Pictures-OPPO Reno Ace Gundam verison hands-on

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Nov 12, 2019

Earlier this year, along with the OPPO Reno Ace flagship smartphone, the company had also announced a limited-edition OPPO Reno Ace Gundam Edition. The OPPO Reno Ace Gundam Edition has been announced by the company to celebrate the company’s 40 year anniversary. It has a special appeal, thanks to the customised design and also comes along with some customised accessories. OPPO has said that it will be selling only 30,000 units of the smartphone.

Apart from the design and memory configuration, almost everything else remains the same in terms of specifications. The phone features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with 20:9 aspect ratio, 1080 x 2400 pixels screen resolution, and 90Hz refresh rate. It also comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus octa-core processor along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage. The company says that there’s a heat dissipation pipe for regulating its internal temperature.

On the back side, the phone comes with a Sony IMX586 48-megapixel main lens with f/1.8 aperture, a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with support for 5x hybrid zoom, an ultrawide lens of 8-megapixel and a macro lens of 2-megapixel. There is a selfie camera of 16-megapixel inside the front notch of the smartphone.

The device is fuelled by a 4,000mAh battery which comes with 65W SuperVOOC Flash Charge technology, which is currently the fastest charging technology. It takes only 30 minutes to completely charge the device and by charging it only for 5 minutes, the battery can gain 27 percent power. It also supports other rapid charging technologies like USB-PD and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge.

As for the pricing, the OPPO Reno Ace Gundam Edition is priced at 3,599 Yuan which roughly converts to $505. The company has also announced Unicorn Gundam C1 gamepad for the phone, which will go on sale from 11th November for 299 Yuan (~$42).

Xiaomi to launch a phone with better cameras than the Mi CC9 Pro

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 12, 2019

The Mi CC9 Pro which launched last week is one of the smartphones with the best cameras according to DxOMark. It holds the top spot alongside the Huawei Mate 30 Pro with a score of 121. However, it may not be Xiaomi’s top camera phone for long.

According to the credible Chinese leaker @Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi has a camera-centric phone in development that trumps the Mi CC9 Pro in camera performance. He doesn’t reveal any other info about the phone but adds that we may get more details during Xiaomi’s AIoT event.

We also inferred from the Weibo post that Xiaomi may be working with Samsung again for the new device.

At the moment, rumors say we may get the Redmi K30 phone this year but knowing Xiaomi, they may still have a few more models in the pipeline scheduled to launch before the end of the year. One of these phones may be the one that takes the crown from the Mi CC9 Pro.

(source)

Purported Sony Xperia 3 leaked photo reveals large punch-hole display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

At the IFA 2019 tech trade show, Sony had launched the Sony Xperia 5 flagship phone. Despite launching flagship and mid-range phones at regular intervals, Sony’s smartphone business is not doing well. The Japanese firm could sell only 600,000 smartphones in the third quarter of the year. In the same period last year, it had sold 1.6 million units. Sony is reportedly working on Xperia 3 flagship phone that is likely to go official in the first quarter of 2020. Months ahead of the launch, leaked photos of the purported Xperia 3 has appeared to reveal some its features.

The first image showcases the display of the alleged Xperia 3 smartphone. What’s unusual about the display is that it features a large punch-hole. The size of the punch-hole is as big as a fisheye. The other image shows that the device is fitted with a rear-mounted fingerprint reader. The predecessor flagship phones such as Xperia 1 and Xperia 5.

Editor’s Pick: Sony IMX686 image sensor teased with sample shots

Past reports have revealed that the Sony Xperia 3 exists in two models that are codenamed as Kona and Huracan. It is speculated that one of the them supports 5G connectivity whereas the other lacks support for it. The Xperia 3 is rumored to be powered by Snapdragon 865 that is yet to go official. In September, Sony’s next flagship phone was reportedly was spotted through its firmware distribution server with SM8250 (codename for Snapdragon 865). Nothing else is known on the specs of the Xperia 3.

The Snapdragon 865 mobile platform is rumored to be equipped with one 2.84GHz Cortex-A77 (custom Kryo core), three 2.42GHz Cortex-A77 cores (custom Kryo cores) and quad 1.8GHz Cortex-A55 cores (custom Kryo cores). It is expected to come equipped with 587MHz Adreno 650 graphics. The Snapdragon 865 chipset is expected to get announced at the upcoming Snapdragon Tech Summit 2019 that will be held between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 in the U.S. The Sony Xperia 3 flagship phone featuring the SD865 may get unleashed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 tech trade show in February.

(via)

Samsung Galaxy Fold sold out once again in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

Three days after selling out its entire consignment of Galaxy Fold devices in China under five minutes, Samsung once again ran out-of-stock within a few minutes on Monday. The foldable smartphone sold like hot cakes during the 11.11 (Singles’ Day) sales event in China, despite the mammoth ~$2,000 price tag. Samsung did not mention the number of devices that were sold during the second phase. However, the company is replenishing its supply lines fairly quickly, meaning that the Galaxy Fold will be available shortly.

