LG G8 ThinQ first press renders leaks with notch display and round edges

By

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Jan 26, 2019

Every big manufacturer is working on their respective new flagship devices for 2019. Even LG is also working on the LG G8 ThinQ as leaked by various rumors and reports. It is reportedly coming with a unique “Sound on Display” technology. Further, there will high-quality display, Snapdragon chipset and a huge battery intact. Today, it has been captured from different angles in the first ever LG G8 ThinQ renders. The design falls in the same line as witnessed in the recently leaked CAD designs.

After looking at the renders, you will notice a display notch carrying round edges. Its notch seems to house various sensors such as a dot projector, IR camera and Time of flight camera. It is speculated that LG is looking to eliminate the fingerprint authentication as no fingerprint sensor can be seen on either rear or the front sides. They are mending ways to introduce more secure facial recognition.

Unlike LG G7 ThinQ, the press renders showcase LG G8 ThinQ without an earpiece in the notch. It is raising speculations that they are replacing earpiece with the “Sound on Display” technology.

On the rear side of the device, there’s a dual camera with an LED flash and a fingerprint sensor. We can see the metal body engraved with G8 ThinQ branding on the backside. On the right side, there’s a power button with SIM card tray and antennae bands visible. While volume up/down keys and Google Assitant key has got a place on the left side of the device. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a glimpse of its bottom and the top sides.

LG G8 ThinQ specs

In the recent leak, it has been suggested that LG G8 ThinQ will carry 6.1 inches 19.5:9 aspect ratio display. Purportedly, it will measure 152 x 72 x 8.4mm and will be shorter and thicker than the LG V40 and G7. It is also coming with all new “Sound on Display” technology which will replace earpiece on the front side of the device.

There are many other rumors which state the presence of dual displays on the device. Even, LG plans to announce a 5G flagship device at Mobile World Congres 2019. LG’s 5G device will carry Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, and a huge battery of 4000 mAh.

Read More: LG Premier MWC 2019 teaser video hints at LG G8 touchless gesture navigation feature

As of now, nothing is confirmed regarding the LG G8 ThinQ and LG’s 5G smartphone. All the specs are just mere speculations and have been originated from leaks and rumors. We suggest you take them as a grain of salt in the ocean.

(Source)

Nokia returns to the US via Cricket and Verizon Wireless

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 26, 2019

HMD Global owned Nokia has finally stepped into the US market after many years. Nokia has partnered with a couple of major US carriers such as Verizon Wireless and Cricket. Even though, they are also making a comeback in Canada via Rogers telecom operator.

It’s a welcome move from Nokia, and the company plans to announce various smartphones in the US. Currently, they have launched Nokia 3.1 Plus via Cricket and low-end Nokia 2 Von the Big Red (Verizon Wireless).

Buy Nokia 3.1 Plus from Cricket

Nokia has debuted with Nokia 3.1 Plus in the US market via Cricket for the price of $160. Nokia has tweaked it with a Snapdragon 439 chipset replacing MediaTek processor. Further, they have even switched the micro-USB port for proper Type-C interface. Other specs are same as like of the standard variants. It packs 6 inches 18:9 HD+ display with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. In the camera department, Nokia 3.1 Plus holds 13/5MP dual camera on the rear side while an 8 MP camera is placed on the front side. Although Nokia offers it in various colors globally but on Cricket you will get Blue colored 2/32GB storage option only. You can get your hands on the device from today at the price of $160.

Buy Nokia 2V from Verizon Wireless

Unlike the Cricket’s Nokia 3.1 Plus, Nokia 2 V does not carry any change. It features the same specifications as like for the international variant of the Nokia 2.1. Particularly, it carries 5.5 inches 16:6 aspect ratio display. It is powered by Snapdragon 425 SoC with a 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage. In the camera department, you will get an 8-megapixel rear camera while a 5-megapixel sensor sits on the front side of the device. It carries a huge battery of 4000 mAh.

Users can buy it from Verizon offline and online retail stores starting January 31st. The pricing details are not yet out but it is expected to be priced less than Nokia 3.1 Plus.

Meanwhile, Nokia is also making a comeback in Canada via Rogers. Currently, no more details have been given about its return to Canada. We hope in the next few days we get some details.

(Via)

Buy KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter For $325.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 26, 2019

Designed primarily for a short predictable commute, electric scooters are not only quieter but also more efficient than regular motorbikes.

While the market is brimming with e-bikes that boast an impressive array of features, these electric powered scooters aren’t easy on the pocketbook.

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

This feature-laden folding electric scooter from KUGOO has now gone up for sale bearing a heavily discounted price tag on GeekBuying.

Moreover, we’ll be revealing how you can save a considerable amount of more money during the checkout process in just a bit.

