Top 10 coolest products of CES 2020

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Jan 8, 2020

CES 2020 is ongoing and after just two days a lot of companies launched several innovative products that may revolutionize the world of technology. We saw interesting launches from important hi-tech brands but also from startups and emerging companies. There are so many interesting products that we decided to make a selection of the 10 coolest products announced at CES 2020. We think that if you are a tech-addicted you should absolutely know these new and innovative products we are going to list. If you know other innovative products launched at Consumer Electronics Show, please share the info with us by using the comment box below the post.

The 10 coolest products of CES 2020

First 5G notebooks: Dell, HP, and Lenovo

For over a year we have been talking about 5G smartphones; now it is time to start talking about 5G notebooks. Dell, HP, and Lenovo showcased their first laptops with 5G connectivity at CES 2020. To be honest, Dell already unveiled the first 5G laptop a few days ago, but at CES 2020 it announced its 2 in 1 version. HP announced the Elite Dragonfly G2, while Lenovo came up with the Yoga 5G 2 in 1. The laptops support 5G connectivity thanks to Qualcomm’s modem and they all run Windows 10.

OnePlus Concept One

OnePlus attended CES 2020 with a concept phone: the OnePlus Concept One. Its key feature is the invisible camera technology. The concept model is a smartphone with a leather rear in the iconic Papaya Orange color of McLaren and invisible triple cameras on the backside. The cameras are placed underneath an electrochromic glass which can change from opaque to transparent making the cameras effectively invisible while not used. The company said that it takes 0.7 seconds for the glass to transition from transparent to opaque or vice versa. The glass is also able to become semi-transparent so that the user can shoot better photos in very bright sunlight. The panel includes two 0.1 mm glass panels and organic material for a thickness of just 0.35 mm. OnePlus Concept One will probably never hit the shelves, but we might see this technology on board of the OnePlus 8 series.

You can learn more about OnePlus Concept One by clicking here.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite (and S10 Lite)

Samsung showcased its new Galaxy Note 10 Lite and S10 Lite at CES 2020. The two devices which will hit the shelves in Q1 2020 are the first Lite variants of Samsung’s flagship lineups. The Galaxy Note 10 Lite is the first “affordable” Note device and it provides all the innovative and unique features of the S Pen for a listing price of just €599. Despite being Lite variants, these devices still come bundled with high-end specifications, including Exynos 9810 and Snapdragon 855 chipsets, as well as great camera departments including a new optical stabilization technology.

You can learn more about Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite and S10 Lite by clicking here.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold

Lenovo unveiled the world’s first foldable laptop (with a foldable display) at CES 2020 and it is not a concept anymore. Its name is ThinkPad X1 Fold and it will be available to purchase this year. The laptop is equipped with a Plastic OLED display boasting a 4:3 aspect ratio, a 13.3-inch diagonal and a 2K resolution. The laptop weighs just 999 grams but it includes a good 55 Wh battery lasting 11 hours on a single charge, according to Lenovo. It is fueled by a next gen Intel Core CPU paired with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 1 TB of internal storage (SSD), it includes a SIM card slot and two USB Type-C ports. The laptop may include a 5G modem.

Samsung NEON technology

Samsung NEON is not a hardware product but it is a new technology. It is a technology able to give a body and a face to chatbots. It creates avatars able to interact with real people for a series of tasks to be accomplished. The software managing the avatars is able to generate new expressions, movements, and dialogues in real time, automatically, in just a few milliseconds. This will make the virtual avatar extremely realistic.

You can learn more about Samsung NEON technology by clicking here.

Samsung Ballie

Coming to the IoT sector, Samsung unveiled Ballie: a small rotating robot that is able to recognize people around it thanks to AI and control smart home appliances. But it can do a lot more: it is even able to follow us wherever we go and find solutions or call us in case of issues. The official video shows the robot solving problems and helping the user in a very smart way: you can check it below.

Sony VISION-S concept car

A lot of people expected Sony to unveil the PS5 at CES 2020, but it did not happen (the company only unveiled the new PS5 logo). Instead, Sony came up with a concept car: the Vision-S. It is Sony’s first electric car and it was built by the company’s AI and robotics team. The car features 33 sensors able to detect people and other vehicles inside and outside the car in order to provide driving support.

You can learn more about Sony Vision-S concept car by clicking here.

Samsung The Wall MicroLED TV

Yes, again Samsung. It is one of the companies that announced the highest number of innovative products at CES 2020. The nth one is the new The Wall TV: one of the biggest TVs ever made. It comes with a MicroLED panel measuring whopping 292 inches (over 7.4 meters), but there is also a 150-inch version with 8K resolution. The MicroLED panel provides perfect black levels and high brightness for a quality that is potentially better than OLED without the risk of burn-in.

Ninebot Segway S-Pod

Ninebot reinvented the world of micro-mobility by announcing an electric chair that can reach up to 38 km/h (24 miles per hour) at CES 2020: the Segway S-Pod. The sedan chair has a joystick to control the velocity and direction of the travel, but it can also be controlled remotely through a tablet.

You can learn more about Ninebot Segway S-Pod by clicking here.

Dell concept PCs

Besides its first 5G laptop, Dell also showcased three concept PCs at CES 2020. The first is named Concept UFO and it is a modular PC with the form factor of the Nintendo Switch. It features two removable controllers and it can be used both as a laptop and a desktop computer. The second concept is called Concept Duet and it is a dual-screen PC with two 13.4-inch displays. Last but not least Concept ORI, a PC with a foldable display just like Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, boasting a 13-inch monitor while unfolded.

Xiaomi crowdfunds the MIJIA LED Bulb (Bluetooth Mesh version)- supports app & voice control

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 8, 2020

Xiaomi has launched a new product today and it is the MIJIA LED Bulb (Bluetooth mesh version). The product is presently on crowdfunding at Xiaomi Mall for a price of 249 yuan ($35) for 10 pieces. The offer also includes one free Redmi Small Love Speaker valued at 79 yuan, meaning backers are actually paying around 17 yuan ($2) for each piece. At a later date after the crowdfunding exercise, the price with jack up to 29.99 yuan (~$4) for a unit. The LED bulbs are expected to start shipping on February 19.

