Antutu’s Top 10 Devices for September: LeEco and Xiaomi Ranks High

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Oct 1, 2016

With the recent release of the flagship LeEco Le Pro 3, one would have assumed that LeEco would likely be done for new phone releases for the year, but that seems not to be the case as the Chinese phone maker is rumored to be working on two new smartphones. The unnamed phone models are said to likely launch in November.

Recall that before the Le Pro 3’s release the smartphone was rumored to feature a design in which the antenna bands are not visible at the back. We saw renders of what was thought to be the Le Pro 3 without visible antenna bands just like the iPhone 7’s design. However such was not the case when the flagship was finally released late last year. That of course means the device in question is yet to be outed. In addition to that, a LeEco device with funny looking dual rear cameras appeared on TENAA some time back and tipped to be the likely design of the Le Pro 3’s cameras but that too ended up not becoming a reality.

Render of the front view of one of the smartphones appeared today on Weibo along with the rumor of two impending smartphones popping in November. The render (pictured below) shows a device with very narrow bezels on the display edges and the display itself looks like it is sporting a curved screen. Apart from these, nothing else is known about the specifications of the rumored models but it sure looks like LeEco is preparing to wow us with another spectacular device or two soon. We’ll be on the look out for more information on this.

Xiaomi Redmi 3S Plus Launched: Available Only Offline!

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Oct 1, 2016

Xiaomi today seems to have released the Redmi 3S Plus in India. The device enters India as the company’s first smartphone that would be sold via offline channels only. The Chinese company had before now launched the Redmi 3S as well as high-end version of the Redmi 3S Prime in India. The Redmi 3S Plus looks quite similar to the Redmi 3S Prime but for the 2GB RAM it features.

From the specs point of view, the Xiaomi Redmi 3S Plus features a 5-inch 1080 pixels display and is powered by Snapdragon 430 chipset. The device also comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB of built-in storage, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS as well as a huge 4,100mAh battery.

In addition, the Redmi 3S Plus sports a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front-facing shooter for selfies. There is also a fingerprint sensor mounted on the dual-SIM device’s rear, just under the rear camera.

The device is already available and is priced around INR 9,499 ($143) on MRP and for best buy price of INR 8,799 (around $132).

(source)

Last Minute Renders of Pixel Phones

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Oct 1, 2016

Fourth of October is almost upon us and while Google has a couple of major announcements, none is as important as the launch of the Google Pixel phones. Previously, the tradition was that a new Google device(s) would be the first to run the new version of android. However, this year, Android Nougat officially launched before the Google phones and is now live on earlier nexus devices and even the LG V20.

We’ve gotten a lot of leaks and renders lately but just three days before the launch, we get a new set of renders which in my opinion look very realistic. The render shows the phones in 4 major colour variants with the G logo sitting at the bottom. They also sport the dual colour back we have seen in previous leaks.

Fake Xiaomi Mi Band 2 On Sale: Doesn’t Pair with Mi Fit App

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Oct 1, 2016

When Xiaomi launched the Mi Band 2 earlier this year, the company faced the issue of the smartband being in short supply with orders being pushed forward while resellers who had units for sale inflated the price. However, seems some other folks decided to cash in on the short supply of the Mi Band 2 by making a clone and selling it as original.

Someone posted online that he purchased a fake version of the band (images below) which he says doesn’t pair to the Mi App. While that might not be the only way to detect if it is a fake, I did a quick search to find if I could find out other ways of identifying a fake.

LeEco Confirms October 19 for US Launch

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Oct 1, 2016

When LeTV was formed back in 2004, the company started as an online video company. Twelve years later and with a new name, LeEco has added phone manufacturing, smart TVs, and smart cars to their products. Now the biggest thing on their plate is their North America (United States) launch which the company says is slated for 19th of October.

We already foresaw this following the company’s acquisition of Vizio Inc., an American company known for its affordable flatscreen TVs. Back in June, the company also acquired 50 acres of land situated in Santa Clara from Yahoo for $250 million.

Last month, the company appointed a couple of new officials. First, LeEco appointed former Senior Vice-president and Division President of Qualcomm, Rob Chandhok. Mr Chandhok joins the company as Chief Research and Development Officer for North America.

Next they appointed ex-Huawei President of Western Europe Consumer Business Group, Middle East and North Africa Consumer Business Group, Richard Ren. His new role at LeEco is as the Acting President of the company’s North America Division.

Leagoo M5 Review – My New Favourite Cheap Phone

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Linus

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Oct 1, 2016

Leagoo M5 is yet another budget phone from China and it is actually one of the best $60 phones you can buy at the moment. Learn more in the full Gizmochina’s review.

