After launching the DuoPods D3 TWS earbuds last week, Mivi has now launched the DuoPods A250 earbuds in India. These new earbuds feature a lot of attractive features like sweatproofing and large audio drivers. Keep reading for more details.
Mivi DuoPods A250 specs
The Mivi DuoPods A250 earbuds come featuring large 13mm Super Solid Bass drivers, delivering rich and powerful audio quality. They are equipped with an AI-ENC Chip, enabling AI Environmental Noise Cancellation and HDCalls Technology for clear calls. With dual connection support, you can effortlessly switch between devices.
The DuoPods A250 boasts Bluetooth Version 5.3 for a stable and efficient wireless connection. In terms of battery, these earbuds provide an impressive 40 hours of total battery life, with 7.5 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge. Thanks to Swift Charge Technology, just a 10-minute charge can give you an impressive 500 minutes of playtime. The earbuds are also designed with IPX4 sweat resistance, ensuring they can handle sweat.
Pricing & availability
Priced at Rs. 999, the Mivi DuoPods A250 comes in Blue, Black, Space Grey, White, and Mint Green colors and is readily available for purchase on Amazon.in.
Nokia is seen shifting its focus from the mid-range and high-end smartphone market to the affordable and feature phone market. There are quite a few Nokia smartphones in the mid-range market, but a recent teaser on Nokia India confirms a 5G phone launch in India on September 6, 2023.
The specifics about the device are not revealed yet, but it is teased with a video that asks “Are you ready to experience speed?” The round corner of the smartphone is highlighted in the video. It is quite hard to guess the device as there’s no leak about the upcoming Nokia 5G smartphone. Even, there’s not a single leak that could shed some light on what we are expecting on September 6. However, we believe it to be a new X series smartphone as the launch date is matching last year’s launch of the Nokia X30.
Nokia is diligently working to launch new feature phones and affordable smartphones. The company recently introduced some additional color variants of the Nokia C12 and 2660 Flip.
The last 5G smartphone launched by an HMD-owned company is the Nokia X30 5G. It houses a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 700 nits of maximum brightness. The HD+ display offers 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 695 SoC coupled with an Adreno 619 GPU. It is available in three storage variants – 128GB + 6GB RAM, 128GB + 8GB RAM, and 256GB + 8 GB RAM.
In the camera section, there’s a dual-rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens. A 16MP sits on the front for selfies and video calling.
The Nintendo Switch was initially introduced in 2017, providing fans with many games like Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Since the launch, fans have wondered what the Nintendo Switch 2 will offer. According to recent reports, a few leaks about the Nintendo Switch 2 have emerged online from a leaker called “Im A Hero Too,” suggesting how the Nintendo Switch 2 will perform.
The post by the leaker mentions that the Nintendo Switch 2 is in development, and the developers are testing the Final Fantasy 7 Remake port on Switch 2. For those unaware, Final Fantasy 7 Remake was initially released on PlayStation 5 and was ported on PC after a while. According to the post, the game runs well on the new Nintendo Switch 2, almost like it’s on a PlayStation 5.
Furthermore, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with a few older games, as we reported earlier. Aside from the Final Fantasy port, the post suggests that the Nintendo Switch will launch with a new cartridge and camera feature. It has yet to be confirmed how this new camera feature will work.
In related news, Denuvo will now protect games launching on Nintendo Switch from piracy using its latest Nintendo Switch Emulator Protection. For more details about this report, check out our Denuvo protecting Nintendo Switch games story.
Valve is getting closer to releasing Counter-Strike 2 in late 2023. In March 2023, the first limited test was released, only available to a small group of players and content creators. According to a recent post by CS2 on X, the company is trying to invite more players to join the CS2 Limited test.
How to get Counter Strike 2 Limited test?
As per the post, the players who have Prime status and are part of a competitive skill group in Counter-Strike Global Offensive will get an invitation. When you see this invitation on the top-left corner of your screen in the game, you can click on it. It will then ask you to exit the game and download the Counter-Striker 2 upgrade, which is about 26GB in size.
It’s worth mentioning that not everyone has received the update, myself included. Following this release, I unlocked my rank in CSGO, and I’m currently waiting for the invitation. However, there’s a possibility that the company might open up testing to the remaining players in the next release.
What can we expect from this update?
With this latest limited test release, people are now getting a chance to play on the reworked Inferno map. Players can now earn points for winning games in the latest Premier mode. The game introduces its new pick-and-ban system in ranked, which is much quicker than other games. Aside from the pick-and-ban ranked mode, the new rating system has been announced, and the post on X hints at how this new rating system works. Stay tuned for more information on Counter-Strike 2.
Apple introduced the Emergency SOS service via satellite on its iPhone 14 series last year. This feature is likely to be available on the upcoming iPhone 15 series, which is scheduled to launch on September 12. Just days before the launch, a new report revealed that Apple is working to improve satellite connectivity on its iPhones. Reportedly, Apple and its satellite partner, Globalstar, are working with SpaceX to launch new satellites that will improve the Emergency SOS via the Satellite feature on iPhones.
