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

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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.

Continue

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.

Continue

World Intellectual Property Day: Huawei Reveals It Had 74,397 Patents As At Dec. 2017

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 26, 2018

April 26 is marked as the World Intellectual Property Day annually. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe.

Huawei is marking the event, taking time out to disclose its patent portfolio. As we would have expected, Huawei revealed that is has a total of 74,326 patents as at December 31, 2017. In addition, the company also applied for 64,091 patents in China and 48,758 foreign patent application, of which over 90% are invented patents. It could be recalled that the European Patent Office (EPO) did reveal that Huawei had the highest patent filings last year with a total patent application of 2,398. Of course, Huawei’s patents must have gone past 74,326 by now.

This disclosure clearly shows how much Huawei has ramped up its Research and Development (R&D) efforts both in China and overseas. The Chinese tech giant recently revealed that its annual investment in research and development (R&D) reached 89.7 billion Yuan ($13.8 billion) which represents a 17.4 percent increase over the company’s R&D spending for 2016. The disclosure also meant Huawei’s R&D spending over the past decade had exceeded 394 billion Yuan ($60.4 billion). Globally, Huawei’s investment in R&D ranks third, behind Amazon and Google’s parent company, Alphabet. The company promised to continue a $10 billion investment annually in research and development. So, expect more innovations from the Chinese giant.

(source)

Gionee S11 Lite and Gionee F205 Launched In India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 26, 2018

A few days ago, we reported that Gionee had a product launch scheduled for today in India. Surprisingly, the Chinese-based manufacturer actually announced two new phones for the Indian market. The two phones are the Gionee S11 Lite and the Gionee F205 which were already announced in China last November.

Gionee S11 Lite

The Gionee S11 Lite is similar to the Gionee F6 in China but with a few upgraded specs. It has the same curved and reflective rear design as the other S11 siblings but with less-powerful specs.

The S11 Lite packs a 5.7” 1440 x 720 FullView display with Gorilla Glass protection, a Snapdragon 430 processor, and 4GB of RAM. There is 32GB of built-in storage and a MicroSD card slot for up to an additional 128GB.

For optics, the Gionee S11 Lite has a 13MP + 2MP combo on the rear. They are positioned at the top left corner in a horizontal position. The front camera is a single 16MP sensor, an upgrade from the 8MP on the Gionee F6. It can shoot portrait photos and also has a beauty mode.

Gionee is shipping the phone with Android Nougat out of the box with no news of an update yet. It has a 3030mAh battery, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and support for Face Unlock.

The Gionee S11 Lite is priced at Rs. 13,999 (~$210) and will be available at the end of May.

Gionee F205

The Gionee F205 is an entry-level smartphone that also has a FullView display. Its screen is 5.45” and has a 1440 x 720 resolution and under its metal body is 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and a MT6739 processor.

The phone has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera. It doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner but it has Face Unlock. There is also a 2670mAh battery for juice and a dedicated microSD card slot.

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OnePlus India Teases the OnePlus 6 Super Slow Motion Video Shooting

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 26, 2018

OnePlus recently announced that its latest flagship- the OnePlus 6 would be launched globally in a ceremony in London on May 16. The device will then debut India as well as China on May 17. Already, OnePlus have revealed a number of features the OP6 is expected to launch with. OnePlus India may have just released a teaser which revealed the OnePlus 6 will come with a Super Slo Mo camera function for video shooting.

The teaser poster was first uploaded on OnePlus India official website but was later pulled down and replaced with something else. However, that wasn’t before the poster was grabbed by some smart visitors. In case you don’t know, For those who don’t know, Slo Mo refers to slow-motion video recording. This isn’t actually a new feature as OnePlus flagships last year featured slow-motion video recording. However, that didn’t allow recording at 960 fps but this is Super Slow Mo and so, we could be looking at 960 frames/second slow-motion video recording or even more.