In related news, Samsung plans to unveil the Galaxy W20 5G in China on Nov. 19. What was initially rumored to be a new clamshell-designed foldable smartphone, turned out to be nothing but a 5G-enabled variant of the Galaxy Fold with a new processor! The specifications of the smartphone surfaced online through the TENAA listings yesterday.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy S11 three variants with larger displays and 108MP cameras tipped

Samsung W20 5G Specifications and Features

The Galaxy W20 5G (model number SM-W2020) flaunts a 7.3-inch flexible AMOLED display with a resolution of 2152 x 1536 pixels. The secondary cover display uses a 4.6-inch unit with a resolution of 1680 x 720 pixels. According to the TENAA listing of the device, it is powered by a 2.956 GHz Snapdragon 855+ SoC with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of native storage.

In terms of optics, the W20 5G seems to borrow the same Hexa-camera setup present on the Galaxy Fold. The rear panel is equipped with two 12-megapixel sensors and a 16-megapixel unit. Present on the upper surface of the inner display is the 10-megapixel and 8-megapixel lenses. The 10-megapixel selfie camera is present above the cover display. The TENAA listing also reveals a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The foldable phone runs on Android 9 Pie OS that is customized with the latest edition of One UI.

The Samsung Galaxy W20 5G draws power from a 4,135 mAh battery. The smartphone could ship with 15W fast charging according to its 3C listing. The WPC certification of the device confirmed the presence of wireless charging on the device. Samsung is currently selling the Galaxy Fold in China for CNY 15,999 (~$2,286). The Galaxy W20 5G will be priced higher than the Galaxy Fold.

(source)

OPPO to unveil ColorOS 7 in India on November 26

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 12, 2019

MIUI is to Xiaomi as ColorOS is to OPPO. While Xiaomi is already rolling out a stable version of the latest iteration called MIUI 11 to its devices, OPPO is gearing up for the launch of the latest version of its own skin which will arrive as ColorOS 7.

It was previously reported that ColorOS 7 will be unveiled on November 20 in Beijing, China. For OPPO fans outside China, you won’t have to wait long as the BBK-owned company has begun sending invites for a launch in India exactly a week after the Beijing event.

The ColorOS 7 event scheduled for November 27 will be held in New Delhi.

There are no official details about what to expect but it should come with a new UI, Dark Mode for those who don’t like the mainly white bright theme of ColorOS 6. We also expect it to come with new animations, a new version of Game Boost, and a number of useful features to make usage easier.

ColorOS 7 should bring Android 10 to most of OPPO’s new phones but older models may be stuck on the version of Android they are currently running.

(Source)

Next Apple Watch may feature Touch ID under display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

Although the Apple Watch is an impressive bit of technology, the Cupertino-based electronics giant continues to look for innovative ways to improve its highly popular smartwatch. Based on the latest patent filing with the US Trademark and Patents Office, it can be said that Apple could be contemplating the idea of adding Touch ID to the display of the Apple Watch.

The news first appeared on Patently Apple last week claimed that the Cupertino company could be planning to introduce a touch-sensitive device, a force-sensitive device, a temperature-sensitive device and/or a fingerprint sensor underneath the display. This will be done by relocating the internal watch antennas within the wristband. While the current-generation Apple Watch can be used to unlock MacBooks, make secure payments through Apple Pay and more, native support for Touch ID will throw a whole new level of authentication to the mix.

Editor’s Pick: Apple AirPods Pro Unboxing & First Impressions: Is It Any Good? (Video)

The patent application titled “Antenna Assemblies for Watch Bands” explains how Apple plans to embed antennas within the wrist band, ensuring the perfect balance between form, functionality, and comfort. The watch band enables wireless communication via the stretchable antenna while protecting its structural integrity and operational capabilities. The watch band flexes, stretches and bends freely with the body and protects the antenna from damage caused by external impacts.

Embedding cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas within the band is a tough challenge, considering the amount of stress and torture these bands have to endure. Embedding antennas within the wristband would dramatically reduce aftermarket replacement options and increase the prices. Apple has high hopes for this technology, enough to file a patent. As with any new technology, it is never known whether Apple will ever bring these innovations. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see the direction that the company plans to take for the future.

In related news, Apple slashed the prices of the Watch Series 3 in India after the launch of the Series 5. Prices of the Series 3 GPS now start at Rs. 20,990 (~$294) while the GPS + Cellular variant is available at Rs. 29,990 (~$418). The Apple Watch Series 5 is priced from Rs. 40,900 (~$572) for the GPS-only variant while the GPS + cellular variant is priced at Rs. 49,900 (~$698). The Watch Series 5 flaunts a Low-Temperature Polysilicon and Oxide (LTPO) Retina display with a variable refresh rate, eliminating the need for refreshing the display, thus conserving power.

(source)

Honor V30 box details leaks out via Weibo

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Nov 12, 2019

Honor will be announcing the Honor V30 series on November 26 through an unveil event in Beijing, China, but there’s still plenty of time for leaks, including this new one. The latest leak gives us a look at the device’s box design and details. There’s the logo for the Vera 30, as well as a 5G logo and Honor’s own logo, all on a clean white background.

