Samsung reportedly has a budget flagship cheaper than the Galaxy S10e in the works

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Mar 12, 2019

Samsung took the wraps off its 2019 Galaxy S10 flagship models last month in New York. The Galaxy S10 models include the Galaxy S10, S10 5G, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10E. The Galaxy S10E happens to be a trimmed down version of the models with a starting price tag of $749. That may not look cheap but when compared to the s10 and S10 Plus, the price is cheaper. Samsung has been implementing some changes in its approach to the market with more focus on the mid-range to the budget market. There are rumours the South Korean company will also adjust its approach in the flagship segment by launching a more cost-effective flagship. The flagship is said to come with a cheaper price tag than the Galaxy S10E.

The information was shared by a tipster of Twitter, who also hinted that the tech giant will launch more than six flagships powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset this year. Samsung was expected to release a total of six flagships this year and these include the new Galaxy S10 series (Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e), the upcoming 5G-enabled Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Fold. Samsung will also launch the Galaxy Note 10 later in the year. Going by this new tip, the Chinese tech giant may be planning to release more flagships.

This year Samsung will have more than 6 models of the Snapdragon 855 flagship phone, including folding phones. Please trust me.#Samsung #SamsungFold pic.twitter.com/TJekkhG6ZH

— Star universe (@TechstarGod) March 7, 2019

Such rumours should be received with a pinch of salt, though. This is because Samsung is already focusing on boosting the mid-range segment and so, may not have such plans in sight. In another light, the Galaxy S10E may have been released just to test the water, considering how it comes with a Snapdragon 855 and misses out on some features like on-screen fingerprint and edge-to-edge display. The success of the model may determine the next step the company will take.

AnTuTu’s global top 10 best performing Android phones for February 2019 released

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2019

AnTuTu benchmarking platform has released the list of the top 10 best performing Android phones in the global market for February 2019. The list has been compiled considering the average benchmarking score of each smartphone between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 on the AnTuTu Benchmark v7 app. AnTuTu claims that it has tested at least 1,000 units of each model that have been included in the top 10 list. The list is led by 8nm Exynos 9820 powered Samsung Galaxy S10+ with an average benchmarking score of 332,850.

The second spot goes to the Honor V20 that has recorded an average benchmarking score of 305,599. The Huawei Mate 20 X is placed on third spot with an AnTuTu score of 304,588. The fourth position goes to Huawei Mate 20 that has recorded a score of 302,985. Sitting on the fifth spot is the Honor Magic 2 with 300,743. These Huawei and Honor phones are powered by 7nm Kirin 980 SoC.

The Xiaomi Mi MX 2S powered by Snapdragon 845 is on the sixth place with 298,007 AnTuTu score. The OnePlus 6, ASUS ROG Phone and Xiaomi Mi 8 have respectively bagged seventh, eighth and ninth positions. These phones have respectively scored 297,076, 297,037 and 297,001. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 slotted on the tenth position is yet another Snapdragon 845 powered Xiaomi phone in the list. With multiple SD855 fueled phones coming to the market, it is likely that smartphones driven by it may rank higher in the top 10 list of best performing Android phones in the coming months.

(source)

AnTuTu 7.2.6 will make it harder for Manufacturers to Cheat in benchmarks

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 12, 2019

AnTuTu has got a brand new update, version 7.2.6, and the changelog mentions a very important point. The new version which was released earlier today, mentions that it will “fix the issue of an abnormal running score of UX caused by malicious exploitation of system permissions by some manufacturers”.

In the past few years, it has become a trend for manufacturers to boasts about their smartphone’s AnTuTu scores, even at their launch events. This is especially true in smartphone launches in China. Such is the importance that we give to this benchmarking tool.

And in the process, we have often seen manufacturers tweak their smartphones to score better than others. OnePlus, Meizu, OPPO, Huawei have all been found cheating on AnTuTu in the past. This isn’t really surprising given that users often assume a higher AnTuTu score is synonymous to a faster and more powerful smartphone.

The usual method of cheating on AnTuTu has been to tweak the smartphones to detect when the app is running and unleashing the full power of the CPU without any regard for efficiency, which it usually would, under normal use case scenario.

RELATED: Black Shark 2 scores over 400K on AnTuTu

AnTuTu 7.2.6 update doesn’t really explain how it would stop such cheating from manufacturers, but if you were worried that you could be fooled, at least know that AnTuTu is trying something from their end.

Personally, I believe we should always take AnTuTu scores for the sake of reference, instead of pitting two phones with minute differences against each other to hail one as the ultimate winner.

Currently, the AnTuTu 7.2.6 version is only available via its Chinese website (link here!). The one on the app store is still v7.0.

