Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime/Plus Allegedly Spotted at FCC

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Oct 2, 2017

A new Xiaomi phone with model number MDG6S has been approved by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. Around two months ago, a Xiaomi phone with model number MDT6 was certified by TENAA in China. The MDT6 phone was launched as Redmi Note 5A in August. Since the launch of Note 5A, Xiaomi has not released the budget phablet outside of China. Hence, speculations claim that it could be the Redmi Note 5A Prime/Plus smartphone or it could also be the Redmi Note 5.

The appearance of MDG6S at FCC, could mean that the smartphone may get a Western release. One of the images that show the measurement of the smartphone suggests that the length of the MDG6S is slightly above 15cm. This indicates that it could be a Redmi Note series phone. The other images show the charger and the USB cable that would be coming along with the phone.

The topside of the smartphone features a 3.5mm audio jack and an IR blaster. The rear side of the phone features a fingerprint reader and an LED enabled single camera is present at the top-left corner. The upper and lower antenna bands are also visible on the back panel.

The body of the phone seems to be made of metal. A microUSB port placed between a pair of external speakers can be seen at the bottom side of the phone.

The right side of the MDG6S phone seems to feature volume control buttons and Power key. Its left side appears to feature a hybrid SIM slot. The display of the phone has thick bezels on its top and bottom and the side bezels appear to be thin. Since the frontal appearance of the MDG6S resembles with the Note 5A, it seems to be a Prime or Plus version of the phone. However, there is no information available on its specifications.

Rumors have it that the Redmi Note 5 would be arriving with a 5.5-inch display that will support full HD resolution. It is speculated to feature MediaTek Helio P25 or Snapdragon 660 chipset. It is rumored to arrive in 3 GB or 4 GB RAM variants. It is also speculated to come in storage models like 32 GB and 64 GB.

The rumor mill has even speculated that the Redmi Note 5 would be coming with dual rear cameras. It is expected to be loaded with MIUI 9 flavored Android 7.1 Nougat. It may include a 4,000mAh battery.

(source|via)

OnePlus 6 Rumors: Releasing Early in 2018 with 6-inch 18:9 Display, Snapdragon 845 & Bezel-less Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 2, 2017

Last year, OnePlus had released OnePlus 3 flagship smartphone in June and it had launched its improved version called OnePlus 3T was launched before the end of the year. Hence, the rumor mill has been claiming that the Chinese manufacturer may launch OnePlus 5T before the end of 2017 as it had unveiled OnePlus 5 in June. Fresh information suggests that there won’t be any OnePlus 5T this year. Moreover, the company is speculated to launch OnePlus 6 in early 2018.

There is no specific reason behind the rumor that claims the early arrival of OnePlus 6 in 2018. All the flagship phones from the company starting from OnePlus One have featured 5.5-inch displays. However, OnePlus 6 is expected to house a 6-inch display that will be supporting an aspect ratio of 18:9. The tall display of the smartphone may carry support for a QHD+ resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels. This indicates that the OnePlus 6 may come with a bezel-less design.

Since the OnePlus 6 flagship is pegged to arrive with a larger and taller display, it may not have enough space to house the fingerprint scanner on its front. Hence, it may not only result in the removal of the physical Home button but also the fingerprint reader may be moved to the rear side of the phone.

The Snapdragon 845 chipset that is speculated to power the likes of Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G7 and Xiaomi Mi 7 is rumored to be the power that will drive the OnePlus 6. It is expected to come in RAM choices like 6 GB of RAM and 8 GB of RAM. As far as storage options are concerned, the OnePlus 6 may arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB storage models. Like the predecessor models, the OnePlus 6 is unlikely to house a microSD card slot.

Last year, most of the flagship smartphones that came in the first half of the year featured Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. However, in the latter half of the year, Qualcomm had launched an upgraded chipset with Snapdragon 821 moniker. Most of the flagship phones that have released so far in this year include the Snapdragon 835 SoC. Even though some speculations had claimed that the Snapdragon 836 may arrive in the latter half of this year, the rumor has been debunked as the SD 836 chipset does not exist. Hence, OnePlus is unlikely to launch OnePlus 5T as an enhanced version of OnePlus 5. The arrival of OnePlus in 2018 is likely to result in the discontinuation of OnePlus 5.

