Redmi K20 to come with seventh-generation in-display fingerprint scanner

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May 22, 2019

The Redmi K20 flagship phone will be made official on May 28. An advanced version of the phone called Redmi K20 Pro will be announced the Redmi K20 handset. The Chinese firm is now busy teasing on the specifications of the smartphone. Through recent teasers, it confirmed the camera details and battery size of the Redmi K20 phone. Redmi has today confirmed that the smartphone will be equipped with a seventh-generation in-display fingerprint reader.

The Xiaomi Mi 9 flagship phone that was announced in February is equipped with a fifth-generation optical in-screen fingerprint scanner. The upcoming Redmi K20 and K20 Pro phones will be equipped with seventh-generation version of the screen fingerprint sensor. According to Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing, screen fingerprint unlocking system of the Redmi K20 is equipped with 3P lens-type optical fingerprint scanner. It can be said that a small macro camera is installed under the screen of the phone.

The hardware upgrade comes in the form of 7.2micron ultra-large pixels, which is 100 percent higher than the photosensitive area of the predecessor generation. The fingerprint scanning area has been also increased by 15 percent on the seventh-generation version.

The M1903F10A, M1903F10T and M1903F10C smartphone that was approved yesterday by 3C authority seems to be the upcoming Redmi K20 phone. The handset is expected to arrive with support for 18W rapid charging. It is speculated that the Redmi K20 phone could be arriving outside of China as Xiaomi Mi 9T. The 3C body has also certified M1903F11A, M1903F11T and M1903F11C phone alongside the Redmi K20 handset. Since it carries support for 27W fast charging, it could be the Redmi K20 Pro smartphone.

Read More: Top 3 Xiaomi-Branded Projectors You Can Buy at Lowered Prices from Gearbest [Coupons]

The Redmi K20 duo could be arriving with a 6.39-inch AMOLED display that will carry support for full HD+ resolution. Both phones are expected to be packed with similar specs like 4,000mAh battery and 20-megapixel pop-up selfie camera.

The Redmi K20 could be powered by the Snapdragon 730 whereas the Snapdragon 855 could be present under the hood of Redmi K20 Pro. Redmi has already confirmed the K20 will be featuring a Sony IMX586 48-megapixel main camera sensor along with support for 960fps slow-motion video recording. The Redmi K20 duo will be arriving with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of native storage. The pricing of the upcoming Redmi flagship phones is currently under the wraps.

(source)

More bad news for Huawei: Europe may bar Huawei equipment

By

Airyl Jaszly

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May 22, 2019

Things were looking up for Huawei, but now they maybe be going straight back into the ground. Fresh off the US ban on Huawei, the US is now claiming that Europe may be coming around to the alleged threat presented by Huawei‘s equipment. While Europe nations won’t ban Huawei, they may be planning to bar Huawei’s equipment from their next-generation telecom networks.

This is crushing news for Huawei, and presents another blow to the progression of 5G technology. It also represents a win for the Trump administration whom have been warning others against using Huawei equipment in their 5G systems. No European countries that are supporting the bar have been officially named, so nothing’s really set in stone yet.

RELATED: Google silently removes Huawei Mate 20 Pro from Android Q Beta page

While Huawei may have a ton of backup plans regarding the US market, we wonder how they’ll deal with this bit of Europe news. It’s a shame that this is happening at all, though there’s not really all that much that can be done. As of right now, Huawei’s US ban has been delayed for 90 days to allow the company to recoup.

If Huawei finds a way to turn all this bad news around, it’ll be incredible to watch. So far they’ve been doing decently with covering the grounds of most of their products. Europe’s is a completely different type of problem, and we want to know how all this turns out. Truly, this has been one of the most intriguing car crashes in the tech world as of late.

(Source)

Pre-Order One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop for $749.99 from GeekBuying [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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May 22, 2019

If you have been waiting with bated breath for laptop prices to drop, we got good news for you.

GeekBuying has launched the ‘Trending Pocket Laptop’ promotion, wherein the leading Chinese online store will be doling out considerable discounts on a wide selection of laptops. These devices have been added to two categories including ‘Recommended’ and ‘Other Laptops.’

We will talk about the One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop, which is available for pre-order bearing a reduced price tag on the promotion page. On top of that, we will show how you can get an extra discount during the checkout process.

One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop

The small and compact One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop is a great choice for business trips. This pocket-sized professional assistant is highly reliable when it comes to performance.

