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Samsung Electronics invested heavily in R&D last year despite slithering profit margins

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Samsung Electronics spent a massive amount on Research and Development in 2019 according to the latest report from the company. Despite the fact, Samsung recorded one of its worst performances in the last five years due to a slow-moving chip business. The chaebol invested heavily in its R&D wing to focus on developing new growth drivers.

The South Korean tech conglomerate revealed its total expenditure on R&D last Wednesday, which stands at a massive 20.19 trillion won, roughly $16.6 billion. The figures are up by 8.3 percent from 18.65 trillion won, roughly $15.3 billion, back in 2018. Samsung invested heavily in R&D despite operating revenue falling by 52.8% YoY to 27.76 trillion won (~$22.75 billion).

Samsung

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy M31 debuts with 32MP front camera, 64P quad cameras and 6,000mAh battery

Samsung mostly directed its investments into the growth businesses including system chip development and quantum-dot display. The company announced plans to invest roughly 133 trillion won (~$109 billion) into the network by 2030. Judging by the current scenario, Samsung could soon be the world’s top chip provider. Its investments paid off recently with the breakthrough in the 3nm chip technology this January.

The company announced last October that it plans to invest 13 trillion won (~$) to enhance display production capabilities at its Tangjeong facility. 3.1 trillion won (~$2.5 billion) would be directed towards the development of next-generation display technology. Samsung had also pledged 180 trillion won (~$1.47 billion) towards improving 5G network and automotive enhancement components back in 2018.

Samsung paid 8.69 trillion won (~$7.13 billion) in corporate taxes in 2019, down 48.3% since 2018 due to poor sales. The figure accounts for 3.8% of Samsung’s annual earnings, which was also down by 6.9% in 2019 since the previous year.

UP NEXT: Samsung kicks off mass production of 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, Expect Premium Flagships to feature it soon

 

 

(source)

Huawei MED-AL00 with Helio P35 and 4 GB RAM appears on Geekbench

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Last month, a mysterious Huawei phone with model number MED-AL00 was certified by 3C and TENAA authorities of China. While 3C listing revealed that the MED-AL00 could be a mid-range phone that may arrive with 10W charging support, its TENAA appearance only revealed its images, dimensions along with display and battery size. Today, the smartphone has appeared on Geekbench benchmarking platform through which some other details have been revealed.

On Geekbench, the Huawei MED-AL00 has recorded a score of 868 in the single-core test. It garnered 4356 in the multi-core test. The smartphone is equipped with a MediaTek MT6765V processor. It is nothing but the Helio P35 chipset that features a 2.3GHz octa-core CPU. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB and the phone is loaded with Android 10 OS.

The TENAA listing of the Huawei MED-AL00 revealed that the phone features a waterdrop notch display of 6.3 inches. It is not known whether the phone supports HD+ or full HD+ resolution. It has a minimum rated battery of 4,900mAh capacity which suggests that its typical size could be 5,000mAh.

The rear side of the phone is fitted with a dual camera setup at the top-left corner. The right spine of the device is population with buttons for volume and power. The handset measures 159.07 x 74.06 x 9.04mm. There is no word on the actual name of the device. It is speculated that the phone may go official in the coming month in China. Hopefully, the entire specs of the phone will be revealed through its updated TENAA listing in the coming days.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei Mate Xs price confirmed as 16,999 Yuan (~$2,415) for China

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor is also working on a mid-range phone that has a model number of MOA-AL00. It is also equipped with a 6.3-inch waterdrop notch screen and a 4,900mAh minimum rated battery. The backside of the device has a rectangle-shaped camera module that houses two cameras. The handset measures 159.07 x 74.06 x 9.04mm. Again, the name of the device is under the wraps. It appears that the Huawei MED-AL00 and Honor MOA-AL00 smartphones be made official in March.

UP NEXT: Google plans on rebuilding ties with Huawei: Report

 

 

(via)

These Apple AirPods holder offer a practical and unique solution

By
Sean
-

The internet is a vast stage for various quirks. This even extends to the consumer electronics industry, especially in regards to strange but highly practical products. One such quirky items are these new Apple AirPods holders, which are different from anything you’ve ever used before.

Right of the bat, one will easily realize the purpose the AirBand serves. It is a silicone band that is designed to be mounted on the Apple Watch and it doubles as a simple holder for your AirPods. The mechanism that holds the AirPods together is not magnetic but rather a simple solution of two loops that wrap around it. These loops are located right below the display on the Apple Watch and are compatible with both AirPods and AirPods Pro.

