Smartisan Confirms April 9 Launch Event; Could it be Launching Nut 2?

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Mar 21, 2018

Itel Mobiles has launched its two new smartphones in the Indian market — itel S42 and itel A44. Along with that, the company has also launched the A44 Pro.

The itel S42 comes with a 5.65-inch HD+ IPS display having a screen resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels and 2.5D curved glass on top. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 425 processor along with Adreno 308 GPU and 3GB RAM.

It packs 16GB of internal storage and comes with support for microSD card slot up to 128GB, which enables users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity.

The phone focuses on the selfie camera and thus, it comes with a 13-megapixel front-facing snapper with f/2.2 aperture and 120-degrees wide-angle lens. On the back, it comes equipped with the same 13-megapixel camera.

There’s also a fingerprint sensor on the back for added security. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS. It runs on Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

On the other hand, the itel A44 and A44 Pro come with a 5.45-inch FWVGA display with screen resolution of 480 x 960 pixels. It is powered by MediaTek MT6737M 64-bit quad-core processor with Mali-T860 MP1 GPU.

While the A44 comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage, the A44 Pro comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard storage. Both phones have microSD card slot that supports memory expansion up to 32GB.

Both the smartphones have a 5-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash. While the standard variant features a 5-megapixel snapper at the front, there’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera on the A44 Pro, along with an LED flash.

Along with the fingerprint sensor, the A44 series also comes with Bike Mode and Smart Key. Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and USB OTG. Running on Android Nougat OS, the device is powered by a 2,400mAh battery.

The itel A44 comes in Champagne Black, Rose Gold, and Red colors while the itel S42 comes in Black and Champagne colors. The A44 is priced at Rs. 5,799 and the S42 costs Rs. 8,499. Both the smartphones will be available through offline stores across India. However, the A44 Pro will be available from mid-April and the pricing will be revealed at that time.

Meizu E3 is Official With 18:9 Display, SD636, 6 GB RAM, 12 + 20MP Dual Cameras for 1,799 Yuan (~$285)

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Mar 21, 2018

After months of leaks, Meizu has finally launched the Meizu E3 upper mid-range phone through an unveil event in China. It is fully loaded with impressive specs like 18:9 display, Snapdragon 636 chipset, 6 GB of RAM, stellar dual rear cameras and 20W fast charging.

Design, Display and Performance

The Meizu E3 features a metal unibody design that measures 156.8 x 75 x 7.6 mm and it weighs 160 grams. The antenna bands can be seen running along the top and bottom edges of the back panel. Like the Meizu M6S, the Meizu E3 also features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that is present as a depression on the right edge of the phone. The Power key is also located above the fingerprint scanner while the volume rocker is placed on the left side of the E3.

The Meizu E3 features a 5.99-inch LTPS In-Cell display that offers Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. It supports up to 85 percent NTSC color gamut.

The 14nm Snapdragon 636 chipset powers the Meizu E3 along with 6 GB of LPDRR4X. The handset comes in two storage sizes such as 64 GB and 128 GB. It is fueled by a 3,360mAh battery that will allow its users to enjoy 6 hours of online video, 86 hour of video play back and continuous gaming for nearly 6 hours. The cold mCharge technology that offers 20W fast charging ensures that the temperature remains low while charging the Meizu E3 rapidly. It allows the handset to gain 53 percent of battery power in 30 minutes.

Cameras and Other Features

The vertically stacked dual rear cameras include dual pixel autofocus f/1.9 aperture 12-megapixel Sony IMX362 that has pixel size of 1.4micron as the primary sensor and f/2.6 aperture 20-megapixel Sony IMX350 as the secondary sensor. Both the lenses are protected by sapphire glass. The dual rear cameras are enabled with features like dual-LED flash, 1.8x optical zoom and 2.5x loseless zoom.

It is equipped with a selfie snapper of f/2.0 aperture 8-megapixel. With ArcSoft algorithm, the Meizu E3’s front camera can optimize the skin tone while capturing selfie shots. The front camera also supports facial recognition feature.

