PUBG’s new update is going to bring night mode and an ‘awesome patch’
At last, we are getting the night mode on the new Vikendi map of PUBG. PUBG’s creative director tweeted that there is going to be a new ‘awesome’ patch on the PC test servers next week. The night mode is the most awaited feature and therefore, PUBG fans would definitely be delighted with this news. In the gameplay trailer previously, the night mode has been showcased so fans are already familiar with it. According to reports, night mode can also be called “Moonlight Mode”. The teaser has shown something about the PUBG Vikendi map as well.
In the teaser image, there is a snow bike towards the left-hand corner. Also, we have come to know that the night mode in PUBG Vikendi Map, in the teaser’s own words, “significantly changes gameplay”. To recall, the PUBG Vikendi Map for mobile was also launched on December 20. For the Vikendi map to be available on your phone, you need to update PUBG to 0.10.0 version. Tencent Games incorporated a special feature in which the ones who updated the game before December 25 were able to avail an Outfit Box III and 1,888 BP.
The PUBG Vikendi map’s theme was based on Christmas. When you are introduced to the PUBG map, you can see a snowy background with an SUV in the game which has Christmas lights. There is a Christmas song going on in the background and the words of the song tells players to cherish Christmas but at the same time warns them of their enemies. The dimensions of the PUBG Vikendi map are 6x6km. Other features of the map include Arabic language support. There is a Vikendi-exclusive vehicle called the Snowmobile.
However, appealing these features might be, they have a gloomy part as well. Players who exit from the matches in the beginning of the game are barred from participating in it for a short period of time. There are new commands that have been added for quick chats, added season spending rewards, the backpack has upgraded to show players the sources of unobtained items.
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Airtel rolls out 4G network in 900MHz spectrum in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Telecom major Airtel, which claims to be the fastest network operator in India, has today upgraded its network in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in order to enhance the network experience for its subscribers.
The company has started deploying its 4G network in the 900 MHz spectrum band in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana so that its customers receive high-speed data regardless of where they are.
To offer its customers 4G services, the telecom major is using 2300 MHz (TD LTE), 1800 MHz (FD LTE), and 900 MHz (LTE 900) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Airtel is also deploying advanced network technologies and tools to enhance its high-speed network capacity and coverage. These include pre-5G Massive MIMO, 4G Advanced and Carrier Aggregation.
It is worth mentioning that Airtel has a customer base of 29.91 million in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Speaking about the development, Avneet Puri, CEO – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Bharti Airtel said, “Our endeavour is to deliver best-in-class network experience to our customers. The deployment of LTE 900 will further boost Airtel 4G coverage, particularly inside homes and buildings. Airtel smartphone customers will enjoy a seamless high-speed data and HD quality calling experience on our upgraded network. We will continue to invest aggressively in the deployment of the latest network technologies to delight our customers.”
Recently, the company announced that it will expand its network in the state by rolling out 15000 new sites and 3000 Km of the optic fibre during FY 19 under its network transformation program – Project Leap.
A few days back, Airtel rolled out its 4G services in Andaman and Nicobar islands, where data connectivity has been a major issue since years. At the time of the launch, the company said that it will first be rolling out its services in Port Blair, which is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands, and then roll out the 4G services in other areas of the island too.
Airtel also said that with its 4G services, the native people of the island, as well as tourists, will be able to enjoy digital services like HD quality video streaming, superfast downloads and uploads and high speeds internet browsing. The company also added that users in Andaman and Nicobar islands will be able to upgrade to 4G SIM for free.
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Paytm Mall Republic Day Sale: Discounts and cashbacks on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus and others
If you have been planning to buy an iPhone, now is the time to do so. As a part of its Republic Day Sale, Paytm Mall is offering deals and discounts on various gadgets. And among them, the best deals can be found under the iPhone Super Sale which, as the name suggests, offers various cashbacks on different models of iPhones. We should mention that the cashback will then be credited to your Paytm wallet, so you would only be able to spend it via Paytm’s app. Apart from this, if you use your American Express card, you will get an extra 10% cashback. Here’s a look at all the deals that yoou can avail on Paytm Mall:
In This Article
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
The latest flagship smartphones from Apple, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, can be bought with cashback offers from Paytm Mall. While you can buy the 64GB model of iPhone XS Max at Rs 1,09,799 with a cashback of up Rs 8,000, the 256GB storage variant can be picked up at Rs 1,24,789 with a cashback of Rs 8,669. Speaking of iPhone XS, its 64GB storage model can be bought at Rs 99,649 with a cashback of Rs 6,977 and its 256GB storage version is available at Rs 1,14,799 with a cashback of Rs 8,036.iPhone XR
The affordable version of Apple’s this year’s lineup, iPhone XR, is also available with a cashback offer during Paytm Mall’s sale. The 64GB storage model can be bought at Rs 76,299 with a cashback of Rs 3,815 and the 128GB storage variant can be picked up at Rs 80,297 with an additional cashback of Rs 4,015.iPhone X
You can buy the iPhone X during Paytm’s sale at a 13% discount at Rs 83,099. Additionally, you will also get a cashback of Rs 8,320. So basically, you just pay Rs 75,509 for Apple’s last year’s flagship smartphone.iPhone 8 Plus
The 64GB storage variant of iPhone 8 Plus is available for Rs 70,399 during the Paytm Mall sale. Besides this discount of 9%, customers will also get an additional cashback of Rs 3,520. Clubbing the two together, you only pay Rs 66,879 for the smartphone.iPhone 8
iPhone 8’s 64GB storage model is available at a price of Rs 59,990 on Paytm Mall. Furthermore, you can get a cashback of Rs 5,399 on it. Speaking about its 256GB storage variant, it is available at Rs 70,890 with a cashback of Rs 6,380.iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 can be picked up from Paytm Mall at a price of Rs 39,787. It is worth noticing that this a 24% discount on the device’s actual cost and customers will also get an additional cashback of Rs 3,581. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.How to connect your iPhone to your TV?
You can connect your iPhone with your TV either with the help of an HDMI Adapter and cable or an Analog Adapter and cable. First, we will help you skim through the instructions of how to connect you iPhone and TV via HDMI Adapter and cable. Follow these steps:
- You need to first obtain an HDMI adapter. An iPhone 4 will require a 30-pin to HDMI adapter, others will require a smaller lightening to HDMI adaptor. Note that only models starting from iPhone 4 and higher can connect to a TV using HDMI.
- After getting the HDMI cable, connect the HDMI adapter to the iPhone.
- Now, you need to connect one end of the HDMI cable with the adapter and the other end with an HDMI port. For your information, HDMI ports are usually at the back of the TV, named HDMI port.
- Switch on the TV and the iPhone.
- Press the input button on the TV remote. In some remotes the button is called Source instead of Input.
- Select the HDMI port to which your iPhone is connected.
- Obtain an analog adapter. In case of iPhone 4S and older models, you will need an adapter that has a 30-pin connector. In case of the iPhone 5 and higher models you will need a lightning to VGA adapter.
- Obtain a composite or VGA cable.
- Connect your analog adapter to the iPhone.
- Now, connect one end of the Analog cable to the adapter and the other end to the TV. Each connecting end of the adapter and cable should be of the same colour.
- Switch on the TV and iPhone.
