Several Huawei and Honor Devices Break Free From EMUI: OpenKirin Brings LineageOS and Other ROMs

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Jun 25, 2018

Modding, a very strong reality in the Android world on Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs, has always been a confined thing on Huawei and Honor devices due to the limitations of proprietary Kirin chipsets. Nobody would ever recommend you to get a Huawei phone or tablet if you wanted to become a modder: but from now, things are starting to change. Thanks to the new Project Treble by Google, it is possible to separate the Android core framework from the customizations, and this made possible to mod Huawei devices easily.

Team OpenKirin has launched a new AOSP project for several devices from the brand which can bring custom ROMs even to devices with Kirin chipsets. At the moment, it is possible to install three custom ROMs on several Huawei and Honor devices: LineageOS, CarbonROM, and Resurrection Remix. The list of eligible Huawei phones contains the Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, P10, P10 Plus, Mate 9, Mate 9 Pro, P Smart, Mate 10 Lite and P10 Lite. The eligible Honor devices are Honor View 10, 9, 8 Pro, 7X and 6X. At last, there are also three tablets on the list: MediaPad M5 8.4, MediaPad M5 10.8 and MediaPad M5 Pro with stylus support.

The list contains a total of 17 devices and it is expected to be extended soon. All of the device in the list run EMUI 8.0 user interface which you can now replace with other ROMs. Note that Huawei has announced that it will ditch its own bootloader unlocking service on July 22 and in order to install one of the supported custom ROM you need to unlock the bootloader. So, if you do not install it before July 22, you will have to wait for third-party tools to be released. You can actually download the custom ROMs for your eligible device by heading on the official site of the OpenKirin AOSP project.

(via)

Xiaomi’s Crowdfunded QBORN Child Safety Seat with Max Weight Limit of 36kg Goes On Sale

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 25, 2018

Xiaomi first unveiled the QBORN child safety car seat in April under its crowdfunding platform with a 999 yuan ($152) price tag. Right now, the sleek product has been launched into the market for direct sales with a slightly higher 1,299 yuan ($198) price tag. It is presently available for buyers in China from the Xiaomi Youpin website.

QBORN brand is a Xiaomi ecological chain company founded in 2017. The startup focuses on manufacturing products for babies, including research on how to get the best and safest products. The Child safety car seat is designed for kids between the ages of 9 months and 12 years. Specifically, it is designed to carry weights ranging from 9kg to 36kg maximum. In addition, it is available in Grey, Blue and Red colours.

The QBORN car seat adopts an innovative design which won it the 2016 German Red Dot Concept Design award. The safety and comfort of the child are at the forefront of the car seat’s design. The seat core skeleton is made of high-strength carbon steel which is the same with that used on high-end automobile girder. It is combined with high-pressure injection molded casing made of PP material. The solid steel rod connects the base and has stronger impact resistance.

The part that comes into contact with the child’s body is a slow-rebound sponge combined with a high energy-absorbing EPP material. When pressed, the honeycomb structure is subjected to a multilateral force to absorb energy and effectively relieve the impact caused by the collision. The backrest supports 6-speed adjustment, while the headrest supports 11-speed adjustment. The seat is fixed at three different points to the car seat with a design which guarantees solidity. There is a five-point seat belt which can cover all the key parts of the baby’s body. It is distributed from the shoulders, waist and buttocks and give racing driver-class protection.

As stated earlier, the new Xiaomi product is available from the Youpin website for just 1,299 yuan. We don’t know when the product will be officially available outside China but it won’t be long before it gets available via third-party retailers.

Panasonic Toughbook FZ-T1 Innovative Rugged Handheld Launched, But The Price Is Insane

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 25, 2018

Panasonic is not the biggest name in the mobile devices sector, but it has launched several innovative devices for workers and enterprise customers. The Japanese company has just announced a new device of this kind: Toughbook FZ-T1. Rather than a simple smartphone, it is more like a handheld phone. Indeed, besides the “cellular” version it also comes in a variant without 4G LTE connectivity and without voice capabilities.

Panasonic FZ-T1 is a rugged handheld equipped with the military certification (MIL-STD-810G) and the IP68 certification making it fully waterproof and dustproof. It can also survive to drops from up to 1.5 m and temperatures (-10 to 50 °C). The most important feature of Panasonic Toughbook FZ-T1 is the integrated barcode scanner which will be useful in the retail sector for works such as shelf stocking, order taking, and assisted sales.

