A List of Our Favorite Red Smartphones Released This Year

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Nov 28, 2017

Roses are red and so are these phones too. Manufacturers have been more experimental with colors this year. Rather than the boring gold, old gray, and classic black, we have seen phones launch in different shades of blue, green, pink, and red.

Of all the new colors, it is the red variants that actually stand out. Pull out a red phone from your pocket and you will definitely get people asking questions. It has always been the color that stuns and catches attention – that’s why it is easy to remember the lady with the red lipstick, red dress, or red car.

This post is a list of our favorite red phones released this year and is not in order of preference.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (Product) RED Special Edition

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus originally launched in Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. Then in March of this year, Apple partnered with (PRODUCT)^RED, a non-profit organisation that raises funds for the awareness and elimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa, to release both phones in red.

The reception in China was massive. JD.com is reported to have recorded nearly 500,000 reservations ahead of the March 24 release date.

OPPO F3 Red/OPPO F3 Diwali Edition

When the OPPO F3 was released in May, it was available in Gold and Rose Gold. However, a Facebook post by the manufacturer’s Philippines’s branch teased a red variant set for release in August.

The red variant has gold antenna lines instead of silver and the OPPO is also written in gold. A similar variant was released in India in October to celebrate the Diwali festival.

Xiaomi Mi 5X

The Xiaomi Mi 5X is a mid-range smartphone but with flagship cameras. It was originally released in black, gold, and rose pink when it launched in July. Xiaomi then announced a new red variant for it last month.

If you can get your hands on this red variant, good for you as the Mi 5X is the same phone as the Android One Mi A1. However, markets where the Mi A1 are sold only have it in gold, rose gold, and black.

Meizu M6 Note Red/M6 Note One Piece

The Meizu M6 Note was well received when it launched. It is the manufacturer’s first smartphone to be powered by a Snapdragon processor and also packs dual cameras. The phone already looked stunning with its quad-LED flash and Peacock Blue variant, then Meizu dropped a fiery hot Flame Red variant and a One Piece Special Edition variant.

Xperia XZ Premium Rosso

If you dislike Sony’s thick bezel design, it is understandable, but you can’t deny that the Xperia XZ Premium Rosso is enthralling. The new color variant was announced last month and should make a good holiday gift for yourself or that special person.

OPPO R11S

The OPPO R11S is the second OPPO phone on this list. It is one of the full-screen smartphones the manufacturer has launched in recent weeks.

Announced in Black and Champagne gold, OPPO also released a special red variant. One cool feature of the red variant is the way the red seems to bleed from the back into the bezels in front.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 is one of my personal favorites this year. Not only does it have impressive specs but it kills the competition with its gorgeous design and pricing.

The Nut Pro 2 looks good in black and gold, but it’s the red variant that shines the most.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Burgundy Red

The Galaxy S8 is the oldest Android phone on this list but also one of the best. It launched in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, and Maple Gold but Samsung has also added a Rose Pink variant, and more recently Burgundy Red.

Some of these colors are exclusive to certain markets. The Burgundy Red for example is available in South Korea only but we hope Samsung launches it in more countries.

OnePlus 5T Red Lava

OnePlus launched the 5T in China today but unlike other countries that get the phone in Midnight Black, China also gets a Red Lava variant. The Red OnePlus 5T is to mark the 4th anniversary of the smartphone company.

This is OnePlus’s first red phone and it is love at first sight.

Honor V10

The OnePlus 5T is not the only full-screen smartphone that launched in China today. Honor also took the wraps off its V10 flagship.

The Honor V10 has got a lot going for it. It packs nearly all the features of the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro and at a much lesser price. It also comes in a beautiful red variant which we totally love.

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Xiaomi Redmi 5 Images & Specs Leaked By China Telecom

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 28, 2017

The Mi MIX 2 is the only Xiaomi phone with an 18:9 display but that will be changing soon with the upcoming release of the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5. Pictures and full specification details of the former have been accidentally leaked by China Telecom ahead of its rumored release tomorrow.

Design

The photos of the Redmi 5 leaked is of the gold variant. The design isn’t really different from that of the Redmi Note 4X. The key change is the front which now has slightly smaller bezels to accommodate the full-screen display.