Apple AirPods Pro
Apple AirPods Pro

Although the design is strange, it offers a very unique yet simple solution. According to the creator of this product, Matt Youngblood, the AirBand serves a distinct purpose when the carrying/ charging case that arrives with the AirPods is not at hand. So rather than just carrying them unsecured in your pockets, one can just house them on your wrists for quick and easy access.

UP NEXT: Qualcomm reveals unannounced Snapdragon 865 smartphones: Zenfone 7, ROG III, & Legion Gaming Phone

Matt even gave out a few examples of its possible usefulness apart from just the lack of a carrying case. Examples include going to pay for something in a store’s counter or working at a cafe and wanting to sit down and focus on the important task at hand. These would be helpful as one would not have to simply leave it around unsecured or unpair and keep it back in the case.

Apple
AirBands attach to the Apple Watch to secure AirPods just below the display

As of right now, the project for the AirPods holders is currently seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the popular online crowdfunding website. The goal of the project is set at 10,000 US dollars. Matt claims that the product has already been tested and has a manufacturer lined up as well. He has turned to Kickstarter to receive funding and will begin the large sale production once materials can be bought. The pledge to support this arrives at a minimum of 20 US Dollars and will have people receive at least one AirBand, which is expected to start shipping by April 2020.

UP NEXT: Samsung kicks off mass production of 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, Expect Premium Flagships to feature it soon

 

(Via)

EU working on replaceable smartphone batteries proposal to counter e-waste

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Till the introduction of the modern-day smartphone, swapping batteries on your device was possible. The good old days might return if the EU has it their way. According to recent reports, the European Union is working on a new proposal to reduce e-waste in the region. Non-replaceable batteries have their benefits. If such a law is passed in the near future, OEMs will have to extend the availability of spare parts. The proposal is scheduled to be released in mid-March.

News of the proposal surfaced on a Dutch tabloid that was soon covered by XDA Developers. Worn-out batteries are quite a common problem with modern smartphones, prompting users to replace their perfectly-working handsets every few years. With the new proposal, the EU hopes to cut down significantly on e-waste by prompting users to replace the worn-out batteries instead of the smartphone.

Editor’s Pick: Realme 6 and 6 Pro smartphones confirmed to launch in India on March 5

As a result, OEMs will be forced to supply spare parts and design smartphones in a manner that makes battery replacement a quick and DIY process. The non-replaceable batteries on present handsets are designed to save space, increase the battery size, and charge quicker due to the lack of a protective cover required on replaceable batteries. On the downside, they are extremely hard to replace when they run out of juice, resulting in millions of smartphones being discarded each year. The new proposal also aims to regulate the use of USB Type-C technology currently used for connecting and recharging smartphones.

Android Central correspondent Philip Bene pointed out a few flaws with the strategy. “OEMs today avoid using micro USB not because they do not care about the planet. They do it either because it is expensive, not suited to their devices, or a combination of both. Smartphones with Type-C connectors are more expensive to make. Forcing all manufacturers to implement USB Type-C could result in more e-waste being generated, as companies like Apple will have to adapt to a new connector”.

Non-replaceable batteries have their benefits. Water and dust-resistance being the highlights. Both these features arguably increase the life of smartphones by shielding the device against negligence and accidental spills, enabling users to keep using their smartphones over longer periods. The EU must consider more feasible options like asking OEMs to increase the warranty on battery replacements and reducing the costs to encourage users to keep using their existing devices instead of discarding them for a new one.

UP NEXT: iQOO 3 5G launched with SD865, 55W fast charging & powerful gaming features 

 

 

(source|via 1, 2)

Google plans on rebuilding ties with Huawei: Report

By
Sean
-

A new report has just surfaced that is related to the business ties between Google and Huawei. The latter is currently banned from using the former’s services on its smartphones, but it seems like the search engine giant is trying to appeal this ruling and try and rebuild business relations.

Back in early 2019, Huawei was dealt a decisive blow by the US Government’s Commerce Department. The Chinese tech giant was placed on the “Entity List” which has banned the company from collaborating or using technology and software from companies based in the US. One such brand was Google and Huawei smartphones since have not arrived with official Google services.

Google
Huawei Mate 30 Pro did not arrive with preloaded Google services

Thus, Huawei smartphones since the Mate 30 series do not arrive with Google services and feature the vanilla Android OS alongside HMS (Huawei Mobile Services). However, it seems like Google is planning on gaining special permission from the White House that will allow it to partner with Huawei again. Interestingly, a Huawei executive had stated a few weeks prior that the company will not work with Google even if the ban was removed. However, this statement alone may not represent the entire company’s wishes as the statement has already been backtracked on.

