Rumor: Snapdragon 865 Plus coming in Q3 2020

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Feb 16, 2020

The first set of Snapdragon 865 phones have just been announced and more will launch in the coming weeks. However, you may want to read this before you decide to purchase any of these new flagship smartphones.

A leaker has revealed Qualcomm will announce an improved version of the Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform in the third quarter of the year and it will arrive as the Snapdragon 865 Plus (stylized as Snapdragon 865+).

The info comes from a Weibo post by Digital Chat Station. In the post, he said the Snapdragon 865 Plus is scheduled to be launched in the third quarter of the year. He also added that prototypes will be available in two months (April?).

Last year, Qualcomm released two flagship processors – the Snapdragon 855 and the Snapdragon 855+. The Snapdragon 835 and Snapdragon 845 didn’t have a Plus variant but in 2016 there were two flagship processors too – the Snapdragon 820 and the Snapdragon 821.

The differences between the two chipsets can be narrowed down to a boost in performance as the CPU and GPU are clocked higher than the non-plus variant. We believe the Snapdragon 865 Plus will be no different but it will be a pleasant surprise to see the new processor have an integrated 5G modem.

When the Snapdragon 865 Plus launches, it should power the second batch of flagships from manufacturers such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo, Nubia, and Black Shark.

(Source)

Leaked renders give us first look at Samsung Galaxy A70e

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 16, 2020

Last year Samsung announced the Galaxy A70, an upper mid-range smartphone with an Infinity-U display, triple rear cameras and a Snapdragon 675 processor. It followed it with the Galaxy A70s which kept most of the specs but swapped the 32MP camera of the first one for a 64MP sensor. Now renders of another model called the Galaxy A70e have leaked and it seems to be an affordable version of the Galaxy A70.

The source of the leak is OnLeaks and he has collaborated with Indian blog, CompareRaja.

The Galaxy A70e has an Infinity-U display like that of the Galaxy A70 and Galaxy A70s. However, the bezels around the display are thick. We are not sure if it is just the renders that are like this or if the final product will have bezels this thick. The screen size is put at 6.1-inches and it is flat at the edges.

On the back of the device are three cameras arranged vertically and housed together with an LED flash. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back of the device which is surprising as the Galaxy A70 and Galaxy A70s have their fingerprint scanners under the display. This doesn’t mean the display may not be an AMOLED panel as Samsung has phones with AMOLED screens and rear-mounted fingerprint scanners. An example is the Galaxy A30.

1 of 3

The Galaxy A70e has an audio jack at the top while the bottom is home to the speaker grille, a MicroUSB port, and a microphone. The volume and power buttons are on the right while the SIM tray sits on the left.

There is still a lot not known about the specs of the Galaxy A70e but it most likely will have a cheaper price tag than its siblings. The phone will be available in black and white color variants but there might be more when it eventually launches.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Google Play Console reveals specs of Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 16, 2020

Samsung is one of the few manufacturers still churning out tablets. Just as it did last year, we expect there will be new models this year that cut across different price categories. Specifications of one of the upcoming mid-range tablets called the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) have surfaced on the web thanks to a Google Play Console listing.

Just as the name says, this tablet will have an 8.4-inch display with a 1200 x 1920 resolution. There will be an Exynos 7904 processor powering the device and it will be paired with 3GB of RAM.

Surprisingly, the spec sheet says the tablet is running Android 9 Pie instead of the latest version which is Android 10. It is possible the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) will run Android 10 out of the box or get an update after its launch.

There are still a couple of specs that are unknown such as the storage capacity, cameras, and battery capacity. These details may surface before the tablet launches.

(Souce, Via)

OnePlus 7 series receive January 2020′ security patch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 16, 2020

OnePlus is rolling out a new update to the OnePlus 7 series from last year. The update brings January’s security patch to the OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, and the OnePlus 7T Pro.

The update is rolling out as OxygenOS 10.0.4 for Europe and OxygenOS 10.3.1 for Indian and International models of the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro while it is arriving as OxygenOS 10.0.7 (Europe) and OxygenOS 10.3.1 (Indian and International models) for on the OnePlus 7T Pro.

