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ASUS Zenfone 6 gets August security patch and new Smart Key features in latest update

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The ASUS Zenfone 6 is receiving a new update that brings August’s security patch as well as some new features and optimizations.

The update comes as version 16.1220.1908.189 and is rolling out globally. Below is the full changelog for the update.

  • Video call tuning parameters updated.
  • Supported more 18 settings in smart key.
  • Updated audio parameter & quality Improved.
  • General system & app stability improved.
  • Optimized Translation Strings
  • 2019 Jul. & Aug. security patch level updated
  • GMS_9_0_201906_r1 updated
  • Preload new Rajiko & HybridRadio APK for JP
  • Preload new Netflix APK for BR

The changelog doesn’t reveal much of the key changes in the update, so the folks at XDA-Developers who have gotten the update have listed some of the new features that are not stated in the official changelog but bundled with the new update.

  • New Smart Key Settings

The Zenfone 6 has an additional hardware button called the Smart Key. The key which can be used to trigger the Google Assistant is also customizable. The new update adds more options the key can be assigned to. Below is a list of the new ones:

  • Toggle Hotspot.
  • Toggle Bluetooth.
  • Make a call.
  • Show my QR code.
  • Calculator- Open calculator, Open currency converter, Open unit converter.
  • Clock- Open Stopwatch, Open Timer, Set an alarm.
  • File Manager – Open Recent files.
  • Gallery – Open photo album.
  • Camera – Open camera, Take pictures, Record video.

It is said that the smart key can also work as a Call Answering Key and for snoozing alarms in the top-level settings.

  • Google Lens Shortcut

The Zenfone 6 now has Google Lens built into the camera app. The Lens icon is positioned at the bottom right corner of the viewfinder.

ASUS ZenFone 6 call volume

  • Call Volume Optimization

When your device restarts following the installation of the update, a notification asking to optimize the call volume pops up. This allows you to preset a call volume so you don’t need to adjust the volume while receiving a call.

If you own the Zenfone 6, you should check for the update. It may already be available even though you haven’t received a notification yet.

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: Buy Asus ROG 2 Gaming Phone for $599 from Giztop

Google working on Nest Mini, a successor to Google Home Mini

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

It has been nearly two years since Google announced the Home Mini, a portable smart speaker powered by the Google Assistant. According to new reports, Google is developing a new device called the Nest Mini which should be the successor to the Home Mini.

Google Home Mini
The Google Home Mini’s successor may be the upcoming Nest Mini

If you have been following the news regarding Google’s smart home products, then you should know why its upcoming speaker is called the Nest Mini and not Home Mini 2. Google announced back at Google I/O that it will be changing the names of its smart home products from Google Home to Google Nest. For example, the Google Home Hub is now known as the Google Nest Hub.

Coming back to the Nest Mini, the speaker is said to come with some significant feature upgrades. According to 9to5Google, the smart speaker will have better sound quality with a higher maximum value and better bass. It has also been reported that it will also feature a built-in wall mount.

The biggest addition coming to the Nest Mini is the 3.5mm audio jack. There are speculations that this will allow users to connect the speaker to external speakers with better audio quality. It may also be for audio input.

Another feature the Nest Mini will have is proximity awareness. It is said the proximity sensor will show the volume the speaker is when you get close enough. Unfortunately there is no mention of the Nest Mini having a built-in battery.

The Nest Mini is also said to come in new color variants different from those of the Home Mini. There is no info on pricing but it is assumed it will sell for $49 just like its predecessor. Promos and deals should see interested users get it for less than that price.

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: Google Assistant floors Siri and Alexa to emerge as the smart assistant with the highest IQ

HMD Global confirms new Nokia phones launching at IFA in video teaser

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

IFA 2019 is about 2 weeks away and it should kick off the phone season for the second half of the year. HMD Global is one of the manufacturers that has announced that will be in attendance. It will be their first time at the trade show and they have confirmed that new phones will be unveiled on that day.

The announcement was made via the official Nokia Mobile Twitter account. It includes a 15-second video and a caption that says brand new members of the Nokia family will be unveiled in Berlin.

The video shows silhouettes of various already released Nokia phones including feature phones and smartphones. If you watch the video frame by frame, you should make out some familiar models including the Nokia 9 PureView.

Some of the phones expected to launch on September 5 are the Nokia 7.2, the Nokia 6.2, the Nokia 5.2, and a 4G LTE version of the Nokia 2720.

