Huawei sees largest ever profit decline due to US sanctions

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Apr 4, 2023

OPPO has been actively launching products in China, and it appears that the company is set to introduce yet another device to its A series lineup. The OPPO A1 5G has been spotted on several listings including China Telecom, TENAA, and Geekbench, which have unveiled the complete specifications and design of the phone.

The rear panel of the OPPO A1 5G (model PHS110) resembles that of the recently launched Reno8 T 5G, featuring a dual-ring camera setup. According to the China Telecom listing of the smartphone, it features a 6.72-inch FHD+ LCD screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 90Hz. It is powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 695 8nm mobile platform with 2.2GHz x 2 + 1.8GHz x 6 Kryo 560 CPUs, paired with Adreno 619L GPU. The phone is available in two variants – 8GB or 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. The phone runs on Android 13 with ColorOS 13.

In terms of camera specifications, the Oppo A1 5G sports a dual-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor, along with an LED flash. For selfies, the phone features an 8MP front-facing camera. The phone also includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for added security.

The Oppo A1 5G measures 165.6×76.1×8.25 mm and weighs 193g. It includes a 5000mAh battery, which should provide ample usage time. Connectivity options on the phone include 5G SA/NSA, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and USB Type-C.

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Apple halts M2 chip production as Mac sales decline

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Apr 4, 2023

Apple has apparently stopped making its M2 chips that power its current generation of PC lineup. The reason for halting production for these chips was supposedly due to the decline in sales of its Macs.

According to a new report, the Cupertino based giant is scaling back production of its custom M2 chipsets while also stopping their production entirely for two whole months. The move is being made due to the low demand for Mac models. As of right now, the iPhone maker has yet to officially confirm that it is pausing chip production, although reports have claimed that this has already taken place during the months of January and February.

Apple is believed to have restarted the production of the M2 in March, albeit at half the original capacity than last year. As per reports from the company’s supply chain, the company’s third party suppliers have been impacted by this move. Apple and its primary chip supplier TSMC haven’t responded to these rumors. Although, the Elec managed to track down other suppliers that were able to provide the details regarding the halted production.

During the first quarter earnings report, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the year on year decline in Q1 was within expectation due to the various limitations in the market. He added that “We also faced a challenging macroeconomic environment and foreign exchange headwinds. We remain confident in and focused on the long term opportunity for Mac.”

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OnePlus Nord 3 5G spotted on NBTC & TDRA websites, Could launch soon

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Apr 4, 2023

The upcoming mid-range smartphone from OnePlus dubbed the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, has passed several certifications and its specifications have been leaked. The device has also appeared on NBTC and TDRA certifications, indicating that its global release is imminent.

The NBTC website has featured the phone under the model number CPH2493, revealing both its official name and model number. The phone has also passed the TDRA certification. However, the NBTC listing only discloses the phone’s model number and moniker, and no other details have been disclosed.

According to reports, the OnePlus Nord 3 is expected to launch in India by the end of June or July 2023. The device is rumored to come equipped with a 6.72-inch AMOLED display featuring a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is flat and includes a hole-punch cutout located at the top center. The device will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC and come with options of 8GB/16GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

On the rear, the Nord 3 is expected to feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. For selfies, the phone will come equipped with a 16MP camera. The device is also expected to house a 5000mAh battery and may include an alert slider.

Based on the leaked specifications, it is suggested that the phone may be a rebranded version of the OnePlus Ace 2V, which was released earlier this year in China.

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Lava Probuds N31 neckband earphones launched with 45hr battery & ENC

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Apr 4, 2023

Lava has just launched a new hearable product in the Indian market. The new device in question is the Probuds N31, which are a pair of wireless neckband earphones that have launched for a budget price tag. So let’s have a look.

The new N31 was announced with the tag line “Slay the limits” and arrives as the company moves to further expand into the hearables category. Furthermore, it is also looking to redefine the neckband earphones market with the new Lava Probuds N31. The Probuds N31 arrives with an ergonomic and in ear design makes them perfect for people that workout since they won’t fallout during runs or other exercises.

