LeEco Le Max 2 Users Can Update to Android 7.0 Nougat through EUI 6 Alpha ROM

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Jan 4, 2018

As LeEco is going through a financial crisis for more than a year, it hasn’t released a major software update for many of its smartphones since quite some time. However, a senior member at XDA Forums was able to find an EMUI 6.0 Alpha ROM based on Android 7.0 Nougat for the LeEco Le Max 2.

The Le Max 2 smartphone was launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS in May 2016. The EUI 6.0 Alpha ROM or the smartphone is now openly available on the forum site. The Alpha version ROM is an under-development product that contains a number of bugs. It is available for X820, X821, X822 and X829 models of the Le Max 2.

Flashing a ROM manually is not a very easy process and it avoid the warranty of the device. In order to flash the ROM, Le Max 2 users are required to root it by using Magisk. Some of the known bugs of the EUI 6.0 Alpha ROM are associated with fingerprint and biometric sensors. Some users who tried the ROM have claimed that they have encountered issues while installing APKs from USB sources.

The official Nougat update for Le Max 2 was expected to arrive in summer of 2017 when a leaked image had revealed that the LeEco is testing EUI 6.0.28 flavored Android 7.1 Nougat for it as well as other smartphones. However, since then there is no trace of the official Android update for any of the LeEco phones. Hence, the only way to try the latest Android version on LeEco handsets is to make use of third-party ROMs.

The Le Max 2 features a 5.7-inch QHD display and is driven by Snapdragon 820 chipset. It comes in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM options and 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB storage models. It has a rear camera of 21-megapixel and a frontal shooter of 8-megapixel. It houses a 3,500mAh battery. The last phone released by LeEco is the Le Pro 2 AI Edition. It was released in April 2017.

(source|via)

Nokia 6 (2018) Photos Confirm 16:9 Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 4, 2018

The Nokia 6 (2018) has been the focus of attention in recent times. The successor to HMD’s first smartphone under the Nokia brand will come with upgraded specs and a new design but not in the way we expected.

When the Nokia 6 (2018) first appeared on TENAA, the images showed the device with what appeared to be thinner top and bottom bezels. That could only mean one thing – a full screen display or one with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

However, when the specs were eventually made public, quite a number of people were shocked to learn that HMD Global has stuck to the same 5.5” display with a 16:9 aspect ratio for the 2nd gen model. For those that are still not convinced and believe TENAA probably made a mistake, we have got our hands on photos of the Nokia 6 (2018).

As you can see, the bezels are still there and that screen sure doesn’t look like it has an 18:9 aspect ratio. Why then did they decide to move the fingerprint scanner to the back? It has to look different from its predecessor, right?

The display is covered by 2.5D glass which is most likely supplied by Corning. Front camera position is still on the right and there is the Nokia branding beside it. It also features on-screen buttons now.

The rear of the phone has also received a major change in design. The camera housing is significantly longer with the sensor at the top and the LED flash at the bottom. The setup is still raised and has an orange accent around it just like the fingerprint scanner beneath it and the aluminium frame around the body.

The Nokia 6 (2018) is not only different on the outside. Gone is the Snapdragon 430 of last year as it is now powered by the Snapdragon 630. Camera still remains 16MP on the rear and 8MP in front but they may have a different aperture and pixel size. Nevertheless, battery capacity has been kept at 3000mAh.

Continue

Meizu M6S New Leak Reveals Key Specs of Exynos 7872 Chipset

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2018

Meizu has confirmed that it will be debuting the Meizu M6S as its first full smartphone with 18:9 aspect ratio display on Jan. 17. Since several years, the Chinese manufacturer has been using MediaTek chipsets to power its mid-range and low-budget phones. However, the upcoming mid-range Meizu M6S is rumored to be powered by the Exynos 7872 chipset by Samsung. Some of the key specs of the new SoC have surfaced today.

