2017 iPhone Pre-orders May Begin on September 15

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Sep 7, 2017

Nubia announced the Nubia Z17 Lite last week and it was billed to go on sale this September. The device has finally gone up for its first sale in China. The Nubia Z17 Lite is a trimmed down version of the flagship Nubia Z17 which was released in July. The new smartphone has a hardware lineup which places in a mid-range category but its design is very much similar to that of the Z17. The sales commenced simultaneously on Nubia’s official shop, Tmall, and Suning Tesco and the product is still up for grabs on all three channels.

As a result of the trimmed down specs, the Z17 Lite comes with a reduced price tag from its flagship counterpart. The Nubia Z17 Lite 6GB + 64GB version has a price tag of 2,499 Yuan (~$378) while the 6GB + 128GB version sells for 2,799 Yuan (~$455) and it is available in Aurora Blue. While these prices are affordable, they are strikingly close to the retail price for the Z17. For instance, the 6GB + 64GB Nubia Z17 version retails at 2799 Yuan ($411) and that is just a difference of 300 Yuan. While the 6GB + 128GB variant comes in at 600 Yuan higher with a retail price of 3399 Yuan ($500).

As a reminder, the Nubia Z17 Lite features a 5.5-inch Full HD display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor backed by 6GB of RAM while the storage varies between a 64GB model and a higher version with 128GB storage. The device uses a metal body and is also ultra-thin at 7.6mm in thickness. The Z17 Lite also packs a 13MP Mono + 13MP RBG dual rear camera setup while at the front there is a 16MP selfie camera. The camera also comes with Nubia’s NeoVision 7.0 software which uses a bunch of smart algorithms to improve dual camera performance, zoom, scene recognition as well as video recording.

In addition, the lights are kept on by a 3200mAh battery and the Z17 Lite is available in Black Gold, Obsidian Black, and Aurora blue colors. Other features include NFC, Bluetooth 4.1 and dual-band Wi-Fi ac and more.

Alleged Google Pixel 2 Image Leaked; Several Features Like IP68 Chassis, Always On Display Revealed

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Sep 7, 2017

The launch of Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are almost a month away as both smartphones are expected to debut on Oct. 5. The Pixel 2 that will be sold by Google branding is reportedly being manufactured by HTC. The smartphone has already received FCC certification and today several details on its features have surfaced.

9to5 Google has obtained some images of the Google Pixel 2 from a reliable source. However, the publication has revealed a vague image of the phone to protected the identity of its source. It has revealed that the rear shell of the Google Pixel 2 is made of aluminum. However, the upper one-third of the back panel is made up of glass and the fingerprint reader is present below the glass portion. The frontside of the smartphone is black.

The rear panel features a single camera on its top-left corner. Below the LED flash of the camera are two black dots that appears to be “send” and “receive” sensors of the laser autofocus system. It is also rumored to be equipped with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) instead of OIS. However, there is no information available on the configuration of the front and rear cameras of the Pixel 2.

Read More: More Google Pixel 2 Photos Leak

As far as the design of the Pixel 2 is concerned, it seems to be similar to the original Pixel phone. Also, both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are now tipped to feature IP68 certified water and dust resistant chassis. Like the original Pixels, the successor models are expected to come with identical specs, but will feature different-sized displays. The Pixel 2 duo are also rumored to arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB storage choices. A recent report reveals that the Snapdragon 835 chipset will be powering both phones.

It is unlikely to feature a 3.5mm audio jack. There is a possibility that the search engine giant may introduced Google Assistant powered headphones with Pixel 2 duo. The box package of the Pixel 2 duo is expected to include a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle.

The handset that is codenamed as “walleye” is rumored to feature a 4.97-inch display that will carry support for full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The ambient display of the phone will come with Always-on Display feature.

Evan Blass has said that Google would be debuting the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on Oct. 5. The publication has claimed that both phones will be preinstalled with Android 8.1 at launch. The company is now rumored to introduce Google Lens alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The source has also revealed that Google has imposed PR embargoes on accessory manufacturers so that Pixel 2 duo details are not leaked before official launch.

