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Huawei suspected to have stolen Akhan’s Diamond glass technology, targeted by FBI at CES 2019

Gizmochina first covered the story of the innovative new glass protection technology known as Miraj Diamond Glass technology and manufactured by US start-up Akhan Semiconductor in February 2017. Back then, the company was optimistic that its technology would be utilised in smartphones before the end of the year 2017. That is yet to happen but the company is presently embroiled in a dispute with Chinese tech giant Huawei technology. The dispute even resulted in the FBI carrying out a sting operation against the Chinese tech giant at CES 2019. 

Turned out that Akhan Semiconductor had gotten into talks with Huawei about licensing the technology to the smartphone manufacturer. Akhan claims the technology is 6 times stronger and 10 times more scratch-resistant than Gorilla Glass, the industry standard that generates about $3 billion in annual sales for Corning Inc. The company provided Samsung and Huawei with samples of the glass. An early sample of the Miraj Diamond Glass was shipped to Huawei’s lab in San Diego but there was an agreement that the glass would not be cut into two. This is standard practice to avoid any chance the the company’s engineers will reverse engineer the glass process if it is cut into two. However, when the glass was returned to Akhan, there were signs the glass had been cut into two and some fragments were removed. The US start-up then lodged a formal complaint with FBI and that culminated in the sting operation at CES 2019. The entire operation is documented in Bloomberg’s report which you can find on the source link below.Huawei logo

Read Also: Diamond Display Enabled Smartphones with Competitive Pricing Releasing By 2017 End

Huawei is not a newbie to such accusation of intellectual property theft. It hs always had such toga hanging on its neck. In 2002, Cisco Systems Inc. accused the company of stealing source code for its routers. Motorola said in a 2010 lawsuit that Huawei had successfully turned some of its Chinese-born employees into informants. And in 2012 the U.S. House Intelligence Committee labelled Huawei a national security threat and urged the government and American businesses not to buy its products. Huawei denied all the claims. The Cisco and Motorola lawsuits ended with settlements. The US Department of Justice is also suspecting Huawei of stealing protected trade secrets from T-Mobile – those pertaining to its touchscreen experience testing robot Tappy.

(source)

Google rolling out February security patch for Pixel devices

It’s February and Google has started rolling out the latest monthly Android security update for its Pixel smartphones and Pixel C tablet. Yesterday, the search giant released the new February security patch for its pixel devices. Users can directly download the update either from Google’s website or via OTA update. Namely, Google is rolling out the new update on Google Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel XL, and Pixel C devices.

As per the changelog, Google has mitigated 15 critical issues and some other bugs. Although, users didn’t report any flaw in the past affecting the overall UX, UI of the device. The new security build does not include any functional update as like of the previous builds.

The new update measures around 135.7MB in size on the Pixel 3 XL. The update is rolling out to all the Pixel devices and will be available on your device too. In order to check the update, you should head over to the device’s settings and then download the OTA update.

The new update does not carry any Pixel device specific updates. All the generic development has been taken place in the latest February security patch and it will be available for other Android devices very soon. Although as per the blog post on Google Security Bulletin, the search giant has added that, “The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in Framework that could allow a remote attacker using a specially crafted PNG file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are turned off for development purposes or if successfully bypassed. We have had no reports of active customer exploitation or abuse of these newly reported issues.”

Similarly, Essential has also started rolling out the February security patch to the PH-01 device. So, users should keep an eye to check for the latest update.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy A10, A20, A30, A50 releasing soon in India, claims new leak

Samsung Galaxy A10, Galaxy A20, Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 smartphones have been in the rumors since the past few months. Fresh information shared by an Indian publication reveals that the A10, A20 and A30 smartphones will launch within the next month in India. The Galaxy A50 is expected to debut separately in the country within the first half of the year.

Samsung seems to be gearing up to start the year 2019 with a bang. In India, the South Korean company has already released mid-range Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 smartphones. On Feb. 20, the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e will be unveiled internationally. Alongside the S10 series, the company may announce its first Galaxy Flex/Fold foldable phone. The Galaxy S10 series may hit the Indian market by the second quarter of 2019. Apart from these phones, the A10, A20 and A30 smartphones are tipped to debut in the first quarter of 2019. The Galaxy A50 is expected to get a global release first before landing in India in the second quarter of this year.

Samsung Galaxy A10, Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A30 Rumors

The publication claims that Samsung will be releasing new A-series Galaxy phones soon in India to rival with budget-friendly phones from Chinese Android OEMs. The Galaxy A10 is expected to debut with a starting price of Rs. 8,490 (~$118). Unlike the M10 and M20 that have LCD panels, the upcoming Galaxy A phones may feature S-AMOLED displays.

