How to Unlock Bootloader on the Xiaomi Mi 9?

By

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Jun 16, 2019

Xiaomi Mi 9 is the flagship device of the Chinese smartphone maker. The successor of Mi 8 carries high-end specifications and features. Due to immense popularity, third-party developers have developed various new MODs, themes and custom ROMs for the device. Xiaomi Mi 9 recently attained the root access via TWRP recovery. In this guide, we will let you know the procedure to unlock bootloader on Xiaomi Mi 9.

Xiaomi Mi 9 comes equipped with a 6.39-inch display having a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC coupled with 6GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. In optics, Xiaomi added a triple rear camera module comprising of a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel sensor, and another 16-megapixel camera. There’s a 20-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. It runs on MIUI 10 based Android 9.0 Pie. The dual-SIM smartphone offers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, Bluetooth v5.00, NFC, USB Type-C, 3G, and 4G support.

Unlocking the bootloader is a significant task on any Android smartphone before customizing the firmware and rooting it. Xiaomi Mi 9 also comes with a locked bootloader and users have to unlock it, before modifying the system with new MODs. Unlocking the bootloader is a part of the rooting process. Users need to unlock the bootloader, then install the TWRP using fastboot and then root the device using Magisk or SuperSu.

Note: GizmoChina.com is not responsible for any damage to smartphone and data while unlocking the bootloader. The process will void your warranty.

Necessary Downloads

Download Google ADB and Fastboot Tools
Get latest Xiaomi USB Drivers
Download Xiaomi Mi Unlock Software

Pre-requisites:

Backup important data on your Xiaomi Mi 9.
Maintain a 50-60% battery on the device.
Carefully follow and execute the commands below.

Steps to Unlock Bootloader on Xiaomi Mi 9

Unlocking the bootloader is the first and the foremost step in attaining the root access on any device. Today, we will unlock the bootloader of Mi 9. Follow the guide carefully:

Extract/Install the Google ADB and Fastboot Tools on the PC.
Install the Xiaomi USB drivers on the PC.
Enable Developer Option by tapping the Settings > About Phone > MIUI version 7 times.
Now enable the USB Debugging and the OEM Unlock option by heading to the Settings > Developer Options.
Now login to your Mi account by heading to the Settings > Mi account > Mi Cloud > Enable Sync and Find Device. (If other devices are in sync with the same account, we suggest to disable Sync on them temporarily.)
Download and Extract the Mi Flash Unlock tool on the PC.
Upon extracting, open MiFlashUnlock.exe file from the folder and click Agree on the disclaimer page.
Enter the login details of the same Mi account you logged-in on the Mi 9.
Now boot the device into the Fastboot/Bootloader mode by pressing and holding the volume keys + Power key for about 10 seconds.
After booting into fastboot mode, now connect it to your PC via the USB cable.
The Mi Flash Tool will show the Mi device as successfully connected.
Once connected, then click on the Unlock button.
The unlocking process will start, and once again press Unlock anyway button on the following popup.
Sometimes Xiaomi will make you wait for 48-72 hours to unlock a phone when it is at 90%. Otherwise, it will complete to 100%, and you will get ‘Unlocked Successfully’ notification. (If Xiaomi bars your device under the waiting window, then you have to repeat the process from step 10.)
Reboot your device after the process is completed.

If you get into any problem, let us know via comments below. We hope you have successfully unlocked the bootloader of Xiaomi Mi 9.

Up Next: Xiaomi Mi 9T is all set to debut in the Asian market on June 20

Huawei Nova 5i Pro gets listed on Jingdong

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 16, 2019

Huawei’s Nova 5 series may actually not have three models but four. Chinese mega online store, Jingdong, has listed a fourth one called the Nova 5i Pro which should also launch alongside the Nova 5i, the Nova 5, and the Nova 5 Pro.

We don’t know what the phone looks like as the images used for the listing are of the Huawei Y9 (2019) and the Huawei P20 Pro to serve as placeholders.

The Huawei Nova 5i will come with a punch hole display and quad rear cameras. The pro version may also come with a similar design and the same number of sensors but differ with respect to the camera specs or maybe the chipset inside.

The Nova 5i is said to have a Kirin 710 processor while the Nova 5 and the Nova 5 Pro will come with Kirin 810 and Kirin 980 processors respectively.

Huawei has scheduled June 21 as the day for the launch of the new phones.

