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Xiaomi Mi A3 review: Is it a downgrade?

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTnwYth3yoM[/embedyt]

Price & target

Xiaomi has built a good reputation in global budget phone market largely due to the success of the series A. The latest model of series A, Xiaomi Mi A3, was officially announced on July 17 in Europe for a starting price of 249 euros. However, for those who are familiar with Xiaomi latest products, it is not exactly a new model. The specs of Xiaomi Mi A3 is completely the same as the Xiaomi CC9e, which was released this month earlier. For software setups, the Xiaomi A3 runs the Android One, while the Xiaomi CC9e runs the MIUI. Due to different regional marketing, the twins have diverse missions. The CC9e is targeting the young who especially require high camera performance but with a budget price. The A3 more shoulders the mission to continue the global success of the A series in the budget segment.

The Xiaomi A3 is a Mi9-appearance smartphone featuring the Snapdragon 665 processor, 48MP triple rear cameras, 32MP front camera, and a large 4030mAh battery. The great camera performance is the main highlight, which is never seen on other budget models. And it’s also the first model of A series to have an in-screen fingerprint sensor. The 720P display could be the most disappointing department. So will it please the consumers with outstanding pros and cons?

The CC9e and A3 is the simplified version of the CC9, reserving the same triple cameras and front camera. As for the global CC9, Xiaomi probably renames it as the Xiaomi A3 Pro. So, if you are more interested in the Xiaomi CC9 or the A3 Pro, please check our review video last week.

Appearance

The appearance is nothing surprising as we learned that it continues the Mi9-design and CC9-design. So, we briefly compare the main details between the Xiaomi A3 and CC9:

  1. The same color options as the CC9, White Lover, Blue Planet, Dark prince.
  2. The same rear setups: Triple cameras are at the upper left, and the Xiaomi test logo is aligned vertically down the cameras.
  3. A waterdrop notch with the same 32MP selfie camera.
  4. Size is smaller than the CC9e due to the smaller display size, 6.08-inch 720p AMOLED display.
  5. It feels a bit thinner and lighter, weighs 173g. The phone size provides a good handling experience.
  6. Unfortunately, due to the budget pricing, A3 has a 6mm chin down the display, which is almost the most distinct change of the appearance here.

In the budget market, it’s pretty rare to have such back design, coming from the unique rear color technique and all-curved rear glass. And you don’t need to worry the glass durability because Xiaomi still uses the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the Xiaomi A3. The large 4030mAh battery is reserved in the A3, although it is thinner than the CC9. Considering its pricing as a budget phone, it’s definitely a surprise. The Xiaomi A3 supports both face unlock and in-screen fingerprint unlock. Though it’s not as fast as Xiaomi CC9, it won’t take you more than 1 second.

Cameras

Rear triple cameras

Another outstanding point is the camera, no matter the front or the rear combination. Yes, It does mean that you can have a flagship-level photography experience on a budget phone. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Xiaomi Mi A3 on the rear packs a SONY 48-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.79 aperture; a second 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a third 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture. It sports a 32-megapixel camera on the front for selfies, with an f/2.0 aperture. The camera combination here is the same as the Xiaomi CC9 has. The primary camera is the SONY IMX586 camera, which also can be found on Mi9 and OnePlus 7 Pro. The bad message is that all the cameras lack OIS, so it might not able to perform the stabilization as well as those flagships, can do.

The 48MP primary camera ensures that the image reaches much detail so that you can have your second creation by cutting the image. Under low light conditions, It supports a ‘4 in 1’ big-pixel feature to help you shoot brighter photos with better detail. Under bright conditions, the Xiaomi A3 performs great with natural color reproduction and fine contrast. Its fast imaging speed is also impressive, which is useful to capture fleeting moments. Even in backlight environment, the Xiaomi A3 can also guarantee the imaging quality with a balanced exposure.

The night mode on A3 probably is the highlight of the camera performance. The general brightness got improved significantly and a balanced exposure shows better detail of both bright parts and dark parts. The dark sky has better brightness and more detail, while the bright text on the building is much clearer with correct exposure.

For the second wide-angle camera, it performs better when shooting landscape with bright conditions. The image has a good distortion correction and a strong visual sense. When we bring the wide-angle camera to low-light conditions, it got the same problem with the Xiaomi CC9, such as detail losing and shadow blurring. The third 2MP camera mainly does the depth calculation for portrait mode. With its work, we can have a natural background blurring and relatively correct edge detection for still life photography.

Front camera

 

The 32MP selfie camera is another selling point of the A3. Our colleague Nadine took self-portraits and compared it with the samples of the Xiaomi CC9. She found that due to the diverse camera Apps, those additional beauty features in CC9 disappeared in the A3. The natural tone of her skin and good texture does please her especially when she zooms in to look at the facial detail. And she said that after trying it at different scenes, the A3 camera recognizes her face well no matter under what kind of extreme lighting conditions.

As Nadine mentioned, it runs a basic camera App but not the Xiaomi camera App. We have no additional camera features like Mimoji, and post-editing features as well on the Xiaomi A3, while these features are found in the Chinese version, Xiaomi CC9e. We believe that such kind of additional features can make phone photography more interesting for users.

 

The main difference between the CC9e and A3 is their operating system. The Xiaomi A3 runs the latest Android One, while the CC9 runs MIUI. Android One is one of the best android original systems. It has proved its good performance on mid-range phones. No exception on the Xiaomi A3. It reaches a good fluency but laggy a bit when running most Android apps, and includes all the Google services and tools as well. And unlike the MIUI, it doesn’t require users to pay much learning cost. While the MIUI has a Chinese-language-based voice assistant, the Android One gives you a much universal one, the google assistant. So, it’s probably one important reason why you want to have a Xiaomi A3.

