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Nov 8, 2017

On Nov. 16, OnePlus will be unleashing the OnePlus 5T flagship phone with full screen design. In the previous month, a leaked render of the OnePlus 5T had revealed the front and rear sides of the phone. Today, another render showing both the sides of the smartphone has appeared. This new render seems to be a bit different from the one that had emerged in the last month.

The most striking change that can be seen in the new render of OnePlus 5T is that it features a larger display with very thin side bezels. Also, the upper and lower bezels are smaller in size when compared to the OnePlus 5 phone. As the rumor mill has been claiming, the new render suggests that the OP5T would be arriving with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. Speculations are rife that it would be featuring a 6-inch display that will be carrying support for FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels.

Because of the large-sized display, the OnePlus 5T is unlikely to feature a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. The latest render has the fingerprint sensor placed just above the OnePlus logo on the rear panel of OP5T. The previous render had revealed that the smartphone would be featuring a squarish fingerprint scanner. However, the fingerprint sensor appears oval in the latest render.

The overall appearance of the phone in the new render resembles the recently unveiled OPPO R11s smartphone. The back panel of the OP5T that features a dual camera system at the top-left corner appears like the OP5 phone.

OnePlus has already confirmed that the smartphone would be featuring a 3.5mm audio jack. Rumors are rife that the OnePlus 5T would be coming with a larger battery and improved dual rear cameras. It is expected to arrive with Android Oreo preinstalled.

A recent report has suggested that the OnePlus 5T would be coming in 64 GB and 128 GB storage options like the preceding phone. These models are rumored to carry the same pricing as OnePlus 5.

What’s your opinion on the new renders of the OnePlus 5T? Does it appear legitimate? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source|via)

Broadcom’s Attempt To Acquire Qualcomm Could Face Regulatory Scrutiny In China

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Nov 8, 2017

Broadcom recently made an unsolicited $130 billion bid for the acquisition of chipmaker Qualcomm, which would be the single largest pure technology deal in history and create a $200 billion manufacturing giant.

The offer, which includes $25 billion of net debt, evaluates Qualcomm at about $70.00 per share — which is a premium over the company’s $61.81 valuation after the end of trading last Friday.

However, experts believe that the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China may block or restrict the merger even though both companies agree to the consolidation deal.

The deal is expected to come under particular regulatory scrutiny in China as authorities are focusing on protecting domestic players in a key industrial sector.

A Hong Kong-based technology lawyer, who remains unnamed, said to FT:

Given China’s ambitions in the chip and mobile telecoms space, I can’t see the Chinese authorities taking kindly to a Broadcom-Qualcomm merger. It would likely create the biggest and most powerful player in the mobile chip market.

The Chinese regulator would likely organise a full-fledged review of a Qualcomm-Broadcom merger deal. The process takes place in three major phases and can span up to six months, possibly even longer in case of justified delays or a lack of cooperation from any entities being reviewed.

While Qualcomm and Broadcom aren’t Chinese companies, their consolidation is subject to the review of the commerce ministry’s Anti-Monopoly Bureau. China’s ministry of commerce requires all deals involving parties to apply for Chinese merger approval if the combined global turnover of the company is exceeding $1.5 billion or combined China income exceeding $300m — an unusually low filing threshold.

And since Qualcomm and Broadcom’s combined China income surpasses 2 billion yuan ($300 million) and their combined global revenues in the last year were over 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion), the Chinese government has enough to legally warrant an investigation.

Sources claims that Qualcomm is adamant to resist the $130 billion hostile takeover attempt that it believes undervalues the company and will recommend its shareholders to reject it. The company is currently reviewing the unsolicited bid and has not reacted to the offer apart from acknowledging its existence.

The acquisition offer from Broadcom comes when Qualcomm is faces legal battles in multiple countries over its business practice. The company was recently fined a record NT$23.4 billion ($774 million) by Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission.