(via)

Vivo V1838A full specs spotted on TENAA; Could be Vivo X27 lower edition

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2019

In the recent past, TENAA telecom body from China had approved the Vivo V1829A/T smartphone. The V1829A/T is expected to debut as the Vivo X27. Also, the Vivo 1831A/T phone that was recently approved by TENAA is rumored to launch as Vivo S1. A new Vivo device with model number Vivo V1838A has been spotted on TENAA today. The specs of the V1838A listed on TENAA reveals that it features a weaker chipset and lower triple camera sensors than the Vivo V1829A/T Vivo X27 smartphone. The rest of the specs of both smartphones are identical. Hence, it appears that the Vivo V1838A could be a lower edition of the Vivo X27.

The images of the Vivo V1838A are not available yet on its TENAA listing. However, it appears to be featuring the same 6.39-inch notch-less AMOLED display with full HD+ resolution like the Vivo X27 and Vivo V15 Pro smartphone. The display of the phone is embedded with a fingerprint sensor. The handset measures 157.66 x 74.26 x 8.95mm and it may weigh 188.3 grams. The TENAA listing states that it will be available in Gold color.

The Vivo V1838A is fueled by 2.0 GHz octa-core processor. The Vivo V1829A/T Vivo X27 has 2.2 GHz octa-core processor onboard which is nothing but the Snapdragon 710 mobile platform. Hence, the Vivo 1838A that is speculated to debut as a lower edition of Vivo X27 could be powered by Snapdragon 675.

Read More: Vivo iQOO warranty extended by 6 months after slight deliver delays

The minimum capacity of Vivo V1838A is of 3,920mAh, but its typical size could be 4,000mAh. It will carry support for rapid charging technology. It will be available in two models such as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The handset is loaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It lacks support for microSD card slot.

The Vivo V1829A/T features 48-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel rear-mounted triple camera unit and a frontal shooter of 16-megapixel. The newly approved Vivo V1838A smartphone has 12-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel triple camera module and a selfie snapper of 16-megapixel. The selfie shooter could be available on the device as a pop-up camera like the Vivo V15 Pro.

(source)

Buy Two Variants Of The A5X MAX RK3328 Android 9.0 TV Box At Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 12, 2019

Much to the delight of those looking for an RK3328 SoC-equipped Android TV box but aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, GeekBuying has launched the unmissable A5X MAX Flash Sale.

As part of the recently kicked-off sale, the Chinese online store known for offering the country’s best electronic items will be giving its loyal users a chance to buy a wide range of TV boxes without breaking their banks. As if that weren’t enough, GeekBuying users will be able to save extra money by using coupons at check out.

For those spending a specific amount on the promotion page will be eligible to get noteworthy discounts. For the sake of an instance, if your cart value is more than $45, you can use coupon code A5XA5X1 and get an extra $3 off before placing your order.

GeekBuying is also offering two well-received variants of the A5X Max TV box at unbeatable prices on the promotion page. We’ll divulge more details about the discount and show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money during the checkout process.

A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box (4GB RAM, 64GB ROM)

This variant of the A5X Max TV box ships with 4GB of RAM and offers a hearty 64GB of onboard storage capacity. You’d normally end up shelling out $82.99 in order to get your hands on this model, but you can now purchase it for a reduced price of only $49.99 on GeekBuying.Moreover, you can apply coupon code GIZ_HBGKNQCA and get an extra $9 off. In other words, you can bring the already reduced asking price of the aforesaid variant down to just $48.99 simply by using the coupon.

You can visit this link to avail the discount. Note that the promotion sale is slated to end in just seven days.

Get 40% Off On A5X MAX RK3328
Android 9.0 TV Box

A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box (4GB RAM, 32GB ROM)

This variant offers 4GB of RAM and relatively less storage capacity of 32GB. This model would normally set you back $83.67, but it has now gone up for sale bearing a heavily discounted price of $54.99.
You can extend this 34 percent discount by using coupon code GIZ_ZIXQZCMR at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you save $17 by reducing the variant’s original selling price to only $39.99.

Regrettably, this promo will only be valid for two days. You can follow this link in order to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

The A5X MAX Android 9.0 TV Box is an absolute bargain at this price. Here are some of the features that the coveted TV box has to offer:

Rockchip RK3328 chipset
Android 9.0 Pie OS
True 4K Media Player
Mali-450 GPU
Bluetooth 4.0
4G WiFi

Get 34% Off On A5X MAX RK3328
Android 9.0 TV Box

Check Out The A5X MAX Flash Sale On GeekBuying

ZTE Blade V10 price and release date confirmed for China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2019

ZTE had announce the Snapdragon 855 powered 5G-ready Axon 10 Pro 5G smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech expo that was held at the end of the previous month in Barcelona, Spain. The Chinese manufacturer had also unveiled the Blade V10 mid-range smartphone alongside the Axon 10 Pro 5G. While there is no fresh information available on the release date of the Axon 10 Pro 5G, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed the pricing and release date of the Blade V10. The new mid-ranger from ZTE is now available on pre-orders in the home market.

