Sony Xperia XZ4 cases confirm triple rear cameras, may launch as Xperia N1

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Jan 15, 2019

The Xperia XZ4 should be Sony’s flagship for this year but there is a possibility it may launch under a different name entirely. According to new reports, the Xperia XZ4 may launch as the Xperia N1, the first of a new series.

The Sony Xperia N1 was seen on Amazon Spain. It is technically a listing for a case for the phone. The case is made by Tianqin and the listing says it is for the Sony Xperia N1. The images provided show the Xperia N1 has a triple camera setup on its rear just as it has been rumored for the Xperia XZ4.

The cameras are arranged vertically and positioned in the middle of the phone just as shown in CAD renders of the Xperia XZ4 released last year. The phone also has an unusually tall display. The similarities between the Xperia N1 and the Xperia XZ4 has led to speculations that they are the same device. Unfortunately, the listing has been pulled off Amazon Spain’ website.

In other news, renders of Xperia XZ4 cases from phone accessory manufacturer, Olixar, have surfaced online and they confirm Sony’s upcoming phone does sport three vertically stacked rear cameras. The cases come in various designs but they are all listed on the retail site, MobileFun. Prices start at $5.49 and go up to $10.99.

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The renders show the phone will have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a departure from the rear-mounted sensors from last year but nevertheless, it is not a new move for Sony. We guess Sony is still not ready to join the under-display fingerprint scanner trend. Above the fingerprint scanner is the volume rocker and below it is the power button. Close to the bottom is the dedicated camera button.

The Xperia XZ4 doesn’t have a notch. The front camera sits on the left of the speaker along with what appears to be a front LED flash. We also see the SIM tray is at the top of the device.

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 vs Nokia 7.1 vs Oppo K1: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 15, 2019

The world of Android smartphones is actually full of valid mid-rangers which can even replace flagships for many kinds of users. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is the latest one and judging from its initial success it may become one of the most important best-sellers of 2019. That is why we decided to compare it with other valid alternatives that you can actually get in the midrange segment. Two of them are Nokia 7.1 from HMD Global and Oppo K1, and here is a comparison to let you find out who is the best and the closest to the kind of device you are looking for.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 vs Nokia 7.1 vs Oppo K1

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 7	Nokia 7.1	Oppo K1
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm, 186 grams	149.7 x 71.2 x 8 mm, 160 grams	158.3 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm, 156 grams
DISPLAY	6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, IPS LCD	5.84 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 19:9 ratio, 432 ppi, IPS LCD	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 402 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 9 Pie, MIUI	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android One	Android 8.1 Oreo, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 48 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 13 MP front camera	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 16 + 2 MP f/1.7 and f/2.4 25 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh, fast charging with Quick Charge 4.0	3060 mAh Fast Charging 18W	3700 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

If you want to show a phone with a premium and stunning design to your friends and relatives, then you should go for the Oppo K1. It has the highest screen-to-body ratio and a wonderful, reflective glass back that you can get in gradient colors. Thanks to the in-display fingerprint reader, the back cover is almost totally clean with the exception of the dual camera setup placed horizontally. Even though I like the Oppo K1 more, Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still a wonderful device and it also has the best build quality. Indeed, it is water resistant and it has a very strong glass. Both Oppo K1 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 are protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Nokia 7.1 is definitely less attractive for me, but it is more compact thanks to its smaller display.

Display

Even though it is a midrange device and usually mid-rangers come with average displays, HMD Global put many efforts on the display found on the Nokia 7.1. It is not just a classic IPS panel with the Full HD+ resolution, but it has the HDR10 technology for better color reproduction, something that you can rarely find on devices with such an affordable price. It is a compact display, smaller than most of the actual midrange devices, so it is also easy to use with one hand. The second place goes to the AMOLED panel found on the Oppo K1, that also integrates an in-display fingerprint reader. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 has just an average IPS panel just like most of the midrange phones, so it is nothing special.

Specs & Software

If you are looking for the phone with the best performance you should choose either the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 or the Oppo K1. I would choose the first because Oppo K1 lacks a micro SD slot to expand the internal storage. It is powered by the Snapdragon 660 chipset that is one of the best midrange SoCs out there. And it also comes with up to 6 GB of RAM, just like the Oppo K1. Nokia 7.1 is inferior due to its lower-end Snapdragon 636, but unlike its opponents, it comes with Android One instead of a customized user interface, so it is still very smooth and reliable.

