Unreleased Vivo Z3i leaks: complete specs, unboxing video, and price

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Oct 3, 2018

Vivo has released a bunch of phones this year already, and honestly, we just hope they would take a break. If you want more Vivo phones, then brace yourself for the new Vivo Z3i which had a massive leak yesterday. The leak covers everything from specs to images and even an unboxing video.

The Vivo Z series is still fairly new. It launched in the second quarter of the year and already has two phones under its belt – the Vivo Z1 and the Vivo Z1i. Now Vivo is skipping a number and jumping to the Vivo Z3i.

Based on the specs, the Z3i isn’t a more powerful model than the Z1. It has a 6.3-inch display with a waterdrop notch. The phone is said to have a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio and a 19:9 aspect ratio. There is glass on both sides of the phone and the rear has a gradient design.

[envira-gallery id=”215090″]

The phone is powered by MediaTek’s Helio P60 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has a 24MP front-facing camera and a 16MP + 2MP dual rear camera combo. There are a bunch of camera modes including a beauty mode. The Vivo Z3i has support for face recognition but also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

The phone packs a 3,315mAh battery with support for fast charging. When it launches, it will be available in Aurora Blue and Millenium Powder with a ¥2298 (~$334) price tag.

https://youtu.be/b2sAJhGyytI

The unboxing video shows the Vivo Z3i comes in a plain white box. Inside the box is the phone (Aurora Blue). There is a clear TPU case in the box, a charger, cable, and warranty card. The phone has black bezels in front, a curved back and vertically-arranged dual rear cameras.

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New Galaxy A and Galaxy J series phones will have wireless charging

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 3, 2018

As part of its strategy to grab more of the market share for the mid-range category, Samsung has decided to bring some flagship features to these phones. For example, the Galaxy A7 (2018) comes with triple rear cameras, a feature not yet available on a Samsung flagship. New reports say we may soon see wireless charging support in future mid-range models.

The info comes from etnews who reports that Samsung is planning to launch a cheap wireless charger later this month. The wireless charger is to be priced at about $20 and the move is said to hint at the feature being expanded to other series such as the Galaxy J and Galaxy A series.

At the moment, Samsung’s cheapest wireless charger sells for $49.99. It makes sense to link a cheaper wireless charger to a possibility of the feature arriving on other Samsung devices other than the S and Note series. Since these phones will have a cheaper price tag, it is sensible to have cheaper accessories for them.

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Huawei Watch GT render and more details emerge ahead of launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 3, 2018

Huawei is expected to launch the Watch GT along with the Mate 20 series on October 16. Ahead of the launch, a smartwatch purported to be the Huawei Watch GT Classic or Fashion has been spotted in a leaked render. The Watch GT is expected to be available in two variants, the second being the Watch GT Sport. The Watch GT Classic variant uses a black and silver bezel combination as can be seen on the render.

The new Huawei smartwatch also packs two buttons on the side and can still be operated via the touchscreen. The watch will also have Bluetooth which is statutory and will have several other sensors like compass, GPS, pressure sensor and an accelerometer. The watch likely also have a heart rate sensor but that isn’t confirmed. A recent FCC listing had confirmed the presence of NFC and a 410mAh battery. However, the battery size is pretty impressive. Moreso, it is bigger than the 291.8mAh cell onboard the latest Apple Watch 4. Despite the big battery, the Watch GT will also support 5W charging using a charging pad. The charging pad utilises a USB Type-C port.

The Huawei Watch GT Classic is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s newly unveiled Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. The smartwatch should also come price at around €199 ($172) in the GT Sport and €229 ($198) for the Watch GT Classic.

(source)

Pixel 3 teaser ad focuses on Active Edge Technology

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 3, 2018

One of the distinguishing features between the first-gen Pixels and the second-gen Pixels is Active Edge. Active Edge Technology lets you summon Google Assistant by giving the phone a squeeze. A new video advert released in Japan for the Pixel 3 highlights the feature.

