Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition Priced at 4,299 Yuan (~$675) Introduced in China

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May 8, 2018

Earlier today, Xiaomi introduced a new limited-edition model of the Mi MIX 2S flagship phone. The Chinese manufacturer has worked with the British Museum to design the all new Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition.

The appearance of the phone does not differ from the regular edition of the Mi MIX 2S as it seems to sport a ceramic chassis. However, it comes with a specially designed protective case, exclusive themes from the Renaissance period and a customized box package which can be seen below. The logo of British Museum is present on the rear side of the phone.

The concept of the limited-edition phone is said to be inspired from the famous artwork from the Renaissance period of the British Museum and Majolica pottery. Xiaomi claims that it is perfect fusion of technology and art as the handset is equipped topnotch specs like Snapdragon 845, 8 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 256 GB. It also features AI dual camera that features 12-megapixel Sony IMX363 as its main sensor and a secondary 12-megapixel telephoto lens. Like the regular Mi MIX 2S, it also includes the Xiao AI voice assistant.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Art Special Edition will be available for buying in China between May 10 and May 16 at 8 PM (local time). It can be availed by spending 4,299 Yuan (~$675). Buyers of this limited-edition phone will be provided with a free wireless charger. As of this writing, there is no confirmation on whether it will be available made in markets outside of China.

(source)

Samsung To Launch 4 New Galaxy J Smartphones In India This Month

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Samsung, in a bid to grab more market share in the India’s mid-range smartphone segment, is planning to launch four new smartphones under the Galaxy J series this month. Reports also suggests that the new smartphones, which are expected to get launched on on May 21, will be made in India, at its Noida facility.

The upcoming smartphones, targeted at millennials, will come with Infinity Display with thinner bezels surrounding the screen. According to the industry sources, South Korea-based Samsung is aiming to bring immersive viewing experience at an affordable price point.

Notably, the Infinity Display, which was first introduced in the Galaxy S8 series, is also available on the company’s recent flagship smartphones — Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S9 series. A similar display is also available on the Galaxy A8 Plus.

Apart from being the part of “Make In India” initiative, the smartphones are also expected to come with features targeted towards the Indian users, such as “S Bike” mode. Further, the devices are also expected to have Ultra Data Saving (UDS) mode and “Turbo Speed” technology. The upcoming devices are also speculated to come with dual camera setup at the back.

Samsung recently launched Galaxy J2 (2018) and Galaxy J7 Duo. The Samsung J7 Duo is priced at Rs. 16,990 (approximately $253), the Galaxy J2 (2018) is priced at Rs. 8,190, which roughly converts to $122.

The Galaxy J7 Duo comes with a 5.5-inch S-AMOLED display that offers HD resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. It is powered by octa-core Exynos 7 series processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, with support for microSD card of up to 256GB. The smartphone comes loaded with Android 8.0 Oreo operating system out of the box, which also brings along Bixby Home feature. The device is fueled by 3,000mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) comes pre-installed with an application called Samsung Mall which is focused on shopping. Its features include ‘Visual Search’ which delivers search results on the basis of a product picture clicked on or uploaded from the user’s gallery. The phone has 5-inch qHD display and is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon quad-core SoC, along with 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard storage. Running on Android Nougat operating system, the phone is powered by a 2,600mAh battery.

Lenovo Flagship with Highest Ever Screen-to-Body Ratio to Debut on June 14

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

Lenovo is resurrecting as a smartphone brand in China. It has recently launched the Lenovo S5, Lenovo K5 and K5 Lite phones and the newest teaser shared by Lenovo VP Chang Cheng on his Weibo account reveals that the company is now prepping up to debut a flagship phone. He has claimed that the mysterious flagship phone will be offering a very high screen-to-body ratio. The image that accompanies the Weibo post suggests that this phone will be made official on June 14.