(source|via)

Google May launch Its Own Amazon Echo Show Competitor

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 1, 2017

Amazon released the Echo Show in May of 2017. It is its first Alexa-powered device with a display. Last week, it announced the Echo Spot, another smart home assistant device with a display too. News has it that Google is working in its own smart home assistant with a display that will rival the Echo Show.

The Google Assistant device is said to be codenamed “Manhattan” and will have a 7-inch display just like the Echo Show. Manhattan is reported to have support for YouTube, Google Photos, and video calling. There is also an unconfirmed report that it may support Netflix.

Its smart hub feature will also let you use it to control the smart devices in your home just like Google Home. It will reportedly run Android to make it easier for developers to create apps for it.

Manhattan was scheduled to arrive middle of next year but Google may decide to release it this year. However, chances are slim of it getting announced alongside the Google Home Mini and the 2nd gen Pixels on Wednesday, October 4.

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This is The Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Its Gorgeous

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 1, 2017

Come October 16, Huawei will announce four new devices in the mate series – the Mate 10, Mate 10 Lite (Maimang 6/Nova 2i), the Mate 10 Pro, and the Mate 10 Porsche Edition.

We already know what the Mate 10 Lite will look like and we have seen leaks of the front panel of the Mate 10 Pro. We also saw alleged images of the rear a few days ago. This morning, Evan Blass (@evleaks) decided to share with us official renders of the Mate 10 Pro and we are awed by the design.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro pic.twitter.com/3RgjObXmw6

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 1, 2017

The Mate 10 Pro is a gorgeous smartphone and the design screams class. The front is occupied mainly by the EntireView display, with a front facing camera and earpiece on the top bezel, and the Huawei branding at the bottom. Huawei also teases the AI capabilities of its Kirin 970 chip by using a wallpaper that reads “AI”.

The back is where the action is. Huawei has settled for a two-tone design for the rear. The area occupied by the dual rear cameras has a lighter shade than the rest of the body.

The cameras are stacked vertically on top of each other but do not share a single housing like the Mate 9. Flanking the sensors on the right is a laser focus module, and on the left should be the LED flash though we can’t see it. Zoom in and you can make out the words LEICA on the left and even f/1.6 on the right.

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Gionee S11S Appears On TENAA: Packs AMOLED FullView Display and Quad Cameras

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Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 1, 2017

Just a few days after the Gionee S11 was seen on GFXBench, the Gionee S11S has appeared on TENAA. We believe this is a more powerful variant of the S11. Now that it has been seen on the certification database, it hints at a launch date being close.

The S11s’ predecessor, the Gionee S10 was announced just 4 months ago. So it is surprising that a successor is coming so soon.

The Gionee S11S packs a 6.01” 2160 x 1080 AMOLED display just like that of the Gionee M7. The RAM and storage is also the same at 6GB and 64GB respectively. There is a slot for adding up to an additional 128GB. Unlike the version seen on GFXBench with a 2.3GHz octa-core processor, this one has a 2.5GHz SoC. We believe this is the Helio P25.

The Gionee S11S borrows a leaf from its predecessor and that is quad-cameras. There is a 16MP + 8MP combo on the rear and a 20MP + 8MP combo for selfies.

The S11S has a 3600mAh battery, runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and measures 155.82 x 72.58 x 6.95 mm. Its weight is recorded as 177.8g.

With respect to design, the Gionee S11S can be described as a mashup between the Gionee M7 and the Gionee S10. It has a metal body with the same dual camera design that is slightly raised. The FullView display means the fingerprint scanner has now been pushed to the back. Power button and volume rocker are on the right side and the SIM tray sits on the left.

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LEAGOO S8 and LEAGOO S8 Pro With 18:9 Full-Screen Displays Now Official

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 30, 2017

LEAGOO has officially taken the wraps of the LEAGOO S8 and LEAGOO S8 Pro. Both phones have full-screen displays with an 18:9 aspect ratio but differ with respect to size and internals. If you are on the lookout for full-screen smartphones with affordable price tags, then you may want to include these phones under your radar.

LEAGOO S8 and S8 Pro Design

The S8 and S8 Pro are actually pretty good looking. The full-screen displays means that the bezels on both phones are pretty small. The phones feature a mixture of metal and glass and have an overall thickness of 69mm and 79mm respectively .

Look at the back of the S8 and S8 Pro and it has a familiar design. That is because it is the same as that of the Honor 9 which Huawei has dubbed lightcatcher.