The 40-second video doesn’t show the phone itself but shows a number of people squeezing various objects from giant mascots to balloons to other people. It’s a very colorful video but like mentioned above, it doesn’t show the phone.

On the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL you can set the squeeze sensitivity. You can also have it silence the phone if a call comes in or an alarm rings. If you have no use for it, you can turn off the feature completely. We have no info on if Google will add more functions to the feature for the Pixel 3/XL.

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Google Home Mini gets Aura color variant

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 3, 2018

The Google Home Mini launched last year and is the cheapest Google Home device. When it launched it was available in three colors – Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Yesterday, Google announced a new color variant called Aura.

The new color is subtle but should add just the right amount of color to your home. Nothing has changed under the hood, so you still get the same Gooogle Assistant features. Also, the price hasn’t dropped from the $49 Google is asking for the other color variants.

With the new color variant launching just a week before the Google event, it is safe to say we are not getting a second gen Google Home Mini. Google’s biggest rival, Amazon, on the other hand recently announced a bunch of new Echo devices including a 3rd-generation Echo Dot. The Echo Dot is the Google Home Mini’s direct competitor.

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Microsoft brings Android mirroring on Windows 10 via Your Phone app

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 3, 2018

At the Surface launch event, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would soon get the feature to mirror the whole Android phone. It will allow Android phone users to view and use any app on their Windows devices. The app mirroring feature will show upon installing the Your Phone app on Android and iOS devices. The app will work over the WiFi network so you need not to plug-in your device to mirror on Windows machine. The feature will be supported on Windows 10 for the devices running on Android Nougat or later version. On the other hand, iOS devices will not get the same benefits as they are limited to share the web links only.

Microsoft phone mirroring via Your Phone App

The new feature will help to bridge the gap between the mobile ecosystem and the Windows 10 platform. Microsoft is rolling out a much-needed feature via the means of Your Phone app. After installing it on both the Windows and on your mobile device, you can see and reply to the Snapchat conversation, view default SMS app and can be able to perform various other functions. Also, you will be able to mirror your Android phone on your PC desktop without any wire or installing any third-party app. It is a practical addition to the Windows 10 brochure of features.

Cross-Platform Timeline Access

Along with the Mirroring feature, Microsoft also announced one another feature related to the online web history. Microsoft Launcher users can now access the Windows timeline on their devices. It will help you to trace your works and web history via the Microsoft Launcher app on Android. Soon, it will be made available for the iPhone users also.

Cloud Clipboard

This time Microsoft is making Windows 10 more compatible with Android devices. In another announcement, users will be able to copy the text or image from one PC to another via the Cloud Clipboard feature. It also keeps the history of the things you have copied and gives you access when you need it across different devices.

They are integrating the Android and iPhone devices with Windows 10 at another level.

Read More: Microsoft is said to be partnering with Huawei for a potential AI Chip deal in China

Additionally, at the same event, Microsoft released the October 2018 update for Windows 10. Microsoft has launched new Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 in black colour with the 8th generation Intel processor. They even launched the successor of the creative-focused Surface Studio 2 device with a 28-inch display and improved graphics performance. Further, there was an announcement of Surface headphones and Surface all-access program.

(Source)

Honor 8X with 6.5 inch display and Kirin 710 ready for international debut

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 3, 2018

Honor, Huawei’s subsidiary is climbing up in the number of sales due to its vast variety of mid-level devices. To tackle the increasing competition, Honor is continuously launching affordable flagship devices like Honor View 10, Honor 10 and Honor Note 10. Recently, they have announced another mid-level device, Honor 8X in China with the new Kirin 710 chipset. However, now Huawei is gearing up to launch it in the international market. The pricing and launch dates are not known yet, but we expect soon Huawei will release the information about it.

We estimate that it will be priced around $200 as it is retailing in China for the starting price of 1,499 Yuan (~$218). It carriers premium glass build with a two-tone design (gradient color) featured on the backside of the device.

