iQOO 12 Anniversary Edition India launch: Powerful specs & fresh new color for Rs 52,999

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Apr 3, 2024

iQOO recently celebrated its 4th year anniversary in the Indian market. To commemorate this, the company also announced the upcoming launch of a new iQOO 12 Anniversary Edition smartphone. Now, this model has finally been unveiled in the region, so here’s everything you need to know regarding its specs, pricing, and special launch offers.

iQOO 12 Anniversary Edition Pricing and Availability

The iQOO 12 Desert Red Anniversary Edition was teased earlier this week and we finally have its pricing details. It has a starting price tag of 52,999 INR for the 12GB + 256GB variant and goes up to 57,999 INR for the 16GB + 512GB variant. This model will be available for purchase via Amazon and iQOO’s official website. First sales will kick off on 9th April 2024 and the brand is even offering an instant 3,000 INR discount to HDFC and ICICI Bank card holders along with no-cost EMI options. At this price point, the Desert Red costs the same as the Legend and Alpha color options.

iQOO 12 Anniversary Edition Specs

To recall, the iQOO 12 Anniversary Edition is basically the same as the iQOO 12, which launched back in December 2023. The only notable aspect regarding this special edition is the fresh Desert Red color. For those unaware, the Red color option with a vegan leather finish was exclusive to the Chinese market till now. The flagship phone sports a tall 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Under the hood, it is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that supports 120W wired fast charging. The rear features a 50-megapixel triple camera setup, while the front houses a 16-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls. This model runs on the Android 14 OS based OriginOS 4 custom skin out of the box.

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Samsung Galaxy Time watch faces launched, shows the time of all planets in solar system

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 3, 2024

Samsung Galaxy Watch users will now be able to tell the time of not just Earth but all the planets in the solar system. Samsung has partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a new range of watch faces, one for each planet, to display real-time data of that particular planet.

Galaxy Time watch face launched

The new watch face, Galaxy Time, is available on WearOS-powered Galaxy smartwatches. This means it is available on all Samsung smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch Series 4 and those after it.

Owners of the eligible smartwatch models can download the watch face directly from the Google PlayStore. The Galaxy Time was made public on March 31, as announced by Samsung Germany. That said, its availability may be affected by users’ regions.

There are eight different Galaxy Time watch faces to match the number of planets in the solar system. Each planet has a unique clock system, as time runs slower and faster based on different factors. The time on each planet is calculated by meticulously observing its speed of rotation around its axis and its orbit around the sun. Given the complexity of these calculations, Samsung has partnered with the European Space Agency to ensure the quality of the time data used in Galaxy Time.

In addition to time, the new watch face can provide other helpful insights, including the distance of planets from the Sun and Earth, the number of their moons, and their real-time position and corresponding season. Samsung credits Leo Burnett (Germany), with whom they previously collaborated on the Samsung Galaxy S8 product campaign, with the original concept for the Galaxy Time.

As stated earlier, data about planets’ rotation and revolution are provided by the European Space Agency (ESA). Metadesign, a Berlin-based brand agency, finalized the design for the Galaxy Time watch faces.

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Xiaomi to release their smallest 120W charger ever

By

Erencan Yılmaz

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Apr 3, 2024

Most of the Xiaomi’s smartphones now come with super fast charging support, so much so that 67W charging has become the standard for Xiaomi’s midrange devices. However, the charging adapters that come in Xiaomi phone boxes are generally a bit chunky.

Xiaomi 120W GaN charger

Xiaomi introduced a compact 67W charging brick a few months ago, which boasts a compact design and can juice the all Xiaomi phones supporting 67W charging.

Now, Xiaomi is preparing to introduce a compact 120W charging adapter, with the help of GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology, providing 120W power in such a small size.

While Xiaomi has not yet unveiled the 120W compact charger, the first image was shared by an account named “Harvey_浩浩” on Weibo. Xiaomi has not officially announced the new 120W GaN charging adapter yet, but according to Harvey, it will be unveiled at a special event in China.

Xiaomi previously introduced a 67W GaN charger, successfully reducing the size of the adapter significantly. Here are both adapters for you to understand the difference.

67W standard adapter & 67W GaN charging adapter

If the image shared by Harvey reveals the final design of Xiaomi’s 120W GaN charger, we might expect a similar size reduction as seen with the 67W GaN charger. It’s truly fascinating to see a power brick capable of delivering 120W in such a small form factor. Xiaomi will initially release this adapter in China.

Realme GT Neo 6 SE looks sleek, desirable in silver variant, teaser video released

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 3, 2024

Yesterday, Realme released a poster to reveal the front design of the Realme GT Neo 6 SE. A few days ago, a Chinese leaker released a leaked render of the phone’s green variant. Today, the brand released a new image to officially confirm the rear design of the phone.

Realme GT Neo 6 SE silver variant revealed

The above image gives a first look at the rear design of the Liquid Silver Knight color variant of the GT Neo 6 SE. The image shows that the camera section on the back of the GT Neo 6 SE has a shiny finish, whereas the rest of the back is matte. It features dual camera rings housing two cameras and alongside that is a dual-LED flash unit.

