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.
Honor just added a handy little gadget to its lifestyle lineup that’s aimed squarely at drivers, cyclists, and anyone who has ever been stuck with a flat tire or under-inflated ball. It’s called the “Honor Life Air Pump Lite” (machine-translated from Chinese), and it’s now listed on JD.com.
At 248 yuan (roughly $37 or €32), it’s a compact portable pump that handles tire inflation, pressure checks, and even throws in an emergency light. The whole thing is black, measures 160 × 63 × 62 mm, and weighs just 583 g, roughly the size of a 500 ml water bottle. That means it slides easily into a car door pocket or cup holder.
There’s a digital screen on the front that shows real-time tire pressure and lets you switch between PSI, BAR, KPA, and kg/cm². Up top you’ll find the emergency light, and inside there’s a continuous airflow cooling system to keep things from overheating while it’s running.
It comes with five ready-to-go modes: cars, motorcycles, bicycles, footballs, plus a custom setting. Airflow sits between 25–30 L/min, and the pressure range goes from 0.1 to 11 BAR (up to 160 PSI). Honor says it can pump up a basketball in about 17 seconds and a bike tire in 42 seconds. You can set your target pressure ahead of time and it’ll shut off automatically once it gets there. It also works for overhead inflation if you need it.
Power comes from three built-in 2500 mAh batteries with the usual protections against overvoltage, overcurrent, and overheating. One full charge should cover four car tires or around 102 basketballs. You recharge it over USB-C. In the box you get an American-style air hose, a ball needle, and a nozzle for French valves.
The “Honor Life Air Pump Lite” slots into the brand’s growing collection of everyday practical gadgets. Compact, multi-mode, and with automatic shut-off, it’s a no-fuss option if you want something smaller and simpler than a traditional compressor for keeping tires and sports gear properly inflated.
HMD is branching out beyond phones, and a new leak suggests the company is getting into portable hotspots.
Tipster @smashx_60 on X has shared details about something called the HMD Pocket Link. It’s a compact 5G Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you share a mobile data connection with multiple devices on the go. Think of it as a pocket-sized way to turn your SIM into a wireless network for laptops, tablets, or anything else that needs internet when you’re away from Wi-Fi.
It has a small 1.77″ color LCD screen that shows the basics: signal strength, battery level, how much data you’ve used, and how many devices are connected. Inside is the Unisoc T157, an octa-core 5G chip that’s previously shown up in feature phones like the TCL T508N and Coolpad Y60 5G. It’s not a high-performance powerhouse; it’s more about efficient 5G connectivity, which makes sense for a battery-powered hotspot.
Power comes from a 3,000 mAh battery that charges over USB-C. You pop in a nano-SIM for the 5G connection and it distributes the internet over Wi-Fi 5. There’s also a “Save Data+” mode that sounds like a data-saving feature, though we don’t have full details on how it works yet.
This follows earlier rumors that HMD was working on power banks, including one with Qi2 wireless charging. Taken together, it looks like the company is expanding its accessory range.
If it does launch, the Pocket Link would give HMD a foothold in a market currently led by brands like Netgear, TP-Link, and various carrier hotspots. For travelers, remote workers, or anyone who occasionally needs to share a solid 5G connection across a few devices, a simple option from a familiar mobile brand could be handy.
Casio has announced a new set of three G-Shock watches in Japan. Manufactured at the company’s Yamagata Casio facility, the upcoming models take standard G-Shock hardware and apply colors, materials, and textures designed to look like tuna, salmon roe, and salmon. The watches are currently available for pre-order on the Casio Japan website and are scheduled to ship later this month.
Design Details & Pricing
The first model is the DW-5600SSH-4JR, which costs ¥19,250 (around $122). It is based on the digital 5600 series and is designed around lean tuna. The watch uses a red, translucent clear resin for the case and band. The face features a printed pattern meant to look like tuna meat, alongside green accents that represent wasabi and a small tuna silhouette on the dial. The case, bezel, and band are made from biomass plastic.
The second watch is the DW-6900SSH-1JR, priced at ¥20,350 ($128). This model uses the round 6900 case to replicate the look of an ikura gunkan-maki, or salmon roe sushi. The black bezel is meant to represent the nori seaweed wrap, while the transparent dial contains a graphical pattern of salmon roe. To complete the design, the underside of the resin band is white to represent sushi rice.
The third model in the lineup is the analog-digital GA-2100SSH-4AJR, which retails for ¥21,450 ($136). Based on fresh salmon, the watch has an orange colorway and a dial textured to look like salmon flesh. Casio has also changed the handset for this model: the hour and minute hands are shaped like Japanese kitchen knives, and the small sub-dial hand is designed to look like a piece of nigiri. This watch includes the Carbon Core Guard structure and a double LED light.
Beyond the cosmetic changes, these function as standard G-Shock watches. All three models include shock-resistant construction, 200-meter water resistance, stopwatches, timers, alarms, and LED backlights. The two digital models have an estimated battery life of five years, while the analog-digital GA-2100 is rated for three years.
Casio also included a few shared design elements across the collection. The stainless steel case backs are engraved with a Japanese teacup, which is traditionally served at the end of a sushi meal. The packaging is styled after Japanese souvenir boxes. When the watches are removed from the packaging, a printed wasabi graphic is visible underneath, except on the salmon roe model, which features a no wasabi graphic instead.
Samsung has not yet shown its 2027 flagship chip, but the Exynos 2700 is now reportedly in mass production. According to tipster Ice Universe, Samsung Electronics is making about 10% more units than it did with the previous generation.
The Exynos 2700 will reportedly be the first Samsung chip to use FOWLP-SbS, short for fan-out wafer-level side-by-side packaging. Here, the processor and memory sit next to each other under a copper-based heat path block. This lets one piece of metal pull heat away from both the application processor and the DRAM. Samsung reportedly sees this as a more efficient setup than the Exynos 2600, where a heat sink touched the chip directly.
As for the core layout, the CPU will have ten cores with two prime clusters.
First cluster: one Arm C1-Ultra core at 3.36GHz and four C1-Pro cores at 2.88GHz. This group handles sustained workloads and efficiency.
For graphics, Samsung is likely to use the Xclipse 970, built on AMD’s RDNA 5 architecture. It has 16 compute units, and you can expect GPU performance to rise by 30% to 40%. On the memory side, the chip supports LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage, which should raise data transfer speeds.
Oppo hasn’t announced a date for the international launch of the Find X10 series, but European pricing has now surfaced on the web, courtesy of a report from YTECHB. Spoiler: they sit well above what Oppo charged for the previous generation.
According to the report, the Oppo Find X10 will cost €1,399 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model, and €1,599 for the 12GB and 512GB version. The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is listed at €1,799 in a single 12GB and 512GB configuration.
We could also get a different color lineup from the Chinese models. The Oppo Find X10 is said to come in Glacier Blue, Mist Grey, and Glow Coral, while the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max reportedly gets Luna White, Titanium Grey, and Orange.
How it compares with the Find X9 series
The Oppo Find X9 launched in Europe at €999 for 12GB and 512GB, and the Oppo Find X9 Pro started at €1,299 for 16GB and 512GB. Compare like for like on storage, and the gap is wider than it first looks. The 512GB Oppo Find X10 costs €600 more than last year’s model, and the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max costs €500 more than the Oppo Find X9 Pro. The report calls it a €400 increase, but that only holds for the 256GB Oppo Find X10, which comes with half the storage.
The lineup is also smaller. An earlier report suggests Oppo will limit the lineup to Find X10 and the Find X10 Pro Max for the global market, with no standard Find X10 Pro in the mix. If that holds, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max becomes the only high-end option you can buy outside China.
The report says the global Oppo Find X10 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 rather than the Dimensity 9600M used in the Chinese version. That doesn’t match the Geekbench entry for the global model (CPH2911), which lists the Dimensity 9600M, the same chip as the Chinese phone. One of the two is wrong, so treat the chipset claim with caution until Oppo confirms it.
iPhone 18 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Pro represent two different approaches to flagship smartphones. Apple focuses on its latest A20 Pro chipset, advanced video recording capabilities, and a refined iOS experience, while OPPO brings a massive battery, a high-resolution periscope camera, and faster charging. Both phones offer premium displays and sophisticated camera systems, but their differences in hardware, photography, battery life, and pricing make this an interesting flagship comparison.
