Assassin’s Creed is a beloved action-adventure franchise that has been around for more than a decade, and it seems that Ubisoft has no intention of slowing down. According to a recent report from Insider Gaming, the publisher is planning on releasing at least nine more Assassin’s Creed games in the coming years, with six currently in development.
The French game publishing company has released 12 Assassin’s Creed games so far, with the first game released in the year 2007. Some 16 years later, the first of these upcoming games is Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which is expected to be released sometime in August of this year. This game is said to bring the series back to its roots, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release. Interestingly, it will be followed by an Assassin’s Creed VR game, which will be announced at E3 and released in the same year. This is a little reminiscent of Valve releasing a VR sequel to Half-Life, Half-Life Alyx in order to maintain its appeal for its VR fanbase.
The next game, Codename Red, is set to feature ninjas in Japan and will have a strong focus on stealth. It’s rumored to be released in 2024, followed by the multiplayer title Assassin’s Creed ‘Invictus’ in 2025, and Codename Hexe in 2026. Codename Jade is also in development, but its release date is still unknown.
But that’s not all. Ubisoft reportedly has three more Assassin’s Creed games in the planning stages. Each of these games will feature a unique spin on the franchise and different gameplay from other titles. Project Nebula, for instance, will take place in India, the Aztec Empire, and the Mediterranean, while Project Raid will be a PvE-based free-to-play game with 4-player co-op mode. Project Echoes is another multiplayer title in the franchise.
It’s clear that Ubisoft is going all-in on Assassin’s Creed, and fans of the series have plenty to look forward to. The publisher plans to release a new game in the franchise every year, with each major entry significantly different from the last to keep things fresh. With so many games in development, it’s an exciting time to be an Assassin’s Creed fan.
[UPDATE] The brand has now officially revealed the Indian pricing of the Xiaomi 13 Pro along with the launch offers. You can find out the details by following this link. The original story continues…
Xiaomi recently unveiled the Xiaomi 13 series smartphones for the global market. The device was initially launched in China back in December. The brand is yet to reveal the pricing of these devices for India.
Today at 12 PM IST, Xiaomi is expected to announce the official price of the Xiaomi 13 Pro. However, tipster Paras Guglani has already leaked details about the configuration and price of the model in India. According to Guglani, the Xiaomi 13 Pro will be available in a single configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at Rs 79,999 (~$967). The brand is expected to offer bank offers on the device and other launch offers of the device.
Xiaomi 13 Pro
The Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts impressive features such as a 6.73-inch LTPO E6 AMOLED display with a Quad HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and 1900 nits peak brightness. It also supports Dolby Vision and features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection for added durability.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. It features a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP Sony IMX989 primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50MP telephoto camera. For selfies, there’s a 32MP front-facing camera.
The device is fueled by a 4820mAh battery and supports fast wired charging up to 120W, wireless charging of up to 50W and reverse wireless charging up to 10W. It runs on MIUI 14 based on Android 13 out of the box. While the global model is certified with IP68 water and dust protection, it’s unclear if the Indian model will receive the same certification due to potential cost-cutting measures. Nonetheless, the device is still expected to offer IP68-level protection.
Smartwatches have become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to their ability to combine fitness tracking, communication, and timekeeping in a single device. A number of new smartphones and other devices were unveiled at the MWC 2023. The Huawei Watch GT Cyber is one of the latest additions to this market, offering a unique twist on the concept of interchangeable straps. Unlike most smartwatches, which allow you to swap out the straps for different colors or materials, the Watch GT Cyber features a detachable casing, allowing you to completely change the look of the watch in seconds.
This innovative design means that there are a total of six different casing and strap options available, split into Sport and Urban collections. The former features a durable fibre-reinforced composite case, while the latter boasts premium stainless steel and ceramic finishes. The interactive watch faces will change depending on which casing you snap on, and it’s even possible to swap out the crown if that is something you want to do.
Aside from its unique design, the Watch GT Cyber boasts impressive specifications. It features a sharp 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 resolution touch-sensitive panel, and has been through 16 durability tests, the company states. The smartwatch also offers 5ATM waterproofing and has a battery life of up to seven days.
In terms of health and fitness tracking, the Watch GT Cyber features all of Huawei’s TruSeen monitoring, including TruSleep, and offers a range of workout options. It also includes Bluetooth calling and a wrist-based assistant and can be seamlessly paired with Android or iOS phones using the Huawei Health platform.