The Exynos 7882 is 14nmm chipset that is designed for low-budget phones. It is hexa-core SoC that comprises of four cores of Cortex A53 and two cores of Cortex A73 and Mali G71-MP3 graphics. It includes a Cat. 7 LTE modem that offers a maximum download speed of up to 300 Mbps and upload speed of up to 100 Mbps. The fully integrated modem offers full network support. The Bluetooth SIG certification of the Exynos 7882 chipset had revealed that it carries support for Bluetooth 4.2.

Some of the recently leaked photos of the Meizu M6S reaffirm that it will be coming with an 18:9 display. It won’t be featuring the trademark mBack physical button, but its capabilities are expected to be made available through virtual keys. Unlike other full screen phones that have rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, the Meizu M6S is speculated to arrive with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

The Meizu M6S is expected to arrive with HD+ resolution supporting screen of 5.7 inches. It is likely to available in variants like 32 GB of storage + 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage + 4 GB of RAM. It will be fueled by a 2,930mAh battery. For shooting photos, it is expected to be fitted with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel selfie snapper. It will be running on Android 7.0 Nougat that will be overlaid with the latest Flyme OS skin. It is expected to be priced around 1,299 Yuan (~$199).

(source)

OnePlus 5T Sandstone White Listed On JD.com For ¥3499 (~$539)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 4, 2018

The Sandstone White variant of the OnePlus 5T isn’t due for launch until tomorrow but Chinese retailer, JD.com already had it listed on its site. The new color variant was first teased in a video last week before an official launch poster was released a few days ago.

According to the JD.com listing, the Sandstone OnePlus 5T shares a similar design to the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition. The only visual difference is the lack of the Star Wars engraving on the lower back. The OnePlus logo and the alert slider have been kept black and red respectively.

It appears the new color variant will be limited to the 8GB RAM + 128GB model. It will sell for the same ¥3499 (~$539) price as the Lava Red variant and Midnight Black variant of the same configuration.

Continue

Meizu Confirms January 17 Launch Date for Meizu M6S

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2018

A promotional poster that was released by Meizu earlier this week suggested that its first 18:9 aspect ratio supporting smartphone would be launching today. However, the company has confirmed today that it will be launching the Meizu M6S (Blue Charm S6) smartphone on Jan. 17.

The above image only confirms the launch date of Meizu M6S. The rumor mill has revealed that the Meizu M6S will be equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It won’t be featuring physical mBack button, instead its features will be made available through a virtual key.

Rumors have it that the Meizu M6S is powered by the Exynos 7872 chipset that includes a hexa-core processor. The TENAA listing of the smartphone has revealed that it will be coming with a 5.7-inch display. It is speculated to arrive two variants such as 32 GB of storage + 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage + 4 GB of RAM. It is packed with a 2,930mAh battery. For photography, it will be equipped with a rear camera of 13-megapixel and a selfie camera of 5-megapixel.

The Chinese manufacturer is also rumored to be working on Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus. These phones are speculated to launched in March this year.

Buy Xiaomi Redmi 4A For $99.99, Redmi Note 4 For $174.99 And Doogee S60 For Just $249.98 On Lightinthebox

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 4, 2018

Lightinthebox is currently offering jaw-dropping discounts on two Xiaomi-branded smartphones. Let’s delve straight into the details.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A

First off, the Redmi 4A 4G smartphone, which comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of 16GB of massive internal storage, is up for grabs on the website bearing a heavily-discounted price tag.

The very well-received Redmi 4A is now available on Lightinthebox for just $99.99, thanks to a massive 53% discount on the handset’s original asking price of $212.33. The device comes in three color options including blushing pink, gold and gray.

You can head straight to this link and take advantage of the promo before it comes to an end.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

Alternatively, you can get a 65% discount when you buy the Redmi Note 4 smartphone on Lightinthebox. The device’s original asking price is $494.43, but the site is currently offering it for only $174.99.

The device is available in two color options including black and gray. If you go for the black version of the Redmi Note 4, you’d pay an extra $2.

