The Nubia V18 Is A Better Looking Nubia N3 With A Smaller Battery

By

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Mar 22, 2018

ZTE’s sub-brand, Nubia, has taken the wraps off its latest phone – the Nubia V18. Juts a few weeks ago, it released the Nubia N3, a mid-range phone with a 5000mAh battery. The new V18 can be summarized as a better-looking Nubia N3 with a smaller battery and cheaper price tag.

Nubia V18 Design

The Nubia V18 has a metal back with a U-design antenna line. While it does look like it sports dual rear cameras, it is actually a single sensor. The signature red accent is also present and there is a rear mounted fingerprint scanner.

The front has reduced top and bottom bezels and those on the sides are quite thin. The phone comes in Stone Black, Space Gold, and Nebula red.

Nubia V18 Specs

The Nubia V18 has a 6.01” FHD+ display and an 86.25% screen-to-body ratio. Thankfully, it doesn’t have a notch, so the aspect ratio remains 18:9. Nubia has settled for the Snapdragon 625 processor just like in the recently announced N3. There is also 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage (128GB max.).

A 13MP f/2.2 sensor with PDAF is the main camera on the device and an 8MP f/2.0 80° wide-angle sensor is in front for selfies. There are up to ten different selfie beauty enhancements in addition to NeoVision 7.0 which brings some extra modes.

Nubia has also “sprinkled some AI” on the V18. Who doesn’t today? So there is an assistant that should help set reminders, take notes, and the likes, and AI algorithms for taking better pictures.

The 5,000mAh battery from the N3 has been cut down to 4,000mAh which should last up to 2 days according to the manufacturer. You can also use the phone to charge other devices and there is NeoPower 3.0 for fast charging and battery management. The Nubia V18 runs Nubia UI 5.1 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. It is said to be specially customized for the phone.

The phone has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner but Nubia says an update will bring Face Unlock to the device. There is a Micro-USB port at the bottom and a 3.5mm audio jack at the top. It also has a dedicated mute button on the left.

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Samsung’s New 10nm Exynos 9610 SoC Comes With Deep Learning Face Detection

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 22, 2018

Samsung has just announced a new Exynos 7 Octa series processor, the Exynos 9610. The new SoC brings deep learning based multimedia features including advanced image processing as well as 480fps slo-mo video recording on premium smartphones.

The Exynos 9610 features 4 x Cortex A73 cores clocked at 2.3GHz and 4 x Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.6GHz in big.LITTLE architecture. For GPU, you get the second-generation Bifrost-based ARM Mali-G72. The chip boasts of a new neural network engine that works with vision and image processing for enhanced face detection. The advanced face detection feature can recognise a person even when his or her face is not directly facing the camera or is partially covered by things like a hat. Further, thanks to its smart depth sensing, it supports single camera bokeh shots. The chip also comes with a low power sensor hub based on Cortex M4F for features that require always on sensing such as gesture recognition.

Another highlight of the new Exynos 9610 is its support for 480fps FHD slo-mo videos. Thanks to its ISP that’s 1.6x faster and 2x faster MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) which connects to the image sensor, the chip can encode slo-mo videos even on a two stack image sensor. Other important features include Cat. 12 3x CA with up to 600Mbps downlink and 150Mbps uplink, Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 ac 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi support, and a 4-node GNSS receiver.

Meizu M6s Cobalt Blue — Meizu M6S With Exynos 7872 Inside

Samsung says that it’ll mass produce the Exynos 9610 in the second half of 2018. Companies like Meizu could be one of the customers looking to get hold of this chipset for its premium smartphone lineup. Meizu already unveiled an Exynos powered mid-ranger earlier this year (the Meizu M6S), so it won’t be surprising to see this chip end up on a Meizu flagship later this year.

(Source)

Lenovo S5 Hands On Photos: Cool Design, Cheap Pricing But SoC Disappoints

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 22, 2018

Lenovo finally took the wraps off the much-anticipated Lenovo S5 in China a few days back. The S5 was touted to be a Redmi Note 5 killer when it is launched but we can comfortably say that wouldn’t be the case. The device comes with a sleek design and that is why we took time out to bring you these hands-on photos of the sleek device. Apart from that, the device doesn’t really tick much of the boxes in terms of its specs.

