Snapdragon 710 and Snapdragon 730 Full Details Leaked

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May 8, 2018

At MWC 2018, Qualcomm announced the new Snapdragon 700 series. However, it didn’t release any info on any specific chip in the series. Later, reports revealed that the first chipset in the series will be called the Snapdragon 710 processor. Full details of the mobile platform have surfaced along with that of another chipset called the Snapdragon 730.

Snapdragon 710

The Snapdragon 710 was already revealed to be a rebranded Snapdragon 670. So some of the specs are similar to that of the 670 that leaked earlier this year.

The SD710 will be built using Samsung’s 10nm LPE (Low Power Early) node. It will have support for 2×2 MU-MIMO, dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.0. The SDR660 transceiver found in the Snapdragon 630 and Snapdragon 660 SoCs is also present.

The CPU of the Snapdragon 710 consists of 2 x Kryo 3xx cores clocked at 2.2GHz and 6 x Kryo 3xx cores clocked at 1.7GHz. The GPU is an Adreno 615 that can be clocked as high as 750MHz. It also supports 60+fps UI for QHD displays and has HDR10 support.

The Snapdragon 710 has a Spectra 250 ISP with support for up to 32MP and 3 concurrent sensors. It will work with UFS 2.1 and eMMC storage types and USB 3.1 and USB 2.0 ports. It doesn’t have a dedicated NPU, so machine learning tasks will be handled by the GPU and Hexagon digital processor Vector eXtensions (HVX).

Snapdragon 730

The Snapdragon 730, on the other hand, will be built using Samsung’s 8nm LPP. Samsung announced last year that its 8nm LPP was ready for production. It uses 10% less power than 10LPP and has a 10% smaller surface area and it appears Qualcomm will be the first to get a taste of the new process.

Connectivity features are the same as that of the Snapdragon 710 except that it will have Bluetooth 5.1 instead of 5.0.

CPU configuration is where the key difference lies. The Snapdragon 730 has 2 x Kryo 4xx cores clocked at 2.3GHz and 6x Kryo 4xx cores clocked at 1.8GHz. It has the same Adreno 615 GPU. Its ISP is the Spectra 350 and it also has FS2 sensor support.

Both the Snapdragon 710 and Snapdragon 730 have the same video coding support as well as storage type and support for peripherals. However, where they differ again is in AI features. The SD730 has a dedicated NPU (NPU 120) for handling machine learning tasks.

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OnePlus 6 (OnePlus A6003) Spotted on GeekBench Ahead of Launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2018

OnePlus 6 has made its first authentic appearance on benchmarking app- GeekBench database. The device is listed with the model number OnePlus A6003 and the benchmark test result was uploaded to the database on May 7.

According to the GeekBench data, the OnePlus 6 polled a single core test score of 2402 and a multi-core test score of 8931 points. The device was able to achieve this score because of the Snapdragon 845 chipset which it packs. The listing also shows the device in question has 8GB of RAM onboard which make this the higher variant. We expect a 6GB RAM variant to be released as well. In addition, the OnePlus 6 is listed to run on Android 8.1 Oreo OS.

Apart from the Snapdragon 845chip and 8GB of RAM, OnePlus 6 is expected to sport a 6.28-inch AMOLED display with a notch at the top, a 19:9 aspect ratio, dual rear cameras, an improved front-facing camera, a 3450mAh battery, and up to 256GB of storage. OnePlus is expected to launch the OP6 on May 17 in London. The Chinese company will also hold global pop-up events in various cities including New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Beijing, Shanghai, Stockholm and several others on May 21 where it will officially unveil its latest flagship in presence of its numerous fans.

(source)

OPPO’s Realme 1 Surfaces In Leaked Live Photo

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 8, 2018

OPPO will announce the first smartphone under its new sub-brand, Realme, on the 15th of May. The first phone under the sub-brand is the Realme 1 and a live photo just leaked on online.

The Realme 1 looks just like the render we saw when we first heard about the brand. The picture shows just the rear but there is a lot we can make out of it. The Realme 1 has a glass back with a polygonal design. There is no oleophobic coating, so this is a serious fingerprint magnet as you can see from the smudges on the device.