As far as specs are concerned, this 4G smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, and sports a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. You can click here to buy the Redmi Note 4 at a discounted price of $174.99 and check out rest of the specifications.

Doogee S60

You can also buy Doogee S60 4G smartphone on Lightinthebox by shelling out just $249.98. The site is currently offering a 56% off on the handset which is available in three color choices including gold, silver, and black.

The S60 comes with 6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage and sports a 21MP camera on the back. It has a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. Click here to buy the Doogee S60 at the discounted price before the promo ends.

Buy Xiaomi Redmi 4A For Just $99.99 On Lightinthebox

Buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 For Just $174.99 On Lightinthebox

Buy Doogee S60 For Just $249.98 On Lightinthebox

Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) Appears on Official Website, Launch Imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2018

The Galaxy J2 (2018) is an upcoming entry-level phone from Samsung. Even though it is yet to be introduced, the South Korean has listed a jelly case cover of the phone on its official mobile accessories page. This indicates that the company will be launching it very soon.

The official listing neither includes its specifications nor pricing of the upcoming Galaxy J2 (2018) that has a model number of SM-AJ520. However, the mobile accessories page contains some information of the phone such as its dimensions and weight. The handset will be measuring 74.4 x 146.3 x 10.3 mm and it will be weighing 173 grams. The jelly case for the Galaxy J2 (2018) will be coming in multiple colors like Black, Blue, Gold and Pink.

Previous reports have revealed that the Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) will be arriving with a 5-inch Super AMOLED screen that will be supporting qHD resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. The Snapdragon 425 chipset and 1.5 GB of RAM will be fueling it. It will be featuring a native storage of 16 GB and a microSD card slot will be present on it for additional storage. It will come pre-installed with Android 7.1 Nougat OS.

For photography, the Galaxy J2 (2018) will be equipped with an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. Both the camera sensors will be equipped with LED flash. Its connectivity features include 3.5mm audio jack, microUSB, Bluetooth 4.2, 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. The handset will be powered by 2,600mAh battery and it will be coming in color choices like Black and Gold. It has been recently found listed on a Russian retailer site with a price tag of 7,990 Rubles (~$138).

(source)

Pre-Order OnePlus 5T And Lava Red OnePlus 5T For Just $474.29 And $565.24 Respectively On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 4, 2018

Smartphone enthusiasts who have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on a large-screen smartphone without burning a big hole in their pocket can now pre-order OnePlus 5T smartphone for just $557.99 on Banggood.

OnePlus 5T

Sporting a massive 6.01-inch display, the OnePlus 5T smartphone bears a steep price tag of $640.94 without this 13% discount offered by Banggood.

Under the hood, the 5T packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa Core processor, paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. On the photography front, the smartphone sports a 20MP secondary camera and 16MP dual camera on the back. The OnePlus 5T’s camera takes relatively better low-light photos than its precursor, the OnePlus 5.

You can click here to pre-order the OnePlus 5T smartphone and use coupon code ‘2018BG5T’ to get a discount of $83.70. In other words, you end up paying just $474.29 for the handset.

OnePlus 5T (Lava Red)

The OnePlus 5T in Lava Red color is also up for pre-order on Banggood and you need to shell out just $664.99 to get your hands on the 4G smartphone. This is a considerable 11% discount on the device’s original asking price of $749.99.

In terms of specs, the Lava Red OnePlus 5T is powered by SD835 with octa-core CPU. It sports rear-mounted dual camera with a 16MP+20MP setup. The Lava Red color was exclusively launched for the Chinese market.

You can apply coupon code ‘BGRED5T’ before proceeding to check out and get $99.75 off on the already-discounted price of $664.99. You only pay $565.24 after using this coupon code so click here and take advantage of the promo before it comes to an end.