Major Features:
Category
iPhone 18 Pro
OPPO Find X9 Pro
Winner
Build
Ceramic Shield 2, aluminum frame, glass back
Gorilla Glass Victus 2, aluminum frame, glass back
OPPO – IP68/IP69 protection
Water Resistance
IP68 (6m for 30 minutes)
IP68/IP69 (1.5m for 30 minutes)
OPPO – Additional IP69 protection
Display
6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED
OPPO – Larger display
Resolution
1206 x 2622 pixels
1272 x 2772 pixels
OPPO – Higher resolution
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Tie – Both offer 120Hz
Peak Brightness
3000 nits
3600 nits
OPPO – Higher peak brightness
Processor
Apple A20 Pro (2nm)
MediaTek Dimensity 9500 (3nm)
Apple – Advanced 2nm architecture
GPU
Apple GPU (7-core)
Arm G1-Ultra
Tie – Both feature flagship graphics
RAM
12GB
12GB/16GB
OPPO – Higher RAM configuration
Storage
256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
256GB/512GB/1TB
Apple – Higher maximum storage
Operating System
iOS 27
Android 16, ColorOS 16
Tie – Different software preferences
Main Camera
48MP, variable aperture, sensor-shift OIS
50MP, OIS
OPPO – Hasselblad color calibration
Telephoto Camera
48MP periscope, 4x optical zoom
200MP periscope, 3x optical zoom
OPPO – Higher-resolution sensor
Ultrawide Camera
48MP, 120-degree
50MP, 120-degree
Tie – Both offer high-resolution ultrawide cameras
Selfie Camera
18MP, PDAF
50MP, PDAF
OPPO – Higher resolution
Video Recording
Up to 4K at 120fps
Up to 4K at 120fps
Apple – ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2
Battery
4056mAh / 4288mAh*
7500mAh
OPPO – Larger battery capacity
Wired Charging
50% in 15 minutes
80W
OPPO – Higher charging power
Wireless Charging
25W MagSafe/Qi2
50W
OPPO – Faster wireless charging
Reverse Charging
4.5W wired
10W wireless
OPPO – Wireless reverse charging
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, IR blaster
OPPO – Additional infrared port
Biometrics
Face ID
Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Tie – Different biometric approaches
Price/Value
Around $1,200 / ₹1,64,900
Around $1,000 / ₹1,00,000
OPPO – More hardware at a lower price
Overall
Premium Apple ecosystem and professional video features
Larger display, versatile cameras and bigger battery
OPPO – More comprehensive hardware package
*iPhone 18 Pro’s 4288mAh capacity is listed for the eSIM-only variant but remains officially unconfirmed
The iPhone 18 Pro features a premium glass-and-aluminum construction, combining Ceramic Shield 2 protection on the front with an aluminum frame and a glass back. Its familiar design is complemented by IP68 water and dust resistance, offering protection against immersion up to 6 meters. OPPO takes a similarly premium approach with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, a glass back and an aluminum frame. However, its IP68/IP69 certification adds protection against high-pressure water jets. Both devices deliver flagship-grade durability, although OPPO offers more comprehensive water-resistance certification.
Display Quality
Apple equips the iPhone 18 Pro with a 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. Its 3000-nit peak brightness and anti-reflective coating promise excellent outdoor visibility. The OPPO Find X9 Pro features a larger 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1 billion colors, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support. Its peak brightness reaches 3600 nits. OPPO also offers Ultra HDR image support, making it particularly appealing for multimedia consumption.
Verdict
The OPPO Find X9 Pro takes the display advantage with its larger screen, higher peak brightness and richer HDR support. Apple remains a compelling choice for compact flagship enthusiasts.
2. Specifications Including Battery
Performance
The iPhone 18 Pro runs on Apple’s A20 Pro chipset, manufactured using a 2nm process, paired with a 7-core Apple GPU and 12GB RAM. Its iOS 27 software experience, optimized hardware and powerful graphics architecture make it suitable for demanding applications, gaming and professional workflows. The OPPO Find X9 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, built on a 3nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU and Arm G1-Ultra GPU. It offers up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. While both promise flagship performance, Apple’s silicon and software integration offer a distinct advantage for users invested in its ecosystem. OPPO provides greater memory flexibility.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacity is one of the biggest differences between these smartphones. The iPhone 18 Pro carries a 4056mAh battery in its Nano-SIM variant, while the eSIM-only version is listed at 4288mAh, although the latter capacity remains officially unconfirmed. It supports wired charging with 50% claimed in 15 minutes, alongside 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging. OPPO offers a substantially larger 7500mAh silicon-carbon battery with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging. It also supports 10W reverse wireless charging. The Find X9 Pro is clearly better equipped for extended usage, heavy gaming and frequent travel, while Apple’s charging ecosystem offers convenient wireless options.
Verdict
The iPhone 18 Pro delivers powerful processing and optimized software, but OPPO wins this category with its larger battery, faster charging, and more generous memory configurations.
The iPhone 18 Pro features a triple 48MP rear camera system comprising a variable-aperture main sensor, a 4x optical periscope telephoto camera and a 120-degree ultrawide lens. Sensor-shift stabilization and a second-generation 3D sensor-shift system further support photography. Its LiDAR scanner also assists with depth sensing. OPPO counters with a 50MP main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto sensor offering 3x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide camera. Hasselblad Color Calibration, a color spectrum sensor and laser autofocus add to its imaging capabilities. OPPO’s high-resolution telephoto hardware offers greater flexibility for detailed zoom photography, while Apple’s video-oriented camera processing remains a major attraction.
Selfie Camera
Apple equips the iPhone 18 Pro with an 18MP multi-aspect ultrawide selfie camera featuring PDAF and a dedicated SL 3D sensor. It supports 4K video recording, Dolby Vision HDR, Apple Log 2 and ProRes RAW, making it particularly useful for content creators. The OPPO Find X9 Pro features a 50MP front camera with autofocus and 4K video recording at up to 60fps. Its higher resolution offers considerable potential for detailed selfies, group photographs and video calls. However, Apple’s advanced video formats, spatial audio recording and professional recording options provide a more comprehensive content creation toolkit. OPPO is attractive for selfie enthusiasts, while Apple caters to users prioritizing advanced video production.
Where to buyiPhone 18 ProLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
Verdict
OPPO offers a versatile rear camera setup with a 200MP telephoto sensor and a 50MP selfie camera. However, Apple’s professional video capabilities make the iPhone particularly appealing to creators.
4. Pricing
The iPhone 18 Pro is priced around $1,200 (₹1,64,900), positioning it firmly in the premium flagship segment. Its pricing reflects Apple’s flagship positioning, A20 Pro chipset, advanced camera technology and integrated iOS ecosystem. The OPPO Find X9 Pro is priced around $1,000 (₹1,00,000), making it considerably more affordable based on the supplied approximate pricing. Despite the lower asking price, OPPO offers a larger battery, a 200MP periscope camera, a bigger display and faster charging. The difference becomes particularly noticeable when comparing the overall hardware package. Apple commands a premium, while OPPO provides a more aggressive hardware proposition at a lower entry price.
Where to buyOPPO Find X9 ProLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
Is the price justified?
The iPhone 18 Pro’s premium is easier to justify for buyers who value Apple’s software ecosystem, long-term integration, professional video features and powerful proprietary silicon. Its higher price also reflects the appeal of Apple’s services and connected devices. However, the OPPO Find X9 Pro offers more hardware for the money, particularly with its massive battery, high-resolution camera system and faster charging technology. For buyers prioritizing specifications and everyday practicality, OPPO presents a more balanced financial proposition. Apple remains relevant for users who specifically want its software experience and advanced video tools rather than simply the highest hardware specifications.
Verdict
The OPPO Find X9 Pro offers better value for money, delivering a larger battery, versatile cameras and faster charging at a considerably lower approximate price.
5. Conclusion
The iPhone 18 Pro distinguishes itself with the A20 Pro chipset, Face ID, second-generation Ceramic Shield protection, satellite connectivity and professional video recording features, including ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2. Its integration with the wider Apple ecosystem is another important advantage.
The OPPO Find X9 Pro brings a different set of strengths, including a 200MP periscope camera, Hasselblad Color Calibration, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, an infrared port and a substantial silicon-carbon battery. Its 80W wired and 50W wireless charging also provide considerably more flexibility.
Both devices offer distinctive flagship experiences, but OPPO’s combination of imaging hardware, battery capacity and charging technology gives it a particularly strong practical appeal. Apple remains more attractive for users prioritizing its software ecosystem and professional video capabilities.
