Alibaba’s Jack Ma Urges China, Japan & Others to Develop Local Chip Industry to Stop Reliance on U.S Companies

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Apr 27, 2018

Alibaba’s co-founder Jack Ma has made a case for nations around the world including China, Japan and others to develop their own semiconductor technology in order to whittle down the U.S’ stronghold on the global chip market. The Chinese billionaire and entrepreneur made this call while speaking to students at the Waseda University in Tokyo, Bloomberg reports.

According to Jack Ma, 100 percent of the market for chips is controlled by Americans and this was as a result of the fact that they were the early movers. He also raised a fear that only brings to mind ZTE‘s recent ban by the U.S government. The Alibaba co-found wondered what would happen if the U.S chipmakers decided to stop selling. Jack Ma also elaborated on his company’s growing interest in chips which saw the e-commerce giant acquire local design-house Hangzhou C-Sky Microsystems Co. The Alibaba CEO said he’s motivated in part by a desire to make chips that would be cheap, efficient and available to all. He said his company has invested in five semiconductor firms in the past four years.

The view expressed by Ma is similar to those expressed in the recent past by Chinese business chieftains and politicians alike. Fellow Chinese internet company Tencent Holdings’ founder Pony Ma is also envisaging a world-class domestic chip industry as tensions rise with the U.S., the global leader in cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

The action taken against ZTE may have kickstarted a revolution which could see the Chinese semiconductor industry becoming independent and viable. The feud is at the heart of Beijing’s existing plan to shell out some $150 billion over 10 years to achieve a leading position in chip design and manufacturing. In the long run, U.S companies such as Qualcomm, Broadcom, Intel and others will be the biggest losers, considering the important place Chinese companies sit in their supply chain.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Launch Could be Nearing as Mi Max 2 Gets Discounted by 400 Yuan

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

On May 25, Xiaomi had launched the Mi Max 2 smartphone in China. The base model featuring 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM and the higher variant with 128 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM were introduced with respective pricing of 1,699 Yuan (~$268) and 1,999 Yuan (~$315) in the home market. Later, the company had also launched a cheaper model featuring 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM.

Xiaomi has now slashed the price of all the variants of the Mi Max 2 in China. The 128 GB, 64 GB and 32 GB Mi Max 2 that are all packed with 4 GB of RAM are now respectively priced 1,599 Yuan (~$252), 1,499 Yuan (~$236) and 1,399 Yuan (~$220) on the official website of Xiaomi. On Jingdong too, the Mi Max 2 variants are available with updated pricing.

Since Xiaomi had launched the Mi Max 2 in May last year, it is speculated that the Mi Max 3 may arrive as a successor phone in the next month. Xiaomi may have slashed the price of the Mi Max 2 now in order to clear its stocks and make way for the rumored Mi Max 3.

Leaked firmware files that belong to the Mi Max 3 that had surfaced around two months ago had revealed plenty of information on it. The Mi Max 3 is expected to arrive with a full screen design that will feature an elongated FHD+ display of 6.99 inches. It may feature a huge battery of 5,500mAh capacity that may be enabled with Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging. Also, it is likely to support Qi wireless charging. The handset is also speculated to feature iris scanner.

Rumors surrounding the phone suggest that it will be equipped with dual rear cameras and it may not feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The Mi Max 3 may arrive in two models. The base model may include Snapdragon 636, 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage and the higher may come with specs like Snapdragon 660, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of native storage. As of this writing, there is no information available on the rumored pricing of the Mi Max 3 variants.

(source 1, 2)

Honor 10 Releasing Soon in India as OnePlus 6 Killer; Will be Flipkart Exclusive

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

OnePlus has recently confirmed that it will be debuting the OnePlus 6 flagship phone on May 17 in India and China. It will be exclusively available on Amazon India. A Twitter user has notified 91Mobiles about a new teaser that has appeared on Flipkart. It reveals that Huawei’s sub-brand Honor will be debuting the Honor 10 smartphone soon in India. Dubbed as the “The OnePlus Killer,” the Honor 10 will be exclusively available on Flipkart.

As it can be seen in the teaser below, Honor claims that Honor 10 is the most stunning smartphone ever that deliver best flagship performance. The Honor 10 will redefine the camera experience through AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The Honor 10 featuring a notched display design was recently launched in China. The company had confirmed earlier that it would be globally launching the phone in London on May 15. Since the Honor 10 is arriving as OnePlus killer, it is likely to around mid-May as the OnePlus 6 is going to debut on May 17 in India.