Its display has a 5-inch size and an HD resolution; it can even be used with gloves or a passive stylus pen. It is far from being a high-end handset as it features an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 paired with just 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. But despite this, its price is insane: it will be available in the UK starting from August with 3 years warranty and a price tag of $1615/€1386 for the 4G version.

Samsung’s First Android Go Phone Leaks: Key Specifications Revealed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 25, 2018

Previous reports have revealed that the Samsung’s first Android Go phone has a model number of SM-J260. A recent report had revealed that Samsung is testing its first Android GO smartphone in multiple countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Rumor have it that it could be a J2 series phone that hit the market with Galaxy J2 Core moniker. Today, a leaked specs sheet of the Samsung J260F has appeared online.

The below image shows that the Samsung J260F features a 5-inch Super AMOLED display. The Exynos 7570 chipset that features a quad-core processor that has a clocking speed of 1.4 GHz is present under the hood of the SM-J260F. The SoC is coupled with 1 GB of RAM. The device includes an internal storage of 16 GB.

The front-facing camera of the alleged Galaxy J2 Core is of 5-megapixel. It may arrive with a rear snapper of 13-megapixel. A 2,600mAh battery is present under the hood of the device.

The last time Samsung had launched a smartphone without its own UI was in 2014 when it had released the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. The SM-J260 will be running on stock version of Android 8.1 Oreo. Since it is pegged to debut as an Android GO phone, it is likely to run on Go edition of Oreo.

Recent information has revealed that its SM-260F model number could be made available in regions like the U.K, Germany, France, Poland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Caucasus countries. The SM-J260M model number could be heading to Latin America nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Panada, Paraguay, Panada and Trinidad and Tobago. The SM-260G is expected to arrive in nations such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
At present there is no information available on the launch date for the alleged Galaxy J2 Core. Also, the pricing of the smartphone is under the wraps.

(via)

The UMIDIGI Z2 Goes Up For Preorder On CooliCool Bearing A Slashed Price Of Only $249.99

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

UMIDIGI Z2

UMIDIGI took the wraps off its hotly-anticipated Z2 smartphone earlier this month. As expected, the Z2 boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features that make it an irresistible smartphone.

On the downside, the UMIDIGI Z2 smartphone does not come cheap. In fact, you’d normally need to shell out $399.99 if you’re interested in pre-ordering the coveted smartphone on CooliCool.

But if you’re reluctant to spend that kind of money on a smartphone, we got good news for you. Touted as one of the biggest online commercial corporations in Asia, CooliCool is offering cost-conscious buyers an opportunity to save a considerable amount of money.

As a result, the UMIDIGI Z2 smartphone is currently up for preorder at a slashed price of $249.99. In other words, CooliCool is giving smartphone enthusiasts a chance to save $150 without breaking much of a sweat.

The Z2 is quite a bargain at this massively discounted price, given that it sports a mammoth 6.2 Inch FHD+ full-screen display with a resolution of 2246 X 1080 pixels and a display ratio of 19:9. Moreover, the device is housed in a robust aluminum alloy and glass body.

It packs a powerful Helio P23 MTK6763 2.0GHz Octa Core processor an uses a PowerVR GT71 MP2, 700MHz, 2-Cores GPU, under the hood. The UMIDIGI Z2 comes with 6GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB of expandable ROM (support 256GB TF card expansion).

On the photography front, the Z2 houses a 16 MP+8MP dual-camera setup at the back. Up front, there are 16 MP+8MP dual cameras for selfies and face-to-face video chatting.

This hybrid dual-SIM smartphone runs the latest Android 8.1 Oreo operating system and is backed by a 3850mAh Sony battery with 9V 2A Quick Charge support. The Z2 smartphone features a myriad of useful sensors including a proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and geomagnetic sensor just to name a few.

You can follow this link if you’re interested in checking the full specification and taking advantage of the discount, which is currently valid for the black color version the UMIDIGI Z2 smartphone.

Get A Big Discount On UMIDIGI Z2 Smartphone On CooliCool

Buy Xiaomi Mi Ultra Short Throw 5000 Laser Projector For Only $1825 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

If you’re cinephile thinking about setting up a projector at home without breaking the bank, look no further. GearBest is currently doling out a considerable discount on the projector’s original asking price, for a limited period of time.

Deemed as world’s first ultra-short projector, the Xiaomi Mi Ultra Laser is a feature-laden projector that would normally set you back a pretty penny on online stores. But much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on a projector, GearBest is offering 2% off on the device’s retail price.

