Alcatel 7 Launches as a MetroPCS exclusive, packs 18:9 screen and dual cameras

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Aug 13, 2018

TCL has announced a new smartphone under the Alcatel brand. Though, availability may be limited since the new smartphone, called the Alcatel 7, is a MetroPCS exclusive.

The Alcatel 7 shares some specs with the Alcatel 5V announced last month. It has dual rear cameras in the same configuration, packs the same battery size, and even the same front-facing camera.

The Alcatel 7 has a 6-inch display with a full HD+ resolution and Dragontrail Glass for protection. It is powered by an Helio P23 processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage (128GB max.).

On its rear sits a primary 12MP sensor and a secondary 2MP sensor for capturing portrait images. There is an 8MP front-facing camera with its own LED flash. The Alcatel 7 even supports face unlock but Alcatel has termed it FACEKEY. A fingerprint scanner sits below the dual camera on the back.

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OnePlus 6T renders reveal drop-like notch, triple rear cameras and in-screen fingerprint scanner

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

In May, OnePlus had launched the OnePlus 6 smartphone. The design of the smartphone is similar to sibling brand OPPO’s R15 phone that was unveiled in March this year. Now that the OPPO R15 phone is official, it is speculated that the rumored OnePlus 6T may borrow its water drop display design. Waqar Khan who is known for making impressive renders of upcoming smartphones has shared a video that speculates on its design.

The OnePlus 6T renders reveal that it will continue to sport glass rear like OnePlus 6. The rear view of the phone reveals that it will be featuring a vertical triple camera unit. As it can be seen in the below image, the third camera sensor is separated from dual camera module. There is a capsule-like dual-tone LED flash below the triple rear cameras which is followed by the logo of the company.

A closer view of the top portion of the display shows that it is fitted with a water drop notch like the OPPO R17. Above it is a slim-sized earpiece that appears to be placed on the top edge of the phone. Like the R17, the OnePlus 6T could be equipped with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display

The side bezels of the OnePlus 6T are slim, but its chin is slightly thick. The volume rocker is placed on the left edge of the phone whereas the Alert slider and power key are on the right edge. There is an impression on the bottom portion of the display which suggests that it is equipped with in-display fingerprint reader.

The renders of the OnePlus 6T show that it will be arriving in colors like red, black and white. The video does not reveal any information on the specifications of the OnePlus 6T. It is likely that like the OP6, its enhanced version will be featuring Snapdragon 845 SoC. The OnePlus 5T was announced in November 2017. Hence, it is likely that the OP6T may go official by the same month.

What do you think about the renders of the OnePlus 6T? Will the real handset arrive with the same design? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

GPU Turbo beta testing for Huawei P10 and Mate 9 begins

By

Michele Ingelido

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Aug 13, 2018

After debuting on the latest Huawei flagships, the new GPU Turbo technology is making its way even to older flagships released by Huawei. Today (August 13), the company has officially started the beta testing of GPU Turbo for the Huawei P10 series and for the Huawei Mate 9 series, excluding the Lite variants of each line-up. It is a closed beta testing phase, so the firmware will be available only for a limited amount of users (200 users with the log version and 2000 users without log version, according to the official Huawei Club forum).

The models eligible for the beta update are Mate 9 Netcom version identified by the model number MHA-AL00, Mate 9 MHA-TL00, Mate 9 Pro Netcom version LON-AL00 (including Porsche Design limited edition), P10 Netcom version VTR-AL00, P10 Netcom Mobile Edition VTR-TL00, P10 Plus Netcom Edition VKY-AL00 and P10 Plus Netcom Mobile Edition VKY-TL00. If you want to take part in the beta testing phase, you must have one of the phones without root permissions. Further, you must have the version 8.0.0.359 version of the firmware.

In order to check it, you can head to the Settings, then choose System, About phone section, Version number, Member Service Registration. If you take part in the beta testing phase, you will not be able to remove the firmware and roll back to the previous version. The only chance you have to get rid of the beta firmware is updating your device to the next version, as soon as the beta testing finishes and it will be released. Check the source links below to find the links to adhere to the beta testing phase. Thanks to GPU Turbo, the GPU in your phone will be able to increase its performance by up to 60 percent while reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent.