The above image, which was released yesterday by Realme, revealed that the Realme GT Neo 6 SE has a punch-hole screen with slightly curved edges and ultra-thin bezels. According to the brand, the GT Neo 6 SE is equipped with an all-new 8T LTPO BOE OLED panel that supports up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 2160Hz PWM dimming. The rest of its specifications are yet to be revealed. Here is a look at the teaser video of the device.

Realme GT Neo 6 SE specifications

According to reports, the Realme GT Neo 6 SE has a 6.78-inch OLED screen that offers a 1.5K resolution. It features the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, up to 16 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of storage, and a 5,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging. It is said to feature a 50-megapixel Sony camera with OIS support on the back, and it is expected to run on Realme UI 5-based Android 14.

Realme is still silent about the launch date of the Realme GT Neo 6 SE. The device may likely go official in the coming week in China. As per reports, it may get rebadged as the Realme GT 6 in markets outside of China.

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Vivo Y200 Pro 5G receive BIS, Bluetooth SIG certifications, launch imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 3, 2024

Vivo unveiled the Vivo Y200 5G smartphone in October last year. In February of this year, the brand announced the Vivo Y200e 5G in the country. Now, a new development reveals that the country will soon receive another Y200-series phone called the Vivo Y200 Pro 5G.

Vivo Y200 Pro 5G BIS certified

The BIS authority in India has approved a new Vivo phone with model number V2401, as shown in the screenshot above. The same phone is listed with the Vivo Y200 Pro 5G branding in the Google Play Supported Devices list and Bluetooth SIG certification, as shown below.

Interestingly, apart from V2401, the model number V2303 is also associated with the Vivo Y200 Pro 5G. Last month, the Y200 Pro 5G was spotted in the Google Play Console database. The listing revealed an image and a few specifications for the device. For those who don’t know, the V2303 model number originally belongs to the Vivo V29e, which debuted in Q3 2023.

Therefore, it appears that the Vivo Y200 Pro 5G could be based on the Vivo V29e. To recall, the device came with a 6.78-inch AMOLED curve-edge screen, which offers an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is equipped with an in-screen fingerprint sensor for security.

Under the hood, the Vivo Y200 Pro 5G features the Snapdragon 695 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support. It comes in 128 GB and 256 GB storage options.

For selfies, the Vivo Y29e has a 50-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus support. On the back, the device features a 64-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) dual-camera system. Now that the Y200 Pro 5G has received BIS certification, it appears that it may go official later this month or in May.

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Apple collabs with Alo Yoga for special edition Beats Fit Pro

By

Sudhanshu

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Apr 3, 2024

Beats has teamed up with Alo Yoga to bring out a new version of the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds. This special edition comes in a Black Sparkle color, with a shiny chrome look inside the charging case, and features the Alo logo and a shiny Beats logo on the earbuds themselves.

These earbuds are designed to stay put during workouts, thanks to their winged tips. They offer features like spatial audio with head tracking and active noise cancellation, along with a “Transparency” mode to keep you aware of your surroundings. They’re powered by Apple’s H1 chip, making them a top choice for both Apple and Android users.

Battery life is pretty solid with up to 7 hours of playback, or 6 hours if you have noise cancellation on. With the charging case, you can get up to 30 hours of use. If you’re in a hurry, a quick 5-minute charge gives you an hour of playback. While they don’t support wireless charging, they are IPX4-rated, so they’re resistant to water and sweat.

Priced at $200/€250/£220, these new Beats Fit Pro earbuds will be available from April 4. You can buy them online through Apple and Alo Yoga, or at some Apple stores.

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This Smart Door Lock in China uses Vein Technology for Biometric Authentication

By

Joane

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Apr 3, 2024

The S6 Max-H Dual-Camera Smart Door Lock recently went on sale in China and utilizes advanced vein recognition technology to protect your home and businesses.

At the core of the S6 Max-H lies revolutionary vein recognition technology, a biometric authentication method that analyzes patterns of blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface. By utilizing dual cameras and 3D structured light, the S6 Max-H effectively records and processes these patterns, enabling swift and accurate authentication within a fraction of a second. Unlike conventional methods such as fingerprint scanners, vein recognition is highly reliable and virtually impossible to forge or spoof, making it an ideal choice for security.

S6 Max-H Dual-Camera Smart Door Lock offers nine door opening methods, including face unlocking, password unlocking, and Bluetooth unlock, ensuring flexibility and convenience for users. Equipped with a built-in 4.7-inch screen and powered by a robust 5000 mAh battery, the device helps you to keep your house safe and secure.

How does the Vein Recognition Technology work?

Vein recognition technology captures infrared light absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels, creating distinct patterns that are unique to each individual. Blood vessels absorb more infrared light, resulting in darker patterns in the images. This color difference helps the system to create precise biometric references for accurate identification.

Vein recognition technology has been present for a while, with China and Japan at the forefront of making it accessible to everyday consumers. The technology can be traced back to the 1980s, pioneered by Joe Rice, and has been commercially developed by Hitachi since 1997. It was at first used by organizations like Japanese financial institutions and gained popularity for its dependability.