Read More: Redmi Note 7 confirmed to receive Mi Mix 3’s Night Scene Mode!

Camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is equipped with an impressive sensor on the rear and it wins the camera comparison. It boasts the latest 48 MP sensor by Samsung that is able to capture a lot of detail, even with low light. Right after the Redmi Note 7, we want to award the Oppo K1 for its outstanding 25 MP selfie camera. Nokia 7.1 is a good camera phone as well and its dual rear camera with Zeiss optics and dual pixel autofocus clicks very sharp and bright shots, but its selfie snapper is just an average front camera.

Battery

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is a battery life champion thanks to its 4000 mAh unit and it also supports the fast Quick Charge 4.0 technology. Oppo K1 is not equipped with a fast charging technology but it has a long battery life as well thanks to its 3600 mAh. Nokia 7.1 has just a typical one-day battery with an average 3060 mAh capacity.

Price

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 hitten China with a record-breaking price: just $147/€130 for the base variant. And in my opinion, it wins this comparison for both value for money and specifications. Oppo K1 costs about €250/$284, while you can get Nokia 7.1 for about €270/$307 thanks to online street prices.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 vs Nokia 7.1 vs Oppo K1: PROs and CONS

Oppo K1

PROs

Great design
Good front camera
Nice battery life
In-display fingerprint reader

CONS

No micro SD slot

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

PROs

Great build quality
Excellent camera
Bigger battery
Android Pie

CONS

Average display

Nokia 7.1

PROs

Android One
Great display
Wide availability
Compact design

CONS

Lower-end hardware

The new Huami Amazfit Cor 2 with NFC goes on sale in China via Xiaomi’s store

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2019

Xiaomi’s partner Huami recently launched the Amazfit Cor 2 fitness tracker in China. The smart wearable comes with some upgraded features which distinguish it from the first-gen Amazfit Cor. The fitness tracker is now available to buy in China for CNY 299 ($43) on Xiaomi Mi Store and Xiaomi Youpin website. Interestingly, this is the same price tag the Amazfit Cor adopted when it was launched last year.

The Amazfit Cor 2 sports a 1.23-inch LCD color display just like its predecessor and has a polycarbonate body. The screen is wrapped with a 2.5D curved glass for extra protection and to prevent the screen from scratch. The wearable device equally comes with 5ATM water-resistance rating . Some of the smart features onboard include NFC for contactless payment. Others are accelerometer and optical heart rate sensor for monitoring fitness. The smart band will also alert wearers when there is an SMS/email message or incoming call. It also provides seven days of weather forecasts, alarms, stopwatch and timers.

One aspect where the Cor 2 outpaces its predecessor is in battery life. The Amazfit Cor 2 comes with improved battery life. You’ll be able to keep it running for 20 days between charges, nearly double the 12 days of its predecessor. Also, the NFC connectivity is one feature on the Cor 2 that wasn’t on the original Amazfit Cor.

We can’t say when Huami will launch the Amazfit Cor 2 in the US but since the device has got FCC’s nod, the US launch may be close by.

(source)

Vivo X23 Symphony Edition gets yet another color variant, pre-orders open

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2019

Vivo is back with another color variant for its less powerful variant of the Vivo X23. The Vivo X23 Symphony Edition might look like the regular X23 but it comes with less RAM, a less powerful processor, and a higher pixel front camera.

When Vivo announced it last year, it was available in two colors – Starry Black and Arctic Pink. Now Vivo has announced a new color variant similar to the Vivo X23 Star Edition but with less red. The name roughly translates into “Star Language New Wish” but we expect a simpler name if it will get an international release.

Like the other two variants of the Vivo X23 Symphony Edition, this is also only available in 6GB RAM + 128GB configuration. It is priced at ¥2798 (~$414) and will begin shipping on January 20. It is already available for pre-order on Vivo’s online shop.

The Vivo X23 Symphony Edition swaps out the Snapdragon 710 processor of the Vivo X23 for the Snapdragon 660. It also packs a 24.8MP selfie camera instead of a 12MP sensor like its more powerful sibling. The rest of the specs are the same.

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Yeelight Wireless Charging Night Lamp announced for ¥99 (~$15)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2019

Yeelight, the Xiaomi-ecosystem brand best known for its lamps and smart bulbs has announced a new product. Called the Yeelight Wireless Charging Night Lamp, it is actually a bedside lamp that also doubles as a wireless charger.

