Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro: Which Phone is Best for You?

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Oct 18, 2017

Motorola has announced a new Moto Mod accessory for its Moto Z series of smartphones — Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa. Moto Mod is a hardware add-on that can be used to enhance phone’s functionalities.

As the name itself suggests, the snap-to-connect mod accessory features its own dedicated speaker. It also has that blue illumination ring that we saw on Amazon Echo or Echo Dot.

The speaker comes with four mics, ensuring that it picks up the voice in relatively noisy environments. It delivers across-the-room sound in a way that a smartphone can’t by itself.

Powered by Amazon Alexa, it allows users to trigger the smart assistant with voice and can be used to play music, get news, ask questions, pull up to-do lists, provide weather forecast, and more. It comes with same features that Amazon’s Echo smart speaker has.

This new accessory from Motorola comes with a built-in battery, which as per the company, can last for around 15 hours on single charge.

While this newly announced Mod boosts one feature on the phone — speaker, it blocks another feature — camera. It is designed in such a way that it completely hides the rear camera on the phone.

The Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa will be available for $149.99 from November in markets where Amazon Alexa is available.

Moto X4 Is Now Amazon Prime Exclusive Phone, Available At $329

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Oct 18, 2017

Moto X4 — latest mid-range smartphone from Motorola has now joined the list of Amazon Prime Exclusive smartphones. With this, the smartphone is now available at a discount of $70.

The unlocked version of the Moto X4 is priced at $399.99 in the US, but Amazon Prime members can grab the phone at just $329.99. To cover the cost of the offered discount, Prime Exclusive devices shows ads on the lock screen.

The smartphone comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD LCD display with screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and pixel density of 424 PPI. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, along with 3GB of RAM. The device has 32GB of internal storage and also supports storage expansion via microSD card up to 2TB.

In the camera department, the Moto X4 features dual camera setup at the back — 12-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle secondary sensor with f/2.2 aperture. On the front, there is a 16-megapixel snapper with LED flash.

It also comes with IP68 certification, ensuring water and dust resistance. Connectivity options on the device include USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS.

The phone is powered by a 3,000mAh battery, which also supports TurboPower charging. It features a fingerprint sensor and ships with Android 7.1 Nougat operating system.

The Amazon Prime Exclusive Moto X4 will be available in two color options — Super Black and Sterling Blue. The company will start shipping the phone from October 26, but it has started taking pre-orders.

Motorola has also announced that the unlocked Moto X4 will be available for pre-order from October 19 for $399.99 at Motorola.com, Best Buy, B&H, Newegg, Jet.com, and Fry’s.

Last month, Google had launched Android One Moto X4 in the US, making it the first smartphone in the US under the Android One program. It is also the first non-Google device that supports Project Fi network. However, the Android One Moto X4 is not a part of Amazon Prime Exclusive.

Huawei Ranked As Most Authentic Indigenous Chinese Brand

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 18, 2017

Huawei is surely having a good run this year with a consolidated performance on all front. The tech giant was recently revealed to have enjoyed a brief stint as the world’s second-largest phone maker in July 2017 and also added a number of premium smartphones both from the Honor line and Huawei brand. That is apart from the title of being the world’s largest telecommunications equipment supplier. A new report has now been outed which confers on Huawei the title of being the most authentic brand in China.

The report by New York-based communications agency Cohn & Wolfe is an annual consumer survey conducted in 15 markets around the world on the role of authenticity in business. This is the fifth authentic brands study the firm would be carrying out.Huawei ranked number four in last year’s ranking but has now unseated Bank of China which was last year’s number one authentic brand in the whole of China. It sure is a huge boost to Huawei’s image and marks a huge leap in the progress of the brand domestically and globally. Huawei recently ranked at number 49 in an annual survey of the most valuable global brands conducted this year by British multinational advertising company WPP and market research firm Kantar Millward Brown.