Buy Leagoo M5

Leagoo M5 Review: VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTfXfHpBoAo[/embedyt]

Leagoo M5 Review: UNBOXING

The phone comes with all the usual stuff and some extras include a pair of cheap earphones, which sound quite terrible.

Leagoo M5 Review: DESIGN and DISPLAY

The Leagoo M5 is a very well-built phone. It uses a solid metal frame that goes all around the device and tactile metal buttons. Honestly, the phone feels a lot sturdier than some more expensive devices out there.

Although the backplate is glossy and it attracts fingerprints and smudges, it still feels high quality.

Since it is a $60 phone, we don’t have neither notification LED light nor backlit capacitive buttons but a 5” 720p display is sharp enough for the daily use.

Also, the phone is very compact but it is kind of on a heavy side as it weighs 180g.

We have an 8MP camera and a fingerprint sensor, which are installed in a high-quality metal frame. Speaking of that fingerprint sensor, it is not the fastest I’ve seen but it definitely gets the job done and it works straight from the standby mode. Also, you can use the fingerprint sensor as a touchpad. The ability to scroll through the menus is one of my favorite features.

It’s not that easy to remove a backplate but underneath it, you can find 2 SIM card slots, microSD card slot and a removable 2300mAh battery.

I was fairly impressed by the loudspeaker quality. Sure, it is not the best but it is better than a lot of phones that costs as twice as much.

Leagoo M5 Review: HARDWARE and PERFORMANCE

For $60, the Leagoo M5 has some pretty good specs. The phone ships with the quad-core Mediatek 6580A chip, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

The 3D gaming performance is surprisingly good. The Asphalt 8, which is one of the most versatile games to test the phone’s performance runs absolutely fine on the medium graphics.

Leagoo M5 Review: BENCHMARKS

Leagoo M5 Review: USER INTERFACE

Having reviewed quite a few phones made by Leagoo, I knew what to expect. The Android 6 based user interface is highly customized. The app tray is gone but there are quite a few features and customization options. Some of them may look a bit gimmicky but others are actually pretty useful.

Most importantly, the phone has been fast and fluid even after installing quite a few apps.

Leagoo M5 Review: IMAGE QUALITY

You should never expect great-looking images from the phone this cheap and the Leagoo M5 is no exception. Sure, you can get some decent images that are usable for social media but nothing more.

Same can be said about the front facing camera.

Leagoo M5 Review: CONNECTIVITY

I didn’t have any issues with neither of the connectivity options except for the fact that it takes a bit longer to get the GPS position lock.

Leagoo M5 Review: BATTERY LIFE

A 2300mAh does not really sound impressive. The battery will get you through the day if you are not a heavy user only. That translates to just over 3 hours of screen-on time.

Leagoo M5 Review: CONCLUSIONS

Leagoo M5 is a very solid phone for just $60. Sure, it is not a perfect device but even with a few shortcomings, it can be highly recommended if you are in the market of a super cheap smartphone for under $60.

Buy Leagoo M5

Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus Leaked: Finally A Powerful Chip & Great Display Makes it to the Tab3 Family

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Joel Joseph

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Sep 30, 2016

Lenovo has a good tablet lineup, but the recent ones in the low-end to mid-range segment like the Lenovo Tab3 8 haven’t been as interesting as we would have liked. It came with an undisclosed entry level Mediatek quad-core chip with features such as 1GB RAM and 1024 x 600 pixel display.

However, looks like Lenovo is going to update the Tab3 family with a brand new model, the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus and this time, the specs are definitely worth checking out. First of all, the leak says that the new tablet will come with an 8-inch FHD display, a much-needed upgrade from the low-resolution panels in its predecessors. Another important update is going to be in the processor department.

The Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus is said to feature the powerful mid-range Snapdragon 625 octa-core chip, which is a lot faster than the old Mediatek quad-core chipset. Further, the 14nm manufacturing node of the chip will ensure great battery life on the device. Other expected features include 3GB of RAM, 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras, 32GB / 64GB storage options expandable via MicroSD and 4300mAh battery.

Hopefully, we will hear about this tablet from the company in the next few days.

(via, source)

Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro Ceramic Edition Seem to Be Discontinued

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Sep 30, 2016

Xiaomi released an Exclusive Edition of the Mi 5 dubbed Mi 5 Pro which comes only in Ceramic Black color just after the release of the Mi 5 early this year. The Ceramic Black edition comes top among its contemporaries not only in the massive 128GB storage size it adopts, but also in its body design. Although it comes in the same design as the other versions, its own body was manufactured from ceramic, giving it a sleek, gentle but beautiful look.