The Yeelight Wireless Charging Night Lamp supports up to 10W wireless fast charging. So if you connect it to a fast-charge adapter, you should be able to charge your supported device at up to 10W. A regular 5V 2A adapter will only charge your phones at 5W.

The LED lamp itself is rechargeable and can be removed to be used somewhere else. It connects to the base via three magnetic pins. Yeelight says it has two color temperatures – warm yellow and cold white. The lamp charges full in about 3 to 4 hours and will last up to 24 hours when set to warm yellow and up to 11 hours when set to cold white.

The Yeelight Wireless Charging Night Lamp comes in white and is made from PC+ABS plastic. It has anti-slip mats at the base to keep it in place and a micro-USB input port. It also offers a bunch of charging protections including high-voltage protection.

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Redmi Note 7 confirmed to receive Mi Mix 3’s Night Scene Mode!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2019

We don’t know how Xiaomi does it but its phones offer outstanding value for their prices. The new Redmi Note 7 is even aking that bar higher. The quality has been improved tremendously such that the screen isn’t likely to crack with just a fall. The device will also come with a stunning camera setup which includes the Samsung GM1 48MP sensor. The camera promises to deliver stunning camera samples. The camera output will get even better as Xiaomi has revealed that the Redmi Note 7 will get the camera night mode feature with a new update.

Xiaomi confirmed this via the MIUI official Weibo page when a Weibo user expressed delight that his Mi Mix 2s just got the night scene mode. The official then hinted that the Redmi note 7 in his hand had the feature and that the entire Redmi Note 7 lineup will get the update later. The feature is apparently being tested and hopefully, the update will be available in no distant time.

The Night Scene mode was first introduced on the Mi Mix 3 and later on the Mi 8 Pro, and the Mix 2s. The feature allows users to take HDR photos at night that appear super bright even if lighting is poor. The Night Scene mode takes several photos at different exposures and combines them into a single image that is bright and with as less noise as possible. The camera is able to do it by combining 8 different technologies including HDR, AIS, 4-axis OIS, and multi-frame noise reduction.

(source)

Huami (Amazfit) announces partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2019

Huami, the Chinese smartwatch and fitness tracker manufacturer, announced today it has signed a partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, a division of the British automotive company, McLaren.

According to Huami, the partnership will see both companies co-develop Amazfit-branded wearables for sports including smart wearables for race drivers and athletes. They will also jointly develop biometric and motion data monitoring technology for e-sports athletes and technologies on how to improve performance while gaming.

Speaking on the partnership, Vice President of Huami, Tommy Tang said: “We are excited to be working with world-leading performance design and technology solutions provider McLaren Applied Technologies and official partner to McLaren Shadow Project,”.

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Vivo schedules event for January 24, may announce the Apex 2

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 15, 2019

Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Vivo, announced today that it will hold an event on Thursday, January 24.

Vivo January 24 event — Vivo has an event on January 24 where it is rumored it will unveil the Vivo APEX 2

The manufacturer shared a teaser poster on its Weibo page with a caption that translates into “What is the future of mobile phones? Throw away the complexity”.

The poster itself shows a twisted waterdrop and the Chinese text on it roughly translates to “totally heaven”. While that doesn’t seem to reveal much, there are rumors the launch is for the unveiling of the Vivo APEX 2. The APEX 2 is reported to be codenamed “ The waterdrop” hence the waterdrop on the poster.

Popular leaker, Ice Universe, shared a teaser image of the phone last week. The phone is shown to have a pebble-like smoothness on the back and a metallic silver frame. No details about the phone were released but he did say it will change our perception of smartphones.

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DxOMark is currently testing the Huawei Mate 20 Pro; expect a crazy score soon!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2019

Huawei will certainly be basking in the glory that the P20 Pro’s camera went unbeaten on DXOMark all through last year. This is despite the release of Apple’s 2018 flagship models. Surprisingly, Apple phones which are known to have some of the best smartphone cameras couldn’t equal the score of the P20 Pro. Interestingly, the Mate 20 Pro DXOMark benchmark results were not released up till this moment. Huawei had hinted last year that it shelved announcing the score because it was too high. However, DXO Mark has revealed that the Mate 20 Pro is currently being tested and the score, as well as those of other new models, will be released soon.

