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Apple Car to Feature Components from iPhone 3D Sensor Supplier

Apple’s much-anticipated electric car project has taken a significant step forward with reports indicating that the company has made strides in developing its self-driving system. According to sources, Apple is expanding testing and has heavily relied on LiDAR sensors to improve the vehicle’s self-driving capabilities. The company may source automotive-grade LiDAR sensors from Chinese supplier Wenmao, which already provides LiDAR scanners for the iPhone and iPad Pro.

Courtesy: siasat

Reports also suggest that Foxconn, one of Apple’s suppliers, has partnered with German industrial giant Siemens to make advanced driver assistance systems that could align with Apple’s automotive strategy. As Taiwanese companies like Foxconn are believed to have the sufficient production capacity to build the vehicle, this partnership could prove significant.

Apple’s long-rumored electric vehicle is expected to feature some form of self-driving facility that the tech giant has been testing for several years. The vehicle is expected to be priced under $100,000 and may have limited self-driving capabilities, allowing it to drive itself on highways.

Apple’s use of Wenmao’s LiDAR sensors is a significant development, as the company may take some time to develop capacity for automotive-grade LiDAR sensors. However, Wenmao’s quality and existing relationship with Apple could make a partnership likely, especially as Apple is likely to choose long-term supply chain partners like Wenmao early in the development process.

While reports suggest that Apple has scaled back its initial vision for the vehicle, the company’s advancements in developing its self-driving system and partnerships with suppliers like Foxconn and Siemens indicate that the project is moving forward. With testing ongoing and a launch date set for 2026, Apple’s electric car project is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated tech releases of the decade.

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Redmi Note 12 Turbo also comes in a special Harry Potter Edition

Redmi Note 12 Turbo was unveiled recently and while the handset comes packed with some cutting-edge hardware, its design is a bit underwhelming. But if the design is what matters to you, the company has also introduced a special Harry Potter edition of the handset, which features symbols and artwork from the popular novel and film series. The special edition also comes with Marauder’s map instructions, a customized theme, and several custom accessories.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must have an idea about Harry Potter. Here’s the gist of it— Harry Potter series is a beloved fantasy franchise consisting of seven books and eight movie adaptations. It follows the story of Harry Potter, a young orphan who discovers he is a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

The Redmi Note 12 Harry Potter Edition carries the essence of the popular franchise with the iconic Hogwarts logo in the center of its back, and a bunch of other designs inspired by the wizarding world. You’ll spot Harry’s signature glasses and scar, a broomstick, and even his Patronus. What we found interesting is that Redmi has designed the camera module in a way that resembles Harry Potter’s glasses. Also, the back is made with a platinum three-dimensional structure and the artwork on the back shines.

Redmi Note 12 Turbo Harry Potter

The handset also comes with several custom accessories, including a sim card ejector tool with a 9¾ station logo, Marauder’s map instructions, a bunch of interesting stickers, and a customized case. Like every special edition smartphone, the Redmi Note 12 Turbo Harry Potter Edition also features a customized theme with wallpapers and app icons matching the wizarding world.

It comes with the same specifications as the vanilla Note 12 Turbo, which you can check out here. The Harry Potter Edition of the smartphone has been priced at 2399 Yuan ($348) for the sole 12GB+256GB. The handset is currently available only in Mainland China but we expect the company to also bring it to the global market.

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Tecno Spark 10, Spark 10C Key Specifications Officially Revealed

Earlier today, Tecno launched the Spark 10 5G smartphone in India. Last week, the brand announced the Spark 10 Pro (review) in the country. Earlier this month, the company had already confirmed three devices in the Spark 10 series. Since two devices in the lineup have already launched, only, the Spark 10 (likely a 4G version) and the Spark 10C are yet to go official. Now, Tecno’s official website has made listings of both phones (Spark 10, 10C) live along with key specifications. 

