Taiwanese smartphone market: Sony Still in Top 5, Samsung Mesmerizes

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Feb 7, 2017

The Taiwanese smartphone market experienced a slight decline in sales in 2016 when compared to the recorded in the previous year (2015). According to a market research agency report posted on Sogi.com.tw, the entire mobile phone sales for last year was 8 million, reduced by 530,000 from the figure of the previous year.

The statistical data shows that Samsung still continues to maintain its lead in the Taiwanese market, a feat it is achieving most of the major markets globally. Samsung singlehandedly sold 1.72 million units of its smartphones in Taiwan last year to rank top in the market, giving it a 21.60% share. Of the range of Samsung’s mobile devices that were up fro sale last year, the mid-range Galaxy J7 (2015) proved quite popular, selling over 300,000 units alone. Even the J7 (2016) is also doing marvelously well, as it squeezed itself into the top ten hottest selling phone in Taiwan last year.

Apple came second with a 19.82% share of the market, in a trend that mirrors the control which both companies command globally. Taiwanese brand ASUS came in at third position with 16.04% share and then another Taiwanese brand HTC occupied the number four position with 14.37%.

Japanese smartphone giant Sony continued its exploit in Taiwan by maintaining its top-five position, sitting at number 5 with an 8.53% share of the market. It is quite surprising that no Chinese brand made it up the top five ladder but talking about the top 10, OPPO and Xiaomi did appear there. While high-flying brand OPPO came in at number 6 with a 4.26% share in sales. Others are Taiwan Mobile with 2.33% at the seventh position, Benten with 1.46% at the eighth spot, LG at the ninth with 1.31%, and finally, Xiaomi completes the top ten with 1.18%.

(source)

Alleged Galaxy S8 Real Life Image Leaked

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 7, 2017

A real-life image of what is said to be the Samsung Galaxy S8 just leaked online. The image which shows the lower half of the device shares design similarities to a set of renders that were also posted online today.

The image shows the S8 does have dual-curved displays and lacks a physical home button, confirming the rumors and leaks. The lower bezel is also smaller meaning the Galaxy S8 would have a higher screen-to-body ratio.

The image also reveals the position of certain ports. There is the audio jack positioned on the left side of the phone, followed by the USB Type-C port and a primary microphone. We also have a single bottom speaker sitting on the right side of the device. Two antenna lines serve as borders for the ports, microphone and speaker grille. We can’t make out the color of the device but the metal frame between the bezel and the rear of the phone appears to be painted rose gold.

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Apple Tries Again to Sell Used iPhones in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 7, 2017

India is a very important market for Apple right now. The Cupertino-based company is trying all it can to increase its share of the Indian market and one of the ways it thinks it can do so is by selling used iPhones.

We all know iPhones are expensive. Apple knows it too but won’t reduce the price of its devices. Instead it wants to sell refurbished units. That way more people will be able to afford its phones in India. However, the Indian government doesn’t want that. Apple had previously requested for permission to sell used iPhones as one of the concessions to start local manufacture of iPhones. The reasons the Indian government gave for turning down the request back then are not far fetched.

Allowing the sale of refurbished electronics may see India turn to a sort of dumping ground for used electronics. In addition to that, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is canvassing for manufacturers to ”Make in India”, so granting Apple the sale of refurbished electronics contravenes it.

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s defense is that it will build a manufacturing infrastructure needed to make them compliant with quality standards and will also allow third party audits and checks to verify the condition of resold items. Apple wants to try again and if it is granted permission now, it will be the first company to import used smartphones into India.

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New Snapdragon 835 Benchmark Result Released

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 7, 2017

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 is possibly the most talked about chip right now. The new processor is expected to be seen in flagships to be released this year, so when benchmark results are announced we are usually eager to see how it performs.

The first benchmark result of the Snapdragon 835 was posted shortly before the end of 2016 and the results lagged behind that of the Kirin 960. A new benchmarking test has been carried out probably after some tweaking and modifications and the results are quite impressive.

Unlike the first test which listed the device as being an Essential FIH-PM1, the device used for this test is unknown. Though we can see it runs Android 7.1.1 and has 4GB of RAM. The new result shows the Snapdragon 835 processor scored a total of 2004 points in the single-core test and 6233 points in the multi-core test. Compare that to what it scored in the first benchmark (1844 and 5426 points) and the difference is crystal clear.

