Oppo has officially confirmed that it will unveil the Find X7 series of smartphones at 2:30 pm (local time) on Jan. 8, 2024, in China. In addition, the Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra smartphones are now listed on Oppo China’s online store for reservations. The official listings have confirmed the configurations and color options of both smartphones well ahead of the official announcement.
Oppo Find X7 series launch date
Oppo Find X7
Reports have revealed that the Find X7 will come equipped with the Dimensity 9300 chipset. The official listing reveals that it will come in four configurations, such as 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage, and 16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage.
The Find X7 will be available in four shades, such as Starry Sky Black, Sea and Sky, Desert Moon Silver, and Smokey Purple.
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
The Find X7 Ultra is expected to come equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It will be available in three variants, such as 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage.
Find X7 Ultra: Pine Shadow InkFind X7 Ultra: Sea and SkyFind X7 Ultra: Desert Moon Silver.
When it comes to color options, the Find X7 Ultra will come in choices such as Pine Shadow Ink, Sea and Sky, and Desert Moon Silver.
The Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra have a similar design, with the front featuring a punch-hole display with curved edges and a dual-tone back panel with a massive camera module. The Find X7 has a triple-camera unit, whereas the Find X7 Ultra has a quad-camera system. The Ultra variant will be the world’s first smartphone to feature dual periscope telephoto cameras. In addition, it will also be the first-ever phone to feature the one-inch Sony LYT-900 50-megapixel camera sensor as the primary snapper.
It is said that there will be a third device called the Oppo Find X7 Ultra Satellite Communication Version, which will come with support for two-way satellite communication. The rest of its specs will be identical to the Find X7 Ultra.
While several brands have launched their Copilot+ PCs with the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite processors, we have yet to see detailed reviews on their performance and battery life.
However, one Reddit user, u/caponica23, got their hands on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge early and shared some initial findings in an extensive thread. And the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite chip seems disappointing, falling short of Qualcomm’s marketing promises.
The laptop achieved a Geekbench single-core score of 1829 and a multi-core score of 11379 while running on battery power. Plugging it in offered minimal improvement, with scores of 1841 and 11537, respectively. However, these figures are significantly lower than Qualcomm’s press event claims of 2977 single-core and 15086 multi-core.
In battery powerPlugged in
The user attributes the low benchmark scores to the CPU not reaching its advertised boost clock speeds. The Reddit review notes that the Snapdragon X Elite chip on the Book 4 Edge runs at 2.52GHz speed at maximum, which is much lower than the 4.0 GHz advertised by Qualcomm.
A thread on X (formerly Twitter) by user INIYSA suggests that the PC might be throttling the CPU for thermal and battery management. Other laptops running Snapdragon X Elite models on Geekbench also show similar disappointing single-core scores in the 1700s-1800s range.
The X user compared the X Elite’s single-core performance to that of the iPhone 12 Mini, noting that it is even slower than the 4-year-old A14 chip.
For those who can’t comprehend how f*cking miserable this is, X Elite’s actual big core performance is slower than the 4-year-old A14 chip in the iPhone 12 mini.
Qualcomm initially inflated the single-core score to 3200, which dropped to 2900 in an actual Windows environment,… pic.twitter.com/SFxk8sEMZm
With Qualcomm’s review embargo still in place, it is uncertain if a firmware update will address these performance issues before official reviews are released.
Gaming performance was equally underwhelming at first. According to the user, Resident Evil 7: Village ran at 1080p with only 40-50 FPS and severe frame drops, even with AMD’s FSR in performance mode. However, the user later reported that a new update fixed the GPU issues, and the game now runs at 60-100 FPS with no frame drops.
The update seems to have resolved the GPU performance lag, so we are hopeful that another update could improve the processor performance to match Qualcomm’s promises. Otherwise, the initial benchmarks for the Snapdragon X Elite raise serious concerns about its capabilities in Windows on ARM devices.
Right when the Honor Magic V Flip went official yesterday, new leaks suggest that the Magic V3 is also launching soon and will come with some amazing features.
We also got some details about the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro, which is supposed to feature a massive 6100mAh battery, making it one of the biggest batteries on a mainstream phone.
Finally, we saw the launch of the Galaxy Watch FE for $199 yesterday.
Honor Magic V3 is expected to feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a battery exceeding 5,000mAh mAh. The launch in July is bound to make things interesting in the foldable world.
Leaked details suggest this device will be a game-changer in the smartphone market, with no rivals matching its battery size and charging speed for a while.
Veterinarians are now using Apple Watches to monitor the heart rates of lions and other animals during medical procedures. The discovery, which Dr. Chloe Buiting led, demonstrates how gadgets like smartwatches can help conservationists keep an eye on powerful patients in the field where conventional equipment might not be available.
Honor quietly introduces its latest budget-friendly phone, the X6b, featuring a large 6.56-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Helio G85 processor, and a 50MP main camera. Running on MagicOS 8.0, the X6b boasts a 5,200mAh battery and offers a selection of vibrant colors.
