Photos of Huawei Mate 20 cases show large cut-outs for its triple cameras and fingerprint scanner

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Sep 15, 2018

Asus is quite slow in providing the updates to their smartphones, many devices in the market are rendered without new updates. This time, it’s a chance for Asus Zenfone 5z users to cheer up as it has appeared on Geekbench running the latest Android 9.0 Pie. The device at Geekbench can be the Android 9.0 Pie testing version. Well, whoever has posted the results on Geekbench is running the latest Android alteration, it means somewhere the Asus is developing the Android Pie for Zenfone 5Z. Well, it’s a good news for not only Zenfone 5Z owners, but also for the owners of other Zenfone 5 variants.

As per the listing on the Geekbench, a single unit is running Android 9.0 Pie, presuming, the Asus developer’s team testing it before the public rollout. Usually, it happens for other devices before the actual new update launch, the developer test the device on different benchmarking websites. So, finally it is clear that Asus is testing the Android 9.0 Pie on their devices and we can expect the launch very soon. It is the device that Asus has launched to compete against the OnePlus 6, so we expect the competition in the latest software delivery also.

Asus Zenfone 5Z carries Snapdragon 845 SoC with 6GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. There’s a 6.2 inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. Unlike the OnePlus 6, it carries a microSD card slot allowing you to expand the memory upto 2000GB. It was launched with the Android 8.0 Oreo onboard with 3300mAh battery onboard. Further, Asus has added a 12 megapixel dual camera sensor having f/1.8 aperture. On the front side, Zenfone 5Z packs 8 megapixel sensor having an image aspect ratio of 4:3.

Read More: ASUS Zenfone 5Z update brings tons of camera features including RAW support

In connectivity it supports Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G.

Let’s see when the Asus Zenfone 5Z breaks the silence and receives teh Android 9.0 Pie. ow many of you are the proud owners of the Asus Zenfone 5Z ?

(Via, Source)

Razer schedules a launch event on October 10 to launch Razer Phone 2

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Jeet

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Sep 15, 2018

Razer has sent out invites for a launch event on October 10, where the company is expected to launch its next-generation gaming smartphone — Razer Phone 2. We earlier speculated October 10 as the launch date based on the phone’s renders but the company has now confirmed this by sending out press invites.

The upcoming Razer Phone 2 is the successor of the Razer Phone, a smartphone made specifically for the purpose of gaming, launched in November last year.

Recently, the phone had surfaced online on AnTuTu, revealing its specifications. The listing confirmed that the phone will come with a 5.7-inch QHD Sharp IGZO display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and support for Qualcomm Q-Sync. The device will be powered by Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor coupled with 8GB RAM and a whopping 512GB of internal storage.

The phone is expected to be running on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box. We are also expecting improvements in terms of camera performance and battery. Earlier, there were reports claiming that the Razer Phone 2 will be sporting Chrome LED effects that will light up the device when it receives notifications.

The leaked render of the upcoming Razer Phone 2 suggests that it is equipped with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio instead of the 19:9 aspect ratio as is the current trend. The leak only shows the front side of the Razer Phone 2, thus there’s no confirmation on whether the handset will sport a different rear design than the original device.

Read More: Honor Play affordable gaming smartphone launched for the global markets, priced at €329

When the Razer Phone was launched last year, there was no competition for a gaming smartphone. Since then, a couple of gaming smartphones have made their way to the market, including Nubia Red Magic, Xiaomi’s Black Shark gaming phone, and Asus ROG Phone.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Deep Space Gray showcased in a new video teaser

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Sep 15, 2018

Xiaomi has once again teased Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth with new Deep Space Gray color variant in the new video teaser. After the Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue and Twilight Gold Gradient edition, Xiaomi is here with a new solid Deep Space Gray color variant of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth. Unlike gradient colors, it carries same shade color having a reflection effect from different angles. The phone is a cheaper version of the standard Xiaomi Mi 8 which packs slightly high-end specs with higher price. While the new Youth edition is expected to carry a price tag of ~1999 Yuan (~$290).

The current Mi 8 Youth Edition Deep space feature dark blue color with a shade of light upon reflection. The solid color does not provide the sheen and shine that is coming with the Gradient color edition but everyone has his/her own choice. This is the second solid color after white which was spotted last month at TENAA, along with, the two gradient colors which are already teased by the Xiaomi. There might be some more colors as Xiaomi has created the device particularly for the younger generation.

