Huawei Mate 20 Pro lacks 3.5mm audio jack

By

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Oct 9, 2018

The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro will go official in the coming week. Even though a lot of information on these phones have surfaced in the recent past, the rumor mill is still actively working on spilling newer information on them. Popular tipster Roland Quandt has shared some images of the silicon case for Huawei Mate 20 Pro handset. The new images have revealed that the Mate 20 Pro will not be featuring a 3.5mm audio jack.

The silicon case for the Mate 20 Pro features two cutouts at the top edge. These cutouts belong to the IR blaster and a mic. The top edge of the device does not feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The backside of the phone has a large square-shaped cutout for the triple camera module. There is no cutout for fingerprint scanner under the camera module. This could be because the Mate 20 Pro will come equipped with in-display fingerprint scanner.

On the other side, the Mate 20 is expected to house a conventional fingerprint scanner on its rear shell. Also, it will be also featuring a 3.5mm audio jack.

Read More:Buy Huawei Honor 8X Max Smartphone For Only $229 On Giztop [Coupon Inside]

Rumors have it that the Mate 20 Pro will be arriving with a dual-edge curved OLED screen that will produce Quad HD+ resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. It will be equipped with a wider notch that will be housing all the essential sensors required for 3D facial recognition.

The 7nm Kirin 980 chipset will be present under the hood of the device. The smartphone is expected to feature up to 8 GB of RAM and an internal storage of up to 512 GB. It may include 4,200mAh battery. There is no information on the accurate pricing of the phone. It is speculated to arrive with a starting price of around $999.

(source)

Get An Extra 20% Off On Computer And Networking Items On Banggood [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 9, 2018

If you’re in the market for computer and networking accessories, you’re highly likely to end up spending a lot of money. But if you’re living on a tight budget and aren’t willing to shell out a fortune on a keyboard. mouse or other related items, we got good news for you.

As part of its recently kicked-off Computer Accessories Clearance Sale promotion, Banggood is now doling out an extra 20% off on a wide range of computer and networking related items in the form of coupon code ‘PCsale’. The promo has been split into multiple categories in a bid to simplify the search process.

The first category dubbed ‘Keyboards & Mouse’ is brimming with all sorts of high-end keyboards and highly useful mouse that you can buy at the heavily discounted price. Apart from that, there’s a 43% off on the Ultra Thin Mute 104 Keys Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Support Pair, which supports up to 3 different devices.
The aforesaid item usually sells for $58, but thanks to the discount, you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $32.99. Likewise, you can get a 26% off on the unique IPazzPort KP-810-21S 2.4GHz Keyboard Air Mouse, which usually sells for $18.82 but is currently available at a lowered price of just $13.99.

In the next section called ‘USB Hubs,’ you can some type-C USBs from C-Force and Orico. The ‘Multimedia Equipment’ section, on the other hand, is crammed with MantisTek, Rapoo and AJazz branded earphones.

For instance, you can avail a 20% discount on the MantisTek GH2 Smart Vibration Stereo Noise Canceling Gaming Headphone, which usually carries a $44.99 price tag. With the aforesaid discount, this gaming headphone is now available at a reduced price of just $35.99.

On top of that, you can apply coupon code PCsale to get an extra $7.20 off at the time of checking out. In other words, you can use the aforesaid coupon to bring your already discounted grand total further down to just $28.79 before proceeding to checkout.

There are various other categories including Networking, Drive & Storage, Computer Components and Computer Cables that feature heavily discounted items. More importantly, you can use the above-mentioned coupon to get an additional discount before you click on the ‘Proceed to Checkout’ button.

If you’re interested in checking out the rest of the products and taking advantage of the discount, head straight to this link without wasting time.

Get Big Discounts On Computer And Networking Items

Buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Smartphone At A Dropped Price On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 9, 2018

Following the footsteps of its well-received precursors, the Redmi Note 6 Pro became an instant hit among Xiaomi fans after hitting the store shelves earlier this year. Loaded with awe-inspiring features, the latest smartphone in Xiaomi’s popular Redmi series is simply irresistible.

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the coveted Redmi Note 6 Pro without emptying your pocket, it may interest you to know that you can now get big discounts on two different versions of the smartphone on Banggood. So without further ado, let’s check out the details.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Global Version (3GB RAM+32GB ROM)

While you’d usually end up spending $199.99 on the global version of the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone offering 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, you can now buy it at a reduced price of just $179.99 on Banggood. This is a considerable 10% reduction in the phone’s retail price.