The Lenovo S5 is powered by the now too common Snapdragon 625 chipset which should be Qualcomm’s most-used mid-range chipset by now. We expected a newer SoC onboard the device but that didn’t happen. The device also comes with an ample 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM on some models. There are also 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage variants. While the smartphone gets its juice from a 3000mAH battery as against 4,000mAh battery crammed inside the Redmi Note 5.

Design wise, the Lenovo S5 features an all-metal body that is made out of series 6000 aluminium. The handset sports a smooth appeal since the metallic body is created by through 7 CNC processes, nano-injection moulding followed by grinding, sandblasting, diamond trimming and anodizing. The device also sports a 5.7-inch IPS LCD display arranged in an 18:9 aspect ratio and packing an FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080p.

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 onbaord the S5 includes Lenovo’s ZUI 4.0 OS based on Android Oreo enabled for U-touch screen gestures and a USB Type-C port for charging and datat transfer.

In addition to the Black colour variant on display here, the Lenovo S5 also comes in a cool Red variant. The device will go on sale on March 23 but reservation is already on. As for the prices, the 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage model of the Lenovo S5 is priced at 999 Yuan (~$157). The 3 GB RAM + 64 GB storage variant costs 1,199 Yuan (~$189). The highest configuration model featuring 4 GB RAM + 128 GB storage carries a pricing of 1,499 Yuan (~$236).

(source)

ZTE Axon M9 Flagship Arriving in September to Regain ZTE’s Popularity in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Updated Mar 23, 2018

ZTE Corporation held a press conference in Beijing, China earlier today to announce the establishment of a new subsidiary called ZTE Intelligent Terminal Co. Ltd (also known as ZTE Terminal China) to carry independent operations in its home country. Cheng Lixin, who is the Senior VP of ZTE Corporation and CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices, will be serving as the chairman of the ZTE Terminal China while Bai Boren will be its president. At the press conference, he also revealed that the Axon M9 is the next flagship phone from the company.

The year 2018 marks the 20^th anniversary of ZTE Mobile. The popularity of the brand has declined in the Chinese market in the recent years. Last year, the company had ranked eighth in the global smartphone market. According to Lixin, the major reason for this decline is its lack of focus on the Chinese market. Earlier, the ZTE was shipping more devices in China than overseas market, but its sales began to decline as the competition increased.

Moreover, the smartphone market in China encountered a year-on-year decline of 0.4 percent in 2017. GfK market research firm had previously forecasted that the China’s mobile phone market in 2018 will achieve annual retail sales of 449 million units — a 4 percent year-on year decline. It is speculated that the Chinese smartphone market may further decline in the next two years. However, ZTE is seeing this as an opportunity to grow in the home market.

According to Boren, after establishing the ZTE Terminal China, the parent company will make more investments in its Chinese wing. ZTE will be providing it with products, channels, brands, talents and all kinds of support to expand and promote ZTE mobile phone brand in China. Lixin has done a lot of research and met with many industry experts to completely understand the domestic phone market. He aims to make ZTE a mainstream brand in the domestic market within three years. He added that the ZTE Terminal China will have no direct relationship with Nubia as it will be functioning independently.

Lixin also confirmed that the ZTE Terminal China will be launching the Axon M9 flagship phone in September this year. The handset will be aimed towards the high-end market. However, he did not reveal any information on the specifications of the Axon M9 flagship.

Given the M series branding and launch timing, the M9 could be the successor of the Axon M foldable smartphone. Or it could be an entirely new model. It seems that starting with Axon M9, ZTE Terminal China would be working on regaining the popularity of the brand in domestic market.

(Source)

Xiaomi’s Official Video Teases the Mi Mix 2S AI Face Unlock Feature – Smart Unlock!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 22, 2018

In addition to the Pacific Rim-themed teaser which showcased the front view of the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi also released a second video teaser projecting the capabilities of the AI face unlock the device will feature. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is turning out to be an important feature of smartphones ranging from flagships to mid-range phones. In this case, the Mix 2s will come with Face Unlock powered by artificial intelligence. Wondering how that works? Then take a look at the video.