With the MIJIA LED Bulb, you don’t need to get out of bed to turn on or off the light. The bulb can be paired with devices that support the Bluetooth mesh gateway function such as smartphones, smart speakers and smart displays. This doesn’t require broadband and is stable. It can, thus, be controlled from a connected smartphone.

The light bulb also comes with adjustable colour temperature and brightness which can be adjusted at any time. Being an LED bulb, it is an energy-saving bulb with a 5W power consumption rating. The bulb has an impressive brightness of 500lm which is enough to adequately light up a medium-sized room. The colour temperature can be adjusted between 2700-6500K.

Furthermore, the MIJIA LED Bulb (Bluetooth Gateway version) comes with support for XiaoAI smart voice control. As such, with just a word, you can turn off and turn on the lamp. It also supports the MIJIA app through which you can set the timer switch, delay lights off and other functions.

At the same time, the MIJIA app can also group multiple MIJIA LED light bulbs, such as the main bedroom light bulb group, the second bedroom light bulb group, the children’s room light bulb group, the living room light bulb group, etc. The grouping enableS the light to achieve group control as well as real-time lighting status synchronization.

(via)

Major TikTok vulnerability could have allowed hackers access users’ private information

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 8, 2020

Cybersecurity research firm Check Point Research says it found “multiple vulnerabilities” within video sharing app TikTok that demonstrated its insecurity as scrutiny for the Chinese-owned company continues to grow. Check Point found that it was possible to spoof text messages to make them appear to come from TikTok, among other issues.

TikTok learned about the conclusions of Check Point’s research on Nov. 20 and said it had fixed all of the vulnerabilities by Dec. 15. It’s still an issue however, as the weaknesses would have allowed attackers to send TikTok users messages that carried malicious links. Once users clicked on the links, attackers would have been able to take control of their accounts, including uploading videos or gaining access to private videos.

The app, whose parent company is based in Beijing, allows users to post short, creative videos, which can easily be shared on various apps. TikTok has been growing more popular among U.S. teenagers at a time of growing tensions between the United States and China over trade and technology transfers. About 60% of TikTok’s 26.5 million monthly active users in the United States are between the ages of 16 and 24.

In a statement, TikTok head of security Luke Deshotels said “TikTok is committed to protecting user data… Like many organizations, we encourage responsible security researchers to privately disclose zero day vulnerabilities to us… Before public disclosure, Check Point agreed that all reported issues were patched in the latest version of our app. We hope that this successful resolution will encourage future collaboration with security researchers.”

(Source)

Amazfit Bip S launches with lots of new features for $70

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 8, 2020

The Amazfit Bip is one of Huami’s most popular smartwatches and now it has gotten a successor called the Amazfit Bip S. Announced at CES 2020, the smartwatch improves upon its predecessor with better connectivity and new features.

Design

Don’t fix what is not broken, right? The Amazfit Bip S keeps the square display of the original. It is still a 1.28-inch TFT transflective color display with a 176 x 176 resolution and a 64 RGB color gamut. And the straps are still 20mm. However, there are some changes.

Huami says the polycarbonate body uses a two-tone technology that allows for fusing two different shades of the polycarbonate material. The bands are also self-cleaning thanks to the cleaning wristband manufacturing process developed by Huami. The wristband uses molecular lattice technology to ensure that the bands are soft, dry and resistant to dirt. Huami said this cleaning process is only available on the White Rock, Red Orange, and Warm Pink color variants as they use silicone straps. The Carbon Black variant has skin-friendly TPU straps that do not require it.

Specifications and Features

One of the biggest upgrades the Amazfit Bip S brings is its Sports Modes. It now supports 10 sports modes, more than double that of the original. Along with indoor and outdoor running, cycling, and indoor and outdoor walking, it can also track elliptical training, free training, yoga, and indoor and outdoor swimming. The watch can measure stroke rate, stroke times, and SWOLF index. It will also measure your speed and alert you when your heart rate is higher than normal.

There is a 28nm Sony GPS chip inside the watch which brings better positioning and an improvement in power consumption.

The Amazfit Bip S has 24-hour heart rate monitoring which includes resting heart rate and heart rate intervals. Huami says the new BioTracker PPG heart rate sensor’s sensing area is now 3 times larger; has an LED luminous intensity 7 times more; has its accuracy improved to 98%, and uses 1/5 of the power consumption of the previous generation.

The watch has Huami’s PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) Assesment System which helps you measure the impact of your physical activity on your heart. There is also support for music control, weather forecast, alarm clock, world clock, call notification (reject or silence), message notifications and more.

Inside the watch is a 190mAh (200mAh typical) battery which will last 40 days on a single charge and up to 90 days in standby. With GPS turned on, you will get 22 hours of use. The smartwatch takes 2.5 hours to charge via its clip-on pogo pin charger. It has Bluetooth 5.0/LE, a 3-axis acceleration sensor, a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, and a waterproof rating of 5 ATM.

The Amazfit Bip S weighs 31 grams with the straps and 19 grams without the strap. Its dimensions are given as 42 x 35.3 x 11.4 millimeters. The watch is compatible with devices running Android 5.0 and up and iOS 10.0 and up.

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Price and Availability

Huami says the Amazfit Bip S will sell for $70 and will go on sale next month.

You can find more CES 2020 coverage here.

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, Mi 8 SE, Redmi Note 7, Note 8 Pro, K20/Mi 9T get Android 10-based MIUI 11 betas

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 8, 2020

Xiaomi‘s latest MIUI 11 custom ROM is available on almost all known eligible Mi smartphones. The thing is, the update didn’t usher in Google‘s latest Android 10 even though there are several new features inspired by Android 10 onboard. The company has since rolled out MIUI 11 based on Android 10 for a couple of devices, including the POCO F1, Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro, Mi 9, and more. Presently, more Xiaomi phones are getting Android 10 updates as the company has reportedly started rolling out MIUI 11 based on Android 10 for the Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi K20/Mi 9T, Mi MIX 3, Mi 9 SE, and Mi 8 SE.