The promotion sale kicked off on Sunday, October 7th and is slated to end on October 15th. While you can choose between the black and rose gold color versions, it is worth noting that there were only 240 pieces of each color option left at the time of writing.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Global Version (4GB RAM+64GB ROM)

The slightly larger version of the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone offering 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage normally sells for $249.99. But much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, this version is now available at a discounted price of just $218.99 on Banggood.

This is a 12% reduction in the phone’s original asking price. The discount will specifically be valid for the blue color version until October 15th. Regrettably, there were only 147 pieces remaining for this promotion.

If you’re interested in getting more than just the discount, you’d be delighted to know that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage can now be purchased along with the Mi Band 3 smartwatch at an unbeatable package price.

While the aforesaid version of the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone carries a discounted price tag of $179.99, the Mi Band 3 is also available at a dropped price of $26.99. It is worth noting that the smartphone usually sells for $199.99; while the Mi Band 3 would normally set you back $56.99.

You can buy the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone and Mi Band 3 smartwatch bracelet together at a package price of just $206.98. Buying these 2 items without the discount would set you back $256.98.

While you end up saving $50, it is imperative for you to bear in mind that the discount will be limited to just 99 pieces. You can follow this link to check out more details and take advantage of this discount before the promotion comes to an end.

Get Big Discount On Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro And The Mi Band 3 Smart Watch

Download Banggood App To Get A 10% Off App Coupon

Avail Unmissable Deals And Discounts On Home Appliances And Other Items On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 9, 2018

GearBest is offering up to 50% off on a wide range of home appliance and other items, giving you an opportunity to make your house smart without emptying your pocket. Moreover, you can save a considerable amount of money on various categories if your shopping cart exceeds a specific amount.

Keeping in line with that, you can get $10 off if you shop for more than $45 in the ‘Home & Garden Deals’ section until October 14th. Likewise, you can get a free gift when you buy a smartphone under the ‘Home & Garden Deals’ category before October 21st.

If your grand total exceeds $200, you can get a $20 discount on ‘Powerhouse Tablets’ until October 28th. Similarly, you can receive free supplies with 3D printer under the ‘Electronics & Outdoor Gear’ section starting from October 29th to November 5th.

The ‘Hot 24 Hours Flash Sale’ section features limited pieces of the Original Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum and Portable Intelligent Thermal Vacuum Water Bottle from Xiaomi YouPin. More importantly, both the items are available at a dropped price.

For instance, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum usually sells for $436.66, but it is currently available at a reduced price of just $269.99. The Portable Intelligent thermal vacuum water bottle, on the other hand, is now available at a discounted price of just $25.99 while it usually carries a $49.65 price tag.

The ‘Flash Sale’ category is crammed with miscellaneous items that you can buy at the lowered price. In the next section dubbed ‘Over $45 Save $10,’ you can save an extra $10 when your grand total exceeds $45. Note that the discount will be valid for those using GearBest app to buy the products.

You can find all sorts of items that help you keep your home clean and tidy at a discounted price under the ‘Home Appliances’ section. This category features Dibea, ILIFE, Xiaomi, and other top brands.

The ‘Home & Garden’ segment is rife with discounted items that you use on a regular basis. For instance, you can get a 7% off on the Key Storage Lock Box with 4 Digit Combination that lets you enter your home even if you forget the key.

The rest of the products have been split into multiple categories such as ‘Smart-lighting,’ ‘Healthy Life,’ and ‘Novelty Toys.’ You can follow this link to check out the rest of the products and get the discount before the promotion comes to an end.

Check Out Weekly Supersave Categories On GearBest

Buy Xiaomi SMATE Turbine Electric Shaver For Only $39.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 9, 2018

Xiaomi is quite a versatile company that manufactures a wide range of products that come in handy in day to day life. The Chinese tech giant offers multiple products in the hygiene department as well, but none as popular as the SMATE Turbine electric shaver that warrants a pleasant shaving experience.

Unlike its predecessors, this electric shaver does not adopt the usual, boring design but resorts to applying a zestful design which is further augmented with comfortable finishes, instead. Moreover, its minimalist design strikes a perfect balance with neutral colors like white, black and gold, giving it a modish touch.

