ZTE Blade A6 Max Images, User Manual Surface Through FCC Certification

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Dec 8, 2017

Few months ago, a ZTE phone named Blade A6 had received certification from Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It was silently made available in certain markets like Germany. It seems that the company is working on the launch of a new variant of the phone called ZTE Blade A6 Max as it has recently received FCC approval. The user manual of the Blade A6 Max has also surfaced to reveal some of its features.

The images of the Blade A6 Max that have appeared through its FCC listing reveals that it has a simple design. The front and rear view of the phone shows that it does not feature a fingerprint scanner. The rear camera is placed on a dedicated bar at the top ike the older Nexus 6P.

The top edge of the phone features a 3.5mm audio jack and the bottom side seems to house a microUSB port. The volume rocker and Power key are located on the right side of the phone while the left side of the phone is barren.

There is no information on the specifications of the Blade A6 Max. However, some of the images reveal that the smartphone features a huge non-removable battery of 4,000mAh capacity. Images of the user manual of A6 Max show that the top bezel of the phone features an Infrared light, an earpiece front camera along with its LED flash.

The handset supports nano SIM card and features a microSD card slot. It is speculated that the inclusion of “Max” in the moniker ZTE Blade A6 Max that it may come with a larger Full HD screen of 5.5 inches or 6 inches as the A6 features a 5.2-inch HD display.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ Unlikely to Arrive with 21:9 Aspect Ratio Screens

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 8, 2017

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ flagship phones have screen-to-body ratio of around 84 percent. These phones produce an aspect ratio of 18:9. Since the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are rumored to offer higher screen-to-body ratio, it was speculated that both the phones will delivering an aspect ratio of 21:9. However, an industry insider has revealed that claimed that Galaxy S9 duo won’t be offering taller aspect ratio.

Galaxy S8 & S8 Plus Hands on

According to the source who claims to have acquired information from a reliable source has said that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will be offering higher screen-to-body ratio. However, this will be made possible by reducing the bezels and not by switching to a taller aspect ratio.

Recent reports have revealed that the South Korean company will be trimming the bottom bezel considerably to an almost non-existent state. As far as the top bezel is concerned, it will be slimmer than that of Galaxy S8. The reduced bezels on the S9 will possibly allow the two phones to produce an aspect ratio of around 90 percent.

Like the S8 and S8+, the successor models will continue to sport Infinity Display design. These handsets will be the first Galaxy S series smartphones to feature dual rear cameras. The Galaxy S9 duo are rumored to get unveiled in February.

(source|via)

Alleged Meizu Blue Charm (mBlu) Headphones Spotted With Translucent Design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 8, 2017

Recently, a set of headphones said to be an upcoming product from Meizu‘s Blue Charm division made its maiden appearance online. The headset had the inscription “mBlu” crested on the body thus fuelling speculations that the Blue Charm division was likely going to be renamed as mBlu. The purported Meizu mBluheadphones have made another appearance online, this time around in multiple pictures.

The photos which popped up on Weibo appears to show the Blue Charm headphones with a translucent design. The design looks similar to the one which had earlier appeared online bearing the mBlu inscription but this time around we couldn’t find any logo on the body. Perhaps that is because the images are sort of blurry. The headphones have a silver colour and the wire also have a similar silver colour which sort of looks attractive.

Meizu had reorganised the company into three divisions, Meizu Blue Charm and Flyme divisions. The Meizu division oversees the flagship smartphones while the Blue Charm division handles mid-range and budget models and the Flyme division handles the software aspect. However, it was recently revealed that the Blue Charm division will soon be rebranded. We had earlier spotted a Meizu bezel-less smartphone named mBlu Zero. Also, Meizu recently renamed its Charm Blue website to mBlu.com. With the high-quality products lined up for release under the Blue Charm unit, we may likely be seeing some new products hitting the stands soon.

(source)

Honor 7X Sold Out Within Seconds In Its First Flash Sale In India

By

Jeet

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Dec 8, 2017

Honor 7X, the latest mid-range smartphone from Huaewi‘s sub-brand Honor, was launched in India on December 5 during a press event in London. The smartphone went on sale in India today for the first time, and as per the company, it was sold out within seconds.

