Samsung on Tuesday unveiled a new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip, its second attempt to sell consumers on phones with bendable screens and clamshell designs.

The company announced the phone at the start of a product event in San Francisco. The new phone can unfold from a small square upward into a traditional smartphone form, and will go on sale Feb. 14 starting at $1,380.

Samsung's first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, finally went on sale last September after delays and reports of screens breaking. The Fold, which carries a price tag of nearly $2,000, folds at a vertical crease rather than horizontally as a flip-phone design would. Motorola has also taken the flip-phone approach with its new $1,500 Razr phone.

The foldable phones represent manufacturers' attempt to energize a market where sales have slowed. Many consumers are holding onto old phones longer, in part because new phone features offer increasingly marginal benefits. But these foldable models come with higher price tags and are likely to appeal for now mostly to tech enthusiasts and others at the forefront of technology.

For everyone else, Samsung offers its S series. As the 2020s kick off, the South Korean company showed off the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra at an event in San Francisco, skipping directly to the 20s from its S10 series.

The S20 phones are designed to take high-quality pictures in dark settings, Samsung product manager Mark Holloway said. The phones can take both video and photos at the same time, using artificial intelligence to zero in on the best moments to capture the still images.

Samsung's renewed focus on the camera follows Apple, whose iPhone 11 phones last fall offered an additional lens for wider-angle shots and combined multiple shots with software to improve low-light images. Google's Pixel phones also offer a similar low-light feature.

Samsung's S phones already offer the wider angle and some features for low-lighting — but Samsung says the new phones will focus on high-resolution photos and the ability to zoom in 30 to 100 times, depending on the model.

The S20 phones are expected to come out in March. Samsung didn't immediately announce prices. Last year's main S10 model went for $900 in the U.S. at launch. For all models, Samsung plans to make versions compatible with next-generation cellular networks, known as 5G, though it's still an early technology that consumers typically won't need yet.

As people packed into San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts for Samsung's launch event, they passed a team taking remote temperatures in the security line, likely a precaution to check for the coronavirus. Samsung also offered hand sanitizer stations and face masks inside the event lobby.

Grabbing a smartphone at far cheaper than official rate can make you feel like a champ. However, before gloating over this winning deal, check whether your Smartphone is original. Currently, the branded Smartphones are being ‘cloned’. As fake phones ask for cheaper price-tag, many consumers are falling into this trap. If you don’t look carefully, you can hardly discern a fake Smartphone from a real one. Read this article to learn some easy ways to recognize fake or clone smartphone.

How to Recognize a Clone Smartphone

Know the Configuration from Official Site

The clone Smartphones will try to enthrall you with their dashing appearance. So, don’t buy any Smartphone without proper research. Go to the internet. Choose the best Smartphone that complies with your needs. Next, know the precise specifications of that Smartphone from its official manufacturing website. When your research is done, go to the shop, pick your pre-chosen model and check what features it does offer. If its specifications don’t match with the information provided in its official site, the seller Smartphone is certainly a duplicate.

Check the Phone Exterior

Though clone Smartphones almost replicate the look of the original ones, you can feel the difference looking closer. You can start with the phone’s display. Check whether it is made of standard glass material as mentioned on its official manufacturing website. You can check out some other factors like, screen to body ratio, screen resolution, video quality, brightness, etc.

Another thing to check is the location, size, shape and placement of different buttons. Find the original phone’s image from official manufacturing website and compare. Do they look similar? If not, you are holding a fake phone!

Besides these, before buying any Smartphone, compare its dimensions and weight with the official information. And, navigate to your chosen model’s manufacturing site to check in what colors it is currently available. If the shopper offers you a new color option, which is not mentioned in the official site, don’t buy it!   

Check the Branded Logo

When you open any original Smartphone, the screen will initially display its official Logo. If you can’t see the logo at start up, you device is undoubtedly a fake one. Another thing to remember is that each original mobile comes with the branded logo printed on its backside. Touching the logo, it is supposed to feel flat and smooth. In case of a replica mobile, the logo might feel rough and unsmooth.

