Xiaomi ‘Cepheus’ flagship smartphone spotted on Geekbench; packs SD855 SoC and 48MP camera

By

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Jan 8, 2019

Xiaomi, which recently split its Redmi brand into an independent entity, is going to launch a new smartphone with the 48-megapixel camera under Redmi brand on 10th January in China.

Now, a new smartphone has been spotted online on benchmarking portal Geekbench, which seems to be a device under Xiaomi brand. While the name of the phone is not known, it carries the codename of Xiaomi Cepheus.

As per the Geekbench listing, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor — Snapdragon 855 octa-core chipset along with 6GB of RAM. However, we are expecting the company to launch other variants of the phone with higher RAM.

In the benchmark test, the device achieved a score of 3,475 in the single-core test and 10,872 in the multi-core test. The score reaffirms that the device is indeed powered by the SD855 SoC. As for the software, the smartphone will likely be running on the Android 9 Pie based MIUI 10 out-of-the-box.

Other reports indicate that the phone will come with a dual camera setup on the back, where the primary camera sensor will be of 48-megapixel and the secondary sensor could be super wide-angle or telephoto lens. The 48MP Sony IMX586 back sensor is the same camera sensor that is expected to be on the Redmi smartphone launching later this week.

While not much is known about the smartphone at this point in time, there are speculations that the device could feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is also expected to come with an OLED display with Full HD+ resolution as well as support for Always-on display.

The China-based company is currently working on two flagship devices — Mi 9 and Mi MIX 4, so there’s a possibility that this Xiaomi Cepheus could be either Mi 9 or Mi MIX 4.

(Via)

Poco F1 update with 960fps slow-motion, night scene mode coming in two weeks

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 8, 2019

A report from the previous month had revealed that Xiaomi’s sub-brand Pocophone is working on a new update which includes slow-motion video shooting at 960fps and night scene mode for capturing enhanced shots in low-light conditions. A fresh tweet from Poco India General Manger Manmohan Chandolu has revealed that the 960fps slow-motion video recording and night mode will be available for Poco F1 users in two weeks.

Poco India has recently rolled out the MIUI 10 based Android 9 Pie update for Xiaomi Poco F1 users. After installing the update, the feature to disable notch is no longer available. Some others have encountered issues with Bluetooth pairing, touch panel and battery drainage among others. Chandolu’s tweet also says that the update with 960fps slow-motion and night scene mode will also bring fixes for battery drain and touch issues.

He has also added through another tweet that 4K video shooting at 60fps will be made available through a stable update arriving n February. Since the Poco F1 lacks support for Widevine L1, HD streaming content such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Videos are not viewable on it. In October, the company had confirmed through MIUI forum that it is working with Google and Qualcomm to release Widevine L1 support for Poco F1 usersv. Chandolu has stated in his tweet that the company is still working with its partners to bring support for Widevine l1.

Read More: Redmi’s 48MP camera smartphone images revealed by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun

The Poco team seems to be working hard to improve the user experience on Poco F1. In the previous week, the Xiaomi Poco F1 received official TWRP support and now the company is gearing up to release a couple of important features for it. The Poco F1 was made official in August in India. It features a 6.18-inch full HD+ notched display, Snapdragon 845, up to 8 GB RAM, up to 256 GB storage, 20-megapixel front camera, 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera and 4,000mAh battery.

(source)

Huawei Y9 2019 India launch postponed, now scheduled to launch on 10th January

By

Jeet

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Jan 8, 2019

After launching its upper mid-range smartphone Huawei Y9 2019 in October, the Chinese company was all set to launch the same phone in the Indian market on 7th January. However, the India launch was postponed and is now scheduled to launch on 10th January.

The event, which was scheduled on 7th January 11:00 AM IST in New Delhi, will now take place on 10th January. The phone is already confirmed to be an Amazon-exclusive device.

The Huawei Y9 2019 houses a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with 2340 x 1080 pixels Full HD+ screen resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by the company’s own Kirin 710 chipset.

The device packs either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot which enables users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 400GB. For photography, it features 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual selfie snapper and 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup on the back.

For security purpose, the device features a fingerprint scanner on the backside of the handset. Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, and GPS + GLONASS. Running on Android Oreo out-of-the-box with EMUI 8.2, the phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery but lacks support for fast charging.

In China, the smartphone is available in three colors — Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue, and Aurora Purple. We are expecting the company to launch Black and Blue variants in the Indian market, however, there’s no confirmation yet. To know for sure, we’ll have to wait a couple days more as the phone will go official in India on 10th January.

Buy Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 SE And Baseus CCALL AJK01 QI 10W Wireless Charger At Discounted Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 8, 2019

This year’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show) starts today, January 8th in Las Vegas and is slated to go on until January 12th.

Keeping in line with that, GeekBuying has launched its CES 2019 Sale, wherein you can get up to a whopping 60 percent off on a wide selection of products from popular brands. The promo has been split into Hot Tech, New Trends, Coupons and a Category Deals section that comprise Hot Electronics, Phones & Laptops, Toys & Hobbies, and Home & Supplies sub-categories.

As part of it’s recently kicked off promotion, the Chinese online store is offering well-received mobile devices and a slew of other mobile phone accessories at lowered prices. Here are a couple of devices that you can now get your hands on without breaking the bank on GeekBuying.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 SE (8GB RAM+128GB ROM)

The long-awaited Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 SE (Special Edition) smartphone was launched last year in September. Much to the delight of the Chinese tech company, the Mi Mix 2 SE became an instant hit among Xiaomi fans just like its well-received predecessor.