The Honor 10 that borrows specs from the Huawei P20 flagship is expected to hit India as a budget-friendly flagship phone. Both Honor 10 and OnePlus 6 are expected to be available in India with similar pricing.

The Honor 10 design includes an aluminum frame that is flanked between glass panels on both sides. It has a 5.84-inch IPS LCD display that supports 19:9 aspect ratio and Full HD resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The Kirin 970 chipset powers the smartphone. The handset receives power from 3,400mAh battery that is equipped with support for SuperCharge 5V/4.5A fast charging.

The AI dual camera available on the rear side of the Honor 10 includes f/1.8 aperture 16-megapixel RGB sensor and 24-megapixel monochrome sensor. For shooting selfies, it has a 24-megapixel front-facing. The Honor 10 is loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo that is skinned with the latest EMUI 8.1 skin.

The Honor 10 featuring 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM is available in China for 2,599 Yuan (`$410, ~Rs. 27,372). The 128 GB Honor 10 with 6 GB of RAM is priced at 2,999 Yuan (~$473, Rs. 31,580) in the home market.

The 64 GB and 128 GB OnePlus 5T were respectively made available for Rs. 32,999 and Rs. 37,999 in India. Features like notched display, waterproof glass body, 256 GB of internal storage, 8 GB of RAM and Snapdragon 845 that the OnePlus 6 will be arriving with a costlier price tag compared to the predecessor model. Rumors have claimed that the base model of the OnePlus 6 may cost Rs. 33,999.

It seems that the Honor 10 could be available in India with a cheaper pricing than OnePlus 6. Before drawing any conclusion, it is advisable to wait for the official unveiling of these phones.

(source|via)

Xiaomi Temporarily Halts MIUI 9 Updates, MIUI 10 Expected Soon?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 27, 2018

Xiaomi has announced that it is suspending MIUI 9 Beta ROM updates after April 27 and would instead focus on optimisation from then on until June. The company first unveiled MIUI 9 custom ROM in July last year and since then there have been regular updates which include closed beta (releases every Tuesday) and public beta (releases every Friday). But now, an admin on the MIUI forum has informed fans that the MIUI team will release the last Development/Alpha ROM 8.4.26 and then there will be no update for a couple of weeks in order to achieve better system stability and optimisation.

This also affects the MIUI Global Beta ROMs as well but just for a week. From the look of things, it has more to do with allowing more time for optimisation than because of the upcoming MIUI 10. In another light, it could be that the company is planning to commence the Closed Beta programme for the MIUI 10, hence the suspension of MIUI 9 update. Xiaomi announced it had started working on MIUI 10 custom ROM in January this year. Since then, no official announcement has been made regarding its rollout itinerary. But we believe the tech giant has something in the works and it is believed to be based on Android Oreo. So, it has got to be fast about it since Android Oreo will soon get a successor.

We expect the new MIUI to consolidate on such MIUI 9 features such as split screen, faster app launch times, a more dynamic resource allocation for a fluid experience, new design elements, lock screen shortcuts, and other smart features and improvements. According to Xiaomi, the main focus for MIUI 10 developers will be artificial intelligence and machine learning.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3 Now Available in Silver Variant with Enhanced Specifications

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

Yesterday, Xiaomi has introduced a new Silver color variant for the Mi Notebook Air 13.3. The Chinese manufacturer had launched the notebook in a single color option of Deep Space Gray around 11 months ago. The newly introduced Silver variant is packed with enhanced specs.

The enhanced edition sports a thin metallic body that measures only 14.8mm and it weighs 1.3 kg. It supports 135-degree opening and closing and it is equipped with full-sized backlight enabled keyboard.

The Silver Mi Notebook Air has a 13.3-inch display that supports Full HD resolution of 1080p. It is powered by Core i7-8550U / Core i5-8250U quad-core processor and 8 GB of DRR4-2400 RAM.

For storage, it offers 256 GB PCI-E SSD. Other features of the laptop include NVIDIA MX150 2G GDDR5 discrete graphics, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 40W battery. The connectivity ports available on the device include USB-C, USB 3.0 and HDMI.