The Mix Flip’s leaked schematic promises a huge cover screen and impressive features like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, advanced AI capabilities, and a standout camera setup with a 50MP main camera.
Xiaomi has recently introduced the Xiaomi 14 Civi smartphone in India, a much-anticipated rebrand of the Chinese Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro. This device, loaded with appealing features, starts at under ₹40,000 (~$479), positioning it as a direct competitor to the OnePlus 12R. If you’re considering purchasing one of these models, here’s an in-depth comparison to help you decide which device is the better choice for you.
Xiaomi 14 CiviOnePlus 12R
Desing & display
Both the Xiaomi 14 Civi and the OnePlus 12R showcase sleek back designs with prominent circular camera modules positioned at the top left. The OnePlus 12R features curved sides, whereas the Xiaomi 14 Civi has flat sides. In terms of thickness, the OnePlus 12R is relatively bulky at 8.8mm, while the Xiaomi 14 Civi boasts a slim profile at just 7.45mm. It is worth pointing out that Xiaomi has provided a vegan leather back option in the form of its Matcha Green color variant, which makes the phone a bit thicker compared to its glass back variants.
Moving to the front of the device, the OnePlus 12R comes with a curved display, while the Xiaomi has something called a quad curve display that is essentially a flat display with the looks of a curved display. As for specifications, the 12R features a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, a resolution of 1.5K, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 4,500 nits of brightness. The Xiaomi 14 Civi has a 6.55-inch AMOLED panel with a similar resolution, refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. Both devices offer HDR10+ support and Dolby Vision.
Performance
In terms of performance, the OnePlus 12R features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with LPDDR5X RAM. On paper, this processor outperforms the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip used in the 14 CIVI, particularly in GPU capabilities, which should result in better gaming performance. However, the OnePlus 12R is known to have thermal issues that can cause FPS drops while gaming.
Conversely, the 14 CIVI boasts decent thermal management, meaning you’re essentially trading raw power for stability. It is capable of running games like BGMI at stable 60FPS, however, the device is yet to receive 90FPS support, which the OnePlus 12R already has.
The 14 Civi also has another advantage over the OnePlus 12R, which is its storage type. The Xiaomi device comes with UFS 4.0 storage, while the OnePlus 12R uses UFS 3.1 storage. You won’t see any noticeable differences between them in day-to-day work like opening apps and files. However, if you plan to transfer data to or from the device, the 14 Civi will be noticeably faster.
Battery and fast charging
Battery is one area where the OnePlus 12R is visibly superior to the 14 Civi. It features a large 5,500 mAh battery that comes with 100W fast charging. It is capable of charging from 1%-100% in just 26 minutes.
The Civi 14 on the other hand comes with a 4,700 mAh battery, paired with 67W fast charging. The brand claims that the device can go from 1-100% in 40 minutes of charging.
That said, the OnePlus 12R with a healthy battery usually averages around 7 hours of screen-on time, while with the 14 Civi, you can easily cross 8 hours of screen-on time.
Camera
The Xiaomi 14 Civi focuses on camera capabilities, especially for selfies. This model includes a dual front camera setup with two 32 MP sensors. The main selfie sensor has an f/2.0 aperture and a 78° field of view (FOV), while the second sensor has an f/2.4 aperture and a 100° FOV for ultra-wide shots. The front cameras can record in 4K at 30FPS. The camera app offers a teleprompter feature which can be useful to vloggers.
The rear camera setup is also notable, featuring Omnivision’s 50 MP Light Hunter 800 sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). It is paired with a 12 MP ultra-wide camera and a 50 MP 2x telephoto camera. These cameras are tuned by Leica, and the primary camera uses a Leica Summilux lens.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 12R features a 50 MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor with OIS. This sensor, although older, still provides high-quality images and currently performs better than the Light Hunter 800 sensor on the 14 Civi. However, the final assessment of the primary cameras will depend on future updates from Xiaomi. That said, the remaining three camera sensors on the 12R, which include the 8 MP ultra-wide, the 2 MP macro, and the 16 MP front unit are outmatched by the 14 Civi.
Software
The Xiaomi 14 Civi runs on the new Android 14-based HyperOS, which features smooth animations, a clean UI, and customizable lock screens. Although the device has some bloatware pre-installed, it does come with features like Glance for Mi that some users might not prefer, but these can be turned off. On the other hand, OnePlus has an advantage here as its operating system doesn’t include bloatware or adware. Moreover, OnePlus has recently released updates that improve animations and add useful features and UI changes.
Verdict
The newly launched Xiaomi 14 Civi offers an attractive design, a good display, and a powerful yet efficient processor. While the primary camera could use some polish, it still provides a well-rounded camera setup. If you’re looking for a phone with a strong focus on selfies and a balanced camera system, the 14 Civi is a good option.