If the notch display is a deal breaker for some, the other features the OnePlus 6 is expected to feature seems to outweigh that. The flagship device is expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and would have a glass back, waterproof body, repositioned alert slider and a powerful camera setup. This new feature is obviously going to whip up more interest in the upcoming OnePlus flagship.

(source)

The Ciga Design Mechanical Round Watch Is Xiaomi’s Latest Crowdfunding Product

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 26, 2018

Xiaomi’s Mijia crowdfunding platform has at least one new product every day. These products cover practically all categories and also come in multiple variants just like this new Ciga Design mechanical watch.

Last year, Xiaom released a Ciga Design Mechanical Watch with a square frame (image below). But there are folks who don’t like square-faced watches. If you belong to that category, Ciga Design now has a version with a round frame.

The new Ciga Design Mechanical Watch was designed by Hong-Kong-based Michael Young and is the recipient for iF’s Gold Award for 2017. Below is an excerpt from the statement of the iF jury:

“This watch takes a holistic approach to design, signifying a new interpretation of a classic masterpiece. Appealing sensory details such as a visible movement and a tactile crown winder will delight the user, while the curved face lends a softness to the appearance. Michael Young has succeeded in imparting this watch with a unique experience.”

The watch comes in two colors – silver and black with steel mesh straps, but you can also purchase genuine leather bands if you wish. The case is made of die-cast steel with a 12mm thickness and 42mm diameter. The dial is covered with 1.3mm thick sapphire glass which comes just after diamond on the hardness scale.

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After ZTE’s Ban, U.S. Probing Huawei For Possible Iran Sanctions Violations

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 26, 2018

The searchlight is beaming once again on Huawei in the U.S, this time around concerning the possible violation of US ban on importing its products to Iran and other countries. Sources familiar with the matter hint that the U.S. authorities have been probing Huawei’s alleged shipping of U.S.-origin products to Iran and other countries in violation of U.S. export and sanctions laws.

At present, the U.S Justice Department is reportedly probing Huawei for possible violations and the probe is spearheaded by the U.S attorney’s office in Brooklyn. The probe may have begun as far back as 2016, the same time the ZTE probe began. However, a spokesperson for the Justice Department refused to confirm or deny such investigation was ongoing when contacted.

The probe is yet another hurdle which could effectively cripple Huawei’s business concerns not only in the U.S but also in other regions. It is coming on the heels of a series of U.S. actions aimed at stopping or reducing access by Huawei and Chinese smartphone maker ZTE to the U.S. economy amid allegations the companies could be using their technology to spy on Americans. The sledgehammer fell on ZTE recently as the U.S government slammed a seven years ban on the Chinese company from buying parts and software from American companies. ZTE has indicated the ban is now threatening its survival.

(source)

GearBest Is Handing Free Gifts, Discounts And Lots More; Here’s How To Participate

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 26, 2018

As part of its latest ‘Get it Free’ special promotion, GearBest is handing out an array of free gifts to buyers who share this season’s amazing moments with their site. The promotion has been split into multiple categories in a bid to simplify the search process.

Going Outdoor

This category gives adventure junkies a lot of cheer about. In addition to a broad range of other items that come in handy when you go on a great outdoor adventure, you can also buy the Paired FLL Winter Windproof full-finger cycling gloves at a discounted price of just $5.18.
GearBest is offering a noteworthy 37% discount on the cycling gloves, which normally carries a price tag of $8.19 on the site. Moreover, you can choose from different sizes including small, medium, large and XL.

Cooking Together

Much to the chagrin of people who love using modern kitchen gadgets while cooking for their friends and family, these devices don’t come cheap. Bearing that in mind, GearBest is giving considerable discounts on a slew of must-have kitchen tools.

For instance, you can get 29% off on 16 pieces of the blue and white-tinted Fruit Fork with whale holder. The product normally sells for $3.47 on GearBest; however, you can now get your hands on it by shelling out only $2.46.

Decorating Home

The market is brimming with all sorts of products that enhance the look of your house. On the downside, these products usually carry steep price tags.

