Samsung Galaxy S8 & S8 Plus Multiple Versions Spotted on AnTuTu

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Mar 27, 2017

Samsung Galaxy S8 is scheduled to be officially unveiled on March 29 during the Galaxy Unpacked event Samsung has lined up for that day. The Galaxy S8 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S8 + and preparatory to that launch, AnTuTu has published on its Weibo page, the benchmark score and details of the various versions of the Galaxy S8 and S8 +.

A total of four different models with model numbers SM-G9500, SM-G950F, SM-G955F and SM-G955U, all models of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ were listed. The version with model number Samsung SM-G9500, which is suspected to be the Chinese version of the Galaxy S8, is listed with a Snapdragon 835 chipset with the Adreno 540 GPU. AnTuTu also revealed that the SD 835 onboard the flagship would likely pull a score exceeding 180,000 points inside the machine than the engineering machine which it was first benchmarked with, scoring 170,000 points. The processor is backed by 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of storage crammed inside. The SM-G9500 also pack a 12MP main camera and an 8MP shooter at the rear.

AnTuTu also featured another model with number SM-G950F which is likely the international version and as rumoured, the model packs Samsung’s own Exynos 8895 processor with the Mali-G71 GPU firing up the graphics. This version also has 4GB of RAM onboard as well as a 12MP rear camera and 8MP selfie shooter.

Further, a third model Samsung SM-G955F which is likely the Samsung Galaxy S8 + international version was also featured AnTuTu’s website. The Galaxy S8 + International version, just like the Galaxy S8, will use Samsung’s Exynos 8895 processor with the same 4Gb + 64GB combination as well as 12MP rear and 8MP front shooters. The Galaxy S8 + is also listed with a Snapdragon 835-powered model that carries the model number SM-G955U and packs the same specs as the Galaxy S8 China version.

(source)

Meizu Might Be Working on Optical Fingerprint Recognition Technology Like Apple

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 27, 2017

The next evolutionary step for fingerprint scanners is a move from being in front of the phone below the screen, or on the back or even on the side like in Sony phones to being right under the display. This is different from the Xiaomi Mi 5s’ ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that is embedded under the front glass but still has the display above it.

In this case, the display extends through the scanner. The image below gives you an idea of what it looks like though without the indentation.

Apple is in the forefront of adopting the optical fingerprint scanner technology for its iPhone 8. However, it appears Meizu is also planning on doing the same. A screenshot of an article forwarded by Meizu’s VP, Li Nan to a group of friends is said to be the hint. The article is on Apple’s optical fingerprint program and sources say those in the group are involved in the development of fingerprint technology (for Meizu).

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Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Makes First Debut Outside China, Taiwan Gets the Honour

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 27, 2017

Xiaomi has today launched one of its innovative smart home products, the Mi Robot Vacuum cleaner in a conference held in Taiwan. The launch in Taiwan is the first time Xiaomi is unveiling the portable gadget outside of Mainland China.This is perhaps, towards the actualization of Xiaomi’s drive to get its products into the hands of more persons in diverse markets, thus increasing the chances of meeting its set target of over 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion USD) in revenue for 2017.

The product comes with a higher price tag than the Chinese version as it is priced at NT$ 8895 which is about 2,021 Yuan. Recall that the Mi Robot Vacuum started at 1699 Yuan ($254 USD) in China when it was launched last August. This is likely due to shipping cost, tax and other factors. However, the Mi Robot Vacuum cleaner comes with exactly the same features and functionality as the one launched in China.

As a reminder, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum cleaner comes with a low-noise brushless fan supplied by the Japanese firm, NIDEC. The fan has a maximum pressure of 1800Pa which provides greater suction power when dealing with tough dirt. It sports three dedicated processors which help the vacuum cleaner receive data in real time from the 12 sensors performing different functions which it features. The sensors include LDS, ultrasonic radar sensor, wall sensor and cliff sensor etc. Of the lot, the Laser Distance Sensors provide a 360-degrees scanning (1800 times/second) similar to what you will find on a self-driving car.

