OPPO confirms 10x lossless zoom coming in Q2, releases more details

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Feb 23, 2019

Nokia is hosting a press event at MWC 2019 on February 24 to launch various new devices. As per the reports and leaks the HMD Global owned company is set to unveil Nokia 9, Nokia 1 Plus and a couple of other devices at the event. Except Nokia 9, all other devices will be of the entry-level and mid-level segment. Today, Nokia’s social media chief, Edoardo Cassina has shared a stunning photo taken by Finnish photographer on the Nokia 9.

The new images are showing the full potential of the Nokia 9 Penta camera module. It looks like Nokia has also tweaked its camera software along with robust hardware to take enriched yet beautiful photos. Nokia has followed leaders in the camera market such as Apple, Google, and Huawei in optimizing the camera software for excellent photography.

View this post on Instagram

~ Captured and edited entirely on a Nokia phone. On February 24, I will be on stage at #MWC19 with @Nokiamobile. Are you in the city and do you want to join me at the event? Follow @Nokiamobile and leave a comment below including #GetSmart and #Nokiamobile. Two lucky winners will get to join me and win cool giveaways!

A post shared by Konsta Punkka (@kpunkka) on Feb 22, 2019 at 5:14am PST

Nokia 9’s Penta-camera module has been rumored to carry some out of bounds features and stunning picture quality. Although, from the photo, it appears that those rumors are somewhat true. Despite the fact that Instagram compresses images, we can still guess some metrics such as clarity and composition of the whole photo taken by Nokia 9. Even, the darkness, color balance, and extra level depth across different images are justifying the beautiful scenes.

The photo seems to be stressfully testing the camera capabilities. As different exposures at different parts of the photo are challenging the phone’s camera. Irrespective of these difficulties, the cameras of the device have managed to capture the beautiful scene in a really good manner.

Well, it would be quite difficult to consider any device’s camera from a single photo. A single photo is unable to justify the device’s camera capabilities. Even though we are unaware of any editing that has taken place before publishing this photo. Still, we expect Nokia 9 to come with powerful cameras as rumored in the past.

Nokia 9 Specs

As per the details that have been leaked in some past time, Nokia 9 will be coming with a Penta-camera module along with PDAF, AF sensors, and an LED flash. In recent official press renders, we have got to know about Android Nokia 9 One edition. It will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset as revealed in a Geekbench listing. Furthermore, there is loads of unconfirmed information that is available in the web sphere.

Read More: Nokia 9 PureView penta-lens configurations leak 64MP resolution photography prowess

We suggest you wait for a few hours more, as Nokia is scheduled to host an event at MWC 2019 on February 24th in Barcelona.

OnePlus 5G Smartphone launch due for second quarter, initially will skip the US

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Feb 23, 2019

Samsung, Huawei, and LG are already on the verge of a 5G smartphone launch. Samsung has already announced the Galaxy S10 5G edition which will be made available within a few months. On the other hand, Huawei 5G device powered with 5000 Balong modem will debut in next few hours at MWC 2019 in Barcelona. Surprisingly, OnePlus has also posted some details about its 5G device.

As per details, OnePlus will unveil its 5G device in the second quarter this year. If everything goes as said, then the Chinese company will be among the first batch of manufacturers who would launch the 5G devices. Although, OnePlus has not detailed anything about the device yet but will be up for a showcase at MWC 2019.

Concerning its availability, then OnePlus won’t make it to the US as like of other manufacturers. Instead, they will debut the new 5G device in the United Kingdom via EE carrier. Further, the 5G compatible device will move to Finland with Elisa network carrier by Q2, 2019.

In an Interview to our sources, OnePlus Founder Pete Lau said that “It’s still very early days for 5G, and we want to take the opportunity to raise more awareness particularly within the OnePlus community, but not just limited to the OnePlus community, in what we can look forward to with 5G.”

OnePlus 5G device will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Chipset incorporating X50 5G Modem. The specially designed modem is capable of providing download speeds of upto 4.5 Gbps. Even though, OnePlus shared an image of a prototype device encased within a shell.

In the coming days, OnePlus will showcase the gaming capabilities of its 5G device. Particularly, the company is set to highlight the device’s gaming experience with “Ace Combat 7” game. It would be interesting to see how the company flaunts the device’s gaming hardware when the computing is done at the cloud level rather than on the device.