The S1 folding electric scooter would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline stores, but you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $338.99 on GeekBuying.

Aside from this 52 percent reduction in the e-bike’s original selling price of $699.99, there’s more for you to cheer about.

After proceeding to checkout, you can apply coupon code GIZ_JYKPOYXO and save $164 more.

In other words, you can bring the already lowered retail price of the S1 electric scooter further down to only $325.99 before placing your order simply by applying the aforesaid coupon.

An absolute steal at this price, the KUGOO S1 is a great choice for all types of roads. It uses 8-inch solid rear anti-skid tires and has 3-speed running modes, allowing the rider to adjust the speed with one key.

The easy-to-operate electric bike runs smoothly on different road surface conditions. It features a single key for braking system along with a monitor that shows the control information.

Aside from allowing the rider to check the speed, the LCD display screen shows a slew of other details including mileage, time, power, stop, and voltage.

The KUGOO S1 electric scooter draws its juices from a robust 350W motor that can efficiently deliver a running distance of 30km.

There are bright LED lights placed on the front and back of the KUGOO S1 for a safer ride, particularly at night.

The bike adopts front and back shock mitigation system to ensure your ride is safe as well as comfortable. Its folding handle and adjustable height make the S1 an easy-to-carry electric bike.

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

Alternatively, you can get a 51 percent discount on the white and blue-tinted KUGOO S1 e-bike that usually retail for $699.99 but have now gone up for sale carrying a lowered price of $339.99.

It is also worth noting that the Poland stock will comprise duty-free and Poland local after-sale service. Regrettably, the promo is slated to end in just four days.

Get Up To 52% Off On KUGOO S1 Folding Electric Scooter

Buy The Alfawise G70 And Alfawise Junsun Car DVR Dash Cams At Lowered Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 26, 2019

Known for offering exhilarating, yet affordable home technology at every price point, Alfawise has now teamed up with GearBest to make its G70 and Junsun Q5 car DVR dash cams available to cost-conscious buyers.
Alfawise G70 F1.5 Car DVR Dash Cam

Designed to give you security in terms of recording, the Alfawise G70 comes without a battery that usually tends to explode.

It adopts a safer and more eco-friendly capacitor that surpasses the battery by delivering quick charging/discharging time and it is over thirty times more durable.

Moreover, it packs the powerful NOVATEK 96658 chipset, under the hood and houses a Sony 323 1/2.7” image sensor with F1.5 Super large aperture for brighter deeper images.

A top-branded car DVR dash camera that boasts comparable features would normally set you back a pretty penny, but the Alfawise G70 can now be yours if you are willing to shell out just $38.99 on GearBest.

This is a noteworthy 48 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $75.26.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the remaining 197 pieces of the black-tinted Alfawise G70 car dash camera. Note that the promo is slated to end in four days.

Get Up To 48% Off On Alfawise G70 F1.5 Car DVR Dash Cam

Alfawise Junsun Q5 Car DVR Dash Cam

The Alfawise Junsun comes with a slew of useful functions including a 140-degree wide angle, night vision, parking mode, loop recording, G-sensor and temp protection to ensure you feel in your car.

The Junsun car DVR dash cam features a crystal clear 3 inch TFT HD screen with a high resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. On top of that, it houses a 2MP camera with a 1.5mm lens.

The DVR dash cam uses the loop-cycle recording in a bid to save the storage space and it supports TF 32GB external card so that you don’t have to worry about running out of storage space all the time.
It has auto power on feature so that you do not have to operate it using your hands. The device draws its juices from a built-in 200mAh battery and can work continuously with charging.

While the aforesaid features completely justify the $50.68 price tag, the Alfawise Junsun usually carries; you can now buy it at a dropped price of $29.99 on GearBest.

This 41 percent discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the car DVR dash camera, can only be availed on the remaining 98 pieces.

With the promo slated to end in just four days, you can visit this link to grab the discount without wasting time.

Get 41% Off On Alfawise Junsun Q5 Car DVR Dash Cam

Check Out 2019 GearBest 5 Days Arrival Deals

Buy Makibes A4 4G LTE Smartwatch Phone At A Dropped Price Of $114.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 26, 2019

Fitness purists who fancy leading a healthier lifestyle usually use various gadgets including fitness bands and smartwatches that not only keep a track of their health but also monitor their activities.
On the downside, these fitness gadgets are not easy on the pocketbook. In fact, a top-branded smartwatch would normally set you back a pretty penny whether you are buying it in an online or an offline store, but GeekBuying is bent on changing that.

Keeping in line with that, the Chinese online store has teamed up with Makibes in a bid to make their feature-laden smartwatch dubbed the Makibes A4 available to the cost-conscious buyers.