ZTE Blade V10 Price and Variants

The ZTE Blade V10 has arrived in China in two models such as 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The 64 GB and 128 GB variants of the Blade V10 are respectively priced at 1,199 Yuan (~$178) and 1,499 Yuan (~$223). The pre-orders of the phone will run until March 17 and its shipments will begin on March 18. The handset can be pre-ordered through the official ZTE Mall online store. The phone is currently only available in Night Sky Black color in China. There is no word on the availability of the green and gradient blue editions of the Blade V10.

When the phone was announced at the MWC 2019, ZTE had confirmed that it will be available in 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. Apart from China, the smartphone will be also made available in European and South American markets in the near future.

ZTE Blade V10 Specifications

The Blade V10 is fitted with a 6.3-inch waterdrop-notch enabled display that offers full HD+ resolution. The Helio P70 is present under the hood of the device. It is driven by a 3,100mAh battery.

The back panel of the Blade V10 features a 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. There is a 32-megapixel camera placed inside the frontal notch of the phone. Some of the other features of the Blade V10 include Android 9 Pie OS, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, microSD card slot and USB-C.

(source)

LG G8 ThinQ pricing revealed, South Korea pre-orders start from 15th March

By

Jeet

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Mar 12, 2019

At the Mobile World Congress, LG announced its flagship smartphone LG G8 ThinQ but didn’t reveal the phone’s pricing and availability details. Now, the company has revealed that the device will be available for pre-orders in South Korea from 15th March.

As for the pricing, the LG G8 ThinQ will cost KRW 897,600 in South Korea, which roughly converts to $795. The phone will be available for pre-orders in the country between March 15-20 and it will go on sale starting March 22.

The company has said that the device will be provided with a screen replacement facility for one year and will come bundled with a free case. The G8 ThinQ notably comes as a successor to the LG G7 ThinQ that was launched last year.

Coming to the phone’s specifications, the smartphone features a 6.1-inch OLED notched display that carries support for Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chipset, coupled with 8GB of RAM.

In the camera department, it comes with a triple camera setup on its rear that includes a 12-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens. On the front side, the device comes equipped with an 8-megapixel front-facing snapper and a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.

The phone also carries support for Hand ID that can read the thickness and characteristics of a user’s veins for unlocking. It runs Android 9 Pie operating system out of the box with the company’s own custom interface on top. The phone is powered by a 3,500mAh battery.

Gearbest Marks 5th Anniversary By Offering 55% Off Over $55.55 And Lots More

By

Vinay Patel

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Updated Mar 13, 2019

Staying true to its reputation for being one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, Gearbest leaves no stone unturned in a bid to offer top-branded items at unbeatable prices to its users.

Check Out Gearbest 5th Anniversary Party Main Page

The Chinese online store is marking its 5th anniversary with a new promo that comprises a slew of unmissable deals, great discounts and lots more. Dubbed as ‘Gearbest 5th Anniversary Party Guide,’ the promotion has been split into multiple categories, each offering Gearbest users something to cheer about.

The ‘Get the Coupons’ section features coupon codes that can be used to save a considerable amount of money at checkout. Each coupon has been assigned to specific categories.

For the sake of an instance, the 10% off coupon is valid for the products available in the ‘Fishing’ category. Likewise, there are two 6% off coupons that you can use for Tools and Home Gadgets sections and get noteworthy discounts. There’s a 5% off coupon as well which will be valid for the Cell Phone Accessories category.

The ‘Fun’ section features four other promotions that you can check out. For example, ‘Your Favorite Shopping Memory’ promo offers a limited number of coupons to select users from specific countries. Those who have registered Gearbest accounts will be eligible to receive a Lucky Draw card as well as one coupon.

The next category is called ‘Affordable’ and it comprises three promotions including an upcoming 24th Flash Sale, Mega Marketplace and 5 Days Arrival promotions wherein you can get $10 off and a chance to save 50 percent, respectively.

On March 13th, products included in the ‘Quality’ category will go up for sale bearing heavily discounted prices. Alternatively, you can head straight to the ‘Super Coupon’ section that features mobile devices like smartphones and phablets along with laptops and a myriad of other electronic items.

More importantly, all items included in the aforesaid section are available at lowered prices. In order to reduce the original asking price of a specific product all you need to do is to apply coupons associated with it. You can visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the products by following this link.