The device will launch on September 19th at an event in Chengdu. We expect a little higher price for the gradient color edition than the teased ~1999 Yuan (~$290).

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Specs

There are several confirmations from the Xiaomi side, that it will carry Snapdragon 710 SoC with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Further as per the leak on TENNA, there will be a 6.26 inch notch display with the resolution of 2280 x 1080p display having the aspect ratio of 19:9. In an order to improve graphics performance, SD710 packs Adreno 616 Graphics processor. There will be a 12 megapixel dual shooter on the rear with 24 megapixel camera on the front side. It is also suggested that Mi 8 will feature fingerprint scanner on the back side. It may arrive with a 3,250mAh battery with fast charging technique.

Read More: Xiaomi releases Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue & Twilight Gold Gradient Edition Renders

Those who are eager to own the device can reserve it from major online platforms in China. BTW, how many of you are waiting for the launch of the device?

Oppo F9 To Go Up For Sale On Flipkart And Select Offline Stores In India!

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Sep 15, 2018

Oppo is all set to make the F9 smartphone available in India following the phone’s announcement alongside the F9 Pro last month. The recently unveiled smartphone will be up for grabs on Flipkart and a slew of other partnered offline stores.

Oppo fans who’d like to physically experience the F9 smartphone before buying it can head straight to partnered retail outlets. The Oppo F9 Pro bears a relatively steeper price tag than the F9 smartphone, which doesn’t feature the VOOC flash charge support.

Moreover, the F9 offers an undistinguished 4GB of RAM and houses a standard 16.0MP selfie shooter. The F9 with 4GB RAM+64GB ROM bearing 19,990 INR (about $277) price tag is slated to hit the offline outlets today.

The Oppo F9 will be available in 2 color options including Mist Black and Stellar Purple.
Sporting a mammoth a 6.3-inch full-HD+ display with a screen resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and 19.5:9 screen aspect ratio, the Oppo F9 packs a powerful MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core SoC processor, under the hood. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable inbuilt storage (up to 256GB via microSD card).

On the photography front, the Oppo F9 houses a dual-camera sensor comprising a 16.0MP primary sensor and a 2.0MO secondary sensor. Up front, there’s a 16.0MP camera for selfies and face-to-face video chatting.

If the price is no constraint, you can go for the larger Oppo F9 Pro which offers 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage and will set you back 23,990 INR (about $332). Aside from select offline stores, the version will be available on Amazon India, and Paytm Mall.

What do you think of Oppo’s F9 and F9 Pro smartphones? Let us know in the comments section below!

Meizu 16X White color variant with flagship grade build revealed in a new teaser

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Sep 15, 2018

From past few days, Meizu is posting teasers about the upcoming Meizu 16X almost everyday, teasing some new features. Similarly, today also Meizu took to Weibo to post a new teaser which is showing the device in new white color with the flagship device like build quality. It seems Meizu is warming up the tech market for the launch of Meizu 16X on September 19th at the Beijing Performing Arts Center.

Therefore, as per the new teaser, it is clear that Meizu has created something crafty using the white color. Also, it would be awesome to hold device as it carries a much better build quality than the other mid-rangers.

Along with the all new design and specs, Meizu is also going to launch a new accessory, assuming it will be a pair of headphones or speaker, along with the Meizu 16X. Last week, in a similar style Meizu teased the launch of Meizu 16X. Additionally, as per numerous leaks it will carry a Snapdragon 710 SoC on board having 6.0 inch of display with the aspect ratio of 18:9. Meizu 16X will come with the 6GB RAM and 128GB of straoge with 3100 mAh battery on board.

In camera, there’s a IMX380+IMX350 dual Sony camera setup with ArcSoft technology as like of the Meizu 16. As per TENAA, it measures 151.2 x 73.6 x 7.5 mm and weights at 154 grams. It has also leaked on ANTUTU where it scored 168,247 points against the overall performance. Despite the ongoing trend, it will not carry a notched display and will have screen size as like of Samsung devices.

Related: Meizu 16X details confirmed: same camera with 16th but bigger battery!