Qualcomm has also been fined $854 million in South Korea and $975 million in China. The company is also facing lawsuits from Apple and the Fair Trade Commission in the United States. The key matter in almost all lawsuit is that the company uses its dominant position to charge unfair royalty rates.

Xiaomi Redmi 5, 5 Plus with 18:9 Screens May Get Unveiled Soon

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Nov 8, 2017

Recent reports have revealed that Xiaomi would be unveiling two full screen budget phones ahead of Singles’ Day (Nov. 11). Since the arrival of these phones seem to be drawing near, fresh information coming from China suggests that Xiaomi would soon start teasing the alleged Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones that are speculated to arrive with 18:9 aspect ratio supporting screens.

Redmi 5 Specs

The Redmi 5 seems to be a low-range smartphone as it features a 5.7-inch display that will carry support for 720 x 1280 pixels and Snapdragon 450 chipset. The SoC is likely to be coupled with 3 GB of RAM. The rear side of the phone may feature a 12-megapixel snapper.

It is expected to carry a price tag of 799 Yuan (~$120). Recent reports have revealed that the Redmi 5 would be coming in another variant featuring 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. It is speculated to arrive with a pricing of 899 Yuan (~$135). A previous report had claimed that it would be coming with a 6-megapixel front camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera.

Redmi 5 Plus Specs

The leaked specs of the Redmi 5 Plus suggests that it could be a mid-range phone. It is rumored to arrive with a 5.99-inch screen that will carry support for FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The popular Snapdragon 625 that powers many other Xiaomi phones such as Mi Max 2, Redmi Note 4, Mi A1 and Redmi 4 Prime is speculated to fuel the Redmi 5 Plus phone. It is rumored to include 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear cameras.

The Redmi 5 Plus is pegged to come preinstalled with Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. The 32 GB storage variant of the phone featuring 3 GB of RAM is likley to be priced 999 Yuan (~$150). Its 64 GB storage model with 4 GB of RAM is rumored to arrive with a pricing of 1,299 Yuan (~$195)

As mentioned above, Nov. 11 is an immensely popular online shopping day in China and is often referred to as 11/11. Several Chinese smartphone manufacturers including Xiaomi are providing attractive discounts on various phones for the upcoming 11/11 sale. With only few days remaining for 11/11 shopping day, Xiaomi is also expected to begin the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus in the next two days.

The leaked specifications of Redmi 5 and 5 Plus smartphones may sound confusing. However, the exact details on these phones are expected to appear soon as they are rumored to get announced by this week.

iPhone X Now Holds The Title Of Having The Best Smartphone Display, Ahead of Galaxy Note 8

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Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 8, 2017

DisplayMate has crowned the new Apple iPhone X as having the best display ever made for a smartphone. This effectively knocks off the Galaxy Note 8 which was announced about two months ago with that title. Apart from the new title, the iPhone X also got an A+ grade for the build quality.

The iPhone X packs an OLED display that was built by Samsung Displays and they get the credit for the awesome A+ grade but unfortunately, this isn’t on a Samsung model. DisplayMate’s extensive analysis of the iPhone X display shows that it sets OLED display record for having the highest full-screen brightness (634 nits), lowest screen resistance of 4.5%, the smallest brightness variations from different viewing angles and several others. The iPhone X perhaps trumps the Galaxy Note 8 as a result of Apple’s impressive precision colour calibration on the flagship iPhone X.

The iPhone X keeps u with the trend of 2017 by packing a 5.8-inch OLED display with a taller height-to-width aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and a bezel-less display. The display has 2.5K Higher Resolution Full HD+ with a resolution power of 1125 x 2436 pixels with a pixel density of 458 ppi.

OnePlus 5T Pricing: May Carry Same Price Tag as OnePlus 5

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Nov 8, 2017

Yesterday, OnePlus confirmed that its upcoming OnePlus 5T flagship phone will be introduced to the world on Nov. 16 and its sales would begin in North America and Europe on Nov. 21. Rumors have been claiming that the OnePlus 5T would be priced higher than OnePlus 5. However, a new report suggests that the OP5T may not be priced higher than OP5.

