Unlocking Bootloader is a fantasy for the developers and the geeks who love to modify the firmware on Android devices. OnePlus 7 Pro recently attained root access with unofficial TWRP recovery. Many users are fascinated by the new development, but most of them are unaware of the unavailability of Widevine L1 certification.
Widevine is a digital rights management component used by Android MediaDRM and Chrome Web Browser to ensure security for video content. It is responsible for the stream quality on various platforms such as NetFlix, Amazon Prime, and other networks. The device running Widevine L1 certification is open for the highest quality of video streaming available. However, the Widevine L3 is limited to 480p or lowest video quality. It further enhances content protection, video playback, standardized format, legacy system and ensure device security.
As like of the OnePlus 6 and 6T, the latest flagship of the Chinese smartphone maker also gets Widevine L3 certified once its bootloader is unlocked. In a recent thread on XDA Forums, users are reporting about the inability to watch high-quality video content from premium streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others.
Apple has announced a new iPod Touch. Other than a new chipset and a new storage variant, nothing else has changed on the hardware side. Nevertheless, there are some cool new software features too.
The new iPod Touch now comes with the A10 Fusion processor which powers the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The SoC is paired with 32GB or 128GB of storage. Apple has also added a new 256GB variant. With the new A10 chips, the iPod Touch now supports AR games. Apple says it will also support Apple Arcade, its gaming service set to launch this fall.
The screen remains 4-inches in size with a 1136 x 640 resolution. There is an 8MP f/2.4 camera on the rear and a 1.2MP f/2.2 camera in front for FaceTime. The new iPod Touch allows you to FaceTime up to 32 people at once.
There is Bluetooth 4.1, dual-band Wi-Fi, and an audio jack. The device still charges via a lightning port and Apple claims its battery will last up to 40 hours for music playback and 8 hours for video playback.
The iPod Touch comes in Space Gray, Gold, Silver, Pink, Blue, and Red (Product RED). The 32GB version is priced at $199, the 128GB version will sell for £299, and the new 256GB version is priced at $399. It is already available for purchase on Apple’s online store.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is yet to get a new release date following the string of display issues that plagued review units. Huawei’s Mate X won’t be arriving soon too with the troubles the manufacturer is currently facing. If you want another foldable device from a top manufacturer, then you may want to look forward to Sony’s Xperia F. However, you will have to wait until next year.
A report has surfaced that reveals Sony is developing a device that is currently referred to as the Xperia F 5G. The Japanese phone maker is said to be in talks with Samsung to supply OLED displays with a 21:18 aspect ratio.
The name alone hints at the device having a foldable display. However, the aspect ratio also contains hidden info. The new Xperia 1 has an aspect ratio of 21:9 which means this device with an aspect ratio of 21:18 is similar to having two Xperia 1 phones side-by-side. The only way for this design to work is if it is foldable.
The source also says the Xperia F 5G will launch in 2020 alongside the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and from the name, we know it is also a 5G device. There are speculations that its arrival alongside the next-gen Sony console may mean it will have some gaming features.
Sony says its devices are designed to provide entertainment, so it won’t be unusual if the Xperia F 5G has special features tied to the PS5. And with it supporting 5G, it may be the birth of new ways for owners to play console-grade games on their smartphone.
Huawei is going through rough days due to the ongoing trade war. Google recently suspended Huawei Technologies license to use Android operating system services. Although, the search giant later extended support for 90 days. Huawei is working to fade away the impact of the US government’s trade embargo. Various companies like Intel, Google, Microsoft, Fedex have ceased ties with Huawei. The Chinese company is struggling to cope up with the sudden developments. However, Samsung has launched a promotional activity in Singapore to lure Huawei smartphone users.
Samsung introduced a new offer for Huawei customers to trade-in their smartphones for Galaxy S10 device. The interested users can get a discount of upto SG$755 (US$550 or 3,800 yuan) for Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Whereas, the Huawei P20 Pro can be exchanged for SG$560 (US$410 or 2,833 yuan) and P20 for SD$445 (US$325 or 2,245 yuan). Huawei Mate 20 is going for SG$545 (US$400 or 2,764 yuan) and Nova 3i for SG$300 (US$220 or 1520 yuan). The users can benefit from the promotional activity until May 31.
