Xiaomi began testing Mi 6X Android Pie update in China

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Mar 12, 2019

Huawei is expected to officially unveil the P30 series on March 26 in Paris, France. The P30 series comprises of the Huawei P30, P30 Lite and P30 Pro. All three models have now been certified in Indonesia and Taiwan. Along with the certification listing, comes some of the specs of the models.

The Huawei P30 is listed with the model number ELE-L29 and will have 6/8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage onboard. On the other hand, the P30 Pro appears with the model number VOG-L29 and is listed with just an option of 8GB RAM with 128GB and 256GB storage options. The third model suspected to be the Huawei P30 Lite has the model number MAR-LX2.

The three models are all certified to feature 4G networks but it is unexpected that the 5G Balong 5000 modem that will accompany the Kirin 980 chipset onboard will ever go to work since Indonesia and Taiwan are yet to build their 5G infrastructures. Other specifications of the models are still sketchy but the P30 Pro is said to pack a periscope camera on the back. Leaked renders also suggest the device will be available in Black, Twilight, and Aurora Blue colors. The renders also point to the presence of the under-display fingerprint scanner. This may not be the case with the P30 Lite, though.

(via)

OPPO Reno to come in four colors including Fog Green

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 12, 2019

The OPPO Reno will launch next month as OPPO’s first flagship phone of 2019. Details of the phone have been pouring in since yesterday. Today, OPPO’s VP, Brian Shen, revealed details about the phone’s color variants on Weibo.

The OPPO Reno will come in four color variants according to the company executive. They are Fog Green, Pink Mist, Night Black, and Nebula Purple. He also adds that they will all have a matte finish.

An image of the Fog Green version leaked online yesterday. The photo confirms the phone will have triple rear cameras set up in a vertical arrangement and in a black housing. There is an LED flash below the sensors and the text “Designed by OPPO” and “OPPO” written on the phone too.

The OPPO Reno is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor and has a 48MP primary rear camera, a telephoto lens, 10x optical zoom, and a 4065mAh battery. However, a leak from earlier today revealed there is another OPPO Reno phone that has dual rear cameras, a Snapdragon 710 chipset, and a 6.4-inch display.

(Sources: 1, 2 | Via)

Samsung Galaxy A50 launching in Europe on March 18 with a €349 price tag

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Mar 12, 2019

Samsung‘s resurgence in the midrange market is piloted by the premium mid-range models that the company has announced in recent times. At the Mobile World Congress 2019, the tech giant announced the Galaxy A30 and A50 premium mid-range models. The Galaxy A50 is now tipped to go on sale in Europe on March 18.

According to Lithuanian carrier Tele2, the phone will come with a price tag of 349 Euros for those who wish to buy the phone outright. There is also the option of paying in several instalments. In that case, the intending buyer will need to make an initial deposit of €52 and then monthly payments of €12.37 for 24 months. Tele2 is already accepting pre-orders for the device with deliveries for the black variant set for March 18 while the blue and white variants will go on sale on March 25. The pink variant is expected to go on sale on April 1. Apart from Lithuania, there is no information on when the device will be available in other parts of Europe.

As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy A50 features a 6.4-inch 1080×2340 AMOLED touchscreen. The premium mid-ranger is powered by a Samsung Exynos 9610 Octa chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the camera end, the Galaxy A50 packs a triple rear camera setup comprising a 25 MP f/1.7 sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide snapper, and a 5 MP depth sensor. For selfies, the device features a 25 MP f/2.0 camera. The Galaxy A50 gets its interface from Google’s latest Android 9 Pie OS and it crams a big 4,000 mAh battery under the hood.

(source, via)

Redmi’s March 18 launch event may bring more than just smartphones, Redmi 7’s retail box pops up online

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 12, 2019

Xiaomi‘s Redmi brand is known for its affordable smartphones but is it possible that they may begin making other products too? There is a chance that might happen according to recent reports.

A Weibo post by the official Redmi account hints at the March 18 launch bringing more than just the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Redmi 7.

A rough translation of the Weibo post says “Who said Redmi is just a mobile phone?” which some have reported means that the Redmi brand is not just a phone company. We have no idea what other product(s) might be announced alongside the two phones but we can’t wait for the launch to be here to see what Redmi has in store for us.

On the other hand, the image attached to the post teases the features of the Redmi Note 7 Pro which includes a Snapdragon 675 processor, a 48MP primary rear camera, a 4,000mAh battery, P2i hydrophobic nanocoating for protection against splashes, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection etc.

