Snapdragon 665, 730, and 730G gets benchmarked on AnTuTu

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Apr 10, 2019

Yesterday, Qualcomm announced three new chipsets. There is the Snapdragon 665 which brings new photography features to the mid-range category and there is the Snapdragon 730 and Snapdragon 730G which bring new generation AI, improvement in performance and even gaming features in the case of the latter.

If you are curious to know how these new chipsets perform with respect to benchmark scores, we are happy to inform you that the three processors have been benchmarked by AnTuTu.

The Snapdragon 730G takes the lead with a CPU score of 86915 points. It beats the Snapdragon 730 by more than 4,000 points and the Snapdragon 710 by a whopping 20,000 points.

For GPU scores, the Snapdragon 730 duo also take the lead with a significant margin between them and the Snapdragon 710. The gaming variant tops the chart with a score of 66,398 points compared to the Snapdragon 710’s 47,736 points.

RELATED: Redmi Snapdragon 855 phone is in works, but without pop-up selfie camera

The overall score for the Snapdragon 730G is 222,538 points. The non-gaming version comes in at second place with 213,113 points and the Snapdragon 675 defeats the Snapdragon 710 to claim the third spot. While the scores of both chips are pale in comparison to that of the Snapdragon 845, we can’t deny that the switch to 8nm brings a significant boost in performance.

The Snapdragon 665, on the other hand, scored less than the Snapdragon 660 in CPU performance. Its score is 57,939 points which is nearly 10,000 points lower than that of the SDM660. The Snapdragon 665 has a higher GPU score though but it still trails behind that of the Snapdragon 670. Its overall score is 125,092 points.

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Samsung cuts the Galaxy A20’s screen and battery, calls it the Galaxy A20e

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 10, 2019

First, there was the Galaxy Tab S5e and then the Galaxy S10e. Although the “e” in their names denote “Essential”, we know they are cheaper (economical) and or smaller models of the main devices. Samsung has applied the same concept to the new Galaxy A20e which is a smaller version of the Galaxy A20.

The Galaxy A20e has a smaller 5.84-inch screen just like the Galaxy S10e. Not only is it smaller than the A20’s 6.4-inch panel, but it also ditches AMOLED for LCD. However, it keeps the 1560 x 720 resolution.

The processor is the same Exynos 7884 and you also get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage (512GB max.).

The A20e’s cameras are the same too like that of the A20 – a 13MP f/1.9 primary sensor paired with a 5MP ultra-wide angle secondary camera. The selfie camera which is housed within the notch is an 8MP camera. A fingerprint scanner keeps the dual rear cameras company.

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[Updated] Samsung Galaxy A80 launches with fullscreen display and triple sliding-rotating cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Updated Apr 14, 2019

At the Galaxy A event which took place simultaneously in multiple occasions today, Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy A series. The star of the event was the Galaxy A80.

The Galaxy A80, originally expected to launch as the Galaxy A90 is Samsung’s first phone without a notch or punch hole. It is also the first with sliding cameras that rotate to double as the selfie cameras. The phone, like the Galaxy S10, is a mix of metal and glass.

The Galaxy A80 has a 6.7-inch FHD+ (1080×2400) New Infinity Display. Yes, that is the name of the A80’s Super AMOLED panel. Under that nearly bezel-less screen is a fingerprint scanner. The A80 also doesn’t have a traditional earpiece above the screen, it actually pumps out audio using the screen just like the LG G8 ThinQ. This is a first for a Samsung phone too.

Samsung says the phone is powered by an unnamed octa-core processor clocked at 2.2.GHz (2.2GHz Dual + 1.8GHz Hexa) paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage with no option for expansion. Yeah, no MicroSD card slot is a big surprise.

The cameras which are the phone’s selling point includes a 48MP f/2.0 camera paired with an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera and a 3D Depth Camera for recording videos with bokeh effect. The rear cameras slide out and flip to face you when you switch to selfie mode.

The Galaxy A80 has a 3,700mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. The phone learns your daily routine and app usage to optimize battery life. The phone runs Android Pie with One UI on top. There is Bixby onboard but without a dedicated button, as well as support for Samsung Pay. There is also Dolby Atmos for 360° surround sound but you don’t get an audio jack.

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Newer AirPods Fakes can even replicate the original model’s W1 chip auto pairing, costs just $40!

By

Simranpal Singh

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Apr 10, 2019

To improve the audio experience on iPhones, Apple developed AirPods with smart and convenient listening features. The Cupertino giant launched the AirPods with excellent features, and soon they became Apple’s most popular accessory product, with 35 million sales in 2018. Due to its immense popularity, many fake or AirPods replicas have thronged the market offering the same features at a much lesser price.