(source1, source2)

Samsung tipped to shut down a Chinese smartphone factory

By

Michele Ingelido

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Aug 13, 2018

2018 does not seem to be the best year for Samsung China in terms of sales in the smartphones market. The company may soon shut down one of its two smartphone factories established in China, according to the latest report from ETNews and The Investor. From what an anonymous company executive has just declared, the production in this facility, which is located in Tainjin, Northern China, has already been reduced. The Korean giant is expected to suspend its operation in the factory within a year before shutting it down forever. Identified as Tianjin Samsung Telecommunication, this manufacturing plant was established in 2001 and big profits came from its production.

The facility kept growing up until 2013 when it registered more than 15 trillion won sales, which roughly translates into $13.2 billion at the actual exchange rate. But after 2013, it started to decline with 11.41 trillion won (about $10 billion) in 2014 and just 6.93 trillion won ($6.1 billion) in 2015. Given this big decline, it is easy to understand the reasons why Samsung has decided to close it, even after seventeen years of activity. Currently, the company is not performing well in the Chinese market due to the strong presence of Chinese brands. At the moment China is dominated by Huawei, which has recently passed Apple and reached the second place in the global smartphones market.

Rising labor costs and the shift of Samsung’s manufacturing base to other Asian countries (such as Vietnam and India) should also have contributed to this hard decision. After shutting down this manufacturing plant, there will be only one Samsung smartphone factory left in China, which is based in Huizhou (south-eastern China).

What do you think about the future of the Korean giant in the Chinese market? Will it ever recover the lost ground or Huawei and other Chinese company will gain even more popularity?

(via)

Smartisan Nut Pro 2S now on reservations at JD.com ahead of August 20 launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 13, 2018

Chinese premium smartphone maker Smartisan announced earlier today that it would be launching its first Snapdragon 710-powered smartphone called Nut Pro 2s on August 20 in China. Ahead of its official launch, the Smartisan Nut Pro 2S has now been opened for reservation on popular Chinese e-commerce website Jingdong (JD.com).

The reservation is listed on the official Smartisan flagship store on Jingdong. As indicated on the page, it commenced today (August 13) and will end on August 20 when the smartphone will be launched. Unfortunately, the price of the smartphone wasn’t listed on the page. That means we’ll have to wait until itis launched to know what it costs. However, the model isn’t expected to cost more than 1,999 yuan (~$290).

The Nut Pro 2s is expected to be an upgrade of the premium mid-range king – Smartisan Nut Pro 2 which was launched last year. One of the outstanding features of the Nut Pro 2 , apart from its premium build, is the price tag. The Nut Pro 2 came with a 1,799 yuan (~$281) price tag, so a 1,999 yuan (~$290) price tag looks feasible.

In terms of specification, the Smartisan Nut Pro 2S is expected to feature a 5.99-inch notch-less display with the 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is also expected to retain the camera configuration of the Nut Pro 2 which is a single 16MP front shooter as well as a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup at the rear. The phone will run on Android 8.1 Oreo with a touch of Smartisan’s own custom skin. Other expected specs include 6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage as well as support for 18W fast charging.

(source)

Vivo X23 with 10 GB RAM to debut on August 20; Jovi voice assistant confirms date

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

A well-known tech blogger from China has shared a screenshot of a conversation with Jovi voice assistant on Vivo NEX smartphone. The conversation reveals that the Vivo will be debuting the Vivo X23 smartphone on Aug. 20.

In the below image, the Chinese tipster has asked two questions to Jovi. The first one is whether it knows anything about the new Vivo products. Jovi replied to it by saying that whether he was asking about Vivo X23. The tech blogger then asked about the release date of Vivo X23 and Jovi answered by saying. “8.20 will happen big.”

Even though Vivo has not released any information about the upcoming Vivo X23, its Jovi assistant has spilled the beans on it by not only confirming on its existence but also revealing its release date. It seems that the company could be skipping the X22 moniker for its next X series phone as it now seems to be working on the launch of X23.

Vivo’s sibling brand OPPO has already announced the OPPO R17 smartphone. Hence, there is a high possibility that the announcement of the Vivo X23 may not be far away.

