Realme Buds Air will feature Wireless Charging, confirms Madhav Sheth

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Dec 12, 2019

Xiaomi’s Mi AirDots Pro is sold outside China as the Mi True Wireless Earphones. In September, Xiaomi announced the Air2 (AirDots Pro 2) which is the successor to the AirDots Pro and should sell outside China as the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2. However, Xiaomi is yet to announce the Air2 outside China and that isn’t surprising seeing as it took about six months before it launched the first model in Europe.

Now, a Bluetooth certification page for another pair of wireless earbuds from Xiaomi called the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S has been spotted.

The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S was certified today by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The certification page reveals the model number of the earbuds has TWSEJ05WM and it confirms that it is a higher model than the Mi Air2/AirDots 2 Pro whose model number is TWSEJ02JY.

The certification page says the product website is Tiiinlab.com.cn which is actually the website of the acoustics company behind the 1More brand of audio products.

The earbuds will connect via Bluetooth 5.0 but we do not know what it will look like and what new features it will bring. However, we do hope it will come with Qualcomm’s QCC5126 audio chip and support for wireless charging. We also cannot say when it will launch, though it doesn’t seem like it will be this year.

Samsung Galaxy Fold launches in yet another country tomorrow – Indonesia

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 12, 2019

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is already available in multiple countries across the globe. Tomorrow, the Fold will be available for pre-order in yet another country, this time in Asia – Indonesia. The official Samsung Indonesia website has a count down timer that shows there’s still more than 12 hours left for the pre-orders to begin the country.

Delighted being in the first line? Register now: https://t.co/X2IrHWnBeE to pre-order the futuristic Samsung Galaxy Fold tomorrow at 9am.#GalaxyFold pic.twitter.com/N04yYCMH1r

— Samsung Indonesia (@samsungID) December 12, 2019

As with other markets, the Galaxy Fold is expected to come in limited quantities and is only available via pre-orders. Also, the company adds that the units will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Inside the box, you’ll get a pair of Galaxy buds and a case along with the foldable.

Note that Samsung is yet to reveal the official price tag of the Galaxy Fold 4G in Indonesia. Expect that information to surface tomorrow when the pre-orders begin. For your reference, the Galaxy Fold 4G launched in the U.S. for $1980 which comes to 27 million Indonesian Rupiah.

It is worth adding that the next generation of the Galaxy Fold is expected to release in February 2020 at a cheaper price tag. So it remains to be seen if people are ready to shell out thousands of dollars for the current generation model, just a couple of months before its successor launches in the market.

10 Things You Should Know About the Redmi K30 5G

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 12, 2019

Redmi has just launched its first-ever 5G smartphone in China this week, the Redmi K30 5G. It will succeed the highly popular Redmi K20 lineup, featuring several next-generation technologies. This includes a brand new Snapdragon processor, the latest Sony image sensor, and of course, support for the new 5G network.

The Redmi K30 5G is a powerful contender in the upper mid-range market and boasts of several ‘World’s First’ titles in its pursuit of offering incredible value for money. There’s a lot to talk about the new phone, but here, let’s focus on the top 10 features of the Redmi K30 5G!

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1. First 5G Redmi Phone

The Redmi K30 5G is the first Redmi branded smartphone to support the fifth-generation wireless network. Overall, it’s the third 5G Xiaomi smartphone in the market. Note that we are excluding Mix Alpha, as it’s not yet commercially available. 5G brings significantly faster download and upload speeds to the device, making it much superior to its predecessors in terms of connectivity.

5G is still in its nascent stages, so the Redmi K30 comes in a cheaper 4G option as well. This particular model may be the version that will be sold in international markets like India, where 5G networks are not yet available.

2. 120Hz Display

The Redmi K30 is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature a 120Hz high refresh rate display. In fact, it is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature a refresh rate higher than the traditional 60Hz. Despite being an LCD panel, the K30 comes with HDR10 support which should ensure crisp colors on the panel.