The newer AirPods Fakes are now more advanced and can even replicate the original model’s W1 chip auto pairing. In addition to playing audio, these fakes now have a better design, easy W1 chip connectivity and improved gesture controls, reveals a video by famous YouTuber, EverthingApplePro.

After buying a fake product, the customer is usually worried about its quality, though these fake AirPods 2 are giving no reason to worry. YouTuber feels its superb sound quality, and terms the design better than the originals.

The real W1 pairing is the major outbreak among fake AirPods. These will connect as like of the original AirPods 2 without any additional step. It seems impossible, but the new replicas have achieved it along with the support for 100 meters connectivity range.

See More: Powerbeats Pro vs Apple AirPods 2: Which One You Should Pick

The new AirPods 2 Fake carries Bluetooth 5.0 and wireless charging. As per the YouTuber, these fakes are somewhat 75%-80% similar to the original ones.

Nowadays, it has become quite difficult to distinguish between the original and fake products.

Share your views about the new AirPods fakes in the market via comments below.

xFyro xS2 True Wireless Earbuds Review: Great Earbuds That You Need To Have A Look

By

Cheky Zhu

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Apr 10, 2019

With the popularity of true wireless earbuds, there are many manufacturers starting to research how to make wireless earbuds attractive. We have got the xFyro xS2 True Wireless Earbuds a few days ago, and it can attract me. Let’s check out the review of xFyro xS2.

Design

Different from the other wireless earbuds, the xFyro xS2 has their own design. In terms of the overall, the xS2 adopts the tetragonal cylinder design, which sets the earbuds on the two sides with magnetsm, and the main body is a charging tetragonal cylinder. The touch feeling is great, as the main part of the xS2 is made of the premium aluminium, which is cool and comfortable. The charging input and the charging output are on both sides of the charging case, which are the silicone material. Covered by a silicone lid with an IN word, the charging input, micro USB port, is placed beside the LED indicator lights. The charging output port is set on the side having the logo of xFyro. The USB-A port is also covered by a lid with an OUT word. And there is a power button set beside the charging output.

Let’s look at the earbuds. The earbuds come with physical button, called Home Key, and there is an indicator on the earbud. I think it is easier for me to use the wireless earbuds because of the button. When you play the music, single tap L or R button means play/pause. Double tap for previous/next track, triple tap for lower/increase volume. They also have an interesting function, when you hold L or R button for, the Google+ or Siri should be woke up.

As the earbuds are magnetically mounted in the charging case, there are charging contacts on the earbuds silicone shell. What’s more, the xS2 has a built-in microphone. Therefore, you can use them to make phone calls with hands-free.

Performance

You should be curious about the sound quality. Personally, I think they sound good. I played a lot of songs with lyrics as well as complex music to check their performance. Although they have a minimum amount of distortion on the highs, the overall performance is good. The xS2 comes with a rich stereo sound and each note is crisp and clear. The bass is not so powerful to frighten my ears, but I’m not a fan of bass. Therefore, I deem that the bass is suitable for me. And of course, they perform well but regular, they don’t have a shinning point.

What I have to say is that the earbuds are easy to fall out. On my way to work, I have to re-wear them several times. If you want to wear them to do sports, you need to think it over.

The xS2 carries support Bluetooth 5.0 and 33ft (10m) Bluetooth range. The charging case is fueled by 850mAh and the xS2 earbuds have a battery capacity of 45mAh. They can use for about 8 hours with single charge which are enough for daily use. If you use with charging case, the playing time can up to 50 hours. It’s amazing!

In conclusion, the xFyro xS2 is a great headphones which is suitable for those who want to get a budget true wireless earbuds. However, if you are a big fan of sports and want to wear them to do sports, please think it over.

Global camera sales fell below 1 million units in 2019

By

Simranpal Singh

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Apr 10, 2019

As like of dwindling smartphone sales, Camera market is also facing some tough days with plummeting sales in 2019. According to a new report from CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association), global digital camera shipments in the first two months of 2019 have fallen below 1 million units.

Camera sales witnessed a 74.1% decline in January 2019 on YoY basis with total shipments falling to 1,001,398 units. Whereas it further sank 69.7% in February with shipments coming under a million marks – exactly 935,148 units.

Among the total shipments in February 2019, 521,217 units account for interchangeable lens packing SLRs; the fixed lens camera shipments were 413,931 units. The interchangeable lens shrank from 798,014 shipments in 2018 to 521,217 units in 2019, a registered decline of over ~35% on YoY basis.

The built-in lens or fixed lens cameras also witnessed a decline of over ~24% with sales plummeting from 542981 units in 2018 to 413931 units this year.

