Apple is Reportedly in Talks with Samsung Over Cutting Down OLED Panel Prices For the iPhone Xs

By

-

Apr 12, 2018

Ever heard of the iPhone Xs? Most likely you haven’t but there are speculations that it is the name Apple‘s next-generation iPhone X model would adopt. That is just a speculation as there is nothing to officially back it up. However, there is a high tendency that Apple will launch a new OLED packing model this year.

As you would recall, the iPhone X came with an awesomely high price tag and the breakdown of its manufacturing cost had revealed that almost a third of the revenue to produce an iPhone X went to Samsung. However, Apple is said to be looking for ways to cut that down so that it can be more flexible with the final retail pricing of the next-gen iPhone Xs, or whatever name the iPhone X successor adopts. Both companies are reportedly in negotiations with the top Execs from the Korean giant paying a visit to Apple’s HQ recently but the meeting reportedly didn’t yield the needed results.

Details emerging from sources familiar with the matter is that in order to reach Apple’s lower tag demands, Samsung is offering to supply the Y-Octa panels that it uses for the Galaxy S9+. These panels are cheaper to produce, though the yield might not be enough for Apple’s mass quantities as Apple is reportedly planning the launch of two OLED phones this year. However, Apple is also said to be weighing the option of reverting to LCD panels which is more affordable. The iPhone 9 is expected to feature a 6.1-inch display that will be supplied by Japan Display and Sharp, apparently, leaving crumbs for Korean companies. This will potentially result in an increase in iPhone 9 shipments from 100 million units previously forecasted to 150 million units.

(source)

Huawei M5 Tablet Series Launched in China

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 12, 2018

Nearly two months after it unveiled the MediaPad M5 tablets at MWC 2018, Huawei has launched them in its home country. However, they do not bear the MediaPad name and are simply referred to as the Huawei M5 tablets.

The Huawei M5 comes in three variants with multiple configurations – the M5 which comes in 8.4-inch and 10.8-inch models and the M5 Pro which is available in 10.8-inches.

All models come with a 2K display, a Kirin 960s (an upgraded Kirin 960 with a dedicated NPU like the Kirin 970) processor, and 4GB of RAM. Each also has a 13MP rear sensor and an 8MP front-facing camera; runs EMUI 8.0 based on Android 8.0 Oreo, and supports fast charging. There is also Face Unlock, a fingerprint scanner, and Hi-Res audio with Harman Kardon tuning.

Where they differ is in the number of speakers – two on the 8.4” model and four on the 10.8” models; the battery – 5100mAh against 7,500mAh; and support for stylus and keyboard attachment on the M5 Pro.

Below are the prices and configuration for the Huawei M5 tablets:

Huawei M5 8.4”

32GB WiFi only – ¥2088 (~$332)
64GB WiFi only – ¥2488 (~$395)
128GB WiFi only – ¥2788 (~$443)
64GB LTE – ¥2888 (~$459)

Huawei M5 10.4”

32GB WiFi only – ¥2488 (~$395)
64GB WiFi only – ¥2888 (~$459)
128GB WiFi only – ¥3188 (~$507)
64GB LTE – ¥3288 (~$523)

Huawei M5 Pro

64GB WiFi only – ¥3488 (~$554)
64GB LTE – ¥3888 (~$618)

Continue

Huawei Y6 (2018) with Full-View 18:9 Display, SD 450, Android Oreo Unveiled

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Apr 12, 2018

Huawei is marketing its brand on all fronts with sleek designs and adequate hardware being at the forefront. The latest addition is a Y-series device dubbed Huawei Y6 (2018). The device is already arriving in markets like the Philippines and Russia. The stand out feature on the Y6 (2018) is definitely the full-view display screen which its packs.

The Huawei Y6 (2018) is no doubt a budget device but then, it is one which gives you value for your money and perhaps, even more. The device packs a 5.7-inch display with a tall 18:9 aspect ratio. The display has aa HD+ resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. The Y6 (2018) is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset which is with an Octa-core CPU clocked at 1.8GHz and the graphic is powered by the Adreno 506 GPU. Thus the HD+ display might actually perform like an FHD+ display as a result of the efficient GPU. The processor is backed by 2GB of RAM and there is 16GB of storage onboard. The storage can be expanded via a microSD slot which is located on the left side of the phone.

On the camera aspect, the Huawei budget smartphone packs a 13MP rear sensor which is located at the top left corner. The rear camera actually looks like it is a dual lens setup but there is only one sensor with an LED flash by the side. The Huawei logo is located at the bottom and there is no fingerprint sensor. The absence of a home button at the front effectively means the device doesn’t come with a fingerprint sensor. You don’t need to fret even though this is a budget model. Huawei hints the device packs the Face unlock technology. There is also a 5MP selfie camera onboard with some AR features for tweaking the photos.

