Smartisan Nuts R1 Will Launch With Snapdragon 845 & Wireless Charging On May 15

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May 11, 2018

Finally, the Nuts series by Smartisan is going to embrace a flagship after several mid-rangers. It has been confirmed by the company’s VP Wu Dezhou: the man has published a very long post on the microblogging platform Weibo hinting at flagship-level specs. The handset will be called Smartisan Nuts R1 and, with its post, Dezhou has confirmed that it will sport the best Qualcomm SoC of 2018. We are referring to the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 running at a frequency of 2.8 GHz.

No other details of the specs sheet have been revealed, but the post reveals many important features of the device. Smartisan Nuts R1 will boast interesting input-related innovations: according to reports, we will see a brand new gesture control. The device will have high screen-to-body ratio, which makes the presence of the gesture control a more reliable hypothesis. According to the post, it will also have an improved camera, and it would not be the first time that Smartisan releases an outstanding device in terms of photo quality, even in low light conditions. Artificial intelligence will also play an important role and it was expected as the device boasts a Snapdragon 845 SoC which has a dedicated module for AI.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2_2 — Smartisan Nut Pro 2

We still do not know whether AI will only be focused to improve camera performance or even the user experience. At last, it has been confirmed that the device will support a wireless and fast charging technology. This means that Smartisan Nuts R1 will not have a full aluminum unibody design as it is currently impossible for full metal devices to support wireless charging. Given that it will be a flagship, it will have either a glass or a ceramic back. Further, expect a singular and original design (and user interface) just like every other device released by Smartisan. The device will be officially announced at the Beijing National Stadium on May 15.

Entry-Level Meizu M8c & M8c Lite (Android Go) Certified By FCC, Specs in Tow

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 11, 2018

Meizu is one innovative Chinese phone maker that we believe isn’t where it is supposed to be up at the top. The company is climbing up gradually and targeting the international market is the sure way to go. That is what the company seems to be cooking up going by a recent FCC listing for two new Meizu models. The models come with the model numbers Meizu M809L and M810L was certified by the U.S regulatory agency recently which is a signal that the models may soon go official.

The names of the models are not yet officially revealed but a reliable source hinted that the M809H/L will be christened Meizu M8c and the M810H/L known as M8c Lite. They are likely successors of the Meizu M6, M6 Note and M6s which went official in September last year. Meizu seems to have skipped the number 7 in the naming of the next M-series models.

The next Meizu lineup, after the number 6, should continue with the number 8 and these could be the new models:
M8 or M6T or Meilan 6T = M811H/C/M/Q
M6E or E3 = M851H (re-certified by Google)
M8c Lite = M809H/L (Android Go)
M8c = M810H/L (Flyme)#meizu #bluecharm #lineup #flyme

— Meizu Fans Global (@MeizuFansGlobal) May 3, 2018

The FCC listing gave a glimpse of the specifications of both models and from the look of things, they are entry-level phones. The M8c is expected to feature a single 13MPrear camera as well as an 8MP selfie camera. The device also comes with a 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage. The M8c also run on Android-based Flyme OS. The M8c Lite, on the other hand, looks more interesting as it is an Android Go smartphone which means we get stock Android. The rest of its specs are pretty low-end and it includes a single 8MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage.

Both models are dual-SIM phones and come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. There are also a host of supported bands including Band 20 which position them to be sold globally.

(source, via)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Render Reveals No Major Changes in Design; Likely to Miss the Most Anticipated Feature

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

A well-known tipster from China with @UniverseIce Twitter account has shared a leaked render of the upcoming Galaxy Note 9. The render reveals that the upcoming Samsung’s Note series phablet will not be arriving with any major change in design as compared to the predecessor Galaxy Note8.

The leaked render shows only the front view of the Galaxy Note 9 with the S Pen stylus standing next to it. The appearance of the Note 9 is almost identical to the Galaxy Note 8 from last year. This suggests that the Galaxy Note 9 may feature a 6.4-inch QHD+ resolution supporting S-AMOLED Infinity Display that delivers an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.

If the Note 9 render is not fake, it seems that Samsung has no plans to bring any design changes on it. According to the leakster, the Note 9 is 2mm shorter than the predecessor model.

In the recent past, the tipster had also claimed that the design of the Note 9 could be similar to the Galaxy S9. If the frontside of the Note 9 looks like the Note 8 then the rear design of its back panel could be similar to the S9. Hence, the Note 9 may feature a dual camera setup with a fingerprint placed below it.

