Essential confirms Android Q for Essential Phone next year

By

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Sep 20, 2018

Amid the cancellation rumors of Essential Phone 2, Essential has confirmed Android Q update for PH-1. Due to poor sales of the Essential Phone, the company has decided to put a hold on the development of its successor. After the early rollout of the Android 9.0 Pie on the Essential Phone, now, the company is getting ready for the Android Q update, release slated for the next year.

Today, from Essential’s latest AMA on Reddit we have assembled some of the crucial details. Essential Phone is the only smartphone of the company that is available in the market. Essential was scheduled to launch the Essential Phone 2 this year, but as per the rumors, it has canceled for unknown reasons. Now, Essential is focusing on the development and support for its first smartphone, Essential Phone (PH-01).

After the Android 9.0 Pie update last month, it has lost custom notch settings. Now, on the users’ demand, Essential is all set to bring back the notch custom settings via the upcoming October security patch update. Here’s what they said:

We sure are! It’s in for our October security patch release and we’ll be working to get it out to you as quickly as possible. P.S. So much fun for PUBG (and I guess Fortnite, if they ever let me in the beta lol)

Similarly, on asking about the Android Q update, Essential replied to the user saying, “We’ll provide platform updates for 2 years (until August 2019) and security updates for 3 years (until August 2020).

Essential denied the availability of Panorama view feature in the camera app of the device. Further, it answered all the queries related to the upcoming features, bugs, and fixes. It’s a good going from the Essential to bring the latest software update for the Essential phone.

(Source, Via)

Buy SKMEI Men Sports Waterproof Watch For Just $9.74 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 20, 2018

If you’re in the market for a stylish, feature-laden wristwatch, you have come to the right place. Staying true to its reputation for manufacturing quality watches at affordable prices, SKMEI’s feature-laden fashion watch has gone up for sale on GearBest.

The popular watchmaker is offering this Men Sports Waterproof Watch Stainless Steel Fashion Digital Wristwatch at a lowered price on GearBest. While the coveted watch would normally set you back a pretty penny on online and offline stores, you can now buy it for just $9.74 on the popular Chinese electronics online store.

This is a noteworthy 29% discount on the watch’s original asking price and it will be valid for the gold color version. An absolute bargain at this price, this sports watch for men from SKMEI boasts an impressive array of features.

Its case is made using a robust ABS material and it sports an appealing square-shaped dial with digital watch movement. Furthermore, the dial of this 50M waterproof watch is well complemented by a sheet folding clasp.

Moreover, the watch adopts an EL Lamp that enables its wearer to see the time clearly simply by pressing the “LIGHT” button. Other functions include 2time, chrono, alarm, date, week, EL, countdown, and a 12/24 hour clock.

Its dimensions are 9.06 x 1.69 x 0.51 inches and it weighs in at just 0.0850 kg. Alternatively, you can get 36% off on the black, copper and 29% off on the silver color versions of the SKMEI-branded digital wristwatch.

You can avail the discount by heading straight to this link. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that there were only 379 pieces left for the Flash Sale price at the time of writing and the promo is slated to end in 7 days.

Get 29% Off On SKMEI Men Sports Waterproof Watch

Huawei to launch 5G enabled foldable display phone in mid-2019

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 20, 2018

Next year, leading smartphones manufacturers are expected to 5G-ready phones and flagship phones with foldable displays. During the annual meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China that was organized by World Economic Forum, Huawei confirmed that its first 5G smartphone featuring a foldable display will go official by mid-2019.

At the press meet, Huawei deputy chairman Ken Hu confirmed that the company is aiming to launch multiple phones in the year 2019. Hu confirmed that the first Huawei 5G-ready phone will go official in mid-2019. Moreover, it will be equipped with a foldable display. The Chinese manufacturer is now gunning to become the first firm to debut a smartphone with foldable screen.

5G phones are expected to deliver 100 times faster data connectivity than 4G networks. Hu claimed that Huawei’s first foldable screen smartphone will allow users to enjoy high-speed data connectivity along with amazing HD video experience on its large display. It is speculated that the Kirin 980 which is the world’s first 7nm chipset will be powering the handset.

The Kirin 980 will be powering the Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro and Honor Magic 2, but these phones will not support 5G connectivity because of the modem present inside the chipset. However, the Kirin 980 SoC that will be powering the first foldable screen smartphone by Huawei is expected to come equipped with Balong 5000 5G modem. The modem was unveiled at the IFA 2018 tech trade show.

Read More: Honor’s President confirms its first 5G smartphone will launch in 2019

Huawei’s first foldable smartphone is expected to feature a flexible OLED display technology. Various display makers such as Japan Display, Samsung Display and LG Display have been working on flexible OLED screens since several years. As of this writing, there is no information on the other specifications of the company’s first 5G ready foldable smartphone.