The Galaxy M10 and M20 phones respectively feature 3,400mAh and 5,000mAh batteries. It is speculated the A10, A20 and A30 will have smaller batteries than the Galaxy M-series phones.

Galaxy M20

The Galaxy A10 (SM-A105F), A20 (SM-A205F), A30 (SM-A305F), A40 (SM-A405F) and A50 (SM-A505F) phones have all appeared on Geekbench recently. There is no word on the release of the Galaxy A40 smartphone. The Geekbench listing of the A10, A20, A30 and A40 have revealed that they are all powered by Exynos 7885 chipset and Android 9 Pie OS. The appearance of these phones on the benchmarking platform has revealed that the A10 has 2 GB of RAM, A20 has 3 GB of RAM, A30 has 4 GB of RAM and A40 has 4 GB of RAM. A recent report had revealed that the Galaxy A30 may come in 32 GB and 64 GB storage models and black, white, silver, blue and pink color variants.

Samsung Galaxy A50 Rumors

The Galaxy A50 Geekbench listing has revealed that it features Exynos 9610 chipset, 6 GB of RAM and Android 9 Pie OS. It is speculated that the smartphone may arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB storage choices and black, white, blue and red colors. A recent leak had revealed that the Galaxy A50 will be equipped with optical in-display fingerprint scanner and triple rear cameras. The main sensor on the rear and the front-facing camera of the A50 could be of 24-megapixel. It is likely to draw power from a 4,000mAh battery.

(source)

Buy Top-Branded Smartwatches At Unbeatable Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

Newfangled smartwatches boast a wide range of capabilities that come in handy in day to day life.
One of the most marketable features of a smartwatch is its ability to keep track of the wearer’s fitness and monitor their activities.

There are no prizes for guessing, these feature-laden smartwatches aren’t easy on the pocketbook. But it looks like GeekBuying is bent on changing that.

As part of its latest promo, the Chinese online store is doling out noteworthy discounts on the Huami AMAZFIT Verge 3 and TicWatch C2 smartwatches.

In addition to taking full advantage of the aforesaid discounts, you can save a significant amount of more money before placing your order. We’ll show how in just a bit.

Huami Amazfit Verge 3 Smart Watch

Sporting an easily readable 1.3 Inch AMOLED display with a high resolution of 360×360 pixels, the Huami Amazfit Verge 3 is an irresistible smartwatch.

Moreover, it comes with a built-in multifunction NFC (Near Field Communication) and is capable of replicating your bus card so that you can travel more conveniently.

The Amazfit Verge 3 has the Xiaomi Ai, which alludes to the built-in Intelligent Voice Assistant. The smartwatch comes with eleven sports modes and a 24-hour heart rate monitor.
While the above-mentioned features completely justify the $239.99 price tag the Amazfit Verge 3 usually carries, you can now buy it at a lowered price of just $149.99.

Aside from availing this 38 percent discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_POOHNKQH and get an extra $30 off.

You can follow this link to grab the discount, which will be valid for the dark gray color version of the smartwatch.

 

 

 

TicWatch C2 Smart Watch

The TicWatch C2 sports an eye-catching 1.3 Inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 360×360 pixels. Despite its bigger screen, the C2 comfortably fit the width of the wrist.

The smartwatch is capable of accurately monitoring pulses while keeping a track of the active and resting heart rate changes of the wearer.

Moreover, the TicWatch C2 features built-in GPS and a couple of highly useful sensors like accelerometer and gyroscope. The device is designed to help you lead a healthier lifestyle.
While the TicWatch C2 is definitely worth your money, you can buy it at a lowered price of just $199.99 on GeekBuying. This is a 33 percent drop in the device’s original asking price of $299.99.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_GGBUZKXP to save $22 more at the time of checking out.

The coupon helps you reduce the retail price of the TicWatch C2 smartwatch to just $199.99 even before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

You can follow this link to grab the discount, which will be valid for the rose gold, platinum and black color version of the smartwatch. Note that the promo will end in just two days.

 

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ selfie cameras may support OIS and 4K video recording

In the past few days, multiple leaks have revealed the entire design of the upcoming Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e smartphones along with their key specs and pricing. Samsung is one of the few companies that offer autofocus enabled selfie cameras on its flagship phones. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are equipped with autofocus enabled f/1.7 aperture 8-megapixel front cameras that can shoot good selfies in low light conditions. The front cameras of S9 and S9+ can also capture videos of up to 1,440p at 30 fps and they are equipped with support VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization). Fresh information reveals that Samsung may significantly improve the selfie camera experience on the Galaxy S10 by including features like support for OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and 4K video shooting.