The Huawei Y6 (2018) also runs on EMUI 8.0 which is based on Android 8.0 Oreo. Keeping the lights on is a 3000mAh battery. The device is available in Black, Blue and Gold colours. The price tag is yet to be disclosed but we expect the device to be priced around $150.

(source)

Microsoft Patents New Surface Pen With Built-in LEDs

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 12, 2018

In the last few years, Microsoft has positioned itself as the go-to manufacturer for premium Windows devices. Its Windows devices are released under the Surface line headed by Panos Panay. Last week, a new patent for the Surface Pen was published which points at the stylus getting some cool new features.

The patent which was filed back in February 2017 shows the pen with built-in LEDs. The LEDs can be positioned at the upper part of the pen, near the tip, or in the middle.

The position of the LED will determine how it works. For the one positioned near the tip, it can be configured to light up in a color that currently matches the one in use. This is helpful for creatives as they don’t have to confirm the color in use by looking at the color palette.

Continue

Xiaomi Targets 3 Months For Release of Kernel Source Code For New Devices

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 12, 2018

Kernel source codes are important for the development of custom ROMs for devices. If the source code for a device is available, developers can keep releasing ROMs based on the latest version of Android even after the manufacturer has stopped releasing updates.

Xiaomi Mi A1 Special Edition Red — Xiaomi released the kernel source code for the Mi A1 last month

However, manufacturers keep violating the GNU General Public License by refusing to release the kernel source code for their devices. Xiaomi is one of those manufacturers but seems to be working on resolving that.

The folks at XDA Developers reached out to the Chinese giant to ask when it plans to release the kernel source codes for its devices. Surprisingly, they received a response which is reproduced below:

“As an Internet company, Xiaomi respects the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is committed to an effective compliance.
We are deploying all our resources to achieve a sustainable growth and have been making efforts to speed up our kernel release. We want to make sure that every release is safe and stable.
So far, we have published the kernel sources for many devices. Moving forward, we target to release the kernel source of a device within three months after its launch.”

The last line of the statement is actually the good news. Although three months is a long time compared to other manufacturers like Google, Sony, and OnePlus who release their source codes not long after launch, it is a significant improvement.

At the moment, Xiaomi has released the kernel source codes for over 40 of its devices. There are still about 12 devices whose codes haven’t been released and that is not counting any of its Android-powered Mi Box devices.

Continue

Huami Amazfit Antelope Light Outdoor Sports Shoes Launched, Priced At 199 Yuan ($31)

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Apr 12, 2018

Xiaomi has launched a new product under its Youpin crowdfunding platform. The product is manufactured by Huami technologies and is dubbed Amazfit Antelope Light Sports Shoes. The sports footwear adopts an attractive and durable design. That notwithstanding, it got slammed a price which we consider to be ultra-cheap for such quality- 199 Yuan (~$31).

The Amazfit Antelope Light Sports Shoes has a simple but attractive design. The upper design is said to be inspired by the flow curve of modern architecture. The fabric is manufactured using hot melt film moulding process. Thus, it does not only retain the outlook of an interwoven fabric design, it also has a soft texture. The design also includes a transparent waterproof layer but the design takes into account the need for airflow into the interior.

The sole fitted on the Amazfit Sports shoes equally adopt an ergonomic design and the insole is designed according to the curvature of the foot bones. The sole is manufactured using the innovative material dubbed ERC which effectively absorbs the force of impact of the feet to the ground and feeds back the energy evenly to the feet. Tus, it acts as a shock absorber. The outsole adopts an abrasion-resistant rubber partitioned floor-to-ceiling textures to provide excellent grip performance with strong anti-wear and anti-slip properties.

Surprisingly, the Amazfit Sports shoes is a smart shoe. It has built-in MIJIA Smart Core 2 chip which records the basic daily movement data such as steps, mileage, consumption. The chip also has a running mode which accurately calculate the touchdown time and vacant ratio during running. There other professional sports data that can be recorded by the chip.

The Amazfit Antelope Light Running Shoes comes in different sizes ranging from size 35 to size 45. The sports shoes are also available in Black, Vibrant Orange, Grey for men while the female models come in Black, Mint Green and Rose Powder colours. The Running shoes are available for funding on the Xiaomi Youpin platform and so far, the response has been overwhelming. The product is expected to start shipping on May 17. There is no indication at the moment if this product will be launched outside China.