Rumors have it that the Galaxy Note 9 could be the first Samsung phone to feature under-display fingerprint scanner. The leakster has also claimed through another Twitter post that it is almost certain that the Note 9 will not be featuring the advanced biometric recognition feature. It seems that the in-screen fingerprint sensor feature may get introduced on the Galaxy S10 smartphone that will launch in the coming year.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is likely to be powered the Snapdragon 845. Its Exynos SoC edition may feature the rumored Exynos 9820 chipset. In the past, the leakster had also claimed that the phablet would be packed with a 3,850mAh or 4,000mAh battery that will be enabled with 9V / 2A charging. The Note 9 may borrow features like variable camera aperture and stereo speakers from the Galaxy S9+.

It is speculated that the South Korean company may debut the Galaxy Note 9 in early August this year. This indicates that the smartphone may hit the market by mid or late August.

(source)

Xiaomi Could Call Its Upcoming Flagship Xiaomi Mi 8 Instead Of Mi 7

By

Joel Joseph

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May 11, 2018

Companies have often skipped certain names for their flagships. There can be different reasons for the same, like how OnePlus skipped the OnePlus 4 name because 4 is considered unlucky in the Chinese culture or how Samsung skipped the Galaxy Note 6 name to align with the numbering of its Galaxy S series. It looks like Xiaomi is also going to skip a number for its upcoming Mi series flagship.

Traditionally, after the Mi 6’s launch back in 2017, we should be seeing the Mi 7 flagship in 2018. However, the popular blogger from China, Mocha RQ claims that Xiaomi will skip the Mi 7 name in favour of calling it the Xiaomi Mi 8. He explains that the company wants the name to align with its 8th anniversary. Chinese companies are often obsessed with numbers and it kind of make sense how Xiaomi would want to call its new Mi series flagship as the Xiaomi Mi 8 to celebrate its 8th anniversary in 2018. Further, he adds that the phone will be announced in May but will go on sale in June.

Just a few hours ago, there was another report that claimed the existence of Xiaomi’s 8th anniversary phone. However, the report added that it would be a special edition model that would launch alongside the Mi 7. That kind of contradicts this statement from MochaRQ who claims that there won’t be a Mi 7 at all.

Irrespective of whether it’ll be called as the Mi 7 or the Mi 8, we know that the new model will come with powerful specs. It’s said that the phone will be the first Android flagship to feature 3D facial recognition technology embedded in its notch. Other likely features include Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, and maybe even a 256GB ROM option. But these are just speculations at the moment.

Skipping a number for a new flagship isn’t a big deal as long as the phone is loaded with powerful hardware and features. If the launch is around the end of May as these reports predict, then expect the first set of teasers of the Mi 8 in the next few days.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Meanwhile, let us know what do you prefer? Mi 7 or Mi 8?

(Source)

OPPO Realme 1 Hands-On Images Appear Before May 15 Launch;

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

OPPO will be launching the Realme sub-brand in India on May 15. The very first phone to get introduced under the new brand is Realme 1. Few hours ago, an Indian publication had had published an unboxing article of the Realme 1 phone before its official announcement. The article is no longer accessible, but the some of hands-on images of the phone are available for viewing on leaks aggregator website, SlashLeaks. Previous reports have revealed that it is the rebranded version of the OPPO A3 phone that was launched in China in the recent past. However, newer reports have suggested that the specs of Realme 1 won’t be exactly same of OPPO A3.

The above image shows that the OPPO Realme 1’s box package includes charger, documentation, SIM ejector, micro USB cable and a plastic case. Amazon India has already teased the rear side of Diamond Black edition of the Realme 1 that features a metallic rear with multiple polygonal designs on it. The bottom edge of the phone features an external speaker, a microUSB 2.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The OPPO A3 phones features a notched display, but the Realme 1 features a regular 18:9 aspect ratio screen that offers 2160 x 1080 pixels. The MediaTek MT6771 Helio P60 chipset that features a dedicating AI processing unit powers the smartphone along with 6 GB of RAM. The OPPO A3 has 4 GB of RAM.

