Xiaomi Smart Body Scale Solar Terms Customised Version Coming, Photo Leaks

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Feb 6, 2018

Xiaomi’s Yunmai Smart Body Scale is about getting a new edition whose photo has leaked. The new edition is a Solar Terms edition of the smart body scale. The new edition is likely being positioned to usher in the Chinese Lunar new year and that is depicted in the name it is called.

The Mi Smart Body Scale Solar Term customized edition is going to have the same shape as the regular versions but from the photo, we can be that this new version will have a design which takes the pattern Solar Terms. The color is also improved upon as this version looks more attractive, packing a light pink color, unlike the regular versions that came in all-white color.

The upcoming custom edition will likely come with the same features as the regular versions. Recall that Xiaomi first announced the Yunmai Good Light Mini 2 Smart Body Scale around March 2017 and it was an instant hit as a result of the fitness packages it comes with. The success of the first model prompted the tech giant to launch yet another model with WiFi connectivity. The WiFi version packs the same functions with the first model but gives users the option of connecting the gadget to the smartphone app via either Bluetooth or WiFi. Both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth versions come with an ultra-white tempered glass panel which was given an anti-skid treatment so you wouldn’t have to be scared of stepping on the scale with wet feet. The Smart scale is also equipped with high-definition LED display, electrode sensing film with 304 stainless steel and has anti-rust properties. The scale is powered using three AA batteries which can last up to a year without dying. With WiFi connectivity, the battery may die faster especially when the internet connectivity isn’t strong or stable.

(source)

Sony Xperia X And X Compact Updated To Android Oreo With January Security Patch

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 5, 2018

Sony has always been one of the first companies to update their handsets to the latest version of the operating system by Google. After announcing two years of software support for its flagships, the Japanese company has started seeding the update to Android Oreo on the midrangers, Sony Xperia X and Xperia X Compact. The update comes more than three months after the flagship from the same series (Xperia X Performance) started receiving the OTA notification. The update brings the build number to 34.4.A.0.364 and Android to the version 8.0.0.

Further, the update contains the security patch from the month of January, which is the latest security patch released by Google. Sony Xperia X is getting the update in both its single SIM and dual SIM versions (global), which are identified by the codes F5121 and F5122. The X Compact F5321 global version is updating as well, but there is still no info about the U.S. version of the Sony Xperia X and the Japanese version of the Xperia X Compact. The update weighs about 1.2 GB and, besides the new features and improvements of Android Oreo, it also brings some exclusive improvements.

Among these, there are the “Reminders”, described as useful notification for unfinished tasks such as email in drafts and unfinished messages. There is a new feature called Xperia Actions which auto-suggests settings based on the user’s usage. The App Shortcuts have been re-designed and it is possible to access quick actions by long-tapping on them. Smart text selection and autofill for forms have been added as well. Also, among the most interesting features of Android 8 Oreo, Sony Xperia X and X Compact are receiving the picture-in-picture mode which allows opening an app as a small floating window on the screen.

(Via)

HTC U12 Reportedly Appears in Real Skin

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Rumors have it that the successor of the HTC U11 will be launching as HTC U12. A recent report has claimed that the Taiwanese company has no plans to unveil the HTC U12 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech expo that will take place at the end of this month. During the recently held in the inaugural conference of the Taiwan 5G Industry Alliance, HTC had showed couple of unannounced HTC phones and VR devices. It is speculated that one of them could be the HTC U12 flagship smartphone.

According to well-known leakster Evan Blass, the mysterious flagship phone seen in the video below is none other than the upcoming HTC U12 flagship that is codenamed as HTC Imagine. Even the smartphone was kept on display for viewing, the company had covered its top and bottom portions. The side bezels of the smartphone appear non-existent.

Like the HTC U11+, the HTC U12 may feature a 6-inch display that supports 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset that brings along X20 LTE modem that is capable of reaching download speeds of 1.2 Gbps. At the 5G event, the handset was spotted producing download speeds of 809.58.

According to a Taiwanese publication, HTC said that its new flagship phone would be unveiled sometime this year. The company refrained from revealing the name of the phone. There is a possibility that the handset may arrive in the market with a different moniker.