Earlier in this week, when OnePlus CEO Pete Lau had given out a saucy hint on the pricing of the OnePlus 5T. When a OnePlus fan told him that he is ready with 4,000 Yuan (~$600) for the upcoming phone, he answered by saying that the amount is enough. This indicated that the OnePlus 5T won’t be priced higher than $600.

The 64 GB OnePlus 5 carried a price tag of $479 and its 128 GB storage model was capped at $539. OnePlus has been increasing the price of its new phones by $70 to $100 over the predecessor model. Hence, it was speculated that the 64 GB OnePlus 5T may cost around 3,500 Yuan (~$540) and its 128 GB model may be priced at 4,000 Yuan (~$600). However, a fresh report suggests that the OnePlus 5T may not be priced higher than OnePlus 5.

Tech Radar claims that it has received confidential documentation that contains the pricing of OnePlus 5T for the U.K. The leaked information has revealed OnePlus 5T’s pricing through O2 service provider. The listed price is the same amount as it was for its predecessor phone. Also, the documentation suggests that OnePlus 5T will come in 64 GB and 128 GB flavors. It indicates that the smartphone won’t be coming in 256 GB model.

The publication claims it is not sure whether the pricing of OnePlus 5T will be same as OnePlus 5 in other markets across the globe. However, the Chinese firm is unlikely to increase the cost of its upcoming smartphone in other markets.

The OnePlus 5T is expected to have same dimensions as OP5 smartphone. However, it is rumored to arrive with a larger 6-inch FHD+ display that will produce an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is speculated to arrive with a pair of 20-megapixel dual rear cameras and a larger battery. This suggests that the OnePlus 5T will bring some improved features, but still carry the same pricing as its preceding model.

Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Unboxing & Hands On Photos

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Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 7, 2017

Xiaomi Redmi Y1 was announced in India last week and we can say that the model is a Redmi Note 5A called by another name. Well, that isn’t entirely correct as there are some differences between both models. For one, the Redmi Y1 comes with a 16MP selfie camera as against the 5MP on the Redmi Note 5A. However, both models seem to have the same design but the Redmi Y1 was manufactured in India and may likely be exclusive to the Indian market. Let’s check that out in these hands-on photos of the Redmi Y1 to see how it compares to that of the Redmi Note 5A. Image credit goes to the Fonearena team.

The Redmi Y1 sports a 5.5-inch HD display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and a Corning Gorilla Glass protection. As stated earlier, the device packs a 16MP selfie shooter and it comes with a Soft LED flash at the front for better selfies. The front camera also comes with autofocus. Thus, while the front design looks similar to the Redmi Note 5A, the modules at the top bezels are more than one whereas the Redmi Note 5A has only one module for the selfie camera.

At the rear, you’ll hardly find any feature which differentiates the Redmi Y1’s design from that of the Note 5A. The rear camera and LED flash are located in the same aspect. In this case, the rear camera is a 13MP sensor just like on the Redmi Note 5A but with PDAF. Also, the rear fingerprint sensor and antenna band are similarly located. A peek inside the packing box also shows it’ll come with just the charging adapter and USB cable.

Read Also: Xiaomi Officially Enters Spain: Launches Mi A1, Mi MIX 2, Mi Box & More

The Redmi Y1 is powered by an Octa-core Snapdragon 435 processor backed by 3GB RAM and there is 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 128GB. There is also a 4GB + 64GB variant. The Redmi Y1 runs MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat out of the box. It has standard connectivity options, including 4G VoLTE. It is powered by a 3080mAh battery and it has dual SIM slots. There is also a dedicated microSD slot onboard and an IR blaster. ee more photos from below.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2 Launched: 5.99” 18:9 Display, 5 Different Variants & A Fantastic Design

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Nov 7, 2017

Chinese manufacturer Smartisan has launched a successor to its 6-month old Nut Pro smartphone. The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 is a complete overhaul in terms of specs and design when compared to its predecessor.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2 Design

Smartisan is one of the few Chinese manufacturers that pays serious attention to its design. Even though the specs put it in the mid-range category, the design is well above its class.