- Now press the Input button on the remote. As mentioned, in some cases it can also be called Source.
- Finally, select the Composite or VGA port to which your iPhone is connected.
PVR and Amazon Alexa partner, this is what Alexa can do now
PVR Cinemas, which is the biggest chain of movie theatres in India is now available on Amazon’s AI-powered voice assistant, Alexa. The company has endeavoured to enable customers to stay updated about latest movies, show timings, locations etc. Notably, PVR Cinemas is the first Indian multiplex chain to be live on Alexa skill that promises to ensure seamless pre-visit experience to customers. The Alexa skill can be experienced across all Amazon Echo smart speakers as well as Alexa built-in devices like Harman Kardon Allure.
In order to use the Alexa skill, you need to enable the PVR skill with the help of the Echo app. And then link your account and say, “Alexa, open PVR cinemas”. This will get the AI started and you can then ask away. A key highlight of this service is that users can enjoy seamless bookings of tickets using Alexa voice assistant. Over that, users will get instant information about the latest releases, show timings, and nearest PVR cinema theatres. The PVR cinemas through Alexa skill enables users to know about movie watching formats such as Gold Class, IMAX, P[XL], Onyx, Director’s cut, Play House and 4DX.
Sanjeev Kumar, the joint Managing director of PVR Ltd said, “PVR Cinemas’ Alexa skill helps you find out required information at your preferred theatre for any movie that you want. This feature is truly convenient for every movie lover who is either a detailed planner or a last-minute cinema-goer. Further, it not only provides instant movie recommendations, schedules and location but also allow users to discover movies showing in different cinema formats. This feature is a perfect solution for customers to get instant answers.”
There is an option to use e-wallet to pay for movies too and users can do auto-selection of seats for the best viewing experience. Also, they can put reminders prior to booked show timings. Speaking of e-wallet, in case there is insufficient balance, users can opt to receive an SMS with a payment link and complete the transaction with the help of their own preferred payment method. Dilip R.S., Country Manager for Alexa Skills, Amazon India said, “The PVR skill for Alexa can be of a great benefit for customers who love movies and frequently visit cinemas.”
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Here’s how you can buy the Oppo R17 Pro at Rs 70: All you need to know
Chinese smartphone brand Oppo has introduced its Republic Day offer under which its Rs17 Pro smartphone will be available at a down payment of Rs 70. Starting today, Oppo R17 Pro can be bought from various offline stores across the country at an immediate payment of Rs 70, and the rest of the amount can be paid in six EMIs of an equal amount by Bajaj Finance.
We should mention that Oppo’s Republic Day offer starts today and will stay valid till January 31. If you buy the Oppo R17 Pro smartphone during this period, you will also be eligible for receiving a SuperVOOC car charger for free. However, you will only receive it post February 9.
To recall, Oppo R17 Pro smartphone was launched in India in only 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model. The key highlights of the handset are its triple rear cameras, edge-to-edge display, in-display fingerprint scanner and Super VOOC fast charging.
Speaking about the specifications, Oppo R17 Pro sports a 6.4-inch display that has a 91.5% screen-to-body ratio and houses a waterdrop-shaped notch on top. The smartphone has a triple rear camera setup on its back panel that comprises of a 12MP primary sensor with f/1.5 and f/2.4 dual apertures, a 20MP sensor with an f/2.6 aperture and a third Time-of-Flight (TOF) camera. Oppo R17 Pro sports a 25MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture.
The device comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 processor clubbed with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The smartphone houses a 3,700mAh battery and is the first in India to come with the company’s SuperVOOC fast charging technology. According to Oppo, SuperVOOC fast charging technology can charge the smartphone’s battery up to 40% in just 10 minutes. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with ColorOS 5.2.
Speaking about the offer, Will Yang, Oppo’s brand director, said, “We are delighted to announce our 70 on 70th offer this Republic Day in India. OPPO as a brand is always introducing interesting offers for its consumers to help them experience technology at its best. Through this partnership with Bajaj Finance, our aim is to reach out to a larger set of consumers to experience the newly launched OPPO R17 Pro.”
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Top 10 smartphones that you can buy under Rs 20,000
Planning to buy a new smartphone but don’t wish to spend more than Rs 20,000? Here are ten good options you can consider:
This smartphone is absolutely stunning to look at and it has a very smooth performance too. Priced at Rs 19,999, Nokia 7.1 features a 5.84-inch full-HD+ PureDisplay panel that comes with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB of RAM, the smartphone comes with 64GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 400GB. On the camera front, the device has 12MP+5MP dual rear sensors and an 8MP front-facing sensor. Nokia 7.1 houses a 3,060mAh non-removable battery.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is available in three storage variants – 3GB RAM/32GB storage, 4GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/64GB storage. While the base variant is priced at Rs 12,999, the 4GB RAM model costs Rs 14,999 and the most high-end one is priced at Rs 16,999. The smartphone sports a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ display that has an aspect ratio of 19:9 and is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo and houses a 5,000mAh battery. On the camera front, Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with 12MP and 5MP dual rear cameras and 13MP selfie camera. Buy this device if you need a smartphone that can handle heavy usage.
This is one among the all-rounders in this range. The device has the looks, as well as the right specifications and it comes at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 15,999, Nokia 6.1 Plus features a 5.8-inch full-HD+ display, is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM, has 64GB onboard storage and houses a 3,060mAh battery. For imaging duties, the device has 16MP and 5MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
This one is for those who love photography! And as the name suggests, it is one among the newest offerings on our list. Huawei Y9 (2019) is priced at Rs 15,990, and it comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ FullView display, is powered by 2.2Ghz octa-core Kirin 710 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and runs Android Oreo. The device houses a 4,000mAh battery and comes with dual selfie as well as dual rear cameras. Huawei Y9 (2019) comes with 16MP+2MP selfie cameras and 13MP+2MP primary cameras.
As the name suggests, Motorola One Power is aimed at heavy users. Priced at Rs 15,999, the smartphone comes with very powerful specifications. It sports a 6.2-inch full-HD+ LCD Max Vision display and is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The smartphone is a part of Google’s Android One program which promises timely Android and security updates for the next two and three years respectively. Motorola One Power houses a 5,000mAH battery and features 16MP+5MP dual rear cameras.
Honor 8X is another very good looking smartphone on our list. The smartphone has a 6.5-inch fullView and is powered by an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor clubbed with 4GB/6GB of RAM. Honor 8X sports 20MP and 2MP dual rear cameras and comes with a 16MP AI selfie sensor. The smartphone houses a 3,750mAh battery that comes with intelligent power saving.
This one is a budget option for selfie lovers. The pricing of the smartphone starts at Rs 11,999, and its high-end version costs Rs 14,999. Realme U1 comes with a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dewdrop LCD display and is powered by the MediaTek Helio P70 processor coupled with 3GB/4GB of RAM. The device houses a 3,500mAh battery and runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with Color OS 5.2. Realme U1 sports 13MP and 2MP dual rear cameras and for selfies, it has a 25MP IMX576 sensor that is said to come with 0.9µm pixels that can be binned for enhanced performance in dimly-lit conditions.