The side-mounted fingerprint scanner can unlock the phone in just 0.2 seconds. It also features the Super mBack button that brings support for gestures for accessing home screen, Back function and recently used apps.

The Meizu E3 is preinstalled with Flyme 7 OS, a customized version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat. It brings along includes OneMind AI and game mode 2.0. The other features of the Meizu E3 include X12 LTE modem for high-speed 4G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.0. USB-C, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 4G VoLTE, GLONASS, GPS and A-GPS.

Different Variants, Pricing and Availability

The 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM Meizu E3 variant is priced at 1,799 Yuan (~$285) whereas the higher model featuring 128 GB storage + 6 GB RAM has a price tag of 1,999 Yuan (~$315). It will be available in color options like blue, black and gold. The blue variant has a distinctive red colored Power key. Meizu is also selling a variety of Kumamon accessories for the Meizu E3. The entire set of accessories can be availed for 599 Yuan (~$95).

Named after J-20 fighter jet, the Meizu E3 J-20 Collector’s Edition is a customized limited edition that features a sophisticated zinc alloy chassis. It will be also available in two models. The base model featuring 64 GB storage + 6 GB RAM is priced at 1,999 Yuan (~$315) whereas the higher variant having 128 GB storage + 6 GB RAM costs at 2,499 Yuan (~$395). Meizu will be selling only 2,000 units of the Meizu E3 J-20 starting from April 9. It comes with a customized J-20 case, a memorial card and SIM-eject pin.

The reservations of the Meizu E3 will begin today in China at 4 PM on platforms like Meizu’s online store, TMall, JD and Suning. The official sales of the Meizu E3 will begin across these e-commerce sites as well as some more from March 31. Some of the buyers of the Meizu E3 who find out something hidden in the game will be provided with an exclusive gift package of “Wilderness Action” game goodies when they purchase the phone on March 31.

What do you think about the Meizu E3’s specs and features? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

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TENAA Reveals Huawei Mate X To Come With 512GB Storage

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Mar 21, 2018

A few weeks ago, an unknown Huawei phone with model number NEO-AL00 was seen on TENAA. Initially, there were rumors that it was one of the P20 series, but that isn’t true as we already know none of the P20 series has that model number. However, the popular opinion is that this is the Huawei Mate X.

The Huawei Mate X is said to be a new flagship phone in Huawei’s pipeline. Firmware files have shown it has the Kirin 970 powering it and rumors say it will come with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

While the former may be true since Huawei hasn’t launched a more powerful chipset yet, the latter seems to be wrong based on latest developments.

The TENAA listing has been updated and it now adds the RAM and ROM configuration of the phone. According to the page which was updated on Monday, March 19, the Huawei Mate X will have 6GB of RAM and 512GB of storage! Yes, you read that right.

While the largest embedded storage on a phone for now is 256GB, 512GB isn’t far fetched and Huawei isn’t just making up numbers. Last year, Samsung announced that it was going to begin production of 512GB flash storage this year.

The Huawei Mate X may likely be the first phone in the world to come with the new storage capacity seeing as Samsung itself didn’t announce a 512GB version of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Samsung releases a 512GB version of its new flagships in future.

Huawei Is Developing Innovative Wireless Charging Technologies

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Mar 21, 2018

After the launch of the Apple iPhone X, wireless charging is going gain even more attention. Even Xiaomi is going to adopt this technology with its upcoming Mi Mix 2S and it has already been confirmed by a teaser. Huawei has never launched such a device, but it seems that the moment is coming. According to a report from a conference promoted by AirFuel Wireless Power and WPC Wireless Charging Alliance, the Chinese company has suggested some ways to improve the actual wireless charging technology.

From what the company suggested, it can be improved through the magnetic resonance combined with the Qi and AirFuel technologies. It seems that Huawei is developing a new wireless charging technology inside its Watt Labs, and it may even allow charging more than one device at the same time with a single wireless charging base. If the company is developing such a technology, it means that at least one of its upcoming devices may support wireless charging.

