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Oppo, Vivo & Realme could soon ditch online exclusive smartphone sales in India

By
Sahil
-

Preface

Xiaomi was the first company in India to sell online exclusive smartphones in the country. In the year 2014, it unveiled the MI 3 which was available for purchase only via Flash sales hosted on Flipkart.com. The company had a completely different approach towards marketing its products as the costs saved by eliminating the middlemen like distributors & sub-distributors were passed on to the consumers.

Xiaomi logoTherefore, Xiaomi was able to price its devices much more aggressively in comparison to its competitors. And it was only a matter of time until these competitors started following suit in order to stay relevant in the industry. As of today, about 40% of the smartphones sold in India are sold while online channels, out of which the most prominent ones are Amazon.in, Flipkart.com and every OEMs respective online stores.

Even though the number of devices sold online is still less than the number of devices sold offline, the gap is getting narrower with each passing day. Undoubtedly, the online sales model has contributed in making technology more affordable for the end-user, it has been a nightmare for small or medium scale business owners who have been establishing their business for years, if not decades.

Report Begins here

While associations of such business owners, in the past, have been protesting so that the online exclusivity of these devices is stopped, which would allow them to sustain their business, no concreate laws have been enforced until now. However, this might change early next year, as smartphone OEMs currently have an ongoing contract with these online retailers which will end on the 31st of December 2019.

According to Arvinder Khurana who is the president of All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA),

Realme has decided that there will be complete parity between online and offline retailers with no exclusive model, an exclusive period of launch, price or brand offers from January.

Even Oppo and Vivo have assured us that they would do something similar, though official communication is awaited,

Readers who are unaware, all three of these brands are owned by BBK electronics which is based out of China. According to Counterpoint research, these three brands make up 30% of collective sales in the India smartphone industry.

Arvinder Khurana even said that “Over 30,000 cellphone stores have shut in the past year and a few thousand jobs have been lost. We need brand support to revive offline business,”

Editor’s Pick: The Rear vent on the Asus ROG Phone 2 is fake reveals JerryRig’s teardown

After AIMRA presidents made the statement ET India sent out mails to India’s five largest smartphone brands which include Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo, Realme and Oppo.realme-logo

Madhav Sheth, the CEO Realme India said the “company believes in fair trade practices, offering similar benefits to online and offline customers, with the same price for its products. Any offers available on platforms are run by respective retailers and not by the brand,”

An Oppo spokesperson made this statement “Having an aggressive omni-channel approach has helped us achieve healthy growth in the Indian smartphone market. Keeping in lieu of the same, we plan to continue launching our products across channels going forward,”.

While emails sent to Vivo, Xiaomi and Samsung have not been replied yet which would either accept or deny the previously mentioned statements.

OPPO LogoWe will have to wait until further developments are made to verify “whether the scheme of selling online exclusives martphones comes to an end in India or not”. we will keep you updated on the subject so stay tuned.

(via)

UP NEXT: Google Pixel 4’s Face Unlock is Super Quick but has one Major Flaw

 

Google Pixel 4’s Face Unlock is Super Quick but has one Major Flaw

By
Joel Joseph
-

Google Pixel 4’s new set of sensors on top of the display was the talk of the town over the past few weeks. Such a setup warranted powerful features like Motion Sense and an ultra-fast Face Unlock.  But once the phone was launched, reviewers noted that the soli radar based ‘Motion Sense’ experience was underwhelming. Even the Face Unlock feature on the Pixel 4, which was very secure on paper, came with a major flaw.

Over the past couple of years, Face Unlock has become a huge part of our smartphone experience. But most Android smartphone makers have so far opted for a less expensive and less secure Face Unlock technology. So it was exciting to see Google’s own version of Face Unlock which was secured. But it turns out, Google’s Face Unlock has a major flaw, it works even when the user’s eyes are closed. So, if the Pixel 4 user is sleeping or even dead, Face Unlock will be able to open the phone.

Most Face Unlock mechanisms, even the ones that just rely on the front camera, cannot unlock your smartphone if your eyes are shut. For example, OnePlus 7T‘s Face Unlock needs at least one eye to be open in order to unlock the device. This is a very important feature to ensure no one can unlock your phone while you are sleeping. But Google has confirmed that Pixel 4’s Face Unlock works even when your eyes are shut and unfortunately, there’s no workaround to the issue.

Editor’s Pick: Here’s why Google Pixel 4 series isn’t launching in India

Technically, Google doesn’t consider this as an issue as it believes this allows for a seamless and ultra-fast unlocking experience. But many don’t share the same feeling. BBC’s Chris Fox was the first to spot this issue. He even tweeted with video proof.

Google doesn’t confirm whether it will add an option to fix this (issue?). But given how this particular point has got global coverage, it’s quite possible that the company adds a toggle setting via a future update to force ‘eyes to be open’ before unlocking the device.

UP NEXT: Tech Throwback Thursday: How Google’s Modular Smartphone Dream Was Killed

 

(Source)

Amazfit Verge 2 Avengers Limited Edition finally goes on pre-sale

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Huami has put up the much-anticipated Amazfit Verge 2 Avengers Limited Edition for pre-sale in China. The Verge 2 Avengers customized edition was launched on July 11 alongside the Amazfit Verge 2 and ECG version. The regular Verge 2 was immediately available to pre-order but the ECG and Avengers Limited Edition was billed to go on sale at the end of July. That obviously didn’t happen until now. The company cites the complexity of the ceramic body and the high processing difficulty for the inability to meet up with the schedule.Amazfit Verge 2 Avengers Limited Edition

The presale has now opened on Amazfit’s official flagship store on Jingdong (JD.com). The device is on offer for 1399 yuan (~$197).