Regrettably, it failed to sweep cost-conscious buyers off their feet, thanks to the steep price tag the phone carried. Xiaomi has now teamed up with GeekBuying in a bid to make the Mi Mix 2 SE available to those living on a tight budget.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 SE smartphone usually sells for $399.99, but you can now get your hands on the coveted phone for a reduced price of $319.99. On top of that, you can even extend this 20 percent discount with the help of coupon code GIZ_GKBCES1.
The aforesaid coupon helps you save an extra $50 by reducing the device’s already lowered retail price down to only $309.99 before you place your order. You can follow this link to avail the discount.

Note that the promo is slated to end in just three days and the discount will be valid for the white-tinted model offering 8GB of RAM and 128GB ROM. Likewise, you can get a 45 percent off on the 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM model.

Get 20% Off On Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 SE Smartphone

Baseus CCALL AJK01 QI 10W Wireless Charger

Capable of working with nearly all top-branded smartphones available in the market today, wireless chargers have become quite popular among frequent travelers, adventure junkies and those who do not like carrying cables and power adapters on the go.

Online as well as offline stores are brimming with all sorts of wireless chargers that carry steep price tags but oftentimes fail to meet your expectations. If you have restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a reliable, yet cost-effective wireless charger, you might want to take a gander at the Baseus CCALL AJK01.

This thin, compact, yet powerful wireless charger boasts an impressive array of features including an adapter quick charge, stable recognition, heat dissipation and is very convenient to use as well.
You’d normally end up spending a lot of money on a wireless charger, but if you aren’t willing to empty your pocket, GeekBuying’s got your back. The Baseus CCALL AJK01 QI 10W wireless charger that usually carries a $34.99 price tag is now up for grabs for a reduced price of just $14.99 on GeekBuying.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_2019NEW1 and get an extra $1 off at the time of checking out. In other words, you can bring the original asking price of this Baseus-branded wireless charger further down to only $13.99 simply by applying the above-mentioned coupon.

This discount is specifically valid for the white+black, white and black color versions of the wireless charger. You can follow this link to grab the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 57% Off On Baseus CCALL JK01 QI 10W Wireless Charger

Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 New Year Sale

Xiaomi claims to have sold over 100 million Mi Power Banks so far

By

Jeet

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Jan 8, 2019

While Xiaomi’s budget smartphones are dominating the emerging markets, the Chinese company’s accessories are also equally popular. Among the most popular accessories from Xiaomi is the Mi Power Banks.

Xiaomi now claims that it has managed to sell over 100 million units of its Mi Power Banks till date. The sale numbers are likely the combination of the sale of the company’s power banks worldwide. Also, this likely includes the sales numbers of Mi Power Bank, Mi Power Bank 2, Mi Power Bank 2S, and ZMI Auro series.

The announcement comes along with the launch of the company’s third-generation of power banks — Mi Power Bank 3 Pro which comes with 20,000mAh capacity, USB Type-C 45W dual charging support, and 199 Yuan ($29) price tag, which goes on sale from 11th January.

The newly launched power bank comes with three ports in total as opposed to the two ports found on the 10000mAh Mi Powerbank 2 Pro model. There are two USB-A ports along with a USB Type-C port. The Type-C port can take 45W (15V/3A) input as well as output, while the USB-A ports max out at 18W.

It can charge a number of devices, including laptops and handheld gaming consoles. Through its Type-C port, it can charge Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models as well as Huawei’s MateBook models, among others.

Xiaomi has clarified that when both the USB-A ports are in use, the output is maxed out at 15W each (5V/3A). As it also supports pass-through charging, other devices can be charged at a time when the power bank itself is being charged. Xiaomi adds that the 11 hour charging time for the power bank goes down to just 4.5 hours with a 45W charger.

As for the build, the Mi Power Bank 3 Pro seems to have been made out of ABS plastic that features a ceramic-like gloss finish. It includes low power support for smart wearables and 9 layers of circuit chip protection.

Buy The ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite And Nubia X Smartphones At Considerably Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 8, 2019

Over a period of time, Nubia has successfully garnered a considerable amount of popularity among adventurous users who are looking for unparalleled user experience.
Taking the brand’s skyrocketing demand into consideration, GeekBuying is now offering the Nubia Z17 Lite and the Nubia X smartphones for lowered prices. Moreover, we will show how you can save a significant amount of extra money before placing your order.

ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite (6GB RAM+64GB ROM)

The Nubia Z17 Lite continues to sweep ZTE fans off their feet even over a year after hitting the store shelves. It is touted as a genuine bezel-less smartphone that bears a striking resemblance to the Nubia Z17.

Furthermore, the Nubia Z17 Lite is housed in a sturdy metal unibody frame, which is further augmented by the curved bezel-less screen. It comes with a fingerprint ID for smarter unlocking and a slew of other awe-inspiring features that we expect from a high-end smartphone.

The only downside? The ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it will set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline stores, but that’s about to change.

Nubia has teamed up with GeekBuying in a bid to make the coveted smartphone available to cost-conscious buyers. As a result, you can now buy the ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite for an unbeatable price of only $139.99 on the Chinese online store.

