Huawei shipped over 240 million phones in 2019 spurred by the Mate/P series

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Jan 15, 2020

Huawei has repeatedly posted record shipping estimates despite the trade ban imposed by the US government. The company’s consumer business CEO Richard Yu had hinted around September last year that the shipment would have surpassed 300 million units in 2019 if not for the US ban. Later in December 2019, the firm later downside its projection with the CEO disclosing that the firm’s phone shipment will reach 230 million by the end of 2019. Huawei has now officially revealed that it shipped over 240 million smartphone units in 2019. No mention was made as regards if this figure includes the Honor models.

This is the highest volume by any of the domestic OEMs in China and that will likely also translate to higher revenue. On the global turf, Samsung is yet to release its own shipping estimates for 2019 but we expect the Korean giant to maintain its leadership of the market while Huawei will likely rank as the second biggest OEM in terms of shipment volume. However, we expect Apple to still rank ahead of Huawei in the aspect of gross revenue. Huawei’s rotating chairman Xu Zhijun had earlier stated that its revenue in 2019 is expected to surpass 850 billion yuan, an increase of about 18% year-on-year.

The company also disclosed that the Mate series and P series played vital roles in the total shipment. Sales of this year’s models from both series grew by more than 50% year-on-year. Most of the models were sold in China where Huawei shifted its focus after the US ban ensure it couldn’t launch new models with Google apps on board. Huawei deployed an aggressive marketing format in the sales of its flagships.

Further, Huawei hinted that it shipped an estimated 6.9 million 5G mobile phones last year. In addition, Huawei also performed well in the smart wearable market. Among them, Huawei Watch 2 shipped more than two million units in three months, Huawei FreeBud 3 headsets had a record shipment of more than one million units in the first month, and Huawei VR Class sales exceeded 10,000 units in the first day.

In the software aspect, Huawei disclosed that the total number of registered users of its sports health app exceeded 100 million persons while the Huawei terminal cloud service presently has 400 million monthly active users, covering more than 170 countries across different regions.

(source)

Xiaomi launches Mi Portable Wireless Mouse in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2020

Xiaomi is gradually increasing its portfolio of non-phone products sold in other markets outside China over the past year. Today, it announced the Mi Portable Wireless Mouse in India which has a price tag of INR 499 (~$7).

For those with a keen eye for detail, the Mi Portable Wireless Mouse is the same mouse that launched in China back in June 2018 as the Mi Wireless Mouse Youth Edition. The Mouse comes in black and white color variants; it has an ergonomic design that is also comfortable; and is ultralightweight, weighing just 56 grams.

Xiaomi says the mouse has excellent tracking accuracy with its best in class DPI of 1200. It has a two-way scroll wheel that is also clickable

It has a tiny 2.4GHz wireless receiver that can be stored in a groove inside the mouse. The Mi Portable Wireless Mouse is powered by 1 x AA battery and boasts a battery life of 12 months, so you don’t have to worry about changing the battery often.

You can pick up the Mi Portable Wireless Mouse on the official online store for INR 499 (~$7). At this price, you can grab an extra unit for a friend or colleague that needs a mouse too.

Xiaomi has a plethora of mice and keyboards launched under its own name and from partner companies. The good thing is there is a product for every price range.

Xiaomi’s crowdfunded Morror Art floating speaker found to have copied the Lyrics Speaker

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2020

Xiaomi recently launched the Morror Art Floating Speaker under the Youpin crowdfunding platform with a design that can at best be described as spectacular and innovating. Or wait, a smart speaker with a similar design has already been launched in 2018 dubbed Lyrics Speaker.

Turns out the Morror Art floating speaker may have copied the design of the Lyrics Speaker manufactured by a Japanese tech company Cotodama. One of our readers had pointed out the similarity between the two, stating that the Lyrics Speaker was even unboxed by Unbox Therapy two years ago. He is right! The Morror Art Speaker looks like a replica of the Lyrics Speaker.

Here is a picture of both speakers. On the left is the Lyric Speaker and on the right is MORROR ART crowdfunded by Xiaomi Youpin. With the similarity in design and functionality, it is easy to confuse the two as the same product. In terms of appearance, both speakers have floating lyrics display features, both use rectangular translucent design, the speakers are distributed on the upper left and lower right. The volume of the Lyric Speaker is adjusted on the front of the fuselage, and the volume of MORROR ART is adjusted on the right of the fuselage. Overall, the similarity level is put at over 90%.

