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Sony Xperia XZ3 Images Leaked Showing Entire Design

The Sony Xperia XZ3 has been the subject to a lot of attention and hence a lot of “leaks”. With the most recent leak containing an image which shows the entire phone- from the front and the back. If this latest image is to be believed, then we sure are in for some surprises from Sony. The rising incidents of leaks, counting this one has many guessing that Sony is going to make a big announcement at the upcoming IFA 2018.

The images show something that defy two of the biggest trends in the flagship smartphone segment right now. The Sony Xperia XZ3 apparently lacks a notch or a dual camera setup, rendering it very close to the Xperia XZ2 in design. The device has not-so-thin bezels at both the top and bottom. The back houses a single camera lens and the fingerprint scanner. We can also see that the sides of the display might go edge-to-edge.

Alleged spec sheets of the device are out, which gave us an insight to what the device packs. The Xperia XZ3 will house a Snapdragon 845 SoC with an Adreno 630 GPU. It has a 5.7-inch Full HD screen which will be protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The big question this spec sheet raises however is that of the camera setup. A Japanese website put out the spec sheet and has been continuously leaking tremendous amounts of information about the device.

The latest images show a single camera setup while the spec sheet talks about a dual camera one. We had seen a dual camera setup in the Xperia XZ2 premium, not including it in the XZ3 will be a step backwards for Sony. Google however has proven with the Pixel that a dual camera setup isn’t require for amazing performance.

Also Read: Sony Xperia XZ3 With 18:9 Aspect Ratio And Running Android 9 P Spotted On Geekbench

While the anticipation for the device is high, the leaks might tell a whole new story. Considering this leak, we are getting a device which is extremely similar to the XZ2, launched in February this year. This could mean either of two things. We are not getting a new flagship from Sony and it is an upgraded version of the Xperia XZ2. This is possible because the design and features are to similar for a new phone and also the fact that the XZ2 is fairly new.

Another explanation could be that the leaks are wrong and what we are getting is completely different. This can be true because if Sony is making another flagship device, it would not bring out one with just a few minor upgrades. Considering the state in which Sony’s smartphone market is in right now, we hope that a much better phone is coming our way.

August 25, 2018
OnePlus 6T Confirmed : Design and Specifications

The OnePlus 6 has been out and about for a while, making it that time of the year when everyone is waiting for the OnePlus 6T. This wasn’t confirmed until recently when a certificate seeming to be that of the OnePlus 6T emerged online. Certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission, it looks like the long awaited release of the OnePlus 6T is happening sooner than we thought.

For the past couple of years, OnePlus has been following up its flagship device with a special ‘T’ edition, essentially an upgraded version of the phone. One can therefore expect some definite design upgrades and a step up in performance from the already super-fast OnePlus 6. These upgrades cannot be significantly higher than what the OnePlus 6 is running right now.

As seen with the OnePlus 5 and 5T last year, OnePlus will keep the upgrades to a minimum. This is because it doesn’t make sense to have a phone that competes with what you released just a few months back. It also clears the way for the next flagship, the OnePlus 7. Even while it kept upgrades to a minimum, the OnePlus 5T managed to almost replace the OnePlus 5.

This does not mean that the OnePlus 6T won’t have its own exciting features to look forward to. Based on speculations about the phone and what we’d like to see, here’s what you can expect from the 6T.

Also Read:OnePlus 6T Could Feature A Pop-Up Selfie Camera

Display:

The design of the phone may sport thinner bezels and even a smaller notch. Keep in mind the fact that Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus share their parent company . OnePlus might therefore draw some inspiration form its ‘siblings’ when it comes to design. This could mean a motorised camera which pops up, to give a truly notch-free screen. The screen size is something that might not be changed but the resolution might be bumped up for a more flagship experience.

Camera:

A finger print scanner underneath the display might be a revolution to the camera segment. How, you ask? Well, the removal of the fingerprint reader will give them the area required for a “third” primary camera. Having seen almost all devices reach the two camera mark, this might be the next big thing.

OnePlus however, might be saving this revolutionary idea for the OnePlus 7. Regardless, a jump in the camera segment is expected if Oneplus really wants to attract its customers.

Performance:

When it comes to the increase in performance or speed, we cannot expect a huge jump. While OnePlus might carry on with the processor and RAM options, it might expand in the internal memory segment. A jump from the existing 256GB to a more favourable 512Gb will be welcome as OnePlus doesn’t provide memory card support.