The multi-score test is still lower than that of the Kirin 960 but a GPU benchmarking test will need to be carried out to further determine the better processor.

The Snapdragon 835 is expected to power devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, the Xiaomi Mi 6, and the Moto Z (2017). HTC is also reported to be working on a flagship device that will sport the processor.

ASUS ZenFone 4 Key Specs Surface; Release Date in May?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 6, 2017

According to previous rumors, ASUS ZenFone 4 is speculated to launch in May. Its arrival seems imminent as the its key specs have reportedly surfaced on the GFXBench.

ASUS was rumored to launch the ZenFone 4 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017, but it announced the camera-centric ZenFone 3 Zoom and ZenFone AR enabled with Google Tango AR and Daydream VR features. The arrival of ZenFone 4 seems to be drawing near as its alleged key specs have surfaced on GFXBench benchmarking platform.

ASUS had launched ZenFone 4 in May 2014, but it was a 4-inch device with meagre specs. The ZenFone 4 that has reportedly appeared on GFXBench is packed with flagship specs. The listing on the benchmarking site does not directly reveal that the name of the smartphone, but the high-end specs does indicate that it could belong the ZenFone 4 that is rumored to launch in May this year.

The alleged ZenFone 4 features a 5.7-icnhd display that supports a quad HD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The device is powered by Snapdragon 820 chipset. The company has already released a Snapdragon 820 driven smartphone, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe in the previous year.

The ZenFone AR that was released earlier this year is powered by Snapdragon 821 chip and 8 GB of RAM. The listing on the benchmark site shows that the SoC on the alleged ZenFone 4 will be featuring 6 GB of RAM and a native storage of 64 GB.

For photography, the smartphone would be coming with a 21-megapixel shooter on its rear side. The front will be packed with an 8-megapixel selfie snapper. The smartphone will come loaded with Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

Other details of the smartphone like battery size are not available. ASUS is known for targeting different kinds of customers by launching smartphones in various price points. Hence, the ZenFone 4 is also speculated to arrive in multiple chipset, RAM and storage options.

In December 2016, a mysterious ASUS X00GD smartphone was spotted on TENAA with specs like 5.2-inch display, an unnamed 1.5 GHz octa-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera and a large battery of 4,850 mAh battery. These specs may belong to another budget-friendly device from the Taiwanese company.

As far as ASUS ZenFone 4 release date is concerned, the company is now rumored to showcase it at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 to make it available for releasing it in May.

(Source)

Graphene-Powered Mobile Power Bank Unveiled, 5,000mAh Full Charge in 10 minutes

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 6, 2017

Huawei first brought to our attention the power of graphene in the manufacture of battery for mobile devices when it announced in conjunction with Watt Laboratories that it had achieved a breakthrough in the technology. While we were still expecting Huawei’s durable batteries, up from the sidelines sprang a new company WPG who developed a mobile power bank using graphene.

Being a small startup, the WPG needed funds to commercialize their power bank and as a result, they put it up for crowdfunding on Jingdong. The product was listed as WPG Graphene lightning mobile power bank and the plan was to raise 100,000 yuan. That figure was soon achieved in no time and yet the support kept coming in for the product. As at the time of writing, the project has achieved 216, 810 yuan and it keeps rising. Just so you’ll be aware, the product will still be open on crowdfunding for the next 11 days, so expect a monumental figure at the end of the crowdfunding exercise.

Perhaps participants are encouraged by the revelation that the 5,000mAh graphene mobile power band only needs 10 minutes to achieve a full charge. There is also a 1,000mAh capacity version and both support 12V / 5A fast charge. The power bank also supports other ratings such as 5V / 3A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A, and has a maximum power output of 18W. Despite these power capabilities, overheating won’t be one of its challenges because of the presence of graphene.

The WPG Graphene mobile power bank comes in sterling silver, matte black, gold and rose gold colors. As to when it would be available and price tag, they are not yet stated.

(source)

Google Play Store Censored Edition Coming to China?

