Tag: Transsion

  • Itel Launches City 100 Smartphone with AI Features and Remote Control

    Itel Launches City 100 Smartphone with AI Features and Remote Control

    Key Takeaways

    1. Itel’s City 100 is a budget-friendly smartphone designed for emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, priced under $100.
    2. The device features an 8-core Unisoc T7250 CPU, a 6.75-inch LCD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and operates on Pure 14.5 OS (a modified Android 14).
    3. The City 100 offers various memory configurations, with up to 24 GB of usable RAM and storage options of 128 GB or 256 GB, starting at approximately $85.
    4. It is equipped with a 5,200 mAh battery, 18-watt fast charging, an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, and includes a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera.
    5. Unique features include DeepSeek R1 AI for touch-free functionalities, an infrared remote control for home devices, and a promotional offer of free Itel MagSpeakers with purchase.

    Itel has recently introduced the City 100, a budget-friendly smartphone that is loaded with features, specifically designed for markets in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

    Market Position

    Transsion, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, focuses on emerging markets with affordable devices priced below $100 under the Itel brand. In 2024, the company achieved the rank of fourth in global smartphone sales, having dispatched 106.7 million units.

    Specs and Performance

    The City 100 is equipped with an 8-core Unisoc T7250 CPU, which delivers performance similar to that of Snapdragon 680, and operates on the Pure 14.5 OS, a modified version of Android 14. While the Unisoc processor isn’t the quickest, it is adequate for everyday activities like browsing the web and using social media. The smartphone features a 6.75-inch LCD screen, which, despite its lackluster resolution of 1,600 x 720, can achieve a brightness of 700 nits and supports a 90 Hz refresh rate.

    Memory and Storage Options

    Offered in several configurations, the City 100 comes with 4, 6, or 8 GB of physical RAM, with additional virtual RAM providing a total of 12, 18, or 24 GB of usable RAM, respectively. Storage options include 128 GB or 256 GB. The model with 24 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage in colors like fairy purple, pure titanium, or navy blue has a suggested retail price of 1,399,000 Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $85).

    Battery and Features

    Packed with many common features, the City 100 has a large 5,200 mAh battery that supports 18-watt fast charging. It also boasts an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, can withstand drops from 1.5 meters (4.9 feet), and has a sleek body measuring just 7.65 mm thick. Other features include a rear magnetic mount, a 13 MP rear camera, and an 8 MP front camera.

    Unique Functionalities

    One of the standout features of the City 100 is its DeepSeek R1 AI, integrated into a one-touch access button located on the side of the phone. This enables various functionalities like text translation, image-to-text OCR, and assistance with writing and shopping. Users can also manage apps, calls, and music through touch-free hand gestures.

    Additional Perks

    In a rarity for modern smartphones, the City 100 includes an infrared (IR) remote control feature, allowing users to switch TV channels, modify AC settings, and adjust other IR-controlled devices. As an added bonus, a limited number of Itel MagSpeakers will be offered for free with each purchase while supplies last.

    Readers in America should note that Itel does not distribute its phones there, meaning they will have to explore budget Nokia smartphones available on Amazon instead.

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    Itel Launches City 100 Smartphone with AI Features and Remote Control

     

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  • OnePlus and Oppo May End Flagship Foldable Smartphones

    OnePlus and Oppo May End Flagship Foldable Smartphones

    Transsion, known for its brands like Tecno and Infinix, has built a reputation for being quick, adaptable, and innovative in the consumer electronics space. However, it seems the company has made the decision to exit the foldable smartphone arena, indicating that there won’t be a follow-up to its ambitious Phantom V Fold2.

    Rumors About a Major Competitor

    An even more prominent Chinese company is said to be considering a similar move, as reported by Laifeng.com. While the identity of the company is not disclosed in the report, it’s suggested that they have a series of high-end foldables designed in the same book-style format as the V Fold2.

    Possible Implications for Oppo

    This unnamed manufacturer could possibly be Oppo, which has also been rumored to have scrapped the successor to its smaller foldable, the clamshell-type Find N3 Flip. This mirrors a similar choice made by its sister brand, Vivo, regarding the X Flip 2.

    However, Oppo is still active in the flagship foldable market with its Find N3, also referred to as the OnePlus Open. This device stands as a key competitor against the likes of Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series on platforms like Amazon.

    Future Prospects and Market Dynamics

    The second generation of Oppo’s foldable is expected to improve significantly, boasting features like magnetic wireless charging, a more expansive main flexible OLED display, and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset found in the brand’s current flagship smartphone.

    The foldable device market can be quite unstable, as evidenced by Xiaomi’s declining sales of its premium 4th-gen Mix Fold, in contrast to the success of its first-gen Mix Flip clamshell, which is anticipated to achieve shipments nearly five times greater than the Fold 4 in China by year-end.

    In conclusion, the unexpected absence of the Open 2 (or 3) could negatively affect the international market. This would leave its few competitors with less motivation to enhance the capabilities introduced by its first iteration, which included a more “normal-sized” cover display, faster charging, potentially improved Open Canvas multitasking, and a full-sized Hasselblad-branded camera bump.

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