Flagship Features:

What OnePlus might add could be a bigger battery and possibly wireless charging. Other flagship features such as water resistance could be an upgrade as the OnePlus 6 was only ‘splash proof’. A new array of colours can be expected for sure along with the minor design upgrades.

The early release of the OnePlus 6T could also mean something else. With a release inOctober, it could be around the same time as the Google Pixel 3 XL. What it could mean for either phones is not clear as of now, but can give us a clear idea that the OnePlus 6T might not be running the Android 9 before the Pixel 3 XL.

August 25, 2018

Honor Play Vs Poco F1: Clash Of The Best Budget Flagship Phones

The Honor Play exploded into the market when it was released. The high performance device, set a benchmark for flagship killers and gives tough competition to higher-end devices. Everyone had come to terms with the fact that nothing could beat the Honor play when boom, the Poco F1 raced into the public sphere. The only phone to offer the Snapdragon 845 in this price range, it’s not just speed that sets the Poco F1 apart.

While the pricing of the base model of the Poco F1 is directly competitive with that of the Honor Play, the two devices do have many differences. The Poco F1 offers its 6GB/64GB variant at a highly lucrative price of Rs 20,999. Sitting just a little away from this is the 4GB/64GB Honor Play. The 6GB/128GB and the 8GB/256Gb variants of the Poco F1 cost Rs 23,999 and Rs 28,999 respectively.

Also Read: Honor Play Gaming Smartphone Launched

Display:

The Honor Play has a 6.3-inch Full HD display, complete with thin bezels on the side and a notch on the top. With a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and a 19:9 aspect ratio, the Honor Play provides an immersive visual experience at 409 ppi. Not lagging behind, the Poco F1 gives a similar performance with its 6.18-inch, Full HD display. At 2246×1080 pixels, it gives us a density of 403 ppi.

Processor:

This is where Poco F1 really hits the sweet spot. With Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 845 chipset and the Adreno 630 GPU, the specs speak for themselves. Also adding to this is the fact that it is liquid cooled, which Poco claims will ensure that the Processor gives out peak performance always. Honor also brings on the heat with its Kirin 970 chipset coupled with its GPU Turbo technology, which has been promised will change gaming experiences for everyone.

RAM & Storage:

Another segment in which the Poco F1 surges forward with its higher specifications, what really adds to this is the expandable storage. With a memory card, the Poco F1’s storage can reach more than half a TB in its top model, providing more power for the user. The Honor Play has upto 256GB of expandable memory, giving you all the space you need.

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches Poco F1 With Snapdragon 845

Camera:

While both the devices have AI enabled cameras which provide extensive scene detection and other smart features, they do differ fundamentally. The Poco F1 has with a 12MP and 5MP sensor for its rear camera with an aperture of f/1.9 and f/2.0 respectively. the Honor play at the same time only offers a 16MP and 2MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and f/2.4 respectively. It can be seen that the Honor Play does not really bring flagship specs when it comes to the camera. The AI technology however, helps it overcome this hurdle. Another cool feature that we’re looking forward to is the special scene detection for India in the Poco F1 which shows that they went that extra mile.

Both the devices house their front-facing cameras in the notch. They are similarly equipped with AI and an improved portrait mode. The Poco F1 has a 20MP, f/2.0 sensor while the Honor Play carries a 16MP, f/2.2 sensor.

Battery:

Neither of the phones come with flagship features like wireless charging but they do pack a punch. The Poco F1 packs a massive 4000 mAh battery and Quick charge 3.0. The Honor Play carries a 3750 mAh battery along with the Huawei Super charge 3.0. Each of the devices claim advanced AI and curated operating systems will ensure that battery life is further optimised.

Is The Hunt Over?

While the two smartphones bring an unbelievable amount of flagship features to us for great prices, will they really make their mark? As both the phones are sold in flash sales conducted from time to time, the impact they make on the audience may not be that concrete. Although it creates a buzz and ensures that anxious buyers are always lined up to buy the devices, companies like OnePlus are in the lead in this segment due to the availability of their phones in the market. Let’s wait and watch as to how these new entrants change the Indian Market.