Source 1, 2

Mysterious Honor Smartphone with Quad Cameras Spotted on TENAA

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

An unidentified Honor smartphone with model number LND-AL30 has appeared on TENAA. As of this writing, there is no information available on the specifications of the smartphone. However, the design of the smartphone has been revealed through the images that have surfaced on TENAA. It is speculated that it could be toned down edition of the Honor 7X mid-range phone.

The handset can be seen sporting a metallic rear panel. The rear side of the phone features a dual camera setup along with its LED flash and a fingerprint scanner. The frontside of the phone also features dual cameras. The major portion of the front panel is mainly occupied by the display. Since the screen appears elongated, it appears to be featuring an 18:9 aspect ratio supporting display.

Since the specifications of the LND-AL30 are not known, it is not easy to guess on the exact model. The Chinese regulatory is likely to add the specs of the LND-AL30 Honor phone in the near future. There is a possibility that the watered-down model of the Honor 7X may arrive in the market as Honor 7C Pro or Honor V10 Play.

Do you think the Honor LND-AL30 will be launching as Honor 7C Pro or something else? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

(source)

Ulefone Power 3S Goes On Pre-Sale With A Huge 6350 mAh Battery And Facial Recognition

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 5, 2018

After confirming the launch of the world’s first Helio P70 phone (T2 Pro) at MWC 2018, Ulefone has announced another interesting mid-ranger and it has made it available for an official pre-sale: we are referring to Ulefone Power 3S, a more affordable but also an upgraded variant of the Power 3. The most important feature of this handset is the presence of a very big battery: according to the company, with a capacity of 6350 mAh (bigger than the one of the Power 3), this phone can provide four days of battery life on a single charge.

The battery also has fast charging support (5V / 3A) which allows you to fully recharge it in just 120 minutes, that is quick for such a huge battery. But let’s also talk about other specs, since they are interesting as well if we consider the price of the pre-sale. Ulefone Power 3S sports a full metal unibody design and a big 6-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio that can show images at a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. Under the hood, there is an octa-core MediaTek Helio P23 SoC which can run at a frequency of 2 GHz, paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage.

Besides the battery capacity, the RAM is the only important difference between Ulefone Power 3 and 3S: the first has 6 GB of RAM, but it was also launched with a more expensive price tag. Ulefone Power 3S has a total of 4 cameras: a dual camera setup at the back with resolutions of 16 and 5 MP, and a dual camera for selfies with 13 + 5 MP resolutions.The front cameras can also be used for facial recognition in order to unlock the phone without the aid of the fingerprint reader, which is placed on the back side. Ulefone Power 3S is on pre-sale at GearBest with a discounted price tag of just $169.99 (the original price is $229.99).

Rumor: OnePlus X2 In Development With Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM [UPDATED]

By

Michele Ingelido

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Feb 5, 2018

Update: The CEO Carl Pei has denied what rumors suggested through a post on Twitter, there is not any OnePlus X2 in the making. You can see the post below:

Nope. 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/hsFBhDFZ8J

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) 6 febbraio 2018

OnePlus ditched the X series back in 2016 after releasing just one model, in order to focus exclusively on flagship smartphones. It seems to have been a great choice if we consider the huge success of the OnePlus 5 and 5T. But according to latest rumors, something new is in the works this year, apart from the OP5T successor.

Some new voices are suggesting that the company is going to bring back the X-series by releasing a new device: OnePlus X2. According to the new rumors, OnePlus X2 will be officially announced after the OnePlus 6 and it will be a cheaper alternative rocking an octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC. Someone is already speculating that, even though the OP5T’s sales have probably gone well, the company has a surplus of SD835 chipsets to use, and the X2 would be the perfect solution to use these SoCs.

The other specs of the OnePlus X2 are rumored to include 4 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage depending on the variant that you will choose to buy. The handset is rumored to sport a classic 5.5-inch 16:9 display, a 16 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front snapper with Face Unlock and a 3000 mAh battery. The phone will allegedly be priced from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 17,000. So, it is expected to be a mid-ranger, placed alongside its flagship model, the OnePlus 6. Launch could be after the OP6, but we can’t be sure.

