Get Xiaomi Mi 8 Smartphone at $469.99 on Banggood [Coupon Code]

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Sep 24, 2018

Adoption has been slow but a few more manufacturers have joined Vivo on the list of manufacturers with a phone(s) with an in-display fingerprint scanner. Vivo’s X20 Plus UD released at the beginning of the year as the first commercially available phone with an in-display fingerprint scanner is now joined by phones from Huawei, Xiaomi, and Meizu.

While the technology does work the same way in all phones, some manufacturers have adopted special ways to make it faster and less power draining. One of such manufacturers is Xiaomi whose in-display fingerprint technology present in the Mi 8 Explorer Edition and Mi 8 Pro adopts an additional feature to give it an edge over that of other manufacturers.

This post will explain how Xiaomi’s in-display fingerprint technology differs from that of Vivo. For this comparison, we’ll be pitting the Vivo X21 UD against the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition as they both use the same fingerprint sensor which is supplied by Goodix and Synaptics.

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Types of fingerprint sensors?

There are two main types of fingerprint sensors used in phones. They are the optical sensor and the capacitive sensor. The optical scanner has an image sensor that captures a picture of the fingerprint on the scanner and compares it to that stored on the phone. If it matches, it unlocks the phone.

The duration from capture to unlocking is a fraction of a second. The in-display fingerprint scanner used by Xiaomi and Vivo are optical sensors so they work using the same principle.

In-display fingerprint scanner

So we have established how the optical fingerprint scanner works but when placed under the display, things are a bit different. An in-display fingerprint scanner currently only works with OLED displays as the sensor can scan the fingerprint through the OLED dots. An LCD display uses a backlight which won’t allow the sensor to see through the screen.

Vivo X21 vs Mi 8 Explorer Edition

Reviews have shown that the fingerprint scanner in the Vivo X21 UD isn’t as fast as that of traditional fingerprint scanners that are not placed under the display. It requires your finger to stay on the display for a little longer before it scans and matches. This is understandable as the whole technology irrespective of manufacturers is still new. As the technology improves, the duration taken to unlock the device should be shorter.

However, that isn’t the only flaw of the Vivo X21 UD. The scanner also uses up more power. This is because the sensor is always pinging the screen to know if a finger is present for scanning.

For the Mi 8 Explorer (and Mi 8 Pro), Xiaomi decided to find a solution to these problems. It came up with an additional sensor – a highly sensitive pressure sensor.

The pressure sensor is doing two jobs here – first, it reduces the time taken to unlock the device as you don’t have to keep your finger on the screen for as long as required by the Vivo X21. Its high sensitivity helps it detect the faintest of touches from your finger which then prompts it to wake the fingerprint sensor for scanning.

Secondly, the fingerprint sensor is only active when the pressure-sensitive sensor wakes it up. It is not constantly scanning for a finger like the Vivo X21 which means it isn’t consuming as much battery. These features give Xiaomi an edge over Vivo’s own devices with in-display fingerprint scanners.

Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL official pictures and key details leaked

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Sep 24, 2018

On Oct. 9, Google will be announcing the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones. Today, popular tipster Roland Quandt has shared official pictures of the black and white variants of the upcoming Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones. He has also shared some key information on the specs of both smartphones.

The Google Pixel 3 XL images reveal that it will be housing a large notch that will accommodate a pair of selfie cameras, one of the front-facing speakers and proximity and ambient sensors. A recent report has claimed that the dual selfie camera setup present inside the notch will comprise of an auto-focus enabled 8-megapixel primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and a secondary fixed-focus 8-megapixel lens with f/2.2 aperture.

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Quandt claims that the model number of the Google Pixel 3 XL is G013C and it features a 6.2-inch screen that supports QHD+ resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels. It is significantly bigger than the 5.5-inch screen of the Pixel that has a model number of G013A. The Pixel 3 features large bezels above and below the display. The upper bezel of the Pixel 3 also features the same 8-megapixel dual selfie camera, one of the front-mounted speakers and other sensors. The bottom bezels of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL feature the second front-facing speaker.

The upper display corners of the Google Pixel 3 XL have been rounded with a larger radius compared to the bottom. On the other side, the display corners of the Pixel 3 have the radius at the top and bottom.

