Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 7 and Redmi 7 in Nigeria

By

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Apr 24, 2019

Hours after its event in India, Xiaomi also had an event in Lagos, Nigeria, where it announced three new phones – the Redmi Note 7, the Redmi 7 (and the Redmi Go). These three phones already launched in various regions this year but are now available in sub-Saharan Africa.

Redmi Note 7

The Redmi Note 7 launches as the first phone with a 48MP camera in Nigeria. It will be available in three variants and they will sell for the following prices:

3GB RAM + 32GB = NGN 58,000

4GB RAM + 64GB = NGN 66,900

4GB RAM + 128GB = NGN 75,500

The Redmi Note 7 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dot Drop Display covered in Gorilla Glass 5. There is Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear too. Xiaomi demonstrated how strong the display is by slamming it against a table repeatedly. The Snapdragon 660 is the chipset under the hood.

The 48MP rear camera is paired with a 5MP depth sensor. There is a 13MP camera in front for selfies and you get a 4,000mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 4.

The Redmi Note 7 will be sold by Jumia Nigeria, beginning on April 29. It will also be available at Slot and Pointek stores. The phone comes in Nebula Red, Space Black, and Neptune Blue.

Redmi 7

The Redmi Note 7 arrived alongside its younger brother, the Redmi 7, which also launched in India earlier today. The Redmi 7 also has a Dot Drop display but its slightly smaller at 6.2 inches and which has an HD+ resolution. The display is certified as safe by TUV Rheinland and is also covered in Gorilla Glass 5.

The Redmi 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 632, the same processor in the Moto G7 Play and Moto G7 Power. The phone will be available in the following configurations along with their respective prices:

2GB RAM + 16GB = NGN 42,000

3GB RAM + 32GB = NGN 47,500

3GB RAM + 64GB = NGN 53,500.

The Redmi 7 has dual cameras too but a 12MP primary sensor paired with a 2MP depth sensor. There is an 8MP AI selfie camera in front. The camera app has a feature called Palm Shutter which allows you to take a picture just by waving your hand in front of the screen.

Like the Redmi Note 7, it also has an IR blaster and runs MIUI 10 based on Android Pie. It has a triple card slot (dual nano + MicroSD card) and supports Dual 4G Dual VoLTE.

Redmi Go

The Redmi Go wasn’t technically announced at the event. It wasn’t even mentioned at all. However, it is already on sale in Nigeria and can be purchased on Jumia Nigeria. It is available for N22,000 naira on the online store.

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China’s 2nd-tier phone vendors looking to expand as they take on first-tier brands like Xiaomi overseas

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 24, 2019

Until recently, Transsion Holdings was a relatively unknown company in its home country China. Not until the company applied to be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange did the media began to accord it some attention. From an obscure start-up, the company has grown to become one of the leading brands in several regions, especially in Africa. In fact, the company is dubbed as Africa’s Mobile Phone King. The company which boasts of four brands, Tecno, Infinix, iTel and Spice is now eyeing further expansion to other markets.

Apart from Transsion, other start-ups who are regarded as China’s second-tier smartphone vendors such as Coosea Group (Koobee) and Elephone are also making efforts to expand their overseas markets. The brands have been enhancing their deployments in overseas markets with high price/performance models to sustain sales growth. This was glaring during the recently held Global Sources Mobile Electronics 2019 Hong Kong. Most of their models on display were bundled with all-screen displays, high-quality cameras and other innovative functionalities.

The Koobee-branded models demonstrated by Coosea are powered by optimized cameras with AI technology, enabling automatic selection under multi-scenario environments and night-shooting applications. Elephone models also had several features such as periscope-style cameras as well as water-drop and punch-hole displays. Apart from that, Elephone is enhancing its presence in Central and South Americas and Africa. The company recently set up flagship stores in Morocco and Niger. Also, Transsion has always promoted its phones with enhanced camera functionalities. In 2018, Transsion Holdings reportedly sold an estimated 124 million mobile phones, capturing 48.7% of Africa’s mobile phone market, and 7% worldwide.

Their efforts to expand their markets may be borne out of the urge to expand their dragnet before first-tier Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO gain ground in the local market. Bigger Chinese brands like OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo etc, are eyeing the Africa market known for its sheer size and are already opening up branded stores in several African and Middle East countries. Their entry is likely to shrink the market share of the second-tier companies.

(source)

Lenovo Z6 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Oppo Reno 10x Zoom: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Apr 24, 2019

Affordable flagships are back! After a period in which prices kept raising every day more, it is good to see that there are still companies trying to offer smartphones with the best hardware at a modest price. One of the latest ones is the impressive Lenovo Z6 Pro which comes with up to 12 GB of RAM and a price inferior to €400 at the actual change! Here is a comparison between the new flagship-killer and two other affordable flagships of 2019 which are catalyzing the attention of the public: Xiaomi Mi 9 and Oppo Reno in its 10x zoom variant!