As of this writing, the specifications of the Vivo X23 phone are under the wraps. The phone may sport a design similar to R17 which means it may come with a water drop notched display. Another reliable leakster has supported this claim by sharing a leaked image. The image seems to show two Vivo X23 handsets stacked on top of each other. According to him, the Vivo X23 will be arriving in two models featuring Snapdragon 670 and Snapdragon 710.

It could be the first smartphone ever to arrive with 10 GB of RAM that will be employed through 6 GB RAM + 4 GB RAM dual channel technology. Chinese leaksters have been claiming that Vivo could become the first company to launch 10 GB RAM smartphone.

Since the predecessor smartphones have featured in-display fingerprint scanner, it is very likely that the upcoming X23 smartphone will also feature it. In the recent past, two new Vivo phones with model numbers V1809A and V1809T were certified by 3C authority in China. The 3C certification of these phones have revealed that they will carry support for 22.5W fast charging. It is speculated that these two devices could be the variants of the upcoming Vivo X23 phone. If the handset is really launching on Aug. 20, the company soon release an official confirmation on in the next few days.

(source 1, 2)

Pocophone F1 detailed unboxing video emerges out of the blue

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 13, 2018

Xiaomi India recently announced the launch of its new Pocophone line with the first model in the lineup dubbed Pocophone F1 dropping on August 22 in India. Ahead of the launch, even before the launch date was announced, we have been bombarded with several leaks surrounding the new model. It gets pretty confusing determining whether the model has been launched or not, as almost all the details about the model have come out except the price. Perhaps, this latest unboxing video is a clear evidence of how generous Xiaomi has been in releasing details of the smartphone even before its launch.

The unboxing video shows off the POCO F1 in its entirety. This is a proper unboxing done by a professional and it begins with showing us the retail box with the name “Pocophone by Xiaomi” and “Pocophone F1” inscribed on it. It is also marked as “Global version” thus eliciting suspicion that Xiaomi may launch the model in China. The “Global version” marking also clearly shows that the model is targeted at the global market and will be sold across different countries especially in Europe. The bottom of the retail box contains the key specs of the phone which includes a Snapdragon 845 chipset.

The retail box contains the phone itself as well as a SIM tray ejector, protective casing and charging adapter with USB cable. The video also shows us the phone while powered on and put to use. The interface is clearly the MIUI theme. The camera interface is also to put to use, showing the Portrait mode and the features available for still photography and video shooting.

For the specs, the Poco F1 packs a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with Xiaomi’s Face scanning tech inside the notch on the front. The device packs a vertically aligned, dual rear camera setup placed in the middle. The rear camera is a 12MP + 5MP combo while the selfie shooter is a 20MP sensor. The body is said to be made of plastic despite packing an SD 845 chipset and 6GB of RAM. The F1 will also have a 4,000mAh battery. Apart from the powerful chipset, the main selling point of the F1 will be its price tag which is said to be very affordable.

(source)

OPPO R17 Pro with triple cameras could be launching soon

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

In March, OPPO had launched the R15 and R15 Pro smartphones with notched display design. The OPPO R17 that was unveiled earlier today is the successor of the R15 phone. The R17 is now listed on OPPO”s official online store. Its reservations have started from today in China and its pre-orders are slated to begin on Aug. 18. However, the OPPO R17 Pro is not yet listed on the official site. A screenshot of the R17 Pro is doing rounds on Weibo. There is a possibility that the screenshot of the R17 Pro may have surfaced through one of the official platforms of company. What’s interesting about the R17 Pro screenshot is that it is fitted with triple rear cameras.

OPPO had recently launched the Find X flagship phone. Before its launch, the handset was rumored to arrive with triple camera system. However, it is equipped with a dual camera setup. The screenshot suggests that the R17 Pro could be the first smartphone from the company to feature triple rear cameras. The snapshot states that Super Night Mode and Smart Aperture are some of the features of the R17 Pro.

The three cameras present on the rear side of the OPPO R17 Pro are arranged vertically followed by an LED flash. As of this writing, there is no information on the specs of the R17 Pro. However, it is likely that the smartphone could be coming with identical specs as the R17 phone.