If you are looking to get your hands on the new Huawei Watch GT Cyber, the availability may vary based on where you live. While the Watch GT Cyber is already available in China and some parts of Southeast Asia, it’s not currently planned for release in Europe or the US. However, if someone is lucky enough to live in an area where the Watch GT Cyber is available, they will find that each box contains one smartwatch module and two casing and strap options, allowing them to enjoy two looks in one box. Additional casing and strap options can be purchased separately from Huawei’s official website.
The OnePlus 11R 5G is set to go on sale at 12 pm today in India. The device, which went official on Feb. 7, has been available for pre-order in the country since last week. Starting today, the OnePlus 11R can be purchased through Amazon India, the OnePlus India website, the OnePlus Store app, OnePlus Experience Stores, and offline partner stores.
OnePlus 11R price in India, bank offers
Product
Configurations (RAM + Storage)
Price
OnePlus 11R 5G
8+128 GB
Rs 39,999 (~$483)
OnePlus 11R 5G
16+256 GB
Rs 44,999 (~$544)
Buyers can purchase the OnePlus 11R in Sonic Black and Galactic Silver colors. Customers purchasing the device through ICICI Bank credit / debit cards and EMI transactions, Citibank credit cards and EMI transactions can benefit from an instant discount of Rs 1,000. Other offers include an exchange bonus of Rs 3,000 on OnePlus, Samsung, and iOS 4G devices (on OnePlus.in, store app, and experience stores), up to 12 months of no-cost EMI, 6-month Spotify Premium subscription for free, and the first 1,000 buyers of the 11R will also get the OnePlus Gaming Trigger (available on OnePlus.in and the OnePlus Store app).
Red Cable Club members can get up to Rs 2,000 off on 11R for a limited time. In addition, for a limited time, Red Cable Care will provide users with 12 months of extended warranty, 120 GB of cloud storage, and other benefits for Rs 999.
OnePlus 11R 5G specifications
OnePlus 11R
The OnePlus 11R 5G features a 6.74-inch AMOLED display that supports a 1.5K resolution of 2772 x 1240 1.5K resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The curved-edge display has a centrally positioned punch-hole and an under-display fingerprint scanner. It runs on the OxygenOS 13-based Android 13 OS. The company has already confirmed that the 11R to receive three years of Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset powers the OnePlus 11R 5G. The device offers LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery that supports 100W charging. It has a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 50-megapixel (Sony IMX890, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit.
The Mobile World Congress has returned to its full glory in 2023, with thousands of attendees and brands participating in one of the largest tech fairs in the world. The event officially commenced today, February 27, and will continue until March 2. The first day of the event is typically the busiest, as brands compete to unveil their most significant products and technological advancements on the opening day.
As expected, the first day of MWC 2023 was packed with activity, with numerous announcements from high-profile brands such as Huawei, Honor, Oppo, OnePlus, Lenovo, and others. Given the vast number of products showcased at the event, let’s quickly review the standout product announcements made on the first day of the event.
Here are the Best Products & Announcements of MWC 2023
Lenovo’s Rollable Concept Smartphone & Laptop
MWC 2023’s first day kicked off with two interesting products on display – the Rollable Concept laptop and the Moto Rizr rollable smartphone.
As foldable smartphones and even laptops are gaining popularity, Lenovo’s take on a rollable form factor looks a lot more promising. Both the smartphone and the laptop can extend their screen size to suit your requirement, with a single push of a button. While the Rizr looks very interesting and some might even prefer it over a traditional foldable, the rollable laptop concept looks a lot more viable.
The rollable laptop comes with a standard 12.7-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio in its default mode. However, with the push of a button, a pair of internal motors smoothly extend the screen from beneath the laptop’s keyboard to an almost square 15.3-inch display with an 8:9 aspect ratio, providing a significantly larger viewing area.
LiFi – The next evolution in Wireless Connectivity?
Li-Fi or Light Fidelity is a wireless technology that utilizes light to transmit data between two devices. The technology employs light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to send data at high speeds over the visible light spectrum. It comes with several advantages over Wi-Fi, such as faster speeds and even better security. However, it requires a direct line of sight between the transmitter and receiver, limiting its implementation.