The study by Cohn & Wolfe involved surveys conducted on more than 1,400 brands and administered from May to June this year to more than 15,000 consumers in 15 markets: Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the United States. The survey conducted in China shows 68% of the respondents (consumers) indicated higher purchase intent with brands they perceive to be authentic, compared to 67% in India and Indonesia. The global average is 62%, according to Cohn&Wolfe. As you can predict, Huawei’s popularity rests on its smartphone business piloted by the Mate series and Honor models.

Apart from Huawei, other brands on among the top 10 authentic brands in Mailand China include; HP, the Bank of China, semiconductor giant Intel, Haier, Visa, Chinese pharmaceutical company Tong Ren Tang, Siemens, Lenovo Group and appliance maker Gree Electric. While in Hong Kong, the top 10 most authentic brands comprise Google, Apple, Ikea, HSBC, Visa, Canon, MasterCard, 3M, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Rolex. Globally, the survey shows the top 10 authentic brands this year are Amazon.com, Apple, Microsoft, Google, PayPal, Adidas, Intel, Lego, BMW and HP.

(source)

New Leak Reveals OPPO F5 Will Have 12MP Dual Front Facing Cameras

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Oct 18, 2017

The OPPO F5 is not expected to launch till October 26 but the specs are no longer a secret. However, a new leak from a Philippine retail store has revealed a new detail.

The OPPO F5 will come with a 6-inch FHD+ display. It will have 6GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage along with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 mobile platform.

Previous leaks said the phone will have a single 16MP front facing camera and a 20MP rear camera. The new leak says otherwise. Instead of a single front facing camera, the OPPO F5 will have two 12MP cameras. The rear sensor remains 20MP.

Other specs mentioned include a 4,000mAh battery, micro USB port, 3.5mm audio jack, dual band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2. It will also run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. The leak says the phone will also ship with a pair of earphones.

HTC U11 Plus Specifications Have Reportedly Appeared on GFXBench and Geekbench

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Oct 18, 2017

HTC had confirmed earlier in this week that it will be holding a launch event on Nov. 2. Speculations are rife that the rumored HTC U11 Plus flagship phone will be unveiled at the upcoming unveil event. It seems that the Taiwanese company is testing the alleged U11 Plus handset before its launch as a mysterious HTC phone labelled as HTC 2Q4D1 has appeared on Geekbench and GFXBench with flagship specs.

Alleged HTC U11 Plus on GFXBench

The HTC 2Q4D1 could be the HTC U11 Plus as it is driven by the Snapdragon 835 chipset. The GFXBench listing also reveals that the smartphone features a 6-inch display that supports QHD+ resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels. It has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of RAM. It has a rear camera of 12-megapixel and a front-facing snapper of 8-megapixel. It is loaded with Android 8.0.0.

Alleged HTC U11 Plus on Geekbench

Geekbench listing of HTC 2Q4D1 also shows that it is driven by Snapdragon 835 chipset along with 4 GB of RAM. The handset is preloaded with Android 8.0.0 Oreo. On Geekbench, the HTC 2Q4D1 has scored 1,920 points on single-core test and 5,765 on multi-core test.

The HTC U11 flagship phone that was launched in May this year also features Snapdragon 835. The Taiwanese company is selling the HTC U11 with 6 GB of RAM in specific regions like the U.S. In other markets, the U11 is available with 4 GB of RAM. Hence, the HTC U11 Plus is pegged to arrive in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM models.

Recent reports have revealed that the 4 GB RAM model of the rumored HTC U11 Plus will have 64 GB of storage and its 6 GB RAM variant will have 128 GB of storage. Also, the 6-inch display of the phone is expected to support an aspect ratio of 2:1 since it supports QHD+ resolution. It is poised to come with a bezel-less design that is flanked with a squeezable metallic frame for Sense Edge feature. The rumor mill has revealed that this smartphone is codenamed as Ocean Master. HTC is also expected to launch HTC U11 Life and its Android One edition before the end of this year.

(source 1, 2|via)

Want A Google Home Mini With A Battery? Buy The TicHome Mini

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Oct 18, 2017

When Google announced the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, it announced two new Assistant-powered speakers – the Home Mini and Home Max. Sadly, both speakers like the original Home doesn’t have a built-in battery. The TicHome Mini solves that problem.