China has been using Vein Technology for Years

Vein recognition technology has been used in China for years and plays an important role in the AI and robotics market. It is widely used in access control, autonomous vending, and public transport. For instance, DeepBlue’s Panda Bus allows ticketless boarding via palm scanning.

Currently, palm vein recognition trials are going on for metro payments in cities like Shanghai. Tencent has also joined this sector by introducing palm payments in Beijing’s airport express line offering WeChat users an alternative to facial recognition. All these advancements signify a leap in biometric payment systems within China’s transport networks.

With strong government backing and a vision for practical applications, Chinese companies are leading the push in realizing the potential of vein identification technology.

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Logitech’s New Signature Slim K950 hits Indian Market with Seamless Device Switching & Silent Typing

By

Sudhanshu

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Apr 3, 2024

Logitech recently unveiled its Signature Slim Combo K950 in the US, EU, and UK last week. Now, this wireless keyboard and mouse combo has also arrived in the Indian market. The main attraction of these peripherals is their ability to connect to multiple devices and allow effortless switching between them.

Both the keyboard and mouse are made to be quiet, so you can work without noisy distractions. The keyboard is thin and offers keys that feel like those on a laptop, and the mouse has a special scrolling wheel for quick and accurate scrolling.

Logitech Signature Slim MK950 for Business Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

The keyboard and mouse boast long battery lives of 36 and 24 months, respectively, facilitated by included non-rechargeable batteries. The mouse features Logitech Advanced Optical Sensor Technology with adjustable DPI settings (400-4000).

Logitech has also focused on making these products with the environment in mind. They use recycled plastic and come in packaging from responsibly managed forests.

Pricing & availability

The Signature Slim K950 Keyboard alone is priced at Rs. 10,290, and the whole combo, including the mouse, costs Rs. 13,995. Logitech is also selling them in different colors, including an off-white variant. For a short time, you can get the combo for a reduced price of Rs. 10,447 on Amazon India.

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Huawei’s FreeLace Pro 2 detachable neckband with “ANC 2.0” is available for pre-sale at 699 Yuan (less than $100)

By

Debasish

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Apr 3, 2024

Huawei FreeLace Pro 2 neckband goes on pre-sale on JD.com today for ¥699 (~$96) with an additional ¥100 off as the initial price. This neckband comes in two different colors – green and black.

The company listed the earphones on its global website just a few days ago. It comes with a built-in USB-C connector that you can connect to your phone both for easy Bluetooth pairing and charging, as long as your phone has the OTG function enabled.

It comes with a 25 hour battery life and fast charging support, which offers 5 hours of play time with just 5 minutes of charging.

Charging and easy pairing using built-in USB-C connector

Speaking of the sound quality, the earbuds offer 10.8mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers, which according to the company, is 50% improved than its predecessor for low and medium-end frequencies, which makes it capable of reaching as low as 15Hz of ‘booming bass’.

For efficient yet high quality audio transmission, it packs LDAC and L2HC codec support. The listening experience just gets better with the company’s Smart ANC 2.0 feature. It is designed to minimize a wide range of different noises and offers three different modes – cosy, general, and ultra for the purpose. Notably, you don’t necessarily have to switch between the modes as it does that automatically as the noise level in your surroundings changes. Additionally, it also offers an improved calling experience with its “AI Call Noise Cancellation” functionality.

Another notable feature of this earphone is its dual-device pairing capability. Besides all the high-quality drivers and smart noise cancellation features, the multi-device pairing capability becomes equally if not more important when you are using two devices, for example the Huawei P60 and the Huawei MateBook D14 2024.

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PlaytronOS Explained: A Universal Operating System for Handheld Gaming Consoles

By

Sudhanshu

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Apr 3, 2024

There is no denying the fact that Valve’s Steam Deck is the reason for the resurgence of handheld consoles in the market. Major OEMs, such as Asus, Lenovo, and MSI followed suit with their offerings, namely ROG Ally, Legion GO, and MSI Claw.

However, all of these above-mentioned consoles have a major issue, which is their reliance on the Windows operating system. Aside from being designed for large-screen desktops and laptops, Windows also has many other problems like software conflicts, which means that multiple programs and overlays can clash for resources, leading to a less stable gaming experience.

A new startup named Playtron has now emerged, with a vision of freeing gaming consoles from their reliance on Windows and other operating systems like Valve’s SteamOS.

Playtron Lenovo Legion Go Demo — PlaytronOS Demo on Lenovo Legion Go

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1. What is PlaytronOS?

PlaytronOS is an open-source Linux-based gaming operating system created by Playtron, that aims to challenge existing systems like SteamOS and Windows for gaming handhelds. It offers compatibility for both x86 and ARM architectures, which means that PlaytronOS is compatible with both PC processors (Intel, AMD) as well as mobile processors (Snapdragon, etc.).

Compared to Windows, PlaytronOS is a lightweight operating system that plans to offer a streamlined gaming experience when it comes to interface and functionality, without any unnecessary software. What it means is that Playtron is aiming for something similar to Valve’s SteamOS, which is easy to control and operate, even on devices with small screens or non-traditional input methods, prioritizing user-friendly interactions.

