How to install Android 10 on Realme X using Unofficial LineageOS 17

By

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Dec 18, 2019

Realme X is one of the best budget phones from earlier this year. It is still the only phone with the fastest pop-up camera when compared to other phones in its segment. It was launched with ColorOS 6 based on Android 9 Pie. Also, it is eligible for the ColorOS 7 update based on Android 10. But the update will be only released in February 2020. However, you can enjoy Android 10 on your Realme X now itself by a simple hack. All you have to do is install the latest LineageOS 17 based on Android 10 on your Realme X.

Installing LineageOS 17 Android 10 ROM on Realme X is an easy task, but the steps must be performed accurately to avoid any mistake. Hence, we have written this guide on ‘How to install Android 10 on Realme X’ to help you. If you are interested in doing it, follow our guide step by step to achieve it without any problem.

Before getting into the guide, let us refresh what Realme X offers.

Realme X Specifications

Realme X comes equipped with a non-obstructive 6.53-inches FHD+(1080 x 2340 pixels) AMOLED display with a fingerprint sensor underneath. The front 16MP camera nests in a motorized pop-up module, which is faster than any smartphone in its price segment. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 paired with 4GB/6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB of internal storage.

At the back, the phone features a dual-camera setup comprising of 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor and a 5MP depth sensor. Apart from that, the Realme X comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the display, and a 3,765mAh battery with support for Oppo’s proprietary 20W VOOC 3.0 fast charging. It runs ColorOS 6 based on Android Pie and comes in Steam White and Punk Blue color options as well as Master Editions with onion and garlic themes.

LineageOS 17 Android 10

LineageOS, which is born from the ashes of CyanogenMod, is one of the most popular custom ROMs. It comes with cherry-picked useful features that are not present on the AOSP(Android Open Source Project) builds. Most of the custom ROMs use LineageOS as their base, and therefore, it plays a vital role in the custom ROM development community.

That being said, LineageOS 17 is the newest version of the ROM based on Android 10. Additionally, it will be the first version of the ROM to come without the Privacy Guard since it was introduced. The team behind the project had to drop this feature as they could not port it to the latest version of Android. But it does feature Google’s Permission Hub instead of that.

Pre-requisites for installing LineageOS 17 Android 10 on Realme X

Realme X with an unlocked bootloader
TWRP recovery installed
LineageOS 17 ROM
Android 10 GApps

Steps to install LineageOS 17 Android 10 on Realme X

Copy the downloaded LineageOS 17 ROM and Android 10 GApps to your phone’s internal storage.
Switch off your phone.
Reboot your phone to TWRP recovery by pressing power and volume up keys simultaneously.
Once TWRP boots up, go to Wipe, then select System, Data, Cache, and ART cache.
After the selection, swipe the slider below to wipe those partitions.
Now, go to Install, select the LineageOS Android 10 ROM zip file.
Then, tap on, add more zips and select the Android 10 GApps file.
Next, swipe the slider to install the selected two files.
After the installation process, tap on Reboot to reboot your phone.
If you have followed the above steps correctly, your Realme X will be booted into LineageOS 17 Android 10.

Anyways, if you are facing problems or have queries, then make sure to mention them in the comment section below. We will try to help you as soon as possible.

Xiaomi’s Mi AI Touchscreen Speaker Pro 8 goes on sale in China from today

By

Jeet

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Dec 18, 2019

A few days ago, Xiaomi launched a new product in its home country China — Mi AI Touchscreen Speaker Pro 8. The device will now go on sale from today for a price of 499 yuan (approximately $71) although the regular price of the product is 599 yuan (~$86).

This new Xiaomi’s Mi AI Touchscreen Speaker Pro 8 seems to be inspired from the Google Nest Hub/Nest Hub Max and Amazon‘s Echo Show. However, Xiaomi’s own smart display is not a total copy of Google’s product.

It comes with an 8-inch display, sitting between the Nest Hub’s 7-inch screen and the Max’s 10-inch screen. Its base houses the speaker while the power and volume control buttons are behind the right side of the display while a camera sits above the screen.

According to the company, the 8-inch screen offers 36 percent more screen estate compared to a 7-inch display. The resolution is 1280 x 800 pixels the screen is said to have a high-image quality and has an oleophobic coating, so you won’t see fingerprints on it.

The device packs three subwoofers – each of them measuring 50.8 millimeters in size and featuring Neodymium Iron Boron magnets. The company says that the speakers are professionally tuned by DTS.

The Mi AI Touchscreen Pro 8 works with a plethora of smart home products covering 28 different categories and from up to 54 different IoT platforms including Philips, Viomi, Yellight, Smartmi, Konke, and Roborock.

Connecting a device is easy thanks to the Advanced Bluetooth Mesh Gateway. Xiaomi says it will roll out a feature by March 31, that allows you to connect new smart home devices to the smart display just by voice.

Xiaomi has also partnered with QQ Music for music streaming while iQIYI, Youku, Bilibili, and TikTok handle video streaming. There are also other audio streaming platforms they have partnered with for podcasts, storytelling, and audiobooks. Kids also get custom content and there are security protections in place to keep your child safe.

The Mi AI Touchscreen Speaker Pro 8 also doubles as an alarm clock, a digital photo frame, and a Bluetooth speaker. It is only available in one color variant and that is Chalk and carries a price tag of 599 yuan, roughly $86.

Huawei Nova 6 SE pre-sales begin in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 18, 2019

Earlier this month, Huawei had held an unveil event in China to announce the Nova 6 smartphone. Apart from launching the Nova 6 phone, the Chinese firm also introduced the Nova 6 SE alongside it. The phone sports a punch-hole display and iPhone-11 like quad camera system on its rear. The Nova 6 SE wasn’t made available readily for purchase. Starting from today, the Chinese firm is receiving the pre-orders of the Nova 6 SE on Vmall. The phone will go on sale on Dec. 25.

The Nova 6 SE is listed in colors like Phantom Black, Sakura Snow Clear Sky and QJing Forest. The smartphone comes in a single edition that features 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage. The device is priced at 2,199 Yuan (~$314). However, customers who pre-order it with 1 Yuan will be provided with a discount of 51 Yuan (~$7). Hence, customers who book the device during the pre-order period can get it for 2,149 Yuan (~$307).