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 6, 2017

Google is attempting to launch its Play Store in China. The search engine is trying to collaborate with NetEase, a domestic Chinese firm to launch its app store in the country.

Google Play store that had launched as Android Market exited the Chinese market in 2010. However, the rumors of the Google Play Store making a comeback in 2016 started swirling in the last quarter of 2015. Google was expected to launch a stripped-down version of the Play Store by adhering to the data storage and content laws of China. However, the Play Store for Chinese audience did not arrive in 2016.

Even though Google and NetEase have not openly spoken about partnership, but the latter has approached the search engine giant to bring back Play Store in China. There is no confirmation whether the proposed partnership will develop into an agreement.

google-nexus-event-sept29-01

It seems that Google’s partnership with NetEase will result in a launch of heavily censored version of the Play Store. It means that the content that is available to global users of Play Store will not be available for users in China. Since the partnership between the two companies may relaunch Play Store in China, this could be the reason why Google could have scrapped it plans for launching it in 2016.

As of this writing, there is no confirmation on the timeframe of the arrival of Google’s app store in China. NetEase has a track record of partnering with Western companies to make their products available in China. Hence, it could be another attempt from NetEase to assist to relaunch its app store in the country.

Google had left Chinese market completely in 2010 because it denied to censor its search results which caused the government of China to add restrictions to Hong Kong edition of Google Search. Ultimately, Google had to withdraw the access to Play Store in China.

Even though Android is most popular mobile OS in the country, there are only a handful of smartphone OEMs that shipped devices with Google Play Store preinstalled. Hence, Android device users in China make use of other popular app stores Baidu App Store, Tencent App Gem, Wandoujia, app stores from Xiaomi and Huawei and others.

(Source)

OnePlus 3T now available for purchase on the spot via JD.com

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 6, 2017

OnePlus added the OnePlus 3T flagship as an upgraded version of the OnePlus 3 and it went official in November last year. Since then, the device has been eluding potential buyers because of the high demand for the flagship when compared with the availability. Thus, the 3T has only been available via flash sales.

However, it seems OnePlus is making things a lot easier as the OnePlus 3T has been listed on Jingdong (JD.com) for on the spot sales. The sale is only open for the 6GB + 64GB variant of the device and you get to choose between the Gunmetal and Soft Gold color options. The version with 128GB of storage seems not to be available at the moment but could join the fray later on. But if you’re keen on having the 128GB variant of the 3T, then check it out on Giztop.

As a reminder, the OnePlus 3T features a premium and sleek metal unibody with a 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.35GHz. The device also has a larger 3,400mAh battery than its predecessor, as well as a 16MP front-facing camera and a rear camera with EIS and covered by sapphire glass. There is 6GB of LPDDR4 memory onboard with 64GB and 128GB storage versions available.

The OnePlus 3T is priced at 2699 yuan ($392) for the 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM variant which is now available on Jingdong, while the 6GB RAM + 128GB variant retails for 2999 yuan ($435) and can be gotten on Gizmochina’s e-commerce platform – Giztop.

LG G6 Release Date in US is April 7; MWC 2017 Invite Teases Huge Display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 6, 2017

In the previous month, LG has already teased the arrival of LG G6 at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 event. Now, it has sent an official invitation of the LG G6’s Feb. 26 launch event. Popular leakster, Evan Blass has revealed the LG G6 release date for South Korea and the U.S.

The South Korean company will be unwrapping the LG G6 on Feb .26 at Sant Jordi Club, Barcelona, Spain. The event will begin at 12 PM. The official invitation shows that the LG G6 would be arriving with a larger screen. And it also suggests that even though the phablet is arriving with a larger display, users will be able to hold it comfortably.

Previous reports have revealed that the LG G6 would be coming with a 5.7-inch display that will deliver an aspect ratio of 9:18 and it will carry support for a display quad HD+ resolution of 1,440 x 2,880 pixels. Several smartphones that support quad HD resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels have 9:16 aspect ratio.

Hence, the LG G6 is expected to come with an elongated display and it will be sporting super-slim bezels. The company has confirmed that the quad HD+ display of LG G6 will be called “Full Vision” on release. The display for the LG G6 are supplied by LG Display. Several leaked photos of the LG G6 have surfaced in the recent past.

