The Mi Max 3 is the latest smartphone in Xiaomi‘s big-screen Max series. It has a large 6.9” display, dual cameras, and packs a big 5,500mAh battery. It also has a starting price of ¥1,699 (~$248). If you don’t want to shell out that amount of money but still want a phone with a big-screen, you may want to grab this limited time deal for the older Mi Max 2.
Xiaomi has slashed the price of the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage Mi Max 2 down to ¥999 (~$146) for a limited time. It isn’t a bad deal but it is only available in Gold. You also get a free screen protector and a ¥100 (~$15) phone call voucher.
The Mi Max 2 has a 6.4-inch screen with a 1920 x 1080 display. Unlike the Mi Max 3, it has thick bezels around the display. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 processor.
On the back of the phone is a single 12MP f/2.2 camera and above the display is a 5MP f/2.0 camera. The Mi Max 2 also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 5,300mAh battery, and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.
If you are not bothered by the older specs, ¥999 is a good price when compared to its original launch price of ¥1699 (§248). Just head to the official Mi online store and grab a unit.
Huawei Nova 3i is the first Kirin 710 chipset smartphone from the company that was announced two months ago. The handset has been available in China in variants such as 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage + 4 GB RAM. The Chinese manufacturer has introduced a higher configuration model in the home market. The company has also started selling the Nova 3i in a new color variant of Acaia Red
When Huawei had announced the Nova 3i smartphone, it was made available only in three color choices of black, white and blue purple. However, it is only now that the company has launched the handset in a new color variant of Acaia Red.
The base model of the Nova 3i that features 128 GB of storage + 4 GB RAM is priced at 2,199 Yuan (~$322). The higher edition that is packed with 64 GB of storage + 6 GB RAM can be availed at 1,999 Yuan (~$291). The newly introduced 128 GB storage + 6 GB RAM variant of the smartphone carries a price tag of 2,399 Yuan (~$351).
The Huawei Nova 3i houses a notched display of 6.3 inches that produces 19.5:9 aspect ratio and Full HD+ resolution. The Kirin 710 chipset is the driving force of the smartphone. What’s interesting about the Nova 3i is that it features dual front-facing cameras and dual rear cameras. The notch includes 24-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup which carries support for AI scene recognition, AI smart beauty and AI HDR Pro.
The back panel of the Nova 3i is equipped with 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup that supports AI blurring effect for selfie shots and AI scene recognition. The handset comes loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo OS that is overlaid with EMUI 8.2 UI. The smartphone receives power from 3,340mAh battery.
Mobvoi, the Chinese AI company now smartwatch maker may have a new watch coming soon. A teaser for a successor to its affordable smartwatch, the Ticwatch E, was seen on its official website and it hinted at the successor, the Ticwatch E2, coming with a higher IP rating.
The teaser shows a watch with a similar design to the Ticwatch E but with the dial on the right. The watch is submerged in water and below it is its name and the caption “Water is now a friend of your watch”.
The original Ticwatch E has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. This means it will survive splashes but can’t be used for swimming and diving. The Ticwatch E2 may have an IP68 rating which makes it suitable for swimming.
In the past week, Xiaomi extended its Mi 8 series by introducing the Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite smartphones in China. Soon after the launch, Xiaomi’s Global spokesperson Donovan Sung confirmed that the global edition of the Mi 8 Pro will be arriving soon. Also, the official Twitter handle of Xiaomi carried the first teaser of the Mi 8 Lite to confirm that this handset will be also soon available in global markets.
Shown above is the first official teaser that confirms the global debut of the Mi 8 Lite. However, the above tweet does not reveal its launch date. It only confirms that it is Snapdragon 660 powered smartphone that is packed with exciting internals.
The Mi 8 Lite has arrived in China in multiple models such as 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. These models are respectively priced at 1,399 Yuan (~$204), 1,699 Yuan (~$177) and 1,999 Yuan (~$291).
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite features 6.26-inch IPS LCD screen that produces 19:9 aspect ratio since its features a notch. The display supports Full HD+ resolution. For capturing selfies, it is equipped with a 24-megapixel Sony IMX576 sensor. The back panel is fitted with 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. The handset is loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo and it is packed with a 3,350mAh battery that carries support for fast charging.
