A List of Our Favorite Xiaomi Smart Products

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Mar 5, 2017

Xiaomi releases at least one product every week via their Mijia crowdfunded platform. It is important to mention that a number of these products are released by other companies that have a partnership with Xiaomi. Sometimes it is hard keeping track of all these products and we tend to miss out on some. This post contains our favorite ones released over the past couple of months and some we didn’t cover but still think are pretty cool.

Populele

The Populele is Xiaomi’s take on the musical instrument called a Ukelulele. The Populele is not just a musical instrument but a smart one at that. It has a companion app that teaches a novice how to play the Populele and become good at it in just five minutes. The Populele itself has in-laid LEDs that light up when a key on the app is pushed. The Populele costs just ¥399 (~$58) and will ship at the end of March.

Smart Rear-view Mirror

Most modern cars now come with a parking assistance system that is a combination of a camera that captures what is behind you and a display that shows what the camera sees. The live-feed can either be displayed on a monitor embedded in the dashboard or in the rear view mirror. This product belongs to the second category. However, it does more than just help you to park. There is forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and preceding vehicle starting. The Xiaomi smart rear view mirror is available for ¥999 (~$145).

Xiaomi Selfie Stick/Tripod

This is one of my favorite Xiaomi products. This is a selfie stick and tripod in one device. It’s not the first of its kind as Huawei launched something similar earlier this year.

Selfie sticks are not as popular as they were a few years ago but we will all agree that quite a large number of people are now into video content creation. You do not need an expensive camera rig to begin making your own videos as a phone with a good camera will do the job, but you can improve the quality of your videos if you own a tripod and not have to deal with stabilization issues. I like to think of this as a tripod that doubles as a selfie stick and not the other way round. For just about $13, you can have this 2-in-1 product.

Turok Steinhardt Sunglasses

Xiaomi is not new to glasses as this is their second one in a span of two months. They announced the Roidmi Glasses with anti-UV protection back in January and now they have followed it up with the Turok Steinhardt Sunglasses that also filters out ultraviolet rays. The difference is in the looks. While the Roidmi has a formal appearance, the Turok Steinhardt is for casual or semi-formal occasions. So it doesn’t hurt to own a pair of both.

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LeEco Says It is Not Leaving India, Quells Rumor

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 5, 2017

A few days ago, it ws reported that LeEco India had laid off a large percentage of its staff. The lay off was interpreted as a sign that the company would soon be leaving one of the major smartphone markets in Asia. The company has however issued a statement saying otherwise.

Although the Chinese manufacturer didn’t dispute the layoff, but it says it has no plans to leave as “India is one of the most strategic markets for LeEco”. It even added that it is preparing for the launch of its next generation TV in the country.

A company representative also revealed to Reuters that there are 80 employees at the moment, down from about 350 at the end of last year.

LeEco’s woes started when the content of a memo written by CEO, Jia Yueting was made public. The memo warned of an impending cash crunch caused by a rapid expansion at an “unprecedented rate”.

A former employee who also spoke to Reuters said he had resigned after six months because the letter left him discouraged. The unnamed ex-employee said “I joined the company in mid 2016, and there were a lot of promised projects in the pipeline. The projects were all stalled and that got me worried”.

If LeEco isn’t going anywhere, it is still evident that it has scaled back on its operations massively. The small team on ground is probably just for the sake of product releases like its smart TVs, bluetooth speakers, and headphones.

(Source, via)

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 May Have Curved AMOLED Display Taking up to 93% Front Area

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Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 5, 2017

Xiaomi has already announced that it will be releasing a follow up version to its popular concept phone from last year, the Xiaomi Mi MIX. The new device is currently called the Mi MIX 2 and will see French designer, Philippe Starck return as lead industrial designer.

Today, we have gotten info on some new features the phone may come with. According to the source, Xiaomi is expected to switch up the screen to a curved AMOLED display that covers up to 93% of the front of the device. The original Mi MIX has a 6.4-inch LCD screen that covers just 91.3% of the front part. If the new screen will cover a larger area, that means the bezel will be thinner.