However, seems Xiaomi may have discontinued production of the Ceramic black top end version as the device is no longer available on Xiaomi’s official online shop, mi.com. Only the version with black all-glass body is available for purchase by buyers.

This could be an indication that the tech giant has discontinued production of the flagship completely. Xiaomi had omitted using the Ceramic material on the recently launched Mi 5S and Mi 5S Plus, citing production cost and speed. Xiaomi’s CEO had hinted during the Mi 5S launch that the ceramic material comes in more expensive than metal or plastic and takes more time to mass produce. Thus, it is likely the innovative start-up is parting ways with its Mi 5 Pro Exclusive version. Another reason could be that its price tag at 2499 Yuan is higher than the 2299 Yuan ($345) price tag for the high-end 128GB version of the latest Mi 5S.

Huawei Mate 9 Live Renders Leak Ahead of November Launch (UPDATED)

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Sep 29, 2016

UPDATE: This actually looks like the Honor 6X Smartphone that was spotted on TENAA a few days back. So, it’s most likely not the Mate 9 as we previously thought.

Just hours after it emerged in the media that Huawei has sent out invites for a November 3 event holding in Germany as reported by Gsmarena, a new set of renders of the expected Huawei Mate 9 flagship has surfaced. Although Huawei was said not to have specified that it is going to launch the Mate 9, there seem to be an agreement among industry watchers that the high-end Mate 9 is the reason for the event.

The Huawei Mate 9 is coming as a successor to the Mate 8 released last year and the leaked photos reveal the device would make a worthy successor. Already, we had gotten leaked render of the Mate 9 rear camera which is tipped to be a dual set up and indeed this new render which is of the entire device has lent credence to previous leaks. Apart from the dual rear cameras, the rear mounted fingerprint sensor can also be spotted just under the dual cameras and a single-tone LED flash is by the side of the camera.

The device is likely a sample copy as revealed on the texts at the back and is encased in what should be a protective shell. The image took some blurring on all four edges, perhaps to mask the entire design from public glare but the edges seem to be curved ones. Apart from the fact the the device seem to be without any color coating, no much is revealed on the render after all. However we can take this as an indication that the Mate 9 would likely hit the market pretty soon.

The Huawei Mate 9 code-named Manhattan is said to come with an 8MP front-facing camera and a 20MP rear dual cameras with OIS support. The device is said to be powered by the Kirin 960 chipset, along with 4GB of RAM. The device is said to also use the USB Type-C interface, and has built-in iris recognition among other features.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Now Rumored to Launch in November, 2K Curved display in Tow

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Xiaomi Mi 5S | Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus

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Sep 29, 2016

Again, the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is taking over the news space just moments after the Mi 5S and 5S Plus were launched during which period it went on a sort of hiatus. It is now rumored that the much expected Xiaomi flagship device would likely be launched in November. This new rumor is coming on the heels of the words on well-known industry analyst Pan Juitang who hinted at an October outing for the flagship.

As usual, the rumor emanated from a user on China’s microblogging platform Weibo, and apart from a November release date the user also hinted at a few specs for the device. According to the rumor, the Mi Note 2 would come with a 5.7-inch display which would have a 2K resolution. Also, the tipster indictated that the Mi Note successor would sport a double curved glass design, a feature that didn’t find fulfillment on the Mi 5S despite being rumored.

Earlier on, the Xiaomi Mi Note had been rumored to feature two versions, one with the flagship Snapdragon 821 processor and 8GB of RAM said to be a Pro version, although the RAM may likely be 6GB, and there is said to be another version with a Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM. Both versions are expected to come with 5.7-inch 2K AMOLED curved displays with Force Touch. The Mi Note 2 Pro is also likely to have a battery capacity of 3600mAh with fast charge support.

Xiaomi Mi 5S & Mi 5S Plus Now Up For Pre-order On OPPOMART

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Joel Joseph

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Sep 29, 2016

Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 5S and the Mi 5S Plus flagships a couple of days back and a few hours ago, both these phones went on sale in China. Now, if you are an international user, here’s some good news. The Xiaomi Mi 5S and Mi 5S Plus are both up for pre-order on OPPOMART.

The Xiaomi Mi 5S is up for order at $349 on the website for the 3GB RAM version, while the 4GB RAM model will retail for $399. Interestingly, the gray version of both the models are $50 costlier on OPPOMART, so the 3GB RAM Gray version is up for $399 and the 4GB RAM Gray version costs $449.

