OnePlus is Back To Smashing Phones In A New Advert

By

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Feb 20, 2018

OnePlus is sure not planning to put a stop to its controversial adverts. The adverts are surely providing publicity for the brand whichever way you look at it. Come to think of it, how many times does a new phone ad get covered in the news?

The latest ad is a familiar one. Familiar to fans of OnePlus from the start as it involves smashing phones. However, unlike the smash your phone contest for the OnePlus One back in 2014, this phone smashing is without the owner’s consent.

In the 98-second video ad, OnePlus wants to prove that the OnePlus 5T is the fastest in the world. So it gets a couple of Londoners who use an iPhone X, iPhone 8, Samsung S8, and the Galaxy Note8 and asks them to perform certain tasks against the 5T. Think of it as a gun duel but with phones instead of guns.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycbY_NJTML8[/embedyt]

The OnePlus 5T won all the rounds which involved turning on your flash light, playing a song, or taking a picture. At the end, the losers could have simply walked away but OnePlus took things a step further. They smashed the losing phones on the floor!

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Nokia 6 With 4GB RAM Goes On Sale In India, Costs Rs. 16,999 ($263)

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2018

Last week, HMD Global announced the Nokia 6 with 4GB RAM in the Indian market. The phone is now finally available for purchase in India. Priced at Rs. 16,999 (approximately $263), the phone is exclusively available through online retailer Flipkart.

There are a few bundled offers, including extra 5 percent discount on payment through Axis Bank Buzz credit cards and EMI options from several banking partners. The 3GB RAM variant is currently available for for Rs. 14,500 (~ $224).

However, keep in mind that this is not the Nokia 6 (2018) which was announced by the Finnish first earlier this year. This Nokia 6, which packs 4GB RAM, was first launched in China.

The Nokia 6 comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display that supports Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It packs mid-range Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It has a microSD card slot, allowing storage expansion up to 128GB.

For the photography, the phone features a 16-megapixel rear camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture, dual-tone LED flash and phase detection autofocus. There’s also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth, NFC, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack and GPS. Running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box, the phone features a fingerprint sensor on the back panel. The phone is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

At the upcoming Mobile World Congress, HMD Global is expected to launch a range of Nokia-branded devices. The expected list of devices include Nokia 1, Nokia 6 (2018), and Nokia 8 Sirocco. Report suggests that the Nokia 1, Nokia 6 (2018) and the Nokia 8 Sirocco will make their way to the Indian market in the month of April.

Samsung Is Targeting Sales Worth $10 Billion In India This Year

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2018

India is one of the largest smartphone market in the world. For most manufacturer, India is the key market, including the world’s leading phone manufacturer Samsung.

While Samsung is facing stiff competition in the Indian market from Chinese brands, it is looking forward to further strengthen its position in the market. In line with this, the South Korean giant has set a target of achieving sales worth $10 billion in India this calendar year.

Last year, Samsung registered overall revenue at around $9 billion. The company is hoping to achieve $10 billion in sales through its smartphones, home appliances, and premium television sets. Mobile phones are the largest sales contributor for Samsung in India, accounting for over 60 percent of all sales. The remaining 40 percent is generated by consumer electronics products.

One of the executives of the company said during the annual strategy meet, Samsung Forum, that the company’s pace of growth for the Indian operations slowed down last year because of Demonetisation and the roll-out of Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, he added that the company is confident to cross the $10 billion sales mark this year, despite stiff competition.

While Samsung is ahead of other manufactures in terms of revenue, the company has been losing market share to Chinese rivals. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi emerged as the market leader.

In feature phone market, Reliance Jio also outrun Samsung in the last year December quarter with around 26 percent market share. The company remains at number two position with about 17 percent market share. Samsung is also the largest television and microwave oven maker in India and the second largest in refrigerators and washing machines.

In order to sell more mobile phones, the South Korean tech giant is gearing up to expand its smartphone range. Earlier this year, in January, the company launched two back-to-back handsets — Galaxy A8+ and Galaxy On7 Prime.

Next week, the company is all set to launch its flagship phones — Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ at Mobile World Congress. While the company has not revealed availability information, we expect the phones to be available for purchase in India from March or April.

Buy Jumper EZpad 6 Plus 2 in 1 Tablet PC For Only $239.99 On GearBest [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2018

Jumper EZpad 6 Plus 2-in-1 tablet PC comes with a 360-degree-hinge that lets the user switch between four different modes including tent, tablet, laptop, and stand. Moreover, it sports a massive 11.6-inch 10-point touch FHD IPS display that breathes life into your photos and videos.