The Honor 7X is available exclusively through online retailer Amazon India. The next sale for the smartphone is scheduled to take place on December 14 and registrations for the same have already started. In India, the phone is priced at Rs. 12,999 for the 32GB storage model, while the 64GB internal storage variant is priced at Rs. 15,999.

The smartphone features a 5.93-inch Full HD+ full-screen display with narrow bezels, 18:9 aspect ratio, a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels and a 2.5D screen on top. The device is powered by an octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 659 chipset — the same processor that powers Honor 9i.

It packs Mali T830 MP2 GPU, 4GB of RAM and comes in three options in terms of internal storage — 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. However, in India, the device is only available in 32GB and 64GB storage variants. The smartphone also supports storage expansion through microSD card up to 256GB.

For photography, the phone features a dual-camera setup, with 16-megapixel and 2-megapixel sensors on the back and an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the front. The smartphone packs a 3,340mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system based company’s own EMUI 5.1 custom skin.

Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS/GLONASS. There is also a fingerprint sensor on the back panel.

In India, the smartphone will be available in Gold, Aurora Blue and Black colour options. The company has also planned for several offers for the users who have registered to buy the smartphone.

Launch offers include 90GB of complimentary data from Airtel. Also, Amazon provides Kindle e-book promotion credits worth Rs. 300 with the phone, but only to first-time registrants and those who purchase it between December 8, 2017 and February 28, 2018.

Check out The Sleek Vivo X20 King of Glory Edition Hands On / Unboxing Photos

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 8, 2017

Vivo announced a new King of Glory Edition for the sleek Vivo X20 last week with the model billed to go on sale from December 8. The new Vivo X20 king of Glory Edition is based on the popular multiplayer online battle game from Tencent Games and is actually meant to commemorate the game’s second anniversary. The Vivo X20 is the second phone from BBK holdings which would be available in a commemorative edition for the game after the OPPO R11 King of Glory special edition smartphone which was announced recently.

The phone has got a very attractive paint job and is coated in two colors red and black. The upper V-shaped red portion is said to represent vitality and passion while the black portion represents calm and strength. On the lower part of the back panel, you’ll find a gold-plated logo of the game.

Apart from the beautiful colouring of the body, the Vivo X20 king of Glory Edition is scarcely different from the normal edition but is available with 6GB of RAM only. However, the FunTouch OS running on the Vivo X20 King of Glory Anniversary Limited Edition is heavily customized with game’s themes. Also, the smartphone will ship in an exclusive gift box which also looks attractive and has the King of Glory logo crested on top. The gift box also contains a complimentary earphone in addition to the charger and USB cable. As far as pricing of the smartphone goes, it carries a price tag of 3,498 Yuan (~$529). See the hands-on photos of the X20 King of Glory Edition from below. Photo credit goes to MyDrivers (Chinese).

Xiaomi Mi Note 3’s Camera Benchmarks Score on DxOMark is Better Than iPhone 8, Google Pixel, HTC U11

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 8, 2017

DxO Labs that is known for benchmarking the camera prowess of smartphones has recently tested the cameras of the Mi Note 3. The Xiaomi smartphone has managed to salvage an impressive score of 90 of DxOMark benchmarks.

The Mi Note 3 has scored 94 points DxOMark photography benchmarks whereas in the video shooting department, it has scored 82. DxOMark reveals that the Mi Note 3’s camera offers fast and accurate autofocus and impressive zoom capabilities.

It can shoot photos with effective noise reduction in different lighting conditions. Also, it is capable of capturing amazing bokeh effect shots. However, the dual cameras do not capture fine details in low light conditions. Also, there is noticeable noise in homogenous and shadow in bright light. Some colour casts were also observed during its benchmarks.

The Apple iPhone 8, Google Pixel and HTC U11 have respectively score 93, 90 and 90 in the DxOMark photography benchmarks. However, the Mi Note 3 is ahead of these phones with an impressive score of 94. The low score of 82 in video recording benchmarks has reduced its overall score to 90.

The Mi Note 3 is not only ranking ahead of iPhone 7 Plus on DxOMark but also it is listed among the top 10 best performing camera phones.