Overall, it’s good to see that different manufacturers are working onto bringing 5G devices by the end of this year. Many other Chinese manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, Huawei are already working to build 5G infrastructure. Even though, US President also seemed curious about the Chinese’s involvement in building 5G technology via a couple of tweets yesterday.

Initially, OnePlus is skipping the US market but has plans to launch 5G devices later in time once technology gets improved. While talking, Pete Lau marked, “The US is an important market, so a longterm 5G focus is critically important.”

Read More: OnePlus 5G Smartphone prototype to be showcased during MWC 2019

OnePlus has not named the new 5G device, but will soon get a one. Additionally, the Chinese company officially launched OnePlus 6T in the US via T-Mobile. Its unlocked version is also available from AT&T and Verizon. Currently, the OnePlus is retailing at the price of $549. In a small period, the Chinese firm has managed to attain the fifth spot in the list of top 5 brands of phones sold above $500.

As of now, we have to wait some time for OnePlus 5G device to official touch on the US shores.

(Source)

OPPO T1 flagship teaser image and specs leaks: OLED display, Snapdragon 855, and a ¥2499 (~$370) starting price

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Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 23, 2019

It appears OPPO may announce a new line of smartphones soon. An image of an upcoming phone called the OPPO T1 has surfaced on the web. The poster reveals the phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform.

The image shows only the upper half of the OPPO T1 and a rough translation of the text on the poster says “Snapdragon 855 Youth Flagship”. The notch-less display stretches to the top and there is a slit in the frame for the speaker. The volume control buttons are on the left side of its frame. Since there is no notch or punch hole, the OPPO T1 is believed to have a pop-up selfie camera.

Specs of the OPPO T1 have also leaked. According to the source, the OPPO T1 has a 6.39-inch OLED display with an unspecified resolution. Its selfie camera is a 12MP sensor pop-out camera with AI beauty mode while a 48MP ultra-clear camera sits on the rear. The rear camera is said to have support for a super night scene mode, a new portrait mode, and macro mode. The phone also has Game Mode 3.0.

The OPPO T1 is also pretty affordable for an OPPO phone. Its starting price is ¥2499 (~$372) and this version has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. For ¥2799 (~$416), you will be able to purchase the model with 128GB of storage but the same RAM as above. If you want more RAM, the 8GB + 128GB version will set you back ¥3099 (~$461).

Continue

Huawei’s foldable phone is called the Mate X, poster and specs leaks

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Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 23, 2019

Earlier this week, Samsung unveiled its first foldable phone – the Galaxy Fold. It’s an interesting device albeit with a pretty steep price. Huawei will announce its own foldable device in a few days at MWC 2019 and a picture of a poster taken at the event has revealed it will launch as the Mate X.

Yes, Huawei’s foldable phone will be commercially known as the Mate X and not the Mate F, or Mate Flexi, or Mate Fold. Huawei actually applied for a trademark for the name back in February last year. Even at a point, the Mate X was thought to be the name of the device that eventually launched as the Mate RS Porsche Design.

With respect to design, the Mate X has only one display, unlike the Galaxy Fold. It also has pretty thin bezels and doesn’t have a notch. It doesn’t appear to be as wide though. The flexible screen actually folds backward into phone mode.

The right side of the phone’s frame is also thicker which is not surprising seeing as that is where the cameras and controls are located. There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner with a button above it and on the back is a triple camera setup.

Continue

Buy Doogee S90 Smartphone For Just $299.99 On AliExpress

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Feb 23, 2019

If you are a thrill seeker looking for a brass-bound smartphone that helps you stay in touch with friends and family during your adventurous outdoor activities, the Doogee S90 might just fill the bill.

While the market is brimming with sturdy smartphones that usually cost a bomb, the built-to-last Doogee S90 smartphone has now gone up for sale carrying a reduced price tag on AliExpress.

As part of its latest promotion, AliExpress has teamed up with Doogee to offer the S90 at an unbeatable price.

In addition to giving its loyal users a chance to grab the discount, the Alibaba-owned online retail service is offering coupons that you can use to save more money.

Doogee S90

Doogee made its long-awaited S90 smartphone available to the public in January this year.

Living up to the hype, the phone became an instant hit among adventure junkies and those looking for a sturdy smartphone.

Unlike other top-branded smartphones that are highly durable, the S90 doesn’t cost a bomb.

