The year of 2019 has been the year of 5G technology and China has become one of the first countries in the world to adopt 5G network. Now, the smartphone makers and network operators are working on making this next-gen communications technology more popular.
Xiaomi, China-based smartphone maker has launched two 5G smartphones in its home market this year — Mi MIX 3 5G and Mi 9 Pro 5G. Now, the company’s CEO has announced that Xiaomi will be launching more than 10 smartphones powered by 5G technology in the upcoming year.
The top three Chinese carriers have already started accepting pre-subscriptions for 5G in the country and as per the report published earlier this year, more than 9.3 million users have signed up for the 5G even before they are officially rolled out.
China Mobile has reportedly secured around 5.6 million 5G pre-subscriptions already while the figure for China Telecom and China Unicom is said to be around 1.9 million and 1.8 million respectively.
In a recent report, Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has projected that the demand for 5G smartphones could reach 300 million units by next year. Currently, 5G phones account for just 1 percent of the market but research firm Strategy Analytics predicts that 5G phones will rise to 10 percent by the year 2020 as more consumers migrate to 5G-powered devices.
China is expected to be the largest 5G market going forward due to the early rollout of 5G infrastructures. Since the country is Huawei’s stronghold, it is safe to assume that Huawei could surpass Samsung next year in the sales of 5G smartphones.
The Realme X2 Pro launched as the first flagship phone under the Realme brand. For an affordable flagship phone, the X2 Pro does offer a lot such as an AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 855+ processor, UFS 3.0 storage (select variants), 64MP camera quad rear cameras, and 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge.
With a starting price tag under $400, the Realme X2 Pro seems like a no-brainer if you are on a budget for a flagship phone that won’t put a hole in your pocket. But there is a close competitor for the Realme X2 Pro, another affordable flagship phone from a rival brand that is battling Realme in all other categories. That phone is the Redmi K20 Pro Premium Edition.
The Redmi K20 Pro Premium Edition shares some key features with the Realme X2 Pro. For example, it also has a Snapdragon 855+ processor, an AMOLED display, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4000mAh battery. Some of its unique features include a notch-free display, a pop-up selfie camera, and the fact that it runs Android 10 out of the box, unlike the Realme X2 Pro which will get updated later.
The Realme X2 Pro takes the upper hand in more key areas such as having nearly double the charging speed of the Redmi, stereo speakers, UFS 3.0 storage, and a display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
For this week’s poll, we want to know which device you prefer. Is it the Realme X2 Pro with its 90Hz display and super-fast charging or the Redmi K20 Pro Premium Edition for its pop-up selfie camera and notch-free design? Or maybe neither of the two phones interest you. Do take our poll for the week and drop a comment too.
The Exodus 1 launched in October of 2018. The HTC Blockchain phone is actually a rebranded HTC U12+ with a ton of security features and a wallet for storing cryptocurrencies. In May, the Taiwanese manufacturer announced a second blockchain phone, the Exodus 1s. However, there were no details about the phone’s design, specs, and price. HTC has now revealed more details about the phone and is already taking orders.
The HTC Exodus 1s doesn’t have a see-through body like that of the Exodus 1 but the plastic back has the blueprint of the phone’s internals printed on it. It does give the phone a unique appearance and masks the original device it is actually based on.
Yes, the Exodus 1 is not a new phone from scratch but a rebranded Desire 12s. So, you have a 5.7-inch HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and not-so slim bezels at the top and bottom. There is a Snapdragon 435 processor inside paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
There is a single 13MP camera along with a fingerprint scanner on the back and another 13MP camera in front. Both sides of the phone have an LED flash. The Exodus 1s has a 3075mAh battery capacity and even though it is coming nearly a year after the Desire 12s was announced, it runs Android 8.1 Oreo; not Android Pie, not Android 10. So much for security!
The price of the Exodus 1s is €219 and HTCwill ship it with a pair of earphones within 30 days after your order has been confirmed.
HTC says the Exodus 1s is the first mobile device with Bitcoin Full Node support. Unlike other app-based wallets which are connected to the internet and are prone to attacks, the Exodus 1s has what is called the Zion Vault. This is a wallet that is integrated with the hardware security on-board your device.
The Zion Vault uses the Trusted Execution Environment to protect your data. When carrying out transactions, the TEE activates and isolates the operating system, therefore ensuring your data is protected.
Affordable smartphones are the main contributors to the huge growth of Chinese manufacturers. It is not a case if sub-brands are literally leading the sales of giants like Xiaomi and Oppo. These companies are currently the ones with the highest success in the affordable segment and they released a lot of devices in the global market this year. In the last days, Oppo came up with the Realme X2 and the Oppo Reno 2Z for the global market, while Xiaomi launched the Mi 9 Lite that is the international version of the Mi CC9. Given that they are among the most interesting mid-rangers which hitten the shelves in this period and among the best value for money phones, we decided to compare their specifications.