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is an advanced version of the Xiaomi Mi 8 phone that was announced in May. The major highlight of the phone is that it comes equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor. The enhanced pressure-sensitive sensor assists the phone to unlock faster.
The Mi 8 Pro comes with 6.21-inch S-AMOLED notched screen that supports Full HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 845 powers the 128 GB storage + 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage + 8 GB RAM. The back panel of the phone features dual 12-megapixel rear cameras and it is also fitted with 20-megapixel selfie camera. The handset is powered by 3,000mAh battery.
The Huawei Y9 was seen on TENAA a few weeks ago but only images of the phone and a few specs were revealed. Now a full listing has surfaced and we can say this is practically an Honor 8X with a bigger battery and extra camera.
The Huawei Y9 (2019) variant on TENAA has model number JKM-AL00a. It packs a 6.5-inch screen with a 2340 x 1080 resolution. This is the same screen size and resolution as the Honor 8X, so expect it to have a notch. It is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core processor which is definitely the Kirin 710.
Just like the Honor 8X, the Huawei Y9 will come in 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants with 64GB and 128GB of storage respectively. A MicroSD card slot will allow users add up to an additional 400GB of storage.
The phone will come with a 20MP + 2MP dual rear camera combo. It will also have dual front-facing cameras but TENAA mentions only one – a 16MP sensor. The secondary sensor is most likely a 2MP sensor like the one on the rear.
The Huawei Y9 (2019) will have a 3900mAh battery (~4000mAh), run Android 8.1 Oreo, and have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It will be available in Black, Pink, Blue, and Purple when it launches.
Two months ago, Xiaomi had launched the Mi Max 3 in China. The 64 GB and 128 GB storage variants of the phone had arrived with 1,699 Yuan (~$247) and 1,999 Yuan (~$291) pricing. The official Xiaomi store on Gome Mall is selling both the storage editions of the Mi Max 3 with a price cut of 100 Yuan.
On Gome Mall, the 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM edition of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$233) after a discount of 100 Yuan (~$15). And the higher variant that includes 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM carries a pricing of 1,899 Yuan (~$277). This model has is also selling with a discount of 100 Yuan (~$15).
Xiaomi’s official online store is selling the Mi Max 3 with original pricing. There is no confirmation on whether the price cut for Mi Max 3 on Gome Mall is temporary or permanent one.
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is an impressive phone that features a huge notch-less display of 6.99 inches and a big battery of 5,500mAh capacity. The Snapdragon 636 is present under the hood of the device. The handset is preinstalled with MIUI 9 based Android 8.1 Oreo OS.
It is the first Mi Max series smartphone to come with 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel dual camera setup. For shooting selfies, it features a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel. The other features of the smartphone include USB-C port, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, 3.5mm audio jack, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and GPS. The handset was introduced in Black, Gold and Blue colors, but Gome Mall’s listing for the smartphone does not include Blue variant.
Since its launch, the Mi Max 3 has been exclusively available in China. The official global Twitter account of Xiaomi has teased the arrival of Mi Max 3. The global launch of the Xiaomi phablet seems to be nearing, but the exact launch date is not available yet.
Xiaomi decided to launch the Mi 8 Explorer Edition in the global market as the Mi 8 Pro in new color variants: another flagship is now in the shelves with the most powerful hardware you can expect in 2018. In the same price range, we believe that Meizu 16 Plus and OnePlus 6 are the best Chinese flagships you can currently get besides this new handset, so we decided to compare them to understand which would be the best choice for consumers. After reading the comparison, you can let us know if you agree or not by using the comment box below.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro vs Meizu 16 Plus vs OnePlus 6
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
Meizu 16 Plus
OnePlus 6
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm, 177 grams
160.4 x 78.2 x 7.3 mm, 182 grams
155.7 x 75.4 x 7.8 mm, 177 grams
DISPLAY
6.21 inches, 1080 x 2248p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, Super AMOLED
6.5 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 374 ppi, 18:9 ratio, Super AMOLED
Dual 12 + 12 MP f/1.8 + f/2.4
20 MP f/2.0 front camera
Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 and f/2.6
20 MP f/2.0 front camera
Dual 16 + 20 MP f/1.7
16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY
3000 mAh, Fast charging with Quick Charge 4.0
3570 mAh, Fast Charging with mCharge 4.0
3300 mAh, Fast Charging with Quick Charge 3.0
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Dual SIM slot
Design
For Xiaomi, Meizu and OnePlus, these flagships are a big step forward in terms of aesthetics. Indeed, Meizu 16 Plus and OnePlus 6 are the first flagships from the companies to sport an elegant glass back and, as you know, glass backs are the most common choice for premium designs. But the winner is Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro with the most impressive design: it is the only last-gen smartphone to come with a transparent back thanks to which you can see internal components from the outside. And if you do not like it, there is also a stunning gradient hue.