This is a whopping 69 percent drop in the device’s original asking price of $449.99. On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_2019NEW5 and get an extra 5$ off. In other words, you can reduce the phone’s already lowered retail price to just $134.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon at checkout.

You can follow this link to avail the discount before the promo, which will be valid for the black gold color version of the smartphone comes to an end.

Get 69% Off On ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite Smartphone

Nubia X (8GB RAM+128GB ROM)

Sporting a unique all-screen design, the Nubia X smartphone was launched in November last year. The phone features an extra large 6.26-inches FHD+ display with a high screen resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels, an aspect ratio of 19:9 and an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 93.6 percent.

It comes with an AOD back screen that can display multiple wallpapers, signatures, clock display etc. on the curved glass. It delivers an unmatched gamepad operation experience with a rear-mounted custom game button, dual screen linkage, and multi-finger operation.
While the Nubia X variant offering 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage capacity would normally set you back $903.99, you can now buy it at a considerably lowered price of just $624.99 on GeekBuying. But if this 31 percent discount doesn’t impress you much, you can use coupon code GIZ_BZRXEGFA and save $143 extra without breaking a sweat.

Thanks to the above-mentioned coupon, the original selling price of the Nubia X smartphone comes down to just $599.99 before you proceed to checkout. There’s a 30 percent off on the slightly larger model offering 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage capacity.

Regrettably, the promotion sale was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing. You can head straight to this link without wasting time to grab the discount.

Get 31% Off On ZTE Nubia X Smartphone

Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 New Year Sale

Xiaomi XiaoAi Speaker HD launched in China for 599 Yuan ($87)

By

Jeet

-

Jan 8, 2019

Along with the Xiaomi Bluetooth Headset Air, the China-based company has also announced its new smart speaker — Xiaomi XiaoAi Speaker HD. As the name suggests, the speaker comes with the company’s own XiaoAi voice-controlled smart assistant.

The Xiaomi XiaoAi Speaker HD also comes with HiFi sound quality and 360-degree surround sound support. It is priced at 599 Yuan, which roughly converts to $87 and is currently up for pre-orders but will start shipping from 11th January.

In terms of design, the smart speaker from Xiaomi features a tower-like minimal design and measures 150mm x 150mm x 230mm. At a first glance, the speaker looks very similar to the Google Home series. The company has even opted to use the dark gray and light gray fabric that wraps around the speaker’s body.

It is made in such a way that it protects the internal components from dust but does not affect the sound transmission. The speaker is designed as a three-dimensional stereo structure that delivers an immersive 360-degree surround sound, says Xiaomi. On the top, there are four buttons — power button, volume up, volume down, and play/pause button.

The company also says that the Xiaomi XiaoAi Speaker HD comes equipped with high-power full-range speaker array that offers strong performance and rich musical expression. Xiaomi has also optimized sound field and the 104mm large-caliber woofer has a more accurate transient response.

The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that comes equipped with the speaker delivers powerful loudness control and can automatically compensate and adjust the audio according to the volume, dynamically adjust the tri-band loudness for a balanced sound field, and offer clearer sound performance that’s natural, soft and resistant. For connectivity, it uses dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 technology to support A2DP music playback.

To ensure that it captures the user commands in one go, the Xiaomi XiaoAi Speaker HD comes in a ring of microphone array that consists of six high-sensitivity microphones. This ensures accuracy in voice recognition as well as quick response to those commands.

As said, the XiaoAi Smart Assistant from Xiaomi is powering the smart speaker, which enables users to control it through voice commands. It also enables controlling smart home devices switching the lights on/off or adjusting the brightness, etc.

Xiaomi Black Shark Skywalker with Snapdragon 855, 8 GB RAM spotted on Geekbench

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 8, 2019

A new Xiaomi smartphone labelled as “Blackshark Skywalker” has appeared on Geekbench today. What’s interesting about this listing is that the handset has appeared with the all new Snapdragon 855 mobile platform.

The Geekbench listing of the Black Shark Skywalker shows that it is powered by “msmnile.” Reports from last year had revealed that “nile” is the codename of the 855 chipset while “msm” refers to Snapdragon. The SoC is supported by 8 GB of RAM.

The smartphone is running on Android 9 Pie OS. In the single-core test, the Black Shark Skywalker has scored 3,494 points and in multi-core test, it has recorded a very impressive score of 11,149. These scores similar to other Snapdragon 855 phones seen on Geekbench.

In October, Xiaomi had launched the Black Shark Helo smartphone as the world’s first smartphone with 10 GB of RAM. The smartphone is fueled by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. It appears that the Chinese manufacturer could be now gearing up to launch a new Snapdragon 855 SoC powered gaming phone in the next few months. The Black Shark Helo was launched ahead of Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 last year. Hence, there is a possibility that the Black Shark Skywalker may debut in March ahead of Mi MIX 3 5G which is also expected to go official in the same month.

Read More: Redmi’s 48MP camera smartphone images revealed by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun

The Snapdragon 855 tags along X50 LTE modem which enables 5G connectivity on devices driven by the chipset. However, some Snapdragon 855 powered phones arriving this year that won’t be supporting 5G connectivity are expected to feature X24 LTE modem. A recent report had revealed that the Xiaomi Mi 9 will be powered by Snapdragon 855 and it will feature X24 LTE modem. There are no details available on the other specs of the Xiaomi Black Shark Skywalker. Hopefully, forthcoming leaks may reveal more information the smartphone.