According to Cheng, by reducing the space taken by camera, bezels and antenna bands, smartphones can offer high screen space to the users. The image reveals that the display of the upcoming Lenovo flagship is surrounded super-slim bezels. To cut down on the space consumed by the front camera, the mysterious Lenovo phone may feature a flip-up camera like the Vivo APEX. Chang has also asked the fans to guess on its screen-to-body ratio. The options provided by him include (a) 80%-84%, (b) 85%-89%. (c) 90%-94% or (d) 95% and above.

The image of the phone seems to show half portion of its display which suggest that it may not a feature a notch like the iPhone X. Also, it does not seem to sport a round-shaped notch like Essential Phone. Hence, it appears that it will offer a bigger screen space like the APEX phone that reportedly offers highest screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent. The smartphone is scheduled to release in the market in the coming month. Hence, its exact screen-to-body ratio will be known in the coming month. The Essential Phone that sports a round-shaped for the front camera has a screen-to-body ratio of 84.9 percent. The screen-to-body ratio of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S of 81.9 percent. There are not many phones in the market that offer 85 percent or higher screen-to-body ratio.

Nothing is known on the specifications of the Lenovo’s forthcoming flagship phone. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to release more teasers on it in the near future. The upcoming Lenovo phone will be rivaling with the likes of the Honor 10, OnePlus 6 and the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 7.

By looking at the image, what do you think could be the screen-to-body ratio of the next flagship from Lenovo? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Will Be Available on Sale Again on May 10 in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

ASUS had launched the ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone on April 23. The Flipkart exclusive phone was made available on pre-orders for the first time on May 3 at 12 PM. Except for the base model featuring 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, all the variants of the ZenFone Max Pro M1 had gone out of stock soon after its pre-orders began. The starting variant was also sold out in couple of hours. The Taiwanese company did not confirm on the number of units of the Max Pro M1 that were sold through its first pre-orders. It only revealed that the handset had met with “tremendous response” in the country. ASUS has now announced that it will be carrying out the pre-orders for the second time on May 10.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 comes in multiple variants such as 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM, 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 6 GB of RAM. These models are respectively priced at Rs. 10,999 (~$164), Rs. 12,999 (~$193) and Rs. 14,999 (~$223) in India. The highest configuration variant was not available through during the first sale. Also, there is no confirmation whether it will be available during the second sale. The handset can be availed in Black and Gray colors. The Taiwanese firm is also providing the MaxBox dock on which the phone can be placed for amplified audio experience.

New and existing Vodafone prepaid and RED plan subscribers who purchase can take advantage of additional 10 GB monthly data for 12 months. The smartphone can be also availed through no cost EMI through popular credit cards and Bajaj Finserve. Flipkart is offering 1-year Complete Mobile Protection plan worth Rs. 999 for only Rs. 49 for the buyers of ZenFone Max Pro M1. The protection service covers various kinds of problems like broken display, liquid damage, hardware and software issues and it also provides users with dedicated helpline service and 10-days guaranteed resolution promise.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 features 5.99-inch IPS LCD display, Snapdragon 636 chipset, 5,000mAh battery, Android 8.1 Oreo, microSD card slot, 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear cameras and an LED enabled 8-megapixel selfie camera. The handset is also equipped with 5-magnet speaker and NXP smart amplifier.

360 N7 Launches With Snapdragon 660 & A Massive 5030mAh Battery

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 8, 2018

360 Mobiles has announced a brand new phone today in China. After weeks of waiting, the 360 N7 is now official and it packs some really impressive features.

360 N7 Design

The N7 is not unlike any phone we haven’t seen before with respect to design. It isn’t breathtaking but it isn’t bad either. It is just the familiar metal back with glass front we have seen on lots of other phones. The phone comes in two color variants – Moonlight White and Graphite Black and both have a CNC finish.

However, there is a nice little addition to the white variant and that is the color power button. Rather than painting it white like the volume controls, it is bright red and it nicely pops out against the rest of the body.

360 N7 Specs

What the N7 misses out on in terms of design, it makes up for it in specs. The phone, surprisingly, comes with a Snapdragon 660 processor and not Helio P60 or Snapdragon 636 as we expected. This is the most powerful mid-range chip at the moment and you can be sure it will deliver.