The Tecno Spark 10 seems to be different from the Spark 10 5G that debuted in India. The Spark 10 duo comes with a boxy design and an iPhone-like rear camera module. The Spark 10 has a 50MP main sensor whereas the Spark 10C has a 16MP primary lens, both paired with a secondary shooter and an LED flash. Both smartphones feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and an 8MP selfie snapper. 

The Tecno Spark 10 and Spark 10C are listed with a 6.6-inch display bearing an HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a waterdrop notch. Both phones are powered by an unspecified octa-core processor coupled with 8GB RAM and an additional 8GB virtual RAM. There is 128GB onboard storage. The Spark 10 duo is backed by a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 18W fast charging via USB-C port.

The Tecno Spark 10 comes in Meta Black, Blue, and White colors whereas the Spark 10C is offered in Meta Black, Blue, and Green colors. The pricing and availability details of both smartphones remain unknown. 

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Xiaomi Declares Price War Against OnePlus in China, with brand’s Latest Redmi Note 12 Turbo

Competition is heating up in the mid-range smartphone space in 2023 as today, Xiaomi has finally unveiled the company’s highly anticipated Redmi Note 12 Turbo in China today to challenge the OnePlus Ace 2V. Priced competitively against the OnePlus, Xiaomi even announced in the launch event that the company is waging a price war against its competitors in China for 2023.

“If it’s a war you want, then let the smartphone price wars begin.” presented by Xiaomi Group President, Gizmochina: Leo Wong DQ

The announcement comes from Xiaomi Group President and Redmi brand General Manager, Lu Weibing at the launch event in China today. The translated version of the “price war declaration” by the Xiaomi Group President was that “If it’s a war you want, then let the smartphone price wars begin.” Xiaomi welcomes its competitors in China, to undercut its Redmi Note 12 Turbo with better performance at more affordable prices. The brand believes that healthy competition is needed to advance smartphone innovation in the industry.

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo and OnePlus Ace 2V are expected to be announced as the Poco F5 and OnePlus Nord 3 for global markets respectively, and the Xiaomi Group President also shared the table below highlighting their respective launch sale pricing in China.

Redmi Note 12 Turbo (Poco F5)OnePlus Ace 2V (OnePlus Nord 3)
8 GB  + 256 GB1999 RMB (291 USD)12 GB + 256 GB2299 (334 USD)
12 GB + 256 GB2099 RMB (305 USD)16 GB + 256 GB2499 (363 USD)
12 GB + 512 GB2299 RMB (334 USD)16 GB + 512 GB2799 (407 USD)
16 GB + 1 TB2599 RMB (378 USD)
Price comparison between Redmi Note 12 Turbo and OnePlus Ace 2V at launch event, Gizmochina: Leo Wong DQ

At 2599 RMB (378 USD), the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is the world’s cheapest 1 TB smartphone you can buy, breaking the previous record holder, the Realme GT Neo 5 240W 1 TB, which costs buyers 3499 RMB (515 USD) at launch. The Redmi Note 12 Turbo will offer buyers cost savings of more than 25%, for those who are looking for a large 1 TB storage smartphone.

Launched today, the Redmi Note 12 Turbo packs the latest Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm, on par with the flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC found in the Realme GT Neo 5 and better than the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 found on the OnePlus Ace 2V. It sports up to 16 GB LPDDR5x RAM and 1 TB UFS 3.1 storage. Xiaomi also fitted a 3725mm vapour cooling chamber in the device for better heat dissipation translating to better performance over a longer period of time.

Redmi Note 12 Turbo

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo also sports a triple camera setup that has a 64 MP main shooter with OIS, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 2 MP macro sensor. The smartphone draws its power from a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 67W fast charging.

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Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9S start receiving MIUI 14 update

At the end of January, a report revealed that the Redmi Note 9 series will be blessed with the MIUI 14 update in Q2 2023. As we are approaching the said timeline, two of the devices in the lineup have started receiving the update.

Unfortunately, the latest software update is limited to a select few users. Let’s go through the details.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Redmi Note 9S

According to Xiaomiui, Xiaomi has begun to roll out MIUI 14 update for Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9S. The update is being pushed to the ‘Global’ variants of these handsets.

