Vivo X21 Launched as India’s First Smartphone with Under Display Fingerprint Sensor for Rs. 35,990 (~$530)

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May 29, 2018

Today, Vivo has launched Vivo X21 smartphone as India’s first under display fingerprint scanner enabled smartphone through a launch event in New Delhi. In the month of March, the Chinese manufacturer had launched the Vivo X21 and Vivo X21 UD featuring an under-display fingerprint scanner in China. For India, the company has decided to launch the Vivo X21 UD smartphone as Vivo X21. Apart from in-screen fingerprint reader, the Vivo X21 has some exciting features such as notched display that offers high screen-to-body ratio and AI powered dual rear cameras.

Design, Display and In-Screen Fingerprint Scanner

The Vivo X21 that measures 154.5 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm is flanked with 3D glass on its rear and it features a metallic frame in between. The device weighs 156.2 grams.

The Vivo X21 houses a 6.28-inch Super AMOLED FullView display that produces FHD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. The company has claimed that the handset offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90.3 percent. The display support sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut. The X21 is also equipped with Always-On Display feature that shows notifications and time on the screen without turning on the display. The notch present at the top portion of the screen houses a selfie snapper, an earpiece and some sensors.

It goes without saying that the fingerprint sensor is the USP of Vivo X21 that is located at the lower half of the display. The company did not confirm how quickly the in-screen fingerprint scanner can unlock the phone. The device comes with a customized screen protector that shields the in-screen fingerprint scanner enabled screen of the phone.

Performance and Variants

The Snapdragon 660 that features 2.2 GHz octa-core processor powers the Vivo X21 along with 6 GB of RAM. It features a native storage of 128 GB. For additional storage, users can up to 256 GB of microSD card on its memory card slot. The X21 receives power from 3,200mAh battery that is coupled fast charging technology.

The handset runs on Android 8.0 Oreo which is customized company’s FunTouch OS 4.0 skin. The Vivo X21 is among the selected few phones that are eligible to receive the second Developer Preview of Android P beta that was announced earlier this month through the Google I/O 2018 event.

Camera and Other Features

The LED flash enabled dual camera setup lying on the posterior of the Vivo X21 includes an f/1.8 aperture 12-megapixel primary sensor and a secondary sensor of 5-megapixel for depth sensing. With AI onboard and dual pixel technology, the Vivo X21 can and amazing photos in low-light conditions through its front and rear cameras.

The AI HDR feature allows the cameras to capture images with natural colors. The other AI photography features available on the Vivo X21 include AI Face Beauty, Shot Re-Focus, Potrati Bokeh, AR stickers. The dual cameras of the X1 also supports 4K UHD video recording and slow-motion video shooting.

The IR sensor present available on the X21 brings 3D facial recognition feature for unlocking the phone. For enhanced audio experience, the company has included AK4376A Hi-Fi in the X21. The connectivity features available on the Vivo X21 includes 4G VoLTE, dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, dual-band Wi-Fi (2×2 MIMO), 5.0 Bluetooth, microUSB 2.0 and 3.5mm audio jack.

Vivo X21 Pricing and Launch Offers

In order to build hype around the Vivo X21, the company began with the pre-booking a week ahead of its launch in India. However, its pricing wasn’t revealed. Through todays unveil event, Vivo has confirmed that the X21 will be available with a price tag of Rs. 35,990 (~$530) exclusively through Flipkart and Vivo’s online shop starting from today. The handset will be available only in black color and its box package will include the new Vivo XE710 hi-fi earphones.

The launch offers for the Vivo X21 include gift voucher worth Rs. 1,000 from fernspetals, 5 percent cashback on SBI cards, no cost EMI up to 12 months and one-year device security from Vodafone along with 280 GB of additional data.

Moto Z3 Play Geekbench Listing Reveals Snapdragon 660, But Scores Don’t Match

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 29, 2018

In the previous week, a Brazilian site ToduCellular had revealed that Motorola will be holding a launch event on June 6 in Brazil. It is highly speculated that Lenovo-owned company would be announcing the Moto Z3 Play smartphone at the upcoming launch event in the coming month. In the previous week, XDA Developers had shared leaked information on the Moto Z3 Play phone through an internal Lenovo document. It had revealed that the Moto Z3 Play would be arriving with Snapdragon 636. Even the FCC listing of the phone has revealed the presence of the same SoC. A Geekbench listing of the Moto Z3 Play which shows that instead of the SD636 chipset, it features Snapdragon 660.