Editor’s Pick: Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is DxOMark’s new camera king

Huawei Nova 6 SE Specifications and Features

The Huawei Nova 6 SE has a 6.4-inch IPS LCD punch-hole display that offers 1080 x 2310 pixels full HD+ resolution. The 8nm Kirin 810 chipset is present under the hood of the phone. The phone houses a 4,200mAh battery that carries support for 40W SuperCharge fast charging technology. Within 30 minutes, the phone’s battery can reach 70 percent capacity through rapid charging.

The Nova 6 SE has a quad camera system on its back. It includes a main lens of 48-megapixel, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, a 2-megapixel macro lens and an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. The device is fitted with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The EMUI 10 based Android 10 OS runs on the device.

Huawei is now reportedly working on the Huawei P40 series of flagship phones. The company is also known for introducing a ‘Lite’ edition of its P-series flagship. While the Huawei P40 and P40 Pro are expected to go official by the end of March 2020, the Huawei P40 Lite may break cover few weeks before the launch of P40 series. A recent leak had claimed that the Chinese company may rebrand the Nova 6 SE as P40 Lite in some markets.

(source)

New study claims blue light filters more harmful to sleep than blue light

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Dec 18, 2019

It turns out that blue light filter like Night Light — which tint the screen to reduce blue light and help users fall asleep — may not actually help users fall asleep. In fact, tinting your screen may actually be worse. According to a study conducted by the University of Manchester, using night modes to make your display more ‘yellow’ is possibly worse than leaving it in the regular untinted mode.

Previous research had suggested that exposure to blue light, particularly from phone and TV screens, reduced the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you to sleep. The University of Manchester conducted a study on a group of mice after the research team — led by Dr. Tim Brown — believed the view that this was a false assumption.

Using specially designed lighting to adjust the color temperature without changing the brightness, the team exposed the mice to various colors and observed the effects it had. The university found that colour-sensing cone cells in the eye may be more responsive to yellow light than the response of melanopsin to blue light. In other words, using your phone with a blue light filter may actually be telling your brain it isn’t time for sleep.

Of course, there are a few things to be aware of here. First off, the study was conducted on mice, not people. Second, the university didn’t conduct the study on a microbiological level — instead, the study was observational and it drew conclusions from mice who were exposed to different colours of light at identical brightnesses.

But there may also be merit to the study. If you think about the colour of light as it appears throughout the day, dawn and dusk usually have bluer light than during the day, which has yellower light. It would make sense that our biological clock would respond to colour as described by the researchers.

Regardless of the effect of blue light on your eyes, it is better to keep your smart device away before heading to bed. Excess screen time has other adverse effects, such as obesity, as well. Furthermore, surfing social media sites can impact your brain in such a way that you don’t find sleep soon when you finally squeeze your eyes shut for the day.

(Source)

Realme X50 5G teased to support dual-channel Wi-Fi and 5G simultaneously

By

Jeet

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Dec 18, 2019

Realme, the Oppo-backed smartphone brand which is gearing up to launch its first 5G smartphone in the Chinese market — Realme X50 5G, has been teasing the features of the upcoming device.

In the latest move, the company has shared a teaser poster of the upcoming Realme X50 5G smartphone which reveals that the device will come with support for dual-channel which will enable simultaneous use of Wi-Fi and 5G.

The company says that the Realme X50 5G will support dual-channel Wi-Fi and 5G for online connectivity at the same time, which can smartly increase the network speed under all scenarios. It further adds that the phone can be network accelerated and can make use of both 2.4GHz and 5GHz for Wi-Fi.

Realme has also revealed that the smartphone will cover all the mainstream frequency bands for 5G connectivity, including n1, n41, n78, n79 and will support both SA and NSA dual-mode networking with 5G.

So far, the Chinese company has confirmed that the Realme X50 will come powered by the newly launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. This is the same SoC that powers the Redmi K30 5G smartphone and will power the upcoming Oppo Reno3 Pro.

Rumors indicate that the phone will be equipped with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display. It could be coming with Sony IMX686 60-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad rear cameras and 32-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual front facing cameras.

When some users on Weibo inquired about the 120Hz refresh rate of the upcoming smartphone, Realme’s General Manager Wang replied, “If so, would you buy it?”. This strongly suggests that the company could offer 120Hz refresh rate on the Realme X50 5G.

The device could be backed by a 4,500mAh battery with VOOC 4.0 Flash Charge technology. The handset may come with up of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. We expect Android 10-based custom ColorOS 7 running the smartphone.

As the phone is powered by a mid-range processor that it is integrated with a 5G modem, the handset is expected to arrive in China with an attractive price tag. The company is also set to launch the Realme X50 Lite (Youth Edition) along with the standard model. While the launch date is not yet known, a recent teaser hints at 5th January as the launch date.

HMD Global’s Juho Sarvikas explains why Nokia 9 Pureview doesn’t have a Night mode

By

Jeet

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Dec 18, 2019

The year 2019 is coming to end and the smartphone technology has improved vastly this year. Along with the in-display fingerprint sensor and different types of display design, another major thing that became mainstream was Night Mode.

Although Night Mode feature for low-light photography was mainly limited to premium flagship smartphones, this year the smartphone manufacturers started offering the same with their mid-range devices as well.

However, HMD Global‘s Nokia 9 PureView, which comes with a penta-camera setup on the back panel, and touted as the company’s flagship smartphone with impressive camera performance, doesn’t feature Night Mode.

Explaining the reason behind the lack of Night Mode on the Nokia 9 PureView smartphone, HMD’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas said that since the company is using Light technology, it is very difficult for the company to make changes in the phone’s camera.

He explained that due to the camera subsystem design, they cannot leverage “low light algorithm” on top of Light technology’s fusion algorithm that the system already has. He advised that in other lighting conditions, if the user gets .jpeg result they don’t like, then keep .dng (RAW) capture and revisit the same in Lightroom.

Hi dOrso, due to the camera subsystem design, we can not leverage "low light algorithm" on top of the fusion of that the system already does. In other lighting conditions, if you get a .jpeg result you don't like, keep .dng (raw) capture on and revisit it in Lightroom.

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) December 17, 2019

As for the specifications, the phone features a 5.99-inch OLED display that carries support for 2880 x 1440 pixels Quad HD+ screen resolution and comes with 18:9 aspect ratio, HDR10, and always-on display.

The display of the phone is shielded by Gorilla Glass 5. This is also the first Nokia smartphone that comes with an optical in-display fingerprint sensor. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, coupled with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage.

The rear shell of has dual-LED flash enabled Nokia 9 PureView has five cameras and a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor. The Penta-lens setup of the phone includes two 12-megapixel RGB sensors and three monochrome 12-megapixel sensors.