The video suggests the Mi Mix 2s’ face unlock would be smart enough to recognize the facial contours only, regardless of hairstyle or beard the user carries at any point in time. The Face Unlock will also not be affected if the subject puts on a hat, wig or eyeglasses. Also, ageing shouldn’t affect it.

That is not to say the Face Unlock will be the only security lock feature onboard the Mix 2s. Of course, it can still fail but with AI capabilities, the failure rate would likely be highly reduced. Nevertheless, the Mi Mix 2s is also expected to pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor alongside other traditional unlocking methods like use of pin code and patterns.

(source)

LG G7 Appears in Stunning Light Green Color in a Leaked Poster

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 22, 2018

The LG G7 was reportedly showcased behind closed doors to private clients at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech trade show in the previous month. A leaked video that was reportedly shot at the private meeting had revealed that the LG G7 would be arriving with a notched display design like the iPhone X. A leaked poster of the alleged LG G7 has appeared today on SlashLeaks. The poster is rumored to have been found in one of the PCs at the South Korean company’s stand at the MWC 2018.

The leaked poster serves as yet another proof that the LG G7 would be coming with a notched display. The handset is shown in light green color. So, there is a possibility that the LG G7 may be made available in this new color option.

The image shows that except for the bottom bezel that features the LG logo, the G7 sports ultra-thin bezels. The rear view of the phone suggests that it may feature a curved rear panel. Its vertical dual camera module that includes its LED flash is placed above the fingerprint scanner. The B&O logo present below the fingerprint sensor suggests that the LG G7 may arrive with specially tuned earbuds by Bang & Olufsen.

The presence of “LG ThinQ Mods” text on the poster suggests that the handset may carry support for some sort of modular accessories. Also, it reveals that the upcoming G series flagship will be arriving in two models namely, the LG G7 and LG G7+. These phones are expected to be packed with the same specs, but they may feature different RAM and storage capacities.

A recent report has claimed that in order to cut down on the cost, LG will not be using OLED panel on the LG G7. Rumors have it that the h LG G7 would be coming with 6.1-inch MLCD+ FullVision display. Because of the notch, the screen of the phone will carry support for 19.5:9 aspect ratio and screen resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. The flagship phone will be driven by Snapdragon 845 chipset.

The backside of the LG G7 may feature f/1.6 aperture 16-megapixel dual rear cameras. It may house a battery of 3,000mAh capacity. The other features that are expected to be available on the G7 include IP68 certified chassis, iris scanner and support for HDR 10.

The LG G7 is pegged to feature 4 GB of RAM and an inbuilt storage of 64 GB whereas the G7+ is likely to arrive with 6 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 128 GB. The G7 is likely to launch with a pricing of around $850 to $950. It is speculated that the South Korean company may announce the LG G7 in April and make it available in the market by May.

(source)

Intex Aqua Lions E3 Budget Smartphone Launched In India, Priced At Rs. 5,499 ($84)

By

Jeet

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Mar 22, 2018

Indian smartphone manufacturer Intex Technologies has launched its latest smartphone in the Indian market — Intex Aqua Lions E3. This latest addition to the company’s budget smartphone lineup has been launched in partnership with Gujarat-based retail chain Poojara Telecom.

The Intex Aqua Lions E3 comes with a 5-inch HD display with 720 x 1280 pixel screen resolution, providing a pixel density of 294ppi. The handset is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Spreadtrum SC9832A processor with Mali 400 GPU, coupled with 2GB RAM.

It packs 16GB internal storage and supports microSD card slot, enabling users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity up to 32GB. The phone features an 8-megapixel camera at the back with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel camera at the front for taking selfies and video calling.

Connectivity options on this budget device include 4G VoLTE, WLAN, Bluetooth, FM radio, a 3.5mm audio jack, GPS, and a Micro-USB 2.0 port. It runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and we doubt if the phone will ever receive Android updates.