Hello,
the Huawei Mate 20 Pro review is coming very soon.
Thank you for your patience.
Best wishes for 2019,
Regards,

— DxOMark (@DxOMark) January 13, 2019

This was revealed on Tweeter in a couple of responses to inquiries by fans who are desirous to know when Mate 20 Pro’s camera review will be published. One of the responses hinted that DXOMark’s “team is currently working to test and publish the latest mobiles, including the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. New articles will be published very soon.” It is possible the company had to conduct the camera tests repeatedly to ensure the scores are authentic. We don’t expect it to be less than the P20 Pro’s.

Bonjour, Notre équipe travaille actuellement pour tester et publier sur les derniers mobiles, y compris le Huawei Mate 20 Pro. De nouveaux articles seront publiés très prochainement . Merci d'avance pour votre patience 😉, et meilleurs voeux pour 2019!

— DxOMark (@DxOMark) January 13, 2019

As a reminder, Huawei’s flagship P20 Pro still stands as DXOMark’s highest-rated smartphone with an overall score of 109. This is followed by Apple’s latest flagship iPhone XS Max with 105 points. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 which made its debut last year comes in at third with a score of 103 points. The Mi Mix 3 edged Samsung Galaxy Note 9 to occupy the third spot.

Honor 10 Lite with 6.21-inch display, Kirin 710 SoC and dual rear cameras launched in India, pricing starts at Rs. 13,999 ($197)

By

Jeet

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Jan 15, 2019

As expected, Honor has today launched the Honor 10 Lite smartphone in the Indian market. The phone was first launched in China last year as a toned-down variant of the Honor 10 and successor to the Honor 9 Lite.

In line with our previous report, the Honor 10 Lite will be available for purchase in India exclusively through online marketplace Flipkart and Honor’s official website. In India, the smartphone will be available in three color options –Sapphire Blue, Sky Blue, and Midnight Black.

The 4GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 13,999 which roughly converts to $197 while the top-end model with 6GB RAM is priced at Rs. 17,999 which is approximately $253. The phone will go on sale from 20th January at 12:00 midnight.

The Honor 10 Lite features a 6.21-inch IPS LCD Full HD+ display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio and about 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by the company’s own Kirin 710 chipset. It is Huawei’s first 12nm chipset that is claimed to offer significant improvement in power consumption and performance compared to the 16nm Kirin 659.

The phone comes in two variants — 4GB RAM with 64GB of internal storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot which enables you to further expand the phone’s storage capacity. The device also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added protection.

For photography, the device comes equipped with a dual camera setup on the back, featuring a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor stacked vertically. It has several AI-based features, including scene recognition, partition optimization, among others. There’s also a 24-megapixel front camera with artificial intelligence technology.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Bluetooth v5.0 LE, and micro-USB 2.0 port. The phone runs Android 9 Pie operating system out of the box with the company’s own custom interface EMUI 9 on top.

Honor says that the company has made changes in the operating system to make it more suitable to the Indian users. It also comes with HiVision feature which is similar to Google Lens.

Additionally, it also comes with GPU Turbo technology that enhances GPU performance significantly by increasing graphics processing efficiency up to 60 percent. The device is powered by a 3,400mAh battery which should be enough to last through the entire day on a single charge.

Xiaomi Electric Pressure Cooker with an OLED display and app control launched for 599yuan ($88)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 15, 2019

Xiaomi over the weekend launched a new smart home product, one for the kitchen. The Xiaomi Electric Pressure cooker, as it is called, is a smart electric pressure cooker with WiFi. This is in line with Xiaomi’s drive to make all its products smart such that they can be controlled from a central hub. Xiaomi’s hub is the MIJIA app and from the app the cooking time for different foods can be adjusted, the temperature and pressure can be set to correspond with the recipes. The app also gives users other smart controls over the cooker.

The electric pressure cooker is an upgrade over the traditional pressure cooker and looks very much like Xiaomi’s lineup of rice cookers. It combines the features of the pressure cooker and rice cooker to completely eliminate the safety problems posed by ordinary pressure cookers over the years.