The rumor mill has so far revealed that the Honor V30 Pro will be equipped with an OLED display with dual selfie snappers whereas the standard model will be equipped with an LCD display and single punch-hole for its selfie camera. The V30 is said to be powered by the Kirin 990 SoC whereas the Honor V30 Pro could be driven by the Kirin 990 5G chipset.

The device is said to feature a quad camera system on its rear. It may include a 60-megapixel primary lens, a 16-megapixel superwide lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 3D ToF sensor. On other side, it may feature a quad camera system with a 60-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, a 20-megapixel superwide lens and a ToF camera.

According to even more rumors, the standard V30 could have a 4,000mAh battery whereas the Pro model could be equipped with a larger 4,200mAh battery. The 3C appearance of the alleged V30 Pro phone has revealed that it may arrive with support for 40W fast charging. The Pro model may also support wireless charging. Lastly, the Honor V30 series is expected to support NSA and SA 5G connectivity in China.

(Source)

MediaTek to debut premium MT6885 5G SoC during November 26 Summit

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Nov 12, 2019

MediaTek has confirmed that it will be unveiling its first 5G chipset at its annual Summit event on 26 November. According to Mediatek’s website, the upcoming MT6885Z chipset is based on the Helio M70 modem that supports 5G capabilities and is built on the 7nm die lithography. Additionally, the chipset features the ARM Cortex-A77 CPU and Mali-G77 GPU.

Aside from that, the new chipset is also expected to support 4K video encoding and decoding at 60 fps, as well as the capability to work with smartphone camera sensors of up to 80MP resolution. All on the aforementioned 7nm FinFET process. Allegedly the MT6885 is already in mass production and should start shipping to manufacturers in Q1 2020.

The company will also bring out an aggressively positioned mid-range 5G capable processor in the MT6873, one of the first of it’s kind, though it’s only expected to enter mass production only in the second quarter of 2020. It may even be more efficient than other competitors, as MediaTek may be planning to utilize TSMC’s upcoming 6nm manufacturing node.

Prior to this, the company had also debuted two other chips to its line-up earlier this year: the gaming-focused Helio G90, and the mid-range Helio P65 SoC. It is also rumored that Redmi is working on a 5G smartphone powered by MediaTek’s chipset which isn’t surprising given that the Xiaomi sub-brand opted for Helio G90T chipset for its Redmi Note 8 Pro.

(Source)

Samsung is working on a 108MP smartphone, reveals camera app code

By

Joel Joseph

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Nov 12, 2019

Just when we thought 64MP was likely going to be the upper limit for smartphone cameras, Samsung announced the ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor with a massive 108MP resolution. This has set a new benchmark for smartphone cameras and currently, Xiaomi is the only manufacturer to have smartphones that use this chipset. But that’s likely going to change in the coming months as Samsung has added support for 108MP resolution in the camera app code of the latest OneUI 2.0 beta.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Smoky Blue featured — The current Galaxy S10+ comes with a modest 12MP +12MP+16MP camera setup

While checking the camera app code in the latest beta version, XDA’s Max Weinback found that the camera app now supports a resolution of 12,000 by 9,000 pixels, essentially translating to 108MP. Given that Samsung is usually serious about new feature additions to its software, it’s very likely that the company is currently working on a new smartphone with the 108MP sensor.

Xiaomi’s Mi CC9 Pro / Mi Note 10 Pro and the Mi Mix Alpha are the only two smartphones that employ this 108MP Samsung sensor on its back. While we don’t know which Samsung model will get it, there are rumors that say that the S11 series could feature this sensor.

Just like the CC9 Pro, the new Samsung smartphone should employ pixel binning to churn out 27MP or even 12MP photos from this 108MP sensor.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy W20 5G full specs leak on TENAA reveals Snapdragon 855+ SoC

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

Samsung will be launching the Galaxy W20 5G foldable phone in China on Nov. 19. It was previously believed to be a new clamshell foldable phone from the company. However, newer reports have claimed that it is nothing but a 5G version of the Galaxy Fold for China that is equipped with a newer chipset. Yesterday, it appeared on TENAA with preliminary specs. The listing has now been updated to reveal its entire specifications. The TENAA listing reveals that the Galaxy W20 5G foldable phone is driven by Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform.

Samsung Galaxy W20 Specifications

The Galaxy W20 5G foldable phone for China has a model number of SM-W2020. The TENAA appearance has revealed that the phone will is fitted with a 4.6-inch display that supports 720 x 1680 pixels. It serves as covering display. Unfolding the device will reveal its flexible AMOLED screen of 7.3 inches that produces 1536 x 2152 pixels resolution.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy A51 renders reveal punch-hole display like Note 10 series and quad cameras

The Android 9 Pie OS runs on the device. It could be customized with the latest version of One UI 2.0 custom ROM from Samsung. TENAA reveals that it features an octa-core processor that works at 2.956 GHz. This clocking speed belongs to the Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform. The Galaxy Fold 5G phone available outside of China is equipped with SD855+. However, China will be getting Snapdragon 855+ edition of the Galaxy W20 5G. Its chipset is supported by 12 GB of RAM and it has a massive native storage of 512 GB.