Buyers who want to own it can reserve their device from various online and offline stores in China. The pricing is not available yet, but we think it should range between 2000 and 2500 Yuan (~$291-$363) . We have to wait for the launch to confirm the actual pricing, otherwise, let’s wait for a similar kind teaser revealing the price of Meizu 16X.

Get Sunvell H3 TV Box For Only $27.99 On GearBest

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Sep 15, 2018

If you’re in the market for a feature-laden TV box, you may want to take a look at the Sunvell H3, which is deemed as one of the best TV boxes that boast an exciting array of features. More importantly, it is currently up for grabs bearing a significantly lowered price tag on GearBest.

Sporting black glossy colors and made of ABS plastic, the Sunvell H3 is quite an elegant TV box. Moreover, its stylish exterior is coupled with equally powerful specs, under the hood.

The Sunvell H3 packs a compelling Allwinner H3 CPU, quad-core, Cortex-A7 CPU along with a Mali 400 graphics processing unit. It offers 2GB of DDR3L RAM and a hearty 16GB of onboard storage that can further be expanded up to 64GB.

Moreover, it comes with built-in 2.4G band Wi-Fi and supports 4K Ultra HD resolution with H.265 decoding, thus saving half bandwidth. The Sunvell-branded TV box runs Android 7.0 Nougat OS and draws its juices from 2 AAA batteries.
The device’s dimensions are 9.20 x 9.20 x 1.70 cm and it weighs in at 0.1500 kg which makes it easily portable. While you’d usually end up shelling out a lot of money on a high-end TV box, the Sunvell H3 is currently selling for an affordable price of $27.99 on GearBest.

This is a noteworthy 15% reduction in the device’s original asking price of $32.99. It is worth noting that the aforesaid discount will only be valid for the black color version of the Sunvell H3 TV box.

With just 309 more pieces left for the Flash Sale price, the promo is slated to end in just 1 day. Bearing that in mind, you can head straight to this link without wasting time if you’re interested in taking advantage of the discount.

Get 15% Off On Sunvell H3 TV Box

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro MIUI 10 Global ROM update arrives in India

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Sep 15, 2018

After beginning in China, MIUI 10 Global ROM update is now finally rolling out to some devices in India without any formal announcement. Recently, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro started receiving the OTA update. Many users are reporting about the update on different online forums in India. It is rolling out in a phased manner, meaning, first it will be made available for few users and upon successful acceptance, the wider rollout will begin. It is usually done to keep a check on any kind of uncertainty in the update which might cause some issue in the device.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro MIUI 10 Global update packs September 2018 security patch and weighs over 580 MB. The update will also update your firmware version to MIUI 10.0.1.0.OEIMIFH. The new update packs various new fixes, enhancements and features. After the update, users will be able to use the MIUI 10 features such as AI portraits, better performance, new UI for recent apps menu, better control of Mi Ecosystem devices and much more.

Features of MIUI 10 update:

New notification sounds inspired from nature
Quick menu for messages
Redesigned quick settings and notifications shade
MIUI Lab
Autofill support
Android P volume buttons
PiP (Picture-in-Picture) mode
Mi Browser with PWA (Progressive Web Apps) support

As per the official changelog of the update it brings full-screen gestures for bezel-less display. After three months since the inception of the beta program, Xiaomi has finally managed to rollout the stable version of the MIUI 10 on Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Read more: No more Flash sale: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro now available 24/7 in India

As said above, it is phased manner update, so it will be coming to your device in the next few days if you haven’t received until now. Also, you can manually check for the update by heading to the Settings > About phone > System updates > Check for updates. We suggest you to connect to the WiFi network to save additional costs on carrier data. Also, charge your device to atleast 50% for smooth completion of the update process.

How many of you have already received the update on Redmi 5 Pro?

Buy GPD WIN 2 Gamepad Tablet PC For Just $755.99 On GeekBuying

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Sep 15, 2018

GPD WIN 2 Gamepad tablet PC is a powerful handheld that provides avid gamers the means to play their favorite games even while traveling. Designed by a German Red Dot award-winning team, this portable handheld game console supports over a whopping 1,000,000 internet games.

While the GPD WIN brings all the popular games that could only be played in front of a PC or a television in the past to a portable handheld, the burning question is – does the product carry a steep price tag? The feature-laden tablet PC would ideally set you back a pretty penny on online and offline stores, but if you’re not willing to spend that kind of money on a handheld game console, we got good news for you.