Thanks to the aforesaid discount, the coveted Xiaomi Mi Laser projector can now be yours at a slashed price of $1889 on GearBest. But if the best price doesn’t impress you much, the Chinese online store is gearing up to further reduce the device’s retail price to only $1825. This price cut down is slated to take place in the afternoon, today.

The Xiaomi’s new ultra short throw projector is ideal for those who do not want to stick with large TVs as an alternative. The Xiaomi-branded projector is capable of creating 150 inches of full HD quality images when placed 5cm-50cm (2”-20”) from the wall. It boasts an impressive product life up to 20,000 hours.

Furthermore, the Xiaomi Mi Laser projector adopts an ALPD (advanced laser display) technology. It warrants movie theater-grade 5,000 lumens of brightness, coupled with 3,000:1 contrast and better than 85% NTSC color coverage which delivers enhanced red color.

The self-sufficient Xiaomi Mi Laser projector comes with three HDMI ports. It runs MIUI TV-based Android operating system and is powered by a quad A53 processor.

Moreover, it features built-in speakers which comprise 2x tweeters, 2x woofers. It can output to a dedicated amp and has Wi-Fi and Ethernet for those who want to stream their content.

If you’re interested in grabbing the best price for the Xiaomi Mi Ultra Short throw 5000 laser projector, head straight to this link without wasting time. The Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 15 pieces for 3 days.

Get 2% Off On Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector On GearBest

Check Out The Mid-Year Sale On GearBest; Get Maximum Discount Markdowns And Lots More!

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

As part of its recently commenced ‘World Cup 2018 Kick Off’ promotion sale, GearBest is doling out cool prizes, mega coupons, and lots more. The Chinese online store is giving buyers an opportunity to enjoy their world cup with mega mobile markdowns.

While you can get 5% off on cell phones on GearBest, the site is also handing out a 10% discount on cell phone accessories in the form of discount coupons. Apart from that, you can get 40% off on electronics, lifestyle, and fashion sales.

Penalty Shootout Deals

This category is rife with high-end smartphones and phablets that you can buy at a reduced price. Among a myriad of other devices, the impending promo features the Nubia Z17 Lite phablet that would normally set you back $362.60 on GearBest.
The site will be offering a noteworthy 53% off on the Z17 Lite phablet, bringing its original asking price down to only $169.99. The discount will be valid for only 300 pieces when it kicks off.

Likewise, you can find a broad range of upcoming discounts that will be valid for multiple smartphone and phablets. GearBest will also be giving a 9% off on the Microwear H1 3G smartwatch phone, which usually carries a price tag of $95.19 on the site.

Top Four Selling Items

This section has further been divided into mobile phones, smartwatch phones, and mobile phone accessories sub-categories. Each sub-category comprises 4 items that are currently up for grabs at a slashed price.Keeping in line with this, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 is now available at a discounted price of just $569.99 on GearBest. It’s worth noting that you’d normally have to shell out $619.90 to purchase the well-received phablet.

Mobile Phones

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a top-notch phablet without burning a hole in your pocket, you have come to the right place. This segment features a slew of coveted phablets that you can buy at a considerably reduced price.

Moreover, the category includes top brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Letv, Elephone, Oukitel, and Bluboo. More importantly, you can get up to a massive 46% off on the handsets featured in this category.

Smart Watch Phone

If you’re a budget-conscious buyer looking for a smartwatch phone that you can buy without breaking the bank, look no further. In this section, you can find all sorts of smartwatch phones that currently carry lowered price tags.

For the sake of an instance, you can buy the Zeblaze THOR PRO 3G smartwatch phone at a lowered price of just $79.99. Note that the device would normally set you back $105.16 on GearBest.

Similarly, the NO.1 G8 smartwatch phone can now be yours if you’re willing to spend just $37.71 GearBest. Note that the device normally sells for $39.50 on the site.

Mobile Phones Accessories

There’s no dearth of accessories that help you enhance your mobile phone. On the downside, these accessories don’t come cheap.
Thankfully, GearBest is giving buyers something to cheer about in the form of big discounts on mobile phone accessories. For example, you can purchase the YAOMAISI Durable USB Cable for iPhone 7, 8 and X at a slashed price of just %5.99.

Moreover, you can find top brands like Xiaomi, ASUS, Huawei, Oukitel, Vernee, Elephone, UMIDIGI, and Cubot. You can visit this link in order to check out rest of the product and take advantage of the big discounts before the promo wraps up.