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

The Amazfit Verge 2 smartwatch comes with a spectacular design manufactured using a new material different from the plastic body which the first-gen Verge utilises. It has a Microcrystalline zirconium ceramic body with skin texture and extremely high hardness. Huami says the ceramic body comes out after 35 days of precision processing and that it wet through 24 complex processes. The Avengers edition comes with a wite frame as well as a white rubber strap designed with the Avengers logo. We expect the watch face to have an Avengers theme in addition to special watch faces.

 

UP NEXT: Samsung’s Under Display Camera smartphone said to release by early 2020

 

(source)

Samsung files patent for an extendable flexible display

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Samsung has been granted a new patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a flexible phone. The phone extends outwards to create a bigger display on a smaller body. Samsung patent

The patent description is for a smartphone that has a 16:9 display in standard mode but when it is unfolded, it changes to a larger display with 18:9 aspect ratio when the display is stretched fully. Samsung had earlier on patented a similar design but that one is for a  smartphone which pops up in order to extend the display. In this case, the flexible display stretch from the bottom edge to roll out to its full size.

EDITOR’S PICK: First Samples from the 108MP Mi Mix Alpha is here & we are not impressed!

The flexible display rolled out fully to show the notch and the sensors in the front. While most of the display will be visible when unfolded, there will still be a portion that when the display is not stretched fully, the screen will not show the earpiece, selfie sensor, etc. This can provide a more immersive experience while watching videos, reading a text message, browsing, etc.

The sketch shows the flexible display hides the notch and sensor under the back panel when it is rolled up. When there is a call or the selfie camera is activated, the phone’s screen will stretch out to its full length, revealing the notch that houses all the sensors. We can’t tell if the mechanism will operate automatically or manually but it unrolls via a swivel mechanism.

Flexible screens are usually very fragile so the display and the swivel mechanism are all enclosed in a back panel which covers the frame on the left and right sides too. We can’ b sure if this design would be commercialized anytime soon.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy A90 5G phone with SD855 launched for 4,499 Yuan (~$635) in China

 

(via)

The Rear vent on the Asus ROG Phone 2 is fake reveals JerryRig’s teardown

By
Sahil
-

Last month, Asus released its latest gaming-centric smartphone, the ROG Phone 2. As we already know the device packs impressive features some of which include a gigantic 6,000 mAh battery and a 6.6 inch AMOLED display with a remarkable refresh rate of 120 Hz. Recently, the device was subjected to a teardown by the famous Youtuber JerryRigEverything that has revealed shocking findings of the design preferences chosen by Asus.

The trapezoidal plastic piece with a metal grille on its back which originally seemed like a vent to provide active cooling while the CPU is processing heavy loads, turned out to be a sham and is nothing more than a cosmetic addition.

Besides, the narrow metal grille makes it one of the least water-resistant smartphones of 2019. As liquid would seep right in, even when dripped at an angle, leave alone sub-merging it underwater. Having said that, Asus never claimed the device to be water-resistant but this could be a downer for some especially the ones who have been spoiled by the laudable IP ratings on other flagships from Apple or Samsung.

ROG Phone 2 Copper Cooling Chamber
ROG Phone 2’s Massive Copper Cooling Chamber

Nonetheless, the teardown did reveal some praiseworthy bits of the Asus ROG Phone 2 as well. While the Youtuber had to sacrifice the display on his unit to reveal this, the device packs one of the largest copper chamber found on any smartphone. For those who do not know, copper is an excellent conductor of metal, therefore, heat dissipation on the device will be superb.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy A90 5G phone with SD855 launched for 4,499 Yuan (~$635) in China

Accordingly, temperatures on the device would stay well under the acceptable range even when its Snapdragon 855+ is rendering complex bits of data while playing PUBG on high settings or executing similar resource-hungry tasks.

What else did the teardown reveal? A massive 6,000 mAh battery which by the way popped right off after the pull tab was easily removed (unlike Apple), dual vibration motors to provide powerful haptic feedback and cleverly implemented RGB LED logo on the back.

What are your thoughts on the Asus ROG Phone 2’s innards? Do you think IP rating is a must in today’s day and age? Let us know in the comments below.

UP NEXT: Samsung’s Under Display Camera smartphone said to release by early 2020

 

Samsung’s Under Display Camera smartphone said to release by early 2020

By
Joel Joseph
-

Tech companies are obsessed with achieving a true 100% screen to body ratio on their smartphones. And the front camera is the biggest obstacle that comes in between this dream. We have already seen technologies such as a punch-hole camera, pop-up camera, and even a rotating camera to maximize the screen real estate on smartphones. However, future implementations are going to be even more exciting with the front camera going under the display. And it looks like we could see our first under-display camera (UDC) module as soon as early 2020 as a report reveals that Samsung is already prepping the technology for mass production.

Samsung Galaxy A8sSamsung Galaxy A8s featured
Galaxy A8S was the first Infinity-O punch-hole camera phone

South Korean media website, The Elec reports that Samsung’s Under Display Camera Technology (UDC) will make its way on to a smartphone by the first half of 2020. Samsung Display has brought two pieces of equipment to its campuses: the HIAA1 and HIAA2. The term HIAA stands for Hole In Active Area which reportedly helps Samsung to cut out a display in the OLED for the camera.

