The upcoming Mi Band 5 will support NFC even outside China

By

-

Oct 5, 2019

In the month of June, Xiaomi launched its latest fitness band, the Mi Band 4 in China which has performed excellent in terms of sales. When the smart werable was launched in its home country, it was offered in two options which include a NFC variant and a non-NFC variant.

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 smartwatch — Xioami Mi Band 4

However, when Xiaomi launched it for the global market, customers sadly had to settle down with just the non-NFC variant. In order to bring the benefits of NFC to its global audience, Xiaomi is reportedly working on the Mi Band 5 which will support NFC both inside and outside of the Chinese domestic market.

In case you have been uninformed, the Mi Band 4 with NFC supports wireless payments, can be used as an identity card at a workplace and it could even replace metro or bus cards that are based on this technology.

According to the source, the upcoming Mi Band 5 will have a rugged design which will make it more durable and help in prolonging its life. Talking about its launch date, the future fitness band from Xiaomi is said to launch in the Q2 of 2020 which corresponds with past refresh cycles.

While not many details about the Mi Band 5 are currently available, it has already been confirmed that 5th Gen fitness tracker is being developed in collaboration with Huami. The CEO of Huami, Wang Huang said that his company is co-working on multiple projects in a partnership with Xiaomi and the Mi Band 5 is one of them.

We will have to wait patiently until more details about the future fitness band from Xiaomi are available, originating either from official or unofficial sources.

Readers outside of China, Would you be interested in buying a NFC compatible smart band from Xiaomi? Let us know in the comments below.

(via)

OPPO patents phone with Zenfone 6-style flip cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 5, 2019

The ASUS Zenfone 6 is one of the flagship devices to consider if you are on a budget. It not only has flagship specs but its revamped ZenUI has gotten lots of praise for offering a near-stock experience while offering some pretty useful customization options. However, the highlight of the phone is its unique motorized dual rear cameras which rotate forward and double as front-facing cameras.

Following its launch, we expected more manufacturers would copy the design. There was even a leaked poster of a phone said to be the first device born from Meitu and Xiaomi’s partnership with a similar design but with three cameras. We all know how that ended. The Xiaomi Mi CC9 and Mi CC9e look nothing like that.

A new report has revealed that we may actually get a phone with such a design from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, OPPO. Patent diagrams have shown that OPPO may be developing a phone with flip rear cameras.

The patent which was filed at the World Intellectual Property Office was discovered by the Indian tech site, Pricebaba. The diagrams show the device has a display with no notch, no punch-hole, and very thin bezels. The dual rear cameras are arranged the same way as that of the Zenfone 6 with an LED flash separating both sensors.

1 of 3

There isn’t a fingerprint scanner on the rear which hints at the device having an in-display fingerprint sensor, a feature the Zenfone 6 skips.

It remains to be seen if OPPO will eventually release a commercial product based on this design. Manufacturers are known to file patents for designs and technologies they may not eventually use, so we ask you not to raise your hopes.

(Source, Via)

Moto Z4 Force with Pop-Up camera & rear mounted LED ring leaked

By

Sahil

-

Oct 5, 2019

Moto Z4 LED Ring around fingerprint scanner

Earlier this week, we reported that Motorola is about to launch the Moto One Macro which will make its global debut in India. Going by a fresh leak, the company has yet another high-end smartphone in the pipeline, however, this device is made while keeping the Latin American markets in mind.

According to the source, the upcoming handset from Motorola will carry the Moto Z4 Force branding but that claim is hard to digest due to multiple reasons.

Hi Raffi. We will not be announcing additional moto z devices this year.

— Motorola US (@MotorolaUS) May 30, 2019

After the launch of the standard Moto Z4, a Twitter user posted a question on the company’s Twitter account to enquire about the launch details of its ‘Force’ variant. To which he received a reply that the company will not launch any other Moto Z devices this year.

Besides, as observed with prior ‘Force’ edition smartphones from the company, none of them was Android One certified or had a Glass back which will read about later in this article. Moreover, this device lacks support for Moto Mods that has been a staple to the ‘Z’ lineup of smartphones.

Whether the claims about the name of this smartphone are correct of not, we will learn in the future. For now, let’s consider it true as the tipster owns a functioning unit of the smartphone. Moving forward, let’s discuss its design and specifications.

Right of the bat, the alleged Moto Z4 Force will be the first smartphone from the company to have a pop-up selfie camera. Due to this feature, the handset is able to achieve a high screen-to-body ratio which will provide for an immersive experience while playing games or watching videos.

The rear of the smartphone seems to be made out of glass which houses a vertically aligned camera module, company branding, Android One logo and its key highlighting feature which is an LED ring surrounded fingerprint scanner. Talking more about the LED ring, it is assumed to double up as a notification light, hence, it might be able to change colours as well.