The Nut Pro 2 has a metal and glass design – glass on both sides. Smartisan doesn’t mention the protection though but there is a high chance it is Gorilla Glass.

The 18:9 display is the highlight of the front. Smartisan doesn’t go for very thin bezels but there is a significant reduction compared to its predecessors. The top bezel is bare save for the front facing camera in the middle. And while it may be easy to miss, there is actually a slit for the earpiece between the glass and the metal frame.

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 has also taken a unique approach to the design of its dual rear cameras. Not only do they not share a single housing, but one sensor is significantly larger than the other and also appears to be slightly raised. The smaller sensor and the LED flash are flush with the body.

The buttons are also different from the norm. Round buttons instead of the bars we are used to seeing. The Nut Pro 2 finishes the design with the Smartisan logo in the middle and a thin line that goes round the frame. That line is red on the black variant but gold for the red and champagne color variants.

If we had to do a ranking based on looks alone, the Nut 2 Pro will likely be in the top three.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2 Specs

The Nut Pro 2 packs a 5.99″ in-cell 18:9 display with a 2160 x 1080 resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 mobile platform. Where things get interesting is in the memory and storage configuration.

While most manufacturers usually announce a different RAM and ROM variant(s) for their phones months after the initial announcement, Smartisan has taken a different approach. The Nut Pro 2 will be available in 5 different variants:

4GB RAM + 32GB ROM
4GB RAM + 64GB ROM
6GB RAM + 64GB ROM
6GB RAM + 128GB ROM
6GB RAM + 256GB ROM

Apart from the difference in RAM and storage configuration, other features are the same.

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 packs dual rear cameras as is common in most phones today. The primary sensor is a 12MP Sony IMX386 1.25um wide-angle sensor with a F/1.8 aperture and PDAF. It is paired with a 5MP Samsung S5K4E8 1.4um F/2.0 sensor for capturing depth of field using ArcSoft dual camera bokeh technology.

The front camera is a 16MP F/2.2 sensor with AI beauty modes. It also uses the ArcSoft bokeh technology for portrait selfies.

Beneath the metal and glass body of the Nut 2 Pro is a 3,500mAh battery. With support for Quick Charge 3.0, Smartisan says you should be able to recharge your phone up to 80% in just one hour.

You may be wondering if the Nut Pro 2 does have a fingerprint scanner. It is not below the screen like in the Nut Pro and since the manufacturer is known for keeping its logo on the back, you may think its embedded in the power button. But its obvious it can’t be embedded in the power button based on the design and the small size.

To our surprise, the fingerprint scanner is actually embedded underneath the Smartisan logo on the back. Right now, all I can think of is how Motorola hasn’t been able to pull this off with the Batwing logo on the rear of its phones.

The fingerprint scanner on the Nut Pro 2 boasts a 0.1s unlock speed, support for payment, and can store up to 10 different fingerprints. There is also a face unlock feature that can detect up to 1024 distinct facial features.

The phone has dual SIM support (nano only), a USB-C port, and NFC. Sadly it ditches the 3.5mm audio jack.

Smartisan says the phone will receive an update to Smartisan OS 4.1 starting from December 7. The update will bring a total of 131 new features and 63 optimizations. It will also update its Big Bang feature to version 2.2.

Xiaomi Launches A New Mi 6 Variant With 4GB RAM And 64GB Storage

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Buy Xiaomi Mi 6 from $389 on Giztop

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Nov 7, 2017

Earlier this year, in April, Xiaomi launched Mi 6 smartphone in two variants — 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 128GB storage. Now, the company has launched another variant of the smartphone which comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

Last month, this toned-down model of the Mi 6 was spotted online and was reported to be a special edition for China’s Annual Singles’ Day sale on November 11.