(source)

Huawei P20 and P20 Pro: Official Cases Review

By

Linus

-

Apr 12, 2018

Huawei launched probably their best smartphones yet – the P20 and the P20 Pro. We were most impressed with the P20 Pro but the P20 is also a legit flagship smartphone that brings quite a few premium features at a lower price than the P20 Pro.

If you decide to buy either of these phones, we suggest you checking out official cases to protect your investment.

Huawei P20 Official Silicone Case

I was quite surprised when I saw that this case costs just below $20 since it is well-made and protects the device quite well.

As the name implies, it’s made of silicone, which is really nice to the touch. The phone will not be scratched by the case itself since it uses a soft material inside.

The case offers excellent protection while maintaining your device’s sleek, elegant lines. As an official product, it is designed specifically for the Huawei P20 and allows full access to buttons and ports.

Huawei P20 Official Silicone Case

The case for the P20 Pro is identical to the P20’s case, it’s just tailored specifically to this device.

It is designed specifically for use with the Huawei P20 Pro, so offers a perfect fit and does not impede the use of any of the functions including the power and volume buttons, headphone and charging ports or front and rear cameras.

This case also costs about $20 and it’s well worth the price considering this an official high-quality product.

Official Huawei P20 Pro Car Case for Magnetic Car Holders

This Official case offers your Huawei P20 Pro complete protection from bumps, cracks and scratches so that you can keep your P20 Pro looking as good as new, all while keeping a sleek and stylish appearance.

With an integrated metal plate in the back, this case is able to securely stick to magnetic car holders and stands with ease so that you can utilise your P20 Pro as a sat nav or multimedia system.

Again, we found this case to well-made and it fits the P20 Pro very well. It’s made of plastic and all the ports and buttons are easy to access. For the price of about $25, it brings a lot of value.

Check out other Huawei P20 and P20 Pro official accessories

Gionee Announces Massive Layoffs, Founder In Gambling Debts

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Apr 12, 2018

Gionee has been under the radar since the beginning of the year. It hasn’t announced any new phone and it didn’t attend MWC 2018. Latest reports say the Chinese manufacturer is facing some troubles.

Last November, Gionee announced 8 new phones at an event in Shenzhen.

The manufacturing arm of the company is said to have laid off some of its staff and there are reports the headquarters will be dismissing up to 50% of its workers. Gionee is said to have a workforce of about 8,000.

Some employees who spoke with Netease, a Chinese media, said the company went on a 2-month break but were not paid their full benefits. They also said the layoff was presented to them as a choice between staying and being on a sort of compulsory leave or leaving and getting your benefits later. Whichever one you choose, you won’t be getting any payment for a while.

The bottom line is that the company is finding it hard to pay its workers. It is also said to be unable to pay suppliers and advert partners. Earlier this year, A Chinese court is said to have frozen 41.4% of the shares of the company’s founder, Liu Rong, for a period of two years due to unpaid gambling debts.

Continue

Nubia Red Devil Gaming Smartphone To Launch On 19th April

By

Jeet

-

Apr 12, 2018

ZTE’s sub-brand Nubia recently announced its new gaming wing and was reported to launch a gaming smartphone under the new brand later this year. Today, the company has officially announced that it is holding a press conference on 19th April to launch its first gaming smartphone under its new gaming brand — Nubia Red Devil.

Talking about the gaming smartphone, the company had previously said that it has included “all possible specs under the microscope.” It also said that it is prepping up to debut a new of line of products that will “provide a more complete gaming experience for the masses.”

The gaming smartphone is expected to come equipped with features like air cooling, near black body, carbon nano-material, and a three-dimensional wind tunnel section structure. Rumors suggest that the smartphone could be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 along with 8GB RAM.

The device is also expected to feature 18:9 aspect ratio display with 120Hz refresh rate — similar to the Razer Phone that was launched last year. Nubia had showcased its prototype at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 earlier this year in February.

Nubia CEO Ni Fei has already confirmed that the gaming phone will be launched simultaneously in China and Europe. With the gaming phone, Nubia aims to expand its international presence. After the phone’s debut in China and Europe, the phone will also make its way to the Indian market.

Apart from Nubia, Xiaomi-backed Black Shark is also launching a gaming smartphone tomorrow, i.e. 13th April. Several reports suggest that the phone will be available in three memory configurations — 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage, 8GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage and 8GB RAM with 256GB internal storage. It has been confirmed that the Black Shark smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Buy Teclast F7 Notebook For Only $299.99 On GearBest; Only A Few Pieces Left

By

Vinay Patel

-

Apr 12, 2018

The Teclast F7 propelled to skyrocketing popularity among gadget buffs after hitting the store shelves, last year. That’s hardly surprising given that it boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features that make it an irresistible notebook.