It is a welcome offer for the Huawei users, as the company’s future without Android looks quite dark.
Huawei smartphone sales have impacted a lot due to the ongoing trade war. Many carriers across the globe have postponed the launches of upcoming Huawei devices. Japan’s SoftBank Corp. and KDDI, Britain’s EE and Vodafone are among the carriers which are frisking away from the launch of new Huawei smartphones.
At present, the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer’s operations have seized to 50% of the actual market. The recent developments have ruined Huawei’s plan to dethrone Samsung in the coming time.
To recover from the impact of the US ban, Huawei is now looking to raise $1 billion funds.
After these turbulent week, it only makes sense that Huawei wants to hurry their own OS. Huawei’s HongMeng OS has allegedly been in the works for a while now, but they’ve refrained from releasing it due to their connection with Google. Now that Android is no longer viable, the Chinese giant plans to roll out the new OS in June.
The big question a lot of people have is regarding app support on HongMeng OS. To alleviate any problems, the OS will be compatible with all Android apps and they can also be recompiled to improve performance. As for how they’ll be distributed now that Play Store is gone, we’re either going to see Aptoide on board or Huawei’s App Gallery become the main app store.
It’s been years since we’ve really seen a company come up with something to Rival Android. The last time we saw something like this, it was Samsung with their Tizen OS. In fact, it seems like Tizen is the closest comparison in that it’s going to be used on so many different devices. HongMeng will need to replace Android and Windows for Huawei, as well as all their other miscellaneous gadgets like Android Wear smartwatches.
Huawei is going hard, and it seems like they may have grand plans to make their own ecosystem here. The whole Huawei ban in the grand China vs US debacle isn’t good, but it’s definitely made for some of the most interesting and exciting times for this Android fan, and we’re eager to see what’s going to happen next. Could Huawei’s popularity finally bring a valid Android competitor?
Huawei is said to be reviewing its relationship with the US-based multinational courier services provider, FedEx after it reportedly diverted a couple of Asia bound shipments to the US. This screw up comes at a time when China and US tensions are at an all-time high. FedEx has confirmed this mistake.
Huawei P30
There were four shipments in total that were rerouted or attempted to be rerouted to the US. Two shipments originating from one of Huawei’s suppliers in Japan were headed to its China branch, while the other two originated from another supplier from Vietnam and were headed for the company’s branches in Asia. The shipments from Japan were rerouted, without authorization from Huawei or its sender, to the US. The other two shipments from Vietnam were also attempted to be rerouted to the US.
FedEx has said that these shipments were ‘misrouted in error’ and it was not made on the directions of any third party.
“This is an isolated issue limited to a very small number of packages,” said FedEx, in a statement to Reuters, referring to the four parcels affected. “We are aware of all shipments at issue and are working directly with our customers to return the packages to their possession.”
The company has even formally published an apology letter on China’s Weibo regarding this goof up. It reiterates that this was a shipping error and there are no external third parties involved.
However, considering the rising tensions between the two world superpowers, Huawei didn’t take it lightly. In a statement to the Reuters, Huawei spokesperson said,
“The recent experiences where important commercial documents sent via FedEx were not delivered to their destination, and instead were either diverted to, or were requested to be diverted to, FedEx in the United States, undermines our confidence. We will now have to review our logistics and document delivery support requirements as a direct result of these incidents,”
Huawei also confirmed that the said shipments only had documents. So, there wasn’t any technology involved.
The timing of this goof up from FedEx couldn’t have come at the worst time. With even non-US companies like ARM and Panasonic struggling to keep relationship with Huawei, the company is in a tight spot right now. After this, we’ll have to wait and see if Huawei continues to work with FedEx in the future.
A new update is rolling out to the Redmi Go that brings May’s security patch to the device. The update already arrived on my device today and it weighs in at about 105MB.
This marks the second security update I have received since I got my hands on the phone. The Redmi Go arrived with Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition) with January’s security patch. An update along with February’s security patch was available after setup and now it has received May’s security patch.
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It appears Redmi will release security updates every three months for the device. However, there is still no news of an update to Android Pie (Go Edition).