Considering that Vivo has always focussed on its smartphones’ front cameras, this device is for selfie lovers too. It comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants that are priced at Rs 17,990 and Rs 19,990 respectively. Coming to the specifications, Vivo V9 Pro features a 6.3-inch FHD+ display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. The device runs Android Oreo skinned with Funtouch OS 4 and comes with 13MP+2MP dual rear cameras along with a 16MP selfie shooter.
Huawei P20 Lite is another good device that can be bought in this price segment and we think that it is overall a good performer. Priced at Rs 19,999, the smartphone has a 5.8-inch TFT LCD display and is powered by octa-core Kirin 659 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. Huawei P20 Lite houses a 3,000mAh battery and on the camera front, it has 16MP+2MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
This one is another budget all-rounder on our list. The smartphone’s pricing starts at Rs 13,990 and its most high-end variant costs Rs 17,990. Realme 2 Pro runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with ColorOS OS 5.2 and features a 6.3-inch full-HD+ screen. Powered by the Snapdragon 660 AIE octa-core processor, Realme 2 Pro comes with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. For imaging duties, it has 16MP+2MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
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In This Article
Nokia 7.1
This smartphone is absolutely stunning to look at and it has a very smooth performance too. Priced at Rs 19,999, Nokia 7.1 features a 5.84-inch full-HD+ PureDisplay panel that comes with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB of RAM, the smartphone comes with 64GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 400GB. On the camera front, the device has 12MP+5MP dual rear sensors and an 8MP front-facing sensor. Nokia 7.1 houses a 3,060mAh non-removable battery.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is available in three storage variants – 3GB RAM/32GB storage, 4GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/64GB storage. While the base variant is priced at Rs 12,999, the 4GB RAM model costs Rs 14,999 and the most high-end one is priced at Rs 16,999. The smartphone sports a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ display that has an aspect ratio of 19:9 and is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo and houses a 5,000mAh battery. On the camera front, Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with 12MP and 5MP dual rear cameras and 13MP selfie camera. Buy this device if you need a smartphone that can handle heavy usage.
Nokia 6.1 Plus
This is one among the all-rounders in this range. The device has the looks, as well as the right specifications and it comes at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 15,999, Nokia 6.1 Plus features a 5.8-inch full-HD+ display, is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM, has 64GB onboard storage and houses a 3,060mAh battery. For imaging duties, the device has 16MP and 5MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
Huawei Y9 2019
This one is for those who love photography! And as the name suggests, it is one among the newest offerings on our list. Huawei Y9 (2019) is priced at Rs 15,990, and it comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ FullView display, is powered by 2.2Ghz octa-core Kirin 710 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and runs Android Oreo. The device houses a 4,000mAh battery and comes with dual selfie as well as dual rear cameras. Huawei Y9 (2019) comes with 16MP+2MP selfie cameras and 13MP+2MP primary cameras.
Motorola One Power
As the name suggests, Motorola One Power is aimed at heavy users. Priced at Rs 15,999, the smartphone comes with very powerful specifications. It sports a 6.2-inch full-HD+ LCD Max Vision display and is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The smartphone is a part of Google’s Android One program which promises timely Android and security updates for the next two and three years respectively. Motorola One Power houses a 5,000mAH battery and features 16MP+5MP dual rear cameras.
Honor 8X
Honor 8X is another very good looking smartphone on our list. The smartphone has a 6.5-inch fullView and is powered by an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor clubbed with 4GB/6GB of RAM. Honor 8X sports 20MP and 2MP dual rear cameras and comes with a 16MP AI selfie sensor. The smartphone houses a 3,750mAh battery that comes with intelligent power saving.
Realme U1
This one is a budget option for selfie lovers. The pricing of the smartphone starts at Rs 11,999, and its high-end version costs Rs 14,999. Realme U1 comes with a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dewdrop LCD display and is powered by the MediaTek Helio P70 processor coupled with 3GB/4GB of RAM. The device houses a 3,500mAh battery and runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with Color OS 5.2. Realme U1 sports 13MP and 2MP dual rear cameras and for selfies, it has a 25MP IMX576 sensor that is said to come with 0.9µm pixels that can be binned for enhanced performance in dimly-lit conditions.
Vivo V9 Pro
Considering that Vivo has always focussed on its smartphones’ front cameras, this device is for selfie lovers too. It comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants that are priced at Rs 17,990 and Rs 19,990 respectively. Coming to the specifications, Vivo V9 Pro features a 6.3-inch FHD+ display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. The device runs Android Oreo skinned with Funtouch OS 4 and comes with 13MP+2MP dual rear cameras along with a 16MP selfie shooter.
Huawei P20 Lite
Huawei P20 Lite is another good device that can be bought in this price segment and we think that it is overall a good performer. Priced at Rs 19,999, the smartphone has a 5.8-inch TFT LCD display and is powered by octa-core Kirin 659 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. Huawei P20 Lite houses a 3,000mAh battery and on the camera front, it has 16MP+2MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
Realme 2 Pro
This one is another budget all-rounder on our list. The smartphone’s pricing starts at Rs 13,990 and its most high-end variant costs Rs 17,990. Realme 2 Pro runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with ColorOS OS 5.2 and features a 6.3-inch full-HD+ screen. Powered by the Snapdragon 660 AIE octa-core processor, Realme 2 Pro comes with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. For imaging duties, it has 16MP+2MP dual rear cameras and a 16MP selfie camera.
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[td_smart_list_end] Honor View 20 to launch today in Paris: Here is how you can watch the launch event live
Today, Honor View 20, the Huawei-sub brand’s first flagship smartphone of 2019 is set to launch in Paris for the global audience. The smartphone has already been launched in China and will launch in India on January 29. It is expected that in India, the device will be introduced with a price tag of Rs 40,000. For its launch in Paris, Honor is hosting a livestream event in the country at 5:00 PM (Paris Time, that is 9:30 PM in India). The video of the event will be live streamed on Honor’s official global website. Also, the smartphone manufacturer is hosting a global competition during the event.
In that global competition, Honor will ask users to write in the comment section, what their favourite feature of the smartphone is. Participants can win a Honor View 20 smartphone. The Honor View 20 runs on Android 9.0 Pie skinned with Magic UI 2. The smartphone is powered by HiSilicon Kirin 980 SoC. The device sports an IPS LCD 6.4-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1,080×2,310 pixels. There are two RAM variants—6GB and 8GB. The former brings 128GB on-board storage while the latter brings 128GB+256GB on-board storage.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any microUSB card slot for the Honor View 20. There is a dual rear camera setup that consists of two 48MP sensors. And there is a selfie camera on the front that has a single sensor of 25MP. The handset packs a big 4,000mAh non-removable battery. Connectivity options of the phone includes WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared port and USB 3.1. The Honor View 20 comes in multiple colour options. These include sea blue, phantom blue, red and magic night black. The smartphone measures 156.9×75.4×8.1 mm and weighs 180 grams.
As mentioned, in order to watch the livestream video, you need to visit Honor’s official global website.
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Are these better than Apple Airpods? Unboxing & initial impressions of the Tiktronix True Wireless Earbuds
Tiktronix is an Indian brand, that is trying to make a mark in the country. They have got some great products to begin with and their latest to come to India are these True Wireless Earbuds. They retail at Rs 2,499 and are decent when it comes to the sound department. They support most Android and iOS devices, and users can connect them to nay device using Bluetooth.
