Huawei has hired 200 employees in the US; Attempting to re-enter US?

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Sep 26, 2018

Huawei had reportedly attempted to make its Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro flagship phones through AT&T in the U.S. It was blocked by the U.S. government on account of numerous issues such as espionage and leaking trade secret. Fresh information suggests that the company could be planning to enter the U.S. market in the coming year.

At present, Huawei stands as the world’s second manufacturer for smartphones by dethroning Apple to the third position in August this year. In order to bag the number one spot, it is very important for Huawei to gain market share in the U.S.

Currently, Huawei has around 1,200 employees working in the U.S. It seems that the Chinese manufacturer could be working some strategy to re-enter the U.S. market since it has added more than 200 job listings on various sites like Glass door, LinkedIn and its official website. The company is looking for professionals across various fields such as sales account managers, administrative assistants, OS architects, software engineers, data analysts and so on.

Next year, Huawei will be launching it will be launching its first foldable phone. It will also be the first 5G smartphone from the company. Moreover, the newly announced Kirin 980 SoC that will be powering upcoming flagship phones from the company is a 5G-ready chipset.

Read More: Huawei Exec explains why the company doesn’t supply Kirin processors to other brands

The U.S. will be one of the first one of the countries to support 5G connectivity starting from next year. Huawei could be certainly aiming to sell 5G smartphones in the U.S. from the coming year.

Since the company is hiring new software engineers and OS architects for the U.S., it could be planning to tweak EMUI for the U.S. audience or it could be making certain changes in the ROM to comply with U.S. policies. Unlocked Huawei phones are already available for purchase in the U.S. since several years. The company could be planning to partner with multiple carriers to enter the U.S. in 2019.

(source)

iPhone XS Max receives DisplayMate’s Best Smartphone Display Award

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 26, 2018

Apple‘s latest flagship iPhone models comprising the iPhone XS, XS Max as well as the “cheaper” iPhone XR. The iPhone XS max and XS were released into the market last week. Although we can’t tell how the sales have one, the release means reviews of the two flagship iPhones will start hitting us and they have started. DisplayMate has published its review of the iPhone XS Max with a focus on the display. The top-end iPhone XS Max was awarded the firm’s “Best Smartphone Display Award”. The XS Max features a Super Retina OLED display panel and it got the highest A+ rating.

The smartphone’s display was tested out based on different factors such as a larger full-screen display, 2.7k resolution, industry-standard colour gamuts, automatic colour management, display power efficiency, True Tone viewing modes, Night Shift mode, and more. The iPhone XS Max features a 6.5-inch display and is the second-gen model to utilise an OLED panel with a 2.7K High Resolution of 2688 x 1242 pixels and 458 pixels per inch, and Diamond Sub-Pixels with Sub-Pixel Rendering for enhanced sharpness and higher Peak Brightness. The display also comes with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision which set it at a higher pedestal than other flagships. DisplayMate says the XS Max can extend the Dynamic Range by up to 325 percent for HDR photos and up to 400 percent for HDR videos. The review also noted the device has a screen reflectance of 4.7 percent, which is “close to the lowest” that the company has measured for a smartphone. The phone also comes with a Night Shift Mode that allows the user to adjust and reduce the amount of Blue Light from the display for better night viewing and improved sleep.

Further, the new Super Dim setting on the iPhone XS Max was applauded for providing comfortable use in extreme low light conditions, taking the brightness down to just 2 cd per square metre. The phone’s peak screen brightness of 660 nits is slightly lower than the record 710 nits of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. It’s not all positives, though, as there are a few minor issues which users may not even notice. One of such is that the iPhone XS Max has the largest colour shift of 6.2 JNCD a viewing angle of 30 degrees which DisplayMate claims is noticeable but not objectionable. The display also has a steep intensity scale which results in a high image contrast. It is an elaborate report and you can check out the full report from the source link below.

(source)

Pre-Order Bakeey N58 Fitness Tracker Smart Watch For Just $49.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 26, 2018

Much to the delight of fitness-conscious people, the market is brimming with all sorts of fitness related gadgets that can monitor your health and keep track of your activities. On the downside, these devices don’t come cheap.

if you’re in the market for a cost-effective fitness tracker, it may interest you to know that Bakeey is currently offering the N58 fitness tracker smartwatch for pre-order at a dropped price of just $49.99 on Banggood. This is a 38% reduction in the device’s original selling price of $79.99 and it will be valid for both black and yellow color versions.