Verdict
Overall Winner: OPPO Find X9 Pro
The OPPO Find X9 Pro wins this comparison with its larger and brighter display, 200MP telephoto camera, significantly bigger battery and faster charging. Its lower approximate price makes the package even more appealing. The iPhone 18 Pro remains a compelling alternative for Apple ecosystem users and professional video creators, but OPPO delivers a more comprehensive hardware package and better overall value.
FAQs
1. Which phone is better for gaming?
Both offer flagship performance, but the iPhone 18 Pro’s A20 Pro chip and Apple’s optimized gaming ecosystem make it worth considering.
2. Which phone takes better zoom photographs?
The OPPO Find X9 Pro offers a 200MP periscope camera with 3x optical zoom, while Apple provides 4x optical zoom.
3. Which phone lasts longer on a single charge?
The OPPO Find X9 Pro is better equipped for longer battery life, thanks to its 7500mAh battery.
4. Is the iPhone 18 Pro worth the extra money?
It may justify the premium for users who prioritize Apple’s ecosystem, professional video tools and iOS experience.
5. Which phone is better for everyday use?
The OPPO Find X9 Pro offers extensive hardware features, while the iPhone 18 Pro suits users who prefer iOS and Apple services.
Samsung has been quietly poking around in a new direction for its laptops, and a mysterious machine just showed up in the Geekbench database that has people talking.
The device is listed as the Samsung XE940XSA, and it’s running Android 17, not Windows, not ChromeOS. That’s a big departure from the previously announced Galaxybooks. It raises a question: Is Samsung about to jump into Google’s new Googlebook category or build its own Android-powered Galaxy Book with One UI features?
Under the hood it’s packing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite (the 12-core “Hamoa” chip), paired with an Adreno X1-85 GPU and 16 GB of RAM. In Geekbench 7 it scored 2,513 single-core and 15,214 multi-core, respectable numbers that put it in the same ballpark as a lot of premium thin-and-lights.
Google only officially launched the Googlebook platform in September with machines from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Those are desktop-style Android devices designed to work closely with phones and get long software support. The Samsung unit’s hardware lines up pretty closely with the Snapdragon-based Googlebooks already out there, which is why a lot of folks are assuming that’s what this is. Then again, Samsung’s been rumored to be working on its own Android Galaxy Books, so this could also be something more independent.
If it does make it to market, it would give Samsung a proper seat at the table in this new class of premium Android notebooks, ones aimed at people who want their laptop to feel like a natural extension of their phone and tablet. Until the company actually confirms anything, though, the XE940XSA is just an intriguing early glimpse at what Samsung’s laptop strategy might look like next.
Tecno’s smartphone lineup in 2026 covers everything from entry-level models to more capable mid-range phones, but the current market is not exactly offering more for less. Prices have been going up, while the differences between models and generations are not always significant enough to make the choice straightforward.
This list focuses on the models that make the most sense right now. We have picked phones across different price points, from affordable entry-level options to the more capable Camon 50 Ultra, based on what is actually available and what each phone offers for its price.
The Tecno Camon 50 Ultra stands out as a camera-focused device. It pairs a 6.78″ 1.5K curved AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate chipset with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage options, it handles everyday multitasking and light gaming competently while running Android 16-based HiOS 16 with multi-year update support.
Its imaging includes a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C (1/1.56″) main sensor with OIS for strong low-light performance, a 50MP 3x optical telephoto lens for natural portraits and distant shots (with AI-assisted SuperZoom), an 8MP ultrawide, and a 50MP front camera capable of 4K video. Additional strengths include a large 6500mAh battery with 45W charging, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.
2. Tecno Spark 50 5G
The Spark 50 5G targets users seeking affordable 5G with excellent endurance. It features a 6.78″ HD+ IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate. The MediaTek Dimensity 6400 (6nm) chipset, paired with up to 8GB RAM and expandable storage via microSD, delivers reliable performance for social media, streaming, light productivity, and casual gaming, all running on Android 16 with HiOS 16.
Where to buyTecno Spark 50 5GLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
Battery life is a major selling point thanks to the 6500mAh capacity and 45W fast charging, often lasting well over a full day of mixed use. The 50MP main rear camera and 8MP front camera produce decent daylight shots, while practical extras include IP64 dust/splash resistance, a 3.5mm headphone jack, side fingerprint sensor, dual SIM support, and features like FreeLink for offline communication with compatible devices. Check out our full review of the Tecno Spark 50 5G for more detailed insights and performance testing.
3. Tecno Spark Go 3
The Spark Go 3 is a pure entry-level option focused on essential daily use at a low price. It offers a 6.74″ HD+ IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate and decent brightness for the segment. Powered by the Unisoc T7250 chipset with 4GB RAM (plus virtual expansion) and up to 128GB expandable storage, it handles calls, messaging, social apps, and light browsing adequately on Android 15 with HiOS 15.
A 5000mAh battery with 15W charging provides solid all-day endurance for moderate users, while the 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera cover basic photography and video needs (including up to 2K recording on the rear). Standout practical features include IP64 dust and splash resistance, a 3.5mm jack, FM radio, side fingerprint sensor, and infrared remote. It is an accessible choice for first-time smartphone users or as a reliable secondary device.
4. Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro
It features a slightly larger 6.78″ HD+ IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate. Performance comes from the MediaTek Helio G81 4G chipset, which is paired with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of expandable storage. The phone runs on the newer Android 16-based HiOS 16.
Durability is the key differentiator, with IP68/IP69 ratings for dust, water resistance (including high-pressure jets and limited submersion). The 5200mAh battery with 15W charging supports reliable daily use, while the 13MP rear and 8MP front cameras handle basics well.
Other notable features include a 3.5mm jack, side fingerprint sensor, infrared, and AI enhancements for calls and productivity, making it a more rugged everyday companion for users who need extra ingress protection without stepping up in price significantly.
5. Tecno Pop X 5G
The Pop X 5G sits in the affordable 5G segment with a strong emphasis on battery and practical features. It uses a 6.78″ HD+ IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate and solid brightness for fluid scrolling and media. The MediaTek Dimensity 6400 chipset with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB expandable storage delivers smooth performance for daily tasks, streaming, and light gaming on Android 16 with HiOS 16.
A standout 6500mAh battery with 45W fast charging ensures excellent endurance and quick top-ups. The 50MP rear camera and 8MP front camera are suited for casual photography, while the design includes a distinctive horizontal aluminum camera module. Additional strengths include IP64 dust/splash resistance, a 3.5mm jack, FreeLink offline communication, dual SIM, and expandable storage, positioning it as a practical budget 5G phone.
Ugreen has launched a new color e-ink case for the Pro iPhones in China. Called the Ugreen Magic E-ink Screen Case, it really is what the name suggests — a case and second screen.
Back-mounted phone accessories are becoming more common. Dockcase’s Selfix case gave the iPhone 17 Pro a second screen for taking selfies with the main camera, while Xteink makes small e-readers that attach to iPhones through MagSafe. Ugreen’s case is simpler. Its screen displays a chosen image rather than a camera preview or reading content.
How the e-ink screen works
The case has a 3.7-inch color e-ink display with six particle colors: black, white, red, yellow, blue, and green. Ugreen says the panel remains clear in bright light. You can select an image from your gallery through the Ugreen App or create a custom one, then send it to the case.
Updating the display takes around 20 seconds to upload and another 20 seconds to refresh, so changing an image takes about 40 seconds in total.
The phone transfers the image to the case through NFC, using only a small amount of power during the process. Once the image is displayed, the screen does not need power to keep it there. It also stays visible when the phone is turned off.
If you do not want the case’s NFC antenna active, you can long-press the button on the right side to disconnect it. Ugreen says this will not interfere with contactless card tapping or phone payments.
Colors, materials, and protection
The case comes in matte black, fog white, and burgundy. It combines TPU, PC, and microfiber, along with a metal camera button and a separate NFC button on the side.
For added drop protection, Ugreen has added airbag-style cushioning to all four corners. The case’s edges sit around 1mm above the phone’s screen and 0.7mm above the camera lenses, helping keep both areas away from surfaces when the phone is placed down or carried in a bag.
It is available for purchase in China for 279 yuan (~ $40). Ugreen has not said whether the Magic E-ink Screen Case will be released outside China.
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Handheld fans are nothing new, but Aecooly is trying to make them considerably more useful with its Cold Air series. Instead of simply blowing ambient air at your face, both the Aecooly Cold Air and Cold Air Ultra combine high-speed airflow with a built-in misting system designed to provide more immediate relief in hot weather.
