Pre-Order Huawei Honor Note 10 Smartphone At A Lowered Price Of Just $569.99 On Banggood

By

-

Feb 1, 2019

If you fancy watching your favorite series and playing popular games on a big screen mobile device without emptying your pocket, you might want to take a gander at the Huawei Honor Note 10 GPU Turbo smartphone.

Bezels that encompass the display of mobile devices are getting smaller every year. As a result, newfangled smartphones are now getting bigger and better screens despite retaining their sizes.

While most handset manufacturers have decided to jump on the 6-inch flagship bandwagon, other tech behemoths are bent on taking smartphone screen sizes to a whole new level.

In a bid to outdo the rest of the big-screen mobile phones available in the market, Huawei’s popular sub-brand Honor unveiled the update to its well-received Note series smartphone, dubbed the Honor Note 10 last year.

Aside from being loaded with an impressive array of features, the key highlight of the Honor Note 10 is that it comes with GPU Turbo.

While you’d normally expect a top-branded phone that offers comparable features to cost a bomb, it might interest you to know that the Huawei Honor Note 10 GPU Turbo has gone up for pre-order carrying a reduced price tag on Banggood.

The Huawei Honor Note 10 would usually set you back a pretty penny, but you can pre-order it at a considerably lowered price of just $569.99 on the Chinese online store that guarantees the best bang for your buck.

This is a noteworthy 31 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $916.97.
An absolute bargain at this price, the Honor Note 10 sports a mammoth 6.95 inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a high resolution of 2220×1080 pixels and a pixel density of 355PPI.

Under the hood, the phone packs a powerful HUAWEI Kirin 970 Octa-core processor, coupled with a highly competent Mali-G72 MP12 GPU.

The phone will ship with 8GB of RAM and offer a hearty 128GB of expandable onboard storage capacity (up to 256GB), giving you have ample space for saving your favorite content.

On the optics front, the Huawei Honor Note 10 houses a 20.0MP + 16.0MP dual-camera setup with a ƒ/1.8 aperture on the back. Up front, there’s a 13.0MP selfie shooter with ƒ/2.0 aperture.

The phone runs EMUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1 Oreo OS and draws its juices from a robust 5000mAh Li-Polymer battery. It also features useful sensors like the Gravity-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, and Gyroscope.

You can head straight to this link to check out the full specification of the Huawei Honor Note 10 smartphone and grab the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ official renders leaked to reveal design in full glory

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Feb 1, 2019

Reliable tipster Roland Quandt has shared fresh renders of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ color variants that are very likely to release in Europe. The new renders have revealed the Midnight Black, Emerald Green and Prism White editions of the Galaxy S10 duo.

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Color Variants

The Midnight Black edition of the Galaxy S10 and S10+ has no color gradient and has a simple appeal. The Emerald Green has an aqua-like that is brighter on the top and appears darker towards the bottom. The Prism White has a mix of blue and purple hues with white undertone. Apart from these colors, the S10 and S10+ phones may come in a Blue variant, but it may not be released immediately.

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Design

The Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are equipped with curved AMOLED Infinity-O panels on the front. The upper and lower bezels on both phones have been significantly reduced. The Galaxy S10+ has a small cutout for the front-facing camera on the top-right corner of the screen whereas the Galaxy S10+ has a wider pill-shaped cut for the selfie camera and a ToF sensor.

The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are going to be equipped with ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner. The sides of the Galaxy S10 duo feature a Bixby button, a volume rocker, a power button, an external speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-C port.

The rear sides of Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are almost identical since they are equipped with horizontally arranged triple camera sensors. Rumors have it that it will be featuring a 12-megapixel primary sensor with variable aperture, a 13-megapixel telephoto lens and a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens. Alongside the triple camera sensors on both phones are the dual-tone LED flash and hear rate sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Specifications

The Galaxy S10 and S10+ will respectively feature 6.1-inch and 6.4-inch Infinity-O AMOLED displays that will produce quad HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 855 mobile platform will be seen in select markets like the U.S. and China. Europe and rest of the world markets are going to receive the Exynos 9820 chipset editions of the Galaxy S10 duo.

Both phones are expected to come with base models featuring 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of inbuilt storage. The Android 9 Pie OS will come preinstalled on both devices. The S10 will have 3,300mAh battery whereas the S10+ will be blessed with a larger battery of 4,000mAh capacity.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A50 leak reveals triple cameras and in-display fingerprint scanner

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Price and Release Date

The Galaxy S10, S10+ and a lighter edition called Galaxy S10e will be announced on Feb. 20. Rumors have that these phones will be available in multiple markets from March 8. The Galaxy S10 is expected to arrive with a starting price of $799 and S10+ may begin at $899.