Xiaomi has kept the IR blaster and audio jack at the top of the device while the bottom is home to the micro USB port and speaker grilles. Buttons are on the right and SIM tray is on the left.

Specs

The Redmi 5 is said to have a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 display. It will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage which can be expanded by up to an additional 128GB.

The processor is listed as the MSM8953 Lite which is confusing. The Snapdragon 625 is actually the MSM8953 but we are not aware of a Lite version of the chipset. Though the processor is clocked at 1.8GHz instead of 2.0GHz like other Snapdragon 625 phones, so that may be where the “Lite” comes in.

The Redmi 5 has a single 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera. The phone has dual SIM support but there is no mention of if it is a triple-card slot like that of the Redmi Note 5A or a hybrid slot.

Surprisingly, the Redmi 5 is said to run MIUI 8.5.1.1 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat rather than MIUI 9. Battery capacity is put at 3300mAh.

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OnePlus 5T Sales Begin in India on Amazon, OnePlus Store

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

OnePlus 5T was made official in India by live broadcasting the launch event at different multiplexes across India. It was then briefly made available for buying through flash sales on Nov. 21 and Nov. 24. However, from today the smartphone is available for purchase on Amazon India and OnePlus Store online.

The 64 GB OnePlus 5T with 6 GB RAM costs Rs. 32,999 (~$512) in India. The 128 GB OP5T with 8 GB RAM is priced at Rs. 37,999 (~$590). The 64 GB and 128 GB models of the predecessor OnePlus 5 smartphone was also made available with same pricing.

Both Amazon India and OnePlus Store online are providing various kinds of attractive offers for OnePlus 5T buyers. Some of the offers include Rs. 1,500 (~$23) cash back for owners of HDFC credit and debit cards, 12-month accidental damage insurance coverage from Servify for free, 1,000 GB 4G data for Idea subscribers, 1-year Gold membership on Zomato for free, Rs. 500 credit on Kindle store, Rs. 300 Amazon Pay balance for Amazon Prime customers. and Rs. 250 Amazon Pay balance for streaming video through Prime Video app.

The Referral Leaderboard campaign from OnePlus that is running between Nov. 21 and Nov. 30 provides 200 redeemable points and Rs. 1,000 (~$15) discount on OnePlus branded accessories to referred OP5T purchasers on online store of OnePlus. For detailed information on the above offers, we advise our readers to visit online stores of Amazon and OnePlus.

The OnePlus 5T is only available in Midnight Black in India. However, the company is expected to add new color variants in the near future. The smartphone was also unveiled in China today through an exclusive unveil event. Apart from Midnight Black edition, OnePlus will be also selling a special Red Lava color variant from Dec. 17 to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the company.

(source 1, 2)

Xiaomi’s Deshka Smartphone Launching In India on November 30 Will Be A FlipKart Exclusive

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 28, 2017

Xiaomi India has been very active lately. If there isn’t a new smartphone joining the fray, it will be a new record has been set by the company which is just 3-years-old in India. India has played a key role in the resurgence of the Mi brand after a dismal performance last year. Considering the huge potential the Indin market has, Xiaomi is intent on cementing this new found love for its products in India. The Chinese company is set to launch a new smartphone designed specifically for the Indian market.

The smartphone has featured in a number of teasers shared by XIaomi India’s CEO Manu Jain and also on the official Mi India Twitter account. The device is simply identified as Desh ka smartphone. For the avoidance of doubt, Desh Ka is a Hindi phrase which translates as (Country’s). Thus, the Desh Ka smartphone may just refer to a smartphone designed for the Indian market with the peculiarity of the market put into considerations. Some of the teasers which have been circulating on Twitter over the past few days suggest the device will feature a big battery and decent specs. There are speculations in some quarters, though, that the phone may be the Redmi 5A which is already official in China.

Also, Xiaomi has confirmed that the smartphone will be Flipkart exclusive. The online retailer has already created a product page for the Xiaomi smartphone. No, there are no specifications listed on the page, in case you are wondering. We’ll have to wait till November 30 to get the full details of the device.