Pre-Order OnePlus 5T Smartphone For Just $474.29 on Banggood

Pre-Order The Lava Red Color Variant Of OnePlus 5T Smartphone For Just $565.24 on Banggood

Samsung Exynos 9810 is Officially Announced, Carries Support for AI and Enhanced Multimedia Content

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2018

Samsung has finally announced the Exynos 9810 as its next-generation Exynos 9 series chipset. It is the second generation 10nm chipset from the company designed for smartphones and smart devices. It is packed with third-generation custom processor, enhanced LTE modem that delivers faster gigabit connectivity, topnotch image processing and deep learning capabilities.

The Exynos 9810 is an octa-core processor that includes four third-generation custom cores and four cores that are optimized for delivering efficient performance. The octa-core processor can produce a maximum clocking speed of 2.9 GHz. Compared to its predecessor, the Exynos 9810 is capable of delivering twofold single-core performance and it also offers 40 percent better multi-core performance.

The neural network-based deep learning and robust security offered by the Exynos 9810 allow smartphones powered by this chipset to easily identify people and objects in photos for depth sensing or for quickly performing image search. It supports hybrid facial detection by scanning a user’s face in 3D. Hybrid face detection that relies on both hardware and software offers realistic face-racking filters and also a very secure way to unlock a device by scanning the user’s face. The Exynos 9810 also supports iris and fingerprint identification for protecting personal data.

The LTE modem made available in the new Exynos chipset will allow users to stream or broadcast content with up to 4K resolution and newer media like 360-degree video. The Cat.18 LTE modem supports a maximum download speed of 1.2 Gbps. It the industry Cat. 18 LTE modem to support 6x carrier aggregation for 1.2 Gbps download and 200 Mbps upload speeds. It also supports 4×4 MIMIO and 256-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation scheme.

With a dedicated image processing and upgraded multi-format codec (MFC) available on the Exynos 9810, users will be able to enjoy immersive multimedia experience. Hence, smartphones powered with the Exynos 9810 will be able to shoot highly stable videos of up to 4K resolution, brighter photos in dim light conditions and real-time out-of focus photography. It also supports playback of 4K videos at 120fps.

Samsung has begun the mass production of the Exynos 9810 chipset. Through its press release, the South Korean company proudly boasts that the Exynos 9810 has been selected as a CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018 Innovation Awards HONOREE in the category for Embedded Technologies product. The Exynos 9810 will be showcased at CES 2018 between Jan. 9 to 12 in Las Vegas, US.

The upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ models heading to the U.S. and China are rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, the rest of the world is heavily rumored to receive the Exynos 9810 powered variants of the Galaxy S9 duo.

2018 YI Brand Sale On GeekBuying Offers Latest Arrivals At A Discounted Price

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 4, 2018

Geekbuying is offering 30% discount as part of its latest promo that kicked off on January 2. The promo features a slew of newly-arrived cameras and other YI-branded items. Let’s take a look at some of them.

New Arrivals

This section features YI-manufactured cameras that are available at a discounted price. First off, the site is offering a 38% discount on YI Lite Hi3556 Action Camera, which sells for $159.99 without the discount.

The YI Lite Hi3556 offers professional 4K/20fps, 1080p/30fps, 1080p/60fps video recording quality and 16MP still image capture thanks to Sony IMX206 image sensor natively. Click here to buy YI Lite Hi3556 Action Camera.
The site is also offering a 25% discount on YI Ultra Dash camera, which brings down its original asking price to $89.99. The Ultra Dash camera comes with a high efficient H.264 video encoding, and up to 30/60 fps (frames per second). You also get 16 TF card with this product. Click here to buy YI Ultra Dash Camera.

Capable of delivering in wind, shine or even rain, YI Outdoor Camera is currently available on GeekBuying at a discounted price of just $79.99, which is a big 31% discount on the device’s original asking price of $115.36. You can click here to buy it at a discounted price.

