The long-running saga surrounding the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus “Loop Disease” issue is finally coming to an end with compensation to the users. Former owners of these devices are now receiving settlement payment of up to $350, which, of course, is part of the $35 million class action lawsuit.

The issue and the settlement

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were widely praised when they launched in 2016 and 2017. However, some users experienced a problem dubbed “Loop Disease.” This issue, allegedly caused by applying pressure on a specific part of the phone, led to degraded audio quality. Not to mention, it affected the calling experience of the smartphone as well.

A class action lawsuit was filed years ago. After being approved last year, the compensation is finally reaching the users who participated in the class action lawsuit. Most claimants are receiving around $200. Although users who paid for repairs related to that issue could get up to $350.

Apple agreed to the $35 million settlement without admitting any wrongdoing or liability. The deadline to join the lawsuit passed last summer. So only those who filed claims by then are eligible for the compensation.

While the settlement provides some relief for affected customers, the bulk of the $35 million fund, as reported by 9to5Mac, will go to the attorneys who brought the case forward. Still, for former iPhone 7 users, receiving a few hundred dollars in 2025 is a welcome resolution to a frustrating issue.

This isn’t the first time Apple has faced a class action lawsuit though. Last fall, customers who owned MacBooks with problematic butterfly keyboards began receiving payments as part of a separate settlement.

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A Briton has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging battery throttling of older iPhones. The legal claim by consumer rights advocate Justin Gutmann is worth £750 million ($927 million). Gutmann is seeking reimbursement for the over 25 million affected iPhone users in the United Kingdom. He claims Apple took a secret decision to slow down older iPhones in 2017.

Justin Gutmann stated that Apple made older iPhones to be slower in coping with software updates. An undocumented battery management update released in January 2017 led to the slow performance of older iPhones. This was to prevent the devices from shutting down without warning. Apple did not provide users with an option of disabling the battery management setting. In addition, the company did not warn users that their phones were being deliberately throttled. Gutmann alleged that the throttling was meant to mask the fact that the older iPhone batteries couldn’t cope with the new update demands.

Gutmann launched the claim against Apple at the Competition Appeals Tribunal. The claim, if successful, will cover the 25 million older iPhones in the UK that were affected. The affected phones included the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE. Others were the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. Gutmann said Apple ought to have initiated a battery replacement program or admit that the update was unsuitable for older devices. Rather, the company allowed users to install the update knowing that it will worsen their device’s performance.

Gutmann says Apple was unethical in its approach to the issue as it ought to have come out clean to its customers. The concealment meant that some users experienced significant slowdowns in their devices. He says he was pursuing the case on behalf of millions of iPhone users across the UK. He also hopes that the case will spur dominant companies to review their business models and desist from such unwholesome conduct.

It was after a year that Apple had acknowledged the throttling issues. It claimed that the update was meant to address the problem of older phones shutting down. It claims it never set out to intentionally shorten the life of the affected phones. Apple continues to grapple with a litany of lawsuits challenging various aspects of its operations. This new lawsuit adds to the list. If successful, older iPhone users in the UK could get up to $30 from Apple.

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• Apple’s upcoming 14.1 inch iPad may not feature Mini LED ProMotion display

(source)

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Back in 2016, Apple got rid of the 3.5mm interface for the first time starting with the iPhone 7. Aside from that, the Cupertino giant dumped the digital headphone jack, wireless headset, as well as the true wireless headset. Leaving no trace on the phone or tablet, the 3.5mm interface slowly became a thing of the past.

There are no prizes for guessing that music lovers with serious, retro feelings couldn’t bear the elimination of the 3.5mm interface as they were left with no choice but to go for Android players. Much to their relief, Apple did not dump the iPod product line but quietly updated it after four years i.e. in 2019 in the form of the seventh generation iPod touch. Let’s check out if the newfangled iPod fills the bill.

The entire contents of the seventh-generation iPod touch package are only the main body, headphones, data cable and manual.

WHEN THE STRONGEST IPOD WAS DEVELOPED

The 3.5mm interface is without an iota of doubt the most important part of the product. Whether it is a niche brand with a moving iron headset, or a recently launched IE500 PRO such as Sennheiser, the 3.5mm jack is standard. In other words, a playback device needs to be compatible with it.

In the iPhone 7 era, the company added the Lightning to 3.5mm converter as part of evolution without charging extra for it. A slew of other Android playback devices ended up adopting this feature later. It can be recalled that reports of the Meizu Hi-Fi USB-C getting replaced by the 3.5mm decoding amp were doing the rounds online not too long ago.

The advantages the 3.5mm interface on the 7th generation iPod touch are simply undeniable. This equipment is certainly clear of any encumbrances when it comes to traditional music players.

The iPod touch supports AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Fidelity Compression, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3).), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) and Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+) in multiple formats.

It is worth noting that apple music members who are willing to shell out just 100 yuan in order to make a package can take care of multiple problems.

Following 12 major versions of the upgrade, Apple has finally completed its own ecological chain. Based on subscription services and app store, members are free to choose services such as QQ Music, and Netease Cloud Music. Students who fancy asking for more are eligible for acquiring a 2.8MHz DSD, 96k/24bit audio source via Sony’s selected Hi-Res streaming media music app. You can rely on a third-party app such as foobar2000 in order to play your personalized collection of lossless audio formats.

The performance of the A10 Fusion processor has undergone a radical overhaul after a whopping 12 upgrades, making it good enough to handle all the primary audio sources. The iPod touch can be described as an iPhone without a call function. In addition to offering calling and texting functions, there’s negligible difference between the iPhone and the iPod touch.

For the sake of an instance, the audio is re-enhanced by the third-party amp, and the amp is externally connected through the Lightning interface, eventually pushing a higher-impedance earphone.

On top of that, iPod touch supports Bluetooth 4.1, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless communication, HomePod, AirPods or third-party Bluetooth speakers, true wireless headphones, can be compatible with iPod touch.

BATTERY LIFE

The seventh-generation iPod touch offers no improvements in terms of battery life, retaining the previous level. It offers an impressive pure music playback of up to forty hours, while pure video playback is up to an equally imposing eight hours.

POCKET-FRIENDLY

Sporting an easily readable 4-inches screen, the seventh generation iPod touch weighs in at just 88 grams (with battery), making it an easy-to-carry device that fits into the pockets, unlike any iPhone. It is a good choice to replace the iPhone as a music player for workout or jogging.

Powered by a competent A10 Fusion processor, the iPod touch offers a high 1136×640 screen resolution on the 4-inches screen. When tested, heavy games such as Akira’s Ark and King’s Glory were playable without any sort of lag.

Those who fancy playing their favorite games on big-screen mobile devices, the 4-inch screen might seem a bit too small. To make things more challenging, the screen is encompassed by a traditional thick border design, creating a noteworthy gap with the existing mainstream borderless design.

While the A10 Fusion is good enough to run most games at 1136×640 resolution, it is highly recommended to go for a bigger screen if you are a student who prefers superior mobile gaming experience.

Giving you something to cheer about, the 7th generation iPod touch delivers 3 times faster graphics performance than its predecessor, while the rear-mounted 8MP camera enables you to achieve seamless gaming experience and an uninterrupted AR application. This is unachievable with the previous version of the iPod touch.

Eliminating the communication task, the entertainment and auxiliary nature made seventh-generation iPod touch even better. It can be used as a shared remote control at home so that you can stay in touch with your loved ones or monitor your home using Siri, HomePod, or smart home. As if that weren’t enough, you can bundle it with a myriad of older devices for a longer duration.

Essentially, the iPod touch can be used in the living room, in the bedroom, or in a fixed location for a longer period of time, without being upset in situations like forgetting to carry the iPhone.

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According to the latest report from Flurry Analytics, the sales of this year’s iPhone XS are stronger than the iPhone X and iPhone 8 launched last year. To estimate the sales, the company used dated from over a million mobile apps.

Flurry Analytics’ data indicates that this year’s flagship iPhones have proved to be a significant success for Apple. This too even before the iPhone XR, which is the cheapest among the three phones launched this year, is yet to go on sale.