For photography, it seems to be equipped with the same six cameras that are available on the Galaxy Fold. The back panel of the phone has 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 16-megapixel triple camera system. Flanked above the inner screen is a 10-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera system. Above the cover display is a selfie shooter of 10-megapixel.

The TENAA images of the Galaxy W20 5G phone reveals that it features a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The device is backed by a 4,135mAh minimum rated battery. Its 3C listing has revealed that it could be shipped with 15W fast charging. The WPC certification of the SM-W2020 has revealed that the phone will be also carry support for wireless charging.

The Galaxy Fold is selling in China for 15,999 Yuan (~$2,286). The upcoming Galaxy W20 5G with an enhanced chipset is expected to carry a costlier pricing.

MediaTek will reportedly ship its mid-range MT6873 5G chip to Huawei next year

By

Joel Joseph

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Nov 12, 2019

MediaTek is betting big on 5G to make a solid comeback into the smartphone industry. And according to a new report from Taiwan, MediaTek will be shipping its mid-range 5G chip to Huawei next year. This will be the second 5G chip from the company, code-named MT6873, targeted at the affordable segment of the smartphone market.

For the past couple of years, MediaTek has focused on developing products for 5G technology. And as 5G networks have started to roll out across the globe, the company is back into the limelight. The company’s flagship-grade 5G chipset, codenamed MT6885Z, will be officially announced on November 26. While that’ll power the expensive 5G handsets in the market in the coming months, the MT6873 chipset is really the chip we should be excited about.

MT6873 will be targeted at the mid-range smartphone market and should end up on phones around $300. We still haven’t seen any affordable 5G mid-range smartphones in the market but by Q2 2020, things are expected to change. This chip is said to power Huawei’s mid-range smartphones and we could see it inside one or two Honor 5G devices too.

Huawei’s high-end Kirin 990 5G will power its flagship models, which opens up the spot for mid-range and low-end devices. In the past couple of years, Qualcomm has traditionally supplied some chips for Huawei and Honor’s mid-rangers. However, with MT6873’s entry, MediaTek could grab a small share of those shipments next year.

MediaTek is also reportedly developing a third 5G chip for the smartphone market, targeted at a more affordable price segment. The chip should power smartphones that cost around $250.

(Source)

Samsung strikes deal with ultra-thin glass supplier for upcoming foldable smartphones

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

The Samsung Galaxy Fold’s launch that was carried at the beginning of this year was marred with controversy as the display of its review units started malfunctioning. This resulted in Samsung having to delay the launch until September 2019, six months after the formal announcement. The Galaxy Fold has recorded impressive sales figures ever since and even went out-of-stock in a few markets. Samsung has now signed an exclusive deal with Korean supplier Dowoo Insis for Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) panels that will be used on next-generation foldable displays.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold has an integrated polyamide film over its flexible display panel, which resembles a screen protection film. If a person tries to remove this film, they accidentally end up damaging the display. After the marketing nightmare post the media launch back in May 2019, Samsung tucked the edges of the film underneath the Fold’s frame so that people would not rip off the display.

Another major reason for seeking an alternative to the polyamide film is the trade restrictions imposed by Japan on exporting goods to South Korea since August 2019. The film used by Samsung on the Galaxy Fold was supplied by Japanese firm Sumitomo.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung to sell Galaxy M series phones through offline stores in India

The UTG supplied by Dowoo is said to be thinner than 100 microns, with certain speculations putting the figure close to 30 microns, which is half the thickness of the human hair. UTG is an ultra-thin tempered glass that can fold without breaking and is more scratch-resistant than the polyamide film used on the Galaxy Fold. Dowoo’s current manufacturing capacity stands at 500,000 units. Samsung Venture has invested approximately KRW 12 billion as part of the deal.

The contract is apparently mid to long term, with Samsung planning to invest even more in the coming days to increase Dowoo’s manufacturing capacity in South Korea and build new units in Vietnam. According to Samsung’s projection, the company is aiming to sell between five and six million foldable smartphones by 2020. Dowoo needs to match its production capacity to meet demands. If the foldable smartphone market picks up the pace as per Samsung’s estimate, Dowoo needs to supply a lot more UTG panels in the coming years. At least Samsung will not have to worry about rival companies poaching Dowoo’s UTG panels as the exclusive deal makes Samsung the sole owner of every panel manufactured by Dowoo Insis.

(source|via)

Samsung Galaxy A51 renders reveal punch-hole display like Note 10 series and quad cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

Samsung launched the Galaxy A50s mid-range smartphone in August. It had arrived as the updated version of the Galaxy A50 that was made official earlier this year. Recent reports have revealed that the South Korean company will be soon unveiling the Galaxy A51 smartphone by the first quarter of the coming year. PriceBaba has teamed up with known tipster OnLeaks to reveal the new renders of the Galaxy A51 smartphone.

