Report: Helio P60 Chipset Will Steer MediaTek’s Q2 2018 Sales

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Mar 24, 2018

Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek holds no stake at present on the high-end mobile chip market. The fabless chipmaker’s last attempt on that market was the Helio X30 and we can only recall the Meizu Pro 7 Plus to have used the chipset. The company is now squarely focused on the mid-range chip market. MediaTek unveiled the Helio P60 at MWC 2018 and the configuration the chip was announced to feature made it a popular one with much promise even when it is yet to be found on any smartphone.

A report on Digitimes has hinted that MediaTek is expected to have a strong second quarter and this will be steered by the Helio P60 chipset. An earlier rumour had tipped Chinese phone maker like Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi to be among OEMs that are expected to use the chip to power some of their upcoming handsets. That rumour has got some confirmation, as OPPO already featured the chipset on its latest OPPO R15 model. Xiaomi is tipped to feature the chipset on its Redmi series meant for India (We sincerely hope a couple of Mi India fans won’t scream Blue murder concerning this). Apart from smartphones and tablets, MediaTek expects to find its new SoCs used to power automotive electronics and in televisions.

The MediaTek Helio P60 is built on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET process which offers 15% reduction in power consumption over 14nm chips. The octa-core chip clocked at 2.0GHz uses four Cortex A73 cores with a 2.0GHz clock speed and four Cortex-A53 cores also clocked at 2.0GHz. It also boasts of a new Mali-G72 MP3 GPU clocked at 800MHz which Mediatek claims offers a 70% boost in game performance over previous generation P-series. Like other chip manufacturers, MediaTek has also included a dedicated processing unit called NeuroPilot that handles AI-related tasks on the device. It is two times more power efficient than using a GPU and has a processing performance of 280GMAC/s. NeuroPilot will handle tasks like deep-learning facial detection, object and scene identification, real-time beautification and AR/MR acceleration. The chipset also supports a dual camera setup up to 24MP + 16MP or a single camera with a 32MP sensor.

(source)

Umidigi S2 Lite Review – Decent Budget Phone

By

Linus

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Mar 24, 2018

This is the Umidigi S2 Lite – the phone that costs about $150 but it offers 18:9 aspect ratio display, a huge 5100mAh battery, and all-metal design but it doesn’t mean it’s a perfect phone. Learn more in the full Umidigi S2 Lite review.

VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0IgN2mK-0[/embedyt]

UNBOXING

The phone ships with a few extras like a headset jack adapter and a dark soft TPU case to protect the device.

DESIGN, DISPLAY, HARDWARE

First of all, let’s get the specs out of the way (MTK6750T, 4GB RAM, 32GB ROM). Even though the phone doesn’t cost much I wish it had 64GB of storage instead of 32 but a good thing is that there is a hybrid SIM/microSD card tray for storage expansion.

Just as many budget phones nowadays, the Umidigi S2 Lite has 18:9 aspect ratio and it looks quite nice. The panel is sharp and it’s a pretty good display overall.

Despite a large display, I found the phone to be comfortable to hold due to rounded edges of the unibody metal shell. Obviously, you will need two hands to use the phone, despite 18:9 display.

The overall build quality is excellent but I found that the power key moves a little.

You also get a dual-camera setup on the back, a fingerprint scanner that works quite well, face unlock feature that works quite okay in good lighting but sucks in low light and does not work if you put the glasses on.

In addition, there is a 5MP selfie shooter, notification LED light and front-facing flash for selfies.

Finally, the phone lacks headset jack but the loudspeaker is actually pretty good for a budget phone.

USER INTERFACE

I love that the device ships with stock Android 7 out of the box. As for extra options, you can customize the LED notification light by assigning different colors, customize the navigation bar but that’s about it. During my test period, there were a few skipped frames in the UI but overall, the speed and fluidity are here, I can’t really complain.

GAMING

Gaming performance is surprisingly good considering the chipset this phone uses. You should expect just a few skipped frames while playing 3D games but no major lag or stutter.

IMAGE QUALITY

Image quality could be summarized in one sentence: you can decent pictures for social media but nothing more. You should also expect mediocre night image quality out of this phone. Also, bokeh effect looks artificial like on most of the cheap phones.

Selfies look ok but they could have more detail.

As expected, video quality using both main and front cameras is kind of average. Same can be said about sound recording quality.