Vivo X20 Live Video, Images Leaked Ahead of its Launch

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Sep 7, 2017

A leaked video showcasing the alleged Vivo X20 that only last for few seconds has surfaced on China’s social networking site, Weibo. The video is now also available on YouTube. The quality of the video is not good, but it certainly confirms some of the leaked information of the Vivo X20.

The video begins by showing the large-sized display of the phone with slim bezels on its left and right sides. The screen seems to have black borders on all the four sides. The top and bottom bezels are a bit thick but they are quite slim compared to conventional smartphones. The smartphone can be seen sporting full metallic chassis.

The rear side of the phone can be seen only for a second. At the top-left corner of the back panel is the dual camera module and its LED flash. This contradicts previous reports that have claimed that the Vivo X20 would be featuring a single camera on its rear. The fingerprint scanner and the company’s logo are also present on the rear. The following image shows a better view of the front and rear sides of the Vivo X20.

Above the display of the phone is the selfie snapper, an earpiece and a sensor. The handset features on-screen buttons. The antenna lines are present on the upper and bottom edges of the back panel of the phone.

The Vivo X20 has already appeared alongside Vivo X20A on TENAA. Speculations have it that the Vivo X20A could be the Vivo X20 Plus phone. Recent rumors have revealed that the Vivo X20 and Vivo X20 Plus would be sporting 18:9 aspect ratio screens. The Vivo X20 is expected to arrive with a 5.2-inch display whereas the X20 Plus is speculated to arrive with a 5.5-inch screen.

The Vivo X20 is speculated to come with Snapdragon 630 chipset, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. On the other side, the Vivo X20 Plus is rumored to be powered by Snapdragon 660 SoC, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Both phones are rumored to house 3,500mAh batteries.

The Chinese manufacturer is holding a launch event in India on Thursday to unveil the Vivo V7+. Reports have revealed that the Vivo X20 and X20 Plus would be coming to markets outside of Chinas as Vivo V7 and V7+

(source 1, 2)

The Affordable Honor V9 Play Arrives In Cool Colors, Brings Along The Honor 6 Play Too

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Sep 7, 2017

The Honor V9 Play is a more affordable version of the Honor V9 (Honor 8 Pro) flagship released back in February. Although it has ditched most of the features of its bigger sibling such as the 2K display, dual rear cameras, large RAM and built-in storage. The Honor V9 Play comes in the same cool colors as the V9.

Honor V9 Play Design

The Honor V9 Play features an all-metal design like the V9 but at first look, you can tell there is a difference in the craftsmanship. The design is the same you will find on similar devices in this price range.

Buttons are on the right, SIM tray is on the left and there are speaker grilles flanking the micro USB port at the bottom.

Honor V9 Play Specs

The Honor V9 Play has a 5.2-inch HD display. It comes in 3GB and 4GB RAM variants with 32GB of expandable storage, and is powered by the MT6750 processor.

There is a 13MP f/2.2 aperture and 1.12um pixel sensor on the back. On its left is a LED flash and below it is a fingerprint scanner that unlocks in 0.4s. The front camera is an 8MP sensor.

The V9 Play has a hybrid dual SIM slot (nano only, 128GB Max.). There is a 3000mAh battery that charges via a micro USB port at the bottom. There is a 3.5mm audio jack at the top, Bluetooth 4.1, VoLTE and a FM radio.

The phone will come with EMUI 5.1 based on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

Honor V9 Price and Availability

The Honor V9 Play will sell for ¥999 (∼$153) for the 3GB RAM variant and ¥1199 (∼$184) for the 4GB RAM variant. It will be available in red, blue, champagne gold, and rose gold when it goes on sale on September 12.

[envira-gallery id=”148167″]

Honor 6 Play

Right on the heels of the V9 Play is the Honor 6 Play. The 6 Play is targeted at the entry-level category and seems like a competition for the unannounced Redmi 5A.

The phone doesn’t have the same metal body design as the V9 Play. Instead it sports a polycarbonate body with a unique hatching design.

It has a 5.0-inch HD display, a MT6737T SoC, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. There is an 8MP camera with dual LED flash on the back and a 5MP front facing camera with its own LED flash.