The Redmi Go has a 5.0-inch HD display, a Snapdragon 425 processor and 1 GB of RAM. Initially, it was only available with 8GB of storage but Redmi announced a 16GB version for the Indian market yesterday. We don’t know if this new version will eventually replace the 8GB version just as the Redmi Note 7S will replace the Redmi Note 7 in India. There is also no news of the new storage variant being available outside India.
The rest of the specs are an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie camera, a 3.5mm audio jack, a MicroUSB port, dual SIM slots, a dedicated MicroSD card slot, and a 3000mAh battery.
OnePlus launched the new flagship series – OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro earlier this month carrying high-end specifications. Both the devices are on sale in India, China, the US, and some European countries. The device is termed as the best selling smartphone under the premium category in India and China. Amid these huge sales, developers on XDA started playing with the code to offer customizations, custom recoveries and root access on the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Before you start experimenting with the OnePlus 7 Pro, users must unlock the bootloader to install TWRP, Magisk, SuperSu and any other MOD. By default, the ability to change anything in the firmware is restricted from users. The unlocking process will allow you to flash SuperSu and Magisk to root device.
Note: Unlocking bootloader will void the device’s warranty. Users can brick their device if steps are not followed properly. In any case, GimoChina is not held responsible for any damage to the device or data. You can proceed at your own risk.
Unlocking Bootloader will lead to the seizure of Widevine L1 Certification. It is responsible for streaming premium content at higher resolutions.
Procedure to Unlock Bootloader of OnePlus 7 Pro
Prerequisite:
Backup data: It is always recommended to backup important data from your device. Bootloader Unlocking will always factory reset your device resulting in loss of data. We always advise keeping a copy of your essential data on another device.
Enable Developer Options: Users are required to enable Developer options by heading into Settings –> About phone, and then tap “Build number” field 7 times. It gives the user the ability to unlock the bootloader.
Enable Debugging Mode: It can be enabled by going to the settings -> Open developer option -> Enable USB Debugging.
Enable OEM Unlocking: It is a step required for all the OnePlus devices. Users need to enable it by heading to System Settings > Developer options and then toggle it on. After that, press enable on the new popup window.
Install Fastboot on your Computer: Install Fastboot on your Windows/MAC/Linux from here.
Steps: Unlock OnePlus 7 Bootloader
Navigate to the folder where you’ve installed/extracted Fastboot drivers.
Open CMD or Powershell Window by pressing Shift+Right click in the same folder.
Now connect OnePlus 7 Pro to the computer with USB.
Type the below command to see whether the device is connected or not:
adb devices
A pop-up will appear on the device requesting to allow USB Debugging, Tap OK.
Now reboot your phone into bootloader:
adb reboot bootloader
Make sure your device is connected with the computer:
fastboot devices
Type the following command and press enter:
fastboot oem unlock
Now navigate to “Unlock the bootloader” option by using the volume button and select it with the power button.
The bootloader will be unlocked after the device reboots.
Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the bootloader of OnePlus 7 pro.
With the Redmi K20 series out of the way, the next anticipated launch is the Meizu 16Xs. Meizu will announce the phone on Thursday, May 30. The device has been reported to have a triple rear camera setup, one of which is an ultra-wide angle camera. Camera samples showing this lens in action have been published online.
Meizu 16Xs standard image sample
The pictures were posted on Weibo by a Meizu engineer and show a standard photo and an ultra-wide angle photo of the same location. The Meizu 16Xs will be the manufacturer’s first triple camera phone.
The ultra-wide angle photo is getting a lot of praise for practically having no barrel distortion. Barrel distortion is an aberration common to ultra-wide angle lens and what it does is curve straight lines inwards. This happens when the field of view of the lens is wider than the size of the sensor. The camera tries to compensate by bending straight lines to fit in. The effect is usually corrected by post-processing software and it seems the Meizu 16Xs does a very good job in doing that.
Meizu 16Xs ultra-wide angle camera sample
The Meizu 16Xs will come with a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner. It will be powered by a 2.0Ghz octa-core processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It will have a 16Mp selfie camera and a 48MP + 5MP +8MP triple rear camera setup. Meizu will include a 3900mAh battery and ship the phone with Android Pie pre-installed.
Xiaomi unveiled the budget Redmi 7A towards the end of last week in an online press conference. While the features of the model were revealed, the pricing and availability details were not revealed. The Chinese tech giant has today announced the Redmi 7A price as part of activities during the Redmi K20 series launch event.
