Oppo Find N3’s camera prowess showcased in first sample photo

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Oct 13, 2023

Oppo’s next foldable flagship smartphone, the Find N3, is set to launch on October 19th. Ahead of the launch, Oppo’s Chief Product Officer, Pete Lau, has shared the first camera sample of the Find N3 to show off its photography prowess.

The sample shows the Find N3 up against two other flagship smartphones released this year. As you can see in the image above, the Find N3 preserves natural light without overexposing the highlights. The shadows are also well-preserved, and the transition from highlights to shadow looks quite natural. Likewise, the texts in the book are also clear to read.

In contrast, the two other flagship smartphones clearly overexposed the highlights, lost the text details, and made the dark area too bright. In short, both smartphones fail to preserve the natural look of the picture.

Reportedly, the Find N3 features Sony’s latest LYTIA 800 camera sensor, which uses a two-layer transistor pixel structure. This allows the sensor to capture more light and reduce noise, even in challenging lighting conditions. The first camera sample shared by Lau suggests that the sensor is indeed very capable.

Oppo is clearly confident about the Find N3’s camera capabilities, and it will be interesting to see how it performs in real-world conditions. The device is launching on October 19, so we’ll have to wait and see then.

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Google Pixel 8 Pro Aces JerryRigEverything’s Durability Test

By

Viraj Gawde

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Oct 13, 2023

Google launched the Pixel 8 series phones earlier this month. The striking highlight of the latest-generation flagships from the search giant is 7 years of guaranteed software updates. Additionally, the company also confirmed that the devices will get spare parts for the same duration to align with the longer software support. Now, the Pixel 8 Pro has undergone famous YouTuber JerryRigEverything’s intense durability test. Let’s find out if the smartphone comes out unscathed.

Google Pixel 8 Pro durability test

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts a super actua display offering high brightness levels. The screen is shielded by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and it gets scratched at level 6 with deeper grooves noticeable at level 7. It is not as resistant as Apple’s Ceramic Shield on the latest iPhone 15 series. Meanwhile, the back panel comes out with no scratches. The smartphone has a slim profile with the frame made up of recycled aluminum. It gets easily scratched on all sides in the scrape test. Notably, the camera visor on the rear suffers the same fate along with the new thermometer sensor below the LED flash unit. The power and volume rocker buttons can also be removed.

In the burn test, the Pixel 8 Pro withstands flame for 17 seconds but succumbs to a permanent burn mark as the dead pixel does not get restored. This should not be an issue unless you find yourself in a similar situation in the real world. The optical fingerprint scanner works flawlessly despite being scratched multiple times.

Lastly, the Pixel 8 Pro holds its ground in the most gruesome test – the bend test. Zack tries bending it from both sides with ample force multiple times. The overall structural rigidity remains uncompromised.

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Thunderbird Air 2 Smart Glasses Released: Affordable AR Glasses with Micro OLED Display and 120Hz Refresh Rate

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Oct 13, 2023

Once only seen in science fiction and spy movies, smart glasses are now more accessible than ever. For instance, Meta recently introduced its second-generation Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, and Huawei has launched the Eyewear 2 series, both boasting impressive specifications and functionality. While these are great options, Thunderbird is determined to make this technology available to everyone with its newly introduced Air 2 smart glasses. Here are the details…

Thunderbird Air 2 Smart Glasses Released: Switch Exclusive Accessory, Bundle Price 2699 Yuan

If there are those among you who are unfamiliar, Thunderbird is a Chinese technology company that specializes in the development and production of smart glasses and other wearable devices. The company especially gained attention with the release of its Thunderbird X1 smart glasses a while ago. These glasses were released in October 2022 and are the predecessor to the Thunderbird Air 2. They feature a 1080p Micro OLED display, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a built-in battery that can last for up to 6 hours. So, how does the new model compare in terms of improvements to its predecessor?

The Thunderbird Air 2 smart glasses have a design similar to regular sunglasses and weigh just 76 grams. They feature Sony’s latest 0.55-inch Micro OLED display, offering a 1080p resolution, a remarkable 4032 PPI, a PPD of 49, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a brightness up to 600 nits. Additionally, these glasses introduce a unique accessory exclusive to the Switch called the JoyDock. You can plug this accessory straight into the game console and then connect it to the smart glasses using a Type-C cable.