Before we divulge more details about the discounts, let us take a look at the N58 smartwatch’s mean features.

The Bakeey branded fitness tracker is compatible with Android 4.4 or above, iOS 8.0 or above and can work with a wide selection of newfangled mobile devices. It sports an easily readable 1.22-inch IPS display with a screen resolution of 240X204 pixels.

On top of that, the N58 comes with an IP67 rating so you can wear it even during rainy weather without worrying about inflicting any sort of damage to it. Moreover, the device is crammed with various features like the heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, and sleep monitor.

As if that weren’t enough, the device comes with multi-sports modes that support walking, running, riding, climbing and even ping-pong. You can follow this link if you’re interested in checking out the rest of the features and taking advantage of the aforesaid discount.

Regrettably, this discount will be limited to the first 50 pieces only, while the next 500 pieces will be up for pre-order bearing a slightly higher price tag of $54.99 and the remaining units will sell for S$79.99.

Get 38% Off On Bakeey N58 Fitness Tracker Smart Watch

Apple iPhone XS Max’s production cost estimated to be $443

By

Jeet

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Sep 26, 2018

Apple recently launched its new smartphones — iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Now, Techinsights has completed a teardown of the iPhone XS Max A1921, revealing the components cost and production estimate.

It reveals that the estimated production cost of Apple iPhone XS Max 256GB model, which is said to be the most popular model, is about $443, about $50 more than the iPhone X 64GB model. In the cost breakdown, it reveals that the most expensive component is the display panel at around $80.50.

The phone is powered by the company’s new 7nm Apple A12 Bionic chipset, which reportedly costs around $72, with modems. The internal storage, i.e. 256GB storage, costs around $64 while the external housing costs somewhere around $58.

The device also comes with upgraded cameras, which costs about $44. Interestingly, the pricing of the camera module is same as that of last year’s iPhone X. Going by the pricing chart, every component is costlier compared to iPhone X launched last year, except for the assembly materials and the RF antenna.

Do note that Techinsights’s $443 pricing estimated for the 256GB model of the iPhone XS Max doesn’t include other manufacturing expenses such as Research & Development, Software, Logistics, and Marketing.

Techinsights says that the cost estimated provided are compiled using information available at the time of the initial teardown and where concrete data is not yet available, the company has made some assumptions. While the costing figure may not be accurate, it gives a picture about the phone’s production cost.

(Source)

Buy Meizu EP52 Lite Sports Headphone For Just $18.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 26, 2018

In addition to manufacturing cost-effective, yet awe-inspiring smartphones, Meizu is known for creating top-notch audio accessories and devices. On September 19th, Meizu took the wraps off a few amazing items along with the much-awaited Meizu EP52 Lite sports Bluetooth headset during a new product launch conference.

Sporting an appealing neck-hanging design, the Meizu EP52 Lite features three-button remote control. Moreover, it is extremely lightweight with weighing in at just 2.3 grams single-sided. This makes it easy-to-carry everywhere you go.

While the modestly-priced Meizu EP52 Lite is already quite a bargain, the Chinese consumer electronics company is offering the feature-laden sports earphone at a dropped price of just $18.99. This is a noteworthy 23% reduction in the device’s original asking price of $25.99.
As an audio accessory, the Meizu EP52 Lite delivers an unmatched audio performance that makes it an irresistible earphone at the above-mentioned discounted price. Outfitted with an exclusively designed 10mm bio-diaphragm (dynamic coil) in the earphone cavity, the Meizu EP52 Lite boasts a specially optimized sound cavity structure.

According to Meizu, the general design of the EP52 Lite Sports Bluetooth headset adopts an ultrasonic assembly technology. It comes with a TPE skin-friendly wire and an IPX waterproof rating which lets you wear it even during rainy weather.

Moreover, the headphone supports Bluetooth 4.2 standard, which can be used over a 10-meter distance. If the Meizu EP52 Lite Sports Bluetooth headset has grabbed your attention and you’d like to know more about it, you can click here to visit the promotion page.

In order to ensure you receive the aforesaid discount, it is imperative for you to bear in mind that the promotion is slated to end soon and there were only 156 pieces remaining for the Flash Sale. First 50 buyers will be able to get their hands on the EP52 Lite at a dropped price of just $9.99.

Note that the discount will be valid daily starting at 9:00 UTC until Sunday, September 30th.

