Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Officially Launching on September 11

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Aug 30, 2017

The rumor mill had claimed that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 would be debuting in September. Now, Xiaomi has confirmed through its official Weibo account that it will be holding a launch event to unveil the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 on Sept. 11.

The above launch poster of the Mi MIX 2 states that it will be coming with a full screen 2.0 design. The launch event will be held at Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium on Sept. 11 at 2 PM local time. Rumors have also revealed that Apple would be launching the premium iPhone 8 as well as iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus on Sept. 12. This indicates that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 would arriving as a direct competitor for the iPhone 8.

The image of the smartphone suggest that it will be coming with a higher screen-to-body ratio than the original Mi MIX. Phillipe Starck, a French designer had worked with Xiaomi to design the Xiaomi Mi MIX. Rumors have revealed that Starck and Xiaomi have collaborated to design the Mi MIX 2. Earlier in this month, Starck had teased the conceptual design of the upcoming Mi MIX 2 through a video. Speculations have it that the Mi MIX 2 may offer a screen-to-body ratio of 95 percent.

The original Mi MIX has a 6.4-inch display. Rumors have revealed that the Mi MIX 2 will be coming with a smaller display of 6 inches and it may offer an aspect ratio of 18:9. It may not feature a ceramic body, but may come in a metallic chassis that will allow the Chinese firm to carry out its mass production with ease. Xiaomi is speculated to introduce 3D facial recognition feature on the Mi MIX 2.

As far as specs are concerned, the Mi MIX 2 rumors have revealed that it would be powered by Snapdragon 835 chipset. It is expected to arrive preinstalled with Android 7.1.1 Nougat overlaid with MIUI 9 skin. It is expected to house a 3,400mAh battery.

The rumor mill has also revealed that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 with 6 GB of RAM and internal storage of 128 GB will be priced at 3,999 Yuan (~$600). It may also feature an advanced model that will be priced at 4,999 Yuan (~$750) and feature 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

(source)

Meiigoo Reveals the 3D Curved Glass Manufacturing Process For Its S8 Flagship

By

Joel Joseph

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Aug 30, 2017

Meiigoo is a new name in the market but the company’s upcoming smartphone, the Meiigoo S8 has managed to attract our attention with high-end specs. Making a high-end phone is never an easy process and the company wants to reveal its expertise in the field by revealing a small video of how the 3D curved glass of the upcoming flagship is manufactured.

It takes 14 processes to convert a normal glass into true 3D curved one, including rough CNC-cutting, CNC-grinding, polishing, ultrasonic cleanout, heat-bending, precise polishing on the surface, quality tests, chemical strengthening, GDF technology, coating film, etc. Among these, head bending is an important process, crucial for making the perfect shape of the 3D glass. Today, the company wants to show off the head bending process in a new video.

We expect to see more details about the Meiigoo S8 soon. Check out more information about the phone as well as other upcoming devices from here.

Honor V9 Play Confirmed to Launch on September 6

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 30, 2017

The Honor V9 was released with flagship specifications earlier this year. The company has now confirmed that it will be launching the Honor V9 Play on September 6. Rumors suggest that it could be a youth version of the Honor V9 smartphone that will be packed with toned-down specs.

Huawei’s subsidiary Honor has released an image on Weibo to confirm the arrival of Honor V9 Play in the coming month on the last day of the IFA 2017 tech trade show. However, the event will be held in China and it seems that the smartphone would be initially available in the same country. Just as the Honor 8 Youth Edition was launched as the lower-end version of the Honor 8. The Honor V9 Play is also expected to come with modest specs.

It appears that the Honor V9 Play has already paid a visit to TENAA, the certifying body for telecommunication devices in China. The TENAA listing has revealed the images of the smartphone. The images suggest that it may sport a different design when compared to the Honor V9 smartphone.

Unlike the Honor V9 that features dual rear cameras, the Honor V9 Play is likely to come with a single rear camera. TENAA has revealed that the smartphone may sport a 12-megapixel rear snapper. The images suggest that it may houses a metallic rear with top and bottom portions made up of plastic. The rear side of the smartphone also features a fingerprint reader.

