ZTE patents another dual notch display smartphone design

Saying that ZTE and especially its smartphone business is currently in a rather tough spot is kind of an understatement. With a ban from purchasing Qualcomm chips already in effect and rumors of a potential Android licence revoke, it really does seem like the company's entire handset business is in jeopardy. ZTE, however, seems to be rather undeterred by all the commotion, or at least positive enough to continue its design work. 

A recent patent filing, with China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) shows a new ZTE handset, featuring a pair of screen notches. It comes hot on the heels of yet another dual-notched ZTE design, dubbed the "Iceberg". So, it's safe to say the Chinese manufacturer has really taken the controversial notch fad to heart. Literally doubling down on the concept might not be a bad idea either, since with every polarizing design trend, there's always the possibility to hit niche gold status with just the right kind of odd offer.

Looking at the newer of the two submitted sketches, there are some notable differences. Unlike the ZTE Iceberg, with its wide top earpiece cut-out and a seemingly empty bottom one, the newer handset is a lot more reminiscent of the Essential PH-1 phone. The top part of the display is only disturbed by the selfie camera module. While, on the opposite side, the notch houses what looks like a home button/fingerprint reader. We can definitely appreciate some good old physical controls on a modern handset and so will others.

Design concepts and patents, however, have a long way to go until becoming real viable products. Considering ZTE's ongoing and rather severe brushes with the US government and the sanctions already in place, we can realistically expect to see one of these new devices no early than mid-2019. If at all.

OnePlus 6 Confirmed To Come In A New Coral Blue Color Option

OnePlus, the China-based smartphone manufacturer is gearing up to launch its new flagship smartphone — OnePlus 6 later this month. Ahead of the phone’s official announcement, almost all information related to the device has been leaked online.

Earlier, there were reports that along with Black and White color variants, the smartphone will also be made available in a Blue color variant. Now, a promotional poster of the Coral Blue colored OP6 has surfaced online, confirming that the company will certainly launch this variant.

Along with the Coral Blue color, the promotional poster of the smartphone also confirms some of the key specifications. The poster reveals that the OnePlus 6 will come with 6GB/8GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

It will feature a dual camera setup at the back with a 20-megapixel sensor and a 16-megapixel sensor. Further, it says that the phone will have Dash Charge V2, which is claimed to provide full day’s power with just 20 minutes of charging.

Previous reports related to the smartphone has revealed that the OnePlus 6 will feature an edge-to-edge full-screen display along with the notch. However, the company has confirmed that the smartphone will come with an option to hide the notch.

Under the hood, it will come equipped with Qualcomm‘s flagship chipset — Snapdragon 845 SoC, which powers majority of the flagship devices launched this year. As for the pricing, the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model is expected to be priced at 4,399 Yuan (~₹44000). It is also expected to arrive in two more variants — 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, with a price tag of 3,299 Yuan (~₹33000) and 3,799 Yuan (~₹38000) respectively.

Previously leaked images of the OnePlus 6 hinted that it may also come in a wood-inspired back panel design. Additionally, OnePlus has also disclosed that it is teaming up with Marvel Studios, and is expected to launch an Avengers-themed variant of the OP6. Since the movie’s release date is April 27, we may see the phone’s official launch around that date. In China, the phone is expected to launch on 5th May.

Xiaomi Mi 6X(Mi A2) Coming Soon

Today, Xiaomi took to Weibo to post a teaser which seems to be for the Xiaomi Mi 6X(Mi A2). Till now all the information reported has been mainly from leaks and rumours, but this poster confirms that the Mi 6X is coming and it’s coming soon.

Pictured on the poster is Wu Yifan, Xiaomi’s brand ambassador. But the biggest giveaway here is the “6X” that adorns the bottom part of the poster, along with the tagline, “vision impossible/AI see you”. It is basically a hint at the presence of AI on the phone for advanced camera operations, something a lot of phone manufacturers are now implementing in their phones.

Earlier this week, Xiaomi released a poster for an event that’s scheduled for the 25th of April. The Mi 6X is expected to be launched on the same day. From what we know, the Mi 6X might feature either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 or the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset, a dual camera setup on the back, 5.99-inch full-screen display up front with a 2160 x 1080p resolution, and a 2910mAh battery. It is rumoured to be available in 10 different colours, Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Grey and Silver. Stay tuned for more!