Lenovo Z6 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Oppo Reno 10x Zoom

	Lenovo Z6 Pro	Xiaomi Mi 9	Oppo Reno 10x zoom
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	157.5 x 74.6 x 8.7 mm, 185 g	157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm, 173 g	162 x 77.2 x 9.3 mm , 210 g
DISPLAY	6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED	6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED	6.6 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.8 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB, micro SD slot	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, ZUI 11	Android 9 Pie, MIUI	Android 9 Pie, Color OS
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 48 + 16 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/1.8 32 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 16 + 12 MP, f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Triple 48 + 13 + 8 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh, fast charging 27W	3300 mAh, fast charging with Quick Charge 4+, wireless charging	4065 mAh, fast charging, 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Design

If you are looking for the best aesthetical innovation and for the most amazing design, you should choose the Oppo Reno 10x zoom without thinking twice. It is the only to come with a screen-to-body ratio close to 100 percent and no notch. The secret is its shark fin-like pop-up camera which comes out thanks to a motorized slider on the upper part of the device. And the under-display fingerprint reader makes the rear design clean and very attractive, alongside the innovative the vertical stripe under the rear cameras. It is definitely my favorite one, while I am less attracted from the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Lenovo Z6 Pro which come with a traditional waterdrop notch.

Display

While the Oppo Reno 10x zoom has the most innovative and original design, Lenovo Z6 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 9 should be able to offer something more in terms of display quality. Indeed, they come with both the HDR10 technology and the DCI-P3 coverage, so its color reproduction should be amazing and better than Oppo Reno 10x zoom. On the other hand, the Oppo Reno 10x zoom has a bigger 6.6-inch panel which may be more comfortable for productivity and multimedia users, even though it makes the phone bulkier and harder to use with one hand.

Hardware/Software

The processor is the same for each of these devices, and it is the best you can expect in 2019. We are talking about the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 running at a max frequency of 2.84 GHz. Despite they all got the same processor, there is a difference in the performances of these devices, at least in their most expensive variants. Indeed, the Lenovo Z6 Pro comes with up to 12 GB of RAM, while Oppo Reno 10x zoom stops at 8 GB and Xiaomi Mi 9 has just 6 GB. Even the internal storage is different in the top-end variants: while Lenovo Z6 Pro arrives at 512 GB of internal storage, the Oppo Reno 10x zoom goes up to 256 GB and Xiaomi Mi 9 stops at 128 GB. The internal storage of the Mi 9 is not even expandable.

Camera

In each case, you will get an amazing camera setup and only a thorough test of each device will tell us which one clicks the best photos. Lenovo Z6 Pro has the highest number of rear cameras: a quad setup including a 48 MP main sensor, an ultrawide lens, a telephoto lens, and even a TOF 3D camera. Despite having just three cameras, Xiaomi Mi 9 remains amazing due to its awesome photo quality, even in the dark. And Oppo Reno 10x zoom is even more interesting as it features OIS on two sensors and a periscope lens with 10x hybrid zoom technology.

Battery

Xiaomi Mi 9 loses this comparison because it has just a 3300 mAh battery, while the real challenge is between the Lenovo Z6 Pro and Oppo Reno 10x zoom equipped with 4000 and 4065 mAh batteries. Given that the differences in terms of battery life are marginal, I would go for the Lenovo Z6 Pro because of its faster charging technology.

Price

Lenovo Z6 Pro starts from about €400/$447 in China, Xiaomi Mi 9 costs €450/$505 globally and Oppo Reno 10x zoom starts from €550/$615. At the end of the day, with the actual prices, Lenovo Z6 Pro has the highest value for money, and that is the most important thing for an affordable flagship.

Read More: Xiaomi Mi 9 goes out of stock within 53 seconds during first flash sale

Lenovo Z6 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Oppo Reno 10x Zoom: PRO and CONS

Lenovo Z6 Pro

PROS

Faster charging technology
Great hardware
Big battery
Affordable price

CONS

Nothing particular

Xiaomi Mi 9

PROS

Wireless charging
Great build quality
Good cameras
Affordable price

CONS

No micro SD
Smaller battery

Oppo Reno 10x zoom

PROS

Bigger display
Innovative cameras
Big battery

CONS

Costlier

Top 5 Power Bank 10000mAh Available at Lowered Prices

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 24, 2019

When there’s no electricity due to a power cut, a lot of us panic about losing power on our mobile devices. People with low battery anxiety usually end up spending a lot of money on devices like a power bank to keep their devices powered without worrying about dying battery.

Here are the top 5 10000mAh power banks that you can buy without breaking the bank.

Original Xiaomi Pocket 10000mAh Mobile Power Bank

Equipped with the latest battery technology, the Xiaomi Pocket 10000mAh Mobile Power Bank is backed by the world’s leading high-performance charge and discharge chip. Aside from offering 9S circuit protection, it warrants safety using status as well.

The silver color version of this portable power bank from Xiaomi usually retails for $22.63, but Gearbest users can buy it for a lowered price of just $16.70. This is a significant 26 percent drop in the device’s original asking price.

Alternatively, you can grab a 27 percent discount on the golden color version of the Xiaomi Pocket 10000mAh Mobile Power Bank, which usually carries a $24.11 price tag. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now buy it for just $17.58.

