Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 Could be its Second-Generation 10nm Chipset

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Oct 26, 2017

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset will be powering the flagship smartphones that will be releasing in 2018. Some rumors have claimed that it would be built with 7nm FinFET manufacturing process. Fresh information suggest that Qualcomm may unleash the Snapdragon 845 chipset before the end of this year. It will be reportedly built with 10nm FinFET technology.

The Snapdragon 835 chipset that is built with 10nm FinFET technology powers various flagship smartphones of this year. The Snapdragon 845 that is expected to power 2018 flagship phones like Samsung Galaxy S9, LG G7, Xiaomi Mi 7 and so on is rumored as the second-generation 10nm chipset from Qualcomm.

One should be aware of the fact that the U.S.-based chip maker has not confirmed on the “845” moniker. However, few months ago, a reference of “SDM845” was found on one of the documents that Qualcomm had submitted to ITC while filing a case against Apple.

Qualcomm had announced the Snapdragon 835 chipset in November 2016 and the Samsung Galaxy S8 was the first smartphone to launch with it. Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ may arrive as the first smartphones with Snapdragon 845 chipset.

The South Korean company has recently announced that its 8nm FinFET LPP process is now ready for production. The company is expected to introduce 7nm EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) lithography technology in the second half of 2018. Rumors have it that the Galaxy S9 duo will be also available in Exynos 9810 chipset models. The new chipset that is expected to arrive with AI capabilities is rumored to be built with 7nm or 8nm process.

As far as Snapdragon 845 is concerned, it is speculated to arrive with updated Kryo cores. Its enhanced Adreno graphics is expected to be optimized for AR, VR and XR. The Kirin 970 chipset that powers the new Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro smartphones is coupled with a neural processing unit (NPU) for handling AI capabilities. The neural engine processing cores from the Apple A11 Bionic chipset is meant to handle machine learning algorithms on the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. However, there is no confirmation on the AI capabilities of Snapdragon 845.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Gets Price Cut Of 300 Yuan, Now Costs 2,199 Yuan

By

Jeet

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Oct 26, 2017

After announcing the new Red color variant of Mi 5X and Black color variant of Mi Max 2 in China, Xiaomi has now announced a price cut for its Mi Note 3 smartphone.

The company has announced that the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 will cost 300 Yuan lesser than its original prcing, making the effective price 2,199 Yuan. The new pricing will be applicable on November 1, the same day when the new color variants of Mi 5X and Mi Max 2 will go on sale.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 comes with a 5.5-inch display and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor. It packs 6GB of RAM and is available in two storage options — 64GB and 128GB. It is powered by a 3,500mAh battery which also supports fast charging.

It features a 12-megapixel dual camera module at the back — same as the Mi 6, but the algorithms have been improved to provide better bokeh effect. While one is a telephoto lens, the other one is a wide-angle lens. It has 2x optical zoom and 4-axis OIS.

On the front, there is a 16-megapixel 2μm sensor for taking selfies. The front camera of the phone has AI-based beautification feature, and supports facial recognition unlocking.

Additional features of the Mi Note 3 include NFC, IR port, under-glass fingerprint, stereo speakers, and USB Type-C port.

Apparently, the price cut is only for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. A couple of weeks ago, the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model of Mi Note 3 started selling at a discounted price of 2,699 Yuan, which is 200 Yuan lower than its official pricing.

Xiaomi has usually faced a problem of shortage of stock. But it seems that the company has made some strategic changes, resulting in more units coming out of the production line. The company has announced that it aims to ship 90 million phones by the end of this year.

Apart from efficient supply chain, the company is also focusing on establishing its presence in the offline channels as well. Xiaomi recently launched 20 new Mi Stores in China, reaching its goal of opening over 200 Mi Stores in China this year.

Buy Xiaomi Mi Note 3 For $349 on Giztop

Recently Certified Redmi Phones Could be the Redmi 5 Plus

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 26, 2017

Recent rumors have revealed that Xiaomi will be soon introducing new Redmi and Redmi Note phones with full screen design before the end of 2017. The Redmi Note 5 is speculated to launch in December, but fresh information suggests that the two Redmi phones that were approved by TENAA could be the two variants of the upcoming Redmi 5 Plus that are likely to launch before Nov. 11.