While you’d normally end up spending up a lot of money on a high-end electric shaver offering comparable features, it may interest you to know that the SMATE Turbine electric shaver has gone up for sale at a discounted price on GeekBuying. On top of that, we’ll even show how you can get an extra discount while checking out.

The Xiaomi SMATE Turbine Electric Shaver would usually set you back a pretty penny, but you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $43.99 on GeekBuying. This is a noteworthy 35% reduction in the item’s original asking price of $67.99.

But if that doesn’t impress you much, you can apply coupon code CBFRVTQG to avail an additional $39.99 discount before placing your order. In other words, you can bring your already lowered grand total further down to $39.99 simply by using the aforesaid coupon.

An absolute bargain at this lowered price, the SMATE Turbine electric shaver can effectively cut the beared in different directions since its just 0.1mm thick. To ensure a turbocharged shaving experience, it uses a powerful 4,500 rpm motor, unlike the regular electric shavers that are usually backed by the 180 ordinary motors.

On top of that, charging the SMATE Turbine electric shaver is quite easy and convenient, and it also features a charging indicator to show charging state. With 2 hours fast charging and 2 minutes per shaving, the SMATE Turbine can be used for 30 days which makes quite an irresistible electric shaver.

You can follow this link to check out more details about the Xiaomi SMATE Turbine Electric Shaver and get the discount, which will be valid for a limited period of time. It is also worth noting that the coupon will be expiring in a short time as well.

Get 35% Off On Xiaomi SMATE Turbine Electric Shaver

Here’s how to Livestream the Google Pixel 3 launch event

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 8, 2018

Google‘s #madebygoogle event is already upon us as it would commence on Tuesday (October 9) at 11 am ET (8 am PT, 15:00 GMT). The main highlight of the event will no doubt be the unveiling of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Before now, the renders of the models have made several appearances, some coming officially from Google. The notch on the display is the biggest feature of the model as it differentiates its design entirely from that of its predecessor.

Apart from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Google is rumoured to have got a Pixel Ultra in the works. The device is said to feature a large, notch-less and edge-to-edge display. There is also talks of a Pixel Mini with a smaller size. The device was reportedly spotted on GFXBench recently, code-named Bonito. Other smart home products will also likely be unveiled.

In case you are interested to watch the event live, there are several channels to follow the live stream. The event will be streamed live from New York on the Made by Google Instagram page (@madebygoogle). The Livestream can also be viewed on the Made by Google YouTube channel. Once again, the event kicks off at 11 am ET (8 am ET, 15:00 GMT) on Tuesday (October 9).

BlackBerry KEY2 LE with Snapdragon 636, 4 GB of RAM lands in India for Rs. 29,990 pricing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 8, 2018

TCL had introduced the BlackBerry KEY2 LE smartphone at IFA 2018 in August. The same smartphone has been brought to India through Optiemus Infracom which builds and distributed phones with BlackBerry branding. Amazon India will be exclusively selling the smartphone in the country starting from Oct. 12 with a price tag of Rs. 29,990 (~$406).

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE will be available in India in a single color edition of Space Blue. The USP of the phone is its full-sized QWERTY keyboard that comes with fingerprint scanner enabled space bar and a Speed Key that can be used in combination with other keys on the keyboard for launching different apps and functions. It is also packed with various security features such BlackBerry Locker, Password Keeper, Privacy Shade, BlackBerry Hub and DTEK security manager.

The KEY2 LE features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD screen that delivers FHD+ resolution of 1620 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 3:2. The screen is protected by 2.5D curved glass. The handset is loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo and it allows users to launch dual instances of certain apps like Facebook and Instagram for accessing different accounts.

The Snapdragon 636 and 4 GB of RAM are present under the hood of the BlackBerry KEY2 LE. It has an inbuilt storage of 64 GB. It is packed with a 3,000mAh battery. For photography, the KEY2 LE is equipped with 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera system on its rear shell. At the front is an 8-megapixel camera for shooting selfies. The handset features a polycarbonate chassis with a textured pattern on its rear.

Read More: BlackBerry Evolve to go on sale in India from October 10 for Rs. 24,990 ($340)

Apart from BlackBerry KEY2 LE, Optiemus Infracom is also selling BlackBerry Evolve smartphone in India. The handset is available in the country with a pricing of Rs. 24,990 through Amazon India.