The TicHome Mini with Google Assistant built-in is a hamburger shaped smart speaker just like the Home Mini, but thanks to its battery you can take it anywhere with you. The speaker weighs 276g, has a diameter of 110mm, and a height of 43mm.

There are four LEDs and four buttons on it – volume control, microphone off/power button, and an action button. There are also two microphones at the top. The speaker charges via a micro USB port and has a leather strap for carrying it around.

The TicHome Mini has a 2600mAh battery that lasts for up to 6-hours on a single charge. And that’s not the only cool thing about it. It also has an IPX6 rating which means it is splashproof and can be used in the shower.

The speaker can control your chromecast devices via voice, control your smart home devices, set reminders and alarms, and stream music. There is Bluetooth connectivity and dual band Wi-Fi support. You can also pair to it instantly via TapConnect if your device has NFC.

Meizu’s Mysterious New Smartphone With Bezel-Less Design Leaks Online

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Oct 18, 2017

With almost all smartphone manufacturers are now coming up with a bezel-less smartphone, Meizu too is joining the list. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer’s new smartphone with full-screen display has been leaked online.

The leak shows Meizu’s unknown smartphone featuring a bezel-less display. While the display covers almost the entire front panel, there is some space at the bottom, enough for a home button. It appears that the company has also incorporated a fingerprint sensor in the home button.

Although the phone’s model number or name is not known, this could be the same smartphone that the company plans to launch next year. Recently, Meizu’s Head of Global Marketing had revealed that the company is working on a bezel-less smartphone that will be launched next year.

The leaked image also suggests that the smartphone will be running on the company’s own Flyme OS. However, there is no information if it will be based on Android 8.0 Oreo or Android Nougat. It is being speculated that the phone will be made out of metal.

While it’s confirmed that Meizu will launch bezel-less phone next year, we couldn’t confirm that this leaked image is legit or not. For that, we’ll have to wait for a few more weeks.

The company’s Senior Vice President had earlier confirmed that the company will launch Meizu MX7 next year. It is expected to be launched by the end of Q1 of 2018 or the beginning of Q2 next year.

Looking at the last few launches from Meizu, it seems that the company has not been focusing on offering high-end specs for its smartphone. However, this could change with the MX7 — the smartphone that is expected to feature a bezel-less display.

(Source)

Vivo Y66i and Y75 Receives TENAA Certification

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Oct 18, 2017

Two upcoming mid-range phones from Vivo with monikers Y66i and Y75 have been approved by TENAA certification body in China. The Vivo Y66i seems to be a low budget phone as it does not feature a fingerprint scanner. The specs of the Y75 suggests that it will be a full screen design phone that will arrive with an affordable pricing.

Vivo Y66i Specifications

Measuring 153.56 x 75.79 x 7.49mm and weighing 157 grams, the Vivo Y66i comes with a 5.5-inch display that supports an HD resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. The unspecified chipset that powers the phone includes a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor along with 3 GB of RAM. The internal storage capacity is not known. It features a microSD card slot.

[envira-gallery id=”154039″]

The Y66i runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat and it will also feature custom UI from Vivo. It has a rear camera of 8-megapixel and a front-facing shooter of 5-megapixel. A 2,930mAh battery is present inside the Y66i. Its listing shows that it will be coming in only Rose Gold color option. However, the company is likely to introduce more color variants at its launch.

Vivo Y75 Specifcations

The dimensions of the Vivo Y75 are 149.3 x 72.8 x 7.98mm and its weight is 193 grams. It features a 5.7-inch display that supports HD+ resolution of 720 x 1,440 pixels. It is driven by a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor, but the exact name of the chipset is not known. Also, there is no information on its internal storage. The SoC is accompanied by 3 GB of RAM and it also features a microSD card slot.

