Huawei Introduces Watch Ultimate, The “Ultimate” Apple Watch Ultra Competitor

By

-

Mar 23, 2023

As Smartwatches become more and more mainstream, tech giants such as Huawei are leaving no stone unturned to cover all bases for their upcoming smartwatches. The Huawei Watch Ultimate is the company’s latest offering. The company has introduced its latest smartwatch for premium market, available for European customers starting April 3rd, 2023. The watch sets new standards in design and technology for Huawei’s wearables. Here are the details..

Huawei Raises the Bar with the Masterfully Designed Huawei Watch Ultimate

The smartwatch is crafted with a zirconium-based liquid metal material case, the Watch Ultimate offers elegance and durability. This innovative material, previously used only in luxury timepieces, is now featured in a smartwatch for the first time. With a high-end metallic finish, the watch is ready for any adventure. Available in Voyage Blue and Expedition Black, the Watch Ultimate features exclusive watch faces that display the time across 24 major cities in 24 time zones. Users can choose between premium and productivity-centric watch faces to suit their preferences.

The watch comes with an LTPO AMOLED display, a sapphire glass cover, and wear-resistant properties. The Voyage Blue’s strap is made of a lightweight titanium alloy, while both color options include a durable Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber (HNBR) strap, with an extra-long HNBR strap for scuba diving. For added convenience, the Watch Ultimate has three buttons: a 3D Rotating Crown, a Function button, and a new Assist button. The Assist button enables quick access to Huawei’s new Diving or Expedition mode features.

Setting a new standard for water resistance, the Watch Ultimate offers 100-meter dive-level water resistance with audio capabilities. Tested to meet ISO 22810 and EN13319 diving equipment standards, the watch can endure 24 hours of submersion at a depth of 110 meters. Diving Mode includes four modes and uses the Bühlmann decompression algorithm for continuous monitoring of diving data.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Expedition Mode, designed for various exploration activities like off-roading, camping, and hiking. The watch supports Precision Dual-Frequency Five-System GNSS positioning, outdoor adventure tools, and more. It accurately records exercise trajectories with marking points and precise navigation.

The Huawei Watch Ultimate also features a comprehensive health management suite, including advanced ECG analysis, heart rate monitoring, arteriosclerosis risk assessment, SpO2 monitoring, stress monitoring, and sleep tracking. With a battery life of up to two weeks and fast wireless charging, the Watch Ultimate offers various smart features, including Bluetooth calls, quick replies, music playback, reminders, and compatibility with HarmonyOS, Android, and iOS devices.

Feature	HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate
Material	Zirconium-based liquid metal case
Editions	Voyage Blue, Expedition Black
Bezel	Ceramic
Display	LTPO AMOLED, 1000 nits brightness
Glass Cover	High-strength sapphire glass
Strap (Voyage Blue)	Hard titanium alloy
Strap (Expedition Black)	Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber (HNBR)
Buttons	3D Rotating Crown, Function, Assist
Water Resistance	100 meters dive-level
Diving Modes	4 diving modes
Expedition Mode	Dual-Frequency Five-System GNSS
Health Features	ECG analysis, heartrate, SpO2, stress
Sleep Tracking	HUAWEI TruSleep 3.0
Battery Life	Up to 2 weeks
Charging System	Advanced wireless fast-charging
Compatibility	HarmonyOS, Android and iOS devices
Availability	UK & Europe from 3rd April 2023

RELATED:

Huawei P60 Series Launched in China with 120Hz Display, 48MP Triple Cameras, & Satellite Messaging

By

Sean

-

Mar 23, 2023

Huawei has just launched its latest generation of flagship smartphones from its popular P series. The new P60 models are the company’s premium grade phones and also come with top notch photography performance. So let’s have a look.

Design & Display

The Chinese tech giant’s latest P60 series includes the base P60 and the higher end P60 Pro model and the P60 Art version as well. In terms of dimensions, both versions are basically identical although the Pro variant is heavier. From the front, the new devices appear like any other handset, but the rear design is quite unique. The camera module on the rear is quite prominent thanks to the large primary sensor that is housed between two other sensors.

The new design is quite robust as well, with the series featuring Kunlun Glass for protection and IP68 water and dust resistance. Alongside these two models, there is also a Huawei P60 Art model that features a camera module that has a slight different design. It actually resembles an island with its curved angles that have no geometric accuracy. Notably, the Art variant also comes in two colors that reflect colors differently depending on the angle light falls on it.

The Huawei P60, P60 Pro, and P60 Art feature the exact same display. They sport a tall 6.67 inch OLED quad curved display that supports high dynamic photos and videos. Furthermore, it supports LTPO adaptive refresh rate that can range from 1 to 120Hz all the while offering 29 percent power consumption reduction. The smartphone are also equipped with Huawei’s X-True immersive display technology along with TUV Rheinland certification. The devices also offers a high 93.1 percent screen to body ratio.

