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Xiaomi is known mainly as the budget king of the smartphone world, but in an effort to outshine even the likes of the S7 Edge, today it has launched its most expensive smartphone in China. However, considering the beastly specifications that it boasts of, we would say it still is a budget device, if you consider the price-to-performance ratio. Just take a look at the specs unveiled today to get an idea about the proposition.
Display: 5.7-inch dual curved QHD display (Flexible OLED).
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (2.35GHz)
RAM: 4GB/6GB
Internal storage: 64GB/128GB
Battery: 4070mAh
Primary camera: 22.56-megapixel Sony IMX sensor with EIS and f/2.0 aperture
Secondary camera: 8-megapixel
Even the staunchest of Samsung or Apple fans must admit that these are some impressive specs, at least on paper anyway. Once you consider the price, we are sure that you will find it even more interesting. The 4GB/64GB version is priced at CNY 2,799 ($410) and the 6GB/128GB version is available for CNY 3,499 ($515). The good news is that the 6GB/128GB variant will see international release, with global support for 37 LTE bands. We cannot wait to see how the Xiaomi Note 2 performs once it's released.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Although the Galaxy S8+ won't sport a dual rear camera setup which many of us were hoping to see, it seems like dual camera is the order of the year for smartphones in 2017. We have already seen the LG G6 launch with two lenses on its back and now the latest renders from a Chinese source on Weibo seem to be indicating that the Mi 6 too will have a similar setup. Take a look at the render above in all white.
If the rumors are to be believed, then what we are looking at here is the Mi 6 Plus, which is larger than the regular Mi 6. However, since there is nothing to indicate that this isn't the regular Mi 6, it could also be that both variants will be sporting the 12-mp/20-MP sensor combos at their backs. Check out the rumoured spec sheet of the Mi 6 range from Xiaomi below.
1440 x 2560 pixels QHD IPS LCD display
Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 SoC
4GB RAM, 32GB ROM/64 GB, 4 GB RAM/128 GB, 6 GB RAM
12-MP & 20-MP dual camera module at the back, f/1.8, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
4-MP front camera, f/2.0, 1/3" sensor size, 2µm pixel size
Pricing for the Mi 6: 1999 yuan ($290) for 32GB internal storage, 2299 yuan ($333) for 64GB internal storage and 2699 yuan ($390) for 128GB internal storage
Pricing for the Mi 6 Plus: 2599 yuan ($377) for 64GB of internal storage, 2999 yuan ($435) for 128GB of internal storage and 3499 yuan ($507) for the 256 GB variant with a whopping 8GB of RAM.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The next flagship smartphone from Huawei is coming and if the rumors have any truth to them, it's going to be a very capable device. Leaks on Weibo seem to be indicating that the Huawei Mate 9 will be powered by the manufacturer's in-house HiSilicon Kirin 960 Octa-core 64-bit processor and six gigabytes of RAM. There will allegedly be different versions of the Mate 9 and the 6GB RAM version will sport 256GB of internal storage to go with all that memory and processing power. There could also be a more modest version of the smartphone that will sport the same chipset, but 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory. All versions might also be powered by a big 4,000mAh battery.
Camera has been the highlight of the Mate 9 in all recent rumors since they have partnered up with Leica, the German camera maker for providing a rumoured dual camera setup at the back. The two 20-megapixel sensors from Leica will supposedly work together to provide stunning details even in low light, thanks to the f/2.0 aperture. The 5.9-inch (QHD resolution) metal-clad phablet will run on Android 7.0 and the OEM will make sure that customers get a LOT of colors to choose from while buying the smartphone. Apart from the 256GB/6GB version ($700/4700 yuan) and the 128GB/4GB version ($580/3899 yuan), there will also be a more affordable 64GB/4GB version ($480/3199 yuan) as well.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Apparently, everybody doesn't believe that one flagship per year is enough! The recently released P9 is the king of Huawei smartphones right now, but it is about to be dethroned as Huawei plans to release the Mate 9 by the end of 2016. Phone Arena adds that a late 2016 release is an educated guess because the Mate 8 was indeed revealed towards the end of 2015.
The rumored Kirin 960 SoC will power the device, placing it above the P9, which sports the Kirin 955 chipset. Expectations from the camera department are very high as the rumored 20-megapixel dual sensors at the back will presumably be designed by Leica, who had helped Huawei earlier to build the P9's camera setup as well.