Galaxy S10 and S10+ Selfie Camera Rumors

Citing information that has surfaced on Weibo, a Chinese publication has claimed that the Galaxy S10 will carry support for 4K video shooting at 60 fps. As mentioned above, the Galaxy S9 duo selfie cameras carry support electronic image stabilization, but the S10 is now rumored to arrive with OIS feature. The new features are also expected to be available on the advanced Galaxy S10+ smartphone.

Leaked renders of both phones have revealed that the S10 will be featuring a small cutout for it at the top-right of the display whereas the S10+ will be featuring a pill-shaped cutout for dual front-facing cameras. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ are equipped with triple rear cameras. The S10+ may have 10-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera setup whereas the S10 may feature either 10-megapixel or 8-megapixel front camera.

Samsung-Galaxy-S10-and-Galaxy-S10-Plus

Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Rear Cameras Leaks

The Galaxy S10 duo are rumored to arrive with 12-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 13-megapixel triple camera setup. The main sensor of 12-megapixel is rumored to offer f/1.5 – f/2.4 variable aperture. It may come with enhanced DRAM for better low-light photography experience. The 16-megapixel senor could be a super-wide angle lens with f/1.9 aperture. It may support 123-degree viewing angle. The 13-megapixel sensor could be a telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture. Except for the wide-angle lens, the other two sensors are expected to be equipped with autofocus and OIS.

Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ Specifications

The Galaxy S10 and S10+ are rumored to respectively feature 6.1-inch and 6.4-inch quad HD+ resolution enabled S-AMOLED displays. These displays will be equipped with ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner. Depending on the market, the S10 duo will be available in Snapdragon 855 and Exynos 9820 CPU editions.

Samsung-Galaxy-S10-Galaxy-S10+

The S10 will come with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage. On the other side, the S10+ may include up to 12 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. The S10 will be receiving power from a 3,400mAh battery whereas the S10+ will include a big battery of 4,000mAh capacity. The S10 is expected to debut with a starting price of 899 euros (~$1,030) whereas the Plus model may begin at 999 euros (~$1,150).

Readers are advised take this report with a pinch of salt since there is no concrete supporting evidence to confirm on the front and rear features and configurations of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+.

Buy Xiaomi-Branded Phones At Lowered Prices On Banggood [Coupons Inside]

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a Xiaomi-branded smartphone without emptying your pocket, we got good news for you.

Pocophone F1
The Chinese tech company that’s known for manufacturing some of the world’s most coveted handsets has collaborated with Banggood to offer the Pocophone F1 and the Mi Mix 3 at unbeatable prices.

In a bid to give something more to cheer about, we’ll show how you can save more money while placing your order. So without further ado, let’s head straight to the details.

Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Smartphone

Launched in August last year, the Pocophone F1 continues to garner huge popularity among Xiaomi fans.

It boasts an impressive array of features that make it an irresistible phone. Moreover, this variant of the phone comes with 6GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of internal storage capacity.

On the downside, this Xiaomi-branded phone will set you back a pretty penny. In fact, it normally retails for $545.99 on both online as well as offline stores.
Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 has now gone up for sale bearing a reduced price of just $356.88 on Banggood.

As if that weren’t enough, you can extend this 35 percent discount by applying coupon code 2F1BG128 at the time of checking out.

The coupon helps you save an extra $46.89 by reducing the original asking price of the Pocophone F1 to just $309.99.

You can visit this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the phone.

 

 

 

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 Smartphone

Xiaomi took the wraps off the long-awaited Mi Mix 3 smartphone in November last year.

Thanks to its mammoth 6.39 inches display, the phone became an instant hit among those who fancy watching their favorite videos and playing popular games on a big-screen mobile device.

The global version of the Mi Mix 3 offering 6GB of RAM and a hearty 128GB of onboard storage capacity is currently available for $599.99 on Banggood.
The Mi Mix 3 usually retails for $599.99 but if you aren’t willing to shell out that kind of money on a smartphone, all you need to do is to use coupon code 2BGMix3N before placing your order.

The aforesaid coupon helps you get an extra $100 off. As a result, the original selling price of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 reduces to only $499.99.

You can visit this link to grab this discount, which is limited to the blue color version of the phone before the coupon expires.