Nokia 7.1 vs Honor View 10 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Oct 8, 2018

Choosing a device which is not among the best flagship smartphones is never an easy choice. You have to find a compromise and renounce to important high-end specs if you want to save some money. The trick not to make a disappointing purchase if you are not searching for anything particular is to get a well-balanced device at least when it comes to the main specs such as the hardware side, battery and sometimes even the camera department. Nokia 7.1, Honor View 10 Lite and Xiaomi Mi 8 SE are very good choices if you do not want to spend a lot of money, and this comparison will tell you which one is the best.

Nokia 7.1 vs Huawei Honor View 10 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE

	Nokia 7.1	Huawei Honor View 10 Lite	Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	149.7 x 71.2 x 8 mm, 160 grams	160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8 mm, 175 grams	147.3 x 73.1 x 7.5 mm, 164 grams
DISPLAY	5.84 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 432 ppi, IPS LCD	6.5 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 396 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.88 inches, 1080 x 2244 pixels, 423 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM , 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android One	Android 8.1 Oreo, EMUI	Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 20 + 2 MP f/1.8 16 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.9 and f/2.0 20 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3060 mAh, Fast Charging 9V / 2A 18W	3750 mAh, Charging 5V / 2A 10W	3120 mAh, Fast Charging with Quick Charge 3.0
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Design

If you are one of those users who like to have a beautiful handset, it may be a very good idea to grab a unit of the Honor View 10 Lite. Thanks to its reflective glass back available in four different colors and a display covering almost the whole front panel (more than 84 percent screen-to-body ratio with a notch and a tiny chin), it is definitely the most impressive handset. On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the most original one with its sharp shape, and it is also the sleekest and most compact. I would pick Xiaomi Mi 8 SE for its originality.

Display

Xiaomi Mi 8 SE has the best display: an outstanding Super AMOLED panel with a size of 5.88 inches and a Full HD+ resolution. It supports both the HDR10 technology and DCI-P3 coverage for very brilliant and realistic colors. It is even a compact screen, so it is not hard to use even with one hand. Nokia 7.1 takes the second place as it features the HDR10 technology as well which provides very nice colors. Huawei Honor View 10 Lite has the worst viewing quality but it is the biggest one with a huge diagonal of 6.5 inches.

Specs & Software

The winner is Xiaomi Mi 8 SE even when it comes to hardware and performance. It features the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset which is the best option in the Android market if we exclude the 800 series found on the best flagship phones. So it provides the smoothest and fastest performance in every scenario. Unfortunately, this device does not have a micro SD slot unlike its opponents, but it is available with up to 128 GB of internal storage. Nokia 7.1 is the only device to have Android One installed,

Camera

If you are going to get one of these handsets, do not expect a huge camera quality. When it comes to cameras, these devices are just normal mid-rangers. This does not mean that their cameras are disappointing as they are much more than sufficient, but they are far from flagships. These devices feature similar camera specifications, so we can not choose a winner until we test Nokia 7.1 which is still not available to purchase.

Battery

Given its bigger body, Huawei Honor View 10 Lite has also a bigger battery than its concurrence. It features a lithium unit with a capacity of 3750 mAh which is able to last more than Nokia 7.1 and Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and their below-3200 mAh batteries. However, you will need some more time to fully charge it as it does not features a very fast charging technology.

Price

Judging from the overall specification and prices of these phones, I would definitely pick Xiaomi Mi 8 SE due to its better display, compact dimensions, and higher performance. It costs about €300/$344 (price varies depending on the region and stores), while Nokia 7.1 and Honor View 10 Lite cost €319/$366 and €300/$344 respectively.

Read More: HMD Global launches Nokia 7.1 with 5.84-inch PureDisplay, SD636 SoC, and dual rear cameras

Nokia 7.1 vs Huawei Honor View 10 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE: PROs and CONS

Nokia 7.1

PROs

Compact
Very nice display
Good design
Android One

CONS

Smaller battery

Huawei Honor View 10 Lite

PROs

Great design
Wide display
Good price
Big battery

CONS

Dimensions

Xiaomi Mi 8 SE

PROs

Great display
Original design
Compact
Higher performance

CONS

No micro SD

Moto G7 360-degree renders reveal design from all angles

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 8, 2018

The rumor mill has started spilling information on the upcoming Moto G7 smartphone. Lenovo-owned Motorola may announce the Moto G series in Q1 or early Q2 2019. Previous reports have revealed that the Moto G7 will be boasting a higher screen-to-body ratio than its predecessor models since it is expected to arrive with a waterdrop notch display. An Indian publication has teamed up with industry expert @OnLeaks to share the 360-degree CAD renders of the Moto G7.

