USA has asked its allies to not take any equipment from Huawei: Reports
The reports keep on coming. Huawei is one of the largest manufacturers of electrical goods including smartphones that have become increasingly popular in USA and India. Reports have again surfaced stating that Huawei’s equipment might be used to for ill factors in large economies.
Amidst these reports, USA is trying to persuade its allies from not using electronics made by the Chinese company. The report first appeared in Wall Street Journal that all allies of USA should stop taking or using telecommunication devices and services from Huawei.
The country sees Huawei as a cyber security threat and some reports have stated that the company might be using these devices for espionage purposes. Though no names have been put out in the open, they all point to the Chinese government using these devices to collect intelligence over other countries. This could be a serious threat to the US and other large world economies.
In the recent past the Trump government has been pushing companies in USA to make electronic and telecommunication goods within their country, much because of these reasons. The state is also looking at units of manufacturing, other than China, where they can build electrical devices to be used for communication and storage purposes.
USA considers hosting and usage of Chinese equipment on their military bases around the world a threat. They have bases in countries like German, Italy and Japan. If the orders go through, it will be a big blow for Huawei and they will lose much of its business in these and other countries.
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Nokia smartphones in India to now come with insurance, damage protection and extended warranty plans
One reason we have always liked Nokia smartphones from HMD Global’s lineup is because they are a part of the Android One program, meaning that they have the potential to last longer. And now, there is another reason to buy them if you are someone who uses their smartphone for at least a year or more.
HMD Global has announced that it has partnered with Servify to offer insurance for its range of Nokia smartphones in India. The company says that it will be offering ‘affordable and comprehensive insurance plans’ starting at Rs 399.
Customers would be able to choose from three types of insurance plans when they buy a Nokia mobile phone. So besides Nokia’s standard warranty, the smartphones will come with a 12-month plans from Servify.
One choice being offered to Nokia customers is the insurance plan with accident and liquid damage protection. Another one that they can choose is a screen protection plan. Both these plans are available for purchase within 15 days of buying the Nokia smartphone.
The third plan that customers can get will extend the warranty on their smartphone. This plan can be purchased within 365 days of buying a Nokia smartphone.
If you are a Nokia customer, and want to get one among these three plans, you can head to Nokia’s official website, Nokia mobile support app and Servify.in.
Nokia’s one-year accident and liquid damage protection plan comes at a starting price of Rs 549 and covers damages done via accidents, liquid, fire, lighting, riots and ‘other acts of Gods perils’.
On the other hand, the one-year screen protection plan by Nokia is priced between Rs 449 and Rs 1099. Speaking of Nokia‘s one year extended warranty plan, its cost ranges from Rs 399 and Rs 1129 and it covers defects and unexpected mechanical or electrical breakdowns once the smartphone’s original manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Speaking about the partnership, HMD Global’s Vice President and Country Head for India, Ajay Mehta said, “We carry our phones everywhere and it’s difficult to be without them. Which is why it’s essential that we remain worry-free as we go about making the most of our day. Nokia phones stand for reliability and trust and we are taking this promise even further by partnering with Servify to offer affordable and comprehensive insurance and extended warranty plans. We have been speaking to our fans across the country and believe that this initiative will help them care for their Nokia smartphones and protect their investments.”
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Google Pixel 3 XL with Android Q spotted on Geekbench
Last month, Google had shared the latest Android distribution chart which didn’t show Android Pie at all. This indicated that less than 0.1% devices have run on the latest Android version. And now, a new Google Pixel 3 XL listing on GeekBench shows the device running on Android Q.
Considering that Google names its operating system version alphabetically, it is safe to assume that next generation Android version would be called Android Q.
If Android Q has appeared on the GeekBench listing, it means that an Alpha version of the operating system is under development. Although nothing else is known about it yet, we expect to find out more in the months to come.
The technology giant has revealed that the devices that come with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box will get a faster upgrade to the next version. Additionally, the AOSP source code is fixed so that developers can start preparing in advance for future operating system updates.
The listing also underscores the priority that Google gives its models in terms of rolling out new Android updates. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones were launched last month in October and they run the latest version of Google’s operating system — Android 9.0 Pie. Since devices by Google are usually the first ones to get new Android updates, Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL should be no exception. We wouldn’t be wrong to assume that they will indeed be the first ones to receive the Android Q update.
To recall, Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL mobile phones sport a dual front camera setup with 8MP+8MP sensors and come with a 12.2MP camera on the back panel. Both the smartphones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with Adreno 630 GPU and 4GB of RAM. As we mentioned earlier, Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box and come with Pixel Visual core and Titan M Security Module. The smartphones come with IP68 dust and water resistance and are available in Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink colour options.
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If Android Q has appeared on the GeekBench listing, it means that an Alpha version of the operating system is under development. Although nothing else is known about it yet, we expect to find out more in the months to come.
The technology giant has revealed that the devices that come with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box will get a faster upgrade to the next version. Additionally, the AOSP source code is fixed so that developers can start preparing in advance for future operating system updates.
The listing also underscores the priority that Google gives its models in terms of rolling out new Android updates. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones were launched last month in October and they run the latest version of Google’s operating system — Android 9.0 Pie. Since devices by Google are usually the first ones to get new Android updates, Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL should be no exception. We wouldn’t be wrong to assume that they will indeed be the first ones to receive the Android Q update.
To recall, Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL mobile phones sport a dual front camera setup with 8MP+8MP sensors and come with a 12.2MP camera on the back panel. Both the smartphones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with Adreno 630 GPU and 4GB of RAM. As we mentioned earlier, Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box and come with Pixel Visual core and Titan M Security Module. The smartphones come with IP68 dust and water resistance and are available in Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink colour options.
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Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus has confirmed that it is all set to launch its Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone in Indonesia on December 11. The company has also tweeted a render of the upcoming Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone and says that it is the ‘Real Pro’ smartphone.
The image of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone confirms that the smartphone will sport a notch on its display. The notch on the display of the smartphone houses the selfie camera and other sensors. Above the selfie camera of the smartphone is the earpiece of the device.
The smartphone looks like the low resolution render that had surfaced earlier on its Google Play Console listing. There are indicators for Wi-Fi and battery that suggest that the smartphone will come with a stock Android experience, much like its predecessor Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (review). The smartphone will feature a triple camera setup on its back panel, but then, the third camera sensor cannot be seen clearly in the renders. However, the glossy finish of the Zenfone Max Pro M2 mobile phone can be seen. So, we wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the smartphone will sport a glass back. Asus has also said that a number of smartphones these days come with the ‘Pro’ moniker, and questions if they are really Pro. The Taiwanese smartphone further questions if these ‘Pro’ smartphones have a long-lasting battery, a strong display, a good camera, and a great processor? With this question, the company is obviously claiming that Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 excels in all these departments and hence, is the ‘Real Pro’ smartphone. Tipster Roland Quandt has recently disclosed that the upcoming Asus smartphone will sport a 6-inch Full HD+ display and will be powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor. Although there is no word on the battery of the smartphone, we can expect it to come with a big battery as its predecessor Zenfone Max Pro M1 housed a 5,000mAh battery. The upcoming smartphone is expected to come with 4GB and 6GB RAM variants that will be housed with 64GB and 128GB storage. While there is no word on the sensors used in the triple rear cameras, the selfie camera will sport a 13MP sensor. 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.Banyak yang hadir dengan label nama "Pro", namun apa beneran Pro? Bagaimana ketahanan baterainya? Layarnya kuat? Lalu kameranya kece? Dan bagaimana performa prosesornya?