[table style=”table-hover”]

Specifications	Poco F1	Honor Play
Price	6GB+64GB : Rs 20,999 6GB+128GB : Rs 23,999 8GB+256Gb : Rs 28,999	4GB+64GB : 19,999
Display	6.18 inch 2246 x 1080 FHD+ 18:7:9 Aspect Ratio 403 ppi	6.29 inch 2340 x 1080 FHD+ 19:5:9 Aspect Ratio 409 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Liquid Cooled Octa Core @ 2.8 GHz Adreno 630 GPU	Kirin 970 Octa Core @ 2.3 GHz GPU Turbo
RAM	6GB 8GB	4GB
Storage	64GB, Expandable storage up to 256GB 128GB, Expandable storage up to 256GB 256GB, Expandable storage up to 256GB	64GB, Expandable storage up to 256GB
Primary Camera	Primary 12MP rear camera, f/1.9 + Secondary 5MP rear camera, f/2.0 4K video, 30 fps AI Enabled	Primary 16MP rear camera, f/2.2 + Secondary 2MP rear camera, f/2.4 4K video, 30 fps AI Enabled
Front- Facing Camera	20MP, f/2.0	16MP, f/2.2
Battery	4000 mAh Quick charge 3.0 USB Type-C charger	3750 mAh Huawei Super charge 3.0 USB Type-C charger
Additional Features	3.5 mm Headphone Jack Fingerprint scanner Infrared Scanner Face unlock	3.5 mm Headphone Jack Fingerprint scanner Face Unlock

[/table]

August 24, 2018

Xiaomi And Flash Sales: It’s Complicated

The flash sale model was pioneered by Xiaomi back in 2014 when it was using e-commerce platforms to slowly inch its way into the Indian market. They have come a long way since then and now hold the top position in the market share in India. Xiaomi is a respected brand and has carved out a huge fan following over time. However, they still use the flash sale method to sell some of their phones. Xiaomi now also aims to dominate the premium smartphone segment with the Poco F1. With so much at stake, is it a good idea for Xiaomi to stick to this or is it time to move on?

The concept behind flash sales is very simple. Deliberately create a shortage in supply to ensure that the demand for the product goes up. This system has numerous positives compared to the few negatives it may have. Demand for the product increases in the first place, making sure that it creates a lot of hype. This hype therefore attracts more consumers as everyone wants to get a piece of something that is not easy to obtain. The biggest advantage it offers is for smaller companies.

Redmi Note 5 Pro

Small companies cannot afford to invest in producing large number of smartphones only to see them go unsold. Therefore, a flash sale will allow them to produce smaller quantities which they are sure will sell. The intervals between flash sales can also help the company to gauge the mood of the people and know if the hype to buy the device is still around.

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches Poco F1 With Snapdragon 845

After Xiaomi ushered in this concept to the Indian smartphone market, quite a few others have followed it. That is good for a company which is just stepping in, but for Xiaomi, it can be a cause of concern. A lot of customers are unhappy because even though they’re willing to buy a Xiaomi phone, its not easily available. While they did change that and moved to selling phones via other methods, the Poco F1 seems like Deja Vu.

The Poco F1 is supposed to help Xiaomi establish itself in the flagship segment as well. We’ve already seen what the Poco F1 can do. It is also evident that Xiaomi holds the top spot in the Indian market share. If Xiaomi wants the Poco F1 to be its entry ticket to the premium segment, why is it holding back?

A few years back, not many people were trusting of Chinese brands like Xiaomi or OnePlus. Sales in India were low and it seemed uncertain as to how many devices could be sold. OnePlus, at the time, wasn’t big enough to take that risk and therefore started sales on an invite basis. Soon their sales grew, giving enough confidence and capital to move to a regular model of sales. OnePlus trashed the invites. This was a risky move as they weren’t sure as to how many people will buy the next flagship without the hype of an invite around it. OnePlus holds the top spot in the premium smartphone segment, having beaten Samsung and Apple.

While Xiaomi holds back with its sales, frustrated customers might go in for an alternative phone. The Poco F1, despite being an excellent device might go off without making a mark. Considering the fact that Xiaomi now holds a powerful spot in the Indian market, it’s up to them to make the next big move.

August 24, 2018
Google Pixel 3 XL Leaked With Extensive Hands On Images

The Google Pixel was launched back in 2016 to replace the Nexus line of smartphones and to provide Google a spot in the flagship segment. Pixel smartphones provide a flagship by the makers of Android setting benchmarks and redefining the smartphone camera segment. With the launch date of the highly anticipated Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL nearing, curiosity is high amongst fans. However, a series of leaks, especially the latest, might have some of the answers we were looking for.

New images posted by a user on Twitter reveal full body pictures of the Pixel 3 XL, revealing the entire device.

Display:

The new images reveal a huge notch which rests on the massive 6.7-inch screen. This notch redefines the design of the Pixel 3 XL. It also redefines the ideology of Google, which never gave into trends before. Adding to this the front of the Pixel 3 XL seems to have a huge chin and rounded corners.