SpaceX and Globalstar to launch satellite for Apple’s Emergency SOS
As a part of the deal, Globalstar will pay SpaceX $64 million to launch new satellites that will enhance the communication network for this feature. The payments will be made in installments over time, starting now and ending in 2025, when the satellites are expected to be launched into space.
The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature was introduced by Apple last year with the iPhone 14 models. This technology allows iPhone users to contact emergency services even when they are not within cellular or Wi-Fi range.
When Apple launched the iPhone 14 series, they said that the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature would be free for the first two years. After that, users would have to pay a fee to use it. Apple has not yet released any details about how much the fee will be, but with all the expenditures Apple is making to improve its reliability, it is now logical to assume that Apple will charge a small fee to use the SOS option.
Moreover, Globalstar has agreed to allocate 85% of its current and future network capacity to Apple’s iPhones. They will also provide and maintain all personnel, software, satellite systems, and more while maintaining minimum quality and coverage standards.
This is not the first time both these companies are working together. In 2022, Apple invested $450 million in developing the critical infrastructure that supports Emergency SOS via satellite for iPhone 14 models. The majority of this funding went to Globalstar. Likewise, last year, Globalstar purchased satellite equipment worth $327 million from a Canadian company. Apple lent Globalstar $252 million to help with this purchase.
Emergency SOS via satellite is available in these countries: the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.
British chipmaker ARM is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) as its parent company SoftBank plans to raise money from the public after the failed acquisition by Nvidia. Last month, a report said that Apple and Samsung are planning to buy shares of ARM when the IPO opens. Now a report byReuters suggests that Arm customers, including Apple, and Samsung are set to be among the investors in the chip designer’s IPO.
Apart from Apple and Samsung, ARM’s IPO has attracted many notable investors from the technology and chip industry, including AMD, NVIDIA, Intel, Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys, and Alphabet. These investors have agreed to invest in the IPO at a valuation of between $50 billion and $55 billion, Reuters reported earlier on Friday. SoftBank, ARM’s parent company, is hoping to hit this target valuation.
While the investment amounts of individual companies have not been disclosed, NVIDIA, Apple, and others have agreed to invest in Arm’s IPO. The report says that the investment amount could be between $25 million and $100 million. Arm and SoftBank are keeping aside 10% of the shares to be sold in the IPO. Amazon was also in talks to invest but has since pulled out for undisclosed reasons.
It is no surprise that Samsung and Apple are investing in ARM’s IPO. Both companies are major users of ARM chips, and they will benefit from having a say in the company’s future. However, investing in ARM’s IPO does not guarantee any special treatment, such as a seat on the board of directors or the ability to dictate strategy, reports Reuters. Still, the involvement of these companies makes it more difficult for a competitor to acquire ARM in the future.
Samsung is aiming towards several smartphones and tablets launched in the coming quarter. Among the list of upcoming devices, the Galaxy S23 FE is a much sought-after smartphone that is trending on the rumor-mill board. It has already appeared on multiple public certifications and leaks, and the device bearing model number SM-S711B/DS was recently spotted on Thailand’s NBTC. The listing confirms its upcoming launch in Thailand, and once again confirms its nearing launch
The listing further confirms the presence of 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G network connectivity, but it does carry certificate number B38450-23.
Most of the specifications and other details are already present via its appearance on Bluetooth SIG, SafetyKorea, GCF, and 3C certifications. It appeared on Kazakhstan’s support website, and bundles support for GeekBench and IMEI platforms. From the above listings and some leaks, we have concluded its onboard specifications and features. However, the pricing information is not available.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Expected Specifications (Expected)
It is tipped to feature a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120HZ refresh rate. It will house Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and Exynos 2200 in respective regions coupled with up to 12GB RAM and up to 256GB onboard storage.
In the camera department, it will bundle a triple-rear camera module coupling a 50MP OIS primary camera, 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 12MP telephoto lens. On the front, a 10MP sensor might make its place.
There would be a 4500 mAh battery with 25W fast-charging technology. It will run on Android 13-based OneUI 5.1.
The smartphone will receive four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates. It will come with Wireless Charging and IP rating.
These specifications are confirmed via Geekbench listing and via some leaks. Make sure to take these as a grain of salt in the ocean, as nothing is official by Samsung.
Huawei’s 2022 flagship smartwatch, the GT 3 Pro has started receiving a new firmware update—version 3.0.0.101—in Europe. The update includes a number of new features and optimizations to improve the user experience.
These new features include hibernation mode, which puts the watch into a low-power state when not in use, and a context menu that provides quick access to frequently used settings. The update also includes a new feature that detects when the band is not properly fitted during exercise.
Below is the changelog with all the new features added to the smartwatch.
Changelog:
This update adds hibernation and allows you to open an app from the context menu by simply holding down the icon.