3. World’s First Snapdragon 765G smartphone

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 765G processor earlier this month, and the Redmi K30 is the first smartphone in the world to use this upper mid-range 5G chipset. The new processor boasts of powerful gaming features and is nearly as good as the company’s top-end Snapdragon 865 processor that will be available in flagship smartphones of 2020.

4. Redmi K30 will likely be more power-efficient than Snapdragon 865 flagships

Since the Snapdragon 765G is Qualcomm’s first 5G-integrated SoC, the Redmi K30 could be even more power-efficient than the Snapdragon 865 powered 2020 flagship smartphones. The Snapdragon 865’s modem technically supports faster download and upload speeds, but given how the K30 5G features an integrated X52 modem inside, it should offer better power efficiency, thereby providing a pretty decent battery life.

Editor’s Pick: Qualcomm Exec explains why Snapdragon 865 doesn’t have an integrated 5G modem

5. World’s First Phone to feature Sony IMX686 sensor

Remember the 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor that was inside the Redmi K20 Pro? The new Redmi K30 5G comes with its successor, the Sony IMX686. It is the world’s first smartphone to use this new generation camera sensor with a 64MP resolution. This new Sony sensor will compete directly with the existing Samsung GW1 64MP sensor that’s on the back of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

6. First Punch Hole camera phone from Xiaomi

Just like we said before, the Redmi K30 bags a lot of ‘firsts’ for the Redmi brand. Another first is the presence of the dual punch-hole cameras on its display. The phone is the first punch-hole camera smartphone in the entire Xiaomi lineup, and features not one, but two cameras in its display – 20MP + 2MP. Xiaomi did have a couple of dual selfie camera smartphones in the past like the Redmi Note 6 Pro and the Mi Mix 3, but the Redmi K30 5G is the first Xiaomi smartphone with dual punch hole shooters.

7. Redmi K30 series is meant for gaming

As mentioned above, the Redmi K30 comes in 5G and 4G versions. They have two different processors inside – the K30 5G has the new Snapdragon 765G chipset while the 4G variant has the Snapdragon 730G chipset. If you notice, both these models have got the gaming versions of its chipsets that come with boosted GPUs, further confirming that they are targeted at gaming enthusiasts.

8. Larger battery for 5G consumption

Remember how Redmi increased the battery capacity of the Redmi Note 8 Pro to 4500mAh? Well, Redmi has decided to do the same for the Redmi K30 5G model as well, mainly because the 5G network is likely to drain more battery as compared to 4G. You get 30W fast charging, as well and Redmi says you can charge the phone from empty to full in just 1 hour.

9. Redmi K30 5G has 12 antennas

5G requires a complicated antenna setup inside a smartphone. So, the Redmi K30 5G comes with a total of 12 antennas inside, which is 2.4 times the number that is found on a traditional 4G smartphone.

The phone is also using a new structural design and complex RF solution to make 5G signals stronger and much more stable.

10. World’s Cheapest 5G model

As the world’s first phone to feature the Snapdragon 765G chipset, the Redmi K30 5G is also the world’s first true mid-range 5G smartphone. It is the cheapest 5G smartphone in the world! The phone will lead the 5G revolution in the mid-range segment, marking the entry of the new generation technology into cheaper price segments.

The Redmi K30 5G is the first of many mid-range 5G smartphones that are coming our way in 2020. It’s an important phone for Redmi as it marks the start of the 5G era for the brand.

Blackview BV9900 survives some extremely violent test, proves its durability (video)

By

Dimitris Economou

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Dec 12, 2019

Blackview BV9900 is the latest flagship from the company and it was announced recently, making fans of rugged phones excited about the new device. But an announcement is never enough so Blackview just released a durability test video to demonstrate just how indestructible the phone really is.

