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Huawei P20 Pro, P20 Lite Will be Amazon Exclusive in India; April 24 Launch Date Confirmed

The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro flagship phones were unveiled in the last month through a launch event in Paris. After teasing the Indian launch for few days, Huawei has just confirmed that it will be debuting the P20 series on April 24 in India. Moreover, the new landing page that has surfaced on Amazon India suggests that the company will be launching only mid-range P20 Lite alongside the P20 Lite. There is no information on whether the country will be receiving the P20.

Huawei P20 Pro and P20 Lite Specifications

The Huawei P20 Pro and P20 Lite respectively feature 6.1-inch AMOLED display and 5.84-inch LTPS IPS LCD display. Both the phones feature a display notch like the iPhone X. The P20 Pro offers FHD+ resolution of 2240 x 1080 pixels whereas the P20 Lite produces resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels.

The P20 Pro has Kirin 970 chipset, 6 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 128 GB. It features a 4,000mAh battery. On the other side, the Huawei P20 Lite features Kirin 659 SoC, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. It receives power from 3,000mAh battery.

The P20 Pro features 40-megapixel + 20-megapixel + 8-megapixel triple rear cameras and a selfie camera of 24-megapixel. The P20 Lite has 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup and the same 24-megapixel selfie camera.

Read More: Huawei P20, P20 Pro Launched in Taiwan for ‎NT$20,900 (~$712), ‎NT$26,900 (~$916) Respectively

The Huawei P20 Pro is priced at 899 euros (~$1,106) whereas the P20 Lite carries a pricing of 369 euros (~$454). As of this writing, there is no information available on the pricing of the Huawei P20 Pro and P20 Lite for India.

Xiaomi’s Black Shark Gaming Smartphone Sold Out Within Seconds In China

Earlier this month, Xiaomi-based Black Shark Technologies launched its first flagship gaming smartphone. The phone went on sale in China for the first time today, i.e. 20th April, and was sold out within seconds.

Wu Shimin, CEO of Black Shark Technology said that the company had not expected so much love and support for its first product. He further added that the company and its partners are researching ways to bump up their production capacity. He promised that the device will soon be available for purchase in short time.

black shark gaming phone

According to the company’s website, the next sale for the Black Shark gaming smartphone is scheduled to take place on 27th April at 10:00 AM in China. The 6GB RAM + 64GB storage variant will be priced at 2,999 Yuan (~ $477) while the 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage will cost 3,499 Yuan (~ $556). The company has also said that the first 50,000 buyers will also receive Black Shark Gamepad for free.

The Black Shark phone features a 5.99-inch InCell display that supports a Full-HD+ screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixel. The display delivers an aspect ratio of 18:9 and carries support for DCI-P3 color gamut. The MEMC intelligent motion compensation technology ensures smoother video quality while playing games on it.

black shark gaming phone

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 chipset. At the launch event, Black Shark CEO Wu Shimin revealed that the device had scored 279,464 on AnTuTu. The 6GB RAM model has 64GB storage while the 8GB RAM model packs 128GB internal storage.

It comes with a multi-layer cooling system that includes high thermal conductivity copper alloy substrate, nano-composite graphite, heat pipe and liquid cooling that can bring down the temperature of the device by 8 degrees by improving the CPU cooling efficiency by 20 times.

black shark gaming phone

The fingerprint sensor is located on the bottom bezel below the display. While gaming, the fingerprint sensor can be swiped to Shark Dock that includes handy features like silent mode, DND and more.

Coming to the camera department, the smartphone comes with a dual camera setup that features a 12-megapixel primary sensor with a pixel size of 1.25micron and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor with a pixel size of 1.0micron.

The dual camera setup is equipped with features like 6p lenses, dual-tone LED flash, PDAF, HDR, Portrait Mode and Panorama. On the front side, there’s a 20-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture and 5p lens that offers features like intelligent beauty and 4K video shooting at 30fps.

 

Read More: Nubia Red Magic Gaming Smartphone Launched, Comes With 5.99-Inch 18:9 Display, SD 835 SoC And 8GB RAM For $399

 

As of the software, the handset comes loaded with a gaming-focused JOY UI, which is a customized Android Oreo ROM that includes some core features of Xiaomi’s MIUI. The phone houses a 4,000mAh battery that is equipped with 18W fast charging support through Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

HTC U12+ is Expected to Release in Market by May End; Pricing Tipped for 128 GB Variant

Even though HTC had launched two U-series flagship phones namely HTC U11 and U11+ phones in 2017, recent reports that the company would be only launching the U12+ this year. Fresh information coming from Taiwan claims that the country will be receiving the HTC Desire 12, Desire 12+ and U12+ in the coming month. Citing information received through its source, Taiwan’s ePrice has revealed that the HTC U12+ may hit the Taiwanese market by the end of next month or in the beginning of June.