I have been using both models for around two weeks, which happened to coincide with India’s unpredictable monsoon weather. Some days have been humid, while clear days can still become uncomfortably hot. These conditions gave me plenty of opportunities to test both fans outdoors and around the house.
While the two products share the same basic idea, my experience with them has been surprisingly different. The $39.99 Cold Air focuses on portability, quieter operation, and comfortable personal cooling. The $79.99 Cold Air Ultra is considerably more powerful and doubles as a portable air duster.
Design and Build Quality
Both fans use ABS and PC bodies, but they feel quite different in the hand.
The Cold Air is the taller of the two, measuring 153 x 63.6 x 52 mm. However, at 285 g, it is also noticeably lighter than the Ultra. Its relatively slim handle is easy to grip, and I found it comfortable enough to carry around for extended periods.
The upper section houses a large circular fan, while a small digital display shows the current fan speed and remaining battery percentage. Controls for adjusting the fan speed and activating the mist function are positioned on the handle.
The Cold Air Ultra takes a different approach. It measures 140.4 x 63 x 41 mm, making it shorter and more compact, but its extra weight is immediately noticeable. My unit weighed 354 g on the scale, slightly higher than the 345 g stated on the official listing. Either way, it feels denser and more substantial in the hand compared to the regular Cold Air.
Its design also looks considerably more premium. The front features a large color touchscreen integrated into the handle, providing information about fan speed, battery status, and operating mode. The display also serves as part of the speed-control system.
Both models have an integrated water reservoir for the misting system. Accessing it involves rotating the locking mechanism at the bottom and opening the tank for refilling. The implementation is neat because there is no external water bottle hanging off either fan.
Both also include lanyards, which are particularly useful when carrying the fans outdoors.
Cold Air: The Better Everyday Companion
After using both fans, I found myself preferring the regular Cold Air whenever I wanted something to carry around.
Its biggest advantage isn’t raw performance. Instead, it is how comfortable and unobtrusive it is.
The fan offers five speed settings and uses a motor rated for up to 12,000 RPM. Aecooly lists a maximum wind speed of around 9.5 to 10 m/s, or approximately 33 ft/s.
Those numbers are considerably below the Ultra, but that isn’t necessarily a disadvantage for personal cooling.
At lower settings, the Cold Air produces a gentle breeze that feels comfortable against the face. Even at level five, I found the airflow strong enough to cool myself without becoming overly aggressive.
This became one of the biggest differences between the two products during actual use. The Ultra can move an enormous amount of air, but I don’t always want that much airflow directly against my face. The Cold Air feels more natural for prolonged personal use.
Noise is another advantage. Aecooly rates it at ≤51 dB on low speed, and in practice, I found the Cold Air relatively quiet. I would be much more comfortable using it in a library, airport, office, or other quiet environment than the Ultra.
Its lighter 285 g body further strengthens that advantage. If I were heading outside and could take only one of these fans, the Cold Air would usually be my choice.
Cold Air Ultra: Significantly More Powerful
The Cold Air Ultra is a completely different beast when it comes to performance.
Aecooly rates its high-speed motor at up to 70,000 RPM. Maximum wind speed is rated at 25 m/s, or roughly 82 ft/s.
The difference compared with the Cold Air is immediately noticeable.
Even at the default 20 setting, the Ultra produces surprisingly strong airflow. Push it toward its maximum setting, and it becomes extremely powerful.
Where to buyAecooly Cold Air UltraLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
There is a downside: noise.
Aecooly rates the Ultra at ≤65 dB at lower speeds. In practice, it is noticeably louder than the regular Cold Air, even at relatively low settings. At higher speeds, the noise becomes prominent enough that I would avoid using it in quiet environments.
It can also feel a little too aggressive when pointed directly at your face at high speed. That’s where the regular Cold Air’s gentler airflow actually becomes an advantage.
The Ultra fights back with much finer control. Instead of five levels, it provides 100 speed levels. You can gradually adjust the output from 1 to 100 using the touchscreen, while the physical control provides quick jumps through 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100.
This makes it easy to find a comfortable middle ground without being restricted to a handful of presets.
Mist Cooling Makes a Real Difference
The feature that separates these fans from conventional handheld models is Aecooly’s Mist Chill system.
Both use a high-pressure micro-pore atomization system with a 0.25 mm nozzle and an eight-channel flow splitter. Rather than spraying large droplets of water, the system produces a fine mist that mixes with the airflow.
Each water fill is rated for up to eight minutes of mist operation.
Aecooly claims the Cold Air can produce a temperature reduction of as much as 14.4°F in 10 seconds, while the company advertises an 18°F drop in 10 seconds for the more powerful Ultra.
Those are manufacturer claims under controlled conditions, so I wanted to see what happened in real-world use.
With the Cold Air Ultra, I measured a surface temperature of approximately 99°F before testing. After using the fan with mist at high speed for a few seconds, the reading dropped to around 88°F. That’s an approximately 11°F reduction.
I later repeated a similar test with the regular Cold Air. My initial reading was around 97.5°F. After using the fan and mist system, I recorded approximately 86.5°F, once again representing an 11°F reduction.
These shouldn’t be interpreted as reductions in core body temperature. They are short-term surface readings and can vary considerably depending on ambient temperature, humidity, measurement distance, airflow, and the amount of mist applied.
Still, the immediate cooling sensation is unmistakable. More importantly, both fans provided noticeable heat relief during my testing.
The Ultra Has Another Trick: Cleaning
Cooling isn’t the only reason to consider the Cold Air Ultra.
Aecooly includes two magnetic nozzle attachments that transform the powerful fan into a portable air duster.
One attachment incorporates a removable brush. It allows you to loosen dust while simultaneously blowing it away, which makes it useful for keyboards, vents, and similar equipment.
The narrower attachment concentrates the airflow into a smaller area. I found the concept particularly useful for blowing small particles out of tight spaces where the standard wide airflow would be less effective.
This is where the Ultra’s 25 m/s maximum airflow becomes useful for something beyond cooling.
The air intake can also be opened for easier maintenance, which is particularly useful if you regularly use the Ultra as an air duster. Dust can gradually collect around the intake and fan blades, so having direct access makes cleaning much easier. The package also includes a small cleaning brush, which you can use to remove dust from the intake area and the fan itself.
The regular Cold Air also features a removable, washable intake mesh. Removing the mesh activates an automatic cutoff for safer cleaning. However, it lacks the Ultra’s dedicated air-duster nozzles, so its primary purpose remains personal cooling.
Battery life and charging
Battery capacity is another area where the two products take different approaches.
The Cold Air packs a 4,500 mAh battery and lasts around 16-18 hours at lower fan speeds.
The Cold Air Ultra uses a much larger 7,000 mAh battery and can run for up to 10 hours at lower speeds. However, its much more powerful motor draws considerably more power, especially when running continuously at or near 100% speed.
Both models charge over USB-C. The Cold Air supports 10W charging and takes around 3.5 hours for a full charge. During my testing, I measured around 8.6W while charging, which is fairly close to its rated 10W input. The Ultra supports faster 20W charging, and I was able to hit the full 20W during my testing. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to fully charge.
The Ultra has another useful trick up its sleeve. Its USB-C port supports reverse charging, allowing me to use the fan’s 7,000 mAh battery as an emergency power bank for my phone or other USB-powered devices.
Which One Should You Choose?
Despite sharing the same Cold Air branding and mist-cooling concept, these fans ended up serving different purposes during my testing.
The regular Cold Air is the model I would pick for everyday personal cooling. At 285 g, it is easier to carry, its airflow feels gentler against the face, and it is substantially quieter. Five speed settings are enough for its intended purpose, while the mist function provides an impressive cooling boost when the weather becomes uncomfortable.
Its claimed 20-hour low-speed battery life is another major advantage for travel, although actual endurance will naturally depend on fan speed and mist usage.
The Cold Air Ultra is for someone who values performance and versatility over portability.
Its 70,000 RPM motor and 25 m/s maximum airflow are in another league compared with the standard model. The 100-level speed adjustment provides much finer control, while the touchscreen gives it a more premium feel.
The magnetic cleaning nozzles also turn the Ultra into something more than a personal fan. Being able to use the same device to cool yourself and then clean a keyboard or blow debris out of a narrow space gives it genuine additional utility.
That versatility comes at the cost of weight and noise. At 354 g, the Ultra feels noticeably heavier, and its high-speed airflow can be louder and more aggressive than I would want for casual face cooling.
Casio has announced the GMA-S160, a new series of analog-digital watches. The lineup is now available for pre-order through the Casio Japan website for ¥20,900 ($132), which includes tax.
