Huawei P20 Ads Showing Outside Apple, Samsung Stores; Now That’s Some Aggressive Marketing Strategy!

Get 33% Off On Vkworld T2 Plus Smartphone On Banggood

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Mar 23, 2018

The VKworld T2 Plus smartphone became an instant hit among smartphone lovers after hitting the store shelves on September 21, 2017. If you’re looking to get your hands on the well-received phone without spending out a lot of money, we have good news for you.

Banggood is giving smartphone enthusiasts an opportunity to preorder the VKworld T2 Plus smartphone without burning a hole in their pockets. Let’s check out the details.

You can now preorder the black color version of the T2 Plus smartphone by shelling out only $199.99 on Banggood. The site is giving a noteworthy 33% discount on the handset’s original asking price of $299.99.

The aforesaid discount will be valid for only 90 pieces of the VKworld T2 Plus smartphone. Banggood will sell the next 199 pieces for $249.99 and the remaining pieces will bear a price tag of $259.99. Aside from that, you can even earn 199 Banggood points.
The T2 Plus sports a 4.2 inches scratch resistant, IPS display with a screen resolution of 768 x 1280 pixels. Under the hood, the phone packs a powerful MediaTek MT6737, 64-bit processor along with an equally robust ARM Mali-T720 MP2 graphics processing unit.

The phone runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. It draws its juices from a 2,500 mAh removable battery that offers up to 180 hours of standby time, up to 9 hours of talk time and up to 7 hours of web browsing time.

On the photography front, the T2 Plus smartphone sports a 13-megapixel camera at the back and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies. Moreover, the handset features various sensors including a proximity sensor, accelerometer, and ambient light.

You can visit this link in order to check out the full specification and grab this opportunity to preorder the Vkworld T2 Plus smartphone for only 199.99 before the promo comes to an end.

Vivo V9 Launched in India with 6.3-inch Notched Display, 16 + 5 MP Dual Cameras, 24 MP Selfie Camera

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

The Vivo V9 mid-range phone is now official in India. It has arrived as a successor for the Vivo V7 smartphone that was launched last year with full screen design. In terms of appearance, the Vivo V9 resembles the iPhone X-like design that is also available on the Vivo X21 smartphone that was launched earlier this week. Last year’s Vivo V7 and V7+ smartphones were endorsed by Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh. At the launch event of the Vivo V9, the company announced the veteran Bollywood superstar, Aamir Khan as the new brand ambassador of the company.

Vivo V9 Specifications and Features

The Vivo V9 includes a massive IPS LCD Full View 2.0 Display of 6.3 inches with 1.75mm slim bezels. It offers screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9. Vivo claims that the display of the Vivo V9 offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent. The screen is tucked under a layer of 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass. It has a unibody 3D design with glossy finish. All the edges of the V9 are smooth and curved which gives it a slimmer appeal. It measures 154.81 x 75.03 x 7.89mm and weights 150 grams.

There are numerous smartphones in the market that are powered by the Snapdragon 625 chipset. However, the Vivo V9 is fueled by slightly better Snapdragon 626 SoC that offers a higher clocking speed of 2.2 GHz. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB of RAM and it includes an inbuilt storage capacity of 64 GB. The device also includes a memory card slot that supports up to 256 GB of microSD card. The handset receives power from 3,260mAh battery that lacks fast charging capabilities.

The Vivo V9 is fitted with a 24-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The AI Face Beauty feature makes it possible to shoot optimized selfie shots by enhancing the lighting and key features of the face such as skin tone, age, gender, texture and more. Natural Light, Studio Light and Monochrome are some of the AI features made available on the front-facing camera. It also comes with AR stickers that are optimized for the Indian market.

The rear side of the Vivo V9 includes 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel (depths sensor) dual rear cameras. It can shoot beautiful bokeh shots. The Shot Refocus feature allow users to focus on the already captured images. The Ultra HDR mode that can capture three images at the same time and they are superimposed with each other to capture images with better lighting in foreground and background.

Face Access 2.0 can not only recognize and unlock the phone by using the front-facing camera but also it can open security locked apps like gallery and messaging apps and so on. Also, when a user raises the Vivo V9 while viewing an incoming call, it can smartly lower its ring tone volume. The handset is loaded with FunTouch OS 4.0 flavored Android 8.1 Oreo. It also includes Game Mode, Picture-in-Picture mode and Split Screen mode.

The backside of the phone is equipped with a fingerprint scanner. The other features of the phone include 3G, 4G VoLTE, 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, 2 microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack and USB OTG.