There is 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. The display is a 5.99” screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2160 x 1080. There is 2.5D glass covering the display but we can’t confirm if it is Gorilla Glass.

The 360 N7 packs dual rear cameras in a 16MP f/2.0 + 2MP configuration. It has PDAF and an LED flash. The front-facing camera is an 8MP f/2.2 sensor with face beauty optimizations.

360 Mobiles hasn’t put all that processing power in there for fun. The phone is targeted at those who enjoy playing mobile games and for long periods. That explains why the 360 N7 has a massive 5,030mAh battery. It also has support for Quick Charge 3.0 (9V/2A fast charging).

The phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with 360’s own UI and software tweaks. There are additional features like Hybrid Engine 2.0, Game Accelerator 2.0, encryption and locking features.

Continue

Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition Launched In India For Rs. 21,990

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Oppo launched its flagship smartphone — Oppo F7 in India in March earlier this year. Last month, the company launched a new variant of the phone in India — Oppo F7 Diamond Black. Now, the China-based smartphone manufacturer has launched yet another variant of the device — Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition.

The limited-edition units of the smartphone will be made available across Oppo retail stores and Flipkart from May 14th. It will be available at the price of Rs. 21,990 (approx. $328), which is same as the price of standard edition. During the launch of the Oppo F7 smartphone, the company had announced cricketers Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma as the brand ambassadors of Oppo.

Three units of the new Oppo F7 Diamond Black Cricket Limited Edition will have signatures of cricketers Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma, while the remaining units will come with a fancy case cover.

All the specifications of this limited edition device remains same as the standard model. It comes with a 6.23-inch Full-HD+ display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The smartphone features a 16-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and AI scene recognition features. On the front side, there’s a 25-megapixel front-facing camera with Sony IMX576 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, and real-time HDR capabilities.

According to the company, the AI Beauty 2.0 app scans 296 facial recognition points, which is a 20 percent improvement from the first-generation technology. It allows for more precise and accurate facial recognition capabilities. Oppo says that the app can also detect a person’s age, gender, skin colour, and skin type differences for up to four individual subjects in much greater detail.

It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back and facial recognition feature for added security. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB port, and 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system based ColorOS 5.0 and is powered by a 3,400mAh battery.

Buy Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 IP Camera Bulb Cam For Only $26.99 On GearBest; Get Bigger Discount On First 5 Units Daily

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

While IP cameras and WiFi light bulbs are garnering huge popularity among tech buffs, Shenzhen-based electrical appliances manufacturer Alfawise has combined the two components in a single device. Dubbed as the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2, the device is a 3W white light bulb that you can control using your Android or iOS smartphone.

While normally you’d need to shell out $36.99 to buy the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 wireless WiFi IP camera bulb cam on GearBest, the site is offering a 4% off on the device’s original asking price. As a result, the Alfawise-branded bulb camera can now be yours for only $26.99.

Note that you can buy the first 5 units of the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 at an even lower price of just $13.99 daily at 9:00 UTC. This promotion will run until May 14th.

Equipped with a 1.3MP 360 panoramic fisheye lens that delivers 960 x 960 pixels HD image, the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 is an extraordinary LED bulb. As if that weren’t enough, it also supports WiFi and AP connection which enables remote router-less surveillance using just a remote control.

Moreover, it has a 1.3MP 360 degrees panoramic fisheye lens, along with two-way audio function. In other words, it can do communicate online between the IP camera and your mobile device.

The JD – T8610 – Q2 bulb camera also has motion detection function that supports APP push, snapshot and alarm record. The device supports H.264+ video compression format that lets you save more storage space as compared to the H.264 format.

If you’re interested in checking out more details about the Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 and buy the highly-useful IP camera bulb cam at a discounted price, head straight to this link. It’s worth noting that the Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 47 pieces for 2 days.

Get 4% Off On Alfawise JD – T8610 – Q2 Camera Bulb Cam On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Buy CHUWI Hi9 Air Tablet For Just $219.99 On GearBest; Promo Slated To End Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on a tablet that supports 4G network but doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, we have good news for you. GearBest is offering the CHUWI Hi9 Air Android 4G tablet at a lowered price of just $219.99.