The source also says the Mi MIX 2 will still retain the ceramic body design and and bone conduction audio technology. We also get a clarification on the fingerprint scanner which will now be in front. Previous report had said it will be embedded underneath the display itself but according to the source, the scanner will be positioned just below the display.

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Smartphone Fast Charging Speed Comparison: Huawei vs OPPO vs Vivo vs Samsung vs Apple

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 4, 2017

The battle line is drawn, but this is no Shuai jiao contest, neither is it your favorite Wrestlemania or Boxing bout. Instead, this a comparison of the speed of the fast charging technologies featured on the smartphones of the top five global smartphone companies. In case you’ve forgotten, Samsung, Apple, Huawei, OPPO and Vivo occupy the top 5 spots in terms of mobile phone shipments globally for 2016. While Samsung, Apple and Huawei had built formidable reputations for themselves over the years, OPPO rode on the back of its VOOC fast charge technology on the OPPO R9 to help shore up its sales, the result of which is still being felt today. Fellow Chinese co-traveller Vivo also has fast charging technologies which is one of its main selling points.

So, the fast charging feature onboard the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro, Huawei Mate 9, OPPO R9 Plus and Vivo X9 Plus are put to test, all at the same time and the same battery level (0%) to determine which one actually charges faster. To set the records straight, the Galaxy C9 Pro, Mate 9, R9 Plus and X9 Plus, all have 4,000mAh battery capacity, while the iPhone 7 Plus comes with a 2910mAh battery. We must also point out that the iPhone 7 Plus doesn’t come with fast charging support but then, it is one of the top selling and most expensive smartphones so it squares up against the others.

After 5 minutes of charge (results pictured above), OPPO R9S Plus was able to attain 8% battery capacity while the Huawei Mate 9 got 10%, the highest level of the lot. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus was just at 4%, the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro at 7% and the Vivo X9 Plus surprisingly was at 9%.

In 30 minutes (results pictured above), the Huawei Mate 9 with its innovative fast charging technology was well ahead at 56%, the R9 Plus and Vivo X9 Plus was trailing at 49% apiece, the Galaxy C9 Pro at 36% and finally the iPhone 7 Plus was only at 19%.

In 60 minutes (results pictured above), the Mate 9 and R9 Plus were both at 89% while the X9 Plus had gotten to 86%. The Samsung galaxy C9 Pro was trailing at 68% and then the iPhone 7 Plus at 38%. Obviously, Apple iPhones don’t come with fast charge support and that really has no effect on sales, but it sure would have made a lot of difference to add that to their selling points.

At 90 minutes (results pictured above), only the Huawei Mate 9 had attained full 100% charge, an applaudable feat. The OPPO R9 Plus was very close by at 98% of charge, the Vivo X9 Plus was also at 98% while the Galaxy C9 Pro was at 95%. The iPhone 7 Plus was still lagging behind at 57% even when it had a smaller battery capacity.

The test allowed the charge time to extend to 150 minutes and in that time as shown above, the Mate 9 and R9 Plus had stopped charging. The Vivo X9 Plus and Galaxy C9 Pro had also reached 100% in 150 minutes, while the Phone 7 Plus was only at 69%.

The test had to be stretched to 190 minutes (pictured above), that is 3 hours and 10 minutes before the iPhone 7 Plus charged up to 100%. That is quite slow, but with an efficient Apple A10 chip onboard, the battery isn’t expected to drain as fast as the others.

From the graph based on the fast charge test results, the Huawei Mate 9 with the steepest curve has the most efficient fast charge technology. This is followed by the OPPO R9 Plus and its VOOC fast charge technology. OPPO and Vivo are from the same parent company, so it is no surprise that the Vivo X9 Plus has almost similar charge pattern. The Galaxy C9 Pro followed closely and finally the iPhone 7 Plus came quite a distance behind the quartet.

(via)

Yotaphone 3 in Development Confirms Manufacturer

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 4, 2017

The original Yotaphone was released in 2013 as the first smartphone in the world with 2 screens. It had a 4.3-inch 720p primary display and a second always-on 4.3-inch grayscale screen on the back. It was followed by a second generation model that had a larger 5.0-inch 1080p screen on one side and a second 4.7-inch grayscale screen on the other hand.