The notch however, houses two front cameras and an Infrared Sensor which might be to help improve the Face Recognition feature. This can be called out to being very similar to the Face Id technology used by Apple. The device is said to have a 1440×2960 resolution, which gives us a pixel density of 491 ppi on the 6.7-inch screen, which would result in a display which will not be not as sharp. The display also houses two speakers, as part of the stereo speaker experience in the Pixel 3 XL.

Camera:

The device sports a dual front camera and a single main camera. The two front cameras might be having varying focal lengths to perhaps give a better portrait experience. On the back, the single primary camera, is sure to carry the great legacy of Pixel devices if the leaks are true. Images claimed to be taken by the Pixel 3 XL display extensive dynamic range and depth. The camera may be housing a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture.

Image claimed to be taken by a Google Pixel 3 XL

Google’s integration of software to its camera is something to look forward to. It banks not only on the ability of the sensor but also ensures that complimentary software brings out the best. A picture of the home screen of the Pixel 3 XL shows the camera icon having a tiny paw print on it. We are excited to see what this means and what new software google has to better the camera experience.

Device:

Supposedly running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with an Adreno 630 GPU. Although details about storage and RAM aren’t available, it is obvious that Google won’t run with anything below 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM if not higher.

As we look inside the phone, the device is apparently getting its power from a 3430 mAh battery, which might be underpowered considering the size of this device. A larger display will obviously take a toll on the battery, so we are expecting the device to carry Quick charge 3.0 at the least if not Quick charge 4.0. Another surprising feature in a video put up by a twitter user, displays the wireless charging capability of the Pixel 3 XL.

Also Read : The Difference Between Android Go, Android One, And Stock Android

What’s More:

The Pixel 3 XL should be running Android 9 out of the box. Pixel devices are known to get Android updates first, ensuring that devices are up to date. The phone will use a USB type-C charger which was present in the box in a leaked image. Along with this we can see earphones, provided by Google for the very first time. More images show that the Pixel 3 XL will continue to support the Active Edge feature. This activates the Google Assistant when the phone is squeezed. This hints at the fact that HTC is manufacturing these devices since it owns this technology.

It is pretty clear as to what we can expect from the Pixel 3 XL at this point in time. What is actually going to be the biggest hurdle for Google is getting the price right. As flagship killers offering the same chipset at lower prices are on the loose, it’s going to be tough. Google cannot hope to win people over with just a great camera. We hope to see some more surprises when it comes to the pricing and the Pixel 3 XL itself.

August 23, 2018
iPhone 6.1 Inch Specs Leaked Ahead of September Launch

Apple will launch the next versions of the iPhone on 12th September 2018. The phones are expected to be based primarily on the iPhone X and launched as incremental updates. One of the expected iPhones to launch in 2018 is a new “affordable 6.1 inch variant. This may as well be dubbed the iPhone 9.

The 6.1 inch iPhone is expected to have an LCD display allow for comparatively more affordable pricing with respect to the flagship iPhones it will launch with. Developers have found information relating to the new iPhone in Apple Xcode. Apple’s Xcode shows names like “iPhone xx” and “iPhone9.7”. The code also reveals that the 6.1-inch phone will have the following model number : “N84”.

More information found in Xcode reveals that this new device will have a DCI-P3 LCD panel and will be powered by Apple’s A10 chipset.

2018 iPhone Lineup

Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones this year. With rumours speaking of dual sim options the 6.1 inch variant may be the most likely recipient of this feature. This variant will be aimed more towards markets like India and China. Apple will launch the new Apple iPhones on 12th of September with Pre Orders expected to begin 14th of September.

Also Read : These Are The Three Variants of the New 2018 Apple iPhone

Pricing will be key, however, if Apple continues its upwards trend for pricing the flagship model may as well cross US$ 1200. This will make the smartphones far less affordable for users. However the device with a 6.1 inch display may be priced as low as US$ 699 making them a tad bit cheaper. This will offer a more affordable option for buyers.

The iPhone X will be upgraded and launched in two variants, most likely the iPhone XI and XI Plus. The plus variant may end up being the most expensive iPhone yet. Apple is expected to bump up performance for tasks like Gaming, AR and machine learning. New improvements for Siri with the launch of the iOS 12 are also expected on the new iPhones.