Unsurprisingly, the firmware is based on Android 12 instead of Android 13. Because these phones were released with Android 10 and they have already received two Android updates. 

However, MIUI 13 is their third major MIUI update since they debuted with MIUI 11. It is good that Xiaomi is supporting them for three years of OS updates.

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, the update is only available for ‘Mi Pilot’ testers. It should make its way to a few regular users in form of ‘Stable Beta’ in the coming weeks, followed by the final ‘Stable’ release for all users.

Thus, the update should be out for all units by the end of April or early May. By then, the remaining Redmi Note 9 series models could also be on the beta version of MIUI 14.

Are you excited about the new  MIUI update on your Redmi Note 9 series smartphones? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Samsung Galaxy A54 & A34 hit store shelves in India: Here’s how much they cost

Samsung has recently unveiled its latest smartphones, the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G, in India and worldwide. Initially, these devices were only available for pre-order on Samsung’s website in India. However, they have now been released for open sales on various platforms.

Samsung Galaxy A54 & A34

Starting with the pricing, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G starts at Rs 38,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The device’s 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option costs Rs 40,999 in the country. However, Samsung is offering a flat Rs 3,000 bank cashback or Rs 2,500 Samsung Upgrade on the purchase of either variant of the device.

The same offer is applicable for the Samsung Galaxy A34 5G as well, but it is priced lower than the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. The 8GB RAM and 128GB variant of the device will cost you Rs 30,999, while its 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant is priced at Rs 32,999.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G smartphones are now available for purchase from various sources, including Samsung’s official e-store, Flipkart, and major retail outlets across India.

Samsung Galaxy A54, Galaxy A34 specs

The Samsung Galaxy A54 and A34 smartphones have a few differences in their screen sizes, with the A34 having a slightly larger 6.6-inch display compared to the A54’s 6.4 inches. While the A54 has a center-aligned punch-hole cutout, the A34 comes with a waterdrop notch. However, both phones utilize sAMOLED screens with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Moreover, both phones have an in-screen fingerprint scanner, and their designs are IP67-certified for water and dust resistance. They both feature three vertically stacked camera sensors on the back.

In terms of camera specifications, both the Samsung Galaxy A54 and A34 smartphones have triple rear camera setups. The A54 has a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP depth sensor, while the A34 has a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. Additionally, the A54 and A34 have 32MP and 13MP selfie cameras, respectively.

Both phones have up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card slot. They are powered by a 5,000mAh battery and support 25W fast charging. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is equipped with the Exynos 1380 processor, while the A34 has a Dimensity 1080 SoC. The smartphones run on Android 13 with OneUI 5.1 on top, and they come with various connectivity options such as USB-C port, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi, 5G, and Dual 4G VoLTE.

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Huawei’s HarmonyOS 3.1 Features: Enhanced Camera App, 3D AOD, Icons, and More

Huawei has officially announced HarmonyOS 3.1, which is set to offer a range of new features that will enhance the user experience for their smartphone customers. The new features span across personalization, camera app, satellite communication, icons, security, and foldable phones.

One of the key visual changes to HarmonyOS 3.1 is the introduction of a new lock screen that allows users to set their own photos as an always-on display. The transition between the lock screen and the home screen is seamless and fluid. Another visually refined feature is the 3D Always-on Display (AOD), which enables users to select interactive 3D animate widgets as an always-on display.

The app icons have also undergone a slight makeover, with Huawei introducing slightly rounded corners to create a seamless appearance. In the camera app, users can now use a new rotating zoom ring and adjust the zoom with on-screen controls. Huawei has also rearranged some of the most common options below the shutter button for better accessibility.

HarmonyOS 3.1 supports second-generation satellite communication features and offers a new interface that enables two-way SMS. Better security features have also been added, including the ability to hide on-screen applications and manage background popup apps. Additionally, users can now receive confirmation messages before jumping to a second app.