One major thing the Morror Art will have as an upper hand over the price tag. The Lyric Speaker is priced at $ 4,500. That is because it is hand-built with a monthly output of only 15 units. On the other hand, the Morror Art speaker is priced at just 2999 yuan ($431). As at the moment, the Lyric Speaker has not been sold in China so this may likely not result in a lawsuit. However, Xiaomi will definitely not bring this product to its Indiegogo crowdfunding platform except they have an agreement with Cotodama.

(source)

Xiaomi Youpin store launches Lipstick color Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard for 658 Yuan ($95)

By

Sean

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Jan 15, 2020

Earlier today (15th January 2020), the Xiaomi Youpin store launched a new third party product in its New Year’s Festival offerings. The new LoFree Lipstick color Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard brings the comfort of typing on mechanical keys as well as a design that stands out from the crowd.

Specs and Design

The LoFree Bluetooth keyboard is a mechanical keyboard with a dimension of 306 × 114.5 × 30.6mm and a weight of 810 grams. The Lofree dot keyboard can be used both wired and wirelessly, connects via a micro USB cable or through Bluetooth. It is powered by a large 4,000mAh battery pack and is compatible with Windows OS, macOS, iOS and even Android OS.

One of the most unique aspects regarding this mechanical keyboard is undoubtedly its color scheme. It features a Lipstick like color palette with aesthetics matching the makeup accessory. The keyboard features a total of 79 keys that are arranged and electroplate in a retro typewriter shape. According to official notes, LoFree used ColorStay to strengthen the spraying process making the colors more accurate and long-lasting.

Price and Availability

Xiaomi Youpin’s LoFree Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard with Lipstick color is available for a price of 658 Yuan. This roughly translates to about 95 US Dollars. It is available on the official Youpin website and has been released in China.

(Via)

Buy Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro Smartphone for Just $355.99 from Banggood [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 15, 2020

After floating around the rumor mill and making multiple appearances online in the form of leaks, Xiaomi’s long-awaited Mi 9T Pro smartphone was finally made available to the public last year.

As it continues to garner popularity among smartphone lovers even month after hitting the store shelves, the 6GB RAM+128GB ROM global version of the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro smartphone has gone up for sale carrying considerably lowered price tag through Banggood. We will not only shed light on the aforesaid discount but also see how you can save more money at checkout.

The aforesaid Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro model would normally set you back $599.99 on both online, as well as offline stores, but the Chinese e-tailer known for offering the best bang for your buck is now offering it for a reduced price of just $548.99, which translates to a 9 percent off.

Moreover, you can even extend this noteworthy discount by applying coupon code BG19TP at the time of checking out. The coupon enables you to grab an extra $193 off by reducing the already lowered retail price to just $355.99.

As if that weren’t enough, Banggood is offering free shipping on orders over $19.99. If this is your first order with the popular Chinese e-tailer, you can even take advantage of the $18 OFF New User Coupon and save more money before placing your order.

An absolute steal at this price, the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro offers the following features:

6.39-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels
Latest 7th generation in-display fingerprint Scanner
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Octa-core processor
Adreno 640 GPU
48MP+8MP+13MP triple rear cameras
Pop-up 20MP front camera
MIUI 10 base on Android 9 Pie OS
4000mAh battery, 27W fast charging

You can know more about the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro smartphone by heading straight to this link. Note that the coupon will be valid only for the first 100 units and it will expire on January 31st. The above-mentioned discount is available for the Glacier blue and Flame Red color options, while the Carbon Black model carries an 8 percent off.

The Gizmochina Coupons is a community that finds, reports and evaluates deals and coupons of Chinese products from online shops. Please visit it here to find more coupons to save money on mobiles and smart gadgets.

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro Smartphone

Samsung dethroned by Intel for Top Semiconductor Market Position

By

Sean

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Jan 15, 2020

Samsung, the smartphone manufacturer and electronics giant, has been beaten by Intel for the top spot in the semiconductor market. The former had initially broken the latter’s 24 year long streak at the top but has now fallen short.

Samsung is well known for its consumer grade electronic products like home appliances, smartphones and more. But, it is also an industry giant in the chip making market, with memory chips and other products. After the company became the most profitable tech company in 2017, the South Korean giant took the throne for the top spot in the semiconductor market after beating Intel.