The GPD WIN 2 is currently up for sale bearing a dropped price of just $755.99 on GeekBuying. This is a noteworthy 11% reduction in the portable game console’s original asking price of $848.99. This discount is valid for the 8GB RAM+256GB ROM version of the GPD WIN 2.
Alternatively, you can go for the slightly lower 8GBRAM+128GB ROM version of the gamepad tablet PC if you’re willing to shell out $714.99. This is a significant 35% reduction in this version’s steep $1093.68 retail price and it will be valid for 3 days.

Powered by a seventh generation Intel Kaby Lake Core m3-7Y30 processor, the GDP WIN 2 handheld can effortlessly run the latest AAA-class games using low game effects. Moreover, it packs Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU with a maximum dynamic frequency of 900MHz and 24 EU execution units, under the hood.

In a bid to offer a better experience than the previous generation GPD WIN, game frame rates have been expanded by a factor of 2.2 times. As a result, games not only run uninterruptedly but also look more realistic.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the GPD WIN 2 portable handheld that can run AAA class games including Rockstar Games’ GTA 5 and take advantage of the discount, just head straight to this link. It is worth noting that the promotion sale is slated to end in just 3 days.

Get 11% Off On GPD WIN 2 Gamepad Tablet PC

Xiaomi Mi A2 finally goes on open sale in India

By

Michele Ingelido

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Sep 15, 2018

Together with China, India is one of the most profitable markets for Xiaomi. However, the Chinese company usually runs flash sales to sell its new devices in the peninsula, and this often leaves several buyers empty handed. The same happened with the Xiaomi Mi A2 Android One device, the latest device from the only series of Mi phones without MIUI. But now, the handset is finally up on open sale in India. Note that it is currently available in just one variant: the one with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. This version carries a price tag of Rs. 16,999, which roughly translates into $237.

You can get it on Mi.com official store and Amazon India. In case you don’t know, even Xiaomi Poco F1 just went on open sale in India alongside the Xiaomi Mi A2, but only in the version with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM, for a price tag of about $335 (Rs. 23,999) on Flipkart and Mi.com. At the moment, we do not know when Xiaomi Mi A2 will be available in other Indian stores and through offline channels.

Read More: Poco F1 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant goes on open sale in India

Meanwhile, it is worth reminding you of the major specs of this handset which is powered by Android One, a stock version of the operating system based on Android 8.1 Oreo and supported directly by Google with faster and constant long-term updates. The handset comes with a 5.99-inch display showing images at a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Alongside the 4/64 GB memory configuration, there is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset running at a max frequency of 2.2 GHz. On the rear side composed of a metal backplate, there is a dual camera with resolutions of 12 and 20 MP, while the front camera has a 20 MP resolution sensor.

Xiaomi Poco F1 Durability test proves that it’s a well-built device (Video)

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Sep 15, 2018

Yesterday, YouTuber JerryRigEverything posted a video of the Xiaomi Poco F1 durability test. He performed all kind of tests to check how the Poco F1 stands against scratch resistance, burn resistance and water resistance. He used sharp knives and some other metal tools to test the durability of the device. Xiaomi mid-range device is selling like hotcakes in India due to its high-end specs and low-price. So, it’s a good time to check, how better Xiaomi Poco F1 rank in the durability test.

In the durability test, Xiaomi stood against all the odds and gained a good rating from the YouTuber. To test the scratch resistance, he used sharp cutter on the Gorilla Glass packed 2.5D curved display and on the sides of the phone. Apart from the basic scratches/grooves on the display, it survives from all the scratches that are made using metal coins, keys and similar other objects in your pocket. Further, he conveyed that the Poco F1 is little water resistant and pointed out its plastic build quality, which is prone to scratches and scuffs.

Talking about the fingerprint sensor, it sits on the backside of the device which also survived scratches from a sharp blade. YouTuber has termed it as “invincible”. Xiaomi packs similar quality material for the protector that is covering the dual rear camera setup on the back. Overall, the device’s backside is prone to scratches and it remains solid upon dropping it from normal height. Just a heads up, make sure to use a case for the device as the back is prone to scratches.

