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Xiaomi Mi A2 finally goes on open sale in India

By
Michele Ingelido
-

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.

Mi A2 Lite

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.

 

 

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.

 

(Source)

 

 

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

By
Simranpal Singh
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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.

 

 

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

By
Vinay Patel
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LEAGOO S9Leagoo 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!

By
Vinay Patel
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Vivo NEX
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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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.Elephone Soldier

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.

Read Also: See the Elephone PX pop-up camera mechanism in action

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.

Pre-order the Elephone Soldier on Coolicool For $189.99Elephone Soldier

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

By
Jed John Ikoba
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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.Honor 9N

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

Read Also: Honor ARE-AL00 seen at TENAA with valley-like notch and dual cameras

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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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

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Twilight Gold
Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Twilight Gold

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.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue
Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Fantasy Blue

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.

 

(Source)

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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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.Iphone XR vs Xiaomi

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.iphone XS

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). iPhone XS Max vs Xiaomi products

Read More: Huawei claims New iPhones bring nothing new

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
-

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.

 

 

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.

(Source)

Xiaomi Mi 8 White color model with 8GB+128GB memory goes on sale

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi has announced that the flagship Mi 8 white version which features an 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage will go on sale today at 8 pm China time. Indeed, the high-end variant is presently available on Mi.com for buyers in China. The new colour variant joins the black and blue variant that were hitherto available. The colour variant is available for 3299 yuan (~$480) which is also the same as that of China.Xiaomi Mi 8 White

Apart from the gentle White coloured rear panel, the rest of the specs are the same. To recall, the Mi 8 features a 6.21-inch FHD+ display with a notch at the top that houses an IR face scanner, a 20MP selfie camera, and the usual sensors. The device also comes with a glass body and is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor. It gets its juice from a 3,400mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4.0. On the rear of the Mi 8 are two 12MP sensors with OIS and optical zoom. There is also a fingerprint scanner on the back.

Related: Meizu 16 vs Xiaomi Mi 8: Specs Comparison

The Mi 8 is the first smartphone in the world with dual-frequency GPS which location accuracy up to a decimeter-level. There is NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, and a USB-C port but just like its predecessor, the Mi 6, it doesn’t feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The White variant isn’t likely to go out of stock soon and we expect Xiaomi to make it available outside China. You can check out the store listing from the source link below.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition to get MIUI 10 Beta based on Android Pie by September end

By
Michele Ingelido
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It was surprising to see Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition was missing from the list of the first Xiaomi devices getting the first Beta update to MIUI 10. But now, the latest reports suggest that even this device will soon be updated to the new Public Beta version of Xiaomi’s latest user interface based on Android Pie. However, the update is only applicable to the China Developer ROM and not the global one.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition

In this regard, Xiaomi will suspend the development of Android O based internal and public beta releases for the Explorer Edition. Expect the Android Pie based MIUI 10 update sometime late September.

If you adhered to the beta testing phase and installed the China Developer ROM, you will get the update through an OTA notification directly on your device, so you will be able to install it with one tap. Anyway, the Chinese company will update the MIUI 10 Beta ROM on the official website soon, so you will also be able to flash it manually on your Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition MIUI 10 Android Pie release

 

 

The new MIUI 10 is based on Android Pie and it brings a lot of improvements. There is the support for new portrait mode selfies, an improved recent menu, re-designed volume and brightness sliders and other new UI elements. Besides Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer, there are several other smartphones the list of devices receiving MIUI 10 beta. You can check the list here.

 

 

Meizu 16X reservations begin on several online stores

By
Michele Ingelido
-

Meizu has apologized for the delays in delivery of the new Meizu 16 line-up to its customers, but in the meantime, it seems that the company is planning to offer a better availability for its upcoming upper midranger Meizu 16X. This handset which is more focused on quality-price ratio will be officially announced on September 19, but the company has already opened reservations. You can reserve your unit of the device on the official store Meizu Mall as well as other important Chinese stores such as Jingdong Mall and more.