What’s your opinion on the refreshed design of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ smartphones? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

(source)

Get Big Discounts On DOOGEE S80 And LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 Smartphones On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Feb 1, 2019

Looking for a cost-effective smartphone that doesn’t compromise on quality? GeekBuying’s got your back!

As part of its recently kicked-off ‘2019 Spring Festival Sale’ promotion, the Chinese online store is doling out noteworthy discounts on a wide selection of mobile devices.

In order to keep the search process and simple and fast, all products included in the aforesaid promo have been split into different categories.

Each category including Fast Shipping 2-6 days Delivery, Flash Sale, Best Sellers, and Clearance are brimming with all sorts of mobile devices that you can buy without emptying your pocket.

We’ll be taking a gander at the discounts that you can avail on the coveted DOOGEE S80 and the equally well-received LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 smartphones.

We’ll even show how you can get an extra discount on the two phones in just a bit.

DOOGEE S80 Smartphone

Launched in September last year, the S80 became an instant hit among adventure junkies who fancy staying in touch with their family and friends during the adventurous outdoor activities.

The S80 boasts an impressive array of features that make it an irresistible walkie-talkie rugged phone. It sports a 5.99-inch capacitive display with an FHD+ resolution of 2160×1080 pixels.

Moreover, it is powered by MTK Helio P23 64bit Octa-core 64-bit 2.5GHz processor and it packs an ARM Mali G71 MP2 770MHz GPU, under the hood.

This dual-SIM phone ships with 6GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage capacity. On the optics front, it houses 12.0MP+5.0MP rear cameras and a 16.0MP selfie shooter for you to capture those memorable moments.
In a bid to make the S80 available to thrill seekers that are living on a tight budget, DOOGEE has teamed up with GeekBuying and is now offering the handset at a lowered price of just $399.99.

This 11 percent discount is valid for the black color version of the S80 that usually sells for $446.99.

You can go for the orange-tinted version of the phone if you are willing to shell out $399.99. Note that this is a 9 percent drop in this color version’s original asking price of $439.99.

Aside from taking advantage of the discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_FTPKRHXU and get an extra $30 off at the time of checking out.

In other words, you can reduce the phone’s retail price to only $369.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon. You can click here to visit the promotion page and grab the discount before it ends.

Get 11% Off On DOOGEE S80 Smartphone

LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 Smartphone

Even over two years after its release, the LeEco Le 2 X620 hasn’t stopped garnering popularity among smartphone lovers.

The phone’s undying demand can be attributed to its top-end specifications and features. On the downside, this LeEco-branded phone doesn’t come cheap.

If you have restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the feature-laden LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 smartphone without spending a lot of money, now’s the time.

In collaboration with GeekBuying, the Chinese handset maker LeEco is now offering the LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 smartphone at a considerably lowered price.

The 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM force gold-tinted variant of the LeEco Le 2 X620 usually carries a $259.99 price tag, but you can now buy it for a reduced price of just $109.99 on GeekBuying.

You can even extend this 58 percent discount by applying coupon code GIZ_CMLRJTNV during the check out process.

The above-mentioned coupon helps you save $10 more by bringing the already lowered asking price of the LeEco Le 2 X620 smartphone further down to just $99.99.

You can head straight to this link to check out the full specification of the LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 smartphone and avail the discount before the promo wraps up!

Get 58% Off On LeTV LeEco Le 2 X620 Smartphone

Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 Spring Festival Sale

Buy HUAWEI nova 3i And UMIDIGI A3 Phablets At Unbeatable Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

-

Feb 1, 2019

While we tend to spend more and more time away from our friends and family in a bid to keep up with today’s fast-paced society, staying in touch with your loved ones is equally important and that’s exactly where smartphones come into the picture.

Newfangled mobile devices do a lot more than just connect you to other people across the globe. On the downside, these feature-laden devices aren’t usually easy on the pocketbook.

In a bid to make top-end mobile phones available to those living on a tight budget, GearBest recently launched the ‘2019 Best Smartphone Deals’ promo.

As part of its recently kicked-off promo, the Chinese online store is giving its users a chance to avail 30 percent off on a wide selection of mobile phones from popular manufacturers.

In order to ensure GearBest users can find their favorite phone on the promotion page without breaking a sweat; all devices have been added to specific categories.

The aforesaid categories including Epic Flash Sale, Best Xiaomi Cell Phone, Top Brand Phone, Fast Shipping Deals etc. are brimming with heavily discounted mobile phones; we’ll take a gander at the HUAWEI nova 3i and UMIDIGI A3.

Aside from shedding light on the discounts that you can receive on the aforesaid phones, we’ll even show how you can save extra money during the checkout process.

HUAWEI nova 3i 4G Phablet Global Version

Marketed as a ‘perfect device for the young,’ the nova 3i was made available to the public back in July last year.