The top spot was held by Samsung in 2018 after it outsold Intel in the same market. However, the second half of the same year saw the decline in Samsung’s business which had favored Intel. According to reports, the memory market had more supply than demand and prices for memory chips declined, leading to losses for the smartphone OEM. This plummet in the market took a whole year to normalize but 2019 still saw a fall of the sale price of NAND and DRAM flash products by up to 47.4 percent.

Samsung’s semiconductor division is one of its largest sources of revenue. Thus, the impact of the market decline was seen in its annual financial reports with the lowest profits seen in the past three years in 2019. In Q2 and Q3, the company saw a decline of 56 percent in profits while Q4 saw profits fall by 53 percent.

On the other hand, Intel had not suffered from the same decline in the market as it is primarily a chipmaker, developing desktop and laptop grade processors rather than memory chips. Hence, it recovered relatively quickly in comparison to Samsung and took back the top spot in the global semiconductor market by revenue. The company made $65.8 billion while Samsung made $52.2 billion.

Samsung LPDDR5 2019 DRAM — Samsung LPDDR5 DRAM (2019)

Owing to this, Samsung is currently investing in diversifying its semiconductor business. The move is from a strategic standpoint to generate more revenue from non-memory based operations. This might have allowed the company to also receive an order from Intel to manufacture its 14nm chips, as the company is struggling with CPU supply. Since the memory market is expected to recover by 2020 as the excess inventory is exhausted, Samsung is projected to retake the lead soon.

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip to come with 3,300mAh battery, plastic film on ultra-thin glass display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 15, 2020

Details of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip clamshell foldable phone have been consistently surfacing since the past few weeks.. This is the second smartphone from the South Korean giant to feature a foldable display. The Galaxy Z Flip is expected to make a formal debut next month alongside the Galaxy S20. More news comes on the Galaxy Z Flip from XDA TV host and XDA Developer staff Max Weinbach, who revealed some credible information about the forthcoming Galaxy S20+ in the past few days..

According to the latest tweet from Max, the Galaxy Z Flip foldable clamshell phone sports a 3,300 mAh battery, which although insufficient by current standards, is much higher than its direct rival, the Moto Razr. The device is powered by Snapdragon 855. Unlike the fused plastic on top of the display panel on the Galaxy Fold, the Z Flip’s display uses ultra-thin glass panels. However, Samsung will offer a replaceable plastic sheet on top of the glass panel in case users want to replace the plastic layer after a while. This significantly reduces the cost of removing scratches from the display.

The Galaxy Z Flip was showcased behind close doors at the recently held Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020. The handset is codenamed Galaxy Bloom. The Galaxy Z Flip moniker was confirmed by popular leakster Ice Universe last week via Twitter. The Z Flip is expected to come with similar specifications as the Galaxy S10.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Renders by LetsGoDiigital

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Design

The leaked photos of the Galaxy Z Flip appeared on Weibo back in December 2019. The images revealed that the flip phone, flaunts an Infinity-O display with rounded corners and slim bezels on all sides. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, the Z Flip has a horizontally-mounted hinge that disappears when the display folds in half. When unfolded, the display does not showcase creasing but reveals a tall display ratio and a centrally-located punch-hole camera. The volume rocker can be found on the right edge.

The rear panel features a dual-camera setup mounted horizontally, complete with a single LED flash. Right next to the camera module lies a small secondary display showing the notifications. A USB Type-C port can be seen on the bottom edge. Although, an AUX port is not visible. There is no word on whether the Z Flip has an in-screen fingerprint scanner. A physical sensor was also not revealed in any of the images.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Note 10 Lite tipped to go on sale in India mid-February; reservation goes live Jan. 21

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Specifications and Features

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is expected to flaunt a 6.7-inch primary display along with a 1-inch secondary display on the exterior. The smartphone apparently is powered by the Snapdragon 855 SoC, instead of the more powerful Snapdragon 865, leading experts to believe it will not be a premium offering. The Z Flip is rumored to feature 8GB of RAM along with 256GB of native storage. It should run on the Android 10-based One UI 2.0.

In terms of optics, the Galaxy Z Flip is expected to flaunt a 10-megapixel selfie camera. While the specifications of the rear cameras are unknown. According to leaked information from the Chinese 3C certification, Samsung may offer a 15W fast charger with the Z Flip.

