iQOO’s first phone to debut on March 1

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Feb 20, 2019

In the previous week, Vivo had introduced its new sub-brand called iQOO. Rumors surrounding it had claimed that iQOO will be selling premium phones priced around 5,000 Yuan (~$745). While the name of the first iQOO phone is yet to be confirmed, the company already revealed some of its key features yesterday. Today, the Chinese manufacturer has released a new poster on its Weibo account to confirm that it will be launching its first phone on March 1.

iQOO has described its first phone as “born powerful” and “monster inside” which suggests that the phone will be equipped with top-notch specs. The mysterious phone is powered by Snapdragon 855 mobile platform that is assisted by 12 GB of RAM. It will be arriving with a native storage of 256 GB.

The first iQOO smartphone will have a decent battery of 4,000mAh capacity. It will carry support for 44W rapid charging through USB-C. The phone will be designed for gaming since it will be enabled with support for 4D shock. The handset will carry support for NFC connectivity. Some of the other features of the phone include Super HDR, sixth-generation in-display fingerprint scanner and triple rear cameras.

Yesterday, a mysterious Vivo phone with model number Vivo 1824A was spotted on Geekbench with Snapdragon 855, 12 GB of RAM and Android 9 Pie. Also, the same model number also appeared on Master Lu benchmarking platform to reveal that it will be also available in 8 GB RAM variant. The Master Lu listing also confirmed that the display of the phone will carry support for full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

Read More: Vivo U1 Smartphone Goes Up For Sale On Giztop Carrying A $159 Price Tag

Last year, Vivo had revealed the APEX concept phone which was later in market as Vivo NEX smartphone. In January, Vivo had showcased the Vivo APEX 2019 concept phone with features like port-less and button-less design, Snapdragon 855, 12 GB of RAM and full-screen in-display fingerprint reader. Could this device be arriving as the first iQOO phone? It is advisable to wait for further reports to confirm on it.

(source)

Nubia Red Magic Mars gaming smartphone is now available in the US, Canada, and Europe

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2019

Last year, in November, ZTE’s sub-brand Nubia launched its second gaming smartphone, dubbed Nubia Red Magic Mars. Last month, i.e. in January, the phone was made available for pre-order in the US, Canada, and Europe.

Now, the smartphone is officially available for purchase in those countries for $399. Currently, only the 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage model is available and that too in Black color only, and all other models are listed as “sold out.”

To those who pre-ordered the Nubia Red Magic Mars smartphone, the company is offering “reward crate” which could be a dbrand skin, Red Magic stickers, or a teammate gift card. Also, the company will choose 5 people from the pre-order customers who will receive a full refund of their purchase price.

Coming to the specifications of the gaming smartphone, Nubia Red Magic Mars features a 6-inch display Full HD+ LCD display that offers a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, coupled with 6GB/8GB/10GB RAM.

The smartphone is equipped with a linear motor that enables 4D Shock haptic feedback. The dual heat pipe and convection cooling technology placed inside the phone ensures that the smartphone remains cool while playing high-end games.

The 6GB RAM model packs 64GB internal storage while the 8GB RAM model comes with 128GB internal storage. The top-end model with 10GB RAM is equipped with 256GB internal storage. For photography, there’s a 16-megapixel snapper with f/1.8 aperture and an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter.

The Red Magic Mars has stereo speakers that are coupled with support for DTS 7.1 audio. In the software department, the phone runs Android 9.0 Pie operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s Red Magic OS UI on top. The phone is powered by a 3,800mAh battery.

Razer Phone 2 scheduled to get Android 9 Pie update later this month

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2019

Users of the Razer Phone 2 smartphone have a reason to get excited about. Razer, the company behind the gaming smartphone, has announced that the Razer Phone 2 will be getting the taste of Android 9 Pie by the end of this month.

The unlocked models of the smartphone will start receiving the new update from 27th February while the carrier models will be receiving updates from 14th March. However, the users of AT&T models will have to wait until 14th April to get the new update.

The new update for the Razer Phone 2 will bring the latest February 2019 security patches along with everything that Google is offering with Android Pie, including the new navigation gestures. On the Razer Phone 2, these will be ON by default after the update, but you can turn them off manually.

The Razer Phone 2 was first announced in October last year. To remind you of the phone’s specifications, it comes with a 5.7-inch IGZO LCD display by Sharp that delivers a pixel density of 514ppi. The display supports 16:9 aspect ratio and produces Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. It offers a refresh rate of 120Hz and carries support for HDR and DCI-P3 color gamut.