The Snapdragon 670 that powers the R17 phone could be present under the hood of the R17 Pro. The other rumored features of the R17 Pro include 6.4-inch water drop display, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, 25-megapixel front-facing camera, 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera, ColorOS 5.2 flavored Android 8.1 Oreo and 3,500mAh battery.

The R17 Pro could be the world’s first phone to be equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection. There are some contradictory rumors about the R17 Pro that claim that it may feature Snapdragon 845 and 10 GB of RAM which sounds too good to be true.

It is unclear when OPPO will be announcing the R17 Pro. The company may soon hold an unveil event for R17. Probably, it may use the same platform to announce the R17 Pro.

Hands-on photos of the Emerald Green Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 13, 2018

Xiaomi released a new color variant of the Mi MIX 2S last week. The new variant is called Emerald Green and joins the already existing white and black variants.

The Emerald Green Mi MIX 2S is supposed to go on sale tomorrow but a Chinese blog already got their hands on a unit and have provided hands-on photos of the device.

The new color variant is inspired by the Dunhuang Murals. It also has a similar color to the ornamental mineral Jade, which is popular in Asian culture. There are two variants of the Emerald Green Mi MIX 2S. There is the regular variant (above) and there is the Jade Art Gift Box Edition (below).

The only difference we can see between both is that the latter seems to have reproduced versions of the Dunhuang Murals as wallpapers. The Jade Art Edition may also come in a special box. If you can get your hands on a unit, we advise purchasing the gift box edition. It won’t cost you more as both are sold for the same price.

The version in these hands-on images are the regular emerald green edition and it sure looks good. There are not a lot of green phones on the market, so this will definitely turn heads. If you decide to slap a case on it, there is no worry as Xiaomi has included a jade-colored case in the box too.

The bezels on the front of the device are black and on the back, there are gold accents around the dual cameras and fingerprint scanner. There is also an engraving that reads “Mi MIX Designed By Xiaomi”.

The Emerald Green (and Jade Gift Box Edition) Mi MIX 2S comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It is priced at ¥3999 (~$580) and is available on Mi.com.

[envira-gallery id=”205791″]

(Source)

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

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 13, 2018

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro was India’s own version of the popular Redmi Note 5 even though both models were not only different in names. The camera sensors also different, a development that left some Xiaomi India fans furious. Notwithstanding that, the model has been one of Xiaomi’s most successful model in India. Despite many persons clamouring to buy the smartphone, the device has remained elusive since it is only available via online flash sales for the past six months. All that is now a thing of the past as the device is finally on sale in the open online via Flipkart and Xiaomi’s Mi.com website.

The duration of the weekly flash sale highlights the popularity of the Redmi Note 5 Pro since it first went on flash sale in February. For now, only the 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM models are available. On Flipkart, the 4GB RAM version is available in Black, Blue, Gold and Rose Gold colours while the 6GB RAM variant is only available in Blue.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro came with a base price tag of Rs. 13,999 ($200) in India but it got an Rs. 1000 price hike after the passage of Budget 2018. Thus, the base variant is available for Rs. 14,999 ($214) while the 6GB RAM variant is offered for Rs. 16,999 ($243). Flipkart is offering customers a 5% discount on purchases made using Axis Bank Buzz credit cards. Recall that the Redmi Note 5 Pro was the first smartphone to launch packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The device sports a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display that offers FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Both the 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM versions are bundled with 64 GB of storage. On the camera end, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is equipped with a LED flash-enabled selfie camera of 20-megapixel while at the rear is a 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. Under the hood is a generous 4,000mAh battery among other features.

(source)

Smartisan Nut Pro 2S with Snapdragon 710 to launch on August 20

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

Smartisan has today confirmed that it will be holding a launch event on Aug. 20 at 7:30 PM. Since the recent rumors have revealed that Smartisan Nut Pro 2S is the upcoming smartphone from the company, it is likely that the Chinese manufacturer may announce it through next week’s launch event.

Plenty of details of the Smartisan Nut Pro 2S have surfaced in the recent past. It is speculated to arrive as an enhanced version of Nut Pro 2 that was launched in November last year. Recent reports have revealed that the handset will be borrowing its design and some specs from Nut Pro 2. The handset is expected to debut as the first Snapdragon 710 smartphone from Smartisan.