The Redmi 7A came with a 5.45-inch display with the 18:9 aspect ratio. The device saw a return to the use of Qualcomm SOC by Xiaomi after launching the Redmi 6A with an Helio A22 chipset. The device features a Snapdragon 439 chipset paired with 2GB RAM. Xiaomi deviated from precedence by launching a 16GB storage variant at the same time with a 32GB storage option. In the past, the 32GB variant is usually launched a couple of months after the initial launch.
The budget model also doesn’t disappoint in the camera department, the device is equipped with a 5MP front-facing camera which support AI beauty selfies and Face Unlock. At the rear, there is a 13MP sensor with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF).
As for the prices, the Redmi 7A 2GB+16GB variant is available for 549 yuan ($79) while the 2GB+32GB version has a price tag of 599 yuan ($86). This makes the Redmi 7A the cheapest Redmi A series model that has been launched till date. As a reminder, the Redmi 6A started at 599 yuan for the 16GB storage option. This is despite the device packing a big 4000mAh battery which also happens to be the first time a Redmi budget model will have a 4000mAh battery capacity. The device even upgrades the charger from 5W to 10W for faster charging. The Redmi 7A is expected to go on its first sale on June 6 but reservation has commenced today in China.
Xiaomi is a major investor in Huami which in turn invests in Oclean, a smart electric toothbrush manufacturer. A new report has revealed that Huami and Oclean will jointly release the world’s first electric toothbrush with a touchscreen.
An image of the electric toothbrush was shared on Weibo earlier today by a user called Lie Feng. It shows what appears to be a cross between an Oclean electric toothbrush and a Mi Band 3 (without the strap).
Oclean toothbrushes generally have to be paired to an app which will let you customize your cleaning schedules and set alerts to remind you to clean your teeth. But with the incorporation of a touch display, owners may not need to get into the app to view certain details such as cleaning score or battery life of the toothbrush. However, you will still need to open the app to get a detailed cleaning analysis.
Unlike the Mi Band 3, the display of the toothbrush is a color one. However, the overall design greatly resembles the third generation Mi Band. The source of the image has also shared images of customized versions of the upcoming toothbrush. One has an Iron Man theme while the other has an Avengers: End game theme. So this is probably the result of the partnership between Marvel and Huami.
Xiaomi’s Redmi brand is already making waves with its top-notch, quality products that are offered at affordable prices. While we have expected the company to launch smartphones under the new brand. Nothing prepared us for the slew of products that are already under its kitty like the popular Redmi Airdots, washing machine, airconditioner. The latest addition to the growing list is the Redmi suitcase with a 20-inch size in addition to the Redmi laptop.
The Redmi suitcase was announced today during the Redmi K20 series launch event where the brand also announced a new notebook laptop. The suitcase keeps up with the affordable pricing which Xiaomi’s Redmi brand is known for. It is priced at 299 Yuan ($43).
The Redmi Suitcase has an eye-catching appearance with its red paint job. The Redmi logo is crested on one corner in white cutom font. The case is made of 3 layers of Costron PC material build to have strong impact resistance. The surface has a delicate matte finish. It comes with a TSA password lock which makes it easy for customs to open using the multi-country universal TSA special key to open the suitcase for inspection while the owner is in transit. This ensures they don’t damage the locks.
There are four wheels that can rotate 360° installed on the suitcase. The wheels are wear-resistant and are made from high-elastic TPE material, which has good load-bearing and shock-absorbing capabilities. There is also a trolley handle manufactured from all-aluminium alloy and coloured in dark brown which blends well with the red suitcase. The handle can be adjusted up to four gears. The lever handle is reinforced and firmer. It also fits the palm comfortably.
The interior of the Redmi Suitcase is well-organized, with several partitions created using flexible clothing material. There is also a multi-functional mesh pocket to keep clothing and belongings in place. The partitions are made from polyester fiber fabrics commonly used in clothing and home textiles. It is soft and skin-friendly.
The Redmi Suitcase will go on sale with the K20 series for 299 yuan ($43). Interestingly, Xiaomi will offer the suitcase for 199 yuan ($28) to the first batch of fans who purchase the Redmi K20 series model but this will be on a “first come, first served” basis.