Pricing and Availability

The Vivo V9 will be available for pre-booking from March 23 from today at 3 PM IST exclusively on Amazon India. It will be available for buying from April 2. It can be availed in colors like Black, Champagne Gold and Sapphire Blue. The handset is priced at Rs. 22,990. The special pre-book offers by Vivo for the buyers of the Vivo V9 include one-time free screen replacement, 5 percent cash back on pre-paid orders, no cost EMI, priority delivery, 10 percent cash back on UPI transactions and couple movie vouchers on BookMyShow.

Smartisan Nut 2 Specs Leak Reveals Snapdragon 625 SoC And 3340mAh Battery

By

Jeet

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Mar 23, 2018

Smartisan recently confirmed that it will be holding a launch event on April 9. It is speculated that the Chinese manufacturer may is gearing up to launch Smartisan Nut 2 at this upcoming launch event in April.

Previously leaked images of the Nut 2 smartphone have revealed that the handset will resemble the MI MIX 2 design but will be retaining the fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button on its chin.

Now, the phone’s specifications have also leaked online. The newly leaked specifications suggest that the Smartisan Nut 2 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 64-bit octa-core processor — the same chipset that powers Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Motorola’s Moto G5S Plus, Xiaomi Mi Max 2, among others.

Further, it reveals that the phone will be fuelled by a 3,340mAh battery, which should be enough for the phone to last an entire day on single charge. The device will come with the trendy full-screen display with 18:9 aspect ratio with minimal bezels on the sides.

The smartphone will be running the older version of Android operation system — Android 7.1.Nougat with the company’s own custom user interface on top. It is expected to pack 4GB RAM and will be available in three storage options — 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. These models are speculated to be priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$252), 1,799 Yuan (~$284) and 1,999 Yuan (~$315) for the 32GB ROM, 64GB ROM, and 128GB storage variant respectively.

Previous leaks have suggested that Smartisan will be launching 6 new phones this year and it will be holding 4 media events to announce them. The Smartisan T3 and T3L flagship phones are rumored to get announced on May 15th.

Earlier this year, the company had launched Nut Pro 2 featuring a 5.99-inch display with 1080 x 2160 pixels screen resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 processor and draws power from a 3,500mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology.

Buy UMiDIGI S2 Pro 4G Phablet For Just $279.99 On GearBest

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Buy UMiDIGI S2 Pro 4G Phablet For Only $279.99 On GearBest

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Mar 23, 2018

You can buy UMiDIGI S2 Pro 4G phablet at a discounted price on GearBest. The site is giving a considerable 27% discount on both black and red color versions of the device.

The promo is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, March 24. With the aforesaid discount, the well-received phablet can be yours if you’re willing to shell out just $279.99. You can visit this link in order to take advantage of the promo, which is slated to end on April 2.

As part of its latest Flash Sale, GearBest is also offering 16% off on the UMiDIGI S2 Pro 4G phablet which will be delivered in just 3 days (Europe stock). Thanks to this massive reduction in the phablet’s original asking price, you can now buy the black as well as the red color version of the coveted S2 Pro phablet for just $309.99.

However, it is imperative for you to bear in mind that the Flash Sale price will only be valid for the remaining 46 pieces. You can head straight to this link to buy the S2 Pro at a slashed price before the promo ends in 3 days.

In terms of specs, the UMiDIGI S2 Pro sports a 5.99 inches IPS, FHD multi-touch display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. Moreover, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for added protection.

The S2 Pro packs a powerful MediaTek Helio P25 MT6757T, 64-bit processor along with an ARM Mali-T880 MP2, 900GHz, 4-Cores GPU, under the hood. On top of that, it offers 6GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB of onboard storage.

The device runs on a UMI OS-based Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. The S2 Pro draws it juices from a robust 5,100 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery.

On the photography front, it sports 13 megapixels + 5 megapixels dual camera setup with Sony Quad-LED Flash and AF at the back and a 5 megapixels front camera for selfies. In addition to a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, the device features proximity sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, compass, and gyroscope.

Buy UMiDIGI S2 Pro 4G Phablet (Europe Stock) For Only $309.99 On GearBest

HTC U12+ Renders Give Us An Early Preview Of The Phone’s Design

By

Jeet

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Mar 23, 2018

HTC is currently gearing up to launch its upcoming smartphone — HTC U12+. Recently, we reported that the company could launch the HTC U12+ in early May instead of the HTC U12.

Now, based on the previous leaks surrounding the smartphone, 3D artist ConceptCreator has created the device’s renders, giving us a clear look at the phone’s design and what to expect from the phone.