In fact, the 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM variant of the Doogee S90 has gone up for sale carrying an unbelievably reduced price of just $299.99 on AliExpress. This is a noteworthy reduction in the device’s original asking price of $374.99.
You can choose between various options such as 5000mAh Power Module, Gamepad g1, Night Vision Camera, Digital Walkie-Talkie, S90 Super Vision, Super Big Package and 10W Wireless Charger.

More importantly, you can avail great discounts on the aforesaid options.

For instance, the 5000mAh Power Module usually retails for $423.74, but thanks to a 20 percent discount, you can now buy it for just $338.99.

Moreover, if your shopping cart exceeds $300, you can use a $5 off coupon. If you end up spending $600 or more, you can use a specific coupon that lets you get an extra $10 at checkout.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out more details about the great discount that you can avail on different versions of the Doogee S90.

Buy Selfie Sticks, Speakers And A Slew Of Other Top-End Accessories At Slashed Prices On Banggod [Coupons]

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Feb 23, 2019

Accessories not only give your gadgets an unparalleled facelift but also enhance its overall performance.

While the market is brimming with all sorts of adornments for your mobile phones, speakers and other smart devices, they aren’t easy on the pocketbook.

In order to make a wide range of awe-inspiring accessories available to cost-conscious buyers, Banggood has launched a new promo called ‘Spring Outing Season.’

As part of this recently kicked-off promo, Banggood will be doling out great discounts on various items.

On top of that, the Chinese online store that guarantees the best bang for your buck is giving its loyal users a chance to save extra 20 percent at checkout. We’ll divulge more details about it in just a bit.

In a bid to simplify and expedite the search process, the promotion has been split into multiple categories including Highly Recommended, $0 for 2nd, Half Price For 2nd, and more.

Each of the aforesaid sections features items that would normally set you back a pretty penny but are currently up for grabs bearing heavily discounted prices.

For the sake of an instance, the Blitzwolf BW-BS8 extendable Bluetooth tripod selfie stick usually sells for $31.99, but you can buy it at a dropped price of just $20.49, under the ‘Highly Recommended’ category on the promotion page.

You can extend this 36 percent discount by applying coupon code 18BS8.

The aforesaid coupon gets you an extra $1.50 off and brings the already lowered retail price of the Blitzwolf BW-BS8 further down to just $18.99 before you place your order.

Likewise, you can use an extra 20% off coupon to save a considerable amount of more money on select items at the time of checking out.

Aside from that, Banggood is giving its users an unmissable opportunity to buy two products and pay only for one.

The ‘$0 For 2nd’ category comprises items carrying slashed prices.

You can add two products of your choice to your cart, apply coupon code 50se0 during the checkout process and get the second item for $0 i.e. for absolutely free.

Likewise, you can add two products from the ‘Half Price For 2nd’ section to your cart and get 50 percent off for the second product by applying coupon code 50se1.

On top of that, the promotion page features a slew of other coupons that you can use to get additional discounts on various items.

For example, you can use coupon code 15selfie to get extra 15 percent off on selfie sticks, coupon code 15selfie to get extra 15 percent off on selfie tripods, and coupon code 20speaker to save 20 percent off on outdoor speakers.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and take full advantage of the discounts while availing extra discounts by applying these coupons that are regrettably, slated to expire soon.

Check Out Spring Outing Season Promotion On Banggood

Buy Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Cor 2 And Huami AMAZFIT Verge 3 Smart Watches At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons]

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Pre-Order Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Cor 2 Smart Bracelet

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Feb 23, 2019

Fitness purists who have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on a feature-laden smartwatch without spending a lot of money are in for a treat.
In collaboration with leading smart wearable manufacturers, GeekBuying is now doling out noteworthy discounts on the Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Cor 2 Smart Bracelet and Huami AMAZFIT Verge 3 Smart Watch.

Aside from shedding light on the aforesaid discounts, we’ll show how you can save a considerable amount of more money during the checkout process. So without further ado, let’s delve into the details.

Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Cor 2 Smart Bracelet

The Huami Amazfit Cor 2 sports an eye-catching 1.23-inch capacitive color IPS touchscreen display with an HD resolution of 80 x 160 pixels.

The smart bracelet adopts reflective display technology for an always-bright dial that automatically changes based on the environment, giving the wearer a clear eye experience.

It features a built-in PPG heart rate sensor, call reminder, and is backed by a robust 160mAh battery that delivers impressive standby time of fifteen days.
Much to the delight of fitness enthusiasts who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on a high-end fitness band, the Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Cor 2 has gone up for pre-order bearing a lowered price of just $69.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a significant reduction in the device’s original asking price of $103.99.