Download full resolution camera samples

BATTERY LIFE and CONNECTIVITY

Battery life is just great, thanks to huge capacity. I was able to get 16 hours of SOT, which is a great result for any phone.

However, it takes just under 3 hours to fully charge the phone with the supplied charger, which is not the best result.

As for connectivity, I have no complaints as all the options including GPS work fine, I didn’t have any issues with wifi and call quality is decent.

As for sensors, there are a few but I’m disappointed that the gyroscope is only software based, meaning its practically useless since there is a lot of lag in 360 content.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the Umidigi S2 Lite shapes up to be a decent option for the price but obviously you should consider that cameras are not the best in this price range, the phone uses aging CPU, there is just 32GB of internal storage, there is no headset jack and it takes almost 3 hours to fully charge the phone.

On a positive note, I love the design and build, great display, good overall performance, solid battery life and even though camera could be better, it allows you to take decent daylight images.

I hope you guys found my summary of pros and cons useful. Please leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Buy Umidigi S2 Lite

Lenovo S5 Sold Out in Just Two Minutes During Its First Flash Sale

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 23, 2018

Lenovo S5 is turning out to be a hugely popular product, considering the huge number of attention it elicits.The S5 went on its first flash sale on March 23 and reports show that all units of the Lenovo S5 available were sold out in just two minutes.

We don’t know how many units were made available but it was recently revealed that reservations for the first sale had exceeded 250,000 persons. The S5’s popularity is mainly due to the refreshed design which some may argue resembles the Mi A1, OPPO R11, OP5T etc. We still won’t forget also that these models bear semblance with the iPhone 7 Plus. Well, except that the S5 uses an 18:9 aspect ratio.

As a reminder, the Lenovo S5 sports a 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with an FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080p. The handset features an all-metal body that is made out of series 6000 aluminium. The body is crafted from 7 CNC processes, nano-injection moulding followed by grinding, sandblasting, diamond trimming and anodizing. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 625 chipset paired with 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM on some models. There are also 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage variants.

At the back, there is a horizontally aligned dual camera setup similar to the Xiaomi Mi A1’s setup but in this case, it is a 13MP + 13MP combo. The rear camera setup also includes an LED flash. While at the front, the sensor is a 16MP sensor enhanced for good selfie captures. The S5 also packs a fingerprint sensor at the back. Other features onboard the S5 includes Lenovo’s ZUI 4.0 OS based on Android Oreo enabled for U-touch screen gestures, a 3000mAh battery and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. The device comes in Red and Black colours and starts at 999 Yuan (~$157) for the base variant with 3GB RAM + 32GB storage.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Dual-Unit Half-Ear Headphones Launched, Priced at 69 Yuan (~$10)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Updated Apr 1, 2018

Xiaomi has launched a new headphone and it turns out that it is indeed has a cheap pricing despite the new features it packs. The headphone isn’t a Bluetooth headset as predicted but is a wired headset. The product is dubbed Mi Dual-unit half-ear headphones with a price tag of 69 Yuan (~$10).

In terms of design, the Xiaomi Mi Dual-Unit Semi-in-Ear Headphones features a simple and lustrous design. The device wears a glossy ceramic body. It is light and comfortable to use. The device uses an half-ear structure which keeps the shell outside the ear canal in order to protect the delicate ear canal. The design is also suitable for most ear types.

Talking about the hardware, the Xiaomi Mi Dual-Unit Half-Ear Headphones features a dual-unit dynamic coil and ceramic horn acoustic structure which outputs a clear sound with noise reduction. It is touted to have passed the Hi-REs Audio certification of the Japan Audio Association and produces a high-quality listening experience far beyond the limits of CD sound quality. It has a MEMS microphone integrated with a three-button control as well as a 3.5mm jack. The wire is manufactured using soft TPE material which won’t twist or get entangled easily.

The earphone is available in Black and White colours and is already available to buy in China via Mi Home.

Sharp Aquos S3 Launching on March 28 as World’s Smallest 6-inch Phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

Sharp has recently launched the Aquos S3 Mini in China and Zhongsheng Luo, the Global CEO of Sharp and InFocus Mobiles has today confirmed through his Weibo account that Sharp will be launching the Aquos S3 on March 28 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is the very same handset that was expected to launch in January this year. The handset has already been certified by regulatory bodies like Taiwan’s NCC and China’s TENAA.