The One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop sports an easily readable 8.4-inch 2.5K display with a high screen resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. It packs a powerful Intel Core M3-8100Y, Dual Core,3.4GHz Max processor along with a highly competent Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, under the hood.

The device ships with 8GB of RAM and offers a hearty 256GB of onboard storage capacity for you to save your important documents and other multimedia files. It features a fingerprint recognition sensor to ensure the safety of your important data.

Moreover, the One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop runs the latest genuine Windows 10 operating system with up to date software updates. The feature-laden laptop draws its juices from an 8600mAh large battery.

While the aforesaid top-end features completely justify the steep $1351.53 price tag the One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket laptop usually carries, you can now buy it for only $759.99 from GeekBuying. You can extend this noteworthy discount by using coupon code BELWFNVY.

The coupon helps you get an extra $450 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered retail price of the One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket laptop further down to just $749.99 simply by applying the coupon during the checkout process.

As if that weren’t enough, you can win a $4.99 worth One Netbook One Mix 2S In-ear Headphone absolutely free with your order. You can follow this link to visit the promotion page and take full advantage of the discount.

Buy One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop, Coupon Code IT-BELWFNVY

Check Out GeekBuying’s Trending Pocket Laptop Promotion

Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition has 4,050mAh battery inside 7.88mm body

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 22, 2019

The Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition will be unveiled later today through an unveil event in China. Recent reports have revealed that the smartphone will be arriving as a toned-down version of the Lenovo Z6 Pro flagship phone that was unveiled recently. Few hours ahead of launch, Lenovo Group VP Chang Cheng has revealed that the Z6 Youth Edition smartphone will be the slimmest phone to house a 4,050mAh battery.

The chart shared by Chang on Weibo reveals that the Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition will be housing a 6.3-inch display and a 4,050mAh battery. Despite housing a large screen and a big battery, the smartphone will be sporting a slim body of only 7.88mm. The only 7.88mm. The Redmi Note 7 has a 6.3-inch display and it is packed with a 4,000mAh battery. It has a thickness of 8.1mm. The Realme X that measures 8.3mm in thickness features the same-sized display and it includes a 4,045mAh battery.

The 6.3-inch display of the Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition carries support for HDR10. It will be equipped with a waterdrop-style notch. The 4,050mAh battery of the phone is expected to last for up two days and it may arrive with support for 18W rapid charging. It will be the first non-flagship phone to arrive with support for dual-frequency GPS support that will offer GPS positioning accuracy of 1 meter.

Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition cameras — Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition

The Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition is speculated that the Snapdragon 710 chipset will be present under the hood of the phone. It may come with 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel + 8-megapixel triple camera setup. Some of the features of the phone include USB-C port, Dolby Atmos and dual SIM hybrid SIM slot. The other details of the phone and its pricing are under the wraps. Rumors have it that the Lenovo K6 Note (2019) mid-range phone may also go official today alongside the Z6 Youth Edition.

(source)

Top 3 Xiaomi-Branded Projectors You Can Buy at Lowered Prices from Gearbest [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

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May 22, 2019

Primarily known for manufacturing top-end mobile phones and a slew of other well-received products, Xiaomi has an equally impressive and streamlined projector catalog.

Projectors continue to garner popularity among those who fancy watching their favorite videos, movies or playing games without leaving the comfort of their homes. On the downside, these devices aren’t easy on the pocketbook.

In a bid to make its feature-laden projectors available to those living on a tight budget, the Chinese electronics giant has teamed-up with Gearbest. We have listed the top 3 projectors from Xiaomi that you can buy without breaking the bank.

Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector TV 4K

Touted as the world’s first ultra-short projector to adopt the ALPD (advanced laser display) technology, the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector can deliver up to 150 inches of full HD quality images in 50cm. With an impressive product life of up to 25,000 hours, it uses a compact, minimalist “box” design language.

The feature-rich Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector TV 4K usually carries a steep $2702.93 price tag, but you can now buy it for a lowered price of only $2349.99 from Gearbest. Moreover, you can extend this 13 percent discount by applying coupon code 9ZAH3KL4YL.

The coupon helps you reduce the retail price of the projector to just $2249.99. In other words, you can get an extra $100 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon during the check out process.

With only five pieces remaining, the promo is slated to end shortly. You can head straight to this link to avail the discount before the promo wraps up.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector TV 4K, Coupon Code 9ZAH3KL4YL

Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector – Ultra Short Throw

Designed to deliver up to 150 inches of full HD quality images in 50cm, the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector maintains a Bluetooth remote control design style consistency, allowing you to control it from any corner of the room.