The Yotaphone 2 was supposed to be followed by a cheaper version called the Yotaphone 2C but that didn’t happen. They also had to cancel a North American release of the Yotaphone 2 in 2015. Just before the end of 2015, the Russian company announced that it was partnering with ZTE to release the Yotaphone 3 in Q1 2016. Up until this moment, the device hasn’t been released.

Most folks would have already given up on the device, but a response on the official Instagram page says the Yotaphone 3 is still in development. No details of the upcoming product were revealed but if fans of the brand have to wait this long, we believe it should be worth the wait.

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Top 10 Smartphones On AnTuTu In February 2017

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2017

AnTuTu’s top 10 list of best-performing smartphones in various categories have been released and it covers smartphone brands from around the world and the domestic Chinese brand. The chart is based on the average performance of the smartphones in benchmark tests and the list contains a few new entrants but on the whole several others retain their position. Benchmark test performance is predicated mostly on the processor the smartphone packs and in this case, the Snapdragon 821 continues to dominate.

Of course, there are no major surprises as we are yet to see a chipset which squares up to the Apple A10 chip. Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chip and Samsung’s Exynos 8895 would likely trump the Apple flagship chip but they are yet to find their way into smartphones, at least not anyone in the market.

On the overall performance, the Apple iPhone 7 Plus powered by the A10 chip maintain its top position for several months running now. It is closely followed by the iPhone 7 which has a slightly lower clock speed on its chip than the 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus also happens to be Apple’s most powerful smartphone at present. At the number 3 position is the Snapdragon 821-powered OnePlus 3T and at number four is the SD 821-powered LeEco Le Pro 3. Smartisan released the Hammer M1L late last year with a Snapdragon 821 chip inside and it occupies the fifth spot.

The 6th to 10th position is occupied by Lenovo ZUK Edge, OnePlus 3, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus, Mi 5S and Mi Note 2 in that order. It is worthy of note that all five smartphones are powered by the Snapdragon 821 but with different clock frequency, hence the varying AnTuTu benchmark score. On the whole, only the Apple iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 use a different chipset other than Snapdragon 821 processor.

All eight smartphones are Chinese brands and so occupy the top eight spot in the top 10 domestic brands category. The remaining two slots are occupied by the Xiaomi Mi 5 and Vivo Xplay 6 respectively. Both the Mi 5 and XPlay 6 are powered by the Snapdragon 820 chipset. As a parting shot, it is noticed that none of Samsung’s smartphones made it up the ladder into the top 10 and that is a curious scenario. Do you know why? Drop it off in the comment section if you do.

(source)

Xiaomi Walkie Talkie Hands-on Images Fresh Out of the Box

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2017

Xiaomi launched its Meter Walkie Talkie yesterday with a cheap price tag and some features, top of which is an 8-day standby time. Here are some hands-on images of the Xiaomi Walkie Talkie captured from different angles.

As stated, the walkie talkie offers up to 8 days of standby time but that comes down to 17 hours of consistent use. There is also an FM Radio on the walkie talkie. The walkie-talkie is suitable for two-way communication in urban centres, in the wild and several locations and works fine within a range of 10km apart and also has GPS functionality. It has a UHF frequency range of 403-470MHz, and VHF frequency range of 136-174MHz and automatically filter out noise and interference signals while in use.

The antenna is detachable, sitting at the top end of the device, side-by-side with the volume nob. Just under the display are some set of buttons which includes the frequency selector and other functions. It features a USB type charging port, so the regular Android phone charger should be able to charge the gadget. In all, the design is minimalistic but then, it is just a walkie-talkie, not a smartphone.

The Xiaomi WalkieTalkie comes in white and black color options. It will go on sale on March 3 via Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi home, Jingdong, Lynx and Suning, all at the same time (0.00 hour) with a cheap price tag of 249 Yuan ($36). You can check out more images of the walkie talkie from down below.

(via)

Huawei Honor Magic Hands On: All the Magic Is In The Software

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 3, 2017

Huawei announced its unique smartphone, the Huawei Honor Magic back in December 2016. This was a pretty different flagship from the numerous offerings available in the market, mainly because of its smart personalized features to enhance the overall user experience.