As a phablet, the nova 3i sports a mammoth 6.3 inch LTPS display with a high screen resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.

Moreover, the device is powered by Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor and it packs a competent ARM Mali-G51 MP4 GPU, under the hood.

The HUAWEI nova 3i ships with 4GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of onboard storage capacity. It houses 16.0MP + 2.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and 24.0MP + 2.0MP front shooters for selfies.

The purple color version of the phone would normally set you back $308.93. You can now buy it for a dropped price of only $259.99, thanks to a 16 percent discount GearBest is offering on the aforesaid color option.
Alternatively, you can go for the black-tinted global version of the HUAWEI nova 3i phablet, but it will set you back $311.76.

If you aren’t willing to spend that kind of money on a phablet, all you need to do is to apply coupon code GBMPO9IYU and bring the retail price of the device down to just $249.99.

Note that the coupon code will be activated at 21:30:00 on February 2nd and will expire at 21:30:00 on February 14th.

You can follow this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it lapses.

Note that there were only 20 pieces of the purple color version remaining for this promo, which is slated to end in four days.

Get 16% Off On HUAWEI nova 3i 4G Phablet

UMIDIGI A3 4G Phablet

Launched in September last year, the UMIDIGI A3 is an irresistible phablet that delivers an ultimate visual experience.

The A3 sports an eye-catching 5.5-inch HD+ display that has a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels and offers an aspect ratio of 18:9.

It packs a powerful MediaTek MT6739 processor along with PowerVR GE8100, 570MHz GPU to ensure an outstanding performance when it comes to running multiple apps, playing games and a slew of other activities.

The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo OS and draws its juices from a 3300mAh big capacity battery. Aside from a fingerprint scanner, it has a geomagnetic sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor, gravity sensor, and gyroscope.

On the photography front, the UMIDIGI A3 features a 12.0MP + 5.0MP dual-camera module on the back. Up front, there’s an 8.0MP selfie camera.

The UMIDIGI A3 is available in black and gold color versions. More importantly, both color versions are now up for grabs for reduced prices on GearBest.

The UMIDIGI branded phablet usually sells for $100.73, but you can now buy it at a lowered price of only $83.99.

Regrettably, this 17 percent off will be valid only for a limited number of pieces for both black and gold color versions.

You can head straight to this link without wasting time and avail the discount.

Note that there were 88 pieces of the black and only 85 pieces of gold color versions remaining at the time of writing. The promo will come to an end in two days.

Get 17% Off On UMIDIGI A3 4G Phablet

Check Out GearBest’s 2019 Best Smartphone Deals

Check Out GearBest’s Chinese Lunar New Year Sale

Buy KUGOO S1 And Megawheels S1-2 Electric Scooters At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

-

Feb 1, 2019

If you are an adventure junky who fancies using top-end products that enhance your overall outdoor activity experience, we got good news for you.
As part of its latest promotion, Chinese online store GeekBuying is now offering a wide selection of sports and outdoor products at heavily discounted prices.

Dubbed as ‘Take an adventure Sports & Outdoor Deals,’ this recently kicked-off promotion features unmissable Flash Deals on top-branded e-bikes (electric bikes), skateboards, action cameras etc.

In a bid to simplify the search process, the aforesaid products have been divided into two categories including Flash Deals and EU Warehouse.

We’ll shed light on the big discount that you can avail on the KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter and the Megawheels S1-2 Portable Folding Electric Scooter.

KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter

Touted as an ideal choice for a short predictable commute, an electric scooter usually proves to be more efficient than traditional motorbikes.

On the downside, they aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook.

If you’ve restlessly been looking for a cost-effective electronic bike that doesn’t compromise on quality, the KUGOO S1 might just fill the bill.

The S1 folding electric scooter has now gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag of just $338.99 on GeekBuying.

Aside from this noteworthy 52 percent reduction in the e-bike’s original asking $699.99. This discount will be valid for the black color version of the e-bike.

Alternatively, you can avail 51 percent discount on two other color versions of the S1 including white and blue.

Thanks to the discount, you can get your hands on the other two color versions for just $339.99. Without the discount, the white and blue color versions’ original asking price is $699.99.

You can follow this link avail the discounts before the promotion comes to an end.

Get 52% Off On KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter

Megawheels S1-2 Portable Folding Electric Scooter

The Megawheels S1-2 boasts an impressive array of features that make it a perfect choice for a commute, entertainment as well as outdoor activities.

The S1-2 portable folding electric scooter is equipped with a press-type throttle for smooth going and stopping.

Backed by a robust 4000mAh battery, the e-bike has a climbing capacity of 15-degree and is capable of achieving a max speed of 14mph.
While you’d normally expect a top-branded electric scooter offering comparable features to cost you a bomb, the Megawheels S1-2 can now be yours if you are willing to shell out just $199.99 on GeekBuying.