As it can be seen below, the Moto Z3 Play’s Geekbench listing reveals the presence of Snapdragon 660 SoC. Its clocking speed is mentioned as 1.6 GHz.

The Geekbench listing further reveals that the SD660 chipset is coupled with 4 GB of RAM and the handset is running on Android 8.1 Oreo. In the single-core and multi-core tests, the Moto Z3 Play has respectively scored 1299 and 4851 points.

These scores are on lower side compared to other phones that have surfaced with the same chipset on Geekbench. Also, the processing speed of the SD660 that is mentioned as 1.6 GHz is lower than its usual clocking speed of 2.2 GHz. Multiple evidences like Lenovo’s internal document, FCC listing and leaked information shared by reliable industry insider Roland Quandt have all revealed stated that the SD636 is present under the hood of the Moto Z3 Play.

So, there is a possibility that there could be a Snapdragon 660 variant for specific region or there is a possibility that the Geekbench listing could be incorrectly showing the Snapdragon 636 as Snapdragon 660.

Previous leaks have revealed that the Moto Z3 Play will be available in 32 GB or 64 GB storage models in different regions. It is likely to feature 6-inch MaxVision AMOLED screen and is expected to house a 3,000mAh battery. The dual camera setup of the Z3 Play may feature a pair of 12-megpixel cameras and a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel. The leaked renders of the phone have revealed that it will be featuring a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Like the predecessor model, it will be come equipped 16-pin connector on its rear for connecting Moto Mods accessories. A recent leak has suggested that there will be a 5G Moto Mod for the smartphone.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Appears in Black, White Variants in Tempered Glass Poster

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 29, 2018

Even though the rumor mill has revealed the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 8 smartphone through grainy leaked shots and videos, we are yet to see a clear press render that shows off the appearance of the highly anticipated flagship phone. Fresh posters of the black and white color variants of the Mi 8 fitted with a tempered glass have surfaced on SlashLeaks. The new images reveal the front and rear design of the alleged Xiaomi Mi 8 phone.

In the new images, the Xiaomi Mi 8 can be seen sporting black front for both black and white variants. The handset can be seen sporting a wider notch that is speculated to house the complex 3D facial recognition feature.

The chin of the device appears to be a bit thick compared to thin bezels available on the sides of the display. The backside of the phone features a vertical dual camera setup and a fingerprint scanner. The bottom edge of the phone seems to feature a USB-C port and a speaker grille.

There is no confirmation on the authenticity of the above images. The image showing the black Mi 8 appears like a photoshopped version of the iPhone X. Hence, it is advisable to digest the report with a grain of salt.

Through recent leaks it has been revealed that the Mi 8 could be sporting an OLED panel and it will be fueled by Snapdragon 845. It may feature up to 6 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of native storage. For photography, it may feature 20-megapixel f/1.7 aperture + 16-megapixel f/2.0 aperture dual camera setup and f/2.0 aperture 16-megapixel front-facing camera.

It is being speculated that the Mi 8 would be a regular flagship phone with 3D facial scanner and rear-mounted fingerprint reader. Rumors have it that the special edition of Mi 8 SE could be an advanced phone feature 3D facial scanner as well as under display fingerprint reader. The Mi 8 SE is also expected to house a larger display than the Mi 8.

(via)

OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition To Go On Sale In India Today For Rs. 44,999 ($664)

By

Jeet

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May 29, 2018

Earlier this month, OnePlus launched its flagship smartphone — OnePlus 6 and also announced OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition smartphone in India. Now, the limited edition variant will be available for purchase today in India through online stores.

It will go on sale through Amazon as well as OnePlus’ official online store in India, OnePlus.in. The company has said that the phone will be available in limited quantities only. The smartphone will also be available offline from OnePlus Experience Store in Bengaluru, authorized stores, or Croma retail stores starting June 3.

The OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition is priced at Rs. 44,999 (approximately $664), making it the most expensive smartphone from OnePlus thus far. All the standard launch offers apply to this model also. Users will get no-cost EMIs up to 3 months, a 12-month accidental damage insurance from Servify, and Celartrip benefits worth up to Rs. 25,000 on flight and hotel bookings, among others.

The OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition smartphone comes with the Avengers’ insignia on the back, a carbon fiber texture on the back panel, and golden-colored accents. The Alert Slider is in golden color as well as the OnePlus logo on the back.

Further, the smartphone comes with five customized Avengers wallpapers while the box has also been custom designed to reflect the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition model’s superhero heritage. The smartphone also comes bundled with Iron Man-themed back cover and one of the six pieces of Infinity Medal.

The phone’s specifications are almost same as the standard model. It comes with a 6.28-inch notched AMOLED display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor.

The regular model of OnePlus 6 comes in different memory configuration — 6GB and 8GB RAM along with 64GB, 128GB and 256GB internal storage option. However, this Avengers Limited Edition smartphone comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

On the back side, there’s a dual camera setup, sporting a 16MP primary Sony IMX519 sensor with f/1.7 aperture, 1.22um pixels, and OIS, and a 20MP Sony IMX376K secondary camera sensor, mainly for depth information. On the front side, there’s a 16MP snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The device is running the company’s own OxygenOS, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box. However, the OnePlus is already a part of Android P Beta program and thus, users can also try out the upcoming Android P. The phone is powered by a 3,300mAh battery, with support for company’s fast charging technology — Dash Charge.

Xiaomi Mi Band 3 with 169 Yuan Pricing Spotted at Official Listing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 29, 2018

Yesterday, Xiaomi confirmed that it will be debuting the highly anticipated Mi Band 3 fitness tracker on May 31 through its annual product launch event in Shenzhen, China. A screenshot of the Mi Band 3’s official listing has surfaced today. The listing is no longer accessible, but the screenshot reveals that the Mi Band 3 has a price tag of 169 Yuan (~$26).

The first-generation Mi Band lacked a display and users had also complained that it came with a mediocre quality strap. Also, there was a risk of losing the capsule-like device since it was easily detachable while engaging in sports activity. Xiaomi concentrated on significantly improving the design on the second-generation model as it came with an OLED display for easily checking health data. The improved design on Mi Band 2 also ensured that there is miniscule risk of losing the capsule device.

On Weibo, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has confirmed to netizens who are worried about the design of the Mi Band 3 that it will be arriving with a very firm wristband which effectively reduces the risk of losing the device. Recent reports have revealed that the Mi Band 3 will look like the predecessor. However, it is expected to arrive with a touchscreen OLED display that will support gesture-based actions like swiping up and down to switch functions and sliding left and right to browse items.

It has been already revealed through Bluetooth certification that the Mi Band 3 is a Bluetooth 4.2 enabled device. It is likely to arrive with usual health-centric features such as heart rate sensor, step counter, calorie calculator and sleep tracker. Like the predecessor, it may sport IP67 certified splash-resistant body. The Mi Band 3 is also expected to come with support for NFC connectivity.

It has been already revealed that Xiaomi will be launching MIUI 10 and Xiaomi Mi 8 smartphone at the May 31 Shenzhen event. Rumors have it that the Chinese manufacturer will also launch an advanced smartphone called Xiaomi Mi 8 SE. Some rumors have also claimed that the new Surge S2 chipset be also announced at the same event. However, the company is yet confirm on it.

(via)

OnePlus Removes Always-On Display Feature From OnePlus 6 Due To Battery Concerns

By

Jeet

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May 29, 2018

OnePlus recently launched its flagship smartphone OnePlus 6. Just after the smartphone went on sale, the company quietly removed the much requested always-on display feature through a new software update.

The China-based company is usually responsive to user’s feedback to improve its products. While the always-on feature has been one of the most requested features, the company has removed it from the OnePlus 6 due to battery concerns.

A Reddit user posted a screenshot showing that the option to enable “Always-On” display was there before the update, but was disabled later. In a statement, OnePlus said, “We have an official update from our Technical Team confirming that always on display on OnePlus 6 was removed due to battery saving concern.”