That said, Li-Fi may go mainstream as smartphones could soon add Li-Fi as another wireless communication technology. This is made possible by pureLiFi’s Light Antenna One, a first-of-its-kind wireless communications antenna, that implements this technology on smartphones and other connected devices at a large scale. The device is compliant with the forthcoming IEEE 802.11bb standard, so manufacturers can seamlessly integrate LiFi with existing 802.11 Wi-Fi networking equipment and the billions of devices that currently use 802.11 Wi-Fi chipsets annually.
Satellite Comms Go Mainstream on Phones, Thanks to Qualcomm
Satellite communication is the new buzz in the smartphone industry with major players like Apple, Samsung, and even Huawei (rumored) integrating this technology into their smartphones and devices. However, Qualcomm is making satellite communications more accessible to smartphone manufacturers by integrating this feature into multiple RF modems and its 8 and 4 series of processors for smartphones. The company has partnered with the satellite service provider Iridium to bring two-way texting and more emergency satellite communication options to smartphones.
So if you were feeling left out by the announcements from Apple and Samsung, fret not as Qualcomm confirms most major manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, Motorola, Oppo, Honor, and Nothing are going to bring satellite communication to their smartphones in the near future. Unfortunately, we don’t have a timeline yet on when it will be available on these manufacturer devices.
OnePlus’ awaited OnePlus 11 Concept smartphone was officially unveiled today and the wait was fairly justified because it brings a glowing liquid active cooling technology called Active CryoFlux. The OnePlus 11 concept can bring the thermals down during gameplay by up to 2.1℃ and during charging by around 1.6℃. OnePlus claims this technology can increase the frame rate by up to 3 to 4 fps and reduces the charging time by around 30 to 45 seconds.
Along with the smartphone, OnePlus showcased an even more interesting gadget – a 45W Liquid Cooling Accessory that can reduce phone temperature by up to an impressive 20℃.
Tecno’s love for color-changing smartphones isn’t new. Last year we saw the Tecno Mondrian edition with unique color-changing technology. At MWC 2023, it takes things to another level with its Chameleon Color Changing Smartphone concept.
The smartphone allows you to manually select from a total of 1600 different colors using the device software, or it can be set to vary automatically based on the battery level, music, or notifications. The material can change its color in just 0.03 seconds and also utilizes very little energy; around 100 changes throughout the day will use energy equivalent to watching a 5-minute video.
Two New Foldables – Honor Magic Vs & Tecno Phantom V Fold
MWC 2023 saw two new foldable launches.
Honor announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 powered Honor Magic Vs Fold, featuring a 6.45-inch external OLED 120Hz display and a 7.9-inch large 90Hz unfolded OLED screen. The Magic Vs will start at EUR 1599.
On the other hand, the Tecno Phantom V Fold is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ processor and has an ultra-clear 5-lens photography system featuring a 50-megapixel main camera and a super light-sensitive custom sensor. However, no more details are available about the device.
While Tecno has not shared any details about a potential launch of its foldable, it’s good to see more brands enter this market.
The OnePlus Ace 2V is all set to launch at 2:30 pm (local time) on March 7 in China. Before launch, the company is expected to confirm more key details about the Ace 2V. Today, it released the official renders and a teaser video of the device to showcase its appearance in green and black colors.
The OnePlus Ace 2V will arrive in shades like Black Rock and Celadon Glaze (green). In the teaser video, the handset can be seen sporting a flat display with a centrally aligned punch-hole. The top edge of the phone has three holes, which could be for a microphone, a speaker grille, and an IR blaster.
The left side of the OnePlus Ace 2V features a volume rocker, whereas its right side has an alert slider and a power key. The bottom edge of the phone has a SIM slot, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille.
The primary camera is in the first camera ring on the Ace 2V’s back shell. The other two cameras are housed inside the second camera ring. The two LED flash units are available alongside the two camera rings. OnePlus is yet to confirm the key specifications of the device.
OnePlus Ace 2V Specifications (Rumored)
According to reports, the OnePlus Ace 2V will have a 6.74-inch AMOLED 1.5K display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it will feature the Dimensity 9000 chipset, 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, up to 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 80W charging support.
It will have a 16-megapixel front camera and a 64-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. The phone will come preloaded with Android 13 OS and ColorOS 13. Reports have claimed that it will be rebranded as the Nord 3 in India.