LEAGOO S8 and S8 Pro Specs

The S8 is the smaller of the two. It packs a 5.72-inch HD+ display supplied by SHARP and with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 ptotection. It is powered by Mediatek’s MT6750T SoC clocked at 1.5GHz. RAM is 3GB and storage is 32GB.

The LEAGOO S8 has dual cameras on the rear and up in front. The front sensors which are supplied by OmniVision are in the 8MP + 2MP configuration along with a dedicated LED flash.

Sony is the supplier for the f/2.0 13MP and f/2.2 2MP sensors on the rear. The sensors are stacked vertically on top of one another with a dual LED flash above and a fingerprint scanner below.

The LEAGOO S8 has a built-in 3050mAh battery with support for 5V/2A quick charge via a micro USB port. There is a hybrid dual SIM tray (micro and nano) positioned at the top of the phone. There is Bluetooth, WiFi, and OTG support.

The S8 Pro on the other hand has a 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080p display. It has a Helio P25 chip paired with 6GB of LPPDR4X RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The S8 Pro has dual rear cameras. One is a 13MP sensor from OmniVision and the other is a 5MP camera from Samsung. Up front is a single Samsung 13MP sensor for selfies.

Battery capacity of the LEAGOO S8 Pro remains 3050mAh just like the S8. Both phones come with LEAGOO OS 3.0 based on Android 7.0 Nougat.

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Only 5000 Units of The Essential Phone Sold Through Sprint

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 30, 2017

According to reports, Andy Rubin’s new smartphone has only sold 5000 units since it launched on Sprint.

This is a sad revelation for a phone that ticks all the boxes of a 2017 flagship, offers a bit more and is priced at about the same as other flagships. But when you examine the factors surrounding the release of the Essential phone, then it becomes clear as to why it has sold such a low amount.

Delay. The Essential Phone faced serious delay before being available for purchase. First teased in March, then released in May with a promise to ship in 30 days. It didn’t ship in June, neither did it ship in July. It started shipping in late August to those who pre-ordered and was available in Sprint retail stores in mid-September. The carrier-unlocked version became available for purchase shortly afterwards. That is close to 4 months after announcement. What’s more, only the black variant has been available since it went on sale, the white, gray and green variants are yet to go on sale.

This delay resulted in two things – first, it made people think something was wrong at Essential as some of the company’s top executives left. We covered a few here and here. Then the delay made it possible for other manufacturers to announce their flagships, thereby creating more options for buyers. OnePlus released the OnePlus 5, HTC unveiled the U11, LG launched the V30, Samsung announced the Galaxy Note8, and Nokia unveiled the Nokia 8.

Even though some of these phones are yet to be available in all markets, customers now had more devices to choose from. Let’s also not forget that the Essential phone is extremely difficult to repair.

The Essential Phone is a great device overall. Its one of the strongest phones released this year with its titanium frame. It runs a stock version of Android with promised software support for 2 years.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are expected to be a bit pricey. Those who want pure android and are not ready to fork out so much to Google can pick up the Essential Phone instead.

The Essential Phone is priced at $699 unlocked. It comes with an edge-to-edge 5.71-inch display, a Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM. Available in only 128GB of storage with no choice of expansion. However, it will be nice to see a 64GB version of the phone with a much lesser price. There are dual rear cameras on the back and a 3040mAh non-removable battery.

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HMD Global Announces That Its Nokia Smartphones Will Get Updated To Android P

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 30, 2017

HMD Global already confirmed that the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 8 are all scheduled to get updated to Android 8.0 Oreo. But HMD Global isn’t done. To further show its commitment towards software supports for the devices, it has announced that they will also be updated to Android P.

Nokia 5

HMD Global is setting a high standard for companies like Lenovo and OnePlus whose devices also run near to stock Android but whose duration of software support is less than desirable.

The announcement was made at a Nokia launch event in The Philippines. However, it is not known if the unannounced Nokia 2 which will be its cheapest smartphone will also get the Android P update.

What further makes the announcement interesting is that by this time next year, HMD’s portfolio may have nearly doubled and its 2018 phones which may launch with Android Oreo out of the box will also get updated to Android P. So that’s about 10 devices with software support, which makes you wonder why OnePlus can’t handle 4 devices (counting the OnePlus 6).

During the announcement, it was also disclosed that the update to Oreo will arrive on some devices earlier than others.

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Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL Screen Protector Leak, Showing Large Bezels At the Top & Bottom

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 30, 2017

Google has repeatedly teased the Pixel 22 and Pixel 2 XL which are expected to be released on October 4. Ahead of the launch, we may have got an idea of what the front design will look like from these latest leaked photos said to be images of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL screen protectors and they are quite disappointing.