Check out the Battery

Monitor the battery life of your current Smartphone to check whether it is original or clone. Usually, the fake Smartphones come with less powerful batteries. How to check a seller Smartphone? It’s easy. Just open the backside of that phone. If it is original, the logo must be printed on the battery. For instance, when the seller Smartphone is manufactured by Nokia, the battery must bear Nokia’s official logo. Otherwise, it is a clone device.

Image Credit: AmazensBlog

Check out the Language

The original phones will never come with any spelling error. So, keep an eye on the language. Go to the specification of the seller Smartphone navigating to its settings option. You can also check the language on Phone Box, battery, etc. which comes with that phone. If you can remove the battery, you will find a sticker mentioning some specifications. Look closer. If there is any spelling mistake anywhere, then the seller phone is certainly a fake one. 

Test the Camera

Generally, the branded Smartphones offer exciting camera features. Before buying any Smartphone, take snaps with the provided cameras to judge their image quality and resolution. You can post the image on Instagram for taking opinions from friends. You can also compare the quality of image using Internet, where people have shared images taken by the same model phone. Usually, the duplicate Smartphones come with less powerful cameras with limited features. Furthermore, check the look and position of the cameras. Thus you can easily recognize whether the seller Smartphone is original or clone.

Cross Check the IMEI

When you intend to buy a Smartphone, check out the IMEI number, which is printed over the box. Open the battery. There must be a sticker with IMEI number printed on it. To check the IMEI from any phone type “*#06#” using the dial pad. The display will show one or two IMEI numbers depending on SIM slots. If the seller phone shows no IMEI number, then it is a clone one.

However, some duplicate phones might have fake IMEI numbers. Now how to check it? You can either take a screenshot or write down those numbers. Now login to the IMEI website (https://www.imei.info/imei-checker/) and insert the IMEI number properly.  If your Smartphone is original, the IMEI website will show you details specs including brand name, RAM, Processor, storage capacity, etc.

Use Special Apps

Before going to the shop take another Smartphone with you and install an app called CPU-Z Application. You can also ask your buddy to install this app on his/her phone and accompany you to the shop. When you enter the shop to buy a Smartphone, don’t hassle. Convince the shopper that you need some time to think, test and decide. Then, tactfully install the CPU-Z application from the old Smartphone to the seller phone through ‘Share It’ or Bluetooth. Now you can see the provided specs of the seller Smartphone and compare it with the information provided on its official manufacturing site. Any mismatch of information questions the originality of the seller phone.

Image Credit: Gadgets Africa

How to Check Brand Specific Smartphones?

The top Smartphone brands usually have some specific codes and tricks to define the originality of their manufactured products. For instance, you can easily check the originality of a Samsung Smartphone. Just go to the type pad and press “*#7353#”. If that phone is original, the system will pop up a menu showing all applications in the listed form. This service code is programmed by the Samsung Engineers, which won’t be available in any fake phone.

When you are willing to buy an Apple Smartphone, try to open the App Store from the seller Smartphone. If it takes you to Google Play Store instead of Apple App Store, then it’s a clear indication that the seller Smartphone is not original. Apple Smartphones are run by iOS instead of android, so it won’t work with Play store.

There is another trick. Before you buy an Apple Smartphone, take a laptop with you and install iTune app on it. Now, connect the seller Smartphone with that laptop. If the seller Apple Smartphone is a clone, it won’t work with iTune.

Bottom Line

Nowadays one in every five smartphones comes as a duplicate. Especially, Smartphones built by the top brands like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Redmi, Xiaomi, etc. are being cloned by the illegal manufacturers. A clone Smartphone can be distinguished from its exterior look, specs, logo, battery, language, etc. Therefore, it is wise to check a Smartphone thoroughly before buying. While you buy any Smartphone from dealers, small shop, or online, don’t forget to check its originality using our discussed apps and websites.