Aside from receiving the aforesaid discounts, there’s a way GeekBuying users can save a considerable amount of extra money during the check out process. We’ll talk about that in just a bit.

Makibes A4 4G LTE Smartwatch Phone

Equipped with an easily readable 1.39-inch screen with a high resolution of 400×400 pixels, the Makibes A4 display crystal clear information even in sunlight.

The watch comes with an IP67 professional protection level so that you can carelessly wear it while washing hands and even in the rain.

It runs Android 7.1 Nougat with an enhanced interface and offers improved power management, supplementing the security of this latest operating system.

The A4 is equipped with a heart rate monitor and a slew of other functions like a pedometer, distance analysis, camera, remote camera/music, Search phone and lots more.

The Makibes A4 ships with 1GB of RAM and offers a hearty 16GB of internal storage capacity while drawing its juices from a 530mAh battery.

You’d normally end up spending a lot of money on a smartwatch offering comparable features, but the Makibes A4 smartwatch phone can be yours for a lowered price of just $129.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a 35 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price of $199.99.

In order to extend this discount, all you need to do is to apply coupon code GIZ_MWFICDGI during the check out process.

The aforesaid coupon helps you get an extra $15 off by reducing the retail price of the watch to just $114.99.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the Makibes A4 for a limited period of time.

Realme C1 new variant likely to debut soon with big display, storage and battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 25, 2019

Flipkart has recently started a dedicated page to tease the arrival of an entertainment-centric notched phone. The handset is packed with “mega battery, mega screen and mega storage” claims the teaser. While the rumor mill has been speculating that it could be the Realme A1 smartphone, an Indian publication has learnt from Realme that the upcoming entertainment-focused will be a new variant of the Realme C1 smartphone.

The Realme C1 smartphone that was announced in September is packed with modest specs. It comes with a 6.2-inch IPS LCD display. The notched screen produces HD+ resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. The rear panel of the Realme C1 is made from glass.

The Snapdragon 450 chipset powers the phone with 2 GB of RAM. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage. The Android 8.1 Oreo OS is preinstalled on the device along with ColorOS 5.1. It comes with a microSD card slot for additional storage. The handset receives power from 4,230mAh battery. For photography, the Realme C1 features 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone was introduced with a price tag of Rs. 6,999. In November, its price was hiked to Rs. 7,999. Currently, the Realme C1 is selling with a price tag of Rs. 7,499.

Read More: Smartisan’s XiaoPeng joins Realme as design director

Probably, the company could be gearing up to launch a variant with Realme C1 with better specifications. The company is expected to launch the Realme 3 smartphone in the first quarter of this year. Recent rumors had suggested that the company would be releasing a smartphone with 48-megapixel camera. Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth has confirmed that the company will be not launching such a phone with higher megapixel camera. Instead, it will focus on improving the camera experience through software optimization.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi Go vs Nokia 2.1 vs Huawei Y5 Lite: Android Go Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 25, 2019

The wisest choice to get the cheapest entry-level handset is opting for an Android Go device because Android Go is a lite version of the operating system suitable for devices with low-end or outdated components. Unlike the standard Android version, it can run smoothly even on smartphones with less than 1 GB of RAM. Finally even Xiaomi, that is one the most known manufacturer of budget phones, released an Android Go handset: the Redmi Go. Here, we compared it with the other best phones with this version of the operating system: the Nokia 2.1 and the Huawei Y5 Lite.

Xiaomi Redmi Go vs Nokia 2.1 vs Huawei Y5 Lite

	Xiaomi Redmi Go	Nokia 2.1	Huawei Y5 Lite
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	140.4 x 70.1 x 8.4 mm, 137 grams	153.6 x 77.6 x 9.7 mm, 174 grams	146.5 x 70.9 x 8.3 mm, 142 grams
DISPLAY	5 inches, 720 x 1280 pixels, 294 ppi, 16:9 ratio, LCD	5.5 inches, 720 x 1280p (HD), 267 ppi, 16:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.45 inches, 720 x 1440 pixels, 295 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core 1.4 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core 1.4 GHz	Mediatek MT6739, quad-core 1.5 GHz
MEMORY	1 GB RAM, 8 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	1 GB RAM, 8 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	1 GB RAM, 16 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android Go	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android Go	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android Go
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	8 MP f/2.0 5 MP f/2.2 front camera	8 MP 5 MP front camera	8 MP f/2.2 5 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	3000 mAh	4000 mAh	3020 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

Android Go devices always come with outdated hardware components and the same happens with the aesthetics. Xiaomi Redmi Go and Nokia 2.1 still come with 16:9 display that nowadays are rarely used in the smartphones market. So their bezels are all but narrow and the phones do not look so attractive. Huawei Y5 Lite has an 18:9 display, so it has a slightly better look thanks to its slimmer bezels and a taller design. But Nokia 2.1 has the best build quality thanks to its aluminum frame and the Gorilla Glass protection for the display. It is even the only Android Go phone to feature loud stereo speakers.