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: Throwback Tech Thursday: We Revisit Nokia 9210 Communicator, the phone that could send & receive FAX

Xiaomi crowdfunds the MIJIA LCD Digital drawing tablet with up to 365 days battery life

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Digital drawing tablets are quite popular on e-tailing platforms but your favourite Chinese brand Xiaomi has launched one under the MIJIA brand. The MIJIA LCD Digital drawing tablet is presently available for crowdfunding on Xiaomi Mall and Mi Home.

The MIJIA LCD Digital drawing tablet is available in a 10-inch and 13.5-inch sizes. The 10-inch version comes with a retail price of 49 yuan ($6) while the 13.5-inch version is priced at 99 yuan ($14). The crowdfunding price is only 49 yuan ($6)/79 yuan ($11), that’s if you are buying both.

The MIJIA LCD Digital drawing tablet maintains the white minimalist style of Xiaomi products. It uses a pressure-sensitive LCD display screen with a high screen ratio. The device also has an ultra-light magnetic stylus. The tablet weighs only 7 gram, making it easy to carry around. The tablet can be used as a business assistant to take note and illustrate ideas during a presentation. It can also be used as a family message board and children’s graffiti creative tools.

EDITOR’S PICK: Honor GamePad unveiled at gamescom 2019

The screen uses a custom LCD film formula and has been further upgraded in terms of color contrast, writing feel, and note thickness. It can be as natural and clear as paper painting. By the way, the screen is safe for the eyes as it doesn’t beam any harmful blue light.

The rear panel of the tablet is made from ABS material with well-chamfered edges. The ultra-light body makes it easy to carry around.  The tablet also comes with a magnetic pen which uses four neodymium iron boron magnets for easy access and storage.

As an electronic blackboard that is always used to write inspiration ideas, Xiaomi MIJIA LCD writing/drawing board is more environmentally friendly and safer than traditional materials. Not only is there no ink dust, no blue light and electronic radiation, but it also is not easy to get fatigued when used for a long time because of the use of a zero-power LCD screen.

The MIJIA digital writing tablet uses a button battery that can last up to 365 days even when the screen is cleared up to 100 times daily. It consumes only a small amount of power when clearing the screen. Unfortunately, there isn’t any reference to any option of saving write-ups for future reference. It is just a basic “write and wipe” tablet just like a writing board.

 

UP NEXT: The Xiaomi Mi A3 killer, Umidigi X going official for $179.99 on August 26

(source)

Xiaomi Mi A3 vs Realme 5 Pro vs Redmi Note 7 Pro: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
-

The Indian smartphones market just took advantages of a very valid new-entry: the Realme 5 Pro. With its incredibly affordable price tag and its astonishing specs sheet for that price, the new mid-ranger has all the potentialities to become one of the best-sellers of 2019. But in India, there are already some potential best-sellers of the second half of 2019 which may cannibalize its sales. We are referring to the new Android One-powered Xiaomi Mi A3 and to the older Redmi Note 7 Pro that is an upgraded version of one of the best-selling Android phones of the year in the global market. Will Realme 5 Pro stand a chance? Is it worth choosing it now considering the value for money? This comparison will shed some light on these questions.

 

Xiaomi Mi A3 vs Oppo Realme 5 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro

Xiaomi Mi A3 Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Oppo Realme 5 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 153.5 x 71.9 x 8.5 mm, 173.8 grams 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm, 186 grams 157 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm, 184 grams
DISPLAY 6.01 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 286 ppi, Super AMOLED 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, IPS LCD 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, octa-core 2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 712, octa-core 2.3 GHz
MEMORY 4 GB RAM, 64 GB   – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB  – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE Android 9 Pie, Android One Android 9 Pie, MIUI Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA Triple 24 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4
32 MP f/2.0 front camera		 Dual 48 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4
13 MP front camera		 Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY 4030 mAh, fast charging 10W 4000 mAh, fast charging 4035 mAh, fast charging 20W with VOOC 3.0
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Hybrid Dual SIM slot Hybrid Dual SIM slot  Dual SIM slot, splash resistant

Design

If you do not need an ordinary, boring and cheap plastic body but you want a premium design more similar to flagship smartphones, you have no better choice than Xiaomi Mi A3, also known in China as the Mi CC9e (in China it has MIUI instead of Android One). It is the only composed of both a glass back and an aluminum frame, and it is even a very compact device, so it is excellent for people often using phones with one hand or traveling with their handset always in their pockets. While Xiaomi Mi A3 has the most premium design, it is worth noting that Realme 5 Pro is splash resistant.