Aside from that, it offers voice assistant and other interactive ways to find programs, thus offering a superior movie viewing experience. While these features completely justify the $2134.58 price tag, the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector – Ultra Short Throw usually carries, you can now buy it for just $1699.99 from Gearbest.

If this 20 percent discount doesn’t impress you much, you can apply coupon code IT-CN10CMI and bring the already reduced asking price of the Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector to just $1649.99. The coupon helps you save an extra $50 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

Regrettably, there were only 10 pieces remaining at the time of writing. It is also worth noting that the promo will come to an end in just two days. You can visit this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector – Ultra Short Throw, Coupon Code IT-CN10CMI

Xiaomi Mijia MJJGTYDS02FM DLP Projector

The Mijia MJJGTYDS02FM DLP Projector packs a powerful Amlogic T968-H CPU, coupled with 2GB of DDR3 RAM, under the hood. It offers a hearty 8GB of eMMC high-speed flash storage and runs MIUI TV operating system.

The Chinese plug version of the Xiaomi Mijia MJJGTYDS02FM is currently available for $539.99 on Gearbest, but you can use coupon code 0CN3IIFNGO to get a $20 off. The coupon reduces the original asking price of the DLP projector to just $519.99. You can visit this link to take advantage of the coupon, which is likely to lapse soon.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia MJJGTYDS02FM DLP Projector, Coupon Code 0CN3IIFNGO

Flyme 7.3 update gets pushed to the Meizu 16S

By

Airyl Jaszly

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May 22, 2019

Meizu‘s Flyme 7.3 update was released on the 10th of May earlier this month. Since then, Meizu users have been eagerly awaiting the update, and for Meizu 16S users, that day is here. Flyme 7.3 is now being pushed to the 16S devices as you read this. If you’re a Meizu 16S user, you should be able to download the update right now.

Flyme 7.3 brings with it a few new features and improvements to the Flyme UI. The new update integrates Meizu Pay app with the Flyme system for touchless payments experience using the bank, bus and other access cards. The company has integrated the whole system with NFC. Furthermore, users can now set the default payment option by going into the settings menu.

RELATED: Meizu 16Xs’ selling point will be 4,000mAh battery inside lightweight body

Perhaps the most important new feature is a toggle for DC dimming and PWM dimming. DC dimming significantly reduces the eye strain while using the AMOLED displays at lower brightness. On top of that, Meizu’s internal apps like Shutdown Wake 3.0, Smart Free 3.0, Resource Manager 2.0, Memory compression 2.0, etc have also been optimized for better performance.

(Source)

Xiaomi now plans to optimize advertisements in MIUI

By

Jeet

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May 22, 2019

Xiaomi’s custom user interface — MIUI, which had earlier received a lot of praise from the users, has been a major source of criticism for the company since past several months. The major reason behind that is the company’s strategy to put advertisements in MIUI.

Many users have complained about the annoyance of advertisements in MIUI and how it interferes with the usage of the smartphone. However, the company’s response made it clear that ads in MIUI are here to stay but the company could optimize how it works.

Well, that’s what the company is saying now. Xiaomi’s CEO and co-founder said that the company will remove the inappropriate ads and the advertisements that ruin the user experience. Now, General Manager for the Internet Services for Xiaomi says that the company plans to reduce the number of advertisements in MIUI.

The China-based company is planning to do so using algorithms which can improve the advertisement reach rate and also make sure that the ad that users see are relevant to their interests. It now aims to reduce and optimize advertisements on the platform and improve user experience.

This news comes just after the China-based technology company revealed its financial data for the first quarter of 2019. It reported adjusted net profit growth by 22.4 percent year-over-year compared to 2.1 billion yuan (approximately $300 million). It also stated that its total revenue climbed 27.2 percent to 43.8 billion yuan (approximately $6.33 billion). The biggest source of revenue for the company continues to be the smartphone business.

On the other hand, the software and internet services segment accounted for just 9.7 percent of the company’s total revenue, which saw very minor growth compared to 9.1 percent a year before.

(Via)

Huawei works with Aptoide to replace Play Store

By

Airyl Jaszly

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May 22, 2019

Google cutting off its Android relationship with Huawei in response to a US government ban on the Chinese giant is still the hottest news on the tech market. It’s a huge shame that Huawei‘s taken this hit, but it seems like the company already has multiple backup plans in store. This time, we’re hearing that Huawei is working with Aptoide to replace the Google Play Store on their devices.