The Realme 1 has a native storage of 128 GB. For additional storage, it has a microSD card slot. The handset is fueled by a 3,410mAh battery which is negligibly bigger than 3,400mAh battery of OPPO A3. It is preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo that is overlaid with Color OS 5.0. It features a 13-megapixel rear camera whereas the OPPO A3 has a 16-megapixel rear-mounted snapper. For shooting selfies, it has a front camera of 8-megapixel. Teasers available on Amazon India have revealed that the Realme 1 will offer couple of AI features such as AI Selfie and AI Battery Management.

The OPPO Realme 1 is expected to be priced under Rs. 13,000 and it will be only available for buying exclusively through Amazon India.

What do you think about the specs and design of the Realme 1? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

(source|via)

Vivo X21i Passes Through TENAA Certification Revealing Phone’s Specifications

By

Jeet

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May 11, 2018

Earlier this year, Vivo launched Vivo X21 and Vivo X21 UD, which comes with an under display fingerprint sensor. Now, the company seems to be working on a new variant of the phone powered by MediaTek‘s chipset — Vivo X21i.

Recently, the MediaTek chipset powered Vivo X21i appeared on benchmarking portal Geekbench. Now, the smartphone has passed through China’s certification agency TENAA. The listing also reveals the phone’s specifications, which are in line with the previous leak.

The listing reveals that the smartphone will come with a 6.28-inch S-AMOLED display having a screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels, 19:9 aspect ratio and a 3D curved glass screen on top. Under the hood, the device is expected to be powered by MediaTek Helio P60 processor. The chipset is based on a 12nm process and comes with 4 Cortex A73 cores and 4 Cortex A53 cores.

It is coupled with Mali-G72 graphics processor along with and comes equipped with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It is not yet known if the phone will come with a microSD card slot for expanding the storage capacity.

Coming to the camera department, as per the listing, the smartphone will come with a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. On the front side, it is expected to feature a 12-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The smartphone is said to be running Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own custom interface on top. The device is expected to be fuelled by a 3,200mAh battery. While not yet confirmed, there are speculations that the phone could come in two variants.

Given that the Vivo X21i has already appeared on GeekBench and has now been passed through TENAA certification, it’s safe to assume that the phone’s launch is imminent. As of the pricing, this MediaTek model is expected to be cheaper compared to the standard variant.

(Source)

Nokia X’s Fresh Photos Appear to Show off its Impressive Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

Fresh photos of the Nokia X phone that is slated to debut on May 16 have appeared on Weibo. These photos show that the first Nokia phone with notched display from HMD Global is already available for viewing in China before its official announcement. However, the company is yet to confirm on its specifications and pricing of the phone.

The rear view of the Nokia X reveals that it features a glass back. The vertical dual camera setup along with its dual-tone LED flash and a fingerprint scanner are all present in the top half of the rear panel of the Nokia X.

A 3.5mm audio jack can be found on the topside of the Nokia X. The left edge of the phone seems to be barren whereas the volume controller and power key are seated on the right edge. Previous leaks have revealed that it features a microUSB 2.0 port on the bottoms side.

The Nokia features a notch enabled display. The selfie camera and an earpiece seem to be packed inside the notch. The side bezels of the phone are thin, and the bottom bezel is thick enough to house the “Nokia” branding.

Previous reports have revealed that the Nokia X has a model number of Nokia TA-1099. The same model number has been spotted on the website China’s 3C authority and TENAA regulatory body. The TENAA listing of the Nokia X has revealed its entire specifications.

The Nokia X will be arriving with a 5.8-inch notched screen that offers an aspect ratio of 19:9 and Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. It is fueled by 1.8 GHz octa-core processor which indicates that it may be driven by Snapdragon 636. Previous leaks have claimed that the handset could be also available in MediaTek Helio P60 chipset version.

The handset is expected to arrive in RAM variants like 3 GB, 4 GB and 6 GB and storage editions such as 32 GB and 64 GB. It receives power from 3,000mAh battery. One of the dual camera sensors of the Nokia X is 16-megapixel. It features a selfie snapper of 16-megapxiel. The handset will come preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo. It is pegged to be available in colors such as black, silver, white and blue.

What do you think about the design of the Nokia X? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source|via)

ZTE Corp Says It Has Ceased Main Business Operations Due To U.S. Ban

By

Jeet

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May 11, 2018

Earlier this year, the U.S. government banned American firms from sales to ZTE for seven years. According to the U.S. Government, the step was taken because the company had failed to comply with a settlement related to ZTE shipping U.S.-made goods to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

At the time, ZTE Corp issued a statement claiming that the U.S. ban will severely impact its survival and now it seems that the company is really finding it difficult to survive this ban. The China-based company has announced that it has ceased its main business operations to the ban issued by the United States.