Since it will be a mid-range smartphone, it will be powered by Kirin 659 chipset that will be accompanied by 4 GB of RAM. It is expected to debut with a pricing of 1,499 Yuan (~$227). Honor 7X and Honor 6C (2017) are some of the upcoming smartphones that are speculated to arrive as competitors for the Xiaomi Mi 5X and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A.

The Honor V9 has a 5.7-inch Quad HD display and is powered by Kirin 960 chipset. In China, it comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of RAM. In other markets, it is sold as Honor 8 Pro and it comes in 64 GB storage and 4 GB / 6 GB RAM options. It is fitted with a dual rear camera system that includes a pair of 12-megapixel sensors. It has a selfie camera of 8-megapixel. The phablet houses a large battery of 4,000mAh capacity

(source|via)

Cubot Begins New Activity Second Half 2017 to Give Away Coupons, Gifts & Free Cubot Products

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 30, 2017

Cubot has started a new activity for the new devices that it is selling in the second half of this year. The details of the activity are also available on the official site of Cubot. Participating in the new activity will allow users to win coupons that can be redeemed on Cubot products, some memorable gifts from the company as well as a chance to avail any of the new device for free.

The new activity is quite simple as it requires users to simply share Cubot’s new products such as Cubot King Kong, Cubot H3, Cubot X18 Plus and Cubot F1. Users can visit the official site to participate in the activity.

As mentioned above, by promoting the Cubot products on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Google+, fans get any of the following prizes:

Coupons that can used for availing discounts on Cubot products
Exciting commemorative gifts from Cubot
Chance to win any of the aforementioned Cubot devices for free.

Once the activity is shared on social sites, Cubot fans can scroll down to the bottom of the activity page on the official site and enter their email address along with all the links of the posts of the activity that they have shared on different social sites. Participants should be aware of the fact that the activity will be expiring on Sept. 10.

Here is a quick glance at the features of some of the Cubot products from the new activity:

Cubot King Kong

As the name goes, the Cubot Kingkong is a rugged smartphone built for using in extreme weather conditions as it has a IP68 certified body. Its 5-inch IPS HD display is protected by a scratch hard glass and it is packed with a 4,400mAh battery. It also features a dual rear camera system.

Cubot H3

Cubot H3 comes with a 5-inch HD screen and is powered by MediaTek MT6737 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. It is packed with a massive battery of 6,000mAh capacity. Its rear camera is of 13-megapixel and it has a 5-megapixel selfie snapper.

Cubot X18 Plus

Packed in a metal body, the Cubot X18 Pius has a 5.7-inch IPS HD display that supports 720 x 1,440 pixels that offers 83 percent screen-to-body ratio. It is powered by MediaTek MT6750T chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The rear side features a 20-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual cameras and the frontside also fitted with the same set of dual cameras.

EMUI 6 Said To Be Based On Android 8 Oreo, Starting With Mate 10

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 30, 2017

Google officially announced its latest operating system which is now officially Android 8.0 Oreo and part of the announcement was that Huawei will be the first to use Android O on its smartphone. As is very well known, Huawei does not use stock Android OS but has its Emotion UI (EMUI) and would be looking to release a next-gen EMUI 6.0 for the Mate 10.

A screenshot of a phone showing the EMUI 6.0 closed beta system update has been revealed on Weibo. From the screenshot, it is very clear that the EMUI 6.0 will be based on Android 8.0 Oreo. That means EMUI 6 will bring along with it the stunning features of Android O, just as unveiled and this includes faster performance, Picture-In-Picture, Autofill, Split screen, ease of operation and many others.

Another aspect is that the Mate 10 will also run on EMUI 6 just the same way the Mate 9 was the first device to run on EMUI 5.0 last year. The closed beta may have begun but sure, it is really closed because the Mate 10 would have it first and the device is yet to go public. So, the most likely postulation is that Huawei’s software engineers are likely doing the testing. The Mate 10 is expected on October 16 and that is when we expect to see the EMUI 6 unveiled. After its launch, Huawei will then start announcing upgrades for other models to Android 8-based EMUI 6.