On the photography front, the EZpad 6 Plus boasts decent cameras that deliver high-quality pictures. It runs on Microsoft Windows 10 64bit operating system that revives the well-received Start Menu from Windows 7 and adds an array of new features including the Edge Web browser.

You can get your hands on Jumper EZpad 6 Plus 2 by shelling out just $299.23 on GearBest, but if you’re not willing to spend that kind of money for a 2-in-1 tablet, we have good news for you. At the time of checking out, you can use coupon code ‘EZPAD6PLUS’ to get a considerable discount.

By applying the aforesaid coupon code, your subtotal drops down to only $239.99; however, it’s worth noting that the coupon is valid only for 100 units. You can click here to check out the full specifications and take advantage of the discount before the coupon expires.

Buy Jumper EZpad 6 Plus Tablet PC For Only $239.99 On GearBest

HTC Desire 12 Retail Box Leak Reveals Phone’s Specifications

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2018

Last week, it was reported that along with HTC U12 with 18:9 aspect ratio display, the company could also be working on a budget model with similar design — HTC Desire 12.

As it turns out, the company is indeed working on the HTC Desire 12. A retail box of the phone has been leaked, which also confirms the phone’s key specifications.

According to the leaked retail box, the HTC Desire 12 will come with a 5.5-inch display having screen resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. It will be powered by 64-bit quad-core chipset from MediaTek along with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.

The phone will also have a microSD card slot which will enable users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity. As of the camera department, the phone will feature a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera that can shoot 1080p Full-HD videos. There will a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for taking selfies and video calling.

The dual SIM phone will be powered by a 2,730mAh battery. As of now, there is no information available regarding the software but we hope it runs Android Oreo operating system out-of-the-box. Connectivity options on the device include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and GPS.

While most manufacturers have come out with devices featuring 18:9 aspect ratio display, HTC is yet to embrace this new trend. However, HTC is all set to jump the full-screen bandwagon with HTC U12 — the company’s upcoming flagship phone. This phone, which is codenamed HTC Breeze, will bring the full-screen display feature to the company’s entry-level and mid-range lineup.

Since the phone’s retail box has already been leaked, it’s only a matter of time we see images of the HTC Desire 12’s renders or the actual device. As of now, there is no information available about the phone’s pricing and availability.

(Source)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Prototype Appears Online, Could Launch At MWC 2018

By

Jeet

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Feb 20, 2018

Sony has already announced its Mobile World Congress press conference on 26th February. While the company has not revealed what it plans to introduce, we expect the company to launch its flagship devices as well as a few mid-range devices.

While the Japan-based company usually launches new Xperia Compact series phone in the second half of the year, reports suggest that the company could launch the Xperia XZ2 Compact at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week.

This could turn out to be true given that new prototype images of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact have just surfaced online. The newly leaked image of Xperia XZ2 Compact next to the Xperia Z5 Compact shows curved bottom.

The leaked image is said to be a picture of a prototype, and may not be a representation of the final version. However, it is confirmed that there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, and that the fingerprint sensor is located on the rear of the device — similar to what the company did with the Xperia XA2 series.

The design of the phone is said to be in line with the previous leaks surrounding the upcoming phones from Sony. It is believed that the final version of the phone will have a slightly smaller bezel on the top of the screen.

Sony is also expected to launch Xperia XZ Pro and Xperia XZ2 at the Mobile World Congress, which are rumoured to feature 18:9 aspect ratio display. So, there is a possibility that the Xperia XZ2 Compact will carry the same aspect ratio and not the traditional aspect ratio of 16:9.

The phone will likely house a 5-inch or smaller display, and is speculated to be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 chipset along with 4GB RAM. Reports suggests that the phone could pack a single rear camera of 19-megapixel and a front-facing shooter of 8-megapixel. It is likely to arrive with an internal storage of 64GB and feature a 3,000mAh battery.

However, nothing has been confirmed by the company and it appears that we’ll have to wait till the company’s press conference on 26th February to know if the Xperia XZ2 Compact gets launched and what else the company introduces.

(Source)

Buy Black And Blue Versions Of Xiaomi Mi Note 3 For $312.92 And $321.92 On Banggood [Coupon Code]

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2018

As expected the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 4G smartphone garnered noteworthy popularity among smartphone lovers after hitting the store shelves in September 2017. But that’s hardly surprising considering the phone is crammed with awe-inspiring specs and features.

If you’ve been waiting with bated breath to get your hands on the well-received Mi Note 3 smartphone without burning a hole in your pocket, we have good news for you. Smartphone enthusiasts can now pre-order the Mi Note 3 on Banggood and get a 21% discount on the phone’s original selling price.