Drawbacks: Display

Xiaomi A3 features a 6.08-inch Super AMOLED 720 x 1560p display up front with a waterdrop notch. this 720p display definitely can be the biggest reason for you to give it up. When looking at it, the grainy experience does not please me at all. So, compared to those 1080p displays, there is nothing to praise. But due to the brand SAMSUNG of this 720p display, the A3 display still has a good display effect compared with most 720p displays. But sorry to tell you again, it’s just a 720p display.

Processor & performance

Another drawback of the Xiaomi A3 is the processor. The A3 is powered by a 2GHz Snapdragon 665 processor. And according to our sources, it comes with two memory versions, 4GB RAM 64GB ROM, and 6GB RAM 128GB ROM. The model in our hands is the 4GB RAM version. Unlike the Chinese version Xiaomi CC9e, Xiaomi A3 lacks a ‘Game Turbo’ feature which can slightly optimize the gaming performance. In our 30-min gaming test with PUBG Mobile, the frame rate reached 29fps when playing under mid-graphic settings. But it also got frequent fluctuation during the test. So it won’t be a great experience when playing the PUBG Mobile on the Xiaomi A3. Though it may be the same result when playing other games requiring fast response and fluent graphics, the A3 can still run most mobile games without problems.

Battery & charging

As we mentioned, because the Xiaomi CC9 has a big battery capacity and a 720p display, you don’t need to worry about the power durability. But it doesn’t support any fast-charging solution. Using the included 10W charger, it takes more than 2 hours to get full-charged.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would say that it’s definitely one of the best choices in the real budget market. It has pretty fast in-screen fingerprint unlock, triple rear cameras and 32MP front camera and so on. It’s no doubt that it is going to refresh the budget market and how producers making low-price models. But, at the same time, the 720P display could be so disappointing that it makes a hash of the good reputation of the A-series. Anyway, it is undeniable that the Xiaomi A3 is going to be a powerful challenger for the title of 2019 best budget phone.

Xiaomi shares Mi A3 disassembly video but skips screen components to showcase cameras

China-based smartphone maker Xiaomi recently launched the Mi A3 Android One smartphone in Spain and will soon be made available in other regions. However, just days after its launch, the company has shared a disassembly video of the Mi A3.

The process is quite simple — remove the hybrid SIM card tray and once you open the back panel, all you need is a screwdriver to go all the way. The video shared by the company focuses on the camera — which is the highlight of the device.

The company also points out the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, the processor that is powering the smartphone but most are disappointed Xiaomi’s choice of the chipset. Also, the company skips past the display component, which uses an HD panel.

So, not only the users are disappointed with Xiaomi opting for an HD display panel on the third-generation Mi A-series smartphone, even the company is aware of its bad choice. This is quite disappointing given that the Mi A2 came with a Full HD display. So, with Mi A3, the company has moved a step backward.

It mentions that there’s a 0.915cc cavity for the loudspeaker, which is the same size as on the Redmi K20. The 4,030mAh battery has virtually the same capacity as the K20 battery too with the same 18W fast charging support. Except for the screen, chipset, and RAM, everything else seems quite similar to the Redmi K20.

(Source)

Up Next: Huawei Mate X gets listed on Chinese certification agency TENAA; launch seems imminent

ZTE head to head with Huawei in the 5G race, Axon 10 Pro 5G reservations start next week

A number of Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, and ZTE have at least one 5G smartphone under their belt. Despite releasing these 5G models in Europe a few weeks back, they are not yet available for purchase in China. This is because China’s 5G rollout is still underway (licenses have been issued to carriers) and it doesn’t make sense to release these 5G models way before there’s actually any coverage. That changes next week as ZTE has announced that its Axon 10 Pro 5G model will be up for reservations starting July 23.

Reservations commence from July 23 but there is no word on a shipping date yet. On the other hand, Huawei revealed a few days back that its Mate 20 X 5G will go on sale on July 26. This could mean that customers will probably be able to get hold of the Huawei-made 5G model before ZTE. Huawei Mate 20 X 5G was already certified by TENAA a few days back. Today, its foldable 5G phone, the Mate X was also certified by the agency.

Apart from these two, it is said that there are two more 5G Huawei devices that were certified. It’s possible that one of these two is a Honor phone since the brand’s President, George Zhao had revealed that they had a 5G model incoming later this year.

These models should soon be joined by other 5G phones from brands like OPPO, Vivo, and OnePlus. It is worth noting that Xiaomi, Lenovo, and even Samsung’s 5G models weren’t included in the first batch of 5G certifications in China.

UP NEXT: Li Nan, VP and Co-founder resigns from Meizu

 

(Source)

Buy Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC for Just $148.99 from GearVita [Coupon]

Looking for an inexpensive mini PC that doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance? You might want to give the Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC a test drive.

Designed to meet your daily needs, the Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC packs the powerful Intel Apollo Lake N3450 Quad Core processor for uninterrupted multitasking experience. With Intel’s equally competent HD Graphics 500 GPU under the hood, it offers an all-encompassing series for gaming dominance.

On top of that, the Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC ships with 8GB of RAM for advanced multitasking and offers a hearty 128GB SSD storage capacity for you to save your favorite music, videos, and other multimedia content. It made using high-quality logs, and aluminum alloy aviation aluminum.

2019 acute angle aa-b4 mini pc 64gb

Aside from that, the Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC features HDMI, RJ45, USB3.0, and 3.5MM audio jack in terms of interfaces. It adopts a unique built-in fan cycle heat dissipation process design to ensure efficient heat dissipation.