(source)

HTC U11 EYEs Could be Arriving With Amazing Selfie Snapper

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 8, 2017

In 2014, HTC had launched the Desire Eye smartphone that came with a massive selfie camera. It seems that the rumored HTC Ocean Harmony could be arriving with Eye branding. According to popular leakster Evan Blass, the Ocean Harmony may be released as HTC U11 EYEs and one of the recent reports have claimed that it may feature dual front-facing cameras.

The upcoming HTC Harmony will come to market as the, ahem, HTC U11 EYEs.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 7, 2017

Blass has not revealed any information on the specifications of the U11 EYEs. However, since it belongs to the U11 family, it is likely to sport a design that is similar to other U-series phones.

Recently, the mysterious HTC 2Q4R400 had received 3C certification in China. It is speculated that this phone could be codenamed as HTC Ocean Harmony. According to the Chinese media, it is likely feature 5.99-inch 18:9 aspect ratio display that will carry support for FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels.

The alleged HTC U11 EYEs is expected to arrive in Snapdragon 652 and Snapdragon 660 chipset variants. The SD 652 model may house 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage whereas the SD 660 variant may include 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The alleged U11 EYEs may feature a pair of 5-megapixel front-facing cameras and an OIS enabled 12-megapixel rear-mounted snapper. The handset is rumored to be fueled by 3,930mAh battery.

The Snapdragon 652 edition of U11 EYEs may cost 2,599 Yuan (~$395). On the other side, its Snapdragon 660 model may be priced at 3,599 Yuan (~$545). Since the smartphone has bagged 3C certification, it is speculated that its release could be close at hand.

Mysterious 2018 Sony Xperia Flagship Phones with Full Screen Design Appears in New Renders

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 8, 2017

Rumors that have been swirling since the past few months have claimed that Sony will be ditching the OmniBalance design that it has been using for its smartphones from 2013. It is speculated that the forthcoming Sony flagship may arrive with full screen design. A Gregorian website has shared renders of two of the upcoming smartphones that Sony may launch in the next year.

The renders that are present in this post are said to be based on designed drafts by Sony. The appearance of these Sony phones looks quite different from the existing Xperia branded smartphones.

The device having less rounded corners features a two-tone design for its back panel. The upper curved matte portion has two large-sized camera sensors that are oddly separated with a LED flash in between. The remaining portion appears glossy. Its front view shows that the major portion is occupied by the display that is surrounded by slim bezels. Also, it features dual front-facing speakers. This device seems to be the 2018 flagship smartphone from Sony.

[envira-gallery id=”161250″]

It is speculated that it features a 5.5-inch display that carries support for 4K resolution and is powered by Snapdragon 845 SoC and 6 GB of RAM. It may feature 128 GB of inbuilt storage and it is likely to arrive with Android 8.0 Oreo pre-installed. Its fingerprint scanner could be embedded under the display. This smartphone may debut as the upgraded version of Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

The other device has pronounced rounded corners. It seems to feature metal and glass combination design with a fingerprint scanner placed on its rear. The top-left of the back panel has a dual camera system that is accompanied by its LED flash. It appears that this one will also feature a full screen design. The other features of this phone are not known.

Sony has been consistently using the Mobile World Congress (MWC) platform to unveil its new phones. Hence, the Japanese tech giant is also expected to announce new Sony phones at the upcoming MWC event in February 2018.

What’s your opinion on the new design that is speculated to arrive on the upcoming Sony phones? Share us your views by posting comments below.

(source)

Huawei P11 Reportedly Arriving With iPhone X-Like Notch; Specifications Leaked

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 8, 2017

Huawei is reportedly working on its upcoming Huawei P11 flagship phone. It is speculated that its appearance will be quite different from the predecessor Huawei P10 phone. The alleged P11 is rumored to arrive with a bezel-less design as well as a notch that can be found on the iPhone X or Essential Phone.

XDA Developers has come across some firmware files for an upcoming Huawei flagship. One of the configuration files shows that the area surrounding the iPhone X-like notch portion as “RoundCornerDisplay.” It claims that there is another configuration file that specifically indicates the existence of a notch on the alleged P11.

It has been also found that through a configuration file that the smartphone features a 6.01-inch Samsung EA8074 CMD TFT LCD panel that carries support for Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. However, some other evidences indicate that it supports 2244 x 1080 pixels resolution. The publication claims that the alleged Huawei P11 could be having such a resolution because of the presence of a notch.