Huawei has never exactly skimped out on power when it comes to the Chinese manufacturer's top-tier handsets, so we expect the Mate 9 to be packed to the gill with the latest hardware. At this point though, it is too early to predict other specifications of the device because even the prototypes are probably not ready yet. Nonetheless, we expect at least 4GB of RAM (if not 6GB) to accompany the Kirin 960, along with a powerful battery, a large display and a next-gen fingerprint sensor.
Author: Saikat Kar (Tech-journalist and enthusiast)
Huawei has unveiled its brand new flagship smartphone, the Mate 9 and not without a "customary" dab at the Galaxy Note 7's battery disaster by stating that they have been monitored "to eliminate safety hazards and safeguard battery life." There is no denying that the Mate 9 is an impressive smartphone with enough tricks up its sleeves to warrant it a position among the best in the business. Take a look below to check the specs and some of the functionalities that it offers.
Display: 5.9-inch Full High Definition (1080p) IPS LCD panel
SoC: Hisilicon Kirin 960 (Mali G71 MP8 GPU)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB with support for micro-SD cards of up to 256GB (hybrid slot)
Rear camera: 20-mp + 12-mp Leica sensors with OIS, laser autofocus, phase detection, f/2.2 aperture and dual-LED flash
Front camera: 8-mp with f/1.9 aperture
Battery: 4,000mAh with "SuperCharge" fast charging
USB: Type-C
OS: Android 7.0 Nougat with EMUI 5.0 on top
Colors: Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown, Space Gray, Ceramic White and Graphite Black
Price: $777 for the regular version with 64GB storage and $1500 for the "Porsche Design" edition with 256GB storage
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy X is the supposed foldable smartphone that never arrived even after years of speculations and predictions. However, the era of foldable smartphones is finally here, thanks to ZTE's brand new experimental smartphone, the Axon M.
The Axon M sports two 5.2-inch displays of identical properties, which can be folded in the middle to make for a more portable package. The phone still feels quite bulky due to the thickness, but it's the world's first phone which makes carrying around a potentially 10.4-inch display in your pocket, a feasible option.
Apart from the dual 1080p 5.2-inch LCD FHQ displays, it also sports a 2.15 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC, 4GB of RAM, a single 20-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and dual image stabilization and 64GB of internal storage with micro-SD card slot. In the US, the ZTE Axon M will be available exclusively on AT&T for roughly $699. Check out the video by The Verge to see the ZTE Axon M in action.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The new Vivo Y12s has been launched in India. The phone features a massive 5,000mAh battery that could be its main selling point at an affordable price. The new Vivo phone features a waterdrop display notch to feature the front-facing camera. The device comes in two different color options and has 3GB of RAM. The phone runs the Funtouch OS11operating system and competes with the latest Redmi 9 prime, Realme Narzo 10, and the Samsung Galaxy M11. Its predecessor Y12 was launched in India in mid-summer last year.
The phone has support for dual-SIM and runs on the Android 10 operating system out of the box. It features a 6.51inch HD+ display with IPS and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC with 3GB RAM. Earlier official reports mentioned that the device will be using a MediaTek Helio P35 processor but later on company released a press release to issue the correction.
On the rear side of the phone, Y12s features a 13MP primary camera sensor with an f/2.2 sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor with an f/2.2 sensor and a 2MP camera. For the front-facing camera, the phone features an 8MP camera sensor with f/1.8. Vivo Y12s comes with 32GB of internal storage that can be further extended using a microSD card. It offers connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, FM Radio, and a Micro-USB port. Sensors onboard include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor. There is also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Vivo Y12s features a massive 5,000mAh battery that has supports 10W fast charging. The device is lightweight and weighs only 191 grams. The phone is up for sale for only Rs. 9990 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. You can purchase the phone in Phantom black and Glacier blue colors. You can order the phone online at its official website, Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, and across the country from its official retail stores.
Vivo Y12s has been launched in Vietnam already as an upgrade to its previous year's Y12s model. The new phone has the same exterior with a water drop-style display notch and dual rear cameras with specialized effects. However, there is a major upgrade in terms of processing ability as the 2021's model comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC. the original Vivo Y12s were powered by MediaTek Helio P35 SoC, though its Indian variant had the same Snapdragon 439 processing chip.
The new Vivo Y12s 2021 version has been priced roughly at Rs. 10,500 for the single 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. You can purchase the phone through online websites in Vietnam. However, according to reports, the device will be available in other markets in a few weeks. The original Vivo Y12s was unveiled in November for the global market but debuted in India in January with the Snapdragon 439 processor.