The HTC U12+ that will be fueled by Snapdragon 845 is expected to arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB storage models. Like the U11+, it will be featuring a 6-inch display that may carry support for 18:9 aspect ratio. It is also rumored to arrive with dual rear cameras and dual front cameras.

The HTC U11 was released in the market on May 20 with a price tag of NT$ 24,900 in Taiwan. However, its cost was lowered to NT$ 21,900 (~$744) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company. The 128 GB model of the HTC U11+ that was launched later in 2017 had arrived in the home market for NT$ 21,900.

Fresh information reveals that the U12+ will be available for buying by the end of the next month or early June. The pricing for the 64 GB model is not known, but the 128 GB model is expected to land in Taiwan with a price tag of NT$ 24,900 ($846). Since the smartphone is now pegged to hit the market by the end of coming month, the company may unveil it in the second or third week of May.

Read More: HTC U12+ Will Boast 4 Cameras And Cost €799 According To A New Leak

Samsung’s Galaxy S9 series and Sony Xperia XZ2 have been available in the market since quite some time and the sales of the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro will start selling in Taiwan from May 1. Also, Taiwan’s ASUS ZenFone 5Z phone that is powered by Snapdragon 845 is a good competitor for the HTC U12+. Hence, it seems that if the U12+ arrives in the market at May end or early June, it may not be able to attract the market.

Do you think that the HTC U12+ will receive better reception than the U11+? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Buy Xiaomi TV Soundbar For Only $119.99 On Banggood; $30 Off Coupon To Expire Soon!

The Original Xiaomi 33-inch TV Soundbar is ideal for those who love to enjoy a cinema-like experience in the comfort of their homes. The wall-mountable device sports a fashionable design and boasts 5-way input mode, 8 speakers and an array of other awe-inspiring features.

The Xiaomi TV Soundbar would normally set you back $149.99 on Banggood. If you’re not willing to shell out that kind of money, we’ll tell you how you can save $30 on the TV Soundbar manufactured by the popular Chinese electronics and software company.

GeekBuying is offering a considerable discount on the Xiaomi TV soundbar’s original asking price in the form of a $30 off coupon code. In other words, you can bring your grand total down to just $119.99 by applying the coupon code ‘MISBAR30’ at the time of checking out.


The Xiaomi TV Soundbar supports a broad range of TVs that are currently up for grabs in the market. It sports simple exterior coupled with a concise, smooth design and a toned down Xiaomi TV sound.

It gives avid gamers a deeply engaging experience and a sense of surpassing. It offers a more rapid and stable connection via the Bluetooth wireless transmission. On top of that, the device features 8 sound units that reanimate true natural sound.

Note that the aforesaid coupon code will be valid for only 50 pieces, out of which 31 were already sold at the time of writing. You can head straight to this link in order to use the coupon code before it expires.

Buy Xiaomi TV Soundbar At A Discounted Price On Banggood Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Xiaomi Mi 7 Launch Date Delayed to Q3 Due to 3D Facial Recognition Issues, Claims Report

Recent reports have claimed that the Xiaomi Mi 7 could be the first Android smartphone to arrive with 3D facial recognition. The handset is rumored to debut in the first half of the year. However, a fresh report claims that the launch date of the upcoming Xiaomi flagship has been delayed to the third quarter of the year. The reason behind it is that that the Chinese manufacturer has encountered poor results with the 3D facial recognition feature.

Last year, Apple introduced the iPhone X with a notched OLED display. Many Android smartphone manufacturers such as Huawei, Vivo and OPPO have launched smartphones with notched display. Also, forthcoming flagship phones from OnePlus, LG and Xiaomi are also expected to feature iPhone X-like display design. The notch present on the iPhone X is larger than those found on Android phones. The reason behind it is that iPhone X’s notch houses an advanced 3D facial recognition system that includes different sensors and components such as infrared camera, flood illuminator, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, front camera and dot projector. The notch also houses other components such as microphone and speaker. None of the Android phones launched so far feature 3D sensing technology like the iPhone X. However, the Mi 7 is speculated to arrive with the advanced facial identification feature.

Fresh information shared by Digitimes claims that the suppliers of 3D sensing modules are facing an issue with making the software and hardware required for 3-dimensional scanning of the user’s face. The modules are being developed through a joint effort of Qualcomm, Himax Technologies and Truly Opto-electronics.