Honor 8X packs a 6.5-inch display with 91 percent screen-to-body ratio giving an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Its display supports 16.7 M colors with NTSC 85% and carriers a notch on the top. It is powered by a HiSilicon Kirin 710 SoC coupled with Mali-G51 MP4 GPU for graphics processing. Honor 8X comes in 4/6GB RAM variants with 64/128GB of internal storage. There’s a 3750mAh battery with fast charging support.

In the camera department, you will get 20-megapixels + 2-megapixel dual shooter with a LED flash on the rear side of the device. It carries 12-megapixel shooter with f/2.0 aperture on the front side for selfies. Honor 8X supports WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4 and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS, GLONASS and VoLTE in connectivity options. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the rear side of the device. It is available in four different color options like Black, Blue, Red, and Purple.

Read More: Vivo V9 Pro vs Huawei Nova 3i vs Honor 8X: Specs Comparison

It’s undoubtedly going to give some competition to Realme 2 Pro and other similar devices in different countries. Its Kirin 710 SoC can directly go head-to-head with the Snapdragon 636. So, Let’s see how it compete against the other devices once launched outside China.

(Via)

Nubia Z18 Van Gogh Stars Collector’s Edition goes on sale again for 3,599 yuan ($524)

By

Jeet

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Oct 3, 2018

Last month, at a launch event in Beijing, China, Nubia took the wraps off its flagship smartphone — Nubia Z18 and also announced the Nubia Z18 Van Gogh Starry Night Collector’s Edition.

Now, the company has announced that the Nubia Z18 Van Gogh Starry Night Collector’s Edition, priced at 3,599 Yuan (approximately $524), is available for purchase.

The Z18 Starry Night variant’s back panel is coated in a dark blue on the upper aspects while the lower part is a cool mixture of white and blue with a touch of yellow.

The phone features a 6-inch Full HD+ “Infinite Waterdrop” display with a screen resolution of 2180 x 1080 pixels, producing a pixel density of 403ppi and 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm‘s flagship Snapdragon 845 AIE octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz, coupled with Adreno 630 graphics processor.

The device packs up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It comes with Nubia Evolution Tensor technology, which the company describes as evolutionary machine learning technology. With the technology’s deep learning ability, it combines different algorithms to make up for each other’s strengths.

It comes with an AI-based dual camera setup on the back, featuring a 16-megapixel and 24-megapixel camera sensors with f/1.6 aperture. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel snapper with Portrait Mode. The camera, which the company claims is the “king of night photography”, comes with the ability of pixel-level recognition and can distinguish the noise points with the help of artificial intelligence.

The phone is running the Android Oreo-based Nubia UI 6.0, which comes with Maverick Voice 2.0 — a built-in AI-based smart voice assistant, and powerful improvements for gaming performance.

There’s a back-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. The Nubia Z18 is powered by 3,450mAh battery which comes with NeoPower 3.0 Smart Power Saving Technology and supports NeoCharge 2.5 Fast Charging technology.

Get Huge Discount On Xiaomi HUAMI AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 3, 2018

Fitness watches usually set you back a pretty penny, but Xiaomi’s Huami AMAZFIT Stratos packs in a slew of awe-inspiring features for less.

If you’re a fitness conscious person looking for a cost-effective smartwatch, we got good news for you. The feature-laden AMAZFIT Stratos smart sports watch 2 has gone up for sale carrying a significantly dropped price on GeekBuying.

The device will be shipped from warehouses based in Germany and Hong Kong. We’ll divulge more details about the discounts you can avail when you buy the AMAZFIT Stratos smart sports watch 2 from Germany and Hong Kong-based warehouse.

Moreover, we’ll even shed light on coupon codes that you can use to get an extra discount. So without further ado, let’s head straight to the details.

Xiaomi Huami AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 – Shipping From HK-Based Warehouse

The English version of the coveted AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 would normally set you back $279.99, but you can now buy it at a reduced price of just $159.99 on GeekBuying. But that’s not all.