The device packs a 5200mAh Li-ion built-in battery supplied by LG and Panasonic which is capable of delivering up to 2.5 hour cleaning time from a single charge. This is a smart gadget, so it is programmed to work with the Mi Home App, allowing owners to set cleaning schedules, modify cleaning modes, and monitor cleaning process in real-time. In addition, owners can be able to it to clean the house right after you leave the house or before your arrival in case you are bringing home guests and you left a pet at home.

MUST READ: Unboxing of Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner

The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum will go on sale in Taiwan on April 6 at 10 AM. Xiaomi’s Mi Fan Festival is also scheduled to commence on April 6 by 10 AM and termiate on April 7 at 10 PM, offering Xiaomi fans in Taiwan 36 hours of unprecedented discounts on its products. Apart from the Mi Robot, other gadgets like the Mi Alarm clock, 10000mAh Xiaomi Mobile power bank. Xaiomi will also be offering some of its smartphones with free accessories, like the Mi 5S which would come with a free Piston Pro earphone, the Mi Note 2 with a free flip casing and lots more.

Xiaomi Could Cross 18 million Units In Smartphone Sales In India This Year: Analyst

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 27, 2017

Xiaomi Redmi 4A budget smartphone was made available for purchase in India on March 23. The Chinese manufacturer claims that it sold 2.5 lakhs units of Redmi 4A through Amazon.in and Mi.com in just 4 minutes. Also, Xiaomi had sold more than 1 million Redmi Note 4 units in India in just 45 days after its launch on January 23. Well-known industry expert Kevin Wang has claimed that Xiaomi is expected to achieve highly impressive sales record in India in 2017.

The Chinese tech company had confirmed in January that it crossed the $1 billion revenue mark in just first two years of operating in India. The present popularity of the Redmi Note 4 and Redmi 4A smartphones suggests that it will be achieving huge sales result this year. Wang has predicted that the sales of Xiaomi smartphones is going to exceed 18 million units as the company seems to be selling 1.5 million units per month.

He has added that the Indian market is going through a shift from feature phones to smartphones. The demand for smartphones are increasing in India and Xiaomi seems to have timed the release of its budget friendly smartphones quite well in the country.

On March 20, Xiaomi announced its second manufacturing plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, India. The first manufacturing unit was setup at the same location in August 2015. The new plant that is owned and operated by Xiaomi’s partner firm Foxconn will be only manufacturing Xiaomi smartphones. With this new plant, 95 percent of the phones sold in India would be manufactured in the country. The combined production of both manufacturing unit will let the company produce 1 phone per second in India.

Xiaomi has already started teasing the launch of Redmi 4 and Redmi Prime that be arriving as successor phones for Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime. The arrival of these phones are expected to generate more sales for the company. The Redmi 3S and Redmi Note 3 smartphones from last year are contributing considerably to the online smartphone sales with 50 percent market share among the leading 10 smartphones in India.

(source)

Honor Note 9 First Image Leaks: Will It be Bezel-Less? (UPDATED)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 27, 2017

UPDATE: Turns out the image is from here of the Honor V9! So, this is not our first look of the Honor Note 9….

Eight months after Huawei’s Honor brand launched the elegant Honor Note 8, an image said to be that of the Honor Note 9 has leaked online. This is coming not long after the company launched its first flagship for the year, the Honor V9 as well as the Honor 8 Lite.

The leaked image purported to be that of the Honor Note 9 indeed highlight the possibility that the smartphone would come with a ultra-large sized display that should be upwards of 6 inches just like its predecessor. Although, the device was only revealed from the back, it likely that it would pack a large display with a high screen-to-body ratio.