Specifications & Features

Under the hood, the base Huawei P60 model is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. This chipset only supports 4G networking and is also an entire generation behind most current gen flagship phones. Although, the higher end P60 Pro and P60 Art fair slightly better since they feature the relatively newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. But this SoC is also locked with 4G networking support.

The P60 will be available in a 128GB , 256GB, and 512GB storage options, while the P60 Pro will only offer the 256GB and 512GB versions. On the other hand the P60 Art will have a 512GB and a 1TB variant as well. The base and the Pro model are powered by a 4,815mAh battery pack that supports 88W fast charging, while the Art version has a larger 5,100mAh battery pack with the same charging rate.

Other notable features include, the new second generation satellite communication that allows for two way SMS. In other words, users can not only receive messages but also send them by SMS via satellite connection. The company offers this feature thanks to its latest breakthroughs in satellite solutions that are built into the new flagship smartphones. All three models run on the company’s HarmonyOS 3.1 out of the box.

Camera

Arriving at perhaps the most important aspect of a P series smartphone, the cameras. The base P60 features a triple camera setup that consists of a 48 megapixel sensor that has an RYYB pixel layout, an F/1.4-4.0 variable aperture lens and optical image stabilization (OIS). Alongside the primary sensor, the device also has a 13 megapixel ultra wide angle lens that also has an RYYB sensor and an F/2.2 aperture. The last sensor is also a 12 megapixel RYYB sensor that has OIS and 5x optical zoom.

Meanwhile, the first two sensors on the P60 Pro are basically identical but the main difference is in its zoom lens. The Pro model has a much higher 48 megapixel resolution and a larger aperture for the periscope module and even optical image stabilization. Arriving at the top end Huawei P60 Art variant, it features the same primary sensor and periscope zoom lens as the Pro model, but its ultra wide angle sensor is a higher resolution 40 megapixel camera. On the front, the entire P60 series features a 13 megapixel selfie shooter on a center aligned punch hole camera.

Pricing & Availability

Huawei has began taking pre-orders for the the P60 and P60 Pro, which are set to be released on 30th March 2023. Meanwhile, the P60 Pro Art will be launching on April 7. So here are the pricing for the new lineup:

Huawei P60

128GB – 4,488 Yuan (roughly $657)
256GB – 4,988 Yuan (roughly $730)
512GB – 5,988 Yuan (roughly $877)

Huawei P60 Pro

256GB – 6,988 Yuan (roughly $1,023)
512GB – 7,988 Yuan (roughly $1,170)

Huawei P60 Art

512GB – 8,988 Yuan (roughly $1,316)
1TB – 10,988 Yuan (roughly $1,609)

The base and Pro models are available in four color options, namely Black, Emerald, Purple, and Marble White while the Art model is available in a Blue Sea and a Quicksand Gold variant.

RELATED:

Huawei Mate X3 Launched with 120Hz OLED Foldable Screen, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 50MP Triple Cameras

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 23, 2023

Huawei is one of the first brands to enter the foldable market. Today, the company unveiled the Mate X3 foldable phone in China alongside other products, such as the Huawei P60 series, MatePad 11 (2023), Watch Ultimate, TalkBand B7 and FreeBuds 5 TWS earbuds. The Mate X3 is the company’s six foldable smartphone after the Mate X, Mate X2, Mate X2 4G, Mate Xs, Mate Xs 2, and Mate X3. Here is all the information on the specifications, features, and price of the X3.

Huawei Mate X3 specifications and features

The Huawei Mate X3 has a foldable OLED LTPO panel that measures 7.8 inches. It offers a resolution of 2496 x 2224 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 300Hz touch sampling rate, a 1440Hz PWM dimming, 426 ppi pixel density, and a maximum brightness of up to 1000 nits.

The outer OLED display of the Mate X3 measures 6.4 inches. It offers 2504 x 1080 pixels resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors, P3 wide color gamut, and a 1440Hz PWM dimming. While the cover display has a centered punch-hole, the inner screen has a punch-hole at the upper-right corner. The external display of the Mate X3 comes equipped with Kunlun glass.

The Mate X3 features a new and advanced double-rotation water-drop hinge design that seamlessly integrates the device during its opening and closing process. This innovative hinge design provides a smoother operation and enhances the device’s overall durability. The new generation hinge incorporates the industry’s strongest 700Mpa wing aluminium to provide increased folding reliability. The hinge is light, wear-resistant, and high-strength, thanks to the use of non-porous technology and a dual-rail drive structure that significantly improves its reliability.

The 4G version of the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and 12 GB of RAM powers the Huawei Mate X3. It houses a 4,800mAh battery that supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 7.5W reverse wireless charging. The Collector Edition variant, which offers the same specs as the regular Mate X3 offers 1TB of storage, and a larger 5,060mAh battery. The Mate X3 runs on HarmonyOS 3.1 and features a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

On the front and inside, the Mate X3 features an 8-megapixel selfie camera. The rear-facing triple camera unit of the device has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 13-megapixel periscope zoom camera with OIS support. The device offers other features like dual SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2, dual-frequency GPS, NFC, satellite connectivity, dual stereo speakers, and a USB-C port.