A Xiaomi phone with model number MEG7 has been certified by Taiwan’s NCC. However, we could not find the document that linked the Redmi 5 Plus to that model number. After searching for the certification, we could only find the following image which reveals that the MEG7 model will launch as Redmi 5 Plus.

TENAA, China’s certification body, had recently approved two Xiaomi devices with model numbers MEE7 and MET7. Since the MEG7 model is approved as Redmi 5 Plus by NCC, it appears that MEE7 and MET7 are the two variants of Redmi 5 Plus for China. The MEE7 is rumored as a Redmi 5 Plus variant that will be exclusive to China Mobile. The MET7 is speculated to support all the carriers in China.

According to the TENAA listing of both phones, these devices will feature 5.99-inch screens that carry support for full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. It appears that these devices will offer an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The Redmi 5 Plus models will be driven by 2 GHz octa-core processor. Some sources claim that they may be fueled by Snapdragon 625 chipset, but there is possibility that these phones may feature the Snapdragon 450 chipset. These devices are preloaded with Android 7.1.2 Nougat. For photography, these phones are expected to feature a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera. Both phones are pegged to feature 4,000mAh capacity batteries.

The only major difference between the MEE7 and MET7 devices is that the former features 3 GB of RAM + 32 GB of storage and the latter has 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of storage. These variants are speculated to launch with respective pricing of 999 Yuan (~$150) and 1,299 Yuan (~$195).

Nov. 11 is Singles’ Day in China and it is the biggest online shopping festival in the country. Previous reports have revealed that the company is looking forward to making the most of the upcoming shopping festival by launching the Redmi 5 Plus before Nov. 11. The company has reportedly prepared plenty of stock of the smartphone as it is expected to encounter huge demand.

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun had recently claimed the company is targeting to ship at least 90 million units in this year. Since the company is speculated to unleash its highly affordable budget phones with full screen design before the end of 2017, it appears that it won’t be too difficult for it fulfill its goal.

(source)

HTC Google Pixel 2 XL Muskie with 3,830mAh Battery Appears in AOSP

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 26, 2017

The HTC-made Google Pixel 2 and LG-made Pixel 2 XL were unveiled at the beginning of this month. Before their launch, these phones were referred by their respective codenames of Walleye and Taimen. Earlier rumors had claimed that Google would be releasing 3 smartphones codenamed as walleye, muskie and taimen in this year, but the muskie phone was eventually cancelled. Today, the muskie model has appeared on AOSP code files to reveal some of its specs.

In the AOSP file, the PRODUCT_MANFACTURER of the muskie device is mentioned as Google. However, PRODUCT_DEVICE is mentioned as muskie. Investigating further on the files revealed that the muskie phone was made by HTC. The HTC-made Pixel 2 XL was reportedly cancelled in June as it was replaced by LG’s taimen device that was unveiled to the world as Pixel 2 XL.

The Google Pixel 2 XL has a large battery of 3,520mAh capacity, but the muskie model had a mammoth battery of 3,830mAh capacity. Few more things about the muskie device have been revealed through the Android source code. The Pixel 2 XL by LG has a screen density of 560 DPI. It has been found that HTC’s muskie also offered the same screen density which indicates that it would have featured a full screen display.

A recent report has revealed that the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are fitted with a custom-made image processor called Pixel Visual Core. It has been included to specifically improve the photography experience without relying on the Snapdragon 835 chipset that fuels both the smartphones. The AOSP code files have also revealed that the HTC’s muskie phone also featured the Pixel Visual Core image processor.

The shipments of the pre-ordered Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have started. Those who have managed to lay their hands soon on the Pixel 2 XL have claimed that its display is suffering from various issues like poor color reproduction, screen-burn in, blue tint and black smear. These problems are not affecting the performance of the phone, but Google is being criticized for using mediocre quality OLED panel by LG on the Pixel 2 XL.

The original Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones from last year were both made by HTC. Do you think that the Pixel 2 XL by HTC would have been a better phone than the current the Pixel 2 XL? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

Apple iPhone X Face ID’s Accuracy Reportedly Reduced to Release It On Time [Update]

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 26, 2017

Update: In response to Bloomberg’s claims, Apple has said that it has no changed the accuracy of Face ID and the termed the report as completely false. Here is the official statement:

“The quality and accuracy of Face ID haven’t changed. It continues to be 1 in a million probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone with Face ID. Bloomberg’s claim that Apple has reduced the accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false and we expect Face ID to be the new gold standard for facial authentication.”