(Source, Via)

UP NEXT: Huawei seeks trademark for Hongmeng OS in Peru

Huawei P20 Lite (2019) vs Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Xiaomi Mi 9T: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 15, 2019

Despite the U.S. ban and its huge effects, Huawei did not stop releasing smartphones and it will soon launch the P20 Lite 2019, a revival of the old-gen Lite version of the P20. The handset will belong to the midrange segment and it will have a lot of competitive rivals. Its most important rivals from the best Android smartphones manufacturers released this month are the new Galaxy M40 by Samsung announced a few days ago, and the Xiaomi Mi 9T, that is the global version of the Redmi K20. This comparison will let you discover which of these competitive mid-rangers has the highest value for money in 2019.

Huawei P20 Lite (2019) vs Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Xiaomi Mi 9T

	Huawei P20 Lite 2019	Samsung Galaxy M40	Xiaomi Mi 9T
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	159.1 x 75.9 x 8.3 mm, 178 grams	155.3 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm, 168 grams	156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm, 191 grams
DISPLAY	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2310p (Full HD+), 398 ppi, LTPS IPS LCD	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, PLS TFT	6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 675, octa-core 2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, EMUI	Android 9 Pie, One UI	Android 9 Pie, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 16 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8 16 MP f/2.2 front camera	Triple 32 + 8 + 5 MP f/1.7 and f/2.2 and f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 13 + 8 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh, fast charging 18W	3500 mAh, fast charging 15W	4000 mAh, fast charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Not only flagships: now, even midrange devices come with innovative aesthetics. While Huawei P20 Lite 2019 and Samsung Galaxy M40 rock an awesome punch-hole display with a front camera embedded, the Xiaomi Mi 9T has a pop-up camera design. I would personally go for the Xiaomi Mi 9T because of its more stunning glass back, as well as its under-display fingerprint reader which allows the back cover to be cleaner. Further, the motorized slider allows having narrow bezels and no holes or notches in the display. However, note that the Xiaomi Mi 9T is thicker and also heavier than its two rivals.

Display

Even if we talk about displays, Xiaomi Mi 9T takes the first place in this comparison. While both Huawei P20 Lite 2019 and Samsung Galaxy M20 sport a classic LCD panel, Xiaomi Mi 9T has a wonderful AMOLED display with deeper blacks and vivid colors. It is even HDR compliant, a standard which furtherly improves its color reproduction, especially with multimedia content. And, unlike Samsung Galaxy M40 and Huawei P20 Lite 2019, it is protected by the strong Gorilla Glass 5.

Specs & Software

On the hardware side, it is again a victory for the Xiaomi Mi 9T. Under the hood, the handset sports an amazing Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chipset. Not the best Qualcomm’s chipset as this device is just a mid-ranger, but it rocks the most incredible Qualcomm’s SoC in the midrange sector with the best midrange GPU. Right behind it, we got the Samsung Galaxy M40 with its Snapdragon 675 which is more or less at the same level as the Snapdragon 710 (worse GPU, better CPU). Huawei P20 Lite 2019 still comes with the old Kirin 710 chipset (comparable to the Snapdragon 660). All of them come with Android 9 Pie out of the box and a customized user interface.

Camera

You may call me a Xiaomi fan, but we tested Xiaomi Mi 9T’s camera and we found it amazing, can not deny it. On the paper, it is way better than the camera departments from both the Galaxy M40 and the Huawei P20 Lite 2019, despite the latter sports a quad camera setup. Xiaomi Mi 9T has a similar setup to the vanilla Mi 9 with a 48 MP Sony main sensor, an ultrawide 13 MP lens and a telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom.

Battery

Thanks to their big 4000 mAh batteries, Huawei P20 Lite 2019 and Xiaomi Mi 9T will most likely provide a longer battery life than Galaxy M40. We believe that Xiaomi Mi 9T will last more than Huawei P20 Lite 2019 due to its AMOLED display and its efficient Snapdragon 730 chipset.

Price

The prices of these handsets strictly depend on the markets. Samsung Galaxy M40 starts from about €260/$292, Huawei P20 Lite 2019 costs €280/$315, while Xiaomi Mi 9T comes with a €300/$337 initial price. Overall, we suggest you spend a bit more to grab a unit of the Xiaomi Mi 9T as it is a way better handset than the others in this trio.

Read More: Xiaomi Mi 9T already up for grabs in the Philippines ahead of official launch

Huawei P20 Lite (2019) vs Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Xiaomi Mi 9T: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Mi 9T

PROs

Amazing cameras
Good hardware
Big battery
HDR display
Faster charging

CONS

No micro SD

Samsung Galaxy M40

PROs

Good price
Nice cameras
Micro SD slot up to 1 TB
Punch-hole display

CONS

Smaller battery

Huawei P20 Lite 2019

PROs

Big battery
Punch-hole display
Faster charging technology
Quad cameras

CONS

Lower-end chipset

Vivo Z1 Pro specs teased: Snapdragon 712 processor, 32MP selfie camera, and more

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jun 15, 2019

It was initially reported that the Vivo Z1 Pro launching soon in India is a rebranded Vivo Z5x. New details have surfaced revealing both phones are not the same.