Except for the placement of the fingerprint sensor, the alleged Moto Z4 Force looks reminiscent of the Vivo V15 Pro which was launched in Q1 of this year.

According to the source, the handset packs the following specifications:

Chipset: Snapdragon 855, Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 640 GPU
RAM + ROM: 8 GB + 128 GB
Rear Camera: 48 MP + 13 MP
Battery: 3,230 mAh, 27 W fast charging

As previously mentioned, it is hard to digest that this Motorola device will be called the Moto Z4 Force. Having said that, we will have to wait patiently until a company official reveals more details about the handset.

Stay tuned for future updates.

(source)

Huawei Mate 30 lineup now available for purchase in Romania

By

Sahil

-

Oct 5, 2019

Slowly and steadily, the newly launched Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are making their way to different regions except for China. Earlier this week, the smartphones were put on sale in Malaysia and now they have made their way to Romania.

Instead of selling the smartphone via Huawei‘s official website, the company has partnered with Quickmobile.ro which is an established online retailer in Romania.

The Mate 30 starts at 3,600 Lei (€760) for the base 6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM variant whereas the Mate 30 Pro starts at 5,000 Lei (€1,050) for the base variant with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM. In addition to these, higher memory and storage variants of the two handsets are also available in the country for which the prices are as follows:

Mate 30 (8 GB + 128 GB): 3,800 Lei (€800)
Mate 30 Pro (8 GB + 256 GB): 5,500 Lei (€1,160)

These prices are slightly lower than expected as they were previously reported to start at €800 and €1,100. Talking about delivery details, they will be delivered within 7 days of placing the online order.

Noteworthy, none of the Mate 30 variant launched in Romania support 5G, as of now, they are limited only to the Chinese market.

As a reminder, the Mate 30 smarpthones are not shipped with Google Play services, therefore, out of the box, users cannot get hold of popular Apps like WhatsApp, Youtube from the Play Store or avail services like Google Maps.

While previously it was a matter of minutes to install Google Play services on the Mate 30 smartphones, but that workaround in not working anymore. Even if the user manages to install them somehow, some services like Google Pay that require an online certificate to function properly, won’t work at all after a recent update.

Given that the Mate 30 smartphones have exceptional camera capabilities and top of the line features, and you plan to buy them amidst lack of Play Services, you can learn more about their features by clicking here.

(source)

OnePlus cunningly teased the OnePlus 7T Pro at its September event and nobody noticed

By

Sahil

-

Oct 5, 2019

Late last month, Chinese smartphone maker, OnePlus announced the OnePlus 7T at an event held in India. While the company was also expected to unveil its elder sibling, the OnePlus 7T Pro, the high-end flagship was nowhere to be found. At least that is what we believed so far.

Technically, the OnePlus 7T Pro did make an appearance at the same event, however, it barely stayed on the presentation display, therefore it was overlooked by most attendees and online viewers.

How to leak #OnePlus7TPro in #OnePlus7T's launch event😂.#OnePlus7TSeries #OnePlus pic.twitter.com/P6Uotbga6d

— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) October 4, 2019

Recently, a tipster who goes by the username Sudhanshu Ambhore figured this out and took on to the microblogging website, Twitter where he shared both a screenshot and time stamp (18:01) of the webstream that is still available to watch on Youtube (also present at the bottom of this article).

As previously mentioned, the OnePlus 7T Pro did not stay on the display for long, hence not much was revealed about the upcoming device. Having said that, the small glimpse was enough to showcase the design and layout of its back panel.

While the placement of the OnePlus logo, arrangement and number of sensors in the rear camera setup remain the same as its predecessor, the OnePlus 7T Pro has an additional oval-shaped element whose details are currently unknown.

Based upon our assumptions, this could be a rear-facing microphone covered by a mesh grille which is also present on the newly launched Apple iPhone 11 lineup. If this turns out true, the OnePlus 7T Pro will be able to record finer audio details which will improve the overall video output.

iPhone 11 microphone hole covered with mesh

Also unconfirmed at the point, OnePlus might be aiming for something similar to “Zoom-in mic” which was first introduced with LG smartphones and has now been incorporated by Samsung in its latest Galaxy Note 10 lineup.

There are hardly any details available about the specifications of the OnePlus 7T Pro. With that being said, it is destined to get the latest Snapdragon 855+ chipset and faster Warp Charge 30T like the previously launched OnePlus 7T.

At the time of OnePlus 7 Pro‘s launch, the only existing smartphone with 90 Hz display was the original Asus ROG Phone. Now that Asus has launched the ROG Phone 2 with a 120 Hz display, it will be interesting to see whether OnePlus also embraces a higher refresh rate display with its latest smartphone or not.

The OnePlus 7T Pro is tipped to launch on the 10th of October, therefore we won’t have to wait for long in order to verify the authenticity of claims made in this article.

