Huawei and Micromax ink partnership for offline sales in India

Huawei and Micromax announced a new and totally unusual partnership in India. The Chinese giant will distribute its devices through the offline network of its Indian partner to gain a broader reach in one of the biggest markets in the world. In an official press release, the company said there is a phased expansion plan with ten major Indian cities, including key markets like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Jaipur. An offline store of Micromax in Delhi Tornado Pan, head of the Huawei Consumer Business Group in India said the aim is to be present where...

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Huawei nova 5i Pro to arrive on July 26

Huawei is having an event on Friday where the Mate 20 X (5G) will be unveiled to the home crowd. Today the Weibo account of the company announced the arrival of another smartphone for the same date and we expect it to hit the stage alongside the 5G handset - we are talking about the Huawei nova 5i Pro with four cameras on the back. At exactly 16:08 local time the phone will arrive for pre-sale, likely with the online retailers Vmall and JD.com. The phone, also rumored to be named Mate 30 Lite outside China, will have Kirin 810 chipset and a 32 MP selfie camera, tucked in a...

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Xiaomi Mi 6 gets stable Android 9 Pie update

Xiaomi's Mi 6 received a beta build of Android 9 Pie back in April, and it looks like the beta testing has concluded successfully, because the stable update is now rolling out. It is reaching global Mi 6 units as MIUI 10.4.1.0, and it's a 1.6GB download. As usual with over-the-air firmware releases, it might take a few days before every single Mi 6 unit out there receives the update notification. If you're impatient, you can hit the Source linked below for a direct download link and accompanying installation instructions. Don't expect to see any visual differences once you have...

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Apple's three iPhone 11 models hold on to the Lightning port, get upgraded Taptic Engine

Apple is going to introduce three new iPhone models this fall at its traditional September event, according to a new report. The three handsets will be direct successors to last year's iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, and they will have the same screen technologies and resolutions as their predecessors. As previously rumored, Apple may only move to an AMOLED panel for its most affordable smartphone in 2020. Speaking of things that aren't changing - the Lightning port will stay for another round, the report says, opting not to join the latest iPad Pros in USB-C land. The three new models will all...

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Samsung Galaxy Note10 to be powered by the Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, full specs outed

Yesterday a rumor claimed to shed light on the Galaxy Note10 family's battery capacities, but today famed leakster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) has shared some information that is slightly contradictory to that. According to what he knows from his sources at this time, the Note10's battery capacity will be 3,600 mAh. That's 100 mAh more than yesterday's rumor said, which should be good news for future owners of this smartphone. Blass confirms the 6.3" screen size, alongside the unsurprising revelations that it's an AMOLED panel with 60Hz refresh rate. The Note10 will apparently be offered...

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 full specs and press renders leak

It's still unclear if Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Watch Active 2 alongside the Note10 and Note10+ at its event on August 7, but that's looking increasingly more likely as time goes by and we keep seeing more and more leaks about the wearable. Or perhaps the company will out it just a couple of days before that - at least that's what's heavily implied by the date shown in these leaked official press renders you can see below courtesy of famed leakster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks). A new rumor today 'confirms' (as much as any rumor can) some specs and reveals others. Let's dive...

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Apple inches closer to acquiring Intel's smartphone modem business, report claims

After Apple and Qualcomm settled a few months ago, Intel was left out because of it and was forced to exit the 5G modem business. But a rumor has been going around claiming that Apple is in talks with Intel and wants to buy the modem chip business to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm in the future. And according to reliable inside sources familiar with the matter, this is exactly what Apple is aiming at here. Moreover, the two American firms are in advanced talks. In fact, they are really close to reaching a deal, which could be happening as early as next week. Reportedly, it will be at...