Improved smartphone camera quality can be termed as a major reason behind declining camera sales. Various smartphone manufacturers – Huawei, Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi are working hard to bring smartphones with excellent camera quality. Huawei recently launched P30 and P30 Pro featuring a magnificent camera. Xiaomi also announced Mi 9 with uncomparable camera quality.

Read More: Best Camera Smartphones of Q1 2019: Single Camera to Penta Cameras, they all make the list!

To tackle the so-called competition from smartphone manufacturers, companies like Nikon, Canon, and Sony needs to reinvent their policies and products.

(source)

OPPO O-Fresh stereo headphones launched, costs ¥129 (~$19)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 10, 2019

At the Reno launch event today, OPPO also announced a new pair of wired headphones. The OPPO O-Fresh stereo headphones are the latest addition to its line of audio accessories.

The O-Fresh stereo headphones have a high fidelity graphene diaphragm combined with an aluminum sound coil. It supports Hi-Res audio for crystal clear playback.

The headphones come in two variants – a 3.5mm version and a USB-C version and they are both available in Deep Black and Elegant Gray. The cable for the headphones is braided and is also designed to be tangle-free. There is a single-button in-line remote too with a MEMS microphone so you can make clear audio calls.

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Top 5 Smartphones That You Can Buy For Less Than $200 [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 10, 2019

Looking for a top-branded smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features without carrying a steep price tag? Look no further.

Here are the top five smartphones that you can buy from leading online stores without emptying your pocket.

Xiaomi Mi A2 4G Phablet Global Version on Gearbest

Even nearly a year after hitting the store shelves, the Mi A2 continues to garner popularity among smartphone lovers. The global version of this well-received phone usually sells for $297.85, but Gearbest users can now buy it for just $179.99.

This 40 percent discount will be valid for the device’s black color version. Regrettably, there were only 149 pieces remaining for this promo, which is slated to end in four days. You can follow this link to avail the discount.

Get 40% Off On Xiaomi Mi A2 4G Phablet Global Version

Umidigi F1 Smartphone on Banggood

The Umidigi F1 was made available to the public in January this year. The 4GB RAM, 128GB ROM variant of the phone would normally set you back $269.99, but Banggood users can get their hands on the phone for a reduced price of just $189.99.

There are two models including one designed for those living in the European Union region and the other that buyers outside the European Union region can use. The aforesaid 30 percent discount will be valid for both models that come in black, red and gold color versions.
You can follow this link to avail the discount. With only 99 pieces of each color versions remaining, this promo will come to an end on April 15th.

Get 30% Off On Umidigi F1 Smartphone

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Global Version on Giztop

Xiaomi unveiled its long-awaited Redmi Note 7 smartphone earlier this year. Following in the footsteps of its well-received predecessors, the phone became an instant hit among smartphone lovers.

The 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, and 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM variants of the Redmi Note 7 have gone up for sale on Giztop.
Equipped with 3GB of RAM and offering 32GB of internal storage capacity, the global version of the Redmi Note 7 is available for $199 on Giztop. This variant comes in the black color version.

The slightly larger model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage capacity comes in black and blue color versions. The aforesaid variant is currently up for grabs carrying a $219 price tag.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Global Version and order your favorite variant of the well-received handset from Giztop.

Buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Global Version

Lenovo K5 Pro 4G Smartphone on GearVita

Lenovo took the wraps off its long-awaited K5 Pro smartphone in October last year. The global version of the phone that offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity is now available for $166.55 on GearVita.

If you aren’t willing to shell out that kind of money on a smartphone, all you need to do is to apply coupon code GVK5Pro64 and get the Lenovo K5 Pro at 129.94€. You can click here to visit the promotion page and place your order.

Buy Lenovo K5 Pro 4G Smartphone

Xiaomi Redmi 7 Global Version on Giztop

Xiaomi Redmi 7 was released several months ago, which is one of the best budget smartphones. Now you can get its global version on Giztop!

Redmi 7 Global is priced from $129 with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Most of you may choose the 3GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage, it just cost $159! It’s time for you to pick your Redmi 7 on Giztop!

Buy Xiaomi Redmi 7 Global Version

Master Lu Q1 2019 Smartphone Processor Ranking – Snapdragon 855 tops the list

By

Jeet

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Apr 10, 2019

After releasing a list of best-performing smartphones, Chinese benchmarking outfit Master Lu has now released the list of best performing mobile chipsets in the first quarter of the current year.

The list of combined processors for Q1 2019 was topped by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, which is the company’s current-generation of its flagship mobile processor. The second and the third spot was grabbed by Snapdragon 845 (2.96GHz) and the Kirin 980 chipset from Huawei. The three chipsets scored 157,531; 142,257; and 119,356 points respectively.