The company further revealed that it is trying to figure out the best way forward. Recently, the company had announced that it has decided to more than double its investment for the Research & Development compared to what it spent on the same last year.

The development was in line with the company’s plan to support its ambitious goal of leading the 5G development. The company’s R&D expenditure last year stood at 12.96 billion yuan, which accounted for about 11.9 percent of the company’s operating revenue.

According to various reports, the company will specifically Research & Development investments for the products such as Pre-5G, 5G, high-end routers, SDN, OTN, and core chips.

Meanwhile, ZTE Corp has submitted an application to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) seeking for the suspension of a business ban. While it is not clear what the company included in the application, the company has provided additional material at the BIS’s request.

Ordinarily, ZTE has no administrative appeal rights under agency regulations but the Commerce Department has reportedly agreed to hear the company’s appeal on an informal basis. While some analysts are positive the issue would eventually be resolved without ZTE serving the ban, some see the imbroglio as a negotiating tactic as both countries try to end a trade war initiated by the U.S.

The Taiwanese government has also ordered all of its companies that sell to ZTE Corp to suspend shipments until they obtain approval. MediaTek, a mobile chipset maker based in Taiwan, applied for the same and has been granted approval to sell components to ZTE Corp.

Geekbuying Mother’s Day Sale: Get Up To 60% Off On A Broad Range Of Top Tech, Wearbles, Health And Beauty Products

By

Vinay Patel

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May 11, 2018

If you’ve desperately been looking for gift ideas for Mother’s Day, but can’t find a heartwarming gift that she’ll actually love, look no further. Even if you haven’t gotten her anything yet, GeekBuying is offering some unique gift ideas to make her feel special without burning a hole in your pocket.

GeekBuying recently unveiled its Mother’s Day Sale promotion wherein buyers can get up to a whopping 60% discount on a broad range of products. In a bid to facilitate the search process, these products have been split into multiple categories.

Home Essentials

A working, as well as a stay-at-home mom, spends a lot of time keeping the house clean and tidy. While there’s no dearth of products that come in handy in maintaining your home, these devices usually carry steep price tags.

Bearing that in mind, GeekBuying is offering a 36% off on the Xiaomi Mijia Roborock Vacuum Cleaner 2, which normally sells for $699.99 on the site. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now get your hands on this powerful vacuum cleaner by shelling out just $449.99.

Aside from that, this category is crammed with all sorts of other products that you can buy at the considerably lowered price. On the downside, the promo is slated to end soon.

Top Tech

This category is brimming with Mother’s Day gift ideas for a mom who loves tech. For instance, you can preorder the Xiaomi Mi 6x smartphone for a discounted price of just $299.99.

This is a noteworthy reduction in the phone’s original asking price of $329.99. Alternatively, you can go for the Teclast F7 Business laptop, which is currently available at a slashed price of just $255.99 in the section.
The 6GB RAM/64GB ROM version of the F7 laptop would normally set you back $405.99; however, GeekBuying is giving a 37% discount on its retail price. The site is also offering 29% off on the 6GB RAM/128GB ROM version of the laptop bringing its retail price down to just $299.99.

Health & Beauty

Being the backbone of a family, it is imperative for mothers to stay healthy and beautiful. GeekBuying is offering big discounts on a slew of health and beauty related products featured in this category.

Lining with this, you can buy the Xiaomi Lefan Cold Warm eye massager at a lowered price of just $58.99 on GeekBuying while it normally sells for $90.02 on the site. This is a 34% reduction in the device’s retail price and it will be valid for 6 days.
Likewise, by shelling out just $56.99, you can buy the Xiaomi inFace Ultrasonic face cleaner which would normally set you back $80.12 on GeekBuying. This is a 29% discount which is slated to be valid until May 14th.

Wearables

This section comprises latest wearable technology including smartwatches, fitness trackers and lots more. More importantly, GeekBuying is offering noteworthy discounts on these devices which would normally set you back a pretty penny.
The Makibes HR3 smart bracelet usually comes bearing a price tag of $30.99 on GeekBuying. But the site will be giving you an opportunity to buy the HR3 at a discounted price of only $19.99 for the next 6 days.

You can follow this link in order to check out more recommended products and avail the deal which is slated to end soon.

