Chinese smartphone manufacturer Nubia has launched the “Performance Rush Edition” of its Nubia Z50 smartphone. This new version is very similar to the Nubia Z50 Standard Edition, which was released at the end of last year. The focus of this update is on the storage configuration, as the Nubia Z50 Performance Rush Edition comes with a massive 16GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
Nubia Z50 boasts impressive features, including a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio flexible curved screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate. It has a powerful Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 740 GPU.
The device runs on the latest Android 13 operating system with MyOS 13, providing a smooth and seamless user experience. Coming to the camera specs Nubia Z50 features a 64MP primary camera with custom Sony IMX787 flagship sensor, LED flash and f/1.6 aperture, and a 50MP 116° ultrawide camera with Samsung JN1 sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and 2cm macro. The smartphone also supports 8K video recording and has a 16MP front-facing camera with f/2.45 aperture.
Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C audio, dual smart PA, stereo dual speakers, and DTS: X Ultra. Nubia Z50 is also equipped with 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/GLONASS, and USB Type-C.
The smartphone is powered by a 5000mAh battery with 80W fast charging, which can provide up to 100% charge in just 45 minutes. Nubia Z50 Performance Rush Edition is an excellent option for users who prioritize high performance, speed, and storage capacity.
Nubia Z50 Performance Rush Edition comes in Black Reef color and is priced at 3999 yuan (approximately $574). However, there is currently a direct discount of 300 yuan (approximately $43), bringing the starting price down to 3699 yuan (approximately $531).
Electric scooters have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. They provide a convenient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective mode of transportation that can benefit both individuals and the environment. The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra, which was unveiled at the MWC 2023 recently, is a prime example of this trend, offering riders an array of benefits that make it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a reliable and efficient means of transportation.
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra is its dual suspension system, which ensures a smooth and safe ride, even on rough or uneven terrain. This innovative system increases the height of the chassis, providing riders with better visibility and stability. Additionally, the puncture-proof and self-sealing 10-inch Xiaomi DuraGel Tires minimize the risk of tire blowouts, ensuring maximum safety and an improved riding experience.
The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra also boasts impressive specs that allow it to reach speeds of up to 25km/h and climb slopes with inclines up to 25% easily. Its powerful 940W motor and long-lasting battery give riders the freedom to travel up to 70km on a single charge, making it an excellent option for commuters or those who simply enjoy exploring their surroundings.
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra
The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra’s sturdy yet lightweight aluminum body can support a maximum load of up to 120kg, and its widened handle grip and spacious deck provide a comfortable and stable riding experience. The scooter has a futuristic yet minimalist design, which adds to the aesthetic. It is also rated with IP55 resistance, ensuring it can withstand various weather conditions and environments.
In addition to the convenience and performance benefits of electric scooters like the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra, they also have a positive impact on the environment. Electric scooters produce zero emissions, making them a greener alternative to gas-powered vehicles. This means that by choosing to ride an electric scooter, you are not only benefiting yourself, but you are also contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet. The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra is priced at €999 (~$1052), and it will be available via official Xiaomi channels.
Honor will soon introduce the Honor Magic 5 series smartphones at the ongoing Mobile World Congress 2023 event. The new flagship series from the brand will have three models – Honor Magic 5, Honor Magic 5 Pro, and Honor Magic Ultimate.
Earlier leaks have revealed the design of the vanilla Magic 5 model. Now, tipster Evan Blass has shared renders of the Honor Magic 5 Pro completely revealing its front and rear design.
Starting with the rear panel, the renders reveal that the Magic 5 Pro features a circular camera island with three camera lenses placed in a triangular setup. This camera array resembles the official teaser images published by the brand. Additionally, the camera module has 100X etched on it, which confirms its 100X zoom capability.
What’s interesting is that the camera island and the back panel appear to be constructed as a uni-body. This isn’t that uncommon since Oppo did something similar with the Find X5 Pro. The back also appears to be curved, however, it is unclear if the material used on it is glass or something else. Up-front, the device has a curved display with super thin top and bottom bezels. The pill-shaped cutout on the top left will hold a selfie camera and face recognition hardware. The renders reveal Green and Black color options, tho it is unclear if these will be the only color options the device will be launching with.
Honor Magic 5 Pro specs
The Honor Magic 5 Pro is said to feature a 6.81-inch OLED LPTO display with 120Hz variable refresh rate. It will also have 2160Hz PWM dimming, a touch sampling rate of 480Hz, HDR10+ support, and a maximum brightness of up to 1100nits.
Under the hood, the device will feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor complemented by LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. The hardware will be powered by a 4,800mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging. As for software, the device will come pre-loaded with Magic UI 7.0, which is based on the Android 13 operating system.