It’s unclear if OnePlus didn’t want something that would take up extra battery life or if the feature caused a battery draining bug. There’s a possibility that the company has discovered that enabling the always-on feature could be causing unusual battery drain. So, till the company doesn’t figure out the problem and come out with a fix, it has disabled the feature. Currently, there is no information when the feature will come back, or if it will ever come back.

While not the always-on feature, OnePlus 6 users can still take advantage of Android’s native “Ambient Display” which appears when lifting the phone or receiving notifications.

The update also enables slow-mo video recording and compatibility mode for hiding the notch. The OnePlus 6 can now record slow-motion 720p and 1080p videos at 480fps and 240fps respectively. The May security patch has also been rolled out with the update. OnePlus has also updated the phone’s camera to quickly capture images in portrait mode.

The OnePlus features a 6.28-inch Full HD+ display with a screen aspect ratio of 19:9. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 SoC and comes in three variants — 6GB RAM + 64GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage.

On the rear side, there’s a 16MP + 20MP dual camera setup, while at the front it features a 16MP snapper for taking selfies. The phone runs on OxygenOS 5.1, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo and customers can also experience the latest Android P beta on it. The phone is fuelled by a 3,300mAh battery with support for Dash Charging.

(Source)

Leaked Samsung Galaxy S9 Mini Hands On Video Showcases The Front & Rear Design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 28, 2018

Samsung Galaxy S9 Mini has been in the news for quite a while now. The device carrying the model number SM-G8850 was last month certified by China’s telecom regulatory agency, TENAA. If you’re familiar with TENAA listing, you’ll agree it comes with the photos of the device. In this case, the Galaxy S9 Mini was shown to pack a dual camera setup at the rear stacked vertically at the top left corner. This is reminiscent of the rear camera design on the iPhone X, Mi Mix 2S and a couple of other recent flagship models.

That design has now been re-echoed in a leaked video of the Galaxy S9 Mini. The video which appeared on Slashleaks recently shows the device captured from the front and the rear aspect. The Galaxy S9 Mini is supposed to be a trimmed down variant of the flagship S9 and so it features the same full-screen design as its flagship counterpart. The good thing is, despite adopting a rear camera design similar to the iPhone X’s, the S9 Mini doesn’t feature a notch design like the X.

The video also shows the device packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor located in the middle. The vertical placement of the rear camera may be useful for capturing shots but it also creates enough room for users to access the fingerprint sensor without smudging the lenses.

Spes wise, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Mini is expected to sport a 5.8-inch display with a QHD+ resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels. The device will be powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset which will be paired with 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM as the case may be. There is a speculation that the phone’s actual name will be the Samsung Dream-Lite but we don’t know about that. As interesting as the design looks, it is noteworthy that the last Galaxy S Mini released by Samsung was the Galaxy S5 Mini, launched on July 1, 2014. There is no word at the moment yet on when this model will be launched.

(source)

Moonlight White 360 N7 Goes On Sale On June 3

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 28, 2018

The 360 N7 was announced in two variants – Graphite Black and Moonlight White. However, only the former has been available for purchase since the phone went on sale.

If you have been holding off purchasing a unit just because the white variant is unavailable, then there is good news for you. 360 Mobiles has announced that the Moonlight White variant with the red power button will be available as from June 3. Pre-orders are already live for early birds.

The phone will only be available in the 6GB RAM + 128GB configuration and will sell for ¥1999 (~$312) instead of ¥1899 (~$297) like the Graphite Black variant.

The 360 N7 packs impressive specs that put it in the upper mid/ mid-range category. It has a 5.99-inch FHD+ screen, a Snapdragon 660 processor, and a more than sufficient 5,030mAh battery. There is a 16MP + 2MP dual camera combo on the rear and an 8MP camera up in front.

Continue

Xiaomi Mi 8SE Model Name Seen On Official Website Coupons

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 28, 2018

The Mi 7 was hitherto resonating in leaks and rumours right from last year until Xiaomi effectively killed it by revealing it is opting for Mi 8, skipping the number 7. The story got further complicated with talks of a Mi 8 SE variant which is expected to launch alongside the Mi 8. That rumour just got a boost with the spotting of the name on Xiaomi’s official mall (Mi Mall).