Pairing them is an easy job and one need not be a rocket scientist to operate them. Users can also make voice calls with them as it has hands free function. Playback time is 3 hours and the supplied carry case can charge them fully within an hour.
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BenQ CinePrime W5700 and W2700 projectors with 4K resolution launched in India
BenQ unveiled today, its CinePrime W5700 and CinePrime W2700 DLP projectors. These projectors feature DCI-P3 colour, and both the projectors as the company claims, guarantee long-lasting CinematicColor with projector-optimised HDR-PRO support. Also, they provide individual factory colour calibration. Other highlights of the CinePrime projectors are ultimate audio-visual experience with simple wireless freedom that provides high-grade image quality.
The BenQ CinePrime W2700 4K HDR projector comes with DCI-P3 industry standard colour space and 4K resolution. The BenQ CinePrime W5700 has 2D H/V lens shift that is suitable for large rooms. Both the CinePrime models deliver 4K HDR performance with 3,840×2,160 resolution with 8.3 million distinct pixels for each frame. The optical system comes with six structured groups of all-glass lens elements for light transmission and ultimate image quality.
The CinePrime W5700 provides 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour. This is due to the enhancement of the BenQ-exclusive CinematicColor technology. The CinePrime W2700 covers 94% of DCI-P3. Both the projectors support HDR10 and HLG formats. The HDR-PRO incorporates auto colour and tone mapping techniques in order to provide superior brightness and contrast ranges. Also, the ideal image optimisation brings out stunning 4K clarity and depth for excellent video quality.
Rajeev Singh, Managing Director of BenQ India said, “BenQ continues to be the market leader with no. 1 market share in 4K projector segment in Asia Pacific and India markets. Today we have unveiled W5700 and W2700 projectors which are specially designed for budding movie fanatics to real enthusiast-level cinema lovers. With this new range of 4K projectors, we are extremely optimistic that these will turn any room into a world-class home theater with video-enhancing technologies.”
In terms of pricing, the BenQ CinePrime W5700 is available at Rs 2.49 lacs and the CinePrime W5700 will cost Rs 2.99lacs.
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Why would Apple do that? iPhone SE starts selling once again
Apple has once again started selling the iPhone SE. This has been tipped by Macrumors that noticed that the Apple device is once again available for purchase through the company’s official website. The iPhone SE was discontinued last year along with the iPhone X and iPhone 6s. Alongside, it launched the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR as part of the 2018 lineup. However, things didn’t go as planned because the new iPhone models did not sell much. As a matter of consequence, Apple was forced to restart the production of iPhone X in November.
Now, it has also started manufacturing the iPhone SE. There are speculations that the company wants to get rid of its remaining stock of the iPhone SE, which is why it has made this move. The Apple iPhone SE has two storage variants—32GB and 128GB. The 32GB storage variant is available at $249 (roughly Rs 17,800) and the 128GB variant is purchasable at $299 (roughly Rs 21,300). Before they were banned, the former storage option costed $349 and the latter costed $449. To recall, the iPhone SE was launched back in March 2016 and appealed to a certain section of the Apple market with the Cupertino-based-tech giant selling quite a few units.
To recall, the device comes with an LED-backlit 4-inch IPS LCD display. The iPhone runs on iOS 12.1 and has a 2GB RAM. The main camera has a 12MP sensor with dual-tone flash and HDR. The selfie camera on the other hand comes with 1.2MP sensor. Connectivity options of the iPhone SE includes WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC and USB 2.0.
This Apple product comes with a non-removable battery of 1,624mAh. The three colour options of the iPhone SE include space grey, silver, gold and rose gold. It measures 123.8×58.6×7.6 mm and weighs 113grams.
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Mobiistar X1 Notch review: Good looks, not-so-great internals
Vietnamese smartphone maker Mobiistar recently launched its X1 Notch smartphone in the Indian market. Priced at Rs 9,499, the smartphone competes with devices from Asus, Nokia and Honor in the budget segment. Is it good enough to give smartphones from these makers a run for their money? Or will it not manage to make a mark in the already crowded segment? Read the rest of our review to find out:
The notch of the smartphone houses the earpiece, front camera and an ambient light sensor. The bezels that outline the display of Mobiistar X1 Notch are thicker than the ones we have seen on other recently launched smartphones. And its chin is pretty thick too. The power and volume rocker buttons are housed on the right edge of the Mobiistar X1 Notch and the left one has the SIM tray sandwiched in between.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the top while the speaker grille, microUSB port and the microphone are at the bottom. Flip over and you will see multi-toned back panel of the Mobiistar X1 Notch. While it was dominated by Purple, it has tones of Blue and Pink too. The rear panel of the smartphone houses its vertically stacked rear camera setup, its fingerprint sensor and its branding. In a nutshell, aesthetically, the smartphone is very good to look at, especially considering its price. Its rear panel makes it look premium and it does manage to stand out in the crowded budget segment.
Coming to the 5.7-inch HD+ display of the smartphone, it left us with a mixed bag of feelings. We have already grumbled about the big notch and thick bezels while talking about the design, so we’ll straight away skip to the rest. The quality of images projected on the screen was mostly good and the colour reproduction was accurate in most cases.
They also remain consistent at various viewing angles and the display has decent sunlight readability. However, watching high-definition videos wasn’t too pleasant of an experience. But then, at this price point, that is forgivable. Overall, we would say that although the display has some downsides, it’s good for the price at which it is being offered.
A pop-box appears each time you receive a message and it can be slightly annoying at times. But, these are things we can live with. What we really found to be a problem is the fact that sometimes, the smartphone didn’t register our touch at all. So we had to tap the screen twice or even thrice to perform the function we intended to. Even launching or switching between some apps took longer than usual.
Although the device has an option of being unlocked via a fingerprint sensor or a face unlock, we preferred the former because, in lowly-lit conditions, the latter doesn’t work that well.
Mobiistar X1 Notch is powered by a 2GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. Users can also install a microSD card of up to 128GB in case they need more storage. If we have to sum up the device’s performance in a sentence, we would say that while it can handle day-to-day tasks, it does not excel when it is pushed beyond it.
Gaming on the device was a decent experience, provided the games being played aren’t too heavy. So, if you are into games like Alto’s Odessey and Temple Run 2, it shouldn’t be a problem at all. However, playing a game like Asphalt 9 Legends is not as enjoyable as the smartphone begins to heat up. It also started warming up while we were using it for navigation, but then, that’s an issue with most phones with glass back panel.
The 3,020mAh battery of the smartphone lasts an entire day with moderate usage involving phone calls, browsing various social media apps and a little bit of gaming and navigation. By the end of the day, you may have to charge it again though.
Now, let’s talk about the cameras of the device. Mobiistar X1 comes with a 13MP rear camera coupled with an LED flash. According to the company, the camera of the smartphone is powered by artificial intelligence and can adjust the colours of shot according to the scene. There are a number of modes on the app including Facebeauty, Night, Panorama, HDR, and Pro Mode.
Most of the images taken in well-lit conditions turned out to be clear and detailed. The colours were accurate and the images had the right amount of sharpness. However, the same cannot be said for the images clicked in lowly-lit conditions.
The 13MP front-facing snapper also comes with AI enhancements and supports the Bokeh mode. It did a good job in well-lit conditions and we managed to take some great shots with the Bokeh mode. But then, in lowly-lit conditions, the quality of the image dropped. To sum it up, we would say that the cameras of the Mobiistar X1 Notch are decent.