Of course, this is just a rumor at this point, so make sure to take this with a pinch of salt. If the phone really does exist, it won’t be shy to show up in a few renders and leaks before launch.

(Source)

Xiaomi Starts Rolling Out Final MIUI 9.2 For The Redmi 1s And Redmi Note

By

Jeet

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Feb 5, 2018

Xiaomi, the China-based startup has now started rolling out the final update of MIUI 9.2 to the Redmi 1s and Redmi Note. The company has announced that this will be the last update for the devices, which were launched in 2014 and 2015.

The devices, for which this is the last update, include Redmi 1s, Redmi 2/Prime, Redmi Note/Prime. Prior to this MIUI 9.2 update, these devices were running MIUI 8.5 which was released around six months ago. Instead of MIUI 9, the company is directly rolling out MIUI 9.2.

The update is still based on Android KitKat and not the latest Android Oreo version. Thus, several features of the MIUI 9 such as App Vault will now be available on these devices. The major highlights of this latest update include Interactive and Fresh user interface changes, along with a new Gallery App, Calendar Cards, App Vault, Mi Video App, as well as an all-new Mi Explorer.

The new version for Redmi 1S is MIUI 9.2.2.0.KHCMIEK while the Redmi Note is receiving MIUI 9.2.2.0.KHIMIEK and Redmi Note Prime is getting MIUI 9.2.3.0.KHKMIEK. The update is around 150-200 MB in size, but the security patch on all three devices doesn’t get updated and the devices are still running older October 2016 security patch.

According to the company, the update is currently rolling out in phases and is expected to be rolled out to all users by the end of the week. If you haven’t received the update yet, you can also flash it manually by downloading the Redmi 1S MIUI 9.2 update zip file from here. For the complete changelog, check this link.

Recently, the company started rolling out the nightly build of the MIUI 9.2 for the Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime. Xiaomi usually releases Stable Nightly updates to random users to get feedback and the same update is rolled out to all users as a Stable build if feedback goes well.

Lava Red OnePlus 5T Goes Global, Sale Begins Tomorrow

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 5, 2018

Just as we predicted yesterday, OnePlus has globally launched the Lava Red variant of the OnePlus 5T. The new color variant is now available in all countries excluding Australia.

The Lava Red OnePlus 5T will sell for €559 in Europe, £499 in the UK, and $559 in the US. Sales begins tomorrow at exactly 10:00 AM (local time for all countries). Do remember that this variant comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

It is easy to see that OnePlus has planned the global release in time for Valentine’s Day. It has even released a sweet video ad that features American actress Emily Ratajkowski, for the love-themed phone.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er5YJbd3N5w[/embedyt]

If you pre-order the Lava Red OnePlus 5T before February 9, OnePlus says they will make it a priority order just so you can get your device in time.

If you already own the OnePlus 5T or don’t even plan on buying one, OnePlus is offering some Valentine’s Day deals on its other products. Since the celebration is for lovers, the deals are for two items.

Continue

Meet The FiiO M7: An Exynos 7270-Powered HiFi Music Player

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 5, 2018

FiiO is a Chinese company established in 2007 that manufactures audio equipment. It is best known for its portable HiFi music players but also makes amplifiers, earphones, and DACs. Its latest Hi-Fi audio player is the FiiO M7 and it is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 7270 processor.

One of Samsung’s aim for this year is to get its Exynos chipsets into more devices and it appears phones are not the only devices it has in mind. The 14nm Exynos 7270 belongs to the Exynos 7 Dual series and is an example of Samsung’s SiP-ePoP (Sip: System-in-Package, ePoP: embedded Package on Package).

What this means is that the processor also includes the memory DRAM and eMMC and power management IC. All these are crammed into a 10 x 10mm frame with a 30% reduction in size and 20% more power efficiency over previous generation chips.

The processor was actually designed for smartwatches so as to provide longer life without increasing the battery capacity and making the watch thicker. Now it has found its way into an audio player.

The FiiO M7 has a 3.2” 480 x 800 display. The processor is clocked at 1.0GHz with 2GB of storage. There is a microSD expansion slot that lets you add an extra 512GB of storage.