In the first week itself, the iPhone XS gained an overall iPhone market share of 0.42 percent. The bigger XS Max was more successful, capturing 0.68 percent share of all iPhones currently in use in the U.S. The total combined share stands at 1.1 percent of all iPhones in just one week.

The company further added that the sales of iPhone XS and the XS Max in the first week has beat out the sales of last year’s iPhone 8 and the 8 Plus. It says that the like-for-like comparison shows that Apple generated 7 percent more revenue from iPhone XS/Max sales than the combined sales of the iPhone X and iPhone 8/Plus in the equivalent periods last year.

According to Flurry Analytics, the trend will continue into the holidays. It said:

Our net takeaway is that Apple is able still able to drive solid market share uptake with its latest devices, but is also actively raising prices to keep revenue growing. The strategy appears to be working, and they are well positioned heading into the holiday season. We look forward to sharing more insights as the holiday season progresses.

Read More: Apple’s iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, iPhone X discontinued with the arrival iPhone XS, XS Max and XR

In terms of market penetration, the iPhone 7 still holds the top position with around 15.40 percent while the iPhone 7 Plus is at the second spot with 12.73 percent market share. The iPhone 6S has 12.40 percent market penetration.

(Via)

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Apple has introduced the iPhone XS as the upgraded version of the iPhone X that was launched last year. The iPhone XS Max featuring a huge 6.5-inch OLED screen was unveiled alongside it. The iPhone XR featuring a notched LCD screen was also announced alongside the iPhone XS and XS Max. Fresh information reveals with the arrival of the 2018 iPhones, Apple has discontinued older iPhones like iPhone 6S and iPhone SE. The Cupertino company has also halted the sales of the iPhone X permanently.

It is unusual for Apple to discontinue iPhone X because the company is known for slashing the price of previous year’s model with the arrival of a new smartphone. Instead of selling the iPhone X with a reduced pricing, Apple has decided to kill it.

It is now being speculated that if Apple would have sold the iPhone X with discounted pricing, it may not have earned good profits for the company since the cost of materials required would not have decreased significantly. It appears that the iPhone XR that has a starting price of $749 is a good replacement for the iPhone X.

• Read More: Apple Watch Series 4 features a larger display and thinner body, price starts at $399

Now that the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE have been discontinued, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are the new entry-level phones from the company. Both phones are respectively priced at $449 and $569. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are respectively priced at $599 and $699.

Since the 4-inch iPhone SE is no longer available for buying, the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 are the smallest iPhones available for buying in the U.S. At present, the iPhone X, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE could be available for buying in some countries, but they will be soon discontinued with the release of new iPhones.

The iPhone XR comes in 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. These models are respectively priced at $749, $799 and $899. The storage variants of the iPhone X are 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. These variants are respectively cost $999, $1,149 and $1,349. The 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB iPhone XS Max models are respectively price at $1,099, $1,249 and $1,449.

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Apple has increased prices of most of its smartphones in India after the government of India raised taxes on imported phones last week. The move of hike in customs duties seems to be aimed at boosting local production under its ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The Cupertino-based company has raised prices of most iPhones in India by 3 percent to 5 percent. The pricing for the iPhone 6 has been increased by Rs. 1,280 and now it costs Rs. 30,780 (approx. $481).

The smartphone model which witnessed the highest hike in price is the iPhone X, with an increase of Rs. 3,072 in its price in India. It now retails at Rs. 92,430 (approximately $1,443) for the 64GB variant and Rs. 1,05,720 (approximately $1,650) for the 256GB variant.

The iPhone 6s is available at Rs. 41,550 for the 32GB variant, while the 128GB variant will be available for Rs. 50,660. The 32GB and 128GB variants of iPhone 6s Plus are now priced at Rs. 50,740 and Rs. 59,860, respectively.

The iPhone 7 now costs Rs. 50,810 for the 32GB variant, while the 128GB variant is available for Rs. 59,910. The iPhone 7 Plus will now be available at Rs. 61,060 for the 32GB variant and Rs. 70,180 for the 128GB variant.

Apple’s recently launched iPhone 8 is available for purchase at Rs. 66,120 for the 64GB variant while the 256GB variant now costs Rs. 79,420. The iPhone 8 Plus is priced at Rs. 75, 450 for the 64GB variant and the 256GB will be available for Rs. 88,750.

The only iPhone model which has been exempted from this price increase if the iPhone SE, which is being manufactured locally in India. Apple’s Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron is assembling iPhone SE in the technology hub of Bengaluru.

Read More: Apple iPhone SE Successor Could Launch In Q1 Next Year

The customs duty hike comes at a time when Apple is seeking various incentives from the Indian government to further expand manufacturing in India — one of its fastest-growing smartphone markets globally.

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Roses are red and so are these phones too. Manufacturers have been more experimental with colors this year. Rather than the boring gold, old gray, and classic black, we have seen phones launch in different shades of blue, green, pink, and red.

Of all the new colors, it is the red variants that actually stand out. Pull out a red phone from your pocket and you will definitely get people asking questions. It has always been the color that stuns and catches attention – that’s why it is easy to remember the lady with the red lipstick, red dress, or red car.

This post is a list of our favorite red phones released this year and is not in order of preference.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (Product) RED Special Edition

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus originally launched in Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. Then in March of this year, Apple partnered with (PRODUCT)^RED , a non-profit organisation that raises funds for the awareness and elimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa, to release both phones in red.

The reception in China was massive. JD.com is reported to have recorded nearly 500,000 reservations ahead of the March 24 release date.

OPPO F3 Red/OPPO F3 Diwali Edition

When the OPPO F3 was released in May, it was available in Gold and Rose Gold. However, a Facebook post by the manufacturer’s Philippines’s branch teased a red variant set for release in August.

The red variant has gold antenna lines instead of silver and the OPPO  is also written in gold. A similar variant was released in India in October to celebrate the Diwali festival.

Xiaomi Mi 5X

The Xiaomi Mi 5X is a mid-range smartphone but with flagship cameras. It was originally released in black, gold, and rose pink when it launched in July. Xiaomi then announced a new red variant for it last month.

If you can get your hands on this red variant, good for you as the Mi 5X is the same phone as the Android One Mi A1. However, markets where the Mi A1 are sold only have it in gold, rose gold, and black.

Meizu M6 Note Red/M6 Note One Piece

The Meizu M6 Note was well received when it launched. It is the manufacturer’s first smartphone to be powered by a Snapdragon processor and also packs dual cameras. The phone already looked stunning with its quad-LED flash and Peacock Blue variant, then Meizu dropped a fiery hot Flame Red variant and a One Piece Special Edition variant.

Xperia XZ Premium Rosso

If you dislike Sony’s thick bezel design, it is understandable, but you can’t deny that the Xperia XZ Premium Rosso is enthralling. The new color variant was announced last month and should make a good holiday gift for yourself or that special person.

OPPO R11S

The OPPO R11S is the second OPPO phone on this list. It is one of the full-screen smartphones the manufacturer has launched in recent weeks.

Announced in Black and Champagne gold, OPPO also released a special red variant. One cool feature of the red variant is the way the red seems to bleed from the back into the bezels in front.

Smartisan Nut Pro 2

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 is one of my personal favorites this year. Not only does it have impressive specs but it kills the competition with its gorgeous design and pricing.

The Nut Pro 2 looks good in black and gold, but it’s the red variant that shines the most.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Burgundy Red

The Galaxy S8 is the oldest Android phone on this list but also one of the best. It launched in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, and Maple Gold but Samsung has also added a Rose Pink variant, and more recently Burgundy Red.

Some of these colors are exclusive to certain markets. The Burgundy Red for example is available in South Korea only but we hope Samsung launches it in more countries.

OnePlus 5T Red Lava

OnePlus launched the 5T in China today but unlike other countries that get the phone in Midnight Black, China also gets a Red Lava variant. The Red OnePlus 5T is to mark the 4th anniversary of the smartphone company.

This is OnePlus’s first red phone and it is love at first sight.

Honor V10

The OnePlus 5T is not the only full-screen smartphone that launched in China today. Honor also took the wraps off its V10 flagship.