(source)

Xiaomi Announces Charpa Temperature Control Quilt Under Crowdfunding

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 30, 2017

Xiaomi has announced another new accessory for the home under its MIJIA crowdfunding platform. The Charpa Temperature Control Quilt is the product and it is available for funding on the crowdfunding page starting from 499 yuan (~$75). There is also an option of supporting the product with just 1 Yuan and at the end of the crowd sourcing, one person out of 500 persons who paid 1 Yuan will get the quilt delivered to them with no shipping cost.

The new quilt has dual functions which are to keep warm and cool as the need arises. In other words, when the ambient temperature of the sleeping environment is too high, the temperature control fibres in the quilt will absorb the heat and thus keep the user cool. On the other hand, when the ambient temperature is too low, the fibre releases heat and thus the user gets warm. Don’t go wondering if there is temperature sensor inside, there isn’t instead, the material which it is designed with provides the function. It is made from 100% cotton fabric which is soft and capable of absorbing moistures.

The Charpa Temperature Control Quilt comes in four different sizes which vary in both sizes and weight. The smallest is 1kg and 1.5m long and is priced at 499 Yuan (~$75). There is another which is 1.15kg heavy and 2m long and it costs 619 Yuan ($94). The third size is 2kg in weight and 1.5m in size and it costs 769 Yuan ($115). Finally, there is a 2.25kg + 2m variant priced at 799 Yuan ($121). The crowdfunding is still open at Mi Home while the accessory is expected to ship on September 29.

(source)

Huawei Teases The Kirin 970 & Mate 10 in Latest Video

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 30, 2017

Seems Huawei will be taking us through weekly teasing games showing the features of the upcoming chipset and Mate 10 flagship. Just last week, the company released what should be its first teaser for the Mate 10 with the teaser projecting the Leica dual cameras that would feature on the Mate 10. We have now seen yet another video which teases the Mate 10 as well as the new Kirin processor that would be onboard.

The Mate 10 is expected to be unveiled on October 16 and if the teasers are indeed going to be weekly, we’ll sure be seeing quite a number of them. This new video was actually uploaded by Huawei Mobile Germany on August 22 but it has just been spotted and it revolves around the Mate 10 and Huawei’s new processor touted to be very fast. The Mate 10 is expected to feature a new Kirin 970 processor and from the teasers, the processor will be super fast.

If you probably think we may have gotten a glimpse of the Kirin 970 and Mate 10 in the video, sorry to disappoint. The photo of the new chipset is actually the same with that used on the Mate 9 video teaser last year. Also, the lower half of a smartphone which ordinarily we would have thought to be the Mate 10 was featured but on comparison also, the footage was found to be similar to that of the Mate 9. So, apart from teasing the capabilities of the duo, Huawei has still kept the photos of the Mate 10 from public glare. We’ll have to make do with the leaked details we had heard so far. The Kirin 970 is expected with an Octa-core configuration and a maximum clock speed of 2.8GHz. It is also expected to pack a Mali-G71 MP8 GPU (possibly), LPDDR4 RAM at 1866mHz and dual SIM LTE. The Kirin 970 is expected with an Octa-core configuration and a maximum clock speed of 2.8GHz.It is also expected to pack a Mali-G71 MP8 GPU (possibly), LPDDR4 RAM at 1866mHz and dual SIM LTE. On its part, the Mate 10 is expected to adopt a bezel-less full-screen design.

(source)

LeEco Le S3 Available for $133 On Cafago For A Limited Time

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

LeEco hasn’t released a new phone in months due to its financial mess, so its no surprise that its competitors have overtaken it. Nevertheless, some of its older products are still worth picking up and you won’t be hard pressed to find some on sale.