We ran the Antutu benchmark test on our device and it scored 65408. For some reason, Geekbench didn’t run on our unit.Verdict and Final Words
The smartphone has its pros and cons. The pros include the design, the display and the battery life. On the other hand, the cons include the average performance, the heavily customised operating system and the not-so-great cameras. You may choose to buy the smartphone if you are really impressed by its looks, but we have seen smartphones in this segment that have a much better overall performance like Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 and Nokia 3.1 Plus.
Pros
Beautiful design, Vibrant Display, Good battery life
Cons
Average performance, Heavily customised software, average cameras
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In This Article
Design and Display
As far as the design goes, the Mobiistar X1 Notch is really appealing. For the given price segment, the smartphone looks premium primarily because of the glass finish on its back panel. The smartphone has rounded edges and it is very easy to use it with one hand. The front panel of the device is dominated by the 5.7-inch display that has a notch on top.
The notch of the smartphone houses the earpiece, front camera and an ambient light sensor. The bezels that outline the display of Mobiistar X1 Notch are thicker than the ones we have seen on other recently launched smartphones. And its chin is pretty thick too. The power and volume rocker buttons are housed on the right edge of the Mobiistar X1 Notch and the left one has the SIM tray sandwiched in between.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the top while the speaker grille, microUSB port and the microphone are at the bottom. Flip over and you will see multi-toned back panel of the Mobiistar X1 Notch. While it was dominated by Purple, it has tones of Blue and Pink too. The rear panel of the smartphone houses its vertically stacked rear camera setup, its fingerprint sensor and its branding. In a nutshell, aesthetically, the smartphone is very good to look at, especially considering its price. Its rear panel makes it look premium and it does manage to stand out in the crowded budget segment.
Coming to the 5.7-inch HD+ display of the smartphone, it left us with a mixed bag of feelings. We have already grumbled about the big notch and thick bezels while talking about the design, so we’ll straight away skip to the rest. The quality of images projected on the screen was mostly good and the colour reproduction was accurate in most cases.
They also remain consistent at various viewing angles and the display has decent sunlight readability. However, watching high-definition videos wasn’t too pleasant of an experience. But then, at this price point, that is forgivable. Overall, we would say that although the display has some downsides, it’s good for the price at which it is being offered.
Performance and Camera
Before we start talking about the performance of the smartphone, we would talk about its software. Mobiistar X1 Notch runs the Android 8.1 Oreo with the company’s own skin baked on top. We found the software is heavily customised and we would have preferred to see something closer to stock Android. The app icons are different and app drawer of the device is integrated with the Home Screen.
A pop-box appears each time you receive a message and it can be slightly annoying at times. But, these are things we can live with. What we really found to be a problem is the fact that sometimes, the smartphone didn’t register our touch at all. So we had to tap the screen twice or even thrice to perform the function we intended to. Even launching or switching between some apps took longer than usual.
Although the device has an option of being unlocked via a fingerprint sensor or a face unlock, we preferred the former because, in lowly-lit conditions, the latter doesn’t work that well.
Mobiistar X1 Notch is powered by a 2GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. Users can also install a microSD card of up to 128GB in case they need more storage. If we have to sum up the device’s performance in a sentence, we would say that while it can handle day-to-day tasks, it does not excel when it is pushed beyond it.
Gaming on the device was a decent experience, provided the games being played aren’t too heavy. So, if you are into games like Alto’s Odessey and Temple Run 2, it shouldn’t be a problem at all. However, playing a game like Asphalt 9 Legends is not as enjoyable as the smartphone begins to heat up. It also started warming up while we were using it for navigation, but then, that’s an issue with most phones with glass back panel.
The 3,020mAh battery of the smartphone lasts an entire day with moderate usage involving phone calls, browsing various social media apps and a little bit of gaming and navigation. By the end of the day, you may have to charge it again though.
Now, let’s talk about the cameras of the device. Mobiistar X1 comes with a 13MP rear camera coupled with an LED flash. According to the company, the camera of the smartphone is powered by artificial intelligence and can adjust the colours of shot according to the scene. There are a number of modes on the app including Facebeauty, Night, Panorama, HDR, and Pro Mode.
Most of the images taken in well-lit conditions turned out to be clear and detailed. The colours were accurate and the images had the right amount of sharpness. However, the same cannot be said for the images clicked in lowly-lit conditions.
The 13MP front-facing snapper also comes with AI enhancements and supports the Bokeh mode. It did a good job in well-lit conditions and we managed to take some great shots with the Bokeh mode. But then, in lowly-lit conditions, the quality of the image dropped. To sum it up, we would say that the cameras of the Mobiistar X1 Notch are decent.
We ran the Antutu benchmark test on our device and it scored 65408. For some reason, Geekbench didn’t run on our unit.Verdict and Final Words
The smartphone has its pros and cons. The pros include the design, the display and the battery life. On the other hand, the cons include the average performance, the heavily customised operating system and the not-so-great cameras. You may choose to buy the smartphone if you are really impressed by its looks, but we have seen smartphones in this segment that have a much better overall performance like Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 and Nokia 3.1 Plus.
Pros
Beautiful design, Vibrant Display, Good battery life
Cons
Average performance, Heavily customised software, average cameras
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Vivo Y89 with dual rear cameras, Snapdragon 626 processor launched
Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has today launched its Y89 smartphone in its home country. The Vivo Y89 is now listed on the Chinese website of the smartphone brand and is also available on AliExpress. The key highlights of the newly launched Vivo Y89 include the Snapdragon 626 processor, a 6.26-inch display, a dual rear camera setup and a 3,260mAh battery.
It is worth noticing that the device has been launched right after Vivo Z3i Standard Edition got unveiled in China last week. Here’s a look at the pricing details and specifications of the newly launched Vivo Y89 smartphone:
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Vivo Y89 price and availability
Vivo Y89 smartphone is only available in one variant that comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and is priced at CNY 1,598. On converting this price in Indian value, it becomes approximately Rs 16,700. The Vivo Y89 is available in Aurora Purple and Black Gold colour options and can be picked up from AliExpress. As of now, there is no word on the smartphone’s availability or pricing in India.Vivo Y89 specifications
Coming to the specifications, Vivo Y89 runs Android 8.1 Oreo and has support for dual SIM cards. The newly launched smartphone features a 6.26-inch full-HD+ display that has a notch on the top. Powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 626 SoC clubbed with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, the smartphone can hold a microSD card of up to 256GB. Vivo Y89 has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and houses a 3,260mAh battery. On the camera front, the device comes with a vertically stacked dual rear camera setup that has a 16MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor. the dual rear cameras of the device are coupled with an LED flash. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16MP sensor on the front panel of the smartphone that comes with an f/2.0 aperture. The camera app of the smartphone comes with a professional mode, panorama, beauty, slow motion, AR shoot, backlight photo, blur photo, etc. Sensors on the smartphone include a fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, a proximity sensor, a photosensitive sensor, a gravity sensor, and a gyroscope. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Oppo might launch a foldable smartphone with 10X hybrid zoom at MWC 2019
Oppo’s product manager, Chuck Wang recently confirmed that the company is going to launch a foldable smartphone at the upcoming MWC. Reports had showcased a media invite saying that Oppo could be experimenting with new themes. These include Connectivity, AI, Industry 4.0, Immersive Content, Disruptive Innovation, Digital Wellness, Digital Trust, and The Future. The design of the invite has led many people to believe that Oppo might launch a foldable smartphone. However, we are yet to see what this smartphone is really going to look like. Hopefully it will be revealed at MWC in Feb end.