[envira-gallery id=”154048″]

The Android 7.1.1 Nougat that is modified with custom UI from Vivo comes preloaded on the Vivo Y75. The front and rear sides of the smartphone feature 8-megapixel sensors. However, the TENAA listing suggests that these cameras will be respectively interpolated to 16-megapixel and 13-megpaixel. Lastly, the phone includes a 2,900mAh battery. This phone is also listed in a single color option of Gold on TENAA. It is also expected to arrive multiple color choices at launch

(source 1, 2)

Google Says Android 8.1 Oreo Arriving Soon, Will Enable Pixel Visual Core

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Oct 18, 2017

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL should start shipping today to those who pre-ordered. Both phones will come with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box but that won’t be for long.

Google has confined that an Android 8.1 Oreo update should arrive in coming weeks, though first as a developer preview (MR1). The stable update should follow after, arriving on the new Pixels first and then last year’s models.

The update is expected to activate the Pixel Visual Core chip inside the 2nd gen Pixels. No other features from the changelog have been mentioned.

Yesterday, Google revealed that the new Pixels have an image processing unit called the Pixel Visual Core. It will handle all things photography on the device. It is said to consume a tenth of the energy consumed by the SD835 while being 5X faster.

Samsung’s 8nm FinFET LPP Process is Ready for Production

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Oct 18, 2017

Samsung has officially confirmed today that it has completed the qualification of 8nm FinFET LPP (Low Power Plus) process and it is now ready for production. The company has also stated that the new technology consumes 10 percent less energy and uses 10 percent less space.

The 8nm LPP process by Samsung is designed for topnotch SoCs for smartphones, networks, servers, and cryptocurrency. It will exist as the company’s most advanced process node before the arrival of its 7nm EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) lithography technology that is expected to go official in 2018.

Samsung Electronics Vice President of Foundry Marketing, Ryan Lee has said that the company was able to finish the qualification process of 8nm LPP three months ahead of its schedule and it has begun its production. The 8nm LPP process technology is an upgrade over Samsung’s 10nm FinFET process that has been used to build Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895 chipsets. The 8nmm Snapdragon chipsets are expected to power flagship phones that will be arriving in 2018. Samsung will be reportedly shifting to 6nm and 5nm chipset manufacturing process in 2019.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the market leader and Samsung’s major rival when it comes to manufacturing of chipsets. The Taiwanese firm is also gunning towards the development of 7nm technology, but Samsung’s 7nm EUV lithography technology is reportedly superior when it comes to yield rate and pricing.

The Apple A9 chipset was manufactured by TSMC and Samsung. However, the Cupertino company chose TSMC as the sole supplier for Apple A10 Fusion and the new Apple A11 Bionic chipsets. Qualcomm too is expected to strike a deal with TSMC in 2018.

(source)

Gionee F205 Seen on GFXBench, Packs 5” FullView Display

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Oct 18, 2017

Last month, Gionee announced two new smartphones – the M7 and the M7 Power (Steel 2 Plus). Packing FullView displays with an 18:9 aspect ratio, both phones are two of the FullView phones expected to launch. A new phone listed as the Gionee F205 has been seen on GFXBench and its display resolution translates to an 18:9 aspect ratio hinting at it being another FullView smartphone set to arrive soon.

The Gionee F205 is a 5” smartphone with a 1440 x 720 (HD+) resolution. It is powered by MediaTek’s new MT6739 SoC clocked at 1.5GHz. The quad-core chip which was announced last month has 18:9 display support in addition to dual LTE support (4G +4G) as some of its features. The GPU is the PowerVR Rogue GE1800 paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

The Gionee F205 has an 8MP rear camera that can record in 4K and a 5MP front facing camera. We can’t tell if it has dual rear cameras since GFXBench only recognizes one of the sensors. The device runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy J2 SM-J250G With Better Specs Appears on GFXBench, Geekbench

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Oct 18, 2017

Samsung Galaxy J2 (2017) that has a model number of SM-J200G was officially unveiled in the previous week. It seems that the company may soon introduce a new variant for it as SM-J250G device has appeared on GFXBench and Geekbench benchmarking sites.

