20,000 Rabbit R1 units already sold, pre-orders now open for third batch

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Jan 12, 2024

The Rabbit R1, a new hardware-based AI assistant from startup Rabbit AI, has seen unexpectedly high demand following its reveal at CES earlier this week. The initial 10,000 units sold out within a day, and a second batch met the same fate shortly after. Currently, a third batch is available for pre-order.

The affordable price tag of $199 is likely a major contributor to the R1’s early success. In comparison, the recently launched Humane Ai Pin starts at $699, making the Rabbit a significantly more budget-friendly option.

Rabbit co-designed the R1 with the Swedish company Teenage Engineering. Its goal is to act as a bridge between users and their smartphones, including iPhones and other devices. The Rabbit R1 and its operating system, Rabbit OS, are designed to simplify user interaction with applications.

The R1 has a square, compact design. It’s covered in a red-orange casing and is about half the size of a regular smartphone. Under the hood, a 2.3GHz MediaTek Helio P35 processor and 4GB of RAM power the device, with 128GB of storage and a small 2.88-inch touchscreen.

However, the Rabbit R1 doesn’t handle much processing itself beyond natural language recognition. Instead, it utilizes a “Large Action Model” (LAM) that connects to various third-party app and web-app APIs, including generative AI services like ChatGPT.

This approach, dubbed “outsourcing” by Rabbit, allows the R1 to perform a wide range of tasks without the need for powerful onboard hardware. Users link these services through the Rabbit Hole web portal. Wi-Fi and an optional SIM card slot provide connectivity options.

The R1’s capabilities range from basic tasks like setting alarms and playing music to more complex ones like booking appointments and controlling smart home devices. Additionally, the open platform allows for expansion as new services and apps become available.

Related:

Xiaomi to launch BE 3600, its cheapest WiFi 7 router on January 30

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Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design first sale kicks off in China for 15999 Yuan ($2250)

By

Sean

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Jan 12, 2024

Earlier this week, the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design foldable smartphone was unveiled in the Chinese market. Now, the flagship flexible device has gone on sale for the first time ever. So here’s everything you need to know.

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design Pricing

The Chinese brand has kicked off the first sale of the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design, which features a custom Snapdragon processor. This model is being sold via Honor Mall, Honor Experience Stores, and Porsche’s official China website. It has a price tag of 15,999 Yuan for its lone storage option, which roughly translates to about 2,250 US Dollars.

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design Specs

As the name suggests, this is a special edition model that adopts design elements from the popular luxury car making brand. Emphasis is placed on its design, which boasts rhinoceros glass, leveraging second-generation nano-microcrystalline glass technology for increased crystal density, storage stress, and overall anti-fall capability. It comes with a new aerodynamic body design with a sleek sliding side window. The cover panel is from Porsche Design and now features a silicon nitride coating, enhancing scratch and drop resistance.

Honor Foldable Magic V2 RSR Porche design

The Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design sports a tall 7.92-inch 120Hz flexible OLED primary display and a 6.43-inch external OLED screen. Under the hood, the smartphone is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Leading Edition SoC, which is a custom version of the high end chipset. This processor is paired ith 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage. The rear packs a 50-megapixel triple camera setup, while the front has a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. A large 5,000mAh battery pack powers the device, which supports 66W fast charging.

RELATED:

Huawei P70 tipped for familiar Kirin 9000S chip

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Jan 12, 2024

Huawei is reportedly working on its next flagship smartphone series, the Huawei P70. While the official release date or specs remain under wraps, leaks have started offering a glimpse of what to expect.

The latest comes from a Weibo tipster Smart Pikachu who revealed in a recent post that the Huawei P70 series will feature curved displays. However, unlike most current flagships, the display resolution may not reach the typical 2K standard. Our best guess is that it could be 1.5K instead.

The tipster also revealed that the base P70 model might be powered by the Kirin 9000S chip, the same one found in the Mate 60 series. It’s an octa-core processor with 1 high-performance core, 3 performance cores, and 4 efficiency cores, alongside a Mali-G710 MC10 GPU.

Another tipster Digital Chat Station recently shared the render of the Huawei P70’s back panel. It shows a change in the camera module design from its predecessor, Huawei P60.

The render depicts a triple-camera setup housed in a large, rounded rectangle module. The lenses are arranged in a triangular form, with the XMAGE branding prominently displayed on the module.

DCS suggests the device will feature a new “variable aperture” main lens and a long-range periscope camera, although we are short of any further details like resolution or image sensors.