This news was basically confirmed by the CEO of Aptoide, Paulo Trezentos, though he also claims nothing is set in stone. We see no reason to doubt this though, especially seeing how Huawei’s already got an alternative OS in the works. Aptoide already works with Oppo, so there’s no reason for them to not work with Huawei. Aptoide is also a Portugese company, which means the US ban doesn’t affect them.

RELATED: Google silently removes Huawei Mate 20 Pro from Android Q Beta page

What we’re interested to see it whether or not Huawei replaces their pre-existing App Gallery app with Aptoide. The App Gallery is Huawei’s own app store that already comes with most of their devices. It’s relatively small compared to Aptoide which has over 900000 applications. We believe we could see Huawei merge Aptoide content into the App Gallery, but that remains to be seen.

Huawei is going hard, and it seems like they may have grand plans to make their own ecosystem here. Aptoide seems like a really logical solution to their problem, and we hope both companies come to an agreement. It’s 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?

(Source)

Sony Mobile has now officially left most of the global market

By

Jeet

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May 22, 2019

Sony has been struggling in the smartphone market since the past few years and has been posting losses for several quarters. In April last year, Kenichiro Yoshida took over as the chief executive officer of Sony and unveiled a three-year plan for the company which indicated that the company is moving away from manufacturing gadgets.

Now, in a move which seems to be in line with that strategy, Sony’s mobile division has withdrawn from most of the smartphone market worldwide. The primary reason for this is believed to be the company’s focus on brand building and profitability.

The move, which is reportedly stemmed after the Corporate Strategy Meeting FY2019, is believed to be the part of a relatively short-term plan through March 31, 2019, and is intended to help the company cut operating costs in order to regain profitability.

As per the report, the Japanese company is aiming to cut its operating costs by at least half as compared to 2017. As a result of that drastic reduction, the company’s sole remaining ‘focus regions’ will now be Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong in Asia as well as Europe. The US and the northern segment of the Asian continent are now partially.

Earlier this year, in March, Sony was reportedly planning to merge the mobile division with the other divisions which include the camera, TV, and audio, in order to keep recording millions in profits. The new division will be called Electronics Products and Solutions and should result in technologies being exchanged between future products.

A couple of months ago, it was reported that the mobile phone division of Japanese tech giant will lay off half of its staff within a year. Sony Xperia, which has a staff strength of 4,000, will be reduced to 2,000 workers between now and March 2020.

(Via)

Vivo Z5x smartphone confirmed to come with 5,000mAh battery

By

Jeet

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May 22, 2019

Vivo is all set to launch its new smartphone named Vivo Z5x on May 24th in China and now the news related to the smartphone surfacing online reveals that the phone will be powered by a massive 5,000mAh battery. The phone will be a performance-driven device, in line with the company’s Z-series lineup.

On Weibo, Vivo’s product manager stated that the phone will have a 5,000mAh battery and despite having such large capacity battery, the thickness of the smartphone is controlled to less than 9mm. He also shared an image showing the phone’s battery consumption, which hints at over 2 days of usage on a single charge.

Earlier, the phone was spotted on Geekbench, which revealed that it will be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 710 octa-core chipset. It is also said to be the company’s first smartphone to come with a punch-hole display.

As per the rumors, the smartphone will be featuring a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display that will probably carry support for Full HD+ screen resolution. Even though the phone will be powered by a 5,000mAh battery, it is said to have a slim profile on just 8mm.

The device, which carries model number V1911A recently appeared on Geekbench which revealed that the phone will come packed with 8GB of RAM. The phone will come loaded with Android 9 Pie operating system, skinned with the latest edition of FunTouch OS user interface. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the Vivo Z5x has respectively scored 1,848 and 5,915 points.

Yesterday, the China-based company started taking reservations for the upcoming Vivo Z5x smartphone in the Chinese market. The listing of the smartphone on JD.com confirms that the phone will be offered in four variants 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, 6GB RAM + 64GB storage, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage.

(Via)

Buy Jumper EZBook X4 Pro Notebook for Just $419.99 from Gearbest

By

Vinay Patel

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May 22, 2019

Jumper launched its EZBook X4 Pro notebook in April this year. The Shenzhen-based computer products manufacturer has teamed-up with Gearbest to launch the ‘Jumper EZBook X4 Pro Flash Sale,’ wherein it will be offering the recently unveiled notebook at a reduced price.