In addition to taking advantage of this 43% reduction in the device’s original selling price, you can apply coupon code AGDWEXWT to get an extra $65 off at the time of checking out. This will help you bring your already reduced grand total further down to just $154.99.

If you’re interested in receiving this discount, all you need to do is to follow this link. Note that the promotion sale will only be valid for 6 days and the coupon will also lapse shortly.

Xiaomi Huami AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 – Shipping From IT, DE And ES-Based Warehouses
Alternatively, you can get 38% off on the AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 shipping from Germany warehouse. While you’d normally end up shelling out $274.99 in order to get your hands on the English version of the smartwatch, you can now get it at a discounted price of just $169.99.

On top of that, you can use coupon code RBNXSVGQ to extend your discount and get an extra $10 off at the time of checking out. This will help you reduce your modest grand total to just $159.99.

On the downside, the discount will only be valid for just 3 days and the discount coupon will expire soon. In order to ensure you don’t miss this opportunity to buy the Xiaomi Huami AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 at a lowered price, just follow this link without wasting time.

Get 43% Off On Xiaomi HUAMI AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2

Get 38% Off On Xiaomi HUAMI AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2

Huawei P20 Pro receiving Android 9.0 Pie update in Europe

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 3, 2018

After rolling out the Android 9.0 Pie based EMUI 4.0 update on Honor View 10 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro, now it’s time for the Mate P20 Pro. Today, we have received some information that suggests Huawei P20 Pro is now getting Android 9.0 Pie update in the European region. Currently, Huawei has not confirmed or announced the update details, but it is reported that some users are getting it. From this, we can assume that the full rollout will take place globally by the end of this year.

As per the changelog which is posted on the Huawei’s server states nothing except the usual Android 9.0 features and little UI changes with improvements in the overall system. The update is available for Huawei P20 Pro with model no. CLT-L09 and C432. The build number 9.0.0.108 remains same that has hit Mate 10 Pro and Honor View 10 devices.

Users who can’t wait for the OTA update can also flash the update file manually on their devices by following proper procedure. Manually flashing needs unlocked phones, and many other issues come with it. So, we suggest you should wait for the official OTA update as it is easy to install and more reliable. For the time being, you can check the update by heading to the Settings > About phone and then scroll down to find the update.

Read More: Huawei Mate 20 with Kirin 980 makes an appearance on GeekBench

This is the third Huawei device which has received the Android 9.0 Pie update this month. Still, there are many pending devices that are yet to taste the Android 9.0 Pie update.

(Source, Via)

CEO lauds OnePlus 6T in-screen fingerprint while justifying headphone jack removal

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 3, 2018

In the latest interview with CNET, OnePlus CEO, Pete Lau has shed some light on various aspects of their upcoming flagship device, OnePlus 6T. He explained every new perspective of the device and justified the headphone jack removal. He even talked about the new in-screen fingerprint sensor which will help you to unlock the device with ease. Despite the huge demand from users, OnePlus has taken a ‘tough’ decision to remove headphone jack. Additionally, OnePlus 6T is expected to arrive at an event on October 17.

In-Screen display explanation

In detail, Pete Lau explains that in-screen fingerprint will allow the users to complete the unlocking action with less number of steps. It is an efficient and reliable way to unlock the system than the new Face unlock tech. It will also help in unlocking the device without picking up the phone as we did in the OnePlus 6 due to the sensor’s presence on the back side of the device. Pete Lau added that “After you experience the Screen Unlock you’ll fall in love with it,” he said. “[You’ll] realize that it’s the experience that you wanted.”

Headphone jack removal justification

Removing the headphone jack has been the most challenging task for Pete Lau. He explained that despite the high demand removing a feature was not easy but ultimately they sorted it without the headphone jack. In a bid to explain the removal he added that “The most difficult task in the day-to-day is… finding a balance in what’s ultimately going to be part of the end product and what has to be said ‘No’ to.” The other reason for the removal is to make space for the in-screen fingerprint sensor. Even, OnePlus CEO justified it by giving a reference to the recent survey, where 59% of users have already opted for wireless headphones.