— ASUS Indonesia (@ASUS_Indonesia) November 21, 2018
Tunggu kehadiranya 11.12.2018!#ZenFoneMaxProM2ID #FreedoM2Play #LebihMendingZenFone #NextGenerationGaming pic.twitter.com/46Kod919Xu
OnePlus 6T gets improved unlocking experience with OxygenOS 9.0.6 update
OnePlus is today rolling out the latest OxygenOS build for its new flagship device OnePlus 6T. The update is OxygenOS 9.0.6 and it gets a number of improvements to the device with itself. However, it is the unlocking experience of the smartphone which will be impacted the most with the update. Along with that, the update is also said to enhance the optimized camera image processing of OnePlus 6T.
With the latest update, OnePlus 6T smartphone users will also get a more optimized standby power consumption, and some general bug fixes and improvements. Some users had complained about not getting notifications from the Play Store and some other issues that were reported have also been taken care of.
As always, the new software update is being rolled out in a phased manner. So, the over-the-air update would reach only a few users today. The update will reach everyone only after the company is cure that there are no critical bugs in it.
OnePlus 6T (review) was launched globally on October 29 and in India on October 30. Speaking about the device’s specifications, it features a 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6. The display of the smartphone has an in-display scanner embedded on it that is claimed to unlock the device in 0.34 seconds.
OnePlus 6T mobile is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor paired with Adreno 630 GPU and 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The smartphone comes in two storage variants — 128GB and 256GB. The latest flagship by OnePlus runs Android 9.0 Pie skinned with Oxygen OS and for imaging duties, OnePlus 6T sports 16MP Sony IMX519 and 20MP Sony IMX376K sensors at the back which come with dual LED flash and optical image stabilization.
There is a 20MP Sony IMX376K sensor housed in the waterdrop-shaped notch on the display that can be used for selfies and video calls. OnePlus 6T’s camera app has features like Face Unlock, HDR, OIS, Panorama mode. The device comes with 3,700mAH battery that supports fast charge (5V 4A). OnePlus 6T also comes with the Face Unlock feature.
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro India launch date revealed, device to be Amazon exclusive
Last month saw the launch of Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20, Mate 20X and Mate 20 RS smartphones at an event in London. And now, the company is all set to launch the Mate 20 Pro smartphone in India on November 27. As of now, there is no word about Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20X and Mate 20 RS coming to India.
Amazon India’s website already has a ‘Notify Me’ page on its platform for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the company has announced that the e-commerce giant is the company’s exclusively online retail partner for Mate 20 Pro.
The ‘Notify Me’ option on Amazon India went live at midnight on November 21 and on pressing it, interested customers can get information about the launch, colour variants, availability, pricing, offers and more.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a flagship smartphone and competes directly with the likes of Apple iPhone XS Max, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Google Pixel 3 XL. The smartphone is priced at EUR 1049 globally, which when converted, becomes approximately Rs 89,310. So we can fully expect the pricing of the smartphone to surpass the Rs 80,000 mark.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro mobile comes with a triple rear camera setup and is powered by 7nm Kirin 980 processor which, according to the company, is ready for 5G network. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. For expandable storage, the company has come up with a new nanoSD card format. The smartphone boasts of a 6.39-inch curved OLED, 2K+ display that has a resolution of 3120×1440 pixel and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Keeping up with the current trend, Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner.
The Leica-branded triple cameras of the smartphone are supposed to be their biggest highlight. Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes with a 40MP wide-angle sensor with f/1.8 aperture, 20MP ultra-wide angle sensor with f/2.2 aperture and 8MP 3x telephoto sensor with f/2.4 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro houses 4,200mAh battery that comes with a 40W Huawei SuperCharge charger. Another major highlight of the device is that it comes with a wireless charging pad embedded into the back panel of the Mate 20 Pro. Using this, any device that supports wireless charging can be charged.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro runs Android 9.0 Pie skinned with EMUI 9 and is available in Emerald Green, Midnight Blue, Twilight, Pink Gold, and Black colour options.
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Oppo A7 with 6.2-inch HD+ display publicized in India: Specifications and other details revealed
While most eyes were on Xiaomi today, which launched the not-so-great Xiaomi Note 6 in India, Oppo has gone ahead and unveiled the Oppo A7 here. The Chinese smartphone maker has put the page up on its website that gives out quite a few details about the smartphone. The post on the website does show how the phone will also look like and what all to expect from the device.
The Oppo A7 mobile lies in the budget segment of smartphones. Industry insider have told Gadget Bridge that the smartphone will be officially launched in the next 14 days in India. The device is already available in China as well as Nepal, with the sales already started in China. Next in line to start sales is Nepal followed by India.
Oppo A7 Technical Specifications
Two versions of the Oppo A7 will be available in the Indian market. One will have 3GB RAM and the other will sport 4GB RAM. Both will get 32GB internal storage with the option to expand memory by up to 256GB using a microSD card. As for the display the Oppo A7 will come with a 6.2-inch HD+ touchscreen that will support a resolution of 1,520×720 pixels. The screen support 270 ppi pixel density. The rectangular notch has been replaced by a waterdrop design on the smartphone and it will be available in two colours – Glaze Blue and Glaring Gold.
Inside, the smartphone will come with the entry level Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset with an Octa-core CPU. For graphical duties it will get the Adreno 506 GPU. This will be backed by a fairly large battery of 4,230 mAh. Moving on to the cameras, the Oppo A7 will carry a twin camera setup at the back. These will be powered by a 13MP and 2MP sensors. Features like bokeh effect will be present in the budget smartphone. The front snapper will be powered by a 16MP sensor. Over that, a LED flash is present at back as well front of the mobile phone.
As for the operating system, the Oppo A7 will come with Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box with a layer of Oppo ColorOS 5.2 on it. For connectivity this smartphone will come with 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth version 4.2, GPS, WiFi and a micro USB port. A 3.5mm audio jack is also present on this mobile device. The smartphone is 7.5mm slim and weighs 168grams. The price is still unknown in India, but will be revealed in a few days’ time with its official launch.
Update: Price is tipped to be Rs 16,999 in India.
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5 features of Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro that are the same as Redmi Note 5 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro has finally come to the Indian market. The smartphone comes at a starting price of Rs 13,999 and will be up for grabs tomorrow onwards as a part of the Black Friday Sale. But before you device to buy it, you should know that the newly launched Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro has a number of features that are the same as its predecessor Redmi Note 5 Pro mobile. Here, we have listed down all of them. Read on to decide whether Xiaomi is offering the same internals in a fancy new packing or if Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is actually a worthy buy:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is powered by the same processor as Redmi Note 5 Pro — Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Soc. Considering this, it is safe to assume that the smartphone will have similar performance as the one we saw in Redmi Note 5 Pro.
With Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, the company has not bumped up the battery of the smartphone at all. It is the same at its predecessor — Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones house the same 4,000mAh battery.