Thanks to the aforesaid discount, the black and blue versions of the Mi Note 3 are currently up for grabs on Banggood for just $347.69 and $357.69, respectively. This is a significant drop in the phone’s original selling price.

The discount is valid for both black and blue color versions of the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 smartphone. The black variant of the phone which carries a selling price of $439.99 is currently up for preorder for just $347.69.

Likewise, the blue version’s initial asking price of $449.99 has been lowered to only $357.69. But that’s not all.

On top of that, you can use coupon code ‘3bgnote3’ at the time of checking out and save an additional $34.77 on the black version of the phone. This brings your grand total down to only $312.92.

This coupon code is also valid for the blue version of the Mi Note 3. You can save $35.77 at the time of checking out by using the aforesaid coupon to bring your grand total down to only $321.92.

It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the promo is slated to end on Sunday, February 25. You can click here to take advantage of the discount and use the coupon code before it expires.

Get 21% Off On Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Smartphone

Get Up To 70% Off, Value Coupons And $0.99 Add-Ons On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Feb 20, 2018

As part of its Chinese New Year Sale, GearBest is offering value coupons, $0.99 add-ons, and up to 70% off on a slew of products. First off, the site is offering 14% discount on Consumer Electronics, Tablet PC, Computer Gear, Bags & Shoes category. The promo has further been split into multiple sections. Let’s check out the details

Epic Flash Sale

This section comprises various items bearing discounted price tags. For instance, you can get your hands on MEGIR 2002 Quartz men watch by shelling out just $13.99.

This is a massive 45% discount on the item’s original selling price. However, the promo is only valid for 7 days and only 1455 pieces were left at the time of writing.

There’s a 12% discount on the original asking price of the Vernee X 4G phablet, allowing you to buy the device for only $249.99. But this promo is slated to end in 2 days and there were only 90 pieces remaining.

Top Add-Ons

When you make any order over $60, you qualify to get an add-on item for only $0.99. Among various other items, the Top Add-Ones segment features Tochic USB Type-C Male to Micro USB Female Connector Adaptor for Xiaomi, which you can buy for just $0.99.
This is a considerable 21% discount on the item’s selling price. Moreover, you can use coupon codes to get additional discounts based on your Cart Subtotal.

There’s a 37% discount on the real selling price of Airship-shaped beer opener as well. You can now buy it for only $0.99 before the promo ends in 5 days. There were only 361 pieces left at the time of writing.

Epic Mobile & Tablets

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a power-packed mobile device, we have good news for you. GearBest is giving big discounts on a myriad of smartphones and tablets in this category.

You can buy MAZE Alpha 4G phablet for only $189.99, thanks to a 6% discount offered by the site. Similarly, there’s a 12% reduction in the selling price of Jumper EZBOOK 3 PRO Notebook, but this promo will end soon and there were only 116 pieces left.

Top Electronics

The electronic items you can buy in this section includes JGAURORA A5 Updated Large Printing Size 3D Printer, Tronxy X5S High-precision Metal Frame 3D Printer Kit and Xiaomi 70 Minutes Smart WiFi Car DVR to name a few. Most of the items featured in the category bear a lowered price tag.
You can get 22% off on Beelink GT1 EMMC TV Box before the promo ends in 5 days. Apart from saving 17% when you buy Alfawise V1 Mechanical Keyboard on GearBest, you can also qualify to purchase 1 add-on for only $0.99 if your Cart Subtotal is more than $60.

Best Household Gear

This category comprises items that come in handy in everyday life. It includes Temperature Controlled LED Shower Head, which carries a considerable 21% discount as part of GearBest’s latest promo. There were only 291 pieces remaining at the time of writing.
Moreover, you can get 11% discount on ILIFE V7 Super Mute Sweeping Robot Home Vacuum Cleaner’s original selling price before the promo ends. There were only 266 pieces bearing the discounted price of $159.99 remaining.

New Year Lifestyle

This division features miscellaneous items that you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket. For example, there’s 31% discount on Figure Style Cartoon ABS Building Brick, allowing you to buy the item for only $32.99.You can also go for Intelligent Mini Alloy Robot with flashing LED eyes and light music playing for only $5.99 as part of GearBest’s Flash Sale. However, there were only 32 pieces left at the time of writing.

Urban Fashion

Fashion-conscious buyers, rejoice. GearBest is giving massive discounts on the original selling price of a slew of fashion related items. The site is providing 46% discount on Anti-slip Mid Top Leather Boots for Men, bringing its original selling price down to only $41.57.