The phone runs on Android 11 with Funtouch operating system 11 on the top and features a large 6.51-inch HD+ IPS display with 720 x 1,600 display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC, along with 3GB of RAM. The phone features a dual-camera system on the rear side that houses a 13-megapixel primary camera sensor with an f/2.2 lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 camera sensor. It also includes an 8-megapixel selfie camera sensor with an f/1.8 lens.
The Vivo Y12s comes with 32GB internal storage that can be further extended via microSD card through a dedicated slot. The phone has connectivity options including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.2, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone also uses sensors onboard including an accelerometer, ambient light, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor. The phone is available in Glacier Blue and Phantom Black colors. The device also features the side fingerprint scanner along with a power button so you can power on and unlock your phone at the same time. The phone allows you to unlock from a bright screen in 0.23 seconds - almost too fast to see any difference at all.
HTC One (M7) Dual-SIM is getting its official Android 5.0 Lollipop update, the update is available in India Over-the-air (OTA). Will start rolling-out to other regions in the next few weeks.
After applying the update, which is around 675MB in size, the device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, with software version 7.117.720.6.
The roll-out comes just over a week after HTC revealed that the One Mini as well as the One Mini 2 won't be getting the update. It's also worth mentioning that the regular version of the M7 started receiving Lollipop back in March this year.
Huawei will surely take part in MWC 2016, as this Chinese firm has already sent out the invitations for the event to be held on 21st February. However, we didn't know what exactly would be on display that day.
On 15th February, a rumor surfaced pointing at the probability of a hybrid laptop, supposedly the Huawei Matebook. Although the rumour emerged for the hybrid PC, the chance of a new Huawei P9 was also discussed extensively. Now, this speculation has been bolstered and an official announcement can be expected - thanks to the official-looking renders.
The images also show some of the most sought after info on the design element of the smartphone and establish proof of some of its previously speculated features - a dual camera in the back and a fingerprint scanner mounted in the back. Apart from this we can say that the Huawei P9 will sport a metal body and a 2.5 curved display on the front. There will be four color choices - gold, white, pink and gray.
The Huawei P9 will be backed by a Kirin 950 SoC, 4GB of RAM and feature a 5.2-inch screen. This is not fully confirmed, as there is also news of 6GB of RAM and four different variants of the phone coming with unique display and camera resolution.
A trusted insider report close to HTC has leaked info about the HTC One (M9) aka Hima Main camera sensor. He says with certainty the new One (M9) will feature a DUAL 20MP camera sensors (20MP + 20MP) at the back, a dual setup similar to the one introduced with the previous One (M8) flagship. The flash should be dual-tone dual-LED flash, just like before.
The insider source also confirms HTC won't be giving up on the UltraPixel technology and it will use a 4 UltraPixel sensor for the front camera, intended for selfies
HTC One (M9) is expected to pack a 5" 1080p display and run on the latest generation Snapdragon 810 chipset with an octa-core processor, Adreno 430 graphics and 3GB of RAM. The flagship will powered by Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7.0 UI.
Just recently, we were presented with a vivid render/blueprint of the upcoming Note 6 (or Note 7) and it showed us a lot of details about the next Note. However, it had silenced the rumor about the Note 6 featuring a curved Edge display as it showed no such design elements. If you are like us, then you would have preferred the Edge variant and we do have good news for you then. Another leak has surfaced just recently and it shows that the Note 6 WILL sport a Dual Edge display.
Considering that this render was leaked by @ShaiMizrachi, who has provided us with pretty accurate leaks till now, we are quite confident that this could be the real deal. The smartphone shown here is 7.8mm thick, 153mm long and 74.5mm wide. Well, apart from the volume rockers at the left and the power button on the right, that is about all the information that we can decipher from them. If this news got you excited, you will be more excited to know that another rumor has pitched the final unveiling date for the mysterious Samsung Galaxy Note on August 2.
Author: Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Rumors about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have been going haywire recently and just a few days ago, one such rumor suggested that there will also be a flat screen variant of the upcoming device. This conclusion was based on the fact that the model number SM-N930F was allegedly seen on Samsung's own website. However, we saw no such indications in the leaked teaser image which we showed you earlier. The latest report published by SamMobile and informed by their source in South Korea, further stresses on the fact that Samsung is not going to market a flat screen Note 7 this year. According to them, there will be only one dual Edge curved screen variant of the device in 2016.