Display

Nokia 2.1 has the most interesting display because it is the biggest one, so also the most suitable for productivity. But you won’t get a better display quality than its opponents; more or less, these handsets feature the same level of detail and color reproduction. In my opinion, Nokia 2.1 a better device to watch videos and for productivity because of its bigger display paired with stereo speakers. Note that even though Huawei Y5 Lite has a 5.45-inch display (Nokia 2.1 is 5.5-inch), it has a way inferior display surface than Nokia 2.1 due to its taller aspect ratio.

Specs

Coming to specs, Xiaomi Redmi Go and Nokia 2.1 are the ones with the most reliable chipset: the Snapdragon 425 by Qualcomm that is an entry-level but it can provide very smooth performances even on the standard Android version. Huawei Y5 Lite has a worse SoC in my opinion, but it doubles the internal storage from 8 to 16 GB and this may be important for you if you usually record a lot of videos or install a lot of apps. Note that all of these devices have a micro SD dedicated slot, but installing apps on SD cards is not recommended as it slows down their performances. And this counts a lot on an entry-level device. So if you plan to install a lot of apps, then go for a higher amount of storage. The operating systems of all these handsets are based on Android 8.1 Oreo and we already know that Nokia 2.1 will get the update to the next major version Android Pie, despite being one of the most affordable devices from Nokia.

Camera

The cameras of all these handsets are mediocre, but Xiaomi Redmi Go seems to have a slightly better sensor on the back, at least on the paper. It features an 8 MP snapper with an f/2.0 aperture which is bright enough for sufficient photos when light conditions are not so bad. If selfies are your main concern, then Huawei Y5 Lite is a definitely better handset because it offers a front-facing LED flash allowing to shoot selfies even in the dark. Nokia 2.1 is the most disappointing one, it does not even come with Carl Zeiss lenses unlike most of the devices from HMD Global’s line-up.

Battery

With Xiaomi Redmi Go and Huawei Y5 Lite offering just 3000 mAh of battery capacity, Nokia 2.1 is the handset with the longest battery life. It has a huge 4000 mAh battery which powers very efficient components. With an HD display and an efficient Snapdragon 425 chipset, this handset can last more than two days even if you stress it, on a single charge. However, just like its rivals, it does not feature a fast charging technology, so it will take a while to fully charge it. But once you charged it completely, you can forget the charger.

Price

The price is the strongest point of Android Go handsets and that is the main reason because people recommend them. You can grab a unit of the Xiaomi Redmi Go for just €50/$60 in Asia, while Nokia 2.1 and Huawei Y5 Lite cost about €100. Even though it costs 2x more than the Redmi Go, I would personally choose the Nokia 2.1 and it is the winner of this comparison. The main reason is the bigger battery, that I define a very important thing on entry-level devices. Its bigger display, the stereo speakers and the better build quality are three other reasons that would make me go for the Nokia 2.1 without thinking twice.

Read More: Huawei Y5 Lite Android Go phone launched; Specs, features and price

Xiaomi Redmi Go vs Nokia 2.1 vs Huawei Y5 Lite: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Go

PROs

Compact design
Affordable price
Good cameras
Micro SD dedicated slot

CONS

Bezels and small display

Nokia 2.1

PROs

Big display
Biggest battery
Affordable
Stereo speakers
Micro SD dedicated slot

CONS

Bezels

Huawei Y5 Lite

PROs

Compact dimensions
Micro SD dedicated slot
Front-facing LED flash
Affordable

CONS

Low-end hardware

Xiaomi’s latest stunt sees the Redmi Note 7 being used as a chopping board

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 25, 2019

Since the Redmi Note 7 was announced by Xiaomi last week, we have seen several promotional videos pointing at a solidly built device. In one of the videos, the Redmi Note 7 was stomped, smashed on a table and even struck with a rolling pin severally. The company also shared another video where the mid-range Note 7 was flung down the stairs and in another instance used as a skateboard. We are already convinced that the Gorilla Glass 5 on top of the display is durable. However, Xiaomi still wants to deliver that killer punch and they just did that.

A new video showing the Redmi Note 7’s display performing the function of a chopping board has been shared by Redmi’s new CEO Lu Weibing. The video shows the CEO chopping some fruits on top of the Redmi Note 7 in a “Fruit Ninja” style. As you would expect, the phone survives without any serious damage. We do hope this is the last video we’ll be seeing regarding the Redmi Note 7 display’s durability. We are convinced already.

