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

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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.

Continue

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)

Samsung Foldable Phone Will Feature An In-Folding Design, Launches in 2018

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 29, 2017

It is no longer news that Korean tech giant Samsung is working on a foldable smartphone. Rumours surrounding the foldable device have been regulars on leaks for the past couple of years now and was even tipped to launch very soon. Samsung Electronics’ President in charge of Smartphone Business Ko Dong-jin has reportedly disclosed that indeed the company plans to release a foldable smartphone. The Samsung Exec is said to have made this disclosure during the launch of the Galaxy Note 8 in China on September 12. This is perhaps an official confirmation that we should be expecting a foldable smartphone soon.

Another aspect that has been hazy is the design of the foldable smartphone, especially the direction the device would fold towards. The latest rumour is that Samsung has reverted to an “in-folding” design for the foldable smartphone which would see the display fold inwards. The tech giant had earlier been tipped as working on an out-folding design for the display which as you can guess, folds outward. We don’t know the reason for the reversal back to in-folding design but since Samsung had already been working on this design model before, there are enough resources to implement it.

Samsung started out with an in-folding design when it first started developing foldable smartphones but later reverted to an out-folding design before they are now reverting back to the former design. The display uses a 3R curvature which shows how much a display is bent and it indicates curvature that covers a circle with a radius of 3mm. It had carried out many years of R&D on displays, parts, and materials that are related to the in-folding method, so it may likely not experience too much difficulty in adapting this method for commercial purpose.

We expect the Samsung foldable smartphone to drop next and Samsung’s president did reveal that the company’s goal is to release the model in 2018. He also added; “We are currently working on few problems and we will release the products once we solve these problems.” The tone of Mr Ko is markedly different from what he said last year during the Note 7’s launch where he indicated that the company’s foldable technology wasn’t up to the level that’ll offer customer satisfaction.

(source)

iPhone 8 Plus Reportedly Explodes While Charging in Taiwan

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

The Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have been available for buying in various markets across the world including Taiwan since Sept. 22. Initial reports have revealed that apart from the crackling noise issue while making calls for which Apple will be releasing a software fix soon, the iPhone 8 duo do not have any other major problem. However, people in Taiwan may not be too excited about purchasing an iPhone 8 Plus as a case about its explosion is being reported by Taiwanese media.

According to Taiwanese media, a woman named Wu from Taichung City had purchased the gold variant of the 64 GB iPhone 8 Plus on Sept. 23. The phablet was working fine until Tuesday afternoon, when it exploded while it was kept on charging.

With 70 percent of the battery power left on the iPhone 8 Plus, the woman had kept it for charging by using the original charger. Reports claim that the handset exploded in just 3 minutes. The following images show that the impact of the explosion was such that it separated the display panel from its body.

Reports reveal that the woman has been an iPhone user since iPhone 4 and she has never encountered such a situation before. The Taiwanese media have also claimed that the exploded iPhone 8 Plus has been sent to the factory for investigation.

(source)

iPhone X Shipments May Begin in February or March Due to Its Production Issues

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 29, 2017

At the launch event of Apple iPhone X, the company had claimed that its pre-orders will start on Oct. 27 and its shipments will begin on Nov. 3. However, since the smartphone is speculated to be manufactured in limited quantities, it seems that its shipments may not begin on Nov. 3.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have been available in the market since Sept. 22. However, since buyers are more interested in getting the iPhone X that features an edge-to-edge 5.8-inch screen and facial recognition feature, the consumer interest for the iPhone 8 duo has been low compared to prior years. However, as mentioned above, even though iPhone X is seeing huge demand, the Cupertino company may not be to fulfill its promise of releasing it in the market in November.

Fresh information reveals that the production of iPhone X is progressing at a slow pace. A recent report had revealed that the TrueDepth camera system that is required for the Face ID to work is causing the delay in the production of the iPhone X.

Apple is expected to receive millions of pre-orders for the iPhone X. However, the company is able to manufacture only tens of thousands of units each day. Reports suggest that Apple will end up manufacturing only 10 to 12 million units of the iPhone X by the end of 2017. This is surely insufficient to meet the huge demand.

The other component that is causing problem in the production of iPhone X is its OLED screen. The reason behind it is that Apple wants the OLED panels to be made in a certain way to accommodate the notch at the top of the screen. This notch houses the TrueDepth camera system and other sensors.

Former Apple analyst Gene Munster has claimed that the iPhone X may not release until January at the earliest. Jackdaw Research analyst Jan Dawson is of the view that the iPhone X will be in stock sometime in the first quarter. Hence, it appears that the iPhone X may not be in stock until March 2018.