Editor’s Pick: Qualcomm reveals unannounced Snapdragon 865 smartphones: Zenfone 7, ROG III, & Legion Gaming Phone

This is great news but whether Huawei is still leaning on Google services is still unknown. As it stands right now, the smartphone brand is willing to spend billions in its own HMS and AppGallery service, which is the world’s third largest App Store. The move will also seek to distance a large number of Android users from Google’s ecosystem that will ultimately hurt the company. Hence, it arrives as no surprise if Google actually ends up receiving special permission.

Google

Unfortunately, finer details are still at large as it is unclear if whether Google wishes to rebuild ties or just simply gain additional permissions for its Open Source program. The news first broke by overseas German and Spanish media outlets and also detailed that the decision on the special permission is yet to be decided by the US President, Donald Trump.

UP NEXT: Samsung kicks off mass production of 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, Expect Premium Flagships to feature it soon

 

(Source,Via)

OPPO Watch appears in real image

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

OPPO is working on the launch of its first smartwatch. The official name of the product is not known yet. However, the OPPO Watch is expected to go official alongside the OPPO Find X2 and Find X2 Pro smartphones on March 6. The smartwatch is now up for reservations in China through its OPPO smartwatch app. A new image of the OPPO Watch is now doing rounds on Weibo. It showcases the marvelous curved screen of the device.

The OPPO Watch is rumored to be equipped with a hyperboloid OLED display that curves towards the edges. The square-shaped design of the OPPO Watch makes it appear like the Apple Watch. The screen of the OPPO Watch shows the Settings screen with the clock at the right corner. Multifunction Button, Battery, Password and More options are available in the Settings page.

The new image does give a good look at the strap of the OPPO Watch. It appears to be a silicone strap. The device is expected to arrive in leather strap options too. The right edge of the device has two flat buttons. These buttons may probably users to control the UI and features of the OPPO Watch.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO’s new patent shows OnePlus 7T-like round camera module but with 7 cameras

At present, there is no information available on the specifications of the OPPO Watch. It remains to be seen whether the device will run on Android Wear platform. Some reports have claimed that it could be featuring a heart rate monitor with ECG/EKG.

OPPO Find X2 series that will go official is also up for reservations in China. The company is now building hype around the device. So far, it is known that the Find X2 will come with a 6.5-inch punch-hole AMOLED display that supports 3K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate and it will be fueled by Snapdragon 865 SoC and LPDDR5 RAM. Other rumored specs of the Find X2 include 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, 65W fast charging, Android 10 OS with ColorOS 7 Sony IMX616 32-megapixel selfie camera and a triple camera setup with 48-megapixel Sony IMX689, 48-megapixel Sony IMX708 and 13-megapixel telephoto lens.

UP NEXT: Huawei Mate Xs price confirmed as 16,999 Yuan (~$2,415) for China

 

(source)

Realme 6 and 6 Pro smartphones confirmed to launch in India on March 5

By
Jeet
-

After launching the flagship X50 Pro 5G smartphone, Realme is all set to launch a new smartphone series in the Indian market. The company has confirmed that it will be launching the Realme 6 and Realme 6 Pro smartphones in India on 5th March.

Realme 6 Pro Launch Date India

The poster shared by the company along with making the launch date announcement also reveals that Realme has signed Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the ambassador. It remains to be seen if he is an ambassador for the Realme 6 series only or for the brand.

The company is promoting the upcoming smartphones with hashtag #ProCameraProDisplay and claims that the “user experience will get new benchmarks with 64MP” camera. This confirms that the Realme 6 Pro has a 64MP primary camera sensor in what is believed to be a quad-camera setup.

EDITOR’S PICK: Qualcomm reveals unannounced Snapdragon 865 smartphones: Zenfone 7, ROG III, & Legion Gaming Phone

Along with the 64MP primary sensor, the quad-camera setup includes an ultra-wide lens, a telephoto lens, and an ultra macro lens. The standard model will come with a single front camera housed inside a punch-hole cutout while the Pro model will house two front camera sensors inside the punch-hole notch.

The company has also confirmed that the smartphone will come with 90Hz Ultra Smooth Full HD+ display which aims to deliver sharp and vivid visual experience. The phone is also confirmed to come with 30W fast charging technology.

Realme will be taking “Blind Orders” for the Realme 6 series smartphones in India from 26th February to 4th March. Users can make a deposit of ₹1,000 to pre-order the smartphone and pay the due balance on 15th March when the first sale will take place.