Following them, the list includes Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz), Samsung Exynos 9810, Samsung Exynos 8895, HiSilicon Kirin 970, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Kirin 960, and the Snapdragon 821 from fourth to tenth positions.

However, when it comes to best performing AI-powered chipsets in Q1 2019, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC and Apple A12 Bionic chipset took the first and second spot respectively, while the Kirin 980 comes in at third. The SD855 scored 44,367 points, whereas A12 and Kirin 980 scored 40,822 and 19,003 points.

Other chipsets grabbing the spot from fourth to tenth are all Qualcomm’s chipsets. It includes Snapdragon 845, Snapdragon 710 AIE, Snapdragon 670 AIE, Snapdragon 710, Snapdragon 835, Snapdragon 820, and Snapdragon 660 AIE.

The company has also released the result of market share in China, which Huawei is leading with 15.89 percent market share, followed by its sub-brand Honor that has captured 11.5 percent of the Chinese smartphone market. Samsung ranked third in terms of market share with around 9.11 percent share, exceeding the share of China-based Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and other manufacturers.

In the recently released best-performing smartphones result, Xiaomi’s Black Shark 2 gaming phone was ranked as the best performing phone. The phone has an average benchmark score of 404,809 points and is closely followed by the Galaxy S10+ and the all-new Vivo iQOO gaming smartphone. Xiaomi Mi 9 ranks as the fourth best while the Nubia Red Magic Mars gaming phone sits at the number 5 position.

Lenovo Z6 Pro teaser confirms Legion Gaming brand partnership, shows Super Thin Bezels

By

Joel Joseph

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Apr 10, 2019

Lenovo confirmed earlier today that its Z6 Pro flagship will launch on April 23 in Beijing, China. After the confirmation, the company released a new teaser for the device which further confirms a few more details about the device.

Lenovo Z6 Pro front render with Legion branding

Lenovo Mobile’s official account on Weibo released a render of the front of the phone a few hours back. This image confirms that the phone will be released in partnership with Lenovo’s Legion brand. For those who don’t know, Legion is a gaming focus brand by the PC giant, which was unveiled a couple of years back. It’s similar to Acer’s Predator lineup and ASUS’ ROG series. Given its association with the company’s gaming brand, it’s evident that the Lenovo Z6 Pro will come with some gaming-centric features.

Lenovo Z6 Pro teaser brightness tweak (Source: Weibo)

Apart from this brand partnership, we can also figure out more about the phone’s front. After playing around with the brightness of the image, it is revealed that the Lenovo Z6 Pro will come with super thin bezels at the bottom. In other areas, bezels are basically non-existent. Even on top, the earpiece fits inside a very thin profile, ensuring the overall screen to body ratio is extremely high. Of course, this information is derived from the render and not the actual device. Given how official teasers like to hide the real bezels on its smartphones, we would have to wait and see whether the real Z6 Pro has such a high screen to body ratio.

Apart from its super thin bezels, the phone is confirmed to feature an overclocked version of Snapdragon 855. Further, it will be equipped with HyperVision camera with a special video mode called HyperVideo. An earlier teaser revealed that HyperVideo is most likely the ability of the smartphone to capture macro+slo-mo videos. Apart from this, there are also rumors about the Z6 Pro being able to capture 100MP camera samples. However, we haven’t got any more details about it.

With less than 15 days left for its official launch, expect more teasers from the company in the coming days.

Redmi 1A Washing Machine release delayed

By

Simranpal Singh

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Apr 10, 2019

After becoming an independent entity, Redmi released a couple of new smartphones and launched Redmi’s first home appliance – Redmi 1A washing machine for 799 Yuan on March 18th. The machine was set to release on April 9th, but now the initial sales are delayed. According to official information, Redmi is stocking machine units for smooth initial sales.

Hoping for better first-time sales experience, Redmi is seeking some more time before beginning for the initial release. The new release date will be shortly announced through the Xiaomi community forums.

Presently, interested consumers can reserve the Redmi 1A washing machine from Mi.com. The Redmi 1A is top loader automatic machines having a capacity of 8kg. Its PCM body is resistant to corrosion and other metal bugs. Through its upper transparent lid, consumers can see the washing process completely.

Redmi 1A washing machine measures 944 mm tall and 545 mm wide. It weighs over 32 kg with the rated power input of 310W. It is set for debut only in White colour and can easily wash away large sheets with minimal effort. There are ten washing modes to wash different clothes effortlessly and efficiently. Even though, ten different water levels preset let you save some water.

