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Buy OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro at Lowered Prices from Gearbest [Coupons]

Leading manufacturers team up with online retailers from time to time in a bid to offer the well-received products (that usually carry steep price tags), at unbeatable prices.

OnePlus 7

Keeping up with the tradition, OnePlus is now offering the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro smartphone for considerably lowered prices in collaboration with Gearbest. We will not only shed light on these discounts but also show how you can save more money at checkout.

OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro

Earlier this year, OnePlus launched its flagship smartphones dubbed the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro. Both smartphones were made available in the Chinese market immediately after they launched, carrying exorbitant prices.OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro

Much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers that have been waiting to get their hands on the coveted smartphones, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched the OnePlus 7 & OnePlus 7 Pro Online Shopping Sale through Gearbest.

As part of the recently kicked-off promo, both, the OnePlus 7, as well as the OnePlus 7 Pro smartphones are now available for lowered prices. Let’s check out more details.

OnePlus 7 [8GB RAM+256GB ROM]

Available in Red, as well as Gray color options, the aforesaid variant usually retail for $585.54, but you can now buy it for a lowered price of just $449.99 from Gearbest. Moreover, you can extend this 23 percent discount with the help of coupon code GBOP7GSBW.oneplus 7

The coupon enables you to get an extra $52.01 off during the checkout process. As a result, the original asking price of the OnePlus 7 smartphone reduces to just $397.98. An absolute steal at this price, the OnePlus 7 offers the following features:

  • 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED FHD+ screen
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Soc
  • Adreno 640 GPU
  • 48MP+5MP cameras at the back
  • 16MP selfie camera
  • OxygenOS 9.5 base on Android 9.0 Pie OS
  • 3700mAh battery with 20W fast charging

You can follow this link to check out more details about the OnePlus 7 and place your order. With more than 1,700 sold at the time of writing, this promo is slated to end in eight days.

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet [8GB RAM+256GB ROM]

The slightly larger sibling of the OnePlus 7 is without an iota of doubt, one of the best phablets to hit the store shelves this year. The above-mentioned variant of the phablet would normally set you back $904.74, but if you are buying it from Gearbest, you get it for a reduced price of just $649.99.

Moreover, you can extend this 28 percent discount with the help of coupon code GBOP7PGSBW. The coupon helps you grab an extra $45.01 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the OnePlus 7 Pro further down to just $604.98 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon.

The phablet boasts an impressive array of features that justify the price tag it carries. Some of these exciting features are mentioned below:

  • 6.67-inch QHD+ Fluid AMOLED 90Hz screen
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Octa-core AI Soc
  • Adreno 640 GPU
  • 48MP+16MP+8MP cameras at the back
  • 16MP pop-up selfie camera
  • OxygenOS 9.5 based on Android 9.0 Pie
  • 4000mAh battery with Warp Charge 30 Fast Charging

To find out more about this feature-laden phablet, simply follow this link. Note that more than 200 pieces were sold out at the time of writing and the promo will come to an end in 38 days.

 

Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace: Specs Comparison

Xiaomi advertised the Redmi Note 8 Pro as a gaming phone despite it is definitely not a flagship device, and not only for its affordable price tag. But does it really have flagship-class features and components? Is it really a flagship killer when it comes to performance or it is still far from high-end devices? Does it have a higher value for money than affordable flagships? We decided to answer all of these questions by comparing it to one of the latest and most amazing affordable flagships in China: the Oppo Reno Ace. Unlike the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it is a real high-end phone, but is it worth spending more for it? Let’s find it out together.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Oppo Reno Ace
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm,

200 grams

161 x 75.7 x 8.7 mm,

200 grams

DISPLAY 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED
PROCESSOR Mediatek Helio G90T, octa-core 2.05 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB –  micro SD card slot 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE Android 9 Pie, MIUI Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9 and f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/2.4
20 MP f/2.0 front camera
Quad 48 + 13 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.7, f/2.4, f/2.2 and f/2.4
16 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY 4500 mAh
Fast charging 18W
4000 mAh, Fast Charging 65W with Super VOOC Flash Charge
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Hybrid Dual SIM slot Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Design

There is no doubt about the fact that Oppo Reno Ace has a more premium design than Redmi Note 8 Pro. Indeed, it sports a glass back paired with an aluminum frame, it has a cleaner glass back thanks to the in-display fingerprint scanner, and it is even more compact. It should also be a more resistant phone due to both its metal frame and the Gorilla Glass 6 protection. The Oppo Reno Ace is even more beautiful, at least according to my tastes.