Essential Phone’s Strong Build Makes it Survive Scratch, Flame and Bend Tests

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Sep 7, 2017

Essential Phone is now reaching all the customers who have ordered it. Its teardown has revealed that since it is very hard to open, repairing the device is quite difficult. This may dismay some buyers from purchasing the Essential Phone. However, JerryRigEverything has released a new video on his YouTube channel to show that the Essential Phone can easily pass various kinds of torture tests.

The video begins by showing the contents of the Essential Phone’s box package which contains items like USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack adapter, USB-C cable and a wall plug apart from the handset. The Essential Phone’s display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 coating and comes with a ceramic rear. It has a very hard titanium frame.

The first test that is performed on the display is to check its durability on Mohs scale of hardness. As it can be seen in the video, the display remains till level 5 of scratching. However, the display scratches on level 6 and deeper grooves show up on level 7. According to Zack from JerryRigEverything, the scratch tolerance of Essential Phone’s display is on par with other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple iPhone 7.

Placed under the same front glass at the top is the selfie camera of 8-megapixel. Hence, it is protected from scratches. The earpiece is not placed under the display but it is present as a very thin line just above the selfie camera. It seems to be covered under some kind of fabric.

The ceramic rear is not only very hard but also makes the phone appear brilliant. However, the downside is that it can easily attract fingerprint marks and scratches.

Scratching it with a razor blade does not leave any marks on it. The two holes present at the top of the ceramic panel is meant for connecting modular accessory. These holes contain very strong magnet. The dual 13-megapixel sensors are covered by glass that sits flush on the ceramic panel. On Mohs scale of hardness, the ceramic panel developed scratches on level 8. The fingerprint scanner too is well protected.

The titanium frame is not of titanium carbide that is highly durable in nature. The frame of the Essential Phone scratches at level 6 which indicates that it is does not feature pure titanium. The handset features a little plastic rim around its edges can absorb the pressure if it falls.

In the flame test, the IPS Quad HD display of the Essential Phone was subjected to flame from a lighter for about 9 seconds which darkened the spot. However, when the heat disappeared, the affected area back normal. The phone is so hard that it could hardly bend in the bend test.

The build quality of the Essential Phone is indeed impressive. However, the lack of various features like 3.5mm jack, water resistance, microSD card slot and wireless charging makes it a device that many may not be interested to buy.

The XOSS Sprint Is A Crowdfunded Quad GPS Cycling Computer With ANT+, BLE & Lots More

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Sep 6, 2017

If you enjoy cycling, then it is only wise that you have an accurate and reliable cycling computer. Not just one that keeps track of your basic cycling info like time and distance, but one that can pair with your other sensors, provide mapping and navigation, and sync to the cloud. The Kickstarter-backed XOSS Sprint is one of the few that combines all these functions all for an affordable price.

XOSS Sprint Specs

The XOSS Sprint has a high-resolution (240 x 400) SHARP 2.7-inch LCD display with great outdoor visibility. There is 512MB of built-in storage which may sound small. However, XOSS says they have compressed and optimized their map data such that users can download offline maps for a continent onto it.

The Sprint also provides turn-by-turn navigation for users. With the accompanying app, you can plan your routes or even copy those uploaded on the website by other users. You also shouldn’t worry about getting lost as the XOSS Sprint uses a quad-positioning system (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo).

XOSS has designed what it calls FUSION technology which allows you to connect both ANT+ and Bluetooth sensors simultaneously. FUSION lets you add up to six different sensors and pairing is simple.

Pair your heart rate monitor and the cycling computer will alert you if your heart rate is too high or goes up too fast. It will also alert you if you are going to fast based on a preset speed limit.

Another key feature of the Sprint is its app (available on Android and iOS) and cloud service. Users can synchronize specific tracks and can even link their data to their Strava account as well as share workouts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The XOSS Sprint has a 1000mAh battery said to last up to 37-hours of GPS recording on a single charge or 90 days on standby. The device can be recharged via a USB type-A port.

What’s more? The Sprint has an IPX6 waterproof rating so even if it starts to rain while you are out, your tracker is safe. It also has a background light that is easy on the eyes.