If that doesn’t impress you much, you can apply coupon code GIZ_ZGUYODAX and save $15 more.

In other words, you can bring the retail price of the Huami Amazfit Cor 2 smart bracelet down to just $64.99 simply by applying the above-mentioned coupon at checkout.

On the downside, the discount will be available only for four days.

You can visit this link in order to grab the discount before the promo wraps up and use the coupon before it expires.

Huami AMAZFIT Verge 3 Smart Watch

Sporting an easily readable 1.3 Inch AMOLED screen with high-resolution of 360×360 pixels, the AMAZFIT Verge 3 is an irresistible smartwatch.

It is capable of tracking the wearer’s heart rate and boasts an impressive array of functions like call reminder, weather, time etc.

The AMAZFIT Verge 3 would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline stores, but you can buy for just $154.99 on GeekBuying.
This is a noteworthy 35 percent drop in the device’s original asking price of $239.99. But there’s more for you to cheer about.

In addition to taking advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_GEVYVKQZ to get an extra $30 off before placing your order.

The coupon helps you reduce the already lowered retail price of the AMAZFIT Verge 3 smartwatch further down to just $149.99 at the time of checking out.

You can follow this link to avail this discount, which will be valid for the deep gray color version of the smartwatch. Note that the promo will come to an end in two days.

Get 35% Off On Huami AMAZFIT Verge 3 Smart Watch

Check Out Special Offer Sale And Get Up To 70% Off On GeekBuying

Buy Beelink U55 Mini PC For Just $359.99 On GearBest [Coupon Inside]

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Check Out Beelink Mini PC Sale On GearBest

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Feb 23, 2019

If you’re in the market for a cost-effective mini PC that doesn’t compromise on quality, GearBest’s got your back!

As part of its latest promotion, the Chinese online store has teamed up with Beelink to launch its latest promo called ‘Gaming Mini PC Beelink Kaby G7 Flash Sale.’

The aforesaid promo features a wide selection of well-received Mini PCs and TV boxes from the Shenzhen-based company that’s known for making appropriate products that are steady as a rock.

While the promotion page is brimming with all sorts of Mini PCs and other devices that you can buy at lowered prices, we’ll take a gander at the Beelink U55 Mini PC, which is currently available on GearBest.

We’ll not only divulge more details about this coveted mini PC but also show how you can reduce its original asking price during the checkout process.

Beelink U55 Mini PC

The U55 packs a powerful Intel Core i3-5005U processor along with an Intel HD Graphic 5500 GPU, under the hood.

The Mini PC ships with 8GB of DDR3L RAM to facilitate advanced multitasking and offers a hearty 256GB of internal storage capacity for you to save your favorite content.

Moreover, the Beelink U55 features a highly efficient cooling fan that ensures rapid heat dissipation. It consumes less power and adopts environmental protection practice to conserve the natural environment.
While the aforesaid features completely justify the $429.99 price tag the Beelink U55 normally carries on online as well as offline stores, you can use coupon code GBCNBLU55 to save $80.99 during the checkout process.

In other words, you can use the aforesaid coupon to bring the original asking price of the Beelink U55 down to just $359.99 before placing your order.

In order to take advantage of the coupon, all you need to do is to head straight to this link without wasting time.

With only 48 pieces remaining, this promo is slated to end in just one day.

Buy Beelink U55 Mini PC

Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent Edition in pictures: Sleek glass back design

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Feb 23, 2019

When Xiaomi launched the flagship Mi 8 last year, what stood out was theLimited Explorer edition with a transparent glass back that seems to show the internal components. Well, that was later clarified that the components which are on display at the back aren’t exactly those of the Mi 8 but a dummy. That revelation did not in any way affect the level of interest the version commanded. But unfortunately, it was just a limited edition and so was never commercialized. Instead, Xiaomi launched the Mi 8 Pro with a similar design. Just a few days back, Xiaomi announced the Mi 9 and along with it came the Mi 9 Transparent edition.

The Mi 9 Transparent edition looks very much like the regular Mi 9, save for the design of the rear panel. The device packs a huge 6.39-inch AMOLED display with a water-drop notch at the top. The display is further protected by a sixth-generation Gorilla glass cover. At the rear side is where most of the beauty resides. The phone comes with the USB Type-C interface with speaker grills on both sides of the port. Xiaomi also left out the 3.5mm audio jack on this one. The glass rear panel’s design is very similar to the Mi 8 Explorer edition. Thus it shows a dummy Motherboard with Qualcomm’s logo and wireless charging coil. Another thing is the red accent on the first camera sensor as well as the dedicated button on the left side.