OnePlus 6T will be 0.45 mm thicker than its predecessor, OnePlus 6. Well, its CEO has hinted that features like on-screen fingerprint will make it little costlier. “Screen Unlock technology is something very new, and there’s a definite cost required for that new technology,” said Lau in the interview. “It’s not cheap.”

Read More: OnePlus releases first teaser for OnePlus 6T, announces The LAB early testing program

So let’s see what happens at the launch event on October 17th. It is expected to carry similar specs as the OnePlus 6 with some little changes in the design, display and fingerprint sensor. Recent leaks suggest that the device will come in two different colour variants such as Midnight Black and Mirror Black.

(Source)

Buy Xiaomi Mi Sphere Camera 4K Panorama Action Camera For Only $229.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 3, 2018

Equipped with two 190 degree ultra-wide angle fish-eye lens modules, the international edition of Xiaomi’s Mi Sphere Camera 4K panorama action camera has gone up for sale bearing a dropped price on GearBest. Let’s check out the details.

With a powerful Ambarella A12 chipset packed under its hood, the Mi Sphere Camera comes with a built-in IMX 206 sensor that lets you clip and splice captured images into a 360-degree seamless image. On top of that, you can even share and post-edit recorded videos using the APP “mihome”.

A high-end action camera offering comparable features would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online and offline stores.

In a bid to make the Mi Sphere Camera 4K Panorama Action Camera available to cost-conscious buyers, Xiaomi is now offering its feature-laden camera at a dropped price of just $229.99. This is a noteworthy reduction in the action camera’s steep original asking price.
However, the discount will specifically be valid for the black-tinted international edition of the Xiaomi Mi Sphere Camera 4K Panorama Action Camera.

An absolute bargain at this reduced price, the Mi Sphere action camera boasts an impressive array of features including 4K video resolution, which breathes new life into your videos and photos. Moreover, it offers 3 shooting modes including flat, sphere and planet.

The Mi Sphere camera can be used by adventure junkies even while doing extreme sports as it comes with a 6-axis anti-shaking feature. Aside from that, it supports loop recording function and time-lapse.

The Xiaomi-branded action camera also supports TF cards up to 128GB maximum so that you never run out of storage space for your favorite videos and photos. The Mi Sphere draws its juices from a robust 1600mAh 3.8V Li-ion battery that supports 75 minutes shooting time at 4K with WiFi. It even supports QC2.0 quick charge.

If this feature-laden Mi Sphere action camera has stirred your interest, you can follow this link to check out more details and avail the discount. Note that there were only 181 pieces remaining at the time of writing and the promo is slated to end in just 4 days.

Get 23% Off On Xiaomi Mi Sphere Camera 4K Panorama Action Camera

Get Big Discounts On Two Top-End Versions Of The OnePlus 6 Smartphone On GeekBuying [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 3, 2018

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the OnePlus 6 smartphone without emptying your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be shedding light on some unmissable discounts that you can avail on GeekBuying and also show how you can save more money without breaking much of a sweat.

OnePlus 6 Smartphone With 8GB RAM+256GB ROM

The OnePlus 6 became an instant hit among smartphone lovers after hitting the store shelves earlier this year. But much to the chagrin of cost-conscious buyers, the phone didn’t come cheap.

In fact, an 8GB RAM+256GB ROM version of the phone would normally set you back a pretty penny on online and offline stores. Thankfully, this version of the coveted smartphone is currently available at a dropped price of just $589.99 on GeekBuying.

This is a noteworthy 37% reduction in the phone’s original selling price. On top of that, you can apply coupon code TOHMRYVU to save an extra $200 before placing your order.

In other words, you can reduce your already reduced grand total further down to just $579.99 simply by applying the above-mentioned coupon. You can follow this link to visit the promotion page and avail the discount without wasting time since the promo is slated to end in 6 days.