Samsung is scheduled to host the launch event of the new Galaxy S20 lineup on February 11. The Galaxy Z Flip is expected to be showcased at the event.

(source)

Huawei Mate Xs to launch in March 2020, with a better display and hinge

By

Sean

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Jan 15, 2020

Around this time last year, Huawei went on stage at MWC 2019 to unveil its first foldable smartphone, the Mate X. The unique handset went on sale later the same year and received a relatively positive reception. Now, a year has passed and reports suggest that the Chinese tech giant will launch a successor named Mate Xs which is expected to be launched in March 2020.

Huawei Mate Xs is more than just a tweaked version of the original Mate X. Reportedly, the foldable smartphone is easier to manufacture than its predecessor while still providing a similar if not greater experience. This also indicated that the company may sell the handset at a lower price in comparison to the previous entry.

The Mate X cost 16,999 Yuan or roughly 2,467 US Dollars. Thus, if the Mate Xs is priced lower than this, it might be able to appeal to a broader audience and a larger demographic. From a manufacturing point of view, the ease in production and economy of scales due to large demand is also beneficial to Huawei.

Previously, Yu Chengdong, the CEO of Huawei, stated that the Mate Xs will be available in February 2020 and will arrive with a better processor, improved display and an upgraded hinge mechanism. Hence, the upcoming foldable smartphone will be powered by HiSilicon’s Kirin 990 5G SoC.

Furthermore, the report also mentions that the company has made many adjustments to the design of the second entry in the series. The hinge is said to be more durable and the entire body is made more durable and portable with a smaller overall size. Notably, Huawei is also expected to release a second foldable smartphone in the second half of this year.

(Via)

Poco X2 Geekbench listing reveals 8 GB RAM, Android 10 OS; Rebranded Redmi K30 for India?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 15, 2020

At the end of December 2019, Xiaomi Pocophone Global Head Alvin Tse had released a tweet that hinted a new Poco handset will be arriving in the year 2020. The tweet was deleted immediately. Earlier this week, Xiaomi filed trademark application for the Poco F2 moniker. This hinted the arrival of the Poco F2 could be few months away. Interestingly, a new device named Poco X2 has appeared on Geekbench with some key specs. The name has been spotted for the first time. Last year, a fake Geekbench listing of the Poco F1 Lite had fooled many tech sites. There is no confirmation on the existence of a Poco X2 handset and it is advisable to wait for newer reports to know whether it really exists.

The Poco X2 Geekbench 5 listing shows that it is fueled by a Qualcomm processor that has a base frequency of 1.80GHz. The SoC is coupled of 8 GB of RAM. Instead of the name of the chipset, the listing has ‘phoenixin’ mentioned in the motherboard field.

The Poco X2 handset is loaded with Android 10 OS. On Geekbench 5’s single-core test scored 547 points. It recorded a score of 1767 in the multi-core test.

Editor’s Pick: Hands-on photos of the Redmi Note 8 Pro Twilight Orange variant show a frosted glass back

In November 2019, XDA Developers had carried a report that had revealed some of the key details of the Redmi K30 before its December launch. It had scoured through MIUI 11 code to find a phone codenamed as Phoenix to be equipped with features like a 120Hz screen, a side-facing fingerprint sensor and the Sony IMX686 sensor. The Phoenix debuted as Redmi K30.

The Redmi K20 Pro handset’s codename is Raphael and its Indian edition is codenamed as ‘raphaelin.’ The Redmi K30 is codenamed as Phoenix and the newly spotted Poco F2 has ‘in’ suffix in its ‘phoenixin’ codename. Hence, there is a possibility that Redmi K30 could be rebranded as Poco X2 in India. The Redmi K30 that has a model number of M191G7BI was spotted in the database of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).v The BIS approval suggests that the handset could be coming to India soon. However, instead of the Redmi K30 moniker, it could be called Poco X2.

(source)

Xiaomi India says Android 10 coming to Mi A3 next month

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2020

A few days ago, Xiaomi began rolling out the Android 10 update to the Mi A2, its Android One smartphone from 2018. We hoped the update would arrive shortly after for the Mi A3 but new info has revealed there is a bit more waiting to do.