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor along with 8GB of RAM. It offers two options for the internal storage capacity — 64GB and 128GB. There’s also a microSD card slot, allowing users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity.

The device is fitted with two 12-megapixel camera sensors on the back, which includes a wide-angle 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 with f/1.7 aperture as the main sensor and a 12-megapixel Sony IMX351 telephoto lens with f/2.6 aperture. For shooting selfies, the handset is equipped with a front-facing 8-megapixel fixed focus camera.

The Razer Phone 2 is equipped with Dolby Atmos support for its dual front-firing speakers and each of them is equipped with a dedicated amplifier. The connectivity features available on the Razer Phone 2 are single-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, and USB-C. It packs 4,000mAh battery and is equipped with support for Quick Charge 4+ and 15W wireless charging.

In related news, the company has recently fired 2 percent of its workforce, about 30 employees. Rumor has it those people were working on the Razer Phone 3, which now seems to have been canceled. However, the company has not officially said that the next-gen gaming smartphone has been canceled but it has acknowledged the layoffs, saying it has shut down several projects.

Buy TicWatch PRO And TicWatch C2 Smartwatches At Unbeatable Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2019

If you have been waiting with bated breath for smartwatch prices to drop, we got good news for you.
Unlike traditional timepieces that just tell time, newfangled smartwatches are loaded with useful features.

Keeping in line with smartwatches boast a wide range of capabilities that include keeping track of the wearer’s health and monitoring his/her activities.

On the downside, these popular fitness gadgets aren’t easy on the pocketbook. But that’s about to change, thanks to GeekBuying.

In a bid to make top-end smartwatches available to those living on a tight budget, the Chinese online store has teamed-up with Ticwatch.

As part of their collaboration, the Ticwatch PRO and the TicWatch C2 smartwatches have gone up for sale carrying considerably reduced prices. There’s more for you to cheer about.

In addition to taking advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can use specific coupons to save a considerable amount of extra money at the time of checking out.

TicWatch Pro Smartwatch

TicWatch Pro sports an eye-catching 1.39 inch AMOLED round screen with a high resolution of 400×400 pixels. It also features an FSTN LCD screen that delivers an exceptional control over increasing the battery life up to 30 days.

The black color version of the feature-laden Ticwatch Pro would normally set you back $299.99, but you can now buy it for a reduced price of just $249.99 on GeekBuying.

Moreover, you can extend this 17 percent discount by applying coupon code GIZ_BBMQWSVP during the checkout process.

The coupon helps you save an extra $15 by reducing the original asking price of the Ticwatch Pro to just $244.99. Note that the coupon will only be valid for the EU warehouse.

You can visit this link to grab the discount. Note that the promo is slated to end in just two days.

Get 17% Off On TicWatch Pro Smartwatch

TicWatch C2 Smartwatch

The C2 features an easily readable 1.3 Inch AMOLED screen with a high resolution of 360×360 pixels.

Despite sporting a bigger screen, the C2 comfortably fits the width of the wrist so that you can wear it for a longer duration without any sort of uneasiness.

While its awe-inspiring features completely justify the $299.99 price tag the TicWatch C2 smartwatch normally carries, you can now buy it for just $199.99 on GeekBuying.
This is a significant 33 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price. This discount will be valid for the rose gold, platinum and black color versions of the smartwatch.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_HAUWKVCS to get an extra $34 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered retail price of the C2 smartwatch further down to only $187.99 by applying the coupon before placing your order.

You can visit this link to grab the discount. Note that the promo will come to an end in just two days.

Get 33% Off On TicWatch C2 Smartwatch

Check Out Super Deals On GeekBuying

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 teaser page hints at Flipkart exclusivity in India

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2019

After launching the Redmi Note 7 as the brand’s first smartphone since separating Redmi into an independent entity from Xiaomi, the Chinese company is now all set to launch the Redmi Note 7 in the Indian market.

Xiaomi has already confirmed that the smartphone will be launched in India on 28th February. Now, a landing page is live on Flipkart with a hashtag #JustHere, which hints that the phone will be exclusively available for purchase on Flipkart at the time of launch.

The company is building up hype around the smartphone ahead of its launch by teasing features and holding contests. In one of such contests, an image shared by the company seems to have revealed that the Indian variant of the Redmi Note 7 will pack in-display fingerprint sensor.