Realme X2 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite vs Oppo Reno2 Z
Oppo Realme X2
Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite
Oppo Reno 2 Z
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm, 182 g
156.8 x 74.5 x 8.7 mm, 179 grams
162.4 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm, 195 g
DISPLAY
6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4
32 MP f/2.0 front camera
Triple 48 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8
32 MP f/2.0 front camera
Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.7, f/2.2 and f/2.4
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY
4000 mAh, fast charging 30W with VOOC Flash Charge 4.0
4030 mAh, fast charging 18W
4000 mAh, fast charging 20W with VOOC Flash Charge 3.0
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot
Hybrid Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Design
The Oppo Reno 2Z and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite boast the most impressive design and build quality. Both have a glass back and an aluminum frame, but they differ in their front side. The former has a notch-less display thanks to a motorized pop-up camera mechanism, while the latter has a classic waterdrop notch. Both have an optical under-display fingerprint scanner, but their rear sides are very different. While the Oppo Reno 2Z has a more original design scheme, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite is very attractive thanks to its light effects. Realme X2 has a more traditional design and its glass back is paired with a plastic frame. Which one do you prefer?
Display
If display quality is one of your main concerns, then Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite is the most correct option for your needs. It is not just a midrange phone with a Super AMOLED screen, but it also supports the HDR standard for improved image quality. It even comes with very high brightness. Oppo Reno2 Z is notch-less and its display is even bigger, but it does not provide the same quality. Even Realme X2 can not reach the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite.
Hardware/Software
While the design and the display of the Realme X2 do not attract me particularly, I define its hardware department simply amazing, especially if you consider the price tag of this phone. It has a gaming-centric high-end Snapdragon 730G chipset which delivers very high CPU and GPU performance while its energy consumption is always very limited thanks to the 8 nm production process. Hardware and performance are the strongest points of the Realme X2 and if you are an advanced user you should give it a shot.
Camera
If you are looking for the best camera experience, then you should go for the Oppo Reno2 Z. It has a very nice 48 MP main sensor with a bright focal aperture contained in a quad camera module which includes even an ultrawide sensor, a depth sensor, and a monochromatic sensor to improve photo quality and features. The Oppo Reno2 Z even features a front-facing LED flash. With its 64 MP quad camera, Realme X2 is undoubtedly more interesting than the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite, especially because it boasts a dedicated macro camera.
Battery
Realme X2, Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite, and Oppo Reno2 Z have more or less the same battery capacity. We still did not test all of them, but on the paper Realme X2 has a more efficient SoC, that is why it should last more in the most demanding scenarios. Further, it has a faster charging technology which is able to charge the phone up to 67 percent in just 30 minutes.
Price
Realme X2 hitten the European market with a €300/$335 price in the 8/128 GB configuration, Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite costs about €260/$290 in the 6/64 GB configuration, and Oppo Reno 2Z 8/256 GB costs €349/$390. At the end of the day, Realme X2 is more attractive due to its higher value for money, higher performance, more efficiency, and pretty nice cameras. But I think the most balanced phone is the Oppo Reno2 Z: despite it comes with a less efficient SoC, it has a very interesting camera setup, awesome design and builds quality, and more. However, Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite is not far and it may be more suitable for some kinds of users. It offers a better display, a more efficient SoC than Reno2 Z, a more advanced UI, and even great selfies.
Huawei is set to announce a new Nova phone soon called the Nova 5z but that is not the only Nova phone it is working on. The official Huawei Weibo account teased that the Nova 5 Pro will get a Jackson Yee limited edition next month.
Jackson Yee (Jackson Yi) is a Chinese singer, dancer, and actor. He is a member of the Chinese boy band, TFBoys. The teaser poster shows the Nova 5 Pro Jackson Yee Limited Edition will come in a purple box with the singer’s signature engraved at the top. It also reveals the phone will arrive in November but doesn’t reveal the exact date.
The limited-edition phone should come with special gifts not found in the standard version such as a signed case and memorabilia. The caption also hints at a ticket to a concert.
Spec-wise, the Nova 5 Pro Jackson Yee Limited Edition should be the same as the standard version.
The Nova 5 Pro has a 6.39-inch 2340 x 1080 screen with a waterdrop notch. It is an OLED panel, so Huawei has added an in-display fingerprint scanner. The phone is powered by the Kirin 980 processor and has 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of storage.
There are four cameras on the back of the phone – a 48MP primary camera, a 16MP ultrawide angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2Mp depth sensor. It also has a 32MP selfie camera. Other features include a 3500mAh battery with support for 40W SuperCharge fast wired charging, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 Pie.
The Honor Play launched last year as a gaming flagship phone. It was also the first phone to come with GPU Turbo technology, a software feature that enhances the gaming experience on Honor and Huawei phones and which other manufacturers have also replicated for their devices.
A successor was expected for the Honor Play this year but when the Honor Play 3 launched last month, it didn’t come with a flagship processor but the old mid-range Kirin 710 processor that doesn’t even measure up to the Kirin 970 in the Honor Play. But this is not the worst news for Honor Play owners.
A tweet by Honor India has revealed that the 2018 phone will not receive an update to EMUI 10 that should also bring Android 10 to the device.