The render shows that the smartphone will come with slim bezels and glass back panel. On the back, there’s a dual camera setup at the top-center position, followed by a dual-tone LED flash, fingerprint sensor, and HTC branding. On the front also, the phone will come with a dual camera setup.

The concept renders shows the HTC U12+ in three color options — Red, Black, and White. Its noteworthy that these are not the official press renders of the phone but a strong representation of what the phone could look like based on the previous leaks.

The smartphone is expected to be a premium one with high-end specifications. Earlier leaks suggest that the HTC U12+ will come with a 6-inch WQHD+ LCD display and will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, which powers almost all flagship smartphones launched this year.

Under the hood, the device will pack 6GB RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. In the camera department, it will come equipped with a 16-megapixel and 12-megapixel camera sensors at the back, and two 8-megapixel front-facing snappers.

Along with a fingerprint scanner, the device will also come with facial recognition feature for added security. Running on Android Oreo operating system, the smartphone will be fuelled by a 3,450mAh battery.

While the company has not yet revealed anything related to this smartphone, there are speculations that the U12+ could get launched in late April or early May. Apart from the U12+ flagship, the Taiwanese company will also be bringing Desire 12 and Desire 12+ budget-friendly phones to the market in the near future.

(Source)

HTC U12 Plus Concept Render — HTC U12 Plus Concept

MIUI 9.5 Global Stable ROM Is Coming To 30 Xiaomi Smartphones

By

Jeet

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Mar 23, 2018

Xiaomi has started rolling out the newer version of its MIUI operating system — MIUI 9.5 Global Stable ROM. The update has already started rolling out over-the-air (OTA) to select users of some of the Xiaomi’s smartphones.

Currently, the new update is being rolled out for Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 variant), Redmi Note 4 (Snapdragon 625 variant), Redmi Note 4X, Redmi 4A, Redmi 5 Plus, Mi Max and Mi Max Prime.

However, the China-based company has said that it will roll out this MIUI 9.5 Global Stable ROM to all of its smartphones. Since the update is being rolled out in phases, it may take time to reach all the users. However, the company has said that it will complete the seeding process in a month.

The devices, which will receive the MIUI 9.5 update in this month, i.e. March 2018, includes Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm, Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max, Mi Max Prime, Redmi 3S, Redmi 4 Prime, Redmi 4A and Redmi Note 4 MTK (MediaTek Processor) variant.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime/Redmi Y1, Redmi Note 5A/Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi Note 5, Redmi 5, Mi Max 2, Mi 5, Redmi 4X, Mi 6 and Mi Mix 2 will get the update in early April.

Lastly, the remaining devices, which includes Mi Note 2, Mi 5s, Mi MIX, Mi Note 3, Mi 5s Plus, Redmi Note 2, Redmi 3, Redmi 4, Mi 3 and Mi 4 will get the update in mid-April. However, the company has said that the release dates are not yet fixed and there could be some changes in the schedule for various reasons.

Disappointingly, this new MIUI 9.5 update is still based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system. The update is said to bring the February security patch along with Notification Shade, and quick reply feature among others.

There is no information available from the company regarding the Android Oreo update. Xiaomi usually takes much longer time to provide new Android updates and remains a generation behind for Android compared to its competitors.

(Source)

Buy Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Activity Tracker For Only $19.32 On LightInTheBox [Coupon Code]

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Get A Huge 73% Off On Xiaomi Mi Band 2 On LightInTheBox

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Mar 23, 2018

If you’ve been looking for a low-cost wearable activity tracker, you’ve come to the right place. LightInTheBox is offering a massive discount on the Xiaomi Mi band 2 activity tracker for a limited period of time.

You can now get your hands on the black color version of the Mi band 2 by shelling out only $24.99. The Beijing-based online retail company is giving a huge 73% discount on the device’s original asking price of $89.69.

At the time of checking out, you can use coupon code ‘RUN5064470’ to save an extra $5.67. This brings your grand total down to just $19.32.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 became an instant hit among health-focused consumers after hitting the store shelves in June 2016. Despite bearing a modest price tag, the Mi Band 2 boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features.
Unlike its precursor, the Mi Band 2 features an OLED screen along with a capacitive button. Moreover, the device’s dimensions are 15.7×40.3×10.5mm and it weighs in at 19 g.

This Xiaomi-branded activity tracker smart bracelet is rated IP67. In other words, it is not only dust resistant but can also be dunked in water between 15 cm and 1 meter for about 30 minutes.