 

Display

Given the higher level of detail and the wider diagonal, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Realme 5 Pro are better options when it comes to displays, despite they have an IPS LCD panel instead of a Super AMOLED one like the Xiaomi Mi A3. The Mi A3 boasts more vivid colors and it even has an in-display fingerprint reader, but the resolution is lower and the display is smaller-sized, so it is not exactly the ideal display for advanced and multimedia users. We won’t choose a winner between Redmi Note 7 Pro and Realme 5 Pro because differences are marginal and we do not think it is worth focusing on them.

 

Specs & Software

The hardware department is a key feature of the Realme 5 Pro. Indeed, it is powered by one of the most performing midrange chipsets out there: the Snapdragon 712. And it is the most affordable smartphone with this chipset released in the second half of 2019. Further, unlike its opponents, it is equipped with up to 8 GB of RAM. The second place goes to the Xiaomi Mi A3 and its Snapdragon 665 which also features a more interesting software department thanks to Android One and its direct support by Google. Redmi Note 7 Pro is a classic Xiaomi phone with MIUI, but it has a slightly better processor than the Mi A3.

 

Camera

Due to its quad camera setup placed on the rear side, Realme 5 Pro is the most versatile phone when it comes to camera features. Xiaomi Mi A3 wins the selfie comparison and it also features better rear cameras than Redmi Note 7 Pro, with an additional ultrawide sensor.

 

Battery

Similar battery capacities, but we believe Xiaomi Mi A3 will last a lot more on a single charge due to its smaller and more efficient display which features the AMOLED technology and a lower resolution.

 

Price

You can get a Redmi Note 7 Pro in India for €170/$188 thanks to online street prices, while Xiaomi Mi A3 just debuted at the same price. Realme 5 Pro costs slightly more: about €177/$196. Overall, I appreciate the Realme 5 Pro more due to its great cameras, better hardware department, but Xiaomi Mi A3 and Redmi Note 7 Pro remain among the best choices available under €200/$220.

 

Xiaomi Mi A3 vs Oppo Realme 5 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro

PROs

  • Big battery
  • Good display
  • Affordable price

CONS

  • Worse hardware

 

Xiaomi Mi A3

PROs

  • Premium build quality
  • Amazing cameras
  • Compact design
  • In-display fingerprint scanner
  • Worldwide availability

CONS

  • HD display

 

Realme 5 Pro

PROs

  • Higher performance
  • Great cameras
  • Good display
  • Splash resistant

CONS

  • Nothing particular

Blackview BV9100 rugged phone with 13000 mAh coming soon

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Blackview, popularly known for rugged smartphones is once again on the verge of launching a new smartphone with the largest battery capacity. The days of worrying about battery life have faded away as Blackview is soon going to introduce the new Blackview BV9100 with a 13000 mAh battery capacity supporting 20W super-fast charging.

There’s a great need for a bigger battery on our smartphones so that we can extensively use it without worrying about running out of charge. With years of development on making the device slimmer and thinner, Blackview is now working on launching the world’s largest-capacity battery rugged phone – BV9100.

It will end all the daily charging mess for a smartphone and making it a once in three days process.  To save battery, the user doesn’t need to use smartphone conservatively. Blackview BV9100 will allow users to enjoy social media, gaming, video watching, and surfing the internet flawlessly without any interruption of battery low notification.

BlackView BV9100 recently appeared on AnTuTu benchmarks unveiling various hardware specifications. It scored 92886 points at the benchmark with the MediaTek Helio P35 processor. The device appeared with 4GB RAM + 64 GB Internal storage. The display size of 6.3-inch with the resolution of 2340×1080 pixels also leaked via the benchmarks appearance. Other features include support for expandable storage up to 256 GB with MicroSD card, dual Sony IMX298 16MP module, and another Samsung 3L8 13MP front camera.

Being a rugged device, the smartphone carries IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810 G certifications.

The specifications above are not fully confirmed. You can check the official website for verified information about Balck BV9100.

Up Next: Blackview BV6100 vs Honor Note 10: Battle between 2 categories (video)

Ulefone T2 with 6.7-inch display goes on presale for $269.99

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Ulefone is a top Chinese smartphone manufacturer with a splendid portfolio. The company has announced various affordable smartphones for users in the past few years. Ulefone recently announced a new mid-range smartphone – Ulefone T2 packed with Helio P70 processor and a 6.7-inch Sharp notch display. It is now live on presale for a limited time at the price of $300 $269.99 from Ulefone Store at Banggood.