The device comes with a 10,000mAh battery that can charge both the Switch game console and the glasses at the same time. Moreover, the Thunderbird Air 2 can be directly connected to a smartphone using a Type-C port. It’s also designed to accommodate users who wear prescription glasses for nearsightedness or farsightedness. Pre-orders for the glasses are now available.

Price & Availability

Thunderbird Air 2 smart glasses are currently available for pre-order in China at a starting price of 2299 yuan (approximately $320 USD). The bundle price with the JoyDock accessory is 2699 yuan (approximately $370 USD). Thunderbird Air 2 is expected to be released in China in early November 2023. There is no information yet on international availability.

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Tecno Spark Go 2024 surfaces on NBTC, launch could be imminent

By

Sean

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Oct 13, 2023

Tecno is apparently planning on launching another smartphone from its Spark series. The company’s next model is a fresh entry in the Spark Go series and will likely be the 2024 edition, which was recently spotted on a certification platform. So here are all the details.

Tecno Spark Go 2024

The smartphone maker’s latest Spark Go phone was spotted on Thailand’s NBTC certification platform. Looking at the online listing, the upcoming device carries the model number BG6. This certification also confirmed that the handset will be a 4G enabled handset, which means it supports 2G, 3G, and LTE networking as well. The Tecno Spark Go 2024 had recently surfaced on the Bluetooth SIG platform as well.

This certification showed that it supports Bluetooth version 5.0. On the other hand, another sighting on the Eurofins Product Certification page revealed that it will be powered by a large 4,900mAh battery pack. In other words, it would likely be rated for 5,000mAh. Unfortunately, this is all the information we have regarding this smartphone at the moment. Earlier this year, the company launched the Tecno Spark Go 2023 edition so we can expect the next gen model to come with slight improvements over its predecessor.

The Tecno Spark Go 2023 sports a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel that has an HD+ resolution and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. Meanwhile, the rear packs a 13-megapixel dual camera setup and a fingerprint scanner as well. Under the hood, the device is equipped with the MediaTek Helio A22 SoC which is paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. So the 2024 edition would likely offer improvements in some of these specs.

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URBAN Nova & Wave Three smartwatches launched with BT calling

By

Sudhanshu

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Oct 13, 2023

URBAN has recently launched two new smartwatches in India called the URBAN Nova and the URBAN Wave Three. Both of these smartwatches are reasonably priced and come with many impressive features like Bluetooth calling.

URBAN Nova & Wave Three specs

The URBAN Wave Three comes in a sleek matte black and titanium grey design, offering three strap options: metal, PU leather, and premium silicone. It features a 1.91-inch IPS touchscreen for easy navigation. This smartwatch keeps a close eye on your health by monitoring both heart rate and blood pressure. With Bluetooth (v5.1) connectivity, it allows calls within a range of up to 10 meters. You have the flexibility to switch out straps and watch faces to suit your style. It also supports multitasking with a split-screen feature. For fitness enthusiasts, it offers various sports modes to track your workouts effectively.

On the other hand, the URBAN Nova boasts a stylish metal casing and vibrant color choices. Its display is slightly smaller at 1.86 inches. This smartwatch takes care of your health by keeping tabs on your heart rate, blood pressure, and daily steps. It supports Bluetooth calling. You can personalize it further with a range of watch faces and nine-strap colors. Boosting productivity, it includes a rotating crown, an AI Voice Assistant, and various fitness modes to help you stay active.

Pricing & availability

The URBAN Wave Three is tagged at Rs. 2499 and comes with a premium gift pack. You can pick from two color combinations: Matte Black with Black Metal, Grey Silicone, and Brown PU Leather straps, or Titanium Silver with Titanium Metal, Blue Silicone, and Black PU Leather straps.

As for the URBAN Nova, it’s priced at Rs. 1799 and offers a range of color choices, including Fiery Orange, Steel Grey, Twilight Purple, Forest Green, Indigo Blue, Cobalt Blue, Sunshine Yellow, Starlight Beige, and Jet Black.