 

Display

The display of the Oppo Reno Ace is infinitely superior to the one of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. First of all, it is an AMOLED screen unlike the IPS panel of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Further, it supports both full DCI-P3 coverage and a higher 90 Hz refresh ratio, while Redmi Note 8 Pro does not. It also comes with a slightly taller aspect ratio and stereo speakers which improve multimedia and gaming experience. Given that it sports an AMOLED panel, Oppo Reno Ace also comes with an in-display fingerprint reader, while the biometric sensor of the Redmi Note 8 Pro is placed on the back. Both Oppo Reno Ace and Redmi Note 8 Pro support HDR.

 

Specs & Software

Despite it is just a midrange smartphone, Redmi Note 8 Pro sports a high-end SoC. There is no midrange chipset that can achieve the same graphics performance as the MediaTek Helio G90T. That is why it is a perfect chipset for gaming. But is it able to reach the flagship Snapdragon 855+ which is currently the best Qualcomm’s chipset? The short answer is no. The long answer is: even though it has high-end CPU and GPU performance, Helio G90T is far from being a top-tier chipset. And it even has a high energy consumption, given that it is built at 12 nm while most of the current flagship chipsets are built at 7 nm. Another component making the Oppo Reno Ace better than Redmi Note 8 Pro in every configuration is the UFS 3.0 internal storage, while Redmi Note 8 Pro has UFS 2.1 storage. Last but not least, Oppo Reno Ace is available with up to 12 GB of RAM, while Redmi Note 8 Pro stops at 8 GB.

 

Camera

Redmi Note 8 Pro has a quad camera with a higher resolution for the main sensor, but this does not mean it is a better camera phone. Oppo Reno Ace has a better 48 MP sensor with a brighter aperture and even OIS in its dual camera. Unlike the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the Oppo Reno Ace has an ultrawide lens which is currently one of the most wanted camera features. So, Oppo Reno Ace wins even when it comes to cameras.

 

 

Battery

Redmi Note 8 Pro has a way bigger battery than Oppo Reno Ace, but it does not mean that it always provides a longer battery life. With an intensive usage, Oppo Reno Ace is superior because it has more efficient components. Further, the Oppo Reno Ace has a lot faster charging technology: with its 65W SuperVOOC Flash Charge, it can fully charge in just 30 minutes.

 

Price

In China, Redmi Note 8 Pro starts from just €177/$200, while Oppo Reno Ace starts from about €380/$425. Oppo Reno Ace is a superior phone in almost every aspect, but if you can not afford a so expensive device, Redmi Note 8 Pro is the best mid-ranger you can buy if you are looking for the best performance and long battery life.

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

PRO

  • High graphics performance
  • Advanced cooling system
  • Bigger battery
  • Affordable price

CONS

  • Midrange specifications

 

Oppo Reno Ace

PRO

  • Better display
  • Better cameras
  • Flagship-class hardware
  • Faster charging tech

CONS

  • Limited availability
  • Higher price

Huawei President Alex Zhang shares Huawei Mate X 5G download speeds

The Huawei Mate X was revealed in February but the initial launch was delayed to fix the device further. Since then, we haven’t really heard much about the device’s launch date, though there have been plenty of rumors and leaks. Now however, it seems like we’re finally closing in on the final release as Huawei‘s Alex Zhang shares the device’s 5G capabilities online.

Alex used the Huawei Mate X to test 5G speed in Wuzhen. The image shows that the Mate X achieves download speeds of up to 750Mbps, quite impressive. The Mate X is the industry’s first 5G dual-mode smartphone that supports NSA and SA as well as dual sim card dual standby. Also quite importantly, the device is compatible with the mainstream 5G/4G network standards worldwide.

Looking at what we can see, the Mate X still features an eagle-wing folding design with a four-layer structure: the top layer is a polymer screen protector, the second layer is a flexible flexible screen, and the third layer is a soft support sheet. The bottom layer is the shaft, which serves as the core of Mate X keeping it functional and solid.

The official render emphasizes that Mate X maintains a fully symmetrical, full-screen shape, whether in a folded or unfolded state, thanks to the cover design of the hinge part.
In addition, Mate X supports split-screen browsing and multi-tasking, allowing users to open different applications on the left and right sides of the screen and operate simultaneously.

It has been more than 6 months since Huawei showed us the Mate X foldable phone but the device is yet to be available for purchase. It was first expected to launch in June but didn’t. Then there were reports it will be launched in September but that didn’t happen. Now, new info says the phone will launch on October 23.