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2S is expected to be equipped with 5.99-inch screen that supports an aspect ratio of 18:9. Like the Nut Pro 2, the upcoming phone from the company is expected to feature a front camera of 16-megapixel and 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup. The handset is expected to be driven by Android 8.1 Oreo. The SoC of the smartphone is rumored to be coupled with 6 GB of RAM. It may arrive with an internal storage of 64 GB The exact size of the battery of this phone is not known, but it is rumored to carry support for 18W fast charging.

The Nut Pro 2 has a price tag of 1,799 Yuan (~$281). Since the only major change that is expected to arrive on the Nut Pro 2S is the inclusion of Snapdragon 710, the handset may not cost more than 1,999 Yuan (~$290).

Huawei Mate 20 display assembly leaked images reveal notch screen with 3D facial recognition support

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

Apple had introduced the iPhone X with notched display design last year. Since then various smartphone brands from China have launched phones with notched display design. A recent report had revealed that since Huawei had launched many budget-friendly and high-end phones with notched display design, it shipped maximum smartphones with display notch this year. With couple of months remaining for the year 2018 to end, the company will be launching more phones with the same design. Freshly leaked images of the display assembly of Huawei Mate 20 smartphone have surfaced today. The new images reveal that the Mate 20 will be also arriving with a notched display design.

It is speculated that the Huawei Mate 20 will be arriving with a 6.3-nch AMOLED display that seems to be curved towards the edges. At the top of the display is a notch that will be housing 3D structured light module. This suggests that the handset will carry support for 3D facial recognition. Rumors have it that Huawei will be self-developing the 3D structured light module.

The Huawei Mate 20 is also equipped with a fingerprint scanner. It is speculated that the more advanced Mate 20 Pro will be coming with an in-display fingerprint scanner. On the other side, the Mate 20 could be featuring a regular rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Contradictory rumors have also claimed that Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro phones will both feature under-screen fingerprint scanner. The rumor mill has already revealed the leaked photos of the Mate 20 Lite. Very soon, the renders of the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro to reveal their exact design which will come confirm whether Mate 20 will have a front-mounted or rear-facing fingerprint sensor.

The Kirin 980 is expected to power the Mate 20 handset. It could be fueled by a 4,200mAh battery. For photography, it may feature 12-megapixel + 16-megapxiel + 8-megapixel triple camera system. The smartphone is also rumored to arrive with an IP67 rated waterproof and dustproof glass body. The handset will be loaded with EMUI 9.0 flavored Android P.

Recent reports have revealed that the Huawei Mate 20 is codenamed as Hima and its variants that have model numbers such as HMA-AL00 and HMA-TL00 have been certified by 3C body in China. The Chinese manufacturer may announce Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro smartphones in October.

(source|via)

Samsung wants to be the first to launch foldable smartphone

By

Jeet

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Aug 13, 2018

Samsung has been working on a foldable smartphone since 2013. The South Korean giant was expected to become the first smartphone manufacturer to launch a foldable phone. However, that changed earlier this year when China-based Huawei announced that it plans to launch a foldable smartphone ahead of Samsung.

Huawei revealed that it plans to launch a foldable smartphone by the end of this year while Samsung is expected to launch its foldable phone in Q1 2019, most probably at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January.

But the latest information suggests that Samsung still wishes to be the first manufacturer to launch a foldable phone. Koh Dong-jin, who heads Samsung Electronics IT and Mobile division, said, “We are focused on bringing innovations favored by consumers, rather than just becoming the world’s first. In terms of the foldable phone, however, we do not want to miss the first spot.”

After his remark, industry watchers are suggesting that Samsung could announce its foldable phone as early as this year, even though Koh Dong-jin has not provided any specific schedule or timeline for its upcoming foldable device.

Till now, it was believed that the upcoming Samsung foldable smartphone will be called Galaxy X but that might not be the case. Recent developments suggest that the phone could be the part of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy F series.

The Samsung Galaxy F-series is said to be “super” high-end, which fits the price range for the upcoming foldable smartphone. According to the previous reports, the Samsung’s foldable smartphone will be priced somewhere between $1500 and $2000.