As an introductory offer, Ulefone will be giving a free bag along with a phone case and a protective film. The special price of $269.99 will be applciable to 99 units every day from August 21 to August 28th. A special giveaway is also going on for users who want to get it for free. The interested users can participate in the giveaway by heading to the official Ulefone website.

Additionally, Ulefone T2 is powered with MediaTek Helio P70 processor clocked at 2.1GHz coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage with 256GB expandable storage. It features a 6.7-inch SHARP notch display with 1080×2280 pixels resolution and 98% NTSC ultra-wide color gamut. Its 93.9% of the screen-to-body ratio brings broader viewing experience. 

In the camera department, the Ulefone T2 sports a dual rear camera consisting of 16MP + 8MP lens with a dual flash LED. There’s an 8MP selfie camera to facilitate users in face unlocking and video calling. It runs on latest Android 9.0 Pie and supports global frequency bands. Other features include a 3D glass back cover, NFC function, Google Pay support, tripe navigation system GPS+GLONASS+Beidou, and smart audio.

Up Next: Ulefone Armor X3 goes through a drop test and survives (video)

Download & Install the Gizmochina App & You could Win A Realme 5 Pro

By
Joel Joseph
-

We are pleased to announce that we have launched a new app for Gizmochina readers on the Google Play store. The Gizmochina App is a simple app to keep you updated on everything that’s happening in the Chinese smartphone and tech industry. It’s light, fast, and features all of the articles that are published on our official website.

gizmochina app featured

We have kept the UI basic and user-friendly to give you a pleasant reading experience. However, please note that the app is still in beta, which means you might come across minor bugs here and there. In case you do encounter any bugs, please send a mail to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to fix them in the next update.

Also, note that all Gizmochina App users have the opportunity to win a Realme 5 Pro smartphone. In case you haven’t entered our giveaway, feel free to do it now from here.

We have already reviewed the new handset and love what we got for its aggressive price tag. If you are still considering whether the phone is a good choice for you, do check out our Realme 5 Pro review here!

gizmochina app

Thank you for being a part of Gizmochina. I hope you continue to visit and support our site.

You can download the Gizmochina App from here. 

Court rules against Xiaomi’s use of “MIX” name

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The Mi MIX series may undergo a massive change by the time Xiaomi unveils the fourth-generation model later this year.

Apparently, a Beijing court has ruled against Xiaomi’s use of the MIX name as it is a trademark infringement. Apparently, another company trademarked the name “MIX” as far back as November 23, 2014, before Xiaomi’s trademark application on November 14, 2016.

Xiaomi MIX trademark laswuit

The case was picked up by the court on March 4, 2019, after Xiaomi refused to respond to the trademark dispute. A panel was formed according to the law and it was agreed that Xiaomi doesn’t have a claim to the trademark based on Article 69 of the Administrative Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Based on the judgment, Xiaomi will not be able to use the MIX name for any of its future devices. However, there is a possibility Xiaomi may reach an agreement with the company that owns the trademark, so it may continue to use it for its device.

According to the source, Xiaomi hasn’t released any statements regarding the matter.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 is expected to come with a Snapdragon 855 Plus, a 108MP primary camera made by Samsung, and reverse wireless charging

(Sources: 1, 2)

 

UP NEXT: Xiaomi, OPPO, & Vivo have established a Cross-Brand File Transfer Alliance

Nokia 7.2 live photo confirms triple rear Carl Zeiss cameras

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

The Nokia 7.2 is expected to launch next month at IFA 2019 in Berlin. Ahead of the event, ZEISS, invited some tech reporters to see the device before the launch.

Nokia 7.2 tweet

Joachim Kuss who works for ZEISS tweeted about the press event, even including a photo of the phone and therefore confirming the design. While the tweet has now been deleted, those who saw it took a screenshot.

The photo confirms the Nokia 7.2 will come with triple rear cameras arranged in a circular housing just like we have seen in renders. There are two sensors at the top while the third and the LED flash are placed at the bottom. The camera housing isn’t flush with the body of the phone and sticks out noticeably. There is also a fingerprint scanner below the setup.

Nokia 7.2 live photo

A close look at the sensors shows that one of the three is a depth sensor. Alongside the main camera should be an ultrawide angle camera.

The Nokia 7.2 is said to have an FHD+ display and will be powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor according to its Geekbench result. It will have 6GB of RAM and run Android 9 out of the box. Just like other Nokia phones, it should get two OS upgrades, so Android Q and Android R are guaranteed.