Believe it or not, but Xiaomi has not changed the cameras in its latest smartphone. Both Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and Redmi Note 6 Pro come with the same 12MP+5MP dual rear cameras. However, the company did say that it has changed the aperture. While the cameras of Redmi Note 5 Pro had an f/2.2 aperture, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 6 Pro has an f/1.9 aperture. The new smartphone also comes with AI scene detection. However, we can’t say if it’ll effect the performance of the cameras as the AI enhancements have become more of a marketing gimmick that most smartphone companies use to sell their products better.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, much like its predecessor, comes in two RAM variants — 4GB and 6GB. And much like its predecessor, both the variants are clubbed with 64GB onboard storage. We personally were expecting an upgrade to 128GB storage, but it seems like customers would have to buy an extra microSD card to get more storage onboard.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro does have an extra camera on its front panel, but the main primary camera remains the same as the one we saw on its predecessor Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones come with the same 20MP primary selfie camera, although Xiaomi does claim that Redmi Note 6 Pro has an AI Portrait Selfie mode. We would have to see it to believe that it makes any difference or not.
We feel that Xiaomi has not made any relevant changes to the smartphone. Most of the internals remain the same and come with only minor upgrades. The company claims of AI functionalities, but as we mentioned earlier, AI has become more of a marketing tool of most smartphone brands. We would say, if you have the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, you don’t need to upgrade. In the budget range too, you can consider some Nokia devices that fall under the Android One program because they will surely last longer, or you go for a smartphone in the Realme series as they are available at a better price.
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In This Article
The processor
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is powered by the same processor as Redmi Note 5 Pro — Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Soc. Considering this, it is safe to assume that the smartphone will have similar performance as the one we saw in Redmi Note 5 Pro.
The battery capacity
With Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, the company has not bumped up the battery of the smartphone at all. It is the same at its predecessor — Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones house the same 4,000mAh battery.
The dual rear cameras
Believe it or not, but Xiaomi has not changed the cameras in its latest smartphone. Both Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and Redmi Note 6 Pro come with the same 12MP+5MP dual rear cameras. However, the company did say that it has changed the aperture. While the cameras of Redmi Note 5 Pro had an f/2.2 aperture, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 6 Pro has an f/1.9 aperture. The new smartphone also comes with AI scene detection. However, we can’t say if it’ll effect the performance of the cameras as the AI enhancements have become more of a marketing gimmick that most smartphone companies use to sell their products better.
The RAM and storage
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, much like its predecessor, comes in two RAM variants — 4GB and 6GB. And much like its predecessor, both the variants are clubbed with 64GB onboard storage. We personally were expecting an upgrade to 128GB storage, but it seems like customers would have to buy an extra microSD card to get more storage onboard.
The primary selfie camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro does have an extra camera on its front panel, but the main primary camera remains the same as the one we saw on its predecessor Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones come with the same 20MP primary selfie camera, although Xiaomi does claim that Redmi Note 6 Pro has an AI Portrait Selfie mode. We would have to see it to believe that it makes any difference or not.
Our take
We feel that Xiaomi has not made any relevant changes to the smartphone. Most of the internals remain the same and come with only minor upgrades. The company claims of AI functionalities, but as we mentioned earlier, AI has become more of a marketing tool of most smartphone brands. We would say, if you have the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, you don’t need to upgrade. In the budget range too, you can consider some Nokia devices that fall under the Android One program because they will surely last longer, or you go for a smartphone in the Realme series as they are available at a better price.
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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi today launched its Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone in India. Prior to this, the smartphone has been launched in Hong Kong and Indonesia. The key features of Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone include a bigger display and a quad-camera setup. The smartphone is the successor of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro smartphone that was launched earlier this year and saw a lot of success in the Indian market. Here are all the specifications and pricing details of the newly launched Xiaomi smartphone:
In This Article
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro price in India
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone comes in two variants – one with 4GB RAM and the other with 6GB RAM. While the 4GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 13,999, the 6GB RAM model costs Rs 15,999. The smartphone is available in four colour options including Black, Blue, Rose Gold and Red. The smartphone will be going on sale during the Black Friday Sale at Flipkart, Mi.com and Mi Home. As a part of the introductory offer, Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro will be available at a discount of Rs 1,000 during the Black Friday sale on November 23. The company has also tied up with Reliance Jio and is offering an instant cashback of Rs 2,400 and up to 6TB of 4G data. A discount of Rs 500 can also be availed on paying for the smartphone using an HDFC Bank credit or debit card.Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro specifications
One thing that you should know about the specifications of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is the fact that a number of them are the same as the smartphone’s predecessor, Redmi Note 5 Pro. The specifications that are common between the two devices include the dual rear camera setup, the battery capacity and the processor. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro mobile sports a 6.26-inch Full HD+ display that has an aspect ratio of 19:9, 86% screen-to-body ratio, comes with 2.5D curved glass and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 14nm processor paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. Both the variants are clubbed with 64GB of onboard storage. For imaging duties, the smartphone comes with four cameras in total — two at the back panel and two on the front for selfies. The back panel of Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro houses 12MP+5MP dual rear cameras that come with dual pixel autofocus, a low-light photpgraphy mode and AI enhancements. The 20MP+2MP dual selfie cameras of the smartphone come with AI Portrait Selfie mode and AI scene detection. According to the company, Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro’s selfie camera can detect up to 12 categories. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro has been touted to come with a feature called Wi-Fi passthrough, which will enable users to connect multiple devices to one Wi-Fi device under the same log in. The smartphone houses a 4,000mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology and promises a standby time of 12 days. Redmi Note 6 Pro runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with MIUI 10 and comes with dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, and GPS + GLONASS for connectivity. 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.Here’s how you can win a free trip to the UK on OnePlus’ fifth anniversary
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus will soon be celebrating its fifth anniversary. And as a part of the festivities, the company will be awarding lucky users with a chance to travel to the United Kingdom for a ‘mystery event’. OnePlus will be sponsoring their flight tickets and the users will get a complimentary stay in a hotel for one evening. And of course, they will get to be a part of OnePlus’ 5th-year-anniversary celebrations.
OnePlus will be giving this offer to six lucky winners. In order to be a part of the contest, you would have to upload a video that explaining why ‘speed’ is an important factor in your life.
The company has been focussing entirely on speed since it launched its previous flagship smartphone,OnePlus 6 (review). So it’s not surprising that OnePlus expects users to upload videos about their passion for speed on YouTube in order to participate. The company has stated that the videos must be creative and original. And participants are free to talk about speed of anything around them like cars, technology, life, and more.
The 5th-anniversary event of OnePlus will take place between early and mid-December and the smartphone maker has instructed the participants of the contest to make sure that they are free during this time. If you are keen on participating, the first step would be to fill out a form which OnePlus has shared in its thread on November 30, 2018. It is worth noticing that in order to be a part of the contest you must be at least 18 years old.
Although it has been recommended to make the videos in English, participants can talk in their native languages too. However, it must be shot in landscape mode in at least Full HD format.
OnePlus will then be choosing six lucky winners who would have the chance of flying with the company to the United Kingdom. As we mentioned earlier, the smartphone maker will sponsor flight tickets as well as one night stay in a hotel. The company will be announcing the winners on December 4. The company has assured that the event will definitely be fun and is worth being a part of.
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Samsung Galaxy A8s renders leaked show an Infinity-O punch hole display
A lot of noise has been created about the upcoming Samsung S10 smartphones and the foldable phone the company recently showcased. But that’s not all that the company has in store for 2019. Apart from that, a lot has been spoken about the new displays that Samsung is working on including Infinity-O, Infinity-U and Infinity-V.