The Official Xiaomi India Twitter account revealed in a tweet responding to a user’s inquiry about the Android 10 update for the Mi A3, that the update will be out in Mid-February. That is about a month away from now and is surely going to anger more users. However, on the brighter side, there is a timeframe now and Xiaomi best keeps to it or releases the update earlier than expected.

HMD Global has updated some of its devices to Android 10 but it still has quite a lot that are still on Android 9 Pie. Save for the Nokia 9 PureView, the rest of its phones released in 2019 are still running Android Pie. There is a time frame for when these devices will get the update but the roadmap doesn’t mention the Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 7.2.

Thanks for your excitement and patience. Glad to announce the update will be out in mid February for Mi A3.

— Mi India #108MP IS COMING! (@XiaomiIndia) January 14, 2020

Android 10 will bring a new navigation system, Dark Mode, new notification settings, Family Link in Digital Wellbeing, Smart Replies, and more.

(Source)

Country Garden opens up Foodom, China’s first fully robot operated restaurant

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 15, 2020

Chinese real estate giant Country Garden Holdings Co. Ltd. opened its first restaurant operated mainly by robots in Guangzhou over the weekend. The restaurant, named Foodom, located in Zhujiang New Town, mainly serves cuisine from Shunde, the hometown of founder Yang Guoqiang.

Robot waiters greet customers at the entrance. Using an AI system, they guide customers to their seats, recommend specials of the day and take orders. Food is delivered to the tables via a conveyor belt. The restaurant uses robots to cook, deliver food, take orders and guide customers.

It is said that the robots are “learning” their skills from the top 10 Shunde chefs, using a computer program to follow every detail such as temperature control, ingredients, and cooking time. The program is repeatedly fine-tuned to reach the precision level required. In the kitchen alone, there are 32 robots preparing and cooking food.

After trying the dishes, famous local chef Lin Chao gave the restaurant the thumbs up. While there is no doubt about the sophisticated technology being used at Foodom, cost may be a deciding factor when it comes to commercial viability.

SoftBank-backed Zume Pizza, which also employs a high degree of automation, has suffered a serious setback due to excessive money burning and lack of continued funding support. Zume shuttered its pizza business and pivoted into food-truck tech and services in November 2019. Then, in January 2020, the company laid off 400 employees to further cut costs.

Country Garden has reportedly spent around 200 million yuan (US$29 million) setting up the new restaurant. One can’t help but wonder how long it would take for it to break even. The top developer, which sold more than 770 billion yuan worth of properties last year, is not worried at all. The deep-pocketed Yang is said to be planning to open 1,000 such robotic restaurants across China within two years, hoping to drive down costs through economies of scale.

(Source)

Hands-on photos of the Redmi Note 8 Pro Twilight Orange variant show a frosted glass back

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2020

W don’t see Xiaomi phones coming in red colours so often but once in a while, the tech giant tweaks things up with a Red flavoured version like the Phantom Red variant of the Redmi 8. Xiaomi recently introduced a Redmi Note 8 Pro Twilight Orange variant. We recently came across the first hands-on images of the new variant shared on Twitter by tipster @Sudhanshu1414.

The hands-on images reveal a vital design change on the Twilight orange variant. The device adopts a similar design with the other colour variants of the Redmi Note 8 Pro but the panel saw an upgrade. The Twilight Orange variant uses a frosted glass back instead of the smooth-textured glass panel used on the other four variants. The smartphone still retains an IP52 splash resistant body.

The Redmi Note 8 series was launched in China in August last year with the Redmi Note 8 Pro at the forefront. The Redmi Note 8 Pro came out as the world’s first to come with 64-megapixel primary camera sensor.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro Twilight Orange colour option comes in two variants — 6GB RAM + 128GB storage priced at 1,399 yuan (~$201) and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage priced at 1,599 yuan (~$230).

(source)

US tech companies like Qualcomm and Ford hope to bolster cooperation with China

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 15, 2020

With CES 2020 having just concluded, many companies have come forward pushing prospects for future cooperation and exchanges with Chinese companies very soon. Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon claims he is “super excited” about Qualcomm’s business in China. The company hopes to continue their successful partnerships with Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus and vivo.