The cooker comes with an electromagnetic stepless pressure regulation while it uses a Korean cast aluminium lock structure. The device also comes with a large OLED screen. The rated pressure of the pressure cooker is 1.7 atmospheres, which can make the temperature in the pot reach about 114 °C, greatly shorten the heating time. The gadget also adopts a smarter automatic intermittent pressure transformation scheme which doesn’t require manual pressure relief during cooking. The pressure-holding process is divided into multiple micro-pressure reliefs, and each time the micro-pressure is released, the liquid in the pot can be boiled and stirred so that the nutrients are fully released and fused.

The pressure cooker will be sold for 599 yuan and will go on sale on January 16 via Mi.com, Xiaomi offline stores and authorised stores in China. No chance this product will be available outside China any time soon.

(source)

Vivo Y91 with waterdrop notch, Helio P22 SoC and dual rear cameras launched in India

By

Jeet

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Jan 15, 2019

Today, China-based Vivo has quietly launched its latest budget smartphone for the Indian market — Vivo Y91. The phone was launched in the Philippines in November last year and was made available in Pakistan last month.

In India, the Vivo Y91 is priced at Rs. 10,990 which roughly converts to $155 and is currently available for purchase through the official Vivo India e-shop. However, it looks like the phone is being sold at introductory pricing and could be sold at Rs. 11,990 (~$169) later.

The phone is available in Ocean Blue and Starry Black colors with a gradient texture. The smartphone comes bundled with a free Bluetooth earphone. Further, the company is also offering an exchange offer (only for old Vivo smartphones), no-cost EMI, and 15-day replacement with the purchase of the new smartphone.

Coming to the specifications, the Vivo Y91 features a 6.22-inch Halo FullView display that supports HD+ screen resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 SoC paired with a PowerVR GE8320 GPU.

It comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot that enables storage expansion up to 256GB. In the imaging department, the device features a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor, while on the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel camera for taking selfies.

Connectivity options on the Dual SIM smartphone include 4G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v5.0, GLONASS, GPS, and a micro-USB 2.0 port. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own FunTouch OS on top and is powered by a 4,030mAh battery with support for smart power management feature.

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus 3C approved, China launch could be at March beginning

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 15, 2019

Samsung will be debuting the Galaxy S10 series which includes Galaxy S10 E, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ smartphones in the coming month on Feb. 20 through the Unpacked 2019 event. The launch event will be held in San Francisco, U.S. The South Korean company is working on a strategy to regain popularity in China. It has recently launched Galaxy A9s, Galaxy A8s and Galaxy A6s in the past few months. It appears that the company is now preparing itself to launch the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ phones in China since these phones have 3C certification in China.

Before a smartphone goes official in China, it is required to receive approval from many certification bodies and one of them is China Compulsory Certificate (CCC). The China variant’s S10 and S10 Plus phones with respective model numbers SM-G9730 and SM-G9750 have been spotted on the database of 3C which indicates that these phones will go official in China in the near future.

Last year, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus were made official on Feb. 25. These devices were official announced in China on March 6. Since the Galaxy S10 series are launching five days earlier then the S9 models, there is a possibility that China may receive the new flagship phones at the beginning of March.

The box package of the Galaxy S10 duo will include EP-TA200 charger which supports 9V/1.67A and 5V/2A charging rates. It is the very same charger that comes bundled with other flagship phones from Samsung such as Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G variant and foldable Galaxy Flex to arrive with monstrous battery sizes

The Galaxy S10 is rumored to feature a 6.1-inch punch-hole Infinity-O AMOLED display. It will be packed with a 3,100mAh battery. The S10+ may house a larger screen of 6.4 inches and it may feature 3,500mAh battery.

Both phones are expected to come equipped with common features such as Exynos 9820 / Snapdragon 855 chipset variants, in-display fingerprint scanner and triple rear cameras. The S10 will have a single camera on its front while the S10 Plus will be featuring dual front-facing shooters.

An entry-level version of the Galaxy S10 dubbed as Galaxy S10 E is also expected to debut alongside S10 and S10 Plus phones on Feb. 20. The S10 E phone hasn’t appeared on 3C which suggests that the country may not receive it.

(via)

Xiaomi CEO hints that flagship smartphone Mi 9 will have better fast charging technology

By

Jeet

-

Jan 15, 2019

Xiaomi’s new independent brand Redmi recently launched its latest budget smartphone — Redmi Note 7 which went on sale today and was sold out in just 8 minutes and 36 seconds. The phone supports 18W fast charging but the charger needs to be purchased separately.

