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

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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.

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

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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.

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)

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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

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

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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.

Samsung Galaxy A31 and Galaxy A41 battery and camera specs outed

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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.

Unnamed Hisense HLTE229T mid-range model certified by TENAA

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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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

Poco splits from Xiaomi to become an independent brand

By

Jeet

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Jan 17, 2020

Last year, in January, Xiaomi split its Redmi brand of budget smartphones to make it independent and since then, the brand has launched several smartphones as well as had expanded its presence to other product categories as well.

Now, Chinese phone maker Xiaomi is repeating the same with its sub-brand Poco. Manu Kumar Jain, Xiaomi India MD and Global Vice President has today announced that Poco will now be an independent brand.

Given that the announcement comes from Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain, it seems that the brand will be focusing on the Indian market only, at least for the initial time. This can be further confirmed through the brand’s online presence as the new Twitter handle is @IndiaPOCO while the website is now poco.in.

Manu Jain made this announcement through a tweet in which he said: “Excited to share: #POCO will now be an independent brand! What started as a sub-brand within Xiaomi, has grown into its own identity. POCO F1 was an incredibly popular phone. We feel the time is right to let POCO operate on its own. Join me in wishing @IndiaPOCO all the best.”

Excited to share: #POCO will now be an independent brand!

What started as a sub-brand within Xiaomi, has grown into its own identity. POCO F1 was an incredibly popular phone. We feel the time is right to let POCO operate on its own.

Join me in wishing @IndiaPOCO all the best.

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 17, 2020

Xiaomi’s POCO brand garnered a very strong fan following ever since the launch of its first smartphone — the Pocophone F1 back in August 2018. The major reason behind the popularity of the phone was its unique segment in the industry — top-of-the-line specifications at very aggressive price point, similar to how OnePlus started operations.

However, after Poco F1, the company didn’t launch another other smartphones. There were several reports and rumors about Xiaomi working on the next Poco smartphone, but nothing was materialised. Then, rumors started that the company is shutting down Poco unit as it had launched the Redmi K20 lineup in India, which was placed in the similar segment as the Poco lineup.

The announcement about Poco becoming an independent brand comes just days after there are reports about Poco F2 smartphone coming soon. A few days ago, the company’s trademark filing for the Poco F2 surfaced online and recently, a new Xioami smartphone named Poco X2 was also spotted on Geekbench.

While we are not sure what smartphone from the Poco brand is coming, but with the rise in rumors and leaks related to a new Poco smartphone and the company’s announcement regarding the brand, we expect that the next-generation Poco smartphone isn’t far from getting official. What do you think?

Slides reveal that Android generates 60% less revenue for developers than iOS

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 17, 2020

Google has always been surprisingly quiet when it comes to user and revenue numbers for Android. Google hasn’t even updated its own dashboard of how many devices are on each version of Android since May, so for months we haven’t had any Android OS adoption figures. So this recent bit of news revealing revenue numbers for Android, Apple’s iOS and other operating systems is pretty interesting.

These numbers were revealed at Huawei Developer Day in a slide from Francisco Jeronimo, Associate VP at IDC. He shared an image showing the revenue distribution among different platforms and Apple has generated 50% of the revenue. Google Play on the other hand manages much smaller 27%, while China wracks a surprisingly large 20% of revenue. No wonder Google’s never released this data before.

App Store [$33bn] (50%)
Google Play [$18bn] (27%)
China [$13bn] (20%)
Other [$2bn] (3%)

In terms of their install bases, Apple is believed to have around 1 billion users, while Google has said there are more than 2.5 billion Android users. Despite this numerical advantage, each iOS user generates $33 for developers and each Android user only $13.2. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that apps and games tend to still come first to iOS, despite its much smaller user base.

Between this little bit of news, Huawei fighting back to reassert itself in the mobile phone market with the full release of HMS Core 4.0 to the world and the rise of other operating systems like Kai OS, it’s going to be interesting to see how things shape up in the future. We doubt anything will have a significant effect on Apple’s dominance, but everything else could change very soon.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip price leak suggests that it may cost between ~$860 and ~$1300

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Jan 17, 2020

On Feb. 11, Samsung will be announcing the Galaxy S20 series of flagship phones. The South Korean tech giant is also likely to use the same platform to announce the Galaxy Z Flip phone. It will be a second smartphone after the Motorola Razr 2019 to arrive with a clamshell form factor along with a foldable screen. The Razr may have disappointed with its hefty price tag of $1,500 and mid-range specs. The pricing information that has surfaced on a South Korean publication suggests that the Galaxy Z Flip may kill the Motorola Razr. The Galaxy Z Flip is said to be packed with better internals and a cheaper price than Razr.

Citing information from industry source, the South Korean INews24 publication has reported that the Galaxy Z Flip will be priced between 1 million won (~$863) and 1.5 million won (~$1,295). The pricing is significantly lower than the $1,500 price tag of the Motorola Razr that is driven by the outdated Snapdragon 710 chipset. The Galaxy Z Flip is expected to feature the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform that powered many flagship devices last year.

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

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip specifications (Rumored)

So far, the rumor mill has revealed that the Galaxy Z Flip (codenamed as Bloom) will be equipped with a 6.7-inch tall aspect ratio display that can be folded and unfolded vertically. It will be an Infinity-O punch-hole that may feature a selfie snapper of 10-megapixel. It will be the first foldable phone to feature an ultra-thin glass (UTG) display. A protective plastic film will be placed on it to prevent it from scratches.

The SD855 powered Galaxy Z Flip clamshell phone is rumored to be equipped with a 1-inch secondary screen alongside its dual camera setup. It could be housing a 3,300mAh battery which is larger than the 2,510mAh battery present inside the Motorola Razr. The Galaxy Z Flip is expected to arrive with support for 15W fast charging. The clamshell phone is expected to release in the market soon after its announcement

Samsung is reportedly aiming to sell 6 million foldable phones in this year. This could include the sales of the existing Galaxy Fold, the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip and a future foldable phone arriving later this year. Rival brand Huawei has reportedly planned to launch two to four foldable phones including clamshell models this year.