Below is the changelog for the update:

System

Optimized the RAM management
Improved black/blank screen issues with some apps
Added the feature to support reminders for privacy alerts
Improved system stability and fixed general bugs
Updated Android security patch to 2020.1

Network (India Only)

Integrated the VoWifi registration for the Jio Sim

Cloud Service (India Only)

Supported synchronization with Notes and Contacts

Work-Life Balance (India Only)

Optimized message notification
Optimized the mode and app selection
Added location, calendar, auto-track feature

Cricket Scores (India Only)

Add Cricket scores as a card in your Shelf for quickest access to live match scores and team updates

As usual, the update is rolling out in stages and has arrived on only a few devices. A wider roll-out should in the next few days.

(Sources: 1, 2)

OPPO Reno3 Pro will launch in India on March 2; key specs leaked

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 15, 2020

The OPPO Reno3 Pro will soon launch in India and if you have been following the news, you already know it is different from the Reno3 Pro 5G sold in China. The Reno3 Pro heading to the South-Asian country will have dual front-facing cameras housed inside a pill-shaped notch. After weeks of waiting, the phone has a release date.

According to the promo page on Flipkart, the Reno3 Pro will be launched in India on the 2nd of March, 2020. The poster on the page show’s Indian Actor, Ranbir Kapoor, holding a gradient blue version of the phone. The actor is one of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer’s brand ambassadors.

The poster also has the logo of the International Cricket Council. OPPO is the official mobile phone partner of the ICC. The partnership was renewed last year for another four years after the first one that ran from 2015 to 2019.

The Reno3 Pro will be the world’s first phone with a 44MP dual front-facing camera when it launches next month. The second front-facing camera is expected to work together with the primary camera for better portrait images.

Ahead of the launch, key specs of the phone have leaked thanks to photos of dummy units that were taken in a retail store and posted on the web. According to one of the photos, the Reno3 Pro will have a 64MP quad-camera setup on the back with up to 20x zoom. It will have 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and also have support for 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0.

[envira-gallery id=”305623″]

The second image shows the back of the device and we can see the Reno3 Pro will be available in black as well as pearl white color variants.

The processor is still unknown but there are speculations it will be powered by the Snapdragon 730G rather than the Snapdragon 765G that’s inside the Chinese version.

There are still a lot of unknown features of the device but they most likely will become public knowledge before the March 2 launch date. OPPO is also expected to announce its Enco Free Wireless Earbuds at the launch event. The earbuds already launched in some other markets but are not sold in India yet.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Nubia announces its Red Magic 5G MWC launch is canceled

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 15, 2020

Following the GSMA’s decision to cancel MWC 2020, other manufacturers that hadn’t pulled out of the event prior to the announcement have been left with no other option than to cancel their launch events too. The latest to do so is Nubia and it has put out a statement that its Red Magic 5G launch will no longer hold.

The Red Magic was supposed to launch first at MWC 2020 but that will no longer be the case. The official statement said they had planned to have the global launch of Red Magic 5G at MWC but since the GSMA has canceled the event due to safety concerns about the Coronavirus, they have been left with no choice other than to cancel the event and pack up their booth.

The flagship gaming smartphone will still get a global launch but it may be announced first in China. The phone will have a 144Hz refresh rate, 5G support, and a combination of air cooling and liquid cooling. It will also have LPDDR5 RAM, triple rear cameras, and super fast charging.

Nubia says it will announce a new date for the launch of the phone and its other products as soon as possible.

(Source, Via)

Nokia TA-1212 is a feature phone; appears on TENAA

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 15, 2020

HMD Global has already announced that its February 23 pre-MWC launch event will no longer take place on the aforementioned date. The Finnish manufacturer had put out the press release even before the GSMA canceled this year’s edition of the tech show. One of the phones expected to launch as the event is a feature phone which has now appeared on TENAA as the Nokia TA-1212.

The TENAA listing reveals the phone has a 2.4-inch 340 x 320 screen. There is a single-core processor clocked at 0.36GHz powering the device and it is paired with 0.8MB of RAM and 16MB of expandable storage (up to 32GB). It also has a single 0.3MP rear camera.