There were only 4 pieces of the golden remaining at the time of writing. You can click here to visit the promotion page and place your order without wasting time.

Get 26% Off On Original Xiaomi Pocket 10000mAh Mobile Power Bank

BlitzWolf BW-P3 10000mAh 18W QC3.0 Dual USB Port Power Bank

Designed to dramatically reduce charging times, the BlitzWolf BW-P3 adopts a Quick Charge 3.0 power charging technology. This enables the power adapter to offer an impressive range of voltages including 3.6-12V to let you charge four times faster than traditional charging technology.

The BlitzWolf BW-P3 would normally set you back $42.89, but you can now buy it for just $32.88 on Banggood. This is a 23 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price. Moreover, if your cart value exceeds $39.99, you can get free shipping.
You can follow this link to check out more details about the BlitzWolf BW-P3 10000mAh 18W QC3.0 Dual USB Port Power Bank, and grab the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 23% Off On BlitzWolf BW-P3 10000mAh 18W QC3.0 Dual Usb Port Power Bank

Xiaomi Power Bank 2 10000mAh Dual USB Ports Two-way Quick Charge

Touted as a portable powerhouse, the 10000mAh Mi Power Bank 2 comes with a dual USB output that delivers high-speed charging. This highly durable power bank has an actual output capacity of 6500mAh, with up to 90 percent conversion rate.While the aforesaid features justify the $33.99 price tag the Xiaomi Power Bank 2 usually carries, you can now buy it for just $23.99 on GeekBuying. This noteworthy 29 percent discount is valid for the black color version of the power bank.

You can visit this link to take advantage of the discount. Note that the promo is slated to end in just one day.

Get 29% Off on New Xiaomi Power Bank 2

ZMI QB910 10000mAh Power Bank

Capable of charging three devices at the same time, the Xiaomi ZMI QB910 Power Bank is compatible with Macbook and a slew of other notebooks that support 45W charging. Moreover, it offers reliable multi-layer protection from over-charging, over-discharging, over-current of discharging, etc.

While you’d normally expect a power bank offering comparable features to cost a bomb, the ZMI QB910 10000mAh Power Bank has gone up for sale bearing a $34.99 price tag on GearVita. You can follow this link to place your order.

Buy ZMI QB910 10000mAh Power Bank for Just $34.99

Ugreen 10000mAh Power Bank

The stronger and more powerful, the Ugreen 10000mAh Power Bank can charge 3 devices simultaneously. Made using high-quality leather, the power bank offers auto temperature control, coupled with an intelligent and fast charging chip.

This plug-and-play device draws its juices from a 1000mAh/3.8V Li-polymer battery and has a soft leather texture surface that protects your phone from accidental scratches. The Ugreen 10000mAh Power Bank is 15mm thin and weighs in at only 250g.

You’d normally end up shelling out $32.84 – $38.56 in order to get your hands on the Ugreen 10000mAh Power Bank, but you can now buy it for just $24.63 – $28.92 on AliExpress. This is a noteworthy 25 percent discount on the device’s original selling price.

You can follow this link to grab the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 25% Off on Ugreen 10000mAh Power Bank

Meizu M16s breaks within a day of launch

By

Simranpal Singh

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Apr 24, 2019

Within a few hours after its launch in China, a Meizu 16s unit breaks from the rear side. Some regional bloggers reported about the broken rear side of the white colored Meizu 16s. However, the reason behind the broken back is still unknown. We can’t even deny the possibility of foul play as it could be the case of the usual slip from the user’s hand or something similar.

It is quite early to conclude the reason behind Meizu 16s broken back. It’s most likely a review unit as Meizu is yet to initialize sales until April 28th.

The Meizu 16s is up for pre-registration on major e-commerce platforms in China. Interested users will have to shell out 3198 Yuan (~$476) for 6GB RAM+128 GB internal storage, whereas 8GB+128GB retails for 3498 Yuan(~$520), and 8GB+256GB variant for 3998 Yuan(~$595).

The phone sports a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with 2232 x 1080 pixels resolution, and a screen-to-body ratio of 91.53%. The screen is attached using COF bonding technique along with rounded corners and features VDE certified protection to block 33% harmful blue light. It is powered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and pairs 6/8 GB RAM and 128/256 GB UFS 2.1 storage.

There’s a dual rear camera with a 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor and 20 MP Sony IMX 350 secondary sensor. It can easily take impressive low-light images. A 20 MP Samsung 3T2 selfie camera is present on the front side.

Other features include – faster face unlock, improved in-screen fingerprint scanner with support for AliPay, WeChat Pay and Google Pay, 4-axis OIS, AI Scene recognition, Hyper gaming technology, and Adreno 640 GPU.

Related: Meizu 16s arrives with slimmer bezels, better cameras, and a bigger battery

There’s a 3600 mAh battery with fast charging technology. The device comes with NFC support and surround sound speakers.

The Meizu 16s is available in three colors – Carbon Black, Pearl White, and Phantom Blue Variant.