The new 4GB RAM variant of the Mi 6 smartphone is priced at 2,299 Yuan — about 200 Yuan cheaper than the standard 6GB RAM + 64GB storage model priced at 2,499 Yuan. The smartphone will be available for purchase from November 11th later this week.

Apart from the memory, all the remaining specifications of the smartphone remains unchanged. It flaunts a 5.15-inch Full HD display with screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor, with 6GB of RAM. The phone was available in two different models, based on the internal storage — 64GB and 128GB.

The smartphone comes with a dual camera setup at the back, featuring a 12-megapixel 1.25μm wide-angle sensor with a f/1.8 aperture, 4-axis Optical Image Stabilization and 6-P lens and the second sensor of 12-megapixel 1.0μm telephoto lens with a f/2.6 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and a focus range of 52mm. On the front, there is an 8-megapixel camera that records 1080p videos at 30fps.

Connectivity options on the device include 4G VoLTE, Dual SIM, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/ A-GLONASS, NFC and USB-Type C. The Xiaomi Mi 6 is fueled by a 3,350mAh battery which also supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The splash resistant smartphone runs MIUI 8 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system.

OnePlus 5T Launching through Multiplexes in India; Amazon India Will Begin Flash Sale on November 21

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Nov 7, 2017

OnePlus has confirmed that global unveil event of the OnePlus 5T will be held at Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 16. On the same day, the company will be debuting its new flagship phone through multiplexes in various cities in India by live broadcasting the event. As OnePlus has done before, the OP5T will be exclusively available through Amazon India in the country and the retailer giant will be running a flash sale for it on Nov. 21.

The OnePlus 5T will be showcased in following five theaters in India:

PVR ECX, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
PVR Phoenix Market City, Viman Nagar, Pune
PVR Phoenix Market City, Lower Parel, Mumbai
PVR Forum, Kukatpally, Hyderabad
PVR Orion, Rajajinagar, Bangalore

In order to watch the OnePlus 5 launch event at above listed multiplexes, OnePlus fans will have to purchase a Rs. 99 ticket which can be booked through the BookMyShow app starting from Nov. 8 at 10 AM. Each account will be provided only one ticket. OnePlus will be providing free popcorn, coke and OnePlus 2018 calendar worth Rs. 799 to fans who will come to watch the launch event in theater. Also, these people will get an opportunity to get a live experience of the new phone.

The OnePlus 5T will be officially available for buying only through Amazon India starting from Nov. 28. However, the company will be running a special flash sale on Nov. 21 beginning at 4:30 PM. The smartphone will be made available for purchase in North America and Europe from Nov. 21 and in China from Dec. 1.

OnePlus CEO Carl Lei had recently hinted the pricing of the OnePlus 5T will not exceed 4,000 Yuan (~$602). It will be the first smartphone from the company to arrive with 6-inch screen that will support FHD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is rumored to arrive in 6 GB RAM / 64 GB storage and 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage variants. It will be powered by Snapdragon 835 and may include a 3,450mAh battery. Its rear side may feature 16-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual camera setup whereas the front side may house a 20-megapixel selfie snapper.

It’s Official! OnePlus 5T Launch In China Set For November 28, Sales Begin December 1

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Jed John Ikoba

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Nov 7, 2017

Barely 24 hours after OnePlus took to its Twitter page to hint at the international launch of the OnePlus 5T on November 16 in Brooklyn, New York, the company has officially teased the launch of the flagship model in China for November 28. The teaser poster for the launch in China appeared on OnePlus’ official Weibo page and it reveals that the launch event would hold at 14:00 in Beijing while the sales would commence by 10 AM on December 1.

The teaser poster is the same as that used to announce the upcoming launch in New York City and the major highlight apart from the date, is the theme “A New View”. This is no doubt, a reflection of the full-screen design the device is expected to pack. OnePlus CEO Liu Zuohu confirmed this in his Weibo message where he hinted that the device will be a true flagship this time around with a new display size. There won’t likely be any difference in design and specifications between the international version and the Chinese version of the OP5T but the Chinese version may likely come in slightly cheaper.