When folded, the Huawei Mate X3 measures 11.08mm, and it measures 5.3mm when unfolded. It weighs 239 grams. Lastly, the device offers IPX8-rated water resistance.

Huawei Mate X3 price and availability

The 256GB and 512GB Huawei Mate X3 are priced at 12,999 Yuan (~$1,900) and 13,999 Yuan (~$2,050), respectively. It comes in multiple colors, such as Feather Sand Black, Feather White, Feather Sand Purple, Dawn Gold, and Aoyamadai. The Huawei Mate X3 Collector Edition is priced at 15,999 Yuan (~$2,340). The Mate X3 is scheduled to go on sale on April 7 in China. At present, there is no word on the global release of the device.

RELATED:

iQOO Neo 8 rumored to feature high-silicon battery

By

Soumyakanti

-

Mar 23, 2023

According to tipster Digital Chat Station, a new smartphone from Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO is set to feature a high-silicon battery with a capacity of 5000mAh and 120W fast charging capabilities. This new device is expected to be part of the upcoming iQOO Neo 8 series, which is rumored to be launched in May.

The use of high-silicon batteries is not entirely new in the smartphone industry. Last year, Xiaomi’s flagship Xiaomi 13 used this type of battery to improve its energy density and reduce weight. The CEO of Xiaomi, Lei Jun, revealed that they had used expensive high-silicon negative electrodes and MCP packaging technology to achieve a battery capacity of 4500mAh.

Additionally, iQOO Neo 8 is rumored to eliminate the plastic frame and use a metal frame, which could improve its durability and design aesthetics. According to the tipster, iQOO Neo 8 series will include a standard version and a Pro model. The iQOO Neo 8 Pro is expected to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, while the regular model is tipped to come with a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chip.

The Neo 8 series is rumored to boast up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Additionally, the series may feature a 1.5K display. The display is also said to support high-frequency PWM dimming. However, there is no information about the display sizes of the phones. If Vivo retains the old phone’s display size, then we could see a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel on the Neo 8.

Regarding the camera, the iQOO Neo 8 is expected to have a 50-megapixel primary camera, as per the tipster. On the other hand, the Neo 8 Pro could sport a 1/1.5-inch camera sensor, but there is no information about the other sensors.

iQOO Neo 8 will first launch in China. We expect the device will also launch globally. But as of now, there’s no information regarding this.

RELATED:

(Via)

New Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds appear in iOS 16.4 Release Candidate

By

Anurag

-

Mar 23, 2023

After releasing the stable build of iOS 16.3.1, Apple is now expected to soon launch the iO6 16.4 and the Release Candidate of the same is now available to those registered in the company’s developer program. It carries new features, including new emojis, and web app notifications. Interestingly, the software also includes a reference to the unreleased Beats Studio Buds+. Here are the details.

As discovered by 9to5Mac, the iOS 16.4 Release Candidate has references for an upcoming pair of Beats Studio Buds. The earbuds are said to be a refresh over the existing Beats Studio Buds and will be called the Beats Studio Buds+.

The earbuds have been spotted with codename 8214 and are reported to use an Apple chip. This sets them apart from the original Beats Studio Buds that were released in 2021 with a proprietary Beats chip. However, just like the regular buds, the new Buds+ will have active noise cancellation and transparency mode.

Beats-Studio-Buds-Plus — Image via 9to5Google

The publication has also shared some images of the new earbuds, which reveal they will have media controls for play/pause and also the option to press and hold to switch between noise-canceling modes. They have been pictured in a new black color with gold details, however, the design looks almost the same as 2021’s Beats Studio Buds.

The code discovered in iOS 16.4 RC indicates that the upcoming Beats Studio Buds+ will also be able to share audio, switch devices automatically, and respond to voice commands via “Hey Siri.” These features are similar to those of the AirPods and other Beats wireless earbuds that feature an Apple chip. The original Studio Buds, on the other hand, lack these functions as they don’t use a wireless chip from Apple.

RELATED:

(Source)

Oppo SuperVooc 100W Charger Charges OPPO Find X6 Pro to 100% in 28 Minutes!

By

Oğuz Çakır

-

Mar 23, 2023

Oppo has announced the pre-sale of SuperVooc 100W dual-port charger, priced at 269 yuan. This charger offers simultaneous fast charging for computers, phones, and other mobile devices. Official sales are set to begin at 10:00 AM on March 24th. Here are the details…

Oppo Launches 100W Dual-Port Super Flash Charger for Computers and Phones: Pre-Sale Begins at 269 Yuan

The Oppo SuperVooc 100W dual-port super flash charger is designed to support both Type-C and USB-A dual output, with a single-port output power that supports up to Supervooc 100W Max. This charger can power the OPPO Find X6 Pro, which has a 5000mAh battery capacity, to 100% in just 28 minutes.

The charger offers dual-port simultaneous fast charging, capable of charging two mobile phones at once or a combination of a computer and a mobile phone. It is compatible with various mainstream charging protocols such as SuperVooc, VOOC, PD, QC, and PPS, allowing it to charge not only mobile phones, but also laptops, tablets, smartwatches, earphones, and other smart devices.