We will update you whenever more details about the smartphone are released, so stay tuned.

Apple’s latest patent suggests a screen-based keyboard may be coming to the MacBook

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 5, 2019

Apple‘s latest patent application has just been published by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The application describes what looks like Apple’s next big upgrade for the MacBook. The patent is for a screen-based keyboard that looks and feels real as though it were a physical keyboard.

The patent represents the next phase in Apple’s bid to shift from physical keys and buttons over the years. Apple first started off with a mechanical Home button on the iPhone and it was replaced with a solid-state one. The company also deployed a haptic motor simulating the feel of a click was also replaced by a swipe on the screen. That same progression was implemented on the MacBook. The MacBook first utilised a mechanical trackpad which was replaced with a Force Touch trackpad on the MacBook Pro released in 2015. Force Touch used haptic motors to simulate clicks. on the MacBook Pro.

Apple too things a step higher in 2016 when it replaced the physical function keys on the MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar. Apple’s move to flatter keyboards with less travel is seen as all part of the process of preparing us for a screen-based keyboard future.

The patent application details replacing a deformable screen with entirely simulated motion. The description shows it will be done using a mix of haptic motors and electrostatic charge to provide a realistic simulation of key edges and travel and even centre the fingers on the keys.

The illustrations used in the patent show an iPad-like device which may be an indication that the feature may first be utilised on the iPad before making the MacBook keyboard screen-based. However, we must point out that this patent may just be one of the numerous Apple patents that never saw the light of day.

Buy the Realme 5 Pro for a Lowered Price from Flipkart [More Offers Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

Launched in August this year, the Realme 5 Pro is an irresistible smartphone. While the recently unveiled mobile phone continues to garner huge popularity among Realme fans, Flipkart is now doling out noteworthy discounts on two of its popular variants.

Realme 5 Pro [4GB RAM+64GB ROM]

Available in Crystal Green and Sparkling Blue color options, this variant ships with 4GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage space. While it would normally set you back 14,999 INR, Flipkart is giving you a chance to buy it for a lowered price of just 13,999 INR.

This is a 6 percent reduction in the handset’s original asking price. Aside from that, the American e-commerce company is offering multiple other offers including a chance to get up to 11,900 INR off on exchange.

To check out more details about this model and to grab the offers, all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time.

Realme 5 Pro [4GB RAM+64GB ROM]

Realme 5 Pro [8GB RAM+128GB ROM]

This slightly larger variant packs more power in the form of an 8GB RAM and gives you ample onboard space of 128GB to download and run your favorite applications without any sort of interruptions. Flipkart is currently doling out 5 percent off on this model, which usually retails for 17,999 INR.

Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now get your hands on the Crystal Green, as well as the Sparkling Blue color options of the phone for a lowered price of just 16,999 INR. As if that weren’t enough, you can take full advantage of other offers including a 5 percent unlimited cash back on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card.

You can visit this link to grab the discount and place your order before the promo comes to an end. An absolute bargain at this price, the Realme 5 Pro offers the following features:

6.0 cm (6.3 inch) FHD+ Display
Qualcomm Snapdragon SDM712 Octa Core 2.3 GHz processor
48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP Quad camera at the back
16MP front camera
4035 mAh Battery with VOOC Flash Charge 3.0
Triple card slot

Realme 5 Pro [8GB RAM+128GB ROM]

Buy One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop for Just $899.99 from Geekbuying [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

If you have been waiting with bated breath to get your hands on a portable laptop that offers the best value for money, you have come to the right place.

GeekBuying keeps coming with amazing promotions that feature a wide range of products carried lowered prices. Living up to its reputation for offering top-end products at unbeatable prices, the Chinese online store has launched a new promo dubbed, One Netbook One Mix 3S Sale_Free Goodies.

As part of this recently launched promotion, GeekBuying is giving its loyal users an unmissable chance to not only buy One Netbook and other top-branded laptops for lowered prices but also win free goodies. We will check out the discount GeekBuying is currently doling out on the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop.

Aside from that, we will show how you can save more money without breaking a sweat, and shed light on the free gift. So without wasting more time, let’s delve straight into the details.

One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop

GeekBuying is giving you an unmissable chance to get your tech greedy hands on the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga laptop for a lowered price of just $929.99. This is a 20 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price of $1159.99.

Moreover, you can extend this noteworthy discount by applying coupon code Onemix3SP at the time of checking out. The coupon enables you to grab an extra $30 off by reducing the retail price of the laptop to only $899.99 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button. There’s a $2 OFF Coupon for new users.

An absolute bargain at this price, the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop sports an eye-catching 8.4-inch 2.5K display with 2560×1600 pixels resolution for a superior viewing experience. It features a fingerprint recognition sensor for added safety.