As for the internals, the Mi 9 Transparent Edition comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Its primary 48MP camera also has an aperture size of f/1.47 and has a 7P lens. 12GB of RAM is huge but thankfully, the size of the phone doesn’t have to be as big as the dummy Mi 9 transparent edition in the picture above. Just kidding. Meanwhile, you can check out our compilation of the Mi 9 Transparent version in hands-on pictures from below.

[envira-gallery id=”237779″]

Buy Top Variants Of The Lenovo Z5 Pro At Unbeatable Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

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Get 18% Off On Lenovo Z5 Pro Smartphone

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Feb 23, 2019

Even months after hitting the store shelves, the Lenovo Z5 Pro continues to garner huge popularity among smartphone lovers.Inspired by the phone’s undying demand, the Chinese multinational technology company is now giving its loyal fanbase a chance to buy two variants of the Lenovo Z5 Pro at reduced prices.

Aside from taking advantage of the aforesaid discounts, you can save a considerable amount of extra money at checkout. We’ll show how in just a bit.

Lenovo Z5 Pro (6GB RAM, 128GB ROM)

While you’d normally end up shelling out $575.99 in order to get your hands on this variant of the Z5 Pro that comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage capacity, you can now buy it for just $469.99 on GeekBuying.

This 18 percent discount can be extended by applying coupon code GIZ_BJTHCNXF at checkout.

The coupon helps you save $50 more by reducing the retail price of the phone to just $419.99 before you place your order.

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

Lenovo Z5 Pro (6GB RAM, 64GB ROM)

Alternatively, you can go for the slightly smaller variant of the Z5 Pro smartphone that ships with 6GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage capacity.

This variant usually carries a $457.99 price tag, but you can now get your hands on it if you are willing to shell out just $409.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a noteworthy 10 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price. But that’s not all.
Aside from taking full advantage of the discount, you can coupon code GIZ_TIGTBTLM and get an extra $40 off.

In other words, you can bring the original selling price of this variant further down to $369.99 simply by applying the above-mentioned coupon during the checkout process.

In order to grab the discount, all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time.

The Lenovo Z5 Pro is quite an irresistible smartphone that sports an extra large 6.39 inches Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

It is powered by Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 processor and packs a competent Adreno 616 GPU, under the hood.

On the optics front, the dual-SIM phone houses a 16.0MP+8.0MP dual-camera setup at the back and 24.0MP+16.0MP front cameras for self-portraits and face-to-face video chat.

Moreover, the phone runs ZUI10 OS based on Android 8.1 Oreo and is backed by a non-removable 3350mAh Lithium battery that offers a standby time of up to 2-3 days.

Get 10% Off On Lenovo Z5 Pro Smartphone

Check Out Big Mobile Brand Sale On GeekBuying

Lenovo’s Mobile Business Group posts first worldwide profit since it acquired Motorola in 2014

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Feb 22, 2019

Lenovo Group today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2018, and it was all positives. The brand posted a group revenue of $14 billion which is its highest group revenue in four years. The revenue is also up 8.5% YOY (12.8% YOY excluding currency impact). The Chinese tech giant also recorded strong pre-tax income of US$350 million (up 133% and over US$200 million higher than that of the previous year.

This is an all-time record for the company as all businesses continued to report profit improvements. The aspect that caught our attention the most is the mobile business group which posted its first worldwide profit since the acquisition of Motorola in October 2014. Lenovo has in recent times focused on reducing cost while still maintaining quality and that may have been the masterstroke. The company has been able to streamline its product portfolio and focus on core markets. One of its stronghold with the Motorola brand is North Amera and it did achieve a breakthrough quarter with volumes outgrowing the market by a staggering 40 points. Furthermore, the mobile business’ focus on other regions yielded results, worthy of mention, is Latin America. Lenovo retained the number two position in Latin America, despite currency fluctuations and supply constraints.

The Lenovo mobile phone gained notoriety for the seemingly deceptive hype preceding the launch of a new phone but that is usually overshadowed by the impressive design and specs that usually accompany the new product. The new products under the Lenovo brand helped the company to build on the momentum quadrupling revenue and reporting strong growth in PTI margin.