Samsung is reportedly testing the HIAA1 equipment for standard punch-hole displays while the HIAA2 will be used for the Under Display Camera technology. While the HIAA1 was brought to Samsung’s campus back in August, the HIAA2 was brought to the facility this month. Mass production of the UDC OLED panels is expected to kick off around H1 2020.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi shares video of under-display selfie camera, looks great!

 

How Will Samsung’s Under Display Camera Technology Work?

The Elec reports that Samsung will use the HIAA2 equipment to create a transparent display where the UDC will be placed. The equipment comes with a laser to drill a number of tiny holes in the display to improve the transmission of light to the camera below it. The process is called Laser Etching.

Samsung’s current R&D team is focused on reducing the size and number of pixels in that area and increasing the transparency and permeability of the substrate. The current OLED substrate is not transparent and has a yellow tint.

After testing out HIAA2 this month, Samsung Display will reportedly send it out to mass production facilities early next year. A true Under Display Camera smartphone from Samsung can be expected by the first half of 2020.

oppo under display camera
Oppo’s prototype under-display camera smartphone

The First-Gen Under Display Cameras May Not Be Great

Samsung has a lot of challenges to overcome in order to perfect this technology. Apart from making a specific area of the OLED display transparent for the camera underneath, the company will also have to work on the algorithms to effectively balance the yellow glow and slight blurriness of the photos captured from the camera.

While this might take some time, the UDC technology is expected to improve in the coming years, just like the under-display fingerprint sensor which improved after a couple of generations.

 

There Could Be Multiple Smartphones Featuring UDC In 2020.

Samsung would most likely use this UDC technology on an S series flagship, possibly the S11. But it is said that this technology is more likely to end up on the successor to the Galaxy Fold next year.

Samsung could be the first smartphone company to release an Under Display Camera smartphone but it could soon be joined by multiple companies. OPPO, Xiaomi, and Honor have confirmed that they are working on an Under Display Camera smartphone. In fact, Xiaomi and OPPO both have showcased their technologies a few months back.

But will they be any good? We’ll have to wait and see!

Nevertheless, exciting times ahead.

UP NEXT: Samsung patents a unique triple-stacked display smartphone design

 

(Source, Via)

Huawei Enjoy 10 launched with punch-hole display, dual cameras and Kirin 710F for 1,199 Yuan (~$169)

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

In September, Huawei had launched the Enjoy 10 Plus smartphone with notch-less display, a pop-up selfie camera and triple rear cameras for 1,499 Yuan (~$211). Today, it has announced the Enjoy 10 phone as its inferior sibling. With a starting price of 1,199 Yuan (~$169), the Enjoy 10 offers users with features like punch-hole display and dual rear cameras.

Huawei Enjoy 10

Huawei Enjoy 10 Specifications

The Huawei Enjoy 10 measures 159.1 x 76.13 x 8.13mm and it weighs around 176 grams. It is fitted with a punch-hole display of 6.39 inches that produces HD+ resolution of 720 x 1560 pixels. The Kirin 710F SoC fuels the smartphone with up to 6 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of up to 128 GB. A microSD card slot is available on the device for expanding its storage.

The EMUI 9.1 based Android 9 Pie OS comes preloaded on the Huawei Enjoy 10. The GPU Turbo 3.0 technology optimizes the phone’s performance while gaming. The smartphone houses a big battery of 4,000mAh. However, there is no support for rapid charging on the device.

Huawei Enjoy 10

Editor’s Pick: Huawei begins selling its chips to third-parties

The rear-facing dual camera system has an f/1.8 aperture 48-megapixel main lens and an f/2.4 aperture 2-megapixel depth sensor. The Enjoy 10 supports 480fps slow-motion video shooting and handheld super night scene mode. The 4.5mm sized punch-hole present on the screen has an f/2.0 aperture 8-megapixel selfie snapper. The handset lacks a fingerprint reader.

Huawei Enjoy 10 Pricing and Availability

The pricing of the different variants of the Huawei Enjoy 10 are as follows:

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 1,199 Yuan (~$169)
  • 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 1,399 Yuan (~$198)
  • 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 1,399 Yuan (~$198)
    Color Variants: Magic Night Black, Aurora Blue, Breathing Crystal and Acacia Red

The pre-sale of the Huawei Enjoy 10 begins today in the home market. Its shipments will kick off on Nov. 1

UP NEXT: Huawei AQM-AL00 (and TL00) with 48MP triple cameras certified by TENAA

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G phone with SD855 launched for 4,499 Yuan (~$635) in China

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Samsung revealed the Galaxy A90 5G as the cheapest 5G smartphone in South Korea back in September. It is the latest device to feature 5G capability after the flagship Galaxy S10 5G and the Note 10 5G. Samsung has today introduced the A90 5G in China. The smartphone features the powerful Snapdragon 855 SoC and supports the NSA network through external bandwidth. 

Samsung Galaxy A90 Specifications and Price in China

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G flaunts a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED full HD+ Infinity-U display with a Infinity-U notch and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The device has arrived in China with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage.

The primary camera is a 48-megapixel unit with an aperture rating of f/2.0, which is paired to a 5-megapixel depth sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.2 along with an 8-megapixel depth sensor with a 12-degree wide-angle field-of-view. The Samsung Galaxy A90 draws power from a 4,500 mAh battery with 25W rapid charging. The device runs on Android 9.0 Pie-based One UI and features face unlock for additional security.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Goofed up with S10’s fingerprint real bad: Anyone can unlock it!