The Honor V10 has got a lot going for it. It packs nearly all the features of the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro and at a much lesser price. It also comes in a beautiful red variant which we totally love.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Redmi 5A Gets Lake Blue Color Variant, Costs 599 Yuan

That brings the list of our favorite red phones this year to an end. Which one of these beauties is your favorite? Do let us know in the comment box below.

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IHS Markit, a London-based research firm has confirmed the list of top 10 bestselling smartphones for the first half of 2017. It has revealed that the Apple iPhone 7 is present at the number one spot followed by the iPhone 7 Plus. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Plus midrange phone from 2016 is on the third position.

The fourth position is occupied by iPhone 6S and the sixth and seventh places have been reserved by Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The research firm claims that flagship phones from Apple and Samsung have met with sluggish sales in the first half of this year.

The 4.7-inch iPhone models have been ranking at number one position consecutively for the last three years. The iPhone 6, iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 were bestselling phones in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. However, the market share of these iPhones has been consistently falling from 10 percent to 7 percent and now it has come down to 5 percent this year.

Read More: Real Images and Video of Apple iPhone X Leaked Before Official Pre-Orders

The reason why Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ models are not ranking higher in the list is that these phones were made available for buying in April. Hence, compared to the other better ranking phones on the list, Samsung has shipped lesser units of the Galaxy S8 duo in first half of 2017.

The list includes five smartphones from Samsung and four from Apple and one from OPPO. However, the name of the OPPO phone that has made it to the list has not been revealed by the research firm.

IHS Markit has also stated that compared to 2016, the number of smartphones with shipments of more than 1 million units per month has increased 22 from 17 in this year. Samsung and Apple respectively have 10 and 4 phones that have shipped over 1 million units per month.

The popularity of smartphones from Chinese OEMs have also increased as they started shipping smartphones outside of China. There are five OPPO phones, two Xiaomi phones and one Huawei phone that have shipped over 6 million units in the first half of 2017.

(source)

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Apple has confirmed that it would be holding a launch event on Sept. 12. The company is rumored to announce at least three new iPhones. A fresh information coming from Germany suggests that the 2017 iPhones would be available on pre-orders three days after the official launch.

Speculating on the recent rumors, it appears that Apple would be unveiling the next generations like iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (previously rumored as iPhone 8, iPhone 7S and 7S Plus) on Sept. 12. Three days later i.e. on Sept. 15, Apple is likely to start the pre-orders of these phones. These devices will hit the retail stores on Sept. 22.

The iPhone X that is rumored to be a special edition smartphone is expected to be available in limited numbers at launch. Well-known analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that Apple would be selling around two to four million units of the iPhone X at launch.

Read More: Live Photos of iPhone 8 OLED Display Assembly Leaks

As rumors have revealed that the iPhone X would be coming with a premium design that will be packed with a full-screen display. Instead of the Touch ID sensor, the smartphone is expected to house a 3D facial recognition feature. The new biometric recognition feature is expected to accurately authenticate payments on Apple Pay. The Cupertino company is also speculated to introduce wireless charging feature on it as well as on iPhone 8 and 8 Plus smartphones.

The iPhone X is expected to come in three storage choices such as 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. These models are rumored to be respectively priced at $999, $1,099 and $1,199.

Ming-Chi Kuo has said that the reason behind such a high pricing of the iPhone X is it features a very costly OLED panel from Samsung. These panels are purchased at a price that twice more than what Apple is paying for LCD panels for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Each OLED panel is rumored to be priced around $130. However, the Cupertino company is paying around $55 for each LCD panel.

Hence, the company is speculated to be looking for a second supplier of OLED panel like LG. Having a second supplier would provide Apple with steady supply of OLED panels. Also, it would make it possible to get the OLED panels at a discounted price because of competition between two suppliers.

(source 1, 2|via)

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The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus both ditched the 3.5mm audio jack last year, setting the standard for how audio will be consumed on iPhones henceforth. One can decide to get the Apple Airpods, Bluetooth headphones or pick up a lightning to 3.5mm audio jack adapter like the Dodocool DA123 for those who own wired earphones.

The Dodocool DA123 is a MFI certified adapter that lets you connect earphones with a 3.5mm connector to your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. What makes it different from other adapters is the in-line remote, so you don’t have to pull out your phone to answer calls, control playback or activate Siri. There is also a bass boost button on the other side that enhances the audio experience.

The Dodocool DA123 uses 4N copper wires to ensure that audio quality isn’t lost during transmission. It is 223.65mm long and covered with soft TPE jacket for durability. It is also tangle-free.

READ MORE: Dodocool DA145 Soft Silicone Antislip EarHooks for Apple EarPods and AirPods

The Dodocool DA123 lightning to 3.5mm audio jack adapter caan be picked up on Amazon US for $29.99 or £18.99 on Amazon UK. It is also available on the respective Amazon stores in Germany, Spain, Mexico, Canada and Japan.

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The list contains a stunning revelation, which is that the Xiaomi Redmi 4A is the fifth best-selling model for the second quarter of the year with over 5.5 million units sold worldwide between April and June alone. The Redmi 4A is a budget model with a premium design which has seen its price drop to the sub-$100 level such that it ships to all parts of the world.  Much of that sales would likely have come from India where the model was launched earlier this year. Analysis by research firm IDC indicates that Xiaomi is the second largest smartphone manufacturer in India in the second quarter of 2017. only second to Samsung which occupies the top spot.

Read More: Xiaomi Redmi 4A Review: Light, Compact & Super Affordable

In all, smartphone shipments for the entire year stood at a towering 360 million units in Q2 2017 with the top 5 brands taking just a fraction of that amount. Other brands still commanded a total sale estimated to be 303.7 million units.

(source)

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A new tax rate implemented by the Indian Government will let its citizens buy iPhones at cheaper prices. The Indian government announced a new Goods and Services Tax as part of a tax reform process. The new tax rate has prompted Apple to lower the price of its products.

The base model of the iPhone 7 which used to be sold for ₹60,000 (∼$928) is now ₹56,200 (∼$869). The 128GB version has seen a price cut too and now sells for ₹65,200 (∼$1009) and the 256GB version is priced at ₹74,400 (∼$1150).

The iPhone 7 Plus on the other hand was reduced from ₹72,000 (∼$1114) to ₹67,300. The 128GB model is priced at ₹72,000 (∼$1114) and the 256GB model is ₹85,400 (∼$1321). The older iPhone 6s Plus also got a price cut to ₹56,100 (∼$868) while the iPhone SE dropped to ₹26,000 (∼$402).

READ MORE: Apple iPhone 8 Dummy Unit Shows What to Expect from the Most Anticipated iPhone

Other Apple products such as MacBooks, iPads and the Apple Watch have also seen reduction in their respective prices.

Apple is focused on establishing a strong foothold in the Asian country and this will come as good news to its fans. The American company already has an assembly plant in India and the first batch is already on sale.

We expect other manufacturers to replicate Apple’s move as soon as possible.

(Source, via)

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Antutu has officially published a list of May’s best performing smartphones by taking the average benchmark scores of every device over the duration of the month. The list revealed that an Android device, the HTC U11 has overthrown Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus as the fastest smartphone in the world.

The HTC U11 beats the iPhone 7 Plus’ Antutu average benchmark scores of 174,299, with an average score of 180,079. Xiaomi’s Mi 6 is in third place with 172,494 and Samsung’s S8 and S8+ claim the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Back in April, the iPhone 7’s position was replaced by the Mi 6 and Galaxy S8/S8+. Antutu has reported the iPhone 7’s average performance score has in fact decreased, notably due to the aging of the device and the build-up of software updates. According to the source, the decrease in the iPhone 7’s benchmark has been notable since the iOS 10.3 update.

The HTC U11 comes with a 5.5-inch 2K display and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835. It is HTC’s second flagship of the year.

READ MORE: More Spec Details As Sharp FS8016 Appears on AnTuTu: 2K Display, 4GB RAM & More

The performance gap between Android and iOS smartphones has narrowed in the last few years. This can be attributed to the increase in efficiency and power of the internal components of Android devices.

What are you thoughts on the HTC U11? Do you think Android has closed the competition in benchmarks with Apple once again? Leave your comments down below.