If the iPhone X that costs $999 becomes available for buying in huge quantities in November, it can cannibalize the sales of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus that are respectively priced at $699 and $799. Hence, the production problem of the iPhone X can help in driving the sales of the iPhone 8 duo.

(source)

Redmi Note 5 Renders Based On Early Leaks Reveal Dual Rear Cameras But Same Design As The Note 4

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 28, 2017

Xiaomi smartphones are divided into two categories – the Redmi series which caters to the entry-level and mid-range category and the Mi series which are mainly flagships with the exception of the Mi Max series which is a mid-range phone.

The Redmi series is already in its 5th generation and the Redmi Note 5A is the first that has been announced. There was a leaked image a few days ago that hinted that a Redmi 5 Plus may soon launch but most people are eager to see the Redmi Note 5 which is the king of the series.

We have got our hands on some renders of the Redmi Note 5 based on early leaks. These images and specs are unconfirmed but may help in shaping your imagination of the upcoming smartphone.

The renders show that the design of the Redmi Note 5 will mostly remain the same as that of the Redmi Note 4 with a few additions. The display is expected to remain 5.5-inches with a metal body around it. Not only does the screen remain the same size but the capacitive buttons will also retain their spots. This design shows that an 18:9 full-screen display is not in the picture.

Physical button placements are the same as well as ports, speaker grille and SIM tray. However, the Redmi Note 5 is expected to make the switch to USB Type-C.

The Redmi Note 5 may follow the trend of its predecessors – first arriving with a Mediatek processor, Helio P25 in this case; and then a Snapdragon 660, though we presume the 630 looks like a more plausible choice. It will come in 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM configurations with 32GB and 64GB of storage respectively.

The renders show the phone with dual rear cameras in the same vertical design as the Redmi Pro. The difference between both will be in the position of the LED flash. While it sits in between the two sensors in the Pro, it is between the second sensor and the fingerprint scanner in the Note 5.

Continue

LeEco’s Bezel-less Poster That Popped Up Yesterday Is Actually Of A Powerbank

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 28, 2017

LeEco popped into the news yesterday as a result of a new box casing initially thought to be that of a bezel-less LeEco smartphone which is in the works. The phone was rumoured to be the Le Max 3 which has been expected for several months now. The photo looks like a truly bezel-less device even though all that was on display was a render. Turns out the device isn’t a bezel-less phone, it isn’t even a smartphone but a power bank LeEco is perhaps working on.

The full poster has now appeared online showing the part where there is an inscription that it is a 10,000mAh battery capacity. The power bank also comes with a two-way fast charge. Apart from these little details, nothing much is known about the LeEco power bank. We don’t even know if it has been produced or how the once buzzing tech giant hopes to sell the gadget in the face of dwindling smartphone sales.

We still expect LeEco to go official with the Le Max 3, though, with a bezel-less full-screen design. The LeMax 3 is expected to sport a 6.3-inch QHD display as well as 6GB of RAM while there will be 128GB storage onboard. Further, the LeEco Le Max 3 will come with a 16MP selfie camera while the dual camera at the rear is said to be a 13MP dual camera. The device will get its power from a 3.700mAh battery. LeEco has been silent for a while now since the launch of the Le Pro 3 AI Edition in the first quarter of 2017. Thus, we can’t say for sure when the phone maker will release a new smartphone or even the power bank.

(source)

Vkworld Mix Plus Review – Bezel Less Beauty for less than $110?

By

Linus

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Sep 28, 2017

There are plenty of budget phones out there but not all of them have a full-screen design and decent specs for less than $110. Learn more in our Vkworld Mix Plus review.

Gearbest Gadget Sale

VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOjC3qgZ1W8[/embedyt]

UNBOXING

The phone ships with all the usual stuff and some extras include a screen protector and a soft TPU case.

DESIGN and DISPLAY

Design is definitely the key selling point of this phone as it has an almost full-screen display. The phone looks gorgeous. That display sports only 720p resolution and its definitely not the sharpest out there but it gets the job done for a budget phone. There was no space on the top, so 8MP interpolated camera sits on the bottom.

As for optics, we have a 13MP interpolated camera on the back. There is also a fingerprint scanner that is pretty accurate but the display could light up a bit faster.

The screen takes so much space that there is no place for LED notification light and the loudspeaker quality is just mediocre.

Overall, the build quality is solid and a metal frame adds sturdiness and premium look. The only thing you would need to deal with is fingerprints – just like on any other glass-made phone.

HARDWARE and PERFORMANCE

You can’t really expect much at this price point when it comes to hardware but the Vkworld Mix Plus has decent specs for the price.

The phone ships with an MTK6737 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.