Get 23% Off On Meizu EP52 Lite Magnetic Bluetooth Sports Headphone

Get Up To 40% Off On Various Electronics And Security Items On AliExpress

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 26, 2018

As part of its latest promotion sale, AliExpress is offering a wide selection of electronics and security items at a heavily discounted price. Dubbed as ‘Electronics & Security,’ the promo feature items bearing up to 40% off.

Keeping in line with that, the site is giving 22% off on the Genuine PINENG PN – 963 10000mAh portable battery, a 26% off on the PZOZ Xiaomi tempered glass full cover screen protector and a remarkable 41% discount on the Sound Intone H6 Bluetooth earphone. The rest of the items have been split into different sections.

The first category called ‘The Best Seller’ features a myriad of awe-inspiring items that you can buy without emptying your pocket. For instance, you can go for the Pocofone F1 smartphone which usually sells for $356.81, but is currently available at a discounted price of just $ $307.63.

You can avail big discounts on Doogee branded smartphones in the following category called ‘Top Stores.’ In addition to that, buyers can apply a $2 coupon code to save more money at the time of checking out.

Segotep is the other brand included in the aforesaid category. You can get discounts on select mobile phone accessories from UGREEN. In order to extend the available discount, you can use a $3 coupon.

If you buy one of Golddway-branded product, you not only get an outstanding discount but also save $2 extra by using a coupon code. Other top brands like Samsung, Suntaiho, BASEUS, Bluedio, and FLOVEME too offer extra discount coupons that are likely to expire in the near future.

With that being said, it is imperative that you visit the promotion page by clicking here before the coupon expires and the promo comes to an end if you’re interested in taking advantage of the discount.

Get Big Discounts On Electronics And Security Items

TENAA updates Honor 8C listing with images and new storage variant

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 26, 2018

The Honor 8C is a less-powerful variant of the Honor 8X and 8X Max. The device was seen on TENAA about a week ago but images weren’t provided. More network variants of the device are now listed on the agency’s website and thankfully, one of them has included images.

The model number of this new listing is BKK-AL10. Other than the images included, this variant also mentions a new memory version of the phone which will have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This means we should get two variants alongside the previously known 4GB RAM + 64GB model.

[envira-gallery id=”213840″]

The Honor 8C has a metal and glass sandwich design. Unlike its predecessor, the Honor 7C which has its dual cameras arranged horizontally, its own cameras are arranged vertically. There is a LED flash right below the sensors and the words “Dual Lens hybrid zoom” under the flash. There is also a fingerprint scanner in the middle of the device.

Up in front, there is a sensor, earpiece, and camera positioned in the middle. We are sure that’s where the notch is. The phone’s volume rocker and power button are on the right and there is a 3.5mm audio jack at the top of the phone.

The images provided are of the black variant but TENAA says it will also be available in purple, gold, and blue.

Continue

Samsung develops patent to avert fake fingerprints

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 26, 2018

Samsung is developing a new patent which will help to secure the fingerprint authentication with more complex mechanism. It will help combat fake fingerprints and will increase the overall security of an in-screen fingerprint module. As according to some documents from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it will help to identify the fraudulent fingerprints.

To identify the fake fingerprints, it will adjust light and will take second measurement to authenticate the fingerprint. It will bring multiple time authentication, where the first will take place if the sensor found an external object. Thereafter, the second will proceed with more light to check for the authenticity of fingerprint. Later, the two scans will be compared, and if any variation comes, the authentication will be rejected.

Nowadays, fingerprint scanners have become an essential part of the smartphone’s security. It is much convenient, easy and fast to use than the primitive authentication methods like PIN, password and pattern input. It is more reliable than the new face recognition system which is in its earlier stages right now.

Read More: Samsung patents self-repairing oleophobic coating for phones

With the increased use of an in-display fingerprint scanners, security thefts have risen. Users are now more prone to fake or “forged” fingerprints. In order to control the security lapses, new security measures are the need of an hour. We hope the new Samsung patent will protect against fake fingerprints and will help to tackle the issue of “forged” fingerprints in future.

If the patent gets approved on time, then we could be able to see it working on the Galaxy S10. It is a progression in the available technology of fingerprint scanners. We hope to see some more developments like this from Samsung in the near future.

What do you think? Do we need more secured fingerprint sensors?