Enjoy Your Wolrd Cup With Big Discounts On GearBest

Xiaomi Will Promote Itself In The US With Drones In Central Park

By

Jeet

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Jun 25, 2018

Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer which recently filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, has reportedly planned to kick off the US leg of its global offering this week. In order to attract attention, the company will fly drones in Central Park.

The news about the drones in Central Park in the US comes after the Hong Kong roadshow where some investors were left underwhelmed. According to the report, head of Hong Kong-based office of one of the leading New York investment group said that “they want the market to think they are a combination of Apple and Tencent, but they are not.”

Xiaomi Logo

Investors at the Hong Kong roadshow said the share pricing was expensive even at the lower end but Xiaomi and its advisers argued that it deserves a bigger multiple in recognition of its broader ecosystem. The company said that its business concern cut across hardware, e-commerce and internet services.

Recently, Xiaomi officially announced its intention to raise up to 6.1 billion US dollars through an IPO in the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company had initially set its sight at raising $10 billion but that was reduced after the company suspended its CDR offering in China.

During the conference held in Hong Kong, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said that the company has huge potential for growth in the future. The company also disclosed that it hopes to sell almost 2.2 billion shares to global investors during the IPO which will commence on Monday for between 17 and 22 Hong Kong dollars each (approximately $2.20 to $2.80).

It was disclosed that Xiaomi is valued at between $54 billion and $70 billion, which is lower than the valuation of close to $100 billion the company was reportedly seeking earlier this year.

The offer prospectus from the company says that Xiaomi is primarily an internet company. It further adds that “by first selling a wide variety of smart hardware products, we have built a massive and proprietary platform for the delivery of our diverse internet services.”

The company has further revealed that Lei Jun who has been Xiaomi’s CEO since inception has been awarded stock worth about $1.5 billion for his contributions to the company. The decision was reportedly taken in a consensus and is based on Lei Jun’s devotion over the last eight years to the company he started from scratch, for which he has not taken a salary.

(Source)

Buy Teclast M89 Tablet For Only $84.99 On Banggood; Sale Kicks Off Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

Teclast has had a reputation for manufacturing powerful yet pocket-friendly tablets for quite a long time now. The popular Chinese digital brand has even launched two 2-in-1s and laptops that managed to sweep tech buffs off their feet.

Teclast took the wraps off its M89 tablet in a bid to take on Xiaomi’s feature-laden Mi Pad 4 before it hit the store shelves. Despite bearing a relatively low price, the M89 tablet included a slew of awe-inspiring features that even the Mi Pad 4 wasn’t expected to include when it launched.

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the long-awaited tablet, all you need to do is activate the ‘Alert Me On Arrival’ button on Banggood. The device would normally set you back $169.99 on the Chinese online store that guarantees the best bang for your buck. But if you aren’t willing to shell out a fortune for a tablet, we got good news for you.

First 10 buyers will have an opportunity to acquire the Teclast M89 tablet at a lowered price of just $84.99. Banggood will be placing a $149.99 price tag on 11th to 200th pieces of the tablet, while 200th pieces onwards, you’d need to pay $159.99 to purchase the M89 tablet.

The M89 is a powerful tablet that packs a MediaTek MT8176, 64-bit processor along with an IMG PowerVR GX6250, 700MHz GPU, under the hood. Furthermore, it offers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.

It sports a mammoth 7.9 inch 10-point OGS sharp screen display with a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. On the photography front, the M89 tablet sports an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies and face-to-face video calling.

Moreover, it runs Android 7.0 Nougat OS and is backed by a built-in 4,840mAh Lithium-ion Polymer battery. The device’s dimensions are 199 mm X 136 mm X 7.4 mm and it weighs in at 400 grams.

If you’d like to grab the deal that is slated to kick off on Tuesday, June 26th afternoon at 3:00 PM (Beijing time), simply follow this link.

Get Big Discounts On Teclast M89 Tablet On Banggood

Xiaomi to Launch New Product on July 3; Could it be Mi Max 3 or Mi 6X Hatsune Edition?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 25, 2018

Xiaomi has just introduced the Redmi 6 Pro and Mi Pad 4. These devices will go on sale starting from this week. In the coming month, the Chinese manufacturer will be introducing the Mi Max 3 smartphone that has already appeared on TENAA with full specs. Xiaomi’s voice assistant Xiao AI that is currently available only in China has revealed that the company will be unveiling a new product on July 3. Even though Xiaomi fans are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the Mi Max 3, it is also being speculated that Xiaomi may debut the Hatsune Edition for the Mi 6X smartphone.