Sadly, the price tag of the upcoming device is still unknown, but if we base on the previous 16 line-up, it should range between 2000 and 2500 Yuan, that is equivalent to the price range from $292 to $365. Meizu 16X will differ from the vanilla Meizu 16 for its design and performance. Indeed, it should come with cheaper materials and under the hood, there will not be the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. Instead, we will probably find the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC paired with 6 or 8 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of internal storage depending on the configuration you will choose to buy.

 

 

On the other hand, there will be exactly the same rear cameras as the standard 16th, so you will get flagship-like camera performance. There will be a dual rear camera with ArcSoft technology composed of a Sony IMX380 sensor with a 20 MP resolution and a Sony IMX350 with a 12 MP resolution. According to the company’s CEO Jack Wong, there will also be optical stabilization. At last, there should be a 6-inch display with the AMOLED technology and a 3100 mAh battery.

 

Nokia 9 and Nokia X7 display panel leaks to reveal notch-less screen design

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

Rumors have it that the upcoming Nokia flagship phone that has a model number of TA-1094 may go official as Nokia 9. The USP of the phone will be its penta-lens camera setup. Recent reports have revealed only teased the rear design of the phone, but its front design has remained a mystery. A fresh report on ITHome carries a leaked image of the display panel of the alleged Nokia 9 flagship. The report also includes a leaked snapshot of the display panel of the upcoming Nokia X7 phone. The display panel images of both phones show that they will come equipped with notch-less screens.

In the image shown above, the display panel of the alleged Nokia 9 can be seen with slim-sized side bezels. There is a slightly large cutout for the selfie camera on the top bezel of the phone. The bottom bezel seems to be equally thick as upper bezel. There is no information available on the display size of the rumored Nokia 9, but the image does reveal that it will be offer an impressive screen space. Probably, it carries support for tall aspect ratio of 18:9.

The Snapdragon 845 chipset is expected to power the 64 GB and 128 GB editions of the Nokia 9. It is speculated to arrive with a big battery of 4,150mAh capacity.

The other image on the ITHome report shows the leaked display panel of the Nokia X7. The X-series Nokia phones that have released so far such as Nokia X5 (Nokia 5.1 Plus) and Nokia X6 (Nokia 6.1 Plus) have featured notched displays. Hence, it is speculated that the rumored Nokia X7 may also carry the same display design. A report from the previous month had carried a leaked shot of the notched front panel of the smartphone, but the new image that has surfaced today suggests that the Nokia X7 will come with a notch-less screen.

Nokia X7 display panel leak

The leaked image of Nokia X7’s display panel suggests it may arrive with an 18:9 aspect ratio screen. Its side bezels are narrow and its upper bezel features cutouts for earpiece, selfie camera and some other sensor. It is speculated that the Nokia X7 will be powered by Snapdragon 710 and it may debut in the coming month.

(via)

Apple A12 iPhone Xs AnTuTu benchmark score is mind-blowing, crosses 360K!

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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The 7nm Apple A12 chipset is present under the hood of the newly unveiled iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xr smartphones. At the launch event of the new iPhones, Apple did not confirm on their RAM capacities. However, the amount of RAM present inside the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR have been recently revealed through their AnTuTu and Geekbench listings. Now, AnTuTu has shared a new screenshot which reveals that the Apple A12 powered iPhone XS handset has recorded a marvelous score of more 363k.

In the CPU, GPU, UX and memory tests of AnTuTu, the iPhone XS has respectively scored 133,561, 150,931, 66,474 and 12,559 which brings the total benchmarking score to 363,525. Most of the Android flagship phones powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset have scored around 290k on AnTuTu which shows how powerful the Apple A12 SoC is.