Read: Is Your Smartphone a Silent Killer?

Vivo, a Chinese multinational smartphone maker, has on Thursday unveiled a budget-friendly new smartphone - vivo Y91C 2020.

The smartphone is equipped with 4030 mAh battery and 13 megapixel AI rear camera and 5 megapixel AI selfie camera, said a press release.

Vivo Bangladesh, said the smartphone featuring three stunning colors- Fusion Black, Ocean Blue & Sunset Red is a new version of its Y91C model and available at Tk 9,990.

Vivo Y91C 2020 houses 6.22 inches HALO FullView display with a resolution of 720×1520, 2GB RAM and 32 GB ROM which can be expanded up to 256 GB via micro SD card. This new phone is powered by android Funtouch OS 4.5 based on android 8.1. The phone’s both cameras can save trouble of manually adjusting beautification level. Face access fastest unlocking technology has also been added in the phone.

Duke, Managing Director of vivo Bangladesh, said “Smartphone with stylish design in affordable price always comes in customers’ first choice. We expect vivo Y91C will bring customer’s satisfaction with an affordable price.”

Read: Vivo V17 Pro Review.

Are you looking for a top-rated cameraphone featuring powerful gaming engine and graphics? If yes, get the all-rounder smartphone Vivo V17 Pro. This high-end smartphone will win your heart with its amazing cameras feature. Usually, there is a trade-off between the camera functions of a smartphone and its gaming prowess, but Vivo V17 Pro’s smooth gaming interface will change this concept. China-based technological company Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd. was originated from BBK Electronic in 2009. V-series phones are the flagship products of Vivo. Released on September 20th 2019, Vivo 17 Pro is another feather in this legacy. Stay with us to learn more about Vivo V17 Pro.

Key Features of Vivo V17 Pro:

Continual Display

Vivo V17 Pro is blessed with 6.44″ Ultra FullView™ touchscreen display built with 2.5D glass. Its Super AMOLED E3 OLED display is blessed with an amazing 91.65% screen-to-body ratio, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. You will enjoy watching media files at 2400x1080 FHD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratios.

This state-of-the-art smartphone V17 Pro features blue light filtering system (up to 42%), dark background themes and illumination Reduction Anti-Flicker technology. These features will protect your valuable eyes while using this phone in darkness. Thanks to the manufacturer for installing Fingerprint Scanning sensor on its Display, which will keep your phone safe from data theft.    

Pro Level Selfie Camera:

Vivo V17 Pro appeared as the first smartphone with 32MP Selfie Camera along with a wide-angle camera (8MP sensor). The photo canvas can be extended up to 105◦ for capturing a beautiful scenery, or bunch of friends. Its dual front cameras appear through exclusive Pop-Up mechanism, which many pricier competitors won’t offer.

Picture Courtesy: The Verge

Do you often struggle in capturing a perfect selfie in low light condition? To overcome this issue, Vivo V17 Pro has brought Super Night Selfie, Selfie Softlight and Flash. These features can combine multiple frames efficiently for optimizing the radiance, lucidity, and brightness of your image.

Vivo V17 Pro brings ‘AI Makeup’ feature to save you time for touch up before photo shoot. This virtual make-up scheme can add final touch-up to your appearance. What is more? While you focus, a frame called ‘Pose Master’ will appear upon the screen to guide you about the best possible stylish poses.

Ergonomic Rear Camera

On the rear side of Vivo V17 Pro, there are four cameras in a row. Its 48MP main camera features amazing light sensitivity with smart zooming capacity. Moreover, the ‘AI Super night mode’ feature will reveal your talent in night-photography by virtue of Upgraded HDR, and combined multi-frame noise lessening technology.

Want to capture the panorama of any distant landscape? Use the 13MP Telephoto camera of Vivo V17 Pro. This Smartphone is blessed with Optical Zooming and Digital Zooming power that can be enhanced up to 2x and 10x times respectively. Its 8MP wide-angle camera can expand the lens-view at 120⁰. And, this sensor is smart enough to capture 108⁰ photos allowing distortion.

