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

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May 8, 2018

After Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 7 Plus, it seems that even Nokia 5 will soon come in a renewed version for 2018. A user asked Juho Sarvikas (CFO at HMD Global) on Twitter if a 2018 variant of the affordable Nokia 5 will meet us this year, and Sarvikas replied by telling him to “stay tuned”. This answer kind of confirms that the handset is in the works. Sadly, HMD Global has never released any info about this device, neither are there rumors or leaks about it.

So, we still do not know anything about the Nokia 5 (2018). At the moment, to give you an idea of how the upcoming smartphone could be, we can only remind you the specs of the previous version announced in Barcelona at MWC 2017. The original Nokia 5 was a modestly cheap device sporting an aluminum unibody design and a 5.2-inch HD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The hardware side includes an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 2 or 3 GB of RAM (depending on the chosen configuration) and 16 GB of internal storage expandable with a micro SD. Nokia 5 has a single main camera with a 13 MP resolution and a f/2.0 aperture, while the secondary camera has a resolution of 5 MP and the same f/2.0 aperture.

The handset packs a 3000 mAh battery and it was launched in the European market with a price tag of about €180. Given these specs and the ones of Nokia 6.1, expect Nokia 5 (2018) to be a lower-midrange device which may be priced at around €200. It may come with Android One installed out of the box and it should be supported very well in the long-term just as the other Nokia handsets launched by HMD Global. Unfortunately, we do not have any idea regarding an eventual launch date of this device, but we will inform you as soon as we will get new info.

(via)

Photos of Amitabh Bachchan & Pete Lau Show Off The OnePlus 6 In Black & White (UPDATED)

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May 7, 2018

(UPDATE: Tweet has been deleted but we have the pictures below)

The OnePlus 6 just showed up in fresh live photos and you should be excited. Yes, we know there have been quite a number of leaks regarding the upcoming device, but this latest one is special and that is because of its source.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador for OnePlus in India is the source of the latest leak. The actor shared photos of him and OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, on his Twitter page as part of a post to announce that launch invites become available tomorrow (today).

[envira-gallery id=”189537″]

In one of the photos, both Pete Lau and Amitabh Bachchan are each holding a OnePlus 6. Each of them is actually holding a phone that matches the top he is putting on. So we not only get to see the OnePlus 6 but we also know two color variants to expect when it launches.

CEO Pete Lau is holding the white variant while Mr. Bachchan is holding a black model. It is obvious the latter is covered in glass seeing as it is reflective. We can’t confirm if the white variant also has a glass back but at least we can make out the design of the phone.

The OnePlus 6 has dual rear cameras that are arranged vertically. The camera housing is black, and right below it is a LED flash, and a pill-shaped fingerprint scanner. There is also a OnePlus logo in red.

The second photo doesn’t hold much info but shows the both of them posing for a selfie.

From this photos, we know the OnePlus 6 will come in three different colors/design – white, black, and an Avengers special edition version.

Meizu 15 Goes Swimming: Shows Off Low-light Underwater Photography Capability

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May 7, 2018

It has been three weeks since Meizu announced the Meizu 15 series. Both the Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus have the same dual rear cameras configuration which Meizu says performs excellently under low-light. To prove it, Meizu took the phone for a dive in the ocean.

Meizu partnered with JD.com, one of China’s top retailers and went on a scientific voyage to explore the Blue Grotto of Saipan, a popular location at the Mariana Islands.

The Meizu 15 with the help of its dual cameras does take some impressive photos. The phone uses the Sony IMX380 sensor, the same one in the Huawei P20. One sensor is 12MP and the other is 20MP. It also has a large 1/2.3” sensor with a large 1.55μm pixel size, 4-axis optical image stabilization, multi-frame noise reduction, and HDR support.

[envira-gallery id=”189525″]

OnePlus Officially Confirms the OnePlus 6 Slow Motion Video Recording Feature

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May 7, 2018

Barely two weeks back, OnePlus India had mistakenly released a poster which teases the OnePlus 6 as coming with a Super Slo Mo recording feature. The teaser poster was immediately removed from the page and then edited with a different content inserted. OnePlus has now officially confirmed the Super Slow Motion video shooting feature on the OP6 via a tweet containing a video teaser. You can find the video after the next paragraph.

Slow-motion video recording isn’t actually a new feature as OnePlus flagships as last year’s models featured the ability to record slow-motion videos but not at 960 fps. This obviously new feature is termed Super Slow motion so, we could be looking at 960 frames/second slow-motion video recording or even more. However, the video does nothing more than teasing the feature. It reveals little details of the feature instead, the short video flashes through different scenes at a rather swift pace. Nevertheless, we are still able to look through and notice that the actions of the persons in the video tend to move in slow motion.

Let's slow down time! This poppin' teaser requires your full attention 😉 https://t.co/5TPq08B71n #OnePlus6 pic.twitter.com/fkmp1wXJzg

— OnePlus (@oneplus) May 7, 2018

We are almost losing count of the high-powered features the OnePlus 6 flagship is expected to pack. From a glass body, to an heart rate sensor, to a Snapdragon 845 chipset as well as a waterproof body, the device is surely worth looking forward to its launch. May 17 is the date all the features will be unveiled. We’ll bring you all the details here on Gizmochina when it is launched.

(source)

Even Huawei P8 Lite (2017) Gets Android 8.0 Oreo Beta Firmware

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May 7, 2018

Huawei P8 Lite (2017) is a remake of one of the best-selling Huawei phones ever: the unforgettable P8 Lite. It has been released as a very affordable device, even cheaper than P10 Lite, with Android Nougat. But even though its price tag is very competitive, this phone will be soon updated to Android 8.0 Oreo just like some of the most expensive Huawei flagships. These days, the Chinese company is attracting a lot of attention as it has started the beta testing phase of Android Oreo on several handsets at the same time.

Huawei P8 Lite (2017) is just the nth of them. In order to download the beta firmware of the update, you need to download the Huawei Beta app from the official site by clicking on the big blue Download button. Then, you need to follow the easy wizard that you can find on the download page to adhere to the beta testing phase and download the firmware. Note that you first need to be accepted by the team. The beta testing phase of Android Oreo for Huawei P8 Lite (2017) should last until May 31, then the final update is expected to roll out in the following weeks.

Note that we are talking about an unstable firmware which may not be suitable for daily use, so install it only if you are aware of the risks and make a full backup of your important data before installing it. If you find a bug or other issues after installing the beta firmware, you can contact Huawei to communicate it in order to help developers fix it. You can leave the beta testing project anytime you want by heading to the above-linked download page of the firmware and following the instructions at the end of the page. Will you install the beta firmware or wait for the stable version?

(via)

OPPO R15 & R15 Pro (Dream Mirror Edition) Launched in Taiwan

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May 7, 2018

OPPO has officially launched its premium mid-range smartphones in Taiwan. The OPPO R15 was launched alongside the R15 Dream Mirror Edition which is also known as R15 Pro. The models come with a rather higher pricing than the prices it adopted in China. That is NT$15,990 (~3,400 yuan) for the R15 while the R15 Pro comes with a price tag of NT$18,990 (4,100 yuan). Whereas the R15 launched in China with a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (`$473) and 3,299 Yuan (`$520) for the R15 Pro.

Basically, the specifications of both models are the same with the China edition. The OPPOR15 Pro tries to tread in flagship territory while skipping a number of smaller features consumers will likely overlook. Both the R15 and R15 Pro features a 6.28-inch OLED Super View Full-Screen display with a notch at the top. It offers a Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9 as well as a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.

The R15 Pro packs a Snapdragon 660 chipset backed by 6GB of RAM and it includes 128 GB of storage which can be expanded up to 256GB more via microSD card. The premium smartphone gets its juice from a 3,400mAh with support for VOOC fast charging technology. Furthermore, the R15 Pro dual camera setup includes a 16-megapixel Sony IMX519 sensor and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor. The front-facing camera is a 20-megapixel sensor.

On the other hand, the R15 is powered by the newly announced MediaTek Helio P60 paired with 6 GB of RAM. It is also equipped with 128 GB of storage expandable to 256GB via microSD. Its external storage slot supports up to 256 GB of microSD card. The R15 battery is slightly bumped up to 3,450mAh battery with VOOC fast charging. However, the dual rear cameras are slightly different, and it includes a 16-megapixel Sony IMX519 sensor + 5-megapixel secondary sensor. The front-facing camera is a 20-megapixel sensor.

Both models run on Color OS 5.0-flavored Android 8.1 Oreo. Both models equally pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Other features include an IP67 dust and water resistance and NFC functionality.

The OPPO R15 is available in Snow White, Star Purple, and Red colour variants while the R15 Pro will be available in Red and Purple colours. Both models will go on sale in Taiwan from June 1.

Samsung Galaxy J4 Images Appear Through its NCC Certification

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 7, 2018

Fresh information reveals that Samsung may debut as many as four new Galaxy J series smartphones in May. The low-budget Galaxy J4 smartphone that had appeared on Geekbench could be one of the upcoming Galaxy J series smartphones. The arrival of the Galaxy J4 seems to be drawing near as it has received certification from Taiwan’s NCC regulatory body.

The images of the Galaxy J4 (2018) that have surfaced through its NCC listing has revealed that it won’t be featuring an Infinity Display as it seems to be housing a display with a conventional aspect ratio of 16:9. Below the display of the phone is a fingerprint sensor enabled home button. The rear panel has a camera module that includes a single sensor and an LED flash. The left edge of the phone has volume up and down buttons and the power key on the right. The Galaxy J4 (2018) seems to be wearing a polycarbonate body.

The Geekbench listing of the smartphone has revealed that it is fueled by the modest Exynos 7570 SoC that includes a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor. Samsung has used the same SoC to power other low-budget phones like Galaxy J3 (2017) and Galaxy Xcover 4. It will come preinstalled with Android 8.0 Oreo. Nothing much is known on the other specs of the phone.

(source|via)

New Nokia X Teaser Reveals Time Details & Hints At Gaming Features

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May 7, 2018

The Nokia X will be officially launched next week – on Wednesday, May 16. The upcoming phone was on display at a Nokia event a few weeks ago before the launch date was revealed.

HMD Global has released a new teaser poster for the phone which has more details about the event and also some hints about the device.

The Nokia X will launch in Sanlitun, Beijing and the event will kick off at 2:00 PM local time. Apart from the venue of the event which is the background of the poster, there are also some cartoon images. The containers should be familiar since that was Nokia’s setup for its event a few weeks ago. What you should focus on are the supply drops/air drops littered over the poster.

If you are familiar with games like Fortnite: Battle Royal and PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds, then the supply drops should be familiar. Some have interpreted their addition to the poster as a hint that the Nokia X will have gaming features.

These won’t be elaborate gaming features but just software enhancements to get the most out of the phone’s processing power and the likes.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 Will be the Best Ever Redmi Selfie Phone, Says Company

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 7, 2018

There are only 3 days remaining for the Redmi S2 phone to go official and Xiaomi has started to aggressively tease its best features. It has recently teased that the Redmi S2 will be equipped with 12-megapixel AI dual camera. Also, it will be equipped with AI Portrait mode and AI Beauty mode for the front-facing 16-megapixel selfie camera. A new teaser states that the Redmi S2 is the best Redmi phone for shooting selfies.

Xiaomi has recently confirmed that the Redmi S2 will be unveiled at the headquarters of Suning Tesco in Nanjing on May 10. The Chinese manufacturer has already hinted that the upcoming Redmi S2 will give birth to the new Redmi S series of smartphones. It is speculated that this new series would include selfie-centric phones.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 that was launched in China recently as the Redmi series phone with dual rear cameras is equipped with a soft-LED enabled 13-megapixel selfie camera. As it is already known, the Redmi S2 will be arriving with a 16-megapixel Samsung S5K3P8SP selfie camera that will be assisted by its own soft-LED flash. The AI Portrait mode will allow the Redmi S2 to capture bokeh shots by effectively blurring the background and focus more on the subject. The AI Beauty mode will be to enhance the different points on the face for shooting impressive selfie shots. Moreover, it is also speculated to include AI face recognition.

The rear side of the Xiaomi Redmi S2is expected to feature 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel vertical dual camera setup. The leaked firmware files of the Redmi S2 that had surfaced in the previous month had revealed it will be offering camera features like Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and Portrait mode.

The Redmi S2 is equipped with a 5.99-inch display that produces HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. The Snapdragon 625 will be present under the hood of the phone and it will include a 3,080mAh battery. It is expected to be available in multiple RAM options from 2 GB to 3 GB and storage variants from 16 GB to 64 GB. As far as the design is concerned, it is expected to feature a metal unibody. The images of the phone that have appeared recently reveals that its rear resembles with the Xiaomi Mi 6X and Redmi Note 5 (China edition). It is pegged to be priced under 999 Yuan (~$159) in China.

Nokia X Promotional Poster By Suning Leaks, Design Revealed Once Again

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Visit Leagoo S9 Promotion on Banggood

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May 7, 2018

Less than ten days remain from the official announcement of Nokia X, the first smartphone by HMD Global to feature an iPhone X-like notch in order to minimize bezels. It seems that the handset will initially be an exclusive on the known e-commerce Suning, which has just published a promotional poster of the upcoming device. Thanks to the poster, we can admire the full design of the phone in all its splendor, even though the company has already showcased it in China at the end of April (find the photos here).

Nokia X features a glass back and an aluminum frame, with a circular fingerprint reader on the back and a 19:9 display on the front. There is a notch but there is also a chin which contains the Nokia logo. The device boasts a vertical dual camera setup on the rear side, but it lacks the Carl Zeiss branding and this makes us think that Nokia X will be a cheaper device than Nokia 7 Plus. The device is supposed to come with a 5.8-inch display sporting a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels (IPS LCD). It should be launched in two variants with different prices.

The cheapest one is expected to come with an octa-core Helio P60 processor by MediaTek and 4 GB of RAM, while the expensive one will boast an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset and 6 GB of RAM. The first version is tipped to launch with a price tag of 1599 Yuan in China, which roughly translates into €210 or $250, while the second one should cost 1799 Yuan, that is equivalent to about €237/$283. Nokia X will be officially unveiled by HMD Global on May 16. At the moment, we do not know when the device will stop being a Suning-exclusive, neither when it will be available in the global market.

(via)

Nubia Z18 Has Full Screen 3.0 Design, Confirms CEO; Key Specs Appear Through Master Lu Benchmarks

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 7, 2018

ZTE’s sub-brand Nubia has recently launched the Z18 Mini smartphone and the company is now prepping up to launch the Nubia Z18 flagship phone. Today, Nubia CEO Ni Fei has released a new poster on his Weibo account to confirm that the Z18 will be equipped with Full Screen 3.0 design. Recent reports have revealed that the model number of the upcoming Nubia Z18 is NX606J. The same model number has been found benchmarked on Master Lu through which some of its key specs have been revealed.

Shown aboveis Z18’s new teaser that has been shared by Ni Fei. The leaked schematics of the Nubia Z18 and its images that have surfaced through the TENAA listing have shown that it will be featuring a round-shaped notch like the Essential Phone. Thankfully, Nubia Z18 won’t be featuring a notched design like the iPhone X. In fact, the Z18 will offer higher screen-to-body ratio than the recent notched display smartphones. He added that the Z18 will offering larger screen space than the Nubia Z17S that was launched in October with a screen-to-body ratio of 90.36 percent.

At the beginning of the year, the NX606J smartphone was found benchmarked on AnTuTu. The same model has also received certification through TENAA authority China. Through Master Lu benchmarks, it has been once again revealed that the Snapdragon 845 chipset will be powering the NX606J Nubia Z18 along with 6 GB of RAM. The exact size of the display has not been revealed through Master Lu listing, but it has been found that it offers 2160 x 1080 pixels resolution.

According to the TENAA listing of NX606J measures 148.58 x 72.54 x 8.5mm and it features a 5.99-inch display. In terms of dimensions, the Nubia Z18 seems to be similar to Z17S that has a 5.73-inch display housed in a body that measures 147.5 x 72.7 x 8.5mm. Apart from 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM model, there will be a higher model with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. It features a 3,350mAh battery and runs on Android 8.0 Oreo.

One of the dual rear camera sensors of the Nubia Z18 is of 24-megapixel and it has a selfie snapper of 8-megapixel. The fingerprint scanner resides on the rear panel of the Z18. The TENAA images of the phone have revealed that it will be featuring a dedicated key on the left edge of the phone for launching the voice assistant. The handset is expected to be available in black and gold color options.

(source 1, 2)

Giveaway – Win a Leagoo S9 iPhone X Style phone

By

Shine Wong

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May 7, 2018

Gizmochina along with Banggood is conducting 1 unit Leagoo S9 iPhone X style phone as giveaway gift to a lucky reader. Like always, you just have to follow the steps mentioned on the Gleam widget to get a chance to win this amazing gift.

In the pre-order term, you can get this iPhone X style phone at $129 ($20 off), and Banggod will choose 2 free orders who has bought Leagoo S9 each day.

Leagoo S9 provides immersive visual experience identical to the iPhone X. With balanced hardware and a very power-efficient performance, it offers good user experience for only 1/7 of the budget of iPhone X. In addition, the Leagoo S9 features a dual Sony 13MP/2MP rear camera and with the 65MP ultra-HD shotalgorithm, a photo shot on the S9 can be enlarged 23 times without losing its original HD quality.

How to entry this giveaway? Just follow these steps via Gleam widget:

Visit Banggood’s Leagoo S9 promotion page, and leave comments under this article, to tell readers which feature do you like on this phone;
Share this giveaway contest to your friends on social sites;

Terms & Conditions:

1. The giveaway is an international giveaway.
2. We are not responsible for lost shipments.
3. We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
4. We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
5. The prize will be shipped in a month when the giveaway end.

Just follow the steps mentioned in the Gleam widget to participate in the giveaway.

Once again, good luck.

Giveaway – Win a Leagoo S9 Phone

Huawei Honor 10 India Launch Date Is Just Around The Corner; Exclusive To Flipkart

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Vinay Patel

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May 7, 2018

Just a week after the Huawei’s sub-brand confirmed that the Honor 10 is slated to arrive in India in May end, Flipkart has decided to tease the release date of the device. Note that the premium smartphone will be up for grabs exclusively through the e-commerce giant. Interestingly, the Bengaluru-based electronic commerce giant has kept details regarding the Honor 10 launch offers under wraps. The company is also tight-lipped about the price tag the phone is likely to come bearing in India. Nevertheless, more shreds of information are likely to surface ahead of the phone’s launch.

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the Honor 10 smartphone, you can now activate the ‘Notify Me’ option on Flipkart. According to a report from Gadgets 360, Honor is gearing up to host an event in London on May 15 in a bid to launch the phone in a slew of other international markets. The site has also found out from unnamed sources that the Honor 10 smartphone will sell approximately for 35,000 INR (about $521). The phone is expected to go toe-to-toe with the equally-anticipated OnePlus 6.
The Honor 10 boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features that are likely to sweep smartphone lovers off their feet. First off, the phone sports a big 5.84-inch full-HD+ FHD+ display with a screen resolution of 1080×2280 pixels, bearing an aspect ratio of 19:9. The upcoming smartphone is expected to pack a powerful Huawei HiSilicon KIRIN 970, 64-bit processor along with an equally robust ARM Mali G72 MP12, 767 MHz, 12-Cores GPU, under the hood. It offers 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of non-expandable onboard storage.

Moreover, the Honor 10 runs EMUI 8.1 based Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box and is backed by a built-in 3400mAh battery with quick charging support. According to the handset maker, the bundled charger will be capable of charging the Honor 10 up to 50% in just 25 minutes. On the photography front, the Honor 10 houses a 16-megapixel + 24-megapixel dual-camera setup with dual LED flash and f/1.8 aperture on the back. Up front, there’s a 24-megapixel front shooter for selfies and face-to-face video chat.

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ Gets New Red Color Variant in China

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May 7, 2018

Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, and Lilac Purple. Availablity of these color variants are market dependent.

In China, both phones are available in black, purple, and blue. However, the Korean giant has unveiled three new brand ambassadors along with a new color variant for China.

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are now available in red in China. The new color is similar to the Burgundy Red Galaxy S8.

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Samsung is not new to releasing new color variants for its phones but this is unusual because it is still very early. The phone went on sale in March, though was announced in February.

Usually, Samsung doesn’t announce a new color variant until much later in the year. That is not to say we are not pleased. The more colors to choose from, the better.

Huawei P9, Mate 8, Honor 8 and Honor 6X: Android Oreo Beta Testing Phase Kicks Off In China

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May 7, 2018

Huawei has launched the beta testing phase of Android 8.0 Oreo for some of its most important handset announced in 2015 and 2016. We are referring to Huawei P9, P9 Plus, Mate 8, Honor 8 and Honor 6X. Yes, even the old Mate 8 and the Honor 8 which was confirmed to stay with Nougat forever due to hardware limitations, will receive the update to Android Oreo. Unfortunately, for now, the beta firmware of Android Oreo has only been launched in the Chinese version.

We do not know when the beta Android Oreo firmware for Huawei P9 and the other handsets will be available outside of China, or when the stable version of the update will be released. According to reports, we will see the final update to Android Oreo on these handsets within H1 2018, so within the end of June. Even the Asian-exclusive Honor Note 8 has been included in the beta testing phase. Note that on all of these handsets, Android Oreo may be the latest major Android update that will be rolled out; it is unlikely that they will be updated to Android P which should instead arrive on more recent and powerful handsets like Huawei P10 and the following ones.

The variants of Huawei P9 and P9 Plus eligible for the beta testing phase of Android Oreo are EVA-AL00, EVA-AL10, EVA-CL00, EVA-TL00, EVA-DL00 and VIE-AL10. Huawei Mate 8 variants included in the beta testings phase are NXT-AL10, NXT-CL00, NXT-TL00. Honor 8 eligible variants are FRD-AL10, FRD-AL00 and FRD-DL00. At last, you can adhere to Android Oreo beta testing in China if you own one of these variants: BLN-AL10, BLN-AL20, BLN-AL30, BLN-AL40, BLN-TL10 or BLN-TL00. The Android Oreo update is obviously customized by EMUI 8.0 and it contains several new features such as Oreo’s picture-in-picture mode, autofill APIs, notification channels and much more.

When do you think these handsets will receive the final update?

(via)

ZTE Applies To U.S Commerce Department For Suspension Of Export Ban

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May 7, 2018

Chinese smartphone and telecommunication equipment manufacturer, ZTE was recently slammed with a seven years ban which prevents it from receiving U.S exports. The ban is supposed to expire in March 2025 but ZTE doesn’t intend to serve the ban. That’s because it is most likely that the company’s smartphone division would be dead by the time the ban elapses. Instead, ZTE has applied to the U.S Commerce Department, seeking to have the ban suspended.

According to Reuters, the Chinese company disclosed in a filing to the Shenzhen stock exchange on Sunday that it has submitted an application to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) for the suspension of the business ban. Ordinarily, ZTE has no administrative appeal rights under agency regulations but the Commerce Department has reportedly agreed to hear the company’s appeal on an informal basis. ZTE had rejected the ban, stating that it threatened its existence. The company also disclosed that it would take legal action. That may likely be the last resort if the appeal fails to sail through.

ZTE was first fined $1.19 billion in 2017 by the Commerce Department for selling goods and services to Iran and North Korea. Additionally, the company was banned from receiving U.S. exports for seven years, although there was a stay of execution on that part of the punishment as long as ZTE wrote those involved a letter of reprimand and withheld their bonus payments. Unfortunately, ZTE didn’t comply but lied they did, leading to the enforcement of the U.S. exports ban until March 2025.

Some analysts are positive the issue would eventually be resolved without ZTE serving the ban. Some see the imbroglio as a negotiating tactic as both countries try to end a trade war initiated by the U.S. U.S sparked off the trade war intentionally by imposing a 25% tariff on more than 1,300 imported products from China in order to close up the huge trade deficit that the U.S. has with China. In retaliation, China has proposed a similar tariff on U.S. imports.

(source)

Motorola Releases Video Teaser Suggesting The Moto G6 Will Hit China Soon

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May 7, 2018

Motorola has already launched the Moto G6 smartphone in Brazil last month but the phone is yet to arrive China, the world’s largest smartphone market. However, there are indications that the Moto G6 will be released in China soon. A few days back Motorola released a poster which suggested the device will be released soon. Now, the company has released a short video starring the G6.

The video which was uploaded on Weibo today is clearly that of the Moto G6 in the hands of an unnamed male who is probably a celebrity. The video projects the rear camera setup of the G6. As we already know, the G6 packs a dual camera setup which takes a unique design looking like an emoji.

In terms of specification, the Motorola Moto G6 packs a 5.7-inch display with an FHD+ resolution. The back of the Moto G6 is covered in Gorilla Glass 3 on both sides. Under the glass is a Snapdragon 450 processor, 3GB/4GB of RAM, and 32GB/64GB of expandable storage. There is a fingerprint scanner below the display that can be used to control the device using gestures. There is also a 12MP f/1.8 rear camera and an additional 5MP camera for capturing the depth of field information. The front camera is an 8MP sensor with its own LED flash. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo, has Bluetooth 4.2, a USB-C port and a 3,000mAh battery with support for TurboPower fast charging.

As for the price, the Moto G6 was announced for 250 Euros in Brazil (about 1,900 Yuan). So, its price in China may be around this one.

(source)

Around 38% Of Xiaomi’s Workforce Makes Up R&D, 15% Are In MIUI

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May 7, 2018

Have you ever wondered what Xiaomi’s workforce is? Or the number of workers in certain departments? You don’t have to be in the dark anymore.

Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, was at the 4th World Internet Conference and he revealed some interesting details about the company. According to him, the total number of active MIUI users across the globe exceeded 300 million as at December 2017. A large number of these users are based in China which isn’t much of a surprise.

xiaomi logo

Seeing as there are so many MIUI users, it will be nice to know how many workers are serving this large number of customers. The figures of Xiaomi’s total workforce were obtained from documents made available to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ahead of its public offering.

It was revealed that Xiaomi has a total of 14,513 full-time employees. Most are based in Beijing, Mainland China, while the others are split between India, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

Xiaomi's Workforce

Of these 14,513 workers, 2,275 of them work in the MIUI department. That number pales in comparison to that of Sales and Services which has 6,048 workers. The mobile phone department has the third largest workforce with 1,292 employees.

Other notable mentions are Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Technology department which has 700 workers, TV department with 435 workers, and Mi Ecological Chain (Mijia) which has 955 workers.