However, if you value performance, fast charging, and a clean software experience, the OnePlus 12 might be more suitable for you.
The Xiaomi 14 Civi has a starting price of ₹39,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant, while the 12GB + 512GB version costs ₹44,999. It will be available from June 20 in Crusie Blue, Matcha Green, and Shadow Black colors.
The OnePlus 12R on the other hand has a starting price of ₹39,998 (8GB RAM + 128GB Storage) with additional offers. The 8GB + 256GB and 16GB + 256GB cost ₹42,999 and ₹45,999, respectively.
Realme is all set to launch the Realme GT 6 on June 20 for the global market, including India. With a couple of days remaining for the launch, the company is busy confirming the key specifications of the phone. The brand recently confirmed the chipset, battery size, and fast charging capabilities of the device. Now, the brand has revealed its primary and telephoto cameras.
Realme GT 6 camera specifications officially confirmed
Realme GT 6 LYT-808 primary camera
According to the brand, the Realme GT 6 will have an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 with a 1/1.4-inch sensor size and a wide f/1.69 aperture. Other phones like the Realme GT 5 Pro, the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus 12, the Oppo Find X7, and the Oppo Find N3 also feature this flagship-level camera.
Coupled with the high-end Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, the GT 6 promises to produce top-notch quality photos. The company confirmed that the GT 6’s main camera supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording.
A 50-megapixel telephoto camera with a 47mm focal length will accompany the primary snapper. The brand has not yet mentioned it, but it appears that the camera setup also includes an 8-megapixel ultrawide snapper.
The GT 6 will support Realme’s HyperTone Image Engine, which processes images in the RAW domain with AI. In addition, it offers photography features, such as Texture Portrait, Fast Capture, Night Mode, Star Mode, Street Mode, AI Smart Removal, and AI Night Vision. Shown in the X posts are some camera samples of the device.
As far as other specs are concerned, Realme confirmed that the Realme GT 6 will pack a 5,500mAh battery and support 120W rapid charging. It will come equipped with a BOE-supplied 8T LTPO OLED screen that offers up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness. For smooth performance, the device will feature LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. It will also have the world’s largest 10,014 sq mm dual VC cooling system.
Honor has just launched the Honor Magic V Flip, its first flip-style foldable phone, in China. Honor CEO Zhao Ming recently discussed Honor’s first small folding phone, the Magic V Flip, and also commented on the previously released Honor Magic V2. He also hinted at the upcoming arrival of Magic V3.
Honor Magic V3 to sport a record-breaking design
Honor Magic V2
In a meeting after the Magic V Flip’s launch, Ming revealed that the Honor Magic V3 is currently in intensive development and promised that it would be an impressive and leading-edge foldable phone. He emphasized Honor’s commitment to innovation by stating that even after 11 months and 20 days since the 9.9mm thickness test, the Magic V2 remains the thinnest foldable phone on the market. He reiterated Honor’s dedication to breaking its own records, highlighting this as a core value of the company.
To recall, the Honor Magic V2 was announced in July 2023. It has been recognized as the world’s thinnest foldable phone, measuring only 4.7mm thick when unfolded and 9.9mm thick when folded. This makes it thinner than many traditional straight-screen phones, marking a significant milestone in foldable phone design.
Unfortunately, nothing much is known about the specifications of the Honor Magic V3. However, speculation suggests that the Honor Magic V3 will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Leaks that emerged a few weeks ago revealed its battery size may exceed 5,000mAh and it will have a side-facing fingerprint scanner. At present, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, which packs a 5,700mAh cell, has the largest battery seen on a foldable phone. Despite packing a huge battery, it has a slim profile of 5.2 when unfolded and measures 11.2mm in the folded state.
As far as the launch is concerned, the Magic V3 is likely to debut in July in China.
OnePlus is expected to announce the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro flagship phone in China in July. Following the announcement of the Ace 3 and Ace 3V earlier this year, the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro will be the third phone under the Ace 3 brand. Because it is a Pro model, it will be the most advanced phone in the series. A new Weibo post by reliable tipster Digital Chat Station reveals that its battery and charging capabilities will have no competition for a longer period of time.
OnePlus Ace 3 Pro battery size, charging capabilities (rumored)
According to DCS, the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro will be the first-ever smartphone to feature a 6,100mAh ultra-high-density battery. The battery technology is supported by Ningde Times, also known as CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited), a prominent battery manufacturer.
Previously, the leaker revealed that the Ace 3 Pro will have a dual-cell battery setup, with each cell having a capacity of 2,970mAh (rated value), resulting in a combined capacity of 5,940mAh (rated value). The total typical value of the battery is expected to be 6,100mAh.
The OnePlus Ace 3 Pro, internally codenamed “Dayu,” is capable of 100W fast charging. The combination of battery capacity and charging speed sets it apart, with no competitors expected to match its specifications for a considerable time. The statement emphasises that competing devices either have larger batteries but slower charging speeds, or faster charging speeds but smaller batteries.