While Xiaomi CEO was promoting the 18W fast charger for the Redmi Note 7 through a Weibo post, someone inquired if the Xiaomi‘s upcoming Mi 9 smartphone will have 24W fast charging support or more. In response to that, Lei Jun said that it will definitely be faster and good.

Xiaomi Mi 9 concept render by Ben Geskin

There are rumors making rounds that the Mi 9 flagship smartphone will come with support for 32W fast charging technology and 3,500mAh battery. While Lei Jun confirmed that the phone will have a better fast charging technology support, he has not revealed any more details.

Rumors indicate that the Xiaomi Mi 9 will come with a waterdrop notch display and is expected to house a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with 19.5:9 aspect ratio and Dull HD+ resolution. It is also expected to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Under the hood, the phone will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 octa-core 7nm chipset but it’s confirmed that the phone won’t be featuring X50 LTE modem that offers 5G connectivity. Instead, the SD855 will come equipped with X24 LTE modem.

While the phone’s 3,500mAh battery is said to support 32W fast charging technology, the Mi 9 won’t carry support for wireless charging. A recent report had claimed that it could be the first smartphone from the company to arrive with triple rear cameras.

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is speculated to carry a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (approximately $436) for the base model that includes 6GB of RAM and 128GB of inbuilt storage. Although the company has not yet announced the launch date, reports indicate that the Mi 9 will be launched in March or it could be showcased at MWC 2019.

New update for Huawei Nova 3 and Honor 10 brings Bone ID support and new security patch

By

Jeet

-

Jan 15, 2019

Users of Huawei Nova 3 and Honor 10 smartphones have received a new software update which brings support for several new features. The Huawei Nova 3 is getting updated to v9.0.0.181 (C00E87R1P6) while the Honor 10 is getting v9.0.0.181 (C00E181R1P20).

The update for Nova 3 is about 457MB while the update for Honor 10 is about 364MB. The new update brings support for a feature that lets users use your voice to unlock your phone and make payments, new Android security patch, among others.

The feature, named Bone ID, uses bone conduction technology to match the pattern of the voice of the user. Using this Bone ID, owners can simply use their voice to unlock their phone or authorize payment transactions.

Notably, this is the biggest update for both these smartphones till date. It brings support for FlyPods Pro Bluetooth headsets and payments function which can now be controlled through voice-based commands. For those who are unaware, FlyPods Pro is a wireless Bluetooth headset launched by Huawei in October 2018 along with Honor Magic 2 smartphone.

The update also brings a new version of the Android system security patch, ensuring that the smartphones are up-to-date in terms of security to minimize risks. It also brings fixes for screen playback issues where the screen turns black during multi-tasking.

The company has also introduced a few AI-based features such as AI Smart Scheduling that enhances the phone’s gaming experience. Huawei is currently rolling out the update over-the-air (OTA) and should be available for everyone to update.

Huawei recently announced that it will be blocking third-party launchers on EMUI 9 in its efforts to improve the user experience on its budget smartphones. However, users are not happy with this move from the Chinese company as the company is taking an easy way out instead of solving the problem.

Buy Kingston HyperX DDR4 2400MHz 8GB Desktop Memory Module For Only $84.59 On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 15, 2019

It is imperative to have enough RAM (random access memory) in the CPU in order to ensure the computer runs faster allowing the user to perform multiple tasks without breaking a sweat.
You need to install more RAM on your computer if it keeps freezing up. While it is no secret that RAM can breathe a new life into your PC, this important computer accessory doesn’t come cheap.

But if you aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, you might want to take a gander at the Kingston HyperX 8GB desktop memory module. With an impressive data transmission speed of DDR4, the Kingston HyperX is twice as fast as the DDR3 when in the same frequency.

Moreover, it delivers a frequency of up to 2400MHz in a bid to ensure your computer operates without any sort of interruption. The Kingston HyperX DDR4 2400MHz has dimensions of 13.50 x 3.50 x 0.50 cm / 5.31 x 1.38 x 0.2 inches (L x W x H) and it weighs in at just 0.034kg.
This Kingston-branded desktop 8GB memory has now gone up for sale bearing a lowered price tag of $93.99 on GeekBuying. Moreover, you can extend this 22 percent discount by applying coupon code GIZ_PTSVRDVX. The aforesaid coupon helps you get an extra $9.40 off by bringing the RAM’s already lowered selling price further down to just $84.59 before you place your order.