The Samsung Galaxy A90 starts from 4,499 Yuan (~$635). The smartphone is available in two color options, namely Space White and Holographic Black. The rear panel is designed using a splicing scheme last seen on the Huawei P30 Pro. Samsung is calling it their holographic plaid pattern. The design has a gradient finish on the upper half and a solid color on the lower portion. 

Pre-sales of the A90 5G will begin in China from Oct. 25 and its shipments will start on Oct. 31. The Samsung Galaxy A90 rivals the iQOO and Xiaomi’s 5G lineup in China.

UP NEXT: Samsung may switch from polyimide to ultra-thin flexible glass on next Galaxy Fold

 

OnePlus 8 Pro renders reveal punch-hole screen and quad rear cameras 

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

It has barely been a week since OnePlus launched the OnePlus 7T Pro, but rumors of the OnePlus 8-series have already started flowing in. While the initial renders of the OnePlus 8 were revealed earlier this month, 91mobiles in association with reliable tipster and industry expert Onleaks has just released detailed renders of the OnePlus 8 Pro. 

OnePlus 8 Pro renders

OnePlus 8 Pro Renders and Rumored Specs

The renders clearly show that the OnePlus 8 Pro will be sporting a punch-hole display instead of a notch or a pop-up module along with a quad-camera setup at the rear. The OnePlus 8 is the first smartphone in the company’s portfolio to feature four lenses on the back. The OnePlus 8 Pro carries the tradition forward.

OnePlus 8 Pro renders

The renders reveal that the OnePlus 8 Pro features similar design elements as the OnePlus 8. The smartphone is expected to flaunt a 6.65-inch display instead of the 6.5-inch screen seen on the OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 7T Pro however still has the biggest display in the lineup, featuring a 6.67-inch unit. The company has already confirmed a standard 90Hz refresh rate on all future smartphones. It is safe to assume that the 8 Pro will not miss out on the action. The smartphone could be fueled by the upcoming Snapdragon 865 flagship chipset.

Editor’s Pick: No mid-range smartphone or physical stores in China: OnePlus CEO Pete Lau

Coming to the rear panel, the three primary lenses are placed in a vertical alignment with the 3D depth sensor positioned next to the unit, along with a few other undisclosed sensors. An LED flash module completes the setup. The OnePlus logo is etched right below the camera module. The left edge features the volume rockers while the power button and alert slider are positioned on the right edge.

OnePlus 8 Pro renders

The OnePlus 8 Pro features a redesigned speaker grille on the bottom edge, with the USB Type-C port in the middle. The top edge only has a hole for the mic, since OnePlus ditched the pop-up camera module. The smartphone measures 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.8 mm. The thickness increases to 10.8 mm along the lines of the camera bump.

OnePlus 8 Pro renders

The OnePlus 8 Pro does not feature revolutionary design changes. People hoping to upgrade to the OnePlus 8 lineup next year will have to stay content with the quad-camera setup and the 3D ToF (depth sensor) for now. OnePlus might introduce 5G capabilities from the 8-series. The 7T Pro currently misses out on the 5G spectrum. Detailed specifications of both smartphones are expected soon. There is no word on software either. Expect the Oneplus 8 Pro to feature AR, 3D photography and portrait mode thanks to the advanced 3D sensor.

What’s your opinion on the design of the OnePlus 8 Pro? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

UP NEXT: Where to Buy OnePlus 7T Without Emptying your Pocket

 

(source)

Xiaomi starts rolling out MIUI 11 stable version for 12 devices in China

By
Sahil
-

Late last month, Xiaomi took covers off its latest Android skin which is called MIUI 11. While its open beta had already been available, its stable version has started rolling out today in China via an OTA update, confirmed Xiaomi on Weibo. Initially, the MIUI 11 update will be provided for 12 devices while the remaining handset that were promised to get the update will start receiving in the following weeks.MIUI 11 Featured

The list of devices which that have started receiving the MIUI 11 update are as follows:

Readers who are are wondering, why don’t you see the Redmi K20 Pro and the Mi 9 in this list, there hasn’t been a mistake while writing. Xiaomi has confirmed that the stable version of these two devices based on Android 10 is in its final stages which will be rolled out soon.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo V1941A/T full specifications leaked on TENAA; Could it be upcoming Vivo SD675 budget phone?

To recall here are some of the features that MIUI 11 introduces:

  • New Icons and smoother animations: With the latest MIUI 11, Xiaomi has tweaked the look of the icons found in the UI and they now have a minimalist yet appealing look. The company has also tweaked the animations which are slower in comparison to MIUI 10 but they now provide for a rich and immersive experience.
  • Ultra Power Saving Mode: As the name suggests, this mode is meant for prolonging battery life when running out of charge. According to the company, while in this mode, a device can provide a battery backup of upto 24 hours with just 5% of battery. When this mode is turned on, the device turns off the Wi-Fi module, hides non-essential apps, turns the display colour to black/white whilst restricting background processes.
  • Kids Mode: This mode is meant for parents who want to create a safe digital environment for their kids. While in kids mode, the device will only be able to run applications that are whitelisted by their parent or guardian. Besides, it also has an education space which Xiaomi claims is an intuitive manner to teach young kids.
  • Digital Wellbeing: With this feature, device owners will be able to check how much time they spend on each application and if needed they can cut down the usage time in order to maintain a healthy mental and physical well-being.
  • Earthquake alerts: With the help of data provided by regional offices, devices running MIUI 11 can notify its owner in case of an ongoing earthquake or after one takes place. Moreover, it will also provide additional details like nearby relief centres and places to avail medical service in case of a mishap.
  • Casting to external display: This feature will allow smartphones running on MIUI 11 to wirelessly cast onscreen content which includes games, videos, documents and other applications to TV, given the TV also supports this functionality. Xiaomi has thoughtfully designed this feature so users can even hide personal items to keep all sensitive things private. Moreover, the device can continue to cast even when its display has been turned off.