Oppo had also recently announced that it will soon launch a phone with the 10x hybrid zoom. Considering that the theme of the MWC 2019 is “Get Closer” it just might be possible that the Oppo will introduce this feature under this theme. With this, if we take into account the media invite sent out by Oppo, it just might be true that the device Oppo will launch is going to be a foldable smartphone with a 10x hybrid zoom technology. In this announcement, Oppo described it has something that uses three cameras than two. So maybe a smartphone with 3 camera sensors that can zoom up to 10X using three different types of lenses can be seen.
The Chinese smartphone maker reportedly added an ultra-wide camera and borrowed telephoto dual camera setup of the 5x optical zoom for this technology. Chuck Wang said a few months back, that Oppo is also working on a 5G smartphone that is going to launch in 2020. Also, it is expected that the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is aiming to launch its first smartphone this year with a display cut-out. Speaking of foldable smartphones, Oppo is not the only brand that would have monopoly on this trend.
In fact, the first company to come up with this idea was South-Korean manufacturer, Samsung. Samsung is also expected to unveil its foldable smartphone during February at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Recently, there was a press release by Samsung that showed banners on which it was written ‘Unfolding the future’. This is the biggest hint that tells us that the tech-giant will unveil a foldable smartphone in that event. Rumours are, that the name of the smartphone is Galaxy F.
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Is it tough enough? Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 withstanding durability tests surfaced online
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 was recently launched in China at a price of CNY 999, that is roughly Rs 10,400. The smartphone has been seen in a few durability tests that have reportedly surfaced online a few days ago. Through those videos, we are convinced that the smartphone is extremely durable. As to why we are saying so, let us explain you what the videos have in store. In one of the videos, posted by Redmi, the phone is shown being stomped by employees several times. Inspite of that, there isn’t a scratch on it.
In another video, the Redmi Note 7 is thrown from the top of the stairs, it falls on the ground. There is no damage caused. A YouTube video shows Redmi CEO Lu Weibing putting the device in a metal basket and covering the top with a transparent tape. Then he kicks it down a flight of stairs. All the same, the phone remains unharmed; without any broken parts, glass, or dents. There was another video surfaced on YouTube where a user uses duct tapes to attach two Redmi Note 7s with the wheels of a skateboard.
Finally, he attaches the remaining part of the tape to his foot. The user stands on the phone for sometime but eventually, loses grip. However, it is claimed that the pressure that was put was enough to break the screen and cause critical damage. Yet, the phone remains the same as it was before the test was executed. To recall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is protected by a double-sided Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The device is expected to launch in India by the end of January. Pricing is expected to be between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000.
It sports an IPS LCD 6.3-inches capacitive touchscreen which has a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The smartphone measures 159.2x 75.2×8.1 mm and runs on Android 9.0 Pie skinned with MIUI 10. The handset is powered by Qualcomm’s SDM660 Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor. It has three RAM variants—3GB, 4GB and 6GB. The 3GB RAM variant brings an internal storage of 32GB. On the other hand, the 4GB and 6GB variants have an internal storage of 64GB.
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Motorola Razr foldable smartphone design leaked online
Since the last week, Motorola has been in the news because various reports about the revamped Moto Razr smartphone started circulating online. Adding fuel to the fire, a design registration has emerged on the World Intellectual Property Organisation that showcases the design of a foldable phone by Motorola Mobility.
We should mention that the iconic hinge of the Moto Razr family is clearly visible on the design that has been leaked. The design showcased looks very similar to a patent that was filed by the Motorola at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in August 2018.
The design registration that was filed by Motorola last week, was granted by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on Saturday. As we just mentioned, it shows that the smartphone will have the iconic Motorola Razr hinge and along with that, it will come with the iconic chin that the earlier devices in the range sported.
From what it looks like, the smartphone will come with two displays – a large display on the inside of the device and another one on the top side of the handset. Reports suggest that the second screen of the upcoming Moto Razr smartphone will be able to show some information to users even when their handset is unfolded.
The first display will come with more screen space and hence, it will be used as a regular one. The regular display of the Moto Razr smartphone will reportedly come with a notch on its top, which will house the earpiece. The back panel of the upcoming Moto Razr will come with two circular shapes on top as well as the bottom, which are said to be the selfie and rear camera of the device respectively. However, it is also possible that these circular shapes are, in fact, the fingerprint sensor and the Motorola logo. The report about the WIPO listing first appeared in 91mobiles.
Last week, a report by The Wall Street Journal said that Motorola is working with Verizon to launch a foldable Razr phone in February. The same report also said that Motorola is planning to price the smartphone around $1,500 which, on conversion, becomes approximately Rs 1,04,300.
The last clamshell phone launched by the company was the Motorola Razr V3, which was released in 2004. Reports claim that 130 million units of the smartphone were sold globally.
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The first display will come with more screen space and hence, it will be used as a regular one. The regular display of the Moto Razr smartphone will reportedly come with a notch on its top, which will house the earpiece. The back panel of the upcoming Moto Razr will come with two circular shapes on top as well as the bottom, which are said to be the selfie and rear camera of the device respectively. However, it is also possible that these circular shapes are, in fact, the fingerprint sensor and the Motorola logo. The report about the WIPO listing first appeared in 91mobiles.
Last week, a report by The Wall Street Journal said that Motorola is working with Verizon to launch a foldable Razr phone in February. The same report also said that Motorola is planning to price the smartphone around $1,500 which, on conversion, becomes approximately Rs 1,04,300.
The last clamshell phone launched by the company was the Motorola Razr V3, which was released in 2004. Reports claim that 130 million units of the smartphone were sold globally.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. LG G8 with triple rear cameras, Snapdragon 855 SoC to launch on February 24: Report
South Korean consumer electronics maker LG was expected to launch its next flagship smartphone – LG G8 – at the upcoming MWC 2019. But now, a report has emerged that says that the smartphone will be launched ahead of the ahead of MWC 2019, on February 24.
The report also throws light on some key highlight of LG G8 including the Snapdragon 855 SoC, a triple camera setup on the back panel, a waterdrop-shaped display notch and 3D photographic abilities. Although a report that had previously surfaced online claimed that LG will be launching a smartphone with a secondary display at MWC 2019, more recent reports are not in-line with it.
According to the report in ETNews, LG G8 will be unveiled by the company on February 24 at 10 am. However, as of now, it is not clear whether the website is referring to the South Korean local time or Barcelona local time. We think that it mentions the latter.
For those unaware, Mobile World Congress 2019 is scheduled to begin on February 25 and will end on February 28. So, if the launch of LG G8 is indeed on February 24, the smartphone will be unveiled a day before the event begins.
We should mention that this isn’t anything unusual as a lot of major smartphone makers hold events before MWC to showcase their products.