Huawei is prepping up to become the first company to launch a foldable phone with 5G connectivity, but Samsung may beat Huawei to become the first company to introduce a foldable smartphone in this year. It is speculated that Samsung’s first foldable screen smartphone may get unveiled as early as November this year. Samsung’s 5G phones are expected to arrive next year.

(source)

Meizu 16X 8GB/128GB variant didn’t launch due to supply issues

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 20, 2018

Yesterday, Meizu launched the Meizu 16X at an event in Beijing with high-end specs. It is made available with 6GB RAM only, but what happened to the touted Meizu 16X 8 GB RAM variant? A Meziu fan asked the same question to the company’s founder, Huang Zhang. He responded by saying that “The supplier has not yet settled.” Well, this makes the picture clear that due to some problems with the components supply, the Meizu 16X 8GB RAM version has not announced.

Meizu has made it available in two different variants – 6GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB internal storage priced at 2098 Yuan ($306) and 2398 Yuan ($350) respectively. Currently, it is not clear whether Meizu will announce the 8GB RAM variant in the future or not. If we go with the tweet from the Huang Zhang, then it seems that Meizu is trying to solve the supply issues. Well, we have to wait for some official confirmation about its launch before ending up on any result.

Meizu 16x Specs

Additionally, it carries a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC developed with 10 nm process for better efficiency and increased performance. There’s an Adreno 616 GPU coupled with the chipset to improve the graphics performance of the device. It features a 6-inch AMOLED display having a resolution of 2160×1080 pixels.

Meizu 16X features a 12-megapixel + 20-megapixel rear camera having features such as HDR, OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation). On the front side, there’s a 20-megapixel camera for selfies with AI features such as face recognition and AI beautify. The Snapdragon 710 SoC carries upgraded Spectra 250 ISP which will bring better images than the spectra 160.

In the battery department, Meizu has added a 3100 mAh battery, sufficient to run it whole day upon full charge, claims Meizu. We hope to receive an official confirmation from Meizu regarding the Meizu 16X 8 GB RAM variant.

(Via)

Buy The Microwear X6 Smart Watch For Just $36.99 On TomTop [Discount Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 20, 2018

With more and more people hitting the gym and resorting to a healthier lifestyle, the demand for fitness products has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. While the market is crammed with all sorts of fitness gadgets, smart bracelets have particularly garnered huge popularity among fitness conscious people.

If you’re in the market for a feature-laden smartwatch that doesn’t cost a bomb, you may want to take a look at the Microwear X6. Packed with an impressive array of features, the X6 is now up for sale at a reduced price on TomTop, much to the delight of those who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on a fitness gadget.

Aside from shedding light on the above-mentioned discount, we’ll even show how you can effortlessly save a considerable amount of extra money on the bracelet’s dropped price. The Microwear X6 would normally set you back $74.09 on online stores and offline shops, but you can buy it at a lowered price of just $42.99 on the popular Chinese online store.

On top of that, you can extend this noteworthy 42% discount further by applying coupon code MX6W at the time of checking out. This will help you save an extra $6 and bring your grand total down to just $36.99 before you proceed to checkout.

An absolute bargain at this price, the X6 smartwatch is available in three colors including silver, black and rose gold. It sports a clearly visible 0.66 inch OLED touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 64 X 48 pixels.

You can wear the X6 smartwatch in rain or while washing hands without inflicting any sort of damage to it since it carries an IP67 waterproof certification. Moreover, the device notifies its wearer about incoming call, text message and display alerts for schedule.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the specification and get the discount. It is worth noting that the aforesaid coupon is likely to expire soon, while the sale will come to an end in 18 days.

Get 42% Off On Microwear X6 Smart Watch

Realme 2 Pro revealed by CEO, also confirms Snapdragon 660 SoC

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 20, 2018

Realme 2 Pro is all set to go official in the coming week. It is expected to arrive with some upgraded specs and features over the Realme 2 phone that was unveiled in August. In a recent interview with well-known YouTuber Gaurav Chaudhary, Realme CEO Madhav Sheth not only showcased the Realme 2 Pro smartphone, but also confirmed the chipset that will be powering it.

The interview begins by showing the brand strategy of Realme which is a subsidiary of OPPO. When Chaudhary suggests Sheth to confirm on some of the specs of the phone, he immediately picks up the Diamond Blue colored Realme 2 Pro handset and flaunts in front of the camera.