The new Probuds N31 promises to offer up to 45 hours of audio playback from its 280mAh battery, which also supports fast charging. With just 10 minutes of charging, users can expect 12 hours of battery life. Other notable features include support for ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation), a dedicated gaming mode that lowers the latency down to 60ms, IPX6 water resistance, and Bluetooth 5.3.

The Probuds N31 neckband will be available for purchase starting from 12th April 2023 and will arrives in multiple color options, namely Firefly Green, Wild Red, and Panther Black. The new neckband earphones will be available for purchase on Amazon and the company’s official store. The brand offers 2 months of warranty extension upon successful registration and it has a price tag of just 999 INR.

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iQOO Neo 6 price permanently slashed by ₹5,000 in India

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 4, 2023

The iQOO Neo 6 was announced in India at the end of May 2022. It is on sale in the country since the first week of June. Ten months after its launch in the country, the brand has now permanently slashed the price of this smartphone by ₹5,000 (~$60).

Therefore, it now only costs about ₹25,000 (~$305) in the region. Let’s check out its latest price.

The iQOO Neo 6 comes in 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256GB memory configurations in India. These variants were introduced at ₹29,999 (~$365) and ₹33,999 (~$415), respectively.

Since the price has been now reduced by ₹5,000 (~$60), the phone can be now had at either ₹24,999 (~$305) or ₹28,999 (~$350). Thus, both variants now cost below ₹30,000 (~$365).

Currently, the iQOO Neo 6 is the only Snapdragon 870 smartphone in this price segment. Apart from a solid chip, the device also offers LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

The handset sports a 6.62-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display. It arrives with a triple camera system consisting of an OIS-assisted 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, and a 2MP macro snapper. On the front, it has a 16MP shooter.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, dual stereo speakers, and an x-axis linear vibration motor. Last but not least, it is backed by a 4,700mAh battery with support for 80W charging.

The iQOO Neo 7 can be availed in either Dark Nova or Cyber Rage color options from Amazon India and iQOO’s official website.

Realme Techlife has officially been rebranded to Realme Narzo

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Apr 4, 2023

Realme has just announced a major overhaul for its Techlife lifestyle sub brand. The company is now rebranding the Techlife series to include it into its more popular Narzo lineup. So here are all the details.

The Chinese smartphone maker is basically moving its Techlife branding to its Narzo sub brand. For those unaware, the Realme Techlife had launched disruptive yet low cost AIOT based lifestyle product. As of right now, the company is also directing its Techlife product fans towards its Narzo lineup, including its social media accounts. In other words, we can soon expect to see Narzo branded AIOT products launch in the future.

Unfortunately, it is unclear as to what Realme’s plans are for the DIZO brand, which was previously under the company’s Techlife ecosystem. So, it might also move under the Narzo branding as well. This was a surprise announcement from Realme that was pretty unexpected. However, it would likely have no major impact on the company’s Techlife ecosystem in general. Meaning, we could still expect seamless integration of the Realme Link app for all of its products, even after they are moved to Narzo.

Apart from the branding, there shouldn’t be any other changes in direction for these lifestyle products. Finer details are still at large, although, we should get to know more about any changes in the coming months.

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AOKZOE A1 Pro & A2 handheld consoles teased, coming soon with Ryzen 7000 chips

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Apr 4, 2023

The handheld gaming market is becoming increasingly popular with the release of new AMD Ryzen APUs. AOKZOE, a spin-off from One-netbook and ONEXPLAYER, is preparing to launch two new gaming handhelds, the A1 Pro and the A2. The A1 Pro will retain the design of the previous A1 model, which closely resembles the first-generation ONEXPLAYER models, with an 8-inch display. The A2, however, will feature a smaller frame and a 7-inch panel.

Although AOKZOE claims that the A1 Pro will come with “AMD’s flagship 7XXX series processor,” there is currently no information on which processor it will be. It is possible that the Ryzen 7 7735U or Ryzen 7 7736U may be included, but these processors may not offer much of a performance boost over the Ryzen 7 6800U that powers the original AOKZOE A1.