Realme C1 2019 to go on sale in India for the first time today via Flipkart

Realme C1 2019, the new variant of Realme’s entry-level smartphone which now comes with increased internal storage capacity, will go on sale in India today for the first time. When launched, the phone was touted by the company as ‘Entertainment Ka Boss’ and will be available for purchase through Flipkart.

Last week, the company had launched Realme C1 2019 in two variants — 2GB RAM with 32GB internal storage and 3GB RAM with 32GB internal storage. As for the pricing, the 2GB RAM variant is priced at Rs. 7,499 (approximately $105), the 3GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 8,499 (approximately $119).

Realme C1 2019

Except for the internal storage, most of the phone’s specifications remains the same as the standard model. It features a 6.2-inch IPS LCD notched display that carries support for HD+ resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels and offers 19:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the modest Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset. The 2019 edition models come with either 2GB/3GB RAM and pack 32GB of internal storage. The phone is also equipped with a dedicated microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity.

Coming to the camera department, the horizontally arranged dual rear camera on the backside of the Realme C1 features a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. The notch of the smartphone houses a 5-megapixel AI driven selfie camera that also doubles up for AI facial recognition.

 

Read More: Realme India CEO clarifies that the company isn’t working on 48MP camera smartphone

 

It comes with the usual set of connectivity features such as dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack and micro-USB port are available on the smartphone. The phone runs ColorOS 5.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system and is powered by a 4,230mAh battery.

Get Big Discounts On Spare Parts For RC Drones On Banggood [Extra 12% Off Coupon]

Known for offering the best bang for your buck, Banggood is now offering its users a chance to get an extra 12 percent off on spare parts for RC drones.


The aforesaid discount will be available in the form of coupon code f53d0e.

Aside from that, you can grab noteworthy discounts on a wide selection of items that have been added to different categories like LiPo Battery, Propellers, DIY Accessories, Carrying Bag/Case, and Others.

The ‘LiPo Battery’ section comprises various batteries for RC drones that you can buy without emptying your pocket. For instance, the Xiaomi FIMI A3 rechargeable Lipo battery that normally sells for $47.99 can now be yours for just $39.99.

Likewise, you can buy Eachine E58 4 pieces props blades with 2 pieces propeller clip clamp at a lowered price under the ‘Propellers’ category.
Moreover, there’s a ‘DIY Accessories’ section that features everything from high-end control boards to coreless motors. There are significant discounts available for select items included in this section.

You can even buy bags for your favorite RC drones at reduced prices, under the next category dubbed ‘Carrying Bag/Case.’ This section features handbag carrying cases, storage shoulder bags, hard shell backpack case bags and lots more.

The rest of the products have been added to the ‘Others’ category.

Here you can find the Wingsland R6 5.8GHz Switchable Mode Foldable Transmitter For Wingsland S6, GameSir T1d/T1s Bluetooth 3D Joysticks Connection Remote Control Transmitter and various other products that enhance your drone flying experience.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and take full advantage of the discounts. It is worth noting that the extra 12% off coupon is likely to expire soon.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia Seabird 4K Sport Camera And KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

Sports and outdoor products aren’t easy on the pocketbook. As a result, sports enthusiasts and adventure junkies end up spending a lot of money on products on products that take their outdoor activity experience to the next level.
GeekBuying Take an aventure Sports & Outdoors DealsMuch to the delight of cost-conscious thrill seekers who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, GeekBuying is now doling out noteworthy discounts on a wide selection of sports and outdoor products.

This recently kicked-off promotion is entitled ‘Take an adventure Sports & Outdoor Deals’ and it features various Flash Deals on electric bikes, skateboards, action cameras and a slew of other sports and outdoor products.

We’ll take a gander at the discounts available for the Xiaomi Mijia Seabird 4K Sports Camera and the KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter. Aside from that, we’ll show how you can save more money during the checkout process.

Xiaomi Mijia Seabird 4K Sport Camera

Equipped with 4K/30 frame video recording and high-quality lens, the Seabird 4K action camera is designed to capture every memorable moment in the form of true-to-life pictures.

It comes with a professional algorithm to rectify distortion, while its wide-angle shooting ensures there’s no distortion.

Moreover, it features multiple shooting modes including time-lapse photography, slow-motion photography, timed photo, and high-speed continuous shooting.


A top-branded sports camera would normally set you back a pretty penny, but you can buy the Xiaomi Mijia Seabird 4K sports camera for just $79.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a noteworthy 27 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $109.99. But there’s more for you to cheer about.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_BEBVBYFB and get an extra $27 off.

In other words, you can bring the already reduced retail price of the sports camera further down to just $69.99 before placing your order.