In terms of other specs, the rumor mill has revealed that the Ace 3 Pro has a 6.78-inch curved-edge OLED LTPO panel that offers a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It will have a 16-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultrawide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. Under the hood, the device will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage. It will come with a metal middle frame and will be available in glass, leather, and ceramic back options.
In a move to potentially jumpstart sagging sales, Tesla CEO Elon Musk teased new electric vehicles during the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday. This news comes after shareholders approved Musk’s hefty $56 billion compensation package.
Musk unveiled a slide showcasing three new illustrations for new vehicles
Facing a product line-up perceived as stagnant and declining sales figures, Tesla desperately needs a product refresh. While offering no specifics, Musk did unveil a slide showcasing illustrations of three new vehicles shrouded in white sheets, sparking speculation and excitement.
“We obviously have some new products we’re working on behind the scenes,” Musk said, expressing confidence that these upcoming additions would be “pretty special.” The silhouettes offered some clues: a tall, boxy van-like vehicle contrasted by two lower-slung, sleeker silhouettes.
One possibility is that one of the veiled vehicles could be Tesla’s much-anticipated robotaxi, scheduled for a reveal on August 8th. Additionally, Tesla previously announced an accelerated rollout of new models, including more affordable options, slated for a late 2024 or early 2025 release.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has teased new additions. In their April “Master Plan Part 3” document, the company hinted at potential Tesla-made versions of compact cars, commercial vans, and even buses, but their status remains “to be determined.”
Epic Games Store has revealed the free games available this week, June 13th. This week’s offerings cater to diverse tastes, featuring a fast-paced racing title and an idle role-playing game.
Next week, Epic Games will give away Lego Builder’s Journey
Redout 2 is a futuristic racing game set on gravity-defying tracks. Players pilot hovercrafts through challenging courses filled with twists, loops, and jumps at breakneck speeds. The game offers online competition and customization options for a personalized racing experience.
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms provides a more relaxed gameplay style. Players assemble a team of iconic Dungeons & Dragons heroes and send them on adventures to defeat monsters and collect loot. The game progresses even when players are offline, allowing them to return and claim new rewards to upgrade their champions.
Those looking for a creative outlet can look forward to next week’s free game, LEGO Builder’s Journey, arriving on June 20th. This puzzle game takes players on a journey through a LEGO world, where they must solve creative challenges and rebuild structures to unlock new areas.
These free games are only available for a limited time, so interested players should claim them before they’re replaced by new titles.
Two women have filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple in California, accusing the tech giant of systematically underpaying female employees for the past four years. The lawsuit, representing potentially 12,000 current and former female employees, alleges Apple’s pay practices and performance evaluation system discriminate against women.
The lawsuit represents nearly 12,000 current and former female Apple employees
The core of the complaint centers around Apple’s past practice of basing starting salaries on previous salary history, a practice discontinued in late 2017. The lawsuit argues this approach perpetuated existing gender pay gaps, as women typically earn less than men in the tech industry.
The practice was replaced with a policy of asking job applicants for their salary expectations, which the lawsuit argues has a similar discriminatory effect. Studies have shown that employees tend to base their salary expectations on their current or past salaries, potentially leading to women undervaluing themselves during negotiations.
The lawsuit goes beyond pay disparity, alleging bias within Apple’s performance evaluation system. The complaint claims that subjective criteria, such as “teamwork” and “leadership,” are applied differently to men and women. According to the lawsuit, men are rewarded for behaviors that might be penalized for women, further impacting their earning potential.
The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for damages suffered by female employees due to alleged pay discrepancies. Additionally, the plaintiffs are requesting “declaratory relief,” a court order requiring Apple to change its pay and evaluation practices to ensure fairness. They are also asking for a jury trial to hear the case.
These accusations come on the heels of similar reports in 2022, where female Apple employees came forward alleging experiences of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation for filing complaints with HR. One particularly concerning example involved a former legal director who claims a colleague hacked her devices and issued death threats. Despite reporting the incident to HR, she alleges they failed to take action and ultimately terminated her employment.
With this lawsuit, Apple has a lot of pressure to address potential systemic gender bias within the company. Let’s see how the company finds its way through these legal proceedings.
Xiaomi is working on two foldable phones, such as the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 and the Mix Flip for the Chinese market. The Mix Fold 4 may launch in the coming month (July) as it has already received approval from China’s 3C certification platform. The Mix Flip may likely go official alongside the Mix Fold 4 as it was spotted at the 3C certification last month. A new leak, courtesy of tipster Digital Chat Station, sheds key information about the upcoming Mix Flip.
Xiaomi Mix Flip design, key details emerge
Xiaomi Mix Flip’s leaked schematic by DCS
According to DCS, the Xiaomi Mix Flip will feature a large-sized cover display, allowing for screen rotation that accommodates both left- and right-handed users. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is currently the most powerful on the market. This chipset will deliver a performance boost of approximately 50 percent compared to the other flip-style foldable phone, with AI capabilities that are significantly advanced.