Display
All of these handsets pack wonderful AMOLED displays and a Full HD+ resolution. So you will get a stunning viewing quality in each case. Judging from the specs on the paper, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro may offer a slightly better viewing quality thanks to the HDR10 technology making colors richer. But the one I would pick is the Meizu 16 Plus due to its huge 6.5-inch display without notch. A so big display is hard to find on a so powerful flagship and this is enough to award Meizu 16 Plus. But obviously, if you do not like big phablets, go for the Mi 8 Pro.
Specs & Software
These devices are three smartphones with the most powerful hardware department launched in 2018. They all have the octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC which is the best Qualcomm’s chipset, and it is paired with up to 8 GB of RAM. So all of them deliver blazing speeds and a limitless multi-tasking experience. It is a draw under this point of view, but note that Meizu 16 Plus and Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro come with 128 GB of internal storage in its base variant, while OP6 starts from 64 GB.
Camera
We did not try to click a photo with the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, but given that it has the same camera department as the original Mi 8, it will provide the same photo and video quality. A quality which makes us put this phone in the first place of this trio, as this device can shoot detailed photos with rich colors in every light condition and the stabilization works greatly. But Meizu 16 Plus and OnePlus 6 are still stunning camera phones, so even if you choose them you do not make a bad choice.
Battery
Given that it has a bigger size, Meizu 16 Plus also has the biggest battery. And it surely lasts more than both Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and OnePlus 6. It can also charged very quickly thanks to the proprietary mCharge 4.0 technology.
Price
All of these handsets are very affordable flagships if we compare it with the concurrency. Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro starts from just $470/€400 (6/128 GB configuration), Meizu 16 Plus starts from exactly the same price in the same base configuration, while OnePlus 6 starts from $519/€519 in the 6/64 GB variant. With the actual prices, in my opinion, Meizu 16 Plus is the king for productivity and advanced users, but if you prefer the design and cameras you should go for the Mi 8 Pro.
In August, Samsung had launched the Galaxy Note 9 flagship phone in India. The country has already received other phones such as Galaxy A8 Star, Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+. The South Korean tech giant has recently launched the Galaxy Watch smartwatch in India. And now, the company is prepping up to introduce the Galaxy A7 (2018) in India. Fresh information reveals that the handset will be announced on Sept. 25 and it will be exclusively available through Flipkart.
Samsung has begun teasing the arrival of the Galaxy A7 (2018) through Twitter and Instagram accounts in India. The teasers reveal that the smartphone will be equipped with Dolby Atoms for surround sound experience and triple rear cameras.
It goes without saying the USP of the Galaxy A7 (2018) is triple camera system that includes an f/1.7 aperture 24-megapixel primary sensor, f/.24 aperture 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens with field of view of 120 degrees like the human eye and f/2.2 aperture 5-megapixel depth sensor.
The triple rear cameras are equipped with multiple photography features such as Selfie Focus, Pro Lighting Mode, AI scene optimizer, filters and AR Emojis. The frontside of the Galaxy A7 (2018) features f/2.0 aperture 24-megapixel selfie shooter that carries support for face unlock.
The Galaxy A7 (2018) features a 6-inch S-AMOLED screen with Infinity Display design that offers an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. It produces Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels. It is fueled by 2.2 GHz octa-core processor and it is packed with a 3,300mAh battery. The handset is loaded with Android 8.0 Oreo.
The 64 GB and 128 GB storage models of the Galaxy A7 (2018) are respectively packed with 4 GB and 6 GB of RAM. For more storage, it features a microSD card slot. The handset features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
There is no information available on the pricing of the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018). As of this writing, it is only known that it will be exclusively available through Flipkart.