Out of the lot, the Redmi K20 which launched outside China as Mi 9T has received the MIUI 11 global stable beta while the rest of the pack, apart from the Redmi Note 7, got the China stable beta. On its part, the Redmi Note 7 has received the Chinese closed beta.

These updates are indicators of the imminent release of the stable Android 10 update for most Xiaomi phones. But at present, they are early builds which means they may still harbour some bugs. However, if you are still interested in trying out MIUI 11 based on Android 10 on any of the listed devices, you can download the ROM from the link below and install it on your device. You’ll have to use a custom recovery in order to flash your phone and install these ROMs.

MIUI 11 Global stable beta for the Redmi K20/Mi 9T (Global, EEA, India)

MIUI 11 China stable beta for the Mi 8 SE

MIUI 11 China stable beta for the Mi MIX 3

MIUI 11 China stable beta for the Mi 9 SE

MIUI 11 China stable beta for the Redmi Note 8 Pro

MIUI 11 China closed beta for the Redmi Note 7

(source)

Nebula Cosmos Max turns your living room into a 4K Cinema with 3D Audio

By

Dimitris Economou

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Jan 8, 2020

4K content is increasing as time passes by and with more players entering the video streaming market, it’s safe to say that 4K video will soon become the new standard. Already, most TVs sold feature 4K resolution and it was about time for decent 4K projectors to enter the market. The new entry is coming from Anker which you should know from the excellent yet affordable smartphone accessories they make.

The Nebula division of the company that focuses on making more upmarket products -and more expensive- is famous for its projectors, including the Capsule, Mars, and Prizm and recently finished the crowdfunding campaign of a new high-end projector series, Cosmos.

The series includes Cosmos Max that offers up to 4K resolution and excellent brightness -up to 1500 lumens. Also, it supports HDR10 as well as immersive sound experience with Dolby Digital Plus 3D audio.

The most important fact is that it runs on Android 9 so it’s a solid home cinema. In addition, there are 4x 10W speakers that combined with Dolby Digital Plus, create immersive 360º sound in environments without a dedicated sound system. Lastly, autofocus, auto-rotation, and two-way keystone correction give it placement versatility, whether set on a shelf or the optional mount. Although the campaign has ended, you can still grab it at a discounted price here.

Ulefone New Year deals on Aliexpress are up for grab (coupon)

By

Dimitris Economou

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Jan 8, 2020

Most of you may have already bought your new smartphone during the Xmas period but if you are among those who didn’t, Ulefone partnered with Aliexpress to offer some great deals at jaw-dropping prices. The promotion is ongoing and will end on January 10th.

Of course, the star of this sale is Ulefone Armor 7 which sports a 48MP triple rear camera and Helio P90 octa-core SoC backed by 8GB of RAM. It’s last year’s flagship and the top phone of the company to date. Besides the powerful SoC and triple camera, it also sports a 16MP selfie shooter, 128GB of internal storage, and a 6.3″ FHD+ display with a waterdrop notch. What’s more, there is a big, 5500mAh battery supporting Qi 10W wireless charging, Face and Fingerprint unlock, NFC with Google Pay, and Android 9.0 Pie. It costs just $359.99 during the promotion using coupon 15LNMTWAUBTB during checkout.

If you’re looking for something cheaper, you could take a look at the Armor 6S with Helio P70 SoC at the discounted price of $209.99. It comes with a 6.2″ FHD+ notch screen and 6GB/128GB memory configuration. Also, there is a 16MP/8MP dual camera on the back, an 8MP selfie camera, 5000mAh battery with Qi 10W wireless charging, face/fingerprint unlock, and Android 9.0 Pie. You can find it here.

On the other hand, if rugged phones aren’t your favorite, you can check out the Ulefone T2 big-screen phone that costs just $198.74 during the promotion. The T2 comes with a big, 6.7″ display while it is powered by the Helio P70 AI SoC backed by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is also a 16MP/8MP dual rear camera, 4200mAh battery, Face and Fingerprint unlock, Android 9 Pie, etc. In addition, its quite fashionable and catches passersby attention. You can get it here.

Lastly, there are other devices available too like the rugged entry-level Ulefone Armor X5 for just $89.99, and fashionable Ulefone Armor 5S with 13MP dual rear camera for only $139.99.

Or you can get the super-budget entry-level Ulefone Note 7 at just $49.67, and you will get a free protective case for it too. For more details about the products and promotions, you can visit Ulefone’s Aliexpress store.

Ninebot unveils the Segway S-Pod with a top speed of 24mi/h at CES 2020

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 8, 2020

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Segway-Ninebot recently announced it would hold an unveiling event at CES 2020. The Chinese mobility giant is expected to launch its latest range of electric motor scooters and mopeds for the global market. The company has now taken the wraps off the Segway S-Pod, an egg-shaped two-wheeler meant to let people sit while they effortlessly cruise around campuses, theme parks, airports, and maybe even cities.

Segway also says the S-Pod was inspired by the gyrosphere from Jurassic World. The device is fired up by the same gyroscopic self-balancing technology used on the traditional Segway. But in this case, you won’t have to lead forward clutching a handlebar to drive it. Instead, it comes with a little joystick on the right side of the seat.

Segway says its self-balancing technology will ensure the chair stays level despite having just two wheels. The two-wheel setup will allow for quick changes in the direction even it is not moving. The self-balancing vehicle also comes with a third small wheel on the underside of the chair which is likely to move it around when it is switched off.

One interesting part is that the S-Pod can hit a freaking 24 miles per hour top speed which looks unrealistic to use in its present form. The S-Pod is expected to debut in the third quarter of 2020 while it will go on sale in 2021. The company is yet to reveal the sale price.

You can find more CES 2020 coverage from here.

Huawei to continue Diversifying Supply Chains, discusses future prospects

By

Sean

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Jan 8, 2020

According to a new report, Huawei will seek to continue developing and diversifying its supply chains. Bloomberg brought on Timothy Danks, the Vice President of risk management at Huawei Technologies, for an interview in which they discussed the future prospects of the company.