Exclusive Report : Azdome DAB211 Price Disclosure

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Linus

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Sep 6, 2017

Recently, Azdome has launched a new Ambarella dash cam, DAB211, and made an overall introduction to its various functions, performance, unboxing video, installation, application scenarios, but haven’t officially announced the price, many friends must be eager to know how much it would cost. Today the editor will report the estimated price to you only here.

According to the previous news report about DAB211, everyone should know that DAB211 is a stable, HD, multi-functional and multi-purpose dash cam with Ambarella A12 chip, OV4689 sensor, 1440p, HDR, ADAS, built-in GPS, night vision and hidden design, etc, which comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, such a superior product, the editor estimates the price at $120, how much do you think it will cost? Currently, in the market, there are very few high-cost effective dash cams like DAB211, great quality and a low price, enchanted with it? Go for it! Action speaks louder than words.

Learn more about this high cost-performance dash cam

Lenovo K8 Is Official: Drops The Dual Cameras and FHD Screen

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Sep 6, 2017

Lenovo has unveiled the third of the K8 series. Not only does it drop the “Plus” or “Note” suffixes, the Lenovo K8 also ditches the dual rear cameras and 108op display present in its siblings. Does that mean it isn’t any good? You would have to read to the end to find out.

The Lenovo K8 features a 5.2-inch HD IPS display with 2.5D glass. There is 3GB of RAM but Lenovo fails to disclose the capacity of the built-in storage. It has MicroSD card support but there is no info on if it is a dedicated slot or a hybrid slot. The K8 is powered by the Helio P20 processor clocked at 2.3GHz

The Lenovo K8 doesn’t have dual rear camera sensors but settles for a single 13MP camera with PDAF and flash. The 8MP front camera also gets its own LED flash.

There’s no TheatreMax but there’s Dolby Atmos for an improved audio experience. The K8 also has a dedicated music key and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Two key features unique to all the three K8 phones is the 4000mAh battery and the pure Android (7.1.1) software. Lenovo says the K8 should last 48 hours on a single charge. Sadly, there is no mention of turbo-charge. Other features present include a 3.5mm audio jack, dual nano SIM slots, FM radio, VoLTE,WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2.

Huawei Mate 10 Renders Reveal Glass Back & Dual Cameras

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Sep 6, 2017

Huawei’s Mate series flagship for 2017, the Huawei Mate 10 is billed to go official on October 16 after the iPhone 8, Galaxy Note 8 and Mi Mix 2 must have hit the market. The Mate 10 will launch in time to take on the Galaxy Note 8, iPhone 8 and other and Huawei seems to have positioned the device well enough to take on its competitors. The specifications of the Mate 10 is almost entirely known and it includes a 10nm Kirin 970 chip with Artificial Intelligence. On the design angle, the flagship is expected with a full-screen display and even though the device is yet to leak in real life photos, renders of the Mate 10 has been leaked by popular tipster @onleaks.

The renders are a collaborative effort of Ccompareraja and the tipster who by the way, has a track record of releasing near perfect renders that turn out looking like the real smartphone whenever it is launched. That is because the renders are most times factory CAD-based renders just as in this case. There is also a 360-degree video render of the upcoming flagship model. The images show the device from all angle and it didn’t reveal a bezel-less design but the Mate 10 had tiny bezels at the sides of the display. The edges are also well rounded and this time around, there isn’t going to be a rear fingerprint sensor but a front fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button.

The tipster also reveals the Mate 10 will have a dimension of around 150.2 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm. The device will also come with a dual camera setup at the rear with a slight camera bump design. In addition, the Mate 10 will sport a 5.9-inch screen and from the renders, is likely to have a glass back. There is a USB Type-C port for charging and data connectivity and also, the Mate 10 will be having a 3.5mm audio jack.

The device is also expected to feature the EntireView design which Huawei recently patented. The Mate 10’s 5.9-inch display will come with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixel. The dual cameras are also expected to feature the Leica badge but that isn’t reflected on the renders. The configuration may still be a 12MP main sensor teaming up with a 20MP monochrome sensor just like it was featured on the Mate 9 and Huawei P10.

Huawei CEO Richard Yu had disclosed at IFA that users are in for much faster performance, longer battery life, and more compact design with the Mate 10 and it sure looks like one to look forward to. You can check out the video render from below.