According to Blass, the LG G6 is slated to sell in South Korea on March 9. However, it will be releasing a month later in the U.S. as it is expected to launch on April 7. It is expected to be cost more than the LG G5 and is rumored to be priced around $700 for the unlocked model. The smartphone is speculated to be priced aggressively to rival the Galaxy S8 that will be releasing by mid-April in the U.S.

The LG G5 modular phone met with poor reception mainly because of its add-on accessories. Hence, LG G6 will be arriving without any modular accessories. It is expected to support IP68 certified metal unibody chassis and it will be fueled by Snapdragon 821 chipset and not by Snapdragon 835 that will power compatriot Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones.

(Source)

LG G6 Latest Images Captured from All Angles, G6 Hits GeekBench

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 6, 2017

As the February 26 launch event of the LG G6 flagship draws nearer, we continually get inundated with multiple leaks about the device. The latest we are getting about the LG flagship are a set of images of the device thanks to case maker Ringke cases. The images give us ample view of the G6 captured from all direction.

The images are, no doubt, meant to promote the protective cases which Ringke will be supplying for the sleek device but they did tell a few stories about the G6. First, the renders look very much like those of the flagship earlier leaked, with the dual-lens rear camera and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor standing out. As earlier revealed, the LG G6 will have a clean front without any physical button to distort the smooth feel.

The LG G6 will likely have a clean front with no physical buttons and a large, 5.7-inch display with extra slim bezels. Another feature which is on display is the USB Type-C port at the bottom and then instead of yanking off the 3.5mm jack, LG retained it at the top edge of the smartphone. The volume rockers and power button are also visible on the left side of the phone.

In a related development, an LG smartphone recently popped up on benchmarking website Geekbench, only identified by the model number LGE LG-H871. The device is thought in some quarters to be the LG G6 but curiously, it packs a Snapdragon 820 chip listed as MSM 8996, along with 4GB of RAM.

Although we can’t be certain this is the G6, there had been rumors in the past that the LG flagship uses a Snapdragon 820. Perhaps, it could be for one of its variants which recently appeared in an LG trademark filing as G6 Lite, G6 Compact et al. The G6 itself is also touted to feature a Snapdragon 821 chip and to have two versions with 4GB and 6GB RAM respectively. We can say for sure, tough, if the device is the G6 but all will unravel at MWC 2017 in Barcelone. Once again, February 26 is the date.

(source 1, 2)

Samsung Changes Management following Bribery Scandal

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2017

The Galaxy Note 7 fiasco wasn’t the only issue Samsung had to battle with in 2016. The South Korean corporation was caught up in a messy bribery scandal that led to the impeachment of the country’s President, Park Geun-Hye.

Samsung’s heir apparent Lee Jae-yong (Jay Y. Lee) and some other high-ranking officers have been named as suspects in the scandal. The corporation today has therefore announced that it will be making some changes in its business management strategy.

First, the company will be pulling out of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) which is the country’s largest lobbying organization. FKI is said to have played a major role in the scandal and is alleged to have acted as the middleman between the government and its own members. Samsung Electronics Co. has already withdrawn and the other arms of the corporation should follow suit.

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Leaked Image Reveals HTC 11 Specs: Sporting Snapdragon 835 and 6GB RAM

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2017

A few weeks ago, it was reported that HTC’s President of Smartphone and Connected Device Business, Chialin Chang said while the company is working on a new flagship for 2017, the device won’t be go by the name HTC 11. However, an image showing specification details of a device said to be the HTC 11 leaked online today. The image is actually a screenshot of the About Device page of the phone and reveals quite a lot of information.

First, the name of the device is HTC 11 and it is running HTC Sense 9.0 which is based on ‘Android 7.12’. The device is powered by the MSM8998Pro which is better known as the Snapdragon 835 processor. It doesn’t end there. The HTC 11 also sports a display with a weird 1556 x 2550 resolution, has 6GB of RAM and comes with 128GB of storage (112GB available).

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Meizu M5S Box Casing, More Renders Leak, Revealing Key Details

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 6, 2017

The Meizu product schedule that leaked weeks back had fingered the Meizu M5S as being the first Meizu smartphone which would hit the market this year. The schedule specifically listed the M5S as coming in February.