Original Post:

Apple will start receiving the pre-orders of the iconic iPhone X from Oct. 27. Recent reports have revealed that the Cupertino company would be shipping only 2 to 3 million iPhone X units on its Nov. 3 release date. Also, the company is speculated to ship only 20 million units of the smartphone until the end of this year. However, an earlier prediction by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the company would be shipping 30 to 35 million iPhone X units before the end of 2017. Rumors had also claimed that Apple may delay the release of iPhone X. A recent report by Bloomberg reveals that the company has managed to make the iPhone X available on time by reducing the accuracy of its face identification feature.

Apple introduced face scanning feature called Face ID for the first time on the iPhone X that was unveiled on Sept. 12. To explain that the new Face ID is highly secure than Touch ID, Apple had claimed at the launch event of the iPhone X that the probability of fooling the robust Face ID security feature 1 in 1,000,000. Recent reports have revealed that the production of the iPhone X has been impacted because of the highly complex TrueDepth Camera system and Face ID.

The Face ID sensor consists of three components such as a dot projector, flood illuminator and an IR (infrared camera). The function of the flood illuminator is to emit infrared light to lighten up the face of the user and then the camera manages to identify the face because of the produced light. The dot projector will emit 30,000 dots on the face. The light bounces back to confirm whether the pattern of the face resembles with the registered face.

Manufacturing the dot projector is a difficult task as a difference of even a micron between it and the overlying glass can lead to inaccurate results. In a bid to make the iPhone X available by Nov. 3, it appears that the Cupertino company has reduced the accuracy of the face scanner. It is unclear that whether doing so can hamper the quality of the face scans.

Previous reports have revealed that Apple had also faced issues with the manufacturing of OLED panels. The reason behind it is that the company requires customized OLED panels with u-shaped cut at the top to house the TrueDepth Camera system. Reports suggest that Apple could manage to resolve the issues surrounding the production of OLED panels by July.

(source)

OnePlus 5T Release Date Set in Late November?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 26, 2017

Earlier in this month, an event invitation had surfaced that indicated that the OnePlus 5T would be unveiled on Nov. 5. However, it was found to be fake. Since then, multiple sources have revealed the leaked specifications and features of OnePlus 5T. Since the Chinese manufacturer had debuted OnePlus 3T in November 2016, it is still speculated that that OnePlus 5T will be unveiled in the next month. Well-known leakster Evan Blass is confident that OnePlus is working on a new device that may debut in late November.

I take this back. Just heard from someone I consider reliable that they are indeed working on an 18:9 model for end of November release. https://t.co/8pc7Z51Xli

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 25, 2017

Got a second, reliable confirmation here, claiming a post-11/20 release. https://t.co/KDvBH8y7NO

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 25, 2017

The above tweets from Blass corroborates on the recent rumors that claim that OnePlus is working on a device that will offer an aspect ratio of 18:9. He also claims that it may get unveiled after Nov. 20. He has not revealed the name of the device, but rumors are rife that this device may get unveiled as OnePlus 5T.

Last year’s OnePlus 3T looked a lot like the OnePlus 3 that was released in June. However, the 3T smartphone came with improved internals. As far as OnePlus 5T is concerned, it is rumored to arrive with a refreshed design.

Rumors have revealed that OnePlus 5T would be arriving with a 6-inch display that will produce full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The elongated display will be surrounded by reduced bezels. Here is a leaked image of what appears to be a real OnePlus 5T smartphone.

Because of the large-sized display, OnePlus 5T is unlikely to feature front-mounted fingerprint scanner. Hence, it is pegged to house a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. OnePlus 5 has a 3,300mAh battery. Since the OnePlus 5T is expected to arrive with a larger body, it may feature a huge battery of 3,450mAh capacity. The OP5T may not feature the standard 3.5mm audio jack.

Recent reports have also revealed that the OnePlus 5T may arrive with improved dual rear cameras. It is speculated to house a pair of 20-megapixel dual rear lenses. OnePlus co-founders, Pete Lau and Carl Pei have shared some camera samples that were shot using an unnamed device. It is likely that the images may have been shot using the OnePlus 5T.