Check Out GeekBuying Mother’s Day Sale Promotion

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Moto Z3 Play Deep Indigo Press Render Leaked, Reveals Design from All Angles

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

Moto Z3 Play is one of the upcoming Z series phones from Motorola. Since its predecessor was made official in June 2017, it is speculated that the Z3 Play will debut in the coming month. Leaked photos of the real handset have appeared earlier in this month to reveal its appearance. Its press render had also appeared in the previous month. Today, popular tipster Evan Blass has shared a new press render of the Deep Indigo color edition of the Moto Z3 Play to reveal its design from all angles.

As it can be seen in the below image, the Moto Z3 Play features a display that is surrounded by reduced bezels. Previous reports have claimed that it features a 6-inch screen that produces FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The top bezel has a selfie camera, but it does not seem to feature an LED flash for it that was seen in the predecessor model. Like the Z2 Play, its successor is also speculated to feature a 5-megapixel selfie camera.

The earpiece is also present on the top bezel. The chin of the device lacks the oblong fingerprint reader that was found on the Z2 Play. Instead, the bottom bezel features the “motorola” branding.

Moto Z3 Play in Deep Indigo pic.twitter.com/868WiA3CG6

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 11, 2018

The Z3 Play seems to be fitted with a metallic frame and a glass rear. The left edge of the phone features a power key whereas the right edge has power up and down buttons followed by a depression for the side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The top edge of the phone a SIM /microSD slot tray and the USB-C port is available on the bottom side. The handset lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The round-shaped camera module seated on the backside of the phone features a horizontal dual camera setup with a dual-LED flash placed below it. The dual camera system may include a primary sensor of 12-megapixel and a secondary sensor of 8-megapixel.

The company’s batwing logo is also present slightly above the center of the rear panel. The presence of 16-pin connector at the lower portion of the back panel suggests that it will carry support for new Moto Mods accessories as well as those ones that were designed for the Z2 Play.

Since the Motorola Moto Z3 Play has received approval from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S., it seems that its arrival is close at hand. The handset will be powered by Snapdragon 636 SoC and 4 GB of RAM. Some regions may receive its 32 GB storage model while others may get it 64 GB storage variant. It is likely to be fueled by a 3,000mAh battery.

Lenovo Z5 Design Revealed in New Teaser; Hints More Than 95% Screen Space

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

Lenovo Group VP Chang Cheng had recently teased that the company will be launching a new flagship phone in June. He had claimed that it would be arriving as the highest screen-to-body ratio smartphone ever. Today, Cheng has released a new teaser to confirm the name of the phone as well as its design. The smartphone will be debuting as Lenovo Z5 in the coming month and the new teaser suggests that it will offer a screen-to-body ratio of more than 95 percent.

Now that Cheng has confirmed the Lenovo Z5 moniker, it appears that the company has no plans to sell ZUK branded phones again. It is speculated that the Lenovo Z5 will be arriving to challenge Xiaomi that has launched comprehensive screen enabled smartphones like Mi MIX, Mi MIX 2 and Mi MIX 2S. The Z5’s sketch shows that it will offer largest screen space ever seen on a smartphone as it does not feature top and bottom bezels. The presence of antenna bands on the left edge of the phone suggests that it may feature a metallic chassis. The bottom bezel seems to feature a USB-C port.

According to Cheng, the company has achieved four technological breakthroughs and 18 patented technologies through the Lenovo Z5. He had previously stated that the company has managed to include a comprehensive screen on its next flagship phone by reducing the space taken by camera, bezels and antenna bands.

Since he has claimed that Lenovo Z5 has four technological breakthroughs, it appears that the phone may come with some advanced features like under-display fingerprint scanner, in-screen earpiece and flip-up selfie camera. As of this wiring, there is no information available on the specifications of the Lenovo Z5.

Lenovo had tried selling Motorola phones with ZUK UI onboard in the recent past in China. However, they were met with lukewarm response. The Chinese manufacturer has recently debuted the Lenovo S5 mid-range phone along with other budget phones like Lenovo K5 and K5 Lite. Moreover, the company has started the upcoming Lenovo Z5 flagship phone. This suggests that the company is now gearing to resurrect the Lenovo smartphone brand in China.

What do you think about the design of the Lenovo Z5? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Buy Xiaomi Mi A1 Smartphone For Only $173.99 On Banggood; Discount Coupon To Expire Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 11, 2018

Xiaomi unveiled its long-awaited Mi A1 smartphone in September last year. As expected, the phone earned immense popularity among tech buffs after hitting the store shelves.