In August, Samsung had debuted the Galaxy Watch smartwatch alongside the Galaxy Note 9 smartphone in New York. While the Galaxy Note 9 is already available for buying in the country, the Galaxy Watch was introduced in India on Sept. 21. The new Galaxy Watch is the successor of the Gear S3 smartwatch from last year. It has arrived with a starting price of Rs. 24,990.
The Galaxy Watch by Samsung is a waterproof device with 5 ATM rating and since it is MIL-STD-810G certified, it can withstand harsh climatic conditions. For dealing with stress levels, a stress management tracker is available on the Galaxy Watch. The device also features an improved sleep monitor that tracks sleep patterns including REM cycles. The smartwatch also offers 39 workout profiles and 21 indoor exercises. The device is loaded with Tizen OS 4.0.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch features a round-shaped S-AMOLED screen of 1.2 inches that carries support for Always-On Display feature. The screen of the device is shielded by Gorilla Glass DX. The Exynos 9110 chipset that includes a dual-core processor powers the smartwatch along with 768 MB of RAM. It includes an internal storage of 4 GB. The smartwatch carries support for wireless charging.
The Galaxy Watch is equipped multiple sensors such as accelerometer, ambient sensor, barometer, gyroscope and HRM. As far as connectivity is concerned, the Samsung smartwatch features Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, NFC, GPS and GLONASS. The Tizen powered smartwatch can be paired with Android phones running on Android 5.0 or iPhone 5 or later with iOS 9.0 onboard.
The Galaxy Watch has arrived in India in two models. The 46mm and 42mm variants have respectively landed in the country with Rs. 24,990 and Rs. 29,990 pricings. The 46mm Galaxy Watch comes in Silver color with Matte Black bezel. It has a 1.2-inch screen that offers 360 x 360 pixels display resolution and 270mAh battery.
On the other side, the 42mm model can be availed in Midnight Black and Rose Gold variants. It includes a 1.3-inch display that produces 360 x 360 pixels screen resolution and 472mAh battery.
The smartwatch will be available for buying from mid-October through authorized retailers in India. There is no confirmation on whether the country will be also receiving the LTE variant of the Galaxy Watch.
The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones are launching next month. In the past few weeks, the Pixel 3 XL has appeared in multiple leaks. Not only the images and videos of the production units of the Pixel 3 XL have been revealed but also, they were reviewed and sold in the grey market. An Indian tipster has recently shared high-resolution photos of the Pixel 3 XL and now reputable leakster Evan Blass has come up with fresh renders that reveal the front design of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones.
The Pixel 3 XL is a massive phone when compared to the Pixel 3. It is speculated that the Pixel 3 XL will be featuring a 6.7-inch screen whereas the smaller Pixel 3 will be arriving with a 5.4-inch display. The Pixel 3 is expected to support an aspect ratio of 18:9 and the notched screen of the Pixel 3 XL may support 19:9 aspect ratio.
The Pixel 3 XL has the infamous notch which includes one of the front-facing speaker and dual selfie cameras. The bottom bezel of the phone is fitted with another frontal speaker. On the other side, the Pixel 3 features thick-sized upper and lower bezels. It also features dual front-facing speakers. The top bezel is the home for its dual selfie cameras. It is speculated that the dual selfie camera setup of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will include 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.
The Snapdragon 845 chipset accompanied by 4 GB of RAM will be present under the hood of Pixel 3 duo. Both phones are expected to arrive with a native storage of 64 GB. The glass rear on both smartphones will allow them to support Qi wireless charging.
The Oct. 9 Google event in New York will see the arrival of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones. The search engine giant is also rumored to debut Pixelbook 2, Pixel Buds and Google Home Hub.
The Mate 20 will be debuting as the regular version of the Mate 20 Pro. Huawei will be announcing both smartphones on Oct. 16. A leaked video of the silver variant of the Huawei Mate 20 has appeared on Weibo. The short video lasts only for 10 seconds, but it manages to reveal the front and rear design of the Mate 20.
As previous reports have revealed, the Mate 20 that has appeared in the leaked video can be seen with a waterdrop notch screen. The flat display of the Mate 20 is surrounded by very slim bezels. It is expected to arrive with a 6.3-inch FHD+ LCD display, but the screen seems much bigger in the video.