This feature-laden mini PC would normally set you back $199.99 on GearVita, but we will show how you can save a considerable amount of money at the time of checking out. You can get $51 off simply by applying coupon code ROAcuteMiniPC during the checkout process.

In other words, you can bring the original asking price of the Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC down to only $148.99 with the help of the aforesaid coupon. You can follow this link to take advantage of the coupon, which is likely to expire soon.

Buy
Acute Angle AA-B4 Mini PC, Coupon Code ROAcuteMiniPC

US Senators introduce Bill to block Huawei from Buying or Selling US Patents

Patents are one of the biggest assets for any technology company and last month, Huawei decided to retaliate to the US trade ban by demanding Verizon to pay over $1 billion in total as fees for over 230 patents. Now, two US senators want to block Huawei from buying or selling US patents by introducing a new bill in the country.

Huawei building featured logo

The WSJ reports that the bill essentially seeks to give power to the US federal government to stop companies listed on its trade blacklist from buying, selling, or exclusively licensing US patents. It would give the government the authority to step in any domestic case relating to patent infringement. Further, the bill will force the blacklisted company to notify the Justice Department as well as the Patent and Trademark office of such a case and provide details on the infringement, financial implications, and damages demanded.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei says HongMeng OS is not for smartphones, will keep using Android

The bill is clearly aimed at Huawei who is currently in the government’s crosshairs. Naturally, the Chinese telecommunications giant is not happy with this bill. The WSJ report adds a statement from Andy Purdy, chief security officer for Huawei Technologies USA – “If (this bill is) adopted, it could have severe negative ramifications by creating global mistrust of the U.S. and its ability in upholding, as well as safeguarding intellectual property rights.”

While Trump’s comments from the G20 summit had eased some of the tensions between the US and China, there are still a lot of new developments worsening the situation. For example, US-based Cape, a cloud platform vendor for drone telepresence and data management, abruptly stopped support for the popular drone maker, DJI as well as other Chinese drone makers. On the other hand, a recent editorial for the state-run Globaltimes argues that China could anytime leverage its position in rare earth minerals to pressurize the US.

Overall, it looks like this trade war is far from over and we’ll see a lot more developments in the coming months.

UP NEXT: Huawei Mate X Foldable gets listed on TENAA; China launch seems imminent

 

(Source)

Huawei Mate X gets listed on TENAA; China launch seems imminent

Earlier this year, China-based Huawei had announced the Mate X smartphone, making it the first foldable as well as a 5G compatible smartphone from the company. However, the phone is yet to go on sale.

Now, the Huawei Mate X has appeared on TENAA, revealing the full specifications of the smartphone. It reveals that the foldable smartphone will come with an 8-inch external OLED display with 2480 x 2200 pixels screen resolution.

Huawei Mate X

When folded, it transforms into a dual-display phone – one side is a 6.6-inch with 2480 x 1148 pixels resolution and 19.5:9 ratio while the other is a 6.38-inch display with 2480 x 892 pixels resolution and 25:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by the company’s own Kirin 980 octa-core flagship processor clocked at 2.6GHz and comes in three variants based on the memory configuration — 6/8/12 GB of RAM and 128/256/512 GB of internal storage. It comes with the 7nm Balong 5000 modem which brings 5G support to the device.

The phone also comes with support for NM card allowing users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 256 GB. As for the connectivity options, the device supports NFC, dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, and USB Type-C port.

It features a 40-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens with f/2.2 aperture and a ToF 3D camera. The Mate X is also equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

The TENAA listing also reveals that the device is running Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box and is likely to have EMUI 9.1 custom interface on top. The phone is fuelled by a 4,400mAh battery and could support SupercCharge fast charging technology which supports up to 55W.

While the pricing of the Mate X has not been confirmed but as per the reports, the phone is expected to start at €2,299 (approximately $2,580). In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Fold starts at $1,980, which is also not available for purchase at this point in time.

As per the rumors, the phone could go on sale in China for as high as 14,999 yuan (~$2191). For the global market, the price may even reach 17,000 yuan ($2,483). Since the Huawei Mate X has been certified by TENAA, it’s China launch seems imminent.

(Source)

Up Next: US-based company CAPE drops support for DJI drones because of security reasons

Buy KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter for Just $309.99 from GeekBuying [Coupon]

While the market is crammed with steeply-priced e-bikes, only a few are built to stand the test of time. Those who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money end up compromising on quality. But Kugoo is bent on changing that.

Known for manufacturing some of the coolest, sturdiest electric bikes for short predictable commute, KUGOO has now teamed-up with GeekBuying to make its popular KUGOO S1 folding electric scooter available to those living on a tight budget.

Aside from that, GeekBuying users have something more to cheer about. We will talk about it just a bit, but before that, let’s check out more details about the KUGOO branded electric scooter.

KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter 350W Motor LCD Display Screen 3 Speed Modes 8.5 Inches Solid Rear Anti-Skid Tire IP54 Waterproof - Blue

The KUGOO S1 electric scooter is relatively quieter and more efficient as compared to traditional motorbikes. It is designed to run on all types of roads. It has an 8-inch solid rear anti-skid tires and 3-speedrunning modes that allow you to adjust the speed using just a single key.

Aside from running smoothly on various road surface conditions, this easy-to-operate electric bike is quite easy to control. It has a monitor that displays control information. There’s also a single key for the braking system.

The KUGOO S1 electric scooter features an LCD display screen that shows important shreds of information such as speed, mileage, time, power, stop, and voltage. Moreover, it is backed by a powerful 350W motor that delivers a running distance of 30km.