[Updates]
Adds hibernation
Allows you to open an app from the context menu
Adds the function of detecting if the band is too loose when exercising
Support incoming call notifications for specific social media apps
Supports detecting incoming messages from specific social media apps via emojis
[Optimizations]
Optimized the accuracy of the swim lane count
Optimizes the accuracy of heart rate monitoring during exercise
Improves the accuracy of SpO2 measurements
Note:
For a better user experience, it is recommended to first update the Huawei Health app to the latest version in the app store
Do not disconnect the Bluetooth connection during the update. If the update fails, try again
It may take a little time to update the wearable. Wait for the progress bar on the device to indicate the end of the process. The device will restart automatically after the update is complete
If you encounter any problems while using the device, call the Huawei customer hotline or visit a Huawei customer service center
To download the update, Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro users can open the Huawei Health app and go to Me > Check for Updates.
Baseus has announced its intention to showcase the new Blade2 Smart Power Bank at IFA 2023 Berlin. The Baseus Blade2 smart power bank features up to 140W fast charging and comes in new colorways. The brand also plans to unveil a new GaN desktop charger with ultra-fast charging up to 240W, among other products.
The IFA 2023 product sneak peek by Baseus was held at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. The second generation Baseus Blade Power Bank will be available in 65W and 140W options. They retain the ultra-thin design from the first iteration and are also light. The power bank starts at a weight of 323g and a thickness of 7.3mm. In terms of capacity, the Baseus Blade2 offers up to 24,000mAh in capacity. New colors like Horizon Silver, Mariana Blue, and Sandstone Orange will join the original black colorway of the power bank.
The new Baseus 240W Desktop Fast Charger can charge up to five devices simultaneously. It offers both AC and USB Type-C PD 3.1. It comes with a real-time charging status display and app support. Another Baseus power accessory slated for unveiling at IFA 2023 is the latest MagPro magnetic charging devices including car, desk, and wall-mount options. Baseus will also unveil MagSafe-capable power banks. There are other Baseus accessories like the Lightning-free extendable cables for a variety of scenarios.
This year’s IFA event is held in Berlin from September 1 to 5, 2023. Baseus’ products are stationed at Booth A116 in Messe Berlin’s Hall 5 throughout the fair.
The ongoing IFA 2023 Berlin has seen a raft of innovative products being announced by several brands. The latest announcement is the AGM Mobile Pad P1 tablet which comes with Android 13. The new AGM Mobile tablet features IP68 and IP69K waterproof protection and optional 4G/ LTE support. Recall that the tablet was first announced in China in July.
AGM is known for its rugged smartphone offerings and the new all-in-one tablet reflects the AGM tradition. The Pad P1 tablet has a 10.36 FHD screen and a multi-use design. The dust- and water-resistant tablet, according to AGM, is heavy-duty yet light and sleek. It has waterproof plugs for its ports and supports USB-C 18W charging.
The AGM Pad P1 has a 7,000mAh battery and the tablet is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. The MediaTek Helio G99 SoC packs appreciable performance and durability to the device, offering both productivity and entertainment. The tablet has Dual Box Stereo Speakers located behind the grille of the shorter side of the tablet’s frame. The frame itself is flat-edged while a camera hump similar to that of the Lenovo Legion Y700 is present. One of the two camera rings on the tablet features an 8MP sensor.
The AGM Pad P1 is well-suited for outdoor use. Apart from its USB-C port, it also has a 3.5mm audio jack. The RAM/ internal storage configuration of the Pad P1 is 8GB/ 256GB and it supports microSD cards up to 2TB. Different versions of the Pad P1 will be available depending on the market. This includes the US and EU versions. While the US version comes with a $199 price tag, the European version offers 4G/LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity and is priced at €299.99 (~$325).
After overcoming previous bottlenecks in supply chain and factory downtime, GMC is stepping on the gas in the electric vehicle market. The Hummer EV Pickup and Hummer EV SUV, GMC’s all-electric flagship models, have been gradually pulling out of the snags to set a promising course for the brand.
GMC’s Hummer EV Factory was offline for some time in the past
According to data from GM Authority, GMC managed to roll out 2,439 units of its electric Hummers in July 2023 alone. Coupled with 2,590 in May and 2,750 in June, this marks a consistent performance for three months straight. Considering the company’s pledge to ramp up production, these numbers are anything but shocking.
What makes this intriguing is the context. General Motors‘ Factory Zero, responsible for the Hummer’s production, was offline for a few months at the end of last year. Why? To prepare for other big electric releases like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. This downtime could have affected Hummer’s production more severely. But it didn’t.
GMC already boasts a total of 16,088 electric Hummers off the assembly line since October 2021. Despite a slow start with just 49 units delivered in the first half of the year, all signs indicate a steep curve upward in customer deliveries come Q3.
For those wondering if it’s too late to get a slice of this electric behemoth, tough luck. Reservations closed in September 2022, with an astonishing 90,000 units reserved, backed by $100 refundable deposits. But be ready to dish out a bit more, as the price for the Hummer EV Pickup was recently bumped by $1,600.