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer is expected to announce the Huawei P11 phone at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) event that will be held in February 2018. It is speculated that the P11 would be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset that fuels other flagship phones like Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro and Honor V10. These phones feature EMUI 8.0.0, but the alleged Huawei P11 is running on Android 8.0 Oreo that is overlaid with a newer edition of EMUI 8.0.1. The handset also seems to support Huawei’s Easy Projection which indicates that it will also feature USB 3.1 port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?25&v=lFLtBrAGDfU

The Huawei P11 is speculated to be codenamed as EMILY. The publication has also found different variants of EMILY such as EML-AL00, EML-L09, EML-L29 and EML-TL00 in the firmware files. These could include single-SIM and dual-SIM versions of P11 for the European markets. As of this writing, there is no information on the price tag of the phone.

Earlier in this week, well-known tipster Evan Blass had revealed that the next-generation Huawei P-series phone could be an imaging powerhouse. He has claimed that the alleged P11 may feature 40-megapixel Pro triple-lens Leica branded cameras that will be equipped with 5x hybrid zoom. It is also expected to feature 24-megapixel selfie snapper by Leica.

(source)

LG V30 Signature Edition Launched in Korea, Costs Nearly $2000

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

LG has announced a special edition variant of its V30 flagship. The LG V30 Signature Edition is exclusive to South Korea and comes with a number of upgraded features over the regular model.

First, the V30 Signature Edition has 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage rather than 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage like the standard variant.

LG has also changed the glass at the back to Zirconium ceramic which is less prone to scratches. LG adds that buyers will be able to get their names engraved on the device. There will also be special after-sales customer service for buyers in addition to a premium package that includes a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5 earphones and a pair of wired Bang & Olufsen earphones.

The phone will come in just two colors – black and white, and only 300 units will be available for sale.

Continue

Huami’s New Amazfit 2 Smartwatch Can Be Used For Swimming Up to 50 Meters

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Huami burst into the limelight after the manufacture of the Mi Band and Mi Band 2 for Xiaomi. The company has since carved a niche for itself and presently has several smartwatches and fitness trackers under its arsenal. One unique product under its sleeves is the popular Amazfit smartwatch. The Amazfit smartwatch was released last year and the company has recently announced that it would be launching a second-generation Amazfit Smartwatch 2 on December 12.

Over the past few days, Huami has been teasing some of the features the upcoming smartwatch would come with. The company had first teased that the new smartwatch would come with hand-polished ceramic bezels around the display. Yet another teaser has been released and it shows the Amazfit Smartwatch 2 would come with a swimming mode which would allow its usage underwater for up to a depth of 50 meters. That shows the device will be waterproof just like its predecessor and would be a useful one for tracking swimming activities by users.

We expect more teasers to be released before the official unveiling which is still about 4 days away. But the details already revealed points at some considerable improvements in the design (hand-polished ceramic bezels) and the specs (swimming mode). We can’t say if the Amazfit 2 will keep up with the 1.34-inch diameter which the first-gen model featured.We also expect the price tag to rally around the $120 price of the first model with some little adjustments to reflect the improved specs.

(source)

OnePlus Says Its All About Updates, (Still) No Treble

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

When OnePlus revealed that there will be no Project Treble support for its current devices, fans of the brand were displeased. A petition requesting for a reconsideration was started and OnePlus has responded to it. To cut the long story short, OnePlus says no Project Treble.

A staff of OnePlus responded to the petition during an AMA session and gave reasons why they won’t be implementing it.

According to him, Project Treble requires a storage partition to house the Android framework and the vendor image. Since this wasn’t a requirement for Android Nougat and older versions of Android, all their current devices do not have it.

I guess you are wondering why devices like the Essential Phone which also runs Android Nougat gets Project treble. OnePlus said they could do the same via OTA but it comes as a risk as the device may brick during partitioning, a risk they do not want users to face.

So does it mean that Essential and other manufacturers that have added Project Treble support to their flagship phones receiving Android Oreo have taken a risk? There is a chance these other companies didn’t consider their devices getting bricked or maybe they already partitioned the storage before release.