The Nokia TA-1212 packs a 1200mAh battery. It weighs 88 grams and measures 132.75 x 52.43 x 13.1 millimeters and will be available in Dark Gray. Unfortunately, TENAA has not included images of the phone in the listing.

The official name of the phone is unknown but previous reports saying the phone is the Nokia 8.2 are incorrect. HMD Global said it will announce a new date for the launch of its products. There is a possibility the identity of the phone will become public knowledge before then.

(Source)

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 series pre-order starts at INR 66,990, Galaxy Z Flip pre-registration is live

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 15, 2020

If you reside in India and want to pick up Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 phones, you are going to be paying a premium. The official Samsung India website has now put up the prices for the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The Galaxy S20 will be available in a single configuration – 8GB RAM + 128GB and will come in Cosmic Gray, Cloud Blue, and Cosmic Black. Irrespective of the color variant you pick, you will be forking out INR 66,990 (~$937). Of course, you can trade-in your current device to get the price down by as much as INR 48,100 (~$672), but you will have to check first if your phone is eligible.

The Galaxy S20+ will also come in the same configuration as the Galaxy S20 as well as the same colorways. However, the price tag goes up to INR 73,990 (~$1034) if you are not spreading the payment.

Samsung is offering the Galaxy S20 Ultra in just Cosmic Gray and you only get the base configuration which has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The price for the 108MP flagship phone is INR 92,999 (~$1300).

It has been reported that the models sold in India have an Exynos 990 processor and a 4G modem.

The phones are available for pre-order now and will go on sale on March 6, save for the Ultra that goes on sale on March 15. If you pre-order either the Galaxy S20+ or Galaxy S20 Ultra, you get the Galaxy Buds+ for INR 1,999. Nope, not free.

The Galaxy Buds+ is also up for pre-order as a standalone purchase for INR 11,990 (~$167) (INR 2000 off the original price) and is available in Blue, Black, and White.

If you want the Galaxy Z Flip, you will have to wait a bit more as Samsung doesn’t have a launch date yet for India. However, there is a pre-registration page where you can register your interest for the foldable phone.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Buy Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger for Just $7.39 from AliExpress

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 15, 2020

While sometimes being on a call or using the phone for navigation while driving is inevitable, it is imperative to ensure the utmost safety of the driver or the passengers at the same time.

There are various mobile phone accessories such as car wireless chargers that can be installed in your vehicle for safer riding experience. The burning question that’s likely to pop inside your head when you think of buying a wireless charger for your car is whether it offers value for your money or serves just a showpiece.

The market is teeming with steeply-priced wireless chargers designed for cars, but if you are looking for an alternative that suits your fancy without emptying your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. We will be talking about the Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger that’s gone up for sale carrying a lowered price through AliExpress.

Available in silver, as well as gold color options, the Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger would normally set you back a pretty penny, but AliExpress is currently doling out a noteworthy 63 percent discount on this highly useful phone accessory for a limited period.

Aside from offering the aforesaid discount, the Alibaba Group-owned Chinese online retail service is giving its users a chance to save more money by applying coupon codes. We will talk about it in just a bit.

The Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger usually retails for $8.53, but you can now purchase it for just $7.39 through AliExpress. On top of that, you can use the New User Coupon and save $3 more, provided this is your first order with the Chinese e-tailer. Those spending $17, on the other hand, can take advantage of the $1 OFF Coupon at checkout.

This intelligent inductive wireless charger offers a comfortable one-hand operation. Furthermore, it is a QI wireless charger that comes with an automatic lock to ensure your phone stays in place even on a bumpy road. In short, it boasts features that make your driving safer.

Compatible with iPhone 11 Pro, and a slew of other handsets from leading manufacturers such as Samsung and Xiaomi, the Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger is integrated with intelligent infrared sensing that allows the arm to stretch and close automatically when the object is detected.

Made using non-slip, soft silicone material, the Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless is designed to protect your phone from accidental scratches, aside from giving it more stability. To know more about this amazing wireless car charger, all you need to do is to follow this link.

If you are interested in getting the discount and using the coupons to save more money, remember to place your order before the promo comes to an end.