Responding to a question by a user on Twitter (@vivesabbani) on if EMUI 10 will arrive for the Honor Play soon, the official Honor India account replied that the “…..EMUI 10.0/Android Q will not be available” for the phone due to “hardware limitations” as it requires “higher hardware specifications for optimal performance”.
Thank you for reaching out to us. We regret to inform you that EMUI 10.0 / Android Q will not be available for your device due to hardware limitations as it requires higher hardware specifications for optimal performance. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
This is surprising news since the Honor Play uses the same processor as the Huawei P20 (and Huawei P20 Pro) and Honor 10 which have all been confirmed to get EMUI 10 here and here respectively. Even the Honor V10/ View10 released in December 2017 will get EMUI 10.
A lot of owners have expressed their displeasure at the news with some saying they would not be purchasing Honor phones in the future.
Honor is yet to release a statement explaining the hardware limitations that actually prevent the Honor Play from getting the update, so we cannot provide a technical reason yet. Once there is one, we will make sure to inform our readers.
The Honor Play has a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a wide notch at the top. The Kirin 970 processor is paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage on both versions. It has a 16MP + 2MP dual-camera setup on the back and a 16MP selfie camera. There is a fingerprint scanner on its back and a 3750mAh battery with support for 18W fast charge.
When it launched in July, it ran Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. Honor later upgraded it to Android 9 Pie when it got the EMUI 9 update.
When it comes to buying electronic products, gadgets, home decor, apparel or any other item, you can count on Banggood to offer the best bang for your buck.
Living up to its reputation for offering China’s best electronic items at unbeatable prices, Banggood keeps coming up with amazing promotions from time to time. Keeping in line with that, the Chinese online store has launched a new promotion dubbed New Trends Gatherings.
Just like the rest of its previously launched promos, New Trends Gatherings offers great discounts on well-received products across multiple categories. To ensure you do not waste a lot of time finding exactly what you are looking for, these products have been added to specific sections.
The first category called Top Champion New Products features a limited number of items that you can buy without emptying your pockets. For instance, the BlitzWolf BW-P10 10000mAh QC3.0 PD18W Power Bank is currently up for pre-order bearing a $26.83 price tag, but you can get it for just $18.99 by applying coupon code BGBWP10 at checkout.
The aforesaid coupon will be valid for the first 50 pieces only. Banggood users can get free shipping on orders over $19.99. The activity is slated to end on October 30th.
The next section called All In To Win Prize features three products that you need to add to my “my wishlist” section of your Banggood accounts and pay order (order over $1). The more you buy, the more opportunity you get for winning prizes.
Banggood will randomly select three customers during the activity period to receive free gifts. It is worth mentioning here that the activity will end at 23:59 (Beijing time, UTC+8) on October 30th. Winners will be informed via email on November 6th.
Who doesn’t like free stuff? Well, if you do too, Banggood is offering something for you to cheer about. Dubbed as Buy One Get One Free, the next category features products that come with free gifts.
For example, the Xiaomi Mi9 smartphone which usually retails for $419.99 can now be yours for a lowered price of just $402.59 under the Buy One Get One Free section. Aside from getting this noteworthy discount, you get free shipping on orders over $19.99.
On top of that, there’s a $100 New User coupon for those placing their first order with Banggood, and a 15% OFF Coupon for other Banggood users. As if that weren’t enough, those who buy the Mi9 smartphone during the activity time will receive a BlitzWolf BW-TC14 3A USB Type-C Charging Data Cable worth $4.50 as a free gift with their order.
Each product placed under the Exclusive Coupons for New Trends category has been assigned a dedicated coupon code that you can use for saving a considerable amount of money during the checkout process. For the sake of an instance, the Hubsan ZINO Pro RC Drone Quadcopter normally sells for $487.99, but you can reduce its retail price to just $439.19 by applying coupon code BGZINOPRO.
The concluding section called Highly Recommended has been divided into multiple sub-categories, each crammed with awe-inspiring products that you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket. The first two sub-categories comprise RC Toys & Hobbies and Smart Devices, wherein you can get your tech greedy hands on your favorite products at unbeatable prices.
While the RC Toys & Hobbies offers an extra 40% off, the Smart Devices category features up to $90 off on Teclast branded products. Electronics lovers might want to check out the Hot Electronics sub-category, wherein they can get up to 60 percent off on superior hardware.
There’s a 22 percent off on essential gear for cars under the Automobiles & Motorc sub-category, while the Smart Home& Supplies section is doling out an extra 18 percent off on home and pet supply. Adventure junkies can head straight to the next section called LED & Outdoor, which offers up to 80 percent off and an extra 20% OFF Coupon.
Fashion-conscious buyers might want to check out the concluding sub-category called Health & Fashion. In addition to getting great discounts on clothing and fashion accessories, you can stand a chance of winning a smart clock worth $13.89.
To cash in on these discounts and take full advantage of the coupons before they expire, all you need to do is to visit the activity page by following this link.