The little we can see has so much to tell and the details include an all-metal body, as well as a rear fingerprint sensor which is likely an indication of the absence of a front physical button. Rumor has it, though, that the device would feature a full-screen design with the home button integrated into the display. The Honor V9 leaked image also shows the smartphone will come with a dual camera setup at the rear, unlike the Honor Note 8 that had just a single rear camera. The Note 9 may likely pack the latest Kirin 960 chipset and may have a 2K display like the Note 8.

Huawei’s CEO Yu Chengdong recently hinted that the company will be joining the ranks of brands with large bezel-less display packing smartphones soon but we don’t know if the Honor Note 9 is that special breed that would lock horns with the Mi Mix and others. But the device is rumored to launch this summer so, we’ll be seeing more leaks as the days go by. I’d say this year is just getting more and more interesting.

Rear Shell for Xiaomi Mi Pad 3 Leaks in Multiple Colors

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 27, 2017

Xiaomi is working on a successor for its Mi Pad tablet line. The new tablet which will be called the Mi Pad 3 is rumored to be launched in two variants: a small 7.9-inch version that will run Android 7.0 Nougat and a larger 9.7-inch model running Windows 10.

Today, an image said to be of the rear shells of the upcoming tablet(s) was posted on Weibo. Its hard to tell if the shells belongs to the Android or Windows version as there isn’t any detail specifying that. However, the image shows us that Xiaomi will be releasing the tablet in multiple colors. The shells are available in gold, silver, rose/red, and a fourth color that appears to be black but with in-laid ridges.

Sources say the Mi Pad 3 will be launched alongside the Mi 6 which is scheduled to be released in April.

The 7.9-inch Mi Pad 3 will be powered by Mediatek’s MT8176 processor. There will be 4GB of RAM on board and it will be available in 64GB and 128GB storage options. Pricing is said to be ¥1299 ($188) and ¥1599 ($231) respectively.

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AnTuTu’s Top 10 Most Popular Phones in Taiwan, ASUS Tops.

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 27, 2017

AnTuTu just released a list of its top 10 most popular and indeed highest grossing smartphones in Taiwan for 2016. It’s a little surprising that the statistical data is coming out three months into the New year but then, it is better late than never. The list shows the top 10 most popular phones in Taiwan is spearheaded by local brand ASUS while the entire list is made up of only Xiaomi, Samsung, HTC and Sony brands.

A close look at the list shows that ASUS has a total of two models on the list with the Zenfone 2 topping the list as the most popular Android phone in Taiwan with 6.56%. This is closely followed by the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 which cornered 5.03% of the market share. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 was another popular one last year, recording 5% of the market share. Another local Taiwanese brand, the HTC 10 sits at the fourth position with 4.13% while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge completes the top 5 with 4.11%.

Seems Samsung is a very popular brand in Taiwan, as another Samsung smartphone, this time the Galaxy Note 4 occupied the sixth position with 2.90%. ASUS again appeared at the seventh spot with the Zenfone 3 at 2.62%, while local rival HTC occupies the eight spot with the HTC One M8. The remaining two spots are occupied by Japanese mobile phone brand Sony with the Xperia Z5 Premium taking the ninth spot and the Xperia Z3 at the tenth spot.

The ranking is obviously based on sales figures for the period spanning January to December 2016. It could be observed that brands like Huawei, OPPO and Vivo were missing from the list but this year, we expect to see them on the list considering their growing popularity.

Huawei Targets 10 million Units Sales For the P10 & P10 Plus

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 27, 2017

Huawei‘s CEO Yu Chengdong has continued to be the face of the company, reeling out the vision and plans the Chinese mobile phone giant hopes to pursue in the near, mid-term and long-term future. Just recently at the launch of the P10, he hinted that the company was working on a completely bezel-less phone which would take on the likes of the upcoming Galaxy S8 as well as the old birds like the Xiaomi Mi Mix and LG G6. Again, the CEO has unveiled the lofty plans of the company regarding the P10 and P10 Plus flagships which were unveiled in China a few days back.