The Aqua Lions E3 is fuelled by 2500mAh battery that is claimed to provide a talk time of up to five to seven hours and a standby time of 200 to 250 hours on single charge. The device, which measures 145x73x8mm and weighs 154 grams, will be available in only one color — Black.

The phone will be available in Poojara Telecom outlets for a price of Rs. 5,499 (approximately $84). However, on the company’s official website, the price of the device mentioned is Rs. 6,999 (approximately $108). As part of the launch, the device comes with a Reliance Jio instant Rs. 2,200 cashback offer.

Buy PULUZ G1 3-Axis Stabilizer Gimbal At A Discount On Sunsky

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 22, 2018

Sunsky is giving heavy discounts on bulk orders of the Puluz G1 3-axis stabilizer for a limited period of time. Let’s head straight to the details.

First off, a case of 10 units, which normally sells for $998.60, is currently available at a discounted price of just $959.40. Likewise, you can go for a single unit by shelling out $99.86.

Furthermore, you can buy 2 units if you’re willing to spend $97.90, and 1/2 case can be yours for just $96.92. The Chinese wholesalers of electronic products, Sunsky is selling 4 cases for $94.96 and 10 cases for a massively slashed price of only $93.98.

When you pay for 10, you get one case absolutely free. In order to get a bigger discount, you need to buy more units. On top of that, Sunsky is giving its buyers an opportunity to choose from a broad range of accessories that include 3-Axis Gimbal (B), 3-Axis Gimbal (R), Mount Plate, Bracket and lots more at a lowered price.

Sporting a compact form factor, the Puluz G1 is a professional smart gimbal for GoPro and phones. The device can adopt different positions between various operation modes giving users freedom from controlling it.Moreover, Puluz G1 adopts a new operating system that ensures smooth and effortless performance. It boasts an array of useful buttons on photography and film including rear camera/Selfie mode, zoom in/out and photo/record in a bid to deliver creativity.

You can visit this link in order to check out the full specification and take advantage of the big discount offered by Sunsky. It’s worth noting that once the promo comes to an end, the Puluz G1 and other discounted accessories are likely to retain their original selling price.

Get Considerable Discount On PULUZ G1 3-Axis Stabilizer Gimbal On Sunsky

OPPO F7 Key Specifications Gets Revealed Through Leaked Documents

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 22, 2018

The OPPO F7 is the next Selfie Expert smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer. Recent reports have already revealed the specs and features of the smartphone. A leaked sales pitch manual that has surfaced recently has also revealed a lot of information on the key specs of the phone.

Leaked photos of the OPPO F7 have revealed that it will be arriving with a notched display like the recently unveiled OPPO R15 and OPPO R15 Dream Mirror Edition. The OPPO F7 sales pitch reveals that it has almost the same full screen as the Apple iPhone X. The new 19:9 LCD screen on the F7 that measures 6.23 inches will deliver theater-like visual experience while watching movies and play games. It will carry support for FHD+ resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. The sales pitch of the OPPO F7 states that the handset is equipped with a glossy rear that gives it a distinguishing look.

The OPPO F7’s notch houses a 25-megapixel selfie camera. The AI Beauty Technology 2.0 can capture enhanced selfie shots by scanning nearly 300 facial features. Other functions of the front-facing camera include HDR support, AR stickers and vivid mode. The description of these features is available on the leaked documents.

The front-facing camera can be also used for unlocking the phone by scanning the face. It has a rear camera of 16-megapixel that carries support for automatic scene recognition. The handset will be running on Color OS 5.0, but the leaked document has not revealed whether the device will be loaded with Android Nougat or Oreo.

The 12nm MediaTek Helio P60 chipset that powers the OPPO R15 is also available under the hood of the OPPO F7. The handset is driven by 3,400mAh battery.

Leaked information that had surfaced in the past week had revealed that the OPPO F7 would be arriving in three models. Apart from the regular OPPO F7 , there will be a variant called OPPO F7 Youth that is expected to come with toned-down specs and affordable pricing. The third variant is expected to feature 128 GB of native storage. The Chinese manufacturer will be holding a launch event for the OPPO F7 at Mumbai, India on March 26.