Check Out Gearbest 5th Anniversary Party Guide

Generate Your Shopping Memories And Get $5 Coupon

Xiaomi’s Sun Changxu defends DxOMark, says their tests are credible and relevant in the industry

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 12, 2019

Against all odds, DXOMark continues to rise as one of the reputable benchmark outfit and authority when it comes to rating the cameras stuffed on flagship phones. But not every OEM is pleased with the work DXOMark is doing. OPPO’s VP Brian Shen recently questioned the significance of DxOMark benchmarks in today’s smartphone market. In a Weibo post, he questioned the rationale behind tuning every smartphone camera to one particular standard. In his opinion, there was no need to set a specific standard when it comes to smartphone cameras.

Xiaomi’s Sun Changxu who is also a market analyst also weighed in on the debate. She picked holes with that opinion, stating that DXOMark camera benchmark test makes sense. She drew out the fact that DXOMark has strict testing standards for various comprehensive indicators. She revealed that phone manufacturers actually test the parameters in secret and camera chip manufacturers also have simulation labs which help the mobile phone companies perform these tests. She likened the DXOMark benchmark to a student who takes a college entrance examination but bragging about being capable of getting the best score. DXOMark test is like a college entrance exam which shows how good a student his in several subjects.

This opinion, no doubt, reflects that of Xiaomi which have laboured to improve the camera rating of its smartphones, flagship after flagship. Apart from a better DXOMark performance, the improved camera provides a better user experience for its teeming fans. Perhaps, one major factor that has helped improve the credibility of DXOMark is the fact that the camera samples by users are commensurate with the scores of the device.

(source)

Vivo iQOO warranty extended by 6 months after slight deliver delays

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2019

The Vivo iQOO gaming phone was announced at the beginning of this month in China. Since then, it has been made available for purchase twice in the home market. iQOO Vice President Feng Yufei had recently claimed that the sales of the iQOO gaming phone has been beyond expectations and the company is actively working on increasing its production capacity. However, fresh information reveals that the shipments of the phone have been affected to some extent. In order to pacify the annoyed customers of Vivo iQOO, Yufei has announced additional six months of warranty for customers who have already purchased it.

Yesterday, Yufei convey through Weibo that except for some high orders, the shipments of iQOO variants are in progress. He added that the 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variant of the phone will be delivered within 48 hours. He also confirmed on the six months extra warranty for customers who have been waiting for their ordered units. The next sale of the smartphone will be carried out on March 13.

Vivo iQOO Specifications and Price

The Vivo iQOO phone comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with waterdrop notch. The smartphone offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 91.7 percent. The Snapdragon 855 mobile platform powers the Vivo iQOO. The 4,000mAh battery of the phone is equipped with support for 44W fast charging through USB-C. Only the base model of the phone that comes with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage supports 22.5W fast charging while its other variants offer 44W rapid charging.

Since it is a gaming focused smartphone, it comes with AI Turbo for improving apps performance, Net Turbo for switching between 4G and Wi-Fi while gaming, Cooling Turbo through super liquid cooling technology and Game Turbo for prioritizing resources for smooth gaming performance. There are a pair of pressure-sensitive buttons on the phone that can be used while gaming. For immersive gaming experience, the Vivo iQOO supports 4D gaming through haptics and surround sound output.

The FunTouch OS based Android 9 Pie comes loaded on the device. Its rear-facing triple camera setup includes a 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 main sensor, a 13-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For capturing selfies, it features a 12-megapixel frontal shooter. The handset also features an in-screen fingerprint reader and NFC.

Read More: Vivo iQOO Hands On: Halo Lights, Virtual Buttons & Headphone Jack makes it Stand Out!

Vivo iQOO Price and Variants

The 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB variants of the Vivo iQOO are respectively priced at 2,998 Yuan (~$447), 3,298 Yuan (~$392), 3,598 Yuan (~$536) and 4,298 Yuan (~$640). It comes in two colors such as Electro-optic Blue and Lava Orange. There is no word on the international availability of the phone.

(source)

Buy Xiaomi Dreame V9 And PHIYU A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaners At Reduced Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 12, 2019

As part of its latest promotion, GeekBuying is now doling out up to 50 percent off on a wide selection of products that come in hand in day to day life. Dubbed as ‘Smart Home Tech,’ the aforesaid promo has been split into multiple categories, allowing GeekBuying users to find their favorite product without breaking a sweat.

The promotion page features popular brands such as Xiaomi, Roborock, YEELIGHT, and Aqara under the ‘Top Sellers’ category. Aside from that, the section also features products from other equally popular brands including Geekbes, Philips, KEMEI, and ESCAM.

