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Smartphones above Rs 10,000 to be 5G enabled soon

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Representatives of mobile phone manufacturing firms held a meeting with top government officials on Wednesday and assured them that they would gradually discontinue production of 4G phones priced at Rs 10,000 and above and are going to switch to 5G enabled phones.

5G enabled
Image Source: mysmartprice.com

Top officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (also known as MeitY) met with mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers, telling them to launch 5G services with 5G enabled smartphones within three months.

Highlights

  • Smartphones estimated to cost more than Rs 10,000 will soon switch to 5G.
  • The government met with mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers.
  • Bharti Airtel has initiated launching 5G in eight cities.

On Wednesday morning, top officials from both ministries met with representatives from the country’s mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers. On the condition of anonymity, a smartphone company official told ANI that smartphone makers will gradually shift to 5G phones priced at or above Rs 10,000.

According to him, India has approximately 750 million mobile phone users and among which, 100 million subscribers have 5G-ready phones, but more than 350 million people use phones that are only 3G-4G compatible. He stated that they have informed the ministry that our company will gradually phase out 3G-4G compatible phones priced above Rs 10,000.

The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was attended by top executives from smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung, as well as telecommunication operators, to discuss issues related to providing seamless access to 5G services.

Another official from a smartphone company told ANI that the meeting was called to fine-tune the relationship between mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers in which Smartphone manufacturers agreed to begin testing their devices together with mobile operators providing 5G services.

He clearly asserted that over 100 million subscribers in India have 5G-ready phones already, but many devices, including Apple, are not compatible with 5G services at this time. We will figure out the problem that consumers with 5G phones are experiencing once we begin testing, according to the official.

The official stated, “Once we begin the testing, we will determine the issue that 5G phone users are experiencing.”

Source: timesnownews.com

Bharti Airtel has officially started 5G implementation in eight cities which are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Siliguri, Nagpur, and Varanasi, while Jio has finally started beta trials in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Varanasi.

The agenda of this meeting consisted of a discussion regarding preparing customers’ handsets for 5G services launched on 5G networks by telecom service providers.

The meeting also addressed handset manufacturers’ and telecom service providers’ active participation in rolling out several software FOTA upgrades for all 5G handsets. It was also decided to prioritize software upgrades for early 5G implementation in the country.

Qualcomm also stated that it will collaborate with some of the leading smartphone manufacturers to enable 5G in their devices by 2019. Qualcomm is collaborating with these companies to bring 5G smartphones to market. In addition, the company has developed 5G New Radio (NR) technology, which will allow for faster and more efficient 5G connectivity. Qualcomm has also created a 5G modem known as the Snapdragon X50.

Realme 8i

Realme 8i, Realme 8s Smartphones Released In India: Check Price And Specifications.

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There were two new models in the Realme 8 series launched in India on September 9: Realme 8i and Realme 8s 5G. Three rear cameras are included on both of the new Realme phones with a hole-punch display. The Realme 8i comes with a 120Hz display, while the Realme 8s 5G has a 90Hz screen, which is a significant difference. For comparison, the Realme 8s has a 64-megapixel primary camera, which is not available on the Realme 8i. If you’re interested in the Realme 8s 5G, you’ll be competing with Samsung Galaxy A22 5G, iQoo Z3, or Oppo’s A74 5G, which will be available in China starting in the second half of this year.