Much to the chagrin of cost-conscious buyers, the Chinese electronics and software giant attributed a relatively steep price tag to the Mi A1 smartphone. But if you have restlessly been waiting to buy the well-received smartphone without emptying your pocket, we have good news for you.

Banggood is currently offering a 14% off on the global version of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone. While the phone would normally set you back $239.99 on the site, you can now get your hands on it by shelling out just $205.99.

In addition to getting this considerable discount, smartphone enthusiasts who are on a tight budget and aren’t willing to spend that kind of money on a handset can also use coupon code ‘5BGA164G’ to save an additional $32 at the time of checking out. In other words, you can bring your grand total further down to just $173.99 simply by applying the aforesaid discount coupon.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone propelled straight to skyrocketing popularity thanks to its awe-inspiring specs and features. It sports a big 5.5 inches LTPS IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display bearing a screen resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.

The Mi A1 is housed in a robust aluminum frame and it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added protection. The phone’s dimensions are 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and it weighs in at 165 grams.

The hybrid dual-SIM smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 processor and it packs an Adreno 506 graphics processing unit, under the hood. The Mi A1 offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB.

On the photography front, the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone houses a 12-megapixel camera with 5-element lens, f/2.2 aperture and two-tone flash on the back. Up front, there’s a 5-megapixel camera with selfie timer, facial recognition and Beautify with 36 smart beauty profiles.

The phone runs Android 7 Nougat operating system and is backed by a non-removable Li-Ion 3080 mAh battery. Aside from that, it boasts a broad range of useful sensors including ambient light, gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, hall sensor, infrared, and even fingerprint sensor.

In order to check out the full specification and avail the deal, head straight to this link. It’s worth noting that the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone will retain its original asking price as soon as the promo ends. The discount coupon is likely to expire soon.

Get 14% Off On Xiaomi Mi A1 Smartphone On Banggood

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Xiaomi Mi 7 and Xiaomi’s 8th Anniversary Edition Phone May Debut by End of May

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 11, 2018

Xiaomi fans are now eagerly waiting for the arrival of the Xiaomi Mi 7 flagship. A recent report had claimed that the Chinese manufacturer may debut the Mi 7 phone and Mi Band 3 fitness tracker on the same day at the end of this month. New information that has surfaced today reveals that the company will be launching two smartphones by the end of this month. One of them is the Mi 7 while the other one is Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition smartphone. The new leak claims that the 8^th Anniversary Edition will be the real highlight of the unveil event.

It was reported in the previous month that since Xiaomi is encountering poor results in 3D facial recognition feature for Mi 7, the company may launch it in the third quarter of this year. However, the mysterious new phone dubbed as Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition is now rumored to get unveiled by the end of this month, it seems that the company surprise its fans by launching it with 3D facial recognition feature. The report claims that Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition smartphone will be the first Android phone ever to feature 3D facial recognition.

Like the Mi 7, Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition phone is rumored to feature a notched display. It is likely that the Snapdragon 845 on the special edition phone will be accompanied by 8 GB of RAM.

The rumor mill has been speculating that Xiaomi will be launching Mi 7 Plus alongside the Mi 7. The Plus variant is expected to carry some advanced features compared to the Mi 7. It is likely that the Chinese manufacturer may launch the Mi 7 Plus as Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition with 3D facial recognition feature.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has already hinted that the under-display fingerprint scanner feature will be available on the Mi 7. Hence, it may so happen that the Mi 7 may feature an in-screen fingerprint scanner while Xiaomi’s 8^th Anniversary Edition may include 3D facial unlock only like the iPhone X.

Readers are advised to digest this report with a grain of salt. If the two phones are to debut by May end, Xiaomi may start teasing their features soon.

(via)

Coolpad Wants Eight Xiaomi Phones, Including Mi Mix 2 Banned For Patent Infringement

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 10, 2018

Remember the story of Coolpad’s lawsuit against Xiaomi for patent infringement? We all thought the case was dead since Coolpad’s CEO hinted that it was just to draw awareness to respecting intellectual property. Apparently, it isn’t dead as Coolpad through its subsidiary Yulong Computer Technology has reportedly filed a case before a Shenzhen court. The company released a publication announcing its lawsuit, making bare some details about it.