Casio GMA-S160 Specifications
The series launches with three standard color options: black (GMA-S160-1BJF), navy (GMA-S160-2BJF), and white (GMA-S160-7AJF). The primary update with this release is a reduction in overall size, providing an option for users who prefer a smaller case profile than the company’s standard models.
The GMA-S160 measures 40.7 x 35.7 x 10.8 mm and weighs 31 grams. To achieve these dimensions, Casio says that it optimized the internal component structure, resulting in a module that is slimmer and more compact than the existing GMA-P2100 series. The exterior design utilizes a matte finish across the bezel and band, which is paired with a metallic watch face and metallic hardware on the buckle and band loop.
For the construction materials, Casio is using bio-based resin for key components in both the bezel and the band. The GMA-S160 retains the standard durability specifications associated with Casio’s hardware. The watches feature a shock-resistant construction and are rated for 200 meters of water resistance.
The display is a hybrid format, using two analog hands to indicate the hour and minute, while a digital screen displays the seconds, date, day of the week, and AM/PM status.
The internal software includes standard timekeeping functions. It features a dual time mode, a one-second stopwatch with a 59-minute and 59-second capacity, and a full auto-calendar. It also includes the hand-shift function, which temporarily moves the analog hands out of the way to provide a clear view of the digital display.
For low-light visibility, the watch is equipped with a double LED system that lights up both the analog dial and the digital screen. The device is powered by a CR1025 battery, which has an estimated lifespan of three years.
Minisforum has announced a new all-AMD configuration of its AtomMan G1 Pro mini PC, which was previously launched with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU. The new version swaps the Nvidia graphics for a Radeon RX 9060 XT and pairs it with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX processor. It is currently available to order for $1,759 with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
The Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread chip that boosts up to 5.4 GHz. By pairing it with the Radeon RX 9060 XT, Minisforum is offering a system with 16GB of VRAM. That extra video memory is a practical inclusion for users who need more headroom for higher-resolution gaming textures or memory-heavy tasks like 3D rendering and video editing, offering a different hardware profile than the RTX 5060 version of the same machine.
For cooling, the system is designed to handle a combined power draw of up to 240W under load, with 140W allocated to the GPU and up to 100W for the CPU. Minisforum has also fitted the mini PC with an internal 350W power supply to support the hardware. This eliminates the need for a bulky external power brick, helping keep the setup cleaner and reducing cable clutter around the desk.
Inside, the system is fairly upgradeable for its size. It uses standard DDR5 SO-DIMM slots that support up to 96GB of memory running at 5200MHz. Storage is handled by two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, which can accommodate up to 8TB of total NVMe storage if you decide to swap the drives later.
Where to buyMinisforum AtomMan G1 ProLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
The port selection covers the standard requirements for a modern desktop setup. Networking is handled by a 5GbE Ethernet port, along with built-in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
For display outputs, the RX 9060 XT model includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4a, and one DisplayPort 2.1b, which allows for up to four monitors. There are also several USB-A and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the front and back.
The AMD-equipped AtomMan G1 Pro is available to order now, with the company estimating that units will begin shipping in late October.
In related news, Gmktec has recently launched the Evo-X5 Pro Mini PC with up to 192GB of unified memory, a Ryzen AI Max+ Pro processor, and support for up to 24TB of storage.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
Xiaomi has released the Redmi 17C 5G in India, following its initial launch in Singapore in August. The new budget smartphone is built around two key hardware priorities: a very large display and a high-capacity battery. Like most devices in this price bracket, it balances these features with a few practical compromises in other areas.
Redmi 17C 5G Specifications
The device features a 6.9-inch LCD with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 1600 x 720 (HD+) resolution. It also supports DC dimming and TÜV Rheinland-certified eye comfort and blue light reduction.
Inside, the Redmi 17C 5G runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor. This is a 6nm chip designed for basic daily tasks and 5G connectivity. The phone is available with either 4GB or 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and both configurations come with 128GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. If you need more local space, there is a microSD card slot that supports up to 1TB.
To keep the large screen running, Xiaomi has included a 6,000mAh battery. The battery is rated to maintain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles. The phone supports 33W fast charging, and the required 33W adapter is included in the box. It also supports 10W reverse wired charging for topping up smaller accessories.
The camera hardware is standard for the segment. The rear setup features a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, alongside a basic auxiliary lens. The front display houses an 8MP camera for video calls and selfies. Both the front and rear cameras are limited to 1080p video recording at 30 fps.
Where to buyRedmi 17C 5GLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
On the software side, the phone ships with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3. The operating system integrates several of Google’s current AI tools, including Gemini Live, Circle to Search, and various image generation features.
Physically, the phone measures 7.99mm thick and weighs 211 grams. It includes an IP64 rating for basic dust and splash resistance, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also features Wet Touch screen technology designed to register inputs when the display or the user’s hands are damp.
The Redmi 17C 5G will be available starting October 7th through mi.com, Amazon India, and standard offline retailers. It comes in three colors: Dark Night, Purple Dawn, and a Coffee Brew option that uses a textured vegan leather back. The 4GB RAM model costs ₹20,999, and the 6GB RAM version is priced at ₹22,999.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
Casio has announced a new addition to its MR-G watch series, the MRG-D5000 Blue Sapphire, to mark the 30th anniversary of the product line, and to be honest, the new timepiece looks absolutely gorgeous.
The watch is listed on the Casio US website for $80,000, with interested buyers currently able to register for an opportunity to purchase one. It is also scheduled to launch in Japan in December 2026 for ¥11,000,000, including tax.
Design Details
This watch features an exterior case built using blue sapphire crystal. Because sapphire is rigid and can be prone to shattering under direct impact, the company implemented a specific Multi-Guard Structure to maintain the shock resistance the brand is known for.
The sapphire crystal is paired with titanium components that have been treated with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. This combination keeps the watch’s weight at 121 grams. Its dimensions are 51.1 x 43.2 x 16.5 mm. The face design includes a blue brick pattern, and the watch is fitted with a Dura Soft rubber strap that secures via a newly designed one-touch three-fold clasp.
Where to buyCasio G-Shock MR-GBrowse the range on AmazonShop now →
Internally, the MRG-D5000 operates on the Tough Solar power system, which reliably converts light into energy to keep the device running. The rechargeable battery provides up to 11 months of operation under normal conditions without light exposure, and up to 22 months when stored in the dark with the power-saving function enabled.
For time accuracy, the watch uses Multi Band 6 technology. This allows it to receive radio-controlled time calibration signals up to six times a day from stations in Japan, North America, the UK, Germany, and China.
The watch includes 200-meter water resistance, a 1/100-second stopwatch, a 24-hour countdown timer, and world time functionality covering 38 time zones. It also features five daily alarms, an automatic calendar, and a white LED backlight for visibility in low light.
Casio is limiting the production of the MRG-D5000 Blue Sapphire to 20 units worldwide. Each watch will feature a screw-lock back plate engraved to indicate its limited-edition status and will be shipped in specialized packaging.
iPhone 18 Pro Max and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max represent two very different interpretations of an ultra-premium smartphone. Apple continues to focus on performance, software integration, and professional-grade video recording, while Xiaomi pushes the boundaries with dual 200MP cameras, an enormous battery, and a secondary rear display. Both offer flagship-level hardware, but their differences in camera technology, battery endurance, charging speeds, and pricing make this a particularly interesting contest.
Major Features:
Category
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
Winner
Design
Ceramic Shield 2, glass back, aluminum frame
Dragon Crystal Glass 3, aluminum frame
Xiaomi – Distinctive rear display design.
Water Resistance
IP68 (up to 6m for 30 minutes)
IP68 (up to 6m for 30 minutes)
Tie – Both offer the same protection rating.
Main Display
6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz
6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
Xiaomi – Higher advertised peak brightness.
Display Resolution
1320 x 2868 pixels
1208 x 2624 pixels
Apple – Higher pixel density and resolution.
Peak Brightness
3,000 nits
4,000 nits
Xiaomi – Higher peak brightness.
Secondary Display
Not available
2.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
Xiaomi – Additional rear display functionality.
Processor
Apple A20 Pro (2nm)
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (2nm)
Tie – Both use flagship 2nm chipsets.
Operating System
iOS 27
Android 17, HyperOS 4
Tie – Different software experiences and ecosystems.
RAM
12GB
Up to 16GB
Xiaomi – Higher maximum RAM capacity.
Storage
Up to 2TB NVMe
Up to 1TB UFS 4.1
Apple – Higher maximum storage capacity.