Nubia V18 Features Teased Ahead Of Its Official Launch

By

Jeet

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Mar 22, 2018

After launching the Nubia N3 smartphone a couple of weeks ago, the company is back with another device. Nubia has teased features of its upcoming smartphone Nubia V18 by posting images on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.

The phone is expected to come with a full-screen display, larger capacity battery, and better camera performance. While the company has not revealed any specifications of the phone, the Nubia V18 is expected to feature a 6-inch Full-Screen display with Full-HD+ screen resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio.

There is no information available regarding the phone’s battery capacity, but given that the device will have a larger capacity battery, we expected the phone to pack about 5,000mAh battery — similar to the Nubia N3. Further, the phone is also expected to come with 4GB RAM.

Nubia has already confirmed that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a whole lot of RAM for the best gaming experience. However, the company has not yet revealed specifications.

As of the camera department, while the camera configuration is not known, it is said that the company will be making use of artificial intelligence technology for improving camera performance. The camera will support features such as AI-based beautification, AI-based voice functions, among others.

Earlier, the phone was reportedly spotted at Mobile World Congress, which suggested that it will come in a metal body design, a single camera on the back and a fingerprint sensor that will also be placed on the phone’s back panel.

Several reports have indicated that the phone could be priced competitively, somewhere around 1,000 Yuan, which roughly converts to $158. However, it’s just a matter of few hours before the company officially launches Nubia V18 and reveal its pricing as well as availability information.

Recently, the company launched Nubia N3, which comes with a 5.99-inch Full-HD+ full-screen display with pixel density of 403ppi. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Having dual camera setup featuring a 16MP + 5MP camera lenses at the back, the phone comes equipped with 16MP front-facing snapper.

The Nubia N3 is running on Android 7.1 Nougat operating system based Nubia UI 5.1 and is fuelled by a 5,000mAh non-removable battery. The phone went on sale yesterday in China and is priced at 1799 Yuan (approximately $284).

(Source)

Buy Huawei Nova 2 Smartphone For Only $229.73 On LightInTheBox

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 22, 2018

As part of its latest Lightning Sale, Beijing-based online retail company, LightInTheBox is currently offering a massive 45% discount on the original selling price of the well-received Huawei Nova 2 smartphone. Let’s check out the details.

The Nova 2 normally carries a relatively steep price tag of $420.03 on LightInTheBox; however, the site is giving Huawei fans and other smartphone lovers an opportunity to get their hands on the coveted phone by shelling out just $229.73. The discount is valid for three color versions of the device including blue, green and black.

Huawei took the wraps off its long-awaited Nova 2 smartphone back in June 2017 and as expected, it garnered a huge popularity among smartphone enthusiasts. This was hardly surprising considering the phone boasted an array of awe-inspiring specs and features.

In terms of specs, the Nova 2 sports a 5.0 inches LTPS IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. The phone is housed in a sturdy aluminum body.

The Nova 2 smartphone offers 4GB of RAM and a hearty 64GB of internal memory. Under the hood, it packs a powerful HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor along with an equally robust Mali-T830 MP2 graphics processing unit.

On the photography front, the Nova 2 sports a 12-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera setup with phase detection autofocus, and LED flash at the back and a large 20-megapixel front camera for selfie addicts. On top of that, it offers a high video resolution up to 1080p@30fps.

The phone runs on EMUI 5.1 based Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. It draws its juices from a non-removable Li-Po 2950 mAh battery which comes with a fast charging feature.

You can head straight to this link in order to check out the full specification and grab the Lightning Sale discount which is slated to end in 3 days. It’s also worth noting that there were only 98 pieces remaining for Lightning Sale at the time of writing.

Get 45% Off On Huawei Nova 2 Smartphone On LightInTheBox

Buy Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box For Only $79.99 On LightInTheBox

By

Vinay Patel

-

Mar 22, 2018

LightInTheBox is currently giving a massive 52% discount on Beelink GT1 TV Box, which normally carries a price tag of $164.98 on the site. Let’s delve straight into the details.

Powered by an Amlogic S912 Octa-Core processor, the GT1 Ultimate TV Box is currently up for grabs for just $79.99 on the Chinese online retail company’s website. You can choose from three different power adapters including EU adapter, US adapter, and UK adapter.

The Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box uses an ARM Mali-T820MP3 graphics processing unit and offers 3GB of DDR4 RAM along with 32GB of onboard storage. Moreover, it runs on Android 7.1 Nogat operating system and delivers 4K video format resolution.

The device supports a broad range of formats such as H.265 10-bit, H.264 and AVS+FHD 1080p 60fps HW encoding and H.26. It features a 120MbpsGigabit Ethernet to enable faster data transfer and internet browsing.

The Beelink-branded TV box comes with a low power Bluetooth with 10M transfer-distance. It can connect to the handle, speakers, and even headphones. It offers 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi to ensure faster download and seamless transmission.

You can head straight to this link in order to grab the 52% discount on the Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box’s original selling price. It’s worth noting that the promo is slated to end in 4 days.

Get 52% Off On Beelink GT1 Ultimate TV Box On LightInTheBox

Buy Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) 4G Phablet For Only $158.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Mar 22, 2018

As a 4G phablet, Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) sports an 8.0 inch 10-point touch IPS display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) pixels. Aside from that, the device boasts an array of awe-inspiring specs and features.

While the Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) normally bears a price tag of $198.65 on GearBest, the site is currently offering a significant 27% discount on the phablet’s original asking price. As a result, you can now get your hands on the well-received 4G version of the phablet by shelling out just $158.99.

In terms of specs, the Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) phablet offers 3GB of RAM and a hearty 16GB of onboard storage to suit all your needs. Under the hood, the device packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa Core 2.0GHz processor in a bid to deliver maximum high-efficiency power.

It uses an equally robust Adreno 506 graphics processing unit that produces better and faster experience in terms of playing games and watching videos as compared to its predecessor. The Lenovo P8 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.

On the photography front, the Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) phablet sports an 8-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual-camera setup in the front. Thanks to 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless Internet, it allows the users to connect to the Web every time they are within range of an accessible wireless network.

The aforesaid discount is valid for the deep blue color version of the phablet for 2 days. But it is imperative for you to bear in mind that there were only 4 pieces left at the time of writing.

Hot Lenovo Tablets

GearBest is also selling select Lenovo-branded tablets at a considerably lowered price. For instance, the site is giving 31% off on Lenovo TAB4 8 Plus tablet PC’s original sale price of $376.03.

With the aforesaid discount, the black color version of the device is currently up for grabs for just $259.99. However, the Flash Sale price will be valid for a limited period of time and there were only 122 pieces remaining. In order to take advantage of the promo before it comes to an end, you can simply follow this link.

Get 27% Off On Lenovo P8 (TAB3 8 Plus) 4G Phablet On GearBest

No! Broadcom Is Not Buying Mediatek, CFO Confirms

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Mar 21, 2018

Broadcom tried really hard to acquire Qualcomm, the leader of mobile chipset manufacturers. But even though the Singapore giant placed several high bids, the San Diego-based chipmaker has declined its offers and the U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected its plan to acquire the company. After Broadcom failed at acquiring Qualcomm, some rumors about MediaTek have started circulating.

According to a U.S. business website called Motley Fool, the Singapore company has listed the Taiwanese MediaTek, which is the second mobile chipmaker in the world, as the new acquisition target. Well, now it has been confirmed that it is not true. MTK’s Chief Financial Offer David Ku has just confirmed in a statement filed with the Taiwan Stock Exchange that MediaTek never got in touch with Broadcom for an acquisition.

Even though it lost its battle with Qualcomm, MTK is still very strong in the mobile chipsets market, and that is why it would be a great resource for many companies in case of an acquisition. In the last few days, shares of MediaTek fell 1.9% at NT$366 on Taiwan Stock Exchange. According to Motley Fool, besides Broadcom, Intel is another company which may be interested in acquiring MediaTek in order to enter the mobile chipsets market again.

(Via)

Lenovo’s VP Chang Cheng Berates Snapdragon 845, More Optimistic About Helio P60

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Mar 21, 2018

There’s dissatisfaction among fans of Lenovo following its decision in using the Snapdragon 625 processor in the newly announced Lenovo S5. Statements made by the VP of the company, Chang Cheng, hints at more decisions that fans may not be pleased with.