It is smart enough to wash barrels using self-cleaning mode. Machine barrels usually carries a lot of dust and dirt, and it can affect the working efficiency of the machine, keeping them clean is always necessary.

Read More: Redmi 1A Washing Machine with 8kg capacity announced for ¥799 (~$119)

We will keep you posted about any new update, stay connected with us.

(via)

Alleged video of Redmi flagship surfaces, has hole punch and triple cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 10, 2019

Ever since it was confirmed that there will be a Redmi flagship powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor, the excitement level for the upcoming phone has been pretty high. There have been a bunch of leaks in the past but a lot of them have turned out to be false. Today’s leak is an alleged video of the phone which some have tagged the “Redmi Pro 2”. We advise you to take it with a grain of salt.

The Redmi flagship has been confirmed not to feature a pop-up selfie camera and this video which was originally shared on Weibo further confirms that. What it does have is a punch hole in the display for the selfie camera.

Unlike other phones with a punch hole that we have seen, the one on this alleged Redmi flagship is right in the middle of the upper part of the display and not at the corners like that of the Honor View 20 or Galaxy S10.

The phone has minimal bezels on the sides while the one at the bottom is a bit thicker. The display is probably in the 6.0 to 6.3-inches range and most likely has an FHD+ resolution.

On the rear, the Redmi phone has triple cameras in the same fashion as the ones on the Mi 9. There is an LED flash below the cameras and in the middle of the phone is a fingerprint scanner. There is no branding on the device which means it is probably a prototype.

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OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom unveiled in China: Specifications, features and price

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 10, 2019

The OPPO Reno series has gone official today through an unveil event in China. The Chinese manufacturer has announced the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom smartphone that is packed with flagship specs including 48-megapixel triple camera with 10x hybrid zoom support. The Oppo Reno standard edition that has been announced alongside the 10x zoom phone an upper mid-range phone powered by the Snapdragon 710 SoC.

OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom Specifications and Features

The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom has a glass rear and 7000-series aluminum alloy frame. It measures 162 x 77.2 x 9.3mm and it weighs 210 grams. The 6.65-inch AMOLED display of the Reno 10x Zoom has a notch-less appeal. The display supports full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The smartphone promises a screen-to-body ratio of 91.3 percent. The HDR 10+ complaint display is embedded with sixth-generation in-screen fingerprint reader and it is shielded by Gorilla Glass 6 protective layer.

The Snapdragon 855 SoC powers the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom along with up to 8 GB of RAM. It comes with a maximum internal storage of 256 GB. There is an external storage for additional storage. The 4,065mAh battery of the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom supports VOOC 3.0 fast charging. For heat dissipation, the phone features a copper tub liquid cooling heat sink.

The smartphone features a uniquely designed “shark fin” shaped pop-up module on the top edge of the device. It houses an f/2.0 aperture 16-megapixel front camera and LED flash. On its rear is a triple camera setup that includes an OIS enabled 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 f/1.7 aperture primary sensor, an f/2.2 aperture 8-megapixel secondary sensor and a periscope telescopic lens of 13-megapixel equipped with OIS. The triple camera setup is coupled with dual-LED flash and laser autofocus.

The Android 9 Pie OS with ColorOS 6 skin comes preinstalled on the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom. The smartphone also carries support for dual-band GPS technology for accurate location tracking. It includes NFC and 3.5mm audio jack among other connectivity features. There is Breeno Assistant onboard that can assist by understanding the users’ habits. For optimized gaming experience, the smartphone includes support Game Boost 2.0 acceleration engine. It also equipped with Dolby Atmos for audiophiles.

OPPO Reno Standard Edition Specifications and Features

The OPPO Reno standard edition has a smaller notch-less AMOLED display of 6.4 inches that offers full HD+ resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It is also fitted with an in-display fingerprint reader. The screen is safeguarded by Gorilla Glass 6. The device measures 156.6 x 74.3 x 9mm and it weighs 185 grams.

The Snapdragon 710 powers the phone with up to 8 GB of RAM. It comes with an inbuilt storage of up to 256 GB and it also features a microSD card slot for extra storage.

The OPPO Reno features OIS assisted 48-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera module on its rear. It also features an LED enabled 16-megapixel pop-up selfie camera. The handset includes a 3,765mAh battery with VOOC 3.0 fast charging. Other features of the phone include ColorOS 6 based Android 9 Pie OS, Breeno assistant, Game Boos 2.0, NFC support and Dolby Atmos support.