But at this moment we do not know which will be the device interested and when the new technology will be ready to be announced. One thing is sure: with Apple and Sony (with its new Xperia XZ2) joining the wireless charging club, the wireless charging trend is going to catch on, so Huawei needs to adapt if it wants to keep aiming at the first place among smartphone brands. The Chinese giant has just announced the P20 Lite and it is going to showcase its 2018 flagships, P20 and P20 Pro, in just a week.

Would you like them to have a wireless charging technology and a more expensive price or you prefer to do without it in order to save money?

Huawei P20 Lite Officially Launched; Specs, Features and Pricing

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Buy Xiaomi Redmi 5A Smartphone For Only $119.99 On Banggood

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Mar 21, 2018

Yesterday, Huawei had launched the Nova 3e smartphone in China. Without out any delay, the Chinese manufacturer has also launched the P20 Lite in Europe.

To say again, the P20 Lite is essentially the same smartphone that has been launched as Nova 3e in China. The home market has received the Nova 3e in four colors like the Klein Blue, Midnight Black, Platinum Gold and Sakura Pink. However, the P20 Lite will be available in Europe in three color options such as Klein Blue, Sakura Pink and Midnight Black.

The P20 Lite is fitted with a 5.84-inch IPS LCD display that includes a notch at its top. The 19:9 aspect ratio screen offers Full HD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The Kirin 659 chipset is present under the hood of the phone along with 4 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of 64 GB and it also features a microSD card slot.

On the backside of the phone resides the dual camera setup and a fingerprint reader. The dual camera system includes a 16-megapixel as the main sensor that is assisted by a 2-megapixel depth-sensing unit. For shooting selfies, it is equipped with a 24-megapixel Sony IMX578 sensor. It can not only shoot amazing portrait shots, but also it can be used for facial recognition. The P20 Lite is loaded with EMUI 8.0 UI that is based on Android 8.0 Oreo. The 3,000mAh battery of the phone carries support for 9V/2A charging.

The Huawei P20 Lite is priced at 369 euros (~$452) in the Europe. It will be available in retail outlets across the European nations starting from the end of this month. Next week on Tuesday, Huawei will be launching the P20 and P20 Pro smartphones. It is speculated that the P20 and P20 Prowill be respectively for 679 euros (~$833) and 899 euros (~$1,110).

Get Heavy Discounts On High-End Smartphones On Banggood [Coupon Codes]

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Vinay Patel

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Mar 21, 2018

Looks like smartphone lovers are in for a treat. If you’re a smartphone enthusiast looking to get your hands on a high-end smartphone without emptying your pocket, we have good news for you.

Chinese online shopping site, Banggood guarantees to offer the best bang for your buck. That being said, the site is crammed with all sorts of smartphones that you can get your hands at a heavily-discounted price by using specific coupon codes.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A

The gray color version of the Xiaomi Redmi 5A smartphone is currently up for preorder for $138.99. But if you’re not willing to spend that kind of money, you can use coupon code ‘3BGR5A32’ to bring your grand total down to just $119.99.

In other words, you can save $19 by using the aforesaid coupon code at the time of checking out. On top of that, you also earn 138 Banggood points. You can visit this link to buy the Redmi 5A smartphone for only $119.99.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

Banggood is giving a considerable 31% discount on the original $225.70 asking price of the Redmi Note 4 smartphone. The black and gray color versions of the well-received smartphone are currently available for just $155.99 on the site.

In addition to getting this discount, you can bring your grand total down to just $143.51 simply by using coupon code ‘3BGN4G’ at the time of checking out. You not only save an additional $12.48 but also earn 155 Banggood points.

You can head straight to this link in order to get the discount and use the coupon code before it expires. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the phone is likely to retain its original selling price as soon as the promo comes to an end.

LeEco Cool1

There’s 19% off on the gold color version of the LeEco Cool1 smartphone’s real selling price of $159.99 on Banggood. The site is giving buyers an opportunity to purchase the power-packed smartphone for just $129.99.You can save an extra $15 by using coupon code ‘COOL1CUS’ at the time of checking out. This further reduces your grand total to only $114.99. Buyers will also be eligible to earn 129 Banggood points. You can head straight to this link to take advantage of the promo.