As you can see in the video above, the phone survives extreme tests like fire burning, dust jetting, rolled over by a car, drop test, and 19-hour cement burial. In addition to these tests, the Chinese manufacturer has increased the operating temperature of the BV9900 and it now ranges from -30℃ to 55℃. In the video, you can see that you can still make phone calls even though the device remained in the fridge at -30℃ for over 21 hours. Four basic phone functions including Phone, Message, Contacts, and Camera can be used at such a low temperature.

The video proves that when Blackview talks about IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD 810G military standard, they are serious. Of course, the main selling points of the BV9900 do not end with its durability. In terms of specs, it’s no less impressive. It’s a flagship-grade device and you can see all the specs here.

The phone will make its world premiere on December 23rd at a discounted price of $329.99. To celebrate the opening sale, Blackview will randomly give away a $1000 non-threshold coupon to one of the BV9900 buyers who purchase BV9900 at Blackview Official Store at AliExpress. You can add it to your cart in advance to get notified when the sale starts. By the way, on the same day, the new Blackview BV-SW02 smartwatch of the company will also go on sale at a 50% off discount (just $39.99). Lastly, you can join the giveaway of both devices here for a chance to be one of the 10 lucky winners.

Xiaomi’s Ninebot set to release a new product on December 17 – Electric car?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 12, 2019

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Ninebot has released a series of teaser posters that point to the launch of an unnamed product on December 17. The posters leave incoherent clues as to what the product is but from the Weibo countdown, it looks like the product is a car!

We can’t say what type of car this is but since Ninebot is known for its self-balancing electric scooter, it is possible this is an electric car. However, we don’t think this is a big electric car, it is likely a toy car. We’ll have to wait until the launch to find out what it is exactly. In another light, the product could also be an electric bike (eBike).

Xiaomi is popular in and outside China for several reasons apart from its affordable premium smartphones. The company boast of a retinue of cool gadgets ranging from smart home products, IoTs, electric scooters and several others. The Segway-inspired Ninebot self-balancing scooter is one of its most popular products due to its affordability and sleek design. It even has a GoKart kit to convert the scooter to a racing Gokart. Xiaomi has a substantial sake in Ninebot which helped the latter acquire American self-balancing scooter manufacturer, Segway back in April 2015. Although Ninebot is an independent brand, the new product will likely be sold leveraging on Xiaomi’s widespread reach.

Blackview BV-SW02 will go live at the ridiculously low price of $39.99 before Xmas! (video)

By

Dimitris Economou

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Dec 12, 2019

The Blackview BV-SW02 was announced last week and it is the first business and sports smartwatch of the company. It comes with many attractive features and the Chinese manufacturer confirmed that it will hit the market on December 23rd at the ridiculously low price of $39.99. Let’s see what it has to offer.

When used as a sports smartwatch it offers heart rate detection, calorie tracking as well as 12 sports-focused modes to help the user train better: outdoor running, indoor running, outdoor riding, indoor cycling, outdoor walking, hiking, indoor walking, elliptical machine, rowing machine, HIIT, yoga, and other (customizable via the app provided). Also, it sports 5ATM rating, meaning that it can withstand the pressure 50m deep underwater.

On the other hand, when used as a business-oriented watch, it notifies you about calls, texts, events, and other social notifications. It also supports hanging up incoming phone calls without taking out your phone. You can see the daily weather forecast and you can also wear it during sleeping to track your sleep habits and improve your sleep quality.

One of its best features is its battery performance. The BV-SW02 can go on for up to 15 days on a single charge, taking advantage of the power-efficient Nordic nRF52840 Bluetooth chip. It comes with a 1.3″ round LCD display with 4 styles supported. In the box, you will find a black TPU wristband dedicated to Decathlon as well as an extra orange wristband. It is compatible with phones running Android 4.4 or higher and iPhones with iOS 9.0 or above. The VeryFitPro app is used to communicate with the watch and record your activity.