Vivo India’s online shop has a teaser page for the phone and it contains some of the phone’s key specs. For starters, the Vivo Z1 Pro will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 712 processor. Vivo even goes on to brag that the Z1 Pro will be the first Snapdragon 712 phone in India.

The processor was announced this year alongside the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE which is still the only commercially-available phone powered by the processor. Technically, the Snapdragon 712 is a Snapdragon 710 with a higher clock speed. However, there are other new features too like support for Quick Charge 4+ and Qualcomm’s True Wireless Stereo Plus technology.

The Vivo Z1 Pro will also come with a punch hole display but rather than house a 16MP sensor like the Z5x, it will have a 32MP “In-Display Camera”.

The phone will pack a 5000mAh battery and have support for 18W fast-charging technology.

In the promo images, we can see the phone has triple rear cameras, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and an audio jack. It is also shown in the same Aurora color variant as the Z5x.

There is still no release date yet but seeing as Vivo already revealed some of its key specs, the launch should be around the corner.

By the way, you can read our review of the Z5x before the Z1 Pro is released.

(Source)

UP NEXT: The Vivo X27 gets a Symphony Summer variant, goes on sale June 18

OnePlus leaked important user data via ‘Shot on OnePlus’ App

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jun 15, 2019

OnePlus is always known for affordable smartphones and fully optimized software. However, it appears the company has missed the security of the users’ data. According to a recent report by 9to5Google, the ‘Shot on OnePlus’ app allegedly revealed important user data, including emails associated with photo submissions.

The API used by the app to transfer data from device to server does not carry any authentication or encryption for security. The API transfers all the data back and forth between the user device and the server. The unencrypted key is required to access the individual’s email address. OnePlus was made aware of the flaw in May, and now it has rectified with a fix which was rolled out last month.

The users can easily access the Shot on OnePlus app on their OnePlus devices. It allows the user to change the wallpaper on their smartphones automatically. It even allows photography enthusiasts to submit the photos taken by OnePlus smartphones after registering with Email ID. If the photo gets selected, it is made public and is applied automatically to all OnePlus devices via the Shot on OnePlus Wallpaper.

The report cites that, “It is unclear for how long this leak was happening, but because OnePlus had no reason to make this data public after the application was out, we believe is was leaking data since its release — multiple years, at least.”

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer recently launched OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro carrying Snapdragon 855 SoC and other high-end hardware.

Up next: OnePlus 7 Pro Almond color edition to go on sale in India today

(source)

Live photo of LG W10 surfaces, has an audio jack

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 15, 2019

We don’t know how many phones LG plans to release when it announces its new W-series but at the moment, we are sure there are two phones. Live photos of a phone said to be the LG W10 have leaked and they are different from the one we covered a few days ago.

According to 91 mobiles who first reported the news, the W10 is the base model in the series. As you can see in the image below, it has a curved back unlike the other one we have seen which has a flat back. We also don’t think the back is made of glass but rather metal with a glossy finish.

The LG W10 is said to have dual rear cameras. We can only see the LED flash and know the cameras are arranged vertically. There is also a fingerprint scanner in the middle.

Unlike the other LG W-series phone we have seen, this comes in purple and doesn’t have a gradient finish. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack on one side of the USB port while a speaker grille is on the opposite side.

The LG W10 has been reported to be priced under INR 15,000 (~$214). We don’t know its specs so we can’t say if LG is charging too much.

There are speculations the other models will be named W20, W30 and so on which makes sense since the base model is called the W10.

[envira-gallery id=”259266″]

Alongside the photo of the W10, another set of photos showing the front of the triple camera model has surfaced on the web. The photos confirm the display has a waterdrop notch but also shows the chin isn’t anywhere near thin.

We are still expecting LG to announce a launch date.

(Sources: 1, 2 Via)

UP NEXT: HMD Global keeps slashing the price of the Nokia 8.1 in India

Motorola One Action renders unleashes triple camera and a punch hole display

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jun 15, 2019

Motorola is working on launching One Action and One Pro under the new One series very soon. Motorola One Action has already leaked in multiple rumors revealing the design and hardware specifications. A new render has appeared via 91mobiles showing some of the important aspects of the device.

According to the render, Motorola One Action is expected to carry a punch hole display as like the Motorola One Vision. There will be a triple camera module along with a dual LED flash. Moreover, the text beside the camera module reads “117° Action Cam 2.0µm.” It means the device would feature a wide angle lens with the ability to record videos at greater frames per second.