Coming to optics, there will be a Sony IMX878 primary camera sensor with OIS onboard. It will be paired with a 64MP OmniVision OV64B sensor and a Sony IMX516 sensor. Up front, the device will feature a 13-megapixel Sony IMX688 camera. It will be rated IP68 protection against water and dust and will offer an in-display fingerprint scanner along with 3D facial recognition.
In the past 10 years, how to choose a hair dryer has always bothered me. I have to battle with frizz while most hair dryers blow hot air for 15+ minutes to dry my hair, and, damaged my hair as well. But if not went for the cheap options, $400+ is quite a bit of money for me to consider for a while. I did finally put my money on an expensive Dyson hair dryer, for which I was sad for a long period until I tested the Tensky SKY-M200 High-Speed Hair Dryer. Less than half the price of Dyson and unbelievably close quality made me regret my previous choice.
Design
The new Tensky hair dryer also uses a much more compact and unique design instead of the classic L-shape bulky design. And it is equipped with a tiny but powerful 110,000 RPM high-speed brushless motor, which is the same technology as Dyson’s machine. It’s also placed inside the handle to make the nozzle shorter and easier to carry on the go. The hot air coming out of the Tensky hair dryer is smooth and comfortable, which also keeps reminding me of the luxury one. They feel almost the same.
The hairdryer kit comes with a magnetic-attached styling concentrator. With this nozzle, the air gets focused and users can style one section at a time without disturbing the rest, which is great for styling.
Hair drying & styling
The Tensky hair dryer is crazy fast with a high-pressure and high-velocity air vacuum. It can completely dry my short hair for 5 minutes and my wife’s for 8 minutes, which incredibly shortens the time I spend drying and styling my hair before I leave the house every day. My wife comments that it made her not miss the salons since having DIY style at home is so convenient. And the SKY-M200 hair dryer can blow air with 200 million negative ions to prevent frizz and increase the hair’s shine and smoothness.
And if you struggle with styling your hard curly and thick hair, the SKY-M200 is almost the best budget option for you. It doesn’t just benefit from shaving minutes off of your hair drying, but also keeping your curls intact and reducing frizz and flyaways in a consistent way.
Another great experience is that the body and air it blows always remain cool to touch. Users can have 2 speeds (strong/soft) and 4 temperature settings. Even at the hottest option, it never burns my scalp, which is also thanks to the built-in Thermo-control microprocessor. It can enable real-time temperature monitoring at 100 times per second to prevent heat damage. And you can easily check the temperature setting through the RGB lighting indicator on the back.
Red: Gear-4 hottest option
Additional features
In addition to its powerful drying and styling performance, the Tensky hair dryer also has several nice features that ensure safety and convenience.
Another safety guarantee is the anti-leakage plug design. It ensures the safety of users whose hands are wet while hair drying. This heart-warming design is even rarely seen on other luxury models.
Another proven advertising feature is its low noise performance. During operation at Strong Speed, the noise level generally remains at around 60dB, which is much quieter than most traditional hairdryers.
There’s another impressive detail during my experience, which is the sleek design with a mirror on the back. Although we usually dry our hair with a bigger mirror in the bathroom, if you are in a hurry to do a quick hair styling and can’t find a mirror, then this little round mirror will be a lifesaver. Trust me, it’s my true experience.
Verdict
The final reason, as I mentioned, the Tensky hairdryer is much cheaper than those luxury models. Its performance made us start to wonder if getting a quality hair-drying and styling experience really requires investing that much money. The Tensky hair dryer works well for my family. And I can’t even figure out why I need to spend more money to get an experience that doesn’t make a difference. If you are interested in the $189 SKY-M200 hair dryer, you can click here to visit their official store and get more information.
WHERE TO BUY
Tensky SKY-M200 Hair Dryer Website: Official shop Available in grey and pink colors; 50%off with code: TENSKY50OFF
On Saturday, United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke at a roundtable with US and Indian tech business leaders in Bengaluru, stating her eagerness to deepen ties in the technology sector. Yellen highlighted the US approach called “friendshoring” which seeks to bolster the resilience of supply chains by strengthening integration with trusted trading partners, including India. She noted that progress has been made, with technology giants Apple and Google expanding phone production in India.
Yellen went on to explain that the US is investing in digital technologies that will drive inclusive and resilient growth in India through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). Specifically, investments in agri-tech for climate-smart agricultural production and digital payment systems for micro-entrepreneurs have been announced under the PGII, in addition to investments in renewable energy, health, and other infrastructure sectors in India.