Shown above is a schematic of the Mix Flip shared by DCS. Its cover display is quite big and could be around 4 inches like the Honor Magic V Flip’s cover screen. In addition, it has dual rings, with the top featuring an LED flash and a camera. The second ring houses the second rear-facing camera. Additionally, it will be the only foldable phone to feature an external earpiece, enhancing its functionality.
In terms of photography, the Mix Flip will be a standout within the foldable phone category, offering superior camera performance. According to previous reports, the device will feature a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS support and a 60-megapixel OmniVision OV60A telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. While there is no clarity about its battery size, it is expected to support 67W fast charging.
The release schedule for the Xiaomi Mix Flip has been moved up, so it will be available sooner than initially expected, which still suggests that it may break cover in July.
Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Watch FE (Fan Edition). It is the first FE-branded smartwatch from the company. Here is a look at the specifications, features, and price of the device.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE specifications and features
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
The Galaxy Watch FE has a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display that offers 396 x 396 pixels resolution. The screen is shielded by a layer of sapphire glass. It comes only in a 40mm variant and features an aluminium case.
The Watch FE is powered by the Exynos W920 SoC, accompanied by 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, and a 247 mAh battery. Running Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI 5 Watch overlay,
When it comes to connectivity, the Galaxy Watch FE offers features, such as Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC, and multiple satellite systems (GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo). Durability is a highlight, with the watch boasting an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a 5ATM rating for diving, and MIL-STD-810H certification.
The Galaxy Watch FE is designed to track over 100 different workouts, offering advanced running analysis, personalized heart rate zones, and body composition analysis. Sleep tracking features include monitoring sleep patterns, sleep coaching, and creating a sleep-friendly environment. The watch also supports heart health monitoring with HR Alert for abnormal heart rates, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) for atrial fibrillation detection, blood pressure monitoring, and ECG. It is equipped other sensors, such as accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, and light sensor.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE price
To sum up, the Galaxy Watch FE is a tweaked version of the Galaxy Watch 4, which was announced in 2021. It is priced at $199 and is set to go on sale starting June 24. It will be sold in shades, such as black, pink, gold, and silver. The watch also comes with new watch bands featuring blue and orange stitching An LTE version will be available in October for $249.99.
Xiaomi recently introduced the 14 Civi as a new competitor in the crowded mid-range smartphone market in India. Its starting price and target audience are similar to those of the Vivo V30 Pro.
With both phones appealing to similar users, it’s natural for us to wonder which one provides better value for the money. In this comparison, we’ll explore the design, display, cameras, performance, battery life, and software of both phones to help you make an informed decision.
The Xiaomi 14 Civi features a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, allowing the refresh rate to adjust based on content. The screen has a resolution of 1236 x 2750 pixels and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Xiaomi 14 Civi
In contrast, the Vivo V30 Pro offers a larger 6.78-inch AMOLED display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1260 x 2800 pixel resolution. However, it lacks LTPO technology and comes with a slightly inferior Schott α glass. Both phones offer excellent contrast and vivid colors typical of AMOLED panels.
Design-wise, both phones feature a sleek and lightweight build with a 7.5mm thin profile. They come with a glass back, and the Xiaomi 14 Civi also has a leather finish on the Cruise Blue variant of the phone. The V30 Pro has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance for ingress protection, while the Xiaomi 14 Civi lacks an official IP rating.
2. Performance and Software
The Xiaomi 14 Civi packs a punch in terms of performance with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC. It’s a flagship-grade processor built for demanding tasks that can even run resource-heavy games with ease.
The Vivo V30 Pro takes a different approach, opting for a more modest MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC. This processor is no slouch either; it can offer excellent performance for everyday use and most games. However, it will fall behind the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in benchmarks and raw power. So for users who demand top-tier performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi 14 Civi holds the edge.
Both phones offer up to 12GB of RAM paired with up to 512GB of storage. On the software front, the Xiaomi 14 Civi runs HyperOS based on Android 14, while the Vivo V30 Pro runs FunTouch OS 14, also based on Android 14.
Notably, the Xiaomi 14 Civi will receive 3 Android upgrades and 4 years of security updates, whereas the Vivo V30 Pro will get one year less for both software upgrades and security updates.
3. Camera System
The rear camera setups on both phones feature triple-lens configurations. The 14 Civi includes a 50MP main, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto sensor all of which are equipped with a Leica Summilux lens as a result of the partnership between renowned camera brand Leica and Xiaomi.
The Vivo V30 Pro, on the other hand, is equipped with a 50MP main sensor and two additional 50MP sensors—one for ultrawide and another for telephoto capabilities. These lenses are co-engineered with Zeiss, another globally recognized camera brand.
Without in-depth camera tests, it’s hard for us to say which is a better camera phone. But since both the devices have a dedicated telephoto lens, you will be able to capture good portraits along with detailed zoomed-in shots of other objects.