However, the details are not yet precise, but it is expected to carry a 12.6MP primary unit with a 5MP depth camera and another wide angle lens. It may also carry another 12.6MP front-facing camera for selfies. The rear fingerprint is present in the middle with a Motorola logo on it.

Previous leaks reveal that the Motorola One Action will carry a 6.3 inch LCD display with a punch hole for the front camera. The display will feature full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2520 pixels having an aspect ratio of 21:9. The device will be featuring Exynos 9609 chipset aided with Mali G72 GPU. It will be equipped with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64/128 GB internal storage. There will be an NFC support with Android 9.0 Pie on the board. The device may debut in Blue and Gold colors.

Up Next: Motorola One Action full specifications leaked; Launch could be near

(source)

Poco Launcher 2.0 beta rolls out, has a ton of nifty features

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Jun 15, 2019

The beta version of Poco Launcher has received an important update today, so much so that the MIUI development team calls it 2.0. It adds some features and brings several updates. On top of all the adjustments, it brings in an even cleaner look with semi transparent backgrounds and a few ironed out graphics. Let’s take a closer look.

The changes are mostly about polishing the design and making the experience smoother with the app drawer. Now it can have a semi-transparent background, so you can see your wallpaper even under the white/black/gray layer. The transparency is customizable – that way you can have your precious main image and Dark Mode at the same time.

We need you!

Do you want to experience POCO Launcher 2.0? Come and join us to be a user of POCO beta. A totally new launcher journey is waiting for you.

Download POCO Launcher 2.0 at https://t.co/hSpAZSnSNp pic.twitter.com/2Kjv9JUMjo

— MIUI (@miuirom) June 14, 2019

Xiaomi has also demonstrated the launcher’s flexible app management options. Now you can create your own custom groups and add and remove apps from them easily, to ensure you don’t have to waste any time finding what you need. Things are much more streamlined than before, and things were already pretty decent before this.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 Goes Up for Pre-Order on Giztop

Outside of that, performance has been significantly improved, so much so that POCO Launcher is now much more responsive and fluid. There are also numerous adjustments to the interface and settings screen, while some annoying bugs have been fixed. It isn’t clear when the stable version of launcher will be out, as the tweet only talked about the beta version.

You are unfortunately out of luck if you wish to get enrolled in the Beta Programme as it is already full. If more slots open in the future however, you can visit this page, sign up for the program and download Poco Launcher 2.0 from the Play Store.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 officially launched with AMOLED color Display & Cheap Price tag

(Source)

Huawei may opt to use Sailfish OS fork in the future

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Jun 15, 2019

The clock is ticking for Huawei and in less than two months, it will officially be blocked from installing Google’s software on future devices. Not unless Google and Huawei are able to convince the US government otherwise, of course. With the stakes that high, Huawei was repeatedly been reported to be preparing a Plan B operating system for its future phones.

While the ARK OS that has been mentioned in the past may still be based on Android, a new report suggests that Huawei is also looking into using a Russian-made version of Jolla’s Sailfish OS. Aurora OS is a Russian-made mobile operating system based on the open-source Sailfish OS Linux distribution developed by Finnish company Jolla.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 Goes Up for Pre-Order on Giztop

Sailfish isn’t the most popular mobile operating system out there; in fact, it doesn’t show up on the radar of Android versus iOS. However, its focus on privacy and security has won over many users. Based on Nokia’s and Intel’s aborted MeeGo OS, Sailfish uses an almost completely different software stack. To date, very few commercially available phones have shipped with Sailfish OS.

Huawei is allegedly already testing Aurora on a few of its devices. Switching to a non-Android OS would be a risky move, though, considering how important app support is for the average consumer. That’s why we’re seeing Huawei reach out to app developers to publish on its AppGallery app store, and why the company is exploring Aptoide as a Play Store alternative. Completely foregoing Android is likely a last resort for the company.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 officially launched with AMOLED color Display & Cheap Price tag

(Source)

Pre-Order One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop for a Lowered Price from GeekBuying [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jun 15, 2019

Touted as an upgraded One Mix 3, the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket laptop boasts an impressive array of features.

There are two models of the One Mix 3S Yoga which include one that comes with an original stylus pen and the other that come without it. Much to the delight of those looking for an inexpensive pocket laptop, the aforesaid models have gone up for pre-order bearing lowered price tags on GeekBuying.

Moreover, we will show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money at checkout. So, without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop

The highly portable One Mix 3S Yoga proves to be an ideal assistant in your pocket. Weighing in at just about 0.65kg, this pocket laptop is a great choice for business trips, given that it offers superior performance, coupled with reliable durability.

The One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket laptop would normally set you back a pretty penny, but you can now pre-order it for a reduced price of just $899.99 from GeekBuying. This is a noteworthy reduction in the device’s original asking price of $1203.99.