The Mi Band 2 uses Bluetooth V4.0 BLE (Chinese version). It runs on an Android 4.4 + and iOS 7.0 + operating systems. On top of that, it features a slew of useful sensors including proximity sensor, accelerometer heart rate sensor and a finger sensor as well.

You can visit this link to check out the full specification and take advantage of the discount before it comes to an end and use the coupon code before it expires. The Mi band 2 activity tracker smart bracelet is likely to retain its original selling price of $89.69 once the promo ends.

Buy Elephone S8 4G Phablet For Only $227.44 On GearBest

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Get Massive Discounts On Black, Blue & Red Color Versions Of Elephone S8 4G Phablet

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Mar 23, 2018

The Elephone S8 phablet was launched in September, last year. As expected, the device was very well-received by those looking for a big screen experience without spending a lot of money.

As part of its latest Flash Sale, GearBest is currently offering significant discounts on the black, blue and red color versions of the Elephone S8 phablet for a limited period of time. Let’s check out the details.

Elephone S8 4G Phablet – Black
With a considerable 28% off on its original selling price, the black color version of the Elephone S8 is currently up for grabs for just $227.44 on GearBest. With only 38 pieces left for Flash Sale, this promo is slated to end in 2 days.

Elephone S8 4G Phablet – Blue

The blue-tinted Elephone S8 can be yours if you’re willing to shell out only $227.44. This is a 28% reduction in the device’s normal asking price on GearBest.Although the blue color version of the S8 phablet will be bearing the aforesaid Flash Sale price tag for 10 days, there were only 57 pieces left at the time of writing.

Elephone S8 4G Phablet – Red

The red-hued Elephone S8 phablet will sell for a Flash Sale price of $227.44 for 3 days. GearBest is giving a considerable 28% off on the device’s original selling price.
In terms of specs, the Elephone S8 packs a powerful MediaTek Helio X25 deca-core, 64-bit processor, along with an equally robust ARM Mali-T880 MP4, 850MHz GPU, under the hood. The phablet offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

It sports a large 6.0 inches IPS, LCD, QHD triple-bezel-less display with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixel at a pixel density of 489.53 PPI (pixel per inch). It features a 2.5D curved glass screen and Corning Gorilla Glass for added protection.

You can click here to check out the full specification and take advantage of the promo which is scheduled to come to an end soon.

Get Up To 80% Off On Top Categories On GearBest

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Up to 80% off, crazy discount on smartphones clearance sale

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Mar 23, 2018

As part of its latest ‘Crazy Discount Sale’ promo, GearBest is giving buyers a chance to save up to 80% on several products and take advantage of top deals. Let’s delve straight into the details.

These products have further been divided into multiple categories in a bid to facilitate the search process. Here’s a brief glimpse of these categories and what they have to offer.

Gearbest 4th Anniversary Promotion

Mobile Phones

If you’re a smartphone lover looking to get your hands on a high-end phone without spending a lot of money, look no further. This category is brimming with select handsets that you can buy at a considerably lowered price.

For instance, the gold-tinted Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 5.5 inch 4G phablet which normally sells for $238.32 on GearBest, is now available for just $189.79. The site has brought the device’s original asking price down by 20%.

Alternatively, you can go for the black color version of the Redmi Note 4 by shelling out $190.05. This is a 20% reduction in the handset’s actual selling price of $238.32.

Up to 80% off, crazy discount on smartphones clearance sale

Cell Phone Accessories

If you’ve been looking for low-priced accessories to adorn your cell phones, you’ve come to the right place. This category is crammed with all sorts of useful accessories for your mobile devices.

You can buy the Original Xiaomi Ultra-thin 10000mAh Mobile Power Bank 2 which normally bears a price tag of $25.62 on GearBest, for just $17.99. The site is offering 30% discount on the device’s initial quoted price.

However, it’s worth noting that the Flash Sale price is only valid for the remaining 125 pieces. On top of that, the promo is also slated to end in 4 days.

Consumer Electronics

This section features an appreciable amount of electronic products that usually sell for a steep price on GearBest. Much to the delight of gadget buffs, these items will be carrying discounted price tags for a short span of time.

Photography enthusiasts who have restlessly been waiting to buy a stable camera for shooting can purchase the Xiaomi Camera Mini 2.4-inch touch screen action camera on GearBest. The Mijia Camera Mini action camera is currently available on the site for a lowered price of just $109.99.

This is a 35% reduction in the device’s original sale price of $169.19. There were only 27 pieces left at the time of writing. This Xiaomi-branded action camera is likely to retain its initial asking price once the promo ends in 9 days.

