Advertisement

The ZeroLemon 5500mAh Battery Case Adds Over 100% Of Extra Battery Life To The Galaxy Note8

ZeroLemon is best known for its battery cases which can be slapped on to phones to serve as an additional battery backup. If you feel the 3300mAh battery capacity of the Galaxy Note8 is not enough, ZeroLemon has a battery case that provides over 100% of extra battery life.

Zerolemon 5500mAh Galaxy Note 8

The battery case for the Galaxy Note8 actually provides an extra 5500mAh for users. For a phone with a Quad HD+ display, this does come in handy. The advantages of a battery case are more than just providing extra power. It’s a case too, so it protects the phone. It also saves you the stress of carrying a power bank and cable around.

The only disadvantages are the additional thickness and increase in weight. The battery case weighs 5.26 ounces (~149g), add that to the 195g of the Note8 and your phone weighs 344g.

Zerolemon 5500mAh Galaxy Note 8

The ZeroLemon Galaxy Note 8 case has a four-color LED embedded in the power button that indicates the amount of charge left. When it is white, battery capacity is between 75% and 100; green means its between 50% and 75%; blue indicates that you have 25% – 50% left; and red is for below 25%. It supports 5V/1.8A input and output maximum charge.

READ MORE: Hi-Res Images of Samsung’s Mixed Reality Headset Leaks

iPhone 8 Plus Swollen Batteries Reports To Be Investigated

Last week there were two reports on the internet of the iPhone 8 Plus having swollen batteries. One report from Taiwan said the battery became swollen during charging with the official charger and cable. The second report from Japan said the phone arrived from Apple with the battery swollen and had even popped the screen out of its position.

iPhone 8 Plus battery

Apple says it will investigate the cases of the swollen batteries, so as to determine what caused them. Carrying out an investigation is said to be Apple’s routine for cases like this even for older models.

Should potential buyers stay off buying the iPhone 8 Plus for now? We can’t say as these are just two units and sources say it is within the normal failure rate for lithium-ion batteries. Unless it becomes a big deal like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 should customers begin to worry.

READ MORE: Apple is Most Valuable Brand for The 5th Time in A Row

Xiaomi Has Opened Over 200 Mi Stores in China This Year Alone As Planned

Xiaomi has added 20 new stores to its growing chain of Mi Home brick and mortar stores in China. With this new development, Xiaomi has hinted that the total number of Mi Stores in China has crossed the 200 stores mark. Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun had hinted of the company’s plans to open over 200 Mi Home Stores in China this year several months back. That feat has now been achieved well before the end of the year, springing up the possibility of more stores joining before the year finally runs out.Xiaomi Mi Store

The 20 new stores were opened on October 1 which is the National Day of the People’s Republic of China and a public holiday. Expectedly, the stores’ opening, recorded huge turnouts in all the cities where they were sited.  Except for some cities where the Mi Store is making its debut for the first time, some cities have more than one like Zhengzhou which is getting its fourth Mi Store. The latest development brings the total number of Mi Stores in China to over 300.

Read More: Xiaomi To Focus on Offline Sales In the Future

Xiaomi has achieved some progress so far in its bid to make its product accessible to its numerous customers who often experience difficulty getting their choice products due to an online-only model the company had been operating. The tech giant plans to open 1000 physical stores in different Chinese cities by the year 2020. The company also aims to open more Mi Stores outside of China. This strategy is meant to complement the online sales channels already in effect. Apart from smartphones, Xiaomi also stocks its wide range of Smart home products like its smart fitness bands, smart scooters, smart air purifiers, water purifier, internet-of-things and more, all in a bid to expand its ecosystem and shore up its revenue. Already, the results are looking promising, with the company climbing into the top 5 spots in global smartphone shipments in Q2 2017 and is set to hit its 70 million smartphone target for this year this October, two months before the year’s end.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi 5A Hits TENAA Again, Two Variants In Tow