It is hard believing these are actually the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL screen protectors despite the leaker being somebody with a credible track record, due to the large bezels on the top and bottom edges, especially the one purported to be that of the Pixel 2. Both designs look nothing like the cutting-edge bezel-less screens with an edge-to-edge display which has been a regular on the latest full-screen phones we have seen this year alone. Instead, the models seem to have rather large front speakers which appear to be taking up space that could have been used to expand the display further, thereby making its bezels ultra-thin. Even the chin have bezels which some might consider too much. With this sort of design, the Google models may be doomed to fail in the face of rival models like the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Mi Mix 2, iPhone X and others.

Google Pixel 2 XL is expected sport a 5.99-inch 1440p OLED display which will have a taller, bezel-less screen, while the Pixel 2 is expected to come in at 4.97-inch 1080p display with a lesser but equally good 1080p resolution and the display will have larger bezels. Both models are also expected to feature dual front speakers on both phones, squeezable displays similar to what we have on the HTC U11 as well as an always-on display mode. If rumours are anything to go by, then the second generation Pixel phones will not pack the 3.5mm audio jack. The launch is just a few days away, so we won’t have to wait long to find out more about them.

(source)

Maimang 6 Silently Launched As The Huawei Nova 2i In Malaysia

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 30, 2017

Huawei is not new to releasing its products under different names in different markets. Take for example the Huawei P8 Lite (2017) which is the Nova Lite in some markets, the Huawei GR3 in others, still the Huawei P9 Lite (2017), and the Honor 8 Lite in others. One phone, five different names. This time it is the Maimang 6 that is getting the name change. Billed to arrive as the Mate 10 Lite next month, it has also launched as the Huawei Nova 2i in Malaysia.

The Huawei Nova 2i was seen listed on the Malaysian version of its Vmall size and also on the global Huawei site. It has the exact same look as the Maimang 6 save for the Maimang logo at the back which is missing.

The 5.9-inch FHD+ IPS display with a 2:1 aspect ratio is referred to as MaxView, so it appears EntireView is reserved for the Mate 10 line. Boasting an 83% screen-to-body ratio, the Nova 2i should make surfing the web, gaming and video playback a better experience.

The Nova 2i is powered by the octa-core Kirin 659 clocked at 2.36GHz. RAM is still 4GB and built-in storage is 64GB. Users will be able to add up to an additional 128GB via a MicroSD card slot.

The cameras are also the same. You get four in total – a 16MP + 2MP combo on the rear and a 13MP + 2MP combo in front with a selfie toning flash. The second camera captures depth of field information so you can adjust the focus after shooting and also add a variety of bokeh effects. There are also 18 preset Snapchat-like templates as well as 2-second mini movies that add a bit of fun to pictures. Below the rear cameras sits a fingerprint scanner.

The Nova 2i runs Emotion UI 5.1 based on Android 7.0 Nougat. It has Bluetooth 4.2 with support for aptX, 2.4GHz single band WiFi, and packs a 3340mAh battery.

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ZOJI Z8 With Rugged Design Inspired by Star War’s Darth Vader, Now On Presale For $168.99

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 30, 2017

Chinese phone brand ZOJI, known for rugged phones, will be releasing another new model ZOJI Z8 soon. The new Z8 model is a fruit of sophisticated craftsmanship and complicated process, also, it is an innovative design inspired by the black knight “Darth Vader” in the movie “Star Wars”, bringing fans closer to “Darth Vader” again. The Z8 is coming on the heels of the launch of two equally rugged models- ZOJI Z6 and Z7 in the second quarter of this year.

ZOJI Z8 durability test video.

Innovative Design: Inspired by the Black Knight “Darth Vader”

“All black armour, a cool helmet, a flowing cape and an elongated, skull-like mask, a shining light-sabre, the tall and mysterious. ” That’s what Darth Vader looks like, and also the inspiration for designing the ZOJI Z8.

Driven by High-tech: Combination of Hi-tech and Futuristic Sense

Simple and stylish edges, the elaborate component distribution like each button, light, sensor, as well as the vein on the phone body, even the decorative accessories, all make the overall figure appear with the sense of future and technology!

Different Image for your option

ZOJI Z8 will come in Space Black, Vibrant Orange, and Army Green. With the “Darth Vader” design philosophy originally, just imagine how it will be if putting on an orange and green cloak.