The front camera setup is where the Xiaomi 14 Civi stands out. It features dual 32MP lenses, one for wide and one for ultrawide shots, compared to a single 50MP wide lens on the V30 Pro.
The dual cam arrangement on Xiaomi naturally provides more versatility for situations like taking group selfies with a large group of friends.
4. Battery and Charging
The Vivo V30 Pro takes the lead in battery capacity with a 5,000mAh unit compared to the Civi 4 Pro’s 4,700mAh battery. However, the difference may not be significant in everyday use, depending on how well each phone is optimized.
Both phones support fast charging, with the Vivo V30 Pro offering 80W speed and the Xiaomi 14 Civi supporting just 67W.
Xiaomi claims that the 14 Civi can charge to 100% in 40 minutes, whereas Vivo says the V30 Pro takes 43 minutes to go from 1% to 100%. As a result, charging times will likely be similar, and the Xiaomi 14 Civi may even charge slightly faster due to its smaller battery. However, you can expect the Vivo V30 Pro to have better screen-on time due to its larger battery.
5. Price and Availability
Both phones offer similar pricing structures. The Xiaomi 14 Civi starts at Rs 42,999 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, while the Vivo V30 Pro starts slightly lower at Rs 41,999 for the same configuration.
The price difference narrows for the higher storage options, with the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variants priced at Rs 47,999 and Rs 46,999 for the Xiaomi and Vivo respectively.
6. Conclusion
So, which one should you choose between the Xiaomi 14 Civi and the Vivo V30 Pro? It depends on what matters most to you. The Civi 4 Pro offers a more powerful processor, a better front-facing camera, and other small benefits like better software support and a modern LTPO display.
On the other hand, the V30 Pro has a slightly larger battery and is priced slightly lower. So when you compare the specs, the Xiaomi 14 Civi seems like a better option overall.
However, we suggest you go through detailed reviews or direct comparisons to understand how they differ in terms of user experience, camera qualities, and overall usability to understand if the Xiaomi 14 Civi is the right buy for you.
Back in April, OnePlus rolled out the OxygenOS 14.0.0.700 update for the OnePlus 10T, adding many quality-of-life changes to the operating system. The brand has now rolled out the OxygenOS 14.0.0.710 update which comes with the June 2024 Android Security Patch, bug fixes, and improved system stability.
OnePlus 10T OxygenOS 14.0.0.710 update changes:
Notably, it introduces the option to hide the track while drawing the lock screen pattern, improves system storage efficiency by fixing a bug where system data occupies excessive space, and resolves an issue preventing the use of NFC-enabled payments. Additionally, the update eliminates a glitch where two volume sliders could appear at the same time.
For communication, the update ensures that the device vibrates for phone calls and correctly displays phone numbers during call forwarding. As for gamers, this update makes the OnePlus 10T more stable while gaming and fixes the black screen issue that occurs while playing some games.
The update is being released in phases, so some users may receive it earlier than others. It is currently available in both Indian and European regions.
If you haven’t received the OTA update notification, you can manually check by navigating to Settings > About Device > OxygenOS > Check for Update. OnePlus encourages those who have already updated to report any further issues by dialing *#800# and selecting the bug report option.
In related news, OnePlus is working on its next-generation flagship smartphone called the OnePlus 13. The camera specifications of this upcoming device were recently leaked, revealing that it will use the Sony LYT-808 primary camera, which is also found on the OnePlus 12. The ultrawide and periscopic telephoto cameras will be using new sensors, so we expect improvements in those departments. Despite having the same primary camera sensor, the OnePlus 13 could offer improved performance. However, it will largely depend on the ISP capabilities of the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, which is said to power this flagship.
China Mobile has taken a significant leap forward in optical network technology with the successful launch of the first 800G hollow-core fiber transmission test network. Conducted in Shenzhen-Dongguan, Guangdong, this groundbreaking experiment showcases the potential of this next-generation technology.
The test achieved impressive results on a 20-kilometer link
The test, completed in collaboration with domestic optical fiber, cable, and equipment manufacturers, focused on verifying the performance of anti-resonant hollow-core fiber under real-world conditions. This included simulating various challenges like pulling, squeezing, water vapor exposure, and outdoor welding.
The test achieved impressive results on a 20-kilometer link. Key technical indicators, including hollow-to-hollow core fiber welding loss (0.05 dB), hollow-to-solid core connection loss (less than 0.3 dB), and optical cable loss after laying (0.6 dB/km), all reached “world-class levels.”
Hollow-core fiber (HCF) utilizes a novel air light-guiding mechanism, guiding light through air instead of traditional glass. This technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of solid-core fiber, offering significant advantages in backbone and data center transmission.
China Mobile’s experiment extended beyond basic performance verification. By employing a single-wavelength 800Gbps wide-spectrum optical transmission system, they successfully conducted a 20km single-core fiber bidirectional 128Tb/s ultra-large capacity transmission test. This achievement demonstrates the feasibility of deploying anti-resonant hollow-core fiber in complex network environments.