The US aims to mobilize $200 billion through 2027 for the PGII, and Yellen expressed the country’s commitment to partnering with India to continue investing in the future. The roundtable was attended by top chief executives, including Sandip Patel from IBM, Nandan Nilekani from Infosys, and Nivruti Rai from Intel.
Yellen also highlighted the importance of the US-India relationship, noting that the US is India’s biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling over $150 billion in 2021. She emphasized the close people-to-people ties between the two nations, with 2 lakh Indians studying in American schools and universities. Yellen noted that daily dependence on each other is evident, with Indians using WhatsApp to communicate and many American companies relying on Infosys to operate.
Nilekani from Infosys shared the company’s commitment to expanding its education institutes with 1,200 teachers in the US, working with all US universities, and recruiting 7,000 fresh graduates this year. He also stated that Infosys runs India’s completely digital tax system at the backend.
Patel from IBM expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening the US-India trusted technology partnership through proactive policy measures on critical and emerging tech, stating that it would benefit the economies and people of both countries immensely.
At MWC 2023, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Lite for the global market. The event ended with the company confirming the names of the smartphones that will receive the MIUI 14 upgrade. Here is a look at the list of smartphones that will be treated with MIUI 14.
MIUI 14
Here is the list of the Xiaomi / Mi devices that will get the MIUI 14 upgrade starting in the first quarter of 2023:
Xiaomi 12T
Xiaomi 12T Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Xiaomi 12X
Xiaomi 12 Lite
Xiaomi 11T Pro
Xiaomi 11T
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi Mi 11i
Xiaomi Mi 11
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
Redmi Note 10
Redmi 10 5G
The company hasn’t confirmed the proper timeline as to when each of these phones will be receiving the MIUI 14 update. Moreover, newer models like the Redmi Note 12 series and the Redmi Note 11 series are also expected to receive the upgrade, but their names are not mentioned in the list.
Hence, the list is not final. The company is expected to confirm the detailed MIUI 14 rollout schedule in the coming weeks. Readers should note that some devices may get the MIUI 14 and Android 13 upgrades together. Some devices may only get the MIUI 14 update without the latest Android version.
In related news, the Xiaomi 13 series comes preloaded with the Android 13 OS and MIUI 14 preinstalled. The lineup is confirmed to receive three years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
The stylus-toting Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 is expected to launch soon. Earlier this month, reliable tipster OnLeaks released the first render of the device to reveal its design. Now, the said device has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US. The FCC listing is a good hint that its launch could be imminent.
The FCC documents show that model numbers XT2315-1, XT2315-4, and XT2315-5 are all associated with the Moto G Stylus 5G 2023. The listing confirms that it is a 5G-ready device. In October 2022, well-known tipster Evan Blass claimed that the Motorola phone with XT2395 is codenamed Geneva.
The listing also shows that the device is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging. Unfortunately, it has no information on the other specifications of the device.
The leaked render that came up earlier this month revealed that the Moto G Stylus 2023 will have a punch-hole display on the front. The device has a 50-megapixel dual camera unit with an LED flash on the back. While its left side is barren, it has volume buttons and a power key, which is integrated with a fingerprint scanner on the right edge.
The leaked details that came up in October 2022 revealed that the device will come in 4G and 5G versions. It is expected to feature 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in storage. It is likely to come in two colours: Black Beauty and Crystal Grey. Also, the device is expected to remain exclusive to the US market.
To recall, the Moto G Stylus 2022 from last year featured a 6.8-inch IPS LCD FHD+ 120Hz display, a Snapdragon 695 chipset, up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging. For photography, it offered a 16-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the latest flagship device from the tech giant. While some may be disappointed with the similarity in design to its predecessor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung has made some noteworthy refinements that are truly impressive. Whilst the camera setup and the design are the major overhauls this year, one of the major changes is the seamless process of removing the battery, a feature that many tech enthusiasts have been waiting for.
YouTuber Zach from JerryRigEverything put the Galaxy S23 Ultra to the test and was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to dismantle the device with just one hand. In the past, removing the battery from a smartphone was a difficult task, with manufacturers using a lot of adhesive to hold the battery in place. This meant that professionals and novices alike had to use various tools and alcohol to soften the adhesive and carefully remove the battery without rupturing it.
However, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung has made this process much simpler. By only requiring the removal of the front glass assembly, wireless charging coil, screws, and ribbon cables, the 5,000mAh battery can be easily accessed and removed in just seconds. Even non-professionals can remove the battery with ease, Zach stated in his video.
While there was a small hiccup during the teardown process where Zach almost tore off the ribbon cable, he claimed that Samsung’s implementation of this change was worth the wait. He even stated that he had been waiting for eight long years for Samsung to make this small but significant improvement.