(Source)

UMIDIGI Power 3 with iPhone-like camera camera setup launching soon (video)

UMIDIGI just recently released its new budget flagship UMIDIGI F2 and now they are gearing up to launch another Power-Series affordable device with a bigger than even battery. We’re talking about the UMIDIGI Power 3 that is the successor of the Power. It will launch on October 23rd featuring a quad rear camera and a new green color option that have now been revealed through some new renders.

The company already unveiled some key features on its website so we can see that it will sport an iPhone-like square quad-camera setup with a 48MP main sensor, an ultra-wide-angle lens camera, and a macro lens camera. The phone hosts a 6.53’’ notchless hole-punch FHD+ display like UMIDIGI F2 and also runs on Android 10.

UMIDIGI Power 3

As a member of the Power Series, it packs a 6150mAh battery that is expected to give several days of use on a single charge. The design is soft and the rear panel features curved edges which can make the phone fit comfortably in your hand. According to information, the phone will feature fast reverse charging that can help you charge other devices.

UMIDIGI Power 3

The new device will launch on October 23rd and we’ll an eye out for more specs on it. As with previous new devices, UMIDIGI is running a big giveaway to recruit 10 trial users for UMIDIGI Power 3. You can learn more about the device and join the giveaway on their official website.

Huawei Mate 30 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G to go on sale on Oct. 23

The Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro flagship phones have already been available for purchase in China since last month. However, the 5G versions – the Mate 30 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G – are yet to go on sale. That changes on Wednesday.

Mate 30 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G

The Huawei China website has now listed the 5G versions of both phones will be available on Wednesday, October 23. The sales will begin at 18:08 pm (China Local Time).

The Mate 30 5G is available in two variants – an 8GB + 125GB version with a ¥4999 (~$706) price and  an 8GB + 256GB version priced at ¥5499 (~$777). The Mate 30 Pro 5G also comes in two variants – an 8GB + 256GB version priced at ¥6899 (~$975) while the 8GB RAM + 512GB version is priced at ¥7899 (~$1116).

The Mate 30 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G are powered by the Kirin 990 5G, a 7nm + EUV processor. It not only has a built-in 5G modem but its NPU chip has 2 big cores and 1 small core while the regular Kirin 990 has 1 big core and 1 small core. Its cores are also clocked higher.

The Mate 30 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G each have a total of 21 antennas, 14 which are for 5G, more than double the 6-antenna design of other 5G phones. Both 5G phones come in Vegan Leather Orange and Vegan Leather Forest Green.

 

(Via)

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 Enhanced Edition (2019) launched in China

Xiaomi has silently launched the new Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 Enhanded Edition (2019) in China. In terms of design, it is similar to its predecessor, featuring a minimalistic design and a logo at the front. In fact, it’s pretty much entirely the same on the outside.

It comes with a dark grey finish on a metal body and the device measures 19.9mm in thickness. The Mi Notebook Pro (2019) also comes with a dual fan cooling system and heat pipes for excellent temperature management.

Coming to the specifications, the Mi Notebook Pro (2019) features a 1080p Full HD display with thin bezels on all sides. Under the chassis is where we begin to see some changes. The display has shifted from a 72% NTSC display to a 100%sRGB display. The under the hood, we’ve now got an Intel core i7-10510U processor, 14nm process, quad-core and eight threads, up to 4.9GHz.

As for the storage support, it comes in two options — 256GB and 512GB with SSD expandability options. The quality of the RAM has also seen a small upgrade from 2400mhz to 2666mhz.  For connectivity, it comes with two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI interface, and a headset jack along with a 3-in-1 card reader as well. The laptop is running Microsoft Windows 10 operating system out-of-the-box.

Compared to the last iteration of the Mi Notebook Pro, this one comes with marginal improvements, mainly in processor upgrade on the new version along with the storage and display segments. This was also the case with the Mi Notebook Air 2019 and previous Mi Notebook Pro from earlier this year.

Samsung has set an ambitious sales target for the Galaxy Fold lineup next year!

As people are slowly warming up to the idea of a foldable smartphone, Samsung wants to grab a big chunk of the market next year. The company has reportedly sold only around 500,000 units of the Galaxy Fold worldwide, but it has an ambitious sales target for the lineup in 2020. 

Samsung Galaxy Fold

ETNews reveals that Samsung is aiming to sell nearly six million foldable smartphones in 2020. That’s quite an ambitious target for a phone featuring a yet-to-be-proven design and a price tag that’s out of reach for a majority of smartphone users. However, the report states that Samsung’s confidence in the foldable form factor has increased after the launch of the device. In fact, the company even considered setting a target of ten million foldable sales next year, only to bring it down to a more conservative 6 million. This is still higher than the IHS Markit estimate of just 3 million foldable shipments in 2020. 