Alternatively, you can go for the 16GB version of the Kingston HyperX DDR4 desktop memory module that usually sells for $199.99, but is currently up for grabs for a lowered price of just $171.99 on GeekBuying. This is a 14 percent drop in its retail price.

You can follow this link if you are interested in grabbing these discounts before the promotion comes to an end. Note that the coupon is also likely to expire soon.

Get 22% Off On Kingston HyperX DDR4 2400MHz 8GB Desktop Memory Module

Redmi Note 7 sold out in 8 minutes and 36 seconds in its first sale in China

By

Jeet

-

Jan 15, 2019

Redmi, a newly formed independent brand of Xioami, launched its budget smartphone — Redmi Note 7 last week. The phone went on sale in China today for the first time and was sold out within 8 minutes and 36 seconds.

The next sale of the Redmi Note 7 will now take place on 18th January at 10:00 AM. As for the pricing, the 3GB RAM + 32GB storage costs 999 Yuan (approx. $147), 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model costs 1,199 Yuan (approx. $177) while the top-end model with 6GB RAM + 64GB storage is priced at 1,399 Yuan (approx. $206).

Xiaomi had stopped taking pre-orders just after two days of going live and were opened yesterday for just 20 minutes. Explaining the move stop taking pre-orders, Xiaomi CEO said that it exceeded the company’s expectations and to ensure that those who pre-orders get the unit, they have to take such move.

As said, this is the first product launched by Redmi as an independent brand. Unlike its predecessors, the Redmi Note 7 comes with a premium glass body and a massive screen-to-body ratio thanks to the waterdrop notch display.

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

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

Redmi has focused on offering a premium photography experience with this budget smartphone. The device comes with an f/1.8 aperture 48-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary camera with artificial intelligence technology.

On the front side, there’s a 13-megapixel camera housed in the display notch. It is also equipped with features like AI Smart Beauty and AI face unlock. The Redmi Note 7 is equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack and features an infrared blaster which makes it possible to use it as a remote control. A fingerprint scanner resides of the backside of the smartphone.

As for the software, the smartphone is running Android 9 Pie-based MIUI 10 out-of-the-box. The phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology. With an 18W fast charger, the phone can be fully charged in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.

Buy The Xiaomi Redmi 6 And Redmi Note 6 Pro Smartphones At Lowered Prices On Banggood [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 15, 2019

Looks like Xiaomi fans that have been waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the long-awaited Redmi 6 and the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphones at unbeatable prices are in for a treat.
The global versions of both the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphones have gone up for sale bearing considerably lowered price tags on Banggood. Moreover, we will show how you can save more money at the time of checking out.

Xiaomi Redmi 6

Launched in June last year, the Redmi 6 hasn’t stopped garnering popularity among smartphone lovers. This global version of the coveted phone that ships with 3GB of RAM and offers 64GB of internal storage capacity (expandable up to 256GB) usually sells for $169.99, but you can now buy it for just $148.61 on Banggood.

As if that weren’t enough, you can even extend this 13 percent discount by using coupon code 19RM6. The aforesaid coupon helps you save $33.62 more before you proceed to checkout. In other words, the coupon reduces the phone’s retail price to just $114.99.

You can choose between three color options including gold, black and blue. If you are interested in checking out more details about the Redmi 6 smartphone and avail the discount before the promo ends, just follow this link without wasting time.

The Redmi 6 sports an eye-catching 5.45 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. The phone is powered by an MTK Helio P22 Octa core, up to 2.0GHz, 12nm processor for advanced multitasking.

It has 12.0MP+5.0MP rear-mounted cameras and a 5.0MP selfie shooter. The phone runs MIUI 9 based Android OS and draws its juices from a robust 3000mAh battery.

Get 13% Off On Xiaomi Redmi 6 Smartphone

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro

Alternatively, you can go for the slightly larger Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone that sports a 6.26-inch FHD+ capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The global variant of the phone would normally set you back a pretty penny, but you can now buy it for just $227.99 on Banggood.

This is a significant 9 percent reduction on the phone’s original asking price of $249.99. Aside from taking full advantage of this discount, you can apply coupon code 19MN64 and get an extra $28 off ahead of placing your order. As a result, the retail price of the phone reduces to only $199.99.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro comes in black and blue color versions. The phone packs a Snapdragon 636 Octa-core, 1.8 GHz processor along with an Adreno 509 GPU, under the hood. It features 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable onboard storage capacity (up to 256GB).