The Realme number series smartphones have more than nine million users, as per the company. The Realme 5 series, which was launched last year, was one of the brand’s most popular series with sales exceeding 5.5 million units. Now, the series is all set to get its successor on 5th March. The company is also set to launch the first Realme fitness band at the same event in India.

UP NEXT: Realme X50 Pro 5G with 90Hz display, SD865, 65W fast charge launched for Rs. 37,999 (~$528) in India

Vivo Z6 5G confirmed to pack SD765 SoC and dual-mode 5G support

By
Jeet
-

Last week, Vivo announced that the company will be launching a new 5G smartphone in its home country China on 29th February — Vivo Z6 5G. Soon after making that announcement, the company started sharing teaser posters, revealing some of the key specifications of the upcoming device.

In a newly shared poster, Vivo confirms that the Z6 5G smartphone will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G octa-core processor, manufactured using 7nm EUV process and will be clocked at 2.4GHz.

It will come with Adreno 620 GPU for graphics processing along with an AI Engine. The poster also confirms that the smartphone will come with dual-mode 5G connectivity support which includes SA and NSA.

Vivo Z6 5G Chipset Details

The phone will come with 5G and 4G dual SIM dual standby support which can intelligently switch between 5G and 4G connectivity to ensure that the network is always available, in order to offer a smoother experience to users in terms of network connectivity.

The Z6 is also said to come with dual Wi-Fi acceleration technology, which can connect 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi signals at the same time, and uses advanced algorithms to intelligently check the network status, providing users with a faster and more stable network experience. Additionally, the Vivo Z6 also supports SLA intelligent network acceleration technology to achieve 5G + Wi-Fi dual-channel network speed multiplication.

As per the leaks, the Vivo Z6 will come with a 6.57-inch TFT display that produces Full-HD+ screen resolution of 1080 x 2080 pixels. It will come packed with 6GB and 8GB of RAM and 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB of internal storage.

Vivo Z6 5G Connectivity Details

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO Find X2 Pro Bluetooth SIG listing reveals SD865, 48MP triple cameras, 32MP selfie camera and more

The handset is also confirmed by the company to arrive with a special professional gaming mode — Multi Turbo 3.0 acceleration engine, along with a PC-level liquid cooling technology. It features an 85mm long liquid cooling tube and a multi layer graphite heat sink that covers a total area of more than 10,000 square millimetres.

In the camera department, the device will have a quad-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 48-megapixel primary sensor, along with an 8-megapixel sensor, a 2-megapixel sensor and yet another 2-megapixel camera sensor.

On the front side, the device will feature a 16-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling. The smartphone will be running the latest Android 10 operating system with the company’s own FunTouch OS on top. It is confirmed to come powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging technology.

UP NEXT: Qualcomm reveals unannounced Snapdragon 865 smartphones: Zenfone 7, ROG III, & Legion Gaming Phone

 

Buy OUKITEL K13 Pro Smartphone for Just $187.99 from Gearbest

By
Vinay Patel
-

OUKITEL is a reputed international brand that focuses on making smartphones. The Shenzhen-based company added the Oukitel K13 Pro to its already impressive line of mid-range devices back in October last year.

OUKITEL K13 Pro 4G Smartphone

Designed to rival steeply-priced handsets, the Oukitel K13 Pro has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag through Gearbest. Thanks to a 28 percent discount, the Graphite Black-tinted model that ships with 4GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage space and would normally set you back $261.76, can now be purchased for just $187.99.

Likewise, the Carbon Fiber Black color option that comes with 4GB and RAM and 64GB of onboard storage capacity is currently available for a lowered price of only $189.99 through Gearbest. This is a 27 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $261.76.

OUKITEL K13 ProSporting a tagline that reads ‘King Battery, Keep You Longer!,’ the K13 Pro sports a 6.41-inch HD+ display with 1560 x 720 pixels resolution and an impressive 90.3 percent screen-to-body ratio. It packs a powerful MT6762 Octa-core chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage. The phone uses an IMG GE8320 (up to 650Mhz) GPU.

OUKITEL K13 ProIn the optics department, the K13 Pro houses a dual-camera setup comprising a 16.0MP camera and a 2.0MP camera at the back, and an 8.0MP front shooter for selfies and video calling. Furthermore, it is backed by a super large 11000mAh battery that delivers a standby time of 31 days.

OUKITEL K13 ProThe dual-SIM phone runs Android 9.0 Pie OS and comes with an NFC sensor so that you can use Google Pay and other on-vehicle payment. Aside from that, the phone features a Gravity sensor.