In fact, among the three, it is Infinity-O that has garnered a lot of attention because it will house the selfie camera of the smartphone in the ‘punch-hole’ style cut-out on the display. We just got our hands on the renders of Samsung Galaxy A8s smartphone, which the company will reportedly launch in January next year.
The renders first appeared on AllAboutSamsung and they show the alleged Galaxy A8s with a ‘punch hole’ display. It is worth noticing that Samsung calls this kind of display as Infinity-O. It comes without any notch and instead has a circular cut-out at the top where the selfie camera of the smartphone is placed.
In the render that has been provided by AllAboutSamsung, the cut-out and the selfie camera are present on the top left corner, much like what Samsung said it will be like when it announced its Galaxy A6s smartphone. However, it is worth noticing that while notches can be hidden with software, if you don’t like the cut-out, there isn’t anything that you can do to hide it.
It will always be present to the user, so it may be an irritation to some while they are watching videos on the upcoming mobile phone. But then, the hole is too tiny so there may be others who wouldn’t notice.
On the upside, because the selfie camera is housed on the display in a cut-out, there is no need for a broad bezel on the top. The render shows a very thin strip of bezel at the bottom. This means that the device offers more screen space and we can expect it to have a more immersive viewing experience.
Other than this, the renders also show the back panel of the device which house the triple camera setup and also has a fingerprint sensor. The edges of the smartphone in the render have the power, volume rocker and Bixby buttons.
Apart from this, other details that are known about the Samsung Galaxy A8s include a Snapdragon 710 processor and 6GB of RAM. The smartphone is expected to come with Android 9 Pie and we are hoping to see Samsung’s new One UI on top.
It is also worth noticing that Galaxy S10 would not be the first smartphone by Samsung to come with an Infinity-O display, as Galaxy A8s will be launched before the S10 line-up.
Image courtesy: AllAboutSamsung
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In the render that has been provided by AllAboutSamsung, the cut-out and the selfie camera are present on the top left corner, much like what Samsung said it will be like when it announced its Galaxy A6s smartphone. However, it is worth noticing that while notches can be hidden with software, if you don’t like the cut-out, there isn’t anything that you can do to hide it.
It will always be present to the user, so it may be an irritation to some while they are watching videos on the upcoming mobile phone. But then, the hole is too tiny so there may be others who wouldn’t notice.
On the upside, because the selfie camera is housed on the display in a cut-out, there is no need for a broad bezel on the top. The render shows a very thin strip of bezel at the bottom. This means that the device offers more screen space and we can expect it to have a more immersive viewing experience.
Other than this, the renders also show the back panel of the device which house the triple camera setup and also has a fingerprint sensor. The edges of the smartphone in the render have the power, volume rocker and Bixby buttons.
Apart from this, other details that are known about the Samsung Galaxy A8s include a Snapdragon 710 processor and 6GB of RAM. The smartphone is expected to come with Android 9 Pie and we are hoping to see Samsung’s new One UI on top.
It is also worth noticing that Galaxy S10 would not be the first smartphone by Samsung to come with an Infinity-O display, as Galaxy A8s will be launched before the S10 line-up.
Image courtesy: AllAboutSamsung
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Facebook-owned WhatsApp has said announced that it has announced Abhijit Bose as its head of operations in India, which is its biggest market in terms of users.
Bose is the Co-founder and Chief Executive mobile payments firm Ezetap and has now become the first ever country head for WhatsApp, the messaging platform said in a statement.
He is a graduate of Cornell University and Havard Business School and will be taking over operations at WhatsApp in early 2019. His task will be to build WhatsApp’s first full country team outside California. The team will be based in Gurugram, the company has confirmed.
From Bose’s LinkedIn profile, we also got to know that prior to co-founding Ezetap, he was the Head of Product at Intuit GoConnect, served as the Vice President of JiGrahak Mobility Solutions, and has worked with Oracle.
WhatsApp also added that Bose, along with his team will be focussing on helping large and small businesses connect with their customers via the app. To recall, the company rolled out its WhatsApp Business app for small businesses this year, followed by the WhatsApp Business API to serve bigger businesses. With the statement that has been made by the company, it would be safe to assume that Bose and his team will be expected to take more steps in the same direction. WhatsApp’s statement also said that India has over one million users of its existing business products.
Speaking on the new appointment the company has made, Matt Idema, Chief Operating Officer of WhatsApp said, “WhatsApp is deeply committed to India and we are excited to keep building products that help people connect and support India’s fast-growing digital economy. As a successful entrepreneur himself, Abhijit knows what it takes to build meaningful partnerships that can serve businesses across India.”
Abhijit Bose, who would be taking over his role as the head of operations in India, said, “WhatsApp is special and can be a major partner for financial inclusion and economic growth in India. It’s not only how so many families stay in touch, but increasingly it’s how businesses are engaging with their customers. WhatsApp can positively impact the lives of hundreds of millions of Indians, allowing them to actively engage and benefit from the new digital economy.”
Prior to this, numerous reports had surfaced online which spoke about the Facebook-owned platform looking for its Country head for India, but it seemed like the company just couldn’t find the right person for the role. India happens to be one among the most important markets for WhatsApp, and that can be the reason why the company wants an entire dedicated team working for its operations in the country.
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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) first impressions
South Korean technology giant Samsung has finally launched its Galaxy A9 (2018) smartphone in India. The key feature of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is the quadruple camera setup that comes with on its back panel.
The much talked-about smartphone was launched globally at an event in Kuala Lampur last month. In India, it comes in two variants – one with 6GB RAM and the other with 8GB RAM. While the 6GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 36,990, the 8GB RAM model costs Rs 39,990. At the said price it competes directly with the likes of OnePlus 6T.
We had the opportunity of spending some time with the smartphone and here are our first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018):
On flipping over, you will see the 6.3-inch AMOLED display of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), that surprisingly comes without a notch. The edges of the smartphone house the power, volume rocker and a dedicated Bixby button, which do offer a very good tactile feedback when we tried them.
The SIM card slot is placed on the top edge instead of the side and the bottom has a Type-C port, a 3.5mm jack and a speaker grille. The smartphone is definitely a stunner as far as its looks go. However, if you are someone who doesn’t like smartphones whose screen is too big, then Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) may not be the right choice for you.
But for us, it wasn’t really a minus, because of the crisp quality of images we got on the Super AMOLED panel of the device. At 6.3-inches, the display is tall, and everything that is showcased on it is so sharp and clear that we won’t be exaggerating it when we say that it was a visual treat. Although we haven’t spent too long with the smartphone yet, we plan to spend a lot of time playing games and watching videos, because the device’s display does seem very promising. We’ll test more aspects like sunlight readability and let you know about them in our detailed review.
The primary camera of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has a 24MP sensor that has an f/1.7 aperture, which us clubbed with a 10MP telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture that can be used for 2X optical zoom. Besides this, there is an 8MP 120-degrees ultra wide-angle lens and a 5MP depth camera with f/2.2 aperture which can be used for live focus.
We took some shots using the device indoors with good lighting conditions and they turned out to be really good. The images were vibrant, has accuracy in terms of colours and had details. The Android device has a 24MP selfie camera that comes with modes like Selfie Focus, AR Emoji and Wide Selfie. We clicked a few selfies with the device and we were quite happy with their colours and clarity. However, we will have to wait till we use the smartphone more to give you our detailed verdict of the smartphone.