The Galaxy Fold has already launched in major markets across the globe like South Korea, U.S., India, and will land in markets such as Japan, Poland, Mexico, and Switzerland later this month. Samsung should announce the successor to the Galaxy Fold around early 2020. It is expected to feature a clamshell design and should be more robust than the current generation model. The new model will reportedly shift from polyimide to ultra-thin flexible glass to remove the crease that’s visible on the current generation version. The company already has a patent for a square clamshell foldable design, and you can take a look at it here

 

(Source, Via)

Huawei admits U.S. Ban is hurting, but no workaround for a foreseeable future

It’s been nearly eight months since Huawei was added to the U.S. government’s blacklist, officially known as Entity List. While Huawei has managed to limit the repercussions of the ban so far, it is looking at a tough road ahead. In fact, Huawei executives have admitted that U.S. sanctions are hurting them.

Leica-Mate-20-Pro-featured
Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro

According to the Financial Times, Huawei is finding it hard to replace Google’s applications on its smartphones. Over the past few months, the company has managed to replace most of the equipment from the U.S., but they haven’t found a viable solution to Google services. And they admit that it’ll be years before they can come up with their own alternatives.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei Mate 30 Pro Camera Photography & Video Review: Filmed Entirely By The Phone!

Software remains the biggest headaches for Huawei. Apart from Google applications, Huawei also cannot use Microsoft’s Windows 10 platform that powers its MateBook lineups. In this regard, it recently started selling Linux variants of its laptops on its official store in China. Notably, Huawei’s existing smartphones are allowed to use Google services under the recently granted extension. However, new models such as the Mate 30 Pro cannot officially install and run Google applications. There are workarounds to run Google services on these devices, but its future is uncertain.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro featured 01
Huawei Mate 30 Pro is one of the best smartphones in the market today but does not come with Google apps

Unfortunately, even after eight months since the official ban began, there hasn’t been a resolution between the company and the U.S. government. A lot is riding on the trade talks between China and the U.S., and Huawei’s future as a top smartphone maker depends on how these talks culminate.

It’s not all bad though as there are reports which state that U.S. companies could soon get the green-light to sell to Huawei and Google could be one of them.

 

(Source)

Honor V30 Is Coming in November with 5G SA & NSA support

Honor doesn’t have a 5G smartphone in China yet, but that’s going to change very soon. Honor President Zhao Ming recently confirmed that the Honor V30 was going to be the first 5G smartphone from the brand. What’s more, it is also confirmed that the Honor V30 launch is scheduled for November 2019.

Honor V30 Pro renders
Honor V30 Pro renders 2

Honor didn’t give out an official launch date for the V30, but since it’s coming in November, expect an official announcement soon. Zhao also confirmed in a recent interview with Chinese media that the new model would support both Non-Stand Alone (NSA) and Stand Alone (SA) modes, essentially future-proofing the device.
The Honor V30 is reportedly coming in two variants, the Honor V30 and the V30 Pro. Both the models will likely feature punch-hole cameras, with the Pro model reportedly getting dual front-facing shooters.
The cameras on both devices will be quite powerful. The V30 should come with a 60MP primary sensor with 16MP super wide-angle shooter, a 2MP macro lens, and a ToF camera completing the quad-camera setup. The Pro version retains the 60MP primary shooter, but adds an 8MP telephoto camera instead of a macro lens, and upgrades the wide-angle shooter to 20MP. It will also have a ToF camera.

 

(Via)

Ulefone offers Armor Series discounts in cooperation with Gearbest

2019 has been a great year for the rugged smartphone market since several manufacturers released a bunch of new devices. The lion’s share goes to Ulefone that announced some excellent pieces of tech like the Armor 3W/3WT and their latest device, Ulefone Armor 6S. As a “thank you” to its supporters, the Chinese manufacturer is holding a big promotion in cooperation with Gearbest until October 31st. Let’s check out the offers available.

 

Ulefone Armor 6S

Ulefone deals

The star of the promotion is the upgraded version of Armor 6, the Armor 6S that comes with Helio P70 running @2.1GHz backed by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The rugged flagship is available for just $279.99 during the activity and among others, it sports a dual rear camera with 16MP/8MP sensors, an 8MP selfie shooter, 6.2″ FHD+ notch display, 5000mAh battery with Qi 10W wireless charging, face and fingerprint unlock, NFC with Google Pay, GPS/Glonass/Beidou triple navigation system, and Android 9.0 Pie. Of course, it comes with IP68/IP69K/MIL-STD-810G certifications that make it waterproof, dust-proof, and drop resistant. You can get it on Gearbest.