The Nokia 7.2 should be announced on September 5 alongside the Nokia 6.2 and some new feature phones at HMD Global’s IFA event.

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: HMD Global extends support for 1st gen Nokia phones by 1 year

Vivo iQOO Pro 5G reservation crosses 600,000 even before official launch

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

The countdown to the August 22 launch of Vivo‘s iQOO Pro 5G flagship phone is already on. Ahead of the official launch, the company had opened reservations for the phone on its official website. The Vivo iQOO Pro 5G is turning out to be a very popular smartphone as the reservations have surpassed 600,000 persons as at the time of filing this report. Vivo iQOO Pro 5G

Although not all reservations will translate to actual sales, the surge is an indication that a lot of persons find the device interesting. This could be as a result of the sleek design and powerful hardware, including the 5G modem. In another light, it is possible the iQOO Pro 5G is courting attention because of expectations that it could be the cheapest 5G phone when launched. vivo iqoo pro 5g

The Vivo iQOO Pro 5G packs 6.41-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with an on-screen fingerprint scanner. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset having a Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 modem for 5G connectivity. The smartphone will come with 8GB and 12GB RAM. There will also be three storage options to choose from – 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. In terms of photography, the Vivo iQOO Pro 5G will adopt a 12MP selfie shooter for selfies upfront. While at the rear aspect, there will be a triple camera setup comprising of 48MP+ 13MP+12MP sensors.

The device will get its power from a 4500mAH battery and has 44W ultra-fast flash charge support. You won’t have to bother about the phone heating up when charging as it uses two charging ICs, which not only achieves better control of the temperature increase but also extends the peak charging time to 2-3 times. The iQOO Pro is said to have a peak charging time of just about 15 minutes. Can you bestie beat that? We just hope they’re not making an explosive device, I mean literally.

 

UP NEXT: Oppo shares specifications of Oppo Reno 2 ahead of its launch

(source)

 

Supreme teams up with BLU to launch the Supreme/Blu Burner phone

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Supreme, not the “legal fake” Supreme Italia, has launched its fall/winter 2019 catalogue with products such as Voodoo Dolls and table tennis sets. The catalogue also included a Supreme-branded feature phone dubbed Supreme/Blu Burner phone. The phone is actually manufactured by Blu and will join the other products to go on sale on August 22nd in Supreme’s New York, Los Angeles, London, and Paris stores.

The phone is a budget device that appears to be a BLU Zoey 2.4 by another name. That means the feature phone packs a 2.4-inch display with 128MB of internal memory. The company did include a 16GB memory card, though, which is impressive. It offers just 3G connectivity but you get a built-in camera at the rear. The device is available in a sleek red and black colour options. The phone also comes with Blu and Supreme logos.

EDITOR’S PICK: Nokia 3.2 lands on Verizon Wireless as Nokia 3V

There is no word yet on the pricing but we don’t expect it to be too expensive considering that it is just a feature phone with Supreme’s badge. The company had earlier teamed up with Mophie a few different times on a range of Supreme-branded battery packs. The power banks weren’t too expensive but were difficult to get since they sold out pretty much instantly.

 

UP NEXT: Honor GamePad unveiled at gamescom 2019

(source)

The Xiaomi Mi A3 killer, Umidigi X going official for $179.99 on August 26

By
Simranpal Singh
-

UMIDIGI always stuns the users by launching outstanding devices at a quite competitive price. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer today unfolded the pricing details of the recently launched UMIDIGI X smartphone. The interested users can buy it for the price of $179.99 starting August 26 from UMIDIGI Official Store on Aliexpress. It is the world’s most affordable smartphone with an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Umidigi will host a Global Sale from 7 AM GMT on August 26 on Aliexpress. The first 1000 buyers will receive free Umidigi’s new true wireless earbuds – Upods. The company is also offering a hefty discount of $10 to the first 10000 Upod buyers.

Umidigi X specifications and features

Umidigi X comes packed with a 6.35 inch AMOLED waterdrop Full-Screen display. It easily competes against the Xiaomi Mi A3 with 4GB LPDDR4X RAM + 128 GB Internal storage with Helio P60 on board.  The Umidigi X features a triple-camera setup consisting of a 48-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel depth lens. On the front, it has a 16MP selfie camera.

umidigi x price

It has a 4000 mAh battery intact with 18W fast charging support. Notably, the Umidigi X supports NFC and fully support Google Pay, whereas the Xiaomi Mi A3 misses on this metric. The user can enjoy the pure stock experience with Umidigi X as it runs on Stock Android, and the Xiaomi Mi A3 comes with Android One.