Cameras

Apart from that, the promo offers various other cameras including the international version of YI 4K+ Action Camera with a 38% discount, the international version of Xiaoyi YI 4K Action Camera with a 40% discount and EU Edition of YI Home Camera which is up for grabs for just 36.99. This is a considerable 56% reduction from its original asking price of $83.87.
Local Warehouse

Under this section of the promo, GeekBuying is offering various items at discounted price. It features Xiaoyi YI 4K+ / YI 4K-compatible charging dock for just $12.99, and XiaoYi Aluminium Alloy Self-Timer Monopod Selfie Stick which bears a 53% discount on its original asking price of $85.15.

In addition to that, the category has some amazing items including the international version Xiaoyi YI 4K Action Camera, Xiaoyi Yi Smart Car DVR at a discounted price.Accessories

You can get your hands on a slew of accessories at a discounted price. There’s a stylish portable flexible leg Mini Tripod that you can buy for just $1.99, which is a mammoth 81% discount on its original $10.45 asking price. You can also buy Xiaoyi YI wrist strap mount for Xiaoyi YI Action Camera by shelling out only $12.99 and save 48%.
It’s worth noting that this promo is slated to end on January 15th so if you want to take advantage of 2018 YI Brand Sale on GeekBuying, head straight to this link.

Take Advantage Of 2018 YI Brand Sale On GeekBuying Before It Ends On January 15th

Next-gen iPhones To Feature Improved Face ID & Screen-to-body Ratio, TrendForce Predicts

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 4, 2018

U.S-based tech giant Apple stunned the industry when it released its 2017 flagship models with several innovative features. One of such features is the Face ID technology. There are indications that Apple will continue with the design language but would increase the screen ratio aboard the 2018 flagship. Technology analysts TrendForce predicted that iPhone sales will increase significantly this year, while those of Samsung smartphones will fall.

The tech analysts estimated that total smartphone production for 2017 reached 1.46 Billion units, marking a 6.5% increase from the previous year’s sales. The firm also sees a slightly slower growth in 2018 for smartphone companies, triggered by rising component costs.

Despite a predicted slump in sales, TrendForce predicts that iPhone production will grow by 7.5% this year. The company noted that iPhone production for 2017 increased by 3% over the previous year and even stated that the figure could be higher but for early yield rate constraints on the iPhone X. The sales for the major part of this year will be spearheaded by the iPhone X at the top end of the market. This would be supplemented by a new iPhone SE for the mid-range segment.

On the design and features of the 2018 iPhone models, TrendForce says Apple will improve on its Face ID technology as well as on the design as a higher screen-to-body ratio is expected. The Face ID technology may be a long time coming to other Android phones as technical barriers are fingered as forces that would make other OEMs stick to fingerprint recognition for now. Instead, we could see a rise in under-display technology which it predicts will enter mass production in the second half of the year. Apple is also said to be planning to increase the memory content and embed AMOLED display in two of its models.

Further, the TrendForce report revealed that Samsung recorded a boost in its sales by 3% last year but may likely see a drop in sales by the same margin this year. This will be due to great challenges and fierce competition brought by its rivals, including Apple in the high-end market and a number of Chinese brands with Android OS.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) To Land In India Next Week | Report

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 3, 2018

Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) should be officially launched in the Indian market on Wednesday, January 10. This is what a new report by PhoneRadar is hinting at. The availability of the new handsets in India has still not been confirmed, but the source is reliable, so the chances that we will see the devices in India on Wednesday are high. Unfortunately, there is still no info about the listing price of the handsets in India.

Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ are the latest midrange smartphones launched by the Korean giant and they offer premium specs at a reduced price compared to flagships like Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8. Their bodies are composed of a glass back and a metal frame and they are IP68-certified. A8 and A8+ (2018) are the first mid-ranges by Samsung to sport an Infinity Display with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

The standard version has a 5.6-inch FHD+ panel, while the Plus variant has a 6-inch screen: both the panels have the Super AMOLED technology, just like most Samsung Galaxy phones from the last generations. Under the hood, both the devices sport a Samsung Exynos 7885 SoC paired with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM. Note that the two phones have different dimensions, on the Plus variant there is space for a bigger battery with a 3500 mAh capacity, while the standard version has an average 3000 mAh unit.