There are reports that Xiaomi Technology Co. Ltd has applied for the registration of the Modena trademark, together with some variants of the codename. There are several descriptions of the various trademarks including means of transportation, scientific instrument, and others.
Previously, it had been rumored that Xiaomi’s first car is a medium-sized fastback sedan that will come in two versions. It was also rumored that Xiaomi was developing a second mass-produced car (codenamed Lemans) due for release in 2025. It is reported that Xiaomi is intensely working on the Modena with more than 2,300 R&D staff on the project. The first Xiaomi car is expected to begin mass production in 2024.
In September 2022, Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun announced that Xiaomi’s first car rolled off the production line as scheduled, with winter testing scheduled for December. The company has built its own automobile base in Yizhuang, Beijing. The facility also serves as its sales headquarters and R&D headquarters.
Xiaomi plans to build a complete vehicle manufacturing factory with an annual production of 300,000 vehicles. The company says it will accomplish the production facility in two phases of 150,000 production capacity each. Xiaomi is among a growing list of tech giants that are incorporating vehicle manufacturing into their portfolio. Its approach however seems a bit different from its investment in a 300,000 units per year vehicle production facility. It remains to be seen the full specs of the Xiaomi Modena car. It is an EV but its finer details are still lacking.
ZTE’s Nubia full range of consumer electronics is part of the products unveiled at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. The Nubia Pad 3D was announced alongside the Nubia AR glasses. It supports naked-eye 3D while the Nubia AR glasses feature micro LED screens.
ZTE has also unveiled its terminal product strategy with an upgrade to 1+2+N full scenario smart ecology 2.0. The ZTE’s terminal MyOS will further realize the seamless interoperability and interconnection of the 1+2+N terminal systems. This applies to mobile phones, personal and family data terminals, and peripheral ecological products. The new upgrades bring improvements in digital lifestyle and a full-scenario smart ecology 2.0.
The ZTE MyOS operating system will create intelligent perception and intelligent linkage between terminal devices. This makes it easier for more devices to make intelligent connections. The system will achieve interconnection, mutual collaboration, and capability sharing. The system covers sports & health, audiovisual entertainment, business travel, and education. It provides users with a multi-terminal integrated service experience and multi-screen interconnection.
The ZTE Nubia Pad 3D is the world’s first naked-eye 3D tablet based on AI technology. The AR smart glasses Nubia Neovision. The Nubia Pad 3D is jointly developed by ZTE and naked-eye 3D technology research company Leia Inc. the pad is equipped with Leia’s 3D light field display technology. It has a powerful AI computing power engine to match rich 3D applications. It supports AI face tracking with 2D and 3D real-time AI content processing capability. It is equipped with a 12.4-inch 2.5K large screen and symmetrical Dolby Atmos speakers. The tablet is equipped with a Snapdragon 888 processor, a 9,070mAh battery, and 33W fast charging support.
The Nubia Neovision Glass is the world’s first smart glasses with TUV Rheinland certification and Hi-Res sound quality certification. It is equipped with a 120-inch virtual portable giant screen, a binocular 2x1920x1080 resolution Micro OLED display, and supports 0-500° myopia adjustment.
There are no clear details yet on the release date for the ZTE products and systems. More details may still surface during MWC 2023.
Google has announced its plans to introduce eSIM transfer capabilities to Android phones in 2023, as the company aims to simplify the process of changing phones for users. Currently, transferring an eSIM profile from one device to another requires the user to unregister the eSIM on the old device and reactivate it on the new one, which can be a cumbersome process. However, with the upcoming eSIM transfer capability, users will be able to seamlessly transfer their eSIM profiles without needing to contact their mobile carrier.
Image Source: 9to5google
Deutsche Telekom is one of the first carriers to adopt eSIM transfer on Android handsets, according to Google. The announcement comes after months of leaks and beta tests that showcased the ability to convert physical SIM cards to eSIM, along with the transfer tools that the company has now officially announced.
The move to eSIM is part of a wider trend in the industry, with Apple having already eliminated physical SIM cards from its latest iPhone series in the United States. Google’s eSIM transfer capability will make the process of switching phones easier for Android users, and it is expected that more smartphone manufacturers will follow suit in the coming years.