While these are just a handful of new introductions to MIUI 11, if you want to read about other features that the latest update brings, you can do so by clicking here.

Our Indian readers who are curious about the update schedule in the country can learn all the details by clicking here.

UP NEXT: Honor Band 5i fitness tracker is up for reservation in China ahead of its launch

 

[UPDATE: Images] Vivo V1941A/T full specifications leaked on TENAA

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Update: The images of the Vivo V1941A/T have appeared on TENAA.

Original story follows…

The Vivo V1941A/T is the latest phone to surface on TENAA with its full specifications. It appears to be an upcoming entry-level phone from the Chinese firm. The exact identity of the smartphone is currently under the wraps.

Vivo V1941A/T Specifications

The Vivo V1941A/T has 162.15 x 76.47 x 8.69mm dimensions and it weighs 193 grams. The exact design of the phone is not known yet since the TENAA listings lack its images. The handset has a 6.53-inch screen that offers full HD+ resolution. Since there are no images, there is no confirmation on whether its features a waterdrop notch screen or a notch-less design or a punch-hole display.

The Android 9 Pie OS comes preinstalled on the device. It is expected to be customized with Vivo’s FunTouch OS UI. The smartphone is fueled by 2.0GHz octa-core processor. The Vivo V1941A/T is expected to release in RAM editions of 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB. It is likely to hit the Chinese markets in 64 GB and 128 GB storage editions. For more storage, the handset is equipped with a microSD card slot.

Vivo V1934A,T TENAA
Above image is NOT of V1941A/T It belongs to Vivo V1934A/T

The Vivo V1941A/T draws power from a battery that has a minimum capacity of 4,920mAh. Its typical capacity could be 5,000mAh. It has a triple camera system on its back, and it comprises of a 16-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel secondary shooter and a third lens of 2-megapixel. On its front is a 16-megapixel selfie snapper. The handset does not seem to support fast charging and it lacks a fingerprint scanner. Hence, it appears that it could be an entry-level model.

Editor’s Pick: OPPO & Vivo’s 5G models are reportedly getting an early release

Vivo V1934A/T is the Rumored SD675 Vivo Phone

In related news, earlier today, Vivo had teased that it will be launching a new budget phone fueled by the Snapdragon 675 chipset in China in the next few days. It seems that the Vivo V1934A/T that had appeared on TENAA earlier this week could be the mysterious Vivo SD675 phone. The Vivo V1934A has a full HD+ waterdrop notch screen of 6.53 inches and it powered by 2.0GHz octa-core processor along with up to 6 GB of RAM. The handset has a native storage of 128 GB and it features a microSD card slot.

The back panel of the Vivo V1934A/T has a 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera system. It has a front camera of 16-megapixel. The Android 9 Pie OS runs on the phone and it is backed by a 5,000mAh battery.

UP NEXT: Vivo Z1x with 8GB RAM tipped to debut with Rs. 21,990 pricing

 

 

(source|via)

Vivo to debut Snapdragon 675 budget phone soon in China

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Vivo has started teasing a new budget-friendly smartphone in China. The teaser released by the company showcases the rear design of the smartphone. Also, the poster confirms that it will be powered by Snapdragon 675 chipset.

Vivo has so far released three Snapdragon 675 powered smartphones in this year such as Vivo V15 Pro, Vivo S1 Pro and Vivo V17 Pro. All of them are upper mid-range phones that are equipped with in-screen fingerprint reader. However, the phone shown in the below image has a rear-positioned fingerprint reader.

Vivo SD675 Phone Coming

The upcoming SD675 Vivo phone has a vertical triple camera system placed at the upper-left corner of the phone’s rear shell. The Vivo branding can be seen at the bottom-left corner of the backside of the device. The left edge is not visible in the images. Its right spine has a volume rocker and a power button. The front design of the phone is a mystery

The bottom side of the smartphone features an external speaker, a microUSB port and a 3.5mm audio jack. It is difficult to identify whether the smartphone features a polycarbonate rear with glossy appeal or a glass rear. The presence of a rear-positioned fingerprint sensor and a microUSB is a clear giveaway that it is a budget-friendly device. Hopefully, more details of the smartphone may appear on the device in the coming days.

The handset appears to be the Vivo V1934A/T phone that recently showed up with full specifications on TENAA. Probably, it may debut as a new Y-series or U-series device.

Editor’s Pick: iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition renders, variants appear on reservations page

Vivo V1934A/T Specifications

The V1934A/T measures  162.15 x 76.47 x 8.89mm and its weight is 193 grams.The device comes with a 6.53-inch LCD full HD+ display with waterdrop notch. It is powered by 2.0GHz octa-core chipset. The handset may come in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM options. Both models may feature 128 GB of native storage. There is a dedicated microSD card slot on the device.