Yu Chengdong recently disclosed that Huawei has set a tall target of 10 million-unit sales of the P10 and P10 Plus and even aim to surpass that figure in the long run. This sales target would have been easily achievable if only the design and hardware configuration of the P10 flagships were to be considered. The smartphones feature a design language and pack hardware which definitely elicits interests in them but the snag is their pricing, especially the P10 Plus.

The Huawei P10 started at 3,788 Yuan ($550) in China for the base 4GB + 64GB variant which is okay for a flagship but then, the price went on to peak at 5,588 Yuan for the 6GB + 256GB version of the P10 Plus. In fact, the P10 Plus started at 4,388 Yuan ($637) for the 6GB + 64GB version. It is uncertain if the Chinese market is ready for such huge price of over 5,000 Yuan for a smartphone. The Chinese smartphone market is a highly competitive market which has seen most OEMs adjusting their prices in order to compete favourably.

MUST READ: Huawei P10 Review: A Premium Dual Camera Monster

Perhaps, Huawei would be banking on its overseas sales to achieve this figures. The P10 and P10 Plus was first launched in Europe at CES 2017 and even though the price tags were costlier than the China edition, the device has received lots of positive reviews. The price tags mean Huawei is all set to compete on a level playing field with Apple and Samsung which it trails behind in the global standings. We’ll just have to wait to see how this plays out in the long run.

(source)

Huawei Honor 6X Available in New Colors Like Blue and Pink

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 27, 2017

When the Huawei Honor 6X was launch last year in October in China, it was made available in color options like Gray, Silver and Gold. However, rumors surrounding the phone before its official announcement suggested that it would be coming in more color variants. Huawei has introduced the Honor 6X in new color options like Blue and Pink (looks like Rose Gold) in China.

Currently, the new color variants for Huawei Honor 6X are only available in the home country. However, the Chinese firm is expected to make them available in other markets soon like India where there is fierce competition between mid-range smartphones.

Honor 6X is a budget smartphone with a USP of dual rear cameras of 12-megapixel and 2-megapixel. It is coupled with features such as LED flash and Phase Detection Autofocus The twin cameras are capable of shooting photos with bokeh effect. Even though it arrived with Android Marshmallow OS, the company confirmed in January that the phone would be receiving the Android 7.0 Nougat upgrade by the second quarter of this year.

In February. it confirmed that the software update would be available in March, but the company was not able to keep its promise. Instead, Huawei began the Android Nougat beta update program for Honor 6X users in the U.S. at the start of this month. The update weighs 2.3 GB and it tags along EMUI 5.0.

By enrolling for the beta build, users can test the beta edition of Nougat 7.0 packed with EMIU 5.0 before its final version is released. To enroll, users need to send their IMEI number to [email protected]. Owners of dual-SIM Honor 6X are required to send two IMEI numbers. The U.S. users of Honor 6X are poised to get the final build soon, but there is no confirmation whether the new Blue and Pink variants would be also made available there.

The mid-range Honor 6X is powered by Kirin 655 SoC and it features a 5.5-inch full HD IPS LCD screen. The company is selling 32 GB variant with 3 GB RAM and its 64 GB model with 4 GB of RAM is expected to be available soon in the U.S. Its front-facing camera is of 8-megapixel and is graced with a battery of 3,340 mAh capacity.

Google Pixel, Pixel XL Cameras Are Equipped with Software Made for Google Glass

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 27, 2017

The 12.3-megapixel rear cameras on Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are the highest rated smartphone cameras on DxOMark. The reason why the cameras of Pixel phones are able to shoot amazing photos and videos is that they are powered with a software that was originally made to be used on Google Glass.

When Alphabet’ X wing was working on the Google Glass project, it wanted its camera to be on par with the cameras present on topnotch smartphones. However, the camera sensor of the Google Glass was smaller than the ones that are present on smartphones. It could not intake much light and thereby ended taking poor photos. Hence, the engineers at Google came up with a solution called Gcam that allowed the camera sensor to capture sufficient light and shoot better photos.