Apart from Samsung and Huawei, a few other Chinese manufacturers are also planning to launch a foldable device next year, including Xiaomi and Oppo. The foldable phones from Samsung and Huawei are expected to sport fold-in design while Xiaomi’s foldable smartphone may feature fold-out design. There’s no information on the design Oppo may use for its foldable smartphone.

(Source)

Gearbest Is Giving An Unparalleled Home Cinema Experience Starting From $36.99

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 13, 2018

If you’re a cinephile who likes to watch the latest movies without moving out of the comfort of your home, setting up a projector could prove to be the best solution. While there’s a broad range of projectors available in the market today, they usually carry steep price tags.

As a result, cost-conscious buyers are left with very few options when it comes to buying high-quality projectors. Taking that into consideration, GearBest is giving big discounts on select projectors. Dubbed as ‘Enjoy Home Cinema From $36.99,’ the promo has been split into multiple categories.

First off, you can get an 18% off on the Xiaomi FMWS01C Ultra Short Throw 7000 ANSI Lumens Laser Projector, which would normally set you back a pretty penny on online stores. The FMWS01C laser carries a steep price tag of $2348.33, but thanks to the discount, you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $1949.

The XGIMI Z6 Smart Projector is currently available at a heavily discounted price of $549.99. This is a noteworthy 19% reduction in the projector’s original asking price of $678.56. This Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 39 pieces for 6 days.

Likewise, the Original XGIMI H1 DLP Projector is available at a lowered price of $759.99 and the wowoto A5 Pro DLP Portable Projector is available at a discounted price of $259.99. You can check out the rest of the categories by heading straight to this link and avail the discount before the promo ends.

Get Big Discounts On High-End Projectors

Huawei says it’ll abide by FRAND principle for 5G patent licensing fees

By

Jeet

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Aug 13, 2018

Huawei is currently working on the roll-out of 5G technology in infrastructure, similar to many other companies such as Samsung, ZTE, Lenovo, etc. The industry seems enthusiastic about the 5G technology, which is expected to have a worldwide commercial launch in 2020.

With the development and deployment of 5G technology going on, the next step for these companies is to decide their pricing. Among three major patent holders for 5G technology — Huawei, Qualcomm, and Erricson, two of them — Qualcomm and Erricson have already announced their patent licensing fees.

Huawei has not yet officially announced its 5G patent license fees. Recently, there were reports suggesting that Huawei will charge 4 percent patent fees for each device to the manufacturers. However, the company denied the reports and said that the company’s officially pricing is not yet revealed and reported 4 percent fees are too expensive and unreasonable.

Now, He Gang, President of Huawei for terminal mobile phone product line revealed that the company will strictly abide by the FRAND principle for the patent licensing activities and will not blackmail the industry in paying higher fees. He further added that the company is committed to promoting the implementation of 5G technology.

FRAND, which stands for Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory, was created by a standard-setting organization (SSO). It facilitates widespread use of the standard and ensures that each SEP owner benefits from the use of the patent without gaining an unfair bargaining advantage.

It’s noteworthy that there’s no statute or regulation imposing a FRAND obligation. It was created in response to SSO members asserting infringement claims against other SSO members practicing their standard-essential patents (SEPs).

As for the Qualcomm‘s SEP fees, it’ll charge 2.275% for mobile phones that only support 5G, 3.25% for devices with 5G/4G/3G support. On the other hand, Erricson’s 5G patent license fee is set at $5/part for high-end handheld devices and $2.5/part for low-end handheld devices.

Huawei is also working on a 5G smartphone, which is expected to get launched in June next year. According to the reports, the 5G smartphone from Huawei consumes twice as much power as 4G chips. The phone will have the Balong 5G01 5G chip that the company showcased at MWC Barcelona this year.

The Brand Deals Of H96 Kicks Off On Banggood; Details Inside

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 13, 2018

Looking for a top-end Android TV box that doesn’t bear a steep price tag? You’ve come to the right place. Deemed as one of the best Android boxes, the H96 is built by one company, but it sports multiple names.

Much to the delight of those who have been waiting to buy the best value Android box, Banggood is giving noteworthy discounts on various versions of the H96 TV box. The limited offer dubbed, ‘Brand Deals Of H96’ comprises unmissable deals that will be accessible on the first come, first serve basis.