The feature-rich laptop is powered by the Intel Core M3-8100Y, Dual-Core, 3.4GHz Max processor and it packs a highly competent Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, under the hood. Moreover, it supports a surface pen that offers precise drawing experience.

It ships with 16GB of RAM and offers a hearty 512GB of SSD storage space for you to save your favorite multimedia content. Its unique 2-in-1 YOGA design enables you to use it as a tablet as well.

Furthermore, the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop runs a genuine Windows 10 operating system with the latest software updates. The laptop draws its juices from an 8600mAh battery, allowing you to use it all day and night on just a single charge.

You can head straight to this link to check out more details about the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop and place your order. It is worth noting that the promo will end in just three days.

One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop

One Netbook One Mix 3S Sale_Free Goodies

Buy OnePlus 7 Pro Phablet for a Lowered Price from Gearbest [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

The OnePlus 7 Pro launch event was held in New York, London, and Bengaluru at the same time. Touted as one of the best handsets from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, the OnePlus 7 Pro is without an iota of doubt, one of the well-received mobile devices launched this year.

Before we check out the phablet’s awe-inspiring features which makes it deserving of the aforesaid title, we got something for OnePlus fans to cheer about.

If you have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on the recently unveiled OnePlus 7 Pro without emptying their pockets, it might interest you to know that Gearbest is currently doling out noteworthy discounts on two variants of the coveted phablet. Moreover, we will show how you can save more money at checkout.

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

This international version of the OnePlus 7 Pro phablet ships with 8GB of RAM and offers a hearty 256GB of internal storage capacity. Aside from that, the device is crammed with multiple top-end specifications that are likely to sweep you off your feet.

The model usually carries an $851.43 price tag, but Gearbest is giving you an unmissable chance to buy it for a lowered price of just $649.99. Interested in getting an additional discount? Read on.

To extend this 24 percent discount, all you need to do is to apply coupon code GBBEATBGOP7P at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you save $42 more by reducing the retail price of the phablet to $607.99.

You can visit this link to avail of the discount and use the coupon which is likely to expire soon. With over two hundred pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in 25 days.

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

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet [12GB RAM+256GB ROM]

Equipped with a larger 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage capacity, this international version of the OnePlus 7 Pro 4G phablet would normally set you back a whopping $955.86. Much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, this model has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag of just $799.99 on Gearbest.

This is a noteworthy 16 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price. On top of that, you can use coupon code GBDPONE256 for an extra $42 off. In other words, you can bring the already reduced retail price of the phablet further down to just $757.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon.

You can visit this link to avail the discount and take advantage of the coupon before it expires. Note that more than a hundred pieces were already sold at the time of writing, and the promo will come to an end in four days.

An absolute steal at this price, OnePlus 7 Pro smartphone offers the following features:

6.67-inch QHD+ Fluid AMOLED 90Hz screen
Third generation in-display fingerprint scanner
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor
Adreno 640 GPU
6GB/8GB/12GB RAM
128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 storage
OxygenOS 9.5 based on Android 9.0 Pie OS
4000mAh battery with Warp Charge 30 Fast Charging

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet [12GB RAM+256GB ROM]

Buy VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector for Just $119.99 from Gearbest [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

A video projector can be described as an image projector that takes video signal to project a corresponding image on a projection screen with the help of a lens system.

Cinephiles who fancy watching their favorite videos on a big-screen without leaving the comfort of their homes usually spend a lot of money on high-end video projectors. Cost-conscious buyers, on the other hand, settle for inexpensive alternatives that fail to meet their expectations.

If you have restlessly been looking for a low-priced, yet feature-rich video projector, look no further. The VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector which is currently available for a lowered price on Gearbest might just fill the bill.

Touted as an upgraded version of the F10 video projector, the F10UP runs Android OS 7.1 version, marking its foray into the home smart projectors segment from a traditional home multimedia projector.

Equipped with 2G memory (quad-core CPU) and 16G ( Penta-core ARM GPU ) expansion, the VIVIBRIGHT F10UP supports a maximum video resolution of 1080P. Moreover, it comes with a built-in WIFI, Bluetooth connectivity which delivers an uninterrupted wireless transmission.

Moreover, you can download and install online video software for online video playback as Netflix, YouTube or Amazon Video. It can be remotely controlled with two AAA battery-powered remote control from any corner of the room.

Given that it boasts an impressive array of features, you’d normally expect the VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector to carry a steep price tag, but Gearbest is giving you a chance to buy it for just $129.99. This is a 13 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $149.16.

You can save $10 more by applying coupon code X3JDN3HL3Z at the time of checking out. The aforesaid coupon helps you bring the already lowered asking price of the F10UP further down to just $119.99 at the time of checkout.

On top of that, you can get an add-on for $4.59 for spending $20. You can follow this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires. With 28 pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in six days.

VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Oct 4, 2019

5G is the next technology frontier and ignoring it is not a wise choice. Did you ever wonder whether you should spend more to buy a 5G-enabled smartphone or stick to 4G for a few years more? It mostly depends on the zone where you live and on your connectivity-related needs. But if you are one of those advanced users who need a 5G phone, you currently have several choices. After Samsung with the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and Huawei with the Mate 30 Pro 5G, even Xiaomi launched a 5G-enabled flagship in 2019: it is the Mi 9 Pro 5G which even carries a pretty affordable price if we compare it with other 5G phones. Here you will find a specs comparison analyzing their specifications.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G

	Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G	Samsung Galaxy Note 10+	Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm, 198 g	162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm, 196 g	157.2 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm, 196 g
DISPLAY	6.53 inches, 1176 x 2400p (Full HD+), OLED	6.8 inches, 1440 x 3040p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED	6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 990, octa-core 2.86 GHz	Samsung Exynos 9825, octa-core 2.73 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – nano memory card slot	12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 10, EMUI 10	Android 9 Pie, One UI	Android 10, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 40 + 40 + 8 MP + TOF camera, f/1.6 + f/1.8 + f/2.4 32 MP front camera	Quad 12 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.5-1.8-2.4 + f/2.1 + f/2.2 10 MP f/2.2 front camera	Triple 48 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.2 20 MP camera f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4500 mAh, fast charging 40W, Fast wireless charging 27W	4300 mAh, fast charging 45W, Fast wireless charging 20W	4000 mAh, fast charging 40W with fast wireless charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68, Face ID	Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68, 5G	Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, 5G

Design

The Horizon display of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G makes its design simply amazing. It is a panel with extremely curved sides which makes you forget the wide notch. Thanks to the curved bezels allowing the presence of a side touch area, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G does not have any physical key, and this makes it even more attractive. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a very big phablet and for this reason, it is not comfortable for everyone, but it still comes with a very elegant and innovative design. The punch-hole display makes the bezels very narrow and the overall design is very minimal. Special features: while Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G supports a 3D facial recognition system, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G has the S Pen.

Display

The best display belongs to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G: not only it has the biggest panel, but it even carries the highest resolution: Quad HD+ with 1440 x 3040 pixels. It is also the only device of this trio to support the HDR10+ standard which guarantees a better performance with multimedia content thanks to richer colors and a wide dynamic range. And it even supports the S Pen with Bluetooth integration which can be used for handwriting, drawing and as a remote controller.

Hardware/Software

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G wins the hardware award since it sports the most powerful processor and it has the fastest performance. It is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset and it comes with up to 12 GB of RAM, which is the perfect couple for every advanced activity. The second place goes to Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ which carries a different chipset depending on the region (either the Snapdragon 855 or the Exynos 9825) paired with 12 GB of RAM. Note that Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has Android 9 Pie out of the box, while its rivals already come with Android 10. The 5G connectivity is better on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G as the Kirin 990 chipset is the first one with an integrated 5G modem and it can reach up to 6.5 Gbps of download speed thanks to mm waves.

Camera

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is the absolute winner when it comes to cameras. It is equipped with a rear quad camera including two 40 MP sensors, 3x optical zoom, OIS, and a 3D TOF camera. But it loses when it comes to selfies: there, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a lot more satisfying. If you need a top camera phone, just do not go for the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G, it lacks OIS and it does not differ so much from the Mi 9.

Battery

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G has the biggest battery and we believe it will last more not only for this reason, but also because it has a very efficient chipset built at 7nm+, and just a Full HD display, unlike the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G. It even has a very fast charging technology and reverse wireless charging.

Price

The starting price of Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is about €900/$990, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G starts from €1200/$1300 and Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G costs just €600/$658. At the end of the day, I define Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G a slightly more advanced device for power users due to its better display and the support to S Pen, but Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G offers a better camera experience and likely a longer-lasting battery. Note that this comparison was only based on the specs on the paper as we have to wait for all the devices to hit the market in order to test them thoroughly. Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G loses the comparison (except when it comes to hardware) but it has a higher value for money.

Read More: Samsung made it even harder to repair the new Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G: PRO and CONS

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

PROS

Amazing cameras
Horizon display with side touch
Big battery
Reverse wireless charging
Face ID

CONS

No Google apps

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G

PROS

Compact design
Awesome performance
Affordable price
Reverse wireless charging

CONS

Worse cameras

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

PROS

Amazing and bigger display
Reverse wireless charging
S Pen
Great cameras
Very nice speakers

CONS

Price

Buy Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater [English Version] for Just $7.99 from Banggood [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

Designed to expand the overall coverage area of your WiFi network, a WiFi repeater or extender uses an existing wireless signal coming from a wireless router or WAP (wireless access point) and rebroadcasts it to make a second network.