Similarly, there’s a 46% off on MEGIR MN2053 Men Quartz Watch. You can now buy it for only $19.99 and also use a coupon code to save an additional $7 at the time of checking out if your Cart Subtotal exceeds $30.

Best Category Deals

From mobile phones to watches and jewelry, this category features all sorts of items you can buy without spending a fortune. There’s 3% off on HOMTOM S9 Plus 4G Phablet, allowing you to buy it for only $170.52.

Likewise, you can get 6% discount on the original selling price of Nubia M2 Lite ( NX573J ) 4G Phablet for a limited period of time in the category. You can click here to check out the remaining categories and take advantage of GearBest Chinese New Year Sale before it comes to an end.

Take Advantage Of GearBest’s Chinese New Year Sale

Nokia 8 Sirocco Concept Video Showcases Its Quad Cameras & Beautiful Design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 19, 2018

A couple of weeks back, it was revealed that HMD Global filed a trademark application for the name Nokia 8 Sirocco. Sirocco is defined by most dictionaries as a warm, sultry south or southeast wind accompanied by rain, occurring in the same regions. In this light, the Nokia 8 Sirocco model is anticipated to feature a topnotch design and perhaps would be launched globally. The model has been appearing in leaks quite regularly, so it is no surprise that the guys at Concept Creator have come up with a concept design of the Sirocco model.

The video was spotted on the outfit’s Youtube channel and it showcases the device adorning a glass body on top a metal fuselage. The device is expected to be a high-end model and it packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Nokia 8 Sirocco concept also reveals a Zeiss-branded dual camera setup on the back. Just under the dual cameras, there is a dual-LED flash.Interestingly, the device also packs a dual camera setup at the front, making it a Quad-camera packing smartphone. Other noticeable features include regulars like a 3.5mm headphone jack placed at the top of the phone, a SIM card tray on the right side of the display and a USB Type-C port at the bottom of the device. The concept video showcases the Nokia 8 Sirocco in three different colour trims; an all-black back, a black back with orange sides, orange accents around the dual camera setup and a fingerprint scanner, and a variant with blue-coloured backside as well. This similar to what Nokia is doing with the Nokia 7 Plus as seen on the leaked press renders.

Another key design feature is the thin bezels the device packs on its display. Earlier rumour tips the device to feature a 5.5-inch OLED display with an FHD+ resolution. It is also expected to feature a Snapdragon 845 chip paired with 6GB of RAM. It remains to be seen if the Nokia 8 Sirocco would pack these specs as well as the design but we expect all the details to unravel when it is launched at MWC 2018. Meanwhile, here’s is the concept video.

Zenbre Z4 Bluetooth Speaker Review – True Stereo Separation for less than $40

By

Linus

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Feb 19, 2018

I’ve been testing quite a few Bluetooth speakers lately and the Zenbre Z4 has one killer feature that many budget devices lack – true stereo separation. Obviously, this speaker has many more features for just $40 that we are going to cover in our Zenbre Z4 Bluetooth speaker review.

UNBOXING

The device ships with the USB and 3.5mm cables, a carrying strap and some paperwork.

DESIGN and FEATURES

In terms of the design, the speaker is made of rubber and nice fabric mesh material that goes all around the device. The build quality is solid overall.

The device is relatively compact and lightweight and it has a 10W sound driver.

We have a full control system on the front, a mic, and a hole to attach the strap.

There is also USB port for charging and AUX port.

Also, the speaker is IPX4 water resistant.

SOUND QUALITY

We have two speakers and the reason for that is you can pair them up together for a true stereo 360 degree sound. That is the feature that most of the Bluetooth speakers lack. It makes a huge difference in comparison to single speaker systems as you can use the Zenbre Z4s on the left and on the right sides for a surround effect.

I also like the overall sound quality considering a low price of the device. The sound is quite balanced and crisp and there is not much distortion on the highest volume setting.

Furthermore, there is a decent amount of punchy bass for the size of the speaker. I may want to hear a little bit of separation between mids and highs but I may be too picky.

BATTERY LIFE

The battery life on the Zenbre Z4 is fantastic. It is advertised that you can get up 24h of music playback and we got very similar results of about 20 hours. In terms of connectivity, I didn’t have any issues with the Bluetooth range.

CONCLUSIONS

The Zenbre Z4 is a good all-around portable speaker that has a stereo pairing feature, pretty nice design, good battery and IPX4 water resistant rating. We don’t see any shortcomings and if you are in the market for a budget speaker under $40, this is one of them that we can easily recommend.

Zenbre Z4 (US)

Zenbre Z4 (International)

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

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 19, 2018

Xiaomi and Samsung India are both locked subtly in a war of words that thankfully, is yet to snowball into a messy situation. The bone of contention is who among the duo sold the most smartphones in India in the fourth quarter of 2017.