Ahead of what is likely a February launch, a set of renders of the M5S along with its box casing has appeared online showing us some key details of the device. As usual, the box casing comes with a few features of the device written on it. It clearly contains the name Meizu M5S written in Chinese, and the Meizu brand is also inscribed on the charger inside the packaging.

Among the details listed on the casing is a 3GB RAM + 32GB storage, Flyme OS, 4G LTE and it also confirms fast charging technology coming. As a reminder, the Meizu M5S is expected to feature a 5.2-inch IPS display as well as dualSIM/ dual Standby support.

Other details include 4G, Meizu mCharge fast charging technology, as well as Meizu’s mTouch fingerprint identification technology. The M5S is also teased as coming with an octa-core next generation CPU but there is no doubt that isn’t a Qualcomm chip onboard unless Meizu decides to spring us a surprise. The chip is likely a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor. In addition, the M5S is listed as coming with a higher 1,299 yuan ($189), different from the 999 Yuan ($145) tipped earlier.

(source)

The Lenovo A12 is a Downgraded Yoga Book with a Larger Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2017

One of the devices that really caught my eye last year was Lenovo’s Yoga Book. The Yoga Book is quite an interesting device. The Yoga Book is a tablet that is designed like a 2-in-1 device. But unlike other 2-in-1s with a physical keyboard, the Yoga Book ditches the physical keys for a touch-sensitive surface that doubles as a writing pad and a Halo keyboard, giving you basically three input modes. The Lenovo A12 is not much different but skips some features.

Lenovo A12 Design and Specs

The Lenovo A12 comes with a 12.2-inch anti-glare 720 x 1280 display. For some folks that might be a good thing size wise but compare it to the Yoga Book’s 10.1 inch 1920 x 1200 display and you’d wish Lenovo had made it a FHD screen.

You can use the Lenovo A12 in laptop mode, tent mode, lay it flat out like a mat or fold the halo keyboard completely backwards into tablet mode just like the Yoga Book, thanks to the hinge design. The hinge system is however different in both devices. Instead of the watchband style in the Yoga Book and more expensive Yoga laptops, it uses a double hinge system. It does the job but chances are it is not as rugged as the watchband style.

The Halo Keyboard works practically the same way as in the Yoga Book. There is haptic feedback, artificial-learning software, and built-in prediction. One thing it doesn’t have is the writing pad function of the Yoga Book. This lets you place a sheet of paper over the halo keyboard and when you write or draw on it, it shows up on the screen. The Yoga Book is also bundled with a pressure sensitive stylus for writing directly on the keyboard surface.

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Redmi Note 4X Spotted on TENAA with Snapdragon 625

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Feb 6, 2017

Earlier today, the official Xiaomi account on Weibo posted a teaser image of a gift set to be revealed on Valentine’s Day. The gift is rumored to be the Redmi Note 4X. Shortly afterwards, a new Xiaomi device was seen on TENAA and sources say it might be the Redmi Note 4X.

When we first heard of the Redmi Note 4X it was said the phone will launch with a Snapdragon 653 processor and have its RAM and ROM bumped up to 4GB and 64GB respectively. However, the new device seen on TENAA which looks very much like the Redmi Note 4 is equipped with a 2.0GHz octa-core processor but still has 4GB of RAM.

The Snapdragon 653 processor on the other hand is clocked at 1.95 GHz which means the chip in the phone is none other than the Snapdragon 625. The reason for not using the Snapdragon 653 processor is best known to Xiaomi but the only plausible reason we can think of is that they are saving it for a future device.

Right now, the only two devices that sport the Snapdragon 653 processor are the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro and the OPPO R9s Plus, and both phones are equipped with 6GB of RAM.

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Xiaomi Mi Mix White Going on Sale in China Soon

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 6, 2017

Xiaomi unveiled the white variant of its award-winning Mi Mix concept flagship at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 held in Las Vegas, US last month. If Xiaomi fans outside of China had thought the launch at CES 2017 was an indication the Xiaomi Mi Mix would be available outside China, that thought was dashed with the announcement that the device would only be available in China.