Coming on December 23rd, it brings premium design and quality at an incredible price during presale. You can add it t your cart right now to get notified when the sale begins. On the same day, the Blackview BV9900 rugged flagship phone will start its open sale at a discounted price of $329.99. You can also join the giveaway of both products to win your one.

Samsung Galaxy S9 series to finally start Open Beta for One UI 2 from Monday

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Dec 12, 2019

According to a new report, Samsung is starting the Open Beta testing for the Galaxy S9 series which will receive it’s One UI 2. It was previously revealed that Samsung’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy Note 9 series would receive the open beta but the exact date was not specified. Now, it is confirmed to arrive next Monday on 16th December 2019.

For those interested in participating in the open beta, users must download the Samsung Members app. Through this you must register for the Open Beta program and once eligible will receive the Beta build. To install, go to Settings>Software updates>Download updates manually.
Note: Make sure to back up your devices, as it is Beta build and might lead to loss of user data. Also, update any app to the latest builds to avoid compatibility issues.

Recently, the South Korean tech giant had also announced the list of system upgrade plans for Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e; these devices will receive the stable live build for Android 10 OS in January 2020. Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+, on the other hand, will receive the software update in February 2020.

Similarly, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 will also receive the update in February while the live build for Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will launch in March 2020. The last smartphone to get the latest Android 10 OS update is Samsung Galaxy Fold, with a release date in May 2020. For owners of the aforementioned devices, this is great news as the new update brings tons of new features and security updates.

Galaxy Note10+ Star Wars Rise of Skywalker Edition

Furthermore, while users are waiting for the major update, they can check any pending updates that might have by going to Settings and looking for the system update. Samsung has historically been a bit slow with updates and inclusion of smartphones due to its vast lineup but it generally always bring the older devices up to speed.

(Via)

Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 get MIUI 11 Global stable ROM

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Dec 12, 2019

MIUI India has announced that the MIUI 11 Global Stable ROM is now available for the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A. Owners of the two phones will have to download the ROM and manually install it.

The stable ROM has version number 11.0.4.0 for the Redmi 6A and version number 11.0.1.0 for the Redmi 6. It brings features such as Mi Share, Game Booster, Sounds of Nature, Task and a revamped and minimalist design. The size of the ROM for both phones is 1.3GB.

Mi fans, now experience all-new features like Mi Share, game speed booster, new minimalist design & much more on your #DeshKaNayaSmartphone.#MIUI11 Global Stable ROM V11.0.4.0 has been rolled-out for Redmi 6A.
Download now: https://t.co/3E1LsVylY7 pic.twitter.com/9rY657Dku7

— MIUI India for #MiFans (@MIUI_India) December 11, 2019

Mi fans, the much-awaited #MIUI11 Global Stable ROM V11.0.1.0 has been rolled out for #DeshKeNayeSmartphone, #Redmi6.

Download now: https://t.co/rgx5tJVE2M

Tell us which is your favourite MIUI 11 feature. pic.twitter.com/l2DBD2Sfhm

— MIUI India for #MiFans (@MIUI_India) December 11, 2019

The update arrives a month behind schedule according to the rollout timetable released back in October. Both phones were scheduled to get the update in the first few weeks of November but it is actually arriving a month later.

The Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 were announced in June 2018. The Redmi 6A has a 5.45-inch HD+ display, an Helio A22 processor, 2GB/3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of storage. There is a single 13MP camera on the back while a 5MP camera is in front for selfies. It has a 3000mAh battery and charges via a MicroUSB port.

The Redmi 6 has the same 5.45-inch HD+ display but swaps the Helio A22 for the Helio P22. It also comes with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage that can be expanded via a dedicated MicroSD card slot. Unlike the Redmi 6A, the Redmi 6 has a fingerprint scanner. It also has dual rear cameras (12MP + 5MP) but its selfie camera is the same. It also has a 3000mAh battery.

