europe, the phone is on sale in Bulgaria via Telenor for the equivalent of €430 for the 6GB+128 GB variant. The best Galaxy A51 deal that we came across is from Citrus in Ukraine which is offering the phone for just 9,499 UAH (€350 for the 6GB+128 GB option). The phone is offered in Black, Blue, or White.

As a reminder, the Galaxy A51 packs a 6.5-inch Infinity-O S-AMOLED display. It supports 20:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is fitted with an in-screen fingerprint reader. The device also supports face recognition.

The Exynos 9611 chipset that includes 2.3GHz octa-core processor. The phone comes in multiple RAM options of 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB. Its storage variants are 64 GB and 128 GB. There is a dedicated microSD card slot for more storage. The phone packs an f/2.2 aperture 32-megapixel lens on the front and an L-shaped quad-camera setup housed in a rectangular module on its back. The Galaxy A51’s quad-camera system a 48-megapixel main lens with f/2.0 aperture, a depth sensor of 5-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture, a macro lens of 5-megapixel with f/2.4 aperture and an ultrawide lens of 12-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture.

For interface, it runs on Android 10 OS customized with the latest One UI 2.0. The phone equally packs a 4,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging.

(via)

Xiaomi stock price hits a New High in over a year!

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jan 17, 2020

Xiaomi’s share price has reached a new high in over a year after reports emerged about its possible inclusion in Hong Kong’s benchmark stock index, the Hang Seng Index. The company’s share price has been rallying up since December 10 and reached a year-high price of HK$ 13.26 ($1.71) earlier today.

This speculation has driven up Xiaomi’s market capitalization to HK$314 billion (US$40.4 billion) today. To recall, its market share dipped to just over US$28 billion back in August 2019. But it’s still well below the US$50 billion valuation at the time of its IPO back in July 2018.

Xiaomi's share price 1 year — Xiaomi’s share price has risen after the launch of Redmi K30 5G on Dec 10

Xiaomi’s share price has steadily increased since the launch of its Redmi K30 5G smartphone. It is the world’s cheapest 5G smartphone in the market right now and comes with exclusive access to one of the cheapest 5G plans in the world. Its inclusion in the Hang Seng Index would be yet another milestone for the company.

Hang Seng Index is the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s benchmark index and features the top 50 stocks on the exchange. The operator of the Hang Seng index is considering whether companies with weighted voting rights or secondary listings should be included in the index, leading to speculations about Xiaomi making it to this major index.

Note that Xiaomi was the first company with dual-class of shares to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018. The HKSE had made changes to its listing rules just a few months before Xiaomi’s IPO, allowing companies with weighted voting rights to be listed on the exchange.

The Hang Seng Index of the HKSE includes top Chinese companies like Bank of China, China Unicom, China Telecom, and China Netcom.

(Via)

Oppo patents a unique smartphone with Moon Wheel shaped Camera design

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2020

Earlier today (17th January 2020), Oppo applied for a patent with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China. The distinct nature of this patent is its unique smartphone design, which showcases a Moon Wheel shaped rear camera module.

According to the design renders that accompany the patent, it is clear that the aesthetics look a lot like the Lunar cycles of the Moon. The rear cameras are arranged in crescent shape just under a sphere that is translucent in nature. It is currently unknown if this area holds any special sensor or camera. From left to right, an LED flash is followed by a large image sensor and two smaller lenses right beside it in a curved design.

In the patent, graphical design images are also present which shows the technical parameters of the device. Unfortunately, it still creates more questions than answers regarding the unique smartphone. Earlier this month, OnePlus unveiled a disappearing rear camera module on a concept smartphone at CES 2020; so, this could be Oppo’s version of the same technology as another image depicts the rear panel with the sphere but not the cameras.

Furthermore, the Oppo smartphone may also arrive with a special back cover that brings the same functionality. The patent also reveals a key piece of information regarding the translucent area, which seems to be surrounded by a circle of LED lights. It is speculated to be a new form of notification lights that fill the entire sphere or could perhaps even be used to display unique animations and more.

The designs also reveal the tranlucent sphere carrying multiple LED lights surrounding it

The upcoming smartphone could be Oppo’s Find X2 smartphone which is expected to arrive soon, but that is just an educated guess. Unfortunately, the company has yet to confirm this report or publicly announce the existence of this unique handset.