The leak reveals that the company will be launching two Moto G series smartphones next year. The renders that are available in the post belongs to the Moto G7 handset. However, the other device could be an advanced phone that could be called Moto G7 Plus.

The Moto G7 CAD renders reveal that it features a waterdrop notched screen. This indicates that the G7 Plus will be also sporting the same display design. The G7 can be sporting a thicker chin with Motorola branding and slimmer side bezels.

The back panel of the phone features the usual round-shaped camera module that includes horizontally aligned dual cameras. Below it is the company’s logo that is embedded with a fingerprint scanner. The bottom edge of the phone houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port and an external speaker. The volume buttons and the power key reside on the right edge of the device.

The handset measures 157 x 75.3 x 8mm and with the camera bump, its thickness increases to 9.5mm. The dimensions of the phone suggest that it could be equipped with a 6-inch display.

Shown below is one of the recent tweets from popular tipster Evan Blass. He claims that Motorola will not be releasing C-series, M-series and X-series of smartphones in 2019. Also, unlike the above leak which claims that only two Moto G series devices will be launching in the coming year, Blass claims that the 2019 G-series will include Standard, Play, Plus and Power models.

Lenovo may have cut the Moto C, M, & X lines this year, but next year is going to see a record number of Moto G models: Standard, Play, Plus, and Power.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 4, 2018

Read More: Lenovo S5 Pro stunning camera samples released as launch draws near

Previous rumors have revealed that the Moto G7 will be supporting Full HD+ resolution on its 6-inch IPS LCD display. There is no information on the processor that will be powering the Moto G7. However, it is known that the processor will be accompanied by 4 GB of RAM. Other features of the smartphone include 64 GB internal storage, Android 9 Pie OS, 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual cameras setup, 12-megapixel front camera and 3,000mAh battery.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi MIX 3, Mi Note 4 launch date could be confirmed tomorrow

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 8, 2018

Around a month ago, Xiaomi President Lin Bin had revealed the first image of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 and he also confirmed that it will be unveiled in October. Through the official Weibo account of Xiaomi, the company has now confirmed that it will be announcing something tomorrow morning. Hence, it is very likely that the Mi MIX 3 launch date could be revealed tomorrow.

The official image of the Mi MIX 3 has revealed that it will be sporting a manual slider design. A newer report that had surfaced earlier today had revealed that it will be sporting slimmer bezels around the display.

All the predecessor Mi MIX series smartphones have featured front-facing camera on their bottom bezel. However, rumors have claimed that the selfie camera, 3D structured light module and other sensors of the smartphone will be placed on its slider. Hence, the new design of the Mi MIX 3 will allow the handset to sport nearly 100 percent screen-to-body.

There is no information available on the specifications of the Mi MIX 3. However, it is very likely to feature Snapdragon 845. The handset is also rumored to arrive with an in-screen fingerprint reader.

A leaked poster that had surfaced during the weekend had claimed that the Xiaomi will be holding an unveil event on Oct. 15. Through the event, the Chinese manufacturer is expected to announce the Mi MIX 3 smartphone as well as Mi Note 4. The latter is rumored to be codenamed as Xiaomi LEX. Both the phones are rumored to feature a dedicated button for accessing Xiao AI assistant.

Xiaomi has recently launched the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite smartphone in color gradient options. It is likely that the upcoming Mi MIX 3 and Mi Note 4 may also arrive in color gradient editions.

Read More: Xiaomi Mi Band 3 heart rate sensor’s credibility in the spotlight, gets a reading for tissue paper

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is not the only flagship phone launching this month. The Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Razer Phone 2, Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro and OnePlus 6T are all slated to go official this month. Which one could be the be the best flagship phone among these smartphones? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

OnePlus 6T to launch on October 30 in New York, tickets now on sale

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 8, 2018

OnePlus has finally announced the launch date for its next flagship – the OnePlus 6T. Unfortunately, it is not the October 17 date we expected.

Taking to its official Twitter account, OnePlus has scheduled October 30 as the launch date for the OnePlus 6T. The event will be held in New York at 11 AM EDT and will also be live-streamed on the official OnePlus YouTube channel.