Neglecting health for success, abusing our bodies to be high achievers is all too common in today’s fast-paced society. Despite realizing the importance of staying fit, we fail to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Those who have too many irons in the fire usually spend a lot of money on fitness devices such as smartwatches, fitness bands and other smart wearables that purportedly motivate them to adopt a healthier style of living. Cost-conscious buyers who go for inexpensive alternatives, on the other hand, end up getting a lousy fitness gadget.
If you have restlessly been searching for a smart wearable that offers an impressive array of useful features without emptying your pocket, you might want to give the Lenovo E1 a test drive. A great choice for sports/fitness enthusiasts, as well as business people, and students who do not enough time to exercise daily, the E1 offers highly advantageous features that ensure you take care of health.
Before we delve further into the awe-inspiring features the Lenovo E1 offers, let us check out the discount Gearbest is currently doling out on the feature-laden smartwatch. The Lenovo E1 would normally set you back $49.99, but the Chinese online store is giving you a chance to buy it for just $39.99.
Moreover, you can extend this 20 percent discount with the help of coupon code G399E4E32218D000. The coupon helps you save $6 by enabling you to bring the already lowered asking price of the smartwatch further down to only $33.99 before you click on the ‘Place Order’ button.
The E1 features a single-hand control design for comfortable use when exercising, and has a soft silicone strap that offers a comfortable wearing experience for a longer period. On top of that, the smartwatch can effectively monitor your heart rate and sleep and generate a flawless health status report.
Furthermore, the Lenovo E1 adopts the 7H hardness 2.5D glass mirror treatment technology to safeguard the screen from accidental scratches and fingerprints. Based on DIY 3D UI, the watch allows you to set the wallpaper and the position of the clock.
Aside from that, the E1 has seven sports modes including walking, running, cycling, skipping, etc. The smartwatch draws its juices from a built-in 180mAh battery that delivers 10 days of battery life, and 25 days standby time.
To know more about the Lenovo E1 sports smartwatch and to place your order, simply follow this link. With nine pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in ten days.
The Realme X2 Pro is officially the first Realme flagship and one of the first smartphones from Oppo’s sub-brand to hit the European market. For this reason and also for the fact that it is one of the most affordable smartphones equipped with the best Qualcomm’s chipset, the Realme X2 Pro is currently among the most attractive handsets globally. But is it really a better choice than affordable flagships and older flagships you can currently find in the smartphones market? This comparison with Huawei P30 and Nubia Red Magic 3S will clear your idea and tell you whether it is worth going for the new Realme’s flagship or to focus on something else.
Triple 40 + 8 + 16 MP, f/1.8, f/2.4 and f/2.2
32 MP f/2.0 front camera
48 MP, f/1.7
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY
4000 mAh, fast charging 50W with SuperVOOC Flash Charge
3650 mAh, fast charging 22.5W
5000 mAh, fast charging 18W with Quick Charge 4+
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Design
Unless you are a true gamer, we do not recommend the design of the Nubia Red Magic 3S. But if you are a gamer, you will not only have a more attractive device with RGB lights but also a more comfortable gaming phone thanks to the presence of pressure sensitive areas. If you are a normal user, then you may find Huawei P30 a lot better than both its rivals since it is a more compact smartphone, it has a slimmer design and it is even splash resistant. Both Huawei P30 and Realme X2 Pro come with a glass + metal design, as well as a waterdrop notch. But the Realme X2 Pro is bigger and thicker.
Display
The most amazing display is definitely the one on board of the Realme X2 Pro. It is an AMOLED panel with a satisfying 6.5-inch diagonal and the support to 90 Hz refresh rate as well as the amazing HDR10+ technology. It is a flagship class panel and it even comes with full DCI-P3 coverage and an incredibly high peak brightness (up to 1000 nits). Right after, there is Nubia Red Magic 3S which comes with a 90 Hz refresh ratio, a wider diagonal, and full DCI-P3 coverage, but it lacks the HDR10+ standard.
Hardware/Software
While Realme X2 Pro and ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3S are fueled by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset which is currently the most powerful in the Android world, Huawei P30 has a Kirin 980 SoC. Snapdragon 855+ > Kirin 980. Realme X2 and ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3S deliver a similar level of performance, but Nubia Red Magic 3S supports a more advanced cooling system since it integrates a real cooling fan running at 14k rpm.
Camera
Huawei P30 is the top camera phone for this comparison. With its amazing 40 MP main shooter and its telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS, as well as a great 16 MP ultrawide sensor, it clicks the best photos in every condition. Even the front camera is the best with its 32 MP resolution. The second place goes to the Realme X2 Pro and its 64 MP camera, but it lacks OIS and it has midrange-class camera quality. Nubia Red Magic 3S is all but a camera phone with its single 48 MP sensor.
Battery
Nubia Red Magic 3S has an impressive battery life since it is equipped with a huge 5000 mAh battery, no matter if it has to manage a real cooling fan. It lasts two days on a single charge even with pretty intensive usage. Right after, we got the Realme X2 Pro with a 4000 mAh battery. The Realme X2 Pro also supports the fastest charging technology with a 50W power: it can fully charge in just 35 minutes.
