Remember when Xiaomi announced the Mi A3 in India days ago? Good news for everyone as the Mi A3 will also be in the Philippines.

This latest A-series offering is known as the “stripped-down” version of the Mi CC9e. It packs the same internals: Snapdragon 665 chipset, 4GB RAM, plus 64 or 128GB storage options. What’s different? Instead of the heavily-skinned MIUI 10, it packs the Android One with a fresh, stock-like Android experience — just like using a Google Pixel.

Image by GadgetMatch

There’s a new 6.088-inch Super AMOLED display in tow. With the new display technology, it’s expected to be power-efficient. Although changing the technology from IPS-LCD may sound good, the downgrade of screen resolution from 1080p to 720p might become a dealbreaker for some. Other than that, there’s an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, eliminating the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner of the Mi A2.

Image by GadgetMatch

This year’s A3 packs a triple camera setup: 48-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a new 8-megapixel ultra-wide shooter. The Dot Drop Display notch houses the 32-megapixel selfie camera. Both cameras have AI functionality.

Image by GadgetMatch

When it comes to battery, the 4,030 mAh capacity is a huge improvement over last year. It is expected to have a longer battery life than Mi A2’s so-so 3,000 mAh battery. 18W Fast Charge is still supported, all thanks to USB-C. They also brought back the 3.5mm audio jack for dongle-less usage. The IR blaster is still present for controlling appliances.

Pricing and availability

The Xiaomi Mi A3 will be available in local Mi Authorized stores starting August 24, 2019 and will be on Lazada and Shopee starting September 9, 2019. There are three color options to choose from: Not Just Blue, Kind of Grey, and More than White. The sole variant with 4GB/128GB configuration will retail at PhP 11,990.

Android is changing things up. After years of naming its newest iteration after a sweet treat, the newest version will now just be called Android 10.

Google’s mobile operating system explains that the decision to change its naming convention is aimed at being more inclusive.

Android Q will be called #Android10. As a global operating system, it’s important that the release names are clear and relatable for everyone in the world. Learn more: https://t.co/VKBcoSBGLt pic.twitter.com/Ek7izFEnuq

— Android (@Android) August 22, 2019

Android says that while using names of tasty treats and desserts has always been a fun way of releasing each update annually, it wasn’t immediately understood by everyone. Especially not with a 2.5 billion user-base that’s spread all around the world. They’ve even gone out of their way to explain that “L and R are not distinguishable when spoken in some languages.”

They also made a fair point that it’s not easy for most people to identify if they’re device is running the latest OS. After all, there’s no clear indication that KitKat comes after Lollipop.

By switching to just Android 10, it becomes more easily understandable for all of its users, and the company felt that it was time for a change.

A new name also merits a new look. The Android robot is now officially part of the logo and the font color changed to black. The video below details the evolution.

The race to 64-megapixel has begun. Earlier this month, Redmi and Realme both announced that they’ll sport Samsung’s 64MP sensor on their next smartphones. In trying to beat Realme to the punch, Redmi tries to get ahead of the game by announcing a launch date sooner than expected.

Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing revealed the Note 8 and Note 8 Pro’s existence on Weibo. The Redmi Note 8 features the most-awaited 64-megapixel sensor from Samsung. To further prove its capability, Weibing showed off its sample.

Image credit: Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing

It’s not just the cameras that people should be excited about. It seems the new smartphones will have better batteries and performance. The Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro might house a 4,000mAh and 5,000mAh battery, respectively, with the Note 8 Pro capable of supporting 18W fast charging.

Gearing towards gaming and performance, both devices will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G90T processor. Additionally, the Note 8 Pro will feature a liquid cooling technology for heat dissipation.

Design-wise, Redmi doesn’t seem like veering away from its usual aesthetic. In a hands-on photo from GizmoChina, the Note 8 and Note 8 Pro looks like a K20 Pro, only in a dark green variant packed with triple cameras and a fingerprint sensor. It has an all-metal body weighing below 200 grams, with a pop-up camera dedicated for selfies. Both phones are also expected to equip a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with a notch.

More details are underway and all we can do is take everything with a grain of salt until further announcements have been made. The Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro’s launch will coincide with Redmi’s smart TV launch on August 29.

Via: GizmoChina

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