Naturally, the company showcased its innovative device at CES 2017 and the same was up for display at MWC 2017 as well. We got a chance to play around with this unique handset and here are our Huawei Honor Magic Hands on images and impressions.

The Huawei Honor Magic comes with a unique design that is curved on all the eight sides. So, the phone is curved both on the front as well as the back, boasting of perfect symmetry in design. This helps in making the grip more comfortable and with the premium 3D glass used on the device, the Honor Magic felt great in our hands.

While the phone looks great from the outside, what’s really the highlight of the Huawei Honor Magic is its software personalizations. There are a lot of interesting features embedded right into the device to offer a much better UI experience. For example, there’s a DeepThink feature that will reveal relevant data based on the information on the webpage. All you have to do is long-press the home button to activate this feature. Then there’s the Facecode Intelligent Recognition which recognizes your face to reveal messages on screen. Only those faces pre-registered on the device will be able to view the messages.

Another interesting feature is the WiseScreen Sensor Magic Intelligent sensor which uses the front infrared sensor as well as the sensors inbuilt into the device to unlock and activate the screen if it recognizes you as the person picking up the phone.

Along with the impressive software features, the Huawei Honor Magic comes with pretty decent specs as well. The phone boasts of a 5.09-inch display with 2K resolution. The phone is powered by Kirin 950 chipset under the hood and comes with a home button up front that accepts multiple gestures. The rear camera on the phone is pretty good, featuring dual 12MP sensors with f/2.2, 1.4um pixels and 6P lens with dual tone flash. Up front, there is an 8MP f/2.0 selfie shooter. Full Honor Magic specs here.

As for connectivity, the Huawei Honor Magic comes with standard USB port, 3.5mm headphone jack as well as SIM card slot at the bottom of the phone. The power button and volume buttons are all located on the right while the left side is clean.

Check out the Huawei Honor Magic Hands on images from below:

Samsung Already Stockpiling Over 12 million Galaxy S8 units Ahead of Launch Day

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2017

There are unconfirmed reports from South Korea that Samsung has started mass producing the Galaxy S8 units in its factory in Vietnam as it hopes to sell more than 10 million units of the smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is Samsung’s next big thing which it hopes to use to get over the loss accrued from the discontinuation and recall of the Galaxy Note 7. The company is ensuring it dots its Is and crosses its Ts in order to deliver a phenomenal smartphone which would take the market by storm.

The report on South Korea’s Naver Publication says Samsung intends to produce 4.7 million Galaxy S8 series smartphones in March and another 7.8 million units in April. This combines for a total of 12.5 million units which would be available in the first month of availability of the Galaxy S8. Reason being that Samsung aims to put it up for sales immediately after the March 29th announcement event.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 comes in two variants, one having a 5.8-inch display and another known as Galaxy S8+ with a larger 6.2-inch display. Both versions will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset. Even though Samsung is intent on aggressively marketing the next-gen flagship, it hasn’t officially revealed the figures it hoped to produce or when sales would commence. This latest report could just be mere speculations but then, you never can tell, it may just be accurate. The Galaxy S8 would drop on March 29.

(source)

Lenovo Miix 320 Hands On: Cheap 2-in-1 Convertible With Amazing Built Quality For Those On the Go

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 3, 2017

Although Lenovo’s Yoga laptop series is much more popular among customers, the new Lenovo Miix 320 is actually a worthy convertible made for people on a budget. Before we move on to its specs, note that the convertible is available for just $200, which is great given that this comes from a notable brand like Lenovo.

Despite its affordable pricing, the Lenovo Miix 320 comes with amazing built quality. The tablet snaps onto the keyboard dock pretty firmly thanks to its magnetic connectors. The display is pretty decent and comes with a 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution screen. While the viewing angles are not great, the overall display quality is pretty good. It’s a basic convertible that offers decent productivity for people who are always on the go. The fact that the tablet weighs just 550 grams by itself and 1.02 kg with the keyboard dock makes it travel-friendly. Further, the 10-hour battery life will make sure that the Lenovo Miix 320 runs almost an entire day.