(source, via)

Meizu Signs Up for MediaTek’s Helio P40 Processor

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Sep 6, 2017

Yesterday, we reported that Taiwanese semiconductor company MediaTek, has a new SoC in the works. The new processor called the Helio P40 is said to feature a hexacore design and will be built on TSMC’s new 12nm process.

helio P40 Meizu

Mediatek is said to be wooing smartphone manufacturers to sign up for the new chip. According to Weibo user (@冷希), samples have been sent to customers to test and they’ve found their first customer in Meizu. First set of devices are expected to arrive in Q1 2018. It should come as no surprise seeing as both manufacturers seem to be best of friends.

Helio P40

Meizu’s flagship, the Pro7 Plus is the first device to be powered by the Helio X30, which is MediaTek’s most powerful SoC. Even though Meizu’s latest smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm processor, its VP, Li Nan has said the Blue Charm company will continue to use processors from the three manufacturers (Mediatek, Qualcomm, and Samsung).

Gearbest Autumn Bumper Harvest: Mi Band 2, Redmi 4A and Huami Amazfit On Sale (SOLD OUT)

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Sep 6, 2017

Gearbest is running a promo called Autumn Bumper Harvest. You can read more about it here. If you are a Xiaomi fan, you may want to visit the online store to see what items are on sale. Nevertheless, below is a list of three items which can be purchased for less when you apply their resective coupons.

Mi Band 2

The Mi Band 2 is still selling pretty well. Its sales even pushed Xiaomi to the top of the list of wearable sellers for Q2 2017. Gearbest sells the smartband for $22.29 but if you use the coupon code harvest001 during checkout, you can pick it up for just $13.99.

Huami Amazfit PACE

Xiaomi doesn’t have a smartwatch but the Amazfit which is made by the same company (Huami) behind the Mi Bands is usually referred to as a Xiaomi smartwatch. Priced at $99.89 on a regular day, using coupon code harvest007 brings it down to $92.99.

ZTE’s Nubia May Have A Full Screen Smartphone Coming Soon

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Sep 6, 2017

Full screen display is the rave right now and more manufacturers are jumping on the train. The latest is ZTE’s offshoot company Nubia, and their new teaser hints at a full-screen smartphone in the pipeline.

The teaser image released on Weibo yesterday shows an outline for a smartphone against a star-filled background. Though the bottom part of the phone where the lower bezel should be is missing. In spite of that, we have a rough mental picture of what the phone will look like.

Can you see the image uses a mix of dotted and straight lines? It is easy to tell that the display of the phone will end where the dotted lines stop, while the top bezel will be limited to the area the straight line covers.

Nubia is not new to bezel-less designs. Its Nubia Z17 flagship has non-existent side bezels but still keep the forehead and chin pretty thick. For this new smartphone, things will be different. No side bezels and a thinner chin and forehead.

Moto G5S & G5S Plus Certified By TENAA, China Launch Imminent

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Sep 6, 2017

Lenovo recently unveiled the Motorola Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus in India early last month and before then had listed up the smartphones for sale on Motorola Germany’s website. But the tech company has been silent about launching the premium smartphones in its home country, China. Looks like the Moto models are now set to go official in China. Both the G5S and G5S Plus have now appeared on TENAA‘s website indicating that they have received certification.

The TENAA listing shows the specifications of both models are the same with the ones revealed when they were unveiled in India. Obviously, the Moto G5S is the cheaper model of the two and that is reflected on its specs. The device features a 5.2-inch full HD display covered with Gorilla Glass 3. The Indian variant of the Moto G5S gets 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage but China will be getting both the 3GB + 32GB version as well as the 4GB + 64GB variant. The device is also listed as powered by a 1.5GHz processor which is already known to be the Snapdragon 430 chip.

In addition, the Moto G5S comes with a metal body and a single rear camera, unlike the G5S Plus which has a dual camera setup at the rear. The G5S gets its juice from a 2810mAh battery. The battery is a removable one and the camera is configured as a 16MP sensor at the rear and a 5MP front camera.