Nonetheless, the presence of pull-out tabs in the less expensive Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus models gives hope that Samsung will make this feature standard in all of their smartphones, including the highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 set to launch later this year.
Last month, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A14 5G in multiple markets. Its variant released in the US has the Dimensity 700, while other markets have received its Exynos 1330 chip variant. Now, the South Korean tech giant has removed the covers from the 4G version of the Galaxy A14 in Malaysia. Here is a look at its specifications, features, and price.
Samsung Galaxy A14 specifications and features
Samsung Galaxy A14 4G
Starting from the front, the Galaxy A14 4G has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display that produces a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. For security, it features a side-facing fingerprint scanner.
Housed inside the display notch is a 13-megapixel selfie camera. The back panel of the device features a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. It is accompanied by a 5-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
According to Samsung Malaysia, the Galaxy A14 4G is powered by a 2.0GHz octa-core chipset. However, reports have revealed that it features the Helio G80 chipset. The handset offers 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and Android 13 OS with One UI 5 on top.
The A14 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 15W charging. Lastly, the device weighs 201 grams and measures 167.7 x 78 x 9.1mm.
Samsung Galaxy A14 4G price
The Galaxy A14 4G’s price for the Malaysian market is yet to be confirmed. The handset comes in four shades, such as Black, Silver, Green, and Dark Red. It is likely that the device will also be available in more countries in the coming days.
OnePlus recently launched its Ace 2 smartphone in China which was rebranded as the OnePlus 11R for the global market. This device could be called a proper flagship killer as it comes with high-end specs at mid-range prices.
As we know, the brand is also working on a Dimensity edition of the OnePlus Ace 2 which will feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, a triple camera setup, and an alert slider. It is rumored to be priced below the OnePlus Ace 2/11R. The performance of this device has now been revealed through an AnTuTu benchmark listing.
The OnePlus Ace 2 Dimensity Edition bearing model number PHP110 has scored 1,050,521 points on the AnTuTu. The listing has verified that the device will be equipped with the Dimensity 9000 chipset, which incorporates the Mali-G710 MC10 GPU. In the CPU and GPU tests, the device obtained scores of 268,340 and 399,685 points, respectively.
Furthermore, we can see that the has LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 RAM. The tested unit has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. This is most likely the highest configuration if this upcoming device.The UX score comes out at 186,764 points and confirms that the phone features a 120Hz refresh rate display.
When compared to the AnTuTu score of the OnePlus Ace 2, the Dimensity edition falls behind by approximately 9% overall. While the CPU performance is quite similar, differing by only about 1.5%, the Ace 2 equipped with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has a more potent GPU, as evidenced by a 12% disparity in AnTuTu scores.
Other than this gap in performance, the Ace 2 Dimensity Edition will come with a downgraded primary camera. Its design will be close to the OnePlus Nord 2. Rumors also suggest that it could be called the OnePlus Ace 2V.
Vivo’s next foldable phone for the Chinese market will be called the Vivo X Fold 2, as per the rumors surrounding it. Last week, tipster Digital Chat Station leaked information on its battery and charging capabilities. Today, the tipper revealed some more details about the device.
According to the tipster, the Vivo X Fold 2’s foldable screen will offer a 2K resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. There is a possibility that the screen may measure around 8 inches. The cover display as well as the inner screen are expected to come equipped with ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanners.
Vivo X Fold Plus
The Vivo X Fold 2 is expected to debut as the world’s first Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset-powered foldable smartphone. The SoC will be coupled with 16 GB of RAM. The leak has no information on the storage options of the X Fold 2. It is likely that the highest variant of the device may offer 512 GB or 1 TB of native storage.
To keep the lights on, the Vivo X Fold 2 will have a 4,800mAh dual-cell battery. It will carry support for 120W fast charging. Like the predecessor model, the device may offer 50W wireless charging. It may come preloaded with Android 13 OS and OriginOS 3.0.
The Vivo X Fold 2’s rear camera setup will be headlined by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX866 primary camera with OIS support. It will be coupled with a pair of 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 sensors for ultra-wide and telephoto shots.
The Vivo X Fold 2 is likely to launch in April this year. The device could be accompanied by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1-powered Vivo X Flip. It is likely to feature a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary camera and a 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 ultra-wide lens.
Whenever a new smartphone drops in the market, there are bound to be bugs that show up with daily usage of those devices. The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is no exception, with the device making the news for a few bugs and a screen issue reported by users. Recently, several Galaxy S23 Ultra owners reported that their units have no internet when their WiFi is connected.
According to numerous threads on Reddit and Samsung Community forums, the Galaxy S23 Ultra appears to have WiFi connectivity issues. The phone connects to WiFi but without internet access. Even when connected, the connection doesn’t last long. Most users have confirmed that this issue only occurs on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and not on other devices in their homes.