Coming to the specs, the Lenovo Miix 320 features an Intel Atom X5 processor with Intel HD graphics. The Atom processor does not instill much confidence in its processing ability, but for the company’s targeted user base — freelancers, travelers, and the ‘meeting marathoner’, this specs sheet should be enough. There’s 4GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC memory along with dual-band Wi-Fi with optional LTE connectivity (costs more). At the back, there is a 5MP camera while up front, there is a 2MP sensor. Other features include Windows 10 with Windows Continuum support along with support for Active Pen as well.

The Lenovo Miix 320 will go on sale around April 2017 for a price tag of $199 (with keyboard dock for the non-LTE model).

The Hisense Rock Is the Nokia 6 We Deserve

By

Joel Joseph

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Mar 3, 2017

Hisense is a relatively unknown brand in the smartphone industry, but the company smart TVs are quite famous worldwide. The same company has now showcased a brand new smartphone, the Hisense Rock at MWC 2017. We were present at the big tech event the past few days and came across this interesting smartphone.

One of the biggest features of the Hisense Rock is that it’s a super rugged device. You can smash it to the ground, throw it around and the phone comes out fine with barely any sign of scratches. In fact, Hisense was happy to demonstrate the rugged ability of the phone by throwing it around. This along with IP68 certification makes sure that the phone is built to last even in extreme conditions. The best thing about the phone is its looks. The Hisense Rock, despite being built like the rock, doesn’t look like a rock. The phone actually comes with a pleasant design, which is kind of rare in the super rugged smartphone category.

Specs wise, the Hisense Rock comes quite close to the Nokia 6 smartphone. So, the phone comes with the Snapdragon 430 chipset under the hood clocked at 1.4GHz with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. This is further expandable via MicroSD. Other features of the phone include a 3000mAh battery, Android 7 Nougat, 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front shooter. So, it is well placed in the lower mid-range category, with decent specs, much like the recently announced (globally) Nokia 6.

Check out the hands-on images of the Hisense Rock down below:

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Said To Come With In-Display Fingerprint, Launching In The Second Half of 2017

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 3, 2017

It is now certain that Xiaomi will launch a next generation version of the Mi Mix sometime this year, Lei Jun had already indicated that renowned French designer Philip Starck would still design the Mi Mix 2. More details of the Mi Mix 2 are gradually emerging and as should be expected, the device would likely be packed with lots of innovative features.

Recently, Chinese company Goodix unveiled its new in-display fingerprint technology at MWC 2017. The technology which is the first of its kind is capable of transforming a defined part of the display into a fingerprint sensor, thus removing the need for a fingerprint sensor button or a rear-mounted sensor. Later on, analyst Sun Changxu hinted that Apple would feature the in-display fingerprint technology on the iPhone 8 but before then, a domestic Chinese phone manufacturer would use the technology first.

Industry analyst, Pan Jiutang has now revealed that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 would use the in-display fingerprint technology and also would be lauched sometime in the second half of this year. Apart from being the first smartphone from an indigenous Chinese manufacturer to use the fingerprint security feature, the Mi Mix 2 is expected to come with a screen-to-body ratio higher than the 91.3% screen-to-body ratio the Mi Mix came with. There are also likely to be a number of innovative features on the next gen flagship.

No doubt, it is one device to look forward to, even when we are yet to see enough of the Mi Mix due to its low supply. But we have the assurance of Xiaomi’s President, Lin Bin that production of thecurrent generation Mi Mix would be shored up, so expect the flagship to become available in reasonable quantity soon.

(source)

Gresso 3310 Gives A Splash Of Luxury To the Legendary Nokia 3310 Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 3, 2017

The all new Nokia 3310 feature phone was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017. Soon after its launch, a well-known designer phone and accessory manufacturer, Gresso has announced a luxury feature phone called the Meridian.

The Gresso Meridian is a perfect blend of luxury and simplicity that comes in two models. The first one is Titanium Edition that is made from titanium along with a stainless-steel keyboard. It comes in three variants Meridian M1, Meridian M2 and Meridian M3. The M1 is priced at $3,000 and it has titanium body and sand-blasted borders.

The M2’s titanium chassis is coupled with hand-polished borders. It is priced at $4,000. Both variants sport titanium logos. The M3 that costs $4,500 also features titanium chassis and hand-polished borders coupled with 18k yellow gold logo.