Motorola Moto G6 Plus Leaked, sports a Snapdragon 660 chipset

The Moto G6 Plus, Instead of the Snapdragon 630, it was widely believed to utilize, according toe the benchmark, the tested unit was running a Snapdragon 660, at 2.21 GHz. That being said, the actual test scores themselves don't exactly pan out, since we would expect at least 5000+ multi-core points from said silicon. Still, it could be a case of early and unoptimized software. 

If the information does check out, it would entail a not entirely insignificant performance boost for the G6 Plus, from what was originally expected. As far as other alleged specs for the handset go, we expect a 5.93-inch, 18:9 screen with Full HD+ resolution, 4GB of RAM, as reported by the test, as well as a 6GB RAM option. Storage tiers should be 32GB and 64GB, respectively. To top things off, prospective buyers can expect a 12MP, plus 5MP dual camera setup, 3,200 mAh battery and a pretty standard connectivity load-out, including optional Dual SIM support.

The new Moto G6 line is expected to launch on April 19 in Brazil.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ to launch in India on March 6

Samsung will be launching the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones in India on March 6 at an event in New Delhi. The company has started sending out invitations to the media for the same.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are already up for pre-ordering on Samsung's website. Both devices are available in a choice of 64GB or 256GB in either Lilac Purple, Midnight Black or Coral Blue. Samsung is currently accepting INR 2000 as booking amount and the rest will have to be paid when the devices launch next week.

Earlier today, we saw the Indian prices of both the models and its variants leak. If true, they significantly undercut the current MRP for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, not to mention the iPhone X, which is nowhere close. We will be attending the launch event next week to bring the official pricing and availability information as it is revealed.

OnePlus 6 leaks, iPhone X like notch design

The OnePlus 5 (unveiled June last year) brought a dual camera, the OnePlus 5T (November) moved to an 18:9 screen. So, what will the OnePlus 6 be like? If these photos are to be believed, it will be part iPhone X, part Galaxy S9+.

The front shows a notch in the screen, big enough to hold the earpiece and selfie camera. Note the Android version (8.1) and OxygenOS version (5.1), they are ahead of what’s currently available for the 5T.

The back is a different story – a vertically-oriented dual camera with rectangular fingerprint reader below it. When OnePlus moved the fingerprint reader to the back, it switched from a rectangular Home key to a round sensor.

The 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage are pretty standard, have been since the OnePlus 3, so no surprises there.

As noted above, it has been well less than a year since the OnePlus 5 was unveiled. Officially, the OnePlus 6 will be unveiled in June. So we shouldn’t put too much stock in early rumors - for all we know, this might be a prototype that never makes it to production, assuming it’s a legitimate device in the first place.

Asus Zenfone 5 and 5z have smaller notches than the iPhone X

After introducing the entry-level Zenfone 5 Lite, Asus got to the main event of its MWC press conference. That is, of course, the Zenfone 5. But wait, there's a higher-end Zenfone 5z too. These models are almost identical, save for the chipset used, and the amount of RAM and storage you can get them with. They feature a metal frame and 2.5D curved glass on the front as well as the back.

They are both filled to the brims with AI: AI Boost (for more power when gaming), AI Photography (with scene detection, photo learning, portrait mode and beautification), AI Display (stays on while you're looking at it and has automatic color temperature adjustment), and even AI Ringtone (which automatically adjusts the volume according to how noisy your surroundings are). Oh, and Asus is also introducing something called ZeniMoji - live-animated avatars which you can even use in video calls or live streams.

The Zenfone 5 comes with a 6.2-inch 2,246x1,080 Super IPS touchscreen with DCI-P3 support, 19:9 aspect ratio, 500-nit brightness, and a notch that Asus boasts is "26% smaller than the Fruit Phone X" (seriously, those words were actually uttered on stage). Coincidentally, we happened to have one of those Fruit Phones with us at Asus' event, so here's what a Zenfone 5 looks like next to it.

Asus Zenfone 5 (left) vs. Apple iPhone X (right)

Impressively, it has a 90% screen-to-body ratio thanks to that notch and the slim bezels all around.

The phone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 636 chipset, built on a 14nm process. You'll get either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

On the back there's a 12 MP main camera with Sony's IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, dual pixel phase detection autofocus, 1.4um pixel size, and 83-degree field-of-view. Alongside that you get a 120-degree wide-angle camera of unknown resolution. Selfies are taken care of by a single 8 MP unit with f/2.0 aperture and 84-degree field-of-view.

The Zenfone 5 features a 3,300 mAh battery with AI charging that should double its lifespan. You also get dual-SIM functionality, and dual speakers with dual amps. Hi-Res earphones come in the box, and the phone has an FM radio too. Software-wise, you're looking at Android Oreo with ZenUI 5.0 on top. Expect to see the Zenfone 5 in Midnight Blue and Meteor Silver.