While this leak provides some interesting details, it’s important to remember that these are just early rumors, so take them with a pinch of salt. We can expect further information about Huawei P70 series to surface in the coming days.

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Oppo Reno 11 & 11 Pro with Dimensity 8200 SoC, 6.7 curved AMOLED display & 32MP telephoto camera launched in India

By

Sudhanshu

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Jan 12, 2024

The Oppo Reno 11 series has finally arrived in the Indian market after launching yesterday in Malaysia. The series consists of two models: Reno 11 and Reno 11 Pro. Both the devices feature a premium design and powerful camera setups specializing in taking portrait shots.

Oppo Reno 11 specs:

The Oppo Reno 11 comes with a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED curved display offering 10-bit color, HDR support, and a peak brightness of 950 nits. Under the hood, the smartphone houses the Dimensity 7050 SoC, which is the rebranded Dimensity 1080 SoC. This chipset is also on board the Realme 11 Pro series, as well as the Oppo Reno 10 5G from last year.

It comes with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and offers storage options of 128GB or 256GB with UFS 3.1 technology. As for software, the device comes pre-loaded with Android 14-based ColorOS 14, with a commitment to 3 OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates.

With the camera being one of the major attractions of this device, the Reno 11 offers a 50MP Sony LYT600 primary sensor with ƒ/1.8 aperture and OIS stabilization. Along with that, the device also has an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide camera and a 32MP Sony IMX709 telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom that specializes in taking human portrait shots. On the front, it has a 32MP selfie snapper.

The device uses Oppo’s HyperTone Image Engine, a technology designed to deliver detailed photographs. It uses deep pixel fusion in processing raw images ensuring sharp details, accurate colors, and an extended dynamic range. The Reno 11 Series is particularly tailored for Indian users, with the Tone Mapping Control algorithm optimizing portrait photos for various skin tones.

Additional features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, infrared sensor, and robust connectivity options such as 5G support, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C, and NFC. Keeping everything powered is a 5000mAh battery with 67W SuperVOOC fast charging technology. The device measures 162.4×74.3×7.99~8.04mm and weighs 182g.

Oppo Reno 11 Pro specs:

The Reno 11 Pro has the same 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED curved display as the Reno 11, offering 950 nits peak brightness and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Under the hood, the device features a MediaTek Dimensity 8200, a powerful mid-range chip also present in devices like the iQOO Neo 7 and Vivo V29 Pro.

It comes with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and a generous 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. As for software, the Android 14-based ColorOS 14 is available out of the box. Camera capabilities mostly mirror the Reno 11, with a 32MP 2x telephoto lens, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP front camera. However, the Pro model has the tried and tested 50MP IMX890 flagship-grade main sensor onboard for stellar photography performance. The phone offers Oppo’s Portrait AI, which offers control over aperture even in post-processing. It also

Additional features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, infrared sensor, USB Type-C audio, stereo speakers, and robust connectivity options like 5G support, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C, and NFC. Powering the Reno11 Pro is a 4700mAh battery with an impressive 80W SuperVOOC fast charging capability. The device maintains a sleek profile, measuring 162.4×74.1×7.59~7.66mm and weighing 181g.

Pricing & availability

Oppo has priced the Reno 11 starting at Rs. 29,999, while the 8GB + 256GB model has a price tag of Rs. 31,999. It comes in Wave Green and Rock Grey color options. The Reno 11 Pro on the other hand is priced at Rs. 39,999 and comes in Pearl White and Rock Grey color options.

Available for pre-order on Flipkart, Oppo India online store, and offline outlets from January 12th, these smartphones will go on sale starting January 18th (Reno 11 Pro) and January 25th (Reno 11 5G).

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Xiaomi to launch BE 3600, its cheapest WiFi 7 router on January 30, pre-reservations now open

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Jan 12, 2024

Xiaomi is expanding its lineup of WiFi 7 routers with the new BE 3600, set to launch on January 30th in China. While the official price remains under wraps, pre-reservations are now open which shows the price will not be more than 299 yuan (around $43).

This makes the BE 3600 Xiaomi’s most affordable Wi-Fi 7 offering, targeting budget-conscious users eager to experience the latest wireless standard.

Xiaomi’s official “Smart Ecosystem” Weibo handle also teased some of the specifications of the device. It reveals that the BE 3600 boasts a 2.5Gbps high-speed network port, a 4-core chip, and IoT connectivity feature to help you manage your smart home devices.