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Samsung Galaxy A05s To Launch In India On October 18

By

Viraj Gawde

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Oct 13, 2023

Samsung is set to launch a new Galaxy A-series phone in India. The South Korean brand has confirmed that it will announce the Galaxy A05s smartphone in the country next week. It will arrive as the successor to the Galaxy A04s. The upcoming offering debuted in Malaysia last month. The Indian variant is expected to come with the same specifications. Read on to know the details.

Samsung Galaxy A05s launch date in India

Samsung will launch the Galaxy A05s smartphone in India on October 18, Wednesday. It is confirmed to be available in Black, Light Green, and Light Purple colors. The teaser poster shared by the company reveals a waterdrop notch display with a thick chin and vertically stacked three camera sensors. The power button on the right side will likely double up as a fingerprint scanner.

Samsung has also confirmed the core specifications of the Galaxy A05s. The Indian variant will indeed have the same specifications as its global counterpart. It will feature a 6.7-inch display bearing an FHD+ resolution. The triple camera setup will comprise a 50MP main sensor paired with a 2MP depth and 2MP macro lenses. The smartphone is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 680 processor under the hood. The rest of the specifications are expected to be a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 25W fast charging, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

As per Samsung, the Galaxy A05s will be an affordable device giving consumers a great option. We should learn official details next Wednesday.

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Huawei LampSite X: The End of Slow Internet Speeds!

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Oct 13, 2023

As more and more people use their smartphones and tablets for data-heavy activities like video streaming, gaming, and social media, there’s a growing demand for mobile bandwidth. This is putting pressure on existing mobile networks, potentially causing congestion and reduced speed. Thankfully, Huawei offers a lasting solution to this problem with their LampSite X. Here are the details..

Huawei LampSite X, the Future of Mobile Connectivity

When too many people use their mobile devices in the same indoor space, it can lead to network congestion. This means slower internet speeds and difficulties using mobile apps and services. To address this, Huawei has introduced the LampSite X. It’s a compact device designed to enhance mobile coverage and capacity inside buildings. Easily mounted on walls or ceilings, it’s a practical solution for busy indoor areas.

The LampSite X uses a variety of technologies, including Massive MIMO, 5G NR, and beamforming, to improve data throughput, reduce latency, and extend coverage. Commenting on the LampSite X, Yang Chaobin, Board Member and President of ICT Products & Solutions of Huawei, said:

“LampSite X brings unrivalled 5.5G capabilities indoors for the first time to comprehensively upgrade indoor digitalization: Featuring the leanest design, simplest deployment, and lowest energy consumption, the solution achieves 10 Gbps experience and offers diverse capabilities, meeting consumer demands for a more premium indoor experience and realising more powerful digital productivity across various industries.”

The Huawei LampSite X is a relatively new product, and it is not yet widely available. However, it is expected to be more widely available in the coming months.

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Honor Magic V2 Dominates Foldable Sales in China

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 13, 2023

It’s been years since foldable form factor debuted in the smartphone market. After years of struggle, the new form factor has started gaining users traction across the globe. Particularly in China, home players such as Huawei, Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi dominate the foldable smartphone market. Amid rising competition, Honor and Huawei foldables are outselling the competition in China. Precisely, Honor managed to secure 8 Million foldable sales.

Must See: Honor Magic Vs 2 With Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 120Hz LTPO Displays Debut In China

Thanks to the company’s increasing portfolio of foldable smartphones. Honor launched the Magic V2 in July, Honor V Purse in September and now introduced Honor Magic Vs 2. These foldables managed to surpass the sales of its Huawei counterparts from July to August. The company has remained on top in terms of sales for both consecutive months.

At yesterday’s Honor Magic Vs 2 announcement, the company shared the sale stats about its elder sibling – Honor Magic V2.

Additionally, Honor Magic V2 bundles Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 16GB LPDDR5RAM, and 256/512GB/1TB storage options. The smartphone houses a foldable 7.92-inch LTPO OLED display which offers 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits brightness, and 2156 x 2344 pixels resolution. It offers support for HDR10+, PWM Dimming, and IMAX Enhanced. There’s also a cover LTPO OLED display which measures 6.43-inch and offers 2500 nits brightness with 120Hz display.