The below screenshot shows the Xiao AI showing a notification that confirms that the company will be launching a new device on July 3. Some may speculate that it could be hinting the arrival of Mi Max 3, but it seems unlikely that Xiaomi may launch it so soon after the newly unveiled Redmi 6 Pro and Mi Pad 4. Leaked information has recently revealed that the company will be soon launching Mi 6X Hatsune Edition. Hence, there is a possibility that the new variant of Mi 6X may debut on July 3 and Mi Max 3 may go official later in the same month.

Last year, Xiaomi had launched the Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Edition smartphone in turquoise color. It appeared sleeker than the regular Redmi Note 4 even though both handsets sported the same design. The handset was introduced in a custom casing and Xiaomi had also offered some downloadable Hatsune theme for its users. The Chinese manufacturer had also provided a limited-edition power bank with the handset. The rumored Mi 6X Hatsune Edition may arrive with similar offerings.

Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Miku Green Special Edition

The Mi Max 3 is slated to debut next month, but there is no information available on its launch date. The TENAA appearance has revealed that it will be sporting an 18:9 aspect ratio display of 6.99 inches. The Snapdragon 636 SoC may power the phone, but there could be a higher model featuring SD660 or SD710. It will be coming with a huge battery of 5,400mAh capacity

The Mi Max 3 may arrive with up to 6 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of storage. It will be featuring a front camera of 5-megapixel and a rear-mounted dual camera setup with 12-megapixel primary sensor.

(via)

Buy No.1 F13 Smartwatch At A Heavily Slashed Price Of $26.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

After making a slew of rugged smartwatches available to the public, Chinese manufacturer No.1 took the wraps off its hotly-anticipated sport/business watch dubbed the F13. The smartwatch sports an eye-catching color, round display which is protected by a spherical (curved) glass and features IP68 certification that lets you dive up to 50m deep without worrying about damaging your smartwatch.

As expected, the feature-laden F13 smartwatch comes bearing a steep price tag. But with the device’s huge popularity in mind, GearBest is doling out a big discount on its original asking price for a limited period of time.

GearBest is currently offering a noteworthy 33% off on the No.1 F13 smartwatch, bringing its normally steep retail price down to just $26.99, but that’s not all. The big discount is valid for the gray, red, and venom green color versions of the coveted smartwatch.
Aside from being waterproof, the F13 boast an array of other awe-inspiring features that make it an irresistible smartwatch. For instance, it supports social media notifications, messages, incoming calls, sleep monitor, sedentary reminder, pedometer and 24/7 heart rate monitoring.

More importantly, you’d be able to use it irrespective of which operating system you use since it is compatible with both Android and iOS. While the F13 comes with Bluetooth support, there’s no support for mobile connectivity.

The device draws its juices from a 350mAh polymer lithium ion battery. Moreover, it supports a slew of languages including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Turkish.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the discount, head straight to this link without wasting time since the promo is on the verge of wrapping up. It is also worth noting that there were only 184 pieces of the gray, 500 pieces of the red, and 499 pieces of the venom green color version left for the Flash Sale price at the time of writing.

Get 33% Off On No.1 F13 Smart Watch On GearBest

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro and Mi Pad 4 Officially Launched; Goes on Sale from This Week

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jun 25, 2018

Yesterday’s brief appearance of the Redmi 6 Pro and Mi Pad 4 on the official website of Xiaomi had revealed their entire specifications and features. This morning, the Chinese manufacturer has finally listed Redmi 6 Pro and Mi Pad 4 on its official site which confirms that these devices are now official.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro Specs, Features, Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro has a 5.84-inch FHD+ display with 19:9 aspect ratio. The phone comes with a software solution to hide the notch. The metallic rear of the phone houses 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup and a fingerprint reader. The front camera of 5-megapixel supports AI portrait mode and AI face unlock.

The Redmi 6 Pro is yet another phone with Snapdragon 625 SoC. It is fueled by 4,000mAh battery. It has a dedicated slot for adding a microSD card. Some of its other features include MIUI 9 based Android 8.1 Oreo, IR remote control, 3.5mm audio jack, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11n and so on.

The Redmi 6 Pro will be available for buying in China starting from tomorrow (June 26) at 10 AM. The 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage + 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM variants are respectively priced at 999 Yuan (~$153), 1,199 Yuan ($183), 1,299 Yuan (~$199). Its color variants are Rose Gold, Sand Gold, Lake Blue, Stone Black and Lake Blue.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Specs, Features, Pricing and Availability

The Mi Pad 4 has an 8-inch screen that produces 16:10 aspect ratio and its rear panel is made out metal. Since the device is slightly smaller than its predecessor, it offers better grip for one-hand usage. The Snapdragon 660 chipset powers the Mi Pad 4. It receives power from 6,000mAh battery. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture. It is the first tablet from Xiaomi to support face unlock. The slate is loaded with MIUI 9flavored Android 8.1 Oreo.