Price
Realme X2 Pro is going to hit the global market with a €399/$445 price tag, Huawei P30 currently costs less than €450/$502 thanks to street prices, and Red Magic 3S starts from €479/$535. For most of the users, if we exclude cameras (there Huawei P30 wins), Realme X2 Pro is overall the most complete device. But for gamers and high performance lovers, Nubia Red Magic 3S is the way.
The OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T are next in line to get Android 10 following the arrival of the stable update for its successors, the OnePlus 7 and Oneplus 7 Pro. The 2018 flagships are now getting their first taste of Android 10 via a new beta update.
The update was released early today for both devices. Below is the full changelog:
System
Upgraded to Android 10.
Brand new UI design.
Enhanced location permissions for privacy.
New customization feature in Settings allowing you to choose icon shapes to be displayed in the Quick Settings.
Full-Screen Gestures
Added inward swipes from the left or right edge of the screen to go back.
Added a bottom navigation bar to allow switching left or right for recent apps.
Game Space
New Game Space feature now joins all your favorite games in one place for easier access and better gaming experience.
Smart Display
Intelligent info based on specific times, locations and events for Ambient Display (Settings -> Display -> Ambient Display -> Smart Display).
Message
Now possible to block spam by keywords for Message (Messages – Spam – Settings -Blocking settings).
The update is available for the unlocked carrier versions of both phones. If you intend to install the update, OnePlus says you should make sure your battery level is above 30% and have a minimum of 3GB of available storage space.
If you wish to rollback to the Android Pie, OnePlus says that it will possible by installing the rollback package. However, the links to the rollback package have not been published yet.
Since this is beta software, there may be issues, so you should only install if you are fine with that. One user on the OnePlus forum by the name of B-Wrath was kind enough to explain if you will experience data loss if you decide to install the beta update. Below is a summary:
No data loss if you currently run Android Pie open beta and install the Android 10 open beta.
No data loss if you currently run Android Pie stable and install the Android 10 open beta.
No data loss if you currently run Android 10 Developer preview and install the Android 10 open beta.
You will experience loss of data if you decide to roll back from the Android 10 open beta to Android Pie stable or Android Pie open beta.
For those willing to wait for the stable version, you should get that in November according to OnePlus’s release schedule.
You can download the beta update for the OnePlus 6 here and the beta update for the OnePlus 6T here.
Realme has been gaining some decent traction with the Android community. Unlike most companies, Realme has been very dev friendly, allowing users to easily unlock the bootloader of its phones. They’ve also been releasing kernel sources for their devices ever since the Realme 1, and now they’re keeping with the trend by releasing kernel source codes for the Realme XT, Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro.
Kernel sources are very important for developers and power users. It allows them to dive deeper into the code that runs their device, allowing them to figure out different ways to improve their device’s overall performance and capabilities. Kernel source releases are also helpful for custom ROM development, which in turn benefits users who aren’t satisfied with the stock ROM on their phone.
With the release of the kernel sources for the Realme XT, Realme 5, and Realme 5 Pro, we expect to see a major boost in third-party development for these devices. All three devices run Realme’s ColorOS based on Android Pie. Since the devices are expected to receive the Android 10 update next year, the kernel source release spells good news for those of you who would like to try Android 10 before the official release.
Vivo V17 Pro, the premium mid-range smartphone from the Chinese brand, which was launched in India last month, has now received a price cut. The company has announced a price cut of ₹2,000, roughly $28.
The smartphone packs 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage and was launched for ₹29,990 (~$422) but is now available for ₹27,990 (~$394) after the price cut just a few weeks after its official launch.
The new pricing of the smartphone is now reflecting on the eCommerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. It seems that the price cut is also applicable for the offline stores. The Vivo V17 Pro comes in two color options — Midnight Ocean and Glacier Ice.
The handset features a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display with 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. It is a true full-screen display, all thanks to the pop-up design and boasts 91.65 percent screen to body ratio.
Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. As for the battery, the phone has a 4100mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging.
The company is offering a quad-camera setup on the back featuring a 48MP Sony (IMX582) primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP f/2.2 AI Super-wide angle lens, a 13MP f/2.5 telephoto lens that supports 2x optical zoom (10x digital zoom) and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor.
It is the world’s first smartphone to feature a dual pop-up front camera. The primary camera is a 32MP f/2.0 lens while the second 8MP wide-angle camera is aimed at ‘groufies’ with its 105-degree field of view.
The phone also comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is relatively thick at 9.8mm and weighs 201 grams. Other features include BL 5.0, Wi-Fi dual-band, Android 9 Pie operating system based FunTouch OS 9.1.
There have been reports that Xiaomi’s Mi CC9 series will be getting a new member this month. Honestly, we think Xiaomi (and some other top manufacturers) has released more than enough smartphones this year. The phone is said to be called the Mi CC9 Pro and its alleged specs and price have leaked.
The source of the leak is Sudhanshu Ambhore (@sudhanshu1414). Although he doesn’t specifically state which device it is, the spec of the primary camera corresponds to what we have heard about the Mi CC9 Pro.
The Xiaomi CC9 (pictured above) is expected to get a Pro version soon
The phone will have a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch and an in-display fingerprint scanner. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 730G processor, the same chipset inside the Realme X2. There will be 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is no mention of other configurations, so we may be getting a single variant.