As previous leaks have revealed, the Realme 2 Pro features a waterdrop notch and dual rear cameras. A fingerprint scanner is placed on the backside of the phone that has a glass finish design. Sheth claims that the handset offers a screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent and he has also confirmed the Snapdragon 660 will be present under the hood of the smartphone. The Realme 2 phone that was unleashed in the previous month has Snapdragon 450 SoC.

Realme CEO has also revealed that the company will be launching its around two to three devices by March. This suggests that the company may launch Realme 3 and Realme 3 Pro within a timespan of six months from now. The current Realme phones are running on ColorOS custom ROM by OPPO. Sheth has revealed that the firm is working on its version of Android skin for its future phones.

Read More: New OPPO phones with in-display fingerprint scanners seen on TENAA

At present, there is no information available on the other specs of the Realme 2 Pro may not be very different from Realme 2. The Oppo Realme 2 features a 6.2-inch HD+ notched IPS LCD screen. The 32 GB and 64 GB storage variants of the Realme 2 respectively features 3 GB and 4 GB of RAM. It is packed with a 4,230mAh battery. For photography, it features 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup and a selfie shooter of 8-mgeapixel. The 32 GB and 64 GB Realme 2 variants are respectively priced at Rs. 8,990 (~$125) and Rs. 10,990 (~$152).

The Oppo Realme 2 Pro is slated to get official on Sept. 27. Sheth has also revealed that the handset is priced between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 20,000. The Realme brand was introduced to the public with the launch of Realme 1 handset and the company has managed to sell 1 million Realme phones.

(via)

How to use OnePlus 6/Huawei P20’s display notch for battery status with Notch Battery Bar App

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 20, 2018

Nowadays, most of the flagship devices are shipping with the display notches. Since the starting of this year, display notch is appearing as a major feature among the smartphones. There’s no significant use of the notch except for design purpose to carry some important sensors and front camera. Today, we have got another use of it, which is displaying the battery status across the notch. OnePlus 6 and Huawei P20‘s display notch can be used to show the battery status using the new Notch Battery bar app.

Notch Battery bar app is currently compatible with OnePlus 6 and Huawei P20. It works by adding a live wallpaper on your home screen. Battery bar appears exactly as the size of the notch on both the devices. It is available for free, but there’s a paid version also, available at the price of $0.99 from the Play Store. It is bringing the useless display notch to some use by adding a battery status bar across the notch.

Steps to use Notch Battery bar app

Install the app from the Play Store
Open the app and preview the wallpaper.
If everything’s perfect, then click “Set Wallpaper” on your device.
Select the option where (home screen or lock screen) you want to apply.
Now, the battery status will show around your notch.

Users, who want to change the wallpaper, can buy the premium version, where there’s an option to change it.

Related: OnePlus 6 receiving Android Pie-based OxygenOS Open Beta 2 update; All you need to know

Notch Battery Bar app will show the bright green color when your device is fully charged, and it will fade to light green upon some usage. Later, it will turn to yellow-brown and then red when your battery is at a critical level.

It is quite a useful app for the display notch devices, and we expect similar apps from the manufacturers also.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) with triple rear cameras officially launched

By

Jeet

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Sep 20, 2018

After a lot of leaks and speculations, Samsung has now officially launched its new Galaxy A7 smartphone for the year. The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) is the first smartphone from the South Korean giant to feature triple camera sensors at the back. While the company refers to the phone as Galaxy A7, we expect the retail package to have Galaxy A7 (2018) branding.

The phone hints at Samsung’s new strategy for the mid-range smartphones, in which the company is now introducing features that are even not available on its flagship phones. It seems like a good way to stand out in the crowded market.

The new Samsung Galaxy A7 features a 6-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display with 2220 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. Under the hood, the device is powered by an unspecified octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz.

It will be available in three memory configurations — 4GB of RAM with 64GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM with 128GB of internal storage, and 6GB of RAM with 128GB of internal storage. All three models come with a microSD Slot, enabling users to further expand the storage capacity up to 512GB.

The major attraction for the phone is its triple camera setup on the back, placed in the top-left corner. It consists of a 24MP primary lens with f/1.7 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide f/2.4 lens for wide-angle photos, and a 5MP f/2.2 depth sensor.

On the front side, there’s a 24MP selfie shooter with f/2.0 aperture and an adjustable LED flash. The camera comes with Samsung’s intelligent Scene Optimizer that categorizes the subject and adjusts the color, contrast, and brightness to optimize image quality.

Connectivity options on the device include 4G LTE Cat.6, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), NFC is some regions, GPS/GLONASS, and a micro USB port. It also comes with Dolby Atmos for headphones and Bluetooth audio, Samsung Pay, and Bixby.