LeEco LeTV Le 2 X526

You can even preorder the gold or rose gold color versions of the LeEco LeTV Le 2 X526 smartphone, which is currently available at a discounted price of $119.99 on Banggood. This is a considerable 11% reduction in the handset’s original selling price of $134.99.

Apart from earning 119 Banggood points, you can use coupon code ‘LE2X526’ to save an additional $13. By applying the above-mentioned coupon code, you can lower your grand total to just $106.99. You can click here to use the coupon code before it expires.

LeTV Leeco Le Pro3 Elite X722

The gold color version of the LeTV Leeco Le Pro3 Elite X722 smartphone is also up for grabs for $169.99 on Banggood. In order to get an extra $10 discount while checking out, you can use coupon code ’18MARX722.’
After applying this coupon code, your grand total drops down to just $159.99. You can click here to use the aforesaid coupon code before it lapses.

Buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Smartphone For Only $143.51 On Banggood

Buy LeEco Cool1 Smartphone For Only $114.99 On Banggood

Buy LeEco LeTV Le 2 X526 Smartphone For Only $106.99 On Banggood

Buy LeTV Leeco Le Pro3 Elite X722 Smartphone For Only $159.99 On Banggood

Sharp Aquos S3 Mini Launched with Notched Screen, Snapdragon 630, 6 GB RAM and 1,599 Yuan (`$252) Pricing

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Mar 21, 2018

Sharp has launched a new mid-range phone called Sharp Aquos S3 Mini. The handset is now listed on JD.com with a pricing of 1,599 Yuan (~$252).

Sharp Aquos S3 Mini Specifications and Features

The Aquos S3 Mini features an Essential Phone like display that features a small notch at the top that houses the selfie camera. The rear side of the phone features a 2.5D glass panel. It measures 142.7 x 73 x 7.8mm and it weighs 140 grams. It can be availed in colors like black, blue and gold.

The Aquos S3 Mini is fitted with a 5.5-inch InCell display that offers a screen-to-body ratio of 87.5 percent. It produces screen resolution of 2040 x 1080 pixels. The display that supports 135 percent sRGB color gamut. The screen is surrounded by slim bezels, but the bottom bezel is a bit thick as it houses a fingerprint scanner embedded home button. It can be also used for authenticating payments.

The mid-range phone is powered by Snapdragon 630 chipset such as Sharp Aquos S2, Nokia 7, Nokia 6 (2018), Moto X4 Android One, Sony Xperia XA2, ASUS ZenFone 5Q and HTC U11 Life. The SoC of the Aquos S3 Mini is coupled with 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM. It comes with a native storage of 64 GB. For additional storage, it features a microSD card slot. The handset is packed with a 3,020mAh battery that supports 5V/2V charging.

The rear side of the Sharp Aquos S3 Mini is equipped with a 16-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture. The notch at the front houses a 20-megapixel front-facing camera that supports AI portrait shots. The handset is preinstalled with Android 7.1.1 Nougat that is overlaid with Sharp’s Smile UX. The Face Unlock feature on the S3 Mini can be used to unlock in just 0.1 seconds.

It also features a game mode that allow users to enjoy games without any interference from incoming messages and calls. The other features of the S3 Mini include USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE and GPS. It lacks NFC.

Sharp Aquos S3 Mini Pricing and Availability

The Sharp Aquos S3 Mini is up for reservations on Jingdong Mall. It will be available for buying starting from March 30 with a pricing of 1,599 Yuan (~$252).

(source)

OnePlus 6 Pricing Leaked; 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Storage Model May Cost $749

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Mar 21, 2018

OnePlus 5T is the first flagship phone from the company to sport the trendy 18:9 aspect ratio display. Its 64 GB and 128 GB storage models were introduced with respective pricing of $499 and $559 in November last year. Rumors are rife that the OnePlus 6 will deliver higher screen-to-body ratio of around 90 percent through its 19:9 aspect ratio supporting notched display. The inclusion of the latest and highly potent Snapdragon 845 chipset and improved cameras suggests that it may arrive with increased pricing compared to the predecessor phone. A leaked photo that has surfaced today has revealed the not only the key specs of the OnePlus 6, but also its pricing.

