The past week was buzzing with exciting revelations, product launches, and strategic shifts that gave us a glimpse into the future of technology. Key players in the industry made headlines as they continued to push boundaries and set new standards. From ground-breaking chip manufacturing plans to phone launches, and game-changing sales data disclosures, the week was a testament to the relentless pace of tech innovation.

Redmi Note 12R

In the wearables sector, we saw a custom edition of Samsung’s earbuds, while we saw the launch of two new phones, the Zenfone 10 and the Redmi Note 12R in the smartphone segment. Meanwhile, console sales data released by Microsoft spotlighted the competitive dynamics in the gaming industry.

From folding phones to game console sales, and chips getting smaller, this week served up an interesting blend of tech news and a quick summary of them are below.

Summary of the Top Tech News From Last Week

Redmi Note 12R: A Global Debut Under a New Name

Xiaomi’s new Redmi Note 12R, featuring the cutting-edge Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and 5G connectivity, may hit international markets under the name ‘Redmi 12 5G.’ In India, it could be introduced as the ‘Poco M6 Pro 5G.’ Boasting impressive specs such as a 6.79-inch LCD panel with 90Hz refresh rate, dual-camera setup, and Android 13, this rebranded model promises to make a big splash worldwide.

ASUS Zenfone 10: Compact Flagship with Upgraded Features

The ASUS Zenfone 10 has officially made its global debut, succeeding the previous Zenfone 9 model with several upgrades while retaining its compact, boxy design. This flagship phone boasts a 5.9-inch sAMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1,100 nits and a 144Hz refresh rate. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, it supports up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. Starting at EUR 799, the ASUS Zenfone 10 is set to be available globally soon.

Samsung Sets Sights on Next-Gen Chip Production: 2nm by 2025 and 1.4nm by 2027

Samsung, the world’s second-largest contract chip producer, has announced plans to initiate mass production of 2nm mobile chips by 2025, aiming to rival TSMC’s similar timeline. A smaller nanometer (nm) size indicates denser transistor packing on a chip, enhancing performance. Samsung plans to leverage the 2nm process for high-performance computing by 2026 and design a variant specifically for automotive chips by 2027. Samsung claims the 2nm process will deliver a 12% performance increase and 25% more power efficiency compared to the current 3nm process, with the chips being 5% smaller. Additionally, the tech giant revealed its ambition to start mass production of 1.4nm process chips by 2027.

Nothing Phone (2) Gearing Up for Launch Amid Fresh Funding and Pre-Order Buzz

Nothing is ready to launch its much-anticipated Nothing Phone (2) in India on July 11, with pre-orders now open on Flipkart. Customers can avail themselves of instant discounts and an exclusive offer on the official back case for the new phone. Meanwhile, the company announced a successful fundraising round, gathering $96 million led by Highland Europe, indicating its future expansion plans. Collaboration with the music group, Swedish House Mafia, for the Glyph Composer feature on the Phone (2), underscores the company’s innovative approach. Nothing, which has a global staff of over 450, has also emphasized its commitment to sustainability, claiming that the Phone (2) will have a lower carbon footprint than its predecessor. The company continues to focus on community feedback to drive its product innovation.

Microsoft Reveals Xbox Sales Figures

Microsoft revealed that as of June 2023, the Xbox Series S|X has sold a total of 21 million units, which is very close to earlier estimates made by industry experts. Additionally, the Xbox One series has sold a staggering 58 million units, demonstrating the continued popularity of these consoles. In comparison, Sony’s PlayStation 5 had reportedly sold approximately 38.5 million units as of May 2023, reinforcing Microsoft’s previous statement that Xbox console sales were roughly half of Sony’s PlayStation sales. These figures highlight the highly competitive gaming market and Microsoft’s solid position within it.

Google Expands iFixit Self-Repair Program to Pixel Fold

Google, in partnership with iFixit, has extended its self-repair services to the Pixel Fold, making it the first foldable smartphone to support such a program. Owners will have access to OEM repair tools, parts, and guides for DIY fixes, alongside traditional mail-in and official service options. Additionally, Google will offer an extended “Preferred Care” warranty.

An Italian designer showcases a flip-foldable smartphone design with an E Ink display

The 0/1 Phone concept marries simplicity and functionality, offering a retreat from the high-octane digital world. Its foldable design switches between a full-fledged smartphone when unfolded and a minimalist phone when closed. However, despite its intriguing mix of high-tech features and deliberate simplicity, its commercial launch appears uncertain.

Samsung Unveils Pokémon-themed Galaxy Buds 2 Cases

Samsung has launched three new Pokémon-themed Galaxy Buds 2 cases, modelled after Jigglypuff, Ditto, and Snorlax, exclusively in South Korea. This continues Samsung’s trend of Pokémon-themed products, such as the Galaxy Z Flip3 Pokémon Edition phone and Galaxy Buds 2 Poké Ball edition, both of which sold out rapidly.

Apple Preps Early Stocking for High Anticipated Sales of iPhone 15

Apple is reportedly preparing for high sales of the iPhone 15, set to launch later this year. The tech giant aims to stock up on retailers from July, to avoid previous supply chain disruptions. The iPhone 15 lineup is expected to perform better than its predecessors, with features such as an improved design, faster A17 Bionic chipset, a 48-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi 6E support, and a longer battery life. The official launch date is yet to be confirmed, but is likely to follow Apple’s usual September release schedule.

Huawei Gears Up for Potential Mate 60 Series Launch

According to reports, Huawei’s supply chain has begun production preparations for the company’s next flagship series, Mate 60, indicating a potential imminent launch. The move suggests a return to Huawei’s traditional dual flagship launch cycle, following the announcement of the P60 lineup earlier this year. Although finer details remain unclear, the Mate 60 is speculated to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ series processor, limited to 4G networking, similar to the previous P60 series.

Some of the Specials we covered Last week

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