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the power-packed notebook but aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, we got good news for you. GearBest is currently offering the Teclast F7 notebook for just $299.99.

The site is offering a noteworthy 17% off on the Teclast F7’s original retail price. Note that the Flash Sale price will be valid only for the remaining 125 pieces.

The Teclast F7 notebook is a bargain under $300. The device packs a powerful Intel Celeron N3450, 64-bit processor along with an Intel HD Graphics 500 GPU.

It offers 6GB of DDR3 RAM that facilitates advanced multitasking. The F7 comes with 128GB SSD storage capacity that provides ample room for users to store their pictures, videos, music and lots more.

The device is backed by a robust 4,900 mAh Lithium-ion-Polymer battery and it runs on Microsoft Windows 10 Home Edition OS. Moreover, it sports a single 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

You can visit this link in order to check out the full specification and avail the deal. It is imperative for you to bear in mind the promotion is slated to end in 5 days.

Get 17% Off On Teclast F7 Notebook On GearBest

Black Shark Gaming Phone Appears in Freshly Leaked Video; Reservations Begin on JD

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 12, 2018

Black Shark, a Chinese firm that is backed by Xiaomi will be announcing its first gaming phone tomorrow. A leaked video of what appears to be the real Black Shark gaming phone has appeared on Weibo to reveal its front and rear design.

The below images that were snapped from the leaked video (available in source link) reveals that the Black Shark gaming phone has rounded corners. The front view of the handset suggests that it does not feature an elongated display. Hence, it is difficult to confirm whether the handset will be equipped with an 18:9 or 16:9 aspect ratio display by looking at the photo. However, the AnTuTu listing of the phone that had appeared in February had suggested that its screen would be supporting FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The image suggests that the Black Shark gaming phone is comfortable enough for one-handed use. The side bezels appear thin, but the upper and bottom bezels are a bit thick. A home button that is most likely enabled with a fingerprint sensor is present on the bottom bezel of the phone.

Previous reports have revealed that the gaming phone will retain some of the core features of MIUI. The above image shows that the appearance of the icons is quite similar that of MIUI. This indicates that the Black Shark gaming phone will be running on a customized version of MIUI.

In the back ground of the above image, there is a box that contains the image of what looks like a Bluetooth gaming controller that could be attached to the topside of the phone. Users may attach it to the Black Shark phone and benefit from immersive gaming experience by holding it in a landscape mode.

Shown below is the previously seen photo with Bluetooth gaming controller connected at topside of the phone. The back panel sports a unique and sporty design. It has a horizontally arranged dual camera setup along with its LED flash at the top-left corner.

Previous reports have revealed that the Black Shark gaming phone that will be powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset will be coming in two models like 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. It is also expected to be equipped with fast charging enabled battery and a high refresh rate display.

JD.com is the official sales and promotional partner of the Black Shark company for the next three years. In collaboration with the Chinese retailer, Xiaomi has already started receiving reservations for the Black Shark gaming phone. The official sales of the Black Shark phone are slated to begin on April 20. As of this writing, there is no information available on its pricing.

(source)

Samsung SM-G8850 Gets Certified, Could Be The Galaxy S9 Mini

By

Jeet

-

Apr 12, 2018

Last week, a Samsung smartphone with model number SM-G8750 surfaced online which is believed to be the Galaxy S9. Now, another smartphone with model number SM-G8850 has been certified by TENAA in China, which could be another variant of the Galaxy S9 Mini.

The listing reveals phone’s specifications. It features a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display with screen resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by octa-core Samsung Exynos 9-series 9810 processor with Mali G72MP18 GPU.

It packs 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X RAM and comes with a microSD card that enables users to further expand storage up to 400GB. It features a 12-megapixel primary rear camera and a 12-megapixel secondary camera sensor with LED flash. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel autofocus front-facing camera with wide-angle lens.

Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80 MU-MIMO, Bluetooth 5 (LE up to 2Mbps), GPS with GLONASS, USB 3.1, NFC, MST. It also has IP68 certification, ensuring resistance from water and dust. Running on Android Oreo operating system out of the box, the device is said to be powered by a 3,000mAh battery with support for fast charging.

Earlier, the benchmark listing of the SM-G7850 model revealed that it is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 processor along with 4GB RAM and runs Android 8.0 (Oreo) out of the box.

The Samsung SM-G8850 will be available in two color options — Black and Blue. Since the phone has already been certified, we expect it to go official in the next few weeks.