On the whole, the Group recorded a net profit of US$233 million for the fiscal quarter, significantly improved from the net loss of US$289 million in the same quarter of last year. Basic earnings per share in the third fiscal quarter was 1.96 US cents or 15.35 HK cents. The Intelligent Devices Group (IDG) posted record revenue and profit; powered by its third straight quarter since the inception of revenue growth – up 6.2% YOY to US$12.4 billion. During the quarter, the PC and Smart Devices (PCSD) business under IDG reported US$10.7 billion in revenue, up 11.6% YOY, and sequentially extending the Group’s momentum from the previous quarter. PC revenue grew 16% YOY, outperforming the market by more than 17 points with PTI margin also improving by 1 percentage point. Lenovo maintained its position as the world’s undisputed leader in PC sales with a record market share of 24.6%. A focus on high-growth and premium segments saw Workstations, Thin and Light devices, and Visuals revenue outgrow the market by more than 30 points, Gaming by 16 points and Chromebook by over 220 points.

Further, Lenovo’s Data Center Group (DCG) posted its fifth consecutive quarter of profit growth (PTI margin up 3.6 percentage points YOY) on a 31% YOY increase in revenue to US$1.6 billion. In fact, DCG recorded YOY revenue growth in all geographies, highlighted by triple-digit growth in North America, and double-digit growth in Asia-Pacific, EMEA and Latin America. Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) revenue grew by almost 70% YOY. The Group not only remained number one on the TOP500 list of supercomputers globally but also increased its lead according to data for IDC.

Xiaomi’s PR Head dismisses rumor that it is planning to blacklist uncertified apps installation

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Feb 22, 2019

Recently, a rumour emerged on China’s microblogging platform Weibo that Xiaomi was planning to provide app whitelisting feature on its smartphones whereby uncertified apps won’t install. For clarity, app whitelisting is the practice of specifying an index of approved software applications that are permitted to be present and active on a smartphone. The goal is to protect the phone and networks from potentially harmful applications.

The rumour was specific that the feature would come to Xiaomi smartphones sold in Mainland China, that it has been tested in house and is expected to go live in March. Existing Xiaomi users will be required to update their phones or face some restrictions until they do. Also, the feature will be pre-installed on new Mi phones in the feature. Even though the feature may have some usefulness, it isn’t going to be a popular one with fans who would like to have the freedom to install any app of choice on their phone. So it is no surprise that Xiaomi’s PR unit head Xu Jieyu was quick to come out to that it is a rumour. He did not expatiate but we take it that the company has any such plans.

However, the rumour may have some weight, as it also claims users will not be able to flash/root their phones anymore. Xiaomi has already implemented the inability for users of the MIUI China ROM to flash the Global MIUI ROM on their MI phones and vice versa. Thus, there is the possibility the company will stop it entirely. Also, for global ROM users, apps are usually installed from the PlayStore which ensures they meet security standard. Any app that falls short is usually removed from the store by Google. But such feature may not be available in China where Google services are banned.

Redmi Note 7 Pro is finally launching in China next week

By

Jeet

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Feb 22, 2019

Earlier this year, Redmi launched its first smartphone after splitting from its parent company Xiaomi to work independently — Redmi Note 7. The phone has been popular in China, the only country where it has been launched, selling in in mere minutes in each of its flash sales.

Ever since the Redmi Note 7 has been launched, there have been lots of rumors related to its bigger sibling — the Redmi Note 7 Pro. While the phone has been expected to make its debut soon, no specific timeframe was known, until now.

Today, Redmi president Lu Weibing confirmed through a post of Chinese microblogging platform Weibo that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will be launched in China next week. However, he has not provided any specific launch date.

In the same thread, replying to comments of the users, he also hinted about the phone’s pricing. When asked about which one to choose from Redmi Note 7 and Mi 9, Lu Weibing replied that if the budget is around 2,000 (approximately $298), then choose Redmi Note 7 and if the budget is over 3,000 yuan (approximately $447), then go for Mi 9.

This suggests that the upcoming mid-range smartphone will be priced under 2,000 Yuan. We are expecting the pricing to start from around 1,500 yuan and go up to 2,000 yuan, depending on different variants based on the memory configuration.

While not much is known about the Redmi Note 7 Pro yet, it is expected to be a slightly upgraded version over the Redmi Note 7. The phone will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 675 chipset and will boast a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 camera instead of the Samsung GM1 sensor on the standard variant.