Essager 10W Qi Car Wireless Charger

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

Buy VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop for a Considerably Lowered Price from GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 15, 2020

Touted as more portable personal computers unlike desktops, laptops can be effortlessly carried everywhere you go. It is a must-have gadget for business people, students and those who need to do office work on the go.

While laptops come in various shapes, sizes and configurations, they aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook. In short, you’d normally end up shelling out a lot of money to get your hands on a high-end laptop that suits your fancy.

Bent on making a top-branded laptop available to cost-conscious buyers, GeekBuying is now offering two variants of the VORKE Notebook 15 laptop for considerably lowered prices.

VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5-8250U)

With Intel’s Core i5-8250U processor under the hood, this VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop model normally retails for $612.99. Much to the delight of those on a tight budget, the popular Chinese e-tailer is offering it for a reduced price of just $479.99.

Aside from receiving this 22 percent off, new GeekBuying users can take advantage of the 2% OFF New User Coupon and save more money at checkout. You can follow this link to avail of the discount and use the coupon before it expires. Note that the promo is slated to end shortly.

VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5-8250U)

VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop (Intel Core i7-4500U)

Bearing a noteworthy 20 percent discount, this VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop variant would normally set you back $513.99, but is currently up for pre-order carrying a lowered price of just $409.99 through GeekBuying. On top of that, you can extend the aforesaid discount by applying the 2% OFF New User Coupon if this is your first order with GeekBuying.

You can visit this link to grab the discount and use the coupon. It is worth noting that the promo will come to an end in just four days. The VORKE Notebook 15 laptop offers the following features:

15.6-inches screen with 1920×1080 pixels resolution
Intel HD Graphics 4400 GPU
8GB DDR3 + 256GB SSD
Windows 10 OS
1.3MP front camera
Dual-band 2.4G/5G WiFi
19mm full metal body
1.78 kg weight
44Whr battery

VORKE Notebook 15 Laptop (Intel Core i7-4500U)

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

Huawei dares the US to publish proof against it, Reiterates it doesn’t have access to backdoors

By

Joel Joseph

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Feb 15, 2020

Earlier this week, U.S officials made bold statements against Huawei saying how the company had the capability to secretly access sensitive and personal information in the systems it maintains across the world. The officials claimed that these so-called “backdoors” allow the company to spy on networks. In fact, a couple of days back, the US Department of Justice filed a formal indictment against Huawei, accusing it of several serious charges like racketeering, conspiracy, and theft.

The officials said they had evidence to show Huawei had backdoor access, but so far, they have failed to show it to the world. And yesterday, Huawei’s cybersecurity chief hit back at those officials daring them to publish this evidence. Huawei’s cybersecurity chief John Suffolk said, “We just say: ‘Don’t hide it, don’t be shy. Publish it, let the world see it’.”

He explained that Huawei had to connect its equipment to the ‘lawful intercept gateway’ required by governments but had no access to it, which are often kept in a special room. These are the backdoors in the network which can tap into calls and data for law enforcement agencies under specific circumstances like that of a court order.

Suffolk said, “We have no access to this equipment, we don’t know what call or information is being intercepted, we don’t know when it is intercepted – all we do is provide one side of the box which is blind to what’s happening on the other side of the box.”

“I’m not aware of any operator who has said to Huawei: ‘Come and sit in this room and see what’s going on’,” he said.

“If I found out that our staff were involved with such things, then we would take appropriate action on that.”

He also added how the claims about Huawei stealing trade secrets from competitors didn’t make sense because if it was true, its competitors should have been growing at a significant rate. He said that if Huawei had stolen lucrative trade secrets from its competition, then these companies should have been doing at least as well as Huawei.

“The faith of our customers — and you can see this in the results over the past 30 years — gives an indication of what our customers think of those allegations,” Suffolk said.

(Source)

Alipay launches a children’s smart digital camera priced at 239 yuan (~$34)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 14, 2020

Some years back, digital cameras usually cost a fortune and were owned by just a few. The narrative has changed presently with digital cameras being a part of almost every home. Alipay recently launched a digital camera for children on the Taobao crowdfunding platform. The camera is priced at just 239 yuan (~$34) which is relatively affordable.