If you like to keep your home looking good without burning a hole in your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. This category is crammed with home decoration items that you can buy at a discounted price.

For the sake of an example, you can buy the BRELONG Rechargeable 3D Printing Moon LED Night Light for only $17.08 on GearBest. This white light + warm white light version of the moon lamp would usually set you back $23.83. This is a 28% drop in the item’s retail price.

Funny Toys

GearBest is giving 22% discount on the Mini Lucky Slot Machine Metal Anti-stress Toy Christmas Gift, bringing its retail price of $3.18 down to only $2.49.
This Flash Sale price will be valid only for the remaining 80 pieces. It’s also worth noting that the promotion will come to an end in 6 days.

In order to get a product without doling out a single dime, all you have to do is click the “Get It Free” button on product page. You have to share the product link to your social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and invite your friends to buy on GearBest.

You can follow this link in order to check out rest of the products and get free gifts.

Check Out GearBest Get It Free Promotion Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Xiaomi Mi 5 Treated with Face Unlock Feature

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 26, 2018

Earlier this year, Xiaomi had introduced the face unlock feature on some of its smartphones such as Redmi Note 5 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 6 and Mi MIX 2. Newer phones like Mi MIX 2S and Mi 6X are pre-installed with the facial recognition feature. Through the latest MIUI 9 8.4.25 aimed towards beta users, Xiaomi has brought the facial identification feature to Mi 5 smartphone that was released in 2016.

In order to activate the face unlock feature on Xiaomi Mi 5, users need to install the beta update and then navigate to Settings > Lock screen, Password and Fingerprint > Add face data and then preform the prerequisite steps to scan and save the face data on the phone.

In order to save battery from consuming more power, the pre-defined timeout of 5 seconds for face unlock feature. It means that if the face is not scanned in 5 seconds, the face unlock feature won’t be available and users will have to wake up the screen to access face recognition.

Mi 5 user should be aware of the fact that the feature won’t be available on its own after installing the latest MIUI beta update. After entering the face data, users need to go Settings > Lock Screen, Password and Fingerprint > Face Data Management and turn on “Allow notification of a face detection when the screen is on”

Now that the beta version for the Mi 5 features the face unlock, it is likely the next MIUI stable for it will include the face scanning feature. Face scanning feature is not as robust and secure as the fingerprint scanning. However, the face unlock feature gives the convenience of unlocking the phone by looking it.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 features a 5.15-inch IPS LCD display. It is powered by Snapdragon 820 SoC. It was released in variants like 128 GB storage + 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM. It includes OIS enabled 16-megapixel rear camera and 4-megapixel front camera. It receives power from 3,000mAh battery.

(via)

Xiaomi Launches Mi Gaming Headset In China For 349 Yuan ($55)

By

Jeet

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Apr 26, 2018

Xiaomi has today launched its new headphone — Mi Gaming Headset. As we reported earlier, the gaming headset will go on sale in China from 27th April for a price of 349 Yuan, which roughly converts to $55.

The Mi Gaming Headset comes with a 7.1 virtual surround sound engine which creates stereo surround sound to provide an immersive gaming experience.

It comes with 40mm Graphene Composite Diaphragm which according to the company helps in delivering perfect sound scalability and richness, with high-speed response to the sound while also taking into account the high fidelity.

Whether you are playing a game or listening to music, the enclosed sound chamber design, which is combined with a soft PET laminate layer to provides pure sound quality. There’s also a Dual Microphone ENC Ambient Noise Reduction Technology.

The Mi Gaming Headset also comes with LED strips on the side, which can be customized by the user using a software. The customization available for the LED strip includes the color of the LED as well as lighting effects.

The plug-n-play headphones come with two types of connectors — USB Type-C and 3.5mm audio interface, ensuring that it can be connected to a computer as well as a smartphone.

The Xiaomi’s Mi Gaming Headset has been listed on Xiaomi Mall and will be available for purchase in China from 27th April, for a price of 349 Yuan.