Computers & Networking

You can find numerous computer and networking related products in this section. More importantly, all the items featured in this category are up for grabs at a lowered price.

The 2GB RAM/8GB ROM version of the SCISHION V88 Mars II Smart TV Box which sells for $35.30 on GearBest can now be yours if you’re willing to shell out just $29.99. This Flash Sale price is valid for 1 day with only 181 pieces left.

Meanwhile, the remaining 85 pieces of the 2GB RAM/16GB ROM version are available for a Flash Sale price of $34.99. This is an 8% discount that will lapse in 1 day.

Appliance

This segment is rife with devices that come in handy in day to day life. For instance, you can buy the original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier for just $146.99 on GearBest.

As part of its Flash Sale promo, which is scheduled to end in 1 day, the site is giving 11% off on the original selling price of the Xiaomi smart mi air purifier mini second generation. However, there were only 130 pieces left.

RC Toys

GearBest is giving RC toys fanatics something to cheer about in the form of huge discounts. Lining with this, the site is currently selling a broad range of RC toys at a slashed price.

The TIANQU XS809W Foldable RC Quadcopter sells for $58.84 on GearBest but for the next couple of days, you can buy this awe-inspiring quadcopter that sports a stylish foldable design for just $48.99.
This is a noteworthy 17% discount offered by GearBest. On the downside, the aforesaid Flash Sale price will only be valid for the remaining 144 pieces.

LED Lights & Flashlights

Among a slew of other discounted items, this category features Yeelight YLFW01YL Smart Atmosphere Candela Light, which ideally sells for $48.87 on GearBest. Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, the site is currently giving an 8% discount on Its real sale price.

Likewise, there’s a 4% off on the Xiaomi Mijia Smart LED Desk Lamp, which carries a price sticker of $50.83 on GearBest. In other words, you can now buy the new Mi lamp for only $48.99.

Outdoors & Sports

Adventure junkies haven’t been overlooked either. The lightweight and compact Original Xiaomi Sling Bag which comes with 4L capacity pocket is currently available for a discounted price of just $22.99 on GearBest.

This is a significant 30% reduction in the item’s normal selling price of $32.99. The promo is on the verge of wrapping up and the Flash Sale price will only be valid for the remaining 77 pieces.

Home & Garden

You can now adorn your home and garden with a myriad of low-priced yet useful products. This segment also features various products that come in handy in garden and kitchen.

For instance, you can buy the Erase Travel World Map Wall Stickers, which sells for $11.35 on GearBest by spending just $9.29. This Flash Sale price will be valid for 7 days and there were 392 pieces left at the time of writing.

Aside from that, the category comprises Embroidery Durable Antifouling Apron that you can buy for just $2.60 on GearBest. The site is giving 29% discount on the item’s real selling price of $3.67. You can choose from 3 color options including gray, purple and red.

Toys & Hobbies

This category has all sorts of toys that you can buy at a considerably slashed price for a limited period of time. For instance, GearBest is offering buyers an opportunity to grab a 29% discount on the selling price of the YONGJUN Moyu 5.5cm Diameter Magic Rainbow Ball Intelligent Toy Fun Gift.
This item usually sells for $4.21 on GearBest. However, for the next 10 days, it will bear a Flash Sale price of only $2.99. There were 475 pieces left.

ESSENTIAL Fashion

Fashion-conscious buyers, rejoice. You can now get your hands on a slew of fashionable items on GearBest without spending a fortune. The site is offering a massive 58% off on the white color version of HPOLW 602 Analog-digital Watch, which sells for $33.30 without the discount.
Thanks to the discount, this trendy watch can be yours for only $14.08. Similarly, there’s 54% off on the red color version of the HPOLW watch. As a result, you can now buy the red-tinted watch for only $15.26.

You can head straight to this link in order to check out all the products and more importantly, take advantage of the promo before it comes to an end.

Up to 80% off, crazy discount on smartphones clearance sale

Meizu’s New Blue Charm Models Will Be Designed By Founder Jack Wong

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Mar 23, 2018

In January this year, Meizu‘s Li Nan who is the head of the blue Charm division was reported to have hinted that the company’s president Jack Wong also known as Wang Zhang will personally lead the Blue Charm division and will be involved in the product planning and building in the division. Again, Li Nan is credited to have hinted after the E3’s launch that Jack Wong will be responsible for the design of new Blue Charm models.