Apple will also pay good focus on cameras this time around, and with the focus of most brands on front cameras, the 2018 iPhones may finally have excellent front cameras with upto 4K video recording courtesy the high performing chipsets. Apple will also improve on FaceID features, but it is highly unlikely that TouchID will make a comeback with an in-display fingerprint sensor in the 2018 iPhones.

August 23, 2018
Xiaomi Launches Poco F1 With Snapdragon 845 Starting Rs. 19,999

Xiaomi has launched their new Sub brand Poco with their first phone the Poco F1. The phone is a Flagship Killers worst nightmare with specifications equalling Flagship tier 1 smartphones for as low as Rs. 20,999. The phone features a glass front and polycarbonate back with a vertically placed dual camera setup at the back. The front of the phone has a 6.18 inch 18.7:9 display with a 2246 x 1080 px FHD+ resolution. The front also has Gorilla Glass ( but the version is unspecified ). The display has a max brightness of 500 nits, a contrast ratio of 1500 : 1 and 84% NTSC color coverage.

The front also has a 20MP front camera with a 1.8 micron pixel “4-in-1 Super Pixel” sensor an ƒ/2.0 aperture HDR, AI scene detection, AI Beautify, AI portrait mode along with Face unlock using Infrared illuminator and an infrared camera essentially allowing for Face unlock to work in low light.

Inside the Poco f1 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with 8x KryoTM 385 cores- Up to 2.8GHz AIE 845 and the Adreno 630 GPU a new cooling technology that the company calls LiquidCool identical to what we saw with the Note 9. As the CPU heats, fluid inside the cooling module evaporates to vapour, moving to the cooler end, where it re-condenses as liquid.

The Poco F1 will have options of 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB The RAM used is the LPDDR4X DRAM while for storage the poco F1 uses UFS 2.1 storage. The storage can be further expandable up to 256GB microSD.

The Poco F1 runs a new layer MIUI for POCO which is based on MIUI 9.6, and on Android O with the update to Android P soon after. The main camera layout has 12MP + 5MP AI dual camera setup. The primary 12MP camera is a Sony IMX363 ƒ/1.9 and 1.4?m Dual Pixel Autofocus with HDR, Multi-frame Noise Reduction and AI scene detection with the usual Beautify and portrait options .

The Poco F1 also has 4000 mAh battery with Quick charge 3.0 and a 9V 2 Amp charger is included in the box. The Poco F1 also has USB Type C USB 2.0 port with support for OTG.

The Poco F1 is a ridiculously well priced smartphone with a starting price of Rs. 20,999 ( Rs. 1000 cash back for HDFC card holders) with great specifications that will trouble a lot of other brands. POCO F1 is available with polycarbonate backs in Graphite Black, Steel Blue, and Rosso Red.

POCO F1 will retail at INR 20,999, INR 23,999, and INR 28,999 for the 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB, and 8GB+256GB respectively.

The Armoured Edition Poco F1 has a back panel made of DuPont Kevlar and a 8GB+256GB configuration and will retail at INR 29,999. POCO F1 will go on sale on mi.com and Flipkart on 29th August 2018, starting 12 PM.

August 22, 2018
Job Opening At Apple Hints At Health-Centric Processor

With its disputes with Qualcomm, Apple decided to use Intel chipsets in its upcoming smartphones. However, the company also announced that it will focus on using in-house chipsets for the iPhones. Which is why along with the iPhone X and iPhone 8, the company introduced the A11 Bionic chip. This chip has a dedicated neural processing unit for AI applications. A new job posting on Apple’s website shows that the company may be planning on bringing a health-centric chipset to its products.

In the list of Apple products which would use a health-focussed chip, the Apple Watch could be the first. According to the job post, the company is looking for ASIC (Application-specific integrated circuit) architect. Unlike common SoC, an ASIC chip only has a specific task to perform. For instance, high-efficiency Bitcoin miner is an ASIC. In simple terms, a Bitcoin is a form of electronic cash. However, the Cupertino company wants to use these ASIC chips for health focussed functionalities. The previous job openings at the company were for people with experience in health, wellness, and fitness sensors. These listings hint at the company’s future plans with its products, including, but not limited to, the iPhones.

Image: Apple ASIC Architect Job Opening

The current line of Apple iPhones including the iPhone 8 and iPhone X use the A11 Bionic chipset. This chipset uses a custom Apple GPU for graphics output. For LTE connectivity one of the iPhone variants uses a Qualcomm modem while the other variant uses an Intel modem. This is also what the company could be planning to move away from. In favour of in-house chipsets and modems, Apple may soon drop Intel and Qualcomm modems. However, the new 2018 iPhone lineup would most likely use the Intel modems. There is no word on the availability of this ASIC chipset but we think it could be seen in the next generation-Apple Watches. Stay tuned as we will be bringing more updates on the story on further development.