This is yet another product launched by China-based Xiaomi which is focused towards the gaming sector. Earlier this year, the company launched its first ever gaming laptop and recently, it also launched its first gaming smartphone through Black Shark Technologies. The gaming smartphone, which is dubbed Black Shark, currently competes against Razer Phone and Nubia Red Magic Phone.

Buy Coolpad Cool S1 Smartphone For Only $219.99 On GeekBuying; Limited Period Discount To End Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 26, 2018

The Coolpad Cool S1 was launched in January last year. As expected, the Android performance smartphone propelled straight to popularity among tech buffs after hitting the store shelves.

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the well-received Cool S1 smartphone without emptying your pocket, we have good news for you. GeekBuying is giving cost-conscious buyers an opportunity to get 43% off on the phone’s original asking price.

Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now buy the Coolpad Cool S1 smartphone by shelling out only $219.99. It’s worth noting that the device normally comes bearing a relatively steep price tag of $388.99 on GeekBuying.
The Coolpad Cool S1 is an irresistible 4G LTE smartphone that boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features. Housed in a sturdy metal body, the phone sports a 5.5 inches IPS FHD display with a screen resolution of 1080 × 1920 pixels.

Moreover, it packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 Pro processor along with an equally robust Qualcomm Adreno 530, 653 MHz GPU, under the hood. The phone offers 6GB of RAM coupled with 64GB of onboard storage space.

On the photography front, the Cool S1 smartphone houses a 16-megapixel camera with AF and dual-LED flash on the back. Up front, there’s an 8-megapixel camera for selfie addicts.

The phone runs EUI 5.8-based Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and is backed by a 4,070 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery. This built-in cell delivers up to 265 hours of standby time and up to 16 hours of talk time.

At $219.99, the Coolpad Cool S1 smartphone is quite a bargain. However, it is likely to retain its original selling price as soon as the promotion wraps up.

You can visit this link to check out the full specification and take advantage of the promotion which is slated to end in 8 days.

Get 43% Off On Coolpad Cool S1 Smartphone On GeekBuying Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Specifications Leaked; Likely to Feature Snapdragon 660, 6,000mAh Battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 26, 2018

Well-known industry analyst Pan Jiutang from China had recently claimed that Xiaomi is developing the Mi Pad 4 tablet. Today, XDA Developers has shared the key specifications of the upcoming Xiaomi tablet through its leaked firmware files.

According to the publication, there are some evidences in the firmware files that show that Xiaomi will indeed release a tablet in the near future. The firmware files contain references for pad that refers to a tablet PC. Its default screen density is set to a low value of 320ppi which is again suitable for a tablet, and it features a huge 6,000mAh battery which is quite big for a smartphone. Also, the ro.build.characteristics property in the build.prop is set to “tablet”. This property is accessed by apps to confirm whether to show a tablet interface. The same property is also set to “tablet” in the predecessor Mi Pad 3, while it is set to default on a smartphone like Mi Max 3.

The publication claims that the Boolean value present in the “is_18x9_ratio_screen” MIUI config is set to true which hints that the tablet may feature an 18:9 aspect ratio. It sounds weird as a tablet with such an elongated screen may look quite absurd. The tablet is expected to feature an LCD panel like the Mi Pad 3.

The firmware files have also revealed that the Snapdragon 660 chipset will be powering the Mi Pad 4. However, its clocking speed to 2.0 GHz, instead of its usual processing rate of 2.2 GHz. As of this writing, there is no information available on the RAM and storage editions of the Mi Pad 4.

Since the “nosdcard” property is missing from ro.build.characteristics which indicates that the device may feature a microSD card slot. However, it is still doubtful as the Mi Pad 3 does not feature a microSD card slot.

When it comes to photography, the Mi Pad 4 is likely to offers its users with a single rear camera featuring 13-megapixel OmniVision OV13855 sensor with an aperture of 2.0. At the front, it may feature 5-megapixel Samsung S5K5E8 sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. The Mi Pad 4 is unlikely to support 4K video shooting. However, it will be arriving with support for portrait mode. Lastly, the device will be lacking NFC connectivity.