The Redmi Note 7 smartphone was first launched in China last month and has already sold over a million units. It comes with a premium glass body and a massive screen-to-body ratio thanks to the waterdrop notch display.

The phone features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The display carries support for 450-nits brightness, 1,500:1 contrast ratio, sun legibility, and eye protection mode.

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core chipset with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage. It also comes with a dedicated microSD card slot allowing users to expand the storage capacity.

The device comes with an f/1.8 aperture 48-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary camera with artificial intelligence technology. On the front side, there’s a 13-megapixel camera housed in the display notch. It is also equipped with features like AI Smart Beauty and AI face unlock.

The Redmi Note 7 comes with with a 3.5mm audio jack and features an infrared blaster which makes it possible to use it as a remote control. A fingerprint scanner resides of the backside of the smartphone. As for the software, the smartphone is running Android 9 Pie-based MIUI 10 out-of-the-box.

The phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology. With an 18W fast charger, which needs to be purchased separately, the phone can be fully charged in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.

In India, the smartphone will be available for purchase in three color options — Twilight Gold, Fantasy Blue, and Bright Black. As for the pricing and availability details, we’ll have to wait for the company to officially launch the phone in India.

(Source)

Avail Great Deals Starting From $9.99 And Other Unmissable Discounts On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2019

Known for offering the best bang for your buck, Banggood has launched the ‘Oscar Promos,’ giving its loyal users a chance to avail unmissable deals starting from just $9.99.
Aside from offering great discounts on a wide selection of well-received items as part of its latest promo, the Chinese online is also doling out coupon codes that can be used to save extra money at checkout.

In order to simplify and accelerate the search process, these heavily discounted products have been split into various categories.

We’ll take a gander at the products and the discounts available on them in some of the categories.

First off, the ‘High-tech Care for Oscar’ category is brimming with all sorts of electronic items like the Pocophone F1 smartphone, Xiaomi Airdots TWS Bluetooth earphone, and the Mi Pad 4 Plus.

More importantly, most items available in the aforesaid section carry great discounts.

For the sake of an instance, the Xiaomi Mijia Mini Camera would normally set you back $148.99, but you can now buy it for just $89.19, under this category.

On the downside, this 40 percent discount will be valid only until February 25th.

Likewise, the ‘Low-Price Zone’ section features amazing products like the IPRee 40×60 Outdoor Portable Monocular HD Optic Day Night Vision, XANES MI3 0.96” TFT IP68 Waterproof Smart Bracelet etc.

While the aforesaid products usually carry steep price tags on both online and offline stores, you can now buy them under the ‘Low-Price Zone’ category without breaking the bank.

The ‘Product of the Year’ category includes a slew of well-received items that have gone up for sale carrying dropped prices.

For example, you can avail a 36 percent off on the CHUWI Hi9 Air 4G tablet that usually retails for $279.99.

Thanks to the above-mentioned discount, the coveted phablet can be yours for only $179.99.

Similarly, you can take full advantage of the discounts available on the rest of the products that have been added to other categories like ‘Best New Release,’ ‘Brands of the Year’ etc.

In order to visit the promotion page and avail the discounts, all you need to do is to click here without wasting time.

Check Out Banggood’s Oscar Promos Featuring Deals From $9.99

Buy Lenovo Z5 Pro Smartphone For Just $369.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2019

Lenovo made its long-awaited Z5 Pro smartphone available to the public in November last year. Loaded with awe-inspiring features, the phone lived up to the hype.
Even months after hitting the store shelves, the Z5 Pro hasn’t ceased garnering popularity among smartphone lovers.

Taking the Z5 Pro smartphone’s undying demand in consideration, Lenovo is now giving its loyal fanbase a chance to buy the phone at a lowered price on GeekBuying.

Keeping in line with that, you can avail a 10 percent off on the phone’s 6GB RAM, 64GB ROM variant.

Alternatively, you can grab a noteworthy 18 percent off on its slightly larger variant that ships with 6GB of RAM and offers 128GB of internal storage capacity.

As a result, you can buy the 6GB RAM, 64GB ROM variant for just $409.99, while it usually retails for $457.99.
Likewise, the 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM model would normally set you back $575.99 but has now gone up for sale bearing a dropped price of just $469.99 on GeekBuying.

Aside from taking advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_TIGTBTLM to get an extra $40 off.

In other words, you can reduce the original asking price of the 6GB RAM, 64GB ROM model further down to only $369.99 by applying the coupon during the check out process.

It is worth noting that this coupon code is not applicable for the 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM variant.