In the below image, the OnePlus 6 can be seen stacked against other flagship phones like the Apple iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Huawei P20 Pro. The image reveals that OnePlus 6 will be fueled by Snapdragon 845 and it features 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. This could be the highest storage variant of the OP6.

The OnePlus 6 houses a display of 6.2 inches. It is equipped with 12-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual camera setup and it carries support for Dash Charge fast charging technology. The OP6 is listed with an expensive price tag of $749. However, compared to other flagship phones that have similar specs (but different chipets), the pricing of the OnePlus flagship seems reasonable.

A leaked photo that had appeared at the beginning of this year had revealed that the OnePlus 6 will be arriving with a notched display. The image had also revealed that it features 64 GB of internal storage and 6 GB of RAM. Also, it will come loaded with Android 8.1 Oreo that will be customized with the latest OxygenOS skin. Recent rumors have claimed that the OP6 would be also equipped with some new features like in-screen fingerprint scanner and 3D facial recognition. However, the latter may not be as advanced as Face ID 3D facial recognition feature available on the iPhone X. It is also speculated to include support for super-fast LTE gigabit connectivity. As far as the launch date of the OP6 is concerned, it is pegged to launch in June.

There is no confirmation on the authenticity of the above pricing image. Hence, it is advised to digest this report with a pinch of salt.

(via)

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 6GB +128GB Version Gets Massive Price Cut – $499 On Newegg

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 20, 2018

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 was launched in September last year but the device is about getting a successor in the Mi Mix 2S. Expectedly, the Mix 2’s price has been getting some reduction across various e-commerce platforms and also offline. The latest is the huge cut in the price of the Mi Mix 2 6GB + 128GB version on Newegg.

This latest price reduction on the Mi Mix 2 6GB RAM + 128GB storage version is perhaps the biggest price cut we are seeing on any storage version of the flagship. The Mi Mix 2 version is currently available for a limited period on Newegg’s China website for 3159 Yuan ($499).You’ll agree this is an amazing price for a 6GB RAM and 128GB storage-packing smartphone. Just to compare, the same version of the Mix 2 is priced at $659.42 on GearBest. This price cut seems to be for a limited period, though, apparently to clear old stock.

As a reminder, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 features a 5.99-inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080. It is powered by a Snapdragon 835 chip with an Adreno 540 GPU. The processor is backed by a 6GB RAM on some models while there are three storage versions; 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. There is also an 8GB RAM + 128GB Special Edition. The Mi MIX 2 packs a single 12MP Sony IM386 sensor at the rear as well as a 5MP selfie camera. There is a 4,400mAH battery under the hood with QC 3.0 and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. There is also dual WiFi band support and it supports 43 bands, 22 of which are LTE bands, including band 20. The Mi MIX 2 runs on MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat, is available in black only except for the Special Ceramic edition.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Earphones And Mi Earphones Basic Launched In India, Price Starts At Rs. 399 ($6)

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Mar 20, 2018

Xiaomi has been on a launching spree in India. After launching the Redmi Note 5 series, Mi TV 4/4A and the Redmi 5, the China-based company has now launched two new affordable earphones in the Indian market — Mi Earphones and Mi Earphones Basic.

The Mi Earphones come with a metal chamber that the company says is created using a 20-step process that involves diamond cutting, CD engraving, drawing and anodizing a piece of aluminum. It has Dynamic Bass and comes with an aerospace-grade metal diaphragm for resonating bass.

The company further adds that the in-ear earphones comes with improved 3rd generation balanced damping system, which is designed to enhance sound and airflow. It comes equipped with volume and answer/end call buttons on the wired remote.

The headset has a Kevlar fiber cable to enhance durability. The remote has built-in MEMS microphone that has a 58dB(A) signal to noise ratio. It comes with a headphone jack angled at 90-degrees. Talking about the durability, according to the company, the Mi Earphones have been subjected to over 700 reliability tests.