For Mi Pad 4 users in China, Xiaomi is offering contents from channels like iQiui, Tencent video and Sohu. The preloaded Mi Video app supports live TV coverage. Also, there is a book reading app that provides access to huge library of novels, magazines and classics.

The Mi Pad 4 comes in colors like Gold and Black. The Wi-Fi only 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM editions of the tablet are respectively priced at 1,099 Yuan (~$168) and 1,399 Yuan (~$215). The LTE model that features 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM is priced at 1,499 Yuan (~$230). The first sale of the Mi Pad 4 will begin in China on June 29 at 10 AM.

Buy Xiaomi Redmi S2 Phablet For Only $145.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jun 25, 2018

Looks like a good news for Xiaomi fans that have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on the Redmi S2 phablet without breaking the bank. GearBest is offering a significant discount on the Chinese tech firm’s recently launched flagship phablet.

While the Redmi S2 would normally set you back a pretty penny on other online stores, GearBest is giving tech buffs an opportunity to buy the well-received phone at a lowered price of just $159.99. This is a 17% reduction in the device’s original asking price.

But if you’re on a tight budget and aren’t willing to shell out even that kind of money on a phablet, we got good news for you. GearBest will be further reducing the selling price of the Xiaomi Redmi S2 smartphone to only $145.99.

In other words, you can buy the coveted phone which boasts a broad range of awe-inspiring specs and features without burning a big hole in your pocket. Let’s check out some of Redmi S2 phablet’s mean features.

First off, the Redmi S2 phablet sports a mammoth 5.99 inch IPS, LCD, HD+ display with a screen resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. Moreover, the phone is housed in a robust metal mix body.

Apart from a finger scanner, the Redmi S2 houses 12.0MP + 5.0MP dual camera setup with AF and dual LED flash on the back. Up front, there’s a 16.0MP camera with Face Beauty, face detection, and panorama shot for selfies and face-to-face video chatting.

The Redmi S2 phablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (MSM8953) processor and it uses an Adreno 506 graphics processing unit, under the hood. The phone offers 3GB of RAM, coupled with an expandable 32GB of onboard storage.

Furthermore, it runs the latest Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and is backed by a built-in 3080mAh Li-ion battery. As if that weren’t enough, the phone is crammed with all sorts of useful sensor including an accelerometer, ambient light, e-compass, gravity, gyroscope, and proximity sensor.

On top of that, you can choose from 3 color options including gray, gold and rose gold. With the discount slated to end in just 4 days, buyers will need to follow this link to grab the deal before it runs out.

Get A Big Discount On The Xiaomi Redmi S2 Phablet On GearBest

Huawei P20 Pro Upcoming Updates Will Bring 960fps Slow-mo and Zoom Improvements

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 24, 2018

Huawei P20 Pro is definitely the best camera phone out there. It is the only mobile phone to feature a triple camera setup with a 40 MP resolution and it can capture stunning photos in every condition. But one of its major weak points is video recording. According to XDA, video recording capabilities of the latest Huawei flagship will be soon improved through a software update.

The upcoming firmware will bring super slow-motion video recording which will make the device record videos at 960 fps. Note that this feature is not new as it is already present on some of the latest flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S9 line-up and some Sony Xperia devices. According to the leaked info about the update, the super slow-motion mode will be available with a resolution of 720p (Sony Xperia flagship are able to record at 960 fps in Full HD).

There will also be another limitation: it will be possible to record for just 0.1 seconds in super slow-motion, that means five or six seconds when the video slows down. The update for Huawei P20 Pro will also bring a new zoom interface which will allow zooming through a simple swipe. The date by which the update will start rolling out on the Huawei P20 Pro is not known yet.

(via)

Nokia 5.1 European Launch Begins: Up For Pre-Orders In Russia

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jun 24, 2018

HMD Global has refreshed most of its line-up of affordable phones in May by unveiling Nokia 5.1, 3.1 and 2.1 in Moscow. The company has then announced that the most expensive 5.1 would be officially up for grabs starting from July. But starting from now, if you live in Russia, you can already pre-order a 5.1. The device has been added to Nokia’s official online store in Russia but, unfortunately, the listing price is not known yet. Alongside this device, another handset went on pre-order in the Russian official site of the Finnish brand.