There is a single camera lens albeit slightly raised, at the left corner of the phone, and a LED flash beside it. The name of the brand is written in the middle in lower case and at the bottom, we have OPPO’s own logo and a text that reads “Designed by OPPO Assembled in India”.

The phone has a metal frame coated in silver. We can make out a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB port at the bottom. The power button is on the right and volume controls are on the left of the device.

While we can’t see the front of the device, the Realme 1 is said to have a notched display of an undisclosed size. With respect to specs, the Realme 1 is rumored to have an Helio P60 processor and up to 6GB of RAM.

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Sharp AQUOS R2 Launched with Snapdragon 845, Dedicated Cameras for Still Photos and Videos

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

Sharp AQUOS R2 is the latest flagship phone from the company that was unveiled earlier today in Japan. The major highlights of the phone include stellar dual rear cameras, large-sized display with round-shaped notch and Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Sharp AQUOS R2 Specifications and Features

The AQUOS R2 phone that has a metal and glass combination chassis with IPX5, IPX8 and IP6X rating measures 156 x 74 x 9mm and weighs 181 grams. It comes in five colors such as Premium Black, Premium White, Aquamarine, Coral Pink and Rose Red.

The round-notched enabled IGZO display of the AQUOS R2 measures 6 inches. It produces WQHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3040 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 19:9. The chin of the device features a fingerprint scanner enabled home button.

The Snapdragon 845 mobile platform drives the Sharp AQUOS R2 along with 4 GB of RAM. The handset includes an internal storage of 64 GB. For more storage, it is equipped with a microSD card slot. It is preinstalled with Android 8.0 Oreo OS. The smartphone receives power from 3,130mAh battery. For enhanced multimedia experience on the AQUOS R2, it features Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

The dual camera setup includes a 16.3-megapixel super wide-angle camera with 135-degree field of view for video shooting and a 22.6-megapixel camera for still images. It is the first phone in the world that makes it possible to shoot videos and still images simultaneously through their respective image sensors.

The above video shows the wide-angle video shooting prowess of the AQUOS R2 along with its Electronic Image Stabilization function. The notch at the front houses a 16.3-megapixel selfie snapper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Ttjs8Kzkg

There is no information on the pricing of the AQUOS R2. Also, the Japanese firm did not reveal any details whether any other market apart from Japan will be receiving the smartphone.

What do you think about the specs and features of the Sharp AQUOS R2? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

360 N7 Hands On Pictures: Do We Have a New Mid-Range King?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 8, 2018

360 Mobiles has always been known for its sleek premium smartphones and the Chinese company did not disappoint with the newly unveiled 360 N7. The smartphone falls in the lower mid-range smartphone cadre but like the Mi 6X, it packs a Snapdragon 660 chipset which is usually used on premium mid-range phones. The chipset is paired with a massive 6GB of RAM while there is a 64GB and a 128GB storage variant. Here’s our first look at the smartphone in hands-on pictures after its launch, thanks to Chinese blog- IThome.

The 360 N7 doesn’t pack a spectacular design per se. It is the same dual-camera setup stacked in a horizontal plane as featured on the 360 N6 Lite and last year’s Xiaomi Mi A1 among others. The major difference is that the rear camera setup actually looks like an arrangement of three sensors just as rumoured but it is actually two cameras and an LED flash at the extreme end. The rear camera is a 16MP + 2MP depth of field sensor. The device equally packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor at the middle.

The N7 comes with a 5.99-inch full-screen display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and FullHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The display screen is covered with a 2.5D curved glass which should do no more than preventing the screen from scratches. The 360 N7 also comes with an all-metal body designed using advanced CNC process. The volume rockers and power button are located on the right side of the screen. Another spectacular feature is the 5,030mAH battery under the hood. Despite the massive battery size, the device has support for Quick Charge 3.0. In addition, it runs on Android 8.1 Oreo-based 360 UI which is pretty impressive.