An absolute steal at this price, the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket laptop packs a powerful Intel Core M3-8100Y, Dual Core,3.4GHz Max processor, along with Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, under the hood. It ships with 16GB of RAM and offers 512GB SSD storage capacity.

The device comes with a fingerprint recognition sensor, which is embedded directly into the user interface. The laptop runs Microsoft Windows 10 OS and is backed by a large 8600mAh battery so that you can use it all day and night on just a single charge.

You can visit this link to check out the full specification of the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop and avail the discount before the promo ends.

Pre-Order One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop for Just $899.99

One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop (with Original Stylus Pen)

Designed to offer precise drawing experience, this model comes with a Stylus Pen which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. This surface pen can be used to effortlessly sketch, write and erase without any sort of lag between the pen tip and your line.

The aforesaid model usually carries a steep $1159.99 price tag, but GeekBuying users can get their hands on it for a reduced price of just $929.99. As if that weren’t enough, you can extend this noteworthy discount by applying coupon code 3ZFZYWCR.

The above-mentioned coupon helps you get an extra $100 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop further down to just $919.99 before placing your order.

You can head straight to this link to avail the discount and take advantage of the coupon before it expires.

Buy One Netbook One Mix 3S Yoga Pocket Laptop, Coupon Code 3ZFZYWCR

Check Out GeekBuying 7th Anniversary Sale

Win Amazing Products By Joining the $0.01 Snatch Event on Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jun 15, 2019

Staying true to its reputation for offering the best bang for your buck, Banggood has launched the ‘Once Cent Snatch.’ In order to play, all you need to do is to place your order, invite friends, and grow your group.

Check Out
Banggood’s One Cent Snatch

On the product details page, click purchase to enter the order payment page. Once the payment process is completed, simply follow the prompts to invite a friend to join your team. Your friends need to join the team by opening the app using the link you shared to complete the order payment.

In order to be eligible for the lucky draw before the countdown comes to an end, it is imperative for you to ensure enough of your friends have joined your team. The winning results will be unveiled with an hour after the event wraps up.

While Banggood ships the orders of the winning team, those who did not win or were unable to complete a team get a refund in their BGpay account. Note that points used are non-refundable if you have used point payment.

There are various other important things you need to bear in mind before participating in this $0.01 snatch. You need the app in order to create as well as join a team. You cannot open or join more than one group.

Given that the stock of products is limited, there is a possibility that you might not be able to purchase due to insufficient stock. In the case that happens, Banggood will refund your order under the BGpay account.

It is also worth noting that winners will be selected from all completed teams. Only one member will be chosen randomly from selected teams, while the rest of the team members will not receive anything.

For the sake of an instance, a snatch round kicks off at 9:00 and comes to an end at 10:00, and there are a hundred prizes for this round with 1000 completed teams, only 100 participants will be selected as winners. A hundred teams will be selected randomly with one member from each team selected to win.

The Doogee Mix 2, Xiaomi Mi Note 3, Umidigi One Pro, the Xiaomi Redmi 6A smartphones, and the Zeblaze Thor 5, LEMFO LEM X smartwatches are currently up for snatch on the event page. You can click here to visit the promotion page and participate in the One Cent Snatch and win amazing products.

Check Out
Banggood’s One Cent Snatch

Realme C2 entry-level smartphone now available via offline stores in India

By

Jeet

-

Jun 15, 2019

In April this year, Realme launched its second entry-level smartphone in the Indian market — Realme C2, which is the successor of the Realme C1 launched last year. The smartphone sports an impressive smudge-free diamond-cut design and some interesting specifications.

Till now, the smartphone was available for purchase in India through online stores. However, from today onwards, i.e. from 15th June, the Realme C2 will also be available for purchase through offline stores across the country.

Editor’s Pick: Realme 5G smartphones coming this year, confirms Realme India CEO

It’s noteworthy that only two variants will go on sale through offline channel — 2 GB RAM with 32GB internal storage and 3GB RAM with 32GB internal storage. The 2GB RAM with 16GB internal storage model will be available from July. The phone’s pricing starts at Rs. 5,999 (approximately $86) and goes up to Rs. 7,999 (approximately $114).

Coming to the specifications, the smartphone features a 6.1-inch IPS LCD HD+ display with a dewdrop notch, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 90 percent. It is powered by the 12nm MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core processor.

The phone comes with a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual rear cameras and AI enabled front-facing camera of 5-megapixel. The smartphone lacks a fingerprint scanner, but it comes equipped with an AI facial unlock feature. It runs ColorOS 6 based on Android 9 Pie OS and is powered by a 4,000mAh battery.