An absolute steal at this price, the Lenovo Z5 Pro sports a mammoth 6.39 inches Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution.

The dual-SIM phone packs a powerful Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 processor with a highly competent Adreno 616 graphics processing unit, under the hood.

On the photography front, the Lenovo Z5 Pro houses a 16.0MP+8.0MP dual-camera setup on the back. Up front, there are 24.0MP+16.0MP front shooters for selfies and video chatting.

The phone runs ZUI10 OS based on Android 8.1 Oreo and draws its juices from a built-in 3350mAh Lithium battery that offers a standby time of up to 2-3 days.

You can follow this link to check out the full specifications and avail the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 10% Off On Lenovo Z5 Pro

Check Out Smart Devices Super Deals On GeekBuying

Google sends invites to a GDC keynote for March 19, could launch a games console

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 20, 2019

Google is expected to hold its annual Game Developer Conference 2019 from March 18-23. Ahead of the five-day event, the tech giant has sent out invitations to a keynote event that will take place on March 19. Te invite is bereft of any concrete detail as to what the tech giant will release on that date. The invite contains details of the date, venue but what is striking is the part that read “All will be revealed at the Google Keynote.

This possibly is an indication that the tech giant will release a new games console and even games software. There are speculations that Google could reveal the rumoured streaming service known as Project Yeti. The service could come with a console and controller. Alternatively, the keynote could simply point to the expansion of the recently announced and beta-tested Project Stream service.

All feelers point to the launch of a hardware gaming console for running the Yeti service. Yeti is also said to include a hardware controller that’s used to play the games, developed by Google’s hardware team, according to a report from The Information. Another report suggests that Google is pushing in three directions: a game streaming service (codenamed Yeti) akin to Nvidia’s GeForce Now, hardware that will facilitate the streaming platform, and courting game developers.

(source)

Vivo U1 Smartphone Goes Up For Sale On Giztop Carrying A $159 Price Tag

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2019

Vivo recently made its long-awaited Vivo U1 mobile phone available in the Chinese market.
The Vivo U1 is expected to sweep smartphone lovers off their feet with its top-end specs, awe-inspiring features, and breathtaking good looks.

Much to the relief of those living on a tight budget, the Vivo U1 is quite easy on the pocketbook as well. In fact, you can buy the 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM variant for just $159 on Giztop.

The aforesaid variant is available in Aurora, Aurora red and starry night black color versions.

Despite bearing a reasonable price tag, the Vivo U1 is an irresistible smartphone that sports a mammoth 6.2 inch LCD display with a screen resolution of 1520×720 pixels.
The phone sports a U-shaped notch that complements its FHD display that offers an aspect ratio of 19:9.

The Vivo U1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 Octa-core 2.0GHz processor and it packs a highly competent Adreno 505 GPU, under the hood.

On the optics front, the Vivo U1 features a 13.0MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 2.0MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture at the back.

Up front, the phone houses an 8.0MP camera with a slew of features like with Panorama, beauty, and AR shoot.

Moreover, it is backed by a robust 4030mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0. It features an Ultra Power Saving mode so that the phone stays powered on for a longer duration.

In addition to a fingerprint sensor and face unlock, the Vivo U1 boasts an impressive array of sensors like proximity, light, accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope.

The dual-SIM phone offers access to Google Play so that you can effortlessly download and install your favorite apps and games directly to your phone.

Aside from that, you can use the Vivo U1 as a mobile hotspot and share your 4G data connection with your friends and family using compatible wireless devices.

You can visit this link to buy the Vivo U1 and check out its full specifications.

Buy Vivo U1 Smartphone

Xiaomi teases more juicy details of the Mi 9 hours before launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 19, 2019

Xiaomi is all set to host the February 20 launch event where the Mi 9 flagship will be officially unveiled. The Chinese tech giant has been very generous with details of the device and one interesting thing is that the details are being shared on its Weibo handle as well as on other Western social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. This is unprecedented for the flagship product and could be an indication that the Mi 9 flagship will be available in China and globally at the same time. Such a move has the potential to give Xiaomi the needed push. While we wait for the launch to commence in less than 24 hours, the tech giant has shared more details of the device on its official Facebook page.

The details centre on improvements on the Mi 9’s UI as well as some new features that are not on its predecessors. One of the teaser posters shows that the Mi 9 will have a dedicated Google Assistant button on the side which is the bottom left side of the display. Google services are banned in China so the Chinese version may come with Xiaomi’s XiaoAI assistant. Another set of posters point to several improvements in the user interface (UI) that now includes a Night Mode known as Dark Mode which help in power saving. The Dark mode is touted to reduce display power usage y 83% under full brightness and by 50% when the brightness is at half way.