The OnePlus 5T specification is pretty much known, but to refresh our memories, here’s a recap. The flagship model is expected to feature a 6-inch display with 2160 x 1080 pixels resolution which means they would adopt an 18:9 aspect ratio. The flagship model is also expected to pack a Snapdragon 835 flagship processor like the OP5. The device is expected with an 8GB RAM + 128GB memory while there may likely be a 6GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. Apart from the full-view display screen, the large memory will be another major selling point of the device. On the camera end, we expect a 20MP + 16MP dual camera setup at the rear while there will be a 20MP selfie camera at the front.

Xiaomi Officially Enters Spain: Launches Mi A1, Mi MIX 2, Mi Box & More

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Nov 7, 2017

Last week, Xiaomi released a teaser hinting at its entry into Spain. Today, the Chinese manufacturer held an event in Madrid unveiling an online store, lots of products and partnerships with local retailers.

One of the first products that will be available to Mi fans in Spain is the Android One phone, the Mi A1. When Xiaomi announced the phone in India months ago, it said it would be available in a total of 37 countries. Of the 37 countries, 10 of them are in Europe. However, Spain was not originally among them.

The Mi A1 brings all the features of the Xiaomi Mi 5X but swaps out the MIUI ROM for Pure Android. And because it is an Android One phone, it will get updated to Android Oreo before other Xiaomi phones. The Oreo update is said to arrive before the end of 2017. The Mi A1 will sell for €229 and will come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

Spain will also get the Mi MIX 2 flagship phone. The 18:9 display-toting Mi MIX 2 will sell for €500 for the 6GB RAM + 64GB RAM variant. Other phones that will also be available in Spain include the Mi 6, Mi Max 2, Redmi 4A, Redmi 4X, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Note 5A, and Redmi Note 5A Prine

Xiaomi also announced that some of its Mi ecosystem products will be sold in Spain. The Mi Electric Scooter will sell for €349.99 but for a limited time it will go for €299.99. The Android-powered Mi Box is priced at €75 and the Yi 4K action camera has a €135 price tag. The Mi Band 2 will also be available for purchase in Spain.

Huawei To Begin Certifying Third Party Accessories Made for Its Phones

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Nov 7, 2017

Apple can be said to be the first manufacturer to begin the “Made For-” program. The licensing program was started in 2005 and was originally called Made for iPod (MFi). Accessories that had the MFi logo meant that they were certified by Apple for the iPod. Now the program covers connectors for iPhones and iPads.

Google began its own Made For- program following the release of the second generation Pixels and latest reports say that Huawei has also begun its own certification program for third party accessories.

The source says the Chinese manufacturer has officially launched the Made for Huawei program and its first product is a USB-C to HDMI cable for the Mate 10 smartphones.

Gionee M7 Power Bezel-Less Smartphone To Soon Launch In India

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Nov 7, 2017

Gionee seems to be all set to launch Gionee M7 Power smartphone in India. The company has posted an image on Twitter, teasing the M7 Power smartphone launch.

The image posted on the microblogging platform reads, “Are you ready? #ComingSoon #MpowerWithGionee”, clearly hinting that it will soon launch the bezel-less smartphone in India. The teaser image shows the front panel of the smartphone with a Taj Mahal image in the background.

While the company has not revealed the pricing or availability of the smartphone, it is expected to officially announce the smartphone by the end of this month.

Gionee M7 Power was originally launched in China in September this year, and later made its way to other regions as well. The smartphone is also known as Steel 2 Plus in some regions. In India, it is likely to be available in three color options — Gold, Black and Dark Blue.

The smartphone features a 6-inch FullView HD display with screen resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB onboard storage.

There is a microSD card slot which enables users to expand the storage capacity up to 256GB. It sports a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with an LED flash, f/2.0 aperture, and PDAF. Also, there is an 8-megapixel camera sensor on the front for clicking selfies.