Under the New Released category, you can get a 36% off on the H96 Max Plus RK3328 Android 8.1 USB3.0 TV Box, which usually sells for $69.81 without the discount. Thanks to the aforesaid reduction, you can now preorder the well-received Max Plus RK3328 at a dropped price of just $44.99.

Likewise, you can get 37% off on the H96 Max Plus RK3328 4GB RAM+64GB ROM version. The device normally carries a price tag of $85.17, but the first 100 pieces will be up for preorder at a reduced price of just $53.99.

The next category, Classic VS Trend houses the H96 PRO PLUS Amlogic S912 Octa Core 3GB RAM 32GB ROM TV Box and the H96 MINI S905W 2GB RAM 16GB ROM 5G WIFI Bluetooth 4.0 Android TV Box. More importantly, there’s a 42% off on both the TV boxes.

Aside from heavily discounted TV boxes, the Hot & Value section features the H96 Pro H2 Amlogic S912 2GB RAM 16GB ROM Mini PC TV Stick Dongle, which carries a 40% discount and the H96 PRO H3 S905X 2GB RAM 16GB ROM 5.0G WIFI Android 7.1 Bluetooth 4.0 TV Stick, which has a 43% discount as part of the promotion sale which is slated to end on August 19th.

You can follow this link in order to check out the promotion and take advantage of the discount before the limited offer comes to an end.

Get Big Discounts On The H96 Android Boxes

POCOPHONE F1 will launch August 22 in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 13, 2018

Xiaomi is set to release a new smartphone soon. This new phone called the POCOPHONE F1 will launch under its new sub-brand POCO.

Just a short while ago, the official Twitter Indian account for the new brand announced a release date for the POCOPHONE F1, its very first smartphone.

According to the poster, the POCOPHONE F1 will launch in India on the 22nd of August which falls on Wednesday next week. The launch event will be held in New Delhi but the time has not yet been revealed.

Last week, social media accounts for the new brand popped up online and started teasing the upcoming phone as well as revealing tidbits about the new brand. POCO is currently being run by Jai Mani who is the lead product manager for Xiaomi India.

The POCOPHONE F1 is a flagship phone and will have a price tag lesser than Xiaomi’s current flagships (Mi MIX 2s, Mi 8, and Mi 8 Explorer Edition). It has the same Snapdragon 845 processor powering the aforementioned devices and even packs better specs in some areas such as having a large 4000mAh battery and liquid cooling.

The rest of its specs are a 5.99-inch FHD+ display with a notch at the top, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. It is expected to come in other memory configurations too.

It has a 20MP front-facing camera with IR face unlock and vertically arranged 12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras. There is dual-SIM support, Bluetooth 5.0, and a USB-C port. It also supports Quick Charge 3.0.

Continue

Get Huge Discounts On The 360 S6 And Other Top-End Vacuum Cleaners On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 13, 2018

It is imperative to have an effective vacuum cleaner especially if you’re dust-sensitive or have any sort of allergies. While the market is rife with all sorts of home cleaning appliances that claim to keep your surroundings free from dust and other pollutants that take a toll on your health, these devices don’t come cheap.

If you’ve restlessly been looking for a powerful vacuum cleaner that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, we got good news for you. As part of its recently kicked off promo, GearBest is currently offering big discounts on a broad range of high-end vacuum cleaners that would normally set you back a pretty penny.

Dubbed as ‘Automate Your Cleaning,’ the promotion has been split into 3 categories including New Tech Arrivals, Household Helper, and Upright Vacuums. Each category features well-received vacuum cleaners that you can buy without worrying about going over budget.

Keeping in line with that, the site is doling out a noteworthy 19% off on the 360 S6 Automatic Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, which normally sells for $368.01. Thanks to the discount, you can buy the remaining 132 pieces of the S6 at a dropped price of just $349.99.
Likewise, GearBest is giving discounts on the Roborock Xiaowa Lite C102 and the Xiaomi ROIDMI XCQ01RM Portable Strong Suction Vacuum Cleaner in the form of coupon codes. These coupons can be used to get additional discounts on the aforesaid appliances at the time of checking out.