Even the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus, which is the larger 5.7-inch model, is listed on OPPOMART for a starting price tag of $399 for the 4GB RAM version and $449 for the 6GB RAM version. Once again, the Gray version costs $50 more than the other color variants.

Check out OPPOMART for more details. If you are interested to read the full specs of these two devices, you can check them out from down below.

Check Out Xiaomi Mi 5S on OPPOMART

Check Out Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus on OPPOMART

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Gets the Android 7.0 Nougat Treatment

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Sep 29, 2016

The jostle continues to get hotter by the day as to who gets upgraded to Google’s latest Android N operating system. Developers also are not going to sleep working to get the latest OS in town on their favorite brands. The latest is the Xiaomi Redmi 2 which was announced in January last year.

A user on the MIUI forum has developed an update that ushers in Android Nougat based on CyanogenMod 14 ROM on the Redmi 2 but the upgrade is only available on the China Unicom version of the smartphone. The upgrade is still in the beta stage so as expected, there are a number of bugs here and there. Although he didn’t give details on the features available and those not available, but he did share some screenshots.

Of course this shouldn’t be installed on your regular phone but if you’ve got a Redmi 2 that is lying idle, then you could as well hop in and download on MIUI forum.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Expected to Launch in October?

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Sep 29, 2016

While it might seem like Xiaomi is done for the year, there is the matter of the Mi Note 2 which has still not been released. Although some people speculated that the phone doesn’t exist, leaks from the past 2 weeks says otherwise. With the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus out of the way, all focus should be on the new device.

According to analyst Pan Jiutang, the Mi Note 2 will launch at the end of October. He also added that the phone will come in more colour variants available than the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus.

Can someone please stop the rose gold band wagon for the umpteenth time?

The Mi Note 2 is expected to have two models: one with a snapdragon 821 processor and 8GB of RAM (6GB seems to be a more likely possibility) and another with a snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM. The unit with the SD 821 chip will get the word ”Pro” added to its name. Both versions are expected to feature 5.7” 2K AMOLED Force Touch curved displays. The Mi Note 2 Pro is also rumoured to have a battery capacity of 3600mAh with quick charge on board.

Check Out ZeBlaze Blitz On Gearbest

ZeBlaze Blitz 3G Sports Smartwatch Phone Unboxing & First Hands On

By

Joel Joseph

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Sep 29, 2016

I was in the lookout for a cheap yet decent Chinese smartwatch recently. I know there are plenty of options in the market right now, with companies like ZeBlaze, No.1 coming up with so many options etc. So, finding a decent one was a tough job, but then I decided to check out the ZeBlaze Blitz smartwatch. The watch’s sporty design caught my attention and the features seemed pretty decent as well. Fast forward a few weeks, and today, I’ve got my ZeBlaze Blitz smartwatch.

First of all, I would like to thank Gearbest for sending in this unit for review. You can find the ZeBlaze Blitz on their website at just $89.99 during the promotional period. Check it out from the link below.

So, here I am, with the ZeBlaze Blitz. The watch looks very sporty, something that I like, and comes in two color options, gray and orange. Do note that when they say gray, it’s not actually gray. The one that I’ve got my hands on comes with a brownish shade. But it’s still good looking. Just check out the images and you’ll understand what I’m saying.

The box contains pretty much everything that you need, starting from the watch to the charging module (with a small cable that you can connect to any smartphone charger), user manual in English and a screwdriver with four extra screws for the back plate (in case you lose any).

You just have to long press the physical button (the only one present on the watch) to boot up. It’s running Android 5.1 Lollipop. So, it’s your standard Android OS and not Android Wear. With Android OS on board, the watch can basically function like a regular smartphone. You just have to insert a SIM inside (single Nano SIM) by removing the back plate.

The watch is made out of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap. However, the only button on the watch is made out of metal and works well. Also, the back plate of the watch is made out of metal as well. The back features the heart rate sensor as well as the charging pins.

Overall a pretty good watch. It comes with many watch faces (will check all of them in the review) and some of them are really good, like the one in the first picture.

Now, I’ll be checking out the features for the next couple of days. Wait for my review soon. Meanwhile, if you would like me to check out anything specific in the watch, you can mention that in the comments section below.

Check Out ZeBlaze Blitz On Gearbest

More hands on pictures down below.