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Read More: Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL rumors: New high-resolution renders shared by reputable tipster

As far as internals are concerned, the Snapdragon 845 chipset and 4 GB of RAM are tipped to power both phones. Both smartphones may feature an inbuilt storage of 64 GB. However, rumors also hint on the existence of 128 GB storage models for both handsets. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will deliver Android 9 Pie OS out-of-the-box experience.

Various smartphone manufactures are offering two or three rear cameras, but the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be coming with single rear camera. The computational photography technology will allow the Pixel 3 series to rival with dual and triple rear camera smartphones. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will come with glass rear with two-tone design and a metallic frame. There is no fresh information on the pricing of the Pixel 3 duo. Previous reports have claimed that Pixel 3 and 3 XL will be respectively priced at $649 and $749.

What’s your opinion on the appearance of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

OnePlus trolled for removing headphone jack from OnePlus 6T

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Sep 24, 2018

OnePlus has already confirmed that the upcoming OnePlus 6T smartphone will not be featuring a 3.5mm audio jack. The handset will be arriving as an upgraded version of the OnePlus 6 which is the fastest selling OnePlus phone till date. The OnePlus 6T will be the first phone from the company to arrive with an in-display fingerprint scanner. At the same time, it will be the first OnePlus phone to lack a 3.5mm audio jack. Through its official Twitter account, OnePlus tried asking its fans what’s their favorite feature of the OnePlus 6. Most replies revealed that the 3.5mm headphone jack is the best feature of OnePlus 6 while others criticized the company for the axing the feature from OnePlus 6T.

The question has met with interesting replies. Many have mocked OnePlus for its decision on asking such a question before the launch of the OnePlus 6T. Very few have claimed that other things like Dash Charge and affordable pricing are the best features of the OnePlus 6.

Many smartphone manufacturers have tried axing the 3.5mm headphone jack from their flagship phones in the recent past. OnePlus has also decided to walk the path. The upcoming OnePlus 6T will allow users to connect an earphone to its USB-C port. The company will be announcing Type C Bullets earphones alongside the OnePlus 6T smartphone.

Why are smartphone manufacturers removing 3.5mm headphone jack? The removal of the feature can allow manufactures to slim down the thickness of a smartphone by 1mm or 2mm. Its absence can create larger space inside the device for other components. Also, compared to sound output through 3.5mm headphone jack, the USB-C port can deliver better transmission and conversion of digital signals for superior audio experience.

There is no official confirmation on the launch date of the OnePlus 6T. It is expected to debut with Type C Bullets on Oct. 17.

Do you think that the removal of 3.5mm audio jack from OnePlus 6T is a good decision? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

Vivo V11 spotted on official website with in-screen fingerprint reader

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Sep 24, 2018

Earlier this month, Vivo had launched the Vivo V11 Pro as its first V-series smartphone with in-display fingerprint scanner. Speculations are rife that the Vivo V11 is an upcoming smartphone from the company that will be arriving with lower specs and pricing than the V11 Pro. The Vivo V11 has been spotted on the official online store of Vivo India even before its official announcement. The entire specifications of the phone have also surfaced through its official online store listing.

Vivo’s online store appearance of the Vivo V11 has revealed that it will be coming a 6.3-inch Halo FullView display which means it will feature a waterdrop notch. The listing also reveals that the In-cell LTPS screen of the phone is embedded with an in-display fingerprint scanner.

The MediaTek Helio P60 chipset will be powering the phone with 6 GB of RAM. It will be receiving power from 3,315mAh battery. It has an internal storage of 64 GB. The handset is loaded with FunTouch OS 4.5 flavored Android 8.1 Oreo OS.

For photography, the Vivo V11 features f/2.0 aperture 16-megapixel + f/2.4 aperture 5-megapixel dual camera setup and a front-facing camera of 25-megapixel with f/2.0 aperture. The rear camera of the phone is listed with features like time-lapse photography, camera filter, bokeh, Live Photo, AI backlight HDR, AI face beauty, AI scene recognition, AR stickers and more. The front camera is also equipped with features like camera filter, Live Photo, portrait, AI backlight HDR, AI face beauty, AR stickers, AI face shaping and AI selfie lighting.