This 33 percent drop in the original asking price of $299.99 is valid for the black color version of the electric scooter.

Alternatively, you can a 33 percent discount on the green and white color versions of the e-bike.

The pink-tinted Megawheels S1-2 carries a 36 percent discount and will set you back only $192.99 on GeekBuying.

You can visit this link to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

Get 33% Off On Megawheels S1-2 Portable Folding Electric Scooter

Check Out GeekBuying’s Take an adventure Promotion

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus official press renders leak

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

Samsung is expected to take the wraps off the Galaxy S10 models during the “Galaxy Unpacked” event billed to hold in San Francisco on February 20. We expect the rumour mills to continue buzzing but it seems all there is to know about the flagships are already in the public domain. The latest leak to meet with us is the render of the device purported to be the official press render of the Galaxy S10 Plus.

There is hardly any reason to doubt the authenticity of this photo. The renders were shared by 91mobiles which claimed to have gotten it from a”reliable source”. The quality of the picture again lends credence to its authenticity. However, it looks very much like the ones that had been hared in the past especially the high-res CAD renders from Twitter leakster, Onleaks.

The device looks very much interesting, both at the front and the rear aspects. The front design includes the punch-hole display which houses not one, but two selfie cameras. The punch-hole design fits in line with Samsung’s Infinity O display technology, which the company talked about at a press conference back in November. As a result of the design, the bezels surrounding the display on the Galaxy S10 Plus are noticeably slimmer. The device is said to feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display just like the Galaxy Note 9 but this model may likely offer the highest screen-to-body ratio for any Samsung smartphone yet.

At the rear, the equally houses three camera sensors with an LED flashlight at the side. There is no fingerprint sensor at the rear which means the device will feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. The location of the volume rockers and power buttons at the side don’t seem to have changed. The volume rockers and Bixby button are on the left side while the power button sits at the right. The Galaxy S10Plus is expected to pack a Snapdragon 855 chipset as well as the latest Exynos 9820on some models. For memory, the device will have at least 6GB of RAM and up to 1TB of native storage.

(source)

OnePlus unveils Valentine’s Day promo bundles packing the OnePlus 6T and Bullets Wireless

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

OnePlus models are usually offered for the best price buyers should pay especially as it offers amazing value for money. So, it is usually interesting to see the device getting some form of price cuts. However, OPPO is showing us some love this Valentine as it has unwrapped a couple of bundle packages starring the flagship OnePlus 6T and the Bullets Wireless headset.

Valentine’s day is just a couple of weeks away so this is a perfect time to pick up a cool gift for your loved one. The premium OnePlus 6T is indeed a perfect gift item, especially for OnePlus fans. The offer will see buyers get the OnePlus 6T with some add-ons at up to $20 off.

Specifically, two different bundles are on offer. The “You Complete Me” bundle includes a OnePlus 6T unit with a carbon fibre protective case and Bullets Wireless headphones. All three phone and accessories are offered for €630/$628 (saving you €20/$20). There is an even cheaper bundle known as the “Perfect Pair” bundle which offers two Bullets Wireless headsets for €124.20/$124 (that’s €14/$14 off the retail price). One Plus is also offering various accessories combos at 5% off such as two cases, USB-C cable + headphones, case + screen protector and so on. It’s all about the couple so all the offers had to be in pairs. You can check them out from the source link below.

(source)

MediaTek’s revenue for the first quarter of 2019 expected to drop by up to 20%

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

The growing posture of Qualcomm’s chipsets continues to be at the detriment of rival chipmakers especially Taiwanese fabless chip manufacturer MediaTek. It has been disclosed that the company expects to post a revenue decline of 12-20% sequentially in the first quarter of 2019, and flat or slight revenue growth in all of the year.

MediaTek reported consolidated revenues declined 9.2% sequentially to NT$60.89 billion (US$1.98 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2018, due mainly to a seasonal slowdown in demand for consumer electronics. Gross margin grew 0.4pp on quarter to 38.9%, thanks to a favourable product mix. Also, the Taiwanese chipmaker generated net profits of NT$3.75 billion in the fourth quarter, down 45.4% sequentially, with EPS coming to NT$2.42. MediaTek’s consolidated revenues for all of 2018 slipped 0.1% to NT$238.06 billion when gross margin climbed 2.9pp on year to 38.5%. The company posted net profits of NT$20.78 billion in 2018, down 13.7%, with EPS reaching NT$13.26.