Up Next: Realme X with the pop-up front-facing camera to launch in India in the second half of 2019, confirms CEO Madhav Sheth

Xiaomi Mi 9T is all set to debut in the Asian market on June 20

By

Jeet

-

Jun 15, 2019

Xiaomi recently launched the Mi 9T smartphone in Europe and now the device is all set to debut in the Asian market. Xiaomi Malaysia has confirmed that the Mi 9T will be launched in the country on 20th June.

The company has scheduled a launch event in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, which will be open to fans as well. With this, Malaysia will become the fourth market after France, Italy, and Spain to get the Mi 9T phone.

Soon after the Malaysian launch, we expect the smartphone to be available in other Asian countries as well. However, in India, the smartphone is set to get launched next month with their original names — Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro.

The company was expected to launch the Mi 9T Pro smartphone — a re-branded model of the Redmi K20 Pro. However, the launch didn’t happen as it was speculated. There’s a possibility that the company could unveil the Mi 9T Pro at the Malaysia launch event.

For the initiated, the Xiaomi Mi 9T is the re-branded version of the Redmi K20 smartphone launched last month in China. As for the pricing, the Mi 9T starts at €299 (original price is €329) for the 6GB RAM + 64GB version and €369 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB version.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Android Q beta testing roadmap for 11 Xiaomi phones confirmed

The Xoaomi Mi 9T is the company’s first smartphone to feature a pop-up selfie camera. It comes with a 6.39-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC.

The pop-up selfie camera is a 16MP sensor while the back panel houses a triple camera setup which includes a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, and a 13MP ultra-wide angle camera. The camera app has a bunch of modes including night mode and 960fps slow-motion recording.

The smartphone runs Xiaomi’s own MIUI 10, which is based on Android Pie operating system, along with features such as Game Turbo. The device is powered by a 4,000mAh battery which comes with support for 18W fast charging technology.

(Source)

Up Next: Purported Xiaomi Mi CC9e selfie phone’s specs leaked; Could it be the 3C approved M1904F3BC/T smartphone?

Check out the official Xiaomi Mi 9T Unboxing Video

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 14, 2019

Xiaomi officially took the wraps off the premium Mi 9T alongside the Mi Smart Band 4 and a couple of other products in Europe a few days back. The device is scheduled to go on sale on Monday next week. Xiaomi Mi 9T has been a regular in leaks and was strongly touted to be a rebadged Redmi K20. Is that true or false? What better way to find out if the two are the same devices than an official unboxing video by Xiaomi.

The official unboxing video posted on Xiaomi’s YouTube channel gives us a clear view of the features that come with the phone as well as what lies inside the box. Indeed, there is no doubt that the Redmi K20 and Mi 9T are similar in design.

EDITOR’S PICK: Throwback Tech Thursday: We Revisit the World’s First Camera Phone & Its Selfie Camera

The packaging box contains a free protective case as with all Xiaomi mid-range and flagship models. This is not the usual rubber case but is made of hardened plastic. The packaging box also contains the usual user manuals, an 18W charger and USB Type-C cable as well as a SIM tray ejector.

The video also highlights the features of the phone such as the on-screen fingerprint sensor and the 20MP pop-up selfie cam. There is also a 4,000 mAh battery which Xiaomi claims can last up to two days of usage. At the rear, there is a triple camera setup. We wait to see the camera samples captured using the rear shooters.

The Mi 9T will come in Black, Blue and Red colours with the Blue and Red having a gradient finish but the black has a carbon fibre finish. As stated, the device will go on sale next Monday, June 17. As for the prices, the 6+64GB version starts at €329 ($370) while the 6+128GB variant goes for €369 ($415). Check out the unboxing video from below.

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Xiaomi launches the WSKEN X1 Pro data cable with detachable magnetic Micro and USB-C heads

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 14, 2019

Since the advent of smartphones, most phones are usually launched with a micro USB charging port especially budget and mid-range models. But lately, we have seen a shift to the use of the USB Type-C interface on mid-range and flagship models as well as on tablets and even laptops. There often exist scenarios where an individual have multiple gadgets with both interfaces. It then becomes a challenge if one of the charging cables is left behind. That is where the WSKEN X1 Pro data cable just launched by Xiaomi comes in.

Although there is a USB 2.0 to Type C female-male connector, the WSKEN X1 Pro data cable brings simplicity to the entire package with a magnetic detachable connection. The cable has two heads, a Micro-USB and Type-C head. he heads can be left o the phone and when a connection is needed, it easily gets magnetized and starts charging the phone.

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The design ensures the USB interface is not attached and detached from the phone too frequently, thus protecting the USB port from damage. It also makes one-handed operation easy especially when there is a need to charge the phone while on the wheels. Also, when the wire is detached from the USB head, the chip is automatically powered off to prevent short-circuiting.