Given the average monthly production, we’re looking at an annual rate of about 30,000 units. A solid number, especially for electric vehicles that start at just under a whopping $100,000
The social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X, is not just about tweets and likes anymore. According to its updated privacy policy, X plans to collect biometric, job, and educational data from users. Why? To train artificial intelligence models, says owner Elon Musk.
X seems to have long term plans for creating new applications and integrations
Don’t worry about your private messages, though. Musk confirms that only public information will be used. But the question remains: Why does X need this data? Musk, who’s always been ambitious, recently launched an AI company, xAI, aiming to decipher the universe’s secrets. So it seems likely that your personal details could feed into this grand vision.
Another angle? Musk has talked about making X a “cool” alternative to Linkedin, which he calls “cringe.” With the new policy, collecting job and education data makes sense for this aim.
Sure, X could just sell the data; they’re not rolling in ad dollars. But there’s no evidence to support this. Unlike Twitter, which used data for its own growth, X seems to have grander plans.
Mophie has once again proven to be ahead of the curve in mobile charging solutions with their latest release at IFA. This time, they’ve raised the bar by incorporating the new Qi2 wireless charging standard into their product range, promising faster and more reliable charging.
The charging station could be a great addition to a desk or a dresser with multiple devices
What sets this release apart? Take the snap+ wireless charging vent mount, for example. Priced at $69.95, this gadget could be the unsung hero for the gig economy, particularly ride-sharing drivers. It not only provides a 15W power boost but also keeps the phone securely mounted on the car’s front vent. That’s a two-in-one deal that’s hard to beat when you need to keep your eyes on both the road and your navigation app.
The snap+ 3-in-1 stand is another standout, offering a charging solution for those with multiple Apple devices. For $129.95, it allows simultaneous charging of your Qi2-compatible phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Talk about an all-in-one charging station for Apple enthusiasts! This could declutter your workspace or bedside table in a jiffy.
Matt DiPrimio, Mophie’s director of product management, emphasized how the new Qi2 standard will enhance charging speed and reliability. It uses magnets to ensure perfect alignment with charging coils, a feature inspired by Apple’s MagSafe tech.
So, whether you’re a ride-share driver looking for a convenient in-car charging option or a multi-device user aiming to streamline your charging routine, Mophie’s new range might just be what you’ve been waiting for.
Customers can expect these products to be available for order later this year, both online and through select global retailers. Plus, all these gadgets come with a two-year warranty, making it a safer bet for those willing to invest in high-quality charging solutions.
Microsoft has just released an upgraded version of its Xbox Series S, making digital gaming more convenient and eco-friendly than ever. For a $350 price tag, gamers can now enjoy a whopping 1TB storage, double that of its predecessor’s 512GB, in the brand-new “Carbon Black” shade.
The Series S is economical, with no disc drive and a lower resolution
This expanded storage is a game-changer for Xbox Series S owners. Since the console is digital-only, all your games have to fit into the built-in hard drive. Previously, with just 512GB, you could barely store three or four AAA games, considering the latest Bethesda release, Starfield, requires a whole 130GB. Now, the Series S’s 1TB hard drive means you can host around seven or eight high-end games, along with several smaller indie titles, giving you a breather before needing to decide which games to delete or purchase an external hard drive.
But storage isn’t the only thing that’s new. The Series S now incorporates various components made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins. In an age of increasing awareness about environmental sustainability, this is Microsoft tipping its hat to a greener future.
When you’re out shopping for an Xbox, the Series S and Series X might sound similar but have key differences. Series S is the economical cousin of the higher-powered Series X. It doesn’t come with a disc drive and is designed for lower resolutions (1080p or 1440p) compared to Series X’s 4K capabilities. Yet, the Series S’s newest model is closer to narrowing that gap, with the storage at least.
A new month is here and so is our monthly upcoming smartphone list. Just like August, September will also see countless phone releases.
Again like last month, the forthcoming handsets will be spread across different categories. There will be foldables, budget models, mid-rangers, and even flagships.
One of the important launches will be by Apple as the tech giant will unveil its next-gen iPhones. Further, Honor will re-enter the Indian smartphone market. It will also debut a new foldable in China.
At least 10 brands are anticipated to announce new phones. Unsurprisingly, the list includes all the major Chinese players, in addition to the only non-Chinese popular companies Apple and Samsung.
Let’s take a look at all the devices that are expected to be made official by these brands.
The Realme C51 is scheduled to launch in India on September 4. The device is already official in Southeast Asia.
However, it is not sure if the variant set to release in India will be the same. Because the recent C series models for the region are slightly different.
So far, the brand has confirmed that the product will feature a flat frame design. It will look like an iPhone Pro and will be available in a blue color option.
The handset will be equipped with a 50Mp rear camera. Finally, it will carry support for 33W charging.
The official teasers from the brand have revealed key aspects of the product. It will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chip and will be backed by a 6,000mAh battery with support for 30W charging.