Since the engineers could not modify the camera hardware of the Sony IMX378 sensor of the 12.3-megapixel camera, they worked on the improving the software. A new solution called “image fusion” was devised that allowed the camera to capture multiple shots of the same photo in a rapid sequence and combine them together to produce a final image that comprises the best of each photo. Since Gcam works like HDR, it is dubbed as HDR+ by Google.

Gcam made its debut on Google Glass in 2013 and then it arrived as HDR+ on Nexus 5 and 6. Now, it is available as the default camera mode on Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones. The camera technology from Google is also available on its other products such as Android, YouTube, Google Photos and Jump (360=degree VR rig).

Google is now rumored to be working on Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 smartphones that are reportedly codenamed as Muskie and Walleye. Leaked information has revealed that both phones will be equipped with improved rear cameras that will be able to support advanced low-light photography. On the software side, Google is expected to improve on white balance as well as background effect by letting the software decide whether to blur, darken, or lighten.

(source)

Real Image of Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus Surfaces Online, Shows Dual Cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 26, 2017

A new image of the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus was earlier today posted on Weibo. The real life image shows the rear of the device, giving us a good look at the dual rear cameras.

So far, it appears little has changed with respect to the design. The curved back bears a striking resemblance to that of the Mi 5 with the only major change being the cameras. You can also confirm this is the “Plus” variant judging from the size. The person holding it has a fairly large hand and the phone still extends further out of his palm. If it were the 5.15-inch variant, it definitely won’t extend as far as this.

Xiaomi is expected to release the Mi 6 and Mi 6 Plus in April or latest by May. Both will sport the Snapdragon 835 processor and may probably be the first Chinese phones to do so.

So far we have not heard of any exciting features about the new devices. A spec sheet that leaked yesterday mentions the displays still have 1080p resolutions. However, the battery capacities are larger and the front facing camera has been upgraded as well.

(Source)

Xiaomi’s Next Product is an Anti-Haze Mask for Kids

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 26, 2017

Xiaomi’s Mijia brand has focused lately on the health of consumers. In the last few months, they have announced two anti-blue light glasses, one anti-UV glasses and a nose mask. A new teaser from the Mi App (has been pulled down already) hints at an anti-haze mask designed for kids.

The teaser image depicts a kid wearing a mask with a playground behind him and in another scene you can see him fighting “air monsters”. The idea is the mask provides a form of protection for kids from the harmful particles in the air when they are outdoors. The design of the mask is said to be a one-way valve design and serves as an anti-haze/anti-fog mask.

The overall design is made to be easy for kids to wear on their own with a unique strap design and a button. The anti-haze mask is expected to launch on Tuesday, 28th of March at 10:00 am. There is no price yet but it should be in the same range as the mask released last year which costs ¥69 ($10).

(Source)

IBM Files Patent for Pet-Sitting Drone

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 26, 2017

IBM seems to be taking the functionality of drones up another level with their new patent filing. The application, which was published on Thursday is for a drone that serves as a pet-sitter that monitors and cares for your pet when you are away from home.

Like regular drones, this will also have a camera but for monitoring your pet(s). It will check for abnormal behaviors and take preset actions depending on what it sees. The drone will have a number of additional hardware such as a temperature sensor and a treat dispenser.

Apart from its own built-in functionalities, IBM says the drone can be paired to other IoT devices in the house such as the thermostat, pet feeder and pet door. So the drone will be able to control the temperature of the house, dispense food, and grant access to the pet door if your dog needs to go relieve itself or get some fresh air.

IBM says the drone will also have a calorie counter so it doesn’t overfeed the pet. And when your pet is naughty, it will issue out vocal warnings (probably in the voice of the owner) to caution it. It can also be paired to a web-connected collar that controls the dog. Another feature will be the ability for owners to pair to the drone via their smartphone or computers and see in real time what their pet is up to.