For foldable devices, HarmonyOS 3.1 has installed a brand new home screen layout designed specifically for larger screens. The software also enables split-screen functionality and introduces new AI-powered smart split-screen order. The software can check split-screen apps and reorder them according to past usage habits.

Overall, the new features in HarmonyOS 3.1 are set to improve the user experience for Huawei smartphone owners significantly. With a range of visual enhancements, camera app improvements, and better security and foldable device features, the software update is a welcome addition for Huawei customers.

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Realme GT Neo 5 SE Battery and Charging Details Confirmed Ahead Of Launch

Realme is gearing up to launch the GT Neo 5SE smartphone in China on April 4th. Ahead of the launch, the brand has been teasing key specifications of the smartphone on microblogging platform Weibo. Realme has now revealed the battery and charging details of its upcoming smartphone.

As per the latest teaser, the Realme GT Neo 5 SE is confirmed to be backed by a large 5,500mAh battery unit. It will support 100W fast charging. Apart from this, the brand does not reveal any additional details. However, we can expect more teasers in the coming days leading up to the launch event. 

The Realme GT Neo 5 SE is already confirmed to be powered by a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor. The upcoming offering will retain the same design as the GT 3 with a glossy horizontal rectangular camera module and a textured rest of the back panel. However, it will lack the LED light found on the GT 3. 

On the front, the Realme GT Neo 5 SE is teased to feature a center-aligned punch-hole cutout display with thin bezels. It will offer a 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. The display panel is expected to be OLED because Realme has also seemingly teased the Always-on-display feature. 

The rest of the details of the Realme GT Neo 5 SE remain under wraps. The device will reportedly come with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB UFS 3.1 storage. It is tipped to feature 64MP triple-rear camera setup and a 16MP selfie snapper. 

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ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, Duo 16 2023 Launched In India

Last week, ASUS started taking pre-orders of the ROG Strix Scar 2023 series and the Zephyrus M16 gaming laptops in India. Now, the brand has announced the pricing and availability of the devices. The Taiwanese brand launched the ROG Strix Scar 16 and 18 and also refreshed the ROG Strix Scar 17, Zephyrus M16, and Zephyrus Duo 16 models. 

The newly launched laptops in India first debuted at CES earlier this year. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Duo 16 pack slightly different specifications and features. As the name suggests, the latter offers dual displays while the former is a mainstream laptop. Both models boast a 16-inch MiniLED screen bearing a QHD+ resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. There is 1100 nits peak brightness, VESA Display HDR, and Dolby Vision support. 

The main difference between the Zephyrus M16 and Duo 16 is that the latter features a 14-inch IPS screen pad bearing a 4K resolution and 400 nits brightness. There is support for touch and stylus. Compared to the conventional M16, the trackpad on the 16 Duo is located at the right side. Both laptops come with a 1080p webcam with 3DNR, IR technology, and Windows Hello authentication. ‘

Under the hood, the ASUS Zephyrus M16 is equipped with up to 13th gen Intel Core i9 processor coupled with a 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX4090 GPU. On the other hand, the Zephyrus 16 Duo houses the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor with either 16GB RTX4090 or 4080 GPU. Both laptops pack 16GB DDR5 RAM upgradeable up to 64GB and up to 2TB SSD storage. The machines feature a MUX Switch for easily switching between GPUs to maximize performance or battery life. 

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and 16 Duo are equipped with a six-speaker system producing 4W sound. Both laptops feature a host of connectivity options and are backed by a 90Wh battery with a 330W adapter. 

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 costs Rs Rs. 2,99,990 whereas the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is priced at Rs. 4,29,990. The machines can now be purchased from the brand’s website, exclusive stores, Amazon, Flipkart, and multi-brand retail stores across the country. 

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Redmi Note 12 Turbo With Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, 120Hz Display Launched

Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi has launched a new addition in the Note 12 lineup. The latest offering is called the Redmi Note 12 Turbo. It packs some premium specifications and is the first smartphone to be powered by the recently announced Snapdragon processor. Read on to know what the device offers out of the box. 