Sophisticated Craftsmanship: Crafted Item through Complicated Process

ZOJI Z8 is an elaborate evidence of good craftsmanship. Each edge of the frame is with the metallic coatings to be glossy. The side buttons are made with Zine-alloy via CNC as well as specular oxidation technology. The back cover, as well as the side frame, are all designed with textured patterns. Every part of the phone is finally created through a complicated processing.

Designed for Toughness: Too Invincible to be Destroyed

Inspired by “Darth Vader”, driven by hi-tech, a crafted item through a complicated process, ZOJI Z8 is indeed designed for toughness! The firm structure design, the good sealing performance, matched with the waterproof components and the robust material, all help build a strong protection for the phone itself. It meets the IP68 highest waterproof and dust-proof standard; it uses the G+G Corning Gorilla Glass 4 with multiple touches. Design for toughness!

Share the Power: OTG Function Enables the Power to Be Shared

The ZOJI Z8 features the OTG function, which allows the phone to function as a charging station to share the power to other devices and also to transfer data between devices.

Powerful Inside: MT6750 Octa-core Processor

Configured with MediaTek MT6750 octa-core 8x ARM Cortex-A53 1.5GHz CPU, ARM Mali T860 MP2@520MHz GPU, the ZOJI Z8 is a 5.0-inch HD rugged phone not only outstanding in its unique design, but also excellent in its wonderful performance.

Power Bank: 4250mAh Li-Ion Polymer Battery

The non-removable 4250mAh Li-Ion Polymer battery can store sufficient daily power for the phone, enabling you to be connected with outer world via the phone.

Sufficient Memory: Enjoy the Massive Storage freely

With 4GB RAM plus 64GB ROM sufficient memory, 128GB expandable, the ZOJI Z8 offers enough storage capacity for users. Store image, audio or video files, play favourite games, etc. Just enjoy!

Outstanding Photography

16MP main camera plus 8MP front camera help memorize your moments clear. And, you can also use the facial beautification mode, the panoramic shooting, the HDR, the Auto-focus, etc., to shoot pictures in different tone and forms.

Now, ZOJI Z8 is on presale on AliExpress for a special price of $168.99. You can check that out from here.

You can also get more information by visiting ZOJI’s official website or follow their social media page on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.

Buy Zoji Z8 For $168.99 on AliExpress

Ulefone Power Max With A Massive 13,000mAh Battery In The Works

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 30, 2017

A phone is only as good as its battery. If having a large battery is your prime concern, the big battery phones from Ulefone won’t fail you. So far Ulefone has released two big battery phones with 6050mAh battery capacity, which are both well-received by customers. There’s no wonder that Ulefone decides to beef up their big battery phone lineup and its upcoming model will blow your mind away with its massive battery capacity.

It’s said that Ulefone is working on another two models with impressively large batteries. One of the models is the Ulefone Power 3 which is expected to retain the 6050mah battery capacity which its predecessor – the Ulefone Power 2 packed. The other smartphone is named Ulefone Power Max and as its name suggests, its expected to pack a huge battery. Ulefone has disclosed that the Power Max would pack a mammoth 13,000mAh battery, just like a power bank. If it were true, the Power Max is expected to be the first phone which packs such a huge battery. The two device is supposed to be released one by one this year. and would, no doubt, cause a stir in the smartphone field.

For first-hand news about the two upcoming devices, you could subscribe to Ulefone official website: www.ulefone.com, or if interested, you could get an Ulefone Power 2 for €189 with €10 coupons (coupon code: UER9AYYP) from Amazon store (Spanish) or 159 pounds with 10 pounds coupons (coupon code: 2IE7CXJM) from Amazon UK store. The special offer will be open until October 15th and after that, the price of the Power 2 will return to the retail level of $199.99.

HTC U11 Plus Reportedly Launching in Q4 2017, Key Specs Revealed Again

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

The recent deal with Google and the cash starved HTC has resulted in the acquiring of around 2,000 engineers of the Taiwanese company. However, HTC has not sold its smartphone brand to Google and it will continue to manufacture more phones.

The rumor mill has revealed that HTC will be releasing couple of smartphones before the end of the year. One of them is speculated as a flagship phone that is likely to debut as HTC U11 Plus. A recent report had revealed that the HTC U11 Plus would be unveiled on Nov. 11. Fresh information coming from industry insiders claim that the HTC U11 Plus would be arriving as an upgraded version of the HTC U11 flagship that was launched in May this year..