According to MediaTek’s CEO Rick Tsai, the company is aware of decelerating smartphone growth. He also added that the global smartphone market growth will remain slow until 5G-compatible devices become commercially available. MediaTek is stepping up the development of its 5G-enabled solutions, and expects to introduce its 5G SoC series at the end of 2019 following the launch of its 5G modem chip in the first half of the year, Tsai indicated. The company will also roll out its new chip solutions for the next-generation Wi-Fi technology – Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and automotive electronics products in 2019, Tsai also disclosed. The company will continue to diversify its offerings for further product mix improvement, Tsai added. The CEO noted that improvement in the company’s product mix is bearing fruit. Thus, the company expects to post a gross margin of 38-41% in the first quarter of 2019 despite an anticipated revenue fall of up to 20%.

(source)

Four Qualcomm infringement suits against Apple dismissed by German court

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

US chipmaker Qualcomm and smartphone giant Apple have been locked in several court cases for a couple of years now and there is no likelihood it will end soon. One of the court cases before a regional court in Munich, Germany has been struck out. The patent infringement suit relates to patents bothering on search capabilities on the iPhone as well as four other search-related patent suits that are awaiting the court’s disposition.

The same court had last month issued a ruling against Apple which effectively prevents the company from selling the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in the country. But this time around, the court thinks otherwise. In one of the multiple court cases, a regional court in Mannheim earlier this month threw out another patent infringement suit filed by Qualcomm against Apple describing it as “groundless”.

Qualcomm is seeking for a fine from the court against Apple for not fully complying with the German sales ban. The chip maker made reference to a press release by Apple following the ban, stating that the affected iPhone models would still be available from other retailers despite the ban. Obviously, there is no end in sight for this two gladiators.

(source)

Vivo V15 Pro leaked promotional poster gives us a glimpse of the device

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

Vivo India recently sent out invites to a February 20 product launch where the company is expected to unveil the V15 Pro. The Vivo V15 Pro is expected to feature a pop-up camera and an innovative design style that would see the device come in almost bezel-less. An official-looking promotional poster has now leaked online showing the phone from all angles.

The poster captures both the front and rear aspects of the device and of particular interest is the popup front camera on top of the display just like that of the Vivo Nex. The front design looks like the Vivo Nex, just that the V15 Pro will be cheaper.

The rear design includes a vertically aligned triple rear camera setup with the LED flash embedded in between the first two sensors. There is no rear fingerprint sensor which means the device will have an in-display fingerprint sensor. Another thing we can pick up from the renders is that the device will have an ultra-slim frame.

For specs, the Vivo V15 Pro is expected to pack a Snapdragon 710 chipset but there is no concrete evidence available on it yet. Pre-booking in India is expected to on February 15 but the exact price is yet to be announced. The Vivo V15 Pro is expected to arrive in India within Rs. 25,000 (~$350) and Rs. 30,000 (~$420).

(source)

LG announces record profits for 2018 despite ailing mobile phone division

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

South Korea tech giant LG Electronics has announced its annual revenue for 2018 and it is pretty impressive. The company raked in a whopping $54.4 billion in revenue and a record profit of $2.4 billion. It is interesting to note that the company’s profit for last year is 10% higher than in 2017.

This impressive record comes amid a continued decline of the company’s mobile phone division. The mobile division raked in a yearly revenue of just $7.08 billion, incurring liabilities in excess of $700 million covering the cost of operations. However, the company disclosed that the mobile division is showing signs of improvement thanks to better control over spending and inefficiencies. Perhaps, to set on a quick path to recovery, LG is gearing up to launch the V50 ThinQ 5G phone alongside the G8 at MWC 2019. The tech giant also hinted that it will rely on operator-driven markets (North America and Korea) for stable sales this year and will push 5G phones and devices with “different form factors” to try and go back in the black.

The breakdown of the company’s profits for 201 is as follows;

LG Home Entertainment posted a record profit of $1.35 billion. It will lean on its premium OLED TVs and large 4K TVs to increase revenue and profits.

LG Home Appliance also posted a record profit of $1.35 billion and was LG’s strongest performing unit in 2018.

The LG Vehicle Components Company took in $1.24 billion, the highest in the division’s history. This is attributed to the high demand for infotainment hardware and a strong performance of ZKW. LG acquired 70% of ZKW’s shares in 2017 for €1.1B, the largest acquisition in the Korean company’s history.

(source)

Energizer unveils a slew of smartphones, some with dual pop-up cameras

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

Energizer is well known as an American company that manufactures batteries but they have ventured into smartphone manufacture in recent times. The company recently released a new smartphone which it dubs Energizer E500S. Things are about going ballistic rihgt now as the company is said to be planning to showcase up to 26 new models at MWC.

The phones are actually manufactured by a company known as Avenir which has now unveiled the most spectacular series of the lot dubbed the Ultimate series. The Energizer Ultimate series is made up of about five different models; the U620S Pop, U630S Pop, U620S, U570S and U650S.