Here’s the Poco F1 durability test video:

In the end, YouTuber did some burn tests on the Xiaomi Poco F1 but it fails to impress. It survived open flame test for few seconds but after that it didn’t resist the fire. It also performed average in the bend test.

Read More: Xiaomi Poco F1 update improves camera, now unlock its bootloader in just 3 days

Overall, the device has gained appreciation in the scratch test which is a major part of the durability test. So, in general, Xiaomi Poco F1 build is quite good for daily usage.

Get The Leagoo S9 Smartphone At A Dropped Price Of $134.89 On Banggood

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Sep 15, 2018

Leagoo made its hotly-anticipated S9 smartphone available to the public earlier this year. While it seemed to meet the expectations of smartphone enthusiasts in terms of features, the S9 didn’t come cheap.

The Leagoo S9 boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features that justify the price tag the smartphone carries. But if you’re on a tight budget and aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on a smartphone, we got good news for you.

Leagoo, the OTEDA Group Holding Limited-owned star brand is currently offering the S9 smartphone at a discounted price on Banggood as part of its latest promotion sale. As a result, you can now buy it at a reduced price of just $134.89.

This is a noteworthy 21% reduction in the phone’s original asking price of $169.99. An absolute bargain at this price, the S9 sports a mammoth 5.85 inches IPS, LCD display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1512 pixels for an unparalleled video watching experience.
Housed in a robust plastic and metal body, the S9 features an eye-catching curved design. Under the hood, it packs a powerful MT6750 Octa-Core 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A53 28nm processor along with an ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 520 MHz GPU.

The Leagoo S9 offers 4GB of RAM, coupled with 32GB of onboard storage that can further be expanded up to 128GB. The phone houses 13.0MP+2.0MP rear-mounted cameras with FNO/2.2 aperture, autofocus, TBD sensor, and LED FLash and an 8.0MP selfie shooter with FNO/2.0 aperture.

The S9 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo OS and is backed by a built-in 3300mAh battery. Furthermore, it features a slew of useful sensors such as a gravity sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, a magnetic compass, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

In order to check out the rest of the specification and grab the discount, you can head straight to this link before the promo ends. While you can choose between 3 color options including black, blue and gold, there were only 53 pieces left at the time of writing.

Get 21% Off On Leagoo S9 Smartphone

Get The Vivo Nex Phablet For Just $639.99 On GearBest!

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Pre-order the Elephone Soldier on Coolicool For $189.99

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Sep 15, 2018

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, a subsidiary of OnePlus parent BBK Electronics took the wraps off the long-awaited Vivo Nex phablet in June. Sporting a full, no-notch screen and a pop-up selfie camera, the device became an instant hit among tech buffs.

While it is amazing to look at, the Vivo Nex will set you back a pretty penny on online as well as offline stores. But if you’re on a tight budget and wondering if you can buy this feature-laden phablet from Vivo at a lowered price, we got good news for you.

The Vivo Nex has gone up for sale bearing a dropped price of just $639.99 on GearBest. This is a noteworthy 26% reduction in the phablet’s original asking price and it will be valid only for a limited period of time.
The Vivo Nex is quite a bargain at this reduced price, given that it sports a mammoth 6.59 inch super AMOLED FHD+ display with 1080 x 2316 pixels screen resolution. Moreover, the phablet is housed in a robust aluminum alloy and polycarbonate body which is further augmented with a borderless design.

It packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core 2.8GHz processor along with an equally compelling Adreno 616 GPU, under the hood. As a phablet, the Nex offers 8GB of RAM and a hearty 128GB (non-expandable) of onboard storage to ensure you never run out of space to store your favorite content.

On the photography front, the Vivo Nex houses a 12.0MP + 5.0MP dual camera setup on the back. Up front, there’s an 8.0MP camera for selfies and face-to-face video chatting. Moreover, it runs on Android 8.1 Oreo OS and is backed by a built-in 4000mAh Li-ion battery.

You can follow this link to check out the full specification and avail the discount, which will only be valid for the black color version of the Vivo Nex phablet. With just 68 pieces left for the Flash Sale price, the promo is slated to end in 3 days.

