Samsung Galaxy J2 Core is the company’s first Android Go smartphone

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Aug 25, 2018

Samsung has announced a new budget smartphone — Samsung Galaxy J2 Core, which is the company’s first device under Google‘s Android Go program. The phone is now available for purchase in India and Malaysia and the company says that it’ll soon be available in other markets.

Being a part of Android Go, the smartphone comes with a stripped-down version of the Android operating system. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) but with the company’s own layer of Samsung UI on top.

At this time, it’s not confirmed what applications come pre-loaded on the phone. To ensure that the performance of its apps is smooth on Android Go devices, Google has developed lightweight versions of its core apps, which includes Google Go, Assistant Go, YouTube Go, Gboard, Chrome, Maps Go, Files Go, Gmail Go, and Google Play.

The phone features a 5-inch qHD LCD display with screen resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. It is powered by the company’s own Exynos 7570 quad-core 14nm processor clocked at 1.4GHz along with Mali-T720 MP1 graphics processor.

It comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage, just like Nokia 1 — another Android Go edition phone. It features an 8-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and a 5-megapixel front-facing snapper with f/2.2 aperture. Connectivity options on the phone include Dual SIM cards, 4G VoLTE, GPS, and FM radio. The phone is fuelled by a 2,600mAh battery that is rated to last entire day on a single charge.

The Samsung Galaxy J2 Core will be available in only one color option — Golden. While the phone is now available for purchase in India and Malaysia, Samsung has not yet revealed the phone’s pricing.

Ulefone T2 will come in a Gradient color option with Helio P60, 6GB of RAM

By

Staff

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Aug 25, 2018

Ulefone T2 has a couple of smartphones in the pipeline and among them we are most excited about the flagship Ulefone T2. The phone will adopt the latest trendy features of 2018 and bring it at an affordable price tag. The company has teased us with a couple of renders of the device as well, along with a bunch of specifications.

Ulefone T2 will come with the infamous notch up front with a thin chin at the bottom. The bezels around the display look really thin, but note that this is just a render and the real device may have thicker bezels on the display. Nevertheless, the 6.7-inch FHD+ display should be really good, especially since that it comes from SHARP. Ulefone has also worked on giving us different back color options and the T2 will feature two variants: Black and Twilight gradient with a mix of purple and green.

As for specs, the Ulefone T2 will feature Helio P60 chipset inside which is a capable CPU powering mid-rangers in 2018. Along with this, the phone will feature 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The dual camera setup is not yet detailed but we know that it’s a combination of Sony and Samsung sensors. Inside, the battery is of 3900mAh which is enough to power the phone for more than a day. Finally, the company is said to use a customized OS for this particular model. We are not sure of what to expect from the software side, but let’s hope its clean and feature rich.

RELATED: Ulefone Armor 5 Rugged Smartphone showcased in hands on video, on sale for $189.99 (Video)

No details about pricing or availability, but the company has been teasing details about the phone via twitter, so make sure to stay tuned to their twitter account! You can also check out their website for more details.

Elvis Presley Atomic Player B612: A cute little retro Bluetooth speaker

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 25, 2018

The multiple phone launches this week didn’t leave enough time to cover some other interesting products such as this cute little Bluetooth speaker from Xiaomi. Launched on Xiaomi’s crowdfunding platform, the Elvis Presley Atomic Player B612 is an interesting-looking speaker.

There are tons of Bluetooth speakers on the market and the only way to stand out is to adopt a unique design and that is exactly the case for the Atomic Player. First, its footprint is small but its retro player-like design (and color) will surely draw people’s attention.

Apart from serving as a Bluetooth speaker, it can also connect to wireless networks and stream music from a bunch of services including Apple Music and QQ Music. Owners are required to download the OhPlay app. It also has a built-in FM radio (120KHz – 20KHz).

The Atomic Player is made of a zinc-aluminum alloy with a retro-green finish and some silver-colored parts. A 400mAh built-in battery which is said to last up to 7 hours on a single charge and charges via a MicroUSB port powers the device.

The player measures 63 x 47 x 30mm and weighs 130g. It comes in a colorful box which contains a small carrying bag, a lanyard cable, and a braided cable. It is priced at ¥249 (~$37) and will begin to ship September 22. It will be sold on Xiaomi’s crowdfunding platform. Below are unboxing images from Xiaomi Today.