This marks the fourth Wi-Fi 7 router in Xiaomi’s arsenal, joining the likes of the BE 6500 Pro, BE 7000, and the 10 Gigabit router. Among these, the BE 6500 Pro was launched last October with an initial price of 699 yuan (around $100).

The BE 6500 Pro is equipped with a Qualcomm 4-core A53 1.5GHz CPU and 1GB of memory. It utilizes a full 2.5Gbps network port and supports dual WAN and LAN port aggregation, pushing speeds up to 5Gbps. This translates to faster downloads, seamless streaming, and lag-free gaming.

It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi 7, officially known as IEEE 802.11be, is the successor to Wi-Fi 6, marked by the “be” in the model names (similar to “AX” for Wi-Fi 6). So most of the routers compatible with the new standard will have BE in their name.

The WiFi 7 standard boasts impressive features like 320MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM modulation, and cutting-edge technologies like MRU (Multiple Resource Units) and MLO (Multi-link operation).

This translates to typical speeds around 30Gbps, with peaks exceeding 40Gbps—a massive gain compared to Wi-Fi 6’s 9.6Gbps peak and Wi-Fi 5’s measly 3.5Gbps. That’s up to four times faster than Wi-Fi 6!

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Possible leak hints at new PS5 controller with improved battery life

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Jan 12, 2024

A listing on the Best Buy Canada website may have revealed a new version of the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

The listing, titled “PlayStation 5 V2 DualSense Wireless Controller – White,” shows a price tag of $89 CAD, the same as the original controller. However, it’s currently unavailable for purchase and has no official release date.

While the images seem identical to the existing DualSense, the listing claims significant internal upgrades. The V2 model is said to retain the haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and microphone of its predecessor, but with key improvements.

The listing boasts a “charging station” with “easy click-in charging” and an “exceptional 12-hour battery life on a full charge,” a notable gain from the current controller’s 5-6 hours. This would significantly reduce the need for frequent charging, especially for users of the battery-hungry DualSense Edge controller.

Sony hasn’t commented on the leak, so it’s important to treat this information with caution. Best Buy could have made a mistake, or the listing could be inaccurate.

However, rumors of a PlayStation State of Play event this month have also surfaced, and an announcement of a new DualSense model could fit perfectly into such an event.

Until we hear from Sony, PlayStation gamers can only hope that the leak is true and that a longer-lasting DualSense controller is on its way.

In related news, Sony has announced new nine games will be arriving for the PlayStation Plus Extra members on January 16th. To know more about the list of titles, you can check here.

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Huawei Nova 12 Ultra goes on sale in China

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Jan 12, 2024

Huawei launched the Nova 12 series in China last month. The Nova 12 Ultra, the flagship model in the series, is now available for purchase in the home market starting today. Here is a look at the specifications and price of the Huawei Nova 12 Ultra.

Huawei Nova 12 Ultra Price

The Nova 12 Ultra comes in three colors — Black, Blue, and Gray. It’s offered in two storage options: 512GB and 1TB, priced at 4,699 Yuan (approximately 658 USD) and 5,499 Yuan (approximately 769 USD) respectively.

Specifications

The Nova 12 Ultra comes with a 6.76-inch OLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s a pill-shaped cutout that accommodates the dual front-facing cameras, and the display is protected by scratch-resistant Kunlun glass. It’s lightweight at 198 grams and slim at 7.68mm.

Powering the device is a Kirin 9000SL chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The 9000SL is a 5G chipset meaning you will be able to enjoy 5G network services and the phone also offers satellite connectivity features. Software-wise, it comes with HarmonyOS 4.0 out-of-the-box.

Around the back, the device features a triple camera setup led by a 50MP main sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide and a macro scooter. Not to forget, the main camera features a variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0) for improved low-light performance, with 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom capabilities.

The front houses a 60MP ultra-wide angle selfie camera and an 8MP portrait camera, both with autofocus.

Keeping the lights on is a 4600mAh cell that supports 100W fast charging. Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, dual SIM support, gesture navigation, face unlock, Bluetooth 5.2, and various audio codecs.

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Peach Fuzz Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, Edge 40 Neo on sale in India

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jan 12, 2024

Last month, Motorola announced the Razr 40 Ultra and Edge 40 Neo in Peach Fuzz — Pantone’s color of the year 2024. These devices were soon available for purchase in select Western markets.