The South Korean giant is also working on its new flagship smartphone, which is the next-generation Galaxy Note series device. The upcoming smartphone — Galaxy Note 9 is expected to pack a 6.3-inch Infinity Display 2.0 and will be powered by the Exynos 9810 and Snapdragon 845 chipsets and we might see 6GB RAM/128GB storage as the starting memory combo.

The company is likely to retain the dual camera setup featured on the Galaxy S9+ in the Galaxy Note 9. Latest reports indicate that the phone could come with a 4,000mAh battery. We are still a few months away from the official launch of the device, so we expect more details to emerge.

(Source)

Buy Utorch SI Mini Flashlight For Only $26.99 On GearBest; Get Extra Discounts, Free Gifts And Lots More

By

Vinay Patel

-

Apr 12, 2018

The easy-to-use Utorch S1 flashlight boasts micro USB charging and an array of other awe-inspiring features including high-quality CREE XP – L HI V3 LED chip, 5 brightness modes and lots more. These specs make it a bargain under $40.

GearBest is giving buyers an opportunity to save a considerable amount of money on 2 sizes (5000K and 6500 – 7000K) in the form of coupon codes. The site is giving $3 off on orders that go beyond $30, and $5 off on orders that surpasses $60.

Note that the coupon codes will only be valid for 72 hour(s) after receiving. You will get it in your GB Account, under ‘My Coupon’. Alternatively, you can use coupon code ‘USMINI’ at the time of checking out to bring your grand total down from $36.99 to only $26.99.

Buy One Get One Free

GearBest will reward the 1st, 50th, and 150th buyer to make a paid order for the Utorch S1 Mini Flashlight with a free gift. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the earlier you submit an order, the bigger your prize.

The Winner List is slated to be revealed on Friday, April 13th and 20th on GearBest Blog. Moreover, you’d be eligible to receive another product at a relatively lower price when you buy a Utorch S1 Mini Flashlight.

Top Recommendation

This category comprises a broad range of Utorch-branded products that you can buy without emptying your pocket. For instance, The Utorch Color Changing Cat night light, which usually sells for $10.99 on GearBest, is currently available for only $9.99 on the website.

The Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 73 pieces of the white color version of the device for 5 days. You can get $5 off via a coupon code if your order tops $60.

Trending New Arrivals

This section comprises a slew of recently-arrived products manufactured by Utorch. GearBest is giving noteworthy discounts on select products featured in this category.

For the sake of an example, you can get 4% off on Utorch U19A dimmable remote control LED floor lamp as part of GearBest’s latest Flash Sale. In other words, you can now buy this alluring floor lamp by shelling out only $55.99.

With only 36 pieces left, the promotion is scheduled to wrap up in 5 days. You can check out the complete promotion and avail the deal by heading straight to this link.

Get A Big Discount On Utorch SI Mini Flashlight & Win Free Prizes On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

LG V35 ThinQ Specs Leaked; Includes 6-inch OLED Screen Without Notch, 16MP Dual Cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 12, 2018

LG is known for releasing G-series and V-series flagship phones in a year. The South Korean company was expected to launch LG G7 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech expo this year. However, instead of launching G-series flagship, it announced the LG V30S ThinQ and LG V30S+ ThinQ smartphones. Recent information reveals that LG’s next flagship will carry LG G7 ThinQ moniker and it will be unveiled on May 2. Newer information revealed by AndroidHeadlines states that LG’s upcoming V-series phone will be called LG V35 ThinQ.

Citing information received through a reliable source that has been crosschecked by LG’s in-house documentation states that the successor for LG V30/V30 Plus and V30S ThinQ / V30S+ ThinQ phones will be indeed called LG V35.

Design

When LG had launched the LG G6 with 18:9 display in 2016, it was marketed as a large-sized display phone designed for one-handed operation. The South Korean company is expected to use the same marketing strategy for the LG V35 ThinQ that will be equipped with an edge-to-edge design. The company will also advertise it as a lightweight device that offers immersive experience. It is expected to hit the market in two colors like Black and Grey with premium glossy finish.

Display

Leaked information reveals that the LG V35 ThinQ won’t be featuring the MLCD+ technology display that is speculated to arrive on the LG G7 ThinQ. Also, it seems that the P-OLED (polymer OLED) display that is available on the LG V30 and V30S smartphones won’t be available on the LG V35 ThinQ as its internal documentation does not contain any information on POLED panel. The handset will be arriving with an 18:9 aspect ratio supporting 6-inch FullVision OLED display that will offer 80 percent screen-to-body ratio. The documents do not suggest that it will have a notched display like G7 ThinQ.