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo sports a 6.67-inch display with a 12-bit flexible OLED panel. It offers an FHD+ resolution, 1,000 nits peak brightness, 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support, The device has a center-aligned punch-hole cutout, slimmer bezels, and offers 93.45 percent screen-to-body ratio. The smartphone is equipped with nine internal and external protection of fuselage making it more stronger and durable.

The back panel of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo has three camera sensors placed without any module. The setup comprises a 64MP main lens with OIS support, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro unit. There is a 16MP front-facing selfie snapper.

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is equipped with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor. It packs up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB UFS 3.1 storage. There is a 3725mm vapor cooling chamber for heat dissipation. The smartphone draws its power from a 5,000mAh battery unit with support for 67W fast charging. The device runs on MIUI 14-based Android 13 out of the box.

Connectivity options on the Redmi Note 12 Turbo include dual 5G, WiFi-6, NFC, Bluetooth, NFC, IR Blaster, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo starts at RMB 1,999 (~$290) for the 8GB + 256GB variant. The 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB cost RMB 2,199 (~$320) and RMB 2,399 (~$350) respectively. The higher 16GB + 1TB configuration carries a price tag of RMB 2,799 (~$405). The smartphone is offered in Carbon Black, Xinghai Blue, and Ice Feather White colours.

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Twitter will only allow verified accounts to vote on its polls: Elon Musk

Twitter is planning on making a major change in its voting system. The company’s CEO Elon Musk has just announced that only verified accounts will be allowed to make votes on the polls on its platforms. This is a big move, so here are all the details.

Elon Musk has just announced that only these verified accounts will be eligible for voting in polls, with the change going live on April 15. The move was announced by the CEO on the microblogging website and arrives to address the advancement in AI that have been flooding the platform with AI bots. However, this is not the only feature locked behind a paywall.

Twitter

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX further added that only verified accounts will be eligible to be displayed on Twitter’s For You recommendations. In other words, only the users with the checkmarks will have their tweets brought forward on your Twitter For You page. This change has seen some push back on the platform itself, but Twitter has yet to respond on any queries regarding this matter at the moment.

In his official tweet, Elon Musk stated that “Starting April 15th, only verified accounts will be eligible to be in For You recommendations. The is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over. It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle. Voting in polls will require verification for same reason.” He further added that “My prediction is that this will be the only platform you can trust,” which are some tall claims.

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Tecno Spark 10 5G With Dimensity 6020 SoC Launched In India

Last week, Tecno launched the Spark 10 Pro smartphone in India. Now the brand has quietly debuted a new device in the Spark 10 series. The latest offering is the standard Tecno Spark 10 5G. It is also the first 5G device in the company’s Spark lineup. The smartphone falls under the Rs 15,000 price segment in India. Read on to know what it offers out of the box. 

The Tecno Spark 10 5G features a boxy form factor with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button. The back panel has a Tetris-like design with one big ring and another small ring housing a 50MP main sensor and an AI lens respectively. On the front, there is an 8MP selfie snapper. The Tecno Spark 10 5G comes with a 6.6-inch display bearing an HD resolution and a waterdrop notch. It offers a 90Hz refresh rate and 480 nits peak brightness. 

Under the hood, the Tecno Spark 10 5G houses the MediaTek Dimensity 6020 processor. It packs 4GB Ram along with 4GB virtual memory and 64GB onboard storage expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot. The device is equipped with a 11851mm graphite sheet for heat dissipation. The smartphone draws its power from a 5000mAh battery unit supporting 18W fast charging.

The Tecno Spark 10 5G runs on HiOS 12.6 based on Android 13 OS. Connectivity options on the smartphone include a USB-C port, NFC, Dual 5G, and a 3.5mm jack.

The Tecno Spark 10 Pro carries a price tag of Rs 12,499. It is offered in Meta Black, Meta White, and Meta Blue colors. The smartphone can be purchased starting April 7th from retail stores across the country. 