Vivo iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition goes on sale in China for 2,598 Yuan (~$370)

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Dec 12, 2019

The Vivo iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition is live on sale in China. Vivo unveiled the iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition discreetly in China on Dec. 5. The smartphone is a slightly upgraded version of the iQOO Neo 855 that was launched back in October this year. The new smartphone is powered by the upgraded SD 855+ SoC and is priced from 2,598 Yuan (~$370).

iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition Specifications and Features

The iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition features the standard 6.38-inch Super AMOLED display found on the iQOO 855 Neo. The display offers an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixels full HD+ resolution, HDR10 and flaunts a waterdrop notch. The screen is embedded with a fingerprint sensor. Powering the iQOO 855 Neo Racing Edition is a 2.96GHz Snapdragon 855+ SoC with up to 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage.

The Racing Edition has a triple sensor layout on its back with the primary lens using a 12-megapixel sensor with an aperture ratio of f/1.79. It is paired to an 8-megapixel sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.2, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.4 complete with an LED flash module. The selfie camera uses a 16-megapixel lens with an aperture rating of f/2.0. Camera aids on the smartphone include panorama, HDR, Super Night Scene 2.0, AI scene detection and professional mode.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo X30 Pro (V1938T) records 326K+ score on AnTuTu

The iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition draws power from a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charge. The highlight of the Racing Edition is the 10-layer heat dissipation system that comprises liquid cooling, thermally conductive gel, and heat pipes. These work in conjunction to keep the overall temperature of the different internal hardware components down under heavy load.

The iQOO 855 Neo Racing Edition runs on Android 9.0 Pie-based FunTouch OS 9 with a custom Monster UI on top. The device features a Multi Turbo acceleration technology that optimizes performance while gaming. The device comes preloaded with Game Space 2.5 and Game Box for an immersive gaming experience. Connectivity options on the smartphone include dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB-C, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone port. The smartphone supports face unlock and features an in-display fingerprint scanner for additional security.

iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition Price and Availability

Vivo is currently selling two variants of the iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition in China. While the base variant with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is priced at CNY 2,598 Yuan (~$370). The higher-end variant with 12 GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at 2,798 Yuan (~$400). The smartphone is available in three color variants, including Carbon Black, Iceland Aurora and Light Mint.

Samsung Galaxy A71 launched with 6.7-inch Infinity-O display, 64MP quad cameras and 4,500mAh battery

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Dec 12, 2019

Apart from launching the Galaxy A51, Samsung Vietnam also unveiled the Galaxy A71 smartphone today. It comes with a similar design as the Galaxy A51 but is packed with better internals. The Galaxy A71 manages to impress with an Infinity-O display like the Galaxy Note 10. It comes equipped with a 64-megapixel quad camera setup on its back and its driven by a large-sized battery that carries support for fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy A71 Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy A71 that measures 163.6 x 76 x 7.7mm and weighs 179 grams features a 6.7-inch S-AMOLED Infinity-O display that is integrated with a fingerprint reader. It supports full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a tall aspect ratio of 20:9.

The octa-core processor that powers the Galaxy A71 has 2.2GHz Snapdragon 730 CPU. The phone comes in 6 GB and 8 GB RAM variants. Both models offer 128 GB of native storage. The device comes with a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung W20 5G is now listed with 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

For capturing selfies, the Galaxy A71 has an f/2.2 aperture 32-megapixel front camera. The rear shell of the smartphone has a rectangular camera module that houses four lenses and an LED flash. It comprises of an f/1.8 aperture 64-megapixel main lens, an f/2.2 aperture 5-megapixel depth sensor, an f/2.4 aperture 5-megapixel macro lens and an f/2.2 aperture 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor.

The One UI 2.0 based Android 10 OS comes preloaded on the Galaxy A71. It is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. The phone also supports face recognition.

Samsung Galaxy A71 Price

Samsung has not confirmed the pricing and availability of the Galaxy A71. However, it has revealed that the phone will be available in colors like Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue and Prism Crush Pink.