Cameras

The LG G7 ThinQ is expected to come with a pair of 16-megapixel camera sensors. The same dual camera setup is expected to available on the V35 ThinQ. For color capturing, it will include an f/1.6 aperture 16-megapixel primary sensor that is equipped with a glass lens and 10-bit HDR compatibility. It will be coupled with a 16-megapixel secondary wide-angle lens that will offer a field of view of 107 degrees. The camera features like AI Cam, Google Lens, Super Bright Mode and camera related AI tweaks that are available on the G7 ThinQ will be also coming to the V35 ThinQ.

Artificial Intelligence

The LG V35 ThinQ will be a “super-smart device” and the company will be greatly focusing on its AI benefits. AI will allow users to carry out various tasks and do more on the phone by using less time while using voice assistant, camera and other features of the phone.

Audio

The LG V35 ThinQ will include the 32-bit high-performance ESS Sabre 9228 quad DAC. It will be packed with various customization features and digital filters for improving the audio output. Also, it will be equipped with far-field voice recognition in order to take advantage of the capabilities of the voice assistant at a larger distance of up to 17 feet.

(source)

Xiaomi Comet, Sirius to be Powered by Snapdragon 710; Preliminary Specs Surface

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 12, 2018

Qualcomm was rumored to debut the Snapdragon 670 (sdm670) as the successor of Snapdragon 660 (sdm660) at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech trade show, but it did not come true. A newer report had revealed that the Snapdragon 670 could be powering the upcoming Xiaomi devices that are codenamed as Comet and Sirius phones. Fresh information shared by XDA Developers reveals that Qualcomm is rebranding Snapdragon 670 as Snapdragon 710 (sdm710). Hence, the Comet and Sirius could feature the all new SD710 mobile platform. The publication has also revealed some important details on the features of these upcoming Xiaomi phones.

Leaked firmware files had revealed the existence of Comet and Sirius phones earlier in this week. The publication has today confirmed that the updated firmware files of these phones show that all the references of the Snapdragon 670 has been replaced by Snapdragon 710. A reliable source has also confirmed to XDA Developers that the Snapdragon 710 is the rebranded version of the unannounced SD670. Here is a snapshot of a commit found on Qualcomm’s CodeAurora forums that confirms the existence of Snapdragon 710:

Well-known tipster Roland Quandt had recently claimed that Snapdragon 710 will be the first Snapdragon 700 series chipset by Qualcomm. He has already revealed a lot of information on the configuration of the SD670 chipset. Since the Snapdragon 710 is its rebranded edition, it is pegged to include the same specs.

The Snapdragon 710 will be an octa-core processor and Adreno 615 graphics with a frequency range of 430MHaz and 700MHz. The SD710’s octa-core processor comprises of a dual-core Cortex A75 high-performance processor and a hexa-core Cortex A55 low-end processor. The configuration of the Snapdragon 710 can be also confirmed through the following screengrab taken from Xiaomi device firmware.

The publication has also shared some preliminary specs of Xiaomi Comet and Sirius through the update firmware files. According to the publication, the Comet handset will be Xiaomi Mi device that will feature an OLED display that will be supporting Always-on Display feature. It will come with other features like Android 8.1 Oreo, dual-SIM support, IR blaster and 3,100mAh battery.

The Xiaomi Sirius has an OLED screen that will be equipped with a notch and it will also support Always-on Display. The Xiaomi Mi device will include features like Android 8.1 Oreo, dual-SIM support, IR blaster, portrait mode in camera and 3,120mAh battery. The Comet and Sirius devices will be lacking NFC and microSD card slot.

(source)

Xiaomi Confirms April 25 Launch Event; Xiaomi Mi 6X Likely to Get Unveiled

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 12, 2018

Through the official Weibo account, Xiaomi has confirmed that it will be holding a press conference on April 25 to announce a new smartphone. Rumors are rife that the Chinese manufacturer will be debuting the Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone that has been recently certified by TENAA telecom regulatory body in China.

Xiaomi will be announcing its next smartphone at China’s Wuhan University which is the alma meter of Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. The teaser does not directly confirm the name of the device that will be launching on April 25. Xiaomi is currently to be working on the launch of two phones, the Xiaomi Mi 6X and Xiaomi Mi 7 flagship phone. Since the latter is speculated to get announced later in this quarter, it can be assumed that the Mi 6X may get official on April 25.

According to the TENAA listing of the Mi 6X, it will be arriving with a 5.99-inch FHD+ resolution supporting display that will be delivering an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by an octa-core processor that clocks at 2.2 GHz. There are conflicting rumors surrounding the chipset that will be power the Mi 6X. Some sources have claimed that it will be feature Snapdragon 626, while other rumors have stated that it could be driven by Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660 SoC.