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August 16, 2018
BlackBerry Key 2 LE Official Images Leaked Before August 30th Launch

On July 13th, BlackBerry released the BlackBerry Key 2 in the USA. Soon after, on 31st July, the company launched the smartphone in India via Amazon for Rs. 42,990. The company which made the QWERTY keypad so popular joined the Android smartphone league a while ago. The BlackBerry Key 2 is one such smartphone which is true to its QWERTY roots, but, it also embraces the new OS. Not even a month after the smartphone’s launch, the company is ready to unveil a new addition to the Key series. Leaked press images and renders suggests that BlackBerry will launch the BlackBerry Key 2 LE on 30th August IFA event. The IFA is an international product showcase event which takes place annually in Berlin.

Also Read: Razer Phone 2 To Launch By The End Of The Year

The leaked press renders reveal a new blue colour variant for BlackBerry smartphones. Along with the new colour, the BlackBerry Key 2 LE also has a textured finish for the rear panel. The smartphone seems to be rocking a rear dual-camera setup with an LED flash. The left side of the smartphone lacks any kind of button while the right side has both the power, volume rocker, and the Convenience key. The Convenience key is BlackBerry’s hardware button to launch the user’s favourite app from anywhere in the Android OS.

The rumours suggest that the BlackBerry Key 2 LE will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. This chipset uses the Adreno 509 GPU for graphics output. Since the BlackBerry Key 2 has 64/128GB storage and 6GB RAM options. the Key 2 LE could also launch with the same variants. With the BlackBerry Key 2 LE, the company plans on launching a Lite version of the already available Key. So it is safe to assume that the Key 2 LE will be relatively cheaper than its predecessor. Stay tuned for a full coverage when the smartphone launches.

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August 16, 2018
Google Has Announced The Android 9 Pie Go Edition

It was in the year 2007 when Google officially introduced the Android ecosystem to the world. Android got its name from a Latin word “Androides”, meaning, human-like robot. The term Android also shares some resemblance with the ex-CEO and founder, Andy Rubin. Android is an operating system primarily designed for devices with touchscreen. Android has evolved not only in terms of versions but also in terms of its varieties. The latest version of the Android OS is the Android 9 Pie. The recent years gave us Android One and Android Go in addition to stock Android. Google announced Android Go as a watered-down version of Android 8 (Oreo) for low-end smartphones. It seems that now the company wants to continue the Android Go series with the Android 9 Pie Go edition.

Also Read: POCOPHONE F1 Leaked Ahead Of 22nd August India Launch

Android Go delivers the latest OS to devices with RAM as low as 512MB. Android Go is the watered-down build of the Android Oreo (8.0). This OS is built to work on low-powered devices without any jitters. With Android Go, users will find that the OS takes significantly less amount of space than even Android Nougat, which released before Oreo. The OS also offers lite versions of Google apps like YoutTube Go, Gmail Go, and Files Go. This allows it to run smoothly on smartphones with storage space as small as 8GB. The latest smartphone to launch with Android Go out of the box is the Nokia 1. In a blog post from Google, the company announced that it will also launch the Android 9 Pie Go edition as a continuation of the current series.

The Android 9 Pie Go edition would share a lot in common with the Android Go (Oreo). However, Google claims that the Pie Go edition would take up even lesser space and provide faster device boot times for smartphones. The Android 9 Pie Go edition will also cater to the low-end devices like the Android Oreo Go edition. The company promises top-of-the-line security features and an accessible dashboard for tracking and monitoring data consumption. Companies like Nokia, Micromax, and Lava are already on the list of smartphone brands to receive Android 9 Pie Go edition.

It is reassuring to see that Google wants to keep the low-end low-budget smartphones just as relevant as the flagship Android devices. With the Android 9 Pie Go edition, it will allow users on a tight budget to enjoy a fast, smooth, and the latest Android experience.

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August 16, 2018
Honor 8X Spotted In A TENAA Listing With A V-Shaped Notch

The Honor is a sub-brand of the Chinese company, Huawei. When Honor announced the Honor 8, the company debuted it as a flagship smartphone. In addition to the Honor 8, the company also released a Pro and a lite version. Both of these smartphones catered to flagship as well as the mid-range price segment. According to a TENAA listing, it seems that the company is ready to release yet another the smartphone in the Honor 8 series. The reports suggest that this could be the Honor 8X, a mid-range offering from the company. What sets this smartphone apart from the rest of the series, is its V-shaped notch.