There’s also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, similar to what we saw on the recently announced Galaxy J6+. The phone runs Android 8.0 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own Samsung Experience custom interface on top. The device drives power from a 3,300mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) will be available in select European and Asian markets from this fall. The company also adds that the phone will also be available in additional markets in the near future. Samsung has not yet revealed the phone’s pricing information.

Get The Xiaomi Mi 6 Smartphone For Just $454.99 On LightInTheBox

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 20, 2018

Following in the footsteps of its well-received precursors, the Mi 6 smartphone garnered huge popularity among Xiaomi fans after hitting the store shelves in April last year.

While the phone failed to become an instant hit among cost-conscious buyers due to the steep price tag it carries, Xiaomi is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to make it available to those who are on a tight budget. Keeping in line with that, the Chinese tech giant will be selling the Mi 6 at a considerably dropped price on LightInTheBox.

The Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphone would normally set you back a pretty penny on online as well as offline stores, but you can now buy it at a slashed price of just $454.99 on LightInTheBox. This is a noteworthy 36% reduction in the phone’s original asking price of $709.25.

The Mi 6 boasts an awe-inspiring array of specs and features that make it an irresistible smartphone at this discounted price. First off, the phone sports a 5.15 inches FHD OLED display with a 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.
Moreover, it is housed in a stainless steel body which is further augmented with a four-sided 3D curved glass finish. Under the hood, it packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with an equally robust Adreno 540 GPU.

The Mi 6 offers 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage so that you never run out of space to store your favorite content. On the photography front, the phone houses a 12.0MP+12.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and an 8.0MP front shooter for selfies.

The phone runs on MIUI 8-based Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS and draws its juices from a built-in 3,350 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery. Furthermore, it is crammed with a slew of useful sensors such as a proximity sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, fingerprint sensor, compass, hall, gyroscope, barometer, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

You can follow this link in order to check out the rest of the specifications and take advantage of the discount, which is slated to end soon.

Get 36% Off On Xiaomi Mi 6 Smartphone

Redmi 6, Redmi 5A flash sales in India at 12pm: Price, specifications and features

By

Simranpal Singh

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Sep 20, 2018

Today, Xiaomi is hosting the Redmi 6 flash sale in India at 12 pm in the noon via Mi.com and Flipkart. There’s another device i.e Redmi 5A which is also going on the flash sale at the same time. The newly launched mid-range device, Redmi 6 will be on sale at the starting price of Rs 7,999 for 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. While the Redmi 5A will available for Rs 5,999 in 2/3GB RAM variants.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 flash sale price, specs, and offers

Price

Redmi 6 is available only in 3 GB RAM with 32 GB and 64 GB of internal storage. The 3 + 32 GB storage variant is available at the price of Rs 7,999 in three colour options such as Black, Blue and Gold. While the 64 GB storage variant is available for Rs 9,499 in the same colour configurations as above.

Offers

There’s a 3-months Hungama music subscription free with the device. Users can also secure their device with the accidental insurance available at a discounted price of Rs 549.

Specs

Redmi 6 packs 5.45-inch display having an aspect ratio of 18:9 with 720×1440 pixels of resolution. It features MediaTek Helio P22 SoC with 3 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of internal storage. Further, there’s a 12-megapixel primary shooter with a 5-megapixel camera on the front side. In connectivity, there’s a 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It packs a 3,000 mAh battery with 5W fast charging support.

Read More: Counterpoint Research: Redmi 5A Was The World’s 3rd Best Selling Smartphone In March 2018

Redmi 5A flash sale price, specs, and offers

Price

Redmi 5A is available at the price of Rs 5999 for 2GB RAM variant, while the 3 GB is available for Rs 6,999. There are four different colour options like Pink gold, Black, Lake Blue, and Soft Gold.

Specs

It is available with the Snapdragon 425 SoC having 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal storage. Further, it packs a 5 inch HD display with a 13-megapixel camera on the rear side and 5 Megapixel sensor on the front. It carries 3000 mAh battery with MIUI onboard bringing lots of extra benefits.

(Source)

Get The LeEco Le 2 X526 Smartphone For Just $99.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Sep 20, 2018

If you’ve restlessly been looking for a full-featured smartphone that doesn’t cost a bomb, you may want to take a look at the feature-laden Le2 X526 smartphone from LeEco.

In a bid to make the Le 2 X526 available to cost-conscious buyers, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer will be selling its well-received smartphone at a considerably reduced price of just $99.99 on Banggood. While we’ll shed light on the recently kicked-off promotion, let us first check out what makes the Le 2 X526 quite a bargain at this price.