Alipay children’s smart camera has a Super Bugs design and uses a 1080P dual lens. The camera integrates a camera and video recording functions and comes with a maximum resolution of 5184×3456 pixels. The camera equally comes with fully automatic smart focus and can take crisp clear pictures. It is easy to operate and has support for the smart display.

The front-facing camera is convenient for self-timer shooting and can easily take 10-second timed selfies. The camera is equipped with a 2.4-inch colour display and the shooting content is clear at a glance. There are also dedicated buttons for switching, taking pictures, recording, and playback, and supports up to 32GB memory card expansion.

Furthermore, the AliPay SuperBug children’s smart digital camera packs a built-in 650mAh battery which is touted to be able to continuously take about 2000 photos or continuously record for 2-2.5 hours when fully charged. The battery can easily be charged through charging treasure, car charger and other methods.

(via)

Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 vs OnePlus 7T Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 14, 2020

All the latest flagship smartphones launched from Xiaomi, Samsung and OnePlus come in more than one variant. Given the higher prices of top-tier flagships compared to a few years ago, these smartphone manufacturers decided to release different variants in order to meet the needs of the highest amount of potential customers. In this comparison, we compared the base versions of the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Samsung Galaxy S20 series which can be defined as affordable flagships. We also added the latest OnePlus flagship: OnePlus 7T Pro. We included the Pro version since it is the only 2019 smartphone and its base variant comes with inferior specifications. Is it better to choose one of the latest base variants from Samsung and Xiaomi or a 2019 Pro device from OnePlus? This comparison will clear your ideas.

Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 vs OnePlus 7T Pro

	Xiaomi Mi 10	Samsung Galaxy S20	OnePlus 7T Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	162.6 x 74.8 x 9 mm, 208 g	151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm, 163 g	162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm, 206 g
DISPLAY	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED	6.2 inches, 1440 x 3200p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X	6.67 inches, 1440 x 3120p (Quad HD+), Fluid AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Samsung Exynos 990, octa-core 2.73 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 10, MIUI	Android 10, One UI	Android 10, Oxygen OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 108 + 13 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 12 + 64 + 12 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.0 + f/2.2 10 MP f/2.2 front camera	Triple 48 + 8 + 16 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 + f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4780 mAh, fast charging 30W, Fast wireless charging 30W	4000 mAh, fast charging 25W, Fast wireless charging 15W	4085 mAh, fast charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 10W	Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging 9W, waterproof IP68	Dual SIM slot

Design

Tastes play an important role in this choice. Samsung Galaxy S20 and Xiaomi Mi 10 sport a punch-hole display with a single camera embedded, while OnePlus 7T Pro offers a notch-less and holeless display thanks to the presence of a motorized pop-up camera. Samsung Galaxy S20 is the most compact device thanks to its smaller display, and it is also the only with an IP certification (IP68), it is waterproof and dust resistant. Both the front and rear panel of the Samsung Galaxy S20 are protected by Gorilla Glass 6, so you essentially get a better build quality by choosing the Galaxy S20.

Display

Given that it is the only to feature a 120 Hz refresh rate and it comes with a high Quad HD+ resolution and a new Dynamic AMOLED panel with impressive image quality, Samsung Galaxy S20 is the device with the most interesting display. But note that you can use the 120 Hz refresh rate only with the Full HD+ resolution, while if you want to use the Quad HD+ resolution you will have to stick to 60 Hz. OnePlus 7T Pro takes the second place with a Quad HD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. But Xiaomi Mi 10 still offers an amazing panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a 180 Hz touch sampling rate.

Hardware/Software

Xiaomi Mi 10 and Samsung Galaxy S20 feature a superior chipset to OnePlus 7T Pro and, unlike the OnePlus 7T Pro, they support 5G (optional on the Galaxy S20). In its most expensive variant, Xiaomi Mi 10 has superior hardware to the Samsung Galaxy S20 since it comes in a higher-end memory configuration with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. In each case, you get Android 10 out of the box.