Sharp is one of the first companies to launch full screen design smartphones. The Aquos S3 will be arriving as a successor phone for the Aquos S2 smartphone that was launched last year in August. The S2 was launched as the world’s smallest 5.5-inch mobile phone.

According to Luo, the upcoming Aquos S3 will be arriving as the world’s smallest 6-inch smartphone. He added that the S3 is also the world’s first notch-enabled full-screen phone using TF COF technology. The handset will be deliver a stunning screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent. After getting announced on March 28, the handset will be also debut in Taiwan on April 1.

The above shown launch invitation of the Sharp Aquos S3 shows that the handset will be equipped with a notch like the iPhone X. The leaked photos of the Aquos S3 that have appeared in the past have already revealed that it will be also equipped with vertically arranged dual rear cameras.

The TENAA listing of the smartphone has revealed that it will be arriving with 5.99-inch display. Because of the notch, it may support an aspect ratio of 19:9. The Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660 would be powering the phone. The 64 GB and 128 GB storage models of the phone may respectively feature 4 GB and 6 GB of RAM. For photography, it will be equipped with 13-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual rear cameras and a front-facing camera of 16-megapixel. The handset will be running on Android Nougat OS and it will be arriving with a 3,100mAh battery.

(source)

Xiaomi Expected To Make Official Entry into Portugal Next Week

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 23, 2018

Xiaomi continues to expand its presence in Europe. Not so long after the Chinese firm made an entry into Spain, the company is not set to formally enter Portugal. Xiaomi already has a large following in Portugal and is said to be one of the most sought-after brands in the Southern Europe country. A network of small importers and online stores but the product may be available as early as next week in the country.

According to our source, Xiaomi’s products will be available to buy on official channels from next week and this will come with a warranty, after-sales support, and promotions. Already, the products are said to have arrived distribution centres in Portugal and all logistics are in place to ensure a successful entry.

As for the products that would be available, fans in Portugal should expect to see the Xiaomi Mi A1, Mi Mix 2, Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi 4X, Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 5A, Redmi Note 5A Prime, and Redmi Note 4. These devices are the ones that are confirmed already but there may be other products coming as well. The models from the Chinese manufacturer will be available through retailers, including Worten, Fnac and Media Markt. We must admit, though, that these details have not been officially confirmed by the Chinese tech giant. So all you Mi Portugal fans, don’t get your hopes too high but just keep your eyes wide open when next you visit these stores to see if you’ll find a Mi product on the shelves.

(source)

Honor 7A May Launch with Full Screen Design on March 26

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

On March 21, Huawei had launched the 899 Yuan priced Honor 7C smartphone in China. It seems that the company is gearing up to introduce yet another budget-friendly phone as it has confirmed that it will be announcing a new phone with full screen design on March 26. It is speculated that Huawei’s sub-brand may launch the Honor 7A smartphone next Monday.

The following teasers have been shared by Honor on its official Weibo account. The Weibo post that accompanies it states that the handset would be priced under 1,000 Yuan. The presence of the letter A in the teaser suggest that the company launch the Honor 7A smartphone soon.

Some of the features of the rumored Honor 7A have been already leaked through the above teasers. The images reveal that the handset will be equipped with dual rear cameras, fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth, Face unlock, dual-SIM support, support for up to 256 GB microSD card and Android 8.0 Oreo OS.

Apart from these features, no other information on the specs of the alleged Honor 7A have appeared through the rumor mill. Since the Honor 7C is selling with a pricing of 899 Yuan (~$142), the Honor 7A may cost 999 Yuan (~$158).

(source 1, 2)

Samsung’s Foldable Smartphone Galaxy X Won’t Launch Anytime Soon: Report

By

Jeet

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Mar 23, 2018

We all have heard a lot about Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone — the Samsung Galaxy X. The smartphone, which was rumored to launch soon, is now reportedly not going to launch anytime soon.

Salman Saeed, who’s the product manager of display technology at Qualcomm said in an interview that “we might not see the phone arrive as soon as recent rumors have teased.” He adds that it might be years until something along the lines of the foldable phone similar to the leaked Samsung patents becomes a reality.

The issue behind the delay is said to be related to the fine-tuning of the user experience as well as the durability. Saeed points to the transistors in the display architecture as being the weakest link and says that the components responsible for powering individual pixels “are not flexible enough today” to withstand frequent bending.