The new report also corroborates on the fact that the HTC U11 Plus flagship would be coming with 5.99-inch Quad HD display and it will be fueled by Snapdragon 835. It is speculated to feature a 12-megapixel rear snapper, 8-megapixel, 64 GB and 128 GB storage models. There is no confirmation on whether it will be coming with Android 8.0 Oreo preinstalled.

Previous reports have revealed that the HTC U11 Plus is codenamed as Ocean Master. Since it is an enhanced version of HTC U11, it is rumored to feature a squeezable frame. The Taiwanese company is also expected to launch other smartphones such as Ocean Lite, Ocean Harmony, HTC U11 Life and its Android One are also speculated to launch before the end of 2017.

(source)

Huawei’s Latest Video Teases The Mate 10’s AI Capabilities Like Never Before

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 29, 2017

Huawei Mobile has released a new video on its Twitter account which teases the Mate 10 that would be unveiled on October 16. This isn’t the first video the company is releasing which projects the capabilities and features of the Mate 10 and it wouldn’t be the last we would be seeing before October 16. But the video is arguably different because it teases the artificial intelligence piloted by the Kirin 970 chip which the Mate 10 features.

Delivering the ultimate experience, going beyond smart, using the transformative power of #AI. Welcome to intelligent. #HuaweiMate10 pic.twitter.com/u9yD1mhdYy

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 29, 2017

The video teases the Mate 10 as being not just a smartphone but that it sees, thinks and learns like humans. It further projects the device as coming with built-in AI and thus it goes more than being a smartphone but is an intelligence machine. The teaser still boils down to the AI-capable Kirin 970 chip but it looks promising to see what functions the AI co-ordinates. An earlier teaser had tipped the AI to be more than just a voice prompt, so it is likely going to offer more functions than the likes of Samsung’s Bixby and Amazon’s Alexa and their ilks.

The Huawei Mate 10 promises to be a stunner both on the design and other hardware. The Mate 10 would have a full-screen design but with a considerable amount of bezels and a physical home button but its co-traveller, the Mate 10 Pro is expected with a bezel-less design. The Mate 10 is expected with a 5.99-inch 2k EntireView display with 18:9 aspect ratio. It will get its juice from a 4200mAh battery with fast charging support and would be available in three variants with 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM. On the other hand, the Mate 10 Pro will feature a 6.0-inch 2K display with a similar 18:9 aspect ratio. Just like the Mate 10, it will have an IP67 certification and of course would be powered by a Kirin 970 chip, same as the Mate 10. The Mate 10 is also expected to pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, curved edges and almost 90% screen-to-body ratio. The Mate 10 Pro will also get its juice from a 4,200mAH battery.

(source)

Oppo F5 Appears in Real; Launching in October?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

In May, OPPO had unveiled the OPPO F3 selfie-centric smartphones with dual front-facing cameras. The Chinese manufacturer seems to be prepping up on a successor phone for OPPO F3 as a promotional image of OPPO F5 has surfaced.

As it can be seen in the above image, the poster of the OPPO F5 features a Filipino actor named Alden Richards. In the other image, a Filipino singer Sarah Geronimo can be seen endorsing the smartphone. The promotional posters were spotted at the SM Megamall in Manila, Philippines. The OPPO F5 can be seen in red and black colors.

The image suggests that the OPPO F5 is equipped with a single camera on its rear panel. Like the predecessor phone, the OPPO F5 sports dual selfie snappers. Hence, the phone is dubbed as “Selfie Expert” and it also carries the text “Capture the real you” which suggests the selfie snapping prowess of the smartphone. It is likely that the smartphone may come with advanced face beautifying features.

By the way, what happened to OPPO F4? Well, many Chinese smartphone makers prefer to skip the number 4 from the moniker of their devices because it is considered as a bad omen. Hence, it is likely that the company may not launch a OPPO F4 phone.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you, OPPO! I better #Slay this selfie challenge at the #StarMagicBall2017 ✨ #CaptureTheRealYou #SelfieExpert

A post shared by Julia Barretto (@juliabarretto) on Sep 24, 2017 at 3:39am PDT

In the above Instagram video, the Philippines brand ambassador of the company can be seen showing off the OPPO F5 phone. The rear panel of the smartphone features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner that is surrounded by a golden ring. The OPPO logo below it has a golden hue.