(via)

Huawei branded Mate X-styled foldable phone prototype leaks

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 24, 2019

The Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X are presently the only foldable models that would be available in the market soon. While the Galaxy Fold’s release has been postponed indefinitely, the Mate X is set to it the market in June. Apparently, Huawei did experiment with other design styles before settling for the current design. A photo which leaked on Weibo in the hand of a Huawei official shows a foldable phone prototype with thick bezels at the top and bottom edges.

The device seems to have been spotted at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, which took place in February. We can’t say why it took so long before the device is coming out and from China. The design looks a lot unpolished and the thick bezels envelop the beauty. The device even has bezels on one side of the display. This is in contrast with the Mate X which has extremely thin bezels all around. However, the device which is apparently a prototype folds outwards like the Mate X. When it is folded, one half of the screen becomes inactive, while the other one remains active on the front side. The design of the back is unknown.

(source, via)

Case maker leaks Sharp Aquos R3′ design, has dual notches

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 24, 2019

It appears the dual notch-toting Sharp Aquos R2 Compact was well-received seeing as Sharp‘s next flagship is keeping the design. The Aquos R3’s design has been leaked, thanks to case renders from Spigen, and they show the phone will also have a notch at the top and bottom of its display.

The Aquos R3 will have a U-shaped notch at the top of the display for the selfie camera but even with the notch, the top bezel is still pretty thick. The bottom notch is wider and carved around the pill-shaped fingerprint scanner just like on the Aquos R2 Compact.

[envira-gallery id=”249591″]

On the back, the Aquos R3 has vertically arranged dual cameras flanked by an LED flash on the right. The right side of the frame is home to the volume control buttons and power button. There is another button further down, and judging from its position, we think it is a dedicated shutter button for the camera. The phone also has a USB Type-C port at the bottom and an earphone jack at the top.

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Google Pixel 3a leaks in a new high-resolution render

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Apr 24, 2019

The Google Pixel 3a is expected to launch in May at the Google IO 2019 developer conference. The less powerful edition of the latest Pixel series – Google Pixel 3a leaks in a new high-resolution render adding more fuel to the rumor fire. The up-close look of the Pixel 3a is leaked by a reliable tipster, Evan Blass.

Unlike narrow bezels on smartphones nowadays, the Pixel 3a is carrying big bezels with rounded corners. The earpiece is clearly visible on the top along with a front camera. As expected, a single camera with dual LED flash and a fingerprint sensor embeds on its rear side. Inside, the phone is running vanilla Android with a clean and minimalistic look, depicting rounded icons and a Google search bar.

The Pixel 3a look resembles Pixel 3 look as revealed in multiple old leaks and rumors.

Being Google devices, the whole Pixel series is known for software optimization. Google introduced various software-based advancements in Pixel 3 to improve its overall performance.

Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL expected Specs

According to past leaks, Google will announce Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL next month at Google IO 2019 conference. Google Pixel 3a is expected to feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 SoC coupled with 4GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. As always, there would be no expandable storage support. A 2000mAh battery with 18 Watt fast charging technology will power the device. Whereas, the Pixel 3a XL will come with a 3000 mAh battery and a 6-inch OLED display.

Both the devices will feature Active Edge – squeeze to activate Google Assistant feature, eSIM support, and a Titan M security chip.

Read More: Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL render leaks ahead of launch next month

The device is already certified by Singapore’s IMDA, and several other agencies globally. The Pixel 3a will reportedly sell for about €450 while Pixel 3 XL will bear expensive price tag.

(source)

LG V35 ThinQ gets updated to Android Pie in South Korea

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 24, 2019

The LG V35 ThinQ launched last June with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Earlier this month LG revealed the phone, along with some other models, will get updated to Android Pie by the end of June. Reports say the update is already rolling out to the V35 ThinQ in LG’s home country.

The update is rolling out as an OTA but users can also get the update using LG Bridge and LGUP. The software version is V350N20C according to the source. Unfortunately, there is no changelog, so we have no idea what new features the phone will be getting and if there are bug fixes and a new security patch.

Since the update is already rolling out in Korea, other regions should get it in the coming weeks.

The LG V35 ThinQ has a 6.0-inch P-OLED display with a 1440 x 2880 resolution and is covered with Gorilla Glass 5. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 with 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of expandable storage.

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Huawei Y5 2019 is official: Specifications and features

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 24, 2019

Huawei Y5 2019 is the latest Huawei phone to go official in Europe. The budget-friendly smartphone comes with a unique faux leather rear and a tall aspect ratio display. Also, its packed with decent specs for an entry-level smartphone. The only thing that is not known about the handset is its pricing and availability.

Huawei Y5 2019 Specifications and Features

The Huawei Y5 2019 weighs 146 grams and it measures 147.13 x 70.78 x 8.48mm. Most phones available in the lower price segment are equipped with polycarbonate chassis. However, the Y5 2019 has arrived with anti-fingerprint, wear-resistant and anti-dirty faux leather rear panel.

The smartphone houses a 5.71-inch IPS LCD display that supports 720 x 1520 pixels. The chin of the device is thick, and it carries the Huawei brand name. The smartphone offers a screen-to-body ration of 84.6 percent. It’s a TUV Rheinland certified display that keeps harmful blue light under control.