The back panel of the Mate 20 features a square-shaped camera module that includes a triple camera setup and an LED flash. Previous leaks have revealed that the triple camera system may include 20-megapixel RGB sensor, 12-megapixel monochrome sensor and 8-megapixel telephoto lens. Apart from the newly spotted silver edition, the Mate 20 is also expected to come in other options such as black, blue, green and gradient variants.
What differentiates the Mate 20 from Mate 20 Pro is the presence of a rear-mounted fingerprint reader. The Mate 20 Pro is rumored to arrive with an under-display fingerprint scanner and it also expected to arrive with a wider notch that may include necessary sensors for 3D facial recognition.
The Kirin 980 will be the driving force of the Mate 20 and it is expected to arrive with a 4,200mAh battery. It may feature an internal storage of 128 GB and a minimum of 6 GB of RAM. The Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro are likely to arrive as the first Huawei phones with Android 9 Pie onboard. There is no information on the pricing of the phone smartphone yet.
What’s your opinion on the appearance of the Huawei Mate 20? Share us your views by posting your comments below.
Samsung will be announcing a new smartphone on Oct. 11. The press invite of the event has suggested that it would be unveiling a smartphone with quadruple camera on the said date. The rumor mill had speculated that the Galaxy A7 (2018) with triple rear cameras and one front-facing lens could be the quadruple camera phone that may go official on Oct. 11. However, the South Korean company already unveiled the Galaxy A7 (2018) in the previous week. Fresh information revealed by a German website states that the Samsung phone that is arriving in the next month will feature quadruple rear cameras. The website claims that this new phone could be the Galaxy A9 Pro and it has also shared is key specs and a concept render.
As it can be seen in the concept image below, the front panel of the alleged Galaxy A9 Pro (2018) features the usual 18.5:9 Infinity Display. The back panel of the handset features four cameras arranged vertically followed by an LED flash. The concept device looks like the recently announced the Galaxy A7 (2018) but includes an additional camera sensor and a fingerprint scanner on the rear side. The A7 (2018) features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
The German site reveals that the Galaxy A9 Pro (2018) will feature a 6.28-inch Super AMOLED display that will carry support for Full HD+ resolution. The handset could be powered by the Snapdragon 660 and may include a 3,720mAh battery. Previous leaks have claimed that the Galaxy A9 Pro (2018) will have the new Snapdragon 710 onboard.
For shooting selfies, it may feature Sony IMX576 24-megapixel camera. On the rear, it is speculated to feature 24-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel wide-angle camera with a field of view of 120 degrees, 10-mgeapixel zoom camera and another 5-megpixel zoom camera.
The German site has not shared any details on the other specs of the phone. Presumably, it may arrive with a native storage of 64 GB and 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM.
In an attempt to increase the screen size and to keep up with the bezel-less design trend started off by Essential Phone and iPhone X, smartphone OEMs have jumped onto the notched-display bandwagon. Display notches are essentially a cut-out, at the top, of a part of the smartphone’s display. Some of the advantages of display notches are it offers the ability to retain the display area on either side of it, for showing information such as time, battery percentage and more.
With display notches, smartphone OEMs are now in a position to provide maximum screen space without abandoning the critical hardware at the top, such as the Selfie Camera, Receiver Speaker, other Sensor, LED Indicators., etc. Now, you can get a 5.5-inch sized smartphone with a 6.2-inch display on it.
Whether you love it or hate it, here are the different types of display notches- smartphones with notched-display.
iPhone X Notch
Apple’s iPhone X came with a spectacular edge-to-edge display that dominates the entire front of the smartphone. Well, nearly the entire front side of the phone. Unlike the Android flagships such as the Pixel XL 2, Samsung’s Galaxy S8, and LG’s V30, iPhone X didn’t come with a top bezel; instead, it came with a wide display notch which looked odd.
The notch on the iPhone X contains the TrueDepth camera system, which powers the iPhone’s Face ID facial recognition technology. It also incorporates the hardware elements required for Apple’s all-new Animoji feature and an IR sensor.
Before the launch of iPhone X, the display notches (design) sparked a lot of discussions among consumers and industry experts, much of it negative. But over the time, hate for the notch has faded away as many people have become used to Apple’s design choice. Android smartphone manufacturers are now embracing the notch concept on their smartphones.
Soon after the unveiling of iPhone X, a large number of Android smartphone makers have joined the bandwagon and released smartphones with the displays that have a notch. The Huawei P20 Pro, OnePlus 6 and Asus Zenfone 5Z too came with a notched display (but a smaller one).