Yesterday, the foldable was made available in China. A day later, both of them are now on sale in India as scheduled.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra and Edge 40 Neo in Peach Fuzz

The Razr 40 Ultra and the Edge 40 Neo in Peach Fuzz cost the same as the launch colors.

The clamshell foldable carries an official price tag of ₹79,999 after a recent price cut. But for a limited time, it is being sold at a cheaper price of ₹69,999. That’s a whopping ₹10,000 additional discount.

You get 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The handset can be purchased from Amazon.

On the other hand, the Edge 40 Neo is now ₹1,000 cheaper than its launch price. The 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256GB memory configurations retail at ₹22,999 and ₹24,999, respectively. It can be ordered on Flipkart.

For the unaware, Peach Fuzz is the second Pantone color for the Razr 40 Ultra. It also comes in Viva Magenta, which happens to be Pantone’s color of the year 2023.

Whereas, Peach Fuzz is the fourth Pantone color for the Edge 40 Neo. Its original three colors are also Pantone-curated. They are Black Beauty, Caneel Bay, and Soothing Sea.

As for specs, the Razr 40 Ultra arrives with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, a 6.9-inch 165Hz LTPO main display, a 3.6-inch cover screen, a 12MP + 13MP dual camera setup, a 32MP selfie camera, and a 3,800mAh battery with support for 30W wired as well as 5W wireless charging.

While the Edge 40 Neo comes with a 6.55-inch 144Hz OLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 7030 SoC, a 50MP + 13MP dual camera system, a 32MP front-facing camera, an IP68 rating, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 68W wired charging.

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Realme 12 Pro, 12 Pro+ launch date leaked with configurations, color options; live shots emerge

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 12, 2024

Realme has started teasing the arrival of the Realme 12 Pro series of smartphones in different markets. It has also been confirmed that the new Pro models will be announced later this month. However, a report by Appuals states the Realme 12 Pro and 12 Pro+ will be announced on Jan. 31 in India. In addition, the publication has leaked the configurations and color options of both smartphones.

Realme 12 Pro series RAM, storage, color options

According to the report, the Realme 12 Pro will be available in configurations such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. It will be available in shades such as Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige.

On the other hand, the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G will come in two options, such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. It will be available in three color options, such as Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, and Explorer Red. Unfortunately, the report does not state anything about the price of the Realme 12 Pro series.

Yanko Design has published several images of the blue and beige variants of the Realme 12 Pro+. Readers can visit this page to see more images.

Realme has officially confirmed the Realme 12 Pro series will have an OIS-enabled 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 primary camera. It has also been revealed that the Realme 12 Pro+ will have a 64-megapixel OV64B periscope telephoto camera that will offer 3x optical zoom, 6x lossless zoom, and 120x digital zoom.

Reports have revealed that both models have an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The Pro model may feature a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom.

For selfies, the Realme 12 Pro and Pro+ may feature a 16-megapixel and a 32-megapixel front camera, respectively. Additionally, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipsets are reportedly powering both devices.

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Vivo X Fold 3 weighing under 230 grams could be the lightest foldable phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 12, 2024

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are in the process of developing foldable phones that are lighter in weight. Presently, the Honor Magic V2 holds the title as the lightest horizontally foldable smartphone in the Chinese market, weighing 231 grams. There are indications that the upcoming Vivo X Fold 3, set to launch in Q1 this year, could potentially claim the title of the lightest foldable phone.

Alleged Vivo X Fold 3’s dimensions revealed

Reports have revealed that Vivo is soon going to hold a launch to announce at least three devices, such as the Vivo X100s, the Vivo Pad 3 tablet, and the Vivo X Fold 3 series. The latter is expected to include the X Fold 3 featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and the X Fold 3 Pro equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.

According to a recent Weibo post by tipster Digital Chat Station, a forthcoming foldable smartphone is expected to have dimensions of 5mm when unfolded and 10.5mm when folded. Additionally, the post suggests that the device will weigh between 220 grams and 229 grams, with the exact weight falling within this range, estimated at 22x grams.

DCS has previously claimed that the Vivo X Fold 3 will be a thin and lightweight device. Hence, the tipster could be talking about the said device (not the Pro model) in the latest leak.

As per a recent revelation by the same tipster, the Vivo X Fold 3 is anticipated to omit certain features present in the Pro model. These exclusions reportedly include the absence of a periscope telephoto camera, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, and wireless charging on the standard X Fold 3 variant. Hence, it appears that the X Fold 3, which is expected to carry an affordable price tag, may end up being the lightest foldable phone.

