Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 users to start receiving Android 8.1 Oreo update soon

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September 2, 2018

Xiaomi is now finally gearing up to roll out the much-awaited Android 8.1 Oreo update for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. Android 8.1 Oreo was released by Google last year but it took almost a year for Xiaomi to put up MIUI on top of it and push it out for the Redmi devices. The update will start rolling out this week and the company has confirmed this via their official Mi Thread.

As for the changelog, the Android 8.1 Oreo update will carry all the basic things provided by Google like the Autofill, Picture-in-Picture mode and many other features. Apart from what Google offers, Xiaomi is providing Face Unlock for the Redmi Note 5 with the latest update. The Face Unlock feature will be available for users in India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam for now. Other users will have to wait for the next MIUI update.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 features a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC coupled with Adreno 506 for graphics. The dual-SIM handset packs in up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery.

Also Read: Xiaomi Poco F1 can’t stream HD content from Netflix or Amazon Prime, here’s why

On the optics front, the Redmi Note 5 sports a 12-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.2 aperture. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

Here's how to install Android 9 Pie based EMUI 9 Beta on your Huawei smartphone

By

Devesh Arora

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September 2, 2018

huawei, honor, emui 9, android pie — EMUI 9 beta is now available for some Huawei and Honor smartphones

Google recently introduced the Android 9 Pie, which is the latest iteration of the most popular mobile operating system. Now that the Android 9 Pie is officially available for Pixel devices, its time for OEMs like Huawei, Samsung and OnePlus to start working on their skinned version of the latest Android version.

In order to deliver a more stable and bug-free software experience to the masses, the company has announced the availability of the beta version of the EMUI 9 which will be based on Android 9 Pie. Huawei or Honor users can now download and install the ROM on their device and report the company if any bugs or issues are present. The official rollout will be after the launch of the Huawei Mate 20 which is set for October 16.

Currently, the EMUI 9 Beta update is available for nearly seven popular devices including smartphones from Honor. Here's a list of devices compatible:

Huawei P20
Huawei P20 Pro
Huawei Mate 10
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Honor 10
Honor View 10
Honor Play

Also Read: Huawei P20 Lite Review: Premium Looks for a cheap price?

In case you have one of the above-mentioned smartphones and you are keen to try out the latest software, follow these steps to download and install the EMUI 9

How to download and install EMUI 9

Head over to Huawei’s Friendly User Test (FUT)
Click on the Download link
Log in to your Huawei account or sign up for one
Now go to the Personal Tab and hit Join Project
Find the available EMUI 9 beta project and tap on Sign Up

Once you have gone through the above instructions, you should get an OTA update.

Xiaomi Poco F1 can't stream HD content from Netflix or Amazon Prime, here's why

By

Brahmjot Singh

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September 2, 2018

xiaomi, poco f1 — Poco F1 doesn't have a WideVine L1 license, instead, it has the Widevide L3 licence, which will not allow the users to view any HD paid content on their device.

Xiaomi's sub-brand Poco recently launched its first smartphone, the Poco F1 aka the Pocophone F1. The device has been termed as the flagship killer's killer. However, it seems to have made the same mistake OnePlus made with its last generation smartphone, OnePlus 5T. The Poco F1 will be unable to stream HD content from any paid services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

According to a report be Android Pure, the new Pocophone F1 doesn't have a WideVine L1 license, instead, it has the Widevide L3 licence, which will not allow the users to view any HD paid content on their device. This problem cannot be fixed with the help of a software update, but instead needs to be fixed manually by the company which will call for a major recall of the device. A similar thing happened with the OnePlus 5T, due to which the company had to recall all OnePlus 5T devices and fix them.

Also Read: Xiaomi to soon launch its own UPI-based app, the Mi-Pay

The Poco F1 can stream HD content, however, due to the license requirements, it can't do so on paid platforms. Video streaming platforms which do not require any sort of DRM's like YouTube will be able to stream HD content just fine.

Also Read: Xiaomi Poco F1 to go on flash sale again on September 5, Kernel Source Code released

Xiaomi might recall the Poco F1 to fix the problem and add Widevine L1 support. However, these might be the small areas where the company cut corners on to save money and keep the price of the Pocophone F1 down. Which if the case the company should come up and give a statement saying that.