The OP5T is rumored to be fueled by Snapdragon 835. Like the OP5, its improved version may feature 6 GB / 8 GB RAM options and 64 GB / 128 GB storage options. The key specs of OnePlus 5T have also appeared on AnTuTu benchmarks. It is likely to arrive with a starting price of $549.

(source)

Leaked OPPO R11s Renders Reveals Design and Three Color Variants

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 25, 2017

The OPPO R11s won’t launch until November 2 but there seem to be little or no unknown specification anymore. The device already showed up on AnTuTu, got certified on 3CC and had its camera specs revealed too. Today, official renders have leaked giving us an early look at the design as well as providing new details.

The OPPO R11s images were posted on Weibo and reveal that the phone will be available in red with black/red bezels, gold with white bezels, and black with black bezels.

The bezels are significantly smaller and provide an explanation as to why the fingerprint scanner can’t sit below the display. Instead, it is now at the back of the phone, positioned where the forefinger naturally rests. The top bezel still houses the front camera and earpiece while the lower bezel is bare.

The top of the phone and bottom have been redesigned. It now has a recess where the secondary microphone sits at the top, and the speaker grille, micro USB port, primary mic and audio jack are housed at the bottom.

There is no significant change on the back save for the addition of a fingerprint scanner. The dual cameras are still at the top left corner and there is a LED flash flanking it on the right. Volume rocker is also still on the left side while SIM tray and power button sit on the right.

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Suspected OnePlus 5T Real Photo Leaks Revealing Front Design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 25, 2017

A newly leaked photo said to be the OnePlus 5T has appeared online and it shows a device that looks no different from the OPPO R11s. OnePlus and OPPO are both BBK subsidiaries so it was less surprising when the OnePlus 5 was announced and it looked like the OPPO R11. Right now, both OPPO and OnePlus are quickly getting on the full-screen train and to spearhead their entrance is the OnePlus 5T and OPPO R11s. We may have to do with two different models having a similar design once again.

The OPPO R11s is scheduled for launch on November 2 and ahead of its launch, several official renders have been teased showing the actual design. OnePlus, on the other hand, is yet to officially confirm the existence of the OP 5T. What we are holding on to are rumours and speculations. Nonetheless, the leaked photo reveals a full-screen design with a higher screen-to-body ratio which creates a nearly bezel-less design.

Even though the OnePlus 5T and the OPPO R11s may likely have a similar design, there is bound to be some differences, especially in the specifications. Both are expected to feature a 6-inch display with 2160 x 1080 pixels resolution which means they would adopt an 18:9 aspect ratio. The OnePlus 5T is expected to pack a Snapdragon 835 flagship processor like the OP5 while the OPPO R11s will join the R11 in utilising a Snapdragon 660 premium mid-range chip. The OP5T is expected to pack an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage while there may likely be a 6GB RAM variant. 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.

Until the OP 5T design is officially confirmed, we’ll take this leaked photo with a pinch of salt.

(source)

Are These Photos Posted By OnePlus Co-founders OnePlus 5T Camera Samples?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 25, 2017

A few hours ago, OnePlus co-founders, Pete Lau and Carl Pei took to Twitter to post camera samples from an unnamed phone. While it is a wild guess, we want to believe they were taken by the OnePlus 5T.

Impressive photo. Must be a great camera 😉 pic.twitter.com/rixfXiqaFS

— Pete Lau (@petelau2007) October 25, 2017

The OnePlus 5T was seen on AnTuTu and the benchmark site reveals that it will have two 20MP rear cameras. That is an upgrade from the 16MP + 20MP combo on the OnePlus 5. So it wouldn’t be unusual that we are getting early camera samples.

Although OnePlus has not confirmed itself that it will launch a successor to the OnePlus 5, a number of leaks and recent happenings have shown that a successor currently called the OnePlus 5T is in the pipeline.

Cool photo, must have come from a great camera 😉 pic.twitter.com/DyiULnyTYN

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) October 25, 2017

Earlier this month, the OnePlus 5 went out of stock in nearly all markets except for India and China. While some have said it is just a supply issue, OnePlus itself has failed to provide an explanation. And to be honest, we are not surprised.

If there is a successor coming, it will make no sense to keep selling the current model and then launch the new one if you plan to sell it at the same price as the current one or for even a slightly higher price. Last year, when OnePlus announced the OnePlus 3T, it stopped production of the OnePlus 3. That is most likely the same thing happening now.