OPPO Reno and Reno 10x Zoom Price and Release Date

The OPPO Reno standard edition comes in color editions like Fog Sea Green, Extreme Night Black, Nebula Purple and Pink Mist. Its variants are:

6 GB RAM + 128GB storage – 2,999 Yuan (~$446)
6 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – 3,299 Yuan (~$491)
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – 3,599 Yuan (~$536)

The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom can be availed in Fog Sea Green and Extreme Night Black hues. Its variants are as follows: i

6 GB RAM + 128GB storage – 3,999 Yuan (~$595)
6 GB RAM + 256 GB storage 4,499 Yuan (~$670)
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – 4,799 Yuan (~$715).

At the end of the press conference of the OPPO Reno series, the company also announced the 5G Spark Program through which it will select some OPPO users in the second quarter to “experience the 5G version of Reno.” In May, Oppo will carry out open recruitment for it in China. It will recruit 200 individuals to become China’s first 5G mobile phone users.

OPPO will be holding a global launch event for the OPPO Reno series at Zurich, Switzerland on April 24. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to unleash the 5G edition of the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom at the upcoming international unveil event.

Xiaomi has launched 44 non-phone products in just 3 months, proof it’s more than a phone company

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 10, 2019

Xiaomi became popular thanks to its phones which are affordable and offer great value for money. However, things have gradually changed for the company. This year, it (and its other brands) has released 44 non-phone products, four times more than the number of phones released within the same period. By the end of the year, we foresee this figure will have tripled.

They might have started as a phone company but in the past few years, it has grown to become a large ecosystem with products spanning different categories. It not only sells hardware but also services for these products and a platform for them to connect to each other.

Xiaomi makes very little profit from the sale of its phones. Last year’s financial report revealed the company’s major revenue was from internet services and ads. With the smartphone market declining, it makes sense as to why Xiaomi and Redmi are not focusing on mobile devices alone. Having a diverse portfolio is sort of an unwritten rule for large corporations and in a case where one arm of the business might be doing poorly, the others might make up for that.

With the current business model, Xiaomi can keep growing its user base even through non-phone products. There are lots of households that might not have a Xiaomi phone but have a Mi TV, Mijia air filter, Mijia projector, or Mijia air conditioner. Since most of its household appliances products are smart, owners automatically get plugged into the Xiaomi system.

Redmi 1A washing machine announced in March

In trying to grow its user base, Xiaomi has modified how it sells products to consumers, from being online-only to including physical stores where prospective buyers can go to get hands-on experience with a number of its products. However, it still struggles with supply issues when it comes to its mobile phones.

Xiaomi has done very well for itself in a short span. The Chinese giant currently has the largest IoT platform in the world and it is not resting on its oars. Last week, it restructured its semiconductor business which resulted in the formation of a new company that will focus on the development of AI and IoT chips for use in its products. Songguo, its original semiconductor business will continue to focus on mobile processors.

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TSMC starts working on 5nm Apple A14 chip infrastructure

By

Jeet

-

Apr 10, 2019

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced the release of its 5nm chip design infrastructure. With the shrinking size, the company is touting improved processor performance as well as improved battery life and thermal management.

It’s noteworthy that TSMC has been Apple‘s only supplier for the company’s A-series chipsets since 2016. According to the reports, all the orders of the A10 Fusion, A11 Bionic, and A12 Bionic chipsets were fulfilled by TSMC.

Announcing this development, TSMC said in a statement: “Compared with TSMC’s 7nm process, its innovative scaling features deliver 1.8X logic density and 15% speed gain on an ARM® Cortex®-A72 core, along with superior SRAM and analog area reduction enabled by the process architecture. The 5nm process enjoys the benefits of process simplification provided by EUV lithography and is making excellent progress in yield learning, achieving the best technology maturity at the same corresponding stage as compared to TSMC’s previous nodes.”

Thus, TSMC is now expected to continue being the only supplier for Apple for its future iPhone models. This could mean that Apple can move forward with producing 5nm A-series chipset for the future iPhone models and we could see it in as early as 2020 iPhones.

The 5nm process is already said to be in preliminary risk production and the chipmaker is planning to invest around $25 billion towards volume production by 2020. As for the iPhone models launching this year, reports indicate that the company will be using a new A13 processor, which will be manufactured using the 7nm+ process.

TSMC has been gradually shrinking the size of its dies over the years as it continues to refine its manufacturing process. The A10 Fusion is 16nm, the A11 Bionic is 10nm, and the A12 Bionic is 7nm.

And it’s not only TSMC as Qualcomm has also done a good job of bridging the gap between its flagship Snapdragon processors and the A-series chips not only in performance as well as continually-shrinking chip processes. So, we won’t be surprised to see a 5nm Snapdragon chipset soon after the debut of Apple’s 5nm chip.