This decision was supposedly taken because the South Korean OEM is now trying to focus more on making profits than gaining market share. We like the Edge display more than the flat one and are behind this decision by Samsung. They add more functionality to the display and look just downright gorgeous. However, there is a large group of people who find the dual Edge impractical as there have been reports of the Edge display getting activated unwillingly, in spite of Samsung's palm rejection technology. What kind of a display would you like to see on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7?
Author: Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
As we reported earlier, there will probably be only one variant of the Galaxy Note 7 this year and it will have an Edge display. Although the specifications are more or less out by this point, we can never be sure until and unless we actually hear an official announcement on August 2. Nevertheless, here are the important bits from what we know about the upcoming Note so far.
CPU - Exynos 8890 (Overclocked) for Europe and Snapdragon 823 for the US
RAM - 6GB
Display - Quad High Definition (1440p) Super AMOLED Dual Edge display (5.8-inch curved screen)
Battery - 4,000mAh
Rear camera - The same 12-megapixel camera as seen on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, but with better software
It may also sport a first of its kind iris scanner, an USB Type-C port and IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. There was and possibly still is a bit of confusion regarding the type of display that the upcoming Note will sport, but all major signs and reports indicate that only an Edge variant will be made available this year. If you are interested, check out our Galaxy Note 7 specifications page for a more detailed list of specs.
Author: Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Although it has not even been a month since the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was unveiled, leakstars are already giving us titbits about the Galaxy S8, which is to be released in 2017. As reported earlier, the S8 is quite likely to sport a 4K display, mainly for VR content consumption. However, we have details from a Chinese source on Weibo today that indicates a dual rear camera setup for the S8. According to the report, one of the camera modules will be supplied by Sony, while the S5K2L2 module will be manufactured by Samsung themselves. Although the resolutions of the sensors are said to be 12mp and 13mp, which of these resolutions the S5K2L2 module will sport is unclear as of now.
The front camera will be a bumped up 8mp sensor next year, unlike the 5-megapixel sensors that we are now used to seeing even on Samsung flagship devices. Expectedly, the iris scanner that we are just getting used to with the Note 7, should also be there. In spite of the Galaxy S8 being far from coming into existence at this moment, we are quite sure that the rumors will keep coming as they always do. Nevertheless, going by how the "6GB RAM" theory turned out to be untrue in case of the Galaxy Note 7, we would not buy into anything too soon.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
We had heard previously that the Samsung Galaxy S8 may sport a 30-mp camera on its back, but it didn't seem that realistic, given that the S7 (12-mp) actually sported a lower sensor size than the S6 (16-mp), albeit a better one. The latest rumors are once again blowing the 30-megapixel rear camera rumor away as they hint towards a dual rear camera setup for the upcoming flagship.
If these rumors have it right then the Galaxy S8 could feature either a single module with two camera sensors or two totally different modules accompanying each of the sensors. Whichever it turns out to be, the two sensors will have a resolution of 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel respectively. It will be interesting to see what other changes they bring into the new camera modules.
Samsung could also remove the physical Home button completely in favour of an "all screen" or "full screen" design. Alternate theories propose a less radical move by suggesting that Samsung might replace the clickable Home button with a fixed capacitive button instead of removing it completely. As Samsung might also be manufacturing the SD 830 SoC for Qualcomm exclusively this year, the 10nm processor is sure to make an appearance in at least the US version of the S8. That being said, this will close the gaps in performance between its in-house Exynos 8895 (10nm) processor (which will likely power the international versions) and the Snapdragon 830.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Even though Samsung did not exactly say it out loud, we are sure that the iris scanner will inevitably be a part of the Galaxy S8 next year. The company has made it official that they will compensate their parts suppliers, who suffered a loss as a direct result of the Note 7's recall and subsequent discontinuation. Both common sense and reports from South Korea are suggesting that this compensation will involve endowing the S8 with an iris scanner. Additionally, Samsung may also choose to equip the S8 with a dual-lens rear camera sensor to increase revenue for the affected supply chain partners.