One Reddit user, an IT professional, reported experiencing the “connected but no Internet” issue daily since the purchase of the device earlier this February. Despite trying all the fixes and workarounds, the issue persisted on his phone while his wife’s S23 Ultra remained unaffected. Upon swapping to his old WiFi 5 router, the issue disappeared. Several other users have also found success in disabling WiFi 6 and encryption protocol WPA3 or performing a factory reset. One user even suggested disabling the random MAC address and switching to the default phone MAC address.
Although Samsung is aware of the issue and reportedly working on a fix, the next update may not arrive before the return window for the device expires. As a result, affected users may need to rely on mobile data until the issue is resolved, which will definitely bother a fair amount of users. It’s unclear how many units are affected by this issue, but reports indicate that the number is definitely not small, with some users experiencing the problem on multiple units.
While it’s not unusual for new phones to have bugs, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is unlikely to be derailed as one of the top phones of the year. Even so, Samsung must address this issue promptly to ensure customer satisfaction.
TCL NXTPAPER 11 and Tab 11 are the two tablets from TCL that have gone official at MWC 2023. The company also used the same event to announce other products, such as the TCL 40 XL, TCL 40 XE 5G, TCL 40 X 5G, and TCL 406 smartphones. Here is a look at the specifications, features, and price of the new TCL tablets.
TCL NXTPAPER 11
TCL NXTPAPER 11
The TCL NXTPAPER 11 is a smaller version of the 12-inch TCL NXTPAPER Pro, which was announced at CES 2023 last month. The 11-inch version has a 10.95-inch IPS LCD display that offers a 2K resolution and a paper-like feel thanks to a special coating. The NXTPAPER 2.0 technology makes the screen brighter, with a peak brightness of 500 nits. The tablet comes with support for optional T-Pen stylus.
The Helio P60T and an 8,000mAh battery with 18W charging support power the TCL NXTPAPER 11. The tablet runs on Android 13 OS and comes with a microSD card slot for more storage. It has an 8-megapixel front camera with a 100-degree FOV and an 8-megapixel rear camera. It also comes with quad speakers and two microphones. The tablet has a thickness of 6.9mm and weighs around 462 grams.
TCL Tab 11
TCL Tab 11
The TCL Tab 11 has the same display, chipset, battery, and cameras as the NXTPAPER 11. The device comes with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
The TCL NXPAPER 11 is priced at $249. The Wi-Fi only version of the Tab 11 is priced at $179, while its 4G edition costs $219. Buyers of both tablets will be able to choose from a couple of optional accessories, such as the T-Pen, a Bluetooth keyboard, and a screen protector.
In January, TCL announced three smartphones, such as the TCL 40 R 5G, TCL 40 SE, and TCL 408 through the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 event, which was held in Las Vegas, US. Now the brand has added three new models to its 40 series at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 event in Barcelona, Spain. The names of the new handsets are as follows: TCL 40 XL, TCL 40 XE 5G, TCL 40 X 5G, and TCL 406.
TCL 40 XL
The TCL 40 XL has a 6.75-inch IPS LCD HD+ display. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G37 chipset, 4 GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery. The device offers 128 GB of native storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage. For photography, the TCL 40 XL has a 5-megapixel front camera and a 50-megapixel rear camera with a pair of 2-megapixel auxiliary cameras.
TCL 40 XE 5G
The TCL 40 XE 5G features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD 90Hz display with a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The 5G-ready phone is powered by the Dimensity 700, 4 GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery. The device is equipped with 64 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. On the front, it has an 8-megapixel selfie camera, and its back panel features a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera unit. For security, it has a side-facing fingerprint scanner.
TCL 40 X 5G
The TCL 40 X 5G is fitted with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD HD+ screen that offers a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The Dimensity 700 powers the device with 4 GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery. It also has 64 GB of internal storage and a microSD card. For photography, it offers an 8-megapixel selfie camera and a 50-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera setup on the back.
TCL 406
The TCL 406 sits below the TCL 408 that was announced at the CES 2023. The entry-level phone has a 6.6-inch IPS LCD HD+ display, Android 13 OS, stereo speakers, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.
The TCL 40 XL, 40 XE 5G, and 40 X 5G are priced at $149, $169, and $199, respectively. The TCL Readers can visit this page to learn about the new TCL tablets that were announced at MWC 2023.
OnePlus launched its premium wireless earbuds, called OnePlus Buds Pro 2 earlier this year. The hearables were also announced in the global market this month alongside a half-dozen other products. These earphones were initially available in Arbor Green and Obsidian Black colors. And today the brand has introduced a new shade— Cloud Peak White.