This is a noteworthy 12% reduction in tablet’s original asking price of $279.20. The Hi9 Air boasts a broad range of awe-inspiring specs and features that make it a bargain under $220.

The device sports a big 10.1 inch 10-point IPS touch display with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels that breathes new life into your photos and videos. Moreover, it is housed in a robust metal body that not only offers additional protection but also gives it an eye-catching cosmetic appearance.
The CHUWI-branded 4G tablet is powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 (MT6797) processor and it uses an ARM Mali-T880 MP4, 700 MHz, 4-Cores graphics processing unit. Under the hood, it packs 4GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB of onboard storage space, which can be expanded up to 128GB.

The Hi9 Air houses a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 2-megapixel front shooter for selfies and face-to-face video chats. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and is backed by a built-in 8000mAh Lithium-Polymer battery.

The Flash Sale price will be valid for the remaining 177 pieces for 5 days. You can avail this deal and check out other discounts GearBest is offering on a slew of tablet accessories by following this link.

Get 12% Off On CHUWI Hi9 Air On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Taiwan Govt Permits MediaTek to Supply Components to ZTE

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

In the previous month, the U.S. government laid a ban of 7 years on ZTE for violating of U.S. sanctions by shipping U.S.-made goods to Iran. Following the U.S. ban, local companies in Taiwan that are interested in shipping their goods to ZTE have been instructed to apply for permission. On Monday, MediaTek confirmed that it has been granted export permit in the previous week to ship its products to the Chinese company.

An unnamed official who belongs to the Bureau of Foreign Trade in Taiwan said that it had multiple tech companies have sought permission to ship their goods to ZTE. He said that, “We fully understand high-tech factories’ characteristic of fast-paced shipments of goods, we won’t create obstacles for the pace of their exports.” He added, “Taiwan’s government has its own control mechanisms, which is independent of the way the U.S. looks at it in a given situation.”

The 7-year ban by the U.S. government on ZTE will be ending on March 13, 2025. If ZTE serves the ban, its smartphone business may not exist by the time the ban period comes to an end. Since ban prevents ZTE from receiving components and software from the U.S. tech companies, it seems that the Chinese company is considering many other non-U.S. companies for its supplies.

Most of the flagship and mid-range phones by ZTE are powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Now that MediaTek has been granted permission to ship its components to ZTE, consumers may soon see MediaTek SoC powered ZTE smartphones in the market. Since ZTE is banned from receiving software from the U.S., it is likely that future phones from ZTE may not feature Google apps and services. It may so happen that the Chinese firm may end up using of a forked version of Android OS for its future phones.

Meanwhile, a recent report has claimed that ZTE has already approached the U.S. Department of Commerce for suspending the ban. If the appeal fails to sail through, ZTE will consider taking action legal action the U.S. body.

(source|via)

Buy 10W QI Wireless Charger For Only $24.99 On LightInTheBox; Only A Few Pieces Remaining For Lightning Sale!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

It is imperative for those who spend a lot of time driving to have a car mobile charger in order to keep their electronic gadgets charged the whole time. While the market is brimming with all sorts of USB chargers sporting different size, form factor, output and number of ports, car chargers don’t come cheap.

Thankfully, LightInTheBox is offering a noteworthy discount on the 10W QI wireless charger which can be plugged into your car’s electrical power receptacle without breaking much of a sweat. While the QI would normally set you back $65.24, LightInTheBox will be selling it for only $24.99 as part of its latest Lightning Sale.

This is a considerable 62% reduction in the device’s original asking price. On top of that, the Beijing-based international online retail company is offering the aforesaid discount on blue and black color versions of the QI wireless charger as well.