(source)

Redmi’s 48MP camera smartphone images revealed by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 8, 2019

The Redmi brand by Xiaomi is gearing up to introduce a new smartphone on Jan. 10. The rumor mill has been referring to it with different names such as Redmi Pro 2, Redmi 7 Pro and Redmi 7. A dedicated page for a new Redmi phone called Redmi X has appeared on JD.com. Hence, it is now being speculated that the Redmi phone with 48-megapixel camera launching on Jan. 10 could be called Redmi X. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has shared fresh images to reveal the rear design of the alleged Redmi X smartphone.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has claimed that the below images are not renders, but real photos of the upcoming Redmi phone. The smartphone features 2.5D glass on the front and rear sides which is refreshing design compared to polycarbonate and metal bodied predecessor models. The handset will come in Black and two color gradient variants.

The vertical dual camera placed on the rear features a 48-megapixel primary camera. The high-end camera of the phone will allow it to deliver topnotch photography experience at night. A fingerprint scanner is placed on the rear side of the phone and a USB-C port could be present between a pair of external speakers on the bottom edge of the device. Previous reports have revealed that the handset will be equipped with 6.3-inch display and 4,000mAh battery.

Yesterday, Redmi had released an official video to tease the durability of the glass body of the alleged Redmi X which is codenamed as “Little King Kong.” The video showed that the glass chassis of the phone remained intact even when it was stamped on it. Today, the Chinese brand another video to show the strength of the glass body of the phone.

Read More: Official renders of Xiaomi’s Mi Freedom Buds Pro (AirDots Pro) leaked ahead of release

The above video shows a woman with high heels trampling the display of the alleged Redmi X. Yet again, the handset emerges unscathed. Apart from the details mentioned above, there is no information available on the other specs of the phone.

(source 1, 2)

Buy The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 And Elephone A5 4G Phablets For Lowered Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 8, 2019

Known for offering the best bang for your buck, GearBest is now doling out noteworthy discounts on a couple of well-received 4G phablets including the Mi Mix 3 and the Elephone A5.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 4G Phablet

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 became an instant hit among those who fancy watching their favorite videos on a big screen mobile device after hitting the store shelves last year in November. It sports an extra large 6.39 inches Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass on top for added protection.

The Mi Mix 3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core 2.8GHz processor and it packs an Adreno 630 710MHz GPU, under the hood. This Xiaomi-branded phablet ships with 6GB of RAM and offers 128GB of onboard storage capacity for you to save your favorite content.
It runs MIUI10 based on Android 9.0 Pie OS and is backed by a 3200mAh battery. On the optics front, the phablet houses a 24.0MP+2.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and 12.0MP+12.0MP front shooters for self-portraits and video chatting. Aside from a fingerprint sensor, the device features an accelerometer, e-compass, ambient light sensor, gravity sensor, gyroscope, distance sensor, and an ultrasonic wave sensor.

While you’d normally expect a top-branded phablet offering comparable features to cost you a bomb, the global version of the Mi Mix 3 can now be yours for a dropped price of just $549.99 on GearBest. This is a 13 percent drop in the device’s original asking price of $630.75.

You can head straight to this link to grab this discount, which will be valid for the remaining 141 pieces of the phablet’s black color version. Alternatively, you can go for the blue-tinted Mi Mix 3 4G phablet, which normally sells for $630.75, but has now gone up for sale carrying a dropped price tag of just $599.99. Now you can get Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 at $509.99 with the coupon code XXY20190108A

Get Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 4G Phablet at $509.99, Coupon Code XXY20190108A

Elephone A5 4G Phablet

The Elephone A5 was made available to the public last year in November. Thanks to its exceptional features and top-end specs, the A5 garnered huge popularity among tech buffs and Elephone fans.

As a phablet, the Elephone A5 features a 6.18-inches IPS, FHD+ multi-touch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. The device is housed in a metal, glass body in order to give it a gorgeous outward aspect and durability at the same time.

The phablet packs an MT6771 Octa Core 2.0GHz processor and uses a competent ARM Mali G72 MP3 800MHz, 3-Cores GPU for an immersive experience. Elephone provides 4GB of RAM to go with the phablet’s powerful processor and 64GB of expandable (up to 512GB) internal storage capacity to ensure you never run out of storage space for saving your favorite content.
This dual-SIM phablet features a 12.0MP+5.0MP+0.3MP triple camera module on the back and 20MP+2MP cameras for selfies and face-to-face video chatting. Furthermore, the A5 runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system and draws its juices from a robust 4000mAh battery.

There are two versions of the Elephone A5 4G phablet — one which is compatible specifically with the European Union region, while the other is designed to work in other areas. The variant that works outside the European Union region normally sells for $265.55, but you can now buy it for only $239.99 on GearBest.

This is a 10 percent drop in the device’s original asking price. The European Union variant, on the other hand, will normally set you back $265.67, but you can now get your hands on it if you are willing to spend just $199.99. Regrettably, this 25 percent discount will be valid only for the remaining 85 pieces for six days. You can visit this link to get the discount.

Get 10% Off On Elephone A5 4G Phablet

Buy Blackview BV9600 PRO Smartphone For Only € 299.99 On eFox [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 8, 2019

If you are an adventure junky looking for a rugged outdoor smartphone that would help you stay connected to your friends and family even during your adventurous activities, the BV9600 PRO might just fill the bill.