Huawei Mate 20 Lite launched: Price, Specifications and Alternatives

By

Tech Desk

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September 1, 2018

Huawei, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer launched the Huawei Mate 20 Lite at the IFA 2018 event in Berlin. The company showcased the smartphone along with the launch of their new flagship Kirin 980 chipset. The Mate 20 Lite is an affordable variant of the upcoming Mate 20 and it is priced at GBP 379 which roughly converts to Rs. 35,000.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Huawei Mate 20 Lite features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor. The dual-SIM handset packs in 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo-based EMUI out of the box.

On the optics front, the Huawei Mate 20 Lite sports a dual camera set up at the back consisting of a 20-megapixel primary and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. Up front, there is a dual-camera setup with a combination of a 24-megapixel and a 2-megapixel lens.

Also Read: Huawei P20 Lite Review: Premium Looks for cheap price?

Alternatives

OnePlus 6

If the Huawei Mate 20 Lite launches in India at the exact same price, the OnePlus 6 will be a better alternative. The OnePlus 6 sports a 6.28-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display and it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The device comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM coupled with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. OnePlus 6 is available in India at a starting price of Rs. 34,999.

Asus ZenFone 5Z

Asus ZenFone 5Z is an affordable flagship offering by the company. As it is a flagship, it comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC which is paired with Adreno 630 GPU for graphics. The smartphone features a 6.2-inch FullHD+ IPS LCD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a notch. The dual-SIM handset comes with up to 8GB of RAM coupled with up to 256GB of internal storage. The ZenFone 5Z is available at a starting price of Rs. 29,999.

Also Read: Asus ZenFone 5Z Review: The 2018 flagship killer?

Xiaomi Poco F1

In case you want to save some cash and get a flagship experience, the Poco F1 by Xiaomi is a great option. The Poco F1 surely does not look as appealing as the Huawei Mate 20 Lite. However, those who are tech geeks are gonna love this smartphone as it offers flagship grade specs at a starting price of just Rs. 20,999.

Top five alternatives for Motorola One Power

By

Devesh Arora

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September 1, 2018

Motorola launched two new smartphones, Motorola One and Motorola One Power at IFA 2018 held in Berlin. Both the smartphones are powered by Google's Android One program and share pretty similar specifications. Motorola One Power is exclusively built for India and will be sold online on Flipkart at Rs 15,999. Here are some alternatives available in the market right now.

Alternatives

Nokia 6.1 Plus

In case you are looking for an Android One smartphone from a tier one brand with a notch up front, the Nokia 6.1 Plus is the perfect option. The Nokia 6.1 Plus is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone features a 5.8-inch 19:9 FullHD+ display. It is available in India with a price tag of Rs. 15,999.

Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1

Zenfone Max Pro M1n nokia 6, nokia x6, nokia 6.1 plus, specifications, price, alternatives — Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 runs on stock Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box

Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 is not an Android One smartphone but it still gives a stock Android experience with the latest version of Android out of the box. The ZenFone Max Pro M1 features a 5.99-inch FullHD+ display. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. The dual-SIM handset comes in at a starting price of Rs. 10,999.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is currently one of the most popular mid-range smartphone in India. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor found on the Motorola One Power. It gets with 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 64GB as a standard storage option. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is available at a starting price of Rs. 14,999.

Xiaomi Mi A2

Xiaomi recently launched the Mi A2 Android One smartphone in India which is a successor to the much popular Mi A1. The smartphone is powered by a more powerful processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The Mi A2 is available in India with a price tag of Rs. 16,999.

Xiaomi Poco F1

xiaomi, poco, poco f1 — Poco F1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Xiaomi recently launched the Poco F1 and if you are willing to loosen up your pockets a little bit, the Poco F1 comes with flagship grade specifications at a starting price Rs. 20,999. Yes by flagship grade specs we mean Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

10.or G to get the Android 8.1 Oreo update this month: Here's why it took so long

By

Devesh Arora

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September 1, 2018

10.or tenor, android oreo, 10.or G — Android Oreo for 10.or G to arrive soon

10.or (Tenor) has officially rolled out the Android 8.1 Oreo update for the 10.or D and the 10.or E smartphone. The company is now working on bringing the update to 10.or G as well. 10.or has posted The firm claims that the 10.or G will be getting the official Android 8.1 Oreo update by early September.

10.or in a Facebook post says "The update you have been waiting for is just around the corner!" The company has taken way to long to roll out the update. The devices were launched last year and at the time of launch, the company promised that they will roll out the update soon. However, we really feel that if the company has taken this much time, the users should get the best software experience without any bugs or issues.