A recent IDC report gave Xiaomi an estimated 26.8 percent market share which is a tad higher than Samsung’s 24.2 percent share of the Indian market in Q4 2017. IDC had indicated that Xiaomi shared the top slot with Samsung in India in the third quarter of 2017 with a market share of 23.5 percent but for the whole of 2017, Samsung still led the Indian smartphone market with 24.7 percent share while Xiaomi with 20.9 percent stood at second place. Now, that doesn’t sound like there’s any trouble, isn’t it? But the thing is Samsung India’s Global Vice President, Asim Warsi disputes the reports that the Korean giant’s market share has slipped in India. He made this position known in an interview with the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). Mr Warsi stated that “German research firm GfK reports final consumption which is the most important measure of market share. Shipments are important but they don’t tell the final market share.” He also added that “the real share is what I sold out to my customers and here, we are pretty strong”.

The comment was no doubt aimed at Xiaomi and as you would expect, Xiaomi India MD, Manu Jain, dismissed the comments. The Xiaomi Global VP believes it surpassed Samsung’s smartphone sales in India and is presently the fastest-selling handset brand in the South Asian country. He didn’t mention the name of any brand in his comments but we don’t need a soothsayer to know that he was referring to Samsung. He even took a swipe at Samsung when he mentioned that Xiaomi does not have big, secret warehouses in India where it is dumping unsold inventory and is actually selling smartphones faster than any other brand in the country. The Xiaomi VP also added that the Chinese giant had the leanest distribution system network in place and whatever was being produced locally or being imported into the country went off the shelves rapidly.

The comments by Samsung’s VP goes to show that the South Korean company recognises the growing popularity of the Mi brand. Samsung has been the market leader for years and still is, going by IDC’s latest report but Xiaomi is fast closing in and could dethrone Samsung this year if its present momentum is maintained.

(via)

Exynos-Powered Samsung Galaxy S9+ Outshines Galaxy S9 On Geekbench

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 19, 2018

Last week, the Exynos variant of the Galaxy S9 was seen on Geekbench. It scored high on the benchmark site, even surpassing the Snapdragon variant of its bigger sibling, the Galaxy S9+.

Earlier today, the Exynos-variant of the Galaxy S9+ was seen on the site and its scores even outshines that of the Galaxy S9 powered by the same chipset. Though this is expected as the S9+ packs an extra 2GB of RAM.

Benchmarked as the samsung SM-G965F, the device is shown to run Android 8.0.0. It is powered by the Exynos 9810, Samsung’s most powerful mobile chipset till date and it is paired with 6GB of RAM.

The SoC’s clockspeed is recorded as 1.95GHz which is higher than the 1.79GHz of the Exynos-powered Galaxy S9 and 1.77GHz of the Snapdragon 845-powered Galaxy S9+.

For its single core test, the phone scored 3773 points, and for multi-core, it recorded 9024 points. This is a significant boost over last year’s Exynos 8895 Galaxy S8+.

The Galaxy S8+ recorded 2159 and 7235 average single-core and multi-core scores respectively. So you see this is no small improvement.

The same can be said for the Exynos-powered Galaxy S9 too. The Galaxy S8 (Exynos 8895) has an average single-core score of 1950 and an average multi-core score of 6400. Compare that to 3648 and 8894 scores of the Exynos 9810 Galaxy S9 and you know Samsung isn’t here to play.

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Alcatel A3 10 Wi-Fi Tablet Launched In India, Priced At Rs. 6,999 ($109)

By

Jeet

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Feb 19, 2018

After launching the Alcatel POP4 10 4G tablet last week, the company now launched a new tablet in the Indian market — the Alcatel A3 10. Priced at Rs. 6,999 (approx. $109), the tablet will be available for purchase exclusively through online retailer Flipkart.

The tablet features an ergonomic design and measures just 9.5mm in thickness. The Alcatel A3 10 comes with a 10-inch HD IPS display having screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.

Under the hood, the device is powered by a MediaTek MT8127 processor along with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The memory can be further expanded up to 32GB through microSD card slot. The tablet is powered by a 4,060mAh battery.

As of the camera, the tablet features a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. On the connectivity front, the devices supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, 3.5mm audio jack and a micro USB port.

The device is running generations-old Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system out-of-the-box and we don’t expect the device to receive any update.

The VoLTE version of the tablet is already available in India for Rs. 9,999. It packs MediaTek MT8735B processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. It runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and is powered by a bigger 4,600mAh battery.