(Source)

Huawei P20 Might Launch At MWC 2018 On February 26: Rumor

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 3, 2018

A new report from China suggests that the Huawei P20 will be officially announced on February 26, at MWC 2018 (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona. In the past few years, the Chinese company, which is actually in the top 3 smartphones brand in the world, has always showcased its flagship phones from the P series at Mobile World Congress, and according to ChinaZ this year it will happen again. From what rumors suggest, the new flagship will be launched in at least four variant: P20, P20 Plus, P20 Pro and P20 Lite.

Some alleged mockups have already shown the design of the upcoming flagship. The Huawei P20 and its brothers are expected to come with a full borderless display with very narrow bezels. On the standard version, the size might be 6 inches. P20 Pro and Lite could be released with an iPhone X-like notch on the superior part, so the screen-to-body ratio will be even higher. Every version except the P20 Lite should have a triple camera setup, but the sensors should be placed in a different way: we expect a vertical configuration on P20 Pro and Plus and a horizontal configuration on the standard variant.

Huawei P20 will be powered by the most powerful SoC by Huawei: the Kirin 970, which also has a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) dedicated to artificial intelligence. There should be 6 or even more GB of RAM and an internal storage of 64 GB, at least. With a capacity of 4000mAh and fast charging, the battery should be one of the biggest ones in the flagships market. The operating system will probably be Android 8.1 Oreo customized with EMUI 8.0. According to recent rumors, Huawei P20 should be priced around 4000 Yuan in China, which roughly translates into ($615) 599 Euros.

(Source)

Samsung Galaxy S9+ Lookalike With Vertical Dual Cameras Already Listed By A Chinese Seller

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 3, 2018

Samsung is expected to repeat its product launch pattern for 2017 this year. The tech giant is expected to build on last year’s successes with the launch of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in the first half of the year. The duo could well be unveiled early at MWC 2018 and is expected to pack the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.

Now, a Chinese retailer has set out early to catch in on the potential success of the Galaxy S9+ by launching a look-alike smartphone. The device which also bears the Samsung Galaxy S9+ moniker can at best be described as a cheap Galaxy S9+ clone. It bears the same design as that of the Galaxy S9+ render that have featured in an earlier leak. It features a dual camera at the rear aligned in a vertical direction. The device also packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor placed under the rear cameras. Unfortunately, the front design is a sell out as it looks nothing like the render of the Galaxy S9+ we have earlier seen. The screen to bod ratio is nowhere near the likely ratio Samsung will utilise which is placed at up to 90% with ultra-thin bezels.

Do note that this is definitely a clone and not the real phone and that fact is reflected in the price with which the device is listed. The device is listed with a 688 Yuan ( around $100) price tag and that is nowhere near the likely price of the Galaxy S9+. The real Samsung flagship is expected to come with a 6.2-inch full-colour curved screen and will be equipped with an SD 845 chip. The processor is backed by a 6GB RAM while a 3500mAh will provide the juice. The Galaxy S9 series is also expected to pack Google’s latest Android 8.0 Oreo operating system.

(source)

LG To Reportedly Rebrand Its G-Series Smartphone Lineup

By

Jeet

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Jan 3, 2018

LG is reportedly considering to rebrand its naming scheme for the G-series smartphones. This means that there will be no “LG G7” and instead, the company will introduce a new branding for its flagship phone of the year.

LG‘s first G-series smartphone was launched in September 2012, when the company launched Optimus G. In the following year, the company removed the “Optimus” branding and went ahead with just the “G2” branding. After years of iterations, the naming scheme is now coming to an end.

According to the report, the branding for the upcoming flagship smartphone has not been decided yet. The report further says that “numbering the phone with a two-digit number and rebranding the phone with a new name are some of the options on the table.”

The new branding of the flagship series is a part of South Korea-based company’s new brand strategy. LG badly needs a change in strategy given that the company could not make a mark in the premium smartphone segment even with two of its excellent devices — LG V30 and LG G6.