Cafago has the Le S3 for just $133 which seems like an impressive deal seeing as it launched for $249 for the Snapdragon 652-powered 3GB RAM +32GB model in the US. This version is the 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM model and it ships from China.

The Le S3 has a 5.5-inch 1080p display. It is powered by the Helio X20 processor which is clocked at 2.3GHz. The device packs a 21MP rear camera and an 8MP front facing camera. Both sensors should more than suffice and produce decent shots.

There is a 3000mAh battery under the metal body with support for Quick Charge 3.0. The Le S3 has dual Sim slots (nano only), a rear mounted fingerprint scanner and a USB type-C port that is also used for audio output since the phone doesn’t have a headphone jack.

Compared to the more recent smartphones, the Le S3 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow which is old but still in exisitence. So bear in mind that you may be stuck with that version of Android.

The Le Pro S3 is available in only Gold and costs $132.98. There are limited quantities available, so hurry if you want to grab the deal.

Buy The LeEco Le S3 for $132.98 on Cafago

Is The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Launching Tomorrow?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

Xiaomi announced today via one of its Weibo accounts that it has a major announcement tomorrow. You might be wondering what the event is all about since it has a global launch scheduled for September 5. Turns out that we just might see a brand new Xiaomi phone tomorrow.

RT if you're looking forward to what's coming up soon! #MiMix pic.twitter.com/kFugpKBPew

— Xiaomi #48MPforEveryone (@xiaomi) August 22, 2017

Quite a number of people believe the launch is for the Mi MIX 2 and we can’t blame them. Take for example the above tweet by the official Xiaomi account. We wouldn’t be quick to judge anyone who may think the Mi MIX 2 is being hinted at.

However, it appears we may be getting an unexpected device tomorrow. Former Xiaomi Public Relations Manager Yang Lin has revealed on Weibo what Xiaomi will be announcing tomorrow and he says it should be the Mi Note 3. He adds that the Mi MIX 2 should be released by the end of the year.

Continue

Video: Rugged Ulefone Armor 2 Survives Various Drop Tests In Real Life

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 29, 2017

Aside from appealing features like an IP68 certification and wide working temperature, the rugged Ulefone Armor 2 also shines for being highly shatter-resistant, which is able to withstand accidental drops and falls. Well, as seeing is believing, Ulefone made a drop-test video to dispel doubts, let’s take a look.

We’ve known that thanks to the TPU housing with some parts in glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate and metal, and the display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the Armor 2 is of high strength and durability. What’s more, the raised design on the front and back and protective nubs that cover the four corners provide 360 degrees (all-round) protection for the Armor 2, allowing it to withstand a variety of impact, drops and falls. As shown in the video, the Armor 2 went through various drops from different heights, but finally, it still remained intact and worked pretty well. As a reminder, the Ulefone Armor 2 packs an Helio P25 octa-core processor clocked at 2.6GHz tagging along 6GB of RAM. There is 64GB of internal storage, a huge 4700mAh battery with 9V/2A PE+2.0 fast charge supported, a 16MP rear camera and a 13 MP front shooter. The Armor 2 sports a 5.0-inch FHD display with an impressive PPI of 441, extensive frequency bands with 27 frequency bands under 6 network types, a front-facing fingerprint scanner, a 6-axis gyroscope, a barometer sensor, and NFC support. There are also 6 physical buttons on the edges for handy usage. To learn more about the Armor 2, you can go directly to the product page on Ulefone’s website from here.

Currently, the Armor 2 is chosen as the top picture on the Aliexpress Tech Discovery Channel and is available for just USD $239.99 . The activity will last for only one week, after that the price will jump back to USD $259.99.

Buy Ulefone Armor 2 From AliExpress For $239.99

Motorola Launches Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus In India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

Lenovo has officially taken the wraps off the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus in India Today. Both devices are Special (read upgraded) versions of the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus.

Moto G5S

The Moto G5S gets a bigger 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 unlike the variant released in Europe that has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The processor remains the Snapdragon 430 though.