[envira-gallery id=”139149″]

(Source, via)

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Since the September launch of the Apple iPhone 8 is drawing near, leaked information on the highly anticipated iPhone are surfacing consistently. Today, well-known leakster, @OnLeaks, has revealed a video of the dummy unit of iPhone 8 by collaborating with Tiger Mobiles. The leakster has a very good track record of revealing accurate leaked information of forthcoming devices before their official launch. Hence, the design of the iPhone 8 revealed through its dummy unit certainly cannot be dismissed as fake.

As it can be seen in the video, the dummy unit suggests that the alleged iPhone 8 would be sporting very slim bezels around its screen. However, the upper part of the screen sports a slightly larger bezel to feature a selfie camera and some other sensors.

Read More: iPhone 8 Units May Be Limited to 3-4 Million Units Due to Lack of OLED Supply

The iPhone 8 dummy unit measures 143.5 x 71 x 7.5mm. The rear side of the phone features a vertically stacked dual cameras. An LED flash is placed between the two cameras. The camera module has a prominent bump. The alleged iPhone 8 is larger than the iPhone 7 that measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm. However, it is smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus with measures 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm.

Even though the alleged iPhone 8 is smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus that features a 5.5-inch screen, rumors have claimed that the iPhone 8 would be equipped with a 5.8-inch screen. Also, it is expected to be the first iPhone to feature an OLED screen. Since the front panel of the alleged iPhone 8 does not feature a fingerprint scanner, it seems that the biometric recognition feature is embedded under the display. Some rumors have claimed that there is a possibility that the iPhone 8 may feature a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner since Apple is facing issues with embedding it under the screen. It will come loaded with iOS 11.

The iPhone 8 is speculated to come with all-glass design. This indicates that Apple may introduce wireless charging feature on the iPhone 8. The year 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of Apple iPhones. Hence, the Cupertino company is expected to release iPhone 8 with overall improvements. It is rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus in September.

(source)

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Apple is silent on iPhone 8, but the rumor mill is consistently speculating on its specs and features. Fresh renders of iPhone 8 that are based on CAD images have appeared.

Though the new renders appear quite real, there is still no confirmation on whether the iPhone 8 will look same as what we see in the renders here. The reason behind it is that the Cupertino company may be experimenting the design of the upcoming iPhone with numerous iPhone 8 prototypes. Hence, the final version of the iPhone 8 could appear quite different from the renders here

The iPhone 8 reportedly features a 5.8-inch OLED screen which is rumored to be placed in a smaller body that measures 1435 x 70.9 x 7.7mm. The render show that there are no bezels around the screen. Even the front-facing Touch ID sensor is missing. It indicates that the Touch ID sensor may come embedded under the screen.

Read More:Leaked Photos of iPhone 8 Dummy Model Show Full-Glass Design, Dual Rear and Front Cameras

Some rumors are claiming that the iPhone 8 may arrive with rear-facing Touch ID sensor. Rumors also hint that iPhone 8 may also feature facial recognition feature.

The bottom side of the iPhone 8 in the renders seem to feature a USB Type-C port placed between two external speaker grilles. The right edge of the iPhone 8 has a Power key and a SIM card tray. The left side features the volume buttons.

The rear side of the iPhone 8 features a vertically stacked dual rear camera setup with an LED flash placed between the two sensors. Rumors have revealed that the vertically arranged camera may carry support for advanced augmented reality features. The back panel appears to be made up of glass and its corners have rounded appeal.

A report from KGI Securities has revealed that the iPhone 8 has encountered production problems. The delay is probably because of the overhaul improvements coming to IPhone. 8. Apple is speculated to release three iPhones this year, the iPhone 7 featuring a 4.7-inch screen, the iPhone 7 Plus with 5.5-inch display and the iPhone 8 that will come packed with a 5.8-inch display.

Apple follows a traditional pattern of unleashing the iPhones in September each year. This year too, the company is speculated the upcoming iPhones in the same month.

(source 1, 2)

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Apple has been granted with a new patent that involves placing of an iPhone or iPad into an “electronic accessory device” which appears like a laptop. The laptop-like device would then be powered by the iOS and hardware of the iPhone or iPad docked on it. The patent was filed in September 2016.

The laptop-like device that can be seen in the image will be dumb device that will only have functional parts like screen and keyboard. It will be a dumb terminal that won’t be featuring a processor, RAM or other such hardware components. It is likely that Apple may include a dedicated GPU on the device for the display of the device.

The dumb terminal that appears like MacBook is likely to feature an aluminum chassis will not feature a trackpad, but instead there will be a docking station in which an iPhone can be placed. The operating system, processor and RAM of the iPhone would power the laptop-like device. This is not something innovative as the same idea can be seen on the Lap Dock accessory available for HP Elite X3 smartphone running on Windows 10 Mobile and Snapdragon 820 SoC. However, it does not involve placing of the Elite X3 phone on the Lap Dock.

Related: Red iPhone 7, 7 Plus Meets Stupendous Demand in China Before March 24 Launch

A separate idea for the same patent can be seen in the second image that shows how an iPad can be used with the electronic accessory device. It involves placing the iPad in the upper part of the laptop-like device. The iPad’s screen will act as the display for the device. Unlike the previous idea, this one shows a presence of a trackpad and thereby offers a conventional laptop experience.

In 2015, Microsoft had launched the Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones. The Continuum feature of Windows 10 Mobile OS along with the supporting hardware on both phones allowed users to connect the Lumia 950 or 950 XL to an external screen, keyboard, and mouse through a Display Dock. This allowed users to get full-blown Windows 10 PC experience.

Samsung is also rumored to sell a DeX (Desktop Experience) docking station with the upcoming Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones.  The Galaxy S8 duo’s Snapdragon 835 chipset is pegged to deliver desktop PC experience when connect to a screen, mouse and keyboard through the DeX station.

(source)

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Apple has launched the iPhone 7 and iPhone7 Plus in a color variant of red. An estimated number of 73,410 iPhone 7 and 7 Plus units are expected to be available in China. The (RED) iPhones will be available for purchase from March 24 in China. JD.com, an online retailer from China has received more than 3,55,000 registrations for the red colored iPhones.

Even though over 3,55,000 people have registered on JD.com for the (RED) iPhones, it is unlikely that all of them will purchase the red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Since these are not pre-orders, registering for it does not charge any money and no units are reserved.

These special edition iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have the same specs as the original iPhone 7 models that were introduced in September last year. However, a diehard iPhone fan may not want to miss the opportunity of purchasing a special edition of iPhone 7 in red.

Related: Color Me Red: iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Gets New Color Variant

Apple has launched the red colored iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in collaboration with a non-profit organization called Product (RED) that creates awareness and gathers funds for eradicating HIV/AIDS in Africa. In the past, Apple has worked with Product (RED) to release (RED) variants of accessories like iPhone cases, Apple Watch sports bands, and more.  It has also released (RED) options for iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and iPod Touch.

The (RED) iPhone 7 with 128 GB is priced at $749 and the iPhone 7 Plus with 128 GB storage is available for $869. in the U.S., Apple has confirmed that every customer who purchases (RED) iPhone 7 and 7 Plus phones will be provided with free Personal Setup in-store or online. Every purchase of (RED) products from Apple contributes directly to global fund to eliminate AIDS. So far, Apple has raised more than $130 million by selling its (RED) products.

(source)

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2017 is a colorful year, literally. Starting in January, we have seen manufacturers release new color variants for their phones. Today, Apple joined the bandwagon with a new red variant for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

The new color variant is a special edition model made in partnership with Product Red ( (PRODUCT)^RED  ), a non-profit organisation that aims to create awareness and raise funds for eliminating HIV/AIDS in Africa. Both Apple and Product Red have been working together for 10 years now. The first Product Red Apple device was an iPod nano, and till date the partnership has included other special edition products like accessories for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

READ MORE: Apple iPhone 8 Concept Design Images Appear

The new iPhones will be available globally starting on Friday, the 24th of March and doesn’t differ from the regular versions in any way. Apple says it will be available in 128GB and 256GB variants and will cost $749 and $869 respectively.

In the last one week we have seen some big name manufacturers announce new color variants for their devices. OPPO announced a green variant of the OPPO R9S; OnePlus launched a new matte black variant of the OnePlus 3T which went on sale today in Paris; and Vivo has also says there is going to be a matte black edition of the Vivo Xplay6.