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Vivo V30 NBTC certified, launch imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 12, 2024

The upcoming Vivo V30 has been consistently bagging new certifications for the past few days. Earlier this week, it was spotted on the UAE’s TDRA certification platform. Previously, it has also been spotted at Indonesia’s SDPPI and TKDN, Taiwan’s NCC, Bluetooth SIG, and Geekbench. Now, it has bagged approval from the NBTC authority in Thailand. These certifications are a good hint that it will not take too long for the V30 to go official.’

Vivo V30 bags NBTC certification

The Vivo V30 moniker has been spotted with model number V2318 in NBTC’s database. Usually, the NBTC certification does not reveal the core specs of the device, but it does hint that the V30 may launch by the end of this month or in February.

The previously seen Geekbench listing of the device revealed that the Vivo V30 will be equipped with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, 12 GB of RAM, and Android 14. Hence, it is speculated that it could be a rebranded or a slightly modified version of the Vivo S18, which debuted in December 2023 in China.

Vivo V30 specifications

The Vivo V30 is likely to feature a 6.78-inch curved-edge AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It may sport an autofocus-enabled 50-megapixel front camera with a dual-LED flash. The rear camera system of the device will have an OIS-assisted 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and an Aura-LED flash.

Under the hood, the Vivo V30 will have the SD7G3 chip, 8 GB / 12 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, up to 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging. The V30 will run on FunTouch OS 14-based Android 14 and feature an in-display fingerprint sensor for security.

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Alleged Realme 12 receives 3C certification in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 12, 2024

Realme is all set to launch the Realme 12 Pro series this month in different markets. Some reports have claimed that the Realme 12 Pro and 12 Pro+ will be announced on Jan. 31 in India. It was recently revealed through the TDRA certification that the 12 Pro and 12 Pro+ have the RMX3842 and RMX3840 model numbers, respectively. As per the TENAA certification platform, these devices have RMX3843 and RMX3841 model numbers, respectively, for the Chinese market. Now, a new device identified with model number RMX3866 has appeared in the database of China’s 3C certification. It is speculated that it could be the Realme 12 5G.

Realme RMX3866 3C certified

The Realme RMX3866 handset has been spotted with VCB7CACH / VCB7OACH power brick in 3C’s database. The charger supports up to 11 VDC / 6.1A charging, which indicates that the RMX3866 may support 67W fast charging.

While it is being speculated that the RMX3866 could be the Realme 12 5G, its final moniker is not known yet. Hence, it is advisable to wait for further reports to know more about this device.

To recall, Realme announced the Realme 11 5G along with the Realme 11 Pro series in July last year. While the same Pro models were released globally, the 11 5G’s tweaked version was released as the Realme Narzo 60 5G in India. The 11 5G came with key specs, such as a 6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display, a Dimensity 6020 chip, 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, up to 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, a 64-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual-camera system, a 16-megapixel front camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, Realme UI 4-based Android 13, and an under-display fingerprint scanner.

There is a possibility that the company will announce the Realme 12 5G along with the Realme 12 Pro and 12 Pro+ in the Chinese market later this month.

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NVIDIA’s RTX Remix will Let Gamers Remaster Games on their Machines: CES 2024

By

Anubhav

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Jan 12, 2024

Nvidia‘s RTX Remix, set for its beta release this month, is stirring excitement among gaming enthusiasts and modders. The tool promises to transform classic games into visually stunning experiences, complete with advanced features like ray tracing. At CES 2024, Nvidia’s GeForce Evangelist, Jacob Freeman, confirmed to IGN that this beta version isn’t just a teaser; it allows for a full-scale remastering of classic games from beginning to end.

The technology was first introduced in September 2022

This news is especially thrilling for those familiar with modding. Freeman emphasized that with the right modding skills, RTX Remix could be used to completely overhaul classic titles. The tool has already shown its potential in projects like the remastering of Half-Life 2 by Orbifold Studios, demonstrating the capabilities of RTX Remix in enhancing game visuals and overall experience.

Portal RTX and the in-development Half-Life 2 RTX, created using earlier versions of RTX Remix, offer glimpses into the tool’s prowess. These projects have not only raised the bar for game remastering but also served as proof of the tool’s effectiveness. This confirmation from Nvidia allays any doubts about the tool’s capabilities, reassuring both curious modders and gamers alike.