At $24.99, the QI is an irresistible car charger, given that it is compatible with a broad range of phones and tablets including iPhone 8, Note 8, S8 Plus, S8, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge plus, S7, S7 edge, Nokia Lumia 1020, Nokia Lumia 950, iPhone X, S9 Plus, S9, Nexus 6, and iPhone 8 Plus. Moreover, the wireless charger comes with a 360-degree adjustable handle and a fast charging pad.
Apart from that, the Q1 boasts an array of awe-inspiring features such as a telescopic handle, telescopic handle knob, lock buckle, suction cap base, ample wireless charging area, an infrared sensor, USB input port, indicator light, and a touch switch. The wireless charger uses high-quality silicon rubber.

If you’re interested in checking out rest of the specification and want to avail the deal, head straight to this link without wasting time. It’s worth noting that there were only 40 units remaining for Lightning Sale, which is slated to wrap up in just 2 days.

Get 62% Off On 10W QI Wireless Charger On LightInTheBox Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Check Out HOMTOM 5th Anniversary Sale On GearBest; Get Extra $50 Off And Lots More!

By

Vinay Patel

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May 8, 2018

GearBest is celebrating the 5th anniversary of HOMTOM Smartphones by handing out extra $50 discount coupons that will be valid for select HOMTOM-branded smartphones. But that’s not all.

If your order exceeds $100, you can save $10 by applying coupon code ‘Homtom5th,’ which will be valid for 300 uses and will lapse on May 14th. Alternatively, you can use the $50 discount coupon code ‘Homtom5th50off’ at the time of checking out if your grand total is more than $100.

The aforesaid discount coupon will be valid specifically for the first 10 users every day starting at 10:00 UTC. It is also worth noting that the coupon code will expire on May 11th.

The HOMTOM brand sales special promotion has further been split into multiple categories in a bid to simplify the search process. Here’s a brief glimpse of what each category has to offer.

Top Deals

This section is crammed with various models including the HOMTOM HT70 4G phablet, HOMTOM S9 Plus 4G phablet, HOMTOM S8 4G phablet, and HOMTOM ZOJI Z8 4G smartphone just to name a few. More importantly, GearBest is offering considerable discounts on the smartphones and phablets featured in this category.

For instance, the site is doling out a 12% off on the white color version of the HOMTOM S12 3G smartphone, which normally sells for $63.74. As a result, the phone is currently up for grabs for a considerably lowered price of just $55.99.

You can also get 12% off on the blue and black color version and 3% off on the blue color version of the S12 smartphone. However, it is imperative for you to bear in mind that there were 18 units of the white and only 13 units of the blue and black color versions left at the time of writing.

New Arrival

This category comprises the yet-to-be-announced HOMTOM P1, which is touted as the world’s first HD projector phone. If you’re interested in getting your hands on the one-of-a-kind device as soon as it hits the store shelves, you can activate the ‘Arrival Notice’ option on GearBest.

Top Accessories

Deemed as one of world’s leading online shopping site, GearBest is giving a 37% off on the white-tinted OCUBE full body phone case for Homtom HT17 smartphone. The PU leather protector with foldable holder would normally set you back $6.29 on the site, but thanks to the aforesaid discount you can now buy it for just $3.99 until the promo ends in 5 days.

You can check out rest of the products and discounts simply by following this link. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the HOMTOM smartphones, phablets and accessories will retain their original asking price as soon as the promotion sale comes to an end.

Get Big Discounts On HOMTOM Smartphones, Phablets And Accessories On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

ZTE’s Official Website in China Could be Getting a Makeover as All Product Listings Have Been Removed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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May 8, 2018

A new message that reads “website under revision, stay tuned” is now showing on the homepage of the official website of ZTE (Chinese edition). Since the Chinese manufacturer is revising its website, it has removed the listings of all its products because of which customers are unable to place orders. Until the website is up and running again, people can visit ZTE stores at Tmall and Jingdong to buy ZTE products.

The revision of the website is being carried out at a time when ZTE is making efforts to get rid of the ban that has been levied on it by the U.S. ZTE has been found guilty for illegally selling U.S. goods to countries such as Iran and North Korea. Instead of taking action against the staff who were involved in the act, the company reportedly rewarded them with full bonuses. Hence, on April 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce ordered companies in the country to not to sell their software and components to ZTE for seven years until March 13, 2025. This could also mean that the future ZTE devices may not include Google apps and services.