The #OnePlus6T is coming. Unlock The Speed on October 30. https://t.co/LuPoTr8ZyF pic.twitter.com/s8OfmZuXdX

— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 8, 2018

OnePlus has also begun the sale of tickets to those who want to attend the launch. Tickets are currently priced at $20, down from its original price of $30. We don’t know how long the discount will last for, so if you are interested, hurry and purchase one here.

Those who purchase tickets not only get to be at the event but also get a hands-on experience of the OnePlus 6T, meet OnePlus community members, get exclusive merchandise and also get a free pair of OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones worth $69. So, you are definitely getting more than the $20 you are charged for the ticket.

Continue

Honor MediaPad T5 launching alongside Honor 8c on October 11

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 8, 2018

Huawei’s Honor division had earlier released details of a launch event to be held on October 11 when the Honor 8C would be unveiled. The Honor 8C is expected to signal Huawei’s last push for a chunk of the mid-range market for this year. Looks like Huawei plans to grab its market share with both hands. The company has released a poster which points to the launch of a new Honor tablet dubbed MediaPad T5.

The Honor MediaPad T5 is expected as a successor to the Honor Play Pad 2, launched as MediaPad T3 in India last year. The MediaPad T3 features an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display while there is also a 10-inch version dubbed MediaPad T3 10. According to a poster shared on Honor’s Weibo page, the upcoming Honor Pad 5 will come with dual speakers tuned by Harman Kardon. The tablet will also come with the fifth-generation of Huawei’s Histen 3D audio technology which brings the experience of live music.

In terms of specification, the Honor MediaPad T5 is expected to adopt a 2K screen but for now, the processor is unknown. The device may likely be upgraded to a Kirin 970 chipset.

(source)

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL launching in India on October 22

By

Jeet

-

Oct 8, 2018

Google is all set to launch its new lineup of Pixel smartphones at its annual hardware event in New York on 9th October — Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. At the event, along with the third-generation Pixel phones, the company will also launch the Pixel Slate, Google Home Hub, and a new Chromecast.

Now, a new report suggests that the company has set the launch date of October 22 for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones in the Indian market. While not much is known at this time, it’s has been confirmed that Google will hold a dedicated media launch event in India on 22nd October.

For the current Pixel 2 lineup, Google had partnered with online marketplace Flipkart to exclusively sell the devices online in India. There’s a possibility that the tech giant may extend the partnership for the Pixel 3 lineup as well. The phone’s pricing and availability details still remains under the wraps.

The Google Pixel 3 XL’s leaked images show that the phone will come with a large notch that will house a pair of front-facing cameras, a speaker, and proximity and ambient sensors. A recent report claims that the dual selfie camera setup present inside the notch will comprise of an 8-megapixel auto-focus primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and a secondary fixed-focus 8-megapixel lens with f/2.2 aperture.

The phone will feature a 6.2-inch QHD+ (2880 x 1440 pixels) display, which is significantly bigger than the 5.5-inch FHD+ screen of the Pixel 3 with model number G013A. Both models will be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 processor and 4GB of RAM. The phone will come equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera. It’ll have 64GB of internal storage and reports suggest existence of 128GB internal storage model as well.

As for the software, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be running Android 9.0 Pie operating system out-of-the-box. The phones are also expected to come with support for Qi Wireless Charging. We’ll know everything related to the phone tomorrow, when Google official launches them.

(Source)

Nubia Z18S to launch as Nubia X on October 31

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 8, 2018

Nubia has a phone with dual displays in development. The phone already appeared in a bunch of photos and has also gotten its TENAA certification. The phone was originally referred to as the Nubia Z18S, however, a launch poster has revealed that it will be officially known as the Nubia X.

Earlier today, Nubia’s CEO, Ni Fei, took to Weibo where he shared the launch poster for the upcoming flagship phone. The poster says the device will launch on October 31 and also reveals the date is the manufacturer’s 6th anniversary. We believe the event will be a big one since the date also doubles as their anniversary.

The Nubia X’s selling point is its dual display design. It has a bezel-less 6.26-inch LCD FHD+ display on one side and a 5.1-inch HD+ OLED screen on the other side. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor and will be available with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage.

The phone has only two cameras and they are on the same side – above the smaller display. The primary camera is a 24MP sensor and the secondary camera is a 16MP sensor just like the rear cameras of the Nubia Z18.