In a relative news, Alcatel has confirmed that it will be present at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where the company is expected to showcase its three new phones — Alcatel 5, Alcatel 3V and Alcatel 1X.

Nokia 9 Protective Cases By Tudia Highlight Its Curved Display And Dual Cameras

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Feb 19, 2018

HMD Global is planning the launch of several smartphones in H1 2018. Among them, the Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 8 Pro, and Nokia 9 smartphones (even though several concepts of the Nokia 10 have recently surfaced) should be placed right on top of the lineup. The latter should be the best one among these, and today several renders are showing off its design. In the images, we can see the flagship enclosed in some protective covers by Tudia, which is a popular case maker. The renders make us easily notice a curved edge-to-edge screen.

We cannot see any bezels on the sides, but it could be because the cases are covering them. The display also has narrow bezels on the upper and the lower part, but there is space for the company logo under it. From one of the renders, it is possible to notice that the back cover is made of either glass or ceramic, while the frame seems to be made of aluminum. The color of the handset is a bit strange and unusual, but thanks to the contrast, we can distinguish the details better.

On the rear side of the alleged Nokia 9, there is a dual camera setup in a vertical configuration. Under it, there is a fingerprint reader, while on the right we can see a LED flash. The volume rocker is placed on the right side, together with the power key. Considering that they have been published by a known case maker, we can give to this render a good level of reliability, but we can not guarantee their authenticity. Nokia 9 is expected to arrive with an octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC; however, there is no info about a possible launch at MWC 2018.

(Via)

Sony’s Teaser Video For MWC 2018 Hints At Something Curved: Could It Be For the Xperia XZ2 Pro?

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Feb 19, 2018

Sony has published a new official video in which it teases its already confirmed event which at MWC 2018. Besides the hashtag #SonyMWC and the date of the event (26th February), the teaser video does not show much and we can only speculate on what has been shown in this short clip. The most reliable hypotheses suggest that this is a teaser video for the upcoming flagship smartphone of the company from the Xperia line-up. And from the video, it seems that the company is planning to launch a device with either a curved display or a curved back cover.

The Sony devices which are expected to be launched at Mobile World Congress are Sony Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Pro and XZ2 Compact. The first will be a flagship, but not the best one for this year as it will also focus on the affordability. The XZ2 Pro is expected to be the best device by the company for 2018, while the XZ2 Compact should be a cheaper version with a compact design and a display under 5 inches. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Pro has been tipped to be the first smartphone with a 4K and OLED display, and it is rumored to have a size of 5.7 inches and an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Join us. 26.02.2018 #SonyMWC pic.twitter.com/n6IQ82XRVZ

— Sony Xperia (@sonyxperia) 19 febbraio 2018

This obviously means that Sony is going to ditch its OmniBalance design in order to join the bezel-less club. Under the hood, Sony Xperia XZ2 Pro should have an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 running at a max frequency of 2.8 GHz and with a dedicated chip for AI. Previously, Sony had reportedly written a dismissal request to FCC mentioning “design changes” as the reason for the dismissal, but we doubt it is related to aesthetics: it should be related to internal components.

Again, Nokia 7 Plus Press Render Leaks Showing Off Black Color Option

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 19, 2018

Nokia 7 Plus official render recently surfaced online, thanks to popular tipster Evan Blass. The press renders showed that the Nokia midrange model will be an Android One device as that was clearly imprinted at the rear casing of the device. Now, a fresh set of renders of the Nokia 7 Plus has been leaked by same Evan Blass, this time around the press render shows off the device coloured in Black. The first render by the Twitter tipster showcased the device in a cool white paint job.

The white coloured variant came with orange accents around the dual Carl Zeiss lenses, the fingerprint scanner, and the display while the Nokia logo and the physical buttons are also orange. Going by the new renders of the Black coloured model, it is also going to come with the same orange accent on the dual Carl Zeiss lenses, the fingerprint scanner, around the display, the Nokia logo and the physical buttons. You’ll agree the orange accent gives it a sort of attractiveness. Thanks to GSMArena, we get to see both the White and Black variants standing side by side each other.

The Nokia 7 Plus is expected to continue where the Nokia 7 left off. The device will come with an 18:9 Full-screen display. The device is also expected to come with mid-range specs and would be launched at MWC 2018.

(source, via)

Essential Phone Could Soon Launch In India As Amazon-Exclusive For Rs. 24,999

By

Jeet

-

Feb 19, 2018

Essential Phone, the first smartphone from Andy Rubin’s new brand was launched last year. The phone, which falls under affordable premium category, is now reportedly launching in India soon.