The LeEco Le 2 X526 sports a 5.5-Inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels for an unmatched viewing experience. It adopts the double-C lighting edge technology to strike a perfect balance between a comfortable grip and awe-inspiring appearance.
Moreover, it packs a powerful Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 1.8GHz Octa-core processor along with an equally competent OpenGL ES 3.1, Adreno 510 GPU, under the hood. The phone offers 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 64GB of non-expandable internal storage.

On the photography front, the Le 2 X526 houses a 16.0MP camera with f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED and dual-tone flash on the back. Up front, there’s an 8.0MP camera with a f/2.2 aperture for selfies and face-to-face video chatting.

The phone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and is backed by a built-in 3000mAh battery. On top of that, it is crammed with a slew of useful sensors including a gravity sensor, gyro, hall sensor, and an electronic compass.

Regrettably, the Le 2 X526 smartphone will be up for grabs bearing the aforesaid lowered price for one week only. The discount will be valid for the grey color version of the phone and you can click here to head straight to the promotion page.

Note that there were only 55 pieces left and the promotion sale is slated to end on September 24th.

Get 17% Off On LeEco Le 2 X526 Smartphone

Download the Banggood App To Get A 10% Off App Coupon

Xiaomi Mi 5 receiving MIUI 10 Global Stable update

By

Simranpal Singh

-

Sep 20, 2018

After the initial rollout of the MIUI 10 in China, now, Xiaomi is rolling out the MIUI 10 Global Stable update to various devices in other countries. Last week, after rolling out the update to Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s and Mi 8, today, Xiaomi is rolling out the MIUI 10 Global Stable update to Xiaomi Mi 5. The same update is already available on devices such as Redmi Y3 and Note 5 Pro with various new features and enhancements.

The three year old device is finally receiving the OTA update with the build number V10.0.1.0.OAAMIFH. The new update weighs around 549 MB and packs various new improvements and features. It is rolling out in phased manner, so it will take some time to reach all the units of Xiaomi Mi 5. The new firmware is quite hefty, so we suggest you to switch to WiFi network to save additional data costs on carrier network.

There are many new changes in MIUI 10 like new natural sounds, new gestures, UI for full screen devices, camera improvements, AI features, etc. Further, there are many changes in terms of performance improvements and bug fixes. Also, the UI is better and more refined, packs less bloat than the previous versions. Mi 5 Pro has already started receiving the same update in India.

Here’s the full changelog:

Designed for full screen experience

All-new full-screen gestures will change the way you interact with your device. They can do everything you used buttons for, except they’re faster, smarter, and more convenient

All-new UI is tailored for full screen devices and lets the content take the front stage

Natural sound system

You won’t get tired of natural and ever-changing sounds of the new MIUI

We simplified system sounds and applied smart filters, so you’ll hear something only when you need to

Ambient sounds of the forest, beach, drizzle, stove fire, and summer night will help you to relax and focus on what’s important

Other improvements and optimizations

AI brings Portrait mode to single camera devices! Blur the background on your portrait shots and look as gorgeous as you feel
Other system apps (including Clock and Notes) got a major revamp too
Read More: Xiaomi smartphones get WhatsApp Cleaner feature in MIUI 10

We suggest you to head over to the Settings > About Phone > then check for the new updates of your Xiaomi Mi 5. By the way, how many of you have started receiving the update ?

(Source)

Pre-Order Beelink Gemini N50 TV Box For Just $279.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Sep 20, 2018

If you’re in the market for a top-notch TV box that doesn’t cost a bomb, you may want to take a look at the Gemini N50 from Beelink. The Shenzhen-based home entertainment equipment manufacturer is deemed as one of the leaders in the entry-level and mid-range TV box market in China.

The N50 N5000 is one of Beelink’s powerful models. It belongs to the Mini PC category and can transform any TV into a smart TV. As if that weren’t enough, you can even use it as a regular computer simply by connecting a monitor, a few peripherals such as a mouse and a keyboard.

The Beelink Gemini N50 Mini PC runs on a pre-installed version of Windows 10 Home OS so that users can take advantage of the awe-inspiring advanced functions that the Windows OS has to offer. Apart from that, the N50 has a built-in Cortana in Windows 10 which enables you to use it as a work assistant.
While you’d end up shelling out a fortune on a TV box comprising comparable specifications, you can pre-order the Beelink Gemini N50 at a dropped price of just $319.99 on GeekBuying. This is a noteworthy reduction in device’s original asking price of $372.79.

You can extend the discount even further by applying coupon code GEMININ50. The coupon helps you get an additional $40 off and reduce your already discounted grand total to just $279.99.

You can follow this link to check out the rest of the features of this Beelink-branded TV box and avail the discount before the promo end. Note that the aforesaid coupon is also likely to expire in a short time.