Also Read: Galaxy Note 9 Launched

While a V-shaped notch is not new in the smartphone market, it certainly is a first for an Honor smartphone. With notch-less displays, devices like the Oppo Find X and the Vivo Nex make it evident that smartphone companies are ready to move past the notch trend. However, these smartphones were not the first to try moving away from the current notch trend. Smartphones like the Essential Phone PH1 and the Sharp Aquos S2 had the smallest possible notch on a smartphone. The new Honor 8X follows much of the same design pattern to keep the notch as minimalistic as possible. The V-shaped notch seems to be housing only the front-facing camera sensor.

With the Honor 8X, the company most likely wants to introduce a budget-friendly smartphone. However, in the Honor 8 series, the Honor 8 Lite is already a mid-range smartphone. The rumours suggest that the smartphone would run on a Snapdragon 660 paired with the Adreno 509. The images posted on TENAA reveal that the smartphone would rock a dual rear-facing camera along with a fingerprint sensor. The Honor 8 was available in a 32 and 64GB storage variant with 4GB of RAM. Quite likely, the same storage variants would be available for the Honor 8 X as well. With the exception of the RAM, which could be bumped up to a 6GB RAM.

There is not much information available about the price or availability of the Honor 8X. However, we think that the smartphone could launch in the month of October at a starting price of $188 (Rs. 13,222). Stay tuned as we will be bringing more news about the Honor 8X soon.

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August 16, 2018
The New Motorola P30 Is A Mix Between iPhone X & Huawei P20

It was on 15th August 2011 when Google bought the smartphone brand, Motorola. Before the purchase, Motorola segregated into two companies, Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. It was Motorola Mobility which was responsible for manufacturing smartphone. This was also the company which Google bought. However, just three years after the Google and Moto merger, Google sold off Motorola to Lenovo, in 2014. Ever since Lenovo purchased Motorola, the company has been producing both mid-range and flagship smartphones. One such smartphone, the Motorola P30 is the latest offering from the company. It is worth noting that Motorola went out of its way to make this smartphone look eerily similar to the iPhone X. While using almost the same colour finish found on the Huawei P20.

Also Read: POCOPHONE F1 Leaked Ahead Of 22nd August Launch In India

Specification

The Motorola P30 has a 6.2-inch IPS LCD 2246 x 1080 px display. Protecting the panel is an unspecified version of Corning Gorilla Glass. Because of the elongated iPhone X like notch, the smartphone has an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone runs the Lenovo ZUI 4.0 on top of the Android 8.0 (Oreo).

There is a triple camera setup on the Motorola P30 with two rear-facing and a single front-facing camera sensor. The rear-facing camera module has a 16 MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 5 MP secondary sensor. The front-facing camera module is a 20 MP shooter with f/2.9 aperture and LED flash.

The Motorola P30 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The smartphone uses the Adreno 509 for graphics output. Powering the smartphone is a 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery. The storage options available for the smartphone are 64GB and 128GB with 6GB RAM. The smartphone supports a microSD card of up to 256GB.

Pricing And Availability

Announced in China, the Motorola P30 is available for pre-order in the country. The company also plans on bringing the smartphone to other markets soon. There are a total of three colour variants of the smartphone, Aurora, Black, and White.

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August 16, 2018
Google Is Tracking User Location Without Consent

Google Maps is one of the most used services across all platforms. Even until Apple unveiled iOS 6 in 2012, the company relied on Google Maps. However, even to this date, many prefer Google over Apple maps for navigation. For a long time, Google has been optimizing its Maps services to provide better and more accurate results. However, there are times when the company goes above and beyond to ensure accuracy. According to reports, the company is secretly tracking its users’ location even after they turned their location history off. According to the company, if a user has turned his or her location history off then it will no longer be able to track their location. But, that does not seem to be the case.

As a new user, Google would ask the user to allow it to track his/her location for navigation. Once allowed, the entire location history of the user is recorded in a timeline fashion. This means that the company can keep a track of all the users who opted in for its map services, putting their privacy at risk. To deal with this, the company allows the user to turn off their location history. This, at least on paper, prevents the company from storing its users’ location. However, Google is still able to track its users with the help of some of the company’s apps. For instance, a simple Google search for a particular food item like a biscuit could help pinpoint your precise location. Moreover, the company even stores the instances of the times when you open its map service on a device. While mostly been open about tracking its users’ location, the company has never explicitly mentioned that it stores their location history even while turned off. It is with this privacy issue that more than two billion devices are at risk.