In order to check out all the products in the aforementioned categories and to take advantage of the discount, all you need to do is to head straight to this link. It is worth noting that the vacuum cleaners will go back to their retail price as soon as the promo ends.

Get Big Discounts On Powerful Vacuum Cleaners

OPPO R17 is official with 6.4-inch water drop screen, in-display fingerprint scanner and 8 GB RAM

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 13, 2018

Since multiple leaks had revealed plenty of information on the OPPO R17 smartphone, rumors had suggested that the company may announce it in this month. All of a sudden, OPPO has officially announced the OPPO R17 in China through Weibo. The smartphone is now listed on the official OPPO store in China. The official sales of the smartphone will begin on Aug. 18.

The official listing of the OPPO R17 on the official store of the company does not contain its full specifications. It only states the major features of the smartphone. The listing reveals that the smartphone will be available for booking at 10:00 AM (local time) in China.

The OPPO R17 has a notched screen of 6.4 inches. Since the notch is smaller than its predecessor model and appears like a drop of water, OPPO has dubbed the new design as waterdrop display. The company claims that the R17 offers a screen-to-body ratio of 91.5 percent. One of the major attractions of the smartphone is that it is equipped with an in-display fingerprint reader.

The listing does not confirm on the name of the chipset that powers the smartphone. It only reveals that a 10nm SoC is present under its hood. It is speculated to be fueled by Snapdragon 670 that was announced recently. The SoC will be coupled with 8 GB of RAM. The handset includes a native storage of 128 GB. At the frontside of the phone is a 25-megapixel AI selfie camera and the AI smart dual camera is placed on its rear. The exact configuration of the dual camera setup is not known yet.

The OPPO R17 is preloaded with the new ColorOS 5.2. The handset supports AliPay face payment. It is fueled by 3,500mAh battery that carries support for VOOC fast charging.

The release date of OPPO R17 is not mentioned on its official OPPO store listing. Rumors have it that it may hit the Chinese market on Aug. 23 with a price tag of 3,000 Yuan. The handset is listed with color gradient options like Stream Blue that offers bluish-green appeal and Neon purple which appears like a mix of blue and purple. Currently, the smartphone is available for reservations.

The Chinese manufacturer is known for starting the pre-orders of its new smartphones before unveiling them through launch event. Hence, it is likely that the company may announce OPPO R17 launch event in the next few days.

(source 1, 2)

Honor Play 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model gets upgraded to 128GB storage, pricing remains same

By

Jeet

-

Aug 13, 2018

In June, Honor announced Honor Play smartphone, the first one from the company that featured GPU Turbo technology. It was launched in two variants — 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB + 64GB storage.

A couple of days ago, we reported that the Chinese manufacturer could launch a new variant of the Honor Play. Now, the company has announced that the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model has been upgraded and now packs 128GB internal storage.

While the phone’s storage capacity has been increased, the pricing still remains same — 2,399 Yuan, which roughly converts to $349. It is available in three color options — Nebula Purple, Aurora Blue, and Midnight Black.

The Honor Play comes with a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display featuring a notch and 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. It is powered by the company’s own Kirin 970 octa-core processor with NPU and Mali-G72 MP12 graphics processor. The GPU Turbo technology enhances GPU performance significantly by increasing graphics processing efficiency by up to 60 percent.

On the back panel, there’s a dual-camera setup for photography, consisting of a 16-megapixel f/2.2 primary sensor paired with a 2-megapixel f/2.4 secondary depth sensor with support for AI shooting and AR gestures. On the front side, the phone comes equipped with a 16-megapixel f/2.0 sensor for taking selfies.

There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back panel. The Face Unlock feature on the phone uses artificial intelligence that the company claims helps in adapting to different lightings and minute facial changes for accuracy.

It includes a microSD card slot that enables phone’s storage expansion up to 256GB. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and USB Type-C.

The device comes with 4D gaming experience, powered by the same GPU Turbo technology. It can detect a number of gaming scenes including shots, explosions, and quakes. The phone also reportedly features a special film on its screen to reduce reflection and improve gaming experience under the light.

The phone is running Android Oreo operating system with the company’s custom interface EMUI 8.2. It packs a decent 3,750mAh battery with fast charging support, which should be good enough for a day’s worth of gaming.

You can check out our review of Honor Play here.