Touted as ‘the world’s top indestructible rugged phone of 2018,’ the BV9600 Pro was launched by Blackview last year in October. Before we delve further into the details about the phone awe-inspiring features and specs, it might interest you to know that it has now gone up for sale carrying a dropped price of just € 309.99 (about $354) on eFox.

This is a significant 26 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of € 419.99, which roughly converts to about $480. But if you are living on a tight budget an aren’t willing to spend that kind of money on a rugged smartphone, all you need to do is to use coupon code BV9P10 and get an extra € 10 off at the time of checking out.

In other words, you can bring the already lowered original asking price of the BV9600 Pro smartphone further down to just € 299.99 (about $343). As if that weren’t enough, you can even choose between two appealing color versions including black and silver.
An absolute bargain at this price, the BV9600 PRO is housed in a sturdy body and its USP is its robust battery. It is a great choice for public safety workers and builders as it carries the IP68 and IP69K certificates, which indicate this super rugged phone is waterproof, shockproof and dustproof.

The phone sports an extra large 6.21-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with 2248 x 1080 pixels resolution. It packs a powerful Helio P60 MTK6771 2.0GHz Octa Core processor along with a Mali-G72 MP3 800MHz GPU, under the hood.

Moreover, the BV9600 PRO ships with 6GB of RAM and offers a hearty 128GB of onboard storage capacity that can be expanded up to 128GB so that you have enough space for saving your favorite content. On the optics front, the phone houses a 16.0MP+8.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and a SONY IMX134 8.0MP front shooter for selfies and video chatting.

You can head straight to this link in order to check out the full specifications and take advantage of the discount before the promo comes to an end. Note that the aforesaid coupon is also likely to expire soon.

Get 26% Off On Blackview BV9600 PRO Smartphone

Mi LED TV 4X Pro and Mi Soundbar revealed as products Xiaomi will launch in India on January 10

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 8, 2019

Xiaomi India is scheduled to launch a new TV on Thursday, January 10. The manufacturer has been dropping teasers on social media along with the hast tag #TheBiggerPicture which we think hints at the TV being its biggest TV yet.

The folks at Smartprix have gotten their hands on new info that reveals two products that Xiaomi will announce at the event. According to them, they were able to get their hands on the official presentation document for the event.

The first is the Mi LED TV 4X Pro and it is a 55-inch TV with a 4K resolution and HDR support. The TV is said to use a 10-bit panel which has better color reproduction compared to other TVs that use an 8-bit reproduction panel.

The Mi LED TV 4X Pro runs Android TV and also has Xiaomi’s Patchwall system. Owners will be able to switch to Android TV and run apps from the Play Store. For audio, the TV has 20W speakers. More details should surface at the event.

We think this is just one of the multiple TVs Xiaomi will announce at the event. Xiaomi already has a 55-inch TV, so if its teasers hint at a TV with a bigger screen, then the Mi LED TV 4X Pro is definitely not the main model to be unveiled.

The second product Xiaomi will launch that day is the Mi Soundbar. The Mi Soundbar is already sold China but it is great to see it is heading to other countries.

The Mi Soundbar has 8 drivers – 2 x 20mm dome speakers for high frequencies, 2 x 2.5” woofers and 4 x passive radiators for better bass. The Smartbar has Bluetooth 4.2, S/PDIF, an optical port, line-in, and a 3.5mm audio jack for connectivity and Xiaomi says setup takes just about 30 seconds.

Continue

The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 And Mi A2 Lite Smartphones Go Up For Sale Carrying Slashed Prices On Banggood [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 8, 2019

Xiaomi is known for making smartphones that boast an impressive array of features and top-end specifications.
In a bid to make its well-received smartphones available to the big fan base of the brand at lowered prices, the Chinese electronics giant is now offering big discounts on the original asking prices of the Note 3 and the Mi A2 Lite smartphones. Moreover, we will show how you can save extra money at checkout.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 (6GB RAM+128GB ROM)

Xiaomi launched the Mi Note 3 back in September 2017. Nevertheless, the phone continues to garner huge popularity among Xiaomi aficionados. Taking this demand into consideration, Xiaomi is now offering the Mi Note 3 at a lowered price of just $279.99 on Banggood.
This is a significant 42 percent drop in the phone’s original asking price of $479.99. On top of that, you can use coupon code 1BGNote3 to reduce the device’s already lowered the retail price further down to just $209.99.

In other words, you can get an extra $70 off simply by applying the aforesaid coupon before placing your order. You can head straight to this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the Mi Note 3 smartphone.

Get 42% Off On Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Smartphone

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (4GB RAM+64GB ROM)

Xiaomi took the wraps off the Mi A2 Lite smartphone last year in July. As expected, the phone became an instant hit among Xiaomi fans. If you have restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the Mi A2 Lite without spending a lot of money, we got good news for you.

The coveted Mi A2 Lite from Xiaomi has now gone up for sale bearing a heavily discounted price tag of $199.99 on Banggood. This 23 percent discount on the phone’s original asking price of $259.99 can be extended with the help of coupon code 1BGA2L642.

The above-mentioned coupon helps you bring the phone’s already dropped selling price further down to only $163.99 without breaking a sweat. You can head straight to this link to avail this discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the handset.

Alternatively, you can grab a 23 percent off on the blue-tinted Mi A2 Lite smartphone, which is now available for just $209.99 on Banggood. This color version of the smartphone would normally set you back $269.99 on both online as well as offline stores.