On the other hand, the Moto G5S Plus features a bigger 5.5-inch 1080p display on top of an all metal-unibody. The device is powered by a 2,35GHz processor which is the Snapdragon 625 SoC. The China version will come with just 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage unlike the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage combo unveiled in India. As stated earlier, the major upgrade in the Moto G5S Plus is the addition of dual rear cameras. The G5S Plus dual cameras consist of two 13MP rear cameras in the Monochrome + RGB format with a 3D depth sensor for bokeh effects.

No word yet on when both models will go official in China but that may not be too far away.

(source: 1,2)

Red Variant Of The Meizu M6 Note Spotted Online

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Sep 6, 2017

A fortnight ago, Meizu launched its first snapdragon-powered smartphone, the M6 Note. It launched in four colors – Moonlight Silver, Obsidian Black, Peacock Blue, and Champagne Gold.

Of the four variants, only three are available for purchase. The Peacock Blue is not up for sale yet. However, that might not be the only version Meizu hasn’t released yet. The rear shell of a red version of the M6 Note was seen online earlier today.

Although Meizu has not confirmed a new color variant outside the announced four, this won’t be their first red device. There is a red Meizu Pro 7 as well as a red Meizu M5c.

Some sources say the red M6 Note may be a special variant that is slightly different from the other variants. We advise you take this with a pinch of salt.

The rear shell in the image has a white antenna line at the top with a space for the quad LED flash. It also has two cut-outs for the rear cameras and the curved corners are the same as that of the other variants.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Wallpapers Leak Ahead Of Launch [Download]

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Sep 6, 2017

Xiaomi will be launching the flagship Mi Mix 2 on September 11 and we expect to see a lot of leaks before the official unveiling. We’ve seen the packaging box and a couple of other details and Qualcomm recently confirmed the presence of a Snapdragon 835 chip onboard the smartphone. Now, a couple of wallpapers purported to be for the Mi Mix 2 has appeared online and they are even downloadable. Apart from their attractive look, we can grab a few things from the wallpapers.

One major feature of the Mi Mix 2 is the full-screen design it is expected to have and its bezel-less design. We spotted the display panel of the Mix 2 recently which confirms its bezel-less design. The device is also expected with an 18:9 aspect ratio and that seems to be reflected in the size of the wallpapers. In addition, even though they come in 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, the Mix 2 may likely come with a higher display resolution than FHD. Back to the photos, all three are very attractive and is a reflection of the powerful graphics the Mix 2 will come packing. You can download all three wallpapers in their original sizes from here.

As a reminder, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is expected to feature a slightly reduced 6.0-inch display, a little smaller than the 6.4-inch display used on the Mi Mix. A Snapdragon 835 chipset is already known as well as the use of the same Piezoceramic audio system featured on the first-gen Mix. THere will likely be 6GB of RAM and a higher 8GB RAM variant, although we are not ruling out a 4GB RAM variant since Xiaomi is targeting more sales for the Mix 2.The flagship Mix 2 is also expected to come with a dual camera setup at the rear while the front camera will continue to be located at the bottom right corner. We still don’t know if it would feature a metal body or ceramic but whatever it is, expect a premium-looking smartphone.

Lenovo K8 Plus Unveiled with Dual Cameras, Multimedia Experience, Huge Battery

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Sep 6, 2017

Lenovo K8 Plus has been unveiled through a launch event that was held today in New Delhi, India at 11:30 AM. It is the second K8 series phone from the Chinese manufacturer after the launch of Lenovo K8 Note in the previous month. During the unveil event, the company spoke on the top 8 features of the Lenovo K8 Plus.

Dual Rear Cameras

The vertically aligned rear-mounted dual cameras of the Lenovo K8 Plus includes a f/2.0 aperture 13-megapixel Purecell Plus sensor that captures all the details and a f/2.0 aperture 5-megapixel depth sensor. The information captured by these sensors are fed to the dual ISPs. The Professional model will allow users to use only the 13-megapixel sensor and the Depth mode will let users to mainly use the 5-megapixel depth sensor. The dual camera sensors can be used to shoot photos with bokeh effect.

Stock Android

The Lenovo K8 Plus is running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. It means there are no apps from Lenovo on the phone. However, it does not belong to the Android One program like the recently unveiled Mi A1 which also runs on pure Android.