The audio player has a ES9018Q2C DAC, LDAC, and has support for DSD audio. It also has FM radio and USB audio support. For connectivity, there is a USB-C port and Bluetooth 4.2 (aptX and aptX-HD).

Continue

Sony Xperia L2 With 5.5-Inch Display And 3GB RAM Launched In India For Rs. 19,990

By

Jeet

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Feb 5, 2018

Sony Xperia L2, the entry-level phone from the company which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show last month in Las Vegas, has now been launched in India. The phone makes its way to India after going on sale in the UK and the United States.

The phone comes with a 5.5-inch HD display with 1280 x 720 pixels screen resolution. Under the hood, it is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737T processor, coupled with Mali-T720MP2 GPU, 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.

There’s a support for expanding the storage capacity on the device up to 256GB using a microSD card. The phone features a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4 aperture and 120-degree super wide-angle lens.

The Xperia L2 features a fingerprint sensor on the back panel, same as XA2-series. Connectivity options on the device include Dual SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS / A-GPS, NFC and USB Type-C port.

The phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and is fuelled by a 3,300mAh non-removable battery that comes with Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology.

In India, the Sony Xperia L2 will be available in two color options — Black and Gold, for a price of Rs. 19,990. It is already available from retail stores across India.

There’s a lot of competition in the entry-level and budget segment in India and compared to other offerings, Sony’s Xperia L2 seems quite expensive. The phone has been made available in the United States for $249.99 (approx. Rs. 16,000) and 199 Pounds (approx. Rs. 17,900) in the UK.

Vivo V7+ Infinite Red Limited Edition Launched In India For Rs. 22,990

By

Jeet

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Feb 5, 2018

Vivo, the China-based smartphone manufacturer has partnered with designer Manish Malhotra to launch Vivo V7+ Infinite Red Limited Edition phone in India, targeted towards millennials across the country.

Apart from the red-colored body, there is also a heart-shaped motif on the back panel, which is designed by Manish Malhotra. The phone will be available for purchase through Amazon India as well as offline stores across the nation, for a price of Rs. 22,990.

Commenting on the announcement, Kenny Zeng, CMO, Vivo India, said in a statement:

With the launch of V7+ Manish Malhotra Limited edition, we are providing an opportunity for consumers to express their love in a more elegant and captivating manner.

The Vivo V7+ is company’s first phone that comes with an 18:9 aspect ratio with ‘Full View’ display. It sports a 5.99-inch IPS display with screen resolution f 1440 x 720 pixels.

Under the hood, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. There’s also a microSD card slot, enabling users to further expand the storage capacity up to 256GB.

The phone is fitted with 24-megapixel Moonlight selfie camera that features a LED flash, a customized 1/2.78 image sensor and f/2.0 aperture. Even with 4x zoom, the selfie shots carry all the details. The rear camera side features a f/2.0 aperture 16-megapixel rear camera with PDAF and optimized algorithm. It is capable of capturing of 64-megapixel Ultra HD photos with top notch clarity.

There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for added security. Running on the Android Nougat operating system based FunTouch OS 3.2, the Vivo V7+ is powered by a 3,225mAh battery.

While the standard Vivo V7+ was launched in India a few months ago for Rs. 21,990, this Vivo V7+ Infinite Red Limited Edition model is priced at Rs. 22,990.

Xiaomi Mi 6X Leaked Image Showing Metallic Rear Hints Production in Full Swing

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Leaked photos and renders of the rumored Xiaomi Mi 6X as well as the leaked images of its cases have all revealed a lot of about its design. A fresh photo showing the grey-colored metallic rear has appeared to once again reveal its design. Since the image shows numerous rear shells, it seems that the company may have started the production of the alleged Mi 6X phone.

The image seems to be a screengrab of a leaked video. It shows that the iPhone-X style vertical dual camera setup sitting on the top-left corner. The gray/silver colored back panel also features a fingerprint scanner. Rumors have claimed that the Mi 6X will be featuring Xiaomi’s upcoming Surge S2 chipset. It is speculated that the Surge S2 in-house chipset may get unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech trade show.