Get A Noteworthy Discount On Beelink Gemini N50 TV Box

Buy The NFC-Enabled Version Of The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelete For $39.99 On Giztop

By

Vinay Patel

-

Sep 20, 2018

Xiaomi made the NFC-enabled variant of its well-received Mi Band 3 smartwatch available to the public on Wednesday, September 19th. Bearing a relatively steeper price tag, this upgraded version was first announced alongside the regular version in the Chinese market earlier this year.

Following its recent debut, the NFC version of the Mi Band 3 wearable has gone up for sale on Giztop. The feature-laden Mi Band 3 NFC (Near Field Communication) model is designed to facilitate contactless payments using Mi Pay and a myriad of other apps in China and you can now buy it on the official online store of GizmoChina if you’re willing to shell out $39.99.

The NFC version of the Mi Band 3 smartwatch is an absolute bargain at this price, given that it boasts an impressive array of features. Key highlights of the variant include a 0.78-inch OLED Touch big screen, up to 50 meters waterproof, access to social applications and lots more.

Aside from supporting NFC features, the Mi Band 3 bracelet comes with Bluetooth 4.2BLE, which makes it compatible with all latest smartphone with Bluetooth functions. Moreover, its OLED screen shows a slew of information including calories, distances, heart rate, the current time and steps, just to name a few.

The device is intended to monitor daily heart rate changes. It can dynamic-static monitor the wearer’s heart rate and provide data at any time. Aside from that, it comes with a more precise pedometer algorithm.

You can follow this link if you’re interested in checking out the rest of the features and buy this NFC version of the Mi Band 3 smart bracelet.

Buy Xiaomi Mi Band 3 (NFC version)

Huawei FreeBuds 2 Pro leaks, battery case can be charged wirelessly by the Mate 20 Pro

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Sep 19, 2018

When Huawei announced the P20 series earlier this year, it also announced its own wireless earbuds, the Huawei FreeBuds, which look like knock-off Apple AirPods. A new leak has revealed that Huawei is planning a second gen-model called the FreeBuds 2 Pro that will most likely launch alongside the Mate 20 Pro.

The images of the FreeBuds 2 Pro show it will even look more like the Apple AirPods than its predecessor. Even the case has been redesigned as the earbuds now sit vertically when inserted. Design aside, the FreeBuds 2 Pro does have some very interesting tricks up its sleeves.

The original FreeBuds’ provided double the AirPods battery life. It lasted 3 hours on a single charge and 10 hours with the charging case. TheFreeBuds 2 Pro will also last 3 hours on a single charge with Hi-Res Wireless Audio but 20 hours with the charging case! That’s double that of the original. That’s not all.

The case will also support wireless charging alongside USB charging. A promotional image shows the FreeBuds 2 Pro charging wirelessly via its case. What if you don’t have a wireless charger? Simply place the case on your Mate 20 Pro and it will begin to charge. Neat, right? Charging using a cable will take 2 hours while wireless charging will take 3 hours.

The FreeBuds 2 Pro has been reported to have a “bone sensor” that captures the user’s voice via bone conduction technology. Combined with AI, the headphones will be able to distinguish between the voice of its owner and that of others. This is said to come in handy when using the Google Assistant.

Each earbud of the FreeBuds 2 Pro weighs 4.1 grams, is 43 mm long, and 18.6 mm wide. They have IR sensors that can tell when they are in your ears or have been removed so as to pause playback. They should also have the same or improved touch functions of the original FreeBuds such as double-tapping the left earbud to activate the assistant and double-tapping either earbuds to answer or reject calls.

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Our Meizu 16X Hands On Video is up! We are impressed

By

Joel Joseph

-

Sep 19, 2018

Meizu just released its new SD710 powered Meizu 16X model in China today. We were lucky enough to get hands on with the device early on and now, we have our first impressions of the device. The phone has all the bells and whistles that you would expect from an upper mid-ranger and this includes a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack. At the same time, the Meizu 16X doesn’t adopt the trending notch design. It has decided to follow its siblings from the 16th series, featuring a symmetric slim bezel design, which personally, I find to be quite beautiful.

One of the biggest highlights of the Meizu 16X is the presence of an in-screen fingerprint sensor. This is a feature that’s usually reserved for the top-end flagships. In fact, until recently, it wasn’t even mainstream on flagship phones, so its really good to see this tech being incorporated in an upper mid-ranger.

If you look at the specs, which includes the same camera setup as the Meizu 16, a SD710 processor with 6GB of RAM, in-screen fingerprint, and a refreshing symmetric design, the Meizu 16X doesn’t really look like a stripped down version of a flagship model. It can clearly stand on its own as a mid-range device. We even played some heavy games in our Meizu 16X hands on and the phone performed flawlessly without overheating. We also note out some differences between the new model and the flagship 16th series in the video.