You can follow this link and check out more details about the OUKITEL K13 Pro and place your order. With a considerable number of units already sold out at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end soon.

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.

OUKITEL K13 Pro Smartphone

Qualcomm reveals unannounced Snapdragon 865 smartphones: Zenfone 7, ROG III, & Legion Gaming Phone

By
Jeet
-

With Mobile World Congress 2020 getting cancelled, many companies have to come up with alternative solutions to make their planned announced. While some smartphone makers are holding online launch events, some have rescheduled their launch dates.

Instead of holding a separate launch event, Qualcomm has sent out press releases which cover a range of topics, including the adoption of the company’s flagship mobile platform — Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset.

qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-hero-image-800x450
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Most of the flagship smartphones getting launched this year will come powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC and we’ve already seen a few of them, including Xiaomi Mi 10, Sony Xperia 1 II, Realme X50 Pro 5G, among others.

Qualcomm has now shared a much more complete list of devices that are powered by the SD865 SoC and interestingly, the list includes some phones which are yet to be announced. Here’s the list of those devices:

  • Black Shark 3
  • FCNT arrows 5G
  • iQOO 3
  • Legion Gaming Phone
  • Nubia Red Magic 5G
  • OPPO Find X2
  • realme X50 Pro
  • Redmi K30 Pro
  • ROG Phone 3
  • Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra
  • Sharp AQUOS R5G
  • Sony Xperia 1 II
  • Vivo APEX 2020 Concept Phone
  • Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro
  • ZenFone 7
  • ZTE Axon 10s Pro
EDITOR’S PICK: Black Shark 3 Pro 5G gaming smartphone scores more than 620K on AnTuTu, best score till date

While many of the devices in the list have already been announced and several of them are even available for purchase. However, the list includes the likes of Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone, FCNT arrows 5G, Nubia Red Magic 5G, ASUS ROG Phone 3, Zenfone 7, and Black Shark 3 which are not launched yet.

Realme X50 Pro 5G Moss Green
Realme X50 Pro 5G Moss Green

Although the phones have not been launched, they have been leaked in the past. For instance, Black Shark 3 has been making rounds for some time and some of the key specs and features of the device have already leaked online. The phone is set to get launched in China on 3rd March.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 will reportedly come pre-loaded with Google Stadia, which is the search engine giant’s online game streaming platform. The smartphone is expected to get launched by the end of this year. Details about the Zenfone 7 is not yet known.

Recently, details about the Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone surfaced online through a teaser poster. It hints that the phone will come with 55W fast charging support, something which the iQOO 3 5G also offers. The poster also confirms that the phone is powered by the SD865 SoC with X55 modem for 5G connectivity support.

UP NEXT: Redmi K30 Pro official poster confirms notch-less display, pop-up selfie camera and March launch

 

(Via)

Huawei Mate Xs price confirmed as 16,999 Yuan (~$2,415) for China

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

On Monday, Huawei had held a global launch event to announce the Huawei Mate Xs as its latest foldable smartphone. Yesterday, the Mate Xs was found listed on JD.com for reservations. Today, the Chinese firm took to Weibo to reveal that the Mate Xs will be costing 16,999 Yuan (~$2,415). As it was revealed on Monday, the European markets will be receiving it with a price tag of 2,499 euros (~$2,715).

The above shown poster shows that the Mate Xs will be priced at 16,999 Yuan (~$2,415) in China. The reservations of the device began from today through platforms like Vmall and JD.com. The Mate Xs will be available for purchase in the home market from March 5 at 10:08 AM (local time). The predecessor Huawei Mate X was also introduced with the same price tag,

Editor’s Pick: Huawei AppGallery is now the 3rd Largest App Store after Google and Apple

Huawei Mate Xs specifications and features

The Huawei Mate Xsv comes with some improvements over the predecessor model. It features an upgraded hinge structurer and an enhanced cooling system. More importantly, it is powered by the latest Kirin 990 5G chipset.

The Mate Xs possesses a dual layer structure over the 8-inch foldable OLED display that produces a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels. The frontal 6.6-inch screen offers an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and the screen portion on the rear offers a tall aspect ratio of 25:9.

The camera setup of the device includes a 40-megapixel main lens, an 8-meapixel telephoto shooter with OIS, 16-megapixel ultrawide lens and a ToF sensor. It does not feature a front-facing camera. The main cameras with the rear screen working as viewfinder can be used for shooting selfies.