Camera

On the paper, Xiaomi Mi 10 looks more convincing than Samsung Galaxy S20 when it comes to the camera setup, but we will have to test both thoroughly to make our definitive conclusions. OnePlus 7T Pro is inferior to both even if we talk about cameras.

Battery

The huge 4780 mAh battery and its efficient display with a lower resolution make the Xiaomi Mi 10 the king of battery life in this comparison. Xiaomi Mi 10 also comes with faster charging and wireless charging technologies, and it even supports reverse wireless charging.

Price

Xiaomi Mi 10 debuted in China with a €530 price tag, Samsung Galaxy S20 starts from €899 globally, and OnePlus 7T Pro costs €739 in its base variant. Overall, Samsung Galaxy S20 and Xiaomi Mi 10 are better deals compared to the OnePlus 7T Pro. Samsung Galaxy S20 is waterproof and it comes with a better display and build quality, while Xiaomi Mi 10 has a longer battery life, faster charging technologies, and a more affordable price. Which one do would you pick?

Read More: Xiaomi sold Mi 10 units worth 200 million yuan within a minute in its first sale in China

Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 vs OnePlus 7T Pro: PRO and CONS

OnePlus 7T Pro

PROS

Holeless display
Worldwide availability
Street prices

CONS

No 5G

Xiaomi Mi 10

PROS

Awesome cameras
Bigger battery
Fastest charging technology
Good price

CONS

Nothing particular

Samsung Galaxy S20

PROS

Ultrasonic fingerprint reader
Micro SD slot
IP68 waterproof
More compact

CONS

Price

First Google Pixel 5 XL render is here & It has an ugly camera bump!

By

Joel Joseph

-

Feb 14, 2020

Like every year, the Google Pixel series is expected to get an update in October. We should be meeting two Pixel models, Pixel 5 and the 5 XL this year. And the first render of the Google Pixel 5 XL is already here, a solid eight months before the actual launch! Google has never successfully kept the Pixel model under wraps before its arrival. But getting a prototype render eight months in advance is a new record, even for the Pixel series.

Google Pixel 5 Prototype render — Pixel 5 prototype render by Jon Prosser

The render comes from the YouTuber Jon Prosser of FrontPageTech. He obtained CAD files for the upcoming Pixel 5 XL a few days back which were used to create these new renders.

Jon says that the Pixel 5 XL has three prototype models in development. The design you see above is just one of these prototypes. The other two prototypes have a similar square-shaped camera housing as the existing Pixel 4 lineup.

The above Pixel 5 XL design is said to feature the same “soft matte glass back with a glossy camera module”. The three cameras on board (yes, the 2020 Pixel is finally getting three sensors this year) come in a camera housing that looks like an elongated semi-circle. Honestly, it’s one of the worst designs that we’ve seen lately. Jon says that the design started to grow on him slightly, but personally, I don’t see that happening to me.

However, there’s some good news. Irrespective of what design the Pixel 5 XL comes in, it looks like Google will finally add a wide-angle camera on the new model. The lack of an ultra-wide-angle sensor was a big let down last year, so it’s good to see it on the upcoming 2020 pixel.

Jon didn’t share a render of the Pixel 5 XL’s front but he says that it’s very similar to the Pixel 4 series, with a smaller forehead. Does that mean Google is getting rid of the Soli sensor? Unfortunately, we don’t know that.

So, this was our first look at the Pixel 5 XL. You can check out his video from down below.

Do let us know your thoughts on this camera design?

Realme X50 Pro 5G gets a 65W GaN charger in the box, unlike the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

By

Joel Joseph

-

Feb 14, 2020

Yesterday, Xiaomi announced that it would ship the Mi 10 with a fast 65W charger right inside the box encouraging users to charge other devices like laptops with the same charger. In addition to this, Xiaomi also announced a GaN 65W charger, which is available for purchase for ¥149 (~$21). Today, Realme has come forward to announce that the Realme X50 Pro 5G will also come with a 65W charger out of the box, but it will be a GaN charger that’s much more compact and lighter than the one inside the Mi 10 Pro.

It’s clear that Realme wants to show that its X50 Pro 5G is offering better value with a 65W GaN charger inside the box. So if you thought Xiaomi was generous to add a 65W regular charger inside the Mi 10 Pro, know that Realme is taking things to the next level.