The GFXBench listing of SM-J250G shows that the smartphone features a 5-inch screen that supports a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. It features a Qualcomm chipset that includes Adreno 308 graphics. It indicates that the phone is powered by Snapdragon 425 chipset. It includes 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. For photography, it is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear snapper and a front-facing shooter of 5-megapixel. The handset is running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

The Geekbench listing of SM-J250G shows that the smartphone features msm8937 chipset which indicates that it includes Snapdragon 430 SoC. The chipset is supported by 1.5 GB of RAM. Hence, the SM-J250G that may either feature Snapdragon 425 or 430 chipset and 1.5 GB of RAM is likely to launch as Galaxy J2 (2017) Prime. Also, this handset may arrive with a larger battery.

The SM-J200G Galaxy J2 (2017) seems to be a lower-end version of SM-J250G because it features a smaller 4.7-inch display, 1.3 GHz Exynos chipset, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, 2,000mAh battery, 5-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel frontal camera.

As of this writing, there is no information on the launch date on the arrival of the alleged Galaxy J2 (2017) Prime. However, it appears that its arrival is close at hand.

(source 1, 2)

Qualcomm and Apple May Soon End Their Feud, Claims Qualcomm CEO Mollenkopf

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Oct 18, 2017

Qualcomm and Apple are involved in multiple legal suits against each other over patents and licensing fees. Recently, Qualcomm had sued Apple from selling its iPhones in China as the U.S-based chip maker claims that the Cupertino company has violated its patents. However, during a recent interview, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said that both firms will eventually shake hands and collaborate with each other.

The executive claimed that IP pricing is the core of his company’s dispute with Apple. He said that, “at the end, the important thing to remember is this is fundamentally a discussion about pricing over the fundamental technology that makes the phone. So really it comes down to how much are you going to pay.” Hence, it all boil downs to what Apple wants to pay for using Qualcomm’s technology.

Mollenkopf said that the ongoing rivalry between the two companies is limited to business. Qualcomm shares a strong product relationship with the Cupertino company. For instance, Qualcomm is presently providing its modem chips for iPhones. The X12 modem from Qualcomm that is present in the Verizon and Sprint CDMA variants of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus delivers better performance than the Intel XMM 3360 modem used in the AT&T and T-Mobile GSM variants of these iPhones. The difference in the performance was such that Apple had to throttle down the faster X12 modem in a bid to keep parity between the different editions of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Even though various disputes crop up every now and then, the executive maintains that the two companies have a broad relationship. So, when does he expect Apple and Qualcomm to end their dispute? “I don’t have a date on that one. It will be resolved.” he said. In July, Mollenkopf had said in an interview that he expects the Cupertino company to end their disputes through out of court settlement.

(source 1, 2)

Lenovo K8, K8 Plus And K8 Note To Get Android Oreo Update Next Year

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Oct 18, 2017

Lenovo has today confirmed that it will roll out Android 8.0 Oreo update for its three smartphones — Lenovo K8, K8 Plus and K8 Note.

The company has also revealed the timeline for the update. The Lenovo K8 will be the first smartphone to get the latest Android version update, in June next year. Update for the Lenovo K8 Plus and K8 Note will be rolled out a month later, i.e. July 2018.

This new information revealed by the company also confirms that other than these three devices, no other smartphone from Lenovo will get the Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Lenovo has confirmed that the company is already working on the Oreo update and the process is “in progress”. The company has not cleared whether the phones will be upgraded to 7.1 Nougat for now, or they will skip it altogether and move directly to Oreo.

Currently, these three smartphones — K8, K8 Plus and K8 Note are running on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. Considering the timeline, there is still a lot of time before the smartphones get the Oreo update.

This is surprising given that the smartphones run on stock Android and should not take such long for the company to roll out updates.

By the time Oreo reaches the Lenovo K8 series, it will be at least ten months old. Looking at the timeline for the Android version launch, Google could launch Android 9.0 in August 2018.