The Silver Mi Notebook Air 13.3 with Core i7 is available for 5,699 Yuan (~$898) for a limited period. Its usual pricing is 5,999 Yuan (~$946). The Core i5 edition that comes with a dedicated graphics card is priced at 5,399 Yuan (~$851) and the Core i5 model that ships without a graphics card is priced at 4,999 Yuan (~$788).

The Core i7 and i5 Deep Space Gray color editions are respectively priced at 5,999 Yuan (~$946) and 5,399 Yuan (~$851).

The Silver version of the Mi Notebook Air 13.3 will be available for buying starting from 10 AM on April 27. It will be available through multiple channels such as Xiaomi’s official website, official store at Jingdong, and Mi Home

2nd-Gen Snapchat Spectacles Adds Waterproofing, Still Photos, & More For $150

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 27, 2018

Snapchat has announced a newer version of its Spectacles. The sunglasses with the built-in camera now has a ton of cool new features which should come in handy for your summer holidays.

The biggest upgrade added to the Spectacles V2 is waterproofing. This makes sense since quite a number of folks will be spending their summer days at the beach or at pools.

Design wise, the glasses are smaller now and should be more comfortable to wear for long periods and easier to carry. It also has lighter lenses and options for those with prescriptions.

Snapchat has also added the ability to take still photos. An update will bring the feature to the first-gen Spectacles. The camera can now record in HD too in 10, 20, or 30-second clips.

Snapchat has also added a second microphone for improved audio and has increased the speed of file transfer from the glasses to your device. It is said to be about 3 to 4 times faster now.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpbyj-hz05s[/embedyt]

Snapchat has removed the yellow ring on the first-gen model but a white ring of light comes up when you start recording. The Spectacles V2 comes in new colors too – Onyx Black, Ruby Red, and Sapphire Blue. The battery life has not been changed and the case offers four extra charges.

Continue

Nokia X/X6 Hands-on Photos Reveal Appear; Release Date Could be May 16

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

HMD Global is yet another company that has been inspired by iPhone X’s design. Recent reports have revealed that the Nokia X (or Nokia X6) is an upcoming phone from HMD Global that will be arriving with a notched display. Fresh photos of what appears to be the real Nokia X phone has appeared on Weibo to reveal its design.

Fresh information states that HMD Global will be holding a week-long event at the Mercedes Me Square in Sanlitun, Beijing that will end on May 2. Even though some rumors have claimed that the handset will be called Nokia X6, marketing materials and images from the venue have revealed Nokia X moniker. There is a possibility that HMD Global could be resurrecting the Nokia X series from the yesteryear and the rumored Nokia X6 could be one of the phones from this lineup.

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Since the week-long event has started from today, multiple images of the Nokia X6 have surfaced. As it can be seen, the Nokia X6 has a notched screen. It is speculated that it could be featuring a 5.8-inch display that supports an aspect ratio of 19:9.

The chin of the Nokia X6 has the Nokia branding and it features rounded corners. The fingerprint scanner resides on the backside of the phone. The rear panel of the phone is made out of glass and it features a vertical dual camera module that includes the dual lenses followed by a dual-tone LED flash.

The rear design of the real handset is somewhat different from the leaked render of the phone (shown below) that has the dual-tone LED flash placed outside of the vertical dual camera module. Also, the chin of the device is slimmer in the below image.

Rumors surrounding the Nokia X6 have revealed that it would be available in two models. The base model will include MediaTek Helio P60 chipset and 4 GB of RAM and it will be priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$253). The higher variant is speculated to be powered by Snapdragon 636 SoC and 6 GB of RAM and it will be costing 1,799 Yuan. Shown below is camera sample of the phone.

In the above images, the May 16 date is shown on the display of the phone. It is likely that the company may release the phone on the said date.

(source 1, 2, 3|via 1, 2)

Check Out HOMTOM Fans Festival On TomTop; Get $20 Off On HOMTOM-Branded Smartphones

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 27, 2018

As part of its recently kicked-off HOMTOM Fans Festival, TomTop is offering big discounts on a broad range of smartphones manufactured by the Shenzhen-based handset maker. Let’s delve straight into the details.

HOMTOM S8

TomTop is giving a noteworthy 37% off on the HOMTOM S8 smartphone, bringing its retail price down to just $119.99. Note that the phone normally sells for $189.99 on the website.

The Flash Sale price is valid for 3 color options including silver, blue, and black. It’s worth noting that the promotion is slated to end in 18 days and there were only 58 pieces left at the time of writing.