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We just have to be plain here, this is a test we actually can’t figure out the importance in the real world but then, if you think it’s fun watching things get destroyed, you might enjoy this one. The only problem is the device is an Apple iPhone 7, a smartphone some will willing sell a kidney to acquire being subjected to the worse kind of extreme heat.

The test involves using the world’s brightest flashlight whose rays are so powerful they are capable of kindling a piece of paper and even plastic. The brightness is roughly 400 lumens. The flashlight was focused on the rear camera of the iPhone 7 and even though it was able to withstand the intense heat for some time, it caved in on the long run and was charred. The rear casing of the iPhone 7 is made of metal, so it was able to withstand the heat but the hotness was beginning to affect the internal panel before it was stopped.

Related: New Video Shows Samsung Galaxy S8 Antutu Score, Now the New King

Coming to the display, the flashlight’s rays were directed intermittently onto the display and despite the display gathering ink, the ink soon disappears as soon as the light is taken off the display. That is an indication that the iPhone 7 display was built to withstand a certain level of heat. However, when the light was left on the display for a while longer, it burned through the touchscreen into the display panel, charring it permanently. You can watch the entire video right here, from down below.

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The Galaxy S8 is coming. And its coming in April. Everyday there seems to be something new about Samsung’s upcoming flagship. Today, a video showing the Galaxy S8 being benchmarked on AnTuTu has surfaced online and the final result is amazing.

Samsung’s new flagship after being put through the usual tests comes up with a total score of 205284!!! Over 20,000 points more than Apple’s iPhone 7 which used to hold the top spot with 181,807 points, and a good 40,000 points more than the OnePlus 3T which held the position of top Android smartphone with 162,423 points.

There is no mention of the specific chip in the phone, so it might be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895. Both chips will be present in the S8 depending on the region. Usually the Snapdragon variant is sold in the US and China while the Exynos version is available in its home country, South Korea.

READ MORE: Samsung’s Foldable Phone May Take Longer to Arrive

Samsung is going all out with its new phone. The whole phone has seen a total redesign. The bezels are slimmer and the screen is bigger. It will also be available in two sizes. The Galaxy S8 will first be unveiled at a New York event on the 29th of March before going on sale in April.

(Source)

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In a new report released by Kantar Worldpanel, Android is the OS that dominates in China. The info was gotten from a survey carried out between September and November.

Android however lost market share in the United States, Britain, France, and Japan but increased its share of the smartphone market in other European countries like Germany, Spain, and Italy. Apple’s iOS gained more customers with its new iPhone 7 in Japan, Great Britain, and France.

Americans love the iPhone and the results show it. The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 6s were the most popular devices in the US within the period with a combined share of 31.3%. Leaving Samsung’s S7 and S7 Edge at the fourth and fifth position with 28.9% of smartphone sales. The Google Pixel was able to grab only 1.3%.

READ MORE: HTC Records Worst Revenue Numbers in 11 Years

Even with Android grabbing majority of the sales in China, the iPhone 7 was the best selling device. Huawei had a quarter of all the smartphone sales and OPPO grabbed 12.9% which was a major win for them.

Windows was however the biggest loser. The OS lost market share in all the major markets except Japan where it recorded a mere 0.1% increase.

(Source)

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Once we think of smartphones these days, we think of some big and bulky devices with huge displays. Some of those phones can’t even fit into the pocket. Meet the Vphone S8, the smallest smartphone in the world. Is this $28 little device worth your attention? Stay tuned to find out.

VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Xm8HkfAa4[/embedyt]

UNBOXING

The device ships with the USB cable, a strap and some paperwork.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

Honestly, this thing doesn’t even look like a smartphone and it reminds me of a smartwatch… without a strap.

We have a 1.54” display, which does not sport the highest resolution but it is pretty good for a $28 device.

The phone takes 1 SIM card and 1 microSD card for storage expansion as the internal storage is just 128MB.

We have just a power button and non-backlit capacitive keys to control the device.

On the back, there is a heart rate monitor, which measures your heart rate pretty accurately. Not sure why I thought I needed to put it on my wrist as it works with the fingertip too.

USER INTERFACE

As for user interface, you have your basic phone features. You can call someone, write messages and so on.

The call quality is not very impressive but you can definitely make a clear conversation.

There are also some basic apps like calculator, calendar, stopwatch etc. Besides the heart rate monitor, you can track your fitness routines using the built-in pedometer, which is pretty accurate or use sedentary reminder to reminds you to move a little.

You can also connect the Vphone S8 to your phone using the FundoWear app to track your fitness routines in detail, receive most of the notifications, use this little device as a remote dialer or as a remote controller for your main phone’s camera.

BATTERY LIFE

As for battery life, the Vphone S8 will get you through the day if you use it quite intensively. You may get a few days out of it if you are a light user.

CONCLUSIONS

So, there you have it, the smallest smartphone in the world, that costs just $28.

It’s definitely not the smartest smartphone out there but it’s definitely fun to use it. Also, it comes with all the basic phone and fitness tracker features, and a simple user interface that does not lag.

The phone may come handy if you just need to use another SIM card for calls.

At the end of the day, the Vphone S8 is not something I  really need for everyday use but it’s definitely a fun little device that works quite well and it is actually very cheap for what it has to offer.

USE THE COUPON Code: VPHS8 FOR Vphone S8 !

Phones at GearBest 13% OFF Coupon: GBMBP

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Just as the dust generated by the Galaxy Note 7 explosion saga is dying down, Apple‘s latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus seem to be on the brink of taking over the ill-fated baton. A case of an exploding iPhone 7 Plus has been reported to have occurred in the Chinese province of Yunnan, Southwest China.

According to the report, the iPhone 7 Plus was purchased just last month and allegedly exploded when the phone accidentally fell to the ground. The phone was said to have started emitting smoke and severe vibrations. At the end of the scenario, the iPhone 7 Plus’ screen was completely detached from the body and it was shattered as well.

From the pictures (attached) the extent of the damage could be seen clearly and it is colossal and beyond repair. The panel seems to have been shattered as well. It is very likely the battery had exploded as a result of the shock from the impact with the ground surface.

Read More: New iPhone 7 Explodes in Man’s Face While Shooting a Video

This latest case,if true, increases the number of cases of Apple’s latest flagship that have been reported to have exploded. A case was reported early last month of an iPhone 7 which exploded while the owner was about shooting a video. Another case was reported in Australia inside a car and almost burn’t down the case. Apple is yet to respond to this latest case.

via

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While we were still waiting to see the actual renders of the Pro 6S, Meizu has surprised us with the release of what is said to be camera samples shot by the Pro 6S’ camera. The Meizu Pro 6S had been disclosed to use the same design as the Pro 6 with perhaps so pieces of engineering on the inside. For one, the Pro 6S has been revealed to still likely retain the Helio X25 chipset used on the Pro 6 but the device seems to have seen some bit of upgrade on the camera end and perhaps in some other hardware aspects as well.

Recent Weibo update by a Meizu Engineer reveals some very clear images said to have been shot be the Pro 6S and to clear doubts, the Meizu Engineer could be seen to be blogging using a Meizu Pro 6S smartphone. Some might have wanted the EXIF information but since it was shared on Weibo, that is not available. The photos were also compared to some shots from an iPhone 7 and curiously the photos said to have been shot by the Pro 6S came out better. Definitely, we’ll have to put that to test before believing any bit of it.

However, the launch of the pro 6S is not far off, as Meizu has scheduled a concert for October 31 where the Chinese company is also expected to unveil the Meizu M5. The Pro 6S is now rumored to launch on November 3 and very well, that isn’t far off. We’ll wait to see how that pans out.

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It seems the curse of the exploding phones has spread to Apple. A man who reportedly bought a new iPhone 7 was injured shortly afterwards while he was recording a video with it. According to the man, the phone reportedly disintegrated sending glass flying across his face and causing one of his fingers on his right hand to swell.

While the case of the iPhone 7 is not as rampant as that of Samsung’s Note 7 replacements (up to 5 in just a week), this is just as important because the safety of consumers is paramount.