Get 23% Off On Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Smartphone

Matrix PowerWatch 2, a smartwatch that charges via body heat and solar energy, unveiled

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 8, 2019

One major challenge manufacturers haven’t been able to tackle is the use of Lithium-ion battery in gadgets. Until an alternative is discovered, we will have to deal with the challenge of having to charge our smartphone and other gadgets always. Although smartwatches usually present with longer battery life due to the low power consumption capacity but at some point, you’ll still need to keep the smartwatch charged. Well, except that smartwatch is the latest Matrix PowerWatch 2 manufactured by Matrix industries.

The PowerWatch 2 has been unveiled at CES 2019 as a follow-up to last year’s wearable that was powered entirely by the body heat emitted from your wrist. This second-gen model comes with even more features which include an upgrade of the display from a black-and-white screen to a 1.2-inch color display. The new model also supports thermometric charging which is the use of body heat while strapped on the wrist and solar charging. Thus, you’ll never need to charge the smartwatch.

The smartwatch has a bulky 42mm frame made from aluminium while the straps are manufactured from rubber. This gives it a durable outlook. The PowerBall 2 features an LCD display that is configured by default to stay on always but this can be manually turned off. The watch’s bezel houses the solar cell ring which is reputed to be able to store power either from the indoor or outdoor lighting. However, the wearable is specifically targeted at those that are always outdoors, on the move, such that they won’t need to keep it charged to continue tracking their fitness.

Further, the Matrix PowerWatch 2 comes with a scratch resistant screen, water resistance of up to 200 meters. other features include GPS and fitness tracking functions such as heart rate monitoring, pace, and even cadence tracking. The watch also has a compass function. These functions are available on most smartwatches but another standout feature of the PowerWatch 2 is that it conserves its power. When the user removes the watch from his or her wrist, it saves your data and goes into a sleep mode.

The smartwatch is presently available on crowdfunding via Indiegogo for just $199. The final retail price will peak at $499 when the device starts shipping, scheduled for June 2019.

(source)

Get 40% Off On Feature-Laden Smart Watches From Bakeey And Other Top Brands On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 8, 2019

Planning to buy a new smartwatch that doesn’t cost a bomb? We got good news for you.

As part of its New Year, New Watch $1 Snap-Up, Banggood is doling out 40 percent discount on a wide selection of smartwatches that normally carry steep price tags. In a bid to expedite the search process, these smartwatches have been divided into various categories.

If you are looking to kick off 2019 by getting a recently launched smartwatch at a lowered price, you can head straight to the first section dubbed, ‘New Arrivals of 2019.’ This section features three Bakeey-branded smartwatches including the L18, P1C and the Bakeey F6 watch bracelet.

More importantly, the aforesaid smartwatches have gone up for sale carrying big discounts. For instance, the Bakeey L18 usually sells for $59.99, but you can now buy it for only $29.99. Likewise, the Bakeey P1C would normally set you back $99.99 but it is currently available for just $51.99, while the F6 smartwatch bracelet that usually carries a $38.99 price tag can now be yours for just $12.99.
Last year saw the launch of some of the most amazing smartwatches that regrettably didn’t come cheap. Much to the delight of those living on a tight budget, these previously launched smartwatches are now up for grabs for lowered prices under the ‘Top Sellers of 2018’ category.

The aforesaid category includes the Bakeey A6, the Zeblaze THOR 4 Pro, and the Bakeey M16 smartwatches. While you’d normally end up spending a lot of money on these devices, you can now buy them without breaking the bank.

Keeping in line with that, you can get a whopping 74 percent off on the Bakeey A6, 59 percent off on the Zeblaze THOR 4 Pro, and a 60 percent discount on the Bakeey M16 smartwatch. Aside from that, you can take full advantage of the $1 Snap-Up, which starts at 10:00 am (UTC+8) every day.

The $1 Snap-Up features three pieces of the LYNWO M8 and the LYNWO M6 smart bracelets that usually sells for $12.99 and $19.99, respectively. It is also worth noting that this chance to win this Banggood snap up will only be valid until January 14th.

Alternatively, you can avail considerable discounts on your favorite brand of smartwatches, under the ‘Brands Deal’ section. This section is brimming smartwatches and fitness bands from popular brands like Bakeey, zeblaze, newwear, and LEMFO. Each brand offers select smartwatches that you can now buy at lowered prices on Banggood.

Finally, the ‘Leisure Life’ category boasts an impressive array of eye-catching smartwatches that have gone up for sale carrying dropped prices. Here you get your hands on the SMAEL 1545 sports watch, SKMEI 1335 Fashion Chronograph Stainless Steel Digital Watch and other select state-of-the-art smartwatches at unbeatable prices.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the smartwatches that are currently up for grabs at lowered prices on Banggood.

Check Out Banggood’s New Year, New Watch $1 Snap Up

Official renders of Xiaomi’s Mi Freedom Buds Pro (AirDots Pro) leaked ahead of release

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 7, 2019

Xiaomi launched its first truly wireless earbuds last year. The device which is called the AirDots Lite a.k.a Mi Freedom Buds connects via Bluetooth 5.0 and offers up to 4 hours of playback. It is set to get a pro version called the Mi Freedom Buds Pro/AirDots Pro and official renders have now surfaced online.

This isn’t the first time we are seeing the Mi Freedom Buds Pro. About a month ago, it was seen at the FCC and the listing included images of the earbuds along with its case.