The HOMTOM S8 smartphone sports a big 5.7-inch screen which is covered with a 2.5D glass. The phone is powered by a MediaTek MTK6750T Octa-core 1.5GHz processor and it offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB ROM.

HOMTOM HT70

The HOMTOM HT70 smartphone usually comes bearing a price tag of $259.83 on TomTop. But much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers who have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on the phone, the site is offering the phone at a lowered price of just $152.99.

This is a considerable 42% reduction in the original asking price of the HT70 smartphone. You can avail the deal for 3 more days but bear in mind that there were only 106 pieces left at the time of writing.

Boasting a unique and stylish cosmetic appearance, the HOMTOM HT70 smartphone comes with a massive 6-inch bezel-less 18:9 HD+ (1440 X 720 pixels) display. The phone packs an MTK6750T Octa-core 1.5GHz processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB ROM, under the hood.

HOMTOM S9 Plus

Likewise, TomTop is offering a considerable 39% off on the HOMTOM S9 Plus smartphone which normally sells for S$224.24 on the site. Thanks to the discount, you can now get your hands on the S9 Plus by shelling out only $138.99.

You can take advantage of the discount for 3 days before the promotion ends. It’s also worth noting that there were only 78 pieces left at the time of writing.

In terms of specs, the HOMTOM S9 Plus smartphone sports a 5.99-inch display with a high screen ratio of 18:9. The phone features a dual 16.0MP+5.0MP cameras set up on the back and a 13MP front shooter for selfies.

HOMTOM HT20 Pro

The HT20 Pro smartphone is ideal for adventure junkies who like to carry their smartphones even during audacious outdoor activities. The IP68 waterproof shockproof smartphone is currently available on TomTop at a lowered price of just $109.99.

The phone would normally set you back $145.99 on TomTop; however, the site will be selling it for a slashed price of only $109.99 for 18 days. On the downside, the discount will only be valid for the remaining 36 pieces.
The HT20 Pro boasts a 4.7-inch HD display with a screen resolution of 1280 X 720 pixels. Moreover, it comes with Corning Gorilla protective glass for added protection. The phone is powered by ba MTK6753 1.3GHz Octa Core CPU and it offers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.

HOMTOM S12

You can now buy the HOMTOM S12 3G WCDMA mobile phone at a heavily discounted price of only $47.99 on TomTop. This is a noteworthy 44% reduction in the device’s original selling price of $84.67.

With only 191 pieces left, the promotion is slated to end in just 3 days. You can choose from black+blue, black+red, and blue color options.

Sporting an ergonomic design, the HOMTOM S12 smartphone features a compact 5.inches display. The lightweight yet tough phone adopts a high-end MTK6580 1.3GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the TomTop HOMTOM Fans Festival before it wraps up, just head straight to this link. Note that the smartphones will give back to their retail price as soon as the promotion comes to an end.

Get Big Discounts On HOMTOM Smartphones On TomTop Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Buy Original Xiaomi VR Virtual Reality 3D Glasses For Only $13.11; Discount Coupon To Expire Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 27, 2018

If you’re on a tight budget and looking for a virtual reality 3D glasses that delivers an immersive watching experience, look no further. You can buy the Original Xiaomi VR Virtual Reality 3D glasses by shelling out only $15.99 on DD4.

But if you aren’t willing to shell out that kind of money, we’ll tell you exactly how you can get a noteworthy 18% off on the device’s retail price. Here’s how you can bring your grand total down to just $13.11.

In order to avail the discount, all you have to do is apply coupon code ‘XIAOMIVR’ at the time of checking out. On top of that, DD4 is also offering free shipping.

The Xiaomi VR 3D glasses is crammed with a broad range of awe-inspiring features that make it a bargain under $14. The device is built using high-quality material that provides comfort feel to the wearer.Moreover, it can serve as the private 3D theater that lets you delve into the vivid scenes in the comfort of your own home. The VR glasses supports panorama videos and images that paves the way for an unparalleled watching and playing experience.

The Xiaomi VR glasses work with 4.7 – 5.7 inches smartphone and support 2K resolution. The device employs aspherical lens in a bid to provide a clear view.

The highly-durable virtual reality 3D glasses use high-quality superior lycra material. Weighing in at just 0.209 kg, the device has FOV range of 90-110 degree. You can head straight to this link in order to check out the full specification and use the aforesaid coupon before it expires.

Get 18% Off On Original Xiaomi VR Virtual Reality 3D Glasses On DD4 Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Alleged Xiaomi Redmi S2 Clears 3C Certification; May Launch Next Month

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

In the previous week, it was revealed that Xiaomi is prepping up to launch a new low-end smartphone for China and India. The device is expected to hit the market with Redmi S2 moniker. It has already received approved by TENAA authority and now it has also been certified by 3C body in the home country.

Recent reports reveal that the upcoming Redmi S2 has a model number of M1803E6E. The same model number along with other variants such as M1803E6T and M1803E6C have received certification 3C authority in China. The 3C approval did not reveal any information on the specs of the phone, but it has confirmed that it will carry support for 5V/2A charging.

The TENAA images of the Redmi S2 has revealed that since it sports a full screen design and vertical dual camera setup, its design is similar to the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The device measures 160.73 x 77.26 x 8.1mm and it weighs 170 grams.

The 18:9 aspect ratio display of the Redmi S2 measures 5.99 inches and it produces HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. It is speculated to be fueled by Snapdragon 625 SoC. The handset is expected to be available in multiple RAM and storage editions.

The 16 GB storage variant has 2 GB of RAM and its 32 GB storage model includes 3 GB of RAM. The highest configuration model has 64 GB storage and 4 GB of RAM. It also features a microSD card slot. It is loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo.

TENAA listing has revealed that its dual camera setup includes a 12-megapixel sensor and an 8-megapixel sensor. It has a selfie camera of 16-megapixel. The S2 will receive power from 3,000mAh battery. Leaked firmware files of the S2 has revealed that it will be supporting features like face unlock, Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and Portrait Mode. According to TENAA listing, the Redmi S2 will be available in multiple colors like Black, Blue, Gold, Gray, Pink, Red, Rose Gold, Silver and White. However, the Chinese manufacturer may only make few of the color variants available at launch.

There is no information on the launch date of the Xiaomi Redmi S2. Now that that the smartphone has bagged TENAA and 3C certifications in China, it is likely that it may get announced as early as next month.

(via)

OnePlus 6’s Realistic Image Shows Highest Screen-to-Body Ratio on OnePlus Phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 27, 2018

A fresh image of the OnePlus 6 smartphone has surfaced few hours ago. Even though some publication has claimed that the image belongs to a working prototype of the upcoming OnePlus flagship, it seems to show a placeholder.

In the below image, the notched display of the OnePlus 6 is surrounded by very slim bezels. The bezels are even thinner than the actual render of the phone that was revealed by OnePlus CEO Pete Lau (shown further below). Hence, it does not seem like a real OnePlus phone. However, the notched display will be providing the users of OP6 with the best viewing experience through the larger screen.

OnePlus 6 is rumored to feature a 6.28-inch AMOLED screen that will support an aspect ratio of 19:9. It is speculated that the handset will offer highest screen-to-body ratio on a OnePlus phone. It is speculated that the OP6 may a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 90 percent.

The near bezel-less OnePlus phone has three on-screen navigation buttons. Previous reports have revealed that the OP6 will support advanced full screen gestures. The notification icons are present on both the sides of the notch.

The OnePlus 6 resembles the iPhone X in appearance, but the OnePlus features a smaller notch that measures 19.61 x 7.68mm. The notch houses a selfie camera, a notification LED indicator, an earpiece and some other sensors.

Not only the frontside of the OnePlus 6 will have a difference compared to the predecessor models, but also its rear panel is expected to come with an overhaul improvement. Except for the OnePlus X mid-range phone that was launched in 2015 with a glass body, all the other OnePlus smartphones sport metallic chassis. The Chinese manufacturer has recently confirmed that OP6 will be coming with a glass rear. Moreover, the company has also confirmed that it will be a water-resistant phone. Recent rumors that the OnePlus 6 will be made available in multiple colors like Coral Blue, Purple and Black. Shown below is the realistic render of the OnePlus 6 created by well-known designer and tipster Benjamin Geskin.

OnePlus 6 is slated to get official globally on May 16. In China and India, it will be unveiled on May 17. A special edition OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition is also coming. It is speculated that the official sales of the OP6 will begin in India on May 22.

Do you think that the above image shows the real OnePlus 6? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Buy Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Smartphone For Only $359.99 On Banggood [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 27, 2018

Xiaomi made its hotly-anticipated Mi Mix 2 smartphone available to the public in September last year. The phone boasts an array of jaw-dropping specs and features that made it an instant hit among tech buffs and smartphone enthusiasts.

But much to the chagrin of budget-conscious buyers, the Mi Mix 2 smartphone didn’t come cheap. As a result, the phone failed to garner a lot of popularity among those who aren’t willing to spend a fortune on a smartphone.

If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the well-received Mi Mix 2 smartphone without emptying your pocket, we have good news for you. Bangood is offering a noteworthy 39% off on the phone’s retail price for a limited period of time.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 smartphone normally comes bearing a steep of $699.99 price tag on Banggood; however, it will now set you back only $429.99. The discount is valid for the black color version of the phone.

But if that isn’t a good enough reason for you to buy the Mi MIX 2 smartphone, we’ll tell you exactly how you can bring your grand total down even further. All you have to do is apply coupon code ‘4BGXM2642’ to reduce your grand total to just $359.99.

It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the aforesaid coupon is limited to selected countries including Chile, Japan, Russian, Brazil, Australia, India, Canada, United State, and Argentina only. Note that the coupon is likely to expire soon.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is an irresistible smartphone under $360, given that it sports a big 5.99-inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels at a pixel density of 403 PPI (pixels per inch).

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 processor and it packs an Adreno 540 graphics processing unit, under the hood. It offers 6GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable internal memory.

On the photography front, the Mi MIX 2 smartphone houses a 12-megapixel camera with phase detection autofocus, 4-axis OIS, dual-LED, and dual-tone flash on the back. Up front, it sports a 5-megapixel camera for selfies.

The dual-SIM smartphone draws its juices from non-removable 3400mAh (tpy) / 3300mAh (min) battery. Moreover, it runs MIUI 8-based Android 7.1 Nougat operating system.

You can visit this link in order to check out the full specification and avail the deal before it comes to an end. It’s worth noting that the Mi MIX 2 smartphone will retain its retail price as soon as the promotion wraps up.

Get 39% Off On Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Smartphone On Banggood Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Samsung Plans Launch of Its MicroLED TVs For The Second Half Of This Year

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 26, 2018

Samsung announced its earnings for the first quarter of 2018 (Q1 2018) on Thursday and its revenue beat the expectations of industry watchers. The company’s earnings were propelled by its semiconductor business. However, Samsung Display division wasn’t as profitable as one would have expected. The company suffered a decline in earnings due to the weak demand for flexible OLED panels and increased LCD production by competitors such as JDI etc.

The global market leader also rolled out its plans for the rest of this year and one aspect that struck our attention is the detail about the launch of microLED TVs. Samsung had unveiled the 146-inch The Wall smart TV at CES 2018 with a modular design and a microLED display. The Korean giant only disclosed that the innovative product would be available this year without giving any specific timeline. Now, the document has revealed that we will be meeting with microLED TVs in the second half of this year.

The financial reports for Q1 2018 showed that Samsung’s earnings from TVs suffered a year-on-year decline and Samsung attributes this negative output to changes in the product lineup. However, the company is optimistic that the revenues from TVs will grow in Q2 due to the growing sales of new models. The company expects to maintain its leadership of the premium market by launching innovative products like microLED TV. The microLED technology is based on Samsung’s Cinema Screen technology, designed for movie theatres.

(source)

360 Mobiles Sends Frying Pan As invite For N7 Launch

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 26, 2018

Meizu is the Chinese smartphone company that usually surprises us with its unusual invites, but it appears 360 Mobiles has joined them. The manufacturer has started sending out invites for the launch of its next N-series smartphone called the 360 Mobiles N7 and it isn’t what you’d expect.

According to the source, 360 Mobiles sent a skillet/frying pan as the invite for their next event. The frying pan has the date of the launch which is 8th of May as well as the tag line engraved on it. There is also a photograph of a chicken holding a frying pan.

The tagline and the photograph are said to be related to the recent popularity of games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. It is said that 360 Mobiles is teasing the gaming performance of the N7 with the invite.

It is not known if the phone will only have impressive specs for gaming or also include a large battery based on the text on the invite. But we are sure some features will be dedicated towards gaming based on a Weibo post from the CEO.

In the post, the CEO responded to another post asking if the company felt threatened by the Mi 6X. He responded by praising the newly launched Xiaomi Mi 6X but revealed that they (360 Mobiles) have paid more attention to the gaming experience of their device.

Continue

Nokia’s Latest Teaser Suggests an N-series Model Would Be Launched on May 2

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Apr 26, 2018

Just over one year after rumours first started circulating concerning the resurgence of the Nokia N-series, Nokia has shared a teaser on Weibo which suggests that the HMD Global-controlled company would launch an N-series model soon. The Weibo post urged us to watch out for more teasers of what is in store from April 27 to May 2. The company will likely launch the device on May 2 in n event billed to hold in Sanlitun, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.

The Weibo post also comes with an image of what looks like the Nokia N9 which was launched in mid-2011 with a MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan providing the interface. That also could be a teaser indicating that the device may be called Nokia N9 (2018).

Nokia first reintroduced the Nokia 3310 with a remodelled design but it was an instant hit for a feature phone. The company also recently disclosed it would be relaunching the Nokia X series with the Nokia X6 expected to go official in China on April 27. No doubt, Nokia is trying to employ nostalgia in its bid to sell more models and move up the ladder. We are quite positive that this strategy would help the brand.

(source)

LG G7 ThinQ Confirmed To Come With 6.1-Inch Super Bright QHD+19.5:9 Display

By

Jeet

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Apr 26, 2018

LG is currently gearing to launch its upcoming flagship smartphone — LG G7 ThinQ, which is scheduled to get launched in the coming week. Ahead of the launch, the company has revealed information about the phone’s display panel, confirming that the G7 ThinQ will come with LG’s latest LCD technology called Super Bright Display.

The company has further revealed that the smartphone will come with a 6.1-inch QHD+ display with screen resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels with 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Similar to other flagship devices getting launched this year, the smartphone’s Full View display will come with a notch on top.

In addition to improved brightness, the new LCD panel from the company is said to bring power efficiency improvements. The new Super Bright Display covers 100% of DCI-P3 color space. Along with that, there will be six color modes in the Settings menu – Auto, Eco, Cinema, Sports, Game, and Expert.

The G7 ThinQ will also have a ‘brightness boost’ function which will push the peak brightness to 1,000-nits to help boost outdoor visibility. LG has also said that compared to the phone’s predecessor — LG G6, this one will come with a slimmed down bottom bezel by 50 percent.

Apparently, the LG G7 ThinQ will also come with a second screen on the upper bezel, similar to the one we’ve seen on the LG V20. According to the company, the “new second screen” on the smartphone can be used as a status bar or as a single screen combined with the main screen.

Under the hood, the smartphone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 processor along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It will feature a 16-megapixel dual camera setup at the back and an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter for taking selfies and video calling.

The LG G7 ThinQ is all set to get launched at an event in New York that is scheduled to take place on 2nd May. On the very next day, i.e. 3rd May, the company has another event to launch the phone in its home country.

HTC U12 Specs Leaks: WQHD Screen, IP68 Rating and More

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 26, 2018

HTC has not released a flagship this year but one has been in the news for a couple of months now and that is the HTC U12+. There are rumors that the U12+ will be the only flagship phone this year and will not have a smaller or less powerful variant called the HTC U12. It appears that rumor may be false.

The specification sheet of the HTC U12 surfaced online today, on Verizon’s website according to the source. And from what we can see, it packs some interesting features.

The HTC U12 has a 6” WQHD LCD “frame-less” display with Gorilla Glass protection. It runs Android 8.0 with HTC Sense companion and has a 3,500mAh battery. It can also record in 4K.

The phone also has Bluetooth 5.0, Quick Charge 1.0 ( we want to believe this is a typo and should be 4.0), and an IP68 rating. There is also mention of HTC USonic.

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Samsung’s First Android Go Phone May Launch As The Galaxy J2 Core

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 26, 2018

Nokia was the first to announce an Android Go phone in form of the Nokia 1. Alcatel and ZTE also joined the list with the Alcatel 1X and Tempo Go respectively. Though there are other manufacturers that are also working on theirs already such as Meizu, there are others we believe won’t make an Android Go device such as LG and Samsung. But it appears Samsung is about to surprise us.

According to Winfuture.de, a new Samsung phone that has appeared on Geekbench may launch as an Android Go phone. The device which was benchmarked last week as the “samsung SM-J260G” has just 1GB of RAM and runs Android 8.1 Oreo.

It is powered by an Exynos 7570 but Geekbench adds a “go” suffix hinting at the processor being specially customized for Android Go. The octa-core chipset is clocked at 1.43GHz. The device scored 625 points in the single-core test and 1747 point in the multi-core test.

Judging from the model number, the device belongs to the J2 series. Unconfirmed sources say it will launch as the Galaxy J2 Core.

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Xiaomi Mi 6X vs Huawei P20 Lite: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Apr 26, 2018

Xiaomi Mi 6X has been finally announced: it is the best Xiaomi’s upper-midrange of 2018, and it will be launched globally as Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android One. Quality-price ratio, performance, and photo quality are its key qualities, but will it be able to dethrone the most important Huawei mid-ranger? A comparison between Xiaomi Mi 6X and Huawei P20 Lite is very important because they are among the most interesting Chinese mid-rangers, and they will contribute a lot for the sales of Xiaomi and Huawei. Their prices are not so different, but now it is time to establish which is the best in this Xiaomi Mi 6X vs Huawei P20 Lite comparison.

Xiaomi Mi 6X vs Huawei P20 Lite

	Xiaomi Mi 6X	Huawei P20 Lite
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm, 168 grams	148.6 x 71.2 x 7.4 mm, 145 grams
DISPLAY	5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD	5.84 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 432 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz	HiSilicon Kirin 659, octa-core 2.36 GHz
MEMORY	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB, micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo, EMUI 8.0
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 20 MP f/1.8 front camera	Dual 16 + 2 MP f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3010 mAh Fast charging 5V / 2A (Quick Charge 3.0)	3000 mAh Fast charging 9V / 2A
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

If aesthetics are your first concern when you are going to choose a new smartphone. then Huawei P20 Lite is the perfect handset for you. It is one of the most beautiful devices thanks to its reflective glass back and its notched display which make it compact and lightweight. Xiaomi Mi 6X features a bigger display which may be more advantageous for productivity. It also provides better performance as its SoC is way superior in both benchmarks and daily use. It also comes in an even more powerful variant with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, while Huawei P20 Lite comes with max. 4 GB of RAM. Further, Xiaomi Mi 6X has a better camera department. Both the rear and front cameras include Sony sensors with bright apertures. The dual rear setup features 2x optical zoom and supports AI for scene recognition.

Huawei P20 Lite definitely has a better design as it is more beautiful to look at. But Xiaomi Mi 6X wins the comparison on almost all the other departments. So, I would actually choose Xiaomi Mi 6X for an eventual purchase. Its launch price in China is about €207/$253. In order to know its price in the global market, we have to wait for the launch of Xiaomi Mi A2, which will be the same handset featuring Android One for the global market. Huawei P20 Lite has been launched at about €370/$451 worldwide, but it can already be purchased at about €300 thanks to online street prices.

Xiaomi Mi 6X vs Huawei P20 Lite: PROS and CONS

Xiaomi Mi 6X

PRO

Higher performance
Better camera
Affordable price
Thin body

CONS

No audio jack
Limited availability

Huawei P20 Lite

PRO

Awesome design
Compact body
Good display
Not a China-exclusive

CONS

Higher price tag

Red Magic Gaming Smartphone Now On Indiegogo For $399

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 26, 2018

Last week, Nubia launched the Red Magic Gaming Smartphone. The Snapdragon 835-powered device with its unique design is now live on Indiegogo as promised for just $399.

Nubia is offering a variety of deals for the Red Magic and depending on the one you choose, you can get it as early as next month or much later in July.

The first deal lets you purchase the phone for $399 including shipping. This phone comes with Red Magic OS (China-specific OS) installed but without Google Mobile Services (GMS). However, you do get a dBrand Black Camo Skin included in the order.

The above deal expires tomorrow (April 27) but as at the time of writing, only 16 of the 1000 slots have been claimed. Those who pay for this deal will likely get the phone in May.

The second deal also goes for $399 with shipping charges included. The Red magic Phone ships with Vanilla Android 8.1 Oreo and not the custom OS. You also get the dBrand Black Camo Skin. However, the estimated delivery date is put at July 2018.

Nubia has a third deal which also goes for $399. You get the Red Magic Phone early but with a test version of stock Android 8.1 Oreo and a May 2018 expected delivery date. There is no dBrand skin included and you are required to join the development team.

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