As announced by Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will now be available in the new Cloud Peak White color. The new shade has been implemented the same way as the rest two colors— the upper part of the earbuds is white while the stem has a glossy silver finish. It resembles the monologue color scheme of the first-gen OnePlus buds.
Currently, it is unclear when the new colorway will be available for purchase, but it is expected to sell for the same price as the other two colors. For reference, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has a price tag of ¥899 ($130) in China. Do note that the specifications and features of the earbuds remain the same.
This means the TWS earphones feature dual drivers, measuring 11mm and 6mm in size. They will have active noise cancellation (ANC) up to 48dB and feature transparency mode as well. The audio device carries support for LHDC 5.0 audio codec and 54ms low latency for gaming.
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity and can be paired with two devices simultaneously. They can offer 39 hours of total battery life with the charging case. The earbuds alone can give 9 hours of usage with ANC disabled and 6 hours with it enabled.
The 2023 LG S series lineup of soundbars has been launched in India. The new soundbars include the LG S95QR, SC9S, S40Q, S75W, and SH7Q.
The flagship offering in the new lineup is the S95QR with Dolby Atmos, Triple Level spatial sound, IMAX Enhanced, and up to 810W of sound output. It has 9.1.5 channels and six wireless rear speaker channels. The six speakers are height channels while a new speaker driver, chamber, and subwoofer offer a superior bass output. The soundbar features the AI Room Calibration Pro which uses spatial awareness technology to measure the room’s unique characteristics. It then balances the soundbar settings accordingly. The LG soundbar S95QR outputs 3D surround sound and features Dolby Audio, DTS X, and Meridian Audio Technology.
The LG SC9S has a 3.1.3 channel setup and outputs 300W audio. It is a flagship soundbar and retains many of the features of the S95QR model. It also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) (also present in the S95QR). Both the SQ95R and SC9S have the auto low latency mode (ALLM) excellent for gaming. The S75Q has 3.1.2 channels and 380W sound output. It features Dolby Atmos, DTS X, and up-firing height channel speakers. The SH7Q is a 5.1-channel soundbar with 800W output. The S40Q has 2.1 channels and 300W sound output.
The 2023 LG soundbars in India support 4K/ 120Hz pass-through with Dolby Vision and HDMI (eARC). They also come with Bluetooth connectivity and other features. As per pricing, the 2023 LG soundbars are priced between Rs. 22,990 ($) for the S40Q model and Rs, 139,990 ($) for the S95QR flagship model. Apart from the SH7Q and SC9S models (available in April 2023), all the soundbars can be purchased from the LG website.
Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 13 series globally today, and besides featuring Leica-branded camera setups and the latest Snapdragon processors, the flagship smartphone series will be also receiving Google’s Pixel-Exclusive Magic Eraser, making it the first non-Pixel Android device to have Magic Eraser at launch.
Xiaomi 13 Launch Event at MWC 2023
As part of the Xiaomi and Google partnership announcement at MWC Barcelona 2023 today, retail buyers will be able to enjoy Google’s Magic Eraser feature on their latest Xiaomi 13 Pro and standard Xiaomi 13. However, there’s a catch, they will only be able to use the Magic Eraser for free on the Xiaomi 13 series for the first 6 months, as part of the free 6-month Google One subscription given to Xiaomi 13 series users to experience Google’s software magic.
For those unaware, this month Google announced that the tech giant is bringing Magic Eraser to all Google One subscribers, including both Android and iPhone users. Magic Eraser is previously a Pixel-exclusive photo-editing feature, which tried to seamlessly remove unwanted parts of a picture with software processing. It is heralded as one of the main reasons why people prefer Google’s camera suite over other Android smartphone makers.
Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser in action
In addition to the free 6-month Google One subscription, Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro retail buyers will also enjoy up to 6 months of YouTube Premium with ad-free access to YouTube and YouTube Music app.
As announced by Xiaomi at MWC 2023, Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 13 users will also get one out-of-warranty repair without labour cost within the first 12 months after purchase. Xiaomi also promises that both smartphones will 3 generations of Android system updates, along with 5 years of security patch updates, up from the 3 OS and 4-year promise it offered on last year’s Xiaomi 12 series.
In January 2023, HMD Global unveiled the Nokia T21 tablet in India. Before it was announced in India, the tablet was made official for the global market in September 2022. It is a mid-range tablet that replaces the Nokia T20 tablet from last year. As per Nokia India’s website, the T21 is a long-lasting tablet designed for both work and play.
The Nokia T21, which comes with 4G voice calling support, starts at Rs 17,999 (~$217) in India. The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) and the Moto Tab G62 are the only new tablets that come with support for 4G connectivity and run on Android 12. The T21 also comes in a Wi-Fi only version, which was provided to GizmoChina for review. Here is my take on the tablet after using it for around three weeks.