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Motorola Edge+ (2023) Spotted On Google Play Console Listing

Yesterday, the full spec sheet of the Motorola Edge 40 and 40 Pro leaked online. It is likely that one of these models will be rebranded version of the Moto X40 that debuted in China last December. Now a new Motorola flagship has appeared on the Google Play Console listing. The device on the certification website is dubbed the Motorola Edge+ (2023) and the listing reveals the key specifications. It is expected to arrive as the US-exclusive version of the Moto X40 (China) and Edge 40 Pro (globally). The device will also as the successor to the Edge+ (2022). 

The rendered image of the Motorola Edge+ (2023) on the Google Play Console listing reveals a curved display with a center-aligned punch-hole cutout and very thin bezels. The device bears a resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels and a 400 DPI screen density. 

As per the Play Console listing, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) will be equipped with a Qualcomm SM8550 processor that corresponds to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It will be paired with Adreno 730 GPU onboard. The upcoming offering will pack 12GB RAM and ship with Android 13 OS out of the box. We can expect more RAM and storage configurations at launch. 

Apart from the aforementioned information, there are no additional details about the Motorola Edge+ (2023). We expect to learn more about the smartphone in the coming weeks. 

Since the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is expected to be the rebadged version of the X40, we can expect the device to feature a 6.6-inch curved OLED FHD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It will be backed by a 4,600mAh battery unit with support for 125W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. The smartphone has a 50MP OIS-enabled primary camera paired with a 50MP ultra-wide-angle unit and a 12MP telephoto lens. There is a 60MP selfie snapper.

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Oppo A98 5G launch imminent, spotted on TDRA certification

Oppo is apparently gearing up to launch a new mid range smartphone model soon. The company’s A98 5G model was recently spotted on various certification websites, and now, the latest sighting was on the TDRA website. So let’s have a look.

For those unaware, we had recently reported on the Chinese tech giant’s A98 model being spotted on the NBTC & CQC certification websites. Meanwhile, the new TDRA sighting reveals that the Oppo A98 5G carries the CPH2529 model number. Unfortunately, this is the only major detail revealed in the online database apart from its support for 5G connectivity. However, we have older reports that have revealed more details.

Oppo

The NBTC and CQC listings revealed that the upcoming Oppo A series smartphone will feature 67W fast charging. Although, the TENAA listing has revealed even more details. The device will reportedly sport a tall 6.7 inch AMOLED display that houses a fingerprint scanner and a Full HD+ resolution. There will likely be a high refresh rate support as well. The exact chipset that runs the device is still unclear, but it is believed to be a 2.2GHz octa core processor that will be paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

The previous listings has also revealed a 4,690mAh battery pack. On the rear, the device will feature a 108 megapixel primary camera that is paired with a 2 megapixel depth sensor. Meanwhile, the front is believed to house a 16 megapixel selfie shooter. The TDRA certification doesn’t reveal much, but it hints at the imminent launch of the Oppo A98 model. So stick around for more updates regarding this device.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook meets China’s Li Qiang to show lasting commitment to the Chinese market

The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has just recently met with China’s new premiere Li Qiang and other top officials. The senior official of the company made a trip to the Asian country earlier this week to reaffirm the brand’s commitment to the Chinese market.

Tim Cook met with Li on Monday as a part of a delegation of C-level executives and scholars from overseas. Cook was attending the China Development Forum (CDF) event in Beijing. This marked the first time that Tim Cook had made a trip to China since the pandemic had impacted the globe. With this meet, the executive basically wanted to reaffirm the Cupertino based giant’s commitment to the market amid supply chain changes and even geopolitical uncertainties.

Apple

To put things simply, Apple is reassuring commitment to the world’s largest smartphone market. The current global economy is facing various complications and issues that have affected various brands operating in the region. But despite all this, Li Qiang has assured that the representatives from China will continue to open up and provide a robust business environment despite the changing geopolitical landscape.