We don’t know if the CEO has set out to work but we are already seeing some remodelled designs on the Blue Charm models like the Meizu E3 that just launched a few days back. Meizu’s Blue Charm division is very well known for its mid-range and budget models which are usually with topnotch designs. But for quite some time, all the models seem to resemble each other design-wise. In order for the company to mount a serious push for a slice of the market share, the CEO may be trying to ensure that the smartphones launched under both the flagship Meizu division and Blue Charm division come out with thrilling designs. Don’t forget Jack Wong is also responsible for the design of the flagship models.

Meizu’s rebranding also included a change of is logo and the Blue Charm name to mBlu. It would be recalled that several logos said to be Meizu’s new logo were spotted online. Also, during the launch of the M6s, a version with the mBlu logo at the back was initially unveiled. That version was later replaced with the current one which has Meizu written on the back. Those changes may have been put on hold while the company seems poised to pursue changes to the design of its models.

Xiaomi’s Upcoming Headphone Will Feature a Ceramic Body & an Extraordinary Sound

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Mar 23, 2018

Xiaomi revealed via its Mi Headphone Weibo page that a new headphone will be unveiled on March 23. The product is teased as coming with a featherweight and a new design. A second teaser has now emerged which shed some more light on the features of the Mi headset which should go official in just a matter of hours from now.

The second teaser for the product hints that the product would be manufactured using a new material. It also detailed the headset to come with an extraordinary sound output which gives a richer level of listening experience. The teaser image is two-faced. The right part is a flat porcelain plate while the left part is one part of a headphone. That is an indication that the new material from which the earphone will be manufactured is likely ceramics.

We still don’t know if this is a wired headset or a Bluetooth model but there are speculations that this is a new edition of the Mi Sports Bluetooth headphone. Xiaomi has got headsets having a metal body as well as plastic build. So, it would be interesting to see how good-looking a ceramic-built would be. We equally expect this new product to come with an affordable price tag.

Xiaomi Launches the Four-Blade Smate Electric Shaver Priced at 269 Yuan (~$43)

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Mar 23, 2018

Xiaomi has launched a new product under the Youpin crowdfunding platform. The product is the four-blade Smate electric shaver which comes with a price tag of 269 Yuan (~$43). This isn’t the first electric shaver Xiaomi will be unveiling. There is the portable MIJIA electric shaver priced at 179 Yuan ($27) which was launched in December. That model currently sells for as much as $46 on GearBest. However, this new model is somewhat different in terms of design and configuration.

The Xiaomi Smate electric shaver comes with a built-in high-speed motor imported from Japan. It has an operational speed of 8,000rpm. With such speed, shaving can only get done faster yet the blade is gentle on the skin. The manufacturer touts it to completely shave off the beards in 3 minutes. The high-speed motor is also durable and can last for upwards of 8 years with constant use.

The Smate electric shaver comes with four kinds of blades which is responsible for the clean shave together with the high-speed motor. There is also an eight-position floating cutter head that can be attached and detached easily with no efforts. The blade is made from tough and durable stainless steel supplied by a Japan-based supplier. It is the same with the one used for the production of scalpels and other special tools. On the outward appearance, the Smate electric shaver features a metal body manufactured using brushed aluminium alloy. It also comes with an anti-grinding rubber back shell that offers good grip. The device also has an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. Thus, it can be washed thoroughly after use.

The Smate electric shaver also packs a rechargeable battery that can provide up to 60 minutes of use on a single charge. There is also a USB- interface from which the device can be charged and it takes just 1 hour to achieve full charge when completely drained. The device is already available for funding on the Youpin.mi.com page. The product will start shipping from April 23.

[Updated] OPPO A1 Launches In Cool Colors For ¥1499 (~$238) But Lacks A Key Feature

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Mar 22, 2018

In what appears to be a surprise, OPPO quietly announced a new phone today. The OPPO A1 comes just a few days after the launch of the OPPO R15 and R15 Dream Mirror Edition. It launches in really cool colors with an affordable price but a missing key feature.

Design

I like it when a manufacturer is not afraid to go bold with colors and OPPO has been doing just that lately. The OPPO A1 comes in three colors – Dark Blue, Cherry Red, and Pearl White. The Dark Blue actually looks very nice and if we were to take specs out of the picture, it’ll be a hard decision choosing between it and the blue Meizu E3.

While the blue and red variants have a matte finish, the white seems to be covered in glass seeing as it is reflective. The overall design is simple but classy. There is a 2.5D glass covering the display, the corners are rounded, and there is a single camera and a LED flash on the rear.

OPPO A1 Specs

The OPPO A1 has a 5.7” 18:9 display with a 1440 x 720 resolution. It also has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. For the chipset, the OPPO A1 is powered by a MT6763T processor also known as the Helio P23.