Salman Saeed further says that “they [phone manufacturers] haven’t really cracked the material science right now to produce electrodes that can repeatedly withstand bending and folding.”

Last year, in September, Samsung’s mobile chief DJ Koh had confirmed in an interview that the company would launch its first foldable smartphone in 2018. Later, there were reports suggesting that the Galaxy X could be a limited edition device that may only arrive in select markets. The Samsung Galaxy X has reportedly received certification from Wi-Fi Alliance, Bluetooth SIG, and NRRA, which suggested that the phone could soon get launched.

The South Korean giant outed the technology years ago through a demo at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but it seems that little has happened after that. While rumors and comments from Samsung executives have pointed to phone’s launch nearing, the device has failed to materialize so far.

Apart from Samsung, other smartphone OEMs, including Apple and LG are also speculated to be working on a foldable smartphone. However, Samsung could be the first company to debut a foldable phone.

Meanwhile, Samsung is preparing to launch its next flagship smartphone — Galaxy Note 9. Contrary to previous reports, a fresh report from a South Korean publication states that the Note 9 will adopt the in-display fingerprint scanning technology.

(Source)

Vivo V9 Blue Sapphire Images Appear Before Official Listing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

At the launch event of the Vivo V9 in India that was held earlier today, Vivo had confirmed that the Vivo V9 would be available in three color options such as Black, Champagne Gold and Blue Sapphire. The official site has listed the Black and Gold color variants of the V9, but it is yet to reveal the Blue variant. Gizmo China follower Ishan Agarwal had revealed the Vivo V9’s online store listing along with images several weeks before its official announcement. Today, he has shared the leaked images of Blue Sapphire Vivo V9. These images are yet to appear on the official listing of Vivo V9.

As it can be seen in the new images, the Vivo V9 Blue Sapphire has a glossy finish on its rear that gives it a premium appeal. According to Vivo, the Vivo V9 sports a unibody 3D design with glossy finish.

The Vivo V9 features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD notched display like the iPhone X. It supports 19:9 aspect ratio and FHD+ resolution. It is powered by Snapdragon 626 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of 64 GB and it carries support for up to 256 GB microSD card. The has a AI driven selfie camera of 24-megapixel. It has a rear-facing 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear cameras. The backside of the phone is fitted with a fingerprint scanner and it houses a 3,260mAh battery.

The pre-bookings of Vivo V9 have already started in India with a price tag of Rs. 22,990. The shipments of the handset will begin on April 2. Read’s the launch article of the Vivo V9 that contains its entire specs, features and special offers.

What do you think about the Vivo V9? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Galaxy Note 9 Now Rumored to Feature Under Display Fingerprint Sensor

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

Initial rumors of the Galaxy Note 9 had revealed that it would be arriving with under-display fingerprint reader. However, since then multiple reports have claimed that Samsung has canceled the inclusion of advanced biometric recognition feature on the Note 9. Even well-known KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had claimed that the Note 9 will be arriving without in-screen fingerprint reader. However, a fresh report on The Korea Herald, a South Korean publication states that the Note 9 will adopt the in-display fingerprint scanning technology.

An unnamed has source has revealed to the publication that Samsung Display created three to four kinds of in-screen fingerprint scanner solution for the Samsung Electronics. Now both the entities are pondering on using of the one of the solutions. He has further stated that Samsung is yet to decide on the final concept for the Galaxy Note 9 because of the work related to the in-display fingerprint scanner. The company is expected to take a final call on the advanced fingerprint reader within this month.

In the past years, the design of the flagship phone was finalized around five months before its official announcement. The current rumors surrounding the Note 9 indicates that the South Korean company will take lesser time to decide on Note 9’s design. The source has claimed that the Note 9 may launch at the end of August.

Leaked information surrounding the Note 9 suggests that the Note 9’s appearance won’t be very different from the predecessor Galaxy Note 8. Like the Galaxy S9 duo, the Note 9’s Infinity Design is expected to arrive with slightly reduced bezels.

The Galaxy Note 9 is highly anticipated by the industry watchers to arrive with in-display fingerprint reader. Also, the Note 9’s fingerprint scanner is expected to be somewhat different from Chinese rivals like Vivo and the upcoming flagship phone from Huawei (probably not the P20 series). An official from the biometrics solution developer claimed that one of the concerns for Samsung will be low yields of in-screen fingerprint scanner enabled phones as it is difficult to mass produce such phones.