2020 for Huawei

2020 is going to be a challenge for the company, according to Danks who stated that the company has always had risk management in place for years that helped them cope with unforeseen complications. He even accredited the companies survival of 2019 to its smart future planning; a year which had seen the company face many complications in western regions like the US and a few European countries.

Political Obstacles

One of the main focus of 2020 for the company will be to address and mitigate the challenges it had faced in 2019. In other words, it plans to reduce and turn over the loses incurred due to political issues and move forward with the innovative development of its products.

Danks mentioned that the company hopes the situation doesn’t worsen for Huawei. However, the senior risk management executive also stated that the Chinese tech giant has prepared “Plan B” for events against the best interests of the company or its operations. These back-up strategies are claimed to cover various scenarios.

Licensing in the US

According to Danks, Huawei wishes to continue working with its western partners, namely Google and it’s Android OS support. Furthermore, Huawei has even planned contingencies if licensing agreements in the US fall short since the company is not informed regarding the entire licensing process.

For those unaware, US-based companies that wished to partner with blacklisted firms like Huawei have to gain official licenses issued by the US Government. Reportedly, over 290 companies from the US have applied for such licenses, which is indicative of the $12 billion the company buys from these companies in the form of products, services and more.

Huawei Android Smartphone Lineup

Notably, the risk management VP was also questioned about the viability of its Android smartphones outside of China without Google support. To answer this, Danks stated that Huawei Mate 30 Pro, a vanilla Android smartphone released without Google support, sold over 7 million units. The large figure apparently surpassed even its predecessor, the Mate 20 Pro. Thus, it can be surmised that the company will release otehr vanilla Android devices in the future if they need to.

Phase One Deal: The US and China Trade War

The senior executive also commented on the ongoing US-China trade disputes and the position of the company within the crossfires. Danks said its an unfortunate position for Huawei but is hopeful that the Phase One deal being signed between the two superpowers on 15th January 2020 would ease rising tensions.

The resolution between the two nations could also prove to be a boon for the company. It may even revitalize its position to a more healthier stance in the US markets as well.

Reducing reliance on the West

Huawei has been seeking to reduce its reliance on western-based corporations for a while now. The best example of it would be the development of its HiSilicon processing chips that its smartphones are equipped with. Previously, these were manufactured by ARM which has its roots based in the US. Now, the chipsets are manufactured without any US-based partnerships or technologies and are developed by non-US based suppliers.

Investment in AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging field in the IT sectors. Reports have claimed it to soon have a $15 trillion impact on various GDPs’ of nations all over the world. Huawei is not specifically developing AI but on how it can be applied for its vast variety of products including smartphones and other IoT devices, according to Danks.

Lastly, the Vice President of risk management also disclosed that Huawei had invested about $18 billion in AI in 2019 alone; and is planning to increase the investment in the arriving years. The company also plans on dedicating a large portion of the investment to AI development.

(Source)

Amazfit GTR latest update brings screen timeout for Always-On Display

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 8, 2020

Huami has released a new software update for the Amazfit GTR smartwatch. The update now allows users to set a timeout on the Always-On Display. The feature is expected to help conserve battery.

The new firmware comes with the version number V1.3.5.32. It also brings a fix to the black screen problem and extends the alarm ring time to 30 seconds. The new update also activates a pop-up reminder when AGPS expires. With such a feature, you won’t be caught in a situation where you’ll discover AGPS has expired when you need to use a feature that requires AGPS.

Amazfit GTR users in Malaysia are already getting the update and so, we expect it to hit other regions pretty soon. You can as well head over to Settings > Check for update menu in the Amazfit app to see if it is available for your device.

The Amazfit GTR smartwatch was released on July 16 and comes in 47/42mm sizes, both adorned with three high-grade metals: titanium, stainless steel and aluminium. The 42mm version is smaller and more compact. The body is only 9.2mm thick and weighs 25.5g.

For the watch face, the Amazfit GTR 42mm series is equipped with a 1.20-inch AMOLED colorful screen with a resolution of 390×390. The screen is covered by the Corning Gorilla 3 with anti-fingerprint (AF) coating. In terms of functions, it supports mobile phone calls, text messages, emails, calendars, social applications and other information reminders, and can also find mobile phones and control mobile phones to play music. The watch also supports contactless payment as it is equipped with a built-in NFC chip. It can also be used to unlock the smart door lock and other contactless services such as bus card.

In terms of battery life, the Amazfit GTR 42mm daily use mode lasts for 12 days, the basic watch mode is 34 days, and the GPS continues to work for 22 hours. The 47mm version sports a bigger 1.39-inch screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels.

(via)

Nokia 6.1 gets Android 10 update too!

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 8, 2020

It is raining updates for Nokia owners this week. On Monday, HMD Global announced Android 10 is now available for the Nokia 6.1 Plus. Yesterday, it was the turn of the Nokia 7 Plus, and today the update has been announced for the Nokia 6.1 a.k.a. Nokia 6 (2018).

Nokia 6.1, more secure and pure! These phone’s are now running on the latest Android 10 update. Get the latest pure Android experience and access the latest features today. What feature do you think will be your most used? Let us know in the comments below!👇 pic.twitter.com/nhROEHGbNK

— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) January 8, 2020

The update is already rolling out to and thanks to a screenshot from one user, we know what the changelog and file size. The update comes in at 1.4GB in size and includes December 2019’s security patch. Full changelog below:

Dark mode – Take it easy on your eyes
Smart reply – Save more time with recommended actions
Gesture navigation – Get around with a swipe and a pull
Additional controls for privacy and location
Google Security Patch (2019-12)

The Nokia 6.1 launched in January 2018 first in China before a global release later. It ran Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box and later got updated to Android 9 Pie. The phone has a 5.5-inch FHD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the Snapdragon 630 with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage.

There is a single 16MP camera on the back of the phone along with a fingerprint scanner. It also has an 8MP selfie camera, NFC, and packs a 3000mAh battery with support for 18W Quick Charge 3.0.