The Moto G5S also gets upgraded cameras. There is a 16MP rear camera with PDAF and an 8MP front facing camera with flash according to the official Motorola India Twitter account. However the Motorola India website says it has a 5MP front facing camera just like the European version.

The battery has been bumped up to 3000mAh and there is TurboPower that provides up to 5 hours of battery life for just 15 minutes of charge. There is also a front-mounted fingerprint reader that doubles as a navigation button. However it doesn’t have NFC like the version for Europe.

The biggest upgrade in the Moto G5S is its all metal-unibody design which looks better than the plastic body of the Moto G5.

Moto G5S Price

The Moto G5S is priced at INR 13,999 (~$219) and is available in Lunar Grey and Fine Gold. Not only does India get better specs, they also have it for cheaper. The Moto G5S costs Euros 249 (~$295) in Germany.

Moto G5S Plus

The Moto G5S Plus is the upgrade to the Moto G5 Plus. It features a redesigned all metal-unibody and has a bigger 5.5-inch 1080p display.The processor is still the Snapdragon 625 and it has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The major upgrade in the Moto G5S Plus is the addition of dual rear cameras. The G5S Plus has two 13MP rear cameras in the Monochrome + RGB format with a 3D depth sensor for bokeh effects.

The front camera is an 8MP sensor with a dedicated LED flash, panorama mode and Pro mode. There is a fingerprint scanner up front long with NFC for mobile payments.

The Moto G5S Plus has the same 3000mAh battery as the Moto G5S but will last up to 6 hours when you charge for just 15 minutes with the TurboPower charger.

Both the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus have a water repellent nano-coating that protects against splashes. They run Android 7.1 Nougat with the usual Moto Display and Moto Actions additions. Motorola India says the G5S Plus will be upgraded to Android Oreo. We want to believe it applies to the G5S too.

Moto G5S Plus Price

The Moto G5S Plus comes in Lunar Grey and Blush Gold and will sell for INR 15,999 (~$250). Compare that to the European version which has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage but sells for €279 ($330).

Continue

The 360 Mobiles Vizza Is a 4GB RAM Phone With A ¥1099 (~$167) Price

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

An official Weibo post has revealed that 360 Mobiles has an event scheduled for August 31st. Although the teaser poster doesn’t reveal the name of the device, a leaked internal mail does and also includes the price. The device will be called the 360 Mobiles Vizza and will be priced at ¥1099 (~$167).

Specification details of the Vizaa have also been revealed ahead of the launch.

The 360 Mobiles Vizza will come with a 5.5-inch full HD screen, a Snapdragon 425 processor and a 3940mAh battery. The RAM and storage capacity of the device wasn’t specifically disclosed but sources say it will likely have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

The reason for the assumption is as a result of the official teaser poster for the launch which throws shades at manufacturers that release phones with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of ROM and price them at ¥1000 (~$152).

360 Mobiles is known for pricing its phone competitively. The 360 Mobiles N5S has a 6GB RAM + 32GB variant that sells for ¥1399 (~$212). The leaked internal mail above also shows the price of the 64GB variant of the N5S as ¥1700 (~$258). So it won’t be surprising to see it launch a 4GB RAM phone for ¥1099.

Continue

Apple Watch 3 Coming With More Workout & Exercise Tracking Functions

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 29, 2017

Apple is expected to launch a new Apple Watch 3 series along with the iPhone 8, iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus on September 12, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. The new watch model is expected to feature support for cellular connectivity in the form of LTE only but not much is known about the Apple Watch 3, However, Apple recently released an update for its iOS 11 beta and it revealed some details of the features the next-gen Apple Watch is expected to come with.

The Apple iOS 11 beta was announced during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held over two months ago. Since then, iOS 11 beta has had several updates and is now in its eighth beta. OS 11 brings quite a few design changes, including a customizable Control Center and a new Lock screen that’s been merged with the Notification Center. Peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments are coming in the Messages app, which is also gaining a new App Drawer, and there’s a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature that’s meant to help drivers stay focused on the road. Siri, Photos, the Camera app, and more are also gaining new features and refinements.

