Huawei Shipped 153 Million Smartphones This Year, Confirms CEO

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Dec 29, 2017

Through the New Year’s message, Huawei Rotating CEO Hu Houkun (Ken Hu) has conveyed that the annual revenue for 2017 would be around 600 billion yuan which is an increment of 15 percent compared to last year. He has also shared that the company has shipped 153 billion units in this year.

Huawei is currently the world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer and it aims to gain the number one spot by 2021. In 2016, Huawei had shipped 139 million phones. According to Hu, by shipping 153 million units of Huawei and Honor branded phone this year, the company’s market share has surpassed 10 percent.

Because of heavy marketing expenditure and thin-margin in smartphone business, Huawei had met with near-flat profit in March this year. At that time, the company had vowed to focus on making more profit this year. However, it appears that the Chinese manufacturer will be achieving good profit by the end of this year.

According to IDC, Huawei had held a market share of 22.3 in the third quarter of this year. Its third position is under threat by local brands like OPPO and Vivo. In the same quarter, OPPO had accounted a market share of 21.6 percent.

In order to further increase its market share, the company needs to build its market share in the western markets. Huawei is expected to showcase the Mate 10 series phones at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 and then make its phones available through AT&T and Verizon in the U.S. The Mate 10 came with the world’s first chipset equipped with a neural processing unit for carrying out AI tasks. Hu says that the Mate 10 offered AI in the true sense to the consumers. He added that the company will continue to bring the latest innovation in AI and AR on its forthcoming devices.

(source)

Gionee S11 Featuring Four Cameras To Launch In India In January 2018

By

Jeet

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Dec 29, 2017

Gionee S11, which features four cameras — two at the back and two on the front, is reportedly all set to launch in India. According to the report, the Gionee S11 will launch in India in January 2018. The phone was originally launched in China last month, along with a few other models.

While the exact date for the device’s launch in India remains unknown, a report suggests that the phone’s launch could be pushed towards the end of the month in January because of logistics-related delays. In India, the smartphone is expected to be priced under Rs. 20,000, which roughly converts to $313.

The Gionee S11 comes in a glass-clad body, which is 3D but curved on all four sides. The glass has a reflective finish, similar to what we saw on HTC U11. The phone sports a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by MediaTek Helio P23 processor along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. There is an option to expand the storage capacity of the device up to 128GB, using a microSD card.

One of the major highlights of the phone is that it bears four cameras — two at the back and two on the front side. The phone features a 16-megapixel sensor and an 8-megapixel sensor on the front, while there’s a dual camera setup consisting 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel lenses at the back.

The device runs Amigo OS 5.0 which is still based on Android Nougat operating system but comes with a bunch of new features. The phone is fuelled by a 3,410mAh battery, which should be enough to provide power for the entire day on single charge.

Earlier this week, Gionee launched Gionee S10 Lite in the Indian market. The phone, which is priced at Rs. 15,999, features a 5.2-inch HD display and packs Snapdragon 427 processor, 4GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. It features a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. Running Amigo OS 4.0, the device is powered by a 3,100mAh battery.

(Source)

Here is the List of Rumored Snapdragon 845 Smartphones Arriving in 2018

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 29, 2017

The Snapdragon 845 mobile platform was officially unveiled by Qualcomm earlier in this month. It is the second-generation 10nm chipset that has arrived as a successor for Snapdragon 835. It is expected to several flagship phones in 2018. A leaked image showing the list of rumored phones that will be powered by Snapdragon 845 has appeared on Weibo. The leak also reveals the expected announcement timelines for those phones.

The above image shows that Samsung will be debuting the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in February. Even though the rumor mill has not revealed much information on the upcoming LG G7, the leaked photo states that the LG G7 and G7+ will be released in the same month. This shows that the LG G-series phone for 2018 won’t be coming with a non-flagship chipset.

In April, Xiaomi Mi 7 is speculated to debut as China’s first Snapdragon 845 powered smartphone. Just as the HTC U11 had debuted in May this year, its successor – the HTC U12 is speculated to debut in the same month in 2018.

In June, the OnePlus 6, ZTE Nubia Z18 and Sony Xperia XZ Pro-A smartphones are expected to arrive in the market. It appears that the Sony’s flagship may get unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in February, but it will be hitting the market later in June. The Nokia 10 flagship is likely to get announced in August.