Introduced in September 2022, RTX Remix quickly grabbed attention with its demo remaster of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. It showcased how even older games could be rejuvenated, offering a modern visual experience while retaining their original charm. For the gaming community, RTX Remix isn’t just another modding tool; it’s a gateway to revisiting beloved classics in a new light, making old favorites shine for a new generation of gamers.

Read more about Gizmochina’s coverage of CES 2024 here.

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(Via)

VinFast Unveils the DrgnFly E-Bike with a Motorcycle-Like Design at CES 2024

By

Anubhav

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Jan 12, 2024

The electric bike market has a new contender – VinFast‘s DrgnFly, blending modern tech with Vietnamese heritage. Originating from a company known for electric cars, VinFast’s foray into e-bikes is a bold step, showcasing its innovative spirit and cultural roots.

The bike has a 750-watt motor and a top speed of 28 mph

At first glance, the DrgnFly stands out with its unique design. Its low, fixed saddle and motorcycle-like aesthetics reflect a blend of bicycle and moped, reminiscent of Super73’s style. This design choice might not be everyone’s cup of tea due to the fixed saddle height, but it certainly adds a distinct character to the bike.

What truly sets the DrgnFly apart is its cultural symbolism. Inspired by Thang Long, the ancient imperial citadel in Hanoi, the bike represents the ascending dragon, a powerful symbol in Vietnamese culture. This touch of heritage, combined with a modern design by the award-winning Danish studio, Eskild Hansen, creates a product that’s more than just an e-bike; it’s a piece of art.

Technologically, the DrgnFly is tailored for the American market, boasting a 750-watt motor and a top speed of 28 mph. Its smart features, such as torque sensor pedal assist, offer a smooth riding experience. While it claims a 63-mile range, variables like rider weight and terrain will impact this. Its 4G connectivity and mobile app integration for ride modes, GPS, and diagnostics show VinFast’s commitment to a high-tech riding experience.

Priced at $2,800, the DrgnFly brings a lot to the table – from its cultural significance to its advanced features. Its debut at CES 2024 marks VinFast’s ambition in the growing e-bike industry, estimated to reach $120 billion by 2030.

Read more about Gizmochina’s coverage of CES 2024 here.

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(Via)

Discord Announces a 17% Reduction in its Workforce

By

Anubhav

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Jan 12, 2024

Discord recently announced a significant reduction in its workforce, affecting 17% of its employees. This decision, communicated by CEO Jason Citron, reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where rapid expansion during the pandemic years is giving way to a more cautious approach.

A total of 170 employees will be laid off across various departments

The layoffs at Discord impact 170 individuals across various departments, marking the company’s largest workforce reduction to date. This follows a smaller round of layoffs in August last year. Citron’s memo to employees, which outlines the decision, reveals a company grappling with the challenges of over-expansion. Since 2020, Discord’s workforce has grown fivefold, leading to inefficiencies and an unsustainable operational model.

Discord’s financial situation is complex. Despite having raised about $1 billion in funding and possessing over $700 million in cash reserves, the company is still striving for profitability. The surge in user growth during the pandemic has plateaued, and Discord is now refocusing its strategy to become leaner and more agile.

This situation mirrors the larger tech industry, which is also experiencing a wave of layoffs, including recent cuts at giants like Google and Amazon. These developments point to a recalibration in the tech sector, which had previously seen unchecked growth and expansion.

For the affected employees, Discord is offering considerable support, including five months of salary, continuation of benefits, outplacement services, and equity vesting. Citron’s memo emphasizes the importance of supporting those leaving and acknowledges the contributions they have made to the company.

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(Via)

Oppo Find X7, Find X7 Ultra goes on sale in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 12, 2024

Oppo has recently launched the Find X7 series of smartphones in China. Starting today, the Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra are available for purchase in the home market. Here is a look at the specifications and prices of both models.

Find X7, Find X7 Ultra prices

The Find X7 comes in four options, such as 12GB+256GB, 16GB+256GB, 16GB+512GB, and 16GB+1TB for 3,999 Yuan (~$565), 4,299 Yuan (~$605), 4,599 Yuan (~$650), and 4,999 Yuan (~$705), respectively. It comes in shades such as Purple Smoke, Back Starry Sky, Silver Moon Desert, and Sea and Sky.