What’s in the box?
Nokia T21
The retail package of the Nokia T21 includes the following items:
Nokia T21 tablet
18W charger (not available in some region)
USB-C cable
SIM ejector tool
Quick Start guide
Product and safety booklet
Design and Display
Dimensions
Display
Size – 242.5 x 157.3 x 7.5mm
10.36-inch AMOLED display
Weight – 471 grams
1200 x 2000 pixels (FHD+)
IP52 rating
5:3 aspect ratio
360 nits of brightness
Color variants
Active Pen support
Charcoal Gray
Widevine L1 support
The Nokia T21 comes with an aluminium-unibody chassis. The vertical strip running beside the rear camera gives it a dual-tone look. With an IP52 rating, it offers splash resistance and limited protection. The thickness of the device is 7.5mm and it weighs around 470 grams. The company claims that the tablet is equipped with toughened glass on the front. The T21 comes in Charcoal Gray colour only.
The rear side of the Nokia T21 features a single camera with an LED flash. A power button and a loudspeaker are available on the left side of the tablet, whereas its right edge has a 3.5mm audio jack (at the corner), a USB-C port, and another loudspeaker. The top edge of the T21 has a microSD slot, microphones, and a volume rocker. The bottom side of the tablet is completely barren.
The Nokia T21 has a 10.36-inch IPS LCD panel that produces a 2K resolution and a 5:3 aspect ratio. I felt that the tablet should have offered at least up to 90Hz refresh rate and higher peak brightness for using it outdoors.
The 1-cm bezels around the Nokia T21’s display do not appear obtrusive and offer a good viewing experience. Since there is support for 2K resolution, the image quality is quite good. Users can choose from color profile options, such as natural, boosted, and adaptive. The T20 only supported Widevine L3, meaning it could only stream 480p resolution content on OTT platforms. With the Widevine L1 certification, the T21 supports HD content.
Nokia T21
According to the brand, the tablet has dual stereo speakers that support OZO spatial audio recording. Regarding audio playback, it can deliver up to 96 decibels of volume. While the bass is missing, the sound output is quite loud, clear, and distortion free. The decent display and good audio performance make the Nokia T21 a good tablet for content consumption.
According to Nokia, the tablet is built to last since it is made from durable materials and has software support for up to 3 years. The retail package for the tablet does not include any accessories. However, the tablet does support a Wacom Active ES 2.0 pen (stylus), and users can also try using third-party Bluetooth keyboards.
Performance and Software
Unisoc T612
8,200mAh battery
4 GB of RAM
18W charging
64 GB of eMMC storage
Android 12 OS
Nokia T21Nokia T21 Nokia T21 with second screen feature
Under the hood, the Nokia T21 has the 12nm Unisoc T612 that works at 1.8GHz. While it is the only tablet to feature this chipset, a couple of mid-range smartphones, such as the Realme C33, C31, C30, Narzo 50i, and Narzo 50A Prime. do feature it. The tablet comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage. The external storage slot supports up to 512 GB of microSD card.
The tablet packs an 8,200mAh battery, which is the largest in size as compared to its competitors. When used for work and entertainment, the tablet was able to easily last for two days. The company claims that the tablet can last up to 3 days on a full charger, which is possible if used conservatively. The retail package in some regions, including India, includes an 18W charger. It took over 3 hours for the tablet to achieve a full charge. I did not encounter a heating issue while using the device.
The Nokia T21 comes with Android 12 OS preinstalled. The tablet is promised to receive two years of OS upgrades and three years of monthly security updates. The review unit came with the Android security patches up to December 2022 preinstalled.
Nokia T21 homescreenNokia T21 preloaded appsNokia T21 preloaded apps
The T21 offers a near-stock Android experience and comes with some third-party apps, such as Prime Video, Netflix, Spotify, and Express VPN. The following are some of the apps that cannot be uninstalled. These include Entertainment Space, Kids Space, My Device app (by Nokia), Sign Pro PDF, Bamboo Paper, and Wacom Notes for taking notes and drawing, and Second Screen for use as an extra display for a Windows PC.
The performance of the tablet is good enough for web browsing, watching movies, casual gaming, and taking notes. If you wish to play games with high graphics and powerful software, it would be better to invest in a more powerful tablet. Here is a look at how the tablet performed on benchmarking apps.