RELATED: We benchmark the Meizu 16X on Antutu with SD710 inside

Overall, our first impressions of the Meizu 16X is quite positive. You can check out our Meizu 16X hands on in the video above. Our review should be up in a few days, so make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated!

Nokia is reportedly working on a gaming smartphone

By

Jeet

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Sep 19, 2018

We’ve already seen a few dedicated gaming smartphones launching in the market, and now it seems that we’re about to see another one. As per the reports, Nokia is all set to launch a new gaming smartphone, joining other manufacturers that include Razer, Asus, Xiaomi, Huawei, and ZTE.

Nokia Mobile India has posted a teaser on its social media channels, which reveals the Finnish company is working on a dedicated gaming smartphone. The video teaser shows a few gaming scenes, followed by a glowing outline of a phone.

Some believe that HMD Global could choose the Samsung route and announce a partnership with a major mobile gaming label to launch a gaming smartphone with an exclusive early access to the game. Samsung did the same thing with the Galaxy Note 9 by partnering with Epic Games for Fortnite.

Currently, no details are available related to the upcoming gaming smartphone. At this point in time, all we know is that Nokia is planning to launch a smartphone dedicated to the mobile gamers.

Meanwhile, it appears that HMD Global is working on a couple of other smartphones as well, including Nokia 9 and Nokia 7.1 Plus. A recent report reveals that the Nokia 7.1 Plus could feature a 5.9-inch Full HD+ display and pack Snapdragon 710 processor.

The Nokia 9, on the other hand, is reportedly coming with five camera sensors on the back panel, something that no smartphone company is offering right now. A recent report suggests that Nokia has shifted the launch of Nokia 9 to February next year.

(Via)

Xiaomi’s spokesman posts Mi 8 Lite unboxing photos, confirms it will get global release

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 19, 2018

Earlier today, Xiaomi announced two new phones – the Mi 8 Lite and the Mi 8 Pro. The Mi 8 Lite is the least powerful model in the Mi 8 series and also the cheapest. For those wondering if it will be available outside China, we are happy to tell you it will.

Xiaomi’s global spokesperson, Donovan Sung, took to Twitter a short while ago to post unboxing photos of the Mi 8 Lite. The unboxing photos are for all the color variants and reveal they will all come with the same Twilight Gold box. But that isn’t all the tweet contained.

#Mi8Lite unboxing photos. Launching soon in our global markets across the world! ❤️#Xiaomi #Mi8 #unboxing pic.twitter.com/MIRQoIdUme

— Donovan Sung (@donovansung) September 19, 2018

Mr. Sung also revealed that the Mi 8 Lite will be launching soon across the globe. Yes, this stunning phone will not be a China-exclusive device though there is no info on which countries will be getting it yet. Once we get our hands on that, we’ll let you know.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has a 6.26-inch 2560 x 1080 LCD display. It is powered by the Snapdragon 660 processor with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. It has a 24MP front-facing camera and 12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras. The Mi 8 Lite packs a 3350mAh battery with support for fast charging. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI on top.

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Google Home Hub leaks, looks like a mashup of a tablet and the Google Home Max

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 19, 2018

Last year, Lynky announced the first Google Assitant-powered smart home hub with a display. Yes, Lynky is the first, not Lenovo, to announce a smart display powered by the Google Assistant. Almost a year later, Google is expected to unveil its own smart display. Details of the device called the Google Home Hub have surfaced.

Starting with the design, the Google Home Hub looks like a mash-up of an Android tablet and the Google Home Max. Personally, I think Google could have come up with a better design if it tried.

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The display is 7-inches in size with thick bezels around it. The top bezel has a bunch of sensors but doesn’t seem to have a camera which is weird since the Lenovo Smart Display has a camera for video calling using Google Duo. There is a switch at the back of the Google Home Hub but that is for turning off the microphone.

The rear of the device looks like a large speaker and is covered in fabric. There sure are some speakers buried underneath that fabric but the design gives us concern about the audio performance. As shown in the images, the display practically covers the front leaving just a small bit of the base exposed.

Just like other Google Home devices, the Home Hub will only work when connected to a wall switch judging by the power cable at the back. The Home Hub will be powered by a 15W wall adapter according to the leaked specs.

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The Google Home Hub will display relevant information such as weather, traffic, date and time. It will also be able to show live views of connected security cameras via a voice command. If you link it up with your Google Photos account, it will also display your pictures.