Further, the Mi 9 is shown to come with Always On display feature as well as Dual GPS feature for better positioning in crowded cities. The dual GPS feature is powered by a new NFC chip using the L1 and L5 interchangeably. Last year’s Mi 8 didn’t have an IR blaster but Xiaomi says the Mi 9 will come with an IR blaster which is a vital add-on for those who love the Mi remote control which it powers. Finally, the Mi 9 will also come with automatic smart antenna switching and 4×4 MIMO support which is a given with the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset.

With the flurry of details already out in the open, all that is left is for Xiaomi to reveal the global pricing and availability.

(source)

Realme teases the launch of Realme 3, reportedly launching in early March

By

Jeet

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Feb 19, 2019

Realme has so far launched five smartphones in India and now the company is all set to launch its sixth smartphone pretty soon. The company has today posted an image on Twitter in which it is teasing the launch of the Realme 3 smartphone.

The image shows two retail boxes — one of Realme 1 and the other of its successor, Realme 2. The company is clearly hinting at the Realme 3 as it asks about the addition of 1 and 2. It then poses a question if it is a simple maths or something big.

The development comes just a day after a video teaser related to the promotion of the Realme 3 launch was leaked online. The video features Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth and a few other rappers singing about the Realme 3 smartphone.

Interestingly, there’s no information available about the Realme 3, including leaks, rumors, renders, which is a bit odd in this time of age. However, we should know something about the phone soon. While the launch date of Realme 3 is not yet revealed, it will surely be launched by the end of next month.

Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth had earlier confirmed that the Realme 3 will be launched in Q1 2019. Several reports are also making rounds, suggesting that the launch could take place in early March in India.

The Realme 3 will be the successor of the Realme 2 smartphone, which was launched a few months back in the Indian market. Last month, the company had announced that within four months of its launch, the company managed to sell over two million units of Realme 2 in India.

Within one year of its establishment, Realme has quickly become a household name in the Indian market thanks to its fast-selling value-for-money smartphones. It has now become a leading brand in the overcrowded budget smartphone segment in India.

(Source)

Huawei’s CEO shares P30 Pro camera sample, confirms quad cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 19, 2019

Huawei confirmed today via a video teaser that it will unveil the Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro flagships on March 26 in Paris. Before the announcement, there have been different renders and leaks with respect to the design of both phones but a camera sample shared by the CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, Richard Yu (Yu Chengdong) confirms the number of cameras the Pro variant has.

A photo of the moon shared by the CEO on his Weibo page in celebration of the Chinese Lantern Festival which holds today confirms the number of cameras on the Huawei P30 Pro. Although, it appears Mr. Yu didn’t want to reveal it or wasn’t trying to totally mask the info judging by the poor attempt at blurring out some parts of the watermark at the bottom of the picture.

The watermark reads “HUAWEI *** Pro” and Leica QU** CAMERA”. We know the blurred part before the word “Pro” is pretty short judging by the length of the characters. So it can’t possibly be “Mate 30”. It is also easy to decode that the covered alphabets after “QU” are “A” and “D” to form the word “QUAD”. Since the Huawei P30 Pro is its upcoming flagship, it only makes sense that it is the device that was used to take the image above.

Continue

Mi 9 Transparent Edition with 12GB RAM seen on Geekbench

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 19, 2019

The Xiaomi Mi 9 launches tomorrow and there will be a version with a whopping 12GB of RAM. That version has been spotted on Geekbench and it appears it was benchmarked a few hours after the 8GB RAM version today.

Benchmarked as the “Mi 9 Transparent Edition” and first spotted by Mysmartprice, the device runs Android 9 Pie. It has 12GB of RAM and its codename is “cepheus” too just like the 8GB RAM version. However, its scores are a bit lower.

[envira-gallery id=”237205″]

The Mi 9 Transparent Edition scored 2982 points in the single-core test and 10382 points in the multi-core test. A second benchmark result shows the device scored 3047 points in the single-core test and 10,688 points in the multi-core test.

The Mi 9 Transparent Edition will come with a see-through glass back that lets you see the wireless charging coil and a printed version of the phone’s internals. It will also have an improved primary camera than the regular variant.