The other specs and pricing of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 is still under the wraps. As of this writing, there is no information available on its launch date.

(source)

Xiaomi Launches the 87-Key Yuemi Mechanical Keyboard Pro Silent Edition

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 26, 2018

Xiaomi has quietly launched a new Yuemi Mechanical Keyboard Pro and it is currently available on Mi Mall. The mechanical keyboard comes with a 599 Yuan ($94) price tag.

The Mechanical keyboard retains the 87-key layout design of its predecessor but it is encased in a 6-series aluminium alloy body manufactured using an anodizing sandblasting process. The keyboard comes in Black and White colour options and both adopt the TTC red axis key switch design. It also comes with a structure which ensures that most of the noise generated during typing is absorbed. In other words, this is a noiseless keyboard. that is one of the major features of the product hence it is referred to as Silent edition. The keycaps are made from a combination of PC+ABS materials and each of the caps have a unique fingertip touch. The keycap is elegantly styled with new font, while providing a single cmd keycap for use under MacOS. The keyboard also comes with a USB Type-C port for connecting the keyboard to a PC or laptop.

The mechanical keyboard is powered by a Microelectronics ARM architecture which controls its functionality. It can also be used as a gaming keyboard as it can achieve 10000Hz of professional gaming level performance. The Yuemi Mechanical Keyboard Pro Silent Edition is already available to buy on Mi Mall for a price of 599 Yuan ($94). No word yet on when this product will be available outside China but as usual, expect it on GearBest and other online retailers soon since the previous version is presently available.

(source)

Preorder Xiaomi MiTU RC Drone For Only $79 On GeekBuying; Limited Preorders Are Now Open!

By

Vinay Patel

-

Apr 26, 2018

Xiaomi recently unveiled an RC drone under its MiTU sub-brand which makes toys. The MiTU RC drone is a quadcopter equipped with the multi-machine infrared battle function.

If you’re a drone enthusiast waiting to buy your first drone without burning a hole in your pocket, you’ve come to the right place. You can now preorder the MiTU RC drone at a lowered price of $79 on GeekBuying.

This is a noteworthy reduction in the device’s original asking price of $89.99. In other words, you end up saving $10.99. Let’s check out a few details about the MITU RC drone.

The MiTU RC drone dons a shock absorption design, coupled with the precision hover function which allows it to fly unwaveringly even in the indoor surroundings. The drone draws its juices from a robust built-in 920mAh battery that delivers up to 10 minutes of flight time.Moreover, Xiaomi MITU RC drone packs a powerful quad-core 1.2GHz SoC along with 4GB of RAM, under the hood. The device adopts 5.8GHz WiFi technology which facilitates FPV HD image transmission. The MiTU drone can reach a maximum height of 25 meters, while the remote control works up to a distance of 50 meters.

Up front, the MiTU RC drone sports a camera that can shoot 720 pixels video and can take still image aerial photography with a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. It offers a hearty 4GB of onboard storage space as well.

The highly portable MiTU RC drone is only 11 cm long and it weighs in at just 88 grams. The device boasts a broad range of sensors including ultrasonics, barometers, and optical flow sensors.

You can head straight to this link in order to check out the full specification and avail the deal. It’s worth noting that there were only 60 preorders available at a slashed price.

Get Big Discount On Xiaomi MITU WIFI FPV RC Drone On GeekBuying Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Xiaomi Says Its Overall Net Profit Margin For Hardware Business Will Never Exceed 5%

By

Jeet

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Apr 26, 2018

During the Xiaomi Mi 6X launch event, the China-based company made a separate announcement that the overall net profit margin of the company’s hardware business, including smartphones, IoT and lifestyle products, will never exceed 5 percent.

The company also said if the net profit margin of its hardware business exceeds 5 percent, then it will find a way to return the excess of 5 percent to its users. However, the company has not yet revealed how exactly it plans to do that.