The 4,500mAh battery of the device supports 55W fast charging. The Android 10 OS without Google services runs on the device along with EMIU 10. It does come with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). The device is packed with 8 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 512 GB.

UP NEXT: Huawei takes on Apple in yet another category globally with the Sound X speakers

 

 

(source)

More details about Redmi K30 Pro surface online ahead of launch next month

By
Jeet
-

Lu Weibing, Vice President of Xiaomi Group, President of Xiaomi China and General Manager of Redmi brand recently confirmed that the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone, Redmi K30 Pro will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC.

A poster shared by the company also revealed that the phone will have a full-screen display without any kind of notches. Now, a new leak coming from Weibo user reveals some more details about the upcoming smartphone.

Redmi K30 Pro Details Leak

It is said that the Redmi K30 Pro will come equipped with Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G connectivity and will have a pop-up front-facing camera mechanism. The phone is also claimed to have a large capacity battery and the weight balance on the device is said to be “much better than expected”.

Further, the smartphone will come with dual-mode SA and NSA 5G connectivity support, thanks to the presence of SD865 chipset and X55 modem. It is also expected to support Wi-Fi 6, LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage. As for the camera, the device is claimed to have Sony IMX686 as the primary sensor in the quad-camera setup.

EDITOR’S PICK: Oppo Smartwatch available for Reservations on official app, Releases on 6th March

Redmi K30 Pro Pricing Details Leak

The Redmi K30 Pro with model numbers M2001J11E and M2001J11C was recently spotted on the 3C certification website, revealing that the upcoming flagship smartphone from Redmi could come with 33W fast charing support.

As for the pricing, Pan Jiutang Weibo, a partner of the Xiaomi Industry Investment Department has revealed that the Redmi K30 Pro will be priced under 4,000 yuan (~$568). Earlier, Lu Weibing had said that the phone’s pricing will exceed 3,000 yuan (~$426). These claims led to reports that the device could be priced between 3,000 yuan to 3,899 yuan (~$426-554). The Redmi K30 Pro is confirmed to get launched next month in China.

UP NEXT: Black Shark 3 Pro 5G gaming smartphone scores more than 620K points on AnTuTu, best score till date

(Sources – 1, 2)

Samsung Galaxy S10+ running Android 11 spotted on GeekBench

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Earlier this month, Google officially showcased the first developer preview of Android 11 giving us a sneak peek at the features the new Android version will bring with it. There are indications that Samsung may have commenced internal testing of the new software on the Galaxy S10+.  Galaxy S10 Plus model with model number SM-G975F and running Android R has been spotted on GeekBench database.

The Android R is definitely Android 11 but since this the developer preview, it follows Google’s alphabetical naming convention and is being referred to as Android R. As usual, the Geekbench listing doesn’t reveal anything spectacular about the device. There is also no indication when the final OS version will be ready for a public release. However, the entry is a clear sign that Samsung was swift in picking up the first developer preview and test it on its hardware.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi’s Aqara officially unveils its range of smart home products in the US
Galaxy S10+ Park Hang Seo Limited Edition
Samsung’s Galaxy S10+ is also IP68 certified

Since Samsung may have started testing Android 11 on its flagship Galaxy S10+, we may as well expect the Korean tech giant to roll out the update early, perhaps towards the end of the year. Google is expected to officially announce the next-gen Android version around August.

Samsung may likely first release the update on the latest models like the Galaxy S20 series. However, Samsung has kept faith with its promise to push at least two major software updates for most of its devices. Thus, a Galaxy smartphone that shipped with at least Android Pie out of the box is technically guaranteed to receive Android 11 at some point. If your device has gotten two already, then don’t expect a third.

We must note, though, that this Geekbench entry could be a fake entry. We’ve seen that happen before.

UP NEXT: Richard Yu: Huawei P40 series will launch on March 26 in Paris

 

(source)

 

Skagen Falster 3 smartwatch with AMOLED screen, Wear 3100 launched

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Danish watchmaker Skagen seems to have adopted a six-month cycle for releasing new Falster smartwatch. The hyper-minimalist watch brand unveiled the first Falster smartwatch at CES 2018 and six months later, the Falster 2 was launched in August 2019. Six months after, Skagen has launched the Falster 3 smartwatch in India in partnership with X by KYGO.Skagen Falster 3

The Skagen Falster 3 utilises a 42mm design and packs a 1.3-inch full round AMOLED (328 pixels per inch). The smartwatch runs WearOS by Google, features a cardiogram app support, GPS, interchangeable straps, Waterproof up to 30m.