Read More: Vivo V9 Pro launching in India on September 26, to be Amazon-exclusive

The listing has also revealed that the Vivo V11 carries a price tag of Rs. 23,990. Its color variants include Nebula Purple and Starry Night Black. The V11 Pro is selling with a pricing of Rs. 25,990 in the country. It features a 6.41-inch S-AMOLED Halo FullView display, Snapdragon 660 and fast charging enabled 3,400mAh battery. The camera configuration on the V11 Pro is same as the rumored V11 model. Rumors have it that the Vivo V11 may get official on Sept. 26.

(source|via)

Nokia 7.1 and Nokia 7.1 Plus both rumored to debut with Snapdragon 710 on October 4

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Sep 24, 2018

The Nokia 7.1 Plus is rumored to arrive with a notched display, but one of the recent reports had claimed that it could be coming with a notch-less screen. Fresh information revealed by NokiaPowerUser claims that HMD Global will be launching both Nokia 7.1 and Nokia 7.1 Plus smartphones in the near future. The report also reveals that the Nokia 7.1 will feature a regular display whereas the Nokia 7.1 Plus will continue to feature notched screens like the other Plus models like Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus.

Earlier this year, HMD Global had launched the Nokia 7 Plus smartphone. It is now being speculated that the rumored Nokia 7.1 smartphone will be arriving as a successor for the Nokia 7 Plus phone. There is a possibility that the Nokia 7.1 may feature a 6-inch screen that will carry support for an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Snapdragon 710 chipset is rumored to power the Nokia 7.1 along with 4 GB of RAM. The device is tipped to feature an internal storage of 64 GB.

The Nokia 7.1 Plus is also speculated to be driven by Snapdragon 710. Since it is Plus variant, it is tipped to arrive more amount of RAM and larger internal storage. Hence, it may come equipped with 6 GB of RAM and an inbuilt storage of 128 GB. The handset may also feature a bigger screen and battery. Both the devices may release Android One smartphones.

Read More: Nokia 7.1 Plus 360-degree renders leak design ahead of October launch

The Finnish firm has already confirmed that it will be holding a press event on Oct. 4. Previous reports had claimed that that the company may debut the Nokia 7.1 Plus on the said date. Newer information reveals that the Nokia 7.1 will be also unleashed alongside the Nokia 7.1 Plus. As of this writing, there is no information available on the pricing of the Nokia 7.1 and 7.1 Plus.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Geekbench listing confirms Snapdragon 636, 4 GB RAM

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Sep 24, 2018

Xiaomi will be soon announcing the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone. However, there is no official confirmation yet on the existence of the phone, but the recent reports have revealed it design, specifications and pricing. A Geekbench listing of the Note 6 Pro has surfaced today through which it has been revealed that the smartphone will be indeed coming with SD636 SoC.

According to the Geekbench listing of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, it features Snapdragon 636 and 4 GB of RAM. The Android 8.1 Oreo OS is preinstalled on the phone. In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the Note 6 Pro has respectively scored 1332 and 4675 points.

The above listing of the Redmi Note 6 Pro is no longer available on Geekbench. It seems that the listing has been removed. The Redmi Note 5 Pro that was unveiled earlier this year is the first smartphone to feature the Snapdragon 636 chipset. So, it is very likely that the company may use the chipset on the Redmi Note 6 Pro. Moreover, past reports have revealed that the Snapdragon 636 SoC will be present under the hood of the smartphone.

The Redmi Note 6 leaks have revealed the handset may arrive in 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM models. A 6.26-inch notched IPS LCD screen is speculated to be present on the device. The display of the phone is expected to carry support for 19:9 aspect ratio.

Read More: Buy Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air Laptop For Just $929.99 On GearBest

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is rumored to arrive with four cameras. The notch of the phone is expected to house 20-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup whereas 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual cameras could be present on the rear. A big battery of 4,000mAh capacity is tipped to power the phone. The leaked render of the Redmi Note 6 Pro has revealed that it would be coming colors like black, gold, rose gold, blue and red color variants. It may sport a metallic chassis that will come equipped with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

(via)

Leaked official renders reveal Huawei Mate 20 Pro to come in three colors

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Sep 24, 2018

The Huawei Mate 20 series will be unveiled in less than three weeks which is enough time for more leaks to surface. If you are wondering what colors the phones will come in, we have answers for you thanks to these new official renders of the Mate 20 Pro.