It will be fitted with a 6.5-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, an OIS-assisted 50MP rear camera, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It is expected to start at ₹14,999 (~$180) in India.
3. Apple iPhone 15 Series
Apple has scheduled its annual iPhone launch event for September 12. The company has named the 2023 edition ‘Wonderlust’.
The iPhone 15 lineup will be unveiled at this conference. Just like in previous years, there will be four models, namely iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The high-end ‘Pro Max’ variant could be called the iPhone 15 Ultra.
All four phones are anticipated to come with a dynamic island and a USB Type-C port. Additionally, the Pro models will feature a new action button, and the Pro Max will be equipped with a periscope zoom lens.
4. Mysterious Honor Foldable
Honor has scheduled an event in China for September 13. The brand has confirmed to unveil a new foldable at this conference.
Though we are only a few days away from the launch, we don’t know the actual name of this product. Leaks say that it could be either Honor Magic Vs 2 or Honor Magic V2 Lite.
The Honor Magic Vs 2 is rumored to be an outward folding device like the Huawei Mate Xs series. On the other hand, the Honor Magic V2 Lite is said to be the most affordable foldable smartphone to release this year.
5. Samsung W24 and W24 Flip
Samsung is set to take wraps off the new W series foldable phones in China on September 15. These handsets are expected to be called Samsung W24 and Samsung W24 Flip.
Similar to the previous W series handsets, they are anticipated to be rebranded current-gen Galaxy Z foldables from the company. So the W24 and W24 Flip will be essential premium versions of Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, respectively.
These devices will likely have additional design elements to differentiate themselves from the regular models.
6. Realme Narzo 60x
The Realme Narzo 60x is teased by the company to debut soon in India. It should go official within the next few days.
Going by the teaser render and the name, it could be a rebranded Realme 11x 5G. But it may or may not have some changes.
For the unaware, the Realme 11x comes with a 6.74-inch FHD+ 120Hz display (LCD), a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus chipset, a 64MP rear camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and 33W charging.
7. Honor 90
The Honor 90 is expected to launch in India this month. The brand is yet to disclose the exact date, however, a leak suggests that it could go official on September 21.
This smartphone is already on sale in multiple markets. Therefore, everything about it is already known. But we cannot deny the probability of the Indian variant being slightly different.
Anyways, the handset arrives with a 6.7-inch 1.5K 120Hz curved OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, a 200Mp main camera, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, a 5,000mAh battery, and 66W charging.
8. Xiaomi 13T Series
Going by leaks and certifications, the Xiaomi 13T series could launch in September. The lineup will consist of Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro.
Leaks suggest that the pro variant will be a tweaked version of the Redmi K60 Ultra with Leica-powered better camera hardware. Whereas, the vanilla model will not only have a downgraded camera setup without Leica processing but also a less powerful chip.
Either way, both phones will look identical in terms of design. Their looks will be based on the Xiaomi 13 series and the Redmi K60 lineup.
The Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro are tipped to start from £549 and £699, respectively.
9. Tecno Phantom V Flip
The Tecno Phantom V Flip might debut in September. It will be the brand’s first clamshell foldable smartphone and could be more affordable than the competitors.
Its design will be unique as it will sport a 1.32-inch circular cover screen inside the camera ring. The device will be powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 8050 chip and will be backed by a 4,000mAh battery.
Most importantly, it will flaunt a 6.9-inch FHD+ vertical foldable display. Also, it will arrive with a 64MP + 13MP dual camera setup on the rear and a 32MP front-facing snapper.
10. Motorola Edge 40 Neo and Edge 2023
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo and Motorola Edge 2023 are anticipated to launch in September. The former will be a new product, while the latter is a rebranded Motorola Edge 40 for the US.
According to leaks, the Edge 40 Neo will come with a 6.55-inch FHD+ 144Hz pOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 1050 chip, a 50MP + 13MP dual camera setup, a 32MP selfie camera, an IP68 rating, a 5,000mAh battery and 68W charging support.
The phone is tipped to cost just £290 in the UK. Unfortunately, we don’t have pricing details for other regions.
11. Oppo A38
The Oppo A38 is tipped to launch in India in September. It will be a 4G-only budget smartphone.
As per leaks, the handset will sport a 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz display (LCD) and an IP54-rated flat frame body. It will be powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery.
It will arrive with a 50MP main camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a MicroSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In Europe, the device is said to cost €159 for 4GB + 128GB memory configuration.
12. Vivo V29 Series
Vivo V29 5G
The Vivo V29 series is tipped to launch in India soon. It could be unveiled in September at the earliest.
The V29 lineup currently consists of V29, V29 Lite, and V29e. The last model just got announced in India.
The region is due for the first two models and the impending pro variant. As of now, it’s not known which of these phones will be released in the country.
Going by the leaked render, one of them could be the vanilla V29. This device comes with a 6.78-inch 1.5K 120Hz curved display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, a 50MP rear camera, a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus, a 4,600mAh battery, and 80W charging support.
13. OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open was previously rumored to launch in August. Now, it seems like the product might go official in September.
It will be the brand’s first foldable smartphone. It is expected to be based on the unreleased Oppo Find N3.
The handset is said to come with a boxy design, a 7.8-inch 2K 120Hz internal foldable display, a 6.3-inch 120Hz external screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, Hasselblad-tuned triple camera system (including telephoto and ultra-wide lens), a 4,800mAh battery, and 67W charging support.
Realme recently held a launch event to announce the Realme 11 5G series of smartphones, namely, the Realme 11 5G and Realme 11X 5G in India. Both smartphones feature the same display, chipset, RAM type, storage type, and battery. The Realme 11 offers better specifications in the areas of primary camera, selfie camera, and fast charging capabilities than the Realme 11X 5G. However, this does not mean that the 11X is an incompetent device. Starting at Rs 14,999(~$181), the Realme 11X 5G is an impressive offering in the affordable 5G phone segment. Here is our review of the Realme 11X 5G to find out if it lives up to its reputation as one of the best 5G phones in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 price range in the country.
Realme 11x 5G review: What’s in the box?
Realme 11x 5G
The Realme 11x 5G’s retail box includes the following items:
Realme 11x 5G handset
33W SuperVOOC charger
USB-C to USB-C cable
TPU case
SIM ejector tool
Safety Guide
Quick Guide
Design and Display
Dimensions
Display
Size – 165.7 x 76 x 7.9 mm
6.72-inch IPS LCD display
1500:1 contrast ratio
Weight – 190 grams
1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+)
Widevine L1
20:9 aspect ratio
91.4% screen-to-body ratio
120Hz refresh rate
Dragontrail protection
180Hz touch sampling rate
Up to 680 nits of brightness
The Realme 11x 5G is a beautifully designed smartphone that exhibits a captivating S-curve gradient light effect on its polycarbonate rear. This surface has a shimmering texture, and when exposed to light, it reveals a mesmerizing interplay of blue and purple hues, accentuating the S-shaped pattern. The rear panel does not attract fingerprint marks at all. However, it feels a bit slippery to hold. Besides the Purple Dawn variant that I had the chance to assess, the Realme 11x 5G is also available in Midnight Black, which exudes a subtle and refined appearance.
There is a large round camera island, which houses two cameras, an LED flash, and “64 MP AI Camera” text. The flat frame of the device is grey in color with a microphone at the top and a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille on the bottom. The left side features a SIM slot, and its right edge is populated with a volume rocker and a power button, which doubles up as a fingerprint sensor.
Moving to the front, the Realme 11X 5G sports a 6.72-inch LCD panel with a punch-hole design. The chin of the device is thicker than the other bezels. The screen supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate (offering 60Hz, 120Hz, and auto-select options).
In the auto option, the refresh rate can range between 120Hz/90Hz/60Hz/50Hz/48Hz and 45Hz, according to the company. However, I could only find it switching between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. It offers color modes, such as Vivid (P3) and Natural. The screen has a slight blue tint, which can be corrected using the color temperature setting. It also supports Widevine L1 for viewing HD quality content on streaming platforms. However, there is no HDR support. As far as screen brightness is concerned, users may find it difficult to view display contents in direct sunlight. To sum up, the Realme 11x 5G has a decent display.
Performance and Software
MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus
5,000mAh battery
6GB / 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM
33W charging
128GB of UFS 2.2 storage
Android 13 OS, Realme UI 4.0
8GB of virtual RAM
Realme 11x 5G
The Realme 11X 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus chipset, built on an advanced 6nm process. Alongside up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and virtual RAM, paired with UFS 2.2 storage, the device delivers a robust performance foundation. Its gaming prowess is notable, offering a smooth gameplay experience at medium graphics settings and ensuring fluid gameplay without noticeable hitches. Titles like PUBG support Smooth or Balanced graphics settings with a maximum Ultra frame rate. For HD graphics in PUBG, a high frame rate is attainable, providing an approximately 35 to 40 fps gaming experience. It is worth mentioning that while the gaming experience is generally solid, users may encounter some gyro lag during motion-oriented gameplay.
Under the hood, the Realme 11x 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. The phone can be fully charged in under 80 minutes. There is a Super Power Saving Mode, which can offer up to 2 days of battery life when activated.
The Realme 11X 5G runs on Android 13, which is overlaid with Realme UI 4.0. It offers a fluid experience and lots of customization features, as expected. However, there are many pre-installed apps that users may not want to see, as well as recommendations. On the bright side, the device is promised to receive two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates. Here is a look at how the device performed on benchmarking apps.