The Black Edition is made up of 18k Gold coated with PVD coated titanium and it also comes in three models such as Meridian M4, Meridian M5 and Meridian M6. The M4 features steel keyboard and is priced at $5,000. The M5 has 9 keys made up of 18k yellow gold. It is priced at $8,500. lastly, the M6 has 21 keys made of 18k yellow gold. It the costliest variant that is priced at Rs. 9,500. All the variants come with 12 months warranty.

Related: Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design Vs Gionee M2017: Which Luxury Phone is Worth Your Money?

It takes around 8 hours to assemble one model. Hence, the company will be manufacturing a limited edition of 999 units. The Gresso Meridian is a dual SIM phone that bears a thickness of 9.9 mm and measures 121.4 x 52.5 mm. Its weight is 125 grams.

The Gresso Meridian comes an inbuilt storage of 32 GB. For photography, it includes a 3-megapixel camera. For connectivity, it is equipped with features like GPRS, Edge, v3.0 Bluetooth and microUSB. The exact size of its battery is not known, but the technical details page of the phone says that it can offer a standby time of 375 hours and a talk time of 5.3 hours.

(source)

Alcatel A5 LED Hands On: The world’s first interactive LED-covered smartphone

By

Linus

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Mar 2, 2017

The most interesting phone Alcatel had to show at MWC was the Alcatel A5 LED model.

The highlight of the phone is the back panel, which can light up in a lot of different ways. Alcatel calls the Alcatel A5 LED “The world’s first interactive LED-covered smartphone”.

That means that the LED will light up when you receive all sorts of notifications e.g. phone calls, messages etc.

Also, the LEDs will light according to the music you listen to. In addition, you will be able to customize the LED lights in a lot of different ways.

Another key feature is the 5MP front-facing camera that has the LED light for night selfies.

Although the phone is made of plastic, it looks and feels great in the hand.

The key specs include a 5.2” 720P display, an octa-core Mediatek MT6753 CPU, 2GB RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. Also, the phone has an 8MP camera on the back. Finally, the device has a 2800 mAh battery.

I spent just 15 mins with the device but so far it seems that the UI is clean and fast, there are no hiccups or lag.

The A5 LED will be available in Europe from May onwards for 199 EUR.

The Alcatel A3 is aimed at budget-minded users. The phone will be available in Europe from May onwards for 149 Euros.

The device is made of plastic but it has nice metal frame that goes all around the device.

The key specs include a 5.0” 720P display, a quad-core MediaTek MT6737 CPU, 1.5GB or RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. Also, the phone has a 13MP camera on the back along with the fingerprint scanner. Finally, the device has a 2460 mAh battery.

Another device that Alcatel released carries U5 model name. The Alcatel U5 will be available in Europe from May onwards for 99 Euros.

It is one of the cheapest phones the company has made and therefore, it has low-end specs like Mediatek MT6737M chip, 1GB of RAM and just 8GB of expandable storage.

Still, the phone has a textured back cover and it feels great in the hand. The user interface has preserved most of the stock Android looks and so far it seems nice and fast.

We will soon get the phones for the review, so stay to Gizmochina!

Rumor: Xiaomi Mi 6 Official Release Date and New Specs Revealed

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 2, 2017

Xiaomi has had a busy week. They announced their new processor the Surge S1; two new phones, the Xiaomi Mi 5C and the Redmi 4X; and a walkie talkie and a train recorder via their Mijia crowdfunding platform. In spite of all these new releases, the most anticipated launch is still that of the Xiaomi Mi 6 and it seems we might already have a date for it.

An undisclosed source has revealed that Xiaomi’s next flagship will be released next month with the date likely to be April 16. The source also says the Mi 6 will still be the first domestic smartphone sporting the Snapdragon 835 chipset.

Another important detail revealed is that the Snapdragon 835 will not be under-clocked on the Mi 6. Fans of the brand will know Xiaomi is fond of releasing one flagship variant with an under-clocked processor. This will definitely come as good news to them.

The source also mentioned that the Xiaomi Mi 6 will have a 5.2-inch LCD display with a 2.5D glass and a ceramic body variant. It will also have a camera similar to that of Sony’s new Xperia XZ Premium.