On the other hand, the Mi Earphones Basic has an aluminum sound chamber that is claimed to offer balanced and clear sound quality. It has been anodized to protect against corrosion and is also scratch and slip resistant. Xiaomi says that the headset comes equipped with a 3rd generation balanced damping system which helps improve sound and air flow which in turn produces well-balanced audio output.

Unlike the Mi Earphones, the AUX jack on this one has been bent to a 45-degree angle for allowing longer durability. It also comes with a wired remote which enables users to play, pause, answer and hang up calls with a press of a button. The remote also has a built-in microphone.

The Xiaomi Mi Earphones will be available in Black and Silver colors and are priced at Rs. 699 ($11). The Xiaomi Mi Earphones Basic comes in Black and Red colors and is priced at Rs. 399 ($6). Both of them are now available from Mi.com — Xiaomi’s official online store.

Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact Outshine Galaxy S9/S9+ In Battery Test

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Mar 20, 2018

Pre-orders for Sony’s Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are already underway in different countries in Europe. For those wondering what the battery life for these two devices are, your question has been answered by the guys at Phonearena.

Before diving in, let’s revisit the battery capacities for each device. The Xperia XZ2 comes with a 3180mAh battery which is a significant upgrade over the Xperia XZ1‘ 2700mAh. The XZ2 Compact on the other hand comes with a 2870mAh battery. Its predecessor has a 2700mAh battery too.

The Xperia XZ2 is able to last 8 hrs 54 minutes on a single charge. That is over 1 hr more than the Xperia Xz1 which may seem small until you remember that the XZ2 has a larger 5.7” FHD+ display as against the 5.2” FHD screen of the XZ1.

The Xperia XZ2 Compact lasts 9 hrs and 13 minutes on a single charge. That is a good two hours less than that of the Xperia XZ1 Compact. However, the XZ2 Compact has a bigger 5.0” FHD+ display compared to the 4.6” HD screen of the XZ1 Compact.

When compared to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, both of the new Xperia phones last longer. They also surpass the iPhone 8, iPhone X, and OnePlus 5T, but trail behind the iPhone 8 Plus.

A depleted battery needs to be recharged, so how quickly it does so is equally important. Sadly, the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact don’t do very well in this test.

The Xperia XZ2 takes 145 minutes to charge to full while the Xperia XZ2 Compact takes 144 minutes even though they both come with QC 3.0 chargers. Both phones still charge in less time than their predecessors.

However, they are no match for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ which charge way faster. The OnePlus 5T is still the fastest thanks to Dash Charge.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Gets Android 8.1 Oreo Update With Project Treble Support

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Mar 20, 2018

The Redmi Note 5 line-up has been released with different names in the two best markets for Xiaomi: India, and China. In the Indian peninsula, the handset has been announced in two variants: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro. The standard variant is just a re-branded Redmi 5 Plus for the Indian market, while the Pro version is the real new phone. In China, the standard Note 5 is the Redmi 5 Plus, while the Note 5 Pro has been called Redmi Note 5. But keep in mind that it comes with two differences: a slightly different rear camera setup and a better version of the software based on Android 8.1 Oreo.

Well, now there is good news for the owners of the Indian Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro. A new firmware is available to download for this handset, and it is exactly the same firmware as the Chinese Note 5, based on Android 8.1 Oreo. It is not an OTA update but a firmware leaked on XDA Developers. But it is the MIUI 9.5 China Stable ROM and not a random beta firmware. Besides bringing the Android version number to 8.1 Oreo, this update brings the Project Treble support. According to XDA Developers, a member of their forums has tested the firmware through the Project Treble check app and found out that it is compatible with Project Treble.

In case you do not know, Project Treble can make the code of the Android operating system modular, allowing manufacturers to work directly and exclusively on certain parts of code instead of working on the entire operating system. This makes a lot easier to release software updates, which will be faster and more constant. Only a limited number of smartphones are actually compatible with Project Treble, and now Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has joined the club. To install the new firmware which you can download at this link, you need to flash it manually using TWRP after unlocking your bootloader.