The images were first published by Winfuture.de and they show the Huawei Mate 20 Pro in three different but exciting color variants. The first is a gradient color called Twilight but different from that of the P20 Pro. This variant is a mix of blue, purple and black.

The second color variant which is my favorite is Pinstripe (Blue). You sure will agree that there is an air of sophistication around it. We know it is glass but the finish makes it look like fabric.

The third color variant is the Classic Black and is similar to the Mirror Black color variant of the OnePlus 6. One advantage this variant has over the others is that the square housing of the triple camera setup blends as it is also black.

Apart from all three having the same color for their camera housing, the renders also show they all have a red-colored power button while the volume rocker has the same color as the rest of the body.

The renders do more than just tell us the colors the Mate 20 Pro will be available in. They also confirm that Leica is once again on board with the camera development. Sadly, we can’t make out the text underneath it.

The Mate 20 Pro has a notch and it is much wider than that of the P20 series. We can only make out the camera and the earpiece in these renders but there are a bunch of other sensors too including a notification LED. The lower bezel is also thinner which isn’t a surprise since the fingerprint scanner is now under the display.

OnePlus 6T teaser image shows up to affirm water drop notch

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Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2018

It’s now sort of a tradition that OnePlus won’t stick to releasing one flagship model each year but two. The “T” model was born with the OnePlus 3T which was launched in 2016 barely some months after the OnePlus 3, followed by the 5T. The Chinese company is already working on the OnePlus 6T and the launch could happen soon. A new teaser has appeared online which sort of confirms the name as well as the water drop display design.

The teaser shows the front design and the most spectacular feature is the water drop notch design at the top of the display. The notch is different from that of the OnePlus 6 and looks more acceptable than the wider one on the OP6. This has been the subject of several leaks lately so, the purported teaser lends it some credence. We must state, though, that the teaser doesn’t seem to have emanated from OnePlus. So we can’t vouch for its authenticity. That doesn’t in anyway mean the OnePlus 6T isn’t in the works.

Several leaked protective casing said to be for the OP6T had appeared previously to suggest the likely design the device would have. The rear isn’t very much different from that of the OnePlus 6 except that there is no rear fingerprint scanner. The OnePlus 6T is expected to pack an in-display fingerprint sensor. The device will also house a vertically aligned dual camera set up at the back. The device will also pack a Snapdragon 845 chipset onboard, 8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, DASH charge, USB-C port but no 3.5mm audio jack.

Latest OnePlus Switch App will let you move launcher, wallpapers, & more to your new phone

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Sep 24, 2018

A number of manufacturers have dedicated apps for moving your files, apps, messages, call logs etc. from your old phone to the new one. This year, OnePlus joined the train with the OnePlus Switch app.

When the OnePlus Switch app was first released, it didn’t support the transfer of app data but a future update brought the much-needed feature. Now a new version of the app has been released and it brings more features to make moving from your old device to a OnePlus phone much easier.

The new app bumps the version number to 2.1 but for some reason, the version on the Play Store is still 2.0. However, sites like apkmirror have the latest version which you can side-load onto your device.

The changelog says the new version now supports migration of launcher, wallpapers, and desktop layout. So instead of a fresh homescreen with the usual default apps, your new phone can retain the same app layout and wallpaper as your old phone. The folks at XDA-Developers said the migration seems to work only if you are using the OnePlus launcher on the old phone.

Nokia 5.1 Plus (Nokia X5) launched in India priced at INR 10,999 ($151)

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Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2018

Just as scheduled, HMD Global has gone official with the Nokia 5.1 Plus in India. The Nokia 5.1 Plus was first launched in China about two months back as Nokia X5. The device hits India with a rather affordable price tag of 10,999 Rupees ($151) and will be available on October 1 in India. The device will be sold exclusively on Nokia.com and Flipkart.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus is yet another notched display phone that appears like a lower version of the Nokia 6.1 Plus (Nokia X6). The device actually looks like the Nokia 6.1 Plus save for little differences in the external design. It packs a 5.86-inch display with 2.5D curved glass on top and even at the back. The display comes with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. The Nokia X5 is powered by a MediaTek Helio P60 SoC paired with 3 GB of RAM. The model joins the Nokia 6.1 Plus in utilizing a 3,060mAh battery. It has a native storage of 32 GB and it carries support microSD card through hybrid SIM slot.