2. What games are on PlaytronOS?

Currently, PlaytronOS does not offer its own game store, however, it is designed to be a cross-vendor and cross-platform gaming OS, supporting game libraries like Steam, Epic Games Launcher, and potentially other launchers, offering users more flexibility in choosing where to purchase and play games.

As for what games are currently playable on PlaytronOS, the company has mentioned that games like Death Stranding, Dave the Diver, and Baltaro are currently performing comparably to the native Steam Deck during testing. It’s worth mentioning that the operating system is currently in its early alpha phase, so it will get optimized for more games as it matures.

A quote by Playtron from an article by The Verge reads “We don’t care about running the hundred thousand games that are on Steam… we’re going to focus on the top games.” So it’s likely that Playtron will be more focused on optimizing popular titles with mass appeal and large player bases.

3. When will PlaytronOS be available for users?

PlaytronOS is expected to be available for users in 2025, with Playtron aiming to have Playtron-native devices shipping worldwide by that time. While this is the general timeline, the company’s CEO Kirt McMaster has said that Ayaneo plans to ship a native Playtron handheld by the end of 2024.

The startup is working hard to achieve these deadlines after recently receiving $10 million in funding from investors like Samsung Next, Polychain, Alumni Ventures, Mysten Labs, and others.

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iQOO Neo 9S Pro may launch soon globally, key specifications appear

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 3, 2024

In December 2023, iQOO announced the iQOO Neo 9 and smartphones in China. These phones came equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Dimensity 9300 chipsets, respectively. In February 2024, a rebranded version of the standard model was released in India and a few other markets with the iQOO Neo 9 Pro moniker. A new development reveals that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro may get rebranded as the iQOO Neo 9S Pro for markets outside of China.

iQOO Neo 9S Pro key specifications revealed

iQOO Neo 9S Pro Google Play Console listing

The screenshot above reveals the iQOO Neo 9s Pro, sporting the V2339A model number, has surfaced in the Google Play Console’s database. The listing not only mentions the key specifications of the device but also carries an image that reveals its front and rear design.

To recall, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro available in China has the same V2339A model number. Hence, it appears that the same device may get rebranded as the Neo 9s Pro in the global market.

As per the listing, the iQOO Neo 9S Pro will come in a blue variant and feature the Dimensity 9300 chipset. Its OLED panel supports a 1.5K resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels. The device runs on Android 14 and has 12 GB of RAM. The back panel of the device has a 50-megapixel primary camera.

The Play Console listing is a good hint that suggests that it will not take too long for it to debut on the global market. Most likely, it will be announced either this month or in May.

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Anker’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charger is Now Available for Purchase, Priced at 652 Yuan ($89.99)

By

Anubhav

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Apr 3, 2024

Anker‘s charging game just got an upgrade! Their MagGo 15W three-in-one wireless charger, the one they showed off at CES 2024, is now available for purchase. Ditch the cable clutter – this $89.99 (around ¥652) charger offers a magnetic 15W base that works with MagSafe for seamless charging of your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. It’s a pretty cool design, considering it could be the perfect bedside accessory to charge your entire ecosystem in one night. At the same time, it’s nothing too crazy, since it’s just a well placed group of magnets.

The charger works with the Apple Watch Series 9, iPhone 15, 14, 13 and 12 – and AirPods Pro.

Need a quick power-up for your Apple Watch Series 9? The MagGo has you covered. MFW certification allows it to blast your watch to 48% in just 30 minutes, perfect for those mornings when you’re running late. Plus, it works with iPhone 15/14/13/12 series and AirPods Pro, making it a one-stop shop for all the user’s Apple devices.

Anker also has another option for you: an updated three-in-one wireless charging pad that uses the Qi2 standard. This sleek pad costs $99.99 (around ¥725) and offers a speedy charging option for your Apple Watch Series 9, reaching 30% in just 20 minutes. The Chinese company has been producing some cool tech for a while now, for instance, the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds. These earbuds are specifically designed for people who sleep on their sides and don’t want to bother with the inconvenience of having ear obstructions.

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Apple’s Future Pencil 3 may have a Squeeze Feature, Relevant Code Found in New iPadOS 17.5

By

Anubhav

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Apr 3, 2024

Apple may have a big iPad reveal coming in early May, as covered previously here. Now, it looks like new iPads aren’t the only stars of the show. Here’s what the rumor mill is churning out.

Digging through the iPadOS 17.5 developer beta, folks at 9to5Mac unearthed clues about a possible Apple Pencil 3. The big feature? A “squeeze” gesture that might let you instantly add stuff like images, signatures, or text boxes to your notes or drawings. This is a major upgrade over the current Pencil 2, which only detects pressure on the tip, not the body. The most recent update to the Find My app now supports pairing with unreleased hardware, possibly the Pencil 3, meaning you might soon track down your lost stylus. Plus, iPadOS 17.4 introduced a new PencilKit API (a tool for developers to make apps Pencil-friendly). While details are scarce, rumors whisper about features like interchangeable magnetic tips for the Pencil 3.