(Via)

Get Electronic Items Starting From Just $9.99 On GearBest; Promo To End Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 26, 2018

Looking for cost-effective electronic items without compromising on quality? You’ve come to the right place.

As part of its recently kicked-off ’24 Hours Flash Sale’ promotion, GearBest is doling out noteworthy discounts on a wide selection of consumer electronics. The products featured in this promo carry price tags from just $9.99 onward.

In a bid to simplify the search process, the consumer electronics sale has been split into multiple categories. Here’s a brief glimpse of what each category has to offer in terms of discounts.

The first section dubbed, ‘HOT 24 HOURS FLASH SALE’ features just the Xiaomi Amazfit Heart Rate smartwatch, which normally sells for $130. Thanks to the aforesaid promotion, this coveted smartwatch can now be yours at a dropped price of just $89.99.

Regrettably, there were only 72 units left at the time of writing. Moreover, the sale will be coming to an end shortly.

You can find some of the most popular electronic items including IP cameras, action cameras, car audio stereo MP3 players and lots more under the following section called, ‘Flash Sale.’ Much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, the products included in this section carry significant discounts that can be availed for a limited period of time.
For the sake of an instance, you can get a noteworthy 21% off on the SJCAM SJ7 STAR WiFi Action Camera, which would normally set you back $190.74. With the discount, the feature-laden action camera is now available at a dropped price of just $149.99.

The next category called ‘SPECIAL ZONE’ has further been divided into four sections – $9.99, $19.99, $29.99 and $59.99. Every sub-category is packed with miscellaneous items that bear the above-mentioned price tags.

However, if you are willing to spend a little more than that, you can head straight to the next division called ‘OVER $45 SAVE $10.’ In this section, buyers save $10 when their cart value exceeds $45.

Likewise, there are various other electronic items added to the segment called ‘OVER $45 SAVE $5’ wherein buyers can get $5 off if they shop for more than $45. You can check out the last segment called ‘TOP BESTSELLERS’ that has been divided into Smart Watches, Car, Audio Essentials and Camera & Security sub-categories.

In order to take a look at all the electronic products that are up for grabs on GearBest, you can follow this link. It is worth noting that the items carrying discounts will go back to their retail price as soon as the promo comes to an end.

Check Out GearBest’s Cool Consumer Electronics Sale

ARCore v1.5 brings support for unreleased OnePlus 6T and few other devices

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 26, 2018

ARCore v1.5 is out now on some third-party APK download websites. As it’s official changelog is not out yet, folks at Android Police did APK Teardown to know about some of its features. Interestingly, it appears that the ARCore v1.5 has already added support for the unreleased OnePlus 6T and few other devices. There’s support for Nokia 9 with the code name AOP_Sprout, Nokia Phoenix with PNX_sprout codename, and for unknown Nokia CTL_sprout. Further, source found a new variant of Vivo Nex touted as “B”, it could be a Vivo Nex 2.

In the new version of ARCore, its support is extended for unreleased and unannounced devices. Even, there’s no reliable information available about these devices on the web. It means Google already had access to these devices, now after testing, they have added them to the ARCore support list.

List of newly added devices in ARCore v1.5:

ASUS
- ROG Phone [ASUS_Z01QD_1]
Huawei
- P20 Lite [HWANE]
- Mate 10 Pro [HWBLA]
- unknown [HWJKM-H]
- unknown [HWLYA]
Nokia
- Phoenix [PNX_sprout] * This is rumored, but name is unconfirmed
- Nokia 9 [AOP_sprout] * This is rumored, but name is unconfirmed
OnePlus
- One Plus 6T [OnePlus6T]
Razer
- Razer Phone [cheryl]
Samsung
- Galaxy Note9 [SCV40, SCV40_jp_kdi, SC-01L]
- Galaxy Tab S3 [gts3llte, gts3lltechn, gts3lltekx, gts3llteusc, gts3lltevzw, gts3lwifi, gts3lwifichn]
- Galaxy J5 [j5y17lte, j5y17ltektt, j5y17ltelgt, j5y17lteskt]
- Galaxy J5 Pro [j5y17ltedx, j5y17ltextc]
- Galaxy J7 [j7y17lte]
- Galaxy J7 (2017) [j7y17ltektt]
Sony
- Xperia X [suzu, F5121, F5122]
Vivo
- V1809A [PD1809]
- vivo NEX B [PD1806B] * There is a NEX A codenamed PD1806, but it’s unclear if this is same device with a variant name or a new model
- vivo X21i [k71v1_64_bsp]
unknown
- CTL_sprout
  * naming pattern matches Nokia phones, but I didn’t find anything resembling confirmation of the name

Along with the unreleased devices, there’s an addition of many old and new devices in the latest ARCore v1.5. Google is extending its support by bringing in various devices from OEMs like Samsung, Huawei, Sony, Razer under the ARCore support.