Apple A12 iPhone Xs AnTuTu

Compared to the Apple A11 chipset that powers the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, the hexa-core A12 offers nearly 33.3 percent increased performance, doubled GPU score, 50 percent improvement in UX score and around 20 percent improvement in memory score because of which the iPhone XS has managed to achieve such an impressive benchmarking score.

The Apple A12 Bionic which includes two high-performance cores that worker 15 percent faster than the Apple A11 chipset and four power-efficiency cores that consumes 50 percent less power than A11. The SoC includes four-core GPU which also offers 50 percent better graphics performance than the GPU of A11.

The iPhone Xs features 4 GB of RAM and so does the iPhone Xs Max smartphone. The iPhone Xs and Xs Max respectively feature 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch AMOLED screens. The iPhone Xr that is equipped with a 6.1-inch LCD screen is packed with 3 GB of RAM.

The Kirin 980 that will be powering the upcoming Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro handset is also a 7nm chipset. An unconfirmed AnTuTu listing of Kirin 980 powered Mate 20 that had surfaced earlier this year had revealed an impressive benchmarking score of 350k score. However, the actual performance scores of the Kirin 980 will be revealed after the announcement of Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro that is slated to happen on Oct. 16. The 7nm Snapdragon 855 chipset is slated to go official by the end of this year. It is expected to power most of the Android flagship phones arriving in 2019.

As mentioned above, the benchmarking score of the best Android phone is 70k less than A12. However, the arrival of Kirin 980 and Snapdragon 855 will change things.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi 4, 4C and 4S MIUI 10 Stable ROM coming in November; Developer ROM stopped

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi‘s MIUI has continuously been updated for 388 weeks which is over seven years since the company first rolled out its first model. The company has been consistent in pushing updates to its models, at least in China. Despite the release of new phones, Xiaomi has always continued pushing updates to older models like the Mi 2 which had updates up to the Android Nougat years. The company is finally ending the Developer ROM update for some of its old phones namely; the Mi 4, Mi 4C and Mi 4S.Xiaomi Mi 4C

Xiaomi has been releasing weekly MIUI 10 Developer ROM updates for the trio but they will get MIUI 10 Stable ROM update from November this year signifying the end of Developer ROM for the models. Thus, the current MIUI 10 Development version with version number 8.9.13, released on September 13 is last. For those who don’t know the difference, Developer ROMs are updated every week (except for special occasions like Chinese national holidays), and they get bug fixes and new features in every update. Developer ROM versions are named after the date of its release. E.g. the update released on June 13, 2014, is named 4.6.13. On the other hand, Stable ROMs are updated once a month/two months/even longer. They don’t have a regular update frequency.

 

 

Xiaomi Mi 4 was released in June 2014 packing a Snapdragon 801 chipset on a 5-inch FHD display. The Mi 4C was launched in September 2015 while the Mi 4S was released in February 2016. With the cessation of the Development ROM, it is doubtful if the models will get updated past the MIUI 10.

(source)

 

 

DiDi Chuxing Hitch and other online carpooling services suspended in China (UPDATE: Service Resumed)

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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UPDATE: Ride Sharing service from Didi between 2300 PM and 0500 AM have resumed since September 15 on a trial special operation plan. Only Express and Premier Drivers with over 6 months of service record and 1000+ safe trips are allowed to serve during this period. This new rule is in effect in addition to the other security requirements. Note that DiDi Hitch is still suspended until the company revamps the service to make it more secure. 

 

DiDi Chuxing, a highly popular ride-hailing service from China has been indefinitely suspended from carrying out its “DiDi Hitch” carpooling services after the rape and murder of two female passengers. Chinese authorities have also suspended other carpooling services until the firms that run them comply with the safety regulations.

Starting from Sept. 8, DiDi Chuxing has halted its late night Didi Hitch service that runs between 11pm and 5am. The company took the decision to cancel the late night service after the rape and murder of a passenger in August. It is the second such killing after a 21-year older air stewardess was murdered by a driver of the same ride-sharing service.