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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) design
The design of the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is simply great. The aesthetics of the smartphone are extremely appealing and the fact that it is available in unusual colours like Lemonade Blue and Bubblegum Pink makes the device stand out. There is a Caviar Black colour variant as well, but that looks common as compared to the other two colour options. Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has a glass back panel which shows off the beautiful gradient colour scheme.
On flipping over, you will see the 6.3-inch AMOLED display of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), that surprisingly comes without a notch. The edges of the smartphone house the power, volume rocker and a dedicated Bixby button, which do offer a very good tactile feedback when we tried them.
The SIM card slot is placed on the top edge instead of the side and the bottom has a Type-C port, a 3.5mm jack and a speaker grille. The smartphone is definitely a stunner as far as its looks go. However, if you are someone who doesn’t like smartphones whose screen is too big, then Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) may not be the right choice for you.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) display
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) features Samsung’s Infinity Display and we had a liking for it instantly. To be precise about the specifications, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080×2220 pixels) Infinity Display that has an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. If you are someone who likes an all-screen experience on your smartphone, then the lack of notch on Samsung Galaxy may disappoint you a bit. It instead has rather broad bezels on the top and the bottom.
But for us, it wasn’t really a minus, because of the crisp quality of images we got on the Super AMOLED panel of the device. At 6.3-inches, the display is tall, and everything that is showcased on it is so sharp and clear that we won’t be exaggerating it when we say that it was a visual treat. Although we haven’t spent too long with the smartphone yet, we plan to spend a lot of time playing games and watching videos, because the device’s display does seem very promising. We’ll test more aspects like sunlight readability and let you know about them in our detailed review.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) cameras
Now, let’s talk about the cameras of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) mobile. The camera setup of the smartphone includes primary, ultra-wide, telephoto lenses along with a depth sensor. They are all aligned vertically on the back panel of the device.
The primary camera of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has a 24MP sensor that has an f/1.7 aperture, which us clubbed with a 10MP telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture that can be used for 2X optical zoom. Besides this, there is an 8MP 120-degrees ultra wide-angle lens and a 5MP depth camera with f/2.2 aperture which can be used for live focus.
We took some shots using the device indoors with good lighting conditions and they turned out to be really good. The images were vibrant, has accuracy in terms of colours and had details. The Android device has a 24MP selfie camera that comes with modes like Selfie Focus, AR Emoji and Wide Selfie. We clicked a few selfies with the device and we were quite happy with their colours and clarity. However, we will have to wait till we use the smartphone more to give you our detailed verdict of the smartphone.
What we think
There are a number of aspects of the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) that seem very promising. The build quality of the smartphone is absolutely top-notch, the smartphone looks extremely premium and has a great display. And above all, there are four cameras in the smartphone, which managed to click really good photos in the limited time that we had with the phone. However, there are a number of other things that we want to try out before we decide whether it’s a good buy or not. So stay tuned for our detailed review to know about Samsung Galaxy A9’s performance, battery life, and if the cameras are just as good in dimly lit conditions. 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.Honor 10 Lite with Android 9 Pie launched: Price and specifications
Just a few days after launching Honor Magic 2 smartphone, Huawei‘s sub-brand has today launched a mid-range smartphone in China called Honor 10 Lite. As seen in leaks earlier, the smartphone comes with a metallic frame and has a curved glass body. The key features of the newly launched Honor smartphone include Android 9.0 Pie and a 24MP selfie camera. Here are all the pricing and specification details that you should know about the Honor 10 Lite smartphone:
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Honor 10 Lite price
The Honor 10 Lite smartphone comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants that are clubbed with 64GB and 128GB of onboard storage. While the 4GB RAM/64GB storage version is priced at CNY 1399, the 6GB RAM/64GB internal storage variant costs CNY 1699 and the 6GB RAM/128GB onboard storage model bears a price tag of CNY 1899. The smartphone will be available in Midnight Black, Gradient Blue, and Gradient Red colour variants and will go on sale starting November 22. It is already available for pre-orders in China.Honor 10 Lite specifications
Coming to the specification of the Honor 10 Lite mobile, it comes with a 6.21-inch Full HD+ (2340 x 1080p) pearl display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The display comes with a U-shaped notch on the top and has an eye protection mode that can filter out blue light to avoid straining the user’s eyes. Powered by an octa-core Kirin 710 processor paired with Mali-G51 MP4 GPU, the Honor 10 Lite smartphone comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. While the base model comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage, the 6GB RAM model is paired with both 64GB and 128GB storage. For more storage, users can install a microSD card of up to 512GB. Honor 10 Lite runs the latest Android 9.0 Pie out of the box that has EMUI 9.0 skin baked on top. For imaging duties, the smartphone has 12MP+12MP dual rear cameras that come with an f/1.8 aperture, AIS, and auto scene detection. On the front panel, there is a 24MP snapper with f/2.0 aperture that can be used for selfies and video calls. The selfie camera of Honor 10 Lite also comes with an AI beauty mode and portrait lighting. Honor 10 Lite houses a 3,000mAh battery and comes with an Adaptive Battery mode. The smartphone has a fingerprint sensor on the back and its connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and MicroUSB 2.0 port. 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.[Video] Samsung Galaxy A9: Unboxing, First Look and Camera Samples
![[Video] Samsung Galaxy A9: Unboxing, First Look and Camera Samples](https://www.gadgetbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/maxresdefault-4-768x432.jpg "[Video] Samsung Galaxy A9: Unboxing, First Look and Camera Samples")
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A9 with its 4 rear cameras is now available in India at a price of Rs 36,990 for the 6GB RAM variant and Rs 39,990 for the 8GB version. The chipset in this one is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 CPU and comes with 128GB on board storage. A 3,800 mAh battery resides in this smartphone and the front snapper is powered by a 24MP front sensor. We unboxed the device and checked out its new features along with its camera quality in few indoor shots. Check it out!
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PUBG Mobile version 0.9.5 is now live with Royale Pass Season 4
PUBG is undoubtedly one among the most popular games of 2018. And if you are a fan, you have a reason to be happy about. The game is refreshing its mobile version to season four. The latest update of PUBG Mobile is called Royale Pass Season 4, the company confirmed on its Twitter page. The previous season of PUBG — Battle Royale game — ended on November 18. Here’s a look at when the new season of PUBG Mobile is scheduled to begin and what new features we can expect it to have:
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PUBG Mobile season 4 release date
The new season of of PUBG has supposedly begun on November 20. The global servers of PUBG Mobile will reportedly begin on November 21 and all the devices will be getting an access for the new season on the same day. New players as well as the existing ones should know that the latest season of PUBG would not take the rankings and scores of Season 3 into account. This basically means that everyone begins with a clean slate and get equal opportunities to gain ranks. So if you are just beginning the game, it’s not like you would be considered any less than a player who has been following all the seasons. The latest season of PUBG Mobile, Royale Pass Season 4, comes with different game scenarios, improved maps, added missions, newer weapons, special vehicles and more.New features of PUBG Mobile season 4
The new season of the PUBG Mobile game comes with firearm finishes, outfit rewards, new character faces and hairstyles. The update will also get a leaner chat system which, according to the company, can store more messages while using less RAM, tweaks in the front page of the shop and enhanced matchmaking. Users will now have access to a new weapon called M762 automatic rifle. It is the first 7.62mm automatic rifle that accommodates stocks and can be used for single shot, triple shot and full-auto firing modes. If you want it, you can get it in all the maps. Players will also have access to Scooter, which will have the capacity to accommodate two players. However, it will only be available in Sanhok. Moreover, the update also gets PC features to the mobile game such as weather changes, Hardcore mode, etc. 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.Lava offers 3 months of unlimited talk time to A1 users
Domestic smartphone maker Lava has announced its partnership with India’s largest telecom operator — Vodafone Idea Limited — to offer an unlimited voice calling benefit. The unlimited voice calling offer will be available for users of Lava A1 feature phone.