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WhatsApp for KaiOS now available to all phones through the KaiStore

WhatsApp can now be downloaded to all Kai OS powered phones. Previously, it was available on select models like the JioPhone and the Nokia 8110 4G (which got it with an update). The app has been optimized to run on phones with 256MB or 512MB of RAM. Here's the official list of all Kai phones - currently, there are 12 models, 8 of which have 512MB of RAM, the rest have 256MB. WhatsApp for Kai OS supports both calls and messaging, complete with end-to-end encryption. Anyway, as many people have moved away from SMS to instant messaging apps, buying a feature phone meant getting cut...

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Honor Band 5 revealed, gains SpO2 sensor to track blood oxygen level

Alongside the Honor 9X and 9X Pro, the brand also unveiled its latest smart band - the Honor Band 5. The Standard Edition costs CNY 190 ($28/€25), the one with NFC goes up to CNY 220 ($32/€29). Honor Band 5 in Midnight Blue, Coral Powder and Meteorite Black Like the previous version, the band features a 0.95" color OLED display with 120 x 240px resolution. It can display text messages from SMS, WeChat and QQ. The battery should last 14 days between charges. The Honor Band 5 has an optical heart rate monitor as before (a slightly newer model, TruSeen 3.5, up from 3.0). Also,...

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active receives a major OTA update

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active is still a new product announced earlier this year but all reports seem to be pointing at a second-generation release alongside the much-awaited Galaxy Note10. That doesn't mean the current Galaxy Watch won't be getting all the cool updates, though, and the latest firmware upgrade is a testament for that. The Galaxy Watch Active owners that have already installed the update can now make use of the improved App Tray UI for easier navigation and finding the app you need. The Goodnight Mode is now further improved. When activated, it will switch to its own view...

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Huawei Mate 30 Pro reportedly caught in the wild

Here's our first look at the Huawei Mate 30 Pro - not through renders or glass panels - but in the real world. The images below show two unknown Huawei devices, reminiscent of the Mate 20 Pro, in a design-protective case alongside two Huawei Mate 20 X being used in some sort of call test. Huawei Mate 30 Pro in the wild Let's assume this is the Mate 30 Pro, because of the NDA case. It has a notch, just as the Mate 20 Pro, which will likely be used for Face ID. The screen is also curved, just like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro's. Huawei Mate 30 Pro in the wild We're more...

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OnePlus 5 and 5T get Screen recorder, Fnatic mode and more

After being tested in the open beta of the software, some of the features from the OnePlus 7 Pro are now making their way to the older OnePlus 5 and 5T smartphones. The features in question are the Fnatic gaming mode and the Screen recorder functionality. And that's not all. The OxygenOS 9.0.7 firmware version also brings June's security patch, a quick reply option when in landscape orientation and squashes a few bugs along the way. The issue with the Speed Dial that some users were reporting is also taken care of. As before, the OTA update will roll out to a small number of users...

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Asus reveals ROG Phone II pricing for China, including a very affordable Tencent version

The Asus ROG Phone II was announced yesterday and now we have pricing information for China. There will be two versions - a very affordable, but quite customized Tencent version and a vanilla model. The custom Tencent version of the phone will start at just CNY 3,500 - that's $510/€455. This is for a model with cut down storage, 128GB, and 8GB of RAM. There's also the maxed-out version with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage for CNY 6,000 - $870/€780. You can pre-order this model on JD.com, units should start shipping on July 31. Note that we don't know the extent of the Tencent...

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Dummies show the size difference between the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+

We've seen plenty of renders of the Galaxy Note10 phones, but they do a poor job of showing the size difference between the two phones. So, here's a collection of dummies of the Plus and non-Plus models side by side. Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ dummies The Samsung Galaxy Note10+ will come with a 6.8" screen with QHD resolution. You can't see it in the photos, but this model will be fairly heavy at 198g (in part due to the 4,300mAh battery). Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ dummies The Samsung Galaxy Note10 will come with a smaller 6.3" and it will revert back to...