[envira-gallery id=”237212″]

Continue

Vivo U1 vs vs Moto G7 Play vs Realme U1: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 19, 2019

With the announcement of the Vivo U1, the Chinese company owned by BBK Electronics inaugurated a brand new series of affordable smartphones for the Asian market. We do not know if it is a case or not, but the handset carries the same model name as one of the latest affordable devices from Vivo sister company: Oppo. We are talking about the Realme U1, that belongs to a sub-brand of affordable devices launched by Oppo in 2018. Here, we will compare the new Vivo U1 with the Realme U1 and one of the latest super affordable devices launched recently: the Moto G7 Play by Motorola.

Vivo U1 vs Motorola Moto G7 Play vs Oppo Realme U1

	Vivo U1	Motorola Moto G7 Play	Oppo Realme U1
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	155.11 x 75.09 x 8.28 mm, 163.5 grams	147.3 x 71.5 x 8 mm, 149 grams	157 x 74 x 8 mm, 168 grams
DISPLAY	6.2 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 269 ppi, IPS LCD	5.7 inches, 720 x 1512p (HD+), 294 ppi, IPS LCD	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (HD+), 409 ppi, LTPS IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, octa-core 2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 632, octa-core 1.8 GHz	MediaTek Helio P70, octa-core 2.1 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	2 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, Funtouch OS	Android 9 Pie	Android 8.1 Oreo, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 13 +2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	13 MP f/2.0 8 MP front camera	Dual 13 +2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 25 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4030 mAh	3000 mAh, fast charging	3500 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot, IP58 certification	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Design and build quality are among the key features of the new Vivo U1 and I personally choose it as the winner of the design comparison. It has a very high screen-to-body ratio because it features a waterdrop notch and a narrow tri-borderless design, as well as a pretty narrow chin. Further, it comes in three wonderful gradient hues. Last but not least, it is one of the few devices under $150 to be waterproof. It comes with the IP58 certification. The second place for the design goes to the Oppo Realme U1, while for the build quality I prefer the Moto G7 Play due to its splashproof body. It is also a very compact device due to its smaller screen.

Display

The resolution is the most important thing when it comes to displays of affordable devices. And the Realme U1 by Oppo is the only smartphone among these ones to have a Full HD+ resolution, so a way higher level of detail. The display is also better overall for other parameters, so it easily wins this comparison. It also comes with the biggest display. Moto G7 Play is pretty interesting, though, because it has a small 5.7-inch display that is more suitable for people who often manage to use their phones with one hand.

Specs & Software

If we consider the chipset only, then Moto G7 Play is a more performing phone than Vivo U1. But it comes with just 2 GB of RAM, that is not much for heavy apps and multi-tasking and it does not allow the Snapdragon 632 to show its full potential. Despite its lower-end chipset, Vivo U1 has up to 4 GB of RAM, that is why I define it better. But the best is definitely Oppo Realme U1 because it sports up to 4 GB of RAM and a much more powerful chipset than both Snapdragon 439 and 632. We are talking about the Helio P70, that is currently the best offer by MediaTek and one of the most powerful midrange chipsets. We do not consider it at the same level as the Snapdragon 670 and 710, but it is definitely worth a try in this price range.

Camera

Vivo U1 and Realme U1 are equipped with a dual camera setup, but this does not mean that they can click better photos. Indeed, despite having a single camera, Moto G7 Play shots better photos in most of the light conditions when it comes to detail. Its opponents are only better at capturing depth info, but it is not enough to over-class the great Moto G7 Play. Realme U1 wins when it comes to the front camera due to its high resolution, bright shots, and a great AI algorithm. But note that Moto G7 Play has a front-facing LED flash and allows taking selfies in the dark.

Battery

Vivo U1 is a battery champion because of its low-end, efficient components and its huge 4030 mAh battery. Such a capacity for an entry-level device is gold and it can make it last up to three days with an average/intense usage pattern. Realme U1 is great at battery life, but it has just 3500 mAh and a less efficient display.

Price

Realme U1 wins this comparison because of its better hardware and display, but Vivo U1 and Moto G7 Play still represent wonderful choices in the entry-level segment. Realme U1 costs about €140/$160, Vivo U1 will launch for about €105/$118, and Moto G7 Play will cost about €150/$170.