The device measures 9.9mm in thinness when folded and 4.7mm when unfolded.

Honor Magic V2 foldable smartphone houses a triple-rear camera featuring a 50MP primary sensor with OS, a 20MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom and OIS, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. There’s a 16MP front sensor for selfies and video calling.

In connectivity, the smartphone features Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Infrared, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.1.

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Vivo X100 Pro+ renders leak online, revealing a familiar design with a few tweaks

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Oct 13, 2023

Vivo is gearing up to launch its next flagship smartphone, the Vivo X100 series. We’ve been following the leaks and rumors surrounding the lineup. And now renders of the Vivo X100 Pro+ have leaked online, giving us a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming device.

The renders, which are from a third-party source, show that the Vivo X100 Pro+ will have a similar design to the Vivo X90 Pro+, but with a few key differences.

The camera module is now centered on the back panel, and the shiny strip that gave a distinct look to the Vivo X90 series is missing this time around. Otherwise, it looks pretty similar to its predecessor.

Again, it’s important to note that these are just third-party renders, and the final design of the X100 Pro+ may be slightly different. However, the renders do give us a good idea of what to expect.

Tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) also recently leaked the battery and charging specifications of the X100 series. According to DCS, the X100 will have a 5,000mAh battery with 120W charging support. Whereas, the X100 Pro will have a 5,100mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging support, and the X100 Pro+ will have a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging support.

As for the launch, the Vivo X90 series was launched on November 22, 2022, so we can expect the Vivo X100 series to be launched in a similar timeframe this year.

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Cooler Master GM2711S 27″ QHD 180Hz gaming monitor with Advanced Reflectionless tech unveiled

By

Sudhanshu

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Oct 13, 2023

Cooler Master has unveiled a new 2K gaming panel that measures 27-inches. What makes this monitor stand out from the sea of 27-inch 2K monitors is that it uses Advanced Reflectionless Technology.

Cooler Master GM2711S specs

The Cooler Master GM2711S monitor is a 27-inch flat screen with a 2560×1440 resolution. It’s designed for smooth visuals with a 180Hz refresh rate and a fast 2ms response time. The monitor offers good contrast with a 1000:1 static contrast ratio and is plenty bright at 350 cd/m2. You’ll have a great view from almost any angle, thanks to its wide 178/178 viewing angles.

The standout feature here is the Advanced Reflectionless Technology, which combines anti-reflection and anti-glare treatments to handle how reflected light works. This means it can cut down on glare and reflections on matte screens, even when it’s really bright around.

The monitor supports a rich 8-bit color depth and covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color space and 91% of the Adobe RGB color space. It has adaptive sync to eliminate screen tearing, and there’s even a special mode to reduce motion blur.

In terms of connectivity, it’s got 1 DisplayPort 1.4, 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, and 2 USB data ports. There’s also an audio and headphone output jack for your convenience. The stand is flexible, letting you adjust the monitor’s position to your liking with tilt, height, swivel, and rotate options.

Pricing & availability

The GM2711S is priced at $299 USD or £265 GBP in the UK and is anticipated to hit the market in early Q1 2024.

In related news, Cooler Master has also unveiled two other gaming monitors. The first one is called the Cooler Master GP2711, and it features a 27-inch QHD Mini-LED panel. The other one is called the GM34-CWQ2, featuring the same QHD resolution, but on a bigger 34-inch panel. You can read more about them by clicking the links.

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Oppo Pad Neo spotted on Malaysia’s SIRIM certification

By

Sean

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Oct 13, 2023

Oppo is rumored to be working on a new tablet model. The device in question could be dubbed the Oppo Pad Neo. The tablet was recently spotted on a certification platform that revealed its model number and moniker, and now, it has surfaced and been certified in another country.