As of now, AOKZOE has not provided any other details about the upcoming gaming handhelds. The company has, however, allowed people to register to test the A1 Pro via an “internal test form.” It remains to be seen how many testers AOKZOE will recruit for this internal test.

While the exact specifications of the A1 Pro and A2 remain unclear, it is exciting to see new companies entering the handheld gaming space and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with these devices.

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TSMC to manufacture Intel’s upcoming GPUs launching in 2024 and 2026

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Apr 4, 2023

Intel has reportedly chosen to partner with TSMC to produce its next-generation Battlemage and Celestial GPUs, set to release in the second half of 2024 and 2026, respectively. According to Taiwanese media outlet ctee.com.tw, the Battlemage GPU will use the Xe2 architecture and be manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process node, while the Celestial GPU will use the Xe3 architecture and be manufactured using TSMC’s N3X (3nm) process node.

This report is not surprising given that Intel used TSMC for its first-gen GPUs, Alchemist (Xe), which launched in mid-2022. The leaked product plan shows that the Battlemage Xe2 and Celestial Xe3 GPUs will come in both HPG and LPG flavors, with the HPG versions targeting the 75-250W segment.

Despite facing challenges in operations and pressure to reduce inventory in the production chain, Intel remains committed to its GPU R&D plans. The company has invested heavily in constructing 4nm and more advanced process wafer fabs but will continue to maintain its business model of cooperation with wafer foundries, with TSMC being its sole partner.

Intel’s focus on gaming and AI segments is driving demand for discrete GPUs, and the company is poised to continue improving its GPU offerings with the upcoming launches of the Battlemage and Celestial GPUs. The next-gen discrete Arc graphics card lineup is also expected to receive a refresh under the Alchemist+ family, as rumored for some time now.

Overall, this partnership between Intel and TSMC marks an exciting development in the world of GPUs, and we can expect to see continued advancements and innovations in the future.

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Truke Buds Vibe TWS launched in India with ANC, 13mm drivers, & IPX5 rating

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Apr 4, 2023

Truke has just launched its latest pair of truly wireless earbuds in the Indian market. The new earbuds are the Buds Vibe, which are an affordable pair of earbuds but offer some notable specs and features. So let’s have a look.

Talking about its design first, the earbuds itself feature a step design that is similar to the Apple AirPods Pro. Although, its charging case has a transparent cover and a digital battery life indicator that displays charge levels of both earbuds. Despite its budget price tag, it offers up to 35 decibels of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) along with a quad mic enabled Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) as well.

The earbuds house 13mm Titanium drivers that promises to delivery crystal clear audio. Truke is also offering four preset EQ modes, which include, Dynamic Audio, Bass Boost Mode, Movie Mode, and Default Balanced mode. On a single full charge, the new wireless earphones can last for up to 48 hours with the case, while the earbuds alone promises an impressive 10 ours of playback on a single charge.

Other notable features include, Bluetooth 5.3, IPX5 water resistance rating, and Instant Pair Technology with Open to Pair tech as well as touch controls. The Truke Buds Vibe has been launched in India for a price of just 1,699 INR and is available for purchase on Flipkart, Amazon, and the company’s official website starting today (4th April 2023), and the brand is also selling the new earbuds for a special introductory price tag of just 1,499 INR till April 6.

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Poco C51 Indian launch set for April 7, Specs revealed

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Apr 4, 2023

Come April 7th, POCO is set to unveil its budget-friendly C51 smartphone in India, following the release of C50 and C55 in January and February respectively. POCO has confirmed that the phone will feature 4GB of RAM, expandable to an additional 3GB, and its design and specifications bear similarities to those of the newly introduced Redmi A2+.

Poco C51 Specs

The Poco C51 smartphone boasts a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels and a 120Hz touch sampling rate, offering a smooth user experience. It is powered by a 2.2 GHz Octa-Core MediaTek Helio G36 12nm processor with IMG PowerVR GE8320 @ 680MHz GPU, making it capable of handling a variety of applications with ease.