(Via)

Vivo V9 Gets Listed On Amazon India Ahead Of Official Launch On 23rd March

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Mar 20, 2018

Vivo is scheduled to launch its flagship smartphone — Vivo V9 in India on 23rd March. However, ahead of the official announcement, the phone has been listed on Amazon India.

The listing suggests that the phone will be Amazon-exclusive in India. Further, the listing also mentions that it will be available for pre-bookings from 23rd March itself starting at 3:00 PM along with a few “special offers.”

The phone’s landing page on Amazon India mentions the tagline as “Perfect Shot, Perfect View”, suggesting that the company is focusing on the improvements in the phone’s camera department.

The listing of Vivo V9 on Amazon India has also revealed some key features and specifications of the phone. It is expected to come with Apple iPhone X-like design, featuring a notch at the top of the display. The full-screen Full-HD+ display on the phone is said to be of 6-inch and aspect ratio of 19:9.

Under the hood, the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor along with 4GB RAM. It is expected to pack 64GB internal storage and carry microSD card support for expanding storage up to 256GB.

Coming to the camera, the phone will be having a dual camera setup at the back, featuring 16-megapixel primary lens and a 5-megapixel secondary lens with 4K video support and AI Face Beauty feature among others. On the front, it is likely to sport a 24-megapixel snapper for selfies and video calling.

On the software front, we are expecting the phone to run on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own FunTouch OS custom interface on top. The phone is likely to be fuelled by a 3,250mAh battery.

The Vivo V9 is expected to be priced around Rs. 25,000 (approximately $383) in India. However, we’ll have to wait a couple of days more to get official confirmation related to the phone’s specs and pricing as well as for availability information.

(Source)

Lenovo Watch 9 Hybrid Smartwatch Unveiled, Priced At 129 Yuan (~ $20)

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Mar 20, 2018

Today, along with its three new smartphones — Lenovo S5, K5 and K5 Play, the China-based smartphone manufacturer Lenovo also announced a new hybrid smartwatch — Lenovo Watch 9. Unlike most other smartwatches, this one is an analog watch with smart features.

The Lenovo Watch 9 comes with a premium sapphire glass on the top which has 9H hardness rating. It also comes with a silicone strap and a stainless steel shell, and is claimed to be waterproof for up to 50 meters.

While the watch lacks a dedicated display, it can be connected to a smartphone and by using its dedicated application, users can also take advantage of many of its features. It vibrates for alarms or when the user receives any notifications.

Further, the watch can also be used to remotely capture selfies by shaking the watch. It also comes with fitness related features such as steps tracking, tracking calories burnt, sleep, and a few other information. Since it is water-resistant, the device can also be used while swimming.

The Lenovo Watch 9, which is compatible with both Android and iOS, is claimed to provide battery life of about 12 months on a single charge. It will be available in two color options — Black and White. Priced at 129 Yuan, which roughly converts to $20, the Lenovo Watch 9 will be available for purchase from 23rd March.

As said, during the same event, Lenovo launched its three new smartphones — S5, K5 and K5 Play. All three phones come with a 5.7-inch full-screen display with 18:9 aspect ratio. While the S5 has a Full HD+ screen resolution, the K5-series sports HD+ resolution.

Under the hood, the S5 is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 625 processor while the K5 and K5 Play are powered by MediaTek MT6750V and Snapdragon 430 respectively. The Lenovo S5 comes in two variants — 3GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage.

The Lenovo K5 Play comes with 2GB and 3GB RAM variants with 16GB and 32GB of expandable storage respectively. On the other hand, the Lenovo K5 packs 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage. While the Lenovo K5 comes with 13MP + 8MP dual rear cameras, the K5 Play offers 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras. On the front, both the devices come with an 8MP selfie camera. The S5 has 13MP + 13MP dual camera setup at back and a 16MP front-facing snapper.

While the registrations for all three smartphone models have already started and will go on sale from next month. Currently, all these devices are China-exclusive and there’s no information related to its availability in other markets.