Read More: Leaked OnePlus 6T invitation letter puts launch at October 17

Additionally, the APK teardown means that the listed features or support for devices has come or is yet to come. Also, it can be opposite in the next iteration of ARCore as these devices might get removed from the supported list. Users can get the latest update from third-party APK websites, or you can wait for the official app update.

(Source)

Huawei Exec explains why the company doesn’t supply Kirin processors to other brands

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Sep 26, 2018

Brody Ji, Senior Product Director at Huawei Consumer Business Group reveals that they have no plans to sell its Kirin processors to other brands. Speaking further, Brody added that Huawei treats Kirin as an intellectual property which allows the company to stand against the rivals.

In a statement given to media, it is said, “For Huawei, Kirin is not a business but a product or technology that acts as our competitive edge against rival smartphone brands.”

Huawei established HiSilicon in 2004 which deals with the Kirin SoC manufacturing. The Kirin processors power Huawei’s most of the devices, shipping in 173 million smartphones in the past year alone. The Chinese company also manufactures many smartphones which run on Qualcomm based chipsets, but primarily 60-70% devices use homegrown Kirin chipsets. Huawei will continue the use of Kirin SoC in the high-end and mid-range devices, while low-range devices will keep coming on Qualcomm 400 series.

Huawei is a pioneer in the telecom and communications sector, but it needs to do some more hard work to gain solid ground in the premium space of the smartphone market. Even the company’s CEO Eric Xu said that the company needs some more efforts in the consumer business to garner better results. In 2017, Huawei crossed $92 billion in the operating revenue, which is little less than the estimated $100 billion OR goal. Huawei’s major sources of revenue include the sale of its 5G telecom equipment.

Read More: Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro teaser confirms Kirin 980 processor

Huawei Kirin 980 SoC upcoming: details

Next month, Huawei is coming with the new 5G ready Kirin 980 SoC with the new 7nm manufacturing process. It will help the processor to gain huge performance improvement with better power efficiency. It includes two Cortex A76 cores clocked at 2.6GHz, two 1.99GHz Cortex A76 cores, and four Cortex A55 cores running at 1.8GHz. After 3 years of hard work, Huawei will launch the Kirin 980 with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro at an event on October 16.

(Via)

Xiaomi’s Viomi Technology goes public on Nasdaq: Priced IPO at $9 per ADS

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Sep 26, 2018

Recently, Xiaomi debuted at the Hong Kong stock exchange and their shares traded at HK$16.58 a piece. It helped Xiaomi to raise around HK$23.97 billion ($3.05 billion) on the debut run. Similarly, on Tuesday Xiaomi’s backed Viomi debuts at US-based Nasdaq stock exchange. It got the ticker symbol “VIOT” on Nasdaq and got IPO priced at $9 per ADS.

Viomi offered 11.4 million American Depositary Shares which allowed them to gather $103 million. Since the morning, Viomi started trading at the $9.50 which is significantly 5.56 percent more than the IPO price. Later, it rose to 9.66 and hit $10.95, then after fluctuation, it ended up below the IPO price at $8.97 per IPO.

It allowed the company to raise $103 million valuing the company at $811.8 million. There are many expectations from recent IPO at Nasdaq said Xiaoping Chan, co-founder, and CEO of Vomi. He further added, “By listing on the Nasdaq, Viomi hopes to better focus on the development of home appliance technology and further expand brand awareness, as Nasdaq is known as a tech-heavy stock exchange.”

In May 2014, Viomi was founded with the help of Xiaomi. It deals purely in the IoT (Internet of Things) devices for home users. Its brochure packs various IoT-enabled home appliances, products, and commercial machines for businesses. Xiaomi has invested at the right time and in the right market as there will be high demand for IoT devices in the future. IPO will help Viomi to raise additional funds for the development of the company.