The Vivo V1934A/T has a front-facing camera of 16-megapixel. The rear side of the device has a 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera system. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint reader. The Android 9 Pie OS runs on the device along with FunTouch OS 9.1 UI. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery and it may come with up to 18W fast charging support.

UP NEXT: Vivo Z1x with 8GB RAM tipped to debut with Rs. 21,990 pricing

 

 

Honor Band 5i fitness tracker is up for reservation in China ahead of its launch

By
Jeet
-

Earlier this year, in July, Honor launched it latest fitness tracker named Honor Band 5. Now, the company has been teasing the launch of another variant of the same, which is dubbed Honor Band 5i.

Today, the upcoming Honor Band 5i, which is expected to launch in China on 22nd October, is up for reservation on TMALL. However, the pricing of the device remains unknown as the eCommerce listing shows a placeholder price of 9,999 Yuan.

Honor Band 5i Teaser

EDITOR’S PICK: Honor’s first 5G smartphone will be announced this year in partnership with JD.com

The listing as well as the poster shared by the company confirms that the Honor Band 5i will be made available in three color options — Pink, Black, and Olive Green. As for the design, it looks similar to the original device with an elongated body and silicone strap.

While the display size is yet to be confirmed, it looks similar to the standard Honor Band 5 that features a 0.95 inch OLED AMOLED display which is capable of displaying 43 characters at once. The teaser shared by the company also confirms that Band 5i variant will have an Spo2 meter to measure blood oxygen and will also come with a step counter.

Usually, the “i” suffix are used for watered down and affordable variants of the standard handset and similar strategy is expected to be adopted with the Honor Band 5i. Even though this cannot be confirmed, we assume the only major alteration with this variant will be the new type of charging connector and the lack of NFC.

UP NEXT: Real Honor 20 Lite image officially released; Reveals slim and lightweight design

 

Xiaomi starts working on MIUI 12; expected to launch next year

By
Jeet
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Xiaomi recently launched its latest MIUI 11 custom user interface based on the latest Android 10 operating system. Last week, the company announced the global rollout of the same and revealed a list of devices set to receive this new update as well as its roadmap.

Now, just days after the global rollout of the MIUI 11, the company’s executive, Xu Jieyun, General Manager of Public Relations has confirmed that Xiaomi has already started working on its successor MIUI 12.

MIUI 12 Confirmation

At this stage, nothing is known about the upcoming MIUI 12 operating system. However, we expect to know more about this as the development on this custom user interface keeps on progressing.

The recently launched MIUI 11 is a big update for Xiaomi that changes up a lot of things for the popular custom operating system. Starting with the visual aspects, you get slightly softer icons, a system-wide dark mode, new Mi Lan Pro system font and improved always-on display functionality. There are also new animations, themes, wallpapers and improved notification system.

It also focuses on enhancing the audio experience with all-new dynamic natural sound effects and alarms. Xiaomi also announced the new Mi Go Travel suite which will help you with booking tickets for a broad range of transport ranging from airplane to rail and bus alongside currency conversion and an extreme power-saving mode.

EDITOR’S PICK: Realme X2 Pro flagship smartphone goes on sale in China from today; pricing starts at 2,599 Yuan ($367)

MIUI 11 Featured

As for the rollout schedule, the company has revealed the update roadmap for India and said that the global rollout schedule will be announced soon. This first wave of stable update will begin on October 22nd for popular devices like the POCO F1, Redmi K20, Redmi Y3, Redmi 7, Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7S, and Redmi Note 7 Pro.

Following that, the Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi 6, Redmi 6 Pro, Redmi 6A, Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi 5. Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Y1, Redmi Y1 lite, Redmi Y2, Redmi 4, Mi Mix 2, and Mi Max 2 will get the update in phase 2 which begins on 4th November.

The Phase 3 for the stable update rollout will begin on 13th November and the devices included for this are the Redmi Note 6 Pro, Redmi 7A, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A, and Redmi Note 8. The Redmi Note 8 Pro will be the sole device for Phase 4 which will start on 18th December and will end on 26th December.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi is planning to launch expensive smartphone models in India to shed its budget brand image

 

Realme X2 Pro goes on sale in China today; pricing starts at 2,599 Yuan ($367)

By
Jeet
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Realme X2 Pro, the first premium flagship smartphone from the Oppo-backed company, launched in China last week. The phone was available for pre-order till 17th October and today, i.e. on 18th October, it will go on sale for the first time.

The smartphone comes in three variants in the Chinese market — 6GB RAM + 64GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage, costing 2,599 Yuan (~$367), 2,799 Yuan (~$395), and 3,199 Yuan (~$452) respectively. It comes in two color options — Luna (White) and Poseidon (Blue).

Realme X2 Pro Luna
Realme X2 Pro Luna

The company had also announced Realme X2 Pro Master Edition which comes in Red Brick and Cement color, crafted by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa. It is priced at 3,199 Yuan (~$452) and will go on sale in China from 11th November.

Coming to the specifications of the Realme X2 Pro, the smartphone flaunts a 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with waterdrop notch and offers screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels that carries support for 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone promises a screen-to-body ratio of 91.7 percent.

The device also comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner that is claimed to unlock the device in just 0.23 seconds. Under the hood, the display is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset which is clocked 2.96GHz and packs Adreno 640 GPU.

The phone features vapor chamber liquid cooling, superconducting carbon fiber multi-layer scheme, multi-layer graphite sheet and other heat-dissipating materials. As for the memory configuration, it packs 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage.