The publication highlighted that Coolpad discovered the unspecified violations and informed Xiaomi back in January and we brought you that report. It also claimed that Xiaomi was observed to have continued producing smartphones that violated its intellectual property. As a result, the company is formally applying to have the case heard by a court in Shenzhen.

The company is demanding a ban on the specific Xiaomi phones which infringes on the said patent. Now, the phones that could get banned include the Mi Mix, Redmi Note 4X, Mi 6, Mi Max 2, Mi Note 3, Redmi Note 5, Redmi 5 Plus and Mi 5X. Coolpad is also seeking compensation from Xiaomi for economic losses. If you care to know, the disputed patent is called “Method for Implementing Call Record Interface System of Multi-Mode Mobile Communication Terminal” with patent number ZL200610034036.7.

Reports indicate that Xiaomi is yet to receive the court papers. However, it is interesting to note the closeness of this suit to Xiaomi’s planned IPO which could see the company raise as much as $10 billion. It is likely that the case will be settled out of court in other to forestall any negative publicity it might elicit.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi S2 vs Redmi 5 Plus vs Redmi Note 5: Sub-$200 Redmi Lineup Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 10, 2018

Xiaomi has continued the tradition of releasing value for money devices by unveiling the Redmi S2. The company seems to have perfectly understood that camera phones are usually very expensive and it has decided to release a device which can offer a strong camera experience in a price range in which it is very hard to find one.

In terms of price, at the moment, Xiaomi Redmi S2 is positioned exactly in the middle, between Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi Note 5 (China), even though the launch price of the base variant is the same as Redmi 5 Plus. In this comparison, we will highlight the differences between these three Xiaomi Redmi S2 vs Redmi 5 Plus vs Redmi Note 5 sub-$200 handsets.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 vs Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

	Xiaomi Redmi S2	Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	160.7 x 77.3 x 8.1 mm, 170 grams	158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm, 180 grams	158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm, 181 grams
DISPLAY	5.99 inches, 720 x 1440p (HD+), 269 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, octa-core 2.0 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, octa-core 2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI 9.5	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9.5	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/2.2 16 MP front camera	12 MP f/2.2 5 MP front camera	12 MP f/2.2 5 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3080 mAh Charging 5V / 2A	4000 mAh Fast Charging 5V / 2A	4000 mAh, Fast Charging (Quick Charge 2.0)
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (also known as Redmi 5 Pro in the global market) is a step above Xiaomi Redmi S2 and Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. It has a better chipset, so it is a faster and smoother device in every scenario. Further, it comes in a variant with 6 GB of RAM, unlike its opponents. It also has a camera department which is more interesting than both Redmi S2 and 5 Plus, as well as a very long battery life. But it also costs more. If you can not afford the Redmi Note 5 or you want to save some money, then you end up having to choose between the Redmi S2 vs Redmi 5 Plus in China.

It is essentially a battle between camera and battery. While Redmi S2 offers a way better photo quality (both for the main setup and selfies with AI), Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has a way longer battery life due to its 4000 mAh lithium unit. Two other elements which may let you go for the former are its dedicated micro SD slot, a slightly more attractive design and Android Oreo installed out of the box. On the other hand, Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has a more detailed display thanks to its Full HD+ resolution.

Here are the Chinese listing prices for the base variants:

Xiaomi Redmi S2: $155/€130
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: $155/€130
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: $172/€144

Obviously, you can find Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi Note 5 at lower prices thanks to online street prices (via aliexpress).

Xiaomi Redmi S2 vs Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi S2

PRO

Incredible camera
Affordable price
Dedicated micro SD slot
Oreo out of the box

CONS

HD display

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

PRO

Great battery life
Wide and detailed display
Very affordable price

CONS

Average camera

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

PRO

High performance
Good camera department
Long battery life

CONS

Higher price

Which one would you pick under $200?

Buy Xiaomi Redmi S2 on Gearbest

Huawei P20 Aurora Launched: Gradient Colors Change Depending On Light Conditions!

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 10, 2018

Huawei P20 and P20 Pro were the first smartphones to launch with a glass backplate boasting gradient colors. One of the gradient hues launched is Aurora, which appears as a special combo of purple and green. The colors change depending on how the light reflects on the elegant glass back, and the Aurora gradient color is making the latest Huawei flagships literally iconic in terms of aesthetics.