The free voice calls that are being offered by the smartphone maker and telecom giant will be valid till three months for all new as well as existing users of Lava A1. The offer is bring run by the company till March 31, 2019 across India for all those who use SIM cards from Vodafone or Idea.
If you are a Lava A1 user and you have a SIM card from Vodafone or Idea then you need to get a recharge pack of Rs 348 to avail the offer. The Rs 328 prepaid pack comes with unlimited local and national calls for 84 days, which are valid even if the user is on roaming. Users will also be getting 100 free SMSes per day.
However, it is worth noticing that the offer does not have any data benefits.
In case you are not an existing user of Vodafone/Idea or Lava A1 mobile, and you wish to avail the offer, you would have to recharge on your new Vodafone/Idea number with Rs 351 to get the same benefits that we mentioned earlier.
But do remember that the two primary requirements are Lava A1 feature phone and a SIM card from Vodafone or Idea.
To recall the specifications of the device, Lava A1 feature phone is a 2G handset that comes with physical keypad buttons. The feature phone sports a 1.7-inch TFT display and comes with an instant torch and contact icons. The company promises a 3-day battery life if the Super Battery mode is enabled on the device. The handset has support for 22 Indian regional languages and comes with big boom speakers which, according to the company, enhance the audio experience of the device.
Interested buyers can visit Amazon India’s website where Lava A1 feature phone is available for Rs 759. Lava is also offering a one-year replacement guarantee to customers of its feature phone.
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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018): 9 reasons to buy and not to buy the smartphone
The world’s first smartphone with four cameras, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), has finally been launched in India. Samsung has packed a number of premium features in its new device, which comes at a starting price of Rs 36,999 (6GB RAM) and competes directly with the likes of OnePlus 6T (review). The high-end version of the device with 8GB RAM and costs Rs 39,999. Samsung Galaxy A9 is set to go on sale in India starting November 28. To help you decide if you should buy the smartphone or not, we have listed down some reasons for you to buy the smartphone and some reason why you may want to opt for another. Read the entire list of reasons here to know if Samsung Galaxy A9 is the smartphone for you:
The first reason to buy had to be this one. As we mentioned earlier, the smartphone is the world’s first to come with a quadruple camera setup on its back panel. And this makes it an obvious choice for those who love smartphone photography. The rear cameras of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comprise of a 24MP primary sensor that has an f/1.7 aperture, a 10MP telephoto sensor that comes with 2x optical zoom and comes with an f/2.4 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor that has a 120-degree lens and an f/2.4 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor that has an f/2.2 aperture. The camera app comes with a number of options for the user including Panorama, Pro, Beauty, and Auto modes. Live Focus, Scene Optimiser, and AR Emojis are also present. Samsung Galaxy A9 can also be used to make Super Slow-Mo, Hyperlapse and Slow Motion videos. In a nutshell, if you are a smartphone photography lover, you will get a lot of options in Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
The smartphone is completely photography centric. So it hasn’t concentrated its complete attention on just the rear cameras of the device. On the front panel, there is a 24MP sensor that comes with an f/2.0 aperture. The front facing snapper of the smartphone comes with Selfie Focus, AR Emoji and Wide Selfie modes. So if you love clicking selfies, you won’t be disappointed with Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. It is an octa-core processor This isn’t a bad processor at all, but we cannot ignore the fact that there are smartphones are in the same price bracket, or even cheaper that come with Snapdragon 845 SoC, which is the most high-end chip that is available. If you power user, and value the performance of the device over its cameras, you should rather opt for OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T or Asus Zenfone 5Z.
The newly launched smartphone from Samsung comes with 6.3-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display, which is said to produce sharp contrast and high dynamic colour, that result in a more immersive viewing experience. The smartphone has a screen to body ratio of 18:9 and 383.3ppi. This basically means that anything on the display — be it images or videos — would look super crisp and have a very high quality.
Most smartphones these days come with a notch on top of their display. In fact, the waterdrop-shaped notch, which provides even more screen space is also becoming increasingly popular. However, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) lacks a notch at the top and doesn’t come with an all-screen experience or even a nearly full-screen experience. While some people may not consider this as a problem, those who spend a lot of time watching videos or playing games on their device may want to opt for a smartphone that comes with an all screen experience.
If a smartphone’s looks are important for you, you would be happy to know that the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is a stunner. The smartphone has a glass back panel that comes with shaded colours, making the device look extremely premium. Furthermore, the device is available in three colour options — Caviar Black, Bubblegum Pink, and Lemonade Blue. We personally really like the last two because they are so unconventional and make the device stand out.
Samsung Galaxy A9 is not water-proof. So you would have to use it very carefully. This may not be a deal-breaker for most people, but if you have used to having a water-poof device, it sometimes is difficult to adapt to a smartphone which is not.
One feature that most smartphones in the mid-range segment ignore is support for wireless charging. But Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has not skipped it. You do have the option of charging the device wirelessly or, you can opt for charging it via its type-c port that support fast charging.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, which is not the latest one that is available. However, the company has promised an update where the smartphone will be upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie. And hopefully, it will happen soon.
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.
[td_smart_list_end]
In This Article
To buy: The quadruple camera setup
The first reason to buy had to be this one. As we mentioned earlier, the smartphone is the world’s first to come with a quadruple camera setup on its back panel. And this makes it an obvious choice for those who love smartphone photography. The rear cameras of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comprise of a 24MP primary sensor that has an f/1.7 aperture, a 10MP telephoto sensor that comes with 2x optical zoom and comes with an f/2.4 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor that has a 120-degree lens and an f/2.4 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor that has an f/2.2 aperture. The camera app comes with a number of options for the user including Panorama, Pro, Beauty, and Auto modes. Live Focus, Scene Optimiser, and AR Emojis are also present. Samsung Galaxy A9 can also be used to make Super Slow-Mo, Hyperlapse and Slow Motion videos. In a nutshell, if you are a smartphone photography lover, you will get a lot of options in Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
To buy: The selfie camera
The smartphone is completely photography centric. So it hasn’t concentrated its complete attention on just the rear cameras of the device. On the front panel, there is a 24MP sensor that comes with an f/2.0 aperture. The front facing snapper of the smartphone comes with Selfie Focus, AR Emoji and Wide Selfie modes. So if you love clicking selfies, you won’t be disappointed with Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
Not to buy: Cheaper smartphones offer a more high-end processor
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. It is an octa-core processor This isn’t a bad processor at all, but we cannot ignore the fact that there are smartphones are in the same price bracket, or even cheaper that come with Snapdragon 845 SoC, which is the most high-end chip that is available. If you power user, and value the performance of the device over its cameras, you should rather opt for OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T or Asus Zenfone 5Z.
To buy: Samsung’s Infinity display
The newly launched smartphone from Samsung comes with 6.3-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display, which is said to produce sharp contrast and high dynamic colour, that result in a more immersive viewing experience. The smartphone has a screen to body ratio of 18:9 and 383.3ppi. This basically means that anything on the display — be it images or videos — would look super crisp and have a very high quality.