You can visit this link to grab the discount, which will be valid for the blue, green and orange color version of the Mijia Seabird 4K sports camera. Note that the promo is slated to end in one day.

KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter

The KUGOO S1 is an irresistible electric scooter that’s designed to run on all sorts of roads.

Aside from featuring 3-speed running modes, the e-bike is equipped with 8-inch solid rear anti-skid tires that enable the rider to control the speed using just a single key.

Moreover, the KUGOO S1 is an easy-to-operate, foldable scooter that can run on various road surface conditions. It features a monitor that displays control information and has a single key for the braking system.


While the aforesaid features justify the $699.99 price tag, the KUGOO S1 Folding electric scooter usually carries, you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $338.99 on GeekBuying.

You can follow this link to check out more details about the KUGOO S1 and take full advantage of the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the electric scooter.

Alternatively, you can grab a 51 percent off on the white and blue color versions of the KUGOO S1 electric scooter for a limited period of time.

 

 

Vivo V15 Pro with Snapdragon 675 appears on Geekbench

The upcoming Vivo V15 Pro is rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 675 chipset. The smartphone has appeared on Geekbench today through which it has been confirmed that the Snapdragon 675 will be indeed present under the hood of the upcoming Vivo phone.

In the previous week, the NBTC authority of Thailand had approved Vivo 1818 smartphone. The certification had revealed that it will be heading to the market as Vivo V15 Pro. The same model number has also been certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) body. Today, the same model number has been spotted on Geekbench with some of its key specifications.

Vivo V15 Pro Geekbench

The above screenshot reveals that the sm6150 is the driving force of the Vivo 1818 smartphone. Previous reports have confirmed that the sm6150 is the codename of he Snapdragon 675 mobile platform. The SoC of the Vivo 1818 is assisted by 6 GB of RAM. The handset is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the Vivo 1818 has respectively scored 2382 and 6479 points.

The Vivo V15 Pro is expected to go official through Vivo India’s launch event on Feb. 20v. The Chinese manufacturer has recently discontinued the Vivo NEX smartphone that features a pop-up selfie camera along with a notch-less screen. The reason behind it that the upcoming Vivo V15 Pro will be sporting the same display design and 32-megapixel pop-up frontal camera. The marvelous screen of the phone will be equipped with an under-display fingerprint scanner.

The backside of the phone will have 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera setup. The main sensor is expected to be Samsung’s ISOCELL GM1 lens. It will be equipped with a big internal storage of 128 GB. There is no information available on the battery capacity of the V15 Pro. The handset is expected to release in attractive color gradient options in India. Thee will be a blue variant as well as a black model with red-colored checkered finish. The Vivo V15 smartphone is also expected to go official alongside the V15 Pro. The V15 may cost around Rs. 20,000 (~$280) whereas the V15 Pro could be priced around Rs. 25,000 (~$350).

(via)

Clear render of Samsung Galaxy Sport smartwatch leaks showing the design

Only recently, it was reported that Samsung is working on a new smartwatch bearing the codename “Pulse.” The smartwatch is expected to be the successor to the Gear Sport and is tipped to likely launch bearing the moniker Galaxy Sport considering that Samsung has since migrated its smartwatches to the Galaxy brand with the Galaxy Watch. A couple of renders purported to be those of the smartwatch had also appeared online. A second render of the smartwatch has now appeared online giving us a clearer view of the design of the upcoming smart wearable.Samsung Galaxy Sport

The Galaxy Sport just like all other Samsung smartwatches comes with a round watch dial having a contoured glass at the top. The glass would likely be a tough one so it won’t shatter easily. The smart wearable has two physical buttons on the right side just like on the Galaxy Watch. The body of the Galaxy Sport looks like it is made of brushed metal and that is also applicable to the buckle on the rubber strap.

Read Also: Samsung could launch its Smart Sports Shoes at CES 2019

The Galaxy Sport was recently certified in Taiwan, the US and South Korea bearing the model number SM-R500. The device is also said to go by the codename Pulse. The Galaxy Sport is said to be the first Samsung smartwatch to feature Bixby Reminders. Specs wise, it will feature 4GB of RAM, NFC for secure payments, GPS for fitness tracking, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and IP water resistance. The wearable is expected to b unveiled on February 20 alongside the Galaxy S10 flagships.

(source)

Buy Top Variants Of The Xiaomi Mi 8 and Mi 8 Lite Phablets At Slashed Prices On GearBest [Coupons]

Xiaomi has teamed up with GearBest to offer different variants of its well-received Mi 8 and Mi 8 Lite at lowered prices.