Xiaomi‘s next budget smartphone offering is expected to be the Redmi 5A which has now appeared on TENAA showing its complete specification. A device fingered to be the Xiaomi Redmi 5A had earlier appeared on TENAA as MCT3B. But that model seems to be just a variant of the Redmi 5A. The Redmi 5A has again appeared on TENAA, this time with the model number MCE3B. The specifications are markedly similar to the first model but there is, even more, details on this new listing.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A
Xiaomi Redmi 5A Render

The new TENAA listing shows the Redmi 5A will be available in 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM versions, as well as 16GB  and 32GB storage variants. The Redmi 5A features a 5-inch  display with HD resolution (1280 x 720p) and has a body thickness of 8.35mm. The entire device weighs 137g and it is listed with an array of colour options such as Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Gray, and Silver.

In addition, the Redmi 5A is equipped with a 1.4GHz Quad-core processor with entire network support and the processor is believed to be a Snapdragon 425 processor. The device is listed with a memory combination of 2GB RAM + 16GB storage and 3GB RAM + 32GB storage. On the camera angle, there is an 8MP rear camera as well as a 5MP front-facing shooter. The device will get its juice from a generous 3,000mAh battery while the interface will be based on Android 7.1.2 Operating system.  Xiaomi Redmi 5A

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

The TENAA listing is accompanied with photos of the Redmi 5A and the photos show the device will adorn a metal body manufactured using a three-stage design. There is also an absence of a fingerprint sensor just like the Redmi Note 5A. The Redmi 5A is expected to come with a cheap price tag which should hover around 599 Yuan for the 2GB+16GB variant and 699 Yuan for the 3GB+32GB variant.

(source) Xiaomi Redmi 5A

Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Rumor Roundup: Specifications Features, Price, Launch Event & Livestream Details

Google’s upcoming Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL flagship phones are launching on Oct. 4. The rumor mill has revealed almost everything on the upcoming Pixel phones from their specifications to pricing. Here is a rumor roundup on the upcoming Pixel smartphones.

google pixel 2 render

Design and Display

The leaked renders of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have revealed that these phones will be arriving with a two-tone design on the back panel. One-third of the rear panel will be made up of glass and the remaining portion is pegged to be made up of metal. Last year’s Google Pixel phones had the fingerprint scanner placed inside the glass portion. However, upcoming Pixel 2 phones are rumored to feature the fingerprint reader in the metallic portion.

Google Pixel 2

The IP67 certified chassis of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will protect them from damage from water and dust. The Pixel 2 duo are unlikely to feature the standard 3.5mm audio jack, but are pegged to arrive with dual stereo speakers on the front panel. The Pixel 2 is expected to come in colors like Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White whereas the Pixel 2 XL may be available in Black & White and Just Black color variants.

The Pixel 2 is speculated to resemble the original Pixel phone whereas the Pixel 2 XL is rumored to have a full-screen design like the LG V30. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are rumored to feature a pressure-sensitive frame like HTC U11. The feature is rumored to be called Active Edge. Squeezing the Pixel 2 or 2 XL may allow users to perform certain actions such as activating Google Assistant and dismissing alarm.

The Pixel 2 is speculated to arrive with a 4.97-inch OLED display that will support FHD resolution. The Pixel 2 XL is rumored to be fitted with a 5.99-inch OLED display that may deliver a resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Pixel 2 XL’s display is expected to support Wide Color Gamut and offer a screen-to-body ratio of around 80 to 85 percent.

 

Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2 & Google Pixel 2XL Screen Protective cover

Chipset, Storage and Battery

The Snapdragon 835 SoC along with 4 GB RAM are rumored to be present under the hood of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. These phones are expected to arrive in storage sizes like 64 GB and 128 GB. Like the original Pixel phones, the Pixel 2 duo are unlikely to feature a microSD card slot. The Pixel 2 may come equipped with a 2,700 mAh battery whereas the Pixel 2 XL may house a 3,520 mAh battery.