The month of September will see biggies like Samsung Galaxy Note 9, LG V40 and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3. The Google Pixel 3, Pixel XL, ZTE Nubia Z18S, Sony Xperia XZ2 and HTC U12+ are rumored to debut in October. Motorola is speculated to debut the Moto Z 2019 flagship phone in November. Lastly, the OnePlus 6T and Samsung W2019 flip phone are rumored to release in December.

The list does not contain any information for the successor phones for Essential Phone and Razer Phone. Apart from the Motorola flagship that is speculated to arrive late and the HTC’s second flagship that is rumored to launch a bit early, most of the phones mentioned in the leak are arriving at the same time as their predecessors did this year However, we advise our readers to digest the report with a pinch of salt.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector $500 Off Discount On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 29, 2017

Deemed as “the world’s first truly cinema-level laser projector TV” by Xiaomi, the Mi Ultra Short 5000 ANSI Lumens Laser Projector can project up to a maximum of 150-inches. It features a built-in Mi TV and boasts a custom DLP solution developed by American technology company, Texas Instruments.

You can now buy the Xiaomi-branded projector on GearBest for a flash sale price of $1959. Those who have been waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the device should note that only 17 pieces were left at the time of writing.

The promo will come to an end on Saturday, December 23. The Mi Ultra Short 5000 ANSI Lumens Laser Projector is slated to dispatch from December 23 to January 4.

Furthermore, you can apply promotion code ‘XMLPSK‘ at the time of checking out and buy it for just $1549.99. Click here to get a 25% off the Mi Ultra Short 5000 ANSI Lumens Laser Projector.

Update: I’m sorry, the code ‘XMLPSK‘ only for Korean, but this code ‘XMLPP‘ for world’s buyer, the price is $1839.

Buy Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector For Just $1549 On GearBest

OnePlus 5 Users to Soon Receive Face Unlock Open Beta

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 29, 2017

Earlier in this week, OnePlus had confirmed that OnePlus 5 would be receiving the Face Unlock feature that was first introduced on the OnePlus 5T phone. Today, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed that it will be soon releasing an open beta build of Face Unlock for OP5 users.

OnePlus 5T’s Face Unlock that coexists with fingerprint scanner has received good reception from the users. OnePlus users have requested the company through OnePlus community to make the Face Unlock feature available on older OnePlus smartphones.

Before releasing the final version of the Face Unlock feature, the company wants to test the feature by releasing its open beta build. This will allow OnePlus to kill any bugs and roll out a stable edition of Face Unlock to OnePlus 5 users. There is a possibility that the company may make it available on older devices as OnePlus founder Carl Pei had carried out a poll recently on Twitter and OnePlus forum to ask OnePlus 3 and 3T users whether they would like to use Face Unlock on those phones.

Compared to Apple’s Face ID, the Face Unlock by OnePlus can recognize a face faster. However, since it is not as secure as Face ID, it cannot be used for authenticating a mobile payment. Face ID’s facing scanning depends on the complex 3D sensors, but Face Unlock can identify by recognizing certain marks on the face such as the space between the eyes or the distance between nose and lip.

The Face Unlock technology is equipped with special identifiers that allows it to identify a face in low light conditions and even when the user is wearing eyeglasses. It is smart enough to confirm whether the subject is a real face or a photo. If Face Unlock is unable to identify a face after five attempts, the face recognition feature will get disabled and it will prompt the user to make use fingerprint reader or enter PIN code or pattern to unlock the phone.

(source)

Honor V10 Teardown Points At A Perfect Smartphone That Is Easy To Repair

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 29, 2017

Are you still searching for the perfect smartphone that offers you all the features you want and even more? Maybe you should take a look at the Honor V10. Although the Honor V10, also called Honor View 10, isn’t available on the market yet, the smartphone may be worth waiting for. Read on to find out why we think so.

Chinese tech outfit ZOL has published their teardown guide for the Honor V10 and the verdict remains a positive one for the Kirin 970-powered midrange smartphone. The teardown not only revealed the entire internals, it also shows that the smartphone may be easy to repair. The procedure for dismantling the smartphone looks pretty much like an easy one, just like Huawei’s other smartphones. But it must be noted that the V10 internal design looks different from that of its predecessor, the Honor V9. Huawei opted for a modular design on the V10 which saw the rear panel entirely separated from the rest of the device. This would aid in repairs as opening up the device won’t be difficult as there won’t be fear of ripping up a wire while removing the fixed back cover. The V10 also lacks any visible heat pipe but then the energy efficient Kirin 970 would ensure the device doesn’t heat up. In addition, the motherboard and other components are also well-arranged and the wires are protected by metal covers which makes for easy removal if the device is to be disassembled.