According to the Android 10 update roadmap, the next devices to get the update are the Nokia 2.2, Nokia 3.1 Plus, Nokia 3.2, and Nokia 4.2. Do note that the update may not arrive in that particular order.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Best apps to save money while shopping!

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 8, 2020

These days shopping has become quite easy due to the advent of smart devices and internet penetration across wider areas. The online e-commerce has become the business of billions and is playing a vital role in the economy building of each country. The ease of shopping has paved the way for a better shopping experience, new marketing ideas, and affiliate services. The consumer is on the receiving end for all the benefits propped out of increased competition among online and offline retailers.

Many new services, including coupons, affiliates, and money-saving programs, are allowing the consumer to save a few bucks while shopping. The e-commerce giants also commence big sales on the eve of festivals to garner more sales by offering groundbreaking deals to consumers. The Black Friday Deals, Festival Season Sale, and Diwali offers are some prime occasions for these kinds of deals. The big giants, including Amazon, Best Buy, Flipkart, Myntra, and others, offer deals to garner more sales and churn out better profits. Surprisingly, there are some tools and services that allow users to save money while shopping.

We have listed some of the best services to reduce your shopping bills. These apps will directly bring offers and discounts or will guide you to save money in other ways.

List of best apps to save money while shopping

PriceGrabber

The Price Grabber is an aggregator service that helps the consumer to compare the price across all the major online retailers. It even carries the capability to notify the user of any particular product via ‘Price Alerts.’ The Barcode Scanner, including bottom-line price with taxes, is another useful feature of the PriceGrabber.

Unfortunately, both the Android and iOS apps have been dismantled now, and the users need to visit the Price Grabber website to get discounts. The users can add the website addresses to screen on Android and can bookmark on iOS devices.

Visit

Honey

It is a useful browser extension that helps to find the best coupons. It eases a lot of shoppers who often search for coupons. It helps you to save time and money at the same time. It helps to find the best discount coupons.

The user needs to tap or click the extension to get the best discount on the item automatically. Most of the online e-commerce platforms, including the food retailers, are compatible with the Honey app. The feature of Droplist allows users to keep track of price drops on specific items. It even notifies if there’s a considerable price drop.

It is a popular coupon service with users 147k users, 30K+ merchants, and 17.9% average discount. You can add the Honey Chrome extension by clicking the link below.

Download Honey Extension

DesiDime

It is the best service to track offers, discounts, and coupons. The users can also participate by offering discounts and coupons for users. It is divided into five different sections, including deals, coupons, discussions, groups, and MyZone.

The user has to select the desired deal, and the website will either redirect to the host or will give you a coupon code. DesiDime offers a forum-like experience that provides users with the ability to participate in the discussion. It allows us to verify whether the deal or coupon is legible.

However, the user interface is not up to the mark. It can be accessed over the web or via the Android App.

Download

Visit

Coupons.com

Coupons.com is home to a lot of manufacturer and retailer based coupons. It offers coupons in digital form with one click Coupon clippers. The user can quickly get a discount on almost every retailer with just a few taps. Apart from the website, the users can download the iOS or Android app for respective smartphones.

Coupons.com host deals for every type of service, product including groceries, clothing, and household items. Several advanced features such as sharing, web clippers help users to get the discount quite quickly. The inbuilt search and navigation also make it more useful.

Download

Android | iOS

Rakuten Ebates

Ebates is a popular cashback, coupons, and promo code service that offers impressive rewards on shopping from popular stores such as Walmart, Groupon, KOHL’s, Lyft, Sephora, and others. It even gives $10 Welcome Bonus for the users who shop via Ebates.

Ebates awards cash backs, rewards, and coupons to save money across 2500+ brand stores and retailers. It’s even a favorite choice while dining with cashback on 10K+ restaurants. The app helps to shop smart and save money with over 40% cashback. There are certain Cashback stores and rewards on brands like Nike, Samsung, Sephora, and others.

It is a sole companion for the users who often go on shopping, eat food at restaurants, travel a lot, and watch movies. The user can also earn a $25 referral commission for every friend who signs up and shops on Rautken.

Download

Android | iOS

ShopSavvy

The app becomes handy while shopping online and offline. It allows users to scan barcode and compare the price of the item in different stores. It even brings navigation to the nearest stores offering the best price.

The users can save a lot if used accurately, and the user has some spare time. ShopSavvy also carries the ability to keep the deals that are found online for purchase later. The user can also manually enter the UPC or keyword to find any product. The app is claiming to host the largest database of retailers, products, and prices, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

Download

Android | iOS

Cashback Monitor

It is a one shop stop before purchasing anything online. The Cashback Monitor tracks cashback rates and miles for all the major programs. It helps the users to choose the best retailer to maximize savings and rewards.

It is a single-window to check the cashback, miles, and credit card points for every retailer present.

Visit

Amazon Assistant

It’s a nifty browser extension, aka shopping tool from Amazon. It helps the users to save products from any website, compare them, and discover new products across the web. It even supports a 30-day price tracker to compare the pricing.

Amazon Assitant also keeps a tab on Orders and shipments from Amazon. It also helps to access shortcuts such as order history, exclusive offers, and more. Amazon’s exclusive Today’s Deals are also visible via the Amazon Assistant.

Download

These are specific tools and services that will help the shoppers to save some money. Some of the apps might be useful for a particular region. There are many services and apps, and if we missed an essential app or service, then let us know via the comments below.

Huawei equipments are ‘Top Notch’ according to CEO of Canadian Telecom, BCE

By

Sean

-

Jan 8, 2020

According to the CEO of a major Canadian telecommunications, the equipment that Huawei provides is “Top Notch.” The statement addresses the telecommunications equipment the popular smartphone manufacturer provides in the region which is helping in bringing 5G networking.

Mirko Bibic, the CEO of Montreal based BCE, stated that the company has been a “great partner” in an interview earlier this week. Notably, the opinions of the senior executive arrive as the Canadian Government is debating the decision that revolves around whether or not the Chinese company is allowed in being a major partner for the development plans.

Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) Logo

Since Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, was arrested back in December 2018 in Canada, the tensions between the two regions have been on the rise. At one point, the Chinese authorities had even terminated Canadian agricultural imports of a sizable amount of 5 billion CAD (roughly 3.8 billion US Dollars). Furthermore, the current Prime Minister of Canada has stated that the decision of allowing Huawei to operate in the country should be a non-political one.

Many western regions including certain countries in Europe are also facing a similar dilemma of allowing Huawei to operate in their home countries. The fear of each Government is data being accessed by the Chinese Government which has faced increasing scrutiny across the globe. Nations like Australia have already banned the Chinese firm while the US blacklisted Huawei in early 2019.

BCE is the largest telecommunications firm in Canada. Thus, 5G networking is the most obvious advancement in the field to further its own growth. However, Huawei is one of the leading providers of 5G related infrastructure and supplementing technology, but the company on numerous counts has been alleged to have ties with the Chinese Government.

(Via)

Samsung loses one third of profits from smartphones and chips in Q4 2019

By

Sean

-

Jan 8, 2020

According to the new financial report, Samsung Electronics‘ saw the fall of its operating profits by 33 percent (or one-third) in the fourth quarter of 2019. The South Korean tech giant is the world’s largest smartphone and memory chips manufacturer and faced declining profits in both categories.

In contrast to 2018, Samsung suffered from a number of obstacles once the chip market declined in 2019 after the initial surge. Furthermore, the premium segment of smartphones has increasingly become an intensely competitive segment. However, the numbers aren’t all that bleak as the company has exceeded expectations, according to analysts.

Samsung logo at Samsung Customer Service Center in Krakow, Poland on 11 January, 2019. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The financial figures apparently beat expectations as chip demand saw improvement, with healthy smartphone sales. This could also lead up to the new year, 2020, and the fresh upcoming lineup. In 2019, the other three quarters of the year also saw a sizeable net loss of profits; about half of what had been accrued in the same respective quarters in 2018.

As seen on the financial statement, Samsung Electronics projected operating profits in the period between October to December 2019 at 7.1 trillion won (or roughly 6.1 billion). The numbers amount to a 34.2 percent fall in profits in comparison to the previous year.

For 2020, analysts speculate that Samsung will perform noticeably better than the previous year. This will be supplemented by the fact that DRAM and NAND memory markets are predicted to rise in demand and in price this year. Additionally, Samsung is also hoping for 5G network availability to pick up globally, allowing for higher sales of its 5G handset offerings.

Notably, Samsung Electronics as a brand is integral to the economic health of the South Korean economy. It is a subsidiary and flagship department of the Samsung Group which also generates a major chunk of the multinational corporation’s total revenue.

(Via)

TicPods 2 and TicPods 2 Pro arrive with open-fit design, better battery life, and smaller case

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 8, 2020

Mobvoi, the maker of the TicWatch line of smartwatches and TicPods Free, has announced two new wireless earbuds – the TicPods 2 and TicPods 2 Pro – at CES 2020. The wireless earbuds come more than a year after the launch of the Ticpods Free.

The TicPods 2 and Ticpods 2 Pro have been redesigned and you notice that first with the case. It is now 42% smaller than that of the original. Another addition is the support for USB-C charging but only with a USB-A to USB-C cable as Type-C to Type-C will not work. There is no wireless charging support.

The earbuds have ditched the silicone tips for an open-fit design. This may be good news for some and bad news for others. They are also lighter, have an IPX4 rating, support AAC codec for iPhones and APTX, AAC, and SBC for Android devices.

The TicPods 2 and TicPods 2 Pro have a 13mm diameter moving coil and use a combination of PET and compound membrane film to capture high-frequency details.

So what are the differences between the standard and the Pro version?

TicPods 2 Pro

Mobvoi has added two new main features that distinguish the Pro from the standard version and they are TicHear and TicMotion.

TicHear allows you to control the earbuds with just your voice without the need for a wake-up word. The earbuds support the following Quick Commands as Mobvoi calls them – Play music, Pause music, Previous song, Next song, Pick up, and Hang up. You also get the option to say Hey Google, Hey Siri, or Hey Tico. Tico is Mobvoi’s own native smart assistant.

TicMotion allows you to use head gestures to control the Ticpods 2 Pro earbuds. You can nod twice to pick up a call or shake your head twice to refuse a call thanks to its built-in accelerometer and gyroscope.

The TicPods 2 Pro weighs 4.4 grams, has dual-mic noise cancelation, 4-hour battery life (20 hours with the charging case), fast charging, Qualcomm aptX audio, touch controls, in-ear detection, and Bluetooth 5.0. It also features Qualcomm’s QCC5121 audio chip which provides 4x improvement in performance over the previous generation and also provides a smoother connection.

1 of 3

The earbuds are available in Navy, Ice, and Blossom. Mobvoi has put a price tag of $139 on them and can be pre-ordered on Mobvoi’s official website and on Amazon. You are also eligible for a 10% discount if you pre-order before the January 15 release date.

TicPods 2

The TicPods 2 doesn’t have TicHear and TicMotion but you still get touch controls and you have to long-press to activate Hey Google or Hey Siri. It doesn’t have support for “Hey Tico”.

It weighs lesser than the pro version at 4.2 grams, has single-mic noise cancellation and in-ear detection. It also has a 4-hour battery life which goes up to 23 hours with the charging case. Just like the Ticpods 2 Pro, a 5-minute charge will result in 1 hour of playtime. The TicPods 2 has a Qualcomm QCC3026 chip inside and connects via Bluetooth 5.0 too.

The TicPods 2 will sell for $99 and will be available in Navy, Ice, and Blossom. Availability is the same as that of the Pro version stated above.

You can find more CES 2020 coverage here.

Samsung and BMW to make the worlds first 5G capable Electric SUV by 2021

By

Sean

-

Jan 8, 2020

The world of networking is vast and has a place in a wide variety of fields. Thus, it comes as no surprise that BWM, the automobile manufacturer, has turned to a leading firm in the industry. At CES 2020, BMW announced that it will be collaborating with Samsung to bring 5G connectivity to an electric SUV, a first of its kind.