Performance

The 2.6 GHz octa-core processor present inside the MediaTek Helio P25 that is built with TSMC 16nm manufacturing process. The chipset is thermal efficient and promises better battery life. At the launch event, the Lenovo K8 Plus claimed that its SoC can handle graphics intensive games without heating the device. The chipset of the K8 Plus is accompanied by 3 GB of RAM. An AnTuTu benchmarks, the Helio P25 can be seen outscoring Snapdragon 625 chipset that powers some popular phones like Redmi Note 4 and Motorola Moto G5 Plus.

As far as storage is concerned, the K8 Plus comes with a longest SIM tray Lenovo has ever used that includes dedicated slots for two nano-SIMs and a microSD card. The smartphone also supports USB OTG and carries support for 4G VoLTE.

Better Selfies

The Lenovo K8 Plus is fitted with an f/2.0 8-megapixel 84-degree wide-angle camera lens that is coupled with a Party flash for better photos in darker conditions. It comes with features such as Pro mode and Beautify mode.

Display

The Lenovo K8 Plus comes with a 5.2-inch full HD IPS display that supports 178-degree viewing angles. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass that is overlaid with a oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprint smudges.

Design

The body of the Lenovo K8 Plus is made of 5000-series aluminum. The rear panel is curved at the edges and it also features a fingerprint reader below the dual rear cameras. The smartphone will be available in two colors like Venom Black and Fine Gold.

Multimedia

The K series Lenovo smartphones offers the best of multimedia at budget price. Hence, the K8 Plus comes with Dolby Atmos that produces 360-degree surround sound. It also features a dedicated Music key. Like predecessor K series phone, the K8 Plus also offers TheaterMax cinematic experience that allows user to use a regular VR headset and enjoy virtualized large screen experience.

Battery

The Lenovo K8 Plus offers 2-day battery life through its 4,000mAh battery. It delivers up to 13 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi, up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 100 hours on music playback on headphones with the screen turned off.

Lenovo K8 Plus Pricing and Release Date

The Lenovo K8 Plus will be available for buying for Rs. 10,999 (~$172) on Flipkart in India from Sept. 7 at 12 PM. A couple of launch offers will be available with K8 Plus which can be seen in the above image.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A Seems to Have Surfaced on TENAA as Xiaomi MCT3B

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Sep 6, 2017

A new Xiaomi phone with budget-friendly specs have appeared on TENAA, a certification body from China. The modest specs of the smartphone suggest that it could be the Redmi 5A.

The Xiaomi phone that has surfaced on TENAA has a model number of MCT3B. The handset measures 140.44 x 70.14 x 8.35mm and its weight is 137 grams. The smartphone is available in black, rose gold, gold, white, blue, red, pink, gray and silver.

It features a 5-inch TFT display that produces a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The dimensions of the Xiaomi MCT3B smartphone is quite similar to the Redmi 4A and it also features a same-sized HD display. However, the Redmi 4A has a IPS LCD screen whereas the MCT3B has a TFT screen.

Just the Redmi 4A lacks a fingerprint reader, the MCT3B also lacks a fingerprint sensor which also indicates that it could be a successor of Redmi 5A. The smartphone is running on Android 7.1.2 and is powered by 1.4 GHz processor. It has an internal storage of 32 GB. Users can add up to 128 GB of microSD card on its external storage.

The Redmi 4A has 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 425 chipset, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. It also features a microSD card slot.

The rear camera of MCT3B could be of 13-megapixel or 8-megapixel that carries support for full HD recording. It has a front-facing camera of 5-megapixel. The Redmi 4A has a 13-megpaixel rear camera and a 5-meapixel selfie snapper.

The Xiaomi MCT3B has a 3,000mAh battery and carries support for connectivity features like dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi and more. The Redmi 4A has a larger battery of 3,120mAh capacity. The Chinese manufacturer had announced the Redmi 4A in November 2016. Hence, it appears that Xiaomi could be prepping on a successor phone for Redmi 4A.

Xiaomi has recently announced the Mi A1 Android One phone in partnership with Google that comes with a stellar dual camera system and a budget pricing of Rs. 14,999 (~$235). The Xiaomi Mi A1 will be not only online but also going to release through multiple offline channels in India. It would be releasing in 37 markets across the world. The smartphone will allow the Xiaomi brand to reach wider markets, but there is no confirmation on when it will be coming to the U.S.