Energizer Ultimate U620S and U630S

Specs wise, the Ultimate U620S Pop and U630S Pop are similar to each other. They both feature dual selfie pop-up cameras which is a 16MP+2MP combo. The secondary camera is a depth of field sensor. The Ultimate U620S Pop has a more premium build as it packs a 6.2-inch full-screen display with a FHD+ resolution of 1080p. The model is powered by a MediaTek Helio P70 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM while there is 128GB storage with a microSD slot to further expand the storage. In addition, the Ultimate U620S Pop packs a triple camera on the rear which is a 16 MP + 5 MP + 2MP combo. The third module is clearly a depth sensor, but we don’t know that the 5MP camera does. Further, there is a side-mounted fingerprint reader on the U620S Pop while it gets its juice from a 3,200mAh battery with fast charge. For a company that manufactures battery, the cell capacity isn’t too impressive.

On the other hand, the Energizer Ultimate U630S Pop has a slightly bigger 6.3-inch screen with HD+ resolution of 720p. The device is powered by a Helio P22 chipset and it has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Th U630S Pop has a slightly larger battery, 3,500mAh. For the rear camera, this model has a dual camera setup made up of a 16MP + 2MP combo as well as a rear fingerprint sensor. For availability, the U630S will be launched in June,while the U620S will enter the market in July.

Energizer Ultimate U650S

The Ultimate U650S is the largest model in the series as it packs a 6.5-inch display with 720p+ resolution. There’s a waterdrop notch with a 16MP selfie camera, plus a 16 + 2MP dual camera on the back.

The phone is powered by a Helio P22 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage (plus a microSD slot for up to 256GB more). There’s a 3,500mah battery inside with fast charging and a USB-C port. The device will be launched officially in faraway October this year.

Energizer Ultimate U620S

The major difference in the name of the Ultimate U620S and the Energizer Ultimate U620S Pop is the “pop up camera”. The Ultimate U620S features a 6.2-inch 720p+ screen and, instead of a pop-up, it packs a single 16MP selfie camera housed inside the waterdrop notch on top of the display. It has the usual 16MP+2MP dual camera on the back.

Furthermore, t Ultimate U620S is powered by a MediaTek MT6765 chipset which is a faster version of the Helio A22. It offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. The Ultimate U620S has the largest battery capacity – a 4,000mAh cell. The U620S coms in two colour gradients: Purple/Blue and Blue/Green gradients. Both options will be available in July.

Energizer Ultimate U570S

The Energizer Ultimate U570S is the smallest of the five with a 5.7” screen (720p+). It also has a small notch for a 16MP selfie camera and 16+2MP dual camera on the back.

The model is powered by a quad-core processor and 32GB storage. It has a 3,000mAh battery and a microUSB port, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Ultimate U570S is coming out in April in three colors: Purple/Blue gradient, Blue and Yellow.

(source)

Chip manufacturing giant Intel patents a foldable smartphone design

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

There is no doubt that foldable phones are the future of smartphones and we could start seeing commercial units dropping as early as the first half of this year. So, it is no surprise when we see that a good number of OEMs are working on their own model. Samsung, LG, OPPO, Huawei, Xiaomi, Royole and several others are reportedly working on their own foldable phone. What we didn’t expect to see was that tech giant Intel will be thinking about foldable phones. Surprisingly, Intel had filed a foldable design patent application in 2017.

The patent has now been awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as reported by Lets Go Digital. The application is titled Electronic Device With Foldable Display Panels. From the sketches, we can see that the Intel foldable phone is a device that opens up with hinges around a centre display. The main display at the centre is flanked on the right and left sides by screens that are the same size, turning the unit into a tablet when it is fully opened.

The design bears semblance with Microsoft’s Andromeda device that has been put on hold in some aspects. One is that the middle panel can be turned into a virtual QWERTY keyboard while it rests on one of the outer panels. The other outer panel then acts as the display screen in form of a laptop. The sketch also hints the device will have a stylus pen fitting into an opening at the bottom of the device in its closed position.

The patent doesn’t in any way mean that Intel is planning to release a foldable phone anytime soon. The patent could aid the chipmaker curry some chip orders from other firms looking to produce a foldable mobile device. Meanwhile, you should check out the graphical renders of the device produced by Lets Go Digital from the sketches.

(source, via)

Nokia TA-1157 Android One phone with dual rear cameras hits the FCC

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 31, 2019

A new Nokia phone with the model number TA-1157 has been seen at the FCC. The listing includes schematics and a few key specs.

The Nokia TA-1157 is an Android One phone with dual rear cameras. The sensors share a single housing with the LED flash and are positioned in the middle of the phone in a vertical arrangement. There is a fingerprint scanner below the setup. The schematic diagram also confirms it will have NFC.