Realme 8i: Specifications And Features

A 6.6-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,412) display with a 90.80 percent screen-to-body ratio, a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut, and Dragontrail Pro protection are among the features of the dual-SIM (Nano) Realme 8i. Brightness levels range from 600 nits to 1 nit. It also has a six-level dynamic refresh rate — 30Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz — that can be adjusted to suit your needs. It also has a built-in IR blaster. There’s also a 180Hz touch sampling rate on the Realme 8i’s screen.
MediaTek’s Helio G96 SoC powers the Realme 8i, which was launched in July. A maximum of six gigabytes of LPDDR4x RAM can be used with the chipset. Because of this, the phone’s free storage can be used to enhance multitasking on the 6GB RAM version.
There’s a 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 sensor with a five-piece f/1.8 lens, a 2-megapixel monochrome portrait sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor on the Realme 8i’s back. Front-facing 16-megapixel selfie camera with AI beautification, HDR mode, portrait mode, and “Panoselfie” feature.
A microSD card (up to 256GB) can be added to the Realme 8i’s internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128GB. 4G VoLTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/A-GPS, and a Micro-USB port are all available as connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy S8. There are a number of sensors onboard including a proximity sensor as well as an accelerometer and ambient light sensor. There is a fingerprint sensor on the side of the phone.
5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging is included in the Realme 8i. Apart from that, the phone measures 164.1×75.5×8.5mm and weighs 194g.

Realme 8i
Image source: futurecdn.net

Realme 8s: Specifications And Features

A 6.5-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) display, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 180Hz touch sampling rate come standard on the Realme 8s 5G. The display has a screen-to-body ratio of 90.5 percent and a maximum brightness of 600 nits. It’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC, which was announced last month, and has an octa-core processor. A maximum of 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM can be paired with the chip. A 5GB Virtual RAM is also included in both the Realme 8i and the Realme 8s 5G models of the Realme 8 series.
There is a 64-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 lens on the Realme 8s 5G’s triple rear camera setup. Two other 2-megapixel monochrome portrait sensors with an f/2.4 lens, as well as one 2-megapixel macro lens, are also included.
It has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.1 lens for selfies and video calls. For storage, the Realme 8s 5G comes with 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage that can be expanded up to 1TB with a microSD card. Five-gigabit 5G, four-gigabit 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS/A-GPS, and a USB Type-C port are among the connectivity options. One such sensor is a proximity sensor. There are also accelerometers and ambient light sensors on board. There is a fingerprint sensor on the side.
There’s a 5,000mAh battery in the Realme 8s 5G, and it supports 33W Dart Charge fast charging. The phone has dimensions of 162.5×74.8×8.8mm and weighs 191g.

Price And Availability Details

There’s a new Realme 8i price in India: Rs. 13,999 for a model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. For Rs. 15,999, you can get the phone with a 6GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration as well. The Realme 8s 5G, on the other hand, has a price tag of Rs. 17,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, while its 8GB RAM + 128GB model comes at Rs. 19,999. As of September 14, the Realme 8i will be available in Space Black and Space Purple, while the Realme 8s 5G will be available in Universe Blue and Universe Purple from September 13. Both phones can be available for buy via Flipkart, Realme.com, and foremost offline outlets withinside the country.
HDFC Bank credit, debit, or Easy EMI transactions or ICICI Bank credit or credit EMI transactions will be eligible for an Rs. 1,000 discount on the Realme 8i purchase. A cut-price of Rs. 1,500 could be supplied to clients who buy the Realme 8s 5G by the use of HDFC Bank credit, debit, Easy EMI, or ICICI Bank credit or credit EMI.

iQOO 8

iQOO 8 And iQOO 8 Pro With A 120Hz OLED Display, 120W Charging Support Released: Specs and Price

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iQoo 8 and iQoo 8 Pro have been available in China since January of this year as the successors to the iQoo 7 series. Over the previous generation, the two phones have received several upgrades. BMW M Motorsport color schemes are available on both models of the iQoo 8 and iQoo 8 Pro. There are three finishes available for the vanilla iQoo 8, but only two for the pro version. A high refresh rate display and 10-bit color are also included.