The man was said to have called Apple’s after sales support who then told him they were not authorised to handle such a case but proceeded to forward the complaint to the headquarters. The man didn’t state where he bought the phone from, however the case is currently under investigation.

Here’s the video about the incident (in Chinese), in case you want to check out.

READ MORE: Foxconn  Reveals Plans to Start Selling its Own Smartphones

Samsung is having it worse as network carriers in the US are starting to halt sales of the Note 7. South Korean News Agency reported earlier today that the company is stopping production.

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Early benchmark results for Google’s latest Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones have appeared on Geekbench and reveals nothing really special when the flagships are placed at par with their contemporaries, talking about Apple’s latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The results show that what the Pixel and Pixel XL possess in looks and camera speed, they lack in raw processing power.

The Geekbench 4 result comes in at about 4100 points on the multicore performance test and for the single core, the result stood at 1580 points and is consistent with earlier figures said to be for the Google phone which appear sometime in September. The score then stood at 1665 on the single-core and 4023 for the multi-core test.

In contrast the Apple iPhone 7 recorded a multi-core score of around 5600 pointd when it hit benchmark and a single-core score of about 3430. This figures could only mean the A10 Fusion chip on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus is far superior to the Snapdragon 821 processor which the Pixel and Pixel XL comes with. Even the iPhone 6S Plus with a multi-core benchmark score of 4106 and single-core score of 2508 surpasses the Google flagships.

Read more: iPhone 7 A10 Fusion Chip Performance Test

Benchmark results may not be a true representation of the daily running speed of smartphones, neither do they measure user interface element but they come in handy in comparing the raw processing power between two computing hardware and in this case, it has definitively proved that there is no better processor around as of this moment that equals the A10 Fusion processor on Apple latest iPhones.

(source)

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Several smartphones have been benchmarked on AnTuTu and of late, we have had scores that could best be described as the highest so far in the smartphones circle and that should be the 172644 points polled by Apple’s A10 Fusion-powered iPhone 7. However, a new leak is suggesting that a record-breaking device with a total point score of 203737 points and scheduled for listing in the first quarter of 2017 has run through AnTuTu benchmark. The disclosure was made by a Twitter user @Ricciolo who tweeted that finally the 200k barrier has been broken. He left off without announcing the smartphone that achieved this incredible feat, leaving that to our imaginations.

203.737 !!! 200k barrier has been broken,and it's not FINAL … someone wanna try to guess ??? #antutu #Q12017 pic.twitter.com/teL4pzxXOo

— Ricciolo (@Ricciolo1) October 5, 2016

This is coming in as a huge surprise because apart form the iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 7 which pulled 170124 points, other Snapdragon 821-powered smartphones like the Xioami Mi 5S Plus, LeEco Le Pro 3, ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe hovered around 160,000 points when they were tested on AnTuTu. If true, then this would be the first device to have hit the 200,000 points mark on AnTuTu benchmark.

As of this moment, the only device expected in Q1 2017 is likely the Samsung Galaxy S8 whose release date Samsung is rumored to have pushed closer in orderly to help overcome the woeful outing of the still flopping Galaxy Note 7. The Galaxy S8 is expected to come powered by a new Exynos 8895 chip said to have a clock speed of up to 3.0GHz and tagging along an equally new and powerful Mali-G71 GPU. The Mali-G71 GPU is is said to be twice as fast as the Mali-T880 GPU in the present Exynos 8890 chips.

Read More: Samsung’s Exynos 8895 Chip Details Leaked: Up to 3.0GHz clock speed

In another light, it could be a device powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chip which is expected to be produced using the 10nm node process and to drop next year as well. Don’t forget Qualcomm and Samsung are rumored to have formed a partnership that would see Samsung manufacture the Snapdragon 830 SoC. These are all speculations though, the 200K mark may still be unattainable and the rumor could be false. So we’ll take it with a pinch of salt and wait to see how it plays out.

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Antutu has released its top 10 devices for the just ended month of September and there are a couple of surprises.

For mobile phones, Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus takes the top spot with a score of 172644 followed closely by the smaller sized iPhone 7 which scored 170124. This shouldn’t be a surprise considering the fact that quite a number of reviews have praised Apple’s new A10 Fusion chip. If you can remember, we covered a web performance test of the new chip against other flagships and the iPhone 7 came out on top.

Next in line is the LeEco Le Pro 3. The Pro 3 which is the first Chinese smartphone to sport the new Qualcomm 821 processor comes in at number three with a score of 160856, pushing Xiaomi’s new phones the Mi 5s Plus and Mi 5s to fourth and fifth position respectively.

There should be no surprise at the result of the Mi 5s considering its SD 821 chip is under-clocked.

OnePlus 3 takes the sixth position with 140288 points starting the list of Snapdragon 820 phones on the list.

Vivo’s Xplay 5 Elite and Samsung’s controversial Galaxy Note 7 slug it out for the seventh and eight spot but the Elite comes in ahead with 333 points more than the Note 7. The Le Max 2 comes in at number 9 and ZTE’s Nubia line wraps up the list with the Nubia Z11.

There’s also another Antutu list of top 10 iOS devices which is headed by the iPad Pro with 177266 points. The iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 follow for second and third positions. The 9.7” iPad Pro takes the fourth spot, the 6s Plus takes fifth position and the iPhone SE takes the seventh slot.

READ MORE: OPPO Surpasses Apple by Sales value in India

For the top 10 android devices, the order is the same for the first one above, but since Apple devices are not on the list, the ZUK Z2 and Xiaomi Mi 5 get on the list coming in at number nine and ten respectively.

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Research firm IHS has come out with a controversial claim that the iPhone 7, from their estimates costs Apple just $224.80 even though Apple sells the flagship for twice that amount or more. The base version of the iPhone 7 with 32GB of built-in storage sells for $649. The Research firm took apart the iPhone’s parts and also put into consideration several factors before arriving at that damning conclusion which doesn’t include the iPhone 7 Plus.

IHS first x-rayed the cost of last year’s iPhone 6s and got an estimated production cost of about $211.50 which ordinarily suggests this year’s iPhone 7 will cost more. Considering the base storage has been ramped up from 16GB to 32GB and that could have affected the production cost. Apart from that, the new chips on the iPhone 7 could also have affected the final production cost. The A10 chip is estimated by IHS to cost $26.90, then the new display cost an estimated $43 to produce as well as the cameras coming in at $19.90 per iPhone unit.

Though Apple is not keen on discussing tear-down costs, this estimated data could indicate mounting pressure on the US-based company’s profit margin, because the cost may even be more. IHS didn’t take into consideration factors like warehousing, research and development, and marketing.

The iPhone 7 even at that is considered to carry an outrageous price tag considering its specs. Reference have been made to competitively priced flagships whose specs are at par with the iPhone 7’s. The most recent is the LeEco Le Pro 3 which despite having a Snapdragon 821 chipset and a huge 4070mAh battery, starts at 1799 Yuan ($270). The Le Pro 3 pricing highlights LeEco’s negative profit pricing strategy for devices. The company makes up for this by getting more people onto the expansive LeEco Ecosystem from where it aims to make profits when users buy contents, applications and services on their platform.

(Source)

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When Apple announced the new iPhone 7 two weeks ago, quite a number of folks were excited about the new jet black colour. The jet black iPhone 7/ 7 Plus is beautiful, there is no doubt about that, but it has got its own flaws. It scratches easily and is a fingerprint magnet. Apple is aware about the latter, so they put up a warning on their website in a tiny font they know a lot of us are going to ignore because of the size before units started shipping out.

The statement has been reproduced for you to read:

Apple says it may show fine micro-abrasions with use. Looking at the following tweets from owners of the jet black iPhone 7, the scratches are worse than Apple mildly put it.

And the smudges……

But since Apple has already put up a warning and suggested you use a case for a phone that sells for so much, they have absolved themselves of blame. So the decision to purchase a phone that scratches so easily lies with the buyer.

What I think Apple should have done is used a glass back and given it an oleophobic coating. People are paying a lot for the device already. But that’s too late now and owners will have no option than to purchase a case to protect their phones.