The Gionee M7 Power runs Amigo OS 5.0 based on Android 7.1 Nougat operating system. The device also comes with a fingerprint scanner placed on the back panel. It is fuelled by a 5,000mAh battery — which has always been the USP of the company’s M series smartphones. The enhanced battery pack supports fast charging.

Meanwhile, the company is expected to launch eight bezel-less smartphones at a launch event that is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China on November 26.

Recently, the company’s M7 Plus flagship smartphone was also leaked online by Evan Blass, without giving any information about the phone’s specs. Apart from that, other phones from Gionee, including F6L, F205, and M2018 have also surfaced online. All these devices are likely to be announced at the Nov. 26 launch event.

(Source)

Apple iPhone X’s Estimated Cost of Manufacturing is $357.50

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Nov 7, 2017

The iPhone X is first OLED smartphone Apple. The 64 GB and 256 GB models of the iPhone X are respectively at $999 and $1,149. Hence, it is the most expensive smartphone from the company. A disassembly of the iPhone X has revealed that the estimated cost of building its 64 GB model is $357.50.

Since Apple is selling the 64 GB iPhone X for $999, it is able to benefit from a gross margin of 64 percent. The base model of the iPhone 8 sells for $699. Through the iPhone 8, Apple is earning a gross margin of 59 percent.

The 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED panel is the costliest component of the iPhone X as it costs around $65.50. The 4.7-inch LCD screen of the iPhone 8 costs lesser as it is priced around $36. The stainless-steel of the iPhone X costs nearly $36 whereas the aluminum frame running on the edges of the iPhone 8 carries a pricing of about $21.50.

While talking on the Apple’s earnings in the previous week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the pricing of the iPhone is based on the value it provides to the user. He added that the company is not charging the highest possible price. He highlighted that through the iPhone X, the company is providing new technologies that are pioneering the industry. Hence, the iPhone X is carrying a hefty price tag. The ability to command a premium pricing on its new devices shows how unique Apple is in the electronics industry.

(source 1, 2)

Gionee M7 Plus Hands-On Images Leaked As Launch Date Nears

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Nov 7, 2017

Gionee is going to unveil 8 bezel-less smartphones on Nov. 26. Reliable leakster Evan Blass had revealed in the previous week that the Gionee M7 Plus is the next flagship phone from the company. He had also revealed two images of the smartphone. Rumors have it that the M7 Plus could be one of the smartphones that may get announced at the upcoming launch event. Today, couple of new images of the smartphone has appeared.

Blass had revealed that the M7 Plus would be arriving with a 6.43-inch display. He had also claimed that it could be the largest ever full screen smartphone. The bottom bezel of the phone features the company’s branding. The side bezels are thin and the top bezel houses a selfie camera and an earpiece.

The handset features a leather back and it is houses a horizontally arranged dual camera system. Blass claims that the edges of the smartphone are made of up of stainless-steel.

The tipster had also speculated that the smartphone may carry support for wireless charging. The below image shows the M7 Plus placed on a wireless charging pad which indicates that the smartphone will indeed support the feature.

The M7 Plus is shown to support up to 16W (9V/1.78A) which is nearly as fast as what you would get with an 18W wired fast charger. It is also speculated that the M7 Plus may have support for version 1.2 of the Qi Wireless Charging standard.

As of this writing, there is no information on the other specifications of the Gionee M7 Plus. More of the information on the flagship phone is expected to surface.

Google Assistant Song Recognition Feature Rolling Out to Non-Google Devices

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Nov 7, 2017

Google Voice Search used to have this feature where you could ask it what song was playing and it would identify it. Sadly, that feature wasn’t available on Google Assistant not until last month when it became a Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL exclusive. The good news is that the feature is now rolling out to non-Google devices.

Reports say the roll-out began last weekend to non-Google devices. I tried it on my OnePlus 3T and it works. The image below also show it working on the OnePlus 5. If you have Google Assistant on your device, you should check and see if it is available.

While it is not as sophisticated as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL-exclusive always listening song recognition feature (Now Playing), it sure is better than nothing.