Apart from its latest features, iOS 11 beta has also been shown to come with a couple of new support for a couple of new features for the Apple Watch 3. The features include a couple of new Workouts and we could grab this information from a variety of icons that have newly been added to the latest iOS 11 beta update. The Apple Watch doesn’t support some of the features presently which points to the likelihood of the icons being included on the OS because of the Apple Watch companion app. The icons are said to be for new Workouts under the Fitness UI framework.

The new Workout icons that can be seen in the iOS 11 beta include American football, baseball, bowling, dancing, skiing and other modalities in the snow, skipping rope, various types of fights, and surfing. Apple is also working on the watchOS 4 beta and it does not include all of the features but you can find some of them under the “Others” tab. However, the non-inclusion of all of them have fueled speculations that the features may only be available for the upcoming Apple Watch model. But since most of the features don’t require any hardware changes, that may not be the case. It is possible that more of the features could appear in the subsequent update to the watch OS 4 beta.

(source)

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New Leak Reveals Xiaomi Mi A1 Will Have A Full Screen Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

The Xiaomi A1 is said to be the name of the next Android One smartphone. Earlier reports said the Xiaomi Mi A1 will be a variant of the Mi 5X running stock Android but a new leak says otherwise.

A Weibo user posted images he believes are of the Xiaomi Mi A1 and they reveal a phone with a full screen display. There are no bezels on the side, and those on the forehead and chin are significantly thin, even thinner than that of the Galaxy Note 8.

If this is the real design of the Xiaomi Mi A1, then it isn’t a variant of the Mi 5X but a completely different phone. The Weibo user also included a RF exposure page that shows the Mi A1 listed alongside other Xiaomi smartphones. Sadly the device has been pulled off the site now.

Continue

Gionee SW17W08 Shows Up On GFXBench With 18:9 Display, 4GB RAM & Helio P25 SoC

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 29, 2017

A few weeks ago we reported that an industry source revealed that we should expect full screen smartphones from the big names in China. A new GFXBench listing shows Gionee may be the first of those big names to do so. The Gionee SW17W08 packs a 6-inch display with a 1440 x 720 resolution. This is the same resolution as the newly announced Micromax Canvas Infinity.

The Gionee has a larger 6-inch display which will result in a lower ppi compared to the Micromax. However, the rest of the specs are mid-range level.

There is a Helio P25 chip clocked at 2.6GHz along with a Mali-T880 GPU. There is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage inside the Gionee SW17W08 which should more than suffice.

In terms of optics, GFXBench lists both the front and rear cameras as 5MP sensors. Don’t be quick to condemn them as there may be dual cameras on both sides just like the Gionee S10 and GFXBench only sees one of each.

The Gionee SW17W08 runs Android 7.0 but expect Amigo OS 4.0 on top.

There is no news as to when this device will launch but if you have been putting off buying an 18:9 smartphone because you want one from a bigger Chinese brand, you may not have to wait for too long.

You should have it in mind that you will be paying a lot more than what is obtainable from other manufacturers as Gionee phones don’t come cheap.

(Source, via)

Leagoo KIICAA Mix Up For Grabs At Just $69.99 (50% off), 10 Units Per Day

By

Daily Deals

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Aug 29, 2017

Leagoo KIICAA Mix is your best bet at a super cheap full-screen phablet, but Gearbest is trying to make things even more attractive. Starting August 28, the KIICAA Mix full-screen smartphone will be up for grabs at just $69.99 i.e. a good 50% off the retail price tag.

Every day at 9 AM UTC time, 10 units of the Leagoo KIICAA Mix will be offered for just $69.99. But make sure to use the coupon: GBLGMI to get this 50% discount. It’s going to be hard to get hold of the phablet at this price tag, but it’s definitely worth a try.

If you are unable to snap up one of the 10 units, you can always purchase the smartphone at its flash sale price tag of $109.99. Given the specs inside, this price is pretty aggressive, making it one of the best-looking smartphones in its price segment.