On the other hand, the Find X7 Ultra is available in options such as 12GB+256GB, 16GB+256GB, and 16GB+512GB for 5,999 Yuan (~$845), 6,499 Yuan (~$920), and 6,999 Yuan (~$990), respectively. It is available in colors like Rhyme Pine Shadows, Silver Moon Desert, and Sea and Sky.

Find X7, Find X7 Ultra specifications

The Find X7 has a 6.78-inch curved-edge OLED display that offers a 1.5K resolution, whereas the Ultra variant has a 6.82-inch curved-edge OLED screen with support for 2K resolution. Both support up to a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 4,500 nits of brightness. The Find X7 series runs on ColorOS 14-based Android 14.

The Find X7 and X7 Ultra are powered by the Dimensity 9300 chip and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, respectively. The X7 and X7 Ultra have a 5,000mAh battery with 100W charging. In addition, the Ultra variant also supports 50W wireless charging.

The Find X7 series features a 32-megapixel front camera. The X7 has a 50-megapixel LYT-808 main camera, a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 ultra-wide camera, and a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. On the other hand, the Find X7 Ultra has a 50-megapixel LYT-900 main camera, a 50-megapixel LYT-600 ultra-wide lens, a 50-megapixel IMX890 periscope camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel IMX858 periscope camera with 6x optical zoom.

Where to purchase the Find X7 series globally?

Oppo has already confirmed that the Find X7 Ultra will not be released in the global market, and the fate of the X7’s global launch is also not known. For those who are interested, the Chinese editions of the Find X7 and X7 Ultra are available for purchase on Giztop for $699 and $999, respectively.

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CES 2024: ASRock unveils three new Phantom gaming monitors with up to 520Hz refresh rate, Wi-Fi 7

By

Soumyakanti

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Jan 11, 2024

ASRock is a Taiwanese company recognized for producing high-quality and affordable computer hardware, including motherboards, graphics cards, industrial PCs, and mini PCs. Their motherboards are popular among gamers and overclockers due to their extensive feature sets and performance options. In addition to their core products, ASRock entered the monitor market in 2019, introducing gaming monitors under the Phantom Gaming and Challenger series.

At the CES 2024 event, the company introduced three new Phantom series 27-inch gaming monitors, each boasting unique features and catering to the needs of hardcore gamers and tech enthusiasts. The lineup includes the PG27FFX2A, PG27QFW2A, and PG0270W2A models, all equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi 7 antenna to enhance cloud gaming experiences.

The PG27FFX2A stands out with its remarkable 520Hz refresh rate, offering unparalleled smoothness in gameplay. It features a 1920 x 1080 resolution display, ensuring crisp and clear visuals. Connectivity-wise, it includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DP 1.4 port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, one USB-A 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The monitor also boasts a 1ms GTG response time, reducing motion blur and ghosting. With a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 400 nits brightness, it delivers vibrant colors, covering 99% of the sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamuts.

The PG27QFW2A monitor, featuring a 2K (2560 x 1440) resolution, offers a 400Hz refresh rate, ideal for high-definition gaming. It maintains a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness level of 350 nits. The specific details and quantity of its USB-C and USB-A ports are yet to be revealed, but it also includes two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DP 1.4 port.

Lastly, the PG0270W2A monitor comes with an OLED panel, providing a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and supporting a 360Hz native refresh rate. This monitor stands out with an exceptionally low response time of 0.03 milliseconds and a high contrast ratio of 1500000:1. Its maximum brightness is 250 nits. For connectivity, it offers two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DP 1.4 port, and one USB-C 3.0 port.

With their impressive specs and innovative features, ASRock’s new gaming monitors are sure to be a hot commodity for passionate gamers seeking the ultimate competitive edge. The pricing and availability details remain undisclosed as of now. We will keep you updated if there’s any new info. Stay tuned for more CES 2024 updates.

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(Via)

TCL QM891G 115-inch mini-LED TV with 20,000 level backlight partitions & 5,000 nits peak brightness unveiled

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 11, 2024

TCL has showcased its 115-inch mini-LED TV at the ongoing CES 2024. The TCL TV model QM891G uses a mini-LED panel and is the same as the TCL X11G Max that was released in China. Both models sport a 115-inch panel and the TV has up to 20,000 level backlight partitions.

The TCL 115-inch mini-LED TV has a peak brightness of 5,000 nits and achieves up to 120Hz high display refresh rate. The TV is equipped with the VA screen A++ butterfly wing star screen. The high-end screen is produced by TCL Huaxing with its liquid crystal layer adopting nanoscale bionic technology. The butterfly wing microstructure of the liquid crystal molecules helps to accurately control passing light. The TV has a contrast ratio of 7,000:1 and a higher response speed.