The new renders show that the Galaxy A51 will be sporting an impressive front as it features a Note 10 series-like top-center positioned punch-hole on the display. The handset measures 158.4 x 73.7 x 7.9mm and it seems to house a 6.5-inch display. With no fingerprint reader on the rear, it appears that the phone will be equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

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Editor’s Pick: Samsung strikes deal with ultra-thin glass supplier for upcoming foldable smartphones

The back panel of the Galaxy A51 features a quad camera system. The thickness of the device increases to 8.5mm at the camera bump. Speaking of the camera, the smartphone features a rectangular housing with four camera sensors and an LED flash at the top-left corner of the rear shell. The back panel of the phone that seems to curve towards the edge is made out of glass. The smartphone is equipped with a volume rocker and a power button on the right edge. An ejectable SIM tray can be seen on the left side. The bottom of the Galaxy A51 features a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone slot and an external speaker.

Samsung Galaxy A51 Specifications (Rumored)

Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy A51 is equipped with a 6.5-inch S-AMOLED display that offers full HD+ resolution. For capturing selfies, it is expected to feature a 32-megapixel selfie snapper. The primary lens in its quad camera system could be of 48-megapixel.

The Galaxy A51 handset is likely to be fueled by a 4,000mAh battery. The One UI 2.0 based Android 10 OS runs on the device. The Geekbench listing of the phone had revealed that it will be featuring Exynos 9611 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The handset may arrive in the market in 64 GB and 128 GB storage editions. The smartphone could be available in color edition such as silver, black and blue.

(source)

Samsung to sell Galaxy M series phones through offline stores in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

Samsung launched its Galaxy M-series smartphones in India to counter the massive decline in sales volume recorded in the last few financial quarters. The M-series that was introduced this year is an online exclusive and is sold via Amazon, Flipkart, and the official Samsung website in the subcontinent. The only offline retailers selling the M-series are the Samsung Experience Stores located throughout the country. However, that could change soon as the chaebol is planning to introduce the next Galaxy M device through its third-party offline retail chain in 2020.

According to a post by The Economic Times, offline retail unions have demanded major smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi start working with them again. The recent discounts and online-exclusive launches have hit the offline market quite bad, which is now recording a sales decline of nearly 30 – 40%.

The country’s trade organizations like the All India Mobile Retailers Association and All India Traders recently voiced their concerns regarding the destructive online pricing strategy. The aggressive pricing, especially during the holiday season, is encouraging people to purchase smartphones online, further bleeding the offline stores.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Exynos 980 specifications officially confirmed

Samsung decided to heed the demands of its offline retail partners and sell the upcoming Galaxy M-series smartphones through offline stores as well. Representatives from Samsung India’s mobile phone business team informed retailers about this decision via WhatsApp on Friday. The government had earlier warned ecommerce platforms against disruptive pricing. Smartphone manufacturers are finally starting to take heed.

In related news, Samsung is gearing up to launch its next M-series device in India. The chaebol recently sent a notification to its retail partners in the subcontinent that read, “We look forward to providing the next M-series smartphone at the same price and at the same time. We shall assess the value proposition for our retail partners and consumers and plan our course of action accordingly”. Despite the details being far from clear, Samsung will most-likely introduce the Galaxy M50 on Nov. 15. The smartphone will be sold via online and offline retailers.

Although details of the Galaxy M50 are unknown, its specifications are slated to be a notch higher than the Galaxy M40 that it succeeds. The M40 flaunts a 6.3-inch full-HD+ display with a punch-hole camera with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 certification. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 675 chipset with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 512GB with a microSD card. The smartphone features a triple-camera setup at the rear consisting of 32-megapixel, 8-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. The front camera uses a 16-megapixel lens. Powering the Galaxy M40 is a 3,500 mAh battery with fast charging. The device runs on Android 9.0 Pie-based One UI. Security measures include a fingerprint scanner on the rear panel and Face Unlock.

(source)

Honor V30 officially confirmed to debut on November 26

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Nov 12, 2019

During a live broadcast of Honor’s Singles’ Day shopping carnival, Honor President George Zhao revealed that the Honor V30 series will be made official on Nov. 26. Today morning, Honor released some posters through its official Weibo account to affirm that the Honor V30 series launch date. The official posters have revealed the front design of the Honor V30 series.

Honor will be announcing the Honor V30 series on Nov. 26 through an unveil event in Beijing, China. The below shown poster shows that the phone has a pill-shaped cutout at the upper-left corner of the display. The cutout houses two front-facing cameras. Chinese actor and model Johnny Huang can be seen endorsing the Honor V30 series.

The rumor mill has so far revealed that the Honor V30 Pro will be equipped with an OLED display with dual selfie snappers whereas the Honor V30 will be equipped with an LCD display with a single punch-hole for its selfie camera. The V30 is said to be powered by the Kirin 990 SoC whereas the Honor V30 Pro could be driven by the Kirin 990 5G chipset.