Get 26% Off On Vivo NEX 4G Phablet

Elephone Soldier Rugged phone with IP68, 2K display now on pre-sale at Coolicool for $189.99

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 14, 2018

Elephone continues its drive to secure its name as one of the reliable Chinese tech companies. This it is doing by releasing smartphones that meet needs that are yet to be met. The Elephone Soldier is a rugged phone for those who work on the outfields. It also has IP68 waterproof build and a 2K display, a combination that is unheard of before now.

This isn’t going to be a vapourware, rather the Elephone Soldier is now available to pre-order at Coolicool for an affordable price of $189.99. The device is expected to ship on September 25 and the offer comes with free shipping from Hong Kong.

The Elephone Soldier comes with a couple of spectacular features. For one, it prides itself as the first IP68 waterproof rugged phone with a 2K display. Apart from that, the device gets its power from a mammoth 5000mAh battery that can deliver up to 20 days of standby time. That is a lofty claim that we haven’t verified independently. Other specs are pretty respectable such as a Deca-core Helio X25 SoC accompanied by 4GB/64GB and 4GB/128GB memory combos. Also, there will be a 21MP Sony camera, 5000mAh battery, physical compass, and an SOS button. You can pre-order the device from Coolicool’s website now and have it delivered by later this month.

Honor 9N will be available on Flipkart in two new shades on Sept. 17

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 14, 2018

Honor India has refreshed the Honor 9N lineup with the addition of two new colour variants to the already existing ones. The brand has disclosed via a recent tweet that a Lavender Purple & Robin Egg Blue variant of the 9N will be available on Flipkart as from next Monday, September 17.

Already, the Honor 9N is available in Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue. These two new colours definitely bring some added beauty to the model and it gives buyers more options to choose from. The tweet made no mention of the storage options that the new colour variants would be available. The Honor 9N comes in 3GB and 4GB variants and we assume the colours will come in all the memory versions. The prices are also undisclosed but we don’t expect the two new colour variants to be priced higher than the existing ones.

https://twitter.com/HiHonorIndia/status/1040251575548170240

The Honor 9N is yet another mid-range model that has the dressings of a premium device and a price tag that makes it look like a budget phone. The device packs a 5.84-inch Full HD+ notch display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels, 2.5D curved glass, and 19:9 aspect ratio. The phone is powered by a Kirin 659 octa-core processor with Mali T830-MP2 graphics processor. It is available in 3GB RAM + 32GB memory option as well as a 4GB RAM variant with two options for onboard storage — 64GB and 128GB. There’s also a microSD card slot that enables users to further expand the storage capacity up to 256GB. Keeping the light on is a 3,000mAh battery. Other features include a dual rear camera setup, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 16MP selfie camera. The phone runs Android 8.0 Oreo-based EMUI 8.0. There is no GPU Turbo but Huawei promised to roll that out soon via OTA update.

(source)

Xiaomi releases Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue & Twilight Gold Gradient Edition Renders

By

Joel Joseph

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Sep 14, 2018

Xiaomi is all set to join the likes of Huawei and OPPO by releasing a gradient version of its latest smartphone. The company will release the Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth edition, a striped down version of the flagship Mi 8 targeted at young generation. The phone will be cheaper (~1999 Yuan which comes to ~$290) and more attractive than the flagship versions thanks to its special gradient color options. The company has already teased the two graident color options to be available at launch: Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue and Twilight Gold. However, just a few minutes ago, Xiaomi‘s co-founder and president, Lin Bin shared a couple of quality renders of the two gradient versions. Check them out down below.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Gradient colors

The Mi 8 Youth Twilight Gold gradient version is an interesting color shade, starting from a pink hue at the top, slowly blending into a gold hue moving to the bottom. We have seen a lot of blue and purple gradient shades before, so this is really a refreshing color option for the new model.

The Mi 8 Youth has a Fantasy Blue gradient option as well, featuring strong shades of blue and purple unlike the subtle appearance of the Twilight Gold edition. From the render, it looks like we could see slightly different shades of blue and purple at different angles, something like that on the Honor 10 Phantom Blue edition.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Specs

We have already covered Mi 8 Youth’s specs before, but to recap, these are the expected features of the device.

The phone will feature a SD710 processor with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (via TENAA). There should be a large 6.26-inch 2280 x 1080p display on board with a notched 19:9 aspect ratio. Other features include 3250mAh battery with QC 3.0 support, AI features, and a competitive 1999 Yuan ($~290) price tag.