 

Ulefone Armor 3W/3WT

Ulefone deals

Of course, the company is also offering their latest rugged duo Armor 3W and 3WT. Both phones come with the same configuration that means a Helio P70 AI SoC together with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and a massive 10300mAh battery with 9V/2A & MTK PE+2.0 fast charging. The cameras include a 21MP rear camera as well as an 8MP selfie shooter that also supports face unlock. There’s also fingerprint unlock, dual-4G/dual-VoLTE, NFC with Google, a triple navigation system, global frequency bands, and Android 9.0 Pie. The Armor 3W costs just $239.99 during the activity and that price includes a free sling, tempered glass, and bicycle phone holder. The Armor 3WT that is the walkie-talkie version of Armor 3W, shares the same solid specs with Armor 3W and it comes at just $279.99 on Gearbest with the same gifts included.

Ulefone deals

All three models feature an innovative underwater photography mode that enables you to record beautiful underwater scenarios while diving or swimming. Besides these 3 rugged phones, the promotion also offers several other Ulefone models. You can see the whole collection on the dedicated promotion page here.

OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro update brings Cloud Service for Gallery to Indian Users

If you are looking for a better alternative to the new Google Pixel 4, the OnePlus 7T may be the one to get. The OnePlus flagship gets a lot of things right such as having a bigger battery, faster charging, a fingerprint scanner, and an ultrawide angle camera. The phone will also get 3 years of OS and security updates which is what the Pixel 4 will get too. Oh! Let’s not forget that it is also available in India, a major market where the Pixel 4 will not be sold.

OnePlus 7T OxygenOS 10.0.4 update

OnePlus is rolling out a new update to the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro and it brings optimizations and bug fixes as well as a new feature that was promised when it launched last month.

The update brings Cloud Service for Gallery. This is a new feature that OnePlus announced at the launch event last month. With this, users will be able to back up their photos to the cloud. When it was announced, it was revealed that OnePlus 7T owners will get 50GB of free storage (should be the same for 7T Pro owners too). The Cloud Service feature is available to Indian users only, so don’t expect it if you are not in India.

Arriving as OxygenOS 10.0.4 for the OnePlus 7T and OxygenOS 10.0.3 for the OnePlus 7T Pro, below is the changelog for the update:

System

  • Optimized translation accuracy.
  • Optimized overall communication (network, phone calls, mobile data) performance.
  • General bug fixes and improvements.
  • Added Cloud Service for Gallery (India only).

Camera

  • Optimized quality of the front camera for better pictures at night.

 

(Source)

Ever wanted an artificial skin phone case? Well, here you go.

You think you’ve heard everything sometimes, but then you hear something that blows your mind all over again. Today is one of those days. Forget protective covers – there are now smartphone cases that are meant to simulate the feel of real skin. As if that weren’t weird enough, it also responds to being touched and pinched.

The project, which was in collaboration with researchers from HCI Sorbonne Université and CNRS, is called the “Skin-On Interface.” As you’d expect, it’s essentially a phone case made from artificial skin. That in itself would be a creepy enough prospect, but this is combined with interactivity that elevates it to the next level of nope.

According to Marc Teyssier of Telecom Paris, the skin responds to different gestures that mimic human emotional communication. Sudden hard pressure on the skin is associated with anger and tapping is a means of seeking attention, while sustained contact and stroking are associated with providing comfort. Yes, you can comfort your phone.

So the obvious question here is, why? Well, Marc says “I wanted to pinch my phone,” which isn’t only somewhat bizarre, but also really answers nothing. Regardless of reasoning, it’s rather impressive that they’ve made an artificial skin that responds to touch. The skin is able to detect a variety of gestures, including sliding, stretching and rotation.

“This is the first time we have the opportunity to add skin to our interactive devices. The idea is perhaps a bit surprising, but skin is an interface we are highly familiar with so why not use it and its richness with the devices we use every day?” said University of Bristol Professor Anne Roudaut who supervised the research.

“Artificial skin has been widely studied in the field of robotics but with a focus on safety, sensing or cosmetic aims. This is the first research we are aware of that looks at exploiting realistic artificial skin as a new input method for augmenting devices,” Teyssier said.

No words on when (if ever) these monstrosities will be available for purchase. The researchers and designers behind Skin-On will present their work at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology in New Orleans starting Sunday.

(Source)

 

Microsoft admits Android is the best operating system for smartphones including Surface Duo

Earlier this month, Microsoft took covers off its first convertible/foldable smartphone which is dubbed Surface Duo. More surprising than the design of this futuristic gadget is the operating sytem it runs on. Unlike previously launched smartphones from Microsoft that ran on Windows Mobile, the Surface Duo runs on Android.