The Chinese online store known for offering the country’s best electronic items at unbeatable prices is also giving its users a chance to get their hands on the Xiaomi Dreame V9 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner and PHIYU A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaner without breaking the bank.

We’ll check out more details about the aforesaid discounts and even show how you can save more money at checkout.

Xiaomi Dreame V9 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Backed with a Space3.0 brushless digital motor that rotates about 100,000rpm per minute, the Dreame V9 is an irresistible vacuum cleaner. It delivers a powerful suction of 120 AW and 20,000 Pa, thoroughly capturing even the deep-down dirt and hair.

The Dreame V9 would normally set you back $339.99, but you can now buy it for a dropped price of only $259.99 on GeekBuying. You can extend this 24 percent discount by using coupon code GIZ_PSGBIDVG.

The coupon helps you get an extra $35 off. In other words, you can bring the already reduced retail price of the Dreame V9 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner further down to only $254.99 simply by applying the coupon before placing your order.

You can visit this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for the white color version of the vacuum cleaner. Note that the promo ends in just one day.

Get 24% Off On Xiaomi Dreame V9 Cordless Stick
Vacuum Cleaner

PHIYU A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaner

The A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaner houses an ingeniously hidden high-definition camera which allows you to have video chats with your friends and family or just keep an eye on your pets. You can control the robot and initiate the sweep or check its working status remotely.

The PHIYU A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaner usually carries a $279.99 price tag, but thanks to an 18 percent discount GeekBuying is offering to its users, you can now buy it for just $229.99. Aside from taking advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_VKUBQUSO to save $13.80 more.
As a result, the original asking price of the A35 robot vacuum cleaner reduces to just $216.19. Regrettably, the promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing. You can visit this link to grab the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 18% Off On PHIYU A3S Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Get Up To 50% Off On Smart Home Tech

Samsung Galaxy S10 series smartphones goes out of stock in Hong Kong

By

Jeet

-

Mar 12, 2019

Samsung officially launched its flagship Galaxy S10 series smartphones last month. Later that month, the devices were officially launched in China and Hong Kong. Since the phone’s pricing in Hong Kong is cheaper, the devices are sold out in Hong Kong.

The latest Galaxy S10 series has been well received by the users and is in demand. Seeing the demand, it seems that the pricing of the S10-series devices in Hong Kong are getting increased. Analysts have predicted that the South Korean giant will be selling around 40-45 million units of S10 series smartphones this year.

The Galaxy S10 sports a 5.8-inch “Dynamic” Infinity-O AMOLED while the S10+ comes with a bigger 6.44-inch display. The display supports QHD+ resolutions and 19:9 aspect ratios and is HDR10+ certified. The devices come with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor which Samsung says is faster than the optical fingerprint sensors.

The new S-series smartphones are powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 chipset while the international version will be powered by Exynos 9820 chipset. As for the memory configuration, the S10 will be available with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/512GB storage while the Galaxy S10 Plus comes with 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM and 128GB/512GB/1TB of native storage.

The camera configuration includes a regular 77-degree 12MP sensor with an F1.5/F2.4 variable aperture, a 12MP 2x telephoto snapper with a 45-degree viewing angle and a fixed aperture of F/2.4 and an ultra-wide 16MP camera with a 123-degree viewing angle and a fixed F2.2 aperture. The front sensor for the Galaxy S10 is a single 10MP camera while the Galaxy S10 Plus has a dual camera with an 8MP RGB secondary sensor.

Both the smartphones come with stereo speakers, a USB Type-C port, IP68 water-resistance, and a dedicated Bixby button. The S10 is powered by a 3,500mAh battery while the S10 Plus packs a bigger 4,100mAh cell, both supporting wired as well as wireless fast charging.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S10e comes with a 5.8-inch Infinity-O AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440×2960 pixels and is powered by Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB combo.

The phone doesn’t have an in-display fingerprint reader but has a traditional fingerprint sensor on the right side of the device. The device packs a dual camera setup on the back, which includes a 12MP dual aperture camera (F/1.8; F/2.4) with optical image stabilization, alongside a 16MP ultra wide angle one. The phone still has a 10MP sensor for selfies just like the others.

Under its hood, the Galaxy S10e packs a 3100mAh battery while for connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 6 (Wi-Fi 802.11 ax), LTE Cat. 20 with up to 2Gbps download speeds, NFC and Bluetooth 5.0. Just like the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, this one too runs Android 9 Pie-based One UI custom interface on top.