The modest a MediaTek Helio A22 with 2.0 GHz octa-core processor powers the smartphone. The handset will be available in two variants in Europe such as 2 GB RAM + 16 GB storage and 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage. It is packed with a 3,020mAh battery.

Read More: Redmi needs to learn a lot from Huawei says Lu Weibing

The EMUI 9 based Android 9 Pie OS is preinstalled on the Huawei Y5 2019. The back panel of the phone has a single camera of 13-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture. For capturing selfies, the Y5 2019 has a selfie toning flash enabled 5-megapixel front-facing camera. There is Smart Beauty feature available on the device for shooting better selfie shots.

There is no fingerprint scanner on the Huawei Y5 2019. However, its face unlock feature is robust enough to scan 1024 facial features to unlock the device even in low-light conditions. There is Party Mode on the device that can be used for setting different Huawei smartphones to play the same song simultaneously. The other features of the phone include dedicated microSD card slot, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB and 3.5mm audio jack. The smartphone comes in four color option such as Midnight Black, Modern Black, Sapphire Blue and Amber Brown.

Realme officially announces its entry in China

By

Jeet

-

Apr 24, 2019

Realme, which made its debut last year as a sub-brand of Oppo, started working independently soon after that. The company was launched with a focus on the Indian market but has expanded its presence to other regions as well.

We recently reported about the company’s plan to enter its home market and today, the company has officially announced its presence in China. While making the announcement, the company’s executive said that the brand will offer a rare experience at the same price point and is aiming for the youths.

China is currently the world’s largest smartphone market and the company will definitely benefit from a presence in its home country. Realme is also expected to enter the Middle East and the Europen market by the end of this year.

Currently, the Realme brand has a presence in seven countries which includes India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, and the Philippines. Now, two more countries are added in the list — China and Taiwan.

With value-for-money smartphones from the company, Realme has managed to achieve an unpretending success in the Indian market. In just about one year of its launch, the company has grabbed 8 percent of the smartphone market share in India.

However, the company has not yet launched any smartphone in China. It’s likely that the Realme 3 Pro could be among the first smartphones to be available in China, which was launched in India earlier this week.

Realme 3 Pro is the company’s latest smartphone which comes with a 6.3-inch Full HD+ waterdrop notch display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 AIE processor with up to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

The phone features a 16 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and a 25 MP front-facing AI-powered snapper. It runs Android 9 Pie-based ColorOS 6 and is powered by a 4045mAh battery with VOOC 25W fast charging support.

(Source)

Vivo Y17 launched in India with 6.35-inch display, Helio P35 SoC; Priced INR 17990 (~$260)

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Apr 24, 2019

Vivo launches its new triple camera bearing smartphone – Vivo Y17 in India for INR 17990 (~$260). It is another addition to the affordable Vivo Y series featuring mid-level specs. The Phone debuts with a massive 5000 mAh battery supporting 18W Dual Engine fast charging capabilities.

Vivo Y17 Specification & Pricing details

Vivo Y17 features a 6.35-inch LCD HD+ panel having an aspect ratio of 19.3:9 for broader viewing experience. The waterdrop notch display comes with a screen-to-body ratio of 89% facilitating the immersive gaming experience. It is powered by octa-core Helio P35 processor built on the TSMC 12nm FinFET process with the maximum core frequency of 2.3GHz. The device is coupled with 4GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage.

Vivo Y17 features a triple camera setup with a 12MP primary sensor, 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth camera. The device is able to capture beautiful photos with the least amount of effort. The AI Super Wide-Angle Camera helps to capture 120 degrees wide photos. On the front, there’s a 20 MP sensor with AI Face beauty to enhance the quality of selfies.

It runs on Android 9.0 Pie atop Vivo’s Funtouch OS 9. The device comes with the Ultra Game Mode to facilitate gamers by enhancing the performance. Other features include a rear fingerprint sensor, Dual SIM support, and rear flash. In connectivity, Vivo added 2.4G+5G Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB 2.0, GPS, FM and 4G LTE. It measures 159.43 × 76.77 × 8.92mm and weighs 190.5g.

Read More: Vivo to bring Funtouch OS 9 Public Beta for majority of its 2018 devices by July

Vivo Y17 is now available for purchase in India from multiple offline stores. Only 4GB RAM+128GB internal storage is available for the price of INR 17990 which roughly translates to $290. Users can choose between two colour options – Mineral Blue and Mystic Purple. Meanwhile, users will get Earphones, USB cable, Power Adapter, SIM Ejector, Protective Case and Protective film as in-box accessories.

Vivo Y17 Gallery

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(source | via)

Xiaomi Redmi 7 with 6.26-inch display, 4,000mAh battery and dual cameras launched for Rs. 7,999 (~$114)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 24, 2019

Apart from launching the Redmi Y3 smartphone, Xiaomi India also took off covers from the Redmi 7 budget-friendly smartphone. It offers attractive features like a tall aspect ratio display, a large-sized battery, dual rear cameras and more at an affordable price tag of only Rs. 7,999 (~$114).