The report in ETNews also threw some light on the specifications of the upcoming LG G8 smartphone. According to the report, the upcoming smartphone will come with a triple rear camera setup and the lenses of the camera will also have a 3D shooting setup. The display of the device will reportedly have a waterdrop-shaped notch on top, which is something that we have seen in a number of smartphones lately. LG G8 is said to be powered by the latest Snapdragon 855 processor, which will also be used by Samsung, Sony and OnePlus in their respective flagships.
However, until now, Samsung is the only company that has confirmed the launch date of its next flagship device. The technology giant said that it will be launching its next flagship smartphones on February 20 and has also hinted that it will also take wraps off its much-talked-about foldable phone at the same event.
Image courtesy: @Onleaks, 91mobiles
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Samsung Galaxy A30 specifications revealed by Geekbench
The Samsung Galaxy A30 has just been listed on Geekbench. From that, we know that the smartphone would run on Android Pie out-of-the-box. The smartphone is going to be powered by an Exynos 7885 SoC and will be coupled with 4GB RAM. In an earlier listing, it was mentioned that the Samsung Galaxy A30 will come in 32GB and 64GB storage variants. However, it is unknown as of now whether both of them will come with the 4GB RAM. This report is in sync with an earlier report that says that the Galaxy A30 will launch with nine phones in mid-range price category..
The latest Geekbench leak, that talks about the smartphone’s specifications showcased it with the model number SM-A305F. To talk about the processor, the Samsung Galaxy A30’s Enxnos 7885 SoC is the same as the Galaxy A8 and the Galaxy A8+. The Samsung Galaxy A8 measures 149.2×70.6×8.4mm and weighs 172grams.The smartphone sports a Super AMOLED capacitive 5.6-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1,080×2,220 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.
The Galaxy A8 runs on Android Oreo and has a 4GB RAM which comes in two storage options. These options include 32GB and 64GB internal storage. There is a dual front camera setup that includes an 8MP and a 16MP sensor. The back camera includes a single sensor of 16MP. Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, FM Radio and USB 2.0. The device packs a 3,000mAh battery that is non-removable.
The Samsung Galaxy A8+ sports a Super AMOLED 6-inch capacitive touchscreen that has a resolution of 1080×2220 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The 4GB RAM variant comes with 32GB internal storage, and the 6GB RAM comes with 64GB internal storage. The storage is expandable with the help of a microUSB card slot up to 256GB. Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC FM Radio and USB 2.0. The Samsung Galaxy A8+ packs a non-removable battery of 3,500mAh.
Image courtesy: geekbench
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Oppo Find X2’s design leaks in a video
The Oppo Find X smartphone was talked about a lot last year primarily because of its futuristic design. The device came with a slider that housed the selfie cameras, face unlock sensors as well as the rear cameras. It added to the looks of the smartphone as because it had a slider, it didn’t have a notch on the top. And now, a report in has surfaced online which highlights various design aspects of the Oppo Find X2 smartphone.
According to a video released by YouTuber MrWhoseTheBoss, Oppo Find X2 will come with a 10x optical zoom technology and will have the new in-display fingerprint sensor technology that was announced last week.
According to the video, Oppo Find X2 will come with a camera technology similar to Samsung’s variable aperture camera that was seen in Galaxy S9. As per the video, the cameras of the upcoming Oppo Find X2 will come with the 10x optical zoom technology, a night mode feature and the variable aperture camera. He also said that the device will sport a Time of Flight 3D camera, which can be used for 3D scanning and full body frame adjustment.
However, there is no clarity on whether the device will come with a slider design or not, as because of it, Oppo Find X could not come with an IP rating. With this, we can derive that the Oppo Find X2 may come with some level of water-proofing.
It has been reported that with Find X2, Oppo will instead be going for a hole-in-display design to house the selfie camera. Although that means no 3D face unlock feature, but then, the smartphone will come with an in-display fingerprint technology. Reports also suggest that the smartphone would have a wider scanning are and that supports two-finger unlocking.
The upcoming smartphone is also expected to come with the company’s SuperVOOC technology that can charge a 3,400mAh battery from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes. We should mention that Oppo Find X came with the company’s VOOC technology and only its special edition variants had the SuperVOOC fast charging.
Video courtesy: MrWhoseTheBoss
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Here’s a first look at WhatsApp’s Dark Mode
One among the most anticipated features of WhatsApp is surely the Dark mode. One of the main reasons behind this is that Dark mode is known to enhance the battery life of Android smartphones. Another reason is that the mode has been gaining popularity since a number of apps like Twitter, YouTube and Pocket opted for it.
While it is known for quite some time that WhatsApp Dark mode has been in development, a report has surfaced online which gives us the first glimpse of the much-talked-about mode that will soon be rolling out on both Android and iOS.
With the Dark Mode, the white background of the app turns into Black and a lot of users find it to be more comforting to the eyes. And as we mentioned earlier, the mode also helps in increasing the battery life of smartphones. We should point out that Google has admitted that Dark Mode draws around 43% less battery even when the device’s brightness is set to maximum. A number of popular apps like Twitter, YouTube, Google Maps and Pocket have already got the Dark mode and it is said to be one among the most-highlighted features of Android Pie too.
Speaking of the Dark Mode on WhatsApp, WABetainfo, the Twitter account that reports about WhatsApp’s updates in beta mode, has shared a screenshot of the concept image of the Dark Mode on WhatsApp. While it is just a concept image, it is our first look at what the Dark Mode in WhatsApp would look like.
In unrelated news, WhatsApp today announced that it has rolled out the limit to sending forward messages to five chats globally. This has been done to curtail fake news, which in many parts of the world has contributed to both online and offline violence. It is worth noticing that this feature was first launched in India in July 2018 and the company has said that it has decided to roll it out across the world only after testing it for six months and taking into account user’s feedback. The update has already started rolling out today. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.A follower sent me this **concept** of WhatsApp for Android with a Dark Mode (OLED compatible).
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) January 20, 2019
Do you like it? pic.twitter.com/DxGZtdNqZy
WhatsApp starts limiting forward messages to 5 chats globally
In July 2018, the message forwarding limit in WhatsApp was decreased to a maximum of five chats in India. And now, WhatsApp has decided to roll out this limit to forwarding messages on a global scale. Now the limit of forwarding WhatsApp messages to five chats will not just be applicable in India, but all WhatsApp users in the world will have to comply with it.
This encompasses both Android and iOS versions of the popular instant messaging app. The update has already started rolling out to WhatsApp users across the globe. The primary reason behind rolling out the update on a global level is to curb the spread of fake news and for WhatsApp to maintain its role as a private messaging platform.
WhatsApp had said when it first launched this update in India, “We built WhatsApp as a private messaging app – a simple, secure, and reliable way to communicate with friends and family. And as we’ve added new features, we’ve been careful to try and keep that feeling of intimacy, which people say they love. In India – where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world – we’ll also test a lower limit of 5 chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next to media messages.”
There have been a lot of fake rumours that perpetuated in the form of WhatsApp messages over a long period of time. The fake news spread via WhatsApp messages bred a lot of contention amongst users and led to trolling and online violence. There have also been some severe cases in which this online bullying was followed by offline violence. This led to a few deaths as well. All this forced WhatsApp to take measures to prevent fake news from reaching to the masses.