Oppo and Vivo are launching a lot of smartphones focused on the quality-price ratio, and they are becoming a serious menace to Xiaomi and the most important smartphones manufacturers. This goes all in favor of the final consumer, but it becomes harder for the consumer to choose the perfect device for his needs. Each of the recently-announced Oppo Reno Z, Realme 3 Pro, and Vivo Z5x is a best-buy and we highly recommend these handsets to a lot of people because of their advanced features at very reasonable prices. Given that they are among the best devices you can buy for about €200, we are going to compare them in order to establish which one has the highest value for money.
Oppo Reno Z vs Oppo Realme 3 Pro vs Vivo Z5x
Oppo Realme 3 Pro
Oppo Realme 3 Pro
Vivo Z5x
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
157.3 x 74.9 x 9.1 mm, 186 grams
156.8 x 74.2 x 8.3 mm, 172 grams
162.39 x 77.33 x 8.85 mm, 204 grams
DISPLAY
6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, AMOLED
Dual 48 + 5 MP f/1.7 and f/2.4
32 MP f/2.0 front camera
Dual 16 + 5 MP f/1.7 and f/2.4
25 MP f/2.0 front camera
Triple 16 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.7 and f/2.2 and f/2.4
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY
3950 mAh, fast charging 20W with VOOC 3.0
4045 mAh, fast charging 20W with VOOC 3.0
5000 mAh, Fast Charging 18W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Design
Despite we are talking about very affordable handsets, the design is not a weak point of Oppo Reno Z, Vivo Z5x and Realme 3 Pro. They all come with stunning gradient backs, but the materials play an important role here. While Realme 3 Pro is entirely made of plastic, the Oppo Reno Z has a glass back and even a more original rear design. While I like the Oppo Reno Z more than Realme 3 Pro, my favorite one is the Vivo Z5x because of its punch-hole display. Goodbye waterdrop notch: this smartphone gets rid of display bezels thanks to a more futuristic and less invasive in-display front camera.
Display
Despite it is not a punch-hole display, the best screen belongs to the Oppo Reno Z. It is the only device of this trio to feature an AMOLED panel, with vivid colors and deep blacks. The AMOLED panel also allows the presence of an in-display fingerprint reader that is more comfortable than the rear-mounted fingerprint scanners found on the Realme 3 Pro and the Vivo Z5x. An advantage of the Vivo Z5x is its larger screen diagonal: 6.53 inches.
Specs & Software
The hardware department is the key feature of each of these handsets, as all of them are equipped with an upper-midrange chipset while being sold at a lower-midrange price. Vivo Z5x and Realme 3 Pro come with an octa-core Snapdragon 710 SoC which is better compared to the Helio P90 mounted on the Oppo Reno Z, with a higher clock frequency, a better GPU, and a better 10 nm production process. Between Vivo Z5x and Realme 3 Pro, the former wins the hardware comparison because it sports up to 8 GB of RAM. All of them come with Android 9 Pie out of the box and a customized UI.
Camera
Despite it has no triple camera unlike the Vivo Z5x, Oppo Reno Z wins the camera comparison thanks to a better primary sensor which comes with a 48 MP resolution and a bright f/1.7 aperture. It clicks more detailed shots thanks to its Quad Bayer technology and it can even record 4K videos. Oppo Reno Z wins even when it comes to the front camera, with a great 32 MP selfie snapper.
Battery
Vivo Z5x may have a worse camera, but it has a mammoth 5000 mAh battery and it can last way more than both Oppo Reno Z and Realme 3 Pro on a single charge. There is even a fast-charging technology, so it will not take so long to fully charge that huge 5000 mAh unit.
Price
In the Asian, Oppo Reno Z, Vivo Z5x, and Realme 3 Pro are all sold for about €200/$225, so you should not mind about the price difference. Overall, Vivo Z5x is the best one for me as it comes with a bigger battery, amazing performances, and an innovative design. But some may like the Oppo Reno Z more due to its better display, camera, and UD fingerprint reader.
We’ve known that Huami’s working on some form of product tie-in with Marvel, but we didn’t expect it to come so soon. Just earlier today media publications began receiving invites to an upcoming Huami and Amazfit event. What’s cool is that these invites pay tribute to Iron Man and Marvel in a nice way, while not being tacky or overdone.