Xiaomi Redmi 7 Specifications and Features

The Redmi 7 handset features a polycarbonate chassis and it comes in attractive gradient color options. For splash resistance, the smartphone comes with a P2i nano-coating. It is fitted with a 6.26-inch IPS LCD screen with waterdrop notch that produces HD+ resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels. It’s a TUV Rheinland certified handset that can protect the eyes of the users from harmful blue rays emitted from the display. The Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the big display of Redmi 7. The handset measures 158.65 x 76.43 x 8.47mm and it weighs 180 grams.

The Snapdragon 632 SoC that fuels the Redmi Y3 smartphone is also present under the hood of the Redmi 7. The SoC of the phone is supported by up to 3 GB of RAM and it features a native storage of 32 GB. The smartphone features a dedicated slot for adding a microSD card. The smartphone boots to MIUI 10 flavored Android 9 Pie OS.

The Redmi 7 has a dual camera setup on its rear. It includes a 12-megapixel primary lens and 2-megapixel depth sensor. The dual rear cameras are coupled with features like dual-tone LED flash, AI portrait mode, AI scene detection and full HD video shooting at 60 fps.Placed on the front is a selfie snapper of 8-megapixel that comes with features such as auto HDR, AI driven features like beauty mode, portrait mode and face unlock.

The rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and face unlock are the two security features of the Redmi 7. For connectivity, the handset offers dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB 2.0 and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Read More: Xiaomi Redmi Y3 with 32MP selfie camera, 4,000mAh battery and Rs. 9,999 (~$143) launched in India

Xiaomi Redmi 7 Price and Release Date

There are two variants of the Redmi 7 for India such as 2 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage. Both models are respectively priced at Rs. 7,999 (~$114) and Rs. 8,999 (~$129). The smartphone can be bought in colors like Lunar Red, Comet Blue and Eclipse Black.

The sales of the Xiaomi Redmi 7 smartphone will kick off from April 29 at 12 PM through Amazon India, Mi.com and Mi Store. Redmi 7 buyers can benefit from double data benefits for up to four years along with Rs. 2,400 cashback through Jio.

What’s your opinion on the specifications and pricing of the Redmi 7 smartphone? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

Xiaomi Redmi Y3 with 32MP selfie camera, 4,000mAh battery and Rs. 9,999 (~$143) launched in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 24, 2019

Xiaomi has today introduced the Redmi Y3 selfie-centric smartphone in India alongside the Redmi 7 budget-friendly phone. The major selling points of the Redmi Y3 include the AI powered 32-megapixel camera and its 4,000mAh long-lasting battery. The handset has arrived in India with an enticing starting price of Rs. 9,999 (~$143).

Xiaomi Redmi Y3 Specifications and Features

The Redmi Y3 comes with a gradient colored polycarbonate chassis with P2i nano-coating for splash resistance. The smartphone is fitted with a 6.26-inch display with waterdrop notch. The IPS LCD panel supports an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels. The display of the phone is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The TUV Rheinland certification ensures that the display of Redmi Y3 can effectively filter harmful blue light.The Snapdragon 632 SoC that includes 1.8 GHz octa-core processor is present under the hood of the device. The SoC is supported by up to 4 GB of RAM. The maximum storage available on the Redmi Y3 is of 64 GB. There is a hybrid SIM slot on the device for additional storage. The MIUI 10 based Android 9 Pie OS comes preloaded on the phone.

The front notch is fitted with a 32-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. With 4-in-1 Super Pixel technology onboard, the handset can capture brighter selfie shots in dim light conditions. The AI Beauty 4.0 assists in improving the facial features while shooting selfies. The front camera is assisted by some other features like AI Portrait Selfie, 80-degree group selfies, auto HDR, shake-free selfies with palm shutter, EIS enabled 1080p video shooting and screen flash. The predecessor Redmi Y2 had featured a dedicated LED flash for its front-facing camera. This feature is not available on the Redmi Y3.

The rear side of the smartphone features a dual camera setup that includes a primary sensor of 12-megapixel and a depth sensor of 2-megaipxel. The dual rear cameras are equipped with photography features like dual-LED flash, AI portrait mode scene recognition, Google Lens support and EIS assisted 1080p video recording at 60 fps.

The Xiaomi Redmi Y3 is packed with a big battery of 4,000mAh capacity, but it lacks support for fast charging. The connectivity features that are available on the device are dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB 2.0, IR blaster and 3.5mm audio jack. Fingerprint scanner and 360-degree AI face unlock are the security features available on the Redmi Y3 selfie phone.

Read More: Xiaomi Redmi 7 with 6.26-inch display, 4,000mAh battery and dual cameras launched for Rs. 7,999 (~$114)

Xiaomi Redmi Y3 Price and Release

The Redmi Y3 comes in two options in India such as 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. These models are respectively priced at Rs. 9,999 (~$143) and Rs. 11,999 (~$172). The handset can be purchased in gradient color choices such as Elegant Blue, Bold Red and Prime Black.

Amazon India will be carrying out the exclusive sales of the Redmi Y3 smartphone from April 30 at 12 PM in India. The handset will be through Mi.com and Mi Home. Later, it will be also available through offline stores. Airtel users who purchase the Redmi Y3 will be provided with 4G data benefits of 1120 GB along with unlimited calling.