According to him, “the Snapdragon 845 mobile platform focuses too much on performance and still isn’t well optimized. So he isn’t optimistic about any Snapdragon 845-powered phones (like the Mi MIX 2S).

He adds that power, AI, 5G are other important areas other than performance and updated cameras where focus should be placed. These areas, he says are where the Snapdragon 855 focuses on. So for this year, he believes the Helio P60 is a good chip and for next year, the Snapdragon 855. He is also said to have mentioned that Samsung is the only manufacturer capable of perfecting the SoC.

Continue

Meizu E3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Updated Mar 22, 2018

Meizu has just announced its second phone with a Qualcomm SoC which could be one of the best-sellers of 2018. This midrange looks like a perfect rival of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, the new affordable Xiaomi handset which already had huge success in Asia. Will Meizu be able to compete with Xiaomi this year or Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro will be the best phone to purchase at an affordable price like its predecessor? Through this specs comparison we will try to understand which is the best among Meizu E3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, and which has the best value for money.

Meizu E3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

	Meizu E3	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	156.8 x 75 x 7.6 mm, 160 grams	158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm, 181 grams
DISPLAY	5,99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, LTPS LCD	5.99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, octa-core 1.8 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, Flyme 7	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.9 + f/2.6 8 MP f/2.0 front camera	Dual 12 + 5 MP f/2.2 + f/2.0 20 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3360 mAh 20W Fast charging (mCharge 3.0)	4000 mAh Fast Charging (Quick Charge 2.0)
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the cheaper alternative, while the Meizu E3 is the most expensive one, but their specs sheet are far from being different. The two devices have exactly the same screen size and resolution, with Meizu E3 being a bit more compact. Both have the powerful and power-efficient Snapdragon 636 SoC, but Meizu E3 comes with 6 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB while its opponent has 6 GB RAM and just 64 GB of internal storage in its most expensive configuration. Given that Meizu E3 has just been made official, there is still no way to test its camera performances, but on the paper it seems a more interesting camera phone with its 12 + 20 MP dual camera which has a bright f/1.9 aperture and supports 2.5x lossless zoom. The display also seems better on the Meizu E3 with its LTPS technology and up to 85 NTSC color gamut.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a potentially better selfie camera with a 20 MP resolution, and also a much bigger battery (3360 mAh vs 4000 mAh). So, the Redmi Note 5 Pro will probably shoot better selfies and it will last much more on a single charge, even though Meizu E3 will still offer a great battery life due to its power-efficient chipset. Meizu E3 will charge a lot faster thanks to its lower battery capacity and the mCharge 3.0 technology which is able to reach 53% of charge in just 30 minutes.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is priced about $218 in its 4/64 GB configuration and about $265 in the 6/128 GB, while Meizu E3 costs $315 in the 6/64 GB version and $395 in its 6/128 GB variant. Note that these are the Indian prices, the handset are not in the global market yet. With the actual prices, you would better go for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro for its higher value for money, unless you care a lot about the main camera department. But this does not mean that the E3 is a worse device.

Meizu E3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: PRO and CONS

Meizu E3

PRO

More compact design
6 GB RAM and up to 128 GB storage
Very fast charging
Potentially better rear camera
Better display

CONS

Higher price

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

PRO

Affordable price
Monster battery
Good selfie camera

CONS

Nothing special to say

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Xiaomi To Launch A New Featherweight Headset on March 23, Poster Out

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 21, 2018

Xiaomi has officially revealed on Weibo that it would be launching a new headphone at 10 AM UTC+8 on March 23 which is just two days away. The Weibo poster announcing the scheduled launch event was shared on Xiaomi headphone’s Weibo account. The poster contains the feathery drawing of a musical note which clearly indicates that it is a headphone.

Much details of the features expected to be on the upcoming Xiaomi headphone were not revealed. But the Weibo post hints that the product will come with a new design which would be light and comfortable. The poster contains the feathery drawing of a musical note which clearly indicates that the headphone would be very light in terms of its weight. We also expect the tech giant to unveil a powerful headset with a solid sound output.