As compared above, both the smartphones fare well against each other with the difference of a tiny drop in the bucket. However, there’s a huge price difference between both the devices. The Umidigi X is available for $179.99 for 4GB + 128GB internal storage while the Mi A3 is retailing at the $279 for 4GB + 64GB version. The users can also get a super surprise between 26-31 August if you add Umidigi X to cart now. Similarly, grab UMIDIGI Upods for $9.9 until first 10000 orders.

umidigi x vs mi a3

The interested users can even it for free as the company is running a big giveaway to recruit 20 trial users for UMIDIGI X and Upods. You can earn more details and join a huge giveaway by heading to the official website.

Up Next: UMIDIGI X’s optical in-screen fingerprint scanner beats the ultrasonic one of Galaxy Note 10

Lenovo Z6 Pro now available in Slovakia for €529

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

It was a surprise when we first learned that the Lenovo Z6 Pro will be launching outside China. It has been nearly two weeks since it went on sale in Bulgaria. It has now made its way to Slovakia.

Lenovo Z6 Pro Slovakia

The Z6 Pro is sold on lenovoonlie.sk for €529 and it is available in Black and Blue.

That amount gets you a phone with a 6.39-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch. It is powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. It is unfortunate Lenovo decided to not use UFS storage which is faster than eMMC for its flagship phone. The hybrid SIM slot means you can add a MicroSD card slot for up to an additional 1TB of storage.

You also get quad (technically five) rear cameras – a 48MP primary sensor paired with a 16MP ultrawide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, and a 2MP dedicated video camera with OIS. The phone also has a ToF 3D sensor. The phone also has a 32MP selfie camera and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

While the phone skips on using a faster type of storage, it does have an audio jack which a lot of flagship phones are missing these days. There is also a 4000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging over USB-C. The Lenovo Z6 Pro runs Android 9 Pie out of the box with ZUI on top.

We expect the phone will make its way to more countries in the coming weeks.

(Sources: 1, 2)

 

UP NEXT: Lenovo A6 Note gets Thailand’s NBTC approval, launch imminent?

Xiaomi announces a Mijia LCD Blackboard, joins crowdfunding platform

By
Airyl Jaszly
-

Xiaomi has just announced the Mijia LCD Blackboard as the latest product to join their crowdfunding platform. It’s essentially just a digital blackboard that’s meant be used as a learning tool or a drawing tool. Unlike your typical industry standard digital blackboard however, the Mijia LCD Blackboard is much smaller, and more of a digital writing pad to help people reduce their use of paper.

For all intents and purposes, the Mijia LCD Blackboard is fully usable as a writing pad replacement. It allows the user to write and erase content as they please, don’t there don’t seem to be any other features outside of that. Xiaomi’s especially proud that the device’s display doesn’t emit an blue light, reducing eye strain on prolonged use.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi A3 officially launched in India

Although we don’t typically write about them, China has been heavily marketing these smaller digital blackboards recently. A quick search on Aliexpress reveals a lot of similar products at similar price ranges. According to Xiaomi however, what sets the Xiaomi’s effort apart from competitors are its high contrast text, the lack of blue light and the higher resolution.

The Mijia LDC Blackboard comes in two sizes, those being 10 inches and 13.5 inches two. The 10-inch model comes in at 49 yuan ($7) and 79 yuan ($12). The Mijia LCD small blackboard body is 7mm thick and has 10 inches and 13.5 inches. The 10-inch version weighs 195g and the 13.5-inch version weighs 345g.

UP NEXT: Redmi Note 8 series to be powered by Helio G90T, confirms MediaTek

(Source)

Redmi Note 8 series to be powered by Helio G90T, confirms MediaTek

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

At July end, MediaTek had unleashed the gaming-centric Helio G90 and Helio G90T chipsets. After its announcement, Redmi as well as its General Manager Lu Weibing had revealed through Weibo that the company will be releasing Helio G90T powered Redmi phones in future. Since then the rumor mill has been speculating that the Redmi Note 8 or Note 8 Pro could be equipped with the Helio G90T. The official confirmation has come from MediaTek now. It has revealed through Weibo that Helio G90T powered Redmi Note 8 series will be debuting on Aug. 29.