Photography and Other Features
Rear Camera
Other features
64MP OmniVision OV64B main camera
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Single speaker
2MP OmniVision OV02B1B depth sensor
Face unlock
3.5mm audio jack
LED flash
Wi-Fi 5
x-axis linear motor
Bluetooth 5.2
MicroSD card slot (hybrid SIM slot)
5G (n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n28 /n40/n41/n77/n78)
Front Camera
GPS
8MP OmniVision OV08D10 camera
USB-C
The Realme 11x 5G comes with photography modes, such as Photo, Video, Street, Night, Portrait, 64M, Pro, Panorama, Film, Tilt-Shift, Dual-View Video, Time-Lapse, Slow-Mo, and Text Scanner. It goes without saying that the 64-megapixel OV64B primary camera is one of the major strengths of the Realme 11x, as it produces flagship-level camera shots. The same camera is also available on high-end phones, such as the Poco F5 series, the OnePlus Ace 2V, and the OPPO Reno 9.
The main camera on this device is truly a pleasant surprise, delivering impressive results in various lighting conditions. In well-lit environments, it captures photos with exceptional dynamic range and remarkable details. The colors, though slightly enhanced, retain a natural appearance that always feels appropriate.
The 64-megapixel camera supports 2x in-sensor zoom, which functions like a telephoto camera. It can capture zoomed-in shots with good details. Indoor photography is a breeze for this camera, particularly in good lighting. Enabling the 64M mode enhances both colors and details, providing an even more satisfying result.
The performance of the camera struggles in poor or inconsistent lighting. Nighttime shots can appear overly sharpened and sometimes fuzzy, with a less-than-ideal dynamic range. Fortunately, the night mode does improve low-light performance, albeit with slightly slower processing times. Overall, this camera provides commendable performance, especially considering its price point, delivering sharp, well-detailed shots with impressive dynamic range and color accuracy.
Potrait selfielow-light selfiePotrait selfie
The 8-megapixel front camera produces decent selfies with natural skin tones in good lighting but can have some noise in challenging conditions. Overall, it’s suitable for sharing on social media. The 64-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras can shoot up to 30fps Full HD videos. The rear camera lacks support for stabilization while shooting videos.
Regarding other aspects of the Realme 11x, its side-mounted fingerprint scanner is both dependable and swift in operation. The inclusion of a hybrid SIM slot enables users to simultaneously use a nano-SIM and a microSD card, providing flexibility for storage and connectivity needs. Furthermore, the 5G connectivity on this device is stable, ensuring a smooth online experience. Call quality is also commendable, making it a reliable choice for communication and connectivity.
Verdict
Realme 11x 5G
The Realme 11x is an attractive choice for individuals seeking a budget-friendly 5G phone with strong photography capabilities. It boasts a well-crafted design and reliable all-day battery life, making it suitable for daily tasks. Its overall performance is seamless, though the presence of pre-installed apps, which some users may find bothersome, is a matter of personal preference. If photography isn’t a top priority when shopping for an affordable 5G phone, there are more economical alternatives available, including the Poco M6 Pro 5G, Redmi 12 5G, Infinix Hot 30 5G, Tecno Pova 5 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M14, Galaxy F14, and the upcoming Moto G54.
Huawei continues to expand its product family. The company, which has been struggling for some time due to the US embargo and is trying to rise from the ashes, has added the Mate 60 series to its lineup. Of course, the model that stands out the most is the Mate 60 Pro, with a price of over $1,000 and very ambitious technical specifications. Naturally, the phone attracted the attention of the technology press around the world, including Gizmochina. Some of them took their review one step further by opening the phone and revealing its luxurious internal components. Here are the details…
Huawei Mate 60 Pro, The Ultimate Flagship Smartphone with No Compromises
Although Huawei has released a lot of information about the Mate 60 Pro, it has not confirmed whether the phone supports 5G or which processor it uses. However, the teardown shows that the Mate 60 Pro uses SK Hynix memory and storage, with specifications of LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0. Under the RAM is the phone’s core processor, which appears to be a dual-stack design. According to leaked information, the Kirin processor is called the Kirin 9000s. However, this may not be the final name.
The Mate 60 Pro‘s internal cooling system is also considered “luxurious”. The phone has a huge copper-alloy VC heat sink under the screen. Although the Mate50 Pro also has a similar VC heat sink, it is much smaller than the one in the Mate 60 Pro. According to the teardown blogger, the Mate 60 Pro’s VC liquid cooling plate may have an area of up to 7,000 square millimeters, which is one of the largest in the smartphone industry.
Huawei’s self-developed Kirin 9000S chip has performed well on the AnTuTu benchmark platform. The chip scored 699,783 points, which is an impressive result. However, on another popular performance benchmark platform, Geekbench, the Kirin 9000S scored 565,635 points. This suggests that the Kirin 9000S’s true GPU performance remains to be tested and verified. You can watch the entire teardown in the video below.
The sudden launch of the Mate 60 Pro has undoubtedly injected new vitality into Huawei’s smartphone business and provided consumers with more choices. However, Huawei has yet to provide clear answers to key questions about the phone, such as whether it supports 5G and which processor it uses. We will continue to monitor the Mate 60 Pro’s development.