Continue

Xiaomi Revealed To Have Shipped 27.6 Million Smartphones In Q3 2017

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi yesterday launched the Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi 5 in China and on the sidelines of the event, the tech giant also disclosed that it had shipped a total of 27.6 million smartphones in Q3 2017, quoting a report by research firm, IDC. Xiaomi has been enjoying a favourable and successful run this year with a commendable performance in the first and second quarters of the year. DigiTimes had earlier predicted that Xiaomi’s shipment could fall between 25 – 30 million units and this was a result of multiple models that were released this year.

The company dubbed China’s Apple did not give details of how it was able to achieve such figures in shipments but we already know India and China both played strategic roles in achieving this feat. Xiaomi India recently took to social media to celebrate its record 9.2 million shipments recorded in Q3 in India alone. This represents more than 40%of its entire sales in the quarter under review.

Quite remarkably, Xiaomi managed to ship only 13.6 million smartphones in Q3 2016 and now is able to increase that exponentially through its strategic efforts to devolve from online-only sales model to a fusion of both offline and online sales. The company also disclosed that its tentacles are spreading far and wild as it has been recording strong performance in Russia, Indonesia, and a handful of European countries.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 7, 2017

When it comes to budget smartphones, you must accept compromises if you want to buy a decent device at an affordable price. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus and Honor 7X are among the best midrange phones released in Q4 2017 and we also consider them two of the best smartphones in terms of quality-price ratio. Seeing that they are two of the best options to choose in their price range, we think it is important to compare their specs to establish which among them — Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X has the best value for money.

	Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus	Honor 7X
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm, 180 grams	156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm, 165 grams
DISPLAY	5,99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.93 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 407 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, octa-core 2.0 GHz	HiSilicon Kirin 659, octa-core 2.36 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9	Android 7.0 Nougat, EMUI 5.1
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS
CAMERA	12 MP f/2.2 5 MP front camera	Dual 16 + 2 MP 8 MP front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh Fast charging 5V / 2A	3340 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

While there isn’t much difference between the displays of these phones, it is important to note that Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus offers a huge battery, which will surely offer a longer battery life. There are no significant differences on the hardware side as well, but Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has a SoC which is famous for having a very low energy consumption. Unfortunately, we still do not know much about the camera performances of these devices, but we think Honor 7X will shoot more interesting photos with its dual camera setup.

Cameras have never been a strong point in Xiaomi’s affordable phones, but we cannot say the same thing about affordable Huawei devices, which have provided satisfying photos most of the time. On the other hand, we think that Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus will be supported (on the software side) in a more solid way over time, while Honor 7X should receive fewer updates. Although it’s worth mentioning that the one year old Honor V9 got the early adopter program for Android Oreo recently, so things are not too bad on Huawei’s end.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is also more affordable (even though we still do not know prices outside of China): it will start from $151 in China (about 128 euros). Honor 7X has a starting price of $200 dollars in China and U.S and 299 euros in Europe.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

PRO

Amazing battery
Full display
Good performance
Very affordable price

CONS

Limited availability

Honor 7X

PRO

Elegant design
Full display
Nice dual camera
Above average battery

CONS

Higher price than R5P

If I had to choose between Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X Specs, then I would pick the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus as it offers very similar specs at a lower price and it has a bigger battery paired with a very efficient SoC (the Snapdragon 625).

What’s your choice?

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 7, 2017

Together with the 5-inch Redmi 5A, the new Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A are the cheapest smartphones from Xiaomi’s latest generation. If you are searching for a phablet but you have a very low budget, these two handsets may be the best in the market for your needs. Seeing that they are very similar and we can say the same about their price, we think it is appropriate to make a Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A comparison, at least basing on specs on the paper, especially because they are entry-level phones.

	Xiaomi Redmi 5	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7 mm, 157 g	153 x 76.2 x 7.7 mm, 153 g
DISPLAY	5.7 inches, 720 x 1440p (HD+), 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.5 inches, 720 x 1280p (HD), 16:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, octa-core 1.4 GHz
MEMORY	2 GB RAM, 16 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9	Android 7.0 Nougat, MIUI 9
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	12 MP f/2.2, 5 MP front camera	13 MP f/2.2, 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3300 mAh, fast charging 5V / 2A	3080 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM	Dual SIM with micro SD dedicated slot

The most evident difference between Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is in their displays: the first has a borderless display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, while the second has a classic 16:9 screen. So, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 has smaller dimensions and more pixels, even if the size of the display is almost the same. SoCs are different as well, but Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 and 435 can provide similar performances, even if the first is slightly more powerful.