Vivo V17 Pro also presents a 2MP macro camera for capturing detailed images of tiny objects focusing from 4cm distance, which is difficult to see with naked eyes.

Exciting Gaming Performance

If you are a crazy gamer who forgets time while playing games, then don’t miss Vivo V17 Pro. This latest Vivo Smartphone V17 Pro offers you superb gaming experience taking commands within a blink. This high-end smartphone Vivo is equipped with Multi-Turbo acceleration technology, which not only integrates Game Turbo, AI Turbo, Cooling Turbo, Center Turbo, and Net Turbo technology efficiently; but also accelerates the bottom-layer complier performance. 

In simple words, this high-end technology can enrich the operating system and offer swift gaming performance. Need more speed? Apply the ‘Cold start’ and ‘Warm start’ options to increase the gaming speed by 25% and 9% respectively. To be focused on your game, you can turn off message alerts.

In V17 Pro, you will find ‘Game Center’ which can assemble your overall gaming information in a single interface. This feature is also compatible with ‘Ultra Game Mode’. Moreover, to surprise the co-players during gaming, you can exploit the ‘Voice Changer’ option keeping your identity private.  

Picture Courtesy: gizguide.com

Swift Operation

A Smartphone with slothy operation feels like junk. Don’t worry! Vivo V17 Pro will charm you with its swiftness by virtue of its breakneck processor – Qualcomm snapdragon 675AIE. Its 4100 mAh battery is coupled with double-Engine Fast Charger. This smartphone out wins its ancestors with the up-to-date Funtouch OS 9.1 (built on Android 9) along with modern GUI. Furthermore, Vivo V17 Pro has a standard memory – RAM 8 GB and ROM 128GB – rendering smooth performance.

Other Tech Features

Vivo V17 Pro is equipped with a bunch of Sensors, like Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity Sensor, E-compass, NFC technology, etc. Moreover, Vivo V17 Pro has a Smart Button option, which enables you to activate Google Assistant, and Jovi Image Recognizer at a time.

Vivo V17 Pro Specs:

• Dimensions: 159.00 × 74.70 × 9.80 mm
• Weight: 201.8g
• Display: 6.44-inch
• Front Camera: 32MP+ 8MP
• Rear Camera: 48MP +13MP+8MP+2MP
• Battery: 4100 mAh battery
• Storage: ROM 128GB

Vivo V17 Pro Price in Bangladesh

The official price of Vivo V17 Pro in Bangladesh is 39,990 BDT.

Read: Oppo F15 Review

If you are looking for an amazing ‘selfie-expert’ camera phone at around BDT 25000, Oppo F15 deserves your attention. After being established in 2001, Oppo has been one of the few brands to distinguish itself from the rest of the field in the smartphone industry based China. In Bangladesh, the popularity of Oppo phones is on the rise for manufacturing quality smartphones with reasonable price tags. Continuing in this vein, Oppo released their latest smartphone Oppo F15 on 16th January 2020.

Key Features of Oppo F15 Smartphone

The Oppo F15 comes with a bunch of exciting features. The key ones are almost alike Oppo A9 2020. And, not to mention, you will find some exclusive features in the latest F-series Oppo Smartphone F15.

Trendy Look:

Who likes a bulky mobile today?  The first thing people consider while buying an electronic gear is portability. Don’t worry! OPPO F15 will charm you with its sleek design, light body and ergonomic shapes. This smartphone promises comfy single-handed grip. Weighing 172g, F15 appears lighter than Oppo A9 2020 (195g). F15 is available in two elegant colors: Lightning Black, and Unicorn White.

Oppo F15 Smartphone: Picture Credit Telecomtalk.info

Standard Display

Oppo F15 comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a screen-to-body ratio of 90.7 percent. You will enjoy the easy swapping on its Capacitive Multi-touch screen. Its FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels; 408 ppi) is enough to enjoy movies and video games. Moreover, this smartphone is programmed with 16 million colors with 430nit (1000000:1 contrast) which will make the display much amusing. Oppo F15 out wins A9 2020 with sturdy Gorilla Glass 5 which aims to protect the screen from almost any damage!