EDITOR’S PICK: RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition pre-booking in China starts from October 21 for a price of 2,999 yuan ($424)

In the camera department, the phone has a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of Samsung GW1 64-megapixel lens with f/1.8 aperture, a telephoto lens of 13-megapixel with support for up to 20x hybrid zoom, a ultrawide lens of 8-megapixel with 115-degree field-of-view and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

On the front side, the device features an AI driven 16-megapixel selfie shooter that has support for super night scene along with 4-in-1 pixel merging technology. Connectivity options on the device include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, dual frequency GPS, and NFC.

The phone is also equipped with stereo dual speakers coupled with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio technologies. The device runs Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box with ColorOS 6.1 on top. The phone features tactile linear motor which assists in 4D in-game vibrations. The handset is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charging technology.

UP NEXT: ZTE Blade 20 Smart and Blade A7s launched in China; Specifications, features and price

 

ZTE Blade 20 Smart and Blade A7s launched in China; Specifications, features and price

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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ZTE has announced two new phones in China. The first one is the Blade A7s that had appeared on the official My ZTE Mall in the previous week. Starting from today, the Blade A7s is available for purchase in the country with a price tag of 799 Yuan (~$113) The Blade 20 Smart Xiaoxin edition is the other phone that sports a square-shaped triple camera module and a waterdrop notch display has also gone official today. It carries a price tag of 999 Yuan (~$141).

ZTE Blade 20 Smart Specifications

The ZTE Blade 20 Smart Xiaoxin edition is fitted with a 6.49-inch IPS LCD panel that offers 720 x 1560 pixels resolution. The display offers an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The Chinese firm claims that the phone offers 91.1 percent screen-to-body ratio. Present under the hood of the device is the MediaTek Helio P60 that clock at 2.0GHz. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB of RAM. The device offers users with a big internal storage of 128 GB and it also features a microSD card slot.

ZTE Blade 20 Smart Xiaoxin Edition

Placed at the top-left corner on the back of the Blade 20 Smart Xiaoxin edition is a square-shaped module that houses a 16-megapixel primary lens, an ultrawide lens of 8-megapixel with 120-degree field-of-view, a 2-megapixel depth sensor and an LED flash. The front notch is the home for its 16-megapixel selfie camera. The handset is equipped with a massive 5,000mAh battery. A fingerprint reader is positioned on the backside of the device. Lastly, the device runs on MiFavor 9.1 UI.

Turquoise and Magic Red are the two color variants of the Blade 20 Smart Xiaoxin edition. Priced at 999 Yuan (~$141), it will be available for purchase starting from Oct. 25.

Editor’s Pick: Red Magic 3S with 90Hz screen, SD855+, 12GB RAM and 5,000mAh battery debuts for Rs. 35,999 (~$673) in India

ZTE Blade A7s Specifications

The entry-level Blade A7s is an updated edition of the Blade A7 smartphone that had debuted earlier this year. It has a waterdrop notch enabled 6.088-inch IPS LCD full HD+ display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone promises a screen space of 89 percent. The modest Helio P22 powers the phone with 4 GB of RAM. It has a 64 GB native storage and carries support for external storage.

ZTE Blade A7s

The rear side of the Blade A7s has a triple camera system with a 16-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens with 120-degree field-of-view and a 2-megapixel lens for adding depth effects. It has a frontal shooter of 5-megapixel. It is equipped with a 4,000mAh battery. It lacks a fingerprint scanner.

Blue and Black are the two color editions of the Blade A7s. It is now available for purchase with a price tag of 799 Yuan (~$113).

UP NEXT: ZTE files Design Patent for a Smartphone with Rotating Display Module

 

 

RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition pre-booking starts from October 21 for 2,999 yuan ($424)

By
Jeet
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Xiaomi-backed Redmi had launched its own laptop in the form of RedmiBook 14 and now the company is gearing up to launch a new variant of the same. The company has already announced that RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition will be launched in China on 21st October.

While some of the features of the upcoming laptop have already been teased by the company, Redmi has now revealed the pricing and availability information of the RedmiBook 14 Ryzen edition.

RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition Pricing

The company has confirmed that the device will be available for pre-booking from 21st October in China with a starting price of 2,999 Yuan which roughly converts to $424. Here are the variants and pricing details:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 3500U + 8GB RAM + 256GB storage – 2,999 Yuan (~$424)
  • AMD Ryzen 5 3500U + 8GB RAM + 512GB storage – 3,299 Yuan (~$466)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 3700U + 8GB RAM + 512GB storage – 3,799 Yuan (~$537)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 3700U + 16GB RAM + 512GB storage – TBA

Xiaomi has also revealed that the device will come with a 14-inch display that will offer 81.2 percent screen-to-body ratio. The device is also expected to come with support for Dolby DTS audio for an immersive experience.

EDITOR’S PICK: iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Edition renders and memory variants appear on reservations page

Recently, the company had revealed that the RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition will come in two variants in terms of processor — AMD Ryzen 5 3500U and AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor. The device is confirmed to pack up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Yesterday, the company has also revealed that it will come with support for a new feature on the device — support for the company’s new cross-brand file transfer feature. The feature was launched earlier this year in cooperation with Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo for transferring files between the devices from these brands. It can transfer files between laptops and smartphones without any file size limit and can transfer over 1000 images and HD videos in a blink of an eye.