MediaTekh Helio G90T Redmi note 8 series conirmation

The poster released by MediaTek states that the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro will be both powered by Helio G90T. However, there is a possibility that only the Redmi Note 8 Pro could be equipped with Helio G90T processor. The reason behind it that the Redmi Note 8 Pro is expected to come equipped with a 64-megapixel quad camera setup. Among the Helio G90 and Helio G90T processors, only the G90T carries support for 64-megapixel camera.

So, if the 64-megapixel camera sensor will remain exclusive to the Pro model, the Redmi Note 8 could be equipped with a different chipset. Since MediaTek is also endorsing the Redmi Note 8, probably it could be fueled by the Helio G90 that supports 48-megapixel primary lens. Before drawing conclusions, it is advisable to wait for further reports to know exact details on the camera configurations and processors for Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro handsets.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi A3 officially launched in India

In terms of performance, the Geekbench and AnTuTu appearance of the 12nm Helio G90 had revealed that its performance is no par with Kirin 810 and 8nm Snapdragon 730 chipset. The Helio G90 includes two Cortex-A76 cores working at 2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores working at 2GHz. It includes ARM Mali G76 graphics that clocks at 700MHz and it carries support 21:9 aspect ratio display, 60Hz refresh rate, HDR10 standard, up to 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.1 storage.

The 12nm Helio G90T includes two Cortex-A76 cores working at 2.05 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores working at 2GHz. It includes ARM Mali G76 graphics that clocks at 800MHz and it carries support 21:9 aspect ratio display, 90Hz refresh rate, HDR10 standard, up to 10 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.1 storage.

The Helio G90 series of chipsets support HyperEngine for improved connectivity between a smartphone and a cellular network. There is Dual Wi-Fi connection support that allows the phone to connect to two Wi-Fi networks at the same time. Its other features include Call and Data Concurrency, Resource Management Engine and a Picture Quality Engine.

(source)

UP NEXT: Image of Redmi TV shared by the company showcases its design

Qualcomm and LG reach patent license agreement, paving the way for launch of LG’s 5G phone

By
Jed John Ikoba
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LG was expected to launch its 5G smartphone known as V50ThinQ5G back in May this year but that did not happen. It later emerged that some disagreement with Qualcomm over chipset contract was responsible for the delay. Qualcomm and LG have now reached an agreement that gives the South Korean tech giant access to the Qualcomm’s 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular modem technologies.LG V50 ThinQ

LG’s current contract with Qualcomm is said to have expired 2018 and LG was looking to negotiate a new contract with the chipset maker on terms based on a recent court ruling which classified Qualcomm as a monopoly. However, Qualcomm filed an appeal to the antitrust ruling and so would not want to negotiate on that basis. Qualcomm’s appeal could linger and thus, force LG to enter into an unfair agreement with Qualcomm. For this reason, LG instituted another lawsuit in the US, which opposes Qualcomm’s decision to set aside the antitrust ruling. Part of the court filing read “If Qualcomm does not participate in negotiations with LG Electronics in accordance with the court’s order, LGE will have no option but to conclude license and chipset supply agreements once again on Qualcomm’s terms.”

EDITOR’S PICK: Nokia 3.2 lands on Verizon Wireless as Nokia 3 V

Apparently, both companies are agreeing to terms based on anti-trust court ruling but we can’t say how this will affect negotiations between Qualcomm and other 5G device makers. It is also worthy of note that Qualcomm reached a similar modem supply and patent licensing deal with Apple, one of its key customers, which had instigated lawsuits and antitrust investigations regarding Qualcomm’s chip supply terms. Shortly after Qualcomm and Apple settled their dispute, a U.S. federal court ruled that Qualcomm had been illegally suppressing smartphone chip competition, and ordered the company to renegotiate licensing agreements with customers at reasonable prices without threatening to cut off their supplies. That seems to be what has just happened.

 

UP NEXT: Oppo shares specifications of Oppo Reno 2 ahead of its launch

(source)

iBasso DX160 Portable Music Player with Android 8.1 and 1080p display now on presale for $469

By
Simranpal Singh
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iBasso is popularly known for its high-quality Digital Audio Players based on the Android operating system. The company recently unveiled the iBasso DX160 featuring high-end specification in four different colors – White, Black, Red, and Blue. The iBasso DX160 Black is now put on presale for $469 and is expected to ship from September.