Xiaomi is expected to release the Mi 8 alongside the Mi Band 3 on May 31. The Mi 8E may also join the fray as it was recently listed on Mi Mall. The Mi 8SE was listed among models with 50 yuan discount coupon on Xiaomi’s official mall. It is listed along with the Mi 8 and both models are likely going to share more than just similar designs. In fact, we think the SE means Special Edition. If we are going to borrow a leaf from Apple, the Mi 8SE may likely come with a smaller display size while retaining the design of the Mi 8. Xiaomi has many of its products tailored to Apple products, including some of the features on the Mi 8. So, it won’t be much of a surprise if it pans out that way. The prospect looks good, especially if it will get slammed with a far cheaper price tag. After all, the iPhone SE is Apple’s cheapest iPhone model.

We don’t know if the hardware will be similar as well but there will likely be a few differences even if the device utilises a Snapdragon 845 chipset just like the Mi 8. May 31 is just a couple of days ahead. So, we won’t keep speculating for long.

(source)

Xiaomi’s Mi Band 3 Could Feature A Touchscreen OLED Display

By

Jeet

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May 28, 2018

On 31st May, Xiaomi is all set to launch its flagship smartphone Mi 8, MIUI 10, as well as its next-generation fitness tracker — Mi Band 3.

Now, Xiaomi’s official account on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo has teased a new feature of the fitness tracker. In the post on Weibo, the Chinese firm wrote that the fitness tracker will come with a “new touchable ___”.

While the company has not revealed what the feature is, it seems that the company is hinting at touchscreen OLED display. There’s a possibility that in its efforts to upgrade the fitness tracker, Xiaomi has opted to adopt a new OLED panel with a touchscreen display on the Mi Band 3.

It is known that the Mi Band 3’s wristband has been redesigned to ensure that the tracker doesn’t fall off from the strap, which a lot of users complained about for its predecessor. However, the appearance of the device seems to be similar to the Mi Band 2.

It seems that the screen size of this upcoming fitness tracker is bigger than its predecessor and the recently shared image of the Mi Band 3 by Xiaomi indicates that the screen will be more convex than the screen on Mi Band 2.

We are expecting the fitness tracker to come with improved tracking for sports activities as well as sleep, heart rate, and other health-related information. Further, it is also expected to provide notifications and other functions once the device is connected to a smartphone.

Previous reports have claimed that the Mi Band 3 will come equipped with a touchscreen display and it will carry for gesture-based actions like long-press and swiping up and down for performing various tasks. There is no confirmation on whether it will be coming with a color display.

Further, reports have revealed that the fitness tracker will come equipped with an IP67 certified chassis and removable strap. The Mi Band 3 is likely to carry support for Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC.

We’ll have to wait for the official launch event to know for sure what the company has to offer in terms of features for the Mi Band 3. As of the pricing, it has already been leaked that the Mi Band 3 will be priced at 169 Yuan, which roughly converts to $26.

(Source)

OnePlus 6 Is Officially Up for Grabs For 3199 Yuan ($500) In China

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 28, 2018

After 12 days from the official announcement, OnePlus 6 is officially available to purchase and the stock is larger than ever. The new wonderful flagship has been launched on both the official OP store and on Jingdong Mall with a price tag of 3199 Yuan in China, which roughly translates into $500. The CEO has already stated that the phone will not go out of stock and the company has already managed to make a million units available. Unfortunately, at least for now, there is only one variant of the handset available.

We are talking about the base variant of OnePlus 6: the one with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. This variant is currently available in the Mirror Black finish only. While you can decide if you want to get this handset or not, we will remind you the main specs of the flagship below.

OnePlus 6 comes with a glass back and an aluminum frame. Despite the glass back, it does not come with a wireless charging technology, nor an IP certification, but the company has defined the device as a “splashproof” phone which can survive to the rain. OP6 is the first OnePlus smartphone with a notch. It sports a 6.28-inch display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, the Optic AMOLED technology and a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels.

Under the hood, it boasts an octa-core Snapdragon 845 chipset by Qualcomm, up to 8 GB RAM and up to 256 GB UFS 2.1 storage (note that only the 6/64 GB is available in China as said above). The backplate houses a dual camera setup with resolutions of 20 and 16 MP with OIS and depth calculation, while the front camera has a resolution of 16 MP and it supports artificial intelligence. The battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh, while the operating system installed is Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS to customize it.

MIUI 10 Is Similar To Android P In Leaked Screenshots Ahead Of Launch

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 28, 2018

Besides the Xiaomi Mi 8 series and the Mi Band 3, Xiaomi will also unveil the MIUI 10 on May 31 alongside its new improvements. Just to remind you, the company has just confirmed the launch of the Mi Band 3 with an official poster shared by Xiaomi’s VP Wang Xiang. Three days before the launch, some screenshots leaked online are showing us the Settings menu as well as the quick toggles section, the notifications menu and the multi-tasking section of the upcoming user interface. The screenshots have been published by TechnoCodex and, besides a graphic renewal, they also show new interesting features.

The similarity of the MIUI 10 with Android P is evident. It comes with a white and blue design just like the latest Android iteration and it has a shortcut option which shows a preview of the most used apps in order to make the user experience more comfortable. Further, a screenshot shows a preview of the Gallery app which is even able to show miniatures of the most recent images. Another feature in common with Android P will be the full touch gesture controls. Not only the standard user interface has been renewed, but also the control center, the lock screen, and the weather widget.

We still do not know if MIUI 10 will come preinstalled on the Xiaomi Mi 8 series composed of the Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE. But the leak has revealed a list of the devices which will be updated to MIUI 10. The list includes Mi6, Mi5, Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus, Mi4, Mi3, Mi 4S, Mi 4c, Mi Mix, Mi Mix 2, Redmi Y1, Redmi Y1 Lite, Mi Note 2, Mi Note 3, Redmi Note 3, Redmi Note 3 Pro, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Note 4X, Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 5A, Mi 5X, Mi Max, Mi Max 2, Redmi 4, Redmi 4X, Redmi 4A, Redmi 3, Redmi 3S, Redmi 3S Prime, Redmi Pro, Redmi 3X, Mi Pad 3, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi S2, Mi 6X and Mi Mix 2S. Alongside the new features and graphics renewal, we expect to see important improvements to performance with the new Xiaomi’s user interface.

Do you like the new MIUI 10 showed in the screenshot or you prefer the design of the 9th major version?

(Via)

LG Q7 Stylus To Launch As LG Q Stylus+ In Taiwan Soon

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 28, 2018

When the LG Q7 series was announced last week, there was a model missing – the LG Q7 Stylus. The device has not been canceled yet, it just will be arriving in a different country later.

The device with model number LM-Q710 has been seen on the website of Taiwan’s equivalent of the FCC. According to the document, the device will launch as LG Q Stylus+.

The document also mentions it has NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and LTE. There are reports that the rest of the specs will be the same as that of the Q7 with the addition of a stylus.

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Samsung Rolls Out Its Roadmap For Progression From 7nm to 3nm Process

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 28, 2018

Samsung last week held its annual Foundry Forum in the U.S where the company among other things, unveiled its roadmap that takes its chip manufacturing process technology to 7nm Low Power Plus, 5nm Low Power Early and 3nm Gate-All-Around Early/Plus.

According to the details revealed, Samsung will first use an EUV lithography solution on the 7nm LPP process and that should be ready for production during the second half of this year. However, mass production of parts using the new process will start in the first half of 2019. This is the same timeline for Samsung’s rival TSMC to start mass production of parts using its 7nm+ node which will also use the EUV lithography. TSMC will also start risk production of its 5nm node in the first half of 2019. Samsung is expected to produce the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 mobile platform which will be powering next year’s Samsung Galaxy S10 using the 7nm process.

Samsung will also commence production of chips based on its 5nm LPE that will provide ultra-low power consumption in 2019. In addition, the 4nm chips will join the fray in 2020. This will be the last of the chips to employ FinFET process and it will be produced using the 4nm Low Power Early/Plus process. Chips built with this process technology will feature improved performance and a smaller cell size.

The 3nm node will herald an entirely new manufacturing process technology. Samsung will use its own next-generation GAA (Gate all-around) architecture MBCFET (multi-bridge-channel FET). 3nm production is not expected to begin until 2022. Keep in mind that the smaller the node size, chips that are produced using the process are more powerful and energy efficient.
(source)

China Unicom Releases Teaser Poster For Mi Band 3, eSIM Support?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 28, 2018

A new teaser for the Mi band 3 may hint at Xiaomi’s next smartband having SIM connectivity. One of China’s top network operators, China Unicom, released a new poster for the upcoming band which makes us wonder what hidden feature the device has.

The poster shows a flyover with different icons which includes a car, a computer, a building, a truck and a shopping bag. There is also a text that roughly translates to “connects you to the world”.

The shopping bag sort of hints at the Mi Band 3 supporting purchases as it is reported to have a NFC chip built-in. We’ll have to wait till Thursday to find out the details for the other features.

However, what is strange is China Unicom’s relationship with the new smartband which has got people asking if the band has an eSIM embedded in it.

Smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 3 and the Huawei Watch 2 Pro have eSIMs but we haven’t heard of a smartband with one. We guess there is always a first time. Bear in mind that if it is true, it will drive up the price.

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Xiaomi MIJIA Projector With 800 ANSI Lumens Launched Priced at 3999 Yuan (~$625)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 28, 2018

Xiaomi ventured into the projector business with the launch of the Mi Laser Projector which came with a maximum brightness of up to 5000 ANSI lumens and several other cool features. The Laser projector also happens to be Xiaomi’s costliest product till date, coming in at 9999 yuan ( over $1,500). The Chinese tech giant has now launched a cheaper variant under the MIJIA brand. The MIJIA projector comes with the ability to project on screen sizes ranging from 40 inches up to 120 inches from within a 3m distance. It adopts a friendly price tag of 3,999 Yuan ($~625) which is quite cheap compared to the Mi Laser Projector and other brands with similar features.

The MIJIA Projector comes with 2.07 million reflective lenses and utilises a new light-path design to increase projection brightness by 5%. It is crammed with OSRAM’s P1W/A lamp beads which is used to achieve a brightness of 800 ANSI lumens. This ensures users get crisp clear viewing experience during the day. The lamp has a shelf life of up to 10 years. In addition, the Mijia Projector supports HDR10 high dynamic range video decoding, which makes make the brightness and darkness of the picture clearer.

Furthermore, the MIJIA projector provides users with cinematic sound effects using the 2-inch 10W dual-speaker with a dual-passive audio system which it packs. It also supports autofocus (AF) in 3 seconds once turned on. At the same time, the projector adopts the Texas Instruments TRP square pixel architecture scheme bringing more clarity to the display. Xiaomi also crammed the projector with several video resources including content for kids. It utilizes the PatchWall software system featured on the Mi TV series and also supports voice control.

The MIJIA projector will go on sale on June 1 in China via Xiaomi Mall, Youpin, JD.com, Tmall, Suning and other online channels simultaneously.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Could Get 8GB RAM And 512GB Storage Variant

By

Jeet

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May 28, 2018

Samsung is gearing up to launch its new flagship smartphone — Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Now, according to the latest reports, the company could launch a variant of Note 9 with 8GB RAM and 512GB internal storage.

Previously, it was reported that the Galaxy Note 9 will be available in different variants, having 6GB RAM and three options in terms of storage — 64GB, 128GB, ad 512GB. Now, the latest report also hints at 8GB RAM model with 512GB storage.

However, it is not clear if the 8GB RAM and 512GB storage model will be available in limited markets only or the company is planning to introduce it globally. However, we are expecting that initially, it will be available in select markets only.

Several reports have indicated that the Galaxy Note 9 won’t have major changes in terms of design compared to its predecessor. The smartphone is expected to feature a 6.4-inch QHD+ resolution supporting S-AMOLED Infinity Display that delivers an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.

Rumors have indicated that the Galaxy Note 9 could be the first Samsung phone to feature an under-display fingerprint scanner. However, the leakster, who goes by the name “Ice Universe” claims that it is almost certain that the Note 9 will not be featuring the advanced biometric recognition feature.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is likely to be powered by Qualcomm‘s flagship Snapdragon 845 processor and in some regions, it is expected to be powered by the company’s own Exynos 9810 chipset. The phone is expected to be fuelled by a 3,850mAh or 4,000mAh battery that will be enabled with 9V / 2A charging.

Both variants — one with SD845 SoC and another with Exynos 9810 were spotted on benchmarking platform. The Exynos variant scored 2737 points in the single-core test while the multi-core test score is 9064 points. The score is slightly higher than the 2190 and 8806 points scored by the Snapdragon 845 variant.

Further, the Geekbench listing of the smartphone has confirmed that it will come with 6GB RAM and will be running on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box. We are expecting that Samsung will change the position of the fingerprint sensor and move it to a more convenient position.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also expected to launch early this year. There are reports that the company could launch the smartphone in July this year and the latest information indicates that the launch could take place on 29th July. However, there’s no official confirmation from Samsung yet.

(Source)

Photos of Render and Tempered Glass Shows The XL Has A Notch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 28, 2018

Google added notch support to the Android P, not only because there are a bunch of Android phones with a notch but as it seems, also because it is joining the bandwagon.

A render of the Pixel 3 XL has surfaced online that shows the front of the device. The photo was posted on Twitter by a user with the name Pau Curcio and he/she claims it is an official render.

Render oficial de #GooglePixelX @TecnonautaTV @evleaks @VenyaGeskin1 pic.twitter.com/XgR6JzUfNh

— Cuenta cerrada (@shutdownpau) May 24, 2018

The render shows the Pixel 3 with curved corners (display and body). There is a notch at the top that houses a camera, earpiece, and sensor. The bottom bezel is home to a large speaker cut-out which shows the device will have stereo front-facing speakers. Even though there is no photo of the rear of the device, it is safe to presume the fingerprint scanner is on the rear.

Asides the above render, a photo showing the tempered glass of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have also surfaced online. This photo also shows that the larger Pixel is the one getting a notch while the smaller one gets an 18:9 display.

Apart from the notch, both devices have similar cut-outs at the top and bottom. There is a cut-out for a speaker at the bottom and there are two large holes which we think are for cameras and not an intricate face unlock mechanism. The other two cut-outs are for the sensor and speaker.

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Lei Jun Confirms This Is Indeed The Mi Band 3 On His Wrist

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 28, 2018

Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun was spotted during the Black Shark gaming phone launch wearing a fitness band that looked like the Mi Band 2 but bigger. The fitness band was suspected to be the Mi Band 3 which the company is expected to release soon but we were just not sure about that. Well, Lei Jun has now confirmed that the smart band was indeed the Xiaomi Mi Band 3! So, we have been looking at the next-gen smart band all this while without realizing it.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 in question looks like the pebble shape of the Mi Band 2 with the strap designed in the same way except that it is inserted and removed from the top. However, the dimension would likely be different. The device looks a lot bigger than the Band 2 and the screen has a convex shape. Lei Jun also hinted that he had the opportunity of testing the smart band for up to three months and that the user experience is far more than what the previous two generation models offer.

It is already confirmed that the Mi Band 3 will be launched along with the Mi 8 0n May 31. That day is billed to be a feast of some sort for Xiaomi and her fans ass the company will celebrate its 8th anniversary with a flurry of new awesome products. We expect the Mi Band 3 to be worth the two-year wait. For one, Xiaomi should have fixed the skin tone-sensitive heart rate monitor issue with the Mi Band 2 which makes it unable to read the heart rate of black people and also the OLED display which becomes dim over time.

(source)

Latest OxygenOS Update Brings Face Unlock To The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 28, 2018

OnePlus has started rolling out an update to 2016’s OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T duo. The new update brings Face Unlock to the device as well as May’s security update.

The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T update comes as OxygenOS 5.0.3. Users will be excited about the Face Unlock feature which debuted on the OnePlus 5T and then rolled out to the OnePlus 5 later. It is also good to see the security patch get updated. The last security patch was that of December 2017.

The update also brings a refined Shelf UI and a new design for app shortcuts with respect to launcher changes. There are also new features for the gallery app, the file manager, and the weather widget. Below is the complete changelog:

System
Updated Android security patch to 2018.5
Supported FaceUnlock
Launcher
Refined Shelf UI design
New design for App shortcuts
Supported more options when long pressing an icon
Gallery
Places: a map view of photos by location
Supported sharing photos to Shot-On-OnePlus
Added “Recently Deleted” collection
File Manager
Added “Large files” category
Weather
Added new widget for Launcher
Improved the positioning accuracy
Adjust refresh interval for weather information update

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