If you are in the market for an inexpensive WiFi range extender that doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance, you might want to give the Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater a test drive. The English version of the Xiaomi-branded WiFi repeater is currently available bearing a $16.63 price tag on Banggood.

The Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater adopts a streamlined design that gives it a simple, yet elegant appearance. It comes with built-in dual antennas that offer a transfer rate of up to 300Mbps, which is twice as fast as its predecessor.

Moreover, it features a newfangled USB charging design, and its interface supports 180-degree rotation for superior flexibility. To pair the WiFi amplifier, all you need to do is to insert it in the router and wait for a blue indicator that indicates successful pairing.

Unlike any other comparable device available in the market today, the Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater justifies the price tag it carries. However, if you are living on a tight budget, you can use coupon code XMWIFI8 and save $8.64 at checkout.

In other words, you can bring the already reasonable asking price of the WiFi repeater down to just $7.99 even before placing your order. On top of that, you get free shipping on orders over $19.99.

To take full advantage of the coupon before it expires, simply follow this link.

Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater [English Version]

Buy FIIDO D3 and FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bikes at Lowered Prices from GeekBuying [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 4, 2019

An ideal companion for adventure junkies looking for a transit option during their adventurous outdoor activities, an electric bike or scooter can be touted as a more ecological means of transportation.

If you aren’t willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on an electronic bike, GeekBuying got you covered. The Chinese online store is offering the FIIDO D3 and the FIIDO D3S folding electric moped bikes for considerably lowered prices.

Aside from shedding light on the discounts, we will show how you can save more money at the time of checking out. So without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

FIIDO D3 Folding Electric Moped Bike

Designed for all sorts of road conditions, the FIIDO D3 comes with a 52-tooth large chain and a 12-tooth flywheel that offers a three-speed shifting option. It is backed by a robust 280.8Wh battery and is housed in a simple foldable body with beautiful lines.

The highly portable FIIDO D3 usually carries a steep $799.99 price tag, but much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, it is now available for a lowered price of $ 499.99 on GeekBuying. Moreover, you can extend this 38 percent discount by applying coupon code GKB156S at checkout.

The coupon helps you save $50 more by reducing the original asking price of the FIIDO D3 to just $449.99. In addition to getting this 38 percent discount, new users can take advantage of a $2 OFF Coupon for an extra discount.

You can visit this link to place your order. Note that the promo is slated to end in just six days.

FIIDO D3 Folding Electric Moped Bike

FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike

The FIIDO D3S is powered by a 250W brushless motor that delivers 25km/h of max speed, and a max gradient of 25-degree. The e-bike draws its juices from a 7.8Ah 36V Li-ion battery that provides max 25 – 30km mileage (pure electric mode) and 40 – 60km mileage (moped mode).

While the aforesaid features completely justify the steep $819.99 price tag the FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike usually carries, GeekBuying is giving you a chance to get your hands on this feature-laden e-bike for a reduced price of $595.99.

This is a 27 percent reduction in the e-bike’s original selling price. On top of that, you can use a $2 OFF Coupon and save more money if you are a new user. The rest of the loyal GeekBuying users can apply coupon code GKB155S for an extra $100 off.

In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the FIIDO D3S further down to just $495.99 even before placing your order. You can visit this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires. The promo will end in six days.

FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike

Instagram introduces new AR-powered ‘Try On’ Ads

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Oct 4, 2019

Beginning today, a handful of brands that sell their products directly on Instagram will be able to add a new AR try-on feature to product pages. Initially, the new AR feature will be limited to cosmetics (Mac and Nars are early partners) and eyewear (Warby Parker and Ray-Ban), but Instagram plans to make it available for more products over time.

The feature is essentially an extension of Facebook’s version of the same, which was also launched with selected brands last year. Instagram’s version, built on Facebook’s Spark AR platform, looks a bit more refined, which likely comes from the extra time in development, but is also probably more of a requirement to fit into Instagram’s aesthetic focus.

There’s a few ways Instagram users might encounter the new shopping feature. The first is while checking out specific products a brand has tagged in a post. You’ll have the option to try out the product via an augmented reality filter before adding it to your cart, but Instagram is also hoping users will be inspired to share these AR experiences in Stories, which will also link back to the original product.

It’s an interesting addition, particularly on Instagram, given the audience’s interest in Stories and the heavier focus on visual tools. That could make it a great option for Instagram campaigns. It will require additional platform expertise to create such experiences, but they’re quite interesting and brimming with potential.

“Instagram is such an important platform for product discovery, particularly in beauty,” says Dina Fierro, VP of Global Digital Strategy at Nars Cosmetics, one of Instagram’s initial shopping partners. “It is very clear that Instagram impacts purchases whether that’s happening online or offline.”