Not to buy: Lacks an all-screen experience
Most smartphones these days come with a notch on top of their display. In fact, the waterdrop-shaped notch, which provides even more screen space is also becoming increasingly popular. However, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) lacks a notch at the top and doesn’t come with an all-screen experience or even a nearly full-screen experience. While some people may not consider this as a problem, those who spend a lot of time watching videos or playing games on their device may want to opt for a smartphone that comes with an all screen experience.
To buy: Beautiful design with a glass back
If a smartphone’s looks are important for you, you would be happy to know that the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is a stunner. The smartphone has a glass back panel that comes with shaded colours, making the device look extremely premium. Furthermore, the device is available in three colour options — Caviar Black, Bubblegum Pink, and Lemonade Blue. We personally really like the last two because they are so unconventional and make the device stand out.
Not to buy: Not waterproof
Samsung Galaxy A9 is not water-proof. So you would have to use it very carefully. This may not be a deal-breaker for most people, but if you have used to having a water-poof device, it sometimes is difficult to adapt to a smartphone which is not.
To buy: Support for wireless charging
One feature that most smartphones in the mid-range segment ignore is support for wireless charging. But Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has not skipped it. You do have the option of charging the device wirelessly or, you can opt for charging it via its type-c port that support fast charging.
Not to buy: Does not come with the latest Android version
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, which is not the latest one that is available. However, the company has promised an update where the smartphone will be upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie. And hopefully, it will happen soon.
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.
[td_smart_list_end] This is how much OnePlus’ 5G smartphone may cost
Reports about the 5G smartphone OnePlus is working on are just not coming to a rest. Last month, the Chinese smartphone maker had announced that it will be launching a 5G smartphone in 2019.
At that time, it was speculated that either OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 7T would come with 5G connectivity. However, later it was confirmed that the 5G smartphone from OnePlus would be a part of a separate range from the company.
And now, a new report in Fudzilla has surfaced online which claims that the new 5G enabled OnePlus mobile phone will cost $100 more than the current flagship OnePlus 6T. It can be possible that the higher pricing of the device is the reason that OnePlus has decided to come out with a new range for its 5G enabled smartphones, as the company may not want to let go off of its affordable flagships line.
It is also worth noticing that OnePlus is not the only company that is working on a 5G smartphone, other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo, Xiaomi and LG will also be joining the 5G bandwagon next year.
Considering that the price of OnePlus 6T begins at $549 in the United States, if the report in Fudzilla is to be believed, the cost of 5G smartphone from OnePlus will start at $649. The report further said that the Chinese smartphone maker will also roll out a 5G variant of OnePlus 7.
Clubbing this with the company’s earlier statement that said that it would not ship the OnePlus 7 with 5G connectivity as it could inflate the price tag of the smartphone, we can assume that a separate model of OnePlus 7 may be dedicated to 5G.
So the launch of the 5G smartphone by OnePlus may not be different from OnePlus 7 and reports have also suggested that the company’s 5G smartphone may not carry a price tag as high as Samsung‘s or Huawei’s 5G phone. But then, as of now, all of these are just speculations.
The OnePlus 5G smartphone is expected to be first seen at MWC 2019 which will be held in Barcelona, Spain next year. In fact, at MWC 2019, we are expecting to see other 5G devices from other technology companies.
The 5G device from OnePlus is expected to be powered by Snapdragon 855 SoC, which will be the first processor from Qualcomm to come with 7nm fabrication process. Snapdragon 855 processor will also come with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit for AI and Machine Learning applications. The new processor from Qualcomm will also bring a significant improvement over the current devices which use the Snapdragon 845 SoC, which has built from the 10nm architecture.
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Samsung Galaxy S10 to come with a 6.7-inch, six-cameras and 5G: Report
Samsung’s tenth anniversary Galaxy S10, which has been codenamed ‘Beyond’ will not come in three variants. Instead, a report in The Wall Street Journal has suggested that the smartphone will have four variants. Among these, the fourth one that has just newly been discovered is codenamed ‘Beyond X’ and it will come with six cameras, sport a 6.7-inch display and come with 5G connectivity.
Earlier, reports had suggested that Samsung has been working on such a smartphone for its Galaxy S10 series, but it was expected to be one among the three that were being talked about. The fact that there is a fourth device in the lineup has newly surfaced.
The other three models of Samsung Galaxy S10 are expected to sport displays that range from 5.8-inches to 6.4-inches in size. They are also said to feature three to five cameras in total.
The Wall Street Journal report further said that the Android smartphone will come with six cameras in total — four on the back panel and two selfie cameras. The cameras are said to come with more zoom options and provide more depth information, that will result in smarter background defocus modes or portrait modes. They will also come with AR apps.
Other reports about Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup say that the range will have a budget model and one among the smartphones will come with an in-display fingerprint sensor and ‘punch-hole’ selfie camera, which looks like the Infinity O display that the company showcased at its developer conference.
Samsung is also said to be adding reverse wireless charging technology to its smartphones. This would mean that Galaxy S10 models would be able to share their battery life with other devices. We earlier saw this technology in Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro mobile.
The report in The Wall Street Journal said the entire S10 lineup would be announced by Samsung in mid-February. The three models will hit the market before the fourth ‘Beyond X’ does. This is because the smartphone model will come with 5G connectivity, meaning that it wouldn’t be shipped till 5G networks are available, which may extend till next spring.
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.Nexstgo forays into India with its Primus laptops
Hong Kong based technology company Nexstgo is all set to launch its Primus range of commercial laptops in India. The company will be launching two laptops in the country — Primus NX101 and Primus NX201.
While Primus NX101 laptop comes with a 14-inch display, the Primus NX201 sports a display that is 15.6-inch in size. According to the company, the laptop has been made from a lightweight yet durable magnesium alloy. The Primus range is claimed to have passed seventy-two hardware tests, which includes twelve military-grade tests. The company says that these are being done to assess a machine’s performance in conditions of extreme weather or hard external impact.
The Hong Kong based Nesxtgo will be hosting its range of products in Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The laptops will be sold via local merchants and will also be available online on Flipkart and Amazon by the end of this month.
The price of the Primus NX101 laptop starts at Rs 80,990, the higher variant will cost at Rs 1,09,990.
Nexstgo claims that the new laptops offer up to 12 hours of battery life and a lay-flat display hinge. They also come with a spill-resistant keyboard that, according to the company is capable of withstanding 350ml of liquid for four seconds. This protects Primus’ sophisticated electronic components and all important data and documents that the user saves on the computer’s hard-drive.
The Primus range of laptop comes with support for Windows Hello, which according to the company enables user to unlock their computers in just two seconds using biometrics like face and fingerprint recognition.
The Primus range by Nexstgo comes with an audio system that supports Dolby Audio Premium. It is complemented by a Full HD IR camera, top firing speakers and Smart Amplifier.
Speaking about the laptops, Alex Chung, CEO of Nexstgo said, “Nexstgo’s R&D team has upheld our company philosophy – Do What the Giants Can’t – by developing diverse smart personal and commercial products and solutions for our consumer and business clients. As our first fully self-developed flagship product, PRIMUS strengthens the company vision and brand with its leading performance and spectacular user experience. With an expert team of professionals from international tech brands, Nexstgo has been able to enjoy access to in-depth market intelligence and implement a global vision to initiate disruptive tech innovations.”