While the idea is nice, it remains to see how pets will react to a non-human monitoring them. Owners may have to train their pets to recognize the drone as an extension of their authority.

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Completely Bezel-less Huawei Phone in The Pipeline Says CEO Yu Chengdong

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 25, 2017

Following the release of the Xiaomi Mi MIX last November, quite a number of manufacturers have started to embrace the new design. The LG G6 with its Full Vision display is an example and Samsung’s upcoming S8 and S8+ have significantly reduced bezels. Huawei has also announced its joining the race.

Speaking at an interview following the China launch of the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus, the CEO Yu Chengdong confirmed that the company is working on a phone with the screen occupying the entire front from top to bottom. Yes, no bezels at all. Now, why that sounds good to the ears, it will be no mean feat. So we probably should not expect this to be released soon as part of his statement mentioned a focus on user experience. So not until the design is perfected will this phone launch.

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Full Spec Sheet for Xiaomi Mi 6 and Mi 6 Plus Leaks

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 25, 2017

Xiaomi is preparing for the release of its flagship phone, the Mi 6. Just like Samsung is doing with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, the Mi 6 will also have a larger screen variant called the Mi 6 Plus. A full specification sheet of both devices has leaked online today, revealing some very interesting features.

Starting with the Xiaomi Mi 6, it is listed as sporting a 5.15-inch 1080p display. The Snapdragon 835 processor will be present and will be clocked at 2.45GHz. The spec sheet states the device will have 4GB of RAM and will have a UFS 2.0 storage size of 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB.

For optics, Xiaomi has equipped the Mi 6 with a single 19MP Sony IMX400 sensor on the rear and an 8MP ultrapixel sensor upfront. That is double that of the Mi 5. The battery capacity has also been bumped up to 3200mAh. One surprising info is the OS. The Mi 6 will run MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and not Android Nougat.

Next is the Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus. The screen is bigger at 5.7-inches but still won’t be Daydream compatible as the resolution still remains 1920 x 1080p. The Mi 6 Plus is powered by the Snapdragon 835 SoC too but cranks up the RAM to 6GB. Storage options are however limited to just 64GB and 128GB.

The cameras are another place where the Mi 6 differs. It appears all the leaks we have been seeing of a Xiaomi phone with dual cameras are actually that of the Mi 6 Plus. The spec sheet lists the rear cameras as being dual Sony IMX362 sensors. The front facing camera is the same 8MP ultrapixel sensor as its smaller variant. A bigger screen should translate to a bigger battery, right? Yes, and Xiaomi thinks so too. The Mi 6 Plus will have a large 4500mAh battery supplying juice.

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Huawei P10 Sales Hit 100 Million Yuan ($14.5M) In Just A Minute On JD.com In China

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 24, 2017

Huawei seems to be on a roll this year. After launching the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus models at MWC 2017, the company released the two flagship models in China today. These phones also went on sale for the first time on JD.com in China and both the devices seems have done extremely well on the first day of release.

Soon after the first Huawei P10 sales on JD.com kicked off at 18:08 on March 24 i.e. today, JD.com revealed an interesting sales figure of the devices. The online retailer revealed that Huawei P10 and P10 Plus sales exceeded 100 million Yuan in just a minute after the sale kicked off. So by 18:09, the company had already generated over 100 million Yuan sales in total.

Now, considering this sales figure is generated in just a minute, we can say that the Huawei P10 and P10 models have been very well received by the company’s Chinese fans. Remember, these are not cheap devices. The cheapest 4GB + 64GB Huawei P10 version starts at 3799 Yuan ($550) while the costliest 6GB + 256GB Huawei P10 Plus goes up to 5588 Yuan ($810). Considering the pricing and the total sales figure, we can roughly say that Huawei managed to sell anywhere between 20,000 – 25,000 models in the first sale. This is in just a minute on JD.com!