In other news, the Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing shared an image of the retail box of the Redmi 7 on his Weibo page.

The image reveals the phone will also have an 18-month warranty like the Redmi Note 7. We reported yesterday that Redmi phones will now come with a longer warranty as a result of an improvement in production quality. The Redmi General Manager revealed the company’s FFR has dropped by 30%.

Continue

Samsung reportedly has a budget flagship cheaper than the Galaxy S10e in the works

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Mar 12, 2019

Samsung took the wraps off its 2019 Galaxy S10 flagship models last month in New York. The Galaxy S10 models include the Galaxy S10, S10 5G, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10E. The Galaxy S10E happens to be a trimmed down version of the models with a starting price tag of $749. That may not look cheap but when compared to the s10 and S10 Plus, the price is cheaper. Samsung has been implementing some changes in its approach to the market with more focus on the mid-range to the budget market. There are rumours the South Korean company will also adjust its approach in the flagship segment by launching a more cost-effective flagship. The flagship is said to come with a cheaper price tag than the Galaxy S10E.

The information was shared by a tipster of Twitter, who also hinted that the tech giant will launch more than six flagships powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset this year. Samsung was expected to release a total of six flagships this year and these include the new Galaxy S10 series (Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e), the upcoming 5G-enabled Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Fold. Samsung will also launch the Galaxy Note 10 later in the year. Going by this new tip, the Chinese tech giant may be planning to release more flagships.

This year Samsung will have more than 6 models of the Snapdragon 855 flagship phone, including folding phones. Please trust me.#Samsung #SamsungFold pic.twitter.com/TJekkhG6ZH

— Star universe (@TechstarGod) March 7, 2019

Such rumours should be received with a pinch of salt, though. This is because Samsung is already focusing on boosting the mid-range segment and so, may not have such plans in sight. In another light, the Galaxy S10E may have been released just to test the water, considering how it comes with a Snapdragon 855 and misses out on some features like on-screen fingerprint and edge-to-edge display. The success of the model may determine the next step the company will take.

AnTuTu’s global top 10 best performing Android phones for February 2019 released

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Mar 12, 2019

AnTuTu benchmarking platform has released the list of the top 10 best performing Android phones in the global market for February 2019. The list has been compiled considering the average benchmarking score of each smartphone between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 on the AnTuTu Benchmark v7 app. AnTuTu claims that it has tested at least 1,000 units of each model that have been included in the top 10 list. The list is led by 8nm Exynos 9820 powered Samsung Galaxy S10+ with an average benchmarking score of 332,850.

The second spot goes to the Honor V20 that has recorded an average benchmarking score of 305,599. The Huawei Mate 20 X is placed on third spot with an AnTuTu score of 304,588. The fourth position goes to Huawei Mate 20 that has recorded a score of 302,985. Sitting on the fifth spot is the Honor Magic 2 with 300,743. These Huawei and Honor phones are powered by 7nm Kirin 980 SoC.

The Xiaomi Mi MX 2S powered by Snapdragon 845 is on the sixth place with 298,007 AnTuTu score. The OnePlus 6, ASUS ROG Phone and Xiaomi Mi 8 have respectively bagged seventh, eighth and ninth positions. These phones have respectively scored 297,076, 297,037 and 297,001. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 slotted on the tenth position is yet another Snapdragon 845 powered Xiaomi phone in the list. With multiple SD855 fueled phones coming to the market, it is likely that smartphones driven by it may rank higher in the top 10 list of best performing Android phones in the coming months.

AnTuTu 7.2.6 will make it harder for Manufacturers to Cheat in benchmarks

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 12, 2019

AnTuTu has got a brand new update, version 7.2.6, and the changelog mentions a very important point. The new version which was released earlier today, mentions that it will “fix the issue of an abnormal running score of UX caused by malicious exploitation of system permissions by some manufacturers”.

In the past few years, it has become a trend for manufacturers to boasts about their smartphone’s AnTuTu scores, even at their launch events. This is especially true in smartphone launches in China. Such is the importance that we give to this benchmarking tool.

And in the process, we have often seen manufacturers tweak their smartphones to score better than others. OnePlus, Meizu, OPPO, Huawei have all been found cheating on AnTuTu in the past. This isn’t really surprising given that users often assume a higher AnTuTu score is synonymous to a faster and more powerful smartphone.

The usual method of cheating on AnTuTu has been to tweak the smartphones to detect when the app is running and unleashing the full power of the CPU without any regard for efficiency, which it usually would, under normal use case scenario.