(source)

Honor 7X To Launch In India On December 5, Will Go On Sale From December 7

By

Jeet

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Nov 28, 2017

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has today confirmed that it will launch the Honor 7X smartphone in the Indian market on December 5. The smartphone, which will be Amazon exclusive in India, will go on sale from December 7.

The company is hosting an event in London on December 5 where the Honor 7X launch will be announced, along with the global launch of the Honor V10. The event will also be live streamed in India through the Honor India Facebook page at 8 pm IST on December 5.

The smartphone was launched in China at a media event. Earlier, the smartphone was also teased by the company to debut in the Indian market with an “unbeatable price” tag. Recently, the company started taking registrations for the smartphone on its own website and on Amazon India.

The Honor 7X flaunts a 5.93-inch Full HD+ full-screen display with thin-bezels and 18:9 aspect ratio with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The phone is powered by an octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 659 chipset, along with 4GB of RAM.

The smartphone comes in three options in terms of internal storage — 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB, and also supports storage expansion through microSD card up to 256GB.

Honor 7X comes with dual-camera setup, featuring a 16-megapixel and 2-megapixel sensors on the rear and an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the front. The smartphone packs a 3,340mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat-based company’s own EMUI 5.1 custom skin.

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

On the landing page for the phone, Amazon India mentions that Honor will be giving away 150 power banks of 10,000mAh capacity and 850 earphones with a mic, to select registrants. The winners for the same will be announced on January 8, 2018.

Further, the company said that there will be twenty winners who will receive Honor 7X devices after taking part in the ‘Amazon Registration and Amazon App Event’. For the bumper prize, seven registered users will win holiday packages from Yatra.

(Source)

Moto E and Moto G Series To Get Play Variants Next Year

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 28, 2017

This year Motorola added a bunch of new phones to its lineup. In addition to the Moto E, Moto G, and Moto Z series, we saw the launch of the Moto C series and the return of the Moto X. Motorola also refreshed the G series six months after it launched. However, one phone the didn’t get a release this year is the Play variant of the Moto G series.

The first iteration of the Moto G Play was released last year as part of the 4th generation Moto G series. It packed less powerful specs than the Moto G4, such as a smaller display and battery.

Next year will see the return of Play to Lenovo's Moto G lineup in the form of the Moto G6 Play (alongside the G6 and G6 Plus).

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 17, 2017

Same goes for the next Moto E (E5/E5 Play/E5 Plus). https://t.co/kp1XZziUEJ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 27, 2017

According to Evan Blass, the 6th generation Moto G will see the return of the Play Variant. The Moto E series will also get a Play variant for the first time. So that is two extra phones for next year’s lineup. The lineup for both series according to Evan is as follows:

Moto G6 Play
Moto G6
Moto G6 Plus
Moto E5 Play
Moto E5
Moto E5 Plus

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Huawei Maimang 6 Aurora Blue Edition to be Available from November 30

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

The Maimang 6 is Huawei’s first full screen smartphone that was unveiled in September this year was made available only in Black and Gold versions in China. However, today Huawei has confirmed that the Aurora Blue edition of Maimang 6 will be available for purchase starting from Nov. 30. Here is the official poster that confirms the arrival of the new color variant for Maimang 6.

The company had confirmed at the launch of the Maimang 6 smartphone that it would be arriving in three colors like Obsidian Black, Streamer Gold and Aurora Blue. The Blue variant that was not made available at launch is finally arriving on Nov. 30. As far as the pricing of the Aurora Blue is concerned, it costs 2,399 Yuan (~$363) which is the same amount for other color variants of the Huawei Maimang 6.

The Maimang 6 features a 5.9-inch display that produces 18:9 aspect ratio and carries support for FHD+ resolution. It is driven by Kirin 659 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The native storage of the Maimang 6 is 64 GB. It includes a 3,340mAh battery.

It features a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual selfie cameras. The backside of the phone houses a 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual snappers. Lastly, it includes a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. The very same smartphone is available with other names like Honor 9i, Nova 2i and Mate 10 Lite in different markets.