The driver who was found guilty for the rape in August was the same driver who was reported by a previous female passenger for indecent behavior. However, DiDi had failed to act on the complaint.

The Chinese authorities will be investigating all the other carpooling services and the companies that oversee them. Revised safety policies now require ride-hailing services to show a prompt that reminds riders to access the contact number of emergency services in case of danger. The carpooling apps also need to feature “call police” button that can be immediately used by drivers and riders in emergency situations.

didi chuxing

Platforms are expected to have all the important details of the drivers such as vehicle registration, routes, locations, passenger’s location in real-time and carry out mandatory background checks so that the information can be handed over to the police when required. Ride-hailing services are expected to suspend those drivers and vehicles by the end of this year that do not comply with the new safety policies

Latest information reveals that DiDi will be hiring only those drivers who pass a mandatory security exam. Further, the company has incorporated strict measures to ensure passenger safety.

DiDi requires all drivers to provide their personal ID, valid driver’s license and vehicle registration certificate, and complete documentation verification and facial recognition when registering with the company. It also works closely with law enforcement authorities to conduct background checks on every driver. Only individuals who pass this process can operate on the platform. At the same time, DiDi mandates repeat background checks for its drivers every three months.

The company also records in-car audio of rides for the safety of its passengers.

 

New OPPO phones with in-display fingerprint scanners seen on TENAA

By
Habeeb Onawole
-

A trio of OPPO phones has been spotted on China’s TENAA’s website. They do have a familiar design, one we have seen on some recent OPPO releases such as the OPPO F9, and even pack similar specs but also differ in some areas.

The three devices have model numbers PBCM10, PBCT10, and PBCM30. Their specs are near identical save for differences in RAM and storage.

The phones have a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution. This is the same resolution as that of the OPPO F9 which confirms they have a waterdrop notch.

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The processor in all three phones is an octa-core chipset clocked at 1.95GHz. The PBCM10 and PBCT10 models have 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage while the PBCM30 model has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

All three phones have a 16MP + 2MP dual rear camera combo and a 25MP front-facing camera. They also run Android 8.1 Oreo and have 3,500mAh battery capacities. TENAA also confirms they have fingerprint scanners but since there is no scanner on the back that means the scanner is buried under the display.

READ MORE: Oppo A7X launched with 6.3″ waterdrop display for 2099 yuan ($306) in China, sale on Sept. 14

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Nokia 3.1 Android 8.1 Oreo update is now available

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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HMD Global had announced the Nokia 3.1 handset alongside other phones such as Nokia 5.1 and Nokia 2.1. The Nokia 5.1 and Nokia 3.1 Android Oreo smartphones that come preinstalled with Android 8.0 Oreo. HMD Global has now released Android 8.1 Oreo update to the Nokia 3.1 handset.

The Android 8.1 Oreo update for the Nokia 3.1 weighs 1.12 GB and it comes with the latest security patch for the month of September. The September month security patch has been also made available for Nokia 8 Sirocco handset in India.

Since the software upgrade rollout has just begun, all the users of Nokia 3.1 may not be able to see the update. The 8.1 Oreo update for Nokia 3.1 has started in India. Soon, it will be made available across the world. The latest Oreo update brings a refreshed power menu and an updated Settings menu. The update includes Bluetooth Battery Percentage and improved system ability.

Nokia-3.1-Oreo-8.1-September-Security-update

As far as Nokia 5.1 is concerned, it is still running on Android 8.1 Oreo whereas the Nokia 2.1 is preloaded with Android Nougat. Android 8.1 Oreo is not the only major software planned for these devices. The Finnish firm has already confirmed that these devices will be provided with Android 9 Pie update later this year.

The Nokia 3.1 features a polycarbonate chassis and aluminum frame. It houses an 18:9 aspect ratio IPS LCD display of 5.2 inches that carries support for HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. The MediaTek MT6750 chipset powers the phone. The 16 GB and 32 GB models of the Nokia 3.1 respectively features 2 GB and 3 GB of RAM. It has a rear camera of 13-megapixel and a front-facing camera of 8-mgepixel. The handset is packed with 2,990mAh battery.