The Honor V30 is said to feature a quad camera system on its rear. It may include a 60-megapixel primary lens, a 16-megapixel superwide lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 3D ToF sensor. On other side, the Honor V30 may feature a quad camera system with a 60-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, a 20-megapixel superwide lens and a ToF camera.

Editor’s Pick: Honor President shares 5G speed screenshot from Honor V30 smartphone

Some conflicting reports have claimed that the Honor V30 could be featuring only triple rear cameras. The Honor V30 series could be the first phones to arrive Camera Matrix photography algorithm. It is believed that cameras will be the major selling features of the Honor V30 series.

The Honor V30 could be featuring a 4,000mAh battery whereas the Pro model could be equipped with a larger 4,200mAh battery. The 3C appearance of the alleged V30 Pro phone has revealed that it may arrive with support for 40W fast charging. The Pro model may also support wireless charging. Lastly, the Honor V30 series is expected to support NSA and SA 5G connectivity in China.

Readers are advised to take the information on the specifications of the Honor V30 series with a grain of salt. Hopefully, accurate details on the Honor V30 and V30 Pro will appear in the coming days ahead of the launch. It is speculated that the Kirin 810 chipset powered Honor Tab 6 will also break cover alongside the Honor V30 series on Nov. 26.

Vivo S5 fresh renders released to reveal design from all angles

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 12, 2019

The Vivo S5 will break cover this week on Thursday. The major highlight of the Vivo S5 is that it is equipped with a unique diamond-shaped camera system on its back. Also, it will be the first OLED smartphone in China to flaunt a punch-hole design. Today, the Chinese firm has shared multiple renders of the phone to reveal its design from all angles.

Like the renders of the Vivo S5 that had surfaced yesterday, it can be seen in two color options in the new renders. The first one appears light blue that mixes into pink towards right and left edges are pink. The other variant is dark blue that has a color-shifting appeal.

There are three camera sensors and an LED flash unit placed inside the diamond-shaped camera module. An additional camera sensor can be seen below the diamond-shaped housing. TENAA listing has a revealed that the Vivo S5 features 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 5-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad camera system.

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The right edge of the Vivo S5 smartphone has a volume rocker and a power key. The top edge of the phone features the good old 3.5mm audio jack and a microphone. Its bottom edge has a USB-C port, an external speaker and another microphone.

There is a small round-shaped cutout at the top-right corner of the Vivo S5’s OLED display. TENAA has revealed that the phone is equipped with a 32-megapixel front-facing camera. The size of the display is 6.44 inches and it supports full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. That means it offers a tall aspect ratio of 20:9. The screen of the phone is integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

While there is no official confirmation yet, it is believed that the 2.3GHz octa-core processor that powers the Vivo S5 smartphone is the Snapdragon 712. The chipset is accompanied by 8 GB of RAM. The phone will be coming to China in 128 GB and 256 GB storage models. However, it lacks support for external storage. The device is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. The smartphone features a 4,010mAh battery. The 3C listing of the Vivo S5 had revealed that it could be shipped with a charger that supports up to 22.5W rapid charging. The handset measures 157.9 x 73.92 x 8.64mm and weighs 188 grams.

Samsung Galaxy M50 to reportedly launch in India on November 15

By

Jeet

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Nov 12, 2019

Samsung is revamping its smartphone lineup in the Indian market to grab back the market share it lost to the Chinese players. For this, the company launched the new Galaxy A-series phones and also introduced online-only Galaxy M-series.

The company has already launched a few devices in the Galaxy M lineup and is reportedly all set to launch yet another smartphone in the same series which will be the successor to Samsung Galaxy M40.

As per the report, the company could be launching the Samsung Galaxy M50 in the Indian market later this month. While the exact launch date is not confirmed, the device is expected to go official in the country on 15th November.

Interestingly, Samsung seems to be ready to sell the upcoming smartphone through both channels — online as well as offline, that too at the same time and at same pricing. While the Galaxy M-series was launched as online exclusive, the company later launched in offline market, but with a slightly higher pricing.

There’s nothing known about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy M50 smartphone but given that it will be the successor to Galaxy M40, we expect the device to have better specifications than the M40.

Currently, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is the top-end device in the lineup. It features a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ Infinity-O Display and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 octa-core processor, paired with Adreno 612 GPU, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage.

For taking selfies and video calling, the smartphone has a 16-megapixel sensor at the front. The phone features a triple rear camera setup that comprises a 32-megapixel primary sensor with an AI scene optimizer and f/1.7 lens, a 5-megapixel secondary depth sensor, and an 8-megapixel tertiary sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens.

Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, and a USB Type-C port. The handset is running Android 9 Pie-based Samsung One UI out-of-the-box and is powered by a 3,500mAh battery with support for fast charging.

(Source)

Buy Top-End Xiaomi Branded Smartphones at Unbeatable Prices from Banggood [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Nov 12, 2019

It looks like Xiaomi’s huge fanbase is in for a treat! The Chinese smartphone manufacturer has teamed up with Banggood to offers some of its well-received smartphones at prices that are simply unbeatable.