Despite the disclosure that the device would be a China-exclusive, at least for now, the white version of the Mi Mix was still not made available in China after the launch. Instead what we got lately was a set of teased images by CEO Lei Jun of a coral blue variant that the company seems to be tinkering with.

However, the Xiaomi Mi Mix White may soon be available for purchase in China as an official listing for the Mi Mix White variant has appeared on Mi.com, with the 4GB + 128GB version listed. The price of the white version is set at 3,499 yuan, consistent with the black colored variant. However, the device is not yet ready for purchase as there is only a button that lets you set up sales alert. This would apparently ensure you get notified whenever the device is up for grab. The 6GB + 256GB version is not available in white yet, according to the listing.

Whenever the Xiaomi Mi Mix white goes up for sale, the flagship may very well outperform the sales record of the black colored version because of its sleek and more beautiful look. So, don’t expect to lay your hands on the Mi Mix white very soon, even though it may go on sale soon because the device won’t be easy to come by.

(source)

Xiaomi’s Pinecone Processor Details Emerge: Higher Version using 10nm Process

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 5, 2017

It is no longer news that the Xiaomi Mi 5C would launch soon packing an entirely new self-developed processor by Xiaomi. A recent leak had revealed that the Pinecone chipset that would feature on the Mi 5C has a CPU with Cortex-A53 cores in an octa-core architecture said to be as powerful as the Snapdragon 808 chip.

Now, if you think that isn’t a good one for 2017, do not despair as more information has emerged about the Pinecone processor which is billed to give Xiaomi some level of independence in choosing the chip crammed its smartphones in the near future. According to the info, there are two models of the Xiaomi Pinecone processor which would hit the market this year. The two models go by the model numbers V670 and V970 and the Mi 5C would launch with the lower V670 model. The V670 is said to use four Cortex-A53 large cores and four Cortex A-53 small cores. The GPU is composed of the Mali-T860 MP4 GPU with a clock speed of 800MHz. The V670 is also said to be using a 28nm manufacturing process.

On the other hand, the higher V970 model is said to come in the fourth quarter (Q4) of this year and has a core parameter comprising four Cortex-A73 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores in an octa-core architecture. The CPU is said to have a minimum clock frequency of up to 2.0GHz and a maximum clock speed of 2.7GHz. The V970 is also equipped with a more superior Mali G71 MP12 GPU with a clock speed of 900MHz.

The source also hints that the Pinecone processor with model number V970 would be produced using the same 10nm process as the Snapdragon 835 chip. Incredible, isn’t it? There is still more, the high-end Pinecone processor is also said to feature in the Xiaomi Mi 6s and Mi Note 3. We’ll be on the look out for more details.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X Officially Teased as Coming Soon, Likely on February 16

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 5, 2017

The Spring Festival holiday is over and Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is returning from the holidays with a bang. The company is set to launch another smartphone in the budget Redmi series, this time the Redmi Note 4X. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X has been the subject of several leaks, including those of its renders. The device also appeared on TENAA about a month ago and now, the company has officially teased what should be the launch of the device on February 16.

The teaser which appeared via Xiaomi phone’s Weibo account and was also shared on the Redmi phone Weibo account gave the idea that the company would be announcing a new celebrity spokesperson on the 8th of this month who will bring a special gift on Valentine’s day which is February 14. However, the presence of the enlarged number 16 on the teaser could be an indication that the Redmi Note 4X, which was also mentioned in the post, could be launched on February 16.

The Redmi Note 4X TENAA listing and earlier leaks hint at a device with a 5.5-inch 1080 pixels display which would be powered by a Snapdragon 653 processor and packing a 4,000mAh battery. The device would come in two memory version of 4GB RAM + 32GB of storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB of storage. So there you have it, another thousand yuan flagship on the way. The Redmi devices are known for their cheap price tag and the Redmi Note 4X is said to be no different.

(source)

Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus Cases Reveal Positions of Rear-facing Camera, Fingerprint Scanner

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2017

Several leaked photos of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus have surfaced in the past weeks. One of the leaked photos shared by well-known leakster, Evan Blass, alleged revealed a real Galaxy S8 phone. It not only showed the front of the phone but also the rear panel of the device with the camera and dual-LED flash and fingerprint scanner. Now, leaked images carrying rear cases for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus have surfaced to confirm the positioning of the above features on the back panel.