But until now the Aurora color was only available with the Huawei P20 Pro. Now, the company has decided to launch even the less expensive Huawei P20 in the Aurora gradient color. The new color variant has been launched in China with a price tag of 4288 Yuan ($675). Sales officially started at 10:00 local time this morning. Huawei P20 Aurora is only available in its most powerful configuration with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, but it still remains cheaper than Huawei P20 Pro which costs 4999 Yuan ($786).

Among the main differences between Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, there is a smaller display (5.8 inches) and a smaller battery (3400 mAh). The standard P20 ditches the triple camera setup, it has a 20 + 12 MP dual camera with a secondary B/W sensor and 2x lossless zoom.

Rumor: Google To Launch Pixel Watch & 2nd Gen Pixel Buds This Year

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 10, 2018

Wear OS formerly known as Android Wear has been around for about four years. Since its existence, Google itself has not released a hardware for the wearable operating system. That may be changing this year.

Rumor has it that Google will announce a Pixel Watch alongside the 3rd generation Pixel phones later this year. The info comes from popular leaker @evleaks who said he was informed by a reliable source.

In the tweet, he also mentions a second-generation Pixel Buds. Quite a number of people may not be excited about this since the original Pixel Buds received negative reviews for build-quality and design. Nevertheless, we hope all the issues plaguing the original have been fixed.

The Pixel Watch is one device to look forward to later this year. Wear OS has not succeeded as much as Apple’s own watchOS, so it will be interesting to see what Google’s hardware take is like.

There is gonna be more than one, it seems. More like three.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) May 10, 2018

The news doesn’t end there. Another popular leaker @rquandt commented on the tweet and adds that there will be more than one Pixel Watch. In his words “More like three”. Now, that is awesome news but don’t get too excited.

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Sharp AQUOS Sense Plus Also Launched With A Full-screen Display But No Notch!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 10, 2018

Sharp went official with the AQUOS R2 flagship smartphone in Japan on Wednesday but apart from the flagship model, the innovative tech company also launched the AQUOS Sense Plus.

Sharp AQUOS Sense Plus is an upgrade of the AQUOS Sense which was launched in October last year. Unlike the Aquos Sense which is basically an entry-level model, the Sense Plus is positioned in the mid-range segment. The AQUOS Sense Plus features a 5.5-inch IGZO display with a full HD+ resolution of 2160 × 1080 with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Thankfully, this isn’t another notch-totting smartphone as it doesn’t have a notch on the display. The device packs a front home button which will likely function as its fingerprint reader.

The device is powered by a Snapdragon 630 processor paired with 3 GB RAM while there is 32 GB of internal storage which is believed to be expandable. The AQUOS Sense Plus is equipped with a single camera sensor at the rear located at the top left corner while a LED flash is at the bottom of the camera.

The Sharp AQUOS Sense Plus comes in White and Gold colours. There is no word yet on its price or when the device will be available.

Microsoft May Be Building Its Own Smart Speaker

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 10, 2018

Google has the Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max. Amazon has a plethora of Echo devices. And Apple has the HomePod. Microsoft has…….nothing. Yes, the Invoke is powered by Cortana but it is a product by Harman Kardon.

There are rumors Microsoft may be building its own smart speaker. This may be as a result of two things – the Invoke being the only Cortana smart speaker in the market or Microsoft wanting to square up against Google and Amazon with its own product.

Documents have revealed that Microsoft is working with a Taiwanese company called Quanta on the smart speaker. The smart speaker is said to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 212 – a SoC used for mobile devices originally (Nokia 2) but now making its way into IoT devices. It is based on ARM’s Cortex A7 architecture and clocked at 1.3GHz.

With respect to design, little or nothing is known for now as work is still in the development stage. However, one can presume, the speaker will have a cylindrical design as is common with most smart speakers.

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HTC U12+ Price Details Leaked, Starts At Over $700

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 10, 2018

HTC will launch a new smartphone on May 23. The phone is expected to be called the HTC U12+. If you are wondering what the new flagship will cost, then you should read to the end.

The pricing details for the HTC U12+ have been leaked ahead of the phone’s release. Although these prices are for HTC’s own country – Taiwan, they should provide an idea of what it will sell for in other markets.

The HTC U12+ will come in 64GB and 128GB versions. The 64GB version will be priced between NTD21,900 (~$736) and NTD22,900 ($769). If you want double the storage, it will cost you between NTD23,900 ($803) to NTD24,900 ($837).

The HTC U12 will have a 6” QHD+ screen, A Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB of RAM. It will also have dual front and rear cameras, run Android Oreo out of the box and be IP68-certified.

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