This indicates that the launch of the smartphone could be drawing near. Also, the presence of numerous metallic rear panels indicate that the company could be gearing up for the unveiling of the phone. However, there is no concrete evidence to confirm whether the Mi 6X will be arriving soon as the Xiaomi Mi 5X was unveiled in July last year.

As far as other specs of the phone are concerned, the Mi 6X is likely to arrive with Full HD+ resolution display supporting of around 6 inches. Apart from the gray/silver color variant, the Mi 6X is also rumored to arrive in matte black color.

(source)

Nokia 7 Plus Images Confirm Leaked Specs

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 5, 2018

Yesterday, specification details of the Nokia 7 Plus were leaked online. Today, images of the device have also surfaced, confirming those specs.

The pictures are not the sharpest when it comes to leaks but they are clear enough to make out key details. HMD Global seems to be going for a similar design as the 2nd-gen Nokia 6 based on the color accents we can see around the camera, fingerprint scanner, and metal frame.

One of the photos show a clear view of the 6” FHD+ display. The bezels are still there but the lower one is slightly smaller than that of the Nokia 7. There are no buttons on the front (capacitive or physical), so on-screen buttons are the way to go.

The Nokia 7 Plus sports dual rear cameras (12MP +13MP) with Zeiss lenses and 2x zoom and dual pixel technology. The cameras are also raised. The front camera is a 16MP f/2.0 sensor with beauty mode. There is also slow motion and Nokia’s signature “bothie” for taking pictures or recording videos with both cameras at the same time.

Continue

ZUI 3.5 Update Brings Android 8.0 Oreo To ZUK Z2 and ZUK Edge

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 5, 2018

A few weeks ago, ZUK released the ZUI 3.5 update for the ZUK Z2 Pro. The update brought Android 8.0 Oreo to the device along with some other features and bug fixes. Now the update is rolling out to owners of the ZUK Z2 and ZUK Edge.

The ZUK Z2 originally launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow but has now gotten two major OS upgrades. The Snapdragon 820-powered device is one of the few phones ZUK released in its short duration as a smartphone manufacturer.

The ZUK Edge on the other hand ran Android Nougat out of the box. It is however unknown if this will be the final update for the Snapdragon 821 device or if it will get updated to Android P.

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Alleged Meizu E3’s Front View Leaked in New Image

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Meizu E3 is an upcoming smartphone from the company. It is expected to succeed Meizu E2 from last year. A leaked image showing the back panel of the Meizu E3 had revealed that the smartphone would be arriving with a different design compared to its predecessor. Today, a new image of the smartphone has appeared to reveal its front view.

In the above image, the Meizu E3 seems to feature a full screen design. This suggests that the handset will be supporting an aspect ratio of 18:9. The corners of the Meizu M6S are more rounded than the device shown in the above image. Hence, the above image does not seem to belong to the Meizu M6S.

The bottom portion of the handset has an on-screen Super mBack button that was first introduced on the Meizu M6S phone. The image also shows a portion of the back panel. The placement of the rear camera cannot be seen in the new image.

The image that had surfaced in the last week had shown the Meizu E3 would be blessed with vertically arranged dual rear cameras. Below the camera module it features the ring-LED flash. This suggests that it won’t be featuring horizontally arranged quad-LED flash unit that was introduced on the Meizu E2. Like the Meizu M6S and the rumored Meizu 15 Plus, the upcoming Meizu E3’s fingerprint sensor will be integrated under the Power button.

As of this writing, the specifications of the Meizu E3 are under the wraps. Even though rumors have claimed that the Meizu has ditched MediaTek, it has been recently confirmed by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer that it will continue to use MediaTek SoCs Some sources have claimed may be powered by the upcoming MediaTek Helio P70 or Helio P40 chipset. It is speculated that the Chinese manufacturer will launch the Meizu E3 in March this year with a pricing of around 1,299 Yuan (~$206).

(source)

Is This The Huawei P20 With An iPhone X-Like Notch?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 5, 2018

Huawei has moved past the failure of its inability to sell its Mate 10 Pro flagship via carriers in the US. Its focus is now on its next flagship, the Huawei P20. Photos alleged to be that of the upcoming flagship surfaced online yesterday, giving us our first look at the device.