The FCC document reveals the phone is 148.95 mm long and 71.3 mm wide. It also measures 165.1 mm diagonally. Based on the dimensions, we believe the Nokia TA-1157 will have a screen size less than 6.0-inches. It will also have support for LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41. It should launch in Europe since there is band 20 support.

[envira-gallery id=”234724″]

The Nokia TA-1157 will come in two variants, at least for the rest of the world. One will have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and the other will have 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. We expect both will have support for storage expansion.

The document also reveals the device will pack a 3,000mAh battery. There will be two suppliers for the battery – Sunwoda Electronic Co. and Jiade Energy Technology. Both suppliers are based in China.

Continue

OPPO reveals it is aiming to be the first to release a 5G smartphone

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

OPPO CEO Chen Mingyong recently granted an interview to Qualcomm China and during the interview, he spoke on a variety of topics centred on the company’s plans for its mobile phone business. Top on the issues discuss is the plan for the 5G+ era. The CEO disclosed that mobile phones will remain the core and hub of all things in the 5G era and so the company will continue to build on its mobile phones. He equally disclosed that one of the company’s core business will be the launch of a new smartphone with the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform.

Chen Mingyong came out with a surprised when he said that OPPO will strive to be the first manufacturer to launch 5G mobile phones. He further disclosed that the Chinese company will further develop AI capabilities with 5G and actively explore the application scenarios of the 5G+ era. At the same time, OPPO plans to launch 5G mobile phones in the first half of 2019. At present, OPPO is actively building an open IoT platform to accelerate the development of AI+IoT technology.

In April last year, OPPO announced the establishment of the OPPO Research Institute, which is conducting front-end research on the research fields of 5G, AI, image processing and new materials and new technologies in the three areas of software, hardware and standards. At the same time, OPPO also announced that it will invest ¥10 billion R&D funds in 2019 (this year), which will focus on the vision of the company in AI, 5G and other fields.

(source)

Realme 2 Pro running Android 9.0 Pie appears on GeekBench

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

It is almost four months already since OPPO’s Realme brand launched the Realme 2 Pro. The company had pledged to deliver fresh updates to its smartphones within the first half of 2019 and there is an indication it is going to keep to that pledge, at least for the Realme 2 Pro. A model suspected to be the Realme 2 Pro has been spotted on benchmark app database GeekBench. What makes the GeekBench listing stand out is the presence of Android 9.0 Pie operating system. Presently, the device runs ColorOS 5 based on Android 8.1 Oreo.

If the unnamed device is indeed the Realme 2 Pro, that will make it the first Realme model to get Android Pie. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise since the device is the company’s most expensive device. The GeekBench model is listed as “unknown RMX1801” but the device is strongly suspected to be the Realme 2 Pro because their software build numbers start with RMX. Apart from that, the model is listed as packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and the 2 Pro is the only Realme smartphone featuring that chipset. The model also comes with 4GB of RAM.

We believe the update will hit soon but it is possible it is still deeply undergoing testing.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini – Bluetooth version launched for 149 Yuan (~$22)

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

Xiaomi has launched a new product, the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini – Bluetooth version. This is the second model of such product the company is launching. Mi Bunny is actually the company’s mascot until it thought of bringing the mascot to life. The product was the unveiling of the Mi Bunny smart assistant named Kuri. The brand then launched the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini around this time last year. This is the second iteration of that product with the iconic bunny design but this version comes with Bluetooth support.

In terms of appearance, this version is not very much different from the first model. This model comes with a compact and portable design with a height of 14cm. The device packs 16GB of built-in storage can it can play music that can aid the child to drift off to sleep. The machine is pre-installed with high-quality story content which aids in the development of the child’s IQ and enlightenment. It will use big data feedback to filter out the baby’s favourite stories from more than 350 pieces of the best children’s stories and rhymes.

The biggest highlight of this version is the Bluetooth connectivity feature it packs. With Bluetooth connectivity, the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini can be paired with a smartphone and used as a speaker to play contents from the phone or media player. The device will go on sale at 10 AM on February 1 via Xiaomi Mall, TMall, and other online retailers. The 149 yuan price tag is the same as the price of last year’s model.

IDC: Xiaomi is fourth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 31, 2019

Popular market research firm, IDC, has released its report for the fourth quarter of 2018 (4Q18). The report also includes the total shipment sales for the 2018 calendar year. According to the report, smartphone sales declined globally in 2018. However, manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO managed to increase their shipments.

For the fourth quarter of the year, Samsung shipped 70.4 million units to grab a market share of 18.7% but when compared to its shipment of 74.5 million and market share of 18.9% in 4Q17, it declined.

Apple comes in close at number two with 68.4 million units shipped and a market share of 18.2%. It also shipped less and lost market share when compared to the same quarter in 2017 (77.3 million units and a 19.6% market share).