The 64 GB and 128 GB Xiaomi Mi 6X variants are expected to respectively feature 4 GB and 6 GB of RAM. It is speculated that the Mi 6X will be equipped with a 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 front-facing camera whereas its backside will be fitted with 12-megapixel Sony IMX486 + 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 dual camera setup. The handset is expected to receive power a 2,910mAh battery that is likely to carry support for fast charging capabilities. It will arrive preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo that will customized with Xiaomi’s latest version of MIUI.

A recent report had revealed that the Xiaomi Mi A2 moniker was found in the source code of Indian version of Xiaomi’s official site. Just as Xiaomi Mi 5X launched exclusively in China, but it was globally launched Mi A1 with stock version of Android, Xiaomi is also expected to release Xiaomi Mi A2 with stock Android Oreo outside of China.

(source)

Check Out Banggood Waterproof Products Promotion; Get Extra 30% Off On Select Phones

By

Vinay Patel

-

Apr 12, 2018

There’s no dearth of water-resistant products and waterproof gadgets that can be used in the shower, in the rain and even in the swimming pool. While it is particularly important for smartphone users to protect their devices from dunking into the water, only a few steeply-priced handsets are watertight.

But much to the relief of those who love to pack their phones along on their adventures in a bid to stay connected, Banggood is offering a great selection of waterproof products that will protect your gadget from sure death. As if that weren’t enough, the site is offering considerable discounts on these items.

Waterproof Case

This category comprises waterproof cases for smartphones. Note that only a few products in this category are up for grabs at a lowered price.For example, the 2-in-1 waterproof snowproof dustproof shockproof PC PET TPU case for Samsung Galaxy S8 would normally set you back $15.99 on Banggood. But you can now buy it at a discounted price of just $13.99 on the site.

Waterproof Feature Phone

Banggood is giving buyers an opportunity to save a considerable amount of money on select feature phones that are impervious to water. There’s a 33% off on the Vkworld Stone V3 feature phone, which usually sells for $59.89 on the site.
Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now get your hands on this waterproof outdoor mobile phone by shelling out only $39.99. You can save an additional $4 by using coupon code ‘water’ at the time of checking out. This reduces your grand total to just $35.99.

Outdoor Sports Phone Products

This section features heavily discounted products that are ideal for adventure junkies who love outdoor sports. For the sake of an example, the X-Cam SIGHT 2 2-axis stabilizer handheld gimbal for iPhone and Xiaomi is currently available for a slashed price of just $46.99.

It’s worth noting that the device usually comes bearing a price tag of $75.99 on Banggood. This is a 38% reduction in the product’s retail price.

On top of that, you can use coupon code ‘water’ to save an extra $4.70 at the time of checking out. By applying the coupon code, you can bring your grand total down to only $42.29.

While you can apply the aforesaid coupon code to get 30% off on select products, note that preorder product cannot use the coupon. The discounted products will retain their retail price as soon as Banggood Waterproof Products Promotion comes to an end. You can visit this link to avail the deal.

Get Big Discounts On Waterproof Products On Banggood Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

OnePlus 6 Shown Under OnePlus 5T in a New Teaser

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Apr 12, 2018

OnePlus is known for teasing the features of its forthcoming flagship before launching it officially. A recent report had revealed that the OnePlus 5T has gone out of stock in markets like North America and India which indicates that the arrival of OnePlus 6 is close at hand. A new teaser released by the company shows the OnePlus 6 stacked under its predecessor – the OnePlus 5T. Since it is placed under the OP5T, the new teaser only reveals the features of the left edge of the phone.

As it can be seen in the below image, the left edge of the phone has a longer SIM card tray and a volume slider. What’s missing from the left side of the phone is the Alert Slider.

A recent rumor had claimed that the company has repositioned the Alert Slider to the right edge of the phone. OnePlus may have probably released the new teaser to show that it has relocated the Alert Slider to the right side. One of the recent teasers from the company also claimed that the Alert Slider on the OP6 can be used for adjusting the focus while shooting a photo.

The OnePlus 5T has U-shaped antenna bands that are present on the edges of the top and bottom of the rear panel. However, the antenna strips of the OP6 seems to be limited to the metallic frame and they do not appear on the back panel. This suggests that OnePlus 6 may arrive with a glass rear. There are no details available with the glass rear enabled OP6 will carry support for wireless charging.

In the image, the OnePlus 6 appears to be slightly longer. However, the exact dimensions of the phone are not available. It seems that the size differences between OP6 and OP5T will be negligible.