As a reminder, the development of Android is led by Google which is one of Microsoft’s biggest rival. Having said that, Panos Panay who is the chief product officer at Microsoft’s hardware division, made an intriguing statement that ” Android is the best OS for this product”.

As previously mentioned, Microsoft has already tried their luck with a mobile operating system which was called “Windows mobile”. Unfortunately, the OS could not stand the test of time due to several reasons, out of which, lack of hi-quality apps was one of the most prominent ones.

While Microsoft might have given up on OS for mobile but it still wants to a piece of the action in the rapidly booming smartphone industry, especially foldable smartphone/tablet hybrid devices. Panay further added “we wanted to meet customers where they were… and they were with Android.”. It is clear that Microsoft does not want history to repeat itself.

Surface DuoTo recall, the Microsoft Surface Duo has two 5.6 inch displays. Under the hood, it features the Snapdragon 855 which is found on most other Android flagships launched in the current year. In terms of thickness, the device is just 4.8 mm thick and to securely bypass the lock screen it features a fingerprint scanner. While the battery capacity of the device is currently unknown, it can be charged via a bottom-mounted USB C port.

All in all, the Surface Duo due to its design and Android OS that has a massive library of applications can put Microsoft on the map in this domain.

 

Price leaks for Kirin 980 and Kirin 990 Huawei Mate X models

The Huawei Mate X foldable phone has been rumored to get a launch in China on Wednesday, October 23. The official Huawei Weibo account is still yet to confirm that info, and seeing that the day is almost here with no official confirmation, the possibility of the device launching on Wednesday is getting slimmer. Nevertheless, the alleged prices of the Mate X have leaked today.

Huawei Mate X outfold

The info comes from Huawei Central, one of the sources that reported it will launch on Wednesday. The Mate X will have two versions – a base model with a Kirin 980 model + Balong 5000 5G modem and a high-end model with a Kirin 990 5G chipset.

The Kirin 980 model will have a price tag of ¥9999 (~$1414) while the Kirin 990 5G version will sell for ¥13,999 (~$1979). The price of both models is significantly cheaper when compared to the launch price of €2299 (~$2563) announced in Europe back in February, which of course is for the Kirin 980 version.

The Mate X has 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. We don’t know if the Kirin 990 5G version will have the same configuration or differ in other ways but ¥4000 (~$565) is a lot if the difference is limited to only the chipset.

 

(Source)

TCL-manufactured Palm phone certified by TENAA, China launch loading?

TCL has been bringing some vigour to the Alcatel brand as well as the BlackBerry brand after acquiring it. The brand also acquired rights to the Palm brand and around October last year, it launched a new Palm phone codenamed Pepito in the US. The phone was designed by the company named Palm and was first sold exclusively on Verizon Wireless but is presently available unlocked.Palm

The company is already planning to launch another Palm-branded phone or is planning to launch the phone in China as a new model has been certified by China’s Telecoms regulatory agency (TENAA). The listing shows the device is manufactured by TCL and the specs align with those of the Verizon-exclusive model. It is listed to have a 3.3-inch display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels.TCL Palm phone

The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor which is similar to what you’ll find on budget phones.  The processor is paired with 3GB of RAM and there is 32GB of storage. On the camera end, it packs a 12MP main sensor. There is equally an 8MP sensor at the front for selfies. Further, the TCL Palm phone runs on Android 8.1 OS with a new custom overlay. It also supports IP68 dust and water resistance. Palm phone

Although the specs lineup smarks of an entry-level model, the Palm phone is sold in the US for $349 which is pricey but there aren’t so many options to chose from. We expect a cheaper price tag whenever it is launched in China. For now, we can’t say when that will happen.

(via)

Buy Redmi 8A and Redmi Note8 Smartphones at Lowered Prices from Gearbest [Coupons]

Earlier this year, Xiaomi announced that it is making Redmi an independent brand, separating ti from the Mi brand. After parting ways with the Chinese electronics giant, Redmi has launched amazing smartphones that helped it build a loyal fanbase.

Redmi Note8

The now-independent brand has teamed up with Gearbest to offer the Redmi 8A and Redmi Note 8 smartphones for considerably affordable prices. We will show how you can save more money at checkout.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A [2GB RAM+32GB ROM] – Black

Announced in September this year, Redmi 8A is an irresistible smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features including a 6.22-inches Dot Drop display with a high resolution of 1520×720 pixels. It packs a powerful Snapdragon 439 processor, along with Qualcomm Adreno 505 GPU.Xiaomi Redmi 8A

The well-received smartphone has gone up for sale bearing a $139.99 price tag. You can use coupon code GBRMI8A01 for a $22 off during the checkout process. As a result, the original asking price of the Redmi 8A reduces to just $117.99.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Redmi 8A smartphone and place your order. With over a hundred pieces sold at the time of checking out, the promo is slated to end in nine days.