During a press meet on April 20, ZTE Corporation chairman Yin Yimin said that the U.S. ban will have a significant impact on the company as it affects the interests of its employers, operators, shareholders and end users. In a previous statement, the Chinese manufacturer had also claimed the ban is unfair and unacceptable.

ZTE does not intend to serve the 7-year ban because its smartphone business would be completely dead by the time the ban period finishes. A recent report has revealed that the Chinese manufacturer has approached the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) division of the U.S. Department of Commerce to suspend the ban. If the U.S. government does not remove the ban, ZTE may take legal action against it.

Panasonic P95 With Face Unlock Launched In India For Rs. 4,999 ($74)

By

Jeet

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May 8, 2018

Panasonic has launched a new budget smartphone in the Indian market. The company has launched Panasonic P95, which is priced at Rs. 4,999, which roughly converts to about $74.

During Flipkart’s Big Shopping Day Sale, the smartphone will be available at Rs. 3,999 (approximately $59). It will be available in three color options — Gold, Blue, and Dark Grey.

The Panasonic P95 features a 5-inch HD display with screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 210 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz, coupled with Adreno 304 graphics processor.

It packs 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot, allowing users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 128GB.

Coming to the camera, on the back side, the phone comes equipped with an 8-megapixel camera along with an LED flash. On the front, there’s a 5-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

Connectivity options of the device include 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. While there is no fingerprint sensor, the phone comes with a face unlock feature. The smartphone runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 2,300mAh battery.

Panasonic seems to be on a launching spree. In April, the company had launched three budget smartphones — Panasonic Eluga Ray 550, Panasonic P101, and Panasonic Eluga i7, aiming to grab market share in India’s budget smartphone segment.

Motorola Moto Z Gets A Stable Android P Firmware Thanks To An Unofficial Porting

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 8, 2018

If you own a Motorola Moto Z, even though it was released almost two years ago, you can already taste the upcoming Android P. Thanks to XDA Developers, a new ported ROM is available for the former Lenovo flagship to download. A developer identified by the nickname erfanoabdi on XDA community has extracted the Android P firmware from a Google Pixel XL, then he has adapted the firmware for the old Moto Z and ported it.

According to the post which describes the ROM on XDA, the Android P porting works very well on Motorola Moto Z and it doesn’t have any bug making it suitable for daily use. Unfortunately, the secondary SIM slot still does not work, the stock torch app, encryption and some MotoMods (such as the Moto battery pack) are not working, but the developer is expected to keep supporting the ROM and update it in order to fix these problems. The most important elements such as Wi-Fi, camera, radio and other connectivity modules are working well with no issues.

Given that we are talking about an unofficial porting, it does not come as an OTA update, obviously. To install it, you need to unlock the bootloader on your Motorola Moto Z, then you will need to install a custom ROM such as TWRP. After this, you will need to extract the ROM in your internal storage, reboot your device in recovery mode and flash the ROM files. You will void the device’s warranty if you follow these procedures and install the ported ROM, and we suggest you do it only if you know what you are doing as you risk bricking your phone. You can find all the necessary downloads and the complete procedure by heading to the source link below.

(Source)

Nokia 5 (2018) Implicitly Confirmed By HMD Global

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 8, 2018

After Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 7 Plus, it seems that even Nokia 5 will soon come in a renewed version for 2018. A user asked Juho Sarvikas (CFO at HMD Global) on Twitter if a 2018 variant of the affordable Nokia 5 will meet us this year, and Sarvikas replied by telling him to “stay tuned”. This answer kind of confirms that the handset is in the works. Sadly, HMD Global has never released any info about this device, neither are there rumors or leaks about it.

So, we still do not know anything about the Nokia 5 (2018). At the moment, to give you an idea of how the upcoming smartphone could be, we can only remind you the specs of the previous version announced in Barcelona at MWC 2017. The original Nokia 5 was a modestly cheap device sporting an aluminum unibody design and a 5.2-inch HD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The hardware side includes an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 2 or 3 GB of RAM (depending on the chosen configuration) and 16 GB of internal storage expandable with a micro SD. Nokia 5 has a single main camera with a 13 MP resolution and a f/2.0 aperture, while the secondary camera has a resolution of 5 MP and the same f/2.0 aperture.