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Vivo Xplay 7 Images Leaked; Rumored to Arrive with Snapdragon 845, 8 GB RAM, Under Display Fingerprint Sensor

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 25, 2017

In June, Vivo had showcased its under-display fingerprint scanner technology during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2017. It seems that the rumored Vivo Xplay7 could be the smartphone that will be arriving with the advanced biometric recognition feature. A Weibo user has shared leaked snapshots of a slideshow along with some press renders of the alleged Vivo Xplay7. Before reading ahead, we would like to let our readers know that the legitimacy of the leaked images are not confirmed.

The above images show that the Vivo Xplay7 would be coming in color choices like Black, Gold and Rose Gold (or Pink). The frontside of the phone features the new full screen design, but its back panel looks a bit like the Xplay6. These renders also reveal that it features a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C port and a pair of external speakers.

What’s fascinating about the smartphone is that features a true bezel-less design and one of the leaked snapshot suggests that the display will deliver an astounding screen-to-body ratio of 100 percent. However, the Xplay7 has two cutouts at the upper portion of the display. These cutouts may either house dual selfie cameras or a selfie camera and a sensor.

The leaked images also claim that the Vivo Xplay7 features optical fingerprint scanner under its display. Few months ago, well-known analyst Pan Jiutang had claimed Vivo will become the first smartphone company to launch a phone with under-display fingerprint scanner. The rear side of the Xplay7 features a dual camera system. Leaked information suggests that it may feature a pair of customized Sony IMX401 sensors that will carry support for 4x optical zoom.

It is expected to deliver monstrous performance as it is rumored to feature the next-generation Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with 8 GB of RAM. It is speculated to be available in storage choices like 128 GB and 256 GB. Even though several smartphone OEMs will be launching Snapdragon 845 driven smartphones in 2018, the Xplay7 could be the first SD845 driven phone to feature under-display fingerprint scanner. Since the smartphone is speculated to feature Snapdragon 835’s successor chipset, it may get introduced in the first quarter of 2018.

What do you think about the specs and features of Vivo Xplay7? Do they sound too good to be true? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

HMD Releases Android Oreo Beta for Nokia 8, Promises Android 7.1.2 Update for Nokia 3

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 25, 2017

If you own the Nokia 8, you can sign up to get a beta version of Android 8.0 Oreo now. There are no major requirements except owning the phone obviously.

The announcement was made on Twitter by Juho Sarvikas, HMD’s Chief Product Officer. Join the program called Nokia Phones Beta Labs by heading to this page, sign in (with Google/Facebook) and you should get an OTA in a matter of minutes or probably hours. This is quite similar to Google’s Android Beta Program.

This is a beta version, so there will most likely be issues. Though there is an app for sending feedback to HMD that comes with the update.

Mr. Sarvikas in a follow-up tweet says the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6 will come up next. There is no mention of the Nokia 7 but since Nokia already said all its phones will be updated to Oreo and Android P, be rest assured it will get it in due time.

In a separate news, HMD Global says the Nokia 3 will get an update to Android 7.1.2. Earlier this month, the company pushed out updates to the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3. While the other two got updated to 7.1.2 Nougat, the Nokia 3 didn’t.

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OnePlus 5T Specifications Revealed Via AnTuTu Screenshot Leak

By

Jeet

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Oct 25, 2017

Lately, we are seeing a lot of leaks related to the OnePlus’ upcoming smartphone — OnePlus 5T. While there is no official confirmation from the company yet, it is certain that the phone will be launched soon.

Recently, the phone’s design leaked online, revealing the full-screen display on the device. Prior to that, the landing page for the OnePlus 5T on the company’s official website was also leaked. And now, we have the phone’s specifications, thanks to the AnTuTu screenshot leak.

The latest leak reveals the specifications of the OnePlus A5010 model, which is believed to be the OnePlus 5T as OnePlus 5 had a model number A5000.

The phone is said to have a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, suggesting an aspect ratio of 18:9. It will have a 6-inch full-screen display with narrow bezels. The fingerprint sensor will be placed at the back of the phone.

It packs 8GB of RAM and has 128GB of internal storage. As of the camera, the phone will feature a dual camera setup with a combination of two 20-megapixel sensors at back.

Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 GPU. It will run Android 8.0 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box.

However, we advise you to take this report with a pinch of salt as we couldn’t verify if the leaked AnTuTu image is genuine or not.

The smartphone is rumoured to feature a larger capacity battery and may arrive without a 3.5mm audio jack. Other than the display, most of the specifications of OnePlus 5T are expected to be same as its predecessor.

While the company is yet to confirm the phone’s existence, it has already been listed for pre-orders on OppoMart. The listing suggests two models — 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. The 64GB storage variant carries a price tag of $549 while the 128GB model has been listed for $649.

Currently, the OnePlus 5 smartphone has gone out of stock in most countries, except India. It appears that the company is discontinuing the OP5 before the arrival of OP5T. The company did the same ahead of OnePlus 3T launch last year.

(Source)

Huawei Nova 3 May Arrive in December with Kirin 670, Full Screen Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 25, 2017

Huawei is now rumored to be a working on a new Nova series phone that is likely to sport a full screen design. Speculations are rife that it will hit the market as Huawei Nova 3 and may have a design that is very similar to the Nova 2i smartphone that was recently launched in Malaysia. The Chinese manufacturer has released the same smartphone as Mate 10 Lite in Europe, Maimang 6 in China and Honor 9i in India.

Leaked information reveals that the alleged Nova 3 may include a 5.93-inch display that will carry support for FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Since it is a full screen design phone, its fingerprint scanner will probably reside on its back panel.

Like the Nova 2i, the rumored Nova 3 will be equipped with quad cameras. The rear side may feature 16-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual camera system and its front may house 20-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual selfie cameras.

The Nova 3 is speculated to be driven by the new Kirin 670 SoC that is speculated to be built on a 12nm manufacturing process. Reports have revealed that it could be a hexa-core SoC featuring two Moscow custom cores working at 2.2 GHz and four cores of Cortex A53 processor gunning at 2.0 GHz along with Mali G72MP4 graphics.

The same chipset was speculated to be present inside the recently introduced Honor 7X. However, the handset was launched with Kirin 659 SoC. The Huawei Nova 3 is expected to include a 3,340mAh battery with 18w fast charging support. There is no information available on the RAM and storage variants of the Nova 3. Since it seems to be a midrange phone, it may arrive in 3 GB / 4 GB RAM options and 32 GB / 64 GB storage models.

The Nova 2 was sold with a starting price of 2,499 Yuan (~$375). However, since the average selling price of smartphones have been rising consistently, the Nova 3 is speculated to be priced around 2,999 Yuan (~$450). It is likely to launch on Dec. 5.

(source)

Samsung Android Oreo Update Won’t Arrive Till 2018

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 25, 2017

Sony began rolling out the Android Oreo update to the Xperia XZ Premium yesterday. Other manufacturers like HTC, Huawei, and OnePlus are also expected to update eligible phones before the end of the year. Samsung on the other hand has said that the update won’t arrive till next year.

The info was revealed by Samsung Turkey. The source says that development is already underway but will not be ready till early 2018.

The first set of devices expected to get the update include the Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note8. Other devices are the S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, Galaxy A7/A5/A3 2017, Galaxy J7/J5 2017, Galaxy Note FE, Galaxy C9/C7 Pro, J7 Prime (On Nxt) and Tab S3.

These year’s flagships will get the beta update before the end of the year before the stable update next year. The update schedule will also vary with respect to countries and carriers.

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Xiaomi Introduces Red Color For Mi 5X And Black For Mi Max 2

By

Jeet

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Oct 25, 2017

Xiaomi has introduced a new color variant for two of its smartphones — the Mi 5X and the Mi Max 2. The company has introduced Red color for the Mi 5X, while the Mi Max 2 will now also have the Black color option.

The newer variant of the Mi 5X comes with a Red colored back panel and black front panel. The smartphone was already available in three colors — Gold, Black, Rose Gold.

The first sale for the Red color variant of Xiaomi Mi 5X will start from November 1, and the pricing remains same — 1,499 Yuan (~ $226).

On the other hand, Xiaomi has also unveiled a new Black color version of Mi Max 2 smartphone. Having 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, it will also go on sale on November 1 at a price of 1,699 Yuan (~ $256).