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

Redmi announced the Redmi Note 8 smartphone in August this year. Even months after hitting the store shelves, the phone continues to garner popularity among the brand’s huge fanbase. It sports a 6.3 inch in-cell LCD display with 2340 x 1080 pixels resolution.

The Redmi Note 8 is powered by Snapdragon 665 processor and runs MIUI 10 OS for superior user experience. The aforesaid model usually carries a $209.99 price tag on both online, as well as offline stores, but you can buy it for a lowered price with the help fo coupon code GBNOTE801.Xiaomi Redmi Note8 Global Version 4+64GB Space Black EU- Black 4+64GB

The above-mentioned coupon enables you to save $22 at checkout. As a result, the original selling price of the phone drops to just $187.99.

To avail the discount which is valid for the black color version of the phone, all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time. The promo will end in nine days and more than a hundred have already sold out.

Smart Wearables market in Europe grew 2.5x times in Q2 of 2019 compared to last year

While smartphone sales are currently observing a downfall, the sales of wearables is rising rapidly. According to a report published by IDC (International Data Corporation), in comparison to last year, the shipment of smart wearable devices in Europe grew 154.4% to 13.4 million units in the Q2 of 2019. Out of which, 52.3% of the share is held by earwear, followed by smartwatches which hold 26.7% share and the remaining 20.7% is accounted by smart bands. The top five countries in the list are the UK, France, Germany, Russia and Italy, in respective order.

Company 2Q19 shipments 2Q19 share 2Q18 shipments 2Q18 share Y/Y
Apple 4.83 36% 1.9 35.9% 154.7%
Samsung 2.43 18.1% 0.51 9.6% 379.3%
Fitbit 0.87 6.5% 0.62 11.8% 40.3%
Garmin 0.75 5.6% 0.62 11.7% 22.3%
Huawei 0.75 5.6% 0.09 1.8% 697%
Others 3.78 28.2% 1.54 29.2% 145.5%
Total 13.42 100% 5.28 100% 154.4%

 

When it comes to the most number of units sold, Apple leads the chart with 4.83 million units sold in Q2 of 2019 which is about 154.7 % increase, compared to the same time period last year. At number two is the Korean electronics giant, Samsung which recorded an impressive growth of 379.3% during the Q2 of the two years.airpods vs galaxy buds

Followed by Samsung are two American corporations, Fitbit and Garmin. The two companies sold 40.3% and 22.3% more smart wearable devices in Q2 of 2019. in contrast to the preceding year.

Samsung Galaxy Fit-e
Samsung Galaxy Fit-e

At number five is Huawei, which recorded an astounding growth of close to 700%. The company managed to sell only 0.09 million smart wearable devices in the Q2 of last year, which grew to 0.75 million in the same quarter of this year.

All other companies combined together, which include Xiaomi and also saw a notable sales bump. While last year, they managed 1.54 million units, it grew close to 4 million this year.

Lastly, IDC experts have predicted the combined sales of smart wearables in the region could reach 72.8 million units in 2020 which could generate total revenue of upto $ 14 billion.

(via)

 

Xiaomi announces HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones, priced at $169

Xiaomi has announced a new pair of HiFi earphones for audiophiles. The new earphones are unlike Xiaomi’s previous HiFi earphones. Xiaomi says this a flagship and it is not only reflected in its features but also in its price.

Mi HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones wireless mode

The Xiaomi HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones have four drivers – 2 x dynamic driver units and 2 x balanced armature units. The two balanced armature units are placed before the dynamic driver units for richer details.

Xiaomi uses a silicon layer for the bass while the treble uses a titanium composite inside the diaphragm. This allows the earphones to produce better mid and bass ranges. Also, the earphones feature gold-plated MMCX connectors with thicker coatings. The new connectors should improve connection, last longer and withstand four times the insertions of standard MMCX connectors. It is stated that the connectors can be easily replaced if they break or get damaged.

The sound chamber of the Xiaomi HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones is made of Zirconia which is highly durable.

Mi HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones wireless mode Bluetooth DAC

The earphones have been designed to work in wireless or wired mode. In wireless mode, you plug it to a Bluetooth DAC amplifier that supports Hi-Res SBC, AAC, and LDAC. In wired mode, you can decide to use it via the bundled 3.5mm jack cable or the USB Type-C cable which has a DAC chip. Xiaomi says the cables are made of silver-plated oxygen-free copper.