Honor V10 Launched: 5.99-inch 18:9 Screen, Front Fingerprint Sensor, Kirin 970 Chip & More

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 28, 2017

Huawei’s elite Honor brand has gone official with the Honor V10 in a ceremony held in China today. The Honor V10 has been a regular on leaks and rumours and most of the rumours turned out to be correct. For one, the device utilizes a fullscreen design and is powered by the latest Kirin 970 chip. Let’s take a look at the design and specifications of the Honor V10.

Design & Specifications

The Honor V10 features a 5.99-inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. This gives the device an 18:9 aspect ratio. As you would expect, the device packs a metal body crafted using modern Korean technology and it has a width of 74.98mm. The V10 also features an ultra-slim body which is just 6.97mm thick. The most spectacular aspect of the Honor V10’s full-screen design is that it also features a front-mounted fingerprint sensor which also doubles as the home button.

As stated, the V10 is powered by a Kirin 970 chip which has a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The phone is said to have a visual, auditory, learning, cognitive, computing, and decision-making ability. It also has the ability to identify up to 33 images per second and brings 25 times performance improvement when compared to the previous generation chip. The new chip brings on several other features to the smartphone which we’ll not go into. You can read up our article on the Kirin 970 chip.

Furthermore, the smartphone is available in up to three memory variants. 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 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.

Prices & Availability

The Honor V10 comes in Magic Black, Aurora Blue, Beach Gold and Charm Red colour variant. As for the prices, the 4GB + 64GB variant will sell for 2699 Yuan (~$409). The price goes up to 2,999 Yuan (~$454) for the 6GB + 64GB version while the 6GB + 128GB version carries a 3,499 Yuan (~$530) price tag. The prices are quite competitive and so, we’d predict a good outing for this sleek model. Reservations for the smartphone has already commenced while it will go on sale on December 5 at 10.08 via Huawei Mall, Jingdong, Lynx, Suning Tesco and Gome.

OnePlus 5T Unveiled in China in Black and Red Lava Colors, Registrations Have Started

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

OnePlus had held a global unveil event on Nov. 16 to introduce the OnePlus 5T smartphone. Today, the Chinese firm has introduced the OP5T in the home country through an exclusive launch event. In other countries, the OnePlus 5T is available only in Midnight Black color. Since Dec. 16 marks the fourth anniversary of OnePlus, the company will be selling OP5T in a China-exclusive Red Lava color option starting from Dec. 17.

OnePlus 5T China Pricing and Availability

The 64 GB OnePlus 5T that includes 6 GB of RAM is carrying a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (~$454). The 128 GB variant of OP5T has 8 GB of RAM and it is priced at 3,499 Yuan (~$530). The 64 GB and 128 GB OnePlus 5T will be available in Midnight Black color starting at 10 AM on Dec. 1 in China.

OnePlus has already started receiving registrations on its official website. Its retailing partners like JD have also begun with registrations. On Dec. 17, OnePlus 5T Red Lava model featuring 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM will be available for buying. It will can be purchased for 3,499 Yuan (~$530). Here are the official images of the OnePlus 5T Red Lava model.

[envira-gallery id=”159588″]

OnePlus 5T Specs and Features

OnePlus 5T for China features the same specifications as global variant. It is fitted with a 6.01-inch Optic AMOLED display that covers the major portion of the front panel as it offers a screen to screen-to-body ratio of around 80 percent. The screen produces FHD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 18:9. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

For photography, the OnePlus has a rear-mounted dual camera system that features a f/1.7 aperture 16-megapixel sensor and a f/1.7 aperture 20-megapixel sensor. It has a f/2.0 aperture selfie snapper. The smartphone is running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat flavored Oxygen OS 4.7. Both the storage models of the OnePlus 5T are powered by Snapdragon 835 chipset. It is packed with a 3,300mAh battery that is coupled with Dash Charge fast charging technology.

360 N6 Pro Official: Ticks All The Boxes To Be Crowned Mid-Range King

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 28, 2017

The 360 N6 Pro is official and it just might be the best mid-range phone (in terms of value for money) released this year. 360 Mobiles is known for releasing phones that pack more value than the price, and the N6 Pro keeps to this tradition.