Read More: Xiaomi reveals part of IPO capital will bankroll India expansion

Additionally, IoT devices consist of a network of physical devices embedded with electronics, softwares, sensors, and many other smart things. As per the recent report, China’s home appliances market will reach $176.5 billion from present $121 billion by 2022.

Buy New S929 Sports Smartwatch For Just $72.99 On TomTop [Discount Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Sep 26, 2018

While the market is brimming with all sorts of fitness-monitoring gadgets, smartwatches have managed to garner more popularity among health-conscious individuals than any other product in this category. Aside from being stylish, newfangled smartwatches boast impressive features that motivate the wearer to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Top-branded smartwatches would normally set you back a pretty penny, but if you’re living on a tight budget and do not want to spend a lot of money on a smartwatch, we got good news for you. The feature-laden New S929 smartwatch has gone up for sale bearing a considerably lowered price on TomTop.

We will divulge more details about the aforesaid discount but apart from that, we’ll even show how you can save extra money at the time of checking out. Without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

The New S929 smartwatch usually carries a $161.61 price tag, but you can now buy it at a reduced price of just $84.99 on TomTop. This is a noteworthy 48% reduction in the device’s original asking price.

If you’re interested in extending this discount even further, all you need to do is to apply coupon code NWS929 during the check out process. This helps you get an extra $12 off and bring your already discounted grand total down to $72.99.

The New S929 smartwatch is quite a bargain at this price, given that it can keep track of the wearer’s fitness and activities such as the number of laps, arm pull, calories, time consumption and lots more. It is capable of recording heart rate, trajectory, distance, time, speed and calories consumption while running, walking, climbing outdoors and cycling.

The extremely useful smartwatch shows heart rate, time and calories consumption when the wearer is playing various sports like football, basketball, table tennis, and badminton. The New S929 comes with 11 sports modes including record laps, the number of arm pull, heart rate, time and calories consumption on swimming mode while trajectory and lots more.

If you’re interested in checking out more details about the New S929 smartwatch and avail this discount, click here to head straight to the promotion page. While the sale is slated to end shortly, it is worth noting that the aforesaid coupon is also likely to expire soon.

Get 48% Off On New S929 Sports Smartwatch

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro unboxing video bares all the details before official launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Sep 26, 2018

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is joining the band of Xiaomi models whose specs, renders and other key details are already in the open long before they are launched. There have been quite a number of leaks surrounding the Redmi Note 6 Pro and the device has even been listed on several e-commerce websites like Giztop, AliExpress, LightInTheBox etc. We have also seen several leaked pictures and even a video of the device in the real skin. None of these offers more details than the unboxing video of the Redmi Note 6 Pro which was posted by Youtuber Technical Guruji on his YouTube channel.

The video offers us a detailed video of the Redmi Note 6 Pro unboxing. It takes us through the entire process right from when it is still inside the retail box. The retail box only houses the device, a USB cable and a 10W charging adapter which some might see as disappointing. The phone is confirmed to feature a huge 6.26-inch notch display screen with a 19:9 aspect ratio and FHD+ resolution. It will still utilise the Snapdragon 636 chipset just like the Redmi Note 5 Pro but this particular model in the unboxing video has the modest 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. It runs MIUI 10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo.

The camera aspect sees the Redmi Note 6 Pro sporting dual cameras comprising a 12MP main sensor with 1.4µm pixels aperture and Dual Pixel AF and there is a 5MP secondary sensor. The device also comes with dual selfie shooters is a 20MP+2MP combo. The phone also packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Keeping the lights on is a 4000mAh battery which comes with Quick Charge support. Other features include a 3.5mm headphone jack on top and an IR blaster.

There is still no word from Xiaomi on when the model will be launched and the final price tag. See the unboxing video from below.

Realme 2 duo to launch in Indonesia on October 9, Vietnam launch date to come later

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Sep 25, 2018

Realme will be taking its phones outside the shores of India come next month. The manufacturer will be heading to Indonesia and Vietnam soon based on the info on its new websites for both countries.

The landing page for the Indonesian site states that the Realme 2 series will launch in the country on October 9. Since the site says Realme 2 series, we expect both the Realme 2 and the yet-to-be-released Realme 2 Pro to be launched on the same day.

The backdrop for the landing page is the Realme 2 Pro’s waterdrop notch. If you look closely you can see the front-facing camera nestled within the notch.

For Vietnam, Realme has not announced a launch date yet neither has it teased the phones that will be launching. However, the Realme video ad that shows the Realme 2 Pro is on the site.

