Realme Q Diamond Blue variant now on pre-sale with a discount ahead of 11.11

By

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Oct 22, 2019

Realme Q was announced last month and the device was confirmed to have a similar design to the Realme 5 Pro but with some slight touch up features. The tech giant has now opened pre-sale for the Realme Q Diamond Blue variant. Both the 6GB+64GB and 8GB+128GB memory options are available with 100 yuan price cut across. Thus, the 8GB version is on offer for 1498 yuan (~$211) instead of 1598 yuan (~$225). while the 6GB version is up for 1198 yuan. The Realme Q is also available in a Drill Blue variant which isn’t getting the discount.

The Realme Q boasts of a 6.5-inch IPS LCD waterdrop notch-bearing display with a FullD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The handset promises a screen-to-body ratio of 90.6 percent.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 octa-core processor. In addition to the 6GB/8GB RAM versions, there is a 4GB+64GB version. The Realme Q comes with a quad-camera setup consisting of a 48MP Sony IMX586 primary camera sensor with f/1.79 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens with 119-degree field-of-view and f/2.25 aperture, a 2-megapixel portrait lens with f/2.4 aperture, and a 2-megapixel ultra-macro lens with 4cm focal length and f/2.4 aperture. There is a 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor with f/2.0 aperture housed inside the notch at the front. You get camera features like Chroma Boost, Nightscape Mode, PDAF, EIS, 960fps slow-motion video shooting, and 4K video recording at 30fps.

The Realme Q runs ColorOS 6 which is based on Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. It also comes features like HyperBoost 2.0 along with SystemBoost, GameBoost, and AppBoost for enhanced performance. The device is powered by a 4,035mAh battery which also comes with support for 20W VOOC 3.0 fast charging technology.

(source)

Vivo unveils the Vivo Z5 “Fantasy Westward Journey” Gift Box version

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 21, 2019

Vivo has officially announced the Vivo Z5 “Fantasy Westward Journey” gift box version. This version is obviously targeted at fans of the Fantasy Westward Journey game. The game is developed by NetEase and is the most popular MMORPG in China.

The Vivo Z5 doesn’t come with support for storage expansion so Vivo will ship this version with 6GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage. The device will start shipping on November 1. The device comes with a special gift box themed after the video game.

As a reminder, Vivo Z5 packs a 6.38-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels full HD+. The device also utilises a waterdrop notch design which gives it up to 90% screen ratio. The phone presents with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

The Z5 is powered by a Snapdragon 712 chipset paired with 6GB and 8GB of RAM. It uses an under-display fingerprint sensor. Keeping the lights on is a 4,500mAh battery with support for 22.5W FlashCharge technology through USB-C and reverse charging.

On the camera aspect, the phone packs triple rear shooters. They include a 48MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture, a 120-degree 8MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. There is a 32MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture on the device. In darker environments, the Vivo Z5 makes use of 4-in-1 pixel merging technology (pixel binning) for shooting brighter selfies. The device gets its interface from Vivo’s FunTouch OS 9-flavoured Android 9 Pie OS. It also comes with a Multi-Turbo system which enhances the phone’s performance and throttles the graphics while gaming. Other features available on the Vivo Z5 are dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, a dedicated JOVI voice assistant button, GPS and a 3.5mm audio jack.

(via)

Buy Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse for Just $34.99 [Coupon] Or $33.24 [PayPal] from GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 21, 2019

Avid gamers are aware of the important role a gaming mouse play in different stages of a video game. They are crafted to offer accuracy and precision, which are the keys to winning fast-paced games.

There’s a dizzying array of choices in the market for those looking for a high-end gaming mouse with quick response time and other useful features. Regrettably, they don’t come cheap. Inexpensive alternatives, on the other hand, deliver disappointing performance.

Much to the delight of those on a tight budget, the Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse is come out of retirement and has gone up for sale bearing a reduced price tag on GeekBuying. Touted as one of the most beloved gaming mice ever, the MX518 has been meticulously restored right down to the glossy keyplate.

The coveted gaming mouse adopts the classic comfortable shape gamers are familiar with and paired it with newfangled components that match today’s advanced standard, along with a radically overhauled Nightfall color scheme.

The original asking price of the Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse is $71.99 and the features it boasts completely justify this steep price tag. To make the feature-laden gaming mouse available to those on a tight budget, Logitech is now offering it for just $36.99 through GeekBuying.

On top of that, you can even extend this 49 percent discount with the help of coupon code GKB02PP. The coupon helps you save $2 more by reducing the original asking price of the MX518 to just $34.99 even before you click on the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

If you use PayPal to place your order, you can buy it for just $33.24. An absolute steal at this price, the Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse offers the following features:

HERO Sensor
32-bit ARM Processor
Save up to five profiles to the onboard memory
On-the-fly DPI
8 Programmable Buttons

You can follow this link to check out more details about the Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse and place your order. Note that the promo is slated to end in just six days.

Logitech MX518 Classic Gaming Mouse

24 Hours Price Drop

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

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 21, 2019

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

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

OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro

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

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

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

OnePlus 7 [8GB RAM+256GB ROM]

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

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

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

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

OnePlus 7 [8GB RAM+256GB ROM]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OnePlus 7 & OnePlus 7 Pro Online Shopping Sale

Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Oct 21, 2019

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

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro	Oppo Reno Ace
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm, 200 grams	161 x 75.7 x 8.7 mm, 200 grams
DISPLAY	6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD	6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Helio G90T, octa-core 2.05 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD card slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, MIUI	Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9 and f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Quad 48 + 13 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.7, f/2.4, f/2.2 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	4500 mAh Fast charging 18W	4000 mAh, Fast Charging 65W with Super VOOC Flash Charge
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Design

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

Display

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

Specs & Software

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

Camera

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

Read More: OPPO Reno Ace with 90Hz display, SD855+ and 65W charging debuts for 3,199 Yuan (~$449)

Battery

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

Price

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

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

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

PRO

High graphics performance
Advanced cooling system
Bigger battery
Affordable price

CONS

Midrange specifications

Oppo Reno Ace

PRO

Better display
Better cameras
Flagship-class hardware
Faster charging tech

CONS

Limited availability
Higher price

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

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

(Source)

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

By

Dimitris Economou

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Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

(Via)

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

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Joel Joseph

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

(Source, Via)

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

By

Joel Joseph

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Source)

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

By

Joel Joseph

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

(Via)

Ulefone offers Armor Series discounts in cooperation with Gearbest

By

Dimitris Economou

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

Ulefone Armor 6S

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

Ulefone Armor 3W/3WT

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

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

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

System

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

Camera

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

(Source)

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

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Source)

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

By

Sahil

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

(Source)

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

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Updated Oct 23, 2019

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

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

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

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

(via)

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

By

Vinay Patel

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Sahil

-

Oct 21, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(via)

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