(Via)

Huawei P30 Pro units are failing SafetyNet, Huawei confirms

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Oct 4, 2019

Here’s some big news, some units of the Huawei P30 Pro are now failing SafetyNet, the Google service that ensures whether devices are running genuine, certified software. Failing SafetyNet essentially means your device can’t use Google services like Google Pay, as well as other apps like Netflix, so yeah, it’s pretty bad.

Android Authority reached out to Huawei to find out what’s going on, and according to Huawei, this problem only applies to Huawei P30 Pro units that are running EMUI 10 beta software. The company also claims that the issue doesn’t actually affect all beta testers, but just a small number of them and that the issue appears to be on Google’s side.

In response to the issues, Huawei claims that “usually for the sake of beta testing, Google allows vendors’ beta OS version on specific models to appear and behave as certified version/device even if this version/device combination is still in the process of being certified.”

After some investigation, we found out that the global EMUI 10 beta version released on P30 and P30 Pro in early August does not appear and behave as certified device anymore where they should be, as explained above.

It’s important to note however that this only effects devices running on EMUI 10 Beta. According to the company, “Huawei’s various devices (including the P30 and P30 Pro), running on EMUI 9.X version, can successfully pass the SafetyNet test without any problems”.

EMUI10 on P30/P30 pro had been certified recently and the certified version will be available to global users in the future. In the meantime, we’re reaching out to Google to identify the cause of this issue for the current beta users and try to solve it as soon as possible.”

It seems like Huawei’s troubles continue to pile on top of each other, though it’s at least nice that the company is officially acknowledging the problem. Between this and the recent LZplay Mate 30 series debacle, this has been one of the most interesting years for the company, though at least there are some silver linings here and there.

(Source)

Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp with app control, 900 lumen brightness launched

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 4, 2019

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Yeelight lives up to its name with several assortments of smart lamps and bulbs on its catalogue. The company has just launched a new one; Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp and it comes with several innovative features like a new touch interaction, MIJIA app and Apple HomeKit support. The lamp comes with a modest price of 699 yuan ($97).

The Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp features a dual light source design with a 120° curved wall on the back. The light is scattered twice to form a uniform 120% arc angle. It utilises a professional-grade PC diffuser making the light-emitting surface to be even and soft. The lamp has a maximum brightness of 900 lumens which is bright enough to read at night. The lamp bar can be adjusted to any desired level as it is flexible.

The smart lamp comes with support for Apple Homekit and MIJIA app and can be controlled via voice prompt using Siri or XiaoAI voice assistant. The lamp also has three control buttons at the back. The first button is the main control button in which a short press switches on or off the lamp, long press is used to change the light mode. The second and third buttons are used to adjust the brightness level.

There is no word yet on the availability.

Realme X2 Pro, the brand’s first flagship will have a slightly different quad-camera setup

By

Joel Joseph

-

Oct 4, 2019

Realme is the only brand in the affordable smartphone segment that has managed to shake up the industry leader, Xiaomi. After taking on the budget and lower mid-range segments of the market with phones like the Realme 5 Pro and Realme XT, the brand is finally unveiling its flagship smartphone, the Realme X2 Pro in China and Europe soon. The company has been religiously teasing new features of the device over the past few days and today it confirms the design of its quad-camera setup.

The Realme Europe website has been updated to reveal that the Realme X2 Pro will feature a 64MP quad-camera setup at the back. The teaser image further confirms that the setup will be arranged vertically at the center, unlike its other four-camera devices which have the setup placed on the top left corner.

Also, apart from featuring a 64MP high-resolution camera, the X2 Pro will distinguish itself from phones like the Realme XT by bringing in a 20X zoom telephoto shooter as well as an ultra-wide-angle 115° field of view. It should also bring in a dedicated macro lens for super close up shots.

Editor’s Pick: Realme X2 with 64MP quad cameras and Snapdragon 730G launched in China for 1,599 Yuan (~$224)

Realme 5 Pro quad camera featured — Realme 5 Pro also has four cameras at the back

Apart from this, we know that the Realme X2 Pro will feature the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor with a 90Hz display. It will also support the ultra-fast 50W charging standard.

The X2 Pro is shaping up to be a powerful competitor to the K20 Pro. We don’t have a release date yet but expect more details pretty soon.

(Source)

Watch the “Galaxy Fold” fold nearly 120K times until it’s damaged

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 4, 2019

Guess we are all familiar with the drama that engulfed the initial plans by Samsung to release the innovative Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone earlier this year. As a reminder, the Galaxy Fold was first unveiled in February this year with the release set for April. However, the release was put off by Samsung following a number of issues that were encountered by early users.