All the five camera sensors of the Nokia 9 PureView (Details) can function simultaneously to capture a single image of 50-megapixel powered a dedicated image co-processor. With the help of the ToF sensor, the phone can capture a depth map with up to 1200 layers of depth data for up to 40 meters away from the camera.

On the front side, there’s a 20-megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture with Tetracell pixel binning technology that can merge four pixels into one for brighter images in low-light conditions. The front camera also carries support for AI Face Unlock.

The smartphone offers pure Android experience of latest Android 9 Pie OS. Like other Android One phones, the Nokia 9 will be treated with OS updates for two years and security patches for three years.

It comes certified with IP67 ratings, making it a water-resistant and dustproof device. Further, the phone is powered by a 3,320mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 as well as 10W wireless charging support.

Samsung Chairman bags 18 months jail term for labor laws violation

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 18, 2019

Samsung has been battling several court cases in recent times. The latest is the conviction of the company’s board chairman, Lee Sang-hoon by a Seoul court for violating South Korean labour union laws. The court also sentenced him to 18 months in jail.

Before becoming board chairman two years ago, Lee Sang-hoon is said to have served as Samsung’s chief financial officer and it was during that period that the offence was committed.

The investigation into the case for which Lee has just been convicted dates back to 2013 when company documents describing methods for combating employee unionization efforts were leaked. It was the beginning of a years-long set of interconnected cases that would eventually lead to indictments and jail time for dozens of executives there. However, the case against Lee Sang-hoon was eventually dropped for lack of evidence.

In a twist of fate, the case was reopened last year when investigators accidentally stumbled on additional evidence during a raid on the company for a separate investigation. Conclusive evidence was unearthed showing that Lee conspired with others at Samsung to crush unions and unionizing efforts there, in violation of South Korea’s labour laws.

This surely won’t be last we’ll be hearing about this matter as Lee still has the option of filing an appeal against the ruling.

(source)

Honor and Stoned & Co. to launch special edition Honor 9X on Dec. 20

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 17, 2019

Honor is known to partner with fashion brands for limited edition models of its phones. At the beginning of the year, it released a special edition Honor V20 in partnership with Moschino, the luxury fashion house. It partnered with them again in July for the Honor 20 Pro Moschino Edition. It has now been reported that it is partnering with Malaysian streetwear brand – Stoned & Co. – for a special edition Honor 9X.

The Chinese phone company will partner with the fashion house for the Honor 9X Stoned & Co. Limited Edition. The phone will come in a special retail box along with a special case designed by the fashion house.

There will be only 200 units of this special edition Honor 9X. The first 100 units will be sold on December 20 at 12:00 midnight on the HiHonor Malaysia online store. The remaining 100 units will be sold at 11 AM on December 20 too, but at the Honor Experience Store at Sunway Pyramid. It has been reported that each of the custom cases will be numbered.

The Honor 9X Stoned & Co. Limited Edition will sell for 999 Malaysian Ringgit which converts to about ~$241. Other than the difference in packaging and the custom case, there are no differences with respect to the specs of the two devices.

The Honor 9X has a 6.59-inch FHD+ display with no notch nor punch hole. Instead, it has a motorized 16MP selfie camera. Honor ships the 9X sold outside China with a Kirin 710F processor paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

There is a triple camera setup on the back of the phone and it includes a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The phone also packs a 4000mAh battery with 10W charging and runs Android Pie out of the box.

(Source)

Galaxy Note10 Lite stuns in Aura Black, Aura Red, and Aura Glowpress renders

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 17, 2019

The Galaxy Note10 Lite’s launch may be closer than we think. Press renders of the stylus-toting phone have surfaced and based on the source, the phone is most likely already shipping to retailers. The images were first published by Winfuture.de and they give us a good look at the device.

[envira-gallery id=”295869″]

The Galaxy Note10 Lite will come in the same Aura Black and Aura Glow colorways as the Galaxy Note10+ but also come in Aura Red like the Galaxy Note10.

Samsung is going with the same center punch-hole OLED display design as the other Note10 siblings but the display is flat this time. However, the back is where the major difference is. The Galaxy Note10 Lite has a squircle camera housing on the left side that is home to three cameras and an LED flash.

[envira-gallery id=”295870″]

The specifications of the Galaxy Note10 Lite are largely unknown. However, a Geekbench result revealed the phone is powered by an Exynos 9810 processor paired with 6GB of RAM and runs Android 10. We do not know if there will be a Snapdragon version of the phone and neither can we say if there will be other RAM variants.

Last week, the phone was certified by the Bluetooth Speical Interest Group (SIG) and the certification revealed the phone will have Bluetooth 5.1 which brings precise location detection with direction-finding. The S Pen will also connect via Bluetooth 5.1 too.

The phone is expected to launch soon and will be available in Germany later with a starting price of around €670 (~$747).

(Source)

Xiaomi’s Aqara officially unveils its range of smart home products in the US

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 17, 2019

The much-awaited launch by Aqara smart home brand in the US has finally happened. The brand’s official store listing on Amazon US went live today with the smart home starter kit getting on the store shelves.

The Aqara Smart Home Starter Kit is made up of the Aqara Hub, Aqara Smart Plug, Door and Window Sensor, Motion Sensor and Wireless Mini Switch, the Aqara Vibration Sensor and Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Do note that the Flood/ Water leak sensor isn’t available just yet on Amazon. Apart from the smart home starter kit, the gadgets that make up the starter kits are available to buy separately.

An interesting feature of the Aqara smart home products is that they are compatible with Apple HomeKit, while the Smart Plug and Aqara Hub are compatible with Google Assistant. In addition, the Aqara Hub, Motion Sensor, Humidity and Temperature Sensor, Door and Windows Sensor and Smart Plug are compatible with Alexa.

Here’s the Amazon US store link for the smart gadgets and their prices;

Aqara Smart Home Starter Kit priced at $129.99 (the kit consists of an Aqara Hub, a Smart Plug, a Wireless Mini Switch, a Motion Sensor, a Door and Windows Sensor)

Aqara Smart Plug priced at $32.99

Wireless Mini Switch priced at $17.99

Motion Sensor priced at $19.99

Vibration Sensor priced at $18.99

Buy the Temperature and Humidity Sensor priced at $19.99

Door and Windows Sensor priced at $16.99

Aqara is offering a further 20% discount on the Aqara Smart Home Starter Kit and all the Aqara products sold separately. This is a limited time offer and you can avail yourself of this offer using the coupon code AQARA017.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector for Just $1049 from Giztop [$50 OFF Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 17, 2019

Xiaomi took the covers off a myriad of amazing products including the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector during a recently concluded launch event.