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra camera specifications revealed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 17, 2020

The upcoming Galaxy S20 series that is scheduled to go official on Feb. 11 reportedly includes five smartphones, Galaxy S20 and its 5G variant, Galaxy S20+ and its 5G edition and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. These Samsung phones will be sporting an Infinity-O display design like the Galaxy Note 10. The rear sides of these phones will be sporting slightly different design as the S20 will sport a triple camera setup whereas the S20+ and S20 Ultra will have quad rear cameras. The latter is expected to feature better cameras than the Galaxy S20+. Leaked renders have revealed that the cameras on each of the S20 phones will be housed inside a rectangle-shaped module. Reliable tipster Ice Universe has shared the camera specifications of the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

The quad camera system of the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G will be featuring 108-megapixel Samsung S5KHM1 as main shooter. It will be coupled with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 telephoto camera with a pixel size of 0.8micron. The third lens on the setup will be a 44-megapixel Samsung S5KGH1 ultrawide lens with 0.7micron pixel size and it will also feature a new Sony IMX518 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.

For snapping selfies, the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G will be fitted with a 10-megapixel Sony IMX375 lens with 1.22micron pixel size. It is the same selfie shooter that is available on the Galaxy S10 series and Note 10 series. The Galaxy S20 and S20+ will be also equipped with the same 10-megapixel Sony IMX375 front camera.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G cameras- — Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G’s camera renders by Onleaks

Editor’s Pick: Huawei P40 Pro PE renders reveal penta-lens camera setup ahead of March 26 launch

Samsung Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20+ 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G’s quad camera setup has a 12-megapixel Sony IMX555 primary lens with 1.8micron pixel size. It is accompanied by a 64-megapixel Samsung S5KGW2 telephoto lens and a 12-megapixel Samsung S5K2LA ultrawide shooter. Its fourth lens is a Sony IMX516 3D ToF sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 5G

The Galaxy S20’s triple camera borrows its primary, telephoto and ultrawide lenses from the Galaxy S20+ model. Also, it lacks a 3D ToF sensor.

While the leak appears accurate, it is advisable to wait for the official announcement to know the exact camera specs and features of the S20 models. Apar from launching the S20 lineup on Feb. 11, the South Korean tech giant will be also announcing the Galaxy Z Flip foldable clamshell smartphone. A fresh report has revealed that the Snapdragon 855+ powered Galaxy Z Flip will be priced between $860 and $1,300.

(source|via)

Honor V30 Pro scores the second highest DxOMark rating ever, with 122 points

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2020

In the smartphone industry, DxOMark has established itself as a renowned benchmarking authority for mobile photography and videography. Initially, the company had placed its primary focus on professional grade and digital handheld cameras but have since branched out to include smartphones as well. Now, DxOMark has just unveiled its latest review which had the Honor V30 Pro achieve 122 points, which is second highest rating ever given out.

Honor is a subsidiary of Huawei, which also holds the top and third highest DxOMark scoring smartphone, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G and Huawei Mate 30 Pro. In the camera photography area, the Honor V30 Pro received an impressive 133 points with its zoom feature being the most highlighted and well received aspect of the camera module. It also achieved 100 points in videography and received praise for its stabilization methods, quick autofocus and color reproduction.

Honor’s V30 series featured a Matrix Camera technology for systemic imaging technology framework through software and hardware collaboration. In simpler terms, the handset was well optimized with capable hardware and well programmed algorithm software which helped it achieve an industry leading score. The camera module sports the customized Sony IMX600 RYYB 40-megapixel sensor with f/1.8 aperture as the main lens, an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with f/2.4 aperture and a 12-megapixel cine lens with f/2.2 aperture with 109-degree field-of-view.

Notably, Xiong Junmin, the Vice President of Honor, took the scores as an opportunity to claim that higher pixel count doesn’t translate to better images but a combination of optics, sensors, chips, algorithms, and more do, something that have also been backed up by the ratings. This was shared on the senior executives official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website.

(Source,Via)

Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha appears on Mi India site; Mi Stores across country to showcase it

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 17, 2020

Last year in September, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G along with Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha. The latter was announced a concept phone featuring a marvelous wraparound display. It was announced with an exorbitant price tag of 19,999 Yuan (~$2,915). The smartphone was expected to release in China in December, but it hasn’t hit the market yet. Xiaomi India today jumped the gun by listing the Mi MIX Alpha on its website. According to PriceBaba, the Mi MIX Alpha will not be made available for purchase in India. Instead, the Chinese firm will be allowing people to experience the magnificent device at Mi Home Stores across the country.

Showcasing the Mi MIX Alpha at its stores without making it available for purchase seems to be a strategy to build the awareness of the Mi brand. Xiaomi’s Redmi is highly popular in India, but its high-end Mi branded phones like Mi MIX 2 from 2017 and Mi 5 from 2016 haven’t done well in the country. The more affordable Mi A-series Android One phones are quite popular in the country.

The Chinese firm is reportedly gearing up to launch the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 smartphone that features 108-megapixel penta-lens camera setup. It is speculated more phones under the Mi branding will be arriving in the country..