“We are not backing down on our China cooperation. We’re increasing our cooperation in resources towards or partnerships in China in the 5G transition,” claimed Amon. This partnership, according to Amon, allows Chinese partners to not only grow in domestic consumption, but also expand outside China, making it very mutually beneficial for both parties involved.

qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-hero-image-800x450 — Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Josh Cross, founder and CEO of American power and tracking technology company Elios, told Xinhua the company’s cooperation with China dates back to 2015. Elios’ software design is done in the United States and the hardware part is done in China. Currently it is cooperating with three Chinese companies in GPS products, power, and sourcing, Cross said.

China has very good infrastructure, years of experience and high efficiency, he said. Elios also expects to cooperate with more Chinese partners in the near future. Ford Motor also plans to step up its business in China. The company’s new all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV, will be on show in the Chinese market in April this year, and be available in the Chinese market next year, according to the company.

“Ford plans to further enhance cooperation with China in the five years to come, explore local strategic partners for joint innovation,” she said. Some tech companies value China’s huge market, manufacturing and labor costs, while some others value China’s innovation technologies, and its geological location which can be considered as a logistics hub towards southeast Asian countries.

You can find more CES2020 coverage from here.

(Source)

Realme X50 5G will launch in Russia soon

By

Sean

-

Jan 15, 2020

Realme X50 5G has been confirmed for a launch in Russia. However, finer details like the date of launch and exact pricing have yet to be announced.

In 2019, MTS, the leading network provider in Russia launched its 5G coverage in certain cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Notably, the infrastructure and equipment used by the service provider for the faster and newer bandwidth are from Huawei. The Chinese tech giant is well known for its network and related technological supplements and has brought mmWave and sub-6GHz standards to the largest nation in the world.

Thus, Russia is now slowly emerging as another viable 5G smartphone market like the US and Canada. Hence, Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Realme can launch their 5G enabled smartphones. As of right now, China and South Korea are at the forefront of the networking advancement but other countries are expected to soon follow by the end of this year.

Realme X50 5G is a smartphone that features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G processor which houses a built-in X52 modem, which makes it capable of 5G networking. Keep in mind, it only supports sub-6GHz 5G so it is going to be limited by network provider/carrier support. In simpler terms, Realme X50 5G will support MTS but will not work with Tele2, since it launched a mmWave only network (in partnership with Ericsson) in Moscow.

For those interested, Realme X50 5G is a mid range smartphone that sports a quad camera setup on the rear. It is powered by a large 4,200mAh battery and offers RAM up to 12GB and internal storage up to 256GB. The premium end variant is priced at 2,999 Yuan which roughly translates to about 432 US Dollars.

(Via)

OnePlus 8 (IN2011) India variant receives BIS certification

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 15, 2020

OnePlus 8 series of flagship phones will be made official in the second quarter of this year. India has been one of the major markets for OnePlus. Like the predecessor smartphones, the OnePlus 8 lineup which includes a new member called OnePlus 8 Lite is expected to receive good reception from the country. Well ahead of the launch, the Indian variant of the purported OnePlus 8 that has a model number of IN2011 has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the country.

The BIS listing of the IN2011 has not revealed the actual name of the device. Also, it lacks any information on its specifications. A similar model number i.e. IN2010 was approved by the China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in the recent. It only confirmed the support for dual-mode 5G networks on the device. It is believed that the IN2023 OnePlus phone that was recently spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform could be the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Editor’s Pick: Exclusive: OnePlus 8 Pro screen protectors and renders corroborate punch-hole display design

OnePlus 8 specifications (Rumored)

It is speculated that OnePlus 8 will be arriving with a 6.4-inch S-AMOLED punch-hole display. It may support 120Hz refresh rate and full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The handset will be equipped with an in-screen fingerprint reader. The Snapdragon 865 mobile platform may fuel the phone with 8 GB / 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It could be coming in 128 GB and 256 GB of UFS 3.0 storage options.

The OnePlus 8 may feature a front-facing camera of 32-megapixel. Its rear could be fitted with a triple camera setup with Sony IMX686 64-megapixel main lens, a 20-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom support. The handset could be backed by a 4,000mAh battery that supports 30W fast charging. Some leaks have claimed that it will carry support for fast wireless charging.

The OnePlus 8 may come in models like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. These variants could be priced at 3,699 Yuan (~$537), 3,999 Yuan (~$580) and 4,299 Yuan (~$624), respectively. Readers are recommended to digest the specs and pricing leak with a grain of salt.