However, note that Redmi Note 5A is available in a configuration which is more powerful than Redmi 5: the one with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is a better camera phone, especially for selfies, because it has a 16 MP front camera that can deliver pretty good level of detail. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 has a bigger battery, which should most likely translate into better battery life than the Redmi Note 5A. The price is almost the same: the Xiaomi Redmi 5 starts from $120 (101 euros), while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A costs $104 dollars (89 euros) in its base version.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 5

PRO

Full display
Better SoC
Bigger battery with fast charging
Low price

CONS

The camera department should not be anything special

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

PRO

More RAM and storage in the top variant
Dedicated micro SD slot
Great selfie camera
Solid build quality
Very affordable price

CONS

Smaller battery

Unless you care a lot about selfies, we suggest you spend $15-20 more and buy Xiaomi Redmi 5 as it’s a better device with its borderless display, powerful SoC and a bigger battery.

Huawei V9 & Honor 9 Get Android 8.0 Oreo-based EMUI 8 Early Adopters Program

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Huawei‘s Custom ROM EMUI 8 will soon be available for users of the Honor 9 and Honor V9 smartphones. This was made known via the official EMUI Weibo page where it was disclosed that the duo would get the upgrade through the early adopter program. This means users who want to be among the first to use the new EMUI 8 which is based on Android Oreo would need to apply to be part of the programme.

The program can be entered through the Member Service app and Huawei also disclosed that there are limited slots available meaning that admission into the early adopter program would be based on first come, first served. All users of the Honor V9 and Honor 9 need do is to access the Membership Service app and request for an upgrade and EMUI 8.0 version B323 would be pushed to their smartphones. It seems, though, that the features would be limited. The compatible Honor 9 models include the Honor 9 full Network standard version with 4GB + 64GB (STF-AL00) as well as the Honor 9 full Netcom version 6GB + 64GB (STF-AL10). Others include the Honor 9 Netcom Enjoy Edition 6GB + 128GB (STF-AL10), the China Mobile 4G version with 6GB + 64GB (STF-TL10), and the China Mobile 4G version with 6GB + 128GB (STF-TL10). The Honor V9 versions include to just the full Netcom 6GB + 128GB model (DUK-AL20) and the lower full Netcom 6GB + 64GB version (DUK-AL20) and 4GB + 64GB full Netcom version.

The Honor 9 and Honor V9 were both released earlier this year, June and February 2017 respectively. Both models come with EMUI 5 based on Android Nougat which makes them perfect fit for upgrades to Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0. Both models now add to the tally of Huawei smartphones that would soon get Android Oreo-based EMUI 8 upgrade. First, Huawei commenced the EMUI 8 Beta program for the P10 and P10 Plus and later the Mate 9 was spotted on Geekbench running Android Oreo. Perhaps, it won’t be long before full updates start hitting models.

(source)

Oppo F5 Youth With 18:9 Display And 16MP Front Camera Launched In India

By

Jeet

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Dec 7, 2017

Oppo F5 Youth, which was teased at the Oppo F5 launch event, has now been officially launched in India. Recently, the smartphone was made available in the Philippines.

The phone’s design is almost same as the design of the original model. The key difference is the missing antenna lines on the Youth model. Other than that, everything seems identical.

The smartphone comes with a 6-inch LTPS TFT Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6763T Helio P23 processor, coupled with 3GB RAM.

It packs 32GB of onboard storage which can also be expanded up to 256GB using a microSD card. Rather than a hybrid SIM card slot, the device comes with a dedicated microSD card slot.

On the photography front, the device features a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and an LED flash, along with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. In contrast, the F5 comes with a 16-megapixel rear camera sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 20-megapixel front camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture.

Connectivity options on the Oppo F5 Youth include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS, Micro-USB with USB OTG support, and a 3.5mm audio jack. For security features, the device comes with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner.

The phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat operating system based ColorOS 3.2, which brings features like split-screen multitasking, DND gaming mode, and a Night Shield mode. It also comes with support for Facial Unlock feature.