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Google Pixel 2 to Release in October With Premium Design; Pixel 2B Rumors Axed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 2, 2017

Google announced its first smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL in October last year. Google’s Senior Vice President for Hardware, Rick Osterloh has revealed some information on the upcoming Google Pixel 2 flagship in an interview with AndroidPit.

In the previous month, rumors started swirling that the Google Pixel 2 would be arriving with an enhanced camera that will bring improvements like dim light photography along with some new features. The report also revealed that it would be coming with an improved processor, which is pretty much expected from a successor phone.

The report also claimed that Google will be targeting emerging markets by releasing Google Pixel 2B smartphone. It would be carrying significantly cheaper pricing than the Pixel 2 to bring Google experience to the developing markets.

In an interview, Osterloh has said “Pixel stays premium” which means Google will not be releasing a budget friendly phone that is allegedly called Pixel 2B. He added that Google will let other smartphone manufactures to target the lower price segments.

Related: Google Pixel 2 Renders Leaked

As far as the release date of Google Pixel 2 is concerned, Osterloh stated, “”There is an annual rhythm in the industry. So, you can count on us to follow it.” He further added, “You can count on a successor this year, even if you don’t hear a date from me now.” Since the Google Pixel and Pixel XL were announced in October 2016, it is likely that the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be launched in October this year.

Since flagship phones of 2017 are expected to mainly feature Snapdragon 835 chipset, it is likely that the rumored Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 would come with the same chipset. Since they are pegged to release in the last quarter of 2016, it may feature an upgraded version of SD 835.

Even though Google Pixel and Pixel XL are manufactured by HTC, these smartphones are tagged as “Made by Google” and they do not carry HTC logos. This year too, the search engine giant is expected to build Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 in collaboration with a popular smartphone maker. As of this writing, there is no news on which company Google will partner with for its upcoming phones.

(source)

Sony Xperia XZ Premium Wins Award for Best New Smartphone at MWC 2017 By Beating LG G6, Huawei P10 Plus

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 2, 2017

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has won the award for the Best New Smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 that was held between Feb. 27 to March 2. It was awarded by the GSM Association (aka GSMA), a trade entity that represents the interests of mobile operators across the globe. It is the organization that hosts the MWC 2017 annual event.

The Huawei P10 Plus and LG G6 were also unveiled at MWC 2017. The impressive specs and stunning design of Xperia XZ Premium managed to beat these smartphones to win the Best New Smartphone award by GSMA. Here are some of the amazing features of Sony Xperia XZ Premium:

Stunning Design

Even though the Xperia Z series has been discontinued, the Xperia XZ Premium still carries its Omnibalance design. It is flanked with Gorilla Glass 5 panels on the front and rear gives it a premium appeal. On the front, it is flanked with Sony’s signature front-facing stereo speakers.

One of the striking features of Xperia XZ Premium is its amazing mirror finish. It comes in two colors like Luminous Chrome and Deepsea Black. The IP68 certification ensures that Xperia XZ Premium is a water and dust resistant device. Here are some of the official images of Xperia XZ Premium:

Marvelous 4K Display

The Xperia XZ Premium is the second smartphone from Sony to come with 4K display that offers a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. Its predecessor, Xperia Z5 Premium also came with a 4K screen. The 5.5-inch Triluminous display of Xperia XZ Premium produces 40 percent more brightness and offers 801 ppi. With HDR support, it produces richer colors and better contrast.

Impressive Hardware

Sony Xperia XZ Premium is the first commercial smartphone to arrive with Snapdragon 835 chipset that is built with 10nm manufacturing process. It is coupled with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot.

Awesome Rear Camera

The Motion Eye 19-megapixel rear camera is the first smartphone to support super slow motion HD quality video shooting at 960 fps. Its Predictive Capture enabled with dedicated inbuilt memory, is capable of snapping up to 4 photos before the user presses the camera button. The result is it snaps moving images like Live Photos on iPhones. Some of the other features include hybrid autofocus, SteadyShot 5-axis stabilization, and anti-distortion.