While you’d normally associate a steep price tag with a feature-rich e-bike, the KUGOO S1 can now be yours for a lowered price of just $320.99 from GeekBuying. This is a significant 54 percent reduction in the original asking price of $699.99.

To extend this discount and get an extra $180 off, all you need to do is to apply coupon code S1KUGOO. The coupon helps you bring the already lowered selling price of the KUGOO S1 further down to just $309.99 even before you place your order. This coupon can be used for all color versions for the Europe Stock.

J2 Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Wood Texture - Brown

As if that weren’t enough, you get J2 Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker as a gift with your order. It is worth noting that the aforesaid item is available as a gift only with the pink color version of the KUGOO S1. You can follow this link to avail the discount, and use the coupon before it expires.

Buy
KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter, Coupon Code S1KUGOO

 

Redmi launches 10000mAh and 20000mAh power banks

It was only a matter of time before Redmi launched its first power bank. Today, the company has announced not one but two Redmi-branded power banks.

The two power banks are the Redmi Power Bank 10000mAh (PB100LZM) and the Redmi Power Bank 20000mAh (PB200LZM). Both come in white, have dual output ports (USB-A), dual input ports (MicroUSB and USB Type-C), and lithium-ion polymer batteries.

Redmi Power Bank 10000mAh

Redmi Power Bank 10000mAh

The Redmi Power Bank 10000mAh can charge the Redmi Note 7 1.75 times, the Mi 9 2.4 times, the Redmi K20 1.75 times, and the iPhone XS 2.3 times. The maximum power rating for the input port is 5V 2.1A while the output port has a rating of 5.1V 2.4A. There is no support for 18W fast charging input or output.

The power bank measures 150.5 x 73.6 x 15.1mm, has nine different protection including low voltage and a reset function. It can also charge low power devices like the Mi Band and will power small items like a portable fan or LED lamp.

The Redmi Power Bank 10000mAh has a ¥59 (~$9) price tag.

Redmi 20000mAh power bank

Redmi Power Bank 20000mAh

The Redmi Power Bank 20000mAh is near twice the thickness of the 10000mAh version at 27.3mm but the length and width are the same.

It has the same number of input and output ports but supports 5V 2A, 9V 2.1A, and 12V 1.5A input charging. It also supports 5.1V 2.4A, 9V 2A, and 12V 1.5A output charging. This means it supports 18W fast charging input and output.

The Redmi Power Bank 20000mAh can charge the Redmi Note 7 3.5 times, the Mi 9 5.3 times, the Redmi K20 3.5 times, and the iPhone XS 4.8 times. It also has a Li-ion polymer battery and several protection features.

The power bank has a price tag of ¥99 (~$15). Just Like the 10000mAh version, it will go on sale on July 23 on Mi.com.

We expect the power banks will also be announced outside China soon.

 

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Redmi K20 and K20 Pro launched in India; Specifications, features, and price

6 Best Android TV Boxes you Can Buy at Lowered Prices [Coupons]

A feature-rich TV box helps you save each month by reducing your cable bill. Moreover, it enables you to stream your favorite movies, TV shows, sporting events, etc., with the help of numerous streaming apps.

While the market is crammed with all sorts of TV boxes that seem to suit your fancy, these gadgets aren’t easy on the pocketbook. Nevertheless, cinephiles who prefer watching their favorite videos without leaving the comfort of their homes, end up spending a lot of money on high-end TV boxes.

If you are living on a tight budget and aren’t in the mood to empty your pocket for a top-end TV box, we got your back! Here are the top 6 TV boxes that you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket.

H96 MAX 5G TV Box – GearVita

Powered by the RK3318 Quad-Core 64bit Cortex-A53 processor, the H96 MAX is an irresistible 5G TV box that employs Penta-Core Mali-450 graphics processing unit for an unmatched viewing experience. It features 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity.

The H96 MAX 5G TV box usually retails for $45.99, but cost-conscious buyers can get a $16 off by applying coupon code ROH96MAX64 at checkout. In other words, you can reduce the original asking price of the H96 MAX 5G TV box to just $29.99 with the help of the aforesaid coupon.

You can follow this link to take advantage of the coupon before it expires.

 

H96 Max Plus TV Box – Banggood

Living up to its reputation for offering the best bang for your buck, Banggood is now doling out a noteworthy 51 percent discount on the H96 Max Plus TV box, which normally sells for $69.81. Thanks to the discount, you can now buy the 4GB RAM+32GB ROM H96 Max Plus model for a lowered price of just $33.99.

An absolute steal at this price, the H96 Max Plus packs a powerful RK3328 Quad-Core 64bit Cortex-A53 processor, along with a highly competent Penta-Core Mali-450 GPU, under the hood. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo OS and supports 4K YouTube and HD Netflix.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the H96 Max Plus TV Box and grab the discount. If your order exceeds $19.99, you can get free shipping. Note that the promo is slated to end on July 19th.

 

Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box – Gearbest

Equipped with the latest Amlogic S912 CPU with octa-core, the Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV box offers a rapid and stable viewing experience. It runs Android 7.1 Nougat OS, which enables you to install/uninstall apps and games without breaking a sweat.

The 3GB DDR4 RAM+32GB ROM Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV box variant has gone up for sale bearing a dropped price tag of only $64.99 on Gearbest, while it usually sells for $79.99. To extend this 19 percent discount, you can apply coupon code GBCNGT1 at checkout.

Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box Amlogic S912 Octa Core CPU Android 7.1 Media Player- Black US Plug Without Voice Control

The above-mentioned coupon helps you save $2 more by reducing the original asking price of the Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV box to only $62.99. You can click here to avail the discount and use the coupon, which will only be valid for the first 100 units. With ten units already sold, the promo will end in three days.

 

A95X MAX TV Box – GeekBuying

GeekBuying is offering a 37 percent discount on the A95X MAX TV box, which would normally set you back $110.05. As a result, you can buy it for a dropped price of just $68.99.

Marketed as one of the first TV boxes to run on Android 8.1 Oreo OS, the A95X MAX is powered by the Amlogic S905X successor dubbed, the S905X2 processor. Under the hood, it packs the ARM Dvalin MP2 GPU, paired with 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage.

You can visit this link to check out the full specification of the A95X MAX TV Box and buy it at a heavily discounted price before the promo ends. It is worth noting that the discount will expire in just three days.

 

T95 Max TV box

AliExpress is offering its loyal users a chance to get their hands on the 4GB RAM+64GB ROM variants of the T95 Max TV box at unbeatable prices. You can buy your favorite variant of the TV box if you are willing to spend $28.82 – $39.83.

002

If you are a new user, you can take advantage of the $3 off New User coupon and save money during the checkout process. With 7994 pieces still available in stock at the time of writing, you can get a 9 percent off if you order 10 pieces.

This TV box that packs an Allwinner H6 6K processor, coupled with Mali-720MP2 GPU for delivering the superior user experience. You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out more details. Note that the estimated delivery time of the TV box is August 13th.

 

Xiaomi Mi Box S TV Box – Gearbest

Touted as one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, Gearbest is offering the international version of the Xiaomi Mi Box S TV box for a lowered price of just $69.99. This is a considerable 14 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $81.69.

Based on Android 8.1 Oreo OS, the Xiaomi Mi Box S boasts an impressive array of features that transform your regular television into a smart TV. It comes with 2GB of DDR3 RAM and offers a hearty 8GB of internal storage capacity for you to download and run your favorite apps and games.

Xiaomi Mi Box S with 4K HDR Android TV Streaming Media Player and Google Assistant Remote Cortex-A53 Quad Core 64 bit Mali-450 Android 8.1 2GB RAM 8GB ROM HDMI2.0 2.4G + 5.8G WiFi BT4.2- Black EU Plug

It has a voice remote control that allows you to search for content using just your voice. Moreover, the TV box is powered by Cortex A53 CPU and it uses a Mali 450 GPU to deliver unmatched picture and video quality without any sort of interruption.

You can click here to check out more details about the Xiaomi Mi Box S and place your order. It is worth mentioning here that 187 pieces were already sold at the time of writing. The promo will come to an end in seven days.

Li Nan, VP and Co-founder resigns from Meizu

Li Nan, the co-founder, and VP of Meizu who is also the face of the company has resigned. He made the announcement via a post on Weibo yesterday.

meizu lin nan

Prior to him revealing his exit from the company he helped start, the former top executive had denied he was leaving. In a memo he made public, he explained he had to clear the air regarding his exit from the company which had generated some messy news.

In the memo, he revealed he already started taking fewer responsibilities following the launch of the Meizu 16. He did acknowledge that the company is facing challenges but believes things will get better as long as they do not stop improving.

Li Nan resignation letter

While he wasn’t specific about his next step, Li Nan revealed that he is still focused on the consumer market and developing new brands. He also thanked co-workers, investors, and shareholders.

Li Nan co-founded Meizu along with Bai Yongxiang who is the CEO and Huang Zhang (Jack Wong). The company started as an MP3 player manufacturer before switching to phones in 2008. Its portfolio is diverse now but phones are its major source of revenue. Last year, Meizu celebrated its 15th anniversary.

(Source)

 

UP NEXT: Meizu 16s Pro seen on Taobao, rocks triple rear cameras

US-based company CAPE drops support for DJI drones over security reasons

Cape, a cloud platform for remote drone operations, has confirmed it will drop support for DJI drones. As part of the decision, effectively immediately, the company also launched the Cape Preferred Partner Program (P3), a new initiative aimed at ensuring the security of commercial drone integrations across industries.

Skydio has been named as the first company to officially join Cape P3, just months after they were selected by the U.S. Department of Defense to take part in the Short Range Reconnaissance program for the U.S. Army. The companies said that together, they hope to collaborate on next-generation technology that is both easier to use and more capable than ever before.

It said the program is a direct result of increasing security concerns around the use of drones for public safety and commercial use, and follows the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent warnings regarding security risks related to the use of Chinese-made drones.

With the launch of the new partner program, Cape software will exclusively allow for integration with hardware and enterprise applications from U.S. companies, such as Skydio, or companies from countries with intellectual property treaties with the U.S. As a result, Cape will specifically cease all integration with DJI-manufactured drones, as well as all other drones developed by companies based in China.

UP NEXT: DJI reveals plans to assemble drones in California to assuage US security concern

(Source)

Devices rocking Unisoc 5G SoCs to arrive in H2 of 2019

Unisoc aren’t exactly the most well known name in the SoC game, but they get around. Recently we heard that they’d be providing the chipset for the upcoming HTC Wildfire, but other than that they haven’t been hitting the news much. That was at least until now, as we get news that Unisoc’s 5G SoCs are ready and will be in devices by H2 of 2019.

Unisoc introduced its 5G technology platform Makalu and Ivy 510-series 5G modem chip at the MWC in early 2019. The Ivy 510 solution will be featured in customers’ CPE and module products scheduled for launch in China later in the second half of 2019, according to the chipmaker. Unisoc said that it believes CPE and module products will be the first applications driving 5G chip demand growth, with its Ivy 510 focused initially on the China market.