Recently, Motorola — which is a sub-brand of Lenovo, had confirmed that it is working to upgrade 12 smartphones to Oreo very soon. This includes Moto Z, Moto Z Droid, Moto Z Force Droid, Moto Z Play, Moto Z Play Droid, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z2 Force Edition, Moto X4, Moto G5, Moto G5 Plus, Moto G5S, Moto G5S Plus, and the Moto G4 Plus.

Other smartphone companies, including HMG Global (Nokia), OnePlus, HTC, among others, have already announced their plans regarding the Android Oreo update.

(Source)

Nokia 7 Likely to Launch Tomorrow as Sketched Image Appear

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Oct 18, 2017

HMD Global will be holding a launch event in China tomorrow, but it has not revealed the name on the device that it will be unveiling. Some rumors speculate that a new Nokia 8 variant featuring 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage will be launched tomorrow and some other sources claim that a mid-range Nokia 7 may get be announced. A sketched image of the Nokia 7 with a ZEISS branded camera module has appeared which resembles with the camera module seen on one of the teasers of the upcoming phone.

The rear camera system of the Nokia 7 that can be seen in the above sketched image features a ZEISS brand name between the camera sensor and its LED flash. The design of the camera system resembles with the following teaser image. This is one of the reasons why the Nokia 7 is speculated to get unleashed tomorrow.

The sketched image shows that it sports a simple design like the Nokia 8. It appears that the handset features capacitive buttons below the screen. Rumors have it that it may feature a 5.2-inch full HD display and the Snapdragon 630 chipset may be present under its hood. As far as the design of the Nokia 7 is concerned, it may feature a metallic frame along with glass or polycarbonate chassis.

In the previous month, two new Nokia phones with model numbers TA-1041 and TA-1042 had received approval in China. Teasers of the upcoming Nokia phone have suggested that it would be coming with OZO audio and Bothie dual-sight camera features. Another teaser has “qi” mentioned which refers to number 7 in Chinese. Hence, it is speculated that the Finnish firm may announce the Nokia 7 tomorrow.

The arrival of the Nokia 2 entry-level phone also seems to be close at hand as it has already received FCC certification. However, the company may not hold an exclusive launch event to debut its entry-level phone. There is a possibility that Nokia 7 and Nokia 2 may get unveiled together tomorrow. However, there are contradictory reports that claim Nokia 9, Nokia 7 and Nokia 2 will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 next year.

Will HMD Global announce Nokia 7 or a new variant of Nokia 8? Share use your thought by coming below.

(source 1, 2)

Four Variants of OPPO R11s Receive 3C Certification

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Oct 18, 2017

OPPO will be unleashing the OPPO F5 Selfie Expert smartphone on Oct. 26. However, the rumor mill is also claiming that the company will be announcing OPPO R11s at the beginning of next month. Four variants of the OPPO R11s has received 3C certification which indicates that its arrival is close at hand.

The four variants of the OPPO R11s that have been revealed through its 3C approval are OPPO R11s, OPPO R11st, OPPO R11s Plus, and OPPO R11s Plust. There is no information available on the specifications of these phones. However, the 3C certification has revealed that OPPO R11s models will be coming with 5V/4A VOOC fast charging technology.

The alleged design of the OPPO R11s was revealed earlier in this week and now fresh schematics of the smartphone have surfaced. It reveals that the OPPO R11s and R11s Plus may arrive with a full screen design. The schematics reveal that it will be an elongated phone and its screen may support an aspect ratio of 18:9. Its side bezels are slim but the upper and lower bezels are a bit thick. Rumors have it that the display will carry support for QHD+ resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels.

The rear side of the smartphone features a dual camera system at its top-left corner. A fingerprint scanner can be also seen on the back panel of the phone. The antenna bands are placed on the upper and bottom sides like the original Oppo R11. Apart from the inclusion the fingerprint reader, the design of the back panel of Oppo R11s does not seem to be different from Oppo R11.

Some rumors claim that the handset may not feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The bottom side of the phone may be equipped with a USB-C port instead of the microUSB port found the original phone. Speculations have it that like the R11 and R11 Plus, the smartphone would be driven by Snapdragon 660 chipset.