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Karalux is a Vietnam-based firm specialising in customisation and gold-plating of high-end gifts and supercars. Over the years the company has gold-plated a bunch of phones such as the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, and iPhone 6, 6s, and 6s Plus. Now they are offering the same treatment to the newly released iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

If you own the new iPhone already, the company will coat it in 24-karat gold for you or black gold if your unit is the black or plain black. They say the whole process will take up to 8 hours and the surface will have a nano-coating to protect the phone from wear. The apple logo on the back will also be diamond-encrusted.

If you also want, Karalux will engrave a text or an image  on your phone. So all you lovebirds out there can have your partner’s name engraved on your phone or on their phone if you intend to give them as a gift.

READ MORE: Yi Technology Announces Yi M1 Mirrorless Camera

Visited their website to see the procedure for sending your phone for encrusting but from what I can see there, it seems the prices include the cost of the phone already. The company’s details are on the site including a Whatsapp number that you can add up.

The black gold iPhone 7 (128GB) sells for $2400, the 24K gold iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) sells for $2700 and the 128GB version sells for $2500.The 24K gold iPhone 7 (32GB) will cost you $1900 and the 128GB version sells for $2400.

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Apple iPhone 7 was released with some new innovations like the lightning connector which now plays the role of a charger and that of the 3.5mm audio jack that have been removed. There is also a virtual home button replacing the traditional home buttons that previous iPhones had featured. Now, early details have emerged that Apple is planning even more innovations on the iPhone 8 which would launch next year when Apple marks the 10th anniversary of its iPhone’s debut.

The new details which confirms earlier rumors were embedded inside a review of the new iPhone 7 done by a writer at New York Times. According to the reviewer, Apple is very much likely to continue manufacturing iPhiones without the 3.5mm headphone jacks. The writer also disclosed in the article that next year’s iPhones will have a full-screen face with the virtual button built directly into the display. The source of this information was from two insiders at Apple, who don’t to be quoted because the information about the product are supposed to still be private.

Even before the release of the iPhone 7, rumors about the iPhone 8 having an edge-to-edge display had been in the open but coming from inside sources, this may likely be a confirmation that the iPhone 8 might take a leap from its predecessors in design and features. The iPhone 8 is also earlier rumored to see a transition by Apple from LCD to  OLED displays said to be supplied by Samsung. The front camera and fingerprint sensor / home button will be embedded on the display, and a more faster A11 chip which would bolt faster than the blazing A10 chipset is also touted.

Read More: iPhone 8 Details Leaked: There Might Be No iPhone 7s

The iPhone 8 will likely drop in the fall of 2017 and that’s a long time away from now. Enough time for us to get more juicy details about the next Apple flagship and perhaps see some sort of revolution in the phone industry, with rival competitors trying to catch up and even overtake Apple on these innovations.

(Source)

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The iPhone 7 was released last week and one of the many features highlighted during the launch is Apple’s new A10 Fusion chip which is touted as offering a 40% increase in performance over the A9 chip in the iPhone 6s and 120 times faster than the chip on the original iPhone.

The A10 Fusion processor is the first quad-core chip manufactured by the company. It is made up of two high performance cores and two low-performance cores.

A weibo user, @i, decided to confirm Apple’s claims and put the iPhone 7 through a web app performance test, and below are the screenshots of his results.

The test was carried out using Jetstream v1.1 and the results were compared alongside those of the iPhone 6s Plus, a Samsung Galaxy S7 with a SD 820 chip, a S7 Edge with Samsung’s Exynos 8890, and a Samsung S6 Edge.

The iPhone 7 scored 169.14 points and is followed by the iPhone 6s Plus with a score of 115.18. The S7 with a Snapdragon 820 managed to pull in a measly 36.9 points.

READ MORE: Oppo Find 9 May be Released Next Summer

He carried out the same test on the S7 Edge sporting the Exynos 8890 processor; first with chrome’s browser which scored 64.8 points and then with Samsung’s own browser which scored 73.7 points. The S6 Edge scored 55 points which is higher than the S7 above.

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Apple iPhone 7 has appeared on AnTuTu benchmark, posting a score that could be classified as a stunner to say the least. One major feature of the iPhone 7, launched last week in the US, is the new A10 Fusion chip, that the device alongside the dual-camera packing iPhone 7 Plus feature.

The iPhone 7 scored a total of 178397 points on AnTuTu benchmark, to dwarf the AnTuTu scores of previous Apple chips. The closest to the iPhone 7 score is that of the iPad Pro which scored 177266 points when it hit AnTuTu back then.

On the sub-score, the single-core performance and GPU performance reveals the outstanding performance of the new A10 chip. The quad-core A10 Fusion chip on the new Apple flagship comes along with 3.3 billion transistors and there is no need telling why the new chip in the block is said to be 40% faster than the previous A9 chips.

Read More: iPhone 8 Details Leaked: There Might Be No iPhone 7s

This AnTuTu posting at least gives Apple fans something to cheer about, after the barrage of criticism the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have faced in these early days for lacking tangible innovations, big enough to justify their sky-high price tags. No other chip from rival chip makers have come close, not even the flagship SD 821. Perhaps the Snapdragon 830 chip expected next year could rival the Apple A10 but for now, it is in a class of its own.

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Apple has launched the much talked about iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in a ceremony held in San Francisco, US. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus debuts with a wide range of new features and upgraded specs from the iPhone 6s. One very spectacular feature missing on the new generation iPhones is the 3.5mm audio jack which had long been captured in rumors to be leaving the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. You don’t have to worry, though, because Apple will include an adapter to enable you still use the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Apple has given the iPhone 7 a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with 3D touch. There is also a new processor in town, a quad-core Apple A10 Fusion chipset which comes along with 3.3 billion transistors making it 40% faster than the previous A9 chips. The A10 processor also comes along with a hexa-core GPU. There is a new 12MP iSight camera with 6-element lens, f/1.8 aperture, High-speed Sensor (60% faster, 30% efficient), support for 4K video recording and quad LED dual-tone flash. It also has a new 7MP Facetime camera. The iPhone 7 comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB, 128GB and 256GB built-in storage options.

On the software, the iPhone 7 runs on the latest iOS 10. In addition, the phone comes with an IP67 rating meaning it is water and dust resistant. The iPhone 7 also has a new home button and this houses the fingerprint sensor. The home button is pressure sensitive with Taptic Engine, so instead of having the feel you pressed the button because it clicked, it will vibrate.

Not only that, the iPhone 7, for the first time, comes with stereo speakers with volume output touted to be twice the volume of the iPhone 6s speakers. There is also some improvement in the battery life of the non-removable battery on the iPhone 7.

iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 3D touch  and powered by a new quad-core A10 Fusion chipset as well. The processor is accompanied by a 3GB RAM and there are three storage versions available, 32GB, 128GB and 256GB.

The iPhone 7 Plus comes with dual 12MP rear cameras  with one having a wide-angle with f/1.8 aperture and the other lens, a telephoto lens with f/2.8 aperture for new depth-of-field. The camera also has OIS along with Quad-LED True Tone flash.On the selfie shooter, there is a new 7MP Facetime camera.

Just like the iPhone 7, the 7 Plus also comes with IP67 water and dust resistance rating. The home button is also pressure sensitive, with Taptic Engine and the fingerprint sensor is embedded on it.

Now coming to the prices, the iPhone 7 starts at $650 ( about 4,334 Yuan), same as the iPhone 6s while the higher-end iPhone 7 Plus will retail at $770 (5,134 Yuan). They come in Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Black and the new Jet Black finish.

The post Apple iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus Debuts with New Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple has started sending out invites for an event on September 7. The invite has teasers such as the date which corresponds to the name of the next iPhone (iPhone 7) and the bokeh effects of the lights which hints at the dual cameras expected on the iPhone 7 Plus.

The launch is expected to be for the new iPhone but rumour has it that Apple will also launch the second generation iWatch.

Over the past couple of months we have covered several details and leaks about Apple’s next device must especially the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack and the use of dual cameras. One of the rumours we shall confirm on the launch day will be the presence of connector pins on the iPhone 7 Plus variant which no one has heard of lately or seen on the prototypes making rounds on the internet and if blue will indeed be amongst the colour variants.