360 N6 Pro Design

The N6 Pro on first look appears to have a double-sided glass design but its actually only the front that has glass. The rear is metal but has a non-conductive vacuum (NCVM) coating that gives it a smooth and highly reflective finish similar to glass.

The glass up front is 2.5D and it covers not only the display but also the bezels at the top and bottom. The bottom of the phone is home to the micro USB port, speaker grille and microphone while the top houses the 3.5mm audio jack.

The overall design of the N6 Pro doesn’t look bad but we wish it was available in more colors.

360 N6 Pro Specs

The N6 Pro’s selling point is its display. It is a 5.99” screen with the popular 18:9 aspect ratio and a 2160 x 1080 resolution. The bezels have been cut to make way for the screen, resulting in a phone with an 84.5% screen-to-body ratio.

Under the phone’s metal body is a Snapdragon 660 processor, a more than capable processor that should handle anything you throw at it. The N6 Pro comes in three RAM and ROM configurations. The base version has 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM; there is a 6GB RAM +64GB model, and the high-end version comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. All three models have support for storage expansion.

360 Mobiles has also gone all out in the camera department as the N6 Pro comes with dual rear cameras. The primary camera is a 16MP sensor paired with a 2MP sensor for capturing depth of field information for portrait photos. There is also an 8MP f/2.2 sensor up front for selfies.

Beneath the dual camera setup is a fingerprint scanner. The position of the scanner has always been the rear for 360 phones, so this isn’t a design change. The phone has a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 4.2, and dual SIM support (nano only).

The N6 Pro wraps its specs up with a massive 4050mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0. 360 Mobiles say the battery should last up to two days on a single charge.

Continue

Xiaomi And Baidu Partners To Work Together On IoT And Artificial Intelligence

By

Jeet

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Nov 28, 2017

China-based internet giant Baidu and smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi have announced that they have formed a strategic partnership under which both the companies will work together for developing technologies in the domain of Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.

This was announced today at Xiaomi’s first developer conference in Beijing. This alliance marks the coming together of third most valuable publicly traded Chinese technology company — Baidu, and one of the world’s most valuable private company — Xiaomi. The alliance is intended to advance China’s smart manufacturing capabilities using AI, IoT and big data.

However, exact details regarding the tie-up have not been disclosed as of now. But, both the companies said that will immediately explore opportunities in voice recognition, deep learning and computer vision, in addition to more work with DuerOS.

Baidu’s vice chairman, group president and COO, Qi Lu, said,

The two companies have joined forces in forming a strong partnership to make users’ experience more compelling, moving on to the next stage in AI development. Xiaomi has accumulated solid experience in smart hardware, big data and established a smart devices ecosystem. Baidu has strong technological fundamentals in AI systems, with our conversational AI system DuerOS, to support the development of the IoT industry.

In July, Baidu launched the DuerOS, which is a conversation-based AI system to support the development of the IoT industry. The open platform aims to help developers create voice-enabled devices that can hear, understand and follow commands given by the user. Since its launch, the DuerOS has added more than 130 partners and is embedded in products including smartphones, TVs, speakers, smart watches and home appliances.

They will also leverage Xiaomi’s experience in applications and its large number of active users, along with the smart device ecosystem, in order to enhance applications that are able to better understand real scenarios, users and their needs.

Baidu has been on the global technology stage and its reach extends into robotics, AR, VR and self-driving cars. These technologies could also be areas of joint cooperation in the future.

Sony Xperia X Performance Gets Android 8.0 Oreo Update

By

Jeet

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Nov 28, 2017

After Xperia XZ and XZs, another Sony smartphone is now getting the latest Android 8.0 Oreo update. The Sony Xperia X Performance, the smartphone that was launched last year, is now receiving the latest Android version build.

With this, the Xperia X Performance has become the fourth smartphone from Sony to be updated to the latest Android Oreo operating system. Prior to Xperia XZ and XZs, the company had released Android Oreo for Xperia XZ Premium in October.