RELATED: Black Shark 2 scores over 400K on AnTuTu

AnTuTu 7.2.6 update doesn’t really explain how it would stop such cheating from manufacturers, but if you were worried that you could be fooled, at least know that AnTuTu is trying something from their end.

Personally, I believe we should always take AnTuTu scores for the sake of reference, instead of pitting two phones with minute differences against each other to hail one as the ultimate winner.

Currently, the AnTuTu 7.2.6 version is only available via its Chinese website (link here!). The one on the app store is still v7.0.

(via)

Vivo V1838A full specs spotted on TENAA; Could be Vivo X27 lower edition

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Mar 12, 2019

In the recent past, TENAA telecom body from China had approved the Vivo V1829A/T smartphone. The V1829A/T is expected to debut as the Vivo X27. Also, the Vivo 1831A/T phone that was recently approved by TENAA is rumored to launch as Vivo S1. A new Vivo device with model number Vivo V1838A has been spotted on TENAA today. The specs of the V1838A listed on TENAA reveals that it features a weaker chipset and lower triple camera sensors than the Vivo V1829A/T Vivo X27 smartphone. The rest of the specs of both smartphones are identical. Hence, it appears that the Vivo V1838A could be a lower edition of the Vivo X27.

The images of the Vivo V1838A are not available yet on its TENAA listing. However, it appears to be featuring the same 6.39-inch notch-less AMOLED display with full HD+ resolution like the Vivo X27 and Vivo V15 Pro smartphone. The display of the phone is embedded with a fingerprint sensor. The handset measures 157.66 x 74.26 x 8.95mm and it may weigh 188.3 grams. The TENAA listing states that it will be available in Gold color.

The Vivo V1838A is fueled by 2.0 GHz octa-core processor. The Vivo V1829A/T Vivo X27 has 2.2 GHz octa-core processor onboard which is nothing but the Snapdragon 710 mobile platform. Hence, the Vivo 1838A that is speculated to debut as a lower edition of Vivo X27 could be powered by Snapdragon 675.

Read More: Vivo iQOO warranty extended by 6 months after slight deliver delays

The minimum capacity of Vivo V1838A is of 3,920mAh, but its typical size could be 4,000mAh. It will carry support for rapid charging technology. It will be available in two models such as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The handset is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It lacks support for microSD card slot.

The Vivo V1829A/T features 48-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel rear-mounted triple camera unit and a frontal shooter of 16-megapixel. The newly approved Vivo V1838A smartphone has 12-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera module and a selfie snapper of 16-megapixel. The selfie shooter could be available on the device as a pop-up camera like the Vivo V15 Pro.

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By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 12, 2019

Much to the delight of those looking for an RK3328 SoC-equipped Android TV box but aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, GeekBuying has launched the unmissable A5X MAX Flash Sale.

As part of the recently kicked-off sale, the Chinese online store known for offering the country’s best electronic items will be giving its loyal users a chance to buy a wide range of TV boxes without breaking their banks. As if that weren’t enough, GeekBuying users will be able to save extra money by using coupons at check out.

For those spending a specific amount on the promotion page will be eligible to get noteworthy discounts. For the sake of an instance, if your cart value is more than $45, you can use coupon code A5XA5X1 and get an extra $3 off before placing your order.

GeekBuying is also offering two well-received variants of the A5X Max TV box at unbeatable prices on the promotion page. We’ll divulge more details about the discount and show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money during the checkout process.

A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box (4GB RAM, 64GB ROM)

This variant of the A5X Max TV box ships with 4GB of RAM and offers a hearty 64GB of onboard storage capacity. You’d normally end up shelling out $82.99 in order to get your hands on this model, but you can now purchase it for a reduced price of only $49.99 on GeekBuying.Moreover, you can apply coupon code GIZ_HBGKNQCA and get an extra $9 off. In other words, you can bring the already reduced asking price of the aforesaid variant down to just $48.99 simply by using the coupon.

You can visit this link to avail the discount. Note that the promotion sale is slated to end in just seven days.

A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box (4GB RAM, 32GB ROM)

This variant offers 4GB of RAM and relatively less storage capacity of 32GB. This model would normally set you back $83.67, but it has now gone up for sale bearing a heavily discounted price of $54.99.
You can extend this 34 percent discount by using coupon code GIZ_ZIXQZCMR at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you save $17 by reducing the variant’s original selling price to only $39.99.