The phone comes in two RAM variants – 3GB and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM – paired with 32GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. It runs on Android 13 (Go Edition) out of the box, offering a seamless and efficient user interface.

The Poco C51 features a dual-SIM slot (nano + nano + microSD) and is equipped with an 8MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and LED flash, along with a secondary camera. The front-facing camera is a 5MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture, suitable for taking selfies and video calls.

Other features of the phone include a 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, and a Micro USB port. It is powered by a massive 5000mAh battery that supports 10W charging, ensuring that the device lasts throughout the day on a single charge.

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Samsung’s introduction of ChatGPT backfires with leaks of confidential data

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Apr 4, 2023

Samsung’s recent introduction of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, to its employees was intended to streamline processes and boost its chip business. However, after just three weeks, three leaks of confidential semiconductor information have reportedly occurred, causing concerns about data security and confidentiality breaches.

The leaks happened when Samsung employees entered sensitive information, such as semiconductor equipment measurement data and source code, into ChatGPT. As a result, this information became a part of the AI’s learning database, accessible not only to Samsung but to anyone using ChatGPT.

The first leak happened when an employee at the Semiconductor and Device Solutions department entered source code related to the semiconductor equipment measurement database into ChatGPT to find a quick solution to an issue. The second leak occurred when another employee entered a code related to yields and optimization, and the third leak occurred when an employee asked ChatGPT to create meeting minutes.

Samsung has taken measures to prevent further leaks, including instructing employees to be cautious about the data they share with ChatGPT and limiting the capacity of each entry to a maximum of 1,024 bytes. The company has also clarified that once information is fed to the AI chatbot, it is transmitted to external servers where it cannot be recovered or removed.

This incident highlights the importance of data security and the need for companies to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of introducing AI chatbots into their workplaces. While AI chatbots can improve efficiency and streamline processes, they also require proper safeguards and training to ensure the confidentiality and security of sensitive information.

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iPhone 17 Pro may feature under-display Face ID for a truly full-screen design

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Apr 4, 2023

According to renowned display analyst Ross Young, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro will debut with an innovative under-display Face ID technology. This feature will reportedly eliminate the need for a notch, giving the phone a truly full-screen design.

However, Young noted that the under-display Face ID technology will still be accompanied by a circular cutout for the front-facing camera. This design choice is expected to persist until 2027’s “Pro” iPhone models aka iPhone 19 Pro/Max, which will feature a truly “full-screen” appearance, with both the facial recognition sensors and camera hidden beneath the display.

This delay is due to “sensor issues” that have pushed back the release of the feature from the expected debut in 2024’s iPhone 16 Pro models. However, there are some challenges that Apple will have to overcome to make the under-display camera solution for the front camera work seamlessly. For instance, previous leaks suggest that the under-display camera will only have 4MP, which is significantly lower than the 12MP used in the current iPhone 14 Pro. This could have a negative impact on image quality.

Additionally, because the iPhone uses a Super Retina display with a PPI of around 400-500, the screen’s transmittance is low, and the light received by the under-display front camera is minimal, which could also impact image quality. If Apple lowers the PPI of the under-display front camera area to improve transmittance, the difference in PPI between the whole screen and the under-display front camera area could cause a “screen door effect” where the display shows visible pixelation.

Despite these challenges, Apple is reportedly working to develop the perfect under-display camera solution for the iPhone 17 Pro, which will achieve a truly full-screen design without compromising on image quality.

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Toshiba Z870 MiniLED 4K Gaming TV with 144Hz refresh rate announced

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Apr 4, 2023

Toshiba has announced the release of its Z870 MiniLED 4K TV series, which is designed with gamers in mind. The TV boasts a 144 Hz display, which the brand says makes the device ideal for gaming. In addition, the TV offers several gaming-related tools like Game Mode Pro, which provides ALLM, AMD FreeSync technology, and VRR.

The Mini LED display of the Toshiba Z870 TV series offers several benefits. The brighter colors, improved local dimming, and better backlighting make for a more immersive viewing experience. Furthermore, the REGZA processor powers the TV, resulting in optimized colors and contrast.