Oppo Pad Neo surfaces on SIRIM

The Chinese tech giant’s upcoming Pad Neo tablet was previously spotted on NBTC, which is a Thailand based certification platform. Now, the device has been spotted on Malaysia’s SIRIM database. Looking at the online listing, the Oppo Pad Neo can be seen carrying the model number OPD2303. This tablet model is likely a 4G tablet that also supports Wi-Fi as well. A Wi-Fi only variant is also rumored to be in the works.

Unfortunately, the SIRIM certification did not reveal any other finer details regarding this device like its specifications or design. But as the name suggests, the Pad Neo model appears to be a more affordable mid range tablet compared to the Oppo Pad 2 model. So it is possible that the new Oppo Pad Neo is just a rebranded version of the OnePlus Pad Go.

The OnePlus Pad Go is a 4G tablet that features a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC that is paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It sports a tall 11.35-inch IPS LCD panel that offers a 90Hz refresh rate. The rear packs an 8-megapixel camera on the rear, while the front houses an 8-megapixel camera on the front for selfies and videos.

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Samsung Galaxy F23 starts getting One UI 6.0 beta update

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 13, 2023

Here comes the One UI 6.0 Beta update for the Galaxy F23 smartphone. The Korean giant is not only bringing the latest Android 14-based update to their flagship smartphones, instead, they are giving equal importance to the mid-range and affordable smartphones too. The beta program for the Galaxy F23 is now out, and users can check the same by heading to the Samsung Members app.

Must See: One UI 6 Beta 2 is here for Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy A34, and Galaxy A53

One UI 6 Beta Update for Galaxy F23

The maiden One UI 6.0 Beta for the Galaxy F23 carries firmware version E236BXXU4ZWJ2 and weighs 2.5GB in size. It also features the October 2023 Security patch to improve the system security. The changelog will be similar to that of other devices and will bundle all the new luxuries of One UI 6.0 beta.

The users who have opted for the One UI 6.0 Beta update, can manually check for the update by heading to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install. We suggest switching to a WiFi network to save on the carrier data costs as the update is quite hefty in size.

How to Apply for Beta Update

Samsung Galaxy F23 users in India can join the One UI 6.0 Beta program by heading to the Samsung Members app on their respective smartphones. You will see a One UI 6.0 Beta Update banner, Tap on it and follow the instructions.

The Beta build will carry some bugs and is not recommended for users who are using the phone as their daily driver.

One UI 6.0 Features

Samsung’s latest Android 14-based skin offers plenty of improvements and changes. It brings a visual overhaul to the system. A new and modern Quick Panel is quite evident, a new Dropdown menu and emojis are part of the package. A fully tweaked Camera app user Interface and intuitive changes across the System UI enhance the overall usability. Below is the outline of the major changes:

Redesign Quickview Panel
New Font with a Modern and Elegant look
Intuitive Camera UI
Major Changes in Settings App
Enhanced Battery page
Better Lockscreen Customizations
Privacy and Security Enhancements
Improved Lockscreen Customization

Samsung is expanding the One UI 6.0 to more smartphones each day, and we expect a stable rollout for the Galaxy S23 by the end of this month.

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Poco C65 Global Variant Hits FCC, Confirms it as a Redmi 13C Rebrand

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 13, 2023

Following some previous leaks, and certifications listing, the Poco C65 Global Vairant bearing model number 2310FPCA4G made it to FCC. The listing unveils a few key details about the smartphone and confirms the imminent launch. The device was recently spotted at IMEI with global and Indian variants.

Must See: Redmi K70, K70 Pro battery sizes, charging capabilities tipped

The FCC documents reveal the presence of MIUI 14 Skin, and NFC, and confirm it as a 4G LTE device. All three different storage variants of the device were part of the FCC testing. Surprisingly, the listing also affirms the rumors of it being a yet-to-be-official Redmi 13C rebrand. There’s a Note in the documents that reads, “According to the product equality declaration provided by the manufacturer, model 2AFZZCA4G removes the LTE B13/26, and adds NFC function based on the original model 23100RN82L, and other changes do not affect RF performance.”

Poco C65 Previous Leaks and Rumors

Poco C65 will be a successor to the Poco C55, and other C-series smartphones from the company. Conclusively, we could also expect smartphones like Poco C60 and Poco C61 which will act as Poco C50 and Poco C51 successors, respectively.