Nokia 9 PureView Teardown video shows the internals including the Penta camera sensors

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Mar 12, 2019

HMD Global went official with the flagship Nokia 9 PureView a couple of weeks back. The standout feature on the device was definitely the Penta camera setup onboard. Even though the device comes with last year’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, the camera setup that promises beautiful things steals the show. The Penta-lens setup of the Nokia phone includes two 12-megapixel RGB sensors and three monochrome 12-megapixel sensors. The device also has dual-LED flash and a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor at the back.

A teardown video of the Nokia 9 PureView has been published online, thanks to Youtube channel PBK Reviews. The video takes us through a set by step process of the teardown. Apparently, you’ll need a heat gun, and pry tools to open up the glass back of the device to reveal the internals. You may want to use only a plastic pry tool so as not to damage the glass. Gently heat the glass back to softens the adhesives, making it easy for the back to be separated from the mid-frame. You may also use a suction cup to pull the back slightly so as to get some leverage to insert the pry tool in order to separate the glass back. Removing the back reveals the entire internals, including the wireless charger.

One visible thing you’ll notice after removing the back is that the glass panel is firmly fixed to the frame with lots of adhesives, apparently to improve its water resistance. In addition, there are thirteen Philips screws holding a plastic cover which also holds the wireless charger. After removing the screws, the cover can then be pried off. When the cover is off, the battery can then be disconnected and removed. Also visible is some liquid damage indicators. You also get access to the five camera sensors with three of them arranged vertically at the middle and two on the horizontal side between the third and fourth sensors. You’ll still have to disconnect the battery and other connected parts from the motherboard and remove some screws in other to see the Vapor chamber underneath, the midframe and the fingerprint sensor attached to the screen. As you would recall, the Nokia 9 is the first Nokia phone that comes with an optical in-display fingerprint sensor.

Overall, the disassembly video shows the Nokia 9 PureView may be easy to repair but that will require some care and patience. You can check out the video from below.

Xiaomi foldable smartphone concept render video shows the phone’s stunning design

By

Jeet

-

Mar 12, 2019

While Samsung and Huawei have already announced their foldable smartphone, other major smartphone manufacturers are also working on foldable smartphones. Interestingly, every company has their own take when it comes to the design of such devices.

Xiaomi has been rumored to working on a smartphone with a foldable design. Earlier this year, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun publicly confirmed that a folding smartphone is in development. In January this year, the phone’s 3D render images also surfaced online.

Now, TechConfigurations has created a 2-minute 3D concept render video showcasing the upcoming Xiaomi foldable smartphone’s stunning design, which can be folded twice. It shows that the device has a 6.5-inch display when folded and when unfolded, it offers a 10-inch display.

The company had said that the symmetric double folded design perfectly combines the experience of the tablet and a mobile phone, which is both practical and beautiful. There’s also a triple-camera setup on the back of the device, which will presumably handle bokeh-style portrait shots. For charging, syncing and headphones, the device has a USB Type-C port.

Also, the device is shown featuring a punch-hole design where the cut-off on the screen houses the front-facing camera sensor for taking selfies, video calling, and face unlocking feature. The phone also packs an in-display fingerprint sensor.

According to the reports, the company is currently in the process of finalizing the name of this prototype from these two — Xiaomi Dual Flex and Xiaomi MIX Flex. However, the company is still open for more suggestions.

Earlier, in a statement regarding the development of Xiaomi foldable smartphone, the company had said that one of the key components of the phone — the flexible folding screen is co-developed by Xiaomi and its supply chain partner Visionox. Aside from the screen, its design, folding mechanism and MIUI adaptation are developed by the company itself.

While the phone’s concept design has been already shown, the launch of the Xiaomi’s foldable smartphone seems to be far away. If the reports are to be believed, then the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is expected to launch the device this year.

Realme 3 first sale today at 12 PM: Price and specifications

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 12, 2019

The Realme 3 smartphone was announced on March 4 in India. The handset comes with an affordable starting price of Rs. 8,999 (~$129). Also, it is packed with some exciting features such as high screen-to-body ratio display, a powerful chipset, big battery and impressive cameras. The first sale of the Realme 3 phone will be carried out today at 12 PM. Here is all the information on its specs and pricing of its different variants.

Realme 3 Price in India

The Realme 3 comes in two storage models such as 32 GB and 64 GB that are respectively packed with 3 GB and 4 GB of RAM. These models are respectively priced at Rs. 8,999 (~$129) and Rs. 10,999 (~$158) for the first one million customers. This indicates that interested buyers should purchase the Realme 3 as its price may increase after the one million sales mark.