[envira-gallery id=”284265″]

The Xiaomi HiFi Hybrid Flagship Earphones is already available for pre-order on Mi.com up until November 10. It will be available for purchase on November 11. The price is ¥999 and those who pre-order will have to pay a deposit between ¥100 to ¥400. The balance should then be paid between 5 PM on November 10 and 4:59 on November 11. Those living outside China can order it from Hifigo.com.

Inside the box, you will find the earphones, 1 x short 3.5 mm cable, 1 x long 3.5 mm cable, 1 x Type-C audio connector cable, 1 x Bluetooth adapter, 4 pairs of silicone eartips, 2 pairs of memory sponge eartips, 1 x earphone case, 1 Type-C charging cable, 1 pair of ear hooks, and a user guide.

 

Buy Lenovo HX03F Smart Watch for Just $17.99 from Gearbest [Coupon]

Expanding its already impress a range of fitness trackers, Lenovo recently took the covers off the Lenovo HX03F smartwatch. Crafted to continuously monitor the health of the wearer, the new smartwatch can also check your heart rate automatically.

Lenovo HX03F Smart Watch

Marketed as ‘Your Fitness Partner,’ can efficiently track your workouts and keep an eye on calories burnt, steps taken, distance covered, while offering daily, weekly, monthly, as well as yearly statistics. With a waterproof rating of IP68, the watch can be used in humid and wet conditions.

It helps you to stick to your fitness routine by monitoring the calories you burn throughout the day. Furthermore, the Lenovo HX03F is compatible with Android, as well as iOS smartphones, and you download the Lenovo Healthy app to synchronize it with your phone.

Lenovo HX03F Smart Watch

To ensure you do not miss any important call or messages, the smartwatch shows notifications of calls, SMSs, etc. The band of the Lenovo HX03F is made using high-quality silica material so that you can wear it for a long time without experiencing any sort of discomfort.

A high-end smartwatch offering comparable features would normally set you back a pretty penny, but the Lenovo HX03F smartwatch can be yours for a lowered price of only $23.99 if you order it through Gearbest. This is a 15 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $28.30.

Lenovo HX03F Smart Watch

As if that weren’t enough, you can extend the aforesaid discount by applying coupon code J399EAB6C9D8D001 at checkout. The coupon helps you save $6 more by reducing the retail price of the smartwatch to just $17.99 even before you place your order.

You can follow this link to grab the discount and take advantage of the coupon, which is slated to expire soon. With just one piece sold at the time of writing, the promo will come to an end in nine days.

 

Buy Xiaomi Ninebot MAX G30 Portable Folding Electric Scooter for Just $629.99 [Coupon]; Extra 5% Off via PayPal

Marketed as the best solution for comfort riding and long-distance commuting, the new Xiaomi Ninebot MAX G30 offers an unparalleled range and distance traveled on the market with a 65Km max mileage. With a top speed of up to 25km/h, it enables you to explore more without worrying about the battery.

Xiaomi Ninebot MAX G30 Portable Folding Electric Scooter

Powered by the stronger 350W brushless motor, the Ninebot MAX G30 is relatively faster than other e-bikes available on the market. Moreover, it uses an upgraded vacuum anti-puncture tire for enhanced shock absorption and can adapt to complex road conditions.

Even if it is punctured with nails, the tire will not leak air. The Ninebot MAX G30 adopts a 3 seconds fast-folding design so that you can effortlessly carry it wherever you go and store it without requiring a lot of space. It features an easily readable LED display that shows the remaining power and other information that indicates the situation of the bicycle.

Furthermore, the Xiaomi Ninebot MAX G30 electric bicycle comes with three riding modes including energy-saving mode, standard mode, and sports mode. It has an advanced braking system, kinetic energy recovery system, cruise control system and intelligent system for superior riding experience.

Ninebot MAX G30 Portable Folding Electric Scooter 350W Motor Max Speed 30km/h 15.3Ah Battery - Black

While you’d normally expect a feature-laden e-bike offering comparable features to cost a bomb, the Xiaomi Ninebot MAX G30 Portable Folding Electric Scooter can now be yours for a lowered price of just $679.99 through GeekBuying. This is a 5 percent reduction in the e-bike’s original asking price of $715.99.

Moreover, you can use coupon code GKB50PP for an extra $50 off. In other words, you can reduce the retail price of the e-bike to just $629.99 by applying the aforesaid coupon. Those making their payment via PayPal will be eligible for an extra 5 percent discount.

You can follow this link to get the discount and use the coupon before it expires. Note that the promo is slated to end in just three days.