The predecessor OPPO F3 phone has a front-facing fingerprint reader. The probable reason behind incorporating the biometric security feature on the rear panel is OPPO F5 could be housing an elongated display. This could be reason why it does not house a fingerprint sensor on the frontside.

It appears that the OPPO F5 has a 6-inch display that supports a full HD+ resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels and produces an aspect ratio of 18:9. Other specifications of the smartphone are under the wraps.

Since the Chinese manufacturer is openly advertising in Philippines, the OPPO F5 is pegged to launch in October. The company is going to open an OPPO shop at the aforementioned mall in the next month. The inauguration of the smartphone is speculated to coincide with the arrival of OPPO F5.

OPPO F5 Posters Seen At Philippine Shopping Mall

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 29, 2017

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO, seems to have a new smartphone launching soon based on these images from The Philippines. Posters of an OPPO F5 were seen at the SM Megamall.

The posters don’t reveal the specs but we can see it will come in black and red, will have a single rear camera and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Filipino singer, Sarah Geronimo and actor, Alden Richards are the two brand ambassadors for the phone.

Sources say the OPPO F5 will have a 6-inch 18:9 display with a FHD+ resolution. It is also expected to have dual front facing cameras.

You might be wondering why this is the F5 since the last phone in the F series is the F3. The reason is not far fetched and the same reason why there is no OnePlus 4. The number 4 is considered unlucky as the Chinese word for it has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for death. Not all manufacturers believe this though – Xiaomi and Huawei are the examples that come to mind.

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Vernee MIX 2 – World’s First 6.0” FHD+ & Helio P25 Full-Screen Phone Now Official

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 29, 2017

The much anticipated Vernee all screen new model, the Vernee MIX 2 has been officially released! The company skipped rolling out the drums to launch this device but it is now officially listed on the company’s official website where you can learn all you need to know about the full-screen Vernee Mix 2. Go to Vernee official website and you can see the latest information.

You can also check out the Vernee MIX 2 appearance video on Vernee official Youtube channel or watch the video below. It is really a sleek full-screen model.

Vernee Mix 2 Specifications

The Vernee MIX 2 is listed to feature a 6.0-inch FHD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Thanks to the 18:9 display aspect ratio, the size of the phone body is only 5.5”. That is to say, the Vernee MIX 2 fit a bigger screen is a smaller phone body. It is easy to carry but at the same time, you get to enjoy the unbounded vision which the Vernee Mix 2 offers.

The Vernee MIX 2 utilises the new-generation Helio P25 Octa-core processor. Compared to the previous generation, the power consumption is decreased by 25%. It also balances the super low power consumption with a powerful performance. Also, the Vernee MIX 2 is equipped with a large 4GB of RAM and there is ample storage with its 64GB ROM onboard.

The Verne smartphone sports a dual camera setup at the rear with the main sensor being a Sony IMX258 sensor with OIS and a f/2.0 aperture. The dual camera combo is a wide angle and telephoto setup. The device also features an 8MP front-facing selfie camera with beauty effect. In addition, the Vernee Mix 2 packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor which unlocks the device in just 0.1 seconds. The device runs VOS 1.0 based on Android 7.0 and comes with GPS + GLONASS as well as 4G LTE connectivity.

Pricing & Availability

The Vernee Mix 2 will eventually sell for around $229 but Vernee is offering early birds the chance to get the device at $99.99. On the campaign page, a list of some of the main configurations of the Vernee MIX 2. All you just have to do is choose your favourite feature of the Mix 2. so, join the campaign and share it and you will get the chance to buy the Vernee MIX 2 at only $99.99. For more details, please check the official campaign page.

Vernee MIX 2 Key Configuration:

Helio P25
4GB/6GB RAM + 64GB ROM
6.0” FHD+ 2160*1080
18:9 display scales
4200mAh
Android 7.0 Nougat OS

Cubot Note Plus Camera Samples Show Powerful Front & Rear Cameras

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 29, 2017

The second half of the year is usually a busy time for smartphone OEMs, with almost all the brands lining up one final push for an opportunity to grab a slice of the market share especially since the end of the year usually sees a surge in e-commerce. Cubot Note Plus is Cubot’s own offering which would go official any moment for now.