Read More:Xiaomi Mi 7: Top 5 Exciting Features to Watch Out For

 

One should be aware of the fact that the 3D sensing can only work on Android phones that are powered by Snapdragon 845 mobile platform. Since Samsung and Huawei make use of their home-brewed Exynos and Kirin chipsets respectively for their flagship phones, they are unlikely to launch the first Android phone with 3D sensing technology. The report claims that Samsung may launch a smartphone with 3D sensing in 2019. Hence, Mi 7 driven by SD845 that is now rumored to arrive a bit late could be first Android phone to feature it.

(source)

Vivo V9 Youth Now Available for Buying with Rs. 18,990 (~$287) Pricing in India

In the previous month, Vivo had launched the Vivo V9 smartphone with iPhone X-like notched design, Android Oreo and Snapdragon 626 SoC.  Mahesh Telecom, a smartphone retailer from Mumbai, India has confirmed that the Chinese manufacturer has already launched a new phone called Vivo V9 Youth smartphone in India. It borrows its design from the Vivo V9 phone and since it is packed with toned-down specs compared to the V9, it comes with a comparatively lower price tag.

The Vivo V9 features a 6.3-inch notched display that supports Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The Full View 2.0 display offers an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is fueled by Snapdragon 450 that includes a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor. The company had used the same SoC to power the discontinued Vivo V7+ smartphone from last year.

The SoC is accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and it comes with a native storage of 32 GB. For additional storage, users can make use of a microSD card on this phone. The handset receives power from 3,260mAh battery. It is pre-installed with Android 8.1 Oreo that is overlaid with the latest FunTouch OS 4.0 skin from Vivo.

The frontside of the Vivo V9 Youth features a 16-megapixel selfie camera whereas the backside is fitted with 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera setup. The camera lacks support for 4K video shooting, but comes with features like AI Beauty, Bokeh mode and AR stickers The rear panel of the phone is fitted with a fingerprint reader.

Read More: Vivo Y71 Silently Launches in India For INR 10,990

A previous report had revealed that the handset measures 154.81 x 75.03 x 7.89 and weighs 150 grams. The screen is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 3.

The Vivo V9 is selling with a price tag of Rs. 22,900 (~$348) in India. According to the retailer, the V9 Youth is now available with a price tag of Rs. 18,990 (~$287). Vivo is yet to make an official announcement on the launch of V9 Youth.

(source 1, 2)

LG V40 Codenamed as Storm May Launch in Late Summer

On May 2, LG will be launching the LG G7 ThinQ smartphone. Recently, it was reported that the South Korean company is also working on a smartphone called LG V35 ThinQ. Vital information on the specifications of the V35 ThinQ have already appeared in the recent past. Today, popular tipster Evan Blass has claimed that there will be another V-series smartphone this year and it will be called LG V40. He has also revealed that the V40 phone is codenamed as Storm.

Blass has not revealed any information on the specifications of the LG V40. However, it is speculated that it could be arriving as a successor for the LG V30 phone from last year. The LG V30S ThinQ that was launched in February cannot be dubbed as the successor of V30 as both the phones carry similar specs.

The tipster has stated that the LG V40 will be unveiled by late summer or early fall this year. This suggest that the LG V40 may debut at the end of August or early September probably through IFA 2018 tech trade show in Berlin, Germany.

He is of the view that the LG V35 ThinQ that is codenamed as Emma will debut around the same time as G7 ThinQ. The LG V40 is likely to be packed with flagship specs and it could feature the Snapdragon 845. Hence, the phone may sport an iPhone X-like notched display.

LG V30

Read More: LG G7 And Its Affordable Sibling Q7 Certified In Russia. Launches On May 3

The V35 ThinQ is rumored to arrive with an 18:9 aspect ratio supporting 6-inch OLED display. It will be equipped with 16-megapixel dual rear cameras that will bring some AI capabilities. It is also expected to feature 32-bit ESS Sabre 9228 quad DAC. However, there is no information available on its chipset and RAM. Also, the pricing details of the V35 ThinQ are still under the wraps.

Buy Xiaomi Xiaowa Robot Vacuum Cleaner For Only $269.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Codes]

The market is brimming with all sorts of vacuum cleaners that claim to keep your house clean and tidy. But these devices don’t come cheap and they are usually inefficient. If you’re looking for a powerful vacuum cleaner that comes in handy in day to day life without burning a hole in your pocket, look no further.

GeekBuying is giving a considerable 30% off on the Xiaomi Xiaowa Robot Vacuum Cleaner Youth Version for a limited period of time. The device normally sells for $399.99 on the site, but you can now get your hands on this robust vacuum cleaner by shelling out just $279.99.

Although the Xiaowa Robot Vacuum Cleaner is relatively less powerful than other Xiaomi-branded vacuum cleaners, it still boasts an impressive suction power up to 1600 Pa. The device has same brush system as its predecessors and it features a side brush along with the main one which bears a “tornado” design.