Camera and Software

There is no information available on the exact camera configuration of the cameras that will be available on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. However, both the phones are going to feature the same rear and front cameras. The rear cameras of both phones are speculated to carry support for Optical Image Stabilization.

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL are rumored to arrive with Android 8.1 Oreo preinstalled. It is expected to bring some new features like a redesigned Pixel launcher, portrait mode feature on Google camera app, and Always-On Display. Google Lens that will allow users to point the cameras of the Pixel 2 phones to any object to get relevant information is speculated as one of the killer features of Pixel 2 duo.

Google-Lens

The presence of e-SIM inside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will allow users to easily switch between networks of different carriers of the U.S. through Project Fi. The search engine will be providing free unlimited storage on Google Cloud until 2023 for Pixel 2 and 2 XL buyers.

Pricing, Launch Event and Livestreaming

The 64 GB and 128 GB Pixel 2 are rumored to be respectively priced at $649 and $749 and the same storage models of Pixel 2 XL are speculated to respectively cost $849 and $949.

The launch event of the Pixel 2 duo will be held at San Francisco begin on Oct. 4 at 9 AM PST in the U.S. The event will be livestreamed here. It can be viewed at 5 PM BST, 9:30 PM IST and 12 AM on Oct. 5 in China.

Through the Oct. 4 launch event, Google is also expected to unveil Google Pixelbook, Home Mini smart speaker and Daydream View VR and Google Assistant powered headphones. The rumor mill is also talking another Google phone called Ultra Pixel that is expected to rival with Apple iPhone X. However, it may not get unveiled with Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

 

 

Huawei Mate 10 May Arrive with a Dock for Accessing Desktop UI on a Large Screen

With the launch of Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung introduced the Samsung DeX feature that allows users to connect the smartphone to a large display by using a dock. Fresh information suggest that Huawei is likely to introduce a similar feature with launch of Mate 10 flagship.

MirAxess CEO Yanis Anteur has claimed that the Mate 10 would be arriving with a PC style functionality. Here is what Anteur has said on it:

 “For now on we recommend to use the Mirabook with the Galaxy S8 for DeX and Windows Phones for Continuum. I also have a secret news for you (sic), the new Huawei smartphones announced on 16 October will have a DeX like feature and should be compatible with the Mirabook.”

The above statement suggests that the Mate 10 will provide users with a desktop UI for Android apps by connecting it to display through a dock. Hence, Huawei may debut a proprietary desktop dock that may feature a Displayport. Since Miracast is well-supported by various smart TVs, it won’t be difficult for Mate 10 users to find a compatible large screen. The rumored desktop dock from the Chinese company is also expected to carry support for wireless connectivity for hooking Mate 10 to a large screen through Miracast.

Samsung DeX

Read More: Huawei Mate 10 Variants Reportedly Certified in China

Huawei has recently released a teaser that to reveal the prowess of the Mate 10. The teaser claims that the Mate 10 that is driven by AI enabled Kirin 970 chipset is not a smartphone. This teaser could be hinting its secret desktop functionality. However, the teaser mainly focuses on the AI capabilities of the smartphone by calling it is an intelligent machine that can see, think and learn like a human.

Huawei has been consistently teasing that the Mate 10 is powerful enough to take on the recent flagships from Apple and Samsung. At present, Huawei is the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer after Samsung. Unlike Samsung, Huawei is a highly popular brand in China and the arrival of the DeX-like feature on Mate 10 may receive wide penetrance. This can also prompt other smartphone makers to bring support for desktop interface in their flagship phones in the near future.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

More details on the desktop dock for Mate 10 are expected to surface before the Oct. 16 launch event. What do you think about the rumored desktop interface feature that will be arriving with Huawei Mate 10? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source|via)

 

Honor 9 Confirmed to Launch in India on October 5

Honor India has been teasing the arrival of the Honor 9 with #ExploreWithHonor hashtag since the last week. However, the “Honor Smartphone” Twitter account has officially confirmed that the Honor 9 would be unveiled in India on Oct. 5. Also, the official YouTube account of Honor India has also confirmed the same launch date for Honor 9.