Read More: Vivo U1 with 6.2-inch FullView display, SD439 SoC and dual rear cameras launched in China

Vivo U1 vs Motorola Moto G7 Play vs Oppo Realme U1: PROs and CONS

Vivo U1

PROs

Bigger battery
Beautiful design
Waterproof
Very affordable

CONS

Lower-end hardware

Motorola Moto G7 Play

PROs

Compact and lightweight
Front-facing LED flash
Splashproof
Android Pie

CONS

Smaller battery

Oppo Realme U1

PROs

Micro SD dedicated slot
Great performance
Nice display
Big battery

CONS

Limited availability

Qualcomm announces 2nd-gen Snapdragon X55 5G modem with up to 7Gbps download speed

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Feb 19, 2019

The smartphone industry is presently in a frenzy as we await the launch of the first phones that will be equipped with 5G technology. Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 855 chipset equipped with the Snapdragon X50 modem will power the 5G phones. Presently, Qualcomm has no competitor in that category but the company isn’t resting on its oars, waiting for the cash to start rolling in for chipset orders. Instead, the US fabless chipmaker has announced its second generation 5G modem dubbed Snapdragon X55.

This surprise announcement is a clear signal that Qualcomm doesn’t want to give its competitors the opportunity to play catch up as it pushes its technology even further. The Snapdragon X55 chipset is expected to make its debut in smartphones in late 2019 but it did disclose that manufacturers are already sampling the chipset. The new chipset comes with some improvements over the X50, one of which is more gigabits giving it faster download speed. The first-gen Snapdragon X50 is capable of achieving up to 4.5 Gbps of peak download speed. The Snapdragon X55 modem pushes things even further, up to 7 Gbps. Understandably, the first generation X50 modem may have been tailored to meet the initial capabilities of 5G networks. However, the maximum download speed of the second-gen X55 is an indication that the potentials of 5G will continuously grow bigger and bigger over time. The early announcement may also be targeted at Huawei’s Balong 5000 modem which is capable of hitting a maximum download speed of 6.5Gbps.

The Snapdragon X55 isn’t all about 5G connectivity, as it also comes with improvements in 4G and even 3G connectivity. or 4G LTE, the X55 will support Category 22 LTE that can reach download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps. The new modem will also support dynamic spectrum sharing between 4G and 5G bands. This will help both network providers when deploying the new technology and users to have a more seamless user experience.

The 7Gps download speed is way more than what is needed on a mobile phone but the new modem is tailored not just for smartphones but also to deliver 5G to several devices such as wireless router, laptops, tablets as well as “extended reality devices” such as VR headsets with extremely high bandwidth craving. The X55 will come with a new 5G mmWave antenna module and more advanced modem-to-antenna solutions. The antenna module will complement the capabilities of the new modem and also improve power efficiency and design constraints, promising better battery life and sleeker-looking smartphones. This will no doubt curb the power-craving and heat conduction efficiency of the new chipset.

(source)

Another alleged OnePlus 7 live image leaks, skips the notch

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Feb 19, 2019

OnePlus will be attending MWC 2019 to showcase its first 5G smartphone in partnership with UK network, EE. However, most people are looking forward to the OnePlus 7 which is expected to launch in the second quarter.

Last month, a photo of a device said to be the OnePlus 7 was shared on the web. It didn’t have a notch like the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T, and although the image didn’t confirm, it was reported that it has a slider design. Another image has surfaced online today and it shows the front of the device in full.

OnePlus 7 Leaked#oneplus7 #OnePlus pic.twitter.com/Rb8SzTm8Ix

— 不想昵称也叫小胖 (@Steven_Sbw) February 13, 2019

This new image was shared on Twitter back last week but it appears no one noticed until recently. The display doesn’t have a notch of any kind but neither is it surrounded by super thin bezels with the lower bezel (left) being thicker than the rest. It also appears rotation is turned on as that can be the only explanation for the button placement.

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Nokia 5.1 Plus (3GB + 32GB) now available in the US for $199

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Feb 19, 2019

If you reside in the US and you are looking for an affordable mid-range phone, you may want to grab the Nokia 5.1 Plus. The phone is now available on B&H for $199.99.

The variant sold on B&H has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It has been reported to work with AT&T and T-Mobile, so if you are on Sprint or Verizon, you may have to look elsewhere.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus is an Android One phone, so you are sure to get regular updates. It has a 5.86-inch HD+ display with a notch and is powered by an Helio P60 processor. There is a 13MP + 5MP dual camera setup on its rear and an 8MP selfie camera housed inside the notch. The phone also has a fingerprint scanner and packs a 3,060mAh battery. It runs Android Oreo out of the box but there is already an update to Android Pie.