The software version build for the Sony Xperia X Performance is 41.3.A.0.401. This is the same build number as the Oreo update for the Xperia XZ and XZs.

The update comes with the latest November Android security patch as well as all of the new Oreo features such as Picture-in-Picture, Smart Text selection, Auto-fill, App shortcuts, Notification dots, and more.

There are several new Xperia features included, such as Xperia Actions, and Reminders. The update is reportedly around 1.2GB in size. So, make sure you are on a stable Wi-Fi connection.

The Sony Xperia X Performance was launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and was updated to the Android 7.1 Nougt operating system in November last year.

The latest Android Oeo update is available over-the-air (OTA) and is being rolled out in phases. So if you have not yet received the update, don’t worry as it should be available to everyone in around one week. Both single SIM and dual SIM variants – with model number F8131 and F8132, respectively – are getting the update.

Sony is one of the very few smartphone manufacturers which is actively rolling out Android updates to their devices. Recently, Nokia rolled out Android Oreo for Nokia 8 and promised to roll out the same for Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 smartphones.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy S9, LG G7 Launching in January?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

Since the competition for market shares is intensifying between Samsung, Apple and Chinese smartphones OEMs, it is forecasted that the new smartphones may debut earlier next year. Fresh information suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S9 and LG G7 may debut in January 2018.

Samsung is known for unleashing its Galaxy S series flagship phones in March every year in the U.S. and the U.K. Recently, well-known tipster Evan Blass had claimed that Samsung may showcase the Galaxy S9 and S9+ at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2018.

It is speculated that the Galaxy S9 duo would be arriving early to disturb the sales of the immensely popular Apple iPhone X that has gone on sale in various markets recently. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are expected to arrive with 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch S-AMOLED Infinity Display, Snapdragon 845 chipset, vertically arranged dual rear cameras and a repositioned fingerprint scanner.

LG too is rumored to be prepping up to launch the LG G7 in January 2018. The LG G5 and LG G6 smartphones were unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event that was in late February each year. It seems that the LG is working on introducing the LG G7 a month earlier than its preceding phones. The LG G7 is speculated to feature an OLED display and Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Meanwhile, Apple seems to be building the alleged iPhone SE 2 in India. The compact-sized iPhone will be reportedly aimed towards emerging markets like India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It is likely to debut in March next year. Its rumored specs include Apple A10 chipset, iOS 11, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, Touch ID fingerprint sensor and 12-megapixel rear camera.

Do you think that the Galaxy S9 and LG G7 will debut in January 2018? Will iPhone X encounter poor sales because of the early arrival of Galaxy S9 and LG G7? Let us know your views by adding your comments below.

(source)

OnePlus 6 Concept Model Appears in a New Video

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

OnePlus has recently launched the OnePlus 5T flagship phone with full screen design. The OnePlus 6 smartphone will arrive as its successor by the middle of next year. However, folks at Concept Creator has created a video to show off their concept model of OnePlus 6.

What’s shown in the new video is not the actual design of the OnePlus 6, but a concept model that has been created considering the features that may arrive on the phone. The device seems to feature a metallic body with a red colored OnePlus logo on its rear. It appears that the phone will be available in black and dark red color variants.

The backside of the OnePlus 6 concept model features a vertically aligned dual camera system. The front view of the phone shows that it will carry the same full screen design that has been made available on the OnePlus 5T. The screen of the phone is surrounded by thinner bezels than the OP5T.

The left edge of the phone has the volume buttons and the alert slider. The Power key can be found on its right side. The fingerprint scanner is embedded under the Power button. The right edge of the phone also features a dedicated camera button for launching. The USB-C port can be found on the bottom side of the phone along with two speaker grills. The 3.5mm audio jack is found lying on the top edge of the phone.

The concept video only showcases the design of the OnePlus 6, but does contain detailed information on its specs. However, the video did mention that the OnePlus 6 has a 6-inch QHD AMOLED screen. It has also stated that the OP6 has a 16-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual camera system coupled with features like f/1.6 aperture and OIS.