Crammed with an array of exciting features, coupled with handy functions, the Mijia Laser Projector is crafted for cinephiles who enjoy watching their favorite movies, TV shows, etc without leaving the comfort of their homes. It has been designed to offer a versatile viewing experience.

There’s no dearth of high-end laser projectors that offer an unparalleled video watching experience; however, these products aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook. In short, you’re highly likely to end up spending tens of thousands of dollars on a laser projector, particularly from a popular brand.

If you are on a tight budget; however, you’d have to go for an inexpensive alternative that doesn’t come with all the features you’d want your laser projector to have. To ensure even cost-conscious can get their hands on a top-notch laser projector, Xiaomi is now offering the Mijia Laser Projector for $1,099 through Giztop.

On top of that, you can get a $50 off by applying coupon code XMLP50 during the check out process. The original asking price of the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector reduces to just $1049 after applying the above-mentioned coupon.

As compared to other similar products available in the market today, the Mijia Laser Projector seems to be bearing quite a reasonable price tag, especially given that it boasts multiple exciting features. First off, it supports 8K video decoding and is compatible with about 150-inch screen.

To get a large screen of about 60 to 150-inches, all you need to do is to place the Mijia Laser Projector directly in the TV cabinet. For an immersive video watching experience, the laser projector adopts the ALPD 3.0, cinema-grade laser source technology.

Furthermore, the laser projector creates a screen that is visible even in bright daylight, thanks to its ability to retain an average brightness of 2,400 ANSI luminosity. In short, you do not need to pull up the curtains for the Mijia Laser Projector.

It uses dual 10W speakers to produce a superior sound that complements the crystal clear video. The laser projector is powered by an Amlogic T972 chipset that’s known for offering 1.9 GHz highest frequencies.

You can directly view the content you’d like to see using the XiaoAI Voice Control feature, wherein you just need to press and hold the voice button on the remote control. The Mijia Laser Projector also exceeds the standard 2400 ANSI lumens.

Using the Appotronics ALPD 3.0 laser light source technology, the laser projector provides an impressive 25,000 hours of lamp life. In other words, you can use the Mijia Laser Projector for about 17 years, if you use it for four hours every day.

In the interface department, the Mijia Laser Projector has two HDMI ports, as well as Gigabit Ethernet ports. There’s also a 2.4G / 5G dual-band Wi-Fi mode, and the videos do not freeze even in HD quality.

To know more about the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector and place to place your order, simply visit this link without wasting time.

Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector

Samsung Galaxy A01 arrives with HD+ display, enormous memory, and storage

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 17, 2019

Samsung has quietly unveiled the Galaxy A01 and its quite an interesting device based on its specs. The new Galaxy A series phone is a mix of entry-level specs and upper-mid-range specs.

Design

This design of the phone shows it is an entry-level device. Its bezels are not the slimmest we have seen and the body is made of polycarbonate with holes on the back cover for the speaker. It is not a fancy device and its appearance is quite ordinary save for the red variant which may raise a few heads if you don’t slap a case on it. The Galaxy A01 also comes in black and blue.

Specifications

The Galaxy A01 has a 5.7-inch HD+ Infinity-V display. There is a 5MP f/2.0 camera inside the notch while the back of the phone is home to 13MP f/22 + 2MP f/2.4 dual cameras.

Samsung says the phone is powered by an octa-core processor with 4 cores clocked at 1.95GHz and another 4 cores clocked at 1.45GHz. The processor is paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has a dedicated MicroSD card slot for up to 512GB more storage.

The Galaxy A01 does not have a fingerprint scanner. Neither does it have NFC. It has dual SIM slots (nano only), FM radio, an audio jack, and a 3000mAh battery. There is no mention of fast charging and we won’t be surprised if it doesn’t have. There is also no mention of the version of Android it ships with though a Geekbench listing from back in September said the phone has Android 10 pre-installed.

Price and Availability

The price of the Galaxy A01 is unknown, so also are details about its availability.

(Source)

Redmi 8A vs Realme C2 2020 vs Nokia 2.3: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 17, 2019

A few days ago HMD Global released the Nokia 2.3, a unique smartphone since it is the only last-generation entry-level device to run Android One. In a period in which Android One is not being so hot, HMD Global keeps releasing Android One devices in every segment. But are Android One and the specifications of this phone enough to prefer it to the competition? In order to let you know, we decided to compare it with the handsets we consider the best entry-level smartphones out there: Redmi 8A and Realme C2 2020.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Oppo Realme C2 2020 vs Nokia 2.3

	Xiaomi Redmi 8A	Nokia 2.3	Oppo Realme C2 2020
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	156.5 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm, 188 grams	157.7 x 75.4 x 8.7 mm, 183 grams	154.3 x 73.7 x 8.5 mm, 166 grams
DISPLAY	6.2 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 271 ppi, IPS LCD	6.2 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 271 ppi, IPS LCD	6.1 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 282 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, octa-core 1.95 GHz	MediaTek Helio A22, quad-core 2 GHz	MediaTek Helio P22, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY	2 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	2 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD slot	2 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, MIUI	Android 9 Pie, Android One	Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	12 MP f/1.8 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 13 + 2 MP f/2.2 5 MP f/2.4 front camera	Dual 13 + 2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 5 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh	4000 mAh	4000 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Xiaomi Redmi 8A adopts a new design scheme which is very interesting for an entry-level smartphone. Further, the Redmi 8A is a splash resistant device, unlike Realme C2 2020 and Nokia 2.3. That is the reason why I personally prefer it to its rivals when it comes to build quality. Unfortunately, none of these devices has a fingerprint reader, so you have to rely on less safe authentication methods. In each case, you get a cheap plastic body, but we would be surprised if it was the opposite, given that we are talking about very affordable smartphones.

Display

Each of the displays found on these devices is a classic IPS panel with a below-average 720p resolution, so you will not get a higher level of detail, neither a great color reproduction. But they are sufficient panel you should not worry about, at least in their price range. The image quality, brightness, and viewing angles are similar, while Realme C2 2020 has a slightly smaller display with its 6.1-inch diagonal, so it is easier to use with a single hand but it is less suitable for advanced users.