The Huawei Honor V10 dominated the headlines when it was first launched in China last month partly because of its full-screen 18:9 display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080p. Secondly, the device features the latest Hisilicon Kirin 970 flagship chip with AI capabilities. No, it isn’t a flagship model but we can’t fathom why Huawei chose to use its flagship processor on a mid-range smartphone. However, that ensures the phone has a high performing hardware setup. The hardware also includes a dual camera setup at the rear. The camera aspect is piloted by a 20MP + 16MP dual camera setup at the rear while selfies are taken care of by a 13MP shooter with AI features. Another cool feature is that the smartphone runs Android-Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 from the go. It also packs a 3750mAh battery with 5V/4.5A super fast charge. It comes with dual SIM slots and both slots are 4G VoLTE enabled. There are three memory versions available, there is a 4GB RAM + 64GB storage version, as well as a 6GB RAM + 64GB version and finally a top-end 6GB RAM + 128GB storage version.

The Honor View 10 is presently on pre-orders in the U.K while pre-registration is also open in India. Huawei has slated to release the device globally in January 2018. It is priced around €499 in Europe.

(source)

Alcatel 3C Full Specifications and Pricing Leaked Before CES 2018 Debut

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 29, 2017

Apart from flagship phones, some of the mid-range phones have launched this year with displays supporting 18:9 aspect ratio. TCL is also expected to debut new Alcatel branded full screen design phones soon. Among the upcoming Alcatel phones is Alcatel 3C that is speculated to debut as the cheapest smartphone with full screen design. The entire specifications of the smartphone have been revealed through a product catalogue.

The Alcatel 3C is going to arrive with a 6-inch IPS display that will be supporting HD+ resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. It will be delivering an aspect ratio of 18:9. The large-sized display is surrounded by thin bezels.

The MediaTek MT8321 chipset that includes a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor will be powering the 3C along with 1 GB of RAM. It is equipped with a 3,000mAh battery that will deliver a talk time of up to 15 hours and a standby time of around 300 hours.

It will be coming with a native storage of 16 GB and it also features a dedicated slot for microSD card. The device will be running on Android Nougat OS. The back panel of the phone is equipped with a fingerprint scanner.

The rear-facing camera of the Alcatel 3C is of 8-megapixel whereas the camera that is placed on is front panel is of 5-megapixel. Both the cameras are equipped with LED flash. The connectivity features that will be available on it include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and dual SIM support.

The Alcatel 3C will be sporting a polycarbonate chassis with metallic finish. It will be measuring 161 x 76 x 7.9mm and weighing 168 grams and it will be available in three colors such as Metallic Black, Metallic Blue and Metallic Gold. It is expected to sell in Europe with a price tag of 120 euro (~$143)

Apart from Alcatel 3C, TCL will be launching other Alcatel branded phones such as Alcatel 1x, Alcatel 3, Alcatel 3V, Alcatel 3X, Alcatel 5. Popular tipster Evan Blass has already revealed high-resolution renders of these phones. However, their specifications are still under the wraps.

The new Alcatel phones are expected to get showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 that will take place in Las Vegas in early January. The Alcatel 3C is speculated to be available for buying few weeks after its launch.

(source)

Buy Hubsan H501S X4 Brushless Drone For Just $169.99 On TomTop

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 29, 2017

The lightly-built Hubsan H501S X4 Brushless Drone RC Quadcopter sports a compact design and a 4.3-inch display. Moreover, it comes with built-in 1080P HD camera that is designed to capture stunning pictures and breathtaking videos from the skies.

Gadget lovers can now get their hands on the H501S X4 drone at a discounted price of just $169.99. TomTop is currently offering a massive 49% discount on both black and white versions of the H501S X4 Brushless Drone, which will ship from warehouses based in China, UK, Germany, Spain and the United States.

Shipping charges for this Hubsan-branded RC Quadcopter will be waived off if the item is shipped from the US-based warehouse.

Thirteen out of 1101 pieces were sold at the time of writing. Head straight to this link to take advantage of the promo before the remaining pieces are sold out.