The Essential PH-1, which is popular called Essential Phone, is expected to launch in India later this year — in late March or in early April. As per the report, the phone could be an Amazon-exclusive device.

It seems that the phone will be launched in India to clear out the stock before the company starts working on its successor. Because of this, the phone is expected to come with a very competitive price tag. As per the report, it could be priced at around Rs. 24,999 (approximately $388) in India.

The company is expected to list the recently announced “Halo Gray” variant of the phone in India, which comes pre-installed with the Alexa application. However, the company has not yet officially commented regarding the phone’s launch in the Indian market. In the United States, the Halo Gray variant currently costs $499.

The Essential Phone features features a 5.71-inch IPS LCD display with 1312 x 2560 pixels resolution and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top for protection from minor scratches. There’s a notch on top of display which houses the front-facing camera.

Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB RAM, coupled with 128GB of internal storage. It features a 13-megapixel dual rear camera with f/1.9 aperture lens, an LED flash and PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and LDAF. There’s an 8-megapixel front facing camera sensor with f/2.20 fixed hyperfocal lens.

The phone runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with a planned upgrade to Android 8.1 Oreo operating system. The device, which is IP54 rated for water and dust resistance, packs a fingerprint sensor mounted on the back panel. Along with USB Type-C port, other connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS and LTE. The Essential Phone is powered by a 3,040mAh battery with fast charging support.

(Source)

Here Are The Top Smartphones To Look Forward To At MWC 2018

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 19, 2018

While the most important trade show of the year related to mobile devices is coming closer, rumors and leaks are becoming more consistent every day, and now we have arrived at a point where we can tell you what tp expect from this event. MWC 2018 will be held from February 26 to March 1 in Barcelona, and several important 2018 smartphones will be showcased at the trade show. World’s best smartphone brands will attend the event: Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Sony, and LG are all going to be present at the event. But which will be the most interesting smartphone that we will see at Mobile World Congress? Below there are all the best smartphones that we will likely see at MWC 2018, together with their rumored and confirmed specs.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

These two handsets are the ones which are catalyzing most of the attention for MWC 2018, and they are the main 2018 flagships by Samsung. Their design will not differ so much from the S8 series, but the fingerprint scanner has been moved under the camera, so it will be more comfortable to use. They will come with brand new rear cameras which will feature variable aperture, and, according to the latest teasers, they will also offer a better selfie experience. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with the Samsung Exynos 9810 SoC in their European version and with a Snapdragon 845 in the U.S. version.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Everyone is waiting for the Xiaomi Mi 7 to be showcased at MWC 2018, but it seems that it will be replaced by the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, an advanced version of the Mi Mix 2 and also the first intermediate “S” version between two generations. As every handset from this series, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will be a flagship device. It will exhibit a very high screen-to-body ratio, even higher than the Mi Mix 2. Under the hood, it will sport a Snapdragon 845 chipset, the best in the Android market, paired with 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage. Leaked firmware files have also confirmed that its dual camera setup will include a Sony IMX363 sensor.

Huawei P20

Huawei P20 is another flagship phone that will be launched at MWC 2018. It will be offered in at least three models: Huawei P20, P20 Plus, and P20 Lite, with the third being a mid-range device. The first two, which will be the main Huawei flagships of H1 2018, will be the first device from the P series to sport a borderless display and an 18:9 or higher aspect ratio. Another distinctive thing will be a triple camera setup on the rear side which may feature a 5x hybrid zoom. The SoC will be the octa-core Kirin 970 with AI, and it should be paired with 6 or 8 GB of RAM depending on the variant that you will choose to buy. According to the latest leaks, even the Huawei P20 Lite will come with a bezel-less display and an iPhone X-like notch which will house the front camera and a small earpiece.

Nokia 9

Nokia 9 will be a flagship as well, the best flagship ever released by HMD Global. The company which acquired Nokia has already confirmed the event at MWC 2018, but not much is known about the specs of the upcoming flagship, and we do not even know for sure if it will really be showcased at the trade show. From what rumors and leaks suggest, this phone will come with an 18:9 display which will be curved at the sides. According to rumors, even though it will be a flagship, it will not sport a Snapdragon 845 SoC, instead it’ll feature Snapdragon 835 from 2017. Together with the high-end chipset, there should be 4 or 6 GB of RAM.

Sony Xperia XZ2 / XZ Pro

Sony will take advantage of MWC 2018 to launch its new flagships, just like the previous years. According to speculations, there may be two flagships: Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ Pro; the latter might even be called Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2 — it is still unclear. With these devices, Sony will definitely abandon its OmniBalance design to embrace borderless displays. One of these flagships is expected to have a 4K display with a 5.7-inch size, and a Snapdragon 845 processor under the hood. Just like every Sony flagship, you can expect outstanding camera performances, as well as an elegant design and a well-optimized software side.