What’s your opinion on the selfie-focused Redmi Y3 smartphone? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

iFixit offers some explanation on why the Galaxy Fold displays were breaking

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 24, 2019

The media was agog recently with reports that the flexible displays on some of the review units of Samsung’s new Galaxy Fold were breaking quite easily. These incidences even prompted Samsung to postpone the release of the Fold globally. The Galaxy Fold botched debut left some wondering what went wrong with the Fold that was billed to be the world’s first commercial foldable phone especially considering the almost $2000 price tag.

The guys at popular teardown website iFixit have offered us some reasons, albeit informed guesses, as to why the Galaxy Fold wasn’t holding up. In a new blog post, Kevin Purdy and other members of the iFixit team examine the known issues that plagued reviewers who did get a chance to use the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The team makes some informed guesses based on more than a decade of examining the internals of devices using similar flexible AMOLED panels.

Summarily, the post hints at the OLED display as being at the heart of the Galaxy Fold’s troubles especially as it doesn’t have a protective layer like a Gorilla Glass on top. OLED displays are said to be very fragile such that even the smallest dust particles can cause problems. The Fold is said to have plenty of areas where dust can easily enter sensitive areas.

In a few cases, the protective film on the OLED was peeled off with the expectation that it was similar to the thin, removable waterproof film that ships with most phones. That damaged the OLED display and it highlights that tough pressure on a relatively unprotected OLED panel is dangerous.

Before the Galaxy Fold release, Samsung had released a highly-publicised mechanical stress test for the Fold where robot folders subjected the folding mechanism to several folds. iFixit is of the opinion that the tests were too mechanical and didn’t properly take into consideration the fact that human use varies. The lack of a dedicated crease line down the middle of the foldable display prevents even folding on a consistent basis, putting even more stress on the OLED panel. That perhaps, explains why in one instance, the OLED had a slight bulge at the area where the crease line was supposed to run. You can read more from the source link below.

(source)

Huawei starts a new campaign that offers smartphone repair service at cheaper price

By

Jeet

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Apr 24, 2019

If you are a user of Huawei’s smartphones, then here are some good news for you. The company has announced a new campaign under which Huawei is offering official screen replacement and motherboard repair service at a cheaper price.

When repairing the smartphones, screen and the motherboard are among the most expensive components. But, if you are damaged any of these two, you can get the phone repaired for cheaper pricing.

Huawei revealed that depending on the smartphone model, the screen replacement will cost 249/299/349/399/499 Yuan while the motherboard repair will cost 399/499/799 Yuan. It seems that the offer is limited to the Chinese market only and will last till 10th June.

In total, about 60 smartphone models are part of this campaign. The image below shows the list of smartphones and pricing for the screen replacement.

The image shown below has a list of smartphone models that fall under the campaign for motherboard repair. Pricing for the same is also mentioned in the image.

The company says that getting the smartphone repaired through the official channels ensures that the parts provided are genuine and users get a team of professionals working on the repair task. Further, the company says that all the units that need to get repaired under this campaign will be sent to the senior team.

Also, the company says that if the repair time is longer than usual, then the company will also provide spare smartphone, ensuring that the user isn’t left hanging. It will also be offering an extra 90-day warranty on the parts replaced.

(Via)

Xiaomi Floor Standing AC with cylindrical design launched in China for 3,499 Yuan ($521)

By

Jeet

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Apr 24, 2019

At a launch event in China, Xiaomi launched six new products, including Xiaomi TV and Xiaomi Mural TV, Mi Weighing Scale, Mi Walking Machine, etc. Along with all these, the company also launched an air conditioner — Xiaomi Floor Standing AC.

As the name itself suggests, the Mi Floor Standing AC comes with a cylindrical design, totally different from the typical split ac that we’ve seen. The company says that it has two cooling capacity, 1100m3/h circulating air volume and is suitable for a room of about 20-32 square meter.

It also supports the swinging motion in all four directions — up and down as well as left and right. The company adds that the AC comes with three-dimensional air supply so that the air can reach the room very quickly at every corner.

The China-based company also says that the ducts and blades in the AC are specially optimized to offer a super quiet experience. It comes with 5100W cooling capacity and 5650W heating capacity. It is rated to offer air supply up to 8 meters long and 2100W ceramic PTC electric auxiliary heat.

Thanks to the built-in IoT chip, the Xiaomi Floor Standing AC also support controlling through the company’s Mi App. Its functions can be automated based on room temperature and humidity.

It comes with a new remote control that is divided into certain sections — screen area, main function area, and auxiliary function area. Different buttons on the remote come with different concave or convex design, making it easier to operate for a blind person.

The Xiaomi Floor Standing AC is priced at 3,499 Yuan in China, which roughly converts to $521. However, for the first sale, the product will be available for 2,999 Yuan, which is roughly about $446. It will be available for reservations from today itself.