10.or shared this post on their official Facebook handle

Also Read: 10.or G Review: A budget smartphone with a dual-camera setup

10.or G Specifications

In terms of specifications, the 10.or G features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. The dual-SIM handset comes with either 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The storage is expandable using a microSD card. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery.

On the camera front, the smartphone bears a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of two 13-megapixel sensors. Up front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter.

10.or E finally receives Android 8.1 Oreo update: Here's how to install

By

Devesh Arora

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August 31, 2018

10.or E oreo update — 10.or E finally gets the Android 8.1 Oreo update

10.or (Tenor) has finally pushed out the much-awaited Android 8.1 Oreo for the 10.or E smartphone. The company recently made a promise that they will roll out the update by the end of August. The company keeps up to its promise by delivering the update on time. However, the 10.or G has still not received the update.

Sadly, the update took a lot of time considering the phone was launched almost a year ago and now the Android 9 Pie is here. As the saying goes, its better late than never, we are extremely excited to check out the update as it is quite rare to see budget smartphone manufacturers rolling out major Android updates.

As the update took a while to reach the device, we really hope there are no bugs and 10.or must have done all its testing to assure the best software experience for the users. 10.or D was the first device to get the Android Oreo update and it did come with a few bugs. So we really hope that the latest version of Android coupled with the latest August 2018 security patch on the 10.or E behaves well.

Also Read: Top 5 improvements Android 8.1 Oreo brings to the 10.or G, E and D

How to install the update:

Head over to the Settings
Tap on About Phone>System Updates
Now tap on Check for updates

Android Oreo update

About Phone after update

You should see an update available with Android 8.1 Oreo and the latest August 2018 security patch. The update is nearly 1.2GB in size and it also brings general bug fixes and improvements.

Android 8.1 Oreo brings in features like Autofill, Picture-in-Picture mode, Notification dots and much more. The latest version of Android also brings a new set of emojis and improves the overall device performance. Apart from the Android version upgrade, the latest update on the 10.or E also brings some general stability fixes.

Also Read: 10.or E review: Making the budget-smartphone competition tougher

10.or E Specifications

In terms of specifications, the 10.or E features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC. The dual-SIM handset packs in 2GB or 3GB of RAM coupled with 16GB or 32GB of storage respectively. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery.

Sony Xperia XZ3 launched: Specifications and Alternatives

By

Tech Desk

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August 31, 2018

The Japanese tech giant, Sony has unveiled the Sony Xperia XZ3 at the IFA event in Berlin, Germany. The smartphone is the successor to the Xperia XZ2 which was launched nearly six months ago. The XZ3 comes with flagship grade specifications and a glass sandwich design.

Specifications

In terms of specifications, the Sony Xperia XZ3 sports a 6-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440x2880 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. The device packs in 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. Interestingly, the Sony Xperia XZ3 runs on Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. All of this is backed by a 3,300mAh battery.

On the optics front, the Xperia XZ3 features a single 19-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and laser autofocus. Up front, there is a 13-megapixel selfie shooter with a f/1.9 aperture.

Alternatives

The Xperia XZ3 is a premium smartphone by Sony and the company has not yet revealed whether it will make its way to India or not. So here are some alternatives you can buy in India right now.

Also Read: Sony Xperia XZ2 launched in India: Price, Specifications and Alternatives

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung recently launched their latest flagship, the Galaxy Note 9. When it comes to specifications and design, the Galaxy Note 9 gives a tough competition to the Xperia XZ3. With flagship grade specifications inside including the Exynos 9810, 8GB RAM and a whopping 512GB storage defeats the Xperia XZ3 already. The Note 9 also comes with the S Pen and a ton of extra features at a starting price of Rs. 67,990.

Huawei P20 Pro

In case you want one of the best-looking smartphones with the most advanced camera tech, the Huawei P20 Pro is a great option. The smartphone sports a whopping 40-megapixel sensor along with a 20-megapixel and an 8-megapixel sensor at the back. The combination of all these and the AI optimizations by the company make the P20 Pro a great camera smartphone. The Huawei P20 Pro is available in India with a price tag of Rs. 64,999.

Also Read: Huawei P20 Lite Review: Premium Looks for a cheap price?

Oppo Find X

If you want a smartphone that can turn heads, there is nothing as appealing as the Oppo Find X. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with 8GB of RAM. The smartphone comes with pop up cameras and a glass sandwich design which allows for a full-screen display. It is priced at Rs. 59,990.