The issue of data privacy and the risks involved with it has always been a major concern. It does not help to know that big league companies like Google can misuse their users’ information. There is no word from the company on this issue but stay tuned as we will closely cover this news.

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August 14, 2018
Samsung To Shut Down A Major Smartphone Manufacturing Plant

In Q3 of 2018, Samsung was the global leader in smartphone market share. The South Korean company also launched its new smartphone in the Note series, the Galaxy Note 9. It is with the Galaxy Note 9 that Samsung could increase its smartphone sales even further. However, the other end of the spectrum reveals a struggling phase of the company. According to the reports, the company is planning on suspending operations in the Samsung manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China. The company produces mobile phones at this plant in China, to suspend its operation would lead to layoff on a massive scale.

It is the Tianjin Samsung Telecom Technology plant, in the city of Tianjin, China, that the company plans on closing. The company, in all likelihood, will withdraw all its resources from this branch. A major cause of this is the decline in the overall smartphone sales, globally. However, the company representatives claim that they are only looking at the possibility of shutting the plant down. As of yet, the jury is still out on whether this Samsung manufacturing plant would close. The Tianjin plant was one of the major producers of mobile phone for the company, in China.

Almost five years ago, Samsung owned 20% smartphone market share. However, the competition from the likes of Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other Chinese brands, led 1% dip in the company’s foothold. Reports suggest that the Tianjin branch of the Samsung manufacturing plant produces 36 million mobile phones a year. If the company decides to suspend its operations here, it could lead to a major setback for the company. Regardless, it would be interesting to see the course of action for this plant and the impact of the decision on the company. .

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August 14, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Launched

It was on 23rd August 2017, almost two years after the launch of the Galaxy Note 5 that the Galaxy Note 8 launched. While the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 did make a debut, the company, for a faulty battery, recalled the Note 7. Despite the fact, the South Korean electronics still leads the smartphone market in 2018. At an event in New York, Samsung has launched the new Note series smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Specifications

Sharing the same design as the Note 8, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features a glass front and back and an AMOLED display. The smooth chamfered edges and the long aspect ratio are also the same as the last Note smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel is 6.4-inch 2960 x 1440 px 18.5:9 aspect ratio display. The front and rear panels of the Galaxy Note 9 use the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. The smartphone houses the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, right below the camera module. Previously, the fingerprint sat to the right of the camera module on the Note 8.

Samsung is big on AI this year, as are many other companies as well. However, Samsung claims that it is almost “impossible to take a bad photo” with the Galaxy Note 9’s camera. The AI assisted module on the Note 9 is a triple camera setup with two at the rear and one at the front. The primary camera has a wide-angle 12MP lens with a f/1.7 aperture and the secondary camera has a 12MP telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera is capable of taking slow-motion 30fps videos at 720p resolution. While the secondary camera is an 8MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 runs Android 8.0 (Oreo) with Samsung Experience 9.5 UI on top. The smartphone has two chipset variants, one for the US & Canada and the other for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The US and Canadian variants will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and the Adreno 630 GPU for graphical performance. For the EMEA variant, the smartphone will use Samsung’s own Exynos 9810 chipset. For graphical performance, the Exynos chipset will use the Mali-G72 MP18 GPU. Both the Qualcomm and Exynos chipsets are octa-core processors.

The S-Pen has been in the Note family since the first Galaxy Note released in 2011. The S-Pen is a Samsung proprietary stylus which the company provides with both the Note and the Tab series. What makes the new S-Pen standout is its improved functionalities and Bluetooth connectivity. The S-Pen is now usable as a camera shutter trigger, making it easier to take photos and especially selfies. The S-Pen SDK will soon be available for developers to build their app around the stylus and integrate it seamlessly with their apps.

Pricing And Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be available starting from August 24th, in major markets including US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and in India. The base price for the Galaxy Note 9 starts at £899 (Rs. 79,534.53 approx) for the 128GB variant. The 512GB variant will cost £1,099 (Rs. 97,206.07 approx). Once the device is available globally we will provide our in-depth review of the smartphone, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, take a look at the official images of the Note 9 directly from the launch.

This is the new #Note9 pic.twitter.com/vUOjJW19kt

— iGyaan (@igyaan) August 9, 2018

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August 10, 2018