OnePlus 6 Smartphone With 6GB RAM+64GB ROM

Alternatively, you can go for the slightly smaller variant of the OnePlus 6 smartphone that comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. This version usually carries a $579.99 price tag but is currently up for grabs at a reduced price of just $489.99.

Aside from taking advantage of this 16% discount, you can use coupon code QVXIDZUS to get an extra $116 off on the phone’s already lowered selling price. As a result, you can now buy this variant of the OnePlus 6 smartphone at a discounted price of only $453.99.

In order to ensure you do not miss this discount, all you need to do is to follow this link. Note that the promo will come to an end in just 3 days and the coupon will also lapse shortly.

Get 37% Off On The 8GB RAM+256GB ROM Version Of OnePlus 6 Smartphone

Get 16% Off On The 6GB RAM+64GB ROM Version Of OnePlus 6 Smartphone

Buy Wemax One Pro FMWS01C ANSI Lumens Laser Projector For Just $1929 On GearBest [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Oct 3, 2018

Marketed as the first ultra-short projector that adopts the ALPD (advanced laser display) technology, the Wemax One Pro FMWS01C laser projector can deliver up to 150-inches high definition images in 50 centimeters. On top of that, you get a product life of nearly 25,000 hours.

While the market is rife with high-end laser projectors that offer comparable features, they don’t come cheap. The Wemax One Pro FMWS01C, on the other hand, has now gone up for sale bearing a heavily discounted price on GearBest.

We’ll not only shed light on the aforesaid discount but also show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money during the check out process. Let’s head straight to the details without further ado.

The Wemax One Pro FMWS01C laser projector would normally set you back a pretty penny on online as well as offline stores, but you can now buy it at a dropped price of just $1949 on GearBest. This is a noteworthy 18% reduction in the device’s original asking price.

You can extend the aforesaid discount by applying promotion code IT-CN01MAX. The promotion code lets you save an extra $20 before you place your order and bring your already discounted grand total further down to just $1929.

The high-tech Wemax One Pro FMWS01C is quite an irresistible laser projector at this price, given that it uses a compact, minimalist “box” design language to obtain user-friendly design goals. It can be easily controlled. Moreover, finding your favorite programs is a piece of cake as it comes with voice assistant and a slew of other interactive ways.

You can follow this link if you’re interested in checking out more details about the Wemax One Pro FMWS01C laser projector and taking advantage of the above-mentioned discount. It is worth noting that the promotion is slated to end in 5 days and the coupon is also likely to expire soon.

Get 18% Off On WEMAX One Pro FMWS01C ANSI Lumens Laser Projector

Get Big Discounts On Top-Branded Projectors

Huawei Band 3e official renders, specs and price leaks

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 3, 2018

Huawei has an event scheduled for October 16 and it has been confirmed it will announce its next flagship phones – the Mate 20 series at the event. However, we won’t be surprised if Huawei announces other products too such as a new smartband. Details of a yet-to-be-released Huawei Band 3e have been leaked online ahead of its release.

Huawei Band 3e Black or Pink. 77mAh, six-axis sensor, 7 kinds of running data, 12d typical use, 21d stand-by, 40h in "shoes mode" w/ posture tracking. 5ATM waterproof. Notifications, Sleep Monitoring, DND modem 13,6g. 24,99 GBP. pic.twitter.com/nD1LTnFaIk

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) October 2, 2018

The renders, specs, and pricing for the Huawei Band 3e were posted on Twitter by @rquandt. According to his tweet, the smartband will come in two colors – Black and Pink. It will have a six-axis sensor and pack a 77mAh battery that will last up to 12 days for typical usage and up to 21 days on standby.

[envira-gallery id=”214994″]

The Huawei Band 3e will be able to measure seven kinds of running data. It will also have a “shoe mode” with support for posture tracking. The band will be 5ATM waterproof, be able to display notifications, track your sleep, and even have a DND mode.

Roland Quandt adds that the smartband will sell for £24.99 (~$32) and will weigh 13.6 grams.