Moreover, these devices have been assigned specific coupons that can be used for extra discounts. We will not only shed light on the aforesaid discounts but also show how you can save a considerable amount of more money at the time of checking out.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Xiaomi took the covers off the Redmi Note 8 in a launch event held in China in August this year. Aside from housing 48-megapixel quad cameras on the optics front, the Redmi Note 8 is loaded with exciting features. You can now buy different variants of the phone at a reduced price from Banggood.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 [4GB RAM+64GB ROM]

The original asking price of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is $269.99, but much to the relief of those on a tight budget, the phone has gone up for sale bearing a reduced price tag of only $261.08 via Banggood. In addition to getting this noteworthy discount, you can get free shipping on orders over $19.99.

If that doesn’t impress you much, you can get an extra $101.09 off by applying coupon code BGD11N84 at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you bring the retail price of the phone down to just $159.99 before you place your order.

To use the coupon and grab the discount, simply follow this link to the promotion page.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 [4GB RAM+64GB ROM]

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 [4GB RAM+128GB ROM]

This is the slightly larger Redmi Note 8 variant that would normally set you back $299.99 on both online, as well as offline stores. Much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, Banggood is offering it for a dropped price of just $291.58.

As if that weren’t enough, you can even extend this discount by applying coupon code BGD11N88 at checkout. The aforesaid coupon enables you to save $11.59 more by reducing the original selling price of the Redmi Note 8 to just $179.99 during the checkout process. You can visit this link to get the discount and place your order.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 [4GB RAM+128GB ROM]

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

The Redmi Note 8 Pro was launched in August at a launch event that took place in China. One of the highlights of the Redmi Note 8 Pro includes a 64-megapixel quad-camera setup that enables you to capture memorable moments in the form of crystal-clear photos. The phone is now available on Banggood for a lowered price.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro [6GB RAM+64GB ROM]

Available in three eye-catching color options – Pearl White, Mineral Grey and Forest Green, the global version of the Redmi Note 8 Pro has gone up for sale on Banggood carrying a $328.18 price sticker. Those who aren’t willing to spend that kind of money on a high-end smartphone can apply coupon code BGD11N8P6 for a $118.19 off.

As a result, the original selling price of the Redmi Note 8 Pro drops to only $209.99 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button. To take full advantage o the coupon before it expires, simply follow this link. You can also get free shipping on orders over $19.99.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro [6GB RAM+64GB ROM]

Xiaomi Mi9 Lite

Launched in the first week of January this year, the Mi9 Lite is an irresistible smartphone that adopts a slim, minimalist design, coupled with high performance. It is housed in an eye-catching frame which is made using high-quality metal and glass. You can get the Mi9 for a lowered price on Banggood.

Xiaomi Mi9 Lite [6GB RAM+128GB ROM]

Banggood is offering a 9 percent off on the well-received Xiaomi Mi9 Lite smartphone, which usually sells for $419.99. Thanks to the above-mentioned discount, you can now buy it for just $383.08. Moreover, Banggood is offering free shipping to those who spend more than $19.99 on the website.

Furthermore, you can use coupon code BGD119L8 and get an extra $153.09 off. After applying the coupon, the original asking price of the Xiaomi Mi9 Lite reduces to just $229.99. The phone comes in Onyx Grey, Aurora Blue, and Pearl White color options. You can visit the promotion page by following this link.

Xiaomi Mi9 Lite [6GB RAM+128GB ROM]

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro

Xiaomi announced the long-awaited Mi 9T Pro in August this year. The phone’s awe-inspiring features propelled it straight to skyrocketing popularity among Xiaomi fans. Even months after hitting the store shelves, the Mi 9T Pro continues to garner admiration. You can buy it for a reduced price through Banggood.

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro [6GB RAM+128GB ROM]

The feature-laden Mi 9T Pro understandably carries a steep price tag of $599.99, but if you place your order through Banggood, you can get your tech greedy hands on the phone for a considerably reduced price o just $597.79. Moreover, you get free shipping if your cart value exceeds $19.99.

New users can take advantage of an $18 OFF Coupon and save more money. The rest of the Banggood users can apply coupon code BGD119TP to bring the asking price of the Mi 9T Pro down to just $349.99 during the checkout process. The coupon enables you to save $247.8 more.

To ensure you are not too late to grab this great discount, just follow this link without wasting more time.

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro [6GB RAM+128GB ROM]

Giveaway – Win a Xiaomi Redmi 8 Smartphone 4GB+64GB

Buy Top-End Tablets and Phablets at Unbeatable Prices from Gearbest

By

Vinay Patel

-

Nov 12, 2019

If you are in the market for an inexpensive tablet PC or phablet, you are likely to stumble upon a wide range of low-priced alternatives that deliver a mediocre performance.