It can be purchased through Realme.com and Flipkart. On Realme.com, the Realme 3 buyers can take advantage of 20 percent cashback through MobiKwik. HDFC credit and debit card owners can benefit from Rs. 500 instant discount on both variants of the Realme 3. HDFC bank card users who purchase the 64 GB variant through EMI will be also provided with Rs. 500 additional discount. Realme 3 customers on Flipkart will be also receiving benefits worth Rs. 5,300 from Jio.

Classic Black and Dynamic Black color variants of the Realme 3 will be available for purchase through its first sale today. The Radiant Blue variant of the phone will be available for buying from March 26. The company will be also selling attractive Iconic cases worth Rs. 599 for Realme 3. The handset will be also available through offline stores in the near future.

Read More: Realme 3 Review: A New Segment Leader is Here!

Realme 3 Specifications

The Realme 3 features a 6.2-inch Dewdrop display that delivers HD+ resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. The display is shielded by Gorilla Glass 3 and the smartphone sports a splash-resistant body. The MediaTek Helio P70 that also powers the OPPO F11 Pro is present under the hood of the device. It features a 4,230mAh battery to keep the lights on. It supports 10W charging through microUSB.

The Realme 3 has a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup that comes with AI driven night scape mode for capturing brighter shots in dim-light conditions. Sitting on the front is 13-megapixel selfie shooter. A fingerprint scanner is available on the backside of the device. The handset also carries support for AI face unlock. It comes with ColorOS 6.0 based Android 9 Pie.

Buy Kospet Hope 4G Smartwatch For Just $138.99 On TomTop

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 12, 2019

If you have restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a feature-laden smartwatch without spending a lot of money, you have come to the right place.

Kospet has teamed-up with TomTop to offer its well-received Hope 4G smartwatch at an unbeatable price. Before we shed light on the aforesaid discount, let us check out the awe-inspiring features and top-end specs that makes the Kospet Hope an irresistible smartwatch.

Marketed as world’s first ceramic smartwatch, Kospet Hope comes with an eye-catching 1.39 Inch AMOLED high-brightness display that has a high resolution of 400×400 pixels. The smartwatch can efficiently monitor the wearer’s pulses and the heart rate changes, both active as well as resting.

The Kospet Hope packs a powerful an MTK6739 quad-core processor with 4 A53 cores and a dominant frequency of 1.3GHz. It ships with 3GB of RAM and offers a hearty 32GB of internal storage capacity.
Furthermore, the smartwatch runs Android 7.1 Nougat OS and draws its juices from a robust 900mAh lithium-polymer battery. Aside from that, the Kospet Hope supports nine professional sports mode including badminton, football and running and adopts GPS ＋ GLONASS dual positioning system.

While the aforesaid features completely justify the steep $327.82 price tag the Kospet Hope usually carries, TomTop users can now get their tech greedy hands on the smartwatch for an unbelievably lowered price of just $138.99.

The Chinese online store will be doling out this noteworthy 58 percent discount for the black color version of the Kospet Hope smartwatch. Regrettably, there were only 171 pieces remaining for this limited offer flash sale at the time of writing.

In order to grab the discount, all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time. Note that the promotion sale is slated to end in nineteen days.

Get 58% Off On Kospet Hope 4G Smartwatch

OPPO Reno key specs leaked: 6.4-inch display, SD710, 48MP dual camera and 16MP selfie camera

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2019

Reno, a new product line from OPPO was confirmed yesterday. The Chinese manufacturer will be launching the first OPPO Reno phone on April 10. While the rumor mill is speculating that it could be fueled by the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform, its appearance on the database of Singapore’s IMDA (Info-communications Media Development Authority) and Bluetooth SIG have confirmed that it is powered by the Snapdragon 710 SoC. Moreover, the Bluetooth certification of the phone has confirmed some of its key specs.

It has been found through the IMDA certification of CPH1917 that it will be hitting the market the OPPO Reno. The IMDA approval has not leaked any information on the specs of the phone. However, plenty of key information has appeared through the Bluetooth SIG certification of CPH1917.

According to the Bluetooth SIG certification, the CPH1917 features a 6.4-inch display that probably supports full HD+ resolution and it is driven by the Snapdragon 710 chipset. The smartphone is fitted with a 48-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup and a front-facing snapper of 16-megapixel. It is loaded with the latest ColorOS v6.0 and it is equipped with connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0. The other specs of the phone are currently under the wraps.

Read More: OPPO has a new Logo! Here’s how it looks!

OPPO’s Vice President Shen Yiren had claimed in the previous week that the new smartphone from the company will be equipped with Snapdragon 855 chipset, 4,065mAh battery and 10x hybrid zoom. On AnTuTu, the same SD855 powered had reportedly appeared with specs like full HD+ display, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB of storage, 16-megapixel and Android 9 Pie OS. The camera configuration of the phone was found to be of 12-megapixel in AnTuTu benchmarks. However, it is speculated that the handset is actually equipped with 48-megapixel Sony IM586 and the 12-megapixel camera could be a testing sensor. The handset recorded an impressive average benchmarking score of 356,246.