Sources state that the main partners who will benefit from this decision are Sekonix (camera lens supplier), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (camera module supplier), Patron and MCNEX (iris scanner manufacturer) and Kolen (supplies the lens necessary for building the iris scanner). Since there is also another rumor going around, which states that Samsung will concentrate on one flagship smartphone in the entire next year, this might actually be a good strategy. It will help Samsung stay in good terms with their suppliers, as well as slowly turning around the unfortunate incident which has and will continue to cost all involved parties dearly for at least a good while more.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
All previous reports and rumors indicated that the Samsung Galaxy S8 would be sporting a dual camera at its back, but a new leak right out of China has disrupted those reports. A popular source on Weibo has leaked information which states that the S8 will not sport two cameras on its back, but will instead continue with a single camera sensor as usual. This comes as quite surprising, especially since top competitor Apple themselves have also shifted onto the dual-camera setup from this year with the iPhone 7 Plus.
"S8 two-camera program basically fell through, continue to adhere to the single-camera war 2017." - @ I ice universe
Update: It has also been indicated that the rumoured 6.2-inch version of the S8 will sport the dual-camera setup ditched by the regular variant. If it's true, then this would mean that Samsung is about to follow the same route as Apple, by reserving its dual camera setup for the bigger version.
Now that the rumors regarding the camera of the S8 are in a bit of disarray, we will just have to wait and see if the rest of the rumors like the 6GB RAM, the edge-to-edge display and the surprisingly big 6.2-inch variant of the S8 actually come into existence.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
We are just two days away from the unveiling of the Galaxy S8 on March 29, but that doesn't mean we cannot speculate about the Galaxy Note 8! Today's rumor is more of an intelligent guess, built upon a new confirmed report. This report is about one of Samsung's latest patents. The South Korean company has apparently filed for patenting a dual camera module which is slimmer than any other dual camera module that's available in the market right now. Along with the slimness, the dual cameras will hopefully allow for better low-light photography as well.
It should be noted that this isn't Samsung's first patent regarding a dual camera setup. This report certainly increases the chances of a dual camera setup making its way onto the upcoming Galaxy Note 8. The description of the patent states the technology in the following manner; "Camera module-including multi-lens and electronic device having the same."
Interestingly enough, the description states that the module will be enabled with 3D capabilities, or in other words, Samsung's future smartphones might be capable of taking Three-dimensional photos!
Info provided by SamMobile
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ feature the same camera sensor from last year with moderate software enhancements. Rumors had predicted other great things though and it seems like Samsung wasn't particularly keen on keeping the same sensor on the smartphones either. A new leak by a Vietnamese source on Facebook actually reveals an image of the S8+ prototype which clearly sports a dual camera setup. As to why the idea was scrapped, we have a few theories.
Earlier, we had reported that the uncomfortably placed fingerprint scanner on the back of the S8 and S8+ was the result of a supply failure by Synaptics, more than anything else. As Samsung had designed the Galaxy S8 smartphones with the idea that they will sport below-the-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanners, their plans were obviously disrupted by the supply failure. Samsung couldn't just get rid of the fingerprint scanner altogether, so they decided to make room for it just beside the camera, by sticking to the old single camera setup. Samsung just can't catch a break nowadays as disasters keep happening to them; one after the other.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The Project Valley or the Galaxy X is no secret now, especially since rumors have been predicting a release every year for the last few years. Whether or not this is another one of those rumors that doesn't really mean much is something that we will have to wait and find out.
The prototype will not see more than two to three thousand units being manufactured before being released during the first half of the year, according to the report. While that is a remarkably low number for a smartphone to reach public hands, it is quite a high number for a prototype as well. It will possibly be released only to test groups in order to see how the public reacts to the smartphone, before going into mass production with dual-screen devices. The reports of the test or survey will probably determine whether or not most of us will ever see a dual-display touting phone from the Korean giant.
The prototype allegedly has two OLED (Super AMOLED probably) panels that connect with the help of a hinge in-between them. The 180-degree rotation will allow the phone to be carried like a portable smartphone and used like a medium sized tablet. We have heard these things before, so let's just hope it's true this time around.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Ming-Chi Kuo from 9to5Mac is famous as the most prominent (and accurate) analyst in the world when it comes to Apple and its products, but every once in a while, he does give out some pretty interesting details about other famous brands like Samsung as well. As it happens, Ming-Chi Kuo has just made some interesting revelations which assert previous rumors that all of us had been hearing for a while about the Note 8. He believes that the Galaxy Note 8 will sport its "most important upgrade" in the form of a dual camera setup at its back.