Main Camera
48MP, variable aperture, OIS
200MP, OIS
Xiaomi – Higher-resolution main sensor.
Telephoto Camera
48MP periscope, 4x optical zoom
200MP periscope, 3.2x optical zoom
Xiaomi – Higher-resolution periscope sensor.
Ultrawide Camera
48MP, 120-degree FOV
50MP, 102-degree FOV
Apple – Wider field of view.
Camera Features
LiDAR, sensor-shift OIS, advanced video formats
Leica optics, laser AF, colour spectrum sensor
Tie – Different photography and imaging strengths.
Rear Video
Up to 4K at 120fps, ProRes RAW, Dolby Vision
Up to 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, Dolby Vision
Tie – Both offer advanced professional video features.
Selfie Camera
18MP multi-aspect, PDAF
50MP, PDAF
Xiaomi – Higher-resolution front camera.
Selfie Video
Up to 4K at 60fps
Up to 4K at 60fps
Tie – Both support 4K 60fps recording.
Audio
Stereo speakers
Three speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio
Xiaomi – More extensive audio hardware and certification.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, UWB
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, UWB, IR blaster
Xiaomi – Additional infrared port.
USB
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
USB-C 3.2, DisplayPort, OTG
Apple – Higher specified USB transfer standard.
Biometrics
Face ID
Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Tie – Different biometric authentication methods.
Satellite Connectivity
Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
Not specified
Apple – Satellite communication features.
Battery
5,391mAh / 5,567mAh, market-dependent
8,500mAh silicon-carbon
Xiaomi – Significantly larger battery.
Wired Charging
PD3.2, 50% in 15 minutes
100W wired charging
Xiaomi – Higher charging power.
Wireless Charging
25W MagSafe/Qi2
50W wireless
Xiaomi – Faster wireless charging.
Reverse Charging
4.5W reverse wired
27W reverse wireless
Xiaomi – More powerful and convenient reverse charging.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max retains Apple’s familiar premium design, featuring a Ceramic Shield 2 front, glass back, and aluminum frame. Its understated styling, refined finish and IP68 certification make it a familiar choice for users who appreciate Apple’s design philosophy. Xiaomi takes a more distinctive approach with Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection, an aluminum frame and a secondary display integrated into the rear camera module. Both phones offer IP68 dust and water resistance, providing comparable protection against everyday exposure. However, Xiaomi’s rear screen gives its flagship a more distinctive identity, serving practical purposes such as checking notifications and capturing selfies with the main cameras. Apple’s design is more restrained, while Xiaomi makes a stronger visual statement.
Display Quality
Both flagships feature 6.9-inch LTPO OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates and support for Dolby Vision. However, Xiaomi claims a peak brightness of 4,000 nits, compared with 3,000 nits on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Xiaomi also supports HDR10+, HDR Vivid, BT.2020 and 68 billion colours, while Apple’s Super Retina XDR display offers HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Another major advantage is Xiaomi’s 2.9-inch rear AMOLED display, which adds functionality without relying on the main screen. Apple’s anti-reflective coating and Ceramic Shield 2 protection contribute to its premium viewing experience, but Xiaomi offers greater display versatility.
Verdict
Xiaomi takes the lead with its brighter main display, broader HDR support, and useful secondary screen. Apple remains a compelling choice for users who prefer its familiar display experience.
2. Specifications Including Battery
Performance
The iPhone 18 Pro Max runs on Apple’s A20 Pro chipset, built on a 2nm process, with a six-core CPU and seven-core GPU. Paired with 12GB RAM and up to 2TB of NVMe storage, it is designed for demanding applications, gaming, and advanced computational workloads. Xiaomi counters with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, also based on a 2nm process, featuring an octa-core CPU and Adreno 850 GPU. It offers up to 16GB RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Both devices run their respective latest software platforms, iOS 27 and Android 17 with HyperOS 4. Apple’s tightly integrated hardware and software offer a familiar performance advantage, while Xiaomi provides more memory flexibility and greater freedom through Android customisation.
Battery technology is one area where Xiaomi makes a substantial leap ahead. The iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 5,391mAh battery in its nano-SIM variant and a 5,567mAh battery in its eSIM-only version. It supports wired charging, 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. Xiaomi, meanwhile, packs an 8,500mAh silicon-carbon battery into its flagship. It supports 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 27W reverse wireless charging. The difference extends beyond battery capacity, with Xiaomi offering considerably faster charging across both wired and wireless options. Its larger battery should also provide more endurance, particularly for heavy users who spend considerable time gaming, streaming, or capturing photos and videos.
Verdict
Xiaomi wins decisively in battery and charging, offering a substantially larger battery, 100W wired charging and faster wireless charging. Apple’s charging capabilities feel conservative in comparison.
3. Camera
Main and Secondary Lenses
The iPhone 18 Pro Max features three 48MP rear cameras, comprising a variable-aperture main sensor, a 4x periscope telephoto camera and a 120-degree ultrawide lens. Its second-generation sensor-shift stabilisation, LiDAR scanner and advanced video recording tools make it particularly attractive to mobile content creators. Xiaomi takes a different approach with a 200MP main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto sensor offering 3.2x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide camera. Leica optics, laser autofocus and a colour spectrum sensor further strengthen its photography capabilities. Xiaomi’s dual 200MP setup offers greater resolution and considerable flexibility for detailed photography and zoom shots. Apple, however, places greater emphasis on its video ecosystem, supporting 4K recording at up to 120fps, Dolby Vision HDR, ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2.
Selfie Camera
Apple equips the iPhone 18 Pro Max with an 18MP multi-aspect ultrawide front camera featuring PDAF and an SL 3D sensor for depth sensing and Face ID. Beyond conventional selfies, it supports Dolby Vision HDR, spatial audio recording and advanced video formats, including ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2. Xiaomi features a 50MP front camera with PDAF, HDR and panorama support. It also records 4K video at up to 60fps, with HDR10+ and gyro-EIS. Xiaomi’s higher-resolution sensor offers greater potential for capturing detailed selfies, while Apple’s front camera benefits from its multi-aspect capture system and more extensive video features. For everyday photography, both offer capable hardware, but Apple has a more comprehensive toolkit for front-camera video production.
Verdict
Xiaomi leads in rear camera resolution and hardware versatility, while Apple retains an advantage in professional video recording. The choice depends on whether photography or video production takes priority.
4. Pricing
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is priced around $1,300 (approximately ₹1,80,000), positioning it firmly in the ultra-premium smartphone segment. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is priced around $1,000 (approximately ₹1,00,000), making it considerably more affordable. The difference is particularly interesting considering Xiaomi’s hardware package, which includes dual 200MP rear cameras, a larger battery, faster charging, and a secondary rear display. Apple’s higher asking price reflects its premium positioning, software ecosystem, and professional video capabilities. However, buyers looking primarily at hardware specifications will find a substantial difference in what each phone offers for the money. Xiaomi makes several meaningful hardware upgrades available at a noticeably lower price.
Is the price justified?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a strong case for buyers already invested in Apple’s ecosystem. Its A20 Pro processor, advanced camera processing, Face ID and professional video recording features contribute to its premium positioning. However, its considerably higher price makes it difficult to overlook Xiaomi’s hardware advantages. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max delivers a larger battery, faster charging, dual 200MP cameras and a secondary display while costing considerably less. It is particularly appealing to users who want cutting-edge hardware without entering Apple’s highest pricing bracket. Unless iOS integration and Apple’s video capabilities are essential, Xiaomi offers a more compelling overall hardware proposition.
Verdict
Xiaomi offers considerably more hardware for the money, making it the more accessible ultra-premium flagship. Apple’s higher price is primarily justified by its ecosystem and specialised video capabilities.
5. Conclusion
The iPhone 18 Pro Max distinguishes itself with its A20 Pro chipset, Face ID, second-generation LiDAR technology, satellite connectivity, and extensive professional video recording features. Its integration with Apple’s ecosystem also makes it an attractive upgrade for existing iPhone users. Xiaomi’s standout features include its dual 200MP camera system, 8,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, 100W wired charging and secondary rear display. It also brings an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, infrared port, three-speaker audio system with Dolby Atmos, and extensive Hi-Res audio support. These additions give Xiaomi a broader hardware feature set, particularly for users who value photography, battery endurance and charging convenience. Apple focuses on refinement and ecosystem integration, whereas Xiaomi makes a stronger push towards hardware innovation.