When an Honor 9 fan enquired on the arrival of the phone in India, the “Honor Smartphone” Twitter account revealed Oct. 5 as its launch date. The Honor 9 launch event for India will be held at Taj Exotica in Goa starting at 11 AM.

The Honor 9 was unveiled in China in June and then it was also made available in European countries. The launch of Honor 9 in India has come as a surprise as Huawei was expected to debut Huawei P10 flagship in the country.

The Honor 9 has a glass rear panel and comes in multiple color choices like Glacier Grey, Sapphire Blue, Midnight Black, Gold, Blue Bird, and Robin Egg Blue. However, there is no confirmation on whether the company would be selling all the color variants of the phone in India. Moreover, the appearance of the Honor 9 is very similar to Xiaomi Mi 6 flagship phone.

The smartphone features a 5.15-inch display that produces FHD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. It is driven by Kirin 960 chipset. It comes in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM variants and storage models like 64 GB and 128 GB. It includes a 3,200mAh battery.

Honor 9

Read More: Huawei Maimang 6 Launched with Quad Cameras, 18:9 Full Screen Design

The backside of the Honor 9 houses a dual camera setup that includes 12-megapixel and 20-megapixel sensor that are accompanied by a dual-LED flash. The frontside of the phone is fitted with an 8-megapixel selfie camera. It is loaded with EMUI Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

The Honor 8 Pro was launched with a price tag of Rs. 29,999 in India. Hence, the Honor 9 is speculated to launch with of Rs. 35,000 in the country. It will be rivaling against smartphones like Nokia 8 and OnePlus 5.

Honor has confirmed that it will be holding another launch event in this month. It will be holding a launch event for Honor 7X on Oct. 11 in China. The entire specifications of the smartphone have been already revealed.

(source 1, 2, 3)

 

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

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.

Read More: Xiaomi is Reportedly Working with Qualcomm on Optimizing Snapdragon 845 for Xiaomi Mi 7

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

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.

OnePlus 5

Read More: OnePlus 6 Concept Design Appears with Full Screen Display, In-Screen Fingerprint Reader

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

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.

Google Home
Google Home

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.

READ MORE: Google Pixel 2 Launch Event to Introduce Google Assistant Enabled Bluetooth Earbuds

This is The Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Its Gorgeous

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.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

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.

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.

READ MORE: Huawei Announced the EnVizion 360 Camera module for its smartphones in Europe

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

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.

Gionee S11S

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.

Gionee S11S

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.

READ MORE: Gionee Launches The Steel 2 Plus As The M7 Power in Thailand

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

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

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.

Leagoo S8 quad camera

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.

Leagoo S8 Pro

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.

READ MORE: Leagoo KIICAA Mix camera goes against iPhone 6 and Samsung S8+ (video)

Only 5000 Units of The Essential Phone Sold Through Sprint

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.

Essential Phone

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.

READ MORE: Andy Rubin Mentions The Sharp S2’s Striking Resemblance To The Essential Phone, Reveals New Modules

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

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.

READ MORE: Nokia 2 and Nokia MD-22 Wireless Speaker Likely to Debut Together

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

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.

Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2 & Google Pixel 2XL Screen Protective cover

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.

Read More: Google Pixel 2 XL Gets FCC Certified; October 4 Launch Seem Imminent

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)google pixel 2 xl

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

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.

Huawe Nova 2i

 

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.

READ MORE: Huawei Honor 7X Pricing and Details Leaked, Starts At ¥1799

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

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.ZOJI Z8

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.ZOJI Z8

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.

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

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.Ulefone Power Max

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.

Related: Warm-up Event for the All-screen Ulefone MIX Kick off

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

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..

render by Waqar Khan

Read More: HTC U11 Plus Concept Renders Surface to Reveal Marvelous Full Screen Design

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)