For complete Huawei P10 Chinese Pricing, check out this article. Also, Huawei P10 Specs Here & Huawei P10 Plus Specs Here.

Huawei 10,000mAh 22W Fast Charging Powerbank Announced in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 24, 2017

Huawei today took the wraps off the flagship Huawei P10 and P10 Plus in China and alongside the smartphones, the elite brand also announced a new powerful mobile power bank with 10000mAh capacity and fast charge support. The Huawei power bank features an aluminum body with a premium finishing and the number 10 is engraved on the body.

The Huawei power bank comes with a spectacular 4.5V/2A 22W super fast charge capability and is well fortified against explosion or other safety risks by its thick aluminum body. The charger is touted as being able to charge a mobile phone from zero to full charge in just 30 minutes. The fast charge capability is a two-way thing, as the mobile power bank can be recharged fast as well, using the same 4.5V/5A 22W super fast charge. Other features include a USB Type-C port

The Huawei Mobile Power bank comes in gray, green and moonlight silver colors and it carries a price tag of 199 Yuan (~$29) which is considerably cheap. The device is currently listed on Huawei’s official mall with only the gray colored variant but the website did not state when the device will go on sale.

Apple iPhone 7 Red Variant Booking Reaches over 480,000 on JD.com

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 24, 2017

Apple caught many unawares when it launched a Red colored special edition of the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus days back. This is the first time Apple is adding such unconventional colors to its smartphone range. The iPhone 7 Red together with the higher iPhone 7 Plus were released in partnership with (RED), an NGO devoted to raising funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. A percentage of the unit cost of each unit sold are donated to the Global Fund solely for fighting the deadly diseases.

The Red edition is billed to go on sale on March 24 via Jingdong, Lynx, Apple’s official website and ahead of that event the red iPhone 7 is shown to have recorded over 480,000 registrations ahead of the sale. The registration is only that of Jingdong, so if we piece together the registrations in other platforms, it could be well over a million persons. Even though the registrations are no indicator of the number of units that would be sold, it is an indication that the new color variant has widespread acceptability.

The red color iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are sure leaving up to expectations that they would drive sales and as for the sales, it would commence today 24th March at 23.01 china time (GMT +8). Do know that the prices remain unchanged from those of the other variants. However, the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus Red variants are available in 128GB and 256GB storage versions only. You also get the accessories such as Lightning ear pods, the USB data cable, and charger, as well as the 3.5mm adapter.

(source)

Huawei P10 & P10 Plus Official In China: Much Cheaper Than European Pricing, But In Less Color Shades

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 24, 2017

Huawei P10 and Huawei P10 Plus, both these models were announced at MWC 2017 held in Barcelona, Spain. Now, these two models and their variants are also official in the company’s home country, China. The Huawei P10 comes with the same specs and features as the European version, however, the company, like tradition, has priced the variants much cheaper than its international price tag.

The phones will come in six different color options here in China, as opposed to eight internationally. The following are the Huawei P10 / P10 Plus colors launched in China: White Ceramic, Graphite Black, Dazzling Gold, Rose Dold, Greenery, and Dazzling Blue. The two colors not coming to China are prestige gold and mystic silver.

The Huawei P10 and the Huawei P10 will have five memory variants in total, two for Huawei P10 and three for Huawei P10 Plus.

The following are the Huawei P10 Prices in China:

4GB + 64GB version: 3,788 Yuan ($550)

4GB + 128GB version: 4,288 Yuan ($622)

The following are the Huawei P10 Plus Prices in China:

6GB + 64GB version: 4,388 Yuan ($637)

6GB + 128GB version: 4,888 Yuan ($709)

6GB + 256GB version: 5,588 Yuan ($811)

MUST READ: Huawei P10 Review: A Premium Dual Camera Monster

Note that, at the conference, Huawei didn’t mention a 4GB RAM version of the Huawei P10 Plus. So, for now, it looks like there will be just 6GB RAM variants of the larger device in China.