Huawei, on the other hand, shipped fewer units than Samsung and Apple but recorded significant growth compared to 4Q17. The Chinese manufacturer shipped 60.5 million units – an increase of 18.4 million units from the preceding year. It also increased its market share from 10.7% to 16.1%.

OPPO and Xiaomi close the top five list with 29.2 million units and 28.6 million units shipped respectively. And both grew their market share too last quarter.

The overall shipment for 2018 reveals more clearly how each manufacturer performed.

Samsung shipped a total of 292.3 million units for a market share of 20.8% to keep the title of largest smartphone company in the world. However, it shipped more units in 2017 (317.7 million) and had a larger market share (21.7%).

Apple shipped 208.8 million units to come in at number two but it still has a lot of catching up to do if it intends to dethrone Samsung. Even though the Cupertino-based company shipped more in 2017 (215.8 million) it actually grew its market share by 0.2% in 2018 for a total of 14.9%.

Huawei can be termed the biggest winner even though 2018 was a bit rough for it. In 2017, Huawei shipped 154.2 million units and had a market share of 10.50%. By the end of 2018, its market share jumped to 14.7% and its total shipment was 206 million units!

Top 5 Smartphone Manufacturers 2018 — Xiaomi is the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer for 2018

Xiaomi also did great in 2018 with a total shipment volume of 122.6 million units up from 2017’s 92.7 million units. Its market share also grew by 2.4%. This was more than enough to push OPPO to fifth place and its sister company Vivo to the sixth position.

OPPO shipped a total of 113.1 million units in 2018, recording an increase of about 1.4 million units. It also grew its market share from 7.6% to 8.1%.

Total smartphone shipment in 2018 was 1.404 billion, a 4.1% decline compared to 2017. IDC cites longer replacement cycles, political and economic uncertainty, increasing price, and consumer frustration as part of the reasons for the decline in growth.

Continue

Xiaomi’s first Android Go phone, Redmi Go kicks off pre-order in the Philippines

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

A couple of days back, Xiaomi went official with its first Android Go smartphone christened Redmi Go. The phone looks very much like the top-selling and cool Redmi 4A model which was one of the company’s highest -grossing smartphone till date. The back may look more like the Redmi 6A but the 6A is basically a redesigned Redmi 4A. The launch also pitches the device as the third Xiaomi phone after Mi A1 and Mi A2 and the first Redmi model to run pure Android OS.

As if these attributes are not interesting enough, the Redmi Go comes with an amazing 80 euros price tag and is expected to hit Europe and the Philippines soon. That of the Philippines may just be around the corner as the model is now on pre-order in the Asian country via popular online retailer Lazada. It adopts a slightly cheaper price tag of ₱3,990.00 (around $75) and is expected to start shipping on February 5. The offer also includes a free Mi headset for the first 200 preorders.

As a reminder, the Redmi Go specifications are largely basic. It features a 5-inch 1280 x 720 display and is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425 processor. Like other Android Go phones, it has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage with a MicroSD card slot for expanding the storage. The phone has an 8MP rear camera with an LED flash and a 5MP front-facing camera. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) and packs a 3,000mAh battery. Other features include dual SIM support, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a MicroUSB port for charging and data transfer.

(source, via)

Huawei and Xiaomi shone in Europe during Q4 2018; iPhone XS Max captured the US – Kantar

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 31, 2019

We have seen several market research firms reel out their analytic data for the global smartphone market for 2018. First, it was Strategy Analytics, then Counterpoint Research and then the International Data Corporation (IDC). Yet another report has been released this time from Kantar Worldpanel.

The first which describes itself as a “global expert in shoppers’ behaviour” shed some interesting insight into new industry trends across key regions like Western Europe, urban China, and the US. The data is for the period spanning October to December 2018 and focuses on smartphone OS. The data shows that Huawei continues to saunter on in Europe despite recent controversies and spying suspicions as these have had a minimal impact on the Chinese firm’s European business. Both the Huawei and Honor branded mobile phones are making waves in the old continent.

Apart from Huawei, another Chinese brand which is shown to make tremendous progress in Europe is Xiaomi. The company had recently expanded to major countries like Spain, Italy, and France, boosting the brand to the number four position in Europe’s top-selling chart. Samsung still remains a force to reckon with, contributing largely to the 75% market share Android smartphones enjoyed in Q4 2018 across the five biggest European markets, consistently shrinking the share of Apple’s iOS. On Apple, the market data shows that Apple’s market share continues to rise in the US, its major stronghold. The iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone X were the most popular devices on store shelves, according to Kantar’s latest research. The iPhone XS Max also commanded an impressive performance in urban China, ranking fourth overall, while the Honor 8X was ranked as the overall at the top of the chart.

(via)