Aside from the Pencil 3 report, Apple might also unveil a new magic keyboard

Bloomberg’s report aligns with these rumors, suggesting a major Apple iPad launch event in early May. This event might not just be about the tablets themselves – a new Apple Pencil 3 and a redesigned Magic Keyboard are also rumored to be crashing the party. The new Magic Keyboard could offer a more laptop-like experience, ideal for those who use their iPads for work.

The rumor mill is also buzzing about the specs of these new iPads. The iPad Pro might get a sleek redesign with an OLED display and a powerful M3 chip, marking a significant performance boost. We previously covered a piece on Apple refreshing its iPad lineup with OLED displays, it seems we might be closer to the timeline than we thought. The iPad Air, on the other hand, might keep its current design but get an upgrade to the M2 chip.

With all these leaks swirling around, it’s clear Apple’s upcoming iPad lineup could bring some exciting features. Stay tuned for the official reveal in May (or so we hope)!

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AMD Unveils the Ryzen 8000 Series 4nm Embedded Processors, with a Neural Processing Unit

By

Anubhav

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Apr 3, 2024

AMD just unveiled a game-changer for industrial AI: the Ryzen 8000 series embedded processors. These processors are the first to integrate a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) built on AMD’s XDNA architecture, specifically designed to handle demanding workloads in industrial Artificial Intelligence applications.

The Ryzen 8000 uses Zen 4 CPU, RDNA 3 GPU and a new XDNA Neural Processing Unit.

The Ryzen 8000 series boasts impressive specs. Built on a cutting-edge 4nm process, it combines Zen 4 CPU architecture, RDNA 3 architecture GPU, and the all-new XDNA architecture NPU. This powerhouse delivers a staggering 39 TOPS of AI computing power, with the NPU itself contributing a significant 16 TOPS.

But muscle doesn’t stop at AI. The Ryzen 8000 series packs additional features; 20 lanes of high-speed PCIe Gen 4 connectivity ensures efficient data transfer, and support for dual-channel DDR5 5600 memory with error correction (ECC) keeps things running smoothly. The machines can drive stunning visuals with the ability to power four independent 4K displays. Hardware decoding and encoding for popular video codecs like AV1, H.264, and H.265 makes video processing a breeze.

To cater to diverse needs, the Ryzen 8000 series comes in four distinct models. To foster a strong ecosystem around these processors, AMD is collaborating with embedded Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) partners like Advantech, ASRock, and iBASE. With AI becoming more and more mainstream, research is picking up big-time. That’s why companies like Nvidia and AMD are manufacturing newer AI chips for bigger-scale research.

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Is Xiaomi 14 worth buying in India?

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 3, 2024

The Xiaomi 14 series made its way to India recently. The company brought two models to the market, namely Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Only the vanilla model is a mass-market product, which has been on sale for weeks since its announcement. On the other hand, the Ultra variant is expected to go on sale in limited quantities starting April 8.

The standard Xiaomi 14 is priced at ₹69,999 (~$840). At this price, it competes directly with the likes of Apple iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24, which start at ₹79,900 (~$960) and ₹79,999 (~$960), respectively.

Given the distribution strength of Apple and Samsung, these smartphones can be had at prices closer to that of Xiaomi 14 even without bank offers.

So the question arises among general consumers why should they buy a Xiaomi premium phone when they can get an iPhone or Galaxy at around the same price?

The answer to this is that every product has a target audience. Otherwise, it wouldn’t exist, especially coming from a giant publicly listed company like Xiaomi.

Let’s go through the reasons why we believe Xiaomi 14 is worth buying in India.

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1. Xiaomi 14 offers better specs

Xiaomi 14, Galaxy S24, and iPhone 15 have one thing in common and that is their size.

The devices from Samsung and Apple are almost identical in terms of both dimensions and display size. While the Xiaomi product is slightly larger but its display with a bit narrower aspect ratio makes up for the size.

The aforementioned handsets’ display sizes range from 6.1 to 6.36 inches making them fall under the compact category. Phones of these sizes cannot offer the best of specs due to limitations, however, Xiaomi 14 defies the odds by providing a better feature set than the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15.

The OLED display on the Xiaomi 14 not only offers more resolution (2670 x 1200 pixels) but also minimal bezels than the competitors. Only the iPhone 15’s screen comes close to resolution (2556 x 1179 pixels) but it is limited to 60Hz refresh rate. While Galaxy S24’s display comes with a lower FHD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels) and the same 1-120Hz refresh rate as Xiaomi 14’s panel.

Performance-wise, Xiaomi 14 is the only one to use the fastest and the newest chipset — Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Whereas, the Galaxy S24 uses a slower Exynos 2400 and the iPhone 15 houses an older A16 Bionic.

The Xiaomi 14 also has a larger 4610mAh battery that supports up to 90W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The required power adapter is also included in the box.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 15 arrive with smaller 4,000mAh and 3,349mAh batteries, respectively. The Samsung phone supports 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the Apple handset supports 20W wired, 15W MagSafe, and 15W Qi2 wireless charging. Both of them do not ship with power adapters.