Samsung Galaxy A51 launched with 6.5-inch Infinity-O display, 48MP quad cameras and 4,000mAh battery

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Dec 12, 2019

Today, Samsung unveiled two new Galaxy A 2020 series of smartphones in Vietnam. The Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 phones have gone as successor edition of the Galaxy A50/50s and Galaxy A70/70s smartphones. The Galaxy A51 comes with a top-center positioned punch-hole display like the Galaxy Note 10. It also comes with some other exciting features such as quad rear cameras, large-sized batteries and attractive color editions. Visit this link to know about the Galaxy A71 smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A51 Specifications

The all new Samsung Galaxy A51 has an Infinity-O S-AMOLED display of 6.5 inches. It supports 20:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is fitted with an in-screen fingerprint reader. The device also supports face recognition.

The Exynos 9611 chipset that includes 2.3GHz octa-core processor. The phone comes in multiple RAM options of 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB. Its storage variants are 64 GB and 128 GB. There is a dedicated microSD card slot for more storage.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung W20 5G is now listed with 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

When it comes to photography, the Galaxy A51 features an f/2.2 aperture 32-megapixel lens on the front and a rectangle-shaped quad camera setup on its back. The Galaxy A51’s quad camera system a 48-megapixel main lens with f/2.0 aperture, a depth sensor of 5-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture, a macro lens of 5-megapixel with f/2.4 aperture and a ultrawide lens of 12-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture.

The Android 10 OS customized with the latest One UI 2.0 runs on the Galaxy A51. It houses a 4,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. The device also supports Dolby Atmos. The handset measures 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 172 grams.

Samsung Galaxy A51 Price

The Galaxy A51 is priced at 7,990,000 VND (~$346) in Vietnam. Samsung will start with its pre-orders on Dec. 16 and it will be available for purchase from Dec. 27. Customers that pre-order receive a Bluetooth headset and a 10,000mAh power bank from Samsung. Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue and Prism Crush Pink are the color variants of the Galaxy A51. There is no word on the availability of the smartphone outside of Vietnam.

Vivo launches a Mobile Gaming oriented Type-C data cable

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Dec 12, 2019

According to a new report, Vivo has just launched a unique Type-C charger which doubles as a mobile gaming data cable. The product has strictly been marketed towards gamers and also features useful functions and design.

Design & Features

Vivo’s new flash charging mobile gaming data cable uses a T-shaped charging plug alongside a suction cup that attaches to the back of a smartphone. The latter can be used to run the cable through the back of the device when charging, which allows for an uninterrupted and nonintrusive gaming experience. This lets only the Type-C charging pin and its small head to be found exposed on the lower part of the handset.

The new flash charger for mobile gaming supports 2A charging. According to officials, it is compatible with both Vivo and IQOO smartphones; and is capable of providing a 44W ultra fast charging which can charge a compatible IQOO device up to 69 percent in just 30 minutes. On the other hand, Vivo’s X27 can also be charged up to 57 percent in 30 minutes using the gaming data cable when it is used with the smartphones 22.5W fast charger. The cable is about 1.2 meters in length and arrives with anti-winding design. Meaning, it is less likely to get tangled in and of itself.

Price & Colors

Vivo’s gaming-oriented type-C cable is offered in two color variants which include red and blue versions. And as for the cost, the unique product from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is offered at a price of 59 Yuan or roughly 7.11 US Dollars.

(Via)

Reno3 Pro to come with enhanced VOOC 4.0; charges full in 56 minutes

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Dec 12, 2019

The Reno3 Pro is ready to give the Redmi K30 5G a run for its money. Details about the features of the upcoming phone, which will launch on December 26, have been pouring in for weeks now. The latest is about the fast-charge technology that will be bundled with the device.

OPPO’s Vice President, Shen Yiren, took to Weibo to reveal that the Reno3 Pro will have an enhanced version of VOOC 4.0. He said the phone will be able to charge from 0 to 50% in just 20 minutes while a full charge will take 56 minutes.