There’s no dearth of top-end laptops and notebooks in the market today; however, these devices aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook. In fact, the Jumper EZBook X4 Pro notebook would normally set you back $629.77 on both online as well as offline stores.

As part of its recently kicked-off promotion, Jumper is giving its loyal fanbase a chance to get their tech greedy hands on the EZBook X4 Pro notebook for a heavily discounted price of just $419.99. This is a significant 33 percent drop in the device’s original asking price.

With 299 pieces remaining, this promo will come to an end in only five days. Note that the discount will be available for the silver color version of the EZBook X4 Pro notebook.

Alternatively, you can head straight to the ‘Jumper Laptops’ category on the promotion page to check out a slew of other equally coveted laptops that you can buy without breaking the bank. For instance, the Jumper EZBOOK 3 PRO Notebook, which usually retails for $330.24 can be yours for a lowered price of only $239.99.

In addition to receiving this 27 percent discount, Gearbest users are eligible for getting a free gift with this order. Those ordering the EZBOOK 3 Pro will get a $2.57 worth Multi-languages Silicone Keyboard Protective Film for the notebook absolutely free.

Moreover, you can buy a slew of other accessories from the ‘Accessories’ section. The category is cramped with all sorts of accessories for Jumper-branded laptops, notebooks, tablets, etc. You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the products.

Get 33%
Off on Jumper EZBook X4 Pro Notebook

Redmi K20, K20 Pro 3C certified; Supports up to 27W rapid charging [Update]

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 22, 2019

Update: The M1903F10G model number has been recently approved by multiple bodies such as NBTC in Thailand, NCC in Taiwan, IMDA in Singapore and EEC in Russia. The NBTC certification has revealed that the M1903F10G will be releasing in these markets as Xiaomi Mi 9T. There is possibility that the M1903F10A/T/C may launch in China as Redmi K20 and it may debut outside of the home market as Xiaomi Mi 9T.

Original Story continues…

Three new Redmi phones have been certified by the 3C authority of China. The model numbers of the these phones suggest that they are the upcoming Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi 7A smartphones that will be made official soon. The 3C certification of Redmi K20 has revealed that it will carry support for 18W rapid charging. On the other side, the Redmi K20 Pro may offer up to 27W fast charging.

Popular tipster Ishan Agarwal who is known for his accurate leaks had claimed in the recent past that M1903F10 and M1903F11 model numbers belong to the upcoming Redmi flagship phones. The same models have been approved by the China’s 3C body.

The M1903F11A, M1903F11T and M1903F11C shown in the below image reportedly belongs to the Redmi K20 Pro handset. The 3C listing shows that the handset could be shipped with MDY-10-EH charger that supports 27W rapid charging. The Xiaomi Mi 9 that carries support for 27W fast charging is also shipped with the same charger.

The M1903C3EE, M1903C3ET and M1903C3EC model numbers that can be seen below Redmi K20 Pro belongs to the entry-level Redmi 7A that is yet to go official. The entire specifications of the Redmi 7A are known since it has already appeared on TENAA. It is speculated that the Redmi K20 is listed below Redmi 7A on 3C. The handset is mentioned with its M1903F10A, M1903F10T and M1903F10C model numbers. The Redmi K20’s retail box may include MDY-10-EC charger that is equipped with support for 18W fast charging.

The support for different charging rates suggests that Redmi K20 and K20 Pro could be powered by different chipsets. Rumors have it that the Redmi K20 could be fueled by the Snapdragon 730 mobile platform whereas the Redmi K20 Pro may arrive with Snapdragon 855 onboard.

The Redmi K20 and K20 Pro handsets are expected to arrive with notch-less displays and pop-up selfie snappers. Ahead of the May 28 launch date, Redmi has been busy confirming features of the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro smartphones. Earlier today, it confirmed that the Redmi K20 will be arriving with seventh generation in-display fingerprint scanner. The company recently revealed that the camera setup of the Redmi K20 will include Sony IMX586 48-megapixel sensor and it will carry support for 960fps slow-motion video shooting. Also, it will be packed with a 4,000mAh battery. These features are also expected to be available on the Redmi K20 Pro smartphone.

Read More: Check out the Luxury 24K Gold-plated Xiaomi Mi 9 Limited Edition with love from Sweden

A recent report had claimed that the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro will be available in variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage and color options like Carbon Fiber, Blue, and Red. It is speculated that the Redmi K20 Pro may debut as Poco F2 outside of China.