RELATED: The $900 Smartphone Flagships

The event will hold at 10:00 A.M. at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.

The post Apple Sending Out Invites for September 7 Event appeared first on Gizmochina.

Back when the first iPhone was launched, 16GB was a lot of storage, but in the last 2 years, fans of the Cupertino-based company have complained about the company still launching 16GB phones which just doesn’t cut it anymore. If the rumours are to be believed, the iPhone 7s (sevens) will come with 32GB storage on the base models.

However, it seems the company is raising the maximum storage available on an iPhone. An image of a leaked assembly sheet posted by twitter account, @the_malignant shows that there will be a 256GB version of the iPhone 7.

The spec sheet shows that the 256GB NAND chips will be supplied by Toshiba and confirms that there will be 32GB and 128GB versions (no 64GB) which will be supplied by an unnamed manufacturer.

While @the_malignant has leaked details for other phones that did turn out to be true, there is still no evidence that the assembly sheet is for Apple. Experts say the PCB format does follow Apple’s guidance, but it is also similar to that of other Foxconn clients.

RELATED: New 4K Video Showing iPhone 7 and 7  Plus Leaked

More Money

Earlier rumours say the 32GB base versions of the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be 5288 Yuan ($794) and 6088 Yuan ($914) respectively. We can assume the 128 GB and 256GB version will sell for much higher prices based on the price of the 128GB iPhone 6s which sells for 6888 Yuan ($1035) and the 128GB iPhone 6s Plus which sells for 7788 Yuan ($1170.12)

New Name?

Earlier this week, images of phone boxes with the name ”iPhone 6 SE” were also leaked online. Rumours are saying the phone known as the iPhone 7 is the iPhone 6 SE and the dual camera version will ditch the ”Plus” or ”Pro” and go by just iPhone 7.

These are all rumours, so try to take them with a pinch of salt.

Source:  Appleinsider.com

The post iPhone 7 May Have 256GB Version and Even a New Name appeared first on Gizmochina.

A live video clip of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has surfaced online confirming the features the phones had earlier been rumored to possess. The video comes in Ultra HD 4k resolution and clearly shows the details of the phones in high definition. Both the front and back views of the two flagships Apple is expected to officially unveil in September are featured on the video.

One prominent feature noted on the back views are the protruded cameras on both the iPhone 7 and 7Plus. The dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus are also very visible as is the antenna lines on the top edges of both phones which are coated in white color. In traditional iPhone design, there are physical Home buttons on both iPhones models and true to rumors, there are no 3.5mm headphone jacks on both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

READ MORE: iPhone 7 Plus will feature smart connectors

The video displays the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in all elegance and we hope to see more, perhaps a working iPhone 7 or 7 Plus in the coming weeks before the launch. You can grab a peek of the two devices down below.

The post New 4K Video featuring iPhone 7 and 7 Plus leaks appeared first on Gizmochina.

This is not a Pepsi commercial, this is a Pepsi smartphone. It doesn’t matter if you like drinking Pepsi or not, this device is really good… and it doesn’t even cost a hundred bucks. Learn more in our full review.

Thanks to Banggood for sending Pepsi P1s for a review.

Pepsi P1s Review: VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6INCfU88Pns[/embedyt]

Pepsi P1s Review: UNBOXING

It all starts with beautiful presentation and all the items are packed neatly. In the box, you can find all the usual stuff and some extras like a pair of earphones, a screen protector and a soft TPU case.

Pepsi P1s Review: SPECS

Pepsi P1s Review: DESIGN and DISPLAY

No one will ever tell you that this phone does not even cost a $100. The device sports an all-metal shell and it is well-constructed. In fact, I dropped the phone on the rocks from about 2 meters and the only damage there was – a few dings on the metal frame and metal buttons. Speaking of the buttons, they are nice and tactile.

We have a 5.5” LCD 1080p display, which is sharp, bright and vibrant, and it is one of the best panels on such a cheap phone.

Just above the display, there is a 5MP selfie camera. Unfortunately, there is no LED notification light and the capacitive buttons are not backlit.

As far as the main camera goes, we have a 13MP shooter coupled with the LED flash. Just below the camera, there is a fingerprint scanner, which is not the fastest around but it is accurate enough and it works straight from the standby mode.

The loudspeaker sits on the bottom and I have to tell you that it is one of the best I’ve heard in a sub-$100 phone.

Pepsi P1s Review: HARDWARE and PERFORMANCE

The Pepsi phone is no slouch when it comes to the internal hardware. It ships with an octa-core MTK6592 chip, clocked at 1.7Ghz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

These are not the flagship-grade specs but the phone handles 3D games pretty well. I enjoyed playing Asphalt 8 on medium graphics without any stutter but the phone gets quite warm quickly.

On the other hand, the device never got too hot that it became uncomfortable.

Pepsi P1s Review: BENCHMARKS

Pepsi P1s Review: USER INTERFACE

Speaking of the UI performance, it is good too. I didn’t have any hiccups or lags. The phone ships with the dido OS, which is a surprisingly good implementation of the already dated Android 5.1.

All the icons that sit on the home screens, have some Pepsi design elements. While it justifies the purpose of this phone, I’m not a huge fan of that cartoonish look. On the other hand, the user interface has quite a few customization options and some added features like a bunch of gesture and motion controls.

Pepsi P1s Review: IMAGE QUALITY

You can’t expect much from a cheap phone when it comes to the image quality but the Pepsi phone is capable of taking some decent looking images when there is enough lighting.

Some of the low-light images may be usable but don’t expect any stellar results.

A front-facing camera can take just mediocre-looking selfies but they may be enough for social media.

The 1080p video, on the other hand, is one of the best in class. See a video review for a video sample.

Pepsi P1s Review: CONNECTIVITY

When it comes to connectivity, the phone supports 4G and it can take either 2 SIM cards or a combo of 1 SIM and the microSD card.

I didn’t have any connectivity issues. Even the GPS lock speeds were fast and the GPS was accurate.

Pepsi P1s Review: BATTERY LIFE

The phone ships with 3000mAh battery that performs quite well. The device will get you through the day and I was able to get around 3.5h of screen-on time, which is not the best result but I can definitely live with that.

Unfortunately, the phone does not support fast charging feature.

Pepsi P1s Review: CONCLUSIONS

The Pepsi phone is a one pleasant surprise, to be honest. I didn’t even know it existed before I decided to review it. The device exceeded my expectations considering its low price tag.

It has a nice looking all-metal design and excellent build quality and brilliant display. Also, the phone performs well and its UI may look a bit cartoonish but it has some nice features.

Also, the camera can take some decent looking daylight images and the phone has a good loudspeaker.

On the other hand, you have to consider that the Pepsi smartphone lacks the notification LED light, its capacitive buttons are not backlit, the phone ships with the already dated Android 5.1 and last but not least, the phone ships with a few pre-installed bloatware apps.

All in all, the $93 Pepsi smartphone may not be the perfect device but it is definitely one of the best phones you can buy at this price point, despite a few shortcomings.

The post Pepsi Smartphone Review! A Fantastic $93 Smartphone! appeared first on Gizmochina.

Screen panels of the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (seems we are back to calling it Plus) have been leaked online by a Weibo user. One of the panels has a size of 4.7” and the other is 5.5 inches. The source however says the 4.7” screen will be Full HD and the 5.5” LCD panel will have a 2K resolution.

The iPhone 6 Plus and 6s Plus are the only iPhones with 1080p screens. Now that screen size is getting bumped up to 2K and the smaller 4.7” is getting the Full HD treatment. That’s a significant upgrade in pixel density, but unless Apple is also bumping up the battery a lot which doesn’t seem to be so (as a mock-up of the iPhone 7 Plus reveals it is thinner than the 6s Plus), battery life might drop.

RELATED: New iPhones to Come in Five Colours

While the general advice is to take this leak with a grain of salt, the source also mentions that one of the screens is made by JDI (Japan Display Inc.) which is a known supplier of Apple screens. That lends a bit of veracity to the matter.

Are you excited about the new resolutions? Let’s read your opinion in the comment box below.

The post Leak of iPhone 7 Screen Panels Claims 1080p and 2K Resolutions appeared first on Gizmochina.