Those on a tight budget usually end up settling for these devices; however, they do not offer good value for money. To make top-end tablets available to cost-conscious buyers, we have listed the top 3 tablets that you can get your hands on without emptying your pockets.

Teclast T30 4G Tablet

Powered by the high-performance MTK Helio P70 Octa-core processor, the Teclast T30 consumes less power and lasts longer. It runs the latest Android 9.0 Pie operating system and is backed by an 8000mAh large capacity battery that delivers a local video playback of up to eleven hours.

The irresistible T30 has gone up for sale bearing a lowered price tag on Gearbest. While it usually retails for $305.10, you can now buy it for just $179.99 from Gearbest. In addition to this 41 percent discount, the Chinese online store is offering a lot more for you to cheer about.

First off, you can get an add-on item for just $0.11 if you spend $20 on the website. Moreover, you get Tablet Holster Protective Cover Case for Teclast T30 worth $19.99 free with your purchase. If you are a new customer, you can use PayPal to make the payment and $3 off on orders valued at $50. This offer is valid for the first 2500 orders daily.

You can follow this link to avail of the discount before the promo comes to an end. With over 1000 pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end soon.

Teclast T30 4G Tablet

Teclast P10 HD 4G Phablet

The Teclast P10 packs a powerful UNISOC SC9863A Octa-core processor that reduces power consumption. The device runs Android 9.0 Pie OS and has a chip with AI (Artificial Intelligence) that enables the phablet to optimize and accelerate its overall performance.

The feature-rich Teclast P10 HD phablet with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage space would normally set you back $159.99, but you can now buy it for just $99.99 from Gearbest. This is a noteworthy 38 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price.

Moreover, you can get an add-on for only $0.11 by spending $20 on the website. New customers using PayPal as their payment method can avail of the Extra PayPal Discount, wherein they save $3 on orders valued at $50. This offer is limited to the first 2500 orders daily.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Teclast P10 and place your order. The promotion sale is slated to end in just six days.

Teclast P10 HD 4G Phablet

BMAX Y13 13.3 inch Notebook

The cost-effective BMAX Y13 sports a crystal-clear 13.3-inch display with 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution for a superior visual experience. It has an Intel Gemini Lake N4100 Quad Core processor for maximum high-efficiency power. The notebook ships with 8GB of RAM and offers a hearty 256GB of SSD storage space.

On the optics front, it houses a 1.0-megapixel camera at the front for video calling. While you’d expect a top-end notebook offering such high-end features to carry a steep price tag, the BMAX Y13 can now be yours for a lowered price of only $336.99 through Gearbest. This is a 39 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $551.73.

Those spending $20 will qualify to get an add-on for just $0.11. New users that use PayPal for payment will qualify for an Extra PayPal Discount that includes a $3 OFF on orders valued at $50. Note that the offer will be limited to the first 2500 orders daily.

You can follow this link and place your order. The promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing.

BMAX Y13 13.3 inch Notebook

Giveaway – Win a Xiaomi Redmi 8 Smartphone 4+64GB

PhoneBook transforms your smartphone into a touchscreen laptop

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Nov 11, 2019

Over the years, we have seen multiple crowdfunding projects come up with ways for us to be able to use our phones more productively. There is the $99 SuperBook that allowed you to connect your Android phone to what we can call a laptop shell and use it as a laptop. It raised $2.6 million during its crowdfunding in 2016.

In the same year, there was also a similar device called the NexDock but with a $149 price tag and included support for phones with Windows 10 Continuum. Way before the SuperBook and NexDock, Motorola launched the Lapdock 100 which worked with some of its Android phones. This year, another manufacturer is giving it a go again and their product is called the PhoneBook.

The PhoneBook is also a laptop shell with a 15.6-inch touchscreen Full HD display and a full-sized keyboard and trackpad. All you have to do is plug in “ANY” phone to it and you have a working laptop. Anyware, the makers of PhoneBook, say your phone is the CPU and every time you get a new phone, it is like you have a new computer. It also uses your phone’s storage to save the work you do on it.

With the PhoneBook, you are not only able to run the apps on your phone on a larger screen, but you can also run Windows Cloud PC apps. For entertainment, the PhoneBook has stereo speakers, so you can enjoy your movies with better audio than what your phone’s speaker pumps out. The PhoneBook is also touted as the first device that allows you to use the keyboard and mouse to play mobile games, a feature said to be unavailable on Samsung’s DeX.

The PhoneBook has an 8-hour battery life and charges your phone when connected to it. The PhoneBook as 2 x USB ports, an HDMI input port, a USB-C video input port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has a reset button. It has a 12V/2A power adapter which is a bit disappointing as USB-C charging would have been better.

The PhoneBook will work with all Android phones except those powered by a MediaTek processor which means a large percentage of phones are excluded. It will also work with iPhones.

The device is available on Kickstarter for crowdfunding starting at $169 for backers. When it launches, it will sell for $249.

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Xiaomi Mi9 Lite

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro

Teclast T30 4G Tablet

Teclast P10 HD 4G Phablet

BMAX Y13 13.3 inch Notebook

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