The handset packs a 3000 mAh battery and it was launched in the European market with a price tag of about €180. Given these specs and the ones of Nokia 6.1, expect Nokia 5 (2018) to be a lower-midrange device which may be priced at around €200. It may come with Android One installed out of the box and it should be supported very well in the long-term just as the other Nokia handsets launched by HMD Global. Unfortunately, we do not have any idea regarding an eventual launch date of this device, but we will inform you as soon as we will get new info.

(via)

Photos of Amitabh Bachchan & Pete Lau Show Off The OnePlus 6 In Black & White (UPDATED)

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

May 7, 2018

(UPDATE: Tweet has been deleted but we have the pictures below)

The OnePlus 6 just showed up in fresh live photos and you should be excited. Yes, we know there have been quite a number of leaks regarding the upcoming device, but this latest one is special and that is because of its source.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador for OnePlus in India is the source of the latest leak. The actor shared photos of him and OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, on his Twitter page as part of a post to announce that launch invites become available tomorrow (today).

[envira-gallery id=”189537″]

In one of the photos, both Pete Lau and Amitabh Bachchan are each holding a OnePlus 6. Each of them is actually holding a phone that matches the top he is putting on. So we not only get to see the OnePlus 6 but we also know two color variants to expect when it launches.

CEO Pete Lau is holding the white variant while Mr. Bachchan is holding a black model. It is obvious the latter is covered in glass seeing as it is reflective. We can’t confirm if the white variant also has a glass back but at least we can make out the design of the phone.

The OnePlus 6 has dual rear cameras that are arranged vertically. The camera housing is black, and right below it is a LED flash, and a pill-shaped fingerprint scanner. There is also a OnePlus logo in red.

The second photo doesn’t hold much info but shows the both of them posing for a selfie.

From this photos, we know the OnePlus 6 will come in three different colors/design – white, black, and an Avengers special edition version.

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Meizu 15 Goes Swimming: Shows Off Low-light Underwater Photography Capability

By

Habeeb Onawole

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May 7, 2018

It has been three weeks since Meizu announced the Meizu 15 series. Both the Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus have the same dual rear cameras configuration which Meizu says performs excellently under low-light. To prove it, Meizu took the phone for a dive in the ocean.

Meizu partnered with JD.com, one of China’s top retailers and went on a scientific voyage to explore the Blue Grotto of Saipan, a popular location at the Mariana Islands.

The Meizu 15 with the help of its dual cameras does take some impressive photos. The phone uses the Sony IMX380 sensor, the same one in the Huawei P20. One sensor is 12MP and the other is 20MP. It also has a large 1/2.3” sensor with a large 1.55μm pixel size, 4-axis optical image stabilization, multi-frame noise reduction, and HDR support.

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OnePlus Officially Confirms the OnePlus 6 Slow Motion Video Recording Feature

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 7, 2018

Barely two weeks back, OnePlus India had mistakenly released a poster which teases the OnePlus 6 as coming with a Super Slo Mo recording feature. The teaser poster was immediately removed from the page and then edited with a different content inserted. OnePlus has now officially confirmed the Super Slow Motion video shooting feature on the OP6 via a tweet containing a video teaser. You can find the video after the next paragraph.

Slow-motion video recording isn’t actually a new feature as OnePlus flagships as last year’s models featured the ability to record slow-motion videos but not at 960 fps. This obviously new feature is termed Super Slow motion so, we could be looking at 960 frames/second slow-motion video recording or even more. However, the video does nothing more than teasing the feature. It reveals little details of the feature instead, the short video flashes through different scenes at a rather swift pace. Nevertheless, we are still able to look through and notice that the actions of the persons in the video tend to move in slow motion.