2. Xiaomi 14 is a delight for photography enthusiasts

What actually sets Xiaomi 14 apart from Galaxy S24 and iPhone is its camera setup. The hardware is superior and the software offers more controls to users.

The device comes with a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP Light Fusion 900 primary sensor, a 50MP 3.2x floating telephoto shooter, and a 50MP ultrawide. On the front, there’s a 32MP snapper.

These cameras are tuned in collaboration with Leica. Thus, you get distinct-style photographs.

Alternatively, the ‘Pro’ mode in the camera app lets you fiddle with a ton of settings. So you can click pictures at your convenience, which is what photographers prefer.

Also, the main camera supports 10-bit Log video recording, which is very useful for color grading. There’s also support for 4K video recording from all cameras, just like on iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24.

3. Xiaomi 14 can be ideal for unconventional consumers

Some consumers prefer to stand out. Instead of using standard ubiquitous products, they go for unique products that may fulfill their needs.

In the smartphone market, when we talk about premium models, iPhones are the first thing that comes to mind. The alternative would be the Galaxy S series.

Almost everyone uses either of these two devices. Only a few opt for products from other brands. This is applicable in almost all markets, including India.

For this niche audience, the Xiaomi 14 could be an ideal option, especially if they are looking for a compact alternative to the iPhone and the Galaxy.

To build trust with consumers, Xiaomi is also providing premium support for buyers by offering a dedicated relationship manager, one free screen replacement within the first 6 months of purchase, and free 1 year out of warranty repair (including labor cost).

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Google to Delete Incognito Mode Data as Part of Privacy Settlement

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Apr 2, 2024

The security of our personal data is more fragile than ever. With the rise of smartphones, every app we use seems to gather information about us. Moreover, it’s not just shady developers and scammers tech giants worth billions, and even governments, are implicated in this surveillance. Fortunately, there are those who fight back. Thanks to their efforts, Google has agreed to purge billions of records containing personal information collected from more than 136 million Chrome web browser users, settling a lawsuit that accused the company of illegal surveillance. Here are the details…

Your Data is Not Safe: Google to Purge Records After Privacy Lawsuit

Google has opted for a series of settlements in recent months to avoid major antitrust lawsuits. This trend continued last Sunday with their fourth agreement in four months. This latest settlement involves a lawsuit filed by Chasom Brown and others, alleging that Google misled users about incognito mode in Chrome.

Under the agreement, Google will delete billions of records of Chrome browsing data, including data from incognito mode. This move addresses the lawsuit’s claim that Google continued to track user activity even in private browsing. Previously, Google has spent over $1 billion on settlements related to its search engine and advertising practices.

These settlements include cases involving app developer fees, sharing data from Google+, and patent infringement. Going forward, Google will be more transparent about data collection in incognito mode. They will warn users and limit data collection practices while browsing privately. While the plaintiffs’ $5 billion compensation claim was rejected, individuals still retain the right to sue Google for damages.

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Will There Be a Redmi Car? Xiaomi Exec Hints at Future Possibilities

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Apr 2, 2024

Xiaomi continues to expand its product lineup. Moreover, when I say this, I’m not just talking about the usual new smartphone models or even a smart home product that is only sold in China but greatly simplifies life. The company recently took a big step by entering the electric vehicle market. Furthermore, the company has already been so successful that the SU7 EV has created a frenzy with 3 AM test drives and overwhelming demand.

Following this success, among users familiar with the Chinese manufacturer’s product strategy, the question “Will there be a Redmi electric vehicle?” began to spread. Finally, Wang Teng, the general manager of Xiaomi’s Redmi brand, has revealed the answer to the question “Will there be a Redmi car?” Here are the details…

Will There Be a Redmi Car? Xiaomi Delays Affordable EV Plans

Undoubtedly, an affordable Redmi car is a dream shared by many Xiaomi enthusiasts. Rumors of a Redmi EV model have circulated for years. Now, Wang Teng, the general manager of Xiaomi’s Redmi brand, has addressed these rumors. Teng stated that while there are currently no plans to launch a Redmi car, there are definitely plans for future models under the Xiaomi brand.

Wang Teng said, “If we hope to see a Redmi car in the future, we should all support and promote the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi cars are still in their early stages, and we need to get the core Xiaomi models right first. In addition to the current offerings, there will be plans for new vehicle models in the future.”

Actually, this isn’t Xiaomi’s first statement on this matter. In a report released by Xiaomi Auto, the company clarified that they haven’t been working on an affordable Redmi Car. Instead, they have prioritized the introduction of the SU7 EV. Additionally, the report indicates that it’s currently not feasible to lower costs enough to create a “flagship killer” electric vehicle under a sub-brand.

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$6 Million Scam: This is How Fake Apple Products Exploit Warranty System

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Apr 2, 2024

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Apple is undoubtedly one of the first brands that comes to mind. Speaking from personal experience, if you have a warranty for an Apple product and there is no problem caused by user error, the company will provide you with the best possible experience. This allows you to get your product repaired or even replaced with a new one at no cost within a short period. However, like any good system, there are people who exploit it. In fact, a recent example of this is a US man who was sentenced to jail for trafficking fake iPhones and iPads, costing Apple $6 million. Here are the details…

Man Sentenced for Major Apple Warranty Scam Using Fake Apple Devices

A US man who exploited Apple’s customer satisfaction policy using fake iPhones and iPads has been sentenced to over four years in prison. Zhiwei “Allen” Liao, along with his accomplices, ran a scheme that defrauded Apple of millions. Liao’s network imported counterfeit Apple products from China and attached genuine Apple serial numbers to them.