[envira-gallery id=”208000″]

(Image source)

Oppo A5 with 6.2-inch HD+ display and SD450 SoC launched in India for Rs. 14,990 ($215)

By

Jeet

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Aug 25, 2018

Oppo A5, which was first introduced a couple of months back and went on sale in China last month, has now finally arrived in the Indian market. The phone is priced at Rs. 14,990, which roughly converts to $215, is now available for purchase in India through online as well as offline stores.

The phone features a 6.2-inch HD+ FullView display with 2.5D curved glass, 1520 x 720 pixels screen resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. Keeping the trend in mind, the company has also offered a notch on top of the display. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz along with Adreno 506 GPU.

It comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage along with support for microSD card that enables users to further expand the device’s storage capacity up to 256GB. Coming to the optics, the smartphone features dual camera sensors at the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor.

On the front side, the device comes equipped with an 8-megapixel snapper with f/2.2 aperture for taking selfies and video calling. The front-facing camera also comes with AI beautify features that intelligently recognizes 296 facial features.

As the smartphone doesn’t come with a fingerprint sensor, there’s support for the Face Unlock feature. It comes with Oppo’s Beauty Technology 2.0 that is capable of recognizing 296 facial points. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, USB OTG, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The smartphone runs on ColorOS 5.1 out of the box, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system. The device is fuelled by a 4,230mAh battery that claims to offer 14 hours of video playback and 11 hours of gaming.

At this price range, the Oppo A5 will be competing against the likes of Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, and Nokia 6.1 Plus, among others in the Indian market.

Realme 2 to sport 6.2” HD+ display, Snapdragon 450 SoC and more

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 25, 2018

OPPO launched a new sub-brand this year called Realme. The brand is based in India and launched its first phone, the Realme 1, a few months ago. Now it is planning to unveil a second one, the Realme 2 on August 28.

The specs of the phone have surfaced online ahead of its release on Tuesday thanks to Smartprix and some of them such as the display and battery capacity have already been confirmed by a Flipkart advert page.

The Realme 2 will come with a 6.2-inch HD+ display with a notch and a 19:9 aspect ratio. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 450 processor along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of ROM. It will also have a 4GB RAM version with 64GB of storage. It will also come with a MicroSD card slot with up to 256GB of storage.

The Realme 2 will have 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras and an 8MP front-facing camera. The front camera will have AI Beautification 2.0, HDR, and a bokeh mode. A fingerprint scanner will sit on the back of the device and it will also have support for face unlock.

Continue

Buy EKEN Alfawise V50 Pro Action Camera For Just $59.99 On GearBest [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 25, 2018

It is becoming imperative for newfangled action cameras to be able to shoot 4K video at 30fps. Keeping in line with this, EKEN’s Alfawise V50 Pro delivers unparalleled ultra 4K videos and 12-megapixel photos in single, burst, and time-lapse modes.

If you’re wondering where you can buy the feature-laden Alfawise V50 Pro action camera without emptying your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. The Shenzhen-based action camera maker is currently offering its well-received Alfawise V50 Pro camera at a discounted price on GearBest.

The latest Flash Sale on GearBest comprises a noteworthy reduction in the original asking price of the Alfawise V50 Pro. As a result, you can now get your hands on the Eken-branded action camera at a dropped price of just $75.11.

The price is slated to be further reduced to just $59.99 starting August 27th. Aside from that, consumers can apply coupon code EKENALFAV50P to avail an additional discount before proceeding to check out.
The price will be valid specifically for the first 10 units daily. It is also worth noting that the aforesaid coupon can only be used from August 26th 21:30:00 to September 29th until 21:30:00.

The EKEN Alfawise V50 Pro is quite a bargain at this heavily dropped price, given that it boasts a well-thought-out, yet simple design that encompasses a completely flat lens along with a quick single release lever lock. Up front, there’s a 170º wide-angle fish-eye lens that breathes new life into footages.

The camera is powered by an Ambarella A12S75 chip that helps it deliver highly detailed 4K UHD videos and vivid colors. On top of that, the Alfawise V50 Pro is 30m waterproof so you can use it in the rain and even under the water without worrying about causing any sort of damage.

If you’re interested in checking out more details and avail the discount before the promotion ends, all you need to do is to follow this link without wasting time.