Specs & Software

Redmi 8A has the most powerful and reliable processor: the octa-core Snapdragon 439 running at a max frequency of 1.95 GHz. It is more performing and it sports a better GPU, and the phone even comes with more RAM than its opponents in its most expensive configuration. Realme C2 takes the second place with its Helio P22 SoC. Nokia 2.3 is the lower-end one with an Helio A22 chipset, but it is the only with Android One and it is supposed to get updated faster and more constantly (despite Google is not supporting Android One as expected in the latest period).

Camera

Both Realme C2 and Nokia 2.3 are equipped with a dual camera setup on the back, while Redmi 8A is the only with a single camera. So Redmi 8A lacks a secondary depth sensor, but it has a better primary camera with a brighter aperture. That is why despite it comes with just a single camera, I prefer the Redmi 8A. Even its front camera wins the comparison with its higher resolution and better sensor. Realme C2 2020 has a similar camera setup to the Nokia 2.3, so the most important role will be played by software optimization. The biggest difference is the front camera, better on the Realme C2 2020.

Battery

Once again, Redmi 8A takes the gold medal. With a capacity of 5000 mAh, it packs a much bigger battery than Realme C2 2020 and Nokia 2.3. Its two rivals come with the same battery capacity, so they will most likely offer a similar battery life. However, we still did not test the Nokia 2.3, so we are only basing on the specs on the paper.

Price

You can currently get a unit of the Redmi 8A for less than €110/$123, Realme C2 2020 costs just €100/$112, and Nokia 2.3 starts from €110/$123. There is definitely no challenge, Redmi 8A represents a better option because it has a pretty nice camera, a splash resistant body, a better hardware department and even a way bigger battery. Realme C2 2020 and Nokia 2.3 are more or less at the same level: you should go for the former if you prefer higher performance and for the latter, if you prefer having Android One and a slightly bigger display.

Read More: Redmi 8 and Redmi 8A go official in Indonesia

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Oppo Realme C2 2020 vs Nokia 2.3: PROs and CONS

Oppo Realme C2 2020

PROs

Compact dimensions
Micro SD dedicated slot
Big battery
Depth sensor

CONS

No fingerprint reader

Nokia 2.3

PROs

Android One
Depth sensor
Big battery

CONS

Lower-end chipset

Xiaomi Redmi 8A

PROs

Micro SD dedicated slot
Huge battery
Good main camera
Splash resistant
Fast charging

CONS

No depth sensor

Vivo V17 goes on sale in India at Rs. 22,990 (~$324)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Dec 17, 2019

Vivo launched the Vivo V17 in India earlier this month. The device is a mid-range offering that went on sale today on Flipkart, Amazon India, and other offline retail stores. The Vivo V17 that went official in India is different from the phone with the same name that was released in Russia. The Vivo V17 for India has a punch-hole display and a rectangular camera module housing four cameras. It is also equipped with a big-sized battery that supports fast charging. Indian customers are currently entitled to an array of launch offers.

Vivo V17 Specifications and Features

The Vivo V17 sports a 6.44-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a punch-hole camera towards the top right corner. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 675 AIE SoC and it comes with up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory, which is further expandable via a microSD card.

In terms of optics, the Vivo V17 features an L-shaped quad-camera setup comprising of a 48-megapixel primary camera with an aperture rating of f/1.8, along with an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro sensor, and a 2-megapixel bokeh lens. The smartphone also sports a 32-megapixel selfie camera. Camera aids include super night mode, portrait light effects, HDR, ultra-stable video and more.

The Vivo V17 draws power from a 4,500mAh battery with fast charging. It runs on Android 9.0-based FunTouch OS 9.2. Connectivity options include dual-SIM 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB Type-C, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS and 3.5mm audio jack. The smartphone features an in-display fingerprint scanner in terms of security.

Vivo V17 Price, Launch Offers and Availability

The Vivo V17 is priced at Rs. 22,990 (~$324). The company is offering a bundle offer, pairing the Vivo EX710 earbuds worth Rs. 1,999 (~$28) with the Vivo V17. The smartphone is available in three color options including Glacier Ice and Midnight Ocean. As per launch offers, ICICI, HDFC, and Axis Bank Credit cardholders are entitled to 5 percent cashback which is valid till Dec. 31. Customers can also avail no-cost EMI for a maximum tenure of 12-months. Additionally, Jio customers can avail additional benefits worth Rs. 12,000 (~$170) along with online and offline purchases of the Vivo V17.

NineBot E-series e-bike unveiled with max speed of 100km/h & range of 200km

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Dec 17, 2019

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Ninebot today held its scheduled launch event and as expected, the company took the wraps off not just an e-bike but several models basically under the Ninebot C-series and -series. The Ninebot E-series models are the high-end version and come with several features that will surely make a mark in the market due to their configurations.

Ninebot’s E-series is made up of the Ninebot E80C, E90, E100, E125 and E200P. All five models have several features which distinguish them from each other ranging from their maximum speed to battery range and others.

The high-end variant among the lot is the NineBot E200P which has a maximum speed of 100km/h and a staggering range of 200km. The base version -Ninebot E80C comes with a range of 90km and a maximum speed of 51km/h. The E90 has a range of 100km and max. speed tops at 55km/h. Both the E80C and E90 pack a 1.2Kw battery.

Further, the Ninebot E100 with a 1.8kw battery, a maximum speed of 60-65km/h and range of 100km-200km depending on the travelling speed. The E125 has a 2.4kw power train and can travel at a speed of 80-100km/r while the range is between 120-240km, also depending on the speed. The E200 packs a 5kw battery and can travel up to 100km/h. At that maximum speed, the e-bike still has a range of 200km. The range will definitely increase if the bike is riven at a lesser speed.

The Ninebot E-series e-bikes come with several smart features. The bike can recognize scenes such as riding, pushing, and getting off. The bike can automatically switch according to the scene, such as when it is pushed uphill, it will automatically assist. Through a variety of sensors and smart scene recognition, the bike can be driven at the touch of a button. When a rider gets onboard, the side stays retracts automatically and when they get out of the car, they can automatically put the side stays and lock the car automatically.

In addition, the Ninebot E-series supports positioning tracking (GPS) and remote control of the bike. In addition to GPS positioning, it can be remotely controlled to lock and trigger an alarm if lost. In terms of anti-theft, the e-bike has an active anti-theft system, and an anti-theft module is integrated into the entire body of the electric vehicle. Officials say thieves have no way to bypass the alarm device by destroying the module.