Verdict
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max takes the overall win thanks to its dual 200MP cameras, significantly larger battery, faster charging, secondary display and lower price. It delivers a more versatile hardware package without demanding Apple’s substantial premium. The iPhone 18 Pro Max remains a compelling option for users who prioritise iOS, Apple’s ecosystem and professional video production. However, when it comes to hardware, features and overall value, Xiaomi has a clear advantage.
Disclaimer: Prices, specifications, and availability may vary by region and retailer. Recommendations in this article are based on editorial opinion, feature-based value, and market positioning at the time of writing. Readers are advised to do their own research before making a purchase.
Rogbid has launched the Loop W, a new fitness tracker that skips the display entirely. It is a straightforward wearable that focuses strictly on gathering health data in the background, rather than serving as another screen competing for your attention.
Rogbid Loop W Specifications
The device is constructed with a 316 stainless steel case, giving it a standard, durable metallic finish rather than the plastic builds often found on budget fitness bands. Because it lacks a screen, the Loop W relies entirely on a vibration motor to alert users to incoming phone calls, text messages, and app notifications. It pairs to smartphones via Bluetooth 5.3 and requires devices running at least Android 9.0 or iOS 10.0.
Inside the metal casing, the Loop W runs on a JL7073 processor and is equipped with a Goodix GH3228 heart rate sensor. It handles a wide range of continuous health tracking, including heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), heart rate variability (HRV), and daily stress levels. It also tracks skin temperature throughout the day and monitors sleep stages at night.
It also includes an ECG feature that takes 30-second measurements to log heart rhythm data. All of this information is synced to a companion mobile app, which serves as the sole visual interface for the device. The app also includes a Family Care feature that allows users to share their health metrics with authorized family members remotely.
For activity tracking, the band uses an SC-7A20H G-sensor to monitor movement across various sports modes. It carries a 5 ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for everyday water exposure like handwashing, heavy rain, and shallow swimming.
The Loop W runs on a JL7073 processor and is powered by a 150mAh battery. Rogbid says that the device can last between 25 and 30 days on a single charge under normal use, or up to 60 days on standby. Recharging the device takes approximately one hour using the included magnetic charging cable.
Pricing and Availability
The Rogbid Loop W is currently available for purchase on the company’s official website for $59.99. It comes in two color options: Tech Black and Moonlight Silver.
In related news, Rogbid has launched the ZenRing with haptic alerts, touch controls, and health tracking, alongside the Model R3T smartwatch featuring full Android, 4G LTE, a pop-up camera, and a 1,100mAh battery.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
Samsung has officially entered the clip-on wireless earbud segment with a new design aimed at users who prefer an open listening experience. The Galaxy Buds On sit around the ear instead of sealing the ear canal, allowing users to remain more aware of their surroundings. Samsung has also added several features aimed at comfort, calls and hands-free use.
Samsung Galaxy Buds On specifications and features
Samsung Galaxy Buds On
The Galaxy Buds On use an ergonomic clip-on construction designed to distribute pressure across the ear and remain secure during movement. Samsung says it studied different ear shapes and adjusted the placement of the speakers, batteries and flexible band accordingly. Touch controls on the rear of the earbuds allow users to manage music playback and calls without reaching for their phones.
Audio is handled by TwinBoost speakers designed to improve low-frequency output, while automatic volume adjustment adapts playback to the surrounding environment. Samsung has also added an Audio Leakage Reduction system to limit sound escaping from the open-ear design. The earbuds are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform paired with a Class-D amplifier and offer up to 9.5 hours of music playback on a single charge.
Samsung Galaxy Buds On
For calls, the Galaxy Buds On feature three microphones, a bone-conduction-based Voice Pickup Sensor and machine learning to distinguish the wearer’s voice from background noise. Galaxy AI integration adds Gemini Live access through voice commands, while users can create voice memos with a long press and later search them using Bixby. Head gestures can also be used for actions such as answering or ending calls, dismissing alarms and checking notifications.
Price and availability
The Galaxy Buds On will launch in South Korea on October 27 for KRW 299,000, which is approximately $220. Samsung plans to bring the earbuds to other markets in phases, although it has not yet announced specific launch dates for other countries. The earbuds will initially be offered in Black.
Huawei today announced the Mate 90 in China, the standard model in its new flagship series. The phone starts at CNY 5,999 (about $895) and comes with Huawei’s Kirin 9030 chip and HarmonyOS 7.
Unlike the Kirin 9035 on the Mate 90 Pro or the Kirin 9050 (Pro) on the Mate 90 Pro Max, the Kirin 9030 isn’t exactly a new chip. It was also used in last year’s Huawei Mate 80 Pro, but Huawei says it’s a sizeable step up from the Kirin 9020 in the Mate 80. Its own testing puts the CPU 13% ahead, the GPU 54% ahead, and the NPU 13% ahead, with a 27% overall performance increase.
The Kirin 9030 also supports hardware ray tracing at up to 31 million rays per second. Huawei tested the feature in Wuthering Waves, although it only works in certain scenes. Huawei’s FFRT scheduling system is also claimed to double image loading speeds.
A familiar design with a bigger battery
The Mate 90 has a 6.75-inch flat display and uses Huawei’s Xuanwu-style construction with third-generation Kunlun glass and nylon fiber material. Huawei says the glass has more than 50% better drop resistance than the Mate 80 series.
The phone has IP68 protection for submersion at up to 6 meters and an IP69 rating for high-temperature, high-pressure water jets. Huawei points out that these are laboratory ratings rather than a guarantee of permanent water resistance, and liquid damage isn’t covered by the warranty. The touchscreen is also designed to keep working with wet hands.
The Mate 90 comes in four colors: Crystal Green, Crystal Pink, Zero White, and Obsidian Black. The green and pink versions have Huawei’s lattice-pattern rear design, while the other colors use a simpler finish.
Three rear cameras
Huawei gives the Mate 90 three cameras on the back:
Main: 50MP, 1/1.56-inch RYYB sensor, OIS, and a variable F1.4-F4.0 aperture.
Ultrawide: 40MP RYYB sensor with an F2.2 aperture.
The main camera also gets Huawei’s third-generation Red Maple primary-color camera. Huawei says it improves color accuracy by 37%.
The variable aperture gives the main camera some control over how much of a scene stays in focus. The F1.4 setting can produce more background blur, while stopping down to F4.0 keeps more of the frame sharp.
Huawei’s XMAGE assistant can also suggest shooting options. In photo and portrait modes, within the 4x zoom range, it can recommend one of 13 group poses or one of 14 composition layouts. The composition suggestions have to be enabled manually.
There’s also a live-streaming mode that can start a stream with one tap. It enables do-not-disturb and network acceleration while using face and product recognition to move focus between subjects.
Where to buyHuawei Mate 90 ProBrowse the range on AmazonShop now →
A bigger battery without changing charging speeds
The Mate 90 has a 6,600mAh battery, with a rated capacity of 6,415mAh. That’s a sizeable increase over the 5,750mAh battery in the Mate 80. Charging hasn’t changed, though. Wired charging reaches 66W with a Huawei 66W or faster charger, while wireless charging goes up to 50W with Huawei’s own wireless charger. Both figures match the Mate 80.
Huawei also includes an outdoor mode that can extend battery life to up to 15 days. Petal Maps can provide up to 36 hours of screen-off route navigation in this mode.
The Mate 90 can automatically switch between its Wi-Fi and cellular antennas depending on the connection. With up to four nearby HarmonyOS 7 devices, Huawei’s multi-device network sharing can pool connections. Huawei says this can make file transfers up to 40% faster in crowded areas.
The phone also supports BeiDou satellite messaging, including picture messages. The feature is limited to mainland China and requires a clear view of the sky. Users also need to activate it through MeeTime or their carrier before using it for the first time.
A paired Huawei watch can trigger an emergency call through the phone. For now, that feature only works between Huawei Mate 90 series phones.
The phone comes pre-installed with HarmonyOS 7 and can also connect with an iPhone for features such as call forwarding, file transfers, and message notifications.
For security, the Mate 90 has a Mobile Security Processor with support for post-quantum cryptography for unlocking and payments. Huawei also includes voice-changer detection for carrier calls, MeeTime, and WeChat. The company says its warnings are only an indication and aren’t guaranteed to identify fake voices correctly.
Huawei Mate 90 price and availability
Huawei is selling the Mate 90 in three configurations in China:
12GB+256GB: CNY 5,999 (~$895)
12GB+512GB: CNY 6,999 (~$1,045)
12GB+1TB: CNY 8,499 (~$1,268)
The Mate 90 is available in Crystal Green, Crystal Pink, Zero White, and Obsidian Black. Only the green and pink versions have the lattice-pattern back. For now, these prices apply to China. Huawei hasn’t announced international pricing or availability yet.