It carries some exceptional features like the dual CS43198 DAC implementation, Android 8.1 Oreo and a 5-inch HD+ display with 1080×1920 pixels resolution and 445 PPI. The Bluetooth 5.0 packed device carries impressive design and hi-end DAC chips for outstanding sound quality. iBasso DX160 is powered with an octa-core processor coupled with a 2G RAM. It produces optimal 125dB SNR for single-ended headphone while for the balanced headphone the SNR ranges to 130dB.  It comes with a 2GB LPDDDR3 RAM and 32GB Internal Storage.

The DX160 uses the Dual CS43198 chipset which is capable of DSD over PCM (DSD DoP) up to DSD256 and PCM 32/384kHz. It even supports MQA decoding which is rare these days in Digital Audio Players. 

The users can easily install apps on the Android Oreo Operating system.

Its dimensions measures at 113 x 69 x 15mm and weighs 178g with a design similar to FiiO M9. A glossy glass panel is present on the rear side along with the matte black anodized finish on tan aluminum chassis. The user need not to worry about the battery backup, as the device comes with a 3200 mAh battery supporting Quick Charge 3.0 support. It can easily withstand 13 hours of continuous playback upon single full charge.

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Up Next: FiiO M11 Pro high-end portable audio player launched with Android-based OS

 

Honor GamePad unveiled at gamescom 2019

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Gamescom (stylized as gamescom) is an annual trade fair for games held in Germany. This year’s edition began yesterday, August 20, and will run until  Saturday, August 24. Chinese smartphone maker, Honor, was at the fair yesterday where it unveiled the Honor GamePad.

The Honor GamePad is a controller that attaches to your phone via USB-C but actually works over Bluetooth. The USB-C connection is to supply and or draw power from your phone. Yes, the 400mAh built-in battery can supply power o your phone during intense gaming when needed. It can also draw power from the phone too.

Honor GamePad

The Honor GamePad comes in black with bright yellow buttons. There is a trigger button at the top along with a joystick and a D-pad. There is also a black button below the D-pad. XDA-Developers reports that the buttons are customizable but dependent on the game’s own settings.

Honor didn’t reveal the price of the gamepad or when it will be available. However, they did say it will be sold in Western Europe later this year. While the controller is designed for Honor phones, the adjustable clamp should make it work for most devices (with USB-C).

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: Is the Flydigi Wasp 2 the best gamepad for Android? Watch our video review to find out

Oppo shares specifications of Oppo Reno 2 ahead of its launch

By
Jeet
-

Oppo has already confirmed that it will be launching the Oppo Reno 2 series smartphones in the Indian market on 28th August. Now, ahead of the phone’s launch, the company has shared some specs of this upcoming smartphone.

In a media statement, the company said that the Oppo Reno 2 will feature a 6.55-inch Full HD+ AMOLED Panoramic display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 93.1 percent screen-to-body ratio. It will also come with an under-display fingerprint sensor for added security.

oppo-reno-2-official-teaser

While the phone’s front panel will be protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 6, the back panel will be protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor.

The phone will pack 8GB of RAM and will come with 256GB of internal storage. Focusing on the gaming side, the company will be offering anti-cheat extensions, 25 percent better graphic processing, HDR10 Gaming support, and Game Assistant, among others.

The company has also revealed that the device will be powered by a 4,000mAh battery which will come with 20W VOOC 3.0 fast-charging support and USB Type-C port for connectivity. Other features announced by the company include Frame Boost 2.0, Touch Boost 2.0, and Link Boost.

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Oppo has not shared details about the smartphone’s camera configuration, which seems to be the highlight of the device. In a teaser image shared by the company, it shows that the smartphone will have quad-camera setup on the back and on the front side, it will continue to offer shark-fin design for the pop-up mechanism.

As per the leaks, the Reno 2 will feature Samsung‘s 48MP primary sensor paired with a 13MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 16MP sensor will be present on the front for taking selfies and video calling.

A recent leak related to the Oppo Reno 2 series claimed that the company will launch three smartphones in this series — Reno 2, Reno 2Z and Reno 2F. The leaks also claim that the Reno 2F will be the cheapest offering while the Reno 2 will be the most expensive smartphone in the series. The Reno 2Z will sit in the middle of the other two phones.

The Oppo Reno 2 smartphone will be launched in two color options in the Indian market — Ocean Blue and Luminous Black. To know for sure which devices are up the company’s sleeves, as well as their pricing and availability details, we’ll have to wait for the official launch event.

(Via)

Up Next: Vivo’s new Z-series mid-range smartphone tipped to launch in September in the Indian market

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