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Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite vs Mi 8 SE vs Mi A2: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Sep 19, 2018

Earlier today Xiaomi released its nth upper-midrange phone of this year: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite. Given the high number of variants of the Mi 8 which are now in the market with similar names and the high amount of Xiaomi upper mid-rangers, we believe it is time to shed some light about the ones sold in the same price range as the new Mi 8 Lite. Here, you will find the main differences and similarities between Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and Xiaomi Mi A2. We will also suggest you which one you should eventually buy. Three handsets with high performance and similar specs at a modest price: who wins and which would be the most suitable for you? Let’s discover it together

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE vs Xiaomi Mi A2

	Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite	Xiaomi Mi 8 SE	Xiaomi Mi A2
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm, 169 grams	147.3 x 73.1 x 7.5 mm, 164 grams	158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm, 166 grams
DISPLAY	6.26 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 19:9 ratio, 403 ppi, IPS LCD	5.88 inches, 1080 x 2244p (Full HD+), 423 ppi, 18.7:9 ratio, Super AMOLED	5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB	4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI	Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI	Android 8.1 Oreo, Android One
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.9 24 MP front camera	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.9 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 20 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	3350 mAh Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0	3120 mAh Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0	3000 mAh, Fast Charging Quick Charge 3.0
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot	Dual SIM slot

Differences

Given that aesthetics are the first thing we can see while looking at a phone, let’s start with the design which is different for each device. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is definitely the most attractive one with its gradient hues. But you may also love the Mi 8 SE with its original square shape and its incredibly high screen-to-body ratio, as well as the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the display. Xiaomi Mi A2 is the only with a metal unibody design and it has just a midrange-level design.

Another important difference is in the displays: three different aspect ratios (19:9 for the Mi 8 Lite, 18.7:9 for the Mi 8 SE and 18:9 for the Mi A2) and three different sizes (6.26, 5.88 and 5.99 inches, respectively). Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the most compact device due to its smaller display, high screen-to-body ratio, and smaller diagonal. It is also the one with the best viewing quality thanks to the Super AMOLED panel with HDR10 technology and DCI-P3 coverage. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2 both have mid-end LCD panels.

Talking about the hardware, Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the most powerful as it has a better SoC: the Snapdragon 710 by Qualcomm paired with up to 6 GB of RAM. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2 have the same SoC and memory configurations, but Mi A2 is the only one of these devices to boast Android One, a stock version of the operating system supported by Google with faster updates.

Coming to camera quality, Xiaomi Mi A2 is definitely the most convincing one with its 12 + 20 MP dual camera on the rear and its bright f/1.8 aperture. It can capture stunning shots even when light conditions are not the best and it is one step forward to its opponents. Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and Mi 8 Lite have the same dual camera setup with 12 and 5 MP, f/1.9 and f/2.0 apertures. At last, there is a slight difference in battery capacities, with the Mi 8 Lite having the biggest one (3350 mAh), Mi 8 SE at the second place (3120 mAh) and Mi A2 with the smallest one (3000 mAh). One last difference: Mi 8 SE features an infrared face unlock system, while the others do not.

Similarities

First of all, these devices are similar in terms of hardware, because they all feature an upper-midrange hardware side. Even though the Mi 8 SE packs a higher-end processor, the difference should not be noticeable in everyday use. Each of these devices can be bought with the same memory configuration. All of them have the same display resolution and even though the sizes are slightly different, the level of detail is the same. The battery life is similar as well because their batteries are similar (but not the same) and so is the software optimization.

Further, all of them feature amazing front cameras with high resolutions for very detailed selfies (Mi A2 and Mi 8 SE have a smaller resolution than Mi 8 Lite but Mi A2 is the only with a front-facing LED flash). All the secondary sensors of these devices were thought to capture depth information. Other similarities which do not interest every handset regard the materials (glass back + aluminum frame for Mi 8 SE and Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite), same SoC (Mi 8 Lite and Mi A2), MIUI (Mi 8 Lite and Mi 8 SE), same rear and front cameras (Mi 8 Lite and Mi 8 SE) and similar prices (while you can get Mi A2 and Mi 8 Lite for less than $210, for Mi 8 SE you need more than $300).

Read More: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite Official Pictures reveal the beautiful Gradient colors in all its glory

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite vs Xiaomi Mi 8 SE vs Xiaomi Mi A2: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

PROs

Better design
Affordable price
Great front camera
Wide display
Bigger battery

CONS

Nothing particular

Xiaomi Mi 8 SE

PROs

Original design
More powerful hardware
Compact size
3D face unlock
Better display

CONS

Smaller display

Xiaomi Mi A2

PROs

Android One
Good price
No notch
Great rear cameras
Wide display

CONS

Smaller battery