The smartwatch is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform that is complemented with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. It has a speaker system built in that allows the user to take calls directly from the smartwatch itself. Along with this, the user can also access Google Assistant, play music via third-party apps and translate texts with Google Translate.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi’s Aqara officially unveils its range of smart home products in the US

The Skagen Falster 3 features Tiles which provides users with a quick way to view information at a glance and also perform quick actions. The watch is running on Google WearOS platform. It also borrows several features from its predecessor like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, heart rate tracking, untethered GPS, NFC for Google Pay and Rapid Charging that will charge the device to 80% in 50 minutesSkagen Falster 3

It will also come pre-installed with a suite of apps like Spotify, Noonlight and even a Cardiogram app. The Cardiogram app will give users heart rate data that can be shared with doctors or family and even has continuous monitoring capabilities to detect possible signs of diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. Battery life is also taken care of as the smartwatch provides up to 24 hours of continuous use with its battery-efficient dial. There also four other battery modes that can be used to extend the battery life further.

The Skagen Falster 3 will be available in 3 styles and also have a limited edition style designed in partnership with X by KYGO brand. The watch carries a retail price of Rs. 21,995 ($306) and will be available in leading retail stores across India.

UP NEXT: Richard Yu: Huawei P40 series will launch on March 26 in Paris

 

Realme confirms the Realme 6 & 6 Pro are coming soon, camera sample shared

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

The Realme brand is bared 3 years old but has got a fast-growing product catalogue to its name. The Realme 5 series launched last year was one of the brand’s most popular series with sales exceeding 5.5 million units. The Realme 5 is about getting a successor and going by recent tweets from Realme India’s CEO and the company’s official Twitter handle, the models will be known as Realme 6 and 6 Pro.

Realme India’s CEO Madhav Sheth teased the two devices are coming soon through a tweet. He later posted a second tweet which happened to be a photo sample shot using the Realme 6. This was confirmed by the watermark on the photo which captured Madhav Sheth and Bollywood star Salman Khan. The watermark equally confirmed the camera onboard is a 64MP main sensor in a quad-cam arrangement.

Later on, a teaser poster shared by Realme Mobile’s official Twitter page confirms the Realme 6 series is coming soon. However, there is no confirmation of the date when the device will be officially launched. We expect more details to emerge in the coming days, though.

Just like the Realme 5 series that had a Realme 5i model, the Realme 6 series will equally have a realme 6i model. The 6i had earlier appeared on FCC’s website to flaunt the design of the model. The device is expected to pack a Quad-camera setup but this time around, the main sensor will be a 48MP one. The realme 6i is also expected to pack a 5,000mAh battery which will sadly be charged via a micro-USB port.

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Lenovo Legion Gaming Smartphone: fast charging will surpass 55W

By
Habeeb Onawole
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It is no news that Lenovo is entering the gaming smartphone segment. The announcement was made a few weeks ago and it was revealed the phone will launch under Lenovo’s Legion gaming brand. Today, a new poster has been released and it teases the phone’s fast charging technology.

A rough translation of the words on the poster asks “Is 55W (fast charging) really enough?”. It seems that Lenovo is taking a shot at the iQOO 3 5G that launched today and which has support for 55W fast charging support.

Lenovo Legion Gaming Smartphone Fast Charging

Based on the above, one can deduce the Legion Gaming Smartphone will have support for fast charging that exceeds 55W.

The other text on the poster asks fans to guess what the battery level will be after charging for 15 minutes and also how long it will take to reach 100%.

So far, 65W is the highest power rating we have seen on a commercially available smartphone, and since the poster doesn’t ask if 65W is enough, we are sure the power rating for the Legion phone will not surpass that.

It has been confirmed that the Legion Gaming Smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. We expect it will have the Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G too.

The phone will launch first in China and there is a possibility of a global release since the Legion brand is not limited to China.

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(Via)

Chinese smartphone market records 369 million shipments in 2019 (7% YoY decline)

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Available data shows that the Chinese smartphone market experienced a decline in shipments to peak at an estimated 369 million units in 2019. The figure is said to represent a 7% Year-on-Year decline when compared to the 2018’s figure. There are projections that the figure will drop even further to 330 million units this year.

Despite the projected decline in phone shipments for this year, China Unicom is optimistic about its performance for this year. At an event held yesterday in China, the telecoms giant says it expects its channel sales will double to 110 million units, accounting for one-quarter of the phone that’ll be shipped in China this year.