Included with the charger set is a 1-meter Type-C to Type-C 10A flash charging data cable that provides fast charging for devices compatible with SuperVooc, VOOC, PD, QC, and PPS protocols. The cable is constructed from environmentally friendly materials and has passed more than 20 tests, including repeated plugging and unplugging, insulation withstand voltage, plugging force, and flame retardancy.

The Oppo SuperVooc 100W dual-port super flash charger sports a sleek and stylish design inspired by the space suspension cabin. The oblique texture on the surface enhances grip, and the 90° folding pins make it convenient for storage and space-saving. The adapter measures 62.5mm x 61.0mm x 31.0mm and weighs approximately 177g, while the data cable weighs around 47g.

As the demand for fast and convenient charging solutions grows, Oppo’s 100W dual-port super flash charger stands out as an impressive option. Its versatility and compatibility with various devices make it an ideal choice for consumers looking to charge multiple devices simultaneously while on the go.

RELATED:

(source)

Moto G13 Indian launch tipped for March 29, Here’s everything you should know

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 23, 2023

Motorola recently launched the Moto G73 smartphone in the Indian market. The brand plans to launch some more mid and budget-range smartphones in the market. These will likely include the Moto G53 and the G53s. Other than that, the brand has plans to launch the Moto G13 in India.

According to previous reports, the Moto G13 is expected to launch in India next week. Now, tipster Mukul Sharma has revealed the exact launch date. In a tweet, the tipster said that the Moto G13 will launch on March 29th in India. We will likely hear more about the device in an official capacity from Motorola soon.

[Exclusive] #Motorola will launch its #MotoG13 in India on March 29th.
Will share more details ASAP.
Feel free to retweet 😉 pic.twitter.com/39h5cQ4moC
— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) March 23, 2023

Till then, the tipster has shared a render of the Moto G13 that reveals its design. It showcases a boxy design, with a flat back, flat edges, and a flat display. Surprisingly, the three edges of the smartphone appear to be pretty slim, while the chin is quite sizable. Additionally, we are getting a punch-hole display rather than a notched one. The render also reveals that the phone will have 4GB RAM and 128GB storage while running on the latest Android 13-based OS.

Moto G13 specs

The Moto G13 has already been launched globally and its specifications are now known. It is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and Mali-G52 2EEMC2 GPU. It comes with Android 13 OS out of the box, which is a positive feature considering its budget pricing. The phone features a 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel with a 90Hz high refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio, 576Hz touch sampling rate, 89.47% screen-to-body ratio, 1600 x 720 pixels resolution, and Panda Glass protection. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security. It has 4GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card.

Connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB Type-C, and NFC. The Moto G13 has a 50MP primary camera with LED flash, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro unit. For selfies and video chats, there is an 8MP front-facing camera. It also features a 5,000mAh battery with 10W standard charging support.

RELATED:

Galaxy S23 Ultra Outperforms iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro in Performance Test

By

Soumyakanti

-

Mar 23, 2023

In a recent performance test conducted by “In Depth Tech Reviews,” the Galaxy S23 Ultra has emerged as the clear winner, outperforming its competitors, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro. The test involved running a 30-minute extreme performance test to evaluate the speed, battery life, and thermal performance of each device. The tasks included running a meeting on Microsoft Teams, running a 4K YouTube video in P2P mode, running Google Maps with Navigation, and playing Asphalt 9 simultaneously.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra completed the performance test without any issues, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro failed at the 19-minute and 14:24-minute mark, respectively. The Pixel 7 Pro dropped the network two times and gave a thermal warning, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max had extreme lagging issues.

iPhone 14 Pro was the first to drop the brightness at 4:28 minutes while the Pixel 7 Pro dropped the brightness at 5:24 minutes. Galaxy S23 Ultra is a clear winner here which dropped the brightness at 11:05 minutes.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra had the best temperature reading of 47.4 degrees Celsius, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max had a temperature reading of 49.5 degrees Celsius. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also had the highest battery usage, using 10% of its battery during the test, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max used only 7% of its battery.

These results demonstrate the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s superior performance capabilities and its ability to handle heavy usage without any issues. The device was able to maintain its performance levels and keep the temperature low compared to other devices tested.

On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro struggled to maintain their performance, with the higher temperature reading of the iPhone 14 Pro Max suggesting potential throttling under heavy usage. The Pixel 7 Pro’s performance was also below par, failing the test within 15 minutes. Although the Pixel 7 Pro tried to recover a bit later after cooling down.

Overall, consumers who prioritize high-performance devices that can handle heavy usage should consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra over its competitors. Its performance, low temperature, and moderate battery usage make it an ideal choice for power users. The Galaxy S23 Ultra sets a new standard for smartphone performance, showcasing its superiority in the highly competitive smartphone market.