The battery is very important for an electric vehicle. The Ninebot E80C uses a completely self-developed lead-acid battery system with an IPX7 waterproof rating. The officially optimized charging and the discharging system can extend the battery life. Ninebot says lead-acid batteries are less affected by temperature, and the battery life is still accurate even in extreme weather. The rest of the E-series models use a 72V/20Ah lithium battery. If the bike develops a fault on the road, an SOS signal is sent to the emergency contact provided with the exact coordinates of the rider. If the electric bike has not been used for a long time, it will also prompt the user to charge the battery to prevent damage caused by long-term lack of use.

The Ninebot E-series is equipped with Segway-Ninebot 5.0 car assistant, which can display real-time key information such as vehicle speed, battery status and mileage to ensure driving safety. At the press conference, Ninebot also mentioned that the E-series has a built-in module similar to the “black box” on aeroplanes. The module can record information such as car habits which can be retrieved during repairs.

In other aspects, the E-series is equipped with a 2100 lumens smart headlights. The centre control panel adopts a floating full-screen design, and there is 22L of storage compartment under the seat.

Pricing and Availability

The Ninebot E-series pricing is as follows:

Ninebot E80C comes with a price tag of 4799 yuan (~$685) while the E90 sells for 5999 yuan (~$875). The Ninebot E100 is priced at 6,899 yuan ($985) with the option of a second battery. The E125 is priced at 9,999 yuan ($1428)also with the option of adding a second battery.

Finally, the Ninebot E200P, with more than 200 kilometres of battery life, Bosch’s 10th generation dual-channel ABS, and nitrogen hydraulic shock absorption, is priced at 16,999 yuan ($2,429). All models support extended warranty for 3 years for the battery, 6 years for the motor, and a lifetime warranty for the frame.

Segway-Ninebot has disclosed that it would be launching the e-Bikes for the international market at CES 2020. We’ll keep you posted here on Gizmochina.

Warm Wishes from Ugreen – Best Tech Gift Ideas for Christmas 2019

By

Vinay Patel

-

Dec 17, 2019

We are just days away from Christmas, which means it is time to Xmas gifts and presents for our loved ones.

There’s no better way of showing gratitude to people who matter the most in our lives than giving them a Christmas gift. Speaking about expressive gratitude, Ugreen is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to show appreciation to its loyal customer base.

Keeping in line with that, Ugreen is offering a myriad of well-received devices that you can give to your loved ones, or simply purchase it write out your own Christmas must-have list. For those unaware, Ugreen is a renowned brand that boasts an impressive portfolio of electronic items.

Ugreen PD Fast Charge Kit – The Best Gift for Apple Fans

A newfangled Apple product triggers new changes. One of the main USPs of the recently unveiled iPhone 11 series is its USB C Power Delivery charger & USB C to Lightning cable, compatible with the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Apple claims its products have been supporting USB PD protocol since the iPhone 8, which was launched back in 2017. If one of your family members or friends is using the iPhone 8 and later, Ugreen recommends you to go for the Ugreen 18W PD charger and USB C to Lightning cable.

18W PD Fast Charger

Capable of charging your iPhone from zero to 50 percent within a span of just 30 minutes, Ugreen 18W PD fast charger comes with a USB C port. A perfect travel partner, the Ugreen 18W PD fast charger with USB C to Lightning cable is compact and extremely lightweight.

It delivers Maz 18W output for high-speed charging of a slew of Apple products including iPhones, iPads and various USB-C devices such as Google Pixel, LG, Samsung Galaxy, and Nintendo Switch just to name a few. The charger automatically matches the current to meet your device’s needs.

On top of that, it is also compatible with Huawei FCP, Samsung AFC and QC 3.0, QC 2.0. While you usually retails for $13.99, you can buy it for just $10.49 from Amazon by applying promo code UGFANS19, and save $3.5. You can follow this link to avail of the discount.

Ugreen PD Fast Charge Kit

USB-C to Lightning Cable

Certified by Apple MFi (PPID: 219693-0118), the UGREEN USB-C to Lightning Cable is nylon braided to avoid accidental scratches and damages. Moreover, this sturdy, tangle-free connector is designed to stand the test of time.

The aforesaid cable is compatible with various USB-C Power Delivery chargers including PD 18W, 30W, 45W, 61W, 65W and 87W. Moreover, you can use the PD-enabled Power Banks to fast-charge multiple iOS-based devices such as iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11Pro, 11 Pro Max.

While it would normally set you back $12.59, you can follow this link to buy this USB-C to Lightning Cable for a lowered price of just $9.44 from Amazon. To grab this $3.15 off, all you need to do is to apply promo code UGFANS12 at the time of checking out by visiting this link.

USB-C to Lightning Cable

10000mAh PD Power Bank

While the 10000mAh PD Power Bank normally carries a $21.99 price tag, Amazon is offering it for a lowered price of $16.49. To get this $5.5 off, simply apply promo code UGFANS20 during the checkout process.

An absolute steal at this price, the battery boasts a 10000mAh capacity, which is enough to fully charge the iPhone XS for 2.7 times and iPhone 8 for 4 times. This backup battery is a great choice for frequent travelers as it is compact, slim and portable.

The power bank features USB C Power Delivery input and output, which means it not only can rapidly recharge in just 3 hours but also it supports rapid charging for numerous other devices as well. In short, the power bank offers 83 percent faster charging than standard Micro USB Input.

As far as compatibility is concerned, the power bank works with iPhone, iPad, Nintendo Switch, GoPro, Samsung, Google Pixel, LG, Surface Go, Moto, Sony, etc. It can charge your Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, fully charging the devices in about 1.6 hours. You can follow this link to purchase the 10000mAh PD Power Bank from Amazon.

10000mAh PD Power Bank

Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub – More Possibilities for USB C Devices

An ideal gift for those using a laptop with USB-C port, the Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub works with Apple MacBook, Samsung Chromebook, Google Pixelbook, Microsoft Surface Go, Surface Book 2, Huawei MateBook X Pro, ASUS Chromebook Flip and many more. It has a 4K HDMI output port, SD and TF card readers, and 3 USB 3.0 ports.

As if that weren’t enough, this Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub offers support for super faster data transfer up to 5Gbps, which is a whopping ten times faster than USB 2.0. All six hubs on this mighty device can work at the same time.