(Source)

Microsoft announces Surface Headphones with built-in Cortana

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 3, 2018

Today, Microsoft announced a number of devices at its Surface event. While we were already expecting the Surface Pro 6, the Surface Studio 2, and the Surface Laptop 2; the Surface Headphones took us by surprise.

The Surface Headphones is not only Microsoft’s first headphones but also the first headphones with Cortana built-in. Google Assistant is already built-in a number of headphones such as the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II. The Bose headphones has also gained support for Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Microsoft’s Surface Headphones comes in Light Gray which is the only issue we have with it. Seeing as the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2 both come in black, it only makes sense that the Surface Headphones also has a black variant.

The headphones appear to be well-made just like other Surface products. Each cup has a 40mm driver and a dial which allows you to adjust the volume (right cup) or adjust the level of noise cancellation (left cup, 14 different points (levels). The cups also have touch sensors for pausing/resuming playback, answering calls and skipping tracks. There is a power button and a mute button too.

The headphones has 2 beam-forming microphones on each cup and a total of 8 microphones to help you focus on the sounds that matter. The headphones will also automatically pause playback when you take them off and resumes when you put them back on.

[envira-gallery id=”214972″]

The Surface Headphones connects via Bluetooth 4.2 to your Windows 10, iOS, Android, and MacOS devices. Unlike the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2, the Surface Headphones has a USB Type-C port for charging. The headphones fully charges in under 2 hours and charging for just 5 minutes should provide up to 1 hour of music playback. It also has an audio jack in case you want to switch to wired mode.

Microsoft says it will last up to 15 hours on a single charge if you are playing music over Bluetooth, have ANC turned on, and Cortana activated and up to 50 hours in wired mode with ANC turned on.

https://youtu.be/xFe_ZYtfsZg

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Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 announced: Come in black, no USB-C

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Oct 3, 2018

A few hours ago Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2. Both devices bring big improvements in performance and also come in a nice new black color.

Surface Pro 6

The Surface Pro 6 comes with new 8th-Gen Intel Quad Core processors (Core i5 or Core i7) that bring up to a 67% increase in speed compared to the Surface Pro (5th gen). Depending on the configuration, the new Surface Pro 6 will have 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage and 8GB or 16GB of RAM.

The screen of the Pro 6 is a 12.3” PixelSense Display with a 2736 x 1824 resolution, 10-point multi-touch, and Corning Gorilla Glass. There is a 5MP camera with 1080p for Skype HD video calls while an 8MP camera with support for 1080p videos sits on the back. It also has 1.6W Dolby speakers for audio and Windows Hello face sign-in for security.

With respect to ports, the Surface Pro 6 has 1 X USB 3.0 Port, a Mini Display Port, a Surface Type Cover port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a MicroSDXC card reader, and a Surface Connect port. Unfortunately, Microsoft did not include a USB type-C port.

The Surface Pro 6 is said to offer up to 13.5 hours of battery life. It comes in a new Classic Black color in addition to Platinum. The Type Covers are available in the aforementioned colors as well as Burgundy and Cobalt Blue. The device measures 292 x 201 x 8.5 mm and weighs 775 grams (792 grams for the Core i7 version). Price starts at $899.

Surface Laptop 2

The Surface Laptop 2 also gets a power boost thanks to the 8th-Gen Intel processors. Microsoft says it is 85% faster than the original. Battery life is still impressive at 14.5 hours and the keyboard is still covered in Alcantara.

The Surface Laptop 2 packs a 13.5” PixelSense Display with a 2256 x 1504 resolution and support for 10-point multi-touch. The display is covered with Gorilla Glass 3 and is Surface Pen enabled.

For connectivity, the Surface Pro 6 has a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a Mini Display port, and a Surface Connect port. Yes, it doesn’t have a USB type-C port too which is a bummer.

There is a 720p HD webcam, Windows Hello secure sign-in, Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio, and a stereo microphones. The Surface Pro 6 weighs 1.25 kg (1.28 kg for the Core i7 model) and measures 308.1 x 223.27 x 14.48 mm.