Avail 49% Discount On Hubsan H501S X4 Brushless Drone RC Quadcopter On TomTop

Buy CHUWI LapBook Air Notebook PC For Just $386.06 On Cafago

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 29, 2017

Sporting an incredible display, CHUWI LapBook Air offers superlative performance in addition to a slew of useful apps that let you do what you love to do, anywhere.

The robust Notebook PC runs on Microsoft Windows 10 OS that facilitates multiple functions such as checking email and managing digital files. Under the hood, it packs Intel Celeron processor N3450, which ensures uninterrupted operation.

Much to the delight of those who have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on a reliable and sturdy Notebook PC without burning a hole in their pockets, Cafago is currently offering a 20% discount on CHUWI LapBook Air Notebook PC.You can now buy the device by shelling out just $414.82 on Cafago. This is a considerable reduction in its original asking price of $516.57.

You can save $77.55 more by applying promotion code ‘DPT002’ at the time of checking out and get your hands on CHUWI LapBook Air Notebook PC for just $386.06. It is imperative for you to bear in mind that the promo expires on January 15.

You can click here to buy CHUWI LapBook Air Notebook on Cafago before the promo comes to an end.

Buy CHUWI LapBook Air Notebook PC On Cafago And Get A Massive 20% Discount

Meizu’s Li Nan Reveals Some Details Of The Next-Gen Meizu X & Its Likely Price

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 29, 2017

Meizu’s Blue Charm division is known for top-grade midrange models that could compete for space with flagship models on their design. One of such flagship-looking midrange smartphone is the Meizu X. The Chinese company launched the Meizu X around November last year packing an impressive design, Helio P20 chip and 2.5D curved glass among other features. The tech giant should have launched a successor to the well-received smartphone but that didn’t happen up till now.

It is almost certain that we wouldn’t be seeing a successor to the Meizu X this year anymore. However, Meizu’s VP Li Nan may have revealed some details of the second-gen model that would take over from the X. We still don’t know the name of the model but previous leaks had identified it as the Meizu X2. Li Nan is credited to have hinted in a live broadcast that the next generation Meizu X is a flagship model and no longer a midrange phone. He also hinted that there would be a substantial upgrade in the specs and that would take the price up to around 2,499 Yuan. This would place the next-gen Meizu X way higher than its predecessor that started at 1,699 Yuan for the lower model and 1,999 Yuan for the topmost model.

The Meizu VP did not disclose specific details of the Meizu X2’s specifications but the smartphone is expected to keep up with the current full-screen trend. We also expect the device to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor since MediaTek has stopped developing flagship chips. No word yet as to when the device will be launched but we expect it to drop in the first quarter of 2018.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 2 Up For Pre-Order On Banggood For Just US$ 18.99

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 29, 2017

The compact Xiaomi 10000mAh Power Bank 2 is a powerhouse that you can effortlessly carry everywhere you go. It offers high-speed charging and makes sure that your device survives your longest and busiest days.

We’ve got good news for ardent travelers who are always worried whether or not their devices will make it through their hectic days since they are constantly on the go. The Original Xiaomi 10000mAh Power Bank 2 is currently up for pre-order on Banggood for just $18.99.

You can choose between Navy and Silver color options while pre-ordering Xiaomi 10000mAh Power Bank 2, which carries an asking price of $22.99 without the 17% discount offered by Banggood.

Housed in an aluminum alloy body, the Mi Power Bank 2 sports a round-edge design and has LED indicator lights that show the power status. The device support charging and discharging at the same time.

Bearing a mammoth capacity of 10000mAh 3.7V (37Wh), the Mi Power Bank 2 sports an awe-inspiring design, paired with an ultra slim body. Moreover, it has built-in multiple protections and comes with Quick Charge 3.0.

You can head straight to this link to pre-order Xiaomi 10000mAh Power Bank 2 Dual USB portable charger for mobile phone on Banggood and take advantage of the massive 17% discount. Additionally, you’ll earn 18 Banggood points for ordering this item.

Pre-Order Original Xiaomi 10000mAh Power Bank 2 Portable Charger For Just US$18.99

Dual Screen ZTE Axon M Passes TENAA, Coming Soon To China

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 28, 2017

ZTE announced the Axon M flagship back in October, and the phone is available for purchase only in the US right now. The company had promised a release in other markets like China and Europe, and it looks like ZTE is going to launch the phone in the home country real soon. The ZTE Axon M has just been certified by TENAA, confirming its launch in China in the coming weeks.