If you have restlessly been looking for a Christmas gift idea for a friend or family member who is a cinephile, a shutterbug or works in an office, you might want to check out the Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub. Using this gadget, they can transfer memorable pictures from a TF and SD card simultaneously.

In addition to that, they can enjoy their favorite movies with their friends and family on a larger screen, while office goers can use the device to make a professional presentation for a meeting. The Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub is housed in an aluminum case, which ensures better dissipation and electronic component and circuitry will be conducted to the outside even quicker, which makes a safe-to-use USB C adapter.

The original asking price of the Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub is $20.99, but you can get a $4.2 off with the help of promo code UGFANS25. In other words, you can reduce the retail price of the device to just $16.79. To use the promo code before it expires, follow this link.

Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub

Ugreen Fast Wireless Charger Car Phone Mount – Get a Safer Driving

A lot of drivers have to hold their phones with one hand to use the GPS app while driving. Aside from that, realizing that you forgot to charge your phone before leaving home is a common problem. Similarly, plugging the charging cable or the phone while driving can prove to be a backbreaking task too, but Ugreen is bent on changing all that.

Having the right car accessory can make driving more fun. The Ugreen 2 in 1 Qi Wireless Charger Phone Holder enables users to charge their phones in cars. Designed to fit the air vents, it comes with automatic clamping arms on the left, while the right side offers a highly efficient mount to reduce the vibrations of the device.

Moreover, it adopts the Qi wireless charging technology, which means you do not have to carry the USB charging cable along while driving. On top of that, it supports iOS, as well as Android-based smartphones and is capable of charging iPhones at 7.5W and Android smartphones at 10W, and 5W charging for the rest of the devices.

It features an LED indicator light that shows whether or not the device is charging correctly. A must-have car accessory, the 2 in 1Fast Wireless Charger Car Phone Mount normally sells for $20.99 on Amazon, but by applying promo code UGFANS00, you can save $4.2, and reduce its original selling price to only $16.79.

To check out more details about the 2 in 1Fast Wireless Charger Car Phone Mount and to take advantage of the promo code before it expires, simply visit this link.

Ugreen Fast Wireless Charger Car Phone Mount

About Ugreen

Established in 2012, Ugreen Group Ltd is a renowned high-tech enterprise that comprises R&D, design, production, and sales. The company focuses on offering comprehensive digital accessories solutions for its users.

Taking its goal to achieve superior user experience as the point, the company came up with a myriad of Ugreen-style products, that are sold in several countries and regions under the “UGREEN” brand endorsement. The company has garnered a good reputation in several markets including American, European, and Asian.

Light up your Christmas dreams with Ugreen

Ninebot C40, C60 and C80 Electric Bikes launched; Pricing starts at 3999 yuan ($571)

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Dec 17, 2019

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Ninebot has unveiled what should be its first set of electric bikes inChina. The company released several e-bikes categorized under the affordable C-series and more sophisticated E-series. The company also took the wraps off the Segway Apex concept electric power bike but this model won’t be available anytime soon.

Ninebot C-series

The C-series is an entry-level line that keeps up with China’s new national standard which limits the maximum speed limits of e-bikes to 25 km/h (15.5 mph). In terms of appearance, the C-series e-bikes come with multiple attractive colours. The body is made of plastic but is said to be durable and won’t scratch easily. The e-Bike also adopts the Ninebot AirLock + NFC unlocking method which means it can be unlocked using an NFC-enabled smartphone or an NFC card. The car lock is also directly integrated into the rear wheel of the electric bike.

In addition, the C series of electric bikes also simplify the central control of the instrument. There is a light ring at the left and right sides of the handlebar with three different colour codes; yellow, red and green, all indicating the different state of the e-bike. The ring lights flash yellow when the bike is on standby. It lights up green while driving and red shows the bike has a fault. There is also an instrument cluster in the middle which shows the speed and battery power.

Further, the control buttons on the handlebar have also been simplified. The left side is the horn control button, and the right side is the start/fixed cruise/battery cover button.

In terms of safety, the entire vehicle weighs less than 50kg, the body is equipped with separate infant and child seats, the centre-mounted two-stage shock absorber, and the brake adopts the front butterfly and rear drum design for greater safety.

The bike uses a lithium battery which weighs only 5.8kg and has a range of 85km. It also comes with IPX7 water resistance.

Pricing & Availability

As stated earlier, the new Ninebot C series is made up of the C40, C60 and C80. The pricing is as follows:

Ninebot C40 with a 48V 16ah lithium battery and 35 to 45 km range is priced at 3999 yuan ($571).
Ninebot C60 with a custom 20ah lithium battery, 55 ~ 65 km range is priced at 4699 yuan ($671).
Ninebot C80 with a 24ah battery, 75 to 85 km range is priced at 5599 yuan ($800).

Ninebot is offering buyers a long warranty service of 3 years for battery, 6 years for motor, and lifetime frame warranty.

The bikes look expensive at these prices, considering the minimalist design and not too powerful specs lineup.

LG G7 One receives Android 10 stable update

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Dec 17, 2019

In August 2018, LG announced the LG G7 One, its first Android One smartphone. The phone launched with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and three months later, it was updated to Android Pie, even before LG’s main flagship phones for the year. Now, the phone is receiving its second OS upgrade that brings Android 10.

XDA-Developers have reported that the LG G7 One has begun receiving the Android 10 update in Canada. A screenshot shows the update weighs in at 741MB and comes with November 2019’s security patch. Below is the full changelog:

Android OS upgrade
Camera functionality has been improved
Usability improvements through Google Patch

The LG G7 One is able to get the update faster than other LG devices because it is an Android One phone that runs a stock version of Android. So there are no custom UIs to design.

[envira-gallery id=”295806″]

This update might as well be LG’s last OS upgrade for the phone but it should still receive security updates for the next 12 months albeit quarterly.

The LG G7 One has a 6.1-inch 3120 x 1440 display with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It is powered by the Snapdragon 835 and comes with up to 4GB of RAM and 64Gb of expandable storage. It has a single 16MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera. It also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a dedicated Google Assistant button, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The phone packs a 3,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0 and wireless charging. It also has Quad DAC, a Boombox speaker, and an IP68 rating. The phone is sold in Japan as the LG X5, and South Korea has the LG Q9 One.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is DxOMark’s new camera king

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Dec 17, 2019

Today, DxOMark published the camera review for the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G and we can say we have a new camera champion. The 5G version of the Huawei flagship takes the crown with a total of 123 points.