Unisoc has also had its 5G chip solution validated for 26GHz mmWave networks, the chipmaker continued. The company claims that it is gearing up to play a role in the global 5G chipset market, and there may be no better time than now to make that move. If Unisoc plays their cards right, they could be a big player in the budget 5G market.

This is mainly becaus we’ve yet to really see a competitor in the budget 5G market. MediaTek has yet to make big any moves on the segment, and Qualcomm is fully invested in the high-end. Even the cheapest 5G devices at the moment are ludicrously expensive, so bringing that price down by any amount instantly makes any device more attractive for most.

UP NEXT: Samsung to mass produce high-speed 12GB LPDDR5 RAMs for 5G Flagships this month

(Source)

Huawei Mate 30 Lite (Nova 5i Pro), Honor 9X and 9X Pro images appear on TENAA

The entire specifications of the upcoming Huawei Mate 30 Lite (SPN-AL00 / TL00) was spotted on TENAA in the previous week. However, its images were not present in the listing. The Chinese telecom authority had also recently approved Honor 9X (HLK-AL00 / TL00) and Honor 9X Pro (HLK-AL10) smartphones in the recent past. Again, the TENAA listings of the Honor 9X and 9X Pro did not feature their images, but only specs were revealed. Today, the TENAA listings of the Honor 9X duo and Mate 30 Lite have been updated with their images.

Huawei Mate 30 Lite

The Huawei Mate 30 Lite’s images show that it will boast a high screen thanks to punch-hole display design. There is an LED assisted quad camera setup on the rear side of the phone. Below it is the fingerprint sensor.

A recent report had revealed that the upcoming Nova 5i Pro could be featuring an identical front and rear design as shown in the TENAA images above. The reason behind it is that rumors have claimed that Mate 30 Lite for China could be releasing in European markets as Nova 5i Pro.

Huawei Mate 30 Lite TENAA
Huawei Mate 30 Lite

The Mate 30 Lite has a 6.26-inch full HD+ IPS display. It is powered by Kirin 810 chipset and up to 8 GB of RAM. The handset features up to 256 GB of native storage. The back panel of the phone features 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad camera system. It has a frontal shooter of 32-megapixel. The handset houses a 4,000mAh battery. It may carry support for 20W fast charging.

Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro

The Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro images on TENAA reveal that these smartphones are equipped with a notch-less display and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Honor 9X has a vertical dual camera system whereas the Pro model features a vertical triple camera setup.

Honor 9X TENAA
Honor 9X
Honor 9X Pro TENAA
Honor 9X Pro

The Honor 9X and 9X Pro smartphones feature 6.59-inch IPS LCD display with notch-less appeal and full HD+ resolution support. The Kirin 810 chipset powers the Honor 9X series. Both phones are expected to come with up to 8 GB of RAM. They are equipped with up to 256 GB of storage and 4,000mAh batteries. The Honor 9X has 48-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup. On the other side, the Honor 9X Pro has 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera setup.

The Mate 30 Lite may go official in the coming month. The Honor 9X and 9X Pro are slated for official announcement on July 23.

(source 1, 2, 3)

UP NEXT: Honor Band 5 pre-orders begin ahead of July 23 launch

Get Big Discounts on Three Variants of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Tablet PC on GearVita [Coupons Inside]

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Pad 4 tablet in June last year. Even over a year after hitting the store shelves, the Mi Pad 4 series tablets continue to garner popularity among those who fancy watching their favorite videos and playing popular games on a big-screen mobile device.

Sporting a user-friendly design that enables one-handed operation, the Mi Pad 4 is an irresistible tablet PC. If you have been holding back from buying one of the Mi Pad 4 variants due to the steep price tags they carry, we got your back!

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 WiFi tablet PC, Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 LTE tablet PC, and Xiaomi Mi Pad 4G LTE tablet have gone up for sale on GearVita bearing competitive price stickers. We will show how you can save a considerable amount of money just before placing your order.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 WiFi Tablet PC International Version

This Mi Pad 4 WiFi tablet ships with 4GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage capacity. While the market is brimming with all sorts of mobile devices that offer comparable specifications at nearly about the same price, you can get a $75 off on the Mi Pad 4 WiFi tablet with the help of coupon code ROPad464B.Image result for Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 WiFi Tablet PC 4GB RAM 64GB ROM (International Version) gearvita

In other words, you can get your hands on this Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 WiFi Tablet PC International Version for a lowered price of just $189.99 from GearVita. You can follow this link to use the coupon, which will be valid for the black, as well as the white color options.

 

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 LTE Tablet PC International Version

The Mi Pad 4 LTE tablet PC features 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of onboard storage capacity. This model is available in two eye-catching color options including black, and white. While this model usually retails for $279.99 on GearVita, you can get a $70 off by using coupon code GVMpad4 at checkout.Xiaomi Mi Pad 4

Thanks to the aforesaid coupon, you end up shelling out just $209.99 on the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 LTE model. You can visit this link to use the coupon, which is likely to expire soon.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G LTE Tablet International Version

The Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G LTE tablet would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline stores. The international version of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G LTE tablet which comes with 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM is currently up for grabs for $355.99 on GearVita.

If you are living on a tight budget and aren’t willing to spend that kind of money on a tablet, all you need to do is apply coupon code ROPad4plus and save $80. In other words, you can reduce the retail price of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G LTE tablet to just $275.99 by applying the coupon during the checkout process.

xiaomi mi pad 4 plus 4g lte tablet

Note that you can choose between the black and gold color options. You can head straight to this link to take advantage of the coupon before it expires.