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Instagram kills off fake followers, issues a warning to ‘influencers’
Facebook-owned photo-sharing app Instagram has confirmed that it will be taking an action on accounts that generate fake likes, comments and followers. The platform has updated its Community Guidelines and Terms of Use regarding the same. Instagram has also said that it will be using machine learning tools to eliminate all the inauthentic activity that has been generated from accounts like these.
Instagram has been quoted saying, “We’ve built machine learning tools to help identify accounts that use [third-party apps for boosting followers] and remove the inauthentic activity.”
The photo-sharing app has also warned its users that if they have shared their account details with any third-party app, they must reset their password as soon as they can. Instagram will be sending users an in-app alert to inform them about their account being used to generate inauthentic activity on the photo-sharing platform. The user will have to log out of his account, change his password and log back in, and only then shall the removal process be completed. However, Instagram has also said that the app experience for some users may get changed once they reset their password.
Last week, a report in New York Times explained the concept of ‘nano-influencers’ on social media and what effect they can have. According to the report, a nano-influencer is a person who has as few as thousand followers on a particular platform, but gets paid by brands to market various products. Marketing agencies are known to pay influencers if they manage to spread the word about their products better.
It is a known fact that there are apps which help users increase followers and charge a monthly fees from the user for it. And often, these apps claim that they don’t violate Instagram’s policies, but in reality, they do. A report in New York Times also claims that even well-known celebrities have stooped to buying fake followers for their Twitter accounts from a company called Devumi.
But the photo-sharing platform has vowed to remove fake accounts. It is not only talking about removing these accounts, but also the content that has been posted by them.
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RHA TrueConnect wireless earbuds launched in India: Price and specifications
Glasgow based technology company RHA today announced its first true wireless earbuds, TrueConnect. RHA TrueConnect are said to have been engineered with industry-leading sound and are claimed to have a battery life of up to 25 hours.
The earbuds by RHA come with an IPX5 certification. This means that they can be used in any kind of weather conditions. The IP rating also makes then sweat-proof, so they wouldn’t be surprised if they are used in heavy workout sessions.
The frequency range of RHA TrueConnect wireless earbuds starts from 20Hz and goes up to 20,000Hz. The stem of the earbuds has an inbuilt antenna and it uses Bluetooth version 5 in order to connect with user’s device and provide audio. The stem also places the microphone closer to the mouth of the user in order to ensure that the call quality is clear and detailed.
RHA has also said that the TrueConnect wireless Earbuds have been designed with user experience in mind and that the subtle earpieces of the earbuds maintain a low-profile in the ear, hence avoiding any strain.
The company has said that the earbuds have a battery life of five hours and come with another four charges of five hours in the case — making the total battery life to be 25 hours. Also, the battery level is instantly apparent in the light display. Completely charging the RHA’s newly launched earbuds take one hour and forty minutes. If you instead opt for fast charging, 50 perfect of the battery of the RHA TrueConnect earbuds gets charged in fifteen minutes.
The case of the RHA TrueConnect wireless earbuds is designed in a way that it can easily be opened with one hand, and the company claims that this has been done to keep the user experience effortless.
RHA TrueConnect wireless earbuds has universal integration with digital assistants, which basically is the company attempt to make it smarter.
The earbuds come with a three-year warranty and are available online and in stores at a price of Rs 14,999.
Prior to this, this year also saw the company introduce the CL2 Planar, which are claimed to be the world’s first planar-magnetic in-ear headphone.
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OnePlus 6 users may no longer have to buy a new SIM card while travelling abroad
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has introduced an all new service today that will enable users to browse the internet while travelling abroad with a local SIM card. The company has named its service as OnePlus Roaming and it has been touted to work in a majority of countries across the world. OnePlus users will be given a list of plans they can choose from while they are visiting a particular country. And the plans will vary according to the country they are visiting.
The service is a part of OxygenOS Open Beta 7, which is currently only available in OnePlus 6. However, we can fully expect the update to reach some other OnePlus mobile phones in the near future. One smartphone that will surely get the update is OnePlus’ current flagship OnePlus 6T.
The Chinese smartphone maker has spoken about OnePlus Roaming in a post on their forum. According to the company, the new service basically works like a virtual SIM card. However, it is only limited to data access and cannot be used to make voice calls using the traditional network. The company is being very specific about this and has said, “OnePlus Roaming lets you surf the Internet without a local SIM card.”
But then, we think it will work for someone who can live for a few days by making calls from services like WhatsApp and Skype instead.
You can access the OnePlus Roaming service only after you install the OxygenOS Open Beta 7 on your OnePlus 6 smartphone. If you have the update and want to access the new service, you need to head to ‘Settings’ of your smartphone and then select ‘Wi-Fi’. After this, you need to press on ‘Internet’ and you’ll be able to see the option using which you can purchase a package to enable data access without a local SIM card.
Once you purchase a package, it will start appearing in your Ordered list. You can enable the package from your ordered list when you reach your destination.
OnePlus has not guaranteed that it has packages for all countries and regions and it is worth noticing that the values of packages may vary country wise or region wise.
Along with the OnePlus Roaming service, the update also gets a Video Enhancer feature that enhances colours to deliver users a better video watching experience. In order to access the Video Enhancer feature, users need to head to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Display’.
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This is when Asus Zenfone 5Z will get the Android 9.0 Pie update
Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus has today revealed when its Zenfone 5Z smartphone will be getting an update to Android 9.0 Pie. Asus Zenfone 5Z smartphone was launched in India in July this year and it came with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
And now, the consumer electronics maker has announced that Asus Zenfone 5Z smartphone will be getting an update to Android 9.0 Pie in January 2019.
The update will be rolled out to Zenfone 5Z as a firmware over-the-air (FOTA). This is being done by the company to get new functionalities and enhance the overall experience of the Asus Zenfone 5Z smartphone.
Among the new features that Asus Zenfone 5Z mobile will be getting with the Android 9.0 Pie update are all-new contextual pop-up volume bar and a new Magnifier feature that will enable users to “copy and paste” in an easier way. However, as of now, we don’t know what other features will be coming to the device with the Android 9.0 update.
But like other devices with Android 9.0 Pie, we expect to see app actions, slices, Digital Wellbeing and more.
Another fact that lacks clarity is if Android 9.0 Pie will be coming to Asus Zenfone 5Z (review) in the latest Android security patch. Since the update is being rolled out in the form of a FOTA package, your smartphone will be updated automatically. There will be no reason for you to install the update manually. However, if you wish to check its presence on its own, you go to your Asus Zenfone 5Z’s ‘Settings’, click on ‘System’ and then press ‘System updates’. But do it in January, since the month of the update has already been confirmed by the company.
To recall, Asus Zenfone 5Z features a 6.2-inch full-HD+ Super IPS+ display that has an aspect ratio of 18.7:9. The dual SIM smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 845 processor that is paired with an Adreno 630 GPU. The smartphone comes with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage. Asus Zenfone 5Z smartphone can hold microSD cards of up to 2TB.
For imaging duties, there is a dual rear camera setup that comes with a 12MP Sony IMX363 primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, coupled with an 8MP OmniVision 8856sensor with fixed focus, f/2.2 aperture, and a 120-degree wide-angle lens. There is also an 8MP fixed focus OmniVision 8856 sensor that can be used to click selfies and make video calls. Asus Zenfone 5Z houses a 3,300mAh battery that has support for Quick Charge 3.0.
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