Lest we forget, apart from the durable screen, the Redmi Note 7 still comes with a powerful specs lineup. The device is powered by the premium Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and on the camera end, the device packs a 48MP main camera in a dual camera arrangement.

(source)

Nokia MWC 2019 event officially confirmed; Nokia 9 PureView could be unveiled

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 25, 2019

HMD Global has official confirmed that it will be holding its keynote on Feb. 24, a day before the official start of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 tech event. The announcement has come in the form of a simple tweet from HMD Global Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas. Hopefully, the Finnish firm will be sending out official invites for the upcoming launch event. The company had launched multiple smartphones at MWC 2018 and MWC 2017. Hence, it is speculated to launch several new phones including the Nokia 9 PureView camera-centric phone on Feb. 24.

Nokia 9 PureView

It goes without saying that the Nokia 9 PureView is the one of the most anticipated smartphones of the recent times since it is heavily pegged to arrive with penta-lens camera setup. Recent reports have revealed that the Nokia 9 PureView will be the first phone from the company to come with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The device is speculated to be equipped with a 5.9-inch AMOLED display that is expected to produce 18:9 aspect ratio and Quad HD resolution.

The Snapdragon 845 chipset is rumored to power the Nokia 9 PureView smartphone along with 6 GB of RAM. There are some rumors that the company may release its Snapdragon 855 edition later this year.

The Nokia 9 PureView may feature 128 GB of internal storage. It will be loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It could be packed with a 4,150mAh battery. The phone is also rumored to arrive with wireless charging support. The exact configuration of the penta-lens setup of the Nokia 9 PureView is still under the wraps. In Europe, the smartphone may cost around 749 euros (~$850).

Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 8.1 Plus

Nokia 6.2 is rumored to debut as the first Nokia phone with punch-hole display of 6.2 inches. It could be fueled by the Snapdragon 632 chipset and 4 GB / 6 GB of RAM.

The back panel of the phone will be featuring a dual camera setup with ZEISS branded 16-megapixel primary sensor. It will also carry support for OZO Audio technology. It will be receiving power from 3,000mAh battery. It is expected to land in Europe after it makes its debut in China.

Very less details on the specs of the Nokia 8.1 Plus smartphone have surfaced so far. It is expected to measure 156.9 x 76.2 x 7.9mm and house a 6.2-inch display.

Google Coral with Snapdragon 855 appears on GeekBench, Pixel 4?

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 25, 2019

A mysterious Google device that goes by the name “Google coral” has been spotted on Geekbench. The model is apparently one of the flagship models the company will be releasing this year as it is listed to run the yet to be announced Android Q OS. Android Q is yet to even get into the beta testing phase.

So this could be an Alpha build of the Pixel 4 which will likely be the first device that would feature Google’s next-generation operating system – Android Q. The processor at the heart of the device wasn’t revealed. Instead, it is just listed as “coral”. However, the GeekBench score bares it all as possibly Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 chipset. The single core test core of 3296 and multi-core score of 9235 are both up to 10% higher than the Snapdragon 845 chipset on the Pixel 3.

The Google coral is also listed with 6GB of RAM meaning we could see up to 8GB or more on the topmost variant. There are also speculations that this could be a new Chromebook model in the works. We’ll have to wait for an official confirmation to know exactly what this is.

(source)

Royole takes a dig at Xiaomi’s foldable phone, Xiaomi responds

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 25, 2019

An interesting drama is currently playing out between two of China’s innovative companies, Royole Technology and Xiaomi. A couple of months back, Royole Technology was an unknown company but it blasted into the scene with the unveiling of the first true foldable phone dubbed Royole Flexpai. The company even recently showcased the smartphone at CES 2019. While the company is yet to disclose when the Flexpai will become available, its achievement is about getting overshadowed by Xiaomi’s foldable phone that was outed recently. Even though there are reports that the phone is still a long way from going commercial, the company effectively took the shine off Royole’s Flexpai.

That has apparently not gone down well with Royole as the company’s president recently took a swipe at Xiaomi’s own foldable model. The post didn’t directly mention Xiaomi but the content leaves no one in doubt that Xiaomi was being referred to. The company CEO shared a post by his VP which talked about the patented technology which the company has and how some companies are in the process of imitating its innovation. Obviously, Royole is aware that if Xiaomi goes head to head with it by launching a commercial model at the same time, it won’t survive the competition. The post apparently downplays Xiaomi’s ability to commercialize the concept foldable phone which it believes uses materials that may not be durable.

Xiaomi was quick to respond, that the Xiaomi double folding mobile phone is an innovative product independently developed by Xiaomi. The company went on to state that the flexible folding screen of this phone is the result of joint development by Xiaomi and supply chain partners. The company was also irked by headlines touting Xiaomi to have unveiled the world’s first foldable phone. However, that was clarified in the official response that the double folding design is the first in the industry.