All these and even more for just ¥1699 (~$267)! Yes, that is the price of the 64GB variant while the 128GB version is priced at ¥1899 ($298). Isn’t that amazing? The 360 N7 is available in Moonlight White and Graphite Black but only the Black variant is available presently on Jingdong (JD.com). So, do you think the device ticks all the boxes to become the new mid-range king? We really don’t think so, even though it is a pretty impressive phone. Meanwhile, you can see more photos of the device from below.

Kirin 980 Details Surface: To Use Same 7nm Technology As Apple A12 & Have A New NPU

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 8, 2018

Huawei’s Kirin 970 processor first surfaced in the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro last year. It then made its way into the Honor View 10, the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, and most recently, the Honor 10. I guess it is safe to say the processor has had a good run and should make way for its successor – the Kirin 980.

The Kirin 980 is expected to first appear in the Huawei Mate 20 series following its announcement later this year. While we already know what the processor is capable of thanks to an early AnTuTu listing of the Mate 20, there is still a lot we don’t know about the chipset yet. Thankfully, more information has surfaced from an insider from the Taiwanese industrial chain.

The source confirms that the Kirin 980 will be manufactured by TSMC and it will be made using the same 7nm process used for Apple’s A12 processor. The Kirin 980 will also feature a new Cambrian NPU from Cambricon Technologies.

For those who don’t know Cambricon, it is a Chinese company that makes smart chips for AI and cloud computing. Its Cambrian 1A AI processor is the NPU present in the Kirin 970.

The new Cambrian AI processor is said to provide 5 trillion calculations per watt and will be available in dual, quad, and octa-core variants depending on the level of AI processing required.

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Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition Priced at 4,299 Yuan (~$675) Introduced in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

Earlier today, Xiaomi introduced a new limited-edition model of the Mi MIX 2S flagship phone. The Chinese manufacturer has worked with the British Museum to design the all new Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition.

The appearance of the phone does not differ from the regular edition of the Mi MIX 2S as it seems to sport a ceramic chassis. However, it comes with a specially designed protective case, exclusive themes from the Renaissance period and a customized box package which can be seen below. The logo of British Museum is present on the rear side of the phone.

The concept of the limited-edition phone is said to be inspired from the famous artwork from the Renaissance period of the British Museum and Majolica pottery. Xiaomi claims that it is perfect fusion of technology and art as the handset is equipped topnotch specs like Snapdragon 845, 8 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 256 GB. It also features AI dual camera that features 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 as its main sensor and a secondary 12-megapixel telephoto lens. Like the regular Mi MIX 2S, it also includes the Xiao AI voice assistant.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition will be available for buying in China between May 10 and May 16 at 8 PM (local time). It can be availed by spending 4,299 Yuan (~$675). Buyers of this limited-edition phone will be provided with a free wireless charger. As of this writing, there is no confirmation on whether it will be available made in markets outside of China.

(source)

Samsung To Launch 4 New Galaxy J Smartphones In India This Month

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Samsung, in a bid to grab more market share in the India’s mid-range smartphone segment, is planning to launch four new smartphones under the Galaxy J series this month. Reports also suggests that the new smartphones, which are expected to get launched on on May 21, will be made in India, at its Noida facility.

The upcoming smartphones, targeted at millennials, will come with Infinity Display with thinner bezels surrounding the screen. According to the industry sources, South Korea-based Samsung is aiming to bring immersive viewing experience at an affordable price point.

Notably, the Infinity Display, which was first introduced in the Galaxy S8 series, is also available on the company’s recent flagship smartphones — Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S9 series. A similar display is also available on the Galaxy A8 Plus.

Apart from being the part of “Make In India” initiative, the smartphones are also expected to come with features targeted towards the Indian users, such as “S Bike” mode. Further, the devices are also expected to have Ultra Data Saving (UDS) mode and “Turbo Speed” technology. The upcoming devices are also speculated to come with dual camera setup at the back.

Samsung recently launched Galaxy J2 (2018) and Galaxy J7 Duo. The Samsung J7 Duo is priced at Rs. 16,990 (approximately $253), the Galaxy J2 (2018) is priced at Rs. 8,190, which roughly converts to $122.