There is no doubt that screen is going to be its biggest asset, coming with a 5.5-inch Full HD 1080p Sharp panel and a tri-bezel design. The high screen to body ratio ensures that the phone is compact, despite being a 5.5-incher. Inside, you get MT6750T with 3GB of RAM and 13MP+2MP dual cameras. The setup isn’t the best we’ve seen, but it should be enough for basic shots once in a while. Up front, you get a 13MP OV camera, good for selfies. Finally, there’s a fingerprint sensor as well. Other features include a 3000mAh battery and Android 7.

Overall, at $109.99, the Leagoo KIICAA Mix is a value for money smartphone. You can check out the flash sale as well as more details about the phone from the link here.

Motorola Moto Z2 Force Survives World’s Largest Phone Drop Test

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 29, 2017

A new promotional video of the Moto Z2 Force has been added to the official US account of Motorola. The video that is titled as “World’s Largest Phone Drop” shows more than 100 employees testing the survival ability of the Moto Z2 Force by dropping it from shoulder height.

The 34-second video begins with the message that 100+ employees of Motorola Chicago to show even if the Moto Z2 Force falls, there is no need to fear about it. The smartphone can be seen dropping from knee height in the initial part of the video and later on it can be seen falling from shoulder height.

The Moto Z2 Force has a metallic unibody chassis that is made from aluminum 7000 series. Even though it has a thickness of 6.1mm, it is 80 percent stronger than the predecessor model. The so-called ShatterShield display of the Moto Z2 Force features polymer-OLED (P-OLED)that does not break easily even if it falls multiple times as it can absorb shock. The display tends to flex when the Z2 Force is dropped.

One of the drawbacks of Z2 Force’s ShatterShield display is that even it is shatterproof, it can get scratched easily. Repeated instances of scratching have made Motorola to encourage the users of Moto Z2 Force to purchase a screen protector.

A funny thing about this video is that it only shows the Z2 Force dropping from different heights. However, it does not actually show whether the smartphone is working condition after the fall. There is a possibility that the display of the phone could have scratched or the body of the phone could have damaged.

The Moto Z2 Force is one of the best flagship smartphones of this year as there is no real competition to its modular capabilities. The backside of the smartphone features POGO pins where users can connect MotoMods accessories such as battery backup, external speaker, pico projector and more.

The 5.5-inch screen of the Z2 Force produces Quad HD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. In the U.S., Motorola is selling the Z2 Force with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage. Outside the U.S., the smartphone comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is driven by the Snapdragon 835 chipset.

The rear side features a pair of 12-megapixel sensors and the frontside features a 5-megapixel sensor. It is packed with a 2,730mAh battery that is coupled with support for Quick Charge 3.0. The fingerprint scanner of the Moto Z2 Force is positioned on its rear side.

(source|via)

MIUI 9 Stable Version Expected To Be Released By the End of October

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 29, 2017

Xiaomi yesterday pushed the third batch of MIUI 9 Closed Beta to participants of the beta program and just as we reported, the third batch is made up of a whole lot of Xiaomi models. Except for the Mi 1 and Redmi 2A and a few others whose hardware setup are not robust enough to accommodate the upgrade, all other models not captured in the first and second batch have now gotten the upgrade to MIUI 9.

The MIUI 9 upgrade roll out has been pretty fast and that pace is expected to continue as Xiaomi is expected to release the Developer ROM (open beta) to the public within the next two weeks. After the roll out of the Open beta version of MIUI 9 Developer ROM, the next aspect would be the Stable version. We now have an idea of when Xiaomi will release the MIUI 9 Stable version and it is coming from the VP Marketing at MIUI while responding to a question of when the Stable ROM will be available. The Xiaomi official did not give a specific date but disclosed that usually, the Stable version becomes available about two months or so after the release of a new MIUI version. The official added that this new generation MIUI 9 system upgrade may take longer as the company would not want to push a stable ROM that would later be discovered to still have some issues. The Stable ROM is the final product so it is expected to come with most of the bugs fixed since is updated only once a month or twice or even longer unlike Developer ROM that gets weekly updates.