In addition to the eSIM announcement, Google also highlighted recent partnerships aimed at expanding the reach of Android’s latest software enhancements. Vodafone is making the Messages app the default messaging service on eligible Android phones to further expand the reach of RCS, while Google is simplifying the RCS branding across the board.
Google also showcased recent smartphone launches from its partners, such as Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi, which have used Android features like Nearby Share and digital car keys. The company also announced a brand-new set of Android features rolling out from today, along with a promise that Fast Pair for Chromebooks will finally arrive in the near future.
Software support was another major focus at Google’s MWC event, with the company reiterating its partners’ commitments to longer Android OS upgrades and security update schedules. Samsung leads on that front, offering four years of major OS updates and five years of security patches, while Xiaomi promised three OS upgrades for its new flagship phones and five years of security updates during the Xiaomi 13 series debut at MWC 2023.
Most smartphones and a majority of gadgets out there use either a lithium-polymer (Li-poly) or Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery as a power source. While both these technologies have been working just fine, they do have a few shortcomings. However, it seems Honor has come up with a better alternative. Today, at MWC 2023, the Chinese company briefly detailed its first silicon-carbon battery with a higher energy density.
While announcing the Magic 5 Pro smartphone, Honor’s CEO George Zhao talked about the first Silicon-carbon battery. It is claimed to offer 12.8% higher energy density compared to traditional lithium batteries that use graphite on the anode. A higher energy density would mean higher battery capacity.
Let’s put it in simpler terms. The newly launched Honor Magic 5 Pro currently has a battery with a capacity of 5,100mAh. However, if it had used a silicon-carbon battery, its capacity could have been increased to 5,450mAh. The charts shared by Honor during the presentation explain that Lithium batteries lose their charge quickly and become useless once their voltage drops to 3.5 volts. However, a silicon-carbon battery has 240% more capacity left at 3.5 volts.
GSMArena points out that the newly announced Honor Magic 5 Pro is listed in China with a 5,450mAh battery, which suggests it is using a silicon-carbon battery already. However, the international units feature just a standard 5,100mAh battery. We’ll have to wait for Honor to provide more details in this regard. Meanwhile, you may check out the specifications and pricing of the Magic 5 Pro.
The Iris smart ring with in-built temperature and blood pressure sensors has been unveiled. The gadget is being released via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The miniaturized blood pressure sensor in the Iris smart ring is of medical grade and also features a pulse oximeter. The smart wearable has a companion app with an accompanying monthly subscription service.
The Iris smart ring has a PPG sensor with six photodetectors and 18 LEDs. According to Iris, the gadget is significantly more powerful than current wearables with an average of two photodetectors and two LEDs. The Iris ring can be used to measure biometrics like heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and others. You can also track your workout regimen, sleep quality, and stress levels. The companion smartphone app allows you to view all the tracking data on the go. Blood pressure measurements are expected to be available by mid-2024 via OTA upgrades.
The Iris smart ring is touted as the slimmest smart ring on the market. It is 5mm wide and 2.5mm thick and contains the smallest patented sensor. The ring weighs under 5g and its wireless docking station can provide up to four full charges for the gadget. The Iris smart ring is also propped as having a higher accuracy than current models in the market. The size of other rings means that they move on the finger, thus reducing the precision of measurement.
The Iris smart ring is available on Kickstarter at a starting price of CHF 137 (~$146) which is quite affordable. Current smart rings like the Oura Ring are priced up to $300. However, the gold and silver models of the Iris smart ring are offered at around $165. Each of the options comes with a lifetime app subscription. The ring will revert to its original price of $199 after the Kickstarter campaign and a $10 monthly app subscription.
The Zebronics ZEB-PIXAPLAY 18 projector has been launched in India. The device is a successor to the Zeb-Pixaplay 17 that was launched in December 2022. The projector comes with an integrated speaker with support for Dolby Audio and up to 3,800 lumens of brightness. The new Zebronics projector can throw images up to 200 inches wide.
The Zebronics ZEB-PIXAPLAY 18 has a LED light source and is an improved version of the ZEB-PixaPlay17 from last year. The LED light source of the projector has a lifetime of 30,000 hours which is quite impressive. On an average daily usage of 8 hours, the projector can last for more than 10 years. The image sizes for the projector are between 50 inches and 200 inches at a projection distance of 1.5 meters. It has a 1080p native resolution and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The ZEB-PixaPlay 18 runs on Android 9.0 and the connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Apart from the built-in speaker for the new projector, you can also connect to an audio output via its 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI or USB. The projector is capable of being mounted on the ceiling and weighs 1.8kg. The dimensions of the projector are 15 x 16.3 x 23.2 cm.