It is speculated that the OnePlus 6 will be officially launched in China on May 5. As OnePlus has been debuting its smartphones first in overseas market before announcing it in China, it is speculated that the OnePlus 6 may get official by the end of this month. Until then, the company is expected to release more teasers on its next-generation flagship.

(source|via)

Huawei P20 Pro: First Teardown Reveals Three OIS Cameras And Modular Charging Port

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Apr 12, 2018

The first teardown of Huawei P20 Pro made by iFixit has just revealed several important things about the components and the grade of repairability of the most powerful flagship released by the Chinese giant. To remove the back cover, the guys from iFixit had to use a special tool with two suction cups, but, even though the Pro is waterproof, they didn’t have to heat the device. In order to separate the backplate from the rest of the device, they had to disconnect the autofocus laser cable from the motherboard.

After removing the NFC antenna under a shield held by a few screws, it is possible to access to the motherboard, which has a small footprint leaving space for the big 4000 mAh battery. The motherboard is connected to the three camera modules (through two connectors) and the LED flash. According to iFixit, despite Huawei‘s claims suggesting that only one lens is optically-stabilized, every camera module has OIS as each of them can move around just like every optically-stabilized sensor. In case you do not remember, Huawei P20 Pro has a triple camera composed of a 40 MP RGB sensor, a 20 MP monochrome sensor and an 8 MP telephoto sensor.

According to Huawei, only the latter has OIS. Guys from iFixit also discovered that Huawei P20 Pro has a modular charging port, so it will be easy to replace it when it does not work properly anymore. On the other hand, the display is kinda hard to replace as it requires taking off the rear glass and disconnecting its cable which is connected to the motherboard. Further, the battery is difficult to remove as well. Several components of this device are modular and can be replaced, but according to iFixit that P20 Pro has just a 4/10 grade of repairability, which isn’t much for a costly device like this. You can check out the entire teardown from iFixit here!

(Via)

Nubia Z18 Mini vs Honor 7X: Popular Chinese Mid-Rangers Compared

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Apr 12, 2018

Just like in 2017, Nubia decided to release the cheaper ‘Mini’ version of the Z series before the real flagship Z18 this year too. Nubia Z18 Mini is official and it is one of the most interesting mid-rangers without any doubt. That is why we think it is time to compare it with the other interesting and popular mid-rangers in the market. We have already compared the Nubia Z18 vs Redmi Note 5 Pro and now we are moving on to other phones which are priced close to the Z18 Mini.

Honor 7X is one of the best-sellers in the mid-range sector and, given that Z18 Mini has extremely interesting specs, we want to let you know which one fits your needs. Below, you can find the Nubia Z18 Mini vs Honor 7X specs comparison.

ZTE Nubia Z18 Mini vs Huawei Honor 7X

	Nubia Z18 Mini	Huawei Honor 7X
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	148 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm, 153 grams	156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm, 165 grams
DISPLAY	5.7 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 424 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD	5.93 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 407 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz	HiSilicon Kirin 659, octa-core 2.36 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 8.1 Oreo, nubia UI	Android 7.0 Nougat, EMUI 5.1
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 24 + 5 MP f/1.7 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 16 + 2 MP 8 MP front camera
BATTERY	3450 mAh Fast charging 5V / 2A	3340 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

The most evident difference between Nubia Z18 Mini and Honor 7X is their design. The first has a glass back and an aluminum frame, while the second has a full metal unibody design. Both have the same 7.6 mm thickness and a similar weight, but Nubia Z18 Mini is much more attractive due to its Honor 9-reminiscent backplate. It also appears to have a higher screen-to-body ratio and smaller dimensions. In terms of hardware, Nubia Z18 Mini wins again.

It has a much more powerful SoC and also 6 GB of RAM, that is 2 GB more than the most powerful configuration of Honor 7X. There are still no camera samples, but we believe Nubia Z18 Mini’s dual camera will shoot better photos due to its brighter f/1.7 aperture and its 24 and 5 MP resolutions. Front cameras, batteries and displays should offer similar performances. Nubia Z18 Mini is a way better phone, but Honor 7X is much more affordable ($286/€230 in China vs $204/€165 in the global market for the base configurations).

ZTE Nubia Z18 Mini vs Huawei Honor 7X: PROS and CONS

Nubia Z18 Mini

PRO

Smaller dimensions
Attractive design
Powerful hardware
Potentially better cameras

CONS

Higher price

Huawei Honor 7X

PRO

Good built quality
Affordable price
Good battery
Bigger display

CONS

Less Powerful hardware