Tim Cook also met with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao. According to a statement by the ministry, this meeting had discussions regarding “Apple’s development in China and the stabilization of the industry supply chain.” Interestingly, this moves arrives after Apple saw a number of issues with iPhone production due to the viral outbreak, which caused some of its major suppliers to halt manufacturing and assembly.

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Intel NUC 13 Pro mini-PC with up to 64GB RAM, Intel Raptor Lake-P CPUs launched

Intel has launched its highly anticipated NUC 13 Pro, which promises to offer significant performance and efficiency improvements compared to its predecessors. This mini-PC has been codenamed the Arena Canyon and is based on the Raptor Lake-P architecture.

Intel

The NUC 13 Pro series utilizes Raptor Lake-P processors with up to 28W TDPs and 64W PL2, which makes it ideal for a wide range of computing applications. With dimensions of just 117 x 112 mm, the mini-PC is remarkably compact, and its thickness varies between 37 and 54 mm, depending on the model chosen.

One of the key features of the NUC 13 Pro is its commitment to sustainability. Intel has announced that the mini-PC utilizes 75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, making it a highly environmentally friendly option.

Intel

The mini-PC offers ample space for storage, with the thicker model accommodating a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, and both sizes supporting M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSDs, as well as up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM.

Intel has also announced that it will offer the NUC 13 Pro with the Core i3-1315U, Core i5-1340P, Core i5-1350P, Core i7-1360P or Core i7-1370P processors, along with various vPro options. The Core i7-1370P has a 40W TDP (PL1), but the NUC 13 Pro’s cooling system should be sufficient to handle its 64W PL2 without throttling. The mini-PC can also reduce the TDP to 20W to reduce fan noise.

Intel

The NUC 13 Pro features a range of ports, including a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port (Intel i226-LM), a 3.5 mm audio jack, two HDMI 2.1 ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports.

The mini-PC is currently available for order from SimplyNUC, with prices starting at €619, excluding VAT. This starting price includes a Core i5-1340P processor, 4 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. Higher-end options with the Core i7-1360P, 4 GB RAM, and 4 GB RAM are also available for €799, although full pricing and availability details have not yet been announced.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 offers robust durability its sustainable design: Drop Test

A new drop test for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series of flagship smartphones have just surfaced online. The endurance test shows the high end phones being dropped on their various sides and answers the question of whether the S23 models are durable with their sustainable design.

The drop test was conducted by Allstate Protection Plans, who shared the video of its test on its official YouTube channel. In the video, we can see the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra being dropped from the front, back, and sides from a height of six feet. The results from these tests were even compared to the South Korean tech giant’s 2022 flagship handsets, the Galaxy S22 lineup. This comparison between the two generations were made to showcase the S23’s durability with its new sustainable materials.

Samsung

Looking at the video, we can see that all three S23 models (and even the S22 series) were dropped flat two times once on their face and once on their back from a height of 6 feet from a robot called DropBot. All six models were damaged on their front and rear glass, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra pulled ahead with the least damage. This was quite notable considering despite landing on its curved edges. The side drop tests showed just minor dents on the device’s aluminum frame.

Meanwhile, the base Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ were shattered after the face drop, which even resulted in raised and loose glass pieces. Even the Armor Aluminum were damaged as well. But despite all this, the Galaxy S23 series were just as durable if not slightly better since the tests showed that the S23 lineup performed better than their predecessors. In other words, the S23’s sustainable design does not compromise on durability. The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 features recycled glass that is built using plastic from discarded fishing nets found in the ocean. So this real life durability test is quite impressive.

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Poco F5 may not launch next week

The Redmi Note 12 Turbo is set to launch in China later today. This smartphone is expected to release as Poco F5 in global markets.

A few days back, the F5 was tipped to go official on April 6. Though we are only about a week away from the said date, the firmware for this handset just went live recently.

Let’s check out what the software for this phone has to say about it.

Poco F4 5G
Poco F4

According to Xiaomiui, the Poco F5 will ship with four MIUI builds meant for different markets. These Android 13-based MIUI 14 builds are labeled as India, Global, EU, and Russia. Hence, the device should be available in these markets.