The Realme 2 has a 6.2” HD+ screen with a notch. It has 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage and is powered by the Snapdragon 450 processor. A 13MP + 2MP dual camera combo sits on its back while an 8MP camera sits within the notch.

It has support for storage expansion and dual SIM. There is a fingerprint scanner on its back and a 4230mAh battery under its hood. It is priced at Rs. 8990 (~$124) for the base model and Rs. 10,990 (~$151) for the 4GB RAM model.

Continue

Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro teaser confirms Kirin 980 processor

By

Jeet

-

Sep 25, 2018

Huawei has scheduled an event on October 16th in London where the company will announce its flagship smartphones — Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro. Recently, the company’s leaked teaser of the phones showcased the camera capabilities. Now, another teaser video has surfaced online, which confirms that both the phones will be powered by the company’s own Kirin 980 processor.

The Kirin 980 chipset was announced by Huawei last month, making it the first mobile processor manufactured using the 7nm process. Not only that, but it is also the first chipset with the new Cortex-A76 CPU cores; the first chipset with a dual-NPU; the first with the Mali-G76 GPU, the first with a Cat. 21 LTE modem, and the first chipset to support 2133MHz LPDDR4X.

The octa-core chipset comes in a tri-cluster arrangement (2+2+4). The four Cortex-A76 cores are separated into two – one set is clocked at 2.6GHz while the other is clocked at 2.2GHz. The former takes on high demanding short-term tasks while the latter handles high-demanding long-term tasks. The power-saving Cortex-A55 cores are clocked at 1.8GHz and handle simple everyday tasks.

The Kirin 980 also has a new ISP with a 46 percent increase in performance over last year’s model. Huawei says that it also brings a 23 percent improvement in recording power efficiency and 33 percent improvement in recording latency. There is also the new dual NPU chipset termed “Dual-Brain Power” that is claimed to be 120 percent faster than the NPU in the Kirin 970.

Earlier, the phone’s specifications were leaked online, revealing that the Mate 20 will have a 6.3-inch OLED display with 3120 x 1440 pixel screen resolution and curved sides, and will be powered by a 4,200mAh battery with support for wireless charging. It could come with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

The triple camera set up on the phone could include a 20-megapixel RGB sensor, a 12-megapixel monochrome sensor, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. The Mate 20 Pro, on the other hand, is expected to have an in-display fingerprint sensor and a wider notch to house necessary sensors for 3D facial recognition.

(Source)

UMIDIGI A3 pre-order page now live on AliExpress, specs in tow ahead of Sept 28 launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 25, 2018

The UMIDIGI recently revealed via its official Facebook page that it is working on the UMIDIGI A3 which is expected to pack triple card slots and launch on September 28. Ahead of the launch date, the device has now been listed on AliExpress where it seems to be open for pre-orders. The listing also affords us an opportunity to know the full specifications as well as see the real life renders of the UMIDIGI A3.

As you may have known, the UMIDIGI A3 is an entry-level model but UMIDIGI touts it to be a beast. It features a 5.5-inch In-cell HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek MT679 chipset with a Quadcore CPU clocked at 1.5GHz. The processor is paired with 2GB of RAM while there is just a 16GB storage variant. That is the whole essence of the triple slots. Two of the slots can take nano-SIM cards while the third slot is for the microSD card. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB more. So, you won’t need to sacrifice a SIM slot for the SD card as is the case with most entry-level phones.

Another interesting feature of UMIDIGI A3 is that the two SIM slots support dual 4G VoLTE connectivity, meaning the 4G network will run at the same time on both slots. This may likely be the first entry-level model to have such features. On the camera end, the device packs a vertically aligned dual camera setup at the rear and a single selfie camera. The rear sensors comprise of a 12MP+5MP combo with dual tone LED flash while there is an 8MP sensor at the front. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Keeping the lights on is a 3300mAh battery. UMIDIGI promised global bands on the device and that they have delivered. The A3 comes with a host of global bands such as LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/19/20 etc.