On the optics front, the phone houses a 12.0MP + 5.0MP dual camera setup on the back and 20.0MP+2.0MP front shooters for selfies. It runs MIUI 9 based on Android Oreo OS and is backed by a 4000mAh battery. You can visit this link to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

Get 9% Off On Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Smartphone

Redmi Note 7 first pre-sale stopped in just 20 minutes, Redmi CEO responds why

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 15, 2019

On Jan. 10, Redmi had introduced the Redmi Note 7 smartphone. At launch, it had confirmed that the pre-sale of the phone would begin after the launch event on the very same day whereas its spot sale would begin on Jan. 15. Customers who wanted to pre-order the Redmi Note 7 had to pay a deposit to reserve it. Without any prior intimation, Redmi had suspended the pre-orders of the smartphone after making it available for 2 days. The pre-orders of the smartphone were reopened yesterday, but it only lasted for 20 minutes. To calm down customers who couldn’t pre-book Redmi Note 7, Lu Welbing Redmi CEO responded why the company had to stop its pre-orders quickly.

Weibing said that despite preparing hundreds and thousands of Redmi Note 7, its pre-sale exceeded expectations. He urged Redmi fans to trying purchase the Note 7 through Jan. 15’s spot sale at 10 AM. He added that in ordered to ensure that users coming for the spot sale is provided with sufficient stock, he increased the efforts to boost the output and ensure supply.

On Jan. 13, Xiaomi’s product director Wang Teng Thomas had said on Weibo that the company stocked one million units of the Redmi Note 7 smartphone. He had also claimed that even if customers are unable to buy it through the first sale, they would be able to avail it through the next few sales. The Note 7 comes in three models such as 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage, 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. These models are respectively priced at 999 Yuan (~$147), 1,199 Yuan (~$177) and 1,399 Yuan (~$207).

The glass-bodied Redmi Note 7 features a 6.3-inch LCD waterdrop notch display which carries support for full HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 660 chipset powers the smartphone. For photography, the Note 7 is equipped with a dual camera setup that includes a Samsung GM1 48-megapixel sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. It features a selfie snapper of 13-megapixel. The smartphone is packed with 4,000mAh battery which carries support for Quick Charge 4.0 through USB-C. The Note 7 comes preinstalled with MIUI 10 based Android 9 Pie OS.

(via)

LG V40 ThinQ to soon launch in India as an Amazon-exclusive smartphone

By

Jeet

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Jan 15, 2019

LG V40 ThinQ, the company’s flagship smartphone which was launched in October, is now all set to make its way to the Indian market. According to the reports, LG is all set to soon launch the LG V40 ThinQ in India and will be sold exclusively through Amazon.

Along with being sold online exclusively through Amazon.in, the phone will also be available for purchase through offline channels via leading retailers across the nation. At this time, there’s no pricing information or launch/availability dates known.

However, we are expecting the South Korean company to launch the LG V40 ThinQ in the Indian market before the end of this month for a price of around Rs. 45,000 which roughly converts to $634. The phone comes in four colors — Aurora Black, Platinum Grey, Carmine Red, and Moroccan Blue but it’s not yet known which colors will make it to India.

Coming to the phone’s specifications, it features a 6.4-inch P-OLED display with 3120 x 1440 pixels QHD+ screen resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor with Adreno 630 GPU.

The phone comes with 6GB RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. However, in India, the phone is expected to come with 128GB of internal storage model. It also supports microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity.

As for the camera, the phone has got triple-camera setup — 12-megapixel f/1.5 standard sensor, 16-megapixel wide-angle f/1.9 (107-degrees) sensor, and 12-megapixel telephoto f/2.2 sensor. The triple shooters will allow it to capture images with a much broader perspective. It carries built-in AI features such as AI beautify, AI stabilisation with Multi-frame HDR technique.

On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel f/1.9 and 5-megapixel wide angle f/2.2 cameras. All cameras on the front and the rear side supports portrait mode. The phone also comes with Boombox Speaker technology to boost low-frequency output.

The LG V40 ThinQ is running Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own custom interface. The phone is powered by a 3,300mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology.

(Source)