And hence it updated its message forwarding feature that limited the number of forwards to five chats. This, WhatsApp said, would ensure that sensitive news is not spread beyond a certain limit and conversations can be as private as possible. With the global roll out, WhatsApp is applying the same strategy for other countries as well.
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Samsung announces its Exynos 7904 processor for mid-range smartphones
South Korean technology giant Samsung has unveiled its latest processor that will be used in budget and mid-range smartphones. Samsung’s latest SoC is called Exynos 7904 and according to the company, it is based on ARM’s A73 cores from 2016. So the chipset uses the same cores as MediaTek’s Helio P60 mid-range processor but is supposed to come with a configuration that will make it work more efficiently.
Prior reports have suggested that the Exynos 7904 processor will power the Samsung Galaxy M20 smartphone. Now that the company has launched it just before unveiling its Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 smartphones, those reports are seeming to be credible.
Samsung’s Exynos 7904 has two Cortex A73 cores that are clocked at 1.8GHz and the rest of the six Cortex A53 cores are clocked at 1.6GHz. All of these are arranged in the big.LITTLE architecture.
While the two Cortex A73 cores are the high-performance cores that take care of the performance-related tasks, the other six cores are dedicated to taking care of all the background operations. Samsung has said that the SoC not only guarantees speed while performing everyday tasks but carries them out with focus and efficiency.
The newly launched chipset is made of 14nm process and comes with an image signal processor that can support up to a resolution of 32MP in terms of a single sensor, and can hold up to three cameras at once. We should mention that the processor has support for elements like ultra-wide angle sensors and depth sensors.
For video playback, Samsung’s new Exynos 7904 SoC will be compatible with UHD playback of up to 30fps and it will support full HD playback of up to 120fps. The chipset also has support for the widescreen resolution and it is worth noting that it is compatible with a screen resolution of up to full HD+.
The latest processor provides up to three-carrier network aggregation and has support for Cat.12 LTE network speeds. For this, a bandwidth of up to 600Mbps is permitted by the chipset. We would just conclude by saying that all of this certainly means a number of new features that we can expect to see in upcoming mid-range smartphone models by Samsung.
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Nokia 3.1 Plus to get Android Pie update soon, says Geekbench listings
The Nokia 3.1 Plus has recently been spotted three times on Geekbench. In all the three listings we observed that the smartphone is running on Android 9.0 Pie. In one of the listings, the smartphone scores 834 for its single-core and 3,520 for its multi-core. The Nokia 3.1 Plus, like many HMD Global devices is part of the Android One programme. The devices which recently received Android Pie update are Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 5.1 Plus, Nokia 8, Nokia X5, Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 7.1. Taking that into account, it is not surprising that the Nokia 3.1 Plus would also receive the same update soon enough.
To recall, the Nokia 3.1 Plus features a 6-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720×1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. There is a 2.5D glass that comes without a display notch. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) SoC. There is a single RAM variant of 3GB that brings 32GB onboard storage. A microSD card slot expands the memory by up to 400GB. There is a dual rear camera setup that includes a 13MP sensor along with an f/2.0, PDAF lens and a 1.12-micron pixel size.
The secondary monochrome sensor is 5MP that comes with an f/2.4, fixed focus lens and 1.12-micron pixel size. The Nokia 3.1 Plus is powered by a 3,500mAh battery and has multiple connectivity options. They include a 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS/A-GPS, microUSB and a 3.5 headphone jack. Sensors include accelerometer, ambient light sensor, e-compass, fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. The Nokia 3.1 Plus measures 156.68×76.44×8.19mm.
Now that we have given you the good news, there is some bad news as well. The Nokia 8, for which Android Pie update was announced on December 19, 2018, has been delayed. Considering that it is one of the best smartphones HMD Global has launched, owners might have been very disillusioned. The Nokia 8 sports an IPS LCD capacitive 5.3-inch touchscreen. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor.
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro is at par with P20 Pro after it scores 109 on DxOMark
In terms of photography, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has proved that it is no less than the Huawei P20 Pro. It has scored an impressive 109 points on DxOMark’s smartphone photography and videography tests. Considering that it has surpassed the likes of Google Pixel 3, iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 9, it shows Huawei’s competence in terms of camera. To talk about the scoring elaboratively, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro scored 114 points for photography and 97 points for videography.
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro scored the same in photography as the P20 Pro. It fell short with a narrow mark scoring one point less than the Huawei P20 Pro in terms of videography. While the Huawei P20 Pro scored 98 points, the Mate 20 Pro scored 97. When we go by the net performance, DxOMark notes that the triple rear camera setup of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro delivers good details for medium and long-range shots when zoomed in. The bokeh effects that we see with a blur gradient is owed to the camera’s good depth adjustment.
DxOMark also mentioned that the smartphone exhibits a slight orange and pink hue in photos that are clicked in bright outoor and indoor areas, also it has an inconsistent autofocus. It is because of these reasons that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has lost some points. The points declining factor is also owed to its white balance adjustment when we zoom in. As mentioned, the device has a triple rear camera setup that includes an 8MP, 20MP and a 40MP sensor. The smartphone sports an AMOLED capacitive 6.39-inch touchscreen.
The screen resolution of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is 1,440×3,120 pixels and the aspect ratio is 19.5:9. The handset runs on Android 9.0 Pie and is powered by a HiSilicon Kirin 980 octa-core processor. There are two RAM variants—6GB and 8GB. The storage variants that come along with them are 128GB and 256GB respectively. Connectivity options of the device include WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared port and USB 3.1.
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Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go to launch in India in Q1 2019: Report
Xiaomi recently launched its Redmi Note 7 smartphone in China, which garnered a lot of appreciation for offering powerful specifications at an affordable price. The launch of the smartphone, which is the first in the company’s Redmi range, will reportedly be followed by Redmi Note 7 Pro next month. And now, a report has surfaced online which claims that Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go smartphones would be launched in India soon.
According to MySmartPrice, Redmi will be launching the three smartphones in the country by the end of this quarter. We should mention, that Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 smartphone was launched in India last year in February, so maybe, we can expect to see these three getting unveiled in the same month too.
Considering that India is one among the most important markets for Xiaomi, it comes as no surprise that the company is planning to roll out its three new devices in the country. The report only mentions a tentative timeline of the launch of Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go smartphones in India and it is being said that in spite of Redmi now becoming an independent brand, the pricing of the devices will be similar to its other handsets in the budget range.
Coming to the specifications, Redmi Note 7 smartphone features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The key highlight of the device is its dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 48MP primary sensor and a 5MP secondary depth-sensing sensor. For selfies and video calls, there is a 13MP front-facing snapper. Powered by 14nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, Redmi Note 7 comes with an Adreno 512 GPU, up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device houses a massive 4,000mAh battery and has a fingerprint sensor embedded on its back panel.
Coming to the Redmi Note 7 Pro, a number of specifications of the smartphone are similar to Redmi Note 7’s. The device has a different processor and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC and it comes with a 48MP Sony IMX 586 sensor instead of the Samsung ISOCELL GM1 sensor that is used in the Redmi Note 7.
Speaking of Redmi Go, the smartphone is reportedly Redmi’s first to come with Android Go (Pie) out-of-the-box. With the operating system, the device will come with a suite of apps that will be compatible with very basic specifications. We should mention that Android Go is designed for low-end devices that pack RAM as less as even 1GB.
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