The foldable smartphone was officially relaunched last month and is presently available in several markets across the world. Samsung effected some improvements in its design and construction even though the design remained the same as the first model. Samsung says the flexible display can withstand up to 200,000 folds. This was put to test recently by the guys at CNET who deployed a Foldbot that folds and opens the device severally times at an unusual speed. The machine known as FoldBot was built by SquareTrade and it automatically opens and closes the Galaxy Fold several times per second. The test lasted for over 4 hours and even though the device didn’t last up to 200k times, it stood its ground up to 119,380 times before the screen got broken. Watch the video from below.

Of course, there is no chance you’ll bend the screen up to 120,000 times all through its life cycle. The FoldBot also seems to move at a speed which is unusually faster than how we all will open the phone. So, the flexible display can be said to be relatively durable. Of course, this test isn’t a guarantee that if the phone falls down or gets in contact with hard objects like a bunch of keys in the pocket the display won’t get damaged.

Samsung says it has fixed the hinge and the protective layer of the flexible screen. The foldable mechanism is now hidden behind a rubbery protective layer in order to protect it from dust and other particles getting in the mechanism through the foldable part. Samsung also extended the layer on top that protects the digitizer from scratches beyond the edges, so that it can’t be peeled accidentally.

The Galaxy Fold may be a good buy after all. We await feedback from users who’ll subject it to the rigours of daily use to see how it fares.

Microsoft CPO says “Android’s the obvious choice” for Surface Duo, Windows Phone dreams still dead

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Oct 4, 2019

If you haven’t been keeping up with the news, Microsoft is back to making phones again — and now the company’s basing them on Android. The Surface Duo is still in development, but the device’s announcement has still managed to brush up quite the discussion. One of the things a lot of people want to know is, could we have seen Windows Phone come back?

Well, according to Microsoft’s Panay Panos, the device was always going to use Android, and Windows Phone was never in consideration. He said that for mobile devices, “Android’s the obvious choice” followed by Windows for anything beyond smartphones. He said the company is looking to give customers what they want in the form factor that they want. This means putting the right operating system in the appropriate form factor.

Does this mean that Microsoft won’t be making Windows phones anymore? Unfortunately, it seems like Windows Phone is still utterly and completely dead to Microsoft. In a recent interview between Panay and CNet, he claimed that Microsoft has no plans to make a Windows-based phone anytime soon. He even reaffirms this in other interviews later.

Microsoft’s reluctance to build a Windows phone makes sense on multiple levels. From a practical standpoint, it might be easier to leave the practicalities to Google, a company that’s far ahead with supporting a wide range of apps on foldable devices, and which may have a better software package for developers to start with.

Perhaps the bigger reason for them not even attempting with Windows Phone, however, is their previous failure to challenge Google and Apple. The two tech giants have completely trounced Microsoft’s efforts in the past, and it seems like Microsoft isn’t exactly raring to rush into another pointless endeavor when there’s a more beneficial solution available.

(Source)

iPhone 11 sales perform better than expected, Apple increases production by 10%

By

Sahil

-

Oct 4, 2019

In the month of September, Apple launched its latest smartphone lineup which consists of the standard iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. For the first time in its history, Apple has reduced the starting price of a model upgrade. Even with the introduction of a secondary rear camera and newer chipset, Apple priced the iPhone 11 for $699 which is considerably lower than its predecessor, iPhone XR that started at $749.

According to a Nikkei report, the reduction in price has resulted in better than expected demand of the new smarpthone. Subsequently, Apple has asked its suppliers to ramp up production of iPhone 11 lineup by upto 8 million units. Although irrelevant, this figure is equivalent to what Google’s annual smartphone shipment for the current year looks like.

After the report was published, the share price fo Apple’s component manufacturers rose in Japan. Japan’s Minebea Mitsumi closed up 3%, Japan Display rose by almost 2%, while Murata Manufacturing and Alps Alpine also gained.

Having said that, suppliers are maintaining a cautious stance as they are unsure whether Apple can sustain the surge in demand for an extended period or not. Another factor that could hinder iPhone sales in future is the China tariff that Washington is supposed put into effect from the 15th of December. Due to this, Apple will have to pay a 10% tariff on products that are imported from China.

Reports in the past have claimed that if such a tariff is put into place, Apple plans to absorb them until it can negotiate a deal with its government or move the iPhone production to another country which is easier said than done. But Apple is yet to make a statement and if it passes on the tariff hike on to consumers by increasing price, the sales could plummet. Therefore, the cautious stance of Chinese suppliers makes sense.

Yasuo Nakane, head of global tech research at Mizuho Securities, said his company has revised up 2019 iPhone production estimates to 194 million units from 178 million. But they are still less than the 208.8 million iPhones sold in 2018.

While Apple seems optimistic about the demand of the iPhone 11, only time will tell, if it is able to beat sales of the iPhone X lineup from yesteryear.

(via)

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Realme 5 Pro [4GB RAM+64GB ROM]

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Hardware/Software

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Battery

Price

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FIIDO D3 Folding Electric Moped Bike

FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike

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