Currently, the Mi Max 2 is only available in one color — Gold. However, there are three models in terms of memory — 4GB RAM + 32GB onboard storage, 6GB RAM + 64GB internal storage and 4GB RAM + 128GB onboard storage.

The Xiaomi Mi 5X comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display and is powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Powered by a 3,080mAh battery, the phone has a fingerprint sensor at the back.

The Mi Max 2 is the successor of the Xiaomi Mi Max. It features a massive 6.4-inch Full HD display and is powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor. This one too comes with a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front snapper.

The smartphone is powered by a 5,300mAh battery which is rated to provide 57 hours of talk time, 18 hours of video playback, 9 hours of gaming and 10 days of audio playback.

Xiaomi has announced that the new color models are now available for pre-orders in China and along with online channels, they will also be available offline. While the new color variants will be available in China, the company has not shared information regarding its availability in other markets.

Lynky Is A Google Assistant Smart Home Hub With A Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 25, 2017

Google Assistant is gradually making its way to non-Google devices. There is the Bose QuietComfort II headphones and then there is the Mobvoi TicHome Mini. There are more that have been announced but are not yet available for purchase yet. However, none of them has a display. Enter the Lynky, a smart home hub which not only comes with Google Assistant but also packs a touchscreen display.

Lynky is quite different from other AI Assistants as while those are smart speakers first with limited support for controlling other smart home devices, Lynky is a smart hub first before a smart speaker.

Lynky has support for multiple protocols. From Bluetooth to Zigbee to Wi-Fi. There is also support for IFTTT and more services can be added via its open API settings. You can also create custom scenes and modes with paired devices. The hub can control IoT devices from Philips Hue, IKEA, LIFX, Nest, Ring, August Home, TP-Link etc.

There are two versions of Lynky available – a desktop version that can be placed on any horizontal surface around the home and a wall-mounted version that can be connected to a light switch or fan switch.

Both let you control connected devices via the screen, voice, or the Lynky app. You can also decide to pair multiple Lynky units together if you have a large home. Since it comes with Google Assistant built-in, all assistant’ commands are available. You can ask questions, set reminders, set reminders and even stream music from the internet.

Lynky has a 5” HD display, 2 far-field microphones, and two 2W stereo speakers. There is also a button at the top to turn the microphone off. It has a quad-core cortex A7 processor and runs a custom version of Linux. The desktop version is powered via USB while the wall mount version draws power from the light switch.

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MIUI 9 Stable Upgrade Underway in China, Full Roll-Out Likely Before End of October

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 25, 2017

Xiaomi is expected to release the Stable version of its latest MIUI 9 custom ROM any moment from now. We can authoritatively report to you that the release may take place even sooner than expected. A sizable number of Xiaomi phone users in China have started receiving the update to MIUI 9 Stable version. A number of them have taken to Weibo to share the good news and from the look of things, it started rolling out today. We were able to detect this sizable number by search the keyword “MIUI9” on Weibo.

Xiaomi had earlier hinted that the MIUI 9 Stable ROM should be expected at the earliest this month and that disclosure was made about two months back. It is possible the tech giant has commenced the roll out of stable ROM and in the coming days we could see a full release of OTA updates ushering MIUI 9 to compatible models. It is likely that the stable ROM update will be in batches just as was done during the release of the Developer ROM.

Th first batch may likely contain models like Mi 6, Rrdmi 4X, Mi 5X, Mi Max 2which were recently released. Don’t get your hopes too high, though, as the recent releases could be to test the Stable ROM. The Stable ROM is the final product so it is expected to come with most of the bugs fixed since is updated only once a month or twice or even longer unlike Developer ROM that gets weekly updates. So, XIaomi may not be in a hurry to push updates just yet but that would be done sooner than later.

(source)

Oppo R11S Camera Specs Revealed Ahead Of Official Launch

By

Jeet

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Oct 25, 2017

Oppo is all set to launch its latest smartphone — Oppo R11S in a launch event on November 2. However, ahead of the official unveiling, the company has revealed the camera specifications of the device.

On a microblogging website, Oppo has posted an image which confirms that the smartphone will come with a dual camera setup at the back. It also reveals that the camera will have a combination of a 20-megapixel sensor and a 16-megapixel sensor, with both lenses having an aperture of f/1.7.