Additionally, the smartphone is also said to come with 18W fast-charging support out-of-the-box. It is expected to feature a 6.43-inch Full HD+ waterdrop notch display and is likely to have 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. It could run Android 9 Pie-based MIUI 10 and will be powered by a 4,000mAh battery. The phone is also expected to have an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The Redmi Note 7, launched last month in China, comes with a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display, Snapdragon 660 chipset, 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage. It has a 48MP + 5MP camera setup on the back and a 13MP front-facing snapper with AI-based features.

Featuring a back-mounted fingerprint sensor, the phone runs Android 9 Pie-based MIUI 10 out-of-the-box. It is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology. While it supports 18W charging, the adopter needs to be purchased separately.

Xiaomi is scheduled to launch the Redmi Note 7 smartphone in the Indian market on 28th February, which will be sold exclusively through online marketplace Flipkart. However, the Redmi Note 7 Pro isn’t likely to make its debut in India soon.

(Source)

Realme 3 launch date in India is March 4

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 22, 2019

The Realme 3 has been in the rumors since quite some time. The handset was expected to go official in the first quarter of the year. Today, the company has confirmed through a tweet that will be launching the Realme 3 smartphone on March 4.

The below shown launch poster released by Realme contains a starry pattern. A leaked photo of the Realme 3 smartphone that had surfaced yesterday had confirmed that it is equipped with a starry pattern on its rear shell. It appeared similar to the starry pattern that can be seen in the launch poster.

The poster confirms that the Realme 3 will be unveiled at 12:30 PM in India on March 4. Most of the specs of the Realme 3 are currently under the wraps. However, Realme CEO Madhav Sheth has confirmed that it will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P70 SoC.

Rumors have it that the phone could be equipped with a 6.3-inch waterdrop notch screen that will offer full HD+ resolution. The SoC of the phone could be supported by 4 GB of RAM. The rear side of the phone is fitted with a dual camera setup. It is speculated that it may include a 16-megapixel primary sensor and 5-megapixel secondary sensor. The back panel of the phone features a fingerprint scanner. It could be fueled by a 4,000mAh battery.

Read More: OPPO’s 10X Lossless zoom camera tech to be mass produced in the first half of 2019

The day after the Realme 3 will be announced, OPPO will be unleashing the OPPO F11 Pro smartphone in India. Only few details on the specs of the F11 Pro have surfaced so far. Rumors are rife that it could be powered by a new MediaTek chipset. The Helio P60 powered by the predecessor OPPO F9 Pro. Hence, the F11 Pro may feature Helio P70 or powerful MediaTek chip. The SoC could be equipped with 6 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 128 GB.

OPPO has confirmed that the F11 Pro features a 6.5-inch notch-less display with a pop-up selfie camera of 32-megapixel. The rear side of the phone features a vertical dual camera setup with 48-megapixel primary sensor. The handset is expected to carry support for VOOC fast charging through USB-C. It will be available in two colors like Thunder Black and Aurora Green.

Meizu Note 9 records 175K+ AnTuTu scores with Snapdragon 675 and 6 GB RAM

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 22, 2019

Meizu confirmed yesterday that it will be launching the Meizu Note 9 mid-range smartphone on March 6. The handset will be powered by the same Snapdragon 675 SoC that is present under the hood of the Vivo V15 Pro that was unveiled earlier this month. Today, the smartphone has appeared as “Meizu m1923” on AnTuTu benchmarks to confirm some of its key specs. On the benchmarking platform, the handset has recorded a score of 175,987.

The Snapdragon 675 chipset that is built with 11nm processing technology fuels the Meizu Note 9. The SoC includes Adreno 612 graphics. The below shown screenshot reveals that the SD675 chipset is accompanied by 6 GB of RAM on the device.

The Meizu Note 9 includes an inbuilt storage of 64 GB. It runs on Android 9 Pie OS. The display of the phone produces full HD+ resolution of 2244 x 1080 pixels.

The TENAA listing of the phone that had appeared earlier in this month had revealed the entire specs of the phone. The handset features a 6.2-inch display with a waterdrop notch. It carries support for full HD+ resolution. The handset is packed with a 4,000mAh battery. Meizu may include the support for 18W mCharge rapid charging technology on the device. Like the predecessor Meizu Note 8, the handset won’t be featuring support for microSD card slot. The back panel of the phone features a fingerprint scanner apart from the dual camera setup.