It looks like isn’t any difference between the international version and the Chinese Axon M version. The phone comes with 150.8 x 71.64 x 12.10 dimensions and 230 grams weight. Given the two screen design, the bulky form factor and the heavy weight is not surprising. The two screens feature the same size and resolution: 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p. So, unlike the 18:9 displays that have taken over the flagship market, this dual screen phone still sticks with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio for both its screens. Other features of the phone include SD821, 4GB / 6GB of RAM, 64GB/ 128GB storage (expandable up to 128GB), 20MP single camera, and Android 7.1.2.

Despite its bulky profile, the two screen design has garnered praises from fans. So, it will be interesting to see the phone’s reception in the company’s home country, China. Currently, the Axon M is priced at $725 in the US, but it could be cheaper in China at launch.

The company will also showcase the device at CES 2018 which will be held from 9 January to 12 January in Las Vegas.

(Source)

Nokia 3310 4G Variant Certified By TENAA, Powered By YunOS

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 28, 2017

Nokia is rumoured to release at least two new smartphones next month, the Nokia 6 2018 edition and the Nokia 3310 4G variant. A new Nokia model, likely the Nokia 6 2018 version already passed through the Chinese certification website TENAA a few weeks back and now, the rumored Nokia 3310 4G variant has also been through the certification website. It’s worth noting that a Nokia 4G phone had passed through Bluetooth SIG website last week and it could have been this model.

TENAA revealed only the pictures of the new model and it’s identical to the Nokia 3310 3G version that was announced back in September. If you remember, the 3G version was around 13% larger than the 2G model, featuring better spacing between buttons for an improved typing experience. So it remains to be seen whether the 4G version gets another increase in size. TENAA confirms 4G LTE network support and also reveals that the phone will be powered by Alibaba’s YunOS platform.

With carriers decommissioning 2G networks, the Nokia 3310 3G version made sense. The phone came with a slightly different Series 30+ Feature OS, supporting apps like Facebook, Skype, and Twitter. However, the upgrade in the cellular radio department did cost the battery life of the device. The Nokia 3310 3G version gave only around 6.5 hours of talktime instead of the monstrous 22.1 hours on the 2G version. With an upgrade to 4G, the battery life could further go down.

Also, if the Nokia 3310 4G version does make it to the market, it’s likely to be sold at a higher price. The 3G variant costs €69 vs €49 for the 2G variant.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy S9 And Galaxy S9 Plus Gets Certified By FCC

By

Jeet

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Dec 28, 2017

Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphones — Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, which are expected to launch a month earlier than their predecessors, have passed an important milestone. Both the devices have been certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US, clearing a major hurdle for the company to officially launch them.

The FCC has certified the international unlocked models, which carries the model number SM-G960F and SM-G965F for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus respectively. While the international variants have been listed, there is no sign of the carrier-specific models as well the models for the Asian market.

Although the phones have cleared the FCC certification, the listing does not reveal specifications. Strangely, it doesn’t even have the design sketch of the phone which is usually present in the listing. This could be because Samsung applied for the clearance certificate in mid-November and the design may not have been finalized then.

The phone’s certification at this point could be an indication that the reports regarding the early announcement of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are indeed true. Several reports have suggested that South Korean giant’s next-generation flagship smartphones will be officially announced at Mobile World Congress 2018 in February.

According to the rumours, the Galaxy S9 series will not be a significant upgrade to the Galaxy S8 series and will instead be focusing on providing a more refined user experience. The phone’s design will be almost similar to that of the Galaxy S8 series. The Galaxy S9 is expected to feature a 5.8-inch display whereas the Galaxy S9 Plus is expected to come with a 6.2-inch display. Both will flaunt a bezel-less Infinity Display.

The rumour mill suggests that the Galaxy S9 will feature a single camera on the back panel while the S9 Plus will feature a dual camera setup, stacked vertically. The Galaxy S9 will have an integrated front-facing camera setup that will include two cameras — one for Iris scanning while the other one for photography.

While there is a possibility of the Samsung Galaxy S9 series devices getting announced at MWC, the phone’s are not expected to go on sale immediately after the announcement. It may take a couple of weeks to make the devices available in the market. The availability of the devices is expected to be in early March.