Historically, when a renowned automobile manufacturer partners with a smartphone OEM, it is for a special variant of the handset (Eg: OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition). But, BMW was not seeking such a collaboration, rather a technological enhancement to its own future vehicles. Hence, the South Korean tech giant, being one of the pioneers in 5G networking, is exactly what the automobile manufacturer was looking for.

The electric SUV which is expected to be ready for mass production by 2021 is expected to be BMW’s first 5G capable vehicle model. Furthermore, Klaus Fröhlich (engineering head of BMW) has stated that the advancement in networking capabilities will soon be featured in the entire lineup that the company offers in early 2020. Although, its integration depends on the model and the region in which the vehicles will be shipped.

There 5G compatible BMW automobiles will work via a built-in SIM card, eliminating the need or hassle of acquiring a 5G handset. According to the official announcement, Samsung and BMW will jointly develop 5G components for automobiles which will directly be integrated into the car’s electrical systems. Reportedly, the process is going to be expensive but the company seeks to recover expenses by offering paid digital services to its customers.

Since 5G allows for delay-free streaming to be possible, the viability of multimedia and entertainment services are going to open new doors for the automobile industry. People can soon expect to see gaming in cars, virtual reality experiences, music and movie streaming in 4K and much more; all of which are also likely to be based around a subscription plan.

For more coverage on CES 2020 events and launches, click here.

(Via)

Huami introduces Amazfit PowerBuds and Amazfit ZenBuds TWS earphones

By

Jeet

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Jan 8, 2020

Huami’s Amazfit today introduced T-Rex smartwatch and Amazfit HomeStudio treadmill paired with a smart mirror. Along with that, the company has also launched a couple of true-wireless earbuds are promised earlier.

The company has today launched Amazfit PowerBuds and Amazfit ZenBuds. The company says that PowerBuds comes with a built-in heart rate sensor to monitor your heart rate during workout while ZenBuds will help you to get a good sleep.

Amazfit PowerBuds

This earbuds weighs just 6 grams and comes with a magnetic ear hooks (weigh 1 gram) to provide a more sporty look and stop them from falling out during workouts. As mentioned, the highlight is that it can monitor your heart rate in real-time with a built-in Huami PPG heart rate sensor.

They are equipped with an advanced composite diaphragm that offers a high-fidelity audio experience. The in-ear design and Motion Beat mode will offer enhanced beat and tempo. Each earbud supports touch controls for controlling playback, answer calls, and call upon Google Assistant or Siri.

It also comes with support for ENC dual-microphone noise reduction technology and Thru Mode for ambient sound enhancement. As per the company, the Amazfit PowerBuds iffers an 8-hour battery life on a single charge, which can be extended to up to 24 hours using the charging case. They are priced at $99.99 and will become available in February 2020.

Amazfit ZenBuds

Amazfit ZenBuds are designed to help you de-stress and have a good night’s sleep. It comes with a noise-blocking design (still fit snugly in your ears) and are backed by Knowles Balanced Armature.

It features Smart Interference to create the “right environment and generate sleep-inducing, soothing sounds” to help you sleep better. It also wakes you up with a gradually-rising personal alarm.

The device automatically detects when you are asleep to turn off the sounds, along with heart rate tracking, body position, and movement data collection. As for the battery life, the company claims that ZenBuds offer 12-hours of battery backup on a single charge but you can extend it to 8 nights with the charging case. This includes 12 hours every night – with three hours of music playback, followed by sleep tracking.

Amazit has not yet announced pricing and availability details for the ZenBuds. However, we expect them to be available in the market sometime later this year.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 will allegedly feature a weaker SoC than expected

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 8, 2020

With S amsung’s announcement official, it’s expected that the Korean giant will unveil both the Galaxy Fold 2 and the Galaxy S20/S11 lineup on February 11. What’s not official are the Galaxy Fold 2 specs, and according to a new report, the SoC powering the new foldable handset may disappoint a lot of people who want the very best and capable hardware.

A few months ago, a report said that Samsung wants to make the Galaxy Fold 2 more affordable than its predecessor. The device would be priced at around $1,000, the rumor said, or half of what the Fold costs. Apparently to achieve this, Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold 2 will feature last generation’s Snapdragon 855 SoC instead of this generation’s 865.

This leak comes from Ishan Agarwal, whose leaks have often turned out to be accurate over the last few years. Now, this isn’t exactly a bad thing. The Snapdragon 855 is still a fantastic processor, and it’s much better than most current mid-range processors. On top of that, there’s the obvious reason of producing a more affordable folding phone.

Other specifications include a 10MP front camera, which isn’t the most ambitious, but will get the job done. We’ve also heard rumors it’ll feature dual rear cameras, as opposed to the original Galaxy Fold’s triple camera setup. Once again, this move could be done to reduce the overall cost, so let us keep our fingers crossed for February 11.

(Source)

A Crowdfunded Smartphone offers a lengthy 4 year Warranty and inexpensive repairs

By

Sean

-

Jan 8, 2020

Historically, smartphones have always arrived with a warranty and by its extension even repair services. So what sets this particular handset apart from the rest in the after-sales regard. Well, this crowdfunded device arrives with a lengthy 4 years of warranty on top of which, repair services rates are relatively affordable as well.

The smartphone in question is the Teracube One which is set to start shipping later this month (January 2020). The smartphone is being crowdfunded and has surpassed its initial Kickstarted program goal of $25,000. According to the disclosed figure, the company raised a large sum of $125,000, which is five times the original goal. Keep in mind, the figure may not seem large in an industry dominated by multi-billion dollar corporations, but makes a large difference for a brand new company sourcing investment through crowdfunding.

The Teracube One with its 4-year warranty (granted one must cover the shipping costs if they live outside of the US) is also being well received for its repair rates. The team behind the smartphone offers a flat $39 repairs for accidental damages. The meager sum allows one to repair their screens and water related damages.

Notably, Teracube has stated that it will even offer free battery replacements throughout the four year warranty period (if reasonable degradation is found in the battery). Even after your device is out of warranty period, it will only cost $39 for a new battery. Furthermore, the Terecube team is also planning to update its Android smartphone with up to 3 years of major OS updates in addition to security updates.