Let's slow down time! This poppin' teaser requires your full attention 😉 https://t.co/5TPq08B71n #OnePlus6 pic.twitter.com/fkmp1wXJzg

— OnePlus (@oneplus) May 7, 2018

We are almost losing count of the high-powered features the OnePlus 6 flagship is expected to pack. From a glass body, to an heart rate sensor, to a Snapdragon 845 chipset as well as a waterproof body, the device is surely worth looking forward to its launch. May 17 is the date all the features will be unveiled. We’ll bring you all the details here on Gizmochina when it is launched.

(source)

Even Huawei P8 Lite (2017) Gets Android 8.0 Oreo Beta Firmware

By

Michele Ingelido

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May 7, 2018

Huawei P8 Lite (2017) is a remake of one of the best-selling Huawei phones ever: the unforgettable P8 Lite. It has been released as a very affordable device, even cheaper than P10 Lite, with Android Nougat. But even though its price tag is very competitive, this phone will be soon updated to Android 8.0 Oreo just like some of the most expensive Huawei flagships. These days, the Chinese company is attracting a lot of attention as it has started the beta testing phase of Android Oreo on several handsets at the same time.

Huawei P8 Lite (2017) is just the nth of them. In order to download the beta firmware of the update, you need to download the Huawei Beta app from the official site by clicking on the big blue Download button. Then, you need to follow the easy wizard that you can find on the download page to adhere to the beta testing phase and download the firmware. Note that you first need to be accepted by the team. The beta testing phase of Android Oreo for Huawei P8 Lite (2017) should last until May 31, then the final update is expected to roll out in the following weeks.

Note that we are talking about an unstable firmware which may not be suitable for daily use, so install it only if you are aware of the risks and make a full backup of your important data before installing it. If you find a bug or other issues after installing the beta firmware, you can contact Huawei to communicate it in order to help developers fix it. You can leave the beta testing project anytime you want by heading to the above-linked download page of the firmware and following the instructions at the end of the page. Will you install the beta firmware or wait for the stable version?

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OPPO R15 & R15 Pro (Dream Mirror Edition) Launched in Taiwan

By

Jed John Ikoba

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May 7, 2018

OPPO has officially launched its premium mid-range smartphones in Taiwan. The OPPO R15 was launched alongside the R15 Dream Mirror Edition which is also known as R15 Pro. The models come with a rather higher pricing than the prices it adopted in China. That is NT$15,990 (~3,400 yuan) for the R15 while the R15 Pro comes with a price tag of NT$18,990 (4,100 yuan). Whereas the R15 launched in China with a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (`$473) and 3,299 Yuan (`$520) for the R15 Pro.

Basically, the specifications of both models are the same with the China edition. The OPPOR15 Pro tries to tread in flagship territory while skipping a number of smaller features consumers will likely overlook. Both the R15 and R15 Pro features a 6.28-inch OLED Super View Full-Screen display with a notch at the top. It offers a Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9 as well as a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.

The R15 Pro packs a Snapdragon 660 chipset backed by 6GB of RAM and it includes 128 GB of storage which can be expanded up to 256GB more via microSD card. The premium smartphone gets its juice from a 3,400mAh with support for VOOC fast charging technology. Furthermore, the R15 Pro dual camera setup includes a 16-megapixel Sony IMX519 sensor and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor. The front-facing camera is a 20-megapixel sensor.

On the other hand, the R15 is powered by the newly announced MediaTek Helio P60 paired with 6 GB of RAM. It is also equipped with 128 GB of storage expandable to 256GB via microSD. Its external storage slot supports up to 256 GB of microSD card. The R15 battery is slightly bumped up to 3,450mAh battery with VOOC fast charging. However, the dual rear cameras are slightly different, and it includes a 16-megapixel Sony IMX519 sensor + 5-megapixel secondary sensor. The front-facing camera is a 20-megapixel sensor.

Both models run on Color OS 5.0-flavored Android 8.1 Oreo. Both models equally pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Other features include an IP67 dust and water resistance and NFC functionality.

The OPPO R15 is available in Snow White, Star Purple, and Red colour variants while the R15 Pro will be available in Red and Purple colours. Both models will go on sale in Taiwan from June 1.