ZeBlaze Blitz Specs:

Display: 1.33 inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Screen
CPU: MTK6580 Quad Core 1.3GHz
GPU: Mali-400MP
System: Android5.1 (OTA upgrade is supported)
RAM+ROM: 512MB + 4GB
Band length: 27.5cm
Band wide: 2.1cm
Camera: 2.0MP
Bluetooth: V4.0
SIM type: Single Nano SIM card
Functions: Pedometer, Heart Rate Monitor(SAMSUNG Heart Rate Chip Built-in), Waterproof (IP67 Certified), GPS
Network:
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
WCDMA: 850/2100Mhz

OnePlus X Gets Updated to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

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Sep 29, 2016

Earlier this week, OnePlus held an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit. One of the questions asked was when the OnePlus 3 was going to get updated to Nougat. While the answer to that was vague (they said they are actively working on it), the company revealed that the OnePlus X will start getting Android Marshmallow next week.

It will be the last major update for the device based on the fact that all devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 and 801 use graphics drivers not compatible with Android Nougat.

However, the Marshmallow update for the device started rolling out yesterday, which is earlier than expected. The OxygenOs 3.1.2 update on the OnePlus X not only brings along a new version of android but includes October’s security patch, new icon packs, a wallpaper picker, and an improved UX.

Owners of the OnePlus X should also look out for the new OnePlus Music player and OnePlus Gallery apps in the new update. If you remember, these features where mentioned in the community build of OxygenOs 3.1.1 released earlier this month.

The OnePlus X is a 5.0” phone with a Full HD AMOLED display, 3GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 801 chip, 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 256GB via a SD card slot. Its primary camera is a 13MP shooter with PDAF and there’s an 8MP shooter up front. You also get a 2525mAh non-removable battery that supplies juice to the device.

OPPO R9S Passes National 3C Certification: Features 20W Flash Charge

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Sep 29, 2016

OPPO’s best selling phone is the R9 launched early this year. Sporting a 5.5” FHD display, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and Mediatek’s Helio P10 processor, the unique selling point of the phone is its 16MP front facing camera which has made it a favourite amongst selfie lovers.

A few months later, rumours started flying around that the company was already working on a successor due for a September release. While the month is already over, the tale of a successor is true as we have seen the phone called the OPPO R9S get certified by TENAA and heard a source mention the new launch date is now in October.

Today we have news that the OPPO R9S has gotten its 3C Certification. Issued in the company’s official name, GuangDong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp. LTD, the certificate hints that the phone has its own version of VOOC fast charge.

If you look at the last column, where you have the model specifications, it lists the name of the phone as the OPPO R9S. You also have the charger’s output as 5.0V 4A indicating that it supports 20W output power. The charger is said to provide 2 hours of talk time from a 5-minute charge.

Xiaomi is Going Offline, Targets 1000 Retail Stores By 2020

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Sep 28, 2016

Xiaomi has again hinted that it is planning to change from its traditional online sales method to incorporate offline sales via retail stores within the next couple of years. The company has seen declining sales this year occasioned by a poor distribution network for its smartphones which it sells only by online sales presently.

This is not the first time, though, the company is hinting at a shot at the offline sales channel few months back and it came from no less a person than Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun. Lei Jun had disclosed that the company will be building over 1000 physical stores over the next couple of years which are to be 250 square meters large and expected to make monthly sales entering 50 million Yuan based on findings that physical stores make as much as 1.43 million Yuan daily. Lei Jun left off without being specific as to the time frame the plan would come into effect.

However, Xiaomi has come out to reveal that it would be incorporating the offline sales channel fully by 2020. The innovative start-up also hinted that it would build 1000 stores between now and 2020. A Xiaomi spokesman has in this regard disclose that the offline sales expansion plan becomes necessary because the Xiaomi barand has become a household name in China and the new line of sales would increase the company’s visibility in the market. Apart from smartphones, Xiaomi also has a host of gadgets, IOTs in its kitty such as TVs, drones, air purifiers, rice cookers, bluetooth speakers, smart scooters, and smart bikes. But most of these devices are hardly available in the market.

Xiaomi will have the likes of OPPO, Vivo and Huawei to content with in this new channel which will cost the company more revenue. OPPO attained its present success by aggressively charting the course of selling its phones offline and is now ranked second in the domestic mobile phone market in China. This new offline channel will allow Xiaomi fans and prspective buyers to have a feel of the company’s latest devices before buying, something not possible presently. Whatever cost the company would incur by this new method would likely be mitigated when sales starts spiking due to the ability of more customers to get to feel and buy the company’s often innovative phones and smart gadgets easily. Hopefully, this would get the company to the top of the charts where it rightfully belongs.

Xiaomi Mi 5S Teardown: What Lies inside the $300 Flagship?

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