iQOO 8: Specifications

As for the operating system, it is powered by Android 11, with Origin OS for Iqoo running on top of Android 11. Full-HD+ display (1,080×2,376 pixels) with 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color, 19.8:9 aspect ratio 92.76 screen-to-body ratio, and 398ppi pixel density are among the features found on the smartphone. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC is at the heart of the device, which also features up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
If you want to take pictures and videos, you’ll have three cameras on the back of the device: a 48-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.79 aperture lens, as well as an ultrawide angle f/2.2 lens and portrait camera with an aperture of f/2.46. A 16-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.45 aperture is housed in a hole-punch cutout in the center of the front panel.
5G, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, Bluetooth v5.2, and a USB Type-C port are all options for connectivity. Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, and e-compass are some of the sensors onboard. There’s a fingerprint scanner built into the display, as well as facial recognition technology. Battery capacity is 4,350mAh with 120W fast charging capability. 159.06×75.14×8.63mm is the phone’s dimensions; 199.9 grams is the weight of the device.

iQOO 8
Image source: mspimages.in

iQOO 8 Pro: Specifications

6.78-inch 2K (1,440×3,200 pixels) AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio and 92.2% screen-to-body ratio, 517 PPI pixel density, and HDR support are among the highlights of the new smartphone. Powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Plus SoC with an Adreno 660 graphics processor. It has up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The Pro model has a 50-megapixel IMX766V sensor with an f/1.75 lens and gimbal stabilization, a 48-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle f/2.2 lens, and a 16-megapixel portrait camera with an f/2.23 aperture. For selfies and video calls, the iQoo 8 Pro has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an aperture of f/2.4.
As with the vanilla iQoo 8, there are the same connectivity options and sensors. There is a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor in the display of the Pro model. On top of all that, it comes with a larger 4,500mAh battery that can be charged at 120W and at 50W via wireless charging. The phone measures 165.01×75.2×9.19mm and weighs 202.5g.

Price And Availability

CNY 3,799 (roughly Rs. 43,600) gets you the 8GB + 128GB storage model of the iQoo 8. 12GB + 256GB storage costs CNY 4,199, while 16GB + 512GB storage version costs CNY 5,199. (roughly Rs. 48,200). In addition to the Legendary Edition with BMW M Motorsport colour scheme, the phone is also available in Black.
CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 57,300) gets you the 8GB + 256GB model, CNY 5,499 (roughly Rs. 63,100) for the 12GB + 256GB model, and CNY 5,999 (roughly Rs. 68,800) gets you the 12GB + 512GB model. Legendary Edition and Track Version are available.
In China, both phones are available for pre-order. It will be available for purchase on August 24, and iQoo 8 Pro on August 26. No information has yet been released on international availability.

Smartphones

Global Demand for Smartphones Fall Due to the COVID-19

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The COVID-19 continues to grow, expand, and take lives around the world. As major nations come to terms with lockdowns and the road ahead, the global economy is reeling in the aftermath. Most parts of the economy have been facing the brunt of the pandemic, as it shut down stores and production centers. Everything from traditional schooling to tourism has undergone massive changes due to the COVID-19. One of the most noticeable effects of the pandemic may be felt in all company’s smartphones sales. Here’s a look at what impact the novel coronavirus has had on the smartphone industry globally.

Decline in Smartphones Sale

Studies show that due to the pandemic, smartphone markets to suffer witnessed a first-quarter year-on-year decline. As per studies done by firms Canalys and Counterpoint Research, there has been a 13% drop in global shipments. Furthermore, Counterpoint estimates a dip of 27% in China, while Canalys’s calculations show 18% for the same. However, whichever number you choose to look it, experts agree that there has been a global slowdown. Ever since 2014, this is the first time, global shipments have fallen below 300 million. All these changes have been brought forth by the falling demand for phones and the abrupt collapse in China.

First-Quarter Slowdown

Close to the end of the first quarter, the COVID-19 had spread around the world, leading to mass lockdowns. At this juncture, disruption spread from the supply chain to the demand curve, and the industry slowed down. As lockdowns of differing severity came into place around the world, the demand for smartphones fell drastically. Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, still hold their position as the world’s most prominent smartphone vendors. Out of the three, Apple has witnessed the least decline in shipments this year. Furthermore, Xiaomi is growing within the space, capturing 10% of the market share for the first time. 