(Sources: 1, 2)

Specifications of Snapdragon 670, 640, and 460 Leaked

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 28, 2017

Qualcomm already has a bunch of mobile platforms for the mid-range category. Some of them have actually not even appeared in any phone yet, like the Snapdragon 636 but the American company seems to care less and is planning to announce more soon. Full details of three new chipsets – the Snapdragon 670, Snapdragon 640, and Snapdragon 460, billed for 2018 have just surfaced online.

Snapdragon 670

The Snapdragon 670 is not really new as we first heard about it four months ago. The processor will succeed the Snapdragon 660 and will power upper mid-range phones.

The SDM670 will be a 10nm chip made up of 4x Kryo 360 Gold cores based on the Cortex-A75 and clocked at 2.0GHZ and another 4x Kryo 385 Silver cores based on the A55 and clocked at 1.60GHz.

The GPU has also been upgraded from the Adreno 512 to the Adreno 620. For imaging, the Snapdragon 670 will come with the Spectra 260 ISP with support for one 26MP sensor or two 13MP sensors.

LTE speeds will also see an improvement with the new X16 modem that replaces the X12 modem on the Snapdragon 660. Maximum download speed is 1000Mbps and max. upload speed is 150Mbps.

Snapdragon 640

The Snapdragon 640 on the other hand will also feature an octa-core configuration and be built on a 10nm node. It will contain 2x Kryo 360 Gold cores and 6x Kryo 360 Silver cores. They will be clocked at 2.15GHz and 1.55GHz respectively.

The GPU for the SDM640 is the Adreno 610 which replaces the Adreno 510 in the SDM630 and Adreno 509 in the SDM636 mobile platform. It has the same image processor as the Snapdragon 670 but keeps the X12 modem of the Snapdragon 636.

Snapdragon 460

The Snapdragon 460 will succeed the Snapdragon 450 which at the moment is only available in a few devices like the Vivo V7/ V7+ and Xiaomi Redmi 5.

The 14nm SDM460 is also an 8-core processor but with 4x Kryo 360 Silver cores at 1.8GHz and another 4x Kryo 360 Silver cores at 1.4GHz. It comes with an Adreno 605 GPU and a Spectra 240 ISP.

The Snapdragon 460 will also use the same X12 LTE modem as the Snapdragon 640.

What do you think about these new chips?

(Source, Via)

LG Announces ThinQ Speaker – A Smart Speaker With Google Assistant

By

Jeet

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Dec 28, 2017

LG has now forayed into the smart audio products market with the announcement of its first smart speaker — ThinQ Speaker. The smart speaker comes powered by Google Assistant for voice commands.

ThinQ, which is pronounced as “think”, would be LG’s brand going forward for its connected and “smart” home products. LG had previously announced Google Assistant compatibility with its appliances and other devices.

The ThinQ Speaker, which comes in a cylinder shaped body, is claimed as a “premium audio product” by the company. LG says that the device offers high-quality sound in addition to its smart capabilities. It seems to have found its place somewhere between Google Home and Google Home Max.

LG says that it teamed up with Google to ensure that the LG ThinQ Speaker delivers all the conveniences that come with having a digital assistant. It also comes with a personalized voice-activated interface for LG’s smart home appliances.

Along with the ThinQ Speaker, the company has also announced a range of products that includes a new SK10Y sound bar and a portable PK series speaker. The company has partnered with Meridian Audio, hoping to provide better quality compared to other such speakers out there.

LG says that the SK10Y sound bar delivers 550W output, supports 5.1.2 channels and harnesses the power of Dolby Atmos technology. It comes equipped with multiple speakers, including a pair of powerful up-firing speakers, to surround the listener from every angle.

The portable PK series speaker is said to offer premium sound and mood lighting features. According to the company, with Meridian Audio’s advanced technologies, the PK speakers offer powerful and undistorted bass, as well as optimized speech and vocals. It is also compatible with the APT-X HD Bluetooth standard for streaming 24-bit music over a wireless connection.

While the company has announced these new speakers, it has not yet revealed any information related to their pricing and availability. We expect that LG will reveal pricing and availability information during Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where it plans to showcase these speakers.

The Sony H4233 is The Xperia XA2 Ultra

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 28, 2017

The Sony H4233 has been revealed to be the Xperia XA2 Ultra, thanks to information on the website of regulatory agencies in Thailand and Malaysia.

A page on the website of SIRIM (Scientific and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia) and Thailand’s NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) shows that the Sony H4233 is the model number of the Xperia XA2 Ultra.