(source 1, 2)

Meizu Zero Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign begins on January 30 in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 25, 2019

On Wednesday, Meizu had introduced the Meizu Zero as the world’s first smartphone without any physical buttons or ports. It is also the first ever phone to carry support for 18W wireless charging. The Chinese manufacturer also confirmed on the key specifications of the phone, but its pricing and availability was never revealed. Today, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed today that it will be starting a crowdfunding campaign for from Jan. 30 in China.

The Meizu Zero features a curved OLED panel of 5.99 inches that carries support for full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The mSound 2.0 technology makes it possible for the smartphone to emit sound from the screen which eliminates the need for earpiece and external speaker. The screen of the smartphone is embedded with an in-screen fingerprint reader.

The Meizu Zero is an IP68 certified dustproof and waterproof device. It is equipped with linear motor powered pressure-sensitive virtual buttons for power and volume. The rear panel of the smartphone is made up of ceramic. There is no SIM card slot on the device but carries support for eSIM.

Read More: Meizu Note 9 tipped to release with Snapdragon 675 next month

The 20-megapixel selfie camera and 12-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual camera module present on the backside of the Meizu Zero is exactly the same one available on the Meizu 16th smartphone. It runs on Flyme 7 UI flavored Android 9 Pie OS. The exact size of the battery of the phone is not known yet. At the launch, the company had confirmed that the Meizu Zero phone would be available in Black and White color choices.

Since Meizu is yet to receive approvals from regulatory bodies for the eSIM, it may take some time for the phone to hit the Chinese market. There is no word on the international release of the smartphone.

(source)

Xiaomi ShareSave app lets you buy its crowdfunded products from China

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 25, 2019

You know all those cool crowdfunded products on Xiaomi’s Youpin store, you will soon be able to get your hands on them if you reside outside China. As a matter of fact, if you live in India, you can purchase some right now thanks to Xiaomi’s ShareSave app.

If you use shopping apps like AliExpress, you should be able to get the hang of the ShareSave app. You can decide to purchase an item right away, pair with a friend to get up to $10 off or join a team of other buyers till the price drops to $0. You can also kickstart a product by contributing $0.2 which will result in a $2 coupon.

[envira-gallery id=”233842″]

At the moment, there aren’t a lot of exciting products. Current catalog includes CIGA watches, Soocas electronic toothbrushes, Yeelight smart bulbs, the SWDK hand vacuum cleaner, and the SWDK electric mop etc. We expect more products will be added later.

Continue

Huawei eyeing to become largest smartphone manufacturer in 2019

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Jan 25, 2019

Huawei has proclaimed to become the largest smartphone manufacturer in the year 2019. At an event in Beijing China, Richard Yu CEO of Huawei made a statement that they will be number one smartphone brand around the globe. In a statement made out of US ban on Huawei, Richard said, “Even without the U.S. market, we will be number one in the world. I believe at the earliest this year, and next year at the latest.”

Huawei CEO Richard Yu Announcing The Kirin 970

The remarks made by Huawei’s CEO seems genuine as they have performed pretty well in the smartphone industry in the year 2017-18. They stood second after Samsung in the number of smartphone sales last year. Earlier, the second spot was with Apple but due to low demand, the Cupertino giant skipped to the third position in August. Since then, Huawei is doing pretty well in the smartphone market and has gained several gains over Apple and Samsung. In the year 2017-2018, Huawei shipments grew over by 35 percent.

Last year it was challenging for the Chinese giant, as their shipments were banned in the US and few other countries. Furthermore, countries like New Zealand and Australia banned the import of 5G equipment due to allegations of Chinese spying over using the Huawei equipment. Despite proper proofs, the company has gone through huge losses. In response to these feuds, Richard Yu said that “Our customers have trust and confidence in us, It’s only politics guys which are trying to put pressure on us.”

However, Huawei managed to perform very well despite these many hurdles last year.

Read More: Huawei Preparing its Own Voice Assistant to Pitch Against Google Assistant

Huawei also announced some new goodies that will launch in the upcoming few months. Huawei’s CEO Yu confirmed the company’s first foldable smartphone launch at Mobile World Conference by the end of February. It will become available for purchase by April and with Balong 5000 chipset competing against snapdragon X50 modem.

(Source)

Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play set to get Android 9 Pie update soon

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Jan 25, 2019

After confirming the Android 9.0 Pie update for almost every compatible Moto device, the company is preparing to rollout Moto G6 and G6 Play update very soon. After a long wait, Motorola will push the Android Pie update to the respective devices in the upcoming week.

Although, Motorola Brazil has already started rolling out the update to Moto G6 users in Brazil. The wide rollout will take place soon within a couple of weeks. Currently, the update is going through final tests before it starts hitting the devices. As per the official changelog, it will carry various changes and feature additions on the device.

Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play will get all the features of Android 9 Pie such as refined permissions, new gestures, adaptive brightness, improved notifications, native notch support, app actions, and adaptive battery. Moreover, it will feature January Security patch with new security measures. It has even fixed the Google Pay functionality which got compromised in the past.

Well, the good news is that Motorola is in final development stages for Android 9.0 Pie update on Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus. It will take a few weeks more before it starts rolling out to all the devices.

Read More: Motorola One receives Android Pie update

Additionally, Motorola plans to roll out Android 9.0 Pie update almost on every Motorola device before Q2 2019. So, compatible Motorola devices will start getting it before Google announce the Android Q in Q2 2019. The Lenovo owned company has already updated various devices to the latest Android version.

(Source)

Huawei claims that smartphone shipments in 2018 crosses 206 million units

By

Jeet

-

Jan 25, 2019

At the pre-MWC 2019 conference hosted by Huawei, the company has announced that it’s smartphone shipments for the year 2018 has crossed 206 million units. It is also being reported that the company’s consumer business revenue has reached $52 billion, which is the largest revenue of Huawei’s BG business.

Huawei further stated that the company sold more than 7.5 million units of Mate 20 series smartphones worldwide while it managed to sell 17 million units of the P20 series models.

The company further added its high-end mobile phones have made great process in term of influencing the global markets and performance. For the devices priced over $600 million, the company has managed to grab more than 10 percent share in 25 countries and regions around the world.

In November 2017, the company’s share for the high-end smartphones was around 7.2 percent, which increased to 12 percent in November last year.

According to the data revealed on 24th December, the company announced that its global smartphone shipments are expected to cross 200 million units in the year 2018, which represents an increase of around 66 times in the eight years.

At that time, Huawei had further revealed that the P20 series smartphones have shipped 16 million units while the Mate 20 series have shipped over five million units. Now, the recent data revealed by the company indicates that in just one month, the combined sales of both the smartphone models increased by 1 million and 2.5 million units respectively.

Meanwhile, the company is now gearing up to launch its foldable smartphone which is also expected to support 5G connectivity. The phone has been confirmed to get unveiled by the company during Mobile World Congress (MWC 2019). The smartphone will be powered by the company’s own Kirin 980 chipset and Balong 5000 5G modem.

Rumors surrounding Huawei’s foldable phone reveals that it will be sporting fold-out design and will come equipped with flexible OLED panels by China’s BOE display maker. When unfolded, it may offer a screen area of around 8 inches and when folded, it will offer a display of 5 inches. However, nothing has been officially revealed by the company so far.

Intel, MediaTek and Qualcomm key players in 5G modem chips supply

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 25, 2019

As the major smartphone manufacturers are looking forward to incorporating 5G technology into their devices. Currently, to serve the demand, only three chipmaker companies are leading the way to provide 5G technology solutions. Namingly Intel, MediaTek, and Qualcomm are willing to provide 5G IPs, patents and modem chips to the manufacturers.

On the other hand, manufacturers are also keeping a watch and still waiting for the technologies to get mature enough before trying. Huawei, Samsung, and Apple seem reluctant of jumping into the bandwagon of 5G modem chipsets. The source claims that “Huawei, Samsung Electronics and Apple are reportedly still taking a wait-and-see attitude toward whether to jump on the bandwagon of 5G modem chipsets”.

Due to various barriers, whether they are related to finance, marketing or development, these three companies will lead the path to 5G mobile communication technologies. Moreover, during the first phase of 5G evolution, these companies will endeavour the growth.

In monetary terms, the new solutions are not providing any extra financial advantages. As per Taiwan IC designers, the development processes are not posing any bigger economic challenges but AI chips are affecting the overall spending. Even though the complications, performance improvements need an advanced Research and Development effort which needs more funds. The fund crunch is keeping the newcomers at a bay of developing the 5G modem chipsets.

“But more complicated tests, performance improvements and yield rate adjustments for modem chips require much more support, requiring chipmakers to drastically expand the scale of R&D teams.”

As far as the MediaTek is concerned, then it would leverage the high price/performance ratios to generate momentum in the growth. Even though, they are figuring out a new marketing strategy to make the most from the upcoming 5G wave.

Read More: LG 5G smartphone to launch next month; packs Snapdragon 855 SoC and 4,000mAh battery

Additionally, Samsung is preparing to launch a 5G supported smartphone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset later this year. Huawei is also making efforts to launch 5G supported handset this year. There’s a lot of gossip going on in the market related to the 5G supported smartphones, but nothing is confirmed as of now.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro 2019 with Infinity-O display and SD710 SoC announced

By

Jeet

-

Jan 25, 2019

Samsung has today announced a new smartphone in the South Korean market — Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (2019). This is the same smartphone that was launched as Galaxy A8s in China last month.