The South Korea-based company has officially confirmed that a change is underway. Explaining the move, an official of the company said that “rebranding flagship models is nothing new, and Samsung and Apple have done so for their own flagships.”

The company is expected to launch its next-generation flagship smartphone at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in February. The phone, which was referred as LG G7 until now, will be the successor of the LG G6.

Going by the leaked roadmap, the upcoming flagship device will be accompanied by another “Plus” model. Both devices will be powered by Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon 845 processor. While other details related to the phone is not yet available, several reports indicate that the company will be jumping on the facial recognition bandwagon.

Some reports suggest that the company could showcase the flagship smartphone to its carrier partners at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, followed by an official launch at Mobile World Congress.

(Source)

MediaTek Likely To Debut 7nm Flagship Chipsets Later This Year

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 3, 2018

The Taiwan-based MediaTek Inc. had released the Helio X30 (MT6799) system-on chip built with 10nm FinFET processing technology in Q1 2017. According to industry sources, MediaTek’s Helio P series chipsets will be powering the mid-range and high-end smartphones in the first half of this year. Since the smartphone industry will soon see the advent of the 5G mobile communication era, MediaTek is speculated to launch a flagship smartphone chipset in the second half of this year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is expected to build at least three new 7nm chipsets for MediaTek. This indicates how determined it is to become the numero uno chipset manufacturing company. As many of its customers such as OPPO, Vivo, Sony, LG and other smartphone makers from emerging nations are getting ready to embrace the upcoming 5G technology, the Taiwan-based chip making company has been actively working on AI enabled chipsets. As mentioned above, the company is heavily pegged to debut new chipsets for flagship phones in second half of this year.

At the beginning of 2017, MediaTek had released Helio X10, Helio X20 and Helio X30 chipsets for high-end smartphones. Even though the Taiwanese firm provided advanced technology at cheaper price compared to rivaling chipset making companies such as Qualcomm, it could not succeed in bagging many customers.

Mediatek Helio P70

The probable reason why it failed to attract major customers like Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi is that these companies have been developing their own in-house chipsets for their smartphones. Moreover, most of the leading smartphone vendors are interested in using Qualcomm’s chipsets. This is speculated to be the reason why MediaTek decided to halt the production of its Helio X series chipsets. Also, in order to prevent the gross margins of chipsets from falling down, MediaTek had to stop the related investments in the latter half of last year.

Recent reports have revealed that the upcoming Helio P-series chipsets from MediaTek are the Helio P40 and Helio P70. These 12nm chipsets built by TSMC will be focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and facial recognition.

(source)

iPhone X’s OLED Display Better Than Galaxy Note 8 In A Screen Burn-In Test

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jan 3, 2018

Apple iPhone X is the first phone launched by Apple to sport an OLED display. Its screen has been made by Samsung and it is actually the best display in the smartphone market, according to DisplayMate, which defines it even better than the Samsung Galaxy phones’ Super AMOLED panels. A new test has highlighted that the display of this handset might be even better than we expected. The screen burn-in is the worst problem of OLED displays: in the long-term, images remain permanently impressed on the screen.

This is the main concern of the people that choose to move from a phone with an LCD display to an OLED or Super AMOLED one. But even though the iPhone X has an OLED display, it can prevent burn-in for a considerable amount of time. In a burn-in test, an image was continuously displayed on the iPhone X screen, but burn-in effects started appearing only after 510 hours. This is a huge period which makes us understand that it is very hard to see the burn-in effect on the latest flagship by Apple.

Indeed, the same test was performed on Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the result being: much fewer hours were necessary to create the burn-in effect, and after 510 hours the burn-in effect was much more visible than the one on the iPhone X. So, you do not have to worry too much about screen burn-in if you decide to purchase an iPhone X unless you keep its display continuously showing the same image for days. If you want to see the complete comparison with all the photos for each phone tested, head to the source link below. Do you like the colors provided by OLED displays like the one of Apple iPhone X or you prefer the classic LCD ones?