(source)

OnePlus 6 Specifications Leak Reveals 6.28-Inch Display, SD 845 SoC And 3450mAh Battery

By

Jeet

-

Mar 23, 2018

OnePlus is currently gearing up to launch its upcoming flagship smartphone — OnePlus 6. While the phone is still a few months away from making its debut, it has been leaked several times.

Now, a new leak has surfaced online which reveals the upcoming smartphone’s specifications. It reveals that the OnePlus 6 will feature a 6.28-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display with screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels with 18:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, it is expected to be powered by Qualcomm‘s flagship processor — Snapdragon 845 clocked at 2.7GHz, which is powering almost all of the flagship smartphones announced this year. Further, it suggests that the smartphone will pack 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage.

As of the camera department, the rear camera of the OnePlus 6 is said to be consisting of 16-megapixel primary sensor and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor with a f/1.7 aperture on both lenses. The camera specs are exactly the same as the company’s current flagship device — OnePlus 5T. On the front side, the phone will come equipped with a 20-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture.

Coming to the software, it is said that the OnePlus 6 will be running on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own Oxygen OS custom interface on top. In China, instead of Oxygen OS, it will come with Hydrogen OS. The phone will be fuelled by a 3,450mAh battery and we expect that it will support the company’s own fast charging technology — Dash Charging.

Earlier leaks surrounding the OnePlus 6 smartphone claimed that it would be arriving with an aluminum body. Further, several reports suggest that the phone will come with an Apple iPhone X-like notch on the top.

There are some rumors which suggest that OnePlus’ upcoming flagship device may carry support 3D facial recognition, but it won’t be as sophisticated as Face ID on iPhone X. The phone is also expected to carry support for super-fast LTE gigabit connectivity.

While the new specifications leak only lists one variant of the phone with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, the previous leak claimed that the highest configuration model of OP6 will have 8GB RAM with 256GB onboard storage and is expected to be priced at $749.

Looking at the specifications, the OnePlus 6 seems very much similar to the recently launched Oppo R15. It won’t be surprising if the smartphone turns out similar to the Oppo R15 as the OnePlus 5T is also quite similar to the Oppo R11s.

(Source)

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 23, 2018

Huawei is now aggressively marketing the P20 and P20 Pro smartphones ahead of the official launch event that is held on March 27. The Chinese manufacturer has parked trucks installed with P20 promotional billboards right outside the stores of Apple and Samsung in some of the major cities of the U.K. including the capitol city of London.

Also, through street graffiti on the pavement outside stores of its rivaling companies, Huawei is driving the focus of the people towards the arrival of P20 and P20 Pro. One of the lines sprayed on the street reads “the renaissance is coming.” One of the ads placed on the trucks read, “a renaissance in photography is coming soon” accompanied by big-sized words like “wait” or “be patient” with AI in those words mentioned in red color to indicate that the cameras of the P20 series will rely on AI to capture impressive shots.

The Huawei P20 series includes P20, P20 Pro and P20 Lite. Since the P20 Lite is a mid-range phone, the Chinese manufacturer has already launched it separately. The upcoming launch event is reserved only for the unveiling of P20 and P20 Pro. Recent reports have revealed that P20 will be arriving with Leica engineered 12-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual rear cameras. It is speculated that one of them could be a f/1.7 aperture lens.

The Huawei P20 Pro will be blessed with triple-lens system that is expected to include a 40-megapixel RBG sensor, a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor. With AI onboard, the P20 duo will be able to capture stunning shots in low-light conditions. Both the phones are also rumored to arrive with support for slow-motion video shooting. Some of the photos that were shot using the Huawei P20 have also surfaced in the recent past to reveal its photography prowess. The P20 and P20 Pro may feature the same Sony IMX578 24-megapixel front-facing camera.

(source|via)

Buy Vkworld T2 Plus Smartphone For Only $199.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get 33% Off On Vkworld T2 Plus Smartphone On Banggood

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

Vivo V9 Specifications and Features

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pricing and Availability

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

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

By

Jeet

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Jeet

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Source)

HTC U12 Plus Concept Render — HTC U12 Plus Concept

MIUI 9.5 Global Stable ROM Is Coming To 30 Xiaomi Smartphones

By

Jeet

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Source)

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

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 23, 2018

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

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

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

Elephone S8 4G Phablet – Blue

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

Elephone S8 4G Phablet – Red

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

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

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

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