For those interested, the Terecube One is a budget smartphone features a MediaTek Helio P60 SoC. It is powered by a 3,300mAh battery and is equipped with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. In terms of photography, the Terecube One sports a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup with an 8MP selfie shooter at the front. The smartphone also supports NFC and houses a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone starts shipping later this month and carries a $349 price tag.

For more coverage on CES 2020 events and launches, click here.

(Via)

Honor to launch MagicWatch 2 and Band 5i in India on January 14

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 8, 2020

Honor, a sub-brand of Chinese electronics behemoth Huawei, has just sent out invites for the official launch of a range of smart accessories which includes MagicWatch 2 and Band 5i in India. Honor has teamed up with notable eCommerce platform Amazon to sell its products. Although the Jan. 14 launch date has been confirmed, there is no word on when the devices will be sold to the public. The Honor 9X smartphone is also launching on the same day in the country. The same platform could be used by Honor to announce its new smart accessories for the country.

Honor is all set to unveil the Honor MagicWatch 2 and Honor Band 5i at an event in New Delhi. Both the MagicWatch 2 and the Band 5i are listed on Amazon India revealing a few key features, along with the ‘Notify Me’ button. Honor officially launched the Watch Magic 2 back in November 2019 in China, replacing the 1st-generation Watch Magic.

Honor MagicWatch 2 Specifications and Features

The Honor MagicWatch 2 flaunts 42mm and 46mm dials with a 316L stainless steel chassis. The 42mm variant features a 1.2-inch circular display, while the 46mm unit comes with a 1.39-inch screen. Both smartwatches sport an always-on AMOLED panel with a ton of customization features. The device is powered by a HiSIlicon Kirin A1 SoC and features 15 different goal-based fitness modes. Honor claims the MagicWatch 2 has an effective battery life of 14 days and comes with a dual satellite positioning system that accurately records user data like speed and direction while cycling or running.

The MagicWatch 2 has 13 different courses especially for running. It comes with real-time voice-over guidance and supports an array of additional features including heart rate monitoring, Huawei TruSleep sleep monitoring and Huawei TruRelax. The smartwatch features 4GB of native storage, is water-resistant, and is equipped with a built-in speaker and microphone.

Editor’s Pick: Honor MagicWatch 2 broke 10,000 units being sold in just 1 minute

Honor Band 5i Specifications and Features

The Honor Band 5i sports a 0.96-inch display with a resolution of 160 x 80 pixels. The fitness band features a 24-hour heart-rate monitor with sleep tracking, flaunts built-in USB connectors and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The device is also capable of tracking fitness and offering personalized recommendations based on previously recorded data.

The 10 coolest products of CES 2020

First 5G notebooks: Dell, HP, and Lenovo

OnePlus Concept One

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite (and S10 Lite)

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold

Samsung NEON technology

Samsung Ballie

Sony VISION-S concept car

Samsung The Wall MicroLED TV

Ninebot Segway S-Pod

Dell concept PCs

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi Youpin debuts on Indiegogo with WalkingPad R1 Pro & Oclean X

UP NEXT: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

EDITOR’S PICK: Ninebot unveils the Segway S-Pod with a top speed of 24mi/h at CES 2020

UP NEXT: OnePlus Concept One phone with electrochromic glass to hide rear cameras announced at CES 2020

Design

Specifications and Features

Price and Availability

UP NEXT: Huami introduces Amazfit PowerBuds and Amazfit ZenBuds TWS earphones

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

UP NEXT: Huawei to continue Diversifying Supply Chains, discuses future prospects

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

UP NEXT: Huawei to continue Diversifying Supply Chains, discuses future prospects

2020 for Huawei

Political Obstacles

Licensing in the US

Huawei Android Smartphone Lineup

Phase One Deal: The US and China Trade War

Editor’s Pick: Huawei equipments are ‘Top Notch’ according to CEO of Canadian Telecom, BCE

Reducing reliance on the West

Investment in AI

UP NEXT: Samsung and BMW to make the worlds first 5G capable Electric SUV by 2021

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

UP NEXT: Samsung loses one-third of profits from smartphones and chips in Q4 2019

UP NEXT: Nokia 9.2 PureView with Snapdragon 865 launch delayed till late 2020

Editor’s Pick: Best apps to automate tasks on Android device

List of best apps to save money while shopping

PriceGrabber

Honey

DesiDime

Coupons.com

Rakuten Ebates

ShopSavvy

Cashback Monitor

Amazon Assistant

Related: Best apps to automate tasks on Android device

Editor’s Pick: A Crowdfunded Smartphone offers a lengthy 4 year Warranty and inexpensive repairs

UP NEXT: Samsung loses one third of profits from smartphones and chips in Q4 2019

Editor’s Pick: Samsung and BMW to make the worlds first 5G capable Electric SUV by 2021

UP NEXT: TicPods 2 and TicPods 2 Pro arrive with open-fit design, better battery life, and smaller case

UP NEXT: Realme Buds Air true-wireless earbuds officially launched in China

Editor’s Pick: Samsung will showcase a brand new sliding phone concept at CES 2020

UP NEXT: A Crowdfunded Smartphone offers a lengthy 4 year Warranty and inexpensive repairs

Amazfit PowerBuds

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus reveals new Optimized Charging feature for extending battery lifespan

Amazfit ZenBuds

UP NEXT: MediaTek Dimensity 800 SoC with integrated 5G modem for low priced phones announced

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus Concept One phone with electrochromic glass to hide rear cameras announced at CES 2020

UP NEXT: Samsung will showcase a brand new sliding phone concept at CES 2020

Editor’s Pick: OmniVision unveils 48MP sensor with large 2.4um pixel size with binning

UP NEXT: Redmi Note 8 Pro Twilight Orange color variant to release tomorrow in China

Honor MagicWatch 2 Specifications and Features

Editor’s Pick: Honor MagicWatch 2 broke 10,000 units being sold in just 1 minute

Honor Band 5i Specifications and Features

UP NEXT: Huawei dominates Android smartphone market in China: Master Lu