The Nubia X doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner on either side but the TENAA images show an indentation on the left and right sides of the metal frame. We want to believe each indentation is home to a fingerprint scanner or at least one is home to a scanner.

Continue

OPPO Hyper Boost Technology to be announced on October 11

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2018

OPPO has an event scheduled for Wednesday, October 10. That event is said to be for the launch of the OPPO K1. However, the Chinese manufacturer has announced another event for October 11. According to the poster, the event is for the launch of OPPO Hyper Boost Technology.

I bet you are wondering what is OPPO Hyper Boost Technology. Based on the poster for the event, we want to believe this is OPPO’s version of Huawei/Honor’s GPU Turbo technology. The poster does show a circuit board and a rough translation of the text on it mentions something about acceleration.

It is still unconfirmed if Hyper Boost is just a software-based upgrade for the GPU or it includes the CPU too. Nevertheless, we expect Hyper Boost will increase the performance of supported OPPO devices.

We are also curious to see how it works since OPPO phones use Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets, unlike Honor‘s GPU Turbo technology that only works with Kirin-powered phones.

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LG V40 ThinQ kernel source code released less than a week after launch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2018

The LG V40 ThinQ was released less than a week ago and LG has done well by releasing its kernel source code. This means developers can begin making custom ROMs for the phone right away.

Manufacturers are required to release the kernel source code for their phones but a lot of them fail to do so. Some eventually do but months after the phone’s release. However, there are other manufacturers who release the source code for their phones even before they go on sale.

The source code for the LG V40 was actually released on October 5, two days after the phone was announced. LG has released for all the five variants of the phone and they can be downloaded from the source link below.

The LG V40 ThinQ comes with Android Oreo out of the box and while it has been confirmed that it will be updated to Android 9 Pie soon, we know LG isn’t the quickest with updates. With the source code now available, developers can make custom ROMs based on Android Pie for those not willing to wait for LG’s update.

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Xiaomi Mi Band 3 heart rate sensor’s credibility in the spotlight, gets a reading for tissue paper (UPDATED: Proof)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 8, 2018

UPDATE:

We decided to check out whether this is indeed the case with the Mi Band 3. Our writers Jed, Habeeb, and Michele tested their Mi Band 3’s HR sensor on a tissue paper roll. Jed was able to get the reading pretty quickly and consistently on his Mi Band. Habeeb found it harder to get a reading from a tissue roll on his Mi Band 3, but even he managed to get a reading a few times. Finally, Michele’s Mi Band 3 didn’t register any readings, until he decided to gently tap the tissue paper roll (to mimic heartbeats). We believe other soft objects like a cloth could also register a heart rate reading on the new Mi Band. It seems as if the wearable picks up minute vibrations from the tissue roll and registers them for heartbeats.

You can check out the videos from Jed and Habeeb down below.

https://youtu.be/Q2HmL-SDoZs

It looks like only some Mi Band 3 models are affected by this issue. This might not be a deal breaker for most customers but it goes on to show how we can’t rely on inexpensive wearables like the Mi Band 3 for an accurate HR reading. Do let us know if you could get a HR reading from your Mi band 3 on a tissue roll.

Xiaomi launched the Mi Band 3 in May this year as a successor to the highly-successful Mi Band 2. Despite the success of the Mi Band 2, there were a couple of flaws, one being the inability of the heart rate monitor to track the heart rate reading of users with coloured skin. While that flaw has been fixed on the Mi Band 3, the credibility of the heart rate sensor is presently under scrutiny after a shocking discovery.

That discovery was made by some netizens who discovered that the Mi Band 3 can actually come out with a reading when strapped to a tissue paper. In order not to jump into a hasty conclusion, I carried out the same test with my Mi Band 3 and indeed a reading was obtained while it is strapped to a roll of tissue paper. This is unusual since the heart rate sensor is supposed to take the reading of the heart rate and the tissue paper is a non-living thing. Most smart bands and watches use light to track your blood. How it works is that an LED illuminates your capillaries and then a sensor adjacent to the light measures the frequency at which your blood pumps past. This is the heart rate measured in beats per minute (BPM).