Accomplices then returned these fakes to Apple stores claiming malfunctions. Apple’s warranty system, trusting the serial numbers, replaced the counterfeits with genuine iPhones and iPads. Liao’s group then sold these genuine devices at a high profit in China, resulting in losses exceeding $6 million for Apple.

Caught for leading this major scam, Liao received a 51-month prison sentence. Authorities seized assets including houses, cash, and over 200 Apple devices. While Apple suffered financial losses, the real impact of such scams could be felt by consumers. Companies might become more cautious in their customer service policies due to these fraudulent activities, potentially harming legitimate customers.

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Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED with HyperOS, 4K 144Hz Display up for pre-sale in China

By

Soumyakanti

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Apr 2, 2024

Xiaomi has introduced its latest television model, the Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED, now available for pre-sale exclusively through JD.com. This model stands out for its expansive 85-inch 4K Mini LED display, priced at 7999 yuan (around $1105).

The company has hinted at a possible price drop to below 6999 yuan ($968) upon the official release. This announcement follows Xiaomi’s recent launch of the 55, 65, and 75-inch versions last week.

Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED Specifications:

Coming to the specs, Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED features an 85-inch Mini LED panel with a staggering 1200 nits peak brightness. This translates to incredibly vivid and detailed visuals, with bright highlights and deep blacks. It is noteworthy that the official backlight partition quantity, a crucial aspect for Mini LED products, has not been disclosed as of yet.

The display supports a 4K resolution and a remarkable 144Hz refresh rate. In terms of picture quality, the Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED comes equipped with Xiaomi’s self-developed Master Picture Quality Engine. This engine utilizes advanced algorithms to optimize colors, contrast, clarity, and motion, delivering a lifelike and immersive viewing experience.

Additionally, the TV boasts 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and a dynamic contrast ratio of 12 million to 1, ensuring accurate color reproduction. The TV also features low blue light technology and flicker reduction to minimize eye strain during extended viewing sessions.

For gamers, the Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED has a lot to offer. The smart TV comes equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports that support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay. Additionally, the TV features a low input lag of 4ms, further enhancing the gaming experience.

Under the hood, the Xiaomi TV S85 Mini LED is powered by a quad-core A73 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It uses HyperOS operating system. This combination ensures smooth performance for running apps, streaming content, and multitasking.

The TV also supports Wi-Fi 6 for high-speed internet connectivity. In terms of audio, it is equipped with a four-unit stereo speaker system, supporting Dolby Vision panoramic sound.

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HyperOS vs MIUI: 10 Things You Must Know

By

Vicky

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Apr 2, 2024

Xiaomi’s MIUI is one of the most popular Android skin loved by millions, which is being gradually replaced by HyperOS – the company’s latest custom skin. But how does it compare with MIUI? Does it offer better performance? Has Xiaomi packed some super exciting stuff in HyperOS?

In this HyperOS vs MIUI showdown, we’ll walk you through a detailed look at both the Android skins. By the end of this article, you will know if it’s worth upgrading to the new OS.

Also Read: Top 6 HyperOS Features You Absolutely Can’t Miss

What is HyperOS? Is it Based on Android?

HyperOS is not a new fancy word from Xiaomi for the replacement of MIUI. The brand has been developing it since 2017 and has made several significant changes to the core mechanism.

If you’re still wondering, what actually is HyperOS? Well, it’s a new operating system from Xiaomi, but not a complete replacement of Android. In fact, it’s still based on Android, like MIUI, and has a good mix of Linux. The latest OS integrates Xiaomi’s in-house Vela system for deeper system-level changes.

HyperOS vs MIUI: Which is Better?

Though Xiaomi seems to have made changes to the core system (detailed on the HyperOS page), it doesn’t bring any out-of-the-box features you have never seen on a smartphone. In fact, a couple of changes to HyperOS are inspired by iOS – no hard feelings for Xiaomi, as Apple, too, has done it several times in the past. But still, there is a lot to explore in HyperOS.

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1. Subtle Changes to the Design

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Upgrade to HyperOS, and you’re not going to see any clear difference between MIUI and HyperOS at first glance, even at second glance. No, I’m not kidding. Both operating systems have almost identical icons and arrangements.

As you spend time with the new OS, you will notice changes to the icons. Those are less bright in the HyperOS compared to MIUI, with minimal tweaks. For instance, the sun in the Gallery is on the right in MIUI, and it is moved to the left in HyperOS. Similarly, you’ll find small changes to several app icons, as shown in the image below.

It’s not just the app icons; HyperOS has subtly changed its menus, too. The new OS merges the app details section and app menus section to make it look better and cleaner. If you closely look at the app menus, you’ll find that they have been reordered. And there’s no text for the app info and uninstall icons, which are there in MIUI. Also, the font itself is larger and bold.