Will the real OnePlus 6 resemble with the one shown in the above concept video? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source|via)

Random Reboots On Google Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL Is Likely Due To LTE Modem

By

Jeet

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Nov 28, 2017

Google’s flagship smartphones of this year — Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been a subject of criticism due to the issues faced by the users. Now, another issue related to the device has surfaced online and this time it is random reboots. However, it is not new since many users have been facing the issue since the phone’s launch.

Some users of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been noticing that their smartphone is randomly rebooting. Few of those users are facing the issue since the launch of the smartphone. However, the cause for the random reboots was not known until now. Apparently, the cause is tied to the phone’s LTE modem.

Nader Babbili, a user of the Google’s Pixel product forum has found out the culprit and claims that the LTE modem is the cause for such random reboots. He further adds that switching to 3G-only mode on the device actually solves the problem. In the forum, he wrote:

I KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING!!! It’s from being in a low signal area and LTE – for example when I’m at home on wifi it rarely happens, once I leave my wifi area (low signal area, LTE comes and goes) reboots happen constantly . . . So I went into Settings -> Network and Internet -> Mobile Network and change Preferred network type to only use 3G = NO MORE REBOOTS! Can someone else please confirm this? Obviously leaving LTE off is not feasible, but hopefully it points Google in the right direction for fixing this . . . . .

I’ve narrowed it down even more . . . the area that it continuously reboots with LTE has a Wilson Cell Amplifier in the area, I got access to be able to unplug it temporarily . . . . and low and behold LTE is on, and no more reboots . . . . so the Amplifier is the culprit . . . . either the phone doesn’t know how to work with a boosted signal or the booster doesn’t know how to work with Pixel . . .

Some are pointing out the reason, suggesting that the modem is causing the kernel panic when the device is in LTE mode. However, it is not yet clear what triggers the panic.

We just hope the issue is software related so that it can be fixed with a software update. It remains to be seen what Google has to say about this issue and when it offers a solution for the random reboots.

(Source)

Nokia 9 Renders Appear As Protective Case Gets Listed On Amazon UK

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 28, 2017

HMD Global Oy controlled Nokia was tipped to launch the Nokia 2, Nokia 7 and Nokia 9 at MWC 2018 but the Nokia 2 and Nokia 7 are already official. The Nokia 9 which is expected as another flagship model is still shrouded in mystery. However, the expected flagship model is in the news now. That is because a protective case said to be for the Nokia 9 was spotted on Amazon UK where it was listed for sale.

The case was manufactured by case-maker HualuBro and is sold by more than one seller on Amazon.It would have been treated like just another protective casing if not that the listing also revealed the purported render of the flagship 9. The listing is accompanied by some 3D renders of the Nokia 9 revealing the design to a large extent both the front as well as the back.

The renders confirm some details contained in previous leaks like the presence of an edge-to-edge display and a dual camera setup. The display wraps around the long edges of the case while the dual camera is aligned in the vertical direction with the LED flash at the right side. The device also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as captured in the renders.

The Amazon listing for the Nokia 9’s HualuBro-manufactured protective case could be an indication that Nokia will launch the flagship soon. However, we may have to wait till next year to see the flagship launched. The case is available in Carbon Fiber Black, Blue, and Red, as well as Litchi Black, Blue, and Red. Each of the protective case sells for a discounted price of £3.88 (around $5.20). This brings the price down from the original price tag of £26.88 ($36).This bold listing could be a confirmation of the Nokia 9’s design or else how do we explain selling a protective case when we are yet to even confirm the design?

(source)

Samsung Patent Filing Reveals Technology for Long-Lasting Graphene Batteries that May Charge Faster

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Nov 28, 2017

Samsung Advanced Institute of Training (SAIT), a research wing of the South Korean company, has managed to synthesize a “graphene ball” through which lithium-ion batteries can be made to last longer and charge faster. In other words, it can increase the capacity of lithium-ion batteries by 45 percent as well as charge them five times faster.

The existing lithium-ion batteries can take around an hour to charge completely. The new technology can possibly reduce the charging time to just 12 minutes. It can be also used in electric cars in future as graphene ball batteries are able to maintain a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.