This isn’t a general problem as a photo of a smartwatch that looks like a Fitbit Versa (we’re not sure) strapped on the tissue paper roll was also shared. The smartwatch didn’t come out with a reading just as it shouldn’t. That doesn’t mean the Mi Band 3 is alone in this boat. Most of the smart bands around come out with spurious readings that are nowhere near accurate. If you own the Mi Band 3 or any other smart band, you can please try this same test and reach us with the outcome via the comment section.

(source)

Microsoft may soon begin Andromeda testing; Surface Phone release could be nearing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 8, 2018

In July, Microsoft had reportedly stalled the rumored Andromeda OS powered Surface Phone. The reason behind it was that Andromeda was not ready to be integrated in Windows 10. The Surface Phone rumors have erupted again now since Andromeda OS language pack has appeared on Microsoft Store. This indicates that the Redmond giant could be prepping up to test the Andromeda OS. The text springs from the language pack have revealed some vital information on the alleged Surface Phone device.

Details that have surfaced through the language pack of Andromeda OS has revealed that the rumored Surface Phone will be a foldable device with two opposable displays along with an external screen. The Microsoft Andromeda OS device will be equipped dialer for making phone calls which indicates that this foldable device will be a smartphone. It will also contain a feature that will allow it to record phone calls automatically. Tapping twice on the display of the device will turn it off

The device will not only run apps designed for Andromeda OS, but also Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. For security, the device will be equipped with features like fingerprint reader as well as an iris scanner. The Productivity Mode feature available on the device allow users to connect it to a larger display for desktop PC experience.

Read More: Microsoft brings Android mirroring on Windows 10 via Your Phone app

There is no information available on when Microsoft will be bringing the rumored Andromeda OS device to the market. However, now that the evidence of the active development of the OS have surfaced, the arrival of the alleged Surface Phone may not be far away. As of this writing, there are not details on the specifications of the device. If the launch of the device is really nearing, forthcoming reports may soon reveal details on its specs soon.

(source 1, 2|via 1, 2)

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 to soon get Android Pie and EIS support

By

Jeet

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Oct 8, 2018

Asus’ Zenfone Max Pro M1 has proved to be one of the bestselling budget smartphone in the Indian market’s sub-Rs. 15,000 (~$203) segment. Recently, the company revealed that it managed to sell over one million units of the phone in just six months.

Amidst rumours regarding the Zenfone Max M2 Pro and Max M2, which recently received EEC certification in Russia, the company has now revealed its plans for the Zenfone Max Pro M1 update. Dinesh Sharma, Director, Mobile Business, Asus India, has confirmed that the phone will get Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) feature through software update.

Further, he has also confirmed that the Zenfone Max Pro M1 will soon receive the latest Android 9.0 Pie update. The company’s flagship smartphone Zenfone 5Z will also receive the Android Pie update. However, Asus has not revealed any specific timeline for the update.

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 features a 5.99-inch Full View Full HD+ display with 2160 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 636 processor and comes in three variants — 3GB RAM with 32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM with 64GB internal storage.

It also supports microSD card, enabling users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity. In terms of photography, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 features a vertically arranged dual camera setup equipped with Softlight LED on its rear panel. It comprises a 16-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor with f/2.4 aperture for depth sensing.

The features offered by the dual rear cameras include faster autofocus, PDAF, and 4K video shooting. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel snapper with a Softlight LED, which has been optimized to capture selfie shots with bokeh effect.

While Asus smartphones usually feature the company’s custom interface ZenUI, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is the first phone that offers stock Android experience. It runs a pure version of Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box but the device is not a part of Google‘s Android One program.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, and micro USB 2.0 port. There’s also a rear-mounted fingerprint reader for added security and the phone also supports Face Unlock feature. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W fast charging.

Leaked photo shows the OPPO K1 and its waterdrop notch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2018

A photo showing a phone said to be the OPPO K1 has surfaced online. The image shows the front of the phone and gives us a look at its design.

The OPPO K1 in the image is inside a case. This is not your typical case but the type used by manufacturers ahead of a phone’s official release. The phone is pretty big, 6.4-inches according to TENAA. The image also confirms it has a water-drop notch. We already knew this based on its screen resolution (2340 x 1080) which is similar to that of the OPPO F9.

The side bezels are pretty thin and the chin is quite small when compared to what we have seen on some other phones such as the newly launched Nokia 7.1. The display is actually AMOLED and based on the TENAA images of the rear side of the phone, the fingerprint scanner is under the display.

OPPO PBCM10 rear — OPPO K1’s rear according to TENAA

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