Xiaomi had claimed that with the launch of this RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition, the company will be declaring war on the unreasonably high-priced premium laptops. The company also added that it aims to balance the price to performance ratio.

UP NEXT: Huawei AQM-AL00 (and TL00) with 48-megapixel triple cameras certified by TENAA

 

Motorola’s November invite hints foldable RAZR phone launch  

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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Motorola has sent out invitations for a launch event that will be held on Nov. 13, CNET reported. The launch event has a gif that showcases a silhouette of the yesteryear RAZR V3 phone with a foldable design. It is speculated that the Lenovo-owned company will launch the Motorola RAZR foldable phone on the said date.

There are couple of taglines for the Motorola phone that will be announced in the coming month such as “an original unlike any other”, “highly anticipated unveiling of a reinvented icon” and “You’re going to flip.” The publication has further reported that the special guests and music performers will be present at the Motorola event.

Editor’s Pick: Throwback Tech Thursday: Revisiting the Iconic Moto Razr V3, the Phone That Made You Look Cool!

Motorola RAZR Foldable Phone Specifications (Rumored)

Rumors surrounding the Motorola RAZR foldable phone have revealed that it will be sporting a flexible 6.2-inch OLED display that will carry support for 876 x 2142 pixels. Rumors are rife that the RAZR foldable phone could be sporting a clamshell design like the RAZR V3 from the past. It is expected to sport an additional exterior display that will allow users to view notifications without opening the device. Also, instead of the physical keypad, the lower portion of the display may serve as an on-screen keyboard. The inner display may feature a notch for housing a selfie camera.

moto_razr_2019

While Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X foldable phones are powered with flagship processor, it is speculated that the Snapdragon 710 SoC could be present under the hood of the RAZR foldable phone. It may arrive in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM editions and storage models like 64 GB and 128 GB. A fingerprint scanner could be present on the backside of the device. The foldable phone could be backed by a 2,730mah battery. It could be available exclusively through Verizon in the U.S.

The Motorola RAZR foldable phone could be made available for purchase in December. In Europe, the device may command a hefty price tag of 1,500 euros. Hopefully, more details on the device will appear as the launch date draws near.

UP NEXT: Moto E6 Play renders surface to reveal design ahead of launch

 

 

iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition renders, variants appear on reservations page

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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In July, iQOO had launched the Vivo iQOO Neo smartphone with Snapdragon 845 chipset onboard. Yesterday, the company confirmed that it will be launching the iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition smartphone on Oct. 24. Starting from today, the iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 version is available for reservations on Jingdong Mall. The renders of the smartphone along with its variants have appeared on the reservations page.

iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Electro-optic Purple
iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Electro-optic Purple

The iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 version smartphone’s reservations page reveal that it will be releasing in three color editions such as Carbon Black, Electro-optic Violet and Icelandic Aurora. The listing also reveals that the smartphone will be available in three variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. JD has another listing for a custom gift box edition of the iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition.

iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Carbon Black
iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Carbon Black

The images of the phone once again confirm on the design of the iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 smartphone. The frontside of the phone features an OLED display with waterdrop notch and in-screen fingerprint sensor. The back panel of the phone has a vertical triple camera system and an LED flash. The edges of the phone feature a volume rocker, a power key and a dedicated button for accessing the Jovi AI assistant.

iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Icelandic Aurora
iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Icelandic Aurora

Editor’s Pick: OPPO & Vivo’s 5G models are reportedly getting an early release

Renders that were released yesterday by the company had revealed the smartphone also features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a USB-C port and an external speaker on its bottom edge. The design of the phone is reminiscent with other iQOO phones that are available in the market.

iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 custom gift box edition
iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 custom gift box edition

So far, past reports have revealed that the iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition’s display will support 1080 x 2340 pixels. The Snapdragon 855 chipset powers the smartphone. The AnTuTu appearance of the phone had revealed that there will be an 8 GB RAM variant with 256 GB of storage. However, the JD listing of the phone has no mentioning of it. The handset is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS.

As of this writing, there is no information available on the configurations of iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 edition’s cameras. It is expected to house a 4,500mAh battery. The 3C listing of the phone has revealed that it will be coupled with 33W rapid charging.

UP NEXT: Vivo Z1x with 8GB RAM tipped to debut with Rs. 21,990 pricing

 

 

 

Huawei AQM-AL00 (and TL00) with 48MP triple cameras certified by TENAA

By
Habeeb Onawole
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A new Huawei phone with the model number AQM-AL00 has received TENAA certification in China. The full specs have been published but unfortunately, there are no images which mean its design remains a mystery.

TENAA says the phone has a 6.3-inch screen and it is an OLED panel with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. The listing also reveals the phone has an in-display fingerprint scanner. The device has triple rear cameras – a 48MP primary sensor paired with an 8MP camera and a 2MP camera. The selfie camera is a 16MP sensor.

Huawei logo Mate featured 07

The Huawei AQM-AL00 is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core processor which should most likely be the Kirin 810. The phone will be available in 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM variants with 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage. It will run Android 9 Pie and have a 3900mAh battery.

The listing says black and green are the color variants that will be available. Its dimensions are 157.4 x 73.2 x 7.75 millimeters and it weighs 163 grams.

There are reports this may be the Huawei P Smart 2020 but there is no evidence to back the claim up. Time will tell if it is indeed the P Smart 2020 or an entirely different design.

UP NEXT: “HarmonyOS will be able to compete with Apple’s iOS in 2 years” Huawei CEO

 

(Source, Via)

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