The entire information on the findings of SAIT is available on Nature. SAIT created a three-dimensional graphene ball by synthesizing graphene with silica. The graphene balls were then used as anode and cathode for lithium-ion batteries. South Korea and the U.S. are the two regions were Samsung has filed a patent for this new technology.

The commercial use of lithium-ion batteries began in 1991 and since then it has been widely used in electronic devices. Because of its limitations, companies are now looking for alternatives. SAIT’s graphene ball technology appears very promising, but there is no guarantee whether Samsung will introduce it in its upcoming flagship smartphones like Galaxy S9 or Note 9.

SAIT is known for carrying out numerous technological innovations such as the development of the cadmium-free Quantum Dot materials that are used in Samsung’s flagship OLED TVs. In August, it had also opened an Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab in University of Montreal in Canada.

(source|via)

The Substitute Phone May Hold The Cure To Smartphone Addiction

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 28, 2017

Smartphone addiction is gradually turning out to be a problem faced by quite a number of persons the world over. This is no definitive way to determine addiction but the urge to always fiddle with the smartphone or reach for your mobile whenever there is a text message alert. Now, Austrian designer Klemens Schillinger has designed a device which he dubbed Substitute phone.

The Substitute phone, just like the name implies, is meant to serve as a substitute to the actual smartphone. For those who are really very much addicted to their smartphones, trying to stop the usage could trigger withdrawal symptoms. That is where the Substitute phone comes in, as it helps such persons cope with being away from their smartphone.

The SUbstitute phone is made up of a series of five phones, which use stone beads designed in the pattern of the different motions used for smart devices, such as scrolling, zooming, and swiping. The aim is for users to utilize the gadget as a coping mechanism to tackle the urge of always checking the smart. The device doesn’t look too attractive. The body of the “phone” is made of black polyoxymethylene plastic. Perhaps, that was done on purpose.

The product doesn’t look too attractive and could get boring! But we’ll have to wait until it is officially launched before drawing a conclusion about that.

(source)

MediaTek’s New MT2621 Chipset Is For IoT Devices, Trackers & Wearables

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 27, 2017

Taiwanese chip manufaturer, MediaTek has announced a new chipset. Called the MT2621, the new SoC is designed for smart trackers, wearables, IoT devices and for industrial use.

Mediatek MT2621

The MT2621 is a dual mode processor that supports NarrowBand IoT R14 radio technology as well as GSM/GPRS connectivity. This means that a single SIM and antenna covers both networks.

The MT2621 is a single-core ARM7 processor clocked at 260MHz with 160KB + 4MB of embedded storage. MediaTek says applications can be built using an easily customizable Linux-based OS.

There is also support for LCM, camera, and audio AMP interfaces for devices with sight and sound, in addition to Bluetooth 4.2 for connectivity to other devices.

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HTC U11 Getting Android Oreo Update Today, Starting With Unlocked Units

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Nov 27, 2017

A number of key manufacturers have begun rolling out Android Oreo to their devices. Sony was the first with the Xperia XZ Premium and was followed by OnePlus for the OnePlus 3/3T. Nokia also dropped the Oreo update for the Nokia 8 a few days ago. Now it is the turn of the HTC U11.

Vice President of Product Management at HTC, Mo Versi, took to Twitter on Saturday to announce that the Android Oreo update for the HTC U11 will be available today starting with the unlocked version.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. The Oreo OS update will be available for download on the HTC u11 unlocked version starting on Monday! Enjoy!

— Mo Versi (@moversi) November 25, 2017

It's coming soon. I'll let you know when we're close. The 10, Ultra and u11 life will receive the update. Thanks

— Mo Versi (@moversi) November 25, 2017

In replies to questions related to the tweet, he also mentioned that the update will soon be available to Sprint users as well as the HTC 10, HTC U Ultra, and HTC U11 Life.

The HTC U11 is a 5.5” smartphone with a 1440 x 2560 resolution. It is powered by the Snapdragon 835 mobile platform and comes in 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM and 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM variants.

HTC is one of the few manufacturers that have not jumped on the dual camera bandwagon ever since it became mainstream. So the U11 comes with a single 12MP f/1.7 sensor. Front facing camera is also a single 16MP sensor.

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