As per previous leaks and rumors, the Poco C65 is expected to house a USB Type-C port, instead of the micro USB port which is present on the Poco C55. It could feature a triple-rear camera module coupling a 50MP primary sensor with an LED flash.

We expect the Poco C65 to retain similar color options to that of the Redmi 13C which is expected in three variants of Black, Blue, and Light Green.

Poco C55 was launched earlier this year bundling a 6.71-inch HD+ display while offering a 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is powered by an octa-core Helio G85 SoC and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. It is available in 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The smartphone sports a dual-rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a depth sensor. There’s a 5MP front camera for selfies. It packs a 5000 mAh battery with 10W wired charging support.

We expect upgraded specifications from the Poco C65.

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Apple iPhone 16 Pro to feature new ultra wide camera & Wi-Fi 7: Analyst

By

Sean

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Oct 13, 2023

Every year, Apple launches a new iPhone lineup that brings new improvements and features over their predecessors. The iPhone 15 series recently launched with some notable upgrades, and now, we have an idea of certain improvements that will be making their way to the iPhone 16 Pro models.

Upgrades in the Apple iPhone 16 Pro

The news arrives from known analyst Jeff Pu from Haitong International Securities. The analyst recently confirmed that the Cupertino based giant will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem in the next gen iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. And now, he has also claimed that there are certain upgrades that will also be making their way to the higher end iPhone 16 Pro series.

Jeff Pu claims that his prediction is based on his sources from Apple’s supply chain. Apart from just taller displays, the company will equip the iPhone 16 Pros with the same 12-megapixel tetra-prism lens as the Pro Max variant for the 5x optical zoom. This telephoto shooter will reportedly be paired with a new 48-megapixel ultra wide angle lens. This will be a notable upgrade from the 12-megapixel ultra wide camera on the current generation iPhones.

Lastly, Jeff Pu stated that the iPhone 16 Pro lineup will support Wi-Fi 7 standard, which can offer data speeds of up to 46Gbps. Other notable features of the new iPhone 16 Pro models include the 3nm based A18 Pro SoC, 8GB of RAM, and the faster Qualcomm 5G modem.

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Microsoft launches Bing AI bug bounty program with rewards up to $15,000

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Oct 13, 2023

Microsoft announced a new bug bounty program on Thursday that will reward security researchers for finding and reporting vulnerabilities in its AI-powered Bing services and apps. The program will offer bounties ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, with the highest rewards reserved for the most critical vulnerabilities.

The new program is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to improve the security of its AI systems. The company has been investing heavily in AI security research in recent years, and it believes that the bug bounty program will help to identify and fix vulnerabilities that might otherwise be missed.

The program is open to all security researchers, regardless of experience or location. Researchers can submit their findings through the Microsoft Security Research Center (MSRC) portal.

The following AI-powered Bing services are currently in scope for the bug bounty program:

• AI-powered Bing experiences on bing.com in Browser (All major vendors are supported, including Bing Chat, Bing Chat for Enterprise, and Bing Image Creator)
• AI-powered Bing integration in Microsoft Edge (Windows), including Bing Chat for Enterprise
• AI-powered Bing integration in the Microsoft Start Application (iOS and Android) 
• AI-powered Bing integration in the Skype Mobile Application (iOS and Android)

Microsoft also detailed eligibility criteria for bug submissions. To qualify for a bounty, developers must report a bug that is new to Microsoft and has a critical or important severity rating. They must also provide specific steps to recreate the bug.

In the past year, Microsoft has paid out over $13 million in bounties to security researchers who have found vulnerabilities in its products and services. The highest single bounty paid out was $200,000.

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Apple and Samsung Lead Global Smartphone Sales in Q2 2023, Reveals Counterpoint Research Report

By

Simranpal Singh

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Oct 13, 2023

Amid the global slowdown, Apple and Samsung smartphones are still topping the charts in Global Smartphone sales. As per the Counterpoint Research report detailing smartphone shipments in Q2 2023, the Cupertino giant held the first four positions in Global smartphone sales. Meanwhile, the Samsung smartphones’ followed on the remaining positions in the top 10 tally.