The rear camera is a 13MP sensor which can let you shoot up to 50MP thanks to interpolation. There is an 8MP sensor for selfies and a 3180mAh battery.

There is also Face Unlock but no fingerprint scanner! Yes, that is the missing feature – a fingerprint scanner. It is unimaginable and we want to know what prompted OPPO to make this decision.

The phone also runs ColorOS 3.2 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and has a tripe-card slot. It has Bluetooth 4.2, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

BlackBerry Ghost Pro Makes Appearance in Leaked Render

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Mar 22, 2018

One of BlackBerry’s licensees is India’s Optiemus Infracom. Last month, renowned leaker, Evan Blass, tweeted a photo of an upcoming phone from Optiemus called the BlackBerry Ghost. Today, he has followed it up by a new leak of another phone called the BlackBerry Ghost Pro.

Remember BlackBerry Ghost? Of course you do (and if not, just expand this thread). Well here's another upcoming handset from Indian licensee Optiemus to haunt you: the BlackBerry Ghost Pro. pic.twitter.com/1TcyhE3CsL

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 22, 2018

Just like the BlackBerry Ghost, the Ghost Pro is scarce on details. Nothing is practically known about its specs and how it will differ from the non-pro version. However, a comparison of both leaked renders reveals a few differences of some sort.

Judging from the picture of the BlackBerry Ghost, it will come with a “bezel-less” design. So we are practically looking at yet another 18:9 phone but BlackBerry’s first, hitting the market soon. The Ghost Pro on the other hand looks like it is keeping the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio seeing as it appears to be wider and shorter.

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It also looks thicker, which points at a bigger battery. Another difference is the BlackBerry branding on the chin, which is absent in the regular variant.

Apart from the branding in front, the other differences may not turn out as discussed above as there is a possibility it is just the angle of the photos playing a trick on the eyes.

AnTuTu Releases Smartphone Users Preference For February 2018

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Mar 22, 2018

AnTuTu has released a comprehensive report of the smartphone users preference as captured in the month of February 2018. The report covers such aspects as preferences based on display size and resolution. The report also shows users preference based on RAM sizes, storage sizes and the operating system. The report is based on user preference in China but this isn’t too different from the global user preference except in low-income markets where budget phones (pricing) top the preference charts.

The report again reaffirms the rapidly-increasing full-view display trend and a shift towards large display packing smartphones which falls into the phablet category. In terms of display size, 5.5-inch displays turned out to be the most popular with a 25.76% share of the market. This is closely followed by 6 inches displays which accounted for 19.78% of the market, a big leap from 6.38% in April last year. 5.1-inch models are also quite popular with a percentage ratio of 13.63%. 5-inch display-packing smartphones continue to reduce and now sits at 3.81% as against 7.66% in April last year. Other display sizes in use include 5.7 inches- 4.59%, 5.2 inches – 5.61% while others like display sizes ranging from 3.5 inches – 4.9 inches account for 26.82% of the market.

In terms of display resolutions, the Full HD (1920 x 1080p) display still remains the most popular, accounting for 54.73% of users’ most preferred models. This is closely followed by the FullHD+ (2160 x 1080p) displays utilized on full-screen models which accounted for 22.12% of the market. QuadHD displays (2560 x 1440p) are even popular than the HD (1280 x 720) displays, coming with a 7% market share and the HD with a 6.67% percentage ratio.

On RAM sizes, 4GB RAM phones are preferred by 39.58% of users while 33% prefer 6GB RAM phones. Interest in 3GB RAM phones is waning as it accounts for only 15.70%. 8GB RAM phones account for 4.44% while 2GB RAM models hold 5.98% of the market.

User preference based on internal storage shows 64GB storage models are most popular among users with a 54.5% ratio. On the other hand, 32GB ROM models accounted for 18.69% of the market in February while 128GB ROM models continue to grow, making up 17.41% of the market and there is 6.83% for 16GB storage models.

Finally, the report touched on the user preference based on Android operating system version. As should be expected, Android 7.1.1 Nougat-based models claim the lion share with 31.21%. Models running un-updated Android 7.0.0 Nougat version are also very popular with a 23.67% spread. The use of Google’s latest Android 8.0 Oreo is fast gaining ground with a 15.46% market share. Android 6.0 marshmallow claimed 9.20% of the market while Android 7.1.2 Nougat accounts for 5.53%. There are still a handful of models running older Android version like Android KitKat, JellyBean, Lollipop etc, and this group accounts for 14.93% of users.