The Zenfone 5z, on the other hand, is basically the Zenfone 5 but with a Snapdragon 845 at the helm, paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Your exact RAM/storage options are: 6/64, 8/128, or 8/256. This device will be priced from €479. Official pricing for the Zenfone 5 hasn't been announced yet.

Motorola launches Limited Edition Z2 Force bundle in India with TurboPower Mod

Motorola has launched the Moto Z2 Force in India. The phone is priced at INR 34,999 ($547) and will include a Moto TurboPower Mod. The phone will be available online through Flipkart and offline through Moto Hubs across India, starting February 15, 23:59 IST.

The Moto Z2 Force is currently the flagship device in Motorola's range. As the name suggests, it is part of Motorola's rugged series of devices that include the ShatterShield display that has a plastic layer over the display that is resistant to cracking under stress. The body is made out of rugged 7000 series aluminum. The phone is splash-resistant.

Apart from that the Z2 Force has a 5-5inch, 2560x1440 POLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB expandable memory, dual 12MP camera with color and monochrome sensors, 5MP front camera with flash, Android 8.0 Oreo and 2730mAh battery.

Because the battery isn't particularly big, the phone comes with a Moto TurboPower Mod in India, which adds another 3500mAh on top. The Mod just snaps on to the back of the phone and supports two-way fast charging of both the phone and the Mod itself.

Motorola is calling this a limited edition bundle although won't disclose exactly how many units will be sold. Those interested should probably get in on the action soon before they sell out. For the price, the phone does represent very good value, especially considering the specifications and the inclusion of the battery Mod.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro specs leak

Xiaomi is announcing the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro in India tomorrow, but full specs of the phones have already leaked. They come to confirm that the Redmi Note 5 is just a rebranded Redmi 5 Plus with a 6” screen and a Snapdragon 625 chipset, as we reported on two separate occasions.

The big surprise is the Redmi Note 5 Pro, arriving with Snapdragon 636, dual-cam on the back, arranged in the upper left corner like the iPhone X, and a 20 MP selfie snapper on the front.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro’s processor comes with octa-core CPU, clocked at up to 1.8 GHz, and an Adreno 509 GPU. On the front, it has the same display panel as the Redmi Note 5 - a 5.99” screen with Full HD+ resolution under a 2.5D glass and software buttons.

The dual-cam setup on the back is 12 MP + 5 MP. The first sensor is already well-known from the Redmi 5 series with its f/2.2 lens and 1.25 μm pixel size. The second one will deliver “focused foreground and creamy blurred backgrounds” with the f/2.0 lens and 1.12 μm pixel size. Xiaomi provided the 20 MP front camera with a Sony IMX376 sensor a coupled it with an LED light.

The fingerprint scanner is positioned on the back, while the power button and volume rocker sit on the right side. There is a 4,000 mAh battery, but sadly it will be charged through the aging micro USB on the bottom.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro arrives with MIUI 9, based on Android Nougat and will be available in Blue, Rose Gold, Champagne Gold and Black colors. There will be three memory and price combinations - 3 GB + 32 GB, 4 GB + 64 GB and 6 GB + 64 GB.

The Redmi Note 5 is exactly the same as the Redmi 5 Plus, down to its size of 158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm and weight of 180 g. It will be available in four colors - Champagne Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, and Black. The memory combo will be either 3 GB + 32 GB or 4 GB + 64 GB.

The pricing sheet of the Redmi Note 5 Pro and Redmi Note 5 is the last unknown that will be revealed at the Indian event in less than 24 hours.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro to have Snapdragon 636, comes on February 14

Xiaomi is making a phone announcement in India on February 14 that is expected to be the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.

But some sources point to a second phone announcement, parallel to the Redmi Note 5's - the Redmi Note 5 Pro. It's expected the Pro model will add more horsepower with a Snapdragon 636 over the expected 626 of the Redmi Note 5.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro to have Snapdragon 636, comes on February 14

However, yet another speculation claims that instead of unveiling new models, Xiaomi will launch the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus for India (officially, they are only available in China at the moment).

If the first rumor comes to fruition and the Indian market gets a new Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro then expect 5.7-inch or 5.9-inch 18:9 2160x1080px displays, 3GB/4GB/6GB of RAM, MIUI 9.5 built around Android Nougat and Hybrid SIM slots (either 1 SIM + microSD or 2 SIMs).