However, this kind of specs does not translate into a good gaming performance. Expect quite a bit of stutter even if you play 3D games on medium graphics settings.

BENCHMARKS

USER INTERFACE

When it comes to day-to-day performance, the phone is quite fast even though I installed quite a lot of apps.

There is a custom skin that is built on top of Android 7.0 that adds some features customization options. Just to name a few, you can change the transition effects or use gesture controls that work quite well. There are also some fingerprint gestures that I didn’t really use because I kept accidentally tapping the fingerprint reader.

IMAGE QUALITY

The camera can take pictures that will look okay on social media but in general, the results are mediocre. Sure, some photos look pretty good if they were taken in good light but the camera collapses at night. A usual scenario for all budget phones.

Since the camera is implemented on the bottom, you need to hold the phone upside down to take a selfie. Also, you need to learn how to take a better angle for that perfect selfie. The quality of pictures is again, just mediocre.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWaR33tduho[/embedyt]

The videos are being shot only at 720p resolution and the quality is just average.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiV8BXkTHdg[/embedyt]

Selfie videos are shot only at 480p and the quality is kind of poor.

Download full resolution camera samples

CONNECTIVITY

The call quality is not so great and the earpiece volume output could be better. Other connectivity options, including Wifi, Bluetooth, and GPS, work fine.

BATTERY LIFE

The phone ships 2850mAh battery that performs pretty well. I could get about 5 hours of SOT, which is a pretty much standard result. However, it takes about 2 hours to fully charge the phone.

CONCLUSIONS

The Vkworld Mix Plus is definitely one of the best-looking budget phones out there and it is built like a more expensive handset. It is also quite fast on the daily basis and has a decent battery life.

However, the phone is not your best choice if you love playing a lot of 3D games and the phone fails to impress with the basic stuff like the call quality.

Overall, the Vkworld Mix Plus offers exceptional design for the price that will draw a lot of attention but make sure to consider all the shortcomings, just like with any budget phone.

Buy Vkworld Mix Plus

Microwear H2 has a ton of features for $89.99

By

Linus

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Sep 28, 2017

Microwear may not be the first name that comes to your mind when you think of smartwatches but they have recently launched a rather compelling H2 model. You can now get it for just $79.99 which sounds like a pretty good deal considering the overall feature set.

One of the key features is that the watch sports IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. Also, it has replaceable watch bands to customize the look and feel. In addition, it supports 3G, so you can make calls right from your wrist.

What’s more, the Microwear H2 has quite a few connectivity options and sensors that include Wifi, Bluetooth, Heart Rate monitor, Pedometer, Sleep Monitor, Sedentary, Massage Reminder and so on.

Finally, the H2 has a 5MP camera.

You can learn more about Our H2 here

Check out the official product page

Other Brand smartwatches sold at Gearbest

Buy Microwear H1

Japan Display’s Full Active LCD Panels Likely to be Used on 2018 iPhones

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 28, 2017

After the launch of OLED panel enabled iPhone X, speculations started swirling that all the next-generation iPhones coming next year would be feature OLED screens. However, according to a new report on The Wall Street Journal, some of the iPhones arriving next year would be equipped with full screen LCD panels from Japan Display (JDI).

The publication has reported that the Cupertino company has expressed interest in using Full Active LCD panel from Japan Display that was unveiled in June this year. The Full Active display technology can offer the features of OLED panels at a reduced price. This can effectively allow Apple to earn profits without investing more money on OLED panels for all iPhones.

JDI’s Full Active panel is a 6-inch flexible LCD screen that offers an aspect ratio of 18:9 and produces full HD+ resolution of 2,160 x 1,080 pixels. OLED panels have 1mm bezel, but Full Active LCD panels have slimmer bezels of 0.5mm. Moreover, it can produce deep black colors.

Full Active LCD panels are already present in some of the smartphones. The edge-to-edge display available on the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 smartphone features the Full Active LCD panel. Hence, it sports a full screen design like OLED-based smartphones such as Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Apple is solely dependent on Samsung’s OLED panels for iPhone X because other manufacturers like LG and JDI are unable to mass produce OLED panels to meet the requirements of the Cupertino company. It is spending around $120 to $130 on each OLED panel from Samsung for the iPhone X. However, it is spending nearly $45 to $50 for LCD panels of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

It is now speculated that until other suppliers such as LG and JDI do not start mass productions of OLED panels, the Cupertino company may continue to rely on Full Active LCD panels from JDI. Reports have revealed that JDI will be mass producing OLED panels in April 2019. This indicates that all the iPhones that will be launched in 2019 may come with OLED screens. As far as 2018 is concerned, one of the iPhones may possibly feature a 6-inch display.

(source)