(Source)

Realme U1 3GB + 64GB model to go on sale in India today for the first time

By

Jeet

-

Apr 10, 2019

Realme is gearing up to launch the Realme 3 Pro smartphone later this month after the company recently launched the Realme 3. But, ahead of that, the company is finally making the 3GB RAM + 64GB storage model of the Realme U1 available for purchase, after it was announced last week.

The Realme U1 3GB RAM + 64GB storage model will go on sale in India today for the first time through Amazon.in and the company own official website. The company has also announced that the first 500 buyers of the Realme U1 3GB/ 64GB via Realme.com will get a pair of Realme Buds for free. To recall, Realme U1, the company’s first selfie-focused smartphone launched last year.

The 3GB/64GB model of the Realme U1 is priced at Rs. 10,999, which roughly converts to $159. After a recent price cut, the 3GB/32GB model is available for Rs. 9,999 while the 4GB/64GB model is priced at Rs. 11,999.

The phone comes with a shiny back with diffraction grading as the device has 13 layers of Laminated Technology, which the company calls Light Pillar Design. It boasts a 6.3-inch Full HD+ dewdrop display with screen resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution, 90.8 percent screen-t0-body ratio and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen offers 450 nits of brightness and 1500:1 contrast ratio.

It is the world’s first smartphone to be powered by MediaTek’s Helio P70 chipset. It is built by TSMC using their 12nm FinFET technology and features Cortex-A73 and Cortex A53 cores in the same 4+4 arrangement, coupled with ARM Mali-G72 GPU. There’s also a microSD card slot that enables users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity.

The highlight of the smartphone is the camera module. It features a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. It comes with AI Photography and AI Beautigy+ features for enhancing the photography experience.

It supports Studio Portrait Lighting, Super Vivid 2.0 and AI Scene Detection as well as slow-motion video recording feature. On the front side, the phone comes equipped with a 25-megapixel Sony IMX576 sensor with f/2.0 aperture and features like Smarter Groupfi for taking group selfies. It also supports AI Front Unlock feature that is claimed to unlock the phone in just 0.1 seconds.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac dual-band (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS. The phone is running Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box with ColorOS 5.2 on top and is powered by a 3,500mAh battery.

Buy Zeblaze Vibe 3 ECG Smart Watch For Only $39.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 10, 2019

Fitness bands and smartwatches that monitor various activities like running, cycling, and walking are becoming more and more popular among fitness enthusiasts. On the downside, these devices aren’t easy on the pocketbook, but that’s about to change.

Known for manufacturing feature-rich smartwatches that doesn’t cost a bomb, Zeblaze has launched Zeblaze Vibe 3 ECG Monitor Watch $39.99 Snap-Up promo in collaboration with Banggood.

As part of the recently kicked-off promo, 500 lucky Banggood users will be able to grab a 43 percent discount on the Zeblaze Vibe 3 ECG smartwatch that normally sells for $69.99. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, the original asking price of the device has dropped to just $39.99.

In addition to doling out this noteworthy discount, the Chinese online store is will be giving its loyal users a chance to win seven free orders. Banggood will select the first customer to place an order for the Vibe 3 ECG smartwatch daily to get the watch free until the promo wraps up.
Seven such users will be selected during the activity time, which ends at UTC +8 on April 15th. Winners will be announced at UTC +8 on April 22nd. It is worth mentioning here that Banggood reserves all rights.

You can click here to avail the discount and take advantage of the promotion before it comes to an end. Note that the discount, will be valid for the red, blue and black color versions of the Zeblaze Vibe 3 ECG smartwatch, which offers the following features:

22-inch IPS Color Display with 240×240 pixels resolution
Black, Blue, Red color option
Bluetooth 4.0 or above
Supports Android 4.4 or above, iOS 9.0 or above
IP67 waterproof
Supports Instant ECG on Demand, Heart Rate Monitor, All-day Activity Tracking, Sleep Monitor, Multi-sport Modes and more
ECG sensor, Heart-rate sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer
180 mAh battery with magnetic charging

Get 43% Off On Zeblaze VIBE 3 ECG Smart Watch

Lenovo Z6 Pro confirmed to launch on 23rd April

By

Jeet

-

Apr 10, 2019

Lenovo had recently said that it will be making an important announcement on 10th April and also showcased the phone’s back panel. With that, there were speculations that the company could announce the official launch date of its upcoming flagship smartphone — Lenovo Z6 Pro.

Well, the company didn’t disappoint. Today, the China-based company’s Vice President Chang Wei has officially announced that it will launch the Lenovo Z6 Pro smartphone on 23rd April in Beijing, China.

Lenovo has already confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 855 octa-core chipset but reports indicate that the company could opt to offer an overclocked version of the SoC.