The OPPO R11s is speculated to arrive with a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (~$455). The OPPO R11s Plus may arrive with a pricing of 3,499 Yuan (~$531). Rumors have it that the OPPO R11s and R11s Plus may get unveiled on Nov. 2.

Do you think the OPPO R11s and R11s Plus soon? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source 1, 2)

New Nokia 9 Concept Video Based On Leaked Images Shows Phone’s Design

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Oct 18, 2017

HMD Global, which now owns Nokia brand name, is reportedly working its new flagship smartphone — Nokia 9 that will probably launch in early 2018. Touted as the successor of the Nokia 8, the Nokia 9 is expected to come with premium specs and features.

As with most other smartphones, the phone’s design, as well as the specifications, have made their way to the internet ahead of the official launch. Now, we have a concept video of the smartphone which is prepared based on the render images that appeared last week.

Do remember that the design of the phone shown in the video is based on rumours and there is a possibility that the real phone could turn out to be different in terms of design.

The Nokia 9 is speculated to have an aluminium frame. It is said to come with an IP68 rating and wireless charging support. As per the leaked renders, the device is said to measure 140.9 x 72.9 x 7.5 mm, but the camera bump will increase the thickness to 8.9 mm.

The smartphone is expected to come with a 5.5-inch AMOLED Quad HD display and a curved screen. Earlier leaks related to the phone’s display revealed that the Nokia 9 is expected with a 3D glass back and the display will feature an OLED panel.

It is likely to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, along with 4GB of RAM. There is a possibility that the phone will be offered in two options based on the internal storage — 64GB and 128GB. It will probably run on the latest Android 8 Oreo operating system.

While the details about the camera sensor are not known, it is speculated to be of 12-megapixel or 13-megapixel lens at the back. It features a dual camera setup at the back, stacked vertically, just above the fingerprint sensor.

At the bottom, there is a USB Type-C port along with speaker grille and a microphone. This time, the company has decided to follow the trend of removing the 3.5mm audio jack.

(Source)

Google Pixel 2 Features Pixel Visual Core Image Processor for Enhanced Photography Experience

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Oct 18, 2017

Google Pixel 2 has scored the highest ever score of 98 onDxO Marks camera benchmarking site. The search engine giant is using its special HDR+ algorithm to enhance the quality of photos. Fresh information coming directly from Google reveals that there is a dedicated image processing chip inside Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL that can considerably improve the photography experience.

Google’s image processing unit for Pixel 2 is called Pixel Visual Core is an eight-core Image Processing Unit (IPU) that can function independently of the Snapdragon 835 that powers the Pixel 2 duo. The custom SoC from Google is not activated yet. Google is rumored to be working on building its own SoC since the past two years and the new Pixel Visual Core seems to be one such attempt from the company.

Apart from the octa-core IPU, the Pixel Visual Core also includes a single Cortex A53 processor and LPDDR4 RAM. The imaging chipset has been included to accelerate the HDR+ algorithm. It will expedite image processing by 5x while consuming only a tenth of the power of Snapdragon 835. Apart from accelerating HDR+ algorithm, the Pixel Visual Core is built to manage imaging and machine learning apps. The search engine giant is already working on next batch of applications for the Pixel Visual Core.

Even though the Pixel Visual Core can significantly enhance the photography experience, Google did not utter a word on it during the Pixel 2 launch event that was held earlier in this month. A teardown of Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL will reveal the Pixel Visual Core SoC. Both the smartphones feature f/1.8 aperture 12-megapixel rear camera that can shoot amazing portrait shots and impressive images in low-light conditions. The Pixel Visual Core SoC can help in shooting crisper portrait photos and clearer low-light images.

According to Google, the Pixel Visual Core will be activated with the arrival of Android 8.1 Oreo update for Pixel 2. It will allow third party camera apps to use the HDR+ image processing for shooting impressive photos that are as good as the stock camera app. It means the Pixel 2 duo will be able to shoot better images than other Android smartphones even if the user is not using native camera app.

(source)

Xiaomi Aims To Ship 90 Million Phones By The End Of This Year

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