Anti-shake Smart Camera:

Nowadays camera feature is one of the dominant criteria for choosing smartphone. Especially, Smartphone manufacturer Oppo has great reputation for providing advanced camera features compared with other brands. The latest Oppo F15 out wins its ancestor Oppo F11 Pro with quad-camera on its rear side.

Like Oppo A9 2020, the F15 model’s main camera bears a 48MP sensor. By virtue of 4-in-1 pixel combination technology, this powerful sensor promises to capture sharper images with more detailing, even if in low light ambient.

Moreover, Oppo F15 is blessed with a 119-degree Ultra wide Angle 8MP sensor rear camera which is great for capturing landscape image. If you want to take a lucid image of any micro object, use the 2MP rear camera bearing macro lens (3 to 8cm). 

The F series phones of Oppo brand are great for selfies. Like Oppo A9 2020, the F series phone Oppo F15 has a 16MP front camera. This budget camera smartphone is a gift for the selfie-lovers.

What makes the Oppo F15 standout from its competitors is the shake-free filming. This amazing feature is equipped with smart EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) technology supported by an internal gyroscope. With this smartphone you can capture amazing photos of moving objects.

In addition to these, Oppo F15 smartphone is enriched with a range of camera modes including panorama, Photo, video, time-lapse photography, professional mode, portrait, night scene, slow motion, etc.

Enhanced Security             

It is certainly a gift, if your smartphone comes with intelligent security features without making it slow. Oppo F15 is blessed with Fingerprint Scanner 3.0 placed on its display. It will protect your Smartphone from getting unlocked by fake fingerprints. This scanner is fast enough to unlock the screen within 0.32-second, when you touch the screen.

Thanks to the manufacturer for adding some intelligent sensors in F15. The sensors include:  Pedometer, Proximity Sensor, Acceleration Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope, and Induction Sensor. These sensors will make your life easier, safer and speedier.

Swift Charging

If you own the Oppo F15, you don’t need to wait long for charging. This F series smartphone is accompanied with VOOC Flash Charge 3.0, which offers 2-hour talk for a mere 5-minute charge. Its 4000 mAh battery takes only 30-minutes for consuming about 50-percent charge. Can you believe it?

Picture Courtesy: GSMArena

Gaming-friendly

It is a boon, if your camera phone is programmed with gaming software. Thanks to the manufacturer for installing Game Boost 2.0 software as well as PUBG Frame rate in Oppo F15. What is more? Oppo F15’s high-level performance with enhanced stability (55.8%) has been certified by TÜV Rheinland.

This smartphone runs on the Android 9 based operating system ColorOS 6.1.2. Though this OS may be less efficient than Android 10, Oppo F15 offers a fair deal considering its price-tag. So, if you love playing games and have a passion for photography, Opp F15 is the right device you are looking for.

Oppo F15 Technical Specs

• Dimensions: 160.2x 73.3x 7.9mm
• Weight: 172g
• Display Size: 16.2 cm (6.4'')
• Resolution: 2400 by 1080 pixels at 408 ppi
• Rear Camera Sensor: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP
• Front Camera Sensor: 16MP
• OS: ColorOS 6.1.2 (Android 9)
• CPU: MTK MT6771V
• GPU: ARM Mali G72 MP3 900MHz
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Storage: RAM 8GB and ROM 128GB
• Video Front Camera: 1080P/720P@30fps
• Video Rear Camera: 1080P @30fps, 720P@30fps
• Connectivity: Bluetooth: 4.2, GPS
• SIM Card Type: Nano-SIM / Nano-USIM

Oppo F15 Price in Bangladesh

Currently Oppo F15 is available at 26,990 BDT. However, the price may change any time at company discretion.

Read: Samsung Galaxy A71 Review