Unlike the FCC images which show only the white variant, these renders include a black variant which appears to have a matte finish and not gloss like the white.

[envira-gallery id=”231126″]

The Mi Freedom Buds Pro has a different design from its Lite variant. It has a stem which means it will stick out of your ears. The buds also sit vertically in the rechargeable case.

The Bluetooth certification page reveals its model number as TWSEJ03LM and it also connects via Bluetooth 5.0. The buds’ case will charge via USB-C and it will come with extra silicone tips and a USB type-C cable.

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Elephone A5 on a photo session tour of Dubai with popular Moroccan singer Leila Gouchi

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 7, 2019

Just a couple of months back, specifically on October 27, Elephone opened its first physical store in Africa, precisely in Rabat, Morocco. The store also happens to be the company largest ever brick and mortar store but that isn’t the story here. The Chinese phone maker also unveiled a brand ambassador in the person of Leila Gouchi, a famous local artiste whose popularity extends beyond the shores. The singer is already at work promoting the company’s products and the Elephone A5 gets the honour of a tour with the popular singer.

The new and popular premium budget model, Elephone A5 has now been taken on a tour to Dubai by the brand ambassador. The purpose of the tour is for some photoshoot sessions with the A5’s camera. As a reminder, the device packs a triple rear camera configuration which includes a 12.0MP + 5.0MP + 0.3MP combo. The main sensor comes with an f1.8 aperture for unrivalled low-light and night performance while the secondary and tertiary sensors are used to bring stunning visual effects to your photos instantly. The dual selfie camera setup at the front comprised of a 20.0MP + 2.0MP combo looks even more interesting as it sure would capture stunning selfies. The camera’s samples captured by the singer is yet t be shared by the company. We are positive the samples won’t be disappointing hence this teaser.

The Elephone A5 features a 6.18-inch FHD+ notch screen with a resolution of 2246 x 1080pixels. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio P60 mid-range chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of internal storage onboard. The device gets its juice from a massive 4000mAh battery which will surely offer an extended battery life. Other perks include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and Lumia gradient back colour. The sleek smartphone is currently available on AliExpress and GearBest. You can also get more details of the A5 from Elephone’s official website.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 lands in Spain and Italy for €549

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 7, 2019

Xiaomi‘s slider phone, the Mi MIX 3 is now available in Europe. Spain and Italy are the first countries to get it and Xiaomi’s official Twitter accounts in both countries have confirmed the arrival of the flagship.

https://twitter.com/XiaomiEspana/status/1081883078136680449

In Spain, the phone will go on sale tomorrow and will be available on Mi.com, AliExpress Spain, and Mi Home stores. The 6GB RAM + 128GB Mi MIX 3 is the version that will be sold in the country and it is priced at €499.

In Italy, the Mi MIX 3 will be available for purchase on Wednesday, January 9, on Mi.com and at Mi Home stores. The price is €549 but there will be a flash sale on the first day that will allow lucky buyers to purchase at €499. The phone will be available in Sapphire Blue and Black Onyx.

Mi MIX3 Disponibile dal 9 Gennaio a partire da 549,9€ in tutti i Mi Store Italia e su https://t.co/AIZANK7Anj, nelle colorazioni Sapphire Blue e Onyx Black.
Solo per la giornata del 9 sarà possibile acquistarlo in FLASH SALE a 499,9€ su https://t.co/AIZANK7Anj! pic.twitter.com/zbUJY99NSf

— Xiaomi Italia (@ItaliaXiaomi) January 7, 2019

If you do not mind waiting, Xiaomi says a 5G version of the phone with a Snapdragon 855 processor will launch in Europe later this quarter. You not only get a 5G phone but a more powerful version of the Mi MIX 3. As expected, you will also be shelling out more money.

The Mi MIX 3 has a 6.39-inch 1080 x 2340 display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It has a slider design, so the front cameras are hidden when the phone is closed. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor and also comes in 8GB RAM and 10GB RAM variants with 128GB or 256GB of storage. The front-facing cameras are a 24MP + 2MP sensor and on the rear is a 12MP wide-angle lens paired with another 12MP telephoto lens.

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The rugged Ulefone Armor 6 stays underwater for entire performance test (Video)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 7, 2019

Chinese phone maker Ulefone recently announced its latest rugged phone, the Armor 6. Rugged phones are known for their strength and performance under extreme conditions and to prove that the Armor 6 may well be the reigning king of rugged phones this year, the company has shared a video of the performance test carried out on the phone. After going through the video, we are pretty certain the Ulefone Armor 6 will not only be a phone with a rugged build but also outputs an impressive performance rating on various benchmark apps.

An interesting observation is that the test was carried out mostly inside a rctangular glass vessel filled with water. The phone was then subjected to the AnTuTu 3D benchmark test and placed underwater with no effect on its performance. The device scores 135654 points on AnTuTu which is consistent with those of other Helio P60-powered models. The Armor 6 equally packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage which also plays their roles in the smooth running of the phone even under heavy games such as PUGB.

Other performance tests which the Armor 6 passed in impressive pace includes the AndroBench 5 test which tested the speed of reading and writing. The reading speed is up to 289.56MB/S and the writing speed is up to 190.99MB/S. Yet another test is PC Mark for testing surfing speed and documentation writing speed. The running score of Work 2.0 is around 7425. It is quite smooth and fluent. In addition, the guys at Ulefone also played PUBG and MOBA games underwater, and the phone performed impressively, without any lag. One aspect which we are still not sure of is if the display will work seamlessly when operated with wet hands. We didn’t seem to see the operator scrolling through the phone with wet hands.