(Source, Via)

ZTE Axon M Launches January 16 in China

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 3, 2018

ZTE’s foldable smartphone, the Axon M will be launching in China on January 16. This will be its first country after its launch in the US last November.

The Axon M is a unique smartphone with dual displays that folds like a book. Both 5.2” 1080p displays can function independently or together.

You can decide to use it as an extended display where both screens function as “one”, or independently like two separate monitors for multi-tasking, or even in mirror mode where both screens show the same thing.

The Axon M may have been released in 2017, but its specs are mostly from 2016. It is powered by a Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The phone has a single 20MP F/1.8 camera with OIS which serves as both the selfie and rear camera. It also has an audio jack, a 3180mAh battery, and runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat.

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Oppo R11s Receives Android 8.1 Oreo Update, Gets Dual VoLTE Support

By

Jeet

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Jan 3, 2018

While most smartphone manufacturers are working on to roll out Android 8.0 Oreo update to their devices, Oppo has now started rolling out Android 8.1 Oreo update to the Oppo R11s — the company’s flagship smartphone which was launched a couple of months ago.

Along with the Android 8.1 Oreo, the update for the Oppo R11s also brings a bunch of new features to the device. One of the major highlights of the update is that it brings support for the Dual SIM and Dual VoLTE feature.

Another major update is the addition of a new photo album named “Memories”. It intelligently recognises important events, trips, as well as people in the photos and videos and arranges them accordingly. There is also support for editing and sharing the media files.

It also adds some fitness related to functions, such as pedometer which counts steps taken and distance travelled, helping users in their daily exercise schedule. The weather application has also been updated. It now automatically identifies the location to provide weather information. It also displays information related to air quality index, fog and haze.

The Oppo R11s features a 6.01-inch Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The phone is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 processor. With the recently introduced 6GB RAM model, the phone is now available in two models — one with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage while the other one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Coming to the camera department, the rear camera features a combination of a 20-megapixel camera sensor with f/1.7 aperture and a 16-megapixel camera sensor with f/1.7 aperture. On the front side, there is a 20-megapixel camera sensor which comes with Artificial Intelligence (AI) features that support more than 200 facial enhancements, scene detection, and portrait mode.

The phone is running Color OS 3.2 and comes with Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box. It is fueled by a 3,205mAh battery, which supports company’s own VOOC fast charging technology. While the 4GB RAM model of Oppo R11s is priced at 2,999 Yuan (approximately $454), the 6GB RAM model costs 3,599 Yuan (approximately $545).

Vivo X20 Plus UD Version Passes 3C Certification, Could Be Under Display Fingerprint Model

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 3, 2018

Vivo has long been linked with the under display fingerprint technology developed by Qualcomm. The prototype was showcased at the Asian MWC 2017 running in an unknown Vivo smartphone. There are indications the version may have been certified in China. A device suspected to be the Vivo X20 Plus Under Display version has received 3C certification.

The smartphone actually is listed as Vivo X20 Plus UD version and it is believed the UD stands for Under Display. Since the device has received quality certification, it may soon hit the market. But is this really the Under display version? We can’t be so sure of that as UD could also mean Underwater Defense, that is a waterproof body and could also mean UpDate. However, a version with under display looks more likely.

China’s 3C listing usually doesn’t show anything regarding the specification of the model, so we can’t say if this is merely an upgraded version of the X20 Plus. But we’ll find out soon, as the latest technology is expected to be showcased at MWC 2018 in a few weeks time. To refresh your memory, the new Under display fingerprint scanner uses Synaptic’s new Clear ID fingerprint technology. According to Forbes, pressing the button present on the right side of a pre-production Vivo phone wakes it and displays an illuminated fingerprint image at the bottom of the screen. Users can simply touch it to unlock the phone instantly. Synaptics has said that its Clear ID in-display fingerprint scanner is designed for bezel-less OLED infinity displays that are found in flagship smartphones such as Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

(source)