The first thing that draws your attention is the notch at the top of the display. When we first heard that Huawei was going to release a phone with a notch just like the iPhone X, we were surprised since Huawei is not known to shamelessly copy designs. Even if it did in the past, now that it is one of the top companies in the world, that shouldn’t be happening.

The notch isn’t as big as that of the iPhone X’ but it houses the front camera, earpiece, and sensors just like it does. We can’t see the lower half of the device, so we can’t tell if it has a physical home button/fingerprint scanner. It doesn’t seem to be at the back even though the middle is blurred out.

On the rear, there are two dual cameras arranged horizontally and in a slightly raised housing. This is different from the schematics we have seen which say the Huawei P20 series will have triple cameras in various arrangements.

[envira-gallery id=”171629″]

There are reports that this may be the Lite version that’s why it is missing the triple camera feature. Nevertheless, there are some things we noticed that makes us think this may not be the Huawei P20 or even a Huawei phone for that matter.

First, the buttons are not in Huawei’s style. This phone has three buttons on the right. Its safe to say two are for volume controls while the third is the power button. Huawei doesn’t use separate buttons for volume control, even for its entry level devices and we don’t think it is about to change that now.

If you also look at the position of the network bars, they are on the left. For Huawei, the network bar is always on the right while operator name(s) is on the left.

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OPPO F5 Sidharth Limited Edition Arrives India in Dashing Blue, Priced at Rs 19,990

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 5, 2018

OPPO has unveiled a new variant of the OPPO F5 in India and it is a customised edition with a dashing blue paint job. The OPPO F5 Sidharth Limited Edition is named after the company’s brand ambassador and celebrated actor – Sidharth Malhotra who unveiled the handset himself during the event held the previous Saturday.

The new Dashing Blue variant of the OPPO F5 comes as the fourth colour variant the F5 would be available in. The device already has a Gold, Black and Red variants but the stylish blue hue stands out from the others and has a similar price tag as the other variants- Rs 19,990 (around $311). The new limited edition will be available exclusively online on Amazon India on February 8 and would arrive in stores across India on February 9. Since it is a limited edition, it would likely be available in limited quantities.

The OPPO F5 was first announced in October last year with a full view display design. The new version apart from coming in Dashing Blue has the same specs lineup with the previous models. The F5 features a 6-inch Full HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, a 16MP rear-facing camera with large f/1.8 aperture and a 20MP front snapper with f/2.0 aperture for selfies. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio P23 octa-core chipset, paired with 4GB RAM while there is 32GB onboard storage with an option to expand further using microSD cards. There is also a 3,200mAh battery and the Android 7.1 Nougat-based ColorOS 3.2 provides the interface. The F5 also feature a fingerprint scanner at the back of the phone and an ultra-fast Face Unlock feature to serve as an alternative to unlocking the smartphone.

Xiaomi to Launch New Product on February 14 in India; May Debut Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Prime

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Xiaomi had launched the Redmi Note 4 as its first 2017 device in India. It went on to become one of the bestselling Xiaomi phones in the country. Since it met with overwhelming response in India, Xiaomi was expected to debut the successor of Redmi Note 4 in January this year. However, the company did not unveil any new device in India in the previous month. Today, the company has confirmed on Xiaomi India Twitter account that it will be launching its device for 2018 on Feb.14.

Xiaomi had launched the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones in China in December last year. The company had been launching Redmi Note series smartphones each year, but the company did not launch Redmi Note 5 last year in China.

The Redmi series of smartphones have always featured 5-inch display whereas the Redmi Note lineup have featured 5.5-inch screen. Since the Redmi 5 and 5 Plus smartphones are respectively packed with 5.7-inch and 5.99-inch display, rumors that emerged from China after the launch of Redmi 5 series claimed that Xiaomi has no plans to launch Redmi Note 5 in the home country.

However, a newer report has claimed that since Redmi Note 4 met huge popularity in India, the company may launch the Redmi 5 Plus as Redmi Note 5 in India. This seems to be possible because the Redmi Y1 Lite and Redmi Y1 that are available in India were respectively launched as Redmi Note 5A and Note 5A Prime in China.