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Xiaomi’s latest smartwatch is the ¥699 ($103) Yunmai smart training watch

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Feb 19, 2019

A couple of days back Xiaomi teased the launch of a new smartwatch under its crowdfunding platform. That product is the Yunmai smart training watch and it is available on the Xiaomi Youpin crowdfunding platform for 699 Yuan (approximately $103). It is a third-party product manufactured by Xiaomi’s ecological chain company Yunmai.

The Yunmai brand is renowned for its fitness-centric products like the Smart Body scale and Exercise Powerball. The smart training watch is yet another sports and fitness product that serves as a companion for athletes and others who are very conscious of their fitness routine. The smartwatch is equipped with features such as an AMOLED display with impressive brightness level but that could have some disadvantage when it is needed to be used under direct sunlight. The display is 1.3 inches with a 90% NTSC display color gamut. The screen has features such as energy saving and low power consumption mode. The screen can be set to turn on when the wearer raises the wrist to view the watch face.

The main feature on the Yunmai smart training watch is perhaps the GPS + GLONASS navigation feature. Thanks to the onboard GPS, you can go for a walk, run, cycling and other activities without your smartphone and the Yunmai Sports watch will track your activities. It is equipped with a built-in 420mAh battery which can last up to 4 days in daily application mode. Even the Amazfit Verge with a similar AMOLED screen cannot get up to that duration of usage. It is also equipped with a built-in U-BLOXGPS high-end chip as well as a powerful 9-axis sensor that monitors professional sports data such as mileage, speed, number of steps, effective activity, and calorie consumption. There are also other features that help users achieve their fitness goals.

The Yunmai smartwatch is available in Ash and Rose Gold colours and is presently on crowdfunding on Xiaomi Youpin until March 4. It is expected to start shipping on March 26.

Samsung’s foldable device will be officially called the Galaxy Fold

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Feb 19, 2019

We pretty much know all there is to know about the specs and design of the Galaxy S10 series Samsung will unveil tomorrow. However, there is a lot we don’t know about Samsung’s first foldable device which will also be announced tomorrow. Ahead of the launch, the official name of the device has been revealed.

The foldable device has been called multiple names including Galaxy F, Galaxy Flex and Galaxy X. Today, Evan Blass, the established leaker revealed in a tweet the original name of the device. According to the tweet, the device will be officially known as the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 19, 2019

This is not the first time we have come across the name as a trademark application filing revealed last year that Samsung applied to trademark the name “Samsung Galaxy Fold”. Nevertheless, it is nice to sort of get a confirmation.

The Galaxy Fold will have two displays – the cover display and the flexible main display Samsung calls Infinity Flex. The former is 4.6-inches and is used when the device is “closed” and in phone mode, while the main display is 7.3-inches and unfolds outward when you “open” the device into a tablet mode.

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Leagoo XRover C rugged smartphone now up for pre sale for $119!

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Feb 19, 2019

Leagoo has finally made available it’s recently launched XRover C rugged smartphone. Already there are plenty of manufacturers who are diving into the rugged phone market by announcing numerous rugged devices. Similarly, Leagoo which recently launched XRover C mid-range device has made it available for the price of $119.99.

As far as the specs are concerned, Leagoo XRover C is a waterproof device and can resist upto the depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. The rugged phone can easily sustain a drop from 2m on the concrete ground. The device has resisted over 10000+ drop tests without even single damage to the device. Even though, XRover C can work without any issue in a heavily dusty environment. It is a tri proof – waterproof, dustproof, shockproof device.

Surprisingly, you will get all the features mentioned above at a reasonable price. It carries the mid-level features such as a 5.72-inch display featuring 1440×720 pixel resolution. In order to protect it from any mishappenings, Leagoo has added a Gorilla glass to protect its display. A MediaTek MT6739 Chipset powers it with Octa Core CPU. It is coupled with PowerVR GE8100 GPU for graphics. Further, Leagoo XRover C carries 2 GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. Customers can even expand it via microSD cards upto 256 GB.

In the camera department, Leagoo has added a primary camera of 13 megapixels with a dual flash LED. To capture beautiful selfies, Leagoo will use its 8 MP sensor on the front side. XRover C carries a 5000 mAh battery with 6-7 days of standby time.

Read More: Leagoo says goodbye to the notch with its first “punch-hole” device that will be launched in MWC 2019

The Leagoo XRover C is available for presales at the discounted price of $119.99. Users who are interested in buying the device can head over for the presale offer at Leagoo’s official website.