The selling point of the Mi CC9 Pro will be its cameras. There will be three sensors on the rear with the primary one being a 108MP camera, the same one as the Mi MIX Alpha. The phone will also have a 13MP ultrawide angle camera and an 8MP telephoto camera. Inside the notch will be a 32MP camera.
Snapdragon 730G 6.4" Full HD+ AMOLED with waterdrop notch In-display FS 108MP + 13MP (Wide Angle) + 8MP (Telephoto) 32MP 4000mAh with 20W+ charging Android 10 IR blaster NFC 9mm thick 180g 6GB+128GB around 2599 Yuan
Xiaomi will ship the Mi CC9 Pro with a 4000mAh battery with support for 20W+ fast charging (most likely 27W fast charging like that of the Mi 9). It will run Android 10 out of the box, have NFC, and an IR blaster. The leak also mentions the phone weighs 180 grams.
The Mi CC9 Pro will not be cheap. It will sell for ¥2599 (~$367), much higher than the Realme X2 which has a price tag of ¥1899 (~$268) for its 8GB + 128GB version.
Xiaomi is yet to announce when the phone will launch but we expect a date will be revealed next week.
A number of Hisense phones have been certified by TENAA in the past couple of months but the electronics manufacturer hasn’t announced any new phone yet. That changes on October 23 as Hisense is set to announce two new devices – the Hisense A5 and the Hisense A6L.
Hisense A5
The Hisense A5 is not like a lot of the other phones out there. It has been reported that the phone will have an e-ink display and not an IPS or OLED display. Just a single e-ink display with an aspect ratio unlike that of other e-ink readers. The poster says it is a new type of e-ink display for the mobile industry.
The image shows the Hisense A5 has a single rear camera on the back. The photo seems to match that of the Hisense HLTE202N that was certified by TENAA last week.
The TENAA listing reveals the display is 5.84-inches in size with a 1440 x 720 resolution. The phone has a 1.8GHz octa-core processor and up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The rear camera is a 13MP sensor and there is a 5MP camera in front. There is also a 3900mAh battery under the hood and Android 9 Pie pre-installed.
Hisense A6L
The Hisense A6L is a successor to the dual-screen Hisense A6 that was announced last year. There are no details about the device but the image shows that there are two cameras above the e-ink display on the back of the phone, unlike its predecessor which has just one rear camera.
We are aware of the fact that at least some electronic devices which include home appliances have been proven guilty of surveilling people around them. According to new study originating from Princeton University, smart TV boxes which are found in most houses in countries like the U.S are no exception.
Arvind Narayanan who is associate professor of computer science at Princeton University wrote a mail to TheVerge stating:
If you use a device such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV, there are numerous companies that can build up a fairly comprehensive picture of what you’re watching
There’s very little oversight or awareness of their practices, including where that data is being sold.
Clearly, the sale of user data is one major reason these TV boxes have gotten cheaper over the last few years. For reference, Roku is able to sell its TV box for as less as $ 200 only because the device is subsidized by money generated from targeted advertisements. Most of us are unaware, we agree to this while signing up for the contract as these terms are buried in lengthy privacy policies that most of us are never bothered to read.
Like other publishers, smart TV app developers can use Google’s ad services to show ads against their content, and we’ve helped design industry guidelines for this that enable a privacy-safe experience for users
Depending on the user’s preferences, the developer may share data with Google that’s similar to data used for ads in mobile apps or on the web
Although it is possible to turn off personalised advertisements on these TV boxes, this would only stop a user’s advertising ID from being tracked. Other details like the device serial number, Wi-Fi network could still be tracked which can be used to pinpoint the user making the opt-out option somewhat irrelevant.
Similar to TV boxes, smartphone manufacturers are often observed serving advertisements on their devices which allows them to price their offerings a little lower.
What are your thoughts on targeted ads as a means of revenue? Do you support this, as it often makes a given service or product more affordable for consumers or are you willing to retain your privacy by shelling out money from your pocket? Let us know in the comments below.
GeekBuying has launched a new promotion dubbed Best Sellers, which is updated every day.
Aside from doling out on amazing products across various categories, the Chinese online store is giving PayPal users a chance to save more money with PayPal Exclusive Coupons.
You can use coupon code GKB50PP for $50 off on orders over $500, coupon code GKB20PP helps you get $20 off on orders over $200, you can use coupon code GKB10PP to save $10 if your cart value exceeds $100, and coupon code GKB02PP enables you to grab an extra $2 off on orders over $10. The rest of the products have carefully been placed under specific categories.
We will be checking out the noteworthy discount you can get on the AMAZFIT GTS smart sports watch, which is placed under the TOP 10 category on the activity page. Aside from that, we show how you can save a considerable amount of more money during the check out process.
AMAZFIT GTS Smart Sports Watch
Huami announced the Amazfit GTS along with Amazfit Stratos 3 in China and took the wraps off both watches in Germany during the IFA 2019 trade show. This is probably the fastest international launch for an AMAZFIT branded product.