Aside from shedding light on the aforesaid discount, we will show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money at the time of checking out. So without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

Xiaomi Mi 8 4G Phablet (6GB+128GB)

The global version of the Mi 8 phablet that ships with 6GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of internal storage capacity is now available at a dropped price of just $439.99 on GearBest.

This is a 21 percent reduction in the phablet’s original asking price of $555.63. But there’s more for you to cheer about.

You can use coupon code GBMPPS1 at the time of checking out and reduce the retail price of the phone to only $429.99. In other words, you can get an extra $10 off simply by applying the aforesaid coupon.
You can visit this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the phablet. With only 15 pieces remaining, this promo is slated to end in just two days.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 4G Phablet (4GB RAM+ 64GB ROM)

Launched in September last year, the Mi 8 Lite is an irresistible phablet that boasts an impressive array of features.

While you’d normally associate a steep price tag with a feature-laden phablet from the Chinese tech company, the Mi 8 Lite can now be yours if you are willing to shell out only $229.99 on GearBest.
This 19 percent discount is available for the global version of the phablet that comes in blue as well as black color versions. Note that the phablet would set you back $283.03 without the discount.

You can visit this link to grab the discount. There were 282 pieces of the black and 235 pieces of the blue color versions of the phablet left for this promo, which will end in five days.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 4G Phablet (6GB RAM+128GB ROM)

Alternatively, you can go for the larger variant of the Mi 8 Lite phablet that features 6GB of RAM and offers 128GB of onboard storage capacity.

While this model usually retails for $343.57, you can now buy it for a dropped price of only $279.99 on GearBest. Moreover, you can extend this 19 percent discount by using coupon code GBMPPS8J.


The above-mentioned coupon helps you save an extra $10 by bringing the original asking price of the phablet further down to just $269.99 before you place your order.

You can follow this link to take advantage of the discount, which will specifically be valid for the black color version of the phablet. Regrettably, there were only 148 left for this promo, which is slated to end in five days.

 

Samsung Galaxy M10, M20 first sale begins today in India

At the end of the previous month, Samsung had introduced the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 as its first M-series phones in the country. The first sales of these phones will be carried out today on Amazon India and the online store of Samsung India at 12 PM today.

Samsung Galaxy M10 Specifications and Price

The Galaxy M10 features a 6.2-inch Infinity-V display that produces HD+ resolution. The Exynos 7870 chipset powers the smartphone. The rear side of the phone features 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup and a front-facing shooter of 5-megapixel. It is packed with a 3,400mAh battery. It lacks support for fingerprint scanner and includes face unlock feature instead. The Experience UI 9.5 based Android Oreo OS comes preinstalled on the device. Apart from internal storage, the Galaxy M10 also supports expandable storage.

The 16 GB storage + 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage + 3 GB RM variants of the Galaxy M10 are respectively priced at Rs. 7,990 and Rs. 8,990. It will be available in colors like Charcoal Black and Ocean Blue.

Samsung Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M10

Samsung Galaxy M20 Specifications and Price

The Galaxy M20 is fitted with a 6.3-inch Infinity-V display that offers full HD+ resolution. The Exynos 7904 SoC is present under the hood of the device and it is fueled by a massive 5,000mAh battery. The 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup resides on the backside of the Galaxy M20. The handset includes a selfie camera of 8-megapixel. It is also loaded with Experience UI 9.5 flavored Android Oreo OS. There is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor on the device. It features a microSD card slot for additional storage.

The 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM editions of the Galaxy M20 respectively cost Rs. 10,990 and Rs. 12,990. It can be also bought in colors such as Charcoal Black and Ocean Blue.

The early buyers of Galaxy M10 and M20 can take advantage of 4 GB data per day on rechargers of Rs. 198 and Rs. 299. Amazon India is offering no cost EMIs for six months. The retailer is also offering total damage protection for the M10 and M20 buyers at Rs. 699.

The Galaxy M10 and M20 phones will be rivaling with the like of Redmi 6, Redmi 6 Pro, Redmi Note 6 Pro, Realme C1 (2019), Realme 2, Realme U1, ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 and so on. Will you consider buying the Galaxy M10 or M20? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

Xiaomi teases the launch of its upcoming Mi Shoes in India

We recently reported that Xiaomi is planning to launch an all-new product in the Indian market in the lifestyle category — Mi Sports Shoes. Now, the company has teased the launch of its upcoming Mi Shoes in India through its official Twitter handle.