The phone appeared on GFXBench in September listing specs like a 6” 1920 x 1080 display, a Snapdragon 630 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It also revealed the camera specs as a 21MP rear camera and a 16MP front facing camera with support for 4K video recording. The Xperia XA2 Ultra benchmarked was also running Android Oreo.

Continue

Samsung Announces January 4 Event, Probably Exynos 9810 Launch

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 28, 2017

The official Samsung Exynos Twitter account has announced an event scheduled for January 4, 2018. The event will most likely be for the official launch of the Exynos 9810 flagship mobile processor.

While the existence of the Exynos 9810 was officially confirmed in November, there has not yet been an official launch. The launch will see Samsung provide full details about the chips custom core design and LTE capabilities.

Discover #TheNextExynos that goes beyond a component. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/542sWnQ7EZ

— Samsung Exynos (@SamsungExynos) December 28, 2017

Based on the few details available, the Exynos 9810 will be a 10nm chip like its predecessor, the Exynos 8895. It will have 6CA support, a first for the mobile industry and will come with 3rd-gen custom CPU cores, an upgraded GPU and gigabit LTE.

The Exynos 9810 will first appear in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ before making its way into the Galaxy Note9 later in the year.

Continue

Nokia 2 Will Get Android 8.1 Oreo Update With Android Go Memory Management Features

By

Jeet

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Dec 28, 2017

Nokia has been actively releasing the latest Android updates for its smartphones. After rolling out updates for the Nokia 8, Nokia 6 and Nokia 5, HMD Global is now preparing to release the latest Android version update for the Nokia 2.

HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas recently confirmed on Twitter that Nokia 2 will soon receive the Android 8.1 Oreo update. Along with that, the company has also revealed that the update will bring Android Go (Oreo Edition) memory management features.

The Nokia 2 will be skipping the Android 8.0 update and will directly release Android 8.1 Oreo. The Nokia 2 comes with mediocre specifications, hence the phone’s performance will be optimized using Android Go’s memory management features. Juho Sarvikas said that the device cannot be upgraded to the Android Go program but they will include performance improvements based on Android 8.1 Oreo in the maintenance releases.

The clarification comes at a time when there are reports suggesting that the Nokia 1 might be the first smartphone to be the part of Google’s Android Go program. The phone is expected to feature an HD IPS display with 720p resolution. It is said to have 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage. As per the reports, it could be priced around $85 and will be available from March 2018. However, there is no confirmation from the company yet.

The Nokia 2 features a 5-inch IPS LCD display and is powered by Qualcomm’s 1.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 212 processor. It packs 1GB RAM and 8GB of onboard storage which can be further expanded using a microSD card.

It comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and comes with Google Assistant. The Dual SIM phone supports 4G VoLTE connectivity and is fuelled by a massive 4,100mAh battery that is rated to provide two days of battery life on a single charge.

Currently, HMD Global is testing Android 8.0 Oreo update on its budget smartphones — Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. Both devices are expected to receive the update by the end of 2017 or in the first week of 2018. The only phone from HMD Global that is yet to receive Android update is Nokia 3, but the company has confirmed that it will directly receive Android 8.0 Oreo update.

(Source)

New Report Tips Apple As Working WIth MediaTek On Modems For 2018 iPhones

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Dec 28, 2017

Qualcomm and Apple continue their legal tussles and the biggest casualty would be their partnership. Both U.S companies have always been partners but recently, Apple was rumoured to be working with Chinese chipmaker MediaTek on the production of modem chips. A fresh rumour has again emerged which tips Apple as toiling with the idea of using modems manufactured by MediaTek on its 2018 iPhones.

The report carried by DigiTimes states that Apple is looking up to extra hands to cater for its orders for the iPhone modems. This is coming after the tech giant transferred half of its orders to Intel from Qualcomm. The report which cited unknown sources in China noted that MediaTek has the technology, capacity and the pricing advantage to get the deal from Apple, joining Intel who already is in partnership with Apple.

A deal for the supply of modem fro Apple may just be what MediaTek needs to improve its dwindling sales especially its flagship business. Those familiar with the industry are of the opinion that MediaTek meets the three principles which Apple have always followed in determining providers of chip solutions for its various product lines. The principles are said to include; leading technological competitiveness, comprehensive product blueprints, and reliable logistic support. None of the duos of Apple and MediaTek has officially confirmed the authenticity of this lingering rumour. Thus, we could as well treat this as mere speculation.

(source)