The phone comes in three color options — Blue, Gray, and Green and is priced at 599,500 Korean Won, which roughly converts to $533. The device will go on sale in Korea from 28th February.

As for the specifications, most of the phone’s specs are same as the Galaxy A8s. It features a 6.4-inch display with 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. There’s an Infinity-O punch-hole cutout in the top-left corner. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 10nm octa-core upper mid-range processor, paired with either 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

For photography, the device is equipped with three cameras on its back — a 10MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, a 24MP f/1.7 main sensor, and a 5MP f/2.2 sensor for real-time portrait effect. It also features a 24MP front-facing snapper for taking selfies.

The Samsung Galaxy A8s comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. There’s also a dedicated Bixby button on the side. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own custom interface and is powered by a 3,300mAh battery.

Meanwhile, the company is also set to launch the Galaxy A8s FE in China on 14th February, which will be available in gradient colors. While one model will come with a gradient of yellow and pink while the other model will gradient of light-blue and light-pink.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G smartphone to be first available in Korea, color options leaked

By

Jeet

-

Jan 25, 2019

Samsung has been working on its foldable smartphone since past few years and while it may not be the first one to launch the foldable smartphone, it is the most-awaited smartphone. The company is expected to launch its foldable smartphone later this year and whenever it launches, reports indicate that there will be a 5G variant as well.

The upcoming foldable smartphone from Samsung is expected to be named Samsung Galaxy Fold and the 5G Galaxy Fold is also speculated to makes its debut along with the standard version. While the company had previously said that the phone will be launched globally, it seems that the 5G model will be limited to South Korean initially as most markets won’t have live commercial 5G connectivity solutions.

According to the reports, the Samsung Galaxy Fold (SM-F907N) will be offered in South Korean and the network carriers have already completed deployment and are waiting on manufacturers to release compatible smartphones. Samsung will most likely be the first with the 5G Galaxy S10. It has already started working on this variant’s firmware for South Korea.

The report further adds that the Samsung Galaxy Fold will be offered in four color options — Blue, Green, Silver, and Black. However, do note that the marketing terms for these color options may differ and there may also be additional color options.

The South Korean company has not yet revealed the launch date for the Samsung Galaxy Fold but there’s a possibility that we’ll get to see the company’s foldable smartphone in February alongside the company’s flagship Galaxy S10-series phones.

Samsung is also expected to launch a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 smartphone as well, which could be unveiled at the company’s upcoming Samsung Unboxed event on 20th February. As per the rumors, the 5G Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy Fold will come with larger capacity batteries. We’ll have to wait for a few more weeks to know for sure.

(Source)

Buy YI Compact Dash Camera At A Lowered Price Of Only $35.99 On AliExpress

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 25, 2019

AliExpress is doling out up to a considerably 50 percent off on a wide range of tools and accessories as part of its latest promotion.

Dubbed as ‘Automotive Essentials Sale,’ the promo features various items that have been separated into Car Electronics, Car Decorations, Motorcycle Accessories & Parts, Other Vehicle Parts, and Tools & Maintenance categories.

More importantly, all products featured on the promotion page will be up for grabs carrying unbeatable prices.

We’ll be taking a gander at the discount available on the YI compact dash camera, which is included under ‘The Bestsellers’ section of the promo.

YI Compact Dash Camera

Touted as a highly reliable, yet an easy-to-use dash camera, the YI Compact is loaded with essential functions that make your drive safe.

The dash camera is capable of recording fast-moving scenes and efficiently capturing intense movements. Moreover, it provides emergency recordings as well.

The YI Compact dash camera adopts a highly efficient H.264 video encoding for crystal clear images in high resolution while making more room for footages by optimizing the storage space.

The system empowers the camera to save footages automatically in the case that there’s a collision. These footages can come in handy for insurance disputes and other purposes.

Owing to several reasons like poor lighting, intrusive headlights or driver fatigue, accidents are more likely to take place at night.

This makes night vision one of the most important indicators of a dash camera’s performance.

Keeping in line with that, the YI Compact is equipped with an all-glass high-resolution lens, an F2.0 large aperture and a high sensitivity image sensor that warrants enhanced night vision.

While there’s no dearth of top-branded dash cameras in the market today, they aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook.

The YI Compact, on the other hand, has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag of just $35.99 on AliExpress. This is a 55 percent drop in the feature-laden dash camera’s original asking price.

You can follow this link to take full advantage of this discount before the promotion sale comes to an end.

Get 55% Off On YI Compact Dash Camera

Get Up To 50% Off On Tools And Accessories On AliExpress