The VP did not give a definite release date but from his statement, MIUI 9 Stable ROM may likely roll out by the end of October or in the early part of November. We don’t know for now which models will get first but Xiaomi may likely stick with the same format in which the Developer ROM (closed beta) was rolled out, that is the Mi 6 and Mi 5X first.

(source)

Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 29, 2017

DisplayMate is well-known for benchmarking various kinds of displays. The Samsung Galaxy S8 had scored the highest ever score of A+ on tests conducted by DisplayMate. Even the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from last year were appreciated as the Best Performing Display by DisplayMate. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 features a slightly larger Infinity Display than the Galaxy S8+. DisplayMate has tested the display of the Note 8 and has awarded the highest grade ever of A+

The Galaxy Note 8 features a 6.3-inch flexible OLED screen flanked with the full-screen design. Its display is 20 percent larger and 22 percent brighter than the 5.8-inch screen of the Galaxy S8. The highest brightness offered by Galaxy Note 8’s screen is more than 1,200 nits. No other smartphone offers such a high brightness. DisplayMate claims the Galaxy Note 8 has the most innovative and high-performance smartphone display that it has ever tested.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s screen supports a 3K resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 = 2.05. Most smartphones offer an aspect ratio of 1.78. It supports an accurate 100 percent DCI-P3c color gamut that is mainly used on 4K TV screens.

Since it has acquired certification from UHD Alliance and Mobile HDR Premium, it can support the most recent content that has been designed for 4K UHD Premium televisions.The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and comes with Always-on Display. It offers a pixel density of 521 ppi.

Compared to Galaxy S8, the Galaxy Note 8 comes with various enhancements for absolute color accuracy, view angle, always-on display, personalized auto-brightness control, image processor, performance modes and more. The Galaxy Note 8 also features ambient sensors at its front and rear sides for enhanced automatic brightness. For better night viewing, the phablet features a new night mode blue light filter.

The Galaxy Note 8 is the first Samsung phone to feature dual rear cameras. It is powered by Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 SoC depending on the market. It comes in storage sizes like 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. Other specs include S Pen stylus, Android Nougat OS and 3,300mAh battery.

By rewarding the Galaxy Note 8’s screen with A+ grade, DisplayMate calls it the Best Performing Smartphone Display. To know more on the various tests DisplayMate has conducted on the screen of the Note 8, readers can visit the source link.

(source)

Gizmochina Giveaway – Win A Doogee BL7000 Dual-camera Phone

By

Shine Wong

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Aug 29, 2017

Gizmochina along with Banggood is conducting a Doogee BL7000 big battery phone as Giveaway gift to one of our lucky readers. Like always, you just have to follow the steps mentioned on the Gleam widget to get a chance to win this amazing phone.

Here is the main features of Doogee BL7000:

7060mAh 12V2A Quick Charge/ Sim Card: Dual Nano-SIM
OS: Android 7.0/ RAM: 4GB
ROM: 64GB
Display:5.5 inch IPS Screen 1920×1080 FHD, 2.5D glass,multi-touch 5.5 inch IPS Screen 1920×1080 FHD, 2.5D glass,multi-touch
Front Camera: 13.0MP F2.2, 88°wide angle/ 2 Rear Camera: 13.0MP+13.0MP F2.2 PDAF with flash

The Doogee BL7000 is selling on Banggood for $158 now($41 off)

Buy Doogee BL7000 on Banggood, $41 Off with coupon: bl7000

How to entry this giveaway? Just follow these steps via Gleam widget:

Visit Doogee BL7000 phone on Banggood;
Share this article to your Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or other social media;

Terms & Conditions:

1. The giveaway is an international giveaway.
2. We are not responsible for lost shipments.
3. We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
4. We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
5. The prize will be shipped in a week when the giveaway end.

Just follow the steps mentioned in the Gleam widget to participate in the giveaway.

Once again, good luck.

Gizmochina Giveaway – Win A Doogee BL7000 phone