Xiaomi presently has a wide range of headset ranging from the Piston Pro and in-ear headset to Bluetooth headsets. However, if we are to go by the latest model to get a price cut, we can guess that the headset will be a new Bluetooth Sports Headset. The price of Xiaomi’s Sports Bluetooth headset was recently reduced and now sells for 129 Yuan. This makes sense as it connects with the poster which teases the headphone to be light and comfortable. Who would want to put on a heavy and uncomfortable headset while out jogging? We’ll have to wait until the product is unveiled before we can get the full details.

(source)

Hands-on Photos Of Meizu E3 & Kumamon Travel Set

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Mar 21, 2018

Earlier today, Meizu held a launch event where it announced the Meizu E3 and Kumamon Travel Set. While promotional images do a good job of making a product look stunning, one still yearns for live photos. Below are a bunch of pictures of the phone and the travel set.

The Meizu E3 is shown in black, blue, and gold in the photos below and it is easy to see the one that stands out. The antenna lines are more visible on the gold and blue variants compared to the black unit. Also, the dual rear cameras are slightly raised. So it is best you get a case that has the camera cut-out raised high enough to keep the glass covering the camera from scratches.

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There is no branding whatsoever on the front side of the device. So if you slap a case on this phone, no one is going to be able to tell who the manufacturer is. On the blue and back variant, the bezels are black but are white in the gold variant.

The bottom of the phone is home to a 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C port, and speaker grille. The primary microphone is also at the bottom and there are two screws flanking the USB port on each side.

The volume rocker is separated into two individual buttons and are on the left of the phone. The power button which is a striking red on the blue variant sits above the fingerprint scanner.

The J-20 Limited Edition also makes an appearance and stuns as well. The lines on the back are unique unlike any other phone we have seen before. The J-20 is written in army font and there is an image of the fighter jet just above Meizu’s branding.

The phone also comes with custom wallpapers, icons, and a special retail box and hard case. There are also memorial cards and a custom SIM ejector.

Irrespective of the variant you choose, you should be satisfied as they all look well made.

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Real Render Revealed in Official Pacific Rim-Themed Video Teaser

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Mar 21, 2018

We are just one week away from the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S March 27 launch and as should be expected, Xiaomi continues to release more teasers centred on the features of the device. The latest is a video teaser which was created as if it is a trailer for the blockbuster movie Pacific Rim 2 – Uprising.

On the surface, the teaser seems to suggest the Mi Mix 2s will have a configuration as a gaming phone. The already confirmed specs include a Snapdragon 845 chipset and 8GB of RAM which should be enough to handle heavy games.

However, looks like the main message of the teaser is the creative design the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s features. The video shows the actual render of the Mi Mix 2s at the end. The design is similar to that of the Mi Mix 2 as it is entirely bezel-less except for the chin where there is some ample amount of bezels which likely houses the front camera. The render also shows the device will feature a new refreshed theme.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S is expected to pack a new Full Screen 3.0 design and it will be fitted with a 5.99-inch display. The display is expected to support Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The device is also expected to come with wireless charging. Check out the video teaser from below.

(source)

LG V30+ JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Limited Edition Launching in Japan on March 23

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Mar 21, 2018

LG technically hasn’t released a new phone this year. The LG V30S ThinQ/V30S+ ThinQ announced at MWC 2018 is the V30 and V30+ with more RAM and storage, AI features, improved camera software, and new colors. Today, the Korean electronics giant has announced a limited edition LG V30+ for Japan.

The limited edition V30+ is based on Japanese manga JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It will come in an off-white shade with a logo on the rear fans of the manga should be familiar with. The front bezels are still black like on the other variants.

The phone will have custom themes based on the manga in addition to wallpapers, theme songs, a JoJo manga editor, and an AR camera app that lets you take pictures with characters from the manga.

The phone will have model number JOJO L-02K and will keep most of the specs of the regular LG V30+ that is – a snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB ROM, and a 6” 2880 x 1440 display. However, it will come with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and a smaller 3,060mAh battery.

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