Xiaomi Mi A1 Official Promo Released to Showcase its Best Features

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Sep 6, 2017

The Xiaomi Mi A1 was unveiled yesterday as a product that was born with the collaboration of Google and Xiaomi. The Chinese firm had introduced the budget-friendly Xiaomi Mi 5X with stellar dual rear cameras in July. During a launch event that happened yesterday in India, Xiaomi unveiled the same smartphone as Xiaomi Mi A1. It is an Android One smartphone that carries the same specs as Mi 5X, but delivers a stock Android experience. A new video of the Mi A1 has been released to advertise its features.

The above video takes users inside a hall that appears like a museum. The Xiaomi Mi A1 can be seen kept inside for exhibition. Then, different features of the smartphone such as its premium design and amazing dual rear cameras are introduced. The video intends to show that the Mi A1 will deliver pure Android experience as shows the various folders placed on the Homescreen.

Above the usual apps for phone, messages, Gmail, Chrome browser and camera, there is a line features a folder containing apps from Google and there is another folder that contains apps from Xiaomi such as Mi Store, Mi Community and Mi Remote. This shows that the Mi A1 that runs on Android 7.1 Nougat contains some Xiaomi MIUI apps including the MIUI camera app. At the end of the video, the three color variants of the smartphone such as Black, Rose Gold and Gold can be seen.

OPPO and Vivo smartphones are achieving impressive offline sales and they are mainly advertised as camera phones. The Xiaomi Mi A1 will be available go on sale in India on Sept. 12 on Mi.com and Flipkart. It will be also available through the different Mi Home stores across the country. Xiaomi has also partnered with several offline retailers such as Univercell, Croma, Poorvika and more. It will be available with a price tag of Rs. 14,999 (~$235).

The Xiaomi Mi A1 has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display that produces full HD resolution. It is powered by Snapdragon 625 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The native storage of the smartphone is 64 GB. It also features a microSD card. As it is an Android One phone, there is no MIUI skin for the Android 7.1 Nougat OS. It has a 3,080mAh battery with fast charging support. It has a selfie camera of 8-megapixel. The USP of the Mi A1 is the dual rear camera system that includes a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom.

(source)

Essential Phone Teardown Shows it is Extremely Hard to Repair

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Sep 6, 2017

Before the launch of Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone, the smartphone was expected to come with flagship specs to take on the leading smartphones from the likes of Apple and Samsung. The Essential Phone managed to impress the audience with its full-screen design and its modular capability. However, the company has failed to meet a couple deadlines in making the Essential Phone to the buyers. Customers are reluctant on whether to purchase it or not. iFixit has revealed that it is almost impossible to repair the Essential Phone. This can be another reason that may cause the customers to not to buy the Essential Phone.

iFixit is known for performing teardown on newly smartphones to reveal the internal components used by the phone makers and also to check how easy it is to repair. It provides a repairability score of 1 to 10 where the latter means easiest to repair. How much did Essential Phone score? It scored 1 which indicates it is almost impossible to repair. Here is what iFixit found after performing Essential Phone teardown on its titanium and ceramic build.

An attempt to repair the smartphone can damage it because of the seams and huge amount of adhesive in building it. Since it is very difficult to open the smartphone, trying to repair it can damage its chassis. In order to open the Essential Phone, iFixit had to freeze the device and then access the internals from the rear. This led to breaking of the display.

The Essential Phone does not feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The USB-C is the only port available for charging the handset as well as for connecting headphones. Hence, the USB-C port can wear out faster. Since it is soldered to the motherboard, it is difficult to repair or replace.

The identification marks of the smartphone are placed on a small tag that resides under the SIM card tray. Few things that make it repair-friendly is the usage of standard screws and stretch-release adhesive for the battery. Still, reaching the battery of the smartphone is a difficult task.

It seems that if the users of the Essential Phone encounter come across a hardware issue on it, they may end up replacing it instead of repairing it. To checkout the entire teardown of the Essential Phone, users can visit the source link.