Xiaomi May Launch its First Rugged Smartphone in First Half of 2018

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Nov 7, 2017

Xiaomi is yet to launch an IP certified smartphone. Fresh information revealed by an industry insider from China suggests that the Xiaomi is working on its first rugged smartphone. The translated text suggests that it would be coming with kinds of defense features which indicates that the speculated rugged phone may arrive with waterproof, shockproof and dustproof chassis.

Xiaomi fans are eagerly waiting for the company to debut waterproof phones. In June, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun had revealed to the media that when a waterproof phone is damaged, its waterproof protection also deteriorates. Xiaomi is known for selling flagship phone with low price pricing. However, the inclusion of waterproof protection on its flagship phones will increase their pricing. Mr. Jun added that if customers are ready to spend 20 percent or 30 percent extra cost for water-resistance, Xiaomi might consider launching a waterproof phone.

Leading smartphone OEMs like Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, and Motorola have already launched IP certified flagship phones. For instance, the newly unveiled Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone X carry IP67 protection. The Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, Sony Xperia XZ1 and Motorola Moto X4 phones are IP68 rated smartphones.

Xiaomi’s Mi and Mi MIX series smartphones are serious competitors for flagship phones from Apple and Samsung. Fresh information shared by an industry insider claims that the rugged smartphone from the company may debut in the first half of 2018. Could it be the rumored Xiaomi Mi 7 smartphone?

The Xiaomi Mi 7 is speculated to launch in the first quarter of 2018. It is rumored to arrive with full screen design with a huge display of 6 inches and it is likely to feature Snapdragon 845 chipset. Recent reports have also suggested that it may carry support for Qi wireless charging.

The Mi 7 with aforementioned specs and rugged chassis could be an ultimate flagship phone from the company. However, we advise our readers to take this report with a grain of salt.

As Mr. Jun had stated earlier, a Xiaomi phone with waterproof protection will certainly carry an expensive price tag. Would you be interested in spending more money to purchase a rugged phone from Xiaomi? Share us your thoughts by adding comments below.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2 Specs Revealed, Features 5.99-Inch Display, Snapdragon 660 Processor

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Nov 7, 2017

After launching the Nut Pro smartphone earlier this year, Smartisan is all set to launch its successor — Nut Pro 2. The phone’s specifications, press render as well as the retail box packaging have surfaced online through China’s microblogging website Weibo ahead of its launch.

The leak suggests that the upcoming smartphone will feature a 5.99-inch Full HD in-cell display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and screen aspect ratio of 18:9. In line with the current trend, the phone will sport a full-screen bezel-less display.

The smartphone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 processor along with 64GB of internal storage. The RAM capacity is not yet known, however it has been revealed that the phone will pack LPDDR4X memory.

Coming to the camera department, the Smartisan Nut Pro 2 will feature a 16-megapixel camera at the front for taking selfies. On the back, the device will sport a dual camera setup — 12-megapixel lens + 5-megapixel lens. The phone will have a fingerprint sensor placed on the back panel. While the battery capacity of the smartphone is not known, it will come with 18W fast charging support.

The Smartisan Nut Pro was launched earlier this year featuring a 5.5-inch Full HD display. The 32GB storage variant is powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor, the remaining two variants — 64GB ROM and 128GB ROM, comes with Snapdragon 626 processor. It has 4GB of RAM, and dual 13MP rear cameras with f/2.0 aperture and PDAF at the back. On the front, the 32GB variant has an 8MP f/2.0 camera while the 64GB and 128GB variants sport 16MP camera with f/2.0 aperture.

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 smartphone is expected to be priced around 2,000 Yuan. However, we’ll have to wait for a few more hours get information about the phone’s availability and pricing as the company is holding a press conference today and is expected to launch the Smartisan Nut Pro 2 smartphone.

At the press conference, along with the Smartisan Nut Pro 2 smartphone, the company is also expected to launch an air purifier.

Meizu Teases Smartphone Launch In India, Could Be Meizu Pro 7

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