In a Twitter post, the company posted an image which resembles a shoe with the text “Ready to put your Best Foot Forward” and the accompanying text with the photo reads “Guess What’s Coming #BFF.” This implies that the launch of Mi Shoes in India is not far away.

Mi Shoes India Launch Teaser

Earlier, we reported that the Mi Sport Shoes will be launched in India soon, which will be the rebranded version of the Xiaomi Mijia Sneakers 2 currently available in China. It is expected to be priced around Rs. 2,999, which roughly converts to $42.

Given that the shoes have already launched in China, its features are known. It is manufactured using the Uni-Moulding process which ensures five different layers and types of materials are fused into a single mould. Each of the layers is then separated using a thin polyurethane film pressed and bonded.

As the components are pressed together with the mold, the appearance of the components appears to be cleaner than the ordinary manual glue combination, and the probability of the glue opening up is also highly reduced. This new uni-Moulding process also provides better stability and support to the feet.

XIaomi Mi Sports Sneakers 2

Additionally, the midsole is crafted using the INFUSE material by the popular company Dow Chemical (DuPont). This material can greatly increase the resiliency of the midsole and is more comfortable and less deformable than ordinary EVA.

The upper part of the shoes is manufactured using a three-dimensional seamless high-elastic knitting process. It uses just one seam thus minimizing foreign body sensation. While there’s no mention of the intelligent chip inside but since the first version had one, this model likely houses it.

 

Read More: Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Go storage variants and color options for the Indian market revealed ahead of the launch

 

Apart from this Mi Sport Shoes, there’s no information if the company is planning to launch its other sneakers and shoes in India, which the company is selling under its Amazfit, Mijia, Urevo, and other ecosystem brands. We’ll have to wait for a few more days to know the launch date, pricing, and availability of the Mi Sport Shoes in India.

(Source)

Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Go storage variants and color options for India revealed

Previously, we reported that the newly formed sub-brand of Xiaomi — Redmi, is gearing up to launch its Redmi Note 7 as well as two other smartphones in the Indian market by the end of this quarter, i.e. March this year. The three smartphones that the company is all set to launch in India by March 2019 include Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro, and Redmi Go.

Recently, Xiaomi teased the India launch of Redmi Note 7 by posting an image of Xiaomi CEO and Xiaomi India MD holding the smartphone. While the launch date is not yet announced, the storage variants and color options of Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Go for the Indian market has been revealed.

Redmi Note 7 2

According to the report coming from MSP, the Redmi Note 7 smartphone will be available in two variants at the time of launch in India — 3GB RAM with 32GB internal storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage. Currently, it’s not confirmed if the company will bring the 6GB RAM model in India. The smartphone will be offered in three color options — Black, Blue, and Red.

On the other hand, the Redmi Go smartphone, which will be the company’s first Android Go-powered device, will reportedly come with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. It will be available in Black, Blue, and Red color options.

The Redmi Note 7 smartphone was first launched in China last month, which 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.

Redmi Note 7

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.

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.

Redmi Go

Coming to the Redmi Go smartphone, it features a 5-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixels screen resolution. Under the hood, the device is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset. Like other Android Go phones, this one too packs 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage but it also comes with a microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity.

The phone’s connectivity options include dual SIM support, a 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a MicroUSB port. It has an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The device runs Android Oreo (Go Edition) and packs a 3,000mAh battery.

 

Read More: XIaomi Black Shark Skywalker smartphone’s launch could be very near, packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC

 

While the India launch date for the Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Go smartphones is not yet announced, we expect the launch event to happen by the end of this month, probably in the coming week or two. Stay tuned for more information.

(Source)

This alleged Mi 9 prototype has a rear-mounted fingerprint scannner

A couple of days ago, live photos of a device said to be the Mi 9 surfaced on the internet. The images showed only the back of the phone which has a triple camera setup. It also didn’t have a visible fingerprint scanner which confirmed that the Mi 9 will have an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Another image of the phone has leaked online but there is a major difference between it and the first one. The new photo is said to be of a Mi 9 prototype. The device is enclosed in a special case that completely hides the design of the phone save for cut-outs for certain parts.

Xiaomi 9-prototype leaked

The Mi 9 prototype has a triple camera setup too and it is in the same position as the live image that fist leaked. In addition to the camera cut out is a larger hole for a fingerprint scanner.

Does this mean there are two versions of the Mi 9? Yes. It has already been reported that there will be an Explorer Edition and just like the Mi 8, we expect significant differences between the regular Mi 9 and the Mi 9 Explorer Edition.