Unlike the iPhone X, Android phones such as the OnePlus 6 came with several new features that allow users to control the notch in whatever way they want. Users can turn it off (notch) in the Display Settings.
By doing so, a regular black bar will appear on the top of the display which is similar to the regular black bar that we used to see on many other Android phones. On that black bar, system time, battery indicator, as well as notifications, will be displayed. If you don’t like the notch, you can make it disappear. This is a unique feature that is not yet available in the Apple’s iPhone X.
Water-Drop Notch (Essential PH-1, Oppo F9 Pro, Vivo V11 Pro)
Essential was the first to launch a smartphone with a “notch” ahead of Apple. Of course, Apple overshadowed Essential just a few weeks later with the iPhone X notch. Oppo coined the name waterdrop notch with the launch of Oppo F9 Pro.
While Essential PH-1 notch (similar to Oppo F9 Pro notch) didn’t get mainstream, a host of Android phones such as Vivo V11 Pro have been launched with a waterdrop notch.
While the ‘regular’ notch mostly contains the speaker, front-facing selfie cameras and other types of sensors such as notification led, IR blasters.
The waterdrop notch – due its shape and size – isn’t that accommodating, it contains only the front-facing camera. Its primary purpose is to offer more screen real estate on the phone’s display. No doubt it is an attractive design element, but the functionality of the waterdrop notch remains a bit foggy.
In other words, the waterdrop notch is a nice differentiator among the crowded notched-display phones, but it is low on functionality.
Final Thoughts
The notch-display design is now a mainstream design element, especially with the launch of budget Realme 2, which claims to be the most affordable phone with a display notch. The Realme 2 comes with a starting price point of Rs 8,990 (125 USD).
The display notch exists on the Apple’s iPhone X because it needs a wide array of sensors on the front for Face ID tech, but on Android, notched-display is just an aesthetic choice. The notch might not be a permanent fixture for Android smartphones.
Android phones such as the Vivo Nex, Oppo Find X have taken the full-screen experience to a whole new level. With a motorized pop-up camera, these phones came with no ugly notches and massive 92-93.5% screen-to-body ratio.
There are several reasons a pop-up camera such as the one in the Vivo Nex might not be ideal (long-term reliability being the main one). But design changes such as the Oppo Find X and Vivo Nex shows that smartphone makers are experimenting with new ideas to get rid of the ugly notch. Essential, which released the first smartphone with a notched-display, also filed a patent for a similar camera design found in Vivo Nex.
Do you like the notched-display, if so, which type of notch you like the most? Tell us in comments
A few weeks ago, OPPO launched the A7x, a mid-range smartphone with the new waterdrop notch. Some of you must have been wondering if there was already an OPPO A7. No, there wasn’t one but there’ll be soon and its full specs just leaked.
The OPPO A7 will come with a 6.2-inch 1520 x 720 display which translates into a 19:9 aspect ratio and also means it has a notch. It is powered by the Snapdragon 450 processor with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage for both variants.
The OPPO A7x will soon get a less-powerful variant called the OPPO A7
The A7 has a 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 dual camera combo on its back and a 16MP f/2.0 front-facing camera. There is no mention of a fingerprint scanner but it should at least have face unlock.
The OPPO A7 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with ColorOS 5.2 on top. The battery capacity is stated as 4,230mAh and the phone will have dual-SIM support (nano only), Bluetooth 4.2, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and support for USB OTG. When it launches, it will be available in Glaze Blue and Glaring Gold. Its dimensions are 155.9 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm and it weighs 158g.
Earlier this year, in June, Asus announced its first gaming smartphone — Asus ROG Phone. After about four months, the phone is yet to be available for purchase.
However, a listing of the Asus ROG Phone on Chinese reseller suggests that phone will finally be available for purchase by the end of October. It’s noteworthy that the company has not yet revealed the official date of availability.
The listing on GearBest claims that the device will start shipping between October 22 and October 24. The company has listed both models — 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM with 512GB onboard storage, priced at $1,320 and $1,620 respectively.
The smartphone comes with a 6-inch AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Under the hood, it is powered by a 2.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM.