RELATED:

Oppo Reno 10 Series Design, Model Numbers Tipped

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 23, 2023

Earlier this week, Oppo unveiled the Find X6 series of flagship phones. Speculations are rife that the Reno 10 lineup is the next major smartphone series from the brand. In a new Weibo post, well-known tipster Digital Chat Station talked about the design of the Reno 10 series. In addition, he has also revealed the model numbers of the two models that belong to the Reno 10 family.

Since the Reno 9 and Reno 8 series come in vanilla, Pro, and Pro+ versions, the Reno 10 series is likely to have three phones. Hence, there is a possibility that Oppo may announce the Reno 10, Reno 10 Pro, and Reno 10 Pro+ smartphones.

Digital Chat Station has revealed that model numbers PHW110 and PHU110 will belong to the Reno 10 series. He revealed that the Reno 10 lineup will offer a curved-edged OLED display with a centred punch-hole. The screen will support high-frequency dimming. In the comments section of the post, he revealed that all the Reno 10 series phones will have the same screen. On the back, the Reno 10 series will have an elliptical-shaped camera island, which will house a triple camera unit.

The above-shown image was released by DCS in December 2022. At that time, he claimed that it was associated with the Oppo PHU110. He also revealed that the 6.74-inch OLED panel of the device supports a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. He also revealed that the device has a 4nm chip built by TSMC, a 4,700mAh battery, and a 64-megapixel (Sony IMX890) + periscope zoom lens + 8-megapixel (Sony IMX355 ultra-wide) triple camera unit. This model could be the Reno 10 Pro or Reno 10 Pro+.

Last month, DCS tipped off information about what appears to be the vanilla Reno 10 model. He revealed that it has a 6.7-inch OLED 1.5K 120Hz display, a 4,600mAh battery, a 32-megapixel front camera, an NPU unit, and a camera unit with a 64-megapixel main camera and a periscope camera. It is unclear whether it is the Reno 10 or Reno 10 Pro. Oppo is expected to announce the Reno 10 series in May.

RELATED:

(source)

MSI CreatorPro workstation laptops with up to 4K MiniLED displays, Nvidia 3500 Ada pro GPUs & Intel Raptor Lake-H/X CPUs announced

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 23, 2023

MSI has launched a new range of mobile workstation line of laptops called the MSI CreatorPro series. These are powerful machines that use Intel’s Raptor Lake processors and Nvidia’s RTX Ada professional GPUs. Additionally, MSI has obtained ISV certifications for all of its new CreatorPro laptop models, ensuring compatibility with the leading professional software suites. Additionally, the company recommends these laptops for students pursuing STEM majors.

MSI CreatorPro mobile workstation specs

MSI has recently introduced its 2023 CreatorPro series, featuring three models that cater to different budgets and requirements. The X17 HX is the most high-end option, boasting an Intel i9-13980HX processor paired with an RTX 3500 Ada professional GPU. This GPU includes 5120 cores, 12 GB of VRAM, and a 192-bit memory bus, offering relative performance similar to that of an RTX 2060 Super desktop GPU. The X17 HX is equipped with a 17.3-inch 4K MiniLED IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, providing an immersive visual experience. Additionally, it can accommodate up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM and offers a storage solution of 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, providing ample space for data storage.

The Z17 and Z16 HX models, on the other hand, offer mid-tier performance, powered by an i9-13950HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 3000 or RTX 2000 Ada professional GPU, supporting RTX Studio specifications. These models feature 17-inch and 16-inch IPS touchscreens with support for MSI’s Pen2, 165 Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The RAM capacity is limited to 64 GB DDR5, and there is support for only one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, making it a more affordable option. The Z models are equipped with a single Thunderbolt 4 connector and a smaller 90 Wh battery, making them less portable than the X17 HX.

Lastly, the M16 models are the most budget-friendly option and come with an i7-13700H processor and up to an RTX 3000 Ada professional GPU, featuring entry-level RTX A1000 GPUs with 6 GB VRAM. The RAM is limited to 64 GB DDR5, and the storage solution supports 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots. The 16-inch screen has QHD+ and FHD+ IPS options with a 144 Hz refresh rate, providing decent visual quality. This model is equipped with a fingerprint sensor but lacks Thunderbolt 4 and an SD card reader. Despite having the biggest profile at 26.95 mm, the M16 is the lightest model, weighing only 2.29 kg.

RELATED:

(Source, via)

Amazon Launches New Fire TV Omni QLED & Fire TV 2 Series

By

Sean

-

Mar 23, 2023

Amazon has just announced a couple of new smart TV models under its Fire TV branding. The new launches include three new sizes for the Fire TV Omni QLED series and two variants for the Fire TV 2 lineup.

Fire TV Omni QLED Series

Talking about the Fire TV Omni QLED models first, the e-commerce giant has launched the new smart TVs in three display options, namely 43 inches, 50 inches, and 55 inches. These new models promise to offer an immersive viewing experience with its 4K Quantum Dot technology panel that arrives with up to 96 zones of full array local dimming. It also supports Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive for an improved cinematic experience.