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Xiaomi patents a slider with four cameras on the back

Xiaomi has just landed a patent at CNIPA (Chinese National Intellectual Property Agency) for a device with four cameras on the back. The front is completely occupied by a screen, while dual selfie cameras and an LED flash are hidden in a manual sliding mechanism, similar to the Mi Mix 3. The schematics reveal an interesting concept that looks a lot like the Moto design element. However, we see no fingerprint, meaning it is either going under the display (which should be an AMOLED) or is not in the schematics at all. The first option sounds more plausible, given this is a patent...

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Honor 9X and 9X Pro go official with a pop-up camera, Kirin 810 chipset

The Honor 9X and 9X Pro are officially the first phones in the brand's lineup that sport a pop-up selfie cameras. Both phones are almost identical, with the Pro having an extra camera on the rear, plus more RAM and storage. The 9X phones are built around a 6.59" IPS LCD screen with 1,080 x 2,340px resolution, similar to Huawei's P Smart Z. The full-screen design is thanks to the pop-up selfie camera with a 16MP sensor (f/2.2). Honor 9X Pro in Charm Black and Phantom Purple The Honor 9X Pro features a triple camera with a 48MP main sensor (f/1.8, 1/2" Quad Bayer sensor with...

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Redmi's upcoming phone with 64MP camera will output 20MB images

Just yesterday, Xiaomi's sub-brand, Redmi, teased its upcoming smartphone with 64MP camera boasting superior resolution to anything we've seen on a smartphone so far. Today, another teaser showed up on Weibo revealing an intriguing detail about the camera. According to the Weibo post, the 64MP sensor will be able to output images with unrivaled resolution and are going to be up to 20MB big. That's a lot of information. The current 48MP sensors can go up to 16MB in our experience so another 4MB increase per image might not sound a lot, but it's a considerable increase in size. Still,...

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Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) appears on Amazon, to arrive on August 1

We've been hearing about the Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) arriving in India for the past few weeks, but we finally have confirmation. The device was listed on Amazon with its key specs and the launch date. The Y9 Prime (2019) is arriving on August 1 with an elevating selfie camera and three shooters on the back. The screen is 6.59" in diagonal, but it is likely an LCD since the fingerprint scanner is on the back. It has no notches, just a tiny bezel on the bottom because the selfie camera is in a pop-up mechanism. Huawei is officially shipping the Y9 Prime (2019) with Kirin 710 and 4 GB...

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Stable EMUI 9.1 hits 10 Huawei and Honor smartphones

Huawei has started testing EMUI 9.1 back in April and a tally of 10 phones is now ready to switch to the Stable version. The company announced on Weibo that seven Huawei smartphones and three Honor devices will get it. The new user interface is still based on Android Pie and brings software improvements, bug fixes and GPU Turbo 3.0. That feature boosts the performance of the graphics unit to provide better gaming on the expense of the battery life. It also comes with EROFS (Extendable Read-Only File System) that should increase read speed by 20% and save about 2 GB of system...

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ZTE lists Axon 10 Pro 5G for registrations, launch scheduled for August 5

Yesterday Huawei sent invites to guests for its Mate 20 X (5G) unveiling in China and today ZTE also followed suit in the 5G race. The reborn-from-ashes company introduced the Axon 10 Pro 5G at MWC 2019, started selling it in markets like Northern Europe and the Middle East and now it is time to bring it home. ZTE is already gathering reservations for the unveiling of the phone, scheduled for August 5. The phone is a bit different than the regular Axon 10 Pro. It comes with more RAM and sports the Snapdragon X50 modem, but the biggest difference between the 5G and vanilla variant...

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Xiaomi teases Black Shark 2 Pro with similar rear design

Xiaomi's gaming-focused smartphone brand, Black Shark, is going to announce a refresh model to its second-generation smartphone. Xiaomi has already teased this device with a July 30 launch date in China. The phone is aptly called the Black Shark 2 Pro. The latest teaser was posted on Weibo by the company and only offers the rear design of the upcoming phone. Although the outer shape of the design is somewhat identical to the current Black Shark 2 design except for the two vertical lines. One theory we have is they might be new customizable LED bars moved from the edges of the...

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