Regrettably, this promo will only be valid for two days. You can follow this link in order to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

The A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box is an absolute bargain at this price. Here are some of the features that the coveted TV box has to offer:

Rockchip RK3328 chipset
Android 9.0 Pie OS
True 4K Media Player
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Bluetooth 4.0
4G WiFi

Get 34% Off On A5X MAX RK3328
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ZTE Blade V10 price and release date confirmed for China

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Mar 12, 2019

ZTE had announce the Snapdragon 855 powered 5G-ready Axon 10 Pro 5G smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech expo that was held at the end of the previous month in Barcelona, Spain. The Chinese manufacturer had also unveiled the Blade V10 mid-range smartphone alongside the Axon 10 Pro 5G. While there is no fresh information available on the release date of the Axon 10 Pro 5G, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed the pricing and release date of the Blade V10. The new mid-ranger from ZTE is now available on pre-orders in the home market.

ZTE Blade V10 Price and Variants

The ZTE Blade V10 has arrived in China in two models such as 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The 64 GB and 128 GB variants of the Blade V10 are respectively priced at 1,199 Yuan (~$178) and 1,499 Yuan (~$223). The pre-orders of the phone will run until March 17 and its shipments will begin on March 18. The handset can be pre-ordered through the official ZTE Mall online store. The phone is currently only available in Night Sky Black color in China. There is no word on the availability of the green and gradient blue editions of the Blade V10.

When the phone was announced at the MWC 2019, ZTE had confirmed that it will be available in 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. Apart from China, the smartphone will be also made available in European and South American markets in the near future.

ZTE Blade V10 Specifications

The Blade V10 is fitted with a 6.3-inch waterdrop-notch enabled display that offers full HD+ resolution. The Helio P70 is present under the hood of the device. It is driven by a 3,100mAh battery.

The back panel of the Blade V10 features a 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. There is a 32-megapixel camera placed inside the frontal notch of the phone. Some of the other features of the Blade V10 include Android 9 Pie OS, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, microSD card slot and USB-C.

Check Out Gearbest 5th Anniversary Party Main Page

LG G8 ThinQ pricing revealed, South Korea pre-orders start from 15th March

By

Jeet

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Mar 12, 2019

At the Mobile World Congress, LG announced its flagship smartphone LG G8 ThinQ but didn’t reveal the phone’s pricing and availability details. Now, the company has revealed that the device will be available for pre-orders in South Korea from 15th March.

As for the pricing, the LG G8 ThinQ will cost KRW 897,600 in South Korea, which roughly converts to $795. The phone will be available for pre-orders in the country between March 15-20 and it will go on sale starting March 22.

The company has said that the device will be provided with a screen replacement facility for one year and will come bundled with a free case. The G8 ThinQ notably comes as a successor to the LG G7 ThinQ that was launched last year.

Coming to the phone’s specifications, the smartphone features a 6.1-inch OLED notched display that carries support for Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chipset, coupled with 8GB of RAM.

In the camera department, it comes with a triple camera setup on its rear that includes a 12-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens. On the front side, the device comes equipped with an 8-megapixel front-facing snapper and a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.

The phone also carries support for Hand ID that can read the thickness and characteristics of a user’s veins for unlocking. It runs Android 9 Pie operating system out of the box with the company’s own custom interface on top. The phone is powered by a 3,500mAh battery.

Gearbest Marks 5th Anniversary By Offering 55% Off Over $55.55 And Lots More

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 12, 2019

Staying true to its reputation for being one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, Gearbest leaves no stone unturned in a bid to offer top-branded items at unbeatable prices to its users.

The Chinese online store is marking its 5th anniversary with a new promo that comprises a slew of unmissable deals, great discounts and lots more. Dubbed as ‘Gearbest 5th Anniversary Party Guide,’ the promotion has been split into multiple categories, each offering Gearbest users something to cheer about.

The ‘Get the Coupons’ section features coupon codes that can be used to save a considerable amount of money at checkout. Each coupon has been assigned to specific categories.

For the sake of an instance, the 10% off coupon is valid for the products available in the ‘Fishing’ category. Likewise, there are two 6% off coupons that you can use for Tools and Home Gadgets sections and get noteworthy discounts. There’s a 5% off coupon as well which will be valid for the Cell Phone Accessories category.

The ‘Fun’ section features four other promotions that you can check out. For example, ‘Your Favorite Shopping Memory’ promo offers a limited number of coupons to select users from specific countries. Those who have registered Gearbest accounts will be eligible to receive a Lucky Draw card as well as one coupon.