Here’s a reminder of the Ulefone Armor 6 specifications. You get a 6.2-inch notch display with FHD+ resolution. The device comes with the IP69K/IP68 water and dustproof certification as well as the MIL-STD-810G protection grade. On the camera end, it packs a 21MP+13MP dual rear camera setup and a 13MP selfie shooter up front. The device also packs a big 5000mAh battery under its hood with wireless charge support. Other features include a rear fingerprint ID, face unlock, support for global frequency bands, NFC, Google Pay, and a function which lets users test UV in outdoors. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo OS. The Ulefone Armor 6 will go on global presale starting from January 14. You can get more details about the device from here.

CES 2019: A Quick Look at what we can Expect from the Big Players this year!

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 7, 2019

CES 2019 (Consumer Electronics Show), the biggest tech-related trade show of the year, is just around the corner. It will start tomorrow January 8 in Las Vegas and it will last until January 11. At the event, several important hi-tech companies will make big announcements of new hi-tech products. Just like every year, we will cover the major announcements from CES 2019 here on Gizmochina, with a special focus on mobile and Chinese companies. Here is what to expect from the most important companies in the mobile sector starting from tomorrow.

Alcatel and BlackBerry

As you probably know if you follow Chinese hi-tech companies, Alcatel and BlackBerry are both owned by TCL. And both will attend CES 2019. That is what we expect from them.

New Alcatel phones, but we likely won’t see any BlackBerry-branded device at the event.
Tablet and smartwatches: Alcatel is launching new phones, along with a new smartphone display tech.
New automotive-based software called BlackBerry QNX.

Huawei and Honor

Despite smartphones being its most important business, Huawei will most likely not launch any phone at CES 2019. Instead, it is expected to focus on:

Tablets: we may see new devices from the MediaPad line-up and interesting prices in Las Vegas
Laptops: the company may showcase new notebooks from the Matebook series.
Honor View 20: it is the global version of the Honor V20 and it will launch in the international market on January 22 in Paris. The company may decide to showcase it at CES 2019 but considering the tension with the US, the tech giant might decide to keep this low key this year.

HTC

Even though it has been seeing a strong decline for about seven years, HTC will attend CES 2019. But its press conference will probably not be dedicated to phones. The company is expected to showcase new HTC Vive products, both hardware, and software. According to unconfirmed rumors, it might showcase:

New standalone VR headset.
New VR game demos, accessories and other kinds of VR-related hardware.

Lenovo

Lenovo often takes advantage of important trade shows to mainly launch new laptops and probably this year will be the same. Lenovo may unveil:

New Legion laptops for gamers with Nvidia GTX dedicated GPUs.
A new VR headset or VR-related accessories
New smart home products such as a new smart display.
A Special edition Lenovo Z5 Pro GT (SD855) will be showcased at the event.

LG

Until a few months ago, LG was expected to unveil its first foldable smartphone at CES 2019, but according to the latest news, this will not happen before the third quarter of 2019. Instead, LG should unveil:

World’s first rollable TV for consumers with a flexible OLED display
Three soundbars with support to Google Assistant and Dolby Atmos
New 8K OLED and LCD TVs with various dimensions as well as portable displays
Smart home products for the kitchen with Google Assistant and Alexa installed

Samsung

Samsung never launches its flagships at CES, so it is unlikely that Sammy will showcase the Galaxy S10 at the 2019 edition. Instead, it should come up with:

The launch of Samsung Galaxy Home, the new smart speaker with Bixby on board which was unveiled a few months ago alongside the Galaxy Note 9.
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen: a laptop with S Pen and Windows 10 for productivity with additional pen-related features.
Innovative and high-end televisions, including 8K and QLED TVs.

Google

We do not know if Big G planned the launch of new hi-tech products at CES 2019, even though some rumors hinted at an imminent launch of the first affordable Pixel devices: the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite. Instead, we believe the company will focus on Google Assistant for CES 2019. Even without any hardware products at the event, the company would likely enjoy a strong presence throughout the event with its Google Assistant and other features.

Sony

Sony usually holds the most interesting press conference of the whole trade show, if we consider mobile devices. But this year it may not be the case, according to the latest rumors. However, according to previous info, the Japanese company is set to announce:

Sony Xperia XA3 and variants: the new midrange smartphones line-up which is expected to be composed of three variants: Xperia XA3, XA3 Ultra and XA3 Plus.
Sony Xperia L3: a new entry-level device (compared to the rest of its line-up) focused on the price.
New TVs, including 8K ones.
New smart home products and accessories.

Over the past few years, CES has become the event for consumer electronics apart from smartphones. Smartphone companies like to focus on MWC for their big launches and recently, even the Barcelona event is being skipped by big companies in favor of standalone launch events. That said, CES 2019 still should hold enough innovation to deserve our attention. Expect a lot of ‘Smart’ + ‘AI’ products showcased throughout the event. It is worth adding that the number of Chinese tech companies attending the event this year has dropped to nearly 20%, all thanks to the US-China trade war tensions. Still, we’ll be sure to pick the best products of the lot and bring it to you in the next few days. So stay tuned!

Note that all of our CES 2019 Coverage can be found from this link.