Huawei says HongMeng OS is not for smartphones, will keep using Android

Huawei’s own upcoming operating system — HongMeng OS, is widely believed to be the company’s answer to Google’s Android mobile OS. The HongMeng OS was confirmed by Huawei when the US government banned the Chinese giant.

The HongMeng OS is developed based on open-source Android and in the recently concluded test, the operating system was found to be around 60 percent faster than Android mobile OS.

Huawei HongMeng OS aka Oak OS

Now, Catherine Chen, Senior Vice President and a Board Member of Huawei said that the upcoming HongMeng OS is not for smartphones and the company is planning to continue using Google’s Android operating system on its smartphones.

She added that the recently-trademarked Hongmeng operating system is for industrial use and the system has been in development long before the current discussions around finding an alternative to Android. She further said that the HongMeng is very secure because of fewer lines of codes compared to a mobile OS and has an extreme low latency compared with a smartphone operating system.

Earlier, during an interview, Huawei’s founder and CEO had said that the HongMeng OS will be used in a wide range of products, including routers, network switches, tablets, computers and data centers.

This is interesting as the HongMong OS was being tested on smartphones and a few testers have also shared their experience. It seems that the company decided not to use HongMeng OS for smartphones after the Trump administration said that US firms can resume doing business with Huawei under certain conditions. This means that Huawei can now regain access to Google’s Android.

The Chinese giant has also trademarked another operating system named Harmony OS. It could be the global name of the HongMeng or the name of its Android alternative. Whatever be the case, we expect the company to shed more light on this during Huawei’s Annual Developers Conference next month. The company is also expected to unveil its all-new EMUI 10 custom user interface for the Android OS during the same conference.

(Source)

Up Next: Samsung Galaxy A80 with rotating triple cameras launched for Rs. 47,990 (approximately $698) in India

Honor 9X camera sample shows impressive low-light photography

Honor has scheduled a launch event in China on 23rd July for the launch of the Honor 9X smartphone, where the company is also expected to launch the Honor 9X Pro.

Ahead of the launch, the company has shared details about the camera configuration of the Honor 9X and has also shared camera samples of the same, showcasing the impressive low-light photography performance.

The smartphone will come featuring a 48-megapixel AI triple camera setup on the back panel where it will have a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 as the primary camera sensor. The company adds that the phone captures stunning images during night time without the need of the LED Flash.

As for the camera configuration of the Honor 9X Pro, it is being reported that it will have the same camera setup as the Honor 20 Pro, which is currently placed second in camera performance by DxOMark.

Honor 9X Camera Sample Night Photography

It’s already known that the Honor 9X series smartphones are powered by the company’s newly announced Kirin 810 octa-core processor, manufactured using the 7nm process. The company has revealed that the Kirin 810 is one of the nine major features of the smartphone and more will be revealed at the launch event.

The smartphones will come with a notch-less display, as revealed by the leaked renders of the upcoming Honor 9X series devices. The smartphone will reportedly come with a 6.59-inch IPS Full HD+ display and will pack up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

(Via)

Up Next: Black Shark 2 Pro set to launch on July 30, could be powered by Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC

Samsung Galaxy A80 with rotating triple cameras launched for Rs. 47,990 (~$698) in India

After its first arrival in Thailand in April, the Samsung Galaxy A80 is gradually being made available in other countries. Earlier this month, the Galaxy A80 was made available for purchase in China. The handset was rumored to arrive in India in June. However, it has landed now in India with a price tag of Rs. 47,990 (~$698).

Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung Galaxy A80 Specifications and Features

The Galaxy A80 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with New Infinity notch-less design. It offers a tall aspect ratio of 20:9 and carries support for 1080 x 2500 pixels full HD+ resolution. The display of the smartphone is fitted with an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The Snapdragon 730G 8nm octa-core processor that works at 2.2GHz is present under the hood of the Galax A80 along with Adreno 618 graphics. The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The smartphone features an internal storage of 128 GB. There is no external storage support on the device. The Android 9 Pie OS on the Galaxy A80 is customized with One UI interface.

Galaxy A80

The rear side of the Galaxy A80 is fitted with an LED flash enabled triple camera setup that includes an f/2.0 aperture 48-megapixel main lens, an f/2.2 aperture 8-megapixle ultrawide lens and a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) lens. There is no front-facing camera on the device. The rear positioned triple camera setup can move up at rotate to function as front-facing cameras for capturing selfies. The South Korean company has included a 3,700mAh battery inside the Galaxy A80 along with support for 25W fast charging. It lacks support for 3.5mm audio jack.

Samsung Galaxy A80 Price and Availability

The Galaxy A80 comes in a sole edition of 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage in India that carries a price tag of Rs. 47,990. Citibank credit card users can avail 5 percent cashback on the purchase of the Galaxy A80 smartphone. The handset can be bought in colors like Phantom Black, Ghost White and Angel Gold.

Starting from Aug. 1, the Galaxy A80 will be made available for purchase through Samsung’s online shop, Samsung Opera House, all the popular online retail stores and offline outlets. Interested customers can pre-book the smartphone between July 22 and July 31. Those who pre-book the phone will be able to take advantage of free one-time screen replacement offer.

UP NEXT: Samsung to reportedly launch another foldable smartphone early next year

Black Shark 2 Pro set to launch on July 30, could be powered by Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC

Xiaomi-backed Black Shark has so far launched three gaming smartphones — Black Shark, Black Shark Helo, and Black Shark 2. Now, the company is gearing up to launch yet another smartphone model — Black Shark 2 Pro in China later this month.