So, could this mysterious SD855 phone be the higher version of the OPPO Reno or could it be a different flagship phone from the company? The launch event of the OPPO Reno is almost a month away and the company has already started with its registrations. Hopefully, forthcoming reports will shed more details on the SD855 powered OPPO phone.

Pre-Order Elephone A6 Mini Smartphone For Just $99.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 12, 2019

Elephone unveiled its long-awaited A6 Mini smartphone in February this year. The feature-rich phone has now gone up for pre-order bearing a considerably lowered price tag on Banggood.

As part of its big promotion, the Chinese online store that guarantees the best bang for your buck will be doling out a noteworthy 38 percent discount on the A6 Mini smartphone. As a result, you can now pre-order the Elephone-branded handset for a dropped price of only $99.99.

Aside from giving you a chance to take advantage of the aforesaid discount, Banggood will be randomly selecting 1 lucky winner who will win a free Elephone A6 Mini smartphone daily from March 11th.

This promotion will come to an end on March 15th. There will be only 99 pieces available for the promo daily during this period. Moreover, the discount will be valid for the black as well as blue color versions of the phone.
An absolute steal at this price, the Elephone A6 Mini is an irresistible smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features. The phone’s 5.71 Inch HD+ waterdrop screen that features 720×1520 pixels resolution and 19:9 incel display ratio will grab your attention.

Aside from sporting an eye-catching appearance, the A6 Mini packs a powerful MT6761 (Cortex-A53*4 2.0GHz) 64bit processor, paired with 4GB of RAM, under the hood. The phone comes with IMG GE8300 GPU and offers 32GB of internal storage capacity that can be extended up to 400GB GB.

On the photography front, the A6 Mini houses a 16MP+2MP dual-camera setup with Rear Flash and PDAF Focus at the back. Up front, there’s a 16MP camera for selfies and video chatting.

In addition to a side fingerprint, the A6 Mini features a wide selection of useful sensors including the g-sensor, p-Sensor, l-sensor, gyro, and compass. The phone runs Android 9.0 Pie OS and is backed by a built-in 3080mAh battery that supports Quick Charge.

You can visit the promotion page by heading straight to this link. With only 99 pieces of the black and blue color versions remaining, the promo is slated to end on March 18th.

Get 38% Off On Elephone A6 Mini Smartphone

Check Out Banggood March New Season Tech Event

HTC confirms Android Pie update will begin rolling out in Q2 2019

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 11, 2019

The last time we heard from HTC about an Android Pie update was back in November when it released the update for the U11 Life. Before then, the Taiwanese company had released a list of devices that will get the update but didn’t reveal when it will hit these devices. Months later, it has finally disclosed when it will roll it out to the other devices.

HTC took to Twitter a few hours ago to update its users about the status of the Android Pie update. In the tweet, HTC said it is currently working on ensuring the update is compatible with its phones.

We wanted to share the status on the Android 9 update. HTC is currently working on ensuring the update is compatible with our phones & we anticipate a release for U11, U11+ & U12+ customers starting Q2’19. Exact timing defers to operators’ availabilities in different countries.

— HTC (@htc) March 11, 2019

The tweet confirmed the update will come to the HTC U11, the U11+ and the U12+ beginning in the second quarter. There is no exact timing as that will be determined by operators and will vary from country to country.

The second quarter begins next month, so hopefully, more details should surface then.

Continue

OPPO has a new Logo! Here’s how it looks!

By

Joel Joseph

-

Mar 11, 2019

OPPO seems to be quite busy recently, working on its upcoming OPPO Reno series with its 10X Zoom camera. The company unveiled the series earlier today, but alongside that reveal, the company also seems to have made some changes to its logo. While we are not quite sure when the logo change came into effect, the official OPPO website in China has a brand new logo.

The new OPPO logo is much simpler and consistent in design. Each character is of equal thickness, unlike the old one. Personally, I like the new design, mainly because it has a modern look. However, it does come out a bit too safe and won’t stand out like the old design.

Old logo

New logo

At present, the new OPPO logo is seen only on its official Chinese website. All other regional websites like OPPO India or OPPO Global sites are still using the old logo. So, we are not sure whether the company intends to limit its use to China or whether it’s going to update it globally. Anyway, we hope to hear more from the company soon.

RELATED: OPPO’s upcoming Reno flagship with 10X Zoom teased in a new video

Until then, let us know whether you prefer this new logo or the old one.