The cable comes in two lengths – one is 1.2-meter long and costs 49 yuan (~$8) while the 2-meter cable is priced at 59 yuan (~$8). The cable has a braided design and is made of flame retardant material that is resistant to heat. The high quality, oxygen-free, high-purity copper core is selected for good electrical conductivity. The wire is made of high-quality nylon, with higher toughness and high-density weaving process.

In addition, the terminal head is made of zinc alloy shell, and the surface of the shell is treated with high-density metal paint to make the handle feel comfortable and delicate. There is an indicator light which is turned on when the cable is connected to a power source.

UP NEXT: Huawei Mate X appears for sale on Taobao

(source)

A new Samsung Galaxy Tab A powered by Snapdragon 429 in the works

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 14, 2019

The emergence of phablet-sized smartphones has ensured that the demand for tablets globally continued to decline. That has not stopped a few OEMs from releasing a couple of them. Samsung has kept faith with its tablet division, churning out a new model once in a while. The tech giant unveiled the entertainment-focused Galaxy Tab S5e during the MWC 2019. Later on in March, the company released a more affordable Galaxy Tab A 8-inch with S-Pen support. Samsung seems to be planning the release of an even cheaper model crammed with entry-level specifications.

The Galaxy Tab will come with an 8-inch display with wide bezels and running Android 9.0 Pie. The tablet is yet to go official but has been listed on a couple of platforms, revealing the “Galaxy Tab A” moniker. One of such listing is the Bluetooth SIG certification the Galaxy Tab A (2019) received recently. The inventory shows the device will have five models. The difference is mainly on the presence of WiFi and LTE. Four of the models with numbers SM-T295, SM-T295C, SM-T295N, and SM-T297 come with LTE support while the fifth model with number SM-T290 is a Wi-Fi-only model. These four different LTE models are most likely to correspond to different regions. Also revealed, is the presence of Bluetooth 4.2 support.

The Galaxy Tab A (2019) with model number SM-T295 also made an appearance on Wi-Fi Alliance where it received certification. The device is expected to be equipped with dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The listing also confirmed the tablet will run on Android 9.0 Pie.

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In addition, the SM-T295 model was also verified by Google as an Android Enterprise Recommended device. Once again, it got confirmed as running Android Pie out of the box. Other specs confirmed by the listing include an 8-inch display, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. The tablet won’t have a fingerprint scanner or NFC.

The Galaxy Tab A (2019) was also spotted on the Google Play Console, revealing a few key details. One of the details is that the device will be powered by a Snapdragon 429 mobile platform featuring four Cortex A53 cores clocked at up to 2.0GHz. The listing also shows the 8-inch display will have a resolution of 800×1280. Since this is an entry-level device, there won’t be S-Pen support.

We expect the tablet to be launch any moment from now.

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(source 1, 2, 3)

Huawei Mate X appears for sale on Taobao

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Jun 14, 2019

Huawei’s Mate X allegedly scheduled to release sometime within this month, but somebody got a bit impatient. A listing for the Huawei Mate X went up on Taobao Mall earlier today for the price of 24999 yuan ($3610). Quite a bit more than the already staggering standard price of $2600. We have no idea how legitimate this listing is, though we doubt it’s real.

The Huawei Mate X was recently listed on the company’s official online store which indicated that it may go on sale in China soon. When the company had announced its 5G roadmap at the Huawei Global Analyst Conference in April, it had stated that the Mate X will be debuting in China in June.

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Yesterday, the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G edition was spotted on the database of the 3C authority of China. It indicated that it may release in the Chinese market soon. After that, the Huawei Mate X TAH-AN00 also gained approval from the 3C body. All this points towards the Chinese firm launching the 5G enabled Mate X foldable phone in China fairly soon.

The Huawei Mate X comes with folded cover display of 6.6 inches. The AMOLED screen offers 19.5:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution of 1148 x 2480 pixels. When unfolded, the Mate X gives access to an 8-inch outer OLED display that supports a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels. It comes running Android Pie with EmUI out of the box, but that could change soon.

The Kirin 980 chipset of the Mate X is paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. You also get an extra microSD card slot, which is nice. The Leica engineered quad camera setup features a 40MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MPtelephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture, a 16MP ultrawide lens with f/2.2 aperture and a ToF 3D camera. The Mate X comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader. Its packed with 4,500mAh battery that supports 55W rapid charging through USB-C.

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(Source)

Huawei Mate 30 Pro rumored to come with 90Hz display, concept renders show quad rear cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jun 14, 2019

Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro may come with one of the outstanding features of the OnePlus 7 Pro. Unconfirmed reports say the next Mate series flagship will also have a 90Hz AMOLED display.