You can check out the pre-order page of the UMIDIGI A3 on AliExpress where it is listed with a price tag of just $99.99 but the page is inactive. However, UMIDIGI is teasing a $79.99 price tag as can be seen on one of the posters. The device is expected to start shipping on October 20 and we expect the pre-order page to become active on September 28 when the device will be officially unveiled. You can check out the UMIDIGI A3 preorder page on AliExpress using the source link below.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro pricing, official images leaked through online listing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 25, 2018

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro has appeared on multiple online retailer sites such as Giztop, AliExpress and LightInTheBox even before its official announcement. Today, the smartphone has appeared on Smart.md, an online store from Moldova. The listing contains all the specs of the Redmi Note 6 Pro. It also includes the pricing of its 32 GB and 64 GB storage editions.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro features a 6.26-inc IPS LCD notched screen that carries support for Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The Snapdragon 636 that is present under the Redmi Note 5 Pro is also available inside the Redmi Note 6 Pro. The handset is packed with a 4,000mAh battery.

Present inside the frontal notch of the Redmi Note 6 Pro is the dual front-facing module that includes 20-megapixel primary sensor and 2-megapixel secondary sensor. The back panel of the smartphone features a vertical dual camera module that includes 12-megapixel main sensor and 5-megapixel secondary lens.

The 32 GB and 64 GB storage variants of the Redmi Note 6 Pro are equipped with microSD card slot for additional storage. It is preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo. The OS will be overlaid with the latest version of MIUI.

The official renders present on the Redmi Note 6 Pro on Smart.md reveals that it will be coming in color choices such as black, blue, gold, rose gold and red. The 32 GB Redmi Note 6 Pro is priced at 5,799 Moldovan Lei (~$343) whereas its 64 GB edition carries a price tag of 6,399 (~$379).

Read More: Xiaomi Redmi Y2 new color variants Mesmerising Blue, Stunning Black introduced in India

The Redmi Note 5 Pro is also available in 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM variant. However, none of the Note 6 Pro leaks have revealed whether it will be also available in 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM model.

Xiaomi is yet to confirm on the existence of the Redmi Note 6 Pro. The number of leaks that have surfaced so far suggests that its official launch may not be far away.

(source 1, 2|via)

Samsung Galaxy P30 coming with cheaper pricing and high specs, but no in-display fingerprint scanner

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 25, 2018

Samsung is rumored to be working on introducing the P-series of smartphones. The Galaxy P30 is expected to arrive as the first phone in the new series. Rumors have claimed that the Galaxy P30 will be the first phone to arrive with in-display fingerprint scanner. However, a well-known tipster from China with @MMDJ_ Twitter handle has claimed that the handset will not feature an under-display feature.

Previous reports had claimed that the Galaxy P30 would be equipped with an LCD panel fitted with an in-screen fingerprint reader. Since the under-display fingerprint scanning technology can work only on phones with OLED display, it seemed a bit odd to here the rumor about Samsung P30 featuring an LCD screen as well as in-display fingerprint sensor. The South Korean company has been using AMOLED screen for all its smartphones since many years. The inclusion of LCD panel on P30 suggests that it is likely to feature a traditional fingerprint reader.

The Chinese leakster seems to be pretty clear that the Galaxy P30 will be coming with a regular fingerprint scanner. He has also claimed that the P30 will be a smartphone with high specifications made available with cheaper pricing. He further added that the SM-G6200 smartphone which is believed to be the model number of Galaxy P30 will be coming with 6 GB of RAM.

A recent report has revealed that the Galaxy P30 will be coming in 64 GB and 128 GB storage variants. Probably, both phones are likely to be equipped with 6 GB of RAM. The handset is expected to arrive in blue, pink, black and red color gradients. As of this writing, there is no confirmation on the other specifications of the Galaxy P30.

Read More: Samsung India plans new strategy to take on its rivals

The Galaxy P30 is expected to be accompanied with a bit higher specced P30+ smartphone. The new P-series is rumored to be aimed towards Asian markets such as China and India. The Galaxy P30 duo is expected to go official before the end of 2018.

(source)

Samsung India plans new strategy to take on its rivals

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 25, 2018

In India, Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo control the mid-range smartphone market. Samsung has a new plan to take on this Chinese trio ahead of the festive season.

Samsung’s plan is to bring high-end features to the mid-range category and it wants to start with the Galaxy A-series. Senior vice president of Samsung India, Mohandeep Singh, believes the new A series will be able to create a larger market for them than the affordable J series. The J series which go for INR 10,000 and up currently has a user base of 60 million with 40 different models.

Mr. Singh says they will work closely with consumers to understand their requirement in a phone, so as to stay ahead of the game. The A series will sell for between INR 20,000 – INR 30,000.

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