Here are the smartphones launching in September 2018

By

Devesh Arora

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August 31, 2018

Some of the smartphone manufacturers are gearing up to launch their new smartphones next month. While Xiaomi is targeting the budget category this time, Vivo is looking for the mid-range segment. Apple, on the other hand, is launching three new iPhones this time with three different type of price ranges. Here's everything you need to know about the phones launching in September 2018.

Vivo V11 Pro

Vivo is set to launch their next V-series smartphone in India, the Vivo V11 Pro. The smartphone is set to launch on September 6 at an event in New Delhi. The V11 Pro is said to come with a 6.41-inch AMOLED display with a waterdrop-style notch. The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC coupled with 6GB of RAM. It is expected to be priced at around Rs. 25,000 in India.

Also Read: Xiaomi Poco F1 to go on flash sale again on September 5, Kernel Source Code released

Xiaomi Redmi 6 series

If you are looking out for a budget or even entry-level smartphone you should wait for a few days. On September 5, Xiaomi is launching three new smartphones in India which include the Xiaomi Redmi 6, Redmi 6 Pro and the Redmi 6A. The Redmi 6A is said to be priced at Rs. 5,999 for the base variant while the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6 Pro are expected to come at a starting price of Rs. 8,499 and Rs. 9,999 respectively.

New Apple iPhones

Also Read: Here’s how to get an iPhone X or Pixel 2 on rent at a starting price of Rs. 2,099 per month

One of the biggest launch events in the smartphone industry happens every September. Apple is gearing up to launch next edition iPhones on September 12. The company has already rolled out the invites and the launch event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. There are rumours that this time Apple will launch three iPhones and a new Apple Watch might also be unveiled.

We will update this post if any other smartphone manufacturer decides to launch a new smartphone in September.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE launched: Price, Specifications and Alternatives

By

Devesh Arora

-

August 31, 2018

BlackBerry Key 2 LE — BlackBerry KEY2 LE is available in three colour variants

A few months ago, BlackBerry launched the successor to the BlackBerry KEYone, the BlackBerry KEY2. The smartphone did not sell as well as it offered mid-range specifications for a price of a flagship. So, to counter that problem, the company has come up with the BlackBerry KEY2 LE which is a toned down version of the KEY2. The smartphone is launched at a price of USD 450 (roughly Rs. 32,000).

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the BlackBerry KEY2 LE features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1620x1080 pixels. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor is running the show here with the help of 4GB of RAM. The device packs in 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with all the BlackBerry features. Keeping everything powered up is a 3,000mAh battery which supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.

In terms of optics, the BlackBerry KEY2 LE bears a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 13-megapixel primary and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. Up front, there is a 13-megapixel selfie snapper.

Also Read: Top 5 reasons why not to buy the BlackBerry Key 2

Alternatives

Xiaomi Poco F1

Xiaomi recently launched the Poco F1 in India. The smartphone offers flagship grade specifications on a budget. The Poco F1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. It comes with a massive 4,000mAh battery with QuickCharge support. The Poco F1 is available at a starting price of Rs. 20,999 (USD 300).

Asus ZenFone 5Z

Asus ZenFone 5Z is an affordable flagship offering by the company. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled Adreno 630 GPU. The smartphone features a 6.2-inch FullHD+ IPS LCD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a notch. The dual-SIM handset comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM coupled with up to 256GB of internal storage. The ZenFone 5Z is available at a starting price of Rs. 29,999.

Also Read: Asus ZenFone 5Z Review: The 2018 flagship killer?

BlackBerry KeyOne

Also Read: BlackBerry KEYone Limited Edition Review: The Business Smartphone?

In case you are a BlackBerry fan or you really want that physical keyboard while not spending more than Rs. 31,999, the BlackBerry KEYone is still a great option. The KEYone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone is available as Limited Edition Black in India at a price of Rs. 31,999.

Beetel BiteTech News, Reviews, PC Mobile Phones, Tablets and more

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Specifications

How to download and install EMUI 9

Specifications

Alternatives

OnePlus 6

Asus ZenFone 5Z

Xiaomi Poco F1

Alternatives

Nokia 6.1 Plus

Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

Xiaomi Mi A2

Xiaomi Poco F1

10.or G Specifications

How to install the update:

10.or E Specifications

Specifications

Alternatives

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Huawei P20 Pro

Oppo Find X

Vivo V11 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi 6 series

New Apple iPhones

Specifications

Alternatives

Xiaomi Poco F1

Asus ZenFone 5Z

BlackBerry KeyOne