Apart from all this, the device has also been built with hands free control from Alexa. The Omni QLED series also offers Fire TV Ambient Experience. Thanks to a bunch of built in sensors, the TV is capable of detecting when a person is in the room to switch to the Ambient Experience. This mode basically has the television show helpful information powered by Alexa. Other key information includes notes, schedules, smart device control, and audio streaming.

This mode can also turn the Omni QLED series TVs into an art gallery as well. One can expect to see to see hundreds of new high quality art pieces with over 1,700 free artworks. The collection also includes pieces from famous institutions like the National Gallery of Art and The Art Institute of Chicago, National Galleries of Scotland, National Museum of Wales, Munich’s Pinakothek of the Modern, and others.

Fire TV 2 Series

Alongside the new Fire TV Omni QLED series, the company also launched the new Fire TV 2 series as well. It will be available in two display size variants, including 32 inches or 40 inches. Furthermore, the new smart TVs are powered by Alexa and bring access to over 1 million movies and TV episodes from major online streaming platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, and more.

The 32 inch model offers an HD resolution while the 40 inch version offers FHD resolution. Both models support HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio. This is paired with Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote to control the content or check the weather and other details. Notably, the new Fire TV supports the open source ASHA protocol.

In other words, the Fire TV models support streaming sound directly to a hearing implant sound processor through Cochlear’s partnership with Fire TV. Both the Fire TV Omni QLED series, 4 series, and 2 series support ASHA. So now, owners of the tarkey Bluetooth hearing aids or Cochlear hearing implants can connect directly to Amazon TVs.

Pricing & Availability

With the new launches, the company has expected its smart TV portfolio in the market. The Fire TV Omni QLED series start from 449.99 US Dollars and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com or BestBuy and sales will begin on 11th May 2023. On the other hand, the new Fire TV 2 series will start from 199.99 US Dollars and can be bought from Amazon.com as well.

RELATED:

Redmi K50i starts receiving MIUI 14 update based on Android 13

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 23, 2023

The Redmi K50i was released last year in India for those interested in performance-focused smartphones at an affordable price. The device debuted with MIUI 13 based on Android 12 in July.

In less than a year after its release, the phone has started receiving its first major software update. This system update bumps up both MIUI and Android versions.

Xiaomi has begun to roll out MIUI 14 update for Redmi K50i in India. The update brings along Android 13 and March 2023 security patches.

The OTA software update bears build number V14.0.2.0.TLOINXM. It is currently limited to ‘Mi Pilots’.

The update should make its way to a select few regular users as part of the ‘Stable Beta’ rollout in the coming days. Later, it will be available for every user.

For the unaware, Redmi K50 is a rebranded Redmi Note 11T Pro. The original handset go this update back in December itself.

The smartphone also goes by Poco X4 GT in some markets. Even that has received the update.

This means the Indian version of the phone (Redmi K50i) is the last to get access to the Android 13-based MIUI 14 update. Although Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed, this device may receive at least one more Android update in the future.

Users of the handset can head over to Settings to check whether their unit has been blessed with the fresh software update.

New WhatsApp Update Focuses on Communities & Group Chats

By

Anubhav

-

Mar 23, 2023

WhatsApp is a widely popular messaging app that allows users to send and receive text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, and documents. It is known for its end-to-end encryption, which provides users with a high level of privacy and security. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms, as well as on desktop computers through a web-based interface. The app with over two billion active users received a new update that further enhances the user experience of the platform.

The new update focuses on improving its Communities feature, which was launched last year. The update includes a new tool that gives group admins greater control over group privacy, enabling them to decide who can join their group. The update also enhances admins’ control over who can join their group through the invite link or by making it joinable in a community. Another addition to the update is a feature that allows users to easily see groups in common by searching a contact’s name.

The new features will start rolling out globally over the coming week. WhatsApp has hinted at the possibility of more tools being introduced to improve the groups experience for both admins and members. Additionally, WhatsApp is testing a new feature in its beta program that allows users to mute calls from unknown callers, which is expected to reduce spam. All muted calls will appear in the Call List, but users won’t be bothered by unknown callers if they don’t want to be.

RELATED:

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy A54 & A34 on sale in India: Check exciting offers, pricing & specs

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 23, 2023

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 smartphones around the world and also in the Indian market. These are the latest mid-range 5G offerings from the brand, and they offer quite a well-balanced set of features. Indian customers can now buy these devices as they have gone live for sale in the country.

Samsung Galaxy A54 & A34

Samsung is organizing a Live Commerce event on Samsung.com exclusively for customers interested in purchasing the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 smartphones. During the event, customers who buy these phones will receive a complimentary travel adapter valued at Rs 1,299. Additionally, Samsung is offering a special deal where customers can buy the Galaxy Buds Live, worth Rs 5,999, for just Rs 999 when purchasing these handsets.