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China Unicom equally announced at the event that it will take the promotion of independent sales capabilities as one of the measures to boost the industrial chain. It revealed that out of the expected 330 million phone shipments this year, 100-180 million units will be 5G-enabled models. On its part, China Unicom plans to sell between 33-60 million units of 5G mobile phones.

China Unicom, which happens to be the world’s fourth-largest mobile service provider by subscriber base, is said to have teamed up with 32 partners from the fields of chips, module terminals, application content, and chain channels to establish a 5G terminal innovation joint laboratory as well as a 5G terminal innovation joint R & D centre, and a 5G terminal application cooperative innovation centre in China. There are already projections that most of the world’s 5G phones sold in 2020 will be shipped in China.

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(source)

 

Black Shark 3 Pro 5G scores over 620K on AnTuTu, best score till date

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi gaming phone brand Black Shark is getting set to launch the next-gen model of its extremely popular gaming smartphone – the Black Shark 3 series. The model is expected to come with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865 chipset and will bring 5G connectivity to the lineup for the first time. The Black Shark models have always been known to be powerful models and the upcoming model won’t be any different. If there is any doubt about that, the AnTuTu benchmark score of the Black Shark 3 Pro has been shared online to put such doubts to rest. Black Shark 3

A screenshot of the total score of the gaming phone was shared by Black Shark’s CEO on his official Weibo page. The device is identified as blackshark SHARK MBU-A0 and going by its GeekBench appearance and 3C certification listing, the device is the high-end Black Shark 3 Pro 5G which will launch alongside the Black Shark 3. The device scored 620952 points which is undoubtedly the highest score recorded so far by any smartphone on the platform. Before now, the iQOO 3 was reputed to have the highest AnTuTu score at 597,583 points with the ASUS ROG Phone 2 trailing at second place with a score of 507,051 points.

It is interesting to note that all three models with such monstrous AnTuTu scores are gaming smartphones. Even though the iQOO 3 and Black Shark 3 series are powered by the same Snapdragon 865 chipset onboard other flagship models like the Galaxy S20, Mi 10 etc, the clocking speed may be considerably higher on the gaming phones. Even at that, the Black Shark 3 Pro’s score is just super amazing.

The flagship gaming phone will be announced on March 3. Already, the Black Shark 3 has been listed for reservation on e-commerce platform Jingdong (JD.com) ahead of its unveiling.

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Oppo Smartwatch available for Reservations on official app, Releases on 6th March

By
Sean
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Oppo recently announced the launch event of its flagship smartphone the Find X2 on March 6. Alongside the device, the company also started taking the reservations for its first Oppo Smartwatch through its official app.

OPPO Smartwatch Render
Teased render of the Oppo’s first Smart Watch

From what we know so far, Oppo’s first smartwatch is expected to arrive with a hyperboloid screen that is curved on both sides. This form of 3D curved glass is expensive and difficult to make and was also found in the original Oppo Find X. Additionally, teasers of the wearable also detail its color which appears to primarily be made of black hues.

OPPO Watch

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Unfortunately, finer details regarding the smartwatch from the Chinese tech giant is still unknown, and we will have to wait for an official launch for more details. The gadget will also be a part of Oppo’s plan of a broad range of IoT (Internet of things) devices and ecosystem. For those interested, you will have to wait until the 6th of March 2020, when the device finally goes on sale.

Oppo
The rumored 3D Hyperboloid Curved glass that the Oppo Smartwatch is expected to feature

So far, only the teaser image has been used on official channels so not a lot regarding its overall design and specifications are known. The same extends to the software side of things as it is unknown if it will arrive with Wear OS. Although from what has been teased, an OLED display panel under the 3D curved glass is a likely possibility, since the device features a black background on which an hour and minute hand can be seen under the Oppo logo.

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UNISOC to unveil 5G SoC on February 26

By
Habeeb Onawole
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When it comes to mobile chip makers, most people are familiar with Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung, and Huawei. However, there are several others and one of them is UNISOC, formerly known as Spreadtrum. The Chinese company makes mobile chipsets too and they have appeared in phones from different manufacturers including Alcatel and Lava.

UNISOC 5G SoC Launch

The semiconductor manufacturer has announced today that it will announce its new-generation 5G processor tomorrow, February 26. This will be its first 5G processor.

UNISOC 5G chipset

There is no info about the chipset but it seems to be the result of a collaboration between China UNICOM and UNISOC. We do not know what devices the 5G SoC will power as the manufacturer makes chipsets for not only phones but modems and IoT devices.

Since the launch is tomorrow, there is not much waiting to be done before we find out the details of the chipset.

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