Loaded with exciting features, the Amazfit GTS sports a 1.65-inch rectangular Super Retina-grade AMOLED display with HD resolution of 348 x 442 pixels and 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 on top for added protection. Moreover, it offers a hundred different watch faces.
The watch has GNSS (GPS+GLONASS) and is backed by a 220mAh Lithium polymer battery that delivers an impressive battery life of two weeks (25 hours with GPS turned on). On top of that, it has a heart-rate sensor that can continuously track up to 12 different sporting activities.
The AMAZFIT GTS is 50 meters water-resistant, which means you can wear it while swimming and also record your data. It features 20mm quick release silicone straps, which are available in six different colors. Moreover, the watch is compatible with both, Android, as well as iOS devices.
There’s no dearth of smart wearables offering comparable features in the market, but they aren’t easy on the pocketbook. The AMAZFIT GTS Smart Sports Watch, on the other hand, can now be yours for a lowered price of just $149.99 from GeekBuying. This is a 46 percent drop in the watch’s original asking price of $279.99.
On top of that, you can use coupon code 3VRUCC7B for an extra $10 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the GTS further down to only $139.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon at the time of checking out.
If you place your pre-order with PayPal, you can get the AMAZFIT GTS Smart Sports Watch for only $132.99, which is an absolute steal. You can visit this link and check out more details about the AMAZFIT GTS and take advantage of the coupon before it expires.
Also, check out GeekBuying’s Best Sellers promotion for great discounts on a wide selection of products.
As we’ve informed you last week, the Blackview BV9800 Series is finally available on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform where huge discounts for super early birds are offered. Three Super Early Bird perks are currently available for BV9800 and BV9800 Pro so let’s check them out.
Perk details
BV9800 Pro
Super early bird: $399, limited quantity of 200, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector
Early bird: $429, limited quantity of 300, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector and Type-C adapter
Kickstarter special: $469, unlimited quantity, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector and 3-in-1 data cable
BV9800
Super early bird: $299, limited quantity of 200, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector
Early bird: $329, limited quantity of 300, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector and Type-C adapter
Kickstarter special: $369, unlimited quantity, packed with a gift of tempered screen protector and 3-in-1 data cable
The BV9800 series gained skyrocketing popularity among rugged smartphone fanatics and outdoor adventurers since it features exceptional thermal imaging functions and a top Sony® 48MP camera, the same that most 48MP phones are using. Let’s take a glance at what the box has to offer.
The BV9800 Pro box includes the phone, a pair of earphones (that’s a surprise), a charging adapter, a USB Type-C cable, a screen protector, a user manual, a shaped card, and a SIM ejector.
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In terms of design, build quality, hardware configuration, and performance, both the BV9800 and BV9800 Pro are quite promising. Both sport a 6.3″ IPS FHD+ display with a waterdrop notch design that hosts the 16MP selfie camera. In addition, the good old 3.5mm headphone jack is present while the bottom hosts the USB Type-C port. What’s more, the BV9800/BV9800 Pro come equipped with a fingerprint sensor placed on the right side.
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Of course, they continue to be rugged flagships so both come with IP68/IP69K waterproof body and MIL-STD-810G certification. In addition, there is GPS, GLONASS and Beidou triple navigation system as well as a big, 6580mAh battery. Definitely an ideal configuration for outdoor enthusiasts or adventurers. And their performance is no slouch either as they feature MediaTek’s Helio P70 8-core SoC backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage expandable via a microSD slot.
All the above are standard to most Blackview rugged phones but the killer feature of the Series is the 48MP triple rear camera on both phones and the FLIR® Lepton® thermal imaging camera found in the Pro version. It is a 5MP camera assisted with thermal imaging.
Now the Blackview BV9800 series is available on Kickstarter. If you love outdoor adventures and you need a rugged phone, then you maybe be interested in the Blackview BV9800 series. Don’t forget that the Pro version can let you see the heat and capture every good moment with the 48MP Sony camera. You can back the campaign over here.
Besides the Kickstarter campaign, Blackview also launched a giveaway on its official website to recruit 10 testers for the BV9800 and BV9800 Pro. Visit the promotion activity to try your luck.
Huawei, which is currently the world’s second-largest smartphone maker in the world has been designated to a blacklist by the U.S Commerce Department which bars all American corporations from having any sort of trade relations with the company. Due to this, Huawei cannot certify its new handsets with Google‘s license despite running on the latest version of AOSP (Android Open Source Project).
Following the ban, it was revealed that Huawei was working on a secret OS for a long time, codenamed HongMeng OS. Huawei was reported to have developed this platform as a unified OS compatible with a wide variety of products ranging from smartphones to smart TVs to car infotainment systems.
While this OS, which is officially dubbed HarmonyOS has already been publicized with the launch of Honor Vision TV, it still isn’t very refined. In simpler words, a lot of time and effort is required to be invested before it can be ready for other consumer devices like smartphones. Noteworthy, Huawei’s CEO Ren Zhengfei had recently made a statement that “HarmonyOS will be able to compete with Apple’s iOS in 2 years”. Although this seems like a bold claim, it’s worth adding that Huawei has the resources to deliver on its promise.