Have you installed Android 8.1 Oreo update on your Nokia 3.1? Share us your experience by posting your comments below.

(via)

The first Google Pixel 3 official teaser hits but there’s nothing new

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Ahead of the October 9 launch event for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, Google has started releasing teasers of the expected launch. The Pixel 3 and its bigger sibling has been the subject of several leaks. So, you shouldn’t be surprised that Google’s first teaser isn’t very rich in content. Not that we expect the company to release so many details, anyway. Google Pixel 3 launch

The Pixel 3 teaser should rank as one of the simplest we have set our eyes on in a long while. It is just a big number “3” alongside a “Get the scoop” sign-up button to get updates of what Google has got in store. If you’ve already signed up for updates from the Google Store like we did last year, you won’t have to sign up again. You’ll only see the message: “Looks like you’ve already enrolled for updates from the Google Store. Be on the lookout for some news from us on Oct. 9“.

Read Also: HD Unboxing Video of Google Pixel 3 XL posted online

The Pixel 3 XL is expected to pack a 6.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels and 494ppi while the Pixel 3 will have a 5.5-inch display. Both models will be powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. At the rear, the models are said to still have a single 12MP sensor while selfies will be taken care of by an 8MP shooter. The Pixel 3 XL will also get its juice from a 3,430mAh battery while the Pixel 3 will have a battery capacity of around 3,000mAh. Apart from the Pixel 3 models, Google is expected to also unveil several products. We’ll have to wait until the launch to get the full details of what Google has in store for us.

(source)

Huawei ARS-AL00 / TL00 TENAA images reveal leather back, massive 7.12-inch display

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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Huawei has recently launched the Honor 8X and Honor 8X Max with waterdrop notch display design. Two variants of an upcoming Huawei phone with model numbers ARS-AL00 and ARS-TL00 have cropped up on TENAA with waterdrop notch design. What’s interesting about this handset is that one of its variants feature a leather back. The specifications and images that have surfaced through the TENAA listing of Huawei ARS-AL00 / ARS-TL00 bears resemblance with Honor 8X Max.

According to the TENAA listing of the Huawei ARS-TL00, it measures 177.57 x 86.24 x 8.48 and it houses a huge screen of 7.12 inches. The handset is slightly thicker than the Honor 8X Max that measures 8.1mm in thickness.

Huawei ARS-AL00 TENAA

The newly spotted Huawei handset also features a 7.12-inch IPS LCD display that produces Full HD+ resolution of 2244 x 1080 pixels. Its color variants are brown, black and white. It also weighs 210 grams like the Honor 8X Max.

The Huawei ARS-AL00 / ARS-TL00 features 1.95 GHz octa-core processor that is couple with 4 GB of RAM. It is preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo OS. For photography, it is equipped with 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel rear-mounted dual camera setup and a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel.

The internal storage versions of ARS-AL00 model are 64 GB and 128 GB. On the other side, the ARS-TL00 model has 128 GB of native storage. The ARS-AL00 / ARS-TL00 is also equipped with a microSD card slot. The back panel of the phone features a fingerprint scanner. The handset is fueled by 4,900mAh battery.

Huawei ARS-TL00 TENNA

The ARS-AL00 model is in white whereas the ARS-TL00 sports a leather rear. The vertical dual camera on the rear has AI Camera mentioned next to it. In terms of specifications and design, the Huawei ARS-AL00 / ARS-TL00 resembles with the Honor 8X Max. It is speculated that the handset could end up as a Huawei Nova model.

Apart from Huawei ARS-AL00 / ARS-TL00 handset, TENAA has also certified variants of Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro and the alleged Mate 20 Porsche Design. The TENAA listings of the Mate 20 series are yet to be populated with specs and images.

(source 1, 2)

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