(source)

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos arrives in India; plans $1 billion investment to digitise SMBs

By

Jeet

-

Jan 15, 2020

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon has arrived in India, dressed in an Indian attire. He took to Twitter to reveal that he paid his regards at a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and also shared a video of the same.

He is on a three-day visit to India where he will be attending a company event in New Delhi and also likely to meet senior government officials. As Jeff Bezos comes to India, thousands of small traders across 300 cities have planned protests, claiming that the company is distorting local retail market.

Ashok Kumar Gupta, India’s antitrust chief, has said that big e-commerce companies in India should not offer deep discounts which can potentially hurt and small-scale brick and mortar retailers in India.

Hundreds and thousands of small brick-and-mortar retailers, led by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), have planned a countrywide protest against the company. CAIT has also accused Amazon and Flipkart of violating India’s foreign investment rules but the companies have denied the allegations.

During the event, Jeff Bezos said that the company will use its global footprint to export $10 billion worth of ‘Make In India’ goods by 2025. He also stated that Amazon is going to invest $1 billion in digitising the small and medium businesses in India. Amazon has committed $5.5 billion in India investments and sees the country as a key growth market.

Buy Xiaomi Airdots Basic TWS Earphone for Just $15.69 from Banggood [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 15, 2020

Xiaomi unveiled its first truly wireless earphone dubbed the AirDots TWS earphone towards the end of 2018. Now, the Xiaomi Airdots Basic TWS earphone has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag through Banggood.

Aside from shedding light on the aforesaid discount, we will show how you can save more money while placing your Airdots Basic order via the Chinese e-tailer that has a reputation for offering the best bang for your buck. The Xiaomi Airdots Basic would normally set you back $39.99, but Banggood is offering it for a lowered price of just $31.71.

In addition to getting this 21 percent discount, you can avail of free shipping if your cart value exceeds $19.99. On top of that, you can take advantage of the $18 OFF New User Coupon for an extra discount if this is your first order with Banggood.

The rest of the Banggood users, on the other hand, can apply coupon code BGNAXMTWS for an extra $16.02 off at the time of checking out. As a result, the already reduced retail price of the Airdots Basic comes down to only $15.69, making this Xiaomi-branded TWS earphone an absolute bargain.

This ultra-lightweight wireless headset adopts the powerful Bluetooth core for stable and faster transmission. Moreover, it uses noise reduction technology for softer, clearer sound quality and unparalleled calling experience.

The ergonomic design of the Xiaomi Airdots Basic fits comfortably in your ears even for a longer duration. It is made using soft and comfortable silicone material to ensure it doesn’t fall off when you are working out. On top of that, it is anti-sweat, which means it serves as sportswear as well.

This easy-to-pair headphone can summon an AI assistant. Other features include a multi-function button, pause/play music, answer/reject incoming calls, and many more. You can check out more details about the Xiaomi Airdots Basic and grab the discount simply by visit this link.

The Gizmochina Coupons is a community that finds, reports and evaluates deals and coupons of Chinese products from online shops. Please visit it here to find more coupons to save money on mobiles and smart gadgets.

Xiaomi Airdots Basic TWS Earphone

OnePlus CEO: Foldable smartphones are not good enough right now

By

Sean

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Jan 15, 2020

During CES 2020, Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus made his first official appearance in a podcast with The Verge to discuss many things. The main topic was the OnePlus Concept One McLaren Edition smartphone which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show but the discussion also strayed towards the emerging technological trends like 5G networking and foldable handsets.

In the interview, the senior executive claimed that OnePlus has looked into the technology behind foldable smartphones. However, he also mentioned that the positives “outweighed by the shortcomings or the disadvantages of the current state of the technology.” In other words, the company isn’t planning on releasing a foldable smartphone, at least not yet.

OnePlus Concept One McLaren Edition with disappearing rear cameras

Although, the statement does leave hope for the future as advancement in the display technology areas could lead OnePlus to also make a foldable smartphone. The interview also bears resemblance to a previous statement by the company regarding wireless charging, which was deemed unnecessary back then.

Notably, many examples of foldable smartphones were brought in to question when asked about their viability. Motorola’s Razor was a prominent one that Pete considered one of the better foldable smartphone models currently available but still doesn’t feature a “crisp” display. According to the CEO, foldable smartphones display lose out on display quality with the plastic OLED screen, which is a primary reason Pete Lau hasn’t dwelled into foldable handsets.