It comes with the custom Optiflex, which is the company’s technology that speeds up the phone. On the back, it houses a 12MP Sony IMX363 f/1.7 primary sensor with 120-degree wide-angle lens and an 8MP secondary sensor with f/2.0 aperture. There’s an 8MP front-facing snapper for taking selfies and video calling.
The phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery and supports Quick Charge 4.0 that can charge the device from 0 to 60 percent in just 30 minutes. There’s also a featured tagged HyperCharge that prevents the device from heating during charging.
During the unveiling of the Asus ROG Phone, the company’s CEO Jerry Shen hinted that the phone will be launched in India in Q3 2018. Later, there were reports suggesting that the device will debut in India in September. However, there’s still no word regarding the phone’s launch in India.
The Asus ROG Phone is also confirmed to launch in the US as well, with the phone being listed on Asus USA website. However, there’s still no information related to its pricing and availability. This gaming smartphone from Asus competes against the likes of Black Shark gaming phone, the Nubia Red Devil, and the Razer Phone.
Huawei is expected to launch a wireless charger alongside the Mate 20 series in October. The wireless charger which has model number CP60 was certified by the FCC a few weeks ago revealing its design and a few details. Now official renders and more specs have surfaced.
The Huawei Wireless Charger CP60 is shaped like a disc and comes in white with a red line that goes around the perimeter. There is an LED in front to indicate when it is powered on and a USB-C input port underneath.
The spec list confirms the Huawei Wireless Charger has a power input rating of 40W (10V 4A). Huawei has a 40W charger on the way and it got certified at the FCC along with the wireless charger. This charger will most likely be the same that will ship with the Honor Magic 2.
When the Honor Magic 2 was partly unveiled at IFA, it was mentioned that it will come with support for 40W fast charging called Magic Charge. It shouldn’t be a surprise if it launched with the Mate 20 series first.
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The wireless charger will have a maximum power output of 15W (12V 1.25A) but will be able to charge compatible devices at 5W, 7.5W, and 10W. Just so you know, the maximum power output is lesser than that of another Huawei wireless charger with model number LZ80 that surfaced about a month ago. The LZ80 has a maximum power output of 20W.
Earlier this week, live photos of a dual-screen Nubia phone appeared on the web. We later discovered that the device is the Nubia Z18S which leaked even before the Nubia Z18 was announced. The device has landed on TENAA baring all its specs.
TENAA says the device’s model number is NX616J which is similar to that of the Nubia Z18 (NX606J). The primary display is a 6.26-inch LCD display with a 1080 x 2280 resolution while the smaller display on the back is a 5.1-inch 720 x 1520 OLED display.
The Nubia Z18S is powered by an octa-core processor clocked at 2.649GHz which we are sure is the Snapdragon 845. It will come in 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM variants with 64GB and 128GB of non-expandable storage.
As shown in the live photos, the phone only has two cameras and they are above the smaller display. TENAA says the cameras are a combination of a 24MP sensor and a 16MP sensor. It also confirms the phone has a fingerprint scanner though we still have no idea where it is (probably side-mounted). This is the same camera configuration as the Nubia Z18, so performance should be the same.
The Nubia Z18S will pack a 3,800mAh battery with support for fast charging and run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. Its dimensions are given as 154.1 x 73.30 x 8.65 mm and weight is 178g. When it launches, it will be available in Gold and Black. Unfortunately, TENAA hasn’t provided any images of the device.
The Nubia Z18S should launch soon since it has gotten its TENAA approval. If you are wondering if this will be available outside China, there is a chance it will. Last year’s Nubia Z17S is currently sold as the Archos Diamond Omega in Europe.
Digital Wellbeing was launched during Google I/O 2018 as a new set of features aimed to reduce our addiction to smartphones. This was done in order to preserve our mental and physical health from the adverse effects of continuous smartphone usage. Thanks to this new app available on Android Pie, users can get reminders when they spend too much time on their phones and much more. The phone is able to detect all the stats about the users’ usage thanks to artificial intelligence. Nokia 7 Plus is one of the few devices which received the Beta version of Android Pie, but until two days ago, Digital Wellbeing was hidden and an APK was necessary to try its exciting features.
Now, a new update (Google Play Store) just rolled out by Google is available on the Nokia 7 Plus, and it opens Digital Wellbeing access to everyone running the Beta version of Android Pie. You can currently install the new features by using this link or by updating the Play Store on your device. Among the most important features that Digital Wellbeing is bringing on the Nokia 7 Plus there is a dashboard which includes info about how and how much the user uses his phone.