Although we were pretty much all expecting that, he goes on to add quite a few exciting details to this little "revelation" as well. Apparently, the cameras will comprise of a 12-megapixel wide-angle CIS 2PD lens and a 13-megapixel CIS dual 6P (six element) telephoto lens. Along with dual optical image stabilization, there will also be the option to use 3X lossless optical zoom. He even excitedly predicts that the camera setup will produce images that will rival those taken by the upcoming OLED iPhone.
Kuo also goes on to mention that the Note 8 will sport a display with an 18.5:9 ratio and 1440 x 2960 resolution, just as the one seen on the S8+, but even bigger at 6.4-inches. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and the Exynos 8895 will likely be powering the Note as well.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
@OnLeaks and PriceBaba have jointly released a leaked smartphone render which will allegedly be Samsung's first foray into the world of dual camera modules. It isn't the Galaxy Note 8 (which will almost certainly sport a very powerful dual camera module), but instead, it's the rumoured Galaxy C10 (SM-C9100) and C10 Plus (SM-C9150/SM-C9158). Rumors were already predicting that Samsung might expand their Galaxy C line-up further with the C10, but this almost confirms it, given the reliable reputation of the leakster.
The fingerprint sensor seems to be at the front of the device, along with the traditional Home button. The dual camera is of course the highlight of the render, which seems to be in a landscape arrangement; that is one above the other, instead of being side-by-side. Other features seem pretty standard with an USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, loudspeaker, microphone, volume rockers and a power button. Interestingly enough, we are also seeing the Bixby button, but we will have to wait and see if Samsung actually decides to stick with it. You will find the video and the images in the article and after you have taken a good look, do let us know what your thoughts are.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Yes, it's time for our regular dose of Galaxy Note 8 rumors and today's report is actually quite an interesting one as it turns out. According to a leaked schematics published by SlashLeaks, the Note 8 will feature a two-speaker setup. Both speakers will be side-firing in landscape mode, with one placed on the top and the other at the bottom of the smartphone in portrait mode.
Interestingly enough, the schematics also shows the fingerprint scanner to be placed at the back just like a previous report had suggested. Thankfully, it looks like Samsung managed to put it near the middle, where our index fingers can reach easily and naturally. The dual camera setup can also be seen but at this point, it's more like reinforcement than news really. In fact, given that the Galaxy C10 will soon be launched with a dual-camera setup, it would be quite surprising if the next flagship handset from Samsung does not have it! Of course, it will in all probability be a better dual-camera module than the one which is going to be launched with the Galaxy C10. Check out the schematics and let us know if you think that this is the real deal or just another hoax.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Samsung had introduced the world to its first set of dual cameras with the Galaxy Note 8 just a few days ago and now the OEM is getting ready to do something similar in the mid-range segment as well. As per a report by Thai Mobile Center, the Galaxy J7+ will be Samsung's dual camera powered handset in the mid-range price segment in select countries. Of course, we can expect the dual camera setup to be much watered down than what we are seeing on the Galaxy Note 8 for obvious reasons. The Galaxy J7+ itself will likely be a more powerful version of the current gen Galaxy J7 (2017). If you are interested about the specs, just take a look below to know what the rumors are predicting at the moment.
5.5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display
Exynos 7870
4GB of RAM
32GB internal storage with expandable memory card slot
13-megapixel (f/1.7) + 5-megapixel (f/1.9) rear camera
16-megampixel front camera
3,000mAh non-removable battery
Bixby button
Color options: Black, gold and pink
Via: SamMobile
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Although the Galaxy Note 8 was Samsung's first dual camera smartphone, it most certainly won't be the last. In fact, you should see many models by 2018 which will sport similar optics. However, the only other known smartphone which will likely join the Note 8 in being equipped with two rear cameras in the near future is the Galaxy J7+. It's a slightly enhanced version of the regular Galaxy J7 (2017) if you didn't know that yet.
The photos you see above are allegedly, of the upcoming Galaxy J7+ and it comes to us via a leak on the famous Chinese social networking site Weibo. While we do have a clear idea about the smartphone's specs and these images reveal the rest to us, it is not clear as to when Samsung will be releasing this model. In case you are looking for a low-mid range Samsung smartphone with good imaging capabilities, the J7+ might be a good choice! However, there is no news as to whether or not it will be released in any other markets outside of China.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
After much speculation, Samsung's first mid-range smartphone with a rear mounted dual camera setup is now official. If you want, you are free to take a look at the official page on Samsung's Thai website which lists all the details about the J7+. In case you are not aware, then know that the Galaxy J7+ is the only smartphone in Samsung's arsenal to sport a dual rear camera, other than the Galaxy Note 8. Check out the specs below.