Editor’s Pick: Poco splits from Xiaomi to become an independent brand

Xiaomi Mi MIX Alpha specifications

The Mi MIX Alpha is a 5G smartphone that houses a 7.92-inch flexible S-AMOLED display with 2250 x 2088 pixels resolution support. The display is integrated with an in-screen fingerprint reader. It runs on MIUI 11 based Android 10 OS. The Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform powers the device along with 12 GB of RAM. It is equipped with UFS 3.0 512 GB of internal storage.

There is a vertical camera strip on its rear that includes a 108-megapixel main lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom support, Dual Pixel PDAF and laser autofocus and a 20-megapixel ultrawide lens with laser autofocus. It lacks features like selfie camera, microSD card and 3.5mm audio jack. The rear cameras can be used for capturing selfie shots with the rear display portion working as a viewfinder. The phone has a 4,050mAh battery that supports 40W fast charging.

(source|via)

Apple might just make a touchscreen MacBook

By

Sean

-

Jan 17, 2020

On multiple occasions, Apple has denied developing a touchscreen MacBook. However, a new patent has surfaced which arrives with a description that details a touchscreen laptop.

The patent was applied for in the US and falls under the collective title of “Cross Device Interaction.” It is likely an upcoming feature for the future generations in the Apple ecosystem that includes iPhone, iPads, and Macs. In the patent, the Cupertino based tech giant described a smartphone and a laptop computer’s display with respective labels and descriptions for both.

As seen in the description, it states that the screen “is also a touch sensitive display,” and the user can choose to perform “a variety of finger inputs over display” for various different functions and commands. Previously, Craig Federighi, the senior Vice President of Apple said that the company has decided to not produce a touchscreen Mac. The main reason for this was due to its laborious method of input of raising a hand across the screen which apparently goes against the more accessible “ergonomic” of a Mac.

Notably, the patent also reveals a new cross platform functionality. As seen in the designs, a user can use two or more Apple devices at the same time. This will allow user to display particular contents of one screen on another gadget. In other words, one can simply look at an image at a MacBook but choose to transfer it to the iPhone as well. This will allow multiple devices to gain access to data stored in any one of the respective gadgets.

Apple seems to cover all possible bases with this patent. It reveals a potential touchscreen MacBook, a new display mirroring feature which can be accessed by voice command, touch input or even when a device is held in front of another (an iPhone in front of a MacBook). However, it also states that the technology is still not intuitive enough in the current generation as it can either be time consuming or inefficient with power consumption.

(Via)

OPPO A31 key specs leaked through Bluetooth SIG listing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 17, 2020

The OPPO A31 is an upcoming mid-ranger phone from OPPO. It has been spotted with its CPH2015 model number at the database of authorities like FCC in the U.S and Singapore’s IMDA. An Indonesian certification body had approved it as Oppo Reno S. The OPPO A31 name was revealed through its IMDA certification. Today, the CPH2015 smartphone has appeared on Bluetooth SIG with some key details.

The OPPO A31 specs leak on Bluetooth SIG reveals that is equipped with a 6.517-inch display that produces full HD+ resolution. A MediaTek octa-core processor that works at 2.0GHz powers the smartphone. The phone houses a 4,230mA battery. When it comes to connectivity, it carries support for Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi. The phone runs on ColorOS 6.1.2.

The FCC certification of the CPH2015 smartphone had revealed that it measures 164 x 755mm in dimensions. The battery of the device can be fueled using a 5V/2A charger. The schematics of the phone that had appeared in FCC documents revealed that it features a triple camera setup and a fingerprint reader on its back. Also, the images of the pre-production unit of the OPPO A31 revealed that it has a waterdrop notch screen, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB port and an external speaker. The left side of the device is fitted with a volume controller and a power button can be found its right side.

There is no word on the launch date of the smartphone. It could be one of the first A-series OPPO phone to debut this year.

Editor’s Pick: Poco splits from Xiaomi to become an independent brand

In related news, OPPO India has recently launched the OPPO F15 smartphone in India. It is a rebadged model of the OPPO A91 phone that went official in China in December 2019. The OPPO F15 features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with waterdrop notch. It supports full HD+ resolution and is embedded with a fingerprint scanner. The Helio P70 powered phone has 8 GB of RAM and a 4,025mAh battery that supports 20W VOOC 3.0 Flash Charge technology.

The OPPO F15 has a native storage of 128 GB and it is equipped with a microSD card slot for more storage. The phone has a front camera of 16-megapixel and it bears a 48-megapixle quad cameras on its back. Priced at Rs. 19,990 (~$285), the handset is scheduled to be available for purchase in India from Jan. 24.

(via)

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