But if you’re on a tight budget and aren’t willing to shell out $279.99 on a vacuum cleaner, we have good news for you. GeekBuying is allowing cost-conscious buyers to save an additional $130 at the time of checking out.

All you need to do is apply coupon code ‘GVIGFRZR’ while checking out to bring your subtotal down to only $269.99. Note that the promotion is on the verge of wrapping up.

You can head straight to this link in order to take advantage of the GeekBuying promotion before it ends and use the coupon code before it expires.

Get 30% Off On Xiaomi Xiaowa Robot Vacuum Cleaner On GeekBuying Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Get Big Discounts On BESTEK-Branded Products With Promo Codes Before They Expire

Shenzhen-based manufacturer of high-quality electronic products, household appliances, and automotive accessories, BESTEK is offering big discounts on a broad range of products in the form of promo codes. Let’s delve straight into the details.

BESTEK 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip

BESTEK surge protector power strip would ideally set you back $8.99 on the company’s official website. However, you can save a considerable amount of money by using promo code ‘AMVG10’ at the time of checking out.
By applying the aforesaid promo code, you can bring your subtotal down to just $3.99. In other words, you save $5 on the item’s original asking price. You can visit this link to take advantage of the promotion before it ends.

BESTEK 300W Power Inverter

The travel-sized inverter from BESTEK is perfect for adventure junkies who love camping and people who are always on the go. The power inverter usually comes bearing a price tag of $29.99 on the company’s official website.
But if you aren’t willing to shell out that kind of money, you can apply promo code ‘ADGSH1’ at the time of checking out to reduce your subtotal to only $17. You end up saving $12.99. You can head straight to this link in order to take advantage of the promotion before it concludes.

BESTEK 75W Power Inverter

The compact and highly portable DC to AC power inverter can prove to be a great travel companion. It features a rotatable head that allows users to adjust its pivoting head, thus enabling them to use power from any direction.
You can get your hands on the power inverter by shelling out $17.99 on BESTEK official website. You can use promo code ‘AGTYE8’ while checking out to save $8 and bring your subtotal down to only $9.99. You can follow this link in order to avail the deal before it comes to an end.

BESTEK 3-Socket Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter

The upgraded cigarette lighter boasts 3 sockets and 4 USB ports that lets car users use their portable appliances and charge their electronics products while driving. It normally sells for $26.99 on BESTEK official website.
Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, BESTEK is giving them an opportunity to save $13 on the device’s retail price. Simply apply coupon code ‘APLHG3’ at the time of checking out and bring your subtotal down to just $13.99. You can follow this link to use the promo code which is likely to expire soon.

BESTEK Travel Adapter Voltage Converter

BESTEK converter is a universal plug adapter and it comes with multi USB ports that fit any country’s charging port. The device can be used to convert the overseas voltage from 220V to 110V.

The highly-useful converter is currently available for $39.99 on BESTEK official website. But you can lower your subtotal to only $23.99 by using promo code ‘ARYBV2.’ You save $16 simply by using the above-mentioned promo code.
If you’re interested in buying the BESTEK Travel Adapter Voltage Converter at a discounted price, follow this link before the promo code lapses.

BESTEK 200W Power Inverter

Sporting an eye-catching coffee box design, the BESTEK 200W power inverter is ideal for car users during trips and in situations where the power is switched off for an emergency. The 5-in-1 power inverter comes with AC outlet and USB ports that can detect and charge your devices quickly and securely.
BESTEK is selling the power inverter for $27.99 on its official website. But, you can drop your subtotal down to only $16.99 by applying coupon code ‘AQWDF9’ while checking out. You can visit this link and save $11 before the promotion ends.

BESTEK Surge Protector

The 12-outlet power strip has 5560 joules energy rating and on top of that, it is surge protected with coaxial protection. It not only protects your devices but also keeps your family away from electronic shock.
You can buy the power strip if you’re willing to spend $29.99 on BESTEK official website. But if you’re on a tight budget, you can apply promo code ‘AINGY7’ to lower your subtotal to just $23.99.

You can visit this link in order to avail the deal before the promo code expires and the promotion wraps up. Note that the recently kicked-off promotion is slated to end on April 26th.

Buy BESTKEK 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip For Only $3.99 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK 300W Power Inverter For Only $17 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK 75W Power Inverter For Only $9.99 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK 3-Socket Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter For Only $13.99 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK Travel Adapter Voltage Converter For Only $23.99 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK 200W Power Inverter For Only $16.99 On BESTEK Buy BESTEK Surge Protector For Only $29.99 On BESTEK Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

OnePlus 6 Launch Date for India is May 18; Likely to Cost Rs. 39,999, Claims Report

UPDATE: OnePlus reached out to us to confirm that the May 18 release date of the OnePlus 6 mentioned in the report is FALSE. So, we still don’t have an official date.