Another key aspect of the test involved constructing the first hybrid optical cable using both anti-resonant hollow-core and solid-core fibers. This cable successfully met basic mechanical property standards for stretching, flattening, bending, impact, and torsion.
The experiment faced an unexpected challenge – Typhoon Malis struck Shenzhen and Dongguan during the laying phase. Despite these harsh weather conditions, China Mobile, alongside domestic industry partners, conducted the first-ever test of anti-resonant hollow-core fiber cable technology in a complex pipeline network environment. This resulted in the completion of a hollow-core optical cable for a typical financial dedicated line route within the Greater Bay Area, offering a potential 30% reduction in optical link transmission delay.
While the test results are promising, China Mobile acknowledges the need for further advancements. Their focus will be on reducing hollow-core fiber loss and optimizing fiber structure design to enable large-scale production. Additionally, they plan to implement a collaborative R&D model for ultra-800G transmission systems and fiber design, accelerating the development of anti-resonant hollow-core fibers and their corresponding optical communication systems.
British carmaker McLaren is known for manufacturing supercars that have serenaded the motorsports world. The brand’s entry into the EV market is highlighted by the release of two powerful electric mountain bikes. The McLaren Extreme and Sport models are claimed to be the most powerful street-legal e-bikes in the market.
The two new McLaren e-bikes were manufactured completely in-house. This is a marked departure from the common practice of automakers collaborating with bike makers in delivering their branded two-wheelers. The same in-house team that designed both bikes is responsible for the design of the hybrid Artura. The new McLaren’s e-bikes, as should be expected, bear the imprimatur of the McLaren philosophy of speed and durability. The new e-bikes come with a carbon fiber frame and orange accents.
The McLaren Extreme and Sport mountain e-bikes are not as stout as some of the rugged electric mountain bikes out there. The flagship versions of the McLaren Extreme and McLaren Sport are powered by a custom-tuned mid-drive motor. The electric motor has a normal power output of 600W and 825W peak power. It packs up to 119Nm of torque and its output makes the motor the most powerful currently in the market. There are five different ride modes available in the new McLaren electric mountain bikes.
The top models in the new McLaren electric mountain bikes have a top speed of about 34 km/h (20 mph) which is a decent delivery for the bikes. Both models are similar in many regards but there are also differences between them. The Extreme model is equipped with a full suspension system that makes it well-suited for off-road movement. The Sport version is a more versatile model and has a more streamlined aesthetic outlook. Both models can effectively be used on urban roads and trails. Both models have handlebar-mounted displays with graphics akin to what is found on a supercar.
Pricing & Availability
The bikes are equipped with a set of Pirelli all-terrain tires and are now available for purchase. The Extreme and Sport eMTBs can be purchased starting at $10,950 and $7,950 respectively. McLaren says the models are available in limited numbers but the actual production quantities were not specified.
The efficient heart rate monitoring functionality of the Apple Watch seems to be capable of monitoring not only humans but also animals. A conservation veterinarian discovered that if you have a sedated lion, you could monitor its heart rate by wrapping an Apple Watch around its tongue.
The discovery of functionality of the Apple Watch heart rate monitoring on lions was discovered by Australian wildlife veterinarian Dr. Chloe Buiting. A recent Instagram video showed an anesthetized lion with an Apple Watch strapped to its tongue. The veterinary doctor described how the Apple Watch is helping conservation vets to these powerful patients during medical examinations and surgeries.
The idea of strapping an Apple Watch on a sedated lion to monitor its heart rate was first mooted by Dr. Fabiola Quesada and Dr. Brendan Tindall, both wildlife conservation vets. The functionality of the Apple Watch is not limited only to lions. It has been used for other animals including an elephant. Dr. Buiting says the smartwatch was taped to the ears of the elephant and it delivered accurate readings.
The Instagram video of the sedated lion being monitored using the Apple Watch was posted by Instagram user jungle_doctor. The post highlights that the deployment is a true technology meets conservation story. It says the finding is very important because one of the biggest challenges of working with animals in the field is the monitoring of anesthesia without much of the equipment you will have in a hospital setting. Additionally, many monitoring devices are often designed for smaller animals and this affects the accuracy of readings when such devices are used on larger animals or furrier/ scaly animals.
The discovery of an unintended capability of the Apple Watch also signposts a growing use of technology to tackle challenges on the field for wildlife conservationists. Apple has not released an official statement on the impressive story. It is also not clear which Apple Watch was used to monitor the lion’s heart rate, although all Apple Watch models come with heart rate monitoring.
The Panasonic Lumix S9 has been the subject of controversy of late due to using stock images taken from a Nikon camera allegedly. The company has had some turbulence since the announcement of the Lumix S9 earlier this year. Now, ahead of its official shipping date of June 20, Panasonic has released an official statement that says there will be delays in the delivery of the camera.