Since the software for Poco F5 just got ready now, the smartphone might probably not go official next week. Additionally, we are yet to come across any official renders of the device from retailers and other sources, which should have happened days earlier.

All of these point towards a later launch for the Poco F5. However, until the brand confirms the date, we cannot be sure of it. If the handset is indeed going official next week, then we expect Poco to officially reveal the launch date by the coming weekend.

As far as features are concerned, the Poco F5 will arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 chipset, a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED display, an OIS-assisted 64MP main camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and 67W fast wired charging support.

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Nothing Ear (2) TWS earbuds go on sale in India, Check price & availability

The Ear (2) TWS earphones were recently launched globally and have now been made available for purchase in India after a limited-time sale last week. The earbuds are back on sale again, giving customers another chance to buy them.

Nothing

Nothing Ear (2) sale details

Starting today (March 28th, 2023) at 12 noon IST, the Nothing Ear (2) True Wireless Earbuds will be available for purchase at a price of Rs 9,999 on various platforms such as Flipkart, Myntra, Nothing’s official website, and select offline stores. On the other hand, the Nothing Ear (1) seems to be unavailable for purchase and may have been discontinued. As of now, the Nothing Ear (2) and Nothing Ear Stick are the only options for those interested in buying Nothing-branded True Wireless Earbuds.

Nothing Ear (2) specs

The Nothing Ear (2) True Wireless Earbuds boast advanced features such as Hi-Res Audio and LHDC 5.0 technology, delivering premium sound quality with even the finest sound details. Custom sound tuning is also possible through the companion app, Nothing X, which allows users to create their own sound profiles by completing a hearing test.

Nothing

With 11.6mm custom drivers, the TWS provides powerful bass and clear highs, thanks to a new dual-chamber design that enhances overall sound quality and airflow. Personalized ANC support offers up to 40 dB of noise reduction, and the adaptive noise cancellation mode automatically adjusts noise reduction levels based on the surroundings.

The Nothing Ear (2) also boasts impressive battery life, with up to 26 hours of music playback on a single charge when ANC is off. Fast charging and wireless charging are supported, with up to 8 hours of audio playback on a 10-minute charge. To learn more about Nothing Ear (2)’s features and specifications, please refer to our previous coverage on the topic.

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Asus launches new ROG Strix Scar 16 & Scar 18 gaming laptops in India

Asus had announced that it would be launching new gaming laptops from its popular ROG (Republic of Gamers) branding earlier this month. It began taking pre-orders for the all new ROG Strix Scar 16 and 18, and now, these laptops along with other refreshed models have just been launched in the region.

Asus

The PC maker has launched the new ROG Strix Scar 16 & 18 along with refreshed models of the ROG Strix Scar 17, Zephyrus M16, and even Zephyrus Duo 16. Talking about the new Scar 16 & 18 models first, these feature the iconic ROG design with the metallic ROG logo on the top lid. Under the hood, the laptops feature the latest Intel Core CPUs along with NVIDIA’s latest RTX 400 series graphics cards. They also arrive with up to a QHD resolution panel with a 240Hz refresh rate.

On the other hand, the refreshed Strix Scar 17 model is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs along with RTX 4000 series GPUs. Apart from this, the gaming notebook offers much of the same specs as its siblings, like the QHD 240Hz display, 150W25W max TGP GPU, Aura Sync support across the metallic ROG logo and even the per key RGB keyboard for improved personalization.

ASUS

The new ROG Strix Scar series have just been launched in India and will be available for purchase from the company’s official website, Amazon, flipkart, Asus Exclusive stores, ROG stores, Croma, Vijay Sales, Reliance Digital, and other authorized dealers. The ROG Strix Scar 16 and ROG Strix Scar 18 starts from 279,990 INR (roughly 3,400 US Dollars). Meanwhile, the ROG Strix Scar 17 starts from a slightly lower 269,990 INR (roughly 3,285 US Dollars).

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