Vivo X21 AnTuTu Benchmark Test Score in Real Life Lower Than AnTuTu’s Official Score

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Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 20, 2018

Vivo yesterday added the Vivo X21 to the list of its models having an Under Glass fingerprint sensor. The X21 also packs the premium midrange Snapdragon 660 chipset. It also has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage like the OPPO R15 and OPPO R15 Dream Edition.

AnTuTu had earlier revealed the X21 benchmark score to be 143707 points. However, the screenshot of a new benchmark test result for the Vivo X21 UD version shows a lower score of 137,967 points. That is a difference of 5,740 points. We can’t say why the difference but it is likely that AnTuTu tested the smartphone when there wasn’t any app installed because usually, the benchmark score gets affected when there are several apps installed or running on the smartphone. The screenshot also shows that about 3GB of the 6GB RAM space is already in use.

Despite the difference, the AnTuTu score of 137,967 points still falls within the range of other Snapdragon 660-powered models. The chip is thus well suited to handle heavy games and apps, coupled with a large 6GB RAM and 128 of storage space.

(source)

Huawei P20 Pro Seen On Geekbench

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Mar 20, 2018

It is exactly a week to the launch of the Huawei P20 series and there is little or nothing left that we do not already know. Earlier today, the camera specifications for the P20 Pro was revealed. It has also now appeared on Geekbench.

The Huawei P20 Pro was benchmarked yesterday as the Huawei CLT-L29 where CLT is short for Charlotte, its codename. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo and has 6GB of RAM. An unnamed 1.84GHz octa-core processor powers it but we already know it is the Kirin 970.

The phone scores 1921 points in the single core test and 6729 points in the multi-core test. These scores are not far off from those of the Mate 10 Pro which uses the same Kirin 970 processor.

Nokia Phones Up For Grabs In India From Official Store

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Mar 20, 2018

HMD Global has decided to make Nokia phones available to purchase in India from the official Nokia store. By purchasing a device from the official website you will get free shipping, secure payments through various payment methods and the right to return your device within 10 days. The official “Android phones” page on the store lists all of the Android smartphones launched by HMD Global, but only some of them are actually available to purchase in India. If you head to the official store you can actually choose among these models:

The models 2, 3 and 5 are cheap low-end devices and they are priced Rs. 6,999, Rs. 9,498 and Rs. 12,499, respectively. The first comes with a 5-inch HD display and an 8 MP rear camera. Its hardware side includes a quad-core Snapdragon 212 SoC, just 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, but the handset has a huge battery with a 4100 mAh capacity. The model 3 has still a 5-inch HD panel, but it offers a better hardware side composed of a quad-core MediaTek MT6737 chipset, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage.

On the other hand, its battery is smaller with a capacity of just 2630 mAh. Nokia 5 comes with a bigger 5.2-inch display, a more powerful octa-core Snapdragon 430 SoC, 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. The main camera is way better as well and the battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh. Nokia 8 is the flagship: it has a 5.3-inch Quad HD screen, a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM in the available configuration. It is priced Rs. 28,999. Besides the phones, accessories are listed on the Indian official store as well, but they are not available to purchase yet. At the moment, we do not know when other HMD devices and original accessories will be available in the store. Head to the source link below to see the products on the official store.

(Source)

Teenage Girl Killed By Exploding Nokia 5233

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Mar 20, 2018

In a district in Odisha, India, a teenage girl was killed when her phone exploded while in use. Uma Omram was on the phone with a relative when her Nokia 5233 exploded. It is said that the phone was plugged in while in use.

The explosion resulted in injuries to her hand, chest, and leg and also knocked her out. She was taken to a hospital where she passed away.

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HMD Global is reported to have distanced itself from the incident as the phone wasn’t manufactured by them. Truth be told, the Nokia 5233 was manufactured by the Nokia company of old.

“While we have not been able to independently verify the facts of any of these reports, we can confirm that the mobile phone in question was not manufactured or sold by HMD Global, the new home of Nokia phones, set up in 2017 to create a new range of Nokia devices,” a Nokia spokesperson is quoted to have said. Investigations as regards the incident are ongoing.

Alleged Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) Certified By FCC With A 5.6-Inch Display

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