It can be purchased in the subcontinent via Flipkart for a launch price of Rs. 21,999 (~$265). The original price of the Zebroniics Zeb-PixaPlay 18 projector is Rs. 42,999 (~$520). There are no indications at this time on the global availability and pricing of the projector.
Asides from announcing the Chameleon changing color technology for smartphones and the Phantom V Fold, Transsion Holdings brand Tecno has also unveiled the Spark 10 Pro smartphone and Megabook S1 2023 laptop.
The Spark 10 Pro is the brand’s latest offering in the mid-range Spark lineup and it is said to be made for Gen Z. To this end, it comes with a sleek design coupled with improvements in its camera setup. The device packs a 32MP ultra-clear glowing selfie front camera. The front camera comes with dual flashlights that should enhance selfie shots in low-light conditions. The device equally packs a 50MP rear camera.
The Tecno Spark 10 Pro is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 gaming processor that is optimized for a superior gaming experience. The device also features a starry glass back panel with a glossy finish.
Tecno says the Spark 10 Pro will be officially launched for sale in March.
On its part, the new Megabook S1 laptop comes with an improved Intel Core chipset. It would be recalled that Tecno first launched the Megabook S1 laptop in December 2022. This upgraded version is equipped with the latest 13th-gen Intel Core processor. The premium flagship notebook weighs just 1.35kg and has a thickness of only 13.5mm.
Furthermore, the Megabook S1 2023 comes with PC SwiftTransfer through hand gestures. This feature supports Tecno’s new generation OneLeap connection, data sharing, file management, multi-screen collaboration, and reverse network sharing across the company’s digital ecosystem. Thus, it makes it easy for users to enjoy deeper integration between their devices, providing a more comprehensive digital experience.
Tecno is also showcasing a raft of smart gadgets including the Tecno True 1 and Ultimate 1 TWS earbuds, a security WiFi camera, and a WiFi router from the smart home device lineup.
After launching them in China a little less than a year ago, Vivo is apparently ready to bring its affordable TWS Air earbuds to international markets alongside the Vivo V27 series. The brand hasn’t confirmed the official launch date of the earphones yet but a report suggests they will launch on the same day as the company’s latest V series phones.
MySmartPrice, citing industry sources, claims that Vivo will be launching the Vivo TWS Air earbuds in the global market, including India, on March 1. The earphones will apparently share the stage with the upcoming Vivo V27 lineup. Additionally, the publication has also revealed the price and launch offers of the forthcoming Vivo TWS.
Vivo TWS Air could carry a MOP (market operating price) of Rs 3,999 in India. This roughly converts to $48. However, it is worth noting that MOP is not the price consumers would have to pay for the earphones. The retail price could be comparatively lower. In addition, the report states that those who will buy the V27 Pro smartphone can avail of a Rs 1,000 discount on the TWS Air. The offer is said to be valid from March 1 to March 31.
The hearables are already available in China and they are equipped with a 14.2mm driver for strong bass. The Vivo earbuds feature dual microphones, support AI noise cancelation, and offer 117ms low latency via Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. The TWS packs a 420mAh battery with each earbud backed by a 27mAh cell. They are claimed to offer 4.5 hours of usage and 25 hours of total battery life with the charging case that supports a USB-C port.
Telecom giant Huawei has signed a new agreement with SERES automobile to launch its first flagship Smart Car. Though both companies have previously worked together to build the AITO series, the new agreement highlights a long-term collaboration, to make flagship Smart EVs.
According to Huawei Smart Car Business Unit CEO, Yu Chengdong, the partnership with SERES marks a new beginning as it is the first car company to cooperate with Huawei with the deepest investment and most productive models. He further added that the two companies have formed a good foundation for cross-border cooperation in the past, have sufficient mutual trust, and will continue to cooperate for a long time in the future.
source: Huawei
Huawei and SERES are planning to launch their flagship model with a smart driving system, sometime later this year. According to the new agreement the smart EVs will be launched under a fresh platform. Under this partnership, SERES will provide industrial resources and gather new technologies and processes. Huawei on the other hand will provide the software ecosystem, with a smart and innovative user interface, advanced smart driving technology, and a cockpit powered by the latest Harmony OS.
Both companies have set ambitious goals for this partnership. They plan to sell more than one million EVs by 2026 and are building a joint innovation center to develop and promote advanced automotive technology.
Huawei – SERES Previous Partnership:
Huawei and SERES came together in 2021 to sell smart EVs. Huawei provides the automaker ICT smart car solutions, high-end brand operation, marketing experience, and a sales network that it has accumulated over the years in the consumer electronics business. The partnership established its first brand AITO (Adding intelligence to Auto) and launched its first all-electric cross-over SUV the AITO M5 in December 2021. Thereafter it launched the AITO M7 and M5 EV models respectively.
Apart from SERES, Huawei has also co-operated with other automobile brands like Changan, and BAIC to sell EVs in China. It is currently working on partnerships with JAC Motors and Chery Automobile CO. Ltd.
Ahead of MWC 2023, Lenovo announced abunch of laptops. However, only one of them is a ChromeOS device. This device officially goes by Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook.
The latest Chromebook from the company is a 14-incher. It is powered by an ARM-based MediaTek chipset, and thus, it offers a longer battery life.
Let’s check out its entire specs along with pricing and availability.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Specifications
The latest ChromeOS-powered laptop from Lenovo is built around a 14-inch display with a 170° hinge. The screen comes in three variants: HD (1366 x 768 pixels) TN, FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) TN, and FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen.
The notebook is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 520 chipset. The silicon is paired with 4GB/8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB/128GB eMMC storage. It is rated to last for up to 13.5 hours on a full charge.
The device arrives with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It also comes with 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 2 x 2W speakers.
Last but not least, it weighs 1.3 kg and arrives with a webcam shutter and a dedicated mute key.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Price and Availability
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 will start at €349 in Europe. It will be available for purchase starting in May. Customers will be able to pick it up in either Cloud Grey or Abyss Blue color options.
Foldable smartphones continue to become widespread. Almost every day, another manufacturer joins the market competition led by Samsung and Huawei. Lastly, Tecno has launched its first foldable smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona. Here are the details…
Tecno Unveils its First Foldable Phone, the Phantom V Fold with MediaTek Dimensity 9000+
Tecno today marks its debut at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona. To celebrate, the brand will be launching its first foldable smartphone, Phantom V Fold. The phone will be the world’s first left-right foldable smartphone to be powered by MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9000+ processor. The dual-SIM, dual 5G processor customized especially for the device is produced by an advanced TSMC 4nm manufacturing process and delivers outstandingly smooth foldable device performance with low power consumption.
The phone will also be equipped with an ultra-clear 5-lens photography system, including a 50MP main camera with a super light-sensitive custom sensor, a further two rear lenses, as well as two front lenses. The system creates an exciting photography experience made possible by the phone’s folding design, from enhanced rear-camera selfies to more immersive large-screen video calling.
In addition to being on display at TECNO’s MWC booth, PHANTOM V Fold will also be the only foldable device equipped with the Dimensity 9000+ processor on display at MediaTek’s MWC booth, as part of TECNO’s interactions with its various strategic partners at the exhibition. That is basically all the info that Tecno shared with us thus far. We are also wondering what’s the crease situation like, whether the phone folds flat, is there an IP rating, and what other specs are included… amongst other things.
At MWC Barcelona, Honor unveiled its latest premium smartphone, the Magic 5 Pro, boasting advanced hardware and an attractive design. The device features a 50MP triple camera system and an immersive display, which the brand claims have achieved the highest DxOMark scores for both camera and display, surpassing the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. Here are the details.
As announced by Honor, the newly launched Magic 5 Pro now holds the top overall score in DxOMark’s camera and display ranking with a global score of 152 and 151, respectively. The top position in camera ranking was previously secured by the Huawei Mate 50 Pro with a score of 147. The existing top scorers in the DxOMark’s display rankings are the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max with score of 149.
The display on the Honor Magic 5 Pro is 6.81-inch and is curved on all four sides. It uses the LTPO technology and can refresh at up to 120Hz. It offers a resolution of 1,312 x 2,848px with a pixel density of 461ppi. It can reach a peak HDR brightness of 1,800 nits and features high-frequency PWM dimming at 2,160Hz.