Asus Zenfone 5

With the hashtag #BackTo5 (because an Asus Zenfone 5 device has already been launched in the past), Asus has confirmed the official announcement of the Asus Zenfone 5 line-up at MWC 2018. At the trade show in Barcelona, we should see at least three models from this series. The standard version should be a midrange or upper-midrange device, probably with a Qualcomm Snapdragon from the 6xx series. Besides the normal variant, we will see the Asus Zenfone 5 Lite which will be the cheaper one, and the Asus Zenfone 5 Max which will be more affordable and focused on the battery life.

LG V30s

LG is rumored to have started the design of the LG G7 from scratch, and this means that the company will not showcase the handset at MWC 2018. LG G7 is said to be replaced by a more advanced version of the LG V30, which should be called LG V30s or LG V30 Plus Alpha. This version will arrive with new AI features and it will be also focused on camera performances. It is rumored to come with a feature to control the camera via Google Assistant and with a technology called Vision AI which will be able to apply filters and correct the colors automatically.

Motorola Moto G6

Motorola Moto G6 is the upcoming line of mid-range phones by the Lenovo-owned U.S. company. It will be composed of Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus, and Moto G6 Play, and it will be official at MWC 2018. Several renders have surfaced about these devices, and they highlight a glass back, a dual camera setup and 18:9 displays for Moto G6 and G6 Plus. Moto G6 Play will be a more affordable entry-level variant of these two devices. Moto G6 Plus will sport Snapdragon 630 SoC on the hardware side, and a 3250 mAh battery. Its standard version will have a lower-end Snapdragon 450 and a 3000 mAh battery.

Google Pixel 2 Users Complain About Overheating And Battery Charging Issues

By

Jeet

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Feb 19, 2018

If you are using Google’s flagship device — Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL and are facing issues with the phone’s temperature and battery life, then you are not alone. As per the latest report, many users have pointed out that their phones are having some issues since they installed Google‘s February security update.

This new issue came to light after users started reporting issues through Google’s Pixel User Community as well as on Reddit. The users have reported that the phone is running warm while in standby mode and the battery life has also noticeably reduced.

While some users are affected with any one of these issues, others are facing both issues. Most of the complaints points that the problems started occurring after installing this month’s security update. However, it is not yet known what might be causing these issues.

The folks at Android Police did some investigation and they observed that the Pixel 2 XL charges at less than 4W in low temperature conditions despite claiming to be charging quickly (10W+). In response to Android Police, Google said that they are investigating changes to the display message. While not yet clear, it could mean that you might not see ‘Charging rapidly’ written on Pixel 2 XL lock-screen after the forthcoming update.

Earlier, the phone was reported to have random reboot issue, which was later confirmed by Google. The company came out and assured to offer fix for the same in couple of weeks through an over-the-air Android update. However, the company had not provided any information about what the cause of the problem.

(Sources – 1, 2)

Nokia 10 Rumors Debunked; Nokia 8 Pro with Penta-Lens, Snapdragon 845 May Launch Instead

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 19, 2018

Recent reports have been claiming that HMD Global will be launching the Nokia 10 flagship smartphone with penta-lens camera setup in August this year. However, a fresh report reveals that the Nokia 10 smartphone is not in works. It claims that the Finnish company is working on a smartphone called Nokia 8 Pro and it will be equipped with penta-lens camera system.

Citing a trusted source, Nokia Power User claims that the Nokia 8 Pro is a retail name of the upcoming flagship phone from HMD Global. It has further stated that it could be the same handset that was previously rumored to debut as Nokia 10 later this year.

The Nokia 8 Pro flagship is rumored to be fueled by Snapdragon 845 chipset. The inclusion of “Pro” indicates that it will be packed with advanced camera feature. It is speculated that the Nokia 8 Pro will be blessed with penta-lens camera setup that may include a rotating zoom camera technology.

In the below image, the handset shown in the left could be the Nokia 8 Pro whereas the one on the right could be the Nokia 9 (also being referred to as Nokia 8 Sirocco). Except for the size and camera module, both smartphones seem to feature similar design.

The Nokia 8 Pro is speculated to come with glass panels on it front and rear sides. The fingerprint scanner could be placed the five-lens camera module. The frontside of the 8 Pro is likely to feature 18:9 aspect ratio display.

Even though the Nokia 8 Pro moniker has appeared from a trusted source, the Finnish firm may launch it with a different name. The flagship phone may get unveiled in August or September this year.

(via)