Some may be wondering how the Mate 30 Pro 5G beats the 4G version since they have the same cameras. The only explanation is definitely software. Apparently, Huawei seems to have better-tuned the cameras on the 5G version compared to that of the Mate 30 Pro.

The Mate 30 Pro 5G’s score is broken down to 134 points for photo and 102 points for video, compared to the 4G variant’s 132 points photo score and 100 video score. Further analysis of the photo score shows the 5G variant does better when it comes to bokeh, zoom, and night mode. While with video, it scores higher in texture, noise, and autofocus.

Surprisingly, the 4G version is better at taking ultrawide angle photos. DxOMark says the reason for this is a new anti-distortion algorithm that reduces the “effective field of view”.

The review says the 5G version now has a new multi-exposure algorithm for flash shots that helps to improve exposure and details when you take a portrait photo with the flash turned on. Below are sample photos comparing the portrait mode of the Mate 30 Pro 5G and the Mate 30 Pro 4G.

DxOMark says the dynamic range for the mate 30 Pro 5G even though there is no support for HDR recording. It has also improved autofocus so subject-tracking is better now especially in low-light.

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G does earn its place as the new camera king seeing as there are visible improvements in the pictures and videos when compared to that of the Mate 30 Pro 4G.

We look forward to what Huawei comes up with next year when it announces the P40 series.

(Source)

Realme Buds Air First Look: The Cheaper AirPods Have Landed

By

Joel Joseph

-

Dec 17, 2019

True Wireless Earbuds are the big craze in the market right now. As more and more manufacturers are removing the dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack from their smartphones, these tiny earbuds are gaining popularity.

Apple AirPods dominate this segment but there are a number of compelling options that are way cheaper than the Apple earbuds. Realme joins this group today with the launch of the new Realme Buds Air. This is the company’s first TWS earbuds in the market and we have managed to get a unit for review.

The Realme Buds Air is inspired by the Apple AirPods and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A lot of people prefer the open ear design of the AirPods and Realme decided to stick with what has worked in the market so far. After all, the AirPods is the best selling TWS earbuds in the world right now.

The Realme Buds Air comes in a shiny and plastic-y design but that ensures that both the case and the earbuds are very light. You get three color options for the earbuds: White, Black, and a Realme Yellow shade. The yellow one will definitely stand out. But we’ve got the standard White color option, which, unsurprisingly, could be mistaken for the AirPods at first glance.

The case is square-ish and comes with just one ‘pairing’ button and an LED light above it. The LED light switches between Red and Green. It glows Red in pairing mode and Green when paired. Also, when the case is low on battery, it will glow Red. You get a USB-C port below to charge it or you can use the new-age wireless charging (up to 10W) to juice it up.

Once you pop open the case, you’ll find the two Airpod-esque earbuds, each featuring an oval speaker grill and an IR sensor for wear detection. This might be a good time to add that the earbuds feature wear detection (just like AirPods and other earbuds), so when you take out the buds from your ear, it’ll stop playing and vice versa.

1 of 6

The Realme Buds Air comes with features such as a custom R1 chip, Bluetooth 5.0, and a dedicated gaming mode that reduces latency by nearly 51 percent. You can control it via touch gestures like double-tap to play/pause, long press for google assistant, and long-pressing both earbuds simultaneously for activating the gaming mode. The earbuds pack two built-in microphones for dual-mic noise cancellation — one for capturing the human voice and the other for ambient sound, which are algorithmically synthesized to offset environmental noise and deliver clear conversation quality during calls.

The Realme earbuds are priced at Rs. 3,999 ($56) which is an extremely competitive price for its features. We have a lot to talk about the new Realme earbuds and you’ll hear more about it in detail in the next couple of days.

Must See: Realme X ColorOS update that introduced Dark Mode delayed after developers found a critical bug

Realme X Specifications

LineageOS 17 Android 10

Pre-requisites for installing LineageOS 17 Android 10 on Realme X

Steps to install LineageOS 17 Android 10 on Realme X

Related: ColorsOS 7 Beta registrations live for Realme X in China

EDITOR’S PICK: HMD Global’s Juho Sarvikas explains why Nokia 9 Pureview doesn’t have a Night mode

UP NEXT: Xiaomi’s Aqara officially unveils its range of smart home products in the U.S.

Huawei Nova 6 SE Specifications and Features

UP NEXT: US House of Representatives passes bill barring government from buying Huawei gears

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme Buds Air First Look: The Cheaper AirPods Have Landed

UP NEXT: Samsung Chairman bags 18 months jail term for labor laws violation

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme claims that it sold 15 million smartphones in the first year; hopes to double the numbers in 2020

UP NEXT: HMD Global’s CPO Juho Sarvikas explains why Nokia 9 Pureview doesn’t have a Night Mode feature

EDITOR’S PICK: Samsung Chairman bags 18 months jail term for labor laws violation

UP NEXT: Galaxy Note10 Lite stuns in Aura Black, Aura Red, and Aura Glowpress renders

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

UP NEXT: Xiaomi’s Aqara officially unveils its range of smart home products in the US

UP NEXT: Honor V30 first sale ends in just 3 seconds with 100,000 units sold!

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy M31 and M11 in works, claims report

UP NEXT: e-Bikes the future leader of Electric Vehicles in the next decade?

Design

Specifications

UP NEXT: Samsung starts rolling out Android 10 update for Galaxy Note 10 series

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Oppo Realme C2 2020 vs Nokia 2.3

Design

Display

Specs & Software

Camera

Battery

Price

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Oppo Realme C2 2020 vs Nokia 2.3: PROs and CONS

Vivo V17 Specifications and Features

Vivo V17 Price, Launch Offers and Availability

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

UP NEXT: Are e-Bikes the future leader of Electric Vehicles in the next decade?

Ugreen PD Fast Charge Kit – The Best Gift for Apple Fans

Ugreen 6 in 1 Hub – More Possibilities for USB C Devices

Ugreen Fast Wireless Charger Car Phone Mount – Get a Safer Driving

About Ugreen

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

UP NEXT: Are e-Bikes the future leader of Electric Vehicles in the next decade?

UP NEXT: LG G8 ThinQ receives Android 10 stable update and it’s just $399 on Amazon

UP NEXT: Huawei Kirin 1020 codenamed Baltimore, features 50% better performance than Kirin 990

Editor’s Pick: Apple leads the True Wireless Earbuds market, Xiaomi in second place

UP NEXT: Realme PaySa launched in India; Offers loans, insurance and more