Customers can take advantage of EMI financing options when buying the Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 from Samsung.com, Samsung exclusive and partner stores, and other online platforms. The event is currently live, and buyers will have until midnight on March 24, 2023, to avail themselves of these offers, regardless of which phone they purchase. Check out the prices of the Galaxy A-series phones below.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G

8GB + 128GB – Rs 30,999
8GB + 256GB – Rs 32,999

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

8GB + 128GB – Rs 38,999
8GB + 256GB – Rs 40,999

Both of these drives get bank cashback offers of up to Rs 3,000. They are currently available to purchase on Samsung’s website, and will later arrive on Flipkart as well.

Samsung Galaxy A54, Galaxy A34 specs

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 and A34 smartphones differ slightly in screen size, with the A34 having a larger 6.6-inch display compared to the A54’s 6.4 inches. The A54 features a center-aligned punch-hole cutout, while the A34 has a waterdrop notch. Both phones use sAMOLED screens with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, and they both have an in-screen fingerprint scanner. The design of both phones is IP67-certified for dust and water resistance, and they feature three vertically stacked camera sensors on the back.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 and A34 have triple rear camera setups, with the A54 featuring a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. The A34, on the other hand, has a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. 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 a USB-C port, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi, 5G, and Dual 4G VoLTE.

RELATED:

Alleged Xiaomi 13 Ultra launch date emerges online

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Mar 23, 2023

The existence of Xiaomi 13 Ultra was confirmed by the company’s CEO last August. He revealed that this device will be available outside mainland China, unlike the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.

We have been hearing about this handset consistently since December. A few days earlier, we even got to learn about its launch timeline.

Now, an alleged poster has emerged on the internet disclosing the exact launch date.

According to this leaked poster, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will launch in China on April 17. The press conference will begin at 7 PM GMT+8.

The person who shared this image on Weibo is not sure whether it’s real or fake. Therefore, we would advise you to take this information with a pinch of salt.

As per reliable tipster SnoopyTech, the Xiaomi 13 Ulra will be unveiled in May. But he didn’t say whether this timeline is for global markets or China.

If it is for international regions, then there’s a chance that the China launch may indeed happen in April. In that case, we expect official teasers to arrive in the coming weeks.

According to leaks and certifications thus far, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will come with 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a QHD+ LTPO OLED display, a Leica-powered camera system, and MIUI 14 based on Android 13.

Counter-Strike 2 is Here, Arrives This Summer as a CS:GO Upgrade

By

Anubhav

-

Mar 23, 2023

Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter video game that was originally developed as a modification of the popular game Half-Life in 1999. It was created by two developers, Minh Le and Jess Cliffe, who later worked with Valve Corporation to develop the game into a standalone game. The game quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most played online games in the world. Counter-Strike 1.6 was released in 2003 and remained the most popular version of the game until the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) in 2012. The game stayed that way for more than ten years, until yesterday when Valve finally announced Counter-Strike 2, the long-awaited upgrade to CS:GO.

Valve is offering a limited beta to select members of the game’s community. The game has been fully overhauled to update every system, content and aspect of the Counter-Strike experience. Valve has moved the game to the latest version of its in-house Source 2 engine, which will result in a noticeable improvement in graphic quality. Counter-Strike 2 will feature sharper textures, more realistic lighting, and additional geometry.

Valve has taken a three-tier approach to level design. Touchstone maps, such as Dust 2, will mostly remain untouched. Upgrade maps will use the enhanced lighting pipeline to improve the materials and reflections’ realism, while Valve plans to completely overhaul a handful of levels to take full advantage of its engine.

The gameplay has also been enhanced with the move to Source 2. For example, smoke grenades will now exist as volumetric 3D objects within the game world, which will make them responsive to other gameplay elements. For instance, shooting or throwing grenades through the smoke will allow vision through the smoke for a split second. Valve is also overhauling the game’s server architecture to support sub-tick updates, which should make the new entry feel like the most responsive Counter-Strike game to date. This will be the biggest gameplay shift from the last game, which relied on 64-tick updates for registering in-game movements and other actions, such as shooting.

Valve’s announcement of Counter-Strike 2 has generated a lot of excitement within the gaming community. With its enhanced graphics, improved gameplay, and overhauled server architecture, Counter-Strike 2 looks set to deliver an upgraded and thrilling experience for its loyal fans.

RELATED:

(Via)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 to Get a Major Battery Upgrade

By

Anubhav

-

Mar 23, 2023

Tablets typically require larger batteries compared to smartphones because they have larger screens and more powerful processors, which require more energy to operate. Additionally, tablets often have a higher-resolution display, which requires more battery power to produce a sharper image. In addition to the hardware components, tablets are also designed to be used for longer periods of time compared to smartphones, so they need larger batteries to provide sufficient power throughout the day. Samsung is gearing up to unveil its Galaxy Tab S9, and as per the latest leaks, the tablet will get a significant battery bump this time around.

Samsung’s latest leak, which first surfaced on Galaxy Club and later on Sammobile, suggests that the company is taking battery performance even more seriously with its upcoming Galaxy Tab S9. According to a listing by the Chinese agency CQC, the unannounced tablet will have a rated capacity of 8160mAh, which should translate to a typical capacity of up to 8500mAh. This is a pretty good increase from the current Samsung Galaxy Tab S8‘s 8000mAh typical capacity.