With such move, the company is looking to earn the long-term support of its users and sell its products in large volumes with small profit margins, which the company believes is suitable hardware profits for Xiaomi in the long term.

The company says that it has created a unique “triathlon” business model, which encompasses hardware, internet service, and new retail. It claims to be the only smartphone in the world that has rebounded after a decline in sales. That development is the result of its relevant and advanced model, believes the China-based company.

Xiaomi added that cost efficiency is at the heart of business competition, and a 5% limit on our overall hardware net profit margin is evidence of the company’s high-cost efficiency. It says that across various product categories, the company has successfully launched the best products and kept them close to their cost price, thus revolutionizing the entire industry and allowing these products to be available to the masses in a short span of time.

The company believes that maintaining reasonable profits is an inevitable industrial trend and any move pushing for high gross margins will eventually reap no rewards. Currently, Xiaomi has exceeded 100 billion RMB in annual revenue and claims to have nearly 20,000 employees.

This announcement was made at the event where Xiaomi launched its latest smartphone — Mi 6X. It comes with a 5.99-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels on the sides. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor coupled with Adreno 512 GPU. It packs up to 6GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB internal storage.

The smartphone features a 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 aperture and Soft-LED flash on the front. On the back side, there’s a dual camera setup with 12-megapixel primary Sony IMX486 sensor with f/1.75 aperture and 1.25-micron pixels, and a 20-megapixel secondary Sony IMX376 sensor with the same aperture but 1-micron pixel size.

Running on Android Oreo-based MIUI, the device is powered by a 3,010mAh battery that supports QuickCharge 3.0 technology, which can charge the battery from 0 percent to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. It comes in five color options — Red, Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, and Black and will go on sale in China from 27th April.

OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition Appears in New Teaser; OnePlus Giving Away 6,000 Movie Tickets in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 26, 2018

In the last week, OnePlus confirmed that it will be launching a special edition Avengers-themed OnePlus 6 smartphone. Today, the company has released a new teaser of the phone which not only confirms its moniker as OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition, but also reveals its design.

The new commercial not only shows the trailer of the movie, but also gives a glimpse of the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition in between. The rear side of the special edition phone has a textured appeal and the frontside features a notched screen. The Alert Slider that now sits on the right side of the device is also highlighted in the new teaser.

Last year, OnePlus had partnered with Disney to give 10,000 tickets for Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie. This time around, OnePlus is giving away 6,000 tickets for the next Avengers movie to the buyers of OnePlus phone. The tickets can be redeemed through Paytm through cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. The tickets belong for the movie April 27, 28 and A9.

Readers can visit the website of OnePlus India to claim the movie tickets. It requires users to provide details like the IMEI number of OnePlus phone and city name. After hitting the “Get it” button, a coupon code will be generated for the movie ticket. Users can then access Paytm and select the desired show from the list of following theaters:

Mumbai – PVR Icon Infiniti Mall Versova
Pune – PVR Pune Market City
Hyderabad – PVR Kukatpally Forum Sujana Mall
Chandigarh – PVR Elante Mall
Chennai – PVR Ampa Sky Walk Mall
Kolkata – Cinemax Mani Square Mall
Delhi – PVR DLF Mall of India
Bangalore – PVR Forum Mall – Koramangala
Kochi – PVR Lulu International Shopping Mall
Ahmedabad – PVR Acropolis

As mentioned at the beginning of this report, apart from giving movie tickets, the Chinese manufacturer will be also unveiling the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Limited Edition on May 17. On the same date, the company will be also debuting the regular version of the OnePlus 6. The smartphone will be exclusively available on Amazon India.

Both the smartphones are expected to feature the same specs, but the special edition variant is expected to feature an avenger theme and may come in special package. The above teaser suggests that China too will be receiving the limited-edition Avengers-themed OnePlus 6. It will be also heading to the U.K. As of this writing, there is no information available on the pricing of this special model of OP6.

(via 1, 2)