Written on the invites, we’ve got the date of the launch event, that being the 3rd of June. Surrounding that, we’ve got the words “Proof that Amazfit has a heart”. Any Marvel fan knows this is an homage to Iron Man, specifically the words that are engraved on his Arc Reactor. We’ve also got a poster that further pays tribute with the Arc Reactor itself!
This really cool, and it’s a great way to garner interest from Marvel fans. Now, what new products we’ll see at the event, we still don’t know. We expect to see a brand new Amazfit smartwatch make an appearance, as well as a slew of other miscellaneous Marvel branded products. We’ve actually seen a few already with some new Huami OCLEAN toothbrushes that heavily feature the Avengers in all their cavity-fighting glory.
Whatever comes around, we do hope the Avengers incorporation is tasteful and good. While I love Marvel as much as anybody these days, it’s never pleasant to go over the top with representation. Designs should remain appealing regardless of what the overarching theme is. I’m hoping the designs here remain sleek and tasteful while still retaining the Marvel Avengers theming.
A recent listing on Jingdong (JD.com) for the Mi 9 Transparent Edition brought to light the need to properly check if the memory variant on offer for any smartphone officially exists. The Mi 9 Transparent Edition was listed with an 8GB+128GB variant but the Mi 9 Transparent edition is only available in 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB memory variants.
The error was spotted by a netizen who reached out to Xiaomi‘s product director Wang Teng-Thomas to find out if such memory variant existed. The product director revealed that the Mi 9 Transparent edition with 8GB+128GB storage wasn’t produced. But then, the model was listed with a price tag of 3359 yuan, lower than the 3999 yuan price for the 8GB+256GB variant. Except Xiaomi is working on the 128GB storage variant, the listing could be fraudulent. Even the 3999 yuan price for the 256GB variant is higher than that on Xiaomi’s official website where the 8GB+256GB variant of the Mi 9 Transparent version is listed for 3699 yuan. Our check reveals the option to select 8GB+128GB variant for the Mi 9 Transparent Edition has been disabled.
The Mi 9 is Xiaomi’s flagship for 2019. It has an 8GB+128GB variant, as well as 6GB+128GB. The Transparent version is available in 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB memory.
In April, OPPO had launched the Snapdragon 710 SoC powered OPPO Reno smartphone and the Snapdragon 855 chipset driven Reno 10x Zoom flagship phone. Today, the Chinese firm has introduced the Reno and Reno 10x Zoom smartphones in India. These phones have arrived with respective starting prices of Rs. 32,990 (~$475) and Rs. 39,990 (~$575).
OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom Price and Availability in India
The OPPO Reno that comes with 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage is priced at Rs. 32,990 (~$475). The Reno 10x Zoom editions such as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage respectively cost Rs. 39,990 (~$575) and Rs. 49,990 (~$720).
The Reno series of smartphones will be available for pre-orders from today through all OPPO stores, Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm Mall, Snapdeal and Tata CLIQ. These handsets will be releasing in the Indian markets on June 7. There is 10 percent cashback offer for HDFC bank card users. There is additional 10 percent discount on exchange powered by Instacash. It is also offering one-year assured buyback offer. The Chinese manufacture is also providing one-time screen replacement for the buyers.
OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom Specifications and Features
The OPPO Reno comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with notch-less design. On the other side, the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom is fitted with a 6.6-inch notch-less AMOLED display. Both phones are equipped with in-display fingerprint scanners and Gorilla Glass 6 protection.
The Snapdragon 710 fuels the OPPO Reno whereas the 10x Zoom model is powered by Snapdragon 855 mobile platform. The Reno houses a 3,765mAh battery while the advanced 10x Zoom model has a bigger 4,065mAh battery. Both smartphones are equipped with support for 20W VOOC 3.0 Flash Charge technology. The ColorOS 6.0 based Android 9 Pie OS comes preinstalled on the OPPO Reno of smartphones.
There is a 48-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup on the rear side of the OPPO Reno. The 10x Zoom smartphone has a triple camera setup on its rear which includes a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor, a periscope telephoto lens of 13-megapixel sensor and 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. Both phones are fitted with “shark fin” shaped pop-up camera module that includes a 16-megapixel sensor and an LED flash. The other features of the Reno series include dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, dual-band GPS frequency and USB-C. The OPPO Reno features a 3.5mm audio jack, whereas the Reno 10x Zoom lacks it.
Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi has made its big move in establishing itself as an independent brand. After announcing the flagship Redmi K20 Pro and K20 models, Redmi has made its entry in the notebook market with the brand new RedmiBook 14. The new notebook offers powerful internals in a portable form factor, for professionals on the move.
The RedmiBook 14 will run parallel to Xiaomi’s own Mi Notebooks and comes with an all metal sandblasted anodized body. The laptop features a 14-inch Full HD display with narrow 5.75mm bezels and a solid 81.2% screen to body ratio. The screen comes with an anti-glare matte coating to ensure good display visibility in the daytime. The Redmi notebook is relatively lightweight at 1.5Kgs and comes with a 19mm full-sized keyboard. Unlike the new MacBooks, the RedmiBook boasts a number of ports like HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB 2.0 port.
Inside, the RedmiBook 14 will offer up to Intel Core i7 (8565U) with NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics. There’s a couple of cheap i5 options as well. You can choose up to 512GB SSD storage. The new notebook comes with an efficient cooling system and boasts a long 10 hours of battery life. It supports ultra-low power standby as well as Xiaomi’s Smart Unlock 2.0, wherein you can unlock the RedmiBook 14 in just 1.2 seconds with your Mi Band 3. Other features include DTS surround sound and genuine Microsoft Office Home and Student editions.
Pricing for the RedmiBook 14 are as follows:
i5 + 256GB – 3999 Yuan ($579)
i5 + 512GB – 4299 Yuan ($622)
i7 + 512GB – 4999 Yuan ($723)
Appointments for the first sale starts on June 1, and the laptop will go on sale on June 11 at exactly 12 AM.
The RedmiBook 14 is indeed a compelling product in the laptop segment. In its pursuit of diversification, expect a lot more such products from Redmi in the coming months.
Redmi has officially taken off covers from the first Redmi K-series flagship killer smartphones through an unveil event in China. The Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro are first the notch-less display smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer. The Redmi K20 is upper mid-range phone fueled by the Snapdragon 730, whereas the Snapdragon 855 flagship chipset is present under the hood of the K20 Pro. These phones have arrived with an enticing starting price of 1,999 Yuan (~$289).
Redmi K20 Pro Specifications and Features
The Redmi K20 and K20 Pro phones have arrived with identical design. The rear shell of K20 Pro features 3D curved glass styled with unique pattern, whereas its frontside is mainly occupied by the notch-less display. With slim bezels surrounding the screen, smartphone offers a screen-to-body ratio of 92 percent. The K20 Pro houses a 6.39-inch AMOLED display that offers a tall aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The AMOLED screen is integrated with the latest 7th generation in-display fingerprint reader. These phones also support full DC dimming and eye protection mode.
The Snapdragon 855 chipset powers the phone with up to 8 GB of RAM. There is a 4,000mAh battery inside the phone that is coupled with 27W rapid charging. It comes with 8-layer of graphite sheet for heat dissipation. It possesses up to 256 GB of inbuilt storage but lacks support for microSD card. The MIUI 10 based Android 9 Pie OS comes preloaded on the device. For enhanced gaming experience, it carries support for Game Turbo 2.0. The company will be selling 179 Yuan worth custom gamepad for the smartphone.
The Redmi K20 Pro has a pop-up selfie camera of 20-megapixel with f/2.0 aperture. The rear shell of the phone features a triple camera unit. It includes Sony IMX586 48-megapixel main sensor with f/1.75 aperture, a 124.8-degrree 13-megapixel superwide lens with f/2.4 aperture and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture and 2x optical zoom capabilities. The triple rear cameras are blessed with features like dual LED flash, AI scene recognition, night scene mode, handheld super night scene mode and 960 fps slow-motion video recording. The Redmi K20 and K20 Pro are equipped with other features like Hi-Res audio, dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, dual-frequency GPS, USB-C and 3.5mm headphone slot.
The Redmi K20 borrows features like fingerprint sensor embedded notch-less AMOLED display, 20-megaapixel selfie camera, 48-megapixel triple camera setup and 4,000mAh battery from the Redmi K20 Pro smartphone. Instead of the Sony IMX586 sensor, the Redmi K20 features Sony IMX582 48-megapixel sensor in its triple camera unit.