Expect more details in the coming days. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth launches on September 19, the same day we meet the Meizu 16X alongside a new audio accessory.

Xiaomi mocks Apple by adding three Product bundles, XR, XS and XS Max with same pricing as the new iPhones!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 14, 2018

Xiaomi has joined fellow Chinese giant in mocking Apple over its latest iPhone models that were announced on Wednesday. The company dubbed “the Apple of China” takes on Apple in a subtle way, by mimicking the iterations of the new iPhone models in the naming of three different product bundles. The product bundles are named XR suite, XS suite and XS Max set and are priced exactly as the starting prices of the three new iPhone models in China.

The listing takes a direct swipe at the pricing of the three iPhone models; the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max. Apple released the pricing of the three models in China yesterday and they are not cheap! Apple products are extremely popular in China and are priced too high for many Chinese. We vividly recall the sad and unfortunate incident that occurred in 2012 when a 17-year-old boy from Anhui, one of China’s poorest provinces, sold his kidney for 22,000 yuan (£2,200) and used the money to buy an iPhone and iPad. As at then, the iPhone price started at 3,988 yuan (£400), and iPads began at 2,988 yuan (£300). The pricing of Apple products continued to skyrocket unabated. On a lighter side, Xiaomi is perhaps trying to prevent such alarming cases of teens selling off their kidneys to get an iPhone. And it is doing that by slapping us with some attractive and cool Mi gadgets we can get at the price of just one iPhone. As surreal as that sounds, it isn’t true. The Chinese company never made mention of that but this is just a marketing strategy to take on the competition. Apple iPhone sales plummetted in China in recent times as a result of the rise of rival brands like Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo and others.

The XR suite as you can guess mimics the iPhone XR which interestingly is the base model but starts at 6499 yuan ($947) in China. For this amount, Xiaomi offers buyers the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE (6+128GB) Grey, Mi Band 3, Mi Notebook Air 12.5 Inch 4+256G Silver and the Mi Bluetooth Headset Mini (Black). Pricing for the high-end iPhone XS begins at 8699 Yuan ($1268) in China and Xiaomi mirrors that with the XS Suite which offers buyers the flagship Mi MIX 2S (8GB+256GB) Black, Mi Band 3, Mi Notebook Air 13.3″ (Silver) and the Mi Bluetooth Headset Mini (Black).

Thirdly, the top-most iPhone XS Max with a giant display begins at a whopping 9599 yuan ($1398). For that amount, Xiaomi says we can get the XS Max bundle comprising the Mi 8 (6GB+128GB), Mi Notebook Pro, Mi Bluetooth Collar Headset and Mi Band 3 on Mi.com. Sadly, this is only applicable in China as all the products in the bundles will cost more than what is being offered on Xiaomi’s website. It would be interesting, though, to see such bundles being offered in India, Spain and other regions where XIaomi has its physical presence.

(source 1, 2, 3)

Meizu’s new accessory incoming alongside the Meizu 16X

By

Michele Ingelido

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Sep 14, 2018

On September 19, Meizu will launch the toned-down version of Meizu 16 called Meizu 16X at the Beijing Performing Arts Center. But according to the official Weibo account of the company, the new device which will shine for its great quality-price ratio will not be alone. Alongside the upcoming upper-midranger, there will also be a new accessory, but unfortunately, the company did not reveal any details of the accessory.

We only know that it will be related to audio, so we can assume that it will most likely be a new pair of headphones or a speaker. Headphones (or earphones) seem to be the most reliable hypothesis as the company already launched its Gravity Speaker alongside the Meizu 16 series. The company is known for making high quality audio products, so expect something good. But for now, our thoughts remain just speculations.

Read More: Meizu 16X to pack IMX380+IMX350 dual Sony cameras with ArcSoft tech; Launch on Sept. 19

According to the company’s founder and CEO Jack Wong, Meizu 16X will be the best smartphone to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset. And this confirms all the details surfaced in the last period. Meizu 16X will be the same device as Meizu 16 with two differences: the build quality and the chipset. So, we will also see the same powerful camera department as its older sibling with Sony sensors, 12 and 20 MP resolution, OIS and ArcSoft technology.