That is much faster than the original VOOC 4.0 which takes 30 minutes to charge a 4000mAh battery from 0 to 67% and 73 minutes to charge it to 100%.

Based on the figures, it appears OPPO has reduced the trickle charge duration or increased the duration of the rapid charge. This way, the phone takes a shorter time to get full.

The Reno3 Pro has been confirmed to have a 4025mAh battery squeezed into a 7.7 millimeters thin body. The battery capacity is smaller than the Redmi K30 5G’s 4500mAh battery but nevertheless, it is good news that the phone is getting an improved fast charge technology.

The Reno3 Pro will come with a Snapdragon 765G processor, 48MP quad-rear cameras, a 6.5-inch OLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a punch hole for a 32MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and run Android 10 out of the box.

Analysts: Apple to not significantly raise prices for 5G iPhone in 2020

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Dec 12, 2019

According to analysts, Apple will not be significantly raising the price for its 2020 iPhones. Each new entry in the Cupertino-based company’s smartphone yearly lineup has been more expensive than the last. But the new report claims that it would not be the case for the upcoming 5G iPhones.

Generally speaking, smartphones that are equipped with 5G modems are more expensive than mainstream 4G variants. The best example of this being Redmi K30 that arrives in a 5G and, a more affordable, 4G variant. However, according to an analyst from TF International Securities, the cost of new iPhones will rise by just 30 to 100 US Dollars (roughly 211 to 703 CNY).

Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max — iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

The reason for this is that the iPhone released in spring will share the cost of Apple’s September 2020 launch. The American tech giant is expected to release 5 smartphones in 2020, one of which will be released in spring before its four main lineups. Notably, support for 5G is one of the key upgrades of the new iPhones for the second half of the year.

Regardless of the more expensive 5G components being offered, Apple will not be increasing pricing significantly. The company aims to achieve this by not paying NRE (non-recurring engineering) for one-time metal frame/ case manufacturers in 2020 which saves development costs for the company. In simpler terms, it can help the company manage revenue and expenditure during off-seasons and peak seasons.

Previously, Apple had to compensate its suppliers for their losses suffered due to differences between off-season and peak season shipments. Now, by launching another device in the spring it can balance the revenue between both seasons and not have to pay the fees that it provided its suppliers such as Foxconn. This will allow Apple to not significantly hike the prices of 2020 iPhones with 5G connectivity.

(Via)

Samsung W20 5G is now listed for 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

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Dec 12, 2019

The Snapdragon 855 mobile platform powered Samsung Galaxy Fold has been available in China since a few months, but it only supported 4G connectivity. Last month, the South Korean company introduced the Galaxy W20 5G phone as 5G-ready version of the Galaxy Fold driven by the more powerful Snapdragon 855+ SoC. At the unveil event, the company did not confirm on the price tag of the Galaxy W20 5G foldable phone. It had only stated that the device will be available for purchase in December. Earlier today, the Galaxy W20 5G appeared on Samsung’s official online store as well as JD.com.

Samsung W20 5G Price

On JD.com, the Samsung W20 5G can be seen in Standard and Premium Edition. Priced at 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843), the Standard Edition ships with a free pair of Galaxy Buds worth 999 Yuan (~$142). The Galaxy W20 5G Standard Edition is up for reservations on the Chinese retailer site. The Premium Edition is priced at a whopping 29,999 Yuan (~$4,264) that includes a free pair of Galaxy Buds and VIP service worth 29,999 Yuan. The above shown screenshot shows that the Galaxy W20 5G Premium Edition was available for purchase at the time of writing this post. The shipments of both models will begin on Dec. 20.