HMD Global discounts Nokia 8.1 by INR 6000 in India for Fan Festival

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 21, 2019

HMD Global is running a fan festival in India and select Nokia models have been discounted, with price cuts reaching up to INR 6000 (~$86). The fan festival began yesterday and will end on May 24.

The Nokia 8.1 is the device that has received the biggest discount of all. If you are purchasing the 4GB RAM version, you get INR 6,000 off if you use the promo code “FAN6000” at checkout. That brings the price from INR 26,999 (~$386) to INR 20,999 (~$300). If you decide to purchase the 6GB RAM version which is originally priced at INR 29,999 (~$429), the promo code “FAN4000” will bring the price down to INR 25,999 (~$371).

Even though it is for a limited period, we are not surprised at the massive price cut. With phones like the Realme 3 Pro which is powered by the same Snapdragon 710 SoC as the Nokia 8.1, has a bigger battery, and starts at INR 13,999 (~$200) for the 4GB RAM version; HMD Global has no choice but to announce a price cut.

The Nokia 7.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, and Nokia 8 Sirocco also get a discount of INR 1000 of their respective prices when you use the promo code “FANFESTIVAL” at checkout. The discount is far from that of the Nokia 8.1 but it is better than nothing.

Continue

OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom launching in the UK in June, starts at £449

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

May 21, 2019

The OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom are already on sale in China. Both phones are also expected to launch in India on May 28, and now pricing and release details have surfaced for the UK too.

According to a Tweet by the official OPPO global account, the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom has been launched in the UK. However, it isn’t yet on sale. The phone will actually be available in early June alongside the regular OPPO Reno.

ICYMI: Here's everything you need to know about #OPPOReno 10x Zoom. OPPO Reno is now launched in the UK! #FurtherYourVision

ℹ️ https://t.co/fY60NwGgRw pic.twitter.com/yTUNDQzkoX

— OPPO (@oppo) May 20, 2019

The OPPO Reno will be priced at £449 and be available for purchase on June 5 while the Reno 10x Zoom will be available for purchase on June 12 at £699. Both phones will most likely be available via Carphone Warehouse.

The Reno has a 6.4-inch 2340 x1080 display that covers virtually the whole front. There are almost no bezels and it doesn’t have a notch or a punch hole. It has a pop-up selfie camera styled like a shark-fin. The camera in the pop-up module is a 16MP sensor. On the back, it has a 48MP + 5MP dual camera combo. The OPPO Reno is powered by the Snapdragon 710 and paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of storage. It also has a 3765mAh battery with support for VOOC 3.0 fast charging.

Continue

Honor 20 Lite pricing for the European market officially announced

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

May 21, 2019

With the impending US ban set to take its toll on Huawei‘s usage of Google’s Android services, the company today announced the flagship Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro as scheduled. The pricing details of the Honor 20 Lite was also announced today. The Honor 20 Lite was earlier listed on Honor’s Russia website as Honor 10i but the pricing wasn’t revealed. The device will be available in Europe for €300. While in the United Kingdom, the phone adopts a £250 price tag and will be available at Carphone Warehouse, Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and Very.

The Honor is a mid-range model with trimmed down specs from the Honor 20. In terms of specs, it features a 6.21-inch 2340 x 1080 pixels waterdrop notch display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. There is also GPU Turbo 2.0 for improved gaming performance. Its screen is also certified as safe by TUV Rheinland. The phone is powered by the Hisilicon Kirin 710 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage (512GB max.).

On the camera aspect, the Honor 20 Lite features a 32MP selfie camera that is housed inside the notch. The selfie camera has lots of face-adjustment features so your portrait selfies can turn out great. On the back of the phone lies the triple camera sensors – a 24MP f/1.8 primary camera, an 8MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle secondary sensor, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The phone runs EMUI 9 based on Android 9 and even though Google is pulling the plugs on updates for future Huawei phones, the company says it will continue pushing its own updates. The phone also comes with NFC, dual-SIM support (nano only), dual-SIM VoLTE, and NFC. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back and it also has support for Face Unlock. The device is powered by a 3,400mAh battery.

The phone is no doubt a premium and affordable one at that price but most buyers would likely be sceptical about sticking their money on a Huawei or Honor model at the moment.