The Galaxy J7 Duo comes with a 5.5-inch S-AMOLED display that offers HD resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. It is powered by octa-core Exynos 7 series processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, with support for microSD card of up to 256GB. The smartphone comes loaded with Android 8.0 Oreo operating system out of the box, which also brings along Bixby Home feature. The device is fueled by 3,000mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) comes pre-installed with an application called Samsung Mall which is focused on shopping. Its features include ‘Visual Search’ which delivers search results on the basis of a product picture clicked on or uploaded from the user’s gallery. The phone has 5-inch qHD display and is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon quad-core SoC, along with 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard storage. Running on Android Nougat operating system, the phone is powered by a 2,600mAh battery.

Lenovo Flagship with Highest Ever Screen-to-Body Ratio to Debut on June 14

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

Lenovo is resurrecting as a smartphone brand in China. It has recently launched the Lenovo S5, Lenovo K5 and K5 Lite phones and the newest teaser shared by Lenovo VP Chang Cheng on his Weibo account reveals that the company is now prepping up to debut a flagship phone. He has claimed that the mysterious flagship phone will be offering a very high screen-to-body ratio. The image that accompanies the Weibo post suggests that this phone will be made official on June 14.

According to Cheng, by reducing the space taken by camera, bezels and antenna bands, smartphones can offer high screen space to the users. The image reveals that the display of the upcoming Lenovo flagship is surrounded super-slim bezels. To cut down on the space consumed by the front camera, the mysterious Lenovo phone may feature a flip-up camera like the Vivo APEX. Chang has also asked the fans to guess on its screen-to-body ratio. The options provided by him include (a) 80%-84%, (b) 85%-89%. (c) 90%-94% or (d) 95% and above.

The image of the phone seems to show half portion of its display which suggest that it may not a feature a notch like the iPhone X. Also, it does not seem to sport a round-shaped notch like Essential Phone. Hence, it appears that it will offer a bigger screen space like the APEX phone that reportedly offers highest screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent. The smartphone is scheduled to release in the market in the coming month. Hence, its exact screen-to-body ratio will be known in the coming month. The Essential Phone that sports a round-shaped for the front camera has a screen-to-body ratio of 84.9 percent. The screen-to-body ratio of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S of 81.9 percent. There are not many phones in the market that offer 85 percent or higher screen-to-body ratio.

Nothing is known on the specifications of the Lenovo’s forthcoming flagship phone. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to release more teasers on it in the near future. The upcoming Lenovo phone will be rivaling with the likes of the Honor 10, OnePlus 6 and the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 7.

By looking at the image, what do you think could be the screen-to-body ratio of the next flagship from Lenovo? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Will Be Available on Sale Again on May 10 in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

ASUS had launched the ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone on April 23. The Flipkart exclusive phone was made available on pre-orders for the first time on May 3 at 12 PM. Except for the base model featuring 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, all the variants of the ZenFone Max Pro M1 had gone out of stock soon after its pre-orders began. The starting variant was also sold out in couple of hours. The Taiwanese company did not confirm on the number of units of the Max Pro M1 that were sold through its first pre-orders. It only revealed that the handset had met with “tremendous response” in the country. ASUS has now announced that it will be carrying out the pre-orders for the second time on May 10.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 comes in multiple variants such as 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM, 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 6 GB of RAM. These models are respectively priced at Rs. 10,999 (~$164), Rs. 12,999 (~$193) and Rs. 14,999 (~$223) in India. The highest configuration variant was not available through during the first sale. Also, there is no confirmation whether it will be available during the second sale. The handset can be availed in Black and Gray colors. The Taiwanese firm is also providing the MaxBox dock on which the phone can be placed for amplified audio experience.

New and existing Vodafone prepaid and RED plan subscribers who purchase can take advantage of additional 10 GB monthly data for 12 months. The smartphone can be also availed through no cost EMI through popular credit cards and Bajaj Finserve. Flipkart is offering 1-year Complete Mobile Protection plan worth Rs. 999 for only Rs. 49 for the buyers of ZenFone Max Pro M1. The protection service covers various kinds of problems like broken display, liquid damage, hardware and software issues and it also provides users with dedicated helpline service and 10-days guaranteed resolution promise.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 features 5.99-inch IPS LCD display, Snapdragon 636 chipset, 5,000mAh battery, Android 8.1 Oreo, microSD card slot, 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear cameras and an LED enabled 8-megapixel selfie camera. The handset is also equipped with 5-magnet speaker and NXP smart amplifier.

360 N7 Launches With Snapdragon 660 & A Massive 5030mAh Battery

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 8, 2018

360 Mobiles has announced a brand new phone today in China. After weeks of waiting, the 360 N7 is now official and it packs some really impressive features.

360 N7 Design

The N7 is not unlike any phone we haven’t seen before with respect to design. It isn’t breathtaking but it isn’t bad either. It is just the familiar metal back with glass front we have seen on lots of other phones. The phone comes in two color variants – Moonlight White and Graphite Black and both have a CNC finish.

However, there is a nice little addition to the white variant and that is the color power button. Rather than painting it white like the volume controls, it is bright red and it nicely pops out against the rest of the body.

360 N7 Specs

What the N7 misses out on in terms of design, it makes up for it in specs. The phone, surprisingly, comes with a Snapdragon 660 processor and not Helio P60 or Snapdragon 636 as we expected. This is the most powerful mid-range chip at the moment and you can be sure it will deliver.

There is 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. The display is a 5.99” screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2160 x 1080. There is 2.5D glass covering the display but we can’t confirm if it is Gorilla Glass.

The 360 N7 packs dual rear cameras in a 16MP f/2.0 + 2MP configuration. It has PDAF and an LED flash. The front-facing camera is an 8MP f/2.2 sensor with face beauty optimizations.

360 Mobiles hasn’t put all that processing power in there for fun. The phone is targeted at those who enjoy playing mobile games and for long periods. That explains why the 360 N7 has a massive 5,030mAh battery. It also has support for Quick Charge 3.0 (9V/2A fast charging).

The phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with 360’s own UI and software tweaks. There are additional features like Hybrid Engine 2.0, Game Accelerator 2.0, encryption and locking features.

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Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition Launched In India For Rs. 21,990

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Oppo launched its flagship smartphone — Oppo F7 in India in March earlier this year. Last month, the company launched a new variant of the phone in India — Oppo F7 Diamond Black. Now, the China-based smartphone manufacturer has launched yet another variant of the device — Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition.

The limited-edition units of the smartphone will be made available across Oppo retail stores and Flipkart from May 14th. It will be available at the price of Rs. 21,990 (approx. $328), which is same as the price of standard edition. During the launch of the Oppo F7 smartphone, the company had announced cricketers Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma as the brand ambassadors of Oppo.

Three units of the new Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition will have signatures of cricketers Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma, while the remaining units will come with a fancy case cover.

All the specifications of this limited edition device remains same as the standard model. It comes with a 6.23-inch Full-HD+ display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The smartphone features a 16-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and AI scene recognition features. On the front side, there’s a 25-megapixel front-facing camera with Sony IMX576 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, and real-time HDR capabilities.

According to the company, the AI Beauty 2.0 app scans 296 facial recognition points, which is a 20 percent improvement from the first-generation technology. It allows for more precise and accurate facial recognition capabilities. Oppo says that the app can also detect a person’s age, gender, skin colour, and skin type differences for up to four individual subjects in much greater detail.

It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back and facial recognition feature for added security. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB port, and 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system based ColorOS 5.0 and is powered by a 3,400mAh battery.

Buy Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 IP Camera Bulb Cam For Only $26.99 On GearBest; Get Bigger Discount On First 5 Units Daily

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

While IP cameras and WiFi light bulbs are garnering huge popularity among tech buffs, Shenzhen-based electrical appliances manufacturer Alfawise has combined the two components in a single device. Dubbed as the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2, the device is a 3W white light bulb that you can control using your Android or iOS smartphone.

While normally you’d need to shell out $36.99 to buy the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 wireless WiFi IP camera bulb cam on GearBest, the site is offering a 4% off on the device’s original asking price. As a result, the Alfawise-branded bulb camera can now be yours for only $26.99.

Note that you can buy the first 5 units of the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 at an even lower price of just $13.99 daily at 9:00 UTC. This promotion will run until May 14th.

Equipped with a 1.3MP 360 panoramic fisheye lens that delivers 960 x 960 pixels HD image, the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 is an extraordinary LED bulb. As if that weren’t enough, it also supports WiFi and AP connection which enables remote router-less surveillance using just a remote control.

Moreover, it has a 1.3MP 360 degrees panoramic fisheye lens, along with two-way audio function. In other words, it can do communicate online between the IP camera and your mobile device.

The JD – T8610 – Q2 bulb camera also has motion detection function that supports APP push, snapshot and alarm record. The device supports H.264+ video compression format that lets you save more storage space as compared to the H.264 format.

If you’re interested in checking out more details about the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 and buy the highly-useful IP camera bulb cam at a discounted price, head straight to this link. It’s worth noting that the Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 47 pieces for 2 days.

Get 4% Off On Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 Camera Bulb Cam On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Buy CHUWI Hi9 Air Tablet For Just $219.99 On GearBest; Promo Slated To End Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a tablet that supports 4G network but doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, we have good news for you. GearBest is offering the CHUWI Hi9 Air Android 4G tablet at a lowered price of just $219.99.

This is a noteworthy 12% reduction in tablet’s original asking price of $279.20. The Hi9 Air boasts a broad range of awe-inspiring specs and features that make it a bargain under $220.

The device sports a big 10.1 inch 10-point IPS touch display with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels that breathes new life into your photos and videos. Moreover, it is housed in a robust metal body that not only offers additional protection but also gives it an eye-catching cosmetic appearance.
The CHUWI-branded 4G tablet is powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 (MT6797) processor and it uses an ARM Mali-T880 MP4, 700 MHz, 4-Cores graphics processing unit. Under the hood, it packs 4GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB of onboard storage space, which can be expanded up to 128GB.

The Hi9 Air houses a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel front shooter for selfies and face-to-face video chats. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and is backed by a built-in 8000mAh Lithium-Polymer battery.

The Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 177 pieces for 5 days. You can avail this deal and check out other discounts GearBest is offering on a slew of tablet accessories by following this link.

Get 12% Off On CHUWI Hi9 Air On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Taiwan Govt Permits MediaTek to Supply Components to ZTE

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

In the previous month, the U.S. government laid a ban of 7 years on ZTE for violating of U.S. sanctions by shipping U.S.-made goods to Iran. Following the U.S. ban, local companies in Taiwan that are interested in shipping their goods to ZTE have been instructed to apply for permission. On Monday, MediaTek confirmed that it has been granted export permit in the previous week to ship its products to the Chinese company.

An unnamed official who belongs to the Bureau of Foreign Trade in Taiwan said that it had multiple tech companies have sought permission to ship their goods to ZTE. He said that, “We fully understand high-tech factories’ characteristic of fast-paced shipments of goods, we won’t create obstacles for the pace of their exports.” He added, “Taiwan’s government has its own control mechanisms, which is independent of the way the U.S. looks at it in a given situation.”

The 7-year ban by the U.S. government on ZTE will be ending on March 13, 2025. If ZTE serves the ban, its smartphone business may not exist by the time the ban period comes to an end. Since ban prevents ZTE from receiving components and software from the U.S. tech companies, it seems that the Chinese company is considering many other non-U.S. companies for its supplies.

Most of the flagship and mid-range phones by ZTE are powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Now that MediaTek has been granted permission to ship its components to ZTE, consumers may soon see MediaTek SoC powered ZTE smartphones in the market. Since ZTE is banned from receiving software from the U.S., it is likely that future phones from ZTE may not feature Google apps and services. It may so happen that the Chinese firm may end up using of a forked version of Android OS for its future phones.

Meanwhile, a recent report has claimed that ZTE has already approached the U.S. Department of Commerce for suspending the ban. If the appeal fails to sail through, ZTE will consider taking action legal action the U.S. body.

(source|via)

Buy 10W QI Wireless Charger For Only $24.99 On LightInTheBox; Only A Few Pieces Remaining For Lightning Sale!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

It is imperative for those who spend a lot of time driving to have a car mobile charger in order to keep their electronic gadgets charged the whole time. While the market is brimming with all sorts of USB chargers sporting different size, form factor, output and number of ports, car chargers don’t come cheap.

Thankfully, LightInTheBox is offering a noteworthy discount on the 10W QI wireless charger which can be plugged into your car’s electrical power receptacle without breaking much of a sweat. While the QI would normally set you back $65.24, LightInTheBox will be selling it for only $24.99 as part of its latest Lightning Sale.

This is a considerable 62% reduction in the device’s original asking price. On top of that, the Beijing-based international online retail company is offering the aforesaid discount on blue and black color versions of the QI wireless charger as well.

At $24.99, the QI is an irresistible car charger, given that it is compatible with a broad range of phones and tablets including iPhone 8, Note 8, S8 Plus, S8, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge plus, S7, S7 edge, Nokia Lumia 1020, Nokia Lumia 950, iPhone X, S9 Plus, S9, Nexus 6, and iPhone 8 Plus. Moreover, the wireless charger comes with a 360-degree adjustable handle and a fast charging pad.
Apart from that, the Q1 boasts an array of awe-inspiring features such as a telescopic handle, telescopic handle knob, lock buckle, suction cap base, ample wireless charging area, an infrared sensor, USB input port, indicator light, and a touch switch. The wireless charger uses high-quality silicon rubber.

If you’re interested in checking out rest of the specification and want to avail the deal, head straight to this link without wasting time. It’s worth noting that there were only 40 units remaining for Lightning Sale, which is slated to wrap up in just 2 days.

Get 62% Off On 10W QI Wireless Charger On LightInTheBox Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Check Out HOMTOM 5th Anniversary Sale On GearBest; Get Extra $50 Off And Lots More!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

GearBest is celebrating the 5th anniversary of HOMTOM Smartphones by handing out extra $50 discount coupons that will be valid for select HOMTOM-branded smartphones. But that’s not all.

If your order exceeds $100, you can save $10 by applying coupon code ‘Homtom5th,’ which will be valid for 300 uses and will lapse on May 14th. Alternatively, you can use the $50 discount coupon code ‘Homtom5th50off’ at the time of checking out if your grand total is more than $100.

The aforesaid discount coupon will be valid specifically for the first 10 users every day starting at 10:00 UTC. It is also worth noting that the coupon code will expire on May 11th.

The HOMTOM brand sales special promotion has further been split into multiple categories in a bid to simplify the search process. Here’s a brief glimpse of what each category has to offer.

Top Deals

This section is crammed with various models including the HOMTOM HT70 4G phablet, HOMTOM S9 Plus 4G phablet, HOMTOM S8 4G phablet, and HOMTOM ZOJI Z8 4G smartphone just to name a few. More importantly, GearBest is offering considerable discounts on the smartphones and phablets featured in this category.

For instance, the site is doling out a 12% off on the white color version of the HOMTOM S12 3G smartphone, which normally sells for $63.74. As a result, the phone is currently up for grabs for a considerably lowered price of just $55.99.

You can also get 12% off on the blue and black color version and 3% off on the blue color version of the S12 smartphone. However, it is imperative for you to bear in mind that there were 18 units of the white and only 13 units of the blue and black color versions left at the time of writing.

New Arrival

This category comprises the yet-to-be-announced HOMTOM P1, which is touted as the world’s first HD projector phone. If you’re interested in getting your hands on the one-of-a-kind device as soon as it hits the store shelves, you can activate the ‘Arrival Notice’ option on GearBest.

Top Accessories

Deemed as one of world’s leading online shopping site, GearBest is giving a 37% off on the white-tinted OCUBE full body phone case for Homtom HT17 smartphone. The PU leather protector with foldable holder would normally set you back $6.29 on the site, but thanks to the aforesaid discount you can now buy it for just $3.99 until the promo ends in 5 days.

You can check out rest of the products and discounts simply by following this link. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the HOMTOM smartphones, phablets and accessories will retain their original asking price as soon as the promotion sale comes to an end.

Get Big Discounts On HOMTOM Smartphones, Phablets And Accessories On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

ZTE’s Official Website in China Could be Getting a Makeover as All Product Listings Have Been Removed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

A new message that reads “website under revision, stay tuned” is now showing on the homepage of the official website of ZTE (Chinese edition). Since the Chinese manufacturer is revising its website, it has removed the listings of all its products because of which customers are unable to place orders. Until the website is up and running again, people can visit ZTE stores at Tmall and Jingdong to buy ZTE products.

The revision of the website is being carried out at a time when ZTE is making efforts to get rid of the ban that has been levied on it by the U.S. ZTE has been found guilty for illegally selling U.S. goods to countries such as Iran and North Korea. Instead of taking action against the staff who were involved in the act, the company reportedly rewarded them with full bonuses. Hence, on April 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce ordered companies in the country to not to sell their software and components to ZTE for seven years until March 13, 2025. This could also mean that the future ZTE devices may not include Google apps and services.

During a press meet on April 20, ZTE Corporation chairman Yin Yimin said that the U.S. ban will have a significant impact on the company as it affects the interests of its employers, operators, shareholders and end users. In a previous statement, the Chinese manufacturer had also claimed the ban is unfair and unacceptable.

ZTE does not intend to serve the 7-year ban because its smartphone business would be completely dead by the time the ban period finishes. A recent report has revealed that the Chinese manufacturer has approached the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) division of the U.S. Department of Commerce to suspend the ban. If the U.S. government does not remove the ban, ZTE may take legal action against it.

Panasonic P95 With Face Unlock Launched In India For Rs. 4,999 ($74)

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Panasonic has launched a new budget smartphone in the Indian market. The company has launched Panasonic P95, which is priced at Rs. 4,999, which roughly converts to about $74.

During Flipkart’s Big Shopping Day Sale, the smartphone will be available at Rs. 3,999 (approximately $59). It will be available in three color options — Gold, Blue, and Dark Grey.

The Panasonic P95 features a 5-inch HD display with screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 210 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz, coupled with Adreno 304 graphics processor.

It packs 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot, allowing users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 128GB.

Coming to the camera, on the back side, the phone comes equipped with an 8-megapixel camera along with an LED flash. On the front, there’s a 5-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

Connectivity options of the device include 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. While there is no fingerprint sensor, the phone comes with a face unlock feature. The smartphone runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 2,300mAh battery.

Panasonic seems to be on a launching spree. In April, the company had launched three budget smartphones — Panasonic Eluga Ray 550, Panasonic P101, and Panasonic Eluga i7, aiming to grab market share in India’s budget smartphone segment.

Motorola Moto Z Gets A Stable Android P Firmware Thanks To An Unofficial Porting

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 8, 2018

If you own a Motorola Moto Z, even though it was released almost two years ago, you can already taste the upcoming Android P. Thanks to XDA Developers, a new ported ROM is available for the former Lenovo flagship to download. A developer identified by the nickname erfanoabdi on XDA community has extracted the Android P firmware from a Google Pixel XL, then he has adapted the firmware for the old Moto Z and ported it.

According to the post which describes the ROM on XDA, the Android P porting works very well on Motorola Moto Z and it doesn’t have any bug making it suitable for daily use. Unfortunately, the secondary SIM slot still does not work, the stock torch app, encryption and some MotoMods (such as the Moto battery pack) are not working, but the developer is expected to keep supporting the ROM and update it in order to fix these problems. The most important elements such as Wi-Fi, camera, radio and other connectivity modules are working well with no issues.

Given that we are talking about an unofficial porting, it does not come as an OTA update, obviously. To install it, you need to unlock the bootloader on your Motorola Moto Z, then you will need to install a custom ROM such as TWRP. After this, you will need to extract the ROM in your internal storage, reboot your device in recovery mode and flash the ROM files. You will void the device’s warranty if you follow these procedures and install the ported ROM, and we suggest you do it only if you know what you are doing as you risk bricking your phone. You can find all the necessary downloads and the complete procedure by heading to the source link below.

(Source)