Famous software development community XDA has partnered with London-based F(x)tec to make its first-ever smartphone, the Pro 1-X. The retail price of the device is $899 and it is already up for crowdfunding on the Indiegogo website.

XDA says the F(x)tec Pro 1-X is the World’s first device to run Lineage OS out of the box. For the unware, Lineage OS is a custom ROM based on Android. It is an open-source software and is a successor to the ever-popular CyanogenMod. The device also has variants running Ubuntu Touch, and Android. And the team is apparently working to include more options in the future.

Talking about the Pro 1-X, the device is a slightly modified version of the F(x)tec Pro 1 from 2019. It has a physical Qwerty Keyboard at the back with 66-keys and pops-out using a slider mechanism. The XDA version hasn’t changed the looks much but adds an XDA logo at the back and gets a new Discovery Blue Color.

Pro 1-X Specifications

The Pro 1-X features a 5.99-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 1080p resolution. It has curved edges with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC powers the device. However, XDA has increased the memory variants to 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.

At the back, there is a 12MP main lens and a 5MP secondary sensor along with an LED flash. And up front, there is an 8MP selfie shooter. The device has other features like Dual-SIM, dedicated camera shutter, USB-C, HDMI-out, side-mount fingerprint sensor, 3,200mAh battery, and more. The keyboard also has other layouts like QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Scandinavian versions.

EDITOR’S PICK: Oppo patents a smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard

As mentioned above, the device comes with either LineageOS 16.0, Ubuntu Touch, or Android out of the box. However, the 16.0 version of LineageOS can be upgraded to the latest LineageOS 17.1. XDA says, the popularity, along with the option of customizations, controlling data, and privacy more made it choose the LineageOS.

That said, this is not the only device to come out with Custom ROM out of the box. Previously, devices like Oppo N1, OnePlus One, and Micromax and Wileyfox devices have launched with CyanogenMod.

Price, and Availability

The retail price of F(x)tech Pro 1-X is $899(₹66,290). However, limited stocks for the XDA community will be available at 29% off which is $639(₹47,118). There is also a pre-early bird offer of $599(₹44,169).

As mentioned earlier, the device is up for crowdfunding that will run for 46 more days and discounts work only with this link.

UP NEXT: Lenovo YOGA Life Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo launched for 299 yuan ($45)

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Vivo has recently patented a new smartphone. The patent reveals a smartphone with a slider mechanism. This mechanism is likely automated and surprisingly resembles Oppo Find X‘s design quite a bit.

The patent applied by Vivo in CNIPA (via Incopat database) in China. Looking at the images, one may think it’s a new Oppo Find X series device that is looking to bring back the iconic slider mechanism. However, that is not the case since it’s from a different OEM entirely. Although, unlike the Oppo Find X, we are currently unsure as to what purpose the new slider mechanism may serve in the Vivo smartphone.

On the front, the patented design for the Vivo smartphone sports a full screen body. No punch hole selfie camera or sensor can be discerned with extremely thin bezels on every side of the device. Moving to the rear, the smartphone has a quad camera setup on the rear. Interestingly though, the primary sensor is separated from the other three cameras due the former being a part housed on the sliding mechanism itself.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo X50 Lite pricing, specifications appear on Australian retailer site

The rear sports a triangular cutout that slides upwards, which is unique and different from the curved slider on the Oppo Find X. This triangular portion lifts up and reveals a single round cutout underneath it. This is likely to be an LED flash but it is doubtful if the entire mechanism has been put in place for just the flash. Notably, the front, when viewed with the slider raised, reveals no sensor or any cutouts either. Meaning, Vivo might sports an under-display camera for selfies, and have this portion either act as a smaller secondary display or even certain other new functions.

Unfortunately, this smartphone is just a patent at this stage and we have no confirmation if the device is actually being worked on. However, it is a possibility that the Chinese vendor may soon work on such a device and launch it in the future, but that is still a speculation. So take it with a grain of salt and stay tuned for more updates.

UP NEXT: Honor 9X Pro launched in India, arrives with Huawei’s AppGallery replacing Google Apps and services

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Vivo is known for bold design and innovation. The company was the first to launch smartphones with in-display fingerprint sensor and pop-up camera. But it is yet to release a phone with a slider mechanism, which might become a reality according to a patent filed by the brand.

The Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has recently filed a design patent. The sketches show a smartphone with a slider mechanism. This is not the first time we are seeing such a handset. The world has already witnessed devices like Oppo Find X, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, Honor Magic 2 3D, and Lenovo Z5 Pro with a similar design.

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This smartphone design became obsolete within a year or so, possibly because of durability issue. But the pop-up camera design is still relevant today to achieve full-screen experience without any obstruction. So why did Vivo file such design patent now?

The Nex lineup of devices by Vivo comes with groundbreaking modern design. But before debuting as a consumer product, the company showcases it in the form of Apex concept smartphone. Hence, this patent could end up being one of the models under either of the two series.

Talking about the design, the slider part houses the primary camera as well as flash module hidden underneath. Sliding it up should technically expose the front camera, however, the sketch shows a blank space. Perhaps, the design is simply a placeholder. Other than that, we can see the phone to sport a quad-camera setup and curved corners. It also looks to have a display with a longer 21:9 screen ratio. 

A Vivo smartphone with this design may never see the light of the day as companies file patents frequently but not all come into fruition.

UP NEXT: Vivo is already developing its own smartwatch

(Source)

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Since the past year of so, smartphone manufacturers have started experimenting with the form factor of smartphones. While leading phone makers are ahead in terms of such experiments, TCL isn’t far behind.

The company has already patented several foldable smartphone designs and now render of TCL smartphone with a slide-out design has surfaced online. This shows off a totally different take on the foldable smartphone design.

Unlike the foldable smartphones already available in the market — Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate X, Motorola RAZR and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, this concept render from TCL shows a foldable smartphone has display that slides out to reveal more screen.

While technical details related to this design is not yet known, it seems that the screen folds within the device somewhere. Since the display wraps around inside when not sliding out, the device would be thicker compared other such phones in the market and we also expect it to have a noticeable crease.

EDITOR’S PICK: OPPO confirms that the company is working on self-developed chipsets

On the back side, the phone has a quad-camera setup along with an LED flash arranged vertically on narrow strip on the right side. It seems that the same strip-like structure acts as a grip to slide out the display panel.

Reports also indicate that the company was all set to showcase this sliding-display smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2020 but since the conference is now cancelled, it remains to be seen when and where TCL showcases this phone and reveals more information related to the same.

TCL was also set to launch the company’s new 10-series smartphones at MWC 2020, which it has already previewed at CES last month. The TCL slide-in foldable smartphone was reportedly set to be announced as a “bonus” from the company.

UP NEXT: Huawei 5G millmimeter wave speed record broken by Ericsson with 4.3Gbps Download speed

(Source)

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Many smartphone manufacturers have launched smartphones with retractable cameras, including Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi with their Vivo NEX, Oppo Find X, and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3. Samsung is also said to launch Galaxy A90 with a pop-up camera.

Now, it seems that Huawei is also jumping the bandwagon. While its sub-brand Honor has already launched a phone with a similar mechanism — Honor Magic 2, Huawei is yet to launch a phone with a retractable camera.

Huawei has filed a patent for a smartphone with a sliding mechanism, suggesting that the Chinese company is exploring the possibility of slider-based smartphone design.

In a patent design published earlier this month in the Global Design Database of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) by Huawei Technologies shows a full-screen smartphone with a slider camera.

The phone, with an almost borderless design with rounded corners, houses the speaker-grille in the narrow bezel. The camera is extendable and offers space for a dual selfie camera, with a flash in the middle. On the back, there is room for two cameras and a flash.

There’s no fingerprint sensor on the phone’s back panel, which may indicate that it will be placed under the display. Another possibility is that it is included in the power button.

Read More: Huawei’s upcoming smartphone P30 Pro appears in a new teaser, could possibly come with 10x optical zoom

Since most of the premium smartphones come with three or more camera sensors on the back, we are assuming that this will be a mid-range device. It’s not yet known within which series this Huawei phone will be placed if it actually gets introduced. The company recently filed trademark applications for P Smart X and P Smart Z, and this patent design of a smartphone could be a part of the upcoming P Smart lineup.

(Source)

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