2. The Control Center is Better and Cleaner

Xiaomi has brought significant changes to the Control Center in HyperOS. You’ll quickly realise that all icon labels are gone. While it gives the Control Center a minimalist look, it can be difficult for many people to figure out which icon does what. However, you can easily bring them back by going to Settings > Notifications & Status Bar and disabling the Don’t Show Icon Labels option.

The new Control Center has larger icons, and all of them are visible on one single scrollable screen. In MIUI, the shortcut icons are arranged in panels which you can swipe left and right. HyperOS also adds a music player widget to the Control Center.

You might have already seen a similar Control Center on a different device. If your guess is iOS, then you’re right. I believe there’s nothing in copying as long as it’s benefiting users.

3. Lock Screens Are Much Better

Among the biggest changes in HyperOS has been the introduction of new lock screen designs. They have existed on iPhones since iOS 16 and have now been integrated into HyperOS, which Xiaomi calls “Artistic Lock Screens”. These lock screens are highly customizable, and you can add depth of field effects.

HyperOS offers three lock style options – Classic, Rhombus, and Magazine. If you want to make the lock screen more personalised, go for Rhombus and Magazine for various clock options and effects.

It feels great to have new lock screens every now and then for a better unlocking experience. How often do you change your lock screen design or wallpaper? Please let me know in the comments below.

4. Say Goodbye to Bloatware

Xiaomi smartphones do not just come with many features, but they also bundle lots of unwanted apps (bloatware). It has been a problem with Xiaomi phones for years, which is finally getting fixed with HyperOS.

Although there are solutions to remove bloatware in MIUI phones, the steps are too technical for most users. Finally, the new HyperOS allows users to remove unnecessary apps.

Removing unwanted apps from your Xiaomi device not only saves some storage but also frees up system resources occupied by them. So, you get more storage and better performance.

5. Dynamic Island-Like Feature With Limited Uses

With HyperOS, Xiaomi has also joined the Dynamic Island bandwagon, but the Chinese company has arrived quite tardily. Though Xiaomi doesn’t have a name for it, many call it “Dynamic Notch”. Unlike the Dynamic Island on iPhones, it doesn’t do much on Xiaomi phones.

Whenever you connect a charger, the area around the notch becomes dark to show the charging speed and battery percentage. It also works when you turn on the mobile hotspot, activate DND, or switch the device to silent mode. While it doesn’t do much, it’s nice to have some cool visual elements. Hopefully, Xiaomi will do more with it in the near future. It would be great if third-party apps could also take advantage of it.

6. Lightweight OS With Improved Battery Life

HyperOS takes less space compared to MIUI. According to the official website, MIUI 14 takes 12.53GB on your device, while the HyperOS occupies 9.14GB of storage, which is very impressive. So you have more storage to save photos, videos, and other files.

Xiaomi has made significant changes to the core system, resulting in improved battery life. While it’s difficult to say how much battery improvements you should expect as it depends on the usage. But you should get an additional hour of screen time.

Don’t expect to see improved battery life quickly after switching to HyperOS. When you install the new OS, the device undergoes optimizations, which happen in the background. The battery usage can be high for the initial days, but after that, you’ll start seeing improvements.

7. The Camera App Gets a New Shortcut

Though there are not many changes to the Camera app, HyperOS adds a useful shortcut to access video options. In MIUI, you have to click the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner to see video options, which, in HyperOS, can be done just by swiping down from the middle.

If you take a lot of videos with your Xiaomi phone, you know how helpful this small change is.

8. App Grouping By Colors

MIUI (left) / HyperOS (right)

Many people find it fascinating to have apps grouped by the colours of the app icons. If you are among them, HyperOS has a built-in feature to do so.

Swipe up to open the app drawer, tap on the icon in the upper-right corner, and toggle on “Group icons by colour”. All apps in the app drawer should now be grouped based on the dominant colour in the app icon.

9. Screen Resizing Is Now Effortless

When you open apps using the sidebar, it opens in a small window. In MIUI 14, you have to manually adjust it, which is now changing in HyperOS. In the new OS, if you tap the three dots, you get the option to split the screen (up/down), close it, and open the app in full screen. It’s much easier to use apps in the split-screen mode.

10. HyperOS Focuses on the Ecosystem

Xiaomi’s primary focus with HyperOS is to create a deeply connected ecosystem. The Chinese tech giant aims to create a unified system for Xiaomi devices, which might include smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart speakers, smart watches, smart displays, smart lighting, and fitness trackers. HyperOS has also been integrated into Xiaomi’s electric car.

Conclusion

HyperOS is better than MIUI in every aspect. You get awesome lock screens, a clean control center, a dynamic notch, new camera shortcuts, and better split screen management. If your device is eligible for the HyperOS upgrade, install the update and explore new features.

Before you leave, please remember that HyperOS is new and can have some bugs. If you face any issues, report the bug to Xiaomi and regularly update your device to ensure optimal performance.

If you are wondering if your phone is slated to get the update, make sure to check out our story on HyperOS update availability for all your Xiaomi, Poco devices.