It is unclear whether the other tablets in the lineup will receive the same treatment. However, previous leaks suggest that the flagship Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will not have a larger battery capacity. Nonetheless, there are several other improvements expected to come with the Galaxy Tab S9, such as an IP67 certification. Samsung’s latest tablets are likely to debut later this year, possibly at the Galaxy Unpacked event in August. While the vanilla Galaxy Tab S9 is an exciting device, the most anticipated release is the rumoured Galaxy Tab Fold, Samsung’s first foldable tablet.

RELATED:

(Via)

Moto G53s visits Google Play Console with Snapdragon 480 SoC & HD+ display

By

Sudhanshu

-

Mar 23, 2023

Earlier this year, Motorola launched the Moto G53 5G budget-range smartphone in China. The global variant of the device has also appeared on GCF certification, hinting at an upcoming global launch. Now, the Moto G53s has made an appearance on the Google Play Console listing with hardware and software information.

Moto G53s 5G Google Play Console

Motorola is set to introduce the Moto G53s 5G, a new 5G smartphone in the mid-range segment, sometime later this year. While the official launch date has yet to be announced, the device has already surfaced on the Google Play Console with the codename Penang, suggesting that it may debut soon.

The listing has confirmed the phone’s name and also revealed that it will be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon SM4350 chipset, which is believed to be the Snapdragon 480 SoC. The processor includes two Kryo 460 cores that run at 2.0GHz and six Kryo 460 cores that run at 1.8GHz, along with an Adreno 619 GPU to handle graphics processing.

The smartphone is expected to come with 4GB RAM and feature an Android 13-based operating system layered with MyUX on top. The last bit of information reveals that the smartphone has an HD+ display with 720 x 1600 pixels resolution.

In related news, the brand has recently launched a new mid-range smartphone in Europe and Asian markets called the Moto G73 5G. It is currently on sale in the Indian market and has a price tag below Rs 20,000.

RELATED:

(via)

iQOO Z7x 5G India Launch Likely in April, Here’s What to Expect

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Mar 23, 2023

iQOO has recently unveiled the iQOO Z7i, iQOO Z7x, and iQOO Z7 in China. It also unveiled an iQOO Z7 phone with different specs in India recently. A recent report revealed that China’s iQOO Z7 will be rebadged as the iQOO Z7 Pro 5G in the Indian market. However, there is no word on its Indian launch date. Now, a new report courtesy of Pricebaba reveals that the iQOO Z7x will debut in India by mid-April.

According to the report, the iQOO Z7x 5G will be priced lower than the iQOO Z7, which features the Dimensity 920 chip, in the Indian market. The smartphone is likely to be priced between Rs 14,000 and Rs 16,000. It is expected to arrive in three colors, which could be black, blue, and orange, as shown in the image below.

The iQOO Z7x 5G heading to India will pack the same specifications as its Chinese variants, claims the publication. However, there is a possibility that the Indian model may support slower charging. For those who don’t known, the iQOO Z7x available in China supports 80W rapid charging. While it is available in 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB variants in China, India is likely to receive only the 8GB+256GB version of the device.

iQOO Z7x 5G specifications

The iQOO Z7x 5G has a 6.64-inch IPS LCD panel with a centrally aligned punch-hole. It supports an FHD+ resolution, a 19:9 aspect ratio, and a 120hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it has the Snapdragon 695 chipset, a 5,000mAh battery, LPDDR4x RAM, and UFS 2.2 storage. It has a 16-megapixel front camera, a 64-megapixel (main) + 2-megapixel (depth) dual-camera unit, Android 13 OS, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

RELATED:

(source)

Samsung brings eSIM support to mid-range smartphones with Galaxy M54

By

Jeet

-

Mar 23, 2023

Samsung has two lineups of flagship smartphones — Galaxy S-series and Galaxy Z-series, both of which comes with support for eSIM connectivity.

While eSIM is considered a premium feature, given that there are only a few smartphones in the market with support for eSIM, the South Korean giant is now bringing it to mid-range phones.

The newly launched Samsung Galaxy M54 5G smartphone comes with support for eSIM connectivity, which makes it the first mid-range smartphone from the company to have support for it.

However, similar to other Samsung phones with eSIM and unlike the iPhone 14 lineup in the US, the phone does have a physical SIM card slot for those who are still not comfortable using an eSIM.

Samsung started offering eSIM support for its premium smartphones a few years back, starting with the Galaxy S20 series launched in 2020. The feature enables users to connect to a network without the need to insert a physical SIM card into the smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy M54 features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Under the hood, the device is powered by the company’s own Exynos 1380 processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM and two options for internal storage — 128GB and 256GB.

In the camera department, there’s a triple-camera setup on the back consisting of a 108-megapixel primary camera sensor with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front side, there’s a 32-megapixel snapper for selfies and video calling. The phone runs the Android 13 operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own One UI 5.1 custom interface on top. It is powered by a 6,000mAh battery and comes with support for 25W fast charging.

RELATED: