Apple was granted a patent earlier this month, which hints at future AirPods featuring some major hardware upgrades. The new patent has described AirPods with technology that can read biosignals like your brain waves.
Apple working on AirPods that can map your brain
The Cupertino based giant was granted a patent that describes AirPods that feature tiny electrodes all over the earbuds. These electrodes would allow it to read various biosignals. In the patent document, the company showcased the placement of tiny electrodes all over the housing of both its wired and wireless earphones. Furthermore, these future AirPods will also house both active and reference electrodes that might need to be configured individually for a user’s ear.
These biosignal measurement devices might also be placed at the tip of the earpods. The patent shares some images that reveal how the user can tap on the side to start off the electroencephalography or other forms of measurement. It is worth noting that this is still just a patent. In other words, the future AirPods with brain wave reading technology might not be arriving anytime soon.
Apple has a lot of work going forward since putting small electrodes on AirPods isn’t exactly a simple task. The brand could simply be covering all bases and might not actually be working on such a hearable product. Reading biosignals will also need the iPhone maker to receive proper certifications from the proper authorities. But we recently reported on future AirPods soon offering body temperature and hearing health features.
After skipping a generation, Samsung is working on a new fan edition smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. Details about the device have been leaking since last month, and we now have an almost complete picture of what the device will feature in terms of hardware. Now, a listing on the Wireless Power Consortium has revealed details about the wireless charging on the device.
According to the Wireless Power Consortium listing, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will support 4.4W wireless charging. This is a bit surprising since its predecessor, the Galaxy S21 FE, had support for up to 15W wireless charging. It’s possible that during the testing, the toggle for fast wireless charging wasn’t enabled, which could explain the lower charging rate.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE specs (rumored)
Recent reports suggest that the Galaxy S23 FE will have a 6.4-inch S-AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. As for the processor, there are rumors of an Exynos 2200 chip, but some countries might get a variant with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The phone will have two RAM options, 6GB and 8GB, along with 256GB storage.
For cameras, it will have a 32-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel triple camera setup with OIS on the back. The battery is expected to be 4,500mAh, and it will support 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The software will be One UI 5.1.1 based on Android 13.
Honor is apparently working on a new smartphone that could be launching in China soon. The device in question might be the Honor Play 50 Plus, which was recently spotted on the 3C certification. The listing has revealed some key specs of the upcoming model, so here are all the details.
Honor Play 50 Plus Specifications
An Honor smartphone carrying the model number CLK-AN00 was certified by China’s 3C authority. A Chinese tipster claims that this smartphone might be a part of the brand’s Play series. If this news is true, the company is working on a successor to the Honor Play 40 Plus, which was launched back in October 2022. With the sighting at 3C certification, the Honor Play 50 Plus might debut by the end of next month or possibly even September 2023.
It appears that this smartphone will feature 35W fast charging. The listing has also stated that the Honor 50 Play Plus will be equipped with a Full HD+ resolution and MediaTek Dimensity 700 processors. The large 6,000mAh battery pack will reportedly power this device as well. Unfortunately, this is all the information we have regarding the alleged Play 50 Plus smartphone. With these specs, it’s clear that the company is working on a new mid-range model.
Notably, reports have hinted that the device spotted on 3C could be the Honor X40 GT, which was also launched back in October 2022. Although, this model features higher 66W fast charging. So stick around for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this device.
Xiaomi is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its budget smartphone sub-brand Redmi. The company’s executives have taken to social media to share the date when the first-ever Redmi smartphone was born.
Redmi’s Hongmi was born on 31st July 2013
On Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website), Xiaomi General Manager Wang Hua shared that Redmi’s first smartphone was announced 10 years ago on this very date. A decade ago, the executive had also participated in a special press conference that didn’t even use a projector. He recounted the unveiling of Hongmi, which is basically the Redmi 1. The Chinese tech giant’s first smartphone was showcased to a small group of media.
At that time, Lei Jun (Xiaomi Founder) and some China Mobile executives were also present. Soon after this conference, the device broke new records after it went on sale. With this phone’s launch, the company shifted the perception of smartphones under 1,000 Yuan (roughly 140 US Dollars) in China. However, the waves it created in the smartphone market didn’t just end there since the device was popular in the global market as well in the following year.
To recall, the first Redmi smartphone was equipped with a quad core MediaTek MT6589T processor and supports 3G networking. It sported a 4.7-inch display that had a 720p resolution and 312 PPI. The device only had 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The rear featured an 8-megapixel camera on the rear, while the front housed a 1.3-megapixel selfie shooter. A 2,000mAh battery pack powers the handset, which ran on Android 4.2 OS-based MIUI 5.
Samsung has a new budget-friendly device in development called the Galaxy A05. It will be the successor of the Galaxy A04 which launched in August 2022. The device was recently spotted on Wi-Fi Alliance, and now, it has appeared on the Bluetooth SIG certification database.
The Bluetooth SIG certification confirms that the smartphone with model number SM-A055F/DS is indeed the Samsung Galaxy A05. The certification listing only discloses Bluetooth v5.3 support for the device, with no additional information provided about its other features or specifications. Based on the previous certification, it was disclosed that the upcoming device will launch with Android 13 and offer support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands. We can get an idea of what to expect from its successor by looking at the Galaxy A04.
Samsung Galaxy A04 specs
The Samsung Galaxy A04 has a 6.5-inch display with an Infinity-V notch and HD+ resolution. Under the hood, it runs on Android 12 OS with One UI Core 4.1, powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 octa-core processor. It comes with 4 GB of RAM and offers 64 GB or 128 GB of storage, expandable with a microSD card.
It has a 5-megapixel front camera and a dual-camera system on the back with a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, along with an LED flash. The device has a 5,000mAh battery for reliable performance throughout the day. Connectivity options include dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
TV boxes were probably one of the most useful inventions in history. These devices, which became prominent especially in the early years when smart TVs first appeared, gained fame by making all television models, old or new, smarter. Also at the time, every brand had its own operating system, and only premium devices had the hardware to satisfy users. This increased the popularity of TV box producers like Xiaomi. However, it seems those days are behind us. TV box sales in China have dropped by 28%, and Xiaomi even has lost its leading position. Here are the details…
Smart TV Box Market in China Shrinks by 28.7% in Q1 2023
Smart TV box sales in China are declining. In the first half of 2023, sales dropped by 28.7%. Actually, this situation is not surprising at all. As we mentioned above, when smart TVs first became popular, the market was a “mess”. Manufacturers made smart TVs with poor hardware, bad interfaces, and empty app stores. This drove people to buy smart TV boxes with their TV’s. However, as we always say, technology is rapidly advancing.
Tencent Aurora Box 5 Pro tv box
The advancement in technology has led to significant improvements in smart TV technologies, which in turn has resulted in price reductions. Therefore, nowadays, most TVs on the market have features that are good enough for most people, apart from some brands that stand out for their affordability. Moreover, the widespread adoption of operating systems like WebOS and Android TV has eliminated issues related to user interfaces and app stores. As a result, even in the world’s largest markets like China, serious declines have begun.
RUNTO shared their new monthly report about the online sales of smart TV boxes in China. The report showed that in the first six months of 2023, online sales of these boxes reached 929,000 units. This is a drop of 28.7% from the same time last year. The total money made from these sales was 190 million yuan ($26,5 million), which is 31.7% less than last year. The average online price for each box was 209 yuan ($29). The report also showed that the top five brands in China for the first half of 2023 were:
Tencent: 21.6%
Xiaomi: 16.5%
Semine: 13.0%
Tmall Magic Box: 11.6%
Dangbei: 9.9%
Others: 27,4 %
Tencent is currently the top brand, and the company’s market share is 21.6%, which is a 5.7% increase from last year. In second place is Xiaomi, with a 16.5% share. This is 3.8% less than last year. Even so, Xiaomi owns almost 40% of the global market for products priced between 200 and 499 yuan. For example, I also use Xiaomi at home. Semine moved up to third place, capturing 13.0% of the market by selling at low prices. Tmall Magic Box fell to fourth place with 11.6% of the market. Dangbei also saw an increase in its market share to 9.9%, up 3.2% from last year.
The total sales across all channels will drop to below 3.5 million units. In just eight years, China’s smart box market has rapidly lost 10 million units from its 14 million units in 2016.
The Fire-Boltt Blizzard smartwatch made its debut in India in February. Just recently, the smartwatch received a range of new premium color options. Now, the brand has introduced the Fire-Boltt Blizzard Ultra smartwatch, boasting an even more dazzling and extravagant design compared to its predecessor.
Fire-Boltt Blizzard Ultra specs & features
The Blizzard Ultra comes with a circular dial made of stainless steel and decorated with jewel studs. The smartwatch comes equipped with a 1.28-inch HD TFT LCD screen, offering a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. Its notable feature is the Rotating Crown, providing convenient navigation and control. With Bluetooth v5.0, the smartwatch enables Bluetooth calling, call history, quick dial pad, and contact synchronization, allowing users to make and receive calls directly from the watch.
For fitness enthusiasts, the smartwatch offers an impressive array of 120 sports modes to track various activities effectively. Additionally, it supports voice assistants, enabling users to control the device through voice commands for added convenience.
The health monitoring features are extensive, including sleep tracking, SpO2 measurement, heart rate monitoring, and women’s health tracking, providing comprehensive insights into one’s well-being. The smartwatch’s anti-corrosion design ensures its durability and resilience against water and dust, adding to its practicality and longevity.
Beyond fitness and health, the Fire-Boltt Blizzard Ultra also offers a range of other features, such as in-built games, smart notifications, weather updates, camera, and music control, as well as essential functionalities like a timer, alarm, and stopwatch.
Pricing & availability
The Fire-Boltt Blizzard Ultra smartwatch will be available at an introductory price of Rs. 3,499. It comes in three attractive colors – Gold, Gold Multi-colour, and Silver. You can purchase it from the company’s website and Flipkart starting from August 2nd at 12 P.M.
Realme launched the Realme 11 5G, Realme 11 Pro, and Realme 11 Pro+ 5G in May this year in China. The two Pro models have already launched in markets outside of China. Recent reports have revealed that Realme could be planning to unveil the Realme 11 5G in the global market. The said device has now received approval from Thailand’s NBTC and India’s BIS certifications, which indicates that it will be heading to these markets soon.
The Realme 11 5G heading to the global market could be different from its Chinese edition. The reason behind it is that the Chinese variant of the device has the RMX3751 model number, whereas the global edition has the RMX3780 model number.
The Realme 11 5G’s NBTC and BIS listings have not revealed any details on its specifications. Before appearing on these platforms, the device has been previously certified by the UAE’s TDRA, Malaysia’s SIRIM, and the FCC.
Realme 11 5G key specifications
The FCC certification of the Realme 11 5G revealed that it measures 165.66 x 74.98 x 8.09mm and weighs 192 grams. The device will come preloaded with the Realme UI 4.0, which could be placed on top of Android 13. It will pack a 4,890mAh (rated value) battery with fast charging support. The device will offer connectivity features, such as 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The other details of the Realme 11 5G are yet to be revealed.
To recall, the Realme 11 5G available in China offers a 6.43-inch S-AMOLED display that offers an FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 64-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (depth) dual-camera setup. The device is equipped with Dimensity 6020 chipset, 12 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.
Welcome to our weekly tech roundup, where we compile the most compelling stories that are shaping the technology landscape.
We delve into the latest IDC report that unveiled a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, contrasted starkly by Huawei’s stunning surge of 58% in smartphone sales in the same quarter. This uptick for Huawei amidst an overall market contraction illustrates the company’s new strategies.
Apple’s AirTag played an unlikely hero role in tracking down a restaurant burglar who absconded with $15,000 worth of goods. For audiophiles, Sony unveiled its latest offering – the WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Touted for their top-notch sound quality and active noise cancellation, they are setting new standards in the audio industry. We also read about how a YouTuber managed to run GTA 5 on an overclocked Nintendo Switch, pushing the boundaries of the console’s capabilities.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these stories and more in this exciting roundup of the week’s top tech news below.
Latest IDC report shows China’s smartphone market declined by 2.1% in Q2 2023
The IDC report shows a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, with 65.7 million smartphones shipped. The market experienced a 7.3% year-on-year decline, with Huawei and Apple showing positive YoY growth. Other leading brands, including Oppo, Vivo, Honor, Apple, and Huawei and Xiaomi, experienced flat or declining performance.
Huawei’s Q2 2023 smartphone sales surged by 58%, according to Counterpoint Research. The surge can be attributed to regular product release schedules and brand image. Other manufacturers, Realme and Apple, also experienced positive growth. Huawei’s focus on flagship series, midrange phones, and the upcoming Mate 60 series is expected to boost sales.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch model’s demand lower than the company’s expectations
Apple’s anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air model faces lower demand than anticipated, with sales numbers as low as 50% below expectations. The 15-inch model, launched at WWDC, features a larger display and two extra speakers. The company is scaling back production.
Apple AirTag Used to Track Down Restaurant Burglar Who Stole $15,000 Worth of Goods
The Apple AirTag has been used to track down a South Carolina restaurant burglar who stole $15,000 worth of goods. The small, effective device allows users to track their location instantly, preventing theft. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. The AirTag has been used in theft cases before, but its drawbacks have been reported.
China’s foldable smartphone market experienced significant growth in Q1 2023, with China being the largest market, followed by Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America.
We check out why Chinese consumers love their foldables.
YouTuber gets GTA 5 running on an overclocked Nintendo Switch
YouTuber Geekerwan overclocked the Nintendo Switch to run popular titles like Grand Theft Auto 5, Titanfall 2, and God of War. He sideloaded Android 11 and overclocked the CPU to 2.3 GHz, allowing him to access Steam and play games.
Honor is rumored to launch its first flip phone in 2024, aiming to compete with Samsung and Motorola. The Honor Flip is expected to offer a unique experience with a lightweight design, large cover screen, and a competitive price proposition.
The Bumblebee Edition of Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ is Now on preorders
Nubia has launched the Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ Bumblebee Edition, available for pre-orders at 6,499 Yuan. This special edition features a unique mecha design and a Bumblebee-themed charger, badge, pins, fast charging data cable, protective case, and cooler.
All iPhone 15 models rumored to feature 48MP camera with hybrid lens
The iPhone 15 series is set to revolutionize smartphone photography with its 48-megapixel camera, featuring advanced 1/1.5-inch stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) and 2X mode. The non-Pro models will have a slightly smaller sensor, but the CIS increases by 27% from previous iPhone 14 models. The hybrid lens design, f/1.7 aperture, and A16 Bionic chip are expected to improve low-light performance.
Here’s Why People in Indonesia Can’t Access the Rebranded Twitter Website
Elon Musk’s ambitious rebranding of Twitter as ‘X’ has encountered a major obstacle in Indonesia. The social media platform, now known as X, faced a block in the country due to its association with the domain X.com. More details above.
No Chargers Needed?: Researchers Develop Long-Distance Wireless Charging with 80% Efficiency
Wireless charging is getting more and more popular these days. We can see this technology in our phones and even things like AirPods. However, when we look at the usage rates, the numbers suddenly start to drop suddenly. This is mostly because wireless charging isn’t truly ‘wireless’. Your device needs to touch a charging pad, and that can be harder than just using a USB-C or Lightning cable. However, engineers at Aalto University have developed a new system that can fix this.
The Moto G14, the highly anticipated successor to the well-received Moto G13, is set to make its debut in the Indian market on August 1. While the brand had already disclosed some essential information, such as the design and specifications of the smartphone, a recent leak of marketing material has now unveiled the remaining missing details.
According to a report by TheTechOutlook, the leaked marketing material discloses some exciting features of the Moto G14. Notably, the smartphone will be powered by a UniSoC T616 Octa-core processor. On the back, it will sport a rectangular camera module housing a high-resolution 50MP camera. Additionally, the device is expected to be waterproof, boasting an IP52 rating.
Prior leaks and certifications have shed light on further details of the Moto G14’s specifications. It is expected to showcase a significant enhancement with a 6.5-inch LCD FHD+ punch-hole display, a notable improvement over the Moto G13’s HD+ display. This upgrade promises sharper visuals on the large screen, enhancing the overall user experience.
While the UniSoC T616 might seem like a step down from the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, its CPU performance is actually quite similar. However, it falls short in terms of graphics performance compared to the Helio G85. The brand has revealed that the device will feature 128GB UFS 2.2 storage paired with 4GB RAM. A micro-SD card slot will also be available providing up to 1TB storage expansion. The smartphone will also have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning.
The 50MP camera will be paired with a macro camera, the 5,000mAh battery will feature 20W fast charging support and the device will debut with Android 13, with a guarantee of Android 14 update in the future along with 3 years of security update.
OnePlus 12 is expected to debut in December in China this year. However, the rumor mill has already leaked its design and the major specifications. In a new Weibo post, tipster Digital Chat Station reiterated key details about the cameras of the OP12.
OnePlus 12 camera configurations (rumored)
OnePlus 12 CAD renders 2
According to DCS, the OnePlus 12’s rear camera will be headlined by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX9xx 1/1.4-inch primary camera, which is expected to have OIS support. It will be coupled with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B periscope zoom camera with 3x optical zoom. Like the recent OnePlus flagships, the OnePlus 12’s camera system will come with support for Hasselblad optimizations.
Recent reports suggest that the OnePlus 12 will arrive with a 6.7-inch curved-edge AMOLED LTPO display, offering a 2K and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. For selfies, there will be a 32-megapixel front-facing camera.
Under the hood, the OnePlus 12 will feature the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The new chip is expected to debut at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit 2023 event in October. It is rumored to offer up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
Regarding software, the OnePlus 12 is expected to come with the Android 14 OS, customized with OxygenOS 14. To keep the phone running, a substantial 5,400mAh battery is rumored to support 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. A recent leak revealed that the OnePlus 12 will debut in January 2024 in the global market.
The Redmi K60 series is no longer listed on Xiaomi China’s website. A search for ‘K60’ on JD.com reveals that the K60 Pro is no longer available for purchase. It appears that the brand may have discontinued the K60 Pro, or perhaps even the entire K60 lineup in China. These developments suggest that the company might be gearing up to launch the Redmi K60 Ultra in the Chinese market.
Multiple reports have revealed that Xiaomi will hold a major launch event in China next month. The event is expected to see the arrival of multiple devices, such as the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, the Pad 6 Max tablet, the Redmi Pad 2 tablet, and the Redmi K60 Ultra.
Redmi K60 Ultra design-
Redmi K60 Ultra specifications (rumored)
The Redmi K60 Ultra is expected to arrive as a successor to the Redmi K50 Ultra, which was announced in the same month last year. Rumors suggest that the Redmi K60 Ultra will feature a 6.7-inch OLED display that offers a 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is expected to be powered by the Dimensity 9200 Plus chipset. The device might come with two RAM options: either 12 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM. When it comes to storage, users could be provided with UFS 4.0 storage choices of 512 GB or 1 TB.
The K60 Ultra will run on the Android 13 OS and Xiaomi’s MIUI 14. To keep up with power demands, the device is likely to house either a 5,000mAh or 5,500mAh battery, with support for 120W fast charging. Lastly, for enhanced security and convenience, the device might come equipped with a side-facing fingerprint sensor. As per another report, the K60 Ultra will come in two options, such as 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage and 16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage. It will be available in shades like black and cyan.
On July 30, Vivo hosted a special event called the Vivo Video Festival in China. During this event, the company announced the Vivo V3, its latest self-developed imaging chip, the V3, along with a new Zeiss T* coating technology.
Vivo V3 officially unveiled
Vivo V3
The V3 is Vivo’s first imaging chip developed using the advanced 6nm process technology, resulting in a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency compared to its predecessor. This improvement is achieved through a newly designed multi-concurrent AI perception-ISP architecture and the second-generation FIT interconnection system, which reduce power consumption and enhance the algorithm’s performance.
Furthermore, the Vivo V3 allows for seamless integration with the phone’s SoC and significantly reduces image processing time by 20 percent. The V3 imaging chip supports 4K movie portrait video shooting and editing, enabling movie-level bokeh blur, skin quality optimization, and advanced color processing. Additionally, users can perform post-shooting editing, and adjust blur and focus positions to achieve a cinematic effect in portrait videos.
Another notable development is the collaboration between Vivo and Zeiss, which led to the introduction of the new Zeiss T* coating technology. This technology, combined with Multi-ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition), reduces reflectivity by 50 percent on the main camera of the upcoming X-series flagship model, significantly improving image quality. Furthermore, a new “Vario-Apo-Sonnar” standard telephoto lens has been launched to enhance zoom performance.
Vivo is not only focusing on hardware advancements but also on optimizing algorithms to enhance portrait and night scene photography, ensuring a better user experience. It is also exploring future imaging technologies, such as 3D portrait reconstruction and the AIGC future portrait laboratory, to push the boundaries of mobile photography.
Vivo has not yet revealed which mobile phone will debut with the V3 imaging chip, it appears that it will be available on the next-generation X series flagship models. In all likelihood, it could be available on the Vivo X100 Pro and X100 Pro+.
Google is reportedly working on its next-generation wearable device, which is likely to be called Google Pixel Watch 2. Ahead of the official launch, the watch faces for the device have leaked.
There are four different categories of watch faces – Accessible, Arc, Bold Digital, and Analog Bold. The four watch faces that fall into the Accessible category are named Just Time, Circular, Linear, and Stacked Time.
On the other hand, the Arc category watch faces are a bit complex and highly customizable. There are six variants overall, but each has two sub-variant with a choice of either two or four complication slots.
The Bold Digital category is in line with screen clocks for Pixel phones running Android 14. This category uses bold, overlapping font and colorful palettes. Lastly, Analog Bold looks like a combo between the Arc and Bold Digital watch faces.
Apart from the customizable watch faces, the upcoming Google Pixel Watch 2 is expected to have some additional features in the Wear OS 4, like dynamic theming to adopt a custom color scheme for the watch’s user interface.
Alongside the Oppo Reno 10 series, the brand announced the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro true wireless earbuds in India. As the name suggests, this product is the successor to last year’s Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro.
This TWS is originally called the Oppo Enco Free 3 in China. It was initially unveiled at the Oppo Find X6 series launch event in March.
These earbuds retail at ₹4,999 (~$60) in India. At this price, you get many premium features, like 49dB Active Noise Cancellation, spatial audio, LDAC support, and more. Most importantly, these are the world’s first wireless earbuds featuring diaphragms made of bamboo fiber.
Oppo India sent me a unit of Enco Air 3 Pro along with Oppo Reno 10 Pro Plus. After using the TWS for the last few days, here are my thoughts on it.
The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro looks slightly different from the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro. But it is easy to identify one from the other with their colors.
Both arrive in a white color option, in addition to their special colors. The newer Air 3 Pro can be availed in an eye-catchy green color version, while the Air 2 Pro comes in a dull gray hue.
The translucent lid design returns on the latest model and so are the left/right indicators on the IP55-rated buds. The dimensions and weight are more or less the same.
The charging case can be placed in the smallest of pockets. But the glossy finish of the case and the earbuds make them prone to scratches, just like their predecessor.
However, I enjoyed using the buds due to the features they provide apart from their sound quality. You can switch between three different-sized ear tips (S, M, and L) for a snug fit.
The sound stage offered by the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro is well-balanced. You can clearly listen to wider frequency levels. None of the frequencies overshadow others.
Their frequency response range is rated at 20~40KHz, which is uncommon among TWS in this price segment. The on-paper specs surely match the real-life performance.
I found them to be suitable to listen to music of all genres. These earbuds have got something for everyone and they don’t even cost that premium.
I didn’t face any connection drop on all the devices I tried them with. You can connect to two devices at the same time and switch between them.
The ANC on the Enco Air 3 Pro is commendable for the asking price. You can lose yourself in music and focus on your task without any external distractions. They are also good for calls.
The buds support in-ear detection and touch gesture controls. These features work as intended without any issues. You can control almost all functions of the earbuds with gestures.
When you need to access more functions, you have to open the Hey Melody app on your smartphone. If you use an Oplus group (Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme) smartphone/tablet, you don’t need the said app as the features are baked into the system software.
From the app, you can enable the LDAC function. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it as I don’t have a subscription to any high-res music streaming service.
The companion app also has interesting features like Golden Sound, which gives you personalized sound based on your ear canal structure. You can also test the fit of the earbuds and try Oppo’s take on spatial audio called Oppo Alive Audio.
Then, you have the usual options for customizing gestures, finding earbuds, managing dual connection, camera shutter control, and firmware update.
The only thing the app misses is a manual equalizer. Instead, you get three factory presets, namely Original Sound (which I recommend), Bass Boost, and Natural Inspiration.
Finally, the battery life is average if you use ANC. You may get around 20 hours of endurance along with the charging case.
At ₹4,999, the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro is a solid pair of true wireless earbuds. It is ₹1,500 costlier than the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro and offers a lot more that it can go head to head with premium TWS offerings.
If you are looking for wireless earbuds in the ₹5,000 range, look no further than the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro.
The Viribus Electric Trike has been unveiled in the US market. The new Viribus e-trike is designed as an affordable vehicle for cargo movements within the city. The Viribus Electric Trike is coming at a time of growing demand for electric bicycles in several markets.
Electric bicycles have continued to reshape the urban landscape in Europe and Asia, but the fad is also catching up in the US. The liberal regulatory environment for electric bicycles in the US has led to the development of several unique designs. Electric three-wheelers (e-trike) are pretty easy to ride and do not require any balancing skills. Viribus is making its entry into the e-trike space with the release of the Viribus e-trike.
The Viribus e-trike is equipped with a 250W hub motor in the front wheel. The peak output of the hub motor is 500W, allowing the e-trike to easily navigate inclines. The e-trike has a 35V 10Ah battery pack that delivers a range of 30 miles. The Viribus e-trike is suitable for urban commutes and its cargo-carrying capacity is an added advantage. The e-trike has a thumb throttle for easier movement even with tired legs. The top speed of the Viribus e-trike is 15mph and it weighs 32kg. It has a rear basket for extra luggage and features full LED lights.
The Viribus e-trike is available in several color options including black, fuschia, peach, green, and white. Customers can choose between 24-inch and 26-inch wheels for users of different heights. The Viribus Electric Trike is priced at $899 in the US – and its price is significantly cheaper than most of its competition. There are no global availability details yet for the Viribus Electric Trike.
The Xiaomi Focus Pen has been spotted on the Bluetooth SIG certification website. This indicates that Xiaomi could be close to introducing another smart stylus after the Smart Pen (2nd Gen). The listing of a product on the Bluetooth SIG certification website usually precedes the launch of such products.
The Xiaomi Focus Pen was certified by the Bluetooth SIG authority and it has a declaration ID of D064910 and model number 23089MP43C. As per the details of the upcoming stylus, it supports Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, but not much else is known yet. It is expected that the upcoming Xiaomi Focus Pen could square up against the Xiaomi Smart Pen (2nd Gen) at the least. The 2nd generation Xiaomi Smart Pen weighs about 13g and has a dimension of 160mm x 8.8mm. It has two buttons and features a three-axis accelerometer.
The device supports both Bluetooth connectivity and palm rejection. The device has a 40mAh lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 150 hours of usage. The smart pen can be charged wirelessly and is compatible with several tablets.
There are no official release details yet for the Xiaomi Focus Pen. Xiaomi has lined up a raft of product releases including the Redmi 12 4G and 5G smartphones, the Redmi Watch 3, and the Xiaomi Smart TV X Series. The August 1 scheduled Xiaomi launch event is not expected to include the Focus Pen. The August 1 product launch will be followed thereafter with the unveiling of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 foldable device.
Lenovo launched half a dozen new products over this weekend. These include the new Xiaoxin Pad Pro 12.7 and the Legion R9000X 2023. The company also launched its popular Xiaoxin Pro 2023 laptops with Ryzen 7 7840HS processors. The notebooks are offered in 14” and 16” screen sizes with many notable specifications. Here are the details.
Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 2023 Ryzen Edition
The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 2023 is already available with up to Core-i7 processor and RTX 4050 GPU. Lenovo has now announced the AMD Ryzen 7840HS powered variant of the laptop with Radeon 780M GPU. For the unaware, the R7 7840HS is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a top speed of 5.1 GHz and 12CU integrated graphics with a top speed of 2.7 GHz.
The Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 14 2023 Ryzen Edition laptop comes with an R7 7840HS processor with a performance release of 60W. It features 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The laptop has a 14-inch 2.8K display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate. The machine is backed by a 75Wh battery and brings USB4 and USB-C, among other ports. It weighs 1.46kg and is 15.99mm thick.
The 16” version of the laptop features the same processor but delivers 65W performance. It gets the same 32GB of RAM as well as a 1TB SSD but with a reserved M.2 slot. Its 16-inch 16:10 2.5K 120Hz display offers a stunning visual experience, accompanied by a 75Wh battery and both USB4 and full-function USB-C ports. The laptop is relatively lightweight at 1.93kg and measures 17.5mm in thickness.
Lenovo Xiaoxin Pro 2023 Ryzen Edition comes priced at:
Lenovo has been teasing the Legion R9000X 2023 for a couple of weeks and now the company has finally launched the notebook in China. The powerful laptop comes with a sleek design and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H processor under the hood. It also boasts an impressive 165Hz refresh rate display and a particularly extreme 140W charging support. Let’s look closely at the specifications and pricing of the new laptop.
Lenovo Legion R9000X 2023 Specifications
Lenovo Legion R9000X 2023 is the latest gaming laptop from the company. It debuts just a week after the Legion Y9000X 2023 was launched with Intel i9-13900H and RTX 4070 GPU. The new machine can be seen in black with what looks like a matt finish. The company says it is built using ACD and CNC technologies. The laptop weighs 2.1 kg and measures 17.66mm thin.
The new R9000X comes powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H processor with NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU. There should be RTX 4070 option as well but it isn’t available as of writing this. The laptop gets 16GB DDR5-5600 RAM and a standard 1TB SSD.
Similar to the Legion Y9000X 2023, the R9000X 2023 gets a 3.2K display with a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% P3 color gamut, and 430 nits of brightness. Lenovo has incorporated a 90mm fan on the laptop for efficient heat dissipation during intense gaming sessions. The laptop also comes with a Harman-branded speaker system enhanced with SmartAMP technology.
The notebook comes equipped with a 99.99Wh battery and supports 140W charging. It also brings Wi-Fi 6E support.
Price and Availability
Lenovo Legion R9000X 2023 is available for purchase in China at a starting price of 10,999 Yuan ($1,538) for the R7 7840H + RTX 4060 configuration. The company is yet to announce any other configuration.
Would you buy this laptop if Lenovo makes it available in your region? Tell us in the comments.
Earlier this month, the Red Magic 8S Pro debuted in the global market, which was quite a surprise as the device was launched in China on July 5. Now, the smartphone is up for pre-order in Europe.
Red Magic 8S Pro pre-booking details
You can reserve the device by paying only €1, and when it ships, you’ll get a €30 discount. There are three color options: Matte for €619, Platinum for €749, and Aurora for €769.
Red Magic 8S Pro specs
The Red Magic 8S Pro comes with a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, offering a resolution of 2,480 x 1,116 pixels, 10-bit color depth, a brightness of 1,300 nits, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Underneath, the Red Magic 8S Pro houses a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Leading Version chipset, with a higher clock speed of 3.36GHz. It comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. The device is equipped with an efficient ICE 12.0 cooling system and a large 2068mm³ vapor chamber (VC) for effective heat dissipation. Powering the phone is a substantial 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.
The screen features a fourth-generation 16MP under-display camera technology. On the rear, the phone boasts a triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro unit.
The phone also includes dual speakers, 3 microphones, and an X-Axis Linear Motor. Additionally, it features an integrated fingerprint scanner that doubles up as a heart-rate monitor. Connectivity options encompass Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
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