(Source)

Get Great Discounts on Ulefone-Branded Phones on Gearbest and Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 24, 2019

Manufacturer of top-end smartphones including the Armor 6, which is touted as ‘The World’s Top Indestructible Rugged Phone,’ Ulefone has now teamed-up with Gearbest and Banggood. Thanks to this collaboration, Ulefone fans can grab noteworthy discounts on a slew of mobile devices and accessories.

Ulefone Brand Sale on Gearbest

Gearbest has launched The Ulefone Brand Sale, wherein the Chinese online store is offering up to $100 off on some of the brand’s well-received handsets including the Ulefone X phablet, which normally sells for $213.43.

As part of the promo, Gearbest users can get their hands on the feature-laden phablet for a lowered price of just $149.99. Aside from taking advantage of this noteworthy discount, you can use coupon code GB$MPULEX and reduce the device’s original asking price to just $89.99.

Likewise, you can get a noteworthy $100 off on the Armor 6, which normally carries a $399.99 price tag. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now buy it for a dropped price of just $299.99. Moreover, you can buy Armor 5, Armor 3 and other Ulefone-branded mobile devices at lowered prices.

If you’re looking for cost-effective mobile phone accessories, you can head straight to the ‘Essential Accessories’ section. The category is brimming with all sorts of useful items such as charger cable, automatic lock phone bracket, power banks, etc. You can click here to visit the promotion page to avail of these great discounts.

Get Up To $100 Off on Ulefone Brand Cellphone

Ulefone Brand Week on Banggood

Ulefone’s well-received Armor series comprises top-end handsets like the Armor 6, Armor 5, Armor 3 and more. If you’ve been waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the Ulefone Armor series phones at lowered prices, we got good news for you.

Known for offering the best bang for your buck, Banggood has launched the ‘Ulefone Brand Week,’ giving its loyal users a chance to grab big discounts on a slew of high-end smartphones. Keeping in line with that, you get a $100 off on the Armor 6, which usually sells for $399.99.

In other words, you can buy the feature-rich Armor 6 for a lowered price of just $299.99. On top of that, 100 lucky users can get a free wireless charger with their orders.

Alternatively, you can get a $70 off on the Armor 5, which would normally set you back $249.99 on both online as well as offline stores. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, the device can now be yours if you’re willing to shell out just $179.99. You also get a free gift with your order. Aside from mobile devices, you can get noteworthy discounts on a myriad of mobile phone accessories that have been assigned specific coupons for discounts. For example, the BlitzWolf BW-S6 USB Charger usually retails for $17.53, but you can use coupon code s6wcbw to reduce its retail price to just $8.79.

You can follow this link to check out the promotion page and grab the discounts without wasting time.

Get Up To $100 Off on Ulefone Armor Series

Xiaomi files patent for a phone bearing a weird-looking inverted notch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 24, 2019

Smartphone notch gained wild popularity in 2017 after the release of the iPhone X. Since then, we have seen various phone display designs with the notch adopting various dimensions, the most common being the waterdrop design. But nothing prepared us for the notch design Xiaomi has just reportedly patented, a smartphone with an awkward inverted notch design.

The sketch released shows the notch is designed in such a way that it extends upwards from the phone just like a centrally placed dual pop-up camera or better still, like an inverted notch. The inverted notch houses the in-ear speaker and dual front camera setup. We can’t fathom exactly why Xiaomi would want to design such a phone but it could be an easy way of trimming the bezels around the display. However, the design doesn’t look like one that will catch on like wildfire more especially as it alters the symmetrical design phones have always maintained. But then, you never know. We may likely not find it anytime soon, though, as patent applications don’t really indicate what a company is planning on the short term.

Xiaomi also filed a patent for a slider design with triple selfie camera sensors. The design looks exactly like that of the Mi Mix 3 except for the triple cameras.

(via)

Honor lost a prototype smartphone and is offering $5600 to whoever returns it

By

Jeet

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Apr 24, 2019

Before a smartphone gets officially announced for the general public, the device typically goes through a series of testing. At one stage, the company lends the pre-production unit of the smartphone to its employees for testing.

Honor, a sub-brand of Chinese giant Huawei, has been doing the same for its upcoming Honor 20 lineup. Now, as per the reports, a testing unit or prototype lent to one of its employees has gone missing in Germany.

The company’s employee in the marketing department, Moritz Scheidl was traveling to Dusseldorf to visit his family over the Easter Holidays. The phone, as per the claims from Scheidl, was tucked away inside his backpack throughout the journey. But as he arrived back home and went to pull out the device to charge it, he realized it was gone.

So, it’s unclear if the smartphone simply fell off or was stolen. Whatever it is, the company is offering a €5000 ($5,611) reward to whoever retrieves the phone. According to the company, the smartphone was covered with a gray protective case that obscures the cameras and the rear design.

As the company announced this development and the rewards, some of the users of social media have started accusing the company of getting involved in cheap publicity stunts ahead of the phone’s launch. However, the company claims that it’s not a publicity stunt.

Honor has already announced that it will be launching its Honor 20 smartphone series on 21st May at a launch event in London. The company is expected to launch three phones — Honor 20, 20 Pro, and Honor 20 Lite. It has already launched the Honor 20i smartphone in the Chinese market.

(Source)