The leaked photos that have surfaced on Chinese micro blogging site, Weibo has revealed the rear side of a purported Galaxy S8 phone. It features a rectangular cut-out for main camera as well as its dual-LED flash. On its right, there is another cut-out that will presumably house a rear-facing fingerprint reader.

Even though the rumor mill has revealed several images of the Galaxy S8, it seems the above photo matches only with the leaked photo from Blass who holds a consistent record of unearthing leaked features of upcoming phones. All the previous Galaxy S series phones have their fingerprint readers embedded under the Home button. However, it seems that in order to deliver larger screen-to-body ratio on Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung has decided to place their fingerprint readers on the rear side.

One of the suspicious things on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus cases is the noise around the Samsung logo below the cut-out for camera module and fingerprint reader. It seems that the area around the Samsung logo has been edited. Also, the cut-out for fingerprint sensor appears to not large enough to easily allow a finger to touch the reader. Hence, Gizmo China readers are advised to take this rumor with a pinch of salt.

As far as specifications of both smartphones are concerned, the smaller Galaxy S8 is rumored to house a 5.7-inch screen whereas the Galaxy S8 would be probably featuring a 6.2 screen. Both are pegged to be fitted dual-edge curved screens with support for quad HD resolution.

The Snapdragon 835 is expected to power both phones. However, select markets are rumored to receive Exynos 8895 SoC powered models. Both phones are speculated to come in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM models. A 12-megapixel rear shooter and a 5-megapixel selfie snapper are rumored to be present on both phones.

Other features include a fingerprint scanner and a USB Type-C port. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are speculated to respectively feature a 3,250 mAh and a 3,780 mAh battery. Even though the Galaxy S8 phones are slated to get announced on March 29 and be available for buying in April, there are rumors that hint that Samsung may run a Galaxy S8 preview at Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Feb. 27. Leaked information on the pricing of Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus along with their availability have also emerged.

(Weibo)

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus Pricing, Variants Leaked Before MWC 2017 Launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 5, 2017

The release of the next flagships from Huawei, the P10 and P10 Plus are drawing near. A leaked promotional document carrying the pricing and storage variants of Huawei P10 and Huawei P10 Plus have surfaced ahead that are reportedly slated to launch on Feb. 26.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus Pricing, Variants, Specs

The Huawei P10 would be arriving in three storage models such as a 32 GB variant with 4 GB of RAM, a 64 GB model with 4 GB of RAM and a high-end model of 128 GB with 6 GB of RAM. The three variants are respectively priced at 3,488 Yuan ($508), 4,088 Yuan ($595) and 4,688 Yuan ($683).

The Huawei P10 Plus is the larger edition of P10. It comes in storage models of 64 GB with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of RAM with 6 GB of RAM. The two variants are respectively priced at 4,988 Yuan ($726) and 5,688 Yuan ($828).

The Huawei P10 has a 5.2-inch flat display that reportedly produces that offers a full HD resolution and the Huawei P10 Plus is slightly bigger phone with a 5.5-inch dual-edge curved display that also is speculated to deliver quad HD resolution. However, other specs seem to be common between the two devices. The P10 and P10 Plus would be powered by HiSilicon Kirin 960 chipset.

Like the predecessor models, the P10 and P10 Plus are pegged to feature Leica lens 12-megapixel dual camera on their rear panel. These devices are also rumored to be equipped with 8-megapixel front-facing shooter. Both smartphones are said to rumored to come with Yamaha, Harman Kardon audio technology.

Some of the other common features of both phones include an iris scanner, a fingerprint reader and Android 7.0 Nougat OS. The Chinese manufacturer also seems to be working on a lighter edition for its next flagship that is dubbed as Huawei P10 Lite by the rumor mill.

Huawei P10 and Huawei P10 Plus Launch Date, Release

The Huawei P10 and Huawei P10 Plus are rumored to get announced on Feb. 26, a day before the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 event. The pre-orders of both smartphones are rumored to begin in March.