The Toshiba Z870 MiniLED 4K TV series is expected to launch globally in July, with the company suggesting that it will launch the model in several markets worldwide. However, specific details like pricing, sizing, and launch dates are yet to be confirmed.

The brand already has a 100-inch model of the Toshiba Z870 TV available in China, launched late last year. This model has 256 local dimming zones, up to 1,400 nits brightness, and a 4K@120Hz resolution. The TV covers 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is powered by the REGZA engine. It also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Additionally, the TV has a built-in 2.1 channel sound system, or users can connect external speakers via audio out and SPDIF ports. Other ports include HDMI 2.1, HDMI 2.0, and USB 2.0. The 100-inch Toshiba Z870 TV is available in China for 34,999 yuan (~US$5,080).

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Vivo T2 5G series to launch soon in India, two devices teased

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 4, 2023

A recent report revealed that Vivo will launch two T2-series smartphones in India this month. Now, a landing page for the T2 5G series has gone live on Flipkart. The page gives a glimpse of two upcoming smartphones, which are rumored to launch in the country with the Vivo T2 5G and Vivo T2x 5G monikers.

The Vivo T2 5G and T2x 5G seem to be shown in the teaser picture below. But the company hasn’t officially said what the names of its T-series phones will be. The Vivo T2 5G and T2x 5G names have previously emerged in the database of Google Supported Devices list. The Play Console listings of both smartphones have revealed some of their key specifications.

Reports have revealed that the Vivo T2 5G and T2x 5G are equipped with Full HD+ displays, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. Both phones will come preloaded with FunTouch OS based Android 13. The T2 is expected to feature the Snapdragon 695, whereas the T2x is likely to come equipped with the Dimensity 700. The other specs of these smartphones are yet to be revealed.

Both smartphones are likely to be priced under Rs 20,000 (~$243). The T2x is likely to arrive as one of the most affordable 5G smartphones from Vivo. It is advisable to wait for more teasers from the brand to confirm the key features of the T2 5G series.

In related news, Vivo is prepping up to hold a mega launch event in the next few days in China. The event is likely to see the arrival of multiple products, such as the Vivo Pad 2 tablet and new foldables, such as the Vivo X Fold 2 and Vivo X Flip.

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Red Magic 4K 160Hz Mini LED gaming monitor costs $869, check availability & offers

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Apr 4, 2023

Red Magic recently launched a gaming mouse and a mechanical keyboard in the global market, and also introduced a 4K monitor, though the price was not revealed at the time. However, the brand has now officially confirmed the pricing of the monitor.

Red Magic has announced that their 4K Gaming Monitor will be priced at US$869, with early bird prices set at US$839 for a limited time. In addition, the Red Magic 8 Pro Titanium will also have a US$30 discount to celebrate the brand’s latest international sales event.

Red Magic Gaming Monitor specs

Red Magic recently unveiled its latest 4K gaming monitor with a 27-inch Mini LED panel. The monitor offers a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution and a wide 178° viewing angle, making it perfect for gaming and other media-intensive tasks.

In terms of features, the monitor offers HDR 1000, ΔE<1 color accuracy, and AMD Freesync Premium Pro as well as NVIDIA G-Sync. For gaming, the monitor offers a crisp 160Hz refresh rate with a 1ms response time. The addition of these features helps to ensure that the visuals displayed on the screen are crisp and clear, with minimal input lag or stuttering.

The monitor also supports ultra-high frequency PWM dimming, which provides a high level of control over the screen’s brightness. It is certified by TÜV Rheinland for Low Blue Light emission, which means that it emits minimal blue light and can help reduce eye strain during extended use.

The monitor’s interface includes an HDMI 2.1 port and a USB Type-C port that supports a 90W reverse power supply. The monitor stand allows for easy height and rotation adjustments, allowing users to find the most comfortable viewing angle.

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Apple rumored to bring 120Hz ProMotion to standard iPhones in 2025

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