Last month, a premature retail listing of the Poco C95 Pro revealed its specifications. The phone has now officially launched, confirming its design, specifications, and pricing. Here is everything you need to know about Poco’s latest C-series offering.
Poco C95 Pro specifications and features
Poco C95 Pro
The Poco C95 Pro packs a 6.9-inch HD+ display with a 1,600 x 720-pixel resolution and up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The panel supports up to 825 nits of HBM brightness and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection. It also carries TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light, flicker-free viewing and circadian-friendly use, along with a touch sampling rate of up to 240Hz.
Where to buyPoco C95 ProLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
Under the hood is the MediaTek Helio G91-Ultra chipset, coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, while Memory Extension can provide up to 16GB of virtual RAM. The phone comes preinstalled with HyperOS 3 and Android 16.
Poco C95 Pro
The biggest highlight is the 7,500mAh battery, which supports 45W turbo charging and up to 22.5W wired reverse charging. Poco claims up to 28 hours of video playback and 91 hours of music playback. The device also features a 50-megapixel primary rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera, with dual video recording available. Other features include stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and IP64 dust and splash resistance.
POCO C95 Pro price and availability
Poco C95 Pro
In Singapore, the Poco C95 Pro is priced at S$169 (for the 6GB+128GB variant and S$199 for the 8GB+256GB model during the early-bird sale. The phone is available in Black, Blue and Green color options.
Huawei has launched the Huawei Mate 90 Pro in China as the first phone powered by the new Kirin 9035 chip. The phone starts at CNY 6,999 (about $1,045) for the 12GB+256GB model. Huawei announced it alongside the Huawei Mate 90 Pro Max.
The Kirin 9035 sits below the Kirin 9050 (Pro) of the Mate 90 Pro Max. Compared with the Kirin 9030 in the Huawei Mate 80 Pro, Huawei says the new chip delivers an 11% CPU improvement, a 10% GPU improvement, and a 51% boost in NPU performance. Its own app testing on HarmonyOS 7 and HarmonyOS 6 shows a 10% overall performance gain.
The chip also supports hardware-level ray tracing, which can process up to 31 million rays per second, although the feature is limited to certain scenes.
Design, build, and durability
The Huawei Mate 90 Pro keeps the central-axis design used on previous Mate phones. Its back features a lattice pattern with a floating star ring around the camera module, while the body is made from a single machined piece. It comes in Emerald Green, Amber Orange, Crystal White, and Obsidian Black.
Like the other Mate 90 series models, the phone has a flat front and a 3D ToF system for face unlock. The setup includes a depth-sensing transmitter and receiver, a front camera, and an AI posture sensor.
Huawei uses its “Kunlun Xuanwu” protection across the display, body, and camera lenses. The main protection features include:
Third-generation Kunlun glass: Huawei says it offers more than 50% better drop resistance than the Huawei Mate 80 series.
Kunlun optical glass: Used over the camera lenses, with Huawei claiming 20 times better drop resistance than the Huawei Mate 80 Pro.
Nylon fiber material: Added inside the body for extra protection.
The phone has an IP68 rating for submersion at up to 6 meters and an IP69 rating for high-temperature, high-pressure water jets.
The Mate 90 Pro has a 6.75-inch display on the front. Huawei calls it the second-generation Linglong display and rates it for up to 12,000 nits of peak brightness at 1% APL, meaning a small bright area of the screen. The Mate 80 Pro was rated at 8,000 nits.
The panel uses a dual-layer OLED structure with Huawei’s custom Zhuque display chip and pixel-level AI tuning for brightness uniformity. Huawei claims a 100% increase in peak brightness, a 138% increase in screen lifespan, a 140% increase in the period of sustained high brightness, and a 30% improvement in uniformity.
However, the company doesn’t specify what each percentage is measured against, so we will hold off on treating the numbers as improvements just yet.
Cameras on the Huawei Mate 90 Pro
The Mate 90 Pro has three rear cameras:
Main: 50MP RYYB sensor with optical stabilization and a variable aperture from F1.4 to F4.0.
Telephoto: 50MP RYYB sensor with 4x optical zoom and 8x optical-quality zoom. It also works as a macro camera with a minimum focusing distance of 5cm.
Ultrawide: 40MP RYYB sensor.
Huawei has also added its third-generation Red Maple primary-color camera, which the company says improves color accuracy by 37%.
The variable aperture gives the main camera two different ways to handle shots. At F1.4, it can create more background blur for portraits, while F4.0 keeps more of a group in focus. Huawei also says the aperture can help maintain consistent video brightness when moving between bright and dark areas.
The camera software includes XMAGE features for shooting guidance. In photo and portrait modes, the phone can suggest one of 13 poses for group photos and one of 14 composition layouts within the 4x zoom range. The composition suggestions have to be enabled manually.
There are also food recommendations and a live-streaming mode that tracks products in focus while helping keep the user’s voice clear in noisy environments.
Battery and charging
The Mate 90 Pro packs a 6,600mAh battery that accepts 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. To note, the 50W wireless speed requires Huawei’s own wireless charger and a 66W or higher charging kit. The Mate 80 Pro supported 80W wireless charging, so the new model has a lower wireless charging rating.
Huawei rates the Mate 90 Pro for up to 41 hours of video playback. The test used a cached 2-hour-34-minute video played on a loop with auto-brightness turned off.
Its outdoor exploration mode can extend battery life to up to 15 days when satellite messaging and tracking are used. The phone can also provide up to 36 hours of screen-off route navigation through Petal Maps. The equivalent mode on the Mate 80 Pro was rated for up to 13 days.
Connectivity, satellite messaging, and outdoor tools
The Huawei Mate 90 Pro uses a combined Wi-Fi and cellular antenna design that can switch between antennas automatically. Its multi-device network sharing feature lets up to four HarmonyOS 7 devices share their connections. Huawei says this can improve file transfer speeds by up to 40% in crowded areas.
Satellite messaging is also supported through BeiDou. The feature now allows users to send pictures as well as text, although it is limited to mainland China. It requires an open view of the sky and must be activated through MeeTime or a carrier while the phone still has a mobile connection.
Pictures sent over satellite are heavily compressed to fit within the available bandwidth. Once the feature is activated, users can also access 12-hour and three-day satellite weather forecasts.
The outdoor mode can record routes and work with third-party apps such as TwoStep and Walker. If an accident occurs, a paired Huawei watch can start an emergency call through the phone and share location information. At launch, this emergency feature only works between Huawei Mate 90 series phones.
HarmonyOS 7 and AI features
The Huawei Mate 90 Pro ships with HarmonyOS 7, while several AI features will arrive through later HOTA updates. A few of them are:
Xiaoyi Notes allows users to swipe down to save things shown on the screen, including social media posts and to-do items. The phone can then organize the saved content automatically.
Xiaoyi call help can handle tasks such as booking restaurants, answering calls when the user is unavailable, translating conversations in real time, and creating call summaries.
With Trigger-based AI, users can long-press the Xiaoyi navigation bar to have the phone read what’s on the screen and suggest the next action. For example, copying a password, address, or cloud drive link can prompt the phone to open the relevant app.
HarmonyOS 7
The phone also supports 3D dynamic photos, which turn still images into short 3D clips. Huawei says the feature works best with photos containing a single person or pet.
For security, the Mate 90 Pro has a dedicated Mobile Security Processor with support for post-quantum cryptography for unlocking and payments. A voice-changer detection feature can also warn users about potentially fake voices during calls.
The voice detection system works with carrier calls, MeeTime, and WeChat calls. Huawei says its warnings are only for reference and shouldn’t be treated as a guarantee.
The phone also includes child-safety controls under Settings in the Healthy Use of Mobile Phone menu.
Huawei Mate 90 Pro Price and Availability
Huawei is selling the Mate 90 Pro in four configurations in China:
12GB+256GB: CNY 6,999 (~$1,045)
12GB+512GB: CNY 7,999 (~$1,194)
16GB+512GB: CNY 8,499 (~$1,269)
16GB+1TB: CNY 9,999 (~$1,492)
The base model costs CNY 1,000 more than the Huawei Mate 80 Pro, which launched at CNY 5,999. The 512GB and 1TB versions are CNY 1,500 to CNY 2,000 more expensive than their Mate 80 Pro counterparts. These prices are for China, and Huawei’s launch announcement does not include international pricing.
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