Huawei P10 Price in China vs Price in Europe

4GB + 64GB variant | China ~$550 | Europe ~$700

Huawei P10 Price in China vs Price in Europe

6GB + 128GB | China ~$709 | Europe ~$862

So, it looks like there’s about $150 pricing difference between each Huawei P10 / P10 Plus variant in China and Europe.

Huawei P10 Silver — This color won’t be available in China

As for the specs, the Huawei P10 comes with scratch-resistant 2.5D glass with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The fingerprint sensor is now on the front and supports multi-gestures too. The phone is super slim as well, measuring just 6.98mm in thickness. The Huawei P10 comes with a 1080p 5.1-inch display while the P10 Plus features a 5.5-inch 2K display. Both the phones feature 20MP + 12MP Leica certified dual cameras at the back. The larger Huawei P10 Plus comes with a wider f/1.8 aperture. Both the models have Kirin 960 underneath with 4GB and 6GB variants. Other features include fast charging support, Full Netcom connectivity, 4.5G LTE etc. So, basically, the features of the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus China variants are the same as the European models.

You can read the full specs of the Huawei P10 here and Huawei P10 Plus here.

Geotel Note Review – A Decent $90 Smartphone!

By

Linus

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Mar 24, 2017

Geotel is one of the new smartphone makers and they have a pretty nice looking yet a very cheap device that is called Geotel Note. The phone costs just below $90 but it has a lot of cool features. Find out if it is worth your attention in our full review.

VIDEO REVIEW

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

UNBOXING

The phone ships with all the usual stuff and some extras include a hard plastic case.

DESIGN and DISPLAY

When it comes to the design, the phone is made entirely of plastic. It does not feel very cheap but some metal elements would have added a more premium look. The 5.5” display has only 720p resolution but honestly, this is one of the best HD panels I’ve seen on a budget phone. Even the sunlight legibility is decent.

We have an 8MP front-facing camera, notification LED light and customizable on-screen navigation keys on the front.

The backplate is glossy and shiny, and it looks great when it is clean. However, it is a huge fingerprint magnet.

You can easily remove the back cover and underneath it, you will find 2 SIM card trays, a microSD card slot a replaceable 3200mAh battery.

As for optics, we have a 13MP shooter along with a single LED flash.

The buttons are made of plastic too but they are clicky and tactile.

As for loudspeaker, the quality is kind of average and the volume output could be better.

HARDWARE

When it comes to hardware, the Geotel Note has some decent specs for the price.

The phone ships with a quad-core MTK6737 chip, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

The gaming performance is decent if you play games like Asphalt 8 on the medium graphics. Still, you should expect some skipped frames but no lag.

BENCHMARKS

USER INTERFACE

The Geotel Note ships with the near stock-looking Android 6.0 with just a few added features.

For example, you can choose from quite a few gesture and motion controls. Some of them work well while others are pretty slow to respond. In general, the user interface is fast and fluid even after installing quite a few apps. It is the most important aspect on a cheap phone, in my opinion.

IMAGE QUALITY

You can’t expect any good results from cheap phones but the Geotel Note can take some decent daylight images. Obviously, the dynamic range is usually off, the colours may look washed out but in general, photos look okay for a $90 phone.

Naturally, the image quality is not as good in lower-lit situations.

The selfie image quality is not the best but the images will do the trick for social media needs.

The video quality is kind of mediocre, just like on most of the cheap phones out there.

CONNECTIVITY

I didn’t have any connectivity issues with this device and even the GPS lock speeds and accuracy were okay.

BATTERY LIFE

3200mAh battery performs pretty well and I could constantly get over 5 hours of screen on time, which is a decent result.

CONCLUSIONS

The Geotel Note aims to bring a lot of value for the price and it actually succeeds in a lot of ways. It may not be a perfect phone but it definitely deserves your attention if you are in the market for very cheap and quality smartphone.

Buy Geotel Note