Read More: Meizu Zero crowdfunding secures 34% of the goal amount in 15 days

The front notch of the Meizu Note 9 is expected to house a 20-megapixel selfie camera. The back panel of the phone will be featuring a 48-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. The company has reported used the 48-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL Bright GM1 sensor as the primary lens in the dual camera setup. The same camera sensor is also available on the Redmi Note 7 smartphone.

The Meizu Note 9 is expected to release with a price tag of 999 Yuan (~$148). This price tag will allow the smartphone to rival with the Redmi Note 7.

Samsung Galaxy S10+ emerges as the best camera for Selfie photos on DXOMark, ahead of the Mate 20 Pro

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Feb 22, 2019

DXOMark released the camera rating of Xiaomi’s Mi 9 flagship immediately after it was announced on February 20 with indices showing the device comes with a lot of improvements in the camera aspect. The Mi 9 rear camera ranked as the third best smartphone camera for video and still photography. Xiaomi didn’t get to hold that title for long as the DXOMrk rating for the new Samsung Galaxy S10+ has been released and it is awesome.

According to the ranking, the Galaxy S10 Plus had an overall score of 109 which places it on the same place with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and P20 Pro. But in the aspect of still photography, the Galaxy S10 Plus emerged as one of the overall best phone cameras. It polled a score of 114 for still photos, same with the Huawei duo. While for video it scores 97 which is the same with the Mate 20 Pro but 1 point behind the P20 Pro.

With these scores, it may seem the Galaxy S10+is in the same class with the Huawei duo but wait until you see the front camera. DXOmark recently started reviewing selfie camera and the dual selfie camera on the device was rated. The Galaxy S10 Plus gave a convincing show with a score of 96, way higher than the Mate 20 Pro (75) and the P20 Pro (72).

Donald Trump wants 6G network in the US, while companies still testing 5G

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Feb 22, 2019

The US President seems to be in a hurry, as he wants 6G rollout very soon in the country. Well, it is quite surprising to see that Donald Trump is talking about 6G. In the recent tweets, the president of the US announced that he’d like to see 6G availability in the country “as soon as possible.” Although, it not clear why Trump is so keen on bringing the 6G in the US. Although, it can be linked to Chinese companies huge involvement in building 5G networks.

In a pair of tweets, US President Donald Trump said that American companies must step up efforts or get left behind. He emphasized on the availability of the 5G and moreover 6G networks as soon as possible. In actual, Donal Trump tweeted, “I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster and smarter than the current standard.” In order to speed up implementation of the new technologies, Trump further added that “American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind. There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on..”

I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind. There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on………

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019

The tweets are addressing the concerns of the US president that Chinese companies are leading in 5G technologies development. Even though he tweeted that the administration won’t block any more advanced technologies in order to favor local players. The saying is conflicting with the works the US administration has done in the past by blocking some Chinese companies from selling 5G equipments.

The comments came after the Korean Giant, Samsung launched a 5G compatible device. The new Samsung Galaxy S10 will give “the power of 5G in consumers’ hands” said the company. The new technology will allow users to download games, full TV shows within a few minutes or seconds. Users will be able to play graphics enriched cloud games without any virtual lag. The new 5G technology will make real-time 4k video calls a reality.

….something that is so obviously the future. I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019

Various US telecom carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are working onto bringing the 5G availability through the US very soon. Even the carriers are building partnerships with the major smartphone manufacturers to bring 5G into reality. Recently, Samsung has partnered with the Verizon and AT&T to launch the new Galaxy S10 5G in the country. In a leap ahead, Samsung has partnered with AT&T to create America’s first manufacturing-focused 5G innovation zone.

Currently, the United States is lagging behind China and South Korea in readiness for 5G. A report by CTIA even cited some reasons about why the US is still behind these countries.

Talking about 6G, then some researchers are working onto underpin the key points if the next-gen technology. A researcher and director of New York University’s NYU Wireless program, Theodore Rappaport said that “I’m glad he [Trump] is talking about it, It’s time to start talking about what 6G will be.”

Read More: Trump says made in China smartphones and laptops including iPhone may get hit with 10-25% tariffs

Recent tweets can be taken as a speed up call for American telecom carriers to bring 5G and concerning technologies to reality in the United States.

Do share your views about Trump’s recent tweets with us via comments below.

Huawei opening its first store outside of China by summers

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