While the OnePlus 7 Pro is definitely not the first phone with a 90Hz display or even the phone with the highest refresh rate, the popularity of OnePlus phones has brought attention to the feature. In the world of mobile phones where you innovate and or copy, or you die, it is not surprising if Huawei also wants to launch a phone with a high refresh rate. However, there is no evidence to back up this info, so we advise you take it with a pinch of salt.

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In other news, concept renders of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has also surfaced online. The design made by Phone Industry (@PhoneIndustry_) can best be described as a mix between the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the Mate 20 Pro with a few modifications.

The display stretches to the top and has a pill-shaped punch hole for dual front-facing cameras. However, the cameras are on the top left corner of the display. On the back, the phone has a rectangular camera module thanks to the addition of an extra sensor for a quad-camera setup.

[envira-gallery id=”259158″]

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is shown in Red with a semi-frosted back, in Classic Blue with gradient design, Gold White, Chrome White, Classic Red, and Classic Black. As we said, these are concept renders, so the real device may look nothing like this.

The Mate 30 Pro is said to come with a Kirin 985 processor, Barong 5000 5G modem, 5x optical zoom, and 50x digital zoom. It is also expected to have a 4200mAh battery with support for 55W SuperCharge.

(Source, Via)

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Xiaomi Android Q beta testing roadmap for 11 Xiaomi phones confirmed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jun 14, 2019

In May, Google had introduced the Android Q OS through its I/O 2019 conference. At that time, the search engine giant had added two Xiaomi phones such as Xiaomi Mi 9 and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G phones to Android Q beta testing program. Later on, the Redmi K20 Pro was also included in the Android Q beta program. Today, the Chinese firm has confirmed the roadmap of Android Q beta testing schedule for as many as 11 smartphones through its MIUI forum.

Xiaomi will begin with the beta testing of Android Q update for 9 smartphones like Xiaomi Mi 9, Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, Redmi K20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 8, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Xiaomi Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition, Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 and Redmi K20 in the last quarter of this year. In the first quarter, the Chinese firm will carry out the Android Q beta testing for Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7 Pro smartphones.

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As far as Android Q update for other Xiaomi devices, it will be rolled out after the best testing is successfully completed and all the bugs are ironed out. Probably, the stable version of Android Q update for the first 9 Xiaomi phones mentioned above could be made available in first or second quarter of 2020. The Redmi Note 7 and Note 7 Pro may receive the stable version of Android Q probably in the second quarter of 2020. Xiaomi is expected to launch the MIUI 11 update in the next months. Hopefully, the company may tag along MIUI 11 update along with Android Q update for its aforementioned smartphones.

Google is expected to introduce the final version of Android Q in August. The new OS will be first made available to Google’s Pixel devices and phones that are enrolled in the beta program such as Asus ZenFone 5z, Essential PH-1, Nokia 8.1, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, LG G8 ThinQ, OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T, OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OPPO Reno, Realme 3 Pro, Redmi K20 Por, Sony Xperia XZ3, Techno Spark 3 Pro, Vivo X27, Vivo NEX S, Vivo NEX A, Xiaomi Mi 9 and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G.

(source|via)

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Apple iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max cases are now in stock for shipping

By

Jeet

-

Jun 14, 2019

Apple is going to launch its next-generation iPhone, which is likely to be named iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max, in September. Now, ahead of the launch of these upcoming smartphones, their cases are up for sale.

Online retailer Giztop has listed two cases — one for each of the upcoming iPhone model. The cases, named Zeaplus Shield Protective Case For iPhone XI (2019) and Zeaplus Shield Protective Case For iPhone XI Max (2019), are listed for $7.99.

The cover for the devices listed online shows a square cutout in the top-left corner at the back panel and power button as well as volume rocker on the left side. At the bottom, there’s a cutout for charging connector.

Also, the case cover confirms that the smartphone will come with a square module on the top-left corner that will house the multiple camera sensors as well as the LED flash. As expected, both smartphones will come with the same design.

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Since the current-generation iPhone already has a dual camera setup, the company is planning to add yet another camera sensor in the setup and thus, the square-shaped camera housing design will be adopted for housing three camera sensors.

Just like the predecessor model, the Apple iPhone XI is expected to come equipped with a 5.8-inch display. It is speculated that the iPhone XI and the other upcoming iPhones will be coming with a slightly reduced notch and bezels and could also have complex sensors required Face ID.

Expected to get launched in September, both the smartphones may feature similar technical specifications, but the iPhone XI Max will be arriving with a larger display and a bigger battery.

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(Sources – 1, 2)