The company has officially revealed through a microblogging platform Weibo that it will be launching the Black Shark 2 Pro smartphone at a launch event on 30th July. The phone is expected to come powered by the newly announced Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC.

Black Shark 2 Pro Launch Date

A couple of days ago, when Qualcomm announced the upgraded Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, Black Shark was among the smartphone makers to welcome the new chipset, hinting that they are working on a device powered by that chipset.

Asus has already announced that its upcoming ROG Phone 2 which is set to launch on 23rd July in China, will come powered by the SD855 Plus chipset. Given that the processor is focused towards the gaming smartphone, it’s highly likely that the Black Shark 2 Pro will be powered by the same chipset.

Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone was launched earlier this year in March, featuring a 6.39-inch AMOLED TrueView display offering Full HD+ screen resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, DC dimming, Always-on Display, eye protect mode and in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The smartphone features a dual-camera module that comprises of an f/1.7 aperture 48-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. For snapping selfies, it is equipped with a 20-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture.

It is powered by the Snapdragon 855 SoC and comes with two-style Liquid Cooling 3.0 technology can drop the processor’s temperate by up to 14 degrees. The SoC is supported by up to 12 GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It runs BlackShark OS flavored Android 9 Pie OS and is powered by a 4,000mAh battery that carries support for Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging.

(Via)

Up Next: Huawei files a trademark application for “Cine-Lens” and “Camera Matrix”

Vivo S1 first teaser released in India

Recent reports have claimed that Vivo is gearing to launch the Vivo S1 smartphone in India. It is rumored to be the very same handset that was introduced earlier this week in Indonesia. Vivo India has released a first teaser to hint the arrival of the Vivo S1 smartphone which suggests its arrival could be close at hand.

The below shown teaser ends with “all new S series coming soon’ message. Rumors have it that Vivo’s upcoming series of smartphones will be aimed towards offline markets. As mentioned above, the Vivo S1 that was unveiled in recently will be debuting as the first S-series Vivo phone in India soon. A recent report had claimed that the Vivo may announce the Vivo S1 smartphone on Aug. 15 in the country.

Editor's Pick: Throwback Tech Thursday: Nexus One, Google's First Pure Android Phone Revisited

Vivo S1 Specifications and Features

The Vivo S1 has a 6.38-inch Super AMOLED display with waterdrop notch that offers full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The Vivo S1 is the first ever smartphone to feature the new mid-range MediaTek Helio P65 chipset. The SoC of the phone could be assisted by 6 GB of RAM. It may arrive in India in 64 GB and 128 GB storage choices.

The front notch of the Vivo S1 is the home for a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The rear shell of the smartphone has a vertical triple camera setup that includes a 16-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The handset is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 18W dual-engine fast charging. The FunTouch OS 9 flavored Android 9 Pie OS runs on the device.

Vivo S1

Vivo S1 Price in India

According to a leak, the Vivo S1 will hit the Indian markets in two options such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The base model of the smartphone could be priced at Rs. 17,990 (~$259) whereas the higher variant may cost around Rs. 20,000 (~$290).  It may arrive in color choices like Sky Blue and Dark Blue. The Chinese firm may begin with its pre-orders in early August before its first sale on Aug. 15.

UP NEXT: Vivo Y90 entry-level smartphone’s renders and specs leaked

ASUS ROG Phone II full specifications appear on TENAA

Listings for ASUS_I001DA and ASUS_I001DB model numbers were spotted on TENAA with images and some specs had appeared yesterday. The leaked specs and images confirmed that the listings belong to the forthcoming ASUS ROG Phone II smartphone. The TENAA listings for the smartphone are now updated with full specifications.

TENAA reveals that the ROG Phone 2 has 170.99 x 77.6 x 9.78mm dimensions. It’s a bulky device it weighs 240 grams. The predecessor ROG Phone that came last year measured 158.8 x 76.2 x 8.3mm and weighed 200 grams. The original smartphone housed a 6-inch 18:9 aspect ratio supporting display that supported full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The ROG Phone 2 has a bigger OLED display of 6.59 inches. It offers 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 1080 x 2340 pixels full HD+ resolution. Its already known that the ROG Phone 2’s display will offer a refresh rate of 120Hz. The handset will be coming in a single color option of black.

The front view of the ROG Phone II smartphone shows that its display has regular bezels like the original ROG Phone. Also, it seems to be equipped with dual front-firing speakers. The rear side of the phone largely resembles the predecessor model in terms of design. The horizontally arranged dual camera setup is assisted by two LED flash units. The ROG logo could be equipped with RGB light and it may also function as notification LED. There is no fingerprint scanner on the backside of the smartphone.

The ROG Phone II TENAA listing states it is powered by 2.95GHz octa-core processor. ASUS has already confirmed that the ROG Phone 2 will be launching as the world’s first smartphone powered by the all new Snapdragon 855 chipset. The Android 9 Pie OS runs on the device.

ASUS-ROG-Phone-2-TENAA

The smartphone will come in RAM options like 6 GB and 8 GB in China. It will be offered in storage choices like 128 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. The smartphone is packed with a massive battery of 5,800mAh (minimum) capacity. Its typical capacity could be 5,900mAh. The predecessor model came with a 5,000mAh battery. The handset lacks support for external storage slot.

TENAA usually lists things like fast charging and screen fingerprint in ‘special features’ section. However, both the features are not mentioned on ROG Phone 2’s TENAA listing.  The 3C listing of the smartphone has revealed that it carries support for 30W fast charging. There is a possibility that the smartphone could be equipped with an in-screen fingerprint reader.

(source 1, 2)

UP NEXT: ASUS collaborates with Tencent Games for upcoming ROG Phone 2