Also, instead of the SD855 chip, the Redmi K20 is driven by the 8nm Snapdragon 730 mobile platform. It is assisted by up to 6 GB of RAM. The highest configuration variant of the phone features up to 128 GB of internal storage. The Redmi K20’s battery is equipped with support for 18W rapid charging.
Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro Variants and Pricing
Here are the variants of the Redmi K20 series along with their pricing:
Redmi K20 Pro
6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 2,499 Yuan (~$362)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,599 Yuan (~$376)
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,799 Yuan (~$405)
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – 2,999 Yuan (~$435)
Redmi K20
6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage – 1,999 Yuan (~$289)
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage – 2,099 Yuan (~$304)
8GB RAM + 128GB storage – 2599 Yuan (~$376)
The Redmi K20 and K20 Pro will be available in gradient color variants of Red and Glacier Blue. These phones will also come in Carbon Black model. Few days before the launch of the Redmi K20 series, the Chinese company had allowed buyers to pre-order the Redmi K20 series by a nominal fee. These buyers can make the remaining payments today and tomorrow.
The pre-sales of the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro smartphones begins today once again at 6 PM (local time) in China. The sale of the Redmi K20 will begin on June 1 at 10 AM whereas the K20 Pro will be releasing in the market on June 10. There is no word on the international availability of the Redmi K20 series. Rumors have it that these phones may sell as Xiaomi Mi 9T and Mi 9T Pro outside of China.
What’s your opinion on the specifications and pricing of the Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro? Share us your views by posting your comments below.
ZTE‘s sub-brand Nubia have gone ahead and began releasing their Z17 Android P update. For now, the update has only been pushed to a small number of users for testing. If things go well, the company plans to promptly push the update to all Nubia Z17 users. Below is a changelog of the new features and fixes.
Nubia Z17 Android 9.0 update changes:-
Android version upgraded to Android 9.0 P
Notification center has been sped up
Replying to messages is faster
Optimized visual effects for applications
Optimized animations for smoother operation
Over 100 minor optimizations
The Nubia Z17 version of Android P also claims to have fixed some of the problems from Android itself. If so, then that’s a nice addition as opposed to just sending out the update. I’ve listed some of the named changes and fixes below if you’d like to take a closer look.
Optimized sound quality and effects in certain situations
Fixed SMS error messages
Optimized overall camera experience
Fixed camera error messages
Optimized card display effect of multitasking tab
Optimized fingerprint functionality
Optimized splitscreen experience
Optimized system performance
Fixed Clock app errors
If you’re a Nubia Z17 user and are awaiting the new update, you should check your device. The update will be pushed OTA, which means you should check the “System Update” section of your settings. Simply go there, search for the update and you should find out whether it here or not. Good luck, and tell us how it goes once you’re updated!
All the latest news regarding Meizu has been about their upcoming device, the Meizu 16Xs. While I’m quite eager to see that device considering I love Meizu, some other news has shown up that’s also quite interesting. A Meizu product manager teased a poster on Weibo that basically confirms Flyme 8 is imminent, and promptly deleted it. Will we see it launch alongside the Meizu 16Xs on the 30th of May?
It makes a lot of sense to launch a new version of their UI alongside a new device. It lets you show off all the new functions on shiny new hardware, and it’s just an effective way to build excitement. Google does it, Xiaomi does it, and Meizu’s been doing it for a long time now. If it’s true, then it adds to the list of things I’ll be excited to see come the Meizu 16Xs launch day.
The Meizu 16Xs will be arriving with a notch-less display of 6.2 inches. The AMOLED screen will offer full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2232 pixels and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The display of the phone will be embedded with an in-screen fingerprint reader. The handset will be backed by a 4,000mAh battery, and may feature a 48MP triple camera setup.
We’ve no idea what SoC the device will come with, since we’ve received conflicting reports. It’s possible we’ll see a Snapdragon 710, but newer reports claim a Snapdragon 675. On top of all this, we’ve got the new features we can expect to see from Flyme 8 that we have yet to hear about. It’s certainly quite an exciting time to be a Meizu fan, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of it.
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