BYD continues to expand its electric vehicle family. For example, the company recently announced the Seal DM-i, which will be sold for 180,000 Yuan at the Chengdu Auto Show in China. In addition to increasing its number of models, the company continues to be active in more markets. This way, it hopes to achieve the success it has achieved in China in other countries. One of these countries is Japan. BYD, which has been operating in the country for a while, will start selling its second electric vehicle model in Japan this month, Here are the details…
BYD Targets Young Japanese Consumers with Dolphin
BYD has been operating in Japan for some time. The company opened its first dealership in the country in February and began selling the ATTO 3. The SUV, which sells for around 4.4 million yen ($30,205.26), quickly gained the approval of many people thanks to its affordable price and ambitious features. Now, building on this momentum, BYD is preparing to launch its second model, the Dolphin.
According to the announcement, the Dolphin is an electric hatchback that will be available for order starting September 20. So, what are the features of this car? The Dolphin is powered by BYD’s Blade battery technology, which is said to be more energy-efficient and safer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. The vehicle has a range of up to 400 kilometers on a single charge. BYD is targeting young Japanese consumers with the Dolphin.
The vehicle is priced starting at 1.6 million yen (US$13,000), which is lower than the price of many other EVs in Japan. The arrival of Chinese EVs in Japan is likely to shake up the Japanese auto market. Japanese automakers have been slow to adopt EVs, and they are facing increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers. The introduction of the Dolphin and other Chinese EVs is likely to put pressure on Japanese manufacturers to lower their prices and improve their offerings. It will be interesting to see how the Japanese market reacts to the arrival of Chinese EVs.
In the ever-evolving landscape of China’s PC market, US technology giant Dell Technologies has encountered a substantial setback, marked by a staggering 52% decline in PC shipments during the second quarter of 2023. This startling drop has seen Dell’s market share in China plummet from 14% in the same period last year to a mere 8%, securing its position at fourth place, according to a report by research firm Canalys.
The broader context reveals a challenging environment for PC manufacturers in China, as overall PC shipments dipped by 19% in the second quarter, attributed to a more cautious approach to spending in the commercial sector amid a sluggish economic recovery.
Canalys’ analyst, Emma Xu, pointed out that “micro, small, and medium enterprises are very sensitive to macro challenges,” and given the ongoing economic uncertainties, they are less inclined to make substantial investments in devices at this juncture.
Dell’s downfall comes at a time when the company is reportedly strategizing to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China-based suppliers. In January, reports surfaced suggesting that Dell plans to cease purchasing China-made semiconductors by 2024 and might shift approximately 50% of its production out of China by 2025. This move is seen as a response to escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington and a response to customer demands for a more diversified supply chain, as revealed by Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of the company.
Meanwhile, Canalys’ report indicates that Apple, currently the fifth-largest computer supplier in China, is exploring the possibility of manufacturing some of its MacBooks in Thailand. The shift in manufacturing locations could be an attempt to mitigate supply chain challenges and disruptions, which Apple faced in the same period last year.
Despite the overall decline in the PC market, the tablet segment in mainland China displayed resilience. Tablet PC shipments surged by 8% year-on-year, reaching 6.5 million units in the second quarter of 2023. This resurgence was largely driven by a strong rebound in iPad shipments.
The second quarter results seem to reflect not only the challenges posed by the economic climate but also the evolving dynamics of the technology industry, where companies are reevaluating their global supply chain strategies in response to geopolitical tensions and market fluctuations.
As the third quarter unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Dell can regain its foothold in the Chinese PC market or if the shifting sands of global supply chains will continue to redefine the competitive landscape in this pivotal sector.
The artificial intelligence craze continues to sweep the internet. Nowadays, almost every company is trying to integrate AI technology into its services in one way or another. However, some are taking it a step further by developing their own AI language models. One of these companies is Baidu. At the beginning of this year, we reported that the company was developing a chatbot to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT. We then followed up on this development and shared the details with you, such as its name, Ernie Bot. Now, the chatbot is available to users and has seen a record 1 million users in less than 24 hours since it was launched. Here are the details…
Ernie Bot Challenges ChatGPT as China’s Leading AI Chatbot
Ernie Bot Baidu’s AI chat service, has seen a record 1 million users in less than 24 hours since it was made publicly available at midnight Thursday. Fueled by excitement over what is seen by many as China’s main challenger to ChatGPT, users across the country have been able to access the product for the first time after it was approved for general use by the authorities. The ChatGPT-like tool responded to more than 33.4 million user queries within the first day, according to data revealed by the company.
Ernie Bot is powered by Baidu’s own large language model, which has been trained on a massive dataset of text and code. This allows the bot to generate human-like text responses to a wide range of prompts and questions. For example, users can ask ERNIE Bot to write poems, translate languages, or even answer their questions about the world.
It remains to be seen whether Ernie Bot can dethrone ChatGPT as the leading AI chatbot in China. However, the bot’s early success suggests that it is a serious contender. With its strong capabilities and wide range of applications, Ernie Bot has the potential to become a major player in the Chinese AI market.
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