But even if Huawei manages to ready the HarmonyOS in the coming months, it will be hard to convince users to purchase a device with an unfamiliar OS. In order to solve this dilemma, Huawei might have come up with a thoughtful solution – dual OS.
According to reports, the upcoming P40 which will succeed the Huawei P30 from the current year will be capable of dual-booting both Android and HarmonyOS, straight from the factory. The concept of a dual boot on smartphones hasn’t really caught on but this might be the only possible solution for Huawei to evade this tricky situation.
Honor Vision Smart TV with HarmonyOS
In case you are unaware of what dual boot means, Huawei is said to ship its upcoming P40 flagship device with two separate operating systems, HarmonyOS and AOSP, which will be completely independent of each other. Explaining a bit further, the OSes will be independent of each other, with their own set of apps and files. Essentially, it will function like two different smartphones in one package.
With this strategy, users will be able to experience what Huawei’s latest operating system brings to the table. They would also be safeguarded by the backup option to run Android (AOSP), in case they don’t like HarmonyOS.
Besides this will not only allow Huawei to get vital customer feedback which can be used to further enhance the user experience but also enable it to showcase some of its original features that might currently be missing on most popular mobile operating systems — iOS and Android.
Huawei P30 Pro
Going by the previous launch cycles of Huawei’s “P” lineup of smartphones, the P40 is expected to launch in March of 2020. Henceforth, we will have to wait patiently to learn whether chooses to go this route or not.
What are your takes on this possible solution from Huawei? Do let us know in the comments below.
Apple has been long anticipated to launch a pair of TWS earphones which would support active noise cancellation. While they have previously been claimed to launch on numerous occasions, unfortunately, all of them have turned out false. However, last month the logo of redesigned AirPods was discovered in the source code of the latest beta version of iOS. Surprisingly, these matched exactly with prior case leaks that originated from China which sealed the deal about their existence.
According to a fresh report published by China Economic Daily, we won’t have to wait for long as the long-awaited “AirPods Pro” will launch before the end of October. As you would have noticed, the upcoming wireless pair of earphones from Apple won’t be named AirPods 3 which was previously claimed, instead, they will carry the “Pro” branding similar to what has been observed with the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Pro.
Alleged Case of redesigned AirPods
Therefore, they are presumed to coexist with the regular AirPods which were last updated earlier this year with the H1 chip and support for wireless charging. In terms of pricing, they are reported to cost NT$ 8,000 before taxes which roughly translates to US $ 260. Their higher price tag also strengthens the assumption of them coexisting with the standards AirPods which are sold at a price of $ 199 inclusive of taxes.
Although the final design is yet to be publicised by Apple, based upon leaks and reports, several renders have been made, out of which one is shared below.
AirPods Pro render based on past leaks
In comparison to the current variant, these feature an in-ear style design with silicon buds which would prevent them from slipping outside of the ear while working or performing other intensive physical activities. Besides, their stem has also be reworked which would allow them to fit in a smaller charging case whose image is shared above.
To wrap things, the launch of the AirPods Pro seems imminent, however, we will have to wait until the official announcement to obtain precise details including its exact price.
What are your thoughts on their design renders? Do you prefer these or the original AirPods look more appealing to you? Let us know in the comments below.
The yet-to-be-released Vivo U3 may give some of the new mid-range phones in the market a run for their money. It not only has impressive specs but adds an affordable price tag too.
A pre-order page is already live on Jingdong.com and it reveals the new mid-range phone has a starting price of ¥999 (~$140)! That is an amazing price for a phone that has a Snapdragon 675 processor, triple rear cameras, and a 5000mAh battery. But that isn’t all the new Vivo phone has to offer.
The Vivo U3 has a 6.53-inch FHD+ display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a 90.3 screen-to-body ratio. The display has a waterdrop notch that is home to a 16MP f/2.0 AI selfie camera that can identify 103 different facial features.
On the back of the phone are three cameras arranged vertically. The first is an 8MP f/2.4 super wide-angle camera and it is followed by a 16MP f/1.78 sensor which is the primary camera. At the bottom just below the LED flash is a 2MP f/2.4 camera with a macro lens. There are a number of camera features such as Super Night View 2.0, 4 cm macro photography, and even Face Wake which unlocks your phone super fast using your face.
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The Snapdragon 675 processor is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There is also a 6GB RAM version with the same amount of storage for ¥1199 (~$169). If you want more storage, Vivo has got you covered as the U3 has a triple card tray for 2 nano SIMs and a MicroSD card (256GB max.).
The Vivo U3 has a 3D curved body and underneath is a 5000mAh battery. There is support for 18W fast charging but you have to make do with a MicroUSB port. It also has an audio jack and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
The phone weighs 193 grams and measures 162.15 x 76.47 x 8.89 millimeters. It is available in porcelain green, black, and blue. The pre-order runs until the 00:00 on October 24 which means the phone should be announced on the same day.
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Arvind Narayanan who is associate professor of computer science at Princeton University wrote a mail to TheVerge stating:
