China to officially recognize video gaming as a profession

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Jan 31, 2019

Recently, China had to clamp down on video gaming as the country was faced with a monumental rise in cases of gaming addiction especially among teenagers in the country with an estimated 24 million kids affected. The government also blames the country’s widespread myopia on the playing of video games. As a result, several measures were taken to stem the tide. The measures seem to have worked as the Chinese government is now reportedly planning to recognize video gaming as an official profession.

This is the latest in a series of moves aimed at reigniting the country’s gaming sector following a nine-month freeze on game approvals. China’s Occupation Skill Testing Authority (OSTA) made this disclosure on January 25 when it released a list of new job titles. The job titles cover a variety of fields, from artificial intelligence (AI) to internet of things (IoT). Also, Cloud computing engineers, big data analysts, and professional gamers are also included as job titles. The list was apparently created as an internal evaluation and will be open for input from the public until January 31.

This is coming on soon after the government commenced approval of new video games again just December last year after its nine-month embargo. At present, China’s broadcasting regulator has issued four batches of video game licenses in the past month, totalling nearly 260 gaming titles. According to China’s Occupation Skill Testing Authority (OSTA), prospective professional gamers, also known as e-sports players, will participate in gaming competitions, work as training partners, provide data analysis for the industry, and design new games. Another included job title is professional gaming operator, which will involve marketing new and existing game titles.

(source)

LG V50 ThinQ 5G may launch alongside the G8 as the company’s first 5G phone

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 31, 2019

LG usually release two different flagship models at different times in the year. The LG G series and V series models follow each other, separated by a couple of months. The Korean tech giant may jettison that schedule, that is if news emanating from South Korea is anything to go by. The company is reportedly working towards releasing its next V-series flagship, LG V50 ThinQ alongside the G-series model – G8 instead of leaving it till around October.

The news was carried by Korean blog ETNews that the LG V50 ThinQ 5G will be released this Spring alongside the LG G8 ThinQ. As earlier reported, LG will be releasing a 5G phone separate from the flagship G8. That phone is now tipped to be the V50 ThinQ and it will be making its debut half a year early.

We don’t need to dig too deep to know why the company is releasing the two flagship models at the same time. It obviously doesn’t want to be left out of the race to the next-generation network technology. Since LG is already losing out in the battle with competitor, it isn’t launching the 5G feature on the G8 which will be more expensive. Rather, the next-gen 5G support will be on a more budget-friendly alternative for customers who can’t afford to make the leap to 5G yet. It indeed promises to be a costly leap, much like the first generation of 4G devices 8 years ago, as ETNews pegs the LG V50 ThinQ 5G’s price between 1.3 million Korean Won (about $1,162 US) and 1.5 million Won (about $1,342 US). Other 5G phones from competitors are expected to be way higher than these ones.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 receive software update with January security patch

By

Jeet

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Jan 31, 2019

Last week, Samsung launched its all-new Galaxy M-series smartphones in the Indian market — Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20. Now, just a few days after their official launch, the company has started rolling out the first-ever update to the devices, although the phones are slated to be available for purchase from 5th February.

However, some of the review units have now started receiving the new update, which brings improvements and bug fixes. The update, which carries firmware version M105FDDU1ASA7 for the Galaxy M10 and firmware version M205FDDU1ASA9 for the Galaxy M20 smartphone, has January security patch but do not bring any remarkable improvement in the overall performance of the smartphones.

While the update is currently being rolled out, it seems that the devices that will be available for purchase from 5th February, the update will be available out-of-the-box. The update for the Galaxy M10 weighs 64.74MB while Galaxy M20’s update weighs 102MB.

The Samsung Galaxy M10 features a 6.2-inch HD+ Infinity-V display with 720 x 1520 pixels screen resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio and is powered by Exynos 7870 chipset, coupled with 2GB/3GB RAM. It comes with 16GB/32GB of internal storage and comes with a microSD card slot for expanding the phone’s storage capacity up to 512GB.

As for the camera configuration, the device features a 13-megapixel primary sensor along with an f/1.9 aperture and a 5-megapixel secondary, ultra-wide sensor. For selfies, there’s a 5-megapixel front-facing sensor. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own Samsung Experience 9.5 UX and is powered by a 3,400mAh battery that supports three times faster-charging.

The Samsung Galaxy M20 comes with a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ Infinity-V display with 1080 x 2340 pixels screen resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it is powered by the company’s own Exynos 7904 chipset, paired with Mali-G71 MP2 GPU and 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage.

For imaging, the Galaxy M20 comes with a dual rear camera setup along with a 13-megapixel primary sensor that has an f/1.9 aperture and a 5-megapixel ultra-wide secondary sensor. On the front side, it comes equipped with an 8-megapixel sensor along with an f/2.0 aperture.

There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back and the phone also supports Face Unlock feature. This one too runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with Samsung Experience 9.5 UX on top and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with fast charging support.

As for the pricing, the 2GB RAM model of Galaxy M10 is priced at Rs. 7,990 (approximately $112) while the 3GB RAM model costs Rs. 8,990 (approximately $126). The 3GB RAM model of Galaxy M20 costs Rs. 10,990 (approximately $155) and the 4GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 12,990, which roughly converts to $183.

(Source)

OPPO SuperVOOC car charger launches for ¥199

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 31, 2019

OPPO’s SuperVOOC is the fastest charging technology you will find in a phone at the moment. The fast-charge technology launched with the Find X Lamborghini Edition and is also available for the Find X Super Flash Charge Edition and the OPPO R17 Pro.

SuperVOOC charges at 10V 5A i.e. 50W and will allow you to recharge a phone from empty to 40% in just 10 minutes. A few months ago, OPPO launched a Pokemon themed power bank that supports SuperVOOC, allowing you to recharge your phone at the same insane speed even while away from a wall power outlet. Now it has followed it with a SuperVOOC car charger.

The OPPO SuperVOOC car charger comes in black with yellow accents. The lower half that goes into your cigarette lighter port has a glossy finish while the upper part has a carbon fiber finish. There is SuperVOOC written in bright yellow on the left. A circular yellow LED at the top lights up when it is connected. OPPO says the design is inspired by the engine of an aircraft.

OPPO claims the charger is safe with up to six different protections including high voltage and low voltage protection and high current and low current protection.

Continue

Huawei applies for trademarks for “Mate Mini” and “Mate Smart”

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 31, 2019

Huawei may announce a new line of smartphones this year. The Chinese manufacturer recently submitted trademark applications for “Huawei Mate Mini” and “Huawei Mate Smart” at the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

The documents do not reveal much but since they are under the smartphone category for goods and services, we believe they are future smartphones.

The Mate Mini is presumed to be a new line of small screen devices with flagship specs. At the moment, there is a very short list of flagship phones with small displays as most manufacturers only release high-end phones with large screens.

The Mate Smart, on the other hand, is speculated to be the Mate series variant of the P Smart series. The P Smart was first announced in December 2017 as the international variant of the Huawei Enjoy 7s. It was followed by the P Smart + and P Smart 2019 which were both announced last year.

Continue

Qualcomm inks interim licensing deal with Huawei

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 31, 2019

A recent development has been made between the sour relations of Huawei and Qualcomm after over a year. Qualcomm has inked a new interim licensing deal with the Chinese handset maker, Huawei. On Wednesday, Huawei made the announcement public by revealing that they have signed a short-term licensing agreement with the world’s largest chipmaker, Qualcomm.

The deal has been made in the Qualcomm’s first quarter, ended on Dec 31, and Huawei’s fiscal third quarter. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer will make payment of $150 Million for three quarters. Qualcomm’s Chief executive, Steve Mollenkopf said that the deal still seems to be less than the company owed. Though, he added that the new agreement is “on slightly better terms, which is very good.” Further, he said, “We continue to believe that over the course of 2019, we will reach a resolution on the key outstanding issues in our disputes with Apple through settlement or litigation, and we are prepared for both outcomes.”

The new deal will act positively on the Qualcomm’s licensing business which is scheduled to play a significant role in the 5G licensing programme. It holds major patents related to key technologies such as 3G, 4G, and 5G. Qualcomm estimated that the licensing business would allow them to garner $1 billion – $ 1.1 billion as they have signed 35 customers for the 5G licensing programme. If all goes well, Qualcomm will perform better than the estimated expectations for this quarter.

Even Christopher Rolland, an analyst with Susquehanna International Group said that the revenue is “slightly disappointing, but most were well aware of the weakness in the handset market, so will be forgiven.” He termed this deals as a “step in the right direction.”

Read More: Qualcomm insists Apple still violating Chinese court order despite fresh software update

Qualcomm reported quarterly financial earnings which stood against all the odds at the Wall Street. The improved report led the Qualcomm shares to rose nearly 2.6 percent at $51.47. It calmed the Investor’s concerns about the poor performance over the global slowdown in smartphone sales. Although the recent deal between the Huawei and Qualcomm has also improved the Qualcomm’s earnings.

(Via)

Sony Xperia XZ4 premium version reportedly arriving with 52-megapixel camera

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 31, 2019

A Japanese publication had recently leaked key information on the specifications of the upcoming Sony Xperia XZ4. The same publication has revealed a leaked image of a triple camera setup enabled Sony phone that had first appeared on Reddit. It claims that the triple camera system belongs to the premium edition of the Xperia XZ4, and not its regular version.

As it can be seen in the above image, the triple camera setup includes a 16-megapixel telephoto lens at the top with f/2.6 aperture and there is an f/1.4 aperture ToF lens as the third sensor. Sitting in between these lenses is the 52-megapixel lens with f/1.6 aperture.

The above image is actually taken from the previously leaked CAD renders of the Xperia XZ4 smartphone shown below. It is not that difficult to photoshop an image and desired number of megapixels and make it viral through social media channels. Hence, it is advisable to digest the report with a grain of salt.

Read More: Sony confirms MWC 2019 February 25 event; Likely to debut Xperia XZ4, XA3, XA3 Ultra and L3

Sony is expected to announce the Xperia XA3, Xperia XA3 Ultra, Xperia L3 and Xperia XZ4 through its Feb. 25 event at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019. Rumors have it that the XZ4 will be equipped with an OLED screen that produces Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3660 pixels and tall aspect ratio of 21:9. It is likely to powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6 GB of RAM. It may feature an internal storage of 128 GB. The handset will be loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It may include a 4,400mAh battery.

(via)

Nokia TA-1139 feature phone hits TENAA in China

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 31, 2019

HMD Global owned Nokia is set to announce a new feature phone at MWC 2019 in Barcelona. The event on February 24 will witness a couple of new smartphone devices, Nokia 9 PureView and Nokia 6.2 along with a feature phone. Earlier, it was rumored that a third smartphone device would also be present at the MWC 2019. But, today’s listing on TENAA (China’s certification agency), has made it clear that Nokia will showcase a feature phone.

As per the listing on TENAA, Nokia TA -1139 feature phone carries a small 2.4 inches TFT display having a resolution of 240 x 300 pixels. It hosts an 8 MB RAM, and 16 MB of internal storage along with an ability hold a microSD card of 32GB.

The listing has denied the possibility of being a smartphone because it carries only two bands of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Even though, the chances of its being a 4G enabled device seem shattered due to the usage of a weak processor with a clock speed of over 360 GHz.

Further, Nokia TA-1139 packs a massive battery of 1020 mAh which can sustain over a week without a single charge. In the camera department, Nokia has added a 3-megapixel sensor on the rear side along with a LED flash. It measures 120.8 x 53.49 x 13.82 mm and weighs over 83.6 grams. It will be available in fancier colors such as Red, Gray, and Black.

The look of the device seems to be taken from its predecessor, Nokia 106 matching the historic Nokia 3210.

Read More: Nokia extends partnership with Pixelworks for high-quality display and video performance

Although, Nokia has not spilled any official information regarding the Nokia TA-1139 feature phone. We have to wait for some more days for the official announcement which is going to take place on February 24th at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona.

(Via)

OnePlus emerges as the leading premium smartphone brand in India in 2018

By

Jeet

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Jan 31, 2019

Value-for-money smartphones which offer top-of-the-line specifications at an affordable price point are becoming more and more popular, especially in emerging countries. Consumers are now looking at four major features — RAM, chipset, camera performance, and battery life.

One brand that seems to be ticking all the boxes for a majority of the users is OnePlus. The company has been the leading smartphone brand in the premium segment in India for quite some time and as per the latest report from Counterpoint Market Monitor Service says that the brand leads the segment in 2018 as well.

According to Counterpoint’s report for Q4 2018, the company has managed to capture 36 percent of the premium smartphone market retaining its No. 1 position for the third quarter consecutively. The report further adds that in the same quarter, Apple and Samsung’s market share in the premium smartphone segment in India stood at 30 percent and 26 percent respectively.

It notes that the demand for the OnePlus 6T — the company’s latest flagship smartphone — was high during Diwali festive season sale in India and the momentum continues even after the festive season due to strong word of mouth and product feedback from the users.

Overwhelmed with this feat, OnePlus took to Twitter to troll Apple. The company’s tweet announcing the achievement didn’t directly call out Apple but it made reference to Apple’s voice assistant Siri. The tweet employed Apple’s style of capitalization in writing the words “iDare you”. It also took a dig at Apple saying, “Hey Siri, which is India’s No. 1 Premium Smartphone?”

For the company, OnePlus was the highest selling smartphone for the year 2018, followed by the recently launched OnePlus 6T. The company was named as the fastest growing premium smartphone brand, growing at around 85 percent year-on-year.

OnePlus has also managed to widen the gap with its nearest competitor by 10 percent. The company is also expected to reach a wider user base with its expansion into the offline space as well as with its exclusive experience store.

The latest smartphone from the company — OnePlus 6T is currently available in India in three configurations — 6GB RAM + 128GB internal storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, and 8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage.

The 6GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 37,999 while the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model is available for Rs. 41,999 (~$591) . The top-end model, on the other hand, is priced at Rs. 45,999 (~$637). The OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition with 10GB RAM is priced at Rs. 59,999, which roughly converts to $844.

OnePlus 6/6T users complaining about distorted, unpleasant recorded sound

By

Simranpal Singh

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Jan 31, 2019

OnePlus devices are reeling from various issues these days, whether it is OnePlus5/5T or OnePlus 6/6T. Recently, Android 9.0 Pie update on OnePlus 5/5T lead to some issues for multiple users. Just a day after OnePlus 6/6T users complained about the sudden battery drain. Today, there’s another issue that has to lead the user’s outcry on Reddit discussion board. Many users have shared that recorded audio on OnePlus 6/6T sounds quite distorted.

While recording videos and audios on different third-party apps, users have found the recorded sound quite terrible and tinny. The audio recorded sounds like it has come from the distant planet while hearing it over Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and other third-party apps. Although, Instagram seems to be working fine while recording audio on OnePlus 6/6T devices.

The issue lies in the internal working of apps on how these apps record sounds. Majorly, most of the apps on OnePlus 6/6T record sound using the top microphone, which is specially designed for noise cancellation. A similar issue was witnessed on the OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 3 models. Although, a small software tweak is needed to fix the problem and improve the recorded audio quality of the device.

Many users are also linking it to trouble while activating the Google Assitant using “Okay Google” or “Hey Google” command. Despite being the flagship devices, OnePlus 6 and 6T are undergoing various issues, which should be addressed suddenly by OnePlus.

Read More: OnePlus 5/5T OxygenOS Open Beta 24/26 OTA update halted due to some critical issues

Additionally, OnePlus 5 and 5T are also facing several issues after upgrading to Android 9.0 Pie. OnePlus has tried fixing them by providing continuous updates after the OxygenOS 9.0 update, but still, many issues are pending. We hope OnePlus will soon address these issues and will help to optimise the performance and stability of all its devices.

(Source, Via)

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 31, 2019

Samsung has plenty of Galaxy A-series phones right from Galaxy A10 to Galaxy A90 coming up this year. The Galaxy A10 is expected to be packed with the weakest specs while the A90 is believed to arrive with topnotch specs. Freshly leaked photos of the frame of the upcoming Galaxy A50 have been leaked by an Indian publication.

The first image shows that there is a longer vertical cutout on the Galaxy A50’s frame. This indicates that the Galaxy A50 will be equipped with triple rear cameras. The below image shows that the Galaxy A50 will be equipped with a waterdrop-style notched display. It means that the smartphone will be sporting Infinity-V that was first seen on the Galaxy M10 and M20 smartphones.

The bottom side of the frame has cutouts for a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-C port. It does not feature cutout for speaker grille. The phone’s frame lacks a cutout for the fingerprint scanner. This indicates that the phone may feature an optical in-display fingerprint reader.

The release date of the Galaxy A50 could be approaching fast since it has been already approved by Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi Alliance bodies. The Geekbench listing of the smartphone has revealed that it is fueled by the Exynos 9610 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The handset may hit the market in 64 GB and 128 GB storage versions. There is a possibility that both the models may come equipped with 4 GB of RAM.

Read More: Samsung announces 1TB eUFS 2.1 storage ahead of Galaxy S10 launch

At the front, the Samsung Galaxy A50 may sport a 24-megapixel selfie camera. The main sensor among the three rear-mounted lenses could be also of 24-megapixel. The handset could be packed with a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphone is expected to arrive in the market in multiple color choices such as black, white, silver, blue and pink. The Galaxy A50 is expected to go official after the launch of Galaxy S10 series that is scheduled to happen on Feb. 20.

(source)

Nokia extends partnership with Pixelworks for high-quality display and video performance

By

Jeet

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Jan 31, 2019

HMD Global, the Finland-based company that makes and sells Nokia branded smartphone, has extended its partnership with Pixelworks, which is a major player in the field of visual display processing and advanced video delivery, for Nokia’s upcoming smartphones.

The Finnish smartphone company had first partnered with Pixelworks for the Nokia 7.1 which sports an impressive PureDisplay panel that enhances the viewing experience on the smartphone. It is also the first smartphone that comes with Pixelworks’ Iris processor coupled with Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, delivering impressive visuals on an LCD panel.

The display panel of the Nokia 7.1 — PureDisplay — which embeds the technology of Pixelworks is what makes the smartphone stand out in the overcrowded mid-range smartphone segment. It offers superior HDR tone mapping and advanced viewing experience for HDR10 videos and pictures. It also enables local contrast and sharpness enhancement.

Now, the technology will not be limited to just Nokia 7.1 and will be extended to other Nokia-branded devices as well. The company has confirmed that the future Nokia smartphone will come with technology powered by Pixelworks.

Since the company is hosting a launch event on 24th February during the Mobile World Congress 2019 at Barcelona, Spain, it’ll be interesting to see what the company plans to offer this time. We’ll just have to wait and watch. Stay tuned!

Buy Dophigo DPH-DI-200 Smart Wifi Video Doorbell And Xiaomi Dafang Smart 1080P WiFi IP Camera At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 31, 2019

GeekBuying is touted as one of China’s best online stores for electronic items including Android phones, tablets, TV boxes, RC quadcopters, and VR headsets just to name a few.
Staying true to its notoriety, the Chinese online store is now offering the Dophigo DPH-DI-200 Smart Wifi Video Doorbell and Xiaomi Dafang Smart 1080P WiFi IP Camera at lowered prices.

Aside from carrying heavily discounted price tags, the aforesaid products have been assigned specific coupons that you can use at checkout and save a considerable amount of extra money.

Dophigo DPH-DI-200 Smart Wifi Video Doorbell

While the market is brimming with all highly useful security gadgets like smart doorbells and IP cameras, these items aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook.

Thankfully, Dophigo’s DPH-DI-200 wireless smart video doorbell has now gone up for sale carrying a reduced price tag of just $59.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a significant 20 percent drop in the device’s original selling price of $74.99.

Moreover, you can use coupon code GIZ_EYULHUIL to get an extra $9 off before placing your order.
In other words, you bring the already lowered retail price of the Dophigo DPH-DI-200 further down to just $54.99 with the help of the aforesaid coupon.

The Dophigo DPH-DI-200 is backed by a 18650 lithium battery that delivers standby time of 120 days.

Aside from that, it boasts an impressive array of other features that make it an irresistible wireless smart video doorbell at this price.

You can follow this link to grab the discount. Note that the promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing.

Get 20% Off On Dophigo DPH-DI-200 Smart Wifi Video Doorbell

Xiaomi Dafang Smart 1080P WiFi IP Camera

Looking for a cost-effective camera that supports 1080P resolution? The Dafang IP camera might just fill the bill.

Equipped with an F2.3 aperture lens, Dafang’s IP camera comes with a rotatable gimbal that offers a 120-degree view.

Capable of checking all state of your home in just three seconds, the device can take photos by 360 degrees or 93 degrees.

While you’d expect a top-branded IP camera offering comparable features to cost a bomb, the Xiaomi Dafang IP camera will set you back just $43.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a 42 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $75.88.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_YAKIOUEU in order to save $6 more before you click on the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

The original selling price of the device drops down to just $39.99 once the coupon is applied.

You can follow this link to avail this discount without wasting time since the promo is slated to end shortly.

Get 42% Off On Xiaomi Dafang Smart 1080P WiFi IP Camera

Check Out GeekBuying’s Valentine’s Day EU Stock Promotion

ZTE Blade V10 full specifications, images leaked through TENAA listing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 31, 2019

Last year, ZTE had announced the Blade V9 and Blade V9 Vita smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018. Hence, there is a possibility that the Blade V10 will go official at MWC 2019 in the coming month. A new smartphone with model number ZTE V1000 that is believed to be the Blade V10 smartphone has appeared with entire specifications and images on TENAA.

ZTE Blade V10 Images

The ZTE V1000 smartphone images that have appeared on TENAA suggests it is equipped with a glass rear. The frontside of the phone seems to feature a waterdrop-style notched screen. Its rear side is fitted with a vertical dual camera setup at the top-left corner. A fingerprint scanner and ZTE logo are placed on the top-half of the rear shell of the device.

ZTE Blade V10 Specifications

The Blade V10 measures 158 x 75.8 x 7.5mm and weighs 154 grams. It is fitted with a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display that produces full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The handset draws power from a 3,100mAh battery.

The smartphone is powered by an octa-core processor which includes fours cores that work at 2.1 GHz and another for cores that clock at 2.0 GHz. Probably, it could be fueled by the MediaTek Helio P70 chipset that includes four cores of 2.1 GHz Cortex A73 and four cores of 2.0 GHz Cortex A53.

The 64 GB variant of the Blade V10 will include 4 GB of RAM whereas its 128 GB edition will come with 6 GB of RAM. It will feature a microSD card slot for additional storage. The Android 9 Pie comes preinstalled on the device. There is a microSD card slot on the device for more storage. The rear side of the ZTE Blade V10 features an LED enabled 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. The front notch of the phone is the home for 8-megapixel selfie camera.

Read More:“ZTE A2020 Pro” believed to be Axon 10 Pro appears on Geekbench

As of this writing, there is no information available on the price tag of Blade V10. Last year, the Blade V9 Vita was launched with weaker specs alongside the Blade V9 phone. Hence, there is a possibility that the Blade V10 Vita smartphone will also go official along with the Blade V10 handset in the coming month.

(source)

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 gets Titanium Edition in India, price starts at Rs. 12,999 ($183)

By

Jeet

-

Jan 31, 2019

Last month, Asus launched its latest mid-range smartphone — Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 in India, which is the successor of the company’s popular and successful Zenfone Max Pro M1. When launched in India last month, the device was made available in Blue color.

Now, the company has launched the ‘Titanium Edition’ of Zenfone Max Pro M2 in India which will be exclusively available for purchase through Flipkart, just like the other models. It will be available in three configurations — 3GG RAM, 4GB RAM, and 6GB RAM.

As for the pricing, the base model with 3GB RAM of Titanium Edition is priced at Rs. 12,999 (approximately $183) while the 4GB RAM model costs Rs. 14,999 (~$211) and both of these are now available for purchase. The top-end variant, which comes with 6GB RAM is priced at Rs. 16,999 (~$239) and will soon go on sale.

To remind you of the specifications, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with a curved 3D glass rear and a metallic frame, measuring 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5mm. It features a 6.26-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on top.

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 octa-core chipset. It comes in three variants — 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage along with a microSD card slot for storage expansion. There’s also a rear-facing fingerprint sensor for added protection.

As for the camera, the device comes with a vertically-stacked dual camera setup, featuring a primary sensor of 12-megapixel Sony IMX486 with f/1.8 aperture. It is accompanied by 5-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. On the front side, there’s a 13-megapixel selfie camera with an LED flash that supports Face Unlock.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, micro-USB 2.0, and 3.5mm audio jack. It runs stock Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery which unfortunately lacks support for fast charging.

The Zenfone Max Pro M2 recently received a firmware update that comes with better camera effect optimization along with updated audio performance, and an upgraded fingerprint sensor performance that makes it more accurate and fast. A recent update brings the January security patch and an advanced AI scene detection feature, among others.

Buy CUBOT Power Phablet And CUBOT Magic Smartphone At Lowered Prices On GearBest [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 31, 2019

Deemed as one of China’s most popular brands of Android smartphones, CUBOT has teamed up with GearBest to offer a couple of its well-received smartphone at lowered prices.

While we’ll shed light on the aforesaid discounts, we’ll even show how you can get an additional discount on the handsets at the time of checking out.

CUBOT Power 4G Phablet

Staying true to its reputation for offering top-end mobile devices, the Shenzhen based handset manufacturer launched a new phablet dubbed the CUBOT Power in May last year.

As expected, the 4G phablet became an instant hit among those who fancy watching their favorite series or playing popular games on a big-screen mobile device.

CUBOT is now giving cost-conscious buyers a chance to buy to get their hands on the well-received Power phablet through its collaboration with GearBest.
While it normally sells for $288.33, you can now buy the CUBOT Power for a dropped price of just $199.99 on the Chinese online store.

You can extend this noteworthy 31 percent drop in the device’s original price simply by applying coupon code GB$MPPOW before checking out.

The aforesaid coupon will help you bring the already reduced selling price of the device further down to only $189.99.

Note that the coupon will be valid from 21:30:00 on February 2nd and it will expire at 21:30:00 on February 9th.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the earth blue and black color version of the phablet. With only 182 pieces remaining, the promo is slated to end in four days.

Grab A 31% Discount On CUBOT Power 4G Phablet

CUBOT Magic 4G Smartphone

Even nearly two years after hitting the store shelves, the CUBOT Magic continues to garner popularity among smartphone lovers.

While this skyrocketing success can be attributed to the phone’s awe-inspiring features, the CUBOT Magic is surprisingly easy on the pocketbook as well.

If you are waiting with bated breath to get your hands on the CUBOT Magic for a lowered price, now’s the time.

CUBOT is now offering an unmissable opportunity to buy the Magic 4G smartphone at an even lowered price on GearBest.

While the CUBOT Magic normally retails for $110.17, you can now buy it for only $89.99, thanks to an 18 percent discount currently available on the phone’s original asking price.

On top of that, you can apply coupon code GB$MPMAG and get an extra $10 off at the time of checking out.

In other words, you can reduce the phone’s retail price to just $79.99 by applying the above-mentioned coupon.

This coupon will be activated at 21:30:00 on February 2nd and it will lapse at 21:30:00 on February 9th.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for 3GB RAM, 16GB ROM variant of the CUBOT Magic smartphone that comes in gray as well as rose gold color versions.

Get 18% Off On CUBOT Magic 4G Smartphone

Check Out GearBest’s 2019 Best Smartphone Deals

Check Out GearBest’s Chinese Lunar New Year Sale

Alleged OPPO R19/F11 live shots reveal pop-up selfie camera and notch-less screen

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 31, 2019

Couple of leaked shot of an upcoming OPPO smartphone have surfaced online. The smartphone is equipped with a pop-up selfie camera and a notch-less display. There is no confirmation yet on whether it belongs to the forthcoming OPPO F11 or OPPO R19 smartphone.

The OPPO F9 and OPPO R17 phones from last year were equipped with waterdrop notch enabled displays. As it can be seen in the below images, the mysterious OPPO smartphone features a notch-less screen. Hence, the smartphone is expected to deliver a marvelous viewing experience thanks to its high screen-to-body ratio.

The mysterious phone features a vertically arranged triple camera setup with a fingerprint scanner placed below it. The rear shell of the phone seems to be made out of glass.

The OPPO F-series phones have always featured horizontally aligned dual camera setup on the rear. Even the OPPO R-series until the R15 lineup from last year were launched with horizontal dual camera setup but the R17 and R17 Pro were fitted with vertical dual cameras. Also, both the R17 phones were equipped with in-display fingerprint scanner, while the F9 came with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Hence, it is difficult to determine whether the newly spotted handset is OPPO F11 or OPPO R19.

Another interesting feature on the mysterious OPPO is the presence of a pop-up selfie camera. A recent leak had revealed that the OPPO R19 would be featuring a center-positioned selfie camera and its rear cameras would be also placed on the center area on the top half of the back panel. Also, the case images of the OPPO R19 that had surfaced in the previous month not only had cutouts for these cameras, but also it featured a cutout for a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Hence, there is a possibility that the above photos may belong to the OPPO R19 handset. As of this writing, there are no leaks that have revealed the presence of pop-up selfie camera on the OPPO F11.

Read More: Oppo K1 could launch in India in the first week of February for under Rs. 20,000 ($282)

One of the images show the About Phone page of the phone, but vital information such as device name and model have been blackened. Hopefully, forthcoming leaks may reveal more information on the identity of the device. What’s your take on the above images? Could it be the OPPO R19 or OPPO F11 or some other OPPO phone? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Get Free Shipping On Order Over $45, A US Site-Wide 10% Off Coupon And More Unmissable Deals On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 31, 2019

Staying true to its reputation for offering the best bang for your buck, Chinese online store Banggood has launched the ‘US Warehouse CNY Sale.’

The promotion sale is giving Banggood users a lot to cheer about in the form of big discounts, coupons and a slew of other unmissable deals.

A wide selection of heavily discounted products has been split into three main categories including US Warehouses, Daily Deals For CNY and Always On Sale.

If your order exceeds $45 (US only), you qualify to receive free shipping. As if that weren’t enough, Banggood even guarantees a 1-week delivery and hassle-free returns of goods.

Aside from that, you can use site-wide coupon US2019 for US Warehouse. Slated to expire at UTC+8 on February 13th, this coupon will not be valid for products carrying discounted price tags.

The ‘Daily Deals for CNY’ section features multiple rounds, each valid for one day.

For the sake of an instance, the Round 1 is slated to start on February 2nd and will come to an end on February 3.

In the meantime, Banggood users can avail considerable discounts on select items included in the aforesaid round.

The ‘Always On Sale’ segment has been further divided into multiple sub-categories including Toys Hobbies and Robot, Electronics, and Tools, Industrial & Scientific just to name a few.

Most of the items included in the above-mentioned sub-categories will be carrying considerably lowered prices for a limited period of time.
For example, you can buy the BlitzWolf BW-BS3 selfie stick for a reduced price of only $15.99 under the ‘Consumer Electronics’ sub-category.

Note that the device will go back to its retails price of $21.99 as soon as the promo comes to an end.

In order to visit the promotion page and take full advantage of the discounts all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time.

Check Out Banggood’s US Warehouse CNY Sale

Buy Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S And Mi 8 Lite Smartphones At Unbeatable Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 31, 2019

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a top-branded smartphone without spending a lot of money, we got good news for you.

As part of its latest promotion, Chinese online store GeekBuying is offering a wide selection of mobile phones from popular brands like Xiaomi, ZTE, and Blackview at lowered prices.

Dubbed as ‘2019 Spring Festival Sale,’ the recently kicked-off promo has been split into multiple categories including Fast Shipping 2-6 days Delivery, Flash Sale, Best Sellers, and Clearance so that buyers can find their favorite smartphone without breaking a sweat.

Among a slew of other feature-laden mobile devices, you can buy the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and Mi 8 Lite smartphones without emptying your pocket from the promotion page.

We’ll shed light on the discounts that you can avail on the aforesaid mobile phones and show how you can save more money during the check out process.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Smartphone

Loaded with impressive features and top-end specifications, the Mi Mix 2S completely justify the steep $675.99 price tag it normally carries.

Much to the delight of Xiaomi fans, the Mi Mix 2S has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price of just $369.99 on GeekBuying.

Moreover, this 45 percent discount can be extended further with the help of coupon code GIZ_XAYIPFBG.
The coupon helps you get an extra $224 by bringing the already lowered retail price of the phone further down to only $359.99 before you place your order.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S smartphone and grab the discount.

Note that the discount will be valid for the 6GB RAM, 64GB ROM variant of the phone for four days.

Grab A 45% Off On Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Smartphone

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite Smartphone

Launched in September last year, the Mi 8 Lite is an irresistible smartphone that garnered huge popularity among Xiaomi fans.

In a bid to make the well-received available to those living on a tight budget, the Chinese tech company is now offering the Mi 8 Lite at a dropped price of just $289.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a 29 percent reduction in the handset’s original asking price of $405.99, but that’s not all.

In addition to taking full advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can apply coupon code GIZ_GRPSFDEI and reduce the phone’s retail price to just $279.99.
In other words, you can get an extra $10 off by applying the above-mentioned coupon at checkout.

You can follow this link to grab the discount, which is valid for the dream blue color version of the phone.

This variant features 6GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of onboard storage capacity for you to save your favorite content.

Get 29% Off On Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite Smartphone

Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 Spring Festival Sale

Xiaomi Mi Max 4, Mi Max 4 Pro full specifications and pricing leaked

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 31, 2019

Xiaomi is known for launching Mi Max series of smartphones in the second quarter of the year. However, last year it had launched the Mi Max 3 in July. Hence, the upcoming Mi Max 4 is expected to go official around the same time this year. Even though the launch of the Mi Max 4 is couple of months away, a new leak that has revealed the entire specs and pricing of the Mi Max 4 smartphone has surfaced on Weibo. The leak also contains information about the Mi Max 4 Pro.

Xiaomi Mi Max 4 Specifications and Price (Rumors)

According to the leak, the Xiaomi Mi Max 4 will be equipped with a humungous display of 7.2 inches. It will be a notched screen with a narrow chin which suggests that it will deliver an impressive screen space. The phablet will be flanked with Gorilla Glass 5 panels on the front as well as on the rear. The Snapdragon 660 chipset will be present under the hood of the device.

The back panel of the phone will be featuring Samsung ISOCELL GM1 48-megapixel sensor. Hopefully, it will be equipped with a dual camera setup like the predecessor model. The smartphone will carry support for Super Night Scene mode photography. The Android 9 Pie OS overload with the upcoming MIUI 11 will come preloaded on the device. It will be featuring a behemoth battery of 5,800mAh battery. The smartphone will be equipped with 18W fast charging.

Xiaomi Mi Max 4 is expected to release in three variants such as 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. These models will be respectively priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$238), 1,799 Yuan (~$268) and 1,999 Yuan (~$298).

Xiaomi Mi Max 4 Pro Specifications (Rumors)

Last year, multiple leaks had claimed that Xiaomi will be launching the Mi Max 3 Pro handset along with Mi Max 3. However, the company did not launch it. This Chinese manufacturer is again expected to announce Pro version of the Mi Max 4 smartphone this year.

The leak reveals that the Mi Max Pro will be an advanced phablet since it will be fueled by Snapdragon 675 and it will feature dual camera setup with 20-megapixel and 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensors. The Sony sensor is expected to bring support for 960fps slow-motion video shooting on the Mi Max 4 Pro. The phablet is also rumored to be equipped with an in-display fingerprint scanner. The pricing of the smartphone is now available. However, the leak reveals that it will be available in 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage version.

Read More: Redmi President starts display design poll; Xiaomi CEO votes for waterdrop-style notch screen

The specs leak for Mi Max 4 and Mi Max 4 Pro suggests that they are nothing but bigger editions of the Redmi Note 7 and Note 7 Pro. It is advisable to take this report with a grain of salt and wait for further leaks to confirm on the specs of the upcoming Mi Max 4 and Mi Max 4 Pro smartphones.

(via)