 

 

OnePlus 5T is only available in 64 GB storage edition on Amazon India. Its 128 GB edition has been out of stock since the beginning of this month. Hence, the rumor mill has been claiming that the arrival of the OP6 could be close at hand. A new report on Money Control, an Indian publication, claims that the OnePlus 6 will launch on May 18. It has also states that the smartphone is likely to be available with a pricing of Rs. 39,999 (~$605).

Based on the recent rumors and the teasers released by OnePlus, the publication claims that the OnePlus 6 will be sporting an iPhone X-like notch design. For people who do not like the notch, the handset will offer an option to hide it. It will be arrived with a waterproof body, but there is no confirmation on whether it will be IP67 or IP68 rated device.

OnePlus India has recently released a teaser that suggests that the company could be releasing a special edition OnePlus 6 with an Avengers theme. Even though the publication has speculated that OP6 could be priced at Rs. 39,999, it hasn’t clearly mentioned whether the pricing belongs to the base model or the one with highest configuration.

The 64 GB OnePlus 5T with 6 GB of RAM was launched with a price tag of Rs. 32,999 and the 128 GB model with 8 GB of RAM carried a pricing of Rs. 37,999. Recently, another Indian site that had accurately guessed the OP5T pricing last year had claimed that the OnePlus 6 will be available in three variants in India.

OnePlus-6-Full-Design

It had stated that the 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage + 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage + 8 GB RAM variants could be respectively priced Rs. 33,999 – Rs, 36,999, Rs. 38,999 – Rs. 42,999, and Rs. 44,999 – Rs. 48,999. It had also claimed that India would be also receiving the OnePlus Bullets Wireless earbuds that had passed Bluetooth certification in the previous month. Also, like the predecessor model, the OnePlus 6 will be exclusively available on Amazon India.

Read More: OnePlus Needs Your Ideas for Making OnePlus 6 Commercial

Last year, the OnePlus 5T was launched in China after it was made official in India. The Chinese manufacturer is known for launching its smartphone first in overseas countries before announcing it in China. A recent report had claimed that OnePlus 6 may go official in China on May 5. If the May 18 launch date is true for India, then the OP6 is may not get unveiled on May 5 in the home country but may become official after May 18.

(source)

Huawei Is Testing Android P On Mate 10 and 10 Pro: Here’s How It Looks

About a year after Huawei started testing Android Oreo on the Mate 9, new evidence suggests that the Chinese company is testing Android P on Huawei Mate 10 and 10 Pro. According to XDA Developers, the hi-tech giant has started testing the new version of Google’s operating system on the Chinese variant of the Mate 10 identified by the model number ALP-AL00. With the aid of a service called FunkyHuawei specialized in updating, rebranding, and unbricking Huawei phones, guys from XDA Developers have been able to rebrand a Mate 10 Pro to the Chinese variant of the Mate 10 and they managed to install the Android P test firmware.

Three photos showing the build installed on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro have then been published. The first shows the Android P Easter egg, while the second shows the About screen, confirming that the testing firmware contains the EMUI 8.2 based on Android 9.0.0. However, it is likely that the final Android P release will be customized with EMUI 9.0. The third photo shows the Developer Options menu. The new user interface does not contain the changes noticed on the first Android P Developer Preview called Material Design 2, and neither the recently-leaked iPhone X-like navigation bar which replaces the multi-tasking key with a gesture.

 

RELATED: Huawei Could Have Released A Notch Phone Way Before the iPhone X, But It Played Safe

 

But it is likely that the company should already be working on a similar navigation bar to include in the final build. Other things included in this firmware are Android P’s restrictions on apps that use non-SDK Java APIs, global actions for Accessibility Services, restrictions on third-party OMS overlays and text selection zoom. Currently, the first Developer Preview of Android P is only available on the latest Google phones: Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. There are still no custom ROMs based on Android P for Huawei Mate 10 and all other handsets as there is still no source code available.

(via)

Samsung Gets Second Patent For a Multi-Fold Tablet With Physical Keyboard

We have lost count of the number of patents Samsung have presently related to foldable phones. The Chinese OEM also has a design patent for a multi-fold tablet which was approved in September 2016. The global market leader received a fresh patent for a multi-fold tablet.

Just like the patented design from 2016, this new design also comes with a physical keyboard on the backside of one of the folding panels. The rear aspect of the foldable part of the screen that lacks a keyboard is capable of displaying notifications at a glance using an unspecified mechanism. The design is a multi-fold one where the device can be folded into more than two aspects, making it easy to carry around. It seems the functions are also multiple as Samsung mentioned in the patent documentation. Mention was made of cellular capabilities and specifically, it is stated that Samsung envisioned a tablet that would allow users to make phone calls without further details.Samsung Foldable Tablet

Read Also: Samsung Foldable Phone: Unrolls into 7-inch Tablet, Likely Q3 Release Date

This new patent, no doubt, confirms that Samsung is still busy on the drawing board in trying to develop foldable electronics gadgets. We are yet to see anyone going commercial but that may happen soon.  The Galaxy X foldable phone is tipped to launch next year even though the tech giant is yet to reveal a timeline for the launch.

(via)Samsung Foldable Tablet

Samsung’s Market Share in China & India Declining Steadily

Samsung‘s market share in two of the world’s largest smartphone market, India and China, has reportedly continued to slump. According to data compiled by Strategic Analytics, the Korean tech giant saw its share in China’s smartphone market slide to 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from a lofty of 20% share it commanded five years ago. The data also revealed Samsung shipped 9.8 million smartphones in China in Q4 2017 and this is noted to be the first time the Korean giant’s quarterly shipments fell below the 10 million-unit mark.Samsung

A breakdown of the statistics reveals that Sammy’s market share in China fell from 3.1% in the first quarter of 2017 to 2.7% in the second quarter and it went further south to 2% in the third quarters. For the entire 2017, the Korean vendor had a 2.1% share in China, which is just about one-fifth of the figures it posted in 2013. This year may not see an improvement despite the launch of the Galaxy S9 models as the company’s market share is expected to remain at 0.8% in Q1 2018. The hefty price tags of the models are likely going to discourage a lot of fans in China from picking up one. The midrange market has also slipped out of the grip of the Korean phone maker.

Related: Xiaomi & Samsung in Subtle War of Words Over Who Sold More Units in Q4 2017 in India

The same thing applies to India where the company also face stiff competition in the midrange segment from Chinese OEMs like Huawei, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi whose smartphones have equally high quality and are better priced than Samsung models. The company has been the top phone maker in India for six years but last year saw Xiaomi outperform the tech giant in the fourth quarter. Samsung share also fell from26.2% to 23.9%. Samsung still remains the largest smartphone maker globally but observers are of the opinion that the global market leader faces the prospects of a further drop in the Indian and Chinese market in the near future.

(source)

Moto E5 Plus launches With 5,000mAh Battery, Moto E5 and Moto E5 Play Tag Along

Other than the Moto G6 series launched today, we also got the Moto E5 series. The Moto E5 series includes the Moto E5 Plus which is the leader of the pack and the Moto E5 and Moto E5 Play.

Moto E5 Plus official

The Moto E5 Plus is the biggest of all three. It sports a 6” display with a 1440 x 720 resolution and has polymer glass on the rear. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. A Snapdragon 435 processor is the chipset of choice.

Although the Moto E5 Plus looks like it has dual rear cameras, it only has one. It is a 12MP f/2.0 (1.25um) sensor. The hole beside it is home to a laser focus module. It also has an 8MP front-facing camera with a dedicated LED flash.

Other than the large display, another selling point of the Moto E5 plus is its massive 5,000mAh battery. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo.

 

Moto E5

The Moto E5 is smaller at 5.7” but has the same HD+ resolution.  It is powered by a Snapdragon 425 SoC paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

It has a 13MP f/2.0 sensor with a 1.12um pixel size as its main camera and a 5MP sensor as the front-facing camera. There is also a front LED flash.

The Moto E5 comes with a 4,000mAh battery which should be sufficient for more than a day.

 

Moto E5 Play

The last is the Moto E5 Play. Just like the Moto E5, the rear is covered in polycarbonate. However, it is removable for access to the battery.

The display is 5.2” HD display and it comes with a Snapdragon 425/Snapdragon 427 depending on the market. RAM is 2GB and built-in storage is 16GB with support for expansion.

There is an 8MP f/2.0 sensor on the rear and a 5MP camera with flash sits above the display. It also has a fingerprint scanner buried under the Moto logo on the rear like its siblings.

Compared to the rest, the battery is small at 2,800mAh. It comes with a 10W charger and runs Android 8.0 Oreo.

READ MORE: Motorola Moto Z3 Play Moniker & Dimensions Confirmed By FCC

Motorola Unveils The Moto G6 Family: Brings New Design, New Display, & Improved Cameras

Motorola has launched the new Moto G6 family at an event in Brazil. The sixth generation Moto G series includes the Moto G6, the Moto G6 Play, and the Moto G6 Plus.

Moto G6, Moto G6 Play, and Moto G6 Plus

The Moto G6 series all have a revamped design. Motorola has ditched metal in favor of 3D glass for the rear. It also now sports a new display called MAX Vision with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a redesigned/repositioned fingerprint scanner.

Moto G6 official

Moto G6 – the Moto G6 has a 5.7” display with a FHD+ display. 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 a 12MP f/1.8 rear camera and an additional 5MP camera for capturing 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.

 

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Moto G6 Play – It has a 5.7” MAX Vision display too but with an  HD+ resolution. The back is covered in glass but polymer glass in this case. It is powered by a Snapdragon 430 processor and comes in 3GB/4GB RAM variants with 32GB/64GB variants. There is support for storage expansion.

There is a 13MP F/2.0 camera and a 5MP camera secondary camera on the rear. It also has an 8MP front camera with LED flash too. Its fingerprint reader is on the back and it packs a larger 4,000mAh battery.

 

Moto G6 Plus official

Moto G6 Plus – The Moto G6 Plus has a larger 5.9” MAX Vision FHD+ display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The glass on the back is Gorilla Glass too. It has a more powerful Snapdragon 630 processor and comes in 4GB/6GB RAM variants with 64GB/128GB of storage. There is also support for up to an additional 128GB via a MicroSD card slot.

It has a 12MP f/1.7 rear camera and a 5MP secondary camera for depth of field. It can also record in 4K and has dual Pixel autofocus.  Selfie camera is 8MP too with a LED flash. A smaller 3,200mAh battery powers it and its fingerprint scanner is below the display. It also has a USB-C port and Bluetooth 5.0.

READ MORE: Motorola’s New Stereo Speaker Mod Is Now Available For $59.99

Samsung’s Foldable Phone Will Adopt A Note 8 Design But with a Bendable Midpoint

Samsung‘s foldable phone which is tipped to go by the name Galaxy X or Galaxy Wing has been on the drawing board for quite some time now. Samsung may finally release the phone sometime soon as the Korea media tips the device to be completed in June.Samsung Foldable phone

There were reports that Samsung showcased two prototypes at a secret meeting held during the CES expo earlier this year. the two prototypes include an in-folding and an out-folding design. The in-folding prototype shown to select individuals at CES is said to have two halves measuring 3.5 inches each and there is a third 3.5-inch screen at the outside which displays information and notifications.When opened, the device is said not to be longer than the Galaxy Note 8. The company may likely utilise the in-folding design on the upcoming Galaxy X.

 

Read More: Samsung Foldable Smartphone Could Begin Mass Production in 2018

 

Sources familiar with Samsung’s dealings on the foldable device say the Korean giant is making trial batches and preparing for 500,000 to 2 million units overall. However, the device isn’t expected to land until next year at the earliest.

Nubia Red Magic Gaming Smartphone Launched, Comes With 5.99-Inch 18:9 Display, SD 835 SoC And 8GB RAM For $399

As expected, at a press conference in Beijing, China, ZTE’s sub-brand Nubia announced the launch of its first gaming smartphone under its Red Magic gaming brand — Nubia Red Magic Phone.

The smartphone comes with a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with an edge-to-edge 2.5D NEG T2X-1 screen, 18:9 aspect ratio and 1500:1 contrast ratio. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 835 processor.

 

Nubia Red Magic

This is quite disappointing given that its successor — Snapdragon 845 has already been launched and is being used by most flagship smartphones launched this year. In fact, the competitor of Nubia Red Magic smartphone — Xiaomi-based Black Shark is also powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.

The smartphone is made out of aluminum and is ergonomically designed for extended gameplay. It uses advanced thermal modeling techniques and is claimed to be the first smartphone to use an all-new air convection cooling system.

The cooling system is designed in a way that it dissipates heat effectively across its diamond-cut design without compromising on performance. To make it stand out from the competition, the phone is branded with a distinctive RGB LED strip.

Nubia Red Magic

The processor is coupled Adreno 540 GPU, as well as 8GB RAM and 128GB dual-channel flash memory. The Nubia Red Magic comes with a GameBoost mode, which frees up memory-intensive resources and delivers higher frame rates.

As of the photography, there’s a 24-megapixel Samsung 5K2X7SX rear camera sensor with 0.9μm pixel size, f/1.7 aperture and supports 4K video recording at 30fps and slow-motion 720p video recording at 120fps.

On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel SK Hynix HI-846 sensor with 1.12μm pixel size and f/2.0 aperture. Connectivity options on the device include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, MIMO 2×2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS and GLONASS.

Nubia Red Magic

It comes with DTS Technology and Smart Amplifier system for an immersive sound experience. The smartphone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 3,800mAh battery which can provide up to 7 hours of gameplay on a single charge.

 

Read More: Nubia Joins The Smart Home Race With A ¥1599 (~$255) Smart Door Lock

 

The Nubia Red Magic Phone will be exclusively available through Indiegogo for an early-bird price of $399 starting from 23rd April. The company says that it will reveal further information related to pricing and availability in the coming weeks.

Android P Will Come With A Redesigned Recent Apps Interface

Depending on the phone you use, the Android recent apps menu is usually different. For MIUI, the apps are arranged horizontally and can be shrunk to just icons or expanded. For OxygenOS and stock Android, the recent apps are arranged in a vertical card system. When Android P launches, the recent apps menu will be redesigned.

Android P recent apps menu

According to 9to5Google, Android P will switch to a horizontal arrangement for the recent apps menu. The apps will still be arranged behind each other and not side-by-side like in MIUI.

It will work in a similar fashion as the current vertical arrangement. Swipe to the left to select the app you want to switch to and a swipe upwards should close an app. However, that isn’t the only change coming.

The recent apps button may also be removed, leaving just the home button which is now pill-shaped and the back button. To access the recent apps menu, one will need to swipe the home button up. When at the home screen, the only visible button will be the pill-shaped home/recent apps button. The back button is said to disappear later.

READ MORE: Rumor: Google May Acquire Nokia Health (Withings)

Honor Launches New Selfie Stick, Headphones, & Charger

The Honor 10 and the Honor MagicBook Notebook were announced in China today. However, both devices were not the only new products Honor launched. It also unveiled a bunch of new headphones, a selfie stick, and a multi-port charger.

Honor Magic Sound 2

Honor Headphones

Honor announced three different headphones today which cover basically all the three major categories.

  1. Honor Magic Sound 2 – this is a pair of wired earphones with Hi-Res audio, braided cable, gold-plated 3.5mm connector, and an in-built remote. It also has Huawei’s Histen immersive audio technology and Pure Monster Sound effect. It comes in blue, red , and purple. It is priced at ¥249 (~$40) and will go on sale on April 27.
  2. Honor Momentum Bluetooth Headphones – This is targeted at the younger generation. It is a pair of over-the-ear headphones that connects via Bluetooth, 3.5mm connector, or via USB-C. There is no info on price and availability yet.
  3. Honor Magic Diamond Wireless Earbuds – this is a pair of completely wireless earbuds with a polygon design. Nothing is known about its features, price, and availability.
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Honor Moonlight Selfie Stick

The Moonlight Selfie Stick is a selfie stick with its own LED flash. The six-LED flash is incorporated into the shaft and points at the direction of the subject. This comes in handy for those wide-angle selfies in low-light conditions.

Honor Moonlight Selfie Stick white

The selfie stick when folded can serve as a desk lamp and can also work as an emergency flashlight. It comes in black and white and is priced at ¥139 (~$22). It will also go on sale on April 27.

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Honor Multi-port Charger

The Honor multi-port charger comes with three ports and a foldable plug. One port (colored purple) supports Huawei’s 5V/4.5A SuperCharge fast charge technology. This is for all Huawei and Honor devices that support the fast charging mode. The port also supports 9V/2A fast charging.

Honor Multi-Port Charger

The other two ports (colored white) support 5V/2A and 5V/1A charging modes. The charger also has 9 different protection modes that should keep your devices safe when plugged in.

It is only available in white and costs ¥149 (~$24). And just like the other products, it will be available on April 27 on Vmall, JD.com, Suning, and Tmall.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Orchid Grey Color Variant Launched In India

Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 8 smartphone in India back in September. Now, the company has introduced a new Orchid Grey color variant in India, which is priced at Rs. 67,990 — similar to the pricing of other variants.

This new Orchid Grey color variant of Galaxy Note 8 will be available in India from April 17 across India and offline retail stores. Recently, the company had launched Burgundy Red color variant of the Galaxy S9 in India.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Orchid Grey

The Galaxy Note 8 comes with a 6.3-inch Infinity Display, a Super AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Under the hood, the device is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 8895 processor, which is clocked at 2.3GHz.

In India, the device packs 6GB RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. There’s also an option to expand the phone’s storage capacity up to another 256GB through a microSD slot.

Coming to the camera department, the device comes with a 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual-rear camera at the back with dual OIS. Both come with f/1.7 aperture with Dual Pixel technology and also supports 2x optical zoom. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

One of the phone’s highlights is the S Pen, which is a stylus that enhances writing and other functions on this phone. This phone also receives the support of Samsung’s digital assistant — Bixby.

The device, which is water and dust resistant with IP68 certification support Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, GPS, and GLONASS as connectivity options. Sensors on the phone include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer, and Iris scanner.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy J6 With Infinity Display and 3.5mm Jack Visits FCC

The smartphone runs on Android Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and the company has recently started rolling out Android Oreo update. It drives power from a 3,300mAh battery.