Cubot Note Plus is a smartphone packing a unique and potentially powerful camera combination. The device features a 16MP HD camera at the rear and also sports a 16MP HD camera at the front. These cameras are tipped to offer pictures and video capture with vivid clarity. The main camera at the rear uses the SONY Exmor RS CMOS sensor with a large f/2. 2 aperture. In the strong sunlight, the photo shoots show a sense of hierarchy. The following are some camera samples shot by the Note Plus.

Blur background picture:

The front-facing 16MP camera will achieve automatically beauty function in selfie mode. It supports facial recognition and real-time filter effects, you will fall in love with selfies. Let’s check the pictures comparison:

Apart from the large pixel camera, the Cubot Note Plus also features a 5.5-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080p) with 424 ppi. The display has a larger view angle, the colour is more real, and it supports power saving. It‘s a luminous screen and has an eye-care mode which dims the brightness to soothe the condition. There is also colour temperature adjustment. If you like watching videos and reading, this phone will satisfy you.

We are not sure when the Cubot Note Plus will officially go on sale or when pre-sale will commence. But the Note Plus presale is expected to begin at the beginning of October, So stay tuned. You can visit Cubot’s official website for the Note Plus to find out more.

Alleged Google Ultra Pixel Phone in Works to Rival with Apple iPhone X?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

Google is going to unveil the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL flagship phones on Oct. 4. These smartphones are reportedly codenamed as Walleye and Taimen. Previous reports have revealed that Google was working on another phone codenamed as Muskie. However, newer reports on it have suggested that the Muskie phone has been canceled. Was it really canceled or does it still exist? A video uploaded by YouTuber Arun Maini suggests that a third Google phone dubbed as “Ultra pixel” does exist.

The above YouTube video contains several images and videos of a leaked presentation from Google that reveals the mysterious Ultra pixel phone. The moniker of the alleged phone has the word “pixel” mentioned in small case.

The video on the alleged Ultra Pixel suggests that it features an elongated display with very slim side bezels. The original source suggests that the smartphone also features dual rear cameras. The mysterious phone also seems to house a new type of fingerprint reader. It is likely that this smartphone may feature an under-display fingerprint reader. Hence, the Ultra Pixel could be a codename of a forthcoming Google Pixel phone arriving in the near future.

Another shot of a leaked slide reveals the text that reads: “The future of Android is Fluid.” What does it mean? This suggests that the smartphone won’t be featuring any physical or on-screen buttons and it could be entirely controlled through gestures like the iPhone X. There seems to be a multitasking icon at the bottom of the display for controlling the alleged Ultra Pixel through gestures. The video claims that Google could be launching the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL and Ultra Pixel to respectively rival with iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

There is no way to confirm whether the device actually exists as it could be a last-minute hoax before the arrival of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. Since some of the images do appear credible, it is difficult to debunk the rumors of Ultra Pixel phone by Google.

However, it seems that the search engine giant is unlikely to launch this phone at the Oct. 4 launch event as the alleged phone does not seem to belong to Pixel 2 family. The leaked information suggests it features dual rear cameras, a feature that won’t be available on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The upcoming Google Pixel 2 duo are speculated to arrive with dual front-facing speakers. However, such speakers cannot be seen in the images of the alleged Ultra Pixel phone.

(source|via)

Google Pixel 2 Launch Event to Introduce Google Assistant Enabled Bluetooth Earbuds

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

Google has recently announced a pair of headphones made by Bose that are optimized for Google Assistant. David Ruddock who is a Managing Editor with Android Police has claimed that the search engine giant may announce Bluetooth enabled earbuds at the Oct. 4 launch event of Google Pixel 2.

Ruddock claims that the Bluetooth earbuds will be priced at $159. The earbuds will be connected by a wire between them like the one shown in the above image. It is suggested that the upcoming Bluetooth earbuds from Google will be integrated with Google Assistant. It is expected to feature a dedicated button that will allow users to activate the Assistant.

More and more companies are now releasing truly wireless earphones like AirPods from Apple. Samsung is also working on a pair of truly wireless earbuds. The AirPods are priced at $159 in the U.S. The rumored Bluetooth earbuds from Google sound less impressive as they are speculated to arrive with same pricing. Conflicting rumors suggest that Google may not launch it considering the fact that many companies are now focusing on launching truly wireless earphones.

In related news, the search engine giant is making Google Assistant on multiple platforms. So far it has been available on Android, iOS and Google Home and beginning from today, it will be also available on Android TV. It will be coming first to Nvidia Shield TV and it will be also available on Sony Bravia TVs in the near future.

(source|via)