Huawei Planning To Build Blockchain Phone, Xiaomi Developing Cryptopets

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Mar 22, 2018

Back in January, a relatively unknown Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Sugar, announced the Sugar S11 Blockchain Creation Edition. It is a phone for mining and storing Ethereum Fog cryptocurrency. Huawei is also said to be planning a blockchain phone with Sirin Labs, makers of the $16,000 Solarin Android Phone.

Unnamed sources say Huawei is in talks with Sirin to license the latter’s operating system, SIRIN OS, to run blockchain based applications along with Android. Both sides are still having discussions and nothing is set in stone since no agreement has been signed.

Representatives of both companies have confirmed that they have met but won’t disclose more than that. Meetings have been going over the past two months, and Sirin’s Telegram chat group posted a picture in February with a caption that confirms the meeting, as well as mentioning the “…possibility of working together bringing blockchain technology to masses in a secure way”.

Sirin is also working on a new series of phone called Finney, named after the pioneer of Bitcoin, Hal Finney. It will hold cryptocurrency coins and wallets, as well as blockchain-based apps.

Huawei is not the only Chinese manufacturer that is dabbling in blockchain. Xiaomi has its hand in the new trend but in a different way.

One of the more interesting “spin-offs” of blockhain is cryptopets. These are virtual pets similar to Tamagotchi but based on blockchain. Pets can be bought, groomed and traded. Each pet is unique and sales are recorded on the blockchain, though digital currency transactions are not supported.

The first cryptopet game was Cryptokitties which is based on Ethereum’s blockchain technology. Its success led other big Chinese giants to join the trend.

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2018) Certified By WFA In Several Variants

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Michele Ingelido

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Mar 22, 2018

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2018) has just received the official certification by Wi-Fi Alliance, which means there isn’t much time left for the official announcement of the handset. The device has been certified in several variants which will all be launched in the U.S. The first version is identified by the model number SM-J337T: it seems to be the variant offered by T-Mobile as the J3 (2017) launched by this carrier had the model number SM-J327T.

T-Mobile is said to launch this handset under the name Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime 2. Then, Wi-Fi Alliance also showed the alleged AT&T version, which is rumored to be called Galaxy Express Prime 3. It goes by the model number SM-J337A. At last, there are two variants which should be offered by Cricket with the model numbers SM-J336AZ and SM-J337AZ.

These versions may be called Galaxy Sol 3 and Galaxy Amp Prime 3. We also expect to see a version by Sprint with the name Galaxy J3 Emerge 2. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi Alliance did not list any of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) specifications. But the handset has already been spotted on benchmarks with Android 8.0 Oreo. According to benchmarks, it sports an Exynos 7570 processor with a frequency of 1.43 GHz and 2 GB of RAM.

(Via)

Galaxy Note 9 Launch Could be Set in Early August

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 22, 2018

The N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5 firmware builds of the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9 have started circulating around two weeks earlier than the firmware for its predecessor. Hence, the rumor mill is speculating that the Galaxy Note 9 may debut earlier this year.

Compared to the predecessor Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ were launched much earlier this year. Now that the firmware files of the Galaxy Note 9 have already surfaced, it is being speculated that Samsung’s next-generation phablet may get unveiled at the beginning of August.

Codenamed as Crown, the Galaxy Note 9 is expected to arrive with Infinity Display 2.0 that is available on the Galaxy S9 duo. Like the predecessor, it may feature the same-sized 6.3-inch S-AMOLED screen with 18.5:9 aspect ratio. It is expected to be available in Exynos 9810 and Snapdragon 845 chipset variants.

Like the Note 8, its successor is expected to arrive with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage choices. Recent reports have claimed that the Note 9 won’t be featuring an in-screen fingerprint scanner. It may arrive with a significantly improved dual camera setup than the Note 8.

iPhone X Successor Will Be The Cheapest, To Launch Alongside A 6.45” OLED & 6.1” LCD Versions

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Mar 22, 2018

Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones this year. One of them is the successor to the iPhone X and may actually be the cheapest of all three.

An analyst at Digitimes, Luke Lin, who has insider information from Apple’s supply chain has a rough idea of what to expect. According to him, the manufacturing bill of materials for the iPhone X’s successor is 10% lesser than the $412.75 of the current model.

Since it will keep the OLED display, work on the reported 5.85-inch LCD version is said to have been suspended since last month and may eventually be cancelled. However, another iPhone that will launch alongside the iPhone X successor will also come with an OLED display, but much bigger at 6.45”. There will also be a 6.1” LCD model.