The info includes the time spent using every single app, the number of unlocks and even the amount of notifications received on the handset. A feature called App Timers is able to limit the time we can spend on single apps (the user can personally choose the time limit, obviously). There is also an advanced Do Not Disturb mode which prevents the phone to vibrate, ring or light up when the phone receives a new notification. With Digital Wellbeing, the phone is able to enable Do Not Disturb mode at chosen time frames. For more information about all the features brought by Digital Wellbeing, check the Play Store page we linked above.
Red has already revealed the schedule for the release of its upcoming Hydrogen One smartphones. The Red Hydrogen One is commanding quite a lot of attention and it may interest you to know the final release is almost upon us. The device may have crossed the Rubicon as it has reportedly been certified by the US FCC. The FCC listing included quite a generous number of pictures of the device. The pictures are of the Titanium version and they capture the device from all angles, including even the internals.
The Titanium version comes with the model number H1T1000 which draws reference with the Terminator. The body looks quite rugged and we expect it to be since it is made of Titanium. There are also side grips on the side edges as well as a dedicated camera shutter button on the right side of the display.
The Hydrogen One is expected to have a modular design with a set of pogo pins at the back similar to that of the Moto Z series and we can clearly see them on the FCC lited pictures. The pins will be used to connect modules (mods) that add an additional battery or cinema-grade camera amongst others to the phone. As for the specs, Red Hydrogen One is expected to pack a unique 5.7-inch 2560×1440 hi-res display that is capable of running in the regular 2D mode like most smartphones as well as run in a 4View mode (holographic). Other specs include a Snapdragon 835 mobile platform, Dual SIM slot (hybrid), dual front and rear cameras, a 4510mAh battery, USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack and Stereo speakers.
Red will start shipping its Hydrogen One smartphone on October 9 for those who pre-ordered. The Titanium variant is priced at $1,595. The aluminium variant which costs $1,295 will be available in the US via AT&T and Verizon stores on November 2.
Xiaomi finally took the wraps off the Mi 8 Lite which was launched alongside the Mi 8 Pro on September 19. The two models are quite of high value in terms of their premium designs. While the Mi 8 Pro is postured as a flagship continuation of the Mi 8, the Mi 8 Lite has a mid-range posture and that is reflected in its affordable pricing. Despite falling into the midrange category, the Mi 8 Lite has flagship looks, sporting a premium glass back design. We serve you the hands-on pictures of the Mi 8 Lite Dream Blue colour variant scooped from Chinese blog IThomes.
The Mi 8 Lite is also available in Twilight Gold and Deep Space Gray apart from the Dream Blue variant. All three use the gradient colour hue and that makes the Mi 8 Lite the first Xiaomi phone to utilise the Gradient Hue. There is no denying the gradient colour adds some class to the looks of phones it adorns and that isn’t different with the Mi 8 Lite. Apart from the cool colours, the build of the Mi 8 Lite also sets it apart. The device is just 7.5mm thick which makes it slimmer than Apple’s iPhone XR., Oppo R17, VivoX23 and even the Huawei P20.
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite sports a notch at the top of its display which houses a 24MP camera with AI capabilities for selfies and video calls. The device sports a massive 6.26-inch FHD+ display but the 19:9 aspect ratio ensures it fits the palm of most persons well and won’t look too bulky.
The rear design of the Mi 8 Lite includes a dual camera sensor stacked vertically at the upper left corner. The dual camera setup comprises a 12MP main sensor and a 5MP secondary sensor. There is also an LD flash at the side. The device equally packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor at the upper middle aspect. While at the bottom is the usual Mi logo. The Mi 8 Lite features a USB-C port surrounded by some nice speaker grills at the left and right sides.
As a reminder, Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and is available in 4GB+64GB, 6GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB memory versions. It runs Android Oreo-based MIUI 10 out of the box and get its juice from a 3,350mAh battery. The pricing starts at 1399 yuan for the 4GB +64GB memory and sales will commence on September 25 in China. XIaomi recently revealed he Mi 8 Pro will be launched globally soon. We expect the Mi 8 Lite to also make its debut on the global scene along with the Mi 8 Pro.
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