However, these restrictions and bans have crushed new demand, leading to a massive slowdown. During February, when the pandemic was at its peak in China, manufacturing centers were shutting down. Most vendors were concerned about getting access to hardware parts. Many of them ordered in bulk and tried to ensure that they build enough of these smartphones. However, a month later, the entire situation flipped wholly on its head. As the COVID-19 spread aggressively to the west, affecting the US and the whole of Europe, demand began to fall. While manufacturing centers are back on, the rest of the world is in lockdown, leading to a plummet in demand. 

New Releases

Apple, for instance, has the iPhone 12 to release, and it is a big one as it is the first to make use of 5G technology. Several media houses have come out with news stating that Apple is considering delaying the launch to gain a better impact. The same could hold true for the new releases of Samsung and Huawei smartphones. Since most manufacturers rely on hardware components from China and South Korea, production took a hit last month.

Compared to the same time the previous year, China’s shipment of smartphones fell by 40%, as per IDC. Their research also states that the Chinese buyers will buy 33 million fewer phones, due to the COVID-19. The firm believes that the same will hold true for most of Western Europe and the US. Since smartphones may contain hardware from over 40 countries, their supply and demand cycles are hard to quantify. With millions out of work, buying new smartphones has become a luxury that people cannot afford. Unless they need to replace a broken phone, no one is considering a new purchase.

Therefore, replacement cycles for smartphones have grown longer, with most opting to use their old ones as far as possible. However, experts believe that the real impact of the pandemic will only be felt next quarter. Q2 will face the main brunt of the COVID-19, and its actual effect on the smartphone industry may be seen then. Not only will the COVID-19 test the strength of several companies, but small retailers will not survive without support from the government. While there is a lot we do not know about the novel coronavirus, one thing we are sure of is that it will have a lasting effect on the global economy. It will also most likely have a long-lasting effect on the smartphone market.

Android 9 Pie – The Latest Version of Android Hitting the Market

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After Oreo, Google is back with its another desert, I mean the latest edition of Android – Android 9 Pie. It was launched on Tuesday and, is already rolling out on Google’s Pixel smartphones and will be available for most Android smartphones by the end of the year. This new version of Android is powered by artificial intelligence and, has come with many additional features that claim to help the users to reduce their smartphone addiction to an extent. Let’s see what Google has brought for us with its latest Android version:

1) App Dashboard: The new features of the Android 9, include an App Dashboard, showing various apps, that you have used, from most to least, the whole day long. The dashboard can also tell the number of times you have unlocked your phone, which can be an eye-opener for many, as people spent a lot of time on their smartphones these days.

2) Digital Well Being: The Digital Wellbeing, display a multicoloured circle, each colour representing a particular app, that you use on the daily basis, and between the circle, the total time, the phone screen is opened. You can tap on the colours, to further see the details about the app and set a limit for its usage.

Android Pie
Image Source: Image Source: Pcmag

3) App Timer: App Timer is another Android feature that will help to decrease your mobile usage. The timer is available on the App Dashboard, and you can set a time limit on a particular app so that when you have reached the limit, the app will grey out and you will not be able to start it again until the next set time.

4) Adaptive Battery: Android has come with another feature of saving the battery that works according to your app preferences. The earlier versions of Android also had a similar feature but in this one, with the aid of artificial intelligence, the phone will adapt your app usage practices and will divide the battery control according to the most to least used apps. This will ensure that the apps you need will use the battery.

5) App Actions: App Action also based on your daily app habits and creates shortcuts for your most used apps and activities you do on an app. It will result in the quick launch for even your daily activity inside a particular app.

Along with all the above features it has got a few more features like Gesture, Wind Down, Do Not Disturb, Adaptive Brightness, New Navigation System, etc. Most of them are using the artificial intelligence for making the smartphones more intimate part of our lives so that it can work according to our habits and can help us reduce our Smartphone addiction. Also by the end of the year, Google is going to add a few more features to Android Pie and Android Pie will be available for most of the Android users by the fall.