Samsung W20 5G on sale Samsung's e-shop — Samsung W20 5G on sale Samsung’s e-shop

The Samsung W20 5G Standard Edition is the only version that is listed on its official e-shop for China with a pricing of 19,999 Yuan. The next sale on JD and Samsung’s online store is Dec. 20. The W20 5G foldable phone comes in an attractive white color. Samsung only sells its W-series smartphones exclusively in China. While the Galaxy Fold 5G is available outside China, the international availability of the Galaxy W20 5G seems unlikely.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 to feature an UTG display thinner than human hair

Samsung W20 5G Specifications

The Samsung W20 5G foldable phone has an outer AMOLED display of 4.6 inches that produces HD+ resolution. Opening the device reveals its 7.3-inch flexible AMOLED display that offers full HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform drives the foldable device with 12 GB of RAM. The Android 9 Pie OS along with One UI 2.0 runs on the device. It has a large internal storage of 512 GB.

The Samsung W20 5G features 16-megapixel (ultrawide) + 12-megapixel (wide-angle) + 12-megapixel (telephoto) triple camera on its rear. Above the cover display, there is a front-facing camera of 10-megapixel with autofocus. There is a 10-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera system placed at the upper-right corner of the inner display.

There is a 4,235mAh battery inside the Samsung W20 5G that supports 15W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. The device is also equipped with support for 9W reverse wireless charging. It comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

(source 1, 2)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite gets a surprise MIUI 11 beta update based on Android 10!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 12, 2019

Xiaomi has consistently been pushing the latest MIUI 11 update to its smartphone models. Quite a good number of Xiaomi phones have got the update ranging from flagship models like the Mi Mix 3, Mi 8, Mi 9 to mid-rangers like the Mi 9 SE, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Note 7, Note 6 Pro, Note 5. Even the budget segment isn’t left out as the Redmi 4, Redmi 5, 6/6A and several others have received OTA updates. While MIUI 11 brings several interesting features including system-wide Dark mode, most of the update was based on Android 9 and not the latest Android 10.

In a surprise twist, Xiaomi seems to have pushed MIUI 11 beta update to the Mi 8 Lite and it is based on Android 10.

The Mi 8 Lite could be regarded as an old smartphone, launched in September 2018 running Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 10. The phone soon got updated to MIUI 10.2 which ushered in Android 9 in February this year. This new update was spotted by Piunikaweb and it is for the Chinese Beta ROM. However, its appearance is an indication that Xiaomi is likely working to bring Android 10-based builds of MIUI 11 to the phone but we can’t say if it will affect the Global Stable branch. There is even a link to download the update file but since it is the Chinese Beta build, you won’t get Google Play Store onboard.

(source)

Android 10 stable update arrives for the Motorola One Power

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Dec 12, 2019

The Motorola One Power is the latest smartphone from Motorola to get the Android 10 stable update. The mid-ranger which was launched in October 2018 was originally on the Android 10 closed beta program last month.

Motorola says the update began rolling out on December 10, 2019, and expects all devices to have received it by January 10, 2020. This means it is rolling out in stages.

The update arrives as version QPT30.61-18. It comes with the December 2019 security patch and also includes bug fixes and improves system stability.

The Motorola One Power has a 6.2-inch 1080 x 2246 display with aa wide notch at the top. It is powered by the Snapdragon 636 processor and comes with 3GB, 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of expandable storage via a dedicated MicroSD card slot.

The phone has 16MP + 5MP dual rear cameras and a 12MP selfie camera which has its own LED flash. The Motorola One Power has a 5000mAh battery with support for 15W TurboPower fast charge via a USB Type-C port. It also has an audio jack, Dolby Audio, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

When it launched last year, it ran Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. It later got updated to Android 9 Pie in November 2018. This Android 10 update might as well be its last Android OS upgrade. However, security updates may continue for the next year or thereabout.

Motorola didn’t announce an Android 10 update roadmap, so we can’t say which device will get the update next. However, its other Android One phones should get it earlier than those not on the Android One program.

(Via)

PUBG Mobile and Peace Elite crosses $1.5 Billion in Global Revenues

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