(source)

Google silently removes Huawei Mate 20 Pro from Android Q Beta page

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

May 21, 2019

Amidst the current controversy between Huawei, Google, and the US, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has been removed from the Android Q Beta page. For the time being, it’s unclear whether Google removed the device from the extensive roster before or after Huawei was granted a temporary license allowing it to continue doing business with key US partners and suppliers for a period of three months.

This latest Google move further adds to the uncertainty regarding major future updates for Huawei devices. It’s become increasingly likely that the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro will come in the fall with some sort of a homebrewed OS pre-installed. Huawei is especially adamant that their own OS will have Android app support, in a similar vein to Tizen and Sailfish OS.

RELATED: Huawei vs. the US: What’s Happening Right Now?

Despite all this, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro developer page for the update is still up and running, and Google claims services like Google Play will continue to work on Huawei’s devices. This could simply be because Huawei has their priorities elsewhere, though we hope the company achieves some sort of workaround for this.

The more we hear from Huawei, the more optimistic we feel about their future. A recent report had claimed that in preparations to trade war uncertainties, Huawei has already stockpiled crucial components for up to 12 months. Add to that the upcoming Huawei OS, and we’re left with one of the most oddly exciting years in technology so far.

(Via)

Samsung announces ultra-slim 5X Optical zoom camera module

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 21, 2019

Samsung Electro-Mechanics commenced its sojourn in the camera module market in 2003 and since then, the division has been developing camera modules for dual (OIS) cameras. The company has now announced that it has developed a flat, ultra-slim camera module capable of delivering 5x optical zoom. The device is even ready to meet with us as mass production will reportedly commence this month.

Since OPPO released the Reno smartphone with 10X hybrid zoom capability, the feature seems to be gaining ground. Huawei included a 5x optical zoom-capable camera sensor on the P30 Pro. It is common to get 2x optical zoom with a telephoto lens as found on most smartphones but ramping up the zoom to 5x requires some bit of engineering and that isn’t something to challenge Samsung. We must add, though, that Samsung recently acquired Corephotonics, the same company that worked with Oppo on optical zoom lenses. This may have played a role in the swiftness with which the technology is entering mass production.

OPPO Reno vs Huawei P30 Pro-1 — OPPO Reno vs Huawei P30 Pro

Talking about the features, the module is barely 5mm thick, giving it a thinner build than most of the 2x zoom lenses that are in the market presently. The technology is no different from those of OPPO or Huawei. It still involves the use of a periscope design housing several mirrors that are used to reflect light sideways to keep things slim.

Samsung may likely be selling the camera module to other OEMs in the near future but may want to use it on its model first. Thus, the Galaxy Note 10 or any of the mid-range Galaxy series could launch bearing the 5x optical zoom periscope lens.

(source)

Huawei’s own OS is coming in Fall, features Android app compatibility

By

Airyl Jaszly

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May 21, 2019

Google cutting off its Android relationship with Huawei in response to a US government ban on the Chinese giant wasn’t much of a surprise to Huawei. Speaking to Chinese state media on Tuesday, Ren Zhengfei said there would be “conflict with the United States sooner or later” as Huawei seeks to grow its dominance in the global telecom industry.

Although many simply assumed Huawei would switch over to using AOSP, it looks like Huawei has different plans. According to a report by Chinese publication Caijing, Richard Yu, the CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, has revealed details about Huawei’s upcoming OS. It will apparently be available later this Fall or early next year on phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars, and wearables.

RELATED: Huawei trade ban delayed by 90 days

The OS will be compatible with all Android apps and they can also be recompiled to improve performance, like ChromeOS. Samsung has also done something similar in the past with Tizen, but this is different in the sense Huawei’s looking to completely replace Android, unlike Samsung. On top of that, rumors claim Huawei is also working closely with Google to achieve some sort of workaround.

With Huawei’s massive and still growing popularity (possibly assisted by the said ban), it’s clear they need to recoup fast. Thankfully, it seems like they’ve got plenty of backup plans in store already. We’re eager to see how Huawei’s own OS turns out in comparison to Android, as well as how it performs in real life.

(Source|Via)

Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20 launch with focus on photography, starts at €499

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 21, 2019

Today, at an event in London, Honor unveiled its latest smartphones – the Honor 20 and the Honor 20 Pro. Both phones bring a stunning new design, a focus on photography, and a competitive price tag.

Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro Design

The Honor 20 series have a punch hole display like that of the Honor View 20. It is a 6.26-inch All-View Display with a hole that houses a 32MP camera in both phones.