Get A Big Discount On EKEN Alfawise V50 Pro Action Camera

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

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 25, 2018

Meizu took the centre stage earlier this month when it unveiled its 2018 fllagship which include the Meizu 16 and 16 Plus. The quaity of the smartphones in relation to their price tag has kept followers of the brand spell bound. The company later hinted that it wasn’t done with amazing releases just yet as a midrange model dubbed Meizu 16X is in the works. Meizu’s CEO Jack Wang also revealed on the Meizu Community that the company is working on the Meizu X8.

Now, Jack Wong has always been a source of details on pre-launch Meizu models. He shared a couple of details of the Meizu 16 before teh device was launched. The CEO has also revealed some details of the upcoming Meizu 16X on the Meizu Community and we have made a compilation of them. One major aspect we picked from his series of comments is that the Meizu 16X and 16 are not very much different in terms of design.

The Meizu 16X is expected to be released in September and it will feature a Snapdragon 710 chipset. Mr Wong in a recent comment on the forum touted the 16X to be the strongest Snapdragon 710 phone. In addition, he shed light on the display screen parameters of the 16X. The CEO revealed that the Meizu 16X will not feature a notch display design and will utilise the same screen as Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen. He noted the difficulty in getting the supply chain to deliver displays without notch as they think that is the future of smartphones. Jack Wong thinks differently and even went on to state that the water drop design used on the OPPO R17 as well as the pop-up design OPPO Find X and Vivo NEX feature are not the future of smartphone designs. The opinion is exclusively his and time will tell if he’s correct or not. But his comment stems from the fact that innovation seems to be giving way to copycat designs in the adoption of the notch that isn’t a popular design among smartphone users.

In addition, the 16X camera is also revealed to be the same with the 16th. However, the CEO noted that the battery will be bigger. Recall that the Meizu 16th packs a 3010mAh battery which left some persons disappointed.

(source)

Buy Xiaomi Mija Mosquito Repellent For Only $13.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 25, 2018

Mosquitoes continually bite humans and induce a lot of irritation. While there are several ways including zappers, catchers, candles, and sprays to keep mosquitoes at bay, preventing these pesky pests from biting you can prove to be an arduous task.

If you live near a pond or any other body of standing water, your house is more likely to have a mosquito infestation. Thankfully, Xiaomi recently launched a high effective mosquito killer dubbed, the Mijia Mosquito Repellent that you can use to keep mosquitoes at bay. More importantly, it is now up for grabs at a discounted price on GearBest.

Sporting a minimalist style, this mini size Mijia mosquito repellent is ideal for those who strive for a high-quality life. Backed by robust built-in batteries and mosquito repellent tablet, the Xiaomi-branded mosquito repellent can keep you and your family shielded for a long time.

You’d normally end up shelling out a fortune on mosquito repellents that are oftentimes inefficient, but the Xiaomi Mija Mosquito Repellent will set you back just $13.99 on GearBest. This is a noteworthy 49% reduction in the device’s original asking price.

You can avail this unmissable discount for just 9 days by heading straight to this link. The Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 226 pieces of the white-tinted Mija Mosquito Repellent.

Get 49% Off On Xiaomi Mija Mosquito Repellent

UMIDIGI Z2 Pro Overview: Antutu and Geekbench performance

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 25, 2018

UMIDIGI has released its flagship smartphone for 2018. The phone is named UMIDIGI Z2 Pro and it utilizes a MediaTek Helio P60 premium midrange chipset. The smartphone is also equipped with a large 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM combo which is suitable to ensure smooth operation, high performance and AI learning capabilities.

The UMIDIGI Z2 Pro also features the trending full-screen notch design as it packs a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. Other features you’ll find onboard the Z2 Pro includes a dual-lens module at the rear (16MP+8MP). The main camera module has a large F1.7 aperture, an S5K2P7 rear camera sensor, a big 1.12μm pixels, and a large optical format 1/2.8” meaning the UMIDIGI model will perform well in low-light conditions, and it can shoot crisp, clear shots under all lighting conditions. The device is also equipped with a 15W fast wireless charging, 18W fast wired charging, global bands, dual 4G VoLTE and NFC function. The phone is available in three variants which the company dubbed: “luxury Ceramic”, “fashional Twilight” and “premium Carbon Fiber”.

In case you would like to find out how the Z2 Pro performs in benchmark tests, UMIDIGI has released a video which demonstrates the device’s performance on GeekBench and AnTuTu benchmark. We must note that the unit which is used for this demonstration in the video runs pre-lease software and so may perform better than when it has been subjected to daily usage, with several apps onboard. However, the Helio P60 is a capable processor and you can check out its performance onboard the UMIDIGI Z2 Pro from the video below.

Here’s a summary of the benchmark scores.

Overall Antutu score:

UX: 35789

CPU: 61837

GPU: 30425

So how does the UMIDIGI Z2 Pro perform when it comes to gaming?

The video shows that games loaded fast, without any noticeable slowdowns or frame-rate drops and the phone is said not to have become heated up as a result. The powerful Helio P60 processor, lightweight design, awesome display of the UMIDIGI Z2 Pro should lend itself well for a gaming Android device.

The UMIDIGI Z2 Pro is presently available to buy and you can snag up the device for just $299.99 ($60) from UMIDIGI’s official site. The Ceramic Edition goes for $359.99. You also can play for the opportunity to be a trial user and get a free unit of the UMIDIGI Z2 Special Edition. Check out the activity page from here.

Get The Best Deals On Xiaomi Poco F1 Smartphone On Giztop And GeekBuying [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 25, 2018

Xiaomi’s latest budget flagship that towers above its rivals with a low price and powerful processor is all set to hit the store shelves on August 29th. Dubbed as the Poco F1, the imminent smartphone is touted as the ‘Master of Speed’ as it packs the Snapdragon 845 processor, under the hood.

If you’re waiting with bated breath to get your hands on the Poco F1 smartphone, but aren’t certain where can you buy it at the best price, fret not – we’re here to help! We’ll shed light on where you can get the best deal for the Xiaomi Poco F1 smartphone.

Giztop

The Xiaomi Poco F1 smartphone is currently available on the official online store of Gizmochina bearing a low price tag of $349. Note that you’d normally expect to pay more than that for a flagship smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features.

It sports a mammoth 5.88″ Samsung AMOLED screen, FHD+ display with a resolution of 2244 x1080 pixels. It has an Adreno 616 500 MHz graphics processing unit to accompany the robust processor with up to 2.8 GHz and AIE 845.

The phone offers 4GB/6GB of RAM, coupled with a hearty 64GB eMMC 5.1 ROM so that you never run out of space for storing your favorite content. You can follow this link to check out more details and choose your favorite option before proceeding to checkout.

GeekBuying

Alternatively, you can preorder the Poco F1 smartphone on GeekBuying. The Chinese online store is currently selling it at a dropped price of just $395.99. This is a noteworthy reduction in the phone’s retail price of $472.99.

Aside from taking advantage of the discount, you can save a considerable amount of more money by using coupon code AKYROZSL before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button. You can get an extra $20 off on the phone’s already discounted price and reduce your grand total to only $375.99 without breaking much of a sweat.

In order to ensure you avail the discount, head straight to this link without wasting time since the promo is slated to end in just 10 days. Moreover, the aforesaid coupon is also likely to expire soon.

Buy The Xiaomi Poco F1 Smartphone On Giztop

Buy The Xiaomi Poco F1 Smartphone On GeekBuying

Get The Teclast Master T10 Tablet PC For Only $198.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 25, 2018

Even about a year after hitting the store shelves, the Teclast Master T10 continues to garner popularity among tech buffs who are looking for a cost-effective tablet PC that supports fingerprint recognition. Taking its huge market into consideration, Teclast is now offering the power-packed tablet PC at a reduced price on GearBest.

Sporting a big 10.1-inch 10-point touch IPS display with 2560 x 1600 pixels screen resolution, the Master T10 tablet PC breathes new life into your photos and videos. Moreover, it is housed in a sturdy aluminum alloy body and weighs in at just 466 grams, making it an easy-an-carry device while on the go.

You’d normally end up shelling out a fortune of a high-end tablet PC that boasts an impressive array of features. The feature-laden Master T10 tablet PC, on the other hand, will set you back just $198.99 on GearBest.

The Chinese online store that provides a wide selection of electronic gadgets at unbeatable great prices is doling out a noteworthy 27% off on the Master T10 tablet PC’s original asking price. On the downside, this Flash Sale will only be valid for a limited period of time.

An absolute bargain at this dropped price, the Master T10 tablet PC packs a powerful MTK8176 Hexa Core 1.7GHz, up to 2.1GHz processor and an equally competent IMG GX6250 GPU, under the hood. It offers 4GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB expandable ROM (up to 128GB).

On the photography front, it houses an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 13-megapixel front shooter. The device runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and is backed by a high capacity 8100mAh, Li-ion polymer battery.

You can follow this link in order to check out the rest of the specifications and avail the discount. It is worth noting that the Teclast Master T10 tablet PC will go back to its retail price once the sale ends in 4 days.

Get 27% Off On Teclast Master T10 Tablet PC

Buy K2 True Wireless Bluetooth Headphone For Just $14.99 On Cafago

By

Vinay Patel

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Aug 25, 2018

Are you a music lover looking for a portable music player device that warrants the best music experience possible at a reasonable price? Look no further.

Designed exclusively for music lovers and sports enthusiasts, the K2 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones is an ideal companion even for those who are always on the go. It adopts Advanced True Wireless (TWS) Bluetooth 4.1 (CSR4.1) Technology and comes with comes with built-in high-grade microphone and speaker.

Sporting a lightweight design, the K2 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones boast hands-free function so that you can enjoy your favorite music even while working out at the gym. The K2 would normally set you back a pretty penny on online stores.
If you’re on a tight budget and wondering how you can get your hands on this feature-laden headphone without emptying your pocket, we got good news for you.

Much to the relief of cost-conscious music buffs, Cafago is giving a noteworthy discount on the K2 True Wireless Bluetooth Headphone’s retail price. While you’d normally end up spending $31.79 to get your hands on the K2, the popular e-commerce platform is selling it at a dropped price of just $14.99.

This is a significant 53% reduction in the coveted headphone’s original asking price. Moreover, you can choose from 4 color options including red, black & silver, red wine, and black.

It is also worth noting that the Flash Sale price will only be valid for the remaining pieces of each color option. For instance, there were only 312 pieces of the red color version remaining at the time of writing.

You can follow this link if you’re interested in taking advantage of the discount. This is a limited offer that is slated to end in 6 days.

Get 53% Off On K2 True Wireless Bluetooth Headphone

Seabird 4K Action Camera Review

By

Linus

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Aug 24, 2018

The world of cheap action cameras is pretty crowded and most of them look very similar. The Seabird 4K Action Camera tries to change that by bringing true 4K video, high-quality Sony sensor, wide-angle lens and touchscreen display for an early-bird Indiegogo campaign price of about $90. Learn more in our full review.

UNBOXING

The camera comes just with a micro USB cable for charging and instruction manual.

Also, my camera came with a high-speed 16GB microSD card for 4K video recording.

DESIGN and FEATURES

The Seabird camera is made of a high-quality plastic which feels very sturdy. In fact, I managed to drop it on hard concrete and still looks almost as new, there are just a few dings.

A 13MP Sony sensor has a 150-degree F/2.6 wide angle lens to fit more stuff into the frame than e.g. your smartphone’s camera.

On the front, there are a power/mode buttons and on the top is the shutter key. Both buttons are clicky and responsive.

On the left, you can find a micro USB port and the SD card.

It’s very easy to open up the battery compartment to access a removable 1050mAh unit.

A 2” touchscreen display is responsive, it’s sharp enough for daily use and it has decent viewing angles. However, it is a bit reflective outdoors.

FUNCTIONALITY AND UI

The UI is simple and intuitive. You just need to simply swipe from any direction to enter the menu.

In the video mode, you can choose between normal video, slow-motion, time-lapse video modes. Also, you can adjust other settings like resolution. You can go up all the way to 4/30fps or choose other resolutions like 2.7k/30, 1080p/30/60fps, 720p/120fps and so on. Slow-motion video is shot at 720p/120fps.

In the photo mode, you can adjust resolution, turn on/off HDR, set the timer, burst, time-lapse.

You can also adjust image settings like white balance, ISO (up to 3200), EV, shutter, sharpness, saturation, and brightness. Additionally, you can view the pictures you took or the videos you shot right on the camera’s screen and this feature works very well.

IMAGE QUALITY

Still image quality is pretty good considering the price of the camera. There is a good amount of detail, sharpness and colors are quite natural. However, some shots came out either over or underexposed. Overall, this is one of the best images you can get out of a $90 action camera.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-R3OC5kCoA[/embedyt] [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5CKh6uqHZI[/embedyt]

4K video looks pretty good considering the price of the Seabird camera. The footage is quite sharp but there are quite a few video artifacts going on and the sound recording quality is mediocre. Keep in mind, however, that I have a pre-production unit, so the quality should improve.

Full resolution camera samples

BATTERY LIFE

I could get about 80 mins of 4k video recording, which is very close to official claims of 90 mins.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the Seabird 4K action camera offers great value for the price as it can take nice pictures, 4K video looks pretty good, the build quality of the device is great, the display is nice and I liked the user interface. The downside is that the screen is a bit reflective outdoors.

In conclusion, I can definitely recommend checking the Seabird 4K action camera as it packs a ton of features for the price.

Seabird 4K action camera on Indiegogo

Xiaomi and Lenovo could be working on a 5G smartphone powered by Qualcomm chipset

By

Jeet

-

Aug 24, 2018

Today, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi forwarded a post on micro-blogging platform Weibo from Qualcomm regarding its next-generation mobile chipset, adding the text “expectation”. Interestingly, another Chinese manufacturer Lenovo responded with “more than you expect”.

Now, this has sparked the rumors that these two smartphone manufacturers are working on a smartphone that is powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming next-generation mobile chipset. Further, the phones are also expected to be 5G compatible given that Qualcomm has already revealed that upcoming processor can be paired with Qualcomm Opteron X50 5G modem.

Qualcomm, which is dominating the mobile chipset market, is currently working on a next-generation flagship processor. The company has confirmed that the next-gen chipset will be manufactured using 7nm design process. According to the reports, Taiwan-based TSMC will begin the mass production of Qualcomm’s 7nm chipset in the fourth quarter of this year.

Recent reports suggest that Qualcomm could change the naming scheme of its processors with the upcoming chipset. The Snapdragon 855 (SDM855) codenamed “Hena” is now being referred to as the SM8150, which will measure 12.4 x 12.4 mm.

Another report added that the SM1850 may likely not have an integrated 5G modem. Instead, Qualcomm will include a Snapdragon X24 model with support for Cat. 20 LTE. This contradicted earlier reports claiming that the SDM855 a.k.a. the SM8150 will come with the SDX50 modem and be known as the Snapdragon 855 Fusion Platform. The only plausible explanation is that there will be two versions of the SDM855 – one without a 5G modem and another with the 5G modem.

A couple of days ago, we reported that some manufacturers have received samples of the upcoming 7nm chipset, for testing and building new phones powered by the upcoming SoC.

While we don’t know when the chipset maker plans to officially announce its next-generation mobile chipset, it is expected to get unveiled in December and the phones powered by this chipset will be launched in early 2019.

Meanwhile, the US-based chipset marker is planning to announce something on September 10. Qualcomm has sent out invites for a launch event on September 10, where the company could launch a new processor for smartwatches.

Cubot’s latest Rugged smartphone is the Kingkong 3 with Helio P23, Coming to IFA 2018

By

Staff

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Aug 24, 2018

Cubot’s latest release is a rugged smartphone that will succeed last year’s King kong model. The new model is being called as the Cubot King kong 3, which is a bit strange considering how this is just the second model in the lineup. Keeping that aside, the new rugged smartphone seems to feature some pretty good specs as compared to its predecessor, upgrading the CPU inside with the mid-range Helio P23. The old model had MT6580, so this is definitely a much welcome upgrade to the lineup.

Note that the CPU is the MT6763T high-end variant with up to 2.5GHz clock speed. Apart from P23 inside, the King kong 3 model comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, a 5.5-inch 18:9 (hopefully FHD+) screen, a 16MP+2Mp rear camera and a large 13MP front facing selfie shooter. As with most rugged smartphones, the phone features an exceptionally large 6000mAh battery on board that will most likely feature reverse charging as well. It’s a very handy feature when you are running out of charge on your essential gadgets. For software, the phone will run on an original Android 8.1 Oreo version. It also comes with global 4G band support.

RELATED: Doogee S70 wants to be the first rugged gaming smartphone in the world

Apart from its pretty good specs, the phone has the standard rugged features such as IP68 certification which makes it waterproof (up to 1.5m for 30 minutes in water, oil or even sludge) and dustproof, scratch resistance and even drop resistance. Note that the company stated drop range has increased from 1.2 meters on its predecessor to 1.5 meters on this new model. The company achieved this with the help of the new R&D team setup up in 2017 to improve the drop resistance of the device. The phone can even survive in extremely harsh climates from -30 degrees to up to 60 degrees Celsius.

You can most likely check out the Kingkong 3 at the Cubot booth at IFA 2018 between August 31 and September 5.

Australia blocks Huawei 5G infrastructure over national security concerns

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Aug 24, 2018

Huawei has seen its ambition to debut as the world’s leading provider of 5G infrastructure dealt a blow. The Australia government has barred the Chinese firm from supplying 5G infrastructure with the decision hinged on national security concerns. Also, fellow Chinese brand ZTE was slammed with the same ban.

The ban is reminiscent of the one placed on both companies by the US government with national security concerns placed at the fore-front of reasons adduced for that. The U.S has already advised against the use of Huawei and ZTE infrastructures by US companies. A new law prohibited government officials and institutions from using same. Huawei also saw lucrative deals with US carriers to sell its smartphones broken at the last minute due to the US government’s interference.

Till this moment, we are yet to see any concrete evidence that Huawei or ZTE had compromised with the Chinese government in the handling of the data of its users. All concerns have been more about the control the Chinese government wield over indigenous companies than on any proof. The company has persistently insisted that it conducts its business in line with international best practices. A statement released by the company’s Australia arm after the announcement of Australia’s ban reaffirmed this position. Part of the statement reads; “The Australian government’s decision to block Huawei from Australia’s 5G market is politically motivated, not the result of a fact-based, transparent, or equitable decision-making process,” the brand’s Australian arm noted in a statement. The company also stated that the Australia government’s actions “undermine the principles of competition and non-discrimination in fair trade.” Huawei Australia also maintains this position in a tweet on its official Twitter handle (find tweet below).

We have been informed by the Govt that Huawei & ZTE have been banned from providing 5G technology to Australia. This is a extremely disappointing result for consumers. Huawei is a world leader in 5G. Has safely & securely delivered wireless technology in Aust for close to 15 yrs

— Huawei Australia (@HuaweiOZ) August 22, 2018

The Rugged Blackview BV6800 Pro features significant upgrades like 6580mAh battery, FHD+ Display (Bonus Giveaway!)

By

Staff

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Aug 24, 2018

The Blackview BV6000 turned out to be the company best selling rugged smartphone till date, bringing a blend of mid-range specs and affordable price tag to the rugged market. The company has revealed that the phone sold over 10 million units worldwide since its launch nearly two years ago. Now, the company wants to replicate the success of the device with its successor, the Blackview BV6800 Pro and it has made sure that the phone has solid upgrades to justify its purchase in 2018.

The Blackview BV6800 Pro will bring upgrades in a number of key areas like ruggedness, battery life, and quality of display. The 4.7-inch HD display panel of the BV6000 gets upgraded to a much larger and pixel rich FHD+ 5.7-inch display. The RAM inside gets upgraded from 3GB to 4GB. One of the biggest upgrades is in the battery department with the new phone feature a battery of 6580mAh! Thats a solid upgrade from the already large 4200mAh battery inside the two year old BV6000 model! Finally, the new BV6800 Pro is even more rugged in nature thanks to the additional military grade MIL-STD-810G certification along with the standard IP68 certification.

This is all we know about the phone so far. The Blackview BV6800 Pro will be available on Blackview official website and AliExpress shop on September 1^st. Anyone who subscribes to Blackview email and purchases before October 1^stwill get a free gift package worth $40. Check out more details on their official website from here.

You can also participate in this SURVEY HERE to get a chance to win the Blackview BV6800 Pro for free.

Vivo X23 to come equipped with fourth generation in-display fingerprint sensor

By

Jeet

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Aug 24, 2018

Vivo is all set to launch next-generation X-series smartphone — Vivo X23. Ahead of the phone’s official launch, several features related to the smartphone are already known, thanks to the official video and teasers shared by the company.

China-based Vivo is the first company to introduce a smartphone with in-display fingerprint sensor and the upcoming Vivo X23 is also confirmed to come with a biometric sensor that’s placed under the display.

Now, the latest information regarding the Vivo X23 coming from the company reveals that it’ll come equipped with the fourth-generation under-display fingerprint sensor. This new-generation fingerprint sensor is said to be better accuracy for fingerprint recognition and faster device unlocking speed.

The Vivo X23 will feature a 6.4-inch Full HD+ display with 2340 x 1080 pixels screen resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It’ll be the first phone from Vivo to come with a waterdrop display and will offer 91.2 percent screen-to-body ratio.

The company has already confirmed that the phone will have an 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage variant. We’re also expecting the company to launch a 6GB RAM variant which could also have 128GB onboard storage. Under the hood, the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 670 processor.

In terms of photography, the phone will come with dual rear cameras and an LED flash. The front-facing camera will also come with Face Unlock support, having 3D facial scanning through TOF 3D depth camera technology. The device’s battery is also expected to support 22.5W fast charging through USB-C.

The phone will come with gradient colors, which Vivo has named 3D Phantom Aurora. The phone can take on different colors depending on the angle light hits it. It’ll be available in three colors options — Phantom Red, Magic Night Blue, and Phantom Violet.

While the company has not yet officially launched the smarthone, it is scheduled to go on sale in China at 10:00 AM on 30th August.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 4GB+64GB version gets a solid price cut for a day, now 849 yuan (~$123)!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 24, 2018

Xiaomi‘s latest budget Redmi 6 model has received an amazing cut in its price which takes the price much lower. The Redmi 6 is known for its cheap pricing but presently, the 4GB + 64GB version has received a 150 yuan cut in its price bringing it down to 849 yuan (~$123).

This offer is definitely a bang for your bucks but unfortunately, the offer is only valid for today (August 24). Also, the offer can only be accessed from Mi.com in China. However, it holds promise that the Redmi 6 price may soon come crashing down. The 3GB+32GB version still retains its 799 yuan ($116) price tag which is also super cheap.

The Xiaomi Redmi 6 was launched alongside the Redmi 6A on June 12 which makes it just two months old. The device comes with a 5.45-inch display with an HD+ resolution of 1440×720 pixels. Xiaomi demonstrated the toughness of the Redmi 6’s screen when it demonstrated, in a video, how the device’s screen could crack walnuts unscathed. The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset which is a pretty decent processor. Other features include a 5MP selfie camera and a 12MP+5MP dual rear camera setup with support for AI, PDAF. The device equally packs a 3000mAh battery and is available in Blue, Pink, Gold and Silver Grey colours.

(sou rce)

Honor 8X and 8X Max launch confirmed for September 5

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 24, 2018

Huawei’s Honor brand had confirmed the existence of the Honor 8X via a leaked teaser poster which was spotted online recently. Recall that the Honor 8X retail box was also leaked online last week. The Chinese brand has now shared another poster which confirms the launch date for the model. According to the poster, Huawei isn’t just launching the Honor 8X but will also unveil an Honor 8X Max. Both models will be launched on September 5.

The Honor 8X was benchmarked on GeekBench recently pointing at the presence of a Kirin 710 chipset but Master Lu benchmark did indicate that the device packs a Snapdragon 660 chipset. The device is said to bring flagship features such as AI super night mode, elevator mode and GPU Turbo technology while sporting an affordable price tag. The Honor 8X and 8X Max may likely differ only in their display sizes while the specifications are expected to be the same.

The Honor 8X is equipped with a screen resolution of 2244 x 1080 pixels. That means it will deliver an aspect ratio of 18.7:9. The device measures 177.57 x 86.24 x 8.13mm and it weighs 210 grams. With a 7.12-inch display, we may be looking at the 8X Max. The 8X should be smaller than that screen size. The 8X Max is also listed to pack a 4,900mAh battery while its 3C certification shows the presence of the 18W fast charger. Further, the models will come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB as well as 128GB of internal storage. The back panel features a primary camera of 16-megapixel that is assisted by a secondary 2-megapixel sensor. The 8X model will come pre-installed with Android 8.1 Oreo-based EMUI 8 custom skin.

(source)