Other Features

The Xperia XZ Premium features a USB-Type-C port and it runs on Android 7.1 Nougat OS. Its power button houses the fingerprint scanner. In some regions like the U.S., the fingerprint scanner feature is disabled. It is packed with a 3,230 mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0

Sony Xperia XZ Premium Pricing, Release Date

The Japanese tech giant did not confirm the pricing of Xperia XZ Premium at its launch event on Feb. 27. However, it is expected to cost $799. It is slated to launch in late spring. The Xperia XZ Premium was unveiled alongside Xperia XZs, Xperia XA1, and Xperia XA1 Ultra.

Lenovo Moto G5 & G5 Plus Hands On: Improved Built, Stock Android UI

By

Linus

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Mar 2, 2017

Moto G lineup has been one of the most successful in the budget segment of smartphones. Lenovo just launched the G5 and G5 Plus at MWC Barcelona, let’s take a quick look at them.

Although the design has changed a little, you can clearly see that the phones follow Motorola’s design language.

The Moto G5 may feel a bit plasticky compared to the G5 Plus since it uses more metal in the construction. Still, both phones look and feel substantial in the hand and comfortable to hold.

In addition, the G5 Plus is a tad bigger since it has a 5.2” display as opposed to the 5” screen found on the G5. Both panels are covered with the Gorilla Glass 3 for scratch resistance.

Also, the G5 Plus has more sheer power as it uses a Snapdragon 625 chip in comparison the 430 processor used in the G5.

The G5 will have 16/32GB storage options and 2/3GB of RAM while the G5 Plus will come in the either 32 or 64GB storage options.

Another department where the G5 Plus takes the lead is the camera. The phone uses a 12MP shooter with a f/1.7 lens whereas the G5 has a 13MP snapper with f/2.0 lens.

One of my favorite features on both phones is the software. Each device runs on the stock Android 7.0 out of the box with a few added features. For example, we have the gesture controls that work very well. There’s also support for the new Google Assistant, so you’ll be able to send messages, make calls, navigate, manage everyday tasks and more, just by holding the Home button.

Both devices will launch internationally but only the G5 Plus is going to make it to the U.S market. The G5 will cost about 199 EUR in Europe while the G5 Plus will cost around $250 in the US. Both devices will be available for purchase some time in March.

So far both phones have been very fast and responsive, they look and feel great but these are just the first impressions. Make sure to stay tuned to Gizmochina for the full reviews.

A New Version Of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Spotted On TENAA

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 2, 2017

Xiaomi launched the Mi Note 2 late last year alongside the Mi Mix but the device has not been readily available due to production factor. The Mi Note 2 came with a curved OLED display which gives it a uniquely different look from other Xiaomi smartphones. The OLED panel is said to be a flexible type, supplied by LG and due to the flexibility production output has been low.

Now, what is likely another version of the Mi Note 2 has been spotted on TENAA where it was certified. The TENAA listed device has the model number 2015212. The spectacular thing about the TENAA listing, apart from the specs which align, is the model number which follows closely, those of the Mi Note 2 versions released. Ni Note 2 first appeared in 4GB and 6GB RAM versions having model numbers 2015211 and 2015213.

Unfortunately, the TENAA listing wasn’t accompanied by images of the smartphone, so we can’t ascertain if it is really the Mi Note 2. But it is likely Xiaomi is will modify a few features on this model like a lower RAM size or using a normal OLED instead of the flexible one in order to boost production output. However, the device is listed as packing a 5.7-inch display with a dimension of 156.2 x 77.2 x 7.6mm and a battery capacity of 4070mAh. All similar with the Mi Note 2 presently in the market.

(via)

Galaxy S8 Plus Seen on GeekBench with Snapdragon 835

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Mar 2, 2017

Samsung’s next flagship is the Galaxy S8. It will also feature a larger variant called the Galaxy S8 Plus which has been spotted on GeekBench earlier today.

The Galaxy S8 Plus is expected to feature a 6-inch display with curved display. The phone is listed as SM-G955U and is equipped with the msm8998 aka Snapdragon 835. It also sports 4GB of RAM and runs Android 7.0 Nougat.

The benchmark scores shows the phone pulling in 1929 points in the single-core test and 6084 points in the multi-core test. The scores are close to that of a Snapdragon 835 test device that was benchmarked early last month.

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