The back of the phone is covered in glass with three layers. There is the main glass layer at the top, a color layer in the middle and a depth layer at the bottom. The depth layer is said to create a sense of depth when light passes through. Honor says it was able to combine the three layers to form a 3D Triple Mesh using what it calls Advanced compression technology. The design is completed with a four-sided 3D curved glass.

The Honor 20 Pro comes in Phantom Black (a mix of purple and black) and Phantom Blue (mix of blue and green). The Honor 20 will be available in Sapphire Blue, Midnight Black, and Icelandic White. The Pro model also has a black Moschino special edition.

Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20 Cameras

Let’s take a look at the camera specs which is the main selling point before diving into the rest of the specs.

The Honor 20 Pro has a quad-camera setup. A 16MP f/2.2 super-wide angle camera, a 48MP Sony IMX586 camera with an f/1.4 aperture – the largest on a mobile phone, an 8MP f/2.4 Telephoto camera and a 2MP f/2.4 Macro camera. Both the 48MP primary sensor and 8MP telephoto lens have 4-axis OIS. There is also a laser autofocus module for superfast focusing.

The IMX 586 camera has a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor which is 25% larger than that of the iPhone Xs Max and Galaxy S10+. Combined with its large f/1.4 aperture and 204800 ISO sensitivity, the result is stunning photographs.

The Honor 20 Pro has a 16MP ultra-wide angle camera with a 117° FOV. It also works with AIS Super Night Mode for super-wide angle low-light images. The telephoto camera, on the other hand, provides a 3x optical zoom which lets you get closer to your object without losing details. The Honor 20 Pro also supports up to 30x digital zoom!

Other features include 4cm Macro photography, AIS Super Night Mode for high-quality low-light photos, 48MP ultra-clarity mode for high-quality daytime photos, and a handheld moon shot mode.

The Honor 20 Pro has a DxOMark score of 111, tying with the OnePlus 7 Pro.

The standard Honor 20 also has a quad-camera setup which includes the same 16MP f/2.2 Super-wide angle camera, a 48MP primary camera but with an f/1.8 aperture, a 2MP depth assist camera, and a 2MP f/2.4 Macro camera.

Specs

Both phones are powered by the Kirin 980. The Honor 20 Pro has 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.1 storage while the Honor 20 has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. They use the new EROFS system software which increases read speed by 20% and reduces System ROM size by 14%.

The Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20 don’t have an AMOLED display, so there is no in-display fingerprint scanner. Rather than go with a rear-mounted design, the fingerprint scanner is on the side where it doubles as the power button.

The Honor 20 Pro has a 4000mAh battery while the Honor 20 has a 3750mAh battery. Both support 22.5W SuperCharge fast charging which allows you to get up to 50% battery in half an hour. The Pro version has a new Graphene cooling sheet technology with a 27% increase in heat dissipation efficiency. There is also GPU Turbo 3.0 for 60fps gaming on both devices. The Honor 20 series will also get an exclusive Fortnite Wonder Outfit.

The two phones don’t have an audio jack but they come with a 9.1 surround sound feature that is said to work with most headphones and earphones. Both phones run a new version of Magic UI out of the box with 43% faster tap response and a 57% improvement in UI operation.

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Check out the Luxury 24K Gold-plated Xiaomi Mi 9 Limited Edition with love from Sweden

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 21, 2019

Since the release of the Mi 9 flagship in February this year, the device has risen to become a popular model. The premium smartphone has courted lots of attention from fans in Europe, in addition to China and elsewhere. Xiaomi has released the model in several Europe countries, including Sweden. A Swedish tech company known as Golden Concept has produced a limited edition 24K Gold plated customized design just for the Mi 9 users!

The company is known for manufacturing customized iPhone accessories with luxurious materials such as premium leather and precious stones. The firm’s gold plated iPhone cases are reported to sell for as high as $40,000 USD. There are still buyers for these luxury-designed phones such as sports stars and celebrities who won’t find it difficult shelling out such huge sums to customize their iPhones.

While designing gold-plated cases for iPhones isn’t strange, a 24K gold-plated Mi 9 case is very uncommon. The gesture could be an indication of the increase in popularity of the Mi brand in Europe. We won’t be surprised if someone out there snags up the luxurious phone soon. The Mi 9 customization sees the back panel gets replaced with a gold-plated case, with a dragon engraved on the panel. We don’t have the release itinerary for the custom model.

(source)