The plausible explanation is that the version with an in-display fingerprint scanner will likely launch as the Mi 9 Explorer Edition or the Mi 9 Pro while this prototype with a fingerprint scanner on its back is the regular variant.

The image also shows the case with two holes at the top right corner. We practically have no idea what the holes are for and if this wasn’t already rumored to be the Mi 9, we would say this is the Essential PH-2 and those holes are connectors for the Essential 360° VR camera or the Essential Audio Adapter HD.

READ MORE: Xiaomi’s Mi 8 Explorer Edition may eventually get a global release

AnTuTu releases list of top 10 Android phones for January 2019

As is the usual tradition, AnTuTu has released a list of its top ten Android phones based on performance for the month – this time for January 2019. The list has some new entries but the top three devices are unchanged from last month’s.

The Nubia Red Magic Mars is at the top once again with a total of 320,996 points and it leads the Huawei Mate 20 which comes in at second place by a fair margin. The Honor V20 with its Kirin 980 chipset closes the top 3 with 306,567 points.

AnTuTu January 2019 Android Phones

Huawei again takes the fourth spot with the Mate 20 X and its sub-brand is fifth with the Honor Magic 2. Another gaming phone makes the list and it is the Black Shark Helo. The Mate 20 Pro follows at number seven, down two spots from December’s list. The OnePlus 6T keeps its position from the last time.

READ MORE: AnTuTu announces AI benchmarking tool to rank devices

Google deletes 29 malware filled camera beauty and filter apps from Play Store

Careful about that camera beauty and filter app installed on your phone as it could contain malware. A cybersecurity firm named Trend Micro has uncovered a staggering 29 “beauty camera” and camera filter apps in the Google Play Store loaded with malware inside. The apps in question are more popular in Asia and are supposed to enhance selfies and customize photos. Well, turns out that is just a decoy instead, apps with the names of Beauty Camera, Pro Beauty Camera and Horizontal Beauty camera served full-screen ads when users unlocked their phones. In one of the discovered cases, the app downloaded an online porn player that didn’t work even after payment from the user was accepted.

The discovery also unearthed several underground and dubious practices by the developers of these apps. Some of the apps even attempt to utilise phishing techniques in order to get personal information from users. One way this occurred was through a rigged contest that always let the device owner win. To claim the prize, the “winner” will have to provide certain personal information. Other camera filter apps would allow someone to upload a picture to the developer’s server to enhance. But instead of getting a final post-enhancement image, the user would receive a fake update prompt in nine languages. The app collected the photos uploaded, possibly to use on fake social media accounts.

Always read the comment section before installing any app

Read Also: Vivo V15 Pro live shot leaks stunning gradient design, triple camera setup

Such apps are usually designed to make it difficult to delete. The icons were hidden making it practically impossible to remove them with a simple drag to uninstall. Thankfully, Google has taken action by removing such apps. Nevertheless, it is apt that users exercise caution when downloading an app from the Store. To avoid falling victim to such fraud, Trend Micro suggests that before you install any app, check the comments from other users. If you see a few warnings, avoid downloading the app.

(source)

Vivo V15 to launch alongside Vivo V15 Pro

The Vivo V15 Pro has been the one stealing the spotlight but a new photo shows that it will be launching alongside the non-pro model – the Vivo V15.

A picture shared on Twitter by @MAHESHTELECOM shows a poster of the Vivo V15 and V15 Pro. However, the poster states that only the Pro will have a 32MP pop-up selfie camera.

READ MORE: Pop-up selfie camera phone, the Vivo NEX “discontinued” in India

Xiaomi’s Mi 8 Explorer Edition may eventually get a global release

More than six months after its release, Xiaomi may eventually launch the Mi 8 Explorer Edition outside China according to a new finding.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition

The Mi 8 Explorer is the top of the line of the Mi 8 series. Along with having an in-display fingerprint scanner, it also has 3D face unlock which is more advanced and secure than the infrared Face Unlock on the Mi 8 Pro. The phone also has a see-through back that allows you to see a printed version of its internals.

An XDA developer by the name “yshalsager” found the codename of an unannounced Xiaomi device. The codename is “ursa-global”. If you remember, “Ursa” is the codename for a device thought to be the Mi 7 Plus but which later launched as the Mi 8 Explorer Edition. The developer also found the marketing name of the device in Chinese (小米手机8透明探索版 国际版). Throw that into Google translate and you get this “Millet phone 8 transparent exploration version International Edition”. It is clear this means the Mi 8 Explorer Edition is getting a global launch.

READ MORE: Alleged Xiaomi Mi 9 spotted in public, sports triple rear cameras