The launch teaser of the first 2018 device for India does not clearly mention whether the company will be launching Redmi 5 Plus or Redmi Note 5 smartphone on Feb. 14. There is a possibility that the company may launch Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones respectively as Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Prime.

The full screen design Redmi Note 5 may come with specs like HD+ resolution, Snapdragon 450, 2GB / 3GB RAM options, 16 GB / 32 GB storage sizes, 12-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera and 3,300mAh battery. on the other side, the Redmi Note 5 Prime may include FHD+ resolution supporting screen, Snapdragon 625 chipset, 3 GB / 4 GB RAM variants, 32 GB / 64 GB storage models, 12-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera and 4,000mAh battery.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Launch Imminent as Mi MIX 2 8GB Ceramic Model Gets A Massive Price Cut!

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Recent reports have suggested that Xiaomi will be debuting the Mi MIX 2S flagship smartphone instead of the Mi 7 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 later this month. The arrival of the Mi MIX S seems to be imminent as the Chinese manufacturer has slashed the price of the Mi MIX 2 by 800 Yuan (~$127).

In China, the Ceramic edition of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is now available with a discount of 800 Yuan over its regular price of 4,699 Yuan (`$745). What could be the reason behind the new price cut? Discounts are usually introduced for two reasons, the first one is if the smartphone is encountering poor sales and the second one is when the company is planning to launch a newer model. Since the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 has gone out of stock quite often on the official website, it seems that the recent discount has been introduced to clear its existing stock as the arrival of Mi MIX 2S could be drawing near.

Rumors are rife that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S will be coming with a full screen design. Some of the leaked photos of the smartphone have suggested that it may arrive with notch like the iPhone X. This may allow the phone to support a higher screen-to-body ratio than the Mi MIX 2.

It is expected to debut as the first Snapdragon 845 chipset phone from the company. The SoC is likely to be accompanied by 8 GB of RAM. The rear side of the phone that is rumored to be made out of ceramic may sport a single camera lens. Previous leaks have claimed that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S will be carrying a price tag of 4,000 Yuan (~$635). As far as the launch of the Mi 7 is concerned, recent reports have claimed that the company may debut it in April or May.

(Source)

Nokia 8 Sirocco Major Leak Reveals Key Specs

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2018

Samsung, Xiaomi and Sony are expected to debut Snapdragon 845 driven flagship smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech expo later this month HMD Global has also confirmed that it will be present at MWC 2018 on Feb. 26 to unleash new devices. A recent report had revealed that the Finnish firm had recently trademarked the Nokia 8 Sirocco moniker. Fresh information reveals that the smartphone will be fueled by Snapdragon 845 and it may get unveiled at the forthcoming tech trade fair.

Previous reports have revealed that the HMD Global is working on 2018 edition of Nokia 8. In 2006, Nokia had launched the Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone. It is speculated that the upcoming Nokia 8 variant will be a tribute the 8800 Sirocco. The trademark filing had revealed that the model number of this upcoming Nokia phone is TA-1005. Leaked information reveals that the Snapdragon 845 chipset will be present under the hood of the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The SoC will be coupled with 6 GB of RAM.

Like the original Nokia 8 from last year, the Nokia 8 Sirocco is expected to house a dual camera setup. It is likely to include ZEISS certified 12-megapixel sensor and 13-megapixel sensor. It is expected to arrive with a selfie camera of 5-megapixel. The smartphone is expected to arrive with IP67 certified dustproof and waterproof chassis.

It may house a 3,250mAh battery that will be equipped with wireless charging. The exact size of the screen is not known and there is no confirmation on whether it will be supporting 18:9 aspect ratio. Instead of the LCD panel available on the original Nokia 8, the upcoming Sirocco model may arrive with an OLED panel. Rumors also claim that it will be carrying a price tag of 5,000 Yuan (`$793).

Not only the Nokia 8 Sirocco, but also other phones such as Nokia 9, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6 (2018) global edition, Nokia 4, Nokia 1 and Nokia 3310 4G global variant are likely to get announced at MWC 2018. As far as the abovementioned specifications of the Nokia 8 Sirocco are concerned, we advise to take this report with a pinch of salt.

(source)