The phone will also have a 20-megapixel front-facing camera. The company has suggested that the phone’s camera will have an intelligent identification system which can help take natural photos during daytime and clearer low-light photos.

Oppo has already revealed that the phone will sport a 6.01-inch display that will feel like a 5.5-inch screen due to the narrow body structure, thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio. The display will have a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels.

It will have a full-screen design with a new technology called “Star Screen”. Other than the display and camera, most of the specs are expected to be same as Oppo R11.

Oppo R11S’s four variants were recently seen on the Chinese Compulsory Certification website which revealed that it will have 5V 4A fast charging — the company’s proprietary VOOC fast charging technology. It is expected to pack 4,000mAh battery.

It will run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with the company’s own Color OS UI. The phone will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

The Oppo R11S, which seems like a premium mid-range smartphone, will be launched on November 2 in China. The China-based smartphone manufacturer is also going to launch another full-screen smartphone — the Oppo F5 in the Philippines tomorrow.

IDC Predicts Huawei Will Likely Surpass Apple In Market Shares This Year Or Next

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 25, 2017

Market research firm IDC is very well known for their research and analytics which cuts across several industries. The tech industry is one where the company is pretty active in monitoring smartphone shipments and OEMs’ growth based on market shares. The research firm has now predicted that Chinese brand Huawei will overtake Apple in global market share either this year or next.

This isn’t the first report that is predicting a shift of the balance in favour of Huawei. A report from the Taiwanese industry chain had earlier tipped that Huawei would pip Apple to emerge as the world’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer in terms of total shipments. The gap between Huawei and Apple has already been narrowed with a momentous performance Huawei posted in Q2 2017. The company recorded a total shipment of 38.5 million units representing an 11.3% share in global shipment, according to a report by research firm IDC. On its part, Apple is said to have recorded 41 million units (12% share) in shipments for the same quarter which is just 2.5 million units over Huawei’s shipment.

IDC believes that Huawei’s new AI chipset which features on the Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro and Mate 10 Porsche Design could boost sales of the Chinese brand enough to take the iPhone maker’s current second place in the rankings. Apple’s A11 chip comes with a dedicated AI circuitry but Huawei claims to have a better chip in the Kirin 970 which packs a dedicated Neural Processing Unit. In a TV interview with CNBC, Francisco Jeronimo, research director for European mobile devices at IDC opined that Huawei is today the biggest challenger to Apple and Samsung and is growing very fast. He believes they will probably overtake Apple in the smartphone business, either this year or next year.

Some analysts believe Huawei’s rise might be temporary and would dwindle when the iPhone 8 and iPhone X sales fully kick in but IDC thinks the rise of the Chinese telecoms equipment giant will be permanent. The company is not just focused on shipping more but also raking in more profits as this isn’t just about shipping boxes. Let’s remind you that IDC had once predicted that Windows OS would be bigger than iOS but that never happened, so maybe we wouldn’t take this too seriously.

(source)

Samsung’s Patent Filing Reveals Dual Wireless Charging to Take on Apple’s AirPower

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 25, 2017

The iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X are the first smartphones from Apple to carry support for wireless charging. During the launch event of these phones, the Cupertino company had unveiled AirPower wireless charger that can charge multiple Apple devices simultaneously that are enabled with wireless charging. It appears that Samsung may also launch a similar wireless charger in the near future as it has recently filed a patent for a dual wireless charger.

Apple’s AirPower may launch sometime in the next year. As of this writing, there is no information available on its pricing. It can allow users to charge multiple Apple devices at the same time. For instance, a user would be able to charge an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, Apple Watch 3 and the new AirPods charging case simultaneously.

The above figure has been found through Samsung’s patent for dual wireless charger with USPTO. The images show that users can place more than one device on the charging bed. It appears that it can support only two devices at a time. The patent filing by Samsung suggests that it is likely to soon introduce a wireless charging feature to rival with AirPower.

Samsung’s patent for dual wireless charger relies on magnetic resonance and magnetic induction for charging the same product. It will be suitable for charging devices that conform to the Qi standard. The charging bed will be able to identify that device that is placed on it and it will automatically choose the appropriate magnetic charging to replenish the batteries.

There is no confirmation on when the South Korean company will be introducing its new dual wireless charging feature. It may get announced at the launch of the upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ that are speculated to debut in February next year.

(source|via)