The Oppo F5 Youth is priced at Rs. 16,990 in India and will be available for purchase from Friday, i.e. December 8. The smartphone will be available through offline as well as online stores. As of now, the company has not revealed any details related to the launch offers.

Researchers Connect 3D-Printed Objects Over Wi-Fi Without Electronics

By

Jeet

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Dec 7, 2017

3D printing technology is becoming useful and to further increase its use-cases, researchers are working on to introduce something new that boosts the functionalities involved in using the technology.

In a steps towards that, researchers from the University of Washington have revealed that they have developed 3D-printed plastic objects that can connect to the internet without any electronics or batteries in the object itself.

The 3D printing plastic objects and sensors can collect useful data and communicate with other WiFi-connected devices entirely on their own.

This was recently presented at the Association for Computing Machinery’s SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia

Commenting on this, Vikram Iyer, a graduate student on the project, said:

Our goal was to create something that just comes out of your 3D printer at home and can send useful information to other devices. But the big challenge is how do you communicate wirelessly with WiFi using only plastic? That’s something that no one has been able to do before.

In the research paper, the researchers mentions that they have found a way to 3D-print plastic objects that can absorb or reflect ambient Wi-Fi signals and send data wirelessly to any Wi-Fi receiver.

The team employed backscatter techniques to allow devices to exchange information. They replaced some functions normally performed by electrical components with mechanical motion activated by springs, gears, switches and other parts that can be 3D printed — borrowing from principles that allow battery-free watches to keep time.

They have created an anemometer which measures wind speed, and attached it to a gear. When the gear spins, the teeth connect with an antenna embedded and that antenna reflects ambient Wi-Fi signal, which can be decoded by a Wi-Fi receiver.

The team has also said that they are making their 3D models available to the public so that 3D printing enthusiasts can utilize these objects at home.

(Source)

Xiaomi Noise Cancelling Piston Earphones launching December 12

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi has announced that it has a new pair of earphones launching soon. The official teaser poster reveals that the new earphones which should belong to the piston line will launch on the 12th of December.

The poster also teases the key feature of the upcoming Xiaomi piston earphones. According to a rough translation of the text on the teaser poster, the new earphones will have noise cancellation.

A second teaser poster shows a control slider with a text that translates into “freedom to switch” which might mean that one will be able to adjust the noise cancellation intensity.

It is not yet known if the earphones will be the in-ear or over-the ear type or if it will be wired or wireless.

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Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus & Redmi 5 Side By Side In Pictures: Impressive Duo!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi finally took the wraps off the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus, its first full-screen model in the mid-range segment. Xiaomi’s concept Mi Mix which was released last year can be credited to be the catalyst that spurred the trend we are presently witnessing in the smartphone industry. However, the Samsung Galaxy S8 played a great role and since the launch of the flagship Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus this year, we haven’t been able to keep count with the stats of models with such design.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus utilises the full-screen design but some might not be too impressed with it because it looks like Xiaomi just slightly reduced the bezels around the screen. However, there is still a considerable and noticeable amount of bezels on all four sides. The large screen form factor makes the reduced bezels quite obvious, though. The Redmi 5 comes in at 5.7 inches HD+ (1440 x 720p) screen while the Redmi 5 Plus has a display size of 5.99 inches with FHD+ (2160 x 1080p) resolution. Both models have a rear design similar to the Redmi 4X. There is a single camera and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor under the camera.

Apart from the full-screen design, one other aspect the Redmi 5 models tickle is their prices. The Redmi 5 starts at just 799 Yuan ($120) for the base 2GBRAM + 16GB storage variant. There is a second variant having 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and it still comes cheap at 899 Yuan (~$135). The Redmi 5 Plus also has a considerably cheap price tag for a phablet size smartphone. The base model of the Redmi 5 Plus has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and it costs 999 Yuan (~$151). On the other hand, the higher variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is priced at 1,299 Yuan (~$196).

At these prices, both models are expected to be top sellers and Xiaomi isn’t waiting too long before introducing them into the market. From December 12, fans domiciled in China can begin buying any of the models they want from online retail outlets like Mi Mall, Jingdong (JD.com), Suning Tesco, and Lynx. Check out more pictures of the sleek Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus below.

(source)