Must See: Global PC shipments fall 15.5 percent in Q3, 2022 but Apple grows 7 percent: Counterpoint Research

Precisely, the Apple iPhone 14 stood at the top with the most sales and is followed by the iPhone 14 Pro Max in second position and the iPhone 14 Pro in third. A couple of years old Apple iPhone 13 managed to hold the 4th position in the global smartphone’s sale chart. Apple managed to outsell other smartphones in Asia and Europe where it gained the most new users.

Apple’s base iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 models also registered positive growth on a YoY basis. Overall, Apple’s share in the top-10 smartphone list shrank marginally in Q2 2023.

Samsung is also not so far behind Apple, the remaining positions in the top-10 list are secured by Smartphones. The affordable Samsung Galaxy A14 managed to secure 5th position in the chart. It is followed by Galaxy A54, Galaxy A14 5G, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy A04e, and Galaxy A34 in respective positions from 5th to 10th, respectively in the list.

Samsung’s affordable A-series managed to garner the most sales across Asia and the Latin American region. These regions accounted for 60% of Galaxy A series sales during Q2 2023. Meanwhile, more premium – the Galaxy S23 Ultra remained popular in the North American and Western European regions. The regions registered 2/3rd of global Galaxy S23 Ultra sales across the globe.

YoY Comparison – Smartphone Sales Q2 2023

Apple iPhone 14 series replaced the iPhone 13 series in the top spots of the list as per YoY comparison. The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G sales in Q2 2023 are replaced by its predecessor Galaxy S23 Ultra. Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s shrinking market share is also evident as any smartphone from the company failed to secure a place in the top-10 global sales list. Last year, Remdi Note 11 LTE Global secured 10th place.

Both Samsung and Apple are now competing head-to-head at least in the premium segment. However, the Korean giant is still king in the affordable market segment.

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Qualcomm to Lay Off Over 1,200 Employees

By

Rajesh Regmi

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Oct 13, 2023

Qualcomm, the world’s largest mobile chipmaker, is laying off employees in response to sluggish demand for its products. The company will eliminate 1,258 positions in San Diego and Santa Clara, California, effective December 13.

The layoffs represent about 2.5% of Qualcomm’s workforce. More than 750 of the positions being cut are in the company’s engineering department, with positions ranging from directors to technicians.

Qualcomm said the layoffs are necessary to “continue investing in key growth and diversification opportunities” in an uncertain macroeconomic and demand environment.

The company’s revenue is expected to shrink by 19% this fiscal year, despite CEO Cristiano Amon’s efforts to diversify its products. Qualcomm’s main revenue still comes from the mobile phone market, which is not rebounding as quickly as expected.

In fact, a report last month suggested that Huawei is planning to fully adopt the new self-developed Kirin processors starting in 2024, a move that will hurt chip-maker Qualcomm the most.

According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, with this move, Qualcomm will not only lose Huawei’s orders completely from 2024 onwards “but also face the risk of a decline in shipments to non-Huawei Chinese brand clients due to the competition from Huawei”. For reference, Huawei purchased 23-25 million and 40-42 million mobile phone SoCs from Qualcomm in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Qualcomm is also facing competition from Samsung and Apple, which are developing their own mobile phone chips.

The layoffs at Qualcomm are the latest sign of a slowdown in the tech industry. In recent months, other tech giants such as Meta and Twitter have also announced layoffs. The slowdown is due to a number of factors, including rising inflation, and supply chain disruptions.

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Vivo Y200 to launch later this month, Pricing India pricing revealed

By

Sean

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Oct 13, 2023

Vivo is gearing up to launch a new Y series smartphone soon. But ahead of any official announcement, a fresh leak has hinted that the Vivo Y200 announcement might be right around the corner and even revealed the price range of this device.

Vivo Y200 India Launch & Pricing

The Chinese smartphone maker is apparently planning on unveiling the new Vivo Y200 smartphone later this month. Recently, the device was spotted in leaked training materials and even the Google Play Console listing. Now, an exclusive leak from MySmartPrice claims that the Y200 will be launching later this month. This is in line with our previous reports since the recent sightings hinted at its imminent release.