Further, the handset’s camera system is no less amazing. It features a triple camera unit on the pack that is aligned in what the company calls the “Eye of Muse” formation. The main 50MP camera features a customized 1/1.12-inch sensor and has an f/1.6 aperture. It comes with support for Optical image stabilization (OIS).
The primary camera of the device is accompanied by a 50MP ultra wide-angle sensor and a 50MP telephoto unit with 3.5x optical magnification. The camera system is backed by an array of sensors including, a 3D ToF laser, a multi-spectrum sensor for color temperature, and a flicker sensor. You can check the rest of the specifications here.
The official images give us a clear look at the upcoming smartphone’s design, as it features the iconic OnePlus alert slider, as well as a large design departure from the OnePlus Ace 2 that was announced this month.
The OnePlus Ace 2V shares design similarities to the OnePlus Nord 2T last year. It will be featuring a flat 120Hz AMOLED display with a centred punch-hole cutout in the middle, along with flat sides for a better grip in hand. The back of the OnePlus Ace 2V will be featuring a triple camera setup that is accompanied by a dual flash module, supposedly for better flash photography.
The launch timeline of the OnePlus Ace 2V in China was also leaked as well, as the device will be officially launching in China on March 7 at 2:30pm GMT+8. In addition, a pre-reservation of the device is expected to go live tomorrow at February 28 10:00am GMT +8 in the country.
Pre-reservation and launch date in China
The OnePlus Ace 2V is rumoured to be rebranded to arrive to global markets as OnePlus Nord 3. However, a global launch date for the OnePlus Nord 3 is previously rumoured to be in July 2023.
As of previous leaks on Antutu, the OnePlus Ace 2V will come with a flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, LPDDR5 / 5x RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and Android 13 on board.
The 2023 edition of MWC (Mobile World Congress) is underway in Barcelona, Spain. Some companies have already made their big announcements before the trade show officially kicked off today.
While others have just started announcing their products. Google falls under this category as the search giant just revealed 9 new features that are heading to Android and Wear OS.
Almost all of these features focus on improving users’ quality of life. They spread across productivity, accessibility, and customization.
Some of them will be available starting today, while others will be rolled out later. Let’s go through them.
All the 9 New Features for Android and Wear OS Announced by Google at MWC 2023
Google Keep Single Note Widget
As the name suggests, the Keep app will finally allow users to add a widget of their desired notes on the home screen of their Android devices. The widget displays reminders, background colors, and images. Users can now check off their to-do lists right from their home screen.
Google Keep Wear OS Shortcut
Wear OS 3 users can now create Keep notes directly from their watch face via a new shortcut. All they have to do is simply tap on the shortcut and create a note using voice (default) or keyboard input.
Annotation in Google Drive
Users can finally annotate PDFs natively in the Google Drive app for Android using their fingers or a stylus. They can use different tools like marker, pen, highlighter, eraser, undo, and redo. They can also show or hide annotations and save a new copy of annotated documents.
Noise Cancellation in Google Meet
Google Meet already supports noise cancellations on select Android devices. The search giant says that the feature will be now available for more devices. Thus, users need not worry about distracting background noises during calls.
Increase Content Size in Chrome
Users can now easily increase the size of the content (text, images, videos, and interactive controls) in Chrome for Android by up to 300% using the pinch-to-zoom gesture. Users can even set a default size of their own so that they don’t have to change it every time.
New Sound and Display Modes in Wear OS
Wear OS 3 users will get new sound and display modes to improve accessibility. Mono-audio mode will help limit disorientation caused by split audio, whereas color-correction and grayscale modes will help in relieving eye strains.
Fast Pair in ChromeOS
Fast Pair is coming to Chrome OS, and therefore, Chromebook users can connect their supported Bluetooth earphones with a simple tap. Additionally, already set-up earphones with an Android smartphone will automatically connect to Chromebook.
New Emoji Kitchen Combinations
One of the fun features on Gboard is Emoji Kitchen, which enables users to mash up, remix, and share emojis as stickers. Google regularly updates combinations. Hence, ahead of spring, the company has introduced new combos.
Tap to Pay Animations in Google Wallet
Tap to Pay is one of the important features of Google Wallet. This action is now getting new animations involving penguins and other animals.
Which one of the above features is your most excited about? Do let us know in the comment section below.
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