We are talking about the “banana phone” Nokia 8110. Unlike the Nokia 5.1, this is a classic feature phone, a revisit of the old and iconic 8110. But despite being a feature phone, it features the 4G LTE connectivity thanks to which you can surf the web with blazing speeds. The price listed on the website is RUB 5,990 which roughly translates into $95. Unlike its bigger brother, this device has already been launched in several countries, while the 5.1 is still not in the market. While waiting for it to go on sale, it is worth reminding its specs. Nokia 5.1 is much better than its predecessor as it features a way more performing SoC.

It is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek Helio P18 chipset running at a max clock frequency of 2 GHz. It will be launched in two configurations: one with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB ROM and another with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB ROM. It has a full metal unibody design made of solid 6000-series aluminum, as well as a 5.5-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a size of 5.5 inches and a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The main camera is a single sensor with a 16 MP resolution, while the front camera has a resolution of 8 MP. Nokia 5.1 comes with a 2970 mAh battery and Android 8.1 Oreo installed out of the box.

(via)

Vivo NEX Is Finally On Sale, Price Starts From $599

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 24, 2018

Eleven days after its official announcement event, Vivo NEX has finally hit the shelves. For now, the launch is limited to the Chinese market: the handset has hit the shelves for the first time on June 23 and now we finally know its price. As we know since the official announcement, the handset has been launched in three variants: there are a NEX A variant and two configurations of the NEX S version. The first one carries a price tag of 3898 Yuan which roughly translates into $599. The NEX S in the configuration with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage costs 4498 Yuan (roughly $690), while the most expensive one with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB ROM costs 5998 Yuan (about $769).

Note that Vivo NEX A is a lower-end version of the flagship as it features an octa-core Snapdragon 710 chipset by Qualcomm running at a max frequency of 2.2 GHz, while the other two variants pack an octa-core Snapdragon 845 flagship-level chipset with a max frequency of 2.8 GHz. The memory configurations are different as well: the NEX A is equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

Going ahead the hardware side, each variant of the Vivo NEX has a glass back and an aluminum frame, as well as a full borderless display with a screen-to-body ratio superior to 91 percent. The device has an in-display fingerprint reader and a wide 6.59-inch screen with the Super AMOLED technology and a Full HD+ resolution of 2316 x 1080 pixels. The camera setup is composed of two sensors with 12 and 5 MP resolutions, respectively. Given that the display covers almost the whole front panel, the company has implemented a motorized pop-up front camera with an 8 MP resolution.

(via)

Xiaomi Officially Announces Hong Kong IPO; Lei Jun Awarded Stock Worth About $1.5 billion

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 24, 2018

Xiaomi has officially announced its intention to raise up to 6 billion US dollars through an IPO in the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company made the announcement on Saturday in a press conference attended by all seven directors of the Chinese company. Xiaomi initially set its sight at raising $10 billion but that was reduced because the company suspended its CDR offering in China.

During the conference held in Hong Kong, XIaoi’s CEO Lei Jun expressed positivity that the company has huge potential for growth in the future. He also reiterated that the company’s business concern cut across hardware, e-commerce and internet services. The company also disclosed that it hopes to sell almost 2.2 billion shares to global investors during the IPO which will commence on Monday for between 17 and 22 Hong Kong dollars each ($2.20 to $2.80).

Goldman Sachs is one of the IPO’s sponsors and an Asia-Pacific president of the company, James Paradise, disclosed on Saturday that Xiaomi is valued at between $54 billion and $70 billion. This is notably lower than the valuation of close to $100 billion the company was reportedly seeking earlier this year. But Xiaomi’s Chief Financial Officer, Chew Shou Zi said at the news conference that the company never revealed how much it was valued.

Xiaomi also disclosed in a statement by Lin Bin, co-founder and President of the company that Lei Jun who has been Xiaomi’s CEO since inception has been awarded stock worth about $1.5 billion for his contributions to the company. The decision was reportedly taken in a consensus and is based on Lei Jun’s devotion over the last eight years to the company he started from scratch. Trading in Xiaomi shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange is expected to start on July 9 after the public offer. The money raised from the IPO will be ploughed into increasing its research and development and for global expansion.

(source)

Redmi 6 Pro Gets An Early Official Release: Notch Display, Triple Card Slot & Dual Cameras For ¥999 (~$155)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 24, 2018

Xiaomi is supposed to launch the Redmi 6 Pro tomorrow but the device is already live on the official website complete with specs and price.