The TCL QM891G TV supports AMD FreeSync Premium, comes with anti-glare screen coating, and features an integrated 6.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system. It also has an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcasting. The TV is equipped with the Lingyao chip M2, integrating the TXR Mini LED image quality enhancement chip for full intelligent perception capabilities. The TV offers a control desktop that can be used easily like a mobile phone. It omits the cumbersome operation mode of traditional TVs and offers full customization. The film and television content can be customized and the user can also set up multiple exclusive desktops.

Pricing & Availability

TCL did not divulge the price and release optics of the new TCL QM891G TV for the global market. It is however expected to be released soon. There are concerns though about the possible high energy consumption of the new TCL TV. The users may thus have to strike a balance between having an expensive TV and paying significantly higher electricity bills.

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BYD’s Yangwang U7 sleek sedan with 1,000+ horsepower motor unveiled in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 11, 2024

Chinese automaker BYD has released its Yangwang luxury sub-brand’s first electric sedan, the U7. The U7 is a sleek electric sedan with an overall output above 1,000 horsepower. The new product adds to the growing repertoire of BYD which is now the leading EV manufacturer globally. BYD recently overtook Tesla in global EV sales.

Features

The U7 is a flagship offering by BYD and comes with a hefty price tag. In 2023, BYD sold up to 1.6 million electric vehicles, indicating a 73% increase from the previous year. When plug-in hybrids or the so-called new energy vehicles are included in the mix, BYD’s 2023 sales surpassed 3 million units. BYD also recently launched the Song L electric SUV as it continues to expand to new markets. The Song L is a Tesla Model Y rival and is priced starting from $27,000. The Song L has a range of about 662km (CLTC). The Song L recorded over 8,000 orders in the first three days of its entering the market.

The Yangwang sub-brand was launched in 2022 and all new models from the brand will be based on the company’s new e4 Platform. In September, Yangwang debuted with the U8 off-road NEV SUV with a starting price of $150,000. The off-roader is designed to tackle the most difficult of terrains and comes with a 1,200hp output, tank turns, and tire blowout stabilization, among other features. The U8 has a unique Float Mode feature that allows the car to move through water during emergencies.

BYD shared images of the Yangwang U8 on its official Weibo page on July 10. The EV was termed as a million-level new energy flagship sedan. Its design style is a mix of the U9 and a family style design incorporated. It has similar headlights and LiDAR on the roof, as with the U9, and also has a large air intake system and carbon fiber side skirts. The e4 Platform with 1,000hp is promoted by Yangwang as primed to subvert the performance limit of cars with its aerodynamic design.

Pricing

The Yangwang U7 will be priced around $140,000 but the full release details are lacking at this time. The U7 is also expected to berth in a sprinkling of overseas markets outside China.

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HP Omen Transcend 32 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor with 240Hz refresh rate unveiled at CES 2024

By

Sudhanshu

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Jan 11, 2024

HP has officially introduced the Omen Transcend 32, a gaming monitor featuring a QD-OLED panel with a 4K resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 and a 240 Hz refresh rate. Despite its name suggesting a 32-inch display, the actual measurement is 31.5 inches, as confirmed by the company.

This release follows the debut of the Omen Transcend 14 laptop which was also launched during the recent CES 2024 event. HP’s Omen Transcend 32 is certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, featuring a swift 0.03 ms GtG response time and quad 3 W speakers for audio.

Designed with a flat finish, the monitor comes with an adjustable stand allowing users to raise, lower, tilt, or pivot according to their preferences.

Connectivity is a highlight, featuring a DisplayPort 2.1 connection, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB Type-C port supporting DisplayPort Alt mode and 140 W Power Delivery, two additional USB Type-C ports, and three USB Type-A ports—all boasting 10 Gbps data transfer speeds and 7.5 W Power Delivery.

HP has not disclosed pricing or availability details yet, but the company has committed to a release sometime in 2024. In related news, HP has also launched its Omen 16 mid-tier gaming laptop in India. This laptop comes with a bunch of attractive features like a 16.1-inch 165Hz display, an Intel Core i7 14700HX processor, and an RTX 4070 GPU. The laptop is priced above the 150K mark, however, it comes with a bunch of freebies and goodies like the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core gaming headset.

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