Despite the backlash from the promotional images of the Lumix S9, it seems customers are still eager to get their hands on the compact full-frame camera and this has triggered potential delivery delays for the product. In the recent official statement, Panasonic again acknowledged its error in using stock images from other manufacturers to promote the Lumix S9. It then confirmed that there will be some delays when the Lumix starts to ship on June 20. It stated that it had received more pre-orders than was expected, therefore some customers who may have pre-ordered will not receive their product on the release date.
The present supply shortages of the Lumix S9 have drawn comparisons with the Fujifilm X100V and X100VI. Both models are compact cameras and seemed to have caught the fancy of many fans and customers alike. However, Fujifilm was unable to meet the demand for extended periods. It is not evident yet whether the Panasonic Lumix S9 will go the same route as the Fujifilm X100V/ X100VI. It is expected that the supply shortages for the Lumix S9 will ease within a short time. When this happens, the Lumix S9 can then start getting the requisite reviews suitable for its innovative and compact design.
Market research firm Counterpoint Research has conducted a survey on Indians between the ages of 16 and 25 to know what are the most important parameters to them when it comes to a smartphone purchase. The survey shows that “value for money” and the “latest technology” are the two most important factors for them. 25% and 18% of the respondents opted for these two factors respectively.
Realme is preferred due to its value for money offerings with latest tech and stylish design
The data also reveals that Chinese smartphone maker realme is the most popular among young people in India. 58% of the respondents in the 18-25 age group voted for realme. The company is preferred by young people for offering the latest technology, value for money, and stylish design in the sub-INR 20,000 price range. For context, Xiaomi and vivo rank in the second and third position with 54% and 53% votes respectively.
The survey reveals that a significant one-fourth of the respondents see “value for money” as the most important factor behind a purchase decision. This is closely followed by the use of the latest technology in the device.
Commenting on the popularity of realme among the age group, Senior Analyst Arushi Chawla noted that the young generation approaches its smartphone purchases with strong enthusiasm. He also mentioned that the latest tech, a value-for-money deal, and a stylish look are considered to be the most important factors for a smartphone among the youth. He revealed that nearly 60% of the country’s smartphone market falls in the sub-INR 20,000 price range.
Back in February this year, another market research firm IDC also published their survey report on the Indian smartphone market in 2023. According to the report, after experiencing a significant decline in market share in Q3 last year, realme still ranked third in the country with a market share of 12.5%.
Earlier this year, Poco released the X6 5G smartphone in India with a starting price of Rs 21,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model. Now, the device is available to purchase for as low as Rs 17,999. Here’s how you can get this offer.
Poco X6 5G offer:
The Poco X6 5G 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage model is currently selling for Rs 18,999 on Amazon India. In addition to that, there is also an additional Rs 1,000 instant discount for ICICI Bank credit card and debit card users. This offer brings down the effective price of the Poco X6 5G to Rs 17,999.
Poco X6 5G specs:
The Poco X6 5G features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (1220 x 2712 pixels), a 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, and the device has an IP54-rated chassis for added durability.
The X6 is set to receive three Android OS upgrades and four years of security patch updates. It comes with MIUI 14 based on Android 13 and is expected to soon receive the HyperOS upgrade. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, and it includes LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, and a 5,100mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging.
The X6 has a 16-megapixel front camera. On the back, it features a 64-megapixel main camera with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
The device competes against the likes of the Redmi Note 13 Pro. However, it does have a few advantages over the Note 13 Pro. So if you are stuck between the two, we recommend you check out this article before making your decision.
Following our earlier exclusive report revealing a satellite variant for Xiaomi MIX Fold 4, recent news from ITHome indicates the phone has surfaced on the 3C certification database. This suggests an official launch might be nearing and actually confirms the satellite variant.
The new phone appearing on the 3C certification has the model number 24072PX77C. While the certification doesn’t reveal the marketing name, this is expected to be Xiaomi MIX Fold 4. The 3C certification also confirms that the device supports 67W charging and will ship with Xiaomi’s MDY-15-EQ charger.
Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 | 3C
This makes the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 Xiaomi’s first foldable device with satellite connection feature. Xiaomi had previously introduced phones with satellite connection in Xiaomi 14 series, but this is the first foldable phone to feature it. The internal codename for the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 is N18, and it is expected to debut with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. As a foldable device, the MIX Fold 4 will come with a dual-cell battery, expected to have a typical capacity of 5000 mAh, with 2390 mAh + 2485 mAh cells.
Xiaomi MIX Fold 4
Additionally, the phone will feature a quad-camera setup. It will be equipped with a 50-megapixel OV50E main camera, an OV13B ultra-wide-angle camera, an OV60A close range telephoto (2X), and an S5K3K1 periscope telephoto camera (5X). For selfies, it will have a 16-megapixel OV16F front camera, and it will include a side fingerprint sensor.
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