It comes in a new Classic Black Color like the Surface Pro 6 but is also available in Cobalt, Burgundy, and Platinum. Starting price is $999.

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The Galaxy A6s will be the first Samsung model that’ll be manufactured by Xiaomi’s manufacturer

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2018

A recent report first carried by the Korean Herald had revealed that Samsung was in talks with Wintech, the Original Design Manufacturer responsible for the manufacture of Xiaomi’s phones. Another tip has emerged which hints that the Galaxy A6s will be the first Samsung model that will be manufactured by Wintech. The models produced by Wintech will be for the Chinese market.

The Galaxy A6s has been in the news for quite some time now. The device was first spotted with the moniker Galaxy P30 but that was later confirmed to be the A6s. The device is expected to feature a fullscreen design among others.

The reasons adduced for Samsung’s imminent decision to adopt the ODM system is the need to cut down on manufacturing cost while restructuring its China smartphone market. Samsung’s market share continues to decline due to the rise of other Chinese OEMs.move could be as a result of the company’s declining market share in China. The company is yet to make an official announcement about the deal but it did acknowledge it is considering the ODM model in markets where it is necessary.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s (8+256GB version) gets a big price cut; Mi Mix 3 coming!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2018

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s was first released on March 27 this year and it came as an upgrade of last year’s flagship Mi Mix 2. Less than 8 months after the launch, Xiaomi is planning to launch the Mi Mix 3. No date has been revealed but that should happen soon. It is usual for retailers to slash the prices of the existing models before the OEM launches a new model. That is what seems to have befallen the Mi Mix 2s. The price of the 8GB+256GB version of the Mix 2s has been slashed on e-retail platform Suning Tesco.

The topmost 8GB+256GB version came with an initial price tag of 3999 yuan ($582) but that has been reduced to 3599 yuan ($523). Not enough, a limited time coupon is available that will bring the price of the model down to 3419 yuan ($497). The 180 yuan coupon is only valid for today but the price will still remain at 3,599 which is not bad for such massive storage and memory.

As a reminder, the Mi Mix 2s is Xiaomi’s first smartphone to pack the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. It packs a 5.99-inch display with a resolution of 2160x1080pixels. It also has a 12MP+12MP dual-camera setup at the back, where one of the snappers has large 1.4ɥm pixels and bright f/1.8 aperture, while the secondary shooter has a telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture. The device runs MIUI 9.5 based on Android Oreo 8.0 but that hs been upgraded to MIUI 10 already. The device gets juice from a 3400mh battery with wireless charging support. It ranks as the first ceramic phone to have Qi wireless charging support.

(source)

Sony Xperia XA3 render showcases its design including a side fingerprint sensor

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Updated Oct 3, 2018

Sony will reportedly launch the Xperia XA3 and XA3 Ultra soon even though the Xperia XA 2 and XA2 Ultra was launched earlier this year. Ahead of the supposed unveiling, the renders of the Xperia XA3 has appeared online showing the design from all angles

The renders are actually CAD-based renders created by @OnLeaks and it is even available in a 360-degree video. The video shows the device will come with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. The device is expected to come with a 5.9-inch FHD+ display having a resolution of 1080 x 2160 resolution. The device will also have a dimension of 155.7 x 68.3 x 8.4mm but there will be a bump at the camera aspect which will have a thickness of 8.9mm.

The Xperia XA3 is also tipped to pack a side-mounted fingerprint sensor as can be seen on the render. The fingerprint sensor will be located on the right side in between the volume rocker and power button. It also features a USB Type-C port. The device comes with a dual rear camera setup aligned horizontally and centrally located. At the top of the camera will be the LED flash.

As far as the specs go, Sony Xperia XA3 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE octa-core processor which is an upgrade over the SD 630 chipset on the Xperia XA2. The device will have 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on it top variant. It is expected to launch in the coming months but could be unveiled at CES 2019.

(source)