Lastly, OnePlus CEO also answered questions regarding camera technology, imaging algorithms and the increasing cost of the company’s smartphones. Pete stated that large investments are being made in the camera department while the company is also collaborating with industry leaders to brings software algorithms to rival Google and Apple.

By its extension, he even stated that the cost of a smartphone is raising as more features are being housed in a single unit. A camera lens is expensive while the number of sensors is increasing as well. Thus, OnePlus smartphones will also see a hike in price, but it was also mentioned that the company would still practice its traditional method of operations. Meaning, saving on marketing and other areas to lower the cost burden faced by the consumer.

(Source)

Huawei P40 new render reveals design, dual punch-hole display and triple rear cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 15, 2020

The CAD renders of the upcoming Huawei P40 and Huawei P40 Pro first surfaced on 91mobiles back in December 2019. The renders revealed by reputed leakster Onleaks revealed quite a few key design elements of the P40 lineup. Today, the tipster has teamed up with the same publication once again to bring clearer renders of the Huawei P40. The new renders not only gives a good look at its design, but also reveals its key elements.

According to the latest render, the Huawei P40 flaunts a nearly bezel-less display with dual cameras on the front housed within a pill-shaped punch hole at the top-right corner. The volume and power buttons are located on the right edge.

At the rear, the Huawei P40 flaunts a triple-camera setup engineered by Leica, along with a dual-LED flash unit housed within a rectangular module towards the left. The camera module protrudes slightly from the rest of the rear panel. The rear design matches with the case renders of the Huawei P40 that were exclusively shared by GizmoChina today.

The render showcases a black color variant with the Huawei logo imprinted on the bottom left corner in line with the camera setup. The device also flaunts a USB Type-C connector on the bottom edge. Also, it lacks a 3.5mm audio jack.

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Not much is known about the Huawei P40 Pro at the moment apart from what the company has revealed so far. The P40 Pro is slated to sport a quad-rear camera setup, along with a curved glass display. Additional details will be available within the next few months as Huawei is planning to launch the P40 lineup at an event in Paris in March 2020. The Huawei P40 range will replace last year’s Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro flagships.

Huawei P40 Specifications and Features (Rumored)

The Huawei P40 is rumored to be powered by the Kirin 990 SoC and sports 5G connectivity. The triple camera layout is rumored to feature a primary sensor, along with a ToF sensor and an ultrawide lens. The Huawei P40 is expected to run on Android 10- based EMUI, but miss out on Google Services due to the US ban. The P40 could sport a display measuring between 6.1 and 6.2-inches.

The P40 Pro is likely to flaunt a periscope with a 10x optical zoom along with a telephoto sensor. The quad-camera setup on the P40 Pro could include a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor, a 20-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 12-megapixel periscope, ToF sensor, and a macro lens.

(source)

Xiaomi may release a smartphone with 7 sensors on a pop up camera

By

Sean

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Jan 15, 2020

Smartphone manufacturers compete in an industry that has stiff competition. To stay relevant, each brand needs to innovate and improve their offerings. So, people quite often discover patents for future handsets that are either planned or in the works with special and unique features. Now, patents of Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant, have surfaced online showcasing three unique new pop up camera designs.

The patents were found in the China National Property Administration (CNIPA) and were for the selfie camera of an unknown smartphone. It can be surmised that the patent is for a new pop up mechanism as the first features a dual front and rear facing camera setup. On the other hand, the rest of the patents detail dual, triple and even a penta camera setup.

The designs are strictly for the camera module as the rest of the smartphone design as seen in the patents remains the same, only the number of camera cut outs differentiate them. Notably, the patents reveal a unique pop up camera design where both the rear and front facing cameras are housed in the same mechanism, on either side. This is currently unheard of since these may sensors have never been crammed into such a small space.

Although it will be a technical marvel and other brands would soon seek to include the technology if it sees the light of day; but unfortunately, it is unknown is Xiaomi actually plans to follow through and develop this. As of right now, no official confirmation has been made but the interesting feature could be useful in future smartphones.

Many smartphone OEMs are shying away from the pop up camera mechanism. The same extends to buyers with doubts regarding durability. However, Chinese companies like Xiaomi seem to be taking a different route as suggested by such patents.

(Source)

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