Photography and Other Features
Rear Camera
Other features
8MP Hynix Hi846 camera
Face unlock
LED flash
MicroSD card slot
SIM slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
GPS
NFC (region-specific, N/A on Indian variant)
Bluetooth 5.0
Front Camera
Dual stereo speakers
8MP Hynix Hi846 camera
3.5mm audio jack
Nokia T21 (camera)
There is an 8-megapixel camera on the front of the Nokia T21. Its back panel has an 8-megapixel camera with an LED flash that offers autofocus and 8x digital zoom. The front camera is good enough for video calling or Zoom meetings. The rear camera offers decent performance for still shots when there is enough light. Both cameras support video recording at 30 fps.
portrait selfie
The Nokia T21 tablet has all the important connectivity features, except 5G support. The SIIM tray has two slots, one for the microSD card and the other for the SIM. In the absence of a fingerprint scanner, the tablet offers security features like screen lock and face unlock. Aside from the dual stereo speakers, users can enjoy music via a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Verdict
I hope Nokia fixes the slight lag issue on the Nokia T21 through a software update. Otherwise, the tablet is worth considering a purchase as it comes with some impressive features like a 2K display, a sturdy build, 4G connectivity, good sound output, a near-stock Android experience, a microSD card slot, long battery life, and stylus support.
For the 4G variant, there are only a few competitors, such as the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3) and the Moto Tab G62. However, there are many rivalling products, such as the Redmi Pad, Oppo Pad Air, and Realme Pad X, if only the Wi-Fi variant is taken into consideration.
Price and availability
At the time of writing this post, the Nokia T21 is priced at Rs 17,499 (~$211) for the Wi-Fi only edition on Flipkart. The Wi-Fi + 4G version of the tablet costs Rs 18,499 (~$223) in India. Customers who purchase the Nokia T21 via the Nokia India website using the DEAL1000 coupon code can get an instant discount of Rs 1,000 as well as a flip cover worth Rs 1,999 for free. This offer is not available on Flipkart. Both variants are available for Rs 17,999 (~$217) and Rs 18,999 (~$229) on Nokia’s website [same as launch prices].
However, the company did not forget to care for the environment as well because Xiaomi also reminded the audience today of its over 40 eco-friendly products. It was also announced today that going forward, the company will begin product carbon footprint assessment to evaluate the impact of its business towards the environment.
Source: Xiaomi
Xiaomi revealed that it has conducted an LCA carbon footprint analysis on its latest flagship smartphone, in a collaboration with an external carbon data analysis and certification organization which enabled the establishment of a comprehensive process and methodological model for assessing the carbon footprint of smartphone products.
In detail, Xiaomi’s latest flagship, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, has a carbon footprint marked as 62.8 kg CO2e. Xiaomi’s measurements cover the evaluation of carbon emissions from raw materials, manufacturing, storage, transportation, use and end-of-life disposal. This measurement is in accordance with PAS2050 to ensure data accuracy and credibility.
“We are committed to this valuable information to inform our decision-making and prioritize sustainability in everything we do,” a Xiaomi spokesperson stated, “This initiative has allowed us to make significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring that our products have a positive impact on the environment. We are proud to continue on this path towards a more sustainable future.”
Besides that, Xiaomi claims that it is a brand that champions sustainable living awareness among its users. Currently, Xiaomi provides over 40 energy-saving products and utilizes the One Paper Box design to reduce packaging by up to 40%. By implementing this LCA carbon footprint management system, Xiaomi takes a critical step towards achieving its sustainability objective and underscores its commitment to developing eco-friendly products that benefit both consumers and the planet.
To learn more about the Xiaomi 13 Pro, visit our review of the device here.
The Samsung Q995GC flagship soundbar has been unveiled in Germany. The premium soundbar is the first Samsung product to come with a built-in SmartThings hub. The soundbar will allow the user to control smart home devices with Amazon Alexa voice commands.
The Samsung Q995GC is an 11.4.2 channel soundbar with 11 channels, a subwoofer, and four speakers. The speakers radiate upwards and deliver a 360-degree audio experience. The soundbar is part of the Q-series Samsung lineup and features Q-Symphony technology for seamless synchronization of the soundbar with other speakers. This helps to optimize the sound from your TV across all the connected platforms. The new soundbar can access the TV’s Neural Processing Unit for enhanced speech clarity. The soundbar is compatible with Dolby Atmos and also features SpaceFit Sound Pro and Adaptive Sound 2.0.
The Game Mode Pro 2.0 helps to optimize the speaker for gaming by suppressing background noise. The soundbar also supports Apple AirPlay 2, so you can cast content using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
The soundbar will launch in Germany on March 14. Samsung has not released any pricing information yet for the Q995GC soundbar. The Samsung HW-Q990B/ZA is currently priced at around $1,500 in the US. There are no global availability details yet for the new Samsung soundbar. It is however expected to percolate to selected markets. Samsung will also unveil its 2023 lineup of new TVs during the March 14 launch event.
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