The industry sources close to the matter also revealed the price segment of this upcoming smartphone. Reportedly, the Vivo Y200 will launch in India for a price under 24,000 INR (roughly 288 US Dollars). So we can expect the device to be a mid range handset. Rumored specifications include an AMOLED display that has a 120hz refresh rate and a thin 7.69mm body.

On the rear, the smartphone is expected to feature a 64-megapixel primary camera that offers OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and Smart Aura LED Light. Looking at its design, the Y200 model appears similar to the Vivo V27 Pro and V29 models. The device was recently spotted with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC, which is paired with 8GB of RAM. It is expected to run on Android 13 OS based Funtouch OS 13 custom skin out of the box. A 4,800mAh battery pack may powers this device, which could also support 44W fast charging.

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Honor X9b front, rear design revealed, launch imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 13, 2023

Honor is all set to launch a new phone named the Honor X9b, a mid-range smartphone. Its microsite revealing its rear design is now available on Honor Malaysia. In addition, the brand has shared an X post to showcase the curved-edge display of the device. It appears that the X9b will debut later this month in the country.

Honor X9b design revealed

The official images show that the Honor X50 has an orange-color leather back, and a round-shaped camera module housing two cameras and an LED flash. On the front, the device is equipped with a curved-edge OLED panel. Here is a look at what to expect on the specifications of the device.

Honor X9b could be rebranded Honor X50

In July, Honor unveiled the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1-powered Honor X50 in China. It appears that the Honor X9b heading to the global market could be a rebranded version of the X50. The reason behind it is that the X9b was spotted with the same chipset, RAM, and Android version as the X50 in Geekbench recently.

To recall, the Honor X50 has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 1220 x 2652 pixel resolution, a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The device is available with Magic OS 7.1-based Android 13, the SDG61 SoC, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of storage. It packs a 5,800mAh battery that supports 35W wired charging and 6W reverse charging. Its camera setup includes an 8-megapixel front camera and a 108-megapixel main camera paired with a 2-megapixel macro lens on the back.

Apart from Malaysia, the X9b is expected to be released in other markets like Singapore and the UAE. The company is also planning to launch a new phone in India before the end of this year. It is unclear whether the X9b will arrive as the second phone of the year after the Honor 90 in the Indian market.

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OnePlus 12 display specifications, color options tipped

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 13, 2023

OnePlus will unveil its first foldable phone, the OnePlus Open on Oct. 19 in multiple markets. The next phone to arrive after the Open is the OnePlus 12 flagship phone. The latest insights from Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station provide intriguing details about this upcoming flagship.

OnePlus 12 leaked specifications

OnePlus-12-Render — OnePlus 12 CAD render

According to DCS, the OnePlus 12 is expected to flaunt a 6.82-inch OLED curved-edge display supplied by China-based BOE. The screen is said to offer a crisp 3168 x 1440p resolution and a smooth 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. Notably, the display’s low-brightness PWM dimming frequency is slated at 2160Hz, enhancing visual comfort.

The highest variant of the OnePlus 12 is tipped to offer 24 GB RAM and a whopping 1 TB storage configuration. The new leak also states that the OP12 will arrive in three color options, including Classic Black, Pristine White, and Vibrant Green.

Earlier this week, the tipster revealed that the OnePlus 12’s main camera is said to be a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, featuring a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a wide f/1.7 aperture, and a 23mm focal length. It will be complemented by a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with a 14mm 1/2-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. For optical zoom, the OP12 will feature a periscope telephoto lens featuring an OIS-enabled 64MP OV64B sensor with OIS, offering a 70mm 1/2-inch sensor, and an f/2.5 aperture.

Previous leaks suggest a robust 5,400mAh battery, capable of super-speedy 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, ensuring you’re juiced up in no time. It goes without saying that the OnePlus 12 will be equipped with the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which will debut later this month.

While the OnePlus 12 is expected to make its grand debut in China in December, the global launch is anticipated in January 2024, adding to the excitement and anticipation for this incredible device.

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(source 1, 2)