5.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display (2.5D protective glass)
Octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 processor
4GB RAM
32GB internal storage with expandable memory card slot
13-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture + 5-megapixel sensor with f/1.9 aperture
16-megapixel front cam
3,000 mAh non-removable battery
dual-SIM card slot, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB Type-C port, fingerprint sensor, Always-On Display, Face Detection, Secure Folder, Dual Messenger, and Bixby Home
Black, Pink, and Silver color options
THB 12,900/$390
Samsung U Flex wireless earphones free with Pre-order
As you can see, the specs are not exactly flagship, but quite decent for a mid-range Samsung device. Nevertheless, you will probably find phones such as the OnePlus 5 to be a better bargain at a slightly higher price.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
While a lot of flagship handsets carry excellent cameras nowadays, the Galaxy S-series always seems to have an edge over the competition every time it comes out. This is not to say that the Pixels and the iPhones are not as good, it's just that when the S-series of smartphones come out for the first time, they seem to perform quite a bit better than their current gen competition.
Staying true to this track record, the S9+ has just scored 99 on the DxOMark test and that puts it right on top and even above the fantastic cameras currently found on the Google Pixel 2 (98). It scored a 104 on individual photos and a 91 in the video category, both of which are remarkable scores with the first one actually being the highest ever for a smartphone camera. We are pretty sure that the next iPhones and the Pixels will beat that score in the future, but for now, the S9+ truly does have the best smartphone camera in the world.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The S7 will probably be unveiled next month at the MWC, but we still know nothing too definitive about it. There have been multiple rumors and some of them even sound quite convincing, while others are downright conflicting. Amongst this secrecy and confusion, a new report has come in about two Exynos versions of the Samsung flagship being spotted at an Indonesian certification site, which lists the model numbers as Samsung - SM-G930FD and Samsung - SM-G935FD.
The S6 had the model number G920, while the S6 Edge was branded as G925. Therefore, the G930 and the G935 are most likely to be their future counterparts. The letter "F" in G930FD and G935FD almost certainly stands for "Exynos" versions as "A" has traditionally stood for AT&T models and the AT&T models are probably going to sport the Snapdragon 820 chipset. "FD" in the model numbers represent dual SIM capabilities as we saw with the SM-G920FD edition of the S6 last year; which were sold in certain Asian countries like Philippines and Pakistan.
The other rumoured specs of the Galaxy S7 series remains the same as before with alleged Quad High Definition Super AMOLED displays, three screen sizes (5.1", 5.7" and 6"), two screen variations (curved and flat), 12 megapixel Britecell rear cameras, 4GB of RAM, waterproof body, beefier battery, Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and may be even expandable memory!
With about three days left in between now and the date of the Apple iPhone 7's unveiling, Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities has revealed much about the upcoming flagship smartphones and rounded up facts from rumors and leaks all around. Here is what the most probable specs of the upcoming iPhones seem to be.
The Apple A10 chip will have a clock speed of 2.44GHz and will probably power both the iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus, however, the clock speed may vary slightly on release. The iPhone 7 Plus will be the first iPhone to sport 3GB of RAM, while the regular iPhone 7 will have only 2GB of RAM, like the 6s and 6s Plus. There will also be a dual 12-mp camera setup at the back of the iPhone 7 Plus with one camera sporting OIS and a 6-element wide angle lens, while the second one sporting a narrower 5-element lens. A flash with four LED lights are expected to be featured on both the smartphones.
Both iPhones will sport the lightning jack only and you will need the bundled lightning-to-3.5mm adapter to use your current headphones with them. If the IPx7 certification does indeed make it to the iPhones this year, they will be able to withstand thirty minutes of water exposure up to a depth of one meter. The earpiece itself may also act as an additional speaker and the proximity sensor beside it could be using laser tech instead of LED for the detection. Finally, the Home button may also be just a pressure sensitive icon, instead of being a physical one. Let's hope that the rumors are true as these do sound amazing!
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
Dual SIMs have pretty much become the standard among international Android phones, but just like the Micro-SD card, Apple has always shied away from the concept itself. According to a few new reports though, that is probably going to change this year because the new and upcoming iPhones may just have support for two SIMs.
This move could bring Apple closer to their Indian market and that is most likely the reason as to why the Cupertino giant might be thinking about dual SIMs in the first place. After all, India did overtake the US as the number two smartphone market in the world. Given that China is the biggest smartphone market in the world and the customers there also prefer dual SIM phones, the move actually makes even more sense.