The next category is called ‘Affordable’ and it comprises three promotions including an upcoming 24th Flash Sale, Mega Marketplace and 5 Days Arrival promotions wherein you can get $10 off and a chance to save 50 percent, respectively.

On March 13th, products included in the ‘Quality’ category will go up for sale bearing heavily discounted prices. Alternatively, you can head straight to the ‘Super Coupon’ section that features mobile devices like smartphones and phablets along with laptops and a myriad of other electronic items.

More importantly, all items included in the aforesaid section are available at lowered prices. In order to reduce the original asking price of a specific product all you need to do is to apply coupons associated with it. You can visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the products by following this link.

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Xiaomi’s Sun Changxu defends DxOMark, says their tests are credible and relevant in the industry

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Mar 12, 2019

Against all odds, DXOMark continues to rise as one of the reputable benchmark outfit and authority when it comes to rating the cameras stuffed on flagship phones. But not every OEM is pleased with the work DXOMark is doing. OPPO’s VP Brian Shen recently questioned the significance of DxOMark benchmarks in today’s smartphone market. In a Weibo post, he questioned the rationale behind tuning every smartphone camera to one particular standard. In his opinion, there was no need to set a specific standard when it comes to smartphone cameras.

Xiaomi’s Sun Changxu who is also a market analyst also weighed in on the debate. She picked holes with that opinion, stating that DXOMark camera benchmark test makes sense. She drew out the fact that DXOMark has strict testing standards for various comprehensive indicators. She revealed that phone manufacturers actually test the parameters in secret and camera chip manufacturers also have simulation labs which help the mobile phone companies perform these tests. She likened the DXOMark benchmark to a student who takes a college entrance examination but bragging about being capable of getting the best score. DXOMark test is like a college entrance exam which shows how good a student his in several subjects.

This opinion, no doubt, reflects that of Xiaomi which have laboured to improve the camera rating of its smartphones, flagship after flagship. Apart from a better DXOMark performance, the improved camera provides a better user experience for its teeming fans. Perhaps, one major factor that has helped improve the credibility of DXOMark is the fact that the camera samples by users are commensurate with the scores of the device.

Vivo iQOO warranty extended by 6 months after slight deliver delays

By

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Mar 12, 2019

The Vivo iQOO gaming phone was announced at the beginning of this month in China. Since then, it has been made available for purchase twice in the home market. iQOO Vice President Feng Yufei had recently claimed that the sales of the iQOO gaming phone has been beyond expectations and the company is actively working on increasing its production capacity. However, fresh information reveals that the shipments of the phone have been affected to some extent. In order to pacify the annoyed customers of Vivo iQOO, Yufei has announced additional six months of warranty for customers who have already purchased it.

Yesterday, Yufei convey through Weibo that except for some high orders, the shipments of iQOO variants are in progress. He added that the 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variant of the phone will be delivered within 48 hours. He also confirmed on the six months extra warranty for customers who have been waiting for their ordered units. The next sale of the smartphone will be carried out on March 13.

Vivo iQOO Specifications and Price

The Vivo iQOO phone comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with waterdrop notch. The smartphone offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 91.7 percent. The Snapdragon 855 mobile platform powers the Vivo iQOO. The 4,000mAh battery of the phone is equipped with support for 44W fast charging through USB-C. Only the base model of the phone that comes with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage supports 22.5W fast charging while its other variants offer 44W rapid charging.

Since it is a gaming focused smartphone, it comes with AI Turbo for improving apps performance, Net Turbo for switching between 4G and Wi-Fi while gaming, Cooling Turbo through super liquid cooling technology and Game Turbo for prioritizing resources for smooth gaming performance. There are a pair of pressure-sensitive buttons on the phone that can be used while gaming. For immersive gaming experience, the Vivo iQOO supports 4D gaming through haptics and surround sound output.

The FunTouch OS based Android 9 Pie comes loaded on the device. Its rear-facing triple camera setup includes a 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 main sensor, a 13-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For capturing selfies, it features a 12-megapixel frontal shooter. The handset also features an in-screen fingerprint reader and NFC.

Read More: Vivo iQOO Hands On: Halo Lights, Virtual Buttons & Headphone Jack makes it Stand Out!

Vivo iQOO Price and Variants

The 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB variants of the Vivo iQOO are respectively priced at 2,998 Yuan (~$447), 3,298 Yuan (~$392), 3,598 Yuan (~$536) and 4,298 Yuan (~$640). It comes in two colors such as Electro-optic Blue and Lava Orange. There is no word on the international availability of the phone.