Design

The first thing that catches your eye is the notch – the Redmi 6 Pro is the first Redmi phone to have one. Will it be the last? Your guess is as good as mine.

Even with the notch, Xiaomi’s latest mid-range offering still has a sizeable bezel at the bottom of the screen. It is large enough for capacitive buttons or even a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. But with MIUI 10 and Android in general moving to gesture-based navigation, and in-display fingerprint scanners or rear-mounted ones being the trend, the bezel has no use. There is even still a bit of bezel at the top.

The back has a design, which we all agree, Xiaomi has overused just like the Snapdragon 625 SoC present in the phone. There is a dual camera system arranged just like the iPhone X and a fingerprint scanner in the middle. Nevertheless, the design isn’t bad. It actually does look nice. The only problem is we are tired of seeing the same thing over and over again.

Redmi 6 Pro Specs

The Redmi 6 Pro has a 5.84-inch Full HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage.

There are dual rear cameras on the rear – a 12MP f/2.2 1.25um sensor and a 5MP secondary sensor for capturing depth of field details. Xiaomi says the camera app has an AI portrait mode, bokeh mode, night-scene enhancement, EIS, and HDR. It can record 1080p, 720p and 4800p videos at 30fps and also records 720p slow-motion videos at 120fps.

The front camera is a 5MP sensor with AI portrait mode, AI beauty mode, HDR, and support for AI face unlock.

The Redmi 6 Pro has a triple card slot which lets you use two nano SIM cards and a microSD card (256GB max) all at once. There is a 4000mAh battery powering the device with support for 5V/2A charging. For connectivity, the phone has a micro USB port, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has an infrared sensor unlike the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A.

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Can Now Record In 1080p60 With MIUI 10 China

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jun 24, 2018

Alongside the new flagship Mi 8, Xiaomi has also announced the latest iteration of its Android personalization: MIUI 10. The Chinese version of the new UI is currently in beta testing phase and it is slowly expanding to all eligible Xiaomi phones. Guys from XDA Developers have just discovered that the MIUI 10 Chinese beta allows recording videos in 1080p resolution with 60 fps on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro.

The feature is kinda rare on mid-range phones sold under $200 as they can usually record in 1080p at 30 fps at max. Note that after rooting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro it is even possible to record videos in 4K, but it is not an official features like the one contained in the latest MIUI 10 beta. Given that Xiaomi has added the option to record videos in 1080p at 60 fps in the Chinese Beta ROM, it is likely that we will see it in the global beta and in the final stable update. And there is also a chance that the company may add 4K video recording at 30 fps as well, given that the hardware side of this device would allow doing it.

The new Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first handset from the Redmi Note series which features a dual camera setup on its rear side. It is composed of a primary sensor with a resolution of 12 MP and a f/2.2 aperture, and a 5 MP secondary sensor with a f/2.0 aperture. The front camera has a 20 MP resolution, a f/2.2 aperture and it is also equipped with a LED flash. Under the hood, the mid-ranger features an octa-core Snapdragon 636 chipset by Qualcomm running at a max frequency of 1.8 GHz. It is currently available in two configurations with 4 or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage which you can expand with a micro SD up to 256 GB.

(via)

Nokia 8110 4G May Launch Soon In China Following TENAA Listing

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jun 24, 2018

Even with the plethora of smartphones being churned out daily, the feature phone segment is still doing well. In markets like Nigeria, India, and China, a large percentage of the phones sold annually are feature phones. So it is no surprise that HMD Global keeps reintroducing some of Nokia’s old classic feature phones. This year it announced the Nokia 8110 4G, a modern variant of 1996’s Nokia 8110.

The Nokia 8110 4G is already available in some markets across the globe. If you live in China and you have been waiting for it to be announced, there is a chance it will be happening soon as the device has been spotted on TENAA’s website.

The Nokia 8110 4G has a 2.4-inch screen with a 240 x 320 resolution. It is powered by a 1.1GHz Qualcomm 205 processor paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. It even has a 2MP camera with LED flash.

The phone runs KaiOS and lets you sync your contacts via Gmail and Outlook. You can also use it as a portable hotspot for your other devices. It has dual SIM support, a MicroSD card slot for up to 64GB of extra storage, FM Radio, a 3.5mm audio jack, GPS, and Bluetooth 4.1.

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Powering the Nokia 8110 4G is a removable 1500mAh battery which should last up to 25 days on standby for the single SIM version and about 18 days for the dual-SIM model.

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