For photography, the Nokia 5.1 Plus features f/2.0 aperture 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup on its back panel and a front-facing selfie shooter of 8-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture. The other features of are rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock, 4G VoLTE, dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C. The new model looks remarkably similar to the recently launched 6.1 Plus, except for a few external changes. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with Android One and Nokia promises three years of major updates and three years of security updates. The phone comes in Gloss Black and Gloss Midnight Blue colour variants.

Live photos of the OnePlus 6T leaks but doesn’t show its rear

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Sep 24, 2018

The OnePlus 6T should arrive soon. While we wait for the still unconfirmed release date, expect leaks to keep pouring in. Today, a fresh set of live photos of the phone have surfaced on the web but they only show the front of the device.

If you’ve been having doubts about the notch and its size on the OnePlus 6T, these images should finally convince you that OnePlus will retain the notch on its next flagship albeit with a new design. The OnePlus 6T will come with a water-drop notch similar to what we have seen from manufacturers such as Honor, OPPO, and Vivo.

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The notch is significantly smaller when compared to that of the OnePlus 6 and is home to the phone’s front-facing camera and the usual combination of light and proximity sensors. If you still don’t like the notch, we bet OnePlus will add a feature that lets you hide it.

Another feature of the phone these live photos confirm is the in-display fingerprint scanner. Yes, the OnePlus 6T will come with an in-display fingerprint scanner. This should be good news for those who skipped the OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 6 because the fingerprint sensor was moved to the back.

All you have to do is place your registered finger on the screen. OnePlus has put a fingerprint icon on the screen that shows you where to place your finger to unlock the device. The icon is also visible when the ambient display is turned on.

The OnePlus 6T will come with a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It will also come with dual rear cameras and not triple rear cameras. Sadly, OnePlus has confirmed that the phone will not come with an audio jack.

(Source, Via)

Honor V10 with the flagship Kirin 970 chipset gets a massive price cut

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Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2018

Huawei’s Honor brand today officially rolled out a special offer for the Honor V10 on JD.com. The offer affects the 6GB + 64GB variant of the device which is now offered for 2099 yuan ($306). The device earlier had a further 100 yuan price cut and was sold briefly for 1999 yuan ($291). This is a surprise price cut which has seen the price of the device drop by 999 yuan. The Honor V10 was announced with a 2,999 yuan price tag for the 6GB + 64GB variant.

The Honor V10 comes in as a mid-range model but with flagship specs. The device was launched late last year packing a Kirin 970 chipset which is Huawei’s 2017 flagship chipset. It sports a 5.99-inch full-screen display with the 18:9 aspect ratio. The device packs a dual 16MP + 20M camera a the rear with PDAF while at the front is a 13MP sensor said to have AI capabilities.

The smartphone runs Android-Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 out of the box and should get EMUI 9.0 in no distant time. It packs a 3750mAh battery with 5V/4.5A super fast charge. It also comes with dual SIM slots and both slots are 4G VoLTE enabled. In addition, the Honor V10 is also equipped with GPU Turbo technology that can greatly improve the graphics processing efficiency of the GPU.

POCO F1 gets MIUI 9.6.22 update, brings bug fixes and security patch

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Sep 24, 2018

Xiaomi has started rolling out a new stable update to the POCO F1 (POCOPHONE F1). Sadly, the new update doesn’t bring MIUI 10 but comes as MIUI 9.6.22 and is bundled with fixes, optimizations, and last month’s security patch.

The update is 423MB in size and has begun to arrive on devices in India. It brings fixes to apps such as the camera, phone, and recorder. It is also said to bring Face Unlock (already available to Indian users) to users in Bangladesh, France, Nepal, Poland, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

The new update removes Mi Roaming, fixes a bug that affects the launching of several apps, and optimizes the camera’s launching process and image processing. It also brings August’s security patch. We hope the MIUI 10 stable update brings September or even October’s security update if it rolls out next month.

The POCOPHONE F1 has been termed the flagship killer’s killer due to its combination of flagship specs and low price. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor with liquid cooling and packs up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.