GaN chargers are usually pretty expensive but they bring a lot of advantages such as a compact and light form factor and better efficiency. Imagine a 65W charger in the size of a regular two-pin charger. Now, imagine that you are getting this GaN charger inside your smartphone at no additional cost. That’s a big deal!

The Realme X50 Pro 5G will come with a 65W SuperDart charging technology. This is most likely based on the SuperVOOC 2.0 charging tech used by last year’s Reno Ace model. The Ace could charge its 4000mAh battery in around half an hour and we expect similar figures for the new Realme model as well.

The Realme X50 Pro 5G will come a Snapdragon 865 chipset and the new generation LPDDR5 memory. After MWC 2020’s cancelation, the phone gets an online launch event in Madrid.

Meizu 17th renders & live photo of the 17th Plus leaked, key specs in tow

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Feb 14, 2020

Meizu has not been having an easy ride in the tech scene in recent times but we can’t just brush aside the Chinese company due to its penchant to deliver amazing and spectacular smartphone designs, especially on its flagship series. The company’s CEO Jerry Wang has always been a fan of maintaining a symmetrical display design. That is why the flagship line has not included a model with any type of notch. The next-gen Meizu 17th series is expected to be released this year, maintaining a notch-less design with trimmed down bezels.

A leaked live image and renders of the Meizu 17th series have appeared online. One of the leaked images shows the “About” page of the phone and it reveals it is called the Meizu 17th Plus. That means there will be two variants on the series.

The age shows the Meizu 17th Plus will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset and would have up to 512GB of storage onboard. The device will pack a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 100MP+20MP+20MP camera setup. A selfie camera is not visible on the leaked image which could be because the device uses an under-screen selfie camera. We are not too sure about that.

The leaked renders make a detour in terms of the design. First off, it presents with curved screen design and a single hole-punch selfie camera located at the centre. The rear design includes a quad-camera sensor setup housed spatially in a round-shaped module. The LED flash is at the centre of the module. This could be the Meizu 17th.

There is no word yet as to when the Meizu 17th series will be unveiled.

(via)

Xiaomi is testing a new security feature on MIUI 11, warns users if apps use sensitive permissions

By

Sean

-

Feb 14, 2020

Smartphones have become an increasingly integral part of modern lives. Apart from the various necessary functions it serves, a smartphone also holds data important to a user. Thus, to improve upon the security of this important data Xiaomi is testing a new security feature on the MIUI 11.

Currently, Xiaomi is testing a brand new security feature to warn a user when a certain app is using sensitive permissions. It is being tested in the MIUI 11 custom skin which is basically the successor to the MIUI 10, which is currently in circulation. MIUI 11 is in the beta program and is available to anyone who wishes to opt in for it as well.

The new feature is called “App Behavior Records” in the MIUI 11. Basically, it logs what permissions an app is utilizing or tacking whether it opens a different app in the background. According to official notes, the above mentioned actions lead to certain “sensitive actions” being performed like:

Recording audio in the background
Accessing calendar events
Accessing call history
Making a phone call
Taking photos or recording videos
Accessing or saving items to the clipboard
Accessing contacts
Accessing your location
Reading your text messages
Accessing sensor data
Accessing activity info
Accessing device info
Reading your phone number
Accessing or saving files in the background

The entire process starts when an app after being launched, simultaneously, chain launches other apps and utilizes sensitive permissions to perform the aforementioned sensitive actions. As of right now, users have the option to receive such notifications and can still opt to mute it. The new feature is much appreciate and we ook forward to what more it could lead to in the near future. Unfortunately, it is still being tested and will not be immediately available for the live MIUI 11 build.

(Via)

Google Accidentally teased Android 11 before taking down the preview page

By

Sean

-

Feb 14, 2020

It seems like the Android Developer Preview is around the corner. Although Google has yet to officially announce anything, the company in a clumsy move put the web page for the Android 11 Developer Preview live on its website before taking it down soon after.