When it comes to Apple, a lot of their exclusivity has been in offering "less for more," and ironic as it maybe, that is how they do business and a lot of people actually love them for it! They got rid of the headphone jack, never adopted the micro-SD card slot and there is no fingerprint scanner on their current flagship handset, but these omissions have done little to hamper their sales figures, not to mention they have actually managed to push their profit margin even higher on all their devices! It would be interesting to see if Apple really does adopt the dual SIM technology; something which everyone else had adopted years ago.
Saikat Kar
The LG V20 is indeed coming and it is coming on September 6, when the successor to the LG V10 will be unveiled at an event in San Francisco. This is official news and not a leak as LG Mobiles confirmed these facts on their own just recently. Additionally, we now have some high quality renders, leaked by @OnLeaks that shows us the LG V20 in vivid details.
Apart from the most obviously striking dual camera bump at the back of the V20, we can also see that they may have done away with the dual front camera setup at the front, as is found on the V10. There's also the secondary display on top of the main display and the volume buttons have been shifted to the left of the smartphone. The power button on its back will also act as the fingerprint sensor and the modular, removable bottom seen in the G5 is going to be there in the V20 as well. Keep in mind that there is a bit of controversy regarding whether the modular bottom will really be there or not in the V20, but if this render is accurate, then the module release button at the right does confirm it.
Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)
The LG G5 is enjoying the limelight now and in an unexpected way casting a shadow on the Galaxy S7; kudos to a case maker. In general accessory makers are given phone's design, dimensions and photos quite early and that makes them a genuine source of information for getting intel on yet to be released devices.
So in this case, a series robust G5 cases have emerged, which are very good at providing safety and also good at unveiling certain design elements chosen by LG. For starter, the proof of the dual camera present at the rear end has become solid, which was initially speculated owing to boxed prototype and an older diagram.
It is almost confirmed that there would be a circular fingerprint reader at the rear end, but the volume controls won't be there in the back. Although a few the case renders still show some sign of those buttons, the volume button on the left side doesn't leave anything to imagination. The important thing to note here is the position of the power button, and by what we can infer from the case renders, the fingerprint sensor might actually be be inside one, just the way V10 has it.
The rest of the specs are in sync with the earlier leak - there will be a Type-C USB connector, speaker on the bottom, and the 3.5mm headphone jack on top. On both of the end there will be a mic and the second cutout present on the top might be for an IR blaster. There is still no news on removing the battery by sliding it out.
Sony is updating the Xperia M5 and M5 Dual this month with a security patch and an upgrade to Android 5.1 Lollipop. E5603, E5606 and E5653 are the three versions of the M5 that are going to receive the updates. Similarly, E5633 and E5663 are the two versions of the M5 Dual that qualifies for the OTA update package. It should be noted though, that there is confusion in regard to whether or not the Xperia M5 Dual E5643 is excluded by Sony. All information was provided by XperiaBlog and reports suggest that the news is authentic.
If you have the M5 Dual, expect to see the build number to be changed to 30.1.B.1.33 after the update and if you have the single-SIM M5, it will show 30.1.A.1.33 post installation. According to Sony, the new updates will solve a number of issues on the two smartphones and will improve other aspects. Better control of volume and silent-mode with overall improvements is one of the elements that were highlighted by Sony, along with the newly added ability to control the M5's camera with the Sony SmartWatch 3.
If you are new to installing OTA updates, follow these steps.
- 1. Go to Settings and navigate to About Phone.
- 2. Find System Updates and select Check for Update from there.
- 3. After the system finds the update, Download it.
- 4. Once the download finishes, Restart and Install.
- 5. The device will now reboot into ROM installation mode and you should see the prompt Installing System Update.
- 6. Just wait and the rest will finish automatically. Your smartphone should sport Android 5.1 Lollipop now.
Good News for Sony users, Sony is already rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for its Xperia Z2 and Z2 tablet across different regions. In the mean time, the company has promised to release the Lollipop update for the Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra devices the Next week.
2/2 #Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra next week, followed shortly after by T2 Ultra & C3. Then Z Series - more on timings soon.
— Sony Xperia News (@SonyMobileNews) April 7, 2015
Following that, Sony will release the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update for the T2 Ultra and C3 smartphones. And finally, the company will roll out the update for the original Z series phones Z, ZL, ZR and Z tablet.
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