One of the recent teasers of the Lenovo Z6 Pro had hinted that the phone’s camera will be able to capture 100-megapixel shots. There is a possibility that the company could be relying on some sort of software trick for shooting 100-megapixel images through the smartphone.

This could be HyperVision camera feature that the company has been teasing since February. Through another teaser, the Chinese firm also confirmed that the Z6 Pro supports Hyper Video that can be transferred at higher rates than existing videos. Till now, it is yet to reveal the details of the HyperVision Camera and Hyper Video features.

It is also known that the Z6 Pro will be a 5G phone. The camera-related features that are expected to be available on the device include super macro, super anti-shake, ultra-wide-angle lens, super night mode, and super slow-motion video shooting.

To know exactly what the smartphone offers, as well as its pricing and availability details, we’ll have to wait until the company officially launches the Lenovo Z6 Pro at a launch event on 23rd April in China.

Buy SJRC F11 And JJRC X9 Heron RC Drones At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 10, 2019

Drone enthusiasts, rejoice! GeekBuying has launched the SJRC F11 RC Drone Promotion, giving its loyal users an unmissable chance to get their hands on a wide selection of well-received drones including the SJRC F11 for unbeatable prices.

The promotion page has been split into two categories including SJRC and More Deals. The first section i.e. ‘SJRC’ is cramped with heavily discounted drones and accessories including SJRC F11 RC Drone, SJRC F11 RC Drone Storage Bag, etc.

The ‘More Deals’ section is where you can avail noteworthy discounts on popular drones from other leading brands like MJX, Happymodel, Emax and more. Let us check out the discounts available on the SJRC F11 and the JJRC X9 Heron RC drones.

SJRC F11 Drone (One Battery)

The SJRC F11 is a highly portable drone thanks to its foldable arms design. The quadcopter draws its juices from a powerful, yet quiet brushless motor which minimizes breakdown and motor replacement.

Equipped with a single battery, the SJRC F11 RC drone usually sells for 267.99, but as part of its recently kicked-off promo, the Chinese online store is giving its users a chance to buy it for just $136.99. This is a 49 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price.
You can click here in order to avail the aforesaid discount without wasting time. It is worth noting that the promo will be valid only for five days.

Get 49% Off On SJRC F11 RC Drone

Check Out SJRC F11 RC Drone Promotion Page On GeekBuying

JJRC X9 Heron Drone (One Battery)

The JJRC X9 Heron comes with GPS mode, wherein it receives signals from satellites to show its exact position. The drone houses a WIFI enabled FPV camera that broadcasts live video to the user on the ground.

The JJRC X9 Heron usually retails for $219.99, but much to the delight of those living on a tight budget, the feature-laden RC drone is now available for just $199.99 on GeekBuying. This is a 9 percent drop in the device’s original asking price.
Aside from taking advantage of the discount, you can use coupon code VWXJOSGC and get an extra $43 off. As a result, the already reduced retail price of the JJRC X9 Heron reduces to just $166.99 before you place your order.

You can click here to avail the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the drone. Note that the promotion is slated to end in just two days.

Get 9% Off On JJRC X9 Heron RC Drone

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau says Fancy colored glass variants are not selling well

By

Jeet

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Apr 10, 2019

Nowadays, most of the smartphone manufacturers are offering multiple color options for their smartphones. The trend of glass back with gradient design has also started and almost all companies have jumped the bandwagon.

While most manufacturers are offering fancy color options mainly because of the demand from the youth, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has a different way of looking at things. He says that the fancy colored glass variants are not selling well in the market.

He adds that such design may attract attention and may seem good during the press conferences, but in reality, the phones are not selling well. However, he has not provided any data to back his claim.

Pete Lau believes that people are not fond of the fancy color options and adds that the company has restrained in terms of color options and now it needs to withstand the pressure of the market as well as its internal marketing team.

This statement coming from OnePlus CEO Pete Lau hints that the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone — OnePlus 7 may not be offered in such fancy colors or gradient color options and will continue to offer the simple solid color options.

OnePlus is now gearing up to launch its next-generation flagship smartphone — OnePlus 7 in the coming months. A recent report reveals that there will also be a Pro version of the smartphone. Thus, in total, the company will launch at least three models — OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G.

The devices are expected to feature Full HD+ display and powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor with 8GB of RAM. They will run Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own OxygenOS on top.

The OnePlus 7 Pro is fitted with a 48-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel triple camera setup on the back side. But, it remains to be seen whether it will be yet another phone with Sony IMX586 as the primary sensor. The handset also features inbuilt storage of 256GB. The 5G model is expected to have the same specs and additional 5G support.