The accidental tease arrives just in the form of a preview and was first reported by Android Police. According to the images shared, the web page, unfortunately, revealed very little about the upcoming successor to Android 10 OS. The developer preview for the previous iteration was held in March, so Google might have been sitting on the event for a while now.

However, it is still unclear exactly when the Developer Preview actually goes live. For now, we only have the screenshot that implies that the latest version of Android is really close to being released and is expected to bring many new features, especially in regards to privacy and special optimizations for foldable smartphones.

Notably, other details like biometrics are also mentioned, but it still unknown what the improvement implies as of right now. Other inclusions also arrive with Vulkan extensions (an improvement on gaming performances). Similar to last year, the Develop Preview will be shared across Google’s Pixel devices and will involve people running multiple apps to test the changes in behavior as well.

(Source,Via)

Lenovo Exec says the Xiaomi 65W PD Charger is good, but 3 pin chargers are better for laptops

By

Sean

-

Feb 14, 2020

Earlier this week, Xiaomi Founder, Lei Jun, stated that he hated the traditional laptop chargers that are currently in circulation. The senior executive even called for the industry to move over to the new charger formats, similar to its latest 65W charger released with the Mi 10.

In response to this statement, a Lenovo executive took to Weibo, the Chinese microblogging website, to state that both sides have different benefits. For those unaware, during Xiaomi live press conference, Lei Jun used a Lenovo laptop charger to compare its 65W Mi 10 charger. The latter is capable of fast charging the 2020 flagship series by up to 50W and can also charge laptops with up to 65W. All in a compact form factor and a dual pin format.

However, the senior executive from Lenovo mentioned that the industry cannot simply eliminate one side. He stated, “Each has its own advantages. It’s not that the current compact PD charger with two heads is not good, but with the three-pin charger there is no risk of the plug coming out. The traditional three-pin charger is large, cooler, has an earthing pin, with a low chance of it coming out of the socket. With an additional earthing pin, the risk of the charger falling off the socket is low. So each has its own strengths; if it is thrown in the company, in the dormitory, and thrown in at home, the three-pin charger stays plugged in. If you are on a business trip, the two-pin compact PD charger is more suitable.”

In simpler terms, the larger size of a traditional charger is not due to lack of technology but more for safety, durability, and reliability as well. Thus, he recommends that a three-pin charger is still dominant in the laptop industry as a whole.

(Via)

The Galaxy S20 consumes 600MB per Minute while Recording 8K Videos

By

Vinay Patel

-

Feb 14, 2020

Much to the dismay of those looking forward to recording 8K footages on the Samsung Galaxy S20, the South Korean phone maker has revealed that capturing videos in this resolution would occupy about a considerable 600MB per minute.

In other words, people recording videos in 8K for superior quality are likely to run out of storage space on the phone in a jiffy. While talking to The Verge, Samsung said a five-minute-long recorded video in 8K would consume nearly 3GB of the onboard storage space.

The limited storage space isn’t the only challenge when it comes to recording 8K videos on the Galaxy S20. The maximum recording time is restricted to just five minutes, as reported by SamMobile. Moreover, videos can be recorded at only 24fps (frames per second), which means, you can’t shoot at higher rates such as 30fps or 60fps.

As if that weren’t disappointing enough, Samsung has also revealed that video stabilization will be unavailable while recording 8K videos. Those still interested in capturing footages in the highest-possible resolution can go for the Galaxy S20 Ultra as it offers larger internal storage capacity.

The device ships offer a hefty 512GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 1TB using microSD cards. In short, you can get a total combined storage space of 1.5TB. On the downside, not all of this space will be available for storing your favorite multimedia content as apps and the phone’s operating system will be consuming a considerable amount of it as well. Nevertheless, it should account for at least 24 hours of 8K footage.
This doesn’t stop Samsung from promoting the idea of shooting promoting. Thanks to the high resolution, you will be able to pick 33MP stills directly from the footage, which means, you can create photos from films that were recorded as a video. Regrettably, there is hardly any option available for playing back 